13th Oct

IPT IO N SC R SU B

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

THULQADA 27, 1433 AH

No: 15597

8Rebels48 kill 106 Syrian Bironas’ Titans stun injury-hit Steelers

In rare twist settlers, Palestinians cooperate

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soldiers as war rages Jihadists seize missile base; Turkey tension escalates

DAMASCUS: Syrian rebels have gone on the offensive killing more than 100 soldiers in two days, a watchdog said yesterday, as tension between Syria and Turkey escalated over cargo seized from a Syrian Air jet. Fourteen soldiers died in an attack on an army post in the southern province of Daraa yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, a day after the army suffered 92 losses, the highest daily total for the military of the 19-month conflict.

With an average of 20 deaths per day, the army has lost about 10,000 soldiers, with at least an equal number wounded, in the conflict, a military hospital official said. In August, the same source reported more than 8,000 deaths. As fighting raged on the ground, including in the northern provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, a war of words between Syria and Turkey grew angrier after Ankara said it had found military supplies on a passenger plane it intercepted en route between Moscow and Damascus.

The Syrian foreign ministry accused Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan of lying when he said the jet had been carrying “equipment and ammunition shipped to the Syrian defense ministry” from a Russian military supplier. Turkey’s allies have warned of the risks embedded in the conflict between the neighbors, which have exchanged fire over their border in recent days, amid fears that the Syrian civil war could set off a regional conflagration.

Meanwhile, anti-regime activists say jihadist fighters linked to AlQaeda fought with rebels to capture a Syrian military air defense base near Aleppo. Videos posted online yesterday apparently shot inside the base say Jabhat Al-Nusra participated in the overnight battle for the base. The videos show fighters inspecting lines of large missiles.

Two Aleppo-based activists and Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also say Jabhat Al-Nusra fought in the battle. The base’s capture is sure to fuel fears that Islamic extremists are playing a greater role after nearly 19 months of unrest in Syria. Western powers cite their presence as a reason not to arm the rebels.

Amid the growing alarm, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said yesterday he has hastily scheduled a visit to NATO partner Turkey. Westerwelle, who is on a trip to China, said in a statement he would hold talks today with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on “the situation in Syria and on the TurkishSyrian border.” “The Syria situation has escalated. That fills us with the greatest concern,” he said. “It is important that no one pours oil on the fire. We are counting on moderation and de-escalation.”

The Britain-based Observatory said that Thursday had marked one of the deadliest days of fighting since an anti-regime revolt erupted in March last year, with at least 240 people killed across the country, including the 92 soldiers, 67 rebel fighters and 81 civilians. Of the soldiers killed on Thursday, 36 died in fighting in Idlib province, where many of the fiercest clashes have taken place over the past three months, it said. ‘I will surrender by the end of the day’-In violence yesterday, regime war planes attacked two buildings in the Idlib town of Maaret Al-Numan, where intense fighting has raged since rebels overran it on Tuesday after a fierce 48-hour gunbattle, the watchdog said.

An AFP reporter said that the rebels, by gaining control of a stretch of highway near Maaret Al-Numan, were on Thursday able to cut off the route linking Damascus to Aleppo, choking the flow of troops to battlefields in the north. According to the Observatory, the rebels intercepted a radio distress call yesterday from the Wadi Daif base commander in eastern Maaret Al-Numan, who said: “If our planes do not clean out the areas around the base, I will surrender by the end of the day.” — Agencies

Max 39º Min 21º

ALEPPO: The bodies of two Syrian children, killed by Syrian Army shelling, lie on the street near Dar Al-Shifa hospital in Aleppo. — AP

LOCAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Nine bedoon protesters released without bail ‘Freedom of expression’ KUWAIT: Nine stateless residents who have been in custody since police arrested a number of bedoon protestors in Taima last week were released without bail Thursday, local dailies reported yesterday. The decision came after the defense contested the remanding procedure on the basis that the charges were untrue. The detainees pled not guilty during the trial to charges of “instigating” demonstrations, and explained that their actions come as part of “freedom of expression” protected by Kuwait’s constitution.

They were among 18 men remanded in custody last Sunday as police were reportedly looking to arrest more suspects in what rights activists describe as “attempts to prevent bedoons’ demonstrations”. Those 18 men were arrested during a demonstration staged on Oct 2; along with five teenagers who were released on KD200 bail each last Tuesday.

Police later arrested seven stateless activists on charges of instigating demonstrations, including head of the Kuwaiti Bedoons Committee and his assistant.

The arrests are carried out on the basis that only Kuwaitis have the right to stage demonstrations under the state’s laws, while bedoons have previously been charged following clash-

es with police when officers used force to stop protests.

The AFP had reported last week that around 200 stateless men “arrested in previous demonstrations since bedoons began staging protests in Feb 2011, are facing trial for illegal assembly, assaulting police and resisting arrest”, adding that “some have been acquitted by the lower court while others still await verdicts”.

Kuwait has a large community of stateless residents who demand citizenship as well as civil and social rights they are deprived from given their illegal residence status. The government in the meantime argues that part of them are Arabs or descendents of Arab people who deliberately disposed their original passports after coming to Kuwait and seek citizenship in the oil-rich country.

In a bid to end the decades-long problem, the Kuwaiti government established the Central Agency for Illegal Residents a couple of years ago with the goal of sorting out the stateless residents’ community and find those who meet conditions of naturalization, including residents whose bedoon ancestors failed to register for citizenship following Kuwait’s independence more than fifty years ago.

Last year, the agency adopted measures to grant bedoons several

rights which include obtaining marriage, birth and death certificates, but they haven’t produced significant improvement in living conditions prompting protests to continue. The agency was given a five-year ultimatum to resolve the decades-long issue.

Three weeks ago, the Cabinet approved during its weekly meeting a new form of security IDs given to stateless residents and used as their main form of identification. The new cards contain colored tags referring to the category under which a holder is recognized in state records; including those eligible for naturalization and others the government claims to have proof that they belong to other countries.

The measure came simultaneously with a letter sent by three international rights groups to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, calling for an end to “alleged abuses against stateless people” as quoted by an AFP report last week. “The letter by Refugees International, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International highlighted the plight of bedoons and called for a solution”, the report reads.

The term ‘bedoon’ is Arabic for ‘without’, and is used as a loose reference to the fact that stateless residents live without a nationality since birth.

Two in custody for robbery attempt

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A citizen and two bedoons were arrested in Jahra industrial area while trying to open and rob a parked car using a duplicate key, said security sources. Case paper indicates that on searching the suspects’ vehicle, the police found more duplicated

car keys and other sharp metal objects they used in breaking open the vehicles they rob. The suspects admitted that they intended stealing the vehicle to use it in robbing some Asians and stealing some electric cables. One of the suspects was found wanted for 6 month imprisonment.

Pakistan PM to visit Kuwait KUWAIT: The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Raja Pervez Ashraf will be arriving Kuwait on Oct 15, at the invitation of government of Kuwait to attend the First Summit of Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

During his three days stay in Kuwait, the Prime Minister will have an audience with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait and the Kuwait Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will also interact with other world leaders during the Summit.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and other senior officials from the ministry will accompany Raja Pervez Ashraf the prime minister. This is prime minister’s first visit to Kuwait since assumption of office earlier this year.

The invitation to participate in ACD Summit underscores the important role played by Pakistan in Asia.

Participation by the Prime Minister of Pakistan provides an important opportunity to interact with Kuwaiti leadership and discuss ways to further strengthen political, cultural, economic, business and trade relations. The ACD was created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional cooperation organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC and GCC. The organization currently comprises 31 states including all current members of ASEAN, ECO and the GCC. The ACD Summit is the initiative of the Amir of Kuwait.

Pakistan and Kuwait enjoy extremely cordial and brotherly relations. These bilateral political, cultural, historic, and religious ties have been further strengthened by leadership level visits. The two countries enjoy growing trade relations and the volume of bilateral trade has crossed $ 2.5 billion. Kuwait is home to over 120, 000 large Pakistani community working in diverse positions as doctors, engineers, bankers, businessmen, teachers and labourers and making valuable contribution towards socio-economic development of both Pakistan and Kuwait.

Saudi ambassador denies responsibility for visas delay Zain sponsors KU’s Islamic Economy Forum KUWAIT: Zain, the largest telecommunication company in Kuwait, announced that it had sponsored the Islamic Economy Forum that was recently held by the Administrative Sciences College, Kuwait University over one week under auspices of the college dean, Dr. Rashid Al-Ajmi.

Zain expressed its full commitment to supporting various socio-economic activities held in various Kuwaiti academic institutes and stressed that this particular sponsorship came to support the activities organized by Kuwait University.

In this regard, Zain’s communications and relations manager, Waleed Al-Khashti stressed that by sponsoring such activities, Zain always focused on issues that affect Kuwait’s economy. He added that the company would always continue taking such initiatives and making contributions in various programs that emphasize the corporate commitment to its social responsibilities.

KUWAIT: The Saudi embassy in Kuwait doesn’t have anything to do with the delay in handing Hajj visas to stateless pilgrims facing the risk of being unable to make it in time, ambassador Dr Abdul-Aziz Al-Fayez told a local daily Thursday. “[The Saudi embassy] doesn’t have the authority to intervene in the distribution of Hajj visas handled by Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs every year”, Dr Al-Fayez told Al-Anba who asked for a comment on the problems of bedoons eligible for Hajj through temporary Kuwaiti passports they obtain for this purpose.

The Saudi embassy issues Hajj visas based on lists of pilgrims presented by licensed Hajj offices in Kuwait, and “regardless of nationality” as insisted by the ambassador.

With flights to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia starting this week, there is a growing concern among bedoon pilgrims who already paid for ticket and hotel bookings given the lack of clarifications from the Awqaf ministry about the reason why they are yet to receive their visas.

A total of 92 flights are set to embark to Saudi Arabia starting from today (Saturday), Operations Manager at the Directorate General for Civil Aviation Essam Al-Zamel announced Thursday.

local

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Opposition plans gathering to discuss ‘counter measures’ Step to determine fate of crisis KUWAIT: As the opposition prepares for a seminar to be held this evening at the dewaniya of former MP Mohammad Al-Khalifa, a number of pro-government MPs in the 2009 parliament meet in order to discuss taking a “counter measure” against what is seen by many as an oppositionist speech that “raised the bar” in political demands. Represented by the Majority Bloc, a coalition of oppositionists who controlled majority seats in the parliament elected last February and annulled by a Constitutional Court verdict four months later, the opposition threatened “Arab Spring-like” protests should the electoral law be changed before upcoming elections expected for early December. Their demands came during a seminar held last Wednesday, which was the first of meetings and rallies planned by the opposition following the parliamentary dissolution against an alleged governmental plot to reduce the number of votes a citizen is entitled to from four to two or one.

The issue of reducing the number of votes has been of much controversy since the Constitutional Court upheld the electoral law a little less than three weeks ago after rejecting the Cabinet’s challenge to its constitutionality on the basis that it breaches equality with regards to demographic distribution

within constituencies.

The opposition believes that the Cabinet seeks to change the electoral law and come up with a system that favors pro-government candidates in order to prevent oppositionists from taking control of majority seats.

Pro-government MPs, who felt marginalized in the parliament annulled last June after the court reinstated the 2009 parliament, push for an amended electoral law in which the number of votes per voter is reduced. In their opinion, a system in which a voter is entitle to one or two votes reflects more accurate results to citizens’ orientations.

According to sources close to the Majority Bloc, the opposition is set to continue “keeping the bar raised” during seminars hosted around Kuwait and demonstrations at the Iradah Square, Al-Qabas reported yesterday.

Former MP Abdurrahman Al-Anjari said on that regard that next Monday’s demonstration is set to “determine the fate of the [political] crisis” with hope of thousands of supporters being in attendance. In the meantime, former MP and current coordinator for the Kuwaiti Reformist Movement Mohammad AlKandari rejected “serious accusations made against Majority Bloc members” such as “attempting to instigate the public against the ruling family” in ref-

erence to the high stakes in the opposition’s demands.

The Cabinet’s legal committee meets tomorrow (Sunday) to discuss passing emergency decrees to establish an elections authority, an anticorruption authority, and enforce the small projects law among others. This was mentioned by an insider who spoke on the condition of anonymity, but it remains unclear whether the Cabinet is considering a decree to change the number of votes per voter.

Article 71 of the Kuwaiti Constitution gives HH the Amir the authority to release emergency decrees while the parliament is inactive, addressing subjects considered of high importance.

Said laws are viewed by the elected parliament during its first session, and MPs have the authority to overrule them.

The opposition and other political groups - including the liberal National Democratic Alliance and Democratic Forum - announced plans to retaliate should the electoral law be changed by an emergency decree, with actions that include demonstrations and boycotting elections. On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammad Salman Bin Huthaileen AlAjmi announced that the ‘Ajmi’ tribe plans to join protests and boycott elections if the electoral law is amended outside the parliament.

Arab rowing championship kicks off

‘Kuwait cares for talented youth’ KUWAIT: The Chairman of the Board of Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS), Faisal Al-Jazzed, yesterday underlined how Kuwait cared for its youth and extended support to sports and cultural activities. In his speech at the launch of the local Kuwait Youth Theater Festival 2012, Al-Jazzed said that theatrical arts play an important role in spreading positive values among the youth in an easy and interesting way.

The session themed “Theatrical text between the author and the director’s vision” will witness the participation of nine theatrical groups, who would compete for nine prizes dedicated for distin-

guished works in acting, theatrical text, directing, decorations and lighting besides others. Two theatrical groups will offer shows outside the contests, he added.

The contest this year enjoys cooperation from the organizers of National Youth Project at the Amir Diwan, which was launched by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. The Director of the festival, Abdullah Abdulrasul, said this cultural event has always played a great role in exploring new talents in the theatrical field, which boosted the theatrical sector in the country.

TUNIS: The 9th Arab Rowing Championship kicked off here in Bohaira area on Thursday with participation of teams from 10 Arab countries, including Kuwait.

The three-day competition includes races in junior and senior ranks for both males and females to compete for 2,000 meters distance in single, double pair, and double quad boats.

Haitham Al-Adwani, head of participating Kuwaiti delegation, stressed in a statement the importance of taking part in this Arab competition, calling it as an “important station” for Kuwaiti players to compete with some of most renowned Arab players as part of the team’s preparation for forthcoming continental and international championships, including Rowing’s World Cup, set to take place in Australia on February 2013.

Al-Adwani indicated that the Kuwaiti rowing team includes players Mohammad Al-Sabti for the heavyweight race, Alyaa Tali for ladies lightweight race, Mohammad Al-Rabee’a and Abdulrahman Al-Safran for the open pair race, Fahad Salmeen for the novice single race, and trainer Mohammad Ibrahim. On the other hand, Kuwaiti player Salmeen qualified for the final round of the novice single race, set to take place on Friday, after winning his first competition in today’s preliminary qualifying races. — KUNA

ABK supports Al-Mutairi School KUWAIT: Since the support of youth is an integral part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait was proud to encourage the students of Hilal Fajhan Al-Mutairi School by participating in their ‘Teachers’s Day’ celebrations.

Ali Al-Baghli, Assistant Public Relations Manager at ABK, stated that, “At ABK we like to diversify our participation to cover varied segments of society. We value teachers and what they stand for.

As such it was our pleasure to participate in celebrations with Hilal Fajhan Al-Mutairi School on ‘Teacher’s Day’. In the past too we have been by their side to affirm our involvement with youth and education in Kuwait.” Dr Abdullah Al Mulla, Principal at Hilal Fajhan Al-Mutairi School, thanked ABK for their continued interest in the school and its various activities.

Kuwait elected to top UPU bodies DOHA: Kuwait won membership of the two top bodies of the Universal Postal Union after fierce election held here during the 25th UPU Congress. Kuwait and other 39 countries were elected to the UPU’s Council of Administration (CA) and Postal Operations Council (POC) for 2013-2016 in separate elections over the weekend. “We present this win to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,” Kuwait Ministry’s Undersecretary Abdelmohesin Hassan Al-Mazidi said.

The countries elected to the CA are: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, Republic of Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Republic of CÙte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Gabon, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America and Viet Nam. As host of Congress, Qatar will automatically assume the CA chairmanship.— KUNA

LOCAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obeidi and other officials at the opening of new fertility ward at Jahra Hospital.

Kuwait sets up new ward for treating infertility Second unit in Kuwait KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obeidi inaugurated on Thursday fertility ward at Jahra Hospital, the second unit of this kind to be established in the country for treating birth and conception problems. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Al-Obeidi said since opening the tube baby ward at the Maternity Hospital, in 1987 — the first government ward of this specialty in the Gulf region-the Ministry of Health has spared no effort to offer top-level medical services, dispatch doctors to foreign countries for training and cooperate with renowned international specialists.

Elaborating on other works and achievements in the medical field, the minister noted that Kuwait hosted, in 1985, the Islamic Jurisprudence Congregation to discuss key medical issues, related to tube babies and issuance of relevant fatwas (religious edicts). The Kuwaiti efforts at this level bore the first fruit in 1988, when the first tube female baby was born, he said.

The minister affirmed that the opening of the new ward was in line with the MoH’s policy of expanding medical services, particularly facilities for treatment of infertility and birth problems. He also indicated at the desire to open new units, to be affiliated with the hospitals in all districts of the country, in addition to re-educating and re-training the medical cadres at the clinics and hospitals. Also speaking during the ceremony was Dr. Khaled Al-Sehlawi, the Undersecretary of Health, who said the new ward was built to ease off some of the burden at the Maternity Hospital, shorten periods of waiting for patients and minimizing need for treatment abroad. He said the ministry planned to open Jaber AlAhmad Dialysis Center, in a few weeks, also indicating at plans to set up other units for treatment of birth problems.

For his part, Dr. Shehab Al-Muhandes, the director of AlJahra Hospital, said the hospital was prepared to serve the governorate of 60,000 inhabitants.— KUNA

Kuwait, Bahrain ink projects for $273m

Kuwait celebrates Arab Child Day

MANAMA: The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the Bahraini government have signed an agreement for upgrading Bahrain’s power network and establishing an exclusive center for special needs cases at a cost of $273 million. Nawaf Al-Mehmel, KFAED’s legal advisor and the head of a fund delegation, told KUNA after the signing ceremony that the pact was aimed at enhancing Bahrain’s power output by 400 kilo-watts.

The project, including installation of land and under-sea cables and construction of three relay stations in various regions, is designed to minimize recurring outages and facilitate linkup of the local network with the GCC grid, said Al-Mehmel. The cost of updating the Bahraini power installations was estimated at $800 million, with contributions from the other GCC countries. Kuwait would be paying $250 million for the project which is expected to be ready in three years.

Regarding the other venture, Al-Mehmel said an integrated complex would be built for the physically challenged at a cost of $23 million. It will encompass wards for medical care, rehabilitation, physical and psychological therapy. Kuwait will bear the entire cost of this project, which will take two years for completion.

The GCC Ministerial Council, at a meeting held last March, sanctioned allocation of $20 billion - $10 billion for Bahrain and an equivalent amount for Oman - to help these two GCC member states carry out development schemes. The GCC, founded in the early 80s for closer coordination and integration among the regional countries, comprises Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Women and Childhood Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor organized here on Thursday a special cultural evening for the child.

The evening, which was held at Hasan Al-Zaabi Garden Park in Faiha, included a free atelier and workshops, as well as cultural and religious contests on the child.

Ali Al-Roumi, director of the women and childhood department, noted that children garden parks are considered child’s second home, to which it copes with schools in raising and educating children.

Al-Roumi noted that garden parks can also enable Arab child to release his/her energy, explaining that due to that purpose; Kuwait pays a special attention to constructing parks close to houses and schools.

For her part, Meriam Al-Azemi, head of children development and children parks departments at the ministry, said that this day marks the moment to which children realize their important rights and duties, adding that cultural, religious, educational, and athletic activities included in this evening should help children in crafting their talents and creativities. An honoring ceremony was held during the evening for distinctive children in various cultural, artistic, and athletic activities on all Kuwaiti children parks level. — KUNA

Malaysia Deputy PM confirms participation in ACD Summit KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed his participation in the First Asia Cooperation (ACD) Summit which will be held next week, Oct 15-17, in the State of Kuwait.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s office said in a statement that Yassin and his accompanying delegation will arrive in the Gulf country on Monday. Malaysia’s high-ranking official will address the summit the following day, the statement went on saying.

Yassin, who is also Malaysia’s Minister of Education, will highlight in his speech means of advancing educational approaches amongst Asian countries and showcase the Malaysian experience in education.

Malaysia will seize this opportunity to promote cooperation not only in education but also in the politics and economy with the 31 convening countries.

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a body created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional cooperation organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It’s main objective is to ultimately transform the Asian continent into an Asian Community, capable of interacting with the rest of the world on a more equal footing and contributing more positively towards mutual peace and prosperity. — KUNA

LOCAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Fuel costs increase in power generation

Jleeb murderer escapes three hours after crime Doctor busted with drugs KUWAIT: Farwaniya detectives identified a male suspect accused of murdering an Asian man in Jleeb AlShuyoukh last week, but found out that he escaped from Kuwait three hours after committing the crime. The Nepalese man was identified as the prime suspect after investigations revealed that he was the last one to meet the victim prior to his death based on evidence found at the crime scene.

Moreover, detectives found phone conversations between the two shortly before the crime was committed.

Local authorities contacted the Interpol and found out the person was on their wanted list. The Interior Ministry recently took a decision that a domestic worker required the employer’s permission to travel. The decision was taken following an incident where an Asian man escaped after murdering an old couple he worked for as a domestic worker.

Extramarital relationship Police are looking for a man wanted for having an extramarital relationship with their family’s housemaid which left her with a baby. The Nepalese woman arrived at the South Jahra police station with her employer, carrying a newborn she had delivered three days before at home in Saad Al-Abdullah. The unmarried domestic worker said that the father

of her baby is her employer’s son who reportedly disappeared after she gave birth. Investigations are ongoing in search for him.

Woman fakes kidnap A woman who claimed to have been kidnapped after police found her in Kabd recently confessed later that she was in fact spending time with a man almost 40 years older than her at his house. The girl had been found inside her car following investigations after her bedoon father reported that she was kidnapped. She claimed at that time that three unknown men kidnapped and drugged her before driving to a remote location.

The woman who is in her twenties denied being subjected to sexual assault, adding that she discovered after regaining consciousness that her kidnappers escaped and left her alone. Growing suspicious about her story, detectives used her phone’s signal to trace her movement during the time she was reported kidnapped.

They found out that she stayed at a location in Kabd, which she later confessed was a jakhour (property licensed as livestock farm) owned by a Kuwaiti man in his sixties. She was taken to the proper authorities while police are looking to summon the male suspect.

Doctor busted with drugs A couple was arrested on Fahaheel road with possession of drugs despite the female driver’s pleading to be let go, keeping her reputation in mind.

Two special task patrol officers requested IDs of the woman and her male companion after noticing that they were in an unstable condition.

The woman broke down in tears at that point, which led the officers to search the car and find hashish and other drugs as well as drug paraphernalia. They placed the couple under arrest ignoring cries of the woman who identified herself as a “famous doctor” whose career will be put on the line if she was arrested.

Meanwhile, a male driver was arrested in Hawally after failing to stop at a red traffic light while driving under the influence of drugs. The man was referred to the proper authorities after hashish rolls were found in his custody.

Infiltrators in custody An Iranian man is being investigated after coastguards arrested him on his way back home shortly after helping his fellow citizens infiltrate Kuwait.

Meanwhile, police on land managed to arrest two of the eleven infiltrators in Jlai’ah, while search is ongoing for the rest. Investigations are ongoing to determine the main purpose behind the infiltration. — Al-Anba, Al-Rai

KUWAIT: The Director of the Technical Supervision Department at the Ministry of Electricity and Water, Iqbal Al-Tayyar, said that the cost of total oil used to generate electricity and water has reached KD 2.42 billion, up from KD 1.55 billion in 2009/2010.

She said the ministry was preparing a project in coordination and cooperation with the education ministry to control electricity consumption in nearly 100 schools. AlTayyar, who was delivering a lecture organized by Kuwait Oil Tankers Company, attributed the increase in fuel costs to the increased construction activity in the country over the past two years. She said it was important to conserve energy by implementing certain systems and mechanisms that prevented power wastage.

Al-Tayyar also spoke about the efforts of the MEW to conserve energy and the rationalization programs that are supposed to be implemented by public and private sectors. She also spoke about the ministry supporting the consumers through direct subsidies of electricity and water, and lauded the efforts of all government and private entities which have offered to cooperate substantially with the ministry ever since a higher committee was set up for the conservation of energy. Al-Tayyar also explained the ministry’s efforts in the field of alternative sources of energy such as solar and wind energies in coordination with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the projects aiming at utilizing garbage through recycling. She said the ministry was keen on strengthening its network to keep pace with the development projects. Meanwhile, the Director of Public Relations at KOTC, Khalid Al-Doub, said the company was keen on strengthening efforts undertaken by the MEW to rationalize consumption, adding that the company has adopted a campaign to rationalize electricity and water consumption.

Opium recovered from Asian

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Narcotics department officials arrested an Asian man and recovered two kilograms of opium from him following a tip-off about him using and trading in drugs. He was sent to the concerned authorities.

Internet pest A divorced Gulf woman, who is a university student, complained to the police that a man she came to know through a wedding site on the Internet, is threatening to put her picture on YouTube after she spurned her offer of a secret marriage. She said she had sent the Kuwaiti man her picture, but when he asked her to have a secret marriage, she refused after which he threatened to put her picture on YouTube. Police are investigating.

Suicide attempts An underage bedoon girl in Jahra tried to commit suicide by slashing her wrists. She was taken to Jahra hospital.

A Filipina attempted suicide by stabbing herself in Rabiya.

She was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital and charged with attempted suicide.

KUWAIT: The Asian man who was arrested with 2 kilos of opium is pictured.

local

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Praise for Kuwait participation in Expo Milano MILAN: Kuwait’s participation in the Expo Milano and its large pavilion at the event showcased the Gulf country’s interest in making the event a success, said Mayor of Milano Giuliano Pisapia here yesterday. During his meeting with Kuwait Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and Kuwait’s Commissioner-General at Expo Milano 2015, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Pisapia said that he was thrilled by the Kuwaiti strong participation, expressing gratitude to Sheikh Salman for his efforts to bolster relations between Kuwait and Italy.

Sheikh Salman, on his part, congratulated Pisapia on successfully organizing the event, also thanking the Italian authorities for facilitating procedures for the Kuwaiti delegation.

He also noted that the Kuwaiti General Consulate in Milan, headed by Sami Al-Hamad, played an integral part in making the Kuwaiti participation a “success.”

Both Sheikh Salman and Mayor Pisapia agreed during the meeting on arranging a meeting with Kuwait Municipality to further discuss an agreement between Milan and Kuwait city. The two officials also said they were looking forward to the next Milan Expo to be held on May first, 2005 which would be themed “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.”

Sheikh Salman signed early yesterday a contract on Kuwait’s participation in the Expo in

MILAN: The Kuwaiti officials at the Expo Milano. the presence of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, and General Commissioner of Expo Milano 2015 Roberto Formigoni.

Earlier Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and Kuwait’s CommissionerGeneral at Expo Milano 2015 Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah attended a plenary session of the Second International Participant Meeting (IPM 2012) of Expo Milano 2015.

Sheikh Salman, head of Kuwaiti delegation

to the IPM 2012, also received representatives of the Italian mass media who showed interest in Kuwait’s planned participation in the Expo, due to start on May 1, 2015.

During the meeting, he affirmed Kuwait’s keenness on impressive presence in the global event to show “her civilized portrait, humanitarian role and unique developmental achievements.”

“Kuwait decided to join the event, to be

hosted by friendly Italy, stemmed from the desire of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to contribute to the issues on the agenda of the Expo,” he said.

“Theme of the Expo “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” is in keeping with the basic policies of Kuwait, a fact that encourages all state departments, notably the Ministry of Information, to double efforts towards successful participation,” Sheikh Salman pointed out.

He also held a range of coordinative meetings with the Kuwaiti technical team to assess the activities of the IPM 2012 which started yesterday and come to a close tomorrow as part of the preparatory activities for the sixmonth Expo.

He appreciated the efforts being made by the team and the support of Kuwait Consulate in Milan as well as the cooperation offered by Italian concerned agencies.

The technical team affirmed resolve to secure an advanced rating for Kuwait’s pavilion at the Expo which is expected to draw participation from over 120 countries.

The meeting was attended by Kuwait Consul General in Milan Sami Al-Hamad. Sheikh Salman is scheduled to sign a contract on Kuwait’s participation in the Expo tomorrow in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and General Commissioner of Expo Milano 2015 Roberto Formigoni.—KUNA

ISTANBUL: (Left) The Kuwaiti delegation with Turkish officials. (Right) BEIRUT: Kuwaiti and Lebanese officials at the newly-opened ‘Kuwait School’ in the Akkar district of northern Lebanon.

SNC official praises Kuwait support for Syrian people ISTANBUL: The Deputy Chairman of the Syrian National Council has praised Kuwait’s government and people for backing the Syrian people and their revolution. Mohammed Taifour expressed satisfaction at Kuwait’s support during a meeting with a Kuwaiti delegation, comprising philanthropic figures and journalists, at the Istanbul-based headquarters of the Syrian Society for Humanitarian Aid and Development, late on Thursday.

Taifour, also the head of the association, also expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the international community for supporting the Syrian people.

Touching on the Syrian uprising against the regime, he expressed his belief that it “would ultimately win, because the people advocate a just

cause, while the regime’s cause is unjustified.” The society has been operating from its main office in Istanbul since 2011. Abdul Muhaimen Al-Sebaee, the executive director of the association, said the society, which is financially independent from the council, secures urgent aid for Syrians affected by the crisis. It also helps in securing medics and doctors for the injured at the hot spots in Syria and in neighboring countries.

Moreover, it pays cash-strapped families $160 a month, per family. It distributes “the food basket,” worth $100, sufficient for a four-member family for a month, in addition to $ 400 to a doctor and $250 for a medical cadre.

The society is building makeshift field hospitals, each costing $26,000, and

sponsoring orphans, with $50 per month for one.

Turning to the uprising, he said up to 40,000 people have been killed since flare-up of the revolution against the regime. Up to 76,00 others have gone missing, 216,000 have been put behind bars, more than four million have been displaced and more than 2.4 million houses have been destroyed.

Meanwhile, a school named “The Kuwait School” has opened its doors to Syrian refugees in the Akkar district of northern Lebanon on Thursday.

A statement said that students of the school and their families expressed appreciation of Kuwait’s efforts in their aid. The gratitude was extended to HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-

Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti government and its people for their honorable stances towards the Syrian people. They added that Kuwait’s role in aiding their nation would not be forgotten.

For his part, Ghassan Hablas, head of Lebanon’s Islamic Education Association praised Kuwait and its people efforts in helping the displaced Syrian families.

