12th Sep

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Aleppo pounded as Jolie visits Syria refugees

150 FILS

Cram schools boom widens class divide in India

12 dead as Yemen defence minister escapes car bombing

Murray wins US Open epic, ends 76-year British agony

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www.kuwaittimes.net

SHAWWAL 25, 1433 AH

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Expats to be allowed to take part-time jobs Move aims to limit inflow of foreigners

Max 45º Min 26º High Tide 07:27 & 21:57 Low Tide 00:42 & 14:56

By Ben Garcia

Egyptians storm US embassy, tear down flag CAIRO: Egyptian protesters scaled the walls of the US embassy in Cairo yesterday and pulled down the American flag during a protest over what they said was a film being produced in the United States that insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In place of the US flag, the protesters raised a black flag with the words “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”. Once the US flag was hauled down, protesters tore it up, with some showing off small pieces to television cameras. Then others burned remains.

“This movie must be banned immediately and an apology should be made ... This is a disgrace,” said 19year-old, Ismail Mahmoud, a member of the so-called “ultras” football supporters who played a big role in the uprising that brought down Hosni Mubarak last year. Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet (PBUH) to be offensive. Mahmoud called on President Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first civilian president and an Islamist, to take action. Many others were supporters of Islamist groups. About 20 people stood on top of the embassy wall in central Cairo, where nearly 3,000 protesters had gathered. “There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s messenger. We will sacrifice ourselves for you, Allah’s messenger,” they chanted, with many waving religious flags.

Asked whether the flag the protesters hoisted on the anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania was that of the Al-Qaeda movement culprits, a US State Department official said she thought not. “We had some people breach the wall, take the flag down and Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: In about two weeks, a law that will allow expatriates to pursue part-time jobs in the private sector is expected to be approved. However, the regulation will have some conditions attached to it. The workers should already be employed by the private sector and should seek permission from their employers allowing them to work part-time in the private sector. An announcement regarding the same was made by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hamad Al-Kandari during a recent press conference.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: A pool of blood is seen at Qadsiya police station after a shooting incident yesterday.

Police officer shoots fellow cop in Qadsiya

By A Saleh

CAIRO: Protesters destroy an American flag pulled down from the US embassy yesterday. (Inset) A black flag inscribed with the Muslim profession of belief “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of God” is raised inside the US embassy by protesters. — AP/AFP

KUWAIT: An officer at Qadsiya police station shot a lower-ranked policeman in the head before fleeing yesterday. After a manhunt, the 30-something shooter was surrounded after holing himself up. The victim, in his 40s, was taken to Amiri Hospital in a critical condition.

Obama refuses to meet Netanyahu Bibi: US has no right to block Israel on Iran

Filipinos flee Syria with tales of horror MANILA: Filipino Ruth Pana remembered the windows of her employer’s house in Damascus riddled with bullets. The maid, who escaped first to the Philippine Embassy in the Syrian capital and then to Manila aboard an evacuation flight yesterday, also remembered one of the sons of her Syrian

employer being killed by government forces. “His chest was opened like there was large steel that passed through it,” she said, sobbing. “Do you know that we buried him at the back of the house because there were no more cemeteries?”

Continued on Page 13

MANILA: Overseas Filipino workers who fled the civil war in Syria react as Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomes them upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a chartered flight yesterday. — AP

JERUSALEM: The White House has rejected a request

by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet President Barack Obama in the United States this month, an Israeli official said yesterday, after a row erupted between the allies over Iran’s nuclear program.

An Israeli official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu’s aides had asked for a meeting when he visits the United Nations this month, and “the White House has got back to us and said it appears a meeting is not possible. It said that the president’s schedule will not permit that”. Netanyahu has met Obama on all the Israeli leader’s US trips since 2009.

Ratcheting up a public feud with the US over Iran earlier yesterday, Netanyahu said the US had forfeited its moral right to stop Israel taking action against Iran’s nuclear program because it had refused to be firm with Tehran itself. In comments which appeared to bring Benjamin Netanyahu the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran closer, Netanyahu took the Obama administration to task after Washington rebuffed his own call to set a red line for Tehran’s nuclear drive. “The world tells Israel ‘wait, there’s still time’. And I say, ‘Wait for what? Wait until when?’” said Netanyahu, speaking in English.

“Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel,” he added, addressing a Continued on Page 13

NEW YORK: Virginia Pacheco (center), who lost her son Roland Pacheco, reflects during a commemoration ceremony on the 11th anniversary of Sept 11, 2001 attacks by the North Pool at World Trade Center yesterday. — AFP (See Page 9)

Obama hails unity on low-key 9/11 ’versary NEW YORK: President Barack Obama lauded American unity yesterday as the country marked a somber but low-key anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks under crisp blue skies poignantly reminiscent of 11 years ago. “The true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear or hate or division,” Obama said at the Pentagon near Washington. “It will be a safer world, a stronger nation, and a people more united than ever before.” Highlighting what he said were the “crippling” blows

dealt against Al-Qaeda and the killing last year of Osama bin Laden, Obama said the United States is “even stronger”.

As every year, relatives of the nearly 3,000 people killed when Al-Qaeda hijackers slammed airliners into New York’s World Trade Center gathered at Ground Zero to read out the names of the dead. The flawless blue sky was identical to the one 11 years ago when millions of people watched from the streets Continued on Page 13

in the

news

Saudis behead four over separate crimes RIYADH: Saudi Arabia beheaded four people yesterday, including three of its citizens and a Palestinian after they were found guilty in separate cases, the interior ministry said. The kingdom executed two citizens in the southwestern city of Jizan after they were convicted of armed robbery, the ministry said in a statement. In a separate statement, the ministry said a Palestinian was beheaded in Jeddah for stabbing to death a Yemeni. Later yesterday, SPA quoted a third statement saying that a Saudi was beheaded in the central city of Buraida after he was convicted of shooting dead a fellow citizen with a machinegun “following a dispute between the two”.

Bangladeshi man shot dead in Saudi Arabia RIYADH: A Bangladeshi man was shot dead in the Awamiya district of eastern Saudi Arabia on Monday, police and activists said, amid conflicting accounts of how he was killed. Saudi police said in a statement late on Monday that the Bangladeshi man was driving when his car was hit by bullets fired at two security patrol cars. The police statement said the car was one of two vehicles that had been hit by bullets and that it caught fire, but that no one else had been wounded. However, an activist in Awamiya gave a different account of the incident, saying the Bangladeshi man had been killed by gunfire when security forces stormed a house while trying to arrest a wanted man.

Swallowed gem in Sri Lanka was fake COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s diamond-swallowing saga took an unexpected turn yesterday when police revealed the stone swallowed by a visitor at a gem exhibition was a fake and they are searching for the real stone valued at $13,000. Police arrested Chou Wan, 32, after a gem owner complained a man had swallowed his 1.5 carat diamond at a jewelry show in Colombo last week. The National Gem and Jewelry Authority then was asked to inspect the diamond concerned. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the authority informed police the diamond Chou swallowed was fake and had no financial value. He said investigators suspect another Chinese man seen with Chou may have the real diamond.

UAE arrests eight in Islamist crackdown DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has arrested eight Emirati Islamists, including a state prosecutor and a former judge, rights activists said yesterday, widening a crackdown on dissidents over alleged threats to state security. Activists say that Ali Saeed Al-Kindi, a prosecutor at state courts, and Khamis Saeed AlZyoudi, a former judge, were among those rounded up. Most of those detained since last year are from the UAE but they include an Omani and stateless residents. Sheikh Sultan Al-Qassimi, who is a cousin of the ruler of the northern emirate of Ras AlKhaimah and also head of the Islamist Al-Islah (Reform) group, was detained and taken to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, according to a family member.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LOCAL

NEW YORK: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City on Monday, and was received by the Center’s President Dr Frank J Cracolici. Dr Cracolici accompanied Sheikh Sabah on a tour to Al-Sabah Arrhythmia Institute, established with the help of Kuwaiti donation.

Actions of opposition ‘in violation of constitution’ Al-Barrak’s appeal adjourned

By A Saleh KUWAIT: An appeal filed by MP Musallam Al-Barrak challenging an order which sentenced him to jail on charges of slander was adjourned till next week by a court yesterday. Al-Barrak has been sentenced to six months in prison, after he was found guilty of defaming the current Minister of Planning and Development and State Minister of Parliament Affairs, Rola Dashty, who accused him of spreading false information about her without providing any proof to support his defamatory claims. These statements were made by Al-Barrak during a press conference while Dashty was still working as a pro-government lawmaker in the parliament.

Dashty slams opposition A member of 2012’s annulled parliament has slammed the opposition parties for practices he described were, “in violation of the constitution, and seek to attain certain agendas that do not spell any positive outcome for Kuwait’s interests, but instead will only lead to a disintegration of its people.” “For how long should we stay silent against the suspicious actions of a corrupt minority, which refuses to believe in the constitution?” Dr. Abdulhameed

Dashty stated in a statement yesterday. Dashty’s remarks were made in the wake of an earlier statement in which he threatened to take legal action that will help in verifying the source of, “funds received by Kuwaiti MPs, individuals and media outlets from abroad.”

University elections Students of Kuwait University are slated to elect a fresh student union for the 2012 to 2013 academic year on Tuesday, September 18, the university said yesterday. The supreme elections committee held a press conference on Wednesday to provide further details about the election process. The university added that the final day for candidates’ registration is Thursday, while Sunday has been fixed as the last day for withdrawing from the race.

Tabtabae criticized MP Hussein Al-Qallaf has criticized the recent statements made by MP Waleed Al-Tabtabae where he claimed to be speaking on behalf of the people of Kuwait when he stated that the current Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will be the last prime minister elected from the Al-Sabahs clan. AlQallaf condemned Al-Tabtabae for speaking on

behalf of the Kuwaiti people. “You’ve gone way too far by pushing your luck. You have shown a complete lack of respect for the current regime, the country’s constitution and its people,” he stated. MP Massouma Al-Mubarak pointed out that by proposing a public form of governance for Kuwait, AlTabtabae had only displayed his ignorance about the constitution, especially Article 56 of the charter.

“However, it’s not your fault. It is the fault of those who are choosing to stay silent about you and your actions, especially when you happily carry Syrian revolutionists’ flag around your neck, but deign to term Kuwait’s flag as, ‘a mere piece of cloth that should not be hoisted,’” she said.

Sources pointed out that Tabtabae’s statements about the current regime were predetermined and agreed upon during a coordination meeting between members of the Constitutional Movement, namely MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Ahmed Al-Sa’doun and Waleed Al-Tabtabae. The source added that the decision taken during the meeting was also supported by MP Faisal Al-Mislem. The source further noted that similar and stronger statements are expected to emanate from the majority bloc before September 24, which is a day before the expected constitutional court’s ruling relating to electoral constituencies.

Ambassador terms POWs’ reports unrealistic KUWAIT: Iraq’s envoy to Kuwait has termed recent reports indicating that Kuwaiti prisoners of war have been moved to Iran as, “unrealistic” and “far from the truth.”

Ambassador Mohammad Bahrullulum made this statement while addressing reports that quoted former Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffaq Al-Rabie’ie saying that prisoners taken hostage by Iraq during the 1990-1991 invasion of Kuwait could have been transferred to Iran, following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. “Recent

media reports quoting Al-Rabie’ie are unrealistic and far from truth, because there are joint committees that have been working for ten years to uncover the truth under international supervision,” the ambassador told reporters at an event hosted by the Slovakian embassy to celebrate the country’s national day. He further accused some media outlets of, “using the POWs humanitarian issue for achieving illegitimate gains.”

Commenting on the upcoming visit of Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-

Mubarak Al-Sabah to Baghdad in December, Bahrullulum said that the main topics of discussion during the visit are expected to include, “signing the remainder of treaties pertaining to different fields that are a part of the continuing dialogue between the two countries.”

He added that the POWs issue, the matter of joint borders and pending compensation for the destruction caused by the war are still the main issues that need to be resolved between the two countries.

KFSD praises safety measures taken in Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Service Directorate issued a statement commending the efforts made by a local company constructing the Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital for “maintaining safety and security measures at the project’s site.” The statement was released yesterday by Khalid Al-Mekrad, the deputy general director for firefighting and human resources development, one day after the KFSD conducted a successful fire drill at the construction site.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Fire Services Directorate(KFSD) praised the safety measures taken by the executive company of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Works, calling on other similar companies to take on the same path.

After the directorate carried out a fire evacuation drill at the hospital’s building, Khaled AlMekrad, Deputy Director General for Control and Human Resource Development Brigadier Colonel told KUNA that the evacuation was done to test the firefighters’ readiness and prepare all the safety measures.

He added that the training also aims at addressing the project’s location, its gates, firefighting vehicles’ parking lots, firefighting equipment, facilities and measuring the extent of safety and security teams of the project’s contractor with the General Department of Firefighting.

He said that the directorate continues to hold joint training procedures for the bigger projects

in Kuwait to make sure that the safety measures are being performed, adding that more than 2,400 employees are working on the project of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital, which has a large number of equipment and machinery that requires safety measures.

In addition, Al-Mekrad also praised the cooperation and coordination between the General Department of Firefighting and the Ministry of Public Works on ensuring the implementation of the ventures according to the best procedures.

Ali Nadoum, Director of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital project said that there is a usual coordination with the fire department regarding the safety measures, especially since the project is large and has a large number of employees working on it. He said that the firefighting department checked a number of operational matters such as the building’s entrances, gates, schemes, fire extinguishers, water tanks used in firefighting and the necessary water pipes needed.

Nadoum added that there are meetings held between the hospital project management team and the General Fire Department as well as continuous meetings to see the latest updates and developments of the project.

Furthermore, these meetings also aim to develop precautionary procedures for all emergencies that may occur at any stage of the project’s implementation.

Nadoum concluded that the project administrative team is implementing all the proposals laid down by the General Department of Firefighting in some of the buildings to perform the best safety and security measures.

The training procedure was carried out by the Hawalli’s fire station by Hawalli governorate fire chief Colonel Fahad Al-Sager, under the supervision of Major Ali Abdulrazzaq from Mishref center, Captain Hamad Al-Rashid from the Operation and Backing Center and Mishref Center shift leader Captain Abbas Shamsan. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Journalist Abdulrahman Al-Mohsen who was injured on Monday.

Al-Qenae condemns assault on journalist KUWAIT: Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA)’s Secretary, Faisal Al-Qenae described the journalist Mohammed Al-Sharhan’s assault on fellow-journalist Abdulrahman Al-Mohsen (from Al-Qabas) at the Irada Square as an ‘irresponsible action.’

Notably, Al-Sharhan fought with Al-Mohsen, ending in Al-Mohsen sustaining a forehead injury.

“Al-Sharhan had repeatedly picked fights and provoked others and security men. Finally, he is assaulted a fellow journalist,” said Al-Qenae, warning that such actions and behavior ruin journalists’ image, giving bad impression about journalists.

He also demanded that Al-Sharhan be barred from working.

Faisal Al-Qenae

2.86 million sick leaves taken in a year KUWAIT: More than 2.86 million days were taken as sick leaves in the public sector during the 2011-2012 fiscal year, costing the state more than KD 41,725 million, a government official told a local daily recently.

“The number of sick leave days granted to state employees during a single year (20112012) reached 2,086,298 at a total cost of KD 41,725,960.

At least 161,418 employees registered to receive checkup at local medical facilities during the same period,” said Ahmad AlAbduljaleel, the Undersecretary Assistant for Systems and Information at the Civil Service Commission.

The official revealed plans to coordinate

with the Ministry of Interior to identify cases where employees left Kuwait during their sick leave, adding that coordination mainly aims to “help curb the increase in sick leave applications.”

Meanwhile, Al-Abduljaleel told Al-Rai that a joint committee with the Ministry of Health plans to hold “periodic meetings with other ministries to detect sick leaves and sick leave applications,” with the purpose of devising certain controls that organize the process of granting sick leaves.

“This procedure is not to be misunderstood as a display of lack of trust in employees, but only as a motivation for them to commit to their duties,” Al-Abduljaleel said.

Three shops selling pork sealed off

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Three commercial shops selling foodstuffs containing pork materials and lard were sealed off by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The Ministry’s observer for the Capital governorate Faisal Al-Ansari told reporters following the closure of one the shops in Shuwaikh that this step was taken to implement the decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh. He had ordered that any shop that sells foodstuffs incompatible with the Islamic Sharia shall be closed and fined. He added that the violated shops would be referred to the commercial prosecution, saying that the

shops would remain closed till a verdict has been issued. Walid Khaled Malallah, Head of the emergency team at the hotline service center of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the amount of food that included bacon and lard is approximately 60,735 kilograms, stressing that these foodstuffs have been confiscated and have not reached consumers.

Malallah said that company which imported these nutrients was sealed off for trying to sell 1,668 out of 6,300 cartons (each weighing 8.5 kilograms) to a number of distributors before the completion of the second laboratory testing from the Ministry of Health which showed mixture of chicken with pork fat.

Frustration mounts as no arrests made in Amghara cases KUWAIT: Frustration is mounting among leading Ministry of Interior officials because no arrests have been made for suspects responsible for fires reported in the Amghara scrap yard despite months of ongoing investigations, a local daily reported yesterday.

Investigations carried out by multiple authorities, including the fire investigations unit at the Kuwait Fire Services Department found evidence confirming that the many fires were acts of arson. Several suspects of Arab and Asian nationalities, including some stateless residents, were arrested during the past month, all of whom were later released after investigations revealed that they are

not involved. Al-Qabas reported yesterday that General Director of the Criminal Investigations General Department, Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Tabbakh, held a “long meeting” with officials in Al-Jahra’s investigations department, during which he informed them about “senior ministry officials’ frustration at the failure to identify arson suspects.”

During the meeting, which was held based on instructions received from Undersecretary Assistant for Criminal Security Affairs, Major General Abdulhameed Al-Awadhi, Al-Tabbakh raised questions about the method by which suspects are arrested.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

local

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Ho Jong hosted a reception at Crowne Plaza Hotel on the occasion of the 64th National Day of DPRK on Monday. High-ranking officials, diplomats and media people attended the reception.— Photo by Joseph Shagra

KD 5 bank notes shortage KUWAIT: The Central Bank of Kuwait has directed local banks to provide ATMs with abundant amounts of KD 5 bank notes to make up for the shortage of this currency note in the local market, a local daily reported yesterday.

These instructions were given during a meeting held at the Central Bank, who invited operation managers at local banks to discuss shortage in KD 5 notes. “Banks’ representatives were told that the CB has noticed that a shortage in KD 5 banknotes is attributed to the fact that ATMs are rarely provided with this currency note when

compared to KD 10 and KD 20 currency notes,” said sources. Bank notes circulated in Kuwait are valued at KD 1.2588 billion as of the end of last month, with around 40 million KD 20 notes worth KD 796.6 million, and nearly 37 million KD 10 bills worth KD 369.4 million. However, the number of KD 5 bank notes reach nearly nine million at a total worth of KD 46.2 million. These figures were obtained at the end of July, and also indicates that the number of KD 1, KD 1/2 and KD 1/4 banknotes circulated are estimated at 30.7 million, 8.8 million, and 7.1 million respectively.

KUWAIT: Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad AlHmoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received in his office yesterday the special envoy for Malawi Republic President Dr Qassem Shilomba, Mining and Power Minister and Mohammad Siddique Maya, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister and the accompanying delegation. Malawi Ambassador to Kuwait Younus Abdul Qader was also part of the delegation. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Educational ties between Algeria, Kuwait extolled Hajraf: Kuwait eager to cooperate with Algeria ALGIERS: Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and acting Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Naif Falah AlHajraf extolled here yesterday the distinguished relations between Kuwait and Algeria in the field of higher education and scientific research, describing them as “deep-rooted”. Hajraf said in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of his meeting with Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Rachid Harraoubia that Kuwait is looking to strengthen cooperation with the Algerian universities and exchange of experiences.

He revealed that the meeting with his counterpart allowed him to become acquainted with the various stages of development achieved by Algeria in the field of training, qualification and training at the level of universities and institutes as well as addressing ways to enhance cooperation in the field of scientific research.

He added that his visit to Algeria aimed at supervising the seventh session of the Algerian-Kuwaiti bilateral committee being hosted by Algeria, saying it is an evidence of the desire and aspiration of Kuwait to continue the march to promote and activate the relations with Algeria in various

Cleaning campaign to continue

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Minister of Electricity and Water and State M inister for Municipal Affairs Eng Abdulaziz Al Ibrahim emphasized the importance of the continuation of the cleaning campaigns in all areas of Kuwait and to remove all debris and garbage to create a cleaner environment throughout the governorate.

The spirit of keeping the country clean should be stressed, in addition to informing the public and educating them about safe ways to dispose of garbage and face environmental challenges, which are a priority for

our growth plans, he said.

Further, Al Ibrahim called upon the head of sectors in the municipality to monitor cleaning operations in all areas, and lift the levels of cleaning to create comfort for the public, citizens and expats.

In the meantime, a number of municipalities in the governorates have begun cleaning campaigns, which included maintaining residential areas, public squares and streets.

Public relations at some municipalities has promoted the cleaning operations at Fahad Al-Ahmad and Wafra, which was executed by the Ahmadi governorate municipality

Media campaign for students kicks off KUWAIT: The media campaign plan to raise awareness and guidance to students and drivers has started in preparation for this year academic calendar, Director of Public Relations Moral Guidance and Acting Director of Security Information Colonel Adel Al-Hashash said yesterday.

In a statement, Al-Hashash said that all procedures had been taken to prepare for the new year, including security and road traffic procedures which aimed at increasing awareness regarding the various sectors and apparatuses in the state.

The plan also aims at providing comprehensive secure and safety procedures for all to ease traffic movement in various governances in Kuwait, AlHashash said, adding that the new academic year puts more responsibilities and work load on all security and traffic personnel.

The official added that such preparations require cooperation from all, noting that efforts by the ministry would include issuing (SMS) messages through Public Relations Moral Guidance and Acting Director of Security Information office concerning road traffics and safety procedures, in cooperation with the Information Ministry and private media companies in contracts with the Interior ministry. — KUNA

branch, acting upon the instructions of the branch manager, Fahad AlOtaibi.

The cleaning campaigns resulted in hauling away eight truck loads of debris and construction materials from Fahad Al-Ahmad area, and three truck loads of trees from the streets of Al Wafra. This was done during the campaign two days earlier with the help of 13 vehicles and was supervised by Ahmad municipality cleaning director Nawaf Al Hamal and super visor Faihan AlMutairi. The campaign will continue to cover all areas in the governorate throughout the day and evening.

Ruckus at Salmi border

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A security officer deployed at Al-Salmi border has filed a complaint with Jahra police stating that a Saudi citizen accused him of being drunk and insulted HH the Amir. The Saudi man who appeared to be intoxicated was referred to medical examiner to test the alcohol content in his blood. A case was filed against him.

Live bombs found Security men also received report about finding strange objects. As security men arrived, they found seven bombs including an RBJ bomb. It apparently dates back to the Iraqi invasion. Army engineers were called to defuse the explosives.

Men arrested for witchcraft Sulaibikhat police arrested two Africans, one from Ghana and the other from Mali in connection with charges related to practicing black magic. They were arrested in Al-Rumaithiya.

Ambulances sent to airport The Medical Contingency Department sent three ambulances last night to Kuwait International Airport after receiving a report about a GCC airplane that wanted to make an emergency landing owing to some fault in its wheels. However, the plane landed safely without needing any assistance.

Top officials of security authority, transparency society convene KUWAIT: Chief of the National Security Apparatus Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received yesterday Salah Al-Ghazali, Chairman of Kuwait Transparency Society, and member of the Board of Directors, Etedal AlAyyar.

The two sides discussed, during the meeting, preparations for the

sixth Kuwait Transparency Forum, due in October, under title (transparency in defense and security). It will be held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. Al-Ghazali also provided an overview about the forum that highlights the importance of transparency in the security and

defense sectors, which is considered to be a vital and highly-complex sectors, in terms of operations and expenditures.

Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid praised the idea and targets of the forum, stressing on the importance of more efforts to enhance transparency and achieve reform in all sectors and institutions.—KUNA

fields and strengthen the investment on the grounds that the real investment is in the individual and higher education and training.

Harraoubia told KUNA that Algeria is looking to ink agreements in the

field of scientific research with Kuwait especially that the latter is distinguished in scientific research and that his country wants to benefit from its experience. Hajraf also said Kuwait is eager to cooperate with Algeria in the

ALGIERS: Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and acting Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Naif Falah Al-Hajraf visits a university yesterday. — KUNA

education sector, expressing wishes to achieve such a quality leap in the education field and overall from the rest of the Arab world, but particularly from Algeria.

The minister made his remarks in a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of talks with Algerian Education Minister Abdulatif Baba Ahmad. Hajraf said that one of the biggest challenges facing most countries is having qualified instructors and Kuwait is a leading example in such field mainly due to focus on the teacher being the main element in the education system. The minister added that encouraging teachers to do their best is vital to their message as teachers, acknowledging as well that daily tasks facing the teachers are many, particularly in light of today’s technological advances. Hajraf invited the Algerian counterpart to visit Kuwait and review in close the Kuwaiti experience in this field. Baba Ahmad told KUNA talks between the two have dealt with various ways of boosting cooperation with regard to the education sector. The Algerian minister added that there is an agreement to be signed between the two countries which aim at bolstering cooperation in such vast education field. —KUNA

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LOCAL

Local Spotlight

in my view

Kuwait still a safe place

Regression in the name of progress

By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed an you imagine that the people of Riyadh this extremely conservative city - were the most tolerant! Three decades ago, there were theatres in Riyadh’s schools, and cinema’s in their sports’ clubs, whilst military bands could be heard playing music in the city’s streets. Its holidays were marked by popular celebrations and cultural exhibitions and artistic showcases could be seen on television.

The same can be said about Cairo in the 1960s and 70s, with regards to its theatres, arts and institutes...and this is being said more and more about Kuwait. Whilst there are pictures of the Baghdad of yesteryear that the Baghdad of today would not believe; Al-Rasheed Street and its role in the arts, culture and worship. I have a picture of the MGM offices in 1940s Baghdad, so who can believe what is happening today?

We become more shocked when we hear about the conflict in Tunis and its suburbs, and the prosecution of artists in Cairo, which is something that nobody is paying attention to today!

Whilst what happened in Alexandria was even worse; as bulldozers destroyed the famous AlNabi Daniel Street book market on Friday morning. All societies are moving forward and hoping for the best, however it seems that we are moving towards the setting sun, and nobody knows when this will rise.

Egypt is facing the greatest example of this phenomenon, as what has happened there represents a frightening beginning against the arts, creativity and two centuries of development. This is important because Egypt is the greatest and last citadel for the arts and creativity in the region

Muna Al-Fuzai

C

Our society is full of loud discussions, and the political and social talk ignores the most important issue which represents the first step - and this is that rights and freedoms are fixed, no matter if we are talking about the rights of those on the margin or in the minority. They have the right of coexistence, tolerance and the acceptance of others. and its end will mark the descent of the region into darkness. Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi rushed to meet with a group of artists in an attempt to calm the community and end the war between the artists and the extremists; this has given rise to hopes that Mursi is not from the ranks of the radicals. Everybody who emerged from this meeting was smiling and appeared optimistic, thanking the president for his initiative and position. Perhaps they are right, not because Mursi does not mean what he says, and I believe that he truly does mean this, in terms of support and commitment to protect the arts and culture.

However the question that must be asked here is: is Mursi the president stronger than the Brotherhood Mursi?

Who will prevent the attack on the pillars of culture and the role of arts by extremist groups that believe that they brought Mursi to power, not the other way round?

The problem in their reasoning is that political victory and electoral majority means a cultural victory over other cultures, and this victory is therefore a green light against others. A partisan victory and large electorate grants the right of political administration, but it does not eliminate others; this is something that is at the heart of individual rights and freedoms.

Our society is full of loud discussions, and the political and social talk ignores the most important issue - which represents the first step - and this is that rights and freedoms are fixed, no matter if we are talking about the rights of those on the margin or in the minority. They have the right of coexistence, tolerance and the acceptance of others.

What is puzzling is that our Arab world is full of ideas and desires for change and calls for reform; however those who raise the banners of “rights” and “freedoms” do not care to define this to themselves and their followers. What does “rights” truly mean? Who does this apply to? What are “freedoms” and what are their limits? What is certain is that when the political or religious conservatives raise the slogans of “rights” and “freedoms”, or get involved in democratic work, this means that society has reached its peak maturity, however we have now seen them fall at the first hurdle! In other words, we are facing the culture of retreating in the name of progress, rejecting one form of injustice in order to impose another form of this.

In Tunisia, the Ben Ali regime would deprive its opponents of their rights and freedoms, whilst today certain groups within the government are behaving worse than the police did during the Ben Ali era. Following this less-than-ideal introduction of the new era, can we be optimistic for the future? I believe so, because we are in the early stages of a social conflict, rather than a conflict with a regime, and the people will not accept their rights being deprived under any name!

muna@kuwaittimes.net ountry in chaos. These are the words I hear most frequently these days from expatriates working in Kuwait. I don’t blame them at all. From everything that they see and hear on the television, they can be certainly excused for harboring such concerns. In fact, the image of Kuwait that is presented by local dailies is a matter of concern, especially at a time when most key former MPs are calling on everyone to rebel against the current regime and other political groups, whether they are liberal, Shaiis, Salfi or independent.

Headlines and reports about the current state of affairs suggest that we might be on the brink of a civil war or are actually about to mount a serious rebellion against the powers that be. It would be impractical to deny that the expected judgment by a constitutional court with regard to the country’s electoral system will have a serious bearing on the politics of the country. But, I doubt that the final verdict will please everyone. I personally, am against a significant change in laws governing the country while the national assembly is not in session or is about to be dissolved. I believe that there should be a new election based on the current system which then allows the freshly elected national assembly to vote in favor or against a new electoral system. This is my point of view regarding this matter and I feel along with many others that the laws, which haven’t been updated since 2006, are being misused to force out the old order and install a new one.

Possibly, an order that is far more positively inclined towards the current government.

Another major question that has arisen is the lack of questioning about the current developmental agenda. The government has alleged that the national assembly has proved to be a major obstacle when it comes to introducing reform or overhauling the economic system of the country, but at present the national assembly is not in session to stall the government so it can carry out any developmental work that it wishes. Who is holding them up? No one.

I see this as an attempt to damage the democratic process in Kuwait and as an attempt to send an erroneous message to the international community that the country’s internal stability is being seriously threatened by the Muslim Brothers, while political parties reap the benefits from this cloud of uncertainty hanging over the nation. Time will eventually reveal the truth, but we need to exercise caution at present. You may read a lot of things in the papers, but all of them cannot twist the actual truth. Expect the unexpected but do not exaggerate the reality that Kuwait is still safe.

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kuwait digest

Fundamental contradiction

By Aziz Mufarej ember of Parliament Ahmad Al-Saadoun accuse the current Kuwaiti regime of trying to conrecently stated that if voters think they will trol or manipulate electoral decisions. not elect someone they consider inept, It is funny that Al-Saadoun and his supporters then why do they accuse the government of buy- still believe that they have the endorsement of the ing votes as this removes the possibility of a voter Kuwaiti people, especially after the defeat of Aug electing someone he sees as an unfit MP. A voter’s 27, which has failed to serve as a reality check, opinion also implies that the government fails to which clearly shows the Kuwaiti people supporting buy votes because the voter is aware and sincere the current government as a manifestation of their and will not agree to elect just anyone for money. stand against Al-Saadoun’s constant attempts at If voters deny this, it means they are capable of destabilizing the country. voting for a person who is not competent enough Many people find it strange that this group first to be an MP and will do so on the basis of money. wants an amendment of several articles of the conWe, as people who see things in the right con- stitution, but later reneges on this promise as it text, admit that many voters make bad choices by also wants to retain the authority underlined in selling their votes to the those articles at the same candidate who pays more, time, thereby displaying It is funny that Al-Saadoun based on the theory that the fundamental contradicand his supporters still believe the only benefit he will tion in its ideology, and that they have the endorsement receive from an MP will be which this party wants us of the Kuwaiti people, especialthe few dinars offered durto share as well. Leaders of ing elec tions. There are this group are upset ly after the defeat of Aug 27, others who are compelled because they failed to get which has failed to serve as a to cast their vote in the the support of a majority of reality check, which clearly favor of a fellow tribesman, Kuwaiti people, who shows the Kuwaiti people supeven though he might be refused to side with the bad candidate, but faction’s deviant politics, porting the current government because the rest of tribe and in return its leaders as a manifestation of their wants him elected. started accusing the generstand against Al-Saadoun’s There are voters who al public of being thieves, constant attempts at destabilizchoose to elect a member cowards and guilty of of their sect to ensure a cheap behavior, etc. ing the country. large representation of the They even refused to group, even though the elected sect member spare the highest office of the National Assembly, might be incompetent. which they stormed proclaiming that, “those who The same goes for religious groups, which arbi- fight their people will have the same fate as trarily decide on who will contest elections from Gaddafi.” the faction, regardless of the wishes of a compeWe are all aware of Gaddafi’s fate, but would tent person from within the sect who might also like to pose an innocent question to the governwant to run, but faces opposition and is eventually ment, and wonder whether it will answer in the made to lose because he acted without the sup- form of a legal summons, an interrogation or a disport and against the wishes of the sect. And it is play of total ignorance, because this entire debate precisely these people who turn around and is not worth it. — Al-Watan

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kuwait digest

Understanding symbolic values

By Dr Sulaiman Al-Khadhari ometimes, people with religious ideologies and unite, which fosters an eagerness to attain this struggle to deal with issues that have a symbolic unity along with strengthening the national spirit, dimension, such as the value or significance of a regardless of the country’s economic or political situstate’s national anthem or flag. The significance of ation. The main problem arises when religious texts such ideas is often viewed by these individuals are misused to shape and inform certain political through the narrow scope offered by religious read- agendas. For instance, an Islamist Kuwaiti lawmaker ings that shun principles of advancement that have recently gained notoriety for referring to Kuwait’s national flag as, ‘a piece of cloth’, and later tried to jusrevolutionized societies across the world.

This is a serious issue, as it relates to people, who tify his stance using religious arguments based on refuse to move ahead with the changing times, claims that glorifying symbols of national importance isn’t necessarily considered instead choosing to maintain a part of religion. a stranglehold on traditional However, the same lawvalues stemming from reliSymbolism is highly signifimaker was witnessed gious pretexts. cant if it pertains to upholding a proudly brandishing the Not only that, such pergroup of great principles such Syrian rebels’ flag after sons also attempt to impose entering the liberated Syrian their archaic points of view as patriotism and national unicity of Idlib, and was quoted on the rest of society by ty between citizens possessing terming the occasion as, “a endorsing what they believe different opinions and backblessed day on which the to be, ‘religious requireliberation flag was hoisted.” ments,’ and which they warn grounds, in addition to a willSuch instances should people not to violate. ingness to sacrifice oneself for force us to admit that we Symbolism is highly sigthe nation. In fact, many treat have elected a generation of nificant if it pertains to politicians, who walk upholding a group of great this as an urgent need instead against the tide of time, and principles such as patriotism of a highly regarded value. force society to regress in all and national unity between fields, while failing to instill citizens possessing different opinions and backgrounds, in addition to a willing- the beautiful values of patriotism and respect ness to sacrifice oneself for the nation. In fact, many towards anything that symbolizes our national unity. treat this as an urgent need instead of a highly What is worse is that a clear manifestation of their regarded value. All societies aim at creating a symbol, contradictory behavior is completely ignored by their which allows everyone to cast their differences aside supporters. — Al-Rai

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kuwait digest

Looking for a way out

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij wrote this column a day before Monday’s demonstration was held, which was not expected to be an upgrade to its predecessor. That was the common speculation, until owner of Al-Shahed daily, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah volunteered to save the opposition bloc by writing a column that severely criticized MP Musallam Al-Barrak. He is expected to receive support from his tribesmen. Also, the opposition’s gathering was speculated to fail until the Interior Ministry passed its threats against demonstrators planning to spend a night, which enabled the opposition bloc to garner people’s sympathy.

Regardless of whether any of that happened or not, and regardless of whether the demonstration was successful or not, the opposition bloc needs to accept the reality that they are alone at the Iradah Square. And to consider that they are alone is not even fair when they are not united.

The bloc is alone as all - and not most - other political groups expressed reservation on many of the

I

The bloc is alone as all - and not most - other political groups expressed reservation on many of the steps they have taken. Political groups happen to be more experienced in political work and in national democratic struggle. steps they have taken. Political groups happen to be more experienced in political work and in national democratic struggle.

The bloc was supposed to respect the opinion of a personality such as Dr Ahmad Al-Khateeb, who found the Constitutional Court’s ruling (reinstating the 2009 parliament) a legal victory for the sovereignty of the people, and a true act of exercising regulations which the opposition claims to be protecting. Furthermore, the opposition should currently be taking serious consideration in decisions made by groups which previously joined their action, but later preferred to step aside and avoid taking part in the abnormal and extreme practices.

The opposition’s slogans and goals are merely reactions that come abruptly as an untimely challenge and show of power. It is as if they are making threats against the government whenever they feel that their demands are ignored. Given their current position, reducing popularity and poor political capabilities, the opposition bloc is committing political suicide by going ahead with these practices. I am convinced, especially if the demonstration is found unsuccessful, that the opposition will try to find a way out or retreat. But their well-known stubbornness means that they are likely go on with what they do and pay a heavy price later. —Al-Qabas

5

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LOCAL

Expat population ‘could threaten’ GCC security New official study

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah pictured with the participants of the 24th diving journey.

Crown Prince receives participants of pearl diving journey KUWAIT: Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday Minister of Communications and acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Engineer Salem Mthieb Al-Uthainah.

Al-Utahinah was accompanied by Chairman and Director General pf the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Faisal Al-Jazzaf, President of the Kuwait Marine Sports Club retired Major General Fahad Al-Fahd, President and members of the Board of Directors and number of youths taking part in the activities of the 24th diving journey.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf delivered a speech in which he confirmed the importance of maintaining the thoroughbreds identity of Kuwait and commemorate the fathers and forefathers who have endured hardships and terrors and risked their lives in order to pursue decent livelihood overseas.

His Highness praised efforts of the Kuwaiti youth and their spirit of loyalty, allegiance and cooperation for their homeland, wishing them luck and success. His Highness conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir for the success of the

24th pearl diving journey, saying that such journey would continue annually as a successful national and Gulf celebration that represents the most successful national activities in the field of reviving of ancient maritime heritage. HH also extolled efforts of all those behind the success of this activity topped

by Minister Al-Utahinah and his staff. Then Minister of Communications and acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor gave his speech in which he expressed his pride to meet HH the Deputy Amir along with a group of young Kuwaitis “who took on the responsibility of preserving the heritage of the first generation through the revival of diving trips and collecting pearls”. He welcomed the participation of a number of divers from the Kingdom of Bahrain, a matter which reflected the depth of brotherly historic relations between the GCC countries, expressing his thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince for his continued support for the efforts of young people and achieve their aspirations and desires in the interests of the country. For his part, Al-Fahad also praised the infinite support extended by His Highness the Amir and the government of Kuwait for this type of sport. The meeting was attended by head of His Highness the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Al-Faisal Al-Saud Al-Sabah. —- KUNA

KUWAIT: More than 12.5 million workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are foreigners, accounting for 31 percent of the 40 million GCC population, the latest official study said. Three million foreigners are domestic workers in the six GCC member states. The expatriate labor is not distributed in uniformly in these countries.

While 30 percent of the Saudi Arabian population is expatriate, in Bahrain it is 26 percent. Expatriates account for 80 percent of the population in the United Arab Emirates, while they constitute 27 percent in Qatar, 63 percent in Kuwait and 62 percent in Oman.

However, some other studies claim that the actual number of expatriate workers in the GCC is about 15 million, Al-Hayat daily reported yesterday.

The expatriate work force in the Gulf can be divided into Arabs and Asians. They flock from their poor native countries to the wealthy Gulf in search of employment and better living conditions. The largescale recruitment of expatriate work force was justified by the need for executing huge development projects in the fast-growing GCC countries.

Another factor was the willingness of expatriate workers to undertake hazardous jobs with lower wages that Gulf citizens refuse to do.

They started coming to the Gulf countries mostly in the 1970s, when oil companies largely depended on workers from the subcontinent. The trading, transport, fishing and security sectors also depended heavily on the expatriates.

As the economies in the Gulf countries continued their growth in later decades, multinational companies that undertook extensive development of the infrastructural sector recruited labor from the cheapest sources in Asian countries.

It is also worrying that the level of Arab expatriates has been falling compared to Asians in the GCC. According to a report of the Arab Labor Organization, the number of Arab expatriate workers in the GCC

MoC sets 500 fils per minute for Thuraya satellite calls KUWAIT: The Minister of Communications and Acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Salem Al-Atheina issued a decree on Monday to set prices of Thuraya satellite phone calls at 500 fils per minute.

In a statement, the ministry pointed out that decision number 1411 will be applied from date of its publication in the official newspaper.

On the other hand, the ministry indicated that it has

informed Ministry of Information about approval of licenses of news services via Short Message Services (SMS) for 10 companies in accordance with ministerial decision (1386/2012).

Furthermore, the ministry asked the Ministry of Information and 10 companies to strongly abide by provisions of the decision which aimed at adding value to the SMS services. — KUNA

plummeted from 72 percent in 1975 to 23 percent in 2008. For instance, the report found that Egyptians and other Arab workers accounted for only 11 percent, while Indian workers dominated the work force by 52 percent followed by 10 percent Pakistanis. There are also three percent consultants and experts from Western countries.

One of the problems created by the huge presence of expatriates is the threat they pose to a country’s security. The sheer number will also take its toll on the planned utilities in these countries.

Abdullah Al-Gheilani, an Omani expert on demography, said the imbalance in the population was a security issue rather than an economic one. “The recruitment of expatriate labor and experts for developmental works is not the problem, but the real problem is to depend on the foreign work force for decades. Gulf countries excepting Saudi Arabia and Oman are unable to manage even their internal (security) matters by their national work force,” Al-Gheilani said. He also warned against the erosion of social values and increase in crime rates because of the imbalanced presence of foreigners in a society.

The expert observed that the expatriates in GCC countries refused to integrate with the local culture, unlike the migrant communities in the United States had been doing.

He called on the Gulf countries to grapple with the unhealthy demographic situation seriously and jointly. One of the solutions recommended by Al-Gheilani to solve the issue is to enable Arab expatriates to integrate into the GCC society, “because Arabs are less dangerous for the GCC society than any other nationality of expatriate workers.” — MCT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LOCAL

Youth dies of drug overdose in Salmiya, two friends held Man arrested for possession of police uniform KUWAIT: After a drug overdose left an addict dead, his two friends, who had brought him to the hospital, have been arrested by the police. The victim was declared dead on arrival at the Mubarak Hospital, where the police were summoned by the medical staff, who reported the case. The two young men, who had rushed the victim to the medical facility, were taken into custody for further investigation, during which they admitted that the victim had collapsed while the three were using drugs at an apartment in Salmiya. The two accused have been presented before the relevant authorities for further action.

Motorist killed A 23-year-old Kuwaiti driver was killed in an accident on the Al- Ghous Street on Monday.

Another male driver was injured during the accident, which took place opposite Mubarak AlKabeer, after the vehicle caught fire. The body of the deceased victim has been moved to the Forensic Depar tment and an investigation is under way to determine the circumstances

Youth assaults sister A girl was hospitalized after being physically assaulted by her brother, who found out that his sister was dating multiple men and using different phones to call them. The incident took place in the Hawally province, where the young man forced his way into his sister’s bedroom to conduct a search after suspecting her of being involved in improper conduct. The search resulted in him finding three hidden cell phones, each containing pictures of his sister as well as messages exchanged with different men.

The boy then reportedly lost his temper and lashed out at his sister, until their parents intervened.

The girl, on her part, tried to convince her parents that the phones belonged to her friends, who had mistakenly left them with her.

This further angered the brother who then beat his sister and only stopped after the parents called the police. An investigation has been launched into the case.

ducted into claims made by a man, who was recently arrested for possession of a police detective’s uniform, which the accused said belongs to his brother-inlaw. So far, no evidence indicating that the man posed a serious threat to national security have been found, a source familiar with the case stated. The police started looking into the case after they found pictures on the suspect’s phone, which showed him dressed in a police uniform and carr ying a walkie -talkie. The accused was arrested in Al-Faih’a, while he was driving with a woman . The man, who claimed to be a Kuwaiti national, was taken into custody after he failed to produce proper identification, even though his Kuwaiti companion provided hers. During interrogation, the man admitted that he was, in fact, Iranian, following which the police searched his car and found the uniform. The man is still in the custody of the Criminal Investigations General Department and will be grilled further.

Suspect in custody Investigations are being con-

Abdali desert rescue A Kuwaiti man, who went

behind the accident.

missing in the Abdali desert, has been rescued by a police helicopter. Several patrol vehicles had been dispatched on a search and rescue mission after the driver made an emergency call stating that his vehicle had broken down.

A rescue helicopter joined the operation for aerial surveillance after officials were unable to locate the caller on land. The man was eventually found unharmed and was given the necessary assistance by police.

Dealer sues customer An electrical appliances dealer has pressed charges against a longstanding customer, after the latter failed to pay a debt of KD 60,000.

In a statement made at the AlNugra police station, the Kuwaiti man alleged that the customer in question had failed to clear any of his bills during the last six months, even though he knew that the first installment of the pending dues needed to be cleared three months after the purchase. Investigations are being conducted to verify the man’s claims. —Al-Watan, Al-Rai, Al-Anba

Diving team frees trapped yacht KUWAIT: Kuwaiti divers of the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF) lifted a yacht, 50 feet long and weighing 20 tons, that was trapped in front of Sharq Mall, after it crashed onto the rocks due to strong wind.

Vice Admiral Faisal Al-Harban who was in charge of the operation said that the team tried to float and budge the yacht using air bags, but shallow waters kept the vessel trapped.

Al-Harban added that the team used a 50-ton crane and waited for high tide to finally pull the yacht out. Boats provided by the Marine Rescue Team of the Fire Department contributed in the operation and the yacht was returned to its anchor.

