16 Oct 2011

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www.kuwaittimes.net

THULQADA 18, 1432 AH

Riots erupt in Rome as protests spread

Max 35º Min 18º Low Tide 07:48 & 19:46 High Tide 00:35 & 14:23

Demos against ‘corporate greed’ rage worldwide

3 airlines in race for KAC

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Two airlines based in unspecified GCC nations and a Kuwaiti company have reportedly submitted bids to purchase Kuwait Air ways Corporation (KAC), as the government continues with its plans to privatize the state-owned airline by the end of this year.

The three unnamed bidding companies do not include Wataniya Air ways, which showed no interest in participating in the privatization bid, said an aviation industr y insider yesterday, adding that Wataniya is still awaiting approval to resume operations after voluntarily temporarily suspending them following financial and administrative problems.

The insider further claimed that a number of other airlines are considering forming a consortium to submit a joint bid for the deal, adding that to date the talks between representatives of the other airlines have failed to overcome differences over the possible alliance.

ROME: Demonstrators march past a burning car in downtown Rome yesterday. (Inset) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks to demonstrators from the steps of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in central London. — AFP

Space Station over Kuwait skies today KUWAIT: The International Space Station will be sighted travelling over the skies of Kuwait for a four-minute period today at 0600 Kuwait time.

The space station, which resembles a moving star or aeroplane, will appear 31 degrees to the west of the southwest and will rise 64 degrees to vanish 10 degrees to the northeast, astronomy researcher Fahad Al-Mashhany said.

The vessel, about the size a football

pitch, weighs 450 tons. It flies 400km away from the earth’s surface, travelling at a speed of 14, 000 km/h and completing a full orbital trip every 90 minutes, he added. The lifetime expected for the vessel, intended to be a laboratory, observatory and factory in space, is until 2020. It was built in a series of over 50 trips to space by a joint venture between the US, Russia, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan and eight European countries. — KUNA

ATEHNS: A young Syrian living in Greece holds a placard as she protests at central Athens Syntagma square, calling for democracy in their country, during a demonstration yesterday. — AFP

Syrian forces fire at mourners, defectors AMMAN: Syrian security forces shot dead three mourners and injured 20 yesterday when they fired on a protester funeral procession in central Damascus while troops loyal to President Bashar AlAssad fought army defectors west of the capital, witnesses said.

In his latest move to try and defuse discontent, part of a wave of popular unrest against repressive autocrats across the Arab world, Assad formed a committee to draft a new constitution

‘More women glued to mobile phones while driving’

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within four months, the official news agency SANA said. The move raised the possibility that a clause designating his Baath Party, which seized power in a 1963 coup, as “leader of the state and society” could be scrapped.

In a sign of growing regional pressure on Assad to undertake genuine reform after seven months of street protests, AlJazeera television said Arab foreign ministers would hold an emergency meeting Continued on Page 12

Omanis vote for Shura Council

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Iran hardens denial of ‘absurd’ US plot charge TEHRAN: Iran yesterday hardened its denial of involvement in a thwarted assassination plot in Washington, with its supreme leader slamming the US accusations as “absurd” and without effect.

The remarks-the first direct response by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-came as Iran’s government again urged Saudi Arabia to be wary over the plot claims that Iranian officials tried to contract a Mexican drug cartel to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.

The US government is rallying other nations to its bid to further isolate Iran over the plot and has provided allies with details its says prove the outlandish assassination bid was genuine.

US President Barack Obama on Thursday warned Iran would be held to account over the alleged plot, which he described as part of a pattern of “dangerous and reckless” behavior by Tehran.

Iran’s strenuous denials of involvement, made ever since the alleged plot was made public Tuesday, were capped yesterday with Khamenei’s speech. “It’s a meaningless and absurd accusation regarding a number of Iranians,” he said in a speech carried by state television.

“But it has not stuck and it will not stick,” he said.

Khamenei added defiantly: “They say that they want to isolate Iran. They are the ones who are isolated.”

US officials admit they do not know which of Iran’s leaders, if any, are implicated. But Obama stressed that “even if at the highest levels there was not detailed operational knowledge, there has to be accountability with respect to anybody in the Iranian government engaging in this kind of activity.”

The US Justice Department and FBI say the trail leads to officials inside the Quds Force, a special operations outfit within Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards. Quds Force personnel are said to have transferred nearly $100,000 to the bank account used by a member of a Mexican drug cartel who was really a paid US informant who tipped off the FBI. The money was allegedly a down payment for a $1.5million hit on the Saudi ambassador, Adel Al-Jubeir, possibly through the bombing of a Washington restaurant. An Iranian used-car salesman who is a naturalized US citizen living in Texas, Manssor Arbabsiar, is said to have confessed to acting as the go-between for his cousin, whom he described as a high-ranking official in the Quds Force, and the Mexican cartel. — AFP

Troops slay 22 Yemenis, US raid kills Qaeda chief

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ROME: Protesters set fire to a government building, torched cars and smashed bank windows in Rome yesterday in the worst violence of worldwide demonstrations against corporate greed and government cutbacks. Tens of thousands took to the streets of the Italian capital for a march that turned violent and equal numbers rallied in Madrid and Lisbon while Wikileaks founder Julian Assange joined angry demonstrators in London.

An historic Rome square turned into a battlefield as hundreds of protesters pelted police vans with rocks and bottles and police fired tear gas and water cannon jets into the crowd.

Anti-Wall Street demonstrators were on the march again yesterday in New York City as protests against corporate greed and economic inequality spread around the world.

Over the past month, the protests have expanded from New York’s financial district to cities across the United States and abroad. Demonstrations were called this weekend in the US, Canada and Europe, as well as in Asia and Africa.

In New York, as many as 1,000 protesters marched yesterday morning to a Chase bank branch in the financial district, banging drums, blowing horns and carrying Continued on Page 12

Saudi won’t tolerate riots during Hajj JEDDAH: A top Saudi official warned yesterday that the kingdom will not tolerate any riots at the annual pilgrimage to holy Makkah next month, at a time of rising tension with Iran.

“We will not allow anything that would disrupt the peace of the Hajj pilgrimage and disturb the pilgrims. That is why we shall not tolerate any damage, riots or chaos during the season of Hajj or out of it,” Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Makkah province, told reporters.

“The most important responsibility for this country is ensuring the comfort and security of the pilgrims,” added the Saudi royal who heads the committee for the Hajj.

Pilgrims have already begun to arrive in western Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, which this year peaks in the first week of November with all pilgrims, numbering over two million, gathering in the plain of Arafat, just outside holy Makkah, home to the holiest shrine in Islam. The Saudi warning, echoing similar stern messages from authorities ahead of every annual pilgrimage, coincides with a dramatic rise in tension between Riyadh and Tehran.

The US Justice Department on Tuesday accused elements in Tehran of plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington, a charge strongly denied by Iran but which Saudi Arabia wants to take to the UN Security Council. Saudi security forces have in the past clashed with Iranian pilgrims holding anti-US and anti-Israeli protests. In 1987, police efforts to stifle such a demonstration sparked clashes in which 402 people died, including 275 Iranians. — AFP

DURBAN: Traditional clad Zulu warriors, the “amabutho”, participate during the launch of “ Zulu 200” celebrating the existence of the Zulu Nation at the King Shaka International airport in Durban yesterday. The Zulu nation will be celebrating 200 years since its formation by the great Zulu King Shaka in 1816. Zulu are one of the original African peoples of Southern Africa. Celebrations will run for the next five years culminating in a mass gathering in 2016. — AFP

Hernandez header deny Liverpool

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Al-Mulla denies ‘NAB separation’ rumors A constructive form of teamwork

KDT helps to remove dangerous platform KUWAIT: The Kuwait Dive Team (KDT) is currently involved in an operation to remove a metal platform situated in shallow waters 100 meters off Mangaf Beach to the north of the Fahaheel Sea Sports Club. The KDT has urged sailors to avoid the location until it has completed the operation, given the potential safety hazards. The Environmental Voluntary Foundation team is carrying out

the operation in cooperation with the cabinet committee formed to supervise the removal of illegal structures from state property and with Kuwait Municipality. Heavy machinery is being deployed to remove the remaining underwater sections of the platform, which extend to a depth of five meters, with markers placed around the site to alert approaching boats.

KUWAIT: The different point of views expressed

by National Action Bloc (NAB) members is a constructive form of teamwork, remarked MP Saleh Al-Mulla in a recent press statement in which he quashed rumors that he plans to separate from the liberal faction. “If certain people wish to see me leave the NAB, their hopes are similar to Satan’s hopes of going to heaven,” Al-Mulla said, referring to a traditional Kuwaiti quote used to describe an illogically impossible situation. He further insisted that the NAB “will continue to lead efforts against corruption.”

The NAB announced during a seminar last Wednesday its intention to support a grilling motion that will be co-presented by the Development and Reform Bloc(DRB) and the Popular Action Bloc (PAB) against His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah over the cash deposit scandal in some MPs’ bank accounts. The news was received amid reports that the NAB had declined an invitation to co-present the grilling.

An official spokesman of the DRB, MP Faisal Al-Mislem declared that he had invited NAB members to co-present the grilling motion. “From the beginning, I have personally expressed to the

in brief

MoH planning major reshuffle KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) is set to carry out a major reshuffle in its administrative divisions, as well as at local hospitals and various specialist departments, according to an MoH insider. The move is intended to reinvigorate the ministry’s work in these areas and give younger MoH personnel a better chance of promotion, with a number of long-serving officials who are aged over 65 and/or have worked in their positions for over 30 years facing compulsory retirement. The major reshuffle also cover the ministry ’s overseas offices, with the head of the MoH office in Jordan amongst those affected.

Many other long-serving senior officials also face compulsor y retirement, including department heads in the ministry’s administrative and financial sections and its overseas offices. A number of those earmarked for retirement may be allowed to transfer to positions within the ministry’s diwan, said the insider, adding that the reshuffle is the first in a number of similar restructuring moves planned by the ministry, which will also affect administrative personnel and hospital staff working in all Kuwait’s health zones.

Oil excavation conference KUWAIT: The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is preparing to host the 32nd Conference on Oil Excavation between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) today and tomorrow. “The conference will shed light on the recent technologies in oil excavation, and give an opportunity for experiences to be exchanged to benefit the region’s oil sector,” said the event’s sponsor, Khalid Al-Sumaiti KOC Deputy Managing Director for Exploration and Production Development. He stated that all oil excavation companies in the GCC will take part.

Kuwaiti ambassador praises Oman MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has taken great strides on the path towards strengthening democracy, said the

Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Gulf Sultanate yesterday. Commenting on the polls for seats on Oman’s consultative body, with elections due to take place to today to select new members of the Consultative Council for its 7th term, Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Ghesab Al-Zamanan said that these are “are part of a broad national program to build a modern country, placing among the top priorities the services provided to Omani citizens and realizing their aspirations for strengthening the concept of the state of law and institutions.”

The Omani media’s coverage of the elections demonstrates that enormous efforts are being exerted to ensure the success of this process, he added.

Ambassador Al-Zamanan expressed confidence that the Omani voters would choose the best qualified figures to serve on the council, adding that the Omani reform experience has set an example to be followed at the regional level and drawn acclaim from various nations.

Anti-drugs cooperation DUBAI: Senior officials from other GCC nations’ anti-narcotics bodies met yesterday with Major General Abdul Jalil Al Asmawi, the Director-General of Dubai Police’s General Department of AntiNarcotics. The meeting, which saw Maj. Gen. Al-Asmawi confer with members of the GCC Criminal Information Center to Combat Drugs, was part of a series of visits by the committee members to senior anti-narcotics officials in the council’s member states. Maj. Gen. AlAsmawi said in a statement following the meeting that the Dubai police and security authorities have earned a positive international reputation as a result of their efficiency in the fight against drugs and dealers.The Dubai police have adopted a firm policy against the drug dealers and work closely with other Arab nations, as well as others around the world, in tracking down and raiding hideouts used by traffickers and others involved in the illegal trade, he explained.

Foundation to build college laid KUWAIT: A cornerstone to build a petroleum engineering college was laid at the Sabah Al-Salem University City at AlShadadia.

Construction program manager at Kuwait University Dr Rana Al-Fares said, “The dream of constructing the university city and petroleum engineering college is now becoming reality,” pointing out that the college’s construction will be finalized as per schedule by the end of 2014.

She added that it will cover an area of 30,000 square meters and will be able

accommodate 5,150 students and 1,200 teaching staff and administrators.

She explained that university city project is one of the largest projects as it consists of 14 colleges, in addition to three other sites reserved to build a future college, in addition to the administration building.

Due to the large size of the projects, the infrastructure has been divided into ten groups to speed up construction. It was awarded to a number of the local contracting companies, reported Al-Anba.

Kuwait cultural body set to host Dubai poetry forum DUBAI: The Kuwaiti Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity is set to launch a poetry forum in Dubai on the theme of ‘Poetry Towards Peaceful Coexistence’ this evening. The event, which is sponsored by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, will include poetry recitations and cultural symposia, and will continue until October 18.

The forum, which concludes on Tuesday, is one of a series of cultural events organized by the foundation, explained the head organizer Abdulrahman Al-Babtain.

“It delights us to be here in Dubai at this forum attended by hundreds of icons from different parts of the world, representing different ideologies and backgrounds,” he added.

The forum will be attended by numerous intellectuals and statesmen representing five continents.

tackle the problem “since it can protect individuals involved.” Also, in an interview with Al-Jarida, MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak criticized the way the graft scandal was being handled by parliamentarians, mainly regarding accusations being made before investigations are completed. “Some MPs work for the sole purpose of ousting HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad,” Al-Mubarak said, stating that the cash deposits scandal is likely to be shelved if that purpose is realized. Al-Mubarak also urged MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei to “live up to his promise” and resign should the prime minister survive a vote of confidence that will be filed following his grilling motion debate, reported AlJarida.

In another development, MP Jamaan AlHarbash hinted at the possibility of filing a grilling motion against Fadhel Safar, Minister of Public Works and Municipality Affairs, reported Al-Rai. In an issue recently exposed by Municipal Council member Abdullah Fahad, he accused an MP of trading in sand without obtaining licensing.

“Safar failed to stop theft of KD 200 million worth of sand,” Al-Harbash said, describing the case as “one of the biggest thefts in the history of the Kuwait Municipality.”

Five injured in road accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

News

NAB, our desire to join us in submitting the grilling motion,” Al-Mislem said in a recent statement, reported Al-Qabas. He applauded NAB leader Abdullah Al-Roumi for urging HH the Amir to dissolve the Parliament “which cannot continue working in a manner that ensures Kuwait’s best interests.”

Yousuf Al-Shaiji Secretary General of the Democratic Forum released a statement, endorsing the demands put forward by NAB during their seminar. It includes allocating a special parliamentary session to enforce anti-corruption laws, forming an investigation committee to probe the role of the Central Bank and local banks, as well as dissolving the Parliament after anti-corruption regulations are enforced to form a new Cabinet that follows reform moves.

Meanwhile, MP Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi said during a televised interview that the NAB supports the right to file an interpellation motion against the premier, but rejected that she pledged full support to the upcoming grilling motion without comprehensively reading its content. While expressing discontent about the graft scandal, reported Al-Rai. She further stated that a parliamentary dissolution will not help the efforts to

KUWAIT: A 38-year-old citizen sustained injuries to his right hand and leg and a 17-year-old citizen bruised his leg after the vehicle in which they travelled collided into another along the Ghazali bridge. In another incident, a 20-year-old citizen sustained a serious head injury in a traffic accident that took place along the Fifth Ring Road. He was rushed to Farwaniya hospital. A 22-year-old citizen fractured his pelvic bone and right foot after losing control over the bike he rode and it flipped over several times along the Gulf street near the Sultan Center. He was rushed to Mubarak hospital or treatment. In another bike accident, a 47year-old citizen sustained multiple injuries when his bike skidded off the road along the coast line in Fahaheel.

Drunk caught A 40-year-old Asian was arrested near the Hasawi roundabout in a heavily intoxicated state. A police patrol had found a man wandering along the street in an unsteady manner. Upon accosting him, they realized that he was drunk.

Street fights A 30-year-old citizen was admitted to Mubarak Hospital with wounds sustained during a fight that took place in Hawalli. In another case, a 43-year-old Egyptian woman was admitted to Farwaniya hospital who suffered leg pain and a facial

injury she sustained during a noisy quarrel near an Arabic private school.

In a third fight that took place near the Sultan Restaurant parking

lot, a 21-year-old citizen sustained a facial injury and was admitted to Mubarak hospital.

Man suffers fall A 27-year-old Egyptian construc-

tion worker sustained an injury to his head after falling from the third floor of a building under construction in Al-Salam. The man was admitted to Mubarak Hospital.

KUWAIT: Sheikh Talal Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s Managing Director for Governmental, Parliamentary, PR and Media Relations, yesterday received a delegation from Kuwait Fire Services Directorate officials at his office in the petroleum complex. The visiting delegation, headed by KFSD’s deputy director for Firefighting and Human Resources Development, Brig Yousef Al-Ansari, expressed their gratitude to Sheikh Talal for KPC’s sponsorship of the Second International Firefighting and Safety conference and exhibition.

KUWAIT: “Businesswomen’s Commerce Development” workshop in progress yesterday.

Major challenges haunt women’s business KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Amani Buresli said here yesterday the presence of women in the business atmosphere is faced by key challenges. Addressing a workshop entitled: “Businesswomen’s

Commerce Development”, organized by Global Investment House (Global), the minister said Kuwait is keen to encourage women through equal opportunities in view of education and job.

She hoped that Kuwaiti women

could occupy leading and parliamentary positions.

However, she voiced no surprise at the fact that women worldwide do not have major leading positions. She expressed much interest in small-sized enterprises for

women, urging them to carry out technical and financial feasibility studies. The minister pointed out that a fresh draft law aiming to provide financial and technical support for small-sized projects was in the offing. — KUNA

US Treasury vows ‘unprecedented sanctions’ on Iran’s Central Bank

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The US Treasury has begun work on imposing what it describes as “unprecedented sanctions” on Iran’s Central Bank, with the aim of isolating the institution internationally. The measures follow a series of accusations against Iran of hostile activities, with the latest of these being the alleged assassination plot

by Iranian agents against the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Adel Juabir. In this regard, the US Treasury’s Spokesperson on Illicit Finance and Enforcement, Marti Adams, said yesterday that the Treasury Undersecretary for Anti-Terrorism and Intelligence Funding, David Cohen, had briefed a Senate committee suggesting the imposition of further sanctions on the Iranian Central Bank.

Adams added that Cohen also suggested considering more financial sanctions that would support President Obama’s efforts in putting further financial and commercial pres-

sure on Iran. These statements reflect the USA’s and other nations’ financial bodies’ eagerness to financially isolate the Iranian regime through imposing these sanctions on the country’s central bank. Commenting on the proposed sanctions, Brad Bourland, the head of the Saudi Arabian Jadwa Investment Company’s economic department, played down the impact of the new sanctions impact noting that they would not include any suspension of Iran’s oil revenue transactions. ‘The impact will be very limited’, he asserted, pointing out that Iran’s economy is not closely linked to the international one and that it would, therefore, be only marginally affected by the sanctions. “When gigantic international companies and international oil ones stopped dealing with Iranian economy, these sanction did not bring the Iranian to talks,” he pointed out, indicating that this demonstrates that the sanctions are unlikely to achieve any more impressive results. In other news, on the sub-

ject of the ongoing investigations into allegations that some Kuwaiti MPs accepted bribes totaling millions of dinars, one lawmaker, MP Adel Al-Sarawi has condemned the investigators’ failure to examine the possible role played by investment companies and insurance and money exchange firms in the case, pointing out it was only banks which reported the transactions to the Public Prosecution Service.

In a press release issued yesterday, AlSarawi stressed that money laundering legislation passed in 2002 covers various types of financial institutions operating in Kuwait, including the aforementioned ones The MP added that he has already submitted a number of parliamentary questions to the finance minister on the issue asking the minister whether any of the institutions cited had failed to keep Kuwait’s Central Bank informed of their anti-money-laundering strategies.

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Justice labor union suspends strike KUWAIT: Members of the labor union representing Ministry of Justice personnel have voted to suspend a strike planned for today due to the current poor health of the justice minister Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi.

“We can’t hold [Dr. Al-Afasi] responsible for any of the problems in the past month which he spent outside the country for medical treatment,” said union chairman Ahmad Al-Mutairi in a statement issued on Friday.

Al-Mutairi said that due to the health condition of Dr. Al-Afasi, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, the union would indefinitely suspend its planned one-day-per-week work stoppages called in protest at pay and conditions, which were due to begin this week.

Meanwhile, inspectors with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor’s (MSAL) labor department are reportedly planning to go ahead with their sit-in planned for today in front of Dr. AlAfasi’s office, in order to continue pressurizing the minister to approve their demands for pay increases. This is the second week on which department

staff have staged strike action.

Elsewhere in the MSAL, the head of the union representing legal department employees there, Hamad AlWardan, has reportedly warned of possible civil disobedience by public sector workers if servicemen are deployed to perform the duties of striking employees. The news of the warning of possible civil disobedience came as it emerged that National Guards personnel recently completed a training course on how to maintain operations at the state-owned Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakery Co., with National Guards officials describing the course as part of the annual plan to prepare the servicemen to provide support to state bodies in case of any national emergencies.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Helal Al-Sayer is reportedly planning to approve some of the demands put forward by unions representing health ministry personnel. Amongst the demands approved by the minister is one exempting severely disabled employees from being compelled to use the electronic fingerprint system to register their arrival at and departure from work.— Al-Rai

‘More women glued to mobile phones while driving’

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: More women use mobile phones while driving than men, a local study conducted on motorists’ use of mobile phones revealed. The study showed that 62.5 percent of women talk over mobile phones or send text messages while at the helm of their vehicles compared to 37.5 men.

This study was conducted by a research team from the Kuwait Society for Traffic Safety last month.

More than 100,000 vehicle users were surveyed in this study, in which important traffic issues considered the root cause of car accidents were also identified.

Both men and women, citizens and expatriates, drove 100,000 cars in a month across different areas in Kuwait regardless of the traffic situation. According to the study, women aged between 18 and 35 used mobile phones the most while driving, especially sending text messages or chatting through the BlackBerry, iPhone.

“I drive a lot and I have noticed that most women use mobile phones during driving. Women glued to their

phones concentrate less on driving which leads to car accidents. I don’t use the phone while driving, though there are times when I use the device hands free. I witnessed an accident that was caused by a woman speak-

vehicle, It’s really dangerous,” Abdulridha, a 50-year- old citizen told the Kuwait Times. Women do not fully agree with the study’s findings. “I think that this percentage is fabricated because I think most people use

KUWAIT: A young woman using her mobile phone while driving. — Photo by Joseph Shagra ing over phone and failed to concentrate. She wanted to take an exit road from the Fifth Ring Road while she was in the left lane. The car hit her

mobile phones while driving. I see men and women using the phone while driving. I do use the phone while driving but when I do, I always

try to use the device hands free. I try to take only really important calls.

I know I shouldn’t be doing it but I am trying to stop. It’s just so hard,” stated Linda a 27-year- old Canadian.

Fatma, a 29-year- old Kuwaiti believes that the statistics released are not accurate. “I agree that many people in Kuwait use mobile phones while driving. I see that men have this bad habit more so than women. My brother met with an accident because he used the phone while driving. I don’t use the mobile phone when I drive. Everything has its time.

So I wait till I reach the place and then call back . If it is really urgent , I stop by the side of the road and make my call,” she noted.

For many the act of sending text messages while driving is more dangerous, “I never send text message while driving. Here, you not only reduce concentration, you deviate your attention from the road to look at the screen of your mobile phone, and accidents usually happen within seconds. I always see women and men using mobile phones while driving. They may harm the innocent as well,” stressed Noof, a 24-year- old woman.

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KUWAIT: Spanish Ambassador Angel Losada hosted a reception at Hotel Missoni on the occasion of the National day of his country over the weekend. A number of diplomats, high-ranking officials, businessmen and media personalities attended the reception. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Arab expatriate mugged by ‘detectives’ in Ahmadi Asian woman escapes rape attempt

GUNAGZHOU, China: Shaikh Imam Abdulallah pictured with Abdulwahab Al-Saqr yesterday.

Praise for Kuwaiti charitable efforts GUNAGZHOU, China: Chairman of the Islamic Society in Guangzhou City Shaikh Imam Abdulallah lauded here the charitable efforts of Kuwait towards Muslims worldwide.

This came during the reception of Kuwait Consul General in the city Abdulwahab Al-Saqr of the official.

Shaikh Abdulallah lauded the consulate relentless efforts in binding the ties amongst Muslims in Guangzhou, expressing desire to send a delegation from the society to Kuwait to meet with counterparts in Kuwait.

Al-Saqr, on his part, stressed the importance of holding such meetings and affirmed that Kuwait was keen on bolstering relations with fellow Muslims in China. — KUNA

Burgan induction program.

Burgan Bank hires new recruits KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced that it has hired recently 22 new recruits in different departments of the bank. The recruits are undergoing extensive in-house induction training programs following which their skills will be assessed and will be given different portfolios to handle.

The hiring of the new recruits reiterates Burgan Bank’s commitment to adopt the learning-plus-application approach as these skills are aimed at helping the new recruits to not only jumpstart their career but also equip them with the necessary experience to play an important role in the bank’s aggressive growth plan. The recruits were trained in various departments in the bank.

Burgan Bank has always considered its employees as its strongest asset and continues to invest in their personal development through training modules and career advancement opportunities. The bank believes that individual progress is linked to the success of the Bank and to that of the nation.

Burgan Bank presents a successful model of a private sector firm’s ability to attract young, ambitious Kuwaitis.

The Bank also provides employees with best-in-class benefit programs and pave the road for them to take advantage of the various promotion venues and career development opportunities.

KUWAIT: A hunt is underway for two young men who posed as plainclothes police detectives to rob a young Arab expatriate. The incident took place on a street in Ahmadi, where the victim was making his way to a baqala (small grocery store) near his home. The two conmen apparently pulled up beside him in a luxury model US-made car and ordered him to stop. After briefly flashing what appeared to be police badges at him, the two men in the car told the young man that they were detectives and subjected him to a body search, during which they ‘discovered’ a piece of hashish which the victim knew they had purposefully planted on him since he does not use the drug. Despite realizing that he was being framed, the young man felt that he had no option but to give in to the two thugs’ demands, fearing that he might otherwise be jailed on false charges, and handed over all the money in his possession - KD200 - and his cell phone. After returning home and speaking with his roommates, the young man realized that rather than being robbed by corrupt cops, he had actually been conned by imposters. He subsequently reported the incident at the local police station and the search is underway for the two conmen.

Rapist thwarted A hunt is underway for a man who attacked and attempted to rape an Asian woman in Salmiya. The man, wearing traditional Kuwaiti dress, apparently waylaid the woman as she left the house where she is employed as a maid, pushing her into a nearby alley and knocking her to the ground before attempting to rape her.

The woman fought back and shouted for help throughout her ordeal, with the attacker even having the temerity to offer her money if she would submit to his sexual assault. The woman continued to fight back and the man eventually fled, fearing that her screams might attract attention.

Once he had gone, the traumatized victim rushed back to her employer’s home, telling her sponsors what had taken place.

Her employer immediately took her to the local police station, where she gave officers a detailed description of her assailant.

Husband’s jealousy helps abductors A female expatriate opted not to press charges against two men who attempted to abduct her, fearing the reaction of her extremely possessive husband if he found out about the incident. The woman was apparently shopping in a mall in Sharq when the two men approached her and seized her, attempting to drag her out of the mall. Thankfully, other shoppers who

saw what was happening came to her aid and the two men fled the scene. One of the other shoppers called police on first spotting the men seizing the woman, and officers were quickly at the scene. On being interviewed, however, the victim was adamant that she did not wish to press charges against the would-be abductors, fearing that her domineering husband might prevent her from leaving the house if he found out what had happened. She further explained that one of the would-be abductors was a former boyfriend who she had split up with before getting married, adding that this might add to her husband’s chagrin if he found out what had taken place. Police had no choice but to respect the woman’s wishes.

Hungry burglar A hungry burglar was arrested after the householder’s family caught him in their kitchen preparing to steal a quantity of frozen meat from the freezer. Although the burglar leapt out of the window on spotting the family members armed with knives and sticks approaching him, he was apprehended by police shortly afterwards while hiding behind a rubbish bin beside the house. In his haste to escape, the burglar left behind the bag of frozen meat which he had been preparing to steal.

Police are questioning him over his motive, as well as over why he targeted the frozen meat rather than valuables in the house.

32 caught in crackdown Thirty-two Asian expatriates were arrested on various charges in a five-hour operation in Farwaniya and Khaitan.

Amongst the charges the detainees face are absconding and violating residency laws. All those arrested are currently in custody awaiting deportation.

Glue-sniffer resuscitated A 17-year-old Egyptian boy was resuscitated by paramedics after falling unconscious while sniffing glue with friends. On being notified, emergency services personnel rushed to the scene, with the paramedics saving the boy’s life, stabilizing his breathing before rushing him to hospital.

Police found a half-empty tube of Pattex glue at the scene, which the teenagers had been sniffing to get high. Inhaling the toxic chemicals in glue can lead to severe breathing difficulties and ultimately to death.

Serviceman suspected A Kuwaiti serviceman was imprisoned for two days in Syria after he was arrested there on suspicion of being involved in the

unrest gripping the country. When he was apprehended by Syrian intelligence officers, who accused him of participating in the ongoing antigovernment protests, the man insisted that he was simply a tourist in the country. Following the intervention of staff at the Kuwaiti Embassy, the man was released after two days’ imprisonment and allowed to return home. On his return, he was questioned by officers from the Kuwaiti military intelligence service, who discovered that he had been visiting his Syrian mother, who lives in a city that’s one of the strongholds of the antigovernment protests.

Suicidal ‘security risk’ A suicidal expatriate whose roommates reported him, hoping that this would lead to him getting help for his mental problems, is instead to be deported as a ‘security risk.’ The Indian man’s friends, who had already stepped in once before to prevent him drinking gasoline in an attempt to end his life, called the emergency services hotline after he began expressing a wish to commit suicide in the hope that he would receive psychiatric help. Instead, police came to the flat in Mahboula and arrested him, with the Director of Ahmadi Governorate’s security services, Brigadier General Abdullatif Al-Wuhaib, ordering that he be deported on the basis that his mental instability could pose a risk to public security.

Siblings row A naturalized Kuwaiti woman has pressed charges against her bedoon (stateless) brother, accusing him of stealing cash, jewelry and her passport from her apartment in Sabah Al-Salem. The woman told police that on returning home one day last week her maid told her that her (the homeowner’s) brother had come to the house whilst she was out and forced his way into the bedroom. On checking the room, she found that KD4,000 worth of jewelry and KD3,000 in cash were missing. The woman explained that ever since she married her ex-husband and obtained Kuwaiti citizenship, her brother had been jealous and had regularly threatened to lobby for her citizenship to be withdrawn as she and her husband divorced 15 years ago. She also revealed that her jealous sibling had continuously condemned her for her lifestyle since the divorce, criticizing her for socializing and for traveling overseas. On being summoned for questioning, the accused brother denied all the charges. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for further action. —Al-Rai, Al-Qabas, Al-Anbaa

New regulation to obtain dependent visa KUWAIT: Asian expatriates in Kuwait who hope to sponsor their relatives’ stay through dependent visa should have their criminal background check documents translated into Arabic before submission. The new regulation was issued by a senior Ministry of Interior official.

According to a news report quoting a security source, Director of the General Immigration Department, Major General Kamel Al-Awadhi stated that the documents should be translated at an authorized translation office. The move was initiated after officials were unable to verify

information mentioned on dossiers typed in regional languages. These were provided by expatriates from southeast Asia, reported Al-Anbaa.

A clear criminal record is a necessary pre-requisite for every expatriate who needs to obtain a residence permit in Kuwait.

Gulf health commission chooses Kuwaiti official as chief KUWAIT: The Gulf commission for vocational health has chosen Dr Ahmad AlShatti, the director of the department of vocational health of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, as its secretary general.

Dr Al-Shatti said he was picked up for the post as part of recommendations, issued by the committee at the conclusion of its regular meeting, held in Kuwait on Oct 12 and 13, under sponsorship of Minister of Health

Dr Hilal Al-Sayer.

The recommendations indicated at necessity of activating the Kuwaiti initiative for boosting vocational health in the GCC countries, issued at the fourth Gulf meeting.

The initiative was adopted by the GCC ministers of health at the 71st conference, held in Geneva on May 17.

They also called for addressing the regional bureau of the World Health

Organization for technical aid to work out the guidelines for vocational health in the GCC countries.

The meeting also recommended holding training courses, in coordination with Gulf universities, international organizations, namely WHO, the International Labor Organization, the Arab Labor Organization and various other international institutions.

He also indicated at the need to examine

and adopt criterion of nations that are advanced in this realm-namely the United Kingdom, Australia and the US.Also in this respect, a three-day workshop will be held in Qatar in the first half of 2012. The gathering, due to involve delegations of WHO and ILO, would discuss such criterion and guidelines in the field. The next meeting of the commission will be held in Bahrain in the last quarter of 2012.— KUNA

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Kuwaiti public sector workers amongst best paid in world KUWAIT: The current average monthly salary for Kuwaiti public sector workers stands at KD1,598 ($5,807), among the highest pay rates for civil servants globally, according to a new study prepared by veteran Kuwaiti MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun.

This is almost three times the average salary of expatriate employees in the public sector doing the same jobs, who receive an average monthly salary of KD591.5, according to the

study, which takes into account recent wage increases for Kuwaiti personnel.

The study also showed that Kuwaiti staff at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries are receiving an average salary of KD4,800 per month, according to a new study, bringing the annual average salary of these personnel to over half of the US President’s.

Converted to dollars, this means that Kuwaiti oil sector workers’ aver-

age annual salary comes to $201,000, whilst President Barack Obama receives an annual wage of $400,000, although, unlike the income of Kuwaitis and Kuwait residents, his salary is subject to taxation. The study also indicates major disparities in average salaries between different state bodies, including inconsistencies in the wages paid to individuals in different bodies, such as the Central Bank of Kuwait and the State Audit Bureau,

AMMAN: Kuwaiti ambassador to Jordan, Dr Hamad Al-Duaij, at Kuwait’s section of the Jordan 45th Annual Diplomatic Corps Bazaar held annually for the benefit of orphan children.

KD 670 million set aside for development projects KUWAIT: The government has allocated KD 670 million to fund the establishment of shareholding companies that will carry out projects outlined in the country’s development plan.

According to sources, a team comprised of officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Kuwait Investment Authority(KIA) and the Cabinet’s Supreme Committee for Major Projects, assigned KD 320 million to set up the company that will be tasked with the building of hospitals.

A sum of KD 150 million will be utilized to create a new industrial area in Al-Naayem (west) and KD 200 million to create a company that will run ware-

houses located along the border.

The official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that the Supreme Council of Planning and Development and the KIA are conducting a feasibility study on the establishment of a company that will manage the process of recruiting workers to Kuwait to put an end to human trafficking, reported Al-Jarida. Another company will be in charge of improving education, and a third company will focus on conducting scientific research, falling under the ambit of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR), the Kuwait University and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science(KFAS).

KIFCO preparing for job fair KUWAIT: The Kuwait International Fair Company (KIFCO) is continuing with its preparations for the job fair set to take place at the Mishref Fairground from December 13-15. Meshaal Al-Rashid, KIFCO’s Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing, revealed yesterday that the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has announced that it will be sponsoring the major job fair, whilst a number of prestigious local and international firms have confirmed their participation in the event.

Amongst the bodies taking part, he revealed, are NestlÈ, IKEA, the Arab Open University, the Petroleum Cook Co., the Small Enterprises Company, the Industrial Bank, Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research, Ali Abdulwahab & Sons Co. and Al-Fahr Reassurance Co.

Al-Rashid explained that the jobs fair is a crucial event for jobseekers and for the companies involved, allowing them to meet and find out more about one another. Representatives of Kuwaiti firms’ Human Resources departments are also keen to attend the fair to find out more about the jobseekers’ qualifications and skills, he added.

Around 25,000 visitors, male and female, are expected to attend the exhibition, with the number very possibly exceeding this, Al-Rashid continued, further revealing that advertisements to publicize the event will be run in all Kuwait’s media in the run-up to the fair. The senior KIFCO official also revealed that the company is still receiving applications for sponsorship in the major job fair.

NBK holds draw of summer campaign KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) this campaign and we always strive to has recently conducted the third and last exceed our customers’ expectations. NBK draw of its summer campaign. Saif has pioneered many firsts in both local Zeraatian won the third and regional markets by stunning Mercedes SLS offering innovative prodAMG Coupe 2011. ucts and value added NBK General Manager, services”.

Consumer Banking Group, The campaign was Mazin Saad Al-Nahedh designed to reward NBK said: “NBK credit cards customers who use their give customers opportuNBK cards in Kuwait or nities to win valuable abroad, and enter the prizes by way of particidraws to win the three pating in exciting promoMercedes SLS AMG Coupe tional campaigns”.

2011. The campaign Al-Nahedh added: “We offered three draws, over were very excited about a period of three months.

Mazin Saad Al-Nahedh

performing the same job. Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission is reportedly still conducting a study into public sector salaries which it was given three months to complete beginning from the end of last month. According to one CSC insider, the study will take evidence from four major state bodies - the Ministry of Finance (MoF), KPC, the Public Institute For Social Security (PIFSS), and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI).

The MoF will be providing the commission with information on the current caps on public sector salary increases, the insider explained, while KPC will supply data on oil price predictions for the next few years. The PIFSS, meanwhile, is to report on the actuarial deficit that could arise from the constant pay rises for public sector workers, with over 80 percent of Kuwaitis of working age employed in this sector, whilst the MCI will supply

information on commodity prices.

Representatives of all four bodies are working closely with the CSC on the study. On another pay-related issue, it’s been announced that the government is studying the idea of paying a lump sum totaling two years of the employee’s salary to each Kuwaiti member of staff applying for retirement from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, National Guard or Kuwait Fire Services Directorate. — Al-Rai

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LOCAL

Local Spotlight

Satire Wire

Uproot human trafficking

Another Turkish invasion

Sawsan Kazak Muna Al-Fuzai

sawsank@kuwaittimes.net beautiful, young, well-dressed, green-eyed girl looks at her tall, blonde and extremely handsome husband, opens her mouth to speak.

With a Syrian accent a dubbed voice says ‘I love you but can’t be with you.’ You guessed it, the above description was of yet another Turkish soap opera that was translated into Arabic, dubbed and sold to one of the many regional TV channels that aired it non-stop.

Recently, every time I turn on the TV, I am guaranteed to find one of these many soaps being featured on a major channel. Sometimes the same show will be playing on different channels. How many soaps does Turkey produce in a year? Has this become their leading export item?

I’m starting to doubt that even Turkish people watch so many soaps. I think they are being massproduced and sold whole sale to us Arabs. Evidence of this theory can be seen in the very poor story lines that never end up going anywhere. The only constant is the display of gorgeous people and lavish lifestyles.

I can just imagine the Turkish director instructing his cast: ‘ok just stand around looking pretty, give each other a few dirty looks every once in a while and have a serious and dramatic face while you move your lips, the Syrians will take care of the rest.’

The Turks are invading our T V programming schedules and they are not leaving. The craze started a few years back ; remember Noor? But it should have died down by now. Even English channels are playing these soaps non-stop. It wouldn’t bother me so much if they would only play one or two episode a day for those die-hard fans. But TV channels opt for an allday viewing schedule, airing nine episodes in a row, then switching to yet another Turkish soap and another nine episodes. The problem here is that I am not following any of these shows and the plotlines are very random; I can’t just start watching halfway through. This means that most channels are off limits to me for a few hours. I’m not saying Turkish soaps are all bad and should be banned, but we should be given a chance to miss them first.

muna@kuwaittimes.net

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kuwait digest

The need for political coordination

By Walid Al-Rujaib Ps follow agendas that aren’t necessarily aligned with those of the political forces they follow. While political groups are concerned about finding solutions to issues and problems happening in the country, the agendas of individual MPs may be influenced by their election interests, and seeking more support from voters. This is not the case all the time, of course, but in general political groups in Kuwait consider their parliamentary representatives as their leaders, not the other way around as is supposed to be the case.

In the parliament, MPs are required to reflect the views of the political blocs they belong to.

When the situation is reversed and political blocs are found to be following its MPs’ views, they will lose credibility among the people.

While nationalist political blocs showed signs of overcoming their previous differences, we still noticed that they somehow had a hard time in adopting a stance that contradicts with that of their representatives in the parliament, despite the major potential losses, including losing people’s suppor t. Today, nationalist groups, mainly the Democratic Forum and the National Democratic Alliance, agree on the need to file a grilling motion and a subsequent vote of confidence against the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, MPs of the National Action Bloc are not on the same page when it comes to this issue, which has in turn reflected on the attitudes of the Democratic Forum and the National Democratic Alliance.

This leads me to public rallies. Calls for such events must be made by political blocs, especially nationalist, democratic, and progressive ones. What’s happening today, however, is that these groups follow rallies held by political blocs, which could be serving certain MPs’ agendas, and thus harm the public image that people have of these groups.

It would have been understandable if political groups with limited political experience had made such mistakes. However, these groups are the successors of others who worked for Kuwait and were responsible for many initiatives and achievements since the mid-20th centur y.

Maybe the fast pace of recent developments hasn’t given Kuwait’s nationalist political forces the opportunity to coordinate, but still this is no excuse for them to put their political future at risk.

In order to restore their image, these political groups need to strengthen coordination and dialogue between one another to reach a common view on current subjects, as well as a unified approach that can be followed by its supporters among women, workers, the young and students — Al-Rai

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he Hawally police arrested four expatriates in connection with forgery. They specialized in providing a non-existent company with forged bank certificates to prove financial capability to pay salaries to workers.

Visa traders bring in as many workers as possible to Kuwait without a real work permit or contract. This is because they get paid per head. Prospective employers are falsely convinced that every dinar paid will be compensated for as soon as they begin working here in Kuwait.

Workers are poor. Travelling to Kuwait, they dream of leading a better life as well putting an end to their suffering. The bogus company representative exploits poor people’s need. Workers borrow money to purchase airline tickets, hoping to pay back debts after coming here. They joyfully step into a plane for the first time and count their blessings. Their happiness is short-lived because hours after reaching Kuwait, they find themselves without work and stranded far away from their home land.

Non-existent companies turn a blind eye to them, their mission accomplished. Some remain hungry on the roads, others are involved in theft, criminal activities and end up in prison. They are deported. The luckier ones take up odd jobs, but still violate residency laws. These are not the ways in which they hoped to become wealthy.

Who can be blamed for this situation? I agree that the four expats are guilty of committing a crime. They are not the only ones here. The visa traders are guilty too and should not be held accountable. Otherwise, they will continue to trap other gullible victims. I believe that there is an urgent need to enforce laws and regulations on recruiting unskilled laborers.

We should eliminate this practice from the grassroots. I don’t think expats, although guilty, have the courage to brazenly flout laws without being orchestrated by a mastermind that pulls strings. Unless the police begins an earnest campaign to stop this inhuman practice, this crime will continue to flourish for many years. Kuwait can then secure its place in the human trafficking watch list.

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In my view

Inspiring incredulity

By Ruth Riegler ne news item that caught my eye last week was a report that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had once again been condemned for supporting the claims of 9/11 conspiracy theorists, most recently in his latest UN address. This critic asked, as others before have done, “why would Iran ascribe to such a ridiculous belief that stands in the face of all logic and evidence?” Of course, this was hardly a novel or unprecedented reaction to Mr Ahmadinejad’s musings on the subject, but then this wasn’t the standard journalistic critique; this time, it was personal, straight from the (Al Qaeda) horse’s mouth.

I ndeed, the unaccredited author of the unfavourable appraisal from Al-Qaeda’s English language online lifestyle magazine, ‘Inspire’, was downright annoyed at the impudence of some Johnny Come Lately attempting to deny them the credit for their own hard work. Isn’t it always the way? You do all the legwork, put in the long boring hours to kill thousands, generating two wars that kill hundreds of thousands more and devastate entire nations, and some cheeky upstart swans in, claiming that you had nothing to do with it?

They’re just jealous, y’know. As our disgruntled editorial writer noted: “Al-Qaeda ... succeeded in what Iran couldn’t. Therefore it was necessary for the Iranians to discredit 9/11 and what better way to do so? Conspiracy theories.” So there - stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Mahmoud. Tora Bora Posse Roolz, OK? Our conspiracy theories are better. Yar boo sucks.

This news item is, of course, beyond satire on multiple levels - indeed, if Tony Blair and President Obama hadn’t made satire wholly redundant by attaining the Middle East peace envoy’s post and the Nobel peace prize respectively, Jon Stewart could have got a couple of shows out of it while Fox News could maybe have managed a diagram and some flashcards. What has piqued my curiosity once again though, is Al-Qaeda’s ‘lifestyle magazine.’ Founded in 2010 by AQAP, ‘Inspire’s’ target demographic is apparently radical young Western

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English-speaking loners with, one imagines, a serious grudge and a happy-go-lucky approach to losing limbs in those pesky household semtex-modeling accidents; their Summer 2010 article, ‘How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom’ sounds like essential reading for ever y petulant teen sociopath refused his weekly pocket money.

I’ve tended to avoid lifestyle magazines by and large - as some wise soul once pointed out, lifestyle is a word used by people with neither, and the magazines were apparently created to prove the point. Despite having fallen into a catatonic trance state while reading some of the more traditional lifestyle publications, however, I was, I admit, curious to find out more about Ayman AlZawahiri’s home accessories tips for this season and possibly browse the latest in handy guerrilla warfare hints for today’s multitasking mom, an issue always unaccountably overlooked by Homes and Gardens.

Unfor tunately, however, minor publication problems like being issued by an internationally proscribed terrorist organization and the whole US military being dedicated to killing the editorial staff have led to setbacks with getting copies of ‘Inspire’ online - although an innocuous online magazine of the same title for African-American businesspeople must be getting some interesting emails.

Perhaps, though, once these minor teething troubles are sorted, subscription levels will soar and this will be the launch of a whole new lifestyle magazine genre; maybe we’ll also soon be scrolling through the newest issue of Shining Path Quarterly, the Lord’s Resistance Army Periodical or Continuity IRA Weekly to keep up to date with the insider gossip on this month’s hottest young insurgents and the latest trend in plastic explosives (‘belts are so-o last year’). One thing’s for sure anyway - we’ll never think of lifestyle magazines in quite the same way again.

Email: ruth@kuwaittimes.net

kuwait digest

Are you serious, sheikh?

By Waleed Al-Ghanim he Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister ed. Shortly, then Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Sheikh Dr Mohammad Al-Sabah called during a Cabinet’s official spokesman at the time Mohammad press conference last Wednesday to find radical Al-Busairi, announced that several requests have not solutions to the problems that lead to strikes over been discussed, and awaited Dr Al-Sabah’s return. Of financial allowances. Dr Al-Sabah also noted the course, we never knew which of the two contradicdemands that workers made in terms of being paid tory statements turned out to be true. Either way, at par with peers the decision never employed in other civil helped achieve stability bodies. in the public sector, as Now, demonstrations are being I read Dr Al-Sabah’s is evident by what we staged on every quarter thanks to statement several see today. times trying to comNow, demonstrapent-up frustration that spilled over prehend it and read tions are being staged the clear disparity between salaries between the lines, but on every quarter thanks failed to find anything to pent-up frustration paid to employees in the same field that could hint at its that spilled over the of profession but working in differtrue purpose. What clear disparity between ent state depar tments. This made me say that is salaries paid to employthe fact that Dr Alees in the same field of would’ve been avoided if the Sabah has been chairprofession but working Cabinet gave equal pay rises to ing the Civil Service in different state Council(CSC) during departments.

This state employees instead of granting the past few years. It would’ve been avoided cer tain depar tments’ demands. featured the enforceif the Cabinet gave ment of costly equal pay rises to state After all this ruckus, the Foreign allowances and pay employees instead of Minister said that the government raises for certain granting certain departmust identify the main reason which departments. That ments’ demands. After move has caused the all this ruckus, the sparked protests. current state of frusForeign Minister said tration among state that the government employees. must identify the main reason which sparked Before asking to be relieved from his duties and protests. Are you serious, sheikh? leaving behind hopes and ambitions of thousands of Many experts outlined the best solution for this employees, Dr Al-Sabah chaired a meeting of the problem. I urge citizens to continue seeking justice Civil Service Council on April 2010 during which a through peaceful means, but avoid strikes that crerecord-breaking 123 different demands for financial ate chaos and damage people’s interests as well as privileges were discussed, after which the deputy the country’s reputation. Let justice be obtained premier announced that all demands were evaluat- without harming Kuwait. — Al-Qabas

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In my view

The Nobel Prize, the Universe, and the Quran

By Mohamed Saleh Kotob he amazing discovery that our universe is in a state of accelerating expansion is what awarded Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Riess the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics. The scientists were part of two independent teams attempting to measure the degree to which the universe’s expansion is decelerating; it was sheer serendipity that they discovered the opposite. To their surprise, the very distant supernovae were fainter than they expected, indicating that the universe is expanding at an increasing rate, not a decreasing one. The importance of their discovery was emphasized by Science magazine more than a decade ago when it recognized it as the greatest breakthrough of 1998.

Their discovery has resurrected the importance of the long abandoned concept of ‘antigravity’.

Now, there is a heated race in the international scientific community to understand the physics behind this repulsion force responsible for the accelerating cosmological expansion. Cosmologists attribute this antigravity force to an abstract form of energy they call “dark energy”, and claim it is the most ubiquitous form of energy filling the universe.