Kuwaiti humanitarian societies and institutions are top supporters of the Syrian refugees and play a huge role in alleviating their suffering, as well as providing them with day-to-day necessities.

This aid has extended to both Turkey and Jordan, Hablas added The opening of the school was attended by a large number of political, security and religious figures, he noted. — KUNA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Rare twist as Palestinians, Israeli settlers cooperate

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Egyptians clash over court ruling

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Crisis-torn EU wins Nobel Peace Prize

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DANVILLE: US Vice President Joe Biden (right) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan depart the stage following their vice presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, on October 11, 2012. — AFP

‘A bunch of malarkey’ Feisty Biden clashes with earnest Ryan in VP debate DANVILLE: Vice President Joe Biden and the man who wants to succeed him, Republican Paul Ryan, clashed in a feisty debate over foreign and economic policy as Biden sought to make up for President Barack Obama’s lackluster performance last week against his opponent, Mitt Romney. The two went head-to-head over the Obama administration’s policy in Libya and Iran in the opening minutes of a contentious vice presidential debate late Thursday, with Ryan citing it as evidence that it is weakening America’s standing in the world.

It only grew more heated as the candidates sniped at each other over Afghanistan and Syria, as well as the slow economy, taxes and the government health care program for the elderly. It was a combative performance on both sides, with both men repeatedly interrupting each other - and the moderator too. “That’s a bunch of

malarkey,” Biden retorted - twice. The vice president also referred to Ryan’s statements as “a bunch of stuff.”

The stakes aren’t generally this high in vice presidential debates, but Biden was under pressure to restore energy to the Democratic campaign less than a month before the Nov 6 election. Ryan, a congressman from Wisconsin who at 42 is a generation younger than his opponent, fought to hold on to the Republicans’ sudden rise in the polls that followed the ObamaRomney debate. Thursday night’s debate at a small college in Kentucky was everything that the presidential one was not: substantive and contentious. Biden, seeking to be aggressive but running the risk of appearing childish, rolled his eyes and laughed in disbelief at some of Ryan’s statements.

“I know you’re under a lot of duress to make

up for lost ground,” Ryan said at one point, “but I think people would be better served if we don’t keep interrupting each other.” The two went at each other seconds into the debate, with Ryan saying the Sept. 11 death of the US ambassador in an attack at the US Consulate in Benghazi was evidence that the administration’s foreign policy was unraveling. Biden reminded viewers that Obama was willing to chase the Sept 11 terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden to the end of the earth, and he quoted Romney as essentially saying he wouldn’t have done the same.

On Iran, Biden defended current sanctions as the toughest ones in history, while Ryan said Obama has allowed Iran to get four years closer to building a nuclear weapon, and accused the White House of ignoring the warnings of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not standing up for its chief ally.

The candidates disagreed on Syria, with Ryan accusing the administration of inaction and saying it was outsourcing foreign policy to the United Nations. Biden said the last thing the U.S. needs is another ground war in the Middle East, and that if Ryan and Romney want to send troops to Syria they should just say so. Ryan agreed with Obama’s plan to transition out of Afghanistan by 2014, but said that publicizing the date for withdrawal amounted to exposing weakness.

Unlike Biden, Ryan is not a foreign policy expert but stood his ground in territory that is more familiar to the veteran senator and former chairman of the Senate of Foreign Relations Committee. The two also argued over the poor state of the US economy, with Biden saying Republicans must take responsibility for obstructing the economic recovery.— AP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Rights activists beaten, raped in Iran Iran bans media from reporting sanctions’ impact UNITED NATIONS: Human rights activists in Iran are subjected to beatings with batons, mock hangings, rape, sleep deprivation, and threats that family members will be raped or killed, a UN rights investigator said in a report released on Thursday. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, said in a report to the UN General Assembly that Iranian authorities undermined press freedoms, watched some journalists constantly and detained and persecuted others unfairly. “The authorities recently banned domestic news outlets from reporting on the impact of economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Shaheed said. The Iranian currency has plunged in the past few weeks, sparking street protests. Officials from the United States and other Western countries blame the drop on a combination of economic mismanagement and sanctions. Iran is under UN, US and European Union sanctions for refusing to halt nuclear enrichment, which Western powers and their allies say is part of a plan to amass the capability to produce

nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying its atomic work is for medicine and generating electricity.

Shaheed said Iranian authorities executed at least 223 people in the first six months of this year, most of them for drug-related offenses. A large number of those executed were convicted at unfair trials. About 670 people were executed in Iran in 2011, according to Shaheed. The report provides “a deeply troubling picture of the overall human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including many concerns which are systemic in nature,” he said. Shaheed, a former foreign minister of Maldives, said the Iranian government had not allowed him to visit Iran while making his assessment, but that he had interviewed 99 people, of which three-quarters gave first-hand accounts and the rest were reliable sources or eyewitnesses.

Women worth less than men “In two dozen interviews ... human rights defenders reported being arrested and held incommunica-

do in solitary confinement for periods ranging from several weeks to 36 months, without charge or access to legal counsel,” Shaheed said. “Most of them also reported that they were subjected to severe physical torture during interrogations, which were aimed at coercing confessions or soliciting information about other human rights defenders and human rights organizations,” he said. The report said: “Methods employed reportedly included severe beatings with batons and other objects, mock hangings, electrocution, and actual rape. “Other forms of psychological torture allegedly included sleep deprivation, denial of food and/or water, and threats of arrest, detention, rape or murder of family members.

Several victims also reported being drugged with hallucinogens.” Iran ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1975 - four years before an Islamic revolution ushered in a clergy-led government that said it took its guidance from Islamic scriptures. —Reuters

No blasphemy clause in new Tunisia constitution

Kfar QADDUM: A Palestinian protester, wearing his national flag, participates in a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum yesterday. — AFP

Rare twist as Palestinians, Israeli settlers cooperate KFAR ETZION SETTLEMENT: After years of struggle, Mohammed Saed is about to finally secure army permission to build a home in his West Bank village after an Israeli in a nearby settlement stepped in to help. Saed’s village, Khirbet Zakariya, is in a part of the West Bank under full Israeli administrative and security control. As a Palestinian, he cannot build without Israeli permission, which is often extremely difficult to secure. “Settlers came to visit the village three years ago and were surprised when they saw how little housing there was,” he told AFP. “They offered to speak to the (Israeli) Civil Administration to help us obtain the necessary permits,” he said, referring to the defence ministry unit responsible for zoning and planning in most of the West Bank. “We were shocked because we usually get harassed or attacked by settlers.” The presence of half a million Jewish settlers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem-which, along with the Gaza Strip, were occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War-is a source of much bitterness for Palestinians who want these areas for their longpromised state.

But a settlers’ movement called Eretz Shalom (Land of Peace) is trying to bring both sides together to soothe some of those open wounds. Eliaz Cohen, a Jew living in the settlement of Kfar Etzion, was one of the first to get involved in efforts to help the villagers of nearby Khirbet Zakariya. He said he struck up a relationship with Saed as they battled to get a permit for his house. “For three years, I fought by his side,” said Cohen, a poet and a pioneer of efforts to start dialogue between the settlers and their Palestinian neighbours.

For him, peace starts with mutual recognition of the right of both sides to the same land. “It’s not that the land should be divided, it should be shared by everyone,” he told AFP. “I think there is room for two national entities to exist in the same place, whether in the form of a confederation, or two states, but without anyone losing their historic rights to this land, to which our two peoples are both attached.”

Two years ago, Cohen’s friend Nahum Patchenik set up the Eretz Shalom movement to promote religious, social and economic cooperation with the Palestinians.

“Peace between us is mandatory,” said Patchenik, a father of four who lives in Gush Etzion, a settlement bloc in the southern West Bank that lies close to Bethlehem. With a bushy black beard, a large skullcap and sandals, Patchenik looks exactly like one of the nationalist religious settlers who are usually little inclined toward dialogue with their Palestinian neighbours. A rabbi’s son, he was born and raised on settlements and says he can’t imagine living anywhere else.

“I am tied to this land and I will stay, but the Palestinians are too, and I want to learn to live with them,” he said. “We’ve organised interreligious meetings, food package distribution, joint demonstrations against the separation wall,” Patchenik said of the huge barrier Israel is building through the West Bank. Eretz Shalom is involved in a growing number of projects, including farming a field together.

“The project is called Sadot Shamayim (Fields of Heaven) because we Jews and Muslims believe that the land, in the end, belongs to no one but God,” he explained, saying the food grown there would be distributed to needy families.—AFP

TUNIS: A controversial blasphemy clause proposed by the ruling Islamist party but opposed by civil society groups will not be included in Tunisia’s new constitution, Assembly speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar told AFP. The agreement to drop the clause follows negotiations between the three parties in the ruling coalition and must still be approved by the parliamentary committees drafting the new constitution, and by parliament itself. It comes after President Moncef Marzouki warned that radical Islamist militants pose a “great danger” to the Maghreb region, and amid a wave of violent attacks blamed on Tunisia’s Salafists on targets ranging from works of art to the US embassy.

“There will certainly be no criminalisation,” Jaafar, speaker of the National Constituent Assembly, said in an exclusive interview. “That is not because we have agreed to (allow) attacks on the sacred, but because the sacred is something very, very difficult to define. Its boundaries are blurred and one could interpret it in one way or another, in an exaggerated way,” he added. The plan to criminalise attacks on religious values sparked an outcry when it was first announced by the Islamists in July, with the media and civil society groups fearing that it would result in new restrictions on freedom of expression.

Government critics have also warned of creeping Islamisation in the North African country since president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime was swept away in a revolution last year. Jaafar said that Ennahda, the Islamist party that heads the ruling coalition, will accept dropping the blasphemy clause even though it remains at the heart of its political agenda.

Ennahda had even wanted to see its proposed ban on attacks on the sacred become international law, but had modified its position, added Jaafar, who heads Ettakatol, a leftist party allied to the Islamists in a coalition government. “Sometimes we hold talks within the troika (three-party ruling coalition) and we feel that they (Ennahda) are prepared to let their opinions develop, to move the lines a bit,” said the speaker of Tunisia’s interim parliament, which is tasked with drafting a new constitution.

Ennahda had initially wanted to see its proposal adopted in the new constitution and the penal code, threatening jail sentences for those transgressing the law. Since violence erupted across the Arab world last month, notably in Tunis where the US embassy was attacked, after a US-made film mocking Islam was posted on the Internet, Ennahda has gone further and called for international law to proscribe attacks on the sacred. Jaafar argued that freedom of expression and press freedom should be protected in all areas, as a key achievement of the revolution that toppled the Ben Ali regime.

“There is a fundamental achievement of the revolution that should never be called into question, and that no one should be able to challenge, which is the freedom of expression and of the press.”

Ettakatol and another centre-left party, the president’s Congress for the Republic, joined Ennahda to form a coalition government after parliamentary elections in October last year, the first since Ben Ali’s ouster. Ennahda has been strongly criticised for failing to rein in Tunisia’s increasingly assertive Salafist movement. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Taleban’s ‘Radio Mullah’ sent squad after Pakistan schoolgirl PESHAWAR: One of the Taleban’s most feared commanders, Maulana Fazlullah, carefully briefed two killers from his special hit squad on their next target. The gunmen weren’t going after any army officer, politician or Western diplomat. Their target was a 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl who had angered the Taleban by speaking out for “Western”-style girls’ education.

Tuesday’s shooting of Malala Yousufzai was the culmination of years of campaigning that had pitted the fearless, smiling young girl against one of Pakistan’s most ruthless Taleban commanders. Their story began in 2009, when Fazlullah, known as Radio Mullah for his fiery radio broadcasts, took over Swat Valley, and ordered the closure of girls’ schools, including Yousufzai’s.

Outraged, the then-11-year-old kept a blog for the BBC under a pen name and later launched a campaign for girls’ education. It won her Pakistan’s highest civilian honour and death threats from the Taleban. Yousufzai was not blind to the dangers. In her hometown of Mingora, Fazlullah’s Taleban fighters dumped bodies near where her family lived. “I heard my father talking about another three bodies lying at Green Chowk,” she wrote in her diary, referring to a nearby roundabout.

A military offensive pushed Fazlullah out of Swat in 2009, but his men simply melted away across the border to Afghanistan. Earlier this year, they kidnapped and beheaded 17 Pakistani soldiers in one of several cross border raids. Yousufzai continued speaking out despite the danger. As her fame grew, Fazlullah tried everything he could to silence her. The Taleban published death threats in the newspapers and slipped them under her door. But she ignored them.

The Taleban say that’s why they sent assassins, despite a tribal code forbidding the killing of women.

“We had no intentions to kill her but were forced when she would not stop (speaking against us),” said Sirajuddin Ahmad, a spokesman of Swat Taleban now based in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. He said the Taleban held a meeting a few months ago at which they unanimously agreed to kill her. The task was then given to military commanders to carry out.

The militia has a force of around 100 men specialised in targeted killing, fighters said. They chose two men, aged between 20-30, who were locals from Swat Valley.

The gunmen had proved their worth in previous assassinations, killing an opposition politician and attacking a leading hotelier for “obscenity” in promoting tourism.

Their trademark is to kill by shots to the head. Such hits, although dangerous, are also a badge of honour among the Taleban. The fighters who carry them out often receive personal calls of congratulations from senior leaders and may also get cash or guns. Now it was Yousufzai’s turn. “Before the attack, the two fighters personally collected information about Malala’s route to school, timing, the vehicle she used and her security,” Ahmad said. They decided to shoot her near a military checkpoint to make the point they could strike anywhere, he said. On Tuesday, the two men stopped the bus she was riding home in. — Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistani children pray for the recovery of 14year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on Tuesday by the Taleban for speaking out in support of education for women, during a candlelight vigil yesterday. — AP

Egyptians clash over court ruling Islamists, rivals at odds over shape of new Egypt CAIRO: Supporters of President Mohamed Morsi clashed with opponents in Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday in the worst violence over Egypt’s new Islamist leader, a day after he crossed swords with the judiciary. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement and a coalition of secular-leaning groups held separate rallies on some of the thorniest issues facing the new democracy after last year’s uprising which ousted president Hosni Mubarak. The health ministry said at least 12 people were wounded as protesters showered each other with stones, after Morsi supporters tore down a podium from which anti-Brotherhood chants were being orchestrated.

The violence broke out as Morsi faced a backlash from judges after trying to sack the chief prosecutor following this week’s acquittals of Mubarak-era officials on trial for a deadly attack on protesters during the 2011 uprising. Despite multiple statements from Brotherhood leaders saying they would attend the rally, the group denied on Twitter that any of its members was involved in the fighting. “We are not involved in Tahrir clashes, and none of our members were there,” it wrote on its Twitter account, prompting a wave of derision from other people who posted videos of apparent Brotherhood members in Tahrir.

In a speech in the coastal city of Alexandria, Morsi pledged to bring to justice the officials accused of organising the killings of protesters during the uprising that eventually brought his once-banned movement to power. “We will never ignore those who committed crimes against the nation and corrupted it,” he said in the speech reported by the official MENA news agency. But other groups that had taken part in the 18-day uprising and now oppose Morsi accuse the Islamists of dominating political life,

particularly a crucial body that is drafting Egypt’s new constitution.

Morsi narrowly won a June election which presented voters with an unpopular choice between an Islamist president and Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak’s last prime minister. Yesterday’s clashes were the most violent in a simmering struggle between Morsi’s movement and his opponents, who range from Mubarak loyalists to groups which spearheaded

judges after the president had unsuccessfully tried to reverse a court order disbanding the Islamist-dominated parliament.

Ahmed Al-Zind, head of the Judges’ Club, said the judiciary was backing Mahmud to uphold “the sovereignty of the law and the principle of separation of powers,” Al-Ahram reported. He said the judges would hold an emergency meeting “to confront the current crisis that

CAIRO: Protesters chant slogans in Tahrir Square yesterday. — AP the revolt against the former dictator. He aims at harming the judiciary.” Morsi had also faces intense opposition from pow- pledged to retry Mubarak and his senior erful judges who accuse him of trying to officials for their roles in the killing of detract from their authority. protesters during the revolt, after trials An influential group of Egyptian that critics said had been bungled by the judges backed state prosecutor Abdel state prosecutor’s office. On Wednesday, Meguid Mahmud’s refusal to resign after a court acquitted 24 people-including Morsi ordered his removal on Thursday, the former speakers of Egypt’s two housthe official Al-Ahram newspaper report- es of parliament, Safwat Al-Sherif and ed. Morsi’s bid to remove Mahmud Fathi Surur-of organising a camel-borne bypassed checks on presidential control attack on anti-Mubarak protesters durof the prosecutor, further enraging ing the uprising. — AFP

Washington points finger at Iran for cyber attacks WASHINGTON: A former US government official says American authorities firmly believe that Iranian hackers, likely supported by the Tehran government, were responsible for recent cyber attacks against oil and gas companies in the Arabian Gulf and that they appeared to be in retaliation for the latest round of US sanctions against the country. The former official spoke to The Associated Press shortly before Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in a speech to business leaders in New York City on Thursday night, became the first US official to publicly acknowledge the computer-based assaults.

He called them probably the most destructive cyber attacks the private sector has seen to date. And while Panetta did not directly link Iran to the Gulf attacks, he made it clear that the US has developed advanced techniques to identify cyber attackers and is prepared to take action against them. A US official said the Obama

administration knows who launched the cyber attacks against the Gulf companies and that it was a government entity.

US agencies have been assisting in the Gulf investigation and concluded that the level of resources needed to conduct the attack showed there was some degree of involvement by a nation state, said the former official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is classified as secret. “Potential aggressors should be aware that the United States has the capacity to locate them and hold them accountable for actions that harm America or its interests,” Panetta said in a speech to the Business Executives for National Security. He later noted that Iran has “undertaken a concerted effort to use cyberspace to its advantage.”

While Panetta chose his words carefully, one cyber security expert said the Pentagon chief’s message to Iran in the

speech was evident. “It’s not something where people are throwing down the gauntlet, but I think Panetta comes pretty close to sending a clear warning (to Iran): We know who it was, maybe you want to think twice before you do it again,” said cyber security expert James Lewis, who is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I think the Iranians will put two and two together and realize he’s sending them a message.”

He said Panetta’s remarks were an important step by the US because the Iranian cyber threat “is a new dimension in 30 years of intermittent conflict with Iran for which we are ill-prepared. It’s really important to put them on notice.” The cyber attacks hit Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco and Qatari natural gas producer RasGas using a virus, known as Shamoon, which can spread through networked computers and ultimately wipes out files by overwriting them. — AP

international

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

In S Africa, ANC struggle a deadly scramble for spoils Councillors assassinated in war over positions

DAKAR: Senegalese women hold posters of French President Francois Hollande on the way of the presidential cortege yesterday. —AFP

French president Hollande begins African tour DAKAR: French President Francois Hollande will attempt to make right France’s relationship with Africa on his first visit to the continent yesterday, beginning with a stop in Senegal, the seat of France’s former colonial empire. It is here five years ago that Hollande’s predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, said the African man had “not yet entered history,” in a speech that was viewed as deeply insulting to many on the continent. The 58-year-old Hollande, who defeated Sarkozy in May, vowed on the eve of his departure “to write a new page in France’s relations with Africa.” However, he also said in the interview broadcast on French television and radio that he “is not coming to make a speech which will erase a precedent.”

Analysts say he chose Senegal for his first visit to the continent due to the country’s democratic credentials, and also because Senegal is expected to play a central role in the planned military intervention in neighboring Mali to flush out the Islamic extremists controlling north Mali. For the Senegalese though, what is front and center is the memory of Sarkozy’s 2007 speech.

Africans were seething for weeks after the speech in which he said: “The tragedy of Africa is that the African man has not fully entered into history ... They have never really launched themselves into the future,” Sarkozy said. “The African peasant only knew the eternal renewal of time, marked by the endless repetition of the same gestures.”

People attending his remarks, which were delivered at Dakar’s largest public university, were so insulted that some walked out in a huff. “Sarkozy came with contempt and with scorn. Hollande is coming to clean up,” says Yero Dia, a political analyst who is a frequent commentator on TV debate shows in Senegal. “But for me it’s not about Sarkozy, nor about Hollande. It’s about us, Africans. It’s like the horse and the rider. Whether it’s Mitterand, or Chirac, or Sarkozy or Hollande, what remains constant is the system. ... and nothing will change until Africans stop behaving like the horse and letting France be their rider.”

Senegal was once the seat of the French empire in West Africa. The country won its independence from France in 1960, but maintains close ties with France. Hollande will be in Dakar all day yesterday, where he will meet newly elected President Macky Sall, as well as deliver a speech at the National Assembly. In a departure from his predecessor, he will also visit Goree Island, off the coast of the capital, where slaves were boarded onto ships and sent to America. The visit to the slave museum is a symbolic gesture, underscoring Hollande’s understanding of the difficult history that Africans have endured.

He was set to leave yesterday night for Congo, where he will attend the Francophonie summit in the capital, Kinshasa.

On newsstands throughout Dakar, Senegal’s lively independent press reminded Hollande of his predecessor’s gaffe. “Be Frank with Us Hollande!” read the headline in Le Quotidien, a play on words because the term “franc” in French, meaning “frank,” sounds like the president’s first name, Francois.

Walfadjiri, another newspaper, calls for “A new page.” —AP

WELBEDACHT: Mthembeni Shezi, an ANC local councillor in the run-down suburb of Welbedacht on South Africa’s east coast, was wrapping up a routine meeting last month when two men barged in, sprayed the room with gunfire and shot him five times in the chest. It was like a movie. The men just shot indiscriminately. It was scary.

Everyone panicked. We hit the floor. I didn’t think I would come out of there alive,’ said one woman present, who remains too frightened to reveal her name.

The gunmen seemed to know who they wanted. Far from being a movie, the hit represents the bloody reality of local politics for some in the African National Congress, and shows how far Nelson Mandela’s 100-year-old liberation movement has strayed from the moral high ground it occupied when it came to power 18 years ago. Rare since the advent of democracy in 1994, political murders within the ruling party have soared in the last 18 months, with local officials turning on each other in a dog-eat-dog scramble for the spoils of power.

President Jacob Zuma, who came to office in 2009, has pledged to crack down on corruption, but watchdog Transparency International suggests South Africa is sliding down the ranks, from 38th in the world in 2001 to 64th in 2011.

As the level of corruption has risen, so has the carnage at the party’s grass roots.

In Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu Natal, 38 ANC members have been killed since February 2011, according to an internal party investigation. By comparison, the previous three years saw only just over 10 politically linked murders in the region. At the funeral of a prominent ANC official killed in a drive-by shooting in July, Zuma blamed the killings on ‘some forces of darkness ... bent on dividing our movement’.

Even though Africa’s biggest economy has been struggling since a 2008/09 recession and the Treasury is trying to keep a lid on spending, local councils remain awash with cash ear-marked for roads, houses, water and electricity to redress the inequalities of decades of underspending under apartheid. Exact reasons for the sharp rise in levels of corruption and the attendant killings are hard to pin down.

But the sluggish recovery from the recession means there are fewer money-making options elsewhere and it also seems that the word has got out that local officialdom is the way to riches.

There are also plenty of examples at the top of the ANC. Zuma was accused and never fully exonerated of receiving backhanders from a 1997 arms deal. Former ANC youth leader Julius Malema has been charged with money laundering.

According to his friends, the 38-year-old Shezi, who died of his wounds a day later

in hospital, became a target because he was one of the few straight ones.

‘People hated him because he was fighting corruption,’ his fiancÈe, Buyi Tshabalala, told Reuters. ‘He was in constant fear that he would be killed.’ Others contend that Shezi’s lifestyle was too flashy for someone on a local councillor’s salary.

Those who attended the meeting at which he was shot believe his killing resulted from a dispute related to his job.

Reuters has spoken to eight ANC officials in KwaZulu Natal, who said politicians and officials were dying in battles for council positions that give access to lucrative government contracts. Such killings have been recorded in all of South Africa’s nine provinces - in July, for instance, the mayor of the northwest city of Rustenburg was convicted for ordering the murder of a rival councillor.

But Zuma’s back yard, historically the wild and untamed home of the Zulus, has been hit hardest. In an episode typical of the violence in the province, an ANC branch chairman, Dumisani Malunga, was killed in August in a hit organised by a rival, Sifiso Khumalo. ‘There was absolutely no justification for you to eliminate him by the barrel of a gun to prevent him from vying for the position as ward councillor,’ the judge said in sentencing Khumalo to 22 years in jail for masterminding the killing.—Reuters

Zuma slammed for costly home upgrade JOHANNESBURG: New security fences. A medical clinic. Fire-fighting services added for a helipad. Plus other upgrades, all for South African President Jacob Zuma’s home to the tune of more than $23 million in taxpayer money. And all for his rural private residence. Zuma is embroiled in a controversy over the costly additions to his private home in a country where millions still lack decent homes, running water, electrical power and adequate access to health and education services.

The revelations of the renovation of Zuma’s rural compound, dubbed “Zumaville” in the local press, in KwaZuluNatal come before the ruling African National Congress’ December conference where Zuma seeks to be reappointed as the party’s leader, and therefore its candidate for president in the 2014 national election.

Zuma’s standing has already been shaken by the recent police killings of 34 striking platinum miners in the continuing wave of ongoing wildcat strikes. He is widely seen by striking miners as aloof to their concerns that they’re not paid enough for the difficult and dangerous work they perform. Firebrand politician Julius Malema, ousted this year as ANC Youth League leader, says Zuma should not be allowed another term in office.

The government has refused to disclose the precise cost of the work on Zuma’s countryside home. Local reports

say the upgrades cost about 200 million rand ($23 million). Zuma said at a breakfast meeting Thursday that he does not know how much the work will cost, that it was authorized by the Ministry of Works and was motivated by security concerns.

Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said last week that work on Zuma’s residence was similar to that done on those of other South African presidents.

High security fences have been erected, roads upgraded, a medical clinic added and fire-fighting services developed for the helipad at the compound, according to the South African Press Association. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Deputy Public Works Minister Jeremy Cronin also could not confirm the cost but said the matter would be investi-

gated for any “inexplicable overruns on costs,” according to SAPA. Some critics say the ANC party that was once led by anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is overly focused on political power with too little attention being accorded to the country’s black poor.

Zuma’s presidency has been “marked by political problems, most notably a radical decline in the ANC’s credibility. Zuma’s own actions have also stripped the office he holds of dignity,” wrote Pallo Jordan, a former minister of arts and culture, in an article published in BusinessDay newspaper. “Whoever the ANC membership elects in December will have to grasp the nettle of restoring the ANC’s dented credibility and dignity to the office of the president.”— AP

This photo shows the private compound homestead of South African President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla, in the northern KwaZulu Natal province South Africa. — AP

international

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Crisis-torn EU wins Nobel Peace Prize British euro-sceptics slam decision on Twitter

MOSCOW: A picture shows two jailed members of the all-girl punk band ‘Punk Riot,’ (left to right) Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sitting in a glass-walled cage in a court. — AFP

New sign of split in Punk Riot band?

MOSCOW: The two members of feminist punk band Punk Riot sentenced to two-year terms in a Russian prison camp accused the husband of one of them of falsely acting as their spokesman, in a new sign of a split within the group. In a letter published on the website of Moscow Echo radio station and dated Thursday, the women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, accused Tolokonnikova’s husband Pyotr Verzilov of giving “illegitimate” interviews. The two women will shortly be convoyed to prison camp to serve their sentences for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after they sang a song protesting against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral. Verzilov, a member of the Voina (War) performance art group, has met stars including Madonna on behalf of the group, and recently travelled to the United States to collect a $50,000 peace prize for Punk Riot from Yoko Ono. “Pyotr Verzilov after our arrest seized representation and decision-making of Punk Riot, which he could not do according to the group’s ideology,” wrote Tolokonnikova in the handwritten letter. “The only person who can legitimately represent the group is a girl in a balaclava.” The letter accused Verzilov of breaching the group’s “principle of anonymity” by appearing with an uncovered face and said he wrongly represented statements as agreed with the jailed women.

“To be honest I’m surprised,” said the third woman Yekaterina Samutsevich, who was given a suspended sentence and freed on Wednesday, speaking via video-link to the independent TV Rain.

“When I talked to the girls in the prison van ... we did not once discuss Petya Verzilov nor the problem of someone ‘occupying’ the group’s activities. Nothing like that.”

Verzilov told AFP that he was not ready to comment on the letter. “I do not understand it. We are going to find out what happened,” he said. The group’s lawyer Nikolai Polozov wrote on Twitter that he distributed the letter and that the two women told him they had been visited last week by new lawyers hired by Verzilov. “It’s Nadia and Masha’s decision. Last week three lawyers hired by Verzilov went to see them. It’s possible that the letter is the result of this meeting.”

He also said the women had viewed a lot of interviews and Twitter feeds over the last week and that “they had received alternative information and drawn conclusions.” Tolokonnikova named Verzilov as her husband in court, and the couple have a young daughter, Gera. The couple together took part in Voina performances including a public orgy in a Moscow museum.

The group Voina and Punk Riot are closely linked. Another Punk Riot member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, who was released with a suspended sentence Wednesday, took part in Voina actions including public kissing of policewomen. Verzilov, who speaks fluent English, has frequently spoken to media and stars. He met Madonna before her Moscow concert at which the star revealed the words “Punk Riot” written on her back.

In the letter Tolokonnikova argued there was “no post of producer or promoter in an anarchic punk group. Any attempts to occupy this post are treacherous to punk and to Punk Riot.” “It is absurd when a man speaks in the name of a feminist punk group,” defence lawyer Mark Feigin told Izvestia daily. The group was already rocked when Samutsevich in a surprise move at the appeal stage said she disagreed with the defence’s approach and hired new lawyers. On Wednesday her lawyer successfully argued she deserved a lesser sentence because she was grabbed by guards almost as soon as the cathedral performance began— AFP

OSLO: The Nobel Peace Prize was yesterday awarded to the European Union, an institution wracked by the euro crisis but credited with bringing more than half a century of peace to a continent ripped apart by two world wars. “The union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe,” Nobel Committee president Thorbjoern Jagland said in Oslo.

Shortly after the prize announcement, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso described the award as “a tremendous honour”. “This prize is the strongest possible recognition of the deep political motives behind our Union: the unique effort by ever more European states to overcome war and divisions and to jointly shape a continent of peace and prosperity,” they said in a joint statement.

The prize, they said, was “not just for the project and the institutions embodying a common interest, but for the 500 million citizens living in our union.” However, online the Nobel Committee’s decision to hand the prize to a union of states beleaguered by a severe financial crisis, sparked strong reactions from some on Twitter.