Al-Harban praised the efforts of the marine rescue center and Coast Guard Administration for their cooperation as well. —KUNA

Burgan Bank announces winners of iPad 3, Galaxy SIII cards campaign KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the first two winners of the bank cardholder’s monthly draw to win an iPad3 and Samsung Galaxy SIII on it cards campaign. The lucky winners of the iPad3 and Samsung Galaxy SIII were Jaber Aqeel Ramadan Al-Enezy and Manoj Kumar Sharma respectively.

The winners’ announcement comes as part of Burgan Bank’s cards promotion that was launched earlier, in which every KD 10 spent in Kuwait online or in stores using Burgan Bank’s cards, cardholders will be granted 1 chance to enter the draw.

Customers using their cards outside Kuwait,

will double their chances to entering the monthly draws. Two winners will be announced on a monthly basis, with a total of 12. There are 10 more remaining winners that will also benefit from this draw in the coming five months.

Burgan Bank’s latest promotion is in-line with its overall commitment to provide its customers with exclusive benefits that go

beyond their banking needs. To find out more about Burgan Bank’s services as well as its latest promotions, customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch or contact the call center on 1804080.

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial bank based in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries: Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq),

Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”).

The Bank has continuously improved its performance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base.

The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trend-

setter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire. ‘People come first’ is the foundation on which its products and services are developed. Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ the international brand valuation companyrated Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook. The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at 2nd amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait.

Excellence is one of the Bank’s four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The Bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the first bank in the GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive such accreditation. The Bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive years.

Burgan Bank won the prestigious “Banking Web Awards” prize in the commercial and corporate Category for Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan Bank was awarded with the “Best Internet Banking Service award” from Banker Middle East Awards. Burgan Bank was recognized in 2011 as Kuwait’s “Best Private Bank”, by World Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted “International Platinum Star for Quality ” award from Business Initiative Directions, and “The Best Technical Award” from Banking Web Awards.

In 2012, Global Banking and Finance Review online magazine recognized Burgan Bank as the “Best Banking Group in the MENA” as well as the “Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait”.

Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned regional bank in the MENA region.

Kuwait-Algeria committee to follow up on investments

Stage set for Kuwait marathon KUWAIT: Preparations are underway to hold the Kuwait Marathon on November 3, at Road 80, north of Kuwait, featuring a 10 kilometer race, a half marathon (21.098 kilometer) race, a full marathon (42.195 kilometer) race and an ultra marathon (100 kilometer) race.

“The distances are based on international standards because it is time for

Kuwait to host professional sporting events,” said Yousuf Al-Qanaei Head of the Organizing Committee. An ‘I Am Strong’ team will be present at the Kuwait Scientific Center between the 13 and 15 September to receive applications from participants of both genders who, according to Al-Qanaei, must be “physically fit to endure a marathon held in desert.”

ALGERIA: Algerian Finance Minister Karim Djoudi announced yesterday the establishment of a committee to take follow up action on investments made between Kuwait and Algeria, and also to resolve obstacles and impediments facing joint projects.

On the sidelines of the seventh session of the Kuwaiti-Algerian Joint Committee, convened in Algiers, he told KUNA that the establishment of this specialized committee was a key recommendation of the sixth session of the joint committee which took place in Kuwait in 2010.

The Algerian minister revealed that the two countries are now looking forward to establishing a Kuwaiti-Algerian businessmen council.

He stressed that the agenda of the seventh session includes items related to Kuwaiti investments made in Algeria in the sectors of insurance and pharmaceutical industry, as well as building material.

The seventh session which began yesterday, will last till this evening, is co-chaired by Dr Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf Kuwaiti Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Karim Djoudi Algerian Minister of Finance.

The Kuwaiti delegation includes a number of senior officials representing the ministries of finance, energy, commerce and industry, and public works, alongside a group of investors. —KUNA

Kuwait hosts GCC standing committee for meteorology KUWAIT: The General Administration of Civil Aviation, represented by the Air Navigation Services sector, will hold the second meeting of the GCC Standing Committee for Meteorology and Climate in Kuwait during September 12 to 13 in the presence of the permanent representatives of the GCC countries of World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO).

Mohammed Karam, Director of the Meteorological Department in the Civil Aviation, said yesterday that during the meeting, observation and control strategies will be discussed to address the issue of drought in the GCC countries and to reduce the risks of extreme weather conditions.

He said that during the meeting, there will be a discussion over Kuwait’s proposal on the memorandum of understanding, exchange of information and meteorological ser vices between national meteorology centers in the GCC countries.

The memorandum aims to implement cooperation between the GCC countries to apply all standards and international obligations to exchange, record and

monitor meteorological data in the framework of World Meteorological Organization’s rules and regulations, early warning system, long-term forecasts and climate modeling and strengthening national capacity of training and experiences.

In addition, Karam said that the meeting’s agenda includes the Standing Committee for Meteorology and Climate’s draft action plan and the proposed unified law for the GCC national weather facilities in addition to a draft regulation fund to support joint projects in the fields of meteorology and climate of the GCC countries.

Discussions on the proposals and additions by the Meteorological Department in Kuwait and the national GCC facilities will also be held in the meeting, he added.

Karam concluded by saying that the coordination of GCC visuals on the Global Framework for Climate Services, will be discussed during the special session of the of the World Meteorological Conference that will be held in Geneva in October 2012. —KUNA

Cambodia praises bilateral ties with Kuwait KUALA LUMPUR: Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hor Namhong, praised the bilateral ties shared between Cambodia and Kuwait, valuing the presence of the Kuwaiti embassy in Cambodia, which is the only Arab embassy present in the country.

This statement was made during a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Cambodia Dharar Al-Tuwaijri who conveyed greetings and good wishes of Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to enhance and strengthen the bilateral relations at all levels.

Ambassador Al-Tuwaijri said on the phone on Tuesday that he delivered a letter from the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister

to the Cambodian Minister concerning bolstering bilateral ties.

The letter also included an invitation to the Cambodian Minister to attend the reception ceremony held in the Kuwaiti Embassy, on the occasion of Cambodia heading the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

Al-Tuwaijri added that Namhong expressed gratitude and appreciation for this invitation, which he promised to attend.

In addition, Al-Tuwaijri said that the reception will be held on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of establishing ASEAN, as well as to celebrate decades of outstanding Kuwaiti-Cambodian relations. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Romney criticizes teachers for striking

Jailed Indian cartoonist offered bail amid outcry Page 12

Page 10

JORDAN: The UN refugee agency’s special envoy, actress Angelina Jolie, center, arrives to the Zaatari Refugees Camp in Jordan for Syrians who fled the civil war in their country, yesterday. Jolie said yesterday she heard “horrific” and “heartbreaking” accounts from Syrian refugees in a camp which hosts about 30,000 Syrians displaced by the 18-month conflict that has so far claimed at least 23,000 lives, according to activists. — AP

Aleppo pounded, Jolie visits refugees Brahimi prepares for Damascus trip ALEPPO: Syrian guns pounded rebel positions in Aleppo and heavy fighting rocked the Old City amid a flurry of diplomatic activity yesterday, as world powers pressed on with the formidable task of seeking an end to the bloodshed.

After an eerily quiet morning, a resident reported renewed bombardments of the Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr districts in the south, Suleiman al-Halabi in the centre and Bustan al-Basha in the north.

“There are clashes now in the Old City,” a mainly Christian area of the commercial hub, the resident told AFP. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that five people, including a child were killed, in shelling of the rebel stronghold of Sakhur, and 12 people killed altogether in Aleppo province.

Drinking water supplies-cut off in many areas of the city after a main pipe was blown open during fighting and air raids on Saturday-were restored after repairs, the resident said. But shortages persisted in the northeast of the city, including in Bustan al-Basha. In the capital,

meanwhile, an explosion rocked the upscale western district of Mazzeh overnight, and proregime gunmen fought rebels in Barzeh, another wealthy neighbourhood, the Observatory said.

Fierce clashes broke out south of the capital in Tadamun and the nearby Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp, the watchdog said, adding that three civilians were killed in shelling of the area of Al-Hajar Al-Aswad nearby. Just south of Damascus, at least one man was killed by sniper fire as clashes raged in the towns of Babila and Yalda, where the army launched a large-scale operation, the Observatory said.

At least nine people, including a woman and child, were killed in shelling of houses in the town of Kfar Zeita in the central province of Hama, according to the Observatory. In Deir Ezzor province in the east, warplanes bombarded the town of Albu Kamal on the Iraqi border, killing four people, including three women. They also hit several districts of Deir Ezzor city, where clashes broke out and rebels deployed anti-aircraft guns. One man was killed in the northwest-

ern city of Idlib as fierce clashes broke out between the rebels and military backed by aircraft. The watchdog gave an initial toll of at least 36 people killed nationwide yesterday — 33 of them civilians-after a day in which 139 lives were claimed. More than 27,000 people have been killed since the revolt against President Bashar alAssad broke out in May 2011, according to the Observatory, which gathers its information from a network of sources on the ground.

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was in Cairo to meet exiled opposition leaders ahead of a planned visit to Damascus, his spokesman said. British Foreign Secretary William Hague was also there for talks with President Mohamed Morsi, amid a diplomatic flurry in the Egyptian capital, where Syrian neighbours gathered to discuss the conflict. Brahimi would meet “representatives of the Syrian opposition as well as activists and Syrian intellectuals,” his spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told AFP. The envoy began on Monday what he called a “very difficult” mission to bring peace to Syria. “I

realise it’s a very difficult mission, but I think it is not my right to refuse to give whatever assistance I can to the Syrian people,” Brahimi said, adding that he planned on going to Damascus within a “few days.” Pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, quoting a “private” source, said Brahimi would go on Saturday to Damascus, where the UN-Arab League envoy said he expected to meet Assad and civil society figures.

A day after nearly 140 people were reportedly killed across Syria, the UN refugee agency said the number of civilians fleeing nearly 18 months of violence has reached more than 250,000.

UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters the humanitarian problems sparked by the conflict is “our biggest crisis.” “The complexity of the crisis is one of the aspects which sets it apart and the speed with which people have fled Syria,” Edwards said. The plight of the refugees was also under the spotlight as Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie spoke to journalists at the UN-run Zaatari camp in northern Jordan, flanked

by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio

Guterres. “We encourage the international community to do everything they can to support these refugees, and there is much to be done,” said Jolie, a special envoy of the agency. “It has been a very heavy experience,” she said of her tour of the camp. “It is very emotional to be with people who are wondering who is on their side.”

Syria’s neighbours who have sheltered refugees have been pleading for funds and Jordan says it needs $700 million in international aid to cope with the influx.

The United Nations says more than 1.2 million civilians, more than half of them children, have also been displaced inside Syria. The World Health Organisation said it was seeking to reinforce its activities in the battered central city of Homs, where hospitals are “overwhelmed with patients”, according to spokesman Tarik Jasarevic.

“The humanitarian situation is grave and continues to deteriorate,” Jasarevic told a news conference in Geneva. The WHO says that only half of Homs’s 12 public hospitals are functioning and at a reduced capacity. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

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

Lebanese Christian villagers tremble on Syrian border MINJEZ: A tiny Christian village in northern Lebanon, perched on a hill overlooking Syria, Minjez is a bucolic and peaceful place by day but terrorised at night by shelling from across the border. “We can’t sleep a wink,” laments Marcele Shahine, a 37-year-old mother of four. “The other night a rocket hit a house, but happily no one was there.”

“What have we got to do with what’s going on in Syria? Why are they bombing us and we paying the price,” she adds, calling for the government to do something to help the village and its 200 residents.

The answer is not difficult to find: it is very likely that anti-regime gunmen

are slipping through the lush fields running down the hill from Minjez and across the Nahr al-Kabir River that serves as the border here.

The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announces on an almost daily basis that its forces have foiled attempts by “terrorists,” its term for rebels, to infiltrate the country. The village priest, Father Esper Antoun, says: “We know that they are not targeting us, but it is said that armed men are entering Syria by way of the fields.”

Standing outside a lovely stone church just days before Pope Benedict XVI is due to visit Lebanon, Father Esper says the villagers’ biggest fear is one of “becoming the victims of someone

else’s war.” Numerous border villages in the nor th have been targeted by shelling in recent months, notably in the Wadi Khaled region, which has been the destination of many Syrians fleeing the killing and destruction at home.

The neighbouring region of Akkar is another target, and Issam al-Marouni, a seventy-something Christian, walks down a tiny street between the old stone houses in the village of Debbabiyeh. Marouni said he has never abandoned his village, even during the 1975-1990 civil war, and that he never will. “But since the uprising began in Syria, I have seen entire families leave.

Our villages are becoming the transit

point for armed men going to fight the Syrian regime.”

Marouni’s Syrian wife is from the village of Ghazir, just across the border, and they used to visit her family there.

“That has all changed now.” And change is a word that causes these Christians to tremble, just as it does their fellow believers on the other side of the border. Back in Minjez, Victor Tannous, aged 45, says: “We are worried, we are afraid of this period of uncertainty, afraid of a sectarian breakdown.”

Tannous lives in Beirut and has returned to his home town to check on his relatives after the latest shelling.

He appealed to Pope Benedict, who has called for dialogue and reconcilia-

tion in the Middle East, ahead of a three-day visit to Lebanon that begins on Friday. “We ask the pope to support us Christians, to encourage us to remain on our land, because there is great fear that chaos will come to Lebanon because of the Syrian conflict.”

“Perhaps I will sell my land in the future if the situation gets worse.”

Voicing a fear of Christians on both sides of the border, Marouni says they “could pay the price of the war in Syria, all the more because there is talk of (Islamist) extremists” emerging among the ranks of the rebels. And as Shahine puts it, “we are a minority, and with changes in regimes, we have to watch out for our survival.” — AFP

Yemen defence minister survives car bomb, 12 killed Blast damages several cars

SANAA: Female protestors chant slogans during a demonstration demanding the trial of Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa, Yemen, yesterday. Arabic on the girl’s face, center, reads, “be executed” and on her hand reads, “no immunity”. — AP

Turkey refuses to extradite fugitive Iraqi vice president ANKARA: Turkey yesterday said it won’t extradite Iraq’s fugitive vice president Tareq al-Hashemi, who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death in absentia by an Iraqi court. “We will host Hashemi in our country as long as he wants to remain in Turkey. We will not hand him over,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara.

Hashemi, who is sheltering in Turkey, was Sunday sentenced to death for the murders of a lawyer and a brigadier general, after being accused of running a death squad. The Sunni Arab politician has charged that his trial was politically motivated and ruled out returning to Iraq until his security is guaranteed and he is assured of a fair trial.

Erdogan said Hashemi, an Iraqi official who lost many family members during the conflict in Iraq, could not possibly have been involved in the crimes that he has been found guilty of. Iraq’s Shiite-led government opened charges against Hashemi in December after US troops pulled out of the country.

Hashemi fled to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, which declined to hand him over to the federal government, and then travelled via Qatar and Saudi Arabia to eventually arrive Turkey.

Speaking in Ankara on Monday, Hashemi branded the death sentence “the final phase of the theatrical campaign” carried out by his rival, Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki, and “his politicised judiciary”. — AFP

‘Secret’ Syria strike helps Israel signal resolve on Iran JERUSALEM: An Israeli cabinet minister yesterday invoked his country’s ostensibly secret 2007 air raid on an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor to suggest Israel could successfully strike Iran without US support.

Israel has never formally acknowledged the bombing of the desert site at Deir al-Zor nor said what was destroyed a precaution against drawing Syria into a retaliatory war, according to then-US President George W. Bush, who in his memoir described the target as a nascent, North Korean-supplied reactor.

That Bush, by his own account, declined to carry out a US strike as initially requested by Israel resurfaced this week in an expose by the New Yorker magazine. It touched a topical nerve given current tensions between the allies over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hints he could defy Washington by taking similar action against Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

“According to what was reported, then, too, President Bush was not enthused by an attack, did not agree to the United States taking part, and in any event the right step was taken,” Environment Minister Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio.

Erdan, a influential member of the ruling, rightist Likud party, was answering a question about whether Israel could afford to deepen its rift with the United States, which has resisted Netanyahu’s demand for a “clear red line” beyond which it would be willing to resort to force on Iran.

The Netanyahu government has made clear Israel is prepared to attack unilaterally if necessary, despite divided domestic opinion and Western calls to give diplomacy with Tehran more time.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, as

did Syria in 2007. As noted by the New Yorker, differences abound between the single, exposed structure hit by Israel in neighbouring Syria and the numerous, distant and defended Iranian facilities.

The unprecedented public debate in Israel about prospects for a war with Iran further limits comparison with Syria in 2007 and the sneak Israeli bombing of Iraq’s atomic reactor in 1981.

Israeli officials insist they have the technical means to surprise Iran, and that their reticence about Deir al-Zor exists, in part, to preserve such secrets.

But they have also bristled at statements from within the Obama administration questioning whether Israel has the capabilities to cause significant damage to Iran, and countered by invoking the previous missions in Iraq and Syria.

“The mistake then, as now, was to underestimate Israel’s military ingenuity,” Amos Yadlin, one of the fighter-bomber pilots who took part in the 1981 operation and went on to command Israeli military intelligence during the Deir alZor attack, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece in February.

He referred to “the destruction of the Syrian reactor in 2007” - straying from Israel’s no-comment policy. Asked by Reuters when Israel might give an onrecord account of what happened at Deir al-Zor, dropping its censorship order, a defence official said there was no such decision pending. But the official also indicated Israel no longer feels the same reluctance to offend Damascus, having written off President Bashar al-Assad as a 17-month-old Syrian insurgency deepens. “Can you imagine what the mess in Syria would look like today if Assad had nukes?” the official said. Syria does acknowledge having chemical weapons, developed partly to counter Israel’s reputed atomic arsenal. — Reuters

SANAA: Yemeni Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed survived a car bomb that hit his convoy yesterday killing 12 people, a day after the army announced killing AlQaeda’s branch number two. More than 200,000 Yemenis, meanwhile, rallied in the capital demanding the repeal of an immunity granted to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh under a Gulf-brokered deal that eased him out of power in February.

The defence minister “escaped an assassination attempt using a bomb-laden car that targeted his convoy... as he was leaving a weekly cabinet meeting,” state news agency Saba reported. The defence ministry news website 26sep.net quoted Interior Minister Abdelqader Qahtan as saying that the attack left “12 people dead, including seven of the defence minister’s guards.”

Twelve people were also wounded, “some of them seriously,” in the “terrorist attack,” Qahtan said. The blast damaged several cars and left a nearby house on fire, Qahtan said, adding that he has ordered a probe.

A security official had earlier told AFP that the car exploded near the vehicle carrying guards, killing seven of them. One security official said he saw “four charred bodies being pulled out of the wreckage.”

Smoke billowed from the area of the explosion sealed off by police while ambulances rushed to the scene which hosts several government departments as well as security headquarters, witnesses said. The attack comes a day after 26sep.net said that second in command of AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Saeed al-Shehri, was killed in an army operation in the country’s east. No party has, however, yet claimed responsibility for the bomb.

In May, AQAP claimed responsibility

SANAA: Yemeni security forces inspect the site of a car bomb attack targeting the convoy of the country’s defence minister in Sanaa yesterday. Yemen’s Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed survived a car bomb attack that hit his convoy near the government headquarters, but 12 people were killed, including seven guards, a security official said. — AFP for a suicide attack in the capital in which nearly 100 soldiers were killed, saying Ahmed was the target, condemning him over the army’s onslaught on Al-Qaeda in the southern province of Abyan.

Yemen’s military launched a major offensive in Abyan on May 12 in a bid to drive Qaeda-linked jihadists out of towns and cities in the restive province where they have held sway since May 2011.

Last year AQAP took advantage of the weakness of the central government in Sanaa during protests against ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh to expand its pres-

ence in the impoverished country.

Protesters took to the streets again on Tuesday demanding to bring Saleh and his aides to justice over the killing of protesters during a year of demonstration against his rule that lasted 33 years. The protest, the largest since February, had been called for last week by the Committee of the Youth of the Peaceful Revolution. “The number of participants has exceeded 200,000,” said a member of organising committee, while another said protesters covered around five kilometres (three miles) along Al-Zubairy main street of the capital, when others

were still joining. Although he stepped down, Saleh is believed to be working behind the scene to undermine the political transition in the country. Some go as far as accusing him of instigating violence. “If the immunity remains, Saleh and his followers will be encouraged to continue in sabotaging oil (pipelines), and electricity grid, robbing, and supporting terrorism,” said a banner carried by demonstrators. The oil ministry said earlier this month that an explosion hit Yemen’s main oil pipeline sabotaging transfers of crude to the country’s Red Sea export terminal. — AFP

Al Qaeda confirms death of Libi CAIRO: Al Qaeda confirmed yesterday that one of the group’s most senior figures, veteran militant Abu Yahya al-Libi, had died in a US drone strike earlier this year. The US government said in June it had killed Libi in Pakistan, dealing the biggest in a series of blows to the group since the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last year.

“I proudly announce to the Muslim umma and to the Mujahideen (holy fighters)... the news of the martyrdom of the lion of Libya Sheikh Hassan Mohammed Qaed,” Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said in a video released on Islamist websites, referring to Libi by his birth name.

Zawahiri’s statement was the first acknowledgement by Al Qaeda that Libi had died.

Recently released letters written by bin Laden and captured during the US raid in which he was killed show Libi was one of a handful of al Qaeda operatives who bin Laden relied on to promote the group’s case to a worldwide audience of militants, in particular to the young. A cleric, Libi escaped a high security US prison in Afghanistan in 2005. On at least one previous occasion was he was wrongly reported to have been killed in a US drone strike. The White House said in June it would be hard for the group to find someone of similar stature to replace him.

Zawahiri’s posting said the recording was made during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ran from mid-July to midAugust, but that it was released to coincide with the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. “This liar is trying to fool Americans into believing that he will defeat al Qaeda by killing this person or than person,” he said, referring to US President Barack Obama. “But he escapes from the fact that he was defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The United States withdrew most forces from Iraq last year after it led an invasion in 2003 to depose ruler Saddam Hussein, and it is planning a withdrawal from Afghanistan, invaded in 2001 to bring down the Islamist Taliban government.

Zawahiri urged Muslims and particularly Libyans to take revenge for the killing of Libi.

“His blood urges you and incites you to fight and kill the crusaders,” he said. —Reuters

Abu Yahya Al-Libi

Turkish hostage ‘wounded in Lebanon rescue attempt’ BEIRUT: A Turkish hostage was wounded in Beirut yesterday, possibly shot by one of his kidnappers as they fled with him during a failed bid by the Lebanese army to rescue him, the captors said. The fate of Tokan Tikin was not immediately known, though Turkish ambassador Suleyman Inan Ozyildiz said he was “still in the hands of the Muqdad clan,” which kidnapped him and 20 Syrians in southern Beirut last month. Tikin was “was shot as the kidnappers tried to escape with him,” said Maher alMuqdad, spokesman for the Shiite Muslim clan of the same name that is a powerful force in southern Beirut. Muqdad told AFP the army had not opened fire, and that he did not know how Tikin was was wounded. But he said it was possible one of the kidnappers shot him during their escape to prevent the army from approaching them.

“One of our men said the Turkish hostage was wounded in the shoulder and another said he was hit in the chest,” Muqdad said, adding that he was waiting for more information from

his relatives to confirm what happened.

“The group fled with the kidnapped Turk and left the four Syrian hostages behind, and the army took them,” Muqdad said. A military source confirmed an army operation took place in the majority Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut, in search of the hostages taken by the Shiite Muqdad clan in mid-August.

“We carried out an operation last night in parts of the southern suburbs of Beirut, as part of our duties to search for the kidnapped,” the source said, adding Tikin’s whereabouts was unknown. The military on Tuesday confirmed that intelligence forces, along with an army unit, “freed four kidnapped Syrians during a raid after midnight.”

“The army will not retreat from these measures, and will continue to prosecute those involved wherever they are and arrest those responsible,” the statement added. The area of southern Beirut is effectively under the control of the militia of the Shiite group Hezbollah, which has denied any links to the Muqdad clan.—AFP

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

11 YEARS AFTER 9/11

At 9/11 memorial, a plea to remember US troops at war US soldiers ‘putting their lives on the line every day’

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama join members of the White House staff during a moment of silence to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept 11th, yesterday, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. — AP SHANKSVILLE: US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Americans not to forget the troops who are fighting and dying in Afghanistan, as he paid tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. In a visit to a memorial in southwestern Pennsylvania honoring the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 that was hijacked on September 11, 2001, Panetta said the fight against the Al-Qaeda militants behind the attacks was not over, and that soldiers were still in harm’s way. “I pray that as we remember 9/11, and the terrible things that took place on 9/11, that we will also take the time to remind ourselves of the sacrifices that have been made by those who have fought and died in order to make sure that it not happen again,” Panetta told reporters.

“My concern is that too often we do not express our concern and our attention to those who are fighting and dying for this country.

We’re continuing to lose good men and women in battle in Afghanistan,” he said.

He drew a connection between the passengers of Flight 93, who struggled with their hijackers and foiled an apparent attempt by AlQaeda to strike Washington, and US troops waging war against Taleban insurgents eleven years later in Afghanistan.

The US soldiers are “putting their lives on the line every day,” he said. “That kind of sacrifice, that kind of commitment, that kind of dedication, that kind of courage is what makes this country strong. “And we had damn well better remember that every day.” Panetta’s impassioned plea to honor the more than 2,000 American troops killed in Afghanistan and the roughly 77,000 forces deployed there came amid a US presidential campaign that has barely touched on the conflict or foreign policy.

The war in Afghanistan, launched after the 9/11 attacks over the Taliban’s alliance with AlQaeda, has steadily lost popular support but has generated no massive street protests or bitter debate similar to the one surrounding the Iraq conflict. A growing majority of Americans oppose the US military presence there and support NATO’s plan to withdraw most combat forces by the end of 2014. The conflict rarely makes front page news, despite a steady flow of casualties and a vast investment in manpower and money, with political debate focused on how to revive the country’s economy.

Panetta’s trip to the memorial is the first in a series of anniversary ceremonies marking the 9/11 attacks which will unfold yesterday. Events are scheduled in New York City, the Pentagon

in Washington, and again in the rolling countryside in Pennsylvania at the crash site of Flight 93. The Pentagon chief on Monday placed a wreath and bowed his head before marble slabs bearing the names of the 40 passengers and crew who died that day. He then met with family members of the victims from the hijacked plane and walked to a boulder

that marks the point where Flight 93 slammed into the ground in a ball of flame.

Eleven years ago, Flight 93 took off from Newark, New Jersey headed for San Francisco but was hijacked 46 minutes into the flight and ordered to turn towards Washington and its apparent target, the Capitol building.

From phone calls to loved ones on the

ground, those on board learned that other airliners had been hijacked and used to attack the World Trade Center. The passengers and crew voted to challenge the hijackers, and recordings from the plane captured the sounds of a struggle. The Boeing 757 crashed at full speed at 10:03 am, only 20 minutes flying time from Washington.

Panetta said that those aboard the aircraft had displayed “selflessness, determination and tremendous courage” that continues to serve as a source of inspiration. “This is hallowed ground, because this is the final resting place of American patriots,” he said.

Panetta, who as CIA director presided over the successful effort to track down and kill AlQaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011,

NEW YORK: US Army 2LT Michelle Mudge wipes away a tear during ceremonies for the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan at the World Trade Center in New York City. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Nina Fisher, sister of 9/11 victim Andrew Fisher, embraces her niece Mia Tinson, 9, at a ceremony yesterday. — AP

NEW YORK: A woman holding an American flag makes a rubbing of a name on the memorial during eleventh anniversary ceremonies at the site of the World Trade Center yesterday in New York. — AFP

said the extremist network had been severely weakened but that there would be no let-up in Washington’s campaign. “We’ve decimated some of the very key leadership in Al-Qaeda.

There is no question in my mind that we have impacted on their command and control and capability to be able to plan similar 9/11 attacks on this country,” he said. “But having said that, Al Qaeda terrorism still remains a threat, and it’s for that reason that we are continuing to pursue them, in Yemen, and in Somalia, and in North Africa, and elsewhere.” — AFP

Debate surrounds annual $60m cost of memorial NEW YORK: A debate over balancing the need to honor the memory of Sept 11 with the enormous costs of running a memorial and museum at ground zero has been reawakened on the eve of the attacks’ 11th anniversary, as officials faced questions Monday over the project’s expected $60 million-a-year operating budget and an agreement paving the way for the museum’s completion was reached.

The number comes on top of the $700 million construction cost of the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum. A report Sunday by The Associated Press noted that $12 million a year would be spent on security, more than the entire operating budgets of Gettysburg National Military Park and the monument that includes the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who leads the board of the nonprofit foundation that controls the museum and memorial, on Monday called thememorial’s operating cost a necessity for security and other costs unique to hosting millions of visitors a year on the reborn site of two terror attacks, in 1993 and 2001.

Some congressional Democrats underscored their efforts to help get federal money to cover some of the operating cost, while a Republican senator reiterated his opposition. Even some victims’ family members are divided over whether the annual price tag represents the price of paying tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost or the cost of unnecessary grandeur.

At ground zero, several visitors Monday to the memorial plaza were surprised - but not put off by the $60 million-a-year figure. “Really?” said Pat Lee, 57, a Walmart manager from Atlanta. But, she said, “I don’t think the money is too much. Because it’s important to keep alive the memory of what happened.”

The memorial, the centerpiece of the rebuilt World Trade Center site, includes a serene, solemn memorial plaza, where waterfalls fill the fallen towers’ footprints, and a mostly underground museum that is to house such artifacts as the staircase workers used to escape the attacks.

The plaza opened last year and has drawn 4.5 million visitors so far. The museum was to have been finished by Tuesday, but progress has stopped amid a constructioncosts fight between the memorial foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that owns the trade center site. The Port Authority claimed the memorial foundation owed it $300 million for infrastructure and revised project costs; the foundation has argued it’s owed money because of project delays. The parties involved in the dispute said Monday they had reached an agreement. Their memorandum of understanding addresses issues including coordination of the site and general financial terms but doesn’t go into detail on specific levels of financing. The agreement outlines that the memorial will have six months’ operating expenses on hand as net working capital and that it will give the Port

Authority a security deposit equal to six months’ utility expenses, but it doesn’t say what those figures are.

Even so, it remains unclear how the foundation will cover the costs of running the museum, once it does open. So far, the foundation has been able to rely on corporate and individual donations and selling memorabilia.

The annual expense was about $27.8 million last year, including four months of operating the memorial plaza, according to recently audited financial statements. But the expense is projected to jump to $60 million after the museum opens. The foundation plans to spend around $12 million a year on private security; operating the waterfalls costs another $4.5 million to $5 million annually, the foundation says.

Foundation officials haven’t responded to requests for information about other costs at the site. “Nobody is taking the money and building a hunting lodge for the trustees or having caviar and Champagne every night,” Bloomberg said when asked about the operating expenses after an unrelated news conference. “It’s a lot of money, but it costs that. Do you want a real budget, or do you want us to lie?”

He said the costs could be covered by donations, by admission tickets to the museum - the price has not been set, but the memorial president has suggested it could be up to $20 - and from federal aid. A proposal for up to $20 million a year in federal money has, so far, hit roadblocks. —AP

Ground Zero cancer victims to get compensation NEW YORK: About 50 types of cancer have been added to the list of diseases eligible for coverage in a compensation program for people who became sick after the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2001, officials said yesterday.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said it had confirmed a recommendation made in June to include the cancers, which break up into 14 categories. “The final rule adds to the list of WTC-related health conditions each of the types of cancer proposed,” World Trade Center health program administrator John Howard said in a statement.

A $4.3 billion fund is available for 9/11 health victims but until now cancer sufferers-believed to be in the many hundreds-have not been able to place claims of their own. The new rule will take effect in mid-October.

Until now, most of the aid recipients, including local residents and emergency services personnel, have received compensation for respiratory diseases linked to the toxic dust and fumes from the fallen towers.

In the ruling, some cancers are excluded, but 14 broad categories, containing dozens of different types, are included and sufferers would qualify for free treatment and compensation. Despite huge sympathy and political backing for victims of 9/11, the compensation decision has been held up by the scarcity of evidence of a direct link between the World Trade Center tragedy and cancer.

The pool of money for the overall health program will not be expanded. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the news, which came on the eve of the 11th anniversar y of 9/11.” We have urged from the very beginning that the decision whether or not to include cancer be based on science,” he said.

“Dr Howard’s decision, made after thorough consideration of the latest available research and data, will continue to ensure that those who have become ill due to the heinous attacks on 9/11 get the medical care they need and deserve.”

Three New York congressional representativesCarolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Peter Kingsaid the announcement was “great news” ahead of the 9/11 anniversary. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

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

Crisis-hit Catalans rally for pro-independence march BARCELONA: Tens of thousands of pro-independence Catalans poured into Barcelona yesterday for a march demanding a split from the rest of crisis-hit Spain and control of their own economy.

A thousand buses from across the northeastern Spanish region carried supporters to Barcelona for the region’s national day, or Diada, with a slogan: “Catalonia, a new European state.” Fiercely proud of their distinct language and culture, Catalans increasingly feel they are getting a raw deal from Madrid.

Last month, the region reached out for a 5.0-billion-euro ($6.3-billion) central government rescue so as to make repayments on its 40-billion-euro debt, equal to a fifth of its total output. But

the Catalan government, led by regional president Artur Mas and his proautonomy Convergence and Union (CIU) alliance, says the region is just asking for its own money back.

Catalonia, which accounts for onefifth of the Spanish economy, says it pays the central government far more in taxes than it receives in return: a deficit of seven to eight billion euros a year. Mas wants a new “fiscal pact” to allow Catalonia to raise and spend its own taxes, rather than relying on the central government.

The neighbouring Basque Country already enjoys those rights, and its debt has a higher credit rating than the rest of the country. “There is no battle more pressing, no challenge more important than attaining fiscal sovereignty for our

country. And never more so than this very moment,” Mas said in an address to Catalans on the eve of the march.

The Catalan regional boss said he could not join the march himself because of his “institutional” role representing all Catalans and seeking to preserve unity.

“Nevertheless, even being absent, I want you to know that your vindications are my own, your voice is my own and your desires my own,” Mas said.

“Because in the end, whether demanding the fiscal pact, our own state, the respect we deserve as a pacific and democratic nation, or simply to be treated with dignity, all these voices want the same thing: more justice and liberty for Catalonia.”

It’s an argument winning minds in

Catalonia. A survey taken in July and published in Barcelona-based La Vanguardia on Sunday showed 51.1 percent in favour of independence, compared to just 36 percent in 2001.

But the feeling is not mutual: 77 percent of Spaniards are against Catalan independence, and 86 percent think Madrid should control Catalonia’s accounts if it extends a rescue to the region, said a survey Monday in rightwing daily La Razon.

Emotions are heightened by a deepening Spanish recession that has left one in four workers jobless and led Madrid to pursue deep austerity cuts including cuts to health and education in the regions.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party govern-

ment insist that fiscal autonomy for Catalonia will do nothing to resolve the economic crisis. The only path, Rajoy says, is to slash the public deficit at the central government and in the regions, on which Madrid has imposed a deficit limit equal to 1.5 percent of economic output this year.

Catalonia posted a deficit of 3.9 percent of its output last year, contributing to the nation’s overall deficit of 8.9 percent-a figure that alarmed world financial markets. “Catalonia has very serious problems, the first is unemployment, deficit and debt problems, and those problems it shares with the whole of Spain and many regions,” Rajoy said in a television interview on Monday.

“What we don’t need now is a dispute or polemics,” he said. — AFP

Romney criticizes teachers for striking Democrats hope for quick resolution

ISTANBUL: Emergency services carry an injured police officer to the hospital after a suicide bomb attack at the Sultangazi district police station yesterday, in Istanbul. At least one police officer died and five people were severely wounded in a suicide bombing that targeted a police station in central Istanbul, Turkish media reported. — AFP

Suicide bomber kills police officer in Istanbul attack ISTANBUL: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a police station in Istanbul Tuesday, killing a Turkish police officer in an Alawite-majority area where deadly unrest erupted almost two decades ago.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for what was a rare suicide bombing in a country that has nevertheless witnessed numerous attacks by Kurdish rebels as well as Islamists and leftwing extremists.

“The suicide bomber set off the explosives on him after throwing a grenade into the police station, and killed one police officer and wounded four others at the entry,” Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin told reporters.

Th e a t t a c k e r, i d e n t i f i e d a s a 2 5 year-old male, was killed in the blast, which also wounded three civilians, Capkin said.

Riot police, reinforced by armoured tanks and water cannon, sealed off the area of the attack in Gazi, an Alawitedominated area in the European sector of Turkey’s biggest city.

Police stations in the neighbourhood had been fortified after four days of demonstrations and deadly unrest in 1995 which k illed 23 people, 17 of them by police bullets, according to forensics reports.

Some witnesses to Tuesday’s attack spoke of a second bomber, a man aged around 35, who was severely wounded.

“I went into the (station) yard, but a police officer forced me out and said there was a second bomber who did not explode his bomb. I saw him lying on the ground with no legs,” said Meral Yildiz, a 50-year-old housewife.

Police did not however confirm the presence of a second bomber at the scene.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and Capkin declined to comment on the attacker’s possible allegiance. Turkey ’s security forces and police stations are often the target of

attacks, many of them by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which took up arms in the southeast in 1984 seeking a separate homeland.

Last month, a car bomb exploded near a police station in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, setting set fire to several vehicles, including a city bus carrying civilians.

Nine people, four of them children, were killed and almost 70 were wounded in the attack blamed on PKK but which was denied by the rebel group.

Gaziantep lies not far from the border with Syria, where a brutal conflict that began as a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has now killed around 27,000 people, according to activists.

Turkey, a one-time Syria ally which is now vehemently opposed to Assad’s Alawite-led regime, has taken in tens of thousands of refugees from the conflict.

In May, the PKK claimed an attack by two suicide bombers which killed a policeman in the central city of Kayseri.

Another suicide bombing took place last October in the eastern town of Bingol, where two people were killed when a woman blew herself up near the headquarters of the governing Justice and Development Party.

In November 2010 in Istanbul, a bomber blew himself up on the central Taksim square, wounding 32 people.

The so-called Gazi riots in 1995 were triggered after unidentified assailants randomly opened fire on people in the neighbourhood, killing two people including an Alawite religious leader and wounding dozens more.

Locals blamed the deaths on an inadequate police response and overran police stations, leading to four days of deadly unrest. The Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, numbers around seven million in Sunni-majority Turkey, which has a total population of 73 million. — AP

LVIV: School teachers and university professors sing Ukraine’s national anthem during a rally in the center of Lviv, western Ukraine, yesterday. Thousands attended the rally to attract the Ukrainian society’s attention to language policy problems and protest against a controversial bill signed in August elevating the status of Russian. — AFP

CHICAGO: The Chicago teachers’ strike is putting President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in a bind, pitting unions loyal to him against officials with ties to the White House. The Obama camp needs to be careful not to upset the unions , which it needs for campaign funds and to do ground work leading up to t h e Nov. 6 election, while not alienating independent voters who are worried about the Democrats being too close to powerful labor groups.

While not directly involved, Obama is associated in many minds with local politics in his hometown, where one of his current cabinet members, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, formerly oversaw the schools and now endorses the changes that have angered teachers.

And Mayor Rahm Emanuel is a former Obama chief of staff. Some 29,000 teachers and support staff are involved in the strike to protest reforms such as performance evaluations for teachers and more authority for school principals.

“They should go back to work. I think it’s unbelievable,” said a major Obama donor in the Chicago area, worried about the effect the strike will have on Obama’s image with the independent voters in swing states he needs to defeat Republican Mitt Romney.

“Every person I know who is a major donor to the president is against the strike decision,” the donor said.

But the Obama campaign relies on the Democratic legions of rank-and-file union labor to carry out voter drives in key battleground states, which may be their best chance to overcome well-funded Republican attacks over the airwaves.

Obama is expected to handily win Illinois on Election Day, but he needs union help in closely contested Midwestern states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio, where polls show Romney and Obama roughly in lock step. “ The unions are a strong part of the Democratic party and when you alienate the unions then you begin to pull the Democratic dominance of Chicago apart,” said Dick Simpson, a political science professor at University of Illinois at Chicago.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday that Obama was aware of the situ-

ation in Chicago. “(President Obama’s) principal concern is for the students and families who are affected by the situation,” Carney said. “We hope both sides are able to come together to settle this quickly in the best interest of Chicago’s students.”

The strike in the nation’s third-largest school system is also a distraction for Chicago Mayor Emanuel from a key fundraising role for Obama.

Emanuel, Obama’s closest aide during his first years in the White House, last week stepped down as one of several Obama campaign co-chairs to take up a role raising funds

appearance at a fundraising event for Democratic House of Representative candidates on Monday due to the strike, Bowen said.

Romney, a former private equity executive, was quick to take sides. He and fellow Republicans are likely to link the strike to Obama if it does not end soon.

“Teachers’ unions have too often made plain that their interests conflict with those of our children, and today we are seeing one of the clearest examples yet,” Romney said, in a statement.

Union representatives and the school dis-

CHICAGO: Thousands of public school teachers rally outside the Chicago Public Schools district headquarters on the first day of strike action over teachers’ contracts yesterday in Chicago. — AP for political action committees backing Obama and Democrats. That might take a back seat while he deals with the teachers’ strike, the city’s first in a quarter of a century.

“The mayor’s first priority is the residents of the city of Chicago,” said Thomas Bowen, d irector of Emanuel’s political action committee. “He is committed to re-electing the president, but he must focus on his job as mayor right now.”

Emanuel skipped a previously scheduled

At least three dead in new Kenya violence NAIROBI: Tribesmen launched new attacks in Kenya’s southeastern Tana River area early yesterday, torching houses and killing at least three police officers, police sources said. Officers said armed groups were burning houses and shooting indiscriminately in the Semikaro area in the region’s latest round of ethnic violence.

“Three people have been killed and six others have been wounded seriously,” a senior police officer told AFP. The fresh attacks came just hours after Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki ordered a dusk-todawn curfew in the remote area in the country’s coastal region, after tribesmen attacked a village, torched homes and sparked clashes that killed 38 people Monday.

“Things are not very good there, there has been a problem there since early morning but we are handling it,” regional police chief Aggrey Adoli said.

Caleb Kilunde, a Red Cross official in the area said initial reports indicated four villages were attacked.

“Police have been outnumbered and have retreated and are waiting for reinforcements,” Kilunde said. Kibaki also ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to the area where around 100 people have died in the ethnic violence that began last month.

“The government will get to the bottom of the matter ... local leaders must also take a proactive role and preach peace among area residents,” Kibaki said in a statement. On Monday at least 300 Pokomo tribesmen stormed Kilelengwani, a village near some of the east African country’s most idyllic beaches, and attacked members of the Orma community. A Red Cross official said nine policemen were among those killed.

The vendetta between the Pokomo farming community and their Orma pastoralist neighbours already left 52 dead last month in Kenya’s worst tribal killings in years. — AFP

trict negotiated throughout Monday but no agreement was reached. “The Obama campaign and the White House hope Mayor Emanuel will solve the problem quickly, so it will go away,” said Larry Sabato, a political analyst with the University of Virginia.

“My assumption has been that Rahm Emanuel is going to solve this. He recognizes that he hasn’t just created a problem for his city, but he’s created a problem for his president,” he said. — Reuters

Pope faces diplomatic high-wire act in Lebanon VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI sets off Friday for a three-day visit to Lebanon which will demand a papal high-wire act in a Middle East country riven by sectarian tensions as fighting rages next door in Syria. The pontiff, 85, who has spent much of the year battling a leaks scandal at the Vatican, faces a packed schedule in the majority-Muslim country, which will take him from the Baabda presidential palace to Bkerke in the mountains.

Religious pluralism and the welfare of Christians in the Middle East is likely to top the agenda, as well as calls for an end to the conflict in Syria, which has seen 150,000 refugees flee to Lebanon according to unofficial data.

The pope will reach out to the 13 million or more Catholics in the Middle East, asking them to work for peace and democracy alongside moderate Islamists, particularly in a period fraught with fears of a rise of fundamentalism.

He will also tackle concern over the exodus of Christians from the region during a presentation of results from the 2010 synod with Middle East bishops.

There have been increasing calls from Catholic leaders in the region in the lead up to the trip for the pope to speak out on a series of volatile issues and act on behalf of skittish Christian communities fearful of persecution.

Benedict will weigh his words carefully to avoid any politically-charged comments which could increase religious tensions-and is expected to speak out in favour of a secularism which guarantees cultural and religious freedom.

He has already received a request from Gregory III Laham, the spiritual head of Lebanon’s second largest Catholic com-

munity, to recognise the Palestinian state and the important role of the Palestinian cause in the Arab world.

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church leader has said that the gesture would “be a guarantee for the solution of most of the very complex problems of the Arab and Muslim world” and help to stop Christians emigrating from the region.

The pope called for the creation of two states during a visit to the region in 2009 and the issue is hot in Lebanon, which houses 416,000 Palestinian refugees according to the L’Oeuvre d’Orient Catholic humanitarian agency. Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan has said he hopes that the pope will also use the trip to call for negotiations in violence-hit Syria. Here too Benedict must tread carefully, because the political class in Lebanon-as well as the large Maronite Catholic community-is divided over support for President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels challenging the regime.

Benedict will kick off his 24th visit abroad since his election in 2005 with a meeting with political and religious leaders, including the heads of Muslim communities, at the Baabda presidential palace near the Lebanese capital.

The visit will wind up with a mass at the City Center Waterfront in Beirut. The pope will call on the Catholics who make up an estimated 34 percent of Lebanon’s 3.9 million inhabitants to put aside their differences and rivalries. He is likely to follow in the steps of his popular predecessor John Paul II by saying that the country’s multi-confessional society-by which government posts are split among different religious groups-is a model for the region. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

NEWS

CAIRO: Protesters chant slogans amid orange smoke outside the US embassy yesterday. — AP

Filipinos flee Syria with tales of horror Continued from Page 1 Pana was among nearly 300 Filipino workers - young women who escaped unemployment at home for jobs abroad as maids and baby sitters - who fled the worsening civil war in the biggest single repatriation negotiated between the Philippines and Syria. They were flown to Manila by the International Organization of Migration and brought with them the tales of horror and sleepless nights as violence between government forces and rebels fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad spiraled out of control.

