15 Nov 2011

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Three French hostages freed in Yemen head for home

Kuwait’s ALAFCO buys 50 Airbus A320neo jets

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Kuwait denies citizens held by Iran are spies Ambassador summoned • Tehran denies link to Bahrain cell conspiracy theories

Is isolation the ideal solution?

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

H

ey guys, forgive me but I cannot sleep with that thought. I have to get it off my chest. It seems that nobody shares my mind except a few countries: China, India, Venezuela, South Africa and Russia. What has been on my mind is Syria’s isolation by the Arab League. I find it not correct. I think this is not the right way to handle the situation. This kind of decision is too harsh and extreme.

Don’t misunderstand me. I am not pro-Baath party (ruling party in Syria). I never was and I will never be. I am also not enchanted by Bashar or even his father before him. I cannot stand dictators. But to isolate Syria is dangerous for the Middle East. It is dangerous for Lebanon, Jordan and the whole area.

It is even worst for Syria itself. When you want to help somebody and if you mean to help Syria, you have to try to solve the problem with Bashar inside Syria and not by cutting the country off, kicking ambassadors out of your countries and withdrawing yours from Damascus.

In this way, you are leaving Syria under the influence of countries with agendas and arms smugglers etc, etc. You make it an easy target and a playground for surrounding countries with certain agendas, which by the way are not pro-Arab agendas. You will regret it later on when it is too late.

The enthusiasm of the Arab League was surprising, to take the decision to boycott Syria in this way.

The Arab League had not agreed before on Syria’s matters in such a unified way. I am thrilled that finally they reached consensus. I hope they act in the same way for all Arab issues which are lying on the dusty shelves in the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. So, please guys, take it easy, slow down, the Syrian problem needs a lot of wisdom and serious consideration.

It is easy to rush and boycott it. Think of the consequences for the Syrian nation.

I watched a BBC interview with King Abdullah of Jordan just now. He urged Bashar to step aside with the words: “If I were in Bashar’s shoes, I would step down.” The Jordanian king who has much wisdom advised Bashar and his government to secure things before he walks away. I second that.

I believe that wisdom should prevail.

Shamali warns of rapid wage growth threat GDP grew 16.9% KUWAIT: Public sector wages in OPEC member Kuwait are equivalent to about 85 percent of the country’s oil revenues, the finance minister was quoted by state news agency KUNA as saying. “This reflects the seriousness of the situation, if the rapid increase in wages continues,” Mustapha Al-Shamali told the National Assembly, citing a government statement, before the house approved financial benefits for teachers yesterday. Oil income in the world’s sixth largest oil exporter provides more than 90 percent of its budget revenues.

Shamali added that wage increases posed a “real danger” to the state budget, and that a fast rise in spending might cause a budget deficit. The country might then have to lower the value of its currency, liquidate investments or make withdrawals from state reserves, he said. Since 2004, Kuwait’s budgeted spending has tripled to a record KD 19.4 billion ($70.3 billion) planned for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which started in April, with expenditure on wages rising almost as fast.

With Brent crude oil prices holding above $100 a barrel, there appears to be little danger for now of Kuwait running into budget difficulties. Its budget surplus rose to KD 8.9 billion in the first half of the fiscal year from 5.4 billion dinars in the year-earlier period; revenues came in at KD 13.9 billion with spending at KD 5.1 billion, according to finance ministry data.

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KUWAIT: Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei addresses protesters during a demonstration outside the Syrian Embassy in Mishref yesterday. Banner behind him reads “Cleanse Kuwait from the criminal Baath party”. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Assad urged to quit as isolation deepens DAMASCUS: Jordan’s King Abdullah yesterday urged Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the first Arab leader to do so, as his regime remained defiant despite slipping further into international isolation. “I believe, if I were in his shoes, I would step down,” said King Abdullah. “I would step down and make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo that we’re seeing.” His remarks were aired on the BBC after Syrian Foreign M inister Walid Muallem said Damascus would not budge despite the Arab League’s “dangerous” move to suspend its member-

ship.

“The decision of the Arab League to suspend Syria represents a dangerous step,” Muallem told a packed news conference in Damascus, slamming the move as “shameful”. “Today there is a crisis in Syria which pays the price of its strong positions.

Syria will not budge and will emerge stronger... and plots against Syria will fail,” Muallem said. He said there was evidence of international interference well before Syria was suspended, as well as a spike in operations by “armed groups” in the country.

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Max 29º Min 17º Low Tide 08:35 & 20:57 High Tide 00:59 & 15:44

KUWAIT: Kuwait has denied that two of its citizens arrested in Iran were spying and summoned the Islamic republic’s ambassador to discuss the issue, state news agency KUNA reported yesterday. “An official source at the foreign ministry categorically denied the accusation,” made against the two citizens, said a statement posted on KUNA late yesterday. The source said the two citizens were working for a private television channel and had obtained visas to enter the Islamic republic.

Yesterday, the foreign ministry summoned Iranian ambassador Rohallah Qahramani to discuss the issue of arresting the two Kuwaiti citizens, KUNA reported.

Ministry undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah urged the ambassador to press Tehran to release the two citizens at the earliest, adding that contacts with Iran will continue for the same purpose.

Iran’s Arabic-language satellite channel Al-Alam had earlier quoted local officials in Abadan, southwest of Iran, as saying that two Kuwaitis were arrested in the town on suspicion of spying and illegal entry. Abdullah Kaabi, an Abadan MP also quoted by Al-Alam, said the pair were arrested on Friday and that they entered Iran “illegally”. “The two Kuwaiti citizens are working for a private Kuwaiti television channel and were on an assignment for the channel,” the Kuwaiti foreign ministry said in a statement. “They had obtained the necessary entry visas from Iranian authorities,” added the Kuwaiti statement. “We have initiated contact with Iranian authorities to get clarification and secure their release.”

But a statement issued by Iran’s embassy in Kuwait said the pair were arrested because they “committed an act contrary to their tourist visa and that the matter is under review by relevant authorities,” the official IRNA news agency reported yesterday. There were no further details. Local Kuwaiti media named the two as Adel AlYahya, a lawyer by profession and a presenter at AlAdalah satellite channel, and freelance cameraman Raed Al-Majed. The station is part of a media group owned by leading businessman Mahmud Haider, a Shiite Kuwaiti of Iranian origin, considered a staunch supporter of Iran. Al-Dar newspaper, also part of the media group, criticised the arrests and said the accusations were “baseless.” It said that Yahya and Majed should not be punished for the arrest of an Iranian spy ring in Kuwait earlier this year.

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Oppn, govt heading for big showdown Sheikh Hamad new info minister?

By B Izzak

NEW YORK: This Oct 26, 2011 photo shows Ramzi Kassem, a law professor with the City University of New York, teaching a group of Muslims in the Brooklyn borough about their legal rights in relation to an NYPD surveillance program. — AP

US Muslims saying ‘don’t call NYPD’ NEW YORK: After a decade of the police spying on the innocuous details of the daily lives of Muslims, activists in New York are discouraging people from going directly to the police with their concerns about terrorism, a campaign that is certain to further strain relations between the two groups. Muslim community leaders are openly teaching people how to identify police informants, encouraging them to always talk to a lawyer before speaking with the authorities and reminding people already working with law enforcement that they have the right to change their minds.

The outreach campaign follows an Associated Press investigation that revealed the NYPD had dispatched plainclothes officers to eavesdrop in Muslim communities in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, often without any evidence of wrongdoing.

Restaurants serving Muslims were identified and photographed. Hundreds of mosques were investigated, and dozens were infiltrated. Police used the information to build ethnic databases on daily life inside Muslim neighborhoods. Many of these programs were developed with the help of the CIA. As a result, one of America’s largest Muslim communities - in a city that’s been attacked twice and targeted more than a dozen times - is caught in a downward spiral of distrust with the nation’s largest police department: The New York City Police Department spies on Muslims, which makes them less likely to trust police. That reinforces the belief that the community is secretive and insular, a belief that current and former NYPD officials have said was one of the key reasons for spying in the first place.

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KUWAIT: The opposition and the government yesterday appeared headed for a major clash over the right to question the prime minister following a government request to withdraw a grilling filed against the premier and as the opposition plans to file a fresh grilling amid an alleged corruption scandal. National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said he has received a request from the government to “remove” the grilling from the Assembly’s agenda after last month’s controversial ruling by the constitutional court.

The grilling, filed in March by MPs Ahmad Al-Saadoun and Abdulrahman AlAnjari, was suspended by the Assembly for one year or until the constitutional court rules on a number of articles in the constitution which govern grilling of the

prime minister. The court’s ruling clearly stated that the prime minister cannot be questioned for violations committed by his ministers and should be asked only on issues related to the general policies of the government.

Based on the ruling, the government claims the grilling is null and void and accordingly should be withdrawn, while the opposition says the court’s ruling did not touch the issue of this specific grilling and thus it remains on the agenda and the premier must answer it. Khorafi said that he will ask the Assembly to debate and decide on the highly controversial issue amid stern warnings by the opposition that the action amounts to undermining the status of the constitution.

The Opposition Bloc, which comprises of 20 MPs, insisted in a statement that the move aims at giving immunity to Prime Continued on Page 13

Norway killer claims mantle of resistance OSLO: Anders Behring Breivik, who con- suit, white shirt and light blue tie and fessed to the massacre of 77 people in sporting a narrow beard, asked judge Norway in July, tried in vain to make a Torkel Nesheim if he could speak to the show of his first public families “for five minutes”, court appearance yesterbut was turned down. day, but was blocked from It was the first court hearaddressing the families of ing open to survivors, vichis victims. The Oslo district tims’ family members, the court ruled that Breivik media and the general pubwould remain in custody lic since the July 22 killing until Feb 6, when a new spree. After the hearing, his custody extension hearing lawyer Geir Lippestad, who will be held, and had asked that his client be announced a possible trial set free, said Breivik had prestart-date of April 16. The pared a short note, but that 32-year-old rightwing he did not know what he extremist, wearing a dark Anders Behring Breivik Continued on Page 13

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

LOCAL

KJA demands Iran release media figures KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Journalists Association (KJA) yesterday issued a statement demanding that Iran immediately release two Kuwaiti media figures who were arrested during a visit to the country’s Abadan region.

The two Kuwaitis, Adel Al-Yahya and Raed Al-Majid, who were arrested by the Iranian authorities while they were filming a documentary in the area for a private satellite channel, face charges of spying on Iran, a charge strongly condemned and challenged by the association.

KJA Secretary General Faisal AlQinaei told reporters the Iranian accusation was a very strange one, and demanded an apology for the arbitrary action against the two Kuwaiti nationals in addition to their immediate release. Al-Yahya and Al-Majid had both entered Iranian territory with valid visas obtained from the Iranian Embassy in Kuwait, which had full knowledge of the visit and its objective, Al-Qinaei pointed out.

The KJA head explained that the documentary which the two were working on concerns the conditions and circumstances of the children of Kuwaiti men and Iranian women.

“The association expresses its

By Lisa Conrad

Faisal Al-Qinaei extreme unhappiness at the Iranian treatment of the two Kuwaiti colleagues and, as a representative of the press and media field in Kuwait, expresses its solidarity with them,” said the statement, adding, “We demand their immediate release, so as to prevent this case from taking on negative proportions that could compromise Kuwaiti-Iranian relations on all levels.” — KUNA

NA passes teachers, student allowance bills KUWAIT: The National Assembly passed on a special session yesterday a proposed allowance for teaching staff at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Awqaf, as well as a proposed increase in the current students’ allowance.

The vote on the teachers allowance was 45 for and six against, with 51 MPs present. The vote on increasing the students allowance was 44 for and six against, with one abstention and 51 MPs present. The assembly listened to a statement by the government read out by Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shimali on the accelerated increase in salaries of state employees and given a visual presentation by the Minister of Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi on the proposed annual bonus for teachers which is to be tied to their level of performance.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education stressed its commitment to the newly-

Ethnic profiling, airport security procedures await Arab travelers

passed law on handing out financial incentives to teachers in the country.

Following the parliamentary session in which the law was passed, Education Minister and Minister of Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi told reporters that the Cabinet would be implementing the law according to the directions of the National Assembly.

He watered down any discrepancies, between the parliament and the cabinet, on the issue, saying that the views only differed on how the incentives were to be paid, whether by a raise, as viewed by the National Assembly, or bonuses, by the Cabinet. “This move to reward teachers will do much to solve many problems related to the educational system,” the minister earlier told the parliament.

The law applies to teachers in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Travel for many from the Middle East has often been quite difficult, but following 9/11 and the Arab Spring, it seems to be worsening. The questions asked range from understandable to the ridiculous, as travelers and gatekeepers try and negotiate a middle ground. “I have an American passport, but at border control I’m clearly seen as a foreigner,” said 51- year- old Rania. Rania, who is Lebanese by birth but now has an American passport, recounted the various questions she’s been asked over the years, “When I land, they ask me all sorts of things. They seem to know every detail of the political issues in Lebanon and mentioned groups and villages that I hadn’t even heard of. Sometimes, I genuinely don’t know the answer, and it sparks such a panic because you feel the suspicion rising.”

She added, “He asked me how I got the American passport. When I said I was married to an American, he said, “Oh, so you’re not a real American.”

I really didn’t get why there was so much animosity; I never denied or tried to conceal the fact that I’m Lebanese. I’m extremely proud of being Lebanese.”

The different questions and treatment of Arabs depends on the country, according to Karim, a 27-year-old Palestinian. “In France, they wanted me to show them that I had money with me. They wanted to see cash, and I was lucky that I had cash with me.

It was quite strange. The UK, however, tends to ask you the same questions as the ones found on applications, I guess to see if you’re going to give different answers.” 23-year-old Ahmed got held for half an

KUWAIT: A file photo shows the departures hall at Kuwait International Airport bustling with travelers. The image is used for illustrative purposes only. — Photo by Joseph Shagra hour when leaving the UK, which was quite a surprise. “I thought they’d have been happy I was leaving, but instead they kept me waiting and were glaring at me as if I were a criminal. What’s worse is that they ignored me completely and didn’t tell me what was wrong.”

After being taken to a private room without any knowledge of what was going on, a group of officials arrived, “I really thought there was a serious problem, that maybe some terrorist shared my name or something. I couldn’t believe it when a man approached and asked, “Where is the expiry date on this document?” Had they asked me earlier, I would have happily pointed it out, why all the fuss over such a simple thing?”

According to Karim, it all depends on the country, “In Greece, they made comments

or were suspicious with me.

They were so welcoming and would tell me “You are Greek my friend!” There is a risk, however, that the suspicion can be confused with curiosity, “In Cyprus, they don’t ask questions, but disappear with my papers for a while. It seems that they just don’t see such documents that often, so it’s understandable.”

Ahmed, however, thinks it’s down to the mood of the person you’re dealing with and your nationality, “Not all Arabs are treated the same. If you’re from a poor country you’re more likely to get questioned and have more difficulty getting a visa regardless of your own wealth or situation.” He added, “Those from the Gulf are treated much better; they get respect when they travel.

I’m not saying I’ve been tortured or harassed, but there’s an obvious difference in how you’re treated, even when

you’re trying to leave.” Layla, who is a citizen, agreed. “I’ve never had any problems or questioning when I travel. But it does depend on the location. I know some friends travelled to tiny islands and they got questioned because they obviously hadn’t had any Kuwaiti tourists before.”

Whether it’s curiosity or suspicion, the questioning of travelers based on ethnicity is a trend that has been gripping airport security for quite some time. The issue isn’t even one of nationality anymore as the concentration remains on roots, “I’ve had an American passport for 40 years, but I know that, without fail, every single time I fly out of Heathrow I’ll be stopped for a ‘random search’ where they look through my stuff and pat me down. My passport gets me on the plane but my ethnicity makes it a tougher procedure.”

Report on tainted MoI official to be released KUWAIT: A disciplinary board from the Military Court is reviewing the case of a senior Ministry of Interior official who has been accused of physically assaulting a female citizen. It will release findings in a report within a couple of weeks.

The Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah issued orders on Sunday to probe the case filed against Col Shukri Al-Najjar, assistant director of the General Department of Special Forces. The board also comprises three senior ministry officials who are: Maj Gen Fahad Al-Dousary, Director General of the General Department of Criminal Evidence; Maj Gen Jamal Al-Dawas, Director General of the General Department of Land Borders Security Affairs and Brig Gen Dr Jamal Al-Eid from the General Department of Investigations.

Meanwhile, separate sources have been quoted as saying that minister Al-Sabah “heavily reprimanded” Brig Gen Ghloom Al-Habeeb, Director of the Hawally Governorate Security for commenting to the press on the case without prior permission, violating regulations, reported Al-Qabas. Al-Najjar remains in custody at the General Department of Special Forces building pending ongoing investigations.

Kuwaitis snatch medals in invention exhibition KUWAIT: Two Kuwaiti inventors have won three gold and one silver medals in the 36th international invention, prototype and business plan show by Eastern European countries held in Croatia.

The inventors, Abdullah Abul-Qassem and Sadeq Qassem, also won three other awards on the sideline of the show.

In a statement on Sunday, Qassem said that he has won the grand prize of the exhibition for his invention of chemical samples processing equipment which he called Alchemist.

The invention can be used for laboratory analysis and guarantee fast, and accurate results.

The Asian inventions committee also presented Qassem its annual award of innovation for the same invention.

Meanwhile, Abul-Qassem won the best innovation in the field of sports for a new diving device.

On this occasion, the inventors have expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his support.

They also voiced acknowledgement to all who supported them particularly in Kuwait Science Club and Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Border Security Force recently arrested two Asians in connection with stealing currency valued at 4,615,000 dirhams. The suspects were nabbed within a record time of five hours in an operation led by Maj Abdullah Al-Malik Al-Sabah.

— Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun

11 hurt in road accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A 47-year-old Egyptian man was rushed to Adan Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit yesterday following a multiple car pile-up on King Fahad Road, along with a critically injured unidentified 26-year-old man who was also hurt in the crash. Three other Egyptians, two aged 30 and one aged 43, who were also injured in the crash, were taken to the same hospital.

In a separate incident, a 43-year-old Indian man was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital after suffering a heart attack just after he was hit by a speeding car whilst crossing a road near the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh fire station.

Police are hunting for the driver of the vehicle who drove off following the incident.

In a third case, this time in Ghazali Street opposite the Shuwaikh industrial zone, one Egyptian man suffered neck injuries whilst another sustained fractures to bones in his left hand. Both were taken to Sabah Hospital.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Iraqi woman was taken to Al-Amiri Hospital after sustaining a fracture to her right thighbone in a crash in the Shaab area, with a 50-yearold Egyptian man and a 19-year-old Kuwaiti who suffered minor injuries in the same accident also being admitted to the hospital.

Kid stabbed A 10-year-old Bangladeshi boy was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital after suffering a stab wound in a fight with other children opposite the Granada Cinema in Khaitan.

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KUWAIT: Siham Abu Ghazaleh (left) and Lina Al-Khaldi talking to a visitor at the exhibition. (Middle) Reem Suweidan at the ceramics section. (Right) Etaf Harzallah and Yara Al-Eissa at the small items booth.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Palestinians reaffirm national identity through exhibition Aim to preserve culture, promote charity

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: With a variety of handicrafts created

by Palestinian women living in refugee camps on display, Bayt Lothan is currently hosting the Palestinian Cultural Exhibition from Nov 14 to 17. The Palestinian Cultural Center buys these

A volunteer showing the traditional ceramics.

items from the women and the revenue obtained is used for charitable purposes. The visitor will find traditional outfits like skirts, jackets, vests, dresses, shawls and others.

Accessories, necklaces, pins, book marks, frames, flowers, books, embroideries, boxes, ceramics, cushions, runners, scarves, trays, and the hatta, a symbol of Palestine, and old handmade items from Hebron, Jerusalem.

Traditional cuisine is also served as part of the event.

“Through this exhibition, we aim to empower these women as well as preserve our culture and fund orphans and university students in Palestine. The exhibition aims to preserve the Palestinian handicrafts to reaffirm national identity,” Siham Abu Ghazaleh, Head of the Palestinian Cultural Committee of the Palestinian Cultural Center told Kuwait Times.

The majority of the exhibited items are embroidered work by 550 Palestinian refugee women living in camps in Jordan and other places. “All these women are in need. It’s their way to preserve their heritage and to come into contact with volunteers. This gives them pride. The Center does not give financial support. We also prove that they can produce works of beauty and keep heritage alive, passing it on from one generation to another,” she added.

The exhibition displays classic designs intertwined with modern uses, colors, and motifs to showcase some of the women’s creativity. Also,

there are informative historical, cultural, social, political, humanitarian and children’s books from Palestine on sale, describing the lives of people living under occupation. The books are available in Arabic and English.

An information desk that guides visitors about Palestine has been set up. “This year we are focusing on certain subjects like the apartheid wall, which the Palestinian people are against and it’s illegal. Then we also focus on the Menala cemetery, which the Israelis have been ruining by conducting excavation work to plant a garden. Also, the subject of accepting Palestine as a state by UNESCO is very important for us,” explained Abu Ghazaleh.

Most of saleswomen present at the venue are volunteers. “I’m happy to volunteer for this exhibition. I am participating in this exhibition for the second time. I think this is the least I can do to help my nation. I will definitely keep participating in other exhibitions,” said Etaf Harzallah. Yara Al-Eissa, another volunteer, stated that she is satisfied with her work and would ensure her participation in other exhibitions.

There are different humanitarian projects that make their presence felt. A family can sponsor an orphan in Palestine for KD 360. The second one involves granting university scholarship for KD 550 per year for a student. On the final day, Palestine’s national dance form ‘Dabkka’ will be performed and other outdoor activities will be held for the family.

Expats unhappy at penalties due to Kuwaiti staff strikes KUWAIT: Following the nine-day Eid Al-Adha holiday, Kuwaiti legal staff at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) chose to continue their strike, which has been ongoing for weeks, to demand pay parity with their peers in other public sector bodies, such as the Fatwa and Legislation Department.

In the meantime, many expatriate workers feel that they are being left to pay the heaviest price as they are unable to process residency applications whilst employees there continue their strike, leaving the expats to pay substantial fines through no fault of their own.

45,000 expats left for good in 2011 KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) is predicting that around 45,000 expatriate workers will have left Kuwait by the end of the year since its start, although approximately 90,000 new work visas for expat workers have been issued so far during 2011.

The figures were revealed in a statement from MSAL Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Kandari, who said that the statistics are in line with the ministry’s plans to keep a tight rein on Kuwait’s demographic composition.

“The MSAL is committed to meeting its obligations under the state’s plan to adjust the demographic structure so that it consists of 34 percent of citizens to 66 percent of expatriates by 2014 rather than the current 31 percent to 69 percent ratio,” he explained, adding, “The ministry’s efforts have helped to reduce the expatriate workforce population from two million to 1.2 million in the past few years.”

The number of work permits issued to expatriate workers began seeing sharp reductions in 2008 when it fell to 72,000, less than half the 179,000 issued the previous year, Al-Kandari pointed out. The senior MSAL official added that this dramatic reduction was achieved by the ministry’s adoption of a system under which would-be immigrant expatriate workers could not come to the country to work without meeting a number of strictly enforced criteria. —Al-Qabas

Several expatriates attempting to process their visa applications at the Capital governorate MSAL office on Sunday were visibly upset after realizing that they would be forced to pay stiff fines as their residency visas go without renewal due to the strike by staff there.

Others were desperately seeking at least an official document to take to migration authorities so that their residency can be temporarily extended until the ministry workers’ grievances are resolved. They also left empty-handed, with the remaining ministry staff refusing to issue any such documents.

An MSAL labor relations department insider said that department employees had been instructed to allow workers to submit labor-related complaints during the strike, although the official gave no word on any measures that worried expatriate workers could take.

Meanwhile, the director of the media campaign launched by the labor union representing legal staff in the public sector, Ahmad Al-Kandari, released a statement in which he criticized reports which suggested that the Cabinet might take actions that includes the dismissal of striking employees. —Al-Qabas

KD10,000 maximum fine for air pollution KUWAIT: The Environment Public Authority (EPA) has introduced a number of new penalties for those violating the country’s environmental pollution laws, including an increase in the maximum fine for instances of serious pollution, which has been raised to KD10,000.

“A final list of violations have been adopted with the fines ranging between KD50 to KD10,000,” said Mohammad Al-Enezi, the director of the EPA’s industrial environment division and coordinator of its inspection teams, in an interview with local daily Al-Rai on Sunday. Al-Enezi indicated that the new penalties would be imposed on a number of local business owners within the next few days over

violations at their facilities.

The KD10,000 fine will be enforced against those factories and oil refineries which cause severe air pollution, said the senior EPA official, adding that offenders can be forced to pay the same fine if they continue to repeat their illegal actions. He added that if a factory were to be found to be releasing excessive levels of atmospheric pollutants four times in the same month and failed to respond to warnings by taking measures to prevent this, it could be fined KD40,000 in that period.

Al-Enezi added that the new system of penalties is “a huge step in environmental regulation” in Kuwait. — Al-Rai

Kuwaiti ambassador meets new Governor of Riyadh RIYADH: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah yesterday met the recently appointed new Governor of Riyadh Sattam Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador told KUNA that during the meeting he conveyed to Prince Sattam the congratulations of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah, Their Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlSabah and the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-

Sabah, and the Kuwaiti people, on his new appointment.

The diplomat hailed the constant care offered for Kuwaiti citizens in Riyadh by Prince Sattam since he was the Vice-Governor of the city to this day.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador and the accompanying delegation paid a similar visit to the Vice Governor of Riyadh Mohammad Bin Saad Bin Abdulaziz, during which they conveyed to him the greetings of the Kuwaiti leadership on his new post. — KUNA

Abu Ghazaleh at the ceramics section with the visitors

Two volunteers at the traditional dress section

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Local Spotlight

in my view

Arab Standard Time

Israel will not attack Iran

By Lisa Conrad

By Muna Al-Fuzai

lisa@kuwaittimes.net

B

efore we get into the issue of Arab Standard Timing (and its tendency to run, way off course with everyone else’s) it’s important to note one vital issue: I am from a mixed background and part of that background is Arab. Therefore, it is acceptable, if not obligatory, for me to address such issues in as satirical a manner as I so wish. If I weren’t from an Arab background, it would be inappropriate to paint society with one sweeping brushstroke but, since I am, allow me to prepare my canvas.

The concept of Arab Standard Timing (AST) came to my attention this weekend over brunch as I was laughing with a Lebanese friend over our poor timekeeping abilities as a brunch planned for 11 am had started instead at 1.30pm, prompting her to comment on the issue of Arab Standard Timing. The issue, however, wasn’t much of an ‘issue’ at all as both of us were faithfully following AST and had managed to sync our delays to leave, as it happened, perfectly on time.

As someone who is accustomed to expecting lateness and oftentimes becoming delayed myself, it never occurred to me how much the issue must incense those who aren’t used to it. Chatting with my colleague this morning about her experience this weekend with another Lebanese friend, I realized how frustrating it must be for those who have yet to appropriately set (break) their watches. In this case, she incurred 40 minutes of waiting along the Gulf Road for her AST savvy friend. To my colleague, and all new expats I know arriving freshly to anywhere in the Middle East, I say the same thing: be late. It is very, very likely that whoever you have arranged to meet with will be delayed/stuck in traffic/searching for their keys/retouching their make-up/gel or, most often, have relaxed too long at home and ended up around half an hour off schedule.

There is a difference, of course, between the rules for professional and social meetings. Professionally, the general rule, that I’ve noticed at least, is that if you are the more senior party, you can be late. For example, if your manager or interviewer makes you wait, it’s fine. If you, however, make your manager or interviewer wait, it’s disrespectful and displays a blatant disregard for their time and authority. In these cases, there will be consequences. If, however, you’re attending a social gathering or you’re the person of authority in a professional meeting, being late isn’t such a taboo. It’s most probable that if you’re early or on time for a social gathering you may well find yourself alone, cursing the day you failed to heed to the advice of this column.

Each and every society has its eccentricities and nuances that make it original, and poor time-keeping is a common trend not only in the Middle East but also much of the Mediterranean. It’s all part of a more laidback lifestyle where life is for living and anything seen to impede on that, such as stringent punctuality, becomes a lesser priority. The key is to avoid becoming offended because it’s never personal. If you really can’t sacrifice your punctuality, it may well be time to take time-killers with you to your appointments as, I’m afraid to say, you’re going to be doing a lot of waiting.

Satire Wire

The salesperson from hell

muna@kuwaittimes.net

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kuwait digest

The urgent need for unity

By Mohammad Al-Khaldi

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ny individual who studies Kuwaiti history will realize that the government practices which people are currently expressing unhappiness with are nothing new. This is how the government has always been, maintaining a distance between itself and other groups according to its own political interests. Behaving in this way, utilizing a ‘divide and rule’ strategy, is what makes any government strong enough to survive, keeping everyone else busy with fighting amongst themselves and over petty issues rather than monitoring their governments’ achievements.

This is what happened and is still happening in Kuwait; the government held the Bedouin tribes close at certain periods and distanced itself from other groups and tribes; at that time, the Bedouin tribes and their allies did not object to that policy, but used that relationship in a very selfish way. Thereafter, things changed and the government, following its own interests, gave up those former Bedouin allies, instead forming alliances with those from urban areas.

Again, it did so from completely selfish motives, with the new allies again ‘milking’ the government as hard as they could whilst not caring for the rest of the population.

After giving up on the urban tribes, the government formed alliances with the Muslim Brotherhood, then the Salafists then the liberals and so on. All have been quick to take

advantage of their favored role when they are the favorite government ally, just like those before them.

None of these groups have behaved better than any other,

Isn’t it time, therefore, that Kuwaitis of all sects moved on from political games and heeded the wisdom of calls to live together in unity? We will not obtain our rights except with social justice and equality between all. with each showing selfishness and bigotry towards those outside its group; all these bitter experiences and divisions can only result in further selfishness and eventually the division of the state.

Isn’t it time, therefore, that Kuwaitis of all sects moved on from political games and heeded the wisdom of calls to live together in unity? We will not obtain our rights except with social justice and equality between all. In the olden days, Persian rulers used to

allow the people for one day a year to live without any rule of law; during that day, the populace could do what they wanted - theft, murder, any crime imaginable - without fear of any penalty or consequences. This was to show the people the true benefits of the normal rule of law and the usual penalties that applied on every other day of the year.

All I hope for is that we all learn that divisions between different groups will negatively affect everyone in the long run. If Shiites accept the oppression of Sunnis today, then inevitably Sunnis will accept the oppression of Shiites tomorrow.

The temporary victory which the members of some groups achieve when cooperating with government at the expense of the rest of society, is not a real or lasting one; soon it becomes a source of problems as is happening now with the schisms between different groups; those Sunni people complaining about the benefits allegedly being given to Shiites should remember that only a short time ago the Shiites were in the same position and complaining of the same injustice.

When one is in the position of not being the group in the government’s favor, we must overcome the mentality and culture of jealousy and revenge. We will not rest and ensure a positive future for our country unless we foster a culture of forgiveness, love and mutual respect. — Al-Anba

By Sawsan Kazak

kuwait digest

Doubts over Iran strike threats sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

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he other day, while shopping I encountered the worst salesperson in the history of salespeople. I was in an upscale clothing store, just looking around when this man approached my friend and I to ‘assist’ us in our shopping. This man was so bad at his job that I had to rush out of the store.

He began by showing us the ugliest dresses in the store and insisting they were really nice. When my friend and I tried to be polite by saying we thought the extra larger florescent green dress in his hand was too big for us; he would insist that it was our size. He proceeded to follow us around the store, even after we told him that we were fine to shop alone.

He informed us that there was a sale on all the items in the store between 50 percent to 75 percent; depending on the item. But every time we would ask about a certain item it would always be at 50 percent.

We asked which section had the 75 percent sale he spoke of, and he pointed to a few items in the back of the store. However, when we found a dress in that section he said that it was only half off. When I went to the other salesperson to get a second opinion, I was informed that it was in fact at 75 percent off. What could this man possibly gain by lying to me about the price? Did he want that dress for himself?

Logically, the items that are of older seasons are usually on bigger sale than the newer ones; but apparently this salesperson had not heard of this rule. He explained that if an item was not very expensive he could not give the full percentage of discount. This was beyond logic. To top it off, he had the worst attitude I have ever seen on a person trying to sell me something. He acted as though he was doing us a favor by letting us into his store. I couldn’t take it anymore and I forced my friend to leave the store in the middle of her shopping. This person does not belong in sales, he doesn’t even belong in any social setting of any kind. There are some people that are good at what they do, or they can at least fake it; he was neither of these two. Being a salesperson is an art that requires finesse and talent. Well, being a good one at least! I guess I will just have to return to this particular store on this salesperson’s day off.

By Dr. Wael Al-Hasawi

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have doubts about the seriousness of threats of an Israeli or American military strike against Iran, because similar threats were made in the past without anything happening, while the reasonable choice would indicate that a strike against Iran’s nuclear program should have been carried out before Iran started operating its first nuclear reactor.

Furthermore, the risks from such military action is too high, given that it would trigger a violent reaction from Iran against American and Israeli interests (retaliation against its military bases in Gulf countries is a chance that is too risky for the US to take), in addition to the risk of disastrous radiation leaks.

What is more strange is that all this news of a supposed potential military strike has been appearing recently, which leads us to wonder about the reason behind the timing of these announcements.

Moreover, these developments are also driving some people to wonder why the attack should happen now when the United States previously allowed Iranian intervention in Iraq; why not attack the Syrian regime, which is Tehran’s strongest ally in the region?

The current situation has also led to many people discussing possible conspiracy theories, including one that these items were intentionally leaked by the Iranian government in order to eliminate internal frictions, and another hinting that the news leaks are Israel’s way of strengthening the Syrian regime’s chances against the popular uprising there by redirecting attention to the Gulf region, which contains the biggest supporters of the Arab people’s ambitions.

Aside from all the different analysis and speculation, however, we in Kuwait are compelled to take all the necessary precautionary measures regardless of whether the threats are serious or not, and regardless of any assurances that might be offered by Tehran that it would not target locations in Gulf states in retaliation for any strike against its facilities. First of all, an end must be found to the political tensions that Kuwait has been living through for years through the

appointment of a new, more competent Cabinet whilst getting rid of all the suspicious individuals from the Parliament.

The second thing we have to do is reinforce our alliances with countries which share our concern about the Iranian threat (the Iraqi invasion period showed a perfect example of how strong relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries can be vital in deterring foreign aggression).

Also, plans should be put in place to increase public awareness about the risks of any radiation leak, while safe shelters should be constructed for the population. — Al-Rai

The current situation has also led to many people discussing possible conspiracy theories, including one that these items were intentionally leaked by the Iranian government in order to eliminate internal frictions, and another hinting that the news leaks are Israel’s way of strengthening the Syrian regime’s chances against the popular uprising there by redirecting attention to the Gulf region, which contains the biggest supporters of the Arab people’s ambitions.

an we expect Israel to launch an offensive against Iran? Should we run away seeking refuge elsewhere? I decided to write about this topic because the local media have been creating a ruckus about this issue. We are being made to believe that we have to lock ourselves at home waiting for the dreaded day! Talks are doing the rounds about the possible repercussions on the region if Iran is attacked.

I don’t believe that any of these fear-inducing speculations will come true, not now or tomorrow.

Conspiracy theories are be formulated based on illusion, fear, past history as well as probability. However, which one makes sense?

Some Arab analysts undermine the power of a decision like going to war when this region is already marred by civil conflicts. I feel we should no longer worry about Israel launching an attack. Two main aspects here need to be considered: what is really going on in Iran now and how do Iranians view their current leadership? Secondly, who in the Gulf region wants to see another war that will be bloody and expensive owing to the religious factions involved?

No war is a picnic!

The media focuses on a daily warning that Iran issues about its nuclear capabilities. Do they aim to mobilize the world’s military power to bomb it? We are talking about a full-fledged war not a videogame. It requires decision-making, support and use of armaments. I also think that the international powers have learnt many lessons from the Iraq debacle.

I believe that Israelis are fully aware of the Arab mentality. They don’t make a random move because it appeals to them. I doubt the US would want to jeopardize the relationship it shares with the Arab world to create a new conflict. Creating a program to monitor any suspicious development to develop a nuclear bomb can be regulated by international agencies. Possibly, some sanctions can be placed on the sale and export of high-tech equipment, also ensuring that existing know-how is used judiciously within a secure environment and not used to inflict harm on neighboring countries. We cannot afford an Israel- Iran war that could have long-lasting catastrophic effect. We don’t want to hide or run. We don’t want a war.

kuwait digest

Rudderless oppositionist blocs

By Rashid Al-Radan

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es, we have fierce and strong oppositionist blocs that show no mercy to rivals.

However, they are scattered and disorganized. Each opponent asserts he is better, and becomes creative at describing his adversaries’ shortcomings. Meanwhile, there are some supporters who took the same route and added to

Why doesn’t the government get ready to face the dangers of a war on Iran in silence? Why does the government commit the same mistakes and repeat that it has prepared a plan to face the aftermath, if the Iranian Republic is attacked. the opponents’ means of creating scandals and publicizing them without fear.

For example, the case of the Interior Ministry’s leading figure was ‘trapped’ by a woman at Bayan police station. This is before she received some money and dropped charges. His adversaries attacked him and demanded that he get the most severe punishment. Supporters painted a heroic picture of him. Had the blocs been organized, the matter would have been dealt more logically, and would have been satisfied with a statement explaining the facts and demand that legal action be taken without invading people’s privacy.

Such blocs should have an agenda and an official spokesman who clarifies things. What we experience these days is simply a political confusion. It will be confronted in an unexpected manner.

Why doesn’t the government get ready to face the dangers of a war on Iran in silence? Why does the government commit the same mistakes and repeat that it has prepared a plan to face the aftermath, if the Iranian Republic is attacked. It issues statements about the 18 schools that will be converted to shelters, the medical supplies stocked for eight months that create fear in citizens, and make Kuwait pay the tax of a war that may take place!

The US may not carry it out after all! I believe this government is not prepared to face any catastrophe. When it has failed to unify different factions of society, how can it face a foreign invasion? — Al-Watan

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Local

Fresh scandal brewing over Iran money-laundering accusations An issue of national security KUWAIT: The State Security Depar tment has repor tedly been approached by senior Public Prosecution Service officials over a potential scandal in which two current Kuwaiti MPs, as well as a former minister and a Kuwaiti businessman are accused of involvement in a major money laundering operation aimed at breaking the international sanctions on Iran.

According to one insider, the case is being handled as an issue of national security due to the seriousness of the allegations and current regional tensions concerning developments in Iran’s nuclear program, as well as being viewed in light of the interest that the case would garner from several other countries.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, a senior security official explained that Egyptian authorities are participating in the investigation after it was revealed that one of the suspec ts accused of involvement has major strategic investments in the North African nation.

On a separate issue, Kuwait’s National Action Bloc is expec ted to submit a request during today’s parliamentary session to assign a lawmaker to take part in the ongoing investigation into the suspicious multimillion-dinar deposits scandal, according to a bloc insider.

The insider claimed that during a meeting on Sunday, the NAB members agreed to

reject a possible Cabinet proposal to refer the grilling motion to the parliamentary legislative committee, which is widely viewed as a means of thwarting the debate on the motion, which is scheduled to take place today. The grilling motion, which was originally filed against the Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed AlSabah, by MPs Ahmad AlSaadoun and Abdurrahman AlAnjari in June of this year, concerns a number of alleged incidences of government corruption and irregularities.

The Cabinet insists, however, that the grilling motion is unconstitutional, citing a recent Constitutional Court ruling which indicated that the premier must only be ques-

tioned on issues over which he has direct responsibility.

Meanwhile, MP Saifi Al-Saifi is repor tedly set to file a grilling motion against health minister Dr. Helal Al-Sayer concerning allegations that the health ministr y has squandered public funds and claims of irregularities in contracts signed between the Ministry of Health and overseas medical service providers, as well as accusations of deteriorating quality of medical services and a number of medical errors.

The grilling motion against the health minister is apparently set to be the first in a series of such motions by members of the parliamentary opposition against Cabinet members.

—Al-Qabas, Al-Rai

Kuwait prepared for nuclear threats KUWAIT: Kuwait has an emergency plan already in place to face any potential disaster scenarios that could happen in the region as a result of a militar y strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, said a senior Cabinet official on Sunday.

“We have been through many crises in the past, during which preparations in all fields including those for security, health, food security and energy were present,” said M inister of Development Affairs Abdulwahab Al-Haroun in a statement to reporters. In the statement, the minister

KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kuwait yesterday began welcoming Saudi residents wishing to pledge their allegiance to the kingdom’s Crown Prince, Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The embassy will continue to welcome Saudis wishing to extend their congratulations to the recently appointed crown prince at its building in Daiya every day from 9am to 3pm. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Gulf Bank honored at IBA ceremony KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced that it has been honored at the 8th International Business Awards (IBA) during a gala dinner event held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Surour Alsamerai, General Manager, Human Resources, received recognition in the category for HR Executive of the Year. On behalf of Alsamerai and Gulf Bank, Nada Razzouqi - Manager in Gulf Bank’s Human Resources department accepted this award.

Alsamerai said: “I am delighted to receive this recognition, which is a testament to the hard work and contributions of the entire HR team at Gulf Bank. We have only been able to deliver all we have, consistently over the years, through the support of the bank and its management team, which continues to believe in and promote world-class HR practices.

I am excited about the role HR will continue to play at Gulf Bank in the future, where investment in the professional development of employees remains important, helping to give them the opportunity to build their careers and contribute to our country’s economic advancement “ Congratulating Alsamerai on his award, Michel Accad, CEO and CGM at

Gulf Bank, said: “Surour has been a terrific partner and has led a complete culture change at Gulf Bank. Through his leadership, the HR team continues to implement world-class solutions, helping to make Gulf Bank a highly desirable place to work and build a career in banking.

The HR team have received a number of highly significant recognition awards including the GCC Employer of the Year award in 2010. Gulf Bank also recently won the GCC Localization Award from the GCC Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs for the 7th consecutive year.”

In 2011, Gulf Bank won numerous prestigious awards including: ‘Thought Leadership Excellence’ Award at the MENA CIO’s Summit 2011, the ‘International Excellence in Retail Financial Services’ award from The Asian Banker, the ‘Best Retail Customer Service’, the ‘Best Phone Banking Service’, the ‘Best Corporate Governance’ and ‘Best Employee Training’ awards from the Banker Middle East, the ‘Quality Recognition Award’ from Citibank, Deutsche Bank’s Award for International Payment Per formance and the ‘GCC Localization Award’ from the GCC Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs for the 7th consecutive year.

KUWAIT: Nada Razzouqi, manager, Gulf Bank’s human resources department, accepting the HR Executive of the Year award on the behalf of Surour Alsamerai, general manager, human resources.

voiced hopes for a peaceful resolution of the current concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

I n the meantime, a M inistr y of Electricity and Water (MEW) insider insisted that the state’s current strategic water reser ve is capable of meeting public demand in any crisis situation, further indicating that the reserve currently holds 2.750 billion imperial gallons of water.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the insider also indicated that the ministry has backup plans to produce electricity

from alternative sources should any power plant be forced out of service. Another MEW official, also speaking anonymously, indicated that the ministry has a plan to distribute the water supply from the emergency reserve in cases of emergency, through a rationalization process that can ensure a stable supply for nearly 45 days.

The same official further noted that the Subbiya power and water desalination plant is equipped with a system to detect any presence of radiation.

—Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

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local

Employer kills maid in Hawally street Fake cop mugs pedestrian KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man was taken into custody after allegedly killing his Ethiopian maid who worked for his family in a brutal assault in a Hawally street. The incident took place near the office of the domestic staff recruitment agency from which the attacker had originally recruited the woman as he was taking her back there after apparently finding her services unsatisfactory. When she shouted back in response to the man’s verbal abuse, he launched a vicious physical assault, repeatedly punching and kicking her, even after she had fallen to the ground unconscious. Although bystanders intervened to restrain him and called for an ambulance, paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene of the injuries sustained in the attack. The killer remains in custody pending legal action.

In a separate case, an Asian man has brought assault charges against his Kuwaiti employer, providing police with a medical report detailing the injuries he sustained in the attack.

The victim, who worked as a shepherd, told police that his employer had launched a frenzied attack on him after the employee refused to work when the sponsor rejected his request for time off to take care of his sick mother. The callous employer reportedly refused to allow the man the time off to take care of his mother since he was the only shepherd currently taking care of the employer’s livestock.

Body found The body of a 51-year-old Indian man was discovered lying in a street in Qiblah, with passersby, who believed that the man was unconscious, immediately calling the emergency services hotline. Paramedics who rushed to the scene determined that the man had died before their arrival, with initial indications suggesting that he died of a heart attack.

The body was removed for autopsy and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

Shuwaikh attack A hunt is underway for a man

wearing police uniform who punched and stabbed a pedestrian walking down a street in Shuwaikh before stealing his wallet and fleeing.

Horrified passersby immediately called the emergency services hotline and police and paramedics were quickly at the scene. The victim, who was rushed to hospital, told police that the man posing as a police officer had stopped him and demanded his ID before launching the brutal attack.

The investigation is continuing.

Callous kids A confused elderly Kuwaiti woman was taken into custody by police for her own safety after her adult children allegedly abandoned her and stole her possessions. A baqala owner in Salhiya called police after becoming concerned about the 65year-old woman’s wellbeing when he spotted her looking disconsolate while sitting on a step outside his shop for a long period on a chilly day.

Police officers who were quickly at the scene recognized the lady as the same person who had been taken to the police station a few times previously after being found wandering in the area, with her callous children refusing to collect her. She told officers that she had left the house where she lives with her daughters after feeling that she was unwelcome there.

Mall pest arrested A thug who hit a female shopper at a local mall after she reprimanded him for harassing her was subsequently found hiding in a nearby men’s toilet at the mall. Passersby who heard the woman scream following the incident immediately called police who were quickly at the scene, with an Asian man who had spotted the suspect fleeing into the toilet tipping them off on the attacker ’s whereabouts. He was immediately arrested and taken into custody.

Dumb drunks Three young Kuwaiti men face multiple charges after attacking a police vehicle whilst in a drunken stupor. The incident began when a

patrol officer was called to a location in Salmiya where residents reported that the drunken trio were causing trouble. When the officer asked to see the drunkards’ ID, they responded by verbally abusing him and attacking his vehicle. He immediately called for backup, with other officers quickly arriving at the scene. The belligerent drunks were taken into custody to sober up and undergo blood alcohol tests pending further action.

Attempted rape An Asian woman has brought charges of attempted rape against a male acquaintance, also Asian, who she said lured her to his apartment under false pretences before attempting to sexually assault her.

The woman told officers at Rumaithiya police station that the man, who she had lent money to previously, had invited her to the apartment saying that he wished to give her back her money. When she arrived, however, he attempted to sexually assault her before she managed to escape, going straight to the police station. An arrest warrant has been issued for the accused man.

Border bust A Kuwaiti man was arrested at the Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia after attempting to use his brother’s passport to cross into the neighboring country. The young man’s nervous demeanor initially roused customs officers’ suspicions, with a double check of his passport showing that it actually belonged to his sibling. He was taken to the local police station to face charges.

Special program for cow herders KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) said yesterday that it will organize a special educational program on cow feeding and milk production for cattle growers and people who are interested in this field.

An expert from the Department of Livestock Resources at the Authority would be giving lectures

and seminars on the program as well as addressing a number of contexts related to the subject, Engineer Hussein Al-Khayat, Director of Department of Agriculture Guidance, said in a press statement.

The Authority will also arrange another program for members of the general public next week on basics of organic farming of plants and agricultural crops, noted Al-

Khayat. He said that the program would cover basics and goals of organic farming and the difficulties in this field.

He called on citizens who are interested in this field to register at the Department of Agricultural Guidance, adding that these educational programs are offered through cooperation among the Authority’s various departments.— KUNA

Kids pose with cartoon characters.

Eid celebrations at Touristic Park KUWAIT: The Touristic Park hosted a special entertainment program last week as part of the Eid Al-Adha celebrations organized by the Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC). “Various interactive activities including a Syrian folk dance, a magic show and a cartoon character’s show for children were held,” said Nader Imam, the park’s supervisor. Competitions were held and valuable prizes including BlackBerry and iPhone devices were given away.

Cell cells Warders at Central Prison recovered 43 contraband cell phones and 17 narcotic tablets in a recent impromptu three-hour cell inspection operation. Five inmates were referred to the prison clinic for drug testing, whilst other prisoners are being questioned over how the contraband items were smuggled into the prison.— Al-Rai, Al-Anba, AlQabas, Al-Watan

Nader Imam is presented with an award.

A winner receives an iPhone.

The Syrian folk display.

Nader Imam (third from right) is seen with the park’s organizing team.

A child interacts during a magic show.

A children’s competition in full swing.

A view of the audience.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Afghan forces kill suicide attacker near jirga venue

Italy’s new premier Monti rushes to build new govt Page 10

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MUSCAT: Three freed French hostages hold a joint press conference upon their arrival in the Omani capital Muscat yesterday following their release after being kidnapped by Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago. —AFP

3 French hostages freed in Yemen head for home MUSCAT: Three French hostages kidnapped by AlQaeda militants in Yemen more than five months ago were on their way home yesterday after being freed on payment of a ransom, tribal sources said. “We, the three of us, are very thankful to his majesty Sultan Qaboos of Oman for his involvement and all the efforts deployed to lead us to freedom and we are very grateful for the great hospitality we have had during our stay in Oman,” one of the hostages told reporters on arrival in the capital.

“We are very happy to go back to our families and to be finally free,” he said, reading a statement. The trio-two women and a man-arrived at Al-Seeb airbase near Muscat on an Omani military plane at around midday (0800 GMT), and gave a brief statement before boarding a French plane to Paris. They have not been identified. The former hostages were greeted at the military airbase by France’s ambassador to Oman, Malika Berak, who said the French citizens were healthy and thanked Sultan Qaboos for his efforts in securing their release.

The aid workers flew in from the Omani city of Salalah, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south of the capital and near the border with Yemen, a tribal official involved in their release told AFP. The male hostage sported a beard and one of the women was wearing a long skirt while the other wore pants. A Yemeni businessman, Ahmed ben Ferid al-Souraimeh, who was exiled to Oman in the 1990s and who worked for the hostages’ release, accompanied the French citizens on the plane. Yesterday, a tribal source told AFP that the hostages had travelled to Salalah by car from where they were being held in Yemen’s Shabwa province.

In a telephone interview after the aid workers boarded a plane to Paris, tribal chief Ali Abdel Salam said he had the task of ensuring all three hostages were driven safely from Al-Qaeda strongholds in Yemen’s lawless regions across the border to Oman. “I drove all three of them, one at a time, accompanied by my two brothers,” he said. The process of releasing the captives held by Al-Qaeda since May 28 began last

Tuesday and only ended when the last hostage was handed over to Omani officials on Saturday night.