“Anti-austerity protests in Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy & France, Nationalism, Fascism, unemployment and poverty. Yeah EU deserves it!” @AnonOpGreece said on Twitter. British eurosceptics also reacted with dismay, and Poland’s Lech Walesa, who won the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize for leading the country’s anti-communist movement, said he was “unpleasantly surprised” by the choice. The prize for the EU came as a surprise at a time when European solidarity is facing its most daunting challenge in decades amid deep rifts between a south drowning in debt and a wealthier north, led by Germany, only reluctantly coming to the rescue. Whether or not that begrudging assistance will keep the European project afloat remains to be seen, but the deep crisis has broadened the gulf already felt between citizens in the different member states and a Brussels long seen as too distant and bureaucratic. “The EU is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and considerable social unrest,”

Jagland acknowledged yesterday, stressing that the Nobel jury had wanted “to focus on what it sees as the EU’s most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.” The creation of the union is

But British eurosceptics reacted with dismay, with European Parliament member Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, saying the 27-nation bloc was creating “violence and division” in eurozone nations like Spain and Greece.

STRASBOURG: The European Union flag flies amongst European Union member countries’ national flags in front of the European Parliament yesterday. — AFP credited with helping to bring peace and stability to the war-torn continent by bringing together former arch-enemies France and Germany and herding them down the same path. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces harsh criticism from debt-laden southern Europe for fronting the push for punishing austerity measures, yesterday hailed the EU’s win and insisted efforts to save the euro were also aimed at ensuring peace on the continent. “The euro is more than a currency because at the end of the day it is about the original idea of a union of peace and of values,” she told reporters.

Britain’s Foreign Office meanwhile urged the EU to make further progress. It noted that the prize honoured the EU for its peace and reconciliation efforts, particularly through its enlargement to central and eastern Europe, and said “the EU must always strive to preserve and strengthen those achievements for the future.”

The French presidency said in a statement the honour confers on Europe “an even greater responsibility to preserve its unity and its capacity to promote growth and jobs and foster solidarity among members.”

Despite recurring difficulties, the EU has become the biggest common market in the world, allowing free circulation of goods, people, services and capital. Over the years, the pioneering project has swelled to encompass 27 countries which not long ago sat on either side of the “iron curtain”.

They came to the table with vastly different economic, social and cultural situations, but following intense integration efforts, a full 17 of them now share a common currency. This year’s prize also comes as a bombshell in host country Norway, which itself has rejected joining the union twice, in 1972 and 1994, and where three quarters of the inhabitants today say they are opposed to membership, according to recent polls—AFP

Srebrenica relatives sue Netherlands STRASBOURG: Relatives of Bosnian Muslims massacred in the town of Srebrenica sued the Netherlands on Thursday at the European Court of Human Rights over a Dutch court ruling that said the United Nations had immunity from prosecution. Some 8,000 Muslim boys and men were killed by Serb forces in July 1995 in an area protected by Dutch UN peacekeepers that the United Nations had declared a “safe haven”.

Lawyers for the group had tried to sue the United Nations in the Netherlands for failing to stop the killing. But the Dutch Supreme Court

ruled that the United Nations could not be prosecuted by a national court, ending the attempt to hold it to account for failing to prevent the genocide. Dutch lawyers for the Mothers of Srebrenica survivors’ group said they were suing the Netherlands over the decision for “granting absolute immunity to the United Nations”.

“The denial of justice is even more horrendous because the United Nations is denying them all legal recourse,” the Van Diepen-Van der Kroef law firm said in a statement. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said it had received the complaint. The slaughter

of Muslims, judged an act of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, was the worst atrocity of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, in which about 100,000 people died.

Inexperienced and outgunned Dutch UN peacekeepers were unable to prevent attacking Serb fighters from capturing Srebrenica, separating Bosnian Muslim men from women and taking them in buses to dozens of execution sites. Last year, a Dutch court found the Dutch state responsible for the deaths of three victims, opening the way for compensation claims over the failed peacekeeping mission. — Reuters

international

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

FBI seeks help in finding missing Colorado girl WESTMINSTER: Authorities have shifted their focus from searching for a missing 10-year-old girl to appealing for help in tracking down her apparent kidnapper, as concern mounts in a Denver suburb where the girl disappeared a week ago and a body was found. Police yesterday expected to positively identify a body found in a park seven miles from where Jessica Ridgeway went missing Oct. 5. Police have not linked the body to Jessica or even revealed if it belongs to a child. The body found at Pattridge Park in Arvada was “not intact,” which has delayed identification, police said.

Notably missing Thursday were more appeals by authorities to spread word of Jessica’s disappearance via social media. Instead, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit released a list of changes that a person committing a crime against a child would exhibit. Among them: sudden differences in appearance, missed appointments, being absent from work, or leaving town with no explanation. “It could be your boss, it could be your friend, and ultimately it could be your family member,” FBI spokesman Dave Joly said. “Bring this information to law enforcement and let us vet that to a close. If that person is not the suspect, ‘Thank you for your call.’ Next lead.”

Joly said agents are searching for a man, based on statistics for this type of crime. Retired FBI behavioral analyst Clinton Van Zandt told The Associated Press that some things to look out for include a person suddenly growing a beard, cutting their hair or doing other things to change their appearance. Other clues are activities that are out of character, such as a person who may have detailed their car when he normally would have only washed it, Van Zandt said.

Now, authorities just need somebody to have noticed and contact police, Van Zandt said. As for the lack of information being released by authorities, it’s part of the search for a suspect, Van Zandt said. “Whoever is responsible would be watching this very closely,” Van Zandt said, and procedure would be to release information “that will drive the offender one way or another.”

Police have ruled out as suspect Jessica’s parents Sarah Ridgeway, who lives in Colorado, and Jeremiah Bryant, who lives in Missouri - and have said they believe Jessica was kidnapped by an “unknown suspect.” Jessica’s mother last saw her daughter walking to a park in Westminster to meet friends to walk to school.

The girl never arrived at school, setting off a frantic search by hundreds of law enforcement officials and residents.

Aurelio Florez, who has lived in Jessica’s neighborhood for six years, said it was shocking that Jessica could have vanished during a two-block walk to a park.

“You can see the park from her front door,” he said.

Fliers about the fifth-grader were posted on nearly every house in her neighborhood of modest, two-story homes with single-car garages. Purple ribbons, Jessica’s favorite color and a symbol of hope for her return, were tied around trees.

It was a lively area where children played outdoors, said another neighbor, Luis Pena, but since Jessica disappeared, parents are keeping their children inside and people look at each other with suspicion. “Nobody trusts anybody anymore,” he said.

The only real clue police have revealed in Jessica’s disappearance is the discovery over the weekend of a backpack and water bottle that she had with her when she disappeared. Police won’t discuss what was found in the bag or test results on it. The items were found in the town of Superior, some six miles from Jessica’s home.

Additional police were sent to Jessica’s school, said Lynn Setzer, spokeswoman for Jeffco Public Schools.

The district has its own security officers at other middle schools and high schools. Steve Saunders, a spokesman for nearby Adams County schools, said the district is trying to strike a balance between reassuring students and their parents that they are safe, while encouraging them to be vigilant. Saunders said the district has security officers at all middle schools and high schools, but not elementary schools. He said the district will seek more help if authorities believe it is warranted. —AP

Mexico’s new law eyes cartel money laundering Bill to take effect nine months after president signs it MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s Congress on Thursday approved a long-awaited law to crack down on money laundering in a bid to attack the finances of the country’s powerful drug cartels. The law, proposed two years ago by outgoing President Felipe Calderon as part of his offensive against drug gangs, was passed by the Senate on Thursday. The lower house passed it earlier this year.

The new federal law puts restrictions on cash purchases of real estate, jewelry, armored cars and other assets that criminals use to launder illicit funds.

Companies will be required to report large cash purchases under the law. Car sales of more than 200,000 pesos (about $16,000) and real estate purchases of more than 500,000 pesos (about $39,000) must be reported.

The bill carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison. “There is an outcry from society to weaken the financial structures of organized crime and that is what this law is about,” said Senator Roberto Gil, a member of Calderon’s

conservative National Action Party.

Nearly 60,000 people have been killed since Calderon launched a military-led assault against drug cartels after taking office in late 2006.

Dozens of drug lords have been killed or captured since then but Calderon and the country’s lawmakers have been criticized for not doing enough to attack finances of the cartels.

Sales of drugs from marijuana to cocaine and methamphetamine in the United States are worth about $60 billion annually, according to the United Nations. About half of that amount is estimated to find its way back to cartels in Mexico. The scale of the country’s money laundering problems leapt to global attention in July when a US Senate report accused bank HSBC of failing to keep tabs on shady deposits at its Mexican operation. The report focused on $7 billion shipped by the bank from Mexico to the United States between 2007 and 2008. HSBC admitted it had failed to follow money laundering rules

and paid 379 million pesos ($29.45 million) in fines.

Hot money also has tainted everything from beauty pageants to the Mexican presidential elections this year, where the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as PRI, of President-Elect Enrique Pena Nieto was accused by rivals of campaigning using illicit funds.

The charges were not proven. “We have to stem the flow of dirty money in Mexico, which has been the main driver of the growing violence in the country,” said Senator Arturo Zamora of the PRI. Pena Nieto, who will return the PRI to power when he takes office in December, has said he will fine-tune the strategy to reduce violent crime linked to the drug war. The bill now goes to Calderon’s office for ratification. In order to give authorities time to prepare to enforce the law, it will take effect nine months later. Zamora said estimates for the amount of illegal funds laundered in Mexico range from about $10 billion a year to as high as $45 billion. — Reuters

Glued toddler’s mother cries at injury photos DALLAS: A Dallas woman who admitted to beating her toddler and gluing her hands to a wall sobbed Thursday as a prosecutor ordered her to look at the injuries she inflicted on her daughter’s body. Elizabeth Escalona began crying and didn’t speak for several seconds after prosecutor Eren Price displayed a photo of then-2-year-old Jocelyn Cedillo during Escalona’s sentencing hearing. Dozens of red and brown marks from the September 2011 beating covered Jocelyn’s back.

“Ms. Escalona, if you can do it, you can look at it,” Price said in a loud, sharp voice.

Escalona, who pleaded guilty in July to felony injury of a child, was on the witness stand for a second day. She faces anywhere from probation to life in prison.

Prosecutors are seeking a 45-year sentence. Police say Escalona kicked her daughter in the stomach, beat her with a milk jug, then stuck her hands to an apartment wall with an adhesive commonly known as Super Glue. Escalona’s other children told authorities their mother attacked Jocelyn due to potty training problems.

Jocelyn suffered bleeding in her brain, a fractured rib, bruises and bite marks, and was in a coma for a couple of days.

Some skin had been torn off her hands, where doctors also found paint chips from the apartment wall, witnesses testified. Prosecutors have portrayed Escalona as an unfit mother with a history of violence, and Price has repeatedly referred to her as a “monster.” Escalona has admitted she behaved like a monster when she beat Jocelyn, but insists she isn’t one now.

Price asked Escalona what she thought should happen in the case. Escalona replied in a soft, halting voice: “I should be put away.” Then, she added, “But I also think I should be given a second chance.”

When Price asked her why, she responded: “Because I’m not a monster.”

Earlier Thursday, Escalona testified that her children were a source of stress.

“They didn’t bother me, but I did (need) a

ny, Escalona admitted she often doesn’t tell the truth and had lied to doctors and others assigned to her case. But she resisted Price’s repeated efforts to get her to admit she was a liar. “I’m not a liar,”

DALLAS: Elizabeth Escalona, 23, breaks down as she responds to a line of questions in the sentencing phase of her trial.— AP little break,” she said. She described one of her sons misbehaving and getting into fights and another daughter once leaving home without her permission. Under questioning from defense attorney Angie N’Duka, Escalona said she was learning ways to deal with her anger and the stress of raising five children.

But Price said she still didn’t understand what could have caused the attack on Jocelyn. “Explain to us what about your stress is unique from what everybody else in this world lives through every single day,” she said. In her testimo-

Escalona said. “I have a hard time trusting people.”

N’Duka pointed out repeatedly that Escalona had repeatedly taken the blame for attacking her daughter. “She said to you, ‘I take full responsibility for what happened,’” N’Duka asked a Dallas Police officer who investigated the case, Sr Cpl Abel Lopez. Escalona acknowledged several missteps in her childhood: hanging around with gang members and trying marijuana around the age of 11, assaulting her mother at 12 and getting pregnant with her first child at 14.— AP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

international

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Bali recalls horror of bombs 10 years on Threat looms over anniversary

MANILA: This file photo shows former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo waving to her supporters at a military hospital. — AFP

Philippines’ Arroyo in intensive care MANILA: Former Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo was moved to intensive care yesterday to stop her suffering a possible heart attack, a week after being arrested in hospital on graft charges, authorities said. The 65-year-old suffered chest pains on Thursday and tests showed her heart was not receiving enough blood due to blocked arteries, said Nona Legaspi, director of the Manila military hospital where Arroyo is being detained.

Legaspi said Arroyo was suffering from ischemia-a restriction in blood supply to the heart-which can lead to a cardiac arrest if not treated properly. “Every condition of the heart should be treated with urgency,” Legaspi told reporters, adding that given Arroyo’s condition she should not leave hospital for a scheduled court appearance on Monday. Legaspi said Arroyo could not be detained elsewhere, as government prosecutors want, until doctors ruled she was fit to leave the hospital. “The patient is not dischargeable at this time,” she said. Arroyo was due for an initial court appearance next week on the charge that while in power she plundered about $8.8 million in state lottery funds to finance her election campaigns. She could face life in jail if found guilty.

Arroyo was arrested on October 4 at the military hospital, where she was being treated for a long-term spinal illness, and has been under police detention there since. Arroyo ended her near-decade in power in 2010 as one of the country’s most unpopular presidents, amid allegations she had cheated to win elections, embraced feared warlords as allies and was involved in widespread corruption. Rival Benigno Aquino won a landslide election victory in 2010, largely on a vow to fight corruption and prosecute Arroyo. Arroyo was also charged in another court in November last year with vote fraud for allegedly conspiring to rig the 2007 senatorial elections, and spent most of the following eight months at the same military hospital.— AFP

JIMBARAN: Hundreds of survivors and relatives of the dead yesterday paid tearful tributes to the 202 people killed in the Bali bombings 10 years ago, when Islamist extremists unleashed terror on partying tourists. On October 12, 2002, suicide bombers attacked two packed nightspots on the holiday island, pitching Indonesia into a battle with Islamic militancy and dealing a morale-sapping blow to Australia, which lost 88 people.

Mourners gathered in Bali shaded themselves under Australian flags as they listened solemnly to a mournful roll call of the dead, some crying or leaning on loved ones’ shoulders as they observed a minute’s silence. Families of the Australian victims, many of whom were youthful holidaymakers and members of touring sports teams, made the journey to Bali seeking closure to a painful decade.

“I lost my two daughters in the Bali bombing,” said Danny Hanley, father of victims Renae and Simone-the youngest died from her injuries several weeks later in a Perth hospital to become the 88th Australian to perish. “As we go forward into this new decade year, let us go out with the patient power of knowledge that our God will go with us,” he added.

The strike by the Al-Qaeda-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which also left scores of people with horrific burn wounds, came one year after the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The ceremony was held under the watch of 2,000 police and military personnel, including snipers, after Indonesia issued its top alert due to a “credible” terror threat in Bali.

Under sunny skies, the event in a large cultural park heard moving tributes from families of the victims, who died as the bombers devastated the Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar on Bali’s party strip in Kuta. Choking back tears Australian Victor Parkinson, who lost his cousin Donna in the blasts, said the ceremony did justice to the victims, adding that nothing would replace the loss of a relative who was “more like a sister” to him.

“But I’ve now got a place I can come and visit all the time. I know where she is, she loved Bali... and I don’t blame the Bali people, not at all.” Speaking at the event, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard recognised the terrible legacy of the attacks, saying “wounds and scars abound, healed and unhealed, but nothing can replace the empty seat at your table”.

But she also praised the resilience of her people and said Indonesia and Australia, which are sometimes edgy neighbours, “drew closer” than ever before. Indonesia, which has the world’s biggest Muslim population, won praise for its law-enforcement actions after the bombings, and was also lauded for its response after subsequent attacks in 2005 in which 20 people were killed on the island.

In the 10 years since the 2002 attacks, all of the leading Bali perpetrators have either been executed, killed by police in raids or jailed. Delivering remarks to the thousand-strong crowd of mourners, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his country remained committed to fighting extremism so that “humanity prevails over hatred”. Thirty-eight of those killed were

from Indonesia, which was stunned by the atrocity on Bali, whose scenic resorts, five-star hotels and backpacker hostels are a vital cog of the country’s tourism engine.

“I feel sensitive and am easily sad. It’s a feeling that always comes when I’m alone, that’s when I shed my tears,” Ni Luh Erniati, whose husband worked at the Sari Club and was killed, told AFP. Bali’s fortunes bounced back after a massive slump in tourist numbers following the attack, and the deadly bombing in 2005, with record numbers of Australians now returning to its beaches. Many Australians felt the 2002 bombing had singled them out for attack, and emotionally charged remembrance ceremonies also took place across the country yesterday. Gillard, who after the ceremony visited a hospital which treated hundreds of the Bali wounded, was expected to stay overnight on the island.

Despite its counter-terror successes since Bali, including crippling the JI network, Indonesia still harbours extremist pockets intent on violence.

Speaking to AFP in Solo City, Central Java, Joko Tri Harmanto, who served six years in jail for hiding a slain Bali bomb mastermind, delivered a very different anniversary message. “I ask fellow Muslims to be calm and patient for the time being... basically we will continue Jihad but I hope that its implementation will be more proper,” he said. — AFP

BALI: Survivors and relatives of the 2002 Bali bombings attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Bali attacks at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park in Jimbaran located in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali yesterday. — AFP

Nobel winner Mo urges China dissident’s freedom GAOMI: Chinese Nobel Literature Prize winner Mo Yan unexpectedly called for the release of jailed compatriot Liu Xiaobo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize two years ago, having come under fire from rights activists for not speaking up for him. The author, a portly 57-year-old whose adopted pen name Mo Yan means “don’t speak”, said he had read some of Liu’s literary criticisms in the 1980s, but that he had no understanding of Liu’s work once it had turned towards politics.

“I hope he can achieve his freedom as soon as possible,” Mo told reporters yesterday in his hometown of Gaomi in the northern province of Shandong, in bold remarks likely to embarrass Beijing which has lauded his victory and denigrated Liu’s

prize.

Liu should be able to research his “politics and social system”, Mo said without elaborating A number of dissidents and other writers have said Mo was unworthy of winning as he had shied away from commenting on Liu’s plight. They have also denounced him for commemorating a speech by former paramount leader Mao Zedong.

But Mo, whose real name is Guan Moye, shot back at those criticisms. “I believe that the people who have criticised me have not read my books,” he said. “If they had read my books they would understand that my writings at that time took on a great deal of risk and were under pressure. “Many of the people who have criticized me online are

Communist Party members themselves.

They also work within the system. And some have benefited tremendously within the system,” he added.

“I am working in China,” he said. “I am writing in a China under Communist Party leaders. But my works cannot be restricted by political parties.” Mo, who was once so destitute he ate tree bark and weeds to survive, is the first Chinese national to win the $1.2 million literature prize, awarded by the Swedish Academy.

He is best known in the West for “Red Sorghum”, which portrays the hardships endured by farmers in the early years of communist rule and was made in a film directed by Zhang Yimou. Prominent dissident Hu Jia, a close friend of Liu’s, praised

Mo’s apparent sudden change of heart.

“What has happened in the last 24 hours has changed him. A Nobel prize, whether for peace or for literature, bestows on one a sense of wrong and right,” Hu told Reuters.

China, long used to wringing its hands at perceived snubs or insults by the Nobel organisers, has worked its propaganda machine into overtime to hail Mo’s win as a breakthrough for the entire nation, and recognition of its place as a great country.

Senior Communist Party official and China’s propaganda chief Li Changchun congratulated Mo, state media reported, saying he hoped “Chinese writers will focus on the country’s people in their writing and create more excellent works that will stand the test of history”. — Reuters

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Business

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Arrest warrant issued for ‘King of Good Times’

TOKYO: (L-R) Japanese Finance Minister Koriki Jojima, IMFC Chairman Tharman Shanmugaratnam, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda hit a cask of sake during a ‘kagami biraki’ ceremony (or opening the mirror) at the opening of a welcoming reception for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Annual Meetings in Tokyo yesterday. Heads of the IMF and World Bank are meeting in Japan from October 9 to 14. — AFP

Germany holds firm on Greece Mixed reviews on IMF call for slower budget cuts TOKYO: Germany held firm yesterday in insisting it was too soon to say Greece deserved more time to meet its deficit-cutting goals even as the head of the International Monetary Fund laid out the case for leniency.

Although Greece, Spain and the euro zone’s slow progress toward debt reform was centre stage at International Monetary Fund meetings, there were some signs that Europe was edging forward in tackling the three-year old debt crisis.

The EU’s top economic official for the first time indicated how possible aid for Spain could work and a European Central Bank policymaker endorsed a suggested extension of Greece’s budget deadlines.

This week, in a softening of earlier advice, the IMF has argued that forcing Greece and other debt-burdened countries in Europe to reduce their deficits too quickly is counter-productive because it hurts the economy.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, sitting next to Germany’s finance minister, said Athens needed more breathing space. “Given the... lack of growth, given the market pressure, given the efforts that have been undertaken, a bit more time is necessary,” she said, amplifying on remarks made on Thursday.

Any steps that would raise Athens’ chances of succeeding were welcome, European Central Bank board member Benoit Coeure said. But he noted that a mooted two-year extension of Greece’s

budget balancing goal would come at a price of extra financing needs.

The shift was welcomed by some emerging market countries as well as long-time critics who say that the tough conditions attached to IMF loans make it harder for countries to grow their way out of debt.

“We have been arguing for some time that single-minded and draconian fiscal policies may be counterproductive and have a tendency to backfire,” said Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega.In a sign that growth was a top concern, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters on a conference call that some finance ministers at the meetings had discussed the possibility of additional fiscal stimulus if Europe’s economic travails worsened. He did not give any details.

But Germany, Europe’s largest creditor country and the key to any lasting fiscal reforms, warned against actions that could undermine credibility of deficit-cutting steps.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Europe had made plenty of crisis-fighting progress, echoing comments from other European officials who said there should be greater attention paid to US fiscal troubles and emerging economies slackening growth.

He criticised Lagarde for calling for flexibility even before the “troika” of Athens’s lenders-the IMF, the European Union and the European

Central Bank-complete a review of their 130 billion euro bailout programme for Greece.

“Until we have the troika report, we must not speculate,” he said. Lagarde and Schaeuble shared the stage as part of a panel discussion, their first public joint appearance since the IMF head surprised investors on Thursday by stating unequivocally that Greece and Spain needed more time.

Spain’s economy minister, Luis de Guindos, said there was “absolutely” no political resistance from within the euro zone to a Spanish bailout request, an apparent reference to Germany. Spain is under pressure to seek a bailout as it struggles to rein in central government spending but Germany has sent strong signals it should hold off.

EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn told Reuters in an interview that Spain could get a precautionary credit line from the euro zone’s permanent bailout fund with the possibility of buying Spanish bonds at primary auctions, if Madrid decided to ask for financial help.

US officials have expressed support for giving European countries extra time to deal with their debt. In Lisbon, Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said his country was adjusting austerity measures to reality so it would not have to request more rescue funds.

But Italy’s economy minister, Vittorio Grilli, said in Tokyo the economic pain from fiscal consolidation was “a necessary price to have for a much

brighter future in the medium and long term.”

Even as the euro zone debt crisis rages, the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Despite some gloom in the economy in Europe, still this is a great day for Europe,” Rehn said. The IMF’s change of tune on the speed of budget cuts stems from research it released this week showing that aggressive fiscal consolidation crimps growth more sharply than previously thought.

It also reflects a desire by Lagarde, a former French finance minister, to demonstrate the IMF is willing to get tough with Europe. Big emerging economies, who have helped top up the IMF’s crisis-fighting coffers, had worried about the Fund’s independence.

“Let us not delude ourselves: without growth, the future of the global economy is in jeopardy,” she said. “One lesson is clear from history: reducing public debt is incredibly difficult without growth.

High debt, in turn, makes it harder to get growth,” she said.

Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman called the IMF’s new research, contained in its latest World Economic Outlook, “an extensively documented exercise in hand-wringing.” “Kudos to the Fund for having the courage to say this, which means bucking some powerful players as well as admitting that its own analysis was flawed,” Krugman wrote on his blog.—Reuters

business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

NBK reports net profits of $814.4m in first 9 months Operating income grow by 21%

MIDLAND: In this Friday, Sept 21, 2012, file photo, Karl Hock, left, and Duane Varner unload onions for the food distribution at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, in Midland, Mich. A second month of sharp gains in gasoline costs drove wholesale prices higher in September. — AP

US wholesale prices jump 1.1% in Sept WASHINGTON: A second month of sharp gains in gasoline costs drove US wholesale prices higher in September. But outside of the surge in energy, prices were well contained.

Wholesale prices rose 1.1 percent in September following a 1.7 percent gain in August which had been the largest one-month increase in more than three years, the Labor Department said yesterday.

In both months, overall prices were pushed higher by gasoline, which rose 9.8 percent in September following an even larger 13.6 percent gain in August. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, were unchanged in September, the best showing since they held steady in October 2011. In August, core prices rose 0.2 percent.

Food prices, which had jumped 0.9 percent in August, showed a smaller 0.2 percent rise in September. Wholesale inflation has been stable over the 12 months that ended in September. In that time, overall prices have increased just 2.1 percent. Core inflation is up 2.3 percent over the 12month period. The government’s produce price index measures cost pressures before they reach consumers. Low inflation means consumers have more money to spend, which helps the economy. It also gives the Federal Reserve more room to keep interest rates low in an effort to spur economic growth. If prices were to begin rising rapidly, the central bank might be forced to raise rates in response. Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics, said the modest gains in wholesale prices should translate into further moderation in consumer inflation, keeping it close to the Fed’s 2 percent inflation target. — AP

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the largest Kuwaiti bank and the highest-rated in the Middle East, reported net profits of $814.4 million (KD 228.9 million) for the first nine months of 2012 compared with USD 802.4 million (KD 225.6 million) for the same period of 2011. NBK’s third quarter 2012 net profits reached $384.6 million (KD 108.1 million) compared to $280.7 million (KD78.9 million) in the third quarter of 2011.

As of end of September 2012, NBK Group’s total assets reached $58.1 billion (KD 16.34 billion), up 24.5% compared to September 2011, while total group shareholders’ equity reached $8.4 billion (KD 2.37 billion), up 5.0% year on year.

Ibrahim Dabdoub, NBK’s Group Chief Executive Officer said “NBK managed to deliver another strong quarter notwithstanding the ongoing challenges.

The operating environment continues to pose some barriers to our potential for growth. Government spending continues to be insufficient and the tendering of new projects has significantly lagged leading to a stagnant stock market performance and dormancy in economic activity.

Moreover, the developing geopolitical tensions are also putting further pressures on the business sentiment both locally and in the region”.

Dabdoub also commented that the improvement in the local operating environment now depends on developing a more dynamic fiscal policy, most importantly accelerating spending on mega projects. We hope this will materialize in the near future considering recent directions from the highest authority and the proposed measures to boost economic activity

and spur growth.

“The recent results confirm NBK’s focus on core banking activities and the success of our regional expansion strategy. The diversification of our income sources continues to differentiate NBK and help us deliver strong results.”

Dabdoub also highlighted that the third quarter of 2012 witnessed a major strategic move for NBK increasing its stake in Boubyan Bank to 58.34% transforming it into a subsidiary of NBK group. This move is key to strengthening our presence in Kuwait’s Islamic banking market and opens new growth prospects for the Group.

NBK has the widest banking presence in Kuwait with 65 branches, which together with its growing inter-

national presence totals 174 branches worldwide. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai). Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

NBK continues to collectively enjoy the highest ratings among all banks in the Middle East from the three international 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 highly recognized and very stable management team.

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait’s head office in Kuwait.

World stocks mixed after US joblessness drops BANGKOK: World stock markets were mixed yesterday after US jobless claims fell sharply, with analysts saying more data was needed to confirm an improvement in the world’s No. 1 economy. Weekly applications for unemployment aid fell to their lowest since February 2008, the US government said Thursday. The positive figures follow a report last week that said the unemployment rate fell in September to 7.8 percent - below 8 percent for the first time since January 2009.

Still, the job news isn’t all that strong. Unemployment is much higher than before the financial crisis. In February 2008, the rate stood at 4.9 percent. Additionally, some unemployed workers have simply given up looking for work, which can make the jobless numbers seem better than they really are.

“I think you need to wait for a few months to see more figures to confirm the jobs recovery in the US,” said Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong.

European stocks fell in early trading.

Britain’s FTSE 10 dropped 0.2 percent to 5,815.68. Germany’s DAX lost 0.3 percent to 7,258.40 and France’s CAC-40 shed 0.3 percent at 3,403.29.

But US stock futures augured gains on Wall Street. Dow Jones industrial futures rose 0.1 percent to 13,283 and S&P 500 futures gained 0.2 percent to 1,431. The picture was mixed in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed nearly 0.2 percent lower at 8,534.12. Telephone company Softbank plunged 16.9 percent in Tokyo on news that it is in talks to take a substantial stake in U.S. carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. Fast Retailing fell 9.9 percent after the Uniqlo casual clothing firm reported a first-half

operating profit that missed market expectations, Kyodo News reported.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.7 percent to 21,136.43 and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added slightly less than 0.1 percent to 4,486.60. South Korea’s Kospi was flat at 1,933.26. One big unknown is Spain and whether the government of the recession-mired country will ask for a financial bailout.

Last month, the European Central Bank agreed to buy unlimited amounts of debt by struggling European countries to help lower their borrowing costs. But the governments first need to apply for bailout.

Spain has not applied. Instead, the government has introduced a series of austerity measures in a bid to bring down its deficit and convince investors it can manage its finances without outside help.

“For the day ahead, attention will likely shift to the US earnings reports, with JP Morgan and Wells Fargo in focus while uncertainty about the Spanish bailout will remain as a significant downside risk in the eurozone, leaving sentiment cautious,” analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong said in a market commentary.

Macau gambling shares did well following what analysts said was reportedly good revenues following the China’s Golden Week holiday.

Sands China Ltd. jumped 4.9 percent and Wynn Macau Ltd. rose 2 percent.

Benchmark oil for November delivery was up 26 cents to $92.33 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In currency trading, the euro rose to $1.2969 from $1.2934 late Thursday in New York. The dollar rose at 78.44 yen from 78.31 yen. — AP

business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

JPMorgan profits rise 34% on mortgage lending surge ‘We believe housing market has turned the corner’

ATHENS: Students chant slogans outside the finance ministry in Athens yesterday, during a demonstration to protest against the austerity measures and unemployment. The protesters tried to demonstrate outside the interior ministry where the EU-IMF-ECB troika held a meeting, but were blocked by police. — AFP

Oil falls towards $115 on weaker oil demand view LONDON: Oil fell towards $115 a barrel yesterday, as a prediction of a further decline in oil consumption and higher supplies offset concerns about potential output disruptions in the Middle East. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said ample supply from North America and Iraq coupled with declining global demand could lead to an easing of oil prices over the next five years. Brent crude was down 52 cents to $115.19 a barrel by 1145 GMT, after recovering from a fall to $114.23 earlier in the session. US crude was up 21 cents at $92.28.