Pana, 29, said the man she worked for was supportive of the opposition and his son was killed during a recent demonstration.

After the family’s house where she lived and worked was shattered by bullets, they all fled to a neighbor’s basement to escape being caught in the crossfire between government troops and the rebel Free Syrian forces. She said she liked her employer and had worked for him and his family for three years until 2010, and then returned just months before the fighting erupted in March 2011.

Pana said a military camp behind her employer’s residence was occupied by the rebels but the military launched a counter-attack and bombardment last week using helicopters. “If you could just see the bodies, oh brother, you would be throwing up,” she said in an interview. She said when her employer and his family moved to a rented house, she made contact with the Philippine Embassy, which sent a car that took her away to the care of Filipino diplomats until she and the others were repatriated. Pana said her employer initially didn’t want her to leave, saying she was still under contract, but then relented.

“If it were not for the war, I would not have returned home,” said Glemer Cabidog, 34, who was a caretaker of a villa in Damascus for a wealthy Kuwaiti businessman who had fled the war. “We asked permission from our employer but after three months ... he said he won’t allow us to leave, that’s why we escaped.” Cabidog, who was paid $200 a month, said she and another Filipino worker at the villa decided to leave after a clash two weeks ago between Syrian forces and demonstrators in their neighborhood. “ That was when we decided to

leave,” she said. “We didn’t want to die there.” She said they made arrangements with the Philippine Embassy to pick them up a week later. She said her employer has stayed in Kuwait for the last nine months.

She said she would get food and other provisions by requesting supplies from one of his secretaries who would have them delivered to the compound.

The 263 Filipinos who returned home, many shedding tears of joy, had sought refuge at the embassy compound until Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario traveled to Syria last week to organize their evacuation. “I was scared and I really wanted to go home. Now that I am home, I am very happy,” said Sasulaya Abdula. Some of the women were crying and were comforted by others as they waited for their papers to be processed by officers from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, a government agency in charge of nearly 10 million Filipinos who work overseas.

After welcoming them at the Manila airport, del Rosario said up to 600 more want to return home. The rest of the estimated 3,000 Filipino workers decided to stay in Syria for the time being, he said. -— AP

Obama hails unity on low-key 9/11 ’versary Continued from Page 1 and live on television as the planes flew straight into the upper floors of the Twin Towers, causing them to collapse.

However, emotions are distinctly cooler as America finally tries to draw a line under an event that sparked the decade of Washington’s controversial and expensive war on terror. No politicians joined in the reading at Ground Zero and security was less intense, in contrast to the 10th anniversary last year when Obama headed a long list of VIPs at the ceremony. June Pollicino, who lost her husband on 9/11, told AFP: “I feel much more relaxed. After the ninth anniversary, those next days it started building up to the 10th anniversary.

This year it’s different in that regard. It’s another anniversary we can celebrate in a discreet way.”

Although most New York area newspapers featured front page stories or other mentions about the anniversary yesterday, The New York Times and the tabloid Post were conspicuous in deciding to keep coverage inside. In total, 2,983 names were read out at Ground Zero, including the 9/11 victims and those killed in the precursor to those attacks, the 1993 car bombing of the World Trade Center. The reading paused for silence at the exact time each of the four planes turned into fireballs - two smashing into the Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon and one into a Pennsylvania field. Another two moments of silence were observed at the times the two main towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, accounting for the vast majority of 9/11’s dead.

Obama, who earlier stood for a moment’s silence on the White House South Lawn, had no planned political events planned yesterday and his re-election campaign planned to halt television advertising for the day. Still, there was no formal truce similar to that in the presidential campaign of four years ago, when both Obama and his then Republican rival John McCain joined to lay a wreath at Ground Zero in New York. Former president Bill Clinton was campaigning for his fellow Democrat Obama and speaking out against Republican Mitt Romney in Miami. Romney

issued a statement thanking US troops and saying “those who would attack us should know that we are united”.

Vice President Joe Biden, meanwhile, traveled to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United flight 93 crashed after passengers attacked the hijackers and prevented them from hitting another presumed highprofile target, such as the US Capitol building. “What they did for this country is still etched in the minds of not only you, but millions of Americans, forever,” Biden said. In a rare show of non-partisan unity, more than 275 lawmakers from the US House and Senate gathered at the Capitol steps to sing “God Bless America”, much as they did in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. “Everyone in those hours, no matter their station, everyone stood their ground. Everyone kept their place,” an emotional House Speaker John Boehner said.

The passage of time and more pressing worries about the moribund US economy have distracted public attention from the tragedy of 9/11, particularly compared to the huge media coverage of the 10th anniversary last year. Helping to heal the wounds are the new memorial at Ground Zero and the near completion of the main skyscraper at the World Trade Center, now officially the tallest building in New York.

The memorial’s long delayed museum now also appears set to be opened after Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reached an accord late Monday over funding.

Confirmation by bin Laden’s successor Ayman AlZawahiri that his influential deputy, Abu Yayha Al-Libi, died in a drone strike in Pakistan in June underlines the success of the US military’s relentless killing of AlQaeda figures from the air. However, the Taleban movement used the anniversary to scorn any notion that they are on the ropes, saying they had nothing to do with 9/11 and that the United States faces “utter defeat in Afghanistan militarily, politically, economically and in all other facets”. Most foreign troops are scheduled to withdraw by the end of 2014, handing over responsibility for combat to Western-backed Afghan government forces. — AFP

Egyptians storm US embassy, tear down..

Continued from Page 1 replace it. What I heard was that it was replaced with a plain black flag. But I maybe not be correct in that,” she said, when asked whether it was the emblem of the jihadists that had been raised.

Women wearing the niqab, the full-face veil, joined the rally chanting: “Sons of the Cross, anything but our beloved Muhammad (PBUH).” Egyptian activist Wael Ghoneim wrote on his Facebook page that “attacking the US embassy on Sept 11 and raising flags linked to Al-Qaeda will not be understood by the American public as a protest over the film about the Prophet (PBUH). “Instead, it will be received as a celebration of the crime that took place on September 11,” he said.

A US embassy official had no immediate comment on the protesters’ actions but the embassy had put out a statement earlier yesterday condemning those who hurt the religious feelings of Muslims or followers of any other religions. “We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others,” the US embassy said in its statement.

One slogan scrawled on the walls of the embassy, a fortress-like structure that is near Tahrir Square where

Egyptians revolted against Mubarak, said: “If your freedom of speech has no limits, may you accept our freedom of action.”

An Egyptian state website carried a statement by Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox church condemning what it said were moves by some Copts living abroad “to finance the production of a film insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”. About a 10th of Egypt’s 83 million people are Christians.

It was not immediately clear which film angered protesters. However, Christian pastor Terry Jones, who angered Muslims by burning a copy of the Holy Quran, was due to take part in an anti-Islam event yesterday. “Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy,” the US embassy statement said, adding that it condemned the efforts by “misguided individuals” to hurt the feelings of Muslims.

In another incident prompted by similar sentiments last month, a lone man attacked the German embassy with homemade nail bombs and a hammer with which he cracked glass at the entrance, following a report about a protest in Germany where demonstrators bore caricatures of the Prophet (PBUH) outside a mosque. No one was injured and there was no serious damage in that incident.

— Agencies

Expats to be allowed to take part-time jobs Continued from Page 1 The ministry has also promised to disseminate more information about the new decree before it is implemented in two weeks’ time. The regulation will be circulated throughout state departments, including the Immigration General Department, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Management and Government Restructuring program and the Kuwait Trade Union Federation. These agencies were part of the consultative committee for labor affairs and were consulted during the initial discussion relating to the formulation of the new law.

But why is the government enforcing this law now? Kandari pointed out that the new regulation is aimed at helping fill available vacancies in the local labor market, thereby limiting the process of recruiting additional labor from outside the country. At present, expat employees in the public sector are only allowed to work in other companies if they have secured the ministry’s approval. Ahmed,

a government sector employee, admitted that he has been working part time in a private company. But said he had failed to seek permission for doing so or while accepting the job offer.

“We are allowed to take on other jobs as long as we have permission, but I was warned by a friend to avoid doing so as it involves going through a complicated process. So I decided to work with a private company without taking prior permission. I am, however, aware that once the MSAL discovers that I have a second job, I can get into trouble and so can the company, which has employed me. If the proposed law is implemented, I will be able to work without fear or hesitation,” he stated.

Working two jobs simultaneously is considered illegal in Kuwait, although many workers choose to take this risk in order to improve their financial conditions and make ends meet due to the high cost of living and to supplement their low government sector salaries with the extra money made through private jobs.

A human resource specialist admit-

ted that there is a shortage of staff in almost all sectors because of many contributing factors. “The existent attitude of employers and employees is changing because of the prevailing financial conditions and other related circumstances,” the human resource manager told Kuwait Times. He added that many factors contribute to the shortage of staff at several establishments including the financial crisis as well as the ‘Kuwaitization’ policy whereby companies are unable to hire additional staff because of labor restrictions.

“These vacancies can be easily filled with locally hired labor and without resorting to recruiting workers from abroad,” Jamal Al-Dawsary, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor told Kuwait Times. He added that special regulations will be enforced to prevent private companies from manipulating current laws so that they can hire foreign workforce for employment in Kuwait and later abandon these workers who are then forced to search for employment opportunities in the local market.

Obama refuses to meet Netanyahu Continued from Page 1 news conference with Bulgaria’s prime minister.

Netanyahu has been pushing Obama to adopt a tougher line against Iran, arguing that setting a clear boundary for Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and imposing stronger economic sanctions could deter Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and mitigate the need for military action.

But on Monday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States would not set a deadline in further talks with Iran, saying there was still time for diplomacy to work.

Netanyahu’s comments came as diplomats said six world powers - including the United States - were poised to voice “serious concern” about Iran’s uranium enrichment program and to urge Tehran to open up access to suspected nuclear sites. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said yesterday that Washington would have little more than a year to act to stop Tehran if it decided to produce a nuclear weapon.

Netanyahu has had a strained relationship with President Barak Obama over Iran and other issues, such as Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank. But he has never put differences with Obama - who has pledged he will “always have Israel’s back” and is deep in a re-election campaign - in the context of morality. The website of Israel’s Haaretz daily newspaper said Netanyahu had carried out “an unprecedented verbal attack on the US government”. Iran, which denies it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, has threatened to

retaliate against Israel and US interests in the Gulf if it attacked, and Obama’s re-election bid could be thrown off course by a new war. Republican challenger Mitt Romney has accused him of throwing Israel “under the bus”.

Without mentioning Clinton by name but pointedly parroting her use of the word “deadline”, Netanyahu said not setting a clear boundary for Iran would only encourage Iran to continue its quest for nuclear arms. “If Iran knows that there is no deadline, what will it do? Exactly what it’s doing. It’s continuing, without any interference, towards obtaining a nuclear weapons capability and from there, nuclear bombs,” he said. “So far we can say with certainty that diplomacy and sanctions haven’t worked. The sanctions have hurt the Iranian economy but they haven’t stopped the Iranian nuclear program. That’s a fact. And the fact is that every day that passes, Iran gets closer and closer to nuclear bombs,” he added.

Widely thought to be the Middle East’s only nuclear power, Israel says a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to its existence. Recent tougher Israeli rhetoric on the issue has stoked speculation that Israel might attack Iran before the US ballot in November, believing that Obama would give it military help and not risk alienating pro-Israeli voters. But over the past week, Netanyahu, in calling for a “red line”, had appeared to be backing away from military action and preparing the ground for a possible meeting with Obama this month, when both address the UN General Assembly in New York. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

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Issues

Bibi seeks to avoid Iran strike

By Steve Weizman Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public challenge to the White House to set “red lines” for Tehran could be an attempt to back off from plans for a unilateral strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israeli analysts said yesterday. “Netanyahu has decided that he won’t attack before the (US) elections because it’s politically impossible because of American opposition, and it’s impossibleoa because of opposition within the Israeli establishment,” said Shlomo Brom of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies. “He’s looking for a way to preserve his prestige, and the way Israeli leaders often do that is by convincing the Israeli public that they’re not suckers,” Brom said.

Netanyahu’s insistence on red lines was meant to convince Israelis he is driving a hard bargain and not caving in to western pressure, he said. “I think this is all intended to give Netanyahu a ladder with which to climb down from the tree,” he added. Over the past week, the Israeli leader has repeatedly driven home the need to lay down a “clear red line” for Iran - a boundary which, if crossed, could trigger immediate tough international action such as US-led air strikes.

“The world tells Israel: Wait, there’s still time. And I say: wait for what? Wait until when?” Netanyahu said yesterday. “Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel.”

Eytan Gilboa of Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv agrees Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Ehud Barak know they cannot make good on threats to bomb Iran without US compliance. But rather than grandstanding for a domestic audience, Gilboa sees Netanyahu as genuinely pushing for reassurance from US President Barack Obama.

“I don’t think that Israel has a military option without understandings with the United States,” he told AFP. “He is frustrated because he’s not getting more explicit commitment from the United States. “Perhaps one of the expected consequences of the verbal public exchanges is simply to get the United States to be more explicit, more precise and more committed to stopping Iran,” he added.

The left-leaning Haaretz daily on Tuesday said that an unidentified senior British official recently brought “a stern message from British Prime Minister David Cameron against an uncoordinated Israeli strike on Iran at this time.” Neither the British embassy nor Netanyahu’s office would comment on the report. “ The firm message of the UK envoy, together with a telephone conversation during the same period between Netanyahu and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and public remarks by high-ranking US officials in recent weeks have affected Netanyahu’s and Barak’s attitude to the Iran issue,” the paper said. “The combined weight of the messages coming from Western powers seems to have cooled the two men’s enthusiasm for launching an uncoordinated attack on Iran.”

Netanyahu believes a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel, but his repeated calls for the international community to establish a clear red line - widely understood as a message to Washington - on Monday appeared to fall on deaf ears. “The president has said unequivocally he will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. “We are absolutely firm about the president’s commitment here, but it is not useful to be parsing it, to be setting deadlines one way or the other, red lines,” she said, promising “intensive consultations with Israel.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also dismissed such a move. “We’re not setting deadlines. We’re watching very carefully about what they do,” she told Bloomberg radio on Sunday. Nevertheless, says Tel Aviv University’s Mark Heller, Netanyahu seems to believe that piling pressure on Obama could pay off, especially with presidential elections fast approaching. “He wants to try his hand at pushing him in that direction and probably thinks the campaign season is as good an opportunity as any to do that,” Heller told AFP. “I think he would much prefer that the Americans got Iran to back off rather than leaving it to Israel.” —AFP

5

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Cram schools boom widens India class divide

By Diksha Madhok ith a sprawling five-acre campus, 10,000 students and state-of-theart LCD projectors in its lecture rooms, Bansal Classes is bigger and slicker than most schools in India. But the institution, now a landmark in Kota, a city in the desert state of Rajasthan, is neither a school nor a college. It is the jewel in the crown of India’s private coaching industry, a $6.4 billion business that exacerbates the social divide. Cram schools have become a magnet for tens of thousands of mostly middle class families in a country where two decades of rapid economic growth have failed to improve a dysfunctional state education system and a shortage of good universities.

Such cram schools coach students for fiercely competitive entrance tests to a handful of premier technical and medical colleges. Their modus operandi is rote learning. At Bansal’s, hundreds of teenagers are trained intensively to solve complex multiple-choice questions on physics, chemistry or mathematics. Yash Raj Mishra, a Kota cram student, lives in a tiny room with no television or laptop and spends almost 16 hours a day attending classes, revising or tackling question papers. “Physics is my first and last girlfriend,” said Mishra, leaning against a wall plastered with notes on Kinematics. “I feel bad and frustrated when my friends score even slightly better than I do,” added the 17-year-old, who calls his friends only to ask about their academic progress.

Two-year coaching programs in Kota cost $3,000-$4,000, in addition to which students have to pay for their regular schools and spend at least $2,000 a year on accommodation. That makes the total expenditure a small fortune for most in a nation where the annual per capita income is around $1,250. “A child is a stack of thousand-rupee notes,” said Manoj Chauhan, a mathematics tutor in his late 20s who could have joined a software company or multinational but chose instead to teach in Kota, where many teachers’ salaries top $6,000 a month.

Such cram schools compound the inequalities of an education system plagued by absentee teachers and high drop-out rates, which have left a quarter of Indians illiterate and lacking the skills to match the country’s growing economic needs.

A global sur vey by ManpowerGroup, one of the world’s largest staffing service providers, estimated India’s shortage of skilled labour at 67 percent - the second worst in the world.

The skill shortages threaten to blunt what is seen as one of India’s biggest economic advantages - its demographic dividend.

With 60 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population under the age of 35, the country has an opportunity to reap the kind of demographic dividend that brought the dramatic transformation of East Asian economies towards the end of the 20th century. The average age of an Indian in 2020 will be 29 compared with 37 in China and the United States and 48 in Japan, bringing a chance to boost productivity and the savings rate. But India may never realise its dividend if the bulk of these youths are poorly educated, stuck in lowvalue jobs or under-employed.

Every year more than 50,000 students from across the country enroll in Kota, many of them under parental pressure. The riverside town has become the capital of the multi-billion-dollar coaching industry, thanks to the success of Bansal Classes, which was set up by a former engineer who held the first classes across the table in his own dining room. The city of nearly one million has flourished partly because of its blandness, with parents seeing the

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relative lack of distractions for students a bonus. Despite housing thousands of teenagers, it has hardly any of the shopping malls and cinema complexes that sprouted across the country as the economy grew.

The goal of attending cram schools is cracking the tough exams set by top colleges such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) or the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), whose degrees can be a ticket to a lifetime of fat pay cheques or jobs in the United States.

“There were 50 children who committed suicide in Kota last year,” said Vinod Kumar Bansal, founder of Bansal Classes. “When a child realises he can’t make it to IIT, the guilt of spending his father’s money on coaching can lead him to end his life.”

Bansal founded the school in the 1980s, leaving his job at a nylon-making firm after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, and it was his success that bred Kota’s coaching juggernaut. The centre shot to fame after a string of successes in getting students admitted to India’s toughest colleges - spawning a host of other institutions that were inspired by Bansal’s success. Its website says 16,000 of its students have gained admission to IITs, more than any other cram school. In 2012, more than 500,000 students took the IIT entrance exam and less than 10,000 cleared it, making admission statistically harder than getting into America’s Ivy League colleges.

Today Bansal’s school, whose eight storeys are connected by wheelchair ramps, has become a thriving business with annual earnings close to 1 billion rupees ($18 million) - and that despite a sharp slowdown in India’s economic growth. “In the long run, it has to undermine faith in the education system as a

meritocratic system, where hard work and talent are rewarded,” said Chad Lykins, coauthor of an Asian Development Bank repor t on private coaching in Asia.

“Instead, the reward goes to the person who can go outside the system and get exam tricks and tips.”

Critics also argue that the cram schools offer false hope to many students and parents, promising results even though the candidate may not have an aptitude for engineering or medicine. “Actually in a coaching institute you are treated like a rat,” said Ashutosh Banerjee, who fled Kota within a month after getting fed up with his cram school. “Teachers have a lot of attitude and they shout at everyone and make fun of everyone.” But for most students, the teachers are above reproach and can become mini celebrities in Kota, where their pictures are plastered on city walls. “On streets, students point at me or stare,” said Chauhan, the maths tutor, who has billboards with his picture around the city. “ They have made videos and uploaded on YouTube.” Seeing the potential in the Indian market, Etoos, a South Korean coaching giant, invested 300 million rupees to set up shop in Kota in 2011, focusing on video lectures and e-learning.

“In terms of revenue, India is going to cross over South Korea,” said Etoos’ business head Nitin Chaturvedi. “The Indian population is huge and geographically also it is 45 times of Korea.”

Coaching firms have flourished in other cities too. FIITJEE, a household name for would-be engineering students, has over 60 franchises across the country. It plans an initial public offering (IPO) in the next few months. “People are chasing us like anything,” said R Trikha, head of distance learning at FIITJEE. “Coaching is actually

there because the school systems are not doing their job. Society should be grateful to us that we are fulfilling this need.”

But the popularity of India’s cram schools has helped make a bad situation worse in the state education system. Better pay tempts schoolteachers to moonlight as private instructors, neglecting the poorer students they are meant to be teaching.

“It is forbidden, but enforcement is another issue,” said Anshu Vaish, secretary at the Ministry of Education. “Typically, what teachers do often is that they won’t teach in the classroom and they will make students come to their homes later to study the same thing.”

The poor quality of state teaching has resulted in a generation where about twothirds of 10-year-olds cannot do a simple division problem, according to Wilima Wadhwa of ASER, a Delhi-based education research centre. The experience in poorer schools can be bleak. Teacher truancy is common in most villages, while poverty can force families to pull children out of school early to find work. Pupils from lower castes face bullying and discrimination from their teachers, and are sometimes forced into doing menial jobs such as cleaning school toilets instead of attending classes. The lack of good schools and colleges means that the quality of the average Indian degree is so low that even those students who manage to get one could find themselves without a job. “Only 25 percent of our engineering graduates, on average, are actually fit to fulfill the requirements of the IT industry,” said Binod Khadria, a sociology professor at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. “So you can imagine the amount of wastage.

Those who are left over ... what are they going to do?” — Reuters

Canada cut Iran ties to avoid retaliation

By Marcus George and Randall Palmer anada’s surprise decision to sever relations with Iran may well have been triggered by Ottawa’s fear of retaliation for stepping up its denunciations of Tehran and a parallel move to list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. The break in relations, announced on Friday, has led to speculation that it was a prelude to Israeli or US military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Canada has categorically denied having any information about planned attacks. “Canada wants to be able to continue to speak up on the Iranian regime’s behaviour, and we didn’t want our guys in there as hostage,” said Andrew MacDougall, chief spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, explaining the decision to close the Tehran embassy and order Iranian diplomats out of Canada.

The Canadian announcement offered a long list of reasons for cutting ties: Iran’s nuclear program, hostility toward Israel, Tehran’s military assistance to Syria, and what Ottawa said was Iran’s support for terrorist groups. But none of those reasons had surfaced overnight, leaving people asking, why now? Indeed, the decision appeared to catch Canada’s Western allies off-guard. “It was news to us,” one Western diplomat based in Tehran told Reuters by telephone hours after the announcement. “There seemed to be nothing specific that made them pull the plug.”

Still, the announcement came on the same day that Canada designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. A new Canadian law required the government to come up with a list of state terrorism sponsors by Sept 13, and many feared such a declaration could have sparked reprisals in Tehran if Canadian diplomats had stayed.

Canadian officials were mindful of the storming of the British Embassy in Tehran last November after a tightening of banking sanctions. The incident led London to close the embassy. “With the British gone, who will be on the frontline of Iran’s animosity?” reflected the Western diplomat. “There’s France and Canada, and it’s got a lot of people thinking.”

A Canadian official who asked not to be identified said the timing of the announcement hinged partly on getting the last Canadian diplomat out of Iran. “We had gotten to the point where all our diplomats had left safely ... and we were able to announce it,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to welcome Canada’s tough stance, but the announcement has come in for criticism by some in Canada.

John Mundy, whom Tehran expelled as Canadian ambassador in

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2007 and who has since retired, says Ottawa’s reasons are not convincing and called on the government to say if it had received specific threats. “When the going gets rough you really need your diplomats,” he wrote in Monday’s Globe and Mail newspaper. “Canada’s tradition is to be one of the last countries to leave in a crisis, not the first.” MacDougall, the prime minister’s spokesman, dismissed the remarks as ill-informed: “This is a former ambassador who, quite frankly, isn’t aware of the specifics or anything of this.” He added: “The prime minister’s not willing to have civil servants who don’t get paid to go to war for their country to be pawns in any dispute. The prime minister and minister of foreign affairs didn’t feel that they could guarantee the safety of our diplomat personnel there, and so got them out.”

On Saturday Iranian officials lashed out at Canada, describing the embassy closure as a hostile and anti-Iranian act that was taken under Israeli and British influence. Already on a downward slump, the value of the Iranian currency, the rial, has fallen by more than 10 percent since Friday. While there has been muted reaction among people in Iran, many Iranians in Canada sense ominous news to come. “Many Iranians here interpret it as a green light to Israel for military action. They aren’t happy with it,” said blogger Mahmoud Azimaee, based in Toronto, home to around half of Canada’s Iranian community of an estimated 120,000 people. “What has to be avoided are bombers and Israeli missiles flying over Iran, because that will be a 10-year setback for any democratic movement. Cutting ties with the regime does not help that,” said Arash Abadpour, a 33-yearold IT engineer.

Canada is also home to some of the most vocal critics of the Iranian government over its human rights abuses and they strongly support the Harper government’s actions. They have highlighted the cases of Saeed Malekpour and Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, both Iranians with Canadian citizenship, who have been sentenced to death and languish in prison in Iran. Also behind bars is Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian Canadian blogger, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of cooperating with hostile countries and spreading propaganda.

Activists have long alleged that the Iranian embassy in Ottawa has carried out secretive activities to monitor dissenting voices and intimidate them into keeping quiet. “Many Iranians here are apprehensive to speak publicly against human rights violations because they fear the regime is keeping tabs on them,” Toronto-based activist Maryam Nayeb Yazdi told Reuters by email. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

sp orts Top Berlin clubs unite

Windies pin hopes on Narine COLOMBO: West Indies are banking on off-spinner Sunil Narine playing an important role in the World Twenty20 on the dusty pitches of Sri Lanka this month. West Indies last got their hands on ICC silverware when they won the Champions Trophy in 2004. “We have the best spinner right now in T20 cricket in our side and he’s been doing really well for us,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy told reporters on Tuesday ahead of the Sept.18-Oct 7 tournament. “The pitches in Sri Lanka will help him and I see him playing a very big role. He is very experienced in T20 cricket and he did quite well in the IPL.” Apart from Narine, Sammy named Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo as key players.

Opener Gayle is in the squad after solving his differences with the board. “Playing spin we have a batsman who’s scored most runs back to back in IPL (Gayle), there is Pollard and Darren Bravo, all these guys have been doing well,” Sammy said. “It’s a good thing for us to have Gayle back in the team and the experience he brings at the top of the innings. So far since he’s been back he’s contributed in many ways at the top of the order for us.” The Windies look genuine candidates To win the World Twenty20 title, held by England. “I don’t see our side as favorites, it’s a question I have been asked ever since the side was named,” Sammy added. “We all know that we could have the best side on paper but we got to put all our resources together and play together and win, that’s what we are going to bring out in Sri Lanka.” —Reuters

BERLIN: Berlin’s top six sports clubs will work together to push for improved conditions for professional teams in the German capital, they said yesterday. The new “Initiative for professional Berlin clubs” aims to increase the exposure of the six as brands that contribute to the capital’s image and its marketing campaigns as well as boost their reach within Berlin’s political and financial institutions.

Second division soccer clubs Hertha and Union Berlin, top basketball club Alba Berlin, ice hockey champions Eisbaeren Berlin, handball’s Fuechse Berlin and Berlin Recycling (BR) Volleys make up the group.

While the basketball, handball, ice hockey and volleyball clubs have been successful in recent years, soccer in Berlin is a thorny issue with the German city the only major European capital lacking a top-flight team.

Hertha Berlin were last German champions in 1931. “Various studies have confirmed Berlin is the German capital for sport. The six big professional clubs are a key and year-round force for this,” the clubs said in a joint statement.

“There is however not the same amount of media or public recognition for this performance. Also the economic and social importance of these clubs has not been anchored in the city’s political and financial landscape.”

“With this initiative we will have a direct dialogue with the city’s political, financial and social institutions,” said BR Volleys chairman Kaweh Niroomand. “We are convinced we can do a lot for sport with this initiative.” —Reuters

Klitschko dismisses Charr appeal KIEV: Ukraine’s Vitaly Klitschko has dismissed an appeal by Manuel Charr over his defeat in Saturday’s WBC world heavyweight title fight, saying the German would have been “horizontal” in two more rounds.

The 41-year-old Klitschko retained his title in Moscow when the referee stopped the contest in the fourth round after Charr sustained a deep cut above his right eye. The 27-year-old challenger, who had a 21-0 record with 11 knockouts going into the fight, was furious and kicked and punched the ropes in frustration over the decision. Klitschko, who is now focusing on a career in politics at the head of his Udar (Punch) party, said on Tuesday that Charr had little chance of successfully appealing.

“So now he is appealing ... what is he trying to prove?” asked Klitschko at a news conference at which he outlined plans for his party’s campaign in an October parliamentary election. “I also could start legal action and be dissatisfied because in one more round, two at the most, Charr would not have been able to move. He would have been in a horizontal state,” he said. Klitschko, who has held the WBC title since 2004 and has won 40 of his 45 victories on knockouts, dodged a question over whether the Moscow contest would be his last fight. “I think I will be able to give a separate answer to this at some point but not today,” he said. —Reuters

Nationals pound Mets NEW YORK: Gio Gonzalez earned his big leagueleading 19th victory and the Washington Nationals backed him with three home runs to beat the listless New York Mets 5-1 Monday night.

Kurt Suzuki put the Nationals ahead with a home run right after catcher Kelly Shoppach dropped his foul popup for an error. Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run shot later in the third inning and Ian Desmond added a two-run drive in the fourth.

That was plenty for Gonzalez (19-7) and the team with the best record in the majors. The lefty gave up three hits over six innings - none until Scott Hairston homered in the fourth. Gonzalez worked around five walks and extended his career high for wins.

The Mets lost their fourth in a row, dropping to 4-19 in their last 23 games at Citi Field. They tied a team record by scoring three or fewer runs for the 11th straight game at home, matching the mark last done in 1979.

David Wright and his teammates have gone 106 straight innings at home without scoring more than one run. This loss eliminated them from the NL East race. New York rookie Collin McHugh (0-2) served up three homers in his third major league start.

ANAHEIM: Oakland Athletics’ Cliff Pennington hits a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels. —AP

White Sox thrash Tigers CHICAGO: Jose Quintana pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Alex Rios and AJ Pierzynski hit back-to-back homers in the sixth and the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 Monday night to increase their AL Central lead to three games.

The White Sox had lost seven straight to Detroit, managed just two hits against Rick Porcello (9-12) and were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position when an error on second baseman Omar Infante gave them an opening.

Infante muffed Dewayne Wise’s easy, one-out grounder in the sixth. Paul Konerko singled to left to put runners at the corners and Rios lined a pitch over the wall in left-center for his 23rd homer.

Pierzynski followed with his 26th to center field for a 4-1 lead, ending Porcello’s night and sending him to his sixth straight loss.

Gordon Beckham added a two-run shot in the eighth off Octavio Dotel. Quintana (64), who was 1-3 in his previous 10 starts, allowed one run and seven hits in 7 2-3 innings.

Athletics 3, Angels 1 In Anaheim, Jarrod Parker pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Brandon Moss and Cliff Pennington homered, and Oakland snapped Los Angeles’ six-game winning streak.

Coco Crisp hit a leadoff triple and scored for the A’s, who opened a key four-game series against their California rivals with a measure of revenge for the Angels’ threegame sweep in Oakland last week. Those are the only losses since Aug. 23 for the A’s, who have won 13 of 16.

With his second straight impressive start against Los Angeles after a hard-luck loss last week, Parker (10-8) and his bullpen held the Angels’ surging lineup to four hits.

Ryan Cook worked the eighth and Grant Balfour got his 17th save.

Dan Haren (10-11) pitched into the seventh inning, allowing four hits in his first loss since Aug. 16. The Angels had won 11 of 12 and 15 of 18 in their desperate late surge to join the playoff race.

Oakland (80-60), which is in the first wild-card slot, is 20 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2006 season also the year of the team’s last postseason appearance. The A’s pulled within three games of idle Texas atop the AL West.

Twins 7, Indians 2 In Minneapolis, Samuel Deduno struck out six in seven innings and Pedro Florimon made two stellar defensive plays to go with a double and a triple, lifting the Twins to the victory.

Deduno (6-3) gave up just three hits and walked three, Ryan Doumit homered and Justin Morneau drove in two runs for the Twins, who took the final three games of the four-game series.

Lonnie Chisenhall homered for the stumbling Indians, who are an AL-worst 1541 since the All-Star break to fall into a tie with the Twins for last place in the Central division. Justin Masterson (11-13) gave up six runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Joe Mauer had two hits and an RBI to raise his average to .319 and Alexi Casilla added two more highlight-reel plays at second base for the Twins. —AP

MLB results/standings Philadelphia 3, Miami 1; Washington 5, NY Mets 1; Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 3 (14 innings); Chicago Cubs 4, Houston 1; Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 1; Chicago White Sox 6, Detroit 1; Minnesota 7, Cleveland 2; Colorado 6, San Francisco 5; Oakland 3, LA Angels 1; San Diego 11, St. Louis 3.

American League Eastern Division W L NY Yankees 79 61 Baltimore 78 62 Tampa Bay 77 63 Toronto 64 75 Boston 63 78 Central Division Chicago White Sox 76 64 Detroit 73 67 Kansas City 63 77 Cleveland 59 82 Minnesota 59 82

Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

Western Division 83 57 80 60 77 64 67 74

PCT GB .564 .557 1 .550 2 .460 14.5 .447 16.5

.543 .521 3 .450 13 .418 17.5 .418 17.5

.593 .571 3 .546 6.5 .475 16.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 87 54 Atlanta 81 61 Philadelphia 70 71 NY Mets 65 76 Miami 63 79

.617 .570 6.5 .496 17 .461 22 .444 24.5

Central Division 85 57 75 66 72 68 70 71 55 86 44 97

.599 .532 9.5 .514 12 .496 14.5 .390 29.5 .312 40.5

Western Division San Francisco 79 62 LA Dodgers 74 67 Arizona 69 72 San Diego 67 75 Colorado 57 83

.560 .525 5 .489 10 .472 12.5 .407 21.5

Cincinnati St. Louis Pittsburgh Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Houston

Brewers 4, Braves 1 In Milwaukee, Norichika Aoki hit a two-run double to key a four-run seventh inning and Milwaukee rallied to beat Atlanta.

The Brewers sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh but did all their damage on two hits and a sacrifice fly in snapping the Braves’ five-game winning streak. Milwaukee’s 16th win in 21 games has brought the Brewers back to the fringe of the NL wild-card race. Jonny Venters (5-4), trying to protect a 1-0 lead for Braves starter Mike Minor, made a key error in the seventh. Jose Veras (4-4) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to earn the victory. John Axford worked the ninth for his 28th save.

Rockies 6, Giants 5 In Denver, Rockies pitcher Alex White homered and Colorado finally solved a struggling Ryan Vogelsong, beating San Francisco to snap a fivegame losing streak.

Buster Posey and Hunter Pence went deep for the Giants, who lost for only the second time in 10 road games. San Francisco’s lead in the NL West

Phillies 3, Marlins 1 In Philadelphia, Kyle Kendrick struck out a career-high eight over seven strong innings to lead Philadelphia past Miami for its fifth straight win. Staked to a 3-0 lead, Kendrick (9-10) took a no-hitter into the sixth before Rob Brantly’s leadoff single. The right-hander escaped a basesloaded jam when he struck out Giancarlo Stanton. Often overlooked on a staff that includes Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, Kendrick is a huge reason why the Phillies (70-71) are making a late push to get into the NL wildcard race. He’s won five of his last six starts and allowed two earned runs or less in each of his past six.

Domonic Brown hit a two-run homer off Wade LeBlanc (2-4), and a hustling Michael Martinez scored on a wild pitch in a three-run fifth. Antonio Bastardo tossed a scoreless ninth for his first save this season. The Phillies have won 13 of 17 overall.

Cubs 4, Astros 1 In Houston, Dave Sappelt scored the go-

Reds 4, Pirates 3 In Cincinnati, Ryan Ludwick drove in the winning run with a two-out infield single in the 14th inning, lifting Cincinnati to a marathon victory that handed the fading Pittsburgh Pirates their fourth straight loss. Rick VandenHurk (0-1), called up before the game, started the 14th and gave up a single by Devin Mesoraco. Brandon Phillips reached when the Pirates failed to get a forceout on his grounder, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch.

Pirates shortstop Chase d’Arnaud couldn’t come up with Ludwick’s grounder in the hole, finally ending it. Pittsburgh loaded the bases with none out in the top of the 14th against Alfredo Simon (2-2) and failed to score.

Andrew McCutchen homered earlier for the Pirates, but four straight losses and 21 in the last 30 games have dropped them a season-high 12 games behind the first-place Reds in the NL Central.

Padres 11, Cardinals 3 In San Diego, Cameron Maybin hit a two-run homer, Will Venable had three RBIs and San Diego beat the struggling Cardinals.

St. Louis, which has lost four of five, had its lead cut to one game over the idle Los Angeles Dodgers for the second NL wild-card berth. The loss started a crucial seven-game West Coast trip for the Cardinals, who begin a four-game set Thursday night against the Dodgers.

Maybin connected off Jaime Garcia (4-7) to break a 2-all tie in the fourth inning. Maybin had three hits and scored three runs.

Chris Denorfia tied his career high with four hits and also had two RBIs. Logan Forsythe added three hits to tie his career high as San Diego had 17 hits and matched its season best for runs.

Eric Stults (6-2) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He is 5-0 in seven starts since rejoining the Padres’ rotation on Aug. 6. San Diego has won 14 of 18 overall and 18 of 24 at home.

SAN DIEGO: Padres’ Cameron Maybin (right) scores on a slide home to beat the throw to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (left) from Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig (not pictured) on a fielder’s choice during the eighth inning. —AP was trimmed to five games over the idle Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Belisle escaped an eighthinning jam to preserve Colorado’s one-run lead and Rafael Betancourt pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 28th save in 33 chances. Guillermo Moscoso (2-1) picked up the victory by allowing one run in two innings. Colorado manager Jim Tracy was ejected in the bottom of the seventh by second base umpire Angel Campos after a heated argument over an inning-ending double play.

Vogelsong (12-8) gave up four runs and six hits over five innings, falling to 2-3 with a 9.57 ERA in his last six starts. The right-hander entered 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six previous starts against the Rockies for the Giants.

ahead run on a wild pitch and had three RBIs, leading Chicago over Houston in a matchup of teams with the two worst records in the majors.

Sappelt, recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sept.

1, drove in his first run for the Cubs with a double in the second inning. The game was tied 1-all in the sixth before he scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Rodriguez (1-10). Sappelt added a tworun double in the seventh and Chicago won its fourth straight, matching a season high.

Cubs starter Chris Volstad (3-10) allowed four hits in five innings. Carlos Marmol earned his 19th save. There were 14 walks, two hit batters, three wild pitches and 24 runners left on base in a game that took 3 hours, 50 minutes. —AP

Sharpe to captain Wallabies SYDNEY: Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe has been named to lead Australia against Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, after the Wallabies’ ‘captain’s curse’ struck a third time this season with stand-in skipper Will Genia ruled out with injury.

Sharpe had planned to retire after the Super Rugby season but was persuaded by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to play on in the southern hemisphere tournament.

He now founds himself captaining Australia for a third time in his 109th test after previously leading the side against New Zealand in 2004 and Samoa the following year.

Sharpe takes the reins from scrumhalf Genia who ruptured a knee ligament in the Wallabies’ 2619 win over South Africa in Perth on Saturday and has been ruled out for the season.

Genia had taken the captaincy from flanker David Pocock, who also suffered a season-ending knee injury against New Zealand in their first match of the championship.

Pocock had in turn taken it from regular captain James Horwill, who was ruled out of the test season when he sustained a serious hamstring injury during the Super Rugby competition.

“To have the privilege of leading Australia in the first ever test to be played on the Gold Coast is an experience I will always treasure,” Sharpe said in a statement.

“It’s important we keep our focus as a team, build on what we achieved last weekend in Perth,

and add to that momentum. “No one else in the squad has played Argentina before but I have and they will be tough, incredibly passionate and uncompromising. “You only have to look at what they have achieved to date in their tournament matches to see what a threat they will be.” After being belted by South Africa 27-6 in their tournament debut in Cape Town, Argentina held the

Nathan Sharpe Springboks to a 16-16 draw at home and impressed the All Blacks with their resolve in a fighting 21-5 loss in Wellington.

Deans has had to reshuffle his team constantly this season due to injuries and he sprung a surprise by shifting inside back Berrick Barnes to fullback in place of Kurtley Beale, who was dropped to the bench. Barnes started the test season against Scotland at flyhalf and has played inside

centre against the All Blacks and Springboks, but has never played fullback at international level.

New Zealander Deans said Barnes’s goalkicking this season had earned him the start. “Berrick has good grounding at the back while his ability to take just about every point-scoring opportunity on offer was highlighted once again last weekend,” Deans added.

“His presence provides good balance to the backline, while giving us the opportunity to throw Kurtley in where he will be at his most dangerous, against a tiring defensive line as the game opens up and he can get out there with a license to play.” Beale, widely considered one of the best attacking players in world rugby, has suffered a crisis of confidence during the Rugby Championship, with Deans now dropping him twice from the starting side. The return from injury of inside centre Pat McCabe, whose hardrunning style is preferred in the position by Deans, may have also played a part in the backline reshuffle.

Nick Phipps takes over from Genia at scrumhalf, while lock Kane Douglas makes his test debut in place of Sitaleki Timani, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Springboks.

Stephen Moore, a late withdrawal from the starting side against the Springboks, has been bracketed with Saia Fainga’a on the replacements’ bench and could earn his Australian record 73rd cap for a hooker if he is passed fit from his hamstring injury. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

sp orts

‘RG3’ arrives but Manning is still Manning NEW YORK: Robert Griffin III made a statement debut as Washington Redskins quarterback but it was the opening Sunday performance of 36year-old Peyton Manning that will have most pleased neutral observers of the National Football League.

Every fan loves to see an exciting, talented new quarterback on the scene and the Redskins’ Griffin, the second overall pick in this year’s draft, came through one of the toughest baptisms the league can offer - against the Saints in the Superdome - with hugely impressive stats of two touchdown passes, 320 passing yards, zero interceptions and a win. ‘RG3’ has certainly awoken a franchise that badly needed rousing from years of mediocrity and, with fellow rookie running back Alfred Morris also shining with two touchdowns and 96 rushing yards, there is plenty for Redskins fans to look forward to this

season. “He’s got a bright, bright future,” former Redskins great of the 1960’s Sonny Jurgensen told CSN Washington about Griffin. “It’s going to be fun for us.” Jurgensen was par ticularly impressed that Griffin did not overuse his ability to run with the ball and showed astute decision-making.

“He’s got the big arm and he’s so quick and he buys time back there. It was good to see him get out on the outside (of the pocket) a couple of times and he didn’t elect to run. He still made the play with his arm,” Jurgensen said.

Anyone who saw Griffin perform for Baylor University last year knew he was a special talent who, sooner or later, would light up the professional game perhaps not in week one in New Orleans in such impressive fashion but certainly this season.

What was much less clear was whether Manning, one of the greatest

quar terbacks the league has seen, would be able to come back at the age of 36, after four neck surgeries and over a year on the sidelines, and still look like an elite quar terback. After being released by the Indianapolis Colts after 14 years and moving to the Denver Broncos, there were legitimate questions asked about Manning’s armstrength and his capacity to take big hits, both of which were largely answered during pre-season.

But looking right and going through the drills effectively in meaningless preseason games and in training camps are very different from taking charge of an offense in week one and delivering especially against a defense as accomplished as that of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Manning made a cautious start but ended his debut for the Broncos with 253 yards passing and two touchdowns

in a 31-19 victory, emerging victorious from a fascinating duel with his Steelers counterpart Ben Roethlisberger.

“There have been so many questions.

We’ve been talking about it for six months,” former Bronco’s Hall of Fame quarterback turned executive vice-president of football operations John Elway told the Denver Post. “I think we saw that Peyton Manning still has a lot of football left him,” he said.

It was when Manning switched to a no-huddle offense, his trademark approach in Indianapolis where his decision making came to the fore, that his time away from the game just melted away and the four-time MVP looked just the player he did before his injury troubles. “It was fantastic, especially when they went to the no-huddle,” said Manning’s former Colts coach Tony Dungy, now a television analyst with NBC. “Most people won’t know how

much he worked, how much he re habbed without being sure if he could get back. To come back and play this way, this is the Peyton Manning that I’ve been used to seeing,” he said.

The Broncos, who reached the playoffs last year with unor thodox Tim Tebow at quarterback, should be looking for a deeper run into the post-season this year with their solid defense now allied to a master passer.

The Redskins, rarely a contender in recent seasons, can begin to dream of making the post-season themselves, perhaps not this year but certainly, with Griffin, in the near future.

And the rest of us? We get to enjoy Peyton Manning for a little longer while keeping a close eye on the next generation led by Griffin, last year’s rookie sensation Cam Newton at Carolina and Manning’s replacement at Indianapolis, Andrew Luck.—Reuters

Chargers beat Raiders, Ravens down Bengals

BALTIMORE: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in the second half of an NFL football game.—AP

NHL players to challenge lockout in two provinces NEW YORK: As hockey prepared for its first work stoppage since the 2004-05 season was wiped out, the NHL Players Association planned to challenge a lockout before the labor board in Quebec.

A hearing before Alberta’s board was canceled the night before when the NHL withdrew, The Canadian Press reported. The moves, if successful, could force teams to pay players on the Montreal Canadiens, Calgar y Flames and Edmonton Oilers during a work stoppage.

The sport’s labor contract expires at midnight Saturday night, and a lockout appears certain. It would be the league’s fourth work stoppage since 1992.

Donald Fehr, who took over as union head two years ago, said his players are resigned to a work stoppage, which would follow lockouts last year in the NFL and the NBA. “A lot of them think that pure and simply they were taken advantage of last time and the owners want to take advantage of them again,” he said during an inter view Monday at the union’s New York office. “It sorts of looks exactly what happened in hockey the last time and exactly how it played out in basketball and football so far. But I hope not.”

Industry revenue has grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion annually under the expiring deal. Owners asked players to cut their share of hockey related revenue from 57 to 43 percent, then modified their offer to 46 percent during a six-year deal. Players are concerned management hasn’t addressed its problems by re -examining the teams’ revenue-sharing format.

The sides haven’t had a full bargaining session since Aug. 31 and the strife is threatening regular-season openers scheduled to start Oct. 11. “It seems to be the direction things are going, but there’s still time if they want to talk,” Fehr said.

