13th Oct

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

Amir receives KISR delegation

Kuwaiti ‘Journey of Hope’ to embark on unique mission

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THULQADA 15, 1432 AH

NBK posts $819m net profit for nine months in 2011

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Israel, Hamas reach prisoner swap deal Shalit freed in exchange for 1,027 Palestinians conspiracy theories

One for one thousand

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

T

he hottest news in the Middle East today is of course the exchange of Gilad Shalit, the 25-year-old Israeli soldier, who was captured in 2006 by Hamas, Salah ad-Din Brigades along with other resistance factions. At last Hamas reached an agreement with the Israelis for the exchange of Shalit. But it was a costly deal as he was exchanged with 1,027 Palestinian prisoners out of whom are 27 females. Khalid Mishal was trumpeting the victory as he announced the prisoner-swap agreement during a press conference.

In my opinion it was a coup for Hamas while many other people criticized the deal, among the critics was Israeli foreign minister Liberman, who considered the deal with Hamas is giving in to terrorism. Never mind the Israeli opinion, the deal is still considered an accomplishment for Hamas. At last, Israel was forced to draw a deal with what they considered a terrorist organization.

The question now is that 1,027 prisoners will not be freed at one go. Israel always sets its tough conditions, a certain number now and another batch two months later and so on... Will the Israelis honor their word after they received Shalit? Suppose they release them and honor their word, will they assassinate them as they did with Sheikh Ahmad Yaseen? Or they release and deport them which is even worse?

On the other hand, the exchange of 1,027 prisoners against one Israeli soldier is both good and bad news for the Arab world. The people on the street say one Israeli is worth more than 1,000 of us. Don’t Arab leaders realize the crime they committed against their nations? Look at Gaddafi who is killing his own people and calling them rats. Syria launched air, ground and sea attacks against its civilians. Leave alone what is happening in Yemen and other parts of the Arab world. They kill people like sheep.

May be sometimes sheep are more dearer than human lives especially on occasions like Eid. This should be a lesson for all Arab leaders to reevaluate the value of human beings who are deprived of democracy and freedom.

I do not want to be cynical, but I wish Hamas captured 1,000 Israelis so that 10,000 Palestinian prisoners would be released.

JABALIA: The family of Palestinian prisoner Wafa Albes hold portraits of her as they prepare their house for her upcoming release from an Israeli jail yesterday in the Jabalia refugee camp. — AFP

Max 35º Min 18º Low Tide 08:52 & 18:52 High Tide 13:08

JERUSALEM: Israel and Hamas have agreed a landmark deal to secure the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for over a thousand Palestinian detainees, officials on both sides said. If the accord is implemented, it will end an ordeal that has lasted more than five years for the young soldier, who has become a national icon in Israel since his capture by Gaza-based militants in June 2006.

It will also be a major political coup for Gaza’s Hamas rulers. The Israeli government early yesterday formally approved the deal, which came out of the blue, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing the details in a live address shortly after presenting it to his government during an emergency session on Tuesday night.

“We have concluded arduous negotiations with Hamas to release Gilad Shalit. He will be coming home in the next few days,” he said. “I believe we reached the best possible agreement at this time,” Netanyahu added. “It is very possible that this window of opportunity that has been created at this time... would have closed once and for all, and we wouldn’t have been able to bring Gilad back at all.”

The agreement was backed by 26 ministers after a five-hour meeting while three nationalist Cabinet heavyweights — Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon voted against it.

Israel’s top officials in charge of security, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, chief of staff Benny Gantz and Shin Beth and Mossad (internal and external Continued on Page 13

Customs workers US aims to punish Iran for Saudi envoy plot end 2-day strike KUWAIT: Thousands of Kuwaiti customs officers have called off a strike after receiving government assurances their demands will be met, a trade union official said yesterday.

“We have decided to suspend the strike after a meeting with the finance minister who promised the demands will be studied and approved quickly by the cabinet,” Fahhad Al-Ajmi, board member of the customs union, told AFP. The meeting took place Tuesday night and customs officers returned to work just before midnight, Ajmi said. The customs officers, who stopped work for two days paralyzing the Gulf state’s foreign trade and threatening oil exports, were demanding a pay raise and improved working conditions.

The action severely disrupted air, sea and land transportation, leaving about 1,000 trucks carrying food imports stranded at border points. It also disrupted activity at Kuwait’s three commercial ports and

only international airport. “All the customs employees have returned to work and movement is normal,” Ajmi said. The strike escalated into a political showdown between the government on one hand, and trade unions and opposition MPs on the other, after the government threatened to seek help to ensure continued supply of services.

The Kuwait Labor Union is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting later yesterday to study what it called the government’s “oppressive measures” against workers. Kuwait has been hit by a spate of industrial action in the public sector, which employs close to 80 percent of the 360,000-strong workforce of Kuwaiti nationals. The country has about 1.7 million foreign workers, mostly employed by the private sector. Several other trade unions and Kuwaiti employees in ministries and government agencies have threatened to go on strike for better pay. —AFP

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration a purported member of a Mexican drug plans to leverage charges that Iran plotted cartel to kill the Saudi envoy on American to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to soil. “This really, in the minds of many the United States into a new diplomats and government global campaign to isolate the officials, crosses a line that Islamic republic.

Iran needs to be held to US officials say the account for,” Secretary of State administration will lobby for Hillary Rodham Clinton told the imposition of new internaThe Associated Press in an tional sanctions as well as for interview Tuesday. She said individual nations to expand she and President Barack their own penalties against Obama want to “enlist more Iran based on allegations that countries in working together Continued on Page 13 Iranian agents tried to recruit Manssor Arbabsiar

iPhone 4S pre-orders break record NEW YORK: Apple says first-day pre-orders of the iPhone 4S topped 1 million, breaking the record set by last year’s model. Apple Inc and various phone companies in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Britain started taking orders for the phone last Friday. It hits stores tomorrow(Friday).

The base model of the iPhone 4S costs $200 with a two-year contract. It has a faster processor and an improved camera compared to last year’s model.

However, some customers and investors were disappointed that Apple didn’t launch a more radical new model. It’s been more than a year since Apple since the previous model was released.

New Apple iPhone 4S

Despite the record-breaking pace of iPhone 4S preorders, it’s hard to determine whether consumer demand is stronger for the new device than it was for previous versions. Although first-day orders for the iPhone 4 were 600,000 when it launched last year, Australia and Canada weren’t among the launch countries then - they got the phone a month later.

Apple has also expanded the number of carriers in each country that sell the phone. This is particularly significant in the US, where AT&T was the only carrier for the iPhone last summer. The iPhone 4S is also sold by Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp.

Continued on Page 13

Kuwait information ministry floated a gratitude balloon yesterday on the occasion of ‘Kuwaiti Days’ in Italy, a program launched to promote Kuwait as a tourist destination for Italians. The balloon was launched from the mountain city of Mondovi in the presence of team leader Mossa Torki Malallah and pilot Abadul Aziz Al-Mansouri. —KUNA

in the

news Saudi women, Yemenis beheaded for murders

RIYADH: Two Saudi women and two Yemeni men were executed by the sword yesterday for separate murders, the interior ministry said, bringing the number of executions there to at least 62 this year. Suad bint Hosni AlEnzi and her sister Muna were convicted of murdering Namsha bint Khozaim Al-Enzi after breaking into her house, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency. The first woman stabbed the victim to death while the second held her daughter to prevent her from rescuing her mother, the statement said. Both women were executed in Riyadh. In the second case, Yemenis Ali bin Hasan bin Naji Al-Hamdi and Molatef bin Mohammed bin Naji Al-Hamdi were condemned after storming a house near the Red Sea city of Jeddah and killing an Ethiopian guard, the ministry said. The pair were executed in Jeddah.

Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi appointment at Zain Saudi KUWAIT: Zain Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA) on Tuesday appointed Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi as the replacement board member and also appointed current board member Khalid Al-Omar as Managing Director and CEO with immediate effect. This followed the resignation of Dr Saad Al Barrak, Managing Director and CEO of Zain KSA that was approved by the board of directors of Saudi Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain KSA) in its meeting held on Tuesday. Bader Al-Kharafi is a member of the Board of Directors of Zain Group. He also currently holds office as Chairman, VP and board member of several businesses as part of the Kharafi international conglomerate.

Chemical leak in Saudi port city contained KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia: A chemical leak in Dammam, Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province, has forced some schools to shut down and sent 13 people to hospital with breathing problems, sources and civil defense authorities said yesterday. The leak has been brought under control, officials said. The civil defense authority said in a statement that it was notified of the leak late on Tuesday. “There’s a cloud over the industrial city,” Major General Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, director of civil defense in the Eastern Province, told Al-Ekhbariya television. The port city of Dammam is the third-largest in the world’s top oil exporter Saudi Arabia. The gas is expected to remain in the air for 48 hours, the civil defense authority statement said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

local

NAB reservations on premier grilling motion

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah pictured with KISR officials yesterday.

Amir receives KISR delegation KUWAIT: At a reception held at Bayan Palace yesterday, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received the Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Dr. Nadji Mohammed Al-Mutairi and a number of institute members.

During the reception, which was also attended by HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Minister of Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, who is also the chairman of the KISR’s board of trustees, the institute members briefed HH the Amir on the scientific body’s current activities, its objectives and the strategic and scientific

projects which it is involved in that help to advance the development process in various state sectors. They also updated the ruler on the various exchanges of experience and cooperation between the KISR and other local, regional and international scientific bodies. HH the Amir lauded the KISR officials’ and other employees’ work, stressing his strong support for the institute’s activities, which help to benefit Kuwait and its citizens, as well as assisting in further advancing their wellbeing. He emphasized the importance of scientific research in the field of sustainable development in Kuwait, which he said would contribute to the country’s

renaissance and strengthen its progressive advancement.

The reception was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, along with other senior officials from both the Amiri Diwan and the Diwan of HH the Crown Prince.

Dr Naji Al-Mutairi expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to HH the Amir for his warm reception of the institute delegation yesterday.

Dr Al-Mutairi said that the delegation’s meeting with HH the Amir touched on the axes of KISR’s strategic shift project, which includes a 20-year plan for its activities. The

plan seeks to guarantee the institute’s status as an international research institution by relying on innovation and creativity to support comprehensive sustainable development. Dr Al-Mutairi added that the delegation also reviewed with HH the Amir KISR’s seventh strategic plan-covering 2010-2015 — he expressed his gratitude to the HH the Amir for his interest in supporting KISR’s activities.

Dr Al-Mutairi also revealed that KISR’s envisages focusing on human resource development, the training of youth leaders and implementation of programs to develop creative thinking and innovation.— KUNA

Al-Wasm season begins in Kuwait

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Al-Wasm season officially began in Kuwait in the last few days, with the current humidity being the result of the prevailing season, according to a local meteorologist. Adel AlSaadoun, the direc tor of Al-Fintas Observatory, told the Kuwait Times that Al-Wasm season, which usually arrives in Kuwait in mid-October, appears to have arrived early this year.

Relatively humid weather was felt yesterday, especially in coastal areas

(40-50 per cent) and desert areas (30-40 per cent), with light variable winds changing to light to moderate southeasterly winds, with a speed of 6 - 28 km per hour. The maximum and minimum temperatures recorded yesterday were 35 and 19 celsius, respectively.

Al-Wasm is characterized as being an unpredictable but pleasantly moderate season. “It is unpredictable weather because we don’t know whether AlWasm will bring us rain or nothing at all, or maybe humidity or extreme wind or nothing at all,” Al-Saadoun explained.

He added “It is pleasant as this is the time of year when people in this part of the world will experience a reprieve from extremely hot weather.”

Al-Saadoun also indicated that if the start of Al-Wasm is wet, Kuwait could expect rain throughout the season.

“The start of Al-Wasm dictates the rest of the period; if it starts stormy, the rest will be stormy but if it the start is pleasant, the rest will be pleasant. It looks like we can expect good weather until the end of Al-Wasm,” he added. AlWasm season usually ends in mid-

December. The term ‘Al-Wasm’ derives from the Arabic for ‘level’ (i.e. flat). It is the time of year where the entire country is covered with greenery and usually brings tranquility to inhabitants. “It’s a very suitable time for outdoor activities, jogging and playing football,” said AlSaadoun, adding, “But we should be careful because viruses can easily multiply at this time of the year.” Asked if there’s a chance of rainfall in the next few days, Al-Saadoun suggested, “Not this soon. Maybe by the end of this month.”

Kuwait hosts dermatology conference KUWAIT: The three-day international Kuwait Pediatric Dermatology Symposium, which attracted 800 doctors from European and Asian nations, concluded yesterday.

Addressing the closing session of the gathering, symposium chairman Dr Nawaf Al-Mutairi voiced gratitude to the participants and to the Kuwaiti Minister of Health in particular, expressing his hope that a similar meeting would be held next year.

The conference was attended by dermatologists of different specializations and offered lectures on various skin diseases.

Kuwaiti authorities also organized tours of public hospitals where the visiting medical professionals could examine some of the critical conditions being treated. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Following the decision by the Development and Reform Bloc (DRB) and Popular Action Bloc (PAB) to postpone by a week the co-presentation of their grilling motion, the National Action Bloc (NAB) has been reported to have reservations about the motion altogether.

According to sources familiar with a Tuesday meeting held by NAB members, the liberal bloc feels excluded from the drafting of the grilling motion, claiming that it was not consulted on the motion’s preparation or the presentation date. Moreover, the same sources indicate that the NAB does not see eye-to-eye with the DRB and PAB on the decision to hold His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah politically responsibly for the recent MP bank accounts scandal, arguing that the grilling motion will allow the Cabinet to refer the motion to the Constitutional Court.

The NAB reportedly remains committed to investigating the scandal, with bloc members focusing on forming a consensus between MPs to establish mechanisms that will expose all guilty parties.

Reports quoting DRB and PAB insiders indicate that the motion has been postponed until Oct 20 to allow independent MPs read the draft and to give the two blocs time to choose their representatives for the presentation.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the insiders indicate that the draft motion holds the premier responsible for the damage to Kuwait’s global reputation, a reference to the International Monetary Fund’s statement that the Gulf state’s current environment allows for money laundering. The draft also purportedly blames the premier for failing to protect Kuwaiti interests, observe state departments’ performances and to implement state policy.

“The grilling indicates that the prime minister failed to combat the graft scandal as he didn’t call an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the subject when it first emerged in the press, but waited for two weeks to raise the issue in the Cabinet’s weekly meeting,” the insiders added. Lastly, the grilling motion is said to find the premier guilty of failing to coordinate with the Central Bank to contain the scandal or to charge it with investigating the matter and for failing to establish contact between the bank and relevant state departments.

In related news, independent MP Naji AlAbdulhadi has indicated that multiple grilling motions are currently being prepared in light of speculation that the Cabinet will postpone the debate on the premier’s grilling by two months.

Speaking on Tuesday, Al-Abdulhadi explained that the three contingency grilling motions could be filed against Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah, Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al-Sabah before the Parliament begins its new term on Oct 25. Five subsequent motions may also be submitted against Minister of Oil and State Minister of Parliament Affairs Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi, Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali, Minister of Health Helal Al-Sayer, Minister of Justice and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi and Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipality Affairs Dr Fadhel Safar.

Meanwhile, Al-Rai reported yesterday that the Public Prosecution has launched an investigation into a new money laundering case exposed earlier this week in which two MPs, a former minister and a private sector head are alleged to be involved.

According to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Prosecution obtained ‘official classified documents’ proving the four suspects received funds totaling an estimated KD 87 million (ca. $300 million). The same sources added that the funds originated in Iran and Russia. —Al-Qabas and Al-Rai

Arab Sports Journalists Association executive board members pose for a photo.

Kuwait participates in Arab female journalists’ forum KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti delegation recently participated in the seventh forum for Arab female sports journalists, held in Amman, Jordan from October 7-10, with 45 journalists from 12 Arab states taking part in the event.

The Kuwaiti delegation was headed by the Vice President of the International Sports Journalism Association, Faisal Al-Qanaei, the Vice President of the Arab Sports Journalism Association Adnan AlSayed, and included journalists Awatif Al-Khadhar and Shahad Kamal, with Kamal delivering the participants’ speech during the inaugural ceremony.

During the forum, Al-Qanaei jointly delivered a lecture with Qatari journalist Mohammad Al-

Maliki on the history of international and Asian sports journalism associations.

During their time in the

Jordanian capital, the Kuwaiti delegates also visited the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan, Dr. Hamad Al-Duaij.

A view from the event.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

LOCAL

AUB sponsors Third Kuwait Financial Forum KUWAIT: The Ahli United Bank of Kuwait (AUB) yesterday announced it will sponsor the Third Kuwait Financial Forum to be held on Oct 31 and Nov 01 under the auspices of His Highness the Prime M inister Sheik h Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah. The forum has been organized by Al-Iktissad WalAamal Group in cooperation with the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Kuwait Banks Association.

The forum is due to address a number of pressing issues such as the global economic outlook following the American and European debt crises and

the implications for emerging markets.

In a press release issued yesterday to announce the forthcoming two-day event, the AUB said that its decision to sponsor the forum stems from the bank’s policy of supporting important national economic activities, particularly those that promote a positive image of the Kuwaiti financial and banking sectors. The forum is expected to attract a host of regional finance ministers, economists and governors of central banks as well as executive managers of major banks and financial institutions from across the Arab world.

Pay rise for graduate public sector workers KUWAIT: All Kuwaiti public sector workers with degrees who have not previously benefited from financial privileges will see their pay increased by 50 percent of their basic salaries if a bill approved by the parliamentary legislative committee on Tuesday is passed into law.

The legislative committee also approved a proposal to increase paternity allowance for new fathers from KD50 to KD70 per child, also approving a recommendation that Kuwaiti citizens be enabled to obtain bank loans of up to ten times their basic salary, so long as these are repaid within

five years.

In other news, MP Mubarak Al-Waalan announced his resignation from the parliamentary health and social affairs committee, citing differences with committee chairperson and fellow MP Rola Dashti over “suspicious methods of handling issues on the committee’s agenda.”

Al-Waalan’s resignation is not expected to have any significant impact on the committee, which held its last meeting prior to the election of new parliamentary committees shortly after parliament reopens on October 25. —Al-Rai

Academics support new grading system despite students’ protests KUWAIT: Kuwait has recently witnessed a number of protests, sit-ins and demonstrations by students calling for the scrapping of recent changes to the academic evaluation and grading system. Despite the students’ dissatisfaction with the new system, however, most academics have been strongly supportive of the changes.

Academics interviewed by local daily AlWatan suggested that the amendments to the system were necessary, adding that many of the students who previously attained excellent grades in their SATs then failed the university entrance exams, demonstrating the shortcomings of the previous evaluation system and the need to review it and introduce the changes.

The academics stressed that the ministry had taken the action in order to strengthen the educational development process in Kuwait and improve the standard of the

country’s graduates, urging parents to support the new system and put public interest ahead of all other considerations. A number of the academics also suggested that the education ministry’s failure to explain the changes had led to misunderstandings and objections to them. The Dean of Kuwait University’s Education Faculty, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ahmad, said that Kuwait can grow only through the introduction of an outstanding educational system. The Ministry of Education (MoE) is responsible for building and strengthening human potential, he said, adding that this means it would be ludicrous to suggest that the MoE is against students who are the country’s future.

Dr. Al-Ahmad said that the new exam grading system recently introduced by the ministry was well planned and the education ministry had not taken the decision hastily.—Al-Watan

Kuwaiti ‘Journey of Hope’ to embark on unique mission Aim to integrate the disabled into mainstream

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Kuwait has always championed the cause of the disabled, entitling them to benefit from superior facilities and ser vices.

Despite creating awareness campaigns to eliminate stigma, many Kuwaiti families are ashamed of having a handicapped child. To bring about an attitudinal shift and encourage parents to integrate their disabled children into the mainstream, a movement entitled ‘Journey of Hope’ plans to begin a unique expedition.

Hope is a daring experience that carries a universal message, “The idea was conceived by a group of parents that experienced significant success in dealing with the disabled children who suffer from debilitating conditions like Down Syndrome and Autism. From there germinated the idea of organizing a team that calls itself “ The Special Team For Spor ting, Social, Media and Cultural Activities Dedicated To The Disabled’ since 2003,” said Yousef Al-Jassem. He serves as its Executive Manager and Head of the board of trustees. A press conference was held by the Journey of Hope and the Special Team yesterday at the Regency Hotel, to introduce the newly formed group’s mission and goals.

Although their activities are based in Kuwait, the influence and reach of the group has spread to other countries, “The group has agreed that their message should be spread to the masses worldwide and crown their initiative with a global expedition. More than their personal initiative, the aim of the Journey is to focus attention on our children with special needs and their capability to perform important tasks. The role played by Kuwait in contributing to special needs care

KUWAIT: Yousef Al-Jassem with the special team during the press conference at the Regency Hotel yesterday.

and creating international awareness are also important,” he added.

“I would like to thank HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister, for their contribution and suppor t to make this journey come true. I would like to thank HH the Amir

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for donating KD 1 million. They support all kinds of humanitarian issues,” Al-Jassem said. “The donation will cover media campaigns and ship building, which designed by the special team in accordance with internationally-approved

KUWAIT: A model of the boat on the team will sail.

—Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

standards to ensure optimum levels of security. The remaining balance will be covered by the community, in the form of contributions made by individual organizations, associations and companies. Everybody is invited to pay donations,” he added.

Al-Jassem concluded his speech by introducing board of trustees and the special team members highlighting the roles and efforts played.

The Journey will embark on its mission from Kuwait on December 12, 2012 through the Atlantic to Washington DC, “It will take the team three months there. Also, they will be accompanied by Coast Guards from different countries. They will pass by New York and we will cooperate with the United Nations to welcome the team. In addition, the Al-Arabiya satellite channel will cover the event. A documentary film will be made

by Director Waleed Al-Awadhi,” said Al-Jassem at the presentation.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

LOCAL

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

How to save our cultural life

Condemn wisely

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

By Hassan Ali Karam

ollowing the emergence of the multimillion dinar bribes scandal, the National Action Bloc has found itself at a crossroads. I personally don’t think anyone can blame the MPs for that, because ignoring the suspected bribery offences or even adopting a cautious stance towards them brings into question the bloc’s integrity and commitment to protecting the public good.

Meanwhile, joining efforts with the anti-government parties who prepared a grilling against Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah over the issue, also contradicts the patriotic and democratic stance that they claim to represent.

Bearing this in mind, I don’t think the subject is as complicated as the NAB believes it to be.

One can still fight corruption and combat bribery without sacrificing principles and going against the national interest. This is even more possible

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kuwait digest

One can still fight corruption and combat bribery without sacrificing principles and going against the national interest. This is even more possible today, especially when the approach taken by the other opposition groups is somewhat questionable, making any choice by the NAB to abstain from joining forces with them wholly reasonable and understandable. today, especially when the approach taken by the other opposition groups is somewhat questionable, making any choice by the NAB to abstain from joining forces with them wholly reasonable and understandable.

The approach followed by the new opposition groups is childish and unprofessional, failing to follow the rules of the ‘political game’ or the principles of the system of reform. In the grilling motion they’re preparing, the Development and Reform Bloc and the Popular Action Bloc blame the government for the scandal, and are already spreading accusations against the premier without evidence or proof to substantiate their claims.

I am not saying that their accusations, however apparently shallow and inaccurate, cannot be true, but going along with claims that fail to follow Kuwait’s legal and constitutional framework will create a foundation that allow similar future moves, leading to a serious derivation from commitment to the principles of law and constitution.

NAB members must condemn all bribery and those involved, while at the same time maintaining their adherence to the legal and constitutional principles which form the sole insurance for the protection of our rights and general interests.

It’s sad that there are people who are willing to put these principles on the line to serve their obsession with ousting the current prime minister. It is essential to fight corruption and condemn corrupt individuals, but this must be done within the frames of political rules and the basics that protect the general rights of individuals and institutions. — Al-Qabas

ccording to reports in some newspapers, it is almost certain that a cabinet reshuffle is to take place shortly, during which a permanent information minister will be appointed to replace the current acting one.

The appointment of an information minister, regardless of whether or not he or she is a full-time minister or has two portfolios, would not be a problem, because in most governments there are four or five ministers with additional portfolios. The problem here is that the working practices of Kuwait’s government members have not changed since the 1960s, and those changes that have occurred have been for the interest of individuals, not in the interest of improving performance and helping Kuwaitis!

The information ministry is an old idea established in totalitarian countries to allow governments to impose their propaganda and promote their ideology to the public. Times have changed, however, and the totalitarian regimes are gone or disappearing from the map; this is apart from the technological revolution, and a climate of openness which leaves information ministries unable to keep up with technological developments and the communications revolution. This in turn weakens it or even means that it loses its role completely. If we also recall how they hamper the right to freedom of expression and opinion, it becomes clear that information ministries are more of a hindrance than a help and Kuwait is no exception. The information ministry’s role has become steadily weaker and it is no longer able to control information or implement the government’s policy without being questioned or confronted.

Privately owned news media have kicked the legs out from under their state counterparts, especially since they are faster and more effective than them.

So, we ask, why doesn’t the government replace the information ministry with a ministry for culture? There is certainly a depressing ignorance of cultural affairs amongst the young who make up around 60 percent of the total population, and ignorance is always a dangerous quality.

The government’s neglect of the needs of 60 percent of the people’s cultural, psychological and physical education makes one question what exactly it is doing for them. Does the government feel that it is performing its role in educating the young about culture and nurturing and developing the country’s cultural life?

How can it feel that it is serving the young when we see a steady deterioration in all cultural fields, including literature, the visual arts, theater and music?

The presence of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters with its incompetent leadership is a catastrophe for Kuwaiti culture and the country’s cultural output, and the same applies to the country’s failure to ensure cultural awareness amongst its young people.

From the 1960s until now, the country has not seen a new sports club, theater or national orchestra. We heard a few years ago that the government had decided to build an opera house and theater in every governorate, but to date we haven’t seen a single brick laid to lead us to believe that the government is serious about strengthening the country’s cultural and artistic life.

I would like to ask the Premier, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, who is a highly educated urbane and sophisticated man known to enjoy literature and the arts why he has shown so little interest in this issue. Your Highness, please create a ministry for culture and youth so that this can both enrich the lives of young people and bring a cultural renaissance for Kuwait! — Al-Watan

A crisis of values

By Ibrahim Al-Awadhi believe everyone can agree that we are experiencMeanwhile, customs employees are staging a strike ing a tough period as a result of the constant ten- that can result in losses of KD 300 million. They sions between executive and legislative authorities. demand financial privileges. They don’t realize that It result in economic instability due to global economic true patriotism is based on full loyalty to the general developments as well as the lack of an intact economic welfare of one’s country which should always be vision . Add to this, the slow enforcement of the devel- placed ahead of personal benefits. opment plan and the continuous educational, health In the meantime, high school students staged mass and environmental woes, leading us to hopelessness protests against a Ministry of Education decision to and frustration that increases by the day. change evaluation system - with some of them enjoying Still, I believe that all this can be overcome with a parental support! That’s not all, but fights took place durstrong leadership that steers the country from the cur- ing student elections at the Kuwait University after the rent miserable situation we experience. What I’m more results were announced, in a scene that was reminiscent concerned about is the of a parliamentary showfact that our values, down that took place not I believe that all this can be overcome principles and tradiso long ago. tions inherited from What I mentioned is with a strong leadership that steers the our forefathers, have only part of countless incicountry from the current miserable situaseriously become dents that were previoustion we experience. What I’m more conthreatened and sadly ly unheard of in Kuwait. I are no longer the basis understand people are cerned about is the fact that our values, on which our daily lives frustrated with the govprinciples and traditions inherited from are constructed. ernment which is partly to our forefathers, have seriously become Several incidents be blamed for the situataking place recently tion we are in today. threatened and sadly are no longer the make me believe that Promises have been basis on which our daily lives are conour values are declinunfulfilled. That shouldn’t structed. ing. These incidents stop us as Kuwaiti citizens contain actions that from reinforcing the basic are unfamiliar to the values that our society Kuwaiti society and need for us to carry out to pro- was always built on to protect it from foreign practices. tect our values before it is too late. For example, fireStudents in schools need to be taught the basic valfighters stormed into the Kuwait Fire Ser vices ues, morals and principles that form the basis for building Directorate(KFSD) building where they demonstrat- a solid society. I don’t think anyone would fall short of ed outside with of some MPs. This practice totally supporting protesting employees if they demand being contradicts with the job of serving the country and rewarded for the quality of performance and achievesaving lives. ments made at the work place.— Al-Rai

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kuwait digest kuwait digest

Speaking about expats!

A constant conspiracy

kuwait digest

By Dr Sajed Al-Abdeli

To avoid encouraging more violations!

By Dr Nada Sulaiman Al-Muttawwa orruption is defined by some as abusing the power and authority of a position for personal gains, whereas others argue it to be the abuse of authority and power in the absence of effective political institutions. Corruption is the same, however, be it manifested in the form of a simple law violation or in other, more complex forms.

Four years ago, an Arab League forum agreed to set a strategy to limit corruption. The 2007 forum’s final declaration stated that, “Arab countries will have to earnestly try to eradicate corruption, reform governmental administration, financial and investment establishments and to enhance the relation between legislatives and executives in order to win their peoples’ trust.”

I recall an episode in which an employee was harassed by his superiors and was framed and fired because he blew the whistle about rampant corruption and bribes at his workplace. The major East Asian company had manipulated its budget and accounting systems to elicit more aid from a foreign partner. This employee reported all violations and was eventually dismissed, realizing that the company he worked for lacked the laws needed to protect informants on corruption. Consequently, and along with his wife, he built a blog to report any instance of business violations and bribes, called Whistle Blower.

The bottom line is: No matter how development and administrative reform strategies vary, the most important factor is passing legislation that will promote cooperation between various authorities and establishments, who, in turn, will be mandated to abide by them. — Al-Jarida

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or some reason, discussing a certain topic from an and expats. Therefore, defects that might be detected in ethical, traditional or religious perspective is becom- expats are not because of their origins but rather general ing useless these days. I wouldn’t, at the same time, shortcomings resulting from deterioration of the whole want to question individuals’ ethics, values or religious society that has affected them, as parts of that society. regulations and claim that they are foul and weightless. Some citizens will urge expats to show good manners.

Therefore, it would be a waste of time to approach This would be valid if matters were measured ethics-wise today’s topic from such angles. Instead, I will be as objec- - a yardstick we agreed at the outset to discard. Even if we tive as possible. did use this as a measurement, what about all that corI have recently noticed that a large segment of Kuwaiti ruption and ill-manners spreading among Kuwaitis? Let’s, citizens is blaming expatriates-be them Arabs or non- then, forget about ethics and values. The truth that we, Arabs-for the many problems we are facing. These indi- as Kuwaitis, need to remind ourselves of is that we are viduals make it sound as if expats were the only reason actually in dire need for expats regardless of our pretense for our problems and for the deterioration in various of not to. It’s expats who are doing all basic jobs in Kuwait fields! Such a negative attitude, which I sense during be them tiring office ones, technical, professional or vocadebates and online chats with Kuwaitis, has certainly tional in both the government in the private sector in affected their views on all addition to sales, taxi- or expat-related issues such as private drivers, street salaries, rights of education cleaners and others.

Let’s be objective and fair when and medical treatment, Kuwaitis comprise a handling the rights of these expats ability to obtain driving mere one-third of the poplicenses, fees imposed on ulation while expats are who have departed their home counthem, etc. two-thirds. We can’t live tries for Kuwait to seek better living Some ‘anti-expat’ without them, though conditions and thus agreed to do the Kuwaitis have very strong some might argue against opinions against them and that saying that Kuwaitis jobs we reject. Let’s give them their seem to wish to punish managed to live through dues and help them live decently, them with all possible the invasion without them. able to work for us willingly, devotmeans, or maybe force I would say that that is them out of the country. nonsense and ask individuedly and professionally.

Some of them are doing so als who make such remarks with a belief that expats as to whether they would cannot afford to return to their respective countries allow their sons work as taxi drivers, their daughters work where the situation is tough and, thus, they will have to in beauty salons, their wives work as salesladies or they, accept the status quo! themselves work as garage mechanics!

As I said at the outset, I will not approach the topic Ladies and gentlemen, let’s be objective and fair from ethical value or religious wise. I’d say that in the end, when handling the rights of these expats who have expats are becoming an integral part of the society they departed their home countries for Kuwait to seek better live in even if they are a varied bunch-with the good and living conditions and thus agreed to do the jobs we the bad-just like the host society. reject. Let’s give them their dues and help them live It is obvious that societies may evolve or deteriorate decently, able to work for us willingly, devotedly and according to law enforcement and the laws they adapt. professionally. Doing this, and with time, we will see All countries may develop and prosper or deteriorate by how everybody will abide to laws in fear of the consethe efforts of their entire populations, including citizens quences of breaking the law. — Al-Jarida

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By Dr Ghanim Al-Najjar he revolutionary movements sweeping the Arab World is taking diverse forms in every country.

Even the demands and the methods used are diverse and different. Some demand radical change while others demand reform. Some adapt peaceful methods while others resort to violence.

Since change is normal and is the only fact in various societies, we are about to witness some changes that will affect everybody, even at different levels.

The idle, who prefer yielding to the status quos thanks to their mentalities and ideologies, will not naturally accept any kind of change or movement.

What if this change involves toppling regimes, the absence of stability and possibly, bringing in people with unknown political origins or affiliations?

In addition, rulers, regimes and those benefiting from their presence feel that they are endangered during the process. They thrive and defragment such demonstrations and protests with all possible means, including violence.

They might sometimes provoke violent acts to justify violent outbursts. Incompetent Arab leaders have always repeated that some foreign conspiracy was plotted against them. They can be parts of foreign conspiracies too.

Therefore, the current Arab revolutions are doomed to face obstacles that prevent them from achieving stability. The ‘old guards’ and the ‘Temple priests and protectors’ are expected to do their best to show the public that the toppled regime was necessary and that it was the victim of a foreign conspiracy. It’s like a fireman who incinerates fire so that people rush to extinguish them.

Hence, this scenario can be a logical explanation of the recent tragic incidents in Egypt that were deliberately portrayed as a sectarian conflict. It has been repeatedly used and might still be used. Regimes might talk about foreign conspiracies while they are being incapable of solving domestic problems. These problems require something more than mere useless rhetoric and counter statements.—Aljarida

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Kuwait advocates greater aid for Africa development Top priority for easing of debt burden

KUWAIT: Spain’s Ambassador to Kuwait Angel Losada visited the Kuwait Times office this week and discussed matters of mutual interest with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan.

Economic reform panel to discuss bill KUWAIT: A government subcommittee formed to find solutions to achieve economic reform met on Tuesday with representatives from several state bodies concerned with financial issues, requesting that the representatives submit any recommendations they would like to make before the report is submitted shortly.

The subcommittee was formed by the economic consultative committee, the team formed in August consisting of a high level panel of ministers, former ministers and senior economists with the purpose of finding ways to protect the national economy from being affected by the current international financial and economic turbulence. The committee has also been tasked with formulating recommendations to cut general spending.

According to one government insider, the subcommittee members met with representatives from the Kuwait Banks Association, the Real Estate Union, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Partnership Technical Bureau, each of whom provided their point of view regarding possible means of resolving the problems threatening the economy.

The subcommittee is expected to meet today to finalize work on the final draft of its recommendations, which

will then be referred to the economic consultative committee, which is expected to adopt it before referring it to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to make the decision on its enforcement.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the current talks, the insider indicated that the subcommittee members “were able to overcome” the objections that some of them raised regarding the government’s approval of financial demands made by labor unions - a subject seen as a major hurdle to any efforts by the state to cut spending in its steadily rising annual budget.

In the meantime, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is shortly expected to complete a study on the payroll system in the public sector earlier than the three months’ deadline assigned by the Cabinet, according to a CSC insider.

Again speaking on condition of anonymity, the insider revealed that the commission’s study will focus on establishing firm criteria, such as academic qualifications and job position, for salary decisions, under the revised payroll system. This would mean that the pay of individuals working in the same positions in different departments would be equal. —Al-Qabas, Al-Rai

UNITED NATIONS: Kuwait has called for greater aid from wealthy states for debtridden African nations, emphasizing that easing of debt burdens and further financial support are pivotal for development.

Promoting development across Africa is a responsibility that should be shouldered by both African and donor nations, said Ahmad Dhaif Al-Shemmari, a Kuwaiti delegate partaking in the 66th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and its New Par tnership for Africa’s Development debate, held on Tuesday. Underscoring the demand for greater aid, he emphasized that the time has come for the international community to honor its pledges to aid African states.

Al-Shemmari also assigned responsibility for development to local governments, indicating that they should push forward with ventures and work to build peace to create environments conducive to development.

He also called better publicity cam-

paigns that would showcase to the international community hardships faced by African populations.

Speaking on international cooperation, Al-Shemmari suggested that new partnerships between the international community and African states should be integrated into the African Union and that greater support for the private sector and awareness-enhancing campaigns should be organized to benefit African civil society.

Al-Shemmari praised UN efforts aimed at realizing equal development among Africa nations, reduce poverty and aid their transition “into the global economy.” He also praised Africans for working to establish stability and security in their countries, stating that “security and stability are integral for development in Africa.”

Al-Shemmari expressed hope that resolutions issued by regional and international bodies will promote sustainable development and lay the foundations for partner-

ships between developed and developing countries. Reacting to remarks made by UN Deputy Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, in which she lamented the slow pace of development in Africa, AlShemmari stressed that such facts should elicit greater efforts from the international community to help African nations clear obstacles to development.

Africa is simultaneously striving to rid itself of debt and secure the financial resources to fund development, AlShemmari added.

Citing part of the Gulf state’s contribution to African development, Al-Shemmari said that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has contributed $500 million for African development programs.

Kuwait currently provides development aid to African states with the conviction that such policies will ultimately reflect positively on all nations, boost trade and enrich the global economy. — KUNA

PAYS to boost cooperation with KFAS KUWAIT: The Chairmanship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to the board of directors of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) falls in line with a dedicated approach undertaken for scientific research in Kuwait’s new

development, said Major General Faisal Al-Jazzaf Chairman, Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS). In a recent statement, he acknowledged the Amir’s efforts to suppor t Kuwaiti scientists and inventors.

“Committing to achieving

scientific proficiency and reinforcing the role of scientific research as the path that leads us to a brighter future has always been the main policy that the leadership of HH the Amir focused on,” Al-Jazzaf said.

They noted that PAYS ‘benefited majorly’ from the approach

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior’s Acting Undersecretary Lt Gen Sulaiman AlFahad honored Col Ahmad Abdullah Director of the Ahmadi Police Department, and three officers for raiding a truck loaded with 4,800 alcohol-filled bottles. The event was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Operations Affairs, Maj Gen Abdullah Al-Muhanna.

by helping it boost youth-oriented programs in scientific fields.

Al-Jazzaf ’s statements were made during a recent meeting held with KFAS Director Dr Adnan Shehabuddine, focusing on boosting cooperation between the two entities.

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Problems in executing development projects Call for quick actions

KUWAIT: Dr Dipu Moni pictured with Albert F. del Rosario and other officials.

Dhaka, Manila for more cooperation KUWAIT: Dr Dipu Moni, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, met Albert F. del Rosario, the Foreign Minister of Philippines at the sideline of the 10th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Forum held in Kuwait early this week. The meeting took place at her suite in the Hotel Sheraton. The two ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues of common concern and agreed to support each other wherever necessary.

The Filipino minister sought the support of Bangladesh for their candidature for the Judge of the International Criminal Court for the period 2012-2021 election which would take place on Dec 12 this year. In response, Dr Dipu Moni

assured him that Bangladesh would consider their request on the basis of reciprocal support in such forums.

The Bangladesh foreign minister said that Bangladesh could learn from the experience of Philippines in human resource development. del Rosario said that his country also could be benefitted from the experience of Bangladesh.

The two foreign ministers agreed that the two countries would continue to cooperate each other wherever possible for mutual benefit. Syed Shahed Reza, Ambassador of Bangladesh and Shulan Ortua Primavera, Ambassador of Philippines were present during the meeting.

Murder investigation delayed six months KUWAIT: The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has launched an investigation into a murder case six months after the incident took place after detectives’ negligence in submitting autopsy repor t delayed earlier action. The victim, an Asian woman was found dead on April 16 at the park ing lot of the Far waniya Hospital and was initially pronounced dead of natural causes and the case was filed at the Sabah Al-Nasser police station. After this, the coroner performing the autopsy on the woman’s body discovered that she had in fact died of a fatal head trauma inflicted by being hit over the head with a heavy object.

However, the officer at Sabah AlNasser police station who was assigned to follow up the case failed to send the autopsy report to the PPS. Six months later, the detective eventually referred the report, with the PPS ordering an investigation. Eventually, it was revealed that the victim had been reported missing before being found dead by her employer, whose home in Saad Al-Abdullah she had worked at.

Further investigations led detectives to identify the victim’s erstwhile boyfriend who it transpired had disappeared from his work after the woman’s body was discovered, as the prime suspect, and a hunt is underway for him.

Gruesome revenge A young man was rushed to hospital after one of his fingers was severed when his hand was intentionally run over by a rival’s car following a fight between them outside a school in Waha. Emergency services personnel were quickly at the scene, but the culprit had escaped before their arrival. A hunt is underway for him.

‘Prank’ suicide call Police have failed to trace a man who made an emergency call threatening to commit suicide unless he was granted Kuwaiti citizenship. Officers rushed to the location in Al-Sabbiya where the man claimed to be about to throw himself from the roof of a tower block, but found nobody there. Police also tried unsuccessfully to place a call to the mobile

phone number used to make the emergency call. An investigation has been launched and the caller faces charges of making a malicious hoax call and wasting police time.

Conman caught The brother of a well-known Kuwaiti footballer was arrested in Hawally on multiple charges of fraud. The arrest followed an investigation launched after several people lodged complaints that they had been conned out of money by a Kuwaiti man who disappeared after they paid him money which he falsely promised to invest on their behalf in profitable business ventures. The conman was eventually detained in a police sting operation, with police subsequently discovering that his brother plays on the national football team.

Street brawl Four men were taken to Farwaniya Hospital after sustaining stab wounds in a brawl in Hasawi. Police and paramedics who rushed to the scene in response to an emergency call found the four men there in a critical condition and bleeding heavily, rushing them all to hospital. A search is under way for the others involved in the brawl, while preliminary investigations revealed that a financial dispute had sparked the fight Forgery case Police have arrested four expatriates who are suspected of forging banking documents to facilitate the granting of loans to individuals who would not normally qualify. Police received an emergency call from a local bank reporting the discover y of a forged document in a transac tion that was submitted by a client. Investigators soon arrested the person who submitted the transaction.

He claimed to be the representative of a company that helps process document transactions. The man led officers to the company owner, who admitted working with three others. The three others were arrested and all those involved have been referred to the relevant authorities.

—Al-Watan, Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

Poetry promotes dialogue among people KUWAIT: The Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity’s ‘Poetry for Peaceful Coexistence’ Festival is due to begin on Sunday at Dubai’s Festival Hotel.

Announcing the upcoming festival, Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, the foundation’s eponymous chairman, said that poetry helps to promote dialogue and understanding amongst different cultures. AlBabtain said that the event would be “pivotal in the activities related to dialogue between civilizations which the foundation has strived to organize since the first one in Spain in 2004.”

The foundation attaches great importance to these events since it believes in the important role which poetry can play in bringing people from various cultural backgrounds closer together, the chairman explained, adding, “Politics may differ, but cultures can always meet and get along peacefully because peoples exchange their literary output despite the wars between [their countries] and this in

itself reflects the reality that people are naturally peace-lovers.”

Al-Babtain expressed confidence that the forum would be a great success, adding that this is helped by the confluence of positive factors which could further enhance the event. Amongst these factors, he said, are “the fact that Dubai is an idealistic model of cultural coexistence.

Also, the Governor of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, is a very important cultural figure, as well as a poet who is interested in the dialogue of civilizations with whom we share mutual intellectual ties and literary aspirations.”

Al-Babtain also lauded the guests who have confirmed they will be attending the forum, explaining that their diverse cultural and intellectual backgrounds will be key elements in ensuring the success of the event: “Poetry, along with lectures, will meet under one cultural roof for the sake of extending a new bridge amongst many bridges of peaceful coexistence,” he concluded. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A senior municipality official has called for “radical and comprehensive solutions” to help resolve the longstanding problems in executing development-related projects. In an incisive editorial penned for the Kuwait Times, Osama AlDuaij, the Deputy Manager of Kuwait Municipality, warned that Kuwait “cannot afford to continue with the current situation without taking immediate and effective long-term action to address the longstanding problems” in carrying out these major projects. These problems affect every stage of work on the projects, suggested the senior official, from design through to tendering, implementation and completion.

Al-Duaij asserted that the most crucial of these problems are the recurrent delays in the completion of projects, the frequent changes to plans which complicate their implementation, inefficient working practices, non-durable materials, and poor operational performance by many of those contracted to carry out the work.

Despite the tireless efforts of the relevant state establishments to address these issues, he said, the solutions presented to these problems are characterized by their ‘quick fix’ nature and provide only temporary and stopgap resolutions, which are ultimately unsatisfactory and fail to address the underlying problems.

While lauding the state of Kuwait’s development plan as a document that “defines the parameters and provides the road map to reach the desired social and economic development goals set out for the next five years,” Al-Duaij indicated that a number of critics have already

questioned the government’s seriousness about its implementation and the ability of the state agencies to complete the proposed programs and projects within the specified timeframe.

The plan itself was drafted after careful analysis and consideration of the issues involved and the existing conditions, identifying the objectives and the steps to be taken in achieving them, he explained, adding that it also includes second-

rationale behind them. In addition to the development plan’s concrete aims, the official explained, it also represents a blueprint of the shared beliefs of Kuwaiti society and its cultural aspirations.

Al-Duaij stressed that the development plan is a worthy one designed by the government to harness all Kuwait’s potential and deserving to be translated into reality as a state charter for both the country ’s authorities and the

Osama Al-Duaij ary, tactical objectives, such as the development programs which are to be identified, assessed and achieved through the formulation of a specific timetable, Al-Duaij continued, adding that these are related directly to the government’s development objectives and vision, which have identified the goals that Kuwait should have achieved by 2035, describing these and explaining the

Kuwaiti people.

Looking at the efforts made by the government and the concerned state bodies, Al-Duaij asserted, nobody can dispute or question the government’s seriousness about fulfilling its promises.

However, he went on, doubts arise over the availability of the necessary resources and capabilities required to translate the plan into

reality and on whether the existing legislation, working practices and administrative procedures are suitable and sufficiently effective to achieve the plan’s objectives and carry out all the projects included in a satisfactory manner.

Looking at the quality of the work carried out by some of the engineering firms contracted by the state bodies responsible for design, tendering and project implementation, Al-Duaij suggested that it did not meet the standards laid down by the owners or their representatives or indeed the contract administrators, and was unfit for purpose and failed to meet the contractual requirements. Amongst other faults with the work carried out by some contractors, Al-Duaij also cited a widespread failure to monitor project spending, adding that the project managers had failed in their duties to provide details of the working practices and systems or to employ computer-aided management programs to help in planning and controlling projects in order to supervise the quality of workmanship, monitor the project budgets or ensure their timely completion. He added that it is essential that those responsible for project management coordinate closely on planning, quality control and assessment, and constantly evaluate the progress and quality of the work being done, adding that these aspects are vital not just for the period during which the project is underway but even after its completion in achieving added value, increasing efficiency in all areas, reducing operating costs and prolonging the lifespan of the facility in question.

Wataniya Telecom customers donate to Somalia KUWAIT: Being at the forefront of companies that have made a clear mark in charitable and humanitarian work in Kuwait, Wataniya Telecom continues to provide aid and support to the needy in various parts of the world. In this sense, Wataniya Telecom has announced it has gathered donations from its customers for victims of drought and famine in Somalia, especially through a collaboration with the International Islamic Charitable Organization.

Wataniya Telecom launched a campaign at the beginning of Ramadan which continued until recently, aiming to collect donations from its customers, by sending SMS messages to all its customers and urging them to participate by donating any amount of money by replying to that message. These donations were handed over to the International Islamic Charitable Organization. That came in response to requests and appeals from many charitable organizations and agencies around the world that drew Wataniya

Telecom’s attention to the catastrophe experienced by inhabitants of this region, from the drought that is counted as the worst since the past 60 years, which caused a

and elderly.

Around this matter, Abdolaziz Al-Balool PR Director at Wataniya Telecom expressed his thanks and support to all of Wataniya’s cus-

KUWAIT: Abdulaziz Al-Balool presenting the money to the International Islamic Charitable Organization officials. major famine killing tens of thousands of people, mostly children

tomers who have donated to victims of Somalia. Al-Balool also

ensures that Wataniya’s initiative comes from its continuous social responsibility role that is one of its main tasks to deliver to the community. Al-Balool said, “The campaign has received huge acceptance from everyone and is not new to the people of Kuwait that are characterized by values of humanit y and passion to always support the needy.”