The IEA cut its global oil demand growth projection for 20112016 by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to its previous report, easing the pressure on OPEC to produce more oil.

It also cut its 2013 global oil demand projection by 100,000 bpd to 90.48 million bpd, citing lower consumption in Europe, the Americas and China.

“It seems like the market has reacted on the negative side.

Crude oil prices reversed from yesterday’s gains amid concerns over confirmation of the global oil demand growth,” said Myrto Sokou, a senior research analyst at Sucden Financial. “The bearish IEA figures set the tone for the day so we can expect further declines for today’s trading session,” Sokou said.

Oil major BP Plc has secured US government permission to ship US crude oil to Canada, and Royal Dutch Shell has applied for an export license, as rising production in the world’s top oil consumer upends global energy flows.

“This will significantly alter the oil market dynamics in the coming years as US crude imports are expected to decline and exports to rise,” said Ryoma Furumi, a commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan.

But geopolitical risks, lower output in the North Sea due to maintenance and a supply crunch in oil products are propping up oil prices in the face of dwindling global fuel demand. More than a week of rising tension between Turkey and Syria has stoked fears over potential disruption of oil supply from the region. The port of Ceyhan, through which more than 400,000 barrels per day of Iraqi crude flows, is on the Turkish Mediterranean coast.

Syria accused Turkey of “air piracy” on Thursday after Ankara grounded a Damascus-bound passenger plane it said was carrying munitions. “At current oil prices, it will not be domestic demand that will lead oil prices higher on a sustained basis but lack of supply,” said Olivier Jakob, at Petromatrix in Switzerland.

“This means that we are heading towards a period of greater volatility, because when and if the fears on supply disappear there will not be the support of demand,” he said.

Distillate stocks in the United States fell sharply last week and figures on Thursday showed gasoil stocks independently held in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub fell almost 4 percent week-on-week. “ARA gasoil stocks in Western Europe are at their lowest level for nearly a year,” Commerzbank said in a note.

“Distillate prices are therefore likely to rise further ahead of the heating season.” — Reuters

NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase & Co posted record quarterly profits yesterday, up 34 percent from a year earlier, as low interest rates and a recovering housing market brought big increases in mortgage lending.

The results signal the largest US bank is recovering from the so-called “London whale” trades that resulted in losses of nearly $6 billion in the first half of the year but only a “modest loss” in the latest quarter.

JPMorgan’s fixed income trading revenue rose, helped by the Federal Reserve program to buy mortgage debt for as long as unemployment remains high. That trading strength could bode well for investment banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley, which are due to report results over the next week.

JPMorgan said revenue from mortgage lending rose 36 percent to $1.8 billion as low interest rates spurred refinancing and home purchases.

The US housing market is still recovering from the bubble that started deflating five years ago, but the bank said it is hopeful about the outlook for residential real estate.

“We believe the housing market has turned the corner,” Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in a statement. Third-quarter net income was $5.71 billion, or $1.40 a share, up from $4.26 billion, or $1.02 a share, a year earlier. Analysts had expected, on

average, $1.24 a share, according to surveys by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. It was not immediately clear whether the analyst forecast was comparable to the reported results.

Profits at JPMorgan’s investment bank, excluding accounting adjustments for changes in the value of JPMorgan debt, rose to $1.7 billion from $1.2 billion a year earlier, when

the European debt crisis cast a darker shadow over the capital markets.

JPMorgan shares were up 1.4 percent in premarket trading.

Through Thursday the shares were up 27 percent this year, almost twice the rise in the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index but about three percentage points less than the KBW Bank stock index. — Reuters

OKLAHOMA CITY: This Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, photo shows a JPMorgan Chase branch office in Oklahoma City. JPMorgan Chase, the America’s biggest bank by assets, reported a record quarterly profit yesterday. — AP

Poland unveils investment plan to ease downturn WARSAW: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a big programme of investment yesterday aimed at reviving a spluttering economy and shoring up support from voters worried that two decades of uninterrupted growth is coming to an end.

Tusk said he would find billions of euros for investment in energy and other infra-structure projects, while at the same time keeping a tight rein on government borrowing in Poland, eastern Europe’s largest economy.

Poland has been a rare bright spot in Europe over the past few years, managing to sustain robust growth even while its neighbours slumped. But growth will slow next year to just over 2 percent, half the figure for last year.

“There is no other way for Poland than sustaining growth through investments,” Tusk told parliament. “Poland has a real chance to defend economic growth.”

“We will fight to ensure debt and deficit stay at safe levels,” he said in his first big, set-piece speech setting out the government’s response to the slowdown. Investment in road-building and other infra-structure projects has driven Polish growth up to now, yet the European cash that paid for it will dip over the next two years. Borrowing to fill the gap would drive up debt and

dent Poland’s reputation for fiscal prudence.

The solution outlined by Tusk is to channel state-owned assets, including company shares and privatisation revenue from 2014, into a special fund which will use these assets to underwrite private investment.

“According to calculations, which ministers Rostowski and Budzanowski will present in detail tomorrow, we should create leverage for investments and credits worth around 40 billion zlotys to 2015 and around 90 billion if we count over six years,” Tusk said.

Reuters reported last week that the government was considering creation of a fund of this kind - broadly modelled on schemes already operating in Brazil and South Korea. Under the scheme drafted in Poland, which will be run by state-controlled bank BGK, the assets underwriting investment would be in a non-state vehicle and so would not be classified as debt, allowing the government to meet its targets for cutting borrowing.

“The Prime Minister managed to solve a few problems. He announced a major investment programme that will underpin the economy,” said Maciej Reluga, chief economist at Bank Zachodni WBK. “At the same time, he offered a

mechanism that will ensure debt and deficit levels aren’t affected. Rating agencies and markets should be happy.” Poland is the only country in the EU that did not slip into recession since the start of the global financial crisis four years ago.

But the global downturn is now making itself felt. Unemployment is ticking up. Offices and apartments built on a wave of confidence in Poland’s “economic miracle” are now standing empty.

The slowdown has hurt Tusk’s popularity, with polls showing his party had been overtaken by the opposition Law and Justice Party. Fading public support could make it harder for him to hold together his governing coalition between now and the next election in three years.

In a measure likely to please voters, Tusk announced that maternity leave would be extended and more help provided to families with children. That was met with a round of applause from lawmakers listening to the speech. “It’a good anti-crisis and pro-family instrument,” said Malgorzata Krzysztoszek, economist with the Lewiatan business lobby. “The prime minister told Poles: ‘Hey, the labour market is tough but you can wait it out. Your job will be protected, go have a baby’.” — Reuters

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

India’s industrial output rose 2.7% in August MUMBAI: Industrial production in India rose 2.7 percent in August, more than expected on a rebound in mining activity, though investment still appears weak. Markets took the news in stride yesterday, suggesting that investors believe the numbers will do little to convince the central back to cut interest rates when it meets later this month.

Mining output rose 2.0 percent, a bounce for the troubled sector, which posted a 5.5 percent contraction a year earlier. Manufacturing rose 2.9 percent and electricity output increased 1.9 percent from the year before.

Production of capital goods - a sign of investment in physical assets such

as machinery - slid 1.7 percent. A CNBC-TV-18 poll had forecast a rise of around 1 percent in industrial production. Madhavi Arora, an economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank, said there is still little growth momentum in India’s economy.

“On a sequential basis, you haven’t seen much of a gain,” she said. “We believe this is going to be a saucershaped recovery, rather than a Vshaped recovery.” New Delhi has been scrambling to enact investor friendly measures to kick start growth and improve sentiment in Asia’s thirdlargest economy. Arora said their impact won’t be felt for another 12 to 24 months even if the government is able to push through additional

reforms and foreign investors do take advantage of eased restrictions.

Much also still needs to be done to clean up India’s power sector, with many state utilities facing bankruptcy.

India’s mining sector has been hobbled by scandal, fights over land, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The central bank has made clear that inflation remains its primary concern, despite economic growth slowing to levels not seen since 2009, when India was struggling with the impact of the Great Recession.

Arora said yesterday’s data is unlikely to give the bank the confidence to cut its key interest rate on Oct. 30.”We think the Reserve Bank will have a tough time to reason out a rate

cut if inflation remains worrisome,” she said. “If the Reserve Bank does cut the rate it will be surprising.”

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund earlier this week cut their predictions for India’s economic growth. The World Bank expects India’s economy to grow 6 percent for the year, and the International Monetary Fund forecasts growth of just 4.9 percent, down from its earlier projection of 6.1 percent.

The government also revised its July industrial production data, saying output contracted 0.2 percent, down from its earlier estimate of 0.1 percent growth. August’s uptick was the biggest rise in industrial output since February, according to FactSet. — AP

India’s IT outsourcer Infosys shares plunge MUMBAI: Indian IT outsourcer Infosys’s shares plunged more than eight percent yesterday on investor disappointment with the company’s lower-than-projected revenue even though its quarterly profit jumped 24 percent.

Net profit in the fiscal second quarter climbed to 23.7 billion rupees ($450 million) from 19.06 billion rupees a year earlier, matching forecasts, while revenue rose 22 percent to 98.58 billion rupees, Infosys said in a statement.

But investors were rattled by Infosys’s unchanged projection of $7.34 billion for its full-year revenues after it purchased major Swiss consultancy Lodestone last month and the firm’s warning of “global economic uncertainties”.

Shares of Infosys, often seen as a bellwether for India’s flagship outsouring sector, slid as much as 8.47 percent to a day’s low of 2,317 rupees before retracing to close down 5.36 percent at 2,395.65 rupees. “Global economic uncertainties continue to face the industry,” said chief executive SD Shibulal. Infosys, which is also listed on Nasdaq, has been struggling to expand its business and has missed sales targets, lost market

share and seen its stocks slide this year as revenues from the United States lag.

“All that could probably go wrong with Infosys has gone wrong,” said Rajni Ghildiyal, senior analyst at Mumbai brokerage Asit C. Mehta. “Infosys is now walking an extremely tight rope,” she said.

The company’s chief financial officer, V Balakrishnan, said Infosys may revise upwards its revenue outlook for the financial year when it releases its next earnings in January. It said it had yet to complete the Lodestone deal.

“Lodestone’s revenues are expected to reflect in the fourth quarter. We may revise our guidance for the fiscal year to March,” Balakrishnan told AFP from the company’s Bangalore headquarters. In September, the firm announced it had agreed to buy Zurich-based Lodestone for $350 million-calling it a “transformational deal”-that would add more than 200 clients to Infosys’ base.

One-fifth of Infosys’s revenues come from Europe, and in recent years the firm has shifted focus to emerging and new markets of Singapore, Brazil, Mexico and eastern Europe. — AFP

BANGALORE: Infosys Technologies Chief Executive Officer SD Shibulal speaks after announcing company’s quarterly financial results at its headquarters in Bangalore, India, yesterday. Profit at India’s Infosys Technologies rose 4.9 percent in dollar terms for the September quarter, the company said yesterday. — AP

MUMBAI: In this photograph taken on November 15, 2011, Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO of India’s Kingfisher Airlines, surrounded by bodyguards, leaves after addressing the news conference in Mumbai. A local court in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad yesterday issued an arrest warrant for billionaire Vijay Mallya. — AFP

Arrest warrant issued for ‘King of Good Times’ Warrant latest blow to Vijay Mallya HYDERABAD: A court in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad yesterday issued an arrest warrant for billionaire Vijay Mallya, owner of debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, a spokesman for the complainant said.

The non-bailable warrant was issued in the local sessions court against Mallya, who also co-owns Formula One team Force India, over Kingfisher cheques to the operator of Hyderabad International Airport that bounced. “The cases were listed today for the airline to appear in the court,” said a spokesman for the complainant in the case, airport operator GHIAL. “Since they failed to appear before the magistrate, the court has ordered issuance of NBW (non-bailable warrants) against Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), Vijay Mallya and four other KFA officials,” the spokesman added in a statement to AFP. The cheques for 105 million rupees (around $2 million) were to settle user

fees at the airport, which is run by Indian infrastructure group GMR. Kingfisher, which has billions of dollars in debts, has not paid staff for seven months and is desperately seeking a foreign buyer to save it from complete collapse.

The warrant is the latest blow and comes after India’s civil aviation regulator issued a notice to Kingfisher, which has grounded its fleet for the last two weeks, threatening to cancel its licence. Hyderabad’s police chief Anurag Sharma told AFP his department had not yet received the warrant. “So far I am not aware of it but (once we receive it) we will see what exactly is the instructions,” commissioner Sharma said.

There was no immediate response from Mallya, who is also an independent lawmaker. Calls by AFP to Kingfisher executives’ mobile telephones were not answered yesterday but a person who answered the

phone at the tycoon’s home in New Delhi said he was out of the country.

Cigar-puffing billionaire Mallya is nicknamed the “King of Good Times”.

As well as his Formula One team, he is also the owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, one of the teams in cricket’s Indian Premier League. But he has run into serious difficulties with Kingfisher Airlines, which was launched in 2005 and has never made a profit. The company was India’s second-largest airline until a year ago but now it has a market share of just 3.2 percent, the smallest of the country’s carriers. A report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a Sydney-based consultancy, says Kingfisher’s debts total $2.49 billion including bank debts of $1.1 billion, and it had accumulated losses of $1.9 billion.

The 56-year-old Mallya is in talks to sell part of his profitable Indian liquor empire United Spirits to Diageo, the world’s largest distiller. — AFP

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Japan govt cuts economic view for 3 months in row TOKYO: Japan’s government downgraded its view of the economy for the third straight month in October as worries about Europe’s debt crisis and China’s slowdown intensified, adding pressure on the central bank to offer further stimulus to support growth.

It was the longest streak of downgrades since five straight months of cuts made just after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, underscoring Tokyo’s growing alarm that the prolonged overseas slowdown may again nudge Japan into recession.

Economics Minister Seiji Maehara said that while it was too early to judge whether Japan may slip into recession, the economy’s trend was weak as weak global demand hurt exports.

“A further slowdown in global growth and volatility in financial markets may

hurt Japan’s economy, which are risks we must be vigilant to,” Maehara told a news conference yesterday.

The downgrade in assessment followed the Bank of Japan’s warning last week that economic activity was levelling off and may not recover until well into next year. “The economic recovery has had a weak tone recently due to a slowdown in the global economy, although some steadiness is still seen,” the government said in its latest monthly report released yesterday.

Slackening overseas demand and weak exports also prompted the government to lower its assessment on factory output and corporate sentiment.

Japan’s economy has so far outperformed most of its peers in the Group of Seven helped by spending on reconstruction from last year’s earthquake and

tsunami. But weak external demand and a strong yen have led analysts to project growth will likely stall for the rest of this year.

The International Monetary Fund also trimmed its growth forecasts for Japan, as factory output fell to a 15-month low in August on sagging sales to top export market China and business sentiment worsened in the three months to September.

Adding to headaches for policymakers is the impact of a territorial dispute with China, which has sparked anti-Japan protests in China and calls for boycotts of Japanese goods.

“Trouble stemming from the (territorial dispute) is affecting businesses including the auto sector, which would also impact other related industries such as materials and iron and steel,” said Minoru

Masujima, director of macroeconomic analysis at the Cabinet Office, which is charged with compiling the monthly report.

The government’s bleak assessment adds pressure on the Bank of Japan for action ahead of its rate review on Oct. 30.

At the meeting, the central bank is set to cut its long-term growth forecasts and admit that it will take take several more years for Japan to achieve its 1 percent inflation target, and bring to an end a long-running deflationary era.

The economics minister, a vocal advocate of more aggressive monetary easing, kept up calls for further BOJ action, saying that the central bank has a responsibility to achieve its price target at an early date. “We will continue to call for powerful monetary easing by the BOJ,” Maehara said. — Reuters

Japan’s Softbank eyes monster takeover of Sprint Japan Inc’s biggest-ever overseas expeditions

HONG KONG: Sun Hung Kai co-chairman Raymond Kwok (C), one of Asia’s wealthiest men, is surrounded by bodyguards upon his arrival at a court in Hong Kong yesterday.

The Hong Kong court postponed the corruption case of two of the city’s richest tycoons and a former senior official to 2013 to give the prosecution more time to gather evidence. The Kwok brothers, two of Asia’s wealthiest men, and three others were charged in July with eight offences related to payments and unsecured loans amounting to $4.4 million. — AFP

China economy to dodge hard landing TOKYO: The International Monetary Fund yesterday all but ruled out a hard landing for China’s slowing economy, saying it would expand despite increasing headwinds from battered markets in Europe and the United States.

The Fund has cut its estimate for growth in the world’s second-largest economy this year, raising fears that China is running out of steam, with expansion pegged at 7.8 percent this year and 8.2 percent in 2013.

That is down from a July estimate of 8.0 percent and 8.5 percent growth respectively. However, Anoop Singh, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific department, told a Tokyo press briefing that China was not on the road to economic ruin, describing the possibility of a hard landing as “remote”.

“China is not having a hard landing. The numbers are clearly recognising that China will grow this year,” he said at the IMF and World Bank’s annual meetings in the Japanese capital. China has suffered the knock-on effect of a severe debt crisis in Europe and a hobbled recovery in the United States, its two key export markets, which have led to a slump in trade and contraction in manufacturing activity.

Authorities have moved to spur the economy by slashing interest rates twice in quick succession this year and cutting the amount of funds that banks must keep in reserve three times since December in a bid to encourage lending.

On Thursday, the World Bank’s newly-installed chief said he expected Beijing to take “very aggressive” steps to kickstart its slowing economy after a once-in-a-decade leadership shuffle next month. “They are going through a political change right now, and once the political change is complete, my sense is that they’ll be very aggressive in trying to restore growth,” said Jim Yong Kim. — AFP

TOKYO: Japanese mobile carrier Softbank is eyeing a multi-billion dollar entry into the US telecoms market through the purchase of Sprint Nextel, possibly vaulting it among the top three mobile firms globally.

The potential takeover of Sprint, which Japan’s leading Nikkei business daily pegged at being worth $23 billion, would also be one of Japan Inc.’s biggest-ever overseas expeditions.

Other reports have put the deal’s price tag at about half that figure. Investors threw cold water on the potential marriage as shares of Softbank, Japan’s thirdbiggest carrier, plunged almost 17 percent to 2,395 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange yesterday.

“Investors were discouraged by the possibility that the company could be saddled with a heavy financial burden,” said Kenji Shiomura, strategist at Daiwa Securities. “Putting aside whether the deal could be successful in the long run, the market is cautious.”

Sprint Nextel confirmed Thursday it was talking with Softbank, sending its UStraded shares 14.3 percent higher to $5.76. Yesterday Softbank also confirmed it was in talks to buy a controlling stake in Sprint, the third-biggest US carrier, but the move prompted Standard & Poor’s to put the Japanese firm credit rating under review, saying it would heap pressure on its balance sheet.

The Nikkei reported yesterday that Softbank was also eyeing fifth-ranked US carrier MetroPCS Communications at just a fraction of the Sprint price tag. Softbank declined to comment on that potential deal. Acquiring Sprint and MetroPCS could total 2.0 trillion yen ($25.5 billion), and make Softbank the world’s No. 3 mobile player, putting it just behind China Mobile and US-based Verizon Wireless, the report said.

Softbank, little known outside Japan, is perhaps the country’s most colourful and dynamic among the major mobile carriers, headed by tech entrepreneur Masayoshi Son. Its outlets across Japan were the first to carry Apple’s iPhone and the company’s well-known television

commercials feature a talking snow-white dog-and American actor Tommy Lee Jones.

The Japanese firm plans to buy more than two-thirds of Sprint’s outstanding shares, but the Nikkei said a sharp jump in Sprint Nextel’s share price could derail the acquisition plan.

“The scale of the Sprint deal is massive and, frankly, difficult to fully dissect at this point,” said Toshiyuki Kanayama, market analyst at Monex. The news comes a week after T-Mobile USA unveiled its own plan for a merger with MetroPCS in a deal that would boost the fourth-largest US wireless carrier’s effort to compete in the fast-growing American market. T-Mobile’s parent Deutsche Telekom will hold a 74 percent stake in the new company.

Some analysts said the Softbank offer for Sprint could be part of a more complex effort to acquire MetroPCS before the T-Mobile deal is consummated.

Softbank would then be positioned to take a run on T-Mobile to create a rival with the scale to challenge the big two US

operators, AT&T and Verizon. “We are still looking for details of the deal and where the synergies will lie,” said Shinkin Asset Management fund manager Naoki Fujiwara.

“The debt burden is a concern... The scale of the prospective deal is bold, and if successful it will significantly raise Softbank’s revenue and status.” This is not Softbank’s first big-money deal.

In 2006, it bought the struggling Japanese arm of Vodafone for about 1.75 trillion yen, while earlier this month it announced plans to acquire smaller rival eAccess Ltd for $2.3 billion.

The talks come as Japanese firms increasingly eye overseas deals amid slowing domestic demand and a surging yen, which hit record highs on the dollar late last year and remains strong.

Japanese firms have spent $66 billion in 559 overseas acquisitions so far this year, and are well on the way to exceeding last year’s record of $84 billion, according to data provider Dealogic. — AFP

TOKYO: In this May 28, 2010 file photo, Softbank Corp. employees tend customers who purchased Apple’s new tablet device iPads at a Softbank store in Tokyo. Japanese cellphone company Softbank was in talks Thursday, about taking a substantial ownership stake in struggling US carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. Sprint. — AP

business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Western powers to ‘pay a price’ for sanctions: Iran TOKYO: Iran’s finance minister yesterday warned that the West would “pay a price” for sanctions on his country over its nuclear programme, while vowing to stem a severe currency crisis. Western powers have tightened economic sanctions against Tehran in recent years, sparking a drop in crucial oil exports and a collapse of its currency, pounding the economy and sending unemployment higher.

Yesterday, finance minister Shamseddin Hosseini echoed Tehran’s regular criticism of the sanctions, saying they were part of an “economic war” and warned that Western firms

would suffer as Iran moves to trade with other nations.

“The sanctions are not only affecting the Iranian economy but also other countries and foreign companies,” Hosseini told a press briefing in Tokyo, where he is attending International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings.

“Turkey has now become our important trading partner in place of Germany, while China may grab the market share that Japan used to have,” he added.

Hosseini also warned: “Those who imposed sanctions are to pay a price.”

Singapore economy shrinks 1.5% but avoids recession SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economy shrank by 1.5 percent in the third quarter but avoided a technical recession after growth in the previous three months was adjusted upwards, government figures showed yesterday. The Ministry of Trade and Industry said the exportdriven city-state was still on track to achieve annual growth of 1.5-2.5 percent in 2012.

“Economic growth in the second quarter was better than expected, resulting in an upward revision of quarter-on-quarter annualised growth from the preliminary estimates of minus 0.7 per cent to (plus) 0.2 per cent,” it said.

The revision was thanks to new data showing stronger growth in both industrial and residential building, it added. Construction expanded 14.3 percent in the June quarter instead of 0.9 percent as earlier estimated.

Two successive quarters of negative growth are regarded as a technical recession. Singapore is seen as a bellwether for Asia’s leading economies because of its sensitivity to world trade.

“Technically, we averted a recession,” Song Seng Wun, a regional economist with CIMB Research, told AFP. Jason Hughes, head of premium client management at IG Markets Singapore, described the data as “relatively good numbers for Singapore” and DBS Bank said it was maintaining its projection for the economy to grow by 1.8 percent this year.

But DBS said further tightening measures on foreign workers-a politically sensitive issue because of complaints from citizens that foreigners are taking away jobscould take the momentum off construction and other industries reliant on foreign labour.

The weak performance in the third quarter was largely due to a contraction in the manufacturing sector, a key pillar of the Singapore economy, as global demand for electronics goods declined.

“For the rest of the year, growth could be weighed down by the subdued global economic conditions,” the trade ministry said. “Externally oriented sectors such as manufacturing and wholesale trade will be affected by the slowdown in advanced economies.”

Construction and transport engineering however are expected to be healthy, it added. In a separate statement, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) maintained its policy of keeping a stronger local currency in a bid to contain inflation amid price pressures from a tight labour market.

The MAS, the country’s central bank, said there was no change to its policy band for the Singapore dollar.

It said that while Singapore’s export-oriented sectors bore the brunt of the downturn, construction and financial services were resilient.

“While there remains considerable uncertainty over the evolving fiscal situation in the US and eurozone, recent central bank policy initiatives worldwide have reduced the risk of a severe global recession,” MAS said.— AFP

Talks between Iran and major powers on the nuclear impasse have stalled for years, as Tehran insists its atomic programme is for peaceful purposes while the West accuses it of working to develop nuclear weapons.

Tehran is also under several sets of international sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council. Also yesterday, Hosseini said measures were being taken to halt a slide in the Iranian rial.

Iran has been facing a growing shortage of foreign cash, preventing the central bank from being able to support its currency on the open mar-

ket, where it has lost more than twothirds of its value since the beginning of the year.

The punitive measures have hindered the Islamic republic’s ability to repatriate much of the foreign revenues generated by its vital oil exports.

“The Iranian economy, after many years of relatively robust growth, has fallen into contraction this year,” IMF Middle East director Masood Ahmed told AFP in Tokyo. “This is due to the external shocks... the reduction of oil production and we do see as a result of that, there is an increased pressure on the economy.”— AFP

China bank lending pulls back in Sept Yuan hits record high amid US pressure BEIJING: Chinese bank lending tumbled in September, official figures showed yesterday, following a surge in the previous month on government efforts to bolster the slumping economy. Chinese banks granted 623.2 billion yuan ($99.5 billion) in new loans in September, down from 703.9 billion yuan in August, the People’s Bank of China said.

The September figure came in lower than market expectations of 665 billion yuan, according to a median forecast of 15 economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires. However, September’s number is still much higher than the 540.1 billion yuan lent out in July.

“Unexpectedly weak bank lending in September was offset by strong growth in other forms of credit,” Capital Economics economists said in a note. “But credit overall is not growing at a speed likely to fuel a significant economic rebound.”

China has been trying to encourage banks to lend more in a bid to spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy, which is suffering a slowdown caused by slumping demand in Europe and the United States as well as weak demand at home.

Policymakers have cut interest rates twice this year and trimmed the amount of cash banks must place in reserve three times since December as they try to boost growth. However, gross domestic product expanded 7.6 percent in the second quarter this year, the worst performance in three years.

Broadly weak economic data during the past three months has led to concerns the economy may have slowed further.

GDP figures for the third quarter through September are due on Thursday.

Capital Economics predicted that the third-quarter GDP growth figure would come in at about 7.1 percent.

China’s currency hit a record high against the US dollar yesterday, in what analysts said could be a response to US political pressure over claims the yuan is vastly undervalued.

The upcoming US presidential election and expectations the US government will soon release its semiannual report on exchange rate policies could have prompt-

ed Beijing to guide the yuan higher, analysts said. The yuan touched an intraday high of nearly 6.2640 to $1.0, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System, marking the highest level since 1994 when the country launched its modern foreign exchange market.

“We don’t rule out the possibility of China taking pre-emptive action ahead of the US election,” Liu Dongliang, an analyst at China Merchants Bank, told AFP. “But it’s more like this move was meant to respond to the upcoming exchange rate report,” he said, referring to the US Treasury Department’s report on exchange rate policies that will address China, among others.

China’s exchange rate is a long-running source of friction with the United States, which accuses Beijing of artificially undervaluing the yuan to boost exports.

But China claims it is moving towards greater flexibility, earlier this year letting the yuan trade against the dollar in a wider band.

US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has turned China into a campaign issue and on Thursday he renewed his vow to brand China a currency manipulator.

“The president’s had the chance year after year to label China a currency manipulator, but he hasn’t done so,” Romney said of US President Barack Obama.

When the Treasury report was last released in May this year, it stopped short of accusing China of manipulating its exchange rate, but warned its “significantly undervalued” currency was a brake on global growth.

Yesterday, China’s foreign exchange market operator set the trading midpoint for the yuan at 6.3264 to $1.0, stronger than the previous day level of 6.3391.

At 0830 GMT, the yuan was quoted at 6.2672, according to the market operator, strengthening from Thursday’s close of 6.2770.

“There is anticipation the authorities may want to send a signal and lift confidence in the domestic economy by allowing the currency to appreciate,” Jiang Shu, a foreign exchange analyst at Industrial Bank, told AFP. But Chinese officials have previously said the yuan was nearing “equilibrium” amid signs of capital flight on expectations of slowing growth in the world’s second largest economy. —AFP

HONG KONG: A trader (C) works the floor of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange yesterday. Hong Kong stocks opened 1.07 percent higher, reflecting gains on European markets and in Tokyo despite a lacklustre session on Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Index jumped 224.74 points to 21,223.79 in the first minutes of trade. — AFP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Brad Pitt becomes first male face of Chanel No.5

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Senegal reality TV show features prettiest sheep PAGES 28-29 An artist performs during an acrobatic show, yesterday in Vallon Pont díArc.— AFP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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Los Angeles jury has convicted a man of misdemeanor trespassing at the home of Miley Cyrus.

The panel on Thursday also found Jason Luis Rivera guilty of resisting arrest after he was caught at the actress and singer’s home. The 40-year-old’s sentencing is scheduled for Friday. Rivera has been jailed since his arrest Sept. 8, when authorities say he was caught at Cyrus’ home carrying a pair of scissors. Police say Rivera

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carlett Johansson appeared to be “completely flirting” with a friend of Lindsay Lohan’s on Wednesday night .The ‘Avengers Assemble’ actress was at The Electric Room in New York City, dressed down in a T-shirt and glasses, and one onlooker saw her having plenty of fun with the ‘Liz and Dick’ star’s friend, artist Domingo Zapata. An eyewitness told the New York Post: “Scarlett looked like she was completely flirting with Domingo.” Scarlett also hung out with actor Sam Rockwell who arrived at the establishment following a screening for his latest movie, ‘Seven Psychopaths’ - but her low-key look confused many of the nightspot’s revelers. One fellow partier - whose friend had to point the blonde beauty out - said: “I didn’t even recognize her.” Scarlett - who was married to Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011 appeared to be having plenty of fun without her advertising executive boyfriend Nate Naylor to the nightspot. However, she admitted earlier this year she is in a “great” place thanks to the hunk. The ‘Iron Man’ star previously said: “Everything’s been really great right now. It’s been a good time. I’ve had peace. Relative peace. I just want to work on things that are really hard, and when I’m not working on things that are really hard, I want to hang out with people I like to be with, and that’s it. I think it will be an interesting year.”

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ne of the few couples from ABC’s “The Bachelor” franchise to marry is now expecting their first child. Jason and Molly Malaney Mesnick’s baby is due in March.