None of the Boston Bruins who attended a charity golf tournament in Bolton, Mass., on Monday were optimistic that the full season could be salvaged.

“I hear November, December and New Year’s,” Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask said. “But no one really knows.”

Asked if anyone was talking about October, he said: “No.” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly dismissed the provincial challenges in Canada. “This is a joke,” he said in a statement.

About 200 players are expected to gather in New York on Wednesday to discuss negotiations - or rather the lack thereof. NHL owners meet in New York the following day. This would be the third work stoppage since Gary Bettman became commissioner in

1993. “We’ve already damaged our business and I imagine if we go past (Sept.) 15th and we engage in a work stoppage that it will obviously do further damage to our business,” Daly told The Canadian Press.

An 11-day strike in April 1992 caused 30 games to be postponed, and a 103-day lockout in 1994-95 caused the cancellation of 468 games and delayed the season’s start until Jan. 20.

The 2004 lockout started Sept. 16 when training camps were to open, as they are this year, and wasn’t settled until July 13. “A lockout should be a last resort, but the owners are treating it as their preferred option,” Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges said.

Fehr led the Major League Baseball Players Association through two strikes and a lockout. He said NHL players have been prepared for a work stoppage of indeterminate length.

“Players have been saving for a couple years now,” he said.

Labor law in Canada is provincial, not national, complicating a lockout.

NHLPA general counsel Don Zavelo said players on the Canadiens had sent the team a “cease and desist” letter.

An application will be made to the Quebec Labour Relations Board claiming that because the union isn’t certified in that province and has no right to strike, the players may not be legally locked out.

A hearing was scheduled for late yesterday before the Alberta Labor Relations Board, but canceled on Monday night. Mediator Steve Morrison was appointed on Aug. 21, but Zavelo said Morrison abandoned talks after three days rather than the 14 required by law.

“We filed objections to a lockout vote based on several defects,” Zavelo said. “They missed some deadlines and they failed to do a few things they needed to do.”

If players are successful in their challenges, they would be paid during a lockout and probably would be allowed to use team facilities.

A four-month NFL lockout ended in July 2011 with the loss of only one exhibition game, and an NBA lockout caused each team’s schedule to be cut from 82 games to 66 last season.

“What they’re trying to cure is that they’d rather have more money,” Fehr said. “If you went to a non-cap system of course you could solve all this sort of immediately, but we haven’t proposed that because we think the owners are in love with the cap system. ...

It’s consistent with what’s happened in the other cap sports quite apart from what the economic circumstances are in the sports. They’re all the same. The bargaining approaches are all the same.”—AP

OAKLAND: The Oakland Raiders struggled in Dennis Allen’s debut as coach, not scoring a touchdown until the final minute as they lost 22-14 at home against the San Diego Chargers in their NFL season opener on Monday.

In the night’s other game, the Baltimore Ravens extended their home winning streak to 11 games by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 44-13.

San Diego’s Philip Rivers threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd and Nate Kaeding equaled his career best by kicking five field goals for the Chargers.

Rivers threw for 231 yards, but was sacked just once and did not turn the ball over after having 20 interceptions a year ago.

The Raiders not only couldn’t find the end zone until the last minute, they also botched three punts after an injury to Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo.

Darren McFadden caught a career-high 13 passes for Oakland. A head injury to Condo in the second quarter proved to be even more significant when backup long snapper Travis Goethel was involved in three plays that resulted in three field goals for the opposition.

Carson Palmer finally got Oakland a touchdown with 54 seconds left on a 2-yard pass to rookie Rod Streater and the two connected for a 2-point conversion to make it 22-14. But San Diego recovered the onside kick and iced the game. Palmer went 32 for 46 for 297 yards.

In Baltimore, Joe Flacco threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns while Ed Reed took an interception 34 yards for a Ravens score.

Using the no-huddle offense almost flawlessly, the Ravens amassed 430 yards and got two short touchdown runs from Ray Rice.

After letting an early 14-point lead dwindle to 17-13, the Ravens pulled away by scoring 24 straight points in just over six minutes.

Flacco watched the final eight minutes on the sideline after going 21 for 29 in Baltimore’s ninth consecutive victory in the AFC North. The Ravens were the only team in the division to win the opener.

The Ravens sacked Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton four times and turned two turnovers into touchdowns over a two-minute span. After Reed’s touchdown return, Ray Lewis forced a fumble that was recovered by Lardarius Webb, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Rice to make it 41-13 with 13:41 remaining. Dalton went 22 for 37 for 221 yards, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 91 yards and a score in his Cincinnati debut.—AP

OAKLAND: Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips (95) as linebacker Antwan Barnes (98) follows the play during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game.—AP

NFL results/standings Baltimore 44 Cincinnati 13; San Diego 22 Oakland 14.

NY Jets N England Buffalo Miami

American Football Conference AFC EAST W L T OTL PF PA PCT 1 0 0 0 48 28 1.000 1 0 0 0 34 13 1.000 0 1 0 0 28 48 0 0 1 0 0 10 30 0 1.000 0 0 0

Chicago Detroit Minnesota Green Bay

1 1 1 0

NFC North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

41 27 26 22

21 23 23 30

1.000 1.000 1.000 0

Tampa Bay Atlanta New Orleans Carolina

1 1 0 0

NFC South 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

16 40 32 10

10 24 40 16

1.000 1.000 0 0

NFC West 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

30 20 16 23

22 16 20 27

1.000 1.000 0 0

Baltimore Cleveland Pittsburgh Cincinnati

1 0 0 0

AFC North 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

Houston Jacksonville Indianapolis Tennessee

1 0 0 0

AFC South 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0

30 23 21 13

10 26 41 34

1.000 0 0 0

AFC West 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

22 31 14 24

14 19 22 40

1.000 1.000 0 0

San Diego 1 Denver 1 Oakland 0 Kansas City 0

44 16 19 13

13 17 31 44

National Football Conference NFC East Washington 1 0 0 0 40 32 1.000 Philadelphia 1 0 0 0 17 16 1.000 Dallas 1 0 0 0 24 17 1.000 NY Giants 0 1 0 0 17 24 0

San Francisco1 Arizona 1 Seattle 0 St. Louis 0

McIlroy adds star power to Singapore Open

Rory McIlroy

SINGAPORE: World number one Rory McIlroy will headline this year’s Barclays Singapore Open along with three-time winner Adam Scott and American star Phil Mickelson, organisers said yesterday. McIlroy, who won his second major title at the PGA Championship last month, adds significant celebrity power to the US$6 million event which is yet to announce next year ’s title sponsor. The Northern Irishman, as well as four-time major champion Mickelson, will also play a prominent role in the famous Ryder Cup team tournament taking place in Chicago later this month. The November 8-11 Singapore Open, touted as “Asia’s major ”, started in 1961 but is competing in an increasingly crowded market. In May, British bank Barclays decided not to extend its current contract, which expires this year.

Last month, Asian Tour chief executive Mike Kerr told AFP he was in talks to bring an “iconic” tournament at a “similar level” to the majors to Asia within three to five years, but did not reveal in which country.

McIlroy underlined his top ranking on Sunday when held off an elite field to claim his second consecutive win on the US PGA

Tour play-off series, putting him in pole position for the series champion’s $10 million bonus.

The 23-year-old will play in Singapore as part of an Asian swing that will also take him to the BMW Masters in Shanghai and a one-day matchplay faceoff against Tiger Woods else where in China. Australia’s Scott, the world number five, can burnish his season after a heartbreaking outing at the British Open, where he threw away a four-shot lead with four holes to play to hand victory to Ernie Els. He will feel at home in Singapore after winning a record three titles in 2005, 2006 and 2010, and finishing third in 2007 and equal third in 2009.

Left-hander Mickelson is seeking his first win at Sentosa Golf Club after competing in the last five Singapore Opens. His best finish was in 2008, when he placed ninth.

A field of 156 will compete for the $1 million winner’s cheque at an event which is also known for its weather delays.

Last year, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano beat Filipino Juvic Pagunsan in a play-off which had to be completed early on the Monday morning after a series of tropical storms.—AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

sp orts

New Zealand ruin Yuvraj’s comeback Hashim Amla

Amla shines before rain washes play MANCHESTER: South Africa’s Hashim Amla starred in a third international format this season before rain ensured the second Twenty20 against England at Old Trafford on Monday ended in a no result washout. Amla’s 47 not out was the cornerstone of South Africa’s 77 for five in a floodlit match reduced to nine overs per side when play in this floodlit clash started more than two hours later than scheduled because of rain.

England, who defend their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka later this month, were 29 for two off 4.1 overs when a fresh downpour forced the players from the field for the final time.

A minimum of five overs had to be completed in England’s innings for either side to win this match, with the hosts needing to have scored 13 more runs off the five balls remaining in the fifth over to have won under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

South Africa, the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 side, remain 1-0 up in this threematch series ahead of today’s finale at Edgbaston. Earlier, after England captain Stuart Broad won the toss, South Africa’s Richard Levi fell first ball when a glance off Steven Finn was caught down the legside by

wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter.

But Amla, rested from the team that won by seven wickets at Chester-le-Street on Saturday, showed the form that had seen him score a combined 817 runs at over 116 in the preceding Test and one-day series.

Jacques Kallis, kept down the order until number seven as South Africa promoted a succession of big-hitters who failed to fire, was the only other Proteas batsman to make it into double figures with 13 not out.

Amla, off the mark with a four, struck three more boundaries in Finn’s second and final over. England, not for the first time this season, dropped Amla when, on 31, he skyed Graeme Swann only for Eoin Morgan, at midwicket, to spill the chance.

But next ball off-spinner Swann held a steepling catch off his own bowling to dismiss JP Duminy as he took one for 11 in two overs.

In reply, England were three for one when Kieswetter was brilliantly caught by a diving Robin Peterson after skying Dale Steyn. Luke Wright, in after England dropped Ravi Bopara, made 14 before he hooked a bouncer from Albie Morkel, his only ball of the match, to the bowler’s brother Morne at deep backward square leg.—AFP

SCOREBOARD MANCHESTER, England: Final scoreboard in the second Twenty20 international between England and South Africa at Old Trafford on Monday: South Africa R. Levi c Kieswetter b Finn 0 H. Amla not out 47 AB de Villiers c Dernbach b Finn 1 A. Morkel c Bairstow b Wright 3 JP Duminy c and b Swann 5 J. Ontong c Kieswetter b Dernbach 1 J. Kallis not out 13 Extras (lb6, nb1) 7 Total (5 wkts, 9 overs) 77 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Levi), 2-20 (De Villiers), 3 - 3 7 (A M o r k e l ) , 4 - 4 7 ( D u m i ny ) , 5 - 4 9 (Ontong) Did not bat: J Botha, R Peterson, D Steyn, M Morkel Bowling: Finn 2-0-17-2; Broad 2-0-27-0 (1nb);

Swann 2-0-11-1; Wright 1-0-4-1; Dernbach 2-012-1 England C. Kieswetter c Peterson b Steyn 1 A. Hales not out 11 L. Wright c M Morkel b A Morkel 14 Extras (lb1, w2) 3 Total (2 wkts, 4.1 overs) 29 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Kieswetter), 2-29 (Wright) Did not bat:E Morgan, J Buttler, J Bairstow, S Patel, S Broad, G Swann, S Finn, J Dernbach Bowling: M Morkel 2-0-8-0 (1w); Steyn 1-0-10-1 (1w); Botha 1-0-10-0; A Morkel 0.1-0-0-1 Result: No result (rain) Series: South Africa lead three-match series 1-0.

Mark Cavendish celebrates in this file photo

Cavendish takes third stage of Tour of Britain LONDON: Team Sky rider Mark Cavendish won a sprint finish to take the third stage of the Tour of Britain from Jedburgh to Dumfries yesterday. Cavendish, the 2011 world road race champion, had suffered a crash in the closing moments of the opening stage and was pushed into second place by Australia’s Leigh Howard in a tense finish at Knowsley Safari Park on Monday.

But he finally got his stage win yesterday after the peloton, led by Team Sky colleagues Jeremy Hunt and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, had reeled in the breakaway group heading into the final two kilometres.

Cavendish took advantage of their efforts to sprint clear to take the stage.

It was Team Sky’s second stage win after Luke Rowe’s victory on Sunday and Cavendish said: “I knew the finish was downhill but I had the perfect lead-out. It was pretty textbook.” Meanhwile, former Milan-San Remo champion Filippo Pozzato has hit out after a three-month doping ban, which already ended his Olympic dreams, dashed his world championship hopes yesterday.

“Anyone who knows anything about this would agree it’s a farce,” said the 30-year-old Italian, a former Tour de France stage winner who was once considered one of the brightest hopes of his generation. Pozzato had recently been linked to the controversial sports doctor Michele Ferrari, a notorious figure in cycling who previously had links with other top cyclists including controversial American Lance Armstrong.

He admitted in January he used to consult Ferrari, who became famous in the 1990s for claiming the banned blood booster EPO was

“no more harmful than orange juice”,which effectively ruled Pozzato out of the Olympics.

Now, he has been left off Italy’s squad for the September 15-23 worlds in the Netherlands.

A statement on the website of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said: “In the disciplinary proceedings against Filippo Pozzato, the National Anti-Doping Tribunal ... has handed down a three-month ban.”

It added that the ban was backdated “from 19 June 2012 (date of notification) and ends September 18, 2012” and would pay “the costs of the proceedings, calculated at 2,000 euros, and a fine equal to 10,000 euros.”

Pozzato’s admission that he had received training programmes from Ferrari from 2005 to 2009 ended his Olympic hopes.

Instead of going to London, he went to Kenya where he carried out voluntary work at the invitation of an Italian priest in a bid to “get away from it all”.

The Italian has never been banned for doping, and after being left out of Italy’s Olympic squad said: “My biological passport could be an example for many. I told CONI everything.”

After being omitted from the Squadra Azzurra for the road worlds, Pozzato, when asked how much backing he had received, took a swipe at the attitude of his professional and national team.

“Up to a certain point... but no one has the balls to tell it like it is. They’re all afraid, waiting to see what happens and then in the end it’s the athletes who pay, and in this case unfairly,” he said according to ANSA. “I have always stated that I went to see Ferrari, there was nothing to hide.”—AFP

CHENNAI: New Zealand pipped India by one run in a thrilling Twenty20 international in Chennai yesterday to ruin cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh’s return to big-time cricket.

Brendon McCullum smashed 91 off 55 balls as the Kiwis posted 167-5 and then restricted the hosts to 166-4 despite Virat Kohli’s 70 from 41 deliveries and a valiant 34 from Yuvraj.

Yuvraj, who was treated for a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs earlier this year, bowled two wicketless overs for 14 runs, took a catch and hit one four and two sixes.

But it was not enough to secure victory for his team as the Black Caps fought back in the final overs to pull off a brilliant win in front of 25,000 disappointed home fans.

India were cruising at 120-2 in the 14th over when left-arm seamer James Franklin turned the match around by having Kohli caught in the deep.

The dismissal put the brakes on the scoring, leaving India needing 13 runs off Franklin’s last over.

Franklin bowled Yuvraj with the fourth ball when six more were needed, but new batsman Rohit Sharma could manage only four runs from the last two deliveries. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was stranded at the non-striker’s end on 22 not out. New Zealand clinched the twomatch series, a tune-up for next week’s World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, after the opening game was washed out without a ball being bowled in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Yuvraj, man of the tournament in India’s World Cup triumph last year, was recalled to the Twenty20 side despite not having played competitive cricket since November.

The Chennai fans gave Yuvraj a standing ovation when he was called upon to bowl the seventh over of the innings by Dhoni.

Yuvraj conceded four singles in his first over of left-arm spin and then suffered a hard knock in his bowling hand while trying to take a difficult return catch off McCullum in his second.

Having given away 14 runs in his two overs, Yuvraj delighted his team-mates and fans as he gleefully caught a skier at cover point to dismiss Franklin. Further warm applause greeted his arrival at the crease to bat and Yuvraj responded by lofting Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram for sixes.

McCullum led the charge for the Black Caps with 11 boundaries and three sixes before he was bowled by left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan.

McCullum added 90 runs for the third wicket with Kane Williamson (28) after the Black Caps had lost openers Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill by the second over. Skipper Ross Taylor and Oram plundered 21 runs in the last two overs, which proved costly for India in the end.—AFP

CHENNAI: Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh (left) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni run between the wickets during the Twenty20 international cricket match between India and New Zealand.—AP

SCOREBOARD CHENNAI, India: Full scoreboard of the second Twenty20 international between India and New Zealand at the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai yesterday: India: G. Gambhir c and b Mills 3 V. Kohli c sub (Southee) b Franklin 70 S. Raina c Taylor b Mills 27 Y. Singh b Franklin 34 M. Dhoni not out 22 R. Sharma not out 4 Extras: (lb3, w3) 6 Total (for four wickets, 20 overs) 166 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Gambhir), 2-86 (Raina), 3120 (Kohli), 4-162 (Yuvraj).

Bowling: Mills 3-0-17-2, Milne 3-0-36-0, Oram 4-0-27-0, Vettori 4-0-37-0 (w2), Hira 2-0-20-0, Franklin 4-0-26-2.

New Zealand won by one run

New Zealand: R. Nicol b Zaheer 0 M. Guptill b Pathan 1 B. McCullum b Pathan 91 K. Williamson c Ashwin b Pathan 28 R. Taylor not out 25 J. Franklin c Yuvraj b Balaji 1 J. Oram not out 18 Extras: (lb1, w2) 3 Total (for five wickets, 20 overs) 167 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Nicol), 2-2 (Guptill), 3-92 (Williamson), 4-139 (McCullum), 5-142 (Franklin).

Bowling: Zaheer 4-0-27-1 (w1), Pathan 4-0-313, Balaji 4-0-33-1, Yuvraj 2-0-14-0, Ashwin 3-034-0 (w1), Kohli 3-0-27-0

Serena: ‘I will survive’ NEW YORK: Serena Williams belted out “I Will Survive” while celebrating her US Open title with some karaoke. “I thought it was a great story for me to sing that last night,” she said Monday. “I really felt the words. I really, really felt those words.”

Survival is rallying when two points away from losing the final to top-ranked Victoria Azarenka earlier that evening. Survival, even more fittingly, is coming all the way back from the health problems that kept her from competing for 10 months in 2010-11.

Survival is getting through a US Open with no tirades at officials as in her last two trips to Flushing Meadows.

The site of her first major championship 13 years ago started to induce more dread than nostalgia. “My best memory, then after that it just went downhill,” Williams said. “From line calls that were completely outrageous to more line calls that were outrageous. Calls of hindrance that was even more outrageous. It’s been a love and then hate, hate, hate, hate relationship.

“It was good to get back yesterday. I don’t feel completely comfortable still; you never know what’s going to happen. But I do feel much better about the place.”

A few weeks before her 31st birthday, Williams earned her 15th Grand Slam title - and she sounds hungrier than ever to rack up more. Karaoke aside, she wasn’t talking about relaxing after a draining summer of winning Wimbledon and an Olympic gold medal.

“For whatever reason I still feel motivated, like I should go out tomorrow and go running or something,” Williams said. A typical training day consists of 2 hours on the court, 2 hours in the gym, 3 hours of dancing and an hour of stretching. “So many people on tour are like, ‘Oh, you just show up and you win matches.’ I just smile and I let them believe that,” Williams told reporters. “The fact of the matter is I probably work harder than anyone else on the WTA Tour or else I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you guys.” All that means “I don’t have a life, especially lately.” And that’s OK. After Maria Sharapova revealed during the Open that her engagement to basketball player Sasha Vujacic was off, Williams let slip that she, too, recently went through a breakup. The relationship ended last winter, she said Monday, insisting, “I don’t remember his name.” “If I’m in a relationship, I’m fine; I do well. But I feel like when I’m out, I’m angry and I do even better,” Williams said with a laugh.

“I don’t know what’s better for me. It’s a win-win situation.” Everything seems like a win-win lately. Williams beat Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 even though “I felt down the whole match,” considering the first set ended so quickly and her opponent controlled much of the second and third.

Big sister Venus yelled from her box to move her feet and get her energy back. “I think either I got too confident or too relaxed,” Serena said. “I stopped moving my feet. My energy was low. It was strange for a final for me to play so lackadaisical. It wasn’t me. Then I started making errors.”

Williams celebrated until 3 a.m. Monday, then set her alarm for 5:15. She took a cat nap in the green room at “CBS This Morning” while movie director James Cameron was talking.

Williams is now three Grand Slam titles from tying Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert at No. 4 on the alltime list. Told that Navratilova joked on Twitter “you are catching me and Chris, and I don’t like it,” Williams giddily said she’d retweet it. Coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who has been working with Williams since her first-round loss at the French Open, has told her she should stop ignoring records. “Since I plan on playing for a long time, definitely plausible,” Williams said of catching those greats. “I have to make sure I stay healthy and stay positive and stay calm. “And if I never won another Grand Slam, I’ve had a fabulous career, a historic career.”—AP

Mitchell Starc

Australia floor Pakistan DUBAI: Australia brought Pakistan down to earth with a thumping 94-run defeat in the third and final Twenty20 international at Dubai Stadium here on Monday.

Chasing a daunting 169-run target, Pakistan were all out for 74 — the joint lowest by a Test playing country in all Twenty20s-for their biggest defeat in the history of the shortest form of the game. Only Nasir Jamshed (17), Yasir Arafat (15) and Abdul Razzaq (13) could reach double figures as Australian paceman Mitchell Starc (3-11) and Pat Cummins (3-15) ran through the Pakistan batting line-up.

Pakistan, who won the first match by seven wickets and the second in Super over, never looked the same side as they lost wickets at regular intervals, the first five falling by the sixth over with the score on 19.

Razzaq and Arafat shared the highest partnership of the innings with 20, taking Pakistan past the lowest total in all Twenty20 — 67 by Kenya against Canada in Belfast in 2008. Pakistan’s previous biggest defeat in Twenty20 internationals was by 48 runs, against England at The Oval in 2009. India were also dismissed for 74 by Australia at Melbourne in 2008.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez termed the defeat as a wake-up call. “Unfortunately we couldn’t do well in the last match,” said Hafeez.

“It is a wakeup call ahead of the World

Twenty20 and we now must realise our duties but full credit to Australia as they came back strongly.” Australian captain George Bailey praised his openers, David Warner and Shane Watson. “The openers set the foundation for us and then the bowlers backed that with some good performances,” said Bailey.

Earlier Warner made a 34-ball 59 with six sixes and a four and Watson hammered five sixes and a boundary during his 32-ball 47 to put on Australia’s best opening stand of 111 in all T20s after they were put into bat. The Australian openers went berserk from the eighth over when Watson hit Shoaib Malik for three towering sixes and from the other end Warner hit left-armer Raza Hasan for as many sixes in the ninth.

Even the successful Saeed Ajmal was hit for two sixes as Australian openers hit nine sixes in the space of 19 balls, bringing the second fifty off just 15 balls. Paceman Arafat, who replaced Sohail Tanveer as the only change to the lineup, had both the openers in successive overs to put brakes on the Australian innings, finishing with 2-30. Glenn Maxwell chipped in with a 20ball 27 with three fours and six. Ajmal finished with 2-19, taking his tally to 60 wickets-the most by any bowler in Twenty20 cricket. The two teams now head to Sri Lanka where the fourth edition of the World Twenty20 begins from September 18.—AFP

SCOREBOARD DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Complete scoreboard in the third and final Twenty20 international between Pakistan and Australia played at Dubai Stadium here on Monday.

Australia: D. Warner c Hafeez b Arafat 59 S. Watson c Gul b Arafat 47 G. Maxwell c Jamshed b Hasan 27 M. Hussey b Ajmal 12 G. Bailey b Ajmal 3 C. White c Umar b Gul 0 D. Christian c Kamran b Gul 3 M. Wade not out 6 P. Cummins not out 1 Extras: (b4, lb2, w4) 10 Total: (for seven wickets) 168 Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Watson), 2-114 (Warner), 3140 (Maxwell), 4-145 (Bailey), 5-152 (White), 6159 (Hussey), 7-167 (Wade).

Bowling: Razzaq 2-0-12-0, Gul 4-0-30-2, Arafat 30-30-2, Ajmal 4-0-19-2, Hasan 3-0-34-1 (w4), Malik 1-0-20-0, Hafeez 3-0-17-0 Overs: 20 Pakistan: Mohd Hafeez c Christian b Cummins

9

Imran Nazir lbw b Starc 1 Nasir Jamshed c Bailey b Maxwell 17 Shoaib Malik b Cummins 0 Kamran Akmal c Watson b Starc 0 Umar Akmal c Hussey b Watson 2 Razzaq c sub (D. Hussey) b Cummins 13 Yasir Arafat c White b Hogg 15 Umar Gul run out 3 Saeed Ajmal b Starc 1 Raza Hasan not out 5 Extras: (b4, w4) 8 Total: 74 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Nazir), 2-15 (Hafeez), 3-15 (Malik), 4-16 (Kamran), 5-19 (Umar), 6-36 (Jamshed), 7-56 (Arafat), 8-61 (Gul), 9-64 (Razzaq).

Bowling: Watson 3-0-13-1, Starc 3.1-0-11-3 (w1), Cummins 4-0-15-3, Hogg 4-1-11-1 (w1), Maxwell 4-0-12-1 (w1), Christian 10-8-0 Overs: 19.1 Result: Australia won by 94 runs

18

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

sp orts

Jordanians deal blow to Aussie World Cup hopes

NEW YORK: Britain’s Andy Murray poses with the trophy after beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament. —AP

Murray claims maiden grand slam singles title NEW YORK: Andy Murray became the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam singles title on Monday, fighting off defending champion Novak Djokovic to win an epic US Open final. The Scotsman, beaten in his four previous grand slam finals, made it fifth time lucky with a nervejangling 7-6 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 victory at a windy Arthur Ashe Stadium where the players had to battle the elements as much as each other.

With both men struggling to control the ball in the gusting winds, and battling exhaustion in a slugfest that tied the record as the longest final at Flushing Meadows, Murray emerged triumphant, proving he belongs among the game’s elite.

“I proved that I can win the grand slams,” Murray said. “And I proved that I can last four-and-a-half hours and come out on top against one of the strongest guys physically that tennis had probably seen, especially on this sur face. “(I learned) to not doubt myself physically and mentally from now on. I’m sure that would have a positive impact in the future.”

After losing the first two sets, Djokovic suddenly raised his game to win the next two and force a deciding fifth set, seizing the momentum as Murray started to wilt.

But as Murray’s supporters, including actor Sean Connery and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, shifted uneasily in their seats, the Olympic champion regained his composure and jumped out to a 30 lead in the final set before hanging on to seal an emotional victory.

“It was an incredibly tough match and obviously it felt great at the end,” Murray said, adding that the word “relief” was foremost in his mind.

“I’m very happy that I managed to come through because if I had lost this one from two sets up, that would have been a tough one to take.”

The 25-year-old, a survivor of the 1996 Dunblane school massacre, won a titanic first set that took almost an hour and a half to complete and ended in a 22-point tiebreaker, then added the second despite blowing a 4-0 lead. Djokovic, already a five-times

grand slam champion, rebounded to win the third set, then took the fourth to raise the prospect of becoming the first man since Pancho Gonzales in 1949 to win the final after losing the first two sets.

However, the world number two was unable to conjure another fightback as his legs started to cramp and Murray wrapped up victory after four hours and 54 minutes, the same time it took Mats Wilander to beat Murray’s coach Ivan Lendl in the 1988 final.

“If I won that first set and had some chances maybe the match would go a different way,” said Djokovic, who asked for a medical timeout to treat a groin strain just as Murray was about to serve for the title.

“But there is no reason to go back and say: ‘What if? What if?’ “I had a great opponent today. He deserved to win this grand slam more than anybody.”

Before Murray’s triumph, the last British man to win a major was Fred Perry, who clinched his final grand slam in New York in 1936, the same year Britain’s King Edward VIII abdicated to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson.

Murray emerged as the man most likely to end that barren run when he made it to the 2008 U.S. Open final, losing to Roger Federer in straight sets. He then made the Australian Open final in 2010 and again in 2011 but doubts about his mental toughness grew when he lost them both in straight sets.

The turning point came just a few months ago. He made the final at Wimbledon and although he lost to Federer he won the first set and with a bit of luck, might have won the match.

A few weeks later, he avenged that loss by beating Federer in the Olympic final and now has a grand slam to go with his gold medal.

“When I was serving for the match, it’s something that I realised how important that moment was for British tennis or British sport,” Murray said.

“It’s something that hasn’t happened for a long time obviously in our country so I’m obviously proud that I managed to achieve it.” —Reuters

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s defender Walid Ismail (left) challenges Iran’s forward Mohammad Reza Khalatbari during their 2014 World Cup Asian zone Group A qualifying football match. —AFP

Lebanon shock Iran BEIRUT: Lebanon recorded one of their greatest soccer victories when they stunned three-times Asian champions Iran 1-0 in Beirut yesterday to throw open World Cup qualifying Group A. Roda Antar was the match winner, with the creative midfielder ’s 28thminute strike the first goal Lebanon, ranked 124th by FIFA, had scored against their more illustrious opponents in this their eighth meeting. His team mates then defended bravely and wasted time much to the irritation of Iran, who struggled badly on the atrocious pitch which lacked grass in several areas as the home side claimed the landmark win.

Lebanon, competing in the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifying for

the first time, now have four points from four matches in the five-team pool, level with Iran and Qatar who have played one game fewer. The result heaped more pressure on Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, the former Real Madrid and Portugal boss who has been criticised for his tactics as the team have struggled for goals.

On Tuesday, they dominated possession and territory but came up against in-form Lebanese goalkeeper Abbas Hassan, who thwarted them on several occasions. The headband-wearing goalkeeper, who was shown a yellow card for time-wasting, produced a string of solid saves, with his 95th-minute stop of Mohammad Ghazi’s strong header a highlight. —Reuters

AMMAN: Australia’s 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign suffered a shattering blow when they crashed to a humiliating 2-1 defeat against Jordan here yesterday. Already under pressure following two consecutive draws against Oman and Japan in Group B, the Socceroos appeared overwhelmed at the packed King Abdullah Stadium where the sturdy Jordanians matched their more famous rivals man for man to clinch an historic victory.

Hassan Abdel-Fattah scored a penalty in the 51st minute and Amer Deeb struck in the 73rd for Jordan before Archie Thompson pulled one back for Australia in the 85th.

The Australians, who are aiming to make the World Cup for the third straight time, lacked a clear strategy, while the Jordanians, who have never qualified for the quadrennial event, played without any pressure and victory sent them second behind Japan.

Japan, who beat Iraq 1-0 earlier on Tuesday, have 10 points from four matches, while Jordan have four from three. Iraq are third with two points while Australia, also with two points, are fourth on goal difference. Oman, also on two points, are fifth.

After a scrappy start the pace picked up in the second half with both teams showing more enterprise up front. That almost brought immediate dividends for Australia when they were presented with a golden chance to score in the 46th minute, but Mile

Jedinak leapt high over the Jordanian defence only to head the ball narrowly wide of the mark. Jedinak, however, was to turn villain later when he brought down Jordan forward Odai al-Saify a metre inside the penalty area and Abdel-Fattah beat Mark Schwarzer to his left with a powerful low penalty to trigger off wild celebrations in the stands.

The referee had earlier missed another penalty when Tim Cahill appeared to have blocked the ball with his arm off a free kick awarded to Jordan in the first half.

The Australian defence lived dangerously, with the ball drifting dangerously close to the goal on a few occasions and once Schwarzer had to lunge backwards to tip away a dipping 25-yard shot from the left.

Schwarzer, however, was let down badly by his defence in the 73rd minute when the enterprising al-Saify cut in from the left and after getting past Aussie captain Lucal Neill, passed the ball back to Deeb who easily found the net from point blank range as Jordan, ranked 87th in the world, found themselves 2-0 up.

Deeb was in the thick of the action four minutes later, and with Schwarzer completely at his mercy all he should have done was lob the ball over him and into the goal. But he couldn’t control the power on his shot with the result that the ball flew over the goalpost.

The desperate Aussies then threw everything into the match

AMMAN: Jordan’s forward Ahmed Hayel (back) challenges Australia’s defender Matthew Spiranovic during their 2014 World Cup Group B qualifying football match. —AFP and Thompson took advantage of a poor clearance to shoot past Jordan goalkeeper Amer al-Shafia to reduce the deficit.

But by then it was all over for

Australia as they spent the remaining few minutes fending off the Jordanians who erupted with unrestrained joy when the final whistle was blown. —AFP

Japan stride towards WCup with Iraq win

TASHKENT: Uzbekistan’s Shohruh Gadoev (right) competes with South Korea’s Kim Bokyung during their 2014 World Cup qualifying match. —AP

Uzbeks hold South Korea TASHKENT: South Korea remained on course for their eighth straight World Cup after playing out a highly entertaining 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in Tashkent yesterday.

Uzbekistan took the early lead at Pakthakor Stadium when Ki Sung-Yeung headed into his own net after 13 minutes, but 2002 semi-finalists South Korea got back on terms just before half-time through a header by skipper Kwak Tae-Hwi. Veteran striker Lee Dong-Gook fired the visitors ahead in the 57th minute but Sanjar Tursunov headed Uzbekistan’s equaliser two minutes later to ensure that the points were shared.

Although South Korea dropped points for the first time in the final round of Asian qualifying, they remained top of Group A with seven points from three games.

Uzbekistan, however, still have plenty of work to do if they hope to qualify for their first World Cup as they remain winless with only two points from the same number of matches.

The home side’s greater need for the win was apparent as they began the match with clear urgency. And they nearly took the lead in the 11th minute when Ulugbek Bakaev chipped past Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong, only for the ball to be cleared off the line by a covering defender.

But Uzbekistan went ahead from the resulting corner as Asian player of the year Server Djeparov’s setpiece was flicked on by Tursunov towards the six-yard box, where Ki inadvertently guided the ball into his own net.

Tursunov had a great chance to add to the lead midway through the first half when he was picked out in the box by Jasur Hasanov and sold a dummy to Lee Jung-Soo, only to see his shot turned away by Jung.

The Koreans took control in the latter stages of the half and drew level in the 43rd minute.

Ki made amends for his earlier miscue by floating an inviting free-kick into the box that was met by Kwak, who headed the ball to the goal-line where Artyom Filiposyan knocked it into his own net under pressure from Lee Chung-Yong.

The Koreans then took the lead 12 minutes after the break when Park Joo-Ho’s cross from the left picked out an unmarked Lee Dong-Gook, who controlled it before dispatching a low shot past Uzbek ‘keeper Ignatiy Nesterov.

But the lead would not last long as another Djeparov corner from the right picked out Tursunov, who flicked a glancing near-post header into the net.

The home side had a chance to win the game in stoppage time but Bakaev could only succeed in driving across goal, just out of the reach of an unmarked Timur Kapadze. —AFP

SAITAMA: Asian champions Japan shrugged off the late injury withdrawal of Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa to beat Iraq 1-0 and stay top of their group in their 2014 World Cup qualifier yesterday.

Japan, hit by the loss of Kagawa just before kick-off with back pain, rode their luck at times in front of a packed Saitama Stadium but ended with all three points thanks to Ryoichi Maeda’s headed goal after 25 minutes.

The result gives Japan, who have 10 points from four games, an eight-point lead at the top of Group B ahead of yesterday’s later matches. The top two in two groups of five earn an automatic ticket to Brazil. The game provided an unhappy return for former Japan coach Zico, whose makeshift Iraq line-up-hit by a series of injuries and suspensions-tested the hosts, especially in the opening exchanges.

Iraq, who were unbeaten after drawing their first two games, started brightly and Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima was forced into action with a key stop in the opening minutes.

But it was Japan who got the breakthrough when Stuttgart’s Shinji Okazaki fed Jubilo Iwata striker Maeda in the sixyard box for the game’s only goal.

As half-time neared, the dangerous Ahmed Yaseen tested Kawashima with a goal-bound shot that was curling inside the far post. Japan looked more comfortable after the break, with CSKA Moscow playmaker Keisuke Honda a particular threat, and they finished the match with

high hopes of reaching their fifth straight World Cup in Brazil.

“It was really tough,” said Japan’s coach Alberto Zaccheroni. “We want to win the ticket to the World Cup as quickly as possible. I’m going to start thinking about our next game,” added the Italian.

Japan will next play Oman away on November 14, while Iraq host Australia-in a third-party venue, due to security fearson October 16.

“We tried hard to win this game, but it ended in a defeat. Japan prepared for the game very well,” Zico said. Kagawa told reporters he felt a twinge in his lower back during training, but added that the injury did not seem “that serious”.

“I felt a twinge in the back during practice when I was on the ball. I had some treatment but didn’t want to risk causing the team trouble by playing,” Kagawa said, according to Kyodo news agency. — AFP

SAITAMA: Iraq’s Ahmed Yeseen (front) fights for the ball with Japanís Hiroshi Kiyotake during their soccer match for the World Cup Asia qualifying match. —AP

NZ thrash Solomon Islands WELLINGTON: New Zealand took control of Oceania’s third round qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup with a 61 thrashing of the Solomon Islands in Auckland yesterday.

The victory at North Harbor Stadium gave the All Whites the maximum six points after the first two matches. Oceania champions Tahiti are hosting New Caledonia in Papeete in the other game later. Both sides lost their opening matches.

New Zealand — who qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals — had been humbled 2-0 by New Caledonia in the semi-finals of the Oceania Nations Cup in June, which cost them an opportunity of a big payday at next year ’s Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Ricki Herbert’s side, however, have not taken their Pacific island neighbours so lightly for World Cup qualifying, beating New Caledonia 2-0 last Friday and then producing another controlled performance yesterday.

“In the first 30 minutes we knew they would throw everything at us up front and pressure us defensively so we knew we had to go back to front pretty quickly,” All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen said in a pitchside interview.

“We knew if we got our timing right we could get in behind them. It didn’t quite work in the first half but we grinded them down in the second and

got our opportunities.” Shane Smeltz and Kosta Barbarouses gave the All Whites a 2-0 lead by halftime, though Solomon’s captain Henry Fa’arodo got his side back in the match when he took a long pass first time and swept it past goalkeeper Mark Paston just after the break.

Chris Killen scored New Zealand’s third with a header after replacement goalkeeper Paul Huia was trapped in no man’s land before Tony Lochhead, Chris Wood and Marco Rojas completed the rout as the visitors defence fell apart in the final 20 minutes.

“They did get back into the game at 2-1 but ... once we got the third we knew it was going to be a case of how many,” Nelsen added. “Unfortunately we were a little bit too easy on them at the end and we should have put more away.” This final stage of qualifying in the Oceania region consists of a single pool of the four teams, all playing each other home and away.

The winner of the pool advances to face the fourth-placed team from the Central and North American confederation (CONCACAF) in a two-legged playoff for a spot in Brazil.

The third round of matches is on Oct. 12 with Tahiti hosting New Zealand in Papeete and the Solomon Islands playing New Caledonia in Honiara. —Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

SPORTS

Germany cling on for 2-1 victory in Austria

PARIS: France’s Franck Ribery (center) is tackled by Belarus Aleksandr Martynovich (left) and Artem Radokov during a Brazil World Cup 2014 Group I qualifying soccer match.—AP

Ribery shines for France PARIS: Franck Ribery scored one goal and set up another as France beat Belarus 3-1 at the Stade de France to maintain their perfect start in World Cup qualifying Group I yesterday.

Ribery set up Etienne Capoue for the opener before wrapping it up with a fine chip 10 minutes from time in a onesided encounter that came to life after the interval. Christophe Jallet scored France’s second goal before Belarus reduced the arrears through Anton Putilo 18 minutes from time.

Les Bleus snatched their second win in as many games four days after a 1-0 victory in Finland but they failed to impress. Didier Deschamps’s side lacked inspiration and were lucky not to trail the visitors early in the second half.

They will need to improve dramatically to stand a chance against world and European champions Spain in their qualifier in Madrid next month.

Deschamps had decided to give Karim Benzema a hand up front by fielding Olivier Giroud but it did not seem to help Les Bleus who produced a lacklustre display in the first half.

The hosts had their best chance after 13 minutes when a Giroud header from a Ribery cross was parried away by Sergei Veremko with a fine dive to his right.

Veremko denied Mamadou Sakho eight minutes from the interval when he stopped the defender’s downward header on his goal line.

Belarus had their first chance in the 47th minute but it took a lightning quick Hugo Lloris save to deny Stanislav Dragun from close range. It spurred France into action.

Two minutes later, Ribery broke down the right flank and Capoue, who started in place of the injured Abou

Diaby, connected with the winger’s pass to beat Veremko with a low shot from just inside the box.

Jallet doubled the tally 19 minutes later when what seemed to be an attempted cross dropped in under the bar. Belarus pulled one back in the 72nd when Putilo netted from close range after Lloris had saved Sergei Kornilenko’s penalty.

Ribery, however, put the result beyond doubt when he chipped the ball past Veremko 10 minutes from time. France’s next game will be a home friendly against Japan on Oct. 12.

Netherlands 4 Hungary 1 In Budapest, Winger Jeremain Lens, called into the team at the last minute after Arjen Robben injured his groin in the warmup, struck twice to inspire Netherlands to a 4-1 rout of Hungary in World Cup Group D qualifying yesterday.

The Dutch, World Cup runners-up in 2010, have not lost to Hungary since 1984 and the visitors took the lead in the second minute when Luciano Narsingh’s cross was headed in by Lens.

The home team equalised four minutes later with a penalty from Balazs Dzsudzsak but Netherlands went back in front in the 18th minute after Bruno Martens glanced in a header from a free kick by Wesley Sneijder. It was the defender’s first goal for his country on his third appearance.

A poor defensive header by Akos Elek led to the third Dutch goal, a lob from PSV Eindhoven winger Lens over keeper Adam Bogdan.

Substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar then completed the scoring with 17 minutes to go as the Dutch made it two wins from two qualifying matches. —Reuters

GLASGOW: Scotland’s Alan Hutton (left) vies for the ball with Macedonia’s Mirko Ivanovski (right) during their 2014 World Cup qualifying Group A soccer match.—AP

Scots held by Macedonia GLASGOW: Scotland’s stuttering start to their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign continued as they had to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with minnows Macedonia at Hampden heaping the pressure on coach Craig Levein.

After starting their campaign with a disappointing goalless draw with Serbia on Saturday Scotland had been desperate to secure a win against Macedonia, who sit 50 places below the Scots in the world rankings.

However, the visitors belied their lowly status as they dominated the opening proceedings and took an 11th minute lead through Nikolce Noveski, although the Macedonian defender looked a yard offside. Allan McGregor saved with his legs from an Agim Ibraimi shot before a mistake from Macedonia allowed Kenny Miller to tap in a 43rd minute equaliser.

Substitute Ferhan Hasani rattled the post with a fierce strike in the second half before fellow sub Jordan Rhodes headed into the side netting for Scotland.

The Scots had keeper McGregor to thank for securing them a point as he

twice came to the rescue with superb saves from Daniel Georgievski and Mirko Ivanovski.

The result, which was greeted with a chorus of jeers from the Tartan Army at the final whistle, leaves Scotland in fourth place in Group A behind Serbia, Belgium and Croatia.

Turkey 3 Estonia 0 In Istanbul, Turkey cruised to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Estonia in their 2014 World Cup qualifier yesterday, securing their first points in Group D after an opening defeat by Netherlands. Estonia defender Enar Jaager was sent off for a 19th-minute foul on Burak Yilmaz but the hosts could not capitalise until a minute before halftime when captain Emre Belozoglu scored from Arda Turan’s pass. Turkey, beaten 2-0 by the Dutch in Amsterdam on Friday, increased the pressure in the second half, creating several early chances.

Striker Umut Bulut headed home at the near post on the hour from Sercan Sararer’s left-wing cross. Substitute Selcuk Inan added a third goal 15 minutes from times.—Reuters

VIENNA: Germany survived a torrid first half against neighbours Austria before Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil scored either side of halftime to give them a 2-1 win in their 2014 World Cup qualifier yesterday.

The Germans clung on for three points and only won after Marko Arnautovic missed a great chance for the hosts in the 87th minute.

Reus burst down the left, cut inside Gyorgy Garics and buried a low shot past Robert Almer three minutes before the break after the feisty hosts, fielding nine Bundesliga-based players, had looked capable of producing an upset.

Ozil, scorer of two goals in the 3-0 win over Faroe Islands on Friday, converted a penalty after Veli Kavlak recklessly clattered into Thomas Mueller.

Austria, playing their opening match in Group C, refused to lie down and Zlatko Junuzovic pulled one back in the 57th minute, turning in the ball in after Arnautovic forced his way to the byline and sent a low cross into the goalmouth.

Switzerland 2 Albania 0 In Lucerne, Switzerland took control of its World Cup qualifying group yesterday, beating Albania 2-0 to get its second win in five days.

Swiss star forward Xherdan Shaqiri, whose family roots are Albanian, defied the whistles of jeering visiting fans to score with a neat one-on-one finish in the 23rd minute. Captain Gokhan Inler then slotted in a 68thminute penalty after Valentin Stocker was fouled.

Albania seldom threatened before captain Lorik Cana’s powerful shot in the 80th was parried then caught under pressure by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Switzerland, which also won 20 in Slovenia last Friday, leads Group E with six points after all six teams have played two

VIENNA: Austria’s Andreas Ivanschitz (left) challenges for the ball with Germany’s Philipp Lahm during a World Cup 2014 Group C qualifying soccer match.—AP matches. Four teams have three points and Slovenia is last without a point.

Belgium 1 Croatia 1 In Brussels, Belgium recovered from conceding an early goal but failed to capitalise on their second-half dominance in a 1-1 draw with Croatia in an open and fluid World Cup qualifying match yesterday.

The home side, narrow bookmakers’ favorites to win Group A despite their lowly 40th world ranking, fell a goal behind in the sixth minute, equalising on the stroke of halftime before neat footwork created chances but not goals.

Croatia’s Ivan Perisic drove in an easy opener when Vincent Kompany failed to fully clear Darijo Srna’s cross. Belgium’s

Guillaume Gillet, the sole home starter still playing for a Belgian club, thundered in an equaliser from a half-cleared corner in the final play of the first half.