He added, “We should not stop supporting the people in Somalia because the famine is still continuing to a large extent. For this reason, we should heavily urge everyone to donate and expose this severe famine that takes place in Somalia to everyone in order to give the chance to others to assist and donate.”

Al-Balool concluded, “Investment is not only a way to gain profits but one of its objectives in our point of view to help others in time of need through the facilities and technology we offer to our community, allowing them to use these facilities to bring them closer to other communities in times of crisis.”

Quake-hit Japan thanks Kuwait for oil aid YOKOHAMA, Japan: The disasterhit Japan yesterday welcomed an arrival of the first batch of oil aid from Kuwait in a huge ceremony and pledged its early recovery in response to the generous donation.

Marking the delivery of Kuwaiti crude at JX Nippon Oil Energy Corporation’s 340,000-barrel-a-day Negishi refinery in Yokohama, eastern Japan, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano expressed gratitude to HH the Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people for the fullest support in solidarity with Japan, whose northeastern region was hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that left nearly 21,000 people dead or missing.

Kuwait’s contribution of five million barrels of crude oil, provided through Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), was decided in April upon directives of the Amir in order to help the country recover from the March 11 catastrophe. The donation is equivalent to some $500 million and surpasses Japan’s daily consumption of 4.4 million barrels.

“Kuwait has responded promptly and sincerely to our crisis soon after the disaster, with the Amir and a number of Kuwaiti dignitaries dispatching letters and messages of sympathy.

Kuwaiti friends came forward to assist Japan with true sentiments of solidarity and humanity. The Japanese people will never forget the warm encouragements and sympathy given by the Kuwaiti leaders and people,” Edano said. “I was also

deeply impressed that your people still remember our support to your country during the Iraqi invasion about 20 years ago, and come to help us this time.” He noted that the donation was made at a time when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, adding that the aid from Kuwait has promoted a feeling of amity between the two peoples and boosted the development of bilater-

al relations. KPC’s CEO Farouk AlZanki extended, on his part, his heartfelt condolences to those bereaved and sincere sympathy to all affected by this catastrophe and to their families and friends. He also said in a speech that Kuwait has close and old ties with Japan dating back to decades ago, where Arabian Oil Company was the first Japanese company to perform oil exploration 60 years ago.

YOKOHAMA, Japan: Kuwaiti oil aid in Japan yesterday.

“Since then, the JapaneseKuwaiti cooperation has persisted and flourished until it reached current level. Today, we see Japan recovering its production after the disaster, which is an achievement that demonstrates the admirable productivity nature of Japanese people,” Al-Zanki said. He also stressed that Kuwait will continue supplies of oil and petroleum products to Japan. For his part, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi said “Kuwait always offers supports for other countries, as God blessed us and gave us the wealth of oil. It does not matter the type or amount of the oil grant. The most important thing is my country’s solidarity with friendly Japan and its people.”

The ambassador also showed confidence that Japan will rebuild the nation soon, as it proved the ability to bounce back from the devastation in the World War II and has become a global leader of economy and technology. The ceremony was also attended by Japanese Red Cross President Tadateru Konoe, a number of Japanese government officials, representatives from the three hardest-affected areas, as well as KPC’s high level delegation including International Marketing Managing Director Nassir AlMudhaf and Finance and Administration Affairs Managing Director Ali Al-Hajeri.

The donated oil will be delivered to four Japanese refiners by the end of this year, and money to the value of the free oil will be provided to the quake victims through the Japan Red Cross. —KUNA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

Tens of thousands in Syria stage pro-Assad rally

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EU sees ‘serious’ implications in Iran plot Mischievous attempt: Iran tional implications,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton. “We call on the government of Iran to fully cooperate with the US justice system,” she told a news briefing. The EU is following developments “very closely” and officials are in touch with their US counterparts, Kocijancic said.

“We have taken note with grave concern the information that was provided by the US Justice Department regarding this alleged participation of two Iranian individuals in a plot to murder the Saudi ambassador to the US, and alleged involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps,” she said.

“We trust the US justice system will rapidly bring full clarity to this alleged criminal act,” she added.

The US Justice Department on Tuesday charged two men with conspiring with Iranian government factions to blow up Saudi Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir on US soil.

A criminal complaint named Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, a naturalized US citizen holding Iranian and US passports, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of the Quds Force, a unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The EU has slapped a raft of sanctions against Iranian officials over human rights violations and the Islamic republic’s refusal to halt controversial nuclear activities.

Meanwhile, US allegations that Iran plotted to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington are a “mischievous” attempt to fuel tension between Tehran and Riyadh, a senior Iranian official said. US authorities MITZPE HILA: Yoel Schalit and Yaara Winkler, wife and brother of captured said on Tuesday they had broken up a Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit arrive to their home in Mitzpe Hila, northern Israel, plot by two men linked to Iran’s secuyesterday. — AP rity agencies to kill the Saudi envoy, Adel Al-Jubeir. One man was arrested last month while the other was BRUSSELS: The European Union voiced “grave concern” yesterday after the United States said it had foiled an believed to be in Iran.

“These claims are vulgar ... It is a childish and amaIranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador, warning it teur game,” parliament speaker Ali Larijani told parliacould have serious international implications.

“Should the facts be confirmed, this would constitute ment in a speech broadcast live on state radio.

“We believe that our neighbors in the region are very a major breach of international law with serious internawell aware that America is using this story to ruin our relationship with Saudi Arabia.”

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi dismissed the allegations, saying the United States would have to apologise for its words.

“USallegations are mischievous and I assure you they will apologise in the future,” Salehi was quoted as saying by Iran’s Arabiclanguage television network Al Alam.

US President Barack Obama called the alleged assassination plot a “flagrant violation of US and international law ” and Saudi Arabia said it was “despicable”.

Hasan Qashqavi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, ruled out any rupture of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying: “Such baseless allegations

cannot have the least impact on our ties”, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

But some Iranian analysts disagreed. “It will harm the ties (with Saudi Arabia) ... and in 2012 Tehran and Washington might even have a military confrontation,” said analyst Saeed Leylaz. The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.

Saudi Arabia has indirectly accused Iran of stirring strife in its oil-rich Eastern Province, home to much of

the kingdom’s Shiite minority and the scene of protests earlier this year.

Larijani said Washington’s “fabricated allegations” were aimed at diverting attention from popular uprisings in the Middle East, which Iran says were inspired by its own 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the USbacked Shah.

“America wants to divert attention from problems it faces in the Middle East, but the Americans cannot stop the wave of Islamic awakening by using such excuses,” Larijani said. —Agencies

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Tens of thousands in Syria stage pro-Assad rally DAMASCUS: Tens of thousands of Syrians thronged a main square of the Syrian capital and nearby streets yesterday in a huge show of support for embattled President Bashar Assad, as he struggles to quell a seven-month-old uprising. Opponents charge such rallies are staged by the regime.

International pressure is building on Assad to step down over his regime’s bloody crackdown on anti-government protests that the UN says has left nearly 3,000 people dead. yesterday’s demonstration was intended to show that Assad still enjoys the support of many Syrians. the gathering was huge in comparison with frequent, almost daily antiregime protests across the country since March which are often met by tear gas and gunfire from police and security forces.

Organizers said the Damascus rally was also meant to thank Russia and China for blocking a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its brutal crackdown. Their vetoes last week

drew heavy criticism from the US. The demonstrators converged on the Damascus square early yesterday, waving Syrian flags and pictures of Assad, as well as Russian and Chinese flags. Some wore white T-shirts with a photo of Assad with the Arabic word “Minhibbak,” or “we love you.” Previous “Minhibbak” pro-Assad demonstrations have been mocked by the opposition and dismissed as staged events.

Speakers, including school children, read poetry in praise of Assad. “We support our leader and we do love him,” said Lamia Kinani, 50, a housewife, adding that the newly formed opposition Syrian National Council does not represent the Syrians. The Syrian National Council, formed last week in Turkey, includes most main opposition factions. No country or international body has recognized it as a legal representative of the Syrian people.

Demonstrator Annas Assad, 23, a university student, denounced the council as a “group of traitors and is a tool of the

West.” “Assad will remain in power against their will,” he said. Assad still has the firm loyalty of the armed forces, key to his remaining in power. His main base of support also includes Syrians who have benefited financially from the regime, minority groups who fear they will be targeted if the Sunni majority takes over, and others who see no clear and safe alternative to Assad.

The Assad regime charges that its opponents are not true reformers; rather, foreign-backed terrorists and agitators.

The government claims it is the target of a foreign conspiracy because of its support for anti-Israeli groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas, whose leadership is based in Syria.

Although mass protests in Syria have shaken one of the most authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, the opposition has made no major gains in recent months, it holds no territory and its leadership is still fragmented, despite the formation of the new Syrian National Council. — AP

DAMASCUS: Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shout slogans during a pro-regime rally in Damascus yesterday. Assad’s regime is facing international pressure amid a violent crackdown on anti-government protests that broke out in March across Syria. — AFP

Baghdad attacks kill 23 in worst day in a month Human remains scattered for about 100 metres

TRIPOLI: A Libyan woman walks past graffiti depicting ousted leader Moamer Kadhafi and his son Seif al-Islam in Tripoli yesterday. Forces of Libya’s new regime were looking to move in for the kill against Moamer Kadhafi’s diehards in his hometown after meeting little resistance and taking several key objectives. — AFP

NTC fighters move in for kill in Kadhafi town SIRTE: Forces of Libya’s new regime were moving in for the kill against Moamer Kadhafi’s diehards in his hometown yesterday after meeting little resistance and taking several key objectives.

A day after seizing Sirte’s police headquarters, the National Transitional Council forces were still closing in from the east and west on ever smaller pockets of pro-Kadhafi forces.

Hundreds of NTC combatants in dozens of pickups fired rockets from the west of the Mediterranean city whose seizure will enable the NTC to declare the liberation of Libya and clear the way for an election timetable.

An AFP correspondent said Sirte’s main square and entire waterfront were under NTC control, along with its fortress-like conference centre, university campus and main hospital, all of which the fighters seized on Sunday. “All our lines are now in place; the area is completely surrounded,” said NTC commander Zubayr Bakush.

Farther east, a group of fighters threw petrol on a billboard of Kadhafi as others cheered and fired into the air with cries of “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) blasting from a van loudspeaker. “There are snipers in the buildings up there,” fighter Basit Divas told AFP, pointing to a neighbourhood of pock-marked villas, before hundreds of NTC troops advanced backed by a barrage of heavy weapons fire.

Within a few hours, the new regime forces had advanced another two kilometres (1.2 miles) and were meeting only small pockets of resistance, with most of the firing in one direction-at the Kadhafi loyalists. There was some incoming sniper fire as they blasted buildings with RPGs, machineguns and anti-aircraft guns.

NTC soldiers went house to house, clearing each, and sometimes taking prisoners. In the kitchen of one large villa, half-finished cups of tea sat on a tray. Outside another, a man was on his knees in the courtyard, his hands tied behind his back, pleading with his captors.

“This man had a gun, and two AK-47s. We think he may be from Kadhafi’s operation room,” said Ayub Basina, who identified himself as an NTC doctor. In one house, NTC forces found 15 Kalashnikovs, seven RPGs and a field radio.

A dozen black prisoners, their hands tied behind their backs, being seen being taken from one house and put aboard a pick-up. An AFP correspondent reported a fierce firefight around a school where Kadhafi loyalists were putting up strong resistance. He saw at least six

bodies and said dozens of fighters had been wounded.

NTC forces then withdrew to bombard the building with mortar fire. The plight of stranded civilians raised the concerns of Human Rights Watch, which called on both sides to minimise harm to them and ensure that prisoners are treated humanely.

“Commanders on the ground in Sirte need to make sure that their forces protect civilians and allow them to flee the combat zone,” said Fred Abrahams, special adviser at HRW. “All prisoners should be treated humanely and transferred to the NTC authorities who can better ensure their safety,” he said in a statement. The New York-based watchdog said much of Sirte’s population of around 100,000 has already fled, but that an unknown number remain.

New regime fighters in Sirte were buoyed late Tuesday by a two-hour visit from NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil, and said he visited the onetime Kadhafi showpiece Ouagadougou conference centre.

The NTC forces had besieged Sirte from September 15 before launching on Friday what they termed a “final assault” that has seen at least 85 of their number killed and hundreds wounded, according to medics. NATO warplanes, backing the NTC, overflew Sirte early on yesterday without firing, an AFP correspondent reported, as the alliance said in its latest update that it had struck six vehicles in Bani Walid.

Outside that oasis, 170 kilometres (105 miles) southeast of Tripoli, NTC fighters are also gearing for a renewed onslaught on the other remaining bastion of forces loyal to the ousted dictator.

A withdrawal from intense fighting, in what the military called a “tactical pull back” earlier this week, enabled some civilians to flee Bani Walid on Tuesday, said an AFP reporter. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said the alliance was close to ending its mission in Libya, but NATO “had no knowledge of the colonel’s whereabouts,” adding that Kadhafi “is not a target of our operation.”

NTC commanders say prisoners have said one of Kadhafi’s sons, Mutassim, is in Sirte.

Another, Seif al-Islam, once seen as the former strongman’s successor, is believed to be hiding in Bani Walid, possibly with his father.

Meanwhile, NTC oil and finance minister Ali Tarhuni said Libya will not award any further oil contracts until a government is formed after elections. — AFP

WEST BANK: Palestinian school girls shout slogans as they take part in a demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners held in the Israeli jails, yesterday in the West Bank city of Hebron. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Attacks mainly targeting security in Baghdad, including two suicide car bombs minutes apart against police stations, killed 23 people yesterday, the Iraqi capital’s deadliest day in more than a month.

The violence, in which more than 70 people were wounded, showed insurgents’ ability to plan and carry out coordinated attacks on wellsecured targets, as Iraq weighs its options over a post-2011 American military training mission.

Two suicide attackers detonated their explosives-packed vehicles at police stations in Hurriyah in north Baghdad, and Alwiyah in the centre, at about 8:30 am (0530 GMT), killing at least 18, interior and defence ministry officials said.

“I saw the bomber trying to pass the barriers, but he blew up his vehicle. The concrete T-walls collapsed and I fell on the ground,” said Ali, a policeman at the Alwiyah station who only gave his first name. He said he was not injured thanks to the walls, but that his colleagues who had been standing at the gate of the station had been torn apart.

Human remains and shrapnel from the bomb were scattered for about 100 metres (yards), and security forces cordoned off the scene, an AFP correspondent said. Parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi condemned the attacks in a statement released by his office. Baghdad provincial council member Mohammed al-Rubaie, who was at the scene of the Alwiyah explosion, said “these attacks are a challenge against Iraq and the political process, because the terrorists want to confirm that they exist here just before the departure of US soldiers.”

An interior ministry official put the toll from that attack at 14 dead and 25 wounded, while a defence ministry official said 15 people were killed and 25 wounded. Rubaie said seven of the wounded were policemen, including one woman. The bomber tried to enter the Alwiyah station but was blocked by concrete walls, he said.

Both officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said four people were killed in the Hurriyah blast, and at least 22 people wounded.

Differing tolls are common in the confusion that follows major attacks in Iraq. The attack seriously damaged the police station in Alwiyah and created a crater in the street about four metres (yards) wide and two metres deep. It also damaged a nearby primary school.

The street in front of the police station had been closed from 2004, but was reopened about a month ago to ease the flow of traffic, Rubaie said. Another car bomb killed three people and wounded 11, including police, at Al-Ilam in southwest Baghdad on Wednesday, the interior ministry official said.

Baghdad’s Yarmuk hospital received six wounded from the explosion in Al-Ilam, among them a police major, a medical source said. A car bomb in Hurriyah killed one civilian and wounded an Iraqi army brigadier, nine of his bodyguards and two civilians, according to the officials.

The defence ministry official said the brigadier general was seriously wounded. One policeman was also killed and another wounded by shots from a silenced pistol in the Jihad neighbourhood in south Baghdad, said the interior ministry official. In other attacks, a magnetic

“sticky bomb” wounded a police brigadier general in Al-Sulaykh in north Baghdad, according to the interior ministry official, while the defence ministry official said a roadside bomb wounded seven people in Hurriyah.

Yesterday’s attacks come with less than three months to go before a year-end withdrawal deadline for the roughly 41,500 US soldiers currently in Iraq, with Baghdad and Washington yet to reach any accord on a post-2011 training mission. The apparently coordinated attacks were the deadliest to hit the capital since August 28, when a suicide attack blamed on Al-Qaeda at Baghdad’s biggest Sunni mosque killed 28 people, including an MP. Despite a decline in violence nationwide since its peak in 2006 and 2007, attacks remain common. A total of 185 Iraqis were killed in violence in September, according to official figures. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in front of a police station in Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. A slew of bombings targeting Iraqi police in Baghdad yesterday morning killed 12 people and wounded more than 20, Iraqi officials said. — AP

Saddam’s bronze buttock up for auction in Britain LONDON: A bronze buttock from the statue of late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein toppled in Baghdad after the US-led invasion in 2003 is to be auctioned in Britain, an auction house said Tuesday. A former soldier from Britain’s elite SAS regiment retrieved the two-foot (0.6metre) wide piece of history and took it back to Britain shortly after US marines dragged the statue down on live television.

Nigel “Spud” Ely, now 52, was working with media covering the fall of Baghdad at the time. He said the marines gave him permission to remove the buttock using a hammer and a crowbar. “The US Marines had erected a cordon of tanks to guard the square. But I wanted a piece of the statue-and when I mentioned to the marines that I was an old soldier and with the press they told me, ‘No problem, buddy-help yourself,’” Ely said.

“I only wanted a piece big enough to put in my pocket, but I ended up with a chunk about two foot square. “I thought, ‘What the hell am I going to do with this?’

“I threw it in the back of my truck and forgot about it until we tried to re-enter Kuwait, where the Kuwaiti army arrested us and searched us for plunder.” The ex-serviceman was allowed to keep it after saying it was armour for a truck, but had to pay a £385 ($606, 439 euros) excess baggage charge to fly his unique souvenir back to Britain.

Ely recently set up his own company to promote ‘war relic art’, but has handed the sale of the memento over to Hansons Auctioneers, based in Derby, central England.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson called the bronze body part a “piece of modern history” and said he expects it to be sold for at least £10,000 when it goes under the hammer on October 27.—AFP

Egypt’s army on defensive over Christian deaths CAIRO: Egypt’s military went on the defensive yesterday over the weekend killing of 25 people, mainly Coptic Christians, saying troops would not fire on citizens and denying they crushed protesters with armoured vehicles.

Coptic witnesses said they were fired upon by soldiers and that several protesters were killed when military armoured vehicles ran them over.

Amid growing anger at the deaths, General Adel Umara denied at a news conference that military vehicles ran down demonstrators.

“This cannot be attributed to the armed forces, and this cannot be recorded in history, that the armed forces ran over people,” he said.

Umara said “that maybe someone was hit” by an armoured personnel carrier (APC) by mistake, but he would not confirm that.

Another general, Mahmud Hegazi, said Egyptian soldiers never fire on citizens, and if they did use their weapons the results would be catastrophic. “The armed forces cannot direct their fire at the people,” Hegazi told the news conference, called after armed forces and thugs clashed with Coptic Christian protesters on Sunday, leaving 25 people dead and more than 300 hurt. He said military weapons “were deadly,” and “if these weapons are used the consequences would be catastrophic, and that has not happened.” General Umara also said that the soldiers “did not have live bullets.” The military displayed video footage of violent protesters outside the state television building, where most of the carnage took place.

Coptic witnesses said soldiers shot at them and that several protesters were killed when military armoured vehicles ran them over. In the aftermath, an AFP correspondent saw two corpses that had clearly been crushed. Witnesses said they were crushed by an APC.

The carnage has brought fears of an eruption of sectarian violence, sparked by a recent attack on a renovated village church in the southern province of Aswan that led to Sunday’s deadly Cairo protest. The clashes have brought growing anger in the Arab world’s most populous country, along with condemnation abroad.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton phoned Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr and conveyed “the need for the Egyptian government to ensure that the fundamental rights of all Egyptians are respected, including the rights of religious freedom, peaceful assembly and the end of military trials for civilians, and that efforts be made to address sectarian tensions.”

She also expressed “deep concern about the violence,” the State Department said late on Tuesday. Egypt’s deputy premier Hazem alBeblawi said on Tuesday he was resigning, saying that despite having no direct involvement in the clashes, the government ultimately bore responsibility. But Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt’s military ruler, rejected Beblawi’s resignation, government spokesman Mohammed Hegazi said without elaborating. With more than 300 people also injured in the protest, there has been furious condemnation of the leadership’s handling of the transition from the rule of ousted president Hosni Mubarak. Military prosecutors said they have remanded 28 people in custodyboth Muslims and Christians-for 15 days pending investigations, the official MENA news agency reported. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which took power when Mubarak was ousted in February, tasked Prime Minister Essam Sharaf’s government with forming an immediate fact-finding panel to investigate the clashes.—AFP

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Hurricane Jova crosses Mexico’s Pacific coast Tropical depression heads for Oaxaca, Chiapas

HANOVER: Former US Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) (R) speaks as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (L) and US Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) (C) look on during the Republican Presidential debate hosted by Bloomberg and the Washington Post yesterday.— AFP

Romney steers to political center HANOVER: Front-runner Mitt Romney steered toward political center in the latest Republican presidential debate Tuesday, confidently swatting away attacks from seven fellow candidates for the party’s nomination.

But he joined the other candidates in a frontal attack on President Barack Obama’s handling of the flagging US economic recovery that has left 9.1 percent of the American work force still without jobs in the aftermath of the worst recession to strike the country in more than seven decades.

Polls show Obama in a deeply vulnerable place as he opens his campaign for a second term in the White House in the 2012 election.

There are fears the economy could slip back into recession as the recovery slows dangerously after the near financial meltdown in the last months of the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Romney, the former governor of heavily Democratic state of Massachusetts, declared he could work with “good” Democrats and even defended portions of the 2008 Wall Street bailout that saved financial institutions from collapse. His more moderate stands on those issues are an anathema to members of Republican tea party wing who were already disenchanted with Romney’s health care reforms in Massachusetts that served as a model for the national plan that Obama passed through Congress and staunch conservatives vow to repeal.

Romney briefly lost his front-runner status when Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who seemed to be a more solid conservative, entered the race in August. But Perry has stumbled in debate performances, and comments he

made on immigration and other issues have alienated some Republicans.

Tuesday’s debate may do little to help Perry stop his recent slide in polls. With Romney and former pizza company CEO Herman Cain, who has recently moved into the top tier of candidates, getting more questions than the others, Perry often seemed to fade into the background.

When each candidate was given a chance to ask a question to a rival, Romney directed his to congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who is polling in the single digits among Republicans after being near the top just two months ago. His choice seemed to suggest that he doesn’t see Perry as a threat, and it might play well with female voters and with staunchly conservative voters in Iowa, where Perry needs to do well.

On the Wall Street bailouts, Romney said no one liked the idea of bailing out big financial firms. However, he said, many of the actions taken in 2008 and 2009 were needed to keep the dollar’s value from plummeting and “to make sure that we didn’t all lose our jobs.” The nation was on a precipice, Romney said, “and we could have had a complete meltdown.” Romney also said he would work with “good” Democrats to lead the country out of the economic crisis. He said that’s what he did as Massachusetts governor and what he would do if he wins the White House.

While those comments might have been unremarkable in the past, they are more noteworthy given the intense partisan divide in Washington, with Republicans almost unanimously opposed to Obama’s main initiatives. — AP

MANZANILLO/PUERTO VALLARTA: Hurricane Jova swept inland on yesterday after making landfall as a Category Two storm on Mexico’s Pacific coast late on Tuesday, dumping heavy rain and flooding parts of the coast.

With top winds reaching 75 miles per hour (120 kph), Jova was about 30 miles (50 km) southsoutheast of the tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta at 5 a.m. PDT (1200 GMT), the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The Miamibased NHC said the center of Jova crossed the Mexican coast near the town of Chamela in the state of Jalisco, on a stretch of land dotted with beaches south of Puerto Vallarta. Mexico has no major oil installations in the Pacific.

The major port city of Manzanillo was hit by heavy rain and strong winds, flooding roads and downing trees and power lines.

The streets were deserted and shops shuttered early on yesterday.

Highways leading north along the coast were blocked and the towns of Zihuatlan, Melaque and Barra de Navidad were completely flooded, according to the Red Cross, but there were no reports of injuries or deaths.

“The streets of Manzanillo are impassable, as are the highways connecting Manzanillo with the south of Jalisco,” national Red Cross coordinator Isaac Oxenhaut said.

Puerto Vallarta, which suffered bad flooding when hurricane Kenna hit in 2002, was spared from the storm overnight.

Jalisco authorities had protectively set up some 70 shelters.

JALUCO: Families take refuge in a classroom in Jaluco, Mexico, Tuesday. Jova weakened a little as it neared land, but it still had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.— AP There were no evacuations in 12 inches (30.5 cm) of rainfall over overnight, prompting the Mexican Puerto Vallarta but people were four states, with isolated rainfall of government to issue a tropical brought to safety from Zihuatlan up to 20 inches (51 cm), the hurri- storm warning from Barra De and Melaque. On Tuesday, workers cane center said, possibly causing Tonala southeastward to the scrambled to fill and stack sand- flash flooding and mud slides in Mexico-Guatemala border, the NHC said. The depression, carr ying bags to protect the professional mountainous areas.

Manzanillo, Mexico’s main point winds of 35 miles per hour (55 kph), beach volleyball courts on Puerto Vallarta’s coast, where events from of arrival for cargo containers, has was headed north toward the the Panamerican Games are sched- been closed since late Sunday and Pacific coast and could become a uled to be staged later this week. about 13 container ships are stuck tropical storm later on yesterday, “Jova weakening as it moves fur- in the port. Heavy rain and strong the center said.

“The depression is expected to ther inland ... heavy rainfall remains winds hit the port for most of a major threat,” the center said. Jova Tuesday. The port handles about produce total rain accumulations of weakened to a Category One hurri- 750 containers of cargo a month 5 to 10 inches (13-25 cm) over porcane, the lowest on the five-step and ships goods including cars, car tions of the Mexican states of intensity scale, and was expected parts, cattle, minerals and tequila to Oaxaca and Chiapas as well as porto weaken further to a tropical Asian and North American markets. tions of Guatemala ... with possible Farther south, a tropical depres- isolated maximum amounts of 15 storm in coming hours.

Still, Jova could produce up to sion named Twelve E formed inches (38 cm),” it said. — Reuters

Accused ‘underwear bomber’ pleads guilty DETROIT: A young Nigerian man pleaded guilty yesterday to trying to kill nearly 300 people aboard a US-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009 by igniting explosives secreted in his underwear. “Do you understand that you have the right to remain silent?” judge Nancy Edmunds asked the 25-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who fired his own lawyers and is representing himself at the trial in Detroit, Michigan. Abdulmutallab, wearing a blazer over a collarless shirt, his hands

clasped in front of him, replied “Yes.” “Do I understand correctly that you wish to waive that right to plead guilty to all the charges in the indictment?” asked the judge. “Yes,” again came the reply, this time met with gasps of shock from the gathered media.

Edmunds read through each of the eight terrorism-related charges. Each time, Abdulmutallab said “I plead guilty,” and when asked by the judge whether he was was pleading guilty because he

“was guilty,” the accused said “that’s right.” The surprise guilty pleas come a day after Abdulmutallab declined to present opening statements to jurors.

“Has anyone promised you that I would go easy on you if you pleaded guilty?” asked Edmunds. “No,” the Nigerian replied. The plot, which US officials say was the work of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, failed because the explosives stitched in his underwear never detonated fully and instead caused a massive fireball.—AFP

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Serbia gets foot in EU door but warned on Kosovo BRUSSELS: Serbia took a first key step in the long road to European Union membership yesterday but was warned to patch up its fraught relations with Kosovo before it could travel any further. In its much-awaited yearly review of EU wannabes, the European Commission announced it favoured “granting EU candidate status to Serbia”-the opening step in the gruelling path to full membership.

The proposal, which still needs unanimous approval by the 27 EU states, follows Belgrade’s handover to the UN war crimes court this year of fugitives Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic after 16 years on the run. “The arrest of the two remaining IC T Y

indictees removed a major stumbling block from Serbia’s European path and marked an important step toward reconciliation in the region,” the commission said in its report.

But the EU’s enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele coupled the breakthrough with a warning to Serbia to renew efforts to defuse tension with Kosovo, its southern province which broke away and declared independence three years ago. The recommendation came “on the understanding that Serbia re-engages in the dialogue with Kosovo and is moving swiftly to the implementation in good faith of agreements reached to date,” Fuele said. EU-sponsored talks between the

two sides that raised huge hopes when begun in March have broken down amid violence in northern Kosovo, which is home to a Serb majority loyal to Belgrade. The talks are aimed at ending ever yday headaches for ordinary people over the independence quarrel-the breakdown in phone networks, transport and postal services as well as confusion over land records and university degrees.

In Belgrade, President Boris Tadic said “I am proud” of the success and said Serbia hoped to resolve problems with Kosovo over customs controls and border crossings. Though Serbia walked out of the EU-brokered talks,

European leaders are urging Kosovo to do more to reassure the Serb community living within its borders.

“While the integration of Kosovo Serbs has improved in the south, tensions in northern Kosovo have increased,” the commission said in its report. “It is of utmost importance that Kosovo launches a comprehensive agenda for the north.” In a year that saw Europe widening the door to the Western Balkans, with Croatia winding up talks that will see it become the 28th EU state in 2013, there was good news also for Montenegro.

The commission urged the opening of EU accession talks, commending Montenegro for progress in fighting

corruption and organised crime.

Montenegro has made “good progress” in working to meet criteria for eventual membership, he said.

But continued efforts were needed both in fighting crime and corruption and in ensuring its economy met European standards. In Montenegro, President Filip Vujanovic said his country has “deserved to start the accession talks thanks to a hard work by all parts of the society which have taken part in reaching European standards.”

“The accession talks mean a new responsibility but also a boost to speed up” reforms required for the membership, Vujanovic said in a statement. — AFP

Ukraine’s jailed former premier prepares appeal ‘Nobody should be above the law’

PARIS: A combo of recent pictures made yesterday shows (Lt-R) Francois Hollande, candidate of the Socialist party’s (PS) 2011 primary vote for France’s 2012, and one of the six contenders of the October 9, 2011 first round, who backed Hollande for the second round, Socialist Segolene Royal, Hollande’s former partner and the mother of his four children. — AFP

French Socialist Segolene Royal backs Hollande PARIS: The frontrunner in the race to lead France’s Socialists against President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year’s presidential vote won a key endorsement yesterday ahead of a last and crucial primary debate.

Defeated hopeful Segolene Royal backed Francois Hollande, her former partner and the father of her children, hours before he was to face rival Martine Aubry in an increasingly bitter battle for the Socialist party nomination. “I give my support to Francois Hollande,” said Royal, who lost to Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential poll and took only seven percent in Sunday’s first round of the Socialist primary, forcing her out of the race.

Hollande “came in first in the first round and it is legitimate to increase this lead,” Royal told AFP, adding that “my new ideas have been taken into account in the candidate’s programme.” Hollande, who has had tense relations with his former partner since she lost the 2007 race and he moved in with his new girlfriend, thanked Royal for the “elegance and responsibility” of her decision.

Hollande took the lead over Aubry in the first round of the primary but, at 39 to 31 percent, their scores were close enough to give her a chance to outflank him on the left and grab the nomination in next Sunday’s run-off.

The stakes are high-opinion polls suggest either Socialist would beat centreright incumbent Sarkozy in next April’s presidential election. The tone of the battle has hardened ahead of the debate, with Aubry hitting out at Hollande’s alleged centrist tendencies. “I have said what I want to do, and it’s the opposite of the soft left,” Aubry, the 61-year-old mayor of Lille, said this week, in a dig at Hollande’s supposed lack of steel.

Hollande, a 57-year-old former Socialist Party leader, in turn accused his rival of “insidious” attacks and “underhanded manoeuvres”. With the war of words escalating, a spokesman for organisers of the Socialist primary, Jean-Pierre Mignard, warned the two candidates against “denigration” and “bickering”. The debate, which will air on television from 8:35 pm (1835 GMT ), will see the two rivals answering questions on the economic crisis, social issues and foreign affairs from a panel of journalists.

Among those watching will be the thirdplaced candidate from Sunday’s primary,

Arnaud Montebourg, who took 17 percent with a protectionist campaign urging tougher controls on financial markets. He has said he will choose which candidate to endorse after the debate. Royal said she backed Hollande because he shares her goals of reforming banks, fighting lay-offs, restoring morality to public life, banning politicians from holding multiple elected offices and building a green economy.

“France will find itself in 2012 at a decisive moment in its history. We on the left have no right to miss this appointment with the French people, who expect us to be at their service, effective and united,” she said. Hollande thanked Royal, saying: “I salute the elegance and responsibility of she who was our candidate in 2007 and who knows the importance of bringing people together to give us strength in the electoral battle.” In a terse statement, Aubry’s office said the candidate respected Royal’s “personal choice” to back Hollande.

Hollande and Royal lived as a couple for almost three decades and raised four children but split shortly before Royal’s unsuccessful 2007 election campaign-although the break-up was kept secret until polls closed. Royal’s relations with both Hollande and Aubry have been testy and it was not initially clear whom she would back.

Royal believes Aubr y ’s supporters rigged an internal Socialist Party vote to bar her from becoming party leader and relations with Hollande soured when he moved in with a new girlfriend, who he has called: “the woman of my life.”

Hollande has also won the support of the last placed candidates from Sunday’s first round, lawmakers Manuel Valls and Jean-Michel Baylet, both seen as being on the right wing of the left. A public opinion poll by firm OpinionWay-Fiducial for newspaper Le Figaro released Tuesday showed Hollande in the lead with 54 percent support against Aubry’s 46 percent.

Both Hollande and Aubry hail from the ideological centre ground within the party, but Aubry tacked to the left during the primary campaign, rallying the party’s base in a time of austerity and economic crisis. The US-style open primary, a political novelty in France, has proven popular and given a boost to Socialist electoral hopes. More than 2.5 million voters turned out for Sunday’s first-round vote and more than 4.9 million watched the first primar y debate in mid-last month. —AFP

BUCHAREST: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (L) is welcomed by Romanian counterpart Emil Boc (R) during the official ceremony at The his Victoria Palace, the Romanian Government headquarters in Bucharest yesterday. — AFP

KIEV: Ukraine’s former premier Yulia Tymoshenko will appeal her seven-year sentence next week, her lawyers said yesterday as Kiev tried to repair the damage done to its image in both Russia and the West. A Kiev court on Tuesday jailed the leader of the proWestern 2004 Orange Revolution, prompting allegations that President Viktor Yanukovych was resorting to Stalinist methods to deal with opponents.

The conviction of Tymoshenko for abusing her powers in a gas deal signed with Russia in 2009 — an offence that would not have even come to a criminal court in Europe-has also endangered Ukraine’s hopes of EU integration. Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko defiantly rejected criticism that the trial was politically motivated, saying Tymoshenko “was not prosecuted for her political beliefs but specific actions violating Ukraine legislation.”

“Nobody should be above the law,” he told reporters on a trip to Estonia. But Yanukovych has also emphasised the court’s decision was not final and his Regions Party has hinted that possible changes in the law to decriminalise the articles under which Tymoshenko was condemned could resolve the crisis.

Tymoshenko’s defence team said it received the 51-page ruling on yesterday and now planned to file an appeal with a Kiev court next week. “We do not have great hope that the verdict will be annulled,” Yuriy Sukhov said in comments posted on Tymoshenko’s official website.

He appeared more optimistic, however, over the prospect of cancelling the article of the penal code under which Tymoshenko was condemned.

“If article 365 is decriminalised then the verdict will be cancelled completely,” he said, adding this would include the financial losses of almost $200 million that Tymoshenko has been ordered to

MOSCOW: In this Saturday, Sept. 24, 201 file photo, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, talk to Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych at the presidential residence in Zavidovo, about 90 miles (150 kilometers) north of Moscow, Russia. The seven-year prison term handed down to Ukraine’s former prime minister highlights the stark choice faced by President Viktor Yanukovych: Does he turn the country East or West? —AP pay back under the ruling.

With Ukraine angering both its EU partners and giant neighbour Russia-which benefited from a higher gas price in the 2009 dealby the ruling, much of the debate yesterday focused on how Tymoshenko could be released.

Top Yanukovych advisor Anna German told Channel 5 that “we need to take lessons from what has happened and reform our laws so that similar situations are not so painful for Ukraine.”

Pro-Tymoshenko MPs in the Ukrainian parliament have said they will put forward a proposal to decriminalise the article in the criminal code when it resumes sitting next week. The Regions Party of Yanukovych, which holds the majority in the Verkhovna Rada, has said that it could support such a move, although it has yet to take any concrete decision.

Yanukovych is due to visit Brussels on October 20.

Analysts have speculated that the change in the law could conveniently pave the way for Tymoshenko to be freed once the case is brought before the appeals court and allow the authorities to save face. “I do not doubt she will be freed,” said Volodymyr Omelchenko, head of the Gorshenin Institute. “When depends on the economic situation.” The dramatic case has left Kiev, which has recently tried to swing its interests between those of Russia and the West, in a state of diplomatic isolation some said it had never experienced in postSoviet era.

“Getting such a reaction from the world really must have required some work,” said Vitaly Portnikov, editor-in-chief of the TVi channel, writing for the online

newspaper Levy Bereg. “By quarrelling at the same time with Moscow, Brussels and Washington, angering Warsaw and infuriating Berlin, Ukraine has become a unique state on the map of Europe,” he wrote.

Ukraine had hoped to sign an association agreement with the European Union this year, a first step towards membership. But EU foreign polic y chief Catherine Ashton warned that a full reassessment of the EU’s ties with Kiev could be needed. “The EU is deeply disappointed with the verdict. The EU will reflect on its policies towards Ukraine,” she said. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who oversaw the signing of the 2009 gas deal, for his part said he did not “completely understand why she has been given these seven years.”— AFP

Somalis flee Mogadishu district ahead of assault MOGADISHU: Hundreds of residents in the war-torn Somali capital were fleeing yesterday ahead of expected fresh assaults against final pockets of Islamist Shebab rebels, officials and witnesses said.

“We have stopped our military advancement for a few days, in order to give residents trapped in the neighbourhoods the chance to evacuate,” Somali Lieutenant Colonel Abdulahi Ali Anod told reporters.

“People are now fleeing the area to avoid injury,” he added. African Union and Somali government forces launched assaults on Saturday in northeast Mogadishu, seizing strategic positions from the Al-Qaeda linked insurgents. Witnesses said residents were packing belongings onto trucks and donkey carts in northern Mogadishu’s Suqaholaha district.

“Hundreds of civilians are fleeing-the situation is calm today so people are getting out during the lull in the fighting,” said Abdirisak Mohamud, a resident. “People are evacuating before it’s too late,” said Gure Ali, another resident. The AU-led assault followed the Shebab’s worst ever suicide bomb attack last week in Mogadishu, killing at least 82 people and demonstrating they are still able to wreak havoc deep inside the city.

Shebab officials said they were sending fighters from outside Mogadishu to reinforce remaining gunmen still inside the capital.

“Units of the mujahidin fighters are coming towards Mogadishu now to reinforce the war in the city,” Shebab spokesman Sheikh

MOGADISHU: Residents flee from fighting between Somalia government and Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents in southern Mogadishu, yesterday. African peacekeepers and Somali government forces flushed Islamist rebels out of one of the few pockets of the capital Mogadishu still under militant control, a spokesman for the Amisom said. — AFP Abdulaziz Abu Musab said.

“The war will continue, and with God’s will, the enemy will fail in their bid to take control of Mogadishu,” he added. Although AU-force commanders say their 9,000-strong force control 95 percent of Mogadishu, it remains overstretched and unable to ensure effective security of the war-ravaged city.

The Shebab had waged a four-year battle in Mogadishu to topple the Somali government before suddenly abandoning the majority of bases in the capital in August. Analysts said internal dissent, dwindling resources and popular support as well as their failure to dislodge the government forced them to give up the bloody campaign. — AFP

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Philippines says no state honors for Marcos burial MANILA: The Philippine president said yesterday it would be unjust to allow Ferdinand Marcos to be buried with state honors when thousands of human rights victims during the former dictator ’s reign have never received any government apology.

Marcos died over 20 years ago in exile after being ousted in a 1986 “people power” revolt. His body has been displayed in a glass coffin in his northern Philippine hometown of Batac in Ilocos Norte province since 1993.

His widow, Imelda, has long pushed for his burial in the Manila heroes’ cemetery, which is reserved for presidents, soldiers, statesmen and national artists. She is opposed by pro-democracy and left-wing groups, who say the late dictator committed massive human rights violations and plundered the nation’s coffers during his two-decade rule.

In response to a question at a news conference yesterday, President Benigno Aquino III said no burial with state honors would happen “under my

watch.” His decision goes against his vice president’s recommendation that Marcos be at least given military honors if he’s to be buried in his northern hometown and not at the national heroes’ cemetery.

The military said it would follow Aquino’s decision and withhold burial honors from Marcos.

“We have so many victims of the martial law years who have not gotten even a recognition formally from our government that they were victims,” Aquino said. “It really would be, I think,

the height of injustice to render any honors to the person who was the direct mastermind of all of these sufferings.” The dictator’s son and namesake, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., criticized Aquino’s decision, saying the president ignored the vice president’s recommendation and a resolution by the House of Representatives in March for the government to bestow burial honors on his father.

“I was surprised because all these talks, discussions and debates turned

Myanmar frees dozens of political prisoners Many political detainees still behind bars YANGON: Myanmar freed dozens of political prisoners yesterday, including one of its most famous comedians, in the latest sign of change in the authoritarian state after decades of repression.

The release of roughly 2,000 political detainees including pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, monks and lawyers, has long been a key demand of Western powers that have imposed sanctions on the country also known as Burma.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party said that about 120 political prisoners had been pardoned, and suggested the figure could still increase. “We are still compiling the list,” said spokesman Nyan Win. The prominent satirist and vocal government critic Zarganar, who goes by one name, was among those released as part of a pardon of more than 6,300 prisoners by the new nominally civilian leadership, his sister-in-law told AFP. The dissident was arrested in 2008 after organising deliveries of aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis-which left 138,000 people dead or missing-and sentenced to 59 years’ imprisonment, later reduced to 35 years. Some of Myanmar’s most famous actors and comedians were among the throngs of friends who packed Yangon airport to greet the performer, who flew

home from Myitkyina in the far north of the country. Asked if he had a message for Myanmar’s leader, Zarganar replied: “I would like to ask him why he is so stingy. There are many peo-

was released after serving 21 years and two days. I am glad that I was freed but I am also sorry for the people who are still inside the prison,” he told AFP outside the jail gates.

YANGON: Myanmar female prisoners walk out of the Insein central prison in Yangon yesterday. Myanmar started to free dozens of prisoners, including political detainees among whom a comedian who is one of its most famous dissidents, in a further sign of change in the authoritarian state after decades of repression. —AFP ple still in prison to be released.”

A number of political prisoners were pardoned at Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, including student activist Aung Kyaw Soe, who was arrested in 1990 and sentenced to death, later reduced to life in prison. “I

Many of Myanmar’s political prisoners were sentenced to decades in jail and have endured “torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”, according to rights group Amnesty International.

A mass pardon of dissidents would

Philippine army falsely tags children as rebels

BEIJING: Women take care of young children in Beijing. For now, China remains the most populous nation, with 1.34 billion people. In the past decade it added 73.9 million, more than the population of France or Thailand. Nonetheless, its growth has slowed dramatically and the population is projected to start shrinking in 2027. — AP

Taiwan, China to sign nuclear safety pact TAIPEI: Taiwan and China have agreed to cooperate more closely on nuclear power safety and disaster preparedness in the wake of Japan’s atomic crisis this year, Taipei authorities said yesterday.

The two sides will sign an agreement at the upcoming round of talks between their top negotiators on October 20 in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, said Taiwan’s semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation.

Under the deal, Taiwan’s Atomic Energy Council and its Chinese counterpart would alert each other if disaster struck and cooperate to limit the damage, Taipei officials said. Such a deal is needed because the majority of mainland China’s nuclear facilities are on its southeast coast, only 100-200 kilometres (62-124 miles) from the island, officials said.

China has previously announced plans for more than 20 new plants. However, the foundation said they were still negotiating with Beijing on a more complex investment protection pact, which the two sides initially hoped to sign last year but had to put off as they failed to agree.

Taiwan has been a major investor in China in recent years, providing more than $100 billion in financing, according to some estimates, as well as crucial technological know-how. Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers the island part of its territory and has vowed to bring about reunification even if it means war.

Despite this underlying tension, and a continued Chinese military build-up, the two sides have seen significant progress since 2008 after China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou became Taiwan’s president. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake on March 11 triggered a vast tsunami in Japan which crippled cooling systems at a nuclear plant, causing meltdowns and radiation leaks that forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. —AFP

MANILA: Human Rights Watch yesterday accused the Philippine army of fabricating stories that some children it had taken into custody were Maoist rebels and urged the government to end harassment of children in conflict areas.

Both the military and the New York-based rights body acknowledge that children are engaged in the longstanding insurgency. The army disputed HRW’s account that it was using the children for political gain.

Human Rights Watch said it had investigated three of six cases involving 12 children and found evidence the military fabricated accounts of their involvement with the rebels.

“The army is concocting stories of rebel child soldiers that are putting children at risk for propaganda purposes,” Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a report. “The government should get the military to stop this despicable practice and investigate the officers involved.”

Pearson said the army paraded the children in front of the media and detained some of them, a violation of Philippine law to protect children’s privacy and keep them from harm. The military dismissed the report, saying there was no documented incident that child soldiers of the New People’s Army (NPA) had been presented to the media by army commanders.

“The Philippines army does not fabricate evidence to pin down the rebels on the use of child warriors,” Major Harold Cabunoc said in a statement. Soldiers, he said, had rescued 14 children in different areas on the southern island of Mindanao. “The child warriors were captured in armed clashes, strong evidence that indeed the NPA employ children in their armed struggle.”

Cabunoc said children were turned over to social welfare offices and never detained. Human Rights Watch said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had documented cases of child soldiers, including those employed as guides, informants and porters.

“The use of child soldiers in the Philippines is a matter of grave concern that the government should be taking seriously,” Pearson said. — Reuters

MANILA: Boys cross on bamboo frame of houses on stilts washed away by big waves yesterday in suburban Navotas City, north of Manila, Philippines. Many houses built along the shore were destroyed by big waves from the back-to-back typhoons those hit the country two weeks ago. — AP

be arguably the clearest sign yet of change under a new government that has reached out to critics including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed in November.

State television announced on Tuesday that more than 6,300 elderly, sick, disabled or well-behaved prisoners would be granted an amnesty from yesterday “on humanitarian grounds”.

It said freeing detainees would allow them to “help to build a new nation”. President Thein Sein, a former general and senior junta figure, has surprised critics by signalling a series of political reforms since taking power following a controversial election last November.

He has been applauded by international observers for holding direct talks with Suu Kyi, who spent most of the past two decades locked up by the junta. But rights group Amnesty International said the release of at least 120 political prisoners was a “minimum first step”, calling on the authorities to immediately release all the remaining prisoners of conscience.

In a rare concession to public opinion in the authoritarian nation, the government last month suspended construction of a controversial mega-dam, risking the anger of traditional ally China, which is backing the project. — AFP

out to be just a stage play,” Marcos told reporters. “He has wasted a very good opportunity to unify the nation.”

Marcos did not say what his family now intended to do with his father’s remains. Even 25 years after his downfall, Marcos is a divisive figure in the Philippines. He is reviled by many, including thousands of former political prisoners, and his alleged plundering of the economy remains the subject of protracted litigation. But he still enjoys a degree of popularity - particularly in Ilocos Norte, where his family holds

China, Vietnam sign deal on resolving sea disputes BEIJING: China and Vietnam have signed an agreement aimed at finding a long-term solution to bitter maritime disputes that drove relations between the Communist neighbors to their lowest level in years, state media reported yesterday.

The two nations - along with Taiwan, Brunei, Philippines and Malaysia - have competing claims to parts of the South China Sea and its potentially rich oil and gas fields.

Often-tense relations between the countries worsened this summer, with almost weekly anti-China protests in Hanoi over the South China Sea disputes.

The official Xinhua News Agency said a six-point agreement was signed in Beijing on Tuesday by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and his Vietnamese counterpart Ho Xuan Son. The agreement calls for twice yearly meetings, and for a hotline to be set up to deal with emergencies.

“The two countries should remain committed to friendly consultations in order to properly handle maritime issues and make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation,” Xinhua quoted the agreement as saying.