People.com first reported the news. Thirty-sixyear-old Jason Mesnick confirmed the report on Twitter saying, ‘WAHOOOOOOOO!!! Molly is going to be a MOM and TY a BIG BROTHER!” Mesnick’s son Ty is from a previous marriage.

Twenty-eight-year-old Molly Mesnick also took

to Twitter saying they were excited “about the pint size peanut on the way.” The couple met on the 13th season of “The Bachelor.” Molly was actually the runner-up to the winner Melissa Rycroft. Mesnick proposed to Rycroft but ended up breaking up later, saying he still had feelings for Molly. The two married in February 2010.

told them he was a friend of the singer-actress and repeatedly threw himself against an outside wall as if trying to break in. Cyrus wasn’t home during the incident. A phone message left for Rivera’s court-appointed attorney was not immediately returned.

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he six-year-old daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes caught Olympic fever after watching the London 2012 Games and was so impressed with America’s gold winner Gabby Douglas, she wants to follow in her footsteps. A source told National Enquirer magazine: “Suri is gaga for Gabby and the whole women’s summer Olympic gymnastics team. Forget acting and modeling Suri says when she grows up she wants to be an Olympian. “She really got caught up in the excitement. She’s been taking lessons at Chelsea Piers, near Katie’s bachelorette pad for over a month and her coaches have been telling Katie and Tom their daughter has the right stuff and shows a lot of potential.” Katie and Tom who divorced earlier this year - are thought to be relived their daughter doesn’t want to follow in their footsteps and start acting. The insider said: “Despite their bitter divorce. Tom and Katie have found common ground in regard to Suri. They love that she wants to pursue something other than acting and are encouraging her to go for gold.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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olin Farrell has “eight extra hours a day” now that he has stopped drinking. The ‘Seven Psychopaths’ actor has been sober since checking in to rehab in 2006 and admitted he was shocked by how much time he had wasted before on his addictions of alcohol and drugs. He told Details magazine: “I’ve got eight hours a day now that I didn’t have before, when I was drinking every day for 18 years . . . It’s honest, it’s real. That’s quite simply the coolest thing.” While Colin is now fit and healthy, he is ashamed to admit that even the birth of his son James in 2003 didn’t make him clean up his act at first. He said: “When I had James, I made a decision not to change. I literally said, ‘I’m not changing! I’m gonna be his friend!’ Like a 28-year-old drugaddicted drunk friend is exactly what my six-week-old son needs.” He also spent most of his time lying to family and friends to cover up his excesses but says it was exhausting to keep track of his untruths. He explained: “Oh, I wouldn’t tell a truth all day. If I’d had chicken and beans for dinner, I’d tell you I had steak and potatoes. No purpose, just habit. The amount of energy you have to put in and the amount of lies you have to tell to keep a drug habit alive, it’s fairly significant. Your whole life is a lie.”

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uthorities discovered marijuana, heroin and a loaded gun on Grammy-winning rapper Nelly’s tour bus during a routine stop at a Border Patrol checkpoint in West Texas, law enforcement officials said on Thursday. A member of the singer’s entourage took responsibility for the items and was arrested after the search on Wednesday evening, while others on the bus including Nelly were released, officials said. “It is my understanding a member of my staff made an unfortunate decision to bring unlawful materials onto our tour bus that resulted in his arrest,” Nelly said in a statement on Thursday. “Neither I nor anyone else on the tour bus was aware of his decision to bring these on

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ownton Abbey’ star Joanne Froggatt has married. The 31-year-old actress - who plays housemaid Anna Bates in the period drama - wed her long-term partner James Cannon last Saturday. The church ceremony was attended by several cast members from Julian Fellowes’ award-winning show. The blonde beauty is also a married woman on-screen and is constantly trying to prove her husband; valet John Bates - played

by Brendan Coyle - didn’t murder his first wife.

Joanne will be taking a short break from her role as Anna, to settle in with her IT director husband and enjoy a relaxing honeymoon.

The actress previously admitted she was struggling to find time to plan her wedding while juggling filming commitments. She told People magazine: “This is what you hope for, really - you’ve just got to take these times and enjoy them and grasp them by the horns and go with it because there will be quiet times again in the future. But I’m enjoying every minute of it at the moment.” Joanne also revealed the ‘Downton’ cast get on brilliantly behind the scenes, and enjoy going for nights out together when filming is wrapped. She joked: “We get along like a house on fire.

There’s definitely been a few nights on the town with a bit of dancing involved.” The actress will next star as a policewoman in new film ‘Filth’ opposite James McAvoy.

board.” The incident took place at the same checkpoint where singers Willie Nelson and Fiona Apple, rapper Snoop Dogg and actor Armand Hammer have been stopped for possession of controlled substances. The checkpoint, which is not on the border, is used by the Border Patrol to check the citizenship status of motorists on Interstate 10. A spokesman for the Hudspeth County sheriff said the tour bus had pulled into the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, about 90 miles (145 km) east of El Paso, when a dog detected the presence of controlled substances. “The agent requested all seven occupants out of the bus and conducted an inspection of the vehicle,” spokesman Rusty

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Fleming told Reuters. “A search produced a small plastic container containing marijuana, 36 small bags containing heroin, and a loaded .45 pistol.”

Fleming said all of the occupants of the bus were read their Miranda rights, and a passenger on the bus, Brian Keith Jones, admitted that the controlled substances and the weapon belonged to him. Jones was arrested, Fleming said, adding that he did not know what charges he will face. Nelly, 37, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes, was born in Austin, Texas. He has performed in several movies, and Billboard magazine named him one of the top artists of the decade in 2009.

heryl Cole’s former husband has never apologized for cheating on her. The ‘Under The Sun’ singer was devastated when Ashley Cole’s numerous infidelities were revealed but although the pair have remained cordial, Cheryl revealed he never said sorry for ruining their marriage.

Speaking on Alan Carr’s ‘Chattyman’ show, she said: “He never apologized. That would have meant for him that he was wrong and justified me leaving the marriage.” Cheryl opened up about “sadness, physical pain, sickness and fury like I’d never experienced” in her autobiography ‘Cheryl: My Story’ and revealed her furious rant at Ashley where she shouted “I

hope she’s worth it. It’s the end of your marriage.” The singer - who divorced the England soccer player in 2010 - previously revealed she warned him to leave the UK when her autobiography comes out. She said: “(I ran some chapters past him) to give him a heads up.” When asked if Ashley wanted any alterations, Cheryl replied: “It wouldn’t have mattered if he did, to be quite honest. “I just thought it would be nice that I gave him the heads up so he can leave the country two weeks before.” — Agencies

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Singers Yolanda Adams and Cece Winans, bottom right, look up to an image of singer Whitney Houston after their performance onstage at “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston,” at Nokia Theatre on Thursday in Los Angeles. — AP photos

Usher performs on stage.

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Britney Spears speaks onstage.

Four-time Grammy winner Yolanda Adams (L) and 10-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans perform on stage.

Actress Halle Berry speaks onstage.

Usher performs onstage at ‘We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston.’

hitney Houston was given a final sendoff by the Grammys on Thursday as Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and other stars shared their memories and performed in homage to the late singer. Academy-award winner Berry made a tearful introduction at the “We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston” special, and praised the “unforgettable” performer. “She inspired a generation of little girls and women to believe in their own dream and to know that they had within themselves the greatest gift of all. I was one of those little girls who then became a woman who never ever, ever, stopped loving Whitney Houston,” Berry said.

The event was attended by Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, who was joined by boyfriend Nick Gordon and sister-in-law Pat Houston. Noticeably absent was Houston’s mother, Cissy, and her brother Gary. Record label executive Clive Davis, who discovered the late singer, sat alongside the family in the front row.

The tribute comes towards the end of a year in which the music world was rocked by Houston’s sudden death at age 48 in February.

She was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub on the night before the Grammy awards, from what authorities said was accidental drowning brought on by cocaine use and heart disease.

A homage to Houston was quickly put together at the Grammy awards in February with Jennifer Hudson singing a heart-felt rendition of “I Will Always Love You” on a stage lit by a single spotlight. Later in May, R&B star Jordin Sparks, who co-starred with Houston in the late singer’s final movie “Sparkle,” sang the same song at the Billboard Music Awards in tribute.

There was no mention of Houston’s turbulent personal life and history of drug abuse on Thursday as the Grammy organizers decided to focus on the late singer’s career achievements and best-known performances, including her rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1991 Superbowl.

Hudson on Thursday channeled Houston’s style from the 1980s with big hair and a glittering blazer, performing more uptempo numbers

with a medley of “I’m Every Woman,” “How Will I Know” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”.

R&B star Usher sang “I Believe In You And Me” and gospel singers Cece Winans and Yolanda Adams delivered a rousing performance of “Count On Me,” which had Houston’s family in tears.

Canadian singer Celine Dion was on the bill to perform on the night but was unable to make it, taping her rendition of “The Greatest Love Of All” in Canada to air during the televised special. The event organizers decided to leave Houston’s best-known song, “I Will Always Love You,” to the late singer, showing a tape of her singing at the 1994 Grammy awards. Presenters at the event shared their memories. Pop star and “X Factor” judge Spears said her version of Houston’s “I Have Nothing” scored her a deal with a record label and started her career. The audience were also treated to exclusive interviews from the early days of Houston’s career, showing her talking about fame, philosophy and religion.

The one-hour CBS special will be aired on November 16. — Reuters

Jennifer Hudson performs onstage.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Billboard shakes up charts to include

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Barbra Streisand fans waiting to enter the Barclays Center to see the singer in concert as she kicks off her Brooklyn shows on Thursday in New York. — AP photos

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arbra Streisand was full of Brooklyn pride as she belted out well-known tunes with passion during a concert at the newly built Barclays Center. Thursday night’s three-hour show was Streisand’s return to her hometown, where she’s also performing Saturday on her “Back to Brooklyn” tour. The 70-year-old told the crowd of 18,000 that the last time she performed solo in the New York City borough was “on somebody’s stoop on Pulaski Street” as an 8-year-old.

She entered the stage in a shimmery black blazer and long skirt, holding her hands close to the microphone as she hit the right notes on more than two dozen songs, including “People,” “Evergreen” and “The Way We Were.” “Hello Brooklyn,” she yelled. “Who said you can’t come home again, right? Just Thomas Wolfe.” A video from “summer 1979” played on a large screen as people from Streisand’s neighborhood talked about the singer, commenting on her talents, demeanor, family and even her nose.

“Purely a reflection of Brooklyn,” one woman said. As the clip closed another woman said: “Come back to Brooklyn and give us a concert.” “It might have taken me 33 years, but I’m finally here,”

Singer Barbra Streisand kicks off her concerts at the Barclays Center.

she said to the crowd. “I left Brooklyn to pursue my dreams. Brooklyn quite never left me,” she said at another time. Streisand played with the audience, often telling jokes and taking in the many screams of “I love you, Barbra!” The icon looked to the front row at a fan wearing one of her T-Shirts. “You buy it in the shop? It’s cheaper online,” she said, as people laughed. She looked to another in the crowd: “You look like Dick Cheney. See this is what happens when I see the audience, it’s not good.”

The stage beamed with purple lights, as an orchestra of 30-plus played in a pit where small blue lights were strung around them. Streisand performed sitting and standing, as a small table stood next to her where flowers and a mug with chicken soup were placed (she said she woke up with a cold). Ahead of her performance fans submitted questions to Streisand, who answered several of them onstage. One asked if she was aware that contemporary singers lip sync. “I’ve heard about that. I could never do it because I’m so bad at it. So I have to apologize because I have to sing live,” she said as the audience roared.

That question was followed with: “I’d love to know what you think of Mitt Romney’s promise to

After three years, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, left to right, of the Jonas Brothers, return to the stage with an exclusive one night only engagement on Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in New York. — AP photos

fire Big Bird.” “I love Big Bird and I hope no one tells Romney how to get to Sesame Street or Pennsylvania Avenue,” she said as the crowd cheered even louder. “He’s a good actor. He’s a good actor. A chameleon. That wasn’t Streisand’s only political moment. The Barack Obama supporter said she taped Thursday night’s vice presidential debates and couldn’t “wait to go home to watch.”

“I’m not going to tell you who to vote for, but ... if you believe in affordable health care and women’s rights ... if you want to move forward and not back, you know who to vote for,” she said.

Streisand was joined onstage by trumpeter Chris Botti, Italian operatic trio Il Volo and her 45year-old son Jason Gould, asking him before they sang a duet: “Do you need anything, like, a sweater? You need some chicken soup?” He earned a standing ovation as his mother looked on, gasping “Oh my God.” —AP

Joe Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, sings.

illboard shook up its singles charts for country, Latin and hip-hop music on Thursday by including digital download sales and streaming data from services like Spotify, Rhapsody and others in its weekly rankings. The move follows Billboard’s decision earlier this year to incorporate the fast-growing digital market into the Hot 100 singles chart, which includes all music genres. In addition, Billboard said in a statement it has launched a new chart for R&B songs that will use the same hybrid formula and will separate R&B from rap or hiphop singles.

Billboard uses data provided by Nielsen SoundScan to compile its weekly chart of the top albums and singles in dozens of different categories. The new system reflects a more inclusive approach to compiling the most popular singles in the United States.

In the past, the charts for Latin, R&B and country singles have been determined mainly by air play on radio stations that play music exclusively in respective genre. From Thursday, airplay data will be compiled from more than 1,200 radio stations across the United States under a formula that recognizes and rewards cross-over artists, such as country-pop singer Taylor Swift.

“With digital downloads hitting record highs and streaming services such as Spotify, Muve, Slacker, Rhapsody, Rdio, MOG, Sony Music Unlimited and Xbox Music continuing to grow, the impact of digital music is growing more and more pronounced,” Jim Donio, president of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), said in a statement. “We are happy to see that Billboard recognizes this trend and is taking steps to ensure that its charts will continue to serve as the industry standard well into the future,” Donio said.

— Reuters

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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fghan director Siddiq Barmak remembers watching helplessly as reel upon reel of film footage was taken outside and burned in the street after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. He also remembers the effort it took to save other films from destruction after the extremist forces marched into Kabul in 1996. Barmak and other Afghan filmmakers this week warned that efforts to save Afghanistan’s film history were being undermined by government inaction and concerns about security ahead of a planned 2014 withdrawal of US-led forces. “What is worrying all of us now is that the Taliban, the people who tried to destroy our cinema, are being talked about again as becoming part of the government,” said Barmak.

“We have seen what they can do and cannot forget this.” Barmak was joined by director Latif Ahmadi and producer Ibrahim Arify, who heads the Afghan Film organization. The filmmakers attended the Busan Film Festival in South Korea this week for a screening of an Afghanistan National Film Archive program. The six films in the program, “The Rise from the Ashes”, include examples of Barmak and Ahmadi’s work, all of which were saved from the wrath of the Taliban.

But many more reels remain in need of urgent repair,

File photo shows Afghani director Siddiq Barmak speaking as Afghan producer Arify Ibrahim listens during an open forum on Afghanistan’s cinema history on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan. — AFP they say, with time taking its toll on old film stock. “The situation is critical,” said Barmak, winner of a Golden Globe award in 2004 for “Osama”, about a girl who disguises herself as a boy. “We need help or our country’s film history, which is also the history of the country and its people, will be lost”. Barmak was working at Afghan Film, a state-backed company overseeing the national film industry and archive, when the Taliban began to implement its strict rule and attempted to destroy old film footage.

Cinemas across the country were closed and the screening of films banned under the Taliban’s enforcement of sharia law. Were it not for the quick intervention of archive staff, the building’s entire contents of feature films and more than 8,000 hours of newsreel footage dating back to before the Second World War would have been lost.

Saved by the dark Usually light is needed to bring cinema to life, but in this case it was darkness that came to the rescue, said Barmak. “After the Taliban came, Kabul was hit by power cuts. So staff told (the Taliban) that the floor where the archives were kept was being kept dark to save power,” he explained. “Then they boarded up the doors and sealed off the area. That saved everything we have left today but we still lost more than 5,000 hours of film.”

Afghan Film began the laborious process of sorting through its archives and assessing the damage in 2003, after the Taliban were ousted by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But a lack of support from the new government complicated efforts, the directors said. While interna-

tional aid has streamed into Afghanistan over the past decade, they claim little of it was channeled into art, culture and film to help reflect and curate the nation’s history. “Luckily some of the film was moved overseas and we have a restoration programme ongoing with France’s INA (the French national audiovisual institute),” said Arify. “But we are facing a serious crisis as we have nowhere near enough money to restore and save all of what we have. That’s why we are here in Busan asking for help, from anyone who will listen to us.”

‘It soon might all be lost’ Afghan cinema has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s when the country’s then-royal family first brought projectors and newsreels back from their international travels. The country’s first feature film, “Love and Friendship”, was produced in 1946, and by the early 1960s, Afghan Film had begun to educate film students and support local productions. Many young Afghan filmmakers of the time took up cinema studies in Russia, Iran and Pakistan, due to the lack of formal film education opportunities in their homeland.

Barmak was one, heading to Moscow, where he studied cinema at the Moscow Film Institute. He was there when Russian forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979, but had returned to Kabul by the time the Taliban took power after the Soviet withdrawal. He fled into Pakistan before returning to make “Osama”, the country’s first post-Taliban film, in 2003.

Arify said there were many feature films in urgent need of repair, and that the nation risked losing crucial documentation of its history if newsreels belonging to Afghan Film were left to deteriorate. “Everyone grew up watching these newsreels, they told the people’s stories and the country’s stories and they kept people informed about what had happened in the country.” Barmak said the Busan festival had given the group a chance to plead their case to the world ahead of the planned 2014 withdrawal of troops from the war against Taliban insurgents.

The United States has said it does not seek permanent bases in Afghanistan, but is expected to keep a small force in the country after 2014 for counter-terrorism operations. Details have not yet been agreed. “We know that when the people of the world think of Afghan people they think of warriors but we want the world to know about our culture and about our film culture,” said Barmak. “We want the world to know that it soon might all be lost. ”The Busan festival closes today. — AFP

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rad Pitt is set to become the first male face of Chanel No.5, a role previously filled by such fellow Hollywood luminaries as Marilyn Monroe and Nicole Kidman. A new 30-second ad campaign for the iconic women’s perfume is to be unveiled online via the French fashion house’s YouTube page at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) today and then on television later in the day.

The decision to choose Pitt to head the campaign was announced back in May. After campaigns depicting actress Estella Warren as red riding-hood, Kidman running through the streets of New York and actress Audrey Tautou aboard a luxurious night train, the sparse black and white in which Pitt appears marks a stark change. In the ad, made by British director Joe Wright, Pitt recites a poem, specially written for the campaign, to a mystery woman.

Chanel sees the ad campaign as a new direction, saying that the perfume “has to go where we are not expected”. Press reports have said that Pitt is being paid seven million dollars (5.5 million euros) for his efforts. No. 5 was created in 1921 by French perfumer Ernest Beaux, under the direction of Coco Chanel, who wanted a fragrance to complement her clothes. The most famous face of the perfume was Marilyn Monroe, who in 1953 said it was all she wore to bed.—AFP

ctor-director Ben Affleck’s latest movie tells the incredible story of Hollywood’s role in an attempt to get a group of US diplomats out of Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis.”Argo,” Affleck’s third film behind the camera, is set against the backdrop of the Iranian revolution and the international standoff in which 52 Americans were held in Tehran for more than a year. The subject matter has clear topical resonance: the hostage crisis helped eject Jimmy Carter from the White House, and President Barack Obama, battling for re-election, is now facing pressure over attacks on US missions abroad.

But the 40-year-old Hollywood star says it was never his intention for the film-produced by George Clooney and out this weekend in North America, less than four weeks before the November 6 election-to be caught up in politics. “It was always important to us to let the movie not be politicized.

We tried to make it very factual, fact-based, because it was coming up before the election in the US, when a lot of things get politicized,” he said. The real-life story-which was classified for years, and only became public in 1997 — starts with the US embassy in Tehran being seized by revolutionaries, who went on to hold 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

The Democratic Carter’s mishandling of the crisis led to his defeat by Republican Ronald Reagan the following year.

As the mission was stormed, a handful of diplomats managed to escape through a secret exit and took refuge in the Canadian embassy. They were out of Iranian hands, but the next question was how to get them out of the country.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer Tony Mendez proposed a solution, which at first seemed far-fetched, but was eventually accepted.

The idea was to mount a fictitious Hollywood science fiction movie production, ask Tehran for visas to scout for filming locations-and then get the diplomats out of the country disguised as film crew members. “When I saw the script, I couldn’t believe how good it was,” Affleck told reporters, presenting the movie in Beverly Hills ahead of its release.

“What struck me almost right away was that we had this thriller, and in equal measure this kind of comic Hollywood satire and this really sort of intricate real-life CIA spy story, all based on truth.”Affleck plays Mendez, a real-life former spy who was heavily involved in the movie’s production and even makes a brief appearance on screen.”It was really inspiring to meet Tony. He was steeped in this movie. It was Tony’s story, Tony’s point of view,” said Affleck.—AFP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

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BC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” is bringing back 13 players fired from past “Apprentice” contests, plus one notable winner, in the first-ever “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.” “We wouldn’t have done the ‘All-Star’ concept unless we were able to get the right contestants back,” said Donald Trump, the host and boardroom boss who once again will be pronouncing each contestant’s fate.

The series, which on Monday starts shooting this new season for a March 2013 premiere, announced its slate of 14 contenders Friday morning.

They include country music star Trace Adkins. actor Stephen Baldwin. actor Gary Busey. magician and illusionist Penn Jillette.

DJ artist and rap star Lil Jon. NBA Hall-of-Famer Dennis Rodman.

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. actress and author Marilu Henner. singer La Toya Jackson.

TV personality and actress Claudia Jordan. reality star Omarosa, who competed in the first, pre-celebrity edition of “The Apprentice.”

• actress and author Lisa Rinna.

• Playboy Playmate of the Year Brande Roderick.

• plus Poison frontman Bret Michaels, who in 2010 emerged as the winner despite life- threatening ailments that included a brain hemorrhage and hospitalization for what doctors called a warning stroke.

“They’re all very smart, and I think they learned a lot from their last go-around,” Trump told The Associated Press. “This time, some of them will change their game to fool their rivals - some for better, some for worse.” The winner, as usual, will collect $250,000 to donate to his or her chosen charity. Trump was asked whether, beneath the tough manner he displays for each contender in the boardroom, he has secret favorites in the race.

“Absolutely, I do,” he replied. “Some people I like much more than others. I’m a human being, so I have my likes and my dislikes.

But I don’t let that cloud my judgment. If I like somebody but somebody deserves to be fired, I’ll always fire them, as opposed to somebody that I don’t like if they don’t deserve it. I would lose total credibility if I did otherwise.” The upcoming season will be the 13th for the overall “Apprentice” franchise, a track record that amazes Trump.

“Who would have thought?” he marveled. “When we first signed for it, they didn’t even take an option (for more seasons). No one thought it would go any further.” It did, catching on with its debut in winter 2004, as Trump introduced “You’re fired” to the treasury of TV catchphrases. Since then, he said, it’s been lucrative and fun.

“My business is real estate, but the show has been an amazing experience,” he said, “good in every way.” It’s also been, in some fashion, a learning experience. The main thing he’s learned? “You can never predict,” he replied. “I’ll see a contestant come out, and you would say they’re going to win, on the first day. And then they’re the first one fired.” But there’s been one other thing he’s discovered: the impact of his exposure on TV. “I was very well-known before the show,” he said, “but, frankly, I used to be able to walk outside.—AP • • • • • • • • • • • In this handout photo of the Salvador Dali painting ‘Bed and Two Bedside Tables Ferociously Attacking a Cello’, it is one of 12 works loaned for a temporary exhibit to the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Fla, from the National Collection of Modern Art in Spain. — AP

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n the mid-1920s, a young Salvador Dali was searching for his style. He painted a startlingly lifelike basket of bread in a typical Renaissance form. He dabbled in cubism and painted in abstract black, white and gray. He also painted a scene in 1925 that he called “Desnudo en el Agua” (Nude in the Water), which gives an inkling of the surrealist genius to come. The painting is a close-up of a woman’s shapely buttocks, and the unique perspective reveals that Dali was looking at subjects and paintings in a whole new way as a young artist.

“He’s not doing an academic perspective,” wryly notes Hank Hine, the director of the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg. That subtly erotic work, along with 11 others, is on display at the Florida museum until March 31, 2013 in a show called “The Royal Inheritance: Dal? Works From the Spanish National Collection.” The paintings, which span from 1918 to 1983, have never before been exhibited the United States. The works are on loan from the National Collection of Modern Art in Spain.

It’s an exhibit that merges the vast permanent collection housed in St Petersburg - which was amassed by one couple from Cleveland who befriended the artist - with works owned by the Spanish Kingdom, which inherited Dali’s estate after he died in 1989. For a visitor to the museum in St Petersburg, it means a well-rounded and fun romp

File photo shows visitors walk outside the new Salvador Dali museum after grand opening ceremonies in St Petersburg. — AP

through Dali’s vast body of work.

Hine said the Florida museum was able to acquire the Spanish loans in exchange for collaborating on another Dali exhibition, one at the Centre Pompidou in Paris on Nov 21.

The show will also be shown in Madrid starting April 23, 2013. “The world has a huge appetite for Dali,” said Hine.

“He’s lastingly exciting.” That appetite for his surrealist paintings, and the desire to see the striking new museum, has sparked an arts renaissance in St. Petersburg. The museum moved into a $36 million glass-and-concrete building along the city’s waterfront on January 11, 2011, and has welcomed an average of 1,000 people a day since opening.

The museum’s signature detail is a wave of glass paneling that undulates around the building - a feature that was designed by architect Yann Weymouth, who had a hand in creating the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris. There’s also a helix-like concrete staircase that stretches from the ticket counter to the third floor, and a cafe that serves smooth glasses of Spanish wine and traditional olives.

The biggest visitor demographic, said Hine, is the 18-30 age group - which is interesting considering that St. Petersburg has been long known as a retirement haven.

And 25 percent of the Dali’s visitors have never been to a museum before, he said. “They don’t feel like they have to know anything about art to come here,” said Hine. “Dali’s works are whimsical, and charming.” Yet even without knowing much about art, visitors can appreciate Dali’s genius, talent and, some would say, madness.

In the new exhibit, one of Dali’s paintings from late in his career - 1983’s “Bed and Two Bedside Tables Ferociously Attacking a Cello” - is a frenzy of strange. Two paintings from 1975-76 titled “Las Meninas” are Dali’s version of Velazquez’s timeless classic 17th century portrait of a young Spanish princess and her entourage; Dali recreated them in 3-D stereoscopic view. (Hint: look at both, cross-eyed).

There’s also a soft, traditional still life from 1918, painted when Dali was only 14. That’s the beauty of the museum and the exhibit: the visitor learns that Dali wasn’t just a master of shocking images. He was a well-rounded, curious and prolific artist who constantly questioned everything - from religion to politics to his own memories.—AP

File photo shows ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ host Donald Trump arrives for the NBC network upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall, in New York. — AP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Spectators look on as handlers coax ram Goor around the ring during the SICAP neighborhood regional final of the Khar Bii competition, which seeks to find the best sheep in Senegal ahead of the Eid al-Adha. — AP photos

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he street level of Ousmane Ndiaye’s building features a fabric shop. He and his family live in a posh apartment on the second floor. Their upstairs neighbors? His beloved ram Billal and 10 other sheep. Here his animals prance on a sunny outdoor terrace well above the commotion of buses and vendors below, and only rarely use the building’s winding staircase.

Billal is fed the family’s dinner leftovers, and Ndiaye jokes that his wife is jealous of his sheep. The family even foregoes potential rental income by leaving the upper level of their building unfinished. “I could rent this place out for 250,000 francs ($500) a month, but I prefer to keep Billal and my sheep here,” says Ndiaye, 60, sporting a royal blue boubou as he strokes the head of the sheep he hopes will become a reality television star.

In a nation where sheep are given names and kept inside homes as companion animals, the most popular television show is “Khar Bii,” or literally, “This Sheep,” in the local Wolof language.

It’s an American Idol-style nationwide search for Senegal’s most perfect specimen. Now in its fourth season, the show airs several times a week in the months leading up to Eid al-Adha, or Tabaski, as it’s known here. The feast of sacrifice is when Muslims

A sheep nuzzles the hand of prizewinning sheep breeder Ousmane Ndiaye as he explains the pedigree of each of his dozen animals.

around the world slaughter animals in remembrance of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son. In Senegal, the sheep’s ties to the important religious holiday have made them a part of many urban families in this predominantly Muslim country of 12.8 million people. Still, every family that can sacrifices a ram at Tabaski, when an estimated 712,000 sheep will be purchased for slaughter. Some 240,000 of those are in the Dakar region alone, where supermarkets are already offering scratch tickets for a chance to win a free Tabaski sheep. “The Senegalese are really into their sheep,” says Fadilou Keita, 28, who lives with six of them by night at his Dakar home. The financial analyst carries his iPad in one hand and sticks his other in the mouth of Aziz to drag him toward the weigh-in scale. “This is my passion.”

Abdou Aziz Mare uses an umbrella to protect his sheep Dogo from the sun, as he walks him around the ring during the final judging portion.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Ma Ibra Diagne presents ram Sall in front of the panel of judges.

A spectator uses a tablet to photograph breeders and their rams as the competitors await the judges’ final decisions.

Dogo Ndiaye displays ram Papis General for the panel of four judges.

loud beats of a drum circle.

An audience in white plastic lawn chairs waves fans in the heat as the announcer calls out each animal’s measurements and owner’s name. Each ram competing on “Khar Bii” is graded on a series of physical criteria - including up to five points awarded for the symmetry of its testicles and another 5 points possible for the quality of its coat. How well the sheep marches with his owner is another 10 points. And overall size is key: Papis General Fall at 225 pounds (102 kilograms) failed to advance, and the neighborhood prize went to Alassane - a ram weighing in at 280 pounds (127 kilograms). The victor had a snow-white coat and red collar with his name embroidered in green and yellow letters - the colors of the Senegalese flag. Even for the sheep who don’t win cash prizes, there is still plenty of love. Lamine Diop, a 33year-old post office worker, keeps a photo of Eto’o on his cell phone. “I treat him like a brother,” Diop says of the animal named for Cameroonian soccer player Samuel Eto’o. “A sheep is a part of the family. When the sheep is sick, it’s like a member of the family is sick.” — AP

Sheep looks through a gate as breeder Ousmane Ndiaye, unseen, feeds his youngest sheep in a separate bowl in the sheltered rooftop pens he has specially constructed atop his home.

The finalists from each region of the country now face off later this month for a chance to win 2,000,000 francs ($4,000) and the extra prestige to their future breeding credentials, said veterinarian Dr Mamadou Ba, a consultant for one of the program’s sponsors. The TV show’s Facebook page has nearly 9,000 fans.