Belgium talked before the match of shutting down Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, but it was wingers Srna and Perisic and the imposing Mario Mandzukic in the centre who threatened most. —Agencies

Serbia rout Wales 6-1 NOVI SAD: Serbia gave their new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic his first taste of success as left back Aleksandar Kolarov inspired an impressive 6-1 home rout of Wales in a World Cup Group A qualifier yesterday.

The victory left Serbia on four points from two games after Saturdayís goalless stalemate in Scotland, which came on the back of three defeats and a draw in friendlies.

Having come under fire for tepid performances which produced only one goal in five games, Mihajlovic reshuffled his youthful team and the tactic paid dividends in Vojvodina Novi Sadís acoustic Karadjordje stadium in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd.

Kolarov fired the home side ahead when he curled a delightful free kick from 18 metres over the wall past the despairing dive of Wales keeper Glyn Myhill in the 16th minute.

The Manchester City player turned provider eight minutes later after muscling his way past two defenders to the touchline and squaring the ball for Serbia captain Zoran Tosic to steer it home from close range.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gareth Bale, who started on the right flank but quickly switched to the more familiar left, gave a colourful band of 500 Welsh fans something to cheer about when he halved Serbiaís lead with a brilliant free kick.

His stinging and swerving shot from 25 metres left Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic rooted to his line as it almost ripped the netting in his top right corner, but Welsh joy was short-lived as Serbia quickly restored their two-goal advantage.

A pair of 20-year olds carved the visitors open with a slick move as winger Dusan Tadic released Filip Djuricic with a lovely through ball and the striker buried his shot into the roof of the net after rounding Adam Matthews.

Serbia continued to have the upper hand after the break and their incessant attacks soon bore fruit as Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic raced down the right flank and delivered a perfect low cross for Tadic who swept the ball past Myhill.

Ivanovic capped his own outstanding performance in the 80th minute with a rasping low shot from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot to delight the home fans who sang incessantly to the beats of a giant drum. Substitute Miralem Sulejmani, making his first appearance after recovering from a long-term injury, put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute with a deflected effort from 20 metres which caught Myhill stranded.

Bulgaria 1 Armenia 0 In Sofia, Stanislav Manolev scored his second goal in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign as Bulgaria labored to a 1-0 win

NOVI SAD: Wales’ Gareth Bale (right) and Serbia’s Srdjan Mijailovic fight for the ball during the Brazil World Cup 2014, Group A qualifying soccer match.—AP over Armenia in a Group B match on Tuesday featuring three red cards.

The only goal came two minutes before the interval when Manolev, who also struck in Fridayís 2-2 draw at home to Italy, turned in a cross from captain Ivelin Popov who had dribbled past 39-year-old right back Sargis Hovsepyan.

Bulgaria almost doubled their lead in added time as substitute Dimitar Rangelov was thwarted by advancing Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky.

Earlier, a dozen players were involved in a 73rd-minute fracas during which Bulgariaís Svetoslav Dyakov was shown a second yellow card and Armenia substitute Marcos Pinheiro was also sent off.

Armenia, who rarely looked like scoring, finished the game with nine men after Gevorg Gazaryan was dismissed for pushing a ball boy in the 77th minute.

Bulgaria, who have four points from two games, host Denmark in their next

qualifier on Oct. 12 while Armenia (three points) entertain Italy.

Sweden 2 Kazakhstan 0 In Malmo, goals from Rasmus Elm and Marcus Berg gave Sweden a 2-0 win over Kazakhstan in their opening World Cup qualifier yesterday. The Kazakhs, who lost their opening Group C game at home to Ireland on Friday, tried to use stalling tactics to suppress the Swedes but only managed to hold out until the 37th minute.

Playing in his home town of Malmo, Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic drifted out to the right to pick up the ball and crossed to Mikael Lustig. The defender mis-hit his shot but Rasmus Elm pounced on the rebound to volley home.

Ibrahimovic tormented the Kazakhs throughout the second half and he passed to Berg, who scored in the final minute of added time to put the game beyond reach. —Agencies

Jordanians deal blow to Aussie World Cup hopes

Chargers beat Raiders, Ravens down Bengals

18

16

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

New Zealand ruin Yuvraj’s comeback

Page 17

LONDON: England’s Steven Gerrard (right) jumps for the ball with Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko during their Group H 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match.—AP

Lampard rescues lackluster England LONDON: Frank Lampard held his nerve to rescue lackluster England as the Chelsea midfielder’s late penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Roy Hodgson’s side looked set for a shock defeat after Ukraine midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka produced a sublime strike to open the scoring in the first half.

But Lampard had netted twice in Friday’s 5-0 win over Moldova and the 34year-old was back on the scoresheet in the nick of time as he converted another spot-kick after Yevgen Khacheridi’s 85th minute handball.

While Hodgson will have been relieved to see his side preserve their unbeaten

start to the qualifying campaign, this was a worrying night for the England coach, who will be without captain Steven Gerrard for the next qualifier against San Marino after the Liverpool midfielder was sent off in the final moments for a second booking.

Britain may be enjoying a golden period of sporting success at the moment, but the feelgood factor from the country’s Olympic triumphs and Andy Murray’s US Open victory clearly hadn’t made it to Wembley, where vast swathes of empty seats provided an uninspiring backdrop to Hodgson’s first competitive game on home turf.

After barely breaking sweat against

Group H whipping-boys Moldova, this was the first real test of England’s mettle on the road to Brazil and Hodgson will be concerned at how meekly his players responded to the challenge.

Oleg Blokhin’s team had almost taken an early lead when Oleg Gusev’s cross deflected off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and looped over Joe Hart before glancing off the far post.

Hodgson’s side needed a goal to quell Ukraine’s confident start and they thought they had it when Jermain Defoe cut in from the left to lash a powerful strike past Andriy Pyatov in the 10th minute.

But Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir ruled out the goal, claiming Defoe had fouled

Andriy Yarmolenko with an arm to the throat, even though the Ukraine forward seemed to exaggerate the minimal contact. With John Terry sidelined by an ankle injury, Hodgson had picked Phil Jagielka ahead of Gary Cahill at centre-back, but England looked ponderous in defence and Gerrard had to clear Ruslan Rotan’s low shot off the line after another incisive Ukraine move.

But England should have been ahead 10 minutes before half-time. Gerrard whipped a cross towards Defoe, who headed across goal to the unmarked Tom Cleverley. Yet, with just Pyatov to beat from six yards out, Cleverley somehow contrived to shoot straight at the Ukraine

goalkeeper. Cleverley held his head in frustration and England’s misery deepened in the 39th minute as Ukraine took the lead in stunning style.

After Joleon Lescott conceded possession with a careless pass, Ukraine worked the ball across midfield to Konoplyanka, who cut in from the left, took aim from 25 yards and fired a superb curling strike past Hart. England tried to mount an immediate response, but again Cleverley’s finishing let him down as he scuffed wide from Lampard’s cross before grazing the outside of the near post from a tight angle.

With England showing little sign of breaking down the Ukraine rearguard, Hodgson sent on Danny Welbeck in place of

Italy labor to win against Malta

Late Soldado strike gives Spain victory in Georgia TBILISI: Roberto Soldado snatched a late winner as Spain began the defence of their world title with a labored 1-0 victory away to an ultra-defensive Georgia in a Group I qualifier yesterday.

Handed a rare start ahead of fellow strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa, Soldado fluffed a chance in the first half but made no mistake from close range when set up by substitute Cesc Fabregas in the 86th minute.

It was cruel on the home side, who had held out stubbornly against their illustrious visitors despite seeing little of the ball and losing goalkeeper Giorgi Loria to injury with some 20 minutes from time.

They even came close to taking a shock 54th-minute lead when Aleksander Amisulashvili’s curling shot hit the post but Spain’s relentless attacking eventually wore them down.

“They closed ranks from the start and we tried everything but we were missing a little bit of attacking dynamism,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told Spanish TV. “These are three exceptionally important points because if we had drawn today it would have been a significant setback,” he added.

Spain’s victory in their first Group I game puts them level on three points with Georgia and main rivals France, who play their second game at home to Belarus late yesterday. It also extended the Iberian nation’s winning streak in European Championship and World Cup qualifiers to 23 matches. They last failed to win in a 1-1 draw with Iceland in Reykjavik in September 2007.

The latest crop of Spanish players were confronted by a familiar problem in Tbilisi as tried to penetrate the massed ranks of opposition defenders while dominating possession.

David Silva crashed a long-range effort off a post in the 28th minute before Xavi also tried his luck from distance and forced a fine save from Loria.

Silva and Andres Iniesta nearly found a way through several times with some slick interplay but Spain had to wait until the 45th minute before they finally created a clear chance. However, when Xavi threaded the ball through to Soldado the onrushing Loria blocked his low shot. After the woodwork saved Spain early in the second half, Del Bosque went in search of a winner by throwing on Pedro, Santi Cazorla and Fabregas who conjured a low cross that Soldado turned clinically past substitute keeper Roin Kvaskhvadze. “It was a very hard-fought win,” Soldado told Spanish TV. “It was very tough to find space and create chances but at the end we managed to get the breakthrough,” added the striker who took his tally to four on his sixth appearance for Spain.

Norway 2 Slovenia 1 In Oslo, John Arne Riise scored an injurytime penalty to give Norway a 2-1 win over Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier yesterday.

Marko Suler gave Slovenia the lead in the 16th minute after Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein failed to hold a free kick. Norway equalized 10 minutes later when Tarik Elyounussi’s shot hit the crossbar and Markus Henriksen headed in the rebound.

Cleverley and Daniel Sturridge for OxladeChamberlain.

That finally added some zest to England’s attack and Glen Johnson’s low strike brought a fine save from Pyatov before Welbeck hit a post from closerange. To their credit, England kept plugging away and they equalised five minutes from the end.

Khacheridi conceded the penalty when he blocked Welbeck’s flick with his arm and Lampard stepped up to drive home the spot-kick.

However, there was still time for Gerrard to be dismissed for a rash lunge on Denys Garmash as England finished on a suitably downbeat note.—AFP

ROME: Italy laboured to a scrappy 2-0 win in their Group B World Cup qualifier against Malta in Modena yesterday, with an early strike from Mattia Destro and a late Federico Peluso header enough to earn them the three points.

Roma striker Destro latched on to a smart Claudio Marchisio through ball after five minutes but Cesare Prandelli’s side struggled to build on their fast start in a lacklustre first half that drew jeers from the crowd. Napoli’s highly-rated Lorenzo Insigne replaced the disappointing Alessandro Diamanti at the start of the second half and Italy showed more attacking intent but had to wait until the last minute for Peluso to head the second goal from an Andrea Pirlo corner. Victory puts Italy joint top of Group B on four points with Bulgaria, who beat Armenia 1-0 in Sofia.

Greece 2 Lithuania 0

TBILISI: Spain’s Sergio Ramos (left) battles for a ball with Georgia’s Nika Dzalamidze during their World Cup 2014 Group I qualifying soccer match.—AP The match appeared headed for a draw when substitute Alexander Soederlund was fouled in the box in injury time and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Norway lost its opening qualifier at Iceland 2-0, while Slovenia lost at home to Switzerland with the same result.

Russia 4 Israel 0 In Tel Aviv, Fabio Capello’s Russia kept their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign firmly on track with a decisive 4-0 victory over Group F rivals Israel here yesterday.

An Alexander Kerzhakov brace and goals

from Alexander Kokorin and substitute Viktor Fayzulin ensured Capello’s side have a maxium six points from their first two matches.

It was the former England coach’s second competitive game in charge after Friday’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Moscow, while Israel are still looking for their first win after drawing 1-1 against Azerbaijan on Friday.

The Israelis proved no match for the 13th-ranked Russians who were all over a side 71 places behind them in the FIFA rankings from the outset at the Ramat Gan stadium with Kerzhakov having two early shots at goal.—AP

In Athens, Greece maintained their winning start to World Cup qualifying after goals from Sotiris Ninis and Kostas Mitroglou secured a 2-0 victory over Lithuania at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium yesterday. Fernando Santos’s side joined Group G rivals Bosnia on six points from two matches and the two teams now meet in the next round of fixtures on Oct. 12.

Greece went into the game on the back of an opening 2-1 win over Latvia in Riga on Friday although that result came at a price as Celtic striker Georgios Samaras suffered an injury to his left arm and was ruled out against Lithuania.

Santos opted to field Fanis Gekas as a lone striker on Tuesday with Ninis playing just behind him. The move paid off as man of the match Ninis scored the first goal and laid on the second.

Kostas Fortounis missed the best chance of the opening period when he was played in by Ninis only to see his low shot parried by keeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas.

Mitroglou replaced Giannis Maniatis at halftime and the striker made an immediate impression, forcing two fine saves from Karcemarskas from headers. The deadlock was broken 10 minutes into the second half thanks to a moment of individual skill from Ninis as he skipped past two Lithuanian defenders before drilling a right-foot shot into the corner of the net.—Reuters

Palestinian PM cuts fuel prices, VAT amid protest Page 23

UK banks face rising bill as mis-selling claims soar Page 23

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

China imports shrink; Downturn worsening

Islamic bank Kuveyt Turk eyes Germany Page 25

Page 24

ZUG: Mining group Xstrata chairman Sir John Bond passes in front of demonstrators as he leaves a shareholders in Zug. A blockbuster merger between Swiss commodities giant Glencore and Xstrata may be salvaged as Glencore offered to raise its offer, after shareholder Qatar demanded better terms. —AFP

Qatar keeps Glencore guessing Glencore bid up to 3.05 new shares for one Xstrata share

News

in brief

Masdar eyes Saudi DUBAI: Abu Dhabi government-owned green energy firm Masdar is looking into investing in Saudi Arabia, chief executive Sultan Al Jaber said yesterday. “We are proactively seeking partnerships in Saudi,” Jaber told reporters, declining to give any details about the kind of project, or the investment capital under consideration. “I can’t tell how much now because it depends on the market and the regulatory framework but we are seriously and closely looking at the Saudi market,” he said.

Investing in renewable energy projects is an increasingly popular topic among the top oil exporters of the Middle East but actual green energy installations are few and far between. Masdar has made significant renewable energy investments in countries where political and public support for clean energy brings with it big incentives, especially in Europe. But back in the United Arab Emirates, it has only around 10 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity up and running, with a 100-MW concentrated solar plant - the world’s biggest - under construction and another 150 MW planned nearby.

Airbus bullish on demand BERLIN: European aircraft maker Airbus said yesterday that Germany, the continent’s biggest economy, would need more than 1,000 planes over the next 20 years but cast doubt over its sales of A380 “superjumbos”. “Airlines in Germany will require more than 1,000 new passenger aircraft (100 seats and above) and freighters (above 10 tons of payload),” said Airbus on the sidelines of the ILA Airshow in Berlin. “In terms of new passenger aircraft deliveries over the coming 20 years, German airlines will take more aircraft than any other European country and globally is one of the top five countries,” the firm added.

Despite this opportunity for Airbus, the firm’s chief executive said it would be hard to hit the sales target of 30 for its new A380 “superjumbo”. “We will probably have difficulties to reach this number this year,” Fabrice Bregier told reporters at a dinner late Monday. Airbus has won 257 orders from 20 different companies for the A380, the world’s biggest passenger airliner, since it launched the plane in 2000.

BAA traffic dented LONDON: British airport operator BAA reported a 2 percent fall in August passenger traffic on last year as Britons stayed home to watch the Olympics and tourists deferred their holidays until after the Games. BAA, owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial yesterday said 9.5 million passengers passed through its five UK airports last month, compared to about 9.7 million in August 2011. London Heathrow - Europe’s busiest airport - handled 6.5 million passengers, down 1.9 percent year-on-year. “The reduction was more pronounced in the first two weeks of August - down 4.6 percent - than in the rest of the month - up 0.3 percent.

LONDON: Qatar, Xstrata’s second-largest investor, has held back immediate support for Glencore’s raised bid for the miner, despite an apparent rapprochement last week, saying in a rare statement yesterday it was still considering its position. The tiny, gas-rich Gulf state has become an unexpected kingmaker in commodity trader Glencore’s now $36 billion bid for Xstrata, the world’s fourth largest diversified miner, and its efforts to create a mining and trading powerhouse.

Through aggressive buying in the market since the proposed takeover was announced in February, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has built up a stake of more than 12 percent in Xstrata - a key position in a deal structure that allows just 16.5 percent of Xstrata shareholders to block any

bid. “Qatar Holding wishes to make clear that it has made no decision yet as to whether or not it would accept the revised proposal,” it said in a brief statement, its first since Glencore’s revised final bid was released on Monday.

“QH will make its decision in due course after giving careful consideration to the implications of the proposed management changes, the other elements of the revised proposal and the views of Xstrata’s board.” Qatar’s surprise announcement in June that it would not support the initial offer from Glencore, which owns 34 percent of Xstrata, eventually forced the commodities trader to back down at the last minute last week and raise its all-share bid, though not to the ratio initially demanded by the Gulf state.

Until yesterday, Qatar had been silent on the revised offer. Sources familiar with the matter have said Qatar, irked by the assumption that it would automatically back any higher Glencore offer, feels little pressure to decide on its position immediately and could even wait beyond a statement from Xstrata’s board, due by Sept. 24, and hold out until closer to a vote, which could be in over a month’s time.

Other institutional shareholders, in the process of being consulted by Xstrata’s board as it considers its recommendation, indicated on Monday they thought the deal could get done, though not all were pleased with changes, including plans to make Glencore’s Ivan Glasenberg chief executive of the combined group instead of Xstrata’s Mick Davis. Glencore confirmed

Indians lose faith in economy, govt NEW DELHI: The Indian public’s confidence in their economy and government has plunged in the last year, according to a US study published as the country battles galloping inflation and slowing growth. Although Indians are still more positive about their situation than Europeans or Americans, their confidence in the countr y ’s prospects has fallen sharply since 2011. “I n a world where the Americans, the Europeans and even the Chinese have reason to worry about their economies, it is the I ndians who have lost the greatest faith in their economic fortunes,” said the Pew Research Center study published on Monday.

Just 49 percent of the 4,018 Indians questioned by the center said current economic conditions were good, reflecting a 7.0-percentage-point decline since 2011 when 56 percent of those surveyed said the economy was doing well.

Only 45 percent of Indians believe that the economy will improve in the next 12 months and just 38 percent said the country was heading in the right direction, down from 51 percent last year. In the US, satisfaction levels were low but more than 52 percent said they expected the economy to improve

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

in the next 12 months, compared with 25 percent of Europeans.

In China, 83 percent of people said the economy was good and was poised to become even better in the next 12 months, while fellow emerging giant Brazil had similar levels of optimism. India’s oncebooming economy grew by just 5.5 percent between April to June its slowest expansion in three years.

Inflation remains stubbornly high

at nearly seven percent. A spate of political corruption scandals have also soured the national mood, with the parliament currently deadlocked due to protests over a new scandal involving the allocation of coal mining licences. Nearly two out of every three Indians surveyed said they were pleased with their personal financial situation, in contrast to their feelings about the national economy.— AFP

on Monday that it was raising its bid to 3.05 new shares for every Xstrata share held, up from 2.8, which Qatar had said was not enough.

Qatar had said in June that it saw the appropriate ratio as 3.25, but in recent days had indicated it could yield a little.

The revised offer represents a 27 percent premium to the ratio at which Glencore and Xstrata were trading last week, when the market believed the deal would collapse. It was released after a weekend of intense negotiations and has been seen by those close to the deal as more conciliatory and less aggressive than proposals presented to Xstrata’s board on Friday, just minutes before the miner’s shareholders were due to vote on Glencore’s original bid.— Reuters

Goa suspends mining MUMBAI: Mines in the western Indian state of Goa were ordered to close yesterday after a governmentbacked inquiry estimated illegal trade in iron ore had cost more than $6.0 billion in five years. The state Mines and Geology department directed in a notice that all mines suspend their operations until further notice as the government begins a probe into alleged irregularities. Last Friday a report from an inquiry by a panel headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice MB Shah claimed that 90 mines operating in Goa were illegal as they did not have the necessary environmental clearances.

The report claimed illegal iron-ore mining in Goathe country’s main export hub-had cost nearly 350 billion rupees ($6.25 billion) from 2006 to 2011. The report blamed the state, central government agencies and private miners for the scandal, which Shah said plundered the natural resource and facilitated an “unrestricted, unchecked and unregulated export of iron ore to China”. The scandal echoes similar problems in the southern state of Karnataka where the Supreme Court imposed a ban on iron ore mining following allegations of fraud worth $3.6 billion from 2006 to 2010.

Nationally, the left-leaning Congress government is under pressure after the national auditor highlighted billions of dollars in lost revenue due to a policy of gifting away coal mining rights instead of auctioning them. The repeated scandals in the mining sector have shone a light on the government’s management of natural resources and the nexus of corruption that exists between regulators, politicians and business owners. Mining is Goa’s second-largest industry and the biggest industry after tourism, employing 75,000 people directly and in related services, particularly transport. Goa’s iron-ore mining industry largely shuts down in the June to September months due to the monsoon rains.—AFP

22

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

BUSINESS

Qatar aims to expand power with corporate giants DUBAI: Qatar is expanding its reach.

The Gulf state has over recent years increased its economic and political influence by using its sovereign fund to snap up high profile stakes worth billions of dollars in public companies in Europe, Asia, and the US. Now bankers are licking their lips in anticipation of an M&A wave as Qatar seeks to extend its footprint by supporting the international expansion of homegrown firms. It has already been an acquisitive year for Qatari companies.

Qatar Telecom took control of Iraqi mobile operator Asiacell. Qtel has offered $2.2 billion to buy the 48 percent of Kuwait’s Wataniya that it doesn’t already own.

Qatar National Bank has taken con-

ized vehicles to invest its wealth makes sense for Qatar, which has over $30 billion to deploy this year alone. Due to political considerations, it hasn’t always been easy for the Gulf state to invest within the region. That’s easier now that a number of authoritarian regimes have fallen. Moreover, investments by experienced corporate entities don’t tickle the pride of sensitive host governments like sovereignbacked financial bets tend to do.

Qatar Mining, Hassad Food (charged with ensuring food security), Qatar Petroleum and Industries Qatar are just a few of the Qatari names expected to start raising their profile in the coming months by snapping up overseas assets. Qatar’s sovereign fund conducts

trol of Iraq’s Mansour Bank, and bought 49 percent of Libya’s Bank of Commerce and Development. QNB also raised its stake in the UAE’s Commercial Bank International and is in talks to buy Societe Generale’s 77 percent stake in Egyptian bank NSGB. The government, which controls both listed entities, is supporting the expansion. Qtel’s $1.9 billion rights issue in May was backed by the state. QNB, meanwhile, is flush with excess capital as the country pushes ahead with a decade-long $200 billion infrastructure rollout. The strong domestic market allows the bank to fund its ambition to become an “iconic” regional brand.

Using its own companies or special-

many of its stake purchases through its in-house trading desk. But government-related entities still rely on external expertise for acquisitions. This push to shore up international influence through corporate entities will keep advisors busy.

Qatar National Bank is in talks to buy Societe Generale’s 77 percent stake in its Egyptian subsidiary NSGB, the country’s second largest bank by market value. The Qatari bank has recently doubled its stake in UAE-based Commercial Bank International to 39.9 percent.

Other recent acquisitions this year by the Gulf bank include the purchase of a 51 percent stake in Iraq’s Mansour Bank and 49 percent of Libya’s Bank of Commerce and Development. Earlier

this year, QNB made an offer to buy Turkey’s Denizbank but was outbid by Russia’s Sberbank.

In August, Qatar Telecom offered to pay $2.2 billion to buy the remaining 47.5 percent stake it does not already own in Kuwaiti telecom company Wataniya. In June, Qtel took control of Iraq’s second biggest mobile operator Asiacell by doubling its stake to 54 percent. The telecom operator completed a $1.9 billion rights issue in May. QNB is 50 percent owned by the government, which also owns 55 percent of Qtel.

The Qatar Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, has $30 billion to invest in 2012, board member Hussain Al Abdulla said in April. — Reuters

Oil rises above $115 Iran says oil prices ‘too low’

KUALA LUMPUR: President of Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defense Industries (NADI), Ahmad Johan (2nd right) signs a document with President of PT Lion Group, Rusdi Kirana (2nd left), as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (back center), Malaysian Transport Minister Kong Cho Har (back left) and chairman of Aerospace and Defence Industries, Hashim Ali (back right) look on during a joint venture signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Indonesia’s PT Lion Mentari Airlines said it will launch a new low-cost airline with Malaysian firm NADI called Malindo Airways that could challenge regional budget giant AirAsia. -— AFP

Lion Air to launch airline in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia’s PT Lion Mentari Airlines said yesterday it will launch a new low-cost airline with Malaysian firm NADI that could challenge regional budget giant AirAsia. The new Malindo Airways will start regional flights

by May next year with a fleet of 12 Boeing 737s, said Indonesia’s largest privately run airline, which operates as Lion Air, and Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defense Industries (NADI).

Lion Air president Rusdi Kirana said the companies were counting on an increase in travel, with the Asia Pacific region expected to have 2.2 billion passengers in 2030 and need 11,450 new airplanes to meet the demand. NADI, which specialises in maintenance, repair and overhaul services, will own 51 percent of the joint venture. Lion Air will supply the fleet, based out of Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia’s home market.

“We are giving affordable prices but with better services” than other budget airlines, such as in-flight entertainment,

Kirana told reporters before the joint venture signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

The airline plans to initially fly to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia as well as destinations across Indonesia, Manila, Hanoi and cities in Australia and China. Over the next decade it hopes to expand its fleet to 100 planes, including five flagship 787 Ddreamliners to arrive in 2015, when Malindo plans to fly to Europe.

OSK Research aviation analyst Ahmad Maghfur Usman said Lion Air working with a local partner to break into Malaysia’s regulated airspace could pose a “real challenge” to AirAsia. “Lion Air already has a strong infrastructure to begin with,” he said. “As long as they offer a competitive compelling fare, it will put a fight to AirAsia... The winners here will be the consumers.” AirAsia has become one of the aviation sector’s biggest successes, since Tony Fernandes, a former record industry executive, plucked it from insolvency in 2001 and quickly turned it into a profitable, rapidly expanding company. — AFP

LONDON: Oil rose above $115 a barrel yesterday, lifted by expectations the US Federal Reserve would unveil further steps to stimulate its economy this week.

Some analysts believe the central bank will launch a third round of bond-buying due to recent weak economic data from the United States such as disappointing jobs numbers on Friday. Additional stimulus would likely weaken the dollar, boosting the price of dollar-denominated commodities like oil.

Lingering geopolitical worries also helped put a floor under prices yesterday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country and the United States were in talks on setting a “clear red line” for Iran’s nuclear program, but the two allies remained at odds over whether to spell out a clear threshold for military action against Tehran.

Brent crude was trading 23 cents higher at $115.04 a barrel by 0847 GMT, after settling up 56 cents on Monday. US crude was up 2 cents at $96.56.

“Prices have barely moved, suggesting the market is in waiting mode (ahead of the Fed gathering),” said Tetsu Emori, a Tokyobased commodities fund manager at Astmax Investment. “(Fed Chairman Ben) Bernanke has clearly said that the employment situation (in the US) is not good, so there’s a chance (of quantitative easing).”

NEW DIRECTION? French bank Societe Generale said in a note that it expected base and precious metals prices to outperform oil and grain prices over the rest of the year, with

scope for Brent to back down towards $100 over the coming months. Maintenance in the North Sea, where Brent crude is produced, has cut output this month and lent support to oil prices in the near term, along with the disruptions to US Gulf of Mexico production after Hurricane Isaac.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said on Monday the Kingdom was concerned about climbing oil prices, with Brent rising by more than 25 percent since late June.

OPEC price hawk Iran, which needs high oil prices to compensate for lower sales volumes under Western sanctions, says oil prices are too low. US crude oil

NEEDHAM: Gasoline prices are displayed at a Mobil station in Needham, Mass. — AP

and fuel inventories likely dropped last week, according to a Reuters survey of analysts on Monday, with imports and production having only just begun to recover after the interruption from Isaac.

OIL PRICES TOO LOW Crude oil prices are still low and could rise further, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Monday, the same day Saudi Arabia said prices are too high and would work to moderate them. “In our view, the price of oil is still low and has the potential to rise further,” Qasemi was quoted as having said on Monday by Iran’s oil ministry news website.

Al-Naimi said the world’s largest oil producer was worried about high oil prices and would try to moderate them.

But OPEC price hawk Iran, which needs high oil prices to compensate for lower sales volumes under Western sanctions, believes prices could rise further in months to come.

Qasemi said lower oil output from North Sea oil fields in Europe could push up prices.

When asked how Iran viewed the possibility of the United States releasing stocks from strategic petroleum reserves to try to temper the surge in prices, he said it was normal for oil prices to rise going into winter in the northern hemisphere.

US administration officials met energy analysts at the end of last week in a meeting interpreted by some as a sign that President Barack Obama is considering tapping US government oil supplies in a bid to bring down fuel. — Agencies

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2740000 .4450000 .3560000 .2950000 .2860000 .2880000 .0040000 .0020000 .0762980 .7433470 .3870000 .0720000 .7287190 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2810500 GB Pound/KD .4501300 Euro .3599130 Swiss francs .2981960 Canadian dollars .2883600 Danish Kroner .0482970 Swedish Kroner .0423810 Australian dlr .2908590 Hong Kong dlr .0362440 Singapore dlr .2281250 Japanese yen .0035940 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0765490 Bahraini dinars .7457870 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0749670 Omani riyals .7302850 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 Malaysian Ringgit

3.553 5.072 3.053 2.141 3.173 220.090 36.173 3.425 6.439 8.876 89.338

.2860000 .4560000 .3620000 .3020000 .2930000 .2980000 .0058500 .0035000 .0770650 .7508180 .4100000 .0780000 .7360430 .0510000 .2831500 .4534930 .3626020 .3004240 .2905150 .0486580 .0426980 .2930320 .0365150 .2298300 .0036210 .0051370 .0021470 .0030020 .0034740 .0771210 .7513600 .4004950 .0755270 .7357410 .0068590

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.883 77.158 729.380 745.850 76.464

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.250 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.466 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.309 Tunisian Dinar 176.65 Jordanian Dinar 396.190 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.884 Syrian Lier 4.899 Morocco Dirham 32.64 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.700 Euro 354.52 Sterling Pound 441.820 Canadian dollar 274.79 Turkish lire 152.400 Swiss Franc 295.01 US Dollar Buying 279.500 GOLD 293.000 148.000 75.250

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

295.700 750.750 3.690 292.300 554.400 46.000 49.300 167.800 48.220 364.500 37.080 5.370 0.032 0.161 0.235 3.700 400.050 0.191 93.480 45.000 4.340 232.100 1.829

50.400 733.280 3.080 6.950 78.080 75.370 229.820 36.450 2.689 455.500 43.500 301.000 4.300 9.430 198.263 76.970 282.700 1.360

10 Tola

GOLD 1,841.060

Sterling Pound US Dollar

733.100 2.988 6.785 77.650 75.370 229.820 36.450 2.131 453.500 300.100 4.300 9.270 76.870 282.300

COUNTRY

Currency

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 453.500 282.300

SELL DRAFT

294.200 750.750 3.444 290.800

229.800 46.380 363.000 36.930 5.090 0.031

SELL DRAFT

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL CASH

296.62 294.13 303.69 364.34 281.85 455.04 3.68 3.454 5.092 2.133 3.188 2.984 76.81 750.47 46.35 401.54 733.54 77.83 75.37

296.000 291.250 302.000 362.500 282.850 455.000 3.690 3.560 5.325 2.310 3.550 3.150 77.300 748.250 48.300 398.500 735.000 78.000 75.750

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 400.010 0.190 93.480 3.200 230.600

Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

296.069 747.117 76.811 77.461 75.218 397.803 46.318 2.130 5.098 2.978 3.449 6.779 692.241 4.597 9.067 4.376 3.263 89.960

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Selling Rate

282.200 289.629 450.538 357.270

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

282.200 2.980 5.110 2.139 3.447 6.830 76.935 75.395 750.200 46.318 456.800 2.990 1.550 366.500 294.500 3.200

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

282.200 360.400 453.950 290.000 3.620 5.095 46.335 2.133 3.445 6.760 2.985 751.400 76.920 75.420

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

BUSINESS

In a Greek junkyard, signs red tape defeating cuts ATHENS: In a sprawling yard in Athens, a yellow Porsche rusts among dusty motorcycles, police cars with bullet holes and wrecked city buses - a telling image of one Greek government agency’s slide into bureaucratic quagmire. Known by its Greek acronym ODDY, the Organization for Public Property Management ran warehouses nationwide that auctioned off anything from old sofas discarded from city hall waiting rooms to luxury cars confiscated from drug dealers.

Now, efforts to consign ODDY itself to the scrapheap, along with its lossmaking payroll costs, show just how hard it is for the Greek government to satisfy foreign creditors’ demands that it shut down dozens of state agencies to save money; it may say it is waging war on red tape, but the red tape may be winning. Set up to offload army surplus after World War Two, ODDY began showing losses a decade ago, squeezed by competition while maintaining dozens of employees on staff. So when some 50 state entities were slated for closure in 2011, ODDY was on the list.

More than a year later, it has indeed been wound up. A ministerial decree in November announced ODDY no longer existed, and the European Union and International Monetary Fund, which are keeping Greece afloat on condition it slashes costs, duly noted in March that the required cuts had been legislated for. But that is all on paper. Employees and government officials who spoke to Reuters have revealed that ODDY still exists in all but name, for as DDDY - no longer an Organization, but now a Directorate - it has simply become an

office of the Greek Finance Ministry.

And while staffing has been cut, many costs have simply transferred from wages to pensions, and the shake-up has all but paralyzed its ability to run auctions to make money.

The workforce has been halved since the debt crisis erupted in 2009 and the wages of those remaining have been cut. But as many who left simply retired and took a pension, the state may have saved little overall; meanwhile revenues, disrupted by a shunt into legal limbo, have tumbled, and assets, like that yellow roadster, gather dust in silent yards across Greece. “I feel disappointed.

This is not what we dreamed of,” said George Chronopoulos, who retired last month aged 61 after 37 years working for ODDY as a valuer, mainly for cars, at the agency’s Athens warehouse, one of its four main sites.

“I used to love my job,” said Chronopoulos, who was also a trade union organizer and served for a time on the agency’s management board. “But now I cannot find a reason to stay.” In Athens, the unit has held just one car auction this year, compared with one a month in better times. Even more bizarrely, the change of name and status led to its Internet access being cut off since March, hindering it even further in making sales.

In the chaos of dramatic staff cuts, a shortage of security guards to fend off thieves tempted by its stores of valuable goods has meant some of the agency’s clerks have been drafted in as watchmen, employees said. And at the Athens yard, where rows of confiscated

motorcycles and piles of slot machines sit unsold, one worker pointed to dogs, kept in cages but barking loudly, as another interim solution for discouraging robberies.

LONGER-TERM GOALS Details from the story of ODDY, pieced together from current and former employees and official records, illustrate some of the hurdles Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faces to his goal of saving up to 2 billion euros by 2015 through scrapping some of the thousand or so similar agencies in the hope of persuading international lenders he can steer the budget towards balance. Auditors from the EU, IMF and European Central Bank, known as the troika, are in Athens this week going through Samaras’s strategy and reviewing Greece’s performance to date; any signs that savings are not going to plan may trouble them.

The Finance Ministry and the Ministry for Administrative Reform declined comment for this article. But Dimitris Kouvaris, who has run the DDDY operation since March, defended his agency’s efforts to reform itself, acknowledging struggles with technical problems but insisting that it was too early to pass judgment on a long-term overhaul which he said would save the state money eventually. “Our aim is to reduce spending, achieve better control of expenses and upgrade services,” he said. “Of course, we have technical and operational problems which we are trying to overcome, and also labor-related issues, since the workforce has been significantly reduced.”

Founded as ODISY in 1946 to manage leftover wartime equipment, ODDY became widely known in the 1980s and 90s for auctioning off cars confiscated from criminals. Employees say politicians and civil servants were particularly frequent visitors to its warehouses, picking up bargains. As late as November last year, the agency handed over free to the army five vehicles including an Audi sedan, a government document shows. By the turn of the century, however, the agency had gone into decline, suffering from competition from private firms bidding to recycle materials, former valuer Chronopoulos said. For 2009, published results show ODDY had accumulated losses of 17 million euros and had a net loss that year of 2.4 million. Soon it was on the government’s shutdown list.

REARGUARD RESISTANCE Reaction among the 120 or so staff was swift. With cuts in wages and pension rights looming, many took the chance to retire early on the basis of existing, more generous, terms. As Chronopoulos, the former union leader noted, when faced with a monthly salary being cut to, say, 1,300 euros from 2,000, many found they were better off locking in a state pension - a move that left the overall state budget little better off.

Other employees at ODDY decided to fight the cuts. With colleagues at other threatened outfits, they launched strikes and protests that union officials say deflected the blow, aided by support from political leaders who backed action against public sector layoffs that

reached a peak a year ago.

“ODDY is an inextricable part of the state,” Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the Democratic Left party, said at the time, in 2011. The party is now in Samaras’s broad coalition government. In November last year, ministers appeared to sidestep on the promised closure of ODDY, issuing a decree transferring its functions to a department of the finance ministry.

Chronopoulos and another longtime ODDY employee said only seven staff from ODDY were ultimately put into a scheme to dismiss public workers. Manager Kouvaris said six workers had been put on the dismissal track since he took over in March. Yet alongside the shrinking workforce, employees complain of propagating red tape, suggesting that arcane approval procedures have held up payment for renewing the office’s Internet service.

“There is no room for initiatives now to improve things,” said Chronopoulos, who now plans to return to cultivate his pomegranate trees in the southern village where he has a home. “You would need a hundred signatures.”

Three employees normally engaged in clerical work said they had been asked to guard warehouses to make up for gaps left in the security teams by early retirements. Kouvaris, the DDDY manager, declined to comment on the specific complaints but insisted restructuring was on track.

Pointing to an auction held last month as a success, he said online sales could restart this month and he was hoping for monthly revenues of up to 1 million euros. — Reuters

Palestinian PM cuts fuel prices and VAT Leaders seek economic solutions after protests

LAHORE: Pakistani private security guards gather at the check point at the HSBC bank in Lahore yesterday. Banking giant HSBC said it had agreed to sell its operations in Pakistan comprising 10 branches to the Asian country’s JS Bank Limited for an undisclosed sum. — AFP

UK banks face rising bill as mis-selling claims soar LONDON: The number of complaints against British banks mis-selling payment protection insurance (PPI) doubled in the first half of 2012, according to the Financial Ombudsman Service, pointing to a further rise in the compensation bill for banks. Britain’s banks have already set aside over 10 billion pounds ($16 billion) to compensate customers wrongly sold payment protection insurance alongside loans and mortgages in one of the worst consumer financial scandals in British history.

Policies were typically taken out alongside a personal loan or mortgage to cover repayments if customers fell ill or lost jobs, but they were often sold to people who would not have been eligible to claim. The Financial Ombudsman Service, which deals with cases where banks and their customers cannot agree a settlement, said around 1,500 new cases were arriving every day.

It went on to say many customers were now taking on the cases themselves without resorting to using claims management companies - which take a hefty chunk of payouts in return for doing the paperwork. Complaints over PPI made up 63 percent of the 135,170 complaints the ombudsman received in total during the first half of 2012. PPI complaints rose to 85,562 from 49,419 in the second half of 2011. Lloyds Banking Group had the most customer complaints during the period. Lloyds received 27,745 complaints. Barclays was next, with 24,457 complaints.

Lloyds Chief Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio last week called for a radical change within the industry, saying banks needed to restore the trust of customers. Barclays new Chief Executive Anthony Jenkins, who was promoted from retail banking boss last month, has said cutting customer complaints is a priority. Lloyds has set aside 4.3 billion pounds for compensating PPI mis-selling, far more than other banks. Barclays has set aside 1.3 billion pounds. Policies were typically taken out alongside a personal loan or mortgage to cover repayments if customers fell ill or lost jobs, but they were often sold to people who would not have been eligible to claim.

NEGATIVE OUTLOOK Meanwhile, Moody’s yesterday held

its negative outlook for the British banking sector, citing the weak economy, higher regulatory costs and exposure to the euro-zone debt crisis.

“The outlook for the UK banking system remains negative,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a new report on the sector. “The key drivers of the negative outlook are (1) the UK’s uncertain economic prospects; (2) downside risks for asset-quality; and (3) pressure on profitability due to net interest margin pressure, weak credit growth, and higher regulatory and compliance costs.”

The negative outlook means that the banking sector-which faced a series of government bailouts at the height of the 2008 global financial crisis-remains at risk of being downgraded in the future. “The continued negative outlook for the UK banking sector is driven by the UK’s uncertain economic prospects, pressure on profitability and downside risks for asset quality,” added Elisabeth Rudman, a Moody’s Senior Vice President.

“These factors are partially offset by strengthened capital ratios, strong business franchises that are capable of generating strong underlying pre-provision earnings, and the banks’ progress in improving liquidity and reducing reliance on short-term funding.”

The ratings agency repeated its view that the probability of government support for “systemically important institutions” would decline in the medium term. It added that the sector faced “downside risks” from key markets in Britain and the euro-zone. “Areas of downside risk for banks are their exposures to the UK commercial real-estate market and retail and corporate loan exposures in the European peripheral countries,” it said.

“Despite efforts to reduce exposures, some banks still have significant concentrations in commercial real estate and in Moody’s view, there is a risk of further defaults and higher provisions in this sector. “In addition, although UK banks have limited exposure to sovereign debt from peripheral European countries, their other exposures (predominantly lower risk residential mortgages in Spain and Italy, and higher risk-but well provisioned-exposures in Ireland) could still be a source of further impairment charges.” — Agencies

RAMALLAH: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad yesterday announced cuts to fuel prices and VAT after more than a week of protests across the West Bank over the spiraling cost of living. The price of fuel “will be returned to what it was in late August, starting tomorrow,” Fayyad said in a press conference after a cabinet meeting. “We will reduce the VAT to 15 percent, which is the minimum available to us at the moment.”

The measures were announced as hundreds of government workers gathered in front of Fayyad’s office for new protests against the cost of living, a day after a general strike that paralyzed much of the West Bank. Fayyad said government workers would be paid part of their overdue August salaries on Wednesday, and the rest later this week. “There will be additional cuts made to the expenses of ministries and government institutions with the exception the ministries of health, education and social affairs,” he said.

In addition, he announced cuts to the salaries and expenses of high-ranking officials and ministers. “We will not commit to any new ministerial expenses for travel, rent, transportation or fuel until we get through this financial crisis.” Palestinians have been holding demonstrations across the West Bank for two weeks now over the cost of living, and particularly the cost of fuel, which has risen sharply in the last two months.

Yesterday, Palestinian ministers met to discuss ways of easing economic hardships, which have provoked growing protests across the

West Bank, challenging the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. The demonstrations turned violent in the cities of Hebron and Nablus on Monday as thousands of angry youths burned tyres, blocked streets and hurled stones at armed police, raising pressure on Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

The protests are being eyed with growing concern by Israel, which fears the frustration against Palestinian leadership could snowball into a third, general uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Out of cash and bound by economic accords that peg its sales tax to steep Israeli rates, the Palestinian Authority is struggling to salvage its legitimacy in the eyes of the public. “If the government doesn’t come out with serious, concrete solutions, the protests will go on and become bigger,” said Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee.

Government employees, many of whom will receive only part of their August salaries because of the cash crisis, staged a partial strike yesterday and promised to picket the cabinet meeting in the de facto capital of Ramallah. The meeting was due to end at around 1 pm. Public transport and taxi workers went on strike on Monday, leaving the West Bank’s streets unusually quiet. The scenes in Hebron, in which crowds pelted a giant poster of Fayyad with a rain of shoes and attacked a government building and police station, were unprecedented, locals said.

ANXIETY Palestinians have mostly saved their outrage for Israel, which has occupied the West Bank for 45 years, and even some of the protesters were surprised by the intensity of the violence. “There

Abbas initially welcomed the protests when they started to pop up last week, equating them with the Arab Spring and pinning the blame firmly on Israel for the economic turbulence. But if the movement develops, it could

RAMALLAH: A Palestinian protester pushes blocks a street by burning tires during a protest against the high cost of living in Ramallah. — AFP are some parties who are trying to undermine his own position, with escalate the situation, and push it the veteran leader having little to out of control. These parties are show for his policy of seeking a the ones attacking police stations negotiated peace settlement with and public facilities,” the PLO’s Abu Israel. When the Arab Spring first rippled across the Middle East last Yousef said.

The Islamic group Hamas, year, the Palestinian Territories which holds sway in the isolated remained quiet.

Locals said there was no Gaza Strip and is fiercely opposed to Palestinian President Mahmoud appetite for fresh confrontation Abbas, has a strong following in after decades of mainly fruitless Hebron. In the wake of Monday’s rebellion against Israel. Tensions violence, messages were posted have risen over the summer on Facebook and other social months, with Palestinians angry media urging calm. “Protest, but at continued deep schisms within don’t destroy your country,” said their own political class, and frusone message, adding: “Palestine is trated at the soaring cost of living. — Agencies bigger than everyone.”

Hong Kong evicts ‘Occupy’ protesters amid scuffles

HONG KONG: A protester is surrounded by media after he fell during the eviction process of ‘Occupy’ protesters at the HSBC bank headquarters in Hong Kong yesterday. — AFP

HONG KONG: Hong Kong “Occupy” protesters scuffled yesterday with bailiffs who evicted them from their camp underneath the Asian headquarters of HSBC, the last outpost of the anti-capitalist movement in Asia. Police-backed bailiffs exercised a court order to clear around a dozen protesters along with their tents and banners denouncing capitalism from a large passageway beneath the building, which was occupied since October last year.

“Leave! Leave this place,” one angry protester shouted as security officers carried them away, while others-who were beating drums and blowing whistles chanted “Occupy Central”. “ This area belongs to the people,” another protester said amid chaotic scenes that included pushing and shoving as officers cleared away their personal belongings such as sofas, bookcases, tables and lamps.