The aid workers disappeared on May 28 and, according to a tribal source who helped arrange their freedom, were moved to several different hide-outs in their months of captivity. They were kidnapped in Yemen’s Hadramawt province and remained captive in the town of Seyun, 600 kilometres (370 miles) east of Sanaa, for several weeks before being moved to a farm in Loder, an Al-Qaeda stronghold in the restive Abyan province. But an increase in attacks by US drones on suspected Al-Qaeda targets forced the kidnappers to “relocate the hostages to Al-Kour,” a barren mountainous region that straddles Abyan and Shabwa provinces, the tribal source told AFP. Al-Kour has served as the hide-out for several top leader’s of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and was used by US cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi, who was killed in a suspected US drone strike on September 30.

The tribal source said the hostages were then transferred to the town of Azzan, another Al-Qaeda hub, before their final relocation to Shabwa’s capital Ataq.

Yesterday, a tribal chief who led the mediation efforts with Al-Qaeda said a “ransom was paid” to secure the release of the hostages but he did not reveal the amount or say who paid it. However, France insisted yesterday that it had not paid a ransom for their release. “We do not pay ransoms,” French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said during a press conference. The former hostages were members of the French NGO Triangle Generation Humanitaire which expressed “huge relief” after receiving news of their release but declined to name the three, saying only they were aged between 25 and 30.

It remains unclear what role Oman played in securing their release. In September, the Gulf state paid the ransom for two US hikers held by Iran for more than two years. Local Yemeni sources said yesterday that the Al-Awalaq tribe led negotiations with Fahd alQusso, a tribal member and AQAP head wanted by the United States for his attack on the USS Cole in Aden in October 2000 that killed 17 seamen. Tribes in Yemen have often kidnapped foreigners to pressure the authorities into making concessions. More than 200 foreigners have been abducted over the past 15 years, with almost all of them later freed unharmed.—AFP

Turkey’s quake homeless endure unusual cold ANKARA: Thousands of people left homeless after two earthquakes in eastern Turkey that killed 644 people and toppled some 2,000 building are suffering through unusually cold November weather. The Anatolia agency cited weather officials as saying yesterday that temperatures dipped as low as -15degreesC (5 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight in the worst-hit town of Ercis in Van province. The HaberTurk newspaper reports that a 7-year-old handicapped girl, Deniz Olgun, died of pneumonia in Ercis on Sunday. It says the girl was hospitalized earlier after becoming sick in a makeshift tent. It says her father, Enver Olgun, claimed that he could not obtain a proper tent from authorities. Several countries, including the United States and Israel, have sent in tents and prefabricated homes.—AP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

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

Israeli generals fight gender segregation in ranks JERUSALEM: Israel’s military must not give in to Jewish religious demands to prevent the mixing of men and women in the ranks, a group of reservist generals told the country’s defence minister yesterday. The 19 generals, among them former army, air force and navy commanders, listed times when they said women had been sidelined or segregated during military events because of pressure from male Orthodox soldiers.

“These include ... the separation of women soldiers from their units during ceremonies as a result of religious considerations, demands to prevent women from singing at such events and the demand that women be fenced in a closed, isolated area when

(holiday) dances were held,” they said.

The letter called on Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz “to issue immediate, detailed directives to (Israeli military) units to refrain from imposing religious norms on male and female soldiers”.

The appeal, printed in the Haaretz newspaper, opened a new front in an emotional public battle over what the military has acknowledged is a growing influence of religion in its ranks. It comes against a backdrop of a broader debate on the increasing prominence of religion in Israel. “We believe that it is the (Israeli military’s) obligation to protect the rights of all people who serve in its ranks, and that joint service by women and men ... is a cor-

nerstone of its character as the people’s army,” the generals wrote.

On its website, the military says it is committed to being “a leading organisation in society where women and men work as one” and providing “equal opportunities based on ... talent and merit”. Military service is mandatory in Israel for Jewish men and women, who are conscripted at the age of 18. Men serve for three years, women for two, with the prospect of reserve duty after their discharge. One out of three Israeli soldiers is a woman and they can be deployed in 90 percent of all positions within the military, official statistics show.

Ran Goren, one of the signatories of the letter and a former head of the

army’s human resources branch, said on Israel Radio that women were increasingly being excluded from combat units that have a high percentage of Orthodox soldiers. “ To avoid problems, male soldiers are preferred over female ones,” he said.

Avichai Ronsky, a former chief rabbi of the Israeli armed forces, said he respected the reservist generals who signed the letter but added they had to recognise the balance of secular and religious forces in the military was changing.

“They don’t know what life is like today. The reality is different. There are many religious commanders ... and some places require special arrangements,” Ronsky told the radio.

The military says it does not monitor

its soldiers’ religious beliefs. But its “Maarchot” journal published a study last year that showed about a third of the graduates of an officer’s training course considered themselves religious, compared with about 12 percent of the general population.

In a move that recently grabbed headlines in Israel, the military said it was assigning reservist army rabbis to battalions along the northern frontier to promote religious values. Critics said the military was becoming a “God’s army”. While rabbis have long served in Israel’s armed forces, their roles traditionally have focused on overseeing adherence to Jewish dietary laws in its kitchens, Sabbath obser vance and religious cere monies.— Reuters

Tunisia issues final election results Islamist party given major say in new govt

BEIRUT: A woman looks at former Lebanese prime minister Saad al-Hariri’s Twitter page yesterday, in the Lebanese capital Beirut. —AFP

Lebanon’s Hariri stages comeback on Twitter BEIRUT: Lebanon’s opposition leader Saad Hariri, who has been absent from the country for nearly eight months, has chosen Twitter as a comeback tool to reach out to followers and take on his rivals Syria and Hezbollah. The Westernbacked ex-premier, who left Lebanon in April after the powerful Shiite militant party toppled his government, popped up on Twitter earlier this month, creating an instant buzz and attracting some 25,000 followers so far.

“Well it’s about time to make this more up close and personal,” Hariri tweeted on November 3. “You (will) be hearing from me more often and I’ll be around as much as I can.” Since then, he has devoted more than an hour every evening to respond to questions about politics, food, movies or sports, much to the delight of his constituents but also to jabs by detractors. The tweets are somewhat of a novelty in a country where citizens have little direct access to their leaders. Responding to a question on the revolt in Syria, the 41-year-old Hariri at the weekend said he thought it best if the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which is battling an eight-month revolt, collapsed.

“I think it will be the best thing for the region,” he tweeted. The billionaire heir has also turned to Twitter to reject accusations by the Syrian government that he is funding anti-regime protesters. “I am standing with them politically and peacefully, unlike other political parties who deploy with the shabiha,” Hariri said, referring to Assad’s armed civilian thugs.

Commenting on the Syrian- and Iranianbacked Hezbollah, the most powerful political and military force in Lebanon, he said he was in favour of disarming the

Shiite party. He also said that if he were still in power he would have arrested four Hezbollah members charged in connection with the 2005 murder of his father, ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

“We only believe in weapons held by the Lebanese state,” he tweeted. “We never were and we’ll never be a militia.”

Hezbollah forced the collapse of Hariri’s government in January after he refused to cut ties with the Netherlands-based tribunal probing his father’s murder.

Hariri has since all but disappeared from the political scene and has lived between Saudi Arabia and France, giving no clear explanation for his absence, which has been attributed to security concerns but also to major financial troubles.

His “Houdini act”, as one blog put it, has even his supporters questioning his political commitment and the impact his absence has had on the opposition. “The man has well and truly left the building ...,” wrote political blogger Qifa Nabki.

Political commentator Michael Young said Hariri’s coalition appears “gripped by confusion” and had better define a clear national role for itself. “Hariri has been abroad for months, an affront to those who elected him,” Young wrote in a recent commentary. “His money problems are genuine and have not yet been resolved, taking a toll on his patronage network and political authority.

“The former prime minister is not out yet, however if his occultation lasts much longer, his leadership will melt.” But Hariri in his tweets has sought to downplay concerns on whether he ever plans to return to Lebanon, saying there was nothing he wished more. “I will never leave you guys, I will be back,” he tweeted on Sunday.— AFP

Egypt arrests 2 Islamists behind pipeline attacks CAIRO: Egyptian security officials have arrested t wo more members of an Islamist group thought to be behind attacks on a pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan, the official MENA agenc y repor ted yesterday. Abdel Karim Mohammed Ahmed and Ahmed Salem Awad of the radical Islamist AlTakfeer wal Hijra were detained during a sweep in the north Sinai town of ElArish, a day after one of the group’s leading members was held, said MENA. Mohammed al-Teehi was the mastermind of attacks on the gas pipeline and on police stations and installations in Nor th Sinai, a securit y official charged on Sunday. On Thursday, two explosions hit the pipeline which carries gas through the Sinai and on to Jordan and Israel. It had already been attacked six times since former president Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February.

Egyptian authorities have on several occasions announced measures to step

up protection of the pipeline and try to arrest those behind the attacks. Army experts have also located and defused a number of other devices targeting the pipeline. Israel generates 40 percent of its electricity using natural gas, and Egypt provides 43 percent of its supplies of the material. The deliveries to Israel, agreed under Mubarak who was overthrown on February 11, have come under heavy criticism in Egypt.

Mubarak’s government was accused of selling the gas at a low price.

Egypt’s Sinai region is particularly sensitive due to tensions with the Bedouin community living there. Many goods are smuggled to the Palestinian enclave of Gaza through Sinai, which Israel also charges is used as a rear base for militant attacks against its territory. The military and police launched a sweeping operation in the peninsula in October to uproot Islamist militants blamed for the attacks on the pipeline and a police station in El-Arish.—AFP

TUNIS: Tunisia’s final election results confirmed the victory of an Islamist party, giving it a major say in the country’s new government and future constitution, the election commission announced yesterday. The final results for the Oct 23 contests give the oncebanned Ennahda Party 89 out of 217 seats, more than triple the next biggest vote getter.

In polls described by international observers as free and fair, Tunisians elected an assembly that will write the fledgling democracy’s new constitution and appoint an interim government ahead of new elections in the next year or so. Tunisia is known in the Arab world for its comparatively secular outlook and progressive legislation on women’s rights, but Ennahda triumphed through superior organization and a reputation for confronting the previous regime.

The elections were held nine months after Tunisians overthrew President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled with an iron fist for the past 23 years. Out of a potential electorate of 7.5 million voters, 54 percent participated in the election - pretty much all of those who had registered. The Tunisian uprising inspired similar prodemocracy movements else where around the region, setting off what has been called the Arab Spring in the Middle East.

Ennahda’s victory is expected to inspire Islamist parties competing in elections elsewhere, including Egypt and Morocco in the coming weeks. Ennahda, however, is much less conservative that

TUNIS: The chairman of the Independant Electoral Commission (ISIE) Jendoubi Kamel (C) gives the final results of the October 23 election for a constituent assembly yesterday in Tunis. Tunisia’s constituent assembly will meet for the first time on November 22. —AFP other Islamist parties around the region and has pledged to respect the country’s progressive legislation supporting women’s rights.

The new body will have its first meeting on Nov 22. The liberal Congress for the Republic, led by veteran human rights activist Moncef Marzouki came in second with 29 seats. The party is expected to join Ennahda in a ruling coalition. In third place with 26 seats was the Popular Petition, led by wealthy media mogul Hachemi Hamdi, based in London and owner of the Mustaqila satel-

lite station.

The party originally had seven seats taken from them for campaign funding irregularities, but won them back in court. Hamdi is a new face to Tunisian politics and his exact ideology is not clear. In fourth place came the left of center Ettakatol or Forum party with 20 seats. Two parties that ran anti-Islamist campaigns targeting Ennahda, the left of center Progressive Democratic Party and the left wing Modern Democratic Axis, did poorly with 16 and 5 seats respectively.

The remaining seats went to a

series of smaller parties and independent candidates. Election head Kamel Jendoubi said the commission had “clearly contributed to restoring the trust of Tunisians in their electoral process,” despite only having four months to get it together and no tradition of fair elections.

He added that he was going to ask the new assembly to make the election commission a permanent feature to manage future contests. “We must preserve this achievement which will guarantee the rotation of power in coming—AP

Iraq FM insists Iraq not pressured over Syria vote

BEIT LAHIYA: Palestinian police officers carry the body of Mohammed Al Kelani, a Hamas security officer, during his funeral in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip yesterday. Al Kelani was killed in an Israeli air strike on a Hamas naval police building overnight.—AP

Quartet meets Israelis, Palestinians separately JERUSALEM: Envoys from the international peacemaking Quartet were holding separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinians officials yesterday in a bid to kickstart longstalled peace talks. But there were no expectations of a breakthrough, with the Palestinians saying after their session with the envoys that they would not return to talks without an end to Jewish settlement building and a clear framework for any discussions.

Israel has rejected calls for a new freeze on settlement construction and says it wants talks without preconditions. “We are ready to discuss all final status issues once Israel proves its seriousness and commitment by freezing all its illegal settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territor y, especially in occupied east Jerusalem,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said in a statement. He also called on Israel to accept “clear terms of reference” for any talks, including that discussions would be based on the borders that existed

before the 1967 Six Day War. “We cannot understate the importance of this issue. There is no doubt about the fact that Israeli settlements and the twostate solution are mutually exclusive,” he added. Israeli officials were expected to meet the Quartet envoys later in the day.

Israeli-Palestinian talks have been on hold for over a year, grinding to a halt shortly after they began in September 2010 over the issue of settlement construction. The Palestinians say they will not hold negotiations while Israel builds on land it wants for a future state.

Israel has so far refused to renew a partial 10-month settlement freeze, which expired last year and says it will only talk if there are no pre-conditions. The Quartet, composed of the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia, is trying to bring the two sides back to talks under a proposal laid out in September shortly after the Palestinians submitted a request for full UN state membership.— AFP

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s foreign minister yesterday insisted his country was not pressured into abstaining from a vote to suspend Syria from the Arab League, saying Baghdad does not take orders from others.

Iraq was the only country to abstain when the Arab League voted Saturday to suspend Syria because of its bloody, 8-month-old crackdown on protesters calling for reforms. Iraq’s relationship with neighboring Iran, a Shiite-majority country with close ties to Syria, has sparked questions about whether Iraq’s abstention was due in part to Iranian pressure.

“There have been accusations against the Iraqi government of following orders from another country,” Hoshyar Zebari said. “As the foreign minister of Iraq, I deny such allegations.” Zebari didn’t name any specific country, but Iran maintains a strong influence in Iraq. Tehran has also been a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose regime is dominated by the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, though Syria is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

Zebari said Iraq’s abstention from the vote does not mean Baghdad was taking sides or was against the Syrian people’s right to choose their own political system. But, he said Iraq had to take into account “international and regional calculations.”“Syria is a neighboring country and what happens there will have an effect on us,” he said. Iraqi officials fear that any possible change in Syria could bring on a Sunni-led regime backed by Saudi Arabia, which already has tense relations with Iraq. Such a move would create more problems for the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad, and possibly stir up tensions with Iraq’s Sunni minority.

Zebari also hinted at another Iraqi concern. Tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees live in Syria, having fled Iraq during the years after the US-led invasion when sectarian violence was rampant. Most of the Iraqis living in Syria are Sunnis, and many among Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government believe members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party are hiding among them, waiting to come back to Iraq. Zebari described the Arab League decision as “tough,” saying that measures by the organization against Syria should have been taken gradually.—AP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Former ruling party wins violence-scarred Mexican race MORELIA: Mexico’s former ruling party won a major governor’s race yesterday after a campaign marred by drugcartel threats and violence, defeating President Felipe Calderon’s sister and building momentum for its drive to take back the presidency next year.

With vote-counting almost complete, Fausto Vallejo Figueroa of the Institutional Revolutionary Party was nearly 3 percentage points ahead of Luisa Maria Calderon in the western state of Michoacan. The president’s sister complained that drug gangs had threatened voters and poll watchers for her party, known as the PAN. The PAN was seeking a symbolic victor y in Calderon’s home state, where he launched the assault against cartels in late 2006. The drug war has killed more than 40,000 people according to many estimates, although no official figures have been released in nearly a year.

The National Action mayor of the city of La Piedad was gunned down as he handed out campaign literature for Calderon and other candidates less than two weeks before Sunday’s election. On the day of the vote, a newspaper in the city published an unsigned note threatening supporters of the party known as the PAN and blaming it for deaths in the wake of its military-led offensive against drug cartels. “Don’t wear T-shirts or PAN advertising because we don’t want to confuse you and have innocent people die,” read the note, which was also circulated by email. News reports said the newspaper had been forced to publish the warning. Yet the city’s voters shook off the threat and backed the PAN there. Its candidate got 53 percent of the vote.

The win for Vallejo’s party, known as the PRI, is a major step toward regaining the presidency it lost in 2000 after governing Mexico for 71 years. Most polls show the PRI’s Enrique Pena Nieto, former governor of Mexico State, leading the presidential race.

Vallejo had been mayor of Morelia, the state capital. Michoacan has been a stronghold of the country’s other major political force, the leftist Democratic Revolution Party. But its candidate, Silvano Aureoles Conejo,

trailed with 29 percent and the party lost control of the state legislature, where the PRI won 11 seats, Democratic Revolution eight and PAN five.

The state has suffered dozens of drug cartel-related attacks on local officials over the past two years and Luisa Maria Calderon told the Televisa television network yesterday that drug threats and violence had influenced the election. She campaigned on a promise to advance her brother’s anti-drug campaign and led in most opinion polls going into the vote. The PAN has been hurt by a tepid economy and by voter fatigue over drug violence, a factor that weakened the PRD in its bid to hold on to Michoacan’s governorship.

Such violence has been a main concern in Michoacan. Jesus Zambrano Grijalvo, president of Democratic Revolution, said organized crime gangs were pressuring sympathizers of his party not to vote in a mountainous zone plagued by drug violence. Zambrano did not go into details at a news conference Sunday. Residents of the rural city of Cheran refused to let poll workers into their town, demanding an election they said would respect their customs and traditions. The indigenous Purepecha people who live in Cheran have in recent months wielded rifles and mounted roadblocks to keep out illegal loggers and drug traffickers.

The Michoacan Electoral Institute said in a news release Sunday that officials were still unable to carry out elections in Cheran and were determining how the 16,000 residents there will elect their leaders. Twitter users claiming to belong to the “Anonymous” hackers movement said they were behind an attack on the website of a party backing Luisa Maria Calderon. The tweets also said hackers attacked the Michoacan Electoral Institute’s website. The PAN has yet to win a governorship in Michoacan, where Democratic Revolution has dominated since 2000. As Michoacan’s governing party for a decade, the leftist party drew criticism for the state’s drug violence, and some of its legislative candidates were accused of having close ties to drug cartels.— AP

Police clear out downtown Occupy Oakland camp OAKLAND: Riot- clad law enforcement officers cleared out an anti-Wall Street encampment in Oakland, California just before dawn yesterday in the latest tensions in some US cities over Occupy demonstrators who have camped out for almost two months. Protesters appeared to put up little resistance, and officers led some away from the downtown plaza in handcuffs.

Police made more than 20 arrests, Mayor Jean Quan said.

Some demonstrators gathered near the barricades and vowed to return. “I don’t see how they’re going to disperse us,” said Ohad Meyer, 30. “There are thousands of people who are going to come back.” The action came a day after police drove hundreds of anti-Wall Street demonstrators from weeks- old encampments in Por tland, Oregon, arresting more than 50 people.

Officials across the US have been urging an end to similar gatherings after four deaths in different cities, including two by gunfire. Oakland officials insisted on an end to their city ’s encampment after a man was shot and killed Thursday near the camp. Police issued an order Sunday night telling demonstrators they couldn’t camp in the plaza.

“We really tried to make this a safe and peaceful day,” Quan told The Associated Press after the tents were taken down yesterday. She said protesters would be allowed to return to the plaza but would not be allowed to spend the night.

“We’ve been consistent that they can use it as a free speech location,” she said. “ They can gather tonight, but no camping is allowed.” The mayor had allowed protesters to reclaim the site after facing criticism after a raid Oct 25, when police entered the encampment with tear gas and bean bag projectiles.

Friends confirmed on Sunday that an Iraq War veteran who

CALIFORNIA: Occupy Oakland demonstrator Maurice Porter, who is homeless, sits in defiance in front of a line of police at an encampment in Oakland, Calif., early yesterday.—AP

was injured in the Oct25 raid, Scott Olsen, has been released from the hospital. Olsen, who suffered a skull fracture, became a rallying point for protesters nationwide.

Dottie Guy of Iraq Veterans Against the War said Olsen can now read and write but still has trouble talking. Oakland protesters said that there was no connec tion between last week ’s shooting and the camp. But police Sunday night identified the slain man as 25-year- old Kayode Ola Foster of Oakland, saying his family confirmed he had been staying at the plaza.

Police officer Johnna Watson said witnesses have told police that one of two suspects in the

shooting had also been a frequent resident at the plaza.

Their names haven’t been released. Investigators suspect that the shooting resulted from a fight between two groups of men. In the hours after the midnight Saturday eviction deadline in Portland, the protesters and their supporters had flooded the park area.

At one point, the crowd swelled to thousands. As dawn arrived, riot police had retreated and most of the crowds had gone home, but protesters who have been at the two parks since Oct 6 were still there, prompting one organizer to declare the night a victory for the move ment.

“We stood up to state power,” Jim Oliver told The Associated Press.It didn’t last. Police moved in later. An officer on a loudspeaker warned that anyone who resisted risked arrest and “may also be subject to chemical agents and impact weapons.”

Demonstrators chanted “we are a peaceful protest.” City officials erected temporary chainlink fences with barbed wire at the top around three adjacent downtown parks, choking off access for demonstrators as parks officials cleaned up. Mayor Sam Adams on Sunday defended his order to clear the park, saying it is his job to enforce the law and keep the peace. “This is not a game,” Adams said.—AP

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

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

New Greek premier to unveil policy platform ATHENS: Greece’s new prime minister will present his policy platform in parliament yesterday, ahead of a midweek confidence vote in his coalition government that is tasked with implementing crucial reforms and securing the country’s international loan lifeline.

Lucas Papademos, a former central banker picked by broad party consensus last week after the previous Socialist government imploded, is expected to easily win Wednesday’s confidence vote.

His interim coalition administration is backed by Greece’s two biggest parties and a small right-wing nationalist party. It has a mandate to coast the austerity-fatigued country over the next three months, with national elections tentatively scheduled for Februar y. Tough work lies ahead.

Papademos’ government must pass the 2012 austerity budget, approve a new euro130 billion ($177 billion) international bailout cobbled together last month, and see through lagging reforms that will include thousands of public sector layoffs. Most crucially, it must secure the next euro8 billion ($11 billion) installment of the rescue loans without which the country will go bankrupt before Christmas. Greece depends on loans from a euro110 billion ($150 billion) rescue package agreed in 2010, when huge borrowing costs blocked the debt-crippled country from international markets. That bailout later proved inadequate, forcing the new bailout agreed on Oct. 26 that will also see the reduction of the country’s privately held debt by some euro100 bil-

lion, or 50 percent.

Athens is expected to officially launch talks in the next few days with banks and other private bond holders on the debt writedown. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos has said he hopes the next loan installment can be approved by his 16 eurozone colleagues in a Thursday teleconference.

Greece’s eurozone partners are first seeking a written commitment from Athens to support the second bailout, signed by Papademos, the leaders of the main Socialist and conservative parties, the central bank governor and finance minister.

But conservative leader Antonis Samaras insisted yesterday that he would not sign, arguing that he has already pledged to back the deal and his word should suffice. “Some say that

to unblock the (euro8 billion) installment we need to sign a joint statement with all the parties that support this new transitional government,” Samaras told his New Democracy party lawmakers. “I said it before and I say it now: I will not sign such statements.”

Samaras pledged to back the interim government but said elections must be held as initially agreed on Feb. 19, and promised, if elected, to cut taxes. Greeks have suffered some 20 months of harsh austerity, with repeated pension and salary cuts compounded by a spate of tax increases. Unions have reacted with a wave of general strikes and demonstrations, many of which led to riots. A small left-wing party has called an anti-austerity protest just ahead of Papademos’ speech in parliament, while civil ser-

vants will hold work stoppages Tuesday.

However, Greeks appear relieved by the formation of the new government last Friday, after ten days of political wrangling triggered by the resignation of Socialist prime minister George Papandreou amid a party revolt halfway through his four-year term.

Some 73 percent back Papademos’ selection according to a survey in Sunday’s To Vima newspaper, and 78 percent approved the coalition government. But only 26 percent said they expected the three parties to support the government’s work, with 56 percent voicing fears that the parties will focus on campaigning for February’s elections. The Nov. 11 poll of 1,000 people gave a 3 percent margin of error. — AP

Italy’s new premier Monti rushes to build new govt Experts’ tasked with overhauling ailing economy

CONAKRY: Guinean laywers take part in a march yesterday in Conakry. Lawyers started yesterday an unlimited strike as they call to sue Conakry’s governor Sekou Resco Camara, who they accused of confining illegaly three Human Rights defenders. —AFP

E Guinea opposition slams 99% referendum win as sham LIBREVILLE: Equatorial Guinea’s small but vocal opposition yesterday ridiculed official results of a referendum showing 99 percent of voters approved President Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s new constitution. The oil-rich west African country voted Sunday on a constitutional reform that caps presidential terms but could allow Africa’s longest-serving leader to cling on for years whilst grooming his controversial son for succession.

With 60 percent of votes counted, “99.04 percent voted yes and 0.96 percent no,” Information Minister and government spokesman Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro announced overnight, adding that definitive results were expected on Wednesday. Equatorial Guinea was long seen as one of Africa’s most brutal and corrupt regimes but Obiang, now at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa’s third oil producer, has embarked on a charm offensive to improve his image.

The proposed constitution limits presidential terms to two seven-year mandates but does not specify how Obiang himself, whose current tenure ends in 2016, will be affected. It also creates a post of vice-president, a move the opposition and observers see as the first step towards handing power over to the president’s big-spending playboy son Teodoro Obiang Mangue. “It is a completely irrational dictatorship. Results topping 90% are the sign of a totalitarian regime. These results are fraudulent and have been fabricated,” the country’s only opposition lawmaker Placido Mico told AFP by phone from Malabo.

Daniel Dario Martinez, who heads Equatorial Guinea’s other opposition party, was equally dismissive of the results.

“These results are false... There was no election here. He (Obiang) wants to move his son into the presidency, everybody knows that, and that’s what this reform is about,” he said. The first son, nicknamed Teodorin, is reviled by many for his lavish lifestyle. He is best known for his love of sports cars and champagne and his $31-million home in

Malibu, California. Mico on Sunday pulled his agents out of polling stations, citing widespread irregularities and the intimidation of his supporters. A young supporter of his party “was threatened with being tortured by a colonel” at a polling station in the capital Malabo, he said, adding that votesr were facing pressure across the country and predicting a low turnout.

About 300,000 Equatorial Guineans were eligible to vote. Osa Osa Ecoro said the vote passed off peacefully and said the outcome “was a good thing for Equatorial Guinea. It is a project for the political, economic, social and cultural future. The people are delighted.”

Obiang, 69, is serving his fourth sevenyear term since he seized power in a 1979 coup, usurping his notoriously ruthless uncle Francisco Macias Nguema who was executed by firing squad. In much criticised elections in 2009, Obiang received 95.37 percent of the vote and in 2002, 97.1 percent.

He organised the referendum because he “wants his country, long ignored or despised, to acquire a diplomatic status that matches its new financial weight,” said a diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. The regime says the new constitution would also impose more checks and balances on the executive, improve the judicial system and ensure better protection of civil rights. But opposition leader Mico criticised a lack of consultation ahead of the vote. “No one has seen the text, not the cabinet or any official body,” he said. “We are submitting a text to a referendum that no one has seen. It’s an invisible text.” In the mid1990s oil was discovered in the littleknown nation. Today, it is the continent’s third sub-Saharan oil producer behind Nigeria and Angola. Obiang has in part used oil revenues to bankroll a series of infrastructure projects, including those to accommodate the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, which Equatorial Guinea will co-host with neighboring Gabon. — AFP

LONDON: British soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (KTRHA), the saluting battery of Her Majesty’s Household Division, arrive to fire a Gun Salute for Britain’s Prince of Wales’s birthday, in central London’s Hyde Park yesterday. —AP

ROME: Italy’s premier-designate Mario Monti began talks yesterday to create a new government of non-political experts tasked with overhauling an ailing economy to keep market fears over the country from threatening the existence of the euro. Investors initially cheered Monti’s appointment, though concern lingered about the sheer amount of work his new government will have to do to restore faith in the country’s battered economy and finances.

After losing all confidence in financial markets, Silvio Berlusconi resigned as premier this weekend, as promised, after both houses of Parliament passed emergency austerity and reform measures with unusual speed.

President Giorgio Napolitano tapped Monti on Sunday to create a government capable of implementing economic reforms aimed at reviving stagnant growth to bring down public debt, stuck near 120 percent of GDP. Improving market confidence in Italy is crucial to the future of the eurozone as the country would be too expensive to rescue. A default on its euro1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) in debt would cause massive chaos in financial markets and shake the global economy. As in Greece, where a new government of technocrats also took over last week, the hope is that administrations of experts not affiliated to parties will be more willing to make the tough but necessary decisions that politicians have so far balked at.

Monti appeared to have the respect of many Italians, eager to see an end to the financial crisis that threatens their own wellbeing. “In my opinion he will be better than what we had before, obviously. He seems to me to be a person who is serious, normal and with experience,” said Bernardo Albrigo, in the Campo Dei Fiori open-air market in central Rome. The next six months will be a tough test of the Italian government’s ability to restore credibility in its finances - some euro200 billion ($273 billion) in public debt comes due through the end of April.

Yesterday, Italy easily raised euro3 billion ($4.1 billion) in the sale of five-year bonds, though at a higher cost. Investors demanded an interest rate of 6.29 percent for the bonds, the highest level since 1997, compared with

5.32 percent at a similar auction a month ago.

The auction result highlighted how it will take time to bring Italy’s borrowing rates significantly lower after spiking last week well above the 7-percent level that eventually forced three other eurozone countries to need bailouts.

Yesterday, the yield on Italy’s benchmark

ROME: Italian right wing party supporters hold a banner which partially reads: “No to Monti” as they stage a protest outside the lower chamber demanding for general elections, in Rome yesterday. —AP 10-year bonds fell as low as 6.28 percent before stabilizing around 6.40 percent - still uncomfortably high for the country. The yield is indicative of the rate the government would pay if it were to tap financial markets to raise cash. Monti said Sunday that he would act “with a sense of urgency” to identify ministers in the new government but said he would also take the time necessary to secure a strong team. He will be meeting with various political parties throughout the day to garner support for his mission.

“In a moment of particular difficulty for Italy, in a troubled global and European context, the country must win the challenge to redeem itself. Italy needs to return to being an element of strength and not weakness in the

Germany vows better police work after neo-Nazi killings BERLIN: The German government yesterday admitted gross failures by the security services in dealing with a new brand of far-right “terrorism” after revelations of a decade-long killing spree by neo-Nazis. As Chancellor Angela Merkel called the murders of nine shopkeepers of foreign origin and a policewoman by right-wing extremists “shameful for Germany”, her interior minister said investigators were trying to learn whether a larger militant network was at work.

“It is deeply troubling that there was no connection made between the murder series across Germany and the far-right scene in Thuringia,” the east German state where the group was based, Hans-Peter Friedrich told the daily Bild. “State interior ministers are calling for better coordination between police and domestic intelligence on the state level. I strongly back that.” Federal prosecutors launched the probe last week after the discovery of a pistol used in the nine murders in the home of a 36-year-old woman, Beate Zschaepe, a self-confessed neo-Nazi. Wanted by police for questioning over an armed robbery in the eastern city of Jena on November 4, she had turned herself in after blowing up a rented flat in nearby Zwickau.

Two suspects in the robbery, who were close to Zschaepe in the neo-Nazi scene, were found dead in a caravan shortly afterwards in an apparent suicide. Inside the caravan police found another firearm, that of the policewoman killed by a shot to her head in the southern town of Heilbronn in 2007. In a chilling DVD left behind by the two men, Uwe Mundlos, 38, and Uwe Boehnhardt, 34, they admitted to

European Union, of which we were founders and in which we need to be protagonists,” Monti said. Monti must now draw up a Cabinet, lay out his priorities, and see if he has enough support in Parliament to govern. Rival political parties offered various degrees of support, including one demand from Berlusconi’s party - the largest in Parliament -

the unsolved murders of eight businessmen of Turkish origin and a Greek between 2000 and 2006 as well as the policewoman.

The killings had long been called the “kebab murders” because some of the victims ran snack shops. News weekly Der Spiegel said they also admitted in the video to a 2004 nail bomb attack against Turkish immigrants in Cologne in which several were injured. A judge issued a detention order for Zschaepe late Sunday, after arresting a 37-year-old alleged accomplice identified as Holger G. Newspapers splashed a front-page picture of the unassuming woman with her auburn hair tied back in a ponytail wearing a pair of blue-tinted eyeglasses. She has reportedly refused to speak to police until she wins an agreement for a lesser sentence in return for a full confession. Bild reported that the killers had shot many of their victims in the face at point-blank range and even filmed their bloodied bodies as trophies.

“There is no doubt this represents a new dimension of far-right violence which is why federal prosecutors are investigating accusations of formation of a terrorist organization,” Friedrich said. Media at the weekend speculated about the existence of a “Brown Army Faction”-a far-right version of the nowdefunct far-left Red Army Faction that killed more than 30 people between the 1970s and 1990s.

Merkel told a party congress of her conservative Christian Democratic Union that authorities would “do everything in their power” to track down all those responsible, reiterating comments she made Sunday. — AFP

that his government last only as long enough as it takes to heal Italy’s finances and revive the economy.

The 68-year-old economics professor proved his mettle as European competition commissioner in the 1990s. But he’ll have to win a confidence vote in Parliament before he can lead the nation. Despite his resignation, Berlusconi pledged to continue playing a role in Italian politics.

“Berlusconi made his position very clear when he left on Sunday. He sent a video message to Italy saying that he is not finished,” said James Walston, a political analyst at the American University of Rome. “So at the moment he is certainly not retired, he is not the retiring type.” —AP

James Murdoch ‘kept in dark’ on hacking-reporter LONDON: News Corp’s James Murdoch was “kept in the dark” about the scale of phone hacking at the News of the World by his subordinates who tried to manage the problem, the newspaper’s former chief reporter said yesterday. Neville Thurlbeck has become a key figure in the scandal because he appears to be named in a crucial piece of evidence that critics of the company have seized on as proof the problem is widespread.

The evidence-an email addressed ‘for Neville’-included the transcripts of voicemail messages and resulted in James Murdoch agreeing to make a payout of around 750,000 sterling ($1.2 million) to an early hacking victim, the soccer union boss Gordon Taylor. Critics of the company have said the much larger than normal payout was intended to buy the victim’s silence and prevent the scale of the problem from being made public because Taylor had secured a copy of the email.

However James Murdoch has consistently argued he was not made aware of the relevance of the email and said he simply followed legal advice in agreeing to the payout. News Corp’s British newspaper arm News International had long argued that the hacking of phones to secure stories was carried out by one rogue reporter, Clive Goodman, with the help of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. That defence crumbled earlier this year under a host of disclosures. “Mr Murdoch had been kept in the dark and deprived of vital evidence showing phone hacking went far wider than the Goodman/Mulcaire issue,” Thurlbeck said in a statement to Reuters. Thurlbeck said he had sent a memo to the then editor Colin Myler and legal manager Tom Crone which also implicated another senior executive at the paper. “Myler and Crone failed to disclose this critical evidence to Mr Murdoch,” Thurlbeck said in the statement. He said he had also recorded another reporter and another executive discussing the case and asked to speak to the News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks, but had been rejected on all counts.

“The contents of the taped call had exonerated me and identified the executive responsible. I offered this to Tom Crone but he refused to take the tape.” “Mr Murdoch has been kept in the dark by those who he trusted most,” Thurlbeck said. — Reuters

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Afghan forces kill suicide attacker near jirga venue Karzai discusses possible 2014 US military presence

KABUL: An Afghan refugee woman, right, sews a quilt at a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday. —AP

EU eyes partnership pact with Afghanistan BRUSSELS: The European Union agreed yesterday to negotiate a partnership pact with Afghanistan including counterterrorism, development and fighting drugs, ahead of the departure of NATO combat troops in 2014. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels gave the European Commission and EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton a mandate to negotiate a “Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development” with the Afghan government.

“There is a need to plan for what happens after transition to Afghan security control in 2014 and the continued involvement and support of the European Union for Afghanistan,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

NATO-led combat troops are gradually withdrawing from Afghanistan with the aim of handing Afghan security forces full control of the battle against the Taleban in three years.

“The international engagement in Afghanistan is evolving from its focus on security and stabilization towards political and economic cooperation,” EU foreign ministers said in a statement. The EU and its 27 member states provide

around one billion euros a year in assistance to Afghanistan. The agreement will for the first time form a “a long-term commitment to cooperation with Afghanistan up to and beyond 2014,” the ministers said.

“After 2014, a fully sovereign Afghanistan will exercise complete responsibility for its own security and will strive to transform itself into a stable and responsible member of the international community, in the service of all its people and in full respect of agreed international commitments. “To ensure the successful completion of these processes the international community will need to continue supporting Afghanistan on its path from transition to transformation.”

The ministers voiced the EU’s commitment to help by encouraging better oversight of elected bodies and the use of public finances, reinforcing the role of parliament and the judiciary and promoting human rights. They also pledged to step up assistance on governance, the justice sector and electoral reform, and agreed in principle to extend the mandate of the EU police mission in Afghanistan. —AFP

MUMBAI: Indian Navy’s Supersonic Sea Harriers fighter aircrafts are prepared for a display during an exercise on board Indian Navy vessel INS Virat in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, India yesterday. —AP

Taleban figure believed arrested: Afghan officials KABUL: Afghan forces arrested a man believed to be a prominent Taleban spokesman in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, government officials said. However, the spokesman said he was free and that the report was propaganda. The arrest was announced as the Afghan government and the Taleban exchanged conflicting claims over the militants’ alleged capture of key security plans, showing the increased importance of the propaganda side of the war.

Both sides want to show that they are on the verge of winning, ahead of scheduled withdrawals of NATO forces that could dramatically change the balance of power in the country and may have many Afghan powerbrokers rethinking their alignment.

The government said that it was confident that the man police arrested in Sar Hawza district of Paktika province was Zabiullah Mujahid, one of a handful of top spokesmen for the insurgent group.

“We strongly believe it’s Zabiullah. Initial investigation shows he is Zabiullah Mujahid,” Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said. Afghan police have handed the man over to the Afghan intelligence service for further investigation, he said. The name Zabiullah Mujahid has been used by multiple Taleban spokesmen over the years, but for the past couple years there has been one primary “Zabiullah” who most commonly answers the phone number used by journalists.

The Associated Press reached this man yesterday afternoon by phone and he said he had not been captured. “It is the propaganda of the Afghan government,” Mujahid said. “ This morning I heard the media reports that I had been arrested. It is not true.” He said he was talking from eastern Afghanistan. A spokesman for the Paktika provincial government said there was an operation in Sar Hawza on Nov 10 in which two people were captured. They were caught in a mountainous area with two motorcycles, some radio equipment and

weapons, Mokhlis Afghan said.

“We are investigating. Is he Zabiullah Mujahid or not?” he said. Paktika, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of the insurgency and a stronghold of the Haqqani network, a group affiliated with al-Qaida.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces shot dead a would-be bomber outside the venue for a meeting of regional leaders and tribal powerbrokers starting in Kabul later this week, the interior ministry said. The man was carrying a bomb in a box, and was near the entrance to the site where the meeting will be held, but was shot before he was able to detonate the explosive, Sediqi said.

The Taleban said on Sunday that they had obtained security plans for the traditional meeting, called a Loya Jirga. The Afghan government and NATO officials said the document was a forgery. The Interior Ministry argued that the Talian created a fake document to try to scare Afghans who are planning to attend the Loya Jirga. The Taleban boasted in a statement emailed to reporters that maps and documents they have obtained will allow them to launch precision attacks on the meeting. NATO forces spokesman Lt Col Jimmie Cummings said that they do not believe it is genuine, and that a signature on the circulated document supposedly belonging to Lt Gen Curtis Scaparotti, the deputy commander of US forces in Afghanistan, does not resemble Scaparotti’s actual signature.

Topics at the Loya Jirga are to include ongoing negotiations for a future US Afghan strategic partnership agreement and efforts to reconcile with the Taleban .

The talks will run alongside the daily fighting of the decade-old war. In the latest NATO death, a service member was killed yesterday in an insurgent attack in the east, the military coalition said without giving further details. At least 11 international service members have been killed in Afghanistan so far this month. —AP

KABUL: Afghan security forces killed an attempted suicide bomber in the capital yesterday near the location of a major meeting of tribal elders and political leaders set to begin in two days, a spokesman for the interior ministry said. President Hamid Karzai has called the loya jirga, or the traditional assembly, to discuss among other issues a possible US military presence after 2014 when foreign combat troops leave.

“A suicide bomber who was carrying a bag of explosives was shot dead near (the loya jirga tent),” Sediq Sediqqi said. “He was killed before he could carry out his mission.” The four-day gathering in Kabul, due to start on tomorrow, will bring together more than 2,000 politicians, tribal elders, community leaders, businessmen and civil society representatives from across the country. Last month, the Afghan Taleban said it would target participants in the assembly which will deliberate upon the possibility of long-term US military bases in Afghanistan..

The Taleban have long fought

against presence of foreign troops in the country. On Sunday, the Taleban said they had obtained a copy of the detailed security plan for the loya jirga, a claim the NATO-

country, dismissed as “fabricated propaganda”. Lutfullah Mashal, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, told journalists the alleged security plan

KABUL: An Afghan policeman stands guard near the site where a suspected suicide bomber was shot dead near a major elders’ meeting in Kabul yesterday. —AFP led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), responsible for security in much of the

was not genuine, and was instead a Taleban reaction to successful security measures which had pre-

vented insurgents from bringing explosives into Kabul.

Earlier yesterday, National Security Advisor to Karzai, Rangan Spanta, said an investigation was underway, but did not rule out the possibility the document may have been genuine. “Afghan security forces are investigating that and it is a matter of concern and regret for us,” he told parliament.

During last year’s assembly in June, insurgents fired at least four rockets at a the tent in which it was held. They all fell short, but the attack was followed by a commando raid by three insurgents wearing suicide vests.

The country’s then-interior minister and head of intelligence resigned over lapses that led to the attack. The jirga is a consultative rather than a lawmaking body, and its recommendations will go to the Afghan parliament for approval.

Safiullah Zeer, an organizer of the media and cultural department of this week’s meeting, said that delegates would talk about an overall strategic partnership agreement with the United States. —Reuters

Sri Lanka seeks tougher action against pirates COLOMBO: Sri Lanka yesterday called for tougher action against Somali pirates operating in the Indian Ocean and said multinational efforts had so far proved insufficient to deal with the threat. Top defence official Gotabhaya Rajapakse asked maritime powers to share intelligence and ensure joint and coordinated patrols in a region which accounts for more than 50 percent of the world’s container cargo traffic. “Existing international maritime laws and practices have proven ineffective in combating the activities of the Somali pirates,” Rajapakse said at a regional conference on maritime security organized by Sri Lanka’s navy.

His remarks came after Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed announced Friday that his atoll nation was working with Sri Lanka and India to work out a strategy to deal with Somali pirates.

Nasheed said they had arrested 37 Somali pirates who were drifting near the Maldivian archipelago, but lamented that they lacked laws to deal with them as they appeared to be unarmed at the time they were detained.

“By the time they drift towards our coasts, they have thrown their weapons and ammunition overboard and pretend to be refugees,” Nasheed told reporters after a South Asian summit in the Maldives. Rajapakse said Sri Lanka too had arrested an unspecified number of Somali pirates. “It is clear that the activities of the pirates are spreading at a rapid pace. Thousands of people have been affected by their attacks over the last several years,” Rajapakse said.

He added that the cost to international shipping from piracy was close to $10 billion a year. “It is our belief that the lasting solution to threats of this nature cannot be undertaken by individual nations in isolation, but only through greater international cooperation,” he added. US deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asian Affairs Robert M. Scher said Washington was looking at an increased role in the Indian Ocean to ensure global security and stability.

“I would like to reiterate that the US is increasingly attuned to the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region, not only to our own national defence and economic security, but to global security and stability,” he told the conference.

Two decades of lawlessness have carved up Somalia into mini-fiefdoms ruled by gunmen and militia, encouraging rampant piracy. At least 47 foreign vessels and more than 500 sailors are being held by pirates, according to Ecoterra International, which monitors maritime activity in the region. —AFP

Australia seizes large haul of cocaine, arrests four CANBERRA: Police arrested four Spaniards in one of Australia’s largest cocaine seizures, authorities said yesterday. About 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of the illegal drug were seized from a yacht on Friday at the northeastern coastal town of Bundaberg, Australian Federal Police said in a statement. Police said the yacht was crewed by Ivan Maria Ramos Valea, 35, and Julia Maria Boada Fernandez, 37, who were both arrested.

They said two other Spanish citizens - Miguel Angel Sanchez Barrocal, 38, and Jose Herrero-Calvo, 39 - were also arrested in Bundaberg, where they were alleged to be collecting the cocaine. Police said they also seized more than 3 million Australian dollars ($3.1 million) in cash using search warrants in Bundaberg, Gold Coast and Sydney.

The four Spanish nationals, whose hometowns in Spain were not released, appeared in a Bundaberg court yesterday charged with importing cocaine. Each faces up to life imprisonment if convicted. They were remanded in custody to appear in court next on Jan 12, when they are to enter pleas. Police said the haul was the fifth-largest cocaine seizure in Australian history.

The drug was valued at up to $80 million.— AP

BEIJING: Ai Weiwei walks to a room to discuss legal issues with his lawyers at his studio in Beijing, China yesterday. Dissident Chinese artist Ai said yesterday that supporters have sent him nearly $1.4 million to help him fight a huge tax bill that he says is government harassment. —AP

Lawyer: Tax authorities impeding Ai Weiwei appeal BEIJING: Chinese tax authorities are impeding efforts by Ai Weiwei’s design company to challenge a huge tax bill, Ai’s company lawyer said yesterday, potentially setting up a showdown that could cause more legal problems for the dissident. Ai, an internationally acclaimed conceptual artist, was detained for nearly three months earlier this year during an overall crackdown on dissent. The detention and subsequent tax evasion investigation have been interpreted by activists as punishment for Ai’s outspoken criticism of the authoritarian government.

The Beijing tax bureau is demanding that Ai’s design company Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd. pay 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) in back taxes and fines. To help him fight the case, thousands of Ai’s supporters have sent money through wire transfers or thrown cash stuffed in envelopes or wrapped around fruit into his yard. Fake Cultural must put down a financial guarantee of 8.5 million yuan ($1.3 million) by Wednesday to obtain an administrative review of the case, the firm’s lawyer Pu Zhiqiang said.

With nearly 8.7 million yuan ($1.4 million) sent to him in recent days by supporters, Ai was planning to be the guarantor and offer a bank deposit certificate as collateral, Pu said.

But the tax bureau told Fake Cultural’s tax attorney yesterday that it wanted the money paid into one of its accounts instead, Pu said.

The lawyer said the tax bureau’s request was illegal because Chinese law stipulates that a person trying to challenge a tax bill can use a deposit certificate as collateral for a guarantee. Pu said the company wants to fight the tax evasion allegation, and to do that it cannot take any actions that might be interpreted as an acceptance of the tax evasion accusation. “I

think whether or not putting money into a tax bureau bank account is a sign of acceptance, we are not prepared to do that,” Pu said, adding that he was also concerned getting the guarantee money returned would be difficult should Ai win the case. A call to the propaganda office of the Beijing tax office rang unanswered yesterday. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular briefing there was no doubt Ai had evaded taxes. “It’s a fact and the case should be handled in accordance with law.”

Pu said the case was politically driven.

“Today because we can’t bear it any more, we’ll speak the truth ... The tax case against Fake company is a political case, a persecution that has been caused by the political background,” he said. “We are urging the administrative organ to implement the law normally, stop acting foolishly in the future.” It is unclear what will happen if the issue cannot be worked out by Wednesday, but Ai and the company cannot take the case to a higher authority without first obtaining an administrative review, Pu said.

The donation campaign is rare for Chinese dissidents because of the threat of retaliation that comes with supporting high-profile government critics. In a commentary last week, however, the state-run Global Times newspaper cited unnamed experts as saying Ai could be suspected of “illegal fundraising.” Ai has said that he will not treat the money from supporters as donations, but as loans that he would repay.

The company’s lawyers say authorities have not proven that Ai is the owner of the design firm or that he had evaded taxes. Ai’s wife, Lu Qing, is the legal representative of the design company. —AP

Suu Kyi urges peace talks, prisoner release YANGON: Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked the anniversary of her release from years of house arrest by renewing calls for all political prisoners to be freed and for an end to hostilities between government troops and ethnic rebels. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate also told a rare news conference yesterday that her National League for Democracy (NLD) movement had yet to decide whether to re-register as a political party to contest upcoming parliamentary by-elections.

“It is very important to release all political prisoners. It’s not only those of the NLD, but all who want democracy are desirous of this,” Suu Kyi said. The United States and Europe have long made the release of political prisoners part of their criteria for lifting sanctions. Suu Kyi said

yesterday they should remain in place until some reforms had been introduced that benefited the Burmese people.

Suu Kyi , Myanmar’s most high-profile former political prisoner, was released from a seven-year stint of house arrest last year and had spent a total of 15 years in detention for her opposition to military rule. A senior interior ministry official said on Sunday there would be details of another general amnesty within the next few days, which would include the release of political detainees. About 230 were freed on Oct 12, a move welcomed by the West as a step towards long-awaited reforms by the civilian government that took office late in March, ending five decades of unbroken military rule in the former British colony. —Reuters

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North China gas blast kills nine Children among dead BEIJING: An explosion ripped through a fast-food restaurant in China yesterday, killing at least nine people including a child and shattering windows up to three kilometres away, officials and state media said. Among the victims were children who were

outside the building, where bodies covered with blue sheets lay on stretchers. Xinhua quoted local officials and witnesses as saying the blast appeared to be a gas explosion at a restaurant on the first floor of the building which served hamburgers

told AFP. The condition of the other 15 people there was not clear.

The body of one victim, a woman, was found in the ruins of the restaurant, in an office tower in the Gaoxin district of Xian, Xinhua said. Photos posted

SHANXI: A Chinese man walks past the accident scene after an explosion that ripped through a fast-food restaurant in a high-rise building in Xian, northwest China’s Shanxi province yesterday, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, while shattering windows up to three kilometres away, officials and state media said. —AFP passing by the building on their way to school at the time of the blast, the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that another 34 were injured, seven of whom were in critical condition.

Photographs taken outside the high-rise building in the northern city of Xian where the explosion occurred showed shattered glass and piles of debris on the road

cooked in a traditional local style.