Interestingly, in 1917 Einstein theorized a cosmological constant, lambda, to represent the antigravity force required to prevent the universe from collapsing on itself in a “big crunch” due to the gravitational pull of the matter inside it. Einstein’s original general relativity equations of 1915 gave rise to an expanding or contracting universe. Regarding that conclusion as outlandish, Einstein settled for the pre-conceived premise that the universe must be static. Consequently, he manipulated his “free parameter” lambda to ensure that outcome. Later on, when he was convinced of Edwin Hubble’s “redshift” data that proved the expanding universe theory, he scrapped the lambda term from his equations and rejected the ‘antigravity’ concept calling it his “biggest blunder”. Little did he know he was a stone-throw away from one of the grandest discoveries of modern cosmology. What does all of this have to do with the Quran? It may be really surprising for people to know that the Quran has mentioned the expanding universe fact more than 1,400 years ago. In chapter 51 verse 47, it reads: “And the Heaven We* constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.” God Almighty is directing attention to the finely crafted universe, its mindboggling vastness, and that He is the One to expand it.

The ultimate question becomes: How can a book written more than 14 centuries ago accurately describe such an unintuitive phenomenon that was only discovered and confirmed less than a century ago?!

Maybe it’s because that book was revealed by the Creator himself, the One Who built the universe with strength and is expanding it faster and faster. *This “We” is the plural of majesty and is a reference to the one and only God

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

Leader of Cuba’s Ladies in White dead at 63

India ex-chief minister arrested over graft Page 12

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Omanis vote for consultative council Women hope for gains Tunisia’s Islamist condemns attack on chief TUNIS: Tunisia’s Islamist party Ennahda, tipped to dominate elections later this month, yesterday condemned an attack on the home of a television chief over alleged blasphemy, denying any role in it. But Ennahda party chief Rached Ghannouchi equally accused the Nessma television station of “provocation” for airing a film that depicts an image of God as an old, bearded man.

“I support the right of the Tunisian people to denounce this attack on their religion,” Ghannouchi said from Paris, insisting that his party is against “all forms of

MUSCAT: An Omani woman casts her vote at a polling station in Muscat, yesterday, as Omanis elect the powerless Majlis Al-Shura consultative council, which Sultan Qaboos pledged to vest with some authorities in response to unprecedented social unrest. — AFP

MUSCAT: Omanis voted yesterday to choose representatives in the 84-member consultative Shura Council, an election overshadowed by discontent over unemployment and alleged government corruption.

Omanis said many women turned out to cast ballots in the 105 polling stations across the Arabian Peninsula country, raising the prospect that women would win parliamentary seats they failed to capture four years ago. “We are now more confident and we are not letting our husbands decide who to vote for this time,” Sharifa Al Shamsi, 27, a business studies graduate, told Reuters at a Muscat polling station. “Also, the women candidates running for election are more educated,” she added.

The usually tranquil Gulf sultanate was hit by

protests in February, part of the Arab Spring of uprisings that toppled the rulers of Egypt and Tunisia.

Omanis focused their demands on higher wages, more jobs and an end to graft rather than a change of government. Many also called for more powers for the council.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who has ruled Oman since 1970, promised after the unrest to give the Shura Council some legislative powers, and, trying to head off further protests, announced programmes to create jobs and fight corruption. About 520,000 people registered to vote for the Shura Council, compared with 388,000 in the last election in 2007. Districts with a population of 30,000 elect two members, smaller districts choose one.

The first elections were held in 1991.

The voters this time will make up nearly 33 percent of Oman’s local population of 1.6 million people. About 40 percent of the people in the sultanate are under the voting age of 21, according to official figures. Some 1,300 candidates are competing in the election, of whom 77 are women, up from 700 candidates who ran in the previous election in 2007, when 21 women ran for seats.

“The sultan has promised the new Shura members would be able to legislate but it is not clear yet in what capacity,” Abdulla Al-Harthy, a former protest organizer, told Reuters. “What is clear, is that the decision is aimed to please his people to make sure there will be no more protests.”

Turnout was not expected to be much higher than the 28 percent recorded in 2007, and many Omanis doubt whether the Council will be given real powers.

Deena al Balushi, a candidate for Seeb town in the capital Muscat, said that public campaigning, which the government has allowed for the first time, made a big difference in the higher number of women standing for election.

“Women candidates, who campaigned quietly in 2007, this time used newspaper advertisements, street posters, public speaking and the electronics media to publicize their candidacy,” Balushi, a legal corporate counsellor, said. — Reuters

violence.” Ali Larayedh, a member of Ennahda’s executive, had earlier told AFP that the party had “nothing whatsoever to do with these acts of violence.” About 100 men firebombed the home of Nessma private television direcotor Nabil Karoui late Friday in protest at the airing of a film that they say blasphemed Islam. He was not home and his family managed to escape.

Witnesses described the assailants, who were armed with Molotov cocktails, knives and swords, as members of the ultra-conservative Salafist sect. — AFP

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

UN says new Israel settlement plans ‘unacceptable’ UNITED NATIONS: UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel on Friday over reports that it plans to build 2,600 more housing units in East Jerusalem, saying further settlement activity was “unacceptable.”

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned at continued efforts to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem,” Ban’s press office said in a statement.

“Recent developments in this regard have been unacceptable, particularly as efforts are ongoing to resume (Israeli-Palestinian) negotiations, and run contrary to the Quartet’s call on the parties to refrain from provocations,” it said.

The Peace Now anti-settlement group said on Friday that Israel planned to build the housing units in a new urban settlement in East Jerusalem, angering Palestinians who want a halt to all such projects before they return to peace talks. The “Quartet” of Middle East peace nego-

tiators-the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nationshas urged Israel and the Palestinians to avoid provocative actions and urged them to resume stalled peace negotiations. The Peace Now group said the settlement plan was approved earlier this week by an Israeli municipal committee, which had given the go-ahead for construction on the site that lies on land seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

There was no immediate comment from the municipal committee on the report, but the Palestinians said they believed the news was accurate. “The Secretary-General reiterates that settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the remainder of the West Bank is contrary to international law,” the U.N. statement said, adding such activity “must cease.”

The reports about a new settlement plan come as the Palestinians attempt to secure UN recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank

Al Qaeda official killed in Yemen ADEN: The head of the media department of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was killed in an air raid on militant outposts in Yemen, and gunmen retaliated by blowing up a gas export pipeline, Yemeni officials and residents said yesterday.

The death of Ibrahim al-Banna, an Egyptian described by Yemeni officials as high on their wanted list, is a fresh blow to the Islamist group regarded by Washington as the most serious threat to the United States, following the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki last month.

But the destruction of France’s Total gas pipeline, which transports gas from the central Maarib province to Belhaf port on the Arabian Sea, was expected to deal a severe blow to the Yemeni economy, already reeling from months of protests demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down.

The Yemeni Defence Ministry said six other militants died in the air raids late on Friday on militant hideouts near the town of Azzan in the southern Shabwa province, including the oldest son and a cousin of Awlaki, a US-born cleric.

But local residents and officials said they believed it was foreign aircraft, flying at high altitude and smaller than the Soviet-made Yemeni air force planes, that launched at least three strikes on several targets in the area.

“There were planes flying high. I could hear the sounds of their engines but I could not make them out,” one witness who declined to be identified told Reuters. “All of a sudden, the area was shaken by successive explosions,” he added.

A Yemeni official described al-Banna as a “dangerous” militant and one of the most wanted people internationally.

Witnesses said militants were seen removing several bodies and an unknown number of injured people from the scene after the raid early yesterday. Last month, a US drone killed

Awlaki, identified by US intelligence as “chief of external operations” for al Qaeda’s Yemen branch and a Websavvy propagandist for the Islamist cause, US officials said. Relatives of Awlaki said the cleric’s son and cousin were due to be buried at the site of the attack.

Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda trying to establish a foothold in Yemen captured large swathes of southern Abyan province, including the provincial capital Zinjibar, earlier this year.

The Yemeni army last month drove the militants out of Zinjibar, which lies east of a strategic shipping strait through which some 3 million barrels of oil pass daily.

Residents and officials said the 322km pipeline, which links gas fields in Maarib, east of Sanaa, to a $4.5 billion Total-led liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, was blown up soon after the raids. Sources at Total told Reuters that the pipeline was blown up in two places, stopping the gas supplies that feed the Belhaf LNG plant. Witnesses said the flames were visible from several kilometres away. The company evacuated nearly half its foreign staff to neighbouring Djibouti, and sent some local and French engineers to start repairing the pipeline.

Three South Korean companies also hold stakes in the plant, which opened in 2009 and was the largest industrial project ever carried out in Yemen.

Yemen’s only liquefied natural gas producer, Yemen LNG, warned its customers in March of potential supply curtailments and possible force majeure on exports, as violence spread across the nation.

Yemen has the capacity to supply up to 6.7 million tonnes of LNG per year.

Last year Yemen LNG, the 16th largest seller of the gas, shipped more than half its supplies to Asia, the rest going to the Americas and Europe. — Reuters

Egypt’s military rulers criminalize discrimination CAIRO: Egypt’s transitional military rulers have issued a decree prohibiting all forms of discrimination, including on the basis of religion. The step comes about a week after 26 people were killed in clashes involving minority Coptic Christian protesters, the military and others. It was the worst bloodshed since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February.

The decree was one of the longtime demands of the protest movement that has been pushing for political and other reforms in the post-Mubarak transition toward democracy. The anti-discrimination measure carries a maximum penalty of three months in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 Egyptian pounds, or nearly $17,000. Hafez Abou Saada, head of the Egyptian Human Rights Organization,

described the decree as a limited but positive symbolic step. Christians, who represent about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 85 million, say they are treated like second-class citizens and that repeated attacks on them go unpunished. Attacks on churches by Muslim mobs led by ultraconservative Salafis have increased in recent months.

The latest bloodshed on Sunday occurred when thousands of Christians rallied at the TV building, to protest an attack on a church in southern Aswan province. Nader Shoukri, a researcher at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, said that the law is meant “to contain the crisis but laws are not the issue, the bigger challenge is to put it into effect.” — AP

BAGHDAD: Ekhlas Mohammed, 5, drinks water at a compound for displaced people in western Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. An estimated 1.55 million people are currently displaced inside Iraq, according to the International Organization for Migration. — AP

and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, along with full membership in the United Nations. The Palestinian UN bid has infuriated Israel, which says it is an attempt to delegitimize it.

Israel’s ally the United States has said it was prepared to veto the Palestinian UN application, which is currently being assessed by a UN Security Council committee.

If the Palestinian application to join the United Nations comes to a vote in the full Security Council, the United States has the power to veto it due to its status as a permanent member of the 15-nation panel.

The Security Council committee is expected to report back to the full council next week about progress it has made assessing the Palestinian UN application. Diplomats on the committee, which includes all council members, say privately that little progress has been made in assessing the Palestinian request to join the world body. — Reuters

NABLUS: Palestinians celebrate the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, in the West Bank city of Nablus yesterday. It is expected that Hamas will free the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners within a week. — AP

Libya leaders mop up after deadly clashes ‘We have to be firm with Gaddafi supporters’ TRIPOLI: Libya’s new leadership yesterday pressed a campaign to clear the capital of armed loyalists of Moamer Gaddafi after fierce gunbattles killed three people in the first fighting to rock Tripoli since its capture in August.

The head of Tripoli’s supreme militar y council, Abdelhakim Belhaj, pledged tough action against the pro-Gaddafii fighters and “sleeper cells” of the former regime, which he said would be targeted in the clean-up operation. Pro-Gaddafi gunmen on Friday clashed with fighters loyal to the National Transitional Council in Abu Salim, a district around 10 kilometres (six miles) south of the city centre known to harbour supporters of the fugitive strongman. “ The fighters are in the process of clearing the buildings in the area of Gaddafi loyalists,” Hamad, 40, an NTC soldier manning one of the checkpoints in the neighbourhood, said yesterday. He said they had already found evidence that the Gaddafi loyalists had been preparing for the clashes, including sand bags and flak jackets on the roofs of apartment blocks.

Abdelrazaq al-Aradi, vice president of the security committee in Tripoli, said three people had been killed in the clashes theretwo Gaddafi loyalists and one NTC fighter-and another 30 people wounded. Aradi told a news conference that around 50 armed Gaddafi supporters were behind the violence, 27 of whom, including four “African mercenaries,” were arrested on Friday.

Abu Salim residents said the fighting broke out during proGaddafi demonstrations after noon prayers, prompted by a call to rise from a pro-Gaddafi Libyan television presenter earlier in the week, broadcast on Iraqi T V channel Al-Rai. “We have to be firm with these Gaddafi supporters and finish the resistance here once and for all. After more than 40 years, we don’t want to waste any more time,” said a taxi driver in Abu Salim, echoing the com-

ments of several other residents.

The district, notorious for its prison where the Gaddafi regime held its opponents, was the last area of the capital to witness resistance after NTC forces

kept up pressure on the last two pockets of resistance in Sirte on Saturday with hundreds of men surrounding the Dollar and Number Two districts, an AFP correspondent said.

“We are sure that (Gaddafi’s son and his national security chief ) Mutassim and (ousted defence minister) Abu Bakr Yunis are inside,” he said. “ We also believe that Seif al-Islam (anoth-

SIRTE: A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighter is helped after being hit by fire from pro-Moamer Gaddafi gunmen (unseen) during battles in central Sirte yesterday. — AFP stormed the veteran strongman’s sprawling and fortified Bab alAziziya headquarters on August 23. Clashes were also reported in other parts of Tripoli, although a senior official in the militar y council claimed they were “very limited” in scope and had been swiftly brought under control.

Many roads in the capital were closed following the violence. The flare-up came as a setback to the new regime, which hopes to proclaim the country’s liberation within days, and prepare for the transition to an elected government, when Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte is finally captured by NTC forces.

Libya’s new regime forces

“We had sporadic clashes the whole night with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades,” said Faraj al-Wafi, a fighter from the Martyrs of Free Libya Brigade, who spent the night in the area.

NTC commanders decided after a meeting yesterday to hold off on an all-out assault on the two neighbourhoods in a bid to capture the top regime figures they believe are holed up there alive, a senior commander said yesterday.

“The resistance from the two neighbourhoods is high because we believe there are four to five important people inside,” eastern front operations chief Wesam bin Hamaibi said after the meeting.

er of Gaddafi’s sons) and Gaddafi (himself ) are possibly inside. “ We want to capture them alive to hand them over to the judiciar y rather than k illing them, which is why we are still not going to have a massive attack.” Sirte is a key goal for the NTC, which has said it will not proclaim Libya’s liberation and begin preparing for the transition to an elected government until the city has fallen.

NATO said in its operational update yesterday that its aircraft had hit a military vehicle in Bani Walid, a desert oasis southeast of Tripoli that is the only other remaining bastion of Gaddafi loyalists. — AFP

For Iraqis, the war is far from over BAGHDAD: Bombs in Baghdad’s Sadr City killed Abdul Aziz Sultan’s brother while 16-year-old Mohammed Nasser lost a legstark reminders that even as US forces draw down, the war is far from over for Iraqis.

US President Barack Obama said on October 7 that the United States was “responsibly ending” the war in Iraq. All of the roughly 41,000 US soldiers in Iraq are required to leave by year’s end, unless Baghdad and Washington reach an accord on a post-2011 US military training mission.

Negotiations on the trainers are ongoing, with US officials insisting they must have immunity from Iraqi prosecution, while Iraqi leaders say such protection is unnecessary. Meanwhile, Iraqis are being killed and wounded in near-daily attacks. At least two bombs exploded on Thursday night in Sadr City, an impoverished Shiite -majority area in north Baghdad, killing 18 people

and wounding at least 43, interior and defence ministry officials said.

Among the dead was 21-yearold Abdul Rahman. His brother Abdul Aziz, 36, said he had a knack for computers and wanted to go to college. “He talked to me yesterday. I even told him, ‘You are a man now, you look good,’” said Abdul Aziz, sitting in a chair in one of several long, open-ended floral-patterned tents set up in Sadr City for mourners to pay their respects to families of the dead.

“I went out of the house when the explosion happened. I tried to call him but I didn’t reach him, and then a stranger answered. He told me I will find him in the corner near the ice factory,” Abdul Aziz said.

“I went there, and I saw him,” he said. “I lost my brother. Life suddenly turned bleak in my eyes.”

Thirteen-year-old Mohammed

Abbas was also among the dead.

“He was one of the best students, he was in the first year of intermediate school,” said his uncle, 41-year-old Hassan, who only gave his first name. “His ambition was to become a doctor or an engineer in the future; he was very good in his studies,” Hassan said, speaking in another tent set up just down the street from the scene of one of the blasts.

Mohammed Nasser, 16, was among at least 43 people wounded in the Sadr City bombings. The curly-haired schoolboy sat propped up in a narrow bed in a room with a other casualties in Al-Shahid Al-Sadr Hospital, with bloody bandages covering what was left of his left leg, the lower half of which he lost in the blasts.

“I was standing near the site of the explosion when the first one took place. Then I tried to return home when the second one happened, and I collapsed,” he said.

Dr Ahmed Majeed said the hospi-

tal had received at least 20 wounded people from the attacks, in addition to eight who were dead on arrival.

“We tried our best but you know our abilities are limited. We worked ... from 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) until 1:30 am,” he said. The Sadr City bombings came a day after a spate of attacks in Baghdad mainly targeting security forces, including two suicide car bombs minutes apart against police stations, killed 23 people and wounded more than 70.

Despite a decline in violence since 2006 and 2007, 185 people were still killed in attacks last month, according to official figures. “Any normal person, if he goes out in the street, he can’t guarantee ... if he will return home or not,” Hassan said.

“An attack or explosion can take place any time,” he said. “All Iraqis suffer from this problem.

The security forces cannot control the security situation.” — AFP

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Obama sending troops to aid Africa anti-insurgency Move raises profile of US involvement

HAVANA: In this March 27, 2011 file photo, Laura Pollan, leader of Cuba’s dissident group Ladies in White, uses a cell phone during her group’s weekly march in Havana, Cuba. — AP

Leader of Cuba’s Ladies in White dead at 63 HAVANA: Laura Pollan, who helped found the dissident group Ladies in White after her husband was jailed in a 2003 crackdown on government opponents, died on Friday in a Havana hospital at the age of 63, her family and fellow dissidents said.

The pugnacious Pollan was one of Cuba’s leading opposition voices and deeply involved in promoting change on the Communist island until she developed a pulmonary illness and went into the hospital on Oct 7. She had been on a respirator in the intensive care ward of Calixto Garcia hospital ever since and died of cardiac arrest, said Berta Soler, her longtime co-leader of the Ladies in White.

Husband Hector Maseda told Reuters at the hospital that a medical team had tried for an hour to revive her without success. “I asked to see her and went to see her body. I was there with her for a while, alone,” said the visibly shaken Maseda.

Elizardo Sanchez, head of the independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights, said the loss of Pollan was a big one for opponents of the Cuban government. “It’s really bad news for the human rights and pro-democracy movement.

It’s an irreparable loss. We’ll see with time if others step forward to take her place,” he said.

After 75 dissidents, including Maseda, were imprisoned in a March 2003 crackdown known as Havana’s Black Spring, the former school teacher helped found the Ladies in White with family members of the other prisoners and began staging silent marches every Sunday in Havana to press for their release.

Dressed in white and each carrying a single white flower, they walked silently along a main Havana avenue after attending services at the Santa Rita

Catholic Church in the capital’s leafy Miramar neighborhood. Public protests were unheard of at the time and still rare today. The government tried to stop them by sending out harassing mobs in what are known in Cuba as “acts of repudiation,” but allowed them to continue after intercession by the church.

All 75 people imprisoned in the Black Spring crackdown, who received sentences ranging from six to 28 years, have been released, most of them following a deal between the church and President Raul Castro last year. One of the last to be freed was Maseda, who was serving a 20year sentence.

The Ladies in White have continued their Sunday marches, saying there are still political prisoners in Cuba, and this summer launched a second chapter in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, which has met stiff government resistance.

Cuba considers dissidents to be mercenaries working for its longtime enemy the United States, and so far had said nothing about Pollan’s death. Cuban state media called Pollan and her group “Ladies in Green” referring to the color of dollars they said she received from Washington. She said they accepted aid from whoever would give it, but insisted they were an independent movement.

“We continue being defenders of human rights. We are not politicians, we want freedom for the country, democracy,” she told Reuters in a September interview. Maseda said an autopsy would be conducted, then her body would be cremated and there would be wake in their home in Central Havana. Her ashes would be spread in a field of flowers, as she had once requested, he said. All would be private, he said, because “we don’t want the wake to become an act or propaganda.” — Reuters

WASHINGTON: Intervening in a volatile and brutal crisis, President Barack Obama said Friday he has dispatched 100 US troops to central Africa to support a years-long fight against a guerrilla group accused of horrific atrocities. Obama said they were sent to advise, not engage in combat, unless forced to defend themselves.

In a letter to Congress, Obama said the troops will act as advisers in a long-running battle against the Lord’s Resistance Army, considered one of Africa’s most ruthless rebel groups, and help to hunt down its notorious leader, Joseph Kony.

The first of the troops arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, the White House said, and others will be sent to South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the size of the US footprint is small, Obama’s announcement represents a highly unusual intervention for the United States. Although some American troops are based in Djibouti and small groups of soldiers have been deployed to Somalia, the US traditionally has been reluctant to commit forces to help African nations put down insurgencies.

It demonstrates the Obama administration’s escalating attention to and fears about security risks in Africa, including terror networks, piracy and unstable nations. The move was intended to show some engagement to lessen the impact of one of the worst protracted wars in Africa. Obama declared his decision to send troops as in keeping with the national security interests of the United States.

The White House announced it in a low-key fashion, releasing the Obama notification and justification of the troop deployment that the president sent to congressional leaders.

Pentagon officials said the bulk of the deployment will be of special operations troops, who will provide security and combat training to African units. The move raises the profile of US involvement on the

continent - and represents an apparent victory for administration officials who have argued for more robust intervention in humanitarian crises.

The change in policy could reflect the long-standing concerns of a number of high-ranking Obama advisers left scarred by the US failure in the 1990s to intervene to stop the genocide in Rwanda and the belated action to finally halt the violence in Bosnia. For a current parallel, the Lord’s Resistance Army’s 24-year campaign of rebellion, rape and murder represents one of the world’s worst human rights crises today.

“This case is somewhat exceptional,” said Richard Downie, an Africa expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “There are few more clear-cut cases of evil in the world today than the Lord’s Resistance Army.” Downie noted that the US has once before, at the end of 2008, sent advisers and logistical backup to help the Ugandan army root out the LRA. Intelligence leaks, poor cooperation between the Ugandan and other African armies, and bad weather hampered the operation.

Since then, nearly 400,000 people in northern Congo have been displaced due to the LRA’s activity, he said. Downie cautioned that the operation shouldn’t be viewed as short-term. Even if the LRA is disbanded quickly, the effects of years of war will require lengthy rehabilitation efforts.

Coming off the administration’s successful, if limited, intervention in Libya, the Uganda deployment represents a continued effort by Obama to use military force for humanitarian protection in areas where atrocities are occurring. Sending 100 troops may not be significant in terms of military numbers, but the composition of the force gives the United States a new counterterrorism foothold in a region of the world with terrorist networks, pirates and unstable nations.

A special forces unit can be highly effective beyond what the number

of soldiers might suggest. They are highly skilled in disrupting insurgency networks by discovering where rebels are based and how they procure guns, money and other logistical support.

Obama’s letter to Congress said the deployment “furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa.” The Lord’s Resistance Army has been pushing westward since it began its attacks years ago, and the administration and human rights groups say its atrocities have left thousands dead and have put as many as 300,000 Africans to flight.

They have charged the group with seizing children to bolster its ranks of soldiers and sometimes forcing them to become sex slaves. Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court under a 2005 warrant for crimes against humanity in his native Uganda. A self-styled prophet, who mixes Christian mysticism with politics, he is believed hiding along the Sudan-Congo border. The deployment drew support from Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who has visited the region.

“I have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the LRA, and this will help end Kony’s heinous acts that have created a human rights crisis in Africa,” he said in a statement. “ Today’s action offers hope that the end of the LRA is in sight.” But Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., while praising the goal of combating the Lord’s Resistance Army, cautioned that some past deployments with humanitarian goals resulted in unintended tragedies. “For this reason, it is essential for the president to consult with Congress about any deployment of our military forces into harm’s way,” McCain said.

“I regret that this was not done in the case of today ’s announced deployment of U.S. troops to central Africa, and I urge the president to keep Congress and the American people fully informed.”

Obama’s letter stressed the limited nature of the deployment. “Our

forces will provide information, advice and assistance to select partner nation forces,” it said. “Although the US forces are combat-equipped, they will ... not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for selfdefense.”

Most of the troops will deploy to regional capitals to work with government officials and military commanders on countering the rebels and protecting civilians, Pentagon officials said. In recent months, the administration has stepped up its support for Uganda, which has played a key role in battling extremists in Somalia. In June, the Pentagon moved to send nearly $45 million in military equipment to Uganda and Burundi. The aid included four small drones, body armor and night-vision and communications gear and is being used in the fight against alShabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group that US officials see as an increasing threat and that African peace-keeping troops in Somalia have been battling to suppress.

At the State Department, officials portrayed the new troop deployment as part of a larger anti LRA strategy that dates to the Bush administration but also includes legislation passed by Congress this year.

Victoria Nuland, a department spokeswoman, said the US troops will aid in “pursuing the LRA and seeking to bring top commanders to justice.” The broader effort includes encouraging rebel fighters to defect, disarm and return to their homes, she said. The administration briefed human rights activists ahead of the announcement, and the groups’ officials were encouraged. “These advisers can make a positive difference on the ground by keeping civilians safe and improving military operations to apprehend the LRA’s top commanders,” said Paul Ronan, director of the group Advocacy at Resolve. Col. Felix Kulayigye, Uganda’s military spokesman, said of the troops: “We are aware that they are coming. We are happy about it. We look forward to working with them and eliminating Kony and his fighters.” —AP

Mexico ‘left in hands’ of drug gang: Calderon MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the eastern state of Veracruz, which has been convulsed by a wave of killings, had been “left in the hands” of the violent Zetas drug cartel. “I think Veracruz was left in the hands of the Zetas. I don’t know if was involuntary ... I’d like to think so,” Calderon said at a meeting in Mexico City with campaigners trying to end drug-related violence that has racked the country.

The president did not elaborate on who was to blame for the situation in Veracruz, a state on the Gulf of Mexico ruled by the main

opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Polls show the PRI is in pole position to oust Calderon’s conservative National Action Party (PAN) in presidential elections in July, and the government’s war on drug cartels has been a major source of friction between the main parties.

Since Calderon deployed the army to crack down on Mexico’s powerful drug gangs soon after taking office in December 2006, criminal violence has spiraled in Mexico, killing more than 44,000 people and damaging support for his party. However, the PAN has hit back, say-

ing that the worst of the violence has been in states governed by the PRI, which dominated Mexico during 70 years of often corrupt rule until Calderon’s party won a historic election in 2000.

With an eye on the July 1 presidential vote, the PAN has tried to reawaken memories of PRI corruption. The PRI has governed Veracruz since the party’s inception. A bloody turf war between the Zetas gang and their former employers, the Gulf Cartel, has ravaged Veracruz, where scores of homicides have been reported in the past month. — Reuters

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Kidnappings: Kenya to pursue militants in Somalia NAIROBI: Signaling a stepped-up campaign against Somali militants, Kenya’s top security chiefs said yesterday that Kenyan forces will pursue militants into Somalia, a response to a spate of attacks in which four Europeans have been kidnapped and one killed since September.

Following the kidnappings of two Spanish aid workers Thursday and the abductions of British and French women in recent weeks, Minister of Internal Security George Saitoti said Kenyan forces will pursue al-Shabab militants into Somalia. “For the first time our country is threatened with the most serious level of terrorism,” Saitoti said.

The plan to pursue fighters inside Somalia signals a huge change in Kenya’s approach to the security threat posed by the lawless state of Somalia. While the African countries Uganda and Burundi each have thousands of troops fighting alShabab militants in Mogadishu, Kenya has not

actively engaged in the fight.

Al-Shabab has already carried out one devastating suicide attack in Uganda - killing 76 people last year - and Kenya’s decision to increase military engagement against the militants could open it up to more attacks inside its borders. Gunmen on Thursday entered the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab, and snatched two Spanish women working for the aid group Doctors Without Borders.

Dadaab is filled with nearly a half million Somali refugees fleeing conflict and hunger. Tens of thousands of Somalis have swelled the camp’s ranks in the last three months after fleeing famine.

Saitoti said yesterday that because of the kidnappings, the border with Somalia would now be closed. “We have now closed the border and we have no apologies as far as that is concerned,” hesaid. “You will recall yourself that when a very large number of refugees were coming from

Somaliabecause of the drought there we did agree to receive them in fulfillment of our international obligation. We did of course warn the international community that while Kenya was willing to take these people there were inherent risks.”

One such risk is that Kenyan officials have almost no way of telling apart legitimate refugees and alShabab militants posing as hungry Somalis. A spokesman for the UN refugee agency noted Saturday that the border has officially been closed for three years, so it wasn’t immediately clear if Saitoti’s announcement signaled a new policy or a reiteration of the old one.

The head the Spanish office of Doctors Without Borders said Friday in Madrid that the group has had no contact with their workers after they were seized Thursday. Juan Antonio Bastos identified the women as Montserrat Serra i Ridao, 40, from Girona in northeast Spain and Blanca Thiebaut, 30, from

Madrid. The UN temporarily suspended all non-lifesaving aid operations in the Dadaab refugee camp following the kidnappings, a spokeswoman said.

Hundreds of staff are confined to their offices, forcing the cancellation of services like education, counseling and relocation of families until further notice.

Security has long been a concern at Dadaab, where representatives from various factions seek to recruit disaffected young male refugees as fighters.

Aid workers live in guarded compounds surrounded by high barbed-wire walls, and the UN requires its staff to travel in the camps with armed escorts.

On Oct. 1, Somali gunmen took a wheelchair-bound French woman from her home near the resort town of Lamu. Somalis also a b d u c te d a B r i t i s h wo m a n f ro m a K e nya n coastal resort in September. Her husband was killed in the attack. — AP

Medvedev denies Putin will return Russia to the past President pledges to create more diverse society

ABIDJAN: The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo (L) and Charles Konan Banny, the head of the Truth, Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission speak to the media following their meeting in Abidjan yesterday. — AFP

ICC prosecutor meets Ivorian leaders ABIDJAN: The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis MorenoOcampo, probing post-election atrocities in Ivory Coast, began a series of meetings yesterday with Ivorian leaders. MorenoOcampo, who arrived Friday pledging an “impartial” investigation, had a mid-morning “working meeting” with Justice Minister Jeannot Ahoussou Kouadio and Abidjan’s civil and military prosecutors.

Judges at the ICC, based in The Hague, appointed Moreno-Ocampo to mount an inquiry into the violence that killed more than 3,000 people during a five-month standoff following elections in November 2010.

They ruled on October 3 that there was evidence that both sides in the conflict committed war crimes and crimes against humanity-supporters of now President Alassane Ouattara and fighters loyal to his political rival Laurent Gbagbo.

The ICC prosecutor will also meet with

Charles Konan Banny, the head of the Truth, Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission tasked with probing more than a decade of conflict and promoting reconciliation in the west African nation, the world’s top cocoa producer. MorenoOcampo will then meet supporters of expresident Gbagbo, who is under house arrest in the north of the country, as well as President Ouattara.

On Friday the ICC prosecutor said after meeting with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro that the investigation would focus on “who we believe are the most responsible for the crimes committed,” promising to complete the investigation “as fast as we can.” MorenoOcampo also said he would meet with victims of atrocities, adding: “We’d like to help Cote d’Ivoire to move ahead.”

Ivory Coast’s long-time leader Gbagbo refused to give up power after losing the elections to Ouattara. Gbagbo was seized by pro-Ouattara forces in April. — AFP

MOSCOW: President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday denied that Vladimir Putin’s expected return to the Kremlin would throw Russia back to its past but admitted the decision disappointed some of his supporters. Lampooned by liberals as a lame duck who had failed to change Russia in his presidency, Medvedev sought to regain the initiative in a town hall-style meeting with supporters at the trendy Red October complex in central Moscow.

Medvedev is expected to take on the post of prime minister after ceding the Kremlin to Putin in 2012 elections and he insisted the authorities would press ahead with the political and economic change Russia urgently needs. “This arrangement is not a return to the past but a way to solve the tasks that stand before us,” Medvedev said, referring to the scheme unveiled last month for Russia’s ruling tandem to swap jobs.

Medvedev admitted for the first time that a portion of his supporters-who had pinned their hopes on him to modernise Russia-were disappointed by the decision to allow strongman Putin back into the Kremlin. “I know that some of my supporters-those people who had talked about the necessity of change-felt some kind of disappointment or some slight feeling of tension.”

But he gave the bluntest of reasons why Putin-who was president from 2000-2008 and has dominated Russia for over a decade-was returning to the Kremlin in March 2012 elections he is almost certain to win.

“My (popularity) rating and the rating of Vladimir Putin are high. But his rating is higher.”

Medvedev acknowledged he owed his political career to Putin and said he was not going to “hack down” those who had helped him in his life. “I’m not brought up that way,” he said.

Some observers detected splits earlier this year between the president and Putin on modernisation but the Medvedev made clear “we are not competitors but close comrades, friends.”

Liberal economists and analysts have expressed fear of a return to Soviet-style practices under Putin, who showed little appetite for reform in most of his presidency and drastically curtailed

civil liberties.

Despite Medvedev’s pledges to create a more diverse society in Russia, the meeting was largely marked by softball questions and expressions of admiration thrown by prominent businessman and other figures known to support him.

Rustam Adagamov, who under the name Drugoi (Other) is one of Russia’s best known bloggers, told Moscow Echo radio that he had turned down an invitation to attend after discovering the event was dominated by supporters of ruling party United Russia.

But the president said that Russia now needed to think “in what way we can have wholesale change of our system of state management”.

He proposed that Russia should have for the first time a “big government” while would bring together United Russia, experts and regional officials.

“And also with those who do not completely agree with us-if they are prepared for this of

course,” said Medvedev, who did not wear a tie and strolled among the participants to create a sense of informality.

Medvedev vowed that completely new faces would come into his cabinet if he became prime minister.

He said that when he had first taken public office he had found the state apparatus was “much more awful” than he had imagined.

Medvedev said he had no illusions about the extent of corruption in Russia, which he described as “huge”. He said he understood that “a large proportion of public life in Russia consists of corrupt practices”.

He also said that Russian authorities had to learn to communicate with their citizens or risk ending up on the “rubbish dump of history” like the regimes toppled in the Arab Spring. He said that those regimes had lost power because they had “not been ready to respond to the fundamental challenges facing people”. — AFP

MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks at a meeting with his supporters in Moscow, yesterday. — AP

UK defense minister quits after scandal

MONROVIA: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (L) addresses a crowd of supporters yesterday outside offices of her party on the outskirts of Monrovia that had been set alight overnight in a suspected arson attack. — AFP

Former warlord emerges as kingmaker after Liberian vote MONROVIA: Notorious ex-warlord Prince Johnson, who was filmed ordering his men to cut off the ears of dictator Samuel Doe two decades ago, has emerged as a surprising kingmaker in Liberia’s presidential election. Placing a strong third with half the polling stations tallied, the 59-year old former rebel leader looks like the man to court in a run-off election, which could prove sticky for new Nobel Peace Prize winner and incumbent president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

At his home in Monrovia, a large compound ringed by tall ochre walls topped with barbed wire, Johnson cuts a grandfatherly figure - far from the young general in army fatigues who took a bite out of Doe’s ear before tossing it over his shoulder.

Goats and chickens roam the yard, and stone lions guard his house and a large palava hut, their teeth bared. A large stone eagle, wings spread, is also in evidence as bodyguards, supporters and several of Johnson’s 12 children mill around while he contemplates who he would support in a possible run-off.

“No, I don’t want to jump the gun, no, that’s my trump card, I hold my trump card,” he tells AFP, laughing. “I will decide who to support.” Despite his violent past, which also included shooting a relief worker he accused of profiteering in front of international journalists, Johnson retains huge sup-

port in iron-rich Nimba county from where he hails. He believes his selling point is that he is an indigenous Liberian-a sensitive issue in the country whose politics have been dominated by an Americo-Liberian elite descended from the freed US slaves who founded the country.

This, and his defence of his people against Doe, who became the country’s first indigenous president after his soldiers disembowelled President William Tolbert in his bed and executed his entire cabinet on a public beach.

Doe quickly became reviled for repression, corruption and slaughter of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups. An evangelical preacher, Johnson says he was a Christian even when he captured Samuel Doe, whose execution and the macabre home video made of it symbolised the savage brutality which marked Liberia’s conflict.

“What video?” he says when asked about it, leaning forward with a piercing gaze, slightly amused, before launching into a passionate tirade peppered with religious references. “Samuel Doe gave orders to soldiers to brutalise and gruesomely kill a president, my president” he says. “I cannot be prosecuted, I done nothing criminal ... I fought in defence of my country, my people who were being led to the slaughterhouse like chickens and goats by the Doe regime.”—AFP

LONDON: Britain’s defense minister Liam Fox quit his post after days of allegations about the influencepeddling of a close personal friend who joined key visits overseas and posed as an unofficial aide.

Fox acknowledged Friday that he had blurred the lines of his professional and private lives in allowing Adam Werritty, who had previously worked as a defense lobbyist, to organize meetings and join him during 18 trips overseas.

A government inquiry into the case will continue to investigate whether Werritty used his access and friendship with Fox for personal gain, or on behalf of others seeking to win favor or contracts with Britain.

Prime Minister David Cameron named Philip Hammond, who had been Transport Secretary, as Fox’s replacement - asking him to take on the task of implementing severe defense cuts under a national austerity program and to negotiate the exit from the violent conflict in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Fox wrote that he was leaving his role “with great sadness” in a resignation letter, but appeared to have little alternative after more than a week of scrutiny of his personal ties to Werritty.

“I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred,” Fox told Cameron in the letter.

Though he had no official or paid role with Britain’s government, Werritty - who was Fox’s best man at his 2005 wedding and previously lived at Fox’s apartment - met with the minister at least 40 times since he took office, and had distributed business cards claiming to act as his aide.

Fox became the first Conservative Party lawmaker to resign from Britain’s Cabinet since the country’s coalition government was formed following an inconclusive election in May 2010. However, Cameron’s inner circle is also awaiting the outcome of an investigation into another Cabinet heavyweight - with prosecutors reviewing allegations that Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne attempted to dodge a speeding ticket to avoid a driving ban, a case that could further disrupt Britain’s government.

Cameron had initially said he would await the outcome of a government report into Fox’s friendship with Werritty before deciding on the minister’s fate seeking to appear fair to a one-time challenger for the leadership of their Conservative Party. Fox had pushed through work on an 8 percent cut to the defense ministry’s annual 37 billion pound ($59 billion) budget, deciding that 17,000 troops, a fleet of jets and an aging aircraft carrier would all be lost.

He had ensured Britain’s armed forces would be

PARIS: A woman holds a Syrian flag during a demonstration yesterday in Paris, in support to Syrian people. — AFP

“fully equipped to meet the challenges of the modern era,” Cameron said, in a letter to Fox. “On Libya, you played a key role in the campaign to stop people being massacred by the Gadhafi regime and instead win their freedom,” Cameron wrote.

Werritty, in his early 30s, has been interviewed by the government inquiry, but is yet to offer any public comment about his role or how he funded his hectic travel schedule following Fox across the globe.

Details released by Britain’s defense ministry show Werritty joined Fox on visits to destinations including Washington, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Israel and on frequent travel to Dubai. Werritty was present at a steakhouse dinner in Tampa, Florida, with Fox and Lt. Gen. John R. Allen - now the top US commander in Afghanistan - and also joined family holidays with Fox in Spain and Switzerland. The furor also saw Fox’s colleagues forced to discuss repeated insinuations that he is gay. Though Fox married his long-term girlfriend Dr. Jesme Baird in 2005, opponents raised similar questions about his relationship with Werritty after the extent of their contacts was revealed.

The younger man had previously worked for Fox’s Atlantic Bridge organization, a now-defunct charity which promoted his hawkish foreign policy views and sought to become a forum for neo-conservatives in London and Washington.

Fox, who contended for the Conservative Party leadership but came in third in a contest won by Cameron in 2005, was closely allied to Margaret Thatcher - who was patron of his charity. The ex-Prime Minister attended his 50th birthday party last month, even though she is now aged 86 and usually too weak to go out in public. The departed defense minister was known in academic and policy circles as an Atlanticist who favored closer ties to the United States, was deeply skeptical about European allies and had alienated some parts of the party with his views. Fox had clashed with other ministers over his links to Sri Lanka’s government. Main opposition Labour Party lawmaker Jim Murphy said that Fox’s actions in allowing Werritty access to visits, and to arrange a meeting in Dubai with a potential supplier had breached rules governing the conduct of ministers. “This issue has centered solely on his judgment and his conduct in one of the most serious jobs in the country,” Murphy said. Supporter Louise Mensch, a Conservative Party legislator, said Fox’s exit was regrettable. “He was an outstanding Secretary of State for defense and a completely dedicated minister,” she wrote on Twitter. Analysts urged Hammond to quickly master his brief, with U.K. forces still in action in both Libya and Afghanistan.—AP

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China, Vietnam eye joint development of China Sea BEIJING: China and Vietnam want to discuss joint development of the South China Sea, state media reported yesterday as Vietnamese communist party head Nguyen Phu Trong wrapped up a visit.

The potentially oil-rich waters are at the centre of a territorial dispute between the neighbours. “The leaders of the two (communist) parties and countries will keep frequent communication and dialogue on the maritime issues,” according to the text

of a joint statement quoted by Xinhua news agency.

“Both sides will seek steady progress in negotiations regarding the maritime demarcation of the bay mouth of the Beibu Gulf (Gulf of Tonkin) and discuss the joint development of the sea area,” the statement said. “Neither side shall allow any hostile force to destroy the relations between the two parties and the two countries,” it said. China and Vietnam have

a long-standing dispute over sovereignty of the Paracel and Spratly island groups, which are in oil-rich waters straddling vital commercial shipping lanes in the South China Sea. In July a Chinese warship confronted an Indian naval vessel in waters off Vietnam and demanded it to explain its presence.

China says it has sovereignty over essentially all of the South China Sea, a key global trading route, where its professed own-

ership of the Spratly archipelago overlaps with claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia. Vietnam and the Philippines have reported a rising number of incidents with China, citing in particular harassment of their fishermen

by Chinese vessels. The United States also made an appeal for calm Friday after reports that Taiwan was preparing to deploy missiles in the South China Sea. Beijing routinely rejects US “interference”

in the region and says it intends to resolve its territorial disputes on a bilateral basis with the countries concerned. Trong’s visit to China was his first since he was appointed in January as secretary general of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The two communist countries, which fought a brief border war in 1979 before normalising relations in 1991, also agreed to strengthen cooperation against illegal border crossings, Xinhua reported. — AFP

Nervous Bangkok on alert for floods US sent military transport aircraft BEIJING: A child with a bandage on his head looks on near Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, yesterday. Top officials from China’s Communist Party met yesterday for the most important annual conference of the year as they prepare for a sweeping change in the leadership starting next fall. — AP

China opens party meeting on ‘cultural development’ BEIJING: China’s top Communist Party leaders yesterday opened a four-day meeting which will be devoted to the country’s “cultural development”, state media reported. Analysts say the meeting is largely to strengthen the party’s tight control over the media and the Internet, while a new generation of leaders must take over the reins of power within a year.

On September 26, the party’s Political Bureau, which has 25 members, discussed a report on a draft resolution of the Central Committee regarding cultural reforms, Xinhua news agency said. The document “embodied the wisdom of the entire CPC and other groups and will become the guidance for accelerating the country’s cultural reforms and development”, according to unnamed analysts quoted by Xinhua Independent analysts say reform of the cultural system has to do with ensuring the media serve the party’s goals and will mean even tighter control of freedom of expression, especially online.

With more than half a billion Internet users and over 200 million users of microblogging sites, authorities are increasingly concerned about the power of the Internet to influence public opinion in a country that maintains tight controls over its traditional media outlets.

The communist regime has also recently strengthened its control over some reformist newspapers. The location of the closed-door meeting and discussions of the plenum, which brings together all the members of the Central Committee, who number just over 200, are as usual being kept secret. The results of the plenum will be carried by the official media on Tuesday evening. President Hu Jintao will end his second five-year term as party head next year. Premier Wen Jiabao and his government will also resign in 2013 and analysts said this weekend’s meeting would provide one of the last opportunities for the exiting regimeafp to leave its mark on the direction of the party. — AFP

3 Freeport contractors shot dead in Indonesia TIMIKA: Three contract workers at a strike-hit American-owned mine in eastern Indonesia have been shot dead in an ambush and three people wounded, police said yesterday. The trio had been brought in as part of efforts to keep up production at the giant Grasberg complex, which is owned by Freeport McMoRan and is one of the world’s biggest gold and copper mines.

Police from the Mimika district in Indonesia’s restive Papua province said two bodies were recovered Friday from a burning Freeport-owned car on a road to the mine, and the third nearby. “The three men were found dead yesterday and are yet to be identified. Today we will continue to investigate who the attackers might be and how the shooting happened,” Mimika police spokesman Mada Laksanta told AFP. “Two military officers and a Freeport security guard were also shot. The officers were shot in the leg and the guards in the right arm.” More than 8,000 of Freeport’s 23,000 workers at the mine, near the town of Timika, have been on strike since September 15, demanding significant wage increases.

The dispute, coupled with strikes at Freeport’s South American mines, has raised concerns of a copper shortage, but analysts say any impact could be limited by falling demand for the metal. Protests turned violent Monday when strikers clashed with police, who shot dead one worker and injured at least six others. Striking workers have since blocked the only road to the mine.

The strikers, mostly indigenous Melanesians, say they are the lowest paid Freeport workers in the world, earning between $1.50 and $3.50 an hour. They are demanding their wages go up more than eightfold to a minimum of $12.50 an hour

and a maximum of $32. The company’s offers now stand at around 25 percent.

Freeport’s Indonesian unit said the ambush took place in the same area as a fatal shooting on April 7. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives of our fellow co-workers and our condolences go out to their families,” Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait said. — AFP

BANGKOK: Thailand fought to hold back floodwaters flowing towards Bangkok yesterday as a spring tide hindered efforts to protect the city of 12 million people from the kingdom’s worst inundation in decades.

Inner Bangkok, which is ringed by floodwalls, has so far escaped major flooding, leaving areas outside the main city to bear the brunt of the rising waters. “We must try to protect our economic zone including Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport, industrial areas and evacuation centres,” said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Sandbags have been piled alongside rivers and canals and the authorities have been racing to repair a dyke that burst on Thursday, causing a brief scare in suburbs in the north of the capital. The floods, several metres deep in places, are currently affecting about one third of Thailand’s provinces and have damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people and left at least 297 people dead.

About 110,000 people around the country have sought refuge in shelters in the face of waters that have destroyed crops and inundated hundreds of factories in industrial parks north of Bangkok. “People have been affected by floods for three months now. The government understands that and is trying to drain the water as soon as possible,” Yingluck said.

“This incident is one of Thailand’s biggest and most severe losses in history. The government will not forget the people’s grievances.” She said foreign governments including China, Japan and the United States were giving financial or logistical support for the relief operations.

The United States sent a military transport aircraft from Japan carrying thousands of sandbags and 10 US Marines as part of a survey team to assess how to help Thailand cope with the flooding, the US embassy said. The US was also understood to have agreed in principle to send 26 helicopters to help search for stranded victims. Conditions in inner Bangkok and at most of Thailand’s top tourist destinations were mostly normal and Suvarnabhumi Airport-the capital’s main air hub, which has floodwalls several metres high-was operating as usual.

This weekend Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water along with seasonal

high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea. “We predict the water will be highest from October 16-18 as the high sea level combines with water from the north which will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow (Sunday),” said Worapat Tianprasit at the Royal Irrigation Department.

He said the water in the Chao Phraya River had risen to 2.27 metres (seven feet five inches) above sea level on Saturday morning at high tide, which was lower than expected. “If the tide does not exceed 2.5 metres, there won’t be

heads the government’s flood relief centre, said Friday. Sandbags have been piled in front of homes and businesses in preparation for possible inundation, and some residents have chosen to leave their vehicles in multi-storey carparks while stocking up on food, water and flashlights.

The authorities have been dredging and draining canals to allow more water to flow through and are diverting water to areas outside the main city.

The floods have dealt a heavy blow to Thailand’s economy, disrupting production of

PAK KRED: Thai villagers wade through floodwaters in Pak Kred district in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, yesterday. Flooding that has devastated great areas of northern and central Thailand and taken nearly 300 lives since July. — AP flooding,” Worapat added.

Overnight thunderstorms caused some minor flooding on roads in the centre of the capital, but the authorities have said they are confident they can prevent serious inundation in the low-lying city.

“Bangkok will definitely not be affected by floods,” Justice Minister Pracha Promnog, who

cars, electronics and other goods. Japanese automakers including Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or a shortage of components. The floods began pouring into another major industrial estate in Ayutthaya, just north of the capital, yesterday after the floodwalls were breached, prompting an evacuation order. — AFP

Japan feared aftershocks at nuke plant

JAKARTA: A protester attends an anti-US demonstration in front of US embassy in Jakarta yesterday.

Three contract workers at a mine in eastern Indonesia owned by US company Freeport McMoRan were shot dead in an ambush, police confirmed. — AFP

TOKYO: Japan feared three months after the Fukushima nuclear power plant was hit by a tsunami that aftershocks could further damage one of its fuel storage pools, causing rods inside to melt and spew radiation within hours, according to a newly released document.

The Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization said it carried out a simulation that showed some 1,500 mostly used fuel rods at the plant’s No. 4 reactor building could start breaking in two hours if aftershocks further damaged the pool and caused cooling water to escape. The fuel rods could start melting within eight hours, the organization said in a report dated June 30 and published Friday.

The report shows that the pool remained vulnerable for nearly four months until its operator completed reinforcement work in July. Tokyo Electric Power Co. had said before then that the building could withstand major aftershocks without reinforcement, but made repairs after acknowledging structural damage and water leaks from the pool area.