Police said they arrested two protesters for assaulting security personnel during the eviction which ended after a six hour standoff. Two officers were injured and

hospitalized, a police spokeswoman said.

A Hong Kong court last month approved an application from HSBC to evict the group, ruling that the protesters could not provide sufficient reason to continue to live on the property, which sits in the middle of some of the most expensive real estate in the world. The camp sprouted up in solidarity with the much larger Occupy movement which began in New York’s Zuccotti Park last year and spread around the world.

The movement has largely petered out since police forcibly dismantled the New York tent city in November. Only a handful sleep at the Hong Kong camp overnight, and during the day there are rarely more than 10, according to witnesses and bank officials. HSBC did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the eviction.

The eviction attracted onlookers, including the bank’s employees, with some saying the protesters should respect the court order. “They have crossed the line,” retiree Chan Shu-chuen, 56, said as he snapped pictures of the eviction. — AFP

24

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

business

China’s imports shrink in sign downturn worsening BEIJING: China’s imports shrank unexpectedly in August in a sign its economic slump is worsening, bad news for exporters elsewhere that count on the appetite of the world’s second-largest economy for natural resources and industrial components to offset anemic Western markets. The Chinese president warned growth could slow further, prompting expectations of possible new stimulus spending. Imports declined 2.6 percent from a year earlier, below analysts’ expectations of growth in low single digits, data showed Monday. That came on top of August’s decline in factory output to a three-year low and other signs growth is still decelerating despite repeated stimulus efforts.

Analysts expect Chinese growth that fell to a three-year low of 7.6 percent in the latest quarter to rebound late this year or in early 2013. But they say it likely will be too weak to drive a global recovery without improvement in the United States, which is struggling with a sluggish recovery, and debt-crippled Europe. President Hu Jintao cited slack exports and unbalanced domestic growth as challenges for a Chinese recovery. “Pressure for economic growth to slow is obvious,” Hu said at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, according to a text released by the Chinese government.

Hu’s speech Sunday gave no growth forecast or details of possible new stimulus but promised to continue a “proactive fiscal policy,” or government spending to pump up the economy.

Beijing has cut interest rates twice since early June and is pumping money into the economy through higher spending on building subways and other public works. Still, activity has weakened steadily, spurring some analysts to cut growth forecasts and push back the timing of a possible recovery. “The comments made by President Hu yesterday made it clear that there will be more funding support for infrastructure investments,” said Goldman Sachs economists Yu Song and Yin Zhang in a report. The slowdown hit at a politically sensitive time for the ruling Communist Party, which is trying to enforce calm as it prepares to hand power to Hu’s successor and

other younger leaders in a once-a-decade transition.

The slump in global demand has forced thousands of Chinese exporters out of business, raising the threat of job losses and possible unrest. Weak Chinese imports could hurt exporters in Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil and Africa that are counting on its appetite for oil, iron ore, industrial components and other goods to help offset low demand in the United States and Europe. August exports rose, but by only 2.7 percent over a year ago, down from the double-digit growth of recent years as Europe’s debt woes and the sluggish US recovery hurt demand for Chinese goods.

Exports to the 27-nation European Union, China’s biggest trading partner, fell 4.9 percent from a year earlier. Sales of Chinese goods to Italy plunged 26 percent, while exports to France and Germany were off 8.6 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Exports to the United States rose 10.2 percent. The import weakness pushed China’s global trade surplus to $26.7 billion, double the level of a year ago. Exports in August totaled $178 billion while imports were $151.3 billion. Adding to signs of weakening Chinese demand, growth in auto sales tumbled to 3.7 percent in August. That figure reported by the China Association of Auto Manufacturers extended a

SHANGHAI: An investor gestures at a private securities company yesterday in Shanghai, China. — AP

decline from July’s 11 percent growth and June’s 15.8 percent rate.

Chinese authorities have reacted cautiously to the current slowdown after their huge spending in response to the 2008 global crisis fueled inflation.

They have approved a multibillion-dollar wave of spending on public works construction and investments by state companies but are reviewing projects carefully rather than indiscriminately throwing money at the economy.

In its latest move, the government announced 25 new subway construction projects last week budgeted at tens of billions of dollars. It also has approved construction of new highways, airports, steel mills and other facilities. Despite that mini-stimulus, August growth in factory output weakened to 8.9 percent from July’s 9.2 percent - the weakest since May 2009 in the depths of the global crisis.

Analysts have trimmed their China growth forecasts for this year and in 2013, though to levels of 7.5 to 8 percent that still are robust by US, European or Japanese standards.

“Economic activity has remained weak as export growth slowed, policy support was not as rapid or aggressive as previously envisaged and industries continued with inventory adjustments,” UBS economist Tao Wang said in a report last week. Wang cut her growth outlook for this year from 8 to 7.5 percent and from 8.3 percent next year to 7.8 percent. The government also could face trouble from an upturn in inflation that could make it harder to cut rates without the risk of igniting a new price spike.

Inflation in August rose to 2 percent from July’s 1.8 percent, driven by a 3.4 percent gain in food prices, up from the previous month’s 2.4 percent.

Despite that, China announced Monday it is raising the retail price of gasoline and diesel in the wake of rising crude prices. The National Development and Reform Commission said gasoline will go up by 550 yuan ($87) per ton and diesel by 540 yuan ($85) per ton starting Tuesday. It said the benchmark retail price of gasoline will increase by 0.41 yuan ($.06) per liter and diesel by 0.46 yuan ($.07) per liter.— AP

Global shares slide ESM ruling pledge lifts euro LONDON: Safe-haven assets were back in demand yesterday as investors played a waiting game ahead of a German ruling on the euro-zone’s new bailout fund, an election in the Netherlands and potential new stimulus from the US Federal Reser ve.

European shares, which jumped to 13month highs last week after the European Central Bank laid out new plans to address the region’s debt crisis, were in negative territory for the second day running at 0940 GMT, 0.44 percent lower at 1,098.66 points.

London’s FTSE 100, Paris’s CAC-40 and Frankfurt’s DAX were all lower, following on from Asia, where investors, increasingly wary about China’s wobbling economy, took profits from the recent stimulus-led rally.

Europe is having another testing week as it seeks to pull itself out of its debt woes. Despite a late legal challenge from a eurosceptic lawmaker, Germany’s constitutional court will rule on the powers of the euro-zone’s new ESM bailout fund today, approval vital to release funds to recapitalize struggling Spanish banks. Dutch voters also go to the polls that day in the latest test of core Europe’s resolve to keep the bloc intact, while European authorities will lay out their blueprint for a new ‘banking union’ to synchronize banking supervision and bailouts.

“There is a broad consensus that the (equities) rally has really discounted all the good news that could come in the next couple of weeks and the risks are really skewed to the down-

side,” said Peter Garnry, equities strategist at Saxo Bank. The German court statement that it would not delay its ESM ruling sparked life into a subdued euro, sending it back above $1.2800 towards its $1.2834 200-day moving average before paring the gains slightly. The dollar weakened elsewhere, too, hitting a three-month low against the Swiss franc, a six-week low against the yen and was 0.06 percent down against a wider basket of currencies.

PERIPHERY SELL OFF The sell-off of riskier assets left German government bonds, typically favored by risk-shy investors, back in demand. Bund futures were up 24 basis points at 140.94 as uncertainty remained around the outcome of the ESM ruling and as worries resurfaced on Greece’s fiscal repair plans. In contrast Italian, Spanish and Portuguese borrowing costs were all on the rise.

Oil prices remained firm, with Brent crude futures at $114.45 a barrel.

Safe-haven favorite gold, which has rallied nearly 7 percent over the last month, added 0.2 percent to $1,727.91 an ounce.

Reflecting growing investor jitters, the CBOE Volatility index posted its biggest daily increase in seven weeks on Monday. Speaking in China, International Monetary Fund deputy managing director Zhu Min warned that despite the recent positive step by the ECB the euro-zone debt crisis still had a long way to run. “Overall I would say the crisis is not over. We are

still in the middle of it and there is some way to go,” Zhu told a World Economic Forum meeting in the port city of Tianjin.

STIMULUS HOPES Monetary stimulus continues to prop up large parts of the global economy. Interest rates cuts are expected in the coming months from Europe to key parts of Asia and Latin America. One of the factors currently weighing on the greenback is Thursday’s conclusion of the Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting, with economists increasingly eyeing another dose of stimulus following weak jobs data last week. The dollar dropped during the two previous rounds of quantitative easing from the Fed with the US dollar index falling around 17 percent between March and December 2009, and by around 13 percent between August 2010 and May 2011.

Lee Hardman, currency analyst at Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, said the Fed’s actions were likely to have less of an influence this time, especially as other central banks were also acting to support their economies. “In these circumstances, a more extended US dollar sell-off on the back of QE3 will likely require more aggressive quantitative easing from the Fed than prior bouts ... which appears unlikely,” he said. So far the US dollar index has already fallen by close to 5 percent, he added, predicting that the total drop would be smaller than in the two previous stints of easing.— Reuters

SITTWE: Myanmar daily wage workers push a cart carrying goods to a main market in Sittwe, Rakhine State, western Myanmar. — AP

China’s outbound investment surges BEIJING: Outbound Chinese investment rose to a new high in the April-June quarter, a gauge by a private equity fund showed yesterday, as the economy weakens and companies seek opportunities abroad. The A Capital Dragon Index hit 2,125 points in the second quarter of this year as overseas investments jumped 67 percent from the same period the year before, A Capital said in a release.

The second-quarter increase surpassed the previous high of 2,069 points hit at the end of 2010, A Capital said. It identified Europe as a key destination for Chinese companies, with investments there doubling in the second quarter from the year before.

It said the second quarter was boosted by China’s

Sany Heavy Industry’s takeover of German familyowned engineering firm Putzmeister. “Europe remains the leading destination quarter after quarter, confirming the strong complementarity and quality of European firms for Chinese investors,” A Capital said.

China’s overseas direct investment slowed sharply last year owing to a weak global economic recovery and financial turmoil in Europe and the United States.

Outbound direct investment rose 8.5 percent last year from 2010, when it saw an annual increase of around 22 percent, according to Chinese government data. A Capital compiles its index using its own research as well as data from the Chinese government, the United Nations and analysis firm Mergermarket. — AFP

26

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

BUSINESS

Gold firms; investors eye US Fed decision Spot gold faces resistance at $1,739/oz SINGAPORE: Gold edged higher yesterday, paring losses from the previous session, with investors awaiting a key German ruling on the euro-zone’s bailout fund and a US Federal Reserve decision on possible measures to stimulate the economy. Gold has rallied nearly 7 percent over the past month on the European Central Bank’s bond-buying plan and expectations that the Fed would launch another round of quantitative easing, or QE3, at this week’s meeting of its policy-setting wing.

Easy monetary policy benefits gold, which attracts investors worried about potential inflation risks associated with cash printing by central banks. The chances of a QE3 announcement this week have jumped after disappointing US

employment data, which pushed up spot gold on Friday to above $1,740 for the first time since the end of February. “Investors have become very enthusiastic about gold, as well as silver judging by ETF holdings and COMEX positions,” said Li Ning, an analyst at Shanghai CIFCO Futures. “Gold may continue to fluctuate at these elevated levels, with $1,700 providing short-term support.” Holdings of gold-backed exchange-traded funds rose to an all-time high of 72.492 million ounces on Monday. Spot gold had gained 0.2 percent to $1,727.91 per ounce by 0630 GMT, after dropping 0.6 percent on Monday. US gold was little changed at $1,730.40.

Speculators raised their net long positions in US gold futures and options to the highest level in more

than six months in the week ended Sept. 4, while silver net length had risen for six straight weeks.

Technical analysis suggested that spot gold faces resistance at $1,739 and may retrace to $1,711 during the day, Reuters market analyst Wang Tao said. A German constitutional court will rule today whether Germany can contribute to the European rescue fund, which plays a crucial role in the European Central Bank’s plan to fight the region’s debt crisis. Scrap continued to flow into Asia’s physical gold market as prices remained buoyed by market expectations for more stimulus measures. “There is a lot of scrap and even some buying as some expect prices to go higher,” said a Singapore-based dealer, adding that the premium on gold

bars in Singapore stood at 20 to 40 cents per ounce above London spot prices.

Platinum group metals also firmed, after hitting multi-month highs in the previous session, supported by ongoing labor problems in South Africa’s mining sector and decent China auto sales data. Spot palladium edged up 0.2 percent to $664.47, after hitting a four-month high of $670.50 on Monday. Spot platinum also gained 0.2 percent, to $1,591.75, retreating from a fivemonth high of $1,603.50 hit in the previous session. In industry news, China, the world’s top gold producer, churned out 31.3 tons of the precious metal in July, bringing total output in the first seven months of the year to 208 tons, up 7 percent year on year. —Reuters

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons offers free check-up With the start of the new school year, Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons, the sole distributor of Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles in Kuwait, has launched a new promotion to further enhance its commitment to providing outstanding service to its customers in Kuwait. This offer especially targets Cadillac and Chevrolet owners by giving them the opportunity to enjoy a free and comprehensive check-up as well as special prices on parts and labor. Customers also get a chance to enter a draw to win gift vouchers worth KD 400 from X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, for every KD25 spent at Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Service Centers located in Fahaheel & Shuwaikh. All Cadillac and Chevrolet owners can now bring their vehicles to Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Service Centers in order to benefit from this exclusive offer that provides a complete free check-up.

This campaign gives customers the opportunity to learn more about their car with a detailed condition and cost report, twenty-one point inspection of the entire car, complimentary wash and vacuum and special promotional prices

on vehicle parts and labor valid for 2 months after the inspection date.

The free check-up is valid from September 10 to September 22, 2012 and the draw will take place on Tuesday 25th of September at 11:00 am at Alghanim Shuwaikh Service Center. This

offer is another reminder of Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons’ continuous commitment to providing its customers with valuable offers that meet customers’ needs and wants providing only the best services, products and promotions in all of Kuwait.

KIB recognized by Microsoft First Islamic Bank to implement Private Cloud Model KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank has been recognized by Microsoft as the first Islamic Bank to implement the Private Cloud Model on its premises in Kuwait. The Microsoft Private Cloud is new model for IT delivery which turns a datacenter’s infrastructure resources into a single compute “cloud” and enables the key benefits of cloud computing.

Essentially, KIB will operate all its IT services from a virtual environment hence guaranteeing fast delivery of solutions and cutting costs of IT hardware and expenses. The new dynamic model will provide uninterrupted availability to critical financial applications and is capable of hosting heavy applications that weren’t supported by previous models.

Commenting on the deployment of a Microsoft Based Private Cloud, Lamya Altabtebai Deputy General Manager - Corporate Support and Head of

ITat KIB said: “The deployment of Private Cloud at KIB premises will result in numerous benefits and advantages for the business and customers. Private Cloud will reduce costs and speed the delivery of IT services. With the new technology our employees will be able to serve our clients and the business more efficiently and effectively in a confidential and secure approach.”

On behalf of M icrosof t, Mohammad Hassan Darwish KIB’s Account Manager said: “We are proud to recognize Kuwait International Bank for their outstanding commitments to provide innovative solutions in solving the unique needs of their customers.

IT organizations that use System Center 2012 and Windows Server with Hyper-V for cloud computing are helping their companies move faster, save money and compete better.”

Inanlar Construction appoints TREG for marketing its projects

All-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado makes its debut KUWAIT: Already amassing a large following in Kuwait, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado finally makes its debut in the country. The irresistible, newly designed model welcomes visitors to observe and experience its iconic, strong performance, luxurious features and smooth drive. Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the sole distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait, celebrated the arrival of the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, in Safat showroom, in the presence of senior management, fleet customers, media representatives, and esteemed customers Based on GM’s new global body-on-frame, rear-drive midsize truck architecture, the Colorado is designed, engineered and executed to deliver best-in-class appearance, performance, versatility and refinement. The All new Colorado offers two gasoline engines that incorporate a host of technologies aimed at delivering an optimal balance of power, per-

formance and fuel efficiency. A four-cylinder 2.4-liter DOHC power train matched to a five speed manual transmission is rated at 150 horsepower and 229 Nm of torque, while achieving best in segment fuel economy of 10.4 L/100km. A 3.6-liter high-feature V6 with Variable Valve Timing matched with six speed automatic transmissions is rated at 236 horsepower and 329 Nm of torque with fuel economy of 11.5 L/100km.

With a flowing instrument panel, integrated center stack and trademark Chevrolet dual cockpit design, the interior of the all-new Colorado combines car-like characteristics with the boldness expected of a pickup.

Boasting segment-leading front- and secondrow shoulder room, headroom and seat height, the Colorado provides outstanding levels of interior comfort for the driver and passengers alike proving to be Best-In-Class 2nd Row Legroom. Designers also carried the

premium finish expressed so boldly in the Colorado’s exterior into the interior with the use of chrome appointments around the shifter and shifter head; steering wheel bezels; HVAC controls; door pulls; door appliquÈs; and surrounding the radio head.

The use of LED backlighting in the instrument cluster and HVAC controls in Chevrolet’s trademark “Ice Blue” illumination provides a high-definition appearance. The Colorado also includes a vast amount of storage locations designed to be Best-In-Class Cargo Volume.

Visit any of Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons’ showrooms to experience the All-New 2013 Chevrolet Colorado first-hand. Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons adds the finishing touch to the ownership experience with high-quality after-sales services. With the world’s biggest and most advanced automotive service center, customers need not worry about their service and maintenance needs.

KUWAIT: Inanlar Construction Company announced that it has appointed Top Real Estate Group (TREG) as it’s her exclusive agent for marketing its Turkey based real estate projects in a number of GCC countries. Such announcement followed the signing of the marketing agreement in Istanbul between Serdar Inan the Company President and Walid Al Qaddoumi, Managing Director, Top Real Estate Group in presence of a number of managers and employees of both companies. The agreement sets forth that TREG shall represent Inanlar in Kuwait and Qatar on exclusive basis along with granting it the marketing rights in a number of other countries on a non-exclusive basis.

Serdar Inan said that our choice of TREG to represent the Company is a result of our belief in the Company’s strength and distinct standing in such markets as well as its reputation and deep-rooted experience in real estate marketing segment. We also noticed its significant achievements in marketing several projects from various countries. About Inanlar, Inan said: Its foundations laid in 1965 and the principle “design for human beings” adopted as its main philosophy throughout its 47-year journey, Inanlar is one of the leading and most prestigious establishments in the construction business in Turkey.

Operating with the vision of becoming a regional leader in construction business and its signature coming to be synonymous with over 200 projects in Istanbul since its founding, Inanlar aspires to create “The Right Living Spaces”, that secure the health and comfort of human beings, by utilizing their spaces in an effective and environment-friendly way. The main strategy in all its projects is to enhance the quality of life.

Inan added: Developing innovative solutions for the emerging tendencies about living spaces in metropolises, Inanlar embraces as its compass, the fact that human beings, who reside in buildings that have superior qualities in all respects, experience an improvement in their health and productivity. Inanlar, with its signature synonymous with brand projects that support and enrich cultural structures, lifestyles and comfort; offers solutions with its boutique housing complexes offering the comfort of detached residence and set in urban or natural environments, and its residence projects located at the heart of the city.

Serdar Inan added: The objective of an establishment is not only to conduct business, but also to operate, develop projects and construct in a humanist manner. Our business approach in the projects we realized with a human focused mission that is based on sustainable quality, pairing skilled human resources with the cutting edge technology and our respect for ecological balance has been the primary reason of the prominence we have among our customers, suppliers and the society.

Today, on the eve of the “Golden Age”, a liberating, unifying and empowering new age; we provide “spaces that stimulate the right life” paired with this new energy based on the ideal balance. Our goal is to

sustain our success in a global scale, to pass on our business and know-how to next generations and contribute to the development of our country, while maintaining our position among the leading companies in the sector. On the other hand, Walid Qaddoumi, TREG Managing Director stated that the Group highly appreciates inanlar’s choice to market their projects in the region states.

Qaddoumi added “Following our visit to the company’s projects in Istanbul, including European or Asian ones, we have been familiarized with completed projects and projects under construction, which strongly encouraged us to work with Inanlar due to credibility, seriousness coupled with quality in its projects, which we believe to be in line with our clients’ requirements and meet needs of various segments in terms of their locations or high end services offered by those projects in addition to

distinguished prices that suit different segments of investors. Al-Qaddoumi added that the Group will market a number of the company’s projects which cover apartments in residential towers and villas in prime locations in Istanbul City, which is considered as one of attractive cities for real estate investment in post-financial global crisis period.

Al-Qaddoumi added that the real estate market in Istanbul currently witnesses unprecedented condition in terms of the number of completed projects or those under construction. Political, security and economic stability the amendment of a number of acquisition laws specifically set Istanbul to be the viable real estate investment destination in the present and future.

He added, “Therefore, we found significant tendency by investors with various trends and capabilities towards the Turkish real estate market and hence the demand for property acquisition increased than ever.

Al-Qaddoumi indicated that the Group will present the details of Inanlar distinctive leading projects through Kuwait International Property Show KIPS 2012, which will be held in Fairground in Mishref later this month.

26

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

BUSINESS

Gold firms; investors eye US Fed decision Spot gold faces resistance at $1,739/oz SINGAPORE: Gold edged higher yesterday, paring losses from the previous session, with investors awaiting a key German ruling on the euro-zone’s bailout fund and a US Federal Reserve decision on possible measures to stimulate the economy. Gold has rallied nearly 7 percent over the past month on the European Central Bank’s bond-buying plan and expectations that the Fed would launch another round of quantitative easing, or QE3, at this week’s meeting of its policy-setting wing.

Easy monetary policy benefits gold, which attracts investors worried about potential inflation risks associated with cash printing by central banks. The chances of a QE3 announcement this week have jumped after disappointing US

employment data, which pushed up spot gold on Friday to above $1,740 for the first time since the end of February. “Investors have become very enthusiastic about gold, as well as silver judging by ETF holdings and COMEX positions,” said Li Ning, an analyst at Shanghai CIFCO Futures. “Gold may continue to fluctuate at these elevated levels, with $1,700 providing short-term support.” Holdings of gold-backed exchange-traded funds rose to an all-time high of 72.492 million ounces on Monday. Spot gold had gained 0.2 percent to $1,727.91 per ounce by 0630 GMT, after dropping 0.6 percent on Monday. US gold was little changed at $1,730.40.

Speculators raised their net long positions in US gold futures and options to the highest level in more

than six months in the week ended Sept. 4, while silver net length had risen for six straight weeks.

Technical analysis suggested that spot gold faces resistance at $1,739 and may retrace to $1,711 during the day, Reuters market analyst Wang Tao said. A German constitutional court will rule today whether Germany can contribute to the European rescue fund, which plays a crucial role in the European Central Bank’s plan to fight the region’s debt crisis. Scrap continued to flow into Asia’s physical gold market as prices remained buoyed by market expectations for more stimulus measures. “There is a lot of scrap and even some buying as some expect prices to go higher,” said a Singapore-based dealer, adding that the premium on gold

bars in Singapore stood at 20 to 40 cents per ounce above London spot prices.

Platinum group metals also firmed, after hitting multi-month highs in the previous session, supported by ongoing labor problems in South Africa’s mining sector and decent China auto sales data. Spot palladium edged up 0.2 percent to $664.47, after hitting a four-month high of $670.50 on Monday. Spot platinum also gained 0.2 percent, to $1,591.75, retreating from a fivemonth high of $1,603.50 hit in the previous session. In industry news, China, the world’s top gold producer, churned out 31.3 tons of the precious metal in July, bringing total output in the first seven months of the year to 208 tons, up 7 percent year on year. —Reuters

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons offers free check-up With the start of the new school year, Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons, the sole distributor of Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles in Kuwait, has launched a new promotion to further enhance its commitment to providing outstanding service to its customers in Kuwait. This offer especially targets Cadillac and Chevrolet owners by giving them the opportunity to enjoy a free and comprehensive check-up as well as special prices on parts and labor. Customers also get a chance to enter a draw to win gift vouchers worth KD 400 from X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, for every KD25 spent at Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Service Centers located in Fahaheel & Shuwaikh. All Cadillac and Chevrolet owners can now bring their vehicles to Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Service Centers in order to benefit from this exclusive offer that provides a complete free check-up.

This campaign gives customers the opportunity to learn more about their car with a detailed condition and cost report, twenty-one point inspection of the entire car, complimentary wash and vacuum and special promotional prices

on vehicle parts and labor valid for 2 months after the inspection date.

The free check-up is valid from September 10 to September 22, 2012 and the draw will take place on Tuesday 25th of September at 11:00 am at Alghanim Shuwaikh Service Center. This

offer is another reminder of Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons’ continuous commitment to providing its customers with valuable offers that meet customers’ needs and wants providing only the best services, products and promotions in all of Kuwait.

KIB recognized by Microsoft First Islamic Bank to implement Private Cloud Model KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank has been recognized by Microsoft as the first Islamic Bank to implement the Private Cloud Model on its premises in Kuwait. The Microsoft Private Cloud is new model for IT delivery which turns a datacenter’s infrastructure resources into a single compute “cloud” and enables the key benefits of cloud computing.

Essentially, KIB will operate all its IT services from a virtual environment hence guaranteeing fast delivery of solutions and cutting costs of IT hardware and expenses. The new dynamic model will provide uninterrupted availability to critical financial applications and is capable of hosting heavy applications that weren’t supported by previous models.

Commenting on the deployment of a Microsoft Based Private Cloud, Lamya Altabtebai Deputy General Manager - Corporate Support and Head of

ITat KIB said: “The deployment of Private Cloud at KIB premises will result in numerous benefits and advantages for the business and customers. Private Cloud will reduce costs and speed the delivery of IT services. With the new technology our employees will be able to serve our clients and the business more efficiently and effectively in a confidential and secure approach.”

On behalf of M icrosof t, Mohammad Hassan Darwish KIB’s Account Manager said: “We are proud to recognize Kuwait International Bank for their outstanding commitments to provide innovative solutions in solving the unique needs of their customers.

IT organizations that use System Center 2012 and Windows Server with Hyper-V for cloud computing are helping their companies move faster, save money and compete better.”

Inanlar Construction appoints TREG for marketing its projects

All-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado makes its debut KUWAIT: Already amassing a large following in Kuwait, the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado finally makes its debut in the country. The irresistible, newly designed model welcomes visitors to observe and experience its iconic, strong performance, luxurious features and smooth drive. Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the sole distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait, celebrated the arrival of the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, in Safat showroom, in the presence of senior management, fleet customers, media representatives, and esteemed customers Based on GM’s new global body-on-frame, rear-drive midsize truck architecture, the Colorado is designed, engineered and executed to deliver best-in-class appearance, performance, versatility and refinement. The All new Colorado offers two gasoline engines that incorporate a host of technologies aimed at delivering an optimal balance of power, per-

formance and fuel efficiency. A four-cylinder 2.4-liter DOHC power train matched to a five speed manual transmission is rated at 150 horsepower and 229 Nm of torque, while achieving best in segment fuel economy of 10.4 L/100km. A 3.6-liter high-feature V6 with Variable Valve Timing matched with six speed automatic transmissions is rated at 236 horsepower and 329 Nm of torque with fuel economy of 11.5 L/100km.

With a flowing instrument panel, integrated center stack and trademark Chevrolet dual cockpit design, the interior of the all-new Colorado combines car-like characteristics with the boldness expected of a pickup.

Boasting segment-leading front- and secondrow shoulder room, headroom and seat height, the Colorado provides outstanding levels of interior comfort for the driver and passengers alike proving to be Best-In-Class 2nd Row Legroom. Designers also carried the

premium finish expressed so boldly in the Colorado’s exterior into the interior with the use of chrome appointments around the shifter and shifter head; steering wheel bezels; HVAC controls; door pulls; door appliquÈs; and surrounding the radio head.

The use of LED backlighting in the instrument cluster and HVAC controls in Chevrolet’s trademark “Ice Blue” illumination provides a high-definition appearance. The Colorado also includes a vast amount of storage locations designed to be Best-In-Class Cargo Volume.

Visit any of Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons’ showrooms to experience the All-New 2013 Chevrolet Colorado first-hand. Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons adds the finishing touch to the ownership experience with high-quality after-sales services. With the world’s biggest and most advanced automotive service center, customers need not worry about their service and maintenance needs.

KUWAIT: Inanlar Construction Company announced that it has appointed Top Real Estate Group (TREG) as it’s her exclusive agent for marketing its Turkey based real estate projects in a number of GCC countries. Such announcement followed the signing of the marketing agreement in Istanbul between Serdar Inan the Company President and Walid Al Qaddoumi, Managing Director, Top Real Estate Group in presence of a number of managers and employees of both companies. The agreement sets forth that TREG shall represent Inanlar in Kuwait and Qatar on exclusive basis along with granting it the marketing rights in a number of other countries on a non-exclusive basis.

Serdar Inan said that our choice of TREG to represent the Company is a result of our belief in the Company’s strength and distinct standing in such markets as well as its reputation and deep-rooted experience in real estate marketing segment. We also noticed its significant achievements in marketing several projects from various countries. About Inanlar, Inan said: Its foundations laid in 1965 and the principle “design for human beings” adopted as its main philosophy throughout its 47-year journey, Inanlar is one of the leading and most prestigious establishments in the construction business in Turkey.

Operating with the vision of becoming a regional leader in construction business and its signature coming to be synonymous with over 200 projects in Istanbul since its founding, Inanlar aspires to create “The Right Living Spaces”, that secure the health and comfort of human beings, by utilizing their spaces in an effective and environment-friendly way. The main strategy in all its projects is to enhance the quality of life.

Inan added: Developing innovative solutions for the emerging tendencies about living spaces in metropolises, Inanlar embraces as its compass, the fact that human beings, who reside in buildings that have superior qualities in all respects, experience an improvement in their health and productivity. Inanlar, with its signature synonymous with brand projects that support and enrich cultural structures, lifestyles and comfort; offers solutions with its boutique housing complexes offering the comfort of detached residence and set in urban or natural environments, and its residence projects located at the heart of the city.

Serdar Inan added: The objective of an establishment is not only to conduct business, but also to operate, develop projects and construct in a humanist manner. Our business approach in the projects we realized with a human focused mission that is based on sustainable quality, pairing skilled human resources with the cutting edge technology and our respect for ecological balance has been the primary reason of the prominence we have among our customers, suppliers and the society.

Today, on the eve of the “Golden Age”, a liberating, unifying and empowering new age; we provide “spaces that stimulate the right life” paired with this new energy based on the ideal balance. Our goal is to

sustain our success in a global scale, to pass on our business and know-how to next generations and contribute to the development of our country, while maintaining our position among the leading companies in the sector. On the other hand, Walid Qaddoumi, TREG Managing Director stated that the Group highly appreciates inanlar’s choice to market their projects in the region states.

Qaddoumi added “Following our visit to the company’s projects in Istanbul, including European or Asian ones, we have been familiarized with completed projects and projects under construction, which strongly encouraged us to work with Inanlar due to credibility, seriousness coupled with quality in its projects, which we believe to be in line with our clients’ requirements and meet needs of various segments in terms of their locations or high end services offered by those projects in addition to

distinguished prices that suit different segments of investors. Al-Qaddoumi added that the Group will market a number of the company’s projects which cover apartments in residential towers and villas in prime locations in Istanbul City, which is considered as one of attractive cities for real estate investment in post-financial global crisis period.

Al-Qaddoumi added that the real estate market in Istanbul currently witnesses unprecedented condition in terms of the number of completed projects or those under construction. Political, security and economic stability the amendment of a number of acquisition laws specifically set Istanbul to be the viable real estate investment destination in the present and future.

He added, “Therefore, we found significant tendency by investors with various trends and capabilities towards the Turkish real estate market and hence the demand for property acquisition increased than ever.

Al-Qaddoumi indicated that the Group will present the details of Inanlar distinctive leading projects through Kuwait International Property Show KIPS 2012, which will be held in Fairground in Mishref later this month.

27

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

GoDaddy Web outage takes out small-business sites NEW YORK: Thousands and possibly millions of websites hosted by GoDaddy.com went down for several hours on Monday, causing trouble for the mainly small businesses that rely on the service. A Twitter feed that claimed to be affiliated with the “Anonymous” hacker group said it was behind the outage, but that couldn’t be confirmed.

Another Twitter account, known to be associated with Anonymous, suggested the first one was just taking advantage of an outage it had nothing to do with.

GoDaddy spokeswoman Elizabeth

Driscoll said the outage began at around 1:25 pm EDT (1725 GMT). By around 5:43 pm EDT (2143 GMT), the GoDaddy.com website was back up and service was restored for the bulk of its customers.

Driscoll said there was no loss of sensitive customer information such as credit card data or passwords and that the company was investigating the cause.

GoDaddy.com hosts more than 5 million websites, mostly for small businesses. Websites that were complaining on Twitter about outages included MixForSale.com, which sells accessories

with Japanese animation themes, and YouWatch.org, a video-sharing site.

Catherine Grison, an interior designer in San Francisco who operates the site YourFrenchAccent.com, said she had to stop sending emails with her website link in them while the outage was ongoing. The site is where she displays her portfolio of work. “If I have no visuals I have nothing left except the accent,” said Grison, a native of Paris. She said she was already shopping around for another site host because she was unhappy with GoDaddy’s customer service.

Earlier, Kenneth Borg, who works in a Long Beach, California, screen printing business, said fresnodogprints.com and two other sites were down. Their email addresses weren’t working either. “We run our entire business through websites and emails,” Borg said. The business even takes orders from its two physical stores through the Web, so clerks had to use their personal email addresses to send in orders to the printing shop, causing an administrative headache, Borg said. Borg said he could empathize to some extent with the hacker, if one

was involved. GoDaddy was a target for “hacktivists” early this year, when it supported a copyright bill, the Stop Online Piracy Act. Movie and music studios had backed the changes, but critics said they would result in censorship and discourage Internet innovation. “I’m definitely one for upsetting the establishment in some cases, and I understand that if he’s going after GoDaddy, he may have had many reasons for doing that,” Borg said.

“But I don’t think he realized that he was affecting so many small businesses, and not just a major company.” —AP

How iPhone availability has grown in US

LAS VEGAS: File photo shows workers install the Microsoft display before the opening of the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). —AFP

Microsoft to launch pop-up stores to help tablet sales SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft said Monday it is launching more than 30 pop-up holiday shops in the United States and Canada as it gears up to sell its new Sur face tablet computer.

“Microsoft is excited to expand on its existing retail footprint to deliver an assortment of best-in-class products and a premium retail experience to new locations,” the US tech giant said in a statement. “The holiday stores continue to offer customers the opportunity to learn new technology skills and get the most out of their Microsoft-enabled devices.

Additional locations and details will be available in the coming weeks.”

The company released a list of 32 locations for the shops-known as popups because they have short or seasonal commercial leases-including in New York, San Francisco, Vancouver and Toronto.

The US tech giant on Monday had job listings seeking retail store managers and other personnel. The company offered no specifics on how long these shops would be operational or what they would sell.

The company, which has been in the process of opening permanent retail stores in several US cities, is seeking to break into the competitive market for tablet computers with Surface, set to be released October 26. Microsoft has said the device would be sold online and through its own retail stores in the US market. Surface, which will compete against the market-leading iPad and others, features a flip-out rear “kickstand” to prop it up like a picture frame and a cover that, when opened, acts as a keypad so tablets could be switched into “desktop” mode for work tasks. —AFP

NEW YORK: Since Verizon Wireless broke AT&T’s exclusive grip on the iPhone last year, several other phone carriers now offer Apple’s popular smartphone. On Monday, TMobile said it will make a stronger bid for used iPhones from AT&T as Apple prepares to launch a new version.

Here’s a look at how iPhone availability has expanded in the US: Coming to no. 1: AT&T Inc. was the only US carrier offering the iPhone when the first model came out in 2007. It lost its exclusive status in February 2011 when Verizon Wireless, the nation’s top wireless carrier, started selling the iPhone.

Another national carrier: Sprint Nextel Corp, the No. 3 carrier, also got the iPhone, starting last October with Apple Inc’s introduction of the iPhone 4S. It also sells the iPhone 4 with AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Regional offering: C Spire Wireless, a small company that provides ser vice in Mississippi and surrounding states, started selling the iPhone late last year. It bypassed larger carriers including T-Mobile USA and US Cellular in getting the right to sell it. US Cellular Corp says it turned down the chance to sell the phone because it didn’t want to spend a few hundred dollars per phone, as other carriers do, so customers can buy it at Apple’s listed, subsidized price.

Cheaper iphones: This spring, several small, regional cellphone companies began selling the iPhone at prices that undercut the big carriers. For instance, a basic 4S model was priced at $150 through those carriers, $49 less than what national carriers charge. Carriers making this cheaper offering include NTelos Wireless of Virginia; Appalachian Wireless of Kentucky; and Alaska Communications, Matanuska Telephone Association and GCI of Alaska.

No contracts: Leap Wireless International Inc., the parent of the Cricket cellphone service, and Open Mobile, which serves Puerto Rico, started selling the latest iPhone models on a prepaid, no-contract basis this year.

New York: Instagram is demonstrated on an iPhone Monday. —AP More now, less later: Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s brands for prepaid, no-contract phone ser vice, star ted selling the iPhone in June. It costs $549 for a basic model, higher than the $100 charged for Sprint-branded service. However, service will cost $30 a month and won’t require a contract. Sprint charges $80 per month and

How chips, PCs, services companies are faring

P

ersonal computer makers have been scrambling to adapt to a technological upheaval unleashed by Apple Inc’s line of sleek devices such as the iPhone and iPad and by a shift toward Internet-based software services instead of programs installed on individual machines. Additional mobile devices are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks. Nokia Corp, Google Inc and Amazon.com Inc. unveiled new gadgets last week, while Apple is expected to show a new iPhone today. Here’s a look at how selected companies providing computers, components, services and related software are faring: July 5: Seagate Technology PLC warns that its quarterly revenue will fall below expectations, after shipping fewer hard drives than expected partly because of a quality issue with a supplier for its business product lines. The company also said its rivals recovered faster than expected from disruptions caused by last fall’s heavy flooding in Thailand. That meant Seagate had to cut back on shipments.

July 9: Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. says it’s lowering its guidance because of weaker-than-expected sales in China and Europe and lackluster demand overall from consumers.

July 11: Gartner and IDC issue separate reports showing that personal computer sales sagged during the spring as shifting technology trends, upcoming product releases and a shaky economy dampened demand for the machines currently on the market. The second-quarter decline in the US ranged from 6 percent to 11 percent compared with the same time last year. Worldwide PC shipments held up better during the quarter, dipping by just 0.1 percent from last year.

July 12: Printer maker Lexmark International Inc. says it fared worse during the second quarter than management anticipated, providing the latest evidence of a weakening economy.

July 17: Intel Corp, the world’s largest chipmaker, says the weak global economy is slowing its growth, and revenue for the current quarter is likely to come in below Wall Street forecasts. Intel says consumer demand in North America and Western Europe is not recovering as fast as expected, while growth in emerging markets such as China and Brazil is slowing.

July 18: IBM Corp says its quarterly earnings rose 6 percent despite a 3 percent decline in revenue amid Europe’s economic jitters. IBM has been able to boost its earnings even when revenue is

weak by focusing more on businesses with higher profitability - software and technology services - rather than machines. Software was the only part of IBM’s business that didn’t register a decline from last year, with revenue remaining level. The turmoil in Europe hurt IBM’s results as currencies there weakened, translating into fewer US dollars. Qualcomm Inc says it had higher profit and revenue in the latest quarter, but it offers a weaker forecast for the current quarter because of supply issues. The company previously disclosed it has some limitations in getting chips made in the right size by outside suppliers. The mobile phone chip company insisted demand for its products remains high and earnings will improve by the end of 2012.

July 19: Microsoft Corp says a flat market for personal computers put a damper on Windows sales, though sales of business software and servers were strong.

Investors are now looking to the Oct 26 release of Windows 8, which could boost sales and help Microsoft mount a challenge to Apple’s iPad, as the new operating software is designed for touch-based computers as well as traditional, mousecontrolled ones. Microsoft says it expects Windows revenue to remain roughly in line with the PC market, which is expected to stay flat through the current quarter.

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc says trouble in the global economy dragged net income down 40 percent.

AMD says it is taking steps to improve its performance, but “headwinds” will continue into the third quarter.

SanDisk Corp says net income plunged as the company sold fewer memory chips to mobile device makers. But the results exceeded analyst expectations. SanDisk says there was “short-term weakness” in sales to mobile device makers. The company says retail sales were strong, and SanDisk saw more demand from businesses and companies for solid-state drives that are increasingly popular in home and office computers.

July 20: Xerox Corp says earnings fell 3.1 percent, as continued weak economic conditions, especially in Europe, reduced revenue at its technology business. Xerox says that in light of the continued economic uncertainty, it expects technology revenue, which includes the sales of document systems, supplies, technical services and the financing of products, to continue to be weak. It issues lower-than-expected third-quarter profit guidance and cuts its earnings prediction for the full year.

July 23: Texas Instruments Inc says sluggish demand amid the weak global economy slashed profit by one-third in the second quarter, and the chip maker warned that its customers are becoming “increasingly cautious” about placing new orders.

July 24: Apple Inc reveals that its growth slowed in the most recent quarter. In both revenue and net income, the company posted the smallest increases in years and failed to meet analyst expectations. Apple is still selling a lot of iPad, iPhone and Mac devices, but the average selling prices are down.

EMC Corp. says its second-quarter earnings climbed 19 percent as its data storage products fed a voracious appetite for equipment to manage the barrage of information unleashed by Internet-connected computers and smart phones.

Results mirrored preliminary figures released a week earlier.

SAP AG says fewer but bigger software deals and increased sales to financial and retail companies helped the company post a 12 percent increase in earnings in the second quarter. Broadcom Corp, a maker of communications chips, says net income fell 9 percent as its expenses rose, but the results beat Wall Street’s expectations. Chipmaker Altera Corp. says net income fell 24 percent as revenue declined, but the results beat expectations.

July 25: Hard drive maker Western Digital Corp says net income jumped nearly five-fold in the quarter through June, beating analyst expectations, as it reaped the benefits of its $3.9 billion acquisition of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

July 30: Hard disk drive maker Seagate Technology PLC says its quarterly earnings and revenue jumped. But they still missed Wall Street expectations. Seagate blamed the shortfall on supplier problems. The report follows a warning issued weeks earlier.

Aug 8: Hewlett Packard Co says it will take a massive charge against its earnings for the quarter through July, reflecting that the company overpaid for its purchase of Electronic Data Systems in 2008.

The services business provides information technology and outsourcing services to corporations. It has seen flat revenue for the last two years, and its operating profit has declined.

Aug 9: Nvidia Corp, which makes graphics chips and processors for PCs, tablet computers and other devices,

requires a two-year contract. The Virgin Mobile customer can save nearly $800 over two years.

Leftovers: T-Mobile doesn’t sell iPhones, but it will start advertising that AT&T iPhone owners who are out of contract can switch to

reported second-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations. It also issued a strong third-quarter revenue forecast.

The company says it was helped by sales of products for tablets and it made strong gains in its graphics processing business, despite a weak market.

Aug 16: Lenovo Group Ltd. says PC shipments grew 24 percent in the latest quarter. Shipments in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America rose 59 percent while those to Europe, the Middle East and Africa were up 62 percent. In North America, it grew nearly 9 percent - strong for the market.

Aug 21: Dell Inc says its slump deepened in its latest quarter as the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets undercut sales of its desktop and laptop computers. In a sign of further weakness ahead, Dell lowers its earnings target by 20 percent for its fiscal year ending in January. That comes even though adjusted earnings for the just-completed quarter topped analyst projections. Dell also announced a new leader for its division that oversees many of its corporate products, including computer networking and data storage.

Aug 22: Hewlett-Packard Co says unit shipments in its PC division fell 10 percent during the May-July quarter - 6 percent for desktops and 12 percent for notebooks. That division saw revenue fall 10 percent from last year to $8.6 billion.

Aug 23: Cloud computing company Salesforce.com Inc. says its second-quarter loss more than doubled from a year ago as costs rose faster than revenue.

Although the results still beat analyst expectations, its outlook for the current quarter and the rest of the year was mixed relative to expectations.

Aug 28: Printer maker Lexmark International Inc. is cutting 1,700 jobs, or almost 13 percent of its work force, and says it will stop making inkjet printers as part of a drive to cut costs as it deals with shrinking sales of inkjets.

Sept 4: Chipmaker Altera says it still expects its revenue to grow 2 percent to 6 percent in the third quarter, although sales will fall well short of its results a year ago.

Sept 7: Intel lowers its revenue forecast for the current quarter and blames lackluster demand for new PCs among businesses and a “challenging” economic environment.

Coming up: Sept 20: Oracle Corp. —AP

T-Mobile. That had been possible, but iPhones had slower speeds on T-Mobile’s networks. TMobile has reshuffled the frequencies on its network to let it match or even exceed AT&T’s data speeds on iPhones. Initially, that will be noticeable only in a few spots scattered around in such cities as New York, Seattle, Las Vegas and Washington. —AP

YouTube offers new iPhone app to fill looming void SAN FRANCISCO: YouTube is being reprogrammed for the iPhone and iPad amid the latest fallout from the growing hostility between Google and Apple.

The changes are being made because Google Inc. and Apple Inc. didn’t renew a five-year licensing agreement that established YouTube’s video service as one of the built-in applications in the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPad. YouTube is being bumped from the menu of pre-installed apps on the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, or iOS, which could be released as early as Wednesday when the latest iPhone is expected to be unveiled.

Google is making a pre-emptive strike yesterday with the release of a revamped YouTube application.

The app is designed to make it as easy as possible for the tens of millions of iPhone and iPad owners to continue watching clips from the world’s most popular video site. The new YouTube app will create more moneymaking opportunities for Google and video producers because it allows advertising to be shown with the clips. That’s something Apple hasn’t allowed on the pre-installed YouTube app. The ban on ads prevented many music videos and other widely watched clips from being shown in the iOS app because some copyright owners don’t allow their content to be shown if there is no way for them to be paid.

Removing the advertising limitations will mean users of the new iOS app can watch YouTube videos that already have been available on smartphones and tablet computers running on Google’s Android software said, Francisco Varela, YouTube’s global director of platform partnerships. “We are offering a better user experience to iPhone users,” Varela said of the new YouTube app. “We will now have content parity on all our mobile platforms.”

