18th Aug 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

New NSA revelations stir concerns

Lies, damn lies, and China’s economic data

Area 51 landing site for U-2, not UFOs or aliens

Villa thump Arsenal as EPL resumes

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Egypt mulls Brotherhood ban as death toll mounts

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CAIRO: Egyptian police cleared Islamist protesters from a Cairo mosque yesterday after a standoff that included exchanges of fire, as the death toll from four days of violence surpassed 750. Security forces dragged supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi from the AlFath mosque, passing through angry crowds who tried to beat the Islamists, calling them “terrorists”.

Morsi supporters fought a gunbattle with security forces in a Cairo mosque, while army-backed government, facing deepening chaos, considered banning his Muslim Brotherhood group. Three Reuters witnesses saw gunmen shoot from a window of the Al-Fath mosque, where Brotherhood followers sheltered during ferocious confrontations in the heart of Cairo on Friday.

Another gunman was shown on television shooting from the mosque’s minaret and soldiers outside returning fire. It was not clear if anyone died in the latest clash - the fourth day of violence in Egypt, which has killed almost 800 people. With anger rising on all sides, Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi proposed disbanding the Brotherhood, raising the stakes in a bloody struggle between the state and Islamists for control of the Arab world’s most populous nation.

“We are not facing political divisions, we are facing a war being waged by extremists developing daily into terrorism,” presidential political adviser Mostafa Hegazy told reporters. If Beblawi’s proposal to disband the Brotherhood is acted on, it would force the group underground and could herald large-scale arrests against its members placed outside the law.

Many Western allies have denounced the killings, including the United States, alarmed by the chaos in a Continued on Page 13

CEBU: Volunteers search near the damaged cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete a day after it collided with a passenger ferry off the waters of Talisay city, Cebu province in central Philippines yesterday. (Inset) Navy personnel lift a victim from the sea during rescue operations. — AFP

32 killed, 170 missing in Philippine ferry disaster CEBU: Worsening weather and sea conditions yesterday forced the Philippines to suspend a search for survivors of a ferry disaster that killed at least 32 people and left 170 missing, authorities said. The ferry sank on Friday after a collision just outside the central port of Cebu with a cargo vessel owned by a company involved in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster nearly 30 years ago.

Divers will resume searching today, Transportation

Virus targeting social network New cyber fraud twist BOSTON: In the world of cyber fraud, a fake fan on Instagram can be worth five times more than a stolen credit card number. As social media has become increasingly influential in shaping reputations, hackers have used their computer skills to create and sell false endorsements - such as “likes” and “followers” - that purport to come from users of Facebook, its photo-sharing app Instagram, Twitter, Google’s YouTube, LinkedIn and other popular websites.

In the latest twist, a computer virus widely used to steal credit card data, known as Zeus, has been modified to create bogus Instagram “likes” that can be used to generate buzz for a company or individual, according to cyber experts at RSA, the security division of EMC Corp. These fake “likes” are sold in batches of 1,000 on Internet hacker forums, where cyber criminals also flog credit card numbers and other information stolen from PCs. According to RSA, 1,000 Instagram “followers” can be bought for $15 and 1,000 Instagram “likes” go for $30, whereas 1,000 credit card numbers cost as little as $6. It may seem odd that fake social media accounts would be worth more than real credit card numbers, but online marketing experts say some people are willing to spend heavily to make a splash on the Internet, seeking buzz for its own sake or for a business purpose, such as making a new product seem popular.

“People perceive importance on what is trending,” said Victor Pan, a senior data analyst with WordStream, which advises companies on online marketing. “It is the bandwagon effect.” Facebook, which has nearly 1.2 billion users, said it is in the process of beefing up security on Instagram, which it bought last year for $1 billion.

Instagram, which has about 130 million active users, will have the same security measures that Facebook uses, said spokesman Michael Kirkland.

Continued on Page 13

Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told a news conference in Manila, after heavy rain brought by a typhoon and low pressure had reduced visibility at sea almost to zero. “Diving operations stopped because of weather conditions,” Abaya said, adding that 661 of the 831 passengers and crew on the ferry had been accounted for.

With 32 dead and 629 rescued, there are 170 missing.

Just 17 of the dead have been identified.

“But we’ve got information that some bodies have

been recovered, and we expect the number of missing to decrease, and we expect the casualties to increase.”

Many of the survivors were sick from swallowing oil and seawater, disaster officials said. Scores, sometimes hundreds, of people die each year in ferry accidents in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands with a notoriously poor record for maritime safety. Overcrowding is common, and many of the vessels are in bad condition.

Continued on Page 13

Expats hit hard by rapid increase in house rents

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CAIRO: A wounded Egyptian receives treatment during clashes between security forces and supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi in Ramses Square. — AP

Hashish, heroin, cocaine seized at Kuwait prison

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Qaeda attacks Syria Kurdish town 211 killed in 48 hours BEIRUT: Al-Qaeda loyalists attacked a mainly Kurdish town in northeastern Syria sparking fighting in which 18 people were killed, two of them ambulance crew, a watchdog said yesterday. The assault on the strategic border town of Ras Al-Ain, from which the jihadists were expelled by Kurdish militiamen in July, sparked an exodus of civilians into neighboring Turkey, an activist said.

The attack on the town was part of a

wider offensive by Al-Qaeda against several Kurdish majority areas of northern and northeastern Syria that began on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Five Kurdish militiamen and 11 jihadists made up the rest of the dead, the watchdog said. Havidar, a Syrian Kurdish activist who declined to give his surname, said civilians had fled “in waves into villages in Turkey.”

Continued on Page 13

DEIR EZZOR: Syrian rebels fighting pro-regime forces gather along a road in Syria’s eastern town of Deir Ezzor yesterday. — AFP

40 pythons found in Canadian hotel MONTREAL: Little more than a week after a giant python crushed two young Canadian boys to death, police have recovered 40 of the snakes from a hotel room. The reptiles were found in several plastic storage bins in a room in Brantford, Ontario, where a couple who had been evicted from their home were staying, police said in a statement.

Officers have opened a probe into the incident but they did not say where the couple were at the time or whether the pair would be charged with breaking local laws that prohibit owning pythons.

The snakes, which ranged in length from 30 centimeters to 1.4 meters, were in poor health and have been taken in by the Canadian Society for the Protection of Animals, where a veterinarian is monitoring them. The find comes 11 days after Connor and Noah Barthe, aged six and four respectively, died in the eastern town of Campbellton, New Brunswick when an African python escaped from its terrarium and killed them.

The boys had been enjoying a sleepover with a friend, whose father’s pri-

vate menagerie of exotic animals included the python. Animal experts expressed astonishment at the tragedy, many of them noting that, while an African rock python is a dangerous animal capable of killing large prey, it would not normally attack humans. The initial police investigation found that the snake probably managed to break out of its terrarium and then nosed through a ventilation duct which led into the boys’ bedroom. — AFP

40 pythons were discovered in plastic storage bins.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LOCAL

Iraqis in Saudi allowed to pass through Kuwait

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Kuwait allowed Iraqi nationals living in Saudi Arabia to use its lands to travel to their home country as the Interior Ministry informed land border checkpoints to provide all facilities to ease their travel. The ministry’s announcement indicates that this exception only covers Iraqis with valid residence visas in Saudi Arabia, and they are given a visa to enter Kuwait for only a 48-hour period.

Meanwhile, Kuwait and Iraq reportedly agreed to hold the next meeting for the supreme joint committee at the beginning of next year, to discuss pending topics between the two neighboring countries. There were efforts to hold the meeting before the end of the year, but eventually was to no avail due to Kuwait’s preparations to host the Arab - African Summit in November and a Gulf Cooperation Council Summit a month later.

On a related note, sources revealed that Kuwait plans to submit a proposal at the Arab-African Summit to establish a $2 billion Arab development fund that provides food resources to participating countries in need.

KUWAIT: Ambassadors, government officials, politicians, social figures and other mourners stopped by the embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Kuwait to offer condolences on the death of Ambassador Ali Bin Shukr Al-Za’abi, who passed away Thursday in his home country. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Expats hit hard by rapid increase in house rents Govt blamed for wrong decisions

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: More and more people are complaining of the increase in house rents this year. The rents have gone higher in a very short three-year time period. Some people, especially the expats, are not able to live a comfor table life with this ridiculous increase which eats into a large chunk of their salary. Don, an expat father of two kids feels frustrated with the increasing rents.

“I was sharing a three-bedroom apartment with another family, and the landlord demanded an increase of KD 45, so I decided to move into a two-bedroom apartment to pay KD 275. I still consider this rent very reasonable compared to what’s available in the market now. This was three years ago, and now I’m afraid that they will increase the rent again shortly. All the prices are increasing, especially the rent, while my salary has not gone up for a long time,” he told the Kuwait Times.

Economic analyst Hajaj Bu Khadour considered the high and rapid increase of rent as a negative phenomenon affecting the economy badly. “ The rents have increased about 27 percent during the last three years, while the normal growth rate is about 8 percent. I blame the govern-

ment in the first place for the wrong decisions they have taken and the parliament as well for their legislation, which is encouraging inflation, and not providing stability or supporting the economy. So this increase is a result of these decisions taken over the past few years,” he pointed out. “There should be a proper economic view to manage the country. Wrong laws damage the economy. It affects inflation in general, and also includes the prices of proper ty, food, and so on. This huge increase may also cause imbalance and social problems in the countr y. For instance, increasing the housing loan to KD 100,000 will satisfy the citizens but on the other hand, the prices of properties have also increased. Early retirement also affects this issue. There should be laws set to regulate and limit this rise,” added Bu Khadour.

Ali, who works with a real estate company in Ahmadi, admitted the rapid increase in rents can be attributed to competition. “Everything is increasing, and rent is part of the necessary things that are subject to increase. We have competition from other companies, so our prices should be similar. Any increase in rent depends on the location and the age of the building, so the landlord doesn’t set certain percentage

for increase,” he said.

The demand and supply always regulates the price and there is a high demand.

“We deal with buildings in Mahboula. Most of the buildings that we are managing are rented for big companies, especially the oil companies, and they rent the whole building for their employees, and then accommodate six or more employees in one apartment. They change the apartment’s design and omit the living room. The owner increased some apartments to about 18 percent, so the two-room flats in old buildings now cost KD 210, while other new flats that are smaller cost about 280. The companies create this problem and if they stopped doing it, the prices will definitely drop, said Ali. Salah, who owns two houses also blamed the government for this problem.

“The government is the main reason for the rent increase and not the landlord. I should go with the market, and since my neighbors increased the rent, I have to increase it as well. The rent was KD 300 and I increased it recently to KD 600 to be on par with as the neighbors. I think this is logical, as the high price of land is the main reason. So if somebody bought the land for KD 500,000 and set up the building for KD 100,000, he can’t rent the apart-

ment for KD 150. He should get the money that he spent back,” he explained.

According to him there are solutions to this problem. “We have a housing problem in Kuwait. There are 100,000 people waiting for their turn to receive the governmental house. All these Kuwaitis are living in rented houses, so the demand is high and supply is low. As long as there are tenants who have no option but to rent, the landlord will keep increasing the price,” he said. “The government is only using about 5 percent of Kuwait’s land for housing while the rest is a desert. If they allowed more property to be released for people to build houses on, or if they built more houses in new areas, then the supply will increase and the prices of land will drop, which as a result will decrease the price of rents, as the pressure will be relieved from the rented apartments. The government has a monopoly on parts of Khaitan, which they bought from the residents and nobody can benefit from these properties.

This is in favor of the big businessmen who are trading with South Surra’s lands, and the price of lands is always high and is even increasing. In the United States, I could buy a house for KD 30,000 while in Kuwait I can only buy a livestock farm for KD 50,000,” concluded Salah.

Ministry plans no power cuts KUWAIT: The nightmarish thought of electricity cuts is haunting citizens and expats even though the Ministry of Electricity and Water has promised not to cut any.

During the month of Ramadan, several areas in Kuwait were without electricity and water.

Assistant Undersecretary at MEW Mohammad Bu Shahri said that water supply will not be affected since production is good and consumption is relatively less.

In June, an estimated 430 million gallons of water was pumped while consumption was at 410 million gallons.

KUWAIT: The Revival of Islamic Heritage Society announced that 1,600 Burmese families benefited from a food aid program during the last 10 days of Ramadan, which was donated by the Zakat House for Burmese refugees.

Media invited to join pearl divers KUWAIT: Divers participating in the 25th annual Pearl Diving Trip are working with passion which reflects their honest desire to relive their ancestors’ struggles and make this year ’s event successful, a senior Kuwait Sea Sports Club official said yesterday.

Technical committee consultant Khalifa Al-Rashid further expressed “deep gratitude for the sponsorship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and for the concern shown by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Sabah to make sure that the event is successful in conveying its traditional message”.

Press and media personnel are set to join divers tomorrow morning after they drive to Khairan from the KSSC building in Salmiya. The trip offers journalists the opportunity to cover the diving activities from up-close and become better-

Khalifa Al-Rashid acquainted with the traditional a s p e c t s t h a t t h e yo u n g d i ve r s a t te m p t to co nve y. K S S C Pu b l i c Relations and Media Manager Mahmoud Abu Al-Qassem invited

Mahmoud Abu Al-Qassem media outlets to take part in the visit which concludes tomorrow noon, adding that transportation and food will be supplied to all reporters who attend.

Social affairs grilling MP Riyadh Al-Adasani said yesterday that the government spends to fund projects in order to enhance the housing, education, job creation, and other sectors, adding that “deterioration in spite of financial surpluses combined with donations to other countries while people in Kuwait continue to suffer must not be allowed to continue”. Meanwhile, Al-Adasani hinted that he might revive a grilling motion he had previously filed against former Social Affairs and Labor Minister Ahmad Al-Rujaib. “The issues tackled by the grilling still stand, which include the labor sector, national labor laws and unemployment”, he said in a statement yesterday.

Separately, MP Abdullah Al-Tamimi released a statement in which he urged Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah to put local authorities on high alert in anticipation of alleged “sleeping cells for the Muslim Brotherhood” that he claimed could move towards “reflecting the security chaos in Egypt to Kuwait”.

Bedoons origins The Central Apparatus for Stateless Residents informed Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah during a meeting last week that they have documents which prove that a majority of ‘bedoons’ in Kuwait who were registered in the 1965 census belong to other countries, said sources. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the sources indicated that the minister requested during the meeting that the apparatus finalize files of people who meet naturalization conditions in order for them to be included among a maximum of 4,000 people Kuwait looks to grant citizenship before the end of the year.

New payroll mulled The economic committee in the parliament will hold a joint meeting with the Civil Service Council soon in order to study new public sector payrolls proposed by the Civil Service Commission recently. According to sources familiar with the subject, the two sides are expected to put the final touches on the proposals during their meeting before referring them to the Cabinet “who is set to discuss it before the end of the year”.

Exams cheating The Ministry of Education is considering the option of installing jammers and using other technological methods in order to prevent students from using their smartphones to cheat during high school finals. According to sources, the ministry is already reviewing an offer to install an electronic system that can help prevent cheating. The sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity did not provide any further details on the subject.

KFH adds new services to ATM machines KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House KFH, the world’s leading Islamic financing institution, added several new important services to its ATM machines, known as Al-Shamel, which allows them to work optimally as alternative channels; thus saving clients’ time and effort, in addition to easing the pressure off branches.

KFH has lately offered a new and exclusive service for Tamweel Online subscribers, where they can transfer money through the ATM machines to their personal KFH accounts or swift. Clients can take advantage of this service through adding accounts to their Tamweel Online service. This step reveals KFH’s keenness to continue to develop retail banking and e-services.

This service is the first of its kind in Kuwait, which underlines KFH’s leadership in the region in the field of offering high technology banking services around the clock. Moreover, clients can order a cheque book, change the password, deposit, and increasing deposited note bills from 40 to 80.

In addition, clients can open investment deposits through ATM machines, where clients head to any ATM machine found at KFH branches to open a deposit after ensuring they have the minimum sum of money required to open the deposit.

Through the ATM machine, clients can invest their money and savings as part of a bouquet of investment deposits. Clients can complete all procedures through the ATM machine without visiting the branch, which saves effort and time.

ATM machines play a key role in offering fast quality services to clients; especially after upgrading them, which cements KFH’s role in supporting and upgrading technology.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Dozens of people gathered outside the United States Embassy building Friday night to demand international intervention to stop what they described as ‘massacres’ committed in Egypt by authorities against protestors who demand the reinstatement of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. Several protestors accused the US of sharing the blame for the killings in Egypt due to what they believe was the American administration’s support to the military coup against an elected president.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Proposal to limit assembly membership to two terms

KAC still waiting for major fleet upgrade

Plans to submit amendments KUWAIT: A lawmaker plans to hold consultations with fellow MPs on amendments to elected assemblies’ membership regulations in order to limit the number of term a member can serve to two, a local daily reported yesterday. The draft law would cover membership in the National Assembly (parliament), Municipal Council, sports clubs’ boards and co-operative societies, and aims to “open opportunities for young people and inject new blood in elected assemblies”, MP Majid Musa said. The MP believes that the two-term condition is found in many democracies around the world; bringing up the United States presidential elections as an example. He further indicated that he plans to submit a draft law on the proposal after the parliament’s summer recess if he finds enough support from fellow lawmakers to increase its passing chances.

Meanwhile, MP Riyadh Al-Adasani announced plans to submit amendments to the co-operative societies law which was passed by

the scrapped assembly and adopted the singlevote system in board elections. “Co-operative work is collective and as such requires teamwork and boards consisting of members who can work as a team”, Al-Adasani said.

He further told Al-Rai that the single-vote system prevents candidates from running list, which leads to electing “disintegrated and disharmonized” boards.

On the other hand, MP Khalil Abdullah defended the existing law by saying that it helps social categories within residential areas to be more equally represented in the boards of their local co-operative societies, and also claimed that it limits influence of a select number of merchants who he said could use board membership to boost their businesses.

In other news, Minister of Planning and Development Dr Rola Dashti told Al-Jarida daily on Friday a joint team between the cabinet and parliament needs at least one month from now to finish preparing a list for topics to be given

priority discussion when the parliament resumes sessions on Oct 29. “Kuwait is in dire need for political stability, organized work and full harmony between the executive and legislative authorities in order to reclaim its pioneering role, addressing persisting issues and push projects forward”, Dr Dashti said.

She further confirmed meeting with president of the parliament’s financial committee MP Faisal Al-Shaya, during which she felt “positive signs about MPs’ willingness to build a relationship with the government based on cooperation”. The minister also clarified that the cabinet focuses on “developmental and economic projects” as top priorities “in addition to resolving persisting issues and laws that the country desperately needs”. While the parliament is still in summer recess, committees are expected to be officially asked today to start preparing a list containing ten topics each to be given priority in discussion, according to sources quoted by Al-Watan yesterday.

KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways has just launched twice weekly Sarajevo services. Half of the airline’s fleet comprises old A300s and A310s, with no sign yet of what the airline intends to replace them with.

Unlike other airlines based in the Middle East, Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) has shown no inclination to grow significantly in recent years, trouble as it has been by poor financial results. The fact that the most recent story on its English-language website dates from 2010, and that half of its active fleet consists of old A300s and A310s, confirms the airline’s position as a potential sleeping giant. While Kuwait Airport is building a major new terminal to help cope with growing passenger numbers, the airline is still to even finalise its fleet renewal plans, with both Airbus and Boeing apparently still in the running. The rest of the airline’s existing fleet comprises three A320s, four A340s and two 777s. The airline’s position has not been helped by the emergence of Kuwaitbased Jazeera Airways, which competes (profitably) on a number of key routes.

You don’t hear much about Kuwait Airways, although the Directorate General for Civil Aviation has announced major plans for airport development and what it cryptically calls “improvement of civil aviation services.” While the airline hasn’t announced it’s fleet renewal plans this A380 curiously turned up on the DGAC’s most recent airport designs. A look at the airline’s schedule data reveals that in terms of ASKs (Available Seat Kilometres), the airline’s biggest routes are its six-times weekly service to Bangkok, followed by the daily service to London Heathrow. Three of the seven weekly flights also operate on to New York JFK, complementing the airline’s non-stop service to JFK, which also operates three times weekly.

Other European destinations served are Frankfurt, Geneva, Paris CDG and Rome Fiumicino, while Istanbul services have recently been transferred from Atat¸rk to Sabiha G?kÁen. In total the airline serves almost 40 destinations non-stop, with only Cairo, Dubai and Jeddah served with at least double-daily flights.

Battle for ICT market share continues KUWAIT: Progressive digitization is not only changing end-consumer behavior - it is also driving significant change in the wider Information and Communications Technology (ICT) space. Clear role divisions have long disappeared - hardware companies, software companies, telecommunications companies and IT service providers are operating in an overlapping market.

Software and hardware companies with integrated solution models are continuing to gain ground over IT service providers.

And, European companies with a regional focus are coming under strong pressure. In addition, Internet players have continued to penetrate the Middle East with high speed; while they initially only managed the broader MENA region, they are increasingly focusing on individual markets and finally understanding what is required to succeed in each country. These are just some of the key findings from the Global ICT 50 Study published today.

For the study - conducted for the second consecutive year - the global strategy consultants at Booz & Company once again investigated the major trends, critical success factors and performance of the world’s 50 biggest ICT companies.

The same companies occupy the top

three places, but in a different order: thanks to its broad product portfolio and global presence, IBM has moved up two places from 2012 and now leads the global ranking, followed by software giants Oracle and Microsoft. Ranked at number four, SAP is the best-placed German ICT company.

Hardware-centric solutions providers take the following three spots - Cisco, Apple and HP. “The top 10 ranking reveals that software and hardware providers are dominating the ICT industry,” said Olaf Acker, a Partner with Booz & Company. “Software and internet businesses like SAP, Google and Amazon have also made big advances.

Regional IT service providers, however, have not been able to keep pace with the market trend this year.”

With their continuous expansion of service offerings and products, Samsung and Google have succeeded in achieving top 10 rankings.

“A broad portfolio on its own, however, is not the key to success,” explained Dr. Germar Schr?der, a Principal with Booz & Company. “We are seeing that extending the portfolio often fails to go hand-in-hand with financial success - coherence wins out over breadth. Other critical factors are a global presence, innovation and branding.”

In effect, six from the top 10 companies listed in the Global IC T 50 study rank amongst the 10 most innovative businesses in the world, as identified in a separate Booz & Company analysis. And, 13 out of the top 50 companies rank in the Top 100 Interbrand Best Global Brands 2012.

While the top 50 companies in the study achieved modest growth in revenue for 2013 - up from USD 2.01 bn in 2011 to USD 2.07 bn in 2012 - these figures are not as impressive as those from earlier years.

“Global ICT services providers in the Middle East are under constant pressure from value and offshore players - as the growing appetite for IT services comes with a “value for money ” mentality that is stronger in the region than it is in other markets,” said Danny Karam, a Principal with Booz & Company.

Indeed, some market players are reaching the limit of their capacity for growth.

Moreover, the major software providers are the only group to have demonstrated strong revenue growth for a fifth straight year. Conversely, the global IT service providers and telecommunications companies studied were the only groups in the survey where growth stagnated - although they did manage to stabilize their EBIT mar-

gins in 2012. “The Middle East’s regional telecommunication companies - in line with their global counterparts - still struggle when it comes to more advanced services and expansion into the broader ICT space,” added Karam.