The March 11 quake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at the plant’s three reactors. Explosions also damaged their buildings, plus Unit 4 next to

them. The simulation was based on a scenario that cooling water was lost in the Unit 4 spent fuel storage pool, located on the top floor of the building.

FUKUSHIMA: In this photo taken Friday and released by Tokyo Electric Power Co., a tent to cover Unit 1 reactor building is completed at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. — AP

The Unit 4 pool was considered high risk as it contained more fuel than the other three pools, as it also stored fuel rods that had been moved from the unit’s reactor core, which was being fitted with new parts.

In the report, the government-funded JNES said a loss of pool water due to additional cracks from aftershocks could cause the fuel rods to overheat.

Their casings could break and start spewing radiation in about 2 hours.

Fuel pellets inside each rod could start melting within 7.7 hours at about 2,800 Celsius (5,000 Fahrenheit), it said.

The report was part of hundreds of pages of documents containing simulation results on dozens of accident scenarios by JNES earlier in the crisis. Plant workers are still struggling to contain radiation still leaking from the plant, although the amount is far less than before. TEPCO said Friday that Unit 1 one of the most damaged buildings now has an outer shell made of airtight polyester designed to contain radioactive particles inside the building. Similar covers are also planned for other buildings.— AP

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Militants assault US base in eastern Afghanistan KABUL: Militants tried to blast their way into an American base in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, striking before dawn with rocket-propelled grenades and a car bomb. All four attackers were killed as well as two truck drivers parked nearby, said provincial Police Chief Gen. Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh. Two Afghan security guards were wounded.

The militants failed to breach the gate of the base in Panjshir province’s Rakha district, though they did hit a security tower with a rocket-propelled grenade. Three of the men attacked on foot, shooting, while a fourth detonated the explosivesladen vehicle outside the gate, Jangalbagh said.

The blast hit two fuel tankers which were waiting to enter the base, killing the Afghan drivers inside, he said. A NATO spokeswoman confirmed the attack but said there were no American deaths or injuries and no significant damage to facilities.

“There was a complex attack attempted, but it was repelled,” Capt. Ebony Calhoun said. She said the guards’ wounds were not life-threatening but they had been evacuated to a larger US base for treatment. The base houses a provincial reconstruction team - a mix of military and international civilians who work to improve provincial governance, services and infrastructure.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message sent to The Associated Press.

NATO downplayed the significance of such spectacular strikes on Saturday, presenting figures that showed headline-grabbing assaults account for only 1 percent of attacks in Afghanistan and that militant activity is down overall.

Insurgent attacks between Januar y and September were 8 percent lower than the first nine months of 2010, according to figures supplied by a senior official with NATO forces who spoke anony-

mously because of the sensitivity of the information. But while violent attacks are down overall, assassinations have increased 60 percent for the same period with 131 people killed so far this year, according to the official.

And while NATO reports little change in civilian casualties over the nine-month period, figures from the UN show an increase in civilian deaths. Many of the highest profile attacks have been perpetrated by the Haqqani network, a Taleban-allied group operating out of Pakistan, according to NATO. Eleven out of the last 15 attacks in Kabul came from the Haqqanis and were directed and organized out of Pakistan, the NATO official said. The Panjshir attack followed on the heels of violence Friday which left at least 30 dead across Afghanistan. NATO reported Saturday that 23 insurgents were killed in five separate operations throughout the east. In the largest strike, seventeen

insurgents were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province. The remaining six deaths were in operations in Wardak, Kunar and Ghazni provinces.

In southern Afghanistan, a suicide bombing killed three Afghan border police officers and one civilian. The bomber blew up his explosives-packed car Friday afternoon while it was being inspected at a checkpoint. The explosion happened in Spin Boldak, near the Pakistani border, in the early evening, said Gen. Abdul Raziq, the head of the border police in the south.

The checkpoint had been set up because of an intelligence warning that an attack was imminent, provincial government spokesman Zalmai Ayubi said. Three NATO service members were also killed Friday in separate attacks, according to statements from the military coalition, making 11 killed so far this month and at least 464 since the beginning of the year. —AP

India ex-chief minister arrested over graft illegal land deals cost state coffers $950 million BANGALORE: A powerful former leader of a southern Indian state was arrested yesterday on accusations of taking kickbacks in exchange for illegally selling government land. The former chief minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yeddyurappa, surrendered to authorities in state capital Bangalore after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Authorities allege that the illegal land

deals cost the Karnataka state coffers 4.65 billion rupees ($950 million) while Yeddyurappa and members of his family are said to have personally gained 1.89 billion rupees.

Judge N.K . Sudhindra Rao ordered the arrest of Yeddyurappa earlier on Saturday and said bail could not be granted in the case due to its “gravity”.

BELGAUM: Karnataka state Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa speaking at the inauguration of the Quest Global Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Belgaum around 550 km north of Bangalore (file). Yesterday a southern Indian court issued an arrest warrant for a powerful former state leader accused of taking kicbacks in exchange for allowing unauthorized sale of government land. — AFP

Lawyers for the former Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister, who is among 14 accused in the case, had asked the judge not to order the arrest of Yeddyurappa, saying he was suffering from ill-health.

The case involving the sale of land in and around Bangalore stems from complaints in January by two lawyers. The politician was forced to step down as chief minister in July by the party’s national leadership after being accused by the state ombudsman of corruption.

Aside from the land scam, the former chief minister also faces accusations over an alleged $3.6-billion iron-ore mining fraud. No formal charges have been lodged yet in either case.

Yeddyurappa, who has been ordered to remain in custody until October 22, has denied any corrupt dealings. The former BJP chief minister was a political star, credited with installing the Hindu nationalists’ first state government in southern India.

The graft accusations have come as an embarrassment to the BJP, which has been backing a national anti-graft campaign against India’s scandal-ridden Congress-led government in New Delhi.

Earlier in the week, 84-year-old veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani set off on a five-week nationwide road trip to put pressure on the Congressled national government to tackle corruption.

Corruption has become a burning issue in Indian politics, with huge anti-graft protests in August triggered by activist Anna Hazare’s hunger strike in New Delhi. Some 14 people including former national telecom minister A. Raja are in a New Delhi jail facing trial over the alleged rigging of the awarding of mobile phone licences in 2008 that cost the central government up to $39 billion in lost revenue. — AFP

Riots erupt in Rome as protests spread Continued from Page 1 signs decrying corporate greed. A few protesters went inside the bank to close their accounts, but they didn’t stop other customers from getting inside or seek to blockade the business.

The protests were inspired by the “Occupy Wall Street” movement in the United States and the “Indignants” in Spain, targeting 951 cities in 82 countries across the planet in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

It was the biggest show of power yet by a movement born on May 15 when a rally in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square sparked a worldwide movement. Anger over unemployment and opposition to the financial elite hung over the protests, which coincided with a Paris meeting of G20 financial powers preoccupied by the euro-zone debt crisis.

In Rome, the march degenerated into running street battles between groups of hooded protesters and riot police who fired tear gas and water jets into the crowd. Security forces locked down the centre of the Italian capital and closed metro stations and major monuments including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

“Today is only the beginning. We hope to move forward with a global movement. There are many of us and we want the same things,” said one protester, Andrea Muraro, a 24-year-old engineering student from Padua.

“Only One Solution: Revolution!” read one placard at the protest. Another said: “We Are Not

Assets in the Hands of Bankers!” One group carried a cardboard coffin with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s name on it. A police spokeswoman said several people were arrested and at least four people were injured in the clashes, including one protester hit by a bottle as he tried to restrain militants and a police officer who broke his leg.

Backing from Italy’s main trade unions and student movements boosted the numbers at the protest in Rome-in contrast to smaller rallies elsewhere. “Young people are right to be indignant,” Bank of Italy chief Mario Draghi was reported by Italian media as saying in informal comments to journalists on the sidelines of the Paris talks.

“They’re angry against the world of finance. I understand them,” said the 64-year-old economist, adding: “We adults are angry about the crisis. Can you imagine people who are in their twenties or thirties?”

As reports of the violence filtered through, he said: “It’s a great shame.” The demands and the sense of urgency among the activists varied widely across the world. Scuffles broke out in London where about 800 people rallied in the financial district by Saint Paul’s Cathedral, raising banners saying: “Strike back!”; “No cuts!” and “Goldman Sachs is the work of the devil!”

Three lines of police, and one line at the rear on horseback, blocked them from heading to the London Stock Exchange and pushed back against lead marchers, some wearing masks.

“I am here today mainly as a sense of solidari-

ty with the movements that are going on around the world,” said Ben Walker, a 33-year-old teacher from the eastern English city of Norwich.

In Madrid, tens of thousands of people marched through the streets, exactly five months after Spain’s so-called “indignant” protest movement was born with a rally on May 15 that turned into sprawling protest camp that occupied Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol for weeks.

“I think it is very moving that the movement that was born here has extended throughout the world. It was about time for people to rise up,” said 24-year-old Carmen Martin as she marched towards Puerta del Sol. Some 50,000 people also took to the streets of Lisbon.

“We are victims of financial speculation and this austerity program is going to ruin us. We have to change this rotten system,” 25-year-old Mathieu Rego told AFP in the Portuguese capital.

Other protests were staged in Geneva, Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Sarajevo and Zurich.

As the day began, around 500 people gathered in the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district to vent their anger at the inequities and excesses of free-market capitalism. About 100 demonstrators in Tokyo also voiced fury at the Fukushima nuclear accident. Another 600 demonstrators in Sydney set up camp outside Australia’s central bank, where the plight of refugees and Aboriginal Australians was added to the financial concerns. — AFP

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri relatives mourn at the funeral ceremony of Sajjad Ahmad in Ghariand village of Budgam district near central Kashmir yesterday. Ahmad who was critically wounded in a suspected militant attack on October 14, succumbed to injuries at hospital in Srinagar. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. — AFP

US missiles kill six in northwestern Pakistan DERA ISMAIL KHAN: US missiles killed six suspected militants in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border yesterday, Pakistani intelligence officials said. The strikes were part of a flurry of such attacks which could indicate a more aggressive American strategy against insurgents finding sanctuary there.

The United States is pressing Pakistan for action against Afghan insurgents in the region, especially the Haqqani network that it says is the No. 1 threat in Afghanistan and receives assistance from the Pakistan army.

Independently of what Pakistan does, Washington may up the tempo of missile strikes or widen their targeting, although either option could strain its already complicated relationship with Islamabad.

Washington has regularly used drones since 2008 to pummel insurgents and their hideouts in Pakistani tribal regions. US officials do not acknowledge the CIA-led program. Pakistan publicly protests the strikes, which are unpopular in this Islamic nation, but tolerates them in practice.

In the latest attack, drone-fired missiles slammed into a compound near the border town of Angore Adda in the South Waziristan tribal region. The strike targeted fighters of Maulvi Nazir, a Pakistani militant commander who is accused of working with the Taliban and al-Qaida to direct cross -bor-

der attacks, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to media on record.

Yesterday’s strike was the latest in a string of missile attacks targeting the militant-infested border region. On Friday, US missiles killed four unidentified people in a part of the North Waziristan tribal region where the Haqqani network holds sway. A day earlier, a strike in North Waziristan killed Janbaz Zadran, who US officials say was a top commander in the Haqqani network and had helped orchestrate attacks in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan.

The three attacks broke a relative lull in recent weeks, though that kind of tempo is not unusual. So far this year, there have been more than 50 strikes, most of them North Waziristan region, where the Haqqanis are based. US officials say the missiles are killing militants and their supporters; human rights groups have questioned that, saying civilian deaths are common.

Meanwhile, Pakistani police said yesterday they had arrested a Russian and two nationals from Azerbaijan in Lakki Marwat, a town located near North Waziristan. It was not clear how the men reached the region, which is off limits to foreigners, and authorities said they were still investigating to determine whether the men had any links to militant groups. — AP

Syrian forces fire at mourners, defectors Continued from Page 1 today in Cairo to discuss the crisis in Syria. Gulf Arab states had earlier called for an immediate meeting of the Arab League to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria and study ways to stop the bloodshed. Assad has sent troops and tanks into restive cities and towns to try put down the unrest but protests have persisted, spreading to suburbs and rural regions around cities as troops have occupied main squares in urban centers.

With the deployment of thousands of police and militiamen loyal to Assad, whose family has ruled Syria for 41 years, central neighborhoods of Damascus have remained largely free of pro-democracy demonstrations.

But at yesterday’s funeral for a ten-year-old boy, Ibrahim Sheiban, killed in a protest rally the day before, “passions were running high,” said one of the witnesses, a private sector employee who asked not to be identified for his own protection. “The body was wrapped in white and thousands behind it were chanting ‘the people want the execution of the president’ and ‘we will be free despite you Bashar’,” he said.

Some mourners began throwing stones at the

security forces, who fired back with live ammunition, the witness told Reuters by phone from the scene in the Damascus district of Maidan.

The killings in Maidan brought to at least nine the number of people killed while protesting against Assad in the last 48 hours, according to rights activists. The United Nations called on Friday for international protection for civilians from a crackdown it said could kindle civil war between Syria’s majority Sunni Muslims and members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Sunnis also comprise most of the army’s rank and file while the officer corps is comprised primarily of Alawites effectively under the command of Assad’s younger brother, Maher. The authorities have expelled most independent media from Syria, make it difficult to verify accounts of events.

Syrian leaders blame the violence on foreignbacked “armed terrorist groups” who they say have killed 1,100 soldiers and police. The United Nations said the military crackdown on unrest has killed 3,000 people, including at least 187 children. “The onus is on all members of the international community to take protective action in a collective manner, before the continual ruthless repression and killings drive the country into a full-blown civil war,” the UN

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said in a statement. “As more members of the military refuse to attack civilians and change sides, the crisis is already showing worrying signs of descending into an armed struggle,” she added.

Assad was quoted by state media this week as saying Syria had “passed the most difficult stage” of the uprising. In the Zabani Plain, around 35 km (22 miles) west of Damascus on the fringes of the AntiLebanon mountain range, army defectors fought loyalist troops for several hours yesterday, according to local residents. “I saw army jeeps towing two (vehicles) belonging to State Security that were riddled with bullets. Blood was practically seeping from them,” said a resident of the resort town, who gave his name as Mohammad. “They ransacked houses in Zabadani overnight looking for deserters and activists.”

Sticking to a strategy of dismissing the protests as a foreign plot to divide Syria while touting “reforms that safeguard Syria’s sovereignty”, Assad formed a committee yesterday to draft a new constitution within four months. “President Assad issued today decree number 33 which stipulates forming a committee to prepare for a draft constitution,” the official news agency SANA said. — Reuters

JAMMU: A married Hindu woman performs rituals during Karva Chauth festival, in Jammu, India, yesterday. Karva Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated in some parts of India where married women fast throughout the day and offer prayers to the moon for the welfare, prosperity, and longevity of their husbands. — AP

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

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Issues

Isolated Ukraine entwined in Tymoshenko trap

By Anya Tsukanova he jailing of Yulia Tymoshenko risks wrecking Ukraine’s hopes of EU integration and President Viktor Yanukovych must undertake the boldest moves to save the country from catastrophic isolation, observers say.

In what appears to be Ukraine’s most serious diplomatic crisis as an independent state, the seven year jail term handed to Tymoshenko on Tuesday was condemned by both the European Union and its neighbor Russia.

Yanukovych offered some hope to Tymoshenko by saying law changes could decriminalise her violations.

But the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on Thursday brought new embezzlement charges against the glamorous ex-prime minister that carry a potential 12 year sentence. Critics of Yanukovych accuse him of initiating the legal process as revenge against Tymoshenko, who helped lead the 2004 Orange Revolution uprising that annulled rigged elections initially awarded to him.

The price for Ukraine is already heavy: the European Union has warned the conviction could endanger its chances of signing this year an Association Agreement, which would be the first step to its cherished dream of EU membership. The controversy also comes at the worst possible time: Ukraine is preparing to co-host next summer’s European football championships, the best opportunity in its history to show off the nation of 46 million to the world.

“It’s winter, the ink will freeze up in the pen,” a top EU diplomat in Kiev, who asked not to be named, told AFP about the chances of signing the Association Agreement soon. “Ukraine risks being left alone.” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in a rare move, echoed the EU criticism of the case, which concerned gas accords Tymoshenko agreed with him while she was Ukrainian prime minister in 2009.

“It’s a unique situation without precedent. All the key actors in the world have condemned Ukraine. It’s hard to see how they are going to extricate themselves from this,” said Igor Zhdanov head of the Open Politics thinktank. “Yanukovych has walked into a trap,” he added.

Analysts and diplomats said there is as yet no clear sign Tymoshenko will be released to calm the situation, although the move to decriminalize her abuse of power charges may be discussed by parliament next week.

“They are behaving like a bull in a china shop,” said Viktor Nebozhenko, director of the Ukrainian Barometer centre. “The authorities thought it would be a stroll and now find themselves at the centre of a global drama.”

Despite the crisis, Yanukovych’s Regions Party has consistently displayed a fierce determination to see Tymoshenko brought to account and argued the trial would have no effect on Ukraine’s EU hopes.

A top Regions Party source recently told AFP that Brussels wanted above all that Ukraine did not join Putin’s Customs Union, which currently includes Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

“It’s the EU who needs the (Association) Agreement.

They know that if they don’t sign it then we will go for the Customs Union,” said the official. Yanukovych, whose insistence that he has nothing to do with the trial is ridiculed by opponents, on Thursday gave some acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation.

“Does this harm Ukraine’s European integration? Yes. Does it suit me? No,” he was quoted as saying by his press service. Russia’s position remains ambiguous-it has expressed disapproval of the jailing but is unlikely to hide its pleasure if Ukraine again moves towards its orbit after being kicked away by the European Union.

Observers believe Yanukovych needs to ensure Tymoshenko is released swiftly to limit the damage.

However the potentially even more serious new case opened by the Security Service will still remain.

Even though Tymoshenko is not universally loved by Ukrainians-many of whom see her as a power hungry pragmatist rather than a European idealist-she could yet be a very dangerous opponent if allowed back into politics.

“If she is freed she is not even going to take a shower first,” one top Ukrainian political figure who knows Tymoshenko well told AFP. “She is going to go straight to Independence Square (Kiev’s main site for demonstrations) without even leaving her things at home.” —AFP

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Focus

UN move on Yemen falls short

By Lara Sukhtian proposed UN resolution on Yemen calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign that fails to threaten sanctions is unlikely to stem the tide of violence engulfing the country, analysts say.

After 33 years at the helm, Saleh is refusing to step down after months of deadly protests unless his arch rivals, General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar and tribal leader Sheikh Sadeq Al-Ahmar, who are currently battling his troops in Sanaa, also step aside.

Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, a former staunch Saleh ally who defected in March to back anti-regime protesters, claims he has no political ambitions, despite his military takeover of parts of the capital. Sheikh Sadeq, who does not hold an official position, heads the country’s most powerful tribe, while his brother Hamid, a billionaire businessman, is a leading Islamic opposition figure. One problem, analysts argue, is that the only political settlement on the table, a Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, calls for Saleh’s resignation but fails to address the roles of his rivals in a future Yemeni government.

“This is a major gap in the agreement,” said International Crisis Group’s (ICG’s) April Alley, adding that though a UN resolution could act as an important signal to the political elite, “it has no real leverage.” Domestic considerations play more heavily into Saleh’s calculations than international resolutions, she said.

“Saleh is not going to leave office, remove his sons and nephews from positions of power, and allow (Ali) Mohsen and Sheikh Sadeq to step in and play a prominent role in a future government,” said Alley, the think-tank’s senior Yemen analyst.

“That’s Saleh’s red line,” she said. The proposed Security Council resolution calls for implementation of the GCC initiative and an immediate end to violence by both sides, but analysts say a resolution without a threat of action will do little to change the status quo. “It’s time for the international community to be much more forceful ... but I don’t have any illusions that they’re going to convince Saleh to step down,” senior Brookings Middle East fellow Bruce Riedel told AfP. Without a political resolution that is acceptable to all the rival political groups in Yemen, the military option may be the only one left.

“That’s not only the biggest risk, it is an increasingly likely outcome. Saleh has demonstrated that he won’t listen to calls for his departure... He’s leading his country into the abyss,” Riedel said highlighting the regional implications of the escalating violence

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in Yemen.

“Civil wars have a habit of bleeding over borders into neighboring countries, and Saudi Arabia could see both refugee flows and cross-border violence,” warned Riedel. The Yemeni government, meanwhile, has urged the Security Council to avoid a resolution targeting the embattled president, calling on it instead to back a political solution. Protesters demanding the ouster of Saleh are hoping to see decisive action by the Security Council.

According to a letter from Yemen’s youth movement to the United Nations earlier this month at least 861 people have been killed and 25,000 wounded since mass protests against Saleh erupted in late January. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy activists remain camped out in the capital, empowered by the Nobel Peace Prize win of Tawakkul Karman, a fellow protester.

However, with the deadly street clashes between rival fighters and the intermittent but harsh government crackdowns on

demonstrators, peaceful calls for democracy are at risk of being overshadowed. “Their voices are being drowned out by canon fire,” said Abdul Ghani Al-Iryani, a Yemeni analyst, adding that what started off as a peaceful popular revolt was turning into a conflict between two opposing arms of the regime. Yemen, a desperately poor nation, is home to more than half the population of the Arabian Peninsula and sits on its southwestern corner, sharing a massive land border with Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil exporter.

It is also the home-base of Al-Qaeda’s most active global branch and where the United States is heavily invested in a battle to wipe out the group. Al-Qaeda has benefited from the chaos that has ensued since widespread anti-government demonstrations began in January calling for Saleh’s resignation, and since May, they have taken control of several cities in the southern province of Abyan. — AFP

Jittery China tightens media controls

By Robert Saiget hina’s propaganda authorities are trying to tighten controls over the Internet as they fear social unrest in the face of a cooling economy and mounting public anger at official corruption, analysts say.

With more than half a billion Chinese now online, authorities in Beijing are concerned about the power of the Internet to influence public opinion in a country that maintains tight controls on its traditional media outlets. “The reform of the cultural system” is on the agenda for a fourday annual meeting of top Communist Party officials that begins on Saturday-a term widely seen as including measures to ensure media and Internet firms serve the authorities’ aims.

Already leading Internet firms have been pressured to tighten their grip on the web, with propaganda chief Li Changchun, fifth in the Communist Party hierarchy, recently meeting the heads of China’s main search engine Baidu.

China has repeatedly vowed to clamp down on Internet “rumors”-often used as code for criticism of the government-after a fatal high-speed rail crash in July sparked a

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furious public response on social media sites. For a few days even state media followed that critical lead, until instructions were issued to desist.

But many Internet companies are in private hands, and the web has posed a huge challenge to government attempts to block content it deems politically sensitive.

Chinese media expert Xiao Qiang said China’s weibosmicroblogs similar to Twitter-had formed a large-scale social network on which information can be disseminated and action coordinated “at an unprecedented speed”.

“This creates a considerable challenge to the party’s ideological and social control,” said Xiao, a journalism professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “There are increasing incidents of social unrest in different parts of Chinese society and almost every region and city in China.

“While these incidents are local, they often have the potential to spread the sentiments of the protests to other parts of the society through the Internet, especially through microblogs.” David Bandurski of the University of Hong Kong said a recent rise in civil action and the looming leadership handover, which will begin in 2012, had heightened official concerns. —AFP

US mulls Iran ‘sanctions of mass destruction’

By Andrew Beatty ontrary to popular belief the United States is not out of ammo when it comes to punishing Iran with economic sanctions, but experts say Washington may yet shy away from using what few weapons it has left.

After three decades of blanket US sanctions against Iran, it has become received wisdom that the United States has few financial tools left to bend Iran’s will. It is a claim that has reached a crescendo as the United States responds to allegations that Iran plotted to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States on American soil.

But sanctions experts, including former Treasury Department officials, say the problem for Washington is not a lack of options: sanctions could be introduced against third party arms dealers, firms that transfer technology to Iran or any number of specific issues. The main problem, they say, is that the only forceful options remaining are virtually sanctions of mass destruction.

At the pinnacle of that arsenal is an official Treasury designation of the Central Bank of Iran-or Bank Markazi-which sits at the center of Iran’s financial and energy interests.

While the US government already bans its citizens and entities from doing business with Bank Markazi, a specific designation could essentially freeze any foreign firm doing business with Bank Markazi out of the US market.

“Essentially financial institutions around the world would have to choose between doing business with the United States and with the central bank,” according to Avi Jorisch, a former advisor at the Treasury Department’s office of terrorism and financial intelligence.

That could have profound implications for

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foreign banks, for Iranian government revenues and the stability of Iran’s currency.

What makes this sanction so powerful is the institution’s role in funneling the wealth of Iran’s energy industry, which accounts for 70 percent of Tehran’s revenues.

“Iran handles its oil business through the central bank,” said Jorisch. “What’s happened over the last few months is that as the US has designated more and more financial institutions in Iran, maybe 20 out of 30, Iran has relied more and more on the central bank to clear those transactions.”

According to leaked US diplomatic cables, Iran had sought to use Bank Markazi in recent years to transfer payments from as far afield as South Korea, France, the UK, Spain and Italy.

A recent report by the Congressional Research Service outlined the stakes in choking Iran’s oil revenue which in turn would cause a shortage of currency reserves that would force Iran’s currency lower and make imports prohibitively expensive. “The Central Bank plays a role in keeping Iran’s currency stable, and an unstable currency could harm Iran’s ability to import some needed foodstuffs and medical products, according to those opposing that sanction,” the report said.

Such a designation has long been considered, but both president George W Bush and Barack Obama have been unable to convince Europe to adopt multilateral sanctions and unwilling to use US legal provisions to do it unilaterally.

Iranian supreme leader’s official website shows Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivering a speech during a rally in the western Iranian city of Gilangharb yesterday. — AFP

“The original problem more than anything else was with Europe, I am not sure that key European powers at this point in time are as concerned about Iran as the United States is,” said Anthony Cordesman, a former intelligence assessment advisor to the defense secretary, now with CSIS. There are other risks for Washington in such a move. Choking off Iran’s ability to sell oil in Europe, India or Japan, without pumping more from the likes of Saudi Arabia, could also result in significantly higher oil prices in the United States and Europe.

And it could simply force Iran to go shopping for unsavory customers willing or able to dodge the sanctions, although finding new buyers for a large proportion of the two million barrels of crude a day Iran exports would be no mean feat.

But with Obama now vowing the “toughest sanctions” against those responsible, the paradigm may have changed. A senior Treasury Department official on Thursday acknowledged the United States was considering sanctions against Bank Markazi. In discussing a narrower measure to close a loophole allowing Europe to export refined Iranian oil to the United States, the Treasury’s sanctions czar on Thursday described the economics of that idea as “complicated.”

The decision may come down to what the United States hopes to achieve through the sanctions: to punish Iran, to prevent a future attack, to thwart the country’s nuclear program or to push regime change? If the aim is broadly “all of the above” then sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran may have little chance of success despite causing significant broader upheaval. “There is a fairly wide range of stuff the United States can use that would put leverage on Iran. Whether any of them would be decisive is another matter,” said Cordesman. — AFP

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Zaugg claims maiden win LECCO: Switzerland’s Oliver Zaugg claimed the Tour of Lombardy classic when he powered away in the final climb to snatch his maiden individual win as a professional yesterday.

The Leopard-Trek rider took off with about 10 km left in the demanding ascent to the Salita di Ello and kept a chasing group at bay, winning by eight seconds.

Irishman Daniel Martin was second for the Garmin-Cervelo team with Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain (Katusha) coming home third.

World number one Philippe Gilbert failed in his bid to win the 241-km race for the third time in a row, finishing 15 seconds behind the winner.

Belgium’s Gilbert, who won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Fleche Wallonne, Clasica San Sebastian and Amstel Gold Race classics in awesome fashion, was powerless when Zaugg produced his effort.

It had briefly looked as if Italian Vincenzo Nibali would take the day’s laurels when he powered away in the climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo with 52 km left.

The Liquigas rider cracked 17 km from the finish after Team Sky, working for Rigoberto Uran, increased the pace in the chasing pack.—Reuters

BERNE: Four Caribbean soccer officials have been banned, including Jamaica Football Federation president Horace Burrell, for their part in a cash-for-votes scandal in the run-up to this year’s FIFA presidential election.

Two other officials were reprimanded and fined by FIFA’s ethics committee, one was reprimanded and another five were given warnings, FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

The longest ban from all footballrelated activity, 18 months, was handed to Franka Pickering, president of the British Virgin Islands FA, who was also fined 500 Swiss francs ($560).

The cases are related to a meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on

son for a young guy.”

Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday had three hits each for St. Louis, which ended an 0-for-15 slump with runners in scoring position on Molina’s RBI double in the second and added two more when Garcia’s grounder scooted through Hairston’s legs.

Milwaukee’s infield nearly had a cycle of errors, with second baseman Rickie Weeks and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt also committing miscues along with reliever Marco Estrada.

Weeks has four errors in the postseason.

“It’s definitely not focus,” manager Ron Roenicke said. “These games, we do have them once in a while. We had one a couple days ago.

I’m confident we’ll play a good game on Sunday.”

The Cardinals won for the 14th straight time on getaway day, a run that began Aug. 7 in Florida. Players got another chance to chant “Happy Flight! Happy Flight!”

St. Louis can wrap up the series and its 18th NL pennant Sunday in Milwaukee. Edwin Jackson will start for the Cardinals against Shaun Marcum in a rematch of Game 2, won by St. Louis 12-3.

“I haven’t really analyzed it, I try and stay in the moment, bro,” Brewers slugger Prince Fielder said. “I’m not really looking back or forward, just trying to stay game to game. We have to win both of them but we’ve got to win first.”

The NL winner hosts the World Series opener against Detroit or Texas on Wednesday night.

“We’re having a good series right now and, hopefully, we can do it for one more game,” Molina

ST LOUIS: Cardinals’ Jason Motte (30) celebrates with catcher Yadier Molina after Game 5 of baseball’s National League championship series against the Milwaukee Brewers. — AP

May 10 and 11 where it was alleged that FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam handed out bribes to Caribbean members of CONCACAF-the regional body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Former Asian soccer chief Bin Hammam has since been banned for life by FIFA but has protested his innocence along with ex-CONCACAF president Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago.

Warner, like Bin Hammam a FIFA executive committee member when the scandal blew up, was also under investigation by FIFA for allegedly offering bribes but resigned before the probe was completed.—Reuters

said.

Milwaukee had not made more than three errors in a game during the regular season, but the Brewers’ sloppiness reached a near-record level. Milwaukee was one shy of the LCS record for errors in a game, shared by the 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers and 1976 New York Yankees, according to STATS LLC. La Russa had a quick hook once again. Garcia opened with four scoreless innings, then allowed three hits and a sacrifice in a span of four at-bats in the fifth, with Corey Hart singling in a run. With two and on and two outs, Octavio Dotel struck out Ryan Braun.

Garcia said he hadn’t been worried about facing Braun. “I’m not afraid of anybody in the game,” Garcia said. “If I think like that I wouldn’t be pitching here.” But he couldn’t argue with La Russa’s results.

“He’s been doing this for so long and he’s been so successful and he’s got his reasons,” Garcia said. “Today, it worked out really good for us.”

Dotel (1-0) struck out two in 1 1-3 hitless innings and four relievers allowed only two hits over 4 1-3 innings. Motte got four outs for his second save of the series.

Cardinals relievers are 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 22 2-3 innings, holding batters to a .164 average.

The starters are 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA, and have allowed a .340 average.

Only one St. Louis starter has lasted long enough to qualify for a victory, with Chris Carpenter working five innings in Game 3. The previous team to have a starter not pitch into the sixth in the first five games of a postseason series was the 1984 San Diego Padres in the World Series, according to STATS. With Milwaukee down 5-1 and trying to rally with two on in the eighth, Marc Rzepczynski struck out Prince Fielder. Fielder is 0 for 4 with four strikeouts and two walks against Rzepczynski.

“With two strikes I said I’m just going to bounce at it and see if he swing,” Rzepczynski said. “And today, he did.”

Greinke left pitches over the plate in some key spots and allowed five runs - just two earned and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings with no strikeouts and two walks.

“I made several mistakes that ended up costing us and they pitched a good game,” Greinke said. “I definitely could have done better and made it a better game.”

Hart had three hits, breaking out from a 1 for 12 start to the series.

Hairston saved at least one run at third base with a spectacular diving catch to his left on Nick Punto’s low liner for the second out. But when he botched Garcia’s easy grounder, St. Louis was up 3-0. Garcia’s RBI groundout made it 4-0 in he fourth, the first RBI by a Cardinals pitcher in the postseason since Jeff Suppan homered in the 2006 NLCS against the Mets.

Albert Pujols had an RBI single in the sixth to chase Greinke. — AP

Stoner roars to pole for Australian GP PHILLIP ISLAND: Casey Stoner dominated qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix yesterday to extend his MotoGP record to 11 poles this season and boost his chance of sealing the championship with two races to spare.

Honda-rider Stoner, who earlier slammed organisers for the bumpy state of the track, lapped the scenic seaside circuit in one minute 29.975 seconds for his fourth straight pole at Phillip Island in trying, gusty conditions.

The Australian’s time was nearly a half-second faster than reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo and puts him in the box seat to clinch his home grand prix for a fifth straight time on his 26th birthday.

“Step by step we just continued to get faster and this afternoon we’ve done two race distances basically on hard tyres and everything feels good,” Stoner told reporters.

“The soft tyres will be quite a jump faster so we’ll see what the weather holds for tomorrow and how everything is but we couldn’t ask for much more for this weekend.

“I actually feel a lot more relaxed this weekend than I have at any other times in the last four years.” Stoner can also seal the championship with victory on Sunday if Lorenzo finishes off the podium, but the tenacious Spaniard will line up next to the Australian on the front row and will be keen to put his rival’s title hopes on ice for at least another week.

With bad weather threatening, riders pushed hard early in an eventful session and a number came to grief as off-shore winds buffeted the circuit.

American Ben Spies slid his Yamaha into the gravel at high-speed at turn three and limped assisted from the track, but later emerged from the pit to post the seventh fastest lap.

Honda’s Hiroshi Aoyama also suffered a spill,

Coach Maradona in spotlight

Four Caribbean officials banned for corruption

Cardinals demolish Brewers ST. LOUIS: Tony La Russa called up some more bullpen magic for the St. Louis Cardinals. Yet another round of spotless relief has a team that squeaked into the postseason on the final day one victory away from the World Series. Not bad for a team that’s on its fifth closer, and Jason Motte remains unofficial in that capacity.

“We’re just trying to win,” Matt Holliday said after the Cardinals beat Milwaukee 7-1 on Friday night to take a 3-2 lead in the NL championship series. “He’s (La Russa’s) just trying to do whatever he can to win. If the spot calls for it, our bullpen’s been incredible. They’re really fit into roles and it’s been fun to watch.”

The Brewers helped out with four errors, one more than their high in the regular season, leading to three unearned runs against Zack Greinke (1-1).

“Obviously, we didn’t make the plays behind him,” said third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr., whose fielding error permitted two runs to score in the second. “We’re going back home and hopefully we play great at home like we have the whole year.”

The Cardinals survived another short start by Jaime Garcia, who worked four scoreless innings but then got only two more outs. Garcia gave up two homers in the Brewers’ six-run fifth in Game 1, and that was on the manager’s mind.

“Well, there’s a lot of conversation about Game 1 and how quickly they put some runs on the board,” La Russa said. “We just notice. I’m not sure exactly what it is, maybe it’s just a long sea-

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

sp orts

Years

while Stoner returned to the pit in frustration after stopping at ‘Honda Hairpin’ to appraise an apparent mechanical issue.

After fellow Honda rider Pedrosa topped the timesheets halfway through the session, Stoner roared out in the last 15 minutes to snatch pole and improve upon his time twice to the delight of local fans.

Lorenzo, who was left fuming at one stage during qualifying after being boxed in by his rivals, all but conceded the race was Stoner’s.

“It’s very difficult for tomorrow because he is really fast on his home track and he seems to have the bike in the best way,” he said.

“I’m trying to be competitive and fast but it’s difficult and the most probability is for me to be second tomorrow-but anything can happen in the race,” he said.

Honda’s Marco Simoncelli snatched a front row spot, finishing third after pipping Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista in the last few minutes of the session.

Andrea Dovizioso lines up on the second row on his Honda next to sixth-fastest Ducati-rider Nicky Hayden. Valentino Rossi’s struggles on the Ducati in a dismal first season continued, the seven-times premier class champion managing only the 13th-fastest lap. — Reuters

MELBOURNE: MotoGP rider Casey Stoner of Australia waves to fans after a qualifying practice session at the Australia Motorcycle Grand Prix on Phillip Island. — AP

DUBAI: A small corner of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will grab the attention of the soccer world today when Diego Maradona’s Al Wasl launch their league campaign.

The 50-year-old Argentine great is coach of the Dubai club who face Sharjah in their opening fixture in the 12team UAE professional league.

Before a ball has even been kicked Maradona, who signed a two-year contract in May, has injected a real buzz in a region hardly known for its footballing traditions.

His six matches so fartwo in pre-season plus four in the region’s equivalent of the League Cup-have seen Al Wasl

score 13 goals and concede 12 including a 5-0 humbling by Dubai Club.

That defeat prompted Al Wasl, without a league title since 2007, to hand Maradona a vote of confidence.

“The season is long and this is just one match,” the club said in a statement. “We have full faith in our head coach who is working hard to develop a strong team that will be true contenders for the league title.”

Patience is a rare commodity among owners in the UAE with only two of the 12 top-flight coaches lasting the whole campaign last season. “I’m with Al Wasl and I will complete my contract here until the last day and give my best at all times,” said Maradona. —Reuters

Rangers lead series 3-2 ARLINGTON: Detroit manager Jim Leyland was open for suggestions when asked if it was time to reevaluate how the Tigers are pitching to Texas slugger Nelson Cruz. “ That would be a good idea,” Leyland said. “We’ve had him actually set up for some situations where we thought we could make the right pitch and get him out, but we really haven’t done that.”

While the Tigers haven’t figured out how to shut down Cruz, who already has an LCS-record five home runs, they managed to extend the best-of-seven AL series and get it back to Texas.

The Rangers, still with a 3-2 series lead, can get to their second consecutive World Series with a victory in Game 6 on Saturday night.

On his last swing in Texas, before the series shifted locations, Cruz hit the first game-ending grand slam in postseason history. He had another 11th-inning homer in Detroit, a three-run shot in the only one of the three games the Rangers won there. “ When he gets going he’s as good as any power hitter in the game,” Michael Young said. “He’s got that knack for big RBIs, and you definitely need those guys on your team.” Against the Tigers, Cruz tied Game 2 when he led off the seventh with a solo homer that chased Max Scherzer. The Detroit starter had retired 12 in a row following a double by Cruz, who was hit by a pitch near his wrist in the ninth and then hit his slam.

Cruz also chased Justin Verlander in Game 5 when he pulled a 100mph 0-2 fastball that hit the leftfield pole, just like his homer off Scherzer.

“I realize he’s a good hitter and he’s hot. Given that, you can’t fear him.

You have to go right after him,” Scherzer said Friday. “Even though he’s hot, if the situation arises, you might have to be more careful. My game plan, I guarantee you, going forward will be to be aggressive with him. “ Scherzer gets another chance Saturday night in a rematch of the Game 2 starters. Derek Holland, who didn’t make it out of the third inning Monday, goes for the Rangers.

Cruz is having another powerful postseason only 31/2 years after being waived at the end of spring training, going unclaimed by any other team and being sent back to the minors by the Rangers.

“That period of time in Nelson’s life, he hadn’t arrived yet. You know, we all got to experience things before we finally make our way to where we want to be,” manager Ron Washington said. “ That certainly probably has done a great deal for Nelson to experience that and realize once he got here that he certainly have to figure out how to make the adjustments. And he’s done that.” Cruz is now living up to his boomstick moniker that became common after an MLB 2K10 video game promotion last year, a season after he was second in the Home Run Derby.

“You just continue to say ‘Wow, this guy is really good’,” said David Murphy, who as the No. 8 hitter usually is on deck when Cruz hits.

Yes, Cruz bats seventh in the Texas lineup, behind Josh Hamilton, Young, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli. While the Rangers had an optional light workout late Friday afternoon at Rangers Ballpark that lasted less than an hour, the Tigers opted for some extra time at home before flying back to Texas after extending the series with a 7-5 victory Thursday.

Cruz wasn’t in the clubhouse Friday when it was open to reporters, who were told the slugger was taking the day off along with center fielder Hamilton (left groin strain) and Beltre, who fouled a ball off his knee in Detroit. But Cruz was later on the field and fully participated in batting practice.

The grand slam by Cruz ended the game that had been postponed

because of the threat of more wet weather that never happened a day after Game 1 last Saturday night was delayed twice by rain and didn’t end until just after midnight.

There should be ideal weather conditions this weekend, when the game -time temperatures are expected to be around 80 degrees with no chance of rain.

After going 1 for 15 with a single in the AL division series against Tampa Bay, Cruz is 6 for 18 against the Tigers, with a double, five homers and 11 RBIs, matching the ALCS record and one shy of the tying the mark for any postseason series.

“Yes, it’s amazing with him hitting the ball out of the ballpark the way he’s doing it. But it certainly isn’t anything we haven’t seen before,” Washington said. “We’re just happy that it’s happening at this time.”

Cruz hit six homers and set a postseason record with 13 extrabase hits last October when the Rangers won their first AL pennant.

Of his 11 career postseason homers, seven have come in the seventh inning or later - a mark surpassed only by Bernie Williams, Reggie

ARLINGTON: As Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux watches Derek Holland pitches during batting practice. —AP Jackson and Derek Jeter.

The Rangers acquired Cruz with Carlos Lee from Milwaukee in their July 2006 trade. Cruz finished that season with the Rangers, and then star ted and ended 2007 in the majors with a stint at Triple -A Oklahoma in between.

But at the end of spring training in 2008, the final roster spot came down to Cruz or Jason Botts, both young power hitters out of minor league options. Texas went with Botts, who hit only .158 in 15 games with 18 strikeouts in 38 at-bats and was designated for assignment.

Botts never again played in the majors.

Cruz cleared waivers and was sent outright to Oklahoma, where he had an MVP season in the Pacific Coast League. He hit .342 with 37 home runs, 99 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 103 games for the RedHawks before rejoining the Rangers the final six weeks of the season - when he hit .330 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 31 games.

Originally signed as a 17-year-old free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1998, Cruz spent three seasons in the New York Mets’ organization before getting traded to Oakland and later Milwaukee.

Now he’s a postseason standout for the Rangers.

“It’s very gratifying, satisfying, all of the above, simply because we need Nelson. He’s a big part of our team,” Washington said. “Not only on the offensive side, defensive side, status in the clubhouse, energy that he brings, all of that comes into play.”—AP

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Ducks see off Sharks

BUFFALO: Sabres’ Derek Roy (not shown) scores on Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward during the first period of an NHL hockey game. —AP

Hurricanes blow away Sabres BUFFALO: Thanks to goalie Cam Ward and Jeff Skinner’s power-play goal, the Carolina Hurricanes overcame their struggles on special teams.

Skinner scored with 1: 24 left and Ward made 39 saves in a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. And if that wasn’t enough, the Hurricanes got a short-handed goal each from Brandon Sutter and Tim Brent to win their second straight game after an 0-2-1 start.

“It was a big win for us, a character win is the best way to describe it,” Skinner said. “You look at the PK (penalty kill), and the job they did tonight.”

The penalty-killers certainly did their part in blanking the Sabres on all six opportunities. But it was Skinner who sealed the victory, his goal coming 57 seconds after Buffalo’s Drew Stafford tied the game at 3.

With Thomas Vanek off for tripping, Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen fed a pass through the middle into the right circle, where Skinner one-timed it.

Goalie Ryan Miller got a piece of the shot with his left pad, but the puck had enough momentum to trickle in the net.

“That was an unbelievable pass from Jokinen,” Skinner said. “I don’t know how he pulled that one off.”

Jay Harrison also scored for Carolina in spoiling the Sabres’ first game in Buffalo after opening the season with two wins in Europe last weekend.

Derek Roy and Vanek also scored for a Sabres team that got off to a fast start before unraveling as the game progressed. And don’t blame it on jet lag, because Buffalo was coming off a fiveday break since a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Berlin.

“We didn’t take care of the puck at all tonight,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said.

“We created a great number of opportunities, but we gave up some beauties.

And all those beauties were given up because of plays we didn’t need to make. ... We burned ourselves tonight.”

Carolina has scored a power-play goal in each of its past two games after opening the season 2 of 14. And their penalty killers have gone 11 of 11 after opening the season allowing five power-play

goals on 16 chances.

Coach Paul Maurice, who was coaching his 900th game with the Hurricanes franchise (including two seasons when the franchise was in Hartford), said the special teams numbers weren’t as bad as they seemed. That didn’t mean he wasn’t pleased with the improvement.

“That’s the key, that’s back-to-back games where I think our penalty kill has easily been the difference for us,” Maurice said. It helps when Ward’s on top of his game.

He got a glove up to get a piece of Brad Boyes’ sharp backhand from the slot five minutes in. Then there were his two stops late in the second period. After stopping Vanek’s hard shot from the right circle, Ward got down in time to prevent rookie Luke Adam from stuffing in the rebound.

And his pad save to foil Jason Pominville’s one-timer from the slot eventually led to Brent’s short-handed goal with 6:59 left in the second period that put the Hurricanes up 3-2.

With the Sabres’ power-play unit caught in the Carolina zone, Jiri Tlusty broke up the right wing on a 2-on-1 break. Tlusty got a shot off that was stopped by Miller, only to have Brent convert the rebound.

“He’s got the poise. He looked so calm in the net tonight,” Sutter said of Ward.

“He’s been good for us, and we’ve got to start helping him out some more, too.”

No problem, the goalie said in giving credit to how the Hurricanes answered with a goal each time Buffalo had scored.

“We were able to have an answer for all those goals against,” Ward said. “It was great to see the power-play connection on that last one. ... When you get a power-play like that, you need to bear down, and we certainly did.”

The Hurricanes nearly scored a third short-handed goal midway through the third period, when Sutter snapped a shot off the post during a 2-on-1 break.

“It’s a tough one to handle,” Stafford said. “We need to clean up our power play a little bit, take a little more responsibility and pride in not letting teams get those short-handed chances.”—AP

Edwards rallies for Nationwide victory CONCORD: Carl Edwards thought his race might be over after he smashed into the wall less than 50 miles into the 300-mile Nationwide race. Turns out his Mustang had plenty left.

Edwards worked his way up from 27th to the front five laps from the end, moving past Kyle Busch on the final restart to win the Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“Running into the wall usually doesn’t work out too well for you,” said Edwards, the Sprint Cup series points leader. But after a couple of laps seeing if pieces would fall off of his Ford, Edwards found he still had a fast machine capable of making a move.

“That was pretty impressive,” he said. “It was screaming fast.” The right side of Edwards’ car was badly damaged after he hit the wall 32 laps into the race.

Crew chief Mike Beam talked Edwards through it, telling him the car was strong enough to get him back in.

“And luckily, Carl drove his guts out,” Beam said. Especially at the end as he took the lead from Busch with a push from Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne. Edwards had enough momentum to stick in front as Busch made one last charge on the final lap. It was

Edwards’ eighth Nationwide win this season and 37th in his career, tying him for third all time with Kevin Harvick.

Only Busch with 51 victories and Mark Martin with 49 have more. Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush was as giddy about his car as he was about Edwards’ effort. “Carl wrecked his car today and the car decided it wouldn’t give up,” Roush said. “It stood up under Carl and carried him to victory.”

It was Edwards’ sixth straight toptwo finish in NASCAR’s second-tier series. Edwards will try to make it a clean sweep at Charlotte - and extend his one-point lead in the Chase for the championship standings - when he starts third in Saturday night’s Bank of America 500. “Way to fight back, guys,” Edwards said after crossing the finish line. Busch ended second and Bayne third. Elliott Sadler placed fourth to earn a $100,000 bonus in the series Dash 4 Cash.

Brad Keselowski had the dominant machine most of the race. He led 119 laps and strongly moved away from the pack on several midrace restarts.

But Keselowski sliced a tire 28 laps from the finish and could not maintain position, slowly spinning just before the entrance to pit road. — AP

CONCORD: The field heads out of Turn 4 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, and heads for the green flag for the start of the NASCAR Nationwide series auto race. —AP

ANAHEIM: Just in case any Anaheim fans still doubted Jonas Hiller is back in All-Star form, the Ducks’ goalie stopped everything a Pacific Division power could shoot at him in his return to home ice.

Hiller made 31 saves in his 12th career shutout, Maxime Macenauer scored his first NHL goal, and Anaheim beat the San Jose Sharks 1-0 Friday night in the Ducks’ home opener.

Anaheim lost left wing Jason Blake late in the game with what coach Randy Carlyle called “a severe cut” on his left forearm. Blake went to a hospital for sutures, but the severity of his injury wasn’t immediately known.

Hiller hadn’t appeared in the regular season at Honda Center since Feb. 2, when he gave up three goals to the Sharks before getting pulled in the first period after his appearance in the All-Star game. He struggled to see the puck while battling a curious perception problem eventually diagnosed as vertigo.

Hiller played just 83 minutes after the AllStar break, but a summer of rest and rehabilitation in Switzerland have made him cautiously confident he’s back to normal, a feeling bolstered by two solid starts in Europe last week.

“I’m happy with the way it went, but I also think I worked real hard to be where I am now,” Hiller said. “I know it didn’t come back to me for free, so I know I have to keep working.”

He stopped 11 San Jose shots in the third period, holding off Joe Thornton and his highscoring teammates. “ We know what he’s all about,” said Thornton, who played alongside Hiller in Switzerland during the NHL lockout seven years ago.

“He’s a great goaltender, a world-class goalie, but we have some world-class players here that can score, so it was disappointing that we didn’t score on him. We can’t get shut out like that.”

Thomas Greiss stopped 22 shots for the Sharks, who couldn’t maintain a strong start.

Still missing goalie Antti Niemi and new scorer Martin Havlat, they had the past five days off after beating Phoenix in their home opener.