It said both sides “should explore interim and temporary solutions” while seeking a long-term resolution. The agreement is the latest step in efforts by the countries to improve ties. Hanoi clamped down in August on the anti-China protests, while a tentative agreement between China

and other Southeast Asian nations was reached at a regional security meeting in Indonesia in July.

That came after Vietnamese fishermen reported being harassed by Chinese vessels, and Vietnam and the Philippines accused China of interfering in their oil and gas exploration activities in areas of the South China Sea claimed by the three countries and others.

The United States has also been dragged into the dispute, with Southeast Asian countries turning to Washington for support. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said the US has a national interest in seeing a peaceful resolution of the disputes, especially since the South China Sea is home to vital shipping lanes.

Vietnam and China have had rocky relations and fought a brief border war in 1979. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said yesterday his administration would seek a solution of the territorial disputes through the stewardship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to which the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei belong.

“We have committed to ASEAN’s centrality on these issues, so at a minimum it should be also with the other countries in the dispute,” Aquino said in Manila when asked about the China-Vietnam agreement.

“Our position is a multilateral solution is best,” Aquino said. Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report. — AP

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Pakistani Taleban raise funds through street crime DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Police caught up with the four Taleban militants about 15 minutes after they robbed the bank, shooting them dead on a bridge as they attempted to drive their loot to the safety of the border regions with Afghanistan.

The rare triumph against the insurgency in this dangerous part of Pakistan was short-lived 10 days later, the Taleban dispatched a husbandand-wife suicide unit to avenge the deaths, devastating the local police station and killing nine officers. The daylight raid on the bank and the bombing in June were carried out by the “Black Night” group, a unit of the Pakistani Taleban dedicated to raising funds through robberies, kidnappings and extortion, according to a member of the group and intelligence officers.

The group’s emergence highlights a shift in militant funding inside Pakistan, with al-Qaeda, the Taleban and associated groups relying less on cash from abroad and more on crime to get money for equipment, weapons and the expenses associated with running an insurgency. The development is partly a result of Pakistani and American successes in targeting Islamist extremists.

Greater scrutiny on money transfers means it

is harder to send funds around the world, while American missile strikes and Pakistani army offensives have killed or sidelined many mid-totop-level commanders who had links to Middle Eastern funding networks, said a counterterrorism official.

As a result, “the militants have issued an internal order telling followers to look for funds from internal sources,” said the counterterrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Iraq, another country riven by Islamist insurgency, has seen a jump in crime in recent years, according to US and Iraqi officials. Militants there use profits from crime to finance operations, but former insurgents are also believed to have drifted into crime.

The Pakistani Taleban draws on a network of militants and for-hire criminals that stretches from the country’s northwestern towns, through its Punjab heartland to the commercial capital, Karachi, home to some 4 million Pashtun migrants, the ethnic group that makes up the Taleban.

The crime wave also adds to the militants’ goal of destabilizing the country by underscoring a growing feeling among Pakistanis that the US-

backed government is unable to provide enough security for its 180 million, mostly impoverished, citizens.

Allied with al-Qaida and the Afghan Taleban across the border, the Pakistani Taleban mostly focus on terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, but are also committed to attacking American targets in Afghanistan and the United States. The group trained the Pakistani-American who carried out a failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square in 2010.

There are few reliable statistics, but the most common ways of raising funds are kidnappings and extortion, according to Amir Rana, an expert on Pakistani militancy. Ransom demands range from about $150,000 and to $1 million.

The Taleban are currently holding in the border region a Swiss couple seized in July. The same group is suspected in the August kidnapping in the city of Lahore of Shahbaz Taseer, the son of a liberal provincial governor who was killed by militants, according to intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. They say Taseer is being held in Waziristan close to the Afghan border. Weeks before Taseer ’s kidnapping, American development expert Warren Weinstein was taken from his house in Lahore. His fate is

unknown. The “Black Night” group works under the command of Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman Mehsud, the top leaders in the Pakistani Taleban, according to a member of the group who spoke to an Associated Press reporter by phone from an undisclosed location.

He said the group would continue to target wealthy Pakistanis, government officials and foreigners from non-Muslim countries for kidnappings. Banks were hit because they charged interest and therefore violated Islamic law, he said.

In Karachi, four bank robberies this year have netted $2.3 million, according to a community police organization. The Taleban are suspected in three of them.

“We are not fighting on that front line against the Pakistani army or NATO forces in Afghanistan, but we are contributing to the jihad through this way,” the militant said on condition that his real name not be used.

Police are not allowed to travel to the tribaladministered areas where the Pakistani Taleban and other militants are based. This status, dating back to British colonial times, means the area has long been attractive to criminals on the run or for those running criminal enterprises. — AP

Taleban attacks decline for first time in ten years Insurgent assaults down in 17 of the last 22 weeks

NEW DELHI: Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang (L) addresses the media as Indian Prime Minister Manmmohan Singh looks on during the joint press statements in New Delhi yesterday. Sang is in India for a three-day state visit. — AFP

India scents opportunity in Myanmar leader visit NEW DELHI: The visit of Myanmar’s president to India yesterday offers New Delhi a chance to deepen relations with a neighbour that has traditionally allied with India’s regional rival China.

President Thein Sein will travel to two major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in eastern India before flying to New Delhi for the official leg of his state visit on Friday, amid hopes that meaningful reform in Myanmar is under way.

The trip follows Myanmar’s decision late last month to suspend construction of a $3.6-billion Chinese-backed dam project, triggering a rare public rebuke from Beijing. Some saw the move as signalling the desire of Thein Sein’s new nominally civilian government to shed Myanmar’s image as a client state of China and open other doors, including to Western nations who maintain sanctions imposed on the former military regime.

For energy-hungry India, resourcerich Myanmar with its large oil and natural gas reser ves is an inviting prospect. India began engaging the Myanmar junta in the mid-1990s over security and energy issues and as a counter to China’s growing strategic influence in the Southeast Asian nation that was formerly called Burma.

The policy drew international criticism, with US President Barack Obama chiding India during a visit here last year for not speaking out over human rights abuses in Myanmar. India however feels its approach has been vindicated by a series of reformist moves initiated by Thein Sein since he took power following a controversial election last November.

He held direct talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and, on the eve of his India visit, Myanmar announced a mass prisoner amnesty, raising hope for the imminent release of hundreds of political detainees. G. Parthasarathy, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, said New Delhi had always argued that Western sanctions against Myanmar were a “low-cost option” that simply drove the junta deeper into the arms of China.

“I think we are seeing that our policy of engagement has paid off. We said the move towards democracy would be incremental, and we are seeing that now,” Parthasarathy told AFP. Indian trade with Myanmar stood at $1.2 billion last year, far short of the $4.4 billion between Myanmar and China.

New Delhi clearly scents new opportunities under Thein Sein’s leadership, and Par thasarathy said Myanmar appeared to be seeking greater “diplomatic elbow room” that would leave more space for India. “What remains to be seen is whether these recent signs of opening signal a greater degree of economic liberalisation,” he said.

However, Par thasarathy also stressed that Myanmar would always look to maintain a close relationship with an emerging superpower like China. “And India can live with that as long as it doesn’t impinge on our security,” he said. Beijing has long helped shield Myanmar from international opprobrium and the impact of western sanctions with trade ties, arms sales and through its position as a vetowielding permanent member of the UN Security Council. — AFP

COLOMBO: Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s daughter Heruneka (R) and late wife (L) pay their respects at his funeral ceremony in the Colombo suburb of Kolonnawa yesterday. He was shot dead along with two of his bodyguards and another person shortly before voting ended at a key local council election on October 8. — AFP

WASHINGTON: The number of Taleban attacks in Afghanistan has declined for the first time in a “welcome” trend in the tenyear-old war, an officer with the NATO-led force said. Overall insurgent attacks are down in the past two months compared to last year and the Taleban has failed in recent months to seize back territory lost in US-led offensives in the south, said Major General Michael Krause, an Australian officer who ser ves as deputy chief of staff for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

“Every year there have been more violent activities in Afghanistan since the previous year except this one,” said Krause by video link from Afghanistan. “Over the last two months the violence trends in Afghanistan have reduced compared with last year ...,” he said. ISAF statistics showed insurgent assaults were down in 17 of the last 22 weeks, he said. “Now, that’s a trend. And although we still face tremendous challenges and we always must remain realistic about our objectives and goals, that’s a very, very welcome trend and the first year that

we’ve seen that trend,” said Krause, on his second tour in Afghanistan.

But despite the upbeat assessment, the course of the war remains the subject of debate amid doubts about Afghan security forces and the corruption-plagued Afghan government. ISAF’s account also differed from a United Nations report last month showing the total number of security incidents up 39 percent in the first eight months of 2011, compared to the previous year.

Krause said the discrepancy between the ISAF and UN tallies could be explained by a difference in how the two organizations calculate violence trends. The UN counts all security-related incidents, including reported threats and street demonstrations, while the NATO-led coalition only tallies confirmed violent attacks, he said.

Recent high-profile attacks by the insurgency, including a 19-hour-long assault on the US embassy in Kabul and a truck bombing that wounded 77 American troops, had obscured broader progress in the war effort with NATO now seizing the momentum, he said. But he said insurgent attacks have not

declined in the east, where NATO-led forces have encountered a resilient adversary in the rugged mountains neighboring Pakistan.

The Australian general referred to trends but did not outline the total number of insurgent attacks this year or in 2010. The Taleban had vowed to take back former strongholds in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar but the summer fighting season came and went without the insurgency gaining back ground, Krause said.

“We still hold all of those population centers, and we’ve done so since we secured them. The Taleban has not been successful, and his offensive has failed,” he said. The Taleban acknowledged the battlefield setbacks in a communication intercepted by foreign forces, Krause added.

“He also knows he’s failed. How do I know that?” “Well, we intercepted a very, very welcome transmission from the inner shura not so long ago that admitted that Al-Badr (offensive) had failed. In fact, the translation used the phrase: utterly failed.” he said. — AFP

Indian village suffers for lack of women SIYANI: Nearly two dozen men building a temple in this remote farming village lay down their tools at midday and walk through the dusty streets to a shed where they are joined by another group of menand start eating a meal cooked by a man.

They live, eat and sleep together, sharing mattresses on the bare floor of an empty room the way a married couple usually would. All but a handful are unmarried-a living example of India’s rapidly worsening gender imbalance.

Census data released earlier this year revealed there are 914 girls for every 1,000 boys born - a sharp fall since 2001 when the ratio was 933 girls for every 1000 boys. “I have been looking to marry since I was 15,” said Vinodbhai Mehtaliya, a 23-year-old Siyani farmer.

A decades-old Indian preference for male children, who are seen as breadwinners, has led to the skewed ratio, aided by cheap ultrasound tests that assist in sex-selective abortions and female infanticide. Siyani, in the western state of Gujarat, shows the decline. Here, some 350 men over the age of 35 are simply unable to get married-out of a total population of roughly 8,000.

“I’m lucky I got married 20 years ago” said 42-year-old Laljibhai Makwana, who works as a diamond polisher in one of the village’s small workshops. “If I was young here today I would never get married.”

The absence of women is obvious in the village’s bumpy, tiny lanes, where cows wander freely, especially in the evenings.

“There is little industrial development or infrastructure here, so people are poor and uneducated,” said Prashant Dave, the 41year-old owner of a small flour mill who said he was lucky to be married. “ There are too few women and they leave for better prospects.” Among the group of men living together, men perform all the tasks which are traditionally the domain of women: sweeping, cooking and cleaning.

The situation has also led to another reversal in custom, with some women and their parents asking for a lot of money from men to allow men to marry them, an inversion of the usual dowry system in which the woman’s family has to pay the man’s. At sunset, as the day’s work ends, groups of unmarried men gather around the village tea stalls and tobacco shops, lacking wives and families to go home to.

“I’ve given up looking,” said Bharatbhai Khair, who is single at 45 and has been trying to marry for 25 years. “ The women want more money for marriage than I can afford.” — Reuters

KABUL: Nilofar Ibrahimi a member of parliament in a show of solidarity with ousted lawmaker, Semin Barakzai, joined Barakzai in a hunger strike along with four young university students inside a protest tent outside parliament in Kabul yesterday. — AFP

Afghan MP joins ousted legislator’s hunger strike KABUL: An Afghan MP and four students have joined politician Semin Barakzai whose hunger strike to protest against her disqualification from parliament entered its 11th day yesterday. Barakzai, a 30-yearold mother of three and one of nine MPs expelled from the national assembly over vote rigging claims, has refused to eat until she is reinstated to her parliamentary seat or her case reinvestigated.

In a show of solidarity with the ousted lawmaker, Nilofar Ibrahimi, a member of the parliament joined her hunger strike on Tuesday, along with four young university students. “Semin is not alone in this civilised move,” Ibrahimi told AFP from a protest tent outside parliament occupied

by Barakzai, who was barely able to speak.

“I want to show the people and the world that Semin’s move is not for power or position. It’s rather for restoration of justice. If it was for power, I would not have joined her,” Ibrahimi said. Zahra Mosavi, a sociology student at a Kabul university, who was in another tent, said: “I just couldn’t watch this any more.”

“I saw Semin on TV. I saw her seeking justice but not being heard. I just couldn’t take this any more so I joined her. If she dies, I will die too,” she told AFP. “I already feel hungry,” she smiled.

In a third tent, three of Mosavi’s male

classmates also vowed to not eat unless the expelled MP is reinstated to her seat.

Barakzai and eight other members of the Wolesi Jirga were kicked out by the Independent Election Commission last August in an attempt to resolve nearly a year of disputes over widespread graft in September 2010 parliamentary polls.

Hunger strikes, particularly by women, are unusual in Afghanistan, a deeply conservative male-dominated society where violent protests are more normal expressions of frustration. The Afghan health ministry yesterday expressed concern over Barakzai’s deteriorating health.

“If her strike continues, her condition will worsen. There is a good possibility that she’d lose her kidneys,” Kargar Noorughli, ministry spokesman, told AFP. The powerful council of Afghanistan’s Islamic clerics on Tuesday issued a fatwa saying that rejecting food was against Islam, a religious edict the protesters did not agree with.

“This is not against Islam. I think the government is using this to prevent our civilised protest,” Ibrahimi said. Fazil Ahmad Manawi, the head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) called on Barakzai to end the hunger strike, saying the body was not authorised to return her to the parliament. — AFP

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NEWS

EAST JERUSALEM: A Palestinian woman looks at a banner bearing names and photos of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails in front of the International Red Cross building in East Jerusalem yesterday. Israel and Hamas have reached a deal that would see the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. — AFP

Israel, Hamas reach prisoner swap deal Continued from Page 1 security forces) bosses Yoram Cohen and Tamir Pardo all backed the deal with the Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal confirmed the deal in his own televised speech in Damascus, saying the agreement, which was mediated

by Egypt, would see more than 1,000 Palestinian detainees freed in exchange for Shalit.

“Hamas and Israel have reached an agreement under which 1,027 Palestinians, of whom 27 are women, will be freed in two phases,” he said at a news conference broadcast on Arabic-language news channels.

He said the first phase of the deal would see 450 prisoners freed “in one week,” with another 550 Palestinians to be freed “in two months”.

However, a top Israeli intelligence official ruled out

the release of two key prisoners, telling reporters that influential Palestinian leader Marwan Barghuti and top PFLP militant Ahmed Saadat were not on the list of those to be released.

His remarks contradicted an earlier report from a senior Palestinian official who told AFP the two were among those slated to be freed. In Israel, the news brought excited crowds to the protest tent set up by Shalit’s parents outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home.

Noam and Aviva Shalit could be seen smiling and laughing as well-wishers crowded into the makeshift structure emblazoned with messages of support.

As supporters offered their congratulations, the couple smiled but tried to reserve judgment, waiting for official confirmation that their son was on his way home before allowing themselves to express their joy.

“I’ll celebrate when I have reason to be happy,” Noam

iPhone 4S pre-orders break record Continued from Page 1 This means that the potential customer base for the phone has expanded greatly since the last model was launched. The death of Apple founder Steve Jobs last week could also be affecting sales. Marketing experts

say products designed by widely admired figures like Jobs usually see an upsurge in sales after their death.

AT&T said it had taken more than 200,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4S in the first 12 hours, making it the most successful iPhone launch yet. Apple shares rose $19.01, or 5.1 percent, to close at $388.81 on Monday. —AP

US aims to punish Iran for Saudi envoy Continued from Page 1 against what is becoming a clearer and clearer threat” from Iran. The Saudi Embassy said in a statement that it appreciated the US efforts to prevent the crime. “The attempted plot is a despicable violation of international norms, standards and conventions and is not in accord with the principles of humanity,” the statement read.

A former chief of Saudi intelligence said yesterday there was overwhelming evidence that Iran was behind a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington and must “pay the price”. “The burden of proof is overwhelming... and clearly shows official Iranian responsibility for this.

Somebody in Iran will have to pay the price, whatever the level of these persons is,” Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal told a conference on oil in London.

US allegations that Iran plotted to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington are a “mischievous” attempt to fuel tension between Tehran and Riyadh, a senior Iranian official said yesterday.

“These claims are vulgar ... It is a childish and amateur game,” parliament speaker Ali Larijani told parliament in a speech broadcast live on state radio. Britain’s government said yesterday it was consulting with the US and others over new international sanctions against Iran. “We would support any measures that help hold Iran accountable for its actions,” said Steve Field, spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron. Clinton and other US officials said the alleged plot is a gross violation of international law and further proof that Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, a label Washington has for decades applied to the Iranian government. The officials said it also underscores concerns that despite its denials Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program.

“The idea that they would attempt to go to a Mexican drug cartel to solicit murder-for-hire to kill the Saudi ambassador? Nobody could make that up, right?” Clinton said shortly after US prosecutors accused two suspected Iranian agents of trying to murder Saudi envoy Adel AlJubeir. The purported plan was to carry out the assassination with a bomb attack while Al-Jubeir dined at his favorite restaurant.

Obama called al-Jubeir on Tuesday to declare that the foiled assassination plot was a “flagrant” violation of US and international law, the White House said. The president expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and said he was committed to ensuring the security of diplomats in the United States. White House press secretary Jay Carney disclosed broad outlines of the call in a statement.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, called the Justice Department’s claims a “childish game.”“These are cheap

claims. By giving it a wide media coverage, it was evident that they are trying to cover up their own problems,” Larijani told an open session of the parliament yesterday.

“They (Americans) suffered a political stroke and learned that they had begun a childish game,” he said. “We have normal relations with the Saudis. There is no reason for Iran to carry out such childish acts.”

In New York, Alireza Miryousefi, head of the press office of the Iranian mission to the United Nations, sent Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a letter “to express our outrage” over the allegations. “The US allegation is, obviously, a politically-motivated move and a showcase of its longstanding animosity toward the Iranian nation,” the letter said. The State Department late Tuesday warned Americans around the world of the potential for terrorist attacks against US interests. It said Iranian-sponsored attacks could include strikes in the United States.

In the AP interview, Clinton predicted an Iranian denial, but added: “We want to reassure our friends that the complaints against Iran are well-founded.” Saudi Arabia is the main Sunni Muslim power center in the Middle East, and the one most closely allied with the United States, Iran’s declared enemy. Iran is the most powerful and influential Shiite Muslim state. The two have long vied for power and influence across the region. Saudi Arabia and other countries like Bahrain have accused Iran of trying to create dissent in their countries this year, during democracy movements across the region. But it is not clear what motive Iran might have had for trying to kill the Saudi official. An assassination might have ignited anti-American sentiment in Saudi Arabia and beyond by highlighting the close relationship, which is one explanation for Iran’s alleged involvement. Yet Iranian fingerprints on the killing surely would have meant retribution that Iran’s military is ill-prepared to meet. The US criminal complaint said the Iranian plotters hired a would-be assassin in Mexico who was a paid informant for the US Drug Enforcement Administration and told US authorities all about their plot, which they code-named “Chevrolet.”

Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old US citizen who also holds an Iranian passport, was charged along with Gholam Shakuri, who authorities said was a Quds Force member and is still at large in Iran. The Treasury Department listed addresses for Arbabsiar in two Texas cities - the Austin suburb of Round Rock and the Gulf city of Corpus Christi - and prosecutors say he frequently traveled to Mexico for business. FBI Director Robert Mueller said many lives could have been lost. But Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said no explosives were actually placed and no one was in any danger because of the informant’s cooperation with authorities. —Agencies

Shalit told AFP. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas “warmly” welcomed the deal, negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP in a phone call from Venezuela, describing it as a “Palestinian national achievement”.

And in the Gaza Strip, Hamas said “tens of thousands” of Palestinians had flooded streets in the northern part of the territory to celebrate the expected release of Palestinian detainees. “Crowds of tens of thousands are heading towards the Khulafa Mosque in Jabaliya camp at the beginning of the human floods of joy for the victory of the resistance and the completion of the prisoner exchange,” Hamas said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was “delighted” at the news of the accord, his office said. Sarkozy spoke with Noam Shalit, the father of the 25-year-old who also has French nationality, and told him of his “joy that Gilad will soon be released,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

The French head of state had also spoken by phone with Netanyahu and congratulated him for this “major success”, the Elysee said.

The deal, which was reached on Thursday and signed on Tuesday, comes after years of attempts to agree a prisoner exchange which failed despite the efforts of Egyptian and German mediators.

Shalit was captured in a deadly cross-border raid on June 25, 2006 by militants from three Gaza-based groups including Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees and a Salafi group called the Army of Islam.

The deal has repeatedly stalled over the issue of which prisoners would be released and where they would be allowed to go, with Israel insisting that some go to Gaza or be exiled overseas, and not return to their homes in the West Bank. It was not immediately clear how the two sides had resolved that issue. — AFP

Qaeda’s Zawahri calls on Algerians to revolt DUBAI: Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri urged Algerians in a video released on Islamist websites yesterday to follow the example of Libyans and revolt against their leaders. He also attacked military rulers in his native Egypt for maintaining close ties with Israel and doing nothing to back the Arab uprisings that brought down Tunisian leader Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali in January and Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak in February.

“Oh lions of Algeria! Look at your brothers in Tunisia and Libya when they cast their leaders into the dustbin of history,” Zawahri said. “So, why don’t you revolt against your despot?” he added, referring to president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Libyans managed to bring down ruler of four decades Muammar Gaddafi after protesters inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia transformed into an armed rebellion backed by NATO. Algeria, which shares a long border with Libya, has so far not seen a popular protest movement like those that swept through other Arab countries. Its neighbor Morocco held a referendum on constitutional amendments in an apparent effort to appease protesters and stave off a bigger movement. “The Muslim nation across the world expects you to deliver a model of jihad and struggle by opposing the corrupt dictators,” Zawahri said, addressing Algerians.

Zawahri was named by the Islamist group to succeed Osama bin Laden after US forces ended a decade-long worldwide hunt by killing him in an operation in Pakistan in May. Al-Qaeda has tried to wage war on the unpopular rulers over the past decade through creating cells that use

suicide attacks on foreigners and government installations and officials.

But the Arab Spring has left al Qaeda on the sidelines looking increasingly irrelevant. Largely peaceful protests brought down veteran rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and struggles are continuing in Yemen as well as Syria.

Zawahri, an Egyptian surgeon by training, also praised August’s militant attack in southern Israel and said Egypt’s ruling military council had done nothing to stop Israel bombing Gaza afterwards or back Arab uprisings generally. He referred to Libyan rebels, who include many Islamists, as “our people”.

“I congratulate our brothers, the Mujahideen who carried out the two operations in Eilat (south Israel) and I pray for God to shower them with rewards,” he said. “The military council did not move when Gaddafi’s forces crushed our people in Libya, the military council did not move when Israel bombed Gaza.” Zawahri also urged the Egyptians to keep up pressure against the Israeli embassy in Cairo, which protesters stormed in September after Israel killed five Egyptian border guards during its Gaza operation, causing the ambassador to flee.

“You have stormed the Israeli embassy and expelled the Israeli ambassador,” he said. “Don’t allow him to return. You should continue with this popular uprising until the Israeli embassy is closed and the peace treaty revoked.”

Zawahri was last seen in July in a video calling on Syrians to direct their protests against Israel and the United States as well as the government of Bashar AlAssad. —Reuters

Brent at $90-$100 acceptable: KPC YOKOHAMA: The head of Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) said that Brent crude at around $90-$100 per barrel is acceptable, signaling the state oil company would like to see a decline in prices from their level near $112 yesterday. “We’re looking for the place that makes consumers and producers happy,” Farouk Al-Zanki told Reuters on the sidelines of a visit to a refinery in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, adding that he wanted to see a good balance between supply and demand.

Asked what Brent oil price he thought would be fair, he said: “It’s very difficult because (it’s) very volatile. I think we can just speak of a range. It’s between $90 and $100, plus or minus.” Brent crude for November was up $1.07 a barrel at $111.80 by 1001 GMT as investors bought into demand-sensitive assets on hopes there would be a deal expanding the euro zone’s rescue fund. Zanki also told Reuters that KPC was still looking to partner with an international oil company for its $9 billion joint project with Sinopec to build an oil refinery and petrochemical plant in southern China.

“We’re looking around to see the most suitable international oil company,” he said, adding that he did not

know how long this would take. “ We’re making progress,” he said. “We only secured the land and nothing else has been accomplished after that.”

The joint venture plant between Sinopec and Kuwait, to be built in the southern city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, includes a 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery and a 1 million ton-per-year ethylene complex. The project will secure Kuwait, the world’s seventh-largest crude exporter, a stable outlet for its oil as it aims to more than double its crude exports to China to 500,000 bpd.

The project, potentially one of China’s biggest foreign investments, would be 50-50 owned by Sinopec Group, a parent of top Asian refiner Sinopec Corp .

Industry officials have said Kuwait is likely to seek a second or third foreign partner for joint funding. KPC in 2009 briefly tapped potential investors, Shell and Dow Chemical , but the firms did not make any commitments for a consortium. The plant is expected to start operations around 2013/14. The OPEC member aims to reach oil production of 4 million bpd in 2020 and sustain it until 2030. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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Issues

Iran plot to kill Saudi envoy ups Mideast tensions

By Wissam Keyrouz n alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi envoy to Washington is likely to escalate tensions in a region wracked by uprisings and fuel confrontations along the Sunni-Shiite divide, analysts say.

In a shock announcement Tuesday, the US Justice Department said it charged two men with conspiring to blow up Saudi Arabia’s US ambassador, Adel Al-Jubeir, and claimed the attack was planned at high-levels of the Iranian government.

The alleged plot was foiled, but the revelation is likely to further damage already poor SaudiIranian relations and have broad ramifications throughout the region. Saudi Arabia, the key US ally in the Middle East along with Israel, has frosty ties with Iran, a fellow OPEC member which it sees as attempting to become a regional superpower.

Iran has criticized Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia this year for lending military forces to Bahrain to help the tiny Gulf kingdom’s Sunni regime put down pro-democracy protests by members of the Shiite majority.

Saudi Arabia earlier this month accused Iran, which is predominantly Shiite, of having a hand in clashes between Shiite protesters and security forces in its Eastern Province. “ Tensions were already high (between the two nations) because of events in Bahrain and Syria and other places,” said Mustafa Alani, director of the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, a private think-tank.

“Given the latest announcement, Iran-Saudi relations are heading into a very difficult phase,” he said. Alani said the plot is an indication of Iran’s state of “panic because its about to lose its Syrian ally,” adding that the increasingly isolated Iranian nation is trying to “open new fronts to relieve pressure on Syria” and escalate existing confrontations with Shiites in the Arab world. So far, the only official Saudi reaction has been from the embassy in Washington, which released a statement calling the plot “a despicable violation of international norms, standards and conventions.”

But a Saudi official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the plot was linked to “Iranian cells which exist to provoke sedition and chaos just like in Bahrain and Iraq,” referring to recent years of sectarian violence, primarily between Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites.

Saudi Analyst Anwar Eskhi, director of the Middle East Centre for Strategic Studies, said the plot will further heighten sectarian tensions but argued all out war between the two nations is unlikely.

“Saudi Arabia doesn’t want a war,” he told AFP. Alani concurred but added that the region is entering yet another dangerous phase.

“There is a general escalation of tensions in the region and the ruling party in Iran is ready to escalate further,” Alani said, adding the plot will further convince Saudis that Iran’s most powerful are also the most extreme. In an interview with the Saudi daily newspaper al-Watan, the foreign ministry spokesman Osama Nugali, said the kingdom would soon have a response.

“We are waiting for the conclusion of the investigation and then we will respond,” he said. In Tuesday’s explosive announcement, US Attorney General Eric Holder said Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, a naturalized US citizen holding Iranian and US passports, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of the Quds Force, a unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were charged in the assassination plot.

The Iranian response was swift. “America has launched a mischievous scenario. But be certain, they will apologize in the future,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters yesterday adding that Saudi-Iranian relations were “good.”

For its part, the US said it was determined to hold Iran accountable. — AFP

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Spotlight

Hamas steals Abbas thunder

By Tom Perry amas has jumped back into the Middle East spotlight with a prisoner swap deal with Israel that will score points over President Mahmoud Abbas and steal some of the thunder he generated by pushing for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. But the deal hailed by the Islamist group which governs Gaza as a national victory was dimmed by Israel’s refusal to free some prominent prisoners from rival factions, chief among them Marwan Barghouti-a leading figure in Abbas’ Fatah movement.

Hamas had repeatedly pledged to secure Barghouti’s release in any deal to set free Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in 2006. Israel is now set to free more than 1,000 Palestinians for Shalit in the deal announced on Tuesday. “They would have given up on an important person in Barghouti. Someone important to the national movement,” said Hany al-Masri, a political commentator based in Ramallah in the West Bank. “It’s still a victory, but not such a great one.”

The exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, announcing the deal from his Damascus headquarters, said the prisoners included more than 300 serving life terms in Israeli jails.

They were drawn from members of all the Palestinian factions. But he did not name any of them, fuelling early speculation that Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation Of Palestine, had been left out of the deal.

Meshaal described the lopsided swap as “a national achievement” for the Palestinians, whose struggle for statehood has been crippled by the divide between the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and Abbas’ West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

“This deal embodies and strengthens the unity of the people by including all the fac-

H

tions,” Meshaal said. Though lacking Saadat and Barghouti, the swap will resonate with Palestinians, who regard the 6,000 or more prisoners held by Israel as national heroes and freedom fighters. From a domestic perspective, the timing comes at a good moment for Hamas. A hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners whose demands include an end to solitary confinement is making daily headlines in the Palestinian media.

ECLIPSED BY ABBAS The prisoner swap switches attention back to the Islamist group that has appeared

eclipsed in recent weeks by Abbas’ drive to secure full UN membership for a Palestinian state in the face of stiff U.S. and Israeli opposition. Hamas’ criticism of the diplomatic move had appeared out of tune with public support that peaked with a strong speech Abbas delivered to the UN General Assembly on Sept 23.

“Hamas proves again that it has cards and they can pull them out at the speed of light,” said Zakaria Al-Qaq, a Palestinian political commentator. “It’s about scoring goals. It isn’t a matter of elections, it’s about credibility.”

For now, the opinion polls are of little con-

Surrounded by journalists and supporters Noam and Aviva Shalit, parents of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured in 2006 by Hamas-allied militants in the Gaza Strip, leave by from car the family’s protest tent in Jerusalem back to their home in northern Israel, yesterday on the 1,935th day of his son’s captivity. — AFP

sequence to either Fatah or Hamas: neither is likely to face an electoral test any time soon because of the division between Gaza and the West Bank. The split has persisted, despite an agreement announced in May designed to end it.

But credibility matters to both. Abbas, 76, a believer in peace negotiations despite a deadlock that has lasted over a year, has enhanced his standing in recent months, showing a more defiant approach towards Israel and the United States.

He has stuck by his commitment not to return to talks with Israel without a full halt to its settlement construction on land where the Palestinians aim to found an independent state.

And his attempt to secure UN membership, though doomed to failure by the prospect of a US veto, has won support as a welcome change after two decades of negotiations. Hamas’ critics, meanwhile, say the movement has been facing a credibility crisis, struggling to reconcile its commitment to armed struggle against Israel with the responsibilities of governing Gaza, where it seized power from Abbas in 2007.

They have pointed to a contradiction between Hamas’ words and deeds as it has sought to rein in militants whose rocket attacks into Israel have drawn punishing reprisals.

In his televised address, a defiant Meshaal promised to secure the release of more prisoners. “We met our promise to you today, and we will do so tomorrow, God willing,” he said. Talal Okal, a Gaza-based commentator, said: “This has restored the shine to Hamas.”

Qaq added: “The Hamas movement is sending a message: that negotiations are not worth it, and its method, resistance, is the one that produces results.” — Reuters

Oman vote masks deeper malaise as reforms stutter

By Amran Abocar his month’s election in Oman may give the small Gulf sultanate a glossier democratic veneer, but it is unlikely to bury the discontent exposed by protests in February inspired by Arab uprisings elsewhere.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, an absolute ruler who deposed his father in 1970, responded to the unrest, in which five people were killed in the main industrial city of Sohar, with promises of reform and handouts. These have helped to calm the streets, although protests demanding the release of prisoners simmered into September, and Oman’s three million people remain mostly loyal to the sultan.

Yet many fret at the absence of real political change in a southeastern Arabian country strategically located at the entrance to the Gulf that fails to generate enough jobs to meet the demands of a small but rapidly growing population. Sultan Qaboos, 70, has won credit for using Oman’s limited oil revenue on social and economic infrastructure, but he has yet to offer Omanis a roadmap to genuine popular representation.

“The bottom line is that the election may not change anything at all,” said Abdullah Alabri, a 26-year-old Oman Air pilot. “It’s just a way of gaining a good image and making people feel a sense of democracy whereas, in reality, after the election we would not attain anything significant.”

Ostensibly, the Oct. 15 vote for the 84member Shura council should matter this time. Candidates elected to the advisory body will become part of the Oman Council, along with an appointed upper house. The council for the first time is to be given some legislative and regulatory powers.

But uncertainty, even cynicism, about how

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much authority the Council will be allowed to wield has reduced expectations among Oman’s half a million registered voters.

Turnout is not expected to top the 28 percent recorded in the last election in 2007.

“There is no reason why participation should be higher. People who were already disillusioned in 2007 will not be more confident in 2011,” said Marc Valeri, a Middle East politics lecturer at Essex University. Nearly seven months after Sultan Qaboos issued the Oman Council decree, little has been heard from a technical committee that was to prepare constitutional amendments.

More than 522,000 voters have registered this year, compared with 388,000 in 2007, the Interior Ministry said.

The streets of Muscat, the white-washed capital hugging the coast, are dotted with campaign billboards for some of the 1,300 candidates of both sexes, up from 700 in the last election.

Yet many Omanis are underwhelmed by the trickle of reforms since the spasm of protest driven by demands for jobs, higher salaries and an end to graft in Oman, the only Gulf Arab state besides Bahrain to see widescale popular unrest.

The sultan, a US ally who has ruled the non-OPEC oil producer for 40 years, promised a $2.6 billion spending package and 50,000 public sector jobs. He also reshuffled his cabinet three times, sidelining several powerful but unpopular figures.

Khalid Al-Haribi, a 34-year-old Shura candidate from the southern town of Salalah, said he was happy with the prompt action taken to raise wages and create jobs.

“However, I am unsatisfied with the slow pace at which all reforms are being implemented,” he said. “The government has been hesitant to give its people the power to ques-

tion them. But now I get the chance to break that wall, and it’s up to the people if they want to break it (too).”

Oman has one of the world’s youngest populations-about 40 percent of its people are under 21, according to official figures-and youth unemployment is high.

Hundreds of graduates spill into the job market each year with few prospects. The national quota program, a mechanism used in Gulf states to employ more citizens, has had mixed success. Expatriates still make up some 60 percent of the workforce in Oman, which has less hydrocarbon wealth than neighbors such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. A 2010 UN report ranked Oman first in boosting human development over the past 40 years, but its youngsters still see only limited options and many complain of highlevel corruption. “I haven’t taken much interest in this election, because I personally doubt it’s going to benefit us,” said technician Waheeb Bakri, 30, whose own priority was jobs with better pay.

“Young people are disappointed,” said J E Peterson, a US-based political analyst. “They don’t know the old time. They want to know what the sultan has done for them now.

“Oman is one of the poorer (Gulf ) countries and the economic pie hasn’t really grown as much as elsewhere,” Peterson said.

“Yet there are people within the government who have done very well out of the last 40 years.”

Few of the protesters in February called for the overthrow of Sultan Qaboos, who remains generally well-liked. “Oman ... managed to come out of the whole protest situation without too much damage because the sultan is so popular,” said Gala Riani, of London-based IHS Global Insight, noting how many Omanis view Qaboos as misled by a

corrupt elite around him.

Omanis have also observed the fate of a pro-democracy movement in Bahrain, where Saudi and UAE troops intervened in March to help a Sunni monarchy crush protests led by majority Shiites. The military intervention was carried out under a 30-year-old Gulf security pact of which Oman is a signatory.

The club of Gulf royals is likely to stick together, even when it comes to Oman, which has pursued an independent foreign policy that includes cordial ties with Iran, and which was the first to opt out of a planned Gulf monetary union.

“They’ve reached the extent of what they dared to do,” Peterson said of Oman’s protesters. The government has shown scant tolerance for dissent. In September, it closed a newspaper for reporting on alleged corruption in the justice ministry, dismaying Omani bloggers. “Shutting down an entire newspaper and sending an editor and journalist to jail for five months doesn’t speak well for Oman’s justice system,” wrote Dhofari Gucci, an Omani woman in Salalah. “It’s as if our protests earlier this year never happened.”

Qaboos’s cabinet reshuffles have also disappointed some educated young Omanis and activists, who had hoped the sultan would name a prime minister, not take on more power himself.

Qaboos is prime minister, chairman of the central bank and commander of the armed forces, as well as minister of defense and foreign affairs. Glacial moves towards devolving power ahead of an eventual succession of a ruler without heirs seem stalled.

“The Oman protests were about fear as much as anything else, fear about where Oman is going,” said Essex University’s Valeri.

“Even if it was not clearly said, there is a lot of worry about the future.” —Reuters

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Palmeiras fans attack player

Cowen helping Harrington to get back on track

SAO PAULO: A group of fans upset with Palmeiras’ poor results attacked one of its players outside the team’s stadium, leading the Brazilian club to postpone yesterday’s league game against Flamengo.

Brazilian police said fans of one of the team’s organized fan groups punched and kicked reserve midfielder Joao Vitor after he was recognized arriving at the team’s official store outside the Palestra Italia stadium on Tuesday. Joao Vitor sustained minor injuries and had to visit hospital briefly.

Palmeiras lawyer Andre Sica told local television the fans confronted Joao Vitor over the team’s recent results and the verbal altercation escalated into a physical confrontation. The 22-year-old player was with friends, who also

VILAMOURA: Renowned British coach Pete Cowen and his latest pupil, Padraig Harrington, are seeking further proof this week that the three-times major champion’s game is back on song. Harrington parted company with his coach of 13 years, Bob Torrance — father of former Ryder Cup captain Sam — in July after his game hit a new low with missed cuts in the British Open and his home Irish Open. The 40year-old Dubliner had plummeted down the world rankings from the third position he held shortly after claiming his third major title, the 2008 US PGA Championship.

Two weeks ago Harrington finished eighth in the Dunhill Links Championship and began what he and Cowen hope is a climb back up the rankings, where he currently sits 78th. “Padraig came and asked me at the Bridgestone (tournament) if I would give an opinion on his swing and what I thought might improve it,” Cowen, whose many pupils include world number two Lee Westwood, told Reuters yesterday on the eve of the Portugal Masters. “He thought he was spending far too much time on his long game, to the detriment of his short game. Padraig won two majors in 2008 with the best short game in the world. He felt as though he’d neglected that and when you looked at the stats it proved it. —Reuters

Penguins keep Panthers at bay PITTSBURGH: Matt Cooke scored his team-leading third goal of the season and the Pittsburgh Penguins raced past the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Pascal Dupuis, James Neal and Richard Park also had goals for the Penguins, who are off to their best start in 17 seasons despite playing without captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Crosby remains sidelined while he recovers from concussion-like symptoms, but Pittsburgh hasn’t needed him during the season’s first week, improving to 3-0-1. Malkin missed his second straight game because of what Penguins coach Dan Bylsma called “soreness.”

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots for the Penguins, who never trailed in their home opener. Marcel Goc and Tomas Fleischmann scored for the Panthers, who failed to start the season with consecutive victories for the first time since 2005.

Pittsburgh beat Florida for the fifth straight time behind the kind of disciplined, steady play that has become the Penguins’ identity with Crosby out of the lineup.

Crosby went through a rigorous morning skate on Tuesday as he continues his slow, methodical comeback. He still hasn’t been cleared for contact and remains guarded when talking about his future.

“I mean closer than I was yesterday, but I can’t give you a date,” Crosby said.

“I’d love for them to tell me a date I can come back and play, but it’s the same.”

The superstar, dressed in a black suit with a purple-and-black tie received a rousing ovation when he was the last player introduced during a lengthy pregame introduction. Malkin was a somewhat close second, though the Russian, like Crosby also wore a suit.

The Penguins aren’t flashy without their two most dynamic players, but

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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have shown a knack for generating offense anyway in the early going.

Consider Cooke the poster child. The longtime grinder and instigator has promised to change his ways after his 2010-11 season ended with a suspension for an illegal hit on New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

So far, this transformation is going very well. He started the season with a pair of goals in the season opener against Vancouver and netted his third on a fantastic backhand feed from Joe Vitale.

Park’s first goal with the Penguins in nearly 16 years came with more than a little help from the Panthers. Craig Adams’ aggressive forecheck deflected Fleischmann’s pass in front of the Florida net. Park, who signed with his original team just before training camp opened, fired a shot that clanked off the right post onto Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s thigh, and past Theodore to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead.

The last time the 35-year-old Park scored for the Penguins was Dec. 28, 1995, against the Hartford Whalers, six teams and a one -season detour to Switzerland ago.

The Panthers pulled within 3-2 on Fleischmann’s first goal of the season but the Penguins answered when Neal tapped in a pass from Jordan Staal.

The tally gave Neal two goals in four games, or double the total he managed in 20 games last season after being traded to Pittsburgh from Dallas.

The revamped Panthers beat the Islanders 2-0 on Saturday in coach Kevin Dineen’s debut. The franchise is in the midst of a massive roster overhaul, and the new-look unit showed flashes during a rare national television appearance.

It wasn’t enough, however. Jose Theodore had trouble giving up rebounds. He finished with 25 saves but lost to the Penguins for the fifth time in 26 career starts. —AP

got involved in the fight before police intervened with no arrests made.

Joao Vitor, who regularly comes off the substitutes bench, was not originally scheduled to travel with Palmeiras because of an injury.

Organized fan groups in Brazil are known for being violent and are often involved in confrontations with police and rival groups.

Palmeiras players and fans have a history of getting into disputes as former Brazil striker Vagner Love left the club after receiving threats.

Eight-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras, led by World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, is ninth in the league standings after winning only one of its last nine matches to trail leader Corinthians by 11 points.—AP

Benshoof quits US luge team NEW YORK: After 22 years on the US national luge team and three trips to the Olympics, Tony Benshoof has decided to retire from competitive sliding. USA Luge announced Benshoof’s decision Tuesday. “It was a great run and I’m going to miss the team and the organization,” Benshoof said. “Hopefully, I can stay involved in one capacity or another.”

Benshoof is the most decorated men’s slider in USA Luge history with 37 international medals, and he won the US national singles championship seven times tying him with Cameron Myler and Frank Masley for the all-time total. He was fourth at the 2006 Turin Olympics, missing a medal there by less than one-fifth of a second. He has not raced internationally since the 2010 Vancouver Games, where he was eighth. “We want to thank him for a stellar career and great memories, and wish him well wherever life takes him,” USA Luge CEO Ron Rossi said. “We also hope he stays close to the sport so he can share the knowledge and experience he has gleaned over the years with our younger athletes.”

Benshoof had back problems for years and had a pair of surgeries about three months apart in 2009 and 2010 to repair ruptured and torn disks. He said last year that the potential for him to get back on his sled “all hinges on my back.”

And as recently as last week, some members of the US national team said they held out hope that Benshoof would be able to compete this season. —AP

Tigers get past Rangers DETROIT: Victor Martinez slowed his home run trot to barely a jog, stepping gingerly around the bases after hurting himself with a big swing.

The banged-up Detroit Tigers are teetering but still standing, thanks to Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and another pivotal performance on the mound by Doug Fister.

“You know what? This is us,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

“We are what we are. We’ve been doing this for the whole year, and we’re going to either win this thing or go down with what we got.”

Fister again delivered a strong start in a game Detroit needed and Cabrera homered and had a tiebreaking double to lead the Tigers past the Texas Rangers 5-2 Tuesday night in Game 3 of the AL championship series.

Martinez homered in the fourth to tie the score at 1, hurting his ribcage in the process. He stayed in the game and has every intention of being in the lineup Wednesday when Detroit will try to even the series. “The only way I’m not playing is if I wake up dead,” he said.

Detroit dropped the first two games in Texas before turning to Fister, who won the decisive fifth game of the division series at Yankee Stadium last week. He was sharp again, allowing two runs and seven hits with no walks in 7 1-3 innings.

Jose Valverde, after tossing a season-high two innings the day before, worked around a leadoff double in the ninth for his third playoff save. He got some help from Cabrera, who made a diving play at first base. Matt Harrison starts Game 4 for Texas against Rick Porcello - both went 14-9 this season.

“It’s going to be a long series,” Cabrera said. “Nobody (said) it’s going to be easy. You’ve got to be patient.”

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre fouled a ball off his left knee in the fourth and hobbled the rest of the night. X-rays were negative and he has a bruise.

Cabrera’s double in the fifth put the Tigers ahead 2-1 and he added a towering solo homer in the seventh. Jhonny Peralta also went deep for the Tigers and Austin Jackson broke out of his postseason slump with three hits, including an RBI single.

Texas right-hander Colby Lewis, who entered 4-0 in five postseason starts, allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.

“He throws strikes and every now and then he’s going to give

Tigers struggled early on against Lewis. Detroit had two on with one out in the second, but Alex Avila and Ryan Raburn both struck out. Lewis struck out five in the first three innings, but Martinez led off the fourth with a homer to right.

Martinez, who hit .330 this season despite groin, knee and back problems, labored slowly around the bases after the ball cleared the wall. When he returned to the dugout, his head still down, he slammed his helmet down as he

Beltre fielded the ball, then paused and waited to tag Cabrera.

When the Detroit baserunner froze in his tracks, Beltre finally backpedaled toward the bag for the force to end the inning.

Detroit added two runs in the sixth. Peralta led off with a homer, and Jackson’s RBI single made it 41. It was an encouraging night for Jackson, who entered 3 for 25 in the postseason with 14 strikeouts.

Cabrera’s homer in the seventh, which stayed fair down the leftfield line, was his second of the

DETROIT: Texas Rangers’ Yorvit Torrealba safely slides under the tag of Detroit Tigers second baseman Ramon Santiago for a double in the eighth inning of Game 3 of baseball’s American League championship series. —AP up some long balls. I thought it was a pretty good ballgame,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He kept us in the ballgame. It was Fister that did the job out there tonight.”

Stung by Nelson Cruz’s gameending grand slam Monday, the Tigers returned home hoping to shake out of their offensive funk.

They fell behind 1-0 when Fister allowed three consecutive singles to start the game, but the 6-foot-8 right-hander held the Rangers in check after that, even striking out Cruz for the third out of the seventh as the towel-waving crowd at Comerica Park roared its approval.

After leaving 22 runners on base in the first two games, the

descended the steps toward the clubhouse.

Detroit was already playing without injured outfielders Delmon Young, Magglio Ordonez and Brennan Boesch, and it wasn’t clear whether Martinez - the designated hitter - would be able to continue. But he was back in the fifth, standing near the on-deck circle with Cabrera at the plate.

With runners at first and third and two outs, Texas decided to pitch to Cabrera, and his line drive down the right-field line on an 0-2 count stayed fair for a double to drive in a run.

Martinez drew a walk, loading the bases for Don Kelly, who hit a check-swing grounder to third.

playoffs. It also came on an 0-2 pitch.

Detroit provided more than enough offense for Fister, who was terrific down the stretch after the Tigers acquired him in a trade with Seattle shortly before the July 31 deadline. He retired his final batter Tuesday on an unusual unassisted putout, fielding Endy Chavez’s grounder and then hustling over to first because Cabrera was well off the bag, trying to position himself for a potential play on the ball.

Fister was lifted after that, and he tipped his cap to an appreciative crowd as he left the field. “It gives me goose bumps to remember walking off on that,” Fister said. —AP

Senators win Wild shootout PITTSBURGH: Penguins Pascal Dupuis (9) takes a shot which hits the stick of Florida Panthers goalie Jose Theodore (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game. —AP

NHL results/standings Results and standings from the NHL games on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh 4, Florida 2; Ottawa 4, Minnesota 3 (SO).

Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Detroit 2 0 0 8 3 Pittsburgh 3 0 1 14 10 7 Nashville 2 0 0 7 4 Philadelphia 2 0 0 5 1 4 Chicago 1 1 0 6 4 New Jersey 1 1 0 4 5 2 St. Louis 1 1 0 7 6 NY Islanders 1 1 0 2 3 2 Columbus 0 3 0 6 10 NY Rangers 0 0 2 3 5 2

Buffalo Toronto Montreal Boston Ottawa

Northeast Division 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 8 1 1 0 5 1 2 0 5 1 2 0 12

3 5 3 4 14

Washington Tampa Bay Florida Carolina Winnipeg

Southeast Division 2 0 0 10 1 1 1 11 1 1 0 4 0 2 1 6 0 1 0 1

8 11 4 13 5

4 4 2 2 0

4 4 2 2 2

Vancouver Minnesota Edmonton Colorado Calgary

Northwest Division 1 0 1 6 1 1 1 8 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 5

6 8 1 3 10

3 3 2 2 0

4 3 2 1 0

Dallas San Jose Los Angeles Anaheim Phoenix

Pacific Division 2 1 0 6 1 0 0 6 1 1 0 5 1 1 0 3 0 1 1 4

7 3 6 5 8

4 2 2 2 1

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

OT TAWA: Daniel Alfredsson scored Ottawa’s third straight shootout goal and the Senators rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night in the home opener of their 20th season.

Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza also scored in the tiebreaker against Nik las Backstrom, who made 41 saves for Minnesota.

Craig Anderson stopped 23 shots and denied Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu’s backhand in the shootout before Matt Cullen scored on the Wild’s second attempt.

Colin Greening drew Ottawa even at 3 with a power-play goal 8:22 into the third period, moments after Ottawa buzzed the net on a 4-on-3 advantage.

Kyle Brodziak and Devin Setoguchi gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the first and Nick Johnson restored the Wild’s twogoal margin 1:56 into the third.

Nick Foligno netted Ottawa’s first goal in the second period before Chris Neil drew the Senators within one for the second time in the game.

Michalek came out of the penalty box to set up Greening’s tying goal after he was sent off with Minnesota’s Cal Clutterbuck for roughing at 6:13 in the wake

of Neil’s goal, which drew the Senators within 3-2.

Brodziak scored his first goal of the season 8:41 in when he deflected Clayton Stoner’s shot from the left boards past Anderson.

Setoguchi made it 2-0 with a power-play goal with 48.7 seconds remaining in the first. Koivu fed a pass to the slot, and Setoguchi picked the top right corner with a wrist shot for his second goal in three games.

Former Senators 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, who was booed constantly, got the secondary assist on Setoguchi’s goal in his return to Ottawa. Foligno scored his first goal 8:17 into the second to draw Ottawa within 2-1.

Johnson gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead with an unassisted goal 1:56 into the third that required a video review to confirm that the puck had crossed the goal line.

Neil made it a one-goal game again at 6:13. Referee Don Van Massenhoven initially signaled no-goal but his call was overturned as replays clearly showed the puck went into the net.

Laurie Boschman, the modern Senators’ first captain, dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff during a pregame ceremony honoring Ottawa’s 1992-93 inaugural season team. —AP

OTTAWA: Senators’ Chris Neil (right) runs into Minnesota Wild’s Clayton Stoner behind the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game. —AP

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Years

Lockout’s real pain felt beyond owners and players NEW YORK: NBA owners will lose $1 million on average for every game canceled because of the lockout, and players will lose an estimated $350 million a month.

The pain, though, may be more acute for thousands of people with no seat at the bargaining table.

Bars, restaurants and hotels will go quiet. Parking spots will go unfilled. And the workers who help make basketball a big event in 30 cities will wonder how long they can get by without it.

“I’m worried that my money situation is going to change - a lot,” said waitress Zuly Molina, who works at a Hooters at the Bayside complex next to the Miami Heat’s home arena. “It was a lot better last year.

We had business before every game, during every game with people who couldn’t get tickets watching in here, then after every game. Now it’s gone, except for when they have a concert or something like that.” Molina said she never believed the NBA would cancel games until Monday, when the league announced it was scrapping the first two weeks of the season - 100 games - because owners and players couldn’t agree on a new contract.

She said, “I thought it would be like

football,” where the NFL lost preseason games but no regular-season games while it hammered out a deal with players. “They were locked out. They got it situated. I thought the NBA would get it situated.”

There’s no telling when that will happen. Commissioner David Stern indicated that the entire November calendar could be wiped away without a deal by the end of this month, but players and owners had no immediate plans to sit down with each other again. The cancellations mean that Mark Cuban and his Dallas Mavericks won’t be able to collect their NBA championship rings in the Nov. 1 season opener, and that James Dolan won’t be able to show off his renovated Madison Square Garden to a sold-out crowd when New York hosts the Heat’s Big Three the next night.

But owners might be the lucky ones.

They can still recoup some of their losses, and that’s what Stern said they could attempt by toughening their future proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement.

“Well, what we have to do is we have to account for the losses that we’re suffering, so those losses will be factored in as we move forward,” he said Monday night.

Players and owners have each made some concessions but remain far apart on several issues. Each side has sought a 53 percent cut of revenue for itself, though a 50-50 split has been floated informally.

Owners also want a higher luxury tax, making it more expensive for teams to spend over the salary cap, but players say that would do too much to discourage teams from offering big contracts.

Players and fans quickly took to Twitter and talk shows, disgusted that the sides couldn’t work out an agreement and were willing to cause so much damage following such a successful season.

“All I can think about, and I’m not trying to sound like I’m on my soapbox here, but all I can think about are the thousands and thousands of arena, team and hospitality employees that are now going to be out of work,” said Andrew Feinstein, a bar owner and season ticket holder in Denver.

“I thought the owners and players had an obligation to work this thing out while continuing to play the game, given the dire economic circumstances that are taking place in our country right now.”

A lengthy lockout will be felt strongest in the NBA’s small-market cities. In Salt

Lake City, a Marriott hotel was taking cancellations Tuesday for about 40 rooms previously booked by the Memphis Grizzlies the night of Nov. 2. Tyson Lybbert, director of sales and marketing for the Salt Lake Marriott City Center, said each game brings between $5,000 and $10,000 to the chain.

Without a lockout, basketball already would have been back by now. The exhibition schedule was to have opened Sunday, and even preseason games can bring big crowds to restaurants and bars near NBA arenas. Jim Couch, city manager of Oklahoma City, was concerned for restaurants, hotels and volunteer groups in his city. The Thunder are coming off their most successful season since relocating from Seattle, reaching the Western Conference finals last year behind NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant, and have developed one of the league’s most passionate fan bases. “What I’m more concerned about than anything else is the momentum that the city has gotten, disrupting the momentum with the Thunder. It was a special year last year with the Thunder, and I think everybody was looking forward to continue that,” Couch said. “I think it’s almost a love affair between the community and

the team, and you hate to disrupt that.”

Business went on for the league’s partners. ESPN was scheduled to show seven games during the opening two weeks and plans to replace them mostly with college football and basketball games. TNT will rely on its regular prime-time lineup to fill the six games it would have televised.

Adidas, the league’s official outfitter, and fellow sneaker giant Nike said they remained committed to basketball and could seek additional exposure at the collegiate or international levels.

Stern and union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers expressed disappointment for fans. Players and owners had the luxury of knowing just how complex the issues were and had two years to prepare themselves financially for a moment that Fisher said was “what we anticipated would probably happen.”

“This is a big blow obviously to our fans, most importantly,” he said. “They don’t have a voice in this fight so far, but we hear them loud and clearly. They want basketball, we want to play basketball, and we’re going to do the responsible thing and try our best to bring them basketball as soon as we possibly can.”—AP

Rugby world focuses on Australia and NZ rivalry

LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods answers a question from the media during a news conference held to announce the field for the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament . —AP

Woods grateful for spot in his own tournament LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods is awfully happy he could announce his own name in the field of the Chevron World Challenge.

Woods expressed gratitude to the tournament committee Tuesday after squeaking into the event he hosts. His world rank ing barely stayed in the top 50 last month, just high enough to qualify for an exemption, and he’ll be at Sherwood Country Club in seven weeks for the final event of his so-far winless season. After a brutal two-year stretch of personal turmoil and reinvention, Woods appears eager to continue his climb back from his latest low.

Woods has dropped from No. 49 to 52 since clinching a spot the Chevron field, and he finished tied for 30th last week in Nor thern California in the Frys.com Open, his first tournament in nearly two months.

“I had (rankings) points rolling off from ‘09,” Woods said at a news conference in Hollywood. “I had a very good year that year. I won, what, seven times around the world, so all those points are coming off.

Unfortunately, I fell quite a bit, and I fell fast. Good news is, by playing next year, I have no points coming off, so I can start rebuilding.”

Rebuilding is the theme of Woods’ life these days as he moves forward from injuries to his left knee and Achilles tendon, along with the disintegration of his marriage and public image. He plans to play a full schedule in 2012, but he’ll play in the Australian Open and the Presidents Cup in the nex t few weeks before returning to his native California for the Chevron tournament. “I’m really looking forward to going down to Australia and playing because now I have that feeling of playing again, not just hitting ball after ball after ball on the range,” Woods said.

Woods will join an Americanheav y Chevron field of 18 in Thousand Oaks, including Steve Stricker, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney and PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley. FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas also received an exemption.

Woods has won the tournament four times, but lost in a playoff last year after Graeme McDowell rallied from four strokes back in the final round. Although he blew a late lead,

Woods remains proud of his performance while he was still rebuilding his swing with coach Sean Foley.

“I had one golf shot only, and that was it,” Woods said. “That was going to be a draw. I couldn’t hit a fade.

What we were working on at the time limited me to only hitting one golf shot. I’m like, ‘OK, well, how am I supposed to play this week? I’m going to have to rely on my putter.’

So I hit the ball well.”

The tournament probably could have put Woods in its field this year even if his ranking hadn’t stayed high enough for an exemption under the current rules, but such a move might have prevented the tournament from awarding ranking points.

While Woods’ return to golf dominance still is far from certain, he remains the sport’s biggest icon.

Several hundred fans showed up Tuesday to watch Woods put on a good-natured putting exhibition in the middle of the Hollywood and Highland retail complex built around the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Academy Awards.

After several fans competed for the chance to walk inside the ropes with Woods during the first round at Sherwood, he competed against the winner on a large artificial putting green. The crowd included at least two Tiger impersonators - no surprise in the mall nex t- door to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and its motley collection of celebrity lookalikes. Woods interacted with fans and engaged in a little trash-talk with the putting competitors, appearing at ease after a fan threw a hot dog in Woods’ direction last Sunday in San Martin. As the world’s most popular golfer, Woods is aware of the risks he takes every weekend.

“Part of the lure of our sport is our access,” Woods said. “Fans can literally reach out and touch you. You don’t ever touch football players unless they jump in the stands. That personal interaction is what makes golf so special. We’ve been very fortunate over the years to have everything turn out positively. “This guy was just trying to gain attention for himself, which he did. I’ve had another fan throw an orange in Phoenix one year. Unfortunately, people have a few of their libations of choice, and do things that they probably don’t normally do.”—AP

AUCKLAND: As critics from around the world sought to better understand the trans-Tasman rivalry which exists almost in the DNA of New Zealanders and Australians, some of the most recognizable figures on either side surprised them yesterday with expressions of mutual admiration.

New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams called Australia’s Quade Cooper a mate, and Cooper described Williams as “a very special player” as the pair admitted to exchanging text messages ahead of Sunday’s World Cup semifinal. But appearances were deceiving.

Williams and Cooper are mates off the field, as are the All Blacks lock Brad Thorn and his opposite Nathan Sharpe. But all are quite emphatic that mateship doesn’t exist within the field of play.

To make that plain, players from both sides began to lift the tone of the rhetoric around Sunday’s match at packed news conferences, heightening the tension around the semifinal, and the rivalry itself, from a simmer to a slow boil.

“I’ve been in touch with him, he’s a good mate,” Williams said of Cooper. “But on the field it’s a different story. I want to win and he wants to win; I want to win for New Zealand, he wants to win for Australia.”

Cooper, after complimenting Williams, couldn’t resist a well-aimed jab at New Zealand and its record of failures at Rugby World Cups over the past 24 years.

In their frequent sporting disputes, Australians like nothing better than to remind New Zealand of that long and bitter drought, and of the fact the Wallabies have won the World Cup twice in the interim.

Cooper is not a popular bloke in New Zealand.

Having been born here, he chose to throw in his lot with his adopted nation and, to Kiwis, few sins are less forgivable. He was asked on Wednesday how New Zealanders might feel not only if the Wallabies win on Sunday but if he kicks the winning points.

“Yeah, well that would be a tough one for them to swallow,” he said. “I’m sure that they’ve got a lot more things to worry about than myself.”

And then, with a famously sharp eye for an opening, he saw the chance to wind up the pressure on New Zealand.

“They’re supposed to have won the World Cup for the past three tournaments and this is no different,” he said. “A lot of pressure is on them to win this competition on their home soil. I’m sure they’ll be more worried about how they go about their game than myself.”

Wallabies flanker Rocky Elsom took a similar line, emphasizing the pressure on the All Blacks to end their World Cup drought at home.

“Forget about us for a minute,” he said. “They’re the No. 1-ranked team in the world and they’re in a country where they expect them to win the World Cup, so regardless of what happens the public expect that. I

can’t speak for them, but you get a feeling around town they won’t tolerate anything less.”

Australia’s David Pocock gave some context to the rivalry when he said “because they’re our closest neighbors in terms of rugby, it’s always a huge match and one we get excited about. You add a semifinal at the World Cup to that, and it’s extra special this week.”

Thorn, who played rugby league for Australia

at 34, which is impressive,” he said. “I like him as a player and as a person.”

No day at this tournament would be full without an injury scare. Injuries have been one of the constants and one of the most influential features of the seventh World Cup. Wales held concerns over a shoulder injury to young flyhalf Rhys Priestland and were waiting for him

AUCKLAND: New Zealand rugby players Sonny Bill Williams (left) and Maía Nonu walk on the pitch during the team’s training. New Zealand will play their Rugby World Cup semifinal against Australia, Sunday. —AP before switching codes and becoming an All Black, is well-placed to interpret the rivalry from both sides. He said “it’s cheeky, it’s fun and both countries love getting the wood over each other.”

As Wales and France prepared for their semifinal meeting on Saturday, there was more mutual respect than talk of historical differences. Wingers Shane Williams of Wales and Vincent Clerc of France, who will oppose each other at Eden Park, could only speak of each other in glowing terms.

“Vincent Clerc’s a lethal finisher, I’ve been impressed with him from the start,” Williams said. “He’s not a winger that stays on the wings, he goes looking for work, and they’re the kind of wingers I certainly enjoy watching, maybe not playing against so much.

He deserves to get all the credit at the moment.”

Clerc was equally complimentary of Williams. “He’s had a long and exceptional career, he’s still on the field

to show improvement before confirming him in their semifinal lineup, due to be named on Thursday.

Priestland went off three minutes from the end of the quarterfinal win over Ireland last Saturday in Wellington. He carried his left arm in a sling on Sunday and Monday, and so far it has failed to respond to treatment.

Fears also arose Wednesday over the fitness of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. The sighting in Auckland of Matt Todd, the young flanker who understudies McCaw at the Canterbury Crusaders, raised concern that a foot injury carried by McCaw throughout the tournament was more serious than first thought.

All Blacks management played down the seriousness of the injury, and the presence of Todd, saying he was not part of the official squad, but with a match against Australia pending, New Zealand fans suffered more anxious moments.—AP

Lynx feted with WNBA championship parade MINNEAPOLIS: Lindsay Whalen sat in the back of a convertible, scanning the delighted crowd for kids to toss candy to. On her right was Seimone Augustus, waving and smiling as the Minnesota Lynx caravan crawled through downtown Minneapolis in celebration of their first WNBA title.

Between them was the shiny basketball-shaped trophy.

The Lynx don’t draw the attention the Vikings, Twins or Gophers get, but that didn’t matter on this day. This was a championship parade, the kind of community pride Minnesota sports fans have been craving.

“Awesome. Awesome. Awesome,” Whalen said afterward at Target Center, after the eight-block ride down Nicollet Mall and 7th Street in front of a crowd the Lynx estimated at 15,000.

Workers on lunch break Tuesday streamed out of the skyscrapers in their suits, grinning at the unexpected entertainment as the players, coaches and staff went by. People lined up about five deep at the points where the car carrying Augustus and Whalen passed. Confetti was poured down from some of the rooftops.

Students who got out of school hammed it up, enjoying their freedom. Long-time fans - of a team that didn’t win a playoff series from the franchise’s start in 1999 until this year - cheered in green and white T-shirts.

The Lynx just soaked up the sun and the praise on an unseasonably warm day before heading inside for a

rally with video highlights, dance music and grateful speeches from the main attractions. About 5,000 people showed up for that part of the party, four days after the Lynx finished their three-game sweep of the Atlanta

attended several games this summer.

They’ve got season tickets for next year. Shortly before they relocated, Jones recalled, they watched the Lynx take Maya Moore, one of their favorite players, with the first pick in

MINNEAPOLIS: Maya Moore (left) and Taj McWilliamsFranklin ride in a parade for the WNBA-championship Minnesota Lynx. The team was honored with a downtown parade and a rally at Target Center, with an estimated 15,000 people lined up along the route and about 5,000 fans inside the arena to cheer and hear from the players.—AP Dream in the finals.

“They were just so solid. Every player contributed,” said one fan, A.C. Flynn, who joined the celebration with Amy Jones.

Flynn and Jones recently moved to Minneapolis from St. Louis and

the draft. “We were just jumping up and down,” Flynn said.

The WNBA is a niche league, but the success of the Lynx spread to the mainstream in a market where the big-time teams have struggled badly lately. The Vikings are 1-4. The Twins

lost 99 times this year. The Gophers football team has been beaten in consecutive Big Ten games by a combined score of 103-17. The Timberwolves aren’t even playing because the NBA is in a lockout. The Lynx were happy to pick up the slack.

With the final game on TVs at bars around the Twin Cities on Friday night, patrons clapped and cheered as the Lynx moved closer to victory.

Greeted by hundreds of fans at the airport when they arrived Saturday from Atlanta, the team was honored on the field before the Vikings game Sunday. Before the rally Tuesday, they had breakfast with Gov. Mark Dayton.

“We’re champions,” said key reserve Candice Wiggins. “People look at you differently. They look at you with respect, and it feels good to earn that respect.”

That much was clear along the parade route. “I was really overwhelmed by how much emotion the people were feeling there,” Wiggins said. “They, in their hearts, love us. It feels good to be loved.”

Whalen, who grew up in Hutchinson, Minn., and starred for the Gophers, has seen her popularity rise to an even higher level. She expressed hope and optimism that the Lynx, who went 27-7 during the regular season and 8-1 in the playoffs, can keep this up.

“We have a nice core group,” Whalen said. “We’re pretty young, so this should be pretty fun for a lot of years.”—AP

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Rogge won’t tip hand on next US Olympics COLORADO SPRINGS: If there’s any sense of urgency to bring the Olympics back to the United States, the president of the IOC isn’t tipping his hand.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Jacques Rogge said returning the games to big countries for instance, the US after a drought of at least 20 years - is no more or less important than someday taking them to Africa.

Rogge has carefully cultivated this down-the-middle approach in his 10 years as the IOC’s leader. He offered neither encouragement nor discouragement to the US, which pumps the most money into the Olympic movement but is guaranteed to go at least two decades between taking its turn as host.

“It’s important that the games come back there,” Rogge said of the US, China and Russia, the three countries generally considered the biggest in the Olympics. “But we are also very happy to bring games to regions or subcontinents or continents where they’ve never been organized. One day, the games will be held in Africa and that will be a very important aspect.”

China hosted the 2008 Olympics and Russia will host the Winter Games in 2014. Rio de Janeiro will host the first Olympics in South America in 2016. The US last hosted in 2002 - the Salt Lake City Winter Games.

Neither the US nor any African country bid for 2020, meaning the next American chance would be for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Africa’s next best chance won’t likely come until 2024. Rogge, whose term expires in 2013, won’t be around to see either of those games awarded and would not bite when asked which was closer to holding an Olympics. “ To win the games you have to bid,” he said. “If you don’t bid, you have no chance.”

The US Olympic Committee says it won’t bid until it resolves a long-simmering feud with the IOC over revenue sharing. Currently, the USOC receives a 20 percent share of global sponsorship revenues and a 12.75 percent cut of US broadcast rights deals. The IOC wants more of that money.

Negotiations were fast-tracked over the summer in an apparent attempt to iron something out in time for the USOC to meet the September deadline to bid for 2020. But no agreement was reached and any plans were put on hold. Last month, however, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said the federation always remains interested in bidding. “I think 20 years is long enough,” Blackmun said. “I think it’s important that we host the games in the United States as a way to keep Americans connected to the team.”

In the interview Tuesday, Rogge agreed with Blackmun’s sentiment, but said, “the ones who will benefit the most will be the USOC, of course.” “ The Olympic movement, as a whole, would benefit from coming

back to major countries on a regular basis,” Rogge said. “But at the same time, we need to have openings for new horizons and for regions where no games were ever organized.”

Denver has been mentioned as a potential 2022 candidate. Rogge said he didn’t know enough about Denver’s

COLORADO SPRINGS: International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge speaks during an interview. —AP infrastructure to comment on its viability. Denver was awarded the 1976 Winter Olympics but later turned them down - a historical footnote that Rogge said would not work against the Mile High City if it were to bid again.

“The issue of Denver is not an issue anymore,” Rogge said. “ There is absolutely no grudge whatsoever in the IOC for what happened in Denver more than 40 years ago.”

Rogge was visiting Colorado Springs, the home of the US Olympic Committee, for the first time since he became president in 2001. He was in town for the IOC Athletes’ Forum, which made its biggest news this week by recommending to the IOC that athletes convicted of “deliberate and aggravated” doping offenses should receive a lifetime Olympic ban on their first offense. Most first offenses carry a two-year suspension.

In other doping news, Rogge said he was surprised by a ruling that will allow American sprinter LaShawn Merritt back in the Olympics next year.

But, Rogge said, the IOC will fight to uphold the spirit of the rule in the future.

Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the IOC-supported rule that bans any athlete who has served a doping suspension of more than six months, as Merritt had, from competing in the next Olympics.

Rogge said he respected the CAS ruling but was surprised by it because the same body had given the IOC different feedback in an advisory opinion when the rule was passed three years ago. Rogge said the IOC will try to have the ban included in World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines that will be revised in 2013. “We respect the judgment,” Rogge said. “Our juridical team will have to discuss and study that.” —AP

The Higher Organizing Committee of the Asian Airgun Championship hold a press conference at the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex.

Kuwait to host Asian Airgun Championship

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The Higher Organizing Committee of the Fourth Asian Airgun Championship announced that 33 countries will participate in the championship, to be hosted by Kuwait between Oct 1723, at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex.

The Committee held a press conference at the complex, and was attended

by Deputy Chairman of the Committee Eng. Duaij al-Otaibi, Secretary General of Arab and Kuwait Shooting Federations Obeid Al-Osaimi Director General of Asian Shooting Confederation Eng. Mohammad Al-Ghurba, Technical Director Jasni Shari and Public Relations Director Abdelrazaq Al-Tayyar.

Al-Otaibi said the opening ceremony will be on October 18th at Martyr Fahad Al-Ahmad Hall at the complex. He said competitions will be at 10m airgun range, with the participation of nearly 500 shooters and 120 officials.

Al-Otaibi said, meetings of ASC

General Assembly will be held in Kuwait during the championship and Sheikh Salman is expected to win a new 4-year term as president as he is running unopposed. Al-Otaibi said “Hosting a championship at this level and number, makes Kuwait proud and affirms its pioneering status at all levels” adding “we were surprised by the large number of participating countries, as we expected 17 Asian countries to compete”.

He said the shooting ranges are ready, as specialized international companies made all the necessary maintenance and made sure all is up and running. Kuwait will participate with 25 shooters, in 12 competitions for men and women.

Al-Otaibi, on behalf of Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud and organizing committee members thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, the government, Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad, Public Authority for Youth and Sports, and other government authorities for their support.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

S P ORT S

Dhoni faces challenging task in England series HYDERABAD: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gets a chance for revenge against England when he leads his team in a one-day series starting here Friday but his team is still handicapped by injuries.

India was beset by injuries on its recent tour of England when it failed to win a single game, and Dhoni must hope that being back on home soil will help redress the balance between the two teams. Dhoni leads his team at home for the first time since India won the World Cup in April.

Opener Gautam Gambhir makes a return but others like batting star Sachin Tendulkar, big-hitter Virender Sehwag, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, allrounder Yuvraj Singh and seamer Munaf Patel are not in the team for the first two games in Hyderabad and New Delhi because of injuries.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh has been dropped after some unimpressive performances in international cricket, leaving the bowling attack woefully short of experience.

Selectors also ignored pace bowlers Ashish Nehra and Shantakumaran Sreesanth, leaving India with only five players - Dhoni, Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin - who were in the World Cup squad.

Selectors have picked uncapped leg-spinner Rahul Sharma while preferring off-spinner Ashwin over Harbhajan.

The pace bowling attack led by Praveen Kumar lacks experience, with Varun Aaron and left-armer Sreenath Aravind still to be capped and Vinay Kumar and Umesh Yadav yet to prove themselves.

“Compared to the past, they are an inexperienced side and the bowling in particular looks depleted in the absence of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh,” Cook said on arriving in India. “But their players know the conditions well.”

England, which was involved in a highscoring last-ball tie in its last game against India on Indian soil during the World Cup in Bangalore, has warmed up well by winning two practice games played with new ICC rules that include the use of two new balls one from each end.

Runner disqualified for taking bus LONDON: After crossing the finish line in third place and smashing his personal best, Rob Sloan celebrated and boasted how he’d just completed an “unbelievably tough” marathon. It turns out things weren’t quite what they seemed.

Sloan, organizers say, had actually dropped out 20 miles (32 kms) into the race, hitched a ride on a spectator shuttle bus and emerged from the woods near the finish line to make the podium.

After initially describing claims that he cheated in Sunday’s Kielder Marathon near Newcastle as “laughable,” Sloan admitted his transgression following an investigation by organizers.

“People in cars following the bus saw him get on and off. People saw him run through the bushes - we had him hook, line and sinker,” Dave Roberts, one of the marathon organizers, told The Associated Press yesterday. “Rob was distraught at having to come clean.” Sloan was stripped of his third-place result.

Fellow competitors and bosses of Sloan’s running club, the Sunderland Harriers, criticized the runner for tainting an event labeled by organizers as “Britain’s most beautiful marathon.”

Steven Cairns, who moved from fourth to third following Sloan’s disqualification, accused his rival of “stealing my glory.”

“I was third the whole way but somehow I crossed the line and was given fourth!” Cairns said on his Facebook page. “I started to doubt myself as he was adamant he had gone past me. I could understand him taking the goody bag and the T-shirt but to do the press interview claiming he was third...”

A day after winning a 10-kilometer race at the same location, Sloan ran out of stamina with 6 miles (9.6 kms) remaining in the marathon. Then came the bus ride and shortcut through the woods to the finish line.

Sloan’s time was given as 2 hours, 51 minutes - 21 minutes faster than his previous best in the race.

“I’m convinced it was not premeditated,” Roberts said. “But he felt rough, pulled out and flagged down a bus. It’s as bad as drugtaking in my book because it’s attempting to improve your performance by cheating. I’ve never known anything like it.”

Sloan will go before a district committee this month as part of an inquiry into his actions, and faces the prospect of being banned from future marathons.

“We are pleased this matter has been cleared up,” said event director Steve Cram, a former world record holder and world champion in the 1,500 meters. “Mr. Sloan made a mistake and has apologized to us for the confusion it has caused.”

Cram will travel to the Scottish city of Edinburgh, where Cairns lives, next week to give him his third-place medal.

One of the most famous cases of cheating in a marathon came at the Boston Marathon in 1980, where Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line but was disqualified when officials discovered she jumped into the race about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the end. —AP

The team is here without injured allrounder Stuart Broad and experienced seamer James Anderson who has been rested, leaving Tim Bresnan and Steve Finn to carry the responsibility of bowling along with offspinner Graeme Swann.

England’s batting though looks more set-

Gandhi Stadium which will host the first game on Friday.

The other one-day games will be held in New Delhi (Oct. 17), Mohali (Oct. 20), Mumbai (Oct. 23) and Kolkata (Oct. 25). The tour culminates with a solitary Twenty20 game in Kolkata (Oct. 29).

HYDERABAD: England’s cricket captain Alastair Cook (right) and India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) pose with the trophy after its unveiling at a function in Hyderabad. —AP tled with Kevin Pietersen getting a chance to consolidate his position after being rested for the home one-day series against India.

Ravi Bopara struck a neat 73 in a 56-run win over local side Hyderabad XI in the team’s first practice game, while Jonny Bairstow’s blistering 104 not out off 53 balls capped a string of good batting performances by Cook (85), Jonathan Trott (74) and Craig Kieswetter (71) that helped win the second by 253 runs.

In bowling, pace bowler Finn produced a hat-trick in the first game while upcoming leg-spinner Scott Borthwick claimed 5-31 in the second to test conditions at the Rajiv

Teams: India: Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Manoj Tiwar y, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron, Sreenath Aravind, Umesh Yadav.

England: Alastair Cook (captain), Craig Keiswetter, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Jonny Bairstow, Graeme Swann, Scott Borthwick, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Steve Finn, Chris Woakes, Jade Dernbach, Stuart Meaker. —AP

Pakistan players plotted to oust one-day captain Afridi LONDON: Pakistan cricketers plotted to oust former one-day captain Shahid Afridi from his position by underperforming, a court heard on Tuesday.

During the fifth day of the alleged Pakistan spot-fixing trial at London’s Southwark crown court, the jury was played recordings that suggested members of the team wanted test captain Salman Butt to lead Pakistan in one-day cricket as well, rather than Afridi.

The comments were made by the agent at the center of the allegations, Mazhar Majeed. “There’s a thing going on with the players,” Majeed was heard to say. “A lot of the boys want to (mess) up Afridi because he is trying to (mess) up things for them and he’s the captain of the Twenty20 and oneday (sides). They all want Butt to be captain.”

Majeed went on to say that Butt and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal would “waste” two or three overs when batting, to slow Pakistan’s scoring rate during one-day matches and undermine its chances.

His statements were recorded during a covert sting operation by undercover journalist Mazher Mahmood for the nowdefunct British tabloid The News of the World.

Former Pakistan captain Butt and fast bowler Mohammed Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.

Butt, Asif and Pakistan teammate Mohammed Amir are accused of conspiring with Majeed to bowl deliberate no-balls in the fourth test against England at Lord’s in August of last year. Butt and Asif deny the charges. Majeed and Amir aren’t required to appear in court.

Other revelations from Tuesday’s proceedings were that Majeed was offered $1 million for Pakistan to lose the 2010 test at The Oval - a match they eventually won.

The offer came from an unnamed contact in India. During an audiovisual recording, Majeed told his contact: “Boss you know how many we’ve got, you know that they do it, so of course that’s not a problem.”

He added to the undercover journalist after the call had ended: “See what I mean?

There’s big, big money in results boss I tell you. You can see that.”

The court also heard from a witness who works in anti-corruption that there was no evidence to support an unsubstantiated claim made by Majeed on Monday that Australia are the “biggest” match-fixers in the game.

Butt’s legal representatives sought to discredit Majeed by noting a series of his more outrageous claims and barrister Yasin Patel, working under Ali Bajwa QC on Butt’s team, asked senior International Cricket Council anti-corruption officer Alan Peacock about the Australia claim.

Peacock, who has worked with the ICC’s anti-corruption unit since its inception in 2000, denied having any knowledge of Australia fixing matches. “We have no evidence (of this),” Peacock said.

Other claims made by Majeed that Butt’s team raised included his alleged involvement in arranging a $18.7 million publishing deal for the autobiography of Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand, as well as a $6 million deal for the autobiography of recently retired Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. The case continues. —AP

GDANSK: Sweden’s Persson eyes the ball as he plays against Germany’s Timo Boll during their match in the Men’s Team Final at the European Table Tennis Championships. —AP

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

SPORTS

China wins 5th world title in a row, tops Japan and US

PHOENIX: Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (left) and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer smile after NFL owners awarded the 2015 Super Bowl football game to the Phoenix area.—AP

Arizona edge out Tampa to land 2015 Super Bowl HOUSTON: Back to the desert, and back to Britain, for the NFL. The league awarded the 2015 Super Bowl to Arizona on Tuesday and also committed to playing regular-season games in Britain through 2016 - with more than one game a year likely.

The first owners meeting since the lockout focused almost exclusively on big events, with the biggest of them all heading to the Phoenix area in four years.

Arizona beat out Tampa, the only other candidate, on the second ballot. “We are thrilled to be back in Arizona,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “I will say it was a difficult choice.”

Though not a unique one like the Super Bowls that will sandwich 2015. In ‘14, the league makes a frosty foray into the New York/New Jersey area for the first outdoor title game in a cold-weather site since the merger. And in 2016, the 50th Super Bowl will be, according to Goodell, “a significant event for us” and could wind up in Los Angeles.

“I don’t think there is anything off the table on who would host it,” Goodell said, noting that the league is keeping close tabs on two potential stadium projects in Los Angeles. “We think there are two opportunities in Los Angeles and we are going to pursue both of them aggressively,” Goodell said. Neither Arizona nor Tampa received the required 24 of 32 votes on the first ballot Tuesday, meaning a simple majority was needed on the next vote. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale got the nod, prompting screams of joy from the Arizona committee.

“Everyone pulled together throughout the Phoenix area to put together a terrific package we were able to present to the owners,” Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said. “We are delighted.”

It’s difficult to be critical of the choice weather-wise: average temperature in early February in Glendale is about 60 degrees.

In East Rutherford, N.J., site of the 2014 game, the average is a slightly chillier 31 degrees. The NFL also set Feb. 2, 2014, as the date of the Super Bowl in New Jersey; that date will not conflict with the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. “It’s historically warmer on Feb. 2,” Giants owner John Mara said with a smile. He didn’t mention the possibility of snow, freezing rain, blustery winds and all the accompanying elements.

That will not be a factor in Arizona. The NFL has seemed eager to return to the Valley of the Sun since the Giants’ upset of the then-unbeaten Patriots on Feb. 3, 2008.

Tempe, Ariz., was the 1996 host, with Dallas defeating Pittsburgh 27-17.

“This is huge for Arizona,” bid leader Mike Kennedy said. “It feels really satisfying.” Tampa hosted the game in 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009. “Both cities are great sites for the Super Bowl and both had impressive bids,” added Mara, whose team has won championships in both places.

“They’ve each been to the altar a few times recently and were denied. They both deserve to host a game again.”

Next year’s game is indoors in Indianapolis, followed by New Orleans in 2013 and then the Big (possibly frozen) Apple. Goodell spoke with the Tampa Bay group immediately after it lost the bidding.

“Anytime we are invited to participate, we will do so,” said Paul Catoe, outgoing CEO of Tampa Bay & Co. Bidwill said the estimated economic impact in Arizona in 2008 was more than $500 million, and he expects it to be higher in 2015. While that number seems high because subsequent Super Bowls didn’t reach that level, it’s still a major boon to local business.

Also Tuesday, owners approved a resolution to play regular-season games in Britain for at least five more seasons. Teams can volunteer to play at least one regularseason home game per year in Britain for up to five years. Goodell said several teams have expressed interest and there are financial incentives for hosting games overseas. Visiting teams can play abroad only once in five years.

Tampa Bay will host Chicago on Oct. 23 in London, the fifth straight year the NFL has held an October game there. The Buccaneers will be making their second London appearance in three years; they lost to New England 35-7 in 2009.

Several teams that struggle to sell out home games, such as the Jaguars, Raiders, Bengals and Chargers, could be in line for more frequent trips overseas. Houston Texans owner Robert McNair said he’d be interested in a trip to Britain as the visiting team. No specifics on venues, dates or teams for future games have been set, but Goodell made it clear more games in London are coming, perhaps two as soon as next season.

“We are very pleased with the reception to the game and the way our business has grown over there,” he said. “Can it be sustained for multiple games?” The meetings began with a five-minute NFL Films tribute to Al Davis after the Oakland Raiders owner died on Saturday.—AP

Kvitova, Jankovic advance in Linz LINZ: Top-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic eased past Rebecca Marino of Canada 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the Generali Ladies.

The Wimbledon champion, ranked a career-high fourth, had four aces and broke Marino twice in each set. Third-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia led 4-1 in the first set when Kateryna Bondarenko pulled out with a neck injury. The Ukrainian player broke Jankovic once but did not score a point in her three service games.

In the second round, Jankovic will play Britain’s Anne Keothavong, who defeated Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-4, 6-1.

Earlier, Julia Goerges saved two match points in a third-set tiebreaker before beating Anastasija Sevastova 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7).

The sixth-seeded German player held serve on the first match point before her

Latvian opponent double-faulted on the second chance. Goerges then converted her first match point to set up a secondround match against Evgeniya Rodina of Russia. The fourth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Pavlyuchenkova went 5-0 up in the decider and missed three match points before eventually closing out the win against Medina Garrigues.

Seventh-ranked Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia saved two match points in the second set before Elena Baltacha of Britain pulled out with a lower back injury early in the third set while trailing 4-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0.

Also advancing from the first round were Sara Errani of Italy, Ksenia Pervak of Russia, Sorana Cirstea of Romania, and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.—AP

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns the ball in this file photo. —AP

TOKYO: Never, ever count China out. Looking vulnerable after an ordinary performance in qualifying, the Chinese came roaring back to win their fifth straight title at the world gymnastics championships yesterday.

They finished with 275.161 points, more than 2 ahead of Japan and the United States, and walked off the floor with their index fingers held aloft - as if there’s a doubt who is No. 1. “We aim for gold,” Zou Kai said.

And they have plenty of it. The Chinese have won every world title dating back to 2003, as well as two of the last three Olympic gold medals. Every gymnast on the floor yesterday has at least three gold medals from worlds, and Chen Yibing has seven.

The Chinese are so used to the goodies that come with their gold medals they didn’t bother hanging onto the flowers given to the medalists, tossing them to their fans in the stands. But they beamed with pride as they listened to their national anthem.

“It’s exciting every time because you can always make history,” Zou said through a translator.

For the Americans, it was their first medal at worlds since taking the silver in 2003. They finished a mere hundredth of a point behind Japan, something that will serve as motivation for next summer’s London Olympics.

“Every time you get a medal, nothing changes. You get chills,” said Horton, who has a silver and a bronze from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

China has dominated men’s gymnastics since 2006, running away with the team gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and all but one of the seven individual titles. They added a fourth straight title at last year’s worlds, as well as the golds on still rings, parallel bars and high bar.

A similar gold rush was expected here. China returned five gymnasts from last year’s title squad, and the six team members have a jewelry-store’s worth of gold medals among them.

But after finishing third behind Japan and the Americans in qualifying, many wondered if China’s reign was ending. Not even close.

“I’m very happy because during qualifying, China was third,” Zou said. “But we won in the final so it’s very exciting.”

A close third with two events

TOKYO: Chinaís gymnasts (from left) Zhang Chenglong, Zou Kai, Teng Haibin, Yan Mingyong, Feng Zhe and Yan Yibing pose with the gold medal during the awarding ceremony at the menís team final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.—AP to go, they pulled away with spectacular showings on high bar and floor exercise. Zhang Chenglong, the defending world champion on high bar, got such great height on his release moves it’s a good thing the overhead camera wasn’t zooming around or there might have been a collision. Yet he landed each with complete nonchalance, as if flinging yourself 12 feet in the air and grabbing a thin pipe on the way back down is a breeze.

Zhang pumped his fist as he left the podium, and his teammates screamed. They put on a tumbling clinic on floor exercise, with Zou Kai landing each pass so perfectly it was like he had flypaper on his feet. He pumped his fist as he trotted off the podium and the Chinese started celebrating - not even caring that twotime world champion Kohei Uchimura still had to go on high bar. They needn’t have worried because Uchimura miscalculated on a somersault high above the bar. The home crowd gasped Uchimura doesn’t miss - and Uchimura sat on the mat for a second, his head bowed.

“It’s kind of disappointing, honestly,” Kenya Kobayashi said of the silver. “I believed we could catch China.” Instead, they had to fight to stay ahead of the

Americans.

The Americans have been telling anyone who will listen that they think they can contend for the gold medal at the London Olympics. They’ll have to clean up some of their errors here Jonathan Horton landed his vault on his knees, his face buried in the mat, while 18-year-old John Orozco looked unsteady on still rings - but they proved they’ve got the goods - and the guts - to hang with the best teams.

“It means we’re really close,” national team coordinator Kevin Mazeika said. “It’s only going to serve to strengthen our resolve going into London. The goal hasn’t changed. We want to be on top of that podium.”

Coming into the final event trailing Russia by about a quarter point for third place, the Americans erased the deficit easily with three exceptional high bar routines. Orozco’s was silky smooth, one skill flowing into the next, while Horton and Danell Leyva put on the kind of coveryour-eyes-and-hide-the-children daredevil acts that the X-Games set loves so much.

Horton’s parents put him in gymnastics after they caught him climbing a pole at a store, and he hasn’t lost his love for heights. He threw himself up and over the

bar once, twice, three times and then a fourth, the crowd oohing and aahing as he got higher and higher with each one.

But each time he caught the bar as easily as if he was reaching out to grab a strap on a Tokyo subway car. He hit the mat with a resounding thud, his feet not budging, and personal coach Tom Meadows and the rest of the US contingent in the stands leaped to their feet.

Leyva’s routine is equally acrobatic, but in a different way, and stepfather Yin Alvarez was practically sprinting as he paced in the stands. But he had nothing to worry about, with Leyva doing skills as easily as if he was checking them off a list. When Leyva stuck his dismount, hitting the mat so solidly that he let out a primal scream as the rest of the Americans threw their hands in the air.

Their big scores - 15.3 or better for each - meant Japan would have to score better than 44 points to catch the Americans.

And the Japanese made it interesting, with both Yusuke Tanaka and Uchimura falling off on high bar. But even with the fall, Uchimura’s routine was so difficult and smooth it was enough to keep the Japanese in front of the United States.—AP

F1 champ Vettel has more to achieve at Korean GP SEOUL: Having already clinched his second straight world championship, Sebastian Vettel says he has plenty of work to do in the remaining four Formula One races of the season.

Beginning with Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix at the Yeongam track, the perfectionist in Vettel will take over as he looks for ways to improve on his third-place finish in Japan last weekend.

As elated as the Red Bull driver was to secure the championship in Japan, finishing third behind Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso at Suzuka didn’t sit well with him. It gives the 24-year-old German - F1’s youngest two-time champion - plenty of motivation for the Korean GP. “Obviously, we are over the moon to wrap up the championship but we didn’t win (at Suzuka) so we’ve got another chance in the next races and we want to use those chances,” Vettel said. “It’s all about using the chances you have.”

The championship aside, Vettel was clearly a little frustrated at finishing third at Suzuka, where he won from pole the last two years.

Just how determined he was to win was evident from the start of Sunday’s race when he got a slightly slow start and cut hard to his right to block Button, who was forced to brake and put wheels on the grass to avoid contact.

With 10 laps to go, he was close enough to Alonso to attempt overtaking the Ferrari driver, but opted to play it safe knowing the championship would be secured with third place.

“There is a lot of pressure to win,” Vettel said. “We want to beat those guys. We didn’t do it (at Suzuka) so we’ve got another chance in the next race.”

There are other things to keep Vettel interested, too, not least the constructors’ championship. Red Bull is the defending champion

SUZUKA: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (second from left) leads McLaren driver Jenson Button of Britain (left) in this file photo. —AP and has a 130-point lead over McLaren heading into South Korea.

Then there are the personal records. With nine races won so far in 2011, Vettel is still in contention to equal the season record of 13 wins held by countryman Michael Schumacher, although he would need to win all four remaining races.

Only three drivers have won more pole positions in a single season than Vettel, who earned his 12th in Japan. Nigel Mansell holds the record with 14 from 1992.

Ayrton Senna was on pole 13 times in both 1988 and 1989, while Alain Prost repeated the Brazilian’s achievement in 1993.

Vettel is now fourth on the alltime list of podium finishes in a single season. His 14th in Japan leaves him just three short of Schumacher’s record of 17 set in

2002. Vettel and Red Bull aren’t the only ones with goals to achieve in the last four races.

Second place in the drivers’ standings is still up for grabs, with Mclaren driver Button holding an eight-point lead over Alonso.

Alonso won last year’s inaugural Korean Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa. Vettel led from pole position until 10 laps from the finish when his Renault engine gave way. Alonso said winning races is a bigger priority for the remainder of the season than finishing second in the championship.

“I would prefer to win and finish fifth in the championship than finishing second in the championship and not winning one race,” Alonso said. Still lingering is the feud between Massa and Hamilton.

It flared up again in Japan when

the drivers made contact at the chicane when Hamilton cut in front of Massa. The Brazilian was furious after finishing seventh.

“I think the footage speaks for itself,” Massa said on his official website. “He was struggling with his tires and I had almost come alongside him and for no reason, he moved over and hit me. It’s pointless for me to say any more about it.”

The two had a collision at the Singapore Grand Prix two weeks earlier when Massa lashed out at Hamilton, saying the McLaren ace endangered other drivers with reckless driving. Race officials investigated the incident but no further action was taken.

After Korea, F1 will stage its first race in India on Oct. 30, then move to Abu Dhabi on Nov. 13 before wrapping up the season in Brazil on Nov. 27.—AP

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

SPORTS

Portugal, Croatia, Czechs, Ireland in Euro playoffs

LONDON: In this March 14, 2009 file photo, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (center) kisses a television camera as he celebrates after scoring against Manchester United during their English Premier League soccer match.

Liverpool wants the Premier League’s top clubs to be allowed to emulate Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Madrid by selling their own overseas television rights. —AP

Liverpool wants greater share of TV rights money LONDON: Liverpool wants the Premier League’s top clubs to be allowed to emulate Barcelona and Real Madrid by selling their own overseas television rights.

The Premier League describes its TV revenue distribution system as the “most equitable of Europe’s major leagues,” with each of the 20 clubs receiving 17.9 million pounds ($28 million) from overseas broadcasters last season.

But Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre believes it is unfair that high-profile clubs with a global appeal are part of a collective deal that is worth 1.4 billion pounds ($2.2 billion) under a three-year deal.

“At some point we definitely feel there has to be some rebalance because what we are actually doing is disadvantaging ourselves against other big European clubs,” Ayre said.

The domestic TV deal with Sky Sports and ESPN is weighted more in favor of the larger clubs, with part of the payment based on how many times their games are shown live in Britain.

Liverpool, which won the last of its 18 English titles in 1990, received 55 million pounds ($86 million) in total from broadcasters last season despite finishing sixth, 2 million pounds ($2 million) more than fifth-place Tottenham. Spanish and European champion Barcelona receives around $250 million annually from broadcasters.

Ahead of Liverpool’s match against Manchester United on Saturday, Ayre said “in Kuala Lumpur there isn’t anyone subscribing to ESPN to watch Bolton.”

“The large majority are subscribing because they want to watch Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal,” Ayre added. “So is it right that the inter-

national rights are shared equally between all the clubs?”

But most Premier League clubs support the status quo because their revenue would drop if there was a change, which would require approval of 14 of the 20 sides.

“Do we just share ours because we’ll all be nice to each other?” Ayre asked.

“The whole phenomenon of the Premier League could be threatened if the Spanish clubs just get bigger and bigger and they generate more and more. Then all the players will start drifting that way.

“Will the Premier League bubble be burst because we are sticking to this equal-sharing model? It’s a real debate that has to happen.”

The league released new figures Wednesday from business research consultancy SPORT+MARKT claiming that match coverage last season reached 643 million homes worldwide and 777 million viewers away from their homes.

The research projected a global following for the league of 1.46 billion, or an estimated 70 percent of football fans.

“This remarkable increase lies largely in the redistribution of international rights for the start of the new three-year broadcast term last year,” said Andrew Walsh, SPORT+MARKT’s head of international affairs.

“One of the main drivers of that development was the switch of the league’s broadcast rights from a Pay TV broadcaster to terrestrial coverage in China which really has burst open the floodgates in terms of the Premier League’s popularity in the world’s most populous and fastest-growing market.”

The research was carried out in 36 countries, surveying 1,000 people in each of those markets.—AP

Prandelli wary of Italian euphoria PESCARA: Italy coach Cesare Prandelli urged caution following his side’s impressive qualification campaign for Euro 2012.

Despite facing a group including potential stumbling blocks such as Serbia and Slovenia, Italy remained unbeaten in 10 matches, winning eight of those and qualifying for the finals in Poland and Ukraine with two games to spare.