“Thirteen people were sent to our hospital, and three died-two male adults and a three-year-old girl. One is in a critical condition,” a doctor surnamed Han at the Shaanxi Renmin Hospital told AFP. Another 19 people injured in the blast were sent to the Xian Gaoxin Hospital and four of those had died, a nurse surnamed Wu

online showed a number of ambulances and fire engines on the street outside the building, called Jiatian International Mansion. Other photos showed plumes of smoke coming out of the building and firemen walking over piles of debris that had been blasted onto the footpath.

The explosion appeared to have shattered the windows of

the first two floors of the tower, with glass, mangled parts of the building and other debris littering the ground. The force of the blast destroyed a bus stop, broke window panes two to three kilometres (1.2 miles to 1.9 miles) from the site, and obliterated dozens of cars parked nearby, Xinhua said. “The blast knocked me down with glass fragments hitting my body from head to toe,” Gong Yejian, an 11-year-old student passing by the building when the explosion hit, was quoted as saying.

“The tree near me fell down as well.” An official at the local public security bureau told AFP that emergency workers were still attending to casualties and they did not yet know the total number of dead and injured.

According to an initial probe, a gas leak was to blame for the blast, and authorities have suspended gas supplies for residential buildings near the accident zone, fearing more explosions, Xinhua said.

China has a notoriously poor record of workplace accidents, blamed on widespread disregard for basic safety measures as companies chase profits. A coal mining accident in the southwestern province of Yunnan last week killed at least 34 workers, with hopes fading of finding alive nine others still trapped underground, officials said yesterday. Earlier this month, two vehicles carrying explosives detonated in the southwest province of Guizhou killing at least seven people, seriously injuring 20 and causing several nearby buildings to collapse. The two vehicles were transporting 70 tons of explosives, state media reported. —AFP

Philippines rejects new Chinese territorial claim MANILA: China has claimed new territory less than 50 miles (80 kilometers) from a Philippine province, boosting tensions over potentially resource-rich areas of the South China Sea, but the Philippines has dismissed the claim, an official said yesterday.

Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. told The Associated Press that China protested a Philippine plan to explore for oil and gas in the area in July. It is the closest point in waters off the main Philippine islands that China has claimed in the increasingly tense territorial disputes.

Beijing has been asserting its territorial claims more aggressively as its economic and diplomatic muscle has grown. Its new claims are likely to bolster Philippine resolve to seek a UN ruling on the long-simmering disputes, which involve China, the Philippines and four other claimants. Among the areas being contested is the Spratlys, a chain of up to 190 islands, reefs, coral outcrops and banks believed to be sitting atop large deposits of oil and natural gas, which many fear could be Asia’s next flash point for conflict.

The issue is expected to be discussed Wednesday with visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The two new areas being claimed by China are not part of the Spratlys, Layug said.

The Chinese Embassy delivered a protest to the Philippine government on July 4 after Manila invited foreign companies to bid for the right to explore for oil and gas in 15 areas. Chinese officials opposed the inclusion of “areas 3 and 4” northwest of Palawan province, claiming they fall under Chinese sovereign territory.

“The Chinese government urges the Philippine side to immediately withdraw the bidding offer in areas 3 and 4, refrain from any action that infringes on China’s sovereignty and sovereign rights,” China said in a diplomatic note to Manila, adding that the Philippine action “cannot but complicate the disputes and affect stability in the South China Sea.” China told the Philippine government that the planned oil explorations violated a nonbinding 2002 accord that called on claimants to South China Sea territories to stop occupying new areas and avoid action that could spark tension. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular briefing: “We do not want foreign commerce involved in these kinds of investment and disputes over the South China Sea.” Palawan province, about 510 miles (820 kilometers) southwest of Manila, faces the South China Sea, which is claimed entirely by China. One of the offshore areas now being claimed by Beijing lies just 49 miles (79 kilometers) northwest of Palawan, while the other is 76 miles (123 kilometers) from the western Philippine province, Layug said.

The Philippine government told China the areas are located well within Philippine waters and are far from any disputed area, officials said. “The areas that we’re offering for bidding are all within Philippine territory,” Layug said. “There is no doubt about that.” The two areas are more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) from the nearest Chinese coast, Layug said. About 50 foreign investors, including some of the world’s largest oil companies, have expressed interest in exploring for oil and gas in the Philippines, half of them in the new areas being claimed by China, because of strong indications of oil there, he said.

None of the prospective foreign companies has expressed concern over the territorial disputes, Layug said. “Of course their issue would be ensuring security and the support of the Philippine government when they are awarded the contract,” he said. In March, two Chinese vessels tried to drive away a Philippine oil exploration ship from Reed Bank, another area west of Palawan. Two Philippine air force planes were deployed, but the Chinese vessels had disappeared by the time they reached the submerged bank. The Philippines protested the incident, which it said was one of several intrusions by China into its territorial waters in the first half of the year. Vietnam has also accused Chinese vessels of trying to sabotage oil exploration in its territorial waters this year, sparking rare anti-China protests in Vietnam.

A British company behind the exploration at Reed Bank found very strong indications of natural gas and plans to start drilling in about six months, Layug said.—AP

BANGKOK: A Thai woman arrives with her children to receive medicine from a Thai police medical team at a flood hit neighborhood on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. —AP

Flood-weary residents lash out in Bangkok BANGKOK: Angry residents in flooded Bangkok protested yesterday, briefly blocking a major highway as frustration mounted that parts of the Thai capital are suffering badly while the centre stays dry.

Thailand’s worst floods in half a century, triggered by months of unusually heavy monsoon rains, have left at least 562 people dead around the kingdom and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods.

After weeks of flooding, waters in some Bangkok districts have receded significantly. An AFP photographer said the water level in Lat Phrao and Mo Chit areas, on the northern edge of the city centre, had fallen by nearly a metre in 48 hours and inhabitants were no longer using boats to get around.

But elsewhere anger is growing that residential areas are being sacrificed to preserve Bangkok’s commercial and tourist heart. In the west of the city, around 200 people blocked a section of the Rama II road, the main route linking the capital to southern Thailand, to demand extra water pumps to help drain their swamped neighborhoods.

“The villagers were not happy that there were not enough pumps to drain the floods,” local police chief Colonel Nakarin Sukontawit said. “ The BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) agreed to bring two more pumps today, so the villagers decided to stop their protest.” Around 70 people also gathered at a major floodwall in northern Don Mueang district, watched by about 30 police officers, to ensure the authorities did not repair a gap they had opened to allow water to drain away from badly flooded areas.

Visiting the scene, Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra reassured locals that he had not received a government order to repair the barrier and his team would take time to “analyse the situation”.

People in the area-many of whom have been living in waters waist-deep or worse for almost a month-have threatened to step up their protest if the opening in the structure is repaired.

The 15-kilometre (nine-mile) floodwall, mostly made up of huge sandbags weighing up to 2.5 tonnes, is a key defence preventing run-off waters from the north from swamping Bangkok’s glitzy downtown area. “The water in my house reaches as high as my neck,” said 65-year-old Wattana Klongsakon, adding that she was “satisfied” to see the brown liquid rushing through to the other side of the damaged barrier.

“If they rebuild it, we will definitely block the toll road”, she said, referring to a major nearby route linking Bangkok to the north. In an effort to spare Bangkok’s economic and political heartland, authorities have been trying to drain the floods through waterways in the east and west of the sprawling capital and out to sea.

Under-pressure Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, facing the first serious test of her fledgling premiership, pleaded for patience and unity on her Facebook page yesterday.

“People suffering in the floods please be patient, please be united as we walk through this crisis,” she wrote. “The government will try to speed up solving the problems as best as we can.” The premier, who only came to power three months ago and has faced criticism of her handling of the disaster, said water levels had started to recede in many areas of the city of 12 million people. But western districts remained badly affected. The floods have also swamped Bangkok’s number two airport Don Mueang, which mostly serves domestic destinations, forcing its closure in late October. The kingdom’s main air gateway Suvarnabhumi, east of the city centre, is operating as normal.—AFP

Myanmar bomb blast kills ten: Govt official INCHEON: In this Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 photo, Bae Jae-yul, founder and CEO of Bonhyang, speaks near Buddhist-style caskets to be used to contain ashes-to-beads at his company in Icheon, South Korea.—AP

Ashes to beads: Koreans try new way to mourn ICHEON: The intense grief that Kim II-nam has felt every day since his father died 27 years ago led to a startling decision: He dug up the grave, cremated his father’s bones and paid $870 to have the ashes transformed into gem-like beads. Kim is not alone in his desire to keep a loved one close - even in death. Changes in traditional South Korean beliefs about cherishing ancestors and a huge increase in cremation have led to a handful of niche businesses that cater to those who see honoring an urn filled with ashes as an imperfect way of mourning.

“Whenever I look at these beads, I consider them to be my father and I remember the good old days with him,” a gray-haired Kim, 69, told The Associated Press in an interview. “As a little boy, I often fell asleep while being hugged by my father,” he says, sobbing and gazing at the blue-green beads, which sit on a silk cloth in a ceramic pot on a table. A decade ago, six out of every 10 South Koreans who died were buried, a practice in line with traditional Confucian instructions to respect dead ancestors and visit their graves regularly. Since then there has been a big shift in South Koreans’ thinking about the handling of the deceased, in part, officials say, because of Western influence and a strong government push for citizens of this small, densely populated country to consider cremation as a way to save space.

The government cremation campaign included press statements, pamphlets and radio broadcasts. A law passed in 2000 requires anyone burying their dead after 2000 to remove the grave 60 years after burial. The results have been dramatic: The cremation rate last year was so high that only 3 in 10 were buried. About 500 people have turned their loved ones’ ashes into Buddhist-style beads at Bonhyang, a company based in Icheon, just south of Seoul. It and several other ashes-to-beads companies say they have seen steady growth in their business in recent years.

Bonhyang founder and CEO Bae Jae-yul says the beads allow people to keep their relatives close to them, wherever they go. He also says stored ashes can rot, a claim denied by crematoriums. “Our beads are clean; they don’t become moldy and don’t go off and smell bad,” he says.

Bae uses ultrahigh temperature to melt cremated ashes until they are crystalized and can be turned into beads in a 90-minute process. The colors are mostly blue-green but sometimes pink, purple and black.

The ashes of one person can produce four to five cups of beads, Bae says, although the ashes of young people have a higher bone density that can yield up to eight cups of beads. Bae isn’t the first to use the technology in South Korea. A meditation organization obtained similar bead-making technology in the late 1990s, but it was imperfect and wasn’t long in the public eye, Bae says. He says he saw the potential, bought the technology and spent several years refining the process.

Bae believes his company has an important edge over rivals. His beads are made purely from human remains with no added minerals, which he says other companies blend in.

Bonhyang’s chief rival, Mikwang, says added minerals help produce more rounded, gemlike beads faster and at lower temperatures.

Mikwang officials say they have more business than Bonhyang but refuse to disclose their profits. Bae also refused to disclose business details.

No special government license is necessary to start an ashes-to-beads business, according to the Health Ministry, which says individuals have the right to determine how to dispose of loved ones’ remains.

The fledgling industry has drawn some criticism.”They are only interested in making business profits,” Do Young-hoon, a researcher on South Korea’s funeral culture, says. “The highest level of respect for the dearly departed is to let them go back to nature.” —AP

YANGON: A bomb blast in the capital of Myanmar’s northern Kachin state has killed 10 people, including two women, a government official in the military-dominated country said yesterday. Another 23 people, including some 15 children, were injured in the explosion on Sunday evening in the town of Myitkyina, the official, who did not wish to be named, told AFP. The blast occurred in a two-storey house and caused a fire that spread to two neighboring homes, he said.

The explosion appeared to have been unintentional, occurring when a man in the building was “showing others how to plant a bomb”, the source said. He added that there were several orphans living in the dwellings, some as young as three.

Two other bombs exploded in the same town on Saturday but caused no casualties, according to the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Myanmar has been hit by several bomb blasts in recent years, most of them minor, which the authorities have blamed on armed exile groups or ethnic minority fighters.

Several ethnic rebel groups, seeking more autonomy and rights, have waged war against the state since independence in 1948, leading to six decades of civil conflict in some regions, although most

groups have signed fragile ceasefires. In the areas where fighting continues, rights groups have accused the army of waging a brutal counter-insurgency involving the rape, torture and murder of villagers and the recruitment of child soldiers.

A nominally civilian government replaced Myanmar’s long-ruling military junta in March. Observers say the ethnic minority conflict is the main threat facing the regime, posing an even bigger challenge for the long term future of the country than democratic reforms.

Fighting between the army and ethnic militias has intensified in recent months in northern and eastern parts of the country.

In August, state media accused ethnic fighters in Kachin state of killing seven people who visited a Chinese-run dam at the centre of an ongoing conflict between the army and rebels. In June, bomb blasts rattled three Myanmar cities, including the capital Naypyidaw, injuring two people. In April last year, in the worst attack in five years in Myanmar’s main city Yangon, a series of blasts left 10 people dead and about 170 wounded as thousands of people gathered for festivities to mark the Buddhist New Year. —AFP

Strong, shallow quake hits eastern Indonesia JAKARTA: A strong earthquake hit waters off eastern Indonesia yesterday, sending people along coastlines fleeing to high ground in panic.

Officials said, however, there was no threat of a tsunami. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 and was centered 12 miles (20 kilometers) beneath the Molucca Sea, the US Geological Survey said. Many people in Ternate, the town in North Maluku province that was closest to the epicenter, ran from their homes and offices as the ground rattled beneath them, said George Rajaloa, a resident.

“I ran with everyone else,” he said.

Fearing a tsunami, those living near the beach also fled to high ground.

But Suhardjono, from the Indonesian meteorological and geophysics agency, said there was no danger of a seismically triggered wave. Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation prone to volcanic and seismic activity. A giant quake off the countr y on Dec 26, 2004, triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, half of them in Indonesia’s westernmost province of Aceh. —AP

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NEWS Norway killer claims mantle of resistance Continued from Page 1 had planned to say. Breivik also attempted to take advantage of his first public appearance since the attacks to make a speech. “I am a military commander in a resistance movement,” Breivik said in a calm voice before questioning the legitimacy of the court to try him. “You have been mandated by those who support multiculturalism.

That is a hateful ideology that aims to destroy the Norwegian society,” he told Nesheim, who quickly interrupted him.

The judge said he did not want to offer Breivik “a soap box or an opportunity to justify his actions”. Appearing calm and with a hint of a smile on his lips, the confessed killer turned repeatedly to look at the crowd in the courtroom, which looked on in stony silence. The court had initially placed a gag order on reporting Breivik’s words for fear he would turn the hearing into a platform for his farright ideology, but later lifted the order. A ban on publishing pictures or video of him remained in effect however.

Breivik has admitted setting off a car bomb outside Norway’s government offices in Oslo on July 22, killing eight people, before going on a shooting rampage on the

nearby island of Utoeya where the ruling Labour Party’s youth wing was hosting a summer camp. Sixty-nine people, mostly teens, died in the shooting massacre. In a 1,500-page manifesto he published on the Internet just before the attacks, Breivik said he was on a crusade against Islam and professed his hatred for Western-style democracy, saying it had spawned the multicultural society he loathed. “I acknowledge the facts but I do not plead guilty,” he said, reiterating the line he has taken since his arrest on July 22, describing his actions as “cruel but necessary”.

If a psychiatric evaluation, which is set to conclude this month, finds Breivik fit to be held criminally responsible for his acts, his trial should begin on April 16, 2012 and last about 10 weeks, the Oslo court said. As in past hearings, Breivik yesterday described his incarceration in virtual isolation as an “irrational torture method”. Previous custody extension hearings had all been held behind closed doors for fear that Breivik, who has said he acted alone in the July 22 attacks, might communicate with possible accomplices. As the investigation has progressed, police have said the theory that Breivik had helpers appeared increasingly unlikely. — AFP

Shamali warns of rapid wage growth...

TEHRAN: Mourners carry the coffin of Iranian Major General Hassan Moqaddam (pictures) during the funeral of members of Iranís elite Revolutionary Guards yesterday after they were killed in a munitions blast that ripped through a base two days ago. — AFP

US Muslims saying ‘don’t call NYPD’ Continued from Page 1 Some government officials point to the type of outreach as proof that Muslims aren’t cooperating in the fight against terrorism, justifying the aggressive spy tactics, while many in the Muslim community view it as a way to protect themselves from getting snared in a secret police effort to catch terrorists. At a recent “Know Your Rights” session for Brooklyn College students, someone asked why Muslims who don’t have anything to hide should avoid talking to police. “Most of the time it’s a fishing expedition,” answered Ramzi Kassem, a law professor at the City University of New York. “So the safest thing you can do for yourself, your family and for your community, is not to answer.”

New York Republican Rep Peter King said this kind of reaction from the Muslim community is “disgraceful”. Muslim groups have previously organized educational programs around the country describing a person’s legal rights, such as when they must present identification to a police officer and when they can refuse to answer police questions. A California chapter of a national Muslim organization put a poster on its website that warned Muslims not to talk to the FBI. The national organization ultimately asked the California branch to remove the poster from the website.

In New York, the AP stories about the NYPD and internal police documents have outraged some Muslims and provided evidence of tactics that they suspected were being used to watch them all along. These disclosures have intensified the outreach campaigns in New York. A recently distributed brochure from the City University of New York Law School warns people to be wary when confronted by someone who advocates violence against the US, discusses terror organizations, is overly generous or is aggressive in their interactions. The brochure said that person could be a police informant. “Be very careful about involving the police,” the brochure said. “If the individual is

an informant, the police may not do anything ... If the individual is not an informant and you report them, the unintended consequences could be devastating.”

Sweeping skepticism of police affects community relations with all levels of law enforcement on a wide range of issues, not just the NYPD’s counterterrorism programs.

Interactions with a real terror operative could go unreported to law enforcement out of an assumption that the operative is actually working for the NYPD. A victim of domestic abuse or street violence may not trust the police enough to call for help. Retired New York FBI agent Don Borelli said intelligence gathering is key to police work, not just in terrorism cases. But he said it can backfire when people feel their rights are being violated. “When they do, these kinds of programs are actually counterproductive, because they undermine trust and drive a wedge between the community and police,” said Borelli, now a security consultant with the Soufan Group.

Kassem said the activists’ presentations are intended to “inform citizens about their legal rights when law enforcement comes to their doorstep.” He said the goal is not to dissuade citizens from contacting authorities when they have concerns about a crime. Since the 2001 terror attacks, the NYPD, city government officials and federal law enforcement have spent years building relationships with the New York Muslim community, assuring many Muslims that they are considered partners in the city’s fight against terrorism. But in some cases, community members who have been hailed as partners and even dined with Mayor Michael Bloomberg were secretly followed by the NYPD or worked in mosques that the department had infiltrated, according to secret NYPD documents obtained by the AP. “There’s not a reference here to the fact that New York is the No. 1 target of Islamic terrorists, that the NYPD and the FBI have protected New York,” King said, referring to one

of the recent brochures about detecting police informants. King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has held a series of hearings about the threat of radicalization within American Muslim communities and the level of cooperation members of the community provide to law enforcement. Muslim and civil rights advocacy groups have decried the hearings and pointed to terror cases around the country in which members of the Muslim community helped law enforcement foil plots.

New York Muslim community groups say they’ve held dozens of meetings for people who are worried about police surveillance and the NYPD’s counterterrorism programs.

In one instance, an audience of college students watched as a law student played out the role of a police informant and another played the role of the person the informant was targeting. The goal was to teach people to spot informants. “Stay away from these people. That’s one of the most powerful things you can do,” said Robin Gordon-Leavitt, a member of an advocacy organization Creating Law Enforcement Accountability and Responsibility.

At another meeting, organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, students watched a film of two actors portraying FBI agents talking their way into a young Muslim’s home and interrogating him. At the meeting, students were warned not to speak with police even if their parents, imams or Muslim clerics urge them to cooperate. “You’ll even hear imams saying, ‘As long as I obey the law, I have nothing to worry about.’ But that’s not how it plays out on the ground,” said Cyrus McGoldrick, CAIR New York’s civil rights manager. CAIR has had a strained relationship with law enforcement and was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorist financing case. The Muslim community wants an independent commission to investigate all NYPD and CIA operations in the Muslim community. — AP

Continued from Page 1 But HH the Amir and the Central Bank governor called on the government this summer to correct imbalances in the oil-reliant economy and trim budget waste, though analysts say political frictions between the Cabinet and parliament may slow that push. Much budgeted spending does not get disbursed because of delays in the political process. A string of strikes in Kuwait in the past several months has added to upward pressure on wages. Employees of the national airline briefly went on strike in late October; earlier in the month, customs service employees staged a two-day strike, halting oil shipments from ports.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s economy grew 16.9 percent in nominal terms last year as higher oil prices helped the hydrocarbon-reliant state recover from a sharp downturn suffered in the previous year, Central Bank

Continued from Page 1 Ties between the two Gulf neighbours were strained after a Kuwaiti court in March sentenced three people to death and two others to life in prison after convicting them of spying for Iran. An appeals court is hearing the case and the next session is due to take place on Nov 20. The case led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats but they later returned to the two capitals following a visit to Kuwait City by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on May 11. Kuwait and the other Sunni-ruled Arab monarchies of the Gulf have repeatedly accused Shiite Iran of meddling in their internal affairs and of inciting primarily Shiite-led protests which rocked Bahrain earlier this year.

Manama crushed the pro-democracy protests in mid-March with the help of troops from other Arab states in the region, prompting condemnation from Iran. On Sunday, Bahrain said it thwarted attacks by a “terrorist” cell it claimed is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Five Bahrainis were arrested on allegations of planning attacks in the Sunni-led Arab kingdom. Iran denied yesterday it had any link to the alleged plot and a lawyer for two accused men said reports they had confessed were not true. Bahrain said last week Qatar had handed over four men who Manama accuses of planning to attack the Interior Ministry, the Saudi embassy and a causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It said a fifth was arrested in Bahrain.

On Sunday, a Bahraini prosecution spokesman said the plot was coordinated with Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Basij militia as well as two Bahraini opposition figures in London. He told state media that some of the men had confessed to this. But a lawyer for two, speaking to Reuters, said they told their family by telephone that they had not confessed at all.

The allegation surfaced before the expected release of an independent rights commission report on the government’s crushing of a democracy protest movement earlier this year. Bahrain, a US ally which hosts the

US Fifth Fleet, says it is implementing measures to expand democratic government and accuses the main opposition parties of organising protests in coordination with Iran with a Shiite sectarian agenda. Most of the island state’s population is Shiite but the Saudiallied royal family is Sunni Muslim.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the plot was a fabrication driven by “Iranophobia”, replicating a US claim last month to have uncovered an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington. “Instead of propagandising and presenting baseless claims, Bahraini officials should do something about the large rift that has opened between the government and the people,” Abdollahian said in comments carried by the website of Iran’s AlAalam TV. “(These) baseless accusations repeat the comical and fabricated scenario of America.”

Mohsen Al-Alawi, lawyer for two of the men, said Isa Ahmed Shamloh, decided to join his friend, driver Ali Abbas Mubarak on a trip to Saudi Arabia for a change of air. He said the driver picked up the two others, Mohammed Sahwan and Emad Abdelhussein, in Saudi Arabia and it was not clear why they had gone to Qatar.

“Shamloh said by telephone that they had not confessed,” Alawi said, adding he hoped to have access to the men next week.

Bahrain named an Iranian, Asad Qasir, as the Revolutionary Guards link who trained one of the arrested men in machinegun and explosives use during a trip to Iran. Alawi said Qasir was also cited in the case of 21 men sentenced this year for leading the protests of February and March. “They are trying to link the cases,” Alawi said. Eight of the 21 men, including politicians, clerics, rights activists and a blogger, were found guilty of charges including “forming a terrorist group to change the constitution”. Tension between Iran and USallied Gulf Arab states has been high over Iran’s nuclear energy program, which Gulf rulers fear will give Tehran a nuclear weapon and increase its prestige among ordinary Arabs as a regional leader. — Agencies

year, a Reuters poll of analysts showed in September. Output of the hydrocarbon sector, which accounts for over 51 percent of Kuwait’s economy, jumped 22 percent at current prices in 2010 after a 36.2 percent plunge in the previous year, the central bank data showed.

Household consumption, which makes up around a third of GDP, rose 6.4 percent in nominal terms last year after an 8.5 percent fall in 2009. Gross fixed capital formation soared 24.1 percent after a 21.6 percent slump.

The Central Bank governor told Reuters last month that he was greatly concerned by Europe’s debt crisis and its possible impact on the stability of banks there, but he believed local banks were in good enough shape to withstand big global shocks. Despite its wealth, the state-dominated economy has drawn few foreign investors, unlike nearby Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. — Agencies

Oppn, govt heading for big showdown Continued from Page 1 Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad AlSabah against public questioning, which in effect is a breach of the constitution. The statement said that the Opposition Bloc members will not participate in any voting on the issue because it is unconstitutional. The Opposition Bloc is backed by the five-member National Action Bloc and probably independent Shiite MP Hassan Jowhar, bringing the total to 26 votes that are sufficient to vote the prime minister out of office in a grilling. But all the current 15 Cabinet ministers are allowed to take part in today’s anticipated vote which will tilt the balance in the government’s favour.

In a related development, three opposition MPs Musallam Al-Barrak, Faisal Al-Mislem and Khaled AlTahous yesterday officially withdrew another grilling against the prime minister they had filed in June. The MPs said their action came to clear the way for the opposition to file the much-anticipated grilling against the prime minister over the alleged corruption scandal involving 16 MPs and suspicious overseas money transfers. The new grilling will be filed today by MPs Al-Barrak, Al-Mislem and Al-Anjari and is expected to be at the focus of on whether the premier can be grilled on these issues or not.

A popular alliance known as Nahj, which has been organizing protests, yesterday called on the prime minister to face the grilling in an open Assembly session or

resign and warned it will stage more protests until the premier is ousted. Also, Al-Barrak warned that Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah will be questioned over his handling of a case of a senior officer who was involved in a moral scandal during the Eid AlAdha holidays. Al-Barrak charged that the interior minister did not take adequate legal action against the officer by just referring him to a military disciplinary court and also by hiding several other senior officers implicated in the issue.

The Assembly meanwhile overwhelmingly approved in a special session two laws to raise the salaries of Kuwaiti teachers and the stipends of university students despite government opposition. The two laws were passed by the Assembly earlier this year but were rejected by the government. The Assembly overruled the government rejection by passing the two laws once more, making them mandatory.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed news sources said that Kuwait’s ambassador in Riyadh, Sheikh Hamad Jaber AlAli, would be sworn in before HH the Amir within a few days to be appointed minister of information before taking the official oath before the National Assembly.

Notably, Sheikh Hamad had worked at former interior minister Sheikh Salem Sabah Al-Salem’s office in the 1980s, then appointed assistant undersecretary at the then crown prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah’s office, then as a diplomat at Kuwait’s embassy to Italy before he was appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Assad urged to quit as isolation deepens Continued from Page 1

Kuwait denies citizens held by Iran are spies

data showed yesterday. Gross domestic product at current prices fell by a revised 23.1 percent in 2009, after the global credit crunch sent crude oil prices plunging.

Previously, the world’s No. 6 oil exporter had reported a 21.2 percent nominal GDP fall for 2009.

Kuwait authorities often publish economic data long after the period in question has ended. The Central Bank’s latest figures did not include inflation-adjusted GDP data for Kuwait, which depends on income from crude oil for around 93 percent of its government budget. The International Monetary Fund has estimated Kuwait’s economic output expanded 3.4 percent in real terms last year after a 5.2 percent contraction in 2009, which was its most severe shrinkage since the Gulf war ended in 1991.

Despite a fall in crude oil prices over the past six months, Kuwait’s real economic growth is expected to accelerate to 4.7 percent this

Muallem blamed this violence for delays in withdrawing troops from the streets, as the Arab League had demanded, hitting out at France and the United States for the premature decision. He also accused Washington of “encouraging acts of violence” when it urged opponents not to surrender in response to a regime offer for them to hand over their weapons in return for amnesty. “We were puzzled and surprised by this foreign interference.”

Assad has come under mounting global pressure over a bloody eight-month security crackdown in response to unprecedented democracy protests that have turned against his regime. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have been killed. The Arab League voted to suspend Syria on Saturday, triggering attacks by angr y pro-regime mobs on the French, Qatari, Saudi and Turkish embassies. Muallem apologised, saying: “It is important... that this does not repeat itself. The protection of the embassies is part of our responsibilities.”

Qatar and Saudi Arabia were among the 18 countries in the 22member Arab bloc that voted to suspend Syria. Lebanon, Syria and Yemen voted against the move, while Iraq abstained. Muallem said Syria was not concerned about the likelihood of foreign military intervention, due to the opposition of China and Russia, and the fact Europe was still paying for NATO’s

air war in Libya. “Syria is not Libya.

The Libyan scenario will not be repeated; what is happening in Syria is different from what happened in Libya and the Syrian people should not worry,” he said. “I think that the position of Russia and China, which we thank them for... will not change,” said Muallem, also thanking India, South Africa, Brazil and Lebanon for their positions in the Security Council.

Muallem said, however, that he believed the crisis in Syria was almost over. “I think that the crisis is reaching the beginning of the end,” he said, while issuing a call for dialogue with the opposition. “ The program of reform is clear,” he added in reference to a series of measures the regime has announced since the protests broke out, including promises of a new constitution for a multi-party political system. Western governments have repeatedly criticised the Syrian regime for failing to implement the reforms and for following the announcements up with even more bloodshed, prompting many to say Assad’s time is up.

The Syrian Obser vator y for Human Rights said the bloodshed continued yesterday, with the security forces killing two people in the flashpoint central city of Homs and one in Daraa, the southern cradle of the revolt. The Britain-based group said the bodies of five soldiers, including a general, were also found in the northwestern Idlib province bordering Turkey. In Brussels, the European Union tightened the noose on Syria yesterday,

slapping new sanctions on Assad’s regime and urging the UN to act to protect civilians after eight months of bloodshed.

Shortly after going into the talks, the EU ministers agreed to blacklist a further 18 Syrians associated with the lethal crackdown and freeze loans offered to Damascus by the European Investment Bank. “It’s important that the EU consider additional measures,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said. “We have taken very strong measures, I think we can add to those.” And the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation warned yesterday of the possibility of a greater international response to the Syrian crisis if the regime does not comply with calls for reform and end the bloodshed.

The Arab League said its chief Nabil Al-Arabi would meet Syrian opposition groups in Cairo yesterday. The pan-Arab bloc is also preparing to send 500 observers to Syria to monitor the situation. Arab foreign ministers had met in Cairo on Nov 2, when they drew up a plan under which Syria would pull troops back from protest hubs and free arrested demonstrators. The meeting had given Syria 15 days to comply with the plan and on Saturday the Arab bloc decided that Damascus had failed to keep its side of the bargain. Under the vote, Syria’s suspension is due to go into effect from tomorrow, when the foreign ministers are due to meet again in Morocco to assess the degree to which Damascus had applied the Nov 2 deal, official say. — Agencies

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

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Issues

Fading Malema leaves void for S Africa’s poor

By Jon Herskovitz hen Julius Malema walked through the broken asphalt lane of the Stjwetla shanty town grabbing hands a few weeks ago, he looked to many people here as the answer to their shattered dreams of a new South Africa. The dead-end street next to a graveyard, a few kilometers from the glittering business towers of Africa’s richest city Sandton, stands as a stark example of the failure of the ruling African National Congress to improve the lives of the poor black majority, 17 years since ending apartheid rule.

The populist leader of the ANC’s Youth League, Malema came carrying the message of radical change that had brought him to national prominence. But since then, the ANC has drummed him out of the party for bringing it into disrepute, probably derailing his career. For many in Stjwetla, hopes for a better life have faded. Few believe the country’s riches will ever come their way; Malema had offered a measure of comfort because a prominent figure let them know they had not been forgotten. Now, many say they are unsurprised by his fall. “Malema took our complaints. I had hope when he came,” said Abraham, a Stjwetla resident who asked to be called by his first name. “But politicians just go away, and I go on my way.”

Malema will appeal his expulsion and keeps his post until the process is complete, which could take a few months. But if his career is finished, analysts say the role he played as a firebrand politician who speaks to the country’s desperate majority will be filled. Malema and Youth League leaders spent the weekend plotting strategy. The Sunday Independent newspaper said they were looking at a series of marches to pile pressure on his political foe, President Jacob Zuma - thought to have purged Malema to prevent a leadership challenge.

During Malema’s rapid rise to prominence, political opponents accused him of taking advantage of the poor to build political might and win financial backing. He rose from the slums to a lavish lifestyle that attracted criticism, spending nights at parties with bikini-clad waitresses serving sushi and champagne. His calls to take over the country’s mines and seize white-owned farm land rattled investors but also won him legions of support from the poor who envisioned him as a future leader.

Whatever the fate of the messenger, Malema’s message is still as potent as ever, said South African Institute for Race Relations researcher Catherine Schulze. “It would be a mistake to interpret Mr Malema’s looming suspension as the end of political radicalism in the country,” she said. “If the country is not able to sustain higher levels of economic growth, new Malemas will come to the fore either inside or outside the ANC.” There is no obvious candidate seen now as filling Malema’s shoes, but the need for an advocate for the poor is great. Malema’s foes worry that future populists will also push plans such as mine nationalisation, which they fear could bring the country to financial ruin.

If Malema is sent into the political wilderness, the ANC cannot afford to grow complacent about his message.

Youth unemployment is chronic and an increasingly angry underclass has launched violent protests over ANC failures to provide electricity, running water and basic schools. ANC governments, which enjoy virtual one-party rule, have rolled out a variety of plans over the years to transfer wealth to the impoverished masses marginalised during apartheid, but so far have little to show for the money spent. Funds have been lost to corruption and mismanagement. Policies often were not properly formulated to bring about change or were watered down to appease powerful allies.

The government last week unveiled its latest plan to grow the economy and end poverty, which included labour reforms and infrastructure spending. Analysts have few hopes the plan can succeed, leaving youth unemployment stuck at about 50 percent. In an ominous sign, the Institute of Race Relations said about half of the current generation of those between 25 to 34 years old will never work in their lifetimes. Malema said if he is forced out he expects the next Youth League leader to be a conformist. The league, founded by ANC stalwarts including Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, is seen as a breeding ground for future ANC leaders. “The next president of the Youth League ... will be scared that if he also speaks in the interest of the poor and the youth he will also be suspended,” Malema told a rally last week. In Stjwetla, resident Victor Boloka, a Malema supporter, sat near shacks of twisted corrugated tin, broken glass and youths who pass the days gambling. He expects little to change. “Politicians come here one day and they’re gone the next. We’ll be here. And we are going to stay poor,” he said.—Reuters

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US Pacific aspirations strain China ties

By Paul Eckert resident Barack Obama’s campaign to reassert the United States as a Pacific power, only days old, has triggered a sharp reaction from China, presaging tough times ahead as the two economic giants vie for influence. Obama, beginning a nine-day Pacific trip, wielded rhetoric and promoted policies that seemed destined to generate friction with Beijing and test the limits of the two countries’ on-again, off-again cooperation. The growing rivalry between the United States, the Pacific’s traditional military power, and China, its economic engine, could also complicate a delicate balancing act played by Asia’s smaller nations. While insisting he wanted stable ties with China, Obama in quick succession demanded it “play by the rules” of international trade, said its export-driven powerhouse “throws the whole world economy out of balance,” and insisted it act like a “grown up,” rather than posturing as a developing nation. China reacted with uncharacteristic speed, dismissing demands that it float its currency freely and saying it would abide only by trade rules that it helped negotiate.

“First we have to know whose rules we are talking about,” Pang Sen, a deputy director-general at China’s Foreign Ministry, told a news conference not long after Obama spoke. “If the rules are made collectively through agreement and China is a part of it, then China will abide by them. If rules are decided by one or even several countries, China does not have the obligation to abide by that.”

Chinese leaders were not happy, either, with Obama’s pressing of a Pacific free trade area that is sponsored by the United States and does not, for now, include Beijing.

Japan, Canada and Mexico each said they were interested

P

in joining the United States and eight other nations in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with a goal of completing the framework next year.

Asia’s small and mid-size nations have long seen themselves caught between China’s economic behemoth and the security blanket provided by US military forces spread from Hawaii to the Korean peninsula and beyond. As China grows more aggressive in its territorial claims, some of those countries have edged closer to Washington for shelter. This week, they seemed to cautiously welcome Obama’s pledge to look more across the Pacific, after a decade of American foreign policy tied to the sands of Iraq and the mountains of the Hindu Kush.

China’s Asian neighbors “gravitate to China as just about the only remaining hope for continuing economic growth, while looking quite anxiously to the US for strategic assurance,” Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute for International Affairs, wrote in a published commentary on the “Today on Sunday” news portal.

Singapore - a multiethnic, majority Chinese island state in Southeast Asia - epitomizes the Asian balancing act of keeping close ties to both Washington and Beijing.

Speaking to business executives on Friday, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong voiced support for the US military in Asia, whose command headquarters are in Honolulu. “They help to keep the peace and we want them there,” he said. “I believe America understands what a big stake it has in Asia,” Lee said. “But you are a hyperpower. You have interests all over the world - in Europe, in the Middle East, in Afghanistan. Asia is an important part of the world but it is not the only part of the world so we have to share you with other preoccupations.”

Compounding the potential for friction is the fact that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit here may

turn out to be the easier of this month’s two Asian summits. It focuses on economics, where countries agree on a lot of things, and eschews divisive political and security issues. Those thorny issues will be taken up next weekend on another idyllic resort island - Bali - where Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao, and largely the same cast of regional leaders will meet for the East Asian Summit.

“China’s posture in the region is on everybody’s mind, including the Southeast Asian nations and the United States - and this balancing that the whole region is doing is a defining element of the Asia-Pacific region today,” said Jamie Metzl, executive vice president of the New Yorkbased Asia Society. Looming in Bali is the issue of the South China Sea. Beijing claims that entire maritime region, which contains rich energy and fisheries resources, pitting it against coastal states like Vietnam and the Philippines in a test of wills that saw violent clashes in recent years.

China’s more assertive stance over the maritime dispute and a military expansion fueled by double-digit economic growth means that for US-China ties, “the trajectory at least has become much more volatile,” said Nick Consonery, China analyst at EurAsia Group in Washington.

Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will use the days between the Honolulu and Bali summits to visit formal American security allies in the region. Obama heads to Australia, where the two countries will unveil a beefed up alliance. Clinton travels to the Philippines and Thailand. Metzl sees the economic and security policies as complimentary responses to China. “Concern about the kind of role that China hopes to play is rising across the region and that’s why you’re seeing the countries joining with the United States on TPP and you’re seeing the increased welcome of the US military,” he said. — Reuters

West intervention unlikely in Syria

By Dominic Evans he Arab League decision to suspend Syria and impose sanctions after nearly eight months of unrest will encourage tougher international measures against Damascus but is unlikely to lead to Western military intervention.

Unlike the Arab group’s call in March for a no-fly zone over Libya, which set the stage for the NATO action that helped topple Muammar Gaddafi, Saturday’s surprisingly tough measures did not include a request for the use of force. But they will strengthen Western powers arguing for a tough United Nations resolution criticising Syria’s suppression of protests against President Bashar al-Assad, in which the United Nations says 3,500 people have been killed.

They will also fur ther embolden demonstrators who, inspired by uprisings which toppled the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, have defied a sustained military crackdown since March and taken to the streets to call for Assad’s overthrow.

“We don’t want foreign intervention,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said as he announced the Arab League’s decision in Cairo. “We are not talking about arming (the opposition), or a no-fly zone. No one at the League is talking about this issue.”

But the measures he announced including suspension from the League, political and economic sanctions, and an appeal to the army to stop shooting civilians - marked a dramatic increase in the pressure on Syria by countries traditionally reluctant to intervene in the affairs of fellow Arab states. Assad already faces US and European sanctions against Syria’s oil exports and several state businesses, and has alienated his power ful nor thern neighbour, Turkey.

The Arab League decision to withdraw Arab ambassadors from Damascus isolates him and makes him ever more reliant on Iran, tightening relations forged by Bashar’s father Hafez and strengthened during Bashar ’s 11-year presidenc y.

Damascus responded angrily to the Arab League suspension, approved by 18 foreign ministers of the 22-member body,

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saying such decisions could only be taken by consensus and accusing the organisation of implementing a Western and antiSyrian agenda. “For all the Syrian bravado and rhetoric, this is the biggest hit that they have taken. Even more so than the EU and US sanctions,” said Rime Allaf, associate fellow at London’s Chatham House.

The Qatari premier did not spell out the economic sanctions planned against Syria, which is already expected to suffer a sharp economic downturn this year as tourism revenues dry up, trade falls, manufacturing is disrupted, oil output dips and authorities struggle to find buyers of Syrian crude. Full-scale trade sanctions would be devastating but might be difficult to implement.

But analysts say targeted sanctions may be imposed, possibly on the sale of oil products to Syria. “A full-on trade embargo would be a dramatic escalation and would be surprising. It would be a very clear statement that they want to

remove the regime, not just force concessions from it,” said Chris Phillips, a Middle East analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). “I think it highly unlikely. Even with political will to do that, it would be difficult logistically,” he said, adding that neighbouring Turkey and Iraq both rely heavily on Syrian transit trade for their exports and imports.

Adel Soliman, head of the International Centre for Future and Strategic Studies in Cairo, said economic sanctions would not force Assad into any policy change but would bolster international moves against Damascus. The package of Arab League measures, which included proposals for talks with human rights organisations about ways of protecting Syrian civilians, would “give a chance for all the international community to act,” Soliman said.

China and Russia, veto-holding members of the UN Security Council, blocked European and US efforts to obtain a resolution which would have condemned

Pro-Syrian regime protesters hold portraits of Syrian President Bashar Assad and shout slogans against the Arab League as they gather outside the Syrian foreign ministry in Damascus yesterday. — AP

Syria’s crackdown and could have paved the way for UN sanctions.

The EIU’s Phillips said Saturday’s suspension could go some way towards softening China’s opposition to a UN resolution, which he said was based partly on Beijing’s concern not to be seen to be acting against the wishes of Arab trading partners. “This sends a clear message to China - you don’t need to stick to Assad to keep (Arab countries) on board,” he said. “If China could be swayed, that could put a lot of pressure on Russia over its veto.”

Despite the growing international pressure, few expect Assad to end the crackdown whose targets he says are militant groups that Damascus blames for the violence in Syria. Authorities say more than 1,100 members of the security forces have been killed since the uprising erupted. “If he just continues to defy signals from the Arab world and international community it’s increasingly grim for him,” said Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute in Beirut. “The regime itself shows no sign of seriousness in taking the tough steps needed.”

Khouri said that, in the absence of a breakthrough, the Arab League could step up its contacts with the opposition as a prelude to “talking only to the opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people”. He said it could also call on Arab organisations to provide “some kind of protection” to Syrian civilians, but dismissed prospects for a Libya-style NATO intervention. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on a visit to Libya two weeks ago that NATO had no intention of intervening in Syria, and Khouri and other analysts said Saturday’s moves were unlikely to change that position.

Syria’s central role in Middle East politics has made Western powers wary of intervening. It has a complex ethnic and sectarian mix, alliances with Tehran and militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, and remains in a formal state of war with Israel which seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967. “We should be very careful about jumping to conclusions about international intervention,” Allaf said. “We are very far from a Libya situation”. — Reuters

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England flanker retires LONDON: Joe Worsley has been forced to quit rugby because of a neck injury after a career which included 78 caps for England and more than 300 appearances for his club side Wasps.

The tough-tackling flanker, who made his England debut at the 1999 World Cup, announced his decision on the Wasps website (www.wasps.co.uk) yesterday.

“Last season I suffered an injury to my neck that has effectively ended my career,” he said. “Since March I have been following medical and rehab advice but it didn’t help, and restarting contact work during the England World Cup camp made it obvious that I could not continue.”

The 34-year-old, who throughout his career filled various roles in the back row, was part of England’s triumphant World Cup squad in 2003 and also played in the tournament four years later. The highlight of which was a try-saving tap tackle in the semi-final win against France.

“It is such sad news when any player has to retire prematurely and I am very sorry to learn that Joe’s injury has meant his playing days have ended,” Rugby Players Association (RPA) chief executive Damian Hopley said in a statement. — Reuters

Sion seek compensation BERNE: Controversial Sion president Christian Constantin is demanding damages after striker Dragan Mrdja suffered a serious knee injury playing for Serbia in a friendly away to Mexico on Friday.

“We will write to FIFA and the Serbian federation asking for damages to the value of several million euros,” Constantin told the newspaper Nouvelliste.

“It’s necessary to solve this problem where we are obliged to put players at the service of national teams and receive no damages when they return to the club with serious injuries.”

Sion said on their website (www.fc-sion.ch) that the 27-

year-old had injured his right knee during the 2-0 defeat in Queretaro after coming on as a substitute and would be out of action for several months.

The European Club Association (ECA) said last year that it wanted FIFA to introduce an insurance policy to compensate clubs in such cases. Sion are involved in a complex legal battle with European soccer’s governing body UEFA over their exclusion from the Europa League, having defied UEFA and FIFA statutes by taking the case to a civil court.

Sion were kicked out of the competition for fielding ineligible players in a qualifying tie against Celtic. —Reuters

Edwards signs new deal LONDON: Shaun Edwards has slipped through England’s rugby union net for the second time after the former rugby league international agreed to sign a new coaching contract with Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union said on Sunday. Edwards became a free agent last week when he parted company with Wasps, where he had coached for 10 years, a month after his parttime contract with Wales expired at the end of the World Cup in which they reached the semi-finals.

With England’s coaching set-up possibly in line for a shake-up following their poor World Cup performance, Edwards, a master defensive tactician, was considered to be very much in the running to join the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in some capacity. However, he has signed a new contact with Wales up to and including the next World Cup which will also involve him working with younger players at the Welsh national academy.

The 45-year-old will also be free to work one day a week with an English Premiership club, as well as with Welsh Premiership clubs.

“I concluded negotiations with Shaun over the weekend and am extremely pleased to be able to announce we have secured his services up to and including the rugby World Cup in 2015,” WRU chief executive Richard Lewis said. — Reuters

Blackhawks top Oilers

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Sunday.

Philadelphia 3, Florida 2; Chicago 6, Edmonton 3; Minnesota 3, Anaheim 2; Vancouver 4, NY Islanders 1.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Pittsburgh 10 4 3 51 NY Rangers 9 3 3 43 Philadelphia 9 4 3 60 New Jersey 8 6 1 37 NY Islanders 4 7 3 29

40 32 48 41 43

23 21 21 17 11

Toronto Buffalo Ottawa Boston Montreal

Northeast Division 10 6 1 51 10 6 0 49 8 9 1 53 8 7 0 52 7 7 2 40

58 40 65 35 42

21 20 17 16 16

Washington Florida Tampa Bay Carolina Winnipeg

Southeast Division 10 4 1 55 8 5 3 46 8 6 2 46 6 8 3 43 5 9 3 43

42 42 50 58 58

21 19 18 15 13

Chicago Detroit Nashville St. Louis Columbus

Western Conference Central Division 11 4 3 62 9 5 1 42 8 5 3 43 8 7 1 40 3 12 1 36

52 33 42 38 60

25 19 19 17 7

Minnesota Edmonton Vancouver Colorado Calgary

Northwest Division 9 5 3 39 9 6 2 39 9 8 1 55 8 8 1 49 7 8 1 35

36 38 51 54 42

21 20 19 17 15

Pacific Division Dallas 11 5 0 48 41 22 San Jose 9 5 1 44 39 19 Phoenix 8 4 3 43 39 19 Los Angeles 8 6 3 41 40 19 Anaheim 6 8 3 35 50 15 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

CHICAGO: Jonathan Toews and Steve Montador each scored twice to help the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Sunday night for their third straight victory.

Duncan Keith had a goal and assist for Chicago (11-4-3), which handed Edmonton its third consecutive loss.

Daniel Carcillo capped the scoring with an empty-net goal. Ryan Smyth, Jordan Eberle and Shawn Horcoff scored for the Oilers (9-6-2).

Montador, a defenseman playing his 10th NHL season, had his first two-goal game. He scored one of his goals playing in a forward spot - and parked in the slot - on a power play.

Edmontons Nikolai Khabibulin surrendered a season-high five goals on 34 shots and lost his second straight game in regulation after starting the season 70-2.

Khabibulin, who entered the game with an NHL-leading 1.18 goals-against average and .957 save percentage, has allowed eight goals in the consecutive losses after permitting just nine in his first nine games. Chicagos Corey Crawford made 20 saves.

and Nicklas Backstrom made 32 saves in Minnesotas victory.

Defenseman Cam Fowler got his first two goals of the season for the Ducks, 15-2 since beating the Wild 3-2 in Minnesota on Oct. 27. The second one came with 48.5 seconds remaining on a screened wrist shot after Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle used his timeout.

Jonas Hiller was pulled by Carlyle at the end of the first period, after giving up three goals on 15 shots against an offense that managed only one shot on net in the first 17:15 in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Canucks 4, Islanders 1 At Vancouver, Roberto Luongo made

23 saves to help the Canucks beat New York. Aaron Rome had a goal and two assists, Cody Hodgson and David Booth each had a goal and an assist, and Henrik Sedin also scored for Vancouver, coming off a six-game trip. Mark Moulson scored for New York.

The Islanders are 1-6-3 in their last 10 games after opening 3-1-0. — AP

Flyers 3, Panthers 2 At Sunrise, Danny Briere, Braydon Coburn and Matt Read scored while Ilya Br yzgalov made 31 saves in Philadelphias victor y over Florida.

Bryzgalov won for the fourth time in five starts.

Evgeny Dadonov and Tomas Fleischmann scored for Florida and Jose Theodore stopped 32 shots. The Panthers were held without a point for the first time in seven games.

Read scored on a penalty shot to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead. Read was awarded the shot after he was tripped by Jason Garrison. Reads shot trickled through Theodores pads at 4:14 of the third.

Wild 3, Ducks 2 At Anaheim, Matt Cullen and Jared Spurgeon scored 3:21 apart in the first period, Kyle Brodziak also found the net

Howard hosts exhibition game ORLANDO: Whether there will be NBA basketball played this season remains to be seen. But in the meantime, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard gave Orlando fans something to watch Sunday night with an exhibition game featuring current and former Magic stars.

Howard deflected all questions about the current NBA labor dispute and ongoing intrigue about whether he will seek free agency in the summer of 2012. Players could be back to work as soon as December if they accept a current Collective Bargaining Agreement this week contract offered by the league’s owners.

Instead Sunday, Howard focused all his comments on the Old-School vs.

New School exhibition game he said was staged as a way to uplift and better the city where he has spent his entire NBA career.

“I think that this is the best way that, for me, you can express how you feel about a group of people,” Howard said.

“Doing an event like that was actually something that me and a couple of guys thought about. We sat down with guys like Gilbert (Arenas) and Chris Duhon and other Magic players and also my staff and just talked about ways we could really better our city.”

The game was held Sunday on the campus of the University of Central Florida in front of a nearly sold out 10,000-seat UCF Arena crowd. Fans paid between $25 and $100 for tickets.