And, the only group to achieve continuously-increasing margins and stable growth over the past five years were the hardware and infrastructure companies. The reason for this is their individual, integrated business models that are based on a hardware core business and supplemented with service and cloud elements. The results of the study confirm the strength of this business model.

“In the Middle East, hardware makers especially device manufacturers like Apple and Samsung - recognize the region’s growing appetite for smart devices,” said Acker.

“And so, they did well in the 2013 study.

After all, the Middle East contributes to their bottom-lines given relatively stable price levels.”

This year, Booz & Company consultants added a criterion to the four aspects of financial performance - Portfolio Breadth & Coherence, Growth Potential and Market Presence -evaluated for the study.

“There are different approaches to com-

bining essential capabilities and an individual product and service offering for a market, and these work well in different ways,” said Schr?der. “For instance, the Innovator, like Apple, the Solutions Provider, like IBM, or the ‘one-stop-shop’ Consolidator like Cisco, have altogether bought up to 120 companies over the past 20 years. The analysis shows that, in the market, three puretones have produced the best financial results in recent years: a focus on innovation, a focus on forward-looking digitization, and a focus on achieving a price advantage through offshoring.”

For the Global ICT 50 Study, Booz & Company examined the four sub-industries in the digital provider market (hardware, software, telecommunications and IT services) in a joint study for the second time. The results of the study and the Global ICT 50 Ranking are based on an analysis of publicly-available data sources, notably with regard to financial parameters, product and portfolio structure, strength of innovation and sales orientation. These core areas were evaluated using quantitative and qualitative criteria to produce a consolidated points score for the respective company, which, in turn, generates the sectoral and top 10 ranking.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LOCAL kuwait digest

Local Spotlight

Overcoming the stalemate

US support for Brotherhood

By Khairallah Khairallah

E

lecting Marzouq Al-Ghanim as speaker of the parliament in Kuwait did not materialize from thin air. Known for his dynamic approach, foresight and vision to modernize Kuwait, Al-Ghanim’s election to the coveted post is considered an indication of recovery and a quantum leap at the same time.

Al-Ghanim’s victory is the latest episode of successive developments that serve the interests of Kuwait and help it overcome the hardships of the current phase that the region is going through, as well as protect the country from within. It is clear that this quantum leap can only be achieved by wise men within the ruling family, led by His Highness the Amir, and the new generation of Kuwaitis who possess enough knowledge to effectively serve their country.

These young people graduated from well-known international universities which helped them inherit a culture that knows no extremism. Most importantly, they know Kuwait and its formation very well, and are also aware of the reasons which made Kuwait a pioneer in all fields in the region not a long time ago.

Before July’s parliamentary elections, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah had taken matters into his own hands with regards to enabling Kuwait to regain its natural position in the region. Lack of cooperation between the Cabinet and parliament made Kuwait suffer for long. Stopping government work under the pretext of fighting corruption has become more of a habit.

There could be corruption, and also exaggerations. But what was notable in the majority of discussions that usually culminated in grilling motions is the lack of accurate statistics and use of fine language inside the parliament’s building. Rumors were sometimes enough to topple the Cabinet or force a minister’s resignation. This happened in a world where there is no place but for scientific approaches and experience when dealing with mega projects that Kuwait desperately needs. Is it normal that the health sector, for example, remains substandard in a wealthy country with a relatively low population?

But there are indicators that Kuwait is entering a new, different phase. These indicators are based on the term ‘cooperation’ between the executive and legislative authorities. Therefore, Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was very clear when he said during the parliament’s inaugural session “I do not need to reiterate the necessity of cooperation between the parliament and Cabinet. It is a requirement to realize the desired achievement and reform”. In the meantime, HH the Amir was not shy about mentioning how ‘critical’ the regional situation is and the need to refrain from anything that can provoke sectarian conflict.

There is a desire in Kuwait to overcome its stalemate. The latest elections are the best example for that. There is public will to break free from the empty circle which forced 11 Cabinets to resign since 2006.

And with elections on a semi-annual basis, Kuwait was in a state of loss, internally and regionally.

A sign of optimism in Kuwait’s future was when the people defied heat, dust, and fasting to go and vote. The boycotters not only suffered a setback, but were also dealt with a heavy loss. It is a loss for the Muslim Brotherhood first and foremost; those who wanted Kuwait to become a fund that finances their activities around the world, especially in Egypt.

By electing Marzouq Al-Ghanim as speaker, it is clear that the new parliament decided to become a partner in breaking free from the stalemate and reinforce what has been achieved in the past couple of years; especially by supporting the development process and reinforcing the media’s role. We started hearing about studies to improve education and health services, as well as build new homes for citizens.

There is no turning back in Kuwait with the presence of a wise leader who is fully aware of the Arab World - exactly as he is aware of the regional and international balances. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah did not hesitate to take brave and required steps that include openness towards Asian countries with remarkable economic achievements, supporting the Syrian people, as well as supporting Egypt and its stability especially after the people made their voice heard and forced the Muslim Brotherhood out of the Presidential Palace.

Kuwait is taking steady steps forward to make up for the losses that both the state and the society sustained over the past few years. What is important right now is that this progress which started through an initiative by the state’s Amir has garnered public support in the form of a public majority which participated in the elections and elected a harmonious parliament. What could be more important is that Kuwait realizes that there is no hope for a better future without investment in education which focuses on knowledge delivered through modern and internationally recognized programs. — Al-Rai

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

T

kuwait digest

Democracy or democrazy’?

By Dr Bader Al-Daihani

T

he second wave of the Egyptian revolution that took place on June 30 and it consequences have clearly exposed that the talk of Islamist activists and blocs all over the Arab world about democracy and human rights is nothing but worthless, hollow words and slogans. In fact, they have proven that, for them, democracy is nothing more than a means to reach and monopolize power before they immediately star t denying and rejecting this particular means: the ballot boxes. The ‘end justifies the means’ for them and that is why they cannot be described as democrats. They are better described as ‘Boxcrats’!

That is why, ever since toppling the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt, those ‘Boxcrats’ have been continuously talking about ballot boxes legitimacy alone without discussing the violations committed by the toppled regime, which cost it both political legitimacy and the popularity they gained through ballot boxes. These violations made the people revolt against it and things almost reached a political deadlock and severe complications.

In addition, the feverish unrivalled

defense about the Brotherhood regime is not one calling for a modern democratic constitutional state; it is more like an extreme religious one considering those against the toppled president as infidels and nonbelievers because, for them, they are against Islam!

No wonder, then, to see that defenders of the toppled regime are sectarian people with terrible attitudes towards the values of equal citizenship, democracy, secularism, public and individual freedoms such as Qaradhawi, Wagdi Ghunaim and some so-called clerics; especially those hungr y for spotlight and media propaganda, be it in Kuwait or in some other Arab and Muslim countries.

It is well-known that extreme Islamists like Al-Qaeda organization and some Jihadists clearly announce their rejection of democracy and consider it ‘complete infidelity’. It is also well-known that Salafis frankly confess that they are utilizing democratic means and tools to revolt against democracy itself. Those claiming to be moderate Islamic powers and those claiming to be ‘secular’ power with Islamic background were expected to have a

more moderate attitude and to converse with others more democratically, regardless of ballot boxes, and yield to the people’s demands for dignity, democracy, freedom and building a democratic nation for all sects. Unfortunately, what happened and is still happening is the opposite. One cannot tell the difference between moderates and extremists anymore.

That is why we often hear them declaring mobilization for Jihad, to get martyred, to protect the Muslim Caliphate and carry on forays similar to those that took place in the first Hijri century; they promoted hatred and violence though the whole issue is nothing more than a political conflict, in the aftermath of a great public revolution, on laying the foundations of a new democratic regime by all Egyptian political blocs not only one, in the course of building a democratic nation in which everybody co-exists and peacefully differ.

As for those who erroneously believe that democracy is nothing more than ballot boxes, I quote Palestinian poet, Mez yad AlBarghouthi: ‘Democracy is born by ballot boxes and is not buried in them!’ — Al-Jarida

kuwait digest

Norway’s PM drives a taxi

By Dr Naji Al-Zaid

N

orway enjoys one of the world’s most advanced educational, health and social services, in addition to high security levels. Despite this, Norway’s prime minister resorted to an innovative idea to come closer to citizens and hear their concerns better: he worked as a taxi driver for a day. The experience gave him the opportunity to speak with passengers from different cities, which allowed him to get an idea about the problems people are facing directly from them.

How different the situation is between Norway where the prime minister insisted on knowing citizens’ concerns up-close, and Kuwait where we cannot find any official willing to listen to our concerns. I am not asking His Highness the Prime Minister to drive a cab; Kuwaitis rarely use public transportation to begin with. I only hope that he gets into his own car one day and decides to tour Kuwait’s streets. I hope he drives into by-streets of Khaitan, Farwaniya, Hawally and Jabriya to see the holes, construction waste and dirt left on the streets.

Maybe he should also pay a visit to an outpatient clinic at the Orthopedics Hospital to see what it is like to stand in a long line of people from seven in the morning. And while he is at it, why not try to take a room in a hospital without wasta or an x-ray appointment?

I hope that he goes undercover to finalize a transac-

tion at the social affairs and labor, interior, justice or municipality ministries among others to witness how administratively underdeveloped state departments are, and how much time getting a single signature on a piece of paper takes. The easiest thing he could do is to go undercover and try to find a parking spot near the Kuwait University during classes.

All these issues are seen in Kuwait because of the lack of modern and active administration as well as lack of law enforcement. It is not because of a lack of budget. Bad administration in Kuwait is the reason behind underdevelopment and the majority of problems Kuwait faces in all fields.

I mentioned the example above not because I want HH the Prime Minister to imitate his Norwegian counterpart and sit behind a cab’s steering wheel, but only hope that a state official would feel the level of problems that this country actually faces. These problems can only be resolved by advanced and professional administration whose work focuses on finding solutions to enhance services rather than addressing problems with temporary measures.

Is it too much to ask for a an advanced administrative system that can easily be applied without ‘wasta’ or corruption? — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

The culture of blood-shedding!

By Dr Hassan Abdullah Jouhar

I

n view of current violent political movements, the culture of killing, blood-shedding and weapons-debates seem to have become the only language dominating the Arab arena starting with the Arab Spring all the way down to the current transitional period with the possibility of more blood-shedding in the future.

In my opinion, the bloody nature of such a scene stems from two main elements. First, there is the culture of ‘exclusion’ and the ruling authority’s assumption of superiority to the people in many Arab countries on the one hand and the presence and attempts of various political groups seeking power, particularly religious ones, on the other.

The second element of the culture of violence and all forms of brutal barbaric blood-shedding lies in religious beliefs and concepts like accusing others of infidelity using multiple terms to coat and legalize killing and eliminating opponents.

The killing machine is available on both sides; that is the authority and the opposition, even if they exchange positions as we have seen in recent years. This fact reached its peak in Syria, Lebanon, Tunis, Yemen and

Ideological basics, ruling culture and philosophy of various Arab political groups are powerfully dominated by violence and extremism. The absence of a peaceful transition of power, political diversity concepts and the presence of dictatorships might have had a huge influence on steering political activities into extremism and training fighting cadres instead of raising political leaderships.

Egypt where we see Muslim Brotherhood supporters carry all kinds of weapons against the authorities and burn buildings and vehicles on the way.

Either way, ideological basics and ruling culture and philosophy of various Arab political groups extremely dominated by violence and extremism. The absence of a peaceful transition of power, political diversity concepts and the presence of dictatorships might have had a huge influence over steering political activities into extremism and training fighting cadres instead of raising political leaderships, building state projects instead of revenge as soon as they have control over previous officials and leaders.

The most important ingredient in this formula lies in the intervention of local, regional and international parties who supply various conflicting sides with weapons, political support and media platforms to fill all hearts with grudges and provocation while, unfortunately, draining away these countries’ human resources and wealth to eventually destroy those countries.

Unfortunately, that is the way with our Arab people and Egypt is but a start! — Al-Jarida

his article is not written to analyze the situation in Egypt, which can simply be described as chaotic right now but the dust will eventually settle down. This is a letter from an Arab citizen to the US citizens to analyze the recent statements made by US President Barack Obama and his support for the Muslim Brotherhood cell in Egypt and his stand on AlQaeda.

Bear in mind the Muslim brethren always tend to raise the black flags of Al-Qaeda during a time of crisis. I don’t believe Obama’s calls to save the lives of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and this is why: First, I wonder why Obama never shed tears for the Palestinians who have been asking for a safe haven for more than fifty years under Israeli occupation. Why didn’t he focus on what is happening in Iraq and the other places in the world where people are being killed? Why is Egypt his business now?

Second, US ties during Morsi’s rule was more than perfect with the blessings from Hamas. Now, would Hamas bless such an affiliation unless they have something to gain from it? Losing Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood cell in Egypt could mean losing money and power and possibly Sinai Peninsula as an alternative future home for the Palestinians.

Finally, for years the former US presidents were calling Al-Qaeda names, the most common being ‘terrorists’. The current US president is no exception, except for that none of the former presidents had praised the Muslims brothers’ rules and power and supported them with money at the expense of the tax-payers. I do believe the US administration is obligated now to justify to the US people why and how much money has been given away to Morsi and the Muslims brothers’ cell not only in Egypt but possibly all across the world.

Have they also committed themselves to supporting their role in occupying other countries in the Arab region?

The January 2011 revolution in Egypt came after 30 years of corruption but, the July 30 rebellion again came after one year of severe suffering under a leader who has failed to keep all his election promises and vows to the Egyptians within 100 days to improve their life. In fact, it hugely benefitted the Muslim brothers’ cell, Hamas and the Israelis. This love triangle was a happy one and the relationship was blessed by US. Well, the rest of the Egyptians weren’t happy and couldn’t allow this bond to continue.

Egypt is not all about the Muslim brotherhood.

Egypt also has Christians, liberals and many others.

How about giving them a say in all this? The brotherhood is known for engaging in political violence, and claiming responsibility for Hamas. I’m not making this up, it’s all documented online and this is why many people were surprised to see the US backing them. If they are so passionate about Hamas why don’t they stand against Israel openly?

I do understand that Egypt will suffer violent protests for a while but it is shameful for foreign countries like the US or others to lead a campaign or take sides. The Egyptian crisis has revealed many unsolved issues behind the scenes and everyone needs to know when and how this will end. Nobody wants to see more dead and the last thing anyone wants to see is the US taking sides with those who they have been calling terrorists. I need to say that Egypt will never become another Iraq or another Taleban. Egypt will be always the light and power for all Arabs. We pray for its peace and prosperity.

kuwait digest

Nation without patriots

By Mohammad Hayat

A

dvanced nations work hard on human development with the idea that human resources are the most valuable assets for building and advancement. A country’s success is achieved only by the hands of its people, while human resources can only be improved with equality.

If a country lacks those principles, it is inevitable for it to become underdeveloped regardless of how much natural and financial resources it has. This is because lack of human development leads to public frustration and state positions divided between social groups unequally, leaving no room for competency and productivity.

We are living in this situation today as kinship became the main quality to get government posts while equality and competency became rendered useless.

State departments are controlled, and the constitutional values of equality and social justice are neglected. The result was deterioration of the concept of patriotism combined with increase in sectarian and tribal sentiments after citizens felt that loyalty to the tribe or sectarian group can help guarantee their rights which in their opinion the law can no longer protect. Eventually, people became prisoners of these beliefs and began moving away from the state and its systems when they felt that their rights are better served through social or religious fanaticism.

In the end, the nation suffers the most when sectarian tensions ignite and lead the country into further underdevelopment. The nation eventually becomes a place where people’s ambitions and talents are killed, and where social categories feud with each other under the name of imperfect democracy and freedom of expression. Eventually, we become a nation where people eat to live and live to eat, and only make decisions in line with the culture of fanaticism they adopt. In the end, the country becomes a nation without patriots.

Side note: The Arab Spring exposed a reality found in Arab nations that stem from a question which everyone fails to answer: how can people feel sad about the death of others in a certain place, but at the same time rejoice at the killing of other people in another place? — Al-Rai

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LOCAL

News

in brief

MPW okays 25 projects KUWAIT: Sources at Ministry of Public Works said that the ministry has approved executing two out of 25 projects presented to the ministry by other ministries and government organizations. The ministry has refused the other 23 projects as no land or budget was allocated for them. Sources at Ministry of Public Works said that one of the projects refused, was the new building for central tender committee and another project belonged to Ministry of Communication. Sources also said that ministry policy indicates that all conditions must be met for any project to ensure that it didn’t clash with other projects from the ministry. It is believed that the ministry will ignore any project which doesn’t meet the criteria of the ministry, central tender committee, and the audit bureau.

More dentists, clinics Informed health sources revealed that the Ministry of Health intends to increase the number of dentists as well as dental clinics in all hospitals and medical centers. The ministry also intends to reduce waiting time for patients, especially after receiving several complaints. Sources said the only way to reduce a long waiting period is to increase the number of clinics and doctors, especially in Adan, Jahra and Farwaniya which are densely populated by residents.

New economic report Kuwait News Agency has released the new issue its economic report for the first half of the 2013 fiscal year. An e-copy of the report can be downloaded through the agency’s website. Previous reports are also available. The report is compiled by KUNA’s Economic and Petroleum Affairs Department. It releases four annual reports and two half year reports.

KRCS eulogizes Al-Sumait KUWAIT: Demise of the renowned Kuwaiti philanthropist Abdulrahman Al-Sumait is a loss not only for Kuwait but for all workers in humanitarian field particularly in Africa, said Kuwait Red Crescent Society yesterday. The society, in a statement mourning AlSumait, said he was a “humanitarian icon and a chevalier in his field devoting his time and health for sake of making others happy.”

It also recalled his humanitarian works in Africa to aid the needy and expressed deep condolences to his family. Al-Sumait, who died at the age of 66, is known for building 840 educational facilities - including four universities - and 90 clinics and hospitals, constructing 12,000 artesian wells and helping thousands of people understand and embrace Islam in Africa.

He is also known for having founded the Africa Muslim Agency, later renamed as “Direct Aid” society, and conducting detailed studies on Africa’s political, social and economic affairs - Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Angola, being some of the 40 countries his work was focused on.— KUNA

HAMMOND: Sgt Ernest A. Poinson, of the 1021st Engineer Company, spends time with his mother, wife and newborn son Friday, after a deployment ceremony in Hammond. He is among 160 Covingtonbased soldiers who will be deployed to Kuwait.

Covington-based troops coming to Kuwait HAMMOND: About 160 Louisiana Army National Guard troops received a send-off ceremony Friday, in advance of their deployment to Kuwait. The soldiers, assigned to the 1021st Engineer Company of the 205th Engineer Battalion, face a year-long mission that begins with training at Fort Bliss, Texas.

The 1021st is based at Covington and has detachments in Independence and Gonzales. They were feted at the Southeastern Louisiana University Center in Hammond, before deploying to the Middle East “to conduct vertical construction operations,” which includes building, concrete, plumbing and electrical systems, according to a National Guard news release.

“We gather here today to honor the fact that your service is making an extraordinary and historic mark on our nation and the world,” Gov. Bobby Jindal told the troops.

“You are the heroes who have chosen to dedicate your lives to something far greater than yourself.”

Said Louisiana’s adjutant, Major Gen. Glenn Curtis: “I know that you will represent our nation, our state and our Guard in a professional manner while you are deployed. To the families, I also want to say thank you for allowing your soldiers to serve in the manner which they do. Capt. Noel Bellas commands the 1021st.

Public youth authority begins summer program KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Youth and Sports is due to start today its annual program for Kuwaiti students’ summer activities. Abdullah Abdul-Rasoul, in charge of the program, said yesterday young citizens would work at institutions and youth centers, affiliated with the authority.

He indicated that the special program includes training sessions aimed at sharpening their skills and creativity potentials as well as an exhibition displaying innovated items. The program, to be executed in coordination with the State Labor Re-structure Program, involves a large number of young Kuwaiti males and females. Excelling students will be honored at end of the activity, he said. AbdulRasoul urged the youth to be involved in the summer program to prepare themselves for future work. — KUNA

KUWAIT: In collaboration with Kuwait municipality, MOI’s coastguards yesterday launched a cleaning campaign to remove rubbish, dirt and leftovers off the Kubbar Island. The campaign was headed by MoI’s Assistant Undersecretary for Borders Security Maj Gen Mohammed Al-Yousif and top coastguard officials and commanders. Speaking on the occasion Maj Gen Al-Yousif said the campaign is part of the ministry’s communal services. He also urged both citizens and expats to maintain Kuwaiti islands and protect their environment. —By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Kuwait backs Egypt govt bids to restore order Call to exercise self-restraint KUWAIT: Kuwait, regretting large number of Egyptian fatalities and destruction of properties, yesterday affirmed support for the Egyptian government’s measures to maintain security and stability in the north African country. Kuwait is following with concern the developments in Egypt, and regrets the large number of deaths among the Egyptian people as well as the destruction of properties, a foreign ministry source said. Kuwait, he added, called on all parties to exercise self-restraint and to unite in order to prevent “sedition” and dragging the country into “a complete chaos.”

The source also called on all parties to abide by the government’s repeated calls to engage in a serious dialogue to pave way for reconciliation and democracy.

Reconciliation in Egypt will end bloodshed, restores security, stability and safety of its people, added the source.

The State of Kuwait, affirmed the source, supported the Egyptian government’s measures to preserve security and stability, as well as achieving aspirations of the Egyptian people through the government’s roadmap.

Kuwait, he added, was confident that the Egyptians were capable of overcoming this “critical stage of their history” so Egypt would continue playing its leading regional and international role.

Meanwhile, Bahrain voiced support to Saudi King Abdullah’s support to the Egyptian authorities’ crackdown on any

attempt to undermine the security of the country. An official statement said Bahrain fully backed King Abdullah’s statement which emphasized Egypt’s right to defend its sovereignty and its people.

Egypt has the right to restore order in the country, fight terrorism and violence, as well as stop the destruction of properties, it added. Bahrain also called upon all parties in Egypt to unite ranks.

King Abdullah earlier affirmed support to Egypt against all attempts aimed at undermining its domestic security. It is Egypt’s “legitimate right to confront any saboteur” who want to destabilize the country, King Abdullah said, and affirmed support to Egypt in its fight against “terrorism and sedition.

In another development, Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy briefed envoys of world powers about “criminal acts,” carried out by activists and followers of the Muslim Brotherhood.

According to an official statement, Fahmy received ambassadors of permanent member states of the Security Council, informing them about the “random and criminal acts, perpetrated by armed gangs against the citizens, as well as their attacks on churches, public facilities and hospitals.”

He criticized “silence of the international community and abstention from condemning these criminal acts. “Such silence encourages the terrorist groups to carry on

with violent and deadly action.”

Meanwhile, police dispersed a gathering of supporters of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, at Ramsis piaza after policemen, positioned in its vicinity, were targeted with gunfire.

The state-run media reported that policemen prevented foes of pro-Morsi activists who were leaving Al-Fateh mosque from attacking them.

State-run media reported Prime Minister Dr. Hazem Al-Beblawi has asked Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmad Al-Burei

to examine legal basis for prospected dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood organization.