They rounded off their Group C campign here on Tuesday night with a resounding 3-0 defeat of Northern Ireland.

It has led some in Italian football to claim the country is one of the best three teams in the world, but Prandelli does not agree.

“We can say these things but we still have to be prepared for big tournaments and to be at the top of our game when we play the big teams,” he said. “I’m calm but I know too that we can improve a lot.”

Prandelli revealed that was why he made only a few changes to his preferred first team for a match against the Irish that had nothing riding on it for either side.

Prandelli made only four changes to his team and two of those were at full-back, where he has always changed things around anyway.

“We’re a young team from this point of view and need to play a lot of minutes and a lot of games because we need to improve our team-work.

“Then we will have a look at other players in other friendlies.” One of those players to whom Prandelli gave an opportunity was Parma forward Sebastian Giovinco, and the coach was pleased with the diminutive striker’s performance.

“Givoinco played very well, in fact we could have looked more for him. His performance was excellent. “He moved a lot but the team needed to look more for him when he went up alongside Antonio (Cassano).

“For me he did very well, he ran a lot and tried to get forward.” The former Roma and Fiorentina coach did admit there was

a lot more cause for optimism than when he took over the job in June 2010 following a disastrous World Cup campaign under Marcello Lippi.

“When we started there was a lot of pessimism and worry but football can be magical because you need only a few results to give calm and confidence to a team.

“We’ve improved a lot and the thing that really is interesting is not conceding a goal (against Northern Ireland) — that’s the attitude of a big team.”

For Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington, it was the end of the road for him as the national team manager, but he said he was going out with his head held high.

“The options are that I have still got functions to attend for the (Northern Irish football) association and the work’s ongoing although this was the last game,” he said.

“We’ll see what will happen between now and whenever. “It was a fanatastic game to finish on against Italy. The welcome we’ve had from the Italian people has been outstanding.

“If a club position comes up I’ll (be preparing for games) on a more regular basis, perhaps three times a week, and that’s what we mamagers enjoy.

“If and when, I will look forward to it.

“When you’re working with good people, the players have been fantastic and the staff.

“We’ve been one unit all through and for any team to grow together, that’s important for me and I hope it will continue.

“For the people who represent Northern Ireland, it’s important for the players to turn up on a regular basis. “I’ve been very fortunate in qualifying, with the players nine times out of 10 turning up, and we’ve finished up getting good results.” —AFP

GENEVA: Portugal will be seeded with Croatia, Czech Republic and Ireland when UEFA conducts the draw for the 2012 European Championship playoffs today.

The four higher-ranked teams will face Euro 2008 semifinalist Turkey and three countries Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia and Montenegro - which have never reached a major finals tournament.

UEFA confirmed the seedings of the group runners-up 24 hours ahead of conducting the draw in Krakow, Poland.

UEFA based rankings on qualifying and tournament results for Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. First-leg matches will be played Nov. 11 or 12.

Return games are scheduled Nov. 15.Winners will advance to the June 8-July 1 tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, which is the last before the European Championship is expanded from 16 to 24 teams.

Portugal and its superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo were consigned to the playoffs after losing 2-1 to Denmark in a decisive group match on Tuesday.

They could again meet Bosnia, two years after edging a World Cup playoff with a pair of nervy 10 victories. Bosnia has reached the Euro 2012 playoffs despite almost being kicked out of the tournament while suspended by FIFA and UEFA during April and May. The governing bodies forced Bosnia to stop running its federation in a three-way ethnic divide which mirrored the difficult political situation in the former Yugoslav republic.

Ireland returns to a major playoff two years after a controversial World Cup defeat by France, which needed a goal assisted by Thierry Henry’s notorious handball to progress to South Africa.

This time Ireland is seeded and

favored to progress to its first tournament since the 2002 World Cup. Turkey, coached by Dutch great Guus Hiddink who led Russia to the 2008 semifinals, will be viewed as the unseeded opponent to avoid.

The Turks made a dramatic run

After splitting with Serbia in 2006, Montenegro was recognized as the 208th and newest member of world football’s family too late to take part.

Montenegro earned home and away draws with England while finishing second in a

gests No. 12 France will again be in the fourth-seeded pot when the finals tournament draw is made Dec. 2 in Kiev.

Poland and Uk raine are ranked lower but are assured of top-seeded status as co-hosts, and playoff candidates Croatia

COPENHAGEN: Danish coach Morten Olsen celebrates when Denmark defeated Portugal 2-1 in an Euro 2012, Group H, qualifying soccer match on Tuesday. —AP to the Euro 2008 semifinals after getting two late goals in a 3-2 win over the Czechs to advance from their group.

However, a trio of underdogs who gained football independence after the fall of communism will sense history beckoning them.

Montenegro is ranked 35th in UEFA’s 53-nation standings despite not being allowed to enter Euro 2008.

group that included tournament regulars Switzerland.

Estonia failed in two attempts to qualify for the World Cup in the 1930s, then regained football status in 1992 after breaking from the Soviet Union.

The Baltic republic is the lowest-ranked team remaining at No. 37 in UEFA’s European standings.

Meanwhile, UEFA’s table sug-

and Portugal are both ranked higher than the French.

At Euro 2008, France’s fourthseeded status landed it in a tough group with the Netherlands, Italy and Romania, and coach Raymond Domenech’s side exited without winning a match.

Spain, the defending champion, and the Netherlands also will be top seeds. —AP

Britain wants overhaul of English soccer LONDON: Britain’s government demanded yesterday that the English Football Association implement wideranging governance changes, including curbs on debt and stricter checks on foreign owners.

Responding to a report by a group of influential legislators, the government backed concerns that some clubs are living on the “edge of viability” and pledged to introduce legislation that will force the FA to make the required changes if not approved by the end of February.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said the world’s oldest soccer association has “failed to keep up with the changing pace of the modern game.”

Robertson wants the FA to seize control of the national game from the wealthy Premier League as part of a new licensing system that all clubs must adhere to.

The most stringent measures would seek to address concerns over the “financial sustainability” of clubs.

“Debt per se is not always a bad thing, but it must be genuinely sustainable and should be assessed as a percentage of turnover,” the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said. “There is a legitimate role for the national governing body, working hand in hand with competition organizers, to ensure that appropriate and consistent checks and balances are in place to protect the overall financial integrity of the national game and its long-term viability.”

The growth of the Premier League since it began in 1991 has led to half of the 20 clubs being under foreign ownership.

But high debt levels at clubs remain troubling.

Liverpool was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy by the Boston Red Sox ownership group of John Henry one year ago.

“Because of the inherent attraction of English football clubs to foreign investors and markets, particularly robust criteria need to be applied to prospective owners and directors before they are allowed to own or run a club,” the government said.

As part of reforms for the 2012-13 season, the government wants an independent body to run the disciplinary process, stripping the FA of the power to ban players.

The government also wants clubs to release players to appear for the under 17, 19 and 21 sides and not just the senior team in a bid to help England end a trophy drought stretching back to the 1966 World Cup. “Government is fully committed to ensuring that the changes put forward by the football authorities make a lasting and substantive difference,” the response to Parliament said. “If that does not happen the Government will introduce a legal requirement on the Football Association to implement the appropriate governance clauses by the swiftest possible means.” —AP

MEXICO: Brazil’s Marcelo (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico. —AP

Brazil defeat Mexico 2-1 in friendly TORREON: Brazil overcame a first-half red card to score two late goals and beat Mexico 2-1 in a friendly on Tuesday.

Mexico went ahead in the 10th minute when Brazil defender David Luiz put the ball into his own net, and the hosts’ chances were boosted further when Dani Alves gave away a penalty and was sent off in the process for a foul on Javier Hernandez late in the first half. However Andres Guardado failed to convert the penalty.

Ronaldinho equalized for Brazil with a trademark freekick into the top right corner of the net in the 80th minute, and Marcelo scored the winner four minutes later. The defeat was the first for Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre in 15 games in charge of the national team. In a fast paced game, the opening goal came when Pablo Barrera broke free down the right and put in a low cross, which Luiz tried to clear but only deflected the ball into the net.

Neymar broke free inside the penalty area for Brazil in the 17th but shot over the bar with only goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez to beat.

Barcelona fullback Alves received a second yellow card for shoving Manchester United striker Hernandez to the ground inside the penalty box as the ball was sailing harmlessly through to the goalkeeper.

Keeper Jefferson saved low to his right from Guardado*s resulting penalty.

Hernandez had Mexico’s best chance of the second half but his close-range header was saved by Jefferson.

Ronaldinho scored from 20 yards in the 80th and the winner was scored when Marcelo drove into the penalty area and hit a fierce shot past Sanchez, who won his 100th cap in the game.

The game took place with a heavy security presence in the northern city of Torreon after recent violence, including the suspension of a Mexican first division game on Aug. 20 due to a gunfight close to the stadium.

For Brazil, the match was the latest in a series of friendly games, as it automatically qualifies for the 2014 World Cup as host and therefore is not participating in the current South American qualifiers. —AP

Russia prepares laws for 2018 World Cup MOSCOW: Russian lawmakers will begin enacting laws early next year to protect the rights of FIFA and its sponsors at the 2018 World Cup, tournament organizers said Tuesday.

FIFA requires host nations to pass a raft of new laws, including to guarantee tax exemptions and criminalize ambush marketing. The governing body gets about 90 percent of its billion-dollar annual revenue from the World Cup. Sports minister Vitaly Mutko, a FIFA executive committee member, said the “FIFA World Cup law” would be presented to Russia’s State Duma parliament “in the first quarter of 2012.”

“I would once again confirm the Russian government’s commitment to fulfill all government guarantees in preparation for the tournament,” Mutko said after the first formal meeting of organizers and FIFA officials in Moscow.

Support from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was considered crucial in Russia’s winning bid for the World Cup last year. Russia defeated England and joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium in a 22-man vote of FIFA’s ruling panel.

Russia’s promises contrast with that of 2014 host Brazil, where lawmakers are objecting to

the government becoming “subservient” to FIFA. Brazil President Dilma Rousseff met with FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke last week in Brussels to improve relations which have also become strained over the slow pace of upgrading stadiums, airports and other key infrastructure projects.

After a two-day visit to Moscow, Valcke spoke of “amazing” enthusiasm and a “real partnership” with Russia, which has seven years to finish a comprehensive construction plan costing tens of billions of dollars. —AP

Dhoni faces challenging task in England series

Rugby world focuses on Australia, NZ rivalry

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China wins 5th world title in a row, tops Japan, US Page 18

LA CRUZ: Argentina’s Martin Demichelis (left) and Venezuela’s Miku Fedor, go for a header during a 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer game. —AP

Venezuela stun Argentina in qualifier Chile recover, Uruguay go top SANTIAGO: Venezuela took their first points off Argentina at the 19th attempt with a shock 1-0 win as the second round of South American qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup left Uruguay top of the standings on Tuesday.

Uruguay, with Diego Forlan scoring a record 32nd goal for his country, are the only team with four points after 1-1 draw in Paraguay while Chile, the team Argentina crushed 4-1 on Friday, gave beleaguered coach Claudio Borghi a boost with a tough 4-2 home victory over Peru. Colombia, who had a bye on Friday,

secured an invaluable 2-1 victory away over Bolivia in the rarefied air of their La Paz stronghold nearly 4,000 metres up in the Andes with substitute striker Radamel Falcao’s last-ditch winner.

Argentina and Venezuela have three points each, as do Colombia, Chile, Peru and Ecuador, who had a bye. Brazil as hosts are exempt from qualifying.

Defender Fernando Amorebieta scored the only goal in Puerto La Cruz for a Venezuelan side, fourth at the Copa America in July, who appear good enough to end their country’s wait for a

place at the finals for the first time.

Argentina’s second choice goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, standing in for the injured Sergio Romero, did all he could to keep the score down.

Forlan, taking a pass from Luis Suarez, tapped in at the intimidating Defensores del Chaco to ensure Copa America holders Uruguay took a point in a 1-1 draw away to Paraguay, notching a national record 32nd goal.

Left back Richard Ortiz equalised on his Paraguay debut stabbing home a stoppage time goal at a corner. Uruguay

coach Oscar Tabarez said: “This (qualifying) championship is even, no team can consider themselves superior.”

Borghi, heavily criticised after the Chileans’ defeat in their opening qualifier in Buenos Aires, did not turn up at the post-match news conference at the Monumental in Santiago.

His assistant Jaime Vera said: “He isn’t feeling well” and then added about the result “it’s pure oxygen for what we are doing.” Chile got off to a flying start when Waldo Ponce scored in the opening minute and they were 3-0 ahead two min-

Canada held, Panama advance MIAMI: Panama became the first CONCACAF team to progress to the third phase of World Cup qualifying after a 5-1 win over Nicaragua on Tuesday.

Blas Perez scored a hat-trick for Panama while Luis Tejada was on target twice to eliminate Nicaragua from the regional qualifying in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Canada are close to joining Panama despite being held to a goal-less draw at home to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. “We couldn’t find the answer tonight,” said Canada coach Stephen Hart. “Puerto Rico parked the bus, allowed us to have the ball and waited for us to attack.

“We played too slow and when we did get our opportunities, we just failed to take them.

It’s a real disappointment.” The Canadians are still comfortably in charge of Group D and just need a point from their last two matches to advance to the third phase. They hold a four-point lead over second-placed St. Kitts and Nevis, who drew 1-1 with St. Lucia.

Trinidad and Tobago’s campaign was on the rocks after Friday’s defeat in Bermuda but back on home turf in Port of Spain they were too much for Barbados with Lester Peltier grabbing a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory.

Tamarley Thomas and Peter Byers both grabbed hat-tricks as Antigua and Barbuda crushed the US Virgin Islands 10-0 to go top of Group F. The US Virgin Islands have now conceded 31 goals in four games and scored once while Byers is top scorer in the regional qualifiers with eight goals so far.

The win sends Antigua and Barbuda above Haiti who surprisingly had to come back from two goals down to get a draw at home to Curacao.

PANAMA: Panamanian Luis Henriquez (right) and Nicaraguan Raul Leguias jump for a header during their Brazil 2014 World Cup Concacaf qualifiers match.—AFP

El Salvador had a comfortable 4-0 win over the Cayman Islands-three of their goals coming before the break and Herbert Sosa wrapping things up with an 88th minute penalty.

The final round of games is scheduled for Nov. 11 and 15 and the six group winners in the current round go through to face the top

six-ranked teams in the region in the third phase.

The top three teams at the end of the fourth and final phase of qualifying, involving six teams, will then qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil with the fourth placed team heading into a playoff with the top team from Oceania.—Reuters

utes after halftime following goals by Eduardo Vargas in the 17th and Gary Medel half an hour later.

Peru hit back with two goals in 10 minutes before the hour was up from striker Claudio Pizarro and winger Jefferson Farfan before striker Humberto Suazo gave Chile a two-goal cushion with a 63rd-minute penalty after Jorge Valdivia was brought down.

Valdivia said he thought Peru, who took a surprise third place at the Copa America, were overconfident after their 20 home win over Paraguay on Friday

earned them exuberant praise from the home media. “There was a lot of talk, especially by the Peruvian press, of the ‘fantastic quartet’,” Valdivia said referring to Juan Vargas, Farfan, Pizarro and Paolo Guerrero, who scored Peru’s goals against Paraguay. “But we managed to neutralise them and take advantage of our speed on the flanks. I think that was the difference in the match,” he told reporters.

Peru’s Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian said: “A goal so early complicates everything because it boosts your rivals.” —Reuters

Platini lauds Poland over Euro 2012 preparations WARSAW: UEFA president Michel Platini yesterday lauded Poland’s preparations for Euro 2012, and said concerns over fellow-host Ukraine’s ability to get ready had largely subsided.

“I am a very happy president, because we have wonderful stadiums, and infrastructure which is ready pretty much everywhere,” Platini said in the new national stadium in the Polish capital Warsaw, where the European Championships kick off on June 8, 2012.

Platini, who visited Ukraine last month, was this week on his latest inspection tour of Poland’s four host cities: Warsaw, plus Wroclaw in the southwest, Poznan in the west, and the Baltic port of Gdansk.

“I can say that, after having seen the four cities, the four stadiums, the four airports and all the roads, that preparations for Euro 2012 are going very, very well,” the former France international told reporters.

In 2007, UEFA caught pundits napping by picking Poland and Ukraine over favourites Italy and joint bidders Hungary and Croatia to host the quadrennial, 16-team championships.

It marks UEFA’s first serious foray behind the former Iron Curtain. Euro 2008 took place in Austria and Switzerland, and France will host Euro 2016.

The communist era may lie two decades in the past, but Poland-and to a greater extent Ukraine, which is locked in an economic crisis-have faced infrastructure challenges beyond anything in western host nations and have been bedevilled by doubters.

“We’ve had highs and lows, but never in Poland,” said Platini-although a 2008 UEFA readiness report did in fact give the Poles a yellow card and they have had to work to repair their image.

“We’ve had problems with Ukraine. At one point,

we didn’t even know if we were going to hold the European Championships in Ukraine. And then we wondered whether it would be in two stadiums or four. But they’ve done a great job over recent years and we can now say there are no major problems,” he said.

Two weeks ago Platini had delivered a similar message in the Ukrainian capital Kiev-one of the country’s four host cities along with Kharkiv and Donetsk and Lviv — saying he felt “completely reassured” despite “small problems”.

Unlike Poland and Ukraine, who have qualified automatically as hosts, the 14 other teams who have made the cut will have to wait until a December 2 draw in Kiev to know in which of the two countries they will be playing.

Several have already jumped the gun, however, opting to set up their tournament bases in Poland not Ukraine. Germany announced last month that they would be based in Gdansk.

England followed suit on Tuesday, saying they had also picked Poland, but kept the location under wraps as they were finalising the contract.

The fact that two high-profile nations have picked Poland without waiting to know where they will actually play has been seen as casting doubt on the quality of accommodation in Ukraine.

But Platini played down the issue. “We’ve proposed a number of sites that teams can come to.

And teams are free to go where they want, provided they’re actually based in the countries which host Euro 2012,” he said.

Sports Minister Adam Giersz said Poland was prepared for as many teams as required. “We’re ready to host all the teams in Poland. We have 21 base camps. We are well prepared,” he said.—AFP

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Arab Spring exposes cracks in Jordan’s economic policy

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Gold climbs as dollar weakens

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

China urges US to stop ‘protectionist’ FX bill

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Crossover Junior makes its mark Page 25

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TOKYO: Japanese electric auto venture TGMY president Takashi Ashida displays the “EV Himiko”, a two-seater electric vehicle which drives up to 587 kilometers on a single charge, at the Electric Vehicle Development Technology Expo yesterday. — AFP

NBK posts net profit of $819m for nine months Asset quality indicators stay exceptionally strong KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the largest Kuwaiti bank and the highest-rated in the Middle East, reported net profits of $819 million (KD 225.6 million) for the first nine months of 2011 compared with $815 million (KD 224.5) for the same period of last year.

As at the end of September 2011, NBK Group’s total assets stood at $47.6 billion (KD 13.1 billion), up 5 percent compared to September 2010, while total shareholders’ equity rose by 13.9 percent to $8.2 billion (KD 2.3 billion) over the same period. NBK Group’s net operating income grew by 7.0 percent YoY reaching $1,453 million (KD 400.4 million). Asset quality indicators remained exceptionally strong by regional and international standards with NPLs/Gross loans ratio dropping to 1.59 percent and coverage ratio reaching 226 percent as of end of September 2011.

Ibrahim Dabdoub, NBK’s Group Chief Executive, said “NBK’s ability to maintain its strong performance despite the global financial crisis and the weakening business environment in the region and the ongoing pressures on the global economy confirms the success of the bank’s conservative strategy focusing on its core banking operations.”

Ibrahim Dabdoub

Mohammad Al-Bahar

“NBK’s regional plans remain generally intact. We have tightened our levels of control and risk management in light of the ongoing operating challenges in

the Arab world. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic about our regional expansion strategy in the long run,” Dabdoub added.

Dabdoub also highlighted that NBK’s prudent culture, along with its clear strategic vision, helped the bank maintain its strong financial position through different crises and earned it international recognition, the latest being the “Best Bank in the Middle East” award for 2011 from both Euromoney and Global Finance.

NBK continues to enjoy the widest banking presence in Kuwait with 69 branches, which together with its growing international presence totals 177 branches worldwide. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York, Singapore, and China (Shanghai).

Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

NBK continues to enjoy collectively the highest ratings among all banks in the Middle East from the three rating agencies Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor’s. The Bank’s ratings are supported by its high capitalization, prudent lending policies, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to its recognized and very stable management team.

Five major Saudi banks post strong Q3 profits JEDDAH: Five major Saudi banks posted third-quarter net profits, three of which beat analysts’ forecasts, citing lower operational costs as well as increased income from banking fees and investments, the lenders said yesterday. Saudi Arabia’s biggest Islamic Bank, Al-Rajhi Bank posted an 18-percent rise in its third-quarter net profit to 1.9 billion riyals ($506 million) from 1.6 billion, attributing the rise in profit to higher revenue from banking fees and investment income. Al-Rajhi’s operational profit rose 7.6 percent to 3.2 billion riyals from 2.97 billion riyals a year earlier. Analysts, surveyed by Reuters, had expected the bank to post an average third-quarter net profit of 1.8 billion riyals.

Another lender, Saudi Hollandi Bank saw its thirdquarter net profit more than triple to 299 million riyals from 85 million, after it lowered its operational costs,

the bank said. Analysts polled by Reuters expected the bank to post, on average, a third-quarter net profit of 244.5 million riyals. Saudi Hollandi, the kingdom’s oldest bank, had a 5.1 percent rise in its profit from special commissions to 359.8 million riyals but its operational profit dropped 0.6 percent to 521 million, it said.

Meanwhile, Aljazira Bank tripled its third-quarter net profit to 66 million riyals, up from 22 million during the same period a year ago, citing lower operational costs.

Five analysts in a Reuters survey expected the bank to post, on average 55 million riyals in net profit for the third quarter. SABB Bank posted a 50.4-percent-rise in its quarterly profits but still missed analyst forecasts.

SABB made a net profit of 630 million riyals in the thirdquarter, compared with 419 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

The lender cited lower operation costs for its rise in profits. SABB’s income from special commissions dropped 1.6 percent to 787 million riyals in the thirdquarter from 800 million riyals in the same period a year earlier, while its operational profit rose 4.5 percent to 1.2 billion from 1.16 billion, it said. The fifth bank, Banque Saudi Fransi missed analyst forecasts after it posted a 22-percent-rise in its quarterly profit. It made 760 million riyals in the third quarter, compared with 621 million riyals in the same period a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Reuters expected the bank to post a thirdquarter net profit, averaging 766 million riyals. Saudi Fransi’s operational profit rose 7.4 percent to 1.2 billion riyals from 1.1 billion riyals a year earlier and its profit from special commissions rose 3.9 percent to 808 million riyals from 778 million riyals. — Reuters

Zain Saudi announces improving Q3 results Revenues for quarter reach SAR 1.8 billion RIYADH: Zain Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA) financial results for the third quarter of 2011 show continued healthy growth in operational revenues and gross profit combined with further reduction of both operating and net losses, an impressive trend that has continued since the commencement of commercial operations in the Kingdom in August 2008.

For the third quarter of 2011 revenues grew by 8 percent to more than SAR 1794 million compared to SAR 1662 million for the same period in 2010. Furthermore the company achieved impressive growth in gross profit, which jumped more than 22 percent to exceed SAR 870 million, compared to SAR 712 million for the same quarter the previous year. Accordingly, operating loss (EBIT) declined by more than 6 percent to reach SAR 222 million, compared with SAR 235 million for the corresponding quarter in 2010.

The period also witnessed a reduction in net losses by more than 11 percent, whereby the company recorded a net loss of SAR 484 million, compared with SAR 544 million for the same period in 2010.

The reason for the decrease in net loss for the 3rd quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter last year is due to the sizable expansion in company’s customer base, noticeable rise in calls volume, and the increased demand of broadband services within the company’s own network. This in turn contributed to the decrease of national roaming expense paid to other operators, as well as increase in revenues and remarkable decrease in revenues cost and continuing growth of profit margins to date. Gross margin for the 3rd quarter of this year reached 48 percent compared to 43 percent for the same period of the previous year.

Dr Hussam bin Saud bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zain KSA said that, “the financial results for the period reflect the company’s ability to continue to grow and achieve record financial levels in accordance with the ambitious targets and strategic plans set when the company commenced commercial operations, despite the very competitive and saturated market conditions.”

The chairman noted that the quarter has defined by many achievements, notably the successful launch of 4G LTE hispeed internet technology in the Kingdom. Zain KSA is the first operator in the Kingdom to offer its customers a service that will eventually result in the growth of several key financial indicators. The company is also dedicated to expanding coverage of its network and raise efficiency through excellence and innovation in its marketing strategy. This has enabled it to gain the trust of a wide range of customers, and maintain high levels of satisfaction.

He also added that the company is fully preparing itself and upgrading its network to proficiently serve the influx of pilgrims expected for the coming Hajj, a period that will definitely be a stimulus for the company on several levels. Regarding the company’s expectations for the foreseeable future, His Highness explained that Zain KSA is winning the race to reach all its goals, and is expected to surpass all previous landmarks.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

business

Arab Spring exposes cracks in Jordan’s economic policy Growth languishes at low levels

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank officials are pictured at the exhibition.

Burgan Bank sponsors BBF’s expo KUWAIT: Burgan Bank has recently sponsored the British Business Forum’s (BBF) exhibition, “Introduction to Kuwait”, which was held on October 7 at the Hilton Kuwait Resort. The event was built on the success of Kuwait’s 50/20 celebrations, and served as a strong platform to showcase an extensive range of various services, businesses, as well as social activities. During the event, exhibitors were involved in live theatrical and musical performances, as well as displaying creative artwork and crafts.

Burgan Bank strategically utilized its presence at the event with a booth that aimed to showcase its diverse array of innovative banking products and services.

The bank’s Personal Banking Executives were also present to answer customer queries. The British Business Forum’s “Introduction to Kuwait” Exhibition is an excellent opportunity for individuals as well as businesses to network as well as get acquainted with the cultural offerings of both Kuwait, and the United Kingdom.

Oman Air commended at TTG Travel Awards OMAN: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has been ‘commended’ in the ‘Airline of the Year’ category at one of the UK travel industry’s most prestigious awards. The TTG Travel Awards are run by the industry’s leading trade newspaper, Travel Trade Gazette, and are held at London’s prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel.

Oman Air’s Commendation, the second prize in the category, follows 18 months in which the airline has introduced new airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet, each with spacious and luxurious interiors and state-ofthe-art in-flight entertainment. It has also been the first airline in the world to offer passengers full mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity simultaneously onboard its widebody aircraft.

Oman Air has also introduced new Embraer E175 regional jets and has expanded its network to more than 40 exciting destinations and, earlier this year, also opened superb new Business Class and First Class lounges at Muscat International. Furthermore, online booking, e-ticketing and web check-in facilities are complemented by door-to-door First Class and Business Class limousine services, and a lounge-to-aircraft limousine service at Muscat and a brand new partnership with No 1 Traveller which enables business class passengers free access to the new Heathrow lounge with its superb facilities.

The TTG Travel Awards are judged in two stages. Each registered company is rated by the very agents that use their companies and products. The results of these ratings are used to create shortlists for each award from the entries that meet

the minimum judging requirements.

Each category is then assigned a panel of four to five people to assess the shortlist-

AMMAN: Jordan’s former central bank chief, ousted by the government last month after security personnel surrounded the bank to stop him entering, says he fears for the country’s economic stability as rising government spending pushes state finances deeper into the red. “Am I conceited because I speak my view and don’t agree with government policies that will create problems in the future?” Faris Abdul Hamid Sharaf told reporters, responding to public criticism of him by Prime Minister Marouf Al-Bakhit.

Just several years ago, Jordan was viewed by many businessmen as an economic success story; under reforms guided by the International Monetary Fund, it became one of the Middle East’s most open economies. Now, political unrest across the Arab world has pushed Jordan into a big increase in government spending on salaries, food and energy subsidies and its social safety network, in an effort to head off domestic protests by placating the country’s poor.

Millions of dollars of state money have been channeled to tribal areas that provide the backbone of support for the Hashemite royal family regime.

This has prompted the government to increase state spending this year by over 700 million dinars from its original plan to 6.95 billion dinars ($9.8 billion) through two supplementary annexes to the 2011 budget. That makes the government’s budget deficit target this year, 5.5 percent of gross domestic product, look much too optimistic; economists and bankers think the deficit will be nearly 7 percent.

Public debt was already rising before the additional spending-at the end of August it stood at 12 billion dinars or 57 percent of GDP. Including debt incurred by the national electric power company and guaranteed by the government, it is already above a legal limit set by Jordan of 60 percent, according to the finance ministry.

“The government is saying the deficit is a

small price to pay in return for maintaining social peace and security. They are pursuing a policy of political convenience and appeasement. But they are just postponing problems at a higher cost,” said Jawad Anani, a leading economist and former deputy prime minister. Earlier this year, Jordan’s economy was officially expected to grow around 3 percent in 2011, much slower than the average 7 percent seen over the last decade during a boom fed by high aid levels and capital inflows and investments.

But even 3 percent may not be attainable, officials now concede privately, as the kingdom is still struggling to recover from the global downturn of 2008-2009, which cut remittances from Jordanian expatriates in the Gulf. Another blow to state finances is a record energy bill that is expected to top $4.5 billion after the disruption of Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan due to sabotage of the pipeline in the Sinai region. This prompted the kingdom to switch to more expensive diesel fuel to generate electricity.

“The government cannot touch or change 90 percent of the expenditure allocations in the budget. Economic conditions are not comforting,” an exasperated Finance Minister Mohammad Abu Hammour told Reuters.

Tensions These tensions spilled over last month in the government’s sacking from the central bank of the 41-year-old Sharaf, a US-educated banker who is the son of Abdul Hamid Sharaf, a former liberal prime minister who tried to modernize the country’s tribe-based political structure before his death in 1980. Sharaf said he did not know why he was ousted, suggesting it might be because he had “fought corruption within the banking sector and stood up against the entry of criminal elements”.

But disagreements over economic policy appeared at least partly responsible. Sharaf,

known as a fierce advocate of fiscal discipline, had repeatedly warned that wasteful subsidies were distorting the economy and hindering IMFguided reforms. Sharaf also had forthright views on the need to rationalize Jordan’s secret army expenditure. This made him enemies in a bloated military patronage system.

Prime Minister Bakhit, a conservative former general, said publicly that Sharaf’s free-market views ran contrary to the populist agenda of a government which claims to defend ordinary Jordanians from the abuses of the business elite.

The current government came to power in February, during the Arab Spring unrest in the region, after King Abdullah sacked an unpopular pro-business prime minister.

Regardless of the specific issues at stake, the government’s action against the central bank governor, who was only ten months into a fiveyear tenure, raised questions about the predictability of economic policy-making. “It sends a very, very bad signal. This was a political mistake of huge dimensions. This is a very worrying development,” said one senior Western diplomat, who requested anonymity. Sharaf, who described his dismissal as illegal, was replaced by a long-time veteran of the bank, Mohammad Said Shaheen, a deputy governor. He is expected to focus on the central bank’s traditional role of defending the dinar currency, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Independence In March this year, Sharaf stood up to the government when it sought to overdraw its account at the central bank to pay civil servants’ salaries. He wrote to Bakhit and the finance ministry saying they had three days to come up with the funds, a rare move in a country where influential politicians are rarely challenged over spending. “If you overdraw it’s a form of printing money.” — Reuters

Mazaya Qatar wins award

ed finalists. Chaired by a TTG journalist who does not have a carrying vote, each panel debates and discusses each entrant against the rigorous criteria set for that category.

At the end of the judging, the panel picks the winner. For the award, ten categories were evaluated: cabin appearance, onboard meals, cleanliness of the toilets, beverage service, seating comfort, service onboard, ground service, cost-performance ratio, punctuality and facilities for kids.

Oman Air’s CEO, Peter Hill, said: “We are delighted to have been commended in this most prestigious award.”

QATAR: Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development Company (QSC) has been announced the winner of the ‘Best Real Estate Investment Strategy’ award at the 2011 Arabian Business Achievement Awards Qatar. The announcement was made during the presentation ceremony held at Doha’s Four Seasons Hotel on 27 September 2011.

Receiving the Award on behalf of Mazaya Qatar company CEO Seraj Al-Baker said, “We are delighted and honoured to receive the Arabian Business Achievement Award for ‘Best Real Estate Investment Strategy’. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the judging panel and the organisers for recognising Mazaya Qatar’s commitment to implementing and sustaining innovative business and investment strategies, particularly in these challenging times.”

“Mazaya Qatar has been on the regional real estate scene for a relatively short time, and we have already managed to make a name

for ourselves in this highly competitive arena. From our successful IPO to our listing on the Qatar Stock Exchange, Mazaya Qatar stands out from the crowd as we continuously work to achieve ever-greater heights. Recognition from others in the industry through such awards as the Arabian Business

Achievement Awards really means a lot to us, and will motivate us to continue to strive to achieve the best,” Al Baker continued.

The Arabian Business Achievement Awards-Qatar are intended to reward the outstanding performers of business in Qatar.

One of the premier events on the

Seraj Al-Baker poses with other officials.

regional business calendar, the Arabian Business Achievement Awards celebrate the very best in business achievement, both on a corporate and individual level. The Awards have previously been hosted in Kuwait, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Mazaya Qatar has a portfolio of important architectural and professional civil engineering projects and mega-projects in Qatar, and is committed to making a difference in real estate development - taking it beyond mere development into a quality business that will help enhance the company’s position on the GCC and regional levels. 2011 has seen the company start to carry out its expansion plans while also completing its existing projects.

Mazaya Qatar’s impressive track record, strong financial position and signing of strategic long-term income guaranteed projects will help push the real estate sector towards recovery and create a brighter and more mature future.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4290000 .3750000 .3020000 .2660000 .2740000 .0040000 .0020000 .0746860 .7276430 .3810000 .0700000 .7133220 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2751000 GB Pound/KD .4312330 Euro .3778640 Swiss francs .3049550 Canadian dollars .2686520 Danish Kroner .0507640 Swedish Kroner .0414290 Australian dlr .2763380 Hong Kong dlr .0353530 Singapore dlr .2148880 Japanese yen .0035910 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0749290 Bahraini dinars .7299990 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0733800 Omani riyals .7148240 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.623 5.618 3.163 2.505 3.511 215.640 35.540 3.641 6.341 8.924 0.271 0.273

.2800000 .4400000 .3840000 .3140000 .2750000 .2810000 .0072500 .0035000 .0754370 .7349560 .4010000 .0760000 .7204910 .0072000 .0530000 .2772000 .4345250 .3807480 .3072830 .2707030 .0511520 .0417450 .2784470 .0356220 .2165290 .0036180 .0056800 .0025250 .0031900 .0036910 .0755000 .7355710 .3920790 .0739400 .7202810 .0064320

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 73.763 76.003 718.460 734.690 75.320

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 49.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.307 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.266 Tunisian Dinar 194.860 Jordanian Dinar 390.620 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 185.600 Syrian Lier 5.971 Morocco Dirham 34.136 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 276.500 Euro 378.530 Sterling Pound 432.170 Canadian dollar 270.340 Turkish lire 150.140 Swiss Franc 305.360 Australian dollar 274.730 US Dollar Buying 275.300 GOLD 307.000 155.000 80.000

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 Norwegian krone Omani Riyal

SELL CASH

279.000 734.970 3.870 272.300 542.800 36.700 50.800 167.800 48.330 381.500 36.200 5.850 0.032 0.238 0.240 3.700 392.340 0.187 90.120 46.100 4.250 220.300 1.791 48.600 717.820

3.210 6.570 76.450 73.790 216.300 37.410 2.610 435.000 41.600 308.100 5.600 9.280 198.263 75.350 276.700 1.210

10 Tola

GOLD 1,724.790

SELL DRAFT

277.500 734.970 3.643 270.800

216.300 46.334 380.000 36.050 5.610 0.032

Sterling Pound US Dollar

75.250 276.300

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

276.250 269.845 431.535 378.850 304.190 732.435 75.190 75.825 73.625 388.855 46.365 2.503 5.615 3.171 3.645 6.340 677.618 3.695 9.050 5.815 3.595 91.760

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

283.93 276.08 312.82 384.28

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

276.300 3.165 5.600 2.525 3.655 6.385 75.330 73.835 734.600 46.305 435.700 3.190 1.550 392.500 5.750 381.900 274.200 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

438.46 3.66 3.683 5.606 2.507 3.528 3.166 75.21 734.95 46.33 393.09 718.08 76.19 73.78

438.00 3.62 3.705 5.930 2.610 4.200 3.210 75.45 735.00 48.50 392.35 717.85 76.45 73.90

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Currency

717.640

306.600 5.600 9.110

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

Currency

390.600 0.186 90.120 3.520 218.800

3.170 6.350 76.020 73.790 216.300 37.410 2.503 433.000

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 433.000 276.300

Rate for Transfer

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

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

278.50 274.50 311.00 384.00

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

275.850 379.300 433.800 270.500 3.645 5.610 46.275 2.503 3.628 6.376 3.158 734.650 75.200 73.700

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

business

Gold climbs as dollar weakens, equities rise Euro reaches near 4-week high versus dollar

Juan Maria Nin

CaixaBank inaugurates new office in the UAE KUWAIT: CaixaBank, the leader in retail banking in Spain and one of the ten largest banks in the Eurozone by market capital, yesterday inaugurated its new representative office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which will provide services to the Gulf region. The new representative office is a further expression of CaixaBank’s confidence in the economic potential of Gulf countries and its willingness to forge firm relations between the two regions.

The official opening took place yesterday in Dubai and was attended by Juan Maria Nin, CaixaBank’s Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who said that “our presence in the United Arab Emirates illustrates our intention to accompany customers in their international growth and to act as a channel for investors from Gulf countries to do business in the Spanish market, where we have earned the trust of 10.5 million customers, thanks to our financial strength and excellence in service”.

Good relations with Gulf banks At its new Dubai office, run by Maya Khelladi, a professional with extensive experience in the Gulf, CaixaBank will be able to identify and assess business opportunities from the region’s financial centre, supported by its close and excellent relations with more than 50 banks in the Gulf area. In the first half of 2011 CaixaBank handled 10 percent of all trade flows between Spain and Gulf countries. Spanish companies have been operating in the region for some time and in a wide range of sectors, including textiles, footwear, construction materials and agrifood, as well as other industries that are recording powerful growth, such as construction, engineering and renewable energies. Its presence in UAE will allow CaixaBank to enhance its role in the region as a broker in project financing. Last year, the trade flow between the Gulf States and Spain totalled 7,900 million euros, well above the 3,000 million euros recorded ten years ago.

The new UAE representative office forms part of CaixaBank’s international strategy, which has seen offices also opened in

London (United Kingdom), Paris (France), Milan (Italy), Stuttgart and Frankfurt (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey), Beijing and Shanghai (China), Delhi (India) and Singapore. CaixaBank also has its own branches in Warsaw (Poland), Bucharest (Romania) and Casablanca (Morocco), where it was the first Spanish bank to open a branch. In addition, CaixaBank has bilateral agreements with more than 2,500 international banks, aimed at supporting the international operations and foreign trade of companies and individuals anywhere in the world.

CaixaBank also holds stakes in banks based in various countries, with which it has developed partnership strategies to provide mutual support for businesses and customers. The bank has a 20 percent stake in the Mexican bank GFInbursa, 30.1 percent of Banco BPI in Portugal, 15.7 percent of The Bank of East Asia based in Hong Kong, 10.1 percent of the Austrian entity Erste Bank and 20.7 percent of Boursorama in France.

During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, Juan Maria Nin also attended the Global Arab Business Meeting, held in the emirate Ras Al-Khaimah, where he was the only speaker from Spain. The meeting brought together more than 300 representatives from the international business and financial community. In his talk Juan Maria Nin explained that “the dynamism and strategic location of the Gulf region, geographically placed on natural-resource-rich soil at the crossroads of three continents, make the Gulf region increasingly important for the world economy and more attractive than ever to foreign enterprises”.

Nin added that “the burgeoning bilateral relationship between Gulf countries and Spain proves that there is ample room for mutually enriching cooperation”. The CaixaBank Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer went on to say that “the continuing efforts by the Spanish and GCC authorities to maintain an open and effective dialogue at all levels of government provide a solid foundation for building bridges: social, cultural, and commercial”.

LONDON: Gold rose 1 percent yesterday as the dollar slid to a near four-week low against the euro, with the single currency benefiting from hopes that European authorities will agree a plan to tackle the euro zone debt crisis. Physical demand for the precious metal has also been buoyant in Asia, dealers said, and is expected to remain so as the Indian festival season gets underway. Spot gold was up 1 percent at $1,682.39 an ounce at 1331 GMT. Prices have stabilized after last month’s unprecedented volatility, which saw prices fall 20 percent from record highs. They are up nearly 3 percent in October.

The euro recovered early losses versus the dollar as investors shrugged off the Slovakian parliament’s rejection of a plan to strengthen the euro zone rescue fund, taking the view that the government would eventually endorse the scheme. “It is fairly clear that Europe is edging towards expanding the fiscal stability fund. That should support the euro, (leading to a) weaker dollar, and that is obviously supportive for gold,” said Societe Generale analyst David Wilson.

European shares hit a five-week high on expectations that Slovakia’s failure to ratify the euro zone’s rescue plan was a temporary blip, and after better-than-expected euro zone economic data. US stocks also opened

higher. Gold has moved in line with other commodities and assets seen as higher risk, like stocks, in recent weeks, despite moving in an inverse relationship with them earlier in the year as buyers sought the metal as a haven from risk.

“Gold has stepped into new territory, acting like a hybrid of a risk asset and a safe haven, as it tries to find a balance between the two opposing forces,” siad UBS in a note.

“This has made trading the yellow metal very challenging, as while one can have a view on an event such as US payrolls for example, deciphering how gold reacts has become a lot more difficult,” it added. “And while buyers are nimbly returning, it is no surprise that there is caution given the struggle for conviction.” US gold futures for December delivery were up $23.70 an ounce at $1,684.70.

Buying expected to hold strong Gold prices are expected to remain firmly underpinned as long-term investors buy the precious metal to diversify their portfolios.

Central banks, particularly those in emerging markets, are seen adding further to their reserves. Metals consultancy GFMS said yesterday that central banks could buy nearly 500 tons of gold this year, up from an estimate of 336 tons it made last month, as eco-

nomic turmoil boosts the metal’s safe-haven appeal.

Demand from smaller investors in Asia was also firm. Premiums in Singapore and Hong Kong remained at high levels because of the short supply of physical materials. “The premiums are about $2.50, as most dealers are still filling the orders that were pre-booked a week or two ago,” said the dealer. “The buying has slowed down a bit in the past two days, but the Thais are still looking at buying on dips.” Dealers in Hong Kong said premiums were as high as $4.50 an ounce above spot prices, as demand from mainland China stayed robust after the National Day holiday last week. “Chinese demand is likely to remain strong until the end of the year,” said a Hong Kong-based dealer. Silver tracked gold higher, up 1.5 percent at $32.63 an ounce.

Spot platinum was up 1.7 percent at $1,539.99 an ounce, while spot palladium was up 0.9 percent at $608.25 an ounce. “In the longer run, structural support for platinum could emerge,” said Ross Norman, chief executive of precious metals broker Sharps Pixley. “As (the) platinum price is approaching its marginal cost of production and cash cost is rising by about 10 percent per year according to BNP, supply can eventually be restricted and price supported.” — Reuters

Burgan Bank announces draw winner KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced Swani Tandon as the winner of the Burgan Value Account draw. The lucky winner took home cash prize equivalent to KD 4,000. Haneen Al-Rumaihi, Head of Marketing at Burgan Bank said: “We congratulate Tandon on winning the latest Value Account Draw. This account has been developed to cater to the growing needs of the expatriate community, and offering them an array of attractive services and benefits.”

Burgan Bank’s value account presents a range of features that are unique to the Kuwaiti market, and these include life insurance services from Gulf Insurance

Company, along with a credit card and an attractive range of exchange rates during remitting money back home from AlMuzaini Exchange Company. Also the quarterly draw entitles a lucky customer to win cash prize equivalent to KD 4,000.

Burgan Bank online banking offers account holders the flexibility to transfer money, pay credit card outstanding amounts and much more. Opening a Value account is simple, just visit your nearest Burgan Bank branch and get all the details.

Or simply call our Call Center 1804080 and our executive will be more than happy to assist you. For further information visit www.burgan.com

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller named ‘ME and Africa Agency of the Year’

Crossover Junior makes its mark

ABU DHABI: Sunil John, Kelly Home, Reem Diab, Sheikha Lubna AlQassimi and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade are pictured.

KUWAIT: Abdul Mohsen Abdul Aziz Al-Babtain automotive company announced the launch of the Nissan Juke, baby brother to Qashqai and Murano. Aimed at a younger market bored with lookalike hatchbacks, Juke combines attitude, irreverence, modish style and energy with a mischievous sense of fun. “Juke brings a sense of adventure to the car market. It’s light, nimble, urban, reactive: qualities designed to grab a younger audience. It offers something entirely new to the traditional B-segment vehicles and cements Nissan’s reputation as a car maker prepared to do something different.”

Overview The urban landscape is about to change... and once again, it’s thanks to Nissan. Juke, the newest member of Nissan’s Crossover family, has arrived, and it’s ready to kick complacency into touch. For too long the small hatchback market has been populated by worthy but dull machines. Now Juke has arrived, that’s about to change. Juke is the world’s first small Crossover, and follows in the wheel tracks of Murano - the world’s first Crossover - and the ultra successful Qashqai Together they cement Nissan’s place as King of the Crossovers.

Like its bigger brothers, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV toughness and sporting style. Conceived to inject some masculinity and dynamism into the small car market, Juke combines a number of seeming contradictions beneath its highly individual lines. “The Nissan Juke is about to shake up the market with a boldness, style and sense of fun that it has never seen before. We believe Juke’s unique combination of motorsports-inspired exterior and interior design and unexpected levels of technology is going to force Juke into the heart of

the fast-growing compact hatchback/crossover market”, commented Celine Barthes, SUV Crossover Brand Manager at Nissan Middle East.

From a design standpoint, the lower portion of Juke is pure SUV. It combines chunky wheels, wide tyres, extended ground clearance and a robust stance with a top portion that is unadulterated sports car, with a high waistline, slim visor-like side glass graphics and a coupÈ-

style falling roofline. The coupÈ effect is further underlined by the rear doors which have their handles hidden in the frame of the door. Inside, the sports car theme continues with a cockpit oriented cabin dominated by a centre console design inspired by a motorcycle fuel tank.

Finished in a distinctive high gloss colour metallic red or grey - the ‘bike’ console adds a sense of fun to the car. Practicality is assured by the rear-opening hatch and versatile luggage area with hidden storage opportunities.

Juke is based on the flexible Renault Nissan Alliance B platform, already known for its dynamic characteristics and updated to meet customer needs as a compact, fun-to-drive

Crossover. Suspensions are by MacPherson struts at the front with a torsion beam at the rear Two engines are available for the Middle East region, the 1.6-L (litre) Gasoline Engine unit and the 1.6L Direct Injection Gasoline Turbo Engine. At the top of the range is a new turbocharged petrol engine (MR16DDT) with direct injection (DIG-T). The engine is one of the most powerful in its class, developing 140kW and 240 Nm with low fuel consumption. The combination of direct injection with a turbocharger provides the power and responses expected from a 2.5-litre engine with the economy of a smaller engine.

The second petrol engine is a newly developed version from Nissan’s trusted HR-family. Designated HR16DE, the lightweight, low-friction 16-valve unit now has a unique dual-injection system allowing finer metering of the fuel sprays for better combustion and develops 86kW . The 1.6-litre Gasoline Engine is available with an XTRONIC CVT transmission, while a 6 speed manual transmission and the XTRONIC CVT transmission with a 6-speed manual mode are offered on the range-topping turbocharged engine.

Trim and equipment options will follow the established S and SL lines while a full range of accessories has been developed for owners who want to personalise their Juke still further. Standard equipment across all grades includes integrated control system which gives the driver the chance to optimise the car’s dynamic functions to suit their needs, two airbags, ESP, full auto air conditioning, Bluetooth and a CD/radio. (Grade and equipment levels, as well as options, may vary by country.)

KUWAIT: ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, the region’s leading public relations consultancy, has been named “Middle East and Africa Agency of the Year” at the International Business Awards, which took place in Abu Dhabi on October 11, 2011.

In addition to receiving this prestigious accolade, the agency was also presented with the “International Campaign of the Year - Multicultural” award for its work on behalf of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), while the groundbreaking ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey was commended in the “Global Issues” category.