The Ducks are back from a full week off after returning from Europe, where they split two regular-season games and played an exhibition against Jokerit, the Finnish club that once employed Teemu Selanne.

The Ducks are 2-1-0 despite scoring just three goals this season, and Anaheim’s stars haven’t yet emerged. MVP Corey Perry, the NHL’s leading goal-scorer last season, and linemates Bobby Ryan and captain Ryan Getzlaf are all scoreless in three games. So are Selanne and his center, Saku Koivu.

With Hiller on top of his game, the Ducks don’t have to worry.

“I want to make a statement every night, no matter what happened last year,” Hiller said. “It’s nice to get these games and feel good out there. Goaltending is a lot about confidence, and it’s easier to be playing well if you start a season with these kinds of games.”

The Sharks are believers after Hiller stopped everything they tried, including two

point-blank chances in the final minutes. Joe Pavelski had the best chance on an apparently open net in the first period, but Hiller came from nowhere to stop it.

“I didn’t make a perfect shot,” Pavelski said.

“I mean, he made a really good save, but there was definitely more room there. As a shooter, you always believe that it’s there. That’s what I saw. I just didn’t execute. I knew I was going

talizing on an opportunity to play for the Sharks while Niemi and Antero Niittymaki are both out with injuries. Greiss, a longtime Sharks farmhand from Germany, spent last season on loan in Sweden.

Anaheim scored just 14 minutes in when Macenauer charged the net and popped home a pass from enforcer George Parros for a goal in just his third NHL game. Macenauer

ANAHEIM: San Jose Sharks goalie Thomas Greiss (1), of Germany, makes a save as teammate Joe Pavelski (8) covers against Anaheim Ducks left wing Bobby Ryan (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game. —AP to get another chance, and I did get a few was among the final cuts from Anaheim’s roschances, but when you get good looks like ter last season, and the 22-year-old center that, you’ve got to finish them.” earned a fourth-line role with a strong trainGreiss nearly matched Hiller’s effort, capi- ing camp. —AP

NHL results/standings Carolina 4, Buffalo 3; Anaheim 1, San Jose 0.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF Pittsburgh 3 0 2 16 Philadelphia 3 0 0 10 NY Islanders 2 1 0 7 New Jersey 2 1 0 6 NY Rangers 0 0 2 3

GA 13 5 4 6 5

PTS 8 6 4 4 2

Toronto Buffalo Montreal Boston Ottawa

Northeast Division 2 0 0 8 2 1 0 11 1 2 0 6 1 3 0 7 1 3 0 13

5 7 7 7 21

4 4 2 2 2

Washington Carolina Tampa Bay Florida Winnipeg

Southeast Division 3 0 0 13 2 2 1 13 1 2 1 12 1 1 0 4 0 2 0 4

10 18 16 4 9

6 5 3 2 0

Detroit Chicago Nashville St. Louis Columbus Colorado Minnesota Edmonton Vancouver Calgary

Western Conference Central Division 3 0 0 10 2 1 0 10 2 1 0 9 1 2 0 9 0 3 1 8 orthwest Division 3 1 0 11 2 1 1 10 1 0 1 3 1 2 1 10 1 2 0 9

3 7 9 9 13

6 4 4 2 1

6 9 3 13 11

6 5 3 3 2

Pacific Division Dallas 3 1 0 9 9 6 Anaheim 2 1 0 4 5 4 Phoenix 1 1 1 9 10 3 Los Angeles 1 1 1 6 8 3 San Jose 1 1 0 6 4 2 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Simpson stays in title hunt GEORGIA: Little -known Billy Horschel charged into a two-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island in Georgia while fellow American Webb Simpson stayed on track for his third victory of the year.

Former Walker Cup amateur Horschel eagled the par-five 15th on the way to a sizzling six-under-par 64, sinking a three-foot birdie putt at the last to post a 12-under total of 128. In hot pursuit, though, after carding a 67 was Simpson, who has won twice in his last five starts and has a chance to beat British world number one Luke Donald to the PGA tour money title.

“I’ve played great this year,” Simpson told reporters after ending a breezy day at the Seaside Course on 10 under, level with fellow American Michael Thompson (65). “Hopefully I can make a little dent in the (money list) gap this week.” Simpson trails Donald by $68,971 and both of them are scheduled to compete in next week’s season-ending Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

“It was a really tough day starting out,” Simpson said of a round which included four birdies and a lone bogey. “The wind was blowing pretty hard and we had really difficult holes to start.

“But I hung in there ... and made a couple of nice birdies coming in.” South African Louis Oosthuizen, who romped to a seven-stroke victory in last year’s British Open, fired a 67 to end the second round at eight under, along with Australian Nick O’Hern who also carded

a 67. The cut fell at one-under 139 with last year’s US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and former major winners Vijay Singh, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard and David Toms among those failing to advance. —Reuters

ST SIMONS: Bio Kim, of South Korea, hits his shot from the 10th tee during the third round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament. —AP

Gleeson leads Indian Open NEW DELHI: David Gleeson of Australia shot a 6-under 66 for the second day in a row yesterday to take a one-shot lead over Chiragh Kumar of India after the third round at the Indian Open.

Gleeson, who is hoping to end a three-year title drought on the Asian Tour, moved to 16under 200 for the tournament.

Overnight leader Kumar, playing on his home course, shot a 2-under 70 to slip a shot back of the lead. Lu Wei-chih of Taiwan and Ross Bain of Scotland are a further four shots back after shooting 66 and 68, respectively, during the third round for 205.

Four others are on 207, seven strokes off the lead - S.S.P. Chowrasia of India (68), Adilson Da Silva of Brazil (68), Daisuke

Kataoka of Japan (69) and Chapchai Nirat of Thailand (71).

Edoardo Molinari of Italy, the top-ranked player in the field at No. 55, shot 70 and at 5-under 211 he is tied for 18th place.

Gleeson got off to a strong start with two straight birdies before turning in 34. His strong play extended to the back nine where he hit five birdies against one bogey. The lone dropped shot came on the 18th when his approach shot flew over the green and into the greenside bunker. “It is the third day and always a tough day to find the right frame of mind. Chiragh and I both had flying star ts which were great but I’m happy I hit my approach shots close to the holes,” Gleeson said.

“This course is so difficult. I’m

so nervous on every hole to be thinking about anything else. I still got a lot of work to do out there,” added the two-time Asian Tour winner, whose last victory dates back to 2008.

Kumar, a 2006 Asian Games team silver medallist, went out in 34 with three birdies against one bogey. But on the return he made nine consecutive pars.

“I just didn’t read my putts as well as I did in the first two rounds. You can’t read them perfectly everyday. It was just one of those days,” said Kumar, who is searching for his maiden Asian Tour victory.

Lu put himself in position to chase back-to-back victories after his home victory in Taiwan, charging up the leader board with a 12-yard chip-in birdie on

the 7th for a 66.

“My putting could have been better but I won’t complain with my score. I’m really confident after my win last week and will do my best to narrow the gap on David,” said Lu. Bain, who is also in the hunt for his first Asian Tour victory, eagled the first hole for the second consecutive day courtesy of a monster 70-foot putt for a 68 to lie five shots off the lead.

“I hit a ridiculous putt on the first hole again and that was a bonus. It is those sort of things that happen that nullified some other putts I didn’t hole for birdies. All in all I really played well and my game is in good shape,” said the 35-year-old, who finished second in the 2001 Indian Open. —AP

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Maroney, Uchimura get 2nd gold at gym worlds

AUCKLAND: Wales’ Jamie Roberts is tackled by a French player during their Rugby World Cup semifinal at Eden Park. —AP

Wales fall just short of first WCup final AUCKLAND: Wales fell agonisingly short of reaching their first rugby World Cup final yesterday after playing three-quarters of their semi-final against France without captain Sam Warburton who had been sent off in the first 20 minutes.

An heroic Welsh side scored the only try of the match but were edged 9-8 by France who offered nothing in attack and were forced to make more than twice the number of tackles as their opponents.

The decision by Irish referee Alain Rolland to show a red card to Warburton for a dangerous tackle on Vincent Clerc should have ended the game as a contest.

A brawl broke out after Warburton lifted the slight Frenchman off his feet and dropped him to the ground. Rolland then reached for a red card to the incredulity of the Welsh team and the dismay of the majority of the crowd, who booed and whistled throughout the remainder of the match. A grim-faced Wales coach Warren Gatland, whose young side have played with increasing fluency and confidence throughout the tournament, said a yellow card would have been an appropriate punishment.

“I thought an experienced referee at the stage would have said ‘Hang on a minute, let’s bring the two touchies (touch judges) in and have a chat and have a chance to look at the screen and see the replay and perhaps make a cool judgment’,” he said.

“That came out of the blue-for an experienced referee to make such a quick decision in the semi-final of a World Cup. I though that decision ruined the semi-final.”

Gatland’s views were shared by the majority of neutrals in the crowd at Eden Park and Rolland’s decision was greeted with outrage on internet message boards.

In Rolland’s defence, the relevant rule

defines a dangerous tackle as “lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground”. Referees have also been directed to show a red card for play they consider dangerous.

Warburton’s dismissal was the second in the knockout stages of a World Cup. Lock Huw Richards was sent off in the only previous time Wales reached the semi-finals when he tangled with his opposite number Gary Whetton of New Zealand in 1987.

Wales, who trailed 6-3 at halftime, regrouped after the interval, surging into French territory in a series of attacks.

They were rewarded when Mike Phillips, as he had against Ireland in the quarterfinals, strode around the blindside, dummied, fended off an attempted tackle and dived over the line.

Stephen Jones, who had come on at flyhalf in place of James Hook, missed the conversion which would given Wales victory. Yet although Wales won the plaudits, it is France who go through to their third final after losing two pool matches. Wales are condemned to a third place playoff next Friday against the losers of Sunday’s match between New Zealand and Australia.

France coach Marc Lievremont was unrepentant about his team’s subdued performance, with flyhalf Morgan Parra kicking three penalties, and backed Rolland’s controversial red card call.

“We are in the final and that is all that counts, so don’t be too enthusiastic about it,” he said. “You’ve seen the tackle, it was a dangerous tackle and deserved a red card.”

Phillips remained unimpressed. “They were looking for penalties and played pretty boring stuff really,” he said “I think they’ll find it difficult in the final.” —Reuters

TOKYO: Kohei Uchimura spun off the pommel horse and smiled as he pulled himself upright. Hey, he and the American women can’t win every gold medal at the world gymnastics championships.

McKayla Maroney gave the Americans a sweep of the first three gold medals at worlds by winning the vault title Saturday, and Uchimura took gold on floor exercise about 18 hours after becoming the first man to win three all-around titles.

“It just shows we are the best,” Maroney said. “We come for business and that’s what we want to do. We all work really, really hard for it.”

But other gymnasts do, too, and Uchimura and the Americans were nice enough to let them share in the loot, failing to win any more medals - let alone more gold - the rest of the day.

Jordyn Wieber was fourth on uneven bars, missing the bronze medal by about three-tenths of a point, and Gabby Douglas was fifth. Uchimura finished fifth on pommel horse after a fall and was sixth on still rings.

“It was physically very hard,” Uchimura said of the quick turnaround. “I t ’s ver y hard, but I wanted to show my best to the audience.”

Viktoria Komova of Russia finally got her gold, winning uneven bars after going home with silvers in the all-around and team competition. Chen Yibing of China proved he really is “Lord of the Rings” with his fourth title on still rings, where he’s also the Olympic champion, and Krisztian Berki won his second straight title on pommel horse.

But there’s more heavy metal to be had Sunday, and chances are good Uchimura and the Americans will get some of it.

Wieber and Aly Raisman are both competing on balance beam and floor exercise, while Uchimura still has parallel bars and high bar to go.

The Americans got off to a perfect start at worlds, winning the team title followed two days later by Wieber’s victory in the all-around. Maroney made it a three-peat - in more ways than one. A U.S. woman has now won the last three vault titles, impressive for a country that had not

Samuels, Simmons star in Windies series win DHAKA: Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons cracked half-centuries to help the West Indies clinch the oneday series with an easy eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second match yesterday.

Samuels scored a brisk 88 not out and opener Simmons an impressive 80 as the West Indies achieved a 221run target with more than seven overs to spare in the day-night match for an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.

The final one-dayer will be played in Chittagong on Tuesday. Simmons, who hit a century in his team’s 40-run win in the opening match, added 71 for the opening wicket with Danza Hyatt (39) and 111 for the second wicket with Samuels to ensure the victory.

Samuels smashed one six and 12 fours in his 74-ball knock for his second successive half-century, while Simmons hit three sixes and as many fours in his 125-ball knock.

“Bangladesh have a lot of spinners but the wicket was nice. We had a good start and batted sensibly,” said Samuels, who was named man of the

DHAKA: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels holds the Man of the Match trophy after West Indies won by 8 wickets against Bangladesh during the second one-day international cricket match. —AP match.

“We worked hard before coming here as we knew Bangladesh are a dangerous team. We now want to be

Scoreboard DHAKA: Scoreboard after the second one-day international between West Indies and Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh innings Tamim Iqbal c Russell b Roach 1 Imrul Kayes c Ramdin b Rampaul 0 Mohammad Ashraful c Sammy b Roach 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c Samuels b Russell 69 Shakib Al Hasan c Ramdin b Rampaul 12 Alok Kapali c Simmons b Roach 20 Naeem Islam c&b Samuels 30 Nasir Hossain b Sammy 50 Abdur Razzak run out 25 Shafiul Islam c Bishoo b Sammy 4 Rubel Hossain not out 0 Extras (lb-3 w-6) 9 Total (all out; 48.5 overs) 220 Fall of wickets: 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-18 5-58 6-115 7150 8-191 9-220 Bowling: R. Rampaul 10-0-27-2, K Roach 10-149-3 (w3), A. Russell 9-1-50-1 (w2), D. Sammy 8.5-0-42-2 (w1) D. Bishoo 5-0-21-0, M.

Samuels 5-0-24-1, K. Pollard 1-0-4-0 West Indies innings L. Simmons lbw b Shakib 80 D. Hyatt c Rubel b Shakib 39 M. Samuels not out 88 D. Bravo not out 1 Extras (lb 2 w-10 nb-1) 13 Total (for two wickets; 42.4 overs) 221 Fall of wickets: 1-71 2-182 Did not bat: D. Ramdin, K. Pollard, A. Russell, D. Sammy, D. Bishoo, R. Rampaul, K. Roach Bowling: Shafiul Islam 7-2-53-0 (w2), Abdur Razzak 6-1-32-0, Shakib Al Hasan 10-1-30-2 (w1) Rubel Hossain 10-0-54-0 (w3, nb1), Alok Kapali 2-0-12-0, Nasir Hossain 2.4-0-14-0, Mohammad Ashraful 2-0-17-0, Naeem Islam 3-1-7-0.

Result: West Indies win by eight wickets

more consistent.”

Bangladesh, reeling at 1-3 and then at 18-4 in the opening five overs after winning the toss, were earlier steadied by skipper Mushfiqur Rahim who hit a 109-ball 69 under pressure.

“We have played an irresponsible game today. It was a do-or-die match for us, but our batsmen did not perform up to expectations,” said Rahim.

“I wanted to make this match memorable by winning it because it was my 100th one-day international, but the memory will not be sweet.

I’m really disappointed. If we are to win a match, our batsmen must perform.”

West Indies paceman Kemar Roach and birthday boy Ravi Rampaul did the early damage when they took two wickets apiece in their opening spells.

Wicket-keeper Rahim added 40 runs for the fifth wicket with Alok Kapali (20) and 57 for the next with Naeem Islam (30).

The Bangladeshi captain hit one six and two fours before being caught by Samuels at deep squareleg off seamer Andre Russell while going for a big shot in the 40th over.

Nasir Hossain scored a useful 54ball 50 and Abdur Razzak contributed 25 off 19 balls to help Bangladesh cross the 200-mark.

The hosts made a dismal start when they lost three wickets for just one run in the first two overs, with Roach taking two wickets in the space of four balls and Rampaul one.

Fast bowler Rampaul, who turned 27 yesterday, struck with his fourth delivery when he had opener Imrul Kayes caught by wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin for no score.

Roach dismissed opener Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful in his opening over before Rampaul removed former skipper Shakib Al Hasan (12) to reduce the hosts to 184.—AFP

won the title before K ayla Williams in 2009.

Alicia Sacramone won gold on vault last year, but was unable to defend her title after tearing her Achilles tendon Oct. 6 during training. She returned to the United States, and had surgery on Monday. “ That ’s just really cool,” Maroney said about the threepeat. “It’s just great to know I could do that for the US.” Vault has always been Maroney ’s

half-point in front of Oksana Chusovitina of Germany.

No one could have blamed Uchimura if he’d mailed it in Saturday. He was at the arena until late Friday, then had to turn around and come right back Saturday morning. But he opened with a huge tumbling pass that had the crowd oohing, ahhing and clapping.

“Everything he does is impressive,” said American Steve Legendre, who was fifth on floor.

tapped his chest and smiled. “ Ver y much,” he said when asked if he was drained. “After pommel horse, I felt very tired.”

Even if he wasn’t, he would have had a hard time catching Chen.

Still rings is all about brute strength, an event so physically demanding spectators wince just watching. But Chen is so masterful, he makes it look easy, beautiful even. He holds his strength positions with perfect stillness, the only sign of exer-

TOKYO: Japan’s Kohei Uchimura competes during the final of the men’s floor exercise at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. —AP favorite event, and it’s easy to see why. The 15-year-old from Laguna Niguel, Calif., does one of the hardest vaults in the world - a roundoff onto the takeoff board, back handspring onto the vault and then 2.5 twists before landing - yet manages to make it look effortless. She soared high above the vault, and her legs were rulerstraight as she twisted.

She took a small step to steady herself on her landing, then threw her hands into the air with a big smile. “ Vault has always just kind of come naturally for me. It’s more something that I just do for fun,” Maroney said. “I don’t get nervous, I just do it.”

Quite well, too. She finished with 15.30 points, more than a

“I think today he was just going out there and having fun. It definitely worked for him on floor exercise.

Uchimura’s score was initially posted as a 15.433, drawing boos from the crowd. But one of the Japanese coaches immediately filed an inquiry with the judges, who realized they had undervalued one of Uchimura’s skills. His revised score of 15.633 was enough to keep him in front of Zou Kai of China, the Beijing Olympics and 2009 world champion on floor.

But Uchimura looked gassed, shaking out his legs as he walked off the floor. Sure enough, he fell on pommel horse and had major form breaks on still rings. When he finished his rings routine, he

tion the bulging veins in his neck and arms. He moves effortlessly from one skill to another.

And when he lifted his body into a plane, his arms extended, his back so straight you could iron on it. When Chen’s feet slammed into the mat with a thud heard ‘round the arena, he playfully stuck out his tongue and gave a fist pump to each side of the arena. Before walking off the podium, he kissed one of the support poles. “ The apparatus does not belong to China, the apparatus does not belong to Japan,” Chen said through a translator. “I just want to show my best performance, a high-quality performance, to the audience from all over the world.” —AP

Kiwis crush Zimbabwe HARARE: New Zealand cruised to a 10wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack set the tourists on their victory path after restricting Zimbabwe to 123-8 inside 20 overs.

Seamer Kyle Mills and spinner Nathan McCullum took two wickets each as New Zealand’s attack kept Zimbabwe’s batsmen off balance throughout. Captain Brendan Taylor top-scored for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 50.

In pursuit, openers Martin Guptill (40 not out) and Brendon McCullum (81 not out) immediately went on the attack, taking advantage of Zimbabwe’s inaccurate bowling and poor fielding.

The touring side romped home with 39 balls to spare.

“We didn’t play well at all, we were not even close to our best, we didn’t hit the ground running today,” Zimbabwe captain Taylor said. “Losing wickets regularly was always going to put us on the back foot. “We have put that match behind us now and look forward to a new game on Monday.”

Mills’ accurate bowling was marked by good line and length as Zimbabwe

Scoreboard HARARE, Zimbabwe: Scoreboard Saturday in the first Twenty20 international between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Harare Sports Club: Zimbabwe Innings Hamilton Masakadza c N McCullum b Mills9 Chamu Chibhabha c B McCullum b Mills 9 Brendan Taylor not out 50 Forster Mutizwa lbw Woodcock 16 Malcolm Waller c Woodcock b N McCullum10 Charles Coventry c Taylor b N McCullum 10 Elton Chigumbura c Taylor b Bracewell 14 Regis Chakabva c B McCullum b Oram 0 Prosper Utseya run out 1 Extras: (1w, 3nb) 4 TOTAL: (for eight wickets) 123 Did not bat: Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-22, 3-50, 4-71, 5-96, 6119, 7-119, 8-123.

Bowling: Kyle Mills 4-0-15-2, Doug Bracewell 4-0-26-1 (1nb), Jacob Oram 4-0-25-1 (1w),

struggled to score freely off him. He ended with figures of 2-15.

He removed both openers, Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha, for 9 to peg back the hosts.

First to go was Masakadza, who fell to a full delivery that was caught at mid off

by Nathan McCullum. Chibhabha drove straight to Brendon McCullum.

Forster Mutizwa, who scored 16, was Zimbabwe’s second-best scorer as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Luke Woodcock 4-0-30-1, Nathan McCullum 3-0-17-2, James Franklin 1-0-10-0 (2nb).

New Zealand Innings Martin Guptill not out 40 Brendon McCullum not out 81 Extras: (1lb, 4w, 1nb) 6 TOTAL: (for no loss) 127 Did not bat: Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Doug Bracewell, Kyle Mills, Luke Woodcock.

Bowling: Kyle Jarvis 3-0-32-0 (1nb, 3w), Ray Price 3.3-0-26-0, Elton Chigumbura 3-0-28-0 (1w), Prosper Utseya 2-0-10-0, Chamu Chibhabha 1-0-20-0, Hamilton Masakadza 10-10-0.

Zimbabwe’s batting lineup was weakened after in-form top order batsman Vusi Sibanda pulled out of the team just before the start of the game after learning of the death of his mother. Former captain Tatenda Taibu also withdrew after injuring his finger while batting in the nets.

The second and final game of the Twenty20 series is on Monday before three ODI matches and a one-off test.—AP

Frankel triumphs as world’s best racehorse ASCOT: Racing’s much needed wonderhorse Frankel maintained his unbeaten record with a majestic victory yesterday in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Britain’s richest ever race day.

The world’s top-rated thoroughbred was in imperious form, spreadeagling a top-class field to win by four lengths from Excelebration with the French challenger Immortal Verse a distant third.

It was the ninth victory in a row for the unbeaten Frankel, who was given as big a cheer as his hugely popular trainer Henry Cecil when led into the sun-baked Ascot winners’ enclosure.

An increasingly bitter row between jockeys and officials over stringent new whip rules had overshadowed the run-up to the three million pound Champions Day, billed as “the greatest show on turf” which sought to rival the Breeders’ Cup for sheer razzmatazz.

But on the day, it was the superb equine athlete Frankel who grabbed all the headlines with his glorious galloping charge up the Ascot straight that was a joy to watch.

Cecil, bursting with pride over his star’s exploits, said “ He was so very relaxed. It has been a long year. That was my only worry. I am really looking forward to training him next year.”

He had no doubt that the champion miler could step up to a mile and a quarter in 2012. “I think he will be an even better horse next year.”

Jockey Tom Queally, beaming from ear to ear, said “I always enjoy winners like this. It doesn’t look like he is going to be beaten. I don’t think I will be on a horse like this ever again.”

In earlier action, Fame and Glory returned to the scene of his Ascot Gold Cup triumph to land the Long Distance Cup in impressive style from his old rival Opinion Poll.

“He was electric today,” said jockey Jamie Spencer who took the prize with a bold front-running display that paid rich dividends for the 3-1 second favourite. The Irish colt ran out a comfortable winner by one and quarter lengths from the Godolphin challenger.

Deacon Blues and Johnny Murtagh scorched up the sunbaked Ascot track to land the Champions Sprint Stakes in spectacular fashion from Wizz Kid. The 5-2 favourite has now won five of his last six starts and overjoyed trainer James Fanshawe had no doubts about his spectacular progress: “He is just amazing and has improved and improved.” —Reuters

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sp orts

Irmiger of US wins gold at Pan American Games

SOUTH KOREA: McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of today’s Korean Grand Prix at the Korean International Circuit. —AP

Hamilton pole in Korea, ends Red Bull streak YEONGAM: Red Bull’s perfect run of pole positions in Formula One this season ended yesterday when McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton edged out Sebastian Vettel in qualifying for the Korean Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s time of 1 minute, 35.820 seconds was 0.222 seconds faster than Red Bull’s Vettel, who clinched his second straight F1 drivers championship at last weekend’s Japanese GP. Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button was third ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber.

Red Bull had taken pole in all 15 races this season - 12 for Vettel and three for teammate Mark Webber - but couldn’t keep the streak going at the Yeongam track.

“I’m happy to be here and very proud of what the team has been able to achieve over the course of the last few races,” Hamilton said. “For Jenson to win the last race and for us to be on the front again and the only ones competing with Red Bull, I’m very happy.”

Red Bull employed a novel strategy of using the same set of super-soft tires for both the first two periods of qualifying meaning they have an extra set of the harder tires for Sunday’s race, giving them more flexibility in race strategy.

“McLaren looked competitive yesterday and though the conditions were completely different today, they were a fair chunk ahead of everyone including us,” said Vettel, who has three more GPs to equal Nigel Mansell’s record 14 poles in one season. “In the dry this morning they were extremely quick but once again we pushed them very hard in qualifying, perhaps more than they expected and we did a good job in qualification.”

Button, who won the Japanese GP last weekend, said a mistake at the last corner prevented a McLaren 1-2 finish. “I lost way too much time on the last corner,” Button said.

“But I feel good in the car, P3 isn’t what I wanted but I’m looking forward to the race.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said the tire strategy will make for an interesting race. “We elected to take a different approach to others with our tire usage,” Horner said.

“This saved us three sets of the soft tire for tomorrow’s race, should that come into play,

it’s going to be a fascinating race with strategy and pit work and hopefully, we can take the fight to the McLaren’s.”

Button, however, said he wasn’t convinced the strategy will pay off. “It’s not a decision you can take, I don’t think, before the race starts,” Button said. “Because we really don’t know which direction it will go throughout the race and you have to think on your toes in the race.”

McLaren had topped the timesheets in all three practice sessions, at what is the team’s 700th Grand Prix. Hamilton took his 19th pole and his first grid-topping performance since Canada last year.

Webber was fourth after aborting his final lap of qualifying. Ferrari teammates Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were fifth and sixth respectively.

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was seventh ahead of Renault’s Vitaly Petrov. The Force India duo of Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil rounded out the top 10.

As happy as he was with pole, Hamilton was focusing on Sunday’s race. The 2008 world champion finished second here last year to Alonso and is hoping to change his luck after a disappointing series of results including two fifth-place finishes in the last two races in Singapore and Japan.

“To be back on pole is a great feeling but tomorrow is the most important day,” Hamilton said. “We’ve had some difficult races in the past but we hope we can redeem ourselves tomorrow.”

Since winning the German Grand Prix in July, Hamilton has gone without a top-three finish for five races. His only other win of the season came at the Chinese GP in April.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh was pleased to see Red Bull’s run of consecutive poles end at 16, which is third-best alltime.

“I have to confess we do listen to the other drivers and I have a driver button and when they (Red Bull) go on pole, I have to turn it off immediately so I don’t have to hear Sebastian whooping it up in the car,” Whitmarsh said.

“Today, I wasn’t feverishly looking for that button to turn it off.”—AP

SHANGHAI: Andy Murray of Britain reacts while playing against Kei Nishikori of Japan in their singles semifinal match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament. —AP

Murray to face Ferrer in Shanghai final clash SHANGHAI: Andy Murray pummelled Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-0 to reach the final of the Shanghai Masters yesterday and will complete a stunning Asian hat-trick if he beats David Ferrer today.

Nishikori, playing in his first Masters Series semi-final, lacked the firepower to trouble the British world number four who continued his charge through the Asian swing which brought him back to back titles in Bangkok and Tokyo.

Earlier in the Qi Zhong Tennis Centre, world number five Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-7 6-3 6-3 — coming from a set behind for the third day running.

Murray was cool and composed in his demolition of unseeded Nishikori, taking complete command after breaking serve in the third game of the 56-minute encounter under the night sky.

Should he beat Ferrer today, Murray will climb to third in the ATP rankings, pushing 16-times grand slam champion Roger Federer down into fourth spot.

Despite his defeat the 21-year-old Nishikori can also look forward to a rise in the rankings from his current 47th spot and on

Monday will become Japan’s highest ranked player ever in the ATP rankings.

Ferrer is proving himself the king of the comebacks this week and he was at it again on Saturday against Lopez. The tenacious baseliner struggled to come to terms with the attacking Lopez in the opening set although he did squander a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak.

However, he began to grind down his 30year-old opponent and after levelling the match he made the decisive break in the third set when Lopez made a costly error when serving at 3-4.

“Maybe today I played the best match of this week,” Ferrer, who was beaten by Murray in the Tokyo semi-finals last week, told reporters. “When I lost the first set, I tried to forget the tie-break and I tried to focus again.

I played better in the second and the third.”

Ferrer said he would need to go up another level to get the better of Murray and win his first Masters Series title.

“Andy is playing amazing,” said the world number five. “I know every week is different.

But tomorrow I need to improve my game to win against Andy. He’s a top player, and I need to play my best tennis.”—Reuters

GUADALAJARA: The United States quickly moved to the top of the medals table at the Pan American Games yesterday, with Heather Irmiger winning the competition’s first gold in the women’s cross-country mountain bike race.

A few hours later, Jeremiah Bishop added a bronze in the men’s event. “It’s fantastic to win the first medal for the United States,” Irmiger said.

There are nine more gold medals to be won on the first day of competition in Guadalajara, including five in the swimming pool.

Irmiger took the lead from the first lap on the 24.8-kilometer mountain bike circuit, winning in 1 hour, 34 minutes, 9 seconds. Laura Lorenza Mor fin of Mexico took silver in 1:35:54 and Amanda Sin of Canada was third in 1:37:14.

Defending champion Hector Paez of Colombia won the gold medal in the men’s race in 1:31:12, followed by Max Plaxton of Canada in second in 1:31:29. Bishop was third in 1:32:41.

In the swimming heats, Claire Donahue of the United States set the first tournament record, winning her 100-meter butterfly heat in 58.59 seconds. The previous record, held by American swimmer Kathlen Hersey, was 59.21 from the 2007 Games in Rio. The world record is 56.06.

The women’s United States 4x100 freestyle relay team soon followed with another championship record, winning a heat in 3:40.85.

MEXICO: Claire Donahue of the United States strokes through the water while competing in the women’s 100-meter butterfly during the Pan American Games. —AP Olympic champion Cesar Cielo, one of the most accomplished swimmers competing in Guadalajara, made a brief visit to the hospital Saturday because of a minor illness, but he is expected to swim as scheduled today.

Cielo won the 50 and 100-meter freestyle races at the Rio Pan Am Games, as well as helping Brazil with the 4x100 relay.

Before competition even started yesterday morning, three doping cases emerged.

Brazilian runner Simone Alves da Silva and Puerto Rican mountain biker Kelvin Gonzalez both tested positive for EPO, while Chilean weightlifter Cristian Escalante tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine. All three were withdrawn from the games.—AP

San Jose State rallies past Hawaii SAN JOSE: A rare night to cherish for San Jose State began with a bus ride through fan-clogged streets and ended with those same faithful dancing on the field at Spartan Stadium.

Chandler Jones caught a 37yard touchdown pass from Matt Faulkner with 36 seconds remaining, and San Jose State rallied to beat Hawaii 28-27 on Friday night in a wild game with six turnovers by each team.

Fans stormed the field in celebration, and players and coaches dance along with them. A year after winning only once, the Spartans (34, 2-1) have reason to dance: They’ve won three of their last four games and are no longer pushovers in the Western Athletic Conference.

“It was just a magical night for San Jose State,” second-year coach Mike MacIntyre said. The team bus also avoided a crowded highway and took a different path to the game through the streets of San Jose. The crowds of people walking down the roads delayed the bus and had players giddy even before they arrived, ready for a packed stadium that is usually filled with empty seats.

While it wasn’t always the prettiest performance, the Spartans were never dull. Jones also scored a touchdown rushing and returned a fumble for a score on kickoff coverage to help redeem a horrendous second half for the Spartans that included six turnovers. The redshirt sophomore had only one touchdown in his career coming into the game, which came last year at Wisconsin. “It was kind of like the cycle,” Jones said.

Joey Iosefa’s 32-yard touchdown run with 11:46 remaining put Hawaii (3-3, 1-1) ahead 27-20. Travis Johnson blocked the extra point and Duke Ihenacho overcame a cramp and returned it for a 2-point conversion before Jones’ TD catch capped a wacky night in Silicon

Valley.

Matt Faulkner threw for a careerhigh 366 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in front of a rare national television audience and 24,643, the largest crowd of the season at cozy Spartan Stadium. The student section even piled onto the field when time expired, and several Spartans fans joined in the celebration for a program that hasn’t had many big

the first time three years, San Jose State lost to BYU before tripling its win total from last season by beating the Warriors.

While it wasn’t the prettiest of wins, the Spartans won’t complain.

Besides, each team had a horrific half. The turnover ratio narrowed quickly in the third quarter, when San Jose State had four of the period’s five giveaways. Two interceptions thrown by Faulkner led to

SAN JOSE: San Jose State wide receiver Chandler Jones (89) runs in for a touchdown past Hawaii’s Aaron Brown (1) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game.—AP wins in recent memory.

“It’s surreal for our team,” Faulkner said. “It’s what we’ve desired. It’s where we want to get.

We got a taste of it. We want more.”

The Spartans dropped their first three games of the season in tough matchups at Stanford and UCLA and then at home against Nevada.

After wins against New Mexico State and Colorado State gave the program consecutive victories for

Hawaii touchdowns.

Jeremiah Ostrowski caught a 19yard pass and Iosefa ran 2 yards for a score to give the Warriors a 21-20 lead in the third quarter, stunning the home crowd that included Krazy George Henderson, credited for starting “The Wave” cheer 30 years ago this week.

Iosefa scampered for a 32-yard score that was set to give the Warriors a one-touchdown lead.

But Johnson blocked the extrapoint kick and Ihenacho scooped up the ball and ran for the first 2point return in San Jose State history, cutting Hawaii’s lead to 27-22 early in the fourth.

Faulkner led San Jose State on a six-play, 87-yard drive capped by Jones’ TD catch for the go-ahead score. One last lob to the end zone

by Hawaii’s Bryant Moniz sailed incomplete just short of the goal line as time expired.

“This was an exciting game for the fans but not real exciting for the coaches,” Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said.

Hawaii started strong with an 80-yard drive capped by Royce Pollard’s 16-yard touchdown catch from Moniz for its first score and a 7-0 lead. And then everything - on both sides - imploded.

Several times, actually.After 152 attempts without throwing an interception, Moniz had two passes in a row picked off.

Peyton Thomas intercepted a pass by Moniz and sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown only to have the score wiped out by a personal foul penalty by Bene Benwikere during the return. James Orth picked off another pass to setup Alvernik’s second field goal, giving the Spartans a 13-7 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball was jarred loose from Scott Harding and corralled by Jones in stride for his second touchdown to put San Jose State ahead 20-7.

Hawaii drove quickly down field looking for a score before the break until another turnover ended the drive. Pollard was stripped fighting for more yards at the San Jose State 11, the fifth turnover of the half for the Warriors. Not that San Jose State minded.

“I think this is a huge win for this program,” MacIntyre said. “We’re going into November and now October with a real chance to win the conference. Our guys can taste it.”—AP

Jet ski team return triumphant KUWAIT: The Kuwait’s jet ski team returned to Kuwait yesterday from New York, where they embarked in their trip back home after participating at the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) tournament held in the US state of Arizona. The team, which includes members from the Kuwait Sea Sports Club, had a triumphant return after collecting fifteen medals, including six gold, six silver and three bronze.

The team was welcomed by huge crowd of supporters, led by senior KSSC staff including President Major General Fahad Al-Fahad, Vice President Ahmad al-Ghanim and General Secretary Khalid Al-Foudary.

During the tournament, veteran international competitor Mohammad Burabie’a accomplished an unprecedented feat when he won all the pro-class races he participated in, and collected five medals including

Abdul-Qader Al-Najjar two gold, two silver and one bronze. His teammate and reigning UAE Grand Prix champion Mohammad Al-Baz also won two gold medals and one silver, while Khalid Burabie’a won two gold medals, one sil-

The Kuwait jet ski team ver and two bronze. Yaqoub AlHuwaidi also won two gold and two silver medals.

Team leader and chairman of the KSSC’s marine committee Abdul-Qader Al-Najjar ack nowledged the team’s

achievement and their “honorable representation for their country”, indicating in a press statement that they grabbed the attention of American spectators and media outlets covering the tournament.

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sports Soccer results/standings Chelsea 3 (Sturridge 31, Terry 45, Ramires 61) Everton 1 (Vellios 81); Liverpool 1 (Gerrard 68) Man Utd 1 (Hernandez 81); Man City 4 (Balotelli 28, Johnson 47, Kompany 52, Milner 71) Aston Villa 1 (Warnock 65); Norwich 3 (Pilkington 1, 63, Martin 10) Swansea 1 (Graham 12); QPR 1 (Helguson 16) Blackburn 1 (Samba 24); Stoke 2 (Walters 80, Delap 87) Fulham 0; Wigan 1 (Diame 40) Bolton 3 (ReoCoker 4, Ngog 45, Eagles 90).

Playing today Arsenal v Sunderland; Newcastle v Tottenham; West Brom v Wolves.

English Football League results Championship Brighton 0 Hull 0; Bristol City 1 Peterborough 2; Burnley 0 Reading 1; Cardiff 2 Ipswich 2; Coventry 1 Nottingham Forest 0; Derby 1 Southampton 1; Middlesbrough 1 Millwall 1; Portsmouth 2 Barnsley 0; Watford 0 Crystal Palace 2; West Ham 4 Blackpool 0.

Playing today Birmingham v Leicester.

Played Friday Doncaster 0 Leeds 3.

Division One Brentford 0 Scunthorpe 0; Chesterfield 1 Notts County 3; Exeter 0 Huddersfield 4; Hartlepool 1 Wycombe 3; Leyton Orient 1 Bury 0; Milton Keynes Dons 2 Bournemouth 2; Rochdale 2 Colchester 2; Stevenage 1 Charlton 0; Tranmere 1 Oldham 0; Walsall 1 Preston 0; Yeovil 0 Carlisle 3.

Playing today Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday.

Division Two AFC Wimbledon 1 Crewe 3; Accrington 0 Swindon 2; Barnet 2 Aldershot 1; Crawley 2 Shrewsbury 1; Dagenham and Redbridge 2 Plymouth 3; Hereford 2 Bradford 0; Macclesfield 1 Oxford 1; Southend 1 Morecambe 1; Torquay 2 Gillingham 5.

Played Friday Bristol Rovers 5 Rotherham 2; Burton 0 Cheltenham 2; Port Vale 3 Northampton 0; Scottish Premier League results Aberdeen 3 (Arnason 14, Mawene 51, Considine 60) Dundee Utd 1 (Dalla Valle 79); Dunfermline 0 Hearts

2 (Webster 42, Templeton 76); Hibernian 0 Motherwell 1 (Murphy 8); Kilmarnock 3 (Shiels 26, Heffernan 40, Fowler 45) Celtic 3 (Stokes 73, 76, Mulgrew 80); Rangers 1 (Jelavic 48) St Mirren 1 (Teale 90); St Johnstone 2 (Sandaza 12, Mackay 65) Inverness CT 0.

Scottish Football League results First Division Ayr 0 Livingston 0; Dundee 1 Ross County 2; Falkirk 1 Queen of the South 0; Morton 0 Hamilton 2; Raith 2 Partick 0.

Second Division Albion 0 East Fife 3; Brechin 1 Airdrie 1; Cowdenbeath 2 Stirling 0; Forfar 1 Arbroath 1; Stenhousemuir 3 Dumbarton 1.

Third Division Alloa 1 Berwick 1; Annan Athletic 1 Elgin 1; Clyde 7 East Stirling 1; Peterhead 1 Stranraer 3; Queen’s Park 3 Montrose 1.

Spanish League results Real Madrid 4 (Higuain 46, 69, 73, Kaka 58) Real Betis 1 (Molina 68); Real Mallorca 1 (Hemed 90+2-pen) Valencia 1 (Rami 39); Getafe 0 Villarreal 0; Barcelona 3 (Messi 11, 68, Xavi 27) Racing Santander 0.

Playing later Granada v Atletico Madrid Playing today Rayo Vallecano v Espanyol, Zaragoza v Real Sociedad, Levante v Malaga, Sevilla v Sporting Gijon Playing tomorrow Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna German Lleague results M’gladbach 2 (Reus 65, Herrmann 72) Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Reinartz 20, Sch¸rrle 87); VfL Wolfsburg 2 (Mandzukic 24, 83-pen) Nuremberg 1 (Eigler 70); Bayern Munich 4 (Gomez 5, 69-pen, Ribery 7, Schweinsteiger 13) Hertha Berlin 0; VfB Stuttgart 2 (Okazaki 48, Pogrebnyak 77-pen) Hoffenheim 0; Mainz 05 0 FC Augsburg 1 (CallsenBracker 88-pen); Schalke 04 1 (Huntelaar 62-pen) Kaiserslautern 2 (Tiffert 30-pen, Kouemaha 72) Playing today SC Freiburg v Hamburg, FC Cologne v Hanover Played Friday Werder Bremen 0 Dortmund 2 (Perisic 42, Owomoyela 71)

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Morton 9 Livingston 9 Raith 9 Partick 9 Ayr 9 Q of South 9 Dundee 9 Second Division Cowdenbeath 9 Arbroath 9 Stenhousemuir 9 Stirling 9 Airdrie Utd 9 Forfar 9 East Fife 9 Brechin 9 Dumbarton 8 Albion 8 Third Division Annan Athletic 9 Stranraer 9 Alloa 9 Elgin 9 Clyde 9 Queens Park 9 Berwick 9 Montrose 9 Peterhead 9 East Stirling 9 Spanish League table Barcelona 7 Real Madrid 7 Levante 6 Valencia 7 Malaga 6 Sevilla 6 Real Betis 7 Atletico 6 Real Mallorca 7 Real Sociedad 6 Villarreal 7 Osasuna 6 Rayo Vallecano 6 Real Zaragoza 6 Espanyol 6 Athletic Bilbao 6 Getafe 7 Grenada 6 Santander 7 Sporting Gijon 6 German League table Bayern Munich 9 M’gladbach 9 Dortmund 9 Stuttgart 9 Werder Bremen 9 Schalke 9 Hanover 8 Leverkusen 9 Hoffenheim 9 Hertha Berlin 9 Wolfsburg 9 Nuremberg 9 FC Cologne 8 Kaiserslautern 9 Mainz 9 SC Freiburg 8 FC Augsburg 9 Hamburg 8

Man City 8 7 1 0 Man Utd 8 6 2 0 Chelsea 8 6 1 1 Newcastle 7 4 3 0 Liverpool 8 4 2 2 Tottenham 6 4 0 2 Stoke 8 3 3 2 Aston Villa 8 2 5 1 Norwich 8 3 2 3 QPR 8 2 3 3 Swansea 8 2 2 4 Fulham 8 1 4 3 Everton 7 2 1 4 Wolves 7 2 1 4 Arsenal 7 2 1 4 Sunderland 7 1 3 3 Bolton 8 2 0 6 West Brom 7 1 2 4 Wigan 8 1 2 5 Blackburn 8 1 2 5 English Football League tables Championship Southampton 11 7 2 2 West Ham 11 6 3 2 M’brough 11 5 6 0 Derby 11 6 2 3 Brighton 11 5 3 3 Hull 11 5 3 3 Leeds 10 5 2 3 Crystal 11 5 2 4 Cardiff 11 4 5 2 Ipswich 11 5 2 4 P’borough 11 5 1 5 Leicester 10 4 4 2 Blackpool 11 4 4 3 Reading 11 4 3 4 Burnley 10 3 3 4 Portsmouth 11 3 3 5 Barnsley 11 2 6 3 Birmingham 8 3 2 3 Coventry 11 2 4 5 Watford 11 2 4 5 Millwall 11 1 5 5 Doncaster 11 2 2 7 Nottingham 11 2 2 7 Bristol City 11 1 3 7 Division One Charlton 13 8 4 1 Huddersfield 13 7 6 0 Notts County 13 8 1 4 Sheffield 12 8 1 3 Milton Keynes 13 6 5 2 Preston 11 7 1 3 Brentford 13 6 3 4 Carlisle 13 6 3 4 Sheffield Utd 11 6 2 3 Hartlepool 12 5 4 3 Tranmere 13 5 4 4 Colchester 13 4 6 3 Oldham 13 5 2 6 Stevenage 13 4 4 5 Walsall 13 3 5 5 Bury 13 4 2 7 Scunthorpe 13 2 7 4 Rochdale 13 3 4 6 Wycombe 13 3 3 7 Bournemouth 13 3 3 7 Leyton Orient 13 3 3 7 Chesterfield 13 3 2 8 Yeovil 13 2 3 8 Exeter 13 2 2 9 Division Two Crawley Town 13 9 1 3 Southend 13 8 2 3 Oxford Utd 13 6 5 2 Cheltenham 13 7 2 4 Shrewsbury 13 7 2 4 AFC Wimbledon 13 7 2 4 Morecambe 13 6 4 3 Port Vale 13 6 4 3 Gillingham 13 6 3 4 Burton Albion 13 5 5 3 Swindon 13 6 1 6 Macclesfield 13 5 3 5 Rotherham 13 5 3 5 Bristol 13 5 3 5 Crewe 13 5 1 7 Torquay 13 3 6 4 Northampton 13 4 3 6 Accrington 13 3 6 4 Aldershot 13 4 2 7 Dagenham 13 4 1 8 Barnet 13 3 3 7 Bradford 13 2 4 7 Hereford 13 2 4 7 Plymouth 13 2 2 9 Scottish Premier League table Rangers 11 9 2 0 Motherwell 11 7 1 3 Celtic 10 6 1 3 Hearts 11 5 3 3 St Johnstone 11 5 3 3 St Mirren 11 3 4 4 Aberdeen 11 3 3 5 Kilmarnock 11 2 5 4 Dundee Utd 11 2 4 5 Hibernian 11 2 3 6 Dunfermline 10 2 3 5 Inverness CT 11 2 2 7 Scottish Football League tables First Division Ross County 9 4 4 1 Hamilton 9 4 3 2 Falkirk 9 4 3 2

27 25 20 9 11 11 6 10 10 6 7 10 7 6 10 9 12 5 6 9

6 6 9 4 9 10 8 9 11 14 12 9 11 10 16 8 22 10 14 18

22 20 19 15 14 12 12 11 11 9 8 7 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 5

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Matches on TV (Local Timings) English Premier League West Brom v Wolves Abu Dhabi Sports HD 6 Arsenal v Sunderland Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Newcastle v Tottenham Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3

14:00 15:30 18:00

Spanish League Vallecano v Espanyol Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD Al Jazeera Sport +2 Zaragoza v Sociedad Al Jazeera Sport +10 Levante v Malaga Al Jazeera Sport +2 Al Jazeera Sport +3 Sevilla FC v Sporting Al Jazeera Sport +3 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD

13:00 17:00 19:00 23:00

Italian League Cesena v Fiorentina Al Jazeera Sport +1 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Genoa v Lecce Al Jazeera Sport +2 Al Jazeera Sport 2 HD Chievo v Juventus Al Jazeera Sport +1 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD Atalanta v Udinese Al Jazeera Sport +5 Cagliari v Siena Al Jazeera Sport +8 Lazio v AS Roma Al Jazeera Sport +1 Al Jazeera Sport 1 HD

13:30 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 21:45

Messi outshines Higuain as Barcelona stay on top MADRID: Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win over Racing Santander yesterday, a victory which preserved the Spanish and European champions’ onepoint lead over Real Madrid in La Liga.

Messi’s Argentinian international teammate Gonzalo Higuain had earlier hit his second hattrick in a week to lead Madrid to a 4-1 mauling of Real Betis as Jose Mourinho’s team temporarily dislodged Barcelona from top spot.

At Camp Nou, Messi’s brace, which took his league total to 10 this season, and a rare header for captain Xavi Hernandez were enough to seal the points.

The result was never in doubt and Barca were able to take their foot off the pedal towards the end with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League match at home to Czech side Viktoria Plzen. However they are likely to be without defender Gerard Pique who limped off with a muscular problem to add to Barca’s mounting injury list.

Barcelona needed just eight minutes to break through against Racing Santander. Andres Iniesta, in his first game in a month after injury, turned cleverly in the area to find Messi who skipped around Santander goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez ‘Tono’ to push the ball into an open net. Barcelona’s second came on 27 minutes from the head of Xavi after good work and a fine cross from Pedro Rodriguez on the left wing.

The chances continued to come and Messi was inches away from getting his second on 36 minutes. A minute later Carles Puyol failed to finish from point blank range after Pedro Rodriguez had put him through.

Santander defended stoutly and held out until the 67th minute when Barca got their third.

When Iniesta received a pass from Messi on the left hand side of the area he beat off two defenders with a magical feint before striking the post only for Messi to pounce to convert the rebound.

Higuain had hit three for Argentina in a World Cup qualifying victory against Chile and his golden streak on Saturday with Real Madrid.

But despite his scoring prowess, Mourinho insists that French international Karim Benzema is also in his thoughts when it comes to his starting line-up. “Higuain is better than before and between him and Benzema it is difficult to talk about who is the sub and who plays,” said

SPAIN: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, from Argentina (center) duels for the ball against Racing Santander’s Bernardo Espinosa (right) during a Spanish La Liga soccer match. —AP Mourinho. “Karim was on the bench because we needed him. They are two very different forwards with one thing in common-they both score goals.”

For Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo started his 100th match and Mourinho’s team were quickly into their stride. Kaka whipped in a dangerous cross from the left which Betis goalkeeper Casto Espinosa was only able to parry out to Mesut Ozil whose shot was charged down by defender Antonio Amaya. On 21 minutes it was again the in-form Kaka who found Higuain with space to centre for Ronaldo whose glancing header should have put Madrid ahead.

Just before the break, Ronaldo teed-up Kaka but the Brazilian’s shot went narrowly wide and a closely fought first-half finished goalless.

Madrid were ahead with 30 seconds of the restart. Marcelo’s long, raking pass found Ronaldo’s attacking run down the left and one touch was all he needed to present Higuain with an open goal.

Casto Espinosa came to Betis’ rescue on 56 minutes, blocking acrobatically twice to deny

Higuain and then Kaka. However he could do nothing two minutes later when Kaka placed a curling right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. Jorge Molina pulled a goal back for Betis from close range on 69 minutes after Ruben Castro fought his way through the Madrid defence, but any hope Betis had of taking anything from the game lasted less than a minute.

Angel Di Maria found Higuain with a beautifully weighted pass from the right wing that left the Argentine to neatly take the ball round Casto and finish into an open net.

On 73 minutes Higuain completed his hattrick when his compatriot Di Maria again found him with a defence splitting pass that he chipped over the oncoming Casto.

Valencia missed out on joining Madrid on 16 points after drawing 1-1 at Mallorca.

A Mehmet Topal handball in the third minute of time added-on allowed Israeli Tomer Hemed to equalise from the spot for Mallorca after French international defender Adil Rami had scored from close range on 38 minutes for Valencia.—AFP

Pilkington double sink Swansea Norwich 3

Swansea 1 NORWICH: Norwich midfielder Anthony Pilkington scored twice as the Canaries beat fellow Premier League new-boys Swansea 3-1 at Carrow Road yesterday.

Pilkington, a £2 million signing from Huddersfield in the close-season, opened the scoring after just 50 seconds before Russell Martin doubled Norwich’s lead soon after with a 12-yard header.

Danny Graham pulled one back for Swansea, but Pilkington sealed the win for Paul Lambert’s team just after the hour to keep Norwich

in an impressive ninth place in their first season back in the top-flight.

Swansea, promoted via the Championship play-offs last season, displayed little of the fight that saw them beat Stoke two weeks ago and could have few complaints about the result.

Norwich were ahead within a minute as Wales striker Steve Morison knocked down Elliott Bennett’s cross at the back post to find Pilkington, who fired past Michel Vorm from close range.

Morison caused Swansea problems all afternoon and Garry Monk was perhaps fortunate to receive just a booking when he pulled back the former Millwall star as he broke through the away defence.

Swansea couldn’t get into the game and they found themselves 2-0 down in the ninth minute when

Bolton climb out of drop zone with win WIGAN: Bolton Wanderers clambered out of the Premier League relegation zone Wigan 1 with a 3-1 victory at Wigan Athletic yesterday that ended a damaging run of six straight defeats.

A punishing schedule had seen Owen Bolton 3 Coyle’s side beaten by Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea but they stopped the rot with a hard-earned win that lifted them one place above the bottom three.

Wigan, however, slip to second from bottom after registering their fifth consecutive reverse in the league. The game at the DW Stadium was less than four minutes old when Bolton went ahead, with Nigel Reo-Coker getting ahead of Wigan centre-back Gary Caldwell to turn in Chris Eagles’ right-wing cross at the near post.

Eagles drew a good save from former Bolton keeper Ali Al-Habsi shortly afterwards and the Omani international was called into action in the 22nd minute, after Kevin Davies had deftly chested down a high ball and turned inside his marker.

Wigan equalised five minutes before half-time through a fine effort from Mohamed Diame, the French midfielder picking up the ball 25 yards from goal and curling a sumptuous effort beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The home defence could not hold out until the break, however, as David Ngog restored Bolton’s lead on the verge of half-time after Steve Gohouri meekly conceded possession to Davies on the Wigan left.

Wigan coach Roberto Martinez sent on left-back Maynor Figueroa and striker Hugo Rodallega at half-time and the latter spurned a good opportunity to equalise when he shot straight at Jaaskelainen from Victor Moses’ cutback.

Rodallega’s introduction sparked Wigan into life but Bolton held firm and should have stretched their lead late in the second half when they were awarded a penalty for a push on Dedryck Boyata by Gary Caldwell.

Davies assumed responsibility for the spot-kick, but his weak attempt was comfortably repelled by Al-Habsi. Fortunately for the Wanderers captain, Wigan’s defence remained in charitable mood and Eagles capped a fine individual performance with his side’s third goal after Antolin Alcaraz gave the ball away.—AFP

Martin headed home unmarked from 12 yards after getting on the end of David Fox’s pinpoint cross.

Their two-goal cushion lasted less than two minutes as Swansea raced up the other end to pull one back with their first real chance of the game. Scott Sinclair skipped between Bennett and Fox and stuck a leg out to hook the ball across the box to Graham, who powered home from six yards for his second in two games. Swansea started to play more confidently and Angel Rangel came close to equalising with a powerful 30-yard shot that flew just over. Morison then battled his way past three Swansea defenders before laying the ball off to Pilkington, but he hammered in to the side netting from an acute angle. Vorm then athletically tipped wide a Morison

shot as the big striker kept bullying the away defence.

Swansea ended the first half the stronger side and they thought they should have had a penalty when Nathan Dyer went down after what looked to be a legitimate challenge from Bradley Johnson, but the referee waved played on.

But Norwich regained control of the match after half-time. In the 63rd minute the ball fell to Bradley Johnson in the box after Swansea failed to clear a corner and he laid a calm pass in to the path of Pilkington, who poked home from eight yards. Stephen Dobbie wasted Swansea’s last serious opportunity to get back in the game when he miscued his shot after Graham had beaten two Norwich defenders to sneak into the box.—AFP

Stoke keep home fires burning STOKE: Stoke continued their excellent form at home this seaStoke 2 son with a 2-0 defeat of Fulham at the Brittania Stadium yesterday to move up to seventh.

Stoke, beaten 2-0 at Swansea Fulham 0 before the international break, welcomed back winger Matthew Etherington, fit again after a back problem, while the only change from the Fulham side that had thumped Queens Park Rangers 6-0 was the return of defender Aaron Hughes for Zdenek Grygera.

In a fairly drab first half Martin Jol’s Fulham had the better of the early stages, with John Arne Riise going close approaching the half hour, his shot flying over the bar.

Up at the other end Peter Crouch was unable to do justice to a volley chance. On the stroke of half-time Jermaine Pennant, returning after a knee injury, charged in from the right, exchanging passes with Crouch, only for his shot to go wide.

Midway through the second period Fulham were lucky to get off unpunished when their keeper, Mark Schwarzer, fumbled as he tried to get hold of the ball in an attack instigated by a Rory Delap throw-in.

Seconds later Delap watched as his deflected shot hit the post, while only Danny Murphy’s quick thinking on the line denied Stoke midfielder Marc Wilson’s header from going in.

With the bit between their teeth Stoke, who were let off when a Riise free-kick struck the woodwork, got the goal their endeavour deserved when Republic of Ireland international Jon Walters pounced on Etherington’s cross shot to break the deadlock with ten minutes remaining.

Stoke doubled up in the 87th minute when former Republic international Delap rose to nod home Pennant’s curving free-kick.

The result extended Stoke’s excellent home record, the Potters’ unbeaten despite the visits of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. For Fulham this was a third loss on the road.—AFP

Messi outshines Higuain as Barcelona stay on top

Irmiger of US wins gold at Pan American Games

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LONDON: Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez (center) celebrates after scoring his team’s goal against Liverpool during an English Premier League match. —AP

Hernandez header deny Liverpool Liverpool 1

Man United 1 LIVERPOOL: Javier Hernandez preserved Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season with an 81st-minute equaliser as Liverpool were held 1-1 at Anfield yesterday. Steven Gerrard had put Kenny Dalglish’s side within sight of victory after marking his first start for seven months by firing his side ahead.

Gerrard had not started since undergoing groin surgery after Liverpool over-

came United 3-1 in the corresponding fixture last season. But Gerrard’s fairytale return was ruined when substitute Hernandez rescued a point nine minutes from time for United, who surpringly started without leading scorer Wayne Rooney. United did not start with Rooney, who came on as a late substitute, because Sir Alex Ferguson said he was devastated by his England Euro 2012 suspension. This was the first league meeting between the two sides since United moved to a record 19 titles ahead of Liverpool’s 18.

United manager Ferguson had labelled the fixture as the biggest in world club football yet there was little to excite the crowd during a fast and frantic start in which both sides struggled to

retain possession. Dalglish made one change from the side that had overcome neighbors Everton before the international break, with Andy Carroll, who scored in the 2-0 win at Goodison Park, making way for Gerrard. Yet even the return of the captain struggled to raise the hosts, who were unfortunate to escape falling behind in the 16th minute when Phil Jones headed wastefully wide from Patrice Evra’s fine cross.

Jones was playing in midfield in a United line-up which showed no fewer than six changes from the side that overcame Norwich 2-0 in their last game on October 1. While the absence of Rooney from the side was the biggest surprise, Ferguson also opted to start with Mexican striker Hernandez and

Portuguese winger Nani on the bench.

Rooney, Hernandez and Nani had scored 14 of United’s 24 league goals ahead of this game so it was little surprise that the visitors failed to find the net before halftime. The best chance of the half fell to Luis Suarez, the Liverpool striker denied

by David de Gea in the 34th minute after Charlie Adam’s shot had cannoned off United defender Jonny Evans into the Uruguay international’s path.

American basketball player LeBron James, who became a minority stakeholder in Liverpool in April, was in the crowd to watch the club for the first time.

And the Miami Heat forward was left frustrated as home appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Andre Marriner after a 52nd-minute header by

Dirk Kuyt, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season, appeared to strike Evans on the arm.

The longer the game remained goalless the louder the chants from United’s fans calling for Rooney’s introduction became. Then came the goal that rocked Anfield to its foundations. Marriner had no hesitation awarding a free-kick after Adam crashed to the floor following a challenge just outside the penalty area by Ferdinand, who had been booked in the first half. It was as though Gerrard had never been away as the England international found the net with a trademark free-kick after Ryan Giggs inexplicably peeled away from the wall. But Hernandez rescued a point when he nodded home from close range.—AFP

Chelsea cruise past Everton Chelsea 3

Everton 1 LONDON: Chelsea remained hot on the heels of Premier League leaders Manchester City after cruising past Everton 3-1 at Stamford Bridge here yesterday.

Goals from Daniel Sturridge, captain John Terry and Brazilian midfielder Ramires secured the points for Chelsea and ensured they ended their six-season wait for a home league win over the Toffees.

The win brought third-place Chelsea to within a point of Manchester United in second and kept them three behind Manchester City.

Everton on the other hand find themselves two points above the relegation zone and four of the seven sides below them are due to play today. Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas had made two changes from the side that won 5-1 at Bolton before the international break with Branislav Ivanovic replacing David Luiz in defence and John Obi Mikel coming in for Raul Meireles in midfield.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, opted not to change his starting line-up from the one beaten at home by Liverpool in their most recent game, with midfielder Jack Rodwell able to play after his much-debated red card in that game had been overturned. Everton were the more impressive side in the first half hour and certainly created the better chances.

Tim Cahill, the Australia international, headed an early one wide and it was not long before Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, had to punch a corner away under pressure from Marouane Fellaini.

Louis Saha, Everton’s France international

forward, then tested Cech with a low drive that the goalkeeper initially fumbled before Fellaini was cautioned for a high challenge on Ramires.

Chelsea took a 31st-minute lead through Sturridge, his fourth of the season. Juan Mata was the man who unlocked the Everton defence with a chipped pass into the box that was perfect for Ashley Cole, who had run in behind his marker.

The England defender crossed from the left and Sturridge gave Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard no chance with a firm header from six yards out.

Cole was booked for a foul on Tony Hibbert before Baines was shown a yellow card before the break for a clumsy challenge on Sturridge.

Terry doubled Chelsea’s lead in first-half stoppage time when he rose the highest in a crowd of players to head Frank Lampard’s freekick past Howard.

Moyes’ side continued to battle after the break but Leon Osman’s long-ranger cleared the crossbar by some margin before Seamus Coleman was replaced by Royston Drenthe on the hour mark.

Within seconds of the Netherland midfielder’s arrival however the game was put beyond Everton’s reach when Ramires slid in to make it 3-0. Again Mata was the key man as the Spaniard accepted a pass from Didier Drogba that put him in space on the left and although Baines and Sylvain Distin were in close proximity Ramires was still able to get to the cross first and score.

Ramires limped off soon afterwards to be replaced by France’s Florent Malouda and it was another substitute, Apostolos Vellios, who pulled a goal back for Everton in the 81st minute.

The 19-year-old from Greece diverted Drenthe’s cross from the left past Cech with his first touch of the game less than a minute after replacing Saha. It was a neat finish but too late to change the game.—AFP

LONDON: Chelsea’s Didier Drogba (left) fights for the ball with Everton’s Marouane Fellaini during their English Premier League soccer match. —AP

Blackburn battle but still go bottom QPR 1

Blackburn 1

LONDON: Blackburn battled back to secure a draw at Queens Park Rangers here yesterday but Christoper Samba’s equaliser was not enough to prevent Rovers slipping to the bottom of the table. After a 6-0 hammering against

Fulham in their previous game, QPR were determined to give a better account of themselves against Steve Kean’s beleaguered side.

And it looked as if Rangers were on course to secure a therapeutic victory when a fluky Heidar Helguson crossshot drifted in on 16 minutes. But Rovers refused to be discouraged at the early setback and showed great character to level within minutes. Jason Lowe lofted a corner into the penalty area and Samba towered above the Rangers defence to power home a thunderous header for 1-1. The goal buoyed Rovers,

who carved out several chances to win the match in the second half but were unable to take them. QPR boss Neil Warnock introduced playmaker Adel Taarabt in the second half and Rangers instantly looked more threatening.

However the Moroccan international-making his 100th appearance for the club-was unable to crown his century with a goal despite being gifted an opening by Shaun WrightPhillips. Wright-Phillips headed Taarabt clean through but with the goal at his mercy, the Moroccan screwed his shot wide.—AFP

City go top after routing Villa Man City 4

Aston Villa 1 MANCHESTER: Manchester City proved there is no hangover from the Carlos Tevez controversy as a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at Eastlands lifted them to the top of the Premier League yesterday.

City have been dogged by the fall-out from the Tevez controversy in recent weeks, but goals from Mario Balotelli, Adam Johnson, Vincent Kompany and James Milner showed life goes on without the suspended Argentine.

Stephen Warnock scored a consolation for Villa, beaten for the first time in the Premier League this season by a City team who still have the shadow of Tevez’s future hanging over them following his refusal to play in the recent Champions League game at Bayern Munich. The issue clearly is having no impact on City’s football as they moved above Manchester United into first place in the table ahead of next weekend’s eagerly-awaited derby between the sides at Old Trafford.

City started slowly after Roberto Mancini’s decision to leave three of his most effective attacking players-David Silva, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko-on the bench and Villa might have drawn first blood after only 11 minutes.

Gabriel Agbonlahor robbed Joleon Lescott wide on the Villa left and powered clear on goal but failed in his bid to lift the ball over goalkeeper Joe Hart who made a fine block before Kompany cleared a follow-up attempt from Warnock. The narrow escape finally breathed life into the home side and they soon launched their first meaningful attack of the game when Yaya Toure advanced down the right and pulled the ball back intelligently for Balotelli.

The young Italian, playing as a lone striker, steered an accurate shot goalwards which was intercepted by Milner, via a back heel which passed just wide of the mark.

Finally, City were gathering a head of steam and Micah Richards won a 28th minute corner with a run down the right which allowed Johnson to swing over a dangerous kick which Darren Bent could only flick on.

Richards controlled the ball with his chest and it sat up invitingly for Balotelli to produce an overhead kick into the back of the net from six yards.—AFP

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S&P 500 index set to extend streak

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic cruises into Middle East Page 25

PARIS: Participants of the G20 Finance pose during a group photo at the French finance ministry yesterday. — AP

G20 discusses bigger role for IMF in EU Heat on Germany, France before summit PARIS: The world’s leading economies kept pressure firmly on Europe to sort out its debt crisis yesterday with the sense of urgency to be reflected in a communique at the end of a G20 finance chiefs’ meeting. The make or break moment in the two-year-old crisis that has spread far beyond starting point Greece could come at a summit of EU leaders on Oct. 23. Germany and France have promised to set out a plan to stop contagion, protect Europe’s banks and the wider world economy. “We have heard from euro zone colleagues the action they are working on but I think they will have left Paris under no misunderstanding that there is a huge amount of pressure on them to deliver a solution to the crisis,” British finance minister George Osborne told reporters. “(The crisis) remains the epicentre of the world’s current economic problems. And the European Council is clearly the moment when people are expecting something quite impressive.” The draft communique, which must still be signed off by G20 finance ministers and central bankers, “looks forward to further work to maximize the impact of the EFSF (bailout fund) in order to address contagion and to the outcome of the European Council on Oct. 23”-unusually direct language for G20 diplomats.

Efforts by some countries to increase the IMF’s warchest to fight the crisis ran into resistance from the United States and others on Friday, burying the idea for now and putting the onus firmly back on Europe. The United States is among countries keen to keep pressure on the Europeans to act more decisively to end the crisis that began in Greece but has since spread to Ireland and Portugal and is lapping at Spain and Italy.

As the G20 finance ministers and central bankers met in Paris, small groups of anti-capitalist protesters took to the streets around the world, shouting their rage against bankers and politicians accused of ruining economies and condemning millions to hardship through greed and bad government.

Resistance from banks Germany and France are trying to put flesh on the bones of a crisis resolution plan in time for the EU summit.

It will involve plans to recapitalise banks, make Greek’s debt mountain more sustainable and ramp up the firepower of the bloc’s rescue fund.

For once in the long-running crisis, the timetable is ambitious.

There were growing signs that Greece’s creditor banks would fight any attempt to make them shoulder a bigger burden in restructuring Greece’s debts. The lead negotiator of the banking lobby representing private bondholders said there were no grounds to impose bigger “voluntary” losses on their debt than the 21 percent agreed in July, which looks insufficient.

“We do not see that a compelling case has been made to reopen the (July) deal. A deal is a deal,” Charles Dallara, managing director of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) told the Financial Times. If the EU went back on its word, investors could sell other states’ debt and destabilise the single currency, he said.

European Central Bank policymaker Juergen Stark, who has resigned in protest at the handling of the euro zone crisis, warned Europe risked damaging its standing among investors.

“Governments should honour their obligations,” he told Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad. “This makes Europe look like a very risky region to invest in.” The plan will also set a framework for recapitalising banks and for leveraging the euro zone’s 440 billion euros European Financial Stability Facility to stabilise bond markets.

While the EFSF has the resources to cope with bailouts for Greece, Portugal and Ireland, it would be overwhelmed by the need to rescue a bigger economy such as Italy or Spain.

The most likely option will be to offer partial loss insurance on new sovereign bond issues. If the EFSF covered the first 20 percent of losses a bank could suffer in case of a defaultit could multiply its firepower fivefold to over 2 trillion euros. The draft communique said the G20 would “ensure that banks are adequately capitalized and have sufficient access to funding.

Central banks have recently taken decisive actions to this end and will continue to stand ready to provide liquidity to banks as required”.

Fears about the damage a default

by Greece-and possibly others-could inflict on the financial system have driven a confidence-sapping bout of market volatility since late July, with global stocks falling 17 percent from their 2011 high in May. But they have picked up since the leaders of France and Germany set themselves an end-

October deadline for action.

No change on yuan The G20, which makes up 85 percent of global output, is less united today than at the height of the financial crisis in 2009 when it launched coordinated stimulus to pull the world out of recession.

The rest of the world is now chafing at Europe’s slow response while Washington and Beijing are sparring over the yuan currency. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao rebuffed US pressure to let the yuan appreciate, assuring exporters at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou that China’s exchange rate would remain “basically stable” to protect them.

The draft G20 communique contained language on exchange rates that was no harsher than at their last meeting in Washington. Ministers agreed that advanced economies would cut deficits while emerging economies would continue their move towards greater exchange rate flexibility and boost domestic consumption.

“Advanced economies, taking into account different international circumstances, will adopt policies to build confidence and support growth and implement clear, credible, specific measures to achieve fiscal consolidation,” the draft said. “Surplus emerging market economies will accelerate the implementation of structural reforms to rebalance demand toward more domestic consumption, supported by continued efforts to move toward more market-determined exchange rate systems and achieve greater exchange rate flexibility to reflect economic fundamentals.”

G20 sources said China gave no indication it was prepared to change pace on greater flexibility of its yuan currency but would commit to boost consumption through a five -year plan, via households and companies as well as infrastructure. French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants progress on bigger goals such as setting parameters to measure global imbalances and reining in speculative capital flows at a Nov 3-4 summit in Cannes, where France passes the G20 baton to Mexico. A finance ministry source said France hoped to have two or three measures agreed by then for countries showing imbalances: consolidation measures for those with high deficits and stimulus measures for those with surpluses.— Reuters

Riyadh bank posts strong Q3 profits JEDDAH: Saudi’s Riyadh Bank beat analysts’ expectations after it posted a 30 percent rise in its third quarter net profits, while Samba Financial Group posted a 2.9 percent rise, in line with expectations, bourse statements said yesterday. Riyadh Bank made 794 million riyals ($211.7 million) in the three months ending September 30, compared with 611 million riyals in the same period a year earlier, it said.

Analysts surveyed by Reuters expected the bank to post on average 784.6 million riyals in the third-quarter.

“The rise in profit for the nine months ending September 30th com-

pared with the same period a year earlier is due to the improved banking services income and foreign exchange income as well as lower operational costs,” the statement said. Riyadh Bank’s operational income increased by 5 percent to 1.6 billion riyals from 1.4 billion a year earlier. Its profit from special commissions increased by 0.4 percent to 1.06 billion riyals. Samba made a net profit of 1.13 billion riyals in the three months ending on September 30, compared with 1.1 billion riyals in the same period a year earlier. Analysts surveyed

by Reuters expected the firm to post, on average, 1.1 billion riyals in the

third-quarter. “The rise in third-quarter net profit compared to the same period a year earlier is due to increased income from banking operations,” the bank said in the statement.

The bank’s operational income for the third quarter increased by 0.9 percent to 1.7 billion riyals while its profits from special commissions increased by 9 percent to 1.05 billion from 1.1 billion riyals. Last week, five major Saudi banks posted strong third quarter results, three of which beat analysts’ forecasts, citing lower operational costs as well as increased income from banking fees. — Reuters

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BUSINESS

Joyalukkas announces dazzling Diwali offers

ANC Treasurer General welcomes weaker rand South Africa needs to reduce labor costs LONDON: The recent weakness of the rand will benefit South African exporters and is positive for the economy, the treasurer general of the ruling African National Congress said. “I am not crying, we are not stressed about the weakness of the rand, definitely it’s a spin-off for our exporters,” Mathews Phosa told Reuters in an interview while on a trip to London meeting business people and politicians. “We should celebrate it-a strong rand does not help exports, we have seen businesses breaking down.”

The rand, like many emerging market currencies, was strong earlier this year as money-printing in the US encouraged investors to buy highyielding assets overseas. A strong currency raises the prices of businesses’ exports. But the South African currency has fallen sharply in recent weeks alongside a sell-off in commodities, as investors grow anxious about the

global economy and the euro zone debt crisis. The rand hit its lowest since May 2009 late last month, a plunge of 21 percent from the end of July, but has recovered slightly since then. Phosa also said other industries should copy plans by a South African textile union to offer massive wage reductions to unskilled workers to create jobs. “We welcome this sort of development, to enable us to grow the economy to create jobs-our labor costs are not competitive.” South African youth unemployment is at about 50 percent and a study by the South African 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.

Economists have said without an inexpensive way to take new workers into a workforce suffering from a chronic unemployment rate of about 25 percent, the unemployed will like-

ly remain unemployed-raising government spending for welfare benefits. Firms have shied away from South Africa due to the laws that make it expensive to hire and fire workers and are ranked by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report as some of the most restrictive in the world.

Mines nationalisation Phosa said the businesses and politicians he was speaking to last week in London were interested in opportunities for public-private partnerships, but concerned about possible nationalization of the mines.

Outspoken ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema wants to nationalize mines in the world’s largest platinum producer and seize white-owned farmland. “Our policy does not provide for nationalization,” Phosa said, adding: “In a democratic movement, you do not say to people ‘shut up’,

much as it is an issue which may cause uncertainty.”

He said the issue was being researched and would be debated in the next year, with a decision due in Dec 2012 when the ANC holds a major policy setting meeting. “There are so many poor people in South Africa, but business will only invest if it can make a profit,” he said. “We do not want to scare away investment, we need to find a win-win solution.”

The ANC initiated disciplinary action against Malema in August, charging him with sowing dissension in its ranks. It postponed proceedings, which could determine his political fate. Phosa, who defended Malema at a previous disciplinary hearing, declined to speculate on the outcome of the current hearing, or on any leadership challenge to President Jacob Zuma in internal elections next year at the major ANC gathering. —Reuters

Tough interview questions: How to survive the last mile Bayt.com survey ou read the books, did your research, knew what to expect and impressed the HR recruiters and line managers equally. So much so in fact that they have now been elevated to a different level of questioning altogether; you have made it the final round, the lion’s ring, the platinum enclave, and the employer is now trying to determine if you really are as perfect, as unquestionably suited for the job as you seem to be. In the most professional behavioral based interviews you will often not even be aware of the exact behavior or history of behaviors the interviewer is probing for or trying to ascertain.

Below are some of the questions/tactics from the career experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s # 1 jobsite, that you might expect during a really tough interview as the employer struggles with the decision of are you really the right candidate for the job or not.

1. Tell me a little about yourself Stick to business and to those aspects of yourself that specifically related to the job at hand. This is not the time to pretend to enjoy soccer if you don’t know how many people play in a team, who won the last World Cup and what the rules of the game are. Nor is it the time to reveal personal information that has no bearing to the professional setting and might impede your chances of success. This is your chance to really sell yourself

Y

and expound on all those character traits, accomplishments and success stories that have a direct bearing on the job. Reassert why you are there and your interest in the position and reaffirm why you are uniquely qualified and suitable for the role at hand.

Substantiate your claims with concrete and positive examples from your past experience that reflect on your abilities, aptitudes and values.

2. Why should we hire you?

This question delivered sometimes in a condescending manner may come at a late stage of the interview by which time you thought you’d already expounded on all your virtues or it may be used as a shocker right at the beginning. Either way don’t be discouraged or exasperated. Use it to drive home exactly why you believe you are uniquely and fundamentally and beyond any shade of a doubt qualified for the very specific role being discussed. Align your goals and interests with the employer’s and reiterate that you are confident you can not only meet the deliverables and perform the requirements of the role but really excel! Show confidence, enthusiasm and energy without being boastful or arrogant. Above all be sincere.

3. How do you handle stress?

Stress is an inevitable part of life and the employer needs to hear you realize that and have already mastered the art of recognizing stress and cop-

ing with it effectively. Mention that you take time to really think through a situation before reacting and never allow matters to blow out of proportion or lose your calm. Give an example of a particularly stressful project you worked on and how you managed to reduce the stress level through proper planning, organization time management. Show you have an arsenal of real stress-busting habits too which successfully serve you in ameliorating stress whether they be yoga, running once a week, meditation at night, swimming, meeting up with friends, or some other sport, hobby or activity that shows you positively for the well-rounded person you are.

4. What was your biggest failure?

Obviously this is potentially your opportunity to talk yourself out of the job so be very careful and above all don’t bring up a failure that has any impact or ramifications whatsoever on the job at hand. You may bring up something relatively insignificant that happened very early in your career and turn it into a story of remedial action and great success as directly affects and impacts your potential for contribution to the present job.

Demonstrate that you have dramatically learned and grew from that experience. You may mention for instance a formal training program you really wanted to get into that you were not permitted to join and how

that forced you to pursue your own learning tangent which actually proved much more rich, fruitful and relevant to your chosen career path.

Or talk about an account you lost very early on in your career due to sheer inexperience and how you instantly took remedial action, learned from your mistakes, took the counsel and advice of your boss and mentors and won the account back and have since made them into one of your biggest customers.

5. What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Choose a significant success story and make sure you position it in terms of how it positively impacts your potential for success in the new role.

Give facts and figures to elaborate if possible. You may want to talk about winning the most important account in the industry if that is relevant to the job at hand, about your relationships with clients which have won you an unrivalled track record at client retention, or about exceeding ambitious goals through hard work, perseverance, client follow-up, effective communication and cohesive teamwork.

Show how you mobilized resources and gained approvals and how you then carried through to successful implementation and follow-up without losing sight of either the big picture or the details and while effectively negotiating several difficulties on the way.

For the customers who prefer and love jewelry made in precious stones Joyalukkas has created a special collection under Ratna, this can be purchased for only KD 610. Since Pearl jewelry is currently a craze internationally, Joyalukkas has created two exquisite sets under their renowned Masaaki brand. These exciting designs have been created in a mix of pearl and diamonds and will be available to customers for KD 185 and KD 120 respectively.

Joyalukkas will also be offering zero percent interest easy payment plans to its customers for up to 12 months in association with select banks, this will provide easy and convenient options to customers to purchase jewelry during the festival period. John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas said, “On behalf of Joyalukkas, I wish all our patrons a happy and

KUWAIT: Joyalukkas, the world’s favorite jeweler, has announced its highly anticipated Diwali offers. The festival of Diwali always witnesses a huge demand for gold and diamond jewelry and to cater to this demand, Joyalukkas has planned some exciting offers to make the celebrations special for jewelry buyers. Joyalukkas has completely refreshed the designs in their branded collections, which are available in diamond, gold, pearl, precious stones and Platinum. All the collections will also feature a special design for the celebration of the Festival of Lights. These exquisite designs will be made available under the popular Joyalukkas brands like Tyohaar, DiRoyale, Eleganza, Masaaki, Navaratna, Ratna and Sumangal, Boutique and Mirage.

Joyalukkas will also continue with the very popular offer of a Free Gold Coin on the auspicious days of 24th, 25th and 26th October, 2011.

This will be given away on purchases of KD.400 and above. Since receiving gold is considered very auspicious during this festival, Joyalukkas has continued this tradition based on the popular response of jewelry shoppers. All the other offers and special prices will be valid from October 13 to 26, across all Joyalukkas showrooms in the GCC. Some of the exciting offers that will dazzle jewelry shoppers this Diwali at Joyalukkas include: A whopping 50 percent discount on all Diamond and Polki jewelry with a 5 percent cash back voucher; for the first time, a 4in-1 diamond set from Tyohaar which can be worn in 4 different ways for an incredible price of KD 1,770.

This exquisite Tyohaar jewelry set has been endorsed by Shreya Ghosal, the singing sensation of India. Under Tyohaar, Joyalukkas has also designed another diamond pendant set, which will be available for only KD 270. A festival special Eleganza Polki diamond set for a special price of KD 1,500. Under Eleganza Polki collection, Joyalukkas will offer two additional jewelry pieces i.e. An Eleganza Polki bangle set for KD 950 and an Eleganza Polki Pendant set for KD 640. A Diroyale diamond necklace set which is specially designed for this festive season for the amazing price of KD 1,610.

Under Sumangal one of the Joyalukkas branded collections for weddings, customers can buy a Diamond mangalsutra set for only KD 490.

Some of the other offers include a bouquet diamond ring for KD 270, a Mirage Diamond Bangle for KD 560 and the renowned Navaratna Pendant set for KD 320.

prosperous festival. The Festival of Lights is a great occasion to spread and share happiness.

We are delighted to add a touch to the festivities by offering them dazzling offers and make our customers celebration extra special.”

In addition to the special offers and prices, all the exciting range of jewelry at Joyalukkas will continue to remain available to its patrons.

Customers can choose from a range of over one million designs at Joyalukkas in gold, diamond, precious stone, platinum and pearl. “Since inception, the Joyalukkas brand has stood for, and is committed to, the best in design and quality for jewelry lovers. With our commitment to deliver only the finest, they have always trusted us to make their celebrations special at Joyalukkas.

Our Diwali offers are tailored to enhance the auspiciousness and joy of this festive period,” added John Paul Joy Alukkas.

KIB presents competitive products KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) presented its competitive range of Shariah-compliant banking products and services to staff and visitors of the Public Authority for Industry at its temporary booth on the authority’s premises.

R K Nair, Head of Retail Banking Department at KIB said: “Our booth at the Public Authority for Industry is a practical step taken by the Bank to be as close as possible to current and potential customers. The booth provided KIB’s banking and financing services departments the opportunity to directly meet Public Authority for Industry staff and visitors and introduce the Bank’s products and services”. KIB’s products and services are tailored to meet the needs of customers, including Murabaha products and new innovative solutions for real estate finance and cars loans, as well

as many others.

“We will continue developing our banking services in the line with our policy to focus on ensuring that KIB is the best option for those wanting to bank with a Shariah-compliant financial organization” added Nair. KIB aims to offer the best banking solutions for customers’ needs. The Bank has recently launched “Visa Platinum card”, “Prepaid visa card” and “Al-Dawli Gift card”, in addition to various financial services such as Murabaha for real-estate and vehicles, as well as investment Wakalah, Ijarah MB in addition to different forms of Islamic Financings. Some of the many other services from KIB include Al-Jood Al-Muthmerah, investment deposit, Haboubb kids’ account, Rimas ladies account, Al-Nafees account for professionals and safe deposit boxes are also among Al-Dawli services.

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 US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2730000 .4290000 .3750000 .3020000 .2660000 .2740000 .0040000 .0020000 .0746860 .7276430 .3810000 .0700000 .7133220 .0040000 .0430000

.2800000 .4400000 .3840000 .3140000 .2750000 .2810000 .0072500 .0035000 .0754370 .7349560 .4010000 .0760000 .7204910 .0072000 .0530000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2751000 .2772000 .4312330 .4345250 .3778640 .3807480 .3049550 .3072830 .2686520 .2707030 .0507640 .0511520 .0414290 .0417450 .2763380 .2784470 .0353530 .0356220 .2148880 .2165290 .0035910 .0036180 .0000000 .0056800 .0000000 .0025250 .0000000 .0031900 .0000000 .0036910 .0749290 .0755000 .7299990 .7355710 .0000000 .3920790 .0733800 .0739400 .7148240 .7202810 .0000000 .0064320

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. 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

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.623 5.618 3.163 2.505 3.511 215.640 35.540 3.641 6.341 8.924 0.271 0.273

GCC COUNTRIES 73.763 76.003 718.460 734.690 75.320

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 49.500 46.307 1.266 194.860 390.620 185.600 5.971 34.136

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 276.500 Euro 378.530 Sterling Pound 432.170 Canadian dollar 270.340 Turkish lire 150.140 Swiss Franc 305.360 Australian dollar 274.730 US Dollar Buying 275.300 GOLD 307.000 155.000 80.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL CASH 279.000 734.970 3.870 272.300 542.800 36.700 50.800 167.800 48.330 381.500 36.200 5.850 0.032 0.238 0.240 3.700 392.340 0.187 90.120 46.100 4.250 220.300

1.791 48.600 717.820 3.210 6.570 76.450 73.790 216.300 37.410 2.610 435.000 41.600 308.100 5.600 9.280 198.263 75.350 276.700 1.210

717.640 3.170 6.350 76.020 73.790 216.300 37.410 2.503 433.000 306.600 5.600 9.110

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 433.000 276.300

Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL DRAFT 277.500 734.970 3.643 270.800

216.300 46.334 380.000 36.050 5.610 0.032

390.600 0.186 90.120 3.520 218.800

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro 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

286.63 275.11 311.82 383.25 437.44 3.63 3.648 5.611 2.501 3.514 3.159 75.02 733.08 46.22 392.10 716.26 76.00 73.59

285.50 274.50 311.60 385.00 438.50 3.62 3.705 5.930 2.600 4.200 3.210 75.75 734.00 48.50 392.00 718.00 76.25 73.95

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate 276.250 269.845 431.535 378.850 304.190 732.435

75.190 75.825 73.625 388.855 46.365 2.503 5.615 3.171 3.645 6.340 677.618 3.695 9.050 5.815 3.595 91.760

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

GOLD 1,724.790

10 Tola

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

75.250 276.300

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

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 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

Currency 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

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 276.300 3.165 5.600 2.525 3.655 6.385 75.330 73.835 734.600 46.305 435.700 3.190 1.550 392.500 5.750 381.900 274.200 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 275.250 Euro 382.800 Pound Sterling 436.300 Canadian Dollar 272.600 Japanese Yen 3.590 Indian Rupee 5.615 Egyptian Pound 46.175 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.498 Bangladesh Taka 3.625 Philippines Peso 6.345 Pakistan Rupee 3.185 Bahraini Dinar 733.000 UAE Dirham 75.000 Saudi Riyal 73.525 *Rates are subject to change

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

BUSINESS

Abu Dhabi Sept inflation slows to 1% on housing Food prices edge up, transport costs ease

KUWAIT: Father of the winner of the first prize of KD 125,000 Minor Haider Hasan Al-Mhanna receives the prize from NBK Head Office Branch Manager, Ahmed Al-Essa.

Al-Mhanna wins KD 125,000 in NBK’s Al-Jawhara Draw KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) recently announced the names of the Al-Jawhara Draw prize winners for the month of October 2011 which was conducted at NBK’s Head Office.

The first prize of KD 125,000 went to Min Haidar Hasan Al-Mhanna, while the second place winner Fehaid Awaadh Fehaid Almutairi received KD 7,500. The third winner Ramadan Ali Qarout was awarded KD 3,000 and the remaining 97 winners were awarded KD 400 each.

Father of the first prize winner of

KD 125,000 Minor Haider Hasan AlMhanna received the prize from NBK Head Office Branch Manager Ahmed Al-Essa. He said that he opened AlJawhara account for his son several years ago for saving purposes. He added that he had a feeling that he or one of family members would win Al-Jawhara prize. He expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for NBK, and said that he is extremely proud for being a customer of NBK, the bank that meets all his banking needs easily.

AL JAWHARA WINNERS October 2011 Sr.# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Cert. No. 54174228 48282103 45008612 12381233 23360232 18152961 7519435 12184551 16454421 59095989 61054135 15390489 100422128 12394327 16478304 31155960 5372186 39238881 25065971 142174 100276709 55043933 11163208 373419 15201880 57002282 51153459 12243523 59067276 47126922 8914133 60077999 12130575 620335 100438989 19112335 23320249 14281287 7261322 21375445 39178145 26106949 4287584 11250429 9338764 26161141 37131028 35191848 773875 36239534 38177528 40300862 4366727 102303355 35020644 12136786 48261580 100061621 15376362 28016521 4803477 102811423 47117451 15378047 47311711 13180142 39642003 54124859 21356513 59106417 18287727 5269636 37191039 59016760 57025657 29021995 11226781 65084608 32738501 55079660 8104212 35106948 57016178 9413782 33138052 102303215 39622681 14025132 2093537 39185427 37300393 100729096 65077210 53019318 25101110 40031969 16399994 15318745 48242535 12235288

Name of Customer MIN HAIDAR HASAN MOHAMAD ALMHANNA FEHAID AWAADH FEHAID ALMUTAIRI RAMADAN ALI QAROUT SAKINA ABDULLA MARZOQ ALQALAF ABDULMEHSEN FARHAN MANSOUR ALFARHAN KHETAM AHMED SHEHAB ALDAWOOD MIN ABDEL RAHMAN AYESH AMASH ALAZMI NOUF JASEM MOHAMAD ALSABBAGH FAISAL SAEED FAISAL ALMUTAIRI ZAINAB ABBAS ABDULREDHA ALMOAMEN KHALED JASIM KHALED ALAYOUB SAAD TAHA ABDULHAMEED ALSHOUMAN MIN DANA KHALED HUSSAIN ABDULLAH HASSAN MAHAMEED HAYTHEM MOHAMMAD AL EID ANTWAN VICTOR ABUNAJEM BADER KHALAF MUBARAK ALOTAIBI JABER HUSSAIN MOHAMAD AKBAR HUDA MOSA ABDO MOHAMMED FALEH RASHED BADER MUBARAK MOHAMMED ABDULLAH AL AZMI FEDHAH AYED JABER ALENIZI SALMAN ESSA ALI EL HAMR MOHD ABDULHAMEED HUSSAIN ABDUL ALATHEEM AFTAB AHMED MUSHTAQ AHMED ABDULAZIZ YOUSEF ABDULAZIZ ALWAZZAN MUNA TAWFIQ ALI MOHD SALEH FATMA MOHAMMAD AHMAD SALEH ALIA EBRAHIM JASSEM MAARAFI ALI ABDAH ALI ABU ASSI ABDULRHMAN FARAJ SHUJAA ALHARBI YOUSSEF MAHDY HASSAN SALEH TAJA RIDHA MASHHADI IBRAHIM RANIAH ABDULAZIZ AHMED AAL THANI ABDULLA ABDULAZIZ ABDULLA AL AJMI KHAYRI MOHD ABBAS IMAN YOUSEF YAQOUB AL MUTAWA NOURA ABDULLA MOHAMMED ALHABEEB ANWAR RAJA THAMER ALHAJRI FAYZA LAFI FAHED ALSHAMERI SUAD FADEL ABBAS MUQAMIS MONTHER ALI HASSAN ALAJMI NAJED NADIM SAEED MAHMOUD SAID MOHAMMED FAKHRA EMAD ABDULRAZZAQ AHMED AL ANJARI OTHMAN KHALIL EBRAHIM ALKHALIL ABDULMAQSOD IBRAHEM FOUAD ALSHAAR SALEM SHEWAREB MOHD AL AJMI ESSAM AHMED ABDULRAHMAN AL BADER JAMEL MOHD ESMAEIL ALFODERI SHAWQI MALEK HAJY ALHADAD MONEA ZEED MUTEB ALBASMAN BILAL MOHAMMAD MAHMOUD SHAHTO ALI BADER DAWOUD ALSHAMMARI ALI SAYED NEAMAH ALSAYED AWADH ALI MONA TALIB KHALOUM MOKEEM FATMA JASSIM MOHAMMED ALKARAWI LOLWAH NASER IBRAHIM ALMULEFI ADEL MOHD HASAN AYYAD TAREK YOUSEF MULA ISSA KHALIFA AL JERAN BADER MOHAMED MOURAD ALSHATTI AHMAD MOHAMMED HAJIE ASHKANANIE BOSHRA ABDULRHMAN ALGHAREEB ABDULLA ZAID ABDULLA ALMUTAIRI HAITHAM MOHAMMED TAQI MOHAMMED MARAFI EMAN ABDULRAZAQ DAWOOD ALHUNAIF IMAN ABDULHAMID ABULNABI ALGHATAM ADEL YASER HUSAIN AL ALI MOHAMMED ALI IBRAHIM ALMISHAL AMAL HASHIM MOHAMMED ALI RASHED REYATH RASHED KHAZAAL MESHAL SHDAD DEEIJ SHANAT SAYED HAMZA ISMAEIL MOUSAWI NEZAD MOQADAM KATHEM HASAN HAMDANI HANAN ALI MUTLAQ AL MUTAIRAT HAMAD SALEM SEWAYYAN MEDHKHAR SOUD ABBAS ALI ALHAZEEM KHADER AHMAD DEBAH NAJAH DLI DAIDAN ALENIZI HANAN ABDULRAZAQ ABDULMAJEED ALKAZEMI SAAD KHUWAITER FADOUS ALENZI ZABEN SALEM ZABEN AL AJMI WAEL HUSNI MOHAMAD BAIDAS HASAN MAHMOUD AHMAD MAH KAREEM ROSE ALI HAIDAR ABBAS REYAD SBAITI MIN SOUHAILA MOHAMAD THABET AL MOHANA SAMEERA ABDULRAZAQ MOHAMMED AL OTHMAN MOHAMMED ZUHAIR SHEHATAH ALHAJ YAHYA HAYAT AHMAD JAAFAR SANASEERY MINOR RAWA KHALED MOSTAFA KARAM ZAHRA MIRZA BAKER ALSALIMI YOUSEF ALI MIN AUTH SHAHEBAZ ALI SEDAQAI YOUSEF ABDULLAH ALI ALGHANEM MOHAMAD REDEN RAKAN ALMUTIERI SAAD MUTLAQ MOHAMMAD ALMUTAIRI ADNAN KHALIFA JASEM ALARBIED ADEL ABDULRAZAK RAMADAN BAKR SOUD ABDULAZIZ WADI ALMONEER HUSSAIN AHMED ABDULREDHA KHESHAWI

Prize 125000 7500 3000 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400

DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s annual inflation rate slowed to 1.0 percent last manth as housing and transport prices in the Gulf emirate edged lower, data showed yesterday.

Inflation had been edging higher over the past year in the emirate, which accounts for roughly 60 percent of the United Arab Emirates economy and invests billions of dollars in industry, tourism and infrastructure to diversify away from oil. Consumer prices eased on an annual basis in September after a 1.6 percent rise in the previous month, data from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD) showed. “ The wave of inflationary pressures is ebbing and is now retreating,” said Fabio Scacciavillani, chief economist at Oman Investment Fund in Muscat. “International commodity prices are lower and probably will continue to decline over the next few months.” Price growth was at 0.4 percent month-on-month in September, up from a

0.1 percent monthly gain in August. Food prices, which account for more than 16 percent of the basket, rose 0.8 percent monthon-month in September.

“Domestic price pressures are on the wane due mostly to new housing units coming onto the market,” Scacciavillani said. Housing and energy costs, which have a 38 percent weighting in the Abu Dhabi basket, dropped 0.7 percent, while transport costs fell by 0.1 percent.

On the month, the most significant price increase came from the alcoholic beverages and tobacco category, up by 7.4 percent, and the furnishings and household equipment group, up 5.9 percent. Abu Dhabi, one of seven emirates that make up the UAE, only began reporting regular monthly inflation data last year. Inflation in the UAE as a whole had eased to an 18-month low of 0.6 percent year-on-year in August, and prices edged down slightly from the previous month,

helped by a fall in housing costs. The UAE and Dubai, one of the seven emirates in the federation, have yet to release September consumer price data. Analysts polled by Reuters last manth expected an average inflation in the UAE federation of 2.0 percent this year, up from 0.9 percent last year .

In a separate release, the Dubai Statistics Center said the inflation rate in the emirate rose 0.6 percent up to the third quarter, compared with the same period in 2010. The increase was mainly due to a 6.6 percent rise in transport costs and to food prices accelerating by 5.3 percent, the data showed. The UAE, which has escaped the public protests that have rocked nearby Bahrain, Oman and Yemen, said in May it would fix the cost of about 400 foodstuffs and household products until the end of the year. Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansouri said in May he expected inflation between 1 and 1.5 percent this year. —Reuters

Dana Gas named MENA’s Fastest Growing Company ABU DHABI: Dana Gas, the Middle East’s first and largest regional private sector natural gas company, was named the FastestGrowing Company of the Year in the Middle East and North Africa at the 8th International Business Awards. The International Business Awards, also known as The Stevie Awards, is the world’s premier business awards competition which last year attracted nominations from more than 40 nations.

It was launched in the United States in 2002 and since then has been honoring the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working people worldwide.

Ahmed Al-Arbeed, CEO of Dana Gas, received the award during a ceremony, which was for the first time hosted in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi and was held under the patronage of Sheikha Lubna Al-Qassimi, Minister for Foreign Trade, UAE. Al-Arbeed expressed his appreciation for the Award and said that Dana Gas’ accolade, as MENA’s Fastest-Growing Company of the Year is evidence that the company has successfully achieved its objectives by developing its tech-

nical and human resources for a sustainable future. Al-Arbeed added: “ We are delighted to obtain such an international recognition, which we consider as an additional incentive for us to

operates, and this is reflected in the continuous growth of its operations and production, and in the achievement of strong operational and financial results despite the challenges it faced as

ABU DHABI: Ahmed Al-Arbeed, CEO of Dana Gas, receives the award during a ceremony, from Sheikha Lubna Al-Qassimi, Minister for Foreign Trade, UAE. keep on strengthening our efforts in achieving our goals. Dana Gas has established a leadership position in the countries where it

a result of the political changes taking place in the Middle East.”

He noted that the Company’s revenues jumped in the first half

of this year to AED814 million, compared to AED480 million in the same period last year, while net profit doubled during the same period from AED66 million to AED216 million. Al-Arbeed added: “We are highly confident that Dana Gas will continue to achieve excellent operating results, fuelled by new discoveries and our expansion in Egypt and in Kurdistan in Iraq. We, in Dana Gas, will continue to work diligently and continuously seek ways to explore various opportunities and implement best practices in everything we do.”

The International Business Awards is the only international, independent, and all-encompassing business awards that is governed by a Board of Top Executives, Association Leaders, Business Press, and Business Academics. The Stevie Award trophy, made by the company that makes the Oscar and other major international awards, is one of the world’s most coveted prizes.

Stevies are conferred upon topscoring nominations in each category, as chosen by an international judging panel of more than 150 business leaders.

Doha Bank provides financing for SMEs KUWAIT: Contributing to the support of the GDP and its desire to effectively participate in encouraging the plans for creations of jobs, giving the private sector the opportunity to expand in various economical sectors, Doha Bank-Kuwait Branch, one of the Qatari bank operating in Kuwait and the distinguished branch in banking services and the best bank in the Middle East in 2010 announces the launch of SME banking services (Small & medium Enterprises) in Kuwait.

Because the private sector plays a major role in executing the national development plans and taking into consideration the unlimited support from his highness the Amir, Doha Bank gives the priority to the importance of providing whatever takes in servicing the SME lending raising up the slogan of “Giving to Continue”.

Doha Bank now gives the small to medium enterprises (SME) the opportunity to benefit from various banking credit products to enable those enterprises to enhance and develop the projects on hand and the new projects taking into consideration the economical enrichment and the values of various sectors in the national economy.

Said the Chief Country Manager of Doha BankKuwait Branch namely Ahmed Yousef Al-Mehza, that SME financing is becoming more important day after another and numbers of countries have taken a new stance in this regard by putting the subject on the top of the lists by giving it the priority due to its values to the economy of these countries and starting from this point, Doha Bank did not hesitate in taking the decision to participate effectively to support this essential segment.