However, Sherif Shawqi, the premiership information advisor, indicated at a news conference that the government was pondering prospects for “national conciliation.”

The Muslim Brotherhood group, founded in 1928, came to power a year ago when its leader Mohamed Morsi was elected as president of the republic. The Brotherhood surged to power after decades of being a banned group in Egypt. —KUNA

Minister underscores wider emphasis on culture, art KUWAIT: There should be a doubling of efforts by those concerned to advance the cultural, artistic and literary outputs in the country under the care of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), said Minister of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah in a press statement yesterday.

Heading a meeting of NCCAL to probe its agenda for the upcoming cultural events season starting in the autumn, Sheikh Salman, who is also the State Minister for Youth Affairs and Chairman of NCCAL, told the Council’s officials and sponsors that the new season should lay out a strategy to serve the interests of, among others, the youth. He emphasized that NCCAL venues for events in the coming season should not be confined to a limited number of locations as has been done in the past but instead should be extended to all the nation’s six governorates in order to generate wider appeal for these events.

Echoing the minister’s sentiments, acting secretary general of NCCAL, Shehab AlShehab, told the same meeting that the Council was keen to offer the public a wide gamut of events that should find favor with them, stressing the emphasis on programs that would appeal largely to the youth. —KUNA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LOCAL

Hashish, heroin, cocaine seized at Central prison Man injured in accident

NBK volunteers cleaning the beach.

NBK continues nationwide beach clean-up campaign KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) continues its environmental awareness campaign to help keep Kuwait beach clean during the summer season. NBK staff and volunteers organized recently a beach

Yaqoub Al-Baqer

cleanup event at Gulf Beach. This cleanup initiative comes as part of NBK’s annual environmental awareness campaign to help keep Kuwait beach clean during the summer season.

“Gulf Beach cleanup campaign is one of similar events that will be planned by NBK throughout this summer”, said Yaqoub AlBaqer, NBK Public Relations officer. “The planned environmental campaign is another manifestation of NBK’s deep commitment to the community.”

Al-Baqer added: “This year NBK’s social media network will take part in this campaign and post photos through NBK Official Page on Facebook or NBK Twitter and Instagram account @NBKPage covering this initiative.”

NBK’s team spent their time cleaning the beach and informing the visitors about the importance of keeping the beach clean.

NBK is an environment-friendly bank and has launched a range of initiatives In its continuous efforts to build awareness on the growing environment challenges being faced by Kuwait. These initiatives include: electricity conservation and paper recycling- aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

KUWAIT: Jail security officers seized half a kilogram of drugs they said was meant to be smuggled to inmates at the Central prisonl, a security official was quoted by reports yesterday.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source said that 500 grams of hashish, meth, heroin and cocaine were found when guards searched the family visits room after a recent visiting session. The room search was a precautionary measure after the guards searched inmates before they returned to their cells. An investigation was started to reveal the smugglers’ identity and determine the recipients.

Road accident A driver was hospitalized in a critical condition after an accident on Friday on Fahaheel Road. Police and paramedics rushed to the location after the Abdullah Port Bridge following an emergency call reporting a Japanese-made vehicle losing balance and overturning. The driver, a

Kuwaiti man in his twenties, was taken to the Adan Hospital where he was diagnosed with multiple broken bones and other injuries. A case was filed for investigations.

Meanwhile, a nine-year-old kid sustained serious injuries in an accident reported in Qortuba. According to the police report, a differently-abled driver accidently hit the Arab boy before calling the child’s family. The child was hospitalized and a case was filed.

Thieves held Five people were arrested Friday for stealing feed from farms in Jahra. Patrol officers ordered two lorry trucks loaded with a large number of sacks to pull over. Five Asian men on board the two trucks were taken into custody after they failed to explain the source of the material. They were later charged with theft after admitting to stealing the feed from jakhours (livestock farms) in the area.

Roommate killing A man was charged with his roommate’s murder in a case reported Friday. According to a source familiar with the investigations, the incident took place in a Jabriya apartment shared by two Asian families. A fight broke out between the two families and one of them threw a glass at the other man’s wife. The glass missed the woman but a broken shard struck her husband in his chest. The victim later died at Mubarak Hospital because of excessive blood loss. The suspect is detained at the Jabriya police.

Security alert Police at the Kuwait International Airport were put on high alert after reports about a suitcase left on the runway. Nothing suspicious was found in the suitcase. Preliminary investigations indicated that the bag had most likely fallen off when the passengers’ luggage was being moved from the aircraft.

GCC condemns Beirut bombing RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned yesterday the explosion that happened in Beirut’s southern suburbs killing and wounding a number of people.

“This brazen and criminal act aims at undermining Lebanon’s security and stability and also the peaceful co-existence by triggering sedition among the Lebanese citizens,” said GCC Secretary General Abdul-Latif Al-Zayani, in a statement. He called on Lebanese political parties to foil plots by saboteurs, promoters of discords and terrorists and put higher

national interests above any other consideration.

The GCC chief also urged the Lebanese politicians to seek to form a new government quick ly and cooperate with President Michel Suleiman for resuming national dialogue. Al-Zayani re-affirmed the GCC stand on side of the Lebanese president, government and people in face of any threats targeting the country stability, expressed condolences to the victims families and wished the wounded quick recovery. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Jleeb Fire Center and Ardiya Fire Center were kept busy putting out fires one after the other in Hasawi area. After dousing out fire in Hasawi and returning to their centers, they were immediately called to combat another fire in a bachelors’ pad in the same area. After putting out the fire, they identified that it was caused by an electric fault.

Embassy calls for postponing Kuwaiti students’ exams CAIRO: The cultural office of Kuwait’s Embassy in Cairo is coordinating with Egyptian universities to postpone exams for Kuwaiti students due to the current happenings in Egypt, said a diplomat here yesterday.

Cultural Attache at the Kuwaiti Embassy, Dr Falah Al-Enizi, said that

the cultural office contacted Egyptian universities, asking for the postponement of exams of Kuwaiti students.

The official indicated that several heads of universities agreed to delay the exams while the embassy is continuing to communicate with other educational institutes regarding the

same matter. Several institutes such as the Oc tober 6 University and Helwan University agreed to hold up exams till September, said Al-Enizi who called on Kuwaiti students to visit the websites of their respective universities to check on the dates of their tests. —- KUNA

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Acting Public Relations Director at Fire department Major Majid Al-Otaibi said that they received a call about a fire in Mahboula at about 10 pm. Mangaf Fire Center as well as Fahaheel Fire Center responded to the call and reached the fire site within five minutes and found that a building’s ground floor was ablaze. The building has seven floors and the firemen divided themselves into three groups to rescue, air the smoke and extinguish the fire. The building was evacuated completely.

Baitak-Turkey launches real estate funding service KUWAIT: Kuwait Finance House (Baitak)Turkey announced yesterday the launch of a new service for real estate financing in Turkey which allows banking customers to obtain necessary funding to own properties there. Chief retail banking officer Mohammad Al-Fwazan said in

a press release that the new service will provide a comprehensive solution for its customers in the real estate business.

Turkey is increasingly becoming an attracting tourist and investment destination for Kuwaitis; therefore, this service will meet the needs of a huge portion of

investors and it will also enrich investments in the Southeastern European country, he added. Baitak-Turkey was founded in 1989 and has a large chain of branches. It has opened foreign branches and representative offices in Germany, Bahrain and Dubai.— KUNA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

Freezing US aid to Egypt ‘not be easy or cost-free’

Iraq seeks help from US amid growing violence Page 8

Page 9

New NSA revelations stir concerns NSA breached privacy rules, despite promises WASHINGTON: New revelations from leaker Edward Snowden that the National Security Agency has overstepped its authority thousands of times since 2008 are stirring renewed calls on Capitol Hill for serious changes to NSA spy programs, undermining White House hopes that President Barack Obama had quieted the controversy with his assurances of oversight. An internal audit provided by Snowden to The Washington Post shows the agency has repeatedly broken privacy rules or exceeded its legal authority every year since Congress granted it broad new powers in 2008.

In one of the documents, agency personnel are instructed to remove details and substitute more generic language in reports to the Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence - reports used as the basis for informing Congress. Obama has repeatedly said that Congress was thoroughly briefed on the programs revealed by Snowden in June, but some senior lawmakers said they had been unaware of the NSA audit until they read the news on Friday.

The programs described earlier vacuum up vast amounts of metadata - such as telephone numbers called and called from, the time and duration of calls - from most Americans’ phone records, and scoop up global Internet usage data. White House deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said Friday that the NSA documents showed that NSA’s Compliance Office established in 2009 “is monitoring, detecting, addressing and reporting compliance incidents,” and that “the majority of the compliance incidents are unintentional.”

In a statement from the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, where the president is vacationing, he added that the administration is “keeping the Congress appropriately informed of compliance issues as they arise.” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced he would hold hearings into the new disclosures. “I remain concerned that we are still not getting straightforward answers from the NSA,” the Vermont Democrat said in a statement.

Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said her committee had been notified of compliance problems - not by seeing the internal audit but through legally required reports to her committee. “In all such cases, the incidents have been addressed by ending or adapting the activity,” the California Democrat said in a statement.” She added, “The committee has never identified an instance in which the NSA has intentionally abused its authority to conduct surveillance for inappropriate purposes.”

But she said that committee would be asking for additional reports in future, and members would start making routine trips to the NSA to oversee its activities. Her Republican House counterpart, Intelligence chairman Mike Rogers, said human error was inevitable and “there was no intentional and willful violation of the law.” But the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, C A Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, called the new disclosures “incredibly troubling.”

He said he had instructed his staff “to thoroughly review and evaluate these allegations.” Another Democratic member of the Intelligence Committee, Rep Mike Thompson of California, said: “Reports that the NSA repeatedly overstepped its legal boundaries, broke privacy regulations and attempted to shield required disclosure of violations are outrageous, inappropriate and must be addressed.” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who generally supports the programs, said in a statement Friday that the new revelations “are extremely disturbing.” And two senators who have consistently raised red flags about possible privacy violations stemming from NSA programs indicated there is more to be revealed.

“We believe Americans should know that this confirmation is just the tip of a larger iceberg,” said Democratic Sens. Mark Udall of Colorado and Ron Wyden of Oregon in a statement.

Both declined to provide details, citing Senate rules about discussing classified information. Proposed legislation to disman-

NAZARETH: A member of the Arab-Israeli Islamic Movement rides on his scooter during a protest in support of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi (portrait) and against the army crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters, in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth yesterday.—AFP

Lightning, floods kill 50 in Yemen SANAA: Lightning and flash floods have killed 50 people in Yemen since Friday, including 27 who died when a torrent washed away a wedding convoy, local officials said yesterday. Storms have battered the Arabian Peninsula country since Friday, triggering flash floods in several areas that killed 41 people, while nine others, including a soldier, were struck by lightning and died. The wedding convoy was travelling Friday through Wadi Nakhla, in the Taiz province, 260 kilometers south of Sanaa, when it was swept away by a torrent, a local official said yesterday.

Three women and four children were among the dead.

Twelve bodies were also found in Udayn district, in the central province of Ibb but many motorists are still missing after their cars were carried away by floods, another official said. Two women were also killed in flash floods in northern provinces, local officials said. Yemen, at the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is prone to floods triggered by monsoon downpours that cause massive damage due to the lack of infrastructure in the most impoverished Arab country. —Agencies

FORT MEADE: The National Security Agency building at Fort Meade, Md. The US National Security Agency has broken privacy rules or overstepped its legal authority thousands of times each year since Congress granted the intelligence agency broad new powers in 2008, The Washington Post reports.— AP tle the programs was narrowly defeated last month in the House. The July legislative effort brought together Libertarianleaning conservatives and liberal Democrats who pressed for change against congressional leaders and lawmakers focused on security. A week ago, Obama sought to soothe concerns by promising to consider reforms to NSA surveillance. “It’s not enough for me to have confidence in these programs,” he said at a White House news conference. “The American people have to have confidence in them as well.” He announced changes such as convening an outside advisory panel to review US surveillance powers, although it is unclear how that would differ from the existing US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, mandated by Congress to monitor surveillance and constitutional concerns. Obama also said the NSA would hire a privacy officer - though the NSA already has a compliance office. None of those measures would seem likely to stop the kind of inadvertent collection of information that was described in the NSA audit. Most of the infractions revealed late Thursday involve unauthorized surveillance of Americans or foreign intelligence targets in the United States, both of which are restricted by law and executive order, according to the May 3, 2012 audit, and other top-secret documents. The May audit counted 2,776 incidents in the preceding 12 months of unauthorized collection, storage, access to or distribution of

legally protected communications. Most were reported to be unintended, and many involved failures to take sufficient care or violations of standard operating procedure. They ranged from significant violations of law to typographical errors that resulted in unintended interceptions of US emails and telephone calls. The most serious incidents included a violation of a court order and unauthorized use of data about more than 3,000 Americans and green-card holders.

In the typographical error category, the Post cited a 2008 example of the collection of a “large number” of phone records from Washington, DC, when a programming error confused the District of Columbia area code 202 for 20-2, the international dialing code for Cairo, according to a quality assurance review that was not distributed to the NSA’s oversight staff.

The NSA also saw a spike in the number of “roamers,” or overseas, phone calls wrongly tracked in the first quarter of 2012, when those roamers traveled into US territory, which is outside NSA’s authority. The report said the errors may have been due to tracking Chinese who were visiting friends and relatives for the Chinese lunar New Year. In another case, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has authority over some NSA operations, did not learn about a new collection method until it had been in operation for many months.

The court ruled it unconstitutional. The FISC’s chief judge told

the Post that the court could rule only on the material it was given. “The FISC is forced to rely upon the accuracy of the information that is provided to the Court,” US District Judge Reggie Walton said in a written statement to the Post. “The FISC does not have the capacity to investigate issues of noncompliance, and in that respect the FISC is in the same position as any other court when it comes to enforcing (government) compliance with its orders.”

The Associated Press made a request to Walton for that statement. A court official said the judge had no response. The White House declined Friday to comment on the latest revelations. It directed questions to the National Security Council, and NSC spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden directed questions to the NSA. NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines said the number of incidents in the first quarter of 2012 was higher than normal, and that the number has ranged from 372 to 1,162 in the past three years, due to factors such as “implementation of new procedures or guidance with respect to our authorities that prompt a spike that requires ‘fine tuning,’ changes to the technology or software in the targeted environment for which we had no prior knowledge, unforeseen shortcomings in our systems, new or expanded access, and ‘roaming’ by foreign targets into the US, some of which NSA cannot anticipate in advance but each instance of which is reported as an incident.” —AP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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

Iraq seeks help from US amid growing violence WASHINGTON: A resurgence of violence and a renewed threat from AlQaeda have recently revived flagging US interest in Iraq, officials said as Baghdad asked for new help to fight extremists less than two years after it forced American troops to withdraw.

Faced with security crises across the Mideast, North Africa and Asia, the White House largely has turned its attention away from Iraq since US forces left in 2011.

But the country has been hit with deadly bombings at a rate reminiscent of Iraq’s darkest days, stoking new fears of a civil war. More than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in terror-related attacks in July, the deadliest month since 2008.

The violence has spurred Baghdad to seek new US aid to curb the threat, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. He said a US assistance package could include a limited number of advisers, intelligence analysis and surveillance assets - including lethal drones.

“There is greater realization in the Iraq government that we should not shy away from coming and asking for some

help and assistance,” Zebari told reporters Friday in Washington. He described US interest in Iraq after the 2011 troop withdrawal as “indifferent, completely” but said that seemed to shift as the White House realized AlQaeda’s resurrection there. “Recently I noticed, and during this visit specifically, there is a renewed interest because of the seriousness of the situation and the challenges,” Zebari said.

“I think that is because of the threat of terrorism, the threat of the renewal of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates has become a serious, serious concern to the US.” The American troops left Iraq in December 2011 as required under a 2008 security agreement. Both countries tried to negotiate plans, but failed, to keep at least several thousand US forces in Iraq beyond the deadline to maintain security. But the proposal fell through after Baghdad refused to give the troops immunity from legal charges, as Washington demanded. Nearly 4,500 US troops were killed, and American taxpayers spent at least $767 billion during the nearly nine years of war in Iraq.

Zebari attributed the insurgency ’s

comeback to its partnerships with AlQaeda fighters in neighboring Syria and outlawed Baath Party extremists in Iraq’s south. Intelligence exper ts have described the terror group’s footing in Iraq and Syria as a new Al-Qaeda hub in the Mideast, one that has sought for years to underscore Baghdad’s inability to protect its people. Most of the attacks in Iraq target government officials, security forces and Shiite pilgrims and neighborhoods. A senior US administration official this week said the number of suicide bombings in Iraq has more than tripled over the last months, and it’s believed that most of the attackers are coming from Syria.

“The security situation in Iraq is deteriorating rapidly and is of significant concern,” Sen Bob Corker, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said this week after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and other senior Iraqi officials during a trip to Baghdad and Irbil, the Kurdish capital in Iraq’s north. “A United States foreign policy that does not recognize this will be very problematic,” said Corker. Distracted by a civil war in

Syria, a policy pivot to Asia, growing extremism in North Africa and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the White House put Iraq on the back burner. Egypt, once reliably stable, has disintegrated over deadly street riots and attacks that killed more than 600 people this week during protests over the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Jordan, a key US ally, is threatening to collapse under financial strain caused, in large par t, by more than 1 million refugees who have crossed into the country from Syria.

The US is also leading peace talks between Israel and Palestinian authorities, and watching a growing threat from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen. A threat from Al-Qaeda led to the closing of 19 diplomatic posts across the region and in Africa last week. “That’s a pretty large agenda,” said Jon Alterman, a Mideast expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “Iraq is no longer viewed as central to everything the US cares about in the Middle East. But Iraq is still relevant to a wide range that the US cares about.”

In the 20 months since the troop with-

drawal, the US has sought to stay out of Iraqi affairs and engage with its government as Washington would with any other nation. A majority of Americans agreed with that approach, and 58 percent of US adults said in a Washington Post-ABC poll taken in March that the Iraq war had not been worth the fight. Still, US officials say they remain actively involved in Iraq, and have quietly stepped up diplomatic efforts since March, when US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Baghdad for the first time in his new post.

They largely have focused on ensuring Sunni Muslims are included in Iraq’s Shiite-led government, and have urged Shiite leaders to resist retaliating to the Sunni insurgency’s attacks in what State Department spokesman Mike Lavallee described Friday as “quite intensive” diplomacy. But the engagement also has centered on making sure Iraq’s government remains independent from the Shiite government in Iran and staying out of the civil war in Syria, where Sunni Muslim rebels are seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, an Alawite.

Alawites are an offshoot of Shiite Islam.—AP

Abbas chooses unpopular peace talks over bruising UN battles Talks stave off debilitating Israeli, American sanctions

BAGHDAD: A combo picture shows US soldiers and relief workers outside the devastated UN Canal Hotel on August 19, 2003 in Baghdad following an attack by a suspected suicide bomber. — AFP

UN feels impact of deadly Iraq bombing 10 years on BAGHDAD: A massive Baghdad bombing a decade ago, termed “the 9/11 of the UN”, killed 22 people and drove heightened security measures that ultimately limited interactions with ordinary Iraqis. On August 19, 2003, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged truck next to the Canal Hotel, which housed United Nations offices, killing Brazilian UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others.

At the scene of the attack-which made headlines around the world as one of the first such bombings in Iraq-little has changed over 10 years. One corner of the hotel still looks like it was smashed by a giant hammer, the remains of floors jutting out from the building, rooms strewn with rubble and covered in dust.

Rusted metal reinforcing rods hang from the structure like vines that have long since withered and died, and a blue United Nations helmet still sits near the site of blast. Marwan Ali was a political officer for the UN mission who escaped the attack because he went across the hall from the section of the building that was destroyed just before the blast. The explosion threw him to the ground, but did not wound him.

“I was given a new life,” Ali, who is now the director of political affairs for the UN in Iraq said.

Immediately “after the explosion, I went back to where my friend was, and then I found him dead, together with another colleague,” said Ali, who worked to help those who survived. “It is the 9/11 of the UN,” Ali said. “It has changed the whole security position.” Before the Canal Hotel bombing and another blast against the UN in September 2003, Ali said he was able to travel around Iraq in an unarmored vehicle.

But after the attacks, many UN staffers were moved out of the country. Most are now back in Iraq, but the UN headquarters is located in Baghdad’s Green Zone-a highly secure area housing sensitive Iraqi government buildings and foreign embassies, which is difficult for most Iraqis to access.

The area is surrounded by concrete walls and defended by soldiers armed with

weaponry ranging from assault rifles to US Abrams tanks, while the UN facilities inside are protected by more walls and guards.

And staff travelling outside the Green Zone are escorted by guards and ride in armored vehicles. The measures, especially the move to the Green Zone, have limited the UN’s contact with Iraqi citizens. “Our interaction with the Iraqis (has) become less,” said Ali. UN staff were able to maintain contact with Iraqi politicians and other figures, but “we more or less lost contact with the population,” he said.

“The issue of movement is crucial for us,” Ali said, as the UN needs “to interact and to get the real impression and to show visibility.” It is important for the “United Nations to be seen as helping-we are helping, but we are not seen by (the) public.” While increased security measures pose challenges, the UN is still active in Iraq and has staff around the country. The mission works on issues ranging from Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations, elections and national reconciliation, to Syrian refugees and Iraqis forced to flee their homes by violence.

Salim Lone, the UN mission spokesman in 2003, is another survivor. On the day of the blast, he would have been in a meeting in Vieira de Mello’s office, but had to work on a statement in his office across the hall.

“That is what saved my life,” said Lone, who was wounded in the neck by the explosion.

“Except for one person, everyone died who was in that meeting.” “My office was completely ruined,” he said. “There was smoke everywhere... you heard screams everywhere.”

Lone did not renew his contract with the UN after the blast and returned home to his native Kenya, where he is writing a book.

The attack “made me a very closed person... and for many years, my memory was terrible,” though this has improved, Lone said.

The United Nations has been targeted in other countries, but “the first really substantive attack against the UN” was at the Canal Hotel, said Ali. The effects of that blast are felt to this day by both survivors and the UN as a whole.—AFP

RAMALLAH: In the three years since Israelis and Palestinians last tried and failed to negotiate an agreement on dividing the land they live on, Palestinian leaders have gained little for their people. Livelihoods have crumbled and jobs have been shed as dreams of growth ran up against the realities of Israeli occupation. Construction equipment, kicking up clouds of dust, has carved into West Bank hilltops and capped them with the red-tile roofs of Jewish settler homes by the hundreds, tightening Israel’s grip on land that Palestinians want for a future state.

That backdrop, and the threat of even harsher economic isolation, explain why President Mahmoud Abbas has embarked on an unpopular course that some even members of his inner circle see as pointless: returning to talks with Israel in search of a peace agreement and statehood. A second US-sponsored meeting took place in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Among Palestinians there is widespread pessimism over Abbas’ chances of persuading the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon its settlement program and hand back land it captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Abbas had an alternative option: to capitalize on the Palestinians’ defiant accession to non-member statehood at the United Nations last year, and confront Israel there and at the International Criminal Court. But for now he is holding that option in reserve, aware that pursuing it would bring down US and Israeli wrath on his West Bankbased government, prompting the Jewish state to cut off vital customs revenues and Washington to sever aid.