Howard also interacted with fans at a celebrity bowling event on Saturday near UCF’s campus.

All proceeds from the game benefited Howard’s charitable D12 Foundation. Players who participated included Howard’s current teammates Arenas, Brandon Bass, Quentin Richardson, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson. Former Magic players who played included Penny Hardaway, Courtney Lee, Matt Barnes, Rashard

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

sp orts

Lewis, Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gortat.

Rapper Lil Wayne and boxer Floyd Mayweather served as celebrity coaches. In the end, the Old School Magic team beat their counterparts 114-102.

When asked specifically about the lockout and his free agency status, Howard said talking about those issues took away from the purpose of the night.

“We want to keep this about the game and about this event,” Howard said. “Right now that’s the only thing that I’m focused on is this event and giving back to our city...It’s not about free agency or whatever. There is no basketball right now. This is basketball something like this. So let’s not dwell on all the other stuff.”

Afterward, he called seeing so many Magic alumni back on the court together his favorite part of the night.

He went as far as to say that when the NBA lockout ends that he hopes a player like Hardaway will be a more visible presence in the Magic organization again.

Hardaway received one of the loudest ovations of any player introduced in the pregame. He said that he also hopes the appearance will lead to a rekindled relationship with Orlando.

Hardaway started his NBA career with the Magic and was one of its first stars, helping lead the team to its first NBA Finals appearance along with Shaquille O’Neal. “I felt great because I hadn’t been back, especially in this type of atmosphere since I left the Magic,” Hardaway said. “I thank Dwight for doing this because I don’t know if it would happen otherwise. So he kind of broke the ice with me coming back here...So it’s kind of like something I will never forget for sure.” As for the current players, both Bass and Anderson said they didn’t think it would take long for them to get back into playing shape should the labor issues be worked out in the near future. — AP

ANAHEIM: Clayton Stoner No. 4 of the Minnesota Wild is pursued by Matt Beleskey No. 39 of the Anaheim Ducks for the puck in the third period at Honda Center. —AFP

GUST, AUK, ACK, KILAW kick off Universities Championship Cup MISHREF: The Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Kuwait International Law School (KILAW ) have teamed up to bring the Universities Championship Cup (UCC) for the 6th year to encourage a healthy, competitive spirit between the students of the universities.

The UCC offers athletic opportunities for both male and female students, from freshmen to seniors in any major, putting together strong competitive teams to represent their schools. The tournament lasts throughout the entire academic year, including tournaments, seven different sporting events and over 80 games.

The Fall sports include Soccer, Basketball and Table Tennis, with Volleyball, Tennis, Squash and Swimming in the Spring. “This is a great opportunity for the students to be involved in something wholesome, competitive and fun outside the academic realm,” said Anwar Al-Sabah, Head of the Student Office at GUST and the GUST representative organizer of the event, “many of our students look forward to this tournament and we hope that their fellow classmates will come out and show their support to the team and to the tournament.”

The student-athletes are not only playing to win first place in their individual sport, but to also earn points toward the UCC Trophy. Points are earned based on a team’s performance in each sport. The university with the most points at the end of the UCC is crowned the UCC Champion and receives the UCC Trophy. GUST, ACK and AUK management, staff and faculty wish them all student-athletes the best of luck.

The next games will be held on November 15, 2011. AUK’s male and female Table Tennis teams with be playing against GUST’s. The games being at 7pm and 8pm respectively at AUK. While on November 16, 2011, ACK with be playing against AUK and

GUST takes on KILAW in men’s soccer. The games being at 7:30pm and 9pm respectively at the ACK soccer field. The full sched-

ule can be found on the events and announcement section on the GUST website www.gust.edu.kw.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

S P ORT S

Nervy Gonzalo clinches Stormy Singapore Open

GUADALAJARA: Catriona Matthew of Scotland hoists the trophy after winning the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at Guadalajara Country Club. — AFP

Catriona wins Lorena Ochoa Invitational GUADALAJARA: Catriona Matthew won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday for her fourth career LPGA Tour title, closing with a 1-under 71 for a four-stroke victory in the 36-player event.

Matthew, whose last LPGA Tour victory came in the 2009 Women’s British Open, had a 12-under 276 total at Guadalajara Country Club and earned $200,000.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” the 42-year-old Matthew said. “I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. I got off to a good start and hung in there. I’m so exhausted at the moment, but I’m sure I will pick up after a margarita.” She also won the Ladies European Tour’s Scottish Open in August.

“This is where all the best players in the world play and to win in such a limited field with all the top players playing, it’s such a boost of confidence,” Matthew said. “And even though it’s tough being out here now, I have two children at home, so I feel like I’ve got to be playing well to justify myself being out here and not being at home with them more, so it’s a bonus Christmas present now.”

Anna Nordqvist and 2010 winner IK Kim finished equal second. They each shot 71. Nordqvist had her best finish of the season. “I’m happy. I had a great week,” the Swede said.

“Things are starting to fall into place.” Matthew began the round with a three-stroke lead.

“I think in a way it’s just that much more difficult when you’ve got such a big lead,” Matthew said. “I didn’t know whether to keep trying to go for birdies or just play for pars and see if they make birdies, and in the end I kind of did neither and just kind of messed up a couple of holes there, but luckily I had a big lead.”

Tournament host Ochoa is expecting her first child next month. The 27-time LPGA Tour winner retired last year.

“Lorena is doing such good work with her foundation,” Matthew said. “You come and you think ‘I’m not doing enough’ when you see all the things she does, so to have won her tournament is a special moment for me.”

Hall of Famer Juli Inkster had a 72 to share fourth place with Ai Miyazato (71) and Hee Kyung Seo (69) at 5 under.

Michelle Wie, the 2009 winner, tied for ninth at 2 under after a 71. Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 72 to finish in a share of 19th at 3 over. —AP

SINGAPORE: A nervous, sleep-deprived Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano held it together to roll in a birdie putt at the second suddendeath playoff hole to overcome plucky Filipino Juvic Pagunsan and win the weatheraffected Singapore Open yesterday.

The Spaniard drained an eight-foot effort at the par-five 18th to claim the $1 million first prize in the co-sanctioned event after the playoff at the Sentosa Golf Club was suspended twice by heavy rainstorms on Sunday.

It marked a fifth European Tour victory for the 31-year-old Spaniard, four of them in playoffs, and his first since the 2008 British Masters, but the past successes had done little to help on a clear morning in Singapore.

“This is probably the most nervous I have been on the golf course,” Fernandez-Castano told reporters as he sat next to the huge trophy.

“It is a strange feeling, I had won four times on tour and been in many playoffs but I have never been as nervous as the last couple of days. “It has been a tough morning as it was also a tough night. I didn’t get much sleep, I haven’t slept much in the last couple of days.”

The tournament had been reduced to 54 holes after numerous rain delays and it was their third attempt at completing the shootout for the title, with the duo returning to the course at 7.30 a.m. on Monday to hit their third shots to the 18th.

Pagunsan went first and fired his approach to five feet but missed the opportunity to claim his first European Tour title when his putt for victory grazed the left edge of the cup after Fernandez-Castano had missed his birdie attempt from nine feet.

Both players again chose to lay up when they played the hole for a second time with Fernandez-Castano landing his approach a couple of feet inside Pagunsan’s ball on the green.

The Filipino, who has one win on the Asian Tour in 2007, rolled his downhill effort just right off the cup and the Spaniard made no mistake on his first opportunity to win it.

Looking more relieved than overjoyed when the ball dropped in the cup the Spaniard said the delays had benefited him.

“I think that suspension, the first suspension of the playoff helped me a bit, helped me a lot and definitely coming back today helped me even more,” a relieved Fernandez-Castano said.

The muted reaction in front of a sparse crowd was likely to have stemmed from the fact that Fernandez-Castano had held a fourshot lead on the back nine before folding under pressure.

“It has been a great relief, especially the way I played yesterday (Sunday), having a four-shot lead and spoiling it all. It has been three years without a victory and it means a lot to me,” Fernandez-Castano said.

Pagunsan had drained a 12-foot birdie putt on the 54th and final hole on Sunday to record a four-under 67 before overnight leader Fernandez-Castano recovered to hole a similar-length putt for par and a one-over round of 72 after finding water off the tee.

Although disappointed to lose the playoff, Pangusan, the world number 492, was compensated with a $666,660 runners-up cheque which propelled him to the top of the Asian Order of Merit with three events remaining.

“This is my big chance to win but I missed it, but still I am a big winner,” the jovial 33-yearold said. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: Gonzalo Fernandez Costanzo of Spain (right) holds the winner’s trophy with Robert Morrice, chairman and chief executive Asia Pacific of Barclays after the Singapore Open. —AFP

Norman wary of ‘Tiger factor’ MELBOURNE: A third-place finish at the Australian Open has given Tiger Woods a timely boost before this week’s Presidents Cup and gone some way to validating United States captain Fred Couples’s decision to pick the fallen former world number one.

The 14-times major winner will continue to search for his old form in front of a bumper crowd at Royal Melbourne Golf Club after a tumultuous period blighted by injuries and personal problems.

International team captain Greg Norman has demanded his players shelve tour friendships and seek to emulate the killer instinct Woods showed in his pomp.

“Tiger is very much that way when he walks on there. He kinds of says, ‘I’m here to beat you’,” said Norman, who has questioned Woods’s selection and ability to win another major in the lead-up to Melbourne. “ That resonates all the way through. I was the same way. You walk into the locker room at the start of a round. ‘I’m here but don’t mess with me today.

“‘I want to go to the first tee and beat you’.” Woods has proved a major Presidents Cup headache Norman, who stood powerless as the American won his matches 5-0 in a dominant 2009 win at the last edition in San Francisco.

Norman has called on the local crowds to be his team’s “extra” team member and dismissed the idea that he and Couples might seek to avoid a match-up between Woods and Australian Adam Scott.

Such a clash would bring Scott’s caddy Steve Williams in uncomfortable proximity to Woods following controversy over the New Zealander’s racist remark about his former employer at an annual caddy awards dinner.

Williams, who carried Woods’s bag for 13 years before being fired in July, apologised personally to the American last week, while Woods said he wanted to move on from the incident.

“If it happens, it happens,” said Norman, who will pick his team’s match-ups alternately with Couples.

“It is not going to be premeditated ... I talked to Adam (Scott) about it. I asked him if it worked out that way, did he have a problem with it. He said, ‘Not at all. I’ll play him and win a point for you.’

“It can fall out that way. He might end up playing with him every day.

Who knows? I’d expect them to meet some time from Thursday onwards.”

Norman is banking on home advantage to end American domination of the Presidents Cup, taking Australians Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley as his captain’s picks.

Norman said he was inspired by his compatriots’ solid showing at the US Masters in April where Scott and Jason Day finished joint second and Geoff Ogilvy joint third. “On my phone I have a photograph of the four Aussies on the leader board (at Augusta),” he said. “ They slotted Tiger Woods in there just to mess it up. They had Tiger just above Geoff Ogilvy. I was ticked off. I wanted them to drop Tiger’s name down one. That’s how proud I was.” — Reuters

Need an Olympic party venue?

Maybe the Throne Room

FARIDKOT: In this picture taken on November 2, 2011 Nepalese kabaddi team player (center-down) tussles with an Australian opponent during the second Pearls World Cup Kabaddi Punjab-2011 tournament. On November 13, 2011 the Australian national team was thrown out the kabaddi ‘World Cup’ in India after failing multiple drugs tests as the tournament struggles to overcome a series of doping scandals. — AFP

Late drama all round as Heineken Cup kicks off LONDON: The Heineken Cup wasted little time in delivering its usual dose of drama as the opening weekend of this season’s competition was marked by heart-stopping late turnarounds. Ireland’s teams were in the thick of the action with both the national side’s flyhalves, Ronan O’Gara and Jonny Sexton, landing key last-gasp kicks.

Holders Leinster, facing up to six months without Brian O’Driscoll, were staring defeat in the face after an inspired display by debutants

Montpellier until Sexton landed a penalty with the last kick of the match to salvage a 16-16 draw in front of 20,000 frustrated Frenchmen.

O’Gara went one better as Munster, the team who live for Europe’s premier competition, put together an astonishing 41-phase move that culminated in the veteran landing a virtually uncontested drop goal to secure a 2321 home victory over last year’s runners-up Northampton. Lock Richie Gray scored a late try to earn Glasgow an unlikely 26-21 home

victory over Bath after Stephen Donald, the man whose penalty won the World Cup for New Zealand, had joined the game late to make his debut and put the English side ahead with a 78th-minute penalty.

Four-times times champions but traditionally slow starters Toulouse also left it late as they trailed at home to Gloucester until Clement Poitrenaud broke clear to score the match-winning try in a 21-17 victory.—Reuters

LONDON: The parties will be at the palace at least during next year’s Summer Olympics.

Queen Elizabeth II has approved renting out fancy rooms at St. James’s Palace as party venues during the 2012 London Olympics.

Buckingham Palace says holders of royal warrants - companies with long-standing ties to the royal family - will be given a chance to rent the rooms, called state apartments, during the games, which begin July 27 and last until Aug. 12.

A palace spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined Monday to say which state apartments would be available, but the palace has the Throne Room, the Tapestry Room and the Queen Anne Room, among others.

The move is unprecedented, but also shows that even the queen has been affected by British austerity measures. “We’re not immune to that,” the spokesman said of the tough times.

Built between 1531-1536, St. James’s Palace was a residence of kings and queens for over 300 years - although Buckingham Palace has been the home of the monarch since the time of Queen Victoria. Located in central London near Buckingham Palace, it houses the offices of several members of the royal family including Prince William and Prince Harry. It is often used for official functions and is not open to the public.

Besides offering the ultimate in exclusive party venue addresses, the palace also has another huge selling point for those interested in corporate hospitality. St. James is only

a short stroll from Horse Guards Parade, the venue for one of the most popular events of the games: beach volleyball.

But it won’t come cheap. Britain’s Daily Mail reports that the cost of renting the rooms would be a whopping 30,000 pounds ($47,500) a day. The Olympics presents a unique opportunity for businesses.

Corporate sponsors of the games are willing to offer millions for the chance to be closely associated with the Olympics.

Besides the name recognition, those sponsors get tickets - and hold lavish parties where they bring their most important clients.

By allowing royal warrant holders the chance to rent rooms for events, the queen will be helping businesses that mostly are too small to pay what that the likes of CocaCola, McDonald’s and Visa hand over to be tied to the Olympic movement.

But what if you aren’t a sponsor, don’t have a royal warrant but want to sleep in a palace during the games? Fear not, there is at least one option. Leeds Castle, about an hour outside of London, might consider an offer to book the place.

Victoria Wallace, the castle’s chief executive, declined to offer a cost on renting the turreted castle surrounded by a lake and sloping acres of parkland. The palace normally rents its grounds for events but mindful of the interest in deluxe accommodations during the Summer Olympics, she said the castle might consider a tailored “bespoke” package if there was interest. — AP

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

sp orts

Dravid’s ton puts India in box seat

DUBAI: Sri Lanka’s cricketer Mahela Jayawardene (center) gets dismissed as Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (left) look on during the second One Day International (ODI) match.—AFP

Malinga inspires Sri Lankan win Pakistan fall short by 25 runs DUBAI: Sling-action paceman Lasith Malinga took three wickets to help Sri Lanka to a 25run win over Pakistan in the second one day international to level the five-match series 1-1 here yesterday.

Malinga took two wickets in the first over and then returned in his second spell to finish with 3-36 to help dismiss Pakistan for 210 in 46.3 overs after setting them a target of 236 runs at Dubai stadium.

Pakistan won the first match by eight wickets, also played here on Friday. Umar Akmal led the chase with a brilliant 102-ball 91 but Pakistan lost three wickets in succession in the batting power-play, including that of Akmal which saw them lose their way.

Akmal hit one six and eight boundariesthree of them in Dilhara Fernando’s 38th overbefore hitting the sixth delivery of the same over straight into the hands of mid-on to end Pakistan’s hopes of winning.

Earlier the 28-year-old Malinga removed opener Mohammad Hafeez (four) with the third delivery of his first over-his 150th oneday wicket in his 96th match-and then Younis Khan (nought) off the fifth-both caught behind. Thisara Perera, who finished with 230, removed Imran Farhat (three) before Akmal steadied the innings through a 64-run fourth wicket stand with Misbah-ul Haq (21) and another 62-run stand for the next wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (24).

Shahid Afridi, who hit a 14-ball 29, and Saeed Ajmal added a quickfire 30 in four overs before Afridi was run out by Tillakaratne Dilshan, much to the relief of the Sri Lankans.

Dilshan said the win was a great relief. “Of course, we are relieved. This win was very much needed and now the series is open and we hope to play this type of cricket in the

remaining matches,” said Dilshan, who has yet to win a series since taking over in May this year.

Pakistan captain Misbah rued the loss of early wickets. “We lost three early wickets and although Akmal played well we ended the day on the losing side, so we now know our weaknesses and will come back in the series with some hard work,” said Misbah, who has been praised for his captaincy of the side in the wake of last year’s spotfixing scandal.

Earlier Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga (77) and Mahela Jayawardene (50) set the foundations for the Sri Lankan total.

Dilshan and Tharanga gave a solid 56-run start to their team by the 12th over when legspinner Shahid Afridi, man-of-the-match in the first game for his 3-27, provided Pakistan with a breakthrough.

Afridi bowled Sri Lanka captain Dilshan with a sharp googly after he had threatened to make a big score by hitting four boundaries. He fell for a 40-ball 28. Kumar Sangakkara made just five.

It became 3-94 when Dinesh Chandimal (15) fell to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, leaving Tharanga and Jayawardene to give the innings some respectability. Tharanga hit eight boundaries during his 120-ball knock before he was caught off Afridi.

Jayawardene, who was lacklustre in the Tests as well as in the first one-dayer, hit five boundaries during his 57-ball knock before he was bowled by Ajmal. Ajmal finished with 3-61 while Afridi bagged 2-35.

The remaining matches in the series will be played in Dubai (November 18), Sharjah (November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23). Both teams will also play a Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on November 25.—AFP

SCOREBOARD DUBAI: Full scoreboard in the second day-night international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Dubai Stadium here yesterday: Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Younis b Afridi 77 T. Dilshan b Afridi 28 K. Sangakkara c and b Razzaq 5 D. Chandimal b Ajmal 15 M. Jayawardene b Ajmal 50 A. Mathews c Ahmed b Cheema 3 J. Mendis not out 17 T. Perera st Ahmed b Ajmal 13 L. Malinga not out 2 Extras: (lb8, nb1, w16) 25 Total: (for seven wkts) 235 Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Dilshan), 2-65 (Sangakkara), 3-94 (Chandimal), 4-179 ( Tharanga), 5-189 (Mathews), 6-210 (Jayawardene), 7-233 (Perera) Bowling: Gul 7-1-35-0 (nb1, w5), Cheema 8-056-1 (w4), Ajmal 10-0-61-3 (6w), Razzaq 7-118-1 (w1), Afridi 10-1-35-2, Hafeez 8-1-22-0.

Overs: 50 Pakistan Mohd Hafeez c Sangakkara b Malinga

4

Imran Farhat lbw b Perera 3 Younis Khan c Sangakkara b Malinga 0 Misbah-ul Haq lbw b Fernando 21 Umar Akmal c Chandimal b Fernando 91 Abdul Razzaq run out 11 Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Malinga 24 Shahid Afridi run out 29 Umar Gul lbw b Perera 0 Saeed Ajmal not out 8 Aizaz Cheema run out 6 Extras: (b1, lb5, w7) 13 Total: 210 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Hafeez), 2-4 (Younis), 3-11 (Farhat), 4-75 (Misbah), 5-102 (Razzaq), 6-164 (Akmal), 7-164 (Sarfraz), 8-169 (Gul), 9-199 (Afridi) Bowling: Malinga 9-1-36-3 (w5), Perera 9-1-302, Fernando 9-0-54-2 (w2), Prasanna 9.3-1-380, Dilshan 1-0-3-0, Mendis 9-0-43-0.

Overs: 46.3 Result: Sri Lanka won by 25 runs

Ashraf vows to lure world’s best back DUBAI: Pakistan’s new cricket chief Zaka Ashraf yesterday vowed to bring international cricket back to the country, suggesting the game’s governing body could form a board to assess security before teams’ tours.

International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009, which left eight people dead and seven visiting players and their assistant coach injured.

Those incidents, coupled with continued security fears in Pakistan, have led to refusals by international teams to tour the troubled country, where the national army is fighting militancy and a resurgency by the Taliban.

Ashraf, who replaced Ijaz Butt as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman last month, said his first task is to bring international cricket back to the country.

“We are doing our level best to bring international cricket back to Pakistan,” Ashraf, who met International Cricket Council (ICC) officials, told AFP. “I have suggested the ICC should form a board to assess security in Pakistan.”

After the terrorist attacks of 2009, the ICC was forced to strip Pakistan of its share of matches in the 2011 World Cup. Sri Lanka also turned down an invitation to tour Pakistan after a military base was attacked in Karachi in May this year, forcing them to play the series in the United Arab Emirates.

Ashraf, regarded as a close friend of Pakistan president Asif Zardari, said he can take help from

the government on implementing security for international teams.

“Once the ICC forms a security board we can also take help from the government and implement the best arrangements for international teams,” said Ashraf.

Ashraf said Pakistani fans are deprived of international cricket. “What happened in Pakistan was disappointing and that left millions of fans in our country deprived of international cricket and we now seek help from the cricket world to restore activity so that our fans get to see that,” said Ashraf.

Ashraf said he has also written to Indian cricket chiefs to revive what he termed the “mother of all cricket” series.

“I have written to Narayan Srinivasan (President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India) to revive the series between the two countries because it’s a game and should be kept away from politics,” said Ashraf.

Ashraf said Pakistan and India have come closer and cricket can further that process.

“Pakistan have declared India a favourite nation and both the prime ministers have met during the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) conference so cricket can add to that improvement in relations,” said Ashraf.

Ashraf said he has also met Bangladesh Cricket Board officials to break the ice. “I have also met Bangladesh officials and in order to break the ice. I have invited them to tour Pakistan and I hope they reply in a positive way.”—AFP

KOLKATA: Rahul Dravid made the most of superb batting conditions at Eden Gardens to post his 36th test hundred and put India in charge after the first day of the second test against West Indies yesterday. The hosts, after opting to bat first, were 346 for five at the close with Vangipurappu Laxman 73 not out after the umpires decided to suspend play due to bad light with 2.3 overs left in the day.

Dravid (119), rock solid in defence as usual, brought up his fifth test hundred of the year with a flicked boundary to square leg off paceman Kemar Roach to a standing ovation from the sparse crowd.

“It obviously feels that I am in some good form... I have hit a good patch. I am in a good space with my game so I am really trying to make it count, trying to make it last as long as I can,” Dravid told reporters.

“I have been through tough times so I know very well when things are going well, you have to make the most of it... I am just trying to do that.”

He was ready to wait for the loose deliveries and hit nine fours and two sixes during his 207-ball stay before he chopped on part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite to gift the 18-year-old his first test wicket in the penultimate over of the day.

Dravid’s first six off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo came after a gap of 101 balls from his previous boundary and the second six off Marlon Samuels came after he had got past his century.

The 38-year old Dravid added 140 runs for the fourth wicket with Laxman, which put India on course for a big first innings total.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson, whose side lost the first test, was confident that the visitors could still bounce back today.

“It was a tough day for us because there was nothing in the pitch for the bowlers,” Gibson said.

“Both teams are capable of collapsing as we saw in Delhi (last test) and we are hoping something like that happens here too.”

Dravid appeared upset with himself when he walked back to the dressing room in fading light amid applause from an appreciative crowd.

“I was a little disappointed... I batted the whole day and I wanted to start fresh tomorrow,” Dravid said. “It would have been nice to play the new ball... I thought the first 10-15 overs tomorrow will be vital... So, I wanted to start together.”

Laxman also looked in supreme touch and scored at will against the West Indies spinners with wristy flicks and drives to bring up his 56th halfcentury in tests.

India earlier lost the wickets of Gautam Gambhir (65) and Sachin Tendulkar (38), whose wait for his 100th international century goes on, in the afternoon session after opener Virender Sehwag (38) fell in the morning.

Sehwag, hit by an Edwards bouncer on the

back of his helmet in the third over, took a particular liking to Darren Sammy’s medium pace bowling, scoring six out of his eight boundaries against the West Indies captain.

However, Sammy had the last laugh when he lured Sehwag into a mistimed drive straight into the hands of Adrian Barath at short mid-wicket after the batsman had compiled a breezy 38 off 33 deliveries. Gambhir and Dravid added 83 for the second wicket before the left-handed opener drove uppishly to Barath at short cover off pace-

man Fidel Edwards.

Gambhir hit eight boundaries during his knock which included some fluent cover drives against the pacemen and nimble footwork against the spinners.

Tendulkar, who survived a close lbw appeal on 25 against leg-spinner Bishoo, mistimed a pull against the same bowler and was caught at midwicket by Samuels, much to the disappointment of the smattering of fans. The teams will play the third and final Test in Mumbai from Nov. 22.—Reuters

KOLKATA: Indian cricketer VVS Laxman (left) and Rahul Dravid run between wickets during the first day of the second Test match between India and West Indies at The Eden Gardens.—AP

SCOREBOARD KOLKATA: Scoreboard at close on the first day of the second test between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens yesterday: India first innings G. Gambhir c Barath b Edwards V. Sehwag c Barath b Sammy R. Dravid b Brathwaite S. Tendulkar c Samuels b Bishoo VVS Laxman not out I. Sharma c Baugh b Roach Extras (lb-5, w-2, nb-6)

65 38 119 38 73 0 13

Total (five wickets; 87.3 overs) 346 To bat: Y. Singh, MS Dhoni, R. Ashwin, P. Ojha Fall of wicket: 1-66 2-149 3-205 4-345 5-346 Bowling: Edwards 13-0-45-1 (1nb), Sammy 140-78-1 (1w), Roach 15.3-1-57-1 (4nb, 1w), Samuels 16-0-65-0, Bishoo 27-1-87-1 (1nb), Brathwaite 2-0-9-1.

Kahne snaps winless streak AVONDALE: Kasey Kahne snapped an 81-race winless streak Sunday by holding off championship contenders Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart at Phoenix International Raceway.

Stewart dominated the race, leading 160 of the 312 laps, but had to pit for gas with 18 laps remaining.

He then had to work his way back to the front, and used a late pass of Jeff Burton to finish third, right behind Edwards.

The points margin didn’t change, and Edwards goes into next weekend’s season finale leading Stewart by three points. Edwards is going for his first Sprint Cup championship, while Stewart is a two-time champion.

“We’re going to make him sweat it out,” Stewart said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a dead heat going in there. I’m pumped. I wish I was going to Homestead tomorrow.”

So did Edwards, a two-time Homestead winner.

“This is going to be a battle. I truly believe it’s going to be a good race,” Edwards said. “That place is magical

for us. I really enjoy going there. “I hope it comes down to the fastest guy winning the race.”

It’s the closest title race since NASCAR implemented the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup championship in 2004. Five-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson finished 14th and was officially eliminated from title contention.

“It’s been one hell of a run,” he posted on Twitter shortly after the race. Kahne, meanwhile, won for the first time since Atlanta in 2009, and it comes in his next-to-last race with Red Bull Racing. He’s moving to Hendrick Motorsports next season, and Red Bull is pulling out of NASCAR. Burton finished fourth and was followed by Ryan Newman. AJ Allmendinger was sixth, and David Reutimann, told two weeks ago he was losing his job at Michael Waltrip Racing, was seventh. Marcos Ambrose finished eighth and was followed by Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer.

Kyle Busch, racing again after NASCAR parked him at Texas last weekend for intentionally wrecking Ron

Hornaday Jr., worked his way up to third before his engine failed. He finished 36th.

“It’s just devastating,” Busch said. “To go through turmoil like this, all you can do is group together and pull through it and try to persevere and move on.”

Busch, who started the Chase tied with Kevin Harvick as the top seed, will almost certainly finish 12th in the final standings and won’t be included in the seasonending awards ceremony held in his hometown, Las Vegas.

His older brother, Kurt, didn’t fare any better at Phoenix. He ran out of gas while leading and wound up 22nd. The race was also marked by another incident between Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth, who tangled two races ago at Martinsville. Kenseth said Vickers intentionally wrecked him, but Vickers denied it. “If he wants to doubt us, that’s fine,” Vickers said. “He wrecked me at Martinsville, he got wrecked here, but it actually wasn’t (payback). I’m not saying I wasn’t going to pay him back, but I’m just saying that wasn’t it.”—AP

Thais strike badminton gold but Indonesia shine brightest JAKARTA: Thailand enjoyed a goldladen Monday capped by victory in the women’s team badminton but Indonesia kept their comfortable lead at the top of medals table with another dynamic display that yielded 14 wins.

The hosts had won 58 gold late yesterday boosting their total medal haul to 141, with Thailand-tabletoppers in the 2009 Games-unable to peg them back so far despite changing gears after an unimpressive opening. In what now looks like a two-horse race, the Thais have 35 gold medals and 97 podium finishes overall, after their women’s badminton team stunned a rowdy crowd with a gruelling four-andhalf-hour victory over the hosts.

Sixteen-year- old Ratchanok Inthanon was at the heart of the sensational 1-3 win, beating the fancied Adriyanti Firdasari by a slender 12-21, 21-19, 19-21 in the second singles match to tee-up the team victory.

The visitors also enjoyed a good day in track and field events with Tantipong Phetchai taking the hammer final with a 61.46 metre effortnearly 1.5m beyond second placewhile Laphassaporn Tawon claimed the women’s 200m.

It put them a nose ahead of the hosts in the athletics charts with nine gold. But the Thais have their work cut out to eclipse Indonesia, after the home athletes continued their fine run with a sackful of gold as they target finishing with most

medals at the Games for the first time since 1997.

With the preliminary rounds of smaller sports such as archery, table tennis and rowing dominating much of the day in Palembangwhich is co-hosting the competition-Indonesia focused on indoor wins in the capital Jakarta, including in Taekwondo and wall climbing.

Vietnam fell further behind, their early momentum stalling to leave them on 27 golds, while Singapore held steady in fourth place in the medals table with a typical strong showing in the swimming pool

helping them to 65 medals.

Team Singapore was boosted yesterday with reports saying that 31 athletes hit by food poisoning were recovering well at the Palembang Games village.

Rank underdogs East Timor finally broke their medal duck with a bronze to Luisa Dos Santos in the women’s Taekwondo while the Philippines added to its paltry gold tally with wins in bridge, billiards and wall climbing. Yesterday also saw the start of the pencak silat competition-a traditional martial art popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and

INDONESIA: Vietnam’s Dong Van Bien (left) and Philippines’ Angana Margarito fight during the men’s Greco-Roman 55 kilogram class wrestling final at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. —AP

Singapore-amid a growing chorus condemning indigenous sports as a sideshow from the Olympic events.

A Thai representative from the nation’s National Olympic Committee said the biennial SEA Games was becoming less competitive as hosts choose niche sports favouring their athletes.

“The inclusion of too many ‘traditional sports’ has caused damage to the SEA Games,” Charoen Wattanasin told the Bangkok Post.

The claim was disputed by coaches and players at the pencak silat arena yesterday. “It is a way of life... it is important to be here to keep our culture strong,” said Indonesian coach Kar yono, who goes by one name.

Spurred on by boisterous local support, Indonesia has been in striking form. Their efforts in karate, athletics and rowing have been richly rewarded, while their U23 football squad have eased into the semifinal after a string of impressive victories.

And with the crowd roaring them on at every event with a chorus of “Ayo Indonesia Bisa”-”Come on Indonesia, we can do it!”-their athletes have battled back even when failing to emerge on top form.

Indonesia was awarded this year’s Games in 2006 but the government has been criticised for failing to release cash to organisers Inasoc to build venues, causing an embarrassing delay to the athletes’ village in Palembang.—AFP

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

SPORTS

Historic rivalry as Japan heads to N Korea PYONGYANG: There are no hot dogs, peanuts or plastic cups of beer for sale when the North Korean soccer team takes the pitch. There are no noisemakers, and no one does the wave.

Yet fans here are passionate in their own way, packing the stadium to the rafters, stamping and booing every time the visiting team threatens to score. From schoolchildren in Adidas tracksuits to soldiers in uniform, they jostle for a good view of the team that has become a symbol of national pride.

That pride will be at stake today when the North Korean men face off against Japan at Kim Il Sung Stadium in a much-anticipated World Cup qualifier that promises to be about far more than just soccer.

Four of the North Korean players, including star striker Jong Tae Se, were born into ethnic Korean communities in Japan, and bitterness still runs deep over Japan’s 35-year occupation of Korea, which ended in 1945.

More than six decades later, Tokyo and Pyongyang still do not have diplomatic ties. The last time the Japanese men played on North Korean soil was in 1989, when North Korea won, 2-0.

Since then, relations have deteriorated: Japan has pressed North Korea to address the past abductions of Japanese citizens, and after North

Korea fired ballistic missiles capable of reaching Japan’s shores and tested a nuclear device in 2006, Japan joined the United States and other nations in imposing economic sanctions on

the population - are going hungry, according to the World Food Program.

Japan is also party to the stalled talks that would bring food aid to Pyongyang in exchange for an agree-

PYONGYANG: In this photo taken Oct. 11, 2011, North Korean soccer fans react in the stands of Pyongyang’s Yanggakdo stadium during a FIFA World Cup 2012 qualifying soccer match against Uzbekistan. North Korea faces off against Japan’s national soccer team today. —AP North Korea as punishment.

Those sanctions have cut off muchneeded sources of aid at a time when 6 million North Koreans - a quarter of

ment to discontinue its nuclear program. The North Koreans walked away from those discussions two years ago, but efforts are now under way to get

them back on track.

More than 200 Japanese citizens, including 150 Blue Samurai fans and two dozen journalists, were expected to travel to Pyongyang for today’s game - the largest Japanese delegation in years. As a precaution, Tokyo has sent a team of Japanese diplomats to North Korea to watch over them.

The fans have been warned to behave: No sightseeing, no straying from the group. No drums, speakers, banners or Japanese flags, according to Nishitetsu Travel, which is organizing the three-day, $3,740 tour for the Japanese Football Association.

“In principle, (North Korea) is a country where we have travel restrictions, and we are only allowing this trip as an exception,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Spokesman Osamu Fujimura said Friday in Tokyo. “Therefore, we would like the visitors to refrain from any activity other than watching the game while in (North Korea).”

The long gap between a North Korea-Japan faceoff on North Korean soil serves as a “painful reminder” of how bad relations are, said Peter Beck, a research fellow at the East-West Center who is a specialist on JapaneseNorth Korean issues.

In 2005, a match scheduled to be played in Pyongyang was instead moved to Thailand due to security

worries. However, there have been tentative moves toward improving ties. Last month, Japanese doctors traveled to North Korea to examine Korean victims of the World War II atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both the visit and the game represent a “very modest effort” to improve ties, Beck said.

As far as the soccer goes, it would appear to be an uneven match with little bearing on the World Cup: Japan is Asia’s top-ranked team and No. 17 overall while North Korea is ranked 124th in the world, according to FIFA. Japan has already secured its spot in the next round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil while North Korea is out, its hopes of consecutive appearances dashed by back-to-back losses to Uzbekistan. North Korea boasts a strong defense, but scoring goals has never been a strength.

However, games between Japan and North Korea are always closely fought. Their last three meetings ended with one win each and a tie; of the last 15 games, Japan has won six while North Korea has won five.

In Pyongyang, Dr. Ri Tong Gyu, a researcher at North Korea’s Institute of Physical Culture under the Academy of Sports Sciences, told the state-run Korean Central News Agency he expected a “hot match” today.—AP

Zico warns Iraq squad that job isn’t done yet

PORTUGAL: Portugal’s Real Madrid players Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Pepe attend a training session. Portugal will play with Bosnia in their second leg Euro 2012 playoff soccer match today. —AP

Portugal aim to overpower Bosnia LISBON: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo believes his side’s bold performance on a difficult pitch in Zenica last week will inspire them to overpower Bosnia at home today and qualify for Euro 2012.

Friday’s scoreless draw left the twolegged playoff wide open but the Portuguese are confident they will make the most of home advantage after the Bilino Polje stadium’s swampy pitch stopped them converting their control of the match into a win.

“That wasn’t grass, we played on a vegetable patch. It was very difficult and still we did well and created chances,” Ronaldo said.

The world’s most expensive player, who last week picked up his second Golden Boot award as Europe’s top scorer, was the most dangerous player of the game but his finishing was hampered by the poor state of the pitch.

“We now have a second chance at home in front of our fans, with a good pitch and have all the conditions to ensure we win,” he added. “We have to assume we are favourites and show our superiority-we are a better team.”

Portugal, runners-up at Euro 2004, are on the verge of achieving their seventh consecutive qualification for a major international tournament.

Their hard-working opponents were 12 minutes away from securing a berth in next year’s finals when they led France 1-0 in their final group match, but were sent to the playoffs after the hosts’ late equaliser.

A scoring draw or a win at the Luz Stadium today would send the Bosnians to their first major tournament as an independent nation.

The Portuguese had a dismal start to their Euro 2012 campaign but coach Paulo Bento revived the team’s hopes, earning five straight wins after he took over in September last year.

Still, needing only a draw to finish top of qualifying Group H and avoid the playoffs, they lost 2-1 to Denmark in their last qualifier to end up second.

“All teams go through different cycles and tough moments but we had a good qualifying (campaign), we simply did not grab that one point in Denmark ... now, I believe we will win,” Ronaldo said.

Bosnia, meanwhile, were hoping a better pitch would also work in their favor.”Maybe the Portuguese think we will be easier opponents on a better surface but we won’t. The fact is that we are also looking forward to play on a quality pitch,” Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko said.

His partner in attack, Vedad Ibisevic, a second half substitute in Zenica, added: “We are confident that the tie will go down to the wire, especially if we play like we did against France in Paris.”

Midfielder Miralem Pjanic and Dzeko, who had a quiet first leg, are expected to shake off minor knocks and play.

Knowing a positive result would take them to the finals, coach Safet Susic could be tempted to start with a more adventurous 4-4-2 formation with Ibisevic alongside Dzeko up front.—Reuters

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

European Championship Qualifiers Croatia v Turkey 22:05 Al jazeera Sport +6 Al jazeera Sport 1 HD Montenegro v Czech Republic 22:15 Al jazeera Sport +10 Ireland v Estonia 22:45 Al jazeera Sport +9

WC2014 Qualifying - Asia Thailand v Australia Al jazeera Sport 1 Singapore v China Al jazeera Sport +1 Indonesia v Iran Al jazeera Sport Global Lebanon v South Korea

Al jazeera Sport 2 Uzbekistan v Tajikistan Al jazeera Sport 1 Kuwait v UAE Abu Dhabi Sports 1 Qatar v Bahrain Al jazeera Sport 1 Dubai Sports 2 Jordan v Iraq Al jazeera Sport 2 Saudi Arabia v Oman Al jazeera Sport Global

16:00 17:30 19:00

19:00 19:30

14:00

Friendlies - National 14:30 15:00 15:30

Italy v Uruguay Al jazeera Sport +8 Al jazeera Sport +1 France v Belgium Al jazeera Sport +4

22:45

23:00

DOHA: After a win that moved Iraq within a point of advancing to the last stage of Asian qualifying and all but ended China’s hopes of reaching Brazil 2014, coach Zico is reminding his players that the job is not quite done.

The 2007 Asian champions travel to Group A leader Jordan - the only team to maintain a perfect record of four wins in this round today needing only a point from its last two matches to progress to the fourth qualifying stage. Jordan, Japan and Uzbekistan have already secured three of the 10 spots in the next stage, while five teams are already out of contention.

“The important thing is that we go there and try to win and we can do that,” Zico told The Associated Press. “We are in good form and the players are confident. Now it is time to finish the job.”

Zico, one of Brazil’s most celebrated players and a long-time coach in Asia, said Iraq’s loss to Jordan earlier in the third round was due to the condition of the pitch.

“We expect that it will be better in Jordan.

We are looking forward to the game and the atmosphere in the team is very good after beating China,” he said of the late 1-0 win over the Chinese last Friday at Doha. “That was a very big win for us. It was a hard game but we came through.”

It left China on the brink of elimination.

Singapore, United Arab Emirates, North Korea, Tajikistan and Indonesia are already out of contention with two matches remain-

ing.

After three successive losses, China is six points behind Iraq and nine behind group leader Jordan. The team has been eliminated at the penultimate stage of qualifying for the past two World Cups.

Only a win in Singapore today will keep China’s slim chances alive, but the team’s Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho admitted that dreams of 2014 are virtually over and the country’s media and football fans are ready for the same fate to be confirmed.

“Our problem has been that we are creating chances in the penalty area but we are not scoring enough goals,” Camacho said.

“There is a lot of work to do and areas in which we need to improve.”

In Group D, there is a fierce three-way struggle for second spot. Leader Australia lost its perfect record in a shocking 1-0 defeat at Oman on Saturday but is still four points clear of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis moved into second spot after a 3-0 win over Thailand, a first victory with the team for former Netherlands and Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard. If Australia wins in Bangkok against fourth-placed Thailand, Saudi Arabia will progress to the next stage if it defeats Oman in Riyadh.

It may not be easy. Oman started the group in poor form but under coach Paul Le Guen produced a solid and well-organized defensive performance to frustrate Australia, the second-ranked team in Asia.

“Thanks to this victory the team will be a little more confident in the next two matches against Saudi Arabia and Thailand,” Le Guen said. “Now we are back in contention. Now we have to concentrate on the remaining two games.”

It would be a significant surprise to see Lebanon in the final round. The team, ranked No. 146 in the world, lost its opening game in South Korea 6-0 but bounced back with wins over United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to move into second spot.

With UAE out of the running and South Korea leading the group on 10 points on the verge of advancing, Lebanon sits on seven points and is two clear of Kuwait ahead of its home match against South Korea in Beirut.

Fortunately for Lebanon, the South Koreans will be without the suspended Arsenal striker Park Chu-young, the form attacking player in Asia with eight goals in his last five games for his country.

In Group E, Iran and Qatar are both on eight points and aiming to book places in the next stage. Iran travels to last-place Indonesia while Qatar hosts Bahrain. After allowing Iran to score a last-minute equalizer at Manama on Friday, Bahrain needs to win to keep alive its hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup. All is settled in Group C with Japan and Uzbekistan safely through, leaving Japan’s first trip to North Korea since 1989 significant more in terms of politics than World Cup qualification.—AP

Bilic asks Croatia to put Euro 2012 party on hold ZAGREB: Any premature celebrations over a 3-0 win in Turkey in the first leg of their Euro 2012 playoff could be fatal for Croatia and invite history to repeat itself, coach Slaven Bilic said ahead of today’s return game.

Although they have one foot in next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine, the Croatians will take nothing for granted against the team that knocked them out of the Euro 2008 quarter-finals after equalising with the last kick of extra time.

With the score 1-1 after 120 minutes, the Turks won the penalty shootout and sent their fans into raptures in Vienna’s Ernst Happel stadium but they were powerless against a galvanised Croatia side in Istanbul on Friday.

“I don’t think we will ever be able to get the 2008 defeat completely out of our system but we have already forgotten the game in Istanbul,” Bilic told reporters.

“The first thing we all said in the dressing room was that we are only halfway through our task because we face a difficult 90 minutes on our own turf.

“We will head into the game confident after earning a threegoal cushion in the Turk Telekom Arena, where all the pieces came together for us.”

Although he will miss suspended defender Vedran Corluka and midfielder Tomislav

ZAGREB: Turkey’s head coach Guus Hiddink gestures during a press conference in Zagreb a day ahead of their important second leg Euro 2012 qualification match against Croatia.—AFP Dujmovic, Bilic has plenty to four key players suspended and choose from in a squad eager to defender Giray Kacar sidelined kickstart a party in Zagreb’s with a groin strain.

Maksimir stadium. Danijel Pranjic The under-fire Dutchman will will stand in for Corluka at left be forced to make wholesale back while Ognjen Vukojevic changes after Arda Turan, Sabri should step in as the holding Sarioglu, Emre Belozoglu and midfielder and Borussia Hakan Balta earned yellow cards Dortmund’s in-form forward Ivan which rule them out of the return Perisic could be preferred to vet- leg. Criticised by Turkish media eran striker Ivica Olic. Unlike Bilic, for a tepid performance, Hiddink his Turkey counterpart Guus was also lambasted by Atletico Hiddink has limited options with Madrid forward Arda, who was

quoted as saying by the Milliyet newspaper that the coach’s tactics had invited the rout.

“Hiddink’s choices opened the way for this result, we had a problem up front in particular because our boss played (Burak) Yilmaz alone up front and we were ineffective in front of goal,” Arda was quoted as saying. “We should have played with at least three players in attack but our boss showed timidity based on our opponents’ place in the world rankings.

“If your boss managing you from the touchline doesn’t trust his footballers, you are already starting the match 1-0 down.”

Croatia-ranked 12th in the world-took a second-minute lead through Olic in the first leg and Turkey, who are ranked 26th by FIFA, never looked like coming back after Mario Mandzukic made it 2-0 with a header from a tight angle.

Corluka silenced the normally raucous home crowd in Istanbul with the third shortly after the break but Bilic is now wary of complacency creeping in. “It will not be a return leg with the makings of a friendly match because Turkey are a good team and they are coming here to get a result,” he said. “Football is unpredictable, we have seen that already and we will have to play even better than in the first leg.”—Reuters

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

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Qatar would not oppose winter World Cup: Official DOHA: Qatar would obey a FIFA order to host a winter World Cup but no discussions have taken place on switching the 2022 soccer tournament from the summer, a top bid official said yesterday.

“Currently our plans are to host the World Cup during the summer,” Hassan al-Thawadi, general-secretary of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told a conference in Doha.

“If FIFA, the international football community, ask for Qatar to host the World Cup in the winter then we won’t be fighting the football community. As of yet, no such discussions

have been put in place.”

Qatar, where summer temperatures top 45 degrees Celsius, was the surprise winner of a December FIFA vote to choose the 2022 host country.

The Gulf state says it will build solar-powered, air-conditioned stadiums to overcome the sweltering heat, although the technology remains unproven in a full-size stadium.

A winter World Cup would come mid-season in Europe and the continent’s leagues are likely to fiercely resist such a move. Whatever the timing, Thawadi estimates 800,000 foreign fans will visit Qatar during the

tournament. “ This World Cup will bridge a gap between East and West,” said Thawadi, predicting the tournament would accelerate the growth of the country’s private sector.

State-controlled companies dominate the Doha stock exchange and Qatar’s vast wealth is based on liquefied natural gas exports.

Since the FIFA vote, the longstanding leaders of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia have been ousted, more than 3,500 people have been killed in Syria during eight months of unrest and Bahrain’s Sunni rulers have conducted a deadly crackdown on its Shia

majority. With 11 years until Qatar hosts the World Cup, the Middle East ’s political landscape could change dramatically, but Thawadi played down concerns. “ We’ve seen economic turmoil throughout the world, we’ve seen riots in England, we’ve seen significant issues occur in the EU,” he said.

“The world is changing. We have recognised that in our bid...you have to be ready with contingency plans, but in the end tsunamis happen, flooding happens, earthquakes happen, economic turmoil and political turmoil happen. Does that mean the

world is going to stand still? No, it should always continue.”

This month, Doha’s Al Sadd won the Asian Champions League, defeating South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors on penalties, and Thawadi was bullish on Qatar’s soccer prospects.

“Our goal is to qualify (for the World Cup) before 2022,” he said. “By 2022 we will have a very good team.

“You will see Qatari players in La Liga and the Premier League.

Also, you will find young players from Europe looking to come to the Middle East to play in our leagues here.” —Reuters

Jonas brace eases Brazil to 2-0 victory over Egypt

HAMBURG: Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warms up during a training session. The German national soccer team prepares to play against Netherlands in a friendly match today. —AFP

Germany keen to send Euro message with win over Dutch BERLIN: Germany are eager to beat rivals Netherlands in today’s friendly and send a clear message to all fellow Euro 2012 contenders that they are ready for their first title since 1996, team manager Oliver Bierhoff has said.

The Germans, who reached next year’s tournament with 10 wins from 10 qualifiers, will have goalkeeper Manuel Neuer back in the squad as well as strikers Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus after they recovered from injury.

Coach Joachim Loew will drop some of the changes he introduced for Friday’s mediocre 3-3 friendly draw in Ukraine, including a three-man defence that looked more than shaky.

He is likely to start with Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez and Klose in a two-pronged attack as part of a 4-4-2 system he has not used in two years.

“This is an extremely serious game.

We want to leave a sign that we can take on and beat the very best,” Bierhoff told reporters ahead of the game in Hamburg. “We want to finish the year with a victory and obviously beating the Dutch is always double the fun.” Threetimes European champions Germany won their last major title at Euro 1996.

Last year ’s World Cup runners-up

Netherlands, who enjoy a healthy and long-standing football rivalry with their neighbors, were jeered by their own fans after being held to a lacklustre 0-0 friendly draw by Switzerland on Friday.

The Dutch, also through to Euro 2012, will be looking to improve on their performance on Friday though they will have to do it without key players Robin van Persie and Rafael van der Vaart.

The Arsenal captain has been ruled out due to fatigue after playing the full 90 minutes against the Swiss. “I had a good meeting with (Arsenal boss Arsene) Wenger and we reached agreement he would only play on Friday and after that we would send him back,” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk told reporters.

Van der Vaart suffered a slight hamstring injury. Captain Mark van Bommel and Kevin Strootman should be back from the start. Van Bommel was rested while Strootman played 24 minutes against the Swiss.

Van Marwijk could also use striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who is itching to come back after breaking his nose 10 days ago. “Things look different for this match but it has only been two weeks since he broke his nose,” the Dutch coach said. —Reuters

England to explore striking options against Sweden LONDON: England showed they know how to work hard and defend when beating Spain on Saturday and now their fans will want to see progress at the other end of the pitch in today’s Wembley friendly against Sweden.

England took the prized scalp of the world and European champions with a 10 win that came thanks to a set-piece goal scored by Frank Lampard and a prodigious amount of hard work, not least by man-of-the-match midfielder Scott Parker.

Fabio Capello, who seems to have a virtual blank sheet of paper when it comes to naming his likely starting XI for next year’s European championship finals, has already said he will make several changes from Saturday’s side, which itself was somewhat experimental.

Captain John Terry and Gary Cahill will start in central defence while young full back Kyle Walker, who came off the bench for his debut against Spain, will get his first start.

Of more pressing interest to Capello,

though, is up front, where Daniel Sturridge is in line for a debut and Bobby Zamora is also set to play.

With Wayne Rooney banned for the first three games of Euro 2012, Capello has decided to play this week’s friendlies without him to give him a chance to look at the alternatives.