The sheer volume of entries and its loyal viewership are testaments to just how much the Senegalese love their sheep. As the country has urbanized, many have kept alive the tradition of sheep raising. It’s not unusual to see them grazing in an urban traffic circle or seeking shade near cars at a taxi rank. The TV show “Khar Bii” follows a team of judges as they make housecalls to scope out potential candidates for regional finals. Trekking down sandy side streets and up on to rooftops, the crews set off in search of an animal with both size and composure.

In one Dakar neighborhood, the “Khar Bii” team ducks under lines of clothes drying in a courtyard reeking of urine until the ram named Cherif is brought out of his pen. A staffer with a face mask uses a rectal thermometer to be sure the animal is healthy enough for the competition. It takes a total of four people to keep Cherif still while they measure him in length. The finalists from home visits then square off at regional finals, where one doting owner even brought a special umbrella to protect his sheep Dogo from the blazing sun overhead. “Some people love cats, some people love dogs. Here we have sheep,” says Abou Aziz Mare, 27, who says he spends three to four hours a day on his terrace with his animals. “I live with him like a close friend,” he says of Dogo.

Samba Fall, 44, keeps seven sheep at his home in Dakar’s Medina neighborhood though his clear favorite is blue-eyed Papis General Fall. “He is like my little son,” Fall says, stroking Papis between his horns. “I prefer being with my sheep to being with people. Sheep don’t talk about insignificant things.” Some sheep in Senegal’s capital are fed cardboard cartons to line their bellies or are forced to scrounge for trash. Fall says he spoils his sheep by mixing up a medley of corn, millet, beans and sorghum. “Across the house he hears the pieces dropping into the bowl and comes to find me,” he says with a proud smile.

Papis General Fall is among the nine finalists in one Dakar neighborhood when he is led out of his pen on a rope and brought past the judges before being given a bag of food to keep him busy while the other finalists are trotted out one by one to the

A traditional dancer dressed as a ram performs during the SICAP neighborhood regional final.

Dogo Ndiaye strokes ram Papis General as competitors await the judges’ final decisions.

The panel of four judges presents its scores for a ram contestant.

technology

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

A diamond bigger than Earth?

Diamond planet found by US-Franco research team LONDON: Forget the diamond as big as the Ritz. This one’s bigger than planet Earth. Orbiting a star that is visible to the naked eye, astronomers have discovered a planet twice the size of our own made largely out of diamond. The rocky planet, called ‘55 Cancri e’, orbits a sun-like star in the constellation of Cancer and is moving so fast that a year there lasts a mere 18 hours.

Discovered by a US-Franco research team, its radius is twice that of Earth’s but it is much more dense with a mass eight times greater. It is also incredibly hot, with temperatures on its surface reaching 3,900 degrees Fahrenheit. “The surface of this planet is likely covered in graphite and diamond rather than water and granite,” said Nikku Madhusudhan, the Yale researcher whose findings are due to be published in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The study - with Olivier Mousis at the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie in Toulose, France - estimates that at least a third of the planet’s mass, the equivalent of about three Earth masses, could be diamond. Diamond planets have been spotted before but this is the first time one has been seen orbiting a sun-like star and studied in such detail. “This is our first glimpse of a rocky world with a fundamentally different chemistry from Earth,” Madhusudhan said, adding that the discovery of the carbon-rich planet meant distant rocky planets could no longer be assumed to have chemical constituents, interiors, atmospheres, or biologies similar to Earth.

David Spergel, an astronomer at Princeton University, said it was relatively simple to work out the basic structure and history of a star once you know its mass and age. “Planets are much more complex. This ‘diamond-rich super-Earth’ is likely just one example of the rich sets of discoveries that await us as we begin to explore planets around nearby stars.”

“Nearby” is a relative concept in astronomy. Any fortune-hunter not dissuaded by “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz”, F.Scott Fitzgerald’s jazz age morality tale of thwarted greed, will find Cancri e about 40 light years, or 230 trillion miles, from Park Avenue. — Reuters

Mars rover makes surprising rock find CAPE CANAVERAL: When scientists selected a rock to test the Mars rover Curiosity’s laser, they expected it to contain the same minerals as rocks found elsewhere on the Red Planet, but learned instead it was more similar to a rock found on Earth. The rock was chemically more akin to an unusual type of rock found on oceanic islands like Hawaii and St Helena, as well as in continental rift zones like the Rio Grande, which extends from Colorado to Chihuahua, Mexico. “It was a bit of a surprise, what we found with this rock,” Curiosity scientist Ralf Gellert of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, told reporters on a conference call Thursday.

“It’s igneous,” Gellert said, referring to rock formed from molten material. “But it seems to be a new kind of rock type that we encountered on Mars.” Curiosity arrived on Mars two months ago to learn if the most Earth-like planet in the solar system was suitable for microbial life. Last month, Curiosity’s laser was used to zap the football-sized rock and the rover analyzed the pulverized material, as well as tiny pits left behind, to determine its chemical composition.

Scientists found the rock lacks magnesium and iron elements found in igneous rock examined by previous Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. The rock, named after a Jet Propulsion Laboratory rover engineer, Jake Matijevic, who died shortly after Curiosity’s landing, was also rich in feldspar-like minerals, which provided clues about the rock’s history. — Reuters

Endeavour set for road trip to Los Angeles home LOS ANGELES: The retired space shuttle Endeavour was getting set on Thursday for a road trip unlike any of its previous journeys, one that will see it crawl through the streets of Los Angeles instead of hurtling through the solitary reaches of space.

Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport at about 2 am yesterday as it begins a two-day ground journey atop a massive wheeled transporter to its final resting place at the California Science Center on the edge of downtown.

“It’s a working piece of American history. It’s a fantastic technical innovation. It represents the very best, I think, of what people can do when they decide to cooperate and do good things,” said Ken Phillips, aerospace curator at the science center, where the hulking craft will go on public display. The California Science Center beat out a number of other institutions when NASA chose it as the permanent home for the 80-ton winged spaceship that flew from 1992 to 2011.

Endeavour has hop-scotched across the country from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the back of a modified Boeing 747. Spectators have cheered and wept at the sight of the space vehicle, which was taken out of service due to the historic end of the NASA shuttle program that began with a launch in 1981. Endeavour has been parked at Los Angeles International Airport since Sept 21, when it arrived there after a ceremonial piggyback flight around California.

Workers have felled 400 curbside trees along Endeavour’s 12-mile land path to ease its road journey. The

California Science Center will plant more than 1,000 trees along the route in place of those uprooted. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry said that when the Endeavour flew over the city last month, she and her colleagues ran up to the roof of City Hall where they watched it with tears in their eyes.

Star at a rally Perry said she remained apprehensive about the road journey, when she said Endeavour will pass through intersections with as little as 6 inches of clearance. She also anticipates large crowds along the way. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the space shuttle come down your neighborhood street,” Perry said. “How often does that happen?” Los Angeles police plan to begin closing streets as early as 10 pm on Thursday to prepare for what organizers are calling “Mission 26,” in

reference to the shuttle’s 25 previous missions into space. Soon after rolling out of the Los Angeles airport, the shuttle will pass through the nearby city of Inglewood where on Saturday morning it will be star in a massive rally outside an arena where the Los Angeles Lakers once played. Later that day, it will stop at a shopping mall in south Los Angeles where officials will speak and a dance academy started by “Fame” actress Debbie Allen will perform. Once it finally arrives at the California Science Center, it will be put on display for the public in a hangerstyle metal structure to protect it from the elements, Phillips said. But that is only temporary. The California Science Center plans to build a pavilion around the shuttle that will open in 2017 with Endeavour standing vertically in the middle of it, Phillips said. The other space ships from the shuttle program also each have a home. — Reuters

EBay unveils big redesign with a nod to Pinterest NEW YORK: eBay has redesigned its website to encourage visitors to browse and collect items they might want to buy later with something it calls the “feed.” The feature, reminiscent of popular sites like image-heavy Pinterest, shows users items based on things they purchased in the past or items they’ve clicked on the site. Shoppers can also edit their feed by adding or removing categories and individual items. Ebay’s old search feature - which helps shoppers who already know what they are looking for - is not going away. Rather, the company says it wants online shopping feel more like window-shopping or browsing in a brick-and-mortar store.

San Jose, Calif -based eBay Inc. unveiled the new site Wednesday at an event in New York’s trendy Meatpacking district. It will be available to eBay’s US users gradually over the next 100 days and to international users after that. EBay says it has 105 million active users worldwide. And it has about 25 million sellers ranging from large brands to individuals. The company is also launching a smartphone and tablet computer app called eBay Now. The app lets people order items from retailers such as Macy’s, Target and Walgreens. In most cases, eBay promises delivery within an hour. eBay Now is being tested in San Francisco but the company will likely roll it out elsewhere in the future.

The company also simplified its shopping site so that it takes fewer clicks of the mouse to buy items. The redesign also looks cleaner and with larger photos than the previous version.

In addition, the company has been testing a service called Lifestyle Deals, which offers Groupon-style daily deals in select cities such as San Francisco, Boston and New York. — AP

technology

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

World’s biggest book fair studies classroom of future FRANKFURT: The digital world is knocking at the classroom door, but it is not simply a matter of shifting from paper to screen, educational experts and interactive content producers warn. While portable devices such as the smartphone and tablet computer have revolutionized daily life for millions of people by enabling access to the Internet, schools have largely remained untouched by new technology. But children, who are one of the central themes of the Frankfurt Book Fair this year, paradoxically tend to be more savvy at handling the devices and are sometimes viewed as intuitively digital.

The fair, which attracts publishers, authors, translators and multimedia companies from more than 100 countries, can experience what a classroom of the future might look like, with biology or chemistry

brought to life on a screen thanks to 3D glasses and a remote control.

However, experts believe schools will not switch to digital overnight and that any transition would not be without growing pains. US consultant on education and digital matters Ron Reed said there was “a precious limited number of minutes in a day” when meaningful interaction occurred between a teacher and a student.

“So there is a requirement that the content or the tool must contribute, and it must be more than a ‘nice to have’, it must be ‘must have’ and replace something with greater efficiency and power,” he said. He warned against focusing only on a digital transition rather than a change in the overall way children learn. “It’s clearly about methodology, not just tools, and it needs to be not about products, it needs to be

Apple gets OK to use Swiss railway clock design ZURICH: Apple, sensitive about protecting its own designs, has struck a deal to use Swiss railway operator SBB’s trademark station clock design on iPads and iPhones. SBB, which holds the trademark for a 1944 design by Zurich-born engineer Hans Hilfiker, said last month it might challenge the US company after the clock appeared on a new operating system for the iPad. “For the use of the clockface on certain Apple devices such as iPads and iPhones, the parties have negotiated an arrangement that enables Apple to use the SBB station clock under a licence agreement,” SBB said yesterday.

The cost of the licensing fee and further detail of the agreement will remain confidential. “It is a design icon that has obviously lost none of its appeal in the digital age,” the SBB said. “Even now, it symbolizes the innovation and reliability that are key qualities attributed to both SBB and Switzerland as a whole.” Hilfiker designed the minimalist clock to help travelers check the time at a distance while hurrying to catch trains.

In 1953, he added a red second hand in the shape of a railway guard’s signaling disc, which pauses briefly at the top of each minute “to enable trains to depart punctually”, as he put it.

The Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York both included Hilfiker’s clock among examples of outstanding 20th-century design.

Apple won a sweeping legal victory in August when a US jury found Samsung Electronics had copied critical features of the iPad and iPhone. —Reuters

Apple likely to unveil iPad mini on Oct 23 NEWYORK: Apple Inc is expected to take the wraps off its highly anticipated mini iPad at an Oct 23 invitation-only event, reported tech blog AllThingsD yesterday, citing sources familiar with the company. The event would come before Microsoft Corp unveils its latest operating system, Windows 8, and its new Surface tablet on Oct 26.

An Apple spokesman did not immediately respond for comment. Speculation has been swirling for months that Apple was planning a smaller, less expensive version of its popular iPad to take on cheaper competing devices. —Reuters

about practices,” he said.

Even with the advent of new technology in the classroom, experts believe the role of the teacher will not gradually disappear and will continue to be key to learning, albeit with digitalized backup. “You still need supportive teachers and good teaching... without that, technology would become nothing more than a distraction in the classroom,” said Linda Zecher, chief executive of school book publishers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). First, though, steps to equip schools with the technology are needed.

Several years ago Portugal sold hundreds of thousands of computers for 50 euros ($65) each to schoolchildren and consequently saw improvements in its school performance tables, according to Kirstin Panton of Microsoft Partners in Learning, which promotes new tech-

nology in education. And, say the experts, teachers need the training to ensure that embracing the new technology bears fruit. Four schools in the US state of California used a curriculum developed on the i-Pad

by HMH to teach algebra, Zecher said, noting that when it was correctly implemented, students’ results increased markedly, whereas no improvement was seen when it was poorly put into practice.

And Lewis Bronze, chief executive and co-founder of Espresson Education, a company offering interactive content to teachers and schools, stressed the need to follow up once the devices were in schools.

“Commercial companies which sell products to schools have the responsibility not to just sell and walk away, but to help the teachers implement the products that we sold them,” he said. —AFP

Samsung introduces compact Galaxy smartphone Mini’s screen is the same size as the iPhone 5 SEOUL: Samsung Electronics yesterday unveiled a compact version of its flagship Galaxy S III smartphone, with a touch screen sized to match that of arch-rival Apple’s new iPhone 5. The Galaxy S III Mini has a four inch highdefinition touch screen, compared to the 4.8 inch version on it’s larger Samsung sibling, but the size reduction is offered at a technical price. The display has a lower resolution of 800x480 pixels compared to 1,280x720 pixels, the camera is five rather than eight megapixels and the S III’s dual-core 1.5GHz processor has been downgraded to 1GHz. “It can be an optimal choice for consumers who are looking for more practical smartphones,” Samsung said in statement. The company gave no details on pricing or an eventual sales date. The Mini’s screen is the same size as the iPhone 5 launched last month by Apple, but its reduced feature set makes it more of a corner man in the heavyweight clash between the iPhone 5 and the S III. Samsung and Apple are currently embroiled in a bitter legal battle spread over 10 countries over alleged patent infringements.

Initial reactions to the new Samsung product were underwhelming. “The only iPhone it may be capable of beating is the 3GS from 2009,” said a review in the Los Angeles Times, which said the Mini’s inability to connect with 4G networks was “unacceptable for any phone trying to be a major player”. Wired magazine bemoaned the lower resolution on the touch screen and said the final product was a “big compromise in a small package”.

But some industry analysts said

comparisons with the features boasted by top-end smartphones were missing the point.

“This is a lower-end product and it is not really a competitor for iPhone 5,” said James Song, a tech analyst at Daewoo Securities. The Mini does boast many of the same software features as the S III. It is powered by the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system, packed with S Voice, a language recognition software, and Smart Stay which keeps the screen lit as long as you are looking at it.

Other features include direct call, which enables you to automatically

dial a call simply by lifting the phone to your ear when reading a text message from your friend. S Beam allows the user to share music files between Galaxy S III series and Galaxy Note II devices simply by tapping the phones together. Shin Jong-Kyun, who leads Samsung’s IT and Mobile Communications Division, told reporters earlier this week that the Mini was aimed at meeting strong demand in Europe for smartphones with four inch screens. “Some people call the new model a lower-end version of the Galaxy S III but we prefer the mini tag,” Shin said. —AFP

CINEMA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

IKTUWA

KNCC PROGRAM FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (11/10/2012 TO 17/10/2012) SHARQIA-1 THE APPARITION :2D FRI THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:05 AM

FANAR-4 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-5 THE WORDS THE APPARITION THE WORDS THE APPARITION THE WORDS THE APPARITION NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

SHARQIA-2 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-3 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-1 THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE APPARITION :2D THE WORDS :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-1 THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-2 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET WON’T BACK DOWN :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:30 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-2 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

1:30 PM

AVENUES-1 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:15 PM 6:00 PM 8:45 PM 11:30 PM

MUHALAB-3 TAKEN2 :2D FRI HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-1 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-2 WON’T BACK DOWN :2D DREDD :3D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-3 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 1:00 AM

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM

AVENUES-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-3 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-4 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-5 TAKEN2 :2D 12:30 PM TAKEN2 :2D 2:45 PM NO SAT (13/10/2012) Special Show “THE EXPENDABLES 2(2D-Digital)” for Ms. Rana Al Bassam 2:45 PM SAT (13/10/2012) TAKEN2 :2D 5:00 PM TAKEN2 :2D 7:15 PM TAKEN2 :2D 9:30 PM TAKEN2 :2D 11:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-6 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-7 TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) ENGLISH VINGLISH :2D (Hindi) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-8 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-9 THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-10 THE WORDS :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WORDS :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WORDS :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-11 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360º- 1 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO TUE (16.10.2012) French Film Festival Show “The Intouchables” TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

360º- 2 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 3 THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 4 THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

360 º- 5 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM FRI+SAT WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED 360 º- 6 BAIT (3D- Digital) DREDD :3D BAIT (3D- Digital) DREDD :3D BAIT (3D- Digital) DREDD :3D NO SUN+TUE+WED 360 º- 7 WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WORDS :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D NO WED (17.10.2012) French Film Festival Show “The Artist” WED (17.10.2012) French Film Festival Show “War is declared” WED (17.10.2012) THE WORDS :2D NO WED (17.10.2012) WON’T BACK DOWN :2D

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

1:45 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM

360 º- 8 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360 º- 9(VIP-1) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360 º-10(VIP-2) TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

TV listings

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

00:45 Buggin’ With Ruud 01:35 I’m Alive 02:25 Air Jaws Apocalypse 03:15 Beast Lands 04:05 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 04:55 Animal Battlegrounds 05:20 Dark Days In Monkey City 05:45 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Talk To The Animals 07:25 Dogs 101 08:15 Crocodile Hunter 09:10 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 10:05 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 10:30 Breed All About It 11:00 Natural Born Hunters 11:25 The Really Wild Show 11:55 Wildest Arctic 12:50 The Magic Of The Big Blue 13:45 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 14:40 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 17:25 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 18:20 Wild France 19:15 Wild France 20:10 Into The Dragon’s Lair 21:05 Wildest Arctic 22:00 Bad Dog 22:55 Cats 101 23:50 I’m Alive

00:30 01:25 02:55 03:50 04:45 05:10 06:05 07:00 07:25 11:45 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:45 16:40 17:30 20:05 21:00 23:25

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:10 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:10 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:10 10:30 11:00 11:10 11:30 12:00 12:10 13:00 13:10 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:10 15:30 16:00 16:15 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:10 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:15 21:30

Antiques Roadshow Fantasy Homes By The Sea Living In The Sun Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 MasterChef Living In The Sun MasterChef Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 Antiques Roadshow Gok’s Fashion Fix Gok’s Fashion Fix Bargain Hunt Bargain Hunt Gok’s Fashion Fix Gok’s Fashion Fix Antiques Roadshow Antiques Roadshow Gok’s Clothes Roadshow Gok’s Clothes Roadshow

BBC World News America BBC World News Newsnight BBC World News Talking Books BBC World News Weekend World One Day In BBC World News Horizons BBC World News World Features The Ideas Exchange BBC World News Fast Track BBC World News Working Lives BBC World News Middle East Business Report BBC World News Click BBC World News Weekend World One Day In BBC World News Football Focus Horizons BBC World News The World Debate BBC World News World Features Newsnight BBC World News Talking Books BBC World News Weekend World One Square Mile BBC World News Sport Today Fast Track BBC World News Dateline London BBC World News World Features The Ideas Exchange BBC World News Final Score BBC World News Working Lives BBC World News Sport Today Fast Track

22:00 22:30 23:00 23:10 23:30

BBC World News Click BBC World News World Features Dateline London

00:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 00:55 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 01:20 Foster’s Home For...

01:45 Foster’s Home For...

02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 The Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10 05:30 Ben 10 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:30 Casper’s Scare School 07:00 The Marvelous Misadventures...

07:25 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu 07:45 Grim Adventures Of...

08:35 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:55 Level Up 09:20 Evil Con Carne 09:35 Transformers Prime 10:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 10:25 Regular Show 11:15 Adventure Time 11:40 The Amazing World Of Gumball 12:05 Johnny Test 12:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 12:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 13:20 The Powerpuff Girls 14:10 Green Lantern: The Animated Series 14:35 Transformers Prime 15:00 Angelo Rules 15:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 16:15 Generator Rex

16:40 Eliot Kid 17:30 Regular Show 18:20 Adventure Time 18:45 The Amazing World Of Gumball 19:10 Johnny Test 19:35 Ben 10: Alien Force 20:00 Ben 10: Alien Force 20:25 The Powerpuff Girls 21:15 Grim Adventures Of...

22:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 22:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 22:50 The Powerpuff Girls 23:40 Chowder

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Grave Encounters-PG15 Empire-18 Road To Perdition-18 Aeon Flux-PG15 Inside Out-PG15 Lords Of Dogtown-PG15 Ong Bak 2-PG15 Inside Out-PG15 Last Breath-PG15 Ong Bak 2-PG15 Full Metal Jacket-18 Constantine-PG15

01:00 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard-18 03:00 My Sassy Girl-PG15 05:00 Shanghai-PG15 07:00 Legend Of The Guardians-PG 09:00 Win Win-PG15 11:00 Ice Age-FAM 13:00 Water For Elephants-PG15 15:00 Page Eight-PG15 17:00 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 19:00 Restless-PG15 21:00 Winter’s Bone-18 23:00 Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star-18

01:30 Weeds 02:00 Girls 03:00 Friends With Benefits 03:30 Friends With Benefits 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Friends With Benefits 09:30 The Simpsons 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Friends 12:30 Two And A Half Men 14:00 Friends With Benefits 15:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Bent 18:30 Bent 19:00 The Simpsons 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30

The X Factor U.S. Glee Survivor: Philippines Glee The Tudors Good Morning America The View Emmerdale Coronation Street

09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

The Ellen DeGeneres Show White Collar The View The X Factor U.S. Glee Perception Live Good Morning America White Collar Emmerdale Coronation Street House C.S.I. C.S.I. Miami Breakout Kings The Tudors

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 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

White Collar Survivor: Philippines Perception Grimm The X Factor U.S. Perception White Collar Emmerdale Coronation Street Castle Glee The X Factor U.S. Survivor: Philippines Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle White Collar Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle House C.S.I. C.S.I. Miami Breakout Kings Grimm

01:00 RoboCop 2-PG15 03:00 Sleep Dealer-18 05:00 Ip Man 2-PG15 07:00 The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen-PG15 09:00 Returner-PG15 11:00 Ip Man 2-PG15 13:00 Rocky IV-PG15 15:00 Returner-PG15 17:00 Law Abiding Citizen-18 19:00 And Soon The Darkness-PG15 21:00 Constantine-PG15 23:00 The Echo-18

00:00 Love And Other Drugs-R 02:00 40 Days And 40 Nights-18 04:00 Cool Runnings-PG15 06:00 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son-PG15 08:00 The Lightkeepers-PG15 10:00 Hitch-PG15 12:00 Baby Geniuses-PG 14:00 Life As We Know It-PG15 16:00 Hitch-PG15 18:00 Burke And Hare-PG15 20:00 The Dilemma-PG15 22:00 The Men Who Stare At Goats18

01:30 03:30 05:30 08:00 09:30 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

INSIDE OUT ON OSN ACTION HD

Gal-18 Sea Of Love-18 Scent Of A Woman-18 Family Gathering-PG15 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 Love The Beast-PG Country Strong-PG15 A Trace Of Danger-PG15 Coyote Ugly-PG15 Film Socialisme-PG15 Somewhere-18 The Great Gatsby-PG

00:00 Daydream Nation-PG15 01:45 Moneyball-PG15 05:00 Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl-PG 07:00 The Winning Season-PG15 09:00 Red-PG15 11:00 The Conspirator-PG15 13:00 Marion Jones: Press PausePG15 14:00 The Muppets-PG 16:00 Red-PG15

18:00 Rise Of The Planet Of The ApesPG15 20:00 Coriolanus-PG15 22:15 Horrible Bosses-18

00:00 Winner & The Golden Child: Part II-FAM 02:00 Moomins And The Comet Chase-FAM 04:00 The Hairy Tooth Fairy 2-PG 06:00 Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl-PG 08:00 Free Birds-FAM 10:00 The Ugly Duckling In Tales Of Mystery-FAM 12:00 The Hairy Tooth Fairy 2-PG 14:00 The Adventures Of Don Quixote-FAM 16:00 Slappy And The Stinkers-FAM 18:00 The Ugly Duckling In Tales Of Mystery-FAM 20:00 Paws-PG 22:00 Slappy And The Stinkers-FAM

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Town Creek-PG15 Love The Beast-PG The Spy Next Door-PG The Art Of Getting By-PG15 Ice Dreams-PG15 Unstoppable-PG15 Jack And Jill-PG15 Certified Copy-PG15 Ice Dreams-PG15 The Winning Season-PG15 Coriolanus-PG15 The Perfect Host-PG15

02:30 04:30 12:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 17:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Rugby Union Currie Cup Live Rugby Sevens Currie Cup European Tour Weekly ICC Cricket 360 ITM Cup Trans World Sport Live Currie Cup Live Currie Cup Live European Challenge Cup

01:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 10:30 12:30 14:30 15:30 16:00 20:00 21:00

WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line ICC Cricket 360 Darts Darts Live ITM Cup Trans World Sport PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour UFC Countdown Live Darts

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 Tour 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 12:30 13:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 23:00 23:30

Golfing World Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Sailing World Match Racing

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00

UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC Unleashed UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line WWE Vintage Collection V8 Supercars Highlights WWE Bottom Line WWE Smackdown Live Top 14 European Le Mans Series WWE Vintage Collection Live Sailing World Match UFC

Total Rugby Trans World Sport Golfing World PGA European Tour Weekly Live Asian Tour Golf PGA European Tour Weekly European Challenge Cup AFL Highlights Trans World Sport Total Rugby Asian Tour Golf Total Rugby AFL Highlights

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Announcements Hallowen party Kuwait Irish Society proudly presents Hallowen Party 2012, Children 3- 10 years old, Friday 19th October 5 pm - 7 pm. The English Academy, Jabriya. Competitions - Fancy Dress and Pumpkin Lantern! Games, Parade, Prizes! (bring your own pumpkin lantern). Register by Sunday 14th October 2012 Entry fee on admission Bollywood dance Ballerine’s Bollywoood dance course. A dance course for all every Thursday 4 to 7 at BSK - Salwa.

KTAA meeting The Kuwait Textile Arts Association under the auspices of the Al Sadu House Takes pleasure in inviting you to an exciting evening with renowned fashion designer, Sonali Dharmawenda, as she shares the exotic art and world heritage craft at Batik Design from Sri Lanka.

Come meet your 2012-2013 Executive Committee, sign up for quilt group and fibre arts group meetings and workshops galore. Also sign up for the KTAA Member Bazaar which will be held on the 24th of November. If you were a member last year, now is the time to renew’ If you have a friend who is interested, encourage her to join. You can pay at any one of our scheduled activities where there is always a KTAA member to welcome you.

We Need You Thinking of getting into netball Want to try it for the first time? Want to have fun getting fitter? Pre season training & games every Tuesday for 8 weeks, starting on 9th October 2012, 6:30 pm at TES (The English School).

Gandhi Jayanti celebration at Jack and Jill, Mangaf

L

ive as if you were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever-Mahatma Gandhi. As the auspicious day of October 2nd commenced, the mesmerizing world of tiny tots was filled with the inspiring enlightenment of supremacy achieved by Mahatma Gandhi who lived fighting and sacrificed his noble life for the upliftment and freedom of Indians.

Gandhi Jayanti at Jack and Jill, Bhavans was indeed a celebration par excellence, revering the incredible marvels of our Father of the Nation as it instilled a feeling of honour for an extraordinary entity in the minds of blooming children.

The air reverberated with patriotism, an awe-inspiring moment of glory, when children adorned in traditional attire of Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu displayed their magnificent skills by presenting famous quotes with exuberant vigour and style.

A mind-bowing inspirational skit showcasing the true life, dedication and commitment of Gandhi’s revolutionary colonization was a scene to behold. The dazzling spectacle of small children clad in white clothes, shouting slogans and holding placards presented a patriotic scene of Dandi March and added to the ambience of the celebration. The scintillating dance by

Vishak Krishnadas to the touching rendition of Vande Mataram enhanced the patriotic fervor in the minds of the children.

Rathi Ravindran, the principal was full of praise for such a mesmerizing event organized by the teachers and applauded the little ones for their enthusiasm and eagerness shown in their performance. It was a moment of great pride for the talented children who were felicitated and awarded for their performance in the rhyme competition. The special event came to an end by the children singing the Indian National Anthem and pledging sincerely to abide by the ideals and principles of Mahatma Gandhi. The presence and co-operation of the loving and honourable parents made the event a memorable one.

Jack and Jill’s Lil musings gifted with exuberant talents left the auditorium with brimming happiness, feeling proud to be a prominent part of this remarkable day. Sincere efforts, selfless devotion, love and dedication of the principal, teachers and staff at Jack and Jill has always made a notable difference in churning the morning blues of little ones from their slumber, waking their senses to enjoy the excitement and fun of learning the basic fundamentals of life’s spectrum and broadening their horizons to the numerous facets of life.

Birthday Greetings

CRYchess 2012

F

H

appy birthday to Faiza Jannat Mahreen. Best wishes from father Saleh Ahmed, mother Jamela Jannat Shela.

riends of CRY Club (FOCC), Kuwait announces 9th Nov. 2012 as the date of the hugely popular Chess Tournament for children of all ages upto highschool. All children, amateur or professional, can join/clash with other enthusiasts and support a good cause. “CRYchess 2012” will be held on Friday, 9th Nov 2012 at the Fahaheel Al-Watanieh Indian Private School (FAIPS) - DPS, Ahmadi, from 0930 - 1630 hrs. The players will be allocated groups by their age, to play in the Swiss pairing format. The lucky winners will walk away with the Trophies, however certificates and medals are awarded from Child Rights & You (CRY) to all participants.

‘Leniency of Islam’ An unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait. The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

Open football tournament After a successful inaugural tournament which had teams participating from Kuwait and the GCC countries, Real Betalbatim Football Club are all set once again for the second edition, which is scheduled on 27th October 2012. The tournament is organized in fond memory of Late Sheikha Huda Bader Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and is a much awaited feature in the expatriate football circuit in Kuwait. Among others who shone during the tournaments were teams: Vaxim Divar from Dubai (UAE), Fahaheel Bros. from Kuwait, CRC Chinchinim from Kuwait and DHL FC, Kuwait whose players were declared to receive special citation and prizes among the 22 teams who equally gave their best during the one day tournament which was cheered by hundreds of spectators and jointly expressed their fondness of celebrating the golden jubilee of Kuwait’s independence. This year we are expecting many teams from Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and Goa. Hence, we will have to minimize teams from Kuwait so it will be on first come first serve basis. A total of 22 teams participated in the fiesta which coincided with the 50 years of National Day Celebrations of Kuwait, last year, and more teams are envisaged to join in this year to claim the glittering trophy and valuable prizes.