In one sign of restraint, he pointedly avoided using new privileges at the UN by refraining from submitting to its cultural body UNESCO’s preservation list an ancient village threatened with damage

by Israel’s separation barrier in the West Bank. “You can go and write an article saying I’m wrong, and that I should have gone to the UN instead,” Abbas lectured a group of skeptical local journalists last month, explaining why he had opted for a return to peace talks. “But as the president, I have responsibilities: I have to think about salaries, about an economic siege,” he said.

THREAT OF ISOLATION Palestinian sources say US Secretary of State John Kerry, in coaxing the two sides back to the negotiating table during months of shuttle diplomacy, was clear that Abbas would face economic and political isolation if he refused. The Palestinian Authority depends heavily on foreign donor funds and draws a third of its revenue from customs duties that Israel collects on its behalf, amounting to $100 million a month. In the past, Israel has withheld customs funds in retaliation for unilateral statehood moves by the Palestinians.

Washington contributes around $600 million annually, including aid to Abbas’s security forces and budgetary assistance to the bloated, restive public sector.

In the run-up to Abbas’s bid to gain statehood at the UN last year, economic austerity measures and Israeli sanctions stoked violent protests in Palestinian cities. The president was shocked by the spectacle of youths burning tires, throwing stones and chanting for him to step down, sources say.

“The president is in a tight spot: his domestic situation is difficult, but still no popular movement has yet arisen that could challenge his decisions,” said independent political analyst Hani Al-Masri. “Still, he’s concerned things could escalate.” In light of the Arab Spring uprisings, which toppled entrenched governments that had failed to deliver well-being to their citizens, his caution is understandable.

POLARISED POLITICS Divisions in Palestinian politics, which may complicate any consensus even if an unlikely peace breakthrough is achieved, in many ways eased the path back to the negotiating table. The Hamas Islamist group, which clings to its weapons and refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, has been in power in the Gaza Strip since 2007 after a brief civil war with Abbas’s Fatah faction, which it defeated in 2006 parliamentary polls.

The split paralyzed the national electoral process and made officialdom less responsive to popular will: Abbas himself has outstayed his term by five years. In June, a month before talks resumed, only around a third of Palestinians supported a return to US-mediated talks “without pre-

conditions” and over half opposed them, according to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

Since then, Abbas has dropped his demands that Israel freeze settlements before negotiations could resume and recognize lines that existed before the 1967 war as the basis for a future landfor-peace deal. The same poll found that 72 percent of Palestinians supported and just 24 percent opposed Palestinian moves to bring Israel before the International Criminal Court over its actions and policies in occupied territory, steps which the survey noted could lead to financial sanctions and the Authority’s collapse.

Even within the Palestine Liberation Organization, an umbrella group of Palestinian factions, few senior officials back the talks, and Abbas did not seek the PLO’s approval for their resumption. “It’s clearly been proven by continuing settler colonialism that it was wrong to return to the negotiations, and because no clear reference for them was established based on rules of international law,” said senior PLO member Wasel Abu Yousef.

SETTLEMENT RAGE Among the handful of veteran politicians openly supporting the peace process over diplomatic battles at the UN, Israel’s published plans for 3,100 new settler homes in the immediate run-up to the new talks provoked rage. “You can’t have a policy of stealing land and negotiating at the same time,”,” Yasser Abed Rabbo, the PLO’s deputy leader under Abbas, told local radio on Wednesday.

In the fortified presidential palace in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in its streets, few Palestinians believe Kerry’s promises of mass economic investment should the talks succeed. Nor do they think that Israel will make concessions without Palestinian pressure at the UN to force its hand. “I oppose negotiations - it’s pointless. How many years have we negotiated, and every time we lose more. We’ve achieved nothing,” said Ramallah resident Mahmoud Qasqas, a civil servant. “It would be better to do it from a position of strength - why have talks in a position of such weakness?”—Reuters

Libya oil caught between strikes and govt threats TRIPOLI: Libya is threatening to use military force to bring order to its oil sector, where a strike by guards has dealt a heavy blow to its fragile postrevolution economy. Oil exports plunged by more than 70 percent at the end of July after guards, including rebels who helped topple dictator Muammar Gaddafi two years ago, forced terminals to shut.

The strike-now in its third weekcame after protests first emerged in June and has virtually stopped pro-

duction and exports at key terminals in Ras Lanuf, Sedra, Brega and Zoueitina on the central coast. For weeks the guards have been accusing Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and Oil Minister Abdelbari Al-Aroussi of awarding export contracts illegally, in violation of procedures by the National Oil Co. The NOC insisted there has been no wrongdoing but Zeidan said an agreement was reached to probe the claims made by the guards.

The prime minister also accused

the guards of trying to make shipments for “their own profit” and threatened military strikes against any unauthorized vessel that docks. “A group of guards at oil terminals in the central region has decided to bring vessels they have organized themselves to export oil for their own profit,” Zeidan charged late Thursday. “Any vessel not under contract to the National Oil Co that approaches the terminals will be bombed from the air and the sea,” he warned. Armed guards in charge of

protecting Libya’s vital oil industry were formed by the defense ministry after the fall of Gaddafi, and include rebels who helped topple him. Since the 2011 uprising, Libya’s new rulers have been caught in a tug-of-war with these former militiamen, who have no qualms about using weapons when they believe their interests are at stake.

The strike has dealt a blow to production, with production falling from 1.5 millions barrels of oil per day to 500,000 bpd.—AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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

Russian law sends gay families running and hiding MOSCOW: Maria and Alexandra vaguely considered leaving Russia for several years, but it was not until this year’s anti-gay legislation that they started to gather paperwork. The quiet, academic lesbian couple, who live with a seven-year-old daughter in the outskirts of Moscow, have now lost hope that Russia is moving in the direction of Europe, where same-sex marriages are increasingly legalized despite opposition from conservatives. “Before, there was hope that everything would improve, but instead the trend has reversed. I hope that we will leave,” said Maria, 31 who has a daughter Lilya from a short-lived marriage that she is now raising with her partner of six years, Alexandra, 30.

Earlier this year President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the dissemination of “gay propaganda” to minors, which has already prompted an international outcry and even calls for Russia to be stripped of its right to host the Winter Olympics. In practice, the law means that anyone in Russia can be fined for telling children that homosexual and heterosexual relationships are equal. This “really speeded us up” in wanting

to leave the country, Maria said.

Everyone interviewed by AFP for this article requested that only first names are used, and some asked that even the first names are changed, in order to keep their identity secret. The women have started an application process for residency in Canada, where Alexandra, a research scientist, qualifies as a young professional and can bring the whole family of three over under the country’s conditions for same-sex couples.

The gay propaganda law is just the beginning, they said, pointing out recent remarks by lawmaker Yelena Mizulina that the state should have the right to take children out of homosexual families.

‘GAYS ARE ENEMY NO 1’ Mizulina has said the family committee she is chairing in the Duma lower house is writing a new family policy based on “traditional” values like registered heterosexual marriage and refusal of abortions. “We are looking into the possibility of creating a legal basis for taking children out of families that are de-facto gay marriages,” said Mizulina, who has also sponsored a bill

banning adoptions by foreign same-sex couples. Last month, Russia’s influential Orthodox Patriarch Kirill called the increasing legalization of same-sex marriage in other countries a “syndrome of apocalypse” which Russia must fight. Militantly conservative rhetoric has come amid increasing intolerance. Since 2005, the number of people who believe gays should have equal rights as the rest of society fell from 51 to 39 percent this year. The number of people who believe that homosexuality is an illness or is caused by “licentiousness” also grew from 67 to 78 percent in that period, according to Levada centre pollster.

Violent crimes committed against gays are rarely investigated, according to Moscow-based lawyer Ilnur Sharapov who had represented people injured at gay protests by neo-Nazi or ultraconservative Orthodox activists. “Hooliganism and injury cases very quickly reach trial unless the victim is gay,” he said. In the increasingly homophobic environment, gay parents now worry what will happen if their child is asked about their home situation in school.

“It’s a question of our mutual trust on the

one hand, and of her safety in society on the other hand,” said Olga, 34, a lesbian who has a small daughter, explaining that she does not want to lie to her child when she is old enough to understand.

“When you write up a bill like this, without any clear definitions, it means that you are not planning to practice justice with it, it means that you are planning to destroy,” she said, fearing that the propaganda law can be used against any gay parent. “Once the government singled out gays as the enemy number one, it became clear that it’s time to go,” she said. She is taking language classes and saving money to move to Poland, where she can legally repatriate because of her heritage.

A CHAIN OF SILENCE Single mothers, or two women living together with a child are a familiar picture in Russia. But in a country where men almost never get custody in a divorce, gay men have to be more circumspect, said Artyom, 30, who recently became a biological father to twins and is helping a lesbian couple raise them. “I wanted children, it

was a conscious decision, I looked for candidates online,” said Artyom, 30, who works as a doctor in Saint Petersburg.

He and the babies’ mother married when she was pregnant, and their parents happily help out in full ignorance that his wife is in a long-term relationship with a woman. He spends time daily with the children, feeding, changing, and taking them for walks. “We’ll keep our anonymity, the semblance of a regular traditional family,” said Artyom, who posted pictures from his wedding on his social networking page.

“It’s a working legend,” he said. “Many people do the same.”

“If everything was quiet, like in our family where we quietly got married, then maybe there wouldn’t be so many problems,” including the latest anti-gay laws, he said. Artyom’s view that gays should keep quiet about who they are is very widespread. The gay propaganda law was protested only by a handful of people. “It’s like a chain of silence,” said Alexandra.

“When someone is oppressed, they become silent themselves. But that’s a loser’s position, so we plan to flee.”—AFP

Freezing US aid to Egypt ‘not be easy or cost-free’ Stopping aid would hurt US defense companies

MINYA: The smoldering ruins of the Evangelical Church of Malawi are seen after it was ransacked, looted and burned by an angry mob, in Malawi, south of Minya, Egypt yesterday. In the province of Minya south of Cairo, protesters attacked two Christian churches.—AFP

Florida Keys considers drones to help eradicate mosquitoes MIAMI: The Florida Keys agency charged with keeping the island chain’s mosquito swarms at bay might become the nation’s first to use drones to spot remote breeding grounds as part of efforts to eradicate the insect. “If you try to get across the small islands it’s back country, it’s jungle,” said Michael Doyle, executive director of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, who added the drones wouldn’t replace boots on the ground, but would help turn eradication efforts into “smart bombing.”

On Aug. 26 the head of North Carolina-based Condor Aerial will demonstrate the Maveric drone on a test flight for officials in hopes of selling the $65,000 aircraft to one of the Sunshine State’s most popular tourist destinations. The chain of islands begins about an hour south of Miami and stretches nearly 200 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The southern tip of Key West is located only 90 miles from the shores of Cuba.

Condor Aerial CEO Fred Culbertson said the twopound, two-and-a-half-footlong drone can fly for 90 minutes at 200 feet. For mosquito control, they will be fitted with thermal cameras, which can show the pools where mosquitoes lay eggs as dark spots on the ground.

Inspectors will have to take pilot training certification courses and local officials will have to seek Federal Aviation Authority approval to fly the drones. “They’re not going to be used for surveillance,” Culbertson stressed.

Condor Aerial is a division of Prioria Robotics, a north Florida-based manufacturer that in 2010 received a $2.8 million contract from Canada to supply reconnaissance drones in Afghanistan.

Mosquitoes breed in the stagnant water left after a high tide or a storm. The agency employs 40 inspectors who scour 42 islands spread across 140 square miles. After an event, inspectors have only days before eggs grow into biting, potentially disease-spreading adults.

When a drone spots a potential breeding ground an inspector would visit the site to test for eggs, before calling in one of the district’s four helicopters to spray a bacteria to kill them. “What we’re looking to see is if this technology can actually see

shallow water either out in the open or under mangroves,” Doyle said. “And how much land can it cover quickly so the inspectors can get out that day.”

Doyle said the drones could help him better monitor the Keys with less staff.

“As our budget is getting smaller we’re trying to find ways to cover the same area with fewer people,” he said.

Keys officials regularly battle the common Salt Marsh mosquitoes that breed by the millions and can fly up to six miles. Yet their chief concern is the Aedes aegypti mosqui-

to that carries dengue, known as breakbone fever for the intense joint pains it causes. In 2010 the disease infected 63 people, according to a Center for Disease Control report. Dengue mosquitoes can lay eggs in small, hidden pools that drones might not be able to spot.

The only effective solution, Doyle said, is to visit sites multiple times a month, emptying any containers and spraying chemicals to kill any larvae that might grow.

“They’ve found them growing in a two-liter bottle cap,” he added. —Reuters

WASHINGTON: Some US lawmakers are calling for the Obama administration to shut off aid to Egypt in the aftermath of the army’s lethal crackdown on protesters. But untangling the aid relationship with Cairo would not be simple and could be costly for the United States as well as Egypt. A special financing arrangement Cairo uses could leave US taxpayers holding the bill for billions of dollars in equipment Egypt already has ordered on credit, and companies like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics that build military hardware for Egypt would be affected by aid restrictions.

President Barack Obama said on Thursday that normal cooperation with Cairo could not continue and announced the cancellation of military exercises with Egypt next month. But an aid cutoff - which might see Washington losing what limited leverage it has with Egypt’s interim military government does not appear imminent. Since 1979, when Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel, it has been the second largest recipient, after Israel, of US bilateral foreign aid, the Congressional Research Service says. From 1948 to 2011, American aid to Cairo amounted to $71.6 billion.

Lately, the US aid has been running at about $1.55 billion a year. About $1.3 billion of this is military aid, which comes back to the United States in spending on things like tanks and planes. “Most of Egypt’s military assistance is captured by the US defense industry that provides the platforms, maintenance and spare parts to Egypt,” said Jeffrey Martini, a Middle East analyst at the RAND Corporation think tank. “So in pure economic terms, the Egyptian military would take a hit in having less money for acquisitions but US defense contractors would also lose a client,” Martini said.

There were calls this week from both ends of the US political spectrum for Obama to follow a US law that triggers an aid cutoff if a military coup against a democratically elected government has taken place. The Obama administration says it has not

determined whether the military’s actions in Cairo in the departure of President Mohamed Morsi amounted to a coup. “While President Obama ‘condemns the violence in Egypt,’ his administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars to help pay for it,” said Senator Rand Paul, a Republican with connections to the conservative Tea Party movement.

EGYPT’S CREDIT CARD US taxpayers could take a hit if the aid pipeline is shut down. A special arrangement known as cash flow financing lets Egypt and Israel make arms purchases from the United States against promises of future aid and pay for things over time - like a credit card. The Pentagon declined to discuss what amounts might be outstanding under Egypt’s cash flow financing arrangement, but analysts say it is at least $2 billion.

“So Egypt has used its credit card recently to buy an additional squadron of F-16 (fighter jets) and an additional batch of M1A1 (tank) kits,” said Robert Springborg, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. “If suddenly we were to say, you are not sending those F-16s or those M1A1 kits, then the question arises what’s going to happen to them. If nothing else can be found to be done with them, then the US government would be liable to be sued by the manufacturers ... The estimated outstanding amounts are somewhere between $2.3 billion and $3.5 billion,” Springborg said.

Under cash flow financing, multi-year contracts may be signed and payment schedules are prepared. This allows for the award of contracts that are more than the annual appropriation for a country, as long as the payments estimated in the out years are within the traditional amount of aid.

Springborg said Egypt had contracts going out until 2017. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate subcommittee in charge of foreign aid,

has long been a critic of the cash flow financing.

“This arrangement, which has been on autopilot for decades, has gotten us into a situation where we have mortgaged ourselves well into the future for equipment which is not necessarily needed, for a military that can’t be trusted, and that is costing us huge amounts of money,” he said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

Cutting military aid to Egypt also would leave some US defense companies looking elsewhere for clients. Joel Johnson, an analyst with the Virginiabased Teal Group, said it could lead to layoffs in Lima, Ohio, where General Dynamics Corp is building kits to upgrade 125 M1A1 Egyptian tanks.

Johnson said a US aid shut-off also would hit small to medium-sized suppliers that provide components for the tank, which are often more vulnerable than the prime contractors. One industry official said some 500 suppliers could be hurt.

General Dynamics won the tank contract valued at $395 million in 2011. It builds the hulls and various parts and then ships the kits to Egypt for final assembly, said company spokesman Rob Doolittle.

He declined to comment on the possible impact of a decision to cancel the Egyptian tank order.

The Lima facility has been counting on foreign orders and smaller contracts with the US government to remain open, given the US Army’s plans to “pause” production of heavy ground vehicles for the United States. Obama’s announcement Thursday that the United States was canceling joint military exercises with Egypt was the first significant US move to penalize Egypt’s military rulers after the ouster of Morsi. Previously, the US government had announced a decision to halt delivery to Egypt of four US-made F-16 fighters. Fort Worthbased Lockheed Martin is under contract to supply 20 F-16s to Egypt at a cost of $776 million.

Spokesman Ken Ross said 14 of the planes have been delivered through June 30, including seven this year.— Reuters

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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

Gunmen kill Somali public radio worker MOGADISHU: Two gunmen shot dead a technician employed at Somalia’s state-run broadcaster Radio Mogadishu yesterday, the sixth media professional killed in the country this year, officials and a colleague said. “Two men armed with pistols shot Ahmed Sharif and escaped the scene. He was rushed to hospital but he died instantly,” said colleague Mohamed Sacid.

Sharif was gunned down near his home in the capital Mogadishu just hours after Somalia publicly executed the only person to be convicted to date of killing a journalist in the country, ranked as one of the worst in the world for reporters. Deputy Information Minister Abdishakur Ali Mire confirmed the death to reporters. “We condemn the killing,” he said. “He was an

innocent man who did nothing wrong and we expect the law enforcement departments to bring those responsible to justice.” Watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called the security situation for media personnel in Somalia’s cities “deplorable”. The country ranks 175th out of 179 countries in the group’s 2013 Press Freedom Index. Eighteen media profes-

sionals were killed in Somalia in 2012 - the country’s deadliest year on record, according to Reporters Without Borders-and about 50 have been killed in the last six years.

Sharif’s killing came on the same day that convicted murderer Adan Sheikh Abdi was executed by firing squad in a Mogadishu square for the September 2012

killing of well-known journalist Hassan Yusuf Absuge. It was not immediately clear whether the attack on Sharif was linked to the execution. Adan Sheikh Abdi was tried by a military tribunal as a “combatant” for belonging to Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgency. He was sentenced to death in March and his subsequent appeal was rejected.—AFP

‘Area 51’ landing site for U2 planes, not UFOs: CIA New document recounts a less sensational history

HAILEY: Helicopters battle the 64,000 acre Beaver Creek Fire on Friday north of Hailey, Idaho.— AP

1,600 homes evacuated as Idaho wildfire burns BOISE, Idaho: Sheriff’s deputies expanded evacuation orders to 1,600 homes near the Idaho mountain resort community of Sun Valley as a wind-driven wildfire burned its way through sage and pine trees. The evacuation orders for the 100-square-mile Beaver Creek Fire included homes in drainages and foothills west of the towns of Hailey and Ketchum in central Idaho.

Managers at the Sun Valley Ski Resort turned on water cannons that are normally used for wintertime snowmaking.

One home in an outlying valley was destroyed Thursday night, said Bronwyn Nickel, a spokeswoman for Blaine County, where the fire is burning. More than 600 state and federal firefighters were dispatched to the blaze in the affluent resort region that’s a second home to celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis. Fire managers planned to augment the crews as fires elsewhere in Idaho and Utah come under control.

In addition, some private insurers have sent in their own crews to provide structural protection for homes with values that can stretch into the millions of dollars, Nickel said.

“There are private engines that insur-

ance companies have sent in,” she said.

“They’re on site, they’re working with our local firefighters and law enforcement.”

Fire officials said strong, gusty winds, low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation created unstable conditions surrounding the Beaver Creek Fire, where a huge DC-10 tanker, capable of carrying 12,000 gallons of retardant, was among aircraft making drops on the blaze.

Jack Sibbach, a Sun Valley Resort spokesman, had to leave his home south of Ketchum on Friday. He said he watched as airplanes and helicopters made runs in roughly three-minute intervals, dropping water and red retardant to create a barrier against flames west of US Highway 75.

The resort turned on snow cannons on Bald Mountain, he said, largely to protect lodges atop the mountain, should the fire advance that far. “The fire’s not that close to Baldy, but with the wind, you’re worrying about things sparking,” Sibbach said.

“Things could jump ahead.”

The towns of Ketchum, with a population of 2,700, and Sun Valley, with 1,400 people, were under pre-evacuation orders, with residents advised to prepare their belongings in case they are required to leave on a moment’s notice. — AP

WASHINGTON: A newly declassified CIA document confirms the existence of famed Area 51 in Nevada, but conspiracy theorists will be disappointed the spy agency offers no proof of alien spaceship landings in the desert. Area 51 has long been fodder for science fiction films and wild UFO tales claiming the US government imposed secrecy over the site northwest of Las Vegas to cover up evidence of extra-terrestrials touching down on Earth.

Instead of encounters with flying saucers, the documents released by the Central Intelligence Agency on Thursday recount a less sensational history of Area 51 — as a testing range for the government’s U-2 spy plane during the Cold War. The CIA in-house history makes no mention of the legendary “Roswell incident,” when a weather balloon crashed in New Mexico in 1947. UFO true believers allege it was an alien spacecraft that went down, and that Area 51’s hangars had hidden evidence of extra-terrestrial corpses.

But according to the CIA, the government secrecy surrounding Area 51 was not about Martians but about hiding a new spy plane from the Soviets. The U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was designed to snoop on the Soviet Union at high-altitude, and its development was top-secret.

In April 1955, the CIA chose a remote dry lakebed in the Nevada desert as a testing ground, which was designated on maps as Area 51.Test flights for the U-2 aircraft were conducted at a much higher altitude than commercial airliners or other military planes.

In the 1950s, commercial planes flew at between 10,000 and 20,000 feet and warplanes such as B-47 reached altitudes of less than 40,000 feet.

The U-2 planes flew at above 60,000 feet, and reports of unidentified flying objects in the Nevada desert started to roll in, the report said.

“High altitude testing of the U-2 soon led to an unexpected side effect-a tremendous increase in reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs),” it said. The reports of UFOs often came from pilots from commercial airliners in the early evening

hours, with the U-2 plane’s silver wings reflecting the rays of the sun.

The surveillance planes appeared to be “fiery objects” high in the sky, it said. “At this time, no one believed manned flight was possible above 60,000

Freedom of Information request dating to 2005 from the National Security Archives at George Washington University. The study was published in classified form for spy agencies in 1992 and a heavily censored version was published in 1998.

A car moves along the Extraterrestrial Highway near Rachel, Nevada.—AP feet, so no one expected to see an object so high in the sky,” it said. The commercial pilots and other observers on the ground wrote letters to an Air Force unit in Dayton, Ohio charged with investigating such sightings.

Anxious to avoid exposing the ultra-secret U-2 program, Air Force officers explained the sightings as merely due to natural phenomena, though they knew the high-flying U-2 was the true cause.