Darren Bent, who set up Lampard’s goal with a good header, is gradually working himself into Capello’s plans, though international goal machine Peter Crouch seems to have fallen out of favour. Sturridge has looked lively at Chelsea this season after returning from an impressive loan spell at Bolton Wanderers and Capello, who also gave a debut to Ever ton midfielder Jack Rodwell against Spain, is unfazed by throwing the youngsters in. “ They played without fear, with personality on the pitch- I can see they were good enough to play with the seniors,” the Italian said of his new crop, which also included Manchester United duo Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones. — Reuters

DOHA: Valencia forward Jonas fired Brazil to a convincing 2-0 victory over Egypt in a friendly international here at the packed Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday.

The 27-year-old broke his international duck in style, finding the net once in each half as the five-time world champions, fielding a second-string side, totally outplayed the ailing Africa giants on a pleasant evening in the Qatari capital.

Jonas, who last month created a sensation when he scored the second fastest Champions League goal in history by finding the net inside 10.5 seconds against Bayer Leverkusen, proved quite a handful for the Egyptians with his versatility on the pitch.

Despite the absence of several stars, including Kaka, Marcelo and Neymar, Brazil were never found wanting in any department as they dominated possession throughout the match, hardly giving the Egyptians a chance at goal.

After a slow start, Brazil stepped up the pace and parked themselves in Egyptian territory to keep their goalkeeper Ahmed El Shanawi on his toes as the Selecao, led by Porto star Hulk up front, looked like scoring at every opportunity.

Hulk once again failed to break his scoring drought for the national side in what was his seventh match, but he set up the first one when he slipped in a pass from the edge of the box for the unmarked Jonas to

tap the ball home in the 39th minute.

The Egyptians conceded another goal in the 59th minute when El Shanawi failed to collect the ball cleanly on a header and Jonas made no mistake with the rebound.

American Bob Bradley, who took over as Egypt coach recently, cut a forlorn figure as he watched his team get a lesson in football and the former United States handler has a

DOHA: Egypt’s Hosni Abed Rabo (8) vies for the ball against Brazil’s Fernando Luis Roza (8) during their international friendly football at the Al-Rayyan stadium in Doha.—AP

Argentina set off for Colombia BUENOS AIRES: Argentina, smarting from a disappointing 1-1 home draw with modest Bolivia, set off for Colombia on Sunday for their fourth match of South American World Cup qualifying today.

They have learned a harsh lesson from a last-minute arrival in Venezuela last month where they were upset 1-0, Argentina’s first ever defeat by the baseball-mad country 5,000 km to the north.

What was not in coach Alejandro Sabella’s plans before the Bolivia match on Friday was a serious rethink of his line-up and tactics to face Colombia in Barranquilla on the Caribbean coast.

Sabella is pondering his choices in defence after Martin Demichelis was slow to control an easy ball and striker Marcelo Martins robbed him, turned and shot past Sergio Romero to put Bolivia ahead.

He knows former captain Javier Mascherano, a tactically disciplined player and good reader of the game, has been filling in well as a central defender at Barcelona and may use him in the middle of a back three.

“Mascherano is an intelligent, resourceful player who reads the action well and despite not being tall he is competitive in the air,” Sabella said.

He also needs to continue working on his midfield formation to bring out the best in Lionel Messi, who was marked into submission by the packed Bolivia defence, and it does not help being deprived of an injured Angel Di Maria. Argentina want time, even if it is only little more than a full day, to accli-

task on his hands as he attempts to rebuild the team who were not long ago the kings of African football.

He is due to watch several Egyptian domestic matches over the next few weeks to select a pool of players to help the country qualify for the 2014 World Cup after agonisingly losing out to bitter rivals Algeria last year. —AFP

matise to 40 degree heat at the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla where kickoff is at 1600 local time.

“It’s very hot, humid, and it could rain. It’s problematic,” Sabella told reporters in mid-week when he confirmed he would take his team in early. “(Colombia) have an advantage and a disadvantage. The first is that they don’t have to travel... The second is that they’ll play in extreme heat against Venezuela.”

Two home games on the trot in the marathon, nine-nation, 18-match qualifying series is a rarity and it was Colombia’s turn to benefit from the calendar this month.

But Venezuela snatched a surprise late equaliser in Barranquilla on Friday for a 1-1 draw as Colombia’s defence lost concentration and committed an error similar to Argentina’s against Bolivia in Buenos Aires.

Venezuela substitute Frank Felstcher stole between the centre backs, snatching the ball off a lackadaisical Luis Perea and steering it past stranded goalkeeper David Ospina.

Colombia coach Leonel Alvarez lost winger Fredy Guarin, scorer of the opening goal on Friday, to a leg injury.

Alvarez was already missing striker Radamel Falcao and midfielder Carlos Sanchez for both matches.

Uruguay, top of the standings with seven points from three matches after they crushed Chile 4-0 in Montevideo with all four goals scored by Luis Suarez, have a bye on Tuesday when they meet Italy in a friendly in Rome.

Argentina and Colombia are among four teams with four points. — Reuters

Corinthians, Vasco triumph RIO DE JANEIRO: Corinthians and Vasco da Gama both won their Brazilian championship matches on Sunday to open a five-point gap over their closest title rivals with four matches remaining.

Vasco, winners of the Copa Brasil early in the season and semi-finalists in the second-tier, regional Copa Sudamericana, beat Botafogo 2-0 in their Rio de Janeiro derby.

Corinthians overcame relegation-threatened Atletico Paranaense 2-1 at home to stay top of the table with one more victory than Vasco and both on 61 points after 34 matches.

Champions Fluminense and surprise team Figueirense- enjoying their best season in the top flight-are equal on 56 points with Botafogo and Ronaldinho’s Flamengo, who lost 2-0 away to Coritiba, a point further back in fifth and sixth place. Vasco, under caretaker coach Cristovao Borges since Ricardo Gomes suffered a stroke during a match in August, had control throughout against Botafogo, even after they had midfielder Romulo sent off in the 76th minute for dissent.

Felipe Bastos opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a low shot from outside the area before fellow midfielder Diego Souza had a penalty saved by Botafogo’s international goalkeeper Jefferson.

Central defender Dede started and finished off the move for the second goal on the hour, robbing the ball in midfield and dribbling past two rivals, passing left to Romulo as he went into the box and heading the return ball into the net. Corinthians appeared to be cruising to victory after scoring twice in the opening five minutes at the Pacaembu in Sao Paulo but 18th-placed Paranaense gave them a tough afternoon and might have snatched a point. Midfielder Paulo Baier pulled one back four minutes after halftime, then Argentine striker Federico Nieto and Baier both hit the bar.

Fluminense, who have won 10 of their last 15 matches, squandered a chance to remain close to the leaders on Saturday with a 2-0 home defeat to America Mineiro, another team in the relegation zone. —Reuters

PARIS: French national football team’s players run during a training session at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the eve of the friendly match against Belgium. —AFP

Gonzalo clinches Singapore Open

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Malinga inspires Sri Lankan win

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Historic rivalry as Japan heads to N Korea

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SAN FRANCISCO: 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) scores on a 17-yard touchdown run past New York Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger (55) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game. —AP

Saints shoot down Falcons in OT ATLANTA: John Kasay kicked a 26yard field goal in overtime to give the New Orleans Saints a 26-23 victor y over Atlanta after Falcons coach Mike Smith decided to go for it on fourth down deep in his own territory Sunday.

The Falcons (5-4) rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, equalizing on Matt Bryant’s 27yard field goal on the final play of regulation.

In overtime, Atlanta appeared to pick up a first down on a pass to Mike Cox, but he was ruled just short after referee Terry McAuley looked at the replay. Then, stunningly, Smith decided to go for it on four th down from his own 29.

Michael Turner was stuffed, and Kasay kicked the winning field goal for the Saints (7-3).

New Orleans took control of the NFC South race, ending Atlanta’s three-game winning streak. But this one will be long remembered for Smith’s call that backfired horribly.

Patriots 37, Jets 16 At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes, two to Rob Gronkowski, as New England took control of the AFC East with a convincing victory over New York.

After the Jets (5-4) cut it to 23-16 early in the fourth quarter, Brady coolly led the Patriots (6-3) down the field on an 84-yard drive that was capped by an 8-yard touchdown catch by Deion Branch.

New England linebacker Rob Ninkovich sealed the victory on the Jets’ next possession with a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Patriots took over sole possession of top spot in the division by inflicting the Jets’ first home loss this season, and snapping their three-game winning streak.

Cardinals 21, Eagles 17 At Philadelphia, John Skelton threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with 1:53 left to lift Arizona.

Michael Vick had another so-so performance and the Eagles (3-6) blew a fourth-quarter lead for the fifth time this season.

Starting for the injured Kevin Kolb, Skelton threw three touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals (3-6). Larry Fitzgerald had two TD catches and made a sensational, over-the-shoulder diving catch to set up the go-ahead score.

The defending NFC East champion Eagles were expected to be Super Bowl contenders after a slew of big-name acquisitions in the offseason. Instead, they’ve lost seven of their past eight home games.

Broncos 17, Chiefs 10 At Kansas City, Tim Tebow hit Eric Decker on a 56-yard touchdown pass, one of his two completions in the game, to guide Denver to victory. Denver (4-5) played almost the entire game without leading rushers Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno. McGahee hurt his hamstring and Moreno went down with a knee injury in the first quarter.

Lance Ball ran for 96 yards and Tebow added 44 yards and a touchdown on the ground, helping the Broncos win for the third time in four games with the former Heisman Trophy winner under center.

At

Steelers 24, Bengals 17 Cincinnati, Rashard

Mendenhall ran for a pair of touchdowns, while Pittsburgh intercepted rookie Andy Dalton twice in the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh (7-3) got a needed win by putting together long, balanced drives while thousands of Steelers fans waved Terrible Towels in the first sellout crowd of the season at Paul Brown Stadium.

Dalton handled most of what Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau threw at him. He had two more touchdown passes, giving him 14 overall - the most by a rookie quar terback in his first nine games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

49ers 27, Giants 20 At San Francisco, Justin Smith batted down Eli Manning’s pass in the closing seconds as San Francisco won its seventh straight game.

Manning completed a pair of long fourth-down passes and got the Giants (6-3) down to the 10, but on four th-and-2 with 1:51 left, Smith made a leaping right-handed smack of the ball.

In a game between division leaders, the 49ers (8-1) didn’t rely on Frank Gore, whose franchiserecord streak of five straight games

with 100 yards rushing ended with a knee injury.

Bears 37, Lions 13 At Chicago, Charles Tillman and Major Wright returned interceptions for touchdowns early in the third quarter, and Chicago picked off Matthew Stafford four times.

The four interceptions by Stafford matched his season total entering the game and helped knock the Lions (6-3) into a secondplace tie with Chicago in the NFC North. He was also involved in a skirmish that led to an ejection of Chicago’s D.J. Moore early in the fourth quarter.

By then, the Bears (6-3) had locked up their fourth straight win thanks to a dominant defensive effort and another punt return for a touchdown by Devin Hester, who ran one back 82 yards. That extended his NFL record to 12.

Seahawks 22, Ravens 17 At Seattle, Steven Hauschk a matched a club record with five field goals and Marshawn Lynch scored on a 1-yard plunge.

A week after staking claim to the lead of the AFC Nor th with a thrilling last-second win at Pittsburgh, the Ravens flopped on

NFL results /standings NFL results and standing on Sunday.

Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 17; St. Louis 13, Cleveland 12; Dallas 44, Buffalo 7; Jacksonville 17, Indianapolis 3; Denver 17, Kansas City 10; Miami 20, Washington 9; Arizona 21, Philadelphia 17; Houston 37, Tampa Bay 9; Tennessee 30, Carolina 3; New Orleans 26, Atlanta 23 (OT); Seattle 22, Baltimore 17; San Francisco 27, NY Giants 20; Chicago 37, Detroit 13; New American Football Conference National Football Conference AFC East NFC East W L T OTL PF PA PCT NY Giants 6 3 0 0 218 211 .667 New England 6 3 0 0 259 200 .667 Dallas 5 4 0 0 223 182 .556 NY Jets 5 4 0 0 215 200 .556 Philadelphia 3 6 0 0 220 203 .333 Buffalo 5 4 0 0 229 218 .556 Washington 3 6 0 0 136 178 .333 Miami 2 7 0 1 158 178 .222 NFC North AFC North Green Bay 8 0 0 0 275 179 1.000 Pittsburgh 7 3 0 0 220 179 .700 Detroit 6 3 0 0 252 184 .667 Cincinnati 6 3 0 0 212 164 .667 Chicago 6 3 0 0 237 187 .667 Baltimore 6 3 0 0 222 152 .667 Minnesota 2 6 0 1 172 199 .250 Cleveland 3 6 0 0 131 183 .333 NFC South AFC South New Orleans 7 3 0 0 313 225 .700 Houston 7 3 0 0 273 163 .700 Atlanta 5 4 0 1 212 196 .556 Tennessee 5 4 0 0 186 172 .556 Tampa Bay 4 5 0 0 153 233 .444 Jacksonville 3 6 0 0 115 166 .333 Carolina 2 7 0 0 190 237 .222 Indianapolis 0 10 0 0 131 300 .000 NFC West AFC West San Francisco 8 1 0 1 233 138 .889 Oakland 5 4 0 0 208 233 .556 San Diego 4 5 0 1 216 228 .444 Seattle 3 6 0 0 144 202 .333 Kansas City 4 5 0 0 141 218 .444 Arizona 3 6 0 0 183 213 .333 Denver 4 5 0 0 188 234 .444 St Louis 2 7 0 1 113 223 .222

the West Coast in an all too similar fashion to letdowns twice already this season.

After routing Pittsburgh in its opener, the Ravens (6-3) were dominated in a loss at Tennessee. Just a few weeks ago, after an impressive win over AFC South-leading Houston, the Ravens lost to Jacksonville.

Jaguars 17, Colts 3 At Indianapolis, Blaine Gabbert threw for a touchdown and Maurice Jones-Drew ran for another score to keep the Colts winless.

Jones-Drew carried 25 times for 114 yards and became the second player in franchise history to top 6,000 yards rushing. It was the first road win of the season for Jacksonville (3-6). Indianapolis remained the NFL’s last winless team, dropping to 0-10 for the first time since 1997.

Gabbert hooked up with Jarrett Dillard on an 11-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to break a 3-3 tie, and Jones-Drew capped an 8yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the fourth to seal it.

Texans 37, Buccaneers 9 At Tampa, Matt Schaub threw for two long touchdowns, while Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward each ran for scores to help AFC South-leading Houston.

The Texans (7-3) extended their winning streak while playing without star receiver Andre Johnson to four consecutive games and head into their bye week with their best record through 10 games. The Bucs (4-5) have lost three straight and four of five following a 3-1 start.

Titans 30, Panthers 3 At Charlotte, Chris Johnson ran for a season-high 130 yards and a touchdown, and Tennessee used a stifling defense to frustrate rookie Cam Newton.

The Titans (5-4) sacked Newton five times and took away Carolina’s long passing game. Carolina (2-7) came in ranked fifth in the league on offense and first in plays of 20plus yards, but the Titans limited Newton to 209 yards passing and held Steve Smith, the NFC’s leading

receiver, to 33 yards. Johnson had 174 yards from scrimmage and eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time since Oct. 2.

Cowboys 44, Bills 7 At Arlington, Tony Romo guided touchdown drives on his first four possessions, throwing for the score on three of them, and Terence Newman returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown.

The Cowboys (5-4) have won consecutive games and could be at the start of a big surge. Their next three foes went into this weekend a combined 6-18.

Romo completed his first 13 passes, including TD strikes of 34 yards to Dez Bryant and of 58 and 5 yards to Laurent Robinson. He finished 23 of 26, setting the franchise record for single-game accuracy by hitting 88.5 percent of his passes.

Dolphins 20, Redskins 9 At Miami, Reggie Bush scored two touchdowns and Miami twice intercepted Rex Grossman to earn their first home victory in nearly a year. The Dolphins ended a franchise-record streak of seven consecutive losses in Miami since last Nov. 14.

Miami (2-7) won for the second week in a row after starting 0-7.

The Redskins (3-6) dropped their fifth consecutive game, the longest losing streak of Mike Shanahan’s career as a head coach.

Rams 13, Browns 12 At Cleveland, Phil Dawson missed a 22-yard field goal attempt after a bounced snap with just over two minutes left as Cleveland bungled another chance to win a game.

Dawson made four field goals in blustery conditions, but his linedrive attempt with 2:09 sailed left and capped a series of late gaffes by the Browns (3-6).

Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand’s snap appeared to hit the right leg of one of Cleveland’s linemen, causing the ball to skip back to holder Brad Maynard, who did a great job of placing the ball.

However, Dawson’s timing was thrown off and he missed the chip shot.—AP

Minopolis expands its presence in Mideast Page 22

Select buying spurs KSE equities upward Page 24 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

X-cite launches Hisense products

Euro-zone crisis likely to hit Asia growth: ADB Page 25

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HONOLULU: APEC leaders pose for a portrait on Sunday during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Kapolei, Hawaii. —AFP

Obama’s Pacific trade bid gathers steam Canada, Mexico follow Japan into accession talks HONOLULU: US President Barack Obama’s bid to create the world’s largest free trade zone spanning the Pacific has gained momentum as Canada and Mexico followed Japan into accession talks.

At a regional summit in his native Hawaii on Sunday, Obama said harnessing the huge trade potential of the dynamic region was vital as he wooed countries from across the Pacific Rim into the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “Today we have got a chance to make progress towards our ultimate goal which is a seamless regional economy,” Obama told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which accounts for more than half the world’s GDP. “I want to emphasize that the Asia-Pacific region is absolutely critical to America’s economic growth.

“We consider it a top priority. And we consider it a top priority because we’re not going to be able to put our folks back to work and grow our economy and expand opportunity unless the Asia-Pacific region is also successful.” In another key priority for Obama, APECwhich has 21 members including China, Japan

and Russia-pledged to remove barriers to green trade by limiting tariffs on environmental goods to five percent by the end of 2015.

Despite protests by China that the US agenda was overly ambitious, APEC members also made a non-binding promise to cut energy intensity-the power used compared with the economy-by 45 percent by 2035.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership was once an obscure pact among four APEC membersBrunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. But Obama transformed it into the cornerstone of a US free trade drive with Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the United States and Vietnam now also in the talks.

Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, committed to joining the negotiations on the eve of the summit. Mexico and Canada followed suit on Sunday with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper telling reporters: “We are expressing our formal intention to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.” The TPP, whose 12 interested parties account for almost 40 percent of the global economy and some 800 million consumers, would strike down tariffs and

trade barriers and inject momentum to liberalization hopes bogged down by inconclusive talks on the Doha round. The notable absentee is China, the world’s second largest economy, and tensions over economic policy threatened to boil over as Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks in Hawaii on the sidelines of APEC. The United States has not explicitly ruled out China’s entrance into the TPP, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has linked the “21st century” trade agreement to fundamental values including openness and labor standards. Obama, seeking re-election next year as many heartland Americans think they lost their jobs to lower-wage China, told Hu on Saturday that Americans were “impatient” for a change in Beijing’s economic policy.

Washington says that China keeps its yuan currency artificially low to boost its exports and complains that Beijing is lax on intellectual property standards, penalizing US innovation. Despite swirling optimism about the TPP, Obama has acknowledged major obstacles must be overcome before a deal can

be reached. Experts are skeptical that a US timeframe for a concrete pact in 2012 is realistic. Some farm groups in Japan and the United States have voiced alarm that they would be swamped by global competition.

Obama also announced that Washington would consult China and Russia on new ways to pressure Iran over its nuclear program. “We now have the situation where the world is united and Iran is isolated,” Obama said at a press conference after a summit, adding his administration would have talks with the Chinese and the Russians in the next “several weeks.” Tension between Iran and its two principal foes, Israel and the United States, has risen since the release last Tuesday of a UN report saying there was “credible” evidence suggesting Iran’s atomic program was being used to research putting nuclear warheads in ballistic missiles.

Obama and First Lady Michelle, in a stylish strapless dress topped with a pink sash, hosted a Hawaiian reception on Saturday evening on Waikiki Beach, in a rare informal opportunity for top world leaders. But even with smoth-

In India, a ‘crisis of political credibility’ MUMBAI: “The tragedy of India is its political system.” That admission by a government minister captured the frustration of delegates at this week’s India’s World Economic Forum (WEF), where blame has been heaped on corruption and the policy paralysis in New Delhi for a darkening economic outlook.

The government was running scared just a few months ago when a group of activists whipped up popular rage over a rash of corruption scandals, bringing millions of people out onto the streets of the country’s cities in peaceful protest. The crowds have long gone, but the pressure is far from off Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government. And some of India’s top industrialists warned that Asia’s third-biggest economy needs to quicken reform and improve governance.

The calls have added urgency with signs the economy is heading for trouble. GDP growth may come in at 7.2 percent in the current fiscal year, a respectable enough number but a sharp fall from 8.5 percent in 2009/10.

Industrial output has slowed sharply, consumer confidence is waning and inflation remains near double digits despite 13 interest rate increases.

“We shouldn’t say that because the institutions of democracy are there, we will be paralyzed,” said Mukesh Ambani, head of Reliance Industries and India’s richest man. “And because there is an opposition and a party in power, we would do nothing. That’s what worries me.” “This path from 20th century mindset and institutions to a 21st-century delivery model to meet the expectation of each citizen requires a dramatic shift in terms of our governance. We need to align and move a lot faster.”

Exasperation with India’s rampant corrup-

MUMBAI: Prithviraj Chavan (center), Chief Minister of Maharashtra state speaks as Christy Clark (right), Premier of British Columbia Canada, and Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala state, look on during the World Economic Forum - India Economic Summit in Mumbai yesterday.—AFP

tion and its dirty politicians is not confined to the urban middle classes, who put aside political apathy to support the movement led by a self-styled Gandhian and serial hunger striker, Anna Hazare.

Perhaps the most popular session on the first day of the two-day economic conference in Mumbai, attended by the country’s most powerful businessmen and captains of industry, was one on corruption - ominously entitled “The Indian Spring”.

India ranked number 87 in Transparency International’s index on corruption in 2010,

behind rival China. Corruption is widely blamed for the parlous state of India’s infrastructure and its services, and it is a drag on an economy that has grown at around eight percent per annum over the last few years.

“If we are able to fight corruption in this country successfully, I think it will considerably increase foreign investment into India,” Adi Godrej, chairman of the consumer goods and real estate Godrej Group, told the forum.

“If we are able to reduce corruption very considerably it can add about a percentage point to India’s GDP growth.” — Reuters

ering security along the beach, one demonstrator managed to get through-a popular Hawaiian recording artist who was enlisted to perform but, in a subtle protest, sang in support of the “Occupy” movement.

Makana, who goes by one name, told AFP that he pulled open his jacket to reveal a Tshirt that read “Occupy with Aloha,” using the Hawaiian word whose various meanings include love and peace.

He then sang his new song “We Are the Many,” playing it repeatedly for 40 minutes.

Obama disappointed those hoping to see Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in a Hawaiian shirt or Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a grass skirt as he scrapped the tradition of kitting out APEC leaders in local costume for the obligatory end of summit “family photo.” “I got rid of the Hawaiian shirts because I had looked at pictures of some of the previous APEC meetings and some of the garb that had appeared previously, and I thought this may be a tradition that we might want to break,” he said afterwards at a closing press conference. —AFP

ALAFCO boosts order for Airbus jets DUBAI: Airbus yesterday fattened an order for its new A320neo jets and Boeing snagged another customer for the 787 at the Dubai Airshow as Mideast buyers showed they remain bullish despite the uncertain global economy. The deals, which followed a record $18 billion airplane order from Dubai airline Emirates the day before, added ammunition to forecasts from the two major aircraft manufacturers that predicted the region will continue to generate hundreds of billions of dollars in demand for new planes for years to come.

European manufacturer Airbus predicted yesterday that the Middle East will require some 1,920 new planes worth more than $347 billion through 2030. It estimates Mideast passenger numbers will grow 6.4 percent annually - well above the predicted world average increase of 4.8 percent.

Boeing thinks the potential market is even bigger. Its own forecast, released shortly after its rival’s, puts Mideast demand at 2,520 planes worth $450 billion by the end of next decade.

Much of the growth is driven by fastgrowing Gulf airlines, which have boomed in recent years by funneling long-haul travelers through expanding global hubs like Dubai and the Qatari capital Doha.

In terms of deals, Airbus scored the biggest prize of the day, boosting an existing commitment from Kuwait’s Aviation Lease and Finance Co for the A320neo to 50 planes. The leasing firm, known as ALAFCO, also took options to buy another 30 of the planes.

The deal extends an initial agreement signed by ALAFCO at this summer’s Paris Le

Bourget show, when it agreed to buy 30 of the narrow-body planes. The A320neo offers a new engine option and other features designed to use 15 percent less fuel than older models of the single-aisle A320.

It is scheduled to enter service in 2015.

The deal, before options, is worth about $4.6 billion at list prices, though buyers typically negotiate discounts. Leasing companies like ALAFCO rent out planes to airlines, so the carriers don’t have to assume the costs and risks of owning all the planes in their fleets. It leases planes mainly to regional airlines in the Middle East and Asia.

Boeing Co, meanwhile, picked up a new regional customer for its much-hyped 787. It and Oman Air said the carrier ordered six Boeing 787-8 aircraft, though the twin-engine planes won’t translate into additional business for the Chicago-based plane maker. That’s because Oman Air is taking over orders previously placed by ALAFCO. Each 787-8 costs $193.5 million at list prices. ALAFCO Chairman Ahmed al-Zabin said the decision to shift the 787 orders to Oman Air represented an extension of the company’s view that it is a “strategic partner” for Boeing in the region.

It previously announced plans to lease the planes to the Omani carrier. “Whatever is good for us and Boeing and the customer, we just do it, and that’s what you’re seeing,” he said when asked about the Oman Air deal. Japan’s All Nippon Airways operated the first commercial flight of the 787 late last month following a series of manufacturing delays. — AP

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Minopolis expands its Presence in Mideast Complete city for kids set to open in Kuwait early 2012

ABIDJAN: President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Alassane Ouattara, welcomes Mohamed Alabbar at his presidential palace in Abidjan.

AMER chairman Alabbar meets Ivory Coast president, premier DUBAI: The President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Alassane Ouattara, and the Prime Minister, Guillaume Soro, met Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Africa Middle East Resources (AMER), at the presidential palace in Abidjan recently to discuss investment opportunities in natural resources in line with the country’s vision to explore its rich natural resources and catalyse social and economic development.

The West African nation has rich natural resources including proven reserves of over 28 billion cubic metres of natural gas, 100 million bbl of oil, over 200 metric tons (7.1 million ounces) of gold and abundant iron ore and nickel deposits in the Mount Nimba region. As a private limited company, AMER is providing strategic insights into unlocking the value of natural resource opportunities in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Subcontinent.

The company serves as the vital link and strategic gateway between the rich natural resources of Africa, and the growing demand for raw materials to drive the urbanization goals of the world’s fastest growing economies including China, India, Europe, Indonesia, Mexico, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Brazil. Alabbar said: “I am

grateful to the Government of CÙte d’Ivoire for their gracious hospitality and keen interest in partnering with AMER to further drive investments in the country’s natural resources sector. The country is taking concerted efforts to revitalize its economy with a focus on industries and manufacturing, to move away from the traditional reliance on agriculture, and thus create new jobs.”

Headquartered in Dubai and with offices in Cape Town, Conakry, Madagascar, and Lubumbashi in Congo (DRC), AMER is a private limited company founded by Alabbar with MMC, a Malaysiabased investment holding company, and Petronas, an integrated international oil and gas company, as strategic partners.

Among other markets, AMER is in advanced discussions regarding gold, bauxite and iron ore in Guinea-Conakry; oil concessions in Uganda; uranium and hydrocarbon in Niger; gold and coal in Madagascar; phosphate in Mauritania; copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and oil & gas in Gabon. In due course, AMER plans to explore potential heavy investments in industries and mining in Africa to strengthen the supply chain of raw materials that will drive urban development in emerging markets.

UAE’s Al Hilal Bank eyes $500m sukuk in Q1 2012 ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s Al Hilal Bank has picked three banks to arrange its debut Islamic bond, or sukuk, three sources familiar with the matter said yesterday, with the deal expected to emerge in the first quarter of 2012, one of them added. Standard Chartered, HSBC and National Bank of Abu Dhabi have been mandated by unlisted Al Hilal for a benchmark-sized deal under a bond program which could be worth up to $3 billion, one source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The Islamic lender, wholly-owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), is in the process of getting ratings for the bank

and the potential notes, and expects this to be completed before the year-end, said the source. “The bank is looking at a program of $1 to $3 billion in total, the first tranche will be $500 million with an issuance likely in first quarter 2012,” the source said, asking not to be identified as the information was not yet public.

Set up in 2008, the bank earned its first profit of 140 million dirhams ($38.12 million) in 2010. The lender was one of two Abu Dhabi banks to subscribe to a $5 billion bond under the Dubai government’s $20 billion bond program late in 2009, during the Dubai’s debt crisis. — Reuters

KUWAIT: It started in Vienna when the first city dedicated for children opened its doors under the “MINOPOLIS” brand. The success of this “Mini City” in bringing delight to children was evident and expansion was inevitable.

Minopolis has recently announced its intentions to expand its presence into the Middle East region, by setting up Minopolis Middle East in Kuwait.

Being the first city of its kind across the region, Minopolis is a ‘city’ for children filled with daily life activities, such as going to shops, hospitals, banks. It provides a conception of real life for children, offering them a chance to role play and participate in all aspects of life, while providing a ‘play-and-learn’ experience; also known as ‘Edutainment’. Children learn in a playful, fun environment about the importance of contributing to society, the concept of exchanging money (MINO notes) for goods and services under educational supervision.

Whether they are playing the part of a doctor, banker, producer or firefighter, kids are able to live real-life experiences through exciting roleplay in a real-life educational and fun environment. “We are very pleased to bring the Minopolis experience to the children in the Middle East region. Our objective was deliver a first class ‘edutainment’ experience for Children in Kuwait. We explored many concepts that had some similarities before deciding on bringing Minopolis to the region. The Minopolis con-

cepts primary objective is to participate in the educational process of children. We feel that Minopolis Middle East will truly present the young minds of Kuwait with an opportunity to imitate the world of adults and learn about life in a fun and supervised environment,” commented Mohammed Al Sayer, CEO, M S Retail,

Mohammed Al Sayer, CEO, M S Retail, Copyright owner of Minopolis Middle East.

Meshal Al-Azmi wins KD 100,000 in Eid Al-Adha mega draw KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al Najma Account draw on 13th November 2011. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

The winners of the Al Najma Daily Draw are: Meshal Abdullah Falah Al-Azmi KD 100.000, Marina Khashek Aboeyan KD 7000, Rajah Khamis Khaled Moeen KD 7000, Bader Abdullah Al-Buti Botaiban KD 7000, Gaulbert Felix Cardoza KD 7000, Mariella Berj Kenjoian KD 7000, Helah Daher Thamer KD 7000, Khadija Ahmed Mohammed Jamal KD 7000.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account.

Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

Copyright owner of Minopolis Middle East.

Scheduled for opening early 2012, Minopolis provides a total of 32 theme stations across an area of over 3000 sqm where children can earn the opportunity to role play more than 100 jobs and 100’s of activities. Similar to real life scenarios, children can earn more MINO’s(the official currency) by their active involvement at the different stations, allowing children to learn about the prime functions of the economic cycle.

At Minopolis, children are supervised by a team of highly trained, professional coaches.

These coaches are selected after a series of interview sessions, after which the most suitable candidates are chosen to join a six-week training program, which comprises courses on child psychology, child education, first aid, conflict resolution, communication with parents and children along with on-ground training at all stations. Upon completing the training program, coaches earn a ‘Minopolis Children’s Coach Diploma.’

“The opportunity to assist in the development of the youth in Kuwait is a unique proposition that many major businesses have partnered with us to achieve. We are proud to have great partners like NBK, McDonalds, Caribou Coffee to name a few who are participating in the city. We look forward to working with them and the many other companies who are helping to make the city a reality.” stated Greg Benstead, COO of MS Retail.

Burgan Bank announces names of daily winners of Yawmi Account KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000.

The newly re-launched Yawmi Account is better, easier and faster than any day before. With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will

Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw. Opening a

The winners of the week of October 30-November 3 are: 1- Ahlam Fahmi Mohd Ahmad 2- Ali Dawood Suleiman Al-Turky 3- Mohammad Tayseer Rasmi Mohamad Hussain 4- Ali Hussain Abbas Al-Saffar 5- Mazen Isam Hawa The winners of the draws held from 9-10 of November are: 1- Raed Eid Olayan Alrasheedi 2- Nadia Hashem Abdul-Rahman be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account. Customers are also required to deposit KD100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD10.

The newly designed Yawmi account has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone.

Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products and services.

Customers can also log on to Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further information.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2720000 .4380000 .3750000 .3020000 .2680000 .2800000 .0040000 .0020000 .0744960 .7257960 .3810000 .0700000 .7115100 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2744000 GB Pound/KD .4386700 Euro .3765040 Swiss francs .3044150 Canadian dollars .2700520 Danish Kroner .0505900 Swedish Kroner .0414500 Australian dlr .2818770 Hong Kong dlr .0352750 Singapore dlr .2137400 Japanese yen .0035640 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0747380 Bahraini dinars .7281410 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0731930 Omani riyals .7130050 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.594 5.514 3.176 2.498 3.454 215.670 35.495 3.610 6.375 8.962 0.271 0.273

.2780000 .4490000 .3840000 .3160000 .2770000 .2890000 .0072500 .0035000 .0752450 .7330900 .4010000 .0760000 .7186610 .0072000 .0530000 .27650000 .4420270 .3793860 .3067450 .2721190 .0509770 .0417670 .2840350 .0355450 .2153760 .0035910 .055630 .0025170 .0032040 .0036380 .0753100 .7337140 .3910890 .0737530 .7184620 .0064380

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 73.576 75.811 716.640 732.830 75.129

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.750 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.154 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.262 Tunisian Dinar 194.840 Jordanian Dinar 389.630 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 185.100 Syrian Lier 5.956 Morocco Dirham 34.605 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 275.800 Euro 381.020 Sterling Pound 444.180 Canadian dollar 273.070 Turkish lire 155.700 Swiss Franc 307.810 Australian dollar 284.130 US Dollar Buying 274.600 GOLD 330.500 166.000 85.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal

SELL CASH

287.700 733.110 3.730 275.100 541.400 36.600 51.400 167.800 48.070 383.500 36.180 5.890 0.032 0.223 0.240 3.670 391.220 0.187 90.170 45.900 4.240 220.800 1.786 49.700 716.000

SELL DRAFT

286.200 733.110 3.608 273.600

216.600 46.178 382.600 36.030 5.515 0.032

Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

3.340 6.590 76.260 73.600 216.590 37.540 2.604 447.000 42.700 310.000 5.500 9.350 198.263 75.160 276.000 1.200

10 Tola

GOLD 1,844.090

75.060 275.600

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

273.850 277.615 442.140 389.790 317.635 726.070 74.535 75.165 72.990 385.475 45.923 2.482 5.619 3.164 3.606 6.425 671.723 3.710 9.070 5.765 3.560 90.965

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

287.15 275.38 310.30 380.95

447.00 3.62 3.705 5.870 2.604 4.250 3.350 75.30 733.11 48.07 391.25 719.00 76.30 73.60

275.600 3.180 5.510 2.515 3.620 6.415 75.140 73.650 732.700 46.155 448.100 3.190 1.550 391.600 5.750 385.000 277.300 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

443.96 3.63 3.624 5.497 2.501 3.441 3.194 75.02 733.08 46.16 392.10 716.26 76.00 73.59

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 445.000 275.600

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Currency

715.820

308.500 5.500 9.160

Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

Currency

390.610 0.186 90.070 3.460 219.300

3.185 6.380 75.830 73.600 216.590 37.540 2.496 445.000

287.70 275.10 310.00 383.50

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

275.250 381.300 445.300 274.000 3.595 5.500 46.235 2.497 3.620 6.380 3.193 733.050 74.975 73.500

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Gulf Bank’s ‘We Promise’ program receives excellent feedback KUWAIT: Gulf Bank customers yesterday hailed the successful launch of its new ‘We Promise’ program to offer its customers the best and the fastest financial service in Kuwait. In the program, Gulf Bank makes five promises to its customers: to deliver your Gulf Bank cards the same day; to disburse your loan the same day; to finance your dream car the same day; to deposit your salary early morning and to keep queuing time below 10 minutes.

Since the launch on 16th October, the program has existing customers enthusiastic, and has also attracted many new customers, both expressing their eagerness to receive Gulf Bank’s exceptional customer service. The program affirms Gulf Bank’s commitment towards its customers in terms of accuracy, quality and time of transactions. The Bank also guarantees that all customers will enjoy excellent and fast banking transactions, making their visit to the Bank’s branches a productive one. These com-

mitments ensure that this level of service is more than just a program, rather a culture that goes beyond typical customer transactions, to include unsurpassable levels of customer satisfaction.

Michel Accad, Gulf Bank’s CEO and CGM said: “We are committed to delivering excellent service to our customers, and making a real difference. This new program demonstrates how serious we are about delivering the level of service our customers deserve. Gulf Bank’s staff have witnessed customers’ enthusiasm about the Bank’s promises to them, and the swiftness of our services. These are real promises and we have made them because we believe that our customers deserve the best. Every time our customers use our services they place their trust in us and we want to ensure that they get the very best in customer care in return. We believe our service is what differentiates us in the market and we will ensure our promises are upheld.”

Qatar Airways begins 3-day worldwide sale DOHA: Qatar Airways is to launch a three-day global sale today offering incredible savings on return fares to and from over 100 destinations worldwide. Passengers anywhere in the world, where Qatar Airways operates to, can avail the special fares. Economy Class prices are up to 25 per cent off the normal tariffs, while Business Class passengers are able to take advantage of up to 20 per cent off their ticket prices.

With a generous six-month travel window between 21 November 2011 and 31 May 2012 next year, customers can plan and book their next holiday or business trip well in advance.

The three-day sale booking window opens at midnight 0001 hrs (local time in each market) today and ends on November 17 at 2359 hrs (local time in each market).

The savings are based on return fares, including taxes with certain conditions attached. Tickets are bookable online at www.qatarairways.com, through Qatar Airways’ reservation offices and via travel agents. Passengers can choose from a diverse range of more than 100 business and leisure destinations, including Hong Kong, Seychelles, Kathmandu, Madrid, New York, Sao Paulo, Beirut, Athens, Beijing, Muscat, Delhi, Goa, Melbourne and recently-launched routes to Budapest, Brussels, Montreal and Venice via the airline’s Doha hub.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Through this incredible worldwide offer, we are saying a big ‘thank you’ to our customers reflecting their loyalty towards flying with Qatar Airways.

“And for those customers who have never flown with us before, we say welcome onboard and we look forward to them experience ouraward winning service. “It’s been a big year for Qatar Airways and we have much to celebrate welcoming our 100th aircraft, being named Airline of the Year 2011 and spreading our wings to more than 100 destinations worldwide.” Added Al Baker: “We continue to strive for excellence in all we do, to ensure our customers receive the best service both in the air and on the ground and we look forward to seeing them take advantage of this incredible sale over the next few days.”

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of over 100 aircraft to more than 100 diverse business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. The airline’s aggressive 2011 expansion program has so far seen the launch of flights to 14 destinations - Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium), Stuttgart (Germany), Aleppo (Syria), Shiraz (Iran), Venice (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Medina (Saudi Arabia), Kolkata (India), Sofia (Bulgaria), Oslo (Norway), Benghazi (Libya) and Entebbe in Uganda.

X-cite by Alghanim Electronics launches Hisense products 300 attend launch in Salmiya KUWAIT: As Kuwait’s main provider of the latest technologies and best electronics, X-cite by Alghanim Electronics was proud to launch the multi-billion dollar electronics and home appliances brand, Hisense, yesterday in Kuwait. The launch event was held at The Salwa Al-Sabah Ballroom in Salmiya, marking Hisense’s official introduction and entry into the Kuwait market. The event had over 300 participants that consisted of partners, customers and the trade merchants. Hisense showcased its vast range of consumer electronics and home appliances products including its energy-saving inverter split air-conditioners as well as the latest in 3D technology products.

Alex Zhu, President of Hisense Middle East And Africa, stated, “We are very proud to launch Hisense in Kuwait in partnership with X-cite by Alghanim Electronics. We now have the capability to bring Hisense’s high technology products to people of Kuwait.” Speaking at the launch event Mr. Samer Sayegh, Vice President of X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, said “Bringing the latest and best to Kuwait has always been our passion, and Hisense has clearly demonstrated that it is a consistent innovator of technology in multiple sectors like air conditioning, TVs, home appliances and personal telecommunication. We are extremely excited to introduce Hisense’s great products to Kuwait.”

Known internationally for being

innovators in the field of technology, Hisense was the first to deploy inverter technology in China and has been the leading company inverter airconditioner field for fourteen consecutive years in China. By partnering with X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, Hisense has established a completed sales and service network for Kuwait.

Hisense also showcased its latest technological innovation at the launch event: the I’TV (My Personal TV ), the world’s first personalized smart television. Compared with the many pad-type tablets dominating the market, I’TV is positioned primari-

ly as a TV and secondarily as a tablet PC with built-in interactive capability.

The launch of I’TV marks a major milestone in Hisense’s product development efforts that combine consumer expectations and systems into a slim and small product that provides viewers with a new experience on traditional television. X-cite by Alghanim Electronics is recognized as the first introducer of technology products in Kuwait and is the the largest consumer electronics retailer in Kuwait. Operating a network of sixteen stores, X-cite by Alghanim Electronics offers its customers an

unparalleled shopping experience by providing over 300 international brands under one roof and at guaranteed lowest prices. X-cite by Alghanim Electronics’ uniqueness in terms of an overall shopping experience is further enhanced by providing its customers with Easy Credit and extended warranty programs with a 24-hour free delivery and installation service. With touch and feel displays, cash and carry shopping and a highly trained multilingual sales force, shopping at the Xcite stores by Alghanim Electronics is a superlative experience.

KUWAIT: X-cite by Alghanim Electronics launches the multi-billion dollar electronics and home appliances brand Hisense in Kuwait.—Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

AMIDEAST, Citi Foundation to offer women’s entrepreneurship training in four countries WASHINGTON: The American nonprofit education organization AMIDEAST and Citi Foundation-Citi’s philanthropic arm-today announced the launch of the Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) in four countries: Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the UAE. This initiative, which will be launched this month, aims to provide 80 women entrepreneurs from underserved backgrounds with training that will help them start a new business or expand an existing one. AMIDEAST will deliver an initial three-week training session that focuses on building entrepreneurship awareness and fundamental business skills, such as how to formulate a business plan, obtain a loan, and handle basic business accounting.

This will be followed by a six-month period during which participants will apply what they’ve learned. Mentors from Citi-fielded locally as well as virtually through Citi’s global Women’s Diversity Network-will provide support and assistance to the new entrepreneurs as they confront challenges and problems, and the groups will gather periodically to review progress and

share success stories. An online forum will encourage the women to network and support each other during this period. Expansion of training opportunities for Arab women, particularly in entrepreneurship, is important for improving the region’s development prospects. According to a 2009 study by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the income of women in Arab countries stagnates, on average, at less than one quarter of average national income levels. It also found that women entrepreneurs in Arab countries face greater challenges in accessing training, markets, and finance, although they provide a significant share of female employment and tend to hire more women than do other business entities.

“AMIDEAST is pleased to partner with Citi Foundation to offer a valuable training opportunity for women in Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and the UAE. AMIDEAST’s approach focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs with skills and techniques that will enable them to more fully realize their economic potential and benefit from networking and mentoring relation-

ships that foster business success,” said AMIDEAST President and CEO Theodore H. Kattouf. “AWEP is Citi’s first truly regional training project targeting local women entrepreneurs,” said Atiq Ur Rehman, Citi’s Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East.

“Our strategic alliance with AMIDEAST ensures that aspiring entrepreneurs in the region will have the chance to lead successful businesses and contribute to job creation in their markets. It also complements our efforts in this domain across various individual markets in MENA.” Citi has been in the Arab world for nearly 50 years and continues to view the region as critical to its global franchise. It is currently present in ten Arab countries including Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.

An American nonprofit organization with over 20 offices in the Middle East and North Africa, AMIDEAST works to expand educational opportunities and quality, strengthen the capacity of local institutions, and assist individuals to develop language and business skills necessary for success in the global economy.

SFS Homes on tour in Kuwait

Second annual Mindshare Media Summit 2011 held ‘Inspiring ideas for connected consumers’ DUBAI: Mindshare MENA recently hosted their 2nd annual Mindshare Media Summit 2011 in Dubai in the presence of prominent speakers such as Marco Rimini, Head of Business Planning for Mindshare Worldwide; Sarah Kay, poet and CoDirector of project V.O.I.C.E; Fredrik Bernsel, Sales Director of LinkedIn EMEA Partners; Volker Hirsch, Director of Business Development for RIM (Blackberry); Juan Senor, Partner, INNOVATION Media Consulting; Steve Smith, COO of the Arabian Radio Network; Mazen Hayek, Group Director of PR & Commercial/official Spokesman for the MBC Group; and Roy Haddad,

Chairman & CEO, JWT MENA. The summit aimed to tackle some of the biggest questions facing the region, from understanding the new art of story-telling in a digital age, to how the rise of multiple screens will impact client communications. The presentations included great examples of media innovation from across the world and explaining what these new techniques and trends mean for our region.

“The Mindshare Media Summit 2011 is a great opportunity to show case the latest trends in communication and how we and our business partners should adapt to be abreast of changes and stay connected with

the consumers” says Samir Ayoub, CEO of Mindshare MENA region.

“Understanding the disparity between emerging technology and consumer needs is of upmost importance to marketers of this region.”

As a global network, Mindshare finds itself being trusted by a wide range of leading clients and the diverse cultural make up of its employees and community. This summit demonstrates Mindshare’s people are constantly aware of what is happening in their city, their country and their specialized area of expertise to deliver innovation, creativity and superior results for its clients.

KUWAIT: SFS Homes, a name synonymous with trust and quality for the real estate industry in Kerala is on tour in Kuwait between the 9th and the 20th of November, 2011. As in the past, this SFS tour is also a much anticipated even t, as every SFS tour has something new to offer for those looking for a home in Kerala. The touring party is being led by Annie Philip, Vice President, Marketing and includes Hormise Issac Vithayathil, Marketing Manager and Mini Mathews, Sales Manager (Dubai). In terms of their combined experience, they are perhaps the most experienced team of real estate professionals to visit Kuwait. Their in-depth knowledge of the Kerala real estate scenario is sure to help all those who are looking for a home. On this visit, SFS Homes is offering a wide range of apartments in Trivandrum, Cochin and Guruvayoor at prime locations to be delivered in 2011. Apart from these soon-to-be-delivered homes, there are a few exciting new launches in Trivandrum and Cochin. Over 15 other projects located at IT/growth, city centre and waterfront locations in Kerala are also on offer.

SFS Silicon Meadows and SFS Silicon Hills are soon to be launched projects at

Cochin’s IT corridor at Kakkanad. When launched, these projects will offer a wide range of apartments in 1, 2, 3 & 4 BHK sizes. SFS Cyber Gateway at Kazhakoottam, is a recently launched project strategically located near the Technopark and the proposed Technocity. SFS Gardenia, at Vazhakkala in Cochin are limited edition luxury pool villas being offered for the first time in Cochin and come in sizes ranging from 2800 to 3600 sq. ft. SFS Cyber Palms, near Technopark, Trivandrum is the company’s flagship project and the state’s premier lifestyle housing development. It offers some of the finest amenities in offered till date in real estate projects in the state like a 22,000 sq. ft. Club House and Indoor Games Arena. All the amenities offered here have already been built. Cyber Cherry, the third block of this project offers homes to be delivered in 2011. CRISIL, the premier credit and quality rating agency in India has awarded the highest 7 star project rating for SFS Cyber Palms.

Apartments are also offered in the Cyber Silver and Cyber Ivory blocks.

SFS Aqua Greens, on the Periyar waterfront at Alwaye, SFS Kingdom offering premium apartments at

Tripunithura, just 200 meters from the airport-seaport road near the Choice School and SFS Temple Terrace, at Guruvayoor, close to the world famous Sri Krishna Temple are projects offering apartments to be delivered in 2011.

Among the other projects on offer, SFS Grande at Vellayambalam in Trivandrum is the first Green Building to be constructed in the capital city. SFS Cyber Gold, near Technopark in Trivandrum and SFS Airport Royale at Nedumbasserry, near the Cochin International Airport are exciting projects offering apartments in a wide variety of sizes like Studio, 1, 2 & 3 BHK. SFS Waterscapes, luxury apartments on the Akkulam Waterfront in Trivandrum offer homes set to be delivered in 2012. SFS Branton Park at Vazhakkala in Cochin City is the best option for a city home in Cochin today. It offers 2 and 3 bed apartment options. SFS Silicon Park, apartments at the heart of the IT city at Kakkanad is another attractive ongoing project, ideal for those wishing to invest in a home at Cochin’s IT corridor.

The SFS marketing team can be contacted in Kuwait on the following mobile nos. during the tour - 99470343, 90916977 and 94089023.

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Select buying spurs KSE equities upward GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) rebounded marginally yesterday ending the trading on a positive note. The gains came in the last minute as investors buy select stocks in banking sector.

Otherwise, the retreated was broad-based with six out of the eight sectors inching lower during the session. Furthermore, KSE announced that 60 companies will face suspension starting from, November 16, 2011 for not releasing their 3Q2011 financial results by that time.

Global General Index (GGI) ended the day up by 0.09 percent, at 183.59 point. Market Capitalization was up for the day, reaching KD30.06bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,870.4 point, adding 1.90 points (0.03 percent) to its previous close.

Market breadth During the session, 100 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 57 equities declined versus 19 that advanced. Trading activity was mixed yesterday. Total volume traded was down by 21.35 percent with 72.24mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD14.36mn (6.23 percent higher compared to Sunday session ).

Investment sector was the volume leader, accounting for 33.39 percent of total shares exchanges. AlSalam Group Holding Company was the session’s most traded stock with 6.76mn shares exchanged. The banking sector was the value leader, having 45.15 percent of total traded value.

In terms of top gainers, Gulf Glass Manufacturing Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 8.93 percent to its share

value and closing at KD1.220. On the other hand, Gulf Investment House shed 10.20 percent and closed at KD0.022 making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sector-wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they ended on a negative note, except for Global Insurance Index, which was unchanged and Global Banking Index which was the only gainer. The index ended the day up by 1.18 percent.

National Bank of Kuwait’s (NBK) 3.51 percent climb bolstered the sector’s advance. Boubyan Bank too reported a 1.67 percent improvement.

In terms of decliners, Global Food Index took the top spot, being down by 1.27 percent.

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Heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana), ended the day down by 1.32 percent and closed at KD1.500. Adding to that, Livestock Transport & Trading Company was the biggest loser in the sector, with a 3.70 percent drop in its share price, ending the day at KD0.260.

Global Non-Kuwaiti Index came in second place, shedding 1.00 percent of its value. Egypt Kuwait Holding Company, posted a loss of 5.17 percent to settle at KD0.275.