Competing against international and regional PR firms, as well as communications teams from multinational corporations and government agencies, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller was recognised, along with additional winners from 35 nations, at a gala ceremony at the Emirates Palace hotel. According to the organizers of the International Business Awards, also known as the Stevies, over 3,000 submissions were received from firms and individuals in more than 50 countries, demonstrating the clear, differentiating strength of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller in being named “Middle East and Africa Agency of the Year.”

Sunil John, Chief Executive Officer, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, said: “This is a tremendous moment in the 11-year history of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, which provides global validation of the energy, dedication and commitment of the agency in meeting the evolving needs of our clients across a broad range of sectors and geographies. We thank our clients across the region who have given us the opportunity to succeed through their success.

“In a 12-month period that began with businesses in the Middle East reshaping their strategies following the financial crisis and culminated in the drama of the Arab Spring, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller shaped public opinion, steered debate and set new benchmarks in evidence-based com-

munications. “In being named ‘Agency of the Year for the Middle East and Africa,’ it is clear that our seven practices and 11 fullyowned offices across the region continue to set the standard by which PR in the Middle East and Africa is judged.”

For its award-winning campaign for DIFF, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller focused on the event’s slogan for 2010: “Open Your World.” This meant opening up the festival to different communities, enhancing their participation and underscoring the festival’s points of differentiation, including as the largest-of-its-kind film market, the largest collection of Arabic-language films, and the largest cross-section of films from Asia, Africa and the Arab world.

A benchmark in thought leadership, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller’s proprietary Arab Youth Survey, launched four years ago, provides unique insights into the thoughts, hopes and aspirations of the region’s young people - based on face-toface interviews with 2,000 Arab youth in 10 countries. The findings of the most recent survey - including the democratic aspirations of regional youth - proved especially relevant amidst the events of the Arab Spring. As a result, the ASDA’A BursonMarsteller Arab Youth Survey received extensive regional and international media coverage after being launched earlier this year in both Dubai and New York.

The winners of the International Business Awards were selected in two phases of judging, preliminary and final.

The preliminary judges were recruited worldwide and assigned categories based on their experience. The final judging was done by members of the Board of Distinguished Judges and Advisors of the International Business Awards, and other handpicked business leaders from around the world. Nicknamed the Stevies from the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards are approximately 16 inches tall, hand-cast and finished in 24-karat gold, depicting an individual holding a crystal pyramid.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

business

NBK gains cheer bourse

Saudi stocks likely to ride out Iran tensions

GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

MIDEAST STOCKS

KUWAIT: The short-lived gain did not last through yesterday, with Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ending the day’s session on a slightly lower note. All market major indices ended the day in the negative territory. The biggest news during the day was National Bank of Kuwait’s (NBK) 9M2011 financial results announcement.

Market indices Global General Index (GGI) ended the day down by 0.02 percent, at 181.65 point. Market capitalization was also down for the day, reaching KD29.69 billion. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,847.5 point, shedding 11.50 points (0.20 percent) to its previous close.

on Refrigeration Industries and Storage Company’s shares, effective October 13, 2011, after the latter paid the annual stock market subscription fees.

Real estate companies were also notable losers during the day. The sector as a whole, presented through Global Real Estate Index, produced 0.67 percent in losses. Heavyweight, Mabanee Company closed down by 1.15 percent at KD0.860.

Services sector followed with a 0.66 percent slide. While Gulf Franchising Company was the biggest loser in the market, shedding 10.81 percent, closing at KD 0.0165. Trading was intense on the counter of Agility Company. Investors traded

5 percent YoY and total equity jumped by 14 percent YoY. As per the bank its NPLs ratio improved slightly from 1.61 percent in 2Q11 to 1.59 percent in 3Q11, however NPL coverage shot up from 221.6 percent in 2Q11 to 225.9 percent in 3Q11, indicating that the bank might have taken some prudential provisions; however provisions seem to be much lower than the previous quarter. We await detailed financial results to make further analysis.

Boubyan Bank also announced a net profit of KD 6.89 million at an EPS of 3.94 fils compared to KD 4.52 million and an EPS of 2.7fils recorded during the corresponding period of 2010, representing

Market breadth During the session, 98 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 49 equities declined versus 17 that advanced.

Daily trading activity Total volume traded was down by 17.15 percent with 197.11 million shares changing hands at a total value of KD 29.03 million (6.18 percent lower compared to Tuesday’s session). Investment sector was the volume leader, accounting for 39.60 percent of total shares exchanges. International Financial Advisors (IFA) was the session’s most traded stock with 43.60 million shares exchanged. The services sector was the value leader, having 27.14 percent of total traded value.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, Kuwait Investment Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 9.09 percent to its share value and closing at KD 0.120. On the other hand, Gulf Franchising Company shed 10.81 percent and closed at KD 0.017, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors-wise On Global sector indices front, Global Industrial Index was the major loser for the day, registering a loss of 1.01 percent and closing at 176.47 points on the back of the drop in the prices of many stocks in this sector such as Kuwait Cement Company, ACICO Industries Company and United Industries Company (-1.92 percent each). Gulf Glass Manufacturing Company reported net earnings of KD 2.01 million for 9M2011, down by 7.90 percent from the KD 2.18 million posted during the comparable period in 2010. The scrip closed unchanged at KD 1.020. Elsewhere within the industrial sector, Kuwait Stock Exchange decided to resume trading

11.17 million of its shares at a total value of KD 4.07 million, the highest for the day. The scrip closed flat at KD 0.370. On the other side, heavyweight Global Banking Index made the balance as it reduced yesterday’s losses by gaining 0.57 percent. Two banks released their 9M2011 financial results. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) realized a 0.46 percent growth in its 9M2011 earnings figures compared to the corresponding period of 2010, at KD 225.56 million. This translates to an EPS of KD 0.057. The scrip closed up by 1.85 percent at KD 1.100.

NBK’s results were much higher than our expectations of KD 71.4 million (variance of 11 percent), possibly due to lower than anticipated provisions taken during the quarter. Total assets increased by

an 52.6 percent increase YoY. Oil news The price of Kuwaiti crude oil was up $0.97pbto come to $102.89pb on Tuesday, compared to Monday’s $01.92pb, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation yesterday.

Corporate news United Real Estate Company announced that the Department of Expropriation for the Public Benefit has valued the company’s real estate in Mubarakiya area for an amount of KD 10.55 million, and as a result the company realized a profit of KD 4.46 million.

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s stock market is likely to be largely unaffected by geopolitical tensions with Iran next week and to focus instead on petrochemical companies which are due to announce quarterly earnings, analysts said. Washington’s accusation that Iran backed a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States has the potential to hurt markets. But Saudi stocks did not react to it yesterday and may not do so unless outright conflict looks likely. “At this time it’s not a concern, it’s only an accusation. Right now markets are being driven by fundamental factors like earnings and (economic) uncertainty in Europe and the US,” said Youssef Kassantini, a Saudi-based financial analyst.

“The tension has always been there between Saudi and Iran, which did affect the market and created a level of fear, but it is continuous and the market is used to this factor. I don’t think it will develop into anything that will move the market.”

Mohammed Alomran, a member of the Saudi Economic Association, a think tank, said: “It had zero effect on the market which was more interested in the international scene, mainly the Obama (jobs) bill that didn’t get passed and profit announcements on a local level.”

Along with banks, petrochemical stocks are one of the two most heavily weighted sectors in the main Saudi stock index, representing about 30 percent of total market capitalization. The petrochemical index rose 2.6 percent in the past week, while the main index climbed 1.7 percent.

“Saudi petrochemical numbers will be good although slightly off Q2 numbers. But compared to Q3 2010, there will be growth,” said Shakeel Sarwar, head of asset management at Securities & Investment Co in Bahrain.

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world’s largest chemicals producer, is expected to post a net profit rise of 48.9 percent when it reports in coming days or weeks, according to analysts polled by Reuters. The stock is down 12.9 percent for the year and has an extremely low trailing price-earnings ratio of 10.2. “Markets are waiting for the leader stocks to announce results, especially SABIC,” said Tarek Al-Madi, an independent Riyadh-based financial analyst. “The market will take the cue from these results and then the speculative trading will start on the rest of the stocks.”

Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co (Yansab) on Tuesday said its third-quarter net profit more than doubled, helped by higher prices and increased output, but the results still missed analyst expectations. The stock fell 1.3 percent lower as investors booked profits. Light crude fell from $99.6 a barrel in July to 79.2 at the end of September, its lowest level since

September 2010. “Petchems’ earnings should be reasonable. Product prices are still good in yearon-year terms and I’m not aware of there being much disruption to volumes,” said Paul Gamble, head of research at Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment. “But I don’t think earnings will be as strong as Q2 2011 given the recent falls in product prices.”

Qatar banks Qatari bank earnings may also stimulate activity in coming weeks. Regional heavyweight Qatar National Bank has already reported, posting a 27 percent jump in third-quarter net profit to 1.9 billion riyals, beating analysts’ estimate of 1.8 billion riyals. The stock has risen for five straight sessions and is up 7.4 percent on the year, outperforming the main market index which is down 3 percent.

Qatar Islamic Bank is expected to post 14 percent growth in net profit, according to an average of five analysts’ estimates. “Volumes are low (in Qatar) but there is still a belief of strong results coming from banks,” said Samer Al-Jaouni, General Manager of Dubai-based Middle East Financial Brokerage. “Institutionals are accumulating banks because of historically attractive cash dividends at year-end.”

However, any sustained rally in Gulf equities continues to look unlikely while the euro zone debt crisis remains fundamentally unresolved, analysts said. “Strong corporate performance is going to be a catalyst for the market if we see some serious progress toward resolving the debt issues in the euro zone. But at the moment, the global uncertainty is hanging over the market,” Jadwa’s Gamble said.

Egypt Egypt’s market , down 43.3 percent this year, will remain vulnerable to political instability and any further violent unrest after clashes on Sunday night between the army and Christian protesters in Cairo left at least 25 people dead. But a sharp rebound of the index off an intra-day low of 3,820 points in the past three days, to a close of 4,050 yesterday, suggests the market may have found a fairly solid bottom because of cheap valuations.

The 3,380-point level, a multi-year low hit in early 2009, is seen by many traders as strong chart support. “What we have now is not heavy selling but a lack of buyers. Stocks are attractive in the long term but in the short term we’re going to be in an extremely tight range,” said a foreign sales trader at CIBC in Cairo. He forecast the index would remain in a range of 3,800 to 4,200 points for some time, possibly falling as far as 3,400 before foreign investors returned in significant numbers. —Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

business

China urges US to stop ‘protectionist’ FX bill ‘Trade war’ threat seen as bluster, retaliation possible

HONG KONG: Elderly protesters hold a picture of Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang with the word “Devil”, demanding better welfare from Hong Kong government outside the new Legislative Council building yesterday. — AFP

HK chief promises to tackle housing woes HONG KONG: Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang pledged yesterday to tackle the city’s soaring property prices, which are squeezing the middle class and fuelling popular anger at his administration. The chief executive also presented a bleak assessment of the world economy and warned that the southern Chinese territory faced “enormous inflationary pressure”, particularly in the form of rocketing food prices. “I am very concerned about the impact of high inflation on the livelihood of our people, especially the grassroots,” he told lawmakers in a speech that was twice interrupted by noisy protesters.

“We are not optimistic about global economic prospects next year. We may see inflation and recession come one after the other,” he added. Demand from wealthy Chinese investors has driven apartment prices beyond the reach of many low and middle-income earners in the Asian financial hub of around seven million people, triggering a slump in Tsang’s approval ratings. Home prices jumped 56 percent between 2008 and 2010 and another 18 percent in the year to August.

Tsang talked up his government’s achievements in posting growth of seven percent last year, but admitted the “wealth gap” and housing affordability remained among the “issues of greatest public concern”. “People have become frustrated because it is more difficult for them to own a home,” he told lawmakers in his final annual policy address, the government’s policy blueprint for the year ahead.

“I am striving to tackle the problem by increasing land supply, combating property speculation and adjusting our subsidized housing policy,” said Tsang, sporting his trademark bow tie. He announced the resumption of a subsidized housing

scheme for low-income residents, promising to deliver 17,000 subsidized flats for sale from 2016 to 2019. The policy would target families with a monthly household income under HK$30,000 ($3,855).

A study by US consultancy Demographia in January found that Hong Kong’s home prices were the least affordable in the world. “Despite sustained economic growth in recent years, the widening of the wealth gap is still a source of social discontent,” Tsang said. He added, however, that redistribution of wealth did not mean changes to the territory’s low-tax status.

“As a highly open economy, Hong Kong must preserve the distinct economic features that have underpinned our success,” he said. Average inflation in 2011 was expected to reach 5.4 percent, the highest annual rate since 1997, the chief executive said.

“The government will strive to ease domestic inflationary pressure by such measures as cooling the property market and preventing excessive credit growth,” he added. The government would expand the sources and types of food supply in a bid to ease price pressures, after retail food prices rose 9.1 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of this year.

Tsang was making his final annual policy address before he steps down in June next year at the end of his mandate, having served in the post for seven years. Hong Kong’s chief executive is appointed by a committee selected by the central government in Beijing. Shares of Hong Kong property firms rose on the local Hang Seng index in response to the promise of more development, with SHK Properties up 2.3 percent to HK$98.65 and Henderson Land up 2.2 percent at HK$38.00. — AFP

BHUBANESHWAR: An Indian villager sets dried earthen lamps yesterday. India’s industrial production expanded less than expected in August in further evidence of a slowdown in Asia’s third-largest economy. — AP

India’s industry sluggish in August NEW DELHI: India’s industrial production expanded less than expected in August in further evidence of a slowdown in Asia’s third-largest economy as soaring interest rates and persistently high inflation weigh on demand.

The 4.1 percent growth in August industrial output over the previous year lagged a Reuters poll forecast for 5 percent growth and was only a slight improvement on the revised 3.84 percent growth clocked in July. Indian industry has borne the brunt of the central bank’s aggressive policy tightening. Output has slipped steadily from a double-digit annual pace last year as the Reserve Bank of India’s 12 rate rises since March 2010 pushed up borrowing costs at the same time that rising prices and a stagnating global economy curbed investment and demand at home.

Whether that persistent weakness in industry will spur the central bank into ending a long cycle of rate rises may be determined by Friday’s inflation data. With the inflation rate hovering near its highest in more than a year, the RBI, one of Asia’s most hawkish central banks, is in no hurry to relax its tight policy stance. Indeed, while most emerging market central banks have either cut rates or abandoned their anti-inflation campaigns as the outlook for global growth worsens, India’s central bank has signalled it will persist with its fight against rising prices.

RBI Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn made clear yesterday the policy stance would shift only when inflation pressures eased. “The industrial production number

is slightly below expectations but what matters for the RBI is inflation,” said Kumar Rachapudi, a strategist at Barclays Capital in Singapore. “The RBI’s statements have been hawkish and clearly hinting that inflation is still the priority. Base case has been for no hike on Oct. 25, but the probability of hiking has increased a lot.”

Inflation was nearly 9.8 percent in August, the highest rate in more than a year. A Reuters poll this week forecast September inflation, due on Friday, will be just slightly lower at 9.70 percent. The main policy rate is lower than that level, at 8.25 percent. Besides, with exports just a meagre contributor to the primarily domestically driven economy, India can with good reason afford to focus on its number-one priority : inflation.

“We raise rates not because it is an end in itself,” RBI’s Gokarn said, addressing students in the western city of Jaipur. “To the extent we see the problem persisting, then there is a basis to raise rates but if we see the problem is starting to ease off, then that would provide the basis for a change.”

Industrial output continues to lag broader economic growth in India, which slowed to 7.7 percent in the April-June quarter, its softest in six quarters, while manufacturing growth was the weakest in two-and-a-half years. This mirrors a worldwide trend of stalling factory activity and a worryingly weak pace of new orders, symptoms of faltering US growth, the euro zone debt crisis and the impact those are having on business and consumer sentiment. —Reuters

BEIJING: China yesterday urged the Obama administration and Congress to block a US bill aimed at pressing Beijing to lift the value of the yuan, warning that legislation passed by the Senate could undermine efforts to prop up the global economy. The legislation is a protectionist step that “gravely violates World Trade Organization rules,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said after the US Senate approved it in a 63-35 vote and sent it to House of Representatives.

“China urges the US government, Congress and all quarters to resolutely oppose using domestic legislation to create a fuss about and put pressure on the renminbi exchange rate,” said Ma in comments on the ministry’s website (www.mfa.gov.cn). The “renminbi”, or “people’s currency,” is another name for China’s yuan currency. The bill will “disrupt the shared efforts of China and the United States, as well the international community, to promote vigorous recovery and growth in the global economy,” said Ma. His condemnation was echoed

by China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The People’s Bank of China, the central bank, said the yuan exchange rate was “reasonable.” “Making groundless accusations about the renminbi exchange rate will not solve the United States’ lack of savings, trade deficit or high unemployment rate,” said the central bank. “But it could seriously disrupt the exchange rate reforms that China is undertaking.”

Although the currency bill faces high hurdles to becoming law, Beijing appears worried that it could signal more feuding with the United States in 2012, when President Barack Obama faces a tough fight for re -election and China’s Communist Party will navigate a leadership handover. “The election race is already having an impact, and it will certainly expand,” said Jin Canrong, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing specializing in Sino-American relations.

“Because of the state of the US economy, trade issues will be the focus of that impact,” he added, noting criticism of China from

BEIJING: Local shops are seen closed for business due to contract disputes. —AFP Republican candidates, including an unfair edge in global markets. key Republicans have indicated Mitt Romney. Ties between Beijing Both governments have pledged to they dislike the tariff threat.

Republican House Speaker John and Washington have also been address imbalances, but the U.S. troubled by disputes over China’s trade deficit with China in 2010 Boehner last week said it would be fetters on dissent and on the rose to a record-breaking $273.1 “dangerous” for Congress to get Internet, regional military and secu- billion, up from about $227 billion involved with a foreign country’s rity tensions, and U.S. arms sales to in 2009, U.S. data shows. Many exchange rate. China controls the Taiwan, the self-ruled island Chinese officials worry that moving pace of yuan exchange rate movefaster to raise the value of the yuan ments by setting a daily mid-point claimed by China.

Chinese officials and media have could hurt exports and the tens of from which the currency can rise or repeatedly warned that the bill millions of manufacturing jobs they fall 0.5 percent versus the dollar each day, and also by intervening in could trigger a “trade war” of pro- create.

In remarks published yesterday, trading on the domestic market. On tectionist tit-for-tat retaliation between the world’s two biggest a senior Chinese government Tuesday, the People’s Bank of China economies. China’s official Xinhua researcher urged Beijing not to fixed the yuan daily mid-point at a news agency said yesterday that move ahead with yuan globaliza- record high ahead of the vote by “what the US Senate did planted a tion efforts, saying further yuan lib- the US Senate.

China says it is committed to ticking time-bomb that may ignite eralization would strengthen the gradual currency reform and notes a potential trade war.” “If this bill is yuan and hurt China’s exports.

The proposed Currency the yuan has risen 30.2 percent passed, and the United States exacts tariffs as the bill demands, I Exchange Rate Oversight Reform since July 2005, when Beijing revalthink China will respond by impos- Act of 2011 would allow the US ued the currency. The current ing tariffs on some US products,” government to slap countervailing account surplus narrowed to 2.8 said Jin. “I think it would be propor- duties on goods from countries percent of GDP in the first half of tional to the level of tariffs collected found to be subsidizing their 2011 from 5.2 percent in 2010. exports by undervaluing their cur- “These facts prove that yuan curby the United States,” he said. rencies. But before President Barack rency rate is gradually moving Yawning deficit Many US lawmakers, trade Obama could be forced to decide towards a balanced and reasonable unions and manufacturing lobbies whether to sign the bill into law, it level,” the People’s Bank of China say China holds down the value of must first win approval from the said in its report rejecting the U.S. its yuan currency to give its exports House of Representatives, where bill. —Reuters

Asian shares mixed on Slovakia eurozone poll HONG KONG: Asian shares were mixed yesterday with some markets reversing morning losses as fears eased over a Slovakia vote that blocked expansion of a key eurozone bailout fund. Sydney lost 0.55 percent, or 23.3 points, to 4,204.3 and Tokyo closed 0.40 percent, or 34.78 points, lower at 8,738.90 but Seoul ended 0.81 percent, or 14.48 points, up at 1,809.50. Also reversing a morning dip into negative territory, Hong Kong ended 1.04 percent higher, or 187.87 points, at 18,329.46.

Shanghai closed up 3.04 percent, or 71.48 points, to 2,420.00 after it had earlier hit a more than 30-month low. Disappointing earnings from US aluminium giant Alcoa added to the nervous mood as it raised concerns over the upcoming reporting season. “Markets will trade with a cautious tone keeping one eye on earnings and the other on developments in the eurozone,” said Mitul Kotecha, strategist at Credit Agricole. “As we have noted, expectations of some concrete action by officials to help resolve the crisis in the eurozone by the end of the month are a key driving force for markets,” he told Dow Jones Newswires.

“But past history suggests that the risk of disappointment is high.” Shares had seen strong gains over the past few sessions on hopes the eurozone debt crisis could be resolved, a feeling reinforced by a weekend announcement by France and Germany that they would shore up the region’s banks. The recent rises brought some relief after global markets had slumped on fears that Greece’s debt troubles could lead it to default, which would in turn spread to other economies and banks.

Nerves set in again yesterday after Slovakia’s parliament blocked a plan to expand the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), dealing a further blow to the bloc’s leaders as they look for a solution to the crisis. It effectively stops the expansion of the 440-billion-euro ($600 billion) bailout fund, despite warnings from European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet that the world financial system faces systemic dangers.

Slovakia was the last of the 17 eurozone members to approve the revamp. The vote also toppled the government of Prime Minister Iveta Radicova, who failed to secure backing from the junior coalition Freedom and Solidarity party after she turned the measure into a confidence motion.

However the losses were mostly short-lived and Sumino Kamei, senior analyst at the Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ, said: “The rejection was in line with expectations and the consensus is that the plan is likely to be approved in a second vote.”

Resource firms in Australia dipped after Alcoa said Tuesday that third-quarter net profit tripled from a year earlier, but almost halved from the previous quarter as metal prices fell and the European economy stumbled. BHP Billiton finished down 0.83 percent, Rio Tinto eased 0.79 percent and Woodside Petroleum was 0.65 percent weaker. European shares rose in early trading, with London’s FTSE 100 climbing 0.52 percent to 5,423.96, while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index rallied 1.68 percent to 5,963.83 points and the Paris CAC 40 jumped 1.44 percent to 3,198.88 points. The euro hit a three-week dollar high, surging to $1.3816, the highest level since mid-September and compared with $1.3660 in New York on Tuesday. The dollar fell to 76.47 yen from 76.66 yen. — AFP

LONDON: A man enters a Job Centre Plus in central London. —AFP

British jobless total races to 17-year high LONDON: Britain’s unemployed total has rocketed to a 17 year-high, official data showed yesterday, denting economic recover y prospects and government hopes that the private sector can offset huge cuts in state jobs. Britain’s jobless total jumped to 2.57 million people in the three months to August, the highest amount since 1994, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. The country’s unemployment rate shot up to 8.1 percent during the quarter, the highest level for 15 years and youth unemployment hit a record high of 991,000, the ONS added. Prime Minister David Cameron described the data as “very disappointing.”

“Every job that is lost is a tragedy for that person and for their family and that is why this government is going to do everything it possibly can to help get people into work,” he told parliament. “We’ve got to do more to get our economy moving, to get jobs for our people but we mustn’t abandon the (deficit-reduction) plan.”

Britain escaped from a deep recession in the third quarter of 2009 but its recovery has been severely constrained by collapsing consumer confidence, painful state austerity cuts and the eurozone debt crisis. Yesterday’s data comes less than a week after the Bank of England injected £75 billion (86 billion euros, $115 billion) of new money into Britain’s stalled economy in a bid to boost growth. BoE governor

Mervyn King has said that Britain is facing possibly its most serious ever financial crisis. Although Britain is not a member of the eurozone, the bloc is the country’s main trading market. “Today’s UK labor data is very weak,” said James Knightley, an analyst at ING Bank. “The weakness is no real surprise given the wave of fiscal austerity is resulting in significant public sector job losses.

“Meanwhile worries about the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and slowing global growth will have kept private sector firms cautious and reluctant to hire workers. “Hiring intentions surveys remain in positive territory but we are cautious on jobs given the global growth stor y is unlikely to rebound sharply in the nearterm. “BoE stimulus will help but we also need some resolution to the sovereign debt story and action from other central banks to stimulate the recovery,” Knightley added.

The ONS said in a statement yesterday: “The unemployment rate for the three months to August 2011 was 8.1 percent of the economically active population ... The last time the unemployment rate was higher was in the three months to July 1996. “The total number of unemployed people increased by 114,000 over the quarter ... to reach 2.57 million. The number of unemployed people has not been higher since the three months to October 1994,” it added.— AFP

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

business

Wall St protesters attack homes of top executives Rupert Murdoch, Jamie Dimon homes targeted

AYUTTHAYA: A Thai resident walks in floodwaters in the ancient Thai capital yesterday. — AFP

Thailand floods threaten exports SINGAPORE: Thailand’s worst floods in half a century have inundated farms and mills, squeezing rice supplies from the world’s top exporter, while rival Vietnam is expected to default on half a million tons as prices of the staple climb. Flood-damage to Thai rice comes as the nation’s new government implemented a scheme that gives farmers a big increase in farmgate prices, raising concerns over food inflation among buyers in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Swollen rivers were hampering the movement of barges, while ships at the ports were unable to load cargoes in the face of heavy rains, traders said yesterday, adding that at least 300,000 tons of rice exports would get delayed, forcing buyers to seek alternatives such as from India and Pakistan. “The situation is really bad as it is raining non-stop, a lot of mills have been affected and a lot paddy which was lying around in the open or under tarpaulin has got submerged,” said a trading manager with an international rice exporter in Bangkok.

“We see it as a serious problem.” The floods have already prompted the government to reduce its estimate of the main rice crop to 21 million tons from 25 million for which the harvesting was due to start this month. “Even loading for vessels which are waiting for cargo will get delayed,” said another trader from Bangkok. “It is raining heavily, so loadings have fallen and it is difficult to get cargoes alongside the vessel.”

Thailand’s prime minister warned businesses not to take advantage of flooding around the country to push up prices as residents of Bangkok cleared supermarket shelves, worried that the capital could be swamped in coming days. At least 281 people have been killed by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July and 26 of Thailand’s 77 provinces are inundated, said the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The north, northeast and central plains have been badly affected and Bangkok, which is only two meters (6.5 ft) above sea level, is in danger as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river. But the floods have limited impact on sugar output, Thailand’s other major export, with about 200,000 rai of cane plantation hit, said the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, accounting for 2-3 percent of the 8.7 million rai (1.4 hectares) of plantation estimate for 2011/12 production.

The export price of Thai benchmark 100 percent B grade white rice rose to $670-$680 a ton last week from $650, while Vietnamese rice climbed to its highest in more than three years on thin stocks and expectations of higher demand. Yesterday Vietnam’s 5 percent broken rice stood at $575-$590 a tonne, FOB, against $575$580 a week ago. It touched $580-$590 on Monday.

Vietnamese defaults, Indian exports Vietnam, the world’s second-largest rice exporter, could default on deliveries of 520,000 tons of the grain this year as exporters failed to buy on domestic markets for loading due to a price surge, a state-run newspaper reported. The projected defaults would account for 7 percent of Vietnam’s annual export volume forecast at 7.5 million tons this year, breaking the record of 6.83 million tons in 2010.

The market is expecting higher rice demand in 2012 from the Philippines, where the volume of unmilled rice damaged by two recent typhoons has climbed to about 1 million tons, a senior agriculture official said. “The price is rising to intercept the Philippines’ demand,” a Vietnamese trader in Ho Chi Minh City said. “The Philippines will buy for next year, following the impact of storms and floods and a decline in stocks.”

President Benigno Aquino said the Philippines did not need to import more rice for this year’s supply despite crop losses from typhoons because it had ample stocks. However, officials have said it was reviewing import plans for 2012. Before the strong typhoons hit major rice-growing provinces in northern Philippines, the government had said it could limit rice imports for 2012 to not more than 500,000 tons on anticipation of a record paddy output of 17.3 million tons. The Southeast Asian country bought 860,000 tons of rice this year, after importing 2.45 million tons for 2010, making it the world’s biggest rice buyer. India, which eased curbs on rice exports in September, is likely to make the most of the situation in Southeast Asia with plentiful stocks.

“We estimate about 1.0-1.5 million tons of Indian rice have been contracted for exports after the government freed overseas sale,” said Vijay Setia, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association. Traders said about 700,000 tons would be shipped by December from ports on India’s east coast to destinations such as Bangladesh, Nigeria and South Africa. The export deals are happening in the range of $420-$480 a ton, free on board (FOB) basis, for common rice. On Sept 1, India’s rice stocks at government warehouses stood at 22.7 million tons against a target of 9.8 million tons. India’s summer rice production is expected to be 87.1 million tons in the crop year 2011/12, compared to 80.65 million tons a year ago, according to the farm ministry’s first of the four forecasts released on Sept. 13. — Reuters

NEW YORK: Hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters marched on the New York homes of wealthy executives on Tuesday, triggering one of their targets, billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, to defend his wealth. Around 500 people marched through Manhattan’s Upper East Side, passing the high-rise buildings where many of the executives live. Among them are Paulson, global media mogul Rupert Murdoch, JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon and David Koch, co-founder of energy firm Koch Industries. The protesters chanted “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out” and “Hey you billionaires, pay your fair share” and carried signs that read “Stop robbing from the middle class to pay the rich” and “We are the 99 percent,” a reference to the idea that the top 1 percent of Americans have too much.

Mustafa Ibrahim, 23, an engineer marched on the “Billionaire’s Tour” during a visit to New York from Cairo, where he said he was arrested during a popular uprising this year which toppled Egyptian autocrat Hosni Mubarak. “It’s pretty much the same thing as Egypt,” Ibrahim said. “The problem is the rich keep getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.” Since Sept 17 protesters have been camped out in a park in Lower Manhattan near Wall Street, rallying against bailouts for banks during the recession, which allowed them to earn huge profits while average Americans suffer high unemployment and job insecurity with little help.

As protesters took their grievances to the homes of the rich, the Paulson & Co hedge fund defended its status. Paulson took home $5 billion in 2010, the hedge fund industry’s biggest ever paycheck, but this year one of his main funds has fallen 47 percent after he mistimed a call that the economy would recover strongly.

“The top 1 percent of New Yorkers pay over 40 percent of all income taxes, providing huge benefits to everyone in our city and state,” Paulson & Co said in a statement, adding that New York has the highest income taxes of any US states. “Instead of vil-

ifying our most successful businesses, we should be supporting them and encouraging them to remain in New York City and continue to grow,” it said.

The Occupy Wall Street movement is burgeoning ahead of planned global protests on Saturday. On Wednesday, the Service Employees International Union will march on New York City’s financial district for good jobs, while U.S. college students plan solidarity protests on Thursday on at least 56 campuses. According to Occupy Together, which has become an online hub for protest activity, the Occupy Wall Street movement

Arrests in Boston, Washington DC Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein canceled a talk at New York’s Barnard College, and though the company-which received and repaid a big federal bailout during the financial crisis-said a scheduling conflict would keep him away, students from nearby Columbia University were planning to “Don’t look at the Arab spring, look here because things are going to boil over,” said protester

Charles Evans, 62, as he marched on the “Billionaire’s Tour.” Fifth Avenue resident Lorna Goldberg, 57, said she was surprised to see the protesters near her home. “But I guess they’re getting their point across by coming here,” she added. Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, last week likened the growth of the protest movement to the grass-roots Tea Party, but the conservative group on Tuesday sought to distance itself from the protesters. The Tea Party Patriots said in a statement that its supporters were “not lawbreakers, they don’t hate the police, they don’t even litter.” — Reuters

NEW YORK: A young woman holds up a sign as passersby take in the scene at the Occupy Wall Street headquarters at Zuccotti Park yesterday. — AP

Greek deficit widens in first nine months ATHENS: Greece’s central government deficit continued to grow in the first nine months of the year despite a series of austerity measures designed to raise revenues, figures from the country’s finance ministry showed yesterday. The central government deficit stood at euro19.2 billion ($26.1 billion) for January to September from euro16.65 billion in the same period last year. The 15.1 percent increase was slightly lower than the government forecast of a rise to euro19.24 billion. The ministry blamed the revenue shortfall on a deeper than anticipated recession, but said shortfalls were likely to be made up over the next three months as recent tax rises, such as a controversial property levy, kick in.

The figures issued yesterday relate to the state budget deficit, which excludes spending in some areas, and is not the criteria used for the EU’s assessment of Greece’s financial reforms. The country has been dependent since May last year on a euro110 billion ($150 billion) bailout package from other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund. International debt inspectors from the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank, known collectively as the troika, completed a review of Greece’s reforms on Tuesday, and said the next euro8 billion loan installment was likely to be paid out in early November. Athens has said it will run out of funds to pay salaries and pensions in midNovember without the bailout money. In order to qualify for the funds, Greece has had to push through a series of austerity measures, including salary and pension cuts in the public sector, and repeated tax hikes. The government is also pushing through plans to suspend 30,000 civil servants on partial pay by the end of the year.

Unions have been outraged, with workers staging near-daily strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins at government buildings.

Both the Finance and Interior Ministry

has sparked rallies in more than 1,400 cities throughout the United States and around the world.

buildings were under occupation by protesters yesterday and Finance Ministry employees have called a 10-day strike from Oct 17. Museums and archaeological sites shut down yesterday for two days as Culture Ministry employees walked off the job, with contract workers at the country’s most famous monument, the Acropolis, saying they had not been paid for five months.

No public transport will operate in the Greek capital on Thursday and Friday.

Ferries will stop running early next week after the seamen’s’ federation declared the start of 48-hour rolling strikes as of Monday.

“The Greek people really can’t take any more. They’re reaching their limit,” said Nikos Karagelis, a financial advisor for companies and businesses. “I know that wherever the troika has been, it’s left scorched earth behind it, and wherever people tried on their own with proper governments they accomplished a lot more.”

Mounds of garbage lie uncollected on Athens streets as municipal workers blockade landfill sites. Lawyers, tax collection and customs officers, state hospital workers, teachers and bank workers have all also declared work stoppages or strikes in the coming days. Greece’s two largest unions have declared a nationwide general strike for Oct 19. Prime Minister George Papandreou was chairing a Cabinet meeting yesterday, discussing a series of reforms, including plans to open up the taxi sector to more competition.

Papandreou’s office said the premier discussed the Greek situation by telephone Tuesday night with IMF chief Christine Lagarde. The two are said to have discussed the upcoming European Union summit on Oct. 23 and the G-20 meeting in early November, as well as the eurozone’s rescue fund for financially troubled countries and issues related to the Greek crisis. — AP

ATHENS: Civil servants march toward the Ministry of Finance yesterday. — AFP

EU reform plans target greener farm subsidies BRUSSELS: The EU’s executive proposed yesterday making farm subsidies fairer and more environmentally-friendly, in a bid to win support for keeping EU agricultural spending at about 55 billion euro-a-year ($75 billion-a-year) up to 2020. Critics of the bloc’s common agricultural policy (CAP) had urged the European Commission to take advantage of high global food prices and cut the huge subsidies it pays to farmers in a reform of the policy from 2014. But against a backdrop of increasing market volatility, resource scarcity and climate change, the Commission rejected calls for subsidy cuts and instead proposed refocusing spending on the increasing threats facing farmers. “The risks to European farming come not just from extreme weather events, climate change, but also from market instability and sharp falls in prices or producer incomes,” said EU farm chief Dacian Ciolos, presenting the proposals in Brussels. The Commission’s stance is supported by pro-farming countries such as France, whose President Nicolas Sarkozy has pledged to defend the CAP with an eye to securing rural votes in next year’s presidential elections.

But the plans will face opposition from other countries such as Britain and Sweden, who want to see a sharp cut in EU farm spending to fund new growthenhancing measures such as research and innovation. The CAP reform plans must now be jointly approved by EU governments and lawmakers in the European Parliament-a process which is expected to take up to two years to complete. The Commission’s desire to keep overall farm spending at more or less its current level until 2020 was confirmed in proposals for the EU’s next long-term budget for 201420, announced in July.

New elements The reform plans begin the process of addressing current imbalances in direct subsidies which sees farmers in Italy and Greece receive about 400 euros ($545) per hectare, compared to less than a hundred euros on average in Latvia. In a speech to EU lawmakers yesterday, Ciolos said he wanted farmers in all countries to receive at least 90 percent of the average level of direct payments-currently about 270 euros per hectare-but gave no deadline for achieving the goal. To help free up funds for the redistribution, Ciolos said large individual farms would see their subsidies capped at 300,000 euros a year from 2014. “The Commission proposes the progressive reduction of basic subsidies above 150,000 euros, and capping them at 300,000 euros,” he said. In future, 30 percent of direct subsidies will be conditional on meeting new environmental criteria, such as forcing arable farmers to grow at least three different crops, and leaving seven percent of farmland ecological fallow.

Those plans drew accusations of “greenwash” by environmentalists, but EU farmers said the requirements would damage their competitiveness. “It does not make sense to require every single farm to stop producing on a certain percentage of their land (ecological set-aside) when world food demand is set to rise by 70 percent by 2050,” EU farm union Copa-Cogeca said in a statement. The plans also included a proposal to limit payment of EU subsidies to “active farmers” only, and Ciolos said he doubted whether airports and golf courses needed the EU farm subsidies they currently receive. The 27-nation bloc should retain its existing market management tools after the reform-including public intervention and private storage aidto cope with market volatility and future food crises, Ciolos said.—Reuters

Burberry group sees no slowdown for spending LONDON: British luxury goods group Burberry is not seeing a slowdown in demand for its trademark raincoats and leather goods despite an uncertain economic outlook, it said yesterday as it beat quarterly sales forecasts. “No evidence of any slowdown.. What we have seen is consistent strong brand momentum and business growth,” Finance Director Stacey Cartwright told reporters after the 155-year-old group posted a 29 percent rise in second-quarter revenue. Burberry, best known for its camel, red and black check textile pattern, said it would press ahead with its expansion plans, while adding it was ready to adjust should signs of a big drop in spending emerge.

Luxury goods stocks have fallen sharply in recent weeks on signs of an economic slowdown in China-the engine of recent strong growth in demand for luxury goodsand fears the euro zone debt crisis could tip the world back into recession. While applauding Burberry’s performance, some analysts remained concerned. “There is limited visibility at this stage on the outlook for the critical Christmas season,” Citi analysts said. “It is too early for luxury demand to be

materially affected by recent equity market dislocation and deterioration in economic conditions.”

At 0800 GMT Burberry shares were up 1.7 percent at 1,285 pence, reversing early losses but still well below July’s record high of 1,610 pence. Revenues for the three months ended September, Burberry’s second quarter, reached 463 million pounds ($723 million), in line with the 30 percent growth achieved in the first quarter and above a forecast for 448 million in a Reuters poll.

Luxury travelers Demand was driven by new store openings and by tourists from around the world, including China, Brazil, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia. Spending by travelers could account for over half of revenues at stores in major cities like New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Dubai, Cartwright said.

Customers scooped up the group’s trademark trenchcoats, which can cost anything from a few hundred pounds to around 12,000 pounds, while accessories like the new Burberry Body perfume also sold well, she added. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

TECHNOLOGY

It’s not an iPhone 5, but so what?

SAN FRANCISCO: To some people, Apple’s new iPhone 4S isn’t the complete overhaul they have been hoping for. Its model number, which doesn’t include a “5,” reeks of the status quo.

That’s ridiculous. Sure, the 4S doesn’t render the iPhone 4 hopelessly obsolete, and on the surface they’re nearly identical. But with a faster processor, new software, a voice-activated personal assistant and a soupedup camera, it’s a major improvement over the current iPhone.

The 4S will be available Friday in black or white. It will cost $199 to $399, depending on storage space. It requires a two-year service contract with Verizon Wireless, Sprint or AT&T. If you have an older model such as the 3GS or are thinking of making the move to the iPhone, it’s an excellent excuse to buy one. The coolest new feature on the 4S is Siri, a softwarebased personal assistant who

responds to your voice in a somewhat robotic, yet soothing female tone. Siri can do all sorts of things, from setting your alarm clock to finding a good local sushi joint to playing DJ with your music. She can’t bring up specific websites, but she can search the Web for pretty much anything.

Once you let her know who you are and where you live, she can even do complex tasks such as reminding you to call your boyfriend when you leave your house. She can understand conversational English, which is great because it let me speak as I normally would (though I did have to enunciate well). This means you can say things like, “what’s happening today?” or “what’s going on today?” and she’ll let you know what’s on your calendar.

She’s also a dictation dynamo, transcribing emails and texts much better than a phone running Google Inc.’s Android software. It would be

BlackBerry woes caused by ‘core switch failure’ LONDON: Email and messaging glitches that have plagued BlackBerry users around the world for a second day were caused by a core switch failure, the smartphone’s maker said.

Research in Motion Ltd. said the disruptions - which affected users from Europe to Latin America - were due to a failure within the company’s own infrastructure. A transition to a back-up switch did not function as tested, causing a large backlog of data, RIM said. It was the first time the company offered

an explanation of the outage since problems first occurred Monday morning.

“We are now working to clear that backlog and restore normal service as quickly as possible,” the company said in a brief statement. The disruptions affected Blackberry users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. RIM said early Tuesday that the problems were resolved and that services were operating normally, but hours later it acknowledged that the disruptions were continuing. —AP

BERLIN: Dirk Engling, spokesperson for Chaos Computer Club, works on his computer in the CCC’s offices in Berlin yesterday. The screen shows the control software for the Trojan spyware allegedly made by the German authorities (R) monitoring the traffic on a remote computer (L). The computer club and German hacker organization claims to have cracked spying software allegedly used by German authorities. The Trojan horse has functions which go way beyond those allowed by German law. The news has sparked a wave of outrage among politicians and media commentators. — AFP

Asia powers PC rebound in gaming industry SINGAPORE: It looks like many other industrial buildings in Singapore with its squat form and grey exterior. But make your way past firms producing lights and prams to the top floor of the sevenstorey block and the sight that greets visitors is enough to make many young gamers think they’ve died and gone to heaven.

Welcome to the Singapore research and development centre of Razer, a cult brand among hardcore gamers worldwide who lust after high-performance devices such as mice, keyboards, headsets and joysticks. Despite Apple’s conquest of mass-market computing and the current dominance of consoles such as Sony ’s Playstation 3 among avid gamers, PC gaming is clawing back lost ground thanks to its diehard supporters.

Entertainment industry research firm DFC Intelligence said in a market report released in September that the PC could dethrone consoles as the dominant hardcore gaming platform in three years.

Data from the firm showed that the global PC games market raked in a record $16.2 billion last year, up 20 percent from 2009. Although the console games market-valued at nearly $25 billion in 2010 outperformed the PC platform last year, DFC predicts a reversal of fortunes by 2014 because consoles have lost momentum.

“The Xbox 360 was released in 2005 and both the Playstation 3 and (Nintendo) Wii were released in 2006.

That means that there’s been a full five years since the last current console was released,” DFC said. But Razer’s PC gaming doesn’t come cheap. The Black Widow Ultimate Stealth keyboard retails for $139.99 while the Razer Tiamat 7.1 headset, which will be released in the coming months, will carry a $179.99 price tag. “I think this is a phenomenal time for the PC gaming industry,” said Tan Min-Liang, the Singaporean co-founder and chief executive of Razer, which was founded in 1998 in San Diego, California.

The privately held firm now generates “triple digit millions” in revenues, Tan

said. The lack of new gaming console announcements, the PC’s superiority in game graphics as well as new business models such as free-to-play online gaming are cited by industry observers to justify the PC’s resurgence.

At the other extreme, casual gaming on Apple devices such as the iPad and iPhone is regarded with some contempt by hardcore gamers who couldn’t be bothered to play “Angry Birds” and other popular titles in the genre. Matt Ployhar, president of the non-profit PC Gaming Alliance, whose mission is to promote the platform, was understandably bullish. “PC gaming is on track to match or exceed all three console manufacturers’ combined revenues by 2014 or, barring any economic factors, possibly even earlier,” he told AFP. Ployhar added that Asia, particularly China, South Korea and Japan, were the main drivers of PC gaming growth worldwide, accounting for more than 45 percent of the global PC gaming market.

“The overall leader in terms of revenue and size is China,” he said. Razer’s Tan said PC gamers in China-where consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have been banned since 2000 even though they are made there-far outnumbered their US counterparts.

The ban was imposed in 2000 after pressure from parents concerned over the impact of gaming on China’s youth.

Nevertheless, a military shooting game called Crossfire currently has four million players in China at any given time, Tan said. Professional gamers swear undying loyalty to the PC. “It’s like a tradition for me to play on PC,” said Grzesiek Komincz, 17, a professional Starcraft II player better known to his legions of fans worldwide by his online moniker “mouzMaNa.” “Since I was a kid I’ve been playing on a computer so I kept continuing to play on the PC till this day,” the Polish player told AFP by email. So-called “Esports” tournaments, which star pro gamers such as Komincz, routinely feature more PC games than any other platform. — AFP

awesome if she could intelligently insert punctuation marks, but she does get them if you tell her “period” or “exclamation point.” For a particularly difficult test, I read a random paragraph from a copy of “The New Yorker” to the 4S and to an Android smartphone. Siri didn’t get all the words correct, but she overwhelmingly beat the competition.

Of course, after spending all this time together, I wanted to know all about Siri. I asked her a bunch of personal questions, with mixed results.

Her favorite color is something she doesn’t know how to say in English “sort of greenish, but with more dimensions.” She changed the subject when I asked if she was seeing anyone.

Note for foul-language fans: Siri understands profanities, but she may chastise you. She did this to me, so I asked whether she had a problem with my language. She told me to get back to

work. I apologized. Beyond Siri, I was happy to see a better camera on the 4S, which has an 8-megapixel lens compared with 5 megapixels on the iPhone 4. My shots had sharper details as a result. The new camera can also take pictures faster, and a new lens gathers more light so pictures shot in dim lighting look better.

The addition of a camera icon on the phone’s lock screen makes it easier to start snapping. Just double tap on the “home” button when the phone is asleep to bring up the icon, and tap that to open up the camera. Also, there’s finally a physical camera button on the iPhone as the 4S’s volume-up button does double duty.

You can even record high-definition videos in 1080p on the 4S - the best resolution currently available on a consumer camera. The iPhone 4S has the latest version of Apple’s mobile software, iOS 5, which seems geared

toward making the phone even easier to use. One of the best additions here is iMessage, which lets you send texts, photos or videos to other Apple devices over Wi-Fi or your wireless carrier’s data network. That makes it easier send texts to iPads and other devices that aren’t phones. It also saves you texts, if you’re not on an unlimited text plan.

With the iOS 5 upgrade, swiping the top of the screen now brings up a handy notification page, which shows you things such as appointments, reminders, weather and stock quotes.

IOS 5 also gets points for allowing you to step away from your computer: You can set up your iPhone and receive software updates on the device itself, without plugging it in. In addition, it includes Apple’s new iCloud contentsyncing software, which can store your content online and push it wirelessly to your devices. — AP

BlackBerry outages persist into 3rd day UAE offers compensations, millions frustrated LONDON: A three -day disruption to BlackBerry services spread to North America yesterday, frustrating millions of users of the Research In Motion devices just two days before rival Apple’s new iPhone 4S goes on sale.

RIM advised clients of an outage in the Americas and said it was working to restore services as customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India continued to suffer patchy email and no access to browsing and messaging. RBC analysts Mike Abramsky and Paul Treiber estimated that about half of BlackBerry’s 70 million subscribers outside North America could be affected.

RIM, which had said on Tuesday services had returned to normal, said later it was still working to resolve the problem. “The messaging and browsing delays ... were caused by a core switch failure within RIM’s infrastructure,” it said. “As a result, a large backlog of data was generated and we are now working to clear that backlog and restore normal service.”

RIM did not say how long it might take. In India, top mobile carrier Bharti Airtel sent text messages to customers saying BlackBerry services were likely to be restored in four to five hours. The service disruptions are the worst since an outage swept north America two years ago, and come as Apple prepares to put on sale its already sold-out iPhone 4S tomorrow.

“It’s a blow upon a bruise. It comes at a bad time,” said Richard Windsor, global technology specialist at Nomura. “One possibility could be that it encourages client companies to look more at other options such as allowing users to connect their own devices to the corporate server and save themselves the cost of buying everyone a BlackBerry.”

Many companies, no longer seeing the need to pay to be locked into RIM’s secure proprietary email service, have already begun allowing employees to use alternative smartphones, particularly Apple’s iPhone, for corporate mail. RIM has made inroads into the youth market and into developing economies attracted by its free BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service, partially compensating for its losses in the corporate market in North America and Western Europe.