Last year, Aldona Football Club took flight with the prestigious trophy to the United Arab Emirates to add to their collection, together with one of the ‘Man of the Match’ awards and the best goalkeeper award.

WHAT’S ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Embassy Information

Movenpick Hotel Makkah offers special benefits for Hajj pilgrims

P

reparations for one of the world’s largest pilgrimages are in full swing and the M?venpick Hotel Makkah has created special benefits to welcome the religious pilgrims for Hajj.

The hotel, which receives thousands of pilgrims for Hajj each year, is a popular choice for guests due to its location in front of the Al Haraam and the Kaaba, along with panoramic views over the Holy Mosque.

For the ease and comfort of Hajj guests, Movenpick Hotel Makkah has prepared a special amenities kit that will aid pilgrims through their spiritual journey. The bags each contain a sewak stick, an umbrella, a booklet for rituals and stages in addition to a sachet for the jamarat stones. The hotel has also worked on a structured system to facilitate a smooth check-in and check-out process during this extremely busy period.

Furthermore, guests also have access to a prayer hall that can accommodate 3,000 worshippers.

“We have already received a lot of reservations for this important event and are looking forward to welcome this year’s

Hajj pilgrims to the hotel,” said Omar Boujlid, General Manager of the Movenpick Hotel and Residence Hajar Tower Makkah.

Hajj, which is from the 8th to the 12th day of the Islamic month Dhu al-Hijah, is the fifth pillar of the Islam. In 2011, 6.9 million people participated in the Hajj and religious tourism seizes 40% of the Saudi tourism, where all hotels in Makkah reach a high occupancy rate of 80% during the season. Makkah, who hosts the annual pilgrimage, has been on the receiving end of several important upgrades including a sophisticated broadcasting network, carefully planned pedestrian routes and the Jamrat Bridge project.

In addition to its reputation for hosting Hajj and Umra pilgrims, the 1,200-room Movenpick Hotel Makkah is well-known for its dining options and a fully equipped business centre.

Ideally situated within the Abraj Al Bait Tower, the hotel offers access to five world-class restaurants, a six-storey shopping mall, health club and a prayer hall that are also part of the hotel and residences complex.

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian ConsulateGeneral in Dubai.

Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information.

Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE

The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information.

The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy. The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

Kuwait Thamizhar Marumalarchi Peravai celebrates Annadurai’s 104th birthday

K

uwait Thamizhar Marumalarchi Peravai organized a special programme on September 21 to celebrate 104th Birthday of former chief minister of Tamilnadu, late Annadurai, a renowned Politician and scholar in Tarn ii language. The function began at 5 pm with recitation of Tamil anthem and an amazing verse from the ancient Tamil literature Thirukkural by the association’s Vice-President Karunkulam Sivamani. Advisor Hasan Mohammed, Perambalur delivered the welcome address. Treasurer - Jayakumar presided over the function with executive committee members Subburaj, Ramesh, C. Vellaichamy, Jiavuddin and P. Ganesan as frontliners on the dais. The association’s President V. Muthuraman anchored the programme. Over ten important resolutions were passed with applauds of the members in unison as narrated by deputy secretary Chitlapaakkam Karthikeyan during the event.

A portrait of Perarignar Anna was unveiled by the Association’s organizer Pinnalur Mu Manikandan who also briefed the cause and theme of the function. Later, sweets were distributed to the attendees. Synopsis of Anna’s political life and doctrines were explained

by Dr Anwar Batcha in his note. Saiva Siddantha Rathinam” Pazhamalai. Krishnarnoorthy cinematographed the glimpses of Perarignar Anna’s multi-faceted literary abilities in his special discourse. A wonderful stage of debate under the title which aspect of Anna, still elevating his elite, whether his Tamil scholarhood or social justice?” with Poet Ravanan served as jury for the debate. Poets

Sivamani and Nilavan well argued backing Anna’s attributes of an accomplished scholar while poets Pattukkottai Sathya and Saleem Muhaidheen counter attacked with their witnessing words to establish Anna’s social justice as the key. Finally, the jury declared in his judgement that Anna’s virtue of social justice only superseded to sustain his everlasting reputation among the people.

The occasion was graced by the presence of a number of association’s members, special invitees and patrons of Tamil. Cadres, supporters & field workers who helped make the celebration a grand success were honoured during the event. The association’s Secretary Vilathikulam T. Selvakumar offered the vote of thanks and the function ended with a delicious dinner.

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page.

Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for nonnotarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. The Canadian Embassy will be closed on Sunday and Monday 19 and 20 August 2012 on the occasion of Aid Al Fitr. The Embassy will resume its duties on Tuesday 21 August 2012. 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.

CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

ACCOMMODATION

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

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Clinics Rabiya

24732263

Rawdha

22517733

Adailiya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Khaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Qadisiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Accommodation available, near Jabriya Indian School, Jabriya. Central A/C flat, decent Muslim couple or two working ladies only. Call 66795253. (C 4173) 10-10-2012 Sharing accommodation in Khaifan bloc 4 from Nov 1st in one room, KD 70 only for one working lady. Contact: 60413536.

8-10-2012 Apartment to share decent working ladies, Salmiyah, restaurant street, exactly behind Platinum. Contact 66920590. (C 4161) 7-10-2012

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for a girl, God-fearing (Marthomite, 30yrs/160 cm) born and educated in Kuwait and Mangalore, MDS Doctor presently working in India, from Post Graduate boys Mathomite/CSI, God-fearing and having good family background. Email: mathewjacob201@hotmail.com (C 4153)

TUITION A 22 years (moderator and examiner) highly experienced Math, teacher in IB, SAT’s, IGCSE available. Contact: 66920590. (C 4162) 7-10-2012

CHANGE OF NAME I, Mr Achankunju Baby, son of Mr Baby Mathew, Ancy Villa, Bharanickavu P.O., Alappuzha District, Kerala, holder of Indian Passport No: J4441990 hereby changed my name to Mathew Achankunju Baby. (C 4174) 10-10-2012 I have changed my name from Maria Vilfrida Alzira Monteiro to Alzira Wilfrida Maria Monteiro as per Gazette No. U9920.

(C 4169) I, Faustino Rosario Monteiro holder of Indian Passport No: F2522327 have change my name to alias Bobby to Faustino Rosario Bobby Monteiro as per Gazette No. U9921.

(C 4170)

Prayer timings Fajr:

04:29

Duhr:

11:34

Asr:

14:52

Maghrib:

17:20

Isha:

18:37

THE PUBLICAUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

112 GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

SITUATION VACANT Marthoma parents working in Kuwait invite proposals for daughter 25/162, M.Sc Biotech, from parents of professionally qualified boys (Marthoma/ CSI/ Orthodox). If interested contact: jlovedale87@yahoo.com (C 4175) 11-10-2012 24 year old daughter BSc passed Pakistani/ Canadian dual citizen. Highly qualified professionals from Pakistan age up to 29 years can contact at email: d3sak@yahoo.com (C 4172) 9-10-2012

FOR SALE Complete household furniture, crockery, electronics, salon items, going for a giveaway price. Call: 50693289. (C 4167) 9-10-2012 Box delivery van Nissan high roof, 2008 model. Lancer 2009 GLX. Phone: 66052331.

(C 4166) 8-10-2012 Used 2 sofa bed, color brown, good condition, in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Price each KD 15. Call 66762737.

(C 4163) 6-10-2012 Galant 1997 model, blue color, good condition, A/C, price KD 400, passing valid for one year. Contact: 96975726.

Live-in maid wanted for a small family in Farwaniya. Full time. Contact: 50833103.

10-10-2012

SITUATION WANTED Australian Engineer with twoEngineering (Civil/ Elect) & four Master Degrees (Engg/Prog Mgmt/ Education/MBA). 23 years experience in Dubai/ Qatar/ Australia, looking project Mgr / QHSE Mgr job.

Contact: 65695468.

(C 4160) 7-10-2012 No: 15597

information SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines QTR JZR QTR JZR SAI ETH PIA GFA UAE ETD OMA FDB MSR QTR JZR THY DHX JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY GFA QTR FDB ETD BAB GFA UAE JZR MSR IRM MSR GFA KAC FDB JZR QTR SVA KAC RJA KAC JZR QTR KAC KAC IZG KAC JZR JZR ETD UAE UAL IRC GFA SVA JZR JZR KAC ABY KAC KAC

Arrival Flights on Saturday 13/10/2012 Flt Route 6130 DOHA 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 239 ISLAMABAD/SIALKOT 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 157 LONDON 416 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 344 CHENNAI 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 223 BAHRAIN 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 871 DUBAI 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 5066 MASHAD 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 325 NAJAF 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 1702 MEDINAH 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 4161 MASHAD 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 6791 MASHAD 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 176 GENEVA/FRANKFURT 127 SHARJAH 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO

Time 0:05 0:15 0:20 0:30 1:30 1:45 2:05 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:35 5:00 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:35 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:40 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:45 11:05 11:25 11:55 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 13:50 14:25 14:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:20 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 17:45 18:00 18:15

QTR BAB KAC KAC FDB MSR JZR KAC KAC JAI KAC IRA AXB OMA MEA QTR GFA ALK KLM UAE JZR BBC ABY SYR QTR KAC JZR FDB AIC GFA UAL JZR DLH FDB MSR THY DHX JAI

144 438 786 104 63 620 175 618 674 572 774 607 393 647 402 146 221 229 415 859 135 43 129 341 136 614 513 61 975 217 981 239 636 51 614 772 372 574

DOHA BAHRAIN JEDDAH LONDON DUBAI ASSIUT DUBAI DOHA DUBAI MUMBAI RIYADH MASHAD KOZHIKODE/COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN COLOMBO AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN DHAKA SHARJAH DAMASCUS DOHA BAHRAIN SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI CHENNAI/GOA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN AMMAN FRANKFURT DUBAI CAIRO ISTANBUL BAHRAIN MUMBAI

18:20 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 19:10 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50

Airlines AIC UAL DLH MSR JAI KLM QTR THY SAI ETH PIA UAE FDB OMA ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA THY BAW FDB JZR ABY JZR KAC KAC GFA KAC UAE QTR KAC

Departure Flights on Saturday 13/10/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 573 MUMBAI 413 AMSTERDAM 6131 DOHA 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 240 SIALKOT/ISLAMABAD 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 224 BAHRAIN 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON/NEW YORK

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 0:50 0:55 1:30 2:15 2:30 2:45 3:20 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:55 7:05 7:10 8:25 8:25 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:25 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00

KAC FDB ETD BAB JZR KAC JZR GFA KAC KAC KAC JZR UAE MSR KAC JZR IRM GFA FDB MSR KAC JZR KAC RJA JZR SVA QTR KAC IZG ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE IRC GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR KAC QTR FDB BAB JZR MSR KAC JAI IRA KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA DHX ALK KLM ABY KAC UAE SYR QTR KAC KAC FDB JZR BBC QTR AXB GFA KAC

537 56 302 437 324 1701 356 214 541 165 501 776 872 619 785 176 5065 220 58 611 673 174 617 641 512 505 135 773 4162 304 238 538 141 858 6792 216 134 128 982 511 266 613 145 64 439 184 621 283 571 604 331 351 648 403 543 222 171 230 415 120 381 860 342 137 301 205 62 554 44 147 394 218 411

SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN NAJAF MEDINAH MASHAD BAHRAIN CAIRO ROME/PARIS BEIRUT JEDDAH DUBAI ASSIUT JEDDAH DUBAI MASHAD BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO DUBAI DUBAI DOHA AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH MASHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN CAIRO DOHA DUBAI MASHAD BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DHAKA MUMBAI ISFAHAN TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT CAIRO BAHRAIN BAHRAIN COLOMBO DAMMAM/AMSTERDAM SHARJAH DELHI DUBAI DAMASCUS DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD DUBAI ALEXANDRIA CHITTAGONG/DHAKA DOHA COCHIN/KOZHIKODE BAHRAIN BANGKOK/MANILA

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:30 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:20 12:25 13:10 13:20 13:25 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:05 15:05 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:45 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:35 20:50 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:40

L e i s u re

C R O S S W O R D

8 2 5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

ACROSS

Yesterday始s Solution

1. Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856).

5. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

9. Of or relating to or characteristic of the Republic of Chad or its people or language.

13. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure equal to about a bushel.

14. A humorous anecdote or remark.

15. A company emblem or device.

16. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube.

17. A blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically.

18. A visual representation of an object or scene or person produced on a surface.

19. (Greek mythology) Sea nymph who was a daughter of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys.

22. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

24. The law enforcement agency in the Justice Department.

27. A Loloish language.

31. A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women).

36. Anneal or toughen by a process of gradually heating and cooling.

38. Dye with a color.

39. City in Sudan.

41. Avatar of Vishnu.

42. Greek mythology.

45. A dialect of Chinese spoken in southeastern China.

48. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

50. From 40 million to 58 million years ago.

54. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

58. Time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis.

59. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement.

60. Of or relating to a clone.

61. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

62. Any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes.

63. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

64. Type genus of the Muridae.

DOWN 1. A city in western Nevada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

2. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

3. Footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material.

4. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

5. A genus of Platalea.

6. A bag filled with sand.

7. An index of the cost of all goods and services to a typical consumer.

8. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

9. An upward slope or grade (as in a road).

10. A member of a North American Indian people speaking one of the Hokan language.

11. Highly excited.

12. Having finished or arrived at completion.

20. A state in New England.

21. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

23. Psychoactive substance present in marijuana.

25. A decree that prohibits something.

26. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers.

28. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

29. Electronic warfare undertaken to insure effective friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum in spite of the enemy's use of electronic warfare.

30. The 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet.

32. The brightest star in Cygnus.

33. Common Indian weaverbird.

34. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

35. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (19021984).

37. The cry made by sheep.

40. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

43. The capital and largest city of Ghana with a deep-water port.

44. Reddish long-tailed monkey of west Africa.

46. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

47. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with gray furry ears and coat.

49. Offering fun and gaiety.

51. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

52. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.

53. An unfledged or nestling hawk.

55. Being one hundred more than two hundred.

56. A colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid.

57. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

Yesterday始s Solution

sports

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Rose edges Westwood to win World Golf Final BELEK: Justin Rose drew on memories of last month’s Ryder Cup singles defeat of Phil Mickelson to also defeat fellow England golfer Lee Westwood by a stroke and capture the World Golf Final yesterday. The World No 5 ranked Rose shot a round of a five-under par 66 to defeat Westwood who birdied the last hole in a score of 67 on the Sultan Course at the Antalya Club. Rose was never behind in his match starting with a first hole birdie and then to be three under par through nine holes and one ahead of Westwood.

Rose then went two ahead with a birdie at 10 and while Westwood then birdied the 16th to get back to one behind Rose, the World No 5 holed a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 17th, and a near similar length putt he holed at the same hole in the singles at Medinah to turn around his match against USA rival Mickelson. A day earlier, Rose had chipped in at the 17th to deny Tiger Woods a place in the final of the $US 5.2million event.

“The 17th green has been really good to me this week as I holed my second shot there yesterday and, of course, the 17th at Medinah turned around my match against Phil,” Rose said.

“But you have to be pleased to go through this whole week after winning all my five matches. “So to not get beaten at all

in the group stage and then to win the two finals is a great feeling and it’s been a great week. “My golf is just so consistent at the moment and the main thing is that I just don’t have any skeletons in the closet, and I don’t have that loose shot that is plaguing me all the time. “So all aspects of my game can pull through for me at different times and I feel as though I’ve got something every day to lean on.”

The prize cheque is Rose’s highest-ever in his 14-year pro career and $560,000 more than his prize in capturing the 2011 BMW Championship. Westwood, who was 22under par for his five rounds and one less than Rose, earned a cheque for $1m for his efforts over the three days. “We both played well with just the slight difference on the greens,” said Westwood. “Justin rolled some 20 footers, another crucial one at 17, while the longest putt I made was eight or nine feet on 16. “So I left a lot of chances out there but that is the way it goes. “I knew before today the he was rolling it well on the greens.

He showed that against Phil Mickelson at the Ryder Cup. “I played him earlier in the week and he shot 66 so I figured I would need somewhere around there. I hit a good shot into the last and put some pressure on, so not too bad.”—AFP

Stoner aware of ‘life-changing’ risks TOKYO: MotoGP champion Casey Stoner says he has recovered only 50 percent from injury but is ready to take “life-changing” risks in his comeback to crown his final year in Grand Prix racing.

The Australian is set to race at the Grand Prix of Japan tomorrow, having missed the last three events after injuring his right knee in a crash while qualifying at the Indianapolis Grand Prix in August.

The Honda rider’s absence means it is now impossible for him to retain his crown, with the 2012 championship currently led by Yamaha ace Jorge Lorenzo, on 290 points, and Stoner’s teammate Dani Pedrosa, in second place on 257.

Stoner is sitting in third position, on 186 points, with four races remaining.

The winner of each race earns 25 points.

In yesterday’s free practice, he needed the help of painkillers as he clocked the seventh best time while Pedrosa topped the timesheets. “I just needed ordinary pain-killers to take the edge off,” he said. “I don’t really like using painkillers because it wears you off especially when your body’s circulating everything so quickly.” About the progress of his recovery, Stoner said ahead of the practice: “Fifty percent, maybe.” “I expected my body to be up around 80 percent...

But it’s not even close to that right now.

So I’m a little bit disappointed that we didn’t make a little more progress with the injury,” he said.

Stoner underwent surgery on August 30 after suffering torn ligaments and fractures to his ankle, tibia and fibula at Indianapolis, although he still lined up for the race and finished fourth. “To be honest, I expected more (progress) but the doctors didn’t. The doctors warned

me that it’s going to be six to eight months before we know it’s acceptable,” said the 2007 and 2011 world champion who turns 27 next Tuesday.

“It’s only two months so I’m a little bit greedy,” he said. He had intended to make his return to racing at his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 28, but instead opted for an early comeback at Honda’s home track.

Asked if he had thought about the health risks involved, he said: “If I crash again and injure the same foot, then the injury could be, you know, life-changing, for a while anyway. “Honestly, probably, I shouldn’t be back here,” Stoner admitted. “But I was not going to miss Phillip Island in my last season. For me to at least get back the speed before I get there is better.” Three races will be fought over three weeks in Japan, Malaysia and Australia before the season finale in Valencia, Spain, on November 11. Stoner admitted his injured foot still needed to be extensively treated with all his ligaments stretched or torn.

After the free practice, around righthand corners he said, “I couldn’t flex my foot far enough to get my weight forward on the bike.” “I was just trying to get my foot to move a little bit more but it seemed stubborn,” he said. Stoner said it was in his nature to race to win. While Lorenzo has won four races in total, Pedrosa was victorious in three of the last four events. Stoner won the other four before he was injured. “When you come back after a while, especially when you’ve been so competitive, it ends up more frustrating (if) you can’t get the place where you wanted to be.”— AFP

BELEK: England’s Justin Rose holds up the trophy after winning the World Golf Final in Belek, Antalya, Turkey yesterday. — AP

Defending champ Choi takes the outright lead KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Choi Na-Yeon of South Korea took the outright lead at the halfway stage of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia yesterday after firing 67 for a two-day total of 10-under 132.

Choi leads American Sydnee Michaels by two strokes, while joint first round leader Karrie Webb could only shoot a 71 to lie joint seventh on a six-under 136. But there was disaster for Taiwanese amateur Min Lee, who was joint leader after round one, when she was disqualified for signing a four on the par-4 13th, when she made a five. The 17-year-old, who was also disqualified at last month’s Taiwan Amateur Championship for signing an incorrect scorecard, had shot a 73 for the second round. Her compatriot and World No 1 Yani Tseng shot a one-over 72 for an eightover 150, continuing a dismal tournament that sees her a massive 18 strokes behind Choi. Choi, as usual, had a large crowd following her and while she conceded it was a little unnerving trying to please them, she kept her composure to fire in six birdies against two bogeys.

“Of course I’m aware the fans are eager for me to defend my title and I will do all I can to please them to retain the title,” said the South Korean, who dropped her shots

at the back nine. “I had two bogeys because I find that the back nine is tougher than the first nine,” added Choi, who bogeyed the 11th and 17th holes, while birding the third, fifth, sixth, 10th, 12th and 13th holes. “The 17th is the hardest hole on this course and I have to be careful the next two days. We can’t control how others play their golf, we can only wait and watch what they do and how they fare. “There are several girls here who are capable of shooting six- or sevenunder each round so I’m not taking anything for granted.”

Michaels had a hot putter from the 11th which saw her sink five consecutive birdies to end with seven birdies against a lone bogey. “I made really good putts today.

I’ve been working on my putts for a month now and it is really paying off,” said Michaels, who was 2011 Rookie of the Year on the Symetra Tour. Meanwhile, American Lizette Salas had the biggest cheer when she aced the 15th hole. She is tied for third with Suzann Pettersen, Mika Miyazato and Momoko Ueda on sevenunder 135. The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia features a star-studded cast of LPGA golfers, vying for a cut of the US$1.9 million purse.— AFP

sports

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Pedrosa edges Jorge Lorenzo MOTEGI: Dani Pedrosa edged championship points leader Jorge Lorenzo in free practice sessions yesterday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, stepping up his bid to overtake the fellow Spaniard for the title. The factory Honda rider clocked 1min 46.088sec in the second of the day’s two sessions to top the timesheets, just over one tenth of a second faster than Yamaha ace Lorenzo.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso, on a Tech 3 Yamaha, was the third fastest at 0.194 of a second behind Pedrosa, as sunshine drenched the 4.8-kilometre geometric Motegi circuit. Pedrosa’s Australian teammate and reigning world champion Casey Stoner, who missed the last three races after injuring his ankle while qualifying for the Indianapolis Grand Prix in August, clocked the seventh best time of 1:46.978.

Pedrosa appeared to keep the momentum going after winning the last race in Aragon, Spain, for his third victory in the last four GP rounds. Lorenzo was second at Aragon. “Today was a perfect day for practice,” he said. “The track conditions were very good. The warm temperatures helped as did the new surface, so we were able to do the job we wanted.” The 27-year-old Pedrosa, bidding for his first-ever title in the premier class, added: “The asphalt is new and the grip is quite good, so the lap times are pretty fast from the beginning.”

Lorenzo, who has won six races so far this season against four for Pedrosa, is leading him by 33 points in his bid for his second MotoGP title. He led the first session in the morning, with a 0.141-second gap over Pedrosa who beat him into second spot at the Japanese GP last year on Honda’s home track. “We started in a very good way here, much better than in Aragon where we had issues with the life of the rear tyre,” Lorenzo said. “We have a very good pace and with a little change in the electronics were able to go a bit faster.” “The Hondas are very good here but our bike is also so I think we can fight with them for the victory.”

The starting grid for tomorrow’s Japanese GP, the 15th leg of the 18-round championship, will be decided in the qualifying session after another free practice today. The injury has ended twotime world champion Stoner’s bid to retain the title before his retirement from Grand Prix racing at the end of this season. He stands 104 points adrift of Lorenzo, and with four races to go in the season is unable to overtake him as the winner of each event collects 25 points. “Of course I’m not feeling 100 percent as it is, so I wanted to get a reasonable feeling with it before I start pushing,” Stoner said.— AFP

MOTEGI: MotoGP Honda rider Dani Pedrosa of Spain rides his bike during the second free practice of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi yesterday. — AFP

YEONGAM: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany speeds up during the second practice session of the Formula One Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam yesterday. — AFP

Vettel leads Red Bull one-two in practice Schumacher reprimanded for impeding HRT cars YEONGAM: Sebastian Vettel led a Red Bull one-two yesterday in practice for a South Korean Grand Prix that could send the Formula One world champion back into the overall lead for the first time since May. The 25-year-old German, four points behind Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso with five races remaining, set the fastest lap of one minute 38.832 seconds on a clear and sunny afternoon. Australian team mate Mark Webber, who joined Vettel on the front row in Japan last Sunday for a race that the German won from pole, was a mere 0.032 slower after being third in the morning.

Spaniard Alonso was third quickest in the second session, 0.328 off Vettel’s pace but with a car that could just have the edge on the long runs in a hot race that is likely to be a two-stopper for most. “We can be quite happy, but I think it looks extremely tight,” said Vettel of the relative performance of the top three teams who tested Pirelli’s soft and supersoft tyre options over long and short runs. “All in all, the car felt alright and now we see what we can do for (qualifying) tomorrow.

I think we have to improve ourselves to match the others.”

DUSTY TRACK McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton had kept Alonso off the top in the morning with a

best effort of 1:39.148. The 2008 champion was eighth fastest after lunch at the dusty circuit some 400km south of Seoul.

Hamilton needs to deny Vettel, last year’s winner in Korea, a third win in a row on Sunday to get back into a title fight that risks turning into a duel between Alonso and the Red Bull champion. “The Red Bulls seem pretty quick, we will keep pushing.

Jenson (Button) was not that far off the pace today and if we get the set-up right and the fuel loads right and everything then maybe we can be competitive,” Hamilton said.

Team mate Button was 10th and fourth fastest at a track he described as: “Monza for the first 45 seconds of the lap, then a mid-high-speed section, quite flowing, and then you’ve got driving around your living room at the end of your lap.” Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen, absent from the first two Korean Grands Prix due to his switch to rallying, had his first taste of the circuit and was 11th and 10th respectively in the two sessions. The Finn was trying out a new ‘Coanda’ exhaust system that his team hope will bring big benefits in the closing races as they battle Ferrari for third place in the constructors’ standings. Lotus technical director James Allison expected the team to continue with the system today. “I think we’re at the beginning of a relatively long road

with them. They’re not straightforward to make work perfectly first go out but the numbers we’re getting from them are good,” he said.

With the circuit little used for most of the year, drivers took their time setting fast laps when the first session opened.

Alonso, who was pitched out at the start of last Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, was an early pace-setter with Hamilton faster towards the finish. Sauber’s Sergio Perez, the Mexican who joins Button at McLaren next year as Hamilton’s replacement, stopped on the track in the afternoon after the halfway mark in the session. The Swiss team said it was an actuator problem and the engine was not damaged.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas took Brazilian Bruno Senna’s place for the first session at Williams while French reserve Jules Bianchi came in for Nico Hulkenberg at Force India and was 13th. Other less familiar faces for the morning were Dutch tester Giedo van der Garde for Russian Vitaly Petrov at Caterham and Spaniard Dani Clos replacing Indian race regular Narain Karthikeyan at HRT. Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, retiring at the end of the season, was reprimanded by stewards for impeding both the HRTs in the second session but still set the fifth fastest time for Mercedes.— Reuters

Speedskating - US coaches resign, accept suspensions NEW YORK: United States short track speedskating coach Chun Jae-su has resigned and accepted a suspension in the wake of allegations he ordered a skater to tamper with a competitor’s equipment, US Speedskating said on Thursday. Assistant coach Yeo Jun-hyung, who had been temporarily put in charge of the US team, has also resigned and accepted a suspension, the organisation said. “In addition to their

resignations, both have accepted suspensions from US Speedskating through February 2014, which includes the ...Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia,” the organisation said in an email to Reuters.

Both Chun and Yeo were already suspended. Chun was also being investigated following complaints about the South Korean’s training methods and claims of verbal, physical and psychological abuse of

skaters. He has repeatedly denied the allegations. US Speedskating said it expected an arbitration hearing, scheduled to begin on Nov 1, to be dismissed now that both coaches had resigned. The scandal already swirling around the two coaches exploded following claims by skater Simon Cho that he was ordered to tamper with Canadian rival Olivier Jean’s skate at last year’s world team short-track championships in Poland.

Jean was unable to compete in the 5,000 meters relay final because the blade had been bent out of shape and Canada, with only three skaters instead of the permissible four, finished last. US Speedskating said disciplinary proceedings against Cho, a bronze medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, had begun and expected a hearing before its appeals commission to be held soon. — Reuters

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Armstrong’s cancer charity faces doping fallout WASHINGTON: The impact of doping allegations leveled at Lance Armstrong does not end on the cycling circuit. The fallout encircles Livestrong, the charity he founded after recovering from cancer. Launched in 2003 as an online resource for cancer survivors, the charity achieved global brand recognition a year later by adopting a yellow wristband as its hallmark, a concept Armstrong jointly developed with his sponsor Nike. The rubber bracelets quickly became a fashion accessorymore than 80 million have been soldand spawned a wave of imitations in different colors from other charities.

Livestrong’s branding, however, had special resonance-the man who inspired them had years earlier beaten cancer and even more remarkably gone on to win the Tour de France, and its hallowed yellow jersey, multiple times.

But, with the cyclist’s reputation now languishing in sport’s doldrums and up against merciless scrutiny in the court of public opinion, experts say the charity he inspired faces a choice: speak up or stay silent? “Lance Armstrong has

gone from being Livestrong’s biggest asset to being their biggest liability,” said Sol Levine, a director at Qorvis Communications, a Washington-based public relations firm.

“They have to take care not to have him as their frontman, but it would also be a mistake to actively dissociate themselves.” Livestrong evolved from The Lance Armstrong Foundationwhich by name alone was more closely associated with the cyclist-though the two organizations are widely seen as synonymous. In the last nine years, however, Livestrong has developed its own spirit: Armstrong’s image and story do not feature on its website home page though it is found elsewhere on the site. The charity’s most prominent messages instead concern upcoming events and detail where people’s donations are spent.

Of the $35.8 million that Livestrong spent last year, 82 percent went on programs, a high percentage in the charity sector, and its credibility is high. For that reason, Armstrong’s personal troubles are not something Livestrong

‘Doping should be criminalized’ MELBOURNE: Governments should look at criminalizing doping in sports and increasing the resources of anti-doping agencies to include investigative functions in the wake of the Lance Armstrong revelations, the president of Cycling Australia has said. “I just wonder if we haven’t got to the stage of investigating in Australia of considering whether doping in sport ought to be criminalized,” Klaus Mueller told reporters in Melbourne yesterday after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) released a report that accused Armstrong of driving a systemic doping program within his US Postal team.

“What I think the USADA findings have unearthed is that there may now be the need to sit down with government and work out whether the powers that (Australian anti-doping body) ASADA have are adequate and whether their resources are adequate. “We would like to sit down with ASADA and the government to revisit that issue.” Mueller said he was “immensely disappointed” at the findings in the USADA report, and while his stance was a personal one, he felt Cycling Australia may now take the issue forward. “(I think) we are ready to take the next step to say to government that it ought to be criminalized,” Mueller added.

“That sends out a very strong message to all sporting people that this conduct is very serious, in fact criminal, warranting jail sentence and it gives the police the power to investigate.” The 41-year-old Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by USADA after he refused to contest the charges, has steadfastly denied taking drugs throughout his career, pointing to the fact he had never failed a doping test. Mueller, however, said Cycling Australia had been advocating for several years that drug testing was not enough to catch cheats and that further investigation was needed.