He added that Doha Bank’s concern with this strategy comes from the bank’s continuous support to the private sector, especially that small/medium size enterprises have the capabilities to make it able to develop quickly, and adapt with the changes in the economy. He added: Doha Bank’s keenness to effectively participate in this segment was based on the fact that SME have the capabilities to take the advantage of the opportunities and adopt itself with the variables of various circumstances the issue that many large size Companies do not have.

Al-Mehza continued that SME diverse from country to country, however reports and researches confirmed the positive link between GDP and the participation of this segment since they effectively create jobs simultaneously down size the dependency on the public sector and reduces the burdens on the shoulders of the governments.

He also stated that research has proven that there is a positive link between the GNP of any country and its contribution to these enterprises as it provides job opportunities and at the same time decreases the dependence on the public sector, and lessens the burden on governmental interference.

Infiniti’s ‘Pitstop Challenge’ DUBAI: Infiniti, the luxury automotive performance brand from Japan, yesterday unveiled details of the ‘Infiniti Pitstop Challenge’ - an exciting competition offering customers and fans the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime prize to the 2011 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, including the chance to walk along the pit lane and take a tour of Red Bull Racing’s highly-exclusive pit garage. The competition will take place at four different venues, the first being Jumeirah Beach Residences, from October 19-22, 2011. The announcement was made by Juergen Schmitz, recently-appointed General Manager for Infiniti Middle East.

To win the Infiniti Pitstop Challenge’s coveted prize, contestants will have to demonstrate their Grand Prix-style pitstop skills by changing, in the shortest possible time, the wheels and tyres of an exact replica of the Red Bull Racing RB7 car. Each team of two people can enroll online for priority privileges through the dedicated microsite (www.InfinitiPitstopChallenge.com), or sign-up the day of at any of the competition’s venues across Dubai and Abu Dhabi from October through to its conclusion in November at the Dubai International Motor Show. The winning pair will be chauffeurdriven in one of Infiniti’s inspired performance models to and from November’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, given a tour of the paddock on race day, and then seated in two of the most exclusive vantage points on the circuit to watch the race itself. All participants will have the chance to have photos taken of them in front of the teams pit garage and cars. “Infiniti’s success, both

globally and in the GCC, is due in no small part to the technology, innovation and excitement instilled into all our models,” said Schmitz.

“Our brand story is one of ambition, passion and challenging the automotive norms. I’m excited that the first campaign I have the honor to present to the region’s Infiniti owners, potential customers and fans encapsulates all of these elements, and offers the chance of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The RB7 replica has been built specifically for use in the Infiniti Pitstop Challenge, according to the exacting demands and expectations of both Infiniti and Red Bull Racing. Every detail of the bodywork is precisely as it would be on the Grand Prix car, the only exceptions being the unique variances required on an actual car to meet the challenges of each particular circuit. The replica, however, has to withstand the rigors of having its wheels repeatedly changed by enthusiastic novices over the course of the 15 days of Infiniti Pitstop Challenge competition.

To do this, entrants to the Infiniti Pitstop Challenge will be equipped with a handheld tool reminiscent of the air guns used in Grand Prix pit lanes to unbolt and reattach the wheels. While safety goggles and gloves are also available, no other specialist clothing is required - contestants simply receive a few minutes of instruction, participate, then stand back and compare their time against their rivals’ on the large display. All results are then fed into the central system and can be viewed throughout the competition period at www.InfinitiPitstopChallenge.com.

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KSE records limited gains to both indices BAYAN INVESTMENT WEEKLY

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the green zone. The price index ended last week with an increase amounted to 0.71 percent, while the weighted index raised 0.75 percent compared to the closings of the week before. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover increased by 94.65 percent, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 29.66 million, whereas trading volume average was 213.81 million shares, recording rise of 63.33 percent.

KSE managed to record limited gains to both of its indices, supported by selective buying deals, especially on Investment and real estate sectors. In addition, some stocks’ groups witnessed positive speculations, as a result, the market price index showed better performance than the weighted index. On the other hand, the traders kept an eye on the delisting issue for some of the suspended companies, as the six months, which was set by the Capital Markets Authority for the listed companies to correct their status and take the necessary actions to reactivate their trading, is ended. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 5,867.5 points, up by 0.71 percent from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 0.75 percent weekly gain after closing at 411.90 points.

Sectors’ indices Five of KSE’s sectors ended last week in

the green zone, two recorded declines, whereas the Insurance sector’s index closed with no change from the week before. Last week’s highest gainer was the Industry sector, achieving 2.10 percent growth rate as its index closed at 4,311.1 points. Whereas, in the second place, the real estate sector’s index closed at 2,063.8 points recording 1.57 percent increase.

The Investment sector came in third as its index achieved 1.32 percent growth, ending the week at 3,686.5 points. The NonKuwaiti Companies sector was the least growing as its index closed at 5,419.8 points with a 0.85 percent increase. On the other hand, the banks sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 0.35 percent to end the week’s activity at 11,616.0 points, followed by the Services sector, as its index closed at 13,049.0 points at a loss of 0.23 percent.

Sectors’ activity The Investment sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 329.87 million shares changing hands, representing 30.86 percent of the total market trading volume. The Services sector was second in terms trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 28.13 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 300.74 million shares.

On the other hand, the Services sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 43.72 mil-

lion or 29.46 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The banks sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 29.20 million represented 19.67 percent of the total market trading value.

Market capitalization KSE total market capitalization grew by 0.59 percent during last week to reach KD 28.99 billion, as six of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization except for one sector, whereas the insurance sector’s market capitalization remained the same from the week before. The Industry sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 2.32 billion increasing by 3.73 percent. The real estate sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 3.37 percent increase after the total value of its listed companies reached KD 1.73 billion. The third place was for the Investment sector, which total market capitalization reached KD 2.16 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 1.76 percent. The banks sector was the least growing with 0.01 percent recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD 12.80 billion. On the other hand, the services sector was last week’s only decliner as its total market capitalization decreased by 0.47 percent to reach, by the end of the week, KD 7.20 billion.

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic cruises into Middle East Smart exteriors promise a road-gripping drive DUBAI: The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic debuted at a fun driving event, which took place at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. The allnew Sonic is a compelling choice for young-atheart, style-conscious drivers - and it complements the range of Chevrolet new vehicles that are being launched throughout 2011, Chevrolet’s centennial year.

The all-new Sonic is available for sale now across the Middle East and is designed to be a successful car in the highly competitive small car market. It will be offered as a five-door hatch and a sedan, each delivering excellent ride and handling characteristics and a sporty and sophisticated design, as well as roominess and fuel efficiency.

“The all-new Sonic is a completely new car which is ready to compete against the best in the small car segment. This is the perfect car for those who care for a compact vehicle that provides a sporty drive, with sleek designs, and fuel efficiency,” says Ahmed Soudodi, Chevrolet Marketing Manager at General Motors Middle East Operations.

Chevrolet Sonic is an all-new vehicle that features an exterior form that convey strength, stability and sportiness, a newly developed chassis and body structure, as well as an upgraded fuel-efficient, low-emission engine.

The all-new Sonic has been engineered to make everyday driving in a small car a more dynamic and enjoyable experience, while

car’s appeal. It consists of an exceptionally rigid body-frame-integral structure, with the upper body and the frame engineered as a single unit, ensuring a more mass-efficient and stiffer structure. Advanced steels used on the all-new Sonic have considerably greater tensile strength, which improves passenger safety. A McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a torsion beam axle-mount compound link-type rear suspension, deliver a tempered, stable ride.

Meanwhile, the Sonic’s tight body-frameintegral structure is also key to the vehicle’s advanced safety performance. In the event of an accident, the roof will be able to carry 4.2 times the car’s weight. A carefully tuned set of sensors is wired to four airbags that are standard on LT, along with a four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with brake assist that is available on LS and standard on LT. In addition, the driver can activate cruise control with speed limiter function. Once the set maximum speed is reached, the system triggers an audible alarm. The all-new Sonic also offers a quiet, relaxed driving experience. Refined noise control measures have, in some instances, resulted in a damping performance that is 10 to 40 percent greater than previously applied materials and techniques in other Chevrolet small cars.

round HVAC outlets protrude from the instrument panel surface. The instrument cluster further carries the motorcycle theme introduced on the exterior, incorporating a round speedometer and a digital LCD readout. Ice-blue ambient backlighting adds a stylish, contemporary feel to the cabin.

Smartly designed stowage features enhance Sonic’s attention to detail. Along with two glove boxes, including one with integrated USB outlet, various small compartments and door pockets, as well as three cup-holders at the front, provide generous storage space for items of many sizes.

All electronic devices installed in the upper glove-box can be operated through the steering-wheel controls or radio interfaces.

The luggage capacity of the notchback is 466 liters, while the five-door’s luggage compartment holds 253 liters including full-size spare tire, with the rear seat in the upright position.

DUBAI: The media delegation from Kuwait is pictured during a test drive of the all-new Chevrolet Sonic.

positioned in the upper section of the door, creating a coupe-like appearance. The hatchback’s taillamps have no lens cover and play harmoniously with the vehicle’s front-end design. In contrast, the notchback’s rear lamps are enveloped by a dual element lens, delivering a touch of chic to the sleek, aerodynamically refined sedan. The sedan is 360 mm longer than the hatchback, which measures 4039 mm in length. All wheels feature Chevrolet’s five-spoke design and are available in the following sizes and styles: 15-inch steel and 16-inch painted aluminum.

Sporty sophistication inside A high level of detail applied in the design of the Sonic’s passenger cabin has resulted in a more upscale execution that is typically seen in higher-segment vehicles. On the same trim level, there is no difference in interior layout or styling between the hatchback and the sedan. The Sonic’s distinctive dual-cockpit has been derived from the Chevrolet Corvette - one of the world’s most iconic sports cars. It incorporates another distinctive design element - a wraparound instrument panel that flows into the driver’s and front passenger’s door. To the left and the right,

Efficient and fuel-saving 1.6L engine Fuel efficiency and enjoyable driving that creates a small environmental footprint were the main criteria guiding the design of the Sonic’s engine. The 1.6 liter gasoline engine (115 hp) gives the Sonic strong acceleration characteristics and an immediate feeling of performance during low-speed driving. The 1.6 liter four-

Chevrolet Sonic delivers an engaging driving experience

delivering practical, hands-on solutions and value. In order to ensure responsive handling, engineers developed an all-new chassis for the Sonic that is among the most rigid in its segment. Featuring a sporty exterior that speaks Chevrolet’s global design language, the all-new Chevrolet Sonic appeals to the young and the young-at-heart. This holds true for both body styles, but especially for the five-door hatchback, with its aggressive, flowing body lines. Meanwhile, the all-new fourdoor version conveys a more mature, upscale feel. The notchback is aimed at young families in particular.

The all-new Sonic’s sporty driving experience is a key feature that contributes to the

Two distinctive body-styles The all-new Sonic’s exterior styling will bring a fresh breath of youth and sportiness to the segment. At the front end, the Sonic’s large, dual-port grille with the centrally positioned bowtie immediately identify it as a Chevrolet. A key signature element distinguishing the Sonic is its exposed, motorcycleinspired headlamps, which are devoid of any lens cover. They are housed in dual tubes, with high-gloss black bezels and chrome rings. Pronounced wheel arch forms, the 114 mm offset between the roof-rails and short overhangs underscore the hatchback’s planted, assertive posture.

The hatchback’s rear door pull handles are

DUBAI: The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Sonic delivers ride comfort and responsive handling traits that are designed to match the best in the segment. It is a car developed for global markets, but engineers tuned the Sonic specifically for the driving tastes of the Middle East customers, giving it a more athletic feel and balancing the vehicle for a broad range of driving conditions. “The Sonic’s ride is tempered, stable and comfortable over virtually all road surfaces.” said Ahmed Soudodi, Chevrolet Marketing Manager at General Motors Middle East Operations. “It is fun to drive, while displaying vehicle dynamics usually associated with cars in higher price brackets.

Moreover, various features, such as structural design and powertrain system, have resulted in a vehicle that is also very quiet.”

A tight chassis for confident road command A wheelbase of 2525 mm, combined with wide, 1735 mm front and rear tracks, give the Sonic a firmly planted stance, which contribute to a balanced driving experience. The key enabler to its stability and confident road feel, however, is a very tight body-frame-integral (BFI) structure that, ranks among the stiffest in the global small-car segment. Throughout the vehicle’s structure, 10 percent more spot welds are used, while some of the steel selected to build the all-new Sonic exhibit tensile strengths of more than 1,000 MPa (Megapascals) or higher twice as strong as the 340 to 550 MPa seen in the previous generation of small passenger cars.

The chassis’ main underbody rails run continuously from front to rear, providing great strength. A long, six-mount engine cradle contributes to lower noise levels, and smoother ride and handling dynamics. Specifically tuned engine mounts - including a hydraulic mount are tailored to the engine’s inherent torque axis, effectively disrupting the transmission of vibration and noise. This configuration also helps control the transfer of momentum, resulting in improved dynamic balance.

Complementing the strong body structure are suspension systems tuned for responsive ride and handling qualities. All models feature a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, stabilizer bar and side-loadcompensated front strut modules. These are designed to reduce the sliding friction by the bending load on the strut inherent to most suspension geometries. Side load compensation, in turn, allows for the front wheels to be moved further outboard, which is key to achieving improved stability.

The rear suspension incorporates a specifically adapted compound crank (torsion beam), with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with

gas-charged shock absorbers. This design combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle - minimal space requirements with low weight and consistent camber control.

Thanks to the rear suspension’s compact dimensions, the 46 liter fuel tank fits between the rear wheels, enabling a lower mounting position of the seats for greater overall vehicle balance.

Sophisticated noise abatement A stiffer structure also facilitates insulation of the powertrain and suppression of road and wind noise. Due to a drag co-efficient of 0.315, the Sonic also has an excellent wind noise rating of 39.5 decibels at highway speed. Special damping mats act as an abatement to high-frequency noise transfer. Other measures aimed at achieving a quiet, pleasant cabin comfort level include the use of thicker glass for the windshield and all other windows, and the application of composite nylon baffles in various structural intrusions and of formed resin or felt blanket on the underside of the hood.

Liquid-applied sound deadening (LASD), by means of melt-on patches, is strategically applied to the interior body structure, dampening smaller section interfaces that may resonate over time.

When compared to more conventional, adhesively applied damping material, these patches fit almost perfectly into the areas they are applied to. As a result, LASD achieved 10 to 40 percent greater damping performance over adhesively applied materials.

DUBAI: Entertainment professionals are pictured during the event.

cylinder gasoline engine features dual-overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. It also has cast-iron cylinder block with a hollow frame structure; other features contributing to performance and efficiency include piston-cooling oil-jets and a silent chain drive. Fuel consumption on a combined cycle is 6.6 liters/100 km for the 115 hp of the 1.6 liter engine coupled with a manual transmission.

The Sonic will be the first Chevrolet small car to sport a six-speed automatic transmission. One of its principal advantages is the positioning of the gear sets which have been placed on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline.

Among the benefits resulting from this modification are a shorter powertrain, a lower hood line and increased interior space.

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FDI flows to GCC in 2010 fall by 15.3% to $39.8bn In 2010 foreign direct investment flows (FDI) to the GCC declined for the second consecutive year since the end of the financial crisis to level at $39.8 billion, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2011. The GCC, however, still accounts for more than 60 percent of all foreign investment flows to the Arab world. In spite of the improved economic conditions in 2010, FDI flows to the region registered a drop of 15.3 percent compared to 2009. Lingering caution by private investors in the wake of the financial crisis, constrained credit to the private sector, and the suspension, cancellation or completion of a number of mega-projects that had hitherto been responsible for sizeable investment flows, are cited as major contributing factors.

The decline in FDI inflows to Saudi Arabia-the historically pre-eminent destination for FDI in the GCC-by 12.4 percent to $28.1 billion in 2010, for example came in part as a result of certain joint-ventures with foreign partners, such as those petrochemical projects between Saudi Aramco and Conoco Phillips and Dow Chemical being cancelled or suspended. In Qatar, the completion of the last of the LNG Qatargas trains in 2010 resulted in a significant drop in FDI of almost 32 percent from the previous year.

Kuwait would certainly not have experienced such a sizeable drop in FDI were it not for the uncharacteristically high FDI inflows of $1.1 billion the country received in 2010 due to the recapitalization of Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), a Kuwait-based but wholly GCC owned investment company that was especially hard hit by exposure to toxic assets. The country’s basic level of FDI over the last decade-a mere $313 million a year on average-is by far

the lowest in the GCC (GCC average is $44 billion per annum) and among the lowest in the wider MENA region.

FDI outflows FDI outflows from the GCC, which comprise almost 72 percent of all Arab FDI outflows, have also declined for the second year in succession, dropping by 55 percent in one year alone, from $23.3 billion in 2009 to $10.5 billion in 2010. These are, according to the World Investment Report 2011, primarily related to divestments by GCC firms.

While private transnational firms from the GCC do take part in overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A), by far the most significant players in outward FDI are state-backed enterprises and sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). Companies such as Dubai World, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and Mubadala, as well as notable SWFs such as the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), have accounted for more than 73 percent of all M&A activity since 2004.

Flush with the proceeds from buoyant hydrocarbon prices in recent times, these state-backed organizations have pursued multi-pronged investment strategies that are not just limited to traditional diversification and rate of return considerations. Increasingly, outward FDI is being viewed as a means through which international strategic partnerships can be cultivated, facilitating the transfer of investment, technology and expertise back to GCC economies, thereby leading to domestic productivity and competitiveness gains. For example, QIA’s investments in Germany’s Volkswagen and Hochtief companies as well as in France’s Vinci were also accompanied by agreements to widen the scope of

their activities in Qatar, whether in the form of research and development collaboration, new testing and training facilities or increased business opportunities.

The prospects for FDI in 2011 Given the positive correlation between hydrocarbon revenues and

in countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Libya have been especially hard hit. In large part, the GCC has not been affected as severely, although FDI inflows to the region may still be affected. The raft of spending by GCC governments on national development programs (made possible by massive surpluses accumulated over the past decade) and

NBK ECONOMIC BRIEF

FDI flows, both inward and outward, a rebound in FDI will ultimately depend on oil prices, the continued capacity of GCC countries to amass budget surpluses and the overall health of the world economy. That global growth outlook has recently been subject to serial downward revisions relating to concerns over the employment and growth potential of the US economy as well over the sovereign debt crisis that is plaguing the Euro zone.

For the MENA region, 2011 has been defined by the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ and its impact on local socio-political and economic environments. FDI flows

employment and subsidy-based measures to absorb rapidly growing national labor forces and offset inflationary pressures on household income may, on the other hand, be expected to temper outward FDI flows. SWFs could thus be subjected to pressures to reorient their portfolios away from traditional Western and Asian destinations, and back towards their own domestic economies.

Moreover, in terms of GCC FDI inflows, the attractiveness of the region as a destination for FDI will also be affected by regulatory frameworks, whether they are either conducive or

unhelpful to business and FDI. In that regard, Saudi Arabia and Qatar will continue to be among the best placed to capitalize on FDI, thanks to the impressive strides both countries have made recently in improving their business, regulatory and cross-border trading environments. Saudi Arabia is the highest placed MENA country in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ rankings while Qatar is the most competitive country in MENA in the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Competitiveness’ index.

Qatar will also stand to benefit immensely from the numerous projects being planned for the 2022 World Cup, which should be especially attractive for GCC and foreign firms. This should be a boon for the performance of its non-hydrocarbon sector, a key aim of the country’s national development strategy. Kuwait, on the other hand, continues to lag behind the rest of the GCC in the ease of doing business and in terms of overall competitiveness. Limited foreign ownership, a restrained private sector, rigid laws, and a bureaucracy that hampers business are the commonly cited complaints that are preventing the country from achieving its potential. These are among the many issues to be potentially tackled by the recently appointed Amiri advisory commission.

Once Kuwait’s five year Development Plan is off the ground, however, opportunities for investment should be forthcoming. The government seems keen to entice foreign investors to take part in the country’s development projects-especially through public-private partnerships (PPPs)-and stimulate the private sector.

Also, large-scale infrastructure projects such as those intended to develop the country’s power sector may hold further promise for foreign investors.

S&P 500 index set to extend streak Apple, IBM hit life closing highs before earnings

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive strengthens Kuwaiti-German ties KUWAIT: Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive reiterated the importance of Kuwaiti-German business partnerships as it participated in “German Week’, organised by the German Embassy in Kuwait and Kuwait University to celebrate German National Day. ‘German Week’ which was held from Sunday, October 9 to Wednesday, October 12 shed the light on Kuwaiti-German partnerships in the fields of technology, science, research and innovation. It also highlighted the successful bilateral cooperation between the two countries and focused on their respective economic and science sectors, and discussed the most recent political and social activities undertaken by them.

Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive’s involvement stems from the strong relationship between Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive and the BMW Group. The two companies have a history that dates back to 1986 when Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive became the exclusive importer of the BMW group in Kuwait.

‘German Week’ enabled Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive to highlight this part-

nership to investors, visitors and students of Kuwait University.

Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager of Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, said: “Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive has enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with the BMW Group since 1986 one of the oldest and most successful Kuwaiti-German partnerships in the country. We have worked hand in hand with BMW to ensure that this premium automotive brand continues to add ‘sheer driving pleasure’ to the streets of Kuwait, and we look forward to continuing this relationship in the future.”

“Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive is very proud to have been part of the “German Week”. As a Kuwaiti company, we believe in the importance of fostering not only commercial business relationships with Germany but also cultural and social ones to ensure that the bond between the two countries strengthens, and our joint initiatives prosper,” he added. Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive displayed its latest addition, the BMW 6 Series Convertible.

Afghanistan passes key hurdle to release funds KABUL: The Afghan parliament, in a critical step for the release of blocked foreign aid funds, agreed yesterday to start repaying the central bank for its bailout of Kabulbank, with a first installment of $51 million.

Only two lawmakers voted against the bill, which provides for the repayment of up to $825 million in total over eight years, according to a finance ministr y statement on the vote.

Parliamentary approval of the repayment was a condition for renewal of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) suppor t program, halted since last

September when news of the Kabulbank crisis began to emerge.

Politically well connected Kabulbank had doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in unsecured and undocumented loans to Afghanistan’s elite, including sitting ministers and a former warlord, before the dramatic discovery of the fraud last year. Western officials described the bank as a “Ponzi scheme”.

An IMF program is a critical seal of approval that most international donors say they want to see before they pledge aid, so the dispute has blocked millions of dollars of funds. — Reuters

KABUL: An Afghan vendor walks in a street carrying toys and balloons hoping to sell them yesterday. — AP

NEW YORK: With one-third of the Dow components and crowd favorite, Apple, reporting results next week, US stocks are setting the stage for another week of gains. After the steepest twoweek rally in more than two years, the S&P 500 is at the top end of its range for the past two months. The benchmark closed Friday above 1,220 for the first time since early August, and bets against the recent rally could start to pile up. But earnings and guidance from IBM, followed by results from Apple, Coca-Cola and Intel on Tuesday could give shorts a reason to put their guns down.

The S&P could be on its way to a third straight winning week-a streak not seen since February.

“There are some fundamental catalysts which could play right into the momentum,” said Richard Ross, global technical strategist for Auerbach Grayson in New York. He said the S&P 500 “has potential to take out that well defined resistance (at 1,220) and it would be a fast move up to the next level, between 1,265 and 1,275.” The sharp turnaround in stocks from a 2011 low hit Tuesday took many by surprise, and buying has spurred more buying as traders and money managers try to catch up with the benchmark’s performance.

The pattern repeated itself Friday, with the three major indexes closing at or near session highs. For the week, the Dow

Jones industrial average gained 4.9 percent, the S&P 500 added 6 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 7.6 percent. Ten of the 30 Dow components, including Microsoft, American Express and Johnson & Johnson, are scheduled to report quarterly results next week.

Big financial names expected

and IBM, which hit lifetime closing highs on Friday, are expected to trounce expectations. And positive surprises could play into the buying momentum. “Price will start to discount even more optimism,” said Wasif Latif, vice president of equity investments at the San Antonio, Texas-based USAA Investment Management,

NEW YORK: Trader Sal Suarino works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. — AP to report include Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, which follow Thursday’s earnings disappointment from JPMorgan Chase & Co that battered the sector. Reported and estimated earnings growth for the current earnings season is seen at 12.4 percent for all S&P 500 companies, according to Thomson Reuters data. That is down from this year’s estimate peak of 17 percent in July. But companies like Apple

which manages about $45 billion in mutual funds.

“Growth companies, given the high expectations, need to have a ‘wow’ factor when it comes to reporting and beating earnings,” he said, adding it was certainly possible for these two names to rise further. The VIX volatility gauge has declined in the past weeks, closing on Friday at its lowest level since Aug. 3. That could translate into less uncer-

tainty and more of the buying frenzy that drove the S&P 500 to its largest two-week percentage advance since mid 2009.

Economy: less bad than feared Softening economic numbers in the United States and abroad, as well as a grinding expansion of the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, stymied investors and drove stocks and commodity prices to heavy losses in the third quarter.

But despite Greece’s slow crawl toward a default and rising borrowing costs in Spain and Italy, the perception of efficient action in Europe gave investors the confidence to return to equities-or at least cover their short bets.

Economic numbers, expected at a certain point in the summer to show the US economy was sliding back into recession, have generally come in above those lowered estimates.

USAA’s Latif said that even if current levels are subdued and expectations are lowered “it’s definitely very encouraging” to have data land better than expected. Among the main economic indicators due next week are industrial production and capacity utilization tomorrow; producer and consumer inflation on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively; and weekly jobless claims on Thursday. The week closes with the final reading of the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index. — Reuters

S Korea’s Lee stumps for Obama at GM plant LAKE ORION: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak delivered an unusual and enthusiastic political boost to President Barack Obama Friday, praising his salvation of the US auto industry in the key electoral battleground state of Michigan. The visiting leader of a nation once blamed for undermining US automakers shed his jacket and donned a Detroit Tigers baseball hat to speak with workers gathered at a General Motors plant. The Orion plant-and its 1,750 jobs-was saved from closure thanks to the 2009 bailout and engineers from GM’s South Korean unit who helped find a profitable way to build the subcompact Chevrolet Sonic in the United States.

“More than anyone else in this factory, I think it’s President Obama who’s happiest to see this factory open,” Lee said through a translator. Lee, who was head of Korean automaker Hyundai before he entered politics, praised his “closest friend” Obama for the politically risky bailout of GM and Chrysler and said the decision had paid off. “Soon folks, the Motor City is going to come back and revive its past glory. I have all the confidence you are going to do that,” Lee told cheering autowork-

ers. Obama took a swipe at Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney, who once again criticized the auto bailout at a debate this week.

“One of the first things I did as president was to save the US auto industry from collapse,” said Obama. “There were a lot of politicians who said it wasn’t worth the time and it wasn’t worth the money. There are some who still say that. They should come and tell that to the workers here at Orion.” The government’s investment has “paid off,” Obama said, noting that hundreds of thousands of jobs were saved, the US auto industry is “more competitive and more profitable than it has been in years” and that taxpayers are being repaid.

Obama has been traveling the nation pushing his jobs plan as the United States wrestles with 9.1 percent unemployment and struggles to emerge from one of the most painful recessions in decades. He is fighting hard for reelection in the November 2012 polls in which the faltering economy is set to be the top issue on voters’ minds and on Friday returned to the hopeful rhetoric and slogan of his 2008 campaign. “Yes, times are tough. Times are tough

and they’ve been tougher in Detroit than just about anyplace else. But we’ve made it through tough times before. We do not quit,” Obama told the cheering crowd.

“Because for every cynic that’s out there running around saying it can’t be done, there are a whole bunch of folks that are saying, “Yes, we can.” The two presidents used the plant tour to tout the benefits of a newly signed free trade pact, which has come under fire from those who fear it will flood the US market with South Korean goods and hasten the bloodletting in the country’s wounded manufacturing sector. “I am here with President Obama today because I want to give this promise to you: the KORUS FTA will not take away any of your jobs,” Lee said. “Rather it will create more jobs for you and your family and it is going to protect your jobs. This is the pledge I give you today.”

The visit to GM was also symbolic because at one point the long-delayed free trade pact, passed by Congress on Wednesday, was held up by a dispute between Seoul and the Obama administration over auto market access. — AFP

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TECHNOLOGY

Kaspersky Lab survey on corporate IT security DUBAI: According to the survey, nine out of ten companies have encountered at least one cyber threat in the past year. This was reported by 88% of all respondents in GCC, and 91% globally. Worldwide, one in three of these companies suffered data loss through these incidents, including data vital to business operations. In GCC, 40% of the companies lost data. At the same time, almost half of all respondents think that the number of cyber threats has been increasing (48% globally and 44% in GCC), while only 8% feel that the number has decreased. Companies most often encounter viruses, worms and malicious software, spam, phishing and hacking attacks.

Tarek Kuzbari, Kaspersky Lab s Managing Director for the Middle East, said: This is the first time Kaspersky Lab has conducted such a wide-reaching survey prior to releasing new corporate solutions.

The survey results show that the technologies and features implemented in our new Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 will help effectively tackle the security problems commonly encountered by IT managers. From conducting polls to implementing specific protection mechanisms, all our efforts to develop new solutions for this release have enabled us to provide pro-active protection with which to counter both existing and future cyber

Computer great Ritchie dies at 70 LOS ANGELES: The world has lost another computer pioneer. Dennis Ritchie, the computer scientist who invented the C programming language and co-developed the Unix operating system, has died at the age of 70.

The New York Times reports that Ritchie’s body was found in his New Jersey home. While working at Bell Labs in the 1960s and early ‘70s, Ritchie served as the principal designer of C and was the co-developer of the Unix operating system. C, renowned for its clear, simple language, would become a vital tool in website development, while Unix is the foundation for computer operating systems such as Apple’s iOS. “ The tools that Dennis built-and their direct descendants-run pretty much everything today,” Brian Kerhighan, Ritchie’s colleague at Bell Labs, told the Times. According to reports, Ritchie had been treated for prostate cancer and heart disease.

News of Ritchie’s death comes just days after the death of Apple co-

founder Steve Jobs, and, while their respective contributions to computer science might invite comparisons to the two, Ritchie and Jobs led very different lives, according to computer-history expert Paul Ceruzzi.

“It’s sort of ‘apples’ and oranges,” Ceruzzi told the Washington Post.

“Ritchie was under the radar. His name was not a household name at all, but ... if you had a microscope and could look in a computer, you’d see his work everywhere inside.”

Born in Bronxville, NY, Ritchie began working at Bell Labs where his father was a scientist-in 1967, earning his Ph.D. from Harvard the following year.

He retired from Bell in 2007. In 1983, Ritchie and his Bell Labs collaborator Ken Thompson received the Turing Award from the Association for Computing Machinery.

In 1998, then-President Bill Clinton bestowed Ritchie and Thompson with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for their invention of C and Unix. — Reuters

Google killing its Buzz service SAN FRANCISCO: Google said it will kill its Buzz social networking tool in favor of young but fast-growing Google+ online community. “We aspire to build great products that really change people’s lives, products they use two or three times a day,” Google product vice president Bradley Horowitz said echoing words oft spoken by chief executive Larry Page.

“To succeed you need real focus and thought-thought about what you work on and, just as important, what you don’t work on,” Horowitz continued. “It’s why we recently decided to shut down some products, and turn others into features of existing products.” Google co-founder Larry Page has eliminating products since he took over as chief executive this year in a drive to concentrate resources on promising projects. “In a few weeks we’ll shut down Google Buzz and the Buzz API, and focus instead on Google+,” Horowitz said in a blog post.

Google’s foray last year into social networking with a Buzz tool turned into a stumble for the company, unleashing a flood of privacy complaints and trouble with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Under a settlement announced by

the FTC, Google was required to implement a comprehensive privacy program and undergo independent privacy audits every two years for 20 years. Google had openly apologized for privacy shortfalls with Buzz, which launched in February 2010 as an answer to Facebook and Twitter. The FTC alleged that the Mountain View, California-based Google used deceptive tactics and violated its privacy promises to consumers when it launched Buzz through its popular email service Gmail. In a move separate from the FTC action, Google agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a class action privacy lawsuit over Google Buzz.

Page said during an earnings call on Thursday that more than 40 million people have joined Google+ and that social network ing features would spread throughout the Internet giant’s offerings. “People are flock ing to Google+ at an incredible rate and we are just getting started,” he said, adding that billions of digital photos had already been shared at Google. The Internet giant on September 20 opened google.com/+ to the public as it ramped up its challenge to leading social network Facebook. — AP

threats. IT security is most commonly implemented by using antivirus software and client firewalls, installing updates including those that remove vulnerabitities in existing software and backing up data.

More than half the respondents (55% in GCC and 59% globally) are confident that their corporate networks are securely protected. However, the survey shows that only 28% of all GCC companies (and 36% of companies globally) employ all of the standard security methods mentioned; 3% of companies worldwide have no measures in place to protect them from cyber threats (in GCC luckily there are no such companies).

In an attempt to improve corporate IT security, companies often impose sweeping measures which can damage their business effectiveness. Thus, 62% of GCC companies (and 72% of companies globally) block or restrict employee access to social networking sites and applications.

One serious problem discovered by the survey is underinvestment in IT security. However, the situation in the GCC region is better than worldwide: 65% of GCC companies consider their IT security investments adequate, whereas globally the figure is 55%. In the respondents opinion, lack of funds is only part of the problem: 61% of respondents in GCC (70% throughout

Apple’s new iPhone draws hordes again, powers shares Critics applaud voice control TOKYO: Apple Inc’s new iPhone debuted with a splash around the globe, spurring thousands to queue around city blocks and snap up the last gadget unveiled during co-founder Steve Jobs’ life.

Apple shares leaped 3 percent to close at a record after people thronged stores in Sydney, Tokyo, London, Paris, New York and San Francisco to get their hands on the iPhone 4S, ignoring criticism about the lack of a design revolution and reports of software glitches.

Fans in Sydney, Tokyo, Frankfurt and London made sure Jobs, who died last week, remained part of the iPhone 4S launch, with flower, candle and photo shrines erected outside stores. A black-and-white picture of the visionary leader in Covent Garden carried the line: “Let’s make a dent in the universe.”

In New York and San Francisco, hundreds showed up as expected, but the mood proved more subdued than was typical on an iPhone launch day.

“I have a lot of respect for how he led the company and so the turnout, and especially the preorder sales, is a mark of appreciation for him,” insisted Chris Centers, who was one of the people who lined up outside the store.

One of the buyers also stopped by to lay flowers at the San Francisco store’s glass wall in honor of Jobs.

The new model looks similar to the previous iPhone 4, but has an upgraded camera, faster processor, enhanced security and voiceactivated software, which lets users ask the phone questions.

The voice software drew glowing reviews.

Unveiled just a day before Jobs died, it was initially dubbed a disappointment, partly because it looked identical to its predecessor.

But anticipation of the “Siri” voice software helped it set an online record in orders on Oct. 7. Rivals’ woes may have provided a boost.

Research in Motion Ltd struggled for days to fix an international outage of its email and messaging services.

Also, about one in four people who thronged Apple stores from Tokyo to San Francisco told Reuters they were ditching BlackBerries, discarding Nokias, or even giving up Google Inc

Android-based phones, hoping for something better. Apple CEO Tim Cook and his executive team hope the first device sold without Jobs leading Apple will protect the company against a growing challenge from the arch-rival Samsung

iPhone 4, which was sold in fewer countries initially.

Sprint Nextel Corp-joining Verizon and AT&T Inc in Apple’s roster for the first time-said Friday it had chalked up a launch-day sales record for any device by

CALIFORNIA: The Apple’s latest iPhone 4S is available to the US customers on October 14 in California. — AFP Electronics Co Ltd. Analysts believe the South Korean company, which powers its phones with Google’s Android software, surpassed Apple as the world’s biggest smartphone vendor in terms of unit sales in the third quarter. Apple does not release sales on launch day, so gauging initial figures is difficult. But the company took more than 1 million online orders in the first 24 hours after the release of the iPhone 4S, exceeding the 600,000 for the

Apple’s iPhone 4S on sale in China

CHIBA CITY: A model displays a smartphone with a special jacket to analyze radiation levels, displayed by Japanese telecommunication giant NTT DoCoMo. —AFP

the world) complain of understaffing, lack of expertise or insufficient system resources.

The increasing number of employees working remotely and the ongoing consumerization of business (use of personal devices for business purposes) bring a new problem. IT specialists need to protect the security of mobile devices outside the corporate network.

44% of all respondents in GCC (55% globally) say that their companies are now much more aware of this problem than a year ago. At the same time, the poll found 28% of organizations in GCC and 32% globally consider the use of mobile devices too risky for their businesses.

BEIJING: Apple’s iPhone 4S was available in several Beijing shops yesterday, despite not officially being for sale in China. “Today we have got two from Canada, they’re 11,000 yuan ($1,720) each. If you’re interested, you need to come straight away,” a saleswoman at a mobile phone shop at Hailong market told AFP. She said it was a 16GB model, the least expensive in the range. In the US the same phone is sold for $199 with a two-year contract. At Zhongguancun, the Chinese “Silicon Valley”, in the northwest of Beijing, a shopkeeper specialising in Apple products said: “We don’t have any more, it will be next Tuesday at best.”

Many Chinese media titles also reported on the highprice sales of the much sought-after phones. By the end of August China had 940 million mobile phone users, 10 percent of which were on 3G, according to the ministry of industry and information technology. Wang Jianzhou, the President of China Mobile, the country’s biggest operator, said they had sold 9.5 million iPhones by the end of September, according to the Beijing Qingnian Bao newspaper.

The second biggest operator, China Unicom, announced a drop in price for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 from Sunday although the official date for the launch of the iPhone 4 in China has not been set. The latest Apple product was launched in seven countries on Thursday and will be released for sale in another 22 countries on October 28. According to experts in the field it will come out in China towards the end of the year, Xinjing Bao newspaper reported. Apple products are extremely popular in China where people queue for hours to get their hands on the latest devices. After the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs last week almost 35 million tributes were posted on the microblogging site Sina Weibo. — AFP

around noon. AT&T said that by 4:30 PM on the east coast, it had activated a record number of iPhones in one day and was on track to double the previous record for iPhone activations on a single day.

Jobs “made everything better and the products he released were thought through in such detail,” Duncan Hoare, a foreign exchange trader, said as a loud roar greeted the opening of an Apple store in London. “It was about the beauty

of something and the simplicity.”

The iPhone-seen as the gold standard for smartphones- is Apple’s highest-margin product and accounts for 40 percent of its annual revenue. The newest iteration uses chips from Qualcomm Inc, Toshiba Corp and a host of smaller semiconductor companies, according to repair firm iFixit, which cracked the device open Thursday. Despite the enthusiasm at stores, Friday’s launch was marred somewhat by widespread complaints on the Internet this week about problems downloading iOS 5, the latest version of Apple’s mobile software.

There were also problems with iCloud, Apple’s online communications, media storage and backup service formally launched Wednesday. Users reported glitches such as losing their email access. Queues in Paris were smaller than those normally seen for a brand-new iPhone, with some fans there wondering if the somewhat underwhelming introduction put people off. But in London and elsewhere the lines were as long as ever. “Despite the initial disappointment that this wasn’t an iPhone 5, the reality is we’re still seeing the usual frenzy that we’ve got used to on launch day,” analyst Ben Wood at CCS Insight told Reuters. Analysts expect global sales of a few million phones on the first weekend, he added.

Analysts point to several factors in Apple’s favor, including a $199 price that matches up well with rival devices and availability promised on more than 100 carriers by the end of 2011, far more than its predecessors.

Underscoring the enthusiasm for the new phone, Japanese mobile carrier Softbank Corp had to temporarily stop contract applications after its computer system was overwhelmed with more requests than it expected.

Some analysts expect fourthquarter iPhone shipments to reach 30 million or more, almost twice as many as a year ago. “I am a fan, a big fan. I want something to remember Steve Jobs by,” said Haruko Shiraishi, waiting patiently with her Yorkshire terrier Miu Miu at the end of an eight-block queue in Tokyo’s smart Ginza shopping district. — Reuters

Sprint customers line up as it gets first iPhone NEW YORK: Apple stores got the longest lines as the new iPhone model launched Friday, but there were lines at Sprint stores too, as the carrier got a chance to sell the phone more than four years after the first model was launched.

Product chief Fared Adib said that by midday, the iPhone had broken Sprint’s record for first day sales of any phone. Sales were above the company’s expectations, he said, without giving any figures. Sprint Nextel Corp. joined bigger carriers AT&T and Verizon Wireless as a seller of the phone. Spot checks in Philadelphia and San Francisco showed that the lines outside Sprint stores were longer than at its rivals.

Meanwhile, a representative for AT&T said that as of 4:30 EDT, it had activated a record number of iPhones and was on track to double its previous single-day record for activations. Sprint is struggling to compete with the bigger carriers and expects the iPhone to help it keep subscribers.

In Chicago, 18-year-old Torian Marshall was among the 150 or so people lined up outside an Apple store on Friday morning. He had been holding off on getting an iPhone until his service provider, Sprint, got it. “I’m so excit-

ed. I’ve been waiting forever,” he said.

Kaufman Bros. analyst Ben Abramovitz said talks with about 50 people in line for the phone at a Sprint store revealed that most of them are current Sprint customers looking to upgrade, particularly BlackBerry users looking for a more Internet-friendly phone. He also found some AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA customers looking to switch.

Sprint will be paying a lot of money to put iPhones in customer hands: It’s subsidizing each iPhone 4S by about $400 to get it down to the $200 price for the 16 gigabyte version. It’s also selling the cheaper iPhone 4.

Credit ratings agency Moody ’s Investor Service on Friday downgraded Sprint’s debt, sending it further into speculative-grade, or “junk” territory.

Part of the reason is the cash drain that iPhone sales will cause before they start paying off through higher monthly service fees.

The chief reason behind the downgrade, however, is Sprint’s decision to upgrade its wireless network for faster data speeds, Moody ’s said. Sprint revealed that decision a week ago, to the dismay of investors.

Sprint’s stock increased 1 cent to close Friday at $2.79. — AP

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H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Check box for awareness in breast cancer campaign How did one little pink ribbon become so ubiquitous?

KANNAPOLIS: Medical lab technician Tondra Blevins uses the arm of Dr Karen Corbin to demonstrate how blood is drawn from the trial subject through a portal. — MCT

Institute is unlocking metabolism mysteries KANNAPOLIS: The room isn’t much to look at. Small and plain, with a twin bed, a chair, a dorm-size refrigerator, a sink and a toilet. But the spartan appearance is deceiving. This “metabolic chamber” at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute has cost about $1 million to build and maintain. It’s the newest and most sensitive of 17 such research tools in the world, according to Dr Steven Zeisel, the institute’s director. Institute scientists hope the chamber will help them unlock the secrets of human metabolism and provide answers for people who struggle to control their weight.

By monitoring volunteers who stay overnight in the 8-by-11-foot space, researchers hope to identify foods, activity levels and genes that affect human metabolism. With that, they’ll be able to prescribe customized diets and exercise plans that are more likely to work for specific people.

“Nowadays people jump around from diet to diet, and most of the time it doesn’t work.

Then they get discouraged and maybe just give up,” said Karen Corbin, a dietitian and research fellow at the institute. “But once you know for sure what’s going to work for someone, and they follow your recommendation and see a result, they’re going to be more motivated to stick to it.”

The nutrition institute is part of UNC Chapel Hill and is housed in one of the new brick buildings at the North Carolina Research Campus, a $1.5 billion biotechnology complex on 350 acres that used to be home to the Cannon textile mills. The campus, created by billionaire Dole Food owner David Murdock, is a collaboration of eight NC universities to promote research in the areas of health and nutrition. NC State operates the Plants for Human Health Institute, and Appalachian State University operates the Human Performance Laboratory, focused on exercise.

Collaboration among nutritionists, plant biologists and exercise scientists on the same campus enhances the research process, Corbin said. “There is something to be said for having everybody here,” she said. “It’s easy to get together and talk and say ‘Hey, I have this idea. What do you think?’ “ Earlier this year, researchers from UNC and Appalachian State published results from the first study using the metabolic chamber. It found that 10 men who exercised vigorously for 45 minutes in the morning continued to burn calories over the next 14 hours. Proof that an “after - burn” exists could motivate people to exercise intensely enough to get the added benefit, Corbin said.

Currently, the chamber is being used to study whether black pepper increases metabolism. If it does, look for the sponsoring spice company to tout weight-loss enhancing properties. Institute researchers will work with other food companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers as they try to increase understanding of the role of diet and activity in normal brain development, cancer prevention and the treatment of obesity. “Everyone’s trying to develop products that help people lose weight,” said Andrew Swick, director of obesity and eating disorders research at the institute.

“The ultimate goal is individualized nutrition,” he said. “We’d love to be able to tell people, ‘You’re more likely to lose weight by exercising.’ Or ‘you’re more likely to lose weight by eating this.’ We’d like to be able to make recommendations individually based on somebody’s genetics.” So far, about 50 volunteers have spent time in the metabolic chamber.

On a recent day, a 50-something woman

sat inside the soundproof space, watching a movie on a laptop computer. In an outer room, a computer displayed measurements of the amount oxygen she had consumed, carbon dioxide emitted and calories burned.

She is one of 18 postmenopausal women being monitored for the pepper study.

Animal studies suggest that black pepper increases metabolism. Anecdotally, people get hot when they eat pepper, which could mean they burn more calories. But this is the first human study of the hypothesis, Swick said. Research subjects stay in the chamber about 24 hours on two occasions, a week apart. During one stay, they eat food made with pepper. During the other stay, they eat food without pepper. Although they eat the same foods, they get different amounts.

“Some people burn less calories per pound.

Some people burn more calories per pound,” Swick said. “We have to feed them an exact amount of calories based on their energy needs.”

For example, one woman required 1,550 calories while another needed 2,150. In the institute’s “metabolic kitchen,” cooks prepare food to order, with the exact number of calories, proteins, carbohydrates and fats prescribed by researchers. Meals are delivered to the chamber in a pass-through between double doors that prevent air from escaping.

Subjects must eat their meals at specific times and finish in a certain amount of time.

They get up every hour to stretch, and they’re not allowed to sleep, except at nighttime, because that would decrease their metabolism and skew the study results.

At the end of the study, Swick said, “We’ll find out whether black pepper increases metabolic rate or not. ... We’ll be able to detect less than a 100-calorie difference (per day).” That’s a small amount, but it adds up over time. “If you overeat by 100 calories per day, you would gain 10 pounds in a year,” Swick said. “If we can find three or four things that raise your calorie requirements and your energy expenditure by 50 to 100 calories (per day), that would be huge.”

Researchers at the institute and elsewhere are excited about the potential for finding answers to questions about metabolism.

“There’s a lot that we still need to learn about the factors that influence energy balance,” said Dr. Russ Pate, an exercise science professor and researcher at the University of South Carolina. “What’s important about a metabolic chamber is that it enables you to study issues related to energy balance in a very precise way.”

Precision is important, he said, because “if you average it out, it’s really a tiny number of calories per day that ultimately results in excessive weight gain and obesity.” Pate visited the North Carolina Research Campus about a year ago and said he’s looking forward to research results. “We certainly see the remarkable resources they have there.”

Researchers at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute study metabolism to find out why energy and nutrition requirements differ and how to give personalized advice.

“Telling everybody the same thing just doesn’t work,” said dietitian and research fellow Karen Corbin. “There’s got to be a better way.” “Some people overeat and gain weight.

Some people overeat, and they don’t gain weight. The question is why, and how do we predict for that in larger populations, and then how do we help people?” asked Andrew Swick, the institute’s director of obesity and eating disorders research. — MCT

NEW YORK: The power of pink is undeniable. And unavoidable, in America. Pink, the official color of the breast-cancer awareness movement, is everywhere: On Andy Boy lettuce packages, Everlast boxing gloves, QVC’s glittery ballet flats from Nine West, Bank of America credit cards and beauty products galore. The combined efforts raise millions of dollars each October for research, awareness and patient care. But how did one little pink ribbon become so ubiquitous and so instantly recognizable? With all the worthy causes out there, how did breast cancer end up as the favorite child of the fashion and beauty industry? And why does it resonate so deeply with American consumers? It was Evelyn Lauder and Self magazine’s Alexandra Penney who launched the pink ribbon campaign in 1992, offering the ribbons as subtle reminders to women who stopped at cosmetics counters in department stores that they needed to schedule breast exams. At the time, the pink ribbon was so little known that some people thought it symbolized AIDS awareness. “ There had been no publicity about breast cancer, but a confluence of events - the pink ribbon, the color, the press, partnering with Elizabeth Hurley, having Estee Lauder as an advertiser in so magazines and persuading so many of my friends who are health and beauty editors to do stories about breast health - got people talking,” says Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice president of The Estee Lauder Companies and founder of the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. Lauder, the daughter-inlaw of the late Estee Lauder, who founded the brand, recalls a bellwether moment in the evolution of the cause. At first, she had to explain her own pink pin everywhere she went. Then, three years after distributing the first one, a flight attendant noted it on Lauder’s lapel and said, “I know that’s for breast cancer.”

“From there, it became ubiquitous,” she says. Since the efforts began, $330 million has been raised in Breast Cancer Research Foundation donations-turned-research grants, including $50 million from Estee Lauder products, employees and retail partners. Other breast-cancer initiatives rooted in the fashion and beauty industries include the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Avon Foundation for Women Breast Cancer Crusade and Fashion Targets Breast Cancer from the Council of Fashion

given week, says Anne Keating, senior vice president of public relations, events and corporate philanthropy.

And at other times of the year, Bloomingdale’s turns its attention to Child Mind Institute and the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, among others. But charities associated with breast cancer offer opportunities for retailers to support efforts in communities where their stores are located. “Everything is a good cause. It’s the small grants in the communities that mean a lot,” she

This product shows the Origins Make A Difference skin rejuvenating treatment. Pink, the official color of the breast-cancer awareness movement, is literally everywhere: On lettuce packages, boxing gloves, glittery ballet flats, credit cards and countless beauty products. — AP Designers of America.