Apple had no comment on Google’s claims. The new YouTube app is tailored for the iPhone, although it will work on the iPad, too. A retooled app specifically tailored for the iPad is supposed to be released in the next few months. As has always been the case, YouTube’s videos also can be watched through Web browsers that work on iOS, including Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome. YouTube could still end up losing some of its audience on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch because device owners will have to go to Apple’s App Store to download the free program.

YouTube says mobile viewers collectively watch more than 1 billion clips per day. Many of those YouTube viewers watch on Android devices that have become Apple’s bane. Before he died 11 months ago, former Apple CEO Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he viewed Android as a “stolen product” and vowed to get even with Google and its partners for ripping off his company’s ideas. —AP

28

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

health & science

Catching some zzzzs at Costa Rica sloth sanctuary PENSHURT, Costa Rica: They often arrive in bad shape hit by cars, zapped by high-voltage wires as they climb trees, or orphaned because superstitious locals have killed their moms. But life gets sweet once the gates open at Costa Rica’s sloth sanctuary, one of few in the world specializing in the study of these famously sedentary and solitary mammals. The youngest even get stuffed animals to hug in incubators. All together now: awwwwww. Their digs are indeed nice: 130 hectares of lush tropical forest with a crystal-clear river flowing through it in Penshurt, 215 km from the capital San Jose near Costa Rica’s east coast.

The Costa Rica Sloth Sanctuary - a four-meter cement replica of one of the critters greets visitors at the entrance was founded in 1992 by a Costa Rican

named Luis Arroyo and his US wife, Judy Avey. The idea is to protect, nurse and study the animals, but also to teach people about them. Locals call them “osos perezosos”, or lazy bears, and some even associate them with witchcraft. They are an enigma of sorts. Why don’t they move, run or jump, like other self-respecting mammals do? “It hurts me that people do not appreciate them. They are not lazy, but rather simply slow. We can learn from their calm, to maintain serenity, as they do,” said Avey.

The refuge - originally supposed to be for birds in an area that is home to some 350 species -receives two kinds of sloth, two-toed and three-toed, both of which exist in Costa Rica. Teresa Gonzalez, an employee at the sanctuary, says she has been feeding the ani-

mals for five years and knows their every quirk. “One does not like carrots, but rather green peas. That one will let me bathe with him,” said Gonzalez as she held a baby sloth named Mojo, sucking away at a bottle of goat’s milk.

Look around and some sloths are perched in trees, others rest in baskets and young ones in incubators clutch stuffed animals as if they were their mothers. The ones brought in as babies stay for good, because they do not know how to live in their native habitat.

But injured adults are returned to the wild when they have recovered. Avey points to her first resident - a specimen named Buttercup, snoozing in a hanging rattan chair. She was brought to the refuge after her mother was hit by a car and died. “Neither the zoos nor anyone else wanted her because they did not

know anything about sloths. But we fell in love with her. She climbed into my arms and stayed there. She is my spoiled one,” said Avey.

Since its founding the center has taken care of more than 500 of the animals. It costs about $400 per head each year. The sanctuary raises revenue with a small zoo, a hotel and guided tours of this most relaxed of biological reserves.

“We saw some on YouTube and decided to come and see them up close. We love them,” said Briggs Lebeacq, a young American tourist who came to Costa Rica with his girlfriend.

What is the life of a sloth like? Vets say they eat only leaves, do not drink water and in Costa Rica tend to live on the Caribbean coast to the east because of the humidity and abundant presence of the guarumo, or trumpet

tree, the animal’s favorite. Sanctuary veterinarian Marcelo Espinosa said their metabolism is so slow it takes them a month to digest food. They eat twice a day and only come down out of the trees once a week to defecate. They sleep 18 hours a day and eat little, as they do not burn a lot of energy.

As for sex, little is known about the two-toed variety. But three -toed females, in heat, scream out for males to find them. What ensues could certainly test non-sloth romance: the male can take three days just to get there. Espinosa said not a lot of research is done on sloths because he said no one cares. But Avey, who has lived in Costa Rica for 40 years, certainly does. “I cannot imagine life without them,” she said. “To know them is to love them.” — AFP

Heavy drinkers may risk brain bleed at young age People who drink heavily - at least four drinks a day - may be at risk of suffering a brain hemorrhage at a relatively early age, according to a French study.

Researchers whose findings were published in the journal Neurology focused on drinking habits among people who had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke where ruptured blood vessels leak blood into the brain.

Among the 540 patients they followed, one-quarter were heavy drinkers before the stroke. Their brain hemorrhage typically struck at the age of 60, versus age 74 among patients who were not heavy drinkers.

“Chronic heavy alcohol intake increases the risk of bleeding at a very young age,” said senior researcher Charlotte Cordonnier, at the University of Lille Nord de France. Heavy drinkers were not only younger when they had their stroke, but they were also relatively healthy and less likely to have any history of heart disease, stroke or “mini-stroke” symptoms compared to patients who were not heavy drinkers. Besides suffering brain hemorrhages at a younger age, some of the big drinkers in the study also had a worse prognosis.

When the stroke occurred in a deep part of the brain, heavy drinkers younger than 60 were more likely to die within two years - more than half, as opposed to one third of those who did not drink

heavily. Larry Goldstein, a neurologist not involved in the study, said the findings cannot prove that heavy drinking itself caused strokes at an earlier age.

“There may be other things these individuals were doing that would affect their risk,” said Goldstein, director of the Duke Stroke Center in Durham, North Carolina, and a spokesperson for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

He pointed out that the heavy drinkers were often smokers as well, with 42 percent smoking compared to 12 percent of the other patients. There may have been additional, unmeasured factors as well. Still, heavy drinking has long been considered a risk factor for strokes, and Goldstein said there are reasons to believe that heavy drinking itself is the problem. Heavy drinking can feed high blood pressure and may also affect the blood’s ability to clot, which could raise the odds of a hemorrhagic-type stroke.

In this study, heavy drinkers had lower levels of certain substances that allow blood to clot, though those levels were still within normal range. Even when the researchers accounted for factors such as smoking habits, the heavy drinkers were twice as likely to die. The bottom line, according to Goldstein, is that moderation is the way to go. “Excessive alcohol consumption is bad for your brain, in a number of ways,” he said. — Reuters

Two-thirds of Indonesian men smoke, top in world JAKARTA: Indonesian men rank as the world’s top smokers, with two out of three of them lighting up in a country where cigarettes cost pennies and tobacco advertising is everywhere. A survey released yesterday found that 67 percent of all males over 15 years old smoke. The sprawling archipelago ranked second only to Russia overall with a rate of 35 percent compared to 39 percent, respectively. “We have failed in protecting our people,” said Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi, commenting on the rate of male smokers jumping from 53 percent since 1995. “We have been defeated by the tobacco industry ... we don’t want this, we cannot accept this because our job is to protect people from cigarettes.”

More than 8,000 people participated in the study last year, which is part of a global series of surveys taken in 15 countries with heavy tobacco use and supported by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also found a high rate of Indonesians were subjected to second-hand smoke at work, home and in public places. Mboi said she was particularly alarmed to learn that nearly 80 percent of Indonesians are exposed to smoke at home. “How is the number of parents smoking at home with kids so high? It means that they are damaging their children’s lungs, whether intentionally or not,” she said. “As the health minister, I am ashamed to let this condition continue.”

Indonesia has long been criticized for its lack of tobacco controls. It is one of a remaining handful of countries that has failed to sign the WHO’s tobacco treaty.

Giant billboards promote cigarettes and commercials run on television and before movies in theaters. Local and multinational tobacco companies also routinely sponsor sporting events and concerts - advertising that has long been banned in many countries. Most Indonesian men crave kreteks, a pungent mixture of tobacco and cloves, but brands such as Marlboro, produced by US-based Philip Morris International, have also gained in popularity. About 3 percent of women smoke in the country.

Health regulations passed in 2009 call for a number of tighter tobacco controls, including bans on advertising and smoking in public places, but they have yet to be implemented by the government. “It’s just sitting there,” said Mark Hurley of the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, who attended the report’s launch in Jakarta. “I think if there was high-level approval, the health regulations would have been passed a long time ago.”

Smoking-related illnesses kill at least 200,000 annually in Indonesia, which has a population of nearly 240 million. About a quarter of Indonesian boys aged 13 to 15 get hooked on cigarettes that sell for about $1 a pack or as little as a few cents per stick, according to WHO. The latest national survey, however, only assessed smoking among adults. Indonesia’s tobacco industry employs millions in the world’s fifth-largest cigarette-producing market. About 6 percent of the government’s revenue comes from cigarette taxes, and a powerful tobacco lobby has blocked past regulation attempts, including a move to ban TV ads. — AP

JAKARTA: An Indonesian man smokes a cigarette yesterday. — AP

These undated photos released by the Zoological Society of London show the Tarzan’s chameleon, the spoon-billed sandpiper and the pygmy three-toed sloth. — AP

Plea to save world’s 100 most threatened species Protection of obscure species being neglected SEOUL: Conservation experts released a list yesterday of the world’s 100 most threatened species and warned that only a changed public and government mindset could save them from imminent extinction. The list compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in a report titled “Priceless or Worthless?” comprised 100 animals, plants and fungi deemed first in line for extinction. “All the species listed are unique and irreplaceable. If they vanish, no amount of money can bring them back,” said the report’s co-author, Ellen Butcher. “If we take immediate action we can give them a fighting chance for survival. But this requires society to support the moral and ethical position that all species have an inherent right to exist,” Butcher said.

The ZSL report was released in Jeju Island in South Korea where some 8,000 government officials, NGOs, scientists and business chiefs from 170 nations are gathered for the World Conservation Congress. Conservationists fear those species included in the list, like the Tarzan’s Chameleon from Madagascar and the Pigmy Three-toed Sloth from Panama, will be allowed to die out because they provide humans with no obvious benefits. While monetising nature remains a worthwhile necessity for conservationists, the wider value of species on the brink of extinction should not be disregarded, the ZSL report said.

“The whole world has become more utilitarian and looking for what nature can do for

us,” ZSL’s director of conservation, Jonathan Baillie, told AFP by telephone. “Governments have to step up to the plate and declare whether these species are priceless or worthless; whether we have a right to drive them to extinction,” Baillie said. “If we can’t save the 100 most threatened, what hope is there for the rest of life on the planet?” he added.

The Jeju congress, held by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is taking place against a drumbeat of scientific warnings that a mass extinction looms. In a report issued at the Rio+20 world summit in June, the IUCN said that out of 63,837 species it had assessed, 19,817 run the risk of extinction due to depleted habitat, hunting and climate change.

At threat are 41 percent of amphibian species, 33 percent of reef-building corals, 25 percent of mammals, 20 percent of plants and 13 percent of birds, the update of the prestigious “Red List” said.

Many are essential for humans, providing food and work and a gene pool for better crops and new medicines, it said. Experts say that only a fraction of Earth’s millions of species, many of them microscopic, have been formally identified. In recent years, biologists have found new species of frogs and birds in tropical forests - proof that the planet’s full biodiversity is only partly known. UN members pledged under the Millennium Development Goals to brake the rate of loss in

species by 2010, but fell badly short of the mark. After this failure, they set a “strategic plan for biodiversity” under which they vowed to prevent the extinction of “most known species”. — AFP

In Portland, fluoride debate is ideological PORTLAND, Oregon: It’s a dental story told so often it borders on cliche. When someone moves to Portland from another state - and that’s most people you meet in this city of transplants - their new dentist takes one look at their excellent teeth and concludes they must have been raised elsewhere, a place that puts fluoride in its drinking water. The tale is also told from the perspective of native Portlanders. “I have had several dentists comment on my and my children’s teeth, saying: ‘Oh, I can see you grew up in Portland,’” Mary Lou Hennrich said. And that’s no compliment, she added.

Portland is the largest city in the US that has yet to approve fluoridation to combat tooth decay, a distinction that could change at today’s city council meeting. Mayor Sam Adams and two city commissioners have announced their support, ensuring a majority on the five-member panel. Fluoridation has been an emotional topic in communities across the country for more than 50 years, and continues to be in cities ranging from conservative Wichita, Kan., to a place whose unofficial motto is “Keep Portland Weird.”

Portland is considered one of the nation’s most liberal, and the issue presents a clash between two progressive positions: the desire to improve the dental health of low-income children and

the impulse to avoid putting anything unnecessary in the air, food or water. “The fact that Portland stands out as the largest US city without fluoridation is not the kind of weird we should be,” the mayor said. “This is causing pain to kids.”

Many in Portland and the state have long opposed public fluoridation, saying it’s unsafe and violates an individual’s right to consent to medication. While 73 percent of the US population drinks water treated with fluoride, the rate is less than 25 percent in Oregon. Portland voters twice rejected fluoride before approving it in 1978. They overturned their decision before it was ever added to the water. The issue re-emerged last month, when a coalition of health and other organizations that had been lobbying the council for more than a year gained the public support of Commissioner Randy Leonard.

Opponents criticized the council for rushing into action without a public vote, and plan to collect signatures to force a referendum on it in May 2014. More than 225 people signed up to testify at a public hearing last week that ran 6 1/2 hours. Sixty-one percent opposed fluoridation. “Barnyard animals are force medicated, not human beings,” said Mike Smith, a member of the Occupy Portland movement. Portland’s drinking water already contains naturally

occurring fluoride, though not at levels considered to be effective at fighting cavities.

A 2007 report from the state Department of Human Services said 35 percent of Oregon firstthrough-third graders had untreated dental decay, a higher

their dental care done,” said Lisa Bozzetti, dental director at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Clinic.

Fluoride opponents, however, say the dental benefits of the mineral are small (better diets would have greater impact) and don’t

PORTLAND: In this Sept 6, 2012 photo, demonstrator China Starshine holds up signs outside of City Hall where the Portland City Council opened public testimony on Commissioner Randy Leonard’s plan to fluoridate the area’s drinking water. — AP percentage than in neighboring states with more fluoridation, such as Washington (19 percent) and Idaho (27 percent). Dentists describe a healthcare crisis, with their offices and clinics inundated with cavity-ravaged youngsters. “A lot of these kids will have such severe problems that they need to be hospitalized in order to have

outweigh the negatives. The Internet is rife with warnings about fluoridation, and residents with thyroid issues, kidney disease and multiple chemical sensitivity worry it will make their lives worse.

Others say it reduces IQ and can cause autism, memory loss, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other problems. — AP

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

US launches new strategy to prevent suicide WASHINGTON: A new nationwide strategy to prevent suicides, especially among US military veterans and younger Americans, is tapping into Facebook, mobile apps and other technologies as part of a community-driven push to report concerns before someone takes his own life. The effort, announced on Monday, is the first new plan in more than a decade to address what officials say is a growing public health issue. It aims to curb deaths over 10 years, especially among the nation’s military veterans. “It takes the entire community to prevent suicides. It’s not just one individual,” said US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. “We all can play a role.”

The revised plan promotes a recently developed Facebook Inc service that allows users to report suicidal comments they see online from friends. The website will then send the potential victim an email urging him to call the hotline as well as chat confidentially online with a counselor. “All too often, people in crisis do not know how - or who - to ask for help,” Facebook Global Vice President for Public Policy Marne Levine said in a statement. “We have a

unique opportunity to provide the right resources to our users in distress, when and where they need them most.”

Other new technologies, such as certain mobile computer applications, or “apps,” also help connect people with counseling resources and other help.

The plan, unveiled at an event in Washington by Benjamin, along with US Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Army Secretary John McHugh, aims to encourage people to take specific steps to get help for themselves or their loved ones. It also seeks to erase any stigma, especially among US military veterans. The initiative includes $55.6 million in grant funding for suicide prevention programs.

Suicide is a growing concern and results in the deaths of more than twice as many people on average as homicide, officials said. On average, about 100 Americans die each day from suicide, officials said. More that 8 million US adults seriously thought about suicide in the last year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Of particular concern are the nation’s 23 million veterans. President Barack

Obama has made caring for those who have served in the military a top concern, including tackling mental illness, but it has been a struggle. Despite his administration’s efforts to expand prevention measures for veterans, including beefing up a special hotline, the number of suicides appears to be growing. There were 17,754 suicide attempts among veterans last year - about 48 a day - up from 10,888 in 2009, data from the Department of Veterans Affairs showed. “Suicide is one of the most challenging issues we face,” McHugh said in a statement. “In the Army, suicide prevention requires soldiers to look out for fellow soldiers. We must foster an environment that encourages people in need to seek help and be supported.”

Last week, Obama called on federal agencies to improve meeting the demands for mental health and substance abuse treatment for veterans, including ordering an additional 100 counselors to staff the Veterans Affairs’ 200-person crisis hotline.

Some advocates, however, expressed concern that despite the new tools and outreach, connecting with at-risk veterans - especially those who have

felt slighted by their efforts to get help in the past will be a challenge.

Kristina Kaufmann, executive director of the Code of Support Foundation, said offering new initiatives without making it clear to service members that the military is sincerely trying to improve care is still an issue. “There are some people who for different reasons will never use anything connected to the VA, so that’s why I think it’s important to provide different options,” said Kaufmann, whose group advocates for better ties between civilians and military life.

The last major US plan tackling suicide was in 2001. Since then, there has been more research and data on suicide and who is most at risk, as well as the best strategies to reach those people, Surgeon General Benjamin said. “We now know what we didn’t know 15 years ago - or we didn’t understand - which is that suicide is preventable. So prevention is where we’re focusing now,” she said. “We didn’t really talk about suicide much,” Benjamin said. “We didn’t bring up the idea of suicide. We were afraid it might give someone a new idea. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Onam celebration onni Nivasi Sangamam celebrates Onam on Friday, 21st September 2012 from 10 am to 4 pm at Abbassiya United Indian School. Public meeting honored with presence of prominent dignitaries from social-cultural-political sectors, maveli, athapookalam, chendamelam, ganamela, mimicry and other cultural events will be conducted as part of the program. Ccome and enjoy! Feel the experience of traditional tastes! Have lots of fun & frenzy! rock with music!

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SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! This summer, let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Free Arabic course PC and all its branches is opening free Arabic language course for non Arab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class will commence in September 14. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages.

Registration is on!

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Greetings

Doshi to hold Indian Art Retreat

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appy birthday Cia. We wish you all the best in life. We love you so much.

Greetings from Daddy, Mommy, Aliya, relatives and friends.

enowned Indian art activist Chaula Doshi will conduct Indian Art Retreat - an art exhibition featuring 50 contemporary and classic paintings by Indian artists in Kuwait in November.

Doshi’s art movement, Indian Art Retreat is holding its exhibition under the motto Art for Peace. The mission of the movement is creating a global community through art that transcends the barriers of language, caste and color. The Armada

General Trading Company sponsored show in the Middle East is a new art movement that attempts to connect people through art. The show is scheduled in midNovember. Ahmedabad based Doshi plans to conduct similar shows in the GCC as Indian paintings are appreciated in the region.

In Kuwait the organizer is artist MV John. The Kuwait show will also feature music talents from Indian expats.

Study in Canada exhibition

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PC and all its branches are opening Free Arabic Language Course for non-Arab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class will commence on September 14, 2012. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Salmiyah: 25733263, 97533263; Kheitan: 24730137, 99285459; Mangaf: 23723002 ext. 124/123; Jahra: 24558830, 97533948.

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anita vedi, Kuwait will be celebrating the Onam festival this year as titled Ragothsavam-2012 on Friday 28th September 2012 at Kaithan Indian Community school. This is a full day program. Prof.

Omanakutty the famous classical musician will be the chief guest.

A classical music recitation ‘Sangeethakacheri’ by Prof. Omanakutty will be showcased. Shanta R. Nair (Program convener) Dr. Vasanthy S. Nair, Minerva Ramesh (Joint conveners) Sumathi Babu, Sajitha Scaria, Shobha Suresh, Presanna Ramabhadran, Rema Ajith, Valsa Stanley and Valsa Sam are selected for various committees. Sam Pynummoodu is the patron of Ragothsavam-2012.

Winter 2012 AMIE examination

‘Leniency of Islam’ n unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait.

The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

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Focus Kuwait 6th annual day s a part of the 6th anniversary celebrations, Forum of Cadd Users (FOCUS Kuwait), a nonpolitical, non-religious organization is set to stage a mega cultural event “Focus Fest-2012”. This mega event will be a blend of traditional and contemporary dance and musical extravaganza by renowned South Indian playback singers Jyotsna and Sudeesh. Scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed School Auditorium, Hawally, the mega musical show, is expected to be a super-hit in Kuwait.

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ndo-Kuwait Friendship Society, Kuwait (www.indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) is planning to conduct competitions in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. This is the first time in Kuwait, an Indian Association is organizing contests in “Patriotic Songs” for both Indian and Kuwaiti School students. The first 3 places will be declared separately by Judges who are experts in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. Several prizes and awards will be handed over for the winning schools. Pradeep Rajkumar and A K S Abdul Nazar said that IKFS wants let our children learn what they mean as a “Patriotic” to their home country. 4 pages of spot Essay competition related to “Patriotism” also will be held in the same day as a spot registration. 1 girl and 1 boy student from each school can participate in the essay contest. Dr Mohamed Tareq, Chairman of the First Indian Model School in Kuwait “ Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS) already confirmed as a Co-Sponsor of the Program.

Conditions apply 1) The competitions are meant for all the Schools located in Kuwait and should be nominated by school authority 2) Each school can select group of 7 students for the ‘patriotic songs’ (Indian and Kuwaiti)” and nominate separately 3) Children of above 12 years till 17 years (VII classes to XII classes) are eligible for the contest. But if School is permitted 4) Musical instruments or KARAOKE mixer should be accompanied by the participating students/Children and the school team should operate and select the mixers 5) Time frame: 7 minutes - Names will be called as “First come” in the Registration

Onam celebrations

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embers and friends of Ranny Pravasi Sangham Kuwait are cordially invited to join the association’s Onam celebrations which will be held at the Indian Central School Auditorium from 10.30 am on Friday September 14th. The event will feature a variety of cultural programs, Floral Designing competitions, Dances and musical events, and the customary colorful appearance of Mahabali. Also there will be grand-OnaSadhya (Onam Feast), and distribution of merit awards to honor students in Kuwait belonging to Rannitaluk, those who scored the highest in Std X and X11 examinations.

Expats Mums Autumn Bazaar

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xpats Mums in Kuwait will hold its autumn bazaar on Saturday, September 29th by 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Rumaithiya Block 9, Street 96, House 1, Basement. Free entry! This autumn we’re excited to support our members who hand make crafts, who have home business and who provide services to the expat community in Kuwait. Expat Mums in Kuwait is a group of nearly 400 mums from over 42 countries around the world. We meet online and in person and provide friendship, information, advice, reviews, support and networking opportunities to fellow expat mothers.

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he AMIE Winter 2012 examinations will be held between Dec 01-07, 2012 as follows:

Section A (Diploma) - December 1-4, 2012 Section A (Non-Diploma) - December 1-7, 2012 Section B - December 1-7, 2012 The last date for submission of examination application forms are given hereunder: Candidates not appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Aug 21 - Sept 21, 2012 Candidates appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Sept 21 - Oct 19, 2012.

Candidates who intend to appear for the Winter 2012 examination must apply directly to Kolkata by filling the prescribed application form along with requisite amount of demand draft in favour of The Institution of Engineers (India), payable at Kolkata.

Audition for ZEE Antakshari or the first time Indian Cultural Society brings you live excitement of ZEE - International antakshari in Kuwait. Audition & first round will be held in Kuwait, there after followed by semi finals in India & Grand Finale in Dubai. Complete team of Carnival films & Zee TV will be in Kuwait for the final round of selection on Friday 5th October with Jaaved Jaaferi: Celebrity Judge, Akriti Kakkar: Female Bollywood Singer & Host of Antakshari, Manish Paul: Host for Auditions, Sarfaraz Khan: Actor, Director and Producer, Michael Amin: Producer & Director Carnival films world. Musicians, Male Singer & many more for live performances.

Final audition at 10 am & music show at 7.30 pm at AIS-Hawally.

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Tulukoota Kuwait free medical checkup ulukoota Kuwait, in coordination with Indian Doctors Forum, Kuwait Medical Association, Indian Dentist Alliance in Kuwait and Kuwait Heart Foundation is conducting a Free Medical Check up & Consultation Camp on Friday, September 14, 2012 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Abbasiya (Indian Educational School, Building No 4, Block No 241, School Street, Jleeb Al-Shyoukh) from 7 am - 1 pm. The Medical Checkup & Consultation Camp is specially taking place for all the people who do not have the opportunity or facility to undergo regular medical checkups at a regular clinic. We urge people to come ahead and fill up and submit applications well before September 9 to avoid disappointments. Kindly do not miss this opportunity and come ahead to take part in our free Medical Camp.

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Tulukoota Kuwait ‘Merit Scholarship’ pplications are now being invited for “Tulukoota Kuwait Merit Cum Means Scholarship” to be awarded during Tuluparba 2012 scheduled to be held on October 11 and 12, 2012. The objective of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance and support to deserving meritorious students, to enable them to pursue their higher studies. Applications are accepted from minimum one year valid Tulukoota Kuwait member’s children studying either in the State of Kuwait or in India and scoring high grades in Xth and XIIth standard Board Examination held for Academic year 2011-2012.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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Arabic courses

Vanitha vedi Onam

Calling all Ten-pin Bowlers he Indian Bowling League (IBL) Season 3 will be held at Cozmo Entertainment, Salmiya commencing on Friday the 28th of September at 3 pm. Kindly reserve your team in advance to avoid disappointment, on a first come first serve.

NAFO Onam on Sept 21 ational Forum Kuwait (NAFO Kuwait) will celebrate Onam 2012 with its full spirit and fervor on Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Indian Community School Auditorium from 10.00 am onwards. Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta will be the chief guest on this happy occasion. A galaxy of eminent personalities in Kuwait is also expected to join the celebration. Starting from the floral carpet called “Athapookkalam,” NAFO family will present various cultural programs bringing back the nostalgic memories of a bygone era of prosperity, equality and righteousness under the golden reign of Mahabali. In addition, a grand sumptuous meal, the traditional ‘Onasadya’ will also be served.

rganized by the Embassy of Canada, the seventh annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) will be visiting Kuwait from Oct 2 to 4, 2012.

Representatives of 20 leading Canadian universities and colleges will be available to meet students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to present the advantages of studying in Canada. On Wednesday, Oct 3, 2012 a Study in Canada exhibition will be held at the Marina Hotel, Salmiya from 6:00 - 9:00 pm for potential students and their parents to attend. The Canadian institutions will also be visiting local schools to speak to interested students about opportunities to study in Canada

AWARE Arabic courses highlights * Introductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics * Better prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic * Combine language learning with cultural insights * Taught in multi-nationality group settings * Provide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Johnarts, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh based artist, presents the caricature of Padmanabha Dasa H H Marthanda Varma, the king of Travancore.

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WHAT’S ON

Gulf Bank’s ‘Give Life’ saves lives

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ulf Bank yesterday announced that its ‘Give Life’ blood donation movement will continue in all its

branches throughout September. The ‘Give Life’ movement includes a road show to help build awareness about the

value of blood donation amongst the public, showing them how simple and easy it is to help save lives. The Bank’s current round of visits commenced on 5 September at the Jahra branch, and will continue at the Jahra 2 branch on 12 September, Sabah Al-Naser branch on 19 September, Khaldiya branch on 29 September.

Fawzy Al-Thunayan, General Manager of Board Affairs at Gulf Bank said: “Gulf Bank is a part of Kuwait’s economic and social fabric, and it is committed to playing a positive role in the community’s wellbeing. Blood donation is one important way in which almost anyone can contribute to the continued health of our community.

Our goal, through the ‘Give Life’ movement, is to help increase awareness of the vital importance of blood donation and how it can save lives. We are very encouraged by the success of this initiative so far and urge as many people as possible to participate and encourage

others to become involved. Donation is very easy and quick, and donors can easily do so by visiting one of the Bank’s branches on the scheduled dates, where there will be experts on hand to assist and answer questions.”

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Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday.

Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm.

EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information. The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy.

The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency.

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of students as we believe they are the backbone and future of the country.

The training program provides students with an opportunity to a true learning experience in line with Oula’s continuous effort to develop the skills of students in the College of Business

AWARE Management Spring 1 Arabic courses

T

he AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Spring 1 Arabic language courses with new textbooks and curricula will begin on October 7, 2012 until November 29, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind.

The environment is relaxed and courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together. AWARE Arabic courses highlight: Introductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics; Better prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic; Combine language learning with cultural insights; Taught in multi-nationality group settings; Provide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.”

NSS Kuwait Onam celebrations on Sept 28

N

Embassy

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Oula Fuel Marketing holds Award Ceremony ula Fuel Marketing Company ‘Oula’ has recently announced its conclusion of the summer 2012 Training Program organized earlier for students in June. To conclude the program which ended on August 2nd, students were awarded in recognition of their hard efforts after undergoing intensive training courses which were all part of the learning and experience process they gained.

The training program entailed dividing students into different departments within the company to familiarize them with the different duties and tasks performed by employees.

Students of the College of Business Studies, for instance, were placed in the finance department while students from the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) received training on Maintenance and Projects Department as well as the Legal department.

The awards ceremony was attended by a number of representatives at Oula including Managing Director Hamza Bakhash, Deputy Managing Director Abdulmohsin Khajah, Deputy Manager of the HR and Finance Department, Sobhy Shennawy and two supervisors of the summer training program Mohammed Al Hilaly and Zainab Abdulrahim. On the conclusion of the summer program, Hamzah Bakhash commented: “Oula is always determined to develop human resources in the society and nurture the capabilities

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

SS Onam will be celebrated on September 28 (Friday), at Carmel School, Khaitan from 9:30 am. Nair Service Society (NSS) Kuwait is one of the largest socio-cultural organization in Kuwait formed in the year 2001 and now has more than 3,000 Indians as members. On Sept 28, a full day variety entertainment program depicting the rich heritage and art forms of Kerala has been planned and the major attractions are drama “Aaal Roopam” (Dummy) directing by Shemej Kumar and musical drama “Ravanaputri” a unique art form, organizing by NSS Vanitha Samajam.

Raveendran Nair, President of Nair Service Society (NSS), Kuwait will preside over the function and . KR Rajan, Secretary, HRD, Nair Service Society (NSS), Changanassery, Kerala will be the Chief Guest. Nair Service Society (NSS) Kuwait is introducing first time in Kuwait “Onam Valla Sadhya” a vegetarian banquet with around 50 dishes. The renowned Master of the Kitchen Aranmula Nadamangalath Vijayan and his team, will be supervising NSS Kuwait’s Onam Sadhya kitchen this year. This year more than 1,500 people are expected to enjoy the NSS taste of Vijayan.

Studies as well as those from the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program.” Bakhsh added: “We are proud to successfully announce the conclusion of Oula’s summer internship program. We sincerely thank all of our hardworking

KDNA educational award for class 10, 12 toppers

K

ozhikode District NRI Association (KDNA) has decided to honor the children of its members who have come out in flaying colors in the examination of standard 10th and 12th from Kuwait and India.

Aysha Sana has secured toppest marks for Class 12 and Muhammed Shahul Abdul Hameed in Class 10. They will be entitled for the Certificate and Cash award. Shilpa Poothery Vijayan, M.C Muhammed Rizwan, Shahal Bava are the others students who have secured above 80% marks and are entitled for the proficiency prizes. Awards will be distributed to the winners on 14 September 2012 at Indra Prastha Auditorium, Managaf during Onam-Eid Celebration of Kozhikode District NRI Association.

employees and program supervisors who have contributed in making this a great success. Oula looks forward to hosting similar future initiatives to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, especially towards the youth.”

Mind-body seminar

T

he world renowned memory guru Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury will present his unique seminar for the third time in Kuwait on Friday, 14th September 2012. “The Mind-Body Seminar” will be held at Jabriya Kuwait Medical Association Hall auditorium, Kuwait.

Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury , holder of 2 World Records in memory management and push-ups, is the author of 25 books on mind and memory. His biography is included in 2012 edition of Who’s Who In The World and his name is mentioned in Oxford University’s official website for his contribution in the field of memory training. He has conducted more than 2000 seminars internationally addressing more than 10 lakh audiences. He holds worldwide patent for his inventions- memory ball, mnemonic pen, happiness machine and animated cosmic energy cord.

This enriching seminar is specially to help children to perform better in academics and always stay ahead in competitions. 5 secrets will be revealed which will help students to score 10% more in every examination.

Tulukoota Kuwait Tulu Parba Competition 2012

T

ulu Parba Competitions are here again and Tutu Koota Kuwait is very excited to invite all the Tuluvas to join us on the event to be held on Friday, September 21, 2012, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Indian Community School Auditorium, Khaitan. Join us for an enthusiastic and entertaining day with lots of fun and creativity. Competitions for various age group planned for the day include: Dance Solo and Group, Fancy Dress Solo and Group, photography of toddlers and origami, post card writing, drawing for children; Tu Dhantina Atil and Beeda Kattunu for ladies solo; while we have Peta Kattunu and Gali Pata Malpunu for Men Solo; married couples have Adarsh Dampati and hair styling, while we also have a game planned for the senior citizens.

BSK annual Carnival Day

T

he British School of Kuwait, located in Salwa block 1, street 1, will be holding its annual Carnival Day on Saturday September 15 from 10 am to 1 pm. It will be a fun filled day with lots of activities for the whole family. You can also find out more information about the various afterschool activities for children and parents open to everyone in Kuwait at The British Academy of International Arts (BAIA)such as dance, theatre, music, art and cuisine and various sports such as football, swimming, karate, cricket and many more offered through The British Academy of Sports (BAS). Sponsors will be on hand to provide free gifts and add to a wonderful atmosphere of fun and entertainment.

Aware presentation

Y

ou are cordially invited to our diwaniya presentation entitled, “The Quran: An Introduction to Islam’s Holy Book,” by Dr Teresa Lesher tomorrow, September 11, 2012 at 7:00 pm. The Quran is a 1,400-year old Arabic document or so believed to be God’s message to mankind. Dr Teresa will briefly explain the methods of revelation, documentation and preservation of the Quran, as well as its style and themes. She will clarify its importance to Muslims until today indicated by their approach to handling and studying it.

Open discussion will follow the presentation and complimentary translations of the Quran in English will be offered to all attendees. Dr Teresa holds her PhD in Information Science from the UK and is now associate professor at the Kuwait College of Basic Education. She held the position of General Manager of the AWARE Center for three years and returns often to host presentations related to Arab and Islamic culture.

Korean movie night on Sept 18

T

he Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuwait has the great pleasure to invite to a Korean Movie Night on Tuesday, 18 Sept at Cinescape Laila in Salmiya at 4:30 pm. The event is organized by the embassy and sponsored by the Kuwait National Cinema Company. We will start our Korean Movie Night with two South Korean hits “Pacemaker and “My Girlfriend is an agent”. Movies are open to the public and admission is free. Refreshment will be served during the break time. Please come to experience and enjoy a Korean Movie Night featuring adventure, comedy, and romance for all ages.

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page.

Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

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EMBASSY OF FRANCE The Embassy would like to inform that starting September 2nd, 2012, visa demands for France will be handled by the outsourcing company “Capago - MENA Company”. Capago - MENA’S Call Center will be operational starting Sunday August 26 for setting appointments beginning September 2nd (+965 22270555).

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EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com.

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EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, Al-Salaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com.

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EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk.

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EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” - (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR THY ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD THY FDB MSR QTR MSC KAC THY JZR DHX JZR KAC BAW JZR KAC KAC QTR FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD BAB GFA UAE MEA JZR MSR IRM JZR JZR IRC KNE MSR RJA GFA KAC FDB JZR QTR KAC SVA KAC JZR KAC KAC QTR KAC ETD IYE UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY KAC QTR BAB KAC KAC KNE FDB MSR RBG JZR KAC KAC JAI KAC KAC AXB FDB MXM OMA MEA QTR GFA ALK KAC JZR KLM UAE JZR ETD BBC CLX ABY QTR JZR AIC FDB GFA UAL JZR DLH SYR MSR THY

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 12/9/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 5430 ISTANBUL 620 ADDIS ABABA 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 768 ISTANBUL 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 2401 ALEXANDRIA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 1541 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 6130 DOHA 53 DUBAI 284 DHAKA 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 871 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 606 LUXOR 5066 MASHAD 561 SOHAG 201 DAMASCUS 6791 MASHAD 472 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 640 AMMAN 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 535 CAIRO 140 DOHA 790 MEDINAH 500 JEDDAH 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 502 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 303 ABU DHABI 824 SANAA 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 438 BAHRAIN 166 PARIS 786 JEDDAH 460 MEDINAH 63 DUBAI 620 ASSIUT 3553 ALEXANDRIA 787 RIYADH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 102 NEW YORK 774 RIYADH 393 KOZHIKODE 61 DUBAI 3713 AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI 647 MUSCAT 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 229 COLOMBO 514 TEHRAN 481 SABIHA 417 AMSTERDAM 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 792 LUXEMBOURG 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 539 CAIRO 975 CHENNAI 59 DUBAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 239 AMMAN 636 FRANKFURT 343 DAMASCUS 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL

Time 0:15 0:20 0:50 1:10 1:45 2:10 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:30 4:10 4:35 4:55 5:00 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:20 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:45 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:55 12:25 12:30 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:20 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:15 16:10 16:35 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:40 19:55 20:00 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:35 22:10 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:15 23:35 23:40

Airlines AIC UAL DLH MSR PIA THY THY ETH THY UAE FDB ETD MSR MSC QTR QTR JZR RJA JZR JZR GFA THY JZR KAC KAC BAW FDB KAC JZR KAC ABY QTR KAC KAC KAC UAE UAE KAC QTR FDB ETD BAB IRA GFA KAC MEA MSR JZR UAE KAC KAC JZR JZR IRM KNE IRC GFA FDB MSR RJA KAC JZR KAC SVA JZR QTR KAC KAC ETD JZR IYE QTR GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR QTR FDB BAB KNE RBG MSR JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA JZR DHX ALK KLM JZR ABY ETD KAC UAE QTR KAC KAC MXM JZR CLX BBC AXB QTR FDB GFA JZR KAC

Depature Flights on Wednesday 12/9/2012 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 206 LAHORE 773 ISTANBUL 5591 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 769 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 2402 ALEXANDRIA 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 200 DAMASCUS 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 534 CAIRO 545 ALEXANDRIA 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 175 FRANKFURT 256 BEIRUT 117 NEW YORK 126 SHARJAH 6131 DOHA 501 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 856 DUBAI 789 MADINAH 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 437 BAHRAIN 602 SHIRAZ 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 619 ASSIUT 776 JEDDAH 872 DUBAI 103 LONDON 785 JEDDAH 480 ISTANBUL 176 DUBAI 5065 MASHHAD 461 MADINAH 6792 MASHHAD 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 641 AMMAN 673 DUBAI 538 CAIRO 617 DOHA 503 MADINAH 786 RIYADH 135 DOHA 773 RIYADH 513 IMAM KHOMEINI 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 824 SANAA 141 DOHA 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 145 DOHA 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 477 JEDDAH 3554 ALEXANDRIA 621 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 361 COLOMBO 153 ISTANBUL 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 502 LUXOR 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 417 DAMMAM 1540 CAIRO 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 381 DELHI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 3714 BAGRAM 554 ALEXANDRIA 792 MUSCAT 44 DHAKA 394 KOCHI 147 DOHA 60 DUBAI 218 BAHRAIN 528 ASSIUT 415 KUALA LUMPUR

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 1:25 2:15 2:25 2:45 3:40 3:45 3:50 4:05 4:20 4:25 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:50 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:10 7:30 8:10 8:20 8:25 8:25 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:05 9:15 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:40 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:45 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:15 12:20 12:30 13:10 13:15 13:20 13:25 14:10 14:15 14:25 14:25 14:30 14:35 15:05 15:10 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:25 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:45 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:45 19:55 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:30 23:50 23:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent bachelor near German clinic. Call 66941892. (C 4130) 10-9-2012 Sharing accommodation, one room, is available at Amman street, Salmiya, near Al-Rashid hospital for a decent Indian working lady. For more details contact: 99307471, 99315825.

(C 4128) 9-9-2012

LOST Policy No. 633002598 & 630001537 issued by the State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan Gulf Zone on the Life of Mr Muhammad Boota & Mr Muhammad Shahzad is reported to have been lost.

Anyone finding the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with the Manager State Life, Ph: 22452208-9 within one month from this date.

(C 4131) Policy No. 633002307 & 633003076 issued by the

State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan Gulf Zone on the Life of Mr Samir Shafiq & Mohammad Kazafi is reported to have been lost.

Anyone finding the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with the Manager State Life, Ph: 22452208-9 within one month from this date.

(C 4132) 11-9-2012

MATRIMONIAL Inviting marriage proposal for qualified Muslim girl 26, staying with family in Kuwait from groom living in Kuwait or family from Mumbai, Maharashtra. Email: maroufs@yahoo.com (C 4129) 9-9-2012 FOR SALE Mitsubishi Outlander, 2006, KD 2075, negotiable, 94,000KM, Passing up to 18 June 2013, accident free, pearl white color, two new tire, new battery, auto lock, Engine, Gear, AC, Interior and exterior in good condition. Call 94947880. If you

want to see the car image, contact: mansoorizh@gmail.com 10-9-2012

SITUATION VACANT Required a native French tutor to teach 2 children

aged 6, 8. Please contact 99612121. (C 4133) Wanted full time maid/nanny in Salwa.

Offering KD 120 salar y.

Must speak English and be good with small children.

Call 9768-7172.

12-9-2012

Prayer timings Fajr:

04:11

Duhr:

11:44

Asr:

15:15

Maghrib:

17:57

Isha:

19:14

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

34

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

s ta rs CROSSWORD 794

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You combine enthusiasm and courage with ambition and self-control. You can accomplish much toward your goals through careful, hard work. Officials and people in authority give you their support and you can deal effectively with business and professional affairs. Work with tools or machines goes smoothly today. You can make progress in management and administrative areas. This afternoon, a little imaginative meditation will banish the stress and give you a new attitude. You feel optimistic and hospitable and if you are not in a volunteer program, you may decide that today is the time to become involved. Besides, what have you accomplished apart from your family unit? Partners give support for whatever you would like to accomplish.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be able to make steady progress toward your career and social goals now. You can develop the confidence, honesty, maturity and self-respect that can make you better able to handle authority and responsibility. You have an increased self-confidence to try new things that are daring, unusual and inventive in order to pursue your goals for greater independence. It is a time of change, stimulating friends and new acquaintances. The time is favorable for enterprises in the technology and entertainment fields. You may develop an interest in spiritual studies and self- improvement. You feel optimistic, tolerant and secure. You may find travel to be rejuvenating, bringing renewal to your sense of optimism and spiritual growth.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Starch resembling sago that is obtained from cuckoopint root.

5. An association of people to promote the welfare of senior citizens.

9. Type genus of the family Ulvaceae.

13. The outermost (and toughest) of the 3 meninges.

14. A Russian river.

15. A person who is of equal standing with another in a group.

16. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

17. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

18. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

19. The capital and largest city of Equatorial Guinea on the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea.

21. A spirit believed by Muslims to inhabit the earth and influence mankind by appearing in the form of humans or animals.

23. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

25. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element.

27. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

28. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion.

32. A metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter.

33. A light touch or stroke.

36. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

37. Leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in India for writing paper.

40. Any of numerous ornamental shrubs grown for their showy flowers of various colors.

42. An industrial city in southern Poland on the Vistula.

44. The last imperial dynasty of China (from 1644 to 1912) which was overthrown by revolutionaries.

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

48. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

51. Realistic Norwegian author who wrote plays on social and political themes (1828-1906).

55. The inner and longer of the two bones of the human forearm.

56. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

58. A measuring instrument for measuring and indicating a quantity or for testing conformity with a standard.

59. Flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes.

62. Support resembling the rib of an animal.

63. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

64. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

65. The compass point midway between east and southeast.

DOWN 1. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

2. (anatomy) A fold or wrinkle or crease.

3. A mountain range in western Russia extending from the arctic to the Caspian Sea. 4. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

5. Tropical American herbs sometimes included in genus Episcia.

6. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

7. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

8. A genus of Ploceidae.

9. United States author (born 1932).

10. Lacking excess flesh.

11. English logician who introduced Venn diagrams (1834-1923).

12. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

20. With no effort to conceal.

22. A city in southwestern Spain that is famous for making sherry.

24. A metallic element having four allotropic forms.

26. (Norse mythology) One of the Aesir known for his beauty and skill with bow and skis.

29. City in southwestern Colombia in a rich agricultural area.

30. Chief port of Yemen.

31. Small beads made from polished shells and formerly used as money by native Americans.

34. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

35. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

38. An ancient region of southern Greece in the southeastern Peloponnesus.

39. Jordan's port.

41. Jordan's port.

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

46. Port city in western Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. 47. Genus of vines or erect herbs having trifoliate leaves and yellowish or purplish flowers.

49. On or toward the lee.

50. A small cake leavened with yeast.

52. Having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty.

53. Armor plate that protects the chest.

54. The compass point that is one point east of northeast.

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

60. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

61. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an optimistic thinking day. You may be inclined to overlook or discount important details, so make an effort to pay close attention, particularly when working out contractual obligations; there are usually questions that need answers. It would be a good idea for you and a coworker to check each other’s work—mistakes can be overlooked but together the work will gain impressive reviews. Others respect your ideas or input so when you are approached for your opinion you might be temped to automatically answer with those positive wishful thinking parts of your thinking. Look at the issue again to make sure you have all the information and have given the appropriate answer. Enterprises in the entertainment field are positive.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You have greater self-confidence and determination to succeed . . . while others may seem daffy, you have wisdom; you may need a little patience. As you embark on new beginnings, you will end old conditions. Look at your passions and attachments, in order that you may leave behind unnecessary baggage. You feel an expanded sense of self-confidence and optimism. You may receive appreciation for the goals you have attained and you may broaden your contacts with successful professional people. Now would be a good time to consider further education or broaden your experience through travel. You feel lucky, and your expectations are high. Your cheerful attitude makes for good times in social gatherings tonight.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You feel an increased self-confidence and courage in all your affairs. You may enjoy the support of others and advance your own goals through your leadership qualities. You seek the trust and confidence of others in order to be successful in business transactions. You can take pleasure this afternoon, through physical activities, such as sports, games or dancing. You begin constructive efforts for self-improvement as you are determined to be a good influence on the young people in your life. You may desire to change your domestic condition soon. You may decide to redecorate or renovate your home.