U-2 and other surveillance flights “accounted for more than one-half of all UFO reports during the late 1950s and most of the 1960s,” it said. The 400page report, titled “Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead reconnaissance: The U-2 and Oxcart Programs, 1954-1974,” was released as a result of a

Area 51’s location has been an open secret for years but government documents released previously had not acknowledged its existence and role in such a detailed way. Officials also had referred to a location “near Groom Lake.” The CIA report said at the time officials decided to nickname the site “Paradise Ranch” to make it sound more attractive to potential workers.

The in-house history refers to Area 51 in passing, as the report is devoted mainly to recounting how the CIA developed the U-2 “Dragon Lady” and other “eyes in the sky” to spy on the Soviets. Other stealthy planes have been tested at the site, including the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117A fighter and the B-2 bomber. — AFP

White House travel chief moves Obama entourage VINEYARD HAVEN, Massachusetts: Even on a summer family vacation, President Barack Obama is followed by an entourage whose behind-the-scenes movements are juggled by a woman who was born into politics and has been with him since his Chicago days.

Ashley Tate-Gilmore heads the White House Travel Office, a five-person operation that handles precise logistics behind every presidential trip. The details usually go unnoticed by the public, unless something goes horribly wrong. Tate-Gilmore not only acts as a high-stakes travel agent for White House press and staff, but a mini-ambassador who is often the first to arrive at presidential destinations. She’s used to being underestimated, a 29-year-old woman who is quick to laugh and signs off every email with a smiley face. She said it was clear from her first meeting with foreign officials when she took over the job three years ago that they weren’t expecting to take directions from a woman who looks so young.

“People are like, ‘Who are we meeting with?’ I was like, ‘Me.’ And mouths dropped,” she said in an interview. But anyone who thinks Tate-Gilmore is just a sweet young thing is in for a surprise.

She was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Chicago politics - her mother got pregnant while working on Harold Washington’s campaign to become the city’s first black mayor and raised her daughter as a single parent on the city’s South Side with help from her own mother.

By Washington’s re-election cam-

paign, little Ashley was coming along to help. “At 4 years old, Ashley was stuffing envelopes,” said her mother, Desiree Tate. Tate-Gilmore lives out of a bag, and her job requires that she be highly organized and think on her feet as she juggles planning for multiple White House trips. The eight-day vacation to Martha’s Vineyard required her to help set up a White House operation on the island at peak season, when accommodations are hard to find. She helped reserve rooms for media, staff, Secret

Ashley Tate-Gilmore Service and others supporting the presidential operation in so many places across the island that she’s lost count booking rental homes and even a trailer for staff to work out of when there were no more hotel rooms to be had.

Meanwhile, from the island she’s dealing with visa applications for Obama’s visit to Russia next month and setting up Obama’s bus tour next week to New York and Pennsylvania. And she is planning to travel overseas next week

to make arrangements for a future presidential trip.

Tate-Gilmore has learned to be nononsense in her dealings with local officials, hotels and venues Obama will visit.

In preparation for his trip to Africa earlier this year, members of the White House advance party suffered bug bites staying in the press hotel. Tate-Gilmore demanded the hotel hire an exterminator - and take along a photographer who could email her pictures back in Washington to prove all the rooms had been fumigated.

When a radio reporter contracted food poisoning on the stop in Tanzania, TateGilmore insisted on staying overnight in the hospital and worked with doctors to ensure she got proper care.

Reporters, photographers and others with the news media pay their share of expenses when they accompany the president. In recent years, the size of the media entourage has dropped as some outlets have determined that the tab is just too high. With media outlets feeling increasing financial pressure, controlling costs is a big part of Tate-Gilmore’s job as she weighs fees for rooms and travel.

“The kind of glitz and glamour that people think we bring with the White House - they will roll us if they can,” TateGilmore said. But costs are not the only consideration - the White House has to deal with security and access issues as well for its press corps. If reporters were left to travel commercially on their own, they would never be able to keep up with Air Force One flying around the globe and get in and out of the president’s security bubble. —AP

Fort Hood suspect kicked gun from officer’s hand FORT HOOD: A police officer who responded to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting has testified that she remembers trying in vain to fire her weapon as she laying bleeding on the ground with the gunman standing over her. Kimberly Munley on Friday recalled those seconds at the military trial of Maj. Nidal Hasan, who is accused of killing 13 people that day at the Texas military base in November 2009.

The Army psychiatrist also is accused of wounding more than 30 others in the worst mass shooting ever on the US military base. If convicted by the jury, composed of all military officers, Hasan could face the death penalty.

Munley said the shooter then kicked the gun from her hand. But then the shooter’s gun malfunctioned and he

stumbled back as one of Munley’s fellow officers yelled, “Drop your weapon.” The officer fired, and the gunman fell. When asked if the man who tried to kill her was in the courtroom, Munley - who was shot three times - pointed to Hasan.

Hasan - who is acting as his own attorney - raised no objections and declined to ask any questions during Munley’s testimony, which has largely been his strategy since the trial began last week. However, he stopped stroking his beard and put his hand down when Munley identified him as the shooter. Hasan’s lack of defense so far has allowed prosecutors to call more than 70 witnesses, indicating that the trial could wrap up far sooner than the months-long timeline originally announced by the judge, Col Tara Osborn.

Prosecutors told Osborn on Friday that they have about 15 to 25 witnesses left, likely depending on what evidence and witnesses the judge allows. Such evidence includes references to Hasan Akbar, a Muslim soldier sentenced to death for attacking fellow soldiers in Kuwait during the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Prosecutor Col Steve Henricks told a skeptical Osborn that Hasan had shown interest in Akbar’s case and that prosecutors wanted to prove Hasan’s attack was a “copycat.” Henricks also said witnesses could include former classmates who heard Hasan talking about suicide bombers. Hasan, an American-born Muslim, had wanted to argue that he carried out the shootings to defend the Taliban from American attacks. —AP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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

Indian police capture top terrorist Tunda ‘LeT explosive expert mastermind of serial blasts’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police officers escort blindfolded Muslim cleric Khalid Chishti to appear in court in Islamabad, Pakistan. A lawyer says a Pakistani court has dismissed charges against the cleric who accused a young Christian girl of blasphemy and had been arrested for allegedly forging evidence against her. — AP

Pakistani cleric cleared in blasphemy case ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court yesterday dismissed charges against a cleric who accused a young Christian girl of blasphemy and who was arrested last year for allegedly forging evidence against her, his lawyer said.

The case had brought new spotlight on Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws, sections of which carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.

However, the laws retain broad support in this country, where Islamic conservatism is on the rise alongside extremism and many Muslims are highly sensitive about their faith.

The lawyer, Wajid Gilani, said the district judge in Islamabad on Saturday granted the motion to acquit his client, cleric Khalid Chishti, after the judge ruled that the prosecution had not brought forward sufficient evidence.

Chishti was the imam, or prayer leader, at the mosque in the mixed, Muslim-Christian neighborhood of Maherabadi in the Pakistani capital.

He had accused the young girl of burning pages of Islam’s holy book last year. He said a man had allegedly brought him a plastic bag containing some burned papers and ash, claiming the girl had been carrying them around.

The bag was submitted as evidence to the police and subsequently the girl was arrested to pacify the angry mob in the neighborhood.

But then, the cleric himself was arrested and accused of planting pages of the Quran in the bag.

The girl was released on bail after spending three weeks in jail and subsequently found shelter in Canada along with her family.

After the girl’s arrest, most of the other Christian families fled the Islamabad neighbor-

hood where the incident happened, fearing retribution. They took refuge in a forested area in central Islamabad but were kicked out of the area the following day by angry residents.

Meanwhile, there were contrary reports about the girl - some said she was 11 years old and has Down’s syndrome; a medical board said she was about 14 and that her mental age didn’t match her physical age.

The defense lawyer, Gilani, insisted on his client’s innocence and claimed police had implicated Chishti in false charges.

“My client was innocent from the very beginning and he had to suffer for no crime,” said the lawyer.

The prosecutor and the investigating officer could not be reached for comment yesterday. Rao Abdur Raheem, a lawyer for the man who brought the initial complaint against the girl, questioned who had burned the Quran since Chishti was exonerated and the girl had been released previously. “My case is still there, blasphemy occurred but who should we now blame for it,” asked Raheem.Human rights activists say Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are too broad and vague, and are often used by people trying to settle scores with rivals or target religious minorities, who make up 5 percent of Pakistan’s 180 million people.

Few leaders in this predominantly Muslim country have shown willingness to tackle the contentious issue, especially after two prominent politicians who criticized the blasphemy law were murdered in recent years. One of the politicians was shot by his own bodyguard, who then attracted adoring crowds. —AP

Flood affects 100,000 ISLAMABAD: Over 200 villages were submerged and hundreds of acres of crop land were destroyed due to high floods in River Tawi, Nalluh Dek and Basantar yesterday.

According to government officials, over 98 people have died in flood-related accidents this month, mainly in urban areas, while more than 100, 000 persons have been affected. The Indus and Chenab Rivers were in high flood from Friday affecting the population in eastern province of Punjab as heavy rains lashed the province. Many villages were cut down from the cities as road links and the gushing water in Sialkot and Rajanpur washed bridges away and over two dozen villages were submerges by floodwater. Officials have confirmed the death of two children in Bhaiya village and authorities have issued flood warning for more than 150 villages adjacent to Chiniot near River Chenab.

According to the Flood Forecast Division (FFD),

the River Indus at Chashma and River Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad are in high floods.

The River Indus at Guddu is forecasted to be in high flood on August 20 and 21 as 600, 000 to 650,000 cusecs water is likely to pass through this area, while there might be high flood at Sukkur on August 21 and 22. The next spell of rainfall could lead the floods towards a serious situation, as all the reservoirs of Pakistan are filled to their capacity. According to Chairman Federal Flood Commission, Asjad Imtiaz, “Even land has no capacity to absorb water anymore due to recent strong spells of rain.” He further informed, “We still have time to prepare for the upcoming danger as the next spell is predicted for Aug 27-28.” The National Disaster Management Association (NDMA) estimated that around $3 billion loss was suffered by Pakistan in last three years due to floods and require $0.16 billion to meet the losses of the current floods. —KUNA

KABUL: Afghan children watch a performance from the Mobile Mini Circus for Children (MMCC) during a show in Paghman district on the outskirts of Kabul.-AFP

Gunmen kill female politician in Pakistan PESHAWAR: Gunmen shot dead a secular female politician from Pakistan’s troubled northwest after breaking into her home at night, police said yesterday.

Najma Hanif, 35, was a senior member of the Awami National Pary (ANP) which is known for its outspoken views against the Taleban and backed military operations against the insurgents while it ruled the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Police said the attackers, who have not yet been identified, used a silenced pistol.

“One or two attackers entered the house and killed her,” Mohammad Faisal, a senior police officer said. The motive behind the

shooting was unclear but Hanif’s husband and son along with their bodyguard were killed by a Taleban suicide bomber in November 2011. The ANP led the province and was a member of the ruling coalition in the centre from 2008 until elections earlier this year.

The party has been relentlessly targeted by the Taleban, losing hundreds of activists, with attacks stepped up during the run up to the May polls. Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has now formed a coalition government in the province but ANP leaders remain in the militants’ sights. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian police said yesterday they had arrested a top militant accused of helping mastermind the 1993 Mumbai blasts and over 40 other deadly bomb attacks across the country. Seventy-yearold Abdul Karim Tunda, an alleged member of the banned Pakistanbased Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, was arrested by a special Delhi police team near the border with Nepal on Friday.

“This arrest is a huge achievement for the country’s security agencies,” S N Srivastava, Special Commissioner of police, told a news conference in New Delhi. The bespectacled Tunda, sporting a long red hennaed beard and clad in a white loose long shirt, was paraded in front of reporters in the Indian capital by police.

They accused Tunda of being a “well-known LeT explosive expert and terrorist” and said they had been seeking him for his alleged role in 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai which killed at least 250 people in a single day. The 1993 attacks targeted hotels, offices, buildings and banks in India’s financial hub and were seen as retaliation for religious rioting in which mainly Muslims died following the razing of an ancient mosque. He also “masterminded” bomb blasts in Delhi in 1997-98 and a string of bombings elsewhere in the country, Srivastava told reporters.

“Tunda is one of India’s mostwanted and his name figures in the list of top-20 terrorists. We arrested him from the Indo-Nepal border.

He had a Pakistani passport with him,” Srivastava said. Tunda fled in 1994 to neighboring Bangladesh, where he trained radical young people in bomb-making, Delhi

NEW DELHI: Indian police officials walk with Abdul Karim Tunda (center) outside a police station in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP police said, adding he also stayed briefly in Pakistan before returning to India.

Police did not say where Tunda had been living most recently. “In almost all the blasts in Delhi during 1996-98, Tunda’s men-who were from Pakistan and Bangladesh-had detonated bombs using pencil batteries,” Srivastava alleged. The man accused of planning the 1993 Mumbai blasts, underworld boss Dawood Ibrahim, is still at large.

Tunda’s arrest comes as India has

been stepping up efforts to improve domestic security since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 Islamist gunmen laid siege to the city, killing 166 people. India accuses the LeT of carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attacks that badly strained relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors. India had named Tunda in a dossier that it handed over to Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which it listed the names of those believed to have been behind the

conspiracy. Srivastava added: “He had tried to cause serial explosions in India in 2010, just before the (Delhi) Commonwealth Games.

However, some of his men were arrested by police in the process, while others are still absconding.”

Tunda is close to Hafiz Saeed, the LeT founder who carries a $10million government bounty on his head, said Srivastava. Tunda went before a Delhi court yesterday and was remanded in police custody for three days. — AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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

Australian drug mule step closer to release Bali board recommends Corby’s parole

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (center) waves to people alongside first lady Ani Yudhoyono (left) and Vice President Boediono (right) during the country’s 68th independence day celebrations at the presidential palace in Jakarta yesterday.—AFP

Four Thais freed after Nigeria kidnap ordeal LAGOS: Four Thais and a Nigerian held in an apparent ransom kidnapping in southern Nigeria have been freed unharmed, officials in both countries said yesterday.

“The four of them were released at exactly 2:00 am (0100 GMT) this morning,” the agricultural commissioner in Nigeria’s Rivers state, Emmanuel Chindah, told AFP. A gang travelling by boat abducted a group of six including two Nigerians on August 9 while they were on their way to work at a fish farm in Rivers. One of the Nigerians drowned in the incident.

The four Thai nationals and surviving Nigerian were being examined by doctors in the area, Chindah said. “They are doing fine,” he added.

The Thai foreign ministry, which had earlier confirmed the release of its citizens, also said the group had not been seriously harmed. “The Thai foreign minister has talked with one of them. They are fine and

will continue to work in Nigeria,” ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said.

Most kidnap victims in southern Nigeria are released unharmed after the payment of a ransom, unlike in the country’s north, where Islamist extremists have killed a number of their hostages.

“The Rivers state government does not pay ransoms and to the best of my knowledge no ransom was paid,” Chindah told AFP. Companies, officials and the security services typically refuse to discuss ransom payments.

One of the Thai hostages spoke to Thai television yesterday and said he believed the kidnap was linked to rivalry between competing fish farms.

“They took us as hostages and used us as a bargaining chip,” Somchoke Panpinij told Thailand’s Channel 7. “We will not return to Thailand yet... I came here to help them to develop their country.” — AFP

Rights group says China detains legal activist BEIJING: Chinese authorities have detained Yang Maodong, a leading member of the country’s loose New Citizens campaign that promotes democratic rights, his friend and an international human rights advocacy group said yesterday.

It is the second such detention of a leader of the group after Xu Zhiyong was detained several weeks ago in Beijing.

Journalist Xiao Shu said that a sister of Yang was notified by the Tianhe branch of the Guangzhou police in southern China that Yang, who writes under the alias Guo Feixiong, was detained on Aug. 8 on the criminal charge of disrupting public order.

The Chinese Human Rights Defenders also reported Yang’s detention yesterday. A woman at a local police office referred questions to a detention center, but the detention center refused to comment. “Guo is the leading figure in southern China for the New Citizens movement, and Xu is the movement’s leading figure in northern China,” Xiao Shu said. “The way the authorities handle Guo’s case is exactly how they

have been handling Xu.” Xu is considered a moderate but outspoken voice in China’s beleaguered rights movement, campaigning for issues that include equal rights to education, and for officials to declare their assets.

While behind bars, Xu last week urged citizens to unite in pursuing democratic freedoms in a taped video that was posted online. Yang, 47, is a legal activist and dissident writer. He had served a five-year jail sentence between 2006 and 2011, and the writer’s advocacy group, International PEN, has said Yang was targeted for his book that allegedly exposed official corruption in a northeastern Chinese city.

Since his release, Yang continued to work on rights issues, his wife Zhang Qing said. Zhang said she last spoke to Yang on Aug 7 and detected no sign of trouble.

But he was out of contact from the next day. His friends and supporters learned his fate only yesterday when the official notification to his sister confirmed his detention. —AP

KUALA LUMPUR: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi perform a special prayer in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.—AP

Afghan insurgents kill 10 at construction camp KABUL: Insurgents staged a pre-dawn ambush on a construction camp in Afghanistanís western Herat province yesterday, killing 10 people in one of several deadly attacks across the countr y overnight and in the morning.

Nine construction workers and a policeman were killed when insurgents attacked the camp in Heratís Karukh district with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons, Deputy Public Works Minister Ahmad Shah Wahid said.

The workers were involved in a 52-kilometer (32-mile) road construction project run by an Afghan-German company and managed by the public works ministry, Wahid said. The road runs from Heratís Karukh district to Qala-i Now, the capital of neighboring Badghis province.

Development projects, most of which receive foreign funding, are frequently targeted by insurgents. In another deadly incident yesterday, five members of a family were killed in the Marjah district of southern Helmand province when their

mini-van struck a roadside bomb. They included three children, a woman and a man, a statement from the provincial governorís office said.

The statement added that another roadside bomb late Friday killed three women in Helmandís Sangin district. In Farah province in the west, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest inside a private medical clinic, killing three people including a local police commander, a provincial government spokesman said.

Abdul Rahman Zhawandai said the attacks in the Bala Buluik district appeared to be targeting a former provincial police chief, who escaped unhurt. Violence has increased in recent months as insurgents fight to regain territory and foreign forces withdraw. They are also trying to take advantage of the handover of the countryís security from the NATO-led coalition to Afghan forces ahead of the withdrawal of all foreign combat forces at the end of 2014. —AP

KEROBOKAN, Indonesia: Australian drug trafficker Schapelle Corby could be freed from a Bali prison within months after the corrections board on the Indonesian resort island said yesterday it had recommended her for parole.

The board said the 36-year-old should be released from Kerobokan jail to serve out the rest of her 20-year sentence on the island living with her sister. The recommendation had been made to the justice ministry on Friday, in part based on Corby’s “good behavior”, Bali corrections board chief Ketut Artha told reporters. “All that is left for her parole to be granted is a decision from the justice minister,” Artha said. While he said the decision could be made in “a month or so”, justice ministry director general of corrections Nugroho, who goes by one name, said it would likely take longer.

“With foreigners, cases usually take two to three months, possibly longer,” Nugroho said.

Corby was convicted in 2005 for smuggling 4.1 kilos (nine pounds) of marijuana into Bali the previous year.

Having received several remissions and a fiveyear sentence cut from the president, Corby is currently due for release in March 2017. If she continues to receive the usual sentence reductions during her parole period, she could be free to return home to Australia by mid-2015.

But Corby’s name was not on the list of 202 inmates at Kerobokan prison whose remission was approved Saturday. Sentences are routinely

cut to mark Indonesia’s August 17 independence day.

Warden I Gusti Ngurah Wiratna said he had recommended a six-month reduction, and that it “could still be approved” by the justice ministry in the coming days. If granted parole, Corby would still be bound to the island and obliged to

DENPASAR: Jailed Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby during a ceremony inside Kerobokan prison in Denpasar on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The corrections board on the Indonesian resort island of Bali has recommended Corby for parole, an official said yesterday.—AFP

regularly report to authorities. Corby has gained the required letters of support from the prison, village head where she would live in Bali, her family and the Australian government.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr threw in his support after the board made its recommendation, telling Sky News he had been “encouraging the minister to do the compassionate thing” and that he hoped the minister would take a “sympathetic view”.

“Our view is... Schapelle Corby, whatever her offence, has paid a price for it and deserves to have quick, fair consideration of this parole application, for which we provided a guarantee,” Carr said.

Corby has been eligible to apply for parole for around a year but her lawyers held off as authorities mulled the conditions of her release. Renae Lawrence-part of a group of Australian drug traffickers known as the Bali Nine jailed at Kerobokan-was also missing from the remissions list. Wiratna said he had recommended a sixmonth cut for Lawrence and 11 other foreign prisoners. British drugs convicts Julian Ponder and Paul Beales were given recommendations for two-month cuts from their jail terms of six and four years respectively.

They were jailed in connection with British drug trafficker Lindsay Sandiford, who is on death row. Indonesia enforces stiff penalties for drug trafficking, including life imprisonment and death. — AFP

Northeast China floods kill 25 BEIJING: Twenty-five people have been killed by floods which hit northeastern China over the past week, state media said yesterday, as other parts of the country continued to experience a heatwave.

The biggest floods recorded in decades in China’s northeast region, which borders Russia, began last week, submerging buildings and forcing people from their homes, China’s official Xinhua news agency said. Floods caused by heavy rain in the provinces of Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin have led to the relocation of 140,000 people, and economic losses of 7.1 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), Xinhua said.

Pictures posted online showed brick farmhouses surrounded by water, and a small bridge which had been swept away by swollen river.

Residents of Shenyang, in Liaoning province, were shown wading through waist-deep water to reach their cars, while one man negotiated the waters in a rubber dinghy.

Meanwhile, much of the rest of China has continued to experience a heatwave which saw temperatures in China’s commercial hub Shanghai reach their highest levels in at least 140 years earlier this month. The central Chinese city of Zhengzhou-not known for its hot weather-saw temperatures of over 45 degrees Celsius

(113 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, the Henan Business Daily reported on Saturday.

Temperatures in China have grown more extreme over the past four decades, according to a paper published in US-based journal Geophysical Research Letters earlier this year.

The paper said that human influence from sources including greenhouse gas emissions “is

clearly detectable in extreme temperatures over China” after examining data from 2,400 weather stations in China. At least three people were killed last week when a typhoon battered south China with strong winds and torrential rain, state media said. Many parts of China are prone to seasonal flooding, as heavy summer rains flood rivers. — AFP

Residents moving through floodwaters in Tengxian county, southwest China’s Guangxi province. — AFP

News

in brief

Japan festival blast claims first death TOKYO: A 44-year-old woman who suffered severe burns in an explosion at a fireworks festival in western Japan two days ago became the first person to die from the accident yesterday, police said. Hiromi Takeuchi was one of 60 people injured in the blast which ripped through food and drink stalls set up to entertain visitors at an annual festival outside the ancient capital of Kyoto. She passed away in a local hospital where she had been receiving treatment.

Police earlier said 18 were seriously injured with Takeuchi and an eight-year-old girl in critical condition. Police suspect that the explosion occurred when a vendor at one of some 350 stalls at the site opened the cap of a petrol container to refill an electric generator, press reports said. The highly pressured petrol was sprayed over a wide area, causing gas cylinders to blow up and three of the stalls went up in flames.