Bloomingdale’s is a prominent Breast Cancer Awareness partner with pink products, pink bags, and pink rebate cards and gift cards. Last year, it raised $1.3 million, giving out four $250,000 research grants with the rest distributed to 16 local organizations.

Countless requests for charity partnerships cross her desk in any

says. And breast cancer is a cause that many consumers can relate to.

Even Ralph Lauren had a personal connection to the disease: He got involved in a breast-cancer project now known as The Pink Pony Campaign because a friend, the late fashion editor Nina Hyde, was diagnosed with it. “I was moved to respond,” Lauren wrote in an email to The Associated Press. “As a tribute to

her and to our friendship, I helped establish the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at Georgetown University. Breast cancer is not just a women’s issue - it affects all of us: the brothers, husbands, fathers, children and friends.”

That led to his broader support of cancer causes including The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem. Another aspect, says Debbie Sardone, is the underlying hopeful message in the pink campaign. “There’s a little of an endorphin spike when you think of a cause that’s helping people and hits close to home,” says Sardone, of Lewisville, Texas, the founder and president of Cleaning For a Reason, a nonprofit that offers free house cleaning to women undergoing cancer treatment. The simplicity and ubiquity of the pink ribbon is appealing too. “Other causes need some explanation. When you see the pink ribbon, you get it,” Sardone said. But some consumers are a tad wary of the pink campaign. Judy Kooistra, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and is in her third round of chemotherapy for a recurrence, says she has “very mixed feelings about all this. The awareness I’m not going to say that’s a bad thing. Breast cancer awareness is a good thing, but a lot of the products out there are only ‘pinking’ it up.”

Kooistra, of Canton, Ohio, will buy some pink things, but only after knowing how much - exactly is being donated and which charity it’s going to. “It’s huge marketing for companies and sometimes a huge profit for companies, and that’s where I have the problem.” She adds, “I want people to be aware of it, I want people to know it’s serious, but I don’t want to be belittled or to be seen as a ‘sexy’ cancer.” Lauder, meanwhile, is proud of the success of her cause and its symbol. “The pink ribbon,” she says, “is an example of how one thing can become symbolic to a cause.” — AP

A disease that hampers eating PHILADELPHIA: The disease is new and, so far, incurable. It is increasingly common and can occur at any age. It typically involves an allergic reaction to foods - in severe cases, all foods - and can turn the pleasurable act of eating into a torment of swallowing problems, pain, vomiting and choking. If this is the first time you’ve heard of eosinophilic esophagitis (ee-oh-sin-oh-FILL-ic es-offa-JItis), it won’t be the last. Add “EoE” to the growing list of ways in which the immune system can go horribly haywire for no apparent reason.

The mutineers in EoE are infection-fighting white blood cells called eosinophils. They infiltrate the esophagus - the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach - causing swelling, irritation, thickening and permanent damage in the long term. Fortunately, most patients get better by identifying and eliminating problem foods. “Now, I can eat everything but three things. Before, I couldn’t eat anything,” said Eric Molchen, 14, of Morgantown, Pa., who was wasting away when he was diagnosed with EoE five years ago at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In the 16 years since a groundbreaking study of EoE was published, awareness and research have exploded. Still, there are more questions than answers, including: Does EoE signal a change in our food, our immune systems, or both? Eosinophils play a big role in the digestive tract. Sometimes they help engulf and kill invading microorganisms. For invaders too big to be gobbled up Pac-Man style, eosinophils carry toxic “granules” that they can thrust onto the enemy.

Eosinophils also help the immune system manage inflammatory disorders such as asthma and food allergies such as lactose intolerance. But with eosinophils, as with other immune cells, too much of a good thing can be bad. A number of perplexing disorders, including ulcerative colitis, are associated with too many eosinophils. EoE is yet another. In biopsies of esophageal tissue taken from EoE patients, “not only are there too many eosinophils, but some have extruded their granules into the tissue,” wrote Margaret Collins, a pathologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the first in the country to set up a center dedicated to eosinophilic disorders.

“This implies that substances ... in the granules may contribute to the patient’s symptoms.”

A biopsy - an under-the-microscope look at cells - is the only reliable test for EoE, a national panel of experts concluded this year.

But the diagnosis is neither simple nor straightforward. For one thing, esophageal inflammation has various causes, the most common being gastroesophageal reflux disease, or “acid reflux” - another increasingly common modern affliction. (An estimated 30 million Americans suffer the heartburn, indigestion and pain of acid reflux.)

For another thing, acid reflux patients can have eosinophils in their esophageal membranes, like EoE patients, and occasionally people have both diseases. At Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, EoE has been diagnosed in more than 1,000 youngsters in the last 15 years.

“On biopsies in the 1980s, we never saw EoE,” said gastroenterologist Chris Liacouras, co-director of the hospital’s Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorders. “It was only in the mid-to late-1990s that we started to see this disease. The increase parallels what we’ve

seen with allergies in general.” How prevalent is EoE? A decade ago, experts estimated one in 10,000 people had it. Now, Liacouras said, a better estimate is one in 2,500 - not commonplace, but not that uncommon.

In 1994, Michael Craig, a Navy communications specialist, was eating lunch on a ship in the Persian Gulf. “All of a sudden, I felt like I was choking. I got sick before I ever made it to a bathroom,” said Craig, 41, now a computer engineer who lives in Deptford, N.J. The embarrassing episode kept recurring, and Craig began a 16-year quest for a diagnosis of his swallowing problem, or “dysphagia.”

Although tests showed his gastric acid levels were normal, he was told he had acid reflux and was put on standard medication. As the dysphagia persisted, Craig began to hide while eating. “I didn’t lose weight, but I started not eating at any social event,” he said. “I wouldn’t even eat with my family.”

Regurgitating a morsel lodged in his esophagus could take hours, even though he cut his food into minuscule bites. Sometimes, the obstruction triggered chest pains that mimicked a heart attack. Occasionally, he had to rush to a hospital for removal of an impacted tidbit. A couple of times a year, a doctor would use a dilator to gently stretch open Craig’s constricted esophagus.

Finally, last fall, a dysphagia attack at his daughter’s wedding drove Craig to consult yet another doctor. Brian Berberian, a gastroenterologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J., diagnosed EoE and put Craig on the recommended drug regimen: an acid reflux medication, an asthma inhaler and an oral corticosteroid. Craig will also see an allergist to try to identify offending foods, although EoE can defy even sophisticated testing. He is grateful to finally know what ails him. But it hasn’t yet gotten much better. “ The treatment options aren’t all that great,” especially for patients with long-term damage, Berberian said.

The 1995 study that put EoE on the medical map was conducted by Johns Hopkins University physicians. They described 10 emaciated children, ages 8 months to 12 years, all with diagnoses of acid reflux. Despite dutifully taking anti-reflux drugs, they had chronic abdominal pain, vomiting and feared eating.

Six of the children had even undergone a lastresort acid reflux surgery in which the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus and stitched in place. It didn’t help.

The Hopkins doctors suspected the real problem was food. They weren’t the first to think so - previous studies had eliminated individual or multiple foods identified as allergens by skin-prick tests - but they were the first to convincingly show it. Their method was draconian: Replace all food with a liquid formula containing amino acids the molecular building blocks of food. Within six weeks, all 10 children got better, and biopsies showed a drop in eosinophils.

Foods were reintroduced, one by one.

Although some children were allergic to as many as six foods, all 10 were able to resume a normal, albeit restricted, diet. The liquid “elemental diet” is now standard therapy when all else fails. Dean Harris, 8, and his brother Cole, 7, are as cute as those TV commercial kids who name a detested food, then dig into a plate full of chicken nuggets. — MCT

Dean Harris, 8 (left) and Cole Harris, 7, cannot eat what most people eat. Every day they must drink a special formula that comes in what looks like a juice box, every two hours. — MCT

Britons eat 10% too many calories LONDON: British health officials say the country’s obesity epidemic has an easy fix: people should just eat less. In a report released on Thursday, the department of health said most adults in the nation of 60 million people are eating about 10 percent more calories than necessary. To stop the bulging waistlines, officials said the country needs to collectively trim 5 billion calories from its daily diet. But in a slightly confusing twist, the government also issued new calorie recommendations that are about 100 calories higher than the last figures in 1991. Men are now allowed to eat about 2,605 calories of food every day while for women, it’s 2,079.

British officials say the new numbers are based on a better understanding of current activity levels and that an individual’s ideal calorie count varies depending on factors like how much they exercise and their body mass index. Previous calorie recommendations underestimated the impact of physical activity, even though people are now more sedentary than two decades ago. “This is not a license to eat more,” said Alan Jackson, head of the scientific group that came up with the new recommendations.

Susan B Roberts, a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University, said the new calorie advice seemed reasonable. “The old numbers were simply bad numbers because methodology was too basic in the old days,” she said. “If you are telling somebody to eat 10 percent less, that is 10 percent less than they personally ate before,”“ she said. The UK has one of Europe’s fattest populations: more than 60 percent of adults and one third of children aged 10-11 are overweight or obese, roughly similar to US statistics. The new report aims to change diet and exercise habits enough so that the number of heavy Britons begins to fall by 2020.

Britain’s chief medical officer, Sally Davies, said people need to be more honest with themselves about just how much food they’re eating every day. “We are still too heavy as a nation,” she said at a press conference. Obesity raises the risk of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. — AP

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he a lt h & s c ie n c e Acino to acquire Cephalon’s MENA business BASEL: Acino and Cephalon Inc have entered into an agreement under which Acino will acquire Cephalon’s combined Middle East and African business for a total consideration of approximately EUR 80 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Acino will pay EUR 60 million in cash and EUR 20 million through the issuance of shares from authorized capital (calculated at the average share price on the day prior to the closing of the transaction).

Acino expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive.

The business to be acquired, which includes Cephalon and Mepha brands, is expected to generate sales of close to EUR 100 million in 2011.

Through this transaction, Acino makes a quantum leap towards establishing its own market presence in emerging markets. Peter Burema, Acino’s CEO, stated: ‘This is a gamechanging acquisition for our company and underpins our commitment to building Acino’s own market presence in up-and-coming economies. The acquired products ideally complement our own portfolio. The Mepha legacy, built on its Swiss heritage, will live on through this acquisition by Acino, also headquartered in Switzerland and committed to the same high quality standards’.

Over the last 18 months, Acino’s management has refined its growth strategy to focus on three complementary business pillars: selling the products it develops through its partners in the developed markets, establishing its own market presence under its ‘Acino Switzerland’ brand in emerging markets, and entering into development programs with innovative pharmaceutical companies based on its expertise in drug delivery technology.

Sjogren’s syndrome highly misdiagnosed Venus Williams draws attention to rare illness WALNUT CREEK: Oakland, California, physician Sarah Schafer is a trim woman with robust color in her cheeks, bright blue eyes and a pleasant smile.

She is the outward picture of health - an image that doesn’t begin to tell the inside story. Schafer, 54, feels bad. Very bad. All the time. Her eyes and mouth are so parched they require the application of drops and sprays nearly every hour of the day.

She has severe joint and muscle pain, plus a host of accompanying physical problems including sinusitis, migraines and the worst flulike fatigue anyone has experienced - not the kind that eases in a few days, but that persists on a daily, unrelenting basis.

Schafer has Sjogren’s syndrome, a highly underdiagnosed, often misdiagnosed and yet surprisingly common autoimmune disease. Few in the general public were aware of the illness until tennis superstar Venus Williams announced in September that she has Sjogren’s and was forced to back out of the US Open because of it. While no one with the illness would wish it on a worst enemy, many sufferers are, however, glad Williams put a famous face on the problem.

“It’s the most common disease that nobody’s heard of,” Schafer said. “It’s very helpful that Venus came forward about it, and maybe now it will get some attention and get the research funding it deserves.” Sjogren’s (pronounced “SHOW-grinz”) is named for the late Swedish ophthalmologist Henrik Sjogren, who first described the condition in 1933.

According to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation, roughly 1 million people in the United States - primarily women - have confirmed cases of Sjogren’s, but doctors estimate it may affect up to 4 million.

It’s considered the second most common autoimmune disease after rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, it could be found to be the No. 1 most common if diagnostic techniques improve, researchers say.

It is a chronic systemic illness, with dry eyes and dry mouth as the hallmark symptoms. But the syndrome also presents myriad seemingly unrelated problems in varying levels of severity, which account for incorrect and often long-delayed diagnoses. It can be more than six years from the appearance of the first symptoms to a confirmed diagnosis, said Dr. Ava Wu, lead researcher for an international study based at the University of California, San Francisco, which is analyzing the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Currently, there is no single test to confirm Sjogren’s, but physicians who suspect the syn-

drome may run blood tests to detect various antibodies such as ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) found in 70 percent of Sjogren’s patients, in addition to eye tests to measure tear production. A lot of patients definitely fit the listed symptoms, but then we’re finding many others who will have autoimmune thyroid issues or pulmonary problems in addition to the fatigue,” Wu said. “The umbrella that ties them all to Sjogren’s, however, is the dry eyes and dry mouth.”

There are also varying levels of intensity, Wu said. “Some can live very normal lives, while others are quite debilitated,” she said. “But there’s no increased mortality rate. It’s not a death sentence in any way. But it is a life-altering diagnosis.”

Researchers believe the cause of the syndrome lies in a genetic component, but there are possibly environmental or stress-related triggers - such as a major surgery or a death in the family - that can increase severity. Currently, there is no known cure, but early diagnosis and appropriate treatment tailored to each individual may improve symptoms

and prevent serious complications associated with the disorder, Wu said.

Prescription medicines for dry eyes and mouth are commonly used. Depending on the symptoms, doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs to help with joint and muscle pain and even steroids or immunosuppressive drugs to treat systemic symptoms. Sjogren’s is considered a “hidden illness” because most who have it appear perfectly healthy, one of the most irritating factors for many sufferers. “We look well,” Schafer said from a sunny office in her home in the Oakland, Calif., hills. Highly sensitive to scents, she opened several windows because a visitor’s shampoo fragrance instantly began irritating her throat.

“If someone had a leg in a cast or was losing their hair because of going through cancer therapies, people understand that they’re sick,” she said.

“But people don’t get it when you look fine, and they don’t understand why you can’t do normal things. Even many doctors treat it lightly.

Relationships suffer because of this.” Sjogren’s is

OAKLAND: Sarah Schafer talks about living with Sjogren’s Syndrome, the often underdiagnosed autoimmune disease. — MCT

often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, menopause, multiple sclerosis or even hypochondria. “People think we’re just making this up,” she said. Ron Hansman, 67, of Woodside, California, is one of the few men diagnosed with Sjogren’s, a fact that doesn’t make him feel special at least not in a good way. Less than 10 percent of patients are men. “People have various health problems, and they can live with them,” he said. “I have friends with heart problems, and they can manage them with medications and live well. I have a friend with diabetes who manages it and lives well. “I’d love to have diabetes instead of this,” he said.

Hansman had a long and successful career as a national sales trainer, speaking in front of groups of up to 300 people. About seven years ago, he began to experience severe exhaustion. “I’d be running a training sales group, and I’d get so tired, I’d go in the empty training room in the afternoons, lock the doors, put my briefcase on the floor and sleep for a little while,” he said. He was given medications for a thyroid problem, then began to have low-saliva symptoms. He visited many doctors before one about three years ago finally suggested Sjogren’s.

Hansman, too, is disturbed by the lack of awareness of the disease.

“After the Venus Williams announcement, I decided to let some people know I had it,” he said. “I got a note from one woman who said she would pray for my recovery. That was a kind sentiment, but she didn’t understand - there’s no recovery.”

Sjogren’s was diagnosed in 1999 for Ina Checkman of Cupertino, Calif., a former schoolteacher.—MCT “I’ve learned it’s all about trying to make wise choices and budget your energy like it’s the most precious resource,” she said. “With the fatigue, it’s not just a matter of being tired and resting and feeling better. It’s like a free-floating cloud over you, hanging there all the time.”

Schafer, formerly a public health physician for Contra Costa County, Calif., says she, too, can manage the illness, but it’s an all-consuming effort.

She’s on at least 20 medications and only has small windows of time during the day when she feels well enough to go to the store or do her daily brief swim at the gym. “I can’t go to movies or the theater,” she said. “When my son graduated from college in Los Angeles, going on that trip was like preparing to go to the moon. I haven’t been able to work in 10 years. I can’t do the normal things. I feel left out of life.” — MCT

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Announcements

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

P.G.A. Everton F.C. Goalkeepers Coaching Course

Art competition The eleventh Onam celebrations of Pathanamthitta District Association will be held on Friday, October 28.

The association is holding an art competition in poetry and short story writings and the association is inviting poems and short stories from talented individuals among Malayalees in Kuwait.

Persons interested in participating may send their writings with photograph to the following address before October 20. Email: pta@ptadistrict.org, pdakuwait@gmail.com for more information, contact 97863052 or 66501482.

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he Premier GOAL Academy in association with Everton F.C. are pleased to announce the start of a new Goalkeepers Coaching Course on Saturdays from 1100-1300 at Shaab Park, sponsored

by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company. The course will develop skills and technique in shot stopping, crosses, fielding, speed and agility, positional play and distribution and is led by specialist UEFA Goalkeeping Coach, Khalid. For further details contact Academy Director, Mike Finn on 99981327

Indian Lawyers’ Forum Onam Indian Lawyers’ Forum will celebrate Onam, the unique, secular, harvest festival of Kerala on 18th November, 2011 Friday 10.30 am at HiDine Restaurant Auditorium, Abbassia.

Celebrations will include traditional variety entertainments, with the grand ‘ONASADHYA’.

All Indian Lawyers & Law graduates working here in Kuwait are invited with their families.

For details contact Panicker 97203939, Pulikkal 97260159. Email: advpanicker@gmail.com Kala painting competition Kala (Art) Kuwait will conduct Children’s Day by marking the birth day of the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, under the auspices of Kala (Art) Kuwait on Friday, 4th November 2011 at the Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch, at 2 pm. For details: 99489078, 97449419.

BEC T10 Cricket tournament The BEC T10 Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament will be organized & played from 7th October to 11th November, 2011. The Tournament being organized by RED N BLACK CRICKET CLUB and sponsored by BEC EXCHANGE will be played out in Abu Halifa cricket grounds. For registration and other queries please mail at mail@rednblack.org or call 66820148/ 66130940/ 66841653.

Saradhi bids farewell to Dr Rajan Babu

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r Rajan Babu, Associate Professor, Medical College, Trivandrum is leaving Kuwait after his service with the Ministry of Health in Kuwait. During his stay in Kuwait, he was closely associated with Saradhi-Kuwait as its executive member. Saradhi bid a farewell function with the participation of a large gathering of Saradhi members at Blue Star auditorium, Mangaf. The introduction speech was made by Saradhi vice president Suresh Vellappally and secretary Reneesh Babu welcomed the audience. President C G Vidynanda Babu presided over the function. General secretary K R Aji, patron Suresh Kochath, advisory board members Kochappaly Vijayabhanu, Adv N.S.

Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq: Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty67712409.

Spavilla opens its door to public

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pavilla, a new medical spa opened its door to the public. It was opened by its sponsor Othman Al-Hajeri , George V J and Naji in the presence of various dignitaries and well-wishers. Spavilla offers premium spa services. It also has an Indian therapy unit Kairali which has special massage therapy for back, neck and body pain. Dr.Rajesh, the MD of the spa said, “we offer excellent service and customer satisfaction is foremost for us.”

Brain Bang Calling all students aged 11 and above, Support Group for Accelerated learning under the umbrella of FOCC (Friends of CRY Club, Kuwait), BRAIN-BANG invites you to join us in our fortnightly Friday Class from 11.45 am to 13.45 pm in Salmiya starting October 7th for the next 6 months. Successfully running for the seventh consecutive year.

Areas of development are : lMemory tools to Understand and Learn Better lTools and Techniques to empower your mind lActivity, fun, games and worksheet based assignments lPractical Experiments lMind Gymnastics lApplication of Learning Techniques to conventional study. Register before October 5th 2011.

Limited seats. Register early to avoid disappointment. Website: www.focckwt.org E-Mail: brainbang@focckwt.org Phone no: 25660835/25618471/97677820 KGA Alemao Memorial Football Tournament The 3rd edition of Eslinda Alemao Memorial Football 7-a-side tournament will be held on first day of Eid Al Adha Festival (6th November 2011) to be held at the MOH Grounds, Al-Sabah Hospital Premises, Shuwaikh under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF). All KIFF affiliated teams are requested to contact the organizers, Kuwait Goan Association (KGA).

For more info, Email: kgakuwait@gmail.com Tel: (+965) 94963677.

Galleries in Kuwait Sultan gallery established 1969 to promote Arab contemporary art. Sabhan, Sadeer company. Block 8, street 105, building 168.

24714325 ext. 110 Dar Al-Funoon, Behbehani Compound, House 28- near the Christian Church off of Gulf Road. Tel: 22431338 Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, Shaab, next to Shaab Leisure Park. Tel: 22400963 AWARE Surra Street, Block 3, Villa 84. Tel: 25335260/80 or www.aware.com.kw The Strip, across Al-Seif Palace Jibla Tel: 99666533 www.the-exhibition.com.kw Located on ‘The Strip’ Across from Al-Seif Palace Jibla, Kuwait Tel: + (965) 9-406-6226 Fax: + (965) 2-534-4061 Email Address: info@the-exhibition.com.kw Mailing Address: P.O. Box 17919, Khaldiya, Kuwait

Aravindakshan, Anjali Kumar, Saradhi’s trust chairman Adv Sasidhara Panicker, secretary T.S. Rajan, Vanithavedi chairperson Manikutty Raju and Santhamma Babuchandran rendered felicitation speeches.

A memento as recognition of valuable services rendered to Saradhi was presented to Dr Rajan Babuby the president C G Vidyananda Babu. In his reply speech, Dr Rajan Babu thanked organizers of the function and elaborated his ever lasting memories and pleasant experience in the humanitarian services that Saradhi is extending to the needy people in Kuwait and in India.

Saradhi’s joint secretary Berly Shilu rendered vote of thanks.

TRASSK Kalolsavam 2011

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hrissur Association Kuwaitís twoweek cultural extravaganza ëKALOLSAVAM 2011í came to a colorful end on 7-10-2011 at Indian central school Abbassiya. Promising young talents from Thrissur district added one more shining feather on its association by making this event so vibrant by a full hearted participation. Overflowing Crowds from different part of Kuwait with same spirit and enthusiasm made the event an excellent one. T Premkumar

Abbassiya, Bharadiya Vidya Bhavan principal, was the chief guest for the inaugural ceremony. Program started at 9:30 am with a meeting followed by a silent prayer for three members who have passed away this year and in remembrance of great music director Johnson mash who passed away last month. Program Convener Adv Manikrishnan given a warm welcome speech.

Association President Sebastian Vathukadan addressed the contestants.

Association general secretary Steephen Vadakethala presented the 2011 association report. Chief guest T Premkumar lighted the traditional lamp and officially flagged off the ceremony. Felicitation speeches were given by Association treasurer Manishkumar, Vanitha Vedi president Rema Vijayan and Kalikalam president Vignesh Jayathilakan. Vote of thanks was delivered by arts convener Shailesh Paul.

Competition staged in 5 different venues with high standard dazzling contest

witnessed by highly competent judges.

All the five stages were filled with energetic crowds who gave enormous motivations to the contestants. Competition results were announced on the same day.

The organizers informed that the prizes were distributed on 14th October, 2011 at United Indian School, Abbassiya during TRASSK half yearly general body meeting.

LIC Int’l launches new product

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IC (International) Kuwait launched a new product which gives guaranteed return to the investor ‘JEEVAN AASTHA’. The product was launched on 9.10.2011 by R. Thamodharan - CEO & MD and L. Shamsunder - General Manager of LIC (International)BSC Bahrain, in the presence of G Rajasekar - AGM of Warba Insurance Co, Resident Managers Abdul Wahid and Tushar Pandya, and Marketing officers and consultants.

Jeevan Aastha provides a unique opportunity to the customers offering a combination of insurance and guaranteed returns. There is also a provision for Loyalty additions apart from the guaranteed amount.

This product is a close ended plan for a short period of 2 months, subject to early closing by the company.

There is no maximum limit on the investment amount. The term of the Policy can be for 3yrs, 5 yrs or 10 yrs at the option of the investor.

The above dignitaries visited Kuwait in connection with the above event met Satish C Mehta, Ambassador of India to Kuwait and thanked him for the support extended for the LIC operations in Kuwait.

Satish C Mehta also assured that the Embassy will continue to extend cooperation for all LIC activities.

Konkani drama

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uwait Goan Association (KGA) after presenting popular Konkani tiatrs ‘Ghor Bandlem ghorabo Modlo’ and ‘Tujea Moga Passot’, now all set to present Tragedy King Mario Menezes most popular Konkani drama “Hatachim Panch Bottam” in Kuwait on Friday, 18th November 2011 with full troupe. Await for more details or email: kgakuwait@gmail.com

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA The Embassy of the Argentine Republic to Kuwait will hold Argentinean National Elections on October 23. Argentinean citizens already registered in the Embassy electoral register can vote at the Argentina Embassy, located in Mishref, Block 6, St. 42, Villa 57, from 08:00 am until 18:00 pm. Citizens visiting Kuwait or not registered in the embassy Electoral Register can also justify their “No Vote” at the same day and time at the Argentinean Embassy. For further information, contact us on phone no. 25379211, Email: ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar nnnnnnn

Box Hill College Kuwait holds annual graduation ceremony

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ox Hill College Kuwait held their annual graduation ceremony where graduates received their diplomas from the only private women’s college in Kuwait.

Held at the Regency Hotel’s Maha Ballroom on Thursday, October 13, 2011, under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Higher Education Ahmed Al Melifi, VIPs, friends and family, the graduates received their diplomas on a night of special distinction. Receiving their diplomas in programs of Business Studies, Information & Communications Technology, and Arts & Design, these young women have been enabled to better serve their communities and Kuwaiti society at large with the expertise required to succeed in their respective industries.

Taught in a positive learning environment by highly-skilled and qualified educators, the programs at Box Hill College

instill leadership skills and understanding needed to excel as employees globally.

Graduates of Box Hill College receive this knowledge from an Australian certified curriculum that has been modified to suit local needs.

Speaking on this special occasion, Dr Abdulrahman Al-Shayji, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Box Hill College, said “We at Box Hill College Kuwait are committed to providing an education that prepares women to be self-sufficient, hard-working and skilled leaders.”

“The programs available at Box Hill, taught by highly-knowledgeable staff in an environment beneficial to learning, are gaining recognition as highly suitable to the Kuwait market’s needs,” he continued.

“With this first graduating class, Box Hill’s growth is now tangible and will continue to be felt across Kuwait with every graduating class.”

John Maddock, the CEO of Box Hill

Australia commented on this occasion “Let me say a few words about the partnership between Box Hill and BHCK. It is a significant relationship which is very close to my heart. We have worked with BHCK from an inspired concept, to the outstanding college from which you are graduating. As I walked around your fabulous campus today, I saw state of the art facilities, dedicated faculty and enthusiastic students. You are right to be very proud of your college.

“From humble beginnings, our partnership has flourished. Our graduates today are the newest members of the Box Hill/ BHCK alumni group which now has members all across the world, including many Gulf Region countries. This is a significant achievement. It is the result of a strong vision, commitment, and hard work by BHCK management team and faculty.”

Also commenting on the graduating classes of Box Hill College, Joe Albayati,

Vice President and Member of the Board of Trustees of Box Hill, said: “This first class of graduating young women represent a milestone for Box Hill College and are a source of pride for the administrators and educators of the college.”

“The families of these women should not only be proud of the dedication exhibited in attaining an education, but in the fact that these women are a part of the bigger picture of driving Kuwaiti society forward. These women have learned skill sets that are needed in Kuwait, and will be able to lead coming generations of women in progressing Kuwait as a society and as a nation.”

Box Hill College Kuwait is a women’s only private college located in Abu Halifa. The college is a partner to the Box Hill Institute in Australia and offers an extended campus locally, providing a lower-cost alternative to studying overseas.

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail:info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone:22971170. The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk nnnnnnn

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. 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 (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on October 26, 2011 (Wednesday) Diwali. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF US The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Leadership for Democracy Fellows Program is now accepting applications - deadline Nov 1, 2011. The MEPI Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) Program is an exciting, selective 3-month program in the United States for 20-25 young civic leaders from the Middle East and North Africa. The program begins with 6 weeks of academic coursework, where fellows focus on the concepts of leadership, democracy, communication, and conflict resolution among other issues. After completing the academic portion of the program, participants engage in a 6-week professional assignment with a political, non-governmental, or public policy organization in Washington, DC. For more information about the program, please email: kuwaitmepi@state.gov Visit us @ USEmbassyQ8 http://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyQ8

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Years

00:45 Dogs 101 01:40 Shark Invasion 02:35 Into The Lion’s Den 03:30 Your Worst Animal Nightmares 04:25 Untamed & Uncut 05:20 Dogs 101 06:10 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 08:15 Breed All About It 08:40 The Really Wild Show 09:10 Baby Planet 10:05 Natural Born Hunters 10:30 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 11:00 Crocodile Hunter 11:55 Dogs 101 12:50 Speed Of Life 13:45 Mutant Planet 14:40 Must Love Cats 15:35 Bad Dog 16:30 My Cat From Hell 17:25 Into The Pride 18:20 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 19:15 Swarm Chasers 20:10 Dogs 101 21:05 Beast Lands 22:00 Wildest Africa 22:55 Whale Wars 23:50 Untamed & Uncut

00:00 Robin Hood 00:50 The Jonathan Ross Show 01:40 Blackadder II 02:10 Blackadder II 02:40 The Weakest Link 03:25 As Time Goes By 03:55 One Foot In The Grave 04:30 Balamory 04:50 Gigglebiz 05:05 Me Too 05:25 Charlie And Lola 05:35 Buzz & Tell 05:45 Balamory 06:05 Gigglebiz 06:20 Me Too 06:40 Charlie And Lola 06:55 Buzz & Tell 07:05 Balamory 07:25 Gigglebiz 07:40 Me Too 08:00 Charlie And Lola 08:10 Buzz & Tell 08:20 Balamory 08:40 Gigglebiz 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Charlie And Lola 09:30 Buzz & Tell 09:45 As Time Goes By 10:15 One Foot In The Grave 10:50 Robin Hood 11:35 The Weakest Link 12:20 Casualty 13:10 Incredible Journeys With Steve Leonard 14:00 The Weakest Link 14:45 The Weakest Link 15:35 Doctors 18:05 Robin Hood 18:50 As Time Goes By 19:20 One Foot In The Grave 19:50 Coast 20:50 Incredible Journeys With Steve Leonard 21:40 Lark Rise To Candleford 22:35 The Fixer 23:20 Dalziel And Pascoe

00:35 Antiques Roadshow 03:15 Antiques Roadshow 04:10 Holmes On Homes 06:45 New Scandinavian With Andreas Viestad 07:15 New Scandinavian With Andreas Viestad 07:40 Come Dine With Me 11:50 New Scandinavian With Andreas Viestad 12:15 New Scandinavian With Andreas Viestad

Cooking Cooking Cooking Cooking

12:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 13:05 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 13:30 New Scandinavian Cooking 17:30 Design Star 18:15 Design Star 19:00 Gok’s Fashion Fix 19:50 Gok’s Fashion Fix 20:40 Masterchef Australia 23:25 Design Star

00:00 BBC World News 00:10 World Features 00:30 World Challenge 2011 01:00 BBC World News 01:30 Middle East Business Report 02:00 BBC World News 02:10 World Features 02:30 Newsnight 03:00 BBC World News 03:10 World Features 03:30 Spirit Of Yachting 04:00 BBC World News 04:30 Dateline London 05:00 BBC World News 05:10 Tropic Of Cancer 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Click 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 Newsnight 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 India Business Report 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 Fast Track 10:00 BBC World News 10:10 The Health Show 10:30 Spirit Of Yachting 11:00 BBC World News 11:10 World Features 11:30 Dateline London 12:00 BBC World News 12:10 World Features 12:30 Horizons 13:00 BBC World News 13:10 World Features 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 Newsnight 15:00 BBC World News 15:10 World Features 15:30 BBC World News 16:00 BBC World News 16:15 Sport Today 16:30 Click 17:00 BBC World News 17:30 World Challenge 2011 18:00 BBC World News 18:10 Tropic Of Cancer 19:00 BBC World News 19:30 India Business Report 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 BBC World News 21:00 Sports World Have Your Say 21:30 Sports World Have Your Say 22:00 BBC World News 22:30 Spirit Of Yachting 23:00 BBC World News 23:10 This Week With Christiane Amanpour

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:40 02:05 02:30 02:55 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:35 05:00 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 08:55

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 Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Garfield Show The Addams Family Popeye Paddington Bear Gerald Mcboing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Puppy In My Pocket

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 09:20 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:00 11:30 13:05 13:30 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:30 15:55 16:20 Doo 16:45 17:10 17:35 17:55 18:20 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:40 20:00 20:30 20:50 21:05 21:40 22:05 22:30 23:00 23:10 23:35

Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals Looney Tunes Yogi’s Ark Lark New Yogi Bear Show Tex Avery The Addams Family Droopy & Dripple The Flintstones The Garfield Show Duck Dodgers Wacky Races Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley The Jetsons Wacky Races Scooby Doo Where Are You! Popeye Classics The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Top Cat Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Wacky Races The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You!

00:05 Robotboy - Elements 00:30 Squirrel Boy 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Cramp Twins 01:45 Chop Socky Chooks 02:10 Best Ed 02:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 03:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:25 Generator Rex 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Flapjack 04:40 Chowder 05:05 Powerpuff Girls 05:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:20 Squirrel Boy 06:45 Cow & Chicken 07:00 The Life & Times Of Juniper Lee 07:04 Cow & Chicken 07:25 Powerpuff Girls 07:50 Cartoon Network Dance Club 08:05 Angelo Rules 08:30 Chowder 08:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 09:20 Adventure Time 09:45 Gumball 09:55 Cow & Chicken 10:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 10:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 11:20 Generator Rex 11:45 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 12:10 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 12:35 Hero 108 13:00 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 13:25 Robotboy - Elements 13:50 I Am Weasel 14:15 Best Ed 14:40 Chowder 15:05 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 15:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 15:55 Cow & Chicken 16:20 Adventure Time 16:45 Codename: Kids Next Door 17:10 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 17:35 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 18:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 18:25 Flapjack 18:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 19:15 Adventure Time 19:40 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 20:05 Chowder 20:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 20:55 Cow & Chicken 21:20 Best Ed 21:45 I Am Weasel

A PERFECT GETAWAY ON OSN ACTION HD

22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40

Ben 10 Bakugan Battle Brawlers The Secret Saturdays Samurai Jack Megas XLR

00:00 The Best Of Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 World Report 01:30 Open Court 02:00 World Report 02:30 Inside Africa 03:00 Your Money 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 The Best Of The Situation Room 06:00 World Sport 06:30 Open Court 07:00 World Report 07:30 The Best Of Backstory 08:00 World Report 08:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 08:30 Cnngo 09:00 World Report 09:15 CNN Marketplace Africa 09:30 The Gateway 09:45 Future Cities 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Open Court 11:00 African Voices 11:30 Talk Asia 12:00 World’s Untold Stories 12:30 Inside Africa 13:00 World Report 13:30 World Sport 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 16:00 State Of The Union 17:00 International Desk 17:30 Inside Africa 18:00 The Gateway 18:15 Future Cities 18:30 World Sport 19:00 Prism 19:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 20:00 International Desk 20:30 Cnngo 21:00 World Report 21:30 Open Court 22:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 23:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps

00:40 I’m Alive 01:35 I’m Alive 02:30 How It’s Made 03:00 How Stuff’s Made 03:25 How It’s Made 03:55 How Stuff’s Made 04:20 How It’s Made 04:50 How Stuff’s Made 05:15 How It’s Made 05:40 How Stuff’s Made 06:05 How It’s Made 06:35 How Stuff’s Made 07:00 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 07:50 Desert Car Kings 08:45 Carfellas 09:10 South Beach Classics 09:40 Extreme Fishing 10:30 River Monsters 11:25 Ultimate Survival 12:20 How It’s Made 12:45 Cash Cab Us 15:05 Cake Boss 17:20 Mythbusters 18:15 Ultimate Survival 19:10 Deadliest Catch 20:05 Dual Survival 21:00 Mythbusters 21:55 Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero 22:50 Taking On Tyson 23:45 Taking On Tyson

00:05 Green Wheels 00:30 Race to Mars 01:20 Engineered 05:40 Green Wheels 06:10 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 07:00 Race to Mars 07:55 Head Rush 07:58 Sci-Fi Science 08:25 Weird Connections 08:55 Da Vinci’s Machines 09:45 Prototype This 10:35 Engineered 14:45 Head Rush 14:48 Sci-Fi Science 15:15 Weird Connections 15:45 Bang Goes the Theory 16:10 The Gadget Show 16:35 The Gadget Show 17:00 Future Weapons 17:50 Human Body: Ultimate Machine 18:40 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 19:30 When Aliens Attack 20:20 Race to Mars 21:10 Invisible Worlds 22:00 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 22:50 When Aliens Attack 23:40 Bang Goes the Theory

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 Cody 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:05 Cody 10:30

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Imagination Movers The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb

10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 Cody 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 Cody 22:50 23:15 23:35

Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas

00:25 Fashion Police 00:55 Chelsea Lately 01:25 E!es 02:20 E! Investigates 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Reality Hell 05:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 06:00 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 THS 16:55 Behind The Scenes 17:25 Behind The Scenes 17:55 E! News 18:55 Bridalplasty 19:55 Giuliana & Bill 20:55 Ice Loves Coco 21:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:25 E! News 23:25 The Soup 23:55 Chelsea Lately

00:30 A Haunting 01:15 The Haunted 02:05 Ghost Lab 02:50 A Haunting 04:25 On The Case With Paula Zahn 05:15 The Will: Family Secrets Revealed 06:10 Mystery ER 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:45 Murder Shift 08:35 Mystery ER 09:20 Real Emergency Calls 10:05 The Prosecutors 10:50 FBI Files 11:40 Murder Shift 12:25 On The Case With Paula Zahn 13:15 Disappeared 14:00 Mystery ER 14:50 Real Emergency Calls 15:35 The Prosecutors 16:20 Forensic Detectives 17:10 Murder Shift 18:00 FBI Files 18:45 Real Emergency Calls 19:10 Mystery ER 19:55 Street Patrol 20:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn 21:10 Disappeared 22:00 Nightmare Next Door 22:50 I Almost Got Away With It 23:40 Couples Who Kill

00:00 Perilous Journeys 01:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 01:30 Pressure Cook 02:00 A World Apart 03:00 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 04:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 05:00 Long Way Down 06:00 Perilous Journeys 07:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 07:30 Pressure Cook 08:00 A World Apart 09:00 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:00 Long Way Down 12:00 Perilous Journeys 13:00 Food School 14:00 Market Values 15:00 Word of Mouth 15:30 Banged Up Abroad 17:30 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 18:00 Travel Madness 18:30 Madventures 19:00 Food School 20:00 Market Values 20:30 Market Values 21:00 Word of Mouth 21:30 Banged Up Abroad 23:30 Weird & Wonderful Hotels

00:00 02:15 04:15 06:00 08:00 PG15 10:15 12:30 14:15 PG15 16:30 18:30 20:15 18 22:00

From Hell-18 Let Me In-R Secret Window-PG15 The Thirteenth Floor-18 The Day After Tomorrow-

00:45 02:45 04:45 07:00 09:00 11:15 13:00 15:15 17:00 19:00

The Killer Inside Me-18 Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 Tron: Legacy-PG15 Good Hair-PG15 The Great Debaters-PG15 Dean Spanley-PG Tron: Legacy-PG15 The Flyboys-PG15 Hurricane Season-PG15 The Last Airbender-PG

Coach Carter-PG15 Tracker-PG15 The Day After TomorrowCourage Under Fire-PG15 Tracker-PG15 30 Days Of Night: Dark DaysA Perfect Getaway-18

THE LAST AIRBENDER ON OSN CINEMA 21:00 Precious-18 23:00 Lost Boys: The Thirst-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Party Down 02:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 03:00 Melissa And Joey 03:30 Mr. Sunshine 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Malcolm In The Middle 06:00 Coach 06:30 Weird Science 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Melissa And Joey 09:00 Malcolm In The Middle 09:30 How I Met Your Mother 10:00 Outsourced 10:30 Coach 11:00 Weird Science 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Mr. Sunshine 13:30 Malcolm In The Middle 14:00 Coach 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 Outsourced 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 8 Simple Rules ...

19:30 State Of Georgia 20:00 Happy Endings 20:30 Curb Your Enthusiasm 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:00 Party Down 23:30 Happy Endings

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Miami Big Love C.S.I. Eureka The View Good Morning America The Good Guys Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View C.S.I. New York C.S.I. C.S.I. Miami Live Good Morning America Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Law & Order: Los Angeles Charlie’s Angels Pan Am Big Love The Good Guys

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

Law & Order Rescue Me C.S.I. Miami C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Terriers Law & Order Two And A Half Men Coronation Street White Collar Terriers C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Miami Two And A Half Men Coronation Street White Collar Law & Order Two And A Half Men Coronation Street Burn Notice Law & Order: Los Angeles Charlie’s Angels

21:00 Pan Am 22:00 Rescue Me 23:00 Terriers

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 16:30 19:15 21:00 23:00

Paranormal Activity-PG15 Secret Window-PG15 The Evil Dead-R Speed-PG15 Sleep Dealer-PG15 King Arthur-PG15 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 Sleep Dealer-PG15 2012-PG15 Midnight Meat Train-18 The Alphabet Killer-PG15 The Forsaken-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 PG15 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Invention Of Lying-PG15 The Freshman-PG15 The Ramen Girl-PG15 Garfield-PG Double Wedding-PG15 A Pyromaniac’s Love Story-

01:30 03:45 06:00 08:00 10:00 11:45 14:00 16:45 PG15 18:30 20:30 22:45

School Of Rock-PG15 The Out Of Towners-PG15 The Invention Of Lying-PG15 Finding Lenny-PG15 Out Cold-PG15 Hot Tub Time Machine-18

L’armee Du Crime-18 Mary, Queen Of Scots-PG15 Me And Orson Welles-PG Make It Funky!-PG15 North-PG Me And Orson Welles-PG Forrest Gump-PG15 Squanto: A Warrior’s TaleAntwone Fisher-PG15 Invictus-PG15 Arrivederci Amore, Ciao-18

01:30 Fools Rush In-PG15 03:30 Napoleon Dynamite-PG 05:00 At Risk-PG15 07:00 Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant-PG15 09:00 Ghosts Of Girlfriends PastPG15 11:00 Just Married-PG15 13:00 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 15:00 Shrek Forever After-FAM 17:00 Ghosts Of Girlfriends PastPG15 19:00 Gentlemen Broncos-PG15 21:00 The Wolfman-18 23:00 Film Socialisme-PG15

01:45 Dr. Dolittle-PG 04:00 Young Fisherman-PG 05:45 The Amazing Zorro-FAM 07:45 Christmas In New York-PG 10:00 Bambi II-FAM 11:45 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel-FAM 14:00 Time Kid-FAM 16:00 Cats & Dogs-PG 18:00 Bambi II-FAM 20:00 Pocahontas & The Spider Woman-PG 22:00 Christmas In New York-PG

01:00 03:15 05:15 06:15 07:15 07:45 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:30 15:00 17:00 17:30 18:30 20:00 22:00 23:00

Rugby World Cup WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line WWE Tough Enough Total Rugby Rugby World Cup LIVE RWC Matchday LIVE Rugby World Cup LIVE RWC Matchday RWC Matchday Highlights Rugby World Cup Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport RWC Matchday Highlights Rugby World Cup RWC Matchday WWE Tough Enough

01:00 RWC Matchday 01:30 Currie Cup 03:30 ICC Cricket World

04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:30 16:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Trans World Sport Currie Cup Scottish Premier League Total Rugby RWC Matchday Live RWC Matchday Live Rugby World Cup 2011 Live RWC Matchday Rugby World Cup Classics Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Live Scottish Premier League Futbol Mundial Total Rugby RWC Matchday Rugby World Cup 2011 RWC Matchday Scottish Premier League

03:00 05:00 07:00 11:30 12:00 14:00 16:00 20:00 20:30 21:30

Scottish Premier League LV Anglo-Welsh Cup European PGA Tour Futbol Mundial Scottish Premier League Darts Grand Prix Live European PGA Tour RWC Matchday Highlights RWC Weekly Highlights European PGA Tour

00:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 17:00 18:45 19:45 22:00

UFC 136 UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line WWE Smackdown Power Boats F1 Power Boats F1 Speedway FIM World V8 Supercars Extra Super Formula WWE SmackDown UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live European Challenge Cup Live Super Formula

00:00 Secrets of Bangkok 01:00 Temples In The Clouds 02:00 Trabant Trek 02:30 Surfari 03:00 Tall Ship Explorers 04:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Intrepid Journeys 09:00 Cruise Today 09:30 Flavours of Greece 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 Secrets of Bangkok 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Planet Food 14:00 Chef Abroad 14:30 Flavours Of Spain 15:00 Essential Specials 16:00 Globe Trekker Special 17:00 People of the Sea 18:00 Short History of Convict Australia 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Planet Sports 21:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 22:00 Essential Specials 23:00 Globe Trekker

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00

Nostradamus Effect Modern Marvels Modern Marvels Decoding the Past The Real Wolfman Nostradamus Effect Modern Marvels Modern Marvels Decoding the Past The Real Wolfman Nostradamus Effect Modern Marvels Modern Marvels Decoding the Past The Real Wolfman Nostradamus Effect American Pickers American Pickers Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Amazon Adventures Decoding the Past

Classifieds SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Fully furnished sharing accommodation available for Indian couple or bachelors with an Indian family, central A/C flat having Internet and satellite. Rent KD 80, Hawally near Sultan Center. Contact: 97919485.

(C 3693) 15-10-2011 Sharing accommodation available for Indian / Sri Lankan couple or ladies in Salmiya near Indian Public School. Contact: 99467432.

(C 3690) 13-10-2011

CHANGE OF NAME I, Yasmine Abbasi, holder of Indian Passport No. Q693373 hereby change my name to Tasneem Abbasi with the new Passport No. E8590562.

(C 3691) I, Nallam Narasimhulu Indian Hindu holder of Indian Passport No. J 3971485 converted in to Islam religion and changed my name as Shaik Abdullah Al Haji from 16.01.1993.

(C 3692) I, Abdul Manaf Badarudeen, holder of

Indian Passport No: E1020382, now residence in Kuwait would like to change my name to Manu Manaf Badarudeen.

(C 3688) 15-10-2011

FOR SALE Toyota Corolla, model 1999, Xli, white (box), 1.8cc, automatic gear, well maintained, passing till May 2012, price negotiable.

Only serious buyer contact: 99223481. (C 3697) Hyundai Galloper 2000 model automatic car in good condition, with metallic green color, new tires and battery, and registration up to August 2012.

Serious buyers contact 66782239 / 25616795.

(C 3698) 16-10-2011 Galant-2008 model for sale, well maintained, semi super deluxe model, color: silver grey, engine: 2400 cc, automatic gear, accident free, sun roof, ABS, airbag, cruise control, 6 disc CD player, passing till June 2012.

Asking price: KD 3,100/only serious buyer contact: 65561277. (C 3680) MATRIMONIAL Looking for bride, good educated, preferably R/C or Christian, age (37-41),

groom age 46, single R/C Tamil speaking, working here in oil refinery in Kuwait as a technical professional.

Send details through email: diamondforever1963@gmail.com

(C 3696) Inviting marriage proposal for Hindu Ezhava boy, 30 years old, star Ravathy from Kottayam district, Kerala, working as an operator for Ministry of Electricity and Water Kuwait (MEW, direct) seeking alliance from parents of girls working in Kuwait/abroad. Email: varsh_m2003@yahoo.co.in (C 3695) 15-10-2011

Transferable residency required.

Contact: 99018760 / 99390585.

(C 3687)

LOST SITUATION VACANT Wanted driver for small Kuwaiti family, 3-5 years experience in Kuwait, speak, read write English, 20-30 years old. Contact: 99997550. (C 3685) Driver vacancy is available, valid Kuwaiti driver’s license and transferable residency required.

Contact: 99018760 / 99390585.

(C 3686) A Kuwaiti family is looking to hire an Indian cook familiar with the traditional Kuwaiti cuisine.

Passport No: E 3974347, name: Gollamandala Radha-Surendra Raja Kumari, has been lost, any finder may contact: 65668829. (C 3694) 15-10-2011

SITUATION WANTED Mechanical Engineering graduate, with immaculate English language skills, looking for a job in Kuwait, Transferable residency.

Contact: 67078742.