A specific individual may be a powerful influence in your life and you are grateful.

This is a favorable time for the study of life’s many mysteries.

Yesterday’s Solution Virgo (August 23-September 22) A business associate that may have been a problem in the past could become your best ally now. Enterprises in the technology and entertainment fields are profitable—you tend to do well in this area of investing. Avoid however, buying on impulse. Use moderation in business, legal, cultural or religious activities. Business contracts require self-restraint and much thought. This afternoon there is an opportunity to spend a little time with friends you have not seen in a while. One friend may give you a special bit of information that is most beneficial to some hobby you enjoy. There are fun conversations. Some of these conversations may help you to form new goals or finetune the goals you already have. Consider having an astrology chart done.

Libra (September 23-October 22) You may encounter challenging issues and conflict requiring a fast action and great passion. Cooperation is a good thing, particularly with those in power and authority. Impulsive behavior can lead to personal injury—quick starts and stops while driving. A job in law enforcement is likely and something you might consider if you have not. Friends may be stimulating but can change your career aspirations with unrealistic ideals. By the afternoon you will have the day’s energies all figured out and will be able to see the right choice, if one is needed. You may be teaching children in ways of cooperation and problem-solving techniques. You can do this through some story telling or in play-acting interactions. You enjoy attention tonight.

Yesterday’s Solution

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You will work very hard on your own personal projects. Some difficulty may arise that will stop you from your work but you will be able to continue the process soon enough. You are willing to work hard to achieve your goals, even if it means a delay. You will want to review and update your abilities, spending a considerable amount of time and effort to attend classes or lectures. There is a desire for material success and considerable monetary gain is rewarding. Projects may come to fruition at this time. Do not close your mind to other people’s opinions—even if they differ from your own. You have a desire to understand another person’s psyche, especially a close friend. There may be an opportunity for deep emotional talk with a loved one—listen.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may feel an increased self-confidence and courage for whatever you want to accomplish today. You can command the support of others and advance your goals through leadership and generosity.

Your imagination is stimulated and your healing ability is synchronized. With reflection and detachment you can apply your meditations to creatively solving complex problems. Your vitality and sense of optimism are strong and you can take constructive action to expand your financial, professional or educational endeavors. You may want to take a vacation and encounter delightfully strange people: artists, actors, healers and visionaries. You may swing a good deal on an important purchase. All sorts of adventures get a thumbs up!

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Freedom of information, free speech and censorship can be important issues today. Your moods can be impulsive so it may be best to stay away from issues over which you know you are not clearly knowledgeable. There are opportunities to make a steady progress in both career and domestic affairs. There will be an opportunity to compete in sports later this week—you may be emotionally as well as physically involved in a competitive situation. You are motivated to improve your physical appearance and self-confidence. This may mean that you grab your best friend after work and walk a half mile out from your starting point . . . just think, by the time you get back, you will have successfully walked a mile, and had fun doing it.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) If you are not working today, this is a great time to find a job.

You love being around people, especially those to whom you are emotionally attached, and better yet, older friends with whom you can reminisce.

If ever there was a day to work with or in groups, this is it! Your acute sensitivity to other people’s moods could enable you to fine-tune those moods as you would a violin. You could obtain anything you wish to obtain or sell anything you wish to sell and people will think you have done them a favor. There is an opportunity to make improvements in health, hygiene, hobbies, etc. Healing in matters concerning emotions, sexuality and grand causes are possible today. Careful—it would be easy to overindulge this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You have increased self-confidence to try new things that are unusual and inventive. These new matters will help you pursue your goals. It is a time of change, stimulating friends and new acquaintances—favorable for enterprises in the technology and entertainment fields.

Anything new or captivating now will have a valuable end result. You tend to be highly idealistic in your romantic life. You may unrealistically bestow your affection on the wrong people at times. Your intuitive, psychic abilities are stimulated.

You are especially sensitive to beauty, art and music. This afternoon is a good time for community involvement—you tend to feel charitable and considerate of those who are less fortunate.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TAT TE OF K KUW WA AIT

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENERAL GENE OF CIVIL AVIA V ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630

WWW.MET.GOV V.KW .

Hot with light to moderate north westerly to light variable wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with light variable wind changing to light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of 06 - 26 km/h and some high clouds will appear No Current Warnings arnin a

WARNING A

22459381

43 °C

32 °C

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

44 °C

25 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WAISEEB A

45 °C

28 °C

WA AFRA

ST TAT TION

45 °C

24 °C

SALMI

46 °C

26 °C

ABDAL LY

45 °C

27 °C

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YA AH

44 °C

27 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

42 °C

28 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

38 °C

33 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

40 °C

33 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WA ARBA A - BUBY YAN A

44 °C

23 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

SFC. CHART

11/09/2012 0000 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA ATE T

WEA AT THER

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

New Jahra

24575755 Wednesday e

12/09

hot

43 °C

26 °C

NW-VRB

08 - 28 km/h

West Jahra

24772608

Thursday

13/09

hot

42 °C

27 °C

NW-N

10 - 32 km/h

South Jahra

24775066

Friday

14/09

hot + raising dust

42 °C

28 °C

NW

20 - 45 km/h

North Jahra

24775992

Saturday

15/09

hot + blowing dust

43 °C

29 °C

NW

25 - 50 km/h

North Jleeb

24311795

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT

PRA RA AYER Y TIMES Fajr

04:11

MAX. Temp.

45 °C

Sunrise

05:31

MIN. Temp.

25 °C

Zuhr

11:45

MAX. RH

14 %

Asr

15:16

MIN. RH

Sunset

17:59

MAX. Wiind

Isha

19:17

TOT TAL AL RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

03 % NW 36 km/h 00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

23900322

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Dr. Salem soso General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

BY Y DA AY:

KUW WAIT A CITY

Firdous

Al-Shohada’a

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours

MIN. REC.

24884079

22418714

Fax: 24348714

MAX. EXP P.

Al-Ardhiya

Al-Madena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Cyrus under investigation for battery claim

M

iley Cyrus has a reputation for cranking out hits - but if a new allegation against her is to be believed, her latest hit could land her in court instead of the top of the charts. The “Can’t Be Tamed” singer has been accused of battering another person during a night out at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department told TheWrap. The alleged altercation occurred at approximately 1:15 am on Sunday, after the victim began speaking to Cyrus’ fiancÈ, Liam Hemsworth. An argument ensued, according to a battery report filed by the alleged victim, during which Cyrus, 19, pushed the other person. No visible injuries were reported, and no charges have been filed.

The incident is currently under investigation, according to the LAPD spokeswoman, and detectives are expected to question Cyrus over the matter. A spokeswoman for Cyrus told TheWrap that the battery claim is “completely false and erroneous.”

Minaj confirms her rap was no Romney endorsement

Freeman is alive, no matter

B

what Facebook says

reathe easy, Morgan Freeman fans - the internet has once again failed to kill off the “Shawshank Redemption” star, despite its best efforts. Freeman was once again the victim of an online death hoax this week, after a Facebook page announcing the 75-year-old actor’s demise amassed more than 842,000 “likes.” “At about 5 pm ET on Thursday, our beloved actor Morgan Freeman passed away due to a artery rupture,” the page reads. “Morgan was born on June 1, 1937. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.” That truly would be sad news, if there were a shred of truth to it. However, the actor’s spokesman told TheWrap that Freeman is, in fact, alive and well.

Rumors of the actor’s demise, meanwhile, seem immortal. In late 2010, the actor was the victim of another prank claiming that the actor had died in his home. Freeman has also been the target of perhaps nastier scuttlebutt over the years. Media reports that the actor planned to wed his step-granddaughter E’Dena Hines became so ubiquitous earlier this year that he was forced to issue a public statement to the contrary.

“The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers,” Freeman said. “What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well.” Just goes to show, once again, that you can’t believe that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. (Those pills you keep seeing ads for, though? Yeah - they’ll totally increase your size and boost your endurance.)

I

t’s official: Nicki Minaj did not endorse Mitt Romney in a recent rap. The flamboyant rapper confirmed Monday on Twitter that she was taking literary license when she referenced the Republican nominee for president. Some took her words to mean she was backing President Barack Obama’s opponent. Not Obama, though, who told radio station WPYO-FM in Orlando, Florida, that he didn’t think it was a Romney plug, adding: “She likes to play different characters.” In her tweet, Minaj thanked Obama for understanding “my creative humor and sarcasm,” then noted: “the smart ones always do ... (asterisk) sends love & support.” Minaj rapped the verse in question while making an appearance on the Lil Wayne mix tape track “Mercy.”A message sent to Minaj’s publicist was not immediately returned.

Lovato back with Valderrama?

T

he ‘X Factor’ USA judge - who was recently linked to One Direction singer Niall Horan - enjoyed a romantic meal with her former flame at an exclusive Los Angeles restaurant on Sunday night, sparking speculation they are back together. After dinner, the pair - who dated in 2010 for several months - went back to Demi’s nearby home. Wilmer - who, at 32, is 12 years older than Demi - has always spoken fondly of the ‘Skyscraper’ singer and says he is proud of how she has overcome all the problems in her personal life. He said:”‘We were really just best friends. She’s amazing; she’s a great human being. And I’m so proud of her considering all of the different obstacles and everything she’s been through. “I mean, she’s got a pretty good head. I was very proud to be there for her when she needed me, and she was there for me a number of times too.

And we have a great friendship.” In October 2010, Demi checked into rehab for three months, where she successfully received treatment for her eating disorders and selfharming.

Roberts tips delivery guy $500

T

he generous star gets her groceries delivered to her Malibu home and always tips her regular delivery driver $100 but when he recently revealed the air conditioning in his car had broken, Julia stepped in to help out. A source told the National Enquirer: “Julia always tips her delivery guy $100 but when he showed up at her house dripping with sweat, she asked if he was ill. The guy apologized and told Julia he’d been sweating because the air conditioning in his car had been broken for days. “Julia nodded, took her produce and handed the guy his tip, a cheque for $500, telling him ‘now get your air conditioning fixed, it’s on me.’” It was previously revealed that Julia - who has three children, twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, seven, and Henry, five, with husband Danny Moder - is reportedly keen to leave Hollywood and set up a base in Hawaii so she can “live off the land” and surf all the time. A source said: “Julia has been into healthy eating for some time, but she got even more interested in it after deciding to lose the 10 pounds she gained while playing the Evil Queen in ‘Mirror, Mirror’. “She’s even considering moving to Hawaii, where her family vacations every year, so they can live off the land, bask in the sun and surf 365 days a year. “She’s turning into a real hippy. She really believes she’s much happier and healthier living down on the farm.”

Timberlake, Biel to marry in $5 million ceremony

Shakira lawyer confirms ex-beau and agent is suing her

‘Motherhood is a dream’ for Simpson

T

he singer-and-actress gave birth to daughter Maxwell four months ago and is loving every minute of being a mother.

Speaking on Katie Couric’s new talk show ‘Katie’ yesterday, she said: “Motherhood is a dream. It really is absolutely amazing.

[Maxwell] had her first flight yesterday. Did not sleep! She didn’t cry. She just wanted to babble.” One reason why Jessica is finding first time motherhood so easy is because she believes her fiancÈ Eric Johnson is the “best dad in the world” so she can always turn to him for help and advice. She explained: “People call him the best dad in the world. Even my dad calls him that! He can do everything. He can change every diaper . . . he’s just a very peaceful person.” Jessica has signed a four million dollar deal with Weight Watchers to drop her baby weight and while she says she still has 10 pounds to go, the star finds it easy to incorporate exercise into her day because she brings Maxwell with her. She explained: “I basically take her with me, whether it’s strapping her on me or strolling around the neighborhood.” —Agencies

S

hakira’s former boyfriend and agent is suing her over contracts that were pending after their breakup, the Colombian pop star’s lawyer said Monday.

Antonio de la Rua of Argentina filed suit in July, and sought to have bank assets frozen, attorney Ezequiel Camerini said in a statement. The request for the freezing was denied, but the underlying case is still alive, he added without giving details. Last week Colombian media reported that de la Rua, son of a former president and Shakira’s beau until just over a year ago, sued her seeking 250 million dollars and real estate they shared during their 11-year relationship. That is meant to be compensation for contracts that remained pending after they called it quits.

Days later, a lawyer for de la Rua denied there was any lawsuit, and said the two former lovers were simply dissolving a company they owned together. But Camerini denied Monday there was ever any such joint venture. Shakira now dates Spanish football star Gerard Pique of the FC Barcelona team. In recent months she has also been in the news over rumors-denied by her father-that she was pregnant.

T

he couple are planning to wed in the European country in October and Jessica has been busy planning every detail of their big day. A source told America’s Star magazine “Jessica has claimed she is too busy to plan a wedding but she actually has been very involved in all the details, like every bride.” Wedding planner Diana Sorenso recently planned some nuptials at 19th century boutique hotel Palazzo Margherita and claims the star-studded nuptials will be held there. She said: “I’ve heard the wedding will be intimate, in the palm-tree lined outdoor garden area, just aside from the stunning black bottom pool and giant pergola, “There will be flowers galore and it will be extremely elegant - the most stunning the palazzo has seen yet.”

Those expected to attend include Amy Adams, Ellen DeGeneres and Justin’s former *NSync bandmates and guests won’t have to spend any money as the generous couple are paying for everything.

An insider explained: “Justin and Jessica plan to pay for the entire trip for all their guests and help.

That includes private jets, five-star hotels and rental homes, plus food fit for a palace.”

37

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

This June 2012 photo released by FOX shows judges, from left, LA Reid, Demi Lovato, This June 2012 photo released by NBC shows mentors, from left, Blake Shelton, Christina Britney Spears and Simon Cowell on the set of “The X Factor.” —AP Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine on the set of “The Voice,” in Los Angeles. —AP

T

‘X Factor,’ ‘Voice’ clash sour music to Cowell

he stakes are high, the tactics are fierce and the rhetoric is heating up.

Obama versus Romney? Nope. It’s the contest between “The Voice” and “The X Factor,” which escalated after NBC abruptly moved to pit its “Voice” against Wednesday’s second-season debut of Fox’s “X Factor.” The two singing contests already faced a tussle over audience votes when NBC scheduled a fall cycle of “The Voice” after it proved itself as a solid spring performer. Then, in a post-Labor Day surprise, an apparently mischievous NBC said it was expanding the show’s first week from Monday and yesterday to include a third episode, which happens to air opposite the first hour of the “X Factor” bow at 8 pm -10 pm EDT today.

Fox’s show also airs tomorrow.

Suddenly, the battle of the talent shows is much more interesting. Or make that infuriating, if you’re “X Factor” creator, executive producer and judge Simon Cowell. Known for his creative critiques as an “American Idol” panelist (“You sound like a cat jumping off the Empire State Building”), he was simply blunt about NBC’s move. Cowell took off the gloves when he told a teleconference last week that he was angry “because I think there’s a kind of gentleman’s agreement.” The implication: Networks can slap each other around by putting dramas and comedies head-to-head, but a

talent show is in a class of its own, like PBS’ “Downton Abbey” but with a record contract and hot modern blondes named Christina, Britney and Demi.

“I think it’s mean-spirited and I hope and I pray that it backfires on them, because it’s one of the best shows we’ve ever made,” Cowell said, adding that three consecutive nights of “Voice” is “too much” and viewers will choose “X Factor.”

“But I’ve learned, don’t make any predictions,” he said, tempering bravado with caution. Season two represents a sophomore reboot for “X Factor,” which did well last season but failed to pull the 20 million viewers he’d grandly predicted.

Instead, it averaged about 12.6 million for its performance and results episodes, which Cowell saw as a “wake-up call” for how to handle the US version of his British hit. (“The Voice” averaged 15.9 million last season, with results shows coming in at 11.3 million.) “I was a bit cocky,” he said in a recent interview. “I was feeling bullish coming off the UK show. And I don’t think I really read the (American) market that well” and how a strong show could let “massive social network power” make it a hit. So is “X Factor” sharper now that first-year judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul are out and Britney Spears and Demi Lovato are in? Also gone is host Steve Jones, to be replaced before

live episodes begin in November by a likely male-female duo yet to be chosen (Kevin McHale of “Glee,” Kelly Osbourne and Khloe Kardashian are among the rumored candidates). Yes, said Cowell, with the new judges and new producers making a difference. “The show looks better and feels better than what we did a year ago. I can see an improvement. I’m happy with it,” he said. Spears and Lovato are “doing great,” according to Cowell. “With Britney, everybody expects there’s going to be some kind of car crash with her. But it’s not. She’s very switched on, very focused. ... She has good taste and from working with her you can understand why she’s lasted so long in the industry.

“She totally understands the music business and understands the difference between a good singer and a potential star.” As for Lovato, she’s a “revelation,” he said. “She’s very smart, she’s a brat and that’s probably why I like her.” Lovato, 20, also is “a very hot recording artist,” Cowell said, and one who’s closer to the age of the audience that Fox wants to attract, the young adults for whom sponsors pay higher ad rates.

All that optimism, and then came the decision by NBC that Cowell labels a “spoiling tactic.” NBC declined to comment. “Voice” executive producer Mark Burnett, who told TMZ last week that he

‘Avengers’ director Whedon swaps superheroes for Shakespeare

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oss Whedon’s blockbuster comic book smash “The Avengers” would seem to have little in common with William Shakespeare. The writer and director, however, also known for creating the cult TV hit “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” calls the legendary playwright a major influence, visible in much of his work from the banter of his superheroes to the structure of his stories. Such is his admiration, that in the wake of delivering “The Avengers” - the biggest movie hit of 2012 - Whedon has adapted “Much Ado About Nothing,” a low-budget black-and-white labor of love devoted to the Bard that debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I find myself aping his rhythms and occasionally stealing his phrases, without even realizing it most of the time,” Whedon told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

“Shakespeare’s not afraid to go from high drama to low comedy in a heartbeat and to ping-pong back and forth between them in a scene, which is something else that I took from him in my own work.”

Filmed in director’s home Shot over 12 days in Whedon’s own house in Santa Monica, California, during a break from his work on “The Avengers,” “Much Ado About Nothing” features performers from Whedon’s past television series including “Buffy,” “Angel” and “Firefly.” The movie originated from readings of Shakespeare Whedon and spouse Kai Cole would host at their home while his TV shows were still in production. But it was Cole, also a producer on the film, who encouraged Whedon to use his time off from “The Avengers” to do a smaller project shot in black and white on digital cameras.

“There was times when I was, like, ‘This is a terrible idea.

I’ve gone mad,’ but it’s always been the way with me ... apparently that’s what I do for fun,” he said. “I have a condition called workaholism that is very deadly, and useful,” he added.

While the film sticks closely to the text of the play, the characters wear modern clothes, drive cars and talk on cell phones.

Scenes are shot in a child’s bedroom and a swimming pool, lending the project a do-it-yourself quality. “People who are (Shakespeare fans) are going to see a pretty specific and occasionally radical take on it. But I hope everybody will realize it comes from a great love of a great text,” said Whedon.

The movie’s sight gags generated laughter at its debut screening in Toronto. And an early review in Variety called it “an inspired example of Shakespeare-on-a-shoestring.” “It really is the classic romantic comedy. It’s the romantic comedy off of which all modern romantic comedy is built. So there is an in for people. I do not expect it to make $1.5 billion dollars,” he said, referring to the worldwide box office of “The Avengers.”

‘Avengers’ sequel in works Whedon, 48, has agreed to write and direct an “Avengers” sequel for Walt Disney Co, expected to appear in May 2015.

But the filmmaker said he could disclose few details about the highly anticipated movie. “It’s still in the story stage. But I’ve been working on it pretty much from about an hour before I said, ‘Let’s make a deal.’ It just caught fire with me,” he said.

“We’re hard at work. We would like to be not as rushed as we were with the first one.” The New York-born founder of his own production company, he might also direct the pilot for a TV series based on Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. espionage agency. Other projects at various stages of development include a sequel to Internet musical “Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” and a web series called “Wastelanders” he is writing with comics author Warren Ellis. “Basically I have too much to do, but I can work with too much. Too much is OK,” he said. —Reuters

was unaware of his show’s added night and that it never occurred to him the two shows would compete, didn’t respond to a request for comment. He’s not afraid of a little verbal hardball, however. Recently, Burnett pointedly noted that there are format changes for “The Voice,” but he’s sticking with original mentors Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine as long as they’re available - in obvious contrast to Cowell’s musical chairs.

“Truly we’ve gotten so close with all these guys, and it really has become like a family,” Burnett said, explaining why he opened his Malibu home for a “Voice” news conference. “The X Factor” should be more concerned with postseason Major League Baseball preemptions as Fox airs the playoffs, said analyst Brad Adgate of media-buyer Horizon Media.

For “The Voice,” there’s competition to come from ABC’s popular “Dancing With the Stars” and the potential of overkill with two runs in a year, he said, while “American Idol” is still on and strong in part because Fox airs it once annually.

“Fox kind of protected it, and I don’t think NBC is doing that with ‘The Voice,’” he said. “I was kind of surprised they took one of the few bona fide hits on the network and are running the risk of viewer fatigue.” The British versions of “Voice” and “X Factor,” which haven’t aired in

direct competition, offer mixed signals on who might win the US bout. Last season, “The Voice” averaged 7.9 million UK viewers, with the finale drawing 7.1 million (Cowell had the satisfaction of seeing his “Britain’s Got Talent” outdraw it with 9.7 million). The current run of the British “X Factor” debuted in August with 8.7 million viewers compared with 11 million for the previous run and hasn’t seen ratings jump. But it remains by far the highest-rated show on Saturday nights.

Perhaps Cowell might heed one TV analyst’s suggestion: Get over a “business as usual” chess move by NBC. “It’s strategy. All the networks try to take advantage of whatever special circumstances they can bring,” said Bill Carroll of mediabuyer Katz Media. “With Cowell, everything is terrible and outrageous: ‘How could they do this to me?’ Well, they’re not doing it to him.” “Shows get moved around. That’s just the nature of what happens,” Carroll said. “If ‘X Factor’ is going to be a draw it will be, no matter what it runs up against.” —AP

Review

This March 1, 2012 file photo shows Cee Lo Green performing at the Caesars Entertainment “Escape To Total Rewards” concert in Los Angeles.—AP

CeeLo says Christmas album is ‘the real deal’

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ust call CeeLo Green music’s newest Santa Claus. The 38-year-old singer-rapper is working on a Christmas album that he promises is “the real deal.” Green said in a recent interview that the album, “CeeLo’s Magic Moment,” is a “soulful take on a host of Christmas classics.”

Among the tunes to be included on the Elektra Records album are “Silent Night,” “The Christmas Song,” “This Christmas,” “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “White Christmas.” Rod Stewart, B.o.B. and Straight No Chaser are among the featured artists. Green’s Christmas album will be released Oct. 30. The “Forget You!” singer is back this week as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” which begins its new season. —AP

Al Pacino eyes role of coach Joe Paterno in movie bio

“G

odfather” star Al Pacino may soon be portraying the late Penn State head football coachJoe Paterno in a possible film or television project that is currently being shopped around Hollywood, a spokeswoman for his agency said on Monday. Hollywood industry website Deadline.com reported on Friday that the Oscar-winning actor has expressed an interest in playing Paterno, who fell from grace in a pedophile scandal that rocked the United States last year. The film would be based on the best-selling biography “Paterno,” written by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.

Pacino’s talent agency ICM on Monday confirmed Deadline’s account to Reuters but had no further details.

There is no screenplay written and no director attached to the project, which has yet to find a home at a film studio or television network. Paterno was fired in November 2011 after his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was accused of abusing several boys over 15 years. A jury later convicted Sandusky of 45 of the 48 counts against him. He is in jail awaiting sentencing. Paterno died of lung cancer in January at age 85, two months after he was fired. An independent report released in July said Penn State leaders, including Paterno, covered up Sandusky’s sexual abuse for years, showing a callous disregard for the victims to protect a multi-million-dollar football program.

Posnanski began writing the book in 2011 - which also includes Paterno’s life before Penn State - with Paterno’s cooperation before the scandal broke. The author incorporated the scandal into the book, including his own personal conversations with Paterno about what happened, and the book was published last month. Pacino, 72, previously played fictional football coach Tony D’Amato in Oliver Stone’s 1999 movie “Any Given Sunday”. —Reuters

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Anderson’s gorgeous, challenging ‘Master’

iewers hoping for a juicy expose of the super secretive Church of Scientology in “The Master” might want to adjust their expectations just a tad.

Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson has acknowledged that the cult leader of the film’s title played with great bluster and bravado by Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of his longtime players - was inspired by Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard. And certain key phrases and ideas that are tenets of the church do show up in the film.

There’s the notion that everything that shapes us is recorded from our earliest days, even in the womb, and that people can dig deep into their pasts - into past lives, even - to purge negative experiences and emotions and achieve a state of perfection. “The Master” takes place in 1950 as Hoffman’s character, the charismatic Lancaster Dodd, is releasing an important new book outlining his bold philosophy; that’s the same year Hubbard published his worldwide best-seller, “Dianetics.” And Amy Adams, as Dodd’s true-believer wife, Peggy, makes this quietly forceful proclamation toward the end: “This is something you do for a billion years or not at all.” It’s a number that couldn’t possibly be random, given the billion-year contract the most devoted Scientologists sign. And yet, the church - or rather, “The Cause,” as it’s known here emerges relatively unscathed. Dodd, whom his followers refer to as “Master,” is commanding and calculating and sometimes even cruel, but the bond he forges with a wayward Joaquin Phoenix reveals his inquisitiveness, his generosity of spirit and a love that can’t be defined, teetering as it does between the paternal and the homoerotic. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s character, the troubled, volatile and often inebriated Freddie Quell, seems at his happiest once he’s safely ensconced within the group.

He’s still a “scoundrel,” as Dodd affectionately labels him upon their first meeting, but at least he’s functioning in a society.

But “The Master” isn’t interested in anything so clear-cut as joy vs. misery. It’s about the way people’s lives intersect, if only briefly and perhaps without a satisfying sense of closure. Anderson, long a master himself of technique and tone, has created a startling, stunningly gorgeous film shot in lushly vibrant 65mm, with powerful performances all around and impeccable production design. But it’s also his most ambitious film yet - quite a feat following the sprawling “Magnolia” and the operatic “There Will Be Blood” - in that it’s more impressionistic and less adherent to a tidy three-act structure. If you like answers, you will feel frustrated. And yet, as fond of ambiguity as I usually am, I still felt a bit emotionally detached afterward. Wowed, for sure,

but not exactly moved. Still, “The Master” does grab you from the first image: an overhead shot of a deeply blue- green Pacific Ocean as it churns behind a ship, punctuated by the unsettling score from Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood (also the composer on “There Will Be Blood”), with its percussive knockings and staccato strings. We are on edge from the start, and Phoenix’s presence magnifies that sensation.

Hunched-over and mumbling, with an offkilter sense of humor and a screwed-up mouth, Freddie is all impulse, and it’s usually of an adolescent, sexual nature. In his first film since the 2010 performance-art stunt of “I’m Still Here,” Phoenix once again digs deep to mine his character’s inner torment

letting your emotions control you, he quickly snaps when questioned or crossed, and he’s just as fond as Freddie is of the drink.

This sets up one of the film’s most riveting scenes: Dodd records Freddie answering a series of questions (“informal processing,” he calls it) which begins with the mundane and becomes increasingly probing. The repetition, and the rapid-fire give-and-take that starts out calmly and builds to a crescendo, has a mesmerizing musicality and it reveals painful, personal truths. As Freddie insinuates himself within the highest echelons of The Cause and Dodd’s own family, Peggy mistrusts him more and more. Adams has the least-showy part among the three leads but in some ways,

This film image released by The Weinstein Company shows Amy Adams, left, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, center, in a scene from “The Master.” —AP and comes up with a mix of haunting quirks and tics. Freddie wasn’t entirely right before he left Lynn, Massachusetts, to fight in World War II, and Navy combat has only traumatized him further. After drifting from job to job - including a stint as a department-store photographer, which Anderson and frequent Francis Ford Coppola cinematographer Mihai Malaimare Jr depict in long, fluid, bravura takes - Freddie finds himself wandering onto a docked yacht that’s the site of a lavish party. Turns out, Dodd has borrowed the vessel for his daughter’s wedding, and everyone on board is sailing from San Francisco to New York. (The shot of the yacht gliding beneath the Golden Gate Bridge toward a vibrant setting sun is a beauty, and Anderson knows it, and he knows to hold it for a long time for maximum effect). Dodd takes an instant liking to his stowaway and makes him his protege. Maybe he’s fascinated by this young man’s animalistic nature from a scientific perspective and wants to tame him. Or maybe he recognizes a kindred spirit; despite Dodd’s mantras about not

she might just give the most impressive performance of all. Slowly, steadily, she reveals Peggy as the true brains and muscle of the operation. It’s frightening, and it demonstrates yet another facet of Adams’ great versatility. Dodd’s Cause aims to provide a path for a post-war America seeking direction, a sense of comfort and community for those who have figuratively (and, in Freddie’s case, literally) been at sea. Or at least that’s the gruel he’s spoon-feeding the mixed-up masses. Anderson, in typically daring fashion, has no interest in assuaging anyone. And so although he’s given us a rare jewel box of a film from a visual standpoint, the open-endedness it depicts ultimately resembles ordinary, everyday life.

“The Master,” a Weinstein Co. release, is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity and language. Running time: 137 minutes.

Three and a half stars out of four.

Motion Picture Association of America rating definition for R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. —AP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Black, white

printed

and all over at Fashion Week DONNA KARAN

T

he story of New York Fashion Week has been told in mostly black and white - making it that much harder to ignore all the unusual prints on the runway, even if they, too, were color-free.

Marc Jacobs put out oversized black-and-white and red stripes on Monday a day after stripe-happy Tommy Hilfiger, whose red stripes were inspired by rope.

Carolina Herrera showed an abstract geometric print on Monday, while Elie Tahari took his prints from Palm Beach, mixing palm leaves, leopard skin and tropical flowers. In earlier previews, Thakoon Panichgul had playful birds, Suno had a retro cell phone print and Jason Wu had prints reminiscent of an X-Ray. At Rebecca Taylor the print was Hawaiian, with fish scales at Monique Lhuillier and “space clouds” at Nicole Miller. “Prints are personality, they have emotion, they tell a story,” said Stacey Bendet, designer of Alice and Olivia - herself wearing a leopard-print dress on Monday to present a collection that included a variety of florals - from digital prints to painterly and candy-colored.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week continues through Thursday before the fashion crowd heads to London, Milan and Paris.

Donna Karan didn’t look far for the inspiration of her new top-tier collection: She looked out her office window. The way the sun dapples on the buildings near her Garment District office is something to see, she said. The designer must keep some long hours, because she nicknamed her New York Fashion Week runway preview “Sunrise, Sunset.”It

REEM ACRA

Reem Acra is known for her grand, timeless ballgowns, perfect for the red carpet. But this year she was feeling more artsy and more contemporary, she says. “It’s downtown meets uptown,” the Lebanese designer said backstage following her Spring 2013 preview at Lincoln Center. “It’s a modern attitude.” The modern looks came early in the show, with a series of casual for Acra, that is garments, many with leather cutouts. A navy leather bomber jacket with cutouts, for example, was paired with an ivory stretch trouser. A tailored dress in brilliant green leather was certain to spice up a day at the office. As the show went on, looks became silkier and more luxurious. Many of the gowns appeared to be showing serious skin, but actually had side panels of nearly sheer material. Acra said her own favorite may have been a relatively unembellished but very striking vermilion gown with the sides cut out. “It’s powerful, feminine, and simple,” she said.

Models display creations by designer Reem Acra during the Spring/Summer 2013 New York fashion week in New York.

—AP/AFP photos

Mary Alice Stephenson called it “candy-striper cool.” There were other things other than stripes including some rufflefront skirt suits (a lot of skirt suits in general, actually) and a midriff-baring Mickey Mouse sweater but it was everything horizontal and vertical that would leave the lasting impression.

ELIE TAHARI

Elie Tahari turned his preview into a cocktail party, and the dress code was Palm Beach chic. The female models wore cheerful shifts and sheath dresses in tropical prints and electric shades of pink, orange and green, loose tunics with white jeans, and tasteful sweater tops with second skin pencil skirts.

The men had on Bermudas, linen blazers and woven shirts, and they didn’t shy away from a complemetary palette of lime green and lapis blue. Tahari said he aimed to update some classic, good-time 1950s shapes. The dominant vibe was the relaxed luxury that has turned up on several runways this round of seasonal previews, but there were the one or two looks that were cut a little slimmer, and had a more plunging neckline or shorter hem than all the rest. That’s what makes a party, right?

MARC JACOBS

Let’s switch gears: For the past five days, the chatter at New York Fashion Week has been about softening the edges, but Marc Jacobs changed the conversation - as he often does - after going graphic. Black-and-white stripes followed by red stripes, tan stripes and more black-andwhite stripes came rapid fire down the runway. There was a mod mood to the spring collection, especially the short T-shirt dresses with scalloped hemlines, but not a hint of Jacob’s mystical forest theme he had for the current fall season. “It was so graphic with no frills,” said Adam Glassman, creative director of O, The Oprah magazine. Stylist and fashion commentator

CAROLINA HERRERA

CARMEN MARC VALVO

unfolded with an oyster-colored jersey daytime dress with an open back and full skirt paired with a cropped jacket, and closed with a dusty blue strapless evening gown dusted at the hemline with the print of peach-colored seashells. Karan hit on multiple textures but often stuck to monochromatic outfits, embracing the pinks you’ll see in the dawn or dusk sky, as well as soft seaside blues and greens, but most looks were varying shades of stone. She seemed more interested in mixing multiple textures, from sheer jersey and chiffon to raffia and linen, and twisting some silhouettes on the bias, creating a more asymmetrical silhouette.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

lifestyle F A S H I O N

THOM BROWNE

CAROLINA HERRERA

When you’re Carolina Herrera, there is no reason to stand in your stiletto heels way out on a limb. Herrera tweaked her signature chic look just enough to be in line with some of the emerging trends without straying too far from what her woman likes. She moved everything a bit away from the body and she played a lot with hemlines. Herrera gave a name to the popular dress length just a tad below mid-calf that’s graced many catwalks during these previews for editors, buyers and stylists: the “longuette” dress. But to go with the vibe of relaxed glamour that also has been pervasive, she trimmed pantsuits into shorts suits, even for evening, turning out black wool cropped jacket with white piping paired with black wool flounce shorts, and a cream-colored distressed organza jacket with pleated shorts, both decorated with gold “lightening” embroidery. Her usual ballgown evolved into more of a slip-style gown with floral embellishment.

THOM BROWNE

SKAIST TAYLOR

Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela NashTaylor blow into New York Fashion Week with the Western wind, and they like to stir it up. Most famous for founding the Juicy Couture brand, the designers are now trying to solidify a following for their more upscale label Skaist Taylor, and they make no excuses for their love of 1970s rock ‘n’ roll glamour. They embrace it even if it’s a look that isn’t leading most of the trends this round of seasonal previews. Sunday’s show was staged on a Chelsea rooftop with “Witchy Woman” by the Eagles coming out of the speakers. It was the perfect soundtrack for models with frizzed-out hair, candy-colored feather jackets, loose eyelet looks and a metallic leather dress. A cute orange romper was right for the moment, and lingerieinspired styles are second nature for the woman who likes to stay up late. There was a lightness to this collection that seems to have evolved over the months since they debuted this brand in February. — AP

ELIE TAHARI

With nearly 200 designers showing their wares all over the city, for an entire week, it’s virtually impossible to stand out, right? Not if you’re Thom Browne. “I love to entertain,” the designer said in what was, frankly, an understatement.

As the crowd entered the room in the stately New York Public Library, 10 male models stood against a wall in gray seersucker suits, their heads covered with huge silvery orbs like Coneheads, but rounder at the top. At each end, a man played the xylophone. Suddenly a flock of female ballet dancers arrived.

They wore silvery pointe shoes (these were real ballerinas) and stiff hoop dresses, like the ones you’d imagine under Scarlett O’Hara’s gowns. They took their places on small circular platforms and danced in place, en pointe. Then came the models, in suits and coats and skirts, exaggerated in all sorts of ways, all in gray at first. The men gradually took the women and circled them on the round platforms. As they did, other models entered, this time bearing splashes of color - pinks, greens, oranges. Browne, whose work was honored this summer at the White House, explained that he’d been inspired by a Bauhaus artist popular in the 1920s, Oskar Schlemmer, a German known for his choreography “conceptual ballets,” Browne called them - as well as his visual art. “This is my homage to him,” he said.

CARMEN MARC VALVO

Carmen Marc Valvo left behind the minimalism and clean lines of fall in favor of flowing glamour in voluminous lace cocktail dresses and red carpet gowns. Choosing an elegant, all-white venue on Sunday, the spring collection was Asianinspired in origami folds of organza at the chest and waist, Kimono wrap constructions and yin-yang combinations of Chantilly lace and brocade. Valvo was inspired by Samurai breast plates when he created panels of glass, square-cut sequins for chest pieces over lace. “Last fall it was very minimal,” Valvo said after the show. “I’m feeling a little more hopeful right now and I think the collection reflects that. I thought it should be a little more grand, more regal. I wanted volume. I didn’t want to be afraid.”

SKAIST TAYLOR DONNA KARAN

MARC JACOBS

‘X Factor,’ ‘Voice’ clash sour music to Cowell

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

37 While visiting Frontierland, Disneyland park guests can cruise back in time on a 14-minute sightseeing voyage aboard a recreation of the glorious 19thcentury steam-powered paddlewheel riverboats that carried people and cargo up and down the mighty Mississippi.

Learning to love

Disneyland again

By Jonathan Martin

A

s we walked across the broad, brick-paved plaza, a burst of music swelled, the strings rising to cinematic heights amid a pounding of kettle drums. A man in a crisp white shirt waved and beamed. Perfectly manicured flowers swayed in the breeze. It felt, for a moment, that we had accomplished something greater than simply walking out the gates at Disneyland in Southern California. But that is the trick of Disneyland, I learned after a recent trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth” with my family-to make even the mundane seem worthy of a personal parade.

The perpetual earnestness can seem cloying for travelers like me who usually prefer to see little or no concrete on vacations. But with children of optimal age — 10 and 6 — and faint but fond Disneyland memories from my childhood, I set aside pretension and joined the masses, including at Disney’s recently reopened California Adventure theme park. Disney completed an ambitious 5-year, $1 billion expansion in June at California Adventure, next to Disneyland in Anaheim. However, California Adventure’s big new attraction, the 12-acre Cars Land that’s based on Pixar’s animated blockbuster movie “Cars,” was so jammed that we never rode its main attraction, a thrill ride called Radiator Springs Racers. But as it turned out, we didn’t need new toys. The standards of Disneyland-from Space Mountain to Cinderella-hold up more than 50 years after the park first opened. And it turned out to be a great time to hit Disneyland itself: The crowds were over in California Adventure. Before the trip, I’d viewed the Mouse kingdom with a jaded eye. But I found it is possible to experience Disneyland without cynicism-it was a blast. The travel pipeline to Disneyland is broad, and loaded with options.

Staying at Disney-run hotels complete with wandering Disney characters is more expensive but offers convenience and the full immersion. Near the parks, many of the dozen of hotels within walking distance are cheaper, and some offer free third- or fourth-night packages or complimentary kids’ meals. After shopping Costco’s vacation pack-

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland is the centerpiece of Fantasyland. — MCT photos ages and other online sites, we booked a fournight, airfare-and-hotel package with Alaska Airlines, staying at the Anaheim Marriott mostly because it had a big outdoor pool.

My wife and I sprung the trip on our two children as an end-of-school surprise, just hours before takeoff for our flight. I tried to freeze the moment we told them with a photograph, but Noah, 10, was a blur leaping off the couch.

Disneyland experts recommended multiday tickets, allowing for separate days at Disneyland and California Adventure. Theme-park tickets are slightly cheaper with packages, or bought online from approved third-party vendors (but beware of ticket scams on Craigslist). A three-day pass for our family of four purchased through arestravel.com cost-gulp-nearly $1,000. Soon we found ourselves at the Disneyland gate at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Not a fan of theme parks, there I was, in short socks, carrying a backpack full of fruit leather, two cameras and three kinds of sunscreen, next to two very bouncy children.

Some multiday tickets come with a “Magic

Morning” one-hour-early admission pass, which we used to get a jump on Disneyland’s famously long lines on weekends. Speed walking through a nearly-empty Disneyland, we consumed the park’s thrill premiere rides-Space Mountain, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder and Indiana Jones Adventure-in gulps. It was a buffet of adrenaline. Disneyland is a luxury for most visitors, given its steep admission prices, and appears to know it. No detail seemed too small. The sidewalk buskers were skilled ensembles. The actresses playing princess are as elegant and beautiful as princesses on screen, and an actor conducting a Star Wars Jedi training for kids executed a onehanded cartwheel, light saber in hand, just like a Skywalker. We even saw a worker polishing the inside of a trash-can lid.

Disneyland rides are also stories, connecting children to characters and narrative. As a child, I was terrified of the Pirates of the Caribbean, a dimly lit, floating ride into the marauders’ den. But my son Noah shrugged it off. He’d just seen “The Avengers” movie. How scary, really, are animated dummies? Midway through our ride blitz, my 6year-old daughter, Anna, stopped at the park’s huge lagoon and pointed to the water. “We just passed real baby ducks!” she said indignantly.

She’d had enough adrenaline. She wanted to slow-walk the narrative stories, to meet princesses. As we waited to see Belle, from “Beauty and Beast,” at the princess hangout, called Fantasy Faire, Anna described the secrets to being a princess: Beauty, of course. A trusty companion.

And a good song. Next door to Disneyland, the California Adventure theme park, which opened in 2001, is the edgier little brother, and well worth a whole day. Its Soarin’ Over California ride, which simulates the feeling of flying over the state’s iconic landscapes, is like diving into an IMAX screen.

The California Screamin’ roller coaster goes from zero to 55 mph in four seconds. At dusk, the Mad T Party band jams out covers as guests drink cocktails. That park’s new addition, Cars Land, opened to acclaim after five years of construction. It lovingly replicates the dusty Route 66 ambience of the “Cars” movies, right down to the rust on

Three of the most popular attractions at Disneyland, the Disneyland Monorail, Matterhorn Bobsleds and Submarine Voyage, all debuted on the same day, June 14, 1959.

Sarge’s Surplus Quonset hut.

When we arrived the day after Cars Land opened earlier this summer, a seven-hour wait time turned the Radiator Springs Racers ride into a parking lot of people. Beyond the lines, the ride’s spectacular replica of the Southwest’s Monument Valley and a 100-foot waterfall loomed. A fullsized version of the protagonist in “Cars”-a talking racing car called Lightening McQueen-snaked through the crowded roads, honking and yakking.

The park’s ride-reservation system, called FastPass, is a backdoor for the ride and other popular attractions. I secured FastPass reservations after an hour in line, but when our set time arrived, Radiator Springs Racers had broken down. We tried twice more but left, unwilling to squander an afternoon sweating in line.

“Modifications are often made to new attractions,” said Disneyland spokesman John

McClintock, with apologies for the breakdown. He couldn’t provide attendance figures, but Cars Land boosted California Adventure attendance over Disneyland. “It’s enormously popular.”

Wandering through the park, visitors encounter surreal scenes. Life-size Phineas and Ferb characters suddenly appeared, doing a robot dance to a techno-beat while surrounding a mysterious posse of buxom women in orange berets.

It seemed a fever dream to me, and yet another advertising hook into my son for these Disney Channel cartoon characters. Disneyland and California Adventure take cross-promotion to Olympian heights, I grumbled to myself. But then I saw my son Noah, who loves Phineas and Ferb like cousins, mimicking the robot, California sunshine glinting off his hair. The Disney parks were a safe, fastidious yet thrilling walled garden for my kids, well worth shelving my cynicism. — MCT

Red-carpet welcome for William, Catherine in Singapore B

ritain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine were greeted by crowds of cheering well-wishers yesterday as they arrived in Singapore at the start of an Asia-Pacific tour. The glamorous royal couple went from Singapore’s airport to the city-state’s Botanic Gardens for their first engagement of their nine-day visit, which will also take in Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. William, wearing a dark blue suit and light blue tie, and Catherine, in a short-sleeved, knee-length cream dress, chatted with staff as they toured the gardens and were presented with a specially bred orchid.

William was shown another orchid named after his late mother Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. They were then taken to Singapore’s grand, British colonial-era Raffles Hotel,

where more than 100 people lined the gravel driveway and took pictures as the couple emerged from their car and stepped on to the red carpet. Courtney Brassell, an American living in Singapore who brought her five-month-old boy along, said of Catherine: “I love her. We’ve been waiting for half an hour. I personally would like to see Kate. She is always so pretty and I want to see what she is wearing.”

Despite the crowds, it was a relatively low-key first few hours for William and Catherine, who will attend a state dinner at the presidential palace later and will meet the public in bigger numbers at their engagements today. Britain’s younger royals are touring the globe this year as part of celebrations marking the 60-year reign of William’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, as they seek to maintain the family’s rele-

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, signs the guest book while her husband Prince William watches at the Orchid Garden within the Singapore Botanical Gardens in Singapore, yesterday. — AP

vance in a fast-changing world. The royals also played a prominent role during the London Olympics but they suffered a public relations hiccup when William’s younger brother, Harry, was photographed nude with a female friend at a Las Vegas hotel.

William and Catherine, who were married in April last year, will stay in Singapore until Thursday. They then head to Malaysia, where they will tour the capital Kuala Lumpur and Borneo’s Sabah state from September 13-15. In Malaysia, Catherine will give her first speech abroad, to staff and patients at a hospice, as she settles in to her duties with the British monarchy. The pair will fly to the Solomon Islands, an impoverished former British protectorate north-east of Australia, and stay from September 16-18 before a final stop in the tiny nation of Tuvalu until September 19. —AP