Another contributing factor was Bahrain-based Islamic retailfocused bank, Ithmaar Bank which ended the day down by 2.63 percent at KD0.0185. The decline came after the bank recorded a $1.6mn loss in the three-month period ended September 30.

However, for the first nine months of the year, the bank reported a $2.7mn in profits attributable to shareholders.

Global Real Estate Index posted a 0.99 percent loss, making it the third biggest decliner dragged down by losses witnessed in heavyweight Mabanee Company.

The scrip ended the day down by 1.12 percent at KD0.880.

Furthermore, National Real Estate Company was down by 6.33 percent to closed at KD0.148.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $113.01pb on Friday, compared with $111.67pb the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Oil steadies near $114 on euro debt hopes LONDON: Brent crude oil steadied around $114 per barrel yesterday on hopes new governments in Italy and Greece would prevent their economies from collapsing and help avoid financial meltdown in the euro zone, offering the chance of renewed growth.

Risk appetite improved with stock markets stabilizing, commodities rising and credit spreads tightening.

Technocrat leaders in Rome and Athens raced to form new administrations in an attempt to retain the goodwill of financial markets after promising to reduce state debt and impose austerity measures. Investors will pass initial judgment on the new Italian government of former European Commissioner Mario Monti at a series of treasury auctions this week.

Brent crude was down 40 cents at $113.76 per barrel by 1106 GMT. US crude traded 60 cents lower at $98.39, after touching $99.69, its highest since July. “Markets are optimistic that the critical deadlock is over and that something will be done to solve the euro-zone debt crisis,” said Carsten Fritsch, commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

“In the short-term it is possible that the market will take another leg higher.” Oil prices have rallied strongly over the last month with the US benchmark rebounding from a 2011 low of $74.95 on Oct. 4. Brent dipped below $100 per barrel on that day.

On Friday, the US crude oil benchmark closed at a 15-week high, posting a sixth consecutive weekly gain, while Brent pushed higher for a third straight week. The spread between Brent and US crude has narrowed to around $15.50, from more than $28 in mid October, as output has improved in the North Sea and Libya.

Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao says Brent is likely to fall in the short term, dropping to $111.30 per barrel, a low touched on Nov 10, while US oil may either hover around strong

resistance at $98.91 or retrace to $97.

Oil prices have performed more strongly than equities over the last two months, weakening a correlation that has been strong this year and suggesting market fundamentals are tight. Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity market strategy at BNP Paribas, said the crude market was still struggling without significant quantities of Libyan oil and there were no signs that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would increase output.

“Markets see we are approaching a cold winter and there isn’t a sufficient increase in OPEC supplies to match that seasonal demand, hence we’re dealing with a level of inventories that is too low for winter,” Tchilinguirian said. “There is still a gap in the market cause by Libya’s reduced levels of exports, and ...

OPEC hasn’t indicated that it’s ready to step in and cover-up that gap,” he said.

Gas oil (heating oil and diesel) prices were particularly strong with ICE gas oil futures trading above $1,000 per ton for the first time since Aug 1. On the supply front, investors worry the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program could get out of hand.

US President Barack Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed Iran, among other topics, on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Hawaii. Obama said he and Medvedev “reaffirmed our intention to work and shape a common response so we can move Iran to follow its international obligations when it comes to its nuclear program”.

Adding to the positive mood, the world’s third-largest economy, Japan, posted the fastest growth among industrialized nations in the third quar ter. To feed that growth as nuclear power output fell, its utilities consumed more than 13 times the amount of crude oil burnt in the same month a year earlier. —Reuters

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Euro-zone crisis likely to hit Asia growth: ADB MUMBAI: The euro-zone debt crisis will hit growth in Asia’s developing economies this year and next as the key trade zone cuts back export orders, a senior Asian Development Bank official said yesterday.

In September, the bank forecast developing Asia, excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand, would grow at a rate of 7.5 percent in both 2011 and 2012. But that estimate may now be unrealistic given the lack of resolution to the euro-zone’s debt problems, said ADB Managing Director General Rajat Nag. “7.5 percent (growth) is probably going to turn out to be on the higher side given what’s happened since our forecasts and now”, Nag told reporters in Mumbai.

Speaking on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit, Nag said it was inevitable

Europe’s fiscal woes would hurt export-dependent Asia, which ships a large chunk of its orders to the euro-zone.

“If euro-growth is compromised,” there will be a negative effect on Asia, Nag said. “How much will depend on how soon the euro-zone crisis works itself out,” he added.

“But certainly there are very significant worries and significant clouds on the horizon on this.” The Manila-based ADB’s Asian Development Outlook Update 2011 in September indicated slower-than-expected growth this year and next, as key trading partners reduce orders due to worries about the global economy.

The 7.5 percent forecast was lower than the bank’s April estimate of 7.8 percent growth in

2011 and 7.7 percent next year. Major drivers China and India were expected to grow this year at a rate of 9.3 percent and 7.9 percent respectively and 9.1 percent and 8.3 percent in 2012.

Nag said that while the overall rate of growth in the region was still “healthy”, the bank’s earlier assessment had been based on the “assumption of orderly resolution” of the euro-zone debt crisis. Moves to replace the leaders of Italy and Greece in recent days, as well as austerity measures that have been put before the parliaments of both countries, were encouraging, Nag said. But he added that the crisis reinforced how Asian economies need to be more aggressive in implementing institutional reforms as well as developing intraregional trade. — AFP

MUMBAI: Rajat Nag, Managing Director General of Asian Development Bank (ADB), speaks with reporters at the World Economic Forum - India Economic Summit in Mumbai yesterday. — AFP

No deficit deal in sight despite Obama prods 9 days remain for Nov 23 deadline

TOKYO: A man strolls outside a container base at a pier in Tokyo yesterday. The world’s No 3 economy expanded at an annualized rate of 6 percent in the July-September period, driven by exports, the Cabinet Office said in a preliminary report yesterday.—AP

Japan economy rebounds from post-quake slump TOKYO: Japan’s economy rebounded in July-September as efforts to restore supply chains and recover lost output in the wake of the March disasters helped it post its first expansion in four quarters.

Automakers and other key industries boosted output to meet pent-up demand after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, but analysts warned that a strong yen and a global slowdown will weigh on the recovery.

The world’s third-biggest economy grew by an annualized 6.0 percent in the July-September quarter, preliminary data showed yesterday, the fastest pace since January-March 2010. The result was largely in line with market expectations. On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product grew 1.5 percent in July-September, the data showed, compared to a 0.3 percent on-quarter contraction in April-June. The data is subject to constant revision, however.

“The positive growth came on the back of rapid restoration of (nationwide) supply chains after the disasters,” said Motohisa Furukawa, the country’s economic and fiscal policy minister, warning however that the recovery is moderating.

Recent flooding in Thailand has also complicated the outlook for Japanese firms from Sony to Toyota, forcing plant closures that have affected global production and prompting many to withdraw their full-year earnings forecasts.

“We have to pay adequate attention to downside risks, such as possible deterioration in foreign economies, rapid appreciation in the yen and the impact of damage from the Thai floods,” Furukawa said at a news conference Improving exports were the biggest contributor to growth in the third quarter, followed by private consumption.

On a quarterly basis, exports were 6.2 percent higher, while private consumption gained 1.0 percent. The March disasters left 20,000 people dead or missing, devastated large areas of the northeast and sparked a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The damage and devastation brought by the tsunami also shattered crucial component supply chains, forcing companies to shut down factories, slowing the nation’s output and exports as the economy tipped into recession.

While Japan’s producers have raced to restore output more quickly than expected, recent quarterly earnings have shown those efforts are being undermined by a strong yen that erodes repatriated profits, while demand wanes because of a global economic slowdown. The yen has recently hit post-World War II highs against the dollar amid heightened market volatility as the euro-zone crisis deepened, despite efforts by Japanese authorities to stage yen-weakening market interventions.

Japan “achieved temporary high growth in the process of normalizing production, exports and consumption that had been lost after the Great East Japan Earthquake,” said Naoki Murakami, chief economist at Monex Securities. However, leading indicators have showed the recovery is slowing, he noted.Data last week showed Japan’s core private-sector machinery orders dropped 8.2 percent in September on-month, as uncertainty about the global economy causes firms to rein in spending. “The economy is expected to slow to low growth from the October-December quarter because of the yen’s strength that is weighing down corporate earnings as well as a delay in reconstruction demand,” said Murakami. — AFP

Portuguese economy shrinks 0.4% in Q3 LISBON: The Portuguese economy, already under pressure from stiff austerity measures, shrank 0.4 percent in the third quarter after contracting 0.1 percent in the second, official data showed yesterday.

Output in the third quarter, on a 12month comparison, fell 1.7 percent, after falling 1.0 percent in the three months to June, the national statistics institute Ine said.

Ine said of the worsening 12-month figures that “the sharper fall ... in the third quarter is mainly the result of slow export growth, which stayed at a high level all the same, and of a more significant reduction in investment.”

Household consumption continued to

show a sharp retreat, the office said. For the whole of this year, the economy is set to contract by 1.9 percent, on the basis of estimates by the government and by the European Commission, in contrast to growth of 1.4 percent last year.

Portugal was bailed out in May this year

by European Union and the International Monetary Fund to overcome its debt crisis.

The country has, under the accord, to make deep adjustments to its budget and reforms of its economy, with the government expecting a contraction of 2.8 percent next year.

The EU puts the 2012 shrinkage at 3.0 percent but then expects the economy to return to growth, at 1.1 percent, in 2013. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Despite prodding from President Barack Obama, members of Congress’ supercommittee concede no deal is in sight to meet their goal of $1.2 trillion or more in deficit savings over the next decade. Instead, with only 9 days remaining until a Nov 23 deadline, the panel is divided along partisan lines and Rep. James Clyburn, said Sunday the six committee members of his own party “have not coalesced around a plan.” Despite the difficulties, Clyburn and Republicans on the deficit panel all said they haven’t given up hope of a deal by the deadline.

“But if this was easy, the president of the United States and the speaker of the House would have gotten it done themselves,” said Rep Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the Republican chairman of the committee.

Obama mentioned his own unsuccessful negotiations with Speaker John Boehner in passing at a news conference in Hawaii on Sunday where he urged the members of the committee to show more flexibility. “It feels as if people continue to try to stick with their rigid positions rather than solve the problem,” he said. “There’s no magic formula. There are no magic beans that you can toss on the ground and suddenly a bunch of money grows on trees,” Obama added.

“We got to just go ahead and do the responsible thing.”

Despite some concessions, the two sides remain divided over the same basic issues that thwarted earlier deficit reduction efforts - finding a mutually agreeable blend of tax increases and cuts in the largest government benefit programs.

Democrats on the supercommittee say they are willing to make significant reductions in pro-

March 31, Mizuho said. It said it would “downsize personnel by integrating the functions that are common across the group and improving productivity”.

It also aimed to cut the number of management personnel by around 20 percent, and said it would continue to study the possibility of also merging subsidiary Mizuho Trust & Banking. The outline of the restructuring plan was decided as part of Mizuho’s efforts to restore confidence among clients after a computer glitch led to a massive stall in business transfers and shut down its ATMs in March.

Former Mizuho Bank president Satoru Nishibori stepped down in June as part of a

parties seem to be positioning themselves publicly for political advantage in case the talks falter.

Hensarling said the panel has a goal of cutting deficits by $1.2 trillion, but added it also has a duty.

“The duty is to put forth legislation that actually addresses long-term structural debt. Now the president himself has said that the drivers of our debt are Medicare, Medicaid and health care.

Nothingelse comes close,” he said, adding that Republicans have done that. But Obama described the situation differently at a news conference after wrapping up an economic summit with leaders of Pacific-region nations. “If we’ve got to raise money, it makes sense for us to start by asking the wealthiest among us to pay a little bit more before we start asking seniors, for example, to pay a lot more for their Medicare,”he said.

Nor do the two sides agree about a fallback plan already in place to make sure deficits are reduced even if the panel fails to reach an agreement. Obama said twice over the weekend Congress shouldn’t count on being able to change the automatic spending cuts that would take effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2013. About $450 billion in cuts would come from defense and the same amount from domestic accounts, with savings on interest payments making up the balance of a $1.2 trillion total.

Republicans, joined by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, say the Pentagon couldn’t sustain reductions of that magnitude, and Sen. Pat Toomey, said there would be a “lively debate” in Congress on changing which programs the cuts would affect. — AP

Algeria says global oil demand slightly up DOHA: Current oil prices are fair although there are signs of a slight increase in global oil demand although current prices were mainly in line with the global economy, Algeria’s energy minister said yesterday. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Gas Expor ting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Youcef Yousfi said current oil prices were not a problem for the global economy.

“It seems that this oil price (today’s) has no major impact on the global economy. I think a price around $100 a barrel is fair for consumers and producers,” Yousfi said. “And it allows for oil and gas investments.” “There are possible concerns about demand, mainly in Europe within some countries, which could decrease demand but also there are emerging countries like China and India where we see increasing demand so overall there will maybe be a slight increase in oil demand.”

Asked about OPEC policy, Yousfi said OPEC had enough spare capacity to deal with any major supply problems. “Spare capacity in OPEC is enough,” he told reporters. “It exists in majority of countries.” He declined to say what Algeria’s position would be in the next OPEC meeting scheduled in December. Yousfi also said the global gas market was balanced and that there were no signs of oversupply. — Reuters

Japan’s Mizuho to merge units, cut workforce TOKYO: Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group said yesterday that it planned to merge its retail and corporate banking units by the end of the first half of fiscal 2013 in a move that will mean 3,000 job cuts. Japan’s second-largest bank by assets also said net profit for the fiscal first half ended September dropped by 25 percent from a year earlier.

In merging Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank, the parent company said that it would downsize staff levels at the units by more than 10 percent by fiscal 2015 as it looks to reduce expenses and streamline operations. The two subsidiaries had a combined 27,276 employees as of

grams such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid only after Republicans agree to higher tax revenue, including a larger bite out of the income of the wealthy.

Republicans say that the soaring deficits result from too much spending, and not from a shortage of revenue to the Treasury, and tax increases would crimp efforts to create jobs. In an offer they said marked a significant concession, GOP members on the panel offered last week to raise taxes by $250 billion over a decade as part of an overhaul of the tax code that simultaneously would cut the top rate from 35 percent to 28 percent.

Democrats swiftly rejected that as a tax cut for the wealthy in disguise, and separately jettisoned an earlier proposal that would have slowed the growth in cost of living increases under Social Security.

There has been little, if any, indication of progress in the talks since then. But Hensarling seemed to suggest in an interview Sunday that the two parties could find a way around the fastapproaching Thanksgiving deadline by coming to a general understanding with respect to raising new revenue, without actually having to agree on a process or specific remedy.

“There could be a two-step process that would hopefully give us pro-growth tax reform, which by the way, every other bipartisan effort that has said that some revenues have to be raised in this method,” he told CNN in an interview. “That is again broaden the base, historically this is how we both produce jobs and more revenues for the government.”

For the most part, however, officials in both

restructuring plan to restore client confidence. Separately, the megabank said yesterday that it suffered a 25 percent fall in net profit in April-September, weighed down by reduced profitability in its banking operations. The company’s group net profit came to 254.67 billion yen ($3.3 billion) in the fiscal first half. That was down from 341.76 billion yen a year earlier when the group’s performance was bolstered by gains in bond trading and lower credit costs. The financial group left unchanged its net profit forecast at 460 billion yen for the year to March 2012, with the announced merger having no impact on the figure. — AFP

ATHENS: People wait in a line at the Public Power Corporation offices in northern Greek town of Thessaloniki to pay the electricity bills which include the new property tax yesterday. European stocks and the euro retreated yesterday with markets cautious following political change in Rome and Athens as the euro-zone’s debt crisis rumbles on. — AFP

India inflation close to 10%, defies forecasts NEW DELHI: India’s inflation rate edged closer to double digits in October, defying market forecasts and a string of aggressive interest rate hikes, official data showed yesterday.

Annual inflation, measured by the closely watched Wholesale Price Index, rose to 9.73 percent in October from its September level of 9.72 percent. Economists had expected October inflation to drop to 9.65 percent butescalating food and fuel prices drove the cost of living higher than projected. “Inflation is still burning despite the slowing economy and good monsoon rains that have brought good harvests,” D K Joshi, chief economist of leading Indian ratings agency Crisil, told AFP. The Reserve Bank of India has raised rates 13 times since March 2010 to curb prices-setting the most robust monetary tightening pace of any central bank globally. But inflation has held above nine percent for 20 out of the past 21 months, Joshi noted. India’s still strong inflation numbers mean the central bank may have to maintain its tight monetary policy even with growth in Asia’s third-largest economy losing traction, economists said. The Reserve Bank has revised down its growth estimate for this financial year to March 2012 to 7.6 percent from an earlier projection of 8.0 percent, but many economists estimate expansion could be seven percent or lower. The bank signalled last month that its most recent rate hike could be the last for

2011 and that worries about growth would assume greater prominence.

But the uptick in prices “will persuade the bank to maintain a tight monetary stance for an extended period to bring down the stubbornly high rate of inflation,” said HSBC economist Leif Eskesen.

Elevated inflation gives Indian policymakers little space to ease tight credit policies that might help support stuttering growth at home and abroad,analysts add.

India’s rising prices come as China’s inflation slowed sharply in October thanks to a drop in food prices, prompting expectations that Beijing will ease credit restrictions which could spur domestic growth. Adding to India’s inflation problem has been a sharply falling rupee that has made imports more costly.

The Congress party-led government, already battling a string of damaging corruption scandals, is keen to reduce inflation to ease hardship for the country’s hundreds of millions of poor, its key support base. “I do hope the full impact of the good monsoon will soon be felt” on food prices, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.

Yesterday’s data showed food prices rose 11 percent in October from a year earlier. Inflation is a political tripwire in India where 75 percent of its 1.2 billion population live on less than $2 a day, according to the World Bank. — AFP

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Asian markets rise as Italy vows debt crisis plan the euro-zone’s third-largest economy.

Tokyo ended 1.05 percent higher, adding 89.23 points, to 8,603.70, while Sydney gained 0.19 percent, or 8.1 points, to 4,304.6 and Seoul climbed 2.11 percent, or 39.36 points, to 1,902.81. Hong Kong gained 2.18 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai was 1.86 percent higher. The euro climbed against the dollar on the back of the political shuffle with Monti’s formal appointment expected within days. The single currency also got a boost as debt-laden Greece ushers in a new government headed by the European Central Bank’s ex-deputy chief Lucas Papademos under a power-sharing deal between the country’s main rival parties.

“Investors are thinking these political developments will help Europe find a way out of its debt crisis,” said Peter Copeland, senior institutional trader with Sydney-based brokerage BBY. “(But) a lot of people will see these developments as just kicking the can down the road.”

Italian lawmakers on Saturday SEOUL: A currency trader works near the screen showing the Korea Composite approved a package of economic Stock Price Index, center, and currency exchange rate (right) at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Korea Exchange Bank headquarters in Seoul yes- reforms that Berlusconi set as the precondition for his resignation amid global terday. — AP HONG KONG: Asian markets rose yesterday as Italy’s new leader vowed to pull the debt-laden country back from the brink of a fiscal disaster that has threatened to tear apart the euro-zone.

Former European Union Commissioner Mario Monti was nominated Sunday to replace Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister and pledged to get to work on tackling a crippling debt crisis in

market turmoil. Investors have been nervous for months as worries mounted over Greece’s accounts while Italy’s borrowing costs soared amid worries it would be the next euro-zone country to collapse under a mountain of debt.

The European Union, which together with the International Monetary Fund is auditing Italy’s accounts, said it would monitor Rome’s reforms and that the country may need to pass extra austerity measures to tackle a staggering 1.9 trillion euro ($2.6 trillion) debt.

“Markets are likely to be cautious in their enthusiasm for the new governments at this stage,” Ric Spooner, chief markets analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Dow Jones Newswires.

“Both have a fragile hold on political power and their capacity to implement the kinds of reform needed to restore market confidence is yet to be tested.”

Asian markets also reacted to Japanese government data showing the country’s economy grew by 6.0 percent in the JulySeptember quarter, the first gain since March’s earthquake and tsunami disaster.

In Tokyo, Olympus-which is embroiled in a loss-covering scandal-surged more than 17 percent as concerns eased that it

would be delisted after the firm said it would file its earnings results by a December 14 deadline. The stock exchange has warned it will be taken off the index if it does not file by the date.

US markets rose Friday on growing optimism over Europe’s debt problems, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing 2.18 percent higher. The broadbased S&P 500 added 1.95 percent while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 2.04 percent.

Traders will be keeping a close eye on key US economic figures due to be released this week, including October retail sales and housing starts. On currency markets, the euro stood at $1.3750 in Tokyo trade, up from $1.3739 in New York late Friday. It also firmed to 106.05 yen from 105.97 yen.

The dollar was barely changed at 77.10 yen compared to 77.12 yen. New York’s main oil contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, gained 16 cents to $99.15 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude, also for December, was 44 cents higher at $114.60.

Gold was trading higher at $1,792.07 an ounce by 0620 GMT, up from $1,763.50 on Friday. — AP

Obama to China: Behave like ‘grown up’ economy US president turns up heat on Beijing at APEC summit HONOLULU: President Barack Obama served notice yesterday that the United States was fed up with China’s trade and currency practices as he turned up the heat on America’s biggest economic rival.

“Enough’s enough,” Obama said bluntly at a closing news conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit where he scored a significant breakthrough in his push to create a pan-Pacific free trade zone and promote green technologies. Using some of his toughest language yet against China, Obama, a day after face-to-face talks with President Hu Jintao, demanded that China stop “gaming” the international system and create a level playing field for US and other foreign businesses.

“We’re going to continue to be firm that China operate by the same rules as everyone else,” Obama told reporters after hosting the 21-nation APEC summit in his native Honolulu.

“We don’t want them taking advantage of the United States.”

China shot back that it refused to abide by international economic rules that it had no part in writing. “First we have to know whose rules we are talking about,” Pang Sen, a deputy director-general at China’s Foreign Ministry said. “If the rules are made collectively through agreement and China is a part of it, then China will abide by them. If rules are decided by one or even several countries, China does not have the obligation to abide by that.”

Even as Obama issued the veiled threat of further punitive action against China, it was unclear how much of his tough rhetoric was, at least in part, political posturing aimed at economically weary US voters who will decide next November whether to give him a second term.

Obama insisted that China allow its currency to rise faster in value, saying it was being kept artificially low and was hurting American companies and jobs. He said China, which often presents itself as a developing country, is now “grown up” and should act that way in global economic affairs.

The sharp words between the US and China contrasted with the unified front that AsiaPacific leaders sought to present with a pledge to bolster their economies and lower trade bar-

riers in an effort to shield against the fallout from Europe’s debt crisis.

The members of APEC, which accounts for more than half of the world’s economic output, said they had agreed on ways to counter “significant downside risks” to the world economy.

That followed an appeal by Obama, seeking to reassert US leadership to counter China’s growing influence around the Pacific Rim, for a commitment to expand trade opportunities as an antidote to Europe’s fiscal woes.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, in Honolulu to consult with APEC leaders, said the euro zone upheaval risked sweeping the world economy into a “downward spiral” that all countries had a stake in resolving the crisis.

APEC said in a final communique: “We recognize that further trade liberalization is essential to achieving a sustainable global recovery in the aftermath of the global recession of 2008-2009.”

The communique also expressed a firm resolve “to support the strong, sustained and balanced growth of the regional and global

economy”-a clear reference to US concerns about a huge trade deficit with China’s exportdriven economy, fiscal problems in developed nations and the low savings rate in the United States.

In another bow to US pressure, APEC committed to reducing tariffs on environmental goods and services to 5 percent as a way to promote green technology trade, overcoming China’s resistance to the idea.

Differences persist among APEC members-a point hammered home by US-China tensionsand the question remains how far leaders will be able to go in turning promises into action.

Many, Obama included, will face resistance to opening markets further to foreign competition.

Obama’s public denunciation of China’s policies came as he faces pressure at home, from Republican presidential contenders as well as fellow Democrats, for a tougher line on Beijing. But US leverage is limited, not least because Beijing is America’s largest foreign creditor.

Though Obama acknowledged a “slight

HONOLULU: US President Barack Obama (left) greets Chinese President Hu Jintao (right) prior to the plenary session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Kapolei on Sunday. — AFP

AirAsia launches loyalty scheme to boost sales KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier AirAsia hopes to bolster sales by another 500 million ringgit ($160 million) annually with the launch Monday of a passenger rewards program, Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said.

Fernandes said the “BIG” scheme would help fill up an average 20 percent of seats on AirAsia flights that are unsold. He said the loyalty card would also double as a prepaid debit card with a tie-up with VISA. Members earn points when traveling and shopping, and can redeem those points for free air tickets and other rewards, he said.

“It’s a great way to get more people to fly. From 2012, this will generate (an additional) 500 million ringgit in sales,” he told a news conference. AirAsia hopes to

attract 1 million loyalty members by mid-2012, officials said. The launch of the program comes as AirAsia and other airlines face pressure from soaring fuel costs.

AirAsia reported a 48 percent drop in net profit to 104.3 million ringgit ($33 million) in the quarter through June.

Fernandes said results for the quarter through September, to be released next week, would be “very strong.” He said AirAsia wasn’t affected by the severe flooding in Thailand and that there was still a huge appetite for low-cost travel in Asia despite the weak global economy. AirAsia expects to benefit from an alliance with national carrier Malaysia Airlines in August through a share swap deal to end their long rivalry.

Under the deal, Malaysia Airlines will focus on the premium market and cede low-cost routes to AirAsia. — AP

KUALA LUMPUR: Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes and stewardeses pose with a BIG Visa prepaid card during its launch in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Fernandes said the BIG launch was a major breakthrough as the company seeks to reward its loyal guests and customers. — AFP

improvement” in the value of China’s yuan, he insisted it was not enough. The United States has long complained that China keeps its currency artificially weak to give its exporters an advantage. China counters that the yuan should rise only gradually to avoid harming the economy and driving up unemployment, which would hurt global growth.

Hu was quoted by Chinanews.com in Beijing on Sunday as saying a big appreciation in the yuan against the dollar would not help US trade and unemployment problems. The yuan inched up against the dollar. Dealers said Hu’s comments in Honolulu indicated that China had no intention of letting the currency rise faster in the near term.

Obama declared US engagement in the Asia-Pacific region as “absolutely critical” to America’s prosperity. By harnessing the potential for expanded trade with the world’s fastestgrowing region, Obama hopes he can create US jobs to help him through a tough reelection fight in 2012.

Obama’s drive toward a pan-Pacific free trade zone-the signature US achievement of the summit-got a boost when Canada, Mexico and Japan said they were interested in joining talks now under way among nine countries, and they agreed to complete the detailed framework in 2012.

The Philippines was discussing the matter, US officials said. The Trans-Pacific Partnership adds momentum to Obama’s pledge to double US exports, made more urgent by the virtual collapse of the Doha round of trade talks. A free trade zone in the region would outstrip the market size of the European Union. But for Japan, such a deal faces major political obstacles at home.

Yet there was little promise of immediate economic dividends as such trade deals often take years to take effect. Obama is seeking to assure allies of a US “pivot” as China flexes its economic and military muscles in Asia and beyond. But leaders may doubt whether Washington can avoid being distracted by economic woes at home and foreign policy priorities like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. — Reuters

Honda, Nissan resume limited Thai production BANGKOK: Japanese motor giants Honda and Nissan said they had resumed partial production in Thailand yesterday, after work was suspended due to the devastating floods affecting the country.

Honda’s Thai subsidiary, Thai Honda Manufacturing, said it had restarted manufacturing “some motorcycle and power products models” at its Ladkrabang factory, on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok.

Disruption to parts supply forced the firm to halt production of power products on October 6 and motorbikes on October 11.

Work at Honda’s car plant, in the central city of Ayutthaya, which was halted on October 4, remains suspended. A Honda spokeswoman said the floodwaters at the Ayutthaya factory were still two metres deep and the company did not know when it would be able to resume production.

Late last month, Honda held off giving an earnings forecast for the year ending March 2012 as it continued to assess the impact on its operations of Thailand’s worst flooding in half

a century. Nissan said it resumed limited production at its plant in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok, yesterday, after suspending work due to a parts shortage on October 25. In a statement issued in Tokyo, the company said it was strengthening flood defenses at the plant.

Toyota said last week it would resume production from November 21 at its three Thai plants, which were forced to halt operations on October 10.

The closures triggered a shortage of the automaker’s parts in Asia and as far away as North America and South Africa.

Fellow automotive giant Mitsubishi has also said it would restart production at its Laem Chabang Plant in eastern Thailand from yesterday, after the plant closed on October 13 due to a lack of par ts from flood-hit suppliers. Analysts say the effor ts of Japan’s automakers to restore production in the wake of the March ear thquake and tsunami, which damaged facilities and crippled supply chains, could be undermined by the impact of the Thai disaster. — AFP

ANHUI: Chinese job seekers check out a job fair in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province yesterday. China, which has the world’s largest population of more than 1.3 billion people, saw its total labor pool increase by 112 million people over the past decade to more than one billion people, according to the white paper. — AFP

HK jeweler targets $3.5bn in huge IPO HONG KONG: Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co is hoping to raise up to $3.5 billion in a massive initial public offering, based on its lucrative share of China’s luxury market, reports said yesterday.

The world’s biggest jewellery chain with more than 1,300 outlets throughout Asia has launched the premarketing process to gauge investor appetite ahead of the roadshow that opens on November 28, Dow Jones Newswires reported. Wholly owned by Cheng Yu-tung, 80, the company is pushing ahead with the planned December 15 listing despite global market volatility, betting its share of China’s booming market for luxury goods will be enough to lure investors.

“They are the dominant jewellery player in China. It would surprise people in the West just how big they are,” CLSA analyst Aaron Fischer told The Wall Street Journal.

Chow Tai Fook is hoping to raise $3-$3.5 billion from the sale of mainly new shares in what would be the biggest IPO globally since Spanish bank Bankia SA’s $4.4 billion listing in July.

China is forecast to be the world’s top buyer of products such as cosmetics, handbags, watches, shoes and clothes by 2015, according to consultancy PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Chow Tai Fook has a vast network of stores in China plus outlets in Macau, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

It also has diamond cutting facilities in South Africa and China, and manufacturing plants in China and Hong Kong. It plans to expand its number of chain stores to more than 2,000 by the end of 2016, according to its website.

Italian luxury fashion house Prada used Hong Kong as a gateway to tap the Chinese market earlier this year when it raised $2.14 billion ahead of a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Weak market sentiment pushed Prada to price its Hong Kong shares at the lower end of the range, although it subsequently issued more stock to boost the total amount raised in the listing to more than $2.46 billion. Prada shares were 6.20 percent higher at $HK39.40 at midday yesterday, almost level with their IPO price of HK$39.50. China’s deep capital pool helped Hong Kong claim the title of the world’s biggest IPO market in 2010 — for the second year in a row.

Firms raised more than $50 billion in Hong Kong IPOs last year, including two monster sales by Asian insurer AIA and Agricultural Bank of China. But global market turmoil and economic uncertainty have taken the wind out of the city’s IPO market this year, with several major raisings being trimmed back or cancelled.

JP Morgan Chase & Co, HSBC Holdings PLC, Deutsche Bank AG and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are the global coordinators of the Chow Tai Fook IPO, according to Dow Jones Newswires. — AFP

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TECHNOLOGY

Turkey’s largest ISP automates business processes with EMC KUWAIT: At Momentum, the EMC Information Intelligence Group’s global user conference, EMC Corporation yesterday announced that TTNET Inc., Turkey ’s largest internet ser vice provider, is automating several business processes across multiple depar tments with EMC(r) Documentum(r) xCP, an integrated platform for building dynamic business solution and an action engine for Big Data.

With more than 6 million subscribers, TTNET provides high technology broadband services to customers in 81 provinces across Turkey.

Work ing with EMC ’s Information Intelligence Group’s Services organization, the company took an enterprise-wide approach to managing its information, initially deploying a unified platform for creating, editing, versioning, indexing, retrieving and searching content. The company deployed a solution based on EMC(r) Captiva(r), an intelligent information capture application, for correspondence management with customers and external parties.

The next phase of the implementation enabled TTNET to automate five internal business processes with

Documentum xCP, improving decision making, raising customer service levels and increasing productivity across internal departments including, Legal, Human Resources, Contracts Management, Sales, Accounting and Purchasing.

TTNET’s EMC solution combines enterprise content management (ECM), business process management (BPM), and intelligent capture; the solution also enabled the company’s SAP users to access content stored in the Documentum repository.

“In short order, we found immediate value in deploying EMC’s solutions

across our enterprise, and continue to identify processes to automate. EMC Documentum xCP is a powerful solution for helping us to transform our business. EMC’s Services organization partnered with our team from the business analysis phase, solution design, development, go-live, training and support to deliver the variety of projects on time.”

Rohit Ghai, Vice President and General Manager, Content and Case Management Group, EMC Information Intelligence Group “EMC is pleased to deliver solutions to meet T TNET ’s extensive requirements for new levels

Russia sends astronauts back to space after mishaps First manned launch since the retirement of US shuttle BAIKONUR: Russia yesterday successfully launched three astronauts for the International Space Station, boosting morale after accidents raised doubt about the reliability of its space programme. The launch of two Russians and an American on a Soyuz-FG rocket had been delayed for almost two months after a unmanned Russian Progress supply ship in August crashed into Siberia shortly after its launch on a similar rocket.

The problems eroded faith in Russia’s status as a space superpower just as it had taken the responsibility for being the sole nation capable of taking humans to the ISS after the retirement of the US shuttle in July.

The morning launch of the Soyuz lit up the grey skies over Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in the steppes of Kazakhstan which was covered in an early fall of snow, an AFP correspondent reported.

“Everything is normal and we are feeling fine,” the crew reported back to mission control over the radio. Mission control reported that the Soyuz TMA-22 capsule had successfully gone into Earth orbit.

American Dan Burbank and Russians Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin are due to dock with the ISS at 0533 GMT tomorrow, joining three crew on board.

The lift-off from Baikonur was the first manned launch since the retirement of the US shuttle and the crash of the Progress, Russia’s worst space mishap in years.

The Soyuz-U rocket that failed to take the Progress to orbit is closely related to the Soyuz-FG that is used for manned launches and Russia temporarily grounded its entire arsenal of the Soyuz rockets after the accident.

It also prompted a wholesale rejig of the timetable for staffing the space station and Monday’s launch had originally been scheduled to take place in September. Russian scientists are also bracing for the likely loss of the PhobosGrunt probe for Mars which was launched on November 9 but has failed to head out of Earth orbit on its course to the red planet.

As well as the Progress and possibly Phobos-Grunt, Russia has lost three navigation satellites, an advanced military satellite and a telecommunications satellite due to faulty launches in the past 12 months. The last manned launch from Baikonur was in June, and the problems were a major disappointment for Russia in the year marking half a century since Yuri Gagarin made man’s first voyage into space from the same historic cosmodrome. “ We have no ‘dark’ thoughts,” Shkaplerov said a day ahead of the launch. “We have confidence in our technology,” he said, quoted by the Interfax news agency. Shkaplerov said Russia’s space chiefs had personally provided assurances to the spacemen about the extent of security measures.

“Checks have been strengthened.

Cameras have been installed everywhere, in all the sections. Everything is

checked three times before going up into space,” he added. The Soyuz rocket design first flew in the late 1960s and has been the backbone of the Soviet and

has a proud safety record, with Russia boasting that its simplicity has allowed it to outlive the shuttle.

Whereas NASA endured the fatal loss

how spare Amazon had to keep the device to limbo under that $200 price level.

The Kindle’s design is even starker than the iPad’s. It’s a black monolith with only one button - the power switch - and two jacks, for headphones and power. All the controls are on the screen. The screen measures 7 inches diagonally, a bit larger

BAIKONUR: Wearing their space suits the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 30 commander, US astronaut Dan Burbank (R) shares a joke with one of his crew members, Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov (L), while posing for a photo at the Russian leased Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome, early yesterday, shortly before the launch of the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft. US astronaut Dan Burbank with Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin blasted off yesterday for the ISS on a Russian rocket from Baikonur. — AFP then Russian space programmes ever since.

Its reputation was dented by the failure of the Progress to reach orbit but the Soyuz system for manned space flight

Amazon has to jump through some hoops to make them readable, like including a mode that shows just the text. But flicking through a magazine is still a lot of work - and that’s one thing that should not be like work.

Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color, launched last year, has the same problem - a nice color screen that’s too small. The iPad gets it

NEW YORK: In this Sept. 28, 2011 file photo, the Kindle Fire is displayed at a news conference, in New York. Amazon’s first color tablet computer started shipping yesterday. It takes up the competition with Apple Inc.’s iPad and Barnes & Noble Inc.’s Nook Color. — AP to light the flames of desire this holiday season. I want to cool those down a bit, or some of you will buy the Fire and feel burned.

The Fire is the best Kindle yet, no doubt about it. It’s amazing that it costs half of what the first Kindle cost, just four years ago, yet does so much more than display books.

It’s more of an all-purpose computer than an e-reader. It shows movies, TV shows and Web pages. It does email and lets you play games. You’ll be lucky to get any reading done, with so many other things to do.

But it has to be weighed against the competition. When you do that, it becomes apparent just

than the monochrome Kindles and a bit less than half the size of the iPad’s. The smaller size does make the Fire more portable than an iPad; it will fit nicely into a handbag, for instance.

The size of the screen wasn’t much of an issue on the monochrome Kindles because they were mainly good for showing text anyway. But the responsive color screen of the Fire opens up a lot of possibilities, such as showing magazine and comicbook pages. Here, the small size of the screen gets in the way. It’s just too far from standard page sizes to do them justice.

Magazine pages look tiny.

News

in brief

Thin laptop, huge screen FRANKFURT: Computer manufacturer Dell is going to put its thinnest notebook ever on sale today. The XPS 14z also has a particularly narrow frame around the display, allowing a 14-inch monitor in a housing designed for a 13.3-inch display.

Dell has also managed to squeeze a DVD burner, USB 3.0 connection and an illuminated keyboard into the 23-millimetre-thick device. The processors are from Intel’s i5 or i7 series, while the graphics card is a Nvidia Geforce GT 520M. The XPS 14z starts at 899 euros (1,235 dollars).

Acer’s new TV receiver Acer’s new M2 monitor series switches from being a computer monitor to a television with the push of a remote control button. Receivers for digital cable and DVB-T come included. The monitors support resolution of 1,920 X 1,080 pixels (full HD).

The largest of the series - the M272HML, measuring 27 inches - costs 349 euros (480 dollars). The most affordable version, the 21.5-inch M222HQML, costs 199 euros. The series is already on sale.

of the Challenger and Columbia shuttles in 1986 and 2003, Moscow has not suffered a fatality in space since the crew of Soyuz-11 died in 1971 in their capsule when returning to Earth. — AFP

Kindle Fire sacrifices to get under $200 NEW YORK: The Kindle was always an odd product name.

Amazon used a verb to name a thing, raising the question: Kindle what? Now we have the answer: Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire is the first full-color, touchscreen Kindle. It’s available in the US starting today for $199.

A price like that for what’s essentially a small iPad is bound

of automation and productivity. We see companies deploying Documentum xCP in a few key areas, then rapidly expand the footprint to reap additional value. It’s a strategy that has proven successful.”

John O’Melia, Vice President of Worldwide Services, EMC Information Intelligence Group “EMC Documentum is an ideal platform for solutions that automate key business processes, as demonstrated by TTNET. Our Services organization worked closely with the TTNET team to meet its aggressive timelines. We believe our approach sets them up for long-term success.”

right, for a few hundred dollars more. While we’re on the subject of “too small,” let’s talk about the Fire’s memory. It has 8 gigabytes of storage. That’s enough for more books than you’ll ever read, but ten movies will eat up the whole thing.

The cheapest iPad, which costs $499, has twice as much memory. The Nook Color, which costs $199, also has 8 gigabytes, but it comes with a slot for memory expansion with cheap cards. I don’t understand why the Fire doesn’t have a slot like that. The very first Kindle did.

There’s no step-up model of the Fire with more memory.

Amazon says the Fire doesn’t

need more memory because the company provides an online storage locker, where you can stuff all your music and other content. That works when you have Wi-Fi coverage, but not otherwise - the Fire doesn’t have the ability to use cellular networks, as some of the monochrome models do.

The Fire also lacks a camera and a microphone. Those aren’t things you’d expect in an e-reader (the Nook also lacks them).

But they are standard features on tablets and are quite useful, particularly for videoconferencing. Their absence is forgivable at $199.

The color screen means, inevitably, that battery life suffers compared with e-readers that use power-sipping monochrome screens. Amazon puts the reading time at eight hours, compared with about 30 hours for the new $99 Kindle Touch, which has a monochrome, touch-sensitive screen and is designed just for reading.

The Fire’s software is based on Google Inc.’s Android software, used in smartphones and a bevy of tablets that compete with the iPad. None has really caught on, except to some extent the Nook Color. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says this because the other tablets lack an ecosystem of the kind Apple provides in iTunes: an integrated market for books, movies, music and applications.

Amazon has done a good job of setting up its own store.

Buying and downloading books and movies is a quick process as long as you’re buying them from Amazon. People complain about how Apple dictates the terms of access to the iPhone and iPad, but Amazon’s Kindles have always been more restrictive, and the Fire is only a slight departure from that strategy.

You can’t buy copy-protected books from anyone but Amazon and expect to read them on the Fire, as you can on the iPad. Even the Nooks allow third-party books. Amazon achieves this control by operating its own app store, separate from the Android

Market run by Google. Clever people will figure out a way to bypass this and install any app they want, but most people won’t want to bother.

To Amazon’s credit, it’s allowing the excellent Comixology comics app onto the Fire. That means you don’t have to buy your comics from Amazon, and you aren’t restricted to the Fire’s built-in (and inferior) comics browser. It’s also letting the apps for the Netflix and Hulu streaming services onto the device, in competition with Amazon’s own streaming service. So the Fire does justice to fiction and movies, but the iPad does better in almost every way, particularly in the selection of apps, which is about 50 times greater than the Fire’s.

If the step up to $499 is too much, you might want to consider the Nook Tablet, which comes out Friday. At $249, it will be the same size as the Fire, but with twice the memory, plus a memory expansion slot. It won’t access all of Amazon’s goodies and apps, but it will have Netflix and Hulu. Take a look at it before jumping to the Fire. — AP

Online storage for beginners Buffalo Technology’s CloudStation should let even amateurs access their data from anywhere in the world. The station comes pre-configured and just has to be hooked up to the internet to function. Once that’s done, its 1 or 2 terabytes of data can be accessed from anywhere. The basic version costs 260 euros (360 dollars) and comes with 128 megabytes of random access memory and a 500 megahertz CPU. For another 30 euros, there’s the Cloudstation Pro Duo, which has faster speeds, but no additional hard drive space. The units are to go on sale in November. — dpa

New payment app aims to make shopping easier TORONTO: Ready to ditch your wallet, cash and credit cards? A mobile payment app lets users make purchases with their smartphone without taking the device out of their pocket or purse. Developed by electronic payment startup Square, the app called Card Case allows customers to pay for products and services at local merchants automatically by simply providing their name to complete the transaction.

“You walk in, say your name, and walk out. It’s a seamless payment experience,” said Megan Quinn, director of products for Square. The app automatically opens a tab when it detects that a customer is within 100 meters (328 feet) of a business, as long as they’ve enabled the functionality in the app and approved the business. The user’s arrival, along with their name and photo, is announced on the merchant’s app giving them the ability to charge products and services to the customer’s credit card. “You can pay without ever reaching for your purse, taking out your wallet, or even your phone,” said Quinn. “It requires no new or unusual customer behavior-you don’t have to wave your phone, or preload money.” By giving the merchant access to customers’ names up front, and removing the transactional aspect, the company hopes to provide a personal touch, helping customers feel like regulars even at unexplored shops. “We’ve removed the mechanics of the transaction and brought it back to the relationship and conversation between the merchant and their customer,” Quinn explained, adding customers tend to return to places where they feel comfortable. Over 20,000 merchants have signed up for the app across the United States in eight weeks, including coffee shops, bakers, barbers and even farmers market stalls. Although other companies have announced mobile payment apps, many have implemented Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which uses a chip in smartphones to send encrypted payment data when the phone is waved in front of the merchant’s reader. — Reuters

LAS VEGAS: A copy of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” (R) is displayed next to the previously released video game in the line, “Call of Duty: Black Ops” yesterday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Video game publisher Activision reported it achieved the biggest entertainment launch ever with its release of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” the eighth installment in the “Call of Duty” franchise, on November 8. — AFP

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H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Safety of dental amalgam fillings, a matter of dispute BERLIN: Mercury is the most toxic nonradioactive substance known to man just two grams are lethal. Though essentially a hazardous material, it can be found in many people’s mouths because about 50 per cent of dental amalgam fillings consist of elemental mercury. The heavy metal is extremely toxic only in a dissolved state, however, and not when it is hardened and alloyed with other metals in a tooth filling.

Various studies, including the recent German Amalgam Trial by Munich Technical University ’s Centre for Naturopathic Research, have shown that people with dental amalgam fillings have, on average, four times more mercury in their blood than people without them.

Opinions on the health conse quences of these higher mercury levels

are divided, with some experts seeing a clear risk of poisoning and others regarding the risk as slight.

“As with any foreign substance remaining in the human body for a long time, unwanted side effects can, of course, occur,” said Reiner Zaijtschek, a national executive board member of the Free Association of German Dentists.

But, the impact of dental amalgam fillings was small, he added.

“No study has proven a definite link between them and chronic health problems,” said Zaijtschek. Handling amalgam responsibly, however, was very important because mercury was particularly dangerous as a vapour - released when dental fillings were placed or drilled out. There is agreement that the danger of mercury poisoning is greatest when the amalgam is being put into or

taken out of the mouth. The potential risks of long-term contact with mercury in tooth fillings are far lower.

“As soon as the filling has hardened, there is no longer any free mercury,” said Dietmar Oesterreich, vice president of the German Dental Association, and that attrition did not release any mercury from the metal alloy.

Critics of amalgam have a different view. “The fillings constantly release small doses of mercury. Some of it is deposited in the body, for example in connective tissue and organs,” said Claudia Hesse of the Berlin-based Society of Holistic Dentistry.

She said mercury was released not only by attrition, but that acids could free mercury ions from fillings, which then get into the digestive tract via saliva and are spread around the body

through the bloodstream.

“Mercury vapour is what’s most dangerous. It’s released mainly during the consumption of hot foods and drinks,” Hesse explained. She said the vapour is inhaled through the nose and mouth, enters the bloodstream and could penetrate all bodily tissues and even the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from toxins.

According to Peter Jennrich, a member of the academic advisory council of the German Medical Society for Clinical Metal Toxicology, mercury often causes neurological symptoms such as restlessness and fatigue as well as headaches and gastrointestinal complaints.

“What is more, poisoning by the heavy metal can be a co-factor in almost all chronic illnesses,” he said.

A standard medical examination fre-

quently cannot determine whether mercury poisoning has occurred, and if so, to what degree. “Neither a normal blood analysis nor a urine sample shows everything,” Jennrich said.

Because the toxin builds up in tissues and organs, only a special provocation test can detect it. This is done by administering a chelating agent, an organic compound able to bind metal ions, which are subsequently secreted by the body. The degree of poisoning is then measurable in the urine.

The prescribed therapy depends on how much mercury is found to be in the body and could entail removal of the dental amalgam fillings or a heavy metal detoxification. The latter is used in cases of acute mercury poisoning and is most effective when chelating agents are used. — dpa

Life-saving study results lift Bayer/J&J clot drug Low-dose Xarelto cuts death risk more than 30%

SANAA: A Yemeni girl receives a polio vaccination during a house to house polio immunization campaign in Sanaa, Yemen, yesterday.— AP

Industrial solvent linked to Parkinson’s disease LONDON: An international study has linked an industrial solvent to Parkinson’s disease, it was revealed yesterday.

Researchers found a six-fold increase in the risk of developing Parkinson’s in individuals exposed in the work place to trichloroethylene (TCE).

Although many uses for TCE have been banned around the world, the chemical is still used as a degreasing agent.

Parkinson’s can result in limb tremors, slowed movement and speech impairment, but the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, and there is no cure.

Research to date suggests a mix of genetic and environmental factors may be responsible. A link has previously been made with pesticide use.

The researchers from institutes in the US, Canada, Germany and Argentina, wanted to examine the impact of solvent exposure - specifically six solvents includ-

ing TCE, the media here said. They looked at 99 sets of twins, one twin with Parkinson’s, the other without. Because twins are similar genetically and often share certain lifestyle characteristics, twins were thought to provide a better control group, reducing the likelihood of spurious results.

The twins were interviewed to build up a work history and calculate likely exposure to solvents. The findings are presented as the first study to report a “significant association” between TCE exposure and Parkinson’s and suggest exposure to the solvent was likely to result in a six-fold increase in the chances of developing the disease. Dr Michelle Gardner, Research Development Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “This is the first study to show that the solvent TCE may be associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s”. — KUNA

Figures show rise in UK cancer rates LONDON: The UK has the highest rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe while liver cancer deaths have jumped more than 70 percent, according to two new sets of figures yesterday. Alcohol and obesity are helping fuel both types of disease, with many of these cancer cases preventable if people were healthier, doctors said.

A league table of European cancer rates of the oesophagus show about 6.4 out of ever y 100,000 people develop oesophageal cancer in the UK every year.

This is almost double the European average of 3.3 and higher than Ireland, which came in second place (5.9), and the Netherlands in third (5.8). France had a figure of just 3.9 while the rate in Spain was 2.8.

Cyprus’s rate of 0.5 is the lowest in Europe while, Mongolia has the highest rate in the world (18.7). The oesophagus is part of the body’s digestive system and is the tube which links the back of the mouth to the stomach.

The UK’s high rate is partly due to high levels of alcohol consumption and obesity known risk factors for the disease. The league table was compiled by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) using World

Health Organisation (WHO) estimates.

Around 8,000 oesophageal cancer cases are diagnosed in the UK each year and the disease kills more than 7,000. Just 8 percent of men and women are still alive five years after diagnosis. Dr. Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for the WCRF, said that “The fact that the UK has the highest rate of oesophageal cancer in Europe is a real concern because it is a type of cancer that has a particularly low survival rate.

“It is also a particularly preventable type of cancer and most oesophageal cases in the UK could be prevented through a healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking.” The second set of statistics published today, from the British Liver Trust, shows that since 1997 liver cancer deaths have risen by 74 percent in England and Wales. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland are also experiencing increasing numbers of deaths from liver cancer. Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said, “Liver disease seems to be the poor relation to the other big killers yet is the only health problem out of the big five showing an increasing trend.” — KUNA

Tooth cleaning helps reduce heart disease WASHINGTON: Regular professional cleaning of teeth not only gives a patient a more radiant smile but also helps reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a new study. The study presented Sunday at an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida, was conducted at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan.