“There was systemic doping that was not uncovered by the hundreds of tests that Armstrong speaks about,” Mueller said before adding that he felt that initiatives by the UCI, the world governing body, were indicative of their desire to stamp out doping in the sport. “I’d be kidding myself if I wasn’t to admit the reputation of the sport hasn’t been tarnished by the behavior behind these findings. “The issue of doping is not confined to cycling but we have taken a hit because we are more active in trying to hunt down the transgressors than others. “All I can say with some confidence is that there is clear evidence the sport is cleaner now than it has been in the past. That is largely due to initiatives introduced by the UCI. “We think the sport has turned the corner.”— Reuters

should address unless it is forced to, said Levine, whose employers specialize in reputation management.

“Livestrong did a lot to break taboos about cancer-the yellow band was a landmark and the organization is operating under its own power,” he said.

“So, I don’t think Livestrong is damaged, but Lance Armstrong is no longer an asset. He will always be remembered as a cancer survivor, but that’s not what he’ll be most remembered for.”

Armstrong decided not to contest charges of the US Anti-doping Agency (USADA), though his lawyer said the probe was “pre-determined,” and “they were out to get Lance.” But the cyclist has undoubtedly lost backing from those who once looked up to him.

“It’s so depressing because of the guy’s books he wrote that were inspirational to people with cancer, and his cancer charity on one side doing so many positive things. Then you find out this,” Britain’s Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling gold medalist, said on Thursday. So far though, Livestrong has stood back from the controversy. On

Wednesday, when the USADA published its dossier, Doug Ulman, the charity’s CEO and president, appeared to be following the guidance to stay silent on Armstrong. “We’ve got big plans to celebrate 15 yrs of serving survivors. Join us-Oct 18-21!” he wrote on Twitter, referring to the charity’s anniversary.

But given that a Google news search using the terms “Lance Armstrong” and “doping” was generating 57,300 hits late Thursday, the appetite for the story may soon envelop the charity, and require a more aggressive response.

Chris Edwards, the owner of Reputation Saviors, which specializes in combating negative publicity circulated on the Internet, said if attention moves toward Livestrong, they will have to counter it.

“Right now, they are running with it, but when the entire news media starts to report something, it is a very difficult situation to combat,” said Edwards, who is based in Orlando, Florida. “If that happens to Livestrong they will have to do something. You can’t just not answer back.”— AFP

Armstrong unfazed by the doping maelstrom Cycling sport’s ‘moral compass’ lost NEW YORK: Unrepentant and seemingly unconcerned, Lance Armstrong was going about his business as usual on Thursday as the cycling world was left reeling by the revelations about his alleged role as a doping ringleader. Five of his former team mates who confessed to using performance enhancing drugs were formally banned by USA Cycling on Thursday while Spanish authorities were reviewing the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) documentation after three of their nationals were implicated.

The International Olympic Committee was also sifting through the mountain of evidence that USADA said proved that Armstrong cheated his way to the top while the riders and officials were assessing the latest damage to the sport’s already tarnished image. “It is understandable now for people to look at any results in cycling and question that,” the head of British cycling Dave Brailsford told BBC radio. “It completely and utterly lost its way and I think it lost its moral compass.”

Bradley Wiggins, who won this year’s Tour de France, said he was shocked at the scale of the evidence against Armstrong, who was banned for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France wins

by USADA last month after electing not to fight the doping charges against him. “It’s pretty damning stuff,” Wiggins told Sky Sports news. “It is jaw-dropping the amount of people who have testified against him.” Armstrong, 41, has always denied any wrongdoing and has yet to comment on USADA’s report. On Thursday, he seemed oblivious to the storm, tweeting: “Hanging @LIVESTRONGHQ w/ the team talking about next week’s events and plans for 2013. Can’t wait to see so many friends and supporters.”

The Texan’s lawyers spoke for him, attacking USADA’s investigation as an unconstitutional “witch hunt”, but the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) said the American watchdog had done a thorough job in trying circumstances. “We would like to commend USADA for having the courage and the resolve to keep focused in working on this difficult case for the sake of clean athletes and the integrity of sport,” said WADA president John Fahey in a statement. There was little immediate reaction from his sponsors although Nike reissued a statement they first released last month, standing by him.

SIX-MONTH BAN Five of the American cyclists who testified against Armstrong Tom Danielson, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie - were each banned for six

Lance Armstrong months. “As a result of their testimony in the Lance Armstrong investigation, USA Cycling will enforce these sanctions and is currently reviewing the impact of the sanctions on historical results,” USA Cycling Chief Executive Steve Johnson said in a statement.

“More importantly, I would like to personally acknowledge the extraordinary courage of these riders who placed their careers on the line in order to come forward with their experiences of past doping practices.” Spain’s Anti-Doping Agency (AEA) was examining USADA’s report to see whether additional action could be taken against doctors Luis Garcia del Moral and Pedro Celaya and coach Jose Marti, who were all part of Armstrong’s US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team. — Reuters

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Murray fightback keeps 100 percent record intact SHANGHAI: Defending champion Andy Murray battled back from a set down against unseeded Radek Stepanek to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals yesterday, keeping alive his unbeaten record at the tournament.

US Open champion Murray, 25, who won the 2010 and 2011 titles in the Chinese city, was staring defeat in the face when a set down and searching in vain for inspiration against the Czech, ranked 41. A single break was enough for 33-year-old Stepanek to win the first set as he troubled the third seed with frequent successful forays to the net.

A rattled Murray, muttering to himself in frustration, finally made the breakthrough in the sixth game of the second set, breaking again to level the match. Just when it appeared the tide had turned, Stepanek again broke the Scot early in the decider but Murray hit back immediately, repeating the feat to set up a semi-final clash with either Roger Federer or Marin Cilic of Croatia. Earlier, Tomas Berdych came out on top against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a battle between two of the contenders to reach next month’s ATP World Tour Finals.

The Czech fourth seed won 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), grabbing a crucial break against the powerful Frenchman in the eighth game of the first set and edging the second set tiebreak to set up a semi-final against Novak Djokovic or Tommy Haas.

“I think it was a really solid game and solid performance from beginning until the end. Yeah, I was feeling quite well on court,” said Berdych, who next month is set to be part of the Czech team playing Spain in the Davis Cup final. “You know, I think the biggest difference between me and Jo was I was able to take the small chances during even the first and especially the second set.” With four berths still up for grabs at the elite eightman showpiece in the UK’s capital, Berdych, 27, is sixth in the Race to London while Tsonga, also 27, is in eighth spot. World number one Federer, Djokovic and Murray have already qualified for London, along with the injured Rafael Nadal. Federer’s win on Thursday over Davis Cup team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka guaranteed him a record 300th week as world number one when the next rankings are published on Monday. Djokovic’s quarter-final opponent Haas, 34, who reached a best of number two in the world, is one victory away from reaching 500 singles match wins.—AFP

Azarenka, Ivanovic into Generali Ladies quarters LINZ: Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and twotime former champion Ana Ivanovic won in straight sets Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Generali Ladies. Azarenka beat Simona Halep of Romania 6-1, 6-1, and Ivanovic defeated Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4, 6-3.

Azarenka dominated play from the baseline and hit 20 winners. “My game was more fluent than in the first round,” Azarenka said. “My timing was better and I was less nervous. But I have to improve my serving as I had a couple of doublefaults.” Azarenka, who has dropped only four games in two matches, will next play Petra Martic after the Croat defeated Patricia MayrAchleitner of Austria 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. Martic hit seven aces to reach her 10th career quarterfinal.

Mayr-Achleitner won just five of 29 points in the deciding set.

The second-seeded Ivanovic had to dig deep against Petkovic, who has dropped to 192nd because of an injured right ankle. The German had been down an early break in the second set but rallied to make it 3-3 before losing. “It was very tough. She is such a good player and it’s good to see her back,” Ivanovic said. “I am getting more consistent now. It’s all about confidence.” Ivanovic, the 2008 and 2010 champion who has at least reached the quarterfinals all five times at the event, will take on Kirsten Flipkens. The Belgian defeated Mallory Burdette of the United States 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Burdette twice came back from a break down in the decider but missed two break-point chances at 6-5 to force a tiebreaker. Bethanie Mattek-Sands reached her first quarterfinal of the season by defeating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-3, 6-3. The 201st-ranked American is climbing back up the rankings after recent hip, back and left foot injuries. She will face next face Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania. Begu, who lost in qualifying but replaced Anna Tatishvili of Georgia in the main draw, beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-4, 7-6 (7).— AP

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus

300 weeks at No 1 for proud Federer

SHANGHAI: Roger Federer of Switzerland stretches during the men’s quarterfinal singles match against Marin Cilic of Croatia at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai yesterday. Federer won 6-3, 6-4. — AP

SHANGHAI: Swiss legend Roger Federer has consistently ripped up the record books during his glittering career but his latest landmark 300 weeks at number one-is one of his proudest achievements.

The 31-year-old was forced to dig deep to reach his triple century, coming back from the brink of defeat to beat Davis Cup team-mate Stanislas Wawrinka on Thursday to make the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters. For a long time it appeared that Federer, overtaken by younger rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, would never return to top spotleaving him agonizingly short of Pete Sampras’s record of total weeks at number one.

Used to regularly picking up Grand Slam wins, Federer went nine majors without a title, fuelling speculation he was a fading force. But his Wimbledon triumph this year pulled him level with the American great on a record seven titles at the All England Club and catapulted him back to the top of the rankings. A week later he overtook Sampras’s mark of 286

weeks. “It’s obviously an amazing number. I never thought of something like this when I was a little kid, that’s for sure,” said a relieved Federer after his narrow escape against Wawrinka.

“I was just hoping one day my dream was going to come true to play on the regular tour, play Wimbledon, maybe become world number one at some stage. “So here I am at 300 weeks. It’s pretty incredible. Probably one of my biggest accomplishments. I’m very proud of that record, no doubt about it.”

Federer first became world number one in February 2004. For a record 237 consecutive weeks, until August 2008, he was top dog, dominating the sport with seemingly effortless grace. Holder of a record 17 Grand Slam titles, the Swiss said he could still vividly recall the excitement of reaching the pinnacle for the first time. “It’s not one of those moments that happens and then you forget. It took me a lot of great performances to get there,” he said. “It was for me back then sort of the ultimate accomplishment next

to winning Wimbledon. That all happened in a span of sort of nine months, which was so intense, huge relief in some ways, but a big satisfaction. “Yeah, here I am eight years later, even more. It’s pretty special. Obviously I lost the world number one ranking a few times but I also stayed a long time once I got there. “I always felt tennis was easier for me playing as world number one than actually getting there.”

Federer said reaching 300 weeks as number one-which he will achieve when the next rankings are released on Monday-was reward for all the hard work he had put in over the years. “I never give up. Show up, tired, injured, doesn’t matter how I felt mentally so many times over the years.

It’s gotten to this incredible number of 300. It’s a great reward for me. “I feel a great sense of satisfaction because of that incredible number and because of all the effort I’ve put into it. I know how much work it has been. It’s not easy to stay at the top for so long.”—AP

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Tigers advance as Orioles stay alive

NEW YORK: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out during Game Four of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. — AFP

OAKLAND: Justin Verlander posted his first career playoff shutout as the Detroit Tigers advanced to the second round of the Major League Baseball playoffs with a 6-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Verlander struck out 11 batters and scattered four hits and walked one for Detroit, who will appear in their franchise’s sixth AL Championship Series and third in the last seven years. “We had our backs against the wall all year and now we are playing our best baseball when it matters,” Verlander said.

In the other AL playoff game Thursday, JJ Hardy’s RBI double in the 13th inning kept the Orioles’ season alive as Baltimore took a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees in game four of their best-of-five series. Joe Coleman was the last Detroit pitcher to record a shutout in the playoffs. He did it in game three of the 1972 ALCS against the Athletics. The 29-year-old Verlander came into this postseason with 3-3 mark and a 5.57 ERA over eight starts, but won both of his starts in this series. “Once he gets on his game it is like a locomotive going at top speed,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He was on his game tonight.”

The ace pitcher surrendered just one run over 16 innings and finished with a total of 22 strikeouts for the Tigers who won the series three games to two. Including the playoffs, he has won his last six starts and has posted a superb 0.64 ERA during the span.

A’s pitcher Jarrod Parker gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings in the loss. Orioles pitcher Pedro Strop was credited with the win. He allowed one hit and struck out two over two innings of score-

less relief at Yankee Stadium. “All game I had been telling myself not to do too much but that wasn’t working,” Hardy said. “So I told myself during that (13th inning) bat to do a little more. Fortunately I got one I could elevate. “It was intense. We understood every play matters and our bullpen did a great job tonight.”

The series is now tied at 2-2 with the decisive game five set for Friday. Nate McLouth hit a home run in the victory, while Jim Johnson pitched a perfect 13th inning to post his second save of the series. Yankees pitcher David Phelps surrendered the deciding run and was given the loss. Robinson Cano knocked in the lone run for New York, which hit zero-for-nine with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. It was the second extra inning game between the two teams in as many days. On Wednesday, Yankees Raul Ibanez tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth and three innings later, he blasted another home run into the second deck in right field to give New York a thrilling 3-2 win.

The teams now head to a deciding game after splitting the first two games in Baltimore. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been managing with a heavy heart in the series following the death of his father on Saturday. New York pitcher Joba Chamberlain was forced to leave the game in the 12th inning after getting hit in the elbow with the barrel of a broken bat. He will be evaluated by the team doctor. The Orioles and Yankees are no strangers to one another and in addition to splitting 18 regular season games this season, they also met in the 1996 ALCS series won by New York.—AFP

Giants beat Reds, move on to NLCS CINCINNATI: The entire season was a comeback for Buster Posey, so he didn’t think anything of it when San Francisco needed one of the biggest yet to play for a pennant. He led them to one of Giant proportions. The National League batting champion hit the third grand slam in Giants postseason history on Thursday, sending San Francisco back to the championship series with a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. They will play Game yesterday, either in Washington against the Nationals or in San Francisco against the wild card St Louis Cardinals. They planned to stick around town until the NationalsCardinals series, tied 2-all, is decided.

MATTER WHICH ONE? “We could go up against anybody at any time,” shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “Being down 2-0 and coming back and winning three at their place, it’s an unbelievable feeling.” The Giants became the first NL team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the division series, which began in 1995. Major League Baseball’s changed playoff format this season allowed them to become the first to take a best-of-five by winning the last

three on the road. San Francisco won the World Series in 2010 without trailing in any of its postseason series.

The Giants took four of five from Texas for their sixth title and their first since they moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958. They’ve really had to scramble this season to get another shot at it. Their bullpen took a huge hit when closer Brian Wilson blew out his elbow, and that was just the start. AllStar game MVP Melky Cabrera got a 50game suspension in August after a positive testosterone test, taking a .346 hitter out of their lineup. The Giants have decided not to bring him back, even though he’s eligible to return for the NL championship series.

Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum pitched so poorly - 15 losses that he got relegated to the bullpen for the division series. And don’t forget that Posey was coming off a broken leg that wiped out most of his 2011 season, making a great comeback of his own.

“Unreal,” said Sergio Romo, who fanned Scott Rolen with two runners aboard to end it. “That guy’s definitely the MVP of our team. We believe he’s the MVP of the league. We wouldn’t be here with-

out him, that’s for dang sure. He’s the one that’s been the face of the team all season long. What a great story with all he’s been through last year.”

Posey’s second career grand slam, off Mat Latos, put the Giants up 6-0 in the fifth and sparked a joyous scrum in the San Francisco dugout. The ball smacked off the front of the upper deck in left field, just above Latos’ name on the video board. For the first time in the series, the Giants could exhale. “I don’t think anybody gave up,” Posey said. Will Clark, in the 1989 NLCS, and Chuck Hiller, in the 1962 World Series, hit the other Giants slams in the postseason.

Matt Cain and the bullpen held on, with more help from Posey. The All-Star catcher threw out Jay Bruce at third base to snuff out a sixth-inning rally that cut it to 6-3. The Giants had a pair of diving catches that preserved the lead in the eighth. There was more drama in the ninth. Ryan Ludwick singled home a run before Romo got Rolen swinging to end it. The Giants raised their arms, hugged and huddled by the side of the mound, bouncing in unison.

“It was a spectacular moment,” outfielder Hunter Pence said.

In Cincinnati, the home-field meltdown had a sickeningly familiar feeling.

The Reds haven’t won a home playoff game in 17 years. After taking the first two on the West Coast, all they needed was one more at home, where they hadn’t dropped three straight all season.

“You get tired of the disappointments, but then you get over it,” manager Dusty Baker said. “It hurts big-time.”

Once Posey connected, the Reds were the ones facing a steep comeback.

They’ve never overcome a six-run deficit in the playoffs, according to STATS LLC. Couldn’t do it this time, either.

“Buster Posey’s swing was a serieschanger,” said Reds star Joey Votto, standing on second base when the game ended. “That made it very difficult to come back. You know they’re going to throw the kitchen sink at us.”

The Reds won’t forget the first inning of the series, when everything changed.

Ace Johnny Cueto pulled muscles in his right side and had to leave the game.

Latos pulled them through that opening game, pitching in relief on short rest for a 5-2 win. He couldn’t get them another one, or end that 17-year streak of futility.—AP

SPORTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

NHL, union talk again - but not about money NEW YORK: Manny Malhotra is spending his days in the boardroom instead of on the ice in North America or Europe. The Vancouver Canucks forward is craving the normalcy of his hockey life, but these days he finds himself in a suit and getting familiar hellos from hotel staffs and airport employees as he travels to and from New York for negotiations. This wasn’t the opening day he wanted, but it also wasn’t unexpected. Malhotra joined the negotiating team of the NHL Players’ Association on Thursday for the second straight day of bargaining at the league office.

The topics at hand again centered on secondary issues such as drug testing, contracts and other legal things, instead of talks about the core economics of the sport that is fueling the monthlong lockout. “It’s at a crawl at this point, but we knew that coming in that it was going to be long,” Malhotra said. “We have to have patience and understanding that there is no point rushing into a situation that wouldn’t benefit us in some way.”

Malhotra didn’t seek a job to play in Europe because he now has a young son and didn’t want to leave his family. So he is taking part in talks he hopes will quickly get him back on the ice.

“If you just want to bury your head and just go to the rink and play hockey and do nothing else, you’re missing a world of the behind the scenes of what really goes into a CBA, what goes into the makeup of the league, how the league operates,” he said. “It’s an incredible learning experience.” Four games were supposed to mark the opening of the regular season on Thursday night, but instead negotiations ended unfulfilled and with no immediate plans for the sides to get together again. “We’re creatures of habit,” Malhotra said. “We’re used to doing things at certain times, and right now would be time to be playing again. Guys are frustrated with the monotony of just going to the rink, or working out and still doing those things that we’re used to doing in the summertime.

“The frustration sets in. Guys want to be doing what we love to do. It’s been that way since we missed the first day of camp.” The league and the union did little to close the gap during the 26th day of the lockout. There won’t be any negotiations on Friday, and the likelihood of any hockey being played in October is quickly fading. “Until we’re really tackling the major issues, I’m not sure there is a realtime urgency on these other issues,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “Let’s take the time, let’s redo proposals on the basis of the two days of discussion. When we have that done, and it makes sense to meet, I am sure we’ll meet. “We didn’t leave today’s meeting saying, ‘This is ridiculous. There is no reason to continue meeting on any level.’ None of our discussions have led to that result, and I don’t expect them to at any time in the near future.” After five hours of talks at the league office on Wednesday, the sides got back together for nearly as long - in two separate sessions - on Thursday.

Union head Donald Fehr stayed away, and wasn’t in contact with Commissioner Gary Bettman. Some progress was made

CANONSBURG: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (87) leans on the boards during a break in an informal workout with a few teammates at the Iceoplex in Canonsburg, Pa. — AP on a drug testing plan, and the sides also dealt with contract issues such as term length and player assignments that still need to be worked on. Other miscellaneous legal issues were also discussed, again with some disagreements.

“There are still a few things to work out,” NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr said. “That is not the core issue, obviously.

If we had everything else settled, we could go back to work and solve the remaining issues in six hours if we had to.” Last week, the NHL canceled - at least temporarily - 82 games from Thursday through Oct 24. Daly estimated the NHL lost $100 million from the cancellation of the entire preseason and would be out another $140 million to $150 million with the regular-season losses. He wouldn’t speculate when more games would be trimmed from the schedule or how long it would take to get the league up and running if a deal is finally reached.

“It’s a disappointment. There is no way around that,” Daly said. “I certainly hoped and would have expected we would be in a different place today. I would’ve expected we would’ve had an agreement, I would’ve expected we would have been dropping the puck. “In retrospect, I look back at it, and while we were all hopeful during the course of the summer that there was plenty of time to get a deal done, maybe the fault lies in the fact that we didn’t start negotiations until June 29.

That goes back to the level of urgency maybe with the players’ association and not being prepared to have those discussions.” The NHL still says it is waiting for a new proposal from the union, with the owners adamant players accept a significant drop from the 57 percent of revenue they received under the salary cap in the last contract. — AP

Tyson refused New Zealand visa again WELLINGTON: Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been refused a visa to visit New Zealand as part of a series of motivational speeches for the second time, the country’s government said yesterday. The 46-year-old Tyson, who served three years of a six-year US jail sentence for rape, needed dispensation under New Zealand immigration laws because of his conviction. He had initially been granted a visa by Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson to visit New Zealand, but that was revoked when a youth charity which originally backed his appearance at the Auckland event no longer wanted to have anything to do with the visit.

Promoters applied for a new visa after a second community group said it would support the application in exchange for him talking to at-risk youth. “The original decision in respect of Mr Tyson was a finely balanced call based on the letter of support from a board member of the Life Education Trust,” Wilkinson said in a statement. “When the Trust withdrew its support I received another application from Mr Tyson’s representatives with the support of the Manukau Urban Maori Authority. “This new application was not enough to get the application over the line and as such, I have declined to grant Mr Tyson a new visa under the Immigration Act 2009.”

Tyson, who was the undisputed world heavyweight champion in the 1980s, was

granted a visa by the Australian government earlier this week to take part in the series of talks, billed as “Day of the Champions” in November. He was convicted for rape in 1992 and served three years in prison. Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003 and retired from professional boxing three years later. Last month, Tyson spoke to a financiers’ conference in Hong Kong about his life before and after boxing, his family and his acting career, which includes a recent one-man show on Broadway. — Reuters

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson

SPORTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Saudis out to bury qualification demons RIYADH: Desperate to regain their seat at the top of Asian soccer, Saudi Arabia say they will be taking nothing for granted as they switch their focus from the World Cup to the AFC Asian Cup. Eliminated early from qualification for Brazil 2014, the Saudis have now been grouped with Iraq, China and Indonesia for qualification for the 2015 Asian Cup, to be held in Australia.

“Our group is not that much easy, but at the same time it is not completely difficult,” Saudi coach Frank Rijkaard said. Expanding on the riddle, the former Barcelona coach added: “We are looking to take a ticket for the finals from this group, as we want to regain our place in the elite of Asian football.”

Saudi Arabia Football Federation’s national team committee chairman

Muhammed Al Meshel hopes these qualifiers will provide an opportunity to put right errors in committed in the latest World Cup qualifying campaign.

Saudi will miss out on Brazil 2014, after exiting qualifying after the third round with only one win - over Thailand - in six matches. “Our group is very difficult as we will face teams like Iraq and China, but we want to regain what we

lost after our exit from the World Cup third qualifying round,” Al Meshel told the Asian Football Confederation website. “The most important lesson we learnt from World Cup qualifying is not to underestimate any group, and I reconfirm that our group is the strongest.”

The West Asians will host China in their Asian Cup qualifying opening match on Feb 6, 2013. — Reuters

Indonesia squabbling robs Malaysia of prized striker SINGAPORE: The political fighting for the control of Indonesian soccer has robbed Malaysia of their first millionaire player, with striker Safee Sali banned from representing the national team after playing for an illegal club. Safee was halfway through a two-year contract with Pelita Jaya FC in the Indonesia Super League (ISL), which is not recognized by the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI), who notified the Malaysia Football Association (FAM) of the ban.

“We received a letter from PSSI (dated Oct. 5) on Wednesday informing us of the status of the suspended clubs.

Upon checking with the PSSI secretary, he told us that Safee’s name was on the list,” FAM secretary general Azzuddin Ahmad told the Malaysian Star yesterday. “This is in line with a directive by FIFA that players and clubs in the illegal ISL will be barred from FIFA competitions and not allowed to play for their national teams.

“I won’t know how long the ban is... but from what I gather the suspension is until PSSI hold their next congress in December,” he said. If Azzuddin is right, the ban would mean Safee would miss Malaysia’s defense of the AFF Suzuki Cup, a hugely popular regional tournament for teams in Southeast Asia. Safee, whose contract is worth two million Malaysian ringgit ($652,100), scored five goals and won the golden boot as Malaysia took the title two years ago. They begin the defense of the crown on Nov 25 in the eight-team tournament they are jointly hosting with Thailand.

The Malaysians beat Indonesia over two legs in the final in 2010 but the runners-up have endured a difficult period since with arguments over the running of the PSSI leaving them close to a ban from world governing body FIFA. Organizers of a breakaway league were later voted in to take control of the PSSI making the new tournament official and discarding the original ISL as illegal. The national team reached their nadir in February when they suffered a record 10-0 defeat by Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier after they were forced to hand debuts to a number of inexperienced players with many regulars blocked because of the ban on ISL players. — Reuters

MALMO: Brazil’s Kaka shoots between the legs of falling Iraq’s Salam Shaker during the international friendly match between Brazil and Iraq at Swedbank Stadium in Malmo, Sweden on Oct 11, 2012. — AP

Brazil thrash Iraq 6-0 MALMO: Kaka scored on his return to international football after an absence of more than two years, leading Brazil to a 6-0 win over Iraq in an international friendly Thursday in Sweden. The Real Madrid midfielder, who last played an international when Brazil was beaten in the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup by the Netherlands, added the third goal in the 47th minute at Swebank Stadium.

Chelsea playmaker Oscar scored twice and there were also goals from Hulk, Neymar and Lucas. “We did well.

We scored six goals, that says it all,” Brazil coach Mano Menezes said, adding that Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri “was one of the best players tonight, he made

some fabulous saves.” Oscar scored in the 21st minute after a lovely through ball from Neymar and then made it 2-0 five minutes later.

Goals in the 59th from Hulk, 75th from Neymar and 79th from Lucas completed the emphatic victory. Iraq rarely threatened, with only Younis Mahmood twice going close in the second half and Humadi Ahmad causing concern for goalkeeper Diego Alves in added time.

Zico, the Brazilian great who is now Iraq’s coach, substituted five players in the second half in an attempt to lift his team. But his decision to remove the experienced Mahmoud surprised the largely Iraq-supporting crowd. “If we had lost 6-0 to Iceland I would have

been worried, but losing to Brazil was not a problem,” Zico said.

The sound of drums - not samba, but Arabic - dominated the stadium in Sweden’s third largest city. More than 14,000 tickets were sold for a friendly that was mostly attended by Iraqis living in the Scandinavian country. Malmo is one of its most ethnically diverse cities, with 40 percent of residents being firstor second-generation immigrants. It was the first meeting between five-time world champion Brazil and Iraq, the 2007 Asian Nations Cup winner. Brazil, which isn’t playing qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup because it will host the tournament, plays Japan in Poland on Tuesday. — AP

Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’Or than Messi - Mourinho LISBON: It would be a crime if Cristiano Ronaldo lost out to Lionel Messi for the 2012 Ballon d’Or, his Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho said yesterday. Mourinho hit back at remarks

by Barcelona coach’s Tito Vilanova last weekend that Messi, who has won the award for the past three years, was “the best (player) in the world by a long way”. “When someone with the same responsibility as me comes out and says: ‘Mine is the best on the planet’ then I have to say: mine was not born in Madeira, he was born on Mars; he is not from planet Earth, he is the best in the universe,” Mourinho told Portuguese daily A Bola in an interview. “If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe. It would be a crime if Ronaldo did not win the Ballon d’Or.” Ronaldo won the award in 2008 and Mourinho said it was time to recognize him again.

“If you are going to give out the Ballon d’Or because a player is the best, give it to Cristiano or Messi. But I ask: if the two are on the same level, is it normal that one wins four and the other one? It is not.” In Sunday’s 2-2 La Liga draw at the Camp Nou, Ronaldo became the first player to score in six consecutive ‘Clasicos’ with his ninth and 10th strikes on his 16th appearance against Barca. — Reuters

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

Sports

Brazil thrash Iraq 6-0; Kaka shines

47

NASHVILLE: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Baron Batch (20) gets past Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Akeem Ayers (56) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville.—AP

Titans edge injury-hit Steelers Bironas powers Titans past Steelers 26-23 NASHVILLE: Rob Bironas booted a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give the Tennessee Titans a 26-23 upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Nashville on Thursday. Veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, making his second start for injured Jake Locker, completed 25of-44 passes for 290-yards and one touchdown but drew on all his experience with the game on the line.

After the Steelers Shaun Suisham missed on what would have been a careerbest 54-yard field goal, Hasselbeck went to work with 49 seconds on the clock and marched the Titans 34-yards, well inside Bironas’s range for a shot at the winning kick. The victory was just the second of the

season for the Titans (2-4) while the injuryravaged Steelers remained winless on the road in falling to 2-3. “Everyone believed in what we were doing,” 37-year-old Hasselbeck, the second oldest quarterback in the National Football League this season, told reporters.

“We knew we had plays there to make, we just had to go do it and not make excuses. It wasn’t about the Steelers, they are a good team, it was just about us.

“We’re struggling, we weren’t doing our assignments, we had mental errors, we were losing the turnover battle. We just needed to fix it. “We were really sloppy, we still made mistakes but it feels really good to come away with the win.” After trading

short field goals off their opening drives, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hooked up with Mike Wallace on an 82yard touchdown pass to put the Steelers 10-3 ahead.

Roethlisberger completed 24-of-40 passes for 363-yards to move past Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw as the Steelers alltime passing yardage leader. But the rest of the half belonged to the Titans, Bironas connecting on a 38-yard field goal before Jamie Harper turned a blocked punt into Tennessee’s first rushing touchdown of the season, bulling his way into the endzone from the one-yard-line. The Titans capped off an impressive opening half, converting a Roethlisberger interception into another

47-yard Bironas field goal to send the home side into the intermission 16-10 up.

Pittsburgh opened the second half by scoring on a Suisham 28-yard field goal then followed up with a with an 80-yard drive capped by a one-yard plunge by Baron Batch.

Suisham equaled a career-best with 52yard field goal to push the Steelers ahead 23-16 early in the fourth quarter before the Titans offence finally clicked, Hasselbeck finding Kenny Britt with a five-yard touchdown strike to level the contest. “We worked to get this one,” said Britt, who had four catches for 62-yards. “We got confidence in our kicker and I knew he was going to pull it out.”— Reuters