Thai editor’s house attacked BANGKOK: Police say they are investigating an attack involving gunshots fired at the family compound of a Thai newspaper editor. Police Col. Trairong Pewpan said an unknown number of attackers fired bullets into the property of Post Today newspaper executive editor Pattara Khampitak in Nonthaburi province early yesterday. He said the gunshots were fired into a house belonging to Pattara’s brother-in-law. No one was injured in the attack. Police also found a grenade hanging in front of the entrance to the compound.

Post Today reported that Pattara believes the shooting was a result of his criticism of the government and political groups. Trairong says investigators have not decided yet if Pattara was the target of the attack as there are three houses in the family compound.

Vietnam court frees dissident on appeal HANOI: A Vietnamese appeals court overturned a sixyear prison sentence against a dissident and halved the jail term of another in a rare show of leniency by the country’s Communist authorities. The decision followed meetings last month between President Barack Obama and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

Obama pressed Vietnam to take concrete steps to improve its human rights record - a major sticking point in ties between the countries. Nguyen Phuong Uyen, 21, was convicted of violating national security laws in May for distributing leaflets against the Communist Party and sentenced to six years. The appeals court on Friday changed that sentence to a 3year suspended one and released her. It halved the eight-year sentence against fellow activist, 25-year-old Dinh Nguyen Kha. A lawyer who was in the court, Nguyen Thanh Luong, said judges cited their young age in the decision.

2 police killed days after Indonesian terror raids JAKARTA: Unidentified gunmen killed two police officers near Indonesia’s capital, days after security forces made multiple arrests and killed suspects in anti-terrorism raids, police said yesterday.

Two men on a motorbike followed an officer who was heading to a police precinct in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, on Friday night. They shot him dead and fled, said National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Ronny Frengky Sompie.

They were pursued by a police car that hit the motorbike before plunging into a drain. Sompie said the gunmen then killed another officer in the car. Police returned fire and apparently injured one of the men, but they managed to escape on a villager’s motorbike that they stole. It was the second attack against police in less than two weeks. Two gunmen on a motorbike killed a police officer on Aug 7 when Indonesian Muslims were preparing the Eid Al-Fitr holiday to mark the end of the fasting month

of Ramadan. “ There are similarities between the two attacks,” Sompie said. “We are mobilizing our forces now to search for the perpetrators to reveal their motives and their possible links with terrorist groups.”

He said police are investigating the damaged motorbike left by the gunmen near the scene. The latest police raid involved Muhammad Syaiful Syahbani, 26, a suspected fund raiser in an alleged plot to attack the Myanmar Embassy to protest that country’s treatment of Muslims. He was arrested Aug. 9 in Yogyakarta on main Java island. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by a string of terrorist attacks since 2002, when Muslim militants carried out suicide bombings on two crowded nightclubs on the resort island of Bali, killing 202 people.

Hundreds of militants have been arrested and convicted since then, making the government and its security forces a target. — AP

JAKARTA: An armed paramilitary police guards the site where a police officer was shot and killed in Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta yesterday. — AP

NEWS

Arab leaders tacitly support crackdown on Brotherhood CAIRO: Most Arab leaders tacitly support Egypt’s deadly crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, fearing the group’s growing regional influence since the Arab Spring threatens their own power, analysts say. Egypt’s army, directly or indirectly in power since 1952, ousted the Brotherhood’s democratically elected Mohamed Morsi as president in a July 3 coup and installed an interim civilian government in its place.

Morsi’s supporters set up protest camps in Cairo and promised to stay put until the former leader, now in custody, was reinstated. The government ordered them to disperse and, after a number of delays, police backed by troops stormed the camps on Wednesday. The death toll from ensuing clashes, in the capital and across Egypt, has reached nearly 600 people.

But only Qatar, a Brotherhood patron, and Tunisia, whose ruling Ennahda party is affiliated with the movement, strongly condemned the assault.

“All the Gulf monarchies, except for Qatar, and Jordan fear that the Muslim Brotherhood revolution will be exported to them,” said Khattar Abou Diab, a professor at University of ParisSud. “For that reason, they are hoping for a return to the classic situation of a strong power in Egypt, a pivotal country in the Arab world.” These countries, Saudi Arabia in particular, “have noted with disapproval the growing weight of Turkey and Iran... and their support for the Egyptian regime demonstrates their desire to return to a purely Arab regional system based on more classical lines.”

Turkey, whose Islamist government is ideologically aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, has widened its influence in the Arab world since the outbreak of the Arab Spring. And Iran has

reinforced its links with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and established relations with the Brotherhood in Egypt. Hami Shadi, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Doha Centre, said what happened in Egypt “is a product of a big regional issue, which is this kind of ‘Arab Cold War’, and it is clear what side... is winning.”

For Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the coup delivered a “blow to their major regional opponent, the Muslim Brotherhood, so it would not make much sense for them to turn around now and say “well, we don’t like what you are doing anymore.’ “Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now the primary patrons of this new military government and they are very supportive. It is unlikely they would offer much criticism.”

For 30 years, Saudi Arabia and the Brotherhood maintained good relations, but these deteriorated after the Brotherhood criticized Riyadh for accepting US military personnel in the country during the 1991 Gulf War. Things got worse after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. At the time, Riyadh accused the Brotherhood of being at the root of jihadist ideology, and the interior minister declared in 2002 that “all extremist groups are derived from the Muslim Brotherhood.”

But the worst of all for Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, was the rapprochement between the Brotherhood and Shiite Iran across the Gulf, Riyadh’s main rival in the Middle East. Stephane Lacroix, a professor at the Institute of Political Science in Paris and an expert on the group, said the “Muslim Brotherhood has never been opposed to relations with Shiite Iran while, for the Saudis, that is a red line not only in terms of Sunni orthodoxy but also because or regional politics.” — AFP

Virus targeting social network Continued from Page 1 He encouraged users to report suspicious activity through links on Facebook sites and apps. “We work hard to limit spam on our service and prohibit the creation of accounts through unauthorized or automated means,” Kirkland said.

The modified Zeus virus is the first piece of malicious software uncovered to date that has been used to post false “likes” on a social network, according to experts who track cyber crime. Fraudsters most commonly manipulate “likes” using automated software programs. The modified version of Zeus controls infected computers from a central server, forcing them to post likes for specific users.

They could also be given marching orders to engage in other operations or download other types of malicious software, according to RSA. Cyber criminals have used Zeus to infect hundreds of millions of PCs since the virus first surfaced more than five years ago, according to Don Jackson, a senior security researcher with Dell SecureWorks. That the virus is now being adapted to target Instagram is a sign of the rising importance of social

media in marketing, and the increasing sophistication of hackers trying to profit from the trend.

Online marketing consultant Will Mitchell said he sometimes advises clients to buy bogus social-networking traffic, but only to get an early foothold online. When asked about the ethics of faking endorsements, Mitchell replied, “It’s fine to do for the first 100, but I always advise stopping after that.”

He said one of his clients once bought more than 300,000 “likes” on Facebook against his advice, a move that Mitchell felt damaged the client’s reputation. “It was just ridiculous,” he said. “Everybody knew what they were doing.” Still, experts say schemes to manipulate social networks are unlikely to go away. Creating fake social media accounts can also be used for more nefarious purposes than creating fake “likes,” such as identity theft. “The accounts are always just a means to an end.

The criminals are always looking to profit,” said computer security expert Chris Grier, a University of California at Berkeley research scientist who spent a year working on a team that investigated fake accounts on Twitter. — Reuters

32 killed, 170 missing in Philippine ferry...

Continued from Page 1 The 40-year-old ferry was approaching Cebu late in the evening when it was struck by the departing cargo vessel, the Sulpicio Express 7, leaving two huge holes in the latter’s bow. The ferry sank in minutes, about a kilometer off Cebu. Small planes and helicopters also scoured the waters and coastal areas of Cebu island for survivors, officials said. Divers found four bodies outside the sunken ferry hours before the search was halted, said Commander Noel Escalana, a naval operations officer.

“During the dive, they saw bodies from the windows,” he told reporters, saying the divers did not attempt to retrieve them. “It’s dangerous to enter the ship...Because they need special equipment and extra oxygen tanks.”

Escalana added that rescuers had no idea how many people were trapped inside the ship, lying on a seabed around 150 feet below sea level.

Fourteen bodies had been found in the town of Talisay, south of Cebu City, said Imelda Sabillano, another local official. “We don’t know where these bodies came from, but we already have brought to a local morgue 31 bodies for identification,” she said, adding that morgue officials awaited the arrival of the 14 bodies to add them to the toll from the disaster. Officials said a recount at the morgue showed 32 bodies awaited autopsy.

The Sulpicio Express 7 is owned by unlisted firm Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp, formerly known as Sulpicio Lines Inc, which owned the MV Dona Paz ferry.

That vessel collided with a tanker in the Sibuyan Sea in December 1987, killing 4,375 on the ferry and 11 of the tanker’s 13-man crew. The owners of the ferry involved in Friday’s accident said it was carrying 723 passengers, 118 crew and 104 20-ft containers. It had an authorized capacity of 1,010 passengers and crew and 160 containers.

The captains of the two ships are alive but have yet to be questioned, said Rear Admiral Luis Tuason, the coast guard operations chief. Abaya said initial information showed the cargo ship loaded with container vans bound for Davao on the southern island of Mindanao hit the ferry’s “vulnerable part” on the right side.

“We felt the cargo ship hit us and minutes later we noticed our ship was listing,” passenger Aldrin Raman told reporters. “I grabbed a life vest and jumped overboard. I saw many passengers doing the same.” One of the crew said the ferry sank within 10 minutes. “The collision left a gaping hole in the ferry and water started rushing in, so the captain ordered (us to) abandon ship,” the crew member said. Most of the passengers were already wearing life jackets before the ship sank, he added.

Another passenger, Jerwin Agudong, said several people had been trapped. “It seems some were not able to get out. We saw dead bodies on the side,” he said.

Fishermen on shore said they saw flares. “It was very dark and we could hear a lot of people shouting, asking for help,” said George Palmero, a 35-year-old fisherman who helped pull 10 survivors from the water.— Reuters

Egypt mulls Brotherhood ban as death...

Continued from Page 1 country which has a strategic peace treaty with Israel and operates the Suez Canal, a major artery of world trade. However, Saudi Arabia threw its weight behind the armybacked government on Friday, accusing its old foes in the Muslim Brotherhood of trying to destabilize Egypt.

The health ministry said 173 people died in clashes across Egypt on Friday, including 95 in central Cairo, after the Brotherhood called a “Day of Rage” to denounce a crackdown on its followers on Wednesday that killed at least 578 people. Fifty-seven policemen died over the past three days, the interior ministry said.

Among those killed on Friday was a son of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie, shot dead close to Al-Fath mosque, which was rapidly transformed into a makeshift morgue and a refuge for hundreds of Morsi’s supporters, looking to escape the bloodshed. The building was surrounded overnight and police fired volleys of tear gas into the carpeted prayer hall in the early afternoon, filling the hall with billowing white smoke and leaving those inside gasping for breath. Soon afterwards gunshots rang out from both sides.

Egyptian authorities said they had rounded up more than 1,000 Islamists after Friday’s protests, showing one handcuffed man on television with an automatic gun on

his lap. Security sources said Mohamed Al-Zawahiri, the brother of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman AlZawahiri, had also been detained.

“Friday was a very bad, ugly day.

There were attacks on police stations, ministries. The situation is very bad,” the prime minister told reporters. “There will be no reconciliation with those whose hands have been stained with blood and who turned weapons against the state and its institutions.”

The Brotherhood was officially dissolved by Egypt’s military rulers in 1954, but registered itself as a nongovernmental organization in March in a response to a court case brought by opponents of the group who were contesting its legality.

Founded in 1928, the movement has deep roots in the provinces and has a legally registered political arm the Freedom and Justice Party which was set up in 2011 after unrest that led to the downfall of the autocratic Hosni Mubarak.

The Brotherhood won all five elections that followed the toppling of Mubarak, and Morsi governed the country for a year until he was undermined by mammoth rallies called by critics who denounced his rule as incompetent and partisan.

Army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi says he removed Morsi from office on July 3 to protect the country from possible civil war.

Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad said the police had start-

ed to arrest the sons and daughters of the organization’s leadership in an effort to gain leverage. Despite the bloodshed, the Islamist group has urged its supporters to take to the streets every day this coming week, but there was no sign of large rallies by yesterday afternoon. “Our rejection of the coup regime has become an Islamic, national and ethical obligation that we can never abandon,” said the Brotherhood, which has accused the military of plotting the downfall of Morsi to regain the levers of power.

Iraq, wracked by its own civil strife, urged restraint. “We were shocked by the huge number of casualties that resulted from breaking up the protests and by the excessive use of power,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told USbased Al Hurra television.

Worryingly for the Egyptian army, violence was reported across the country on Friday, with deaths reported in at least eight cities and towns, suggesting it might struggle to impose control on the vast, largely desert state.

The government said 12 churches had been attacked and burned on Friday, blaming the Islamists for the destruction. Foreign journalists in Cairo said they faced regular harassment as they tried to report on the clashes, with a number detained by police and civilian vigilante groups unhappy with coverage of the disturbances. — Agencies

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

Egypt challenges Obama’s ‘Arab Spring’ philosophy WASHINGTON: As Arab Spring democracy uprisings spread across the Middle East, President Barack Obama’s response to the political unrest has been to voice support for people seeking representative governments but limit the role the United States will play to shape those efforts.

The president’s philosophy of limited engagement is facing perhaps its toughest test in Egypt, where the nation’s first democratically elected president was ousted by military forces with deep, decades-long ties to the US. The White House has refused to declare Mohammed Morsi’s removal from power a coup - a step that would require Obama to suspend $1.3 billion in annual aid - even after the military-backed interim government led crackdowns last week that left more than 600 people dead and thousands more injured.

Obama’s resistance to suspending US support for Egypt’s military leaves the White House with little leverage, effectively relegating the president to the role of a bystander issuing strongly worded statements. The US position has also stirred up anti-American sentiment in Egypt, with Morsi supporters accusing the US of failing to live up to its own democratic values by allowing an elected leader to be pushed aside.

Obama insists that the US stands with Egyptians seeking a democratic government. But he says America could not determine Egypt’s future and would not “take sides with any political party or political figure.” “I know it’s tempting inside of Egypt to blame the United States or the West or some other outside actor for what’s gone wrong,” Obama said Thursday in remarks from his rented vacation house in Massachusetts on Martha’s Vineyard.

“We’ve been blamed by supporters of Morsi. We’ve been blamed by the other side, as if we are supporters of Morsi.” “That kind of approach will do nothing to help Egyptians achieve the future that they deserve,” Obama added. Steven Cook, a Middle East analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that Obama’s “middle-splitting” approach for Egypt undercuts US support for democracy in the region.

“The idea that we can influence the trajectory of the politics is foolish,” Cook said. “But to have not been consistent in emphasizing our own values in this situation is a mistake. We should stick to the principles of democracy and recognition for the rule of law.” However, the US relationship with Egypt has long required Washington to ignore the country’s repressive politics in exchange for regional stability.

For 30 years, the US propped up Egyptian autocrat

Hosni Mubarak in part to ensure that he maintained Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel, one of only two such accords in the Arab world. But Obama abandoned Mubarak in 2011, when millions of Egyptians took to the streets to demand an end to his rule. Mubarak eventually resigned, clearing the way for Egypt’s first democratic elections and inspiring pro-democracy protests in other countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

The US has consistently voiced support for the popular uprisings and in some cases demanded that autocratic leaders leave power. In Libya, the US joined with allies to set up a no-fly zone to help opposition forces oust longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. And in Syria, the US has levied economic sanctions and approved light weaponry for rebels fighting President Bashar Assad’s government, though it has done little to stop the civil war that has left more than 100,000 people dead. But throughout the Arab Spring, the White House has been wary of getting too deeply involved in setting up new governments in the region.

Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said the president does not believe it is his role to “engineer a political process.” “The challenge for us is that picking winners and seeking to engineer a solution puts us right in the middle of the situation and ultimately makes the US the issue,” Rhodes said. The president’s approach was shaped in part by his opposition to the Iraq War, a conflict that was first built as an anti-terrorism campaign but became a US-led exercise in democracy-building.

Obama oversaw the end of the war in his first term and has since tried to keep the war weary, economically strapped US out of other lengthy foreign conflicts.

Obama’s philosophy is also driven in part by concerns that the governments formed after the Arab Spring uprisings may be more detrimental to American interests than the autocratic regimes they replace. Before Morsi’s ouster, US officials were worried that the Egyptian leader fit into that category.

A senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi was accused of giving the Islamist political movement undue influence in the government after he took power.

Egyptians also blamed him for failing to make good on promised economic reforms. The military removed Morsi from power last month following massive street protests that drew comparisons to the demonstrations that ousted Mubarak in 2011. The military has promised to roll back Morsi’s Islamist constitution and hold free elections next year. — AP

Qaeda attacks Syria Kurdish town Continued from Page 1 “Intermittent clashes are continuing to take place till now, in the Asfar Najjar area and the outskirts of Tal Halaf,” he said via the Internet. Government troops pulled out of majority Kurdish areas of Syria last year, leaving Kurdish militiamen to fend for themselves.

Elsewhere in Syria, rebels attacked a pro-regime militia checkpoint in a majority Christian area of Homs province, killing six civilians and five militiamen, the Observatory said.

State news agency SANA said all those killed were civilians, and described the attackers as “terrorists”. Homs has seen some of Syria’s worst violence since the out-

break of the conflict in March 2011. The deaths come a day after at least 16 people, among them four children, were killed in regime shelling on the Kalasse district of the northern city of Aleppo, the Observatory said.

At least 182 people were killed across Syria on Friday, the group added. Meanwhile, Amnesty International said prominent Syrian artist Youssef Abdelke and another opponent of the Damascus regime had been “subjected to enforced disappearance.” Abdelke and Adnan AlDibs were arrested on July 18 in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tartus and have not been seen since.

Rights groups say the regime, which systematically practices torture, is holding tens of thousands of political prisoners. — AFP

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

ANALYSIS

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Issues

New violence looms in Egypt

By Sara Hussein gypt faces new polarization and the potential for further violence after a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi turned into a bloodbath, analysts say. More than 500 people were killed on Wednesday when security forces moved to disperse two Cairo protest camps of Morsi loyalists in a heavy-handed assault that drew international censure. But domestically, the government’s actions were well-received by many, with the media saying police forces had rid Egypt of the “nightmare” of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Analysts warned that popular support could lead to an even wider crackdown on Morsi loyalists, and expressed hope that politicians would instead reach out to moderate Islamists. “The polarisation gets much, much worse” after the deaths, warned Michael Hanna, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a US think-tank. “The fact that the military has gone this far in terms of a crackdown makes the possibility for any near-term compromise for the Morsi camp impossible, and that in turn makes more repression inevitable,” he said.

On Thursday, supporters of the ousted Islamist president launched new demonstrations, despite a warning from the interior ministry a day earlier against any additional protests. “They will continue to demonstrate, hold strikes in different cities, maybe targeting different provinces,” predicted Nabil Abdel Fattah, an analyst with the Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. Morsi’s supporters will try “to present the government as unable to control the country, and try to show the Muslim Brotherhood is the most powerful and popular group in Egypt, which is their belief,” he added.

The international backlash against the deaths has been fierce, with condemnation pouring in and several European countries summoning Egypt’s ambassadors over the violence. The military-backed government lost a key figurehead with the resignation of liberal Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, who was serving as vice president before Wednesday’s crackdown.

But many jeered his resignation domestically, and the government and military can continue to count on popular support, analysts said. “The real issue is how the Egyptian people perceive the Muslim Brotherhood,” added Hassan Nafaa, an Egyptian political analyst. “At the moment the majority view them very negatively and consider them to blame for the situation we are in.”

Abdel Fattah said that sentiment would eventually lead to a shift in tactics by the Brotherhood. “They will gradually come to see what the majority feels,” he said. “There are moderates within the Muslim Brotherhood, and when Egypt returns to semi-stability, there will be discussions within the organizations about its mistakes.” But others are less optimistic, with Nafaa saying he feared a witch-hunt against Morsi supporters. “I am afraid that the government might now carry out a policy of revenge against the Muslim Brotherhood, which will close the door for political change, and of course that will mean bloodshed.” Egypt’s government must “convince the Muslim Brotherhood moderates that they have a role to play in politics in the future,” he added. Hanna said the country’s leadership seemed unlikely to take that approach. “There was a political solution” to the anti-Morsi protests, he said. “They’ve chosen a security solution, and I would assume they would continue with a security solution because they are now going to have a reason to do so.” He warned that Islamists affiliated with the Brotherhood, though not necessarily under their control, could now turn to serious violence.

He predicted increasing attacks in the Sinai peninsula, where militants have almost daily targeted police and military installations. And he said sectarian attacks like a string of incidents in which churches were set alight on Wednesday were also likely to multiply. “It doesn’t take too many leaps of the imagination to envision assassinations, hit-and-run attacks on police and even suicide bombings,” Hanna said. “You put all that together and it would be hard to imagine a near-term return to normalcy.”— AFP

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The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Washington Watch

Egypt: The tragedy and nonsense Dr James J Zogby ny honest assessment of the events unfolding across Egypt will recognize that they have all the aspects of a classic tragedy. The characters involved, each in their own way, have demonstrated that they have been unable to rise above their fatal flaws with the result being the horror we are now witnessing. What Egypt needs at this time is a clear-headed acknowledgment of what went wrong and what is the way forward. What it doesn’t need are the nonsense claims made by some partisans who wildly blame others while seeking to absolve themselves.

What Egypt needed most out of its revolution was a national consensus that could establish a functioning government capable of creating order and providing employment and prosperity for its growing population. That’s what our polling has consistently showed. What it got instead was a group ill-suited to lead and a military that only knew one way to deal with a problem. The result is this tragedy that is now playing out across the country.

In the first place, the Brotherhood could not govern or build the much needed consensus that Egypt needed in the post-Mubarak era. After winning a default election (since they were the only organized party in town) by the narrowest of margins, they focused their attention more on consolidating their hold over the reins of power instead of addressing Egypt’s needs. In the end, they made enemies not only of those whom they had defeated but those potential allies whose votes had enabled them to win, in the first place. The Brotherhood’s misreading of the public mood led to their isolation and ultimately to the massive demonstrations calling for their removal.

Egypt’s military, too, became a victim of its own weakness. With the public calling for action, they responded and overreacted, as militaries are wont to do-first by deposing and arresting President Morsi, and then by assuming that they could use overwhelming force to end the Brotherhood’s weeks-long sit-ins that had paralyzed entire neighborhoods. By assuming that there could be a violent solution to what is at its core a political problem, Egypt’s military has now only deepened and made more virulent the country’s political crisis.

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The Brotherhoods “sit-ins” were not political acts, they were more hostile takeovers that set up a “state-withinthe-state”. As such, more than protests, they became acts of provocation that only served to further aggravate an increasingly frustrated and hostile public, while defiantly goading the military to act. In reality then, it was the flawed instinct of both the Brotherhood and military that led to this tragedy.

What is both disturbing and especially unhelpful are the half truths and/or nonsensical claims being made by some that only serve to obfuscate Egypt’s situation and the needs of its people.