Researchers have found that those who had their teeth scraped and cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who had never had a dental clean-

ing. More than 100,000 people were followed in this study for an average of seven years. Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years and occasional if it occurred once or less in two years.

“Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year,” said Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen, cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital.

Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke, she said. — AFP

ORLANDO: Data showing the lifesaving benefits of a very low dose of a new blood clot preventer could alter future treatment of patients who suffer from acute coronary syndrome and provide a boost for the drug’s makers Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson.

Results of a large, late-stage clinical trial presented on Sunday showed the new pill, Xarelto, reduced the risk of death by more than 30 percent in patients who have had an ACS episode, typically a hear t attack caused by a blocked coronary artery. Xarelto was added on top of blood thinners that are now the standard of care.

The Atlas study signals a new option for the estimated 1.2 million Americans treated for ACS each year and could open up a market worth up to $3 billion for the drug’s manufac turers. The companies plan to seek approval for the use by year’s end.

“We have seen with this trial a new standard of anti-thrombotic therapy emerge,” said Dr. Paul Armstrong, professor of medicine at the Universit y of Alber ta, Edmonton, who provided commentary on the Xarelto trial at the American Heart Association scientific meeting in Orlando, where the study’s details were unveiled.

Xarelto won the battle of new blood thinners at least on Sunday, as apixaban from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, and Merck’s vorapaxar each failed to meet the main goal of separate, unrelated studies presented at the meeting attended by thousands of doctors and researchers.

In the Atlas study of 15,526 patients, those who received 2.5 milligrams of Xarelto twice a day on top of current standard therapy had the risk of cardiovascular death cut by 34 percent and all causes of death by 32 percent compared to patients on Plavix and aspirin, or just aspirin.

“Until now we have only used anti-platelet therapy and now we have another class of drug that appears to provide additive benefit, so I think that is a landmark event,” Dr. Raymond Gibbons of the Mayo Clinic said in an interview at the meeting. Xarelto patients did have a significantly higher incidence of major bleeding, including intracranial bleeding, but no increase in fatal bleeds. Researchers said the lower death rate trumped the bleeding risk. “ You only have to treat 56 patients to save a life. It’s hard not to be excited by the mor tality benefit,” said Dr. Michael Gibson,

the study’s lead investigator, who presented the results at the meeting.

“If it is approved (for this use) I think it will be widely adopted,” Gibson said. Xarelto, which inhibits a protein called Factor Xa involved in the blood clotting process, is vying for position with other new medicines in the multibillion-dollar anti-clot market, including apixaban and Pradaxa, which is sold by privately held German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim.

Earlier this month, Xarelto won US approval for preventing strokes in patients with a dangerously irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, considered to be by far the largest and most lucrative use for the new generation of blood thinners at an estimated $10 billion. Pradaxa is also approved in those patients. Based on data from earlier studies in atrial fibrillation patients, apixaban has been widely viewed as the best of the new clot preventers. The Xarelto results in ACS patients could help to level the playing field somewhat as apixaban failed to help those patients in a prior study.

In data presented in Orlando, apixaban tackled seriously ill hospitalized patients at high risk of

developing dangerous blood clots in the limbs and lungs.

Xarelto suffered a setback in April when surprisingly high bleeding rates deemed the drug unacceptable for such patients.

Apixaban, which was compared to an older injected drug, enoxaparin, showed a trend toward improvement but came up short of achieving a statistically significant result.

M erck ’s vorapaxar was also tested in ACS patients, but proved to be no better in reducing a host of cardiovascular problems when added on top of aspirin and Plavix. It also increased the risk of bleeding, including tripling the risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

Researchers did find vorapaxar cut heart attacks, which they said warranted further study.

The drug’s prospects already were dimmed after being deemed inappropriate for stroke patients in Januar y, but M erck said it would wait until it has results from another large study early nex t year before deciding the medicine’s fate.

Vorapaxar had been touted as the most impor tant drug in Schering-Plough’s experimental drug pipeline when M erck acquired its rival for $41 billion in late 2009. —Reuters

Healthy lifestyle helps prevent high blood pressure BERLIN: It is an illness with no acute symptoms and no immediately noticeable consequences. People tend to take it lightly - that is, assuming they know they have it. But high blood pressure, silent and insidious, can be life-threatening if not detected in time.

Countering it early - and not necessarily with medication - can prevent the worst.

“Slightly elevated blood pressure is not something you notice,” said Hans-Joerg Hippe, a cardiologist at Muenster University Hospital in Germany. “We don’t have a perceptual organ for it.”

Over time, however, high blood pressure, or hypertension, can damage blood vessels as well as organs including the heart and brain.

Possible complications are stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. “These are often the events that make people aware of their high blood pressure,” said Hippe.

Heribert Brueck, spokesman for the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice, said that some people who came to his office suspecting a cardiovascular problem indeed had high blood pressure. “They suffer from dizziness, headaches or pressure in the chest,” he said.

According to Hippe, symptoms like these do not occur until blood pressure measures more than 200 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, according to the German Hypertension Society, the first number being the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and the second the pressure in the arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).

Readings from 120/80 to 139/89 are categorized as pre-hypertension, from 140/90 to 159/99 as stage 1 hypertension, and from 160/100 to 179/109 as stage 2 hypertension.

People in stage 1 or 2 typically do not notice that they have a problem. Readings higher than 180/110 are categorized as a hypertensive crisis.

The simplest way to detect high blood pressure is to have it measured regularly - during every medical examination or at quiet moments at home. People who have a family history of high blood pressure, are elderly, overweight, diabetic or have kidney trouble, should be especially vigilant. “They’re particularly at risk,” Hippe said.

“If readings are repeatedly over 140, you should do something about it,” Brueck said.

“Walking around with high blood pressure isn’t trivial.” The first choice in treatment involves lifestyle changes. “I consciously use

the term ‘treatment’ to let my patients know it’s something to be taken seriously,” Brueck said.

The primary recommendation for hypertension patients from experts at the German Heart Foundation is to have a consistently healthy lifestyle. This means, for example, getting regular aerobic exercise such as taking brisk walks, cycling, jogging or swimming preferably five times a week for 30 minutes each. Brueck recommends strength training as well.

Losing weight is also important. There are very clear links between body weight and blood pressure, pointed out Brueck, who said every lost kilogram lowered blood pressure

by one to two mm Hg. “Studies have shown that individual medications aren’t necessarily more effective than that.” Consumption of alcohol and table salt should also be kept as low as possible, and meals should be healthy and balanced, with as few processed foods as possible.

Smoking should be avoided. Beyond that, all of the experts said that stress should be reduced. When medication is found to be necessary, patients generally have to take several in combination. “The goal of lowering blood pressure to 140/90 usually can’t be reached with a single preparation,” said Hippe, adding that taking a combination of medications kept side effects better under control. — dpa

ASUNCION: A file photo taken on October 22, 2009 shows dried stevia leaves, known as “sweet herb”, or “ka¥a he¥e” in the native Guarani language, after harvesting in Ypacaray, 34 kms of Asuncion, Paraguay. The European Commission announced yesterday that it was authorizing as of December 2 the marketing of stevia in the European Union as a natural sweetener that could replace aspartame as it has no calories. — AFP

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How to cut calories and keep the taste Dietitian shares secrets to prepare nutritious meals

Diet Care Dietetics Manager, Sarah Dimashkieh

Calculating your daily energy requirements COLOGNE: Diet guides and sport magazines often mention the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The human body needs energy even when completely at rest simply to breathe, for example - said Ingo Froboese, a professor at the Health Centre of the German Sport University in Cologne.

The daily amount of energy expended by the body at rest is the BMR. The body gets the energy it needs from food, and the BMR depends on various factors such as gender, age and physical condition.

“Additional energy expended during exercise or physical labour is called the physical activity level (PAL),” said Froboese. A small proportion of the body’s energy requirements is for thermogenesis, or heat production, which also plays a role in digesting food and

increasing heart rate, for example during stress.

According to Froboese, the rule of thumb for calculating a woman’s BMR is as follows: 1 kilocalorie (kcal) per kilogram (kg) of body weight multiplied by 24 hours equals daily energy expenditure. So a woman who weighs 65 kg has a BMR of 1,560 kcal (65 kg x 24 hours).

This is how many calories she can consume daily without gaining weight and not exercising. Men have a BMR of about 1,800 kcal on average. For them the formula is: 1.1 kcal per kg of body weight times 24 hours.

People who find these formulas too imprecise can have their BMR calculated with the help of spirometr y, which measures lung function. The procedure is offered by fitness studios and sports physicians. — dpa

KUWAIT: In a specialized tasting event yesterday, an expert dietitian shared the secrets and successful techniques to preparing meals that are gourmet, greattasting, healthy and nutritious.

Dietetics M anager at Diet Care, Sarah Dimashk ieh, revealed four different techniques you can use to prepare your favorite meals at no expense to health and taste.

Dimashkieh said: “When people think healthy, they immediately think dull, tasteless food and when they think gourmet, they think rich, calorie -filled meals. We wanted to show and prove with some Diet Care examples that it is possible to embrace the two.”

Apply one or more of these following simple techniques the nex t time you are preparing your favorite dishes to shave the calories and keep the taste: Technique 1: Substitute ingredients Sauces provide a lot of richness in some meals, but they can pile on calories. Lasagna’s bÈchamel sauce is a prime example of how thick creams and butters can turn a healthy, well-balanced meal into one that is loaded with calories.

Dimashkieh shared the Diet Care ingredient substitution

trick: use low fat milk instead of creams and mix it with flour or corn starch instead of butter.

“This combination creates the same great-taste and richness to your bÈchamel sauce with t wo times less calories,” Dimashkieh explains.

Technique 2: Mix ingredients If you don’t want to downsize your portions, especially with toppings and sauces you most love, then Dimashkieh suggests to star t combining natural ingredients. “The simple technique helps cut down the calories without actually reducing the quantities you regularly have during your meals.”

Cut down on 20 to 30 percent of your calories instantly by mixing some of your favorite sauces with other great-tasting natural ingredients. For example, mix half of the amount of Caramel sauce you’re having with honey or half of your mayonnaise dip with light yogurt.

“These combinations work deliciously together, and you won’t event taste the difference,” says Dimashkieh.

Technique 3: Cook different If you think you are eating well because you’re eating in, then watch out! Traditional home-cooked dishes don’t nec-

essarily mean they’re healthy.

“Though many of our traditional dishes are delicious, we don’t realize they might be drenched in oils, butter, and fat,” Dimashkieh says.

Many of the meals served at home can be just as large, and even more fattening than those served at restaurants. “It’s all about the cook ing approach you use,” Dimashkieh explains.

Whenever you find yourself pouring the cook ing oil, Dimashkieh suggests adopting one of following two Diet Care Boutique cooking techniques.

Keep the “heavy, fatty” traditional taste in all rice -based dishes like Biryani by boiling the rice first, then adding one tablespoon of vegetable oil.

Also, adopt this cook ing technique to deep-fried meals like nachos, sambosaks, and spring rolls: spray them with vegetable oil - preferably canola oil-then oven bake them. “It’s two times healthier, and you don’t lose that crunchy, oily taste you’re used to having.”

Dimashkieh explains.

Technique 4: Purchase smart Fast-foods have been a hot topic in health in the last couple of decades. The average burger at any of the global fast-food chains adds up to 650 calories

and 39 grams of fat. “These are unbelievably high amounts of calories and fat in one meal,” Dimashkieh says. But that doesn’t mean you must avoid eating burgers.

Dimashk ieh suggests purchasing lean meats from your local butcher shop instead of visiting your favorite fast-food restaurants or picking up frozen pre-packaged burgers at your local supermarket. “The meat is one of the most fattening parts of the burger, so to keep the calories low, make sure it’s nice and lean,” she explains.

Trim more fat by grilling your burgers. “There is no taste difference especially when you add ketchup and mustard in moderation, along with lettuce, onions, and mushrooms to make a healthy filling that also tastes good,” Dimashkieh suggests.

But don’t be selective with all your purchases, says Dimashkieh. You can purchase the full-fat package of Parmesan cheese for example. “I t is already a very light cheese since it contains less than three percent fat and only one calorie per gram,” Dimashk ieh explains.

There is no major health difference when compared to the low-fat product and you will actually end up paying less.

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BSK Year 8 Geography students visit Metal Recycling Centre

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ear 8 Geography students at the British School of Kuwait visited the Metal Recycling Centre (MRC) as part of their Environment curriculum. It proved to be the ideal location to gain a practical insight into one of the processes involved in recycling waste. During the trip students had a tour of the facility, completed some simple fieldwork techniques and got to participate in recycling old electrical components. They also enjoyed taking plenty of photos which will be used to create their own recycling advertisement. The fieldwork marks the beginning of what will be a busy year for Year 8 Geography students. It also enhances the geography fieldwork opportunities on offer at BSK as each Y6-13 student must complete some type of fieldwork as part of their studies.

Natyalayam Fest

Greetings

Shakunthalam Ballet will be held at the Natyalayam Fest on Friday, 18th November from 4pm onwards at Carmel Scholl Auditorium at Khaitan with various cultural activities.

Happy birthday to G. Sonia. Best wishes from father Suresh, mother Sushma, Namdev, Saku Bai, Sudam Seth, Shakuntal, Raju, Pushpa, Dhanlakshmi, Rama Chandran, Shoba, Ajay, Sarika and all relatives from Kuwait and India.

No limits to one’s choice at Sheraton Kuwait

I Military attaches bid farewell to Colonel Barakat

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ilitary attaches in Kuwait held an event to bid farewell to the outgoing Egyptian military attache in Kuwait, Colonel Ashraf Barakat, and welcome the new attache, Colonel Nader Saleh.

n its never ending quest to cater to the most diversified tastes, Sheraton Kuwait is holding a food promotion extravaganza in its exotic restaurants and lounges during the month of November 2011.

Le Tarbouche, renowned for its exquisite Lebanese cuisine, invites diners to sample mouthwatering Kibbeh promotion such us Kibbeh Arnabieh, Potato Kibbeh, Chicken Kibbeh and the famous Lebanese Kibbeh and much more cooked in authentic Lebanese style every day for lunch & dinner If it is the zest and zing of India

you crave for, then Kuwait’s favorite ethnic Indian restaurant Bukhara welcomes you to a delectable repast of the greatest specialties in India the “Tandoori” promotion. Enjoy Indian cuisine at its finest in exotic surroundings with a roof top view of Kuwait.

For dessert lovers, The English Tea Lounge available at the Sheraton Kuwait and at the Avenues Mall and the lobby cafe at the Sheraton are holding an exclusive “Strudel” promotion served in an atmosphere that is reminiscent of an English country house with soothing sounds of the harp to unwind your soul.

Galleries & Art Exhibition

Palestinian Culture Centre

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he Palestinian Culture Center in cooperation with Bayt Lothan invite you to its fall exhibition. The exhibition aims to preserve the Palestinian handicrafts to reaffirm the Palestinian national identity as well as empowering refugee women in the camps. We display classic designs intertwined with modern uses, colors, and motifs to showcase some of the creativity of the Palestinian women. Items on sale include cushions, runners, scarves, shawls, long traditional dresses as well as smaller items. They also have handmade ceramics from Palestine, books, music and movies. On Thursday evening there will be folklore dabble dance, children’s activities and a bake sale of traditional foods. Location: Bayt Lothan, Salmiya next to Marina Mall on Monday November 14th to Thursday November 17 from 10 am to 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm Tel: 25755866 - 25727388 - 99376608

lThe Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI) is a cultural organization based on a Kuwaiti private art collection. Since its inception in 1983, DAI has grown from a single focus organization created to manage the loan of the prestigious Al-Sabah Collection of art from the Islamic world to the State of Kuwait to become an internationally recognized cultural organization. DarMuseum.org.kw lAl Americani Cultural Centre and Administrative Offices in the Historic Americani Hospital Buildings Tel: (965) 2240 0992 Fax: (965) 2246 7770 Email: info@darmuseum.org.kw lSultan Gallery: As the first venue of its kind in Kuwait, Sultan Gallery believes in the power of art as a medium of meaningful expression. Founders Ghazi Sultan, and the late Najat Sultan, envisioned a gallery that would serve as a platform for Arab artists to showcase their most inspired work.

Empowered by the mission to forge cultural understanding and artistic appreciation in

Kuwait, Sultan Gallery has spent 40 years exhibiting both the most visionary artists and thought provoking themes. Sultan Gallery showcases artists that explore the breadth of creative expression - from the traditional painting to the contemporary audio and visual installation. Sultan Gallery enriches the Kuwaiti cultural scene with its passion for art as a vehicle of cultural understanding through visual language. Email: sultangallery@sadeer.com Location: Sabhan, Sadeer Co, Block B, Street 105, Building 168 lAl-Maidan Cultural Centre: Abdullah alSalem School, Maidan Hawally, near al-Shaab Leisure Park. Opening Hours: Sunday Thursday 9am - 5pm, until 9pm on event nights. Tel: (965) 2563 6561/ 2563 6528 Fax: (965) 2565 3006 Email: friends@darmuseum.org.kw lThe Kuwait National Museum is located on the Arabian Gulf Street between Seif Palace & the National Assembly (Parliament).

Phone: 2245-1195 or 2245-6534

lKuwait Textile Arts Association (KTAA) The Kuwait Textile Arts Association (under the auspices of Sadu House) is a non-profit multinational organization which aims to bring together individuals interested in textiles and the fibre arts including appliquÈ, embroidery, knotting carpets, quilting, silk painting and weaving. Members include a number of talented decorative artists who hold classes throughout the year. Quilt Group: q8quilter@yahoo.com Yarn & Fiber Group: q8yarnandfibregroup@yahoo.com Contact: Joan Fisher Tel: 2390-3462 (English)/22432395 (Arabic) Email: wovenpieces@yahoo.com

Shyma’s Ashkanani

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igurative abstract and translucent acrylic colors form the subject of this exhibition. Opening Reception: November 14, 2011 @ 7 pm. Exhibition Hours: 15 - 24 November 2011 10 am - 2 pm and 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

Dar Al-Funoon art exhibition

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ar Al Funoon has the pleasure to invite you to an art exhibition of works from Hamad Al-Saab & Ali Sultan titled: Connect To Disconnect To Connect When: Opening on November 14th & will continue until November 21st Where: Dar Al Funoon (Behbehani Compound, House 28, Kuwait City). Time: 7pm on opening night

Art Exhibition

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ebut exhibition by Samira Bukhamseen. The exhibition will take place on November 14th, and it will run until the 24th. The first day will be for women only. If you’re an art lover or would like to visit, the exhibition will be held in Mishref, Block 6, Street 5, Villa 40. Daily viewing hours are from 10am 1pm & 5pm - 8pm (closed Fridays). I must say the painting above is exquisite! She is truly talented! Best of luck to her on all her future endeavors!

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Embassy Information

Kuwait Bhavans, champions at UN simulation conference

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ompeting against twenty Indian schools of UAE and other outstation schools in the Gulf, Indian Educational School bagged the prestigious overall championship at a competition held at ‘Our Own Indian School’ Dubai a GEMS group of schools in UAE. The students Bharat Ganesh of class X, Mythri Murthi and Siddarth Sriram of Class XI left a thronging audience spell bound when their names were called out as winners in six categories out of nine in a day long UN session held in the school. A thunderous applause transcended the auditorium and sent ripples of excitement once again when ‘Indian Educational School’ bagged the championship award for the second consecutive year. The Consul General of Mexico, The Consul General of Malaysia and other dignitaries from the ministries were among those who graced this occasion.

The United Nations Simulation Conference was started in Our Own Indian School, Dubai, and UAE in the year 2006 and it has grown to be a mega event. The objective of the Simulation is to seek through discussion, negotiation and debate, suggestions to various existing international issues. The participants prepare draft resolutions, position papers, negotiate with supporters and adversaries and navigate the UN’s rules and procedures. The students get to experience a Simulation UN session and learn how they, too, could contribute to make a difference in the world.

Bharat Ganesh represented ‘India’ in the UN mock General Assembly and bagged the first prize for the ‘Best country profile’ as well as for the ‘Best draft resolution’. He was the second runner up in the ‘Best Speech Category. He is well known for his Oratory and captivated the audience all through the session.

Siddarth Sriram was the first runner up for his draft resolutions and position papers. He represented India in the mock ‘Security Council’ session.

Siddarth, the Vice-Head boy of our school captured the attention of the delegates with his powerful and commanding voice while negotiating in moderated and un-moderated caucus. Both Bharat and Siddarth took part in last year’s competition as well and made us feel proud of their achievements.

Mythri Murthi won the Second Runner up prize for her draft resolutions.

She represented China in the mock UNESCO Session. A debutant this year, she proved her mettle in defending her country when confronted with ‘out of the box’ questions on China’s stand on Euthanasia, freedom of expression etc.

A month long preparation doing research and preparing position papers on topics like Climate Change,

Euthanasia, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse, Gender Equality and so on... made the students experience something very unique ....putting themselves in emergency situations as young diplomats using every opportunity available to represent their country at an international level. The panacea for the state of affairs would be the “coming of stage’ of a generation of global citizens who are sensitive, receptive, equipped with knowledge of history and share a common perspective of a peaceful future. It is also an announcement of the arrival for the leaders of tomorrow as well as their ability and willingness to take center stage. The Chairman, Principal, staff and students of IES are indeed truly proud of the achievements of these wonderful children for bringing laurels to their esteemed institution. This is yet another feather on the cap of Bhavans, Kuwait!

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form.

All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed.

To ensure that the most recent version of the Temporary Resident Visa application form is being utilized, applicants should refer to the CIC website. As of January 15, 2011, forms are to be filled in electronically. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

The forms are available on the internet at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/form s/IMM5257E.PDF. A guide explaining the process can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/5256E.PDF. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (AlBabtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA

EDA celebrates Onam 2011

The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy.

We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area Block 6 - Street 9 - Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316.

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rnakulam District Association Kuwait celebrated Onam 2011 on Friday, November 4 at Indian Community Sr Girls High School, Salmiya. The function commenced with Mahabali Thampuran accompanied by chenda melam and pulikali and our chief guest was invited to the stage. EDA Secretary Madhu Warrier rendered the welcome speech followed by Roy Yoyaki’s presidential address to the function.

The chief guest of honor for the program was our Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta who’s inaugural address instilled vigor into the audience and added the ambience to the program. He reiterated the importance of registering the details of all Indians living in Kuwait to the Indian Embassy’s new registration portal.

EDA patron E D Titus, BEC Exchange managing director, together with the Souvenir Committee convener Balakrishnan Mallya released the

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Onam 2011 souvenir. Other chief guests of the function included Rajan Daniel, Hon Secretary, Indian Community School, Pancily Varkey, Country Head, UAE Exchange, K.G. Abraham, NBTC Managing Director, event convener Baburaj Palluruthy, Onam program convener Bipin Madhavan and Anil Kumar PK, and Vanitha Vedi convener Litty Babu brought grandeur to the function.

During the function, M. Mathews, Managing Director, was also felicitat-

ed. This was followed by vote of thanks by Gigi Mathan, treasurer of EDA. Geo Mathai, general coordinator EDA, took special care of all VIPs, guests and EDA members and their families.

The stage programs started with prayer song followed by Ranga Pooja.

Various traditional dance and art forms where performed by the EDA members and their families that brought back the traditional flavor of Onam festival. Dance forms such as

Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Thiruvathira, fusion dance and cinematic dance were performed by various senior and junior artists. Folk songs and other songs also added glory to the function. The occasion was made more enchanting with a comedy skit.

EDA also arranged an Onam Sadya with a variety of traditional Kerala dishes. The celebration concluded with a rocking and melodious ganamela.

Awami Seschsasebak League observe ‘Jail Killing Day’

B

angladesh Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter observed the mournful 3rd November ‘Jail Killing Day’ one of the darkest episodes of Bangladesh national history. After the tragic 15th August, 1975 enemies of the Bengali nation being conspired by General Zia had brutally murdered the four national leaders who were very close associates of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka central Jail. Since then the tragic event is being observed by the nation in solemn remembrance of the martyr heroes who were next to Bangabandhu in politi-

cal rank and file.

Accordingly the day was observed by Bangladesh Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter too through discussion meeting and prayer mahfil. Bangladesh Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter President Masud Karim presided over the event. Abdus Subhan General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Kuwait chapter attended the event as chief guest. Among the special guests were respectively Awami Foundation president Rafiqul Islam bhulu, Monthly Morulekha editor Abdur Rouf Mowla, Columnist Au Azam, Joybangla Cultural

Group GS Hasan Ali, Ekushe Bangla editor Jahangir Hussain Bablu, Bangladesh United

media group Kuwait GS Salim Reza, Bangladesh Reporters Unity Kuwait President Mom

Uddin Sumon, GS Sheikh Ahsanul Hoque Khokon, Friday Forum Kuwait President Tohidul

Islam Harun. Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter Vice-President Bahar

Uddin presented the event that commenced with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran recited by Moulana Nurul Huda.

One minute silence was observed in honor of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of 3rd November.

Awami Seschsasebak league Kuwait chapter President Masud Karim in his concluding speech emphasized that the horrendous jail killing was directly linked with the conspiracy against the then newly independent Bangladesh. The event ended in prayer mahfil seeking divine grace for the martyrs’ soul.

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PERU The Embassy of Peru is located at Al-Arablya Tower, Sharq, Ahmed Al-Jaber Street, on the 6th Floor. In the same place, as a part of the Chancellery of the Embassy of Peru in Kuwait, also is located the Showing Room of “PeruExpoTour, Trade & Invest.” nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” - (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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05:45 06:35 07:30 08:00 08:40 10:40 11:30 12:15 13:00 13:50 15:50 16:40 17:25 18:10 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:45 21:35 22:25 23:10

00:50 01:45 02:40 03:35 04:30 05:25 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:50 14:45 15:40 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:25 19:20 20:15 20:40 21:10 22:05 23:00 23:55

Maneaters Animal Cops Houston Planet Earth Bad Dog Maneaters Dogs 101: Specials Animal Cops Houston Animal ER Monkey Life The Really Wild Show Natural Born Hunters Jeff Corwin Unleashed Breed All About It Dogs vs. Cats Dogs 101: Specials Animal Cops Houston Pit Bulls And Parolees Wild Africa Rescue Animal Cops Houston Planet Earth Monkey Life The Really Wild Show Natural Born Hunters Jeff Corwin Unleashed Dogs 101: Specials America’s Cutest...

Monkey Life Breed All About It Dogs 101 Planet Earth Big Five Challenge Untamed & Uncut

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:05 02:50 03:40 04:10 04:40 04:50 05:00 05:15 05:20 05:40 06:00 06:10 06:20 06:35 06:40 07:00 07:10 07:30 07:40 07:50 08:05 08:10 08:30 08:40 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:35 09:50 10:10 10:20 10:40 11:40 12:25 13:15 13:45 14:15 15:10 16:40 17:30 18:15 18:45 19:15 20:10 21:00 21:45 22:15 22:45 23:40

Blackadder The Third 2 Point 4 Children 2 Point 4 Children The Weakest Link: S10: Set 2 Holby City: Set 1 Doctors: Set 2 2 Point 4 Children 3rd & Bird: set 01 Bobinogs Boogie Beebies: Set 4 The Adventures Of Spot Me Too: Set 1 Fimbles: Set 2 3rd & Bird: set 01 Bobinogs Boogie Beebies: Set 4 Spot’s Musical Adventures Me Too: Set 1 Charlie & Lola: Set 2 Fimbles: Set 2 3rd & Bird: set 01 Bobinogs Boogie Beebies: Set 4 The Adventures Of Spot Me Too: Set 1 Charlie & Lola: Set 1 Fimbles: Set 2 3rd & Bird: set 01 Bobinogs Boogie Beebies: Set 4 The Adventures Of Spot Me Too: Set 1 Charlie & Lola: Set 1 Fimbles: Set 2 2 Point 4 Children The Weakest Link: S10: Set 2 New Tricks Doctors: Set 2 Eastenders: set 253 Holby City: Set 1 2 Point 4 Children New Tricks The Weakest Link: S10: Set 2 Doctors: Set 2 Eastenders: set 253 Holby City: Set 1 New Tricks The Weakest Link: S10: Set 2 Doctors: Set 2 Eastenders: set 253 Holby City: Set 1 Conviction

00:00 01:35 02:25 03:15 04:55

Gok’s Fashion Fix Come Dine With Me What Not To Wear Gok’s Fashion Fix Come Dine With Me

What Not To Wear Gok’s Fashion Fix The Naked Chef Fantasy Homes By The Sea Daily Cooks Challenge Antiques Roadshow Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Bargain Hunt Come Dine With Me Daily Cooks Challenge Antiques Roadshow Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Bargain Hunt Come Dine With Me Ching’s Kitchen James Martin’s Brittany Eating In The Sun Come Dine With Me Antiques Roadshow Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds Bargain Hunt

00:00 BBC World News America 00:30 Hardtalk 01:00 BBC World News 01:30 World Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News America 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Sport Today 07:00 Newsday 07:30 Hardtalk 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report 11:45 Sport Today 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 Hardtalk 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 World Business Report 14:45 Sport Today 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 BBC World News 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 21:30 World Business Report 21:45 Sport Today 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 23:30 World Business Report 23:45 Sport Today

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35

The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:20 12:35 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:20 14:45 15:15 15:40 16:05 16:30 16:55 17:20 Doo 17:45 18:10 19:45 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:55

The Garfield Show New Yogi Bear Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Tom & Jerry The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Dexters Laboratory Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Top Cat Wacky Races Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory

00:15 Samurai Jack 00:40 Megas XLR 01:05 Robotboy 01:30 Squirrel Boy 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Cramp Twins 02:45 Chop Socky Chooks 03:10 Best Ed 03:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Generator Rex 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 05:40 Chowder 05:55 Powerpuff Girls 06:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:55 I Am Weasel 07:20 Squirrel Boy 07:45 Cow & Chicken 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:04 Cow & Chicken 08:25 Angelo Rules 08:50 Best Ed 09:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 09:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 10:05 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 10:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 10:55 Cow & Chicken 11:20 I Am Weasel 11:35 Adventure Time 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 12:50 The Secret Saturdays 13:15 Samurai Jack 13:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 14:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:30 Skunk Fu! 14:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 15:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 15:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 16:05 Camp Lazlo 16:30 Chowder 16:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 17:25 Cow & Chicken 17:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 18:15 I Am Weasel 18:40 George Of The Jungle 19:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 19:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 19:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 20:20 Generator Rex

FIGHTING ON OSN ACTION HD

20:45 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 21:10 Hero 108 21:35 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 22:00 Total Drama Action 22:25 Adventure Time 22:50 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:50 The Secret Saturdays

00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 The Situation Room 03:00 World Report 04:00 Anderson Cooper 360 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 Quest Means Business 07:00 World Sport 07:30 African Voices 08:00 World Report 08:30 Backstory 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Report 11:00 World Sport 11:30 Inside Africa 12:00 World Business Today 13:00 American Morning: Wake-Up Call 13:30 World’s Untold Stories 14:00 World One 15:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 16:00 News Stream 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 The Brief 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 21:00 International Desk 21:30 World’s Untold Stories 22:00 Quest Means Business 23:00 Piers Morgan Tonight

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Swamp Brothers Dual Survival Overhaulin’ Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Do They Do It? Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Scrappers Pit Bulls And Parolees LA Ink Ultimate Survival Dual Survival Swamp Brothers Cash Cab Us Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Scrappers How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Cash Cab Us LA Ink Animal Cops South Africa Pit Bulls And Parolees

00:40 The Gadget Show 01:05 The Tech Show 01:35 Mighty Ships 02:25 Green Wheels 02:50 Things That Move 03:40 Brainiac 04:35 The Gadget Show 05:25 How Stuff’s Made 05:50 Mighty Ships 06:40 Stuntdawgs 07:10 Nextworld 08:00 Thunder Races 08:50 Race To Mars 09:40 The Tech Show 10:10 Weird Connections 10:35 The Gadget Show 11:25 Nextworld 12:20 Sci-Fi Science 12:45 How Stuff’s Made 13:15 Things That Move 14:05 Race To Mars 14:55 Stuntdawgs 15:20 Green Wheels 15:50 Mighty Ships 16:40 Weird Connections 17:05 Thunder Races 18:00 Brainiac 18:50 Sci-Fi Science 19:15 The Tech Show 19:40 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 21:20 Powering The Future 22:10 The Gadget Show 23:00 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman

00:00 00:25 01:15 02:00 02:50 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:00 06:20 Cody 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:15 09:25 09:35 09:50 10:15 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Replacements Emperor’s New School Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Cars Toons Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Imagination Movers Phineas And Ferb Emperor’s New School Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie

13:10 Hannah Montana 13:30 Suite Life On Deck 13:55 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:20 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 14:55 Good Luck Charlie 15:20 Phineas And Ferb 15:45 Fish Hooks 16:10 Shake It Up 16:35 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 17:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 17:25 Good Luck Charlie 17:50 Fish Hooks 18:15 Shake It Up 18:45 Suite Life On Deck 19:35 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Emperor’s New School 20:25 Fish Hooks 20:50 Hannah Montana 21:15 Sonny With A Chance 21:35 Good Luck Charlie 22:00 Shake It Up 22:25 Suite Life On Deck 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 23:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 E!es 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 25 Most Sensational Hollywood Meltdowns 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Kendra 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Giuliana & Bill 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Khloe And Lamar 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Kendra 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami

00:40 01:30 02:15 03:05 04:40 05:25 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:25 11:10 11:35 11:55 Jones 12:40 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:25 15:50 Jones 16:35 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:45 20:10 20:55 21:20 Jones 22:10 23:00 23:50

Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Crime Scene Psychics Nightmare Next Door Dr G: Medical Examiner Crime Scene Psychics Ghost Lab Mystery ER FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Couples Who Kill Deadly Women

00:00 Ultimate Traveller 01:00 Banged Up Abroad 02:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 03:00 Going Bush 03:30 Deadliest Journeys 04:00 By Any Means 05:00 Endurance Traveller 06:00 Ultimate Traveller 07:00 Banged Up Abroad 08:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 09:00 Going Bush 09:30 Deadliest Journeys 10:00 By Any Means 11:00 Endurance Traveller 12:00 Ultimate Traveller 13:00 Meet The Natives: USA 14:00 Banged Up Abroad 15:00 Graham’s World 15:30 Deadliest Journeys 16:00 Amazing Adventures of A Nobody 16:30 Which Way To 17:30 Earth Tripping 18:00 Adventure Wanted 19:00 Meet The Natives: USA 20:00 Banged Up Abroad 21:00 Graham’s World 21:30 Deadliest Journeys 22:00 Amazing Adventures of A Nobody 22:30 Which Way To 23:30 Earth Tripping

00:15 The Haunting Of Molly Hartley-PG15 02:15 Maximum Risk-18 04:00 Windtalkers-PG15 06:15 Across The Hall-PG15 08:00 Star Trek: Generations-PG15 10:00 Fast Lane-PG15 12:00 Stonehenge ApocalypsePG15 14:00 Star Trek: Generations-PG15 16:00 The Librarian: The Curse Of Judas Chalice-PG15 18:00 Stonehenge ApocalypsePG15 20:00 S.W.A.T.: Firefight-PG15 22:00 Fighting-PG15

01:00 The Last Station-PG15 03:00 Bustin’ Down The Door-PG15 05:00 Easy Virtue-PG15 07:00 Easy A-PG15 09:00 Bustin’ Down The Door-PG15 11:00 Alabama Moon-PG15 13:00 My Son, My Son, What Have You Done?-PG15

ALABAMA MOON ON OSN CINEMA 14:45 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Paper Man-PG15 The Tempest-PG15 Jack Goes Boating-PG15 I Melt With You-PG15 Perrier’s Bounty-18

00:00 The Ricky Gervais Show 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 South Park 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 02:30 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 03:00 Friends 03:30 Friends 04:00 According To Jim 05:30 Dharma And Greg 06:00 Weird Science 06:30 Just Shoot Me 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 According To Jim 08:30 Friends 09:00 Dharma And Greg 09:30 The League 10:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 Just Shoot Me 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Yes Dear 12:30 According To Jim 13:00 Friends 13:30 Dharma And Greg 14:00 Just Shoot Me 14:30 The League 15:00 How I Met Your Mother 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Yes Dear 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:30 The League 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Bored To Death 22:30 Entourage 23:00 South Park 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Desperate Housewives Boardwalk Empire Top Gear (US) Revenge Alias Good Morning America Detroit 1-8-7 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Desperate Housewives Revenge Alias Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice House Big Love Detroit 1-8-7

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

The Closer Top Gear (US) Boardwalk Empire Desperate Housewives Revenge The Good Guys The Closer Outsourced Coronation Street Bones Top Gear (US) Desperate Housewives Revenge Outsourced Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Bones The Closer Outsourced

16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Bones 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:00 Private Practice 21:00 House 22:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior 23:00 The Good Guys

01:00 02:45 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Ong Bak 2-PG15 Windtalkers-PG15 Bad Guys-18 No Time To Fear-PG15 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 King Arthur-PG15 Raising Cain-PG15 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 Secret Window-PG15 Rocky II-PG15 Fighting-PG15 Dead Snow-PG15

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 PG15 08:00 PG15 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Ball & Chain-PG15 Head Over Heels-PG15 Big Fat Liar-PG I’ll Be Home For Christmas-

02:15 04:15 06:00 07:45 09:30 PG15 11:30 13:30 15:15 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

In America-18 Rudo Y Cursi-PG15 Robin Hood (1991)-PG15 Astro Boy-FAM Squanto: A Warrior’s TalePreacher’s Kid-PG Teen Knight-PG15 Hachiko: A Dog’s Story-PG15 Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM The Two Escobars-PG15 The Clearing-18 The Vintner’s Luck-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Sweetest Thing-18 Salt-PG15 Furry Vengeance-PG Post Grad-PG15 Flash Of Genius-PG15 50 First Dates-PG15 Love N’ Dancing-PG15 Alabama Moon-PG15 Flash Of Genius-PG15 Knight And Day-PG15 The Clearing-18 Shutter Island-18

It’s A Wonderful AfterlifeRoommates-PG15 Finding Lenny-PG15 Leave It To Beaver-PG Ball & Chain-PG15 The Making Of Plus One-PG15 A Guy Thing-PG15 Tomcats-18

00:00 Winner & The Gold Child: Part II-PG15 02:00 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG 04:00 Young Fisherman-PG 05:30 The Country Bears-PG 07:45 Last Of The Mohicans-PG 10:00 Ramona And Beezus-PG 12:15 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG 14:00 Turtle Hero: Part I-FAM 16:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 18:00 Ramona And Beezus-PG 20:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 22:00 A Christmas Carol-PG

01:45 City Of Life-PG15 04:00 Glorious 39-PG15 06:15 How To Go Out On A Date In Queens-PG15 08:00 Phoebe In Wonderland-PG 09:45 Glorious 39-PG15 12:00 School Of Rock-PG15 14:00 Coyote County Loser-PG15 15:45 Phoebe In Wonderland-PG 17:45 Another Year-PG15 20:00 The Kid-18 22:00 Legend Of The Guardians-PG 00:00 Powerboats F1 World Champs 01:00 Powerboats F1 World Champs 02:00 Rugby League 4 Nations

04:00 06:00 07:00 09:30 10:00 12:00 13:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 22:30 23:00

Rugby League 4 Nations Trans Word Sport Super League Formula Aquabikes WWE SmackDown Trans Word Sport Rugby League 4 Nations Powerboats F1 World Champs Powerboats F1 World Champs Speedway UFC 139 Countdown Premier League Snooker Aquabike World Champs UFC 139 Countdown

02:00 Futbol Mundial 02:30 Golfing World 03:30 European Challenge Cup 05:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 06:30 ICC Cricket World 07:00 Darts 11:00 Rugby League 4 Nations 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 European Challenge Cup 16:00 ICC Cricket World 16:30 Rugby League 4 Nations 18:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 19:00 Golfing World 20:00 Beach Volley Ball 20:30 Futbol Mundial 21:00 Trans World Sport 22:00 Live Darts

00:00 Rugby League 4 Nations 02:00 Premier League Snooker 05:30 Futbol Mundial 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 09:00 SPL Highlights 09:30 Equestrian World 10:00 Spirit of Yachting 10:30 Golfing World 11:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 12:30 Darts Grand Slam 16:30 Premier League Snooker 20:00 Golfing World 21:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 22:00 Futbol Mundial 22:30 RWC 2011 Tournament Highlights

00:00 UFC 139 Countdown 01:00 WWE Tough Enough 02:00 WWE Vintage Collection 03:00 WWE SmackDown 05:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE NXT 08:00 WWE SmackDown 10:00 V8 Supercars 11:30 Powerboats 12:30 Powerboats Highlights 13:00 Super Formula 15:30 WWE SmackDown 17:30 V8 Supercars 19:00 UFC 22:00 UFC Total Ultimate Fighter Season 23:00 UFC Countdown

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:30 23:00

Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Lost Worlds Ice Road Truckers Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Lost Worlds Ice Road Truckers Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Lost Worlds Ice Road Truckers Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Ax Men IRT: Deadliest Roads Lost Worlds Pawn Stars Pawn Stars American Pickers

Classifieds TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in a 2 bedroom, 2 toilets, new building, in Farwaniya. For Indians only, for couple, single working ladies, executive bachelors.

Contact: 66625901.(C 3733) 15-11-2011 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near Integrated Indian School, Highland supermarket building, Keralite family.

Contact: 99379252.

(C 3732) 14-11-2011 Sharing accommodation available in new Riggae with Indian family in two bedroom flat C-A/C building. Contact: 66545906.

(C 3731) 13-11-2011

Sharing accommodation available for a single family with a family in two bedroom, hall, two toilet in Abbassiya, opp United Indian School.

Call: 99170268. (C 3730) 10-11-2011 Sharing accommodation available for Indian bachelors in old Riggae sector, St 1. Contact: 97525930.

(C 3728) Sharing accommodation available for Indian couple

FOR SALE For sale Mitsubishi Lancer GLX 2002 (red); mileage 225K, alloy wheels, all new original parts, excellent condition. Price: KD 1,050.

Contact: 66857416 13-11-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 15/11/2011 Flt Route

Time

JZR RBG JZR ETH THY UAE QTR OMA DHX MSR FDB ETD RJA GFA KAC DHX FAH JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA IRA JZR MEA MSR MSR JZR KAC GFA KAC FDB

185 3564 539 620 772 853 138 641 370 612 67 305 642 211 544 170 201 555 529 416 157 412 503 206 53 352 302 332 284 855 125 132 55 301 605 213 619 165 404 623 610 201 672 219 512 57

0:20 0:40 0:50 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:50 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:10 3:15 4:40 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:20 6:25 6:40 6:45 7:25 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:35 9:45 9:55 10:50 11:20 11:55 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:40 13:50

DUBAI ASSIUT CAIRO ADDIS ABABA ISTANBUL DUBAI DOHA MUSCAT BAHRAIN CAIRO DUBAI ABU DHABI AMMAN BAHRAIN CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA ASSIUT JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR LONDON MANILA/BANGKOK LUXOR ISLAMABAD DUBAI COCHIN MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DHAKA DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA DUBAI ABU DHABI ISFAHAN BAHRAIN LAR DUBAI BEIRUT SOHAG CAIRO DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN TEHRAN DUBAI

UAL VOS QTR KNE SVA KAC RJA KAC JZR QTR KAC JZR JZR ETD GFA SVA ABY JZR RBG ALK FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC JAI OMA MLR DHX MEA GFA QTR UAE JZR KLM AIC JZR UAL AXB BBC DLH

982 93 140 745 500 546 640 562 257 134 678 561 213 303 215 510 127 777 3561 227 63 502 542 787 786 618 674 744 166 104 774 61 552 572 647 1405 372 402 217 136 859 135 443 981 239 981 389 43 636

WASHINGTON DC DULLES KANDAHAR/DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA AMMAN AMMAN BEIRUT DOHA ABU DHABI/MUSCAT SOHAG DEIREZZOR ABU DHABI BAHRAIN RIYADH SHARJAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA COLOMBO/DUBAI DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO RIYADH JEDDAH DOHA DUBAI DAMMAM PARIS/ROME LONDON RIYADH DUBAI DAMASCUS MUMBAI MUSCAT COLOMBO/DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/HYDERABAD/AHMEDABAD AMMAN BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE DHAKA FRANKFURT

14:05 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:30 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:25 15:30 16:10 16:45 16:50 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:10 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50

Airlines UAL AIC BBC JZR PIA DLH RBG ETH THY FDB UAE OMA DHX MSR ETD QTR JZR GFA RJA JZR KAC FDB BAW KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC JZR KAC UAE ABY FDB QTR ETD GFA IRA JZR KAC IRA KAC JZR MEA KAC MSR KAC MSR

Departure Flights Tuesday 15/11/2011 Flt Route 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 976 GOA/CHENNAI 44 DHAKA 502 LUXOR 240 SIALKOT 637 FRANKFURT 3562 ALEXANDRIA 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 642 MUSCAT 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 200 DAMASCUS 545 ALEXANDRIA 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 677 ABU DHABI/MUSCAT 671 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 511 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 560 SOHAG 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 212 DEIREZZOR 165 ROME/PARIS 618 LAR 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 624 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO

Time 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:05 1:10 1:20 1:25 2:45 3:15 3:45 3:50 3:55 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:30 7:40 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:05 10:10 10:20 10:40 10:45 10:50 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:15 12:55 13:00 13:30 13:40 13:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

GFA KAC FDB KAC KNE UAL RJA SVA KAC JZR KAC QTR KAC JZR ETD JZR QTR GFA ABY RBG SVA JZR ALK FDB JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA MLR KAC DHX MEA GFA FAH KAC QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC KLM JZR KAC

220 551 58 673 746 982 641 501 617 786 773 141 743 238 304 538 135 216 128 3563 511 134 228 64 184 283 361 62 343 171 351 571 648 1405 543 373 403 218 102 381 137 301 554 860 205 443 528 411

BAHRAIN DAMASCUS DUBAI DUBAI JEDDAH BAHRAIN AMMAN JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH RIYADH DOHA DAMMAM AMMAN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA BAHRAIN SHARJAH ASSIUT RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI/COLOMBO DUBAI DUBAI DHAKA COLOMBO DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN COCHIN MUMBAI MUSCAT COLOMBO CAIRO BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN DUBAI DELHI DOHA MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI ISLAMABAD BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM ASSIUT BANGKOK/MANILA

14:20 14:40 14:50 15:05 15:10 15:20 15:35 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:25 16:30 16:40 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:35 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:15 20:20 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:35 23:55

34

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 498

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are relentless about cutting through appearances and finding the essential in situations. This could involve legal or financial matters. A heightened interest in getting things organized into a rational system is a part of this. There is much mental busywork. A time of good fortune will begin to open up in a very natural way for you. It will become easy to see the path you will take.

Because of new opportunities, you may find yourself energized and ready to participate. With your determination to succeed, the time will soon be right to take the lead.

You may be able to enjoy and value your own life situation or feel especially kind towards a friend or loved one this evening. If the weather is good, you might enjoy a walk with a loved one after the evening meal.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is a challenging day in that there is much to be accomplished. You may be especially dynamic and assertive just now. You are helpful with coworkers and, if asked, can give plenty of suggestions or ideas to others. Right now, the key to career moves involves tending to nagging details— whatever you have neglected and put off before today. Take a deep breath and dig in to the work at hand. A good work ethic is rewarded. Do your share to ensure smooth sailing on the job. Attention to matters of efficiency is important. There is a lot of energy available to push forward with your personal plans this afternoon. Close relationships offer a lot of potential for growth this evening. You are able to create many healings with your input.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes.

4. A genus of orb-weaving spiders including common garden spiders and barn spiders.

10. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

13. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

14. Philippine tree similar to the breadfruit tree bearing edible fruit.

15. A slight amount or degree of difference.

16. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

18. Failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to.

19. Lower in esteem.

21. A French abbot.

22. Being one more than two.

23. United States naval officer and historian (1840-1914).

24. (informal) Of the highest quality.

25. A small nail.

27. Any of several white wines from the Rhine River valley in Germany (`hock' is British usage).

34. A Turkish unit of weight equal to about 2.75 pounds.

36. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

38. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

39. An oral cephalosporin (trade names Keflex and Keflin and Keftab) commonly prescribe for mild to moderately severe infections of the skin or ears or throat or lungs or urinary tract.

41. A port city in southwestern Iran.

43. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest.

44. Small creeping evergreen shrubs.

45. Scottish sea captain who was hired to protect British shipping in the Indian Ocean and then was accused of piracy and hanged (1645-1701).

47. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

48. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

51. Any loose flowing garment.

57. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

61. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

62. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

63. A member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who once had a culture characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy.

64. The compass point midway between south and southeast.

65. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

66. A signal transmitted along a narrow path.

DOWN 1. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

2. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

3. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

4. Before noon.

5. Tall perennial herb of tropical Asia with dark green leaves.

6. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

7. A republic in southwestern Africa on the south Atlantic coast (formerly called South West Africa).

8. Half the width of an em.

9. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

10. A state in the western United States.

11. An independent group of closely related Chadic languages spoken in the area between the Biu-Mandara and East Chadic languages.

12. Chief port of Yemen.

17. An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape.

20. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

26. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion.

28. An endorsement.

29. A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold.

30. A person forced to flee from home or country.

31. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

32. (Scottish) Bluish-black or gray-blue.

33. A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart.

35. Gully or streambed in North Africa and the Middle East that remains dry except during rainy season.

37. Dwell (archaic).

40. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh.

42. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

46. Any of numerous low-growing cushion-forming plants of the genus Draba having rosette-forming leaves and terminal racemes of small flowers with scapose or leafy stems.

49. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

50. United States poet and critic (1899-1979).

52. Large elliptical brightly colored deep-sea fish of Atlantic and Pacific and Mediterranean.

53. A small cake leavened with yeast.

54. (Scotland) A slope or hillside.