RBC said the latest crisis could hurt RIM’s reputation in these key markets, particularly after high-profile tussles with states whose governments demanded access to encrypted communications for security reasons.

“Following recent high-profile sovereign challenges to open up RIM’s secure networks... these outages create another highly visible PR challenge, coming in markets where the company is still growing,” its analysts wrote in a

note. Some investors are already calling for a break-up, sale or change of management at RIM, after a dismal set of quarterly results, lukewarm reception of its PlayBook tablet computer and subsequent plunge in its share price. In the United Arab Emirates, telecoms provider Etisalat said yesterday it would com-

n’t work either. It said it was now working to get through a backlog of traffic.

“The resolution of this service issue is our Number One priority right now and we are working night and day to restore all BlackBerry services to normal levels,” the company said Wednesday. In the United Arab

PARIS: BlackBerry users across much of the globe experienced outages in key functions for a third straight day while a Canadian merchant bank jacked up pressure for a management change. — AFP pensate its BlackBerry customers with three days of free usage, but most users were left with no offers of compensation and scant information. Customers tweeted their increasing frustration, while RIM’s own official Twitter feed was last updated on Tuesday night, saying only that problems were being resolved and it was sorry for the inconvenience.

Veteran British entrepreneur Alan Sugar, who founded electronics company Amstrad in 1968, tweeted: “In all my years in IT biz, I have never seen such an outage as experienced by Blackberry. I can’t understand why it’s taking so long to fix.”

Some customers used humor to deal with the situation. One joke making the rounds on Twitter said: “What did the one BBM user say to the other? Nothing.”

The widespread problems added to the woes of Research In Motion Ltd, the Canadian company that makes the phones. It’s struggling with slowing sales and a tablet that’s been a dud. Its shares are approaching a fiveyear low. On Tuesday, RIM said a crucial link in its infrastructure had failed, and a backup did-

Emirates, the two biggest phone companies said they would compensate their BlackBerry users for the mishap by giving them at least three days of free service. Matthew Willsher, chief marketing officer for Etisalat, the country’s biggest telecom, said it was acting in response to the “exceptional and unprecedented circumstances.”

Unlike other cellphone makers, RIM handles email and messaging traffic to and from its phones. When it encounters a problem, millions of subscribers are affected at once.

There are about 70 million BlackBerry users around the world.

BlackBerrys first caught on among professionals in the US and Canada, but in recent years, growth has been driven entirely by overseas markets. In RIM’s most recent quarter, two-thirds of BlackBerrys were sold to people outside the US and Canada.

One of the big attractions of the BlackBerry for overseas users is the BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM, which works like text messaging but doesn’t incur extra fees. That service was affected by the outage. — Agencies

Sony halts 93,000 online accounts TOKYO: Sony said yesterday it suspended 93,000 accounts on its online entertainment networks after detecting a wave of unauthorized sign-in attempts, months after a huge breach

forced it to halt some services.

The attack took place between October 7 and 10 and succeeded in matching valid sign-in IDs and passwords from about 93,000 accounts on its PlayStation

JAKARTA: An official points to a map on a computer screen during a tsunami drill yesterday at the Meteorology and Geophysical Agency in Jakarta. Nations along the Indian Ocean are testing a UN-backed early tsunami warning system put in place after the massive 2004 wave off western Indonesia that left more than 230,000 people dead or missing. —AP

Network, Sony Entertainment Network and Sony Online Entertainment services.

Sony said credit card details associated with those accounts were not compromised as a result of the hacking incident. The entertainment giant has temporarily locked the accounts and said it is continuing investigations into the extent of the access attempts. It said it would notify affected account holders to advise them to reset their passwords. A Sony spokesman said that as it moved to shut down the accounts after detecting the hacking bid, “a small fraction” of the 93,000 accounts were accessed and information such as names, birthdays and gaming achievements could have been seen. However, spokesman Sean Yoneda said the latest setback was not on the same scale as a data breach in April that compromised more than 100 million accounts and forced it to temporarily halt its PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. At the time, Sony said it could not

rule out that some users’ credit card information could have been compromised.

“This time nothing was taken or potentially taken from our data servers,” Yoneda said.

The latest attack saw large sets of usernames and passwords launched at Sony’s online services, with 93,000 matches confirmed. The information had been obtained through other companies, websites or through phishing practices, Yoneda said. “We know for a fact that (the information) is not from our data servers,” he said.

In a statement, Sony said that “less than one tenth of one percent” of consumers across the three networks may have been affected. The entertainment giant has been battling to restore consumer trust after April’s security problems, when it faced criticism for not disclosing the intrusion into its PlayStation Network until a week after discovering it. Sony later suffered attacks on websites including in Greece, Thailand and Indonesia. — AFP

28

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

health& science

Why the Black Death was the mother of all plagues PARIS: Plague germs teased from mediaeval cadavers in a London cemetery have shed light on why the bacterium that unleashed the Black Death was so lethal and spawned later waves of epidemics. The DNA of Yersinia pestis shows, in evolutionary terms, a highly successful germ to which the population of 14th-century Europe had no immune defenses, according to a study published yesterday in the British journal Nature.

It also lays bare a pathogen that has undergone no major genetic change over six centuries. “The Black Death was the first plague pandemic in human history,” said Johannes Krause, lead researcher and a professor at the University of Tuebingen, Germany. “Humans were (immunologically) naive and not adapted to this disease,” he said in an email exchange.

No bug or virus has wiped out a greater proportion of humankind in a single epidemic than

the Black Death. Brought to Europe from China, it scythed through the continent from 1347 to 1351, killing about 30 million people-about one in three of Europe’s and nearly one in 12 of the world’s population at the time. Remarkably, more recent variants of the bacterium hardly vary compared to the original microbe, says the paper.

“Based on the reconstructed genome, we can say that the mediaeval plague is close to the root of all modern human pathogenic plague strains,” said Krause. “The ancient plague strain does not carry a single position that cannot be found in the same state in modern strains.”

This deep similarity between ancient and modern plague calls into question the long-held assumption that virulence-enhancing mutations are what made Y pestis so deadly to the Middle Ages. Like Native American Indians who were exposed to smallpox, Europeans had never been

exposed to the bacterium, said Krause. “Plague was among the strongest sources of selection on the human population in the last few thousand years,” he added. “People who were less susceptible due to mutations might have survived, and these (beneficial) mutations may have spread.”

Another likely factor that worsened the Black Death’s toll was social conditions, which were far worse compared to the 18th or 19th centuries.

Poverty and malnutrition were rampant, and even the concept of hygiene was non-existent. The onset of the so-called “Little Ice Age” could also have favored the spread of the disease which, like many pathogens, travels more quickly in cold climes. The same goes for the rats that carried the blood-sucking insects-fleas or lice, perhaps boththat transmit the disease. Indeed, the species of rodent, Ratus ratus, that sowed terror across a continent in the 14th century is not the same as the

one that transports plague today, Ratus norvegicus, Krause said. The 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic killed by some estimates 50 million people. In absolute terms, this was the deadliest pandemic in human history. But with a world population that was close to two billion, the toll in relative terms was far smaller than that of the Black Death, when the number of humans was in the hundreds of millions. The first outbreak of plague occurred in China more than 2,600 years ago before reaching Europe via Central Asia’s “Silk Road” trade route, according to a molecular “family tree”-mapped out last year-of 17 Y. pestis strains. It then spread to Africa, probably by an expedition led by Chinese seafarer Zhang He in the 15th century. In the late 19th century, plague came to the United States from China, arriving in the ports of California via Hawaii, according to this evidence. —AFP

Pinkwashing for breast cancer awareness questioned Use of a ribbon promotesawareness

Dr Ibrahim Al Rashdan doing the procedure using Simplicity Catheter Device.

Medtronic announces new treatment for high blood pressure in Kuwait KUWAIT: Medtronic yesterday announced the first use in the Gulf of renal denervation with the Medtronic Symplicity Catheter System to treat patients with resistant hypertension, which is defined as high blood pressure despite treatment with three or more anti-hypertensive medications.

Hypertension is an especially dangerous disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The first use of this minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure occurred yesterday at Chest Disease Hospital in Kuwait.

“We’re excited to partner with hypertension specialists to offer this innovative interventional treatment to patients in our country,” said Dr. Ibrahim Al Rashdan, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Head Cardiac Cath Lab at Chest Disease Hospital. “Renal denervation is an exciting new approach to treating resistant hypertension, and Chest Disease Hospital is proud offer this new treatment option. Patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled face increased cardiovascular risk.”

In Kuwait, it is estimated that approximately 35% people have hypertension.

The Symplicity Catheter System accomplishes renal denervation, a minimally invasive procedure that disables sympathetic nerves located in the renal artery walls and does not involve a permanent implant. Clinical research to date shows that renal denervation with the Symplicity Catheter System may provide a significant and sustained reduction in blood pressure levels for many patients

Simplicity Catheter Device with resistant blood pressure despite multiple anti-hypertensive medications.

Hypertension is the leading attributable cause of death worldwide. It is a significant, escalating global healthcare problem affecting approximately 1.2 billion people and is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and death.

Hypertension is estimated to have a direct cost to the global healthcare system of more than $500 billion annually.

Although pharmaceutical therapy plays a primary role in hypertension management, drugs alone are sometimes not effective for all patients. As a result, despite lifestyle changes and the availability of anti-hypertensive agents, approximately 50 percent of patients with hypertension remain uncontrolled, and approximately 15-20 percent of those are resistant.

In collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias.

Vitamin D activates immune response to TB WASHINGTON: Vitamin D is needed to activate the immune system’s response to tuberculosis, said a US study yesterday that could lead to new treatments for the lung disease that kills 1.8 million people per year.

Researchers have long known that vitamin D plays a role in the body’s response to TB, but the study in the journal Science Translational Medicine shows it must be present in adequate levels to trigger the immune response.

This finding could be crucial to efforts to treat the disease in parts of the world like Africa, because people with dark skin tend to be more susceptible to TB and also are more likely to have vitamin D deficiencies.

Even though people can get vitamin D through sun exposure, dark skin contains more melanin which shields the body from ultraviolet rays and also reduces vitamin D production. “Over the centuries, vitamin D has intrinsically been used to treat tuberculosis,” said first study author Mario Fabri, who did the research for the study while at the University of California Los Angeles and is currently at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Cologne, Germany. “Sanatoriums dedicated to tuberculosis patients were

traditionally placed in sunny locations that seemed to help patients-but no one knew why this worked,” he said.

“Our findings suggest that increasing vitamin D levels through supplementation may improve the immune response to infections such as tuberculosis.” Previous studies by the same research team found that vitamin D played a key role producing a molecule called cathelicidin, which helps the innate immune system kill the tuberculosis bacteria. The current findings show that vitamin D is necessary for the T-cells, which respond to threats as part of the body’s adaptive immune system, to produce a protein called interferon which directs cells to attack the bacteria.

“At a time when drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis are emerging, understanding how to enhance natural innate and acquired immunity through vitamin D may be very helpful,” said co-author Barry Bloom, former dean of the faculty at the Harvard School of Public Health. The World Health Organization reported this week that 8.8 million people had TB last year, with about one quarter of those cases occurring in Africa and 40 percent in India and China. —AFP

PITTSBURGH: The country is awash in pink for breast cancer awareness month, and some women are sick of it. While no one is questioning the need to fight the deadly disease, some breast cancer activists are starting to ask whether one of the most successful charity campaigns in recent history has lost its focus.

“The pink drives me nuts,” said Cynthia Ryan, an 18-year survivor of breast cancer who also volunteers to help other women with the disease. “It’s the cheeriness I can’t stand.” Activists have even coined a new word: Pinkwashing.

They say that’s when a company or organization does a pink breast cancer promotion, but at the same time sells and profits from pinktheme products. Some of the pink products have generated plenty of discussion among breast cancer advocates.

A Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun with pink pistol grip? The manufacturer says a “Portion of the Proceeds Will Be Donated to a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity.” You can get the “Pink Ribbon Combo” at Jersey Mike’s Subs, a sandwich store, and the Sephora Collection Pink Eyelash Curler. One year, there was a pink bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The San Francisco group Breast Cancer Action has led the campaign to question pink products, but executive director Karuna Jaggar said they are not saying all such products are bad. She said there is no doubt that when the pink ribbon campaigns started about 20 years ago there remained a great need to raise awareness. “At one time, pink was the means,” Jaggar said.

“Now, it’s almost become the end in itself. In its most simplistic forms, pink has become a distraction. You put a pink ribbon on it, people stop asking questions.”

Breast cancer activists agree that the use of a ribbon to promote awareness evolved in stages. They note that in 1979 there were yellow ribbons for the American hostages in Iran; in 1990 AIDS activists used red ribbons to call attention to victims of that disease; and 1991 saw the first major use of the pink ribbon, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation gave them out at a New York City Race for cancer survivors. The ribbon symbol may tie into a far older tradition, according to the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress. It notes that various versions of the song “Round Her Neck She Wore A Yellow Ribbon” have been popular for 400 years, all with the theme of displaying the ribbon for an absent loved one.

Still, it is clear that too many loved ones are lost to the disease, despite many advances in diagnosis and treatment. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in the United States alone about 40,000 women will die of breast cancer this year, and 230,000 new cases will be diagnosed.

Jaggar, of Breast Cancer Action, wonders whether more awareness is what is needed to reduce those numbers. Additionally, Breast Cancer Action takes exception to products it considers potentially harmful - like a perfume the Komen Foundation introduced this year, “Promise Me.” Jaggar said the perfume con-

PHILADELPHIA: In this Monday, Oct 10, 2011 photo, a Sephora Collection Pink Eyelash Curler is displayed. —AP tains some possibly toxic or hazardous ingredients, and Breast Cancer Action asked that Komen discontinue its sale. Federal regulatory agencies do not consider small amounts of those ingredients to be a threat, and Komen’s scientific and medical advisers did not believe there was a problem. Komen said that to allay any concerns the next batch of “Promise Me” will be reformulated without the ingredients that were criticized.

Leslie Aun, a spokeswoman for Susan G Komen for the Cure, based in Dallas, Texas, said the advocacy group is not apologizing for all the pink. “Research doesn’t come cheap. We need to raise money, and we’re not apologetic about it,” Aun said.

Komen, founded in 1982, has contributed $685 million to breast cancer research and $1.3 billion to community programs that help with mammograms, transportation and other needs, Aun said. Komen would love not to have to do marketing, but that simply is not realistic, she said. “We don’t think there’s enough pink. We’re able to make those investments in research because of programs like that,” Aun said. Samantha King, a professor at Queens University in Ontario, Canada, and author of the book Pink Ribbons, Inc, said that at first people warned that she would get hate mail for writing critically about the pink campaigns. “And in fact the opposite was true,” King said. “I had underestimated the level of alienation that many women felt.” King said she felt the Komen Foundation crossed the line a few years ago, when they partnered with Kentucky Fried Chicken on the pink bucket of fast food. “What’s next, pink cigarettes for the cure?” King asked. “I think this really speaks to the fact that they’ve lost sight of their mission.

Their primary purpose appears to be to sell

products.” Perhaps not, said Ryan.

Over the past two years she has worked with homeless women who have breast cancer, in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Some of the women are at an advanced stage of the disease, no health insurance, and no place to call home. Yet when Ryan recently asked two of them what they wanted to help promote awareness among other homeless women, the response came quickly. Pink handbags. That answer promoted Ryan to take a hard look at her aversion to pink. Now, she is not sure whether it is her place, or anyone else’s, to proclaim that a particular pink-themed product is acceptable, or not.

“I’m conflicted,” Ryan said, adding that she still worries that many people buy the pink products without really knowing where the money is going. Jaggar said that different women will make a variety of choices. The point is to have them consider what the best choice is, instead to buying a pink product blindly. For example, the lingerie company Aerie, based in Pittsburgh, draped thousands of bras on one of the many steel bridges in the city, to heighten awareness. Aerie said $1 from every sale during October will be donated to a breast cancer charity, up to $50,000.

Jaggar said that is the type of detail that shoppers should pay attention to, and decide whether $1 out of a $20 or $30 sale is enough.

Jani Strand, a spokeswoman for Aerie’s parent company, American Eagle Outfitters, said they feel strongly that it is a good thing to get young women talking about breast cancer.

Aerie’s target audience is 20-year-old women, and Strand said the things that get that age group excited about a cause are different from what attracts older women. —AP

New prostate cancer test advice overturns dogma WASHINGTON: Men finally may be getting a clearer message about undergoing PSA screening for prostate cancer: Don’t do it. They may not listen.

After all, the vast majority of men over 50 already get tested. The idea that finding cancer early can harm instead of help is a hard one to understand.

But it’s at the heart of a government panel’s draft recommendation that those PSA blood tests should no longer be part of routine screening for healthy men.

The US Preventive Services Task Force examined all the evidence and found little if any reduction in deaths from routine PSA screening. But it did conclude that too many men are diagnosed with tumors that never would have killed them and suffer serious side effects from resulting treatment.

That recommendation isn’t final - it’s a draft open for public comment. But it goes a step further than several major cancer groups including the American Cancer Society, which urges that men be told the pros and cons and decide for themselves.

The new advice is sure to be hugely controversial. Already some doctors are rejecting it. “We all agree that we’ve got to do a better job of figuring out who would benefit from PSA screening. But a blanket statement of just doing away with it altogether ... seems over-aggressive and irresponsible,” said Dr. Scott Eggener, a prostate cancer specialist at the University of Chicago.

In the exam room, explaining the flaws in PSA

WASHINGTON: File photo shows Terry Dyroff sits on the porch of his home in Silver Spring, Md Dyroffís PSA blood test led to a prostate biopsy that didnít find cancer but gave him a life-threatening infection. —AP

testing has long been difficult. “Men have been confused about this for a very long time, not just men patients but men doctors,” said Dr. Yul Ejnes, a Cranston, R.I., internal medicine specialist who chairs the American College of Physicians’ board of regents. He turned down his own physician’s offer of a PSA test after personally reviewing the research.

“There’s this dogma ... that early detection saves lives. It’s not necessarily true for all cancers,” Ejnes said. That’s an emotional shift, as the American Cancer Society’s Dr Len Lichtenfeld voiced on his blog on Friday. “We have invested over 20 years of belief that PSA testing works. ... And here we are all of these years later, and we don’t know for sure,” Lichtenfeld wrote. “ We have been poked and probed, we have been operated on by doctors and robots, we have been radiated with fancy machines, we have spent literally billions of dollars. And what do we have? A mess of false hope?”

Too much PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, in the blood only sometimes signals prostate cancer is brewing. I t also can mean a benign enlarged prostate or an infection. In fact, most men who undergo a biopsy for an abnormal PSA test don’t turn out to have prostate cancer. Screening often detects small tumors that will prove too slow-growing to be deadly - by one estimate, in 2 of every 5 men whose cancer is caught through a PSA test. But there’s no way to tell in advance who needs treatment. —AP

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Vitamin E pills linked with prostate cancer risk

OHIO: Joe Latina is shown on his porch at his home.—AP CHICAGO: There is more evidence that taking vitamin E pills can be risky. A study that followed up on men who took high doses of the vitamin for about five years found they had a slightly increased risk of prostate cancer - even after they quit taking the pills.

Doctors say it’s another sign that people should be careful about using vitamins and other supplements. “People tend to think of vitamins as innocuous substances, almost like chicken soup - take a little and it can’t hurt,” said lead author Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic. The study shows that is not true. “If you have normal levels, the vitamin is probably of no benefit, and if you take too much, you can be harmed,” Klein said.

Men randomly assigned to take a 400unit capsule of vitamin E every day for about five years were 17 percent more likely to get prostate cancer than those given dummy pills. That dose, commonly found in overthe-counter supplements, is almost 20 times higher than the recommended adult amount, which is about 23 units daily. The results mean for every 1,000 men who took vitamin E, there were 11 additional cases of prostate cancer, compared with men taking

dummy pills.

The study was actually launched to try to confirm less rigorous research suggesting vitamin E might protect against prostate cancer. Overall, about 160 of every 1,000 U.S. men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Risks increase as men age.

Detection can be tricky since symptoms such as frequent urination can also be caused by harmless conditions, and doctors disagree about the benefits of screening tests. Treatment is also complex since some slow-growing prostate cancers are not deadly but some procedures, including surgery, can damage sexual function and cause incontinence.

Just last week, a government-convened panel of experts recommended against routine PSA screening for prostate cancer. That draft advice is open for public comment.

What should vitamin E users do, given the new study results? About 13 percent of American men take it, according to a supplement trade group.

Dr Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, says they should stop taking large doses and talk to

OHIO: File photo shows Joe Latina 71, walks with his wife, Rita, along the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula. —AP their doctors about risks and benefits from prostate cancer screening. Smaller doses, typically found in multivitamins, are probably fine, said Brawley, who was not involved in the research.

Vitamin E is found in foods such as nuts, seeds and vegetable oils. The nutrient helps nerves, muscles, blood vessels and the immune system function. Vitamin E supplements have long been promoted for disease prevention, but scientific research has disproven many claims and suggested they might increase risks for some conditions, including heart failure. Brawley noted that the study echoes previous thinking on betacarotene, which once was thought to protect against cancer but more recently has been linked with increased risks for lung cancer, especially in smokers.

“There should be a global warning that ... excessive use of vitamins has not been proven to be beneficial and may be the opposite,” Brawley said.

Experts generally agree that foods are the best sources for vitamins. The new research appears in Wednesday ’s Journal of the American Medical Association. The National

leading pioneer in sinus surgery

Cancer Institute and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine paid for the multimillion-dollar study. Joe Latina, a cabinet shop owner in Aurora, Ohio, was among study participants. He said researchers gave him pills they said “might slow down prostate cancer.” Now 71 and cancer-free, he says he doesn’t know whether he was given vitamins or dummy pills.

Latina said he “was kind of surprised” by the study results, but is not stressing out over the possibility that he still might get cancer. “I’m a positive thinker,” he said. “I’m not walking around saying, ‘Oh my God, the other shoe is going to drop. I don’t think I have any way to control it.”

The study involved more than 35,000 healthy men aged 50 and older, from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. They were randomly assigned to take daily vitamin E or selenium supplements, both pills or dummy pills. The study was halted after about five years when there were signs of no benefit and a possible increased risk for prostate cancer in vitamin E users. The researchers continued tracking the men

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even after they stopped taking pills.

The follow-up found that a potential link between selenium and diabetes was a false alarm, but it confirmed signs of a vitamin Eprostate cancer link. Over a total of about seven years, there were 76 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed per 1,000 men, versus 65 cases in men given dummy pills. “The implications of our observations are substantial,” the study authors said.

The results suggest that extra risks associated with taking relatively high doses of vitamin E continue even after supplements are stopped. The researchers said it is unclear how vitamin E would harm the prostate.

There was no increased risk for men who took both vitamin E and selenium, suggesting that selenium might somehow counter the harmful effects of vitamin E, the study authors said.

Duffy MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement makers’ trade group, said the study shouldn’t be interpreted as questioning the benefits of vitamin E as an essential nutrient, and he said there is evidence that many Americans don’t get enough.—AP

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Greetings

British Business Council exhibition Happy birthday and many many happy returns of the day to Ali Dahroug.

Wishes come from Uncle Sherif Ismail.

Announcements

K

uwait National English School again participated in the annual “Introduction to Kuwait” event at the Hilton Hotel on Friday October 7. The annual event is sponsored by the British Business Council and supported by the British Ambassador to Kuwait, Frank Baker.

The event was very successful and KNES was supported by many students

and staff. The students were excited to inform the ambassador and the many guests, of their pride in the school and all KNES has to offer.

KNES would like to thank the British Business Council and the ambassador for the continued support they have shown our school over the many years.

Indian Lawyers’ Forum Onam Indian Lawyers’ Forum will celebrate Onam, the unique, secular, harvest festival of Kerala on 18th November, 2011 Friday 10.30 am at HiDine Restaurant Auditorium, Abbassia.

Celebrations will include traditional variety entertainments, with the grand ‘ONASADHYA’.

All Indian Lawyers & Law graduates working here in Kuwait are invited with their families.

For details contact Panicker 97203939, Pulikkal 97260159. Email: advpanicker@gmail.com Kala painting competition Kala (Art) Kuwait will conduct Children’s Day by marking the birth day of the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, under the auspices of Kala (Art) Kuwait on Friday, 4th November 2011 at the Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch, at 2 pm.

The program is titled as “Niram 2011 - B Natural“ consists of painting competition for the Indian school students and a “Marathon Open Canvas Painting” for the other attendees including parents, visitors and Guests. The Painting Competition will be conducted in four different age groups. Group ‘A” from LKG to 1st Standard, Group ‘B” from 2nd to 4th Standard, Group ‘C” from 5th to 8th Standard and Group ‘D” from 9th to 12th Standard. The media for Group ‘A” and ‘B” will be Crayons while Group”C” and ‘D” are Water Colors. Crayons and water colors shall be brought by the participants. Stamped Drawing papers will be supplied by the Organizers. Clay Modeling Competition also will be conducted for 7th to 11th Standard Students. Clay will be provided by the Organizers. The Marathon Open Canvas Painting is conducting in a view to display everyone’s views and talents through their vivid creations. Students can register their names through websites www.kalakuwait.net or www.indiansinkuwait.com. For details contact kalakuwait@gmail.com or 24891490, 99489078, 97449419.

BEC T10 Cricket tournament The BEC T10 Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament will be organized & played from 7th October to 11th November, 2011. The Tournament being organized by RED N BLACK CRICKET CLUB and sponsored by BEC EXCHANGE will be played out in Abu Halifa cricket grounds. For registration and other queries please mail at mail@rednblack.org or call 66820148/ 66130940/ 66841653.

Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas.

For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq: Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty67712409.

Brain Bang Calling all students aged 11 and above, Support Group for Accelerated learning under the umbrella of FOCC (Friends of CRY Club, Kuwait), BRAIN-BANG invites you to join us in our fortnightly Friday Class from 11.45 am to 13.45 pm in Salmiya starting October 7th for the next 6 months. Successfully running for the seventh consecutive year.

Areas of development are : ● Memory tools to Understand and Learn Better ● Tools and Techniques to empower your mind ● Activity, fun, games and worksheet based assignments ● Practical Experiments ● Mind Gymnastics ● Application of Learning Techniques to conventional study. Register before October 5th 2011. Limited seats. Register early to avoid disappointment. Website: www.focckwt.org E-Mail: brainbang@focckwt.org Phone no: 25660835/25618471/97677820

Celebrations at ICSK

T

Premier GOAL Academy Girls football coaching has started at Shaab Park every Wednesday 17001900 under the expert guidance of Coach Ross.

Open to all girls aged 11 years and above, the programme is sponsored by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company. For details contact Mike on 99981327.

Art competition

T

he eleventh Onam celebrations of Pathanamthitta District Association will be held on Friday, October 28, in which Anto Antony, MP of Pathanamthitta Loksabha constituency will be the Chief Guest and the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Satish C. Mehta will offer felicitations.

The association is holding an art competition in poetry and short story writings and the association is inviting poems and short stories from talented individuals among Malayalees in Kuwait. Persons interested in participating may send their writings with photograph to the following address before October 20.

Email: pta@ptadistrict.org, pdakuwait@gmail.com for more information, contact 97863052 or 66501482.

he Indian Community School, Senior Salmiya reopened after the summer vacation with many celebrations in its kitty.

The school celebrated Hindi Divas on 21st September giving importance to our National language and its culture. Teachers of the Hindi department took initiative in organizing the programme which culminated in great success.

Honouring the teachers, the school senate observed Self Government Day on 29th September. The students donned the mantle of the teachers, understanding the true value of this noble profession. Senior Secondary students, under the guidance of Senate incharges Mrs Ayeesha Fahmy and K.Prasanth took over the responsibility with utmost dedication.

Revering our national leader, Mahatma Gandhi, the school celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October by organizing a special assembly. Rendition of the patri-

otic song and the presence of ever, simply dressed, Gandhiji and his followers, made this occasion solemn. Principal Incharge Dr

Sam Kuruvila urged the students to follow the principles of Mahathmaji understanding the real essence of it.

Red Mango chosen as ‘Best Frozen Yogurt & Smoothies’

R

ed Mango won first place in the “Frozen Yogurt and Smoothies” category of the 2011 Zagat Fast Food survey by becoming the preferred choice of costumers against competitors such as Pinkberry, Jamba Juice, TCBY and Smoothies King.

The survey covers 103 fast food brands and aims to determine the preference of consumers in the United States. Red Mango was chosen for its high quality taste and healthy attributes, which are considered the most important influencing factors in successful brands.

“This is an incredible national honor,” said Dan Kim, founder and Chief Concept Officer of Red Mango. “We are thrilled to have the prestigious recognition of Zagat, and the entire Red Mango organization deserves credit for helping to make Red Mango a national sensation. More importantly, we are excited

that diners decided this ranking. Our customers are our most important audience, and we are number one in America because of them.”

Mr. Nasser Al Saleh, General Manager and founder of Red Mango in Kuwait commented, saying, “Red Mango’s performance in the 2011 Zagat award is a great achievement in every respect, as the Zagat award is considered the Oscar of the restaurant industry. We embrace this honor as both a motivation and a challenge at the same time; a motivation in that it fuels our ambitions to achieve better results, and a challenge to our creativity and performance to earn higher customer

satisfaction. This can only be achieved through hard work, adhering to the highest standards of quality and remaining faithful to Red Mango’s mission to introduce 100% natural and innovative products that taste absolutely sensational.”

Red Mango has made a powerful entrance to the local market by offering an innovative selection of natural choices aiming to provide healthier substitutes to traditional desserts. Aside from being prepared from 100% natural ingredients, low or nonfat and glutenfree, Red Mango’s frozen yogurt is distinguished through its fantastic taste and organic nature, with each serving

K’s PATH to hold shelter open day

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’S PATH (Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat) will hold its first Shelter Open Day of the season on Saturday, 15th October 2011 at the K’S PATH shelter in Wafra from 10 am to 2 pm. The event, which is open to all, celebrates the first anniversary of K’S PATH’s shelter rebuild and World Animal Day. K’S PATH has planned many engaging activities for families and children including a shelter tour, fun art and craft projects, and a special educational presentation on the indigenous species in Kuwait.

“Our first Shelter Open Day of the season is a way to thank our supporters and patrons in the community for standing by us at all times, by showcasing our wide range of work in animal protection and habitat conservation”, says K’S PATH Chairman Ayeshah Al Humaidhi. “It’s also a great opportunity to familiarise children with the basics of animal freedoms, ani-

mal care and protecting our environment. We have special activities lined up on occasion of World Animal Day and our first shelter rebuild anniversary. We invite all to visit our shelter to see the amazing work that our dedicated volunteers and staff do and learn how those interested can support the K’S PATH community.”

Families and individuals are welcome to visit the shelter in Wafra on Open Day anytime between 10 am and 2 pm, and entry is free. A shelter tour held every 30 minutes will acquaint visitors with the different species protected by K’S PATH and its habitat conservation activities. Visitors are requested to please leave their pets at home. The Shelter Open Day is a great opportunity to spend quality family time while socialising K’S PATH’s friendly dogs, grooming cats, feeding donkeys and getting to know K’S PATH’s community.

Please visit www.kspath.org/map for directions to the shelter.

containing digestive system-enhancing probiotics. Red Mango also offers a wide range selection of daily delivered fresh fruit and crunchy toppings in addition to chocolate. All these elements come together to guarantee customers a unique and sensational dining experience without the guilt that accompanies traditional treats.

Red Mango’s menu includes a variety of frozen yogurt flavors such as Raspberry, Mango, Mixed Berry, Madagascar Vanilla and Original. The frozen yogurt leader also recently introduced its Organic Chocolate flavor, which is prepared daily by hand from the finest natural chocolate to create a rich chocolate taste and a silky texture.

It was well received by customers who waited in line to try it at one of the four Red Mango branches located in 360 Mall, GUST, Al Kout Mall and Universal Tower in Sharq.

Konkani drama

K

uwait Goan Association (KGA) after presenting popular Konkani tiatrs ‘Ghor Bandlem ghorabo Modlo’ and ‘Tujea Moga Passot’, now all set to present Tragedy King Mario Menezes most popular Konkani drama “Hatachim Panch Bottam” in Kuwait on Friday, 18th November 2011 with full troupe. Await for more details or email: kgakuwait@gmail.com

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GIS celebrates 18th foundation day

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ulf Indian School celebrated its 18th foundation Day on 20th September with great fervour and zeal. GIS was honoured by the presence of Satish Chand Mehta the ambassador of India as the chief guest on the occasion. The owner and chairman of GIS Ghazi Faisal Al-Dabbous graced the occasion with his presence.

Programme commenced with welcome speech by head girl, Ms Neha Thakur. The chief guest congratulated chairman, principal, staff and students on the excellent track record of the school and wished them all success. He stressed the need for punctuality and the importance of having dreams.

He also encouraged the students to take an effort to know the how and why of things. The proficiency prizes were given away by the chief guest and the chairman to the meritorious students from class I to XII. Parthasarathi Kuri and Tahmina Islam were awarded the Faisal Ghanim Al Dabbous scholarship.

Principal Shyamala Divakaran highlighted the commendable progress and achievements of the school in the past year. The theme for the event was ‘East Meets West.’ The whole show was a wonderful fusion of Eastern and Western

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA The Embassy of the Argentine Republic to Kuwait will hold Argentinean National Elections on October 23. Argentinean citizens already registered in the Embassy electoral register can vote at the Argentina Embassy, located in Mishref, Block 6, St. 42, Villa 57, from 08:00 am until 18:00 pm. Citizens visiting Kuwait or not registered in the embassy Electoral Register can also justify their “No Vote” at the same day and time at the Argentinean Embassy. For further information, contact us on phone no. 25379211, Email: ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar ■■■■■■■

culture by a harmonious blend of music, rhythm and dance.

The programme began with a musical concert followed by the invocation dance both of which were eulogized profusely

by everyone. The fun and rhythm brought on stage by the stunningly attired Spanish dancers and the graceful moves of the Japanese dancers in their beautiful traditional costume

brought loud applause from the audience.

The vote of thanks was proposed by the head Boy Parthasarathi Kuri. The programme ended with the lively

Gidda leaving a beautiful resonance lingering in the minds of everyone.

Egyptians in Kuwait launch charity project

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group of Egyptian youth residing and working in Kuwait recently launched a charity organization in Kuwait with the aim of collecting donations from members of the Egyptian community in the form of clothes, electronics and toys be them new or second hand to be sent to Egypt and distributed to the poor in various poor Egyptian villages.

The organization had already packed up the first shipment to be sent soon under the title ‘Eidiya and School Bag Campaign’ which will include a ton and half of clothes for the Eid, school bags, gifts and toys. The organization could be reached on Facebook and at numbers: 99009355.

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail:info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone:22971170. The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait.

Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form.

All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed.

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EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com

Integrated Indian School remembers elders

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he Kindergarten toddlers of Integrated Indian School celebrated Elders’ Day on 2nd October.

The tiny tots expressed their love for their grand parents by making smiley

colourful badges on which was written ‘I love Grand Pa and Grand Ma’. The kids carried the badges proudly home, pinned up to their shirts to express their deep love for their grand-parents.

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EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on October 26, 2011 (Wednesday) Diwali.

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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 ■■■■■■■

KKMCC officials meet Indian ambassador uwait Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KKMCC) delegation met with Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta to take to his attention some of the issues related to the community and to seek his advice. He took note of the

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EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316.

matters considerately in order to resolve the same within the embassy’s limits.

President Sharafuddheen Kanneth, General Secretary Basheer Batha and Treasurer Nazeer Khan represented Kuwait KMCC in the meeting.

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UIS lifts CBSE cluster volleyball trophy

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Kottayam association honors TA Ramesh by garlanding ponnada by Somu Mathew as Thomas Chandy MLA, Indian Embassy First Secretary Vidhu P. Nair, John Mathew and Raju Zakarias look on.

nited Indian School continues to leave incredible trails of victories. UIS with their powerful smashes and team coordination lifted the 13th CBSE Kuwait Cluster Volleyball Trophy for the 6th time. The tournament was organized by Integrated Indian School. Six schools took part in the three day long tournament.

With total commitment the UIS team energized their services to block and place smashing all hopes of their

rivals. UIS defeated ICS, IIS (M). ICSK, IIS (J) and CSK in straight sets and won their matches with ease.

Sachin Sreeshan captain of the team led from the front, he was well supported by Nidal, Jino, Bibin, Govind, Rahul and Jerin. The other members of the team were Kevin.

Albert, Nasim, Suvin and Jerry. UIS team will represent Kuwait Cluster for the CBSE Nationals to be held in India later.

EMBASSY OF US The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Leadership for Democracy Fellows Program is now accepting applications - deadline Nov 1, 2011. The MEPI Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) Program is an exciting, selective 3-month program in the United States for 20-25 young civic leaders from the Middle East and North Africa. The program begins with 6 weeks of academic coursework, where fellows focus on the concepts of leadership, democracy, communication, and conflict resolution among other issues. After completing the academic portion of the program, participants engage in a 6-week professional assignment with a political, non-governmental, or public policy organization in Washington, DC. For more information about the program, please email: kuwaitmepi@state.gov Visit us @ USEmbassyQ8 http://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyQ8

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00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:40 09:10 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:50 Irwin 13:45 14:40 Baker 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 19:15 Baker 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Galapagos Wildest Africa Untamed & Uncut Killer Crocs Of Costa Rica Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Animal Cops Specials 2009 Monkey Life The Really Wild Show Growing Up...

Breed All About It Bad Dog Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Animal Cops Houston Michaela’s Animal Road Trip New Breed Vets With Steve Galapagos Weird Creatures With Nick Monkey Life The Really Wild Show Baby Planet Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Must Love Cats Weird Creatures With Nick Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Mutant Planet Swarm Chasers Untamed & Uncut I Shouldn’t Be Alive

00:00 Keeping Up Appearances 01:05 The Weakest Link 01:50 Casualty 02:40 Full Circle With Michael Palin 03:30 Doctors 04:00 Keeping Up Appearances 04:30 Balamory 04:50 Gigglebiz 05:05 Me Too 05:25 Charlie And Lola 05:35 Buzz & Tell 05:45 Balamory 06:05 Gigglebiz 06:20 Me Too 06:40 Charlie And Lola 06:55 Buzz & Tell 07:05 Balamory 07:25 Gigglebiz 07:40 Me Too 08:00 Charlie And Lola 08:10 Buzz & Tell 08:20 Balamory 08:40 Gigglebiz 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Charlie And Lola 09:25 Buzz & Tell 09:40 Keeping Up Appearances 10:40 The Weakest Link 11:25 Lark Rise To Candleford 12:15 Doctors 12:45 Eastenders 13:15 Casualty 14:10 Keeping Up Appearances 15:40 Lark Rise To Candleford 16:30 The Weakest Link 17:15 Doctors 17:45 Eastenders 18:15 Casualty 19:10 Lark Rise To Candleford 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 Incredible Journeys With Steve Leonard 22:35 Coast 23:35 True Dare Kiss

00:10 Come Dine With Me 01:00 What Not To Wear 01:55 Antiques Roadshow 02:45 Antiques Roadshow 03:40 Masterchef Australia 04:50 Come Dine With Me 05:40 What Not To Wear 06:30 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 07:00 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets

07:25 Daily Cooks Challenge 08:25 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 08:50 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 09:15 Rhodes Across Italy 10:00 Come Dine With Me 10:50 Antiques Roadshow 12:30 Bargain Hunt 13:15 Daily Cooks Challenge 14:45 Bargain Hunt 15:30 Antiques Roadshow 16:20 Antiques Roadshow 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 18:25 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 18:50 Rhodes Across Italy 19:40 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Antiques Roadshow 22:20 Bargain Hunt 23:05 Masterchef Australia 23:55 The Naked Chef

00:00 BBC World News 00:30 World Business Report 00:45 Sport Today 01:00 BBC World News America 01:30 Asia Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

00:20 00:45 01:10 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:35 05:00 05:10

Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:55 07:20 07:45 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:35 12:00 12:15 12:40 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:30 15:55 16:20 Doo 16:45 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:15 20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:55 23:05 23:30 23:55

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Garfield Show New Yogi Bear Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald Mcboing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Tom & Jerry The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show The Flintstones Pink Panther & Pals Gerald Mcboing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Top Cat Wacky Races Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop

00:05 Robotboy - Elements 00:30 Squirrel Boy 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Cramp Twins 01:45 Chop Socky Chooks 02:10 Best Ed 02:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 03:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:25 Generator Rex 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Flapjack 04:40 Chowder 05:05 Powerpuff Girls 05:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:20 Squirrel Boy 06:45 Cow & Chicken 07:00 Eliot Kid 07:04 Cow & Chicken 07:12 Eliot Kid 07:25 Angelo Rules 07:50 Best Ed 08:15 Flapjack 08:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 09:05 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 09:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:55 Cow & Chicken 10:20 I Am Weasel 10:35 Adventure Time 11:00 Ben 10 11:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 11:50 The Secret Saturdays 12:15 Samurai Jack 12:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 13:05 Codename Kids 13:30 Skunk Fu! 13:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:15 The Amazing World Of Gumball 14:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 15:05 Camp Lazlo 15:30 Chowder 15:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 16:25 Cow & Chicken 16:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 17:15 I Am Weasel 17:40 George Of The Jungle

TWO LOVERS ON OSN CINEMA

18:05 Casper’s Scare School 18:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 18:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:20 Generator Rex 19:45 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 20:10 Hero 108 20:35 Bakugan: New Vestroia 21:00 Total Drama Action 21:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 21:50 Billy And Mandy 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 22:50 The Secret Saturdays 23:15 Samurai Jack 23:40 Megas XLR

00:00 Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 The Situation Room 02:00 World Report 03:00 World Business Today 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Anderson Cooper 360 06:00 World Sport 06:30 Talk Asia 07:00 World Report 07:30 Backstory 08:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 The Gateway 10:45 Future Cities 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 American Morning: Wake-Up Call 12:30 Open Court 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 The Brief 18:30 World Sport 19:00 Prism 20:00 International Desk 20:30 Open Court 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Swamp Brothers Extreme Fishing The Future Of...

Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear The Future Of...

How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Dual Survival Ultimate Survival Ultimate Survival Extreme Fishing Swamp Brothers Cash Cab Us Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear The Future Of...

Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings How Stuff’s Made How It’s Made Cash Cab Us One Man Army Ultimate Survival Kidnap And Rescue

00:05 The Tech Show 00:30 Kings of Construction 01:20 Stunt Junkies 01:45 Killer Outbreaks 02:35 Brainiac 03:25 The Gadget Show 03:50 The Gadget Show 04:15 How Stuff’s Made 04:45 Kings of Construction 05:40 One Step Beyond 06:10 Engineered 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 07:55 Moon Machines 08:50 The Tech Show 09:15 Weird Connections 09:40 The Gadget Show 10:05 The Gadget Show 10:35 Engineered 11:30 Sci-Fi Science 11:55 How Stuff’s Made 12:25 Killer Outbreaks 13:15 Moon Machines 14:05 One Step Beyond 14:30 Stunt Junkies 14:55 Kings of Construction 15:45 Weird Connections 16:10 Scrapheap Challenge 17:00 Brainiac 17:50 Sci-Fi Science 18:15 The Tech Show 18:40 Invisible Worlds 19:30 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 20:20 Ecopolis 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 The Gadget Show 22:00 Invisible Worlds 22:50 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 23:40 The Gadget Show

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 Cody 06:45

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb

07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:05 Cody 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 Cody 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 Cody 22:50 23:15 23:35

Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Imagination Movers The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Then And Now 01:25 Too Young To Kill 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Khloe And Lamar 09:45 Khloe And Lamar 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Fashion Police 13:35 Extreme Close-Up 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Giuliana & Bill 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 E!es 17:25 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Giuliana & Bill 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Bridalplasty 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 01:15 02:05 03:40 04:25 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:45 08:35 09:20 09:45 10:05 10:50 11:40 12:25 13:15 14:00 14:50 15:15 15:35 16:20 17:10 18:00 18:45 19:10 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Haunted A Haunting I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting The Haunted Mystery Diagnosis FBI Case Files Forensic Detectives Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol Ghost Lab FBI Files FBI Case Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Fugitive Strike Force Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Ghost Lab FBI Files Forensic Detectives FBI Case Files Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Fugitive Strike Force Cuff Me If You Can Forensic Justice Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Danger Men 01:00 Destination Extreme 01:30 First Ascent 02:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 02:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 03:00 Endurance Traveller 04:00 Departures 06:00 Danger Men 07:00 Destination Extreme 07:30 First Ascent 08:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 08:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 09:00 Endurance Traveller 10:00 Departures 12:00 Danger Men 13:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 13:30 Bondi Rescue 14:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 14:30 Travel Madness 15:00 City Chase: Argentina 16:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 17:00 Ultimate Traveller 18:00 Meet The Natives 19:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 19:30 Bondi Rescue 20:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 20:30 Travel Madness 21:00 City Chase: Argentina 22:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 23:00 Ultimate Traveller 00:00 18 02:00 04:00 06:00 PG15 08:15 10:30

Battlestar Galactica: The PlanDon’t Look Up-18 Lost Boys: The Thirst-PG15 The Manchurian CandidateThe Karate Kid I-PG15 No Time To Fear-PG15

AVATAR ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 12:00 Bugsy-PG15 14:15 The Karate Kid I-PG15 16:30 Universal Soldier: Regeneration-PG15 18:15 Bugsy-PG15 20:30 Deadline-PG15 22:00 Lake Placid 3-18

01:00 Nine Dead-PG15 03:00 My Son, My Son, What Have You Done?-PG15 04:45 The Sorcerer’s ApprenticePG15 07:00 Love N’ Dancing-PG15 09:00 My Son, My Son, What Have You Done?-PG15 11:00 Private-PG15 12:45 The Sorcerer’s ApprenticePG15 15:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 17:00 MacHEADS-PG15 18:15 My Name Is Khan-PG15 21:00 I Am Number Four-PG15 23:15 Two Lovers-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Party Down 02:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 03:00 Friends 03:30 Friends 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Malcolm In The Middle 06:00 Coach 06:30 Weird Science 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Friends 09:00 Malcolm In The Middle 09:30 The Simpsons 10:00 Parks And Recreation 10:30 Coach 11:00 Weird Science 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Friends 13:30 Malcolm In The Middle 14:00 Coach 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Parks And Recreation 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 Outsourced 19:30 Wilfred 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Funny Or Die Presents 22:30 Entourage 23:00 Party Down 23:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

Terra Nova Supernatural Scoundrels Warehouse 13 Eureka Good Morning America The Good Guys Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Terra Nova Warehouse 13 Live Good Morning America Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Turn Back Your Body Clock Bones The X Factor (US) Look-A-Like Treme The Good Guys

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Psych Any Human Heart Terra Nova Supernatural Warehouse 13 Terriers Psych According To Jim Coronation Street Burn Notice Terriers Terra Nova Warehouse 13 According To Jim Coronation Street Burn Notice Law & Order According To Jim According To Jim Burn Notice Bones The X Factor (US) Treme No Ordinary Family

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:30 12:30 15:15 17:00 19:15 21:00 23:15

The Siege-PG15 The Nun-18 Talento De Barrio-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 Annihilation Earth-PG15 You Got Served-PG15 Avatar-PG Annihilation Earth-PG15 What Lies Beneath-PG15 Killshot-18 Shutter Island-18 The Tripper-18

00:30 02:15 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 11:45 14:15 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Lizzie McGuire Movie-PG Last Of The Living-PG15 Head Of State-PG15 My Father The Hero-PG15 Bandslam-PG15 Malibu’s Most Wanted-PG15 As Good As It Gets-PG15 Woke Up Dead-PG15 The Lizzie McGuire Movie-PG The Dukes-PG15 The Sweetest Thing-18 Garage Days-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 FAM 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 17:00 19:00 19:15 21:15 23:30

Taking Woodstock-18 The Blind Side-PG15 Searching For Bobby FischerThe Informant!-PG15 Astro Boy-FAM The Fantastic Water Babes-PG Spartacus-PG15 Teen Knight-PG15 Mouja-U Made In Dagenham-PG15 Broken Embraces-18 Dead Man Walking-18

01:00 Who Is Clark Rockefeller-PG 03:00 Gasland-PG15 05:00 Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement-FAM 07:00 Nativity!-PG 09:00 Delgo-FAM 10:30 The Chaperone-PG15 12:30 The Lovely Bones-PG15 14:45 Another Year-PG15 17:00 Delgo-FAM 19:00 A Family Thanksgiving-PG15 21:00 I Am Number Four-PG15 23:00 Little Ashes-R

00:15 Dennis The Menace: Cruise Control-FAM 02:00 Flicka 2-PG15 04:00 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 06:00 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie-PG 08:15 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 10:00 Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove-FAM 12:00 102 Dalmatians-PG 14:00 Hua Mulan-PG 16:00 The Spy Next Door-PG 18:00 Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove-FAM 20:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 22:00 The Spy Next Door-PG 01:30 UFC 136 04:30 Trans World Sport 05:30 Speedway FIM World

06:30 07:00 09:15 10:15 12:30 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 21:30

Le Mans Series Highlights Rugby World Cup RWC Weekly Highlights Rugby World Cup Speedway FIM World Le Mans Series Highlights Trans World Sport RWC Weekly Highlights European PGA Tour Le Mans Series Highlights The Ultimate Fighter Premier League Snooker

00:00 AFL Highlights 01:00 Trans World Sport 02:00 The Challenge Series Golf 02:30 Asian Tour Golf Show 03:00 European Tour Weekly 03:30 FEI Equestrian World 04:00 Currie Cup 06:00 Futbol Mundial 06:30 Beach Volley Ball 07:00 NRL Full Time 07:30 Super League 10:00 Total Rugby 10:30 World Hockey 11:00 Ladies European PGA Tour Highlights 12:00 Golfing World 13:00 Darts Grand Prix 15:00 Trans World Sport 16:00 Futbol Mundial 16:30 Euro 2012 Qulaifiers 18:30 AFL Highlights 19:30 NRL Full Time 20:00 Total Rugby 20:30 Trans World Sport 21:30 Live Premier League Snooker

00:00 Futbol Mundial 00:30 European Tour Weekly 01:00 Golfing World 02:00 Premier League Snooker 05:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 06:30 European Tour Weekly 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Trans World Sport 09:00 Pro 12 Celtic League 11:00 AFL Highlights 12:00 Total Rugby 12:30 RWC Weekly Highlights 13:30 Spirit of Yachting 14:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 14:30 Golfing World 15:30 European Tour Weekly 16:00 Live European PGA Tour 20:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 20:30 Fivb Beach Volley Ball 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:45 European Challenge Cup

00:00 01:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Le Mans Series Highlights Super Formula V8 Supercars Extra WWE Tough Enough UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line WWE Tough Enough Le Mans Series Highlights WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line V8 Supercars Championship Power Boats F1 Speedway FIM World Le Mans Series Highlights WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 136

00:05 The Sunshine Boys-PG 01:55 Kismet-FAM 03:35 That Midnight Kiss-FAM 05:10 The Postman Always Rings Twice-PG 07:00 Rio Rita-FAM 08:30 Where The Spies Are-PG 10:20 The Twenty-Fifth Hour-PG 12:15 Seven Women-PG 13:40 The Adventures Of Quentin Durward-FAM 15:20 Home From The Hill-PG 17:45 Logan’s Run-PG 19:40 North By Northwest-PG 22:00 Brainstorm 23:45 The Outfit

Classifieds THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for Indian / Sri Lankan couple or ladies in Salmiya near Indian Public School. Contact: 99467432.