For example, in an editorial in the New York Times, a former minister in the Morsi government attempts to describe the situation in Egypt as follows: “this is a battle between those who envision a pluralistic Egypt in which the individual has dignity and power changes hands at the ballot box and those who support a militarized state in which government is imposed on the people by force”.

While there may be some justification for the second half of this charge, our polling makes clear that the vast majority of Egyptians simply do not believe that the Morsi government ever envisioned “a pluralistic Egypt in which the individual has dignity”. What they saw taking place during the one year in which Morsi was in power was the exact opposite.

The millions who signed petitions and who demonstrated calling for Morsi to step down were frightened that the President and his party were consolidating an absolutist and intolerant regime. What they hoped for was a real chance for a tolerant, pluralistic government. This majority opinion still holds true and is waiting in the wings for its aspirations to be realized.

What Egyptians have seen both before and since the military action has only reinforced their fears about the Brotherhood’s intent. First, there was the incitement against Egypt’s small Shi’a Muslim community that resulted in the brutal hanging of several members of this group.

And in recent days there has been the all-out assault on Egypt’s Christians. At last count 50 churches have been attacked, with at least 19 burned and other ransacked.

Christian businesses have been looted and individuals have been attacked, as well. Not only Egyptian partisans

are guilty of obfuscation and half-truths. There are those, like Senator John McCain, who point an accusing finger at President Obama calling Egypt his “colossal failure” saying “we bear a large amount of responsibility for the bloodletting that’s taking place”, lamenting that “no one is listening to us”. McCain and others, therefore, call on the US to immediately cut aid to Egypt, assuming that this would rectify the situation.

But these charges ring hollow to most Egyptians who still blame the US for supporting and emboldening the Brotherhood while they were in power. In reality, as President Obama has correctly noted, while the US has abiding national security interests in maintaining ties with Egypt, it has limited leverage in directing how the Egyptian military behaves in dealing with internal matters.

In this context, the President’s statement was not as some critics have suggested “weak” or “passive” or “spineless”. It was honest.

As for the calls to cut aid, these also ring hollow. The economic assistance to Egypt has already been cut. The largest portion of the US aid package is in the form of military equipment supplied by US companies for which contracts have already been signed. The real losers of breaking these contracts, therefore, will not be Egypt’s military, but US suppliers. This fact, though not clear to the US public, is already understood by Egyptians who in polls tell us that they do not want the US aid because they feel that it is the US or Israel and not Egypt that is the main beneficiary of this assistance package.

As President Obama noted, what is taking place in Egypt is deplorable and tragic. Momentous change is never easy and never takes a straight path toward its goal. The tragic events now taking place in Egypt are not, as some are suggesting, the end of Egypt’s movement toward democracy, it is the beginning. The process that began two-and-one-half years ago has hit a terrifying bump in the road. The consequences are horrific, but the vibrancy of Egypt’s civil society has demonstrated its ability to reassert itself before and will yet again. This is not the time for friends to cut and run. Rather it is critical that friends remain supportive of the Egyptian people and their aspirations for an inclusive democracy that can provide security and opportunity for all of its people.

What did Edward Snowden get wrong? Everything

By Andrew Liepman dward Snowden is now out of his limbo at Moscow’s airport, presumably ensconced in some Russian dacha, wondering what the next phase of his young life will bring. Having spent 30 years in the intelligence business, I fervently hope the food is lousy, the winter is cold, and the Internet access is awful. But I worry less about what happens to this one man and more about the damage Snowden has done - and could still do - to America’s long-term ability to strike the right balance between privacy and security.

Ever since Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, leaked top-secret material about its surveillance programs, he and the US government have locked horns about the nature of those programs. But those following the Snowden saga should understand two key points. First, though many things need to be kept secret in today’s dangerous world, the line between “secret” and “not secret” is fuzzy rather than stark, and if the goal is security, the harsh truth is that we should often err toward more secrets rather than fewer.

Second, despite the grumbling from Snowden and his admirers, the US government truly does make strenuous efforts not to violate privacy, not just because it respects privacy (which it does), but because it simply doesn’t have the time to read irrelevant emails or listen in on conversations unconnected to possible plots against American civilians. Incidents like the Snowden affair put my former col-

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leagues in the intelligence community in an impossible position. Yes, the official explanations about the virtues of data-collection efforts can sound self-justifying and vague. But they’re still right.

I know firsthand that Gen Keith Alexander, the NSA director, is telling the truth when he talks about plots that have been preempted and attacks that have been foiled because of intelligence his agency collected. I know because I was on the inside, I have long held security clearances, and I participated in many of the activities he describes. I spent years in the middle of the effort to identify, disentangle, and ultimately attack Al-Qaeda. We didn’t operate in secrecy because we were ashamed. We operated in the dark because we had to.

Al-Qaeda and its affiliates study our actions. They learn from our mistakes.

America is safer because we’ve made a point of understanding their methods better than they understand ours. I understand the trade-offs here. But the intelligence community isn’t keeping things from the American people because we don’t trust them, but rather because once important security information is out there, anyone can access it, including those who would do us harm.

That’s why I find the Snowden controversy so frustrating. I realize many Americans don’t trust their government. I wish I could change that. I wish I could tell people the amazing things I witnessed during my 30 years in the CIA, that I’ve never seen people work harder or more selflessly, that for little money and long hours, people

took it for granted that their flaws would be scrutinized and their successes ignored.

But I’ve been around long enough to know that deep-rooted distrust of government is immune to stories from people like me. The conspiracy buffs are too busy howling in protest at the thought that their government could uncover how long they spent on the phone with their dear aunt.

Let me break this to you gently. The government is not interested in your conversations with your aunt, unless, of course, she is a key terrorist leader. More than 100 billion emails were sent every day last year 100 billion, every day.

In that vast mass of data lurk a few bits that are of urgent interest and vast terabytes of tedium that are not.

Unfortunately, the metadata (the phone numbers, length of contact, and so forth, but not the content of the conversations) that sketch the contours of a call to your family member may fall into the same enormous bucket of information that includes information on the next terrorist threat. As Jeremy Bash, the former chief of staff of the CIA, memorably put it, “If you’re looking for a needle in the haystack, you need a haystack.”

Unfortunately, during the Snowden affair, many news outlets have spent more time examining ways the government could abuse the information it has access to while giving scant mention to the lengths to which the intelligence community goes to protect privacy. We have spent enormous amounts of time and effort figuring out how to disaggregate the important specks from the overwhelming bulk of

irrelevant data. This is done under tight and well-thought-out strictures. I witnessed firsthand the consequences of breaking the privacy rules of my former organization, the National Counterterrorism Center.

As the center’s deputy director, I had to fire people, good people, and remove others from their posts for failing to follow the rules about how information could be accessed and used. It didn’t happen often, and it was never a malicious attempt to gather private information. We had mandatory training and full-time staffers to supervise privacy regulations. We used precious resources to hire lawyers and civil liberties experts to oversee our efforts. And on those few occasions when we made mistakes, the punishments were swift and harsh.

Yes, some things that are classified probably don’t need to be. That may undermine public trust and dilute our ability to protect the data that really need protecting. But some things - especially US sources and methods - must be kept secret. Snowden didn’t offer fresh insight about a massive policy failure. Rather, he took upon himself the authority to decide what tradecraft the intelligence community needs to keep his fellow citizens safe.

Sadly, Snowden has captured the public’s imagination and attention, and the government’s reaction now seems too little, too late and too reactive. But the intelligence community - always a less sympathetic protagonist than a self-styled whistle-blower - actually has a good story to tell about how seriously the government takes privacy issues. We should tell it.—MCT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

S P ORTS Coentrao wants to leave Real MADRID: Real Madrid’s new coach Carlo Ancelotti says defender Fabio Coentrao has asked for a transfer. Ancelotti says that he left Coentrao off his squad for Sunday’s Spanish league opener against Real Betis because the Portugal international “has asked to leave.” Madrid paid ‚Ǩ30 million (then $43 million) in 2011 to acquire Coentrao from Benfica.

Ancelotti says that he is happy with his squad but that Tottenham forward Gareth Bale would be a welcome addition since “great players always bring things to a team.”

Ancelotti will make his official debut for Madrid against Betis. The Italian manager says he wants his team to break with the counterattacking style of predecessor Jose Mourinho and look to control the ball.—AP

America’s Cup scandal

Stosur, coach split

SAN FRANCISCO: The America’s Cup Measurement Committee has admitted it made a mistake and that one of the three prototype boats owned by defending champion Oracle Team USA was not illegally modified during warm-up regattas last year.

The remaining challengers, Emirates Team New Zealand and Italy’s Luna Rossa, had both accused Oracle Team USA of cheating but Oracle Team USA chief executive Russell Coutts told The Associated Press that Friday’s admission shows the alterations were not a team-wide decision but individual errors. Although the boats competed in America’s Cup World Series - warm-up regattas - and not the America’s Cup itself, the jury could punish Oracle with sanctions that could include a fine, forfeiture of races in the best-of-17 America’s Cup match or disqualification.

In a statement released Friday, the measurement committee cited “miscommunication and-or a misunderstanding” on its part in dealing with a boatbuilder who was preparing the 45-foot catamarans for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in early September.

It previously had been announced that three Oracle boats had been modified without the permission of the measurement committee.—AP

SYDNEY: Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur has split with coach David Taylor and says Australian Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik will fill in on an interim basis.

Stosur won the US Open in 2011, beating Serena Williams, and was a French Open finalist in 2010. She says on the Tennis Australia website Saturday that “after six years working together my coach David Taylor and I have decided to part ways ... I owe so much of my success to Dave’s hard work and enduring support.”

The Australian won nine of 10 matches before being defeated by Simona Halep in the third round at Cincinnati on Thursday.

Taylor resigned as Australia’s Fed Cup captain in December 2012 after seven years in the position to concentrate solely on coaching Stosur.—AP

Dodgers blank Phillies

DETROIT: Luke Hochevar No. 44 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the eighth inning of game two of the double header against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. —AFP

Kansas City thrash Tigers DETROIT: James Shields allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings and was part of a combined four-hit shutout in Kansas City’s 30 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night to give the Royals a sweep of a day-night doubleheader.

Kansas City won the first game 2-1 as Danny Duffy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and pitched a combined two-hitter.

Royals pitching held the Tigers to a run and six hits for the two games. Eric Hosmer homered in each game. Shields (8-8) won his fourth game in his past five starts. He walked four and struck out one.

Luke Hochevar pitched a perfect eighth and Greg Holland worked the ninth, allowing a hit, for his 34th save. He had saves in both games of the doubleheader.

Jose Alvarez (1-3), called up from Triple-A Toledo to make the start, took the loss. He gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five.

Alvarez’s only big mistakes came in the third with two outs. He walked Jamey Carroll and Hosmer followed with his second home run of the day, that gave the Royals a 2-0 lead.

Hosmer blasted Alvarez’s 1-1 pitch deep into the right-field stands for his 14th homer.

Duffy (1-0) beat Justin Verlander in the opener.

Duffy was called up from Triple-A Omaha to make his second big league start of the season, and didn’t allow a hit until Cabrera’s hard-hit, two out single in the sixth.

RAYS 5, BLUE JAYS 4 In St. Petersburg, Jose Lobaton hit a gameending triple with one out in the ninth inning, lifting Tampa Bay to its third straight victory.

Lobaton’s triple came off Aaron Loup (4-6) Yunel Escobar walked. Lobaton had three hits.

Fernando Rodney (5-3) gave up two hits to start the ninth, but worked out of the jam.

The Blue Jays had tied it in the eighth when, with runners on second and third and one out, Anthony Gose hit a grounder to shortstop. Escobar threw offline to home plate and Brett Lawrie scored. In his fifth start this season against Tampa Bay, R.A. Dickey gave up six hits and four runs over seven innings.

YANKEES 10, RED SOX 3 In Boston, Alfonso Soriano drove in four more runs and Andy Pettitte avoided his firstinning troubles to lead New York over AL East-leading Boston.

The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games and sent the Red Sox to their third consecutive loss. With Tampa Bay’s victory over Toronto, Boston’s lead in the division was trimmed to one game.

Soriano was 3 for 4 with a hit-by-pitch and a three-run homer in the third that made it 60. He has 13 hits and 18 RBIs in his last four games.

Alex Rodriguez had a pair of singles while getting booed loudly in his first appearance in Boston since he was suspended 211 games in baseball’s latest steroid scandal. Rodriguez, who is allowed to play pending his appeal, was also mocked by fans with chants of “You do steroids” and signs that said, “A-Roid” and “AFraud.”

ATHLETICS 3, INDIANS 2 In Oakland, Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run homer in the first, Eric Sogard put Oakland ahead on a seventh-inning double and the Athletics beat Cleveland.

Former A’s fan favorite Nick Swisher tied the game at 2 in the seventh with an RBI single, and winner Sean Doolittle (4-4) walked the bases loaded before getting out of it with only the one run. Swisher, booed at every chance, grounded out with runners on first and second to end the eighth.

Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 32 chances, allowing a one-out walk to Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley’s sin-

gle before Asdrubal Cabrera lined into a game-ending double play as the A’s held on to win for the first time in five tries this year against the Indians.

Cleveland All-Star Justin Masterson (13-9) lost consecutive decisions for just the second time this season. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 7 2-3 innings after coming off his shortest outing of the year, 4 1-3 innings in which he allowed five runs and seven hits against the Angels.

MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1 In Arlington, Kyle Seager snapped a career-worst 0-for-21 slump with a go-ahead two-run homer and Seattle beat Texas.

Hisashi Iwakuma (11-6) struck out eight and allowed one run in seven innings.

Derek Holland pitched two-hit ball with six strikeouts over seven scoreless innings for Texas before Neal Cotts (4-2), whose 0.93 ERA was the lowest among American League relievers, walked Franklin. Seager then lined a shot into the Rangers bullpen in right-center field, his 18th homer of the season but first in 13 games. Justin Smoak homered in the ninth for Seattle, which won for only the seventh time in 19 games.

WHITE SOX 5, TWINS 2 In Minneapolis, Adam Dunn hit his 28th home run and Jose Quintana threw six sharp innings to lead Chicago over Minnesota.

Quintana (7-4) allowed six hits in 6 2-3 innings, giving up two runs and striking out seven. Jeff Keppinger also homered to help Chicago snap its season-worst, 10-game road losing streak.

Joe Mauer homered in the first for Minnesota, but Keppinger and Dunn both hit solo shots off Twins starter Kevin Correia (8-9) in the third to make it 4-1. Quintana breezed through Minnesota’s lineup the rest of the way after losing his previous start against the Twins on Sunday in Chicago.

ASTROS 8, ANGELS 2 In Anaheim, Chris Carter hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs, and Brad Peacock didn’t allow an earned run while pitching into the seventh inning of Houston’s victory over Los Angeles.

Robbie Grossman drove in a run and scored during a three-run fifth for the major league-worst Astros (40-81), who have won three of four for the first time since June 18.

Peacock (2-4) earned his first victory since April 10 after two hard-luck losses following his return to the rotation. The rookie yielded four hits and two unearned runs, striking out five.

Hank Conger drove in a run during his first multihit game since June 30 for the foundering Angels. They’ve lost 15 of 21, including five straight at home.

INTERLEAGUE ROCKIES 6, ORIOLES 3 In Baltimore, Colorado hit four home runs, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot by Wilin Rosario in the seventh inning, and the Rockies beat the Orioles to extend Baltimore’s losing streak to four games.

Charlie Culberson, Charlie Blackmon and Todd Helton also homered for the Rockies, who have won six of seven. It was Culberson’s first major league home run in 55 at-bats.

Juan Nicasio (7-6) allowed two runs, four hits and four walks over six innings to earn his first win in five starts since July 20. The righthander yielded 15 runs over 14 innings in his previous three outings and was 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA in four interleague starts this season.

Wei-Yin Chen (6-6) retired 12 of his first 13 batters but couldn’t get out of the seventh inning. He gave up four runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings in losing his third straight start.

Nate McLouth and Matt Wieters homered for the Orioles, who were coming off three straight one-run defeats in Arizona.—AP

PHILADELPHIA: Zack Greinke pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Hanley Ramirez homered to lead the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 victory over new manager Ryne Sandberg and the slumping Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

The defeat capped a tumultuous and emotional day for Philadelphia. Charlie Manuel, the winningest manager in club history, was fired earlier in the day by general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who broke down when delivering the news. Sandberg, the Hall of Famer and former Cubs second baseman, was promoted from third base coach to interim manager. But the Phillies, who have lost 20 of 24, didn’t play any differently for Sandberg.

The Dodgers didn’t play any differently, either.

Ramirez’s two-run homer in the fourth was all the offense Greinke (11-3) needed to lead Los Angeles to its season-best ninth straight win and 18th victory in its last 19 road games. The Dodgers are 41-8 since June 22. Greinke won his third straight start while outpitching Cliff Lee (10-6) in a matchup of former AL Cy Young Award winners.

PIRATES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2 In Pittsburgh, Jose Tabata hit a two-run homer and rookie Gerrit Cole pitched six solid innings to send Pittsburgh past Arizona.

Tabata’s drive was his fourth of the season and came off J.J. Putz in the eighth inning, putting the NL Central leaders ahead by four runs. Tabata connected a day after he came off the bench and had three hits in a 12-inning loss at St. Louis.

Cole (6-5) was pitching on eight days of rest. He gave up two runs and five hits with five strikeouts.

The first overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft won for the second time in seven decisions after winning the first four starts of his career. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run single off Brandon McCarthy (2-7), who lost his fourth straight decision.

CUBS 7, CARDINALS 0 In Chicago, Jake Arrieta threw seven sharp innings and Nate Schierholtz drove in three runs as Chicago shut down St. Louis. Arrieta (1-0) allowed two hits and struck out seven for his first win in two starts with the Cubs. The right-hander was acquired from Baltimore in a July 2 trade. The Cubs snapped a four-game skid and are 7-7 this season against the Cardinals, who fell three games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central. St. Louis has dropped six of nine overall. Chicago had been shut out in four of its past five home games. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (7-8) walked his first three batters.

BRAVES 3, NATIONALS 2 In Atlanta, Justin Upton homered in the 10th inning to lift Atlanta over Washington again.

Upton’s 23rd of the season to left-center came on a 2-2 pitch from Ian Krol (1-1).

Scott Downs (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the Braves, who stretched their NL East lead over the second-place Nationals to 151/2 games.

Washington’s Bryce Harper was hit by pitches in the fourth and eighth. Plate umpire Marty Foster warned both benches after Luis Avilan plunked Harper on his shoulder in the eighth.

Nationals players rose to the top of the dugout but didn’t come onto the field. Less than two weeks ago, both benches emptied when Harper was hit by a pitch from Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran. The Braves, who swept a three-game series at Washington from Aug. 5-7, lead the season series 11-3, including six straight wins.

GIANTS 14, MARLINS 10 In Miami, Hunter Pence hit two doubles, a triple and drove in five runs to power San Francisco past Miami. Hector Sanchez hit a three-run homer, Pablo

PHILADELPHIA: Hanley Ramirez No. 13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers puts out Carlos Ruiz No. 51 of the Philadelphia Phillies at second base in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. —AFP Sandoval had four hits and three RBIs, and Brandon Belt had four hits and scored four runs for the Giants, who set season highs for runs and hits (19).

Justin Ruggiano homered twice and drove in four runs for the Marlins. Christian Yelich and Placido Polanco each had three hits. San Francisco’s offense broke loose after averaging 2.73 runs per game since the All-Star break, the second-fewest in the majors. Chad Gaudin allowed eight runs and 11 hits in four innings for the Giants, while Marlins righthander Nathan Eovaldi (2-3) gave up 11 runs - nine earned - in three innings. Sandy Rosario (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

BREWERS 7, REDS 6 In Milwaukee, Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run homer off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Milwaukee a victory over Cincinnati. Jean Segura sparked the winning rally when he beat out a leadoff chopper to shortstop for his third hit. Lucroy then drove a 1-2 pitch to left for his 17th home run, snapping Cincinnati’s fivegame winning streak with his first career game-

ending homer. Chapman (3-5) had converted each of his last six save opportunities. Todd Frazier had three hits and matched a career high with four RBIs for Cincinnati, which lost out on an opportunity to leapfrog St. Louis for second place in the top-heavy NL Central. Lucroy finished with three hits and three RBIs. Khris Davis had a two-run double, and John Axford (6-6) pitched a scoreless inning.

METS 5, PADRES 2 In San Diego, Marlon Byrd, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy homered to back Jonathon Niese’s solid outing for New York against San Diego. Byrd and Davis connected on consecutive pitches from Ian Kennedy in the third. Murphy hit a two-run shot an inning later to make it 5-1. Niese (5-6) allowed one run and six hits over six innings in his second start since returning from the disabled list. He struck out a season-high nine and walked one.

LaTroy Hawkins earned his fourth save. Davis has four homers off Kennedy (4-9) in nine at-bats. San Diego has dropped eight of 10 and fell into last place in the NL West.—AP

MLB results/standings Kansas City 2, Detroit 1; Chicago Cubs 7, St. Louis 0; Colorado 6, Baltimore 3; LA Dodgers 4, Philadelphia 0; Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 2; Kansas City 3, Detroit 0; NY Yankees 10, Boston 3; San Francisco 14, Miami 10; Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 4; Atlanta 3, Washington 2 (10 innings); Seattle 3, Texas 1; Milwaukee 7, Cincinnati 6; Chicago White Sox 5, Minnesota 2; Houston 8, LA Angels 2; Oakland 3, Cleveland 2; NY Mets 5, San Diego 2.

American League Eastern Division W L Boston 72 52 Tampa Bay 69 51 Baltimore 65 56 NY Yankees 63 58 Toronto 56 66 Central Division Detroit 71 51 Cleveland 65 57 Kansas City 64 57 Minnesota 54 66 Chicago White Sox 47 74 Western Division Texas 70 52 Oakland 69 52 Seattle 56 65 LA Angels 54 67 Houston 40 81

PCT .581 .575 .537 .521 .459

GB 1 5.5 7.5 15

.582 .533 .529 .450 .388

6 6.5 16 23.5

Pittsburgh St. Louis Cincinnati Chicago Cubs Milwaukee

.574 .570 .463 .446 .331

0.5 13.5 15.5 29.5

LA Dodgers Arizona Colorado San Francisco San Diego

Atlanta Washington NY Mets Philadelphia Miami

National League Eastern Division 75 47 59 62 56 64 53 68 46 74 Central Division 72 49 69 52 69 53 53 68 53 69 Western Division 71 50 62 58 58 65 54 67 54 68

.615 .488 .467 .438 .383

15.5 18 21.5 28

.595 .570 .566 .438 .434

3 3.5 19 19.5

.587 .517 .472 .446 .443

8.5 14 17 17.5

Qatari Rally legend Al-Attiyah set to join Sheikh Hassan’s Qatar team at Key West DOHA: His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jaber Al-Thani yesterday announced that the Arab world’s number one rally driver Nasser Saleh AlAttiyah will join the Qatar Team in November ’s Key West World Championships in Florida.

At a press conference held in Doha today, Sheikh Hassan, the president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), confirmed that Al-Attiyah will team up with his former Italian throttleman Matteo Nicolini and enter the Key West races in a Mercury-engined set-up boat. There are three races during the Key West festival, which takes place on November 3-10.