55. Common Indian weaverbird.

56. Winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge.

58. A knockout declared by the referee who judges one boxer unable to continue.

59. A recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs.

60. The executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You should find everything running in a smooth manner today. Ideas and interaction with authority figures may be in the forecast. Working with rather than against the flow should be easy to do. Outer circumstances and the flow of events make it easy for you to make clear decisions—see the road ahead and move forward. Things seem to fall into place— progress is easy. Be careful not to overextend. Sometimes you say yes too quickly and may hastily try to get too many things accomplished at once. Give yourself time to consider the long-term consequences. Partnerships, personal relationships or the social scene in general can have a very decided influence on your career and workplace. You will gain from networking.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You have an urge to strike out on your own in a new direction, to take on new challenges no matter what the risks. You can be bold, perhaps headstrong and impatient. This is a period emphasizing an enhanced sense of personal possibility and potential. There is tremendous psychological growth, which can lead to great personal success, if you follow through with it. You might also find that you will put on the pounds if you are not careful. There is a bout of philosophy or even a little religion now that could have an enormous effect on your career during this time. Lasting values can guide you now; you are opening up avenues that have remained blocked. There is support all around you for whatever you want to accomplish today.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Keep a positive outlook through a challenging dilemma in the workplace today. You may not have all the facts at this time so make sure you remove any judgments. Give yourself time and you will have the answers you need. Your intuition is strong and can guide you accurately in making forecasts or decisions. Hard work and going beyond the call of duty are par for the course today. Friendships and involvement in group activities play a more important part for you this afternoon. Friends are our only true riches and the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing things in cooperation with others is something no one can take away from you. A good conversation with those you love is possible this evening.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is a good time to concentrate on your career goals. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be what guides you and proves successful. Your career could assume a more determined and solid form. There is certainly an abundance of paper work to wade through today. You may think that few people recognize your efforts or accomplishments but instead, there are people that know and appreciate your work. You should, however, throw your efforts into work you really love doing. A majority of planets in the PAST have pointed to some sort of comfort zone for you. Now, you will find yourself seeking more challenging and outgoing projects. You enjoy sharing quality time with a loved one this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) The support you need for whatever you want to accomplish is now available. This is the time to make your request. You could gain attention with superiors or in relation to your work. As you work to enhance the value of your service, you will enhance your job potential. You may find that you enjoy your job or the responsibility it entails more than usual. Circumstances may stimulate the enjoyment of your life situation now. Your ethics deepen, providing you with a better sense of discrimination. That purchasing eye of yours is fine-tuned; others may find you selecting the best buys. This is the time of year you enjoy shopping and a view in several shop windows will give you an idea of where you want to shop in the near future. Lists are good.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Someone important or in authority may put a damper on your ideas. Since you are good at creative thinking, there are many more ideas where these came from. Take this as an opportunity to reassess and revamp your thinking. Listen carefully, there may or may not be important points to ponder.

Your efforts will not go unnoticed. Your work environment is usually the most practical of environments. You can manipulate every situation and put it to good use. Emotions are seldom a priority and you are always very practical and ambitious. Your career is central to everything you do. Farsighted and traditional, you enjoy success and the successful. Obtaining and exchanging information takes on more emotional significance for you now.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

Expressing your views regarding some subject matter may be a bit touchy today. You have a sense for power, wealth and passion.

Yours is indeed a passionate life. You are not at all superficial and you always seem to get to the heart of things. This is good for business and politics but can sometimes be construed as insensitive; listen and learn. You will succeed best if you ask for feedback from those with whom you have been teaching or helping. Be wise in your communication with others by agreeing to disagree occasionally. There is a strong sense that new things need experiencing. You may be planning your next vacation—the fun is in the prep work. For the time being you might consider a stay-vacation or a nearby tourist attraction.

This is a great time to work and be with others. An authority figure may seek you out as just the person for a particular job. This is a busy but rewarding workday. Fondness and appreciation for the past and for your roots in life take on a greater importance. A co-worker friend may have recently done research on his or her family history and is willing to give you suggestions of how to go about this research. You could make plans to meet at a library this weekend or some day after work to gain that information. Making your home situation more attractive plays a part in this and the sale or purchase of real estate could bring you much gain before this cycle ends. There is a chance to have a special time with someone you love. This is a positive time.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) The opposition and blockage you may be experiencing this morning are temporary—really. Cool it and let this one pass. Jot down inventive ideas that come to your mind today as you will have an opportunity to discuss the ideas with a trusted friend later today. The convention center, a lecture hall or some other place for a presentation could be in order today and you, along with several other work partners want to hear the message. Follow your instincts and you will not go wrong today. When you notice a need for assisting another, you are quick to either give help or find help. This is a good time to teach and advertise your favorite charity. You throw yourself into helping other people grow and prosper. Good luck surrounds you this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

This is a period when you take your work more seriously than usual. There is a lot of energy available and you are determined to get things scheduled and organized. The nail that sticks up is hammered down now. Law, politics, education, travel and religion are some of the areas where emotionally charged drama may be played. Seeing both sides of an issue and figuring out resolutions to opposing views take on a greater importance. You can really use your mind to make clear choices and think through situations. Some negotiations may be in order. A new cycle also begins that helps you with the progress of your work. This cycle involves relationships, social connections and the arts—in a more leading role than in the past.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689

36

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

lifest yle G o s s i p

harlize Theron likes being single for the first time in her adult life. The Oscar winning actress tells the December issue of Vogue magazine this is the “first time” she’s been unattached since she was nineteen. She used to go from one relationship to another - some within a month - saying she found a “comfort zone” being monogamous. The 36-year-old Theron dated actor Stuart Townsend for nearly 10 years before their breakup in 2010. She says she pulled back on her career as an effort to save the union

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when the relationship began to go downhill, calling that “the priority” and that she “wouldn’t do it any different way.” Theron is now ready to work with the romantic comedy “Young Adult” written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman. It opens Dec 16. The December issue of Vogue magazine goes on sale Nov 22.

he Oscars came to London Sunday, when the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored British actress Vanessa Redgrave in the first such tribute made in Europe. Playwright David Hare hosted the event at a central London cinema, and stars including Meryl Streep, Ralph Fiennes and James Earl Jones were at the ceremony marking a stage and screen career that has spanned more than 50 years. “Wherever you go in the world, people know and admire Vanessa Redgrave,” Hare said in a statement.

“There are not many consistently brilliant 50year careers in the history of cinema, but hers is one of them.” Hare created three film sequences for the event showcasing Redgrave’s work. The 74-year-old actress, currently appearing alongside Jones in “Driving Miss Daisy” in London’s West End, was born into a famous acting dynasty and began her stage career in the late 1950s. She quickly moved into movies, picking up the first of six Oscar nominations for her appearance in “Morgan!” in 1966. Her sole win was for best supporting actress in “Julia,” and she caused controversy with an acceptance speech in which she attacked a “a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums” who had objected to her involvement in a pro-Palestinian documentary. In addition to the Oscar, Redgrave’s honors include Olivier, Tony, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild and Cannes film festival awards.

She stars in “Anonymous,” currently in cinemas, and the upcoming “Coriolanus.” Redgrave’s “Driving Miss Daisy” co-star Jones, famous to many as the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, received an honorary career Oscar in London Saturday. The 80-year-old did not attend the main US ceremony in person because of his stage commitments in Britain.

Timberlake keeps date for Marine Corps Ball

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ustin Timberlake’s date with a Marine combat instructor on Saturday night was “one of the most moving evenings” of his life, the singerturned-actor said on his website. Keeping his promise to Corporal Kelsey De Santis, Timberlake donned formal wear to escort her to the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Virginia. In a post on his website Sunday, Timberlake noted that he was “almost brought to tears” during a video tribute to Marines. De Santis, who practices mixed martial arts, invited Timberlake to the event via a YouTube video in July. She was inspired to reach out to him after he publicly encouraged Mila Kunis, his “Friends with Benefits” co-star, to accept a similar invitation from a serviceman. “You want to call out my girl Mila?” De Santis said to Timberlake in her video. “Well, I’m going to call you out and ask you to come to the Marine Corps ball with me on Nov. 12.” She added, “If you can’t go, all I have to say is, cry me a river.”

Timberlake said in his post that he and De Santis had ample time to chat before the evening’s ceremony, and that she spoke of her training in mixed martial arts “with a passion, a discipline, and a respect.” He was struck by her concern with his comfort at the ball. “I have to tell you, it’s not every day that I meet a 23-year-old girl and she’s more worried about if I’m having fun or if I’m comfortable!” Timberlake wrote. “It hit me all of a sudden that these were the type of people that look after us and our freedom... Last night changed my life and I will never forget it.” A military wife who attended Saturday’s event at the Richmond Convention Center told local news station WTVR that Timberlake “posed for pictures and seemed like a normal guy.” Kunis, meanwhile, will attend a Marine Corps Ball with Sergeant Scott Moore on Nov. 18 in Greenville, North Carolina.

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Boyle shoots

to top of UK album chart

cottish singer Susan Boyle, a worldwide sensation since appearing on a TV talent show in 2009, shot straight to the top of the British chart on Sunday with her new album, “Someone to Watch Over Me,” the Officials Charts Company said. Boyle, notching up her third No 1 album in a row, has sold some 14 million albums worldwide and has been No 1in 30 countries. Cher Lloyd, 18, an “X Factor” finalist last year, saw her debut album, “Sticks and Stones,” enter the chart at No 4, while The Wanted took the No 5 slot

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with their second album, “Battleground.”

Barbados-born R&B singer Rihanna topped the singles chart with “We Found Love,” featuring Scottish DJ and producer Calvin Harris.

The single bounced back to the top from last week’s No 2 and has now spent four weeks at No 1. Boy band JLS was the highest new entry in the singles chart, at No 2 with “Take a Chance on Me,” the second single from the forthcoming album “Jukebox.”

DiCaprio holds charity bash L eonardo DiCaprio celebrated his 37th birthday by raising $1.3 million for charity. The ‘J Edgar’ star threw a huge bash at New York’s Avenue nightclub on Friday night (11.11.11) to raise money for his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation which funds wildlife-protection projects and provides disaster relief and access to clean water in disaster hit countries such as Haiti.

Stars including Robert De Niro, Ed Norton, Bradley Cooper, Naomi Campbell, Kevin Connolly and Benicio del Toro attended the

party where money was raised through an auction with lots including a 15-litre bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne painted for the 11.11.11-themed event by artist Peter Tunney, which sold for $50,000. Chace Crawford - the ‘Gossip Girl’ co-star of Leonardo’s former girlfriend Blake Lively was also at the party where entertainment was provided by Mark Ronson, Q-Tip, Jus Ske and Miike Snow. Unusually for a showbiz bash, a fee was charged on all drinks bought, including bottles of champagne, which helped to bring in extra funds for Leonardo’s foundation. Leonardo has been linked to a string of models since splitting from Blake earlier this year and is currently said to be smitten with 19-year-old Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss after spotting her at a party. A source said: “He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He walked back and forth three times at the party looking for prospects at the table cluttered with VS models but, after no luck, he settled at the ‘bachelors’ end of the room lady-less.”

ennifer Lopez is reportedly dating dancer Casper Smart. The singer-andactress - who split from her husband of seven years Marc Anthony in July has enjoyed several romantic evenings out with Casper, although friends insist it isn’t serious. One pal told People magazine: “Yes, they are dating and having a good time. They’ve been getting more open with their flirting for weeks. “It’s a fun fling. It’s not meant to turn into anything more.” Casper - who has appeared in ‘Glee’, ‘Step Up 3D’ and ‘How I Met Your Mother’ - joined JLo on Friday night (11.11.11) at one of her concerts. He wrote on his Facebook page: “In Palo Alto Bout to do a show w/ Jennifer Lopez for some1s birthday. (sic)” Jennifer - who has three-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with Marc - was

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rad Pitt says fatherhood has made him more “passionate” about life. The actor who raises six children, Maddox, 10, Pax, seven, Zahara, six, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, with partner Angelina Jolie - wants to create films that will have a lasting impact on his kids since becoming a dad, because movies played such a big part of his life when he was younger. He said: “I am more passionate now that I am a father. It has focused my mind on the kind of work I want to do.

“I think of how movies affected me when I was younger, and how they’ve stayed with me ever since. “Now I want to make films the kids can see and that might stay with them. I want to make films they can be proud of.” The 47-year-old star admits his “shelf life” as an actor is coming to an end, but he still wants to play a “grumpy old dude” in a movie one day. He added to Culture magazine: “I’m bothered less about whether the films I shoot make money. I just want them to have longevity. “We all have a shelf life, and mine is coming - although there are a couple of things I’d still like to do. I am looking forward to playing a foul-mouthed grumpy old dude one day, that’s for sure.”

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recently linked to actor Bradley Cooper and the pair were said to have gone on several dates. The 42-year-old beauty recently admitted she is an “eternal optimist” about romance, despite her marriage break-up, and is confident she will find love again. Jennifer - who has been married three times and had high-profile relationships with P Diddy and Ben Affleck - said: “I really wanted this family to work. That was my biggest dream, and I worked hard at it. We both did. Sometimes it doesn’t work - and that’s sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love . It’s still my biggest dream.”—Agencies

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Aloha: Payne heads to new territory with ‘The Descendants’ t was precisely the kind of day that drives Hawaii’s $10-billion vacation business. The sun sliced through the clouds along the coast of Kauai, a windward breeze blowing across the bay as children played in the warm ocean waters. Alexander Payne couldn’t help but notice the spectacular setting, but as he directed a key scene in “The Descendants” in spring 2010, his cameras were aimed on a far less idyllic sight: a man looking for redemption.

Even though every minute of “The Descendants,” opening in limited release tomorrow, unfolds in the Hawaiian islands, there are no luaus, no hula dancers and no surfing competitions in Payne’s adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings’ obscure but wellreviewed novel of the same name. As in his other tragically comic films-”Citizen Ruth,” “Election,” “About Schmidt” and “Sideways”Payne’s interest rests squarely on the common problems of ordinary, frequently overwhelmed people, and Matt King, a lawyer and soon-tobe single father in “The Descendants,” is an exemplar of the filmmaker’s humanist preoccupation.

When the film opens, King’s wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), is in a coma after a boating accident. Her brain injury prompts an existential crisis in King (George Clooney), who has been absent from his family’s life. Neglected by her husband, Elizabeth has had an extramarital affair with a real estate agent named Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard), and King is similarly estranged from his daughters, the wayward Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and the brokenhearted Scottie (Amara Miller). “I’m the backup parent, the understudy,” King confesses in a voice-over. Suddenly handed a starring role in his own life, he quickly realizes he doesn’t know any of the lines.

King is determined not only to become an engaged father but also a better person, which has brought him to Hanalei Bay in search of Speer, whom he ultimately finds running along the beach, the scene Payne was filming that March day. Any number of movies would have the cuckolded King pummel Speer, expose his dalliance to his family and stomp off with some imagined victory. But Payne said that what drew him to “The Descendants” was that King tracked down his wife’s lover for a selfless reason: so that Speer could return from Kauai to Oahu to say goodbye to Elizabeth before she dies.

“Of course he wants to kill the guy, but this is the right thing to do-an act of love,” Payne said after he filmed the sequence. “I thought that was beautiful, and it intrigued me: Love when you don’t want to, love when it’s very difficult. That’s what made me want to do it.”

In many ways, the finished sequence in Speer’s beachfront bungalow is classic Payne, weaving this way and that with unexpected tonal shifts. “It’s like a coming-of-age film, but the person who is coming of age is a 50-yearold guy,” explained Clooney, who hoped to be cast (but was passed over in favor of Thomas Haden Church) for Payne’s “Sideways.” “There’s a much different kind of vulnerability to this.

This is a character who loses almost every argument,” said the actor, who for the first time since 1996’s “One Fine Day” has a starring

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role as a parent.

“He finds love and forgiveness by accepting his role in his failures,” Clooney said, relaxing between takes by playing football with the cast and crew. (“Make sure you say he rarely throws a tight spiral,” Lillard said, tossing the ball back to his costar.) Like many memorable moments in Payne’s previous films, the meeting between King and Speer is untidy. It’s both amusing and bracing, conciliatory and confrontational. And it’s a scene Payne, one of Hollywood’s few remaining true auteurs, was not originally supposed to direct.

Payne hasn’t made a movie since 2004’s “Sideways,” his popular road movie about friendship and Pinot Noir set in California’s Central Coast. Since then, the 50-year-old film-

and suddenly they ditch it-as dispassionately as if he were discussing lunch. Even though his scripts are extremely literate, he’s remarkably guarded when talking about his work. And he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. At one “Descendants” question-and-answer session, he grew so frustrated with an interviewer’s questions that he began responding monosyllabically.

A graduate of Stanford (Spanish and history), Payne chose UCLA’s film school over Columbia University’s journalism school for his graduate studies. He either prefers to be vague about his movies’ messages or would rather audiences figure them out on their own (or both). “My primary urge is not to express something,” said the director, who is divorced

King part to Brad Pitt and Clooney, and Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) briefly flirted with the project. When “Downsizing” was shelved, Payne reexamined “The Descendants.” “I was desperate to make a film,” he said, even though, unlike his other movies, he had not developed “The Descendants” from the start as his own movie.

“I was so anxious to shoot something.”

Payne nevertheless had several concerns.

Like the book, Faxon and Rash’s script emphasized King’s relationship with 10-year-old Scottie (played by newcomer Miller, 11) and 17-year-old Alexandra (Woodley, 19) in nearly equal measure. Payne’s revisions reoriented the story toward Alexandra, whose problems are greater and insights more knowing.

“I thought that’s where the greater relation-

(From left) George Clooney, Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller star in “The Descendants.” —MCT photos maker directed the pilot for television’s “Hung” and a segment for the episodic feature “Paris, Je T’Aime,” wrote on the Adam Sandler comedy “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” and produced “King of California.” Yet his next movie proved elusive.

For three years, Payne, writing partner Jim Taylor (with whom Payne shared the adapted screenplay Oscar for “Sideways”) and producing colleague Jim Burke developed “Downsizing,” an original idea for a satirical comedy about scientists who shrink themselves to 4 inches tall. Their environmental utopia-imagine how many people one ear of corn could feed-turned out to be a visual effects and budgetary nightmare. Said Burke, “How do you make it look real so you’re not taken out of the movie?”

Payne said the project was further threatened by Hollywood’s recessionary caution.

“Everybody is going to use the global economy to justify their traditional stinginess,” he said. “I realized ‘Downsizing’ would be a little bit of a long road.” Like much of what he says, Payne offers this analysis of an apparently devastating decision-three years working on a movie,

from “Sideways” actress Sandra Oh. “It’s to make a film.”

His influences are eclectic. He said his favorite movie at Labor Day weekend’s Telluride Film Festival, where “The Descendants” made its world premiere, was “Trip to the Moon and Beyond,” a compilation of restored and colorized silent films, including Georges Melies’ famous short about a rocket flying into the moon. When he served as the festival’s guest director two years ago, he selected for special presentation Andre De Toth’s 1959 western “Day of the Outlaw,” Michael Curtiz’s 1950 crime story “The Breaking Point” and Leo McCarey’s 1937 family drama “Make Way for Tomorrow.”

What Payne had to say about the McCarey film in the festival’s film guide goes a long way to explaining his sensibility: “Only a narrative artist capable of comedy is truly capable of pathos.”

Originally adapted by screenwriters Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants” was going to be produced by Payne and Burke’s company, Ad Hominem. Stephen Frears was set to direct at one point, even offering the

ship is-the older daughter. She’s the one who begins petulant and resentful and ends up a team player,” he said, adding that his storytelling preferences also were governed by logistics. “If you work with a minor, you can only work eight-hour days, and who wants to work eight-hour days?” Not Payne, apparently.

He retained the novel’s allegory about an inheritance-King is the sole trustee of a 25,000acre tract of undeveloped land that his relatives want to be turned into a coastal resort, yielding them an unearned windfall of some $500 million. (The novel’s land story is loosely based on the Damon Family Trust, whose assets were recently sold for $860 million and distributed to some 20 heirs.) With King’s sleepwalking through much of his life, his various kin assume he’ll take the path of least resistance and sell. “But he’s just midwifed one death,” Payne said of King’s hesitation. “And he does not want to midwife another.”

Months before he started filming, the director traveled to Hawaii, using novelist Hemmings as a guide. “Hawaii is not my world, and I don’t understand that world,” said Payne, who grew up in Omaha, Neb., the setting for

Blow for Bolshoi as star ballet couple quits

Streep promotes

Thatcher biopicin London ctress Meryl Streep unveiled a poster in London yesterday promoting her upcoming big-screen portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, which one early review described as “magnificent”. When details of the screenplay became public over a year ago, Thatcher’s children were quoted in the press as being “appalled” at the concept.

Questions were also raised as to whether an American actress should play one of the towering figures of British politics. “The Iron Lady”, which hits British cinemas on Jan 6, depicts an ageing Thatcher looking back on the highs and lows of her career and the personal price she paid for power.

Streep attended the photocall against the backdrop of the Houses of Parliament, and was joined by the movie’s director Phyllida Lloyd, who also worked with Streep on the hit musical “Mamma Mia!” The Iron Lady is likely to be a major media talking point over the coming weeks in Britain, where former conservative leader Thatcher is still a divisive figure both revered and reviled by the public. Streep, a two-time Oscar winner and one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses, told the Daily Mail newspaper that playing Thatcher was the biggest role of her career.

“It took a lot out of me, but it was a privilege to play her, it really was,” the 62-year-old was quoted as saying. “It was one of those rare, rare films where I was grateful to be an actor and grateful for the privilege of being able to look at a life deeply with empathy.” Streep added that while she did not agree with many of Thatcher’s policies, “I feel she believed in them and that they came from an honest conviction.”

The right-leaning newspaper’s showbusiness correspondent Baz Bamigboye called Streep’s portrayal “magnificent.

“It’s a performance of towering proportions that sets a new benchmark for acting, a searing interpretation that looks at

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Singer Alecia Moore, also known as Pink, poses on arrival for the world premiere of the movie ‘Happy Feet Two’ in Hollywood on November 13, 2011 in southern California.

Happy Feet Two will be presented in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D, and also in 2D, on November 18, 2011. —AFP

“Citizen Ruth,” “Election” and “About Schmidt.”

Just as he labored in his early work not to depict the Midwest in convenient cliches, he said he wanted to show Hawaii as it is, not as it has been romanticized in tourist board-friendly fare such as “Fifty First Dates,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” or “Blue Crush.” “He wanted to see what it was actually like to live here,” said the island-born Hemmings. She drove him around working class neighborhoods, to markets-to daily life. “He and production designer Jane Ann Stewart wanted to get every single detail right,” she said. “What people wear, what’s on our countertops, what kind of quilts people have.”

In the film’s opening minutes, where King uses a four-letter word to describe his take on the island paradise, “The Descendants” flashes past a few of Hawaii’s infirm, its elderly, its homeless. “I had never seen Hawaii,” Payne said, “in a movie like this.”

At Hanalei Bay, Payne was working closely with Lillard, who was both thrilled and terrified to act for the filmmaker. The veteran of the “Scooby-Doo” movies, videos and television shows was selected over what Lillard recalled “was a room full of Adonises” because Payne not only found his audition the best but also believed that Elizabeth King would be attracted not to someone better looking than Clooney but someone who paid her more attention. “I’ve never seen the ‘Scooby-Doo’ movies anyway,” Payne said.

Though Payne is reluctant to philosophize about his work, anyone who looks at his output can detect recurrent ideas, often variations on estrangement. His protagonists may be less adept at negotiating personal problems than some people, but Payne rarely passes judgment on, or sentimentalizes, their mistakes.

What stands as heroic behavior in his films is someone’s fleeting act of insight-Matthew Broderick’s teacher in “Election” seeing that he doesn’t really know the difference between morals and ethics; Jack Nicholson’s actuary in “About Schmidt” realizing that for all of the calculations he’s made about others’ lives he has not accounted for his own; Paul Giamatti’s “Sideways” oenophile starting to see that his romantic and literary failings are not someone else’s fault.

“You have to judge that there’s an emotional story that feels as if it’s real life but can be told more or less originally.” Payne said, edging up to a theory. For his next feature, “Nebraska,” a road movie about a father and his estranged (of course) son collecting a sweepstakes prize, he was able to persuade Paramount Pictures to let him shoot the film, which he’s now casting, in black and white.

For all of the messiness in King’s life and the unflinching way it depicts his wife dying, “The Descendants” ends on an optimistic note. With consistently strong early support from critics and enthusiastic reception from awards voters, the film has been building momentum as a leading Academy Award contender. But don’t expect holiday cheer. “I just don’t want it to be,” said Payne, “too heartwarming.” His movies, in the end, are not necessarily intended to make you feel good-the more profound goal is just to make you feel. —MCT

ussia’s Bolshoi Theatre was reeling yesterday after two of the most celebrated dancers in world ballet announced they were quitting the company for a lesserknown troupe. Ivan Vasiliev and Natalya Osipova, a real-life couple whose amazing technique and passionate performances have won a worldwide following, have both handed in their notice, Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova told AFP. In a decision that has rocked the ballet world, they are intending to move to the Mikhailovsky Theatre of Saint Petersburg, a well-regarded house that is nonetheless overshadowed in Russia’s second city by the world famous Mariinsky.

The departure of possibly the two greatest attractions in its entire company is a huge blow for the Bolshoi ballet just weeks after it reopened its historic theatre after a painful closure of over half a decade. Novikova indicated that the Bolshoi was stunned by the move and would seek to talk the young pair round. “I hope that in the next two weeks (the legal notice period) they will have a rethink. They are incredible artists who grew up in the Bolshoi. The Bolshoi is open for them and I hope that it will stay their home,” she added. “They are leaving in the season when the historic theatre has reopened.

And not even to the Paris Opera but to the Mikhailovsky Theatre.” The head of the Bolshoi ballet, Sergei Filin, told the RIA Novosti news agency that “nothing had been signed” and the theatre hoped to conduct negotiations with the pair.—AFP

R Meryl Streep attends a photocall for ‘The Iron Lady’ at a central London venue yesterday. —AP

African music stars sing for new Vatican CD hree popular African singers have released a CD in collaboration with Vatican Radio to spread the message of the African Synod and mark the pope’s upcoming trip to Benin, the Vatican said yesterday. The most famous is Congolese rumba musician Papa Wemba-who says he underwent a spiritual conversion while serving time in 2003 for smuggling Congolese nationals into France by pretending they were part of his road crew. He will be joined

by Semba singer and peace promoter Bonga and Fifito from Guinea. The anthology, titled “Africa Tenda Amani!”-meaning “Africa Make Peace!” in Swahili-will be offered to all African bishops and Catholic radio stations before being released for general sale. The songs are inspired by the synod’s themes of justice and reconciliation. Some tracks are accompanied by the voices of the three pontiffs who have travelled to Africa: Paul VI, John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict will travel to Benin on Friday for a short visit, returning home on Sunday.

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Indie drama ‘Melancholia’ opens to robust business ars von Trier’s “Melancholia” opened to $270,000 at 19 locations, representing one of the Danish director’s better premieres. The Magnolia Pictures release, which stars Kirsten Dunst, averaged a strong $14,200 per theater-better than von

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Trier’s “Antichrist,” which debuted with an $11,900 average two years ago and went on to gross $404,122. In “Melancholia,” Dunst plays Justine, a newlywed who suffers from profound depression. Meanwhile, the planet Melancholia is on a collision course with Earth. Among other indie openings this weekend, Werner Herzog’s documentary “Into the Abyss” endured a soft $50,780 debut at 12 locations. The Sundance Selects film focuses on two convicted killers in Texas, one of them on death row. Among indie holdovers, Paramount Vantage’s “Like Crazy,” directed by Drake Doremus, grossed $525,000 in its third weekend. The Sundance award-winning film about a British college student who falls in love with an American expanded from 16 screens to 70, and has grossed about $1 million so far.

Meanwhile, Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” the Fox Searchlight movie starring Elizabeth Olsen, grossed about $490,000 in its fourth week of release. A drama about a young woman who leaves a cult, the movie has so far grossed about $1.7 million. Pedro Almodovar’s scary “The Skin I Live In” took in about $312,300 in its fifth week of release. The Sony Pictures Classics movie went from 78 locations to 91 and has so far grossed $1.7 million. And “Margin Call,” the JC Chandor movie about Wall Street, grossed $595,000 in its fourth weekend. Roadside Attractions’ movie, which stars Kevin Spacy, Zachary Quinto and Stanley Tucci, expanded from 178 locations to 198 and has pulled in $3.4 million to date. —Agencies

File photo shows the Bolshoi Ballet’s Natalia Osipova, playing Kitri, as she dances during a dress rehearsal of ‘Don Quixote’ at the Royal Opera House in London.—AFP

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Handcrafted card makes connection deeper M

ost families have a kid who loves to draw. In the Morris family in rural Pottstown, Pa , that was Pam. When she wasn’t “playing in the dirt and streams,” she was making little thank-you notes, handlettered place cards for holiday dinners, party invitations, and birthday greetings. At 36, she’s Pam Olshefski now, Brian’s wife, and the mother of three girls, 8, 6, and 4. You might argue that as part-time curatorial assistant at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill (no relation to that Morris), she’s still “playing in the dirt and streams.” She’s definitely still making original cards, combining her appreciation for nature with a long-standing affinity for crafts. “It’s not a chore,” she says, of those uncommon little notes. Seriously, who writes personal notes anymore?

Facebook and e-mail, even Twitter, the world’s most trivial telegraph, are layered with thank-yous and happybirthdays and sorry-for-your-losses.

The thoughts may be heartfelt, but they’re expressed so easily and often, their impact is questionable. There’s no question where Olshefski stands.

A user of Facebook and e-mail — Twitter? No, no, no — she believes a handwritten note to mark an occasion or express a thought connects us to friends, family, and community in a deeper, more sustaining way.

“And aren’t those connections and relationships the point of everything?” she asks. Here’s how it works: “When I sit down and write a thoughtful note, it means I took the time to select a note I thought you would really like. It’s about the other person, not about me. “And the note itself becomes something endearing.

People say, ‘Where did you get that?’”

Olshefski says. “I just think it’s a big thing.”

It’s huge for Daniel Post Senning, but you might expect that: He’s the great-great-grandson of Emily Post, sometimes referred to as “the first lady of etiquette,” who wrote the first edition of her influential manners book in 1922.

Senning, website manager at the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vt., is also coauthor with three other great- and great-great-grands (Peggy, Anna, and Lizzie) of the 18th edition of “Emily Post’s Etiquette,” which came out on Oct 18. “I personally feel the medium, the choice you make about the medium to deliver your message, says a great deal,” Senning muses.

“Really, taking that extra time to handwrite a thank-you note or develop your own stationery is a statement.”

Which is: “I’m willing to spend the time to invest in building this relationship. Ultimately, you’re talking about a communication strategy going beyond the customary standard,” he says.

One of Olshefski’s specialties is nature-themed cards, reflective of a childhood spent roaming the farm country near her family’s home in northern Chester County, Pa. “When you went for a walk around the block, it was three miles,” she jokes.

The experience primed her to take all the science courses she could at Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pa., and to study environmental science and biology at Albright College in Reading, Pa. After graduation, she did stream restoration work for the Delaware

Riverkeeper Network, where she also developed a keen interest in plants, especially natives. She has worked for the arboretum, on and off, for the last decade.

Always a crafts person, Olshefski has been a potter, a seamstress, a maker of jewelry, soap, and candles.

For the last five years, her cluttered dining room has doubled as a cardmaking workshop.

There, Olshefski takes rubber or acrylic stamps of leaves, pumpkins, ornamental grasses, flowers, garlic,

and trees, dabs them on an ink pad, and prints them on recycled or designer paper bought in bulk. She sprinkles them with embossing powder and applies a hot embossing gun, which looks like a hair dryer and melts the powder onto the wet ink.

This raises the texture of the stamp and gives the note a tactile quality that Olshefski the artiste adores. “It’s not rocket science but it looks really awesome,” she says. Sometimes she uses phonebook-pressed leaves, flowers, and seeds collected from her

Pamela Olshefski makes greeting cards at her dining room table. — MCT

garden, a 10-by-18-foot patch of exuberance in front of her century-old twin.

“I love when things jumble and mix all over the place. I know I have a lot of plants,” Olshefski says, without a trace of gardener guilt. The garden is robust now with milkweed for monarch butterflies, dwarf oakleaf hydrangea, papyrus, amsonia, baptisia, smokebush, hellebores, and coneflowers, with a few unusual vines wedged in, such as purple hyacinth bean and the still-feisty yellow and

orange Mina lobata, or Spanish flag vine, which sprawls with abandon on one side of the porch. Senning loves the idea of nature-inspired cards.

Based on his experience doing etiquette programs in corporate settings, he also thinks formal, handwritten thank-you notes are making a comeback — especially among jobseekers and others in business looking to distinguish themselves.

“It’s a really effective way to build your professional image, especially if the note card has your initials or name embossed or stamped on it. It’s very classy,” he says.

Aimi Will’s children aren’t old enough to worry about their professional images just yet. But at 9 and 5, they do write their own thank-you notes. “They have to write whole sentences, not like a generic card that says ‘thank you for the . . . ‘ and you fill in the blank space with what the kids got,” says Will, of Ambler, who uses Olshefski’s note cards herself and gives them as gifts to girlfriends, too.

“Women like lotion and other things, too, but . . . my girlfriends feel special when I give them something personalized,” she says. Olshefski, who sells her cards at Morris and online (http://www.etsy.com/shop/cardsbypamela), is scheduled to teach a workshop on nature-themed note cards at Morris Arboretum on Nov 19.

And, by the way, Nov 19 is her birthday. You might want to send her a note.—MCT

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Grace Metzger has her hair washed before the formaldehyde-free hairstraightening process begins. — MCT photos

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Grace Metzger has her hair slightly pulled and the product is applied more sparingly during the formaldehyde-free hair-straightening process.

Grace Metzger has her hair flat-ironed as the formaldehyde-free hairstraightening process nears conclusion.

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n the quest for silky smooth locks, wavy-haired women are paying small fortunes for salon treatments, ignoring health warnings and driving a moral rift in the beauty industry. But there’s an awakening afoot on the high-end, hairstraightening front. Amid renewed health concerns, an alternative market is appealing to a new following, promising the holy grail of hair solutions: straightening products that don’t belch out cancer-causing fumes.

It’s a winning pitch, because at the heart of the frizz-free fuss is an effective, yet deadly, ingredient: formaldehyde. A known carcinogen, it’s also a strong preservative that delivers lasting results for products that restore natural keratin proteins to damaged hair shafts. “Every company is working on (alternative treatments),” said Alexander Ptschelinzew, of Alexander’s of Australia salon in Fort Lauderdale. “Because there’s so much money to be made from it.”

Why? Because of keratin loyalists like Stacie Wrains, whose Greek roots have graced her with a thick head of sometimes-unruly hair. “It’s nice to be able to go out on a Florida summer evening and not look like a Chia-pet in 10 minutes,” said Wrains, 48, a Davie, Fla., mother of three.

The ENT nurse is not willing to pollute her body in the name of beauty, and recent headlines have made her more aware and wary of products that list formaldehyde among their ingredients.

“No matter how important good hair is, it is never worth your health,” Wrains said.

Not all keratin products use formaldehyde, but many of the longest lasting ones do, though mostly at “safe” levels.

When recent government tests determined that the popular Brazilian Blowout hair-straightening treatment uses dangerous levels of the toxin, the salon industry was abuzz over the health and financial implications-and divided over what to do about it. The industry has gotten little guidance from a toothless governmental oversight system, which lacks adequate jurisdiction, effective tools and, some say, the political will to force potentially dangerous salon products off the market. This despite strongly worded warnings, citations and national health alerts from the Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration over the Brazilian Blowout brand.

Complicating the issue: Clients are willing to pay top dollar for Brazilian Blowout, long the hottest brand on the keratin products market, and in a recession no less — $250 to $350 for the 90minute treatment. Each one-liter bottle costs the salon just $350, and yields about $9,000 in service

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hopping for a winter coat used to boil down to one decision: pretty or practical. You could choose a flattering style that did little to cut the cold or opt for a coat with winter-worthy insulation-and all the appeal of a sleeping bag. Luckily, designers and manufacturers have wised up. These days, it’s easier to track down a warm coat that’s also stylish; still it takes a bit of work to find just the right one. You need to do a little homework, know what you want and be a smart shopper, but your efforts will pay off once the snow flies. Of course, having a killer coat won’t make winter any shorter or milder, but it’ll make you happier and warmer for the duration.

The new down Down coats are still the best way to keep warm in subzero temperatures.

Once available only as puffy parkas, they now come in a variety of lengths and thicknesses. Better yet, designers have carved out waistlines in these marshmallowy marvels. The most flattering styles include tapering and tight quilting at the midsection, which helps create an hourglass silhouette.

A coat that hits at the knee or slightly below will create the best proportions on tall or averageheight women, and will also offer the most protection from the bitter cold. Petite women will look longer and leaner in coats that come to the mid-thigh.

Down works best when it traps your body heat, so buy a coat that fits fairly snugly.

sales, by some industry estimates. So salons have broken into two camps: those that cater to a persistent demand for the popular formula, and those that refuse to use it.

“I think it’s our responsibility to not put (our clients) in danger, number one, and not to put ourselves in danger, either,” said Henry Amador, who cleaned out his Salon Mantra shop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., of all Brazilian Blowout products.

He now uses Bumble and bumble, a formaldehyde-free Estee Lauder brand that is among a growing cornucopia of alternatives vying for a piece of the straightener pie. Despite the blowup over Blowout, or perhaps because of it, Bumble and bumble’s CEO told Women’s Wear Daily in August that sales of smoothing treatments “are on fire.” And the competition is fierce.

In 2009, there were just three in-salon straightening systems on the market. In 2010, there were 19, a booming, high-end service credited for driving a 4.5 percent growth in salon services-in a down economy that usually hits such luxury businesses hard, according to the Women’s Wear Daily story. In walks the formaldehyde-free market with a timely angle. Ouidad, a k a “the Queen of Curl,” for example, offers a softening system that promises “smooth, frizz- and formaldehyde-free hair without any damage.”

GKhair says its reformulated blend “contains all the benefits and features of formaldehyde, but without the use of formaldehyde.” Pantene Pro-V says, “luckily, you won’t have to put your health in jeopardy to achieve frizz-free locks” when using its specially formulated shampoo, conditioner and smoother.

Earlier this year, OSHA said its air tests found that workers in salons using Brazilian Blowout had been exposed to dangerous levels of methylene glycol, or liquid formaldehyde. The agency issued fines for multiple citations and a national health hazard alert. In August, the FDA warned the Brazilian Blowout company to stop misleading customers by misbranding itself as “formaldehyde-free.”

Brazilian Blowout CEO Mike Brady denies his product has failed any air standard tests and disputes the accuracy of OSHA’s results. In emailed statements for this story, Brady said OSHA “has confirmed that Brazilian Blowout has passed 24 out of 24 controlled air monitoring tests,” and that OSHA was reviewing its “faulty report,” though he could offer no documentation for either claim.

OSHA spokeswoman Diana Petterson refuted both assertions and said the agency has warned Brady about making such “misleading and false statements” before.

Warm woolens Wool coats can be winter worthy, if you shop carefully. A sassy purple pea coat may seem like a wonderful way to liven up your winter wardrobe, but if it has only a silk lining, you’ll be longing for something more substantial come January. If you want to go with wool, look for coats that are heavily lined, ideally with quilted fabric. Zip-out liners may seem a bit awkward, but layering helps trap warm air. That makes a wool coat with a removable liner more practical than one with built-in insulation.

Dressing for winter Winter coats are notorious for adding bulk to women’s bodies, but by choosing wisely you can pick a warm coat that flatters your figure. An easy way to decide what style of coat works best for you is to consider what style of dress you prefer to wear. If you feel gorgeous in

Grace Metzger has her hair blown dry as the formaldehyde-free hair-straightening process winds down.

Brazilian Blowout is not the only keratin products company in the government’s sights. In September, OSHA cited four Florida companiesdistributors M&M International Inc. in Delray Beach and Copomon Enterprises in Boca Raton, and manufacturers Keratronics Inc in Coral Springs and Pro Skin Solutions Inc. in Orlando-for failing to protect workers and warn clients about the hazards of formaldehyde exposure, proposing a combined $49,200 in fines.

But for all its warnings, letters, citations and alerts, the government is considered by many an impotent spectator in a health controversy that has spurred countries like Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and Germany to ban Brazilian Blowout altogether. In the United States, the most the FDA can do is issue a voluntary recall, dependent on the company’s cooperation, and the agency hasn’t even done that.

“The confusion is fed by the FDA’s inaction.

People think, ‘Oh, the FDA hasn’t pulled it, so it must be safe,’” said Sian Wu, a spokesperson for the National Healthy Nail and Beauty Salon Alliance. “Other countries have taken swift action to take these products off the market, which is a testament to how broken our system is.”

empire frocks, look for a coat with a high waistline. Princess seams and flared hemlines flatter most body types, especially those with naturally defined waistlines. Belted coats-including woollined trenches-can help even busty women create a defined waist.

Best buying practices Shop early. You’ll find the most sizes and styles early in the season. Give it a test run. Since you’ll be wearing your winter coat every day for months, give it a test run before you buy. Before you go shopping, take a look at your old coat.

Which of its features do you like-pockets, fit, warmth? If you need to, take notes so you’ll know what to look for as you browse the racks. Bring your accessories. Grab a scarf to see how a coat will look with a muffler peeking out.

Bring your gloves or mittens and see if the pockets are roomy enough to hold them. Check for quality. Look for shoddy seams. (Loose threads and broken stitches are dead giveaways.) Test zippers, buttons, snaps and other closures to make sure they function properly and are securely attached. Get the right fit.

In the privacy of a fitting room, do some stretches. Reach above your head, hug yourself, touch your toes, twist around. A quality coat will endure your calisthenics and retain a comfortable fit. — MCT

Shopping for a winter coat used to boil down to one decision: pretty or practical.

—MCT photos

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Grace Metzger after the new, safer, formaldehyde-free hair straightening process is complete.

At Jody Jack & Co in Boca Raton, the all-green salon offers a new patent-pending brand called DOSEDGE, manufactured and supplied by Floridabased Unique Hair Solutions and created in part by one of its stylists, using all-natural ingredients.

“I’m telling you, it’s transformed my hair,” said salon owner Jody Jack, who swore off all traditional keratin formulas. Jack said she, fellow stylists and some clients came down with respiratory infections and other health problems after using Brazilian Blowout and similar products-even those promoted as “formaldehyde-free.”

“I don’t take any chances anymore,” she said.

“Because they lie.” But do the alternatives work as well as Brazilian Blowout? While Jack swears by the wonders of Dosage, many are taking a waitand-see approach, sticking with proven results in the void of proven replacements, health risks be damned. After all, it’s not illegal to use or manufacture products with formaldehyde, even if they exceed safety standards-as long as they are properly labeled, documented and follow OSHA workplace safety precautions, including strong ventilation systems.

Earlier this year, the Environmental Working Group surveyed 41 of Elle magazine’s 100 top-

he biggest fashion trends for men this fall/winter season is the neo-prep - that is to say colorful classics interpreted with an athletic hip hop swagger. Picture rap dandies Pharell Williams, Mos Def, Kanye West and Andre 3000 and the “Black Ivy” style that is a sort of mashup of collegiate cool and Harlem Renaissance with Oxford pinstripe shirts, cardigans, slim pants, saddles shoes, bow ties, throwback kicks, Bebop eyewear/accessories and bright florals (yes, flowers!). Check out the recent Ebony magazine fashion layout in the September issue (Zoe Saldana on the cover) or the website StreetEtiquette.com to see what we mean.

For a more casual athletic hoodie and denim take, look toward David Beckham and Justin Timberlake, who sometimes pair their laid-back looks with skinny neckwear and loafers. Here are some other trends from the designer men’s wear shows in Milan and Paris: • Neutral tones: With pops of color in orange, burnt sienna, red, raspberry, claret and purple/phlox • Boxier shapes: Strong-shaped jackets and blazers with sharp shoulders • Winter short: As light and flimsy as boxers (a handful of designers even showed a boxy swimsuit or two for vacations in warmer climes this winter) • Pleated pants: Trousers are getting looser and more fluid and the runways saw pleats aplenty • Form-fitting suits: Snug fits on the body a la Thom Browne (but not nearly as PeeWee Herman-esque) with peaked lapels and 2-button closures • Amish hats: Actually seen at Dior Homme, D&G, Vuitton, Dsquared2 and Lanvin And for the guys really wanting to get a head start on spring 2012, American designers recently showed in New York: • Bold Prints (Custo Barcelona, Parke & Ronen, Libertine, Richard Chai, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc by Marc Jacobs) • Bright Colors/Especially Blue (Lacoste, Michael Basitan, J. Crew, Parke & Ronen, Tommy Hilfiger, Maria Cornejo) • Mesh/Sheer/See-Through (Custo Barcelona, Richard Chai, Simon Spurr) • Collegiate Athletic Looks (Duckie Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Buckler by Andrew Buckler, Y-3 by Yohji

• •

ranked salons, and found 28 still used straighteners “laden” with formaldehyde. “I’ve had people tell me they don’t care what’s in it as long as it makes their hair silky and straight,” said Gina Zompa, a stylist at Tease Hair Salon in Fort Lauderdale, which still gives Brazilian Blowout treatments to customers who ask for it. “If done in really well-ventilated areas like ours, it’s pretty much harm-free for both the client and the stylist.”

Zompa said she’s used Brazilian Blowout many times on her customers’ hair, and her own, with great results. After a year of using the brand, she added, none of Tease’s clients or stylists has complained of health issues. Salon Mantra’s Amador gets the appeal, even if he doesn’t agree. “It’s such a giant money-maker, and women are still lining up to have it done,” he said.

“There’s always been this concept that beauty is pain. Years ago, people bound their feet, they stretched out their necks for beauty. So they think, ‘What’s a little formaldehyde?’”— MCT

Yamamoto, Parke & Ronen) Double-Breasted Jackets (Number: Lab Men’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Bastian, Richard Chai, Simon Spurr) Summer Parkas (Nautica, J Crew, Richard Chai, Lacoste, Michael Kors)—MCT

Winter shorts: Tommy Bahama “Grand Isles” HalfZip, $118; “Cohen” V-Neck Tee, $48; “Go To” Cargo Shorts, $98; “Kona” Perforated Slip-Ons, $98.

— MCT

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Charlize Theron talks single life in Vogue

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In this photo taken by AP Images for Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is seen in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday.—AP Photos

Abu Dhabi museum island hit by more delays B

ranches of the Louvre and Guggenheim art museums being built as part of an ambitious cultural district in Abu Dhabi could now open at least a year later than planned, the developer and an official with knowledge of the projects said Saturday. Questions about the future of the Saadiyat Island cultural district have swirled among contractors in the Gulf for months. They came into sharper focus this week when the project’s governmentbacked developer disclosed that it was temporarily dropping plans to award a major construction contract.

The Louvre branch, designed

by French architect Jean Nouvel, was originally scheduled to open in 2012, but that date was later pushed to the following year. A national museum and the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim were expected to follow in quick succession, with all three museums open by 2014. The Tourism Development & Investment Co, the projects’ government-run developer, now says it won’t meet those targets. “Due to the immense magnitude of the work associated with the development of such consequential projects, the company has decided to extend the delivery dates,” TDIC said in a statement released Saturday.

“This will ensure that quality is not compromised, and allow each establishment the time needed to create its own identity on the local and international cultural stage.”

TDIC didn’t disclose when the museums would now open, but insisted the delay would “only have a moderate impact

on the delivery timeline.”

However, the delay will likely push the opening dates back by at least a year, and possibly longer, according to a person familiar with the project. The person was not authorized to discuss the project publicly and spoke on condition of anonymi-

after TDIC said all its projects on Saadiyat Island were moving ahead as planned. Recently , the company said it still expected the Louvre outpost to open by 2013. The Guggenheim and the Louvre branches were the highest-profile attractions planned for Saadiyat Island

just a short drive from the downtown skyscrapers rapidly being built along Abu Dhabi’s Gulf corniche.

Some preliminary foundation work has been completed, but little progress is visible above ground on the windswept desert construction site

A view of the skyline is seen from the water in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The new bridge is seen in Abu Dhabi. ty. “There will be a certain gap between each museum ... The extension will not exceed five years from the original plan,” the person added.

The shift comes just days

when the project was announced in 2007. The waterfront museum campus is also expected to include a maritime museum and a futuristic-looking performing arts center. It is

where the museums will eventually sit. In March, more than 130 international artists and writers promised to boycott the Guggenheim unless authorities do more to protect workers’

rights at the site. That followed an earlier report by Human Rights Watch that outlined alleged abuses against migrant workers on the project. TDIC has said it is committed to protecting workers’ rights and has taken on board many of Human Rights Watch’s recommendations. TDIC is one of several companies set up by Abu Dhabi to diversify the economy and drive development in the emirate, which borders Dubai to the south.

The money-losing company relies heavily on direct cash infusions from the oil-rich Abu Dhabi government, but has also used bank loans to fund some of its operations. Besides the museums, it is building vast tracts of luxury villas, hotels and other property developments in the Emirati capital.

Saud Masud, a real estate and construction analyst at Rasmala Investment Bank in Dubai, said it makes sense to revise contract bids and stretch out project timetables given the tough economy. But he also noted that Abu Dhabi government-backed developers such as TDIC need to tread carefully because of the still-slumping real estate market. “Perhaps some people (believe there are) no liquidity problems in Abu Dhabi because it is an oil rich emirate. I think that is a bit optimistic, as in any property crunch liquidity may suffer regardless of the solid solvency position,” he said. “For TDIC, they have to be careful with any loss-making projects. How long can TDIC specifically sustain less-thaneconomical ventures, I’m not sure.” —AP

The Capital Gate building is seen in Abu Dhabi.

Husband searches landfill, finds missing diamond ring

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(From left) Brian and Anna McGuinn, pictured November 10, 2011, in Margate, Florida. —MCT photos

t was a simple but heartbreaking mistake. Still, the story of how Brian McGuinn accidentally threw out his wife’s $10,000 custom-made wedding ring has a happy ending. After plowing through dirty diapers, broken glass, and several unmentionables at the county landfill, the 34-year-old financial adviser found the family jewel.

The misadventure began Oct 30 when McGuinn’s wife, Anna, who is 5 months pregnant with their first child, handed him the ring to put in her jewelry box while she showered. He grabbed it at the same time he was getting ready to throw out an old razor. Without thinking, he chucked both things in his hand. “It was so thoughtless,” he said. The couple, married for five years, didn’t realize the mistake until the next morning. By then, Waste Management had already collected the garbage from their Margate condo.

“The waterworks began,” Anna McGuinn said. “My husband looked on in horror.” Desperate, Anna McGuinn, 31, called Wheelabrator North Broward-the division of Waste Management that processes the garbage. Officials there said her husband could come and search.

Plant worker Joel Ryan figured out where the ring would most likely be based on where that neighborhood’s trash was dumped. Then he got McGuinn suited up: protective vest, goggles, a suit. He even leveled off a 10-foot pile to make it easy to search. And he warned McGuinn: People coming to the county dump looking for items they accidentally tossed usually go home empty-handed. Ryan said McGuinn was sifting and trudging through the county landfill for more than 30 minutes.

“Nastiness you wouldn’t believe,” McGuinn said. “It was absolutely disgust-

ing. It stunk beyond belief. The smell was Godawful. Everything unsanitary you could think of crossed my path at least a couple times. I took an extraordinarily long shower and toothbrushes were used.” But he found it-a tiny glimmer surrounded by black sludge wedged between two brown bags.

“It looked like a screw and I reached down and it looped around my index Anna McGuinn shows off her wedding ring. finger,” he said. “I was out,” he said. Ryan was impressed. “Record ecstatic. It was like winning the lottery. It time for sure,” he said. The moral of the was probably one of the best moments story: “Perseverance,” Brian McGuinn said. ever.” He said he let out a whopping yell “A lot of people don’t find things; it’s that made the Wheelabrator crew jump. “I gone. But I knew I had to try.” —MCT think they were startled by the shrill I let