(C 3663) 12-10-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines RJA MLR JZR RBG THY ETH UAE DHX ETD MSR FDB GFA QTR JZR KAC JZR FCX JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE IRA QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA FCX MEA RBG IRC JZR JZR KAC MSR UAL RJA KAC FDB QTR KAC

Flt 642 1405 267 3564 772 620 853 370 305 614 67 211 138 529 544 503 201 555 412 157 206 382 284 302 53 332 678 352 855 615 132 125 603 301 213 203 404 3555 6801 561 201 672 610 982 640 774 57 140 562

Arrival Flights on Sunday 16/10/2011 Route AMMAN COLOMBO/DUBAI BEIRUT ASSIUT ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ASSIUT CAIRO LUXOR DUBAI ALEXANDRIA MANILA/BANGKOK LONDON ISLAMABAD DELHI DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT/DUBAI COCHIN DUBAI SHAHRE KORD DOHA SHARJAH SHIRAZ ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA AHWAZ SOHAG DAMASCUS DUBAI CAIRO WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN RIYADH DUBAI DOHA AMMAN

Time 0:05 0:15 0:35 0:40 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 3:35 4:40 5:15 5:25 6:10 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:20 7:40 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:25 8:35 9:00 9:10 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:30 10:55 11:05 11:15 12:30 12:45 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:15 14:20

SVA VOS KAC KAC JZR QTR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR RBG JZR ABY JZR FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI SYR FDB OMA VOS MEA KAC DHX KAC UAE KAC GFA QTR UAL AFG AIC JZR JZR JZR MSR DLH AXB JZR KLM JZR PIA

500 84 788 746 257 134 303 857 215 510 777 3557 239 127 213 63 227 177 166 542 618 786 614 674 102 572 341 61 647 81 402 552 372 512 859 172 217 136 981 405 981 135 787 185 612 636 389 539 447 481 205

JEDDAH DOMODEDOVO AIRPORT JEDDAH ABU DHABI/DAMMAM BEIRUT DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH SOHAG AMMAN SHARJAH DEIREZZOR/ALEPPO DUBAI COLOMBO/DUBAI DUBAI PARIS/ROME CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI NEW YORK/LONDON MUMBAI ALEPPO DUBAI MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT DAMASCUS BAHRAIN TEHRAN DUBAI FRANKFURT BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN KABUL/DUBAI CHENNAI/AHMEDABAD BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE CAIRO AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN SABIHA LAHORE

14:30 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:15 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:35 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:15 21:00 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:50 23:55

Airlines KAC AXB DLH AIC MLR RBG THY ETH UAE FDB DHX ETD MSR QTR VDA JZR RJA GFA JZR BAW FDB KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC IRA UAE ABY QTR KAC ETD GFA KAC IRA JZR FCX RBG MEA JZR KAC JZR IRC KAC KAC

Departure Flights on Sunday 16/10/2011 Flt Route 677 DUBAI/MUSCAT 394 COCHIN/KOZHIKODE 637 FRANKFURT 976 GOA/CHENNAI 1405 COLOMBO 3562 ALEXANDRIA 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 615 CAIRO 139 DOHA 4941 DELHI 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 171 FRANKFURT 671 DUBAI 745 DAMMAM/ABU DHABI 256 BEIRUT 561 AMMAN 787 JEDDAH 614 SHAHRE KORD 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 133 DOHA 117 NEW YORK 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 773 RIYADH 602 SHIRAZ 212 DEIREZZOR/ALEPPO 204 DUBAI 3558 SOHAG 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 541 CAIRO 238 AMMAN 6802 AHWAZ 103 LONDON 785 JEDDAH

Time 0:10 0:15 0:40 0:50 1:15 1:20 2:15 2:45 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:05 5:00 5:30 5:55 7:00 7:10 7:15 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:25 9:35 9:40 9:50 10:00 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 10:50 11:45 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:30 13:30

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

JZR MSR RJA FDB UAL KAC KAC KAC SVA JZR QTR KAC KAC JZR ETD QTR UAE GFA RBG ABY JZR SVA FDB JZR ALK JZR KAC KAC JAI FDB SYR KAC KAC OMA MEA DHX UAE GFA FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR UAL KAC KAC MSR

176 611 641 58 982 551 673 617 503 480 141 613 511 538 304 135 858 216 3556 128 184 511 64 786 228 134 283 361 571 62 342 343 351 648 403 373 860 218 102 137 301 205 502 530 981 411 415 613

DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN DUBAI BAHRAIN DAMASCUS DUBAI DOHA MEDINAH/JEDDAH SABIHA DOHA BAHRAIN TEHRAN CAIRO ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI/COLOMBO BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI ALEPPO CHENNAI COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ASSIUT WASHINGTON DC DULLES BANGKOK/MANILA KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA CAIRO

13:40 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:55 15:10 15:35 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:20 16:30 16:40 17:35 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 18:40 19:10 19:10 20:00 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:50

34

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 470

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) This morning will bring with it good luck and positive opportunities. If you are not learning about better nutrition, today and tomorrow are good times to begin. Normally, you are a very eager person—you may be encouraged to push beyond your strengths or be inclined to tax yourself today.

You could be a bit pushy about your own belief system or style of doing things—careful. If you do not get your message across the first time, make it a point to take a step back, in order to see issues from a different perspective. There is a lot of energy and drive available to accomplish whatever you want to accomplish today. Expect a sense of support from those around you. Talking with a friend this evening may give you a new investment idea.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your mind could be quite clear and natural just now. Ideas are flowing and come with ease. You can talk, talk and talk. Decisions and new beginnings are possible at this time; for the next three days try to avoid rash decisions. Running to and fro with no set plan or ideas can cause problems, physically and mentally. Any group activity will have much success. Perhaps a garage sale, auction or bazaar is in the works and can be planned now. You can grab attention or profit at this time. This is a day you should find everything running in a smooth manner.

Working with—rather than against—the flow should be easy to do. An opportunity to take on a part-time job has positive possibilities. If you have a mate, discuss this opportunity before making a decision.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

4. Transient cessation of respiration.

9. The total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor.

13. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

14. Impressive in scale.

15. Any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages.

16. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

17. A desert in southern Israel.

18. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

19. A block of the earth's crust bounded by faults and shifted to form peaks of a mountain range.

21. (prosody) Of or consisting of iambs.

23. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

24. A public promotion of some product or service.

26. Open to change.

27. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

29. A small cake leavened with yeast.

31. Having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies.

32. A Russian prison camp for political prisoners.

34. A pilgrimage to Mecca.

39. Of or pertaining to a number system having 16 as its base.

40. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

42. Possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers.

46. An elaborate song for solo voice.

48. The god who fathered the islands and gods of Japan with his sister Izanami.

49. Filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock.

51. English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349).

55. The lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle).

59. The cry made by sheep.

60. The capital and largest city of Ghana with a deep-water port.

64. A city of central China.

65. A slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water.

66. The world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in North Africa.

68. Flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes.

69. An inflammatory complication of leprosy that results in painful skin lesions on the arms and legs and face.

70. A port city in southwestern Iran.

71. A boy or man.

DOWN 1. A fraudulent business scheme.

2. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

3. An honorary arts degree.

4. God of fire.

5. Manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere.

6. Someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault.

7. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

8. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (trade names Advil and Motrin and Nuprin) used to relieve the pain of arthritis and as an analgesic and antipyretic.

9. Annual or perennial herbs with large leaves that resemble the leaves of cabbages.

10. Bid over an opponent's bid when one's partner has not bid or doubled, in Bridge.

11. Freshwater or marine or terrestrial gastropod mollusk usually having an external enclosing spiral shell.

12. The third canonical hour.

20. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

22. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

25. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

28. A man who courts a woman.

30. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

33. Being one more than sixty.

35. Type genus of the Amiidae.

36. Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk.

37. A flexible container with a single opening.

38. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

41. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

43. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

44. A numerical scale used to compare variables with one another or with some reference number.

45. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

47. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

50. Soft suede glove leather from goatskin.

52. (Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man. 53. A telephone connection.

54. An independent group of closely related Chadic languages spoken in the area between the Biu-Mandara and East Chadic languages.

55. Extremely pleasing.

56. A small stream.

57. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

58. A town in north central Oklahoma.

61. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

62. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

63. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

67. An associate degree in nursing.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Circumstances may block you or bring you to a standstill.

Fortunately, this is what makes today lucky—because you stay in one place longer than usual, amazingly, the good luck comes to you. You have a sense of serenity and inner harmony. You attract others to you because of your good attitude. Spiritual concerns achieve an added importance now. You could be tempted to over-indulge in food and drink later today when friends include you in some sort of celebration event. You enjoy the work you do to help build family relations; however, now it is time to create a little area for yourself so that you can create and enjoy your own private space. Some form of music, laughter and exercise is in order this evening.

Communications are insightful.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Obtaining and exchanging information takes on more emotional significance for you now. Being more involved with neighbors or sibling(s) satisfies a deep emotional need. Communicating feelings becomes more important. You may be able to enjoy and value your own life situation or feel especially kind toward a friend or loved one. Someone may compliment you on your tastes or belongings. You are in a great mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own better qualities. You may see value in or feel love for an older person or someone in authority. Getting away from the old routine may help you with a love relationship now. Perhaps a fun time at a nearby tourist park, concert or a nice restaurant dinner could be planned for this evening.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Put a closure on any old business or personal concerns today.

Events may make it easy for you to just enjoy the day.

Independence, originality and eccentricity are in the forefront now. Your home environment, friends and surroundings in general receive attention and encouragement.

Your work or career is in real harmony with the rest of your life. Shopping and collecting things of beauty and value play a big role in your life. Provided you do not spend it all on the fancy things that catch your eye, this can be a financially favorable period.

Visiting with friends takes priority today and you may find yourself arranging for a gettogether this evening that may include a barbecue. Laughter and a lighthearted frame of mind keep your spirits positive.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Encourage your mate—it will benefit you! A natural transformation of your values and the way you appreciate and love is taking place. You may cease to waste time and money acquiring that which is worthless and may develop an eye for that which is lasting and worthwhile. Emotional beginnings, a fresh start, perhaps the establishment of new habit patterns—make sure they are good ones—because they will set the tone for you for quite some time to come! Your friends and family will support what you do; you may have to make a gentle effort to stand alone. Perhaps a new you is on the rise. Whatever you decide to do will have the support that you need. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others.

Social situations are favorable.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Your loved ones may have plans for the day that do not include you. You may remember that you wanted to go in a different direction anyway—so the feeling of being left out does not last long. Your own plans keep you busy and the day moves rather quickly. Emotional beginnings, a fresh start, perhaps the establishment of new habit patterns will set the tone for you for quite some time to come! Your creative abilities are primed and ready for whatever project you have in mind. Whatever you decide to do will have your own personal signature.

Someone is impressed with the progress you have made in such a short amount of time—celebrations are in order. Perhaps this includes painting a room or redecorating a house. Romance is in the air this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Take advantage of this weekend by planning fun things to do. If others are busy, take this opportunity to play! Busy yourself with one of the many hobbies you have. Do not push issues. This is certainly an unusual time—you may be ready to move forward with tough decisions. You know how, what and where you want to navigate. You will notice that the energies around you work with you, instead of against you, for a change. There are positive new beginnings in connection with family and friends. This is the perfect day to get close to your other half or a special friend and talk over anything under the sun, so to speak. You could gain an understanding and feel totally compatible with each other by keeping an open mind.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

Easy does it; there could be a tendency to act suddenly, without thought or consideration. Give yourself time to think through the options as they occur today. Perhaps you can work in the yard or enjoy a bicycle trip with a friend. Many of your professional and personal dreams are near the realm of possibility and you are happy with your accomplishments. A kind of Midas touch is signaled by the new cycle now dawning in your life. Prosperity and security take center stage in your thoughts; a gentle but committed conservatism brings you all kinds of good things. It may occur to you that you should be thinking seriously about where you want a permanent home and in what neighborhood. A bicycle journey with friends this afternoon will take you a long way.

Faith, optimism and a yearning to explore all kinds of new horizons are some of the focal points in your life at this time. Take a little trip today. Enjoy getting away from your regular routine. Travel, education and other ways to stretch your horizons open new doors of opportunity.

Religious, philosophical and cultural matters are likely to have a special appeal for you now; transmitting ideas on a broader scale brings gain. Support and recognition from family and friends are available. You feel at home in the world and it takes care of you. You could have deep insight into your own feelings and inner spiritual nature. There is some open time this evening to express your thoughts in some most creative ways, through poetry or music.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Expect a sense of support and goodwill from those around you today; this is a time of cooperation and getting things accomplished on a large scale. Planting of trees, bushes and perhaps a few winter vegetables can all be done in a small amount of time when several people work together. Perhaps the plants have been decided upon but each contributor might like his or her own little piece of garden to care for this winter, therefore promoting the whole picture. Projects are more interesting and satisfying when each person has an interest in the outcome. Friendships and involvement in group activities play a more important part in your life now, not just in a garden.

A fun entertainment activity can be enjoyed later today.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Consider the needs of others as you work on your financial plans now. Losing sight of the practical and mundane can make you very artistic now, but might not be so good for the bankbook. There is a need for caution and practicality on the material and financial level. Use your influence when it comes to teaching others what you have learned—especially the young people in your life. If you need any professional advice, today and tomorrow will be the best days to seek your answers. You will find the remainder of this month to be rather social. There are opportunities to attend reunions, homecomings, socials and gatherings of all sorts, particularly this week. You have a real appreciation for ideas and thoughts and you enjoy most socializing.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 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

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

Psychologists /Psychotherapists

22547272

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist 25340300

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)

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581 22641071/2

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Salem soso

22618787

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists

Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291 22666288

Rheumatologists:

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

Dentists

Internists, Chest & Heart

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25655535

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

General Surgeons

22433377 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

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

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

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

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

y

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36

e niv rsar n

Years

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Hilary Duff is expecting a boy he 24-year-old singerand-actress is pregnant with her first child with husband Mike Comrie and she has now discovered the gender of her unborn baby. She told TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres: “I haven’t told anyone yet. I wanted to tell you first. I just found out. “It’s a boy!

I had a feeling it was a boy the whole time.” Hilary - who is “a little over four months” into her pregnancy - admitted she and Mike cried when they learned she was expecting, despite the fact the 31year-old NHL ice hockey player was initially skeptical that she was carrying a baby.

She said: “My husband makes this joke that I think I’m pregnant like 12 times a year. “So when it actually happened he was in the shower. I just ran in and he was in the shower and I just held up the test and I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ And he was like, ‘AHH!’ He was soaking wet.

We were just like a mess and started crying. It was really exciting!” The former ‘Lizzie McGuire’ star is thrilled with how well her pregnancy has gone so far. She said: “I feel great, actually. It’s been super-easy.”

Sheen named Highest Paid Actor on TV

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he actor lost his role as Charlie Harper in the sitcom in March after a huge fall out with cocreator Chuck Lorre, but still topped the list compiled by Forbes.com who estimates he earned $40 million from syndication and pay owed between May 2010 and May 2011. Charlie also filed a lawsuit with Chuck and the show’s makers, Warner Brothers, over his dismissal, but this was settled out of court. Although the sum of the settlement has not been made public, it has widely been reported to be a $100 million deal, starting with a $25 million lump sum payment to Charlie.

The 46-year-old star is now working on a new show based around Adam Sandler’s film ‘Anger Management’ about an athlete-turned counselor - originally played by Jack Nicholson in the movie who

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enrages his patients more than calming them down. Speaking of the series, Charlie said: “I chose ‘Anger Management’ because, while it might be a big stretch for me to play a guy with serious anger management issues, I think it is a great concept.”

Behind Charlie on the Forbes list is Ray Romano, who banked $20 million for his new show ‘Men of a Certain Age’, which has now been axed. In third place is Steve Carell, for his performance as lead character Michael Scott in ‘The Office’, which netted him $15 million, but is a role he has left to concentrate on his film career.

‘NCIS’ star Mark Harmon came fourth with earnings of $13 million followed by Charlie’s former co-star Jon Cryer and ex-’CSI’ actor Laurence Fishburne who tied in fifth with $11 million each.

Forbes.com’s Highest Paid Actors on TV 2010-2011: 1. Charlie Sheen, $40 million 2. Ray Romano, $20 million 3. Steve Carell, $15 million 4. Mark Harmon, $13 million 5. Jon Cryer, $11 million 6. Laurence Fishburne, $11 million 7. Patrick Dempsey, $9 million 8. Simon Baker, $9 million 9. Hugh Laurie, $9 million 10. Christopher Meloni, $9 million

Kristen Stewart says best character in Twilight is Bella lthough she enjoys and respects the other characters in Stephenie Meyer’s books, which the film franchise is based on, the 21year-old actress believes Bella, who she portrays, is the most important persona in the vampire stories. In an interview with Box Office Magazine, she said: “I sound so lame, but vampire Bella really is my favorite character - she’s very representative of a matriarch. She’s very intuitive on almost a psychic level and no one ever acknowledges it, which is interesting. And I think it’s nice to see her finally get what she wants. That’s

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in love’ with New York he ‘Promise This’ hitmaker has been spending time in the US city working on new music and says she enjoyed the trip much more than others she has had there and can’t wait to return with her close friend, Girls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh. She said: “I absolutely fell in love with New York this trip. I didn’t really get it before. But I fell in love with it and Kimberley loves it too. So we’ll be going on trips there.” Cheryl has been working in New York with producer Alex da Kid and enjoyed some fruitful recording sessions while in New York. A source said: “Cheryl and Alex have struck up a great relationship and have been living in each other’s pockets for the past week. “Some of the recording sessions have run into the very early hours with just the two of them and a laptop in their hotel rooms.

“Cheryl has been suffering from jet lag and couldn’t sleep, so they have just worked through the night. It hasn’t all been work - they’ve enjoyed some play too. “If the music is going to work then they need to find their own chemistry.”

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Julianne Hough started dating Seacrest ‘at the right time’

with Geri Halliwell

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Miley Cyrus’ brother is engaged

her boyfriend Robert Pattinson - giving birth and becoming an undead bloodsucker. Speaking about the end of the franchise, she explained: “It felt good. It was really weird. It was such a long process of the two movies being shot at the same time as if they’re one.

You shoot, obviously, out of order and you keep going back and forth between pregnant, human and dead vampire Bella. There’s so many different versions of Bella in this, it’s insane.”

Cheryl Cole has ‘fallen

Pippa now friends he 28-year-old beauty - the younger sister of Britain’s Duchess Catherine of Cambridge - recently attended a charity boxing event with boyfriend Alex Loudon, and got on particularly well with the 39-yearold star. One onlooker said: “Far from feeling awkward, Pippa and Geri struck up a friendly conversation. They were getting on like a house on fire!” Geri was attending the party at the Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London and in support of the Starlight Children’s Charity, which grants wishes to terminally ill youngsters - with her exboyfriend Henry Beckwith, sparking rumours

probably the best thing, even if it sounds simple and indulgent, which is why it is criticized all the time. It’s nice to see people be happy. And she really - if I’ve played it right - is born to be where she is.” Kristen admits it was a strange experience shooting the final two movies ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2’ because the cast were saying goodbye to such a big part of their lives. The actress also found it difficult to film scenes out of sequence because Bella undergoes so many changes over the two movies, including marrying her vampire lover Edward Cullen - played by

he ‘Footloose’ actress has been dating the ‘American Idol’ host since last year and although they had known each other for some time, Julianne is delighted they didn’t start dating right away. She told Self magazine: “If you don’t know yourself, you can’t really love anybody. Today, I am really happy with who I am and feel like I’m in the right place. I’d met Ryan many times over the years, but we got together at the right time.” Along with her happiness with her relationship with Ryan, Julianne admitted she has a penchant for dangerous sports which she finds “exhilarating” although she likes traditional exercises too.

She explained:”I grew up mountain biking in Utah, and I’ve been doing it more recently since working in Miami. I crave danger. I find going fast exhilarating! I adore snowboarding, skiing, and skydiving. “I vary my workouts every day because, otherwise, I get bored. I always try to run for 20 to 40 minutes on the beach first, six days a week is fantastic, but four is great too.”

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of a reunion between the pair. Also in attendance were Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Starlight co-founder Emma Samms told Britain’s Hello! magazine: “Everyone looked absolutely stunning and it was so wonderful to have the support of guests such as Pippa, whose parents’ firm Party Pieces has been a long-term supporter of ours, and the two gorgeous princesses, Eugenie and Beatrice, who looked as though they were really enjoying the boxing.”

race Cyrus - the 22-year-old brother of the ‘Hannah Montana’ star - has revealed he proposed to his girlfriend; Disney starlet Brenda Song last week. He tweeted: “I am very excited to say, last week I asked my girlfriend Brenda Song to marry me and she said YES! We are both very excited to be engaged! (sic)”. Trace has made no secret of his desire to settle down, recently explaining he had bought his very first house and taking 23-year-old Brenda home to visit his family in Tennessee. He wrote on twitter: “At a mexican bar. Getting some good drinks and some good food on a beautiful Friday. Just signed the papers for my first house today! Stoked “In Tennessee with my beautiful girlfriend. Having a blast! No cell service. Just got Internet for the first time. Feels good to be home!!! (sic)” Brenda was spotted sporting a diamond engagement ring while leaving Kalologie Skin Care in Los Angeles.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Keeping it real at Authentic food, relaxing ambience makes a winning combination at Movenpick Shuwaikh Executive Chef Sascha Cyttrich

By Sawsan Kazak hen it comes to Italian food in Kuwait, nothing beats Al Dente Restaurant Movenpick in Shuwaikh. With handmade pastas, oven-baked pizzas and original Italian sweets, Al Dente is the place to go to when craving an authentic Italian meal.

Since September, the Movenpick Shuwaikh has welcomed new Executive Chef Sascha Cyttrich to the team. The German-born chef has brought his international experience and love of food to the hotel and plans to make some big changes.

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A life of cooking Sascha began his gastronomic journey in Germany where he studied Italian and Mediterranean cooking. He then traveled the world to gain experience in other cuisines. “ As soon as I finished my studies I went to Mexico to spend some time there, after which I went back to Germany to learn a little bit more about haute cuisine. After that I spent some time in Spain, and shortly afterwards I went to Egypt to assist in the opening of a 600-room hotel,” he told the Kuwait Times. The master chef also spent some time cooking and gaining experience in other exotic

places such as Portugal and Oman, as well as in the Canary Islands. “Working in so many countries has really helped me in my career as it has given me a better knowledge of world cuisines.

This is useful to me now because Movenpick Shuwaikh has a variety of restaurants that offer food from around the world,” he explained.

Sascha spent a lot of time in a restaurant before he even became a chef. “I was seven years old when I knew I wanted to be a chef. My grandmother had a restaurant and I spent a lot of my time there,” he recalled, adding, “My parents also spent some time working in the restaurant, which meant I was obliged to help out too. I had to help by washing up, making salads and small things like that, which led to me being a chef.”

His love of Italian food came from his many visits to the country. “I visited many areas in Italy and the food gave me inspiration, with their use of fresh herbs and the way they make the pasta from scratch which is different from the rest of Europe. The pizza from the wooden oven on stones and the way they marinate meat were what led me to study Italian cooking,” he explained.

While he greatly enjoys cooking and eating all Italian dishes, Pasta Emeliana,

Food and Beverage Manager Benjamin Hieber

one of the mouthwatering dishes available at Al Dente, holds a special place in Sascha’s heart: “This is my favorite dish as the flavors flow well together,” he says enthusiastically. “It consists of beef strips in a creamy mushroom sauce with ricotta, spinach ravioli,” he enthused. “My favorite part of Italy has to be Sicily, but in the restaurant we try to get some dishes from all over Italy.”

Ambience The setup of the restaurant is quite special as all the tables have a front row view of all the cooking action. “The open-kitchen concept is important to the dining experience,” said Sascha, adding, “Clients can see what is going on in the kitchen; it’s like a little show.

When they are waiting for their dishes they can see the progress of their order, they can see the flames from the steaks on the grill or the pizzas coming out of the oven.”

Starting from December 1, there will be some changes to the Al Dente menu, he revealed “I am working with the head chef of Al Dente, Chef Ismail Lahbil, to create a whole new menu,” he revealed. Having spent many years cooking in Rome as well as many other places in Italy, Ismail is also well-versed in Italian cuisine.

Al Dente restaurant The chefs are already working on a specialty section of the menu for Christmas and New Year to mark these holidays. From January, meanwhile, the Italian restaurant will feature a completely new menu. Not wanting to ruin the surprise Sascha didn’t divulge any of the dishes that will be on the menu, but offered his personal guarantee that they will be great.

Keeping it authentic Al Dente gets all kinds of guests at the restaurant but they are proud of the fact that

Italians who visit the restaurant compliment them on the food’s authenticity.

“We get many Italian guests that come and eat here, even staff from the Italian embassy; they know how everything should taste and that is why we keep it as authentic as possible. Every time they come here they tell us the food is just like it is back home, which is what we are aiming for,” says the chef.

“We produce all our items here at the restaurant, we do not buy convenience foods,” Sascha emphasized. “Our chef Ismail supervises the quality and consistency of our products here at Al Dente,” says Chef Sascha.

As for keeping the ingredients as close to possible to the ones in

Italy, they are finding no problems with importing anything they need directly to Kuwait. “The state of Kuwait imports everything, anything is available here,” says Food and Beverage Manager Benjamin Hieber. “Some gourmet items we have to wait a little longer for, but we end up being able to get it.” He added, “once a week we get a delivery of buffalo mozzarella and hard mozzarella for pizzas; we even import the Italian bottled water.”

The menu offers delicious dishes but the most popular are usually the pastas which Sascha believes is due to the fact that they are homemade and authentic. When asked what he hopes for in the future, Chef Sascha said jovially, “A full restaurant!”

Chef Ismail Lahbil

Life is an adventure with MAX’s 2011 winter collection ax, the Middle East’s largest value retail brand, has launched its Autumn Winter Collection for 2011. Layer up and look fashionable by stepping into Max. Colour inspiration has come from the country heritage look, with key colours like brown, camel, bottle green, rust orange and mustard yellow.

Monochrome is still on trend this season with the safety of classic greys and black with accents of soft rose pinks.

The inspiration for ladies wear this season are pretty garments sprinkled with pearls and delicate lace, tweed jackets and skirts resonate Parisian Chic styling. Military styling details are added to tops and jackets while ethnic prints give a boho luxe feel. This look is ideal for the party season with an eclectic mix of print, colour and texture. You can be on trend by wearing military inspired coats or even a plaid duffle coat to complete your look. Choose from a variety of cropped jackets and long coats in a palette of black, greys and even red. Sweaters at Max get a

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major makeover this season. Choose from belted sweater dresses, ponchos, and button through cardigan styles, with turtle necks and oversized roll over collar details.

This winter, Men’s fashion at Max offers you more style and exceptional value! The Great Outdoors, Vintage Workwear and Varsity are some of the themes that have inspired new detailing in the men’s casual collection this winter. Colours include winter shades of brown, camel, navy, forest green and burgundy which are contrasted with mustard, rust and ivory. The must have items include casual jackets in cotton and corduroy, patterned plaid shirts in autumnal hues, vintage and washed hoodies, worn jeans, chinos, plain and patterned sweaters, preppy cardigans, striper polo tees and utility styled shirts.

Classic plaids in contemporary colours reflect the ongoing trend for laundered garments with a soft touch. Winter wear fabrics and peach finishes are the core essence of the men’s casual

trousers collection. Special attention to silhouettes, new pockets, detailing and washes move the collection forward for winter 2011. Graphic tees are going strong even this winter. City Classics and Updated Country are the key looks for Men’s Formalwear this Autumn/ Winter 2011/12. Formal shirts offer a variety of collar and cuff options, including button-down, cutaway and neat fit collar styles. Micro checks, hounds tooth and stripes complete the classic and contemporary lines.

Get your boys winter wardrobe at Max today with an extensive range of collections to suit any age group from 0-14 years. It’s never been easier to grab all your must-have winter essentials, with a wide variety of sweaters and jackets instore this season. Sweaters come in hooded styles with zip fronts, v-necks with argyle patterns, intarsias and cables. Jackets for boys feature biker jackets with cut-n-sew details, military coats, zipped jackets in brushed fleece, and tweed and corduroy blazers. Plaid shirts look super trendy layered with extensive range of graphic tees to give your little man the style factor with a hint of attitude.

The Girls collection is as cute as it gets, packed with perfect fashion items these include Folklore, Rock, Equestrian and Parisian Chic. Jackets are nothing but chic - Casual lightweight jackets and trench coats rub shoulders with military styled coats. Tartan and coats are also in this season and are especially on trend in red, grey and black tones. Sweaters are fun and come in a variety of styles - choose from sweater dresses, buttoned cardigans, ponchos and cabled and intarsia styles. Layering is also key this season; choose from a vast selection of shrugs and cardigans that can be layered over dresses in gorgeous prints.

Step into any of the Max showrooms located at Hawally, Fahaheel, Al Rai, Salmiya, Khaitan, The Avenues and Jahra this winter to stay warm and very on trend. Opening soon in Kuwait City (Al Jawhara Complex).

Landmark Group launches 8th Max store in Kuwait M ax, the Middle East’s largest value retail brand reached yet another milestone with the launch of its 8th store in Kuwait at Al Jawhara Complex, Kuwait City. With the launch of this store Max has crossed more than 120 stores across all regions, and the brand has established firm footprints across the GCC, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and India. The outlet is located on the Mezzanine floor of Al Jawhara Complex which covers more than thousand sq. meters.

“We are very excited to bring great fashion at affordable prices. Max has built its success on a single, simple principle: to provide customers with trendy quality merchandise at reasonable prices” said Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait. “Max has always been a big hit in Kuwait and is an indication that people are getting more discerning when it comes to fashion. We combine quality and style to appeal to a broad customer base. People come to Max and find something that fits their personal style and their budget.”

“The opening of this store is a part of Landmark Group’s expansion plans of not only introducing new retail brands into the region but also increasing the num-

ber of existing brands. We look forward to delivering unparalleled overall shopping experience at convenient locations. We will continue with such extensive expansions in the coming years and try to serve our customers in every possible manner” concluded Basu.

The Max retail philosophy of providing style-conscious customers with fashion at affordable prices has gained attraction across the Middle East with continued growth expected across the region in coming years. The store features distinctive niches and departments offering the latest fashion range with the hottest new international trends in textures and fabrics to guarantee its patrons an enjoyable shopping experience.

Every season, Max produces a collection that is unique and fits with its overall philosophy. There’s a wide variety of apparel to choose from; so do visit any of the stores located at Al Rai, Salmiya, Hawally (Al Bahar Center), Fahaheel, Khaitan (Awtad Mall), The Avenues, Jahra (Sahari Mall) and now Kuwait City to discover more.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

lifestyle

In pictures taken on February 23, 2011 workers clean bird’s nests before they are packed for export in Malaysia’s port town of Klang. — AFP

Bird’s nest boom has Malaysian producers drooling T

housands of swiftlets erupt from their roosts, swirling into a brightening dawn in a riotous ritual that announces the start of each day in this coastal town in northern Malaysia. But the tiny birds emerge not from natural cave roosts, but from a purpose-built swiftlet “farm” resembling an industrial building that affords easy access to the valuable nests used in bird’s nest soup. Such farms are at the centre of a Malaysian effort to capitalize on the growing world popularity of the soup, a delicacy believed in Chinese society to be an aphrodisiac and provide a range of health benefits.

Strong demand for the so-called “Caviar of the East” from newly wealthy consumers in China and India and in the Middle East is fuelling unprecedented new growth in a world market estimated by Malaysia’s government at more than $6 billion. “The Middle East is our new market. They are feeding bird’s nest soup to race horses to make them run

faster,” said Loke Yeu Loong, managing director of the swiflet farm in the rural coastal town of Sitiawan.

“At the moment, demand outstrips supply.” The cupshaped collections of twigs are held together by dried swiftlet saliva, which is made into a gelatinous soup credited in China with everything from alleviating asthma to arresting the ageing process.

In 2009, world production reached 3,750 tonnes, 75 percent of which came from Indonesia. Thailand and Malaysia, where the birds also are found in huge numbers, produced most of the rest. But safety and environmental concerns have forced a move away from the caves and disused buildings where swiftlets roost, and Malaysian harvesters are today building thousands of surrogate homes for the birds. Loke opened his first dedicated swiftlet farm in 2009 — several block-long rows of neatly designed three-storey buildings with sealed doors and windows and hollow interiors-outside Sitiawan in Perak state.

Enticed by swiftlet mating songs played from loudspeakers, the birds enter via small openings and build their nests. From just a few hundred individual bird houses in the late 1990s, there are now about 50,000 in Malaysia, according to the government.

Malaysia produced about 275 tons of bird’s nest in 2010, worth some 1.5 billion ringgit ($470 million), and the government projects output growing to 500 tons by 2020. Demand has pushed the average price of a kilogram of Malaysia bird’s nest to 4,000 ringgit today, four times what it was 20 years ago.

“Obviously at present we can’t meet the huge growing consumer demand for edible bird’s nest,” Loke said. His firm, Swiftlet Eco Park, is now developing or planning 14 other sites nationwide and aims to become Malaysia’s top producer. The Malaysian industry hatched in the 1980s but gained momentum after the 1997 Asian financial crisis left many property developments abandoned or unfinished.

Resourceful entrepreneurs capitalized on this-and the lack of industry regulation-to use many such sites as swiftlet farms. But they ran into opposition amid complaints that the recorded bird song disturbed human residents and that droppings posed a potential health threat in the avian flu era. Calls for regulation have grown louder.

As a result, government officials say authorities have stopped approving new farms in urban areas and that legislation expected soon would ban them except in rural zones. Environmentalists criticize the repeated snatching of the birds’ diligently built nests, often before they can lay their eggs, as cruel to the swiftlets. “Our major concern is the distress caused to the birds,” said Mohamad Idris, president of the Malaysian branch of Friends of the Earth.

Mohamad Noorhisham, head of swiflet supervision for Malaysia’s veterinary services agency, said legislation expected next year would ensure safe, sustainable and bird-friendly development of the industry. Among other things, it will outlaw harvesting of nests containing chicks. “We want the industry to be environmentally and people-friendly,” he said. But with the birds plentiful-the government does not have precise figures-and processed nests fetching high prices, the growth looks to continue.

Five years ago, swiftlet farmer John Peor had a handful of the purpose-built structures. Today, his firm Yenzheka Technology has more than 60, producing about 200 kilograms of nests per month for export to Hong Kong and China. He hopes to raise monthly output to 500 kilograms.

“Buyers book in advance. I sell processed bird’s nest for anything between 8,000 to 15,000 ringgit per kilogram, depending on the grade,” he said.

Producers and veterinary officials say that while concerns must be addressed, farming is more sustainable. —AFP

Myanmar Bridal Fair

F A S H I O N

Models present creations by Myanmar designers during a bridal fair at a hotel in Yangon.

A Myanmar model presents a creation by a Myanmar designer during a bridal fair at a hotel in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday.

Myanmar models present creations by Myanmar designers during a bridal fair yesterday. —AP photos

Greek cartoonists draw the crisis T

he ancient philosophers had their golden age. Now it’s the turn of Greek newspaper cartoonists. The economic crisis that threatens to go global offers a bonanza for satirists with a talent for the scathing image or caption.

Cartoonists have portrayed the Greek economy as the Titanic, that eternal symbol of disaster; Greek leaders as buffoons shielded from mobs by robotic police with gas masks and truncheons; and ordinary Greeks as beggars, at the mercy of fat cats in top hats who represent international creditors. “Bad times are good times for cartoonists,” said Maria Tzaboura, a cartoonist for the Greek newspaper Proto Thema who sees humor as a form of protest and “less is more” as a guide for her simply drawn victims of circumstance, their limbs scattered about like a dismembered children’s doll.

Greece’s economic upheaval affects almost everyone, consuming commentators, cartoonists among them, who channel a nation’s confusion and anger over slashed wages and benefits, higher taxes, goalpost-shifting politicians and the austere dictates of foreign creditors worried about their own portfolios. Greek cartoonists eviscerate every conceivable culprit with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel or, better said, an assassin’s dagger.

Sometimes, they unleash happy-go-lucky blasts of sarcasm that yank a grin or snigger.

They don’t just play for populist laughs in blogs and newspapers. It is serious social commentary by people who seek to shape

could have prevented some things,” mused cartoonist Tzaboura, who also illustrates children’s books. Pondering the massive US debt, and Italy’s shaky finances, she suggested her nation was a diversion, or scapegoat: “Thank God they’ve got Greece now. I’m not saying it’s an excuse.”

Tzaboura favors Greek wordplay. One cartoon shows a human form in five pieces, with arrows identifying each as a “dosi,” or “installment” in Greek. The term refers to bailout tranches from European

creditors and the International Monetary Fund that keep Greece afloat, though the cartoon implies the pact has chopped up the Greek psyche like mincemeat. Another shows uplifted hands with fingers extended in a traditional Greek gesture of insult known called “moutza” that is often seen during protests outside parliament in central Athens. The caption refers to “moutzaxedin,” an approximation of “mujaheddin,” or Muslim fighters engaged in what they believe to be a holy struggle. —AP

In this image provided by the Greek Cartoonist Association Friday a cartoon by cartoonist Dimitris Georgopalis depicts a dragon as a debt inspector, chasing a euro with a fishing net as he tramples over Greece. —AP the outcome of the crisis. Some have lost their jobs to it. As Dimitris Georgopalis, treasurer of the Greek Cartoonists Association, wrote in an email: “We are not casual observers. We live and work in this situation and the influence is visible in our work.”

Their travails reflect a polarized society.

Caricaturist Tasos Anastasiou was recently dismissed from the newspaper Ta Nea, ostensibly for economic reasons. He alleged in a letter to the journalists’ union

that he was fired because he harshly criticized the government. The Benaki Museum in Athens hosted an exhibition of crisis cartoons by 24 members of the nonprofit association, which sold T-shirts with cartoons to cover costs. The show ended early this month.

“I know what Greeks have done wrong or badly, but at this point, it’s not just the Greeks. We’re part of something bigger.

We’re not the problem, we’re part of it. This whole crisis comes from the banks. We

A cartoon by cartoonist Panos Maragos shows a caricature of EU President Herman Van Rompuy as a shepherd perched in front of a cow with an udder shaped like a map of Greece. —AP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Models present creations by Georgian designer AVTANDIL during Georgian Fashion Week show in Tbilisi, late on Friday. —AFP photos

Georgian Fashion Week vibrant with colors

Models present creations by Georgian designer Goga Nikabadze during Georgian Fashion Week show in Tbilisi.

Models present creations by Georgian designer AVTANDIL.

Oasis ‘sideman’ Noel Gallagher goes solo T

wo years after a bitter blow-up with his brother Liam drew the curtain on Britpop sensation Oasis, Noel Gallagher makes the jump from “sideman” to frontman as his solo debut hits shelves on Monday. “I was a sideman for 20 years and I fucking loved it,” said the 44-year-old, who always cut the quieter figure as guitarist and main songwriter for Oasis, while the wilder Liam supplied the rock n’ roll antics front of stage.

A picture taken on October 2, 2011 shows former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher arriving to attend ‘George Harrison: Living In The Material World’ film documentary UK premiere at BFI Southbank in London. —AFP

“I don’t like being at the center of attention. I hate surprise parties, and I hate people wishing me happy birthday,” he told AFP. “But once you’ve been in a band like Oasis what’s the point of being in another band? There’s only one option and that’s doing it yourself.” Sibling tensions between the Manchester duo exploded ahead of a Paris show in August 2009 spelled the end of a band that spearheaded the Britpop music movement of the mid-1990s with its guitar-driven, Beatles-inspired pop.

Now both are vying for attention once more with “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds” released on Monday by Sour Mash Records/Pias, eight months after his little brother’s debut with his new band, Beady Eye. Noel Gallagher admits he was “upset” by the acrimonious split-up, and that it took more than a little prodding to get him back in the recording studio. “To be honest after Oasis I got back to London and sat in my house, smoked cigarettes, drank some tea and watched football-and then it was my wife who said to me: ‘When are you going back to work?’

“And I was like, ‘Hum’. And she asked ‘When’. And I said ‘I don’t know’. And she said ‘Well what about next week?’ You know what women are like. As long as you’re not in their house they like you even better!” So he gathered all his material together-he says he never stopped writing songs “whenever the feeling takes me”and set to work. “As soon as I was in the studio it was great,” Gallagher enthused. “It was a completely different experience” from the Oasis days. “The process of the work was far more enjoyable for me.” ‘I don’t do it for money or fame’- “I would spend two weeks in the studio, and then

take three weeks off. But in those two weeks I would work 12 hours a day non stop, and I’d eat while working ‘cause there’s too much to do.

“Whereas in Oasis, I would do my bit and then sit down for six hours and wait for someone else to do their thing.” The 10track “flying birds” album was recorded in London and Los Angeles over an 18month stretch, along with a second album, an as yet untitled collaboration with psychedelic outfit “Amorphous Androgynous” that is set for release in 2012. Noel Gallagher wrote the lion’s share of Oasis’ hits, but left most of the singing to his brother, so his solo work reveals a littleknown side to the artist: his voice. “I got a new voice! I had a voice transplant!” he joked when asked about the singing.

“What happened ? I don’t know.”

“I’ve always enjoyed singing but I’ve never enjoyed being a singer. I was guitarist, so on 20 songs I would write, I probably sung four. And those songs would be on B-sides.

“My voice has got better, it has got older. I don’t know why. I still smoke, I still drink, I still stay up late, I still do all the fucking things I always used to do.” Was it a tough decision to return to the fray after Oasis? “Yeah, but it’s what I do,” Gallagher said. “Not to sound arrogant, but I had all these songs already written, and if I’ve been given a gift then I owe it to people to share it. “I don’t do it for money or for fame or any of that. It’s just that when I’ve written songs I have to play them to people, it would be a shame not to. “What would happen if when I die people discover 60 great songs. They’d go: what a fucking idiot! You know what I mean?”— AFP

Rapper Rick Ross reportedly hospitalized second time

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apper Rick Ross was reportedly hospitalized identity of anyone being treated there.

Birmingham airport spokeswoman Toni Bast in Alabama after suffering two medical scares in six hours that required planes to be confirmed to The Associated Press that a private diverted. The first scare came Friday afternoon as plane traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Memphis Ross was on a Delta Air Lines flight from Fort made an unscheduled landing in Birmingham at Lauderdale, Fla., to Memphis, Tenn., where Ross around 5:30 pm because of a medical emergency, was scheduled to appear at a University of but she could not provide any further details. Calls Memphis basketball event that night. The plane to Ross’ publicist from the AP were not returned returned to Florida after Ross suffered an unspeci- Friday. Ross was scheduled to perform Friday night fied medical problem. He was treated at a Fort at the University of Memphis basketball team’s midLauderdale hospital, and he even tweeted after- night opening practice event, “Memphis Madness.”

Authorities said Ross was on the Delta Air Lines ward: “Memphis here I come.”

But after Ross hopped a Memphis-bound pri- flight when he suffered the first medical episode at vate jet, it made an unscheduled landing in around 1 pm The flight, carrying 121 passengers, returned to Fort Lauderdale. Mike Birmingham, Ala., because the 34Jachles, a spokesman for Broward year-old singer experienced anothSheriff Fire Rescue, said the flight er medical problem, Memphis baslanded at Fort Lauderdaleketball coach Josh Pastner told a Hollywood International Airport crowd at the Friday night event and was met by paramedics. They where Ross was to appear. “On his performed what Jachles called way to Memphis,” Pastner said, “he “advanced life-support care,” had to make another emergency though it did not include CPR. landing, in Birmingham. He got realJachles could not specify what ly sick again, and they had to rush exact care Ross was given, but he him to the emergency room.” said the performer was stable, WMC-TV in Memphis reported breathing, conscious and alert. that Ross suffered a second medical Ross was in a seat when paraseizure and had been hospitalized. medics reached him and he The news station said the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital In this June 26, 2011pho- walked off the plane, Jachles said. would not comment on his condi- to, musician Rick Ross He was taken to a terminal area tion. A hospital spokeswoman told arrives at the BET where he was evaluated before The Associated Press that no one by Awards in Los Angeles. being transported to the hospital Ross’s name or his real name, Ross suffered a medical to be checked out. Jachles said William Leonard Roberts II, was list- emergency during an air- there was a doctor on the plane ed as a patient. An emergency room line flight that forced the who had tried to assist Ross, representative, citing federal privacy plane to return abruptly though he could not say what, if laws, said she could not confirm the to a Florida airport. —AP anything, the doctor did.—AP

Keeping it real at Al Dente

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011

Bhutan’s king seals wedding festivities with a kiss B

hutan’s love-struck young king danced in public, joked with subjects and to the delight of thousands of onlookers kissed his new queen yesterday at the end of three days of wedding celebrations. Thousands packed the capital’s sports stadium to see King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, a hugely popular 31-year-old Oxford University graduate, and his newly crowned queen, Jetsun Pema.

A rich cultural program showcasing traditional Bhutanese dancing and music ran from morning to the late afternoon, but the royal couple themselves were the main spectacle for the crowds who filled every inch of space. The king, standing in the middle of the sports field, drew applause when he kissed Pema in public for the first time.

And later he sparked guffaws of laughter as he joined a group dance routine, occasionally seeming hesitant about

Guests and locals wait to take part in the final dance, or Tashi Labay, during wedding celebrations of Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at the main stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan yesterday. (Inset) King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, left, kisses Queen Jetsun Pema in front of the crowd at the main stadium as part of their wedding celebrations. —AP

the moves. “We know that they love each other so much,” said high-school student Rinzin Dema who was in the crowd. “Seeing our king and the queen, it’s like an inspiration to us that in the future we should be the same husband and wife like that.”

Wangchuck crowned 21-year-old Pema on Thursday at the end of a series of elaborate rituals in a 17th-century fortified monastery in Punakha that served as the headquar-

Berlusconi’s ‘Bunga Bunga’ D inspires line of accessories

ters of the country’s ancient capital. The “Dragon King”, who was crowned in 2008 at the start of democracy in Bhutan, said afterwards that he had waited to get married but was sure he had found “the right person”. Yesterday was the last day of public celebrations to mark the occasion. On Friday, the royal couple greeted huge crowds of well-wishers who lined the streets as they returned, largely on foot, from Punakha to their palace in the capital.— AFP

Lawyer for Jackson doctor says key tactic dropped

W

hile his fellow businessmen moan about Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s constant sex scandals and the fallout for Italy’s image abroad, Carlo Pagani has decided to cash in. Inspired by the Italian leader’s “bunga bunga” partiesreportedly a form of lap dancing enjoyed by Berlusconi, Pagani’s small plastics factory has come out with the “Bunga Bunga Band”, a bracelet with supposedly aphrodisiac qualities.

And it won’t stop there. The businessman has registered various trademarks linked to the now famous phrase and will launch a full line of accessories. “When we saw the words ‘Bunga Bunga’, they sounded magical,”

Pagani told AFP during a visit to his Castelberg Technologies factory in Grumello del Monte, near the northern city of Bergamo. While the bracelet was the first off production lines, the businessman is planning to expand internationally with a full “Bunga Bunga” line of items including necklaces, keyrings, perfumes, lingerie and even body oil.

“For us ‘Bunga Bunga’ has an extremely positive sense. It means joie de vivre!” said Pagani, whose factory also produces accessories for major brands including French cosmetics giant L’Oreal and Italian fashion house Prada. The businessman said he wants to send one of the bracelets to Berlusconi

Aphrodisiac bracelets of the “Bunga bunga Band” collection created by Italian Carlo Pagani are pictured at the factory headquarter in Grumello Del Monte.—AFP

and hoped the scandal-tainted prime minister would get the joke. It “has no political meaning. We respect all politicians. Even Berlusconi.” Pagani’s factory employs 40 people-one of the thousands of small and medium-sized companies that make up the backbone of Italy’s economy and are struggling now with low growth rates and tight credit conditions.

Pagani said he has invested 200,000 euros ($276,000) in the project so far and plans to turn it into a “global brand” aimed at a young audience. He is in contact with distributors in France, Germany, Russia and Switzerland. The bunga bunga scandal broke last year when it was revealed that Berlusconi was being investigated by prosecutors for alleged involvement in an underage prostitution ring with raunchy parties at his villa near Milan.

He is now on trial for paying for sex with then 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El-Mahroug-better known by her stage name as “Ruby the Heart Stealer”-who described the parties in detail during police questioning. “After dinner we went into a hall in the basement where the bunga bunga was held,” the young woman told investigators, according to leaked transcripts. “All the girls were naked during the bung bunga and I had the feeling that they were competing with each other to make Berlusconi notice them by performing more and more daring sexual acts,” she was quoted as saying. The phrase quickly became an Internet sensation and has already inspired the name of a new bar in Tuscany, a pizzeria in London, as well as thousands of T-shirts for tourists and a line of “Bunga Bunga dance” boxer shorts. —AFP

r Conrad Murray’s attorney says he knew months before the physician’s trial that a theory that Michael Jackson drank a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol would have to be abandoned. Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan made the statement Friday without the jury present. Murray, who was not in court for the hearing, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the superstar from an overdose of propofol.

The idea of Jackson orally giving himself the fatal dose was long touted by defense attorneys as a centerpiece of their case. Documents had been filed and arguments heard about studies on the issue. The attorneys have even referred to a fruit juice jar found on Jackson’s bedside table, suggesting he had taken the drug with juice.

Flanagan initially dropped the bombshell Wednesday that the defense was abandoning the strategy. “We are not going to assert at any point in this trial that Michael Jackson at any time orally ingested propofol,” said Flanagan, who revealed he had commissioned a study that concluded propofol would not be absorbed into the body when ingested.

Prosecutors and the judge appeared stunned at the announcement At Friday’s hearing, on a day when testimony was not heard, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the judge, “We are dealing with an ever-changing defense. It was just a couple of days ago they abandoned oral propofol.” “Oh, your honor, that is not correct,” Flanagan said. “No?’ Walgren asked incredulously. “We abandoned oral propofol months ago,” said Flanagan, saying they were swayed by a report from the leading expert on the drug, who is expected to testify for the prosecution next week.

He said Dr. Steven Shafer had questioned “the bioavailability of oral propofol,” meaning whether it would be absorbed into the body if swallowed. Flanagan said the defense decided to have its own study conducted and, “We determined back in May that bioavailability of

oral propofol was not feasible.” Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said he had never been advised in advance that the theory would be dropped.

Flanagan’s disclosure offered a backstage look at possible defense gamesmanship in leading prosecutors to prepare to answer a defense theory that would never be presented. A defense attorney not involved in the case said it is not an ethical or legal obligation of the defense to keep the prosecution posted on its strategies. “I don’t personally see a violation,” said attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. “You’re sup-

Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan gestures while speaking during Dr. Conrad Murray’s involuntary manslaughter trial, Thursday, in downtown Los Angeles. —AP posed to operate in good faith, but you don’t have to tell them every little strategy you intend to employ. In opening statements, defense attorney Edward Chernoff told the jury he would allege that Jackson self-administered drugs but did not specifically mention oral ingestion of propofol.

In other developments, the prosecution said its last witness will be Shafer. The defense said it would call 15 witnesses including police officers, experts and some character witnesses.

Attorney Nareg Gourjian estimated that would consume the rest of next week.— AP