(C 3690) 13-10-2011 Furnished sharing accommodation available for Indian families in a C-A/C flat having internet & satellite, rent KD 75, Hawally Shara Muthanna near Sultan Center & Hawally Stadium.

Contact: 97919485. (C 3679) Accommodation available for family near Kuwait City, Darwaza Abdul Razzak, Rabiya Building. Contact: 97560488 / 22440534.

(C 3681) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near Highway Center for couple (KD 80) or for bachelor men or lady (KD 55). Contact: 99645213.

(C 3684) 11-10-2011 Room for rent in Farwaniya behind Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dar Al-Quran, Pakistani and Indian bache-

lor. Contact: 66490857 / 50129393.

(C 3676) 10-10-2011

FOR SALE Galant-2008 model for sale, well maintained, semi super deluxe model, color: silver grey, engine: 2400 cc, automatic gear, accident free, sun roof, ABS, airbag, cruise control, 6 disc CD player, passing till June 2012.

Asking price: KD 3,100/only serious buyer contact: 65561277. (C 3680) 11-10-2011 Motor cycle Honda Africa V-Twin 750cc, 99 model, 20,000km only, American owned, with all spares, KD 850/-. Call: 99434036 / 66274034.

Email: jeevesej@yahoo.com (C 3675) 10-10-2011 CHANGE OF NAME I, SHABBEER holder of Indian Passport No. G5123333 son of AHMED BASHA do hereafter known my name as SHABBEER AHMED. (C 3678) 10-10-2011

I, HAZEEM MOHAMMAD ZAID S/O MOHAMMAD ZAID holder of Indian Passport No: Z1842542 hereby change my name to HAZEM MOHAMMAD ZIAD SHOASHAH. (C 3674) 8-10-2011 MATRIMONIAL Inviting proposals for Orthodox girl 27/159 employed in MOH Kuwait from parents of professionally qualified God-fearing boys. Contact Email: george421975@yahoo.com (C 3683) 11-10-2011 RC boy 27, Engineer in a reputed company, seeks alliance from similar or equivalent qualified girls working in Kuwait. Contact Email: elsyvarghese@hotmail.com (C 3677) 10-10-2011

SITUATION VACANT Wanted driver for small Kuwaiti family, 3-5 years experience in Kuwait,

speak, read write English, 20-30 years old. Contact: 99997550. (C 3685) Driver vacancy is available, valid Kuwaiti driver’s license and transferable residency required.

Contact: 99018760 / 99390585.

(C 3686) A Kuwaiti family is looking to hire an Indian cook familiar with the traditional Kuwaiti cuisine.

Transferable residency required.

Contact: 99018760 / 99390585.

(C 3687)

No: 15238

Need British / American host family to host 16 year old boy from respectable Kuwaiti family for conversational English daily 2 hours.

Ref on request. Contact: 97524681 (C 3689) 13-10-2011

SITUATION WANTED Mechanical Engineering graduate, with immaculate English language skills, looking for a job in Kuwait, Transferable residency.

Contact: 67078742.

(C 3663) 12-10-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR THY ETH UAE ETD DHX FDB GFA QTR THY JZR FCX JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB IRA KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY ETD GFA MEA JZR KNE MSR MSC JZR SYR KAC MSR SHY UAL RJA MSR FDB OMA JZR VOS QTR KAC KAC SVA KAC

Flt 267 772 622 853 305 370 67 211 138 770 503 201 555 412 157 206 382 302 332 53 605 352 284 362 855 132 125 301 213 404 165 789 623 9621 561 341 672 610 4125 982 640 621 57 645 357 93 140 562 546 500 788

Arrival Flights on Thursday 13/10/2011 Route BEIRUT ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ISTANBUL LUXOR DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MANILA / BANGKOK LONDON ISLAMABAD DELHI MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI ISFAHAN COCHIN DHAKA COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH ABU DHABI BAHRAIN BEIRUT DUBAI JEDDAH SOHAG ASSIUT SOHAG DAMASCUS / DEIREZZOR DUBAI CAIRO ANTALYA WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN ASSIUT DUBAI MUSCAT MASHAD DUBAI / KANDAHAR DOHA AMMAN ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH JEDDAH

Time 0:35 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:10 3:15 3:20 4:10 5:15 5:25 6:10 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:20 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:10 8:20 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:30 9:35 10:55 11:10 11:20 12:10 12:15 12:30 13:00 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:00 14:10 14:15 14:15 14:20 14:30 14:30 14:40

KNE JZR QTR JZR KAC MLR ETD UAE KAC GFA SVA JZR TAR JZR ABY RBG FDB ALK JZR MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI SIA IRA FDB OMA JZR MEA KAC MSR DHX KLM UAE GFA QTR UAL AIC JZR MSR JZR JZR MSR DLH AXB JZR PIA

745 257 134 535 118 403 303 857 154 215 510 777 327 239 127 3553 63 227 177 9623 104 502 542 618 786 614 674 774 572 458 617 61 647 179 402 178 618 372 445 859 217 136 981 981 135 606 513 185 612 636 389 539 205

JEDDAH BEIRUT DOHA CAIRO NEW YORK COLOMBO / DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI ISTANBUL BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH TUNIS / DUBAI AMMAN SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI DUBAI SOHAG LONDON BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI RIYADH MUMBAI SINGAPORE / ABU DHABI AHWAZ DUBAI MUSCAT DUBAI BEIRUT GENEVA / FRANKFURT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD BAHRAIN LUXOR SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE CAIRO LAHORE

14:45 15:10 15:15 15:50 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:30 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:45 20:00 20:10 20:10 20:15 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:10 23:30 23:55

Airlines AXB MSR DLH AIC KLM PIA THY ETH SWT UAE FDB DHX ETD QTR THY JZR JZR GFA KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR KAC KAC KAC IRA JZR KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR ETD GFA KAC MEA KAC JZR KNE JZR KAC MSR MSC KAC JZR SYR MSR SHY RJA FDB MSR

Departure Flights on Thursday 13/10/2011 Flt Route 394 COCHIN / KOZHIKODE 2141 CAIRO 637 FRANKFURT 976 GOA / CHENNAI 447 AMSTERDAM 216 KARACHI 773 ISTANBUL 622 BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA 94 DUBAI / KANDAHAR 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 771 ISTANBUL 560 SOHAG 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 545 ALEXANDRIA 356 MASHAD 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 534 CAIRO 787 JEDDAH 153 ISTANBUL 671 DUBAI 606 MASHAD 256 BEIRUT 561 AMMAN 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 101 LONDON / NEW YORK 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 165 ROME / PARIS 405 BEIRUT 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 790 JEDDAH 238 AMMAN 501 BEIRUT 624 SOHAG 9622 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 342 DEIREZZOR / DAMASCUS 611 CAIRO 4126 ANTALYA 641 AMMAN 58 DUBAI 622 ASSIUT

Time 0:15 0:30 0:40 0:50 0:55 1:10 2:15 2:30 3:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 5:00 5:10 5:55 6:55 7:10 7:40 8:20 8:25 8:40 8:50 8:55 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:10 9:15 9:40 9:50 9:55 10:00 10:15 10:20 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:10 13:00 13:10 13:15 13:30 13:40 14:00 14:20 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

UAL OMA KAC KNE KAC JZR SVA JZR KAC QTR KAC JZR ETD MLR QTR UAE GFA TAR ABY JZR JZR RBG SVA FDB JZR ALK MSC KAC KAC JAI FDB IRA KAC KAC OMA MEA SIA MSR KAC DHX KLM UAE GFA FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR MSR KAC UAL MSR KAC

982 646 673 746 617 178 505 512 773 141 613 538 304 404 135 858 216 328 128 184 266 3554 511 64 134 228 9624 283 361 571 62 616 331 351 648 403 457 619 543 373 445 860 218 102 137 301 205 502 554 607 411 981 613 415

BAHRAIN MUSCAT DUBAI JEDDAH DOHA DUBAI JEDDAH SHARM EL SHEIKH RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN CAIRO ABU DHABI DUBAI / COLOMBO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN TUNIS SHARJAH DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA RIYADH DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI / COLOMBO ASSIUT DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI AHWAZ TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT ABU DHABI / SINGAPORE ALEXANDRIA CAIRO BAHRAIN BAHRAIN / AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ALEXANDRIA LUXOR BANGKOK / MANILA WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA

14:45 15:00 15:10 15:30 15:35 16:00 16:00 16:05 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:40 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:30 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:10 19:30 19:30 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:45 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:20 21:55 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:15 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:50

34

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

s ta rs CROSSWORD 467

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a real time to buckle down and fortify your career. Now is the time to rid your life of those unnecessary elements that simply add to the clutter. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be what guide you and prove successful. Your career could assume a more determined and solid form—a firm foundation. You will find that you can really think things through and use your mind to make clear choices. You are favored today. Good luck and positive actions are in the forecast. This is one of your best overall days. It is also a good day for love. Vacation time is recommended at the end of this week. At least a short weekend trip out of town would be fun. To strengthen your body, concentrate on improving your breathing.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Requesting a loan is a positive today. You have good practical job-related thoughts and ideas. Use that ability you have to communicate with superiors or describe what you see. You will find that you can really use your mind to think things through and make clear choices. If you must make a career decision today, your decisions are straightforward and easy to make. You make your way today through ideas, concepts and your ability to communicate and express them to others. You will prosper by pursuing your ideals and most deep-seated dreams of how life could be. Ideas of group cooperation could further your career.

Don’t be afraid to project that image—make those dreams real. Wear colorful clothing and stay positive.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. In a murderous frenzy as if possessed by a demon.

5. (Old Testament) The second patriarch.

10. A solution containing a phosphate buffer.

13. Not widely known.

14. A deep ravine (usually with a river running through it).

15. Fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer.

16. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

17. Designer drug designed to have the effects of amphetamines (it floods the brain with serotonin) but to avoid the drug laws.

19. A family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in southeastern Asia.

21. An ancient jar with two handles and a narrow neck.

23. A decree that prohibits something.

25. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

26. An accountant certified by the state.

29. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

30. A public promotion of some product or service.

31. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

34. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

35. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

38. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

39. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

41. The organ of sight (`peeper' is an informal term for `eye').

45. Before noon.

46. Stable gear consisting of either of two curved supports that are attached to the collar of a draft horse and that hold the traces.

47. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube.

48. A metallic element having four allotropic forms.

49. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

51. A Hindu prince or king in India.

54. The capital and largest city of Ghana with a deep-water port.

57. African tree with edible yellow fruit resembling mangos.

58. Inquire about.

61. The cardinal number that is the sum of four and one.

63. A starch made by leaching and drying the root of the cassava plant.

64. Express or utter with a hiss.

65. A city in southeastern South Korea.

67. A member of a Mayan people of southwestern Guatemala.

68. Not fake or counterfeit.

69. (Greek mythology) The god of the underworld in ancient mythology.

70. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. Any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses.

2. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

3. Toward the mouth or oral region.

4. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

5. One of the five major classes of immunoglobulins.

6. Surface layer of ground containing a matt of grass and grass roots.

7. A large fleet.

8. A lizard of the family Agamidae.

9. A ductile gray metallic element of the lanthanide series.

10. Fudge made with brown sugar and butter and milk and nuts.

11. A hazy or indistinct representation.

12. Stalk of a moss capsule.

18. An informal conversation.

20. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

22. A soft yellowish-white trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

24. An industrial city in central Japan on southern Honshu.

27. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

28. The biblical name for ancient Syria.

32. Type genus of the Anatidae.

33. A metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables.

36. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

37. A ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element.

40. A beloved person.

42. Not having rhyme.

43. The unwanted discharge of a fluid from some container.

44. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring on the sea or ships.

50. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

52. (Roman mythology) The Roman god of doorways and passages.

53. Leafless East Indian vine.

54. An ancient city of Sumer located on a former channel of the Euphrates River.

55. Elegant and stylish.

56. A piece of metal covered by leather with a flexible handle.

57. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

59. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

60. God of love and erotic desire.

62. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

66. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Although most of us shy away from challenges whenever possible, one cannot escape all of them. Challenges help us grow and they create opportunities to discover things about ourselves and others. Challenges also help us to improve our problem-solving skills. Today there may be a disagreement with what you say or think. This is where you fall headlong into a challenge and in the end, it may be best to agree to disagree—time changes many things.

Approaching a situation later, from a different angle, may be helpful. There is much on your mind today. Your attitude is good, as usual, and you can be a mentor to others in how to get through a challenging workday with a smile. Family is the main interest this evening and laughter fills the air.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Your approach to any problem is always original and you could invent things or discover new places or develop new ways of motivation. This is the best time you will have, for many years, to make progress, push forward and rise to prominence. It will be hard for you to do wrong—all the energies are working in your favor. You may suddenly decide to marry or take on a new role in the community or with other people. Self-discipline and a sense of self-worth become important issues. You will be in demand and recognition will be imminent. Your desires are strong—romance is very possible. Enjoy the art of dancing this evening— feel the freedom of movement in harmony with rhythms and sound. There is a basic drive to appreciate and taste life.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Circumstances may appear to work against you, but if you really step back and look at the whole picture, you will find you have more control than your thought. Take your time in making decisions. You will thrive on a chance to display and test your talents. Those who lack confidence and experience welcome your kind words and courtesy. Learn techniques that will relieve stress. Responsibilities and outside pressures are just a part of life; knowing when to create change and how to always maintain your positive thoughts are important in maintaining a sense of well-being. There is the possibility of new visions or sudden insights into your self-image or into your ideals and dreams. There are breakthroughs in compassion.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Relationships and the social life in general come knocking at your door today and they come in all sorts of ways. There are possibly unconventional approaches to partnerships and lovers. You may find yourself pursuing very eccentric or different methods of communicating—responding to others.

Real power is always hidden—finding it means delving into secret places. The forbidden, the taboo areas, the great mysteries that no one speaks about in polite company seem to hold the answers for you now—you seem compelled to investigate. You may benefit from a senior advisor today. However, you find yourself unconcerned in sidetracks—what is not essential. You can really tune in on how to solve problems and get where you want to go.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Through increasing your communication skills you can promote yourself into additional career choices. You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others; people that work with you give higher-ups a good report. You know just what to do to please a customer and can act without haste or emotion. You may find you are valued because of your ability to act and get things done. You are called on to make use of your professional proficiency and common sense. Your need to be respected will be recognized at this time. Work, achievement and ambition create a successful outcome. When asked, you can help others achieve success. There is an urge to join your friends in some social affair this evening.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Extra work that promises to compensate you well is very attractive. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. You may have the last say in a round table discussion and an issue you tried to press from the past will get great reviews now. Your logical abilities are at a high point. Now there is a need to buckle down and consolidate your career. You have an opportunity to make one of your wise decisions this afternoon but it will be important to hear all the possibilities before making your decision. Your career could assume a much more solid form. Don’t be afraid to project your image—make your dreams a reality. Telephone calls and letters bring insight into a relationship. Control your imagination tonight.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You are driven and passionate in your pursuit of change and inner growth. You possess, at the core, an intensity that burns strong. You search now for opportunities to face or reveal the truth. This ceaseless critical activity, while central to your nature, may be the source of discomfort to others.

This is a good time to take risks and dare to be a little unconventional. This is the sign of an extremely honorable and respected teacher or leader. You will prosper through new insights, inventions and an independent point of view. Your career could open up now with new approaches. This evening you are in a rare mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own better qualities. You may be pleasantly surprised by an irresistible invitation this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

You have a natural sense for communicating with others, particularly those younger than yourself. Clear thoughts about the past may be flowing in today. You spend a great deal of time in thought. You have a lot on your mind and feel a strong need to communicate. This is a fortunate time, when things open up in a very natural way for you. Your charm and agreeable manner adds to the general aura of good luck just now. Invest in art, jewelry or collectibles. Seek favors from those in authority. At this time, you are driven by a thirst to know and are learning ways to surrender your mind to a Universal Mind. Expressions of wit and charm can lead you into some sort of performing arts or a profession that put you in the role of counselor.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Starting over seems to be the story for today. This is not a bad thing, but it will delay the end results—be sure to let the others that are involved in this project know. Of all days, this is a good day to begin again on some project. This is a very lucky day for making plans or decisions and finding your way through just about any problem you may discover.

You feel successful and able to solve problems. You are having new thoughts and sudden insights—you may get an unexpected boost in the way you think, speak or write. Communications are simplified and connections of all kinds, news and so on, are furthered, often at the expense of tradition or established order.

Friends play an extremely important role at this time.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Career decisions that point to real success may go against your sense of values. You may not be able to appreciate this particular way or road to success. You may benefit from a senior or one in authority. Take time to see the long-term results and transfer your attention to this viewpoint. Consider meditation before action as decision making will become clearer. You will be successful and your ability to communicate and express ideas to others will be accepted. Shopping this afternoon can be more of a challenge. Your mind may drift to subjects other than what vegetables to put with what meat. Make it a habit to take a shopping list with you when you shop; you will finish quickly. Your weakness for a good thing may get you in trouble; budget!

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

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e’s known as a genuinely nice guy in Hollywood, but Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem transforms into a villain for the upcoming James Bond film, due in theaters next year. Bardem appeared for an interview on ABC News program “Nightline” and confirmed what had been rumored for months when he was asked by journalist Christiane Amanpour about

Yeoh, Besson laud Myanmar releases

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ctress Michelle Yeoh, who plays Aung San Suu Kyi in a new biopic of the Myanmar activist, said yesterday that the release of jailed dissident and comedian Zarganar was “joyful news”. Zarganar, one of Myanmar’s most celebrated satirists who had been incarcerated since 2008 for his political activities, was among dozens of political prisoners given their freedom

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he father of Amy Winehouse will write a memoir about the late British soul star to be released in the summer of 2012, with all proceeds going to charity, according to the publisher. In the memoir, to be entitled “Amy: My Daughter,” Mitch Winehouse will “tell the incredible story of the Amy the public never got to know and understand” prior to her death in July at the age of 27, HarperCollins said Tuesday. The proceeds will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which aims to help young people in Britain and abroad who struggle with addiction, ill health, disability or financial disadvantage. “I feel that I need to write this book to tell the true story of Amy and to help with my personal recovery,” Winehouse said. “I also want to raise as much money as possible for Amy’s foundation, so all proceeds from the book will go directly to help children who are disadvantaged through illness and substance

“the next villain you are going to play in James Bond.”

“I’m very excited because my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them so to play that is going to be fun,” Bardem said. “They choose me to play this man, but I cannot give you many details.” Bardem, who is married to Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, is pretty good at being bad. The last time he portrayed a

villain was in dark drama “No Country for Old Men,” and the role of a maniacal killer earned him an Oscar for best supporting actor. The upcoming thriller about the British secret agent 007, being called “Bond 23” for now, is expected to be released in November 2012.

addiction.” The British soul star was found dead in her London home in July following a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs. Toxicology tests found no evidence of any illegal substances in her body, according to her family. Her father believes bouts of heavy drinking followed by short-lived attempts to give up alcohol may have prompted a fatal seizure. A full inquest is due to be held on October 26. Winehouse rocketed to fame after winning five Grammy awards off the back of her 2006 second album “Back to Black” and famously sang about her refusal to seek treatment for her addiction in “Rehab”.

Fassbender

Iranian actress sentenced to 90 lashes, 1 year in jail

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in military-dominated Myanmar. “We hope and we pray that there will be more people like him released. It shows the new government of Burma is starting out on the right path,” Yeoh told a news conference at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. “The release of Zarganar is a joyful news and we hope that there will be more people like him because there are too many prisoners, political prisoners still in there,” she said. yesterday’s prisoner releases were the latest sign of change in the authoritarian state formerly known as Burma after decades of repression, following the nominal end to military rule in elections last year.

Yeoh is in Busan to promote “The Lady”, Suu Kyi’s life story, directed by Luc Besson. The Frenchman had only moments earlier told reporters that “until the day Zarganar is released, I think there will be no democracy in Burma”.

When informed that Zarganar had been released, Besson at first reacted in disbelief.

Once the report was confirmed, the director said it was the “best news” he had heard all day. Yeoh, best known for her roles in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Memoirs of a Geisha”, said she had taken on the role of Suu Kyi in a bid to pressure the Myanmar government to respect human rights. “We are very proud of this movie and we believe it is a very important movie because of who she is and because of her fight for democracy with words,” said the Malaysianborn actress. The actress had met Suu Kyi last December when the democracy heroine was released from two decades of on-off house arrest, and Yeoh she had been inspired by her “strength”.”The Lady” has been screening to packed theatres in Busan, and Besson said he hoped it would roll out on general release from November. He said Suu Kyi had yet to see the finished production.”She said I will see it when I am courageous enough,” said Besson, who also divulged the activist had not read the script nor been involved in the production in any way.

n Iranian actress has been sentenced to 90 lashes and a year in jail for starring in an Australian movie with a shaved head-and no head-covering. Marzieh Vafamehr, who appeared in “My Tehran for Sale,” has appealed the sentence.

According to Amnesty International, Vafamehr also appears to drink alcohol in the movie. Consuming alcohol is banned under Iranian law. The penalty is 80 lashes-for the first offense. The Australian movie, oddly enough, is about an actress in Iran who is forced to live a secret life in order to express herself.

In a written statement to TheWrap, producers Julie Ryan and Kate Croser said Tuesday that the actress’s involvement in the film “was limited to her role as an actress and she was not in any other way involved in the behind-the-scenes filmmaking.” “As producers of the film ‘My Tehran for Sale’ we would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the sentence imposed by the Iranian government,” they wrote.

Richard Harris, CEO of the South Australian Film Corp., wrote, “We are deeply disturbed by Marzieh Vafamehr’s sentence for appearing in Granaz Moussavi’s groundbreaking film, which is itself about the risks that artists are prepared to take for creative expression.” Amnesty International on Tuesday criticized the sentence-and flogging in general. “If Vafamehr is held solely on account of the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression, she should be released immediately and unconditionally,” the human rights organization said in a written statement. Vafamehr’s sentence is only

the most recent example of the Iranian regime’s ongoing crackdown on the entertainment industry.

On Sept 17, Iran arrested five documentary directors and a producer and distributor. Among them was Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, who was detained at the Tehran airport as he prepared to go to the Toronto Film Festival. And in December 2010, director Jafar Panahi was arrested. He has been sentenced to six years in prison and was banned from filmmaking and from speaking with the foreign press for 20 years.

joins McQueen’s ‘12 Years a Slave’

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ichael Fassbender is returning to work with his now-frequent director, Steve McQueen, for “12 Years a Slave,” TheWrap has confirmed. Chiwetel Ejiofor also stars. It’s a tough movie based on the true story of Solomon Northrup, a New Yorker who, while visiting Washington in 1841, was kidnapped into slavery. He was rescued from a Louisiana cotton plantation a dozen years later. McQueen wrote the script with John Ridley.

Brad Pitt is producing for his Plan B Entertainment. The director and actor teamed on the 2008 “Hunger” and on this year’s disturbing “Shame.” The “X-Men: First Class” and “Inglorious Basterds” actor next stars alongside Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and Idris Elba in Fox’s tentpole “Promethius.” That movie, which Ridley Scott is directing, is about explorers who have to fight a battle to save humanity after discovering a clue to the origins of mankind. Variety first reported the news.

Carrey offered role in New Line’s ‘Burt Wonderstone’

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ew Line has offered Jim Carrey a role in its comedy “Burt Wonderstone,” but the two sides haven’t started talking money yet, TheWrap has learned. Steve Carell has been attached to the project for more than a year.

The movie is about a successful Las Vegas magician whose partner dies in a risky stunt. The magician-Burt Wonderstone (played by Carell) — has to rediscover his love for magic and defeat a rival magician. Carrey and Carell have worked together several times,including on one episode of “The Office.” Carell had a role in Carey’s 2003 “Bruce Almighty” and in the ani-

mated 2008 “Horton Hears a Who!” Don Scardino, who has directing more than 70 episodes of “30 Rock” and many episodes of “Law and Order,” “Hope & Faith” and others, is directing. Jason Reitman wrote the most recent version of the script. Deadline Hollywood first reported the news.

Johansson got split support from twin

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carlett Johansson’s twin brother helped her get over her split from her husband Ryan Reynolds.

The ‘Iron Man 2’ star separated from the ‘Green Lantern’ actor last December and she admits she was “quite depressed” in the aftermath of the break-up.

However, she was pulled out of her dark mood by her twin Hunter, her 89-year-old grandmother Dorothy and the unwavering support of her close friends. In an interview with German magazine Gala, she said: “At first I was quite depressed. After about a week or so I pulled myself together and started to go to the gym all the time. Luckily, I’ve got a few very close girlfriends who have been by my side for 15 years now, who I can talk to about everything and confide in. I’ve got a close relationship with my twin brother Hunter as well. And

then there’s my grandmother Dorothy. She recently turned 89 - she’s an incredibly sweet, lovely and wise woman.” Scarlett won’t reveal exactly why she and Ryan broke up because she insists it is a private matter between them. However, the 26-year-old actress whose divorce from the 34-year-old Hollywood hunk was finalized in June - does accept she has personality traits which can make her a difficult person to deal with. When quizzed on why she thinks her marriage failed, she replied: “That question is too personal. I will only tell you this: I can be overcritical - with myself and with other people. And I don’t compromise ... I pass judgment on people quite quickly. If I don’t agree with someone or if I’m annoyed I will tell people to their face - no matter how hurtful that might be. That can

get me into trouble from time to time. When that happens, my friends have to hold me back and say, ‘Scarlett, you can’t say that!’ “I’m also incredibly impatient - regarding my job, my family and men. I want things to progress. I hate stagnation!” Despite her split from Ryan, Scarlett still believes in the concept of marriage but she isn’t looking for a new guy at the moment. When asked if she still believes in love and married, she said: “Oh yes, definitely! Why shouldn’t I? Right now I don’t feel the need to date anyone, though. I enjoy being single too much.”

—Bang Showbiz

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Soldier-songwriters beat Afghan blues A

rmed with acoustic guitars, US troops in Afghanistan are writing songs about everything from fear of the Taliban to dreams of going home, all in a bid to beat combat stress. At Bagram airfield, the giant US base north of Kabul, and scores of smaller outposts, soldiers keep a guitar by their bed or at their desk and pick it up at quiet times to play to themselves or perform for a group. Soldiers sit on the steps of their wooden barracks strumming chords at night, or on the concrete security barriers which dot the base. Chinesemade acoustic guitars are on sale at many of Bagram’s shops.

While their musical genius may not compare to stars like Elvis Presley or Jimi Hendrix, both of whom served in the US army, troops say it is an important way to wind down and taste normal life, albeit briefly.

“I play as often as I can, at least a couple of times a week,” says Private First Class Zachary Short, 23, a combat medic based at an outpost in Paktya, eastern Afghanistan. “We will all sit down after night missions or after we’re done for the day and they (his fellow troops) will request some songs. It’s a lot of fun. Some covers, some original ones.” Short mainly plays country music and has written around six songs about life in Afghanistan which often dwell on his memories of life back in the US. Written under a stage name, Zac Charles, one of his songs, “Until I Get Home,” about a soldier singing to his wife thousands of miles away, scored local radio play in Kentucky, where he is based.

“They say home is where the heart is/That’s where I wanna be/But if the good lord says it’s time to go/Please don’t worry about me,” he sings. Short posts videos of himself singing on YouTube, dressed in combat fatigues in his sparsely furnished frontline bedroom. While he dreams of a career in music one day, in Afghanistan he uses it as a chance to forget the strains of his war. “It’s an opportunity to escape. Music is a comforting thing to a lot of people, they cling to it, use it as an escape or something for them to relate to,” he says.

ed approach. He has written around six songs about life at Bagram including one called “Save Me From The Talibani.” It includes the lines: “I wish there were more than fields of poppy/That I could see from my Hummer jalopy/Promising dreams of a heaven to come/Without the smell of ammunition.” Despite all the shops, gyms and dining facilities at Bagram-which, with a population of 30,000, is the size of a town-Peterson says life is restrictive owing to security precautions and the threat of rocket strikes. “It gets to you after a while,” he adds. “You do feel confined. It’s like a prison, soldiers say it’s like being in prison.”

The guitar is perhaps the ideal instrument for Americans deployed abroad since it is portable, he says. “Everybody can play it, there is a lot of music written for it, it’s convenient and everybody can sing along when you play it,” he explains.

Specialist Chris Rettig does not write songs, but as part of the US army’s First Cavalry Division band, he tours remote outposts playing covers of bands like Foo Fighters and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as a morale booster. Rettig, who plays guitar, bass and drums, sees daily how music can act as a form of therapy.

“I have a feeling that music is a definite, huge relief as far as stress goes,” he says. “You put your own situation in the lyrics.

So I think that always makes a bleak situation better.”

Professor Jonathan Pieslak, a music theorist at The City College of New York who has studied the musical preferences of US troops, says many listen to rap and heavy metal to psych themselves up for combat but that the songs they write themselves can be more reflective. Soldiers listen to similar music to other Americans but are likely to experience it differently because of the danger and stress they face, he adds. “What differs is the intensity of the depth of listening,” he says. “Many soldiers and marines experience these feelings in more intense ways while at war. “In other words, while at war, the feelings and emotions experienced through music seem to resonate more deeply.”— AFP

In this photograph provided by the US Army on October 2, 2011, US soldiers play guitar and sing at a military base in Bagram.—AFP

‘Music a definite, huge relief’ At Bagram, Ted Peterson, an American contractor working to set up a local radio station for Afghans, takes a more point-

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US

singing superstar Beyonce acknowledged Tuesday that her latest video was inspired by the work of a Belgian choreographer who has threatened to sue for plagiarism. But the singer said her “Countdown” video had other influences, and noted that it had already been viewed by 2 million people and could generate publicity for the Belgian work “Rosas danst Rosas” or “Rosas dances Rosas.”

Choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker has accused Beyonce of stealing routines for her “Countdown”, calling it “pure plagiarism,” Belgian dance troupe Rosas said Monday.

On Tuesday Beyonce issued a statement saying: “Clearly, the ballet ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ was one of many references for my video, ‘Countdown.’ It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life.” But she added: “I was also paying tribute to the film, ‘Funny Face’ with the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My biggest inspirations were the 60’s, the 70’s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross.” Adria Petty, the co-director of her video, showed Beyonce the contemporary ballet from almost 30 years ago, she added in the statement issued by her publicist.

“It was refreshing, interesting and timeless. I’ve always been fascinated by the way contemporary art uses different elements and references to produce something unique.“The video already has close to two million views so hopefully the fans will look at all the tributes and then discover Audrey Hepburn, Warhol, Bardot, ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ and all the works that inspired me and shaped this video.” There was no immediate reaction from the Belgian dance troupe, but Rosas spokeswoman Johanne De Bie said Monday that they had discovered the Beyonce clip on Friday.

“We noticed more than a few resemblances to the film that director Thierry De Mey made in 1997, ‘Rosas dances Rosas’,... and 1994’s ‘Achterland’ .. We have passed the details to our lawyer to see about our rights,” she told AFP. The decor, a warehouse dance studio, plus the clothing and the dance moves in the video bear a striking resemblance to the filmed choreography “Rosas dance Rosas”, as a comparative clip on YouTube entitled “Beyonce vs. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker” clearly shows. —AFP

ichael Jackson could not have caused his own death by selfadministering a powerful sedative, the medic who carried out his autopsy said Tuesday, as a graphic photo of the star’s corpse was released. Christopher Rogers, who examined the King of Pop’s body after his June 2009 death, said it was more likely that Jackson’s personal physician Conrad Murray mistakenly gave him too much of the drug propofol to try to help him sleep.

“The circumstances from my point of view do not support self-administration of propofol,” Rogers told the Los Angeles court as Murray’s manslaughter trial entered its third week.

Murray is accused of involuntary manslaughter by giving Jackson an overdose of propofol. His lawyers claim Jackson was a desperate addict who gave himself a fatal extra dose while Murray was out of the room. The doctor told police, in an interview heard in court last week, that he was away from Jackson’s bed for only two minutes on June 25, 2009 to go to the bathroom, and returned to find the singer not breathing. Rogers said that in such a short time Jackson, already heavily sedated, would not have been able to inject more propofol via an intravenous (IV) tube in his leg fast enough for it to stop his breathing before Murray returned.

“To me that scenario seems less reasonable,” Rogers told the court, adding that he believed Murray simply got the dosage of propofol wrong while trying to keep Jackson asleep. Murray has admitted to giving Jackson 25 milligrams of the drug, a clinical anesthetic the star called “milk” to help him sleep, and would have had to give regular extra doses to keep the singer

unconscious. But Rogers noted that Murray had no accurate equipment, such as an IV pump, to check the doses being administered. “Essentially, the doctor would be estimating how much propofol he was giving,” he said. “I think it would be easy under those circumstances for the doctor to estimate wrong and give too much propofol.”

graphic photo was shown. In a gripping interview with police two days after Jackson’s death, the start of which was played in court last week, Murray gave a blow-by-blow account of the hours leading up to Jackson’s death. In the rest of the interview, played in court after a three-day weekend break, Murray recounted how

Dr Conrad Murray listens in court as his defense attorney J Michael Flanagan questions a witness during Murray’s trial in the death of pop star Michael Jackson, Tuesday.—AFP The testimony came as the prosecution showed a picture of Jackson’s naked corpse, with the genital area blacked out.

Rogers detailed a swathe of puncture marks in his arms and legs, where drugs had apparently been administered.

Jackson’s mother Katherine, who returned to the trial after a week’s absence while traveling-notably to a weekend tribute concert in Britain-left shortly before the

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ong Kong yesterday said it would build a gallery in honor of Bruce Lee, the Chinese-American legend who helped make martial arts mainstream with kung fu classics like “Fists of Fury”. Lee’s legions of fans have long demanded a tribute to the star, who died in 1973 at the age of 32 after setting the world alight with his dazzling fight scenes and innovative martial arts choreography. The only memorial to the actor and director in his home town-he was born in San Francisco but spent most of his youth in Hong Kong-has been a statue on the Avenue of Stars in the Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district.

Fans were disappointed in June when the government said a plan to build a Bruce Lee museum in his old house was cancelled after negotiations with the property’s current owner broke down. But Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced in his annual policy address yesterday that the government would set up a gallery in honor of the artist at the government-run Hong Kong Heritage Museum. —AFP

File photo shows a man viewing an exhibition of late kung fu legend and film star Bruce Lee on the sidelines of an international film festival in Hong Kong.—AFP

times a week, and often emerged “wasted” after the sessions, struggling to perform at rehearsals for a string of comeback shows in London, Murray said.

Murray also told how Jackson’s children were “weeping, really weeping” when they found out their father was dead. He told the star’s daughter Paris that he had done

A photograph from the coroner of Michael Jackson’s body is projected by the prosecution during Conrad Murray’s involuntary manslaughter trial. — AP

Jackson was almost blind, hardly ever ate proper food and had problems urinating, sometimes wetting himself.

Murray, hired two months before Jackson’s death to look after the star as he rehearsed for a series of comeback shows in London, told jurors how he learned that Jackson had a series of other medics prescribing drugs for him. He went to Beverly Hills dermatologist Arnold Klein three

his best. “She said, ‘I know that Dr. Murray ..

I know you tried your best, but I’m really sad. You know, I will wake up in the morning and I won’t be able to see my daddy’,” he said. The trial in Los Angeles Superior Court is expected to last five weeks, until the end of October. If Murray is convicted, he faces up to four years in jail. — AFP

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hen Paramount Pictures decided the time was right to remake the iconic 1984 hit film “Footloose,” the big question was “Who’s going be able to fill Kevin Bacon’s old dancing shoes?” The answer is Kenny Wormald, a 27 year-old Boston native who makes his movie debut in the new film that opens in theaters on Friday. Directed by Craig Brewer (“Hustle and Flow”) and co-starring Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell and Julianne Hough, the story pits a small town’s teenagers against adults who pass a harsh ban on dancing following a tragic car crash. Wormald spoke to Reuters about how Justin Timberlake helped him land the lead role, becoming an actor and performing at the White House.

Q: Is it true Justin Timberlake recommended you for the part of Ren McCormick?

A: “I went to audition for the first time and they saw his name on my resume, so they contacted him and he gave me a couple of thumbs up and said ‘He’s a good kid and a great dancer.”“ Q: But didn’t you still have to fight for the role?

A: “Absolutely ... It was a fight, but a good one.

There were a lot of auditions, and I was working very hard on my acting.”

Q: The dancing part was obviously no problem for you, but the acting part must have been a lot more pressure?

A: “Yes, I loved the original and Kevin Bacon, especially being a dancer. But Craig didn’t want to just hire some dancers, and he called me up to instill some confidence right after I got the role to tell me I got it because of my acting, not my dancing. And if you’ve seen his other films you know he’s a true filmmaker. He didn’t want to make some Hollywood fluff dance movie. So I felt a real sense of responsibility to do a great job. Going in, maybe I felt like a dancer who could act, but coming out, I felt more like an actor who can dance.”

Q: How much of you is in character Ren? A: “Quite a bit. I could definitely relate. I got teased a lot for missing baseball practice and doing ballet instead.. Kids are terrible at that

Q: A: Q: A:

Q: A:

age, at junior high. They make fun of you if you wear the wrong color shoes. So ballet? But I kept my nose to the grindstone and I loved dancing-not to mention I was in a room with 40 girls! I knew deep down it was a great situation.”

You’re from Boston and so is your character in the film. So what happened to that distinctive accent?

“I’ve learned to tone it down. I saw the looks on people’s faces when I opened my mouth at auditions. It wasn’t helping me.”

Is it true you danced for former President Bill Clinton at the White House?

“Yes, I went a couple of years for a big Easter celebration they have. I was just 10 the first time, and it was my first paid job. I got to shake his hand and I remember thinking, ‘This is the coolest thing ever!”“ You also appeared in “Jackass 2.” How was that?

“Nuts! But they’re fun. I was in the Broadway dance at the end, and the Jackass crew took it pretty seriously. They hired a top choreographer, but then they were doing all this stupid (stuff ) around us while we danced. They were wild.”—Reuters

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

Years

lifestyle

Car of the year Toyota Prado

Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan handing a trophy to one of the car dealer winners.— Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: The Toyota Prado was selected as the ‘2010 Car of the Year’ and Mohammad Nasser Al-Sayer and Sons was chosen as the ‘Top Car Dealer’ in Kuwait during a ceremony sponsored by Media Box, publisher of the RPM Magazine. The event was held in cooperation with Al-Rai Media Group and the Kuwait Vintage Cars Museum. The car was voted as the best from among 75 most popular vehicles in Kuwait last year. Approximately 250,000 participants voted in the online event.

Lebanon’s Ambassador to Kuwait Bassam Al-Numani was among the distinguished guests to grace the occasion. Cars belonging to 25 different classes were placed for voting by Media Box online for almost seven months. In addition to the Prado, Toyota won six other awards: The Corolla won in the small-size category; the Camry in the mid-size category; Avalon won the large-size category; the Prado again was chosen as the mid-size multi-activity vehicle; Land Cruiser won the large-size multi activity vehicle category, and the Hilux was adjudged winner of the smallsize pickup category.

In the hatchback category, Mini Cooper took home the top award. Lexus IS won the premium small-size category; BMW 5th Class was the best premium mid-size vehicle; Mercedes-Benz S, won in the premium large-size category.

The compact crossover winner was BMW X6, followed by the large-size multi activity vehicle category in which Ford Edge was declared the best, and in the full-size multi activity vehicle award went to the GMC Yukon XL. In addition to this, the premium compact multi activity vehicle award was given to the Lexus RX, while the premium midsize multi activity winner was Porsche Cayenne, and the

American Embassy Commercial Attache handing a trophy to one of the car dealers winners.

premium large-size multi activity vehicle award was bestowed on the Range Rover. The Porsche Boxter also won the Roadster category award and the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe won the Coupe category award.

The Porsche Panamera was voted as the ‘Best Gran Turismo Car of 2010,’ in addition to being selected as the special ‘Dream Car.’ The Chevrolet Camaro also won the in Muscle Category, while the Honda Odyssey won in the mini-van category. The Cadillac Escalade EXT emerged winner in both the mid-size and large size pick-up range.

Dima Dhinnawi Director of the Technical Group of Media Box company congratulating the Cars Museum on its first birthday.

Hatim Al-Haj - CEO, Media Box, during his speech.

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Soldier-songwriters beat Afghan blues

Years

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011

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Adorable pumpkin spiders featured on Better Homes & Gardens website can be included in your Halloween decorations. — MCT

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hutan’s king, who will marry today in a traditional ceremony in the isolated Himalayan nation, is a 31-year-old with a popular touch known to invite his people into his home for tea and a chat. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck took to the throne in 2008 at the start of democracy in the inward-looking country famed for its invention of “Gross National Happiness” and its ban on foreign television until 1999. In three years, the young monarch known variously as K5 — the fifth king and the “prince charming of the Himalayas”, has emerged from the shadow of his revered father and inspires almost as much devotion from his 700,000 subjects.

“The fifth king in a short space of time has performed exceedingly well,” parliamentary opposition leader Tshering Tobgay told AFP. “He has walked the length and breadth of the country and met nearly every citizen.”

Such praise is commonplace on the streets of the capital Thimphu, where tens of thousands of people are expected to turn up for a public celebration of the royal nuptials on Saturday.

But few know much about their future queen, save for a few details about her competitiveness on the basketball court and her tender age. Jetsun Pema, a 21-year-old stu-

File photo provided by Bhutan’s Royal Office for Media, Bhutan’s 31-year-old Oxford-educated monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, left, poses with his fiance 20-year-old Jetsun Pema, a student at London’s Regent College, in Thimphu, Bhutan. — AP photos

Workers place a giant banner of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and future Queen Jetsun Pema on a building in the capital of Thimphu, Bhutan. — AP dent, was introduced to the public in May and has since discreetly joined the monarch on his domestic trips, most recently to earthquake victims in the west of the country. Her face adorns a thousand posters, commemorative plates and badges that have been made to mark the occasion and her demure looks have apparently won over the public in the country known as the “Land of the Dragon”. “I don’t know that much about her, but she’s beautiful,” said Zhung Chuck, a 23-year-old business student. “His Majesty chose the right one.”

Others admire the apparent impact the daughter of an airline pilot has made on the king, who talks openly of his love and admiration for her, even holding her hand at public functions. “He really loves her,” said 16year-old schoolgirl Jurme Choden as she waited to practice a dance routine for the public celebrations on Saturday “Wherever he goes he holds her hand. Now young people are starting to copy.” The royal couple apparently met when aged 17 and seven respectively at a family picnic in Thimphu.

The then-prince got down on his knees and said “when you grow up, if I am single and not married and if you are single and not married, I would like you to be my wife, provided we still feel the same,” he told students in August.

After schooling in India and then the United States, the king took a degree in political science and economics at Oxford University, where fellow students remember him as someone serious about his studies.

“He didn’t go to social occasions that much, but he had friends,” remembers one fellow student, who asked not to be named. “He was very much the same sort of person as

you see now asking: solid and reliable.” The principal of Lungtenzampa secondar y school, Kinley Pem, taught both the king and the future queen at different times. She remembers Pema, who has two brothers and two sisters, as an accomplished captain of the school basketball team and someone who won prizes for public speaking.

“She doesn’t have any airs. I think she didn’t even dream of becoming a queen,” the school principal told AFP. Pema pursued part of her studies in London, where she is said to have developed a keen interest in the arts, and is studying for a degree in international relations. Her future role is likely to be doing charity work and, it is hoped, looking after the heir to the throne once the couple have children. Since the advent of democracy in 2008, the king has a largely symbolic position, occasionally giving advice to the government on constitutional matters but steering well clear of the daily acts of governance.

The Elvis fan and keen mountain-biker, who has vowed to help shield his people from globalization, is known to invite citizens round to his modest cottage in the capital, where he listens to their problems and fears. He is one of 10 siblings born to the former king and his four wives, who are all sisters.—AFP

ant to go into the afterlife with a bang? Or just make it technologically easy for visitors to your gravestone to learn more about you? Some innovative US entrepreneurs can help. Since July, Holy Smoke, founded by a couple of game wardens in Stockton, Alabama, has offered a unique service: stuffing cremation ashes into pistol bullets or shotgun cartridges. Thad Holmes, 56, and Clem Parnell, 58, came up with the idea while talking about funerals. “You know, I’ve thought about this for some time and I want to be cremated,” Parnell explained on the business partners’ website, myholysmoke.com.

“Then I want my ashes put into some turkey-load shotgun shells and have someone that knows how to turkey hunt use the shotgun shells with my ashes to shoot a turkey,” he said.

“That way I will rest in peace knowing that the last thing that one turkey will see is me, screaming at him at about 900 feet per second.” Holy Smoke offers no actual cremation services, but it does promise “care and reverence” when it funnels your ashes, or those of your loved ones, into either 100 rifle cartridges or 250 pistol cartridges or shotgun shells-all “high quality, hand loaded”. Prices start at 850 dollars for what Holy Smoke calls an eco-friendly product: “The ecological footprint caused by our service, as opposed to most of the current funeral internment methods, is virtually non-existent.”

Not into wild game? Holmes said ash-filled ammunition can be useful for protecting the family home. “If somebody breaks in,” he told AFP, “you can use your ashes to protect your home-even if you are gone.” So far, Holy Smoke has filled ammo with the ashes of two people, and it is preparing to do so for four others. Enquiries are running in the hundreds, notably from hunters, target and clay-pigeon shooters and military personnel in Canada and the United States, Holmes said.

In a more traditional vein, but keeping up with the technological zeitgeist, former IBM engineers Greg Young and Zachary Garbow have come up with the idea of affixing QR codes onto gravestones. Such “quick response” codes are square matrix barcodes, seen most frequently in advertising, that can be photographed with a smartphone in order to call up further information on a website. In a cemetery, affixed to a gravestone, the QR code becomes a “remembrance code”-a portal to photographs, obituaries and messages of condolences which remain on a funeral home’s servers. It’s “an entirely unique approach to memorializing a life lived,” says Funeral Innovations, the company founded by Young and Garbow to promote the concept.—AFP

Participants from East Java pose for photo during the Indonesian art and cultural festival in Malang, East Java, as part of the Kawanua Bakudapa celebration, a meeting of North Sulawesi’s native groups outside its area of origin. The Indonesian archipelago has about 300 ethnic groups with its each cultural identities. — AFP