“I am delighted to welcome Nasser aboard our team as our ‘wingman’,” enthused Sheikh Hassan, who clinched the Key West World Championship title with Steve Curtis in 2012 and is hoping for a repeat in Al Adaa’am 96 this year.

“He has been a great ambassador for motor sport and Qatar in recent years for his remarkable achievements in rally cars and we are both looking forward to Key West and the challenges that lie ahead for both of us.

Nasser is excited about the new challenge and, in Matteo, he has an experi-

Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah

Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani

enced team-mate to help him learn the ropes.” On a global scale, AlAttiyah is the most successful Arab rally driver of all time. An outright winner of the punishing Dakar Rally in 2011, Al-Attiyah has also won 48 FIA Middle East Rally Championship events, eight regional titles in the past 10 years and numerous cross-country rallies around the globe.

The Qatari also won the FIA

Production World Rally Championship in 2006 and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Countr y Rallies in 2008. His career-best finish in the FIA World Rally Championship was fourth in the Rally of Portugal. Away from rally driving, Al-Attiyah is a keen follower of many forms of sport and is also a prolific shooter. He represented Qatar at the 2004 Olympic Games in clay pigeon shooting and came fourth. At

London 2012, he won the bronze medal for Qatar after a shoot- off against Valeriy Shomin and he has also featured strongly in several Asian Games.

“I spoke with Sheikh Hassan during the Sealine Rally in Qatar in April where my team used his workshop for the race,” said Al-Attiyah. “I saw all the boats and we discussed things and he suggested that I should take part in a race. It sounded like a great idea and we both agreed it would be good for the media to see a rally driver taking part in a boat race and it went on from there. “I am really looking forward to it.

I will take part in the Key West race and then the plan is to join the team again at the new Qatar Cup next year.”

The QMSF-backed Qatar Team is hoping to field three boats at the Key West World Championships in November. Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis will be hoping for success in their new turbine-engined Al Adaa’am 96. Al-Attiyah and Nicolini will drive the second boat and Ali Al-Neama and a yet-to-be-decided partner will be present in Spirit of Qatar 20 entered in the competitive Superboat category.

Mohammed Al-Nasser has XCat racing commitments in China.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

S P ORTS

Europe lead US 5-3 Solheim Cup

SYDNEY: New Zealand’s Aaron Cruden (right) and Owen Franks (bottom) tackle Australia’s Michael Hooper during the opening Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup Test between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks. —AFP

All Blacks crush Wallabies SYDNEY: Winger Ben Smith scored a hattrick as a ruthless New Zealand opened their Rugby Championship title defence with a six-try 47-29 victory over Australia yesterday to ruin Ewen McKenzie’s first match as Wallabies coach.

The world champions scored three tries either side of halftime at the Olympic Stadium with flyhalf Aaron Cruden, captain Richie McCaw and centre Conrad Smith supplementing Ben Smith’s triple score.

Scrumhalf Will Genia and James O’Connor scored what were ultimately consolation tries for the home side with Christian Leali’ifano remaining flawless in international rugby with seven kicks from seven attempts for 19 points with his boot.

As well as giving the All Blacks a bonus point in the Rugby Championship, the victory means Australia must win both the return in Wellington next week and a third test in Dunedin in October to win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2003.

That looks highly unlikely given the gulf in class between the sides on this showing with the All Blacks ruthlessly exploiting almost every opportunity they received.

McKenzie will be disappointed that his team failed to build any real momentum in attack and looked disjointed in defence as the excellent Cruden continually changed the point of attack.

There was plenty of optimism among the Wallabies fans in the 68,765 crowd at kickoff with a new coach and a host of fresh faces, including five uncapped players, in the matchday squad.

The hard reality of test rugby hit home after just three minutes, however, when Ben Smith crashed over in the corner for the first All Blacks try.

Pouncing on a Stephen Moore knock on, the New Zealanders charged to the home try line and Aaron Smith fed quick ball to Cruden who took a tackle before finding his winger, whose marker James O’Connor had moved inside, to touch down. Australia inched back into the match on the back of three Leali’ifano penalties against one from Cruden and the Wallabies centre gave the home side a 12-10 lead with his fourth after 28 minutes.

The advantage lasted less than a minute, though, before Leali’ifano undid some of his good work by having his defensive kick charged down by Cruden, who recovered the ball to score and then converted his own try.

Three minutes later, Jesse Mogg failed to find touch with a clearance kick and the All Blacks stormed forward again with McCaw capping his return to test rugby in the best way possible with a try, his 20th in internationals, in the corner. As so often, however, Genia provided the Wallabies with some hope after flanker Michael Hooper had snared a loose ball at the lineout, the diminutive scrumhalf racing nearly 60 metres and evading three tackles to touch down under the posts. Leali’ifano added the extras to reduce the gap to three points but Cruden added his second penalty just before the break to send the All Blacks into halftime 25-19 ahead.—Reuters

BROOKLYN: Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 44th Annual Pure Michigan 400. —AFP

Logano sets track record in qualifying at Michigan BROOKLYN: On another record-setting day at Michigan International Speedway, Joey Logano raced to one of the fastest qualifying speeds in NASCAR history.

Logano won the pole at 203.949 mph Friday in his No. 22 Ford, breaking the track record set by Marcos Ambrose last year.

Ambrose’s mark of 203.241 came on the first Sprint Cup weekend on a newly paved surface at MIS. His record lasted 14 months.

Logano’s speed was the ninth-highest by a NASCAR pole winner - and the fastest since Bill Elliott set the record of 212.809 at Talladega on April 30, 1987.

“I don’t know how fast it is, but it feels freaking fast,” Logano said. Kurt Busch qualified second, and points leader Jimmie Johnson was third.

Logano is 16th in the Cup standings, and this is his first pole of the year. He could use a good showing this weekend as he tries to make a final push to reach the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Logano is 27 points behind 10th-place Martin Truex Jr., and he hasn’t won a race this season. But a victory at Michigan could change everything, vaulting him closer to Chase position on points and boosting his chances at a wild card. There are four races left before the Chase.

“We’re 27 points out. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but the amount of cars that are in between us is a lot,” Logano said. “We’re one bad race from saying, ‘We’re out.’ So we’ve got to make the most out of these four.” It’s the sixth career pole for the 23-year-old Logano.

He’s coming off three consecutive top-10 finishes, although he hasn’t won in over a year.

Logano finished ninth at Michigan in June.

Busch is in 11th place in the standings, so his solid starting position comes at a good time for him. Busch started second in this year’s earlier race at MIS, but he finished 35th.

“It’s really neat to overlay exactly what we did here in June, when we were outside pole, and try to improve on that,” Busch said. “The pace today was just quick. It was just an extreme pace that the qualifying simulations were showing us. I shot for a 35.35 (seconds) in my mind for a lap time and ran a 35.347. I thought it would be good enough for the pole, but Logano just hit it perfectly.”

Despite the high speeds, Busch said his ride was pretty smooth. “When your car is good, it’s very stable,” Busch said. “When you run 203 mph, and you’re kicking yourself a little bit like I am for just going in a little too light, that’s just because the car was stable. So 203 mph is not a problem.

“That’s what Dave Ferroni, my PR guy, asked. He said, ‘Is that the fastest you’ve ever gone around a track in a stock car, average speed-wise?’ And I said, ‘Unbelievable. At 203 mph it didn’t feel like it.’”

Mark Martin qualified fourth, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seventh. Defending Cup champion Brad Keselowski was ninth.

Johnson has never won in 23 Cup races at Michigan.

“Of course we wanted to be a little bit better, but we had a very smooth and clean practice session made some good changes to the car and found speed as the session went on,” Johnson said. “Came close to getting another pole during qualifying, so all in all just really good.”—AP

PARKER: Inspired by Norway’s world number three Suzann Pettersen who won her first two matches, holders Europe seized control of the 13th Solheim Cup to lead the United States 5-3 after the opening day in Parker, Colorado.

Pettersen putted superbly in the morning’s foursomes at Colorado Golf Club as Europe opened up a surprise 3-1 advantage, then virtually single-handedly paved the way to a second victory in the afternoon fourballs, which were split 2-2 overall.

In tandem with Cup rookie Beatriz Recari of Spain, Pettersen won a tight foursomes match 2&1 against Americans Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford before linking up with another Spaniard, Carlota Ciganda, to beat Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson one up.

“This competition never gets old,” smiled the 32-year-old Pettersen, who is competing in her seventh Solheim Cup along with six rookies on the European team. “It just brings out the best of you.

“I am really enjoying playing with these youngsters. I am so proud of them. And Carlota, she was a super star. She hung in there tough. This was a fantastic point.”

Pettersen and Ciganda earned Europe’s fifth and final point of the day as they recovered from two down at the turn to beat Women’s British Open champion Lewis and Thompson in the first fourball match out.

The Americans had claimed the first point of the afternoon when Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang came back from one down after five holes to beat Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas 4&3.

“We always play well together,” said Lang, who sank a four-foot putt at the par-five 15th to seal victory. “We have similar personalities, we have fun out there and we feed off each other. “We did a really

PARKER: Morgan Pressel of the USA plays her second shot at the fifth hole during the morning foursomes matches for the 2013 Solheim Cup. —AFP good job today when one person wasn’t doing too well to pick up the slack. That’s clutch.”

Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson never trailed before winning a close contest against Americans Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2&1 and the US levelled the fourballs when Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie beat Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull 2&1.

“I played really, really well and made a lot of putts,” said Kerr. “I just tried to keep us in there, make a big putt when I needed to and I did that a few times.”

However, the tone for the day was set in the first match out when Swedes Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall earned Europe’s first point

with a 4&2 win over Lewis and Lizette Salas.

“We have been playing pretty solid the last couple of weeks and I think we were both very excited,” said the statuesque Nordqvist, 26.

“It feels like both our forms are really good. It was just so much fun out there today.”

Pettersen and Recari followed suit with their victory over Lang and Stanford before Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda put the first red number on the board for the U.S., beating Matthew and Jodi EwartShadoff 3&2.

Europe, who are bidding to win the trophy on American soil for the first time, ended a memorable morning when Azahara Munoz and

Karine Icher upset the heavyweight U.S. duo of Kerr and Paula Creamer 2&1.

Former major winners Kerr and Creamer, playing in the anchor match, had not previously lost in three encounters together but were undone as their opponents took control with three successive birdies from the eighth.

“We just didn’t seem to get any momentum right off the bat,” said Kerr, who is also playing in her seventh Solheim Cup. “We missed a couple of greens and they threw some long bombs at us on eight, nine and 10. We really didn’t get the momentum until the last few holes and then it’s too late,” she said greenside.—Reuters

Reed shoots to Wyndham lead GREENSBORO: PGA Tour rookie Patrick Reed has not yet established himself on the US circuit but that could change soon if he continues his current form.

Hot on the heels of two high finishes in his last two starts, Reed maintained his sizzling run to earn a one-stroke lead after the second round of the $5.3 million Wyndham Championship on Friday.

“We’ve been working extremely hard trying to fine-tune everything,” the 23-year-old told reporters after shooting a bogey-free, six-underpar 64 on a calm, mild morning at Sedgefield Country Club. “And lately with how I’ve been hitting the ball and how I’ve been putting, it just seems to all be clicking.” Reed posted an 11under 129 total to finish a stroke in front of another young gun, fellow American John Huh, who fired the day’s best score with an eightbirdie 62.

Compatriot Jordan Spieth (66) was another shot back at nine under, suggesting that the future of American golf is in good hands with all three front-runners aged 23 or less.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia, among a large group in joint third place overnight, shot a level-par 70 to slip six strokes off the pace.

Reed made his first cut on the PGA Tour here two years ago, but he has his sights set far higher this week after finishing seventh and ninth in his last two starts.

“I just need to put four rounds together and hopefully that’s this week,” said Reed, whose wife, Justine, serves as his caddie.

“She knows just as much about the golf swing, why I hit it left or right or anything like that, so if I ever get out of whack she can fix me immediately.”

Huh, the 2012 PGA Tour rookie of the year, was by no means shocked after shooting a 62, though he felt a 64 was more likely when he teed off. “I was able to put everything together

GREENSBORO: Patrick Reed hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the Wyndham Championship. —AFP and I’m really pleased,” said Huh, who was born in New York of Korean parents and spent several years of his childhood living in South Korea.

He says he has been playing well since changing his driver shortly before the Masters, but had not put every component of his game together in the same round until Friday.

Garcia, meanwhile, lamented a cold putter, not for the first time in his career, after missing five putts from inside seven feet to fall six strokes

off the pace.

“I would have loved to shoot at least a couple under (par) today. I feel I played well enough to do it but I didn’t,” the Spaniard said. “I wasn’t able to hole it as well as yesterday from four, five, six feet.” The cut fell at one-under 139 and among those to miss out were former major winners Ben Curtis, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington.—Reuters

Ponting pleads for patience LONDON: Australia great Ricky Ponting has urged his compatriots to be patient with the current side as they tr y to turn around their poor run of results.

Now retired from Test cricket, former Australia captain Ponting was watching as the side slumped to an Ashes series defeat by England, falling 3-0 behind to their arch-rivals heading into next week’s fifth and final Test at The Oval.

Ponting, who earlier this season played for Oval-based Surrey, is now representing the Antigua Hawksbills in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament and the star batsman has only been able to watch as a succession of top-order collapses have cost his country dear in the Ashes.

But Ponting said Australia needed to follow the example of England and, with a return Ashes star ting Down Under in November, give their batsmen time to develop. “ There’s some challenges

there for Australian cricket but with Darren Lehmann’s appointment as coach and some of the younger guys they ’ve got around there, I think there’s enough talent,” Ponting said in a CPL statement issued yesterday.

“They’re just going to have to learn and unfortunately at the moment they ’re learning the hard way,” the 38-year- old Ponting, one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation along with India’s Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies’ Brian Lara, said.

“You can find some excuses for a few of the guys. A few of the guys are young players trying to find their way in the most pressurised series that there is in world cricket: (Phil) Hughes, (Usman) Khawaja, even Steve Smith-although he’s played reasonably well at different times.

“But the thing that I keep referring to with that is if you take England back six or seven years when they had (Ian) Bell just starting out, (Alastair) Cook just star ting out-those guys weren’t overnight successes.

“It’s taken them that amount of time in the game to hit their straps as international players and that’s what we have to do with our guys.

“We’ve got to identify the best players we’ve got, give them an opportunity and stick with them, even if we are losing games.

“If they ’re the best players we’ve got, they’ve got to learn and grow some confidence in that environment, not be in and out of the team all the time.

That’s the big challenge for us.”

Ponting, whose retirement allied to that of fellow batsman Michael Hussey left Australia’s top-order short of experience, said the current Ashes scoreline was unfair to the tourists.

“I think the boys have probably played a little better than the scoreline reads,” he said. “They’ve been in three Test matches with the chance to win all three, probably would have won at Old Trafford.

“But the scoreline reads 3-0 and that’s the difference sometimes between the really good,

experienced teams and the teams that are on the way upthe know-how to get across the line and win those games. And that’s what England have done.”

Meanwhile Ponting insisted that, despite pleas from some fans, he had no intention of reversing his decision to retire from all senior cricket later this year following a career in which he has won three World Cups and scored 71 hundreds for Australia in Test and one-day internationals.

“No, I’ve definitely no thoughts of that,” he said. “It has been a pretty hard period for me, I have been away for six months straight. “I went to the IPL, I went straight from there to Surrey and then straight from there to here for the Limacol CPL. For someone of my age, that is a little bit too long with a couple of little girls at home - I am missing them a lot.

“I have been travelling for 20 or 21 years so it is time for me to settle back into a normal life after this tournament.”—AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

S P ORTS

MOSCOW: (Left to right) Jamaica’s Warren Weir, South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana, Jamaicaís Nickel Ashmeade, Britainís Adam Gemili, Jamaicaís Usain Bolt and US athlete Curtis Mitchell compete in the menís 200 metres final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships. —AFP

Bolt wins seventh world gold Retains 200 metres crown MEDALS TABLE MOSCOW: World athletics championships medals table yesterday (gold, silver, bronze, total): Russia United States Jamaica Kenya Ethiopia Germany Great Britain Czech Republic Ukraine Poland Colombia Croatia Ireland New Zealand Uganda Sweden Trinidad France Ivory Coast Canada China Australia Nigeria Netherlands Botswana Finland Hungary Italy Qatar Cuba Spain Serbia Djibouti Estonia Japan Mexico Dominican Republic

7 6 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 11 2 4 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

5 3 1 3 4 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

15 20 7 10 10 6 5 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 4 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

MOSCOW: Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt moved to within one title of equalling the all-time record of world championship gold medals as he easily retained his 200 metres crown at the World Athletics Championships yesterday.

The 26-year-old, six-time Olympic gold medallist, took his world gold tally to seven and within one of the all-time haul shared by fellow legends Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson.

“I had to push myself to be the best,” said a subdued Bolt, who can capture an eighth gold on Sunday’s final day in the 4x100m relay.

“I’m really happy to get it done as the 200m is my favorite event. “I knew it wouldn’t be the fastest of races as when I came into the straight I felt slightly tired and I started to look around me.” It was a mixed night for athletes who a year ago, like Bolt, were celebrating Olymmpic gold. Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich’s day job of prison warden may be worlds apart from the riches that Bolt has accrued, but he put on as impressive a display, seeing off both the powerful Ethiopian and Kenyan teams, to add the marathon world title to his Olympic gold. Meseret Defar of Ethiopia also added women’s 5000m world goldregaining the title she won in 2007 — to the Olympic title she won so impressively in London.

However, fellow Olympic champions, Australia’s Sally Pearson and Anna Chicherova of Russia, came up short in the defence of their 100 metres hurdles and high jump titles respectively, ending with silver and bronze.

Pearson lost out to the impressive American Brianna Rollins, who gave herself the perfect birthday present a day early-she turns 22 on Sunday-the gold

medal and the $100,000 winner’s prizemoney. “I guess you can call that perfect timing!” she beamed.

If there was consolation for Chicherova it was that team-mate Svetlana Shkolina, whose proud parents were watching in the stands, was as inspired as she was lacklustre and took the high jump title, one of two golds for the host nation.

“Dreams do indeed come true. I deserve this title, I have worked hard for it and given a lot up for it. I am more than happy, I am insanely happy,” she said.

The Russian women’s 4x400m relay team showed no fear against a powerful American team and roared on by the partisan crowd held on for a memorable gold and denied the United States a fourth successive win in the event.

As if there was not enough pressure on him, men’s javelin thrower Dmitri Tarabin had received a personal phone call from President Vladimir Putin just before his final.

“I received a call 3 1/2 hours before the final from President Putin,” said a slightly shocked Tarabin.

“He said he believed in us (Tarabin and his wife Mariya Abakumova, the defending women’s javelin champion) and expected medals.

“Before the last attempt I was thinking that he might be watching and waiting for the medal.” Tarabin did not disappoint him, producing his best throw of the final to take bronze (86.23mm).

The 21-year-old was some way off the winner, the Czech Republic’s Vitezlav Vesely (87.17m) who overcame knee and stomach problems to “deliver what felt like a fourth gold” to his coach and still the world record-holder, three-time champion Jan Zelezny.—AFP

Djokovic and Murray stumble, Nadal rolls CINCINNATI: World number one Novak Djokovic and number two Andy Murray crashed out of the Western and Southern Open within an hour of each other on Friday, before Rafa Nadal restored order with a win over old rival Roger Federer.

With the sprawling Lindner Family Tennis Center still buzzing over John Isner’s 7-6 (5) 3-6 7-5 quarter-final upset of Djokovic, another bombshell dropped on the nearby grandstand court as Tomas Berdych swept past US Open champion Murray 6-3 6-4, creating shockwaves that will carry through to Flushing Meadows.

The upsets of two of the grand slam’s biggest favourites have thrown the tournament wide open and added new contenders to the usual suspects.

But world number three Nadal underlined his claims by taming Swiss arch-rival and five-times Cincinnati champion Federer 5-7 6-4 6-3.

Federer and Nadal, meeting for the 31st time in their storied careers, treated the packed centre court to high-quality tennis that had some convinced that the Swiss maestro, winner of a record 17 grand slams and the muscular Spaniard, 12-time grand slam champion, were still the two top players in the world. While the rankings say otherwise, there has been little better tennis seen on centre court this week, and the pair proved they are still capable of bringing out the best in each other. Nadal arrived in Cincinnati after sealing the Montreal title and seemingly at the top of his hardcourt game, but it was Federer, struggling with a sore back and searching for form, that produced the more inspired display in the opening set. “I’m happy with my progress along the way,” said Federer, who will drop to world number seven next week, his lowest ranking in nearly 11 years.

CINCINNATI: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after his win against Roger Federer of Switzerland in their Men’s Singles quarterfinals match during the Western & Southern Open. —AFP “Could have won tonight, should utes. The towering American will face have won tonight. “But at the end, I Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the think Rafa’s confidence and the way he’s last four.

Djokovic, a four-time runner-up on playing at the moment got him through.” Playing his first event on the the Cincinnati hard courts, had been North American hard courts since eager to take the final step this year and Indian Wells in March, Federer took the become the first player to complete first set when he broke Nadal with a what the ATP Tour has dubbed the classic forehand and held serve. But as ‘Career Golden Masters’ by winning all the match wore on Nadal’s hard court nine World Tour Masters titles.

But US number one Isner, ranked 22 form began to shine.

The Spaniard took the only break of in the world, has been in good form on the second to level the match then kept hard court surfaces with a win in Atlanta the pressure on by breaking at the first and a runner-up finish in Washington.

“I was putting the ball on the court opportunity in the third on the way to extending his hardcourt winning streak and I was feeling good off the baseline, I to 13 matches. “Always the emotions are felt like, when I had a chance. I played there when we play each other,” said aggressively,” said Isner. “I think I was Nadal, who will face Berdych in yester- able to put a little bit of pressure on day’s semi-finals. “But the emotions in him.” Murray said he struggled to come the final are always more special than to grips with the fast surface but the sixth-seeded Berdych was always going when you’re playing quarter-finals.”

In a heavyweight matchup featuring to represent a tricky test for the two of the game’s big-hitters, it was Wimbledon champion with the Czech Isner who topped Djokovic after a holding a 5-4 advantage in head-toslugfest lasting two hours and 23 min- head meetings.—Reuters

MOSCOW: Russia’s Svetlana Shkolina jumps on her way to winning the women’s high jump final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium. —AFP

MOSCOW: Czech Republic’s Vitezslav Vesely competes to win the gold in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium. —AP

Serena storms into last four CINCINNATI: World number one Serena Williams was at her lethal best as she crushed Romanian Simona Halep 6-0 6-4 to romp into the semifinals of the Western and Southern Open on Friday.

The 31-year-old American was later joined in the final four by Belarusian world number two Victoria Azarenka, who booked her spot with a testing 63 7-6 (5) win over 10th seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki. Williams’s devastating form suggests that there is little standing in the way of the muscular American from adding the prestigious Cincinnati hardcourt event to her long resume.

In a career that has generated 54 singles titles, including 16 grand slams, Williams has won just about everything there is to win in her sport but Cincinnati, one of the WTA tour’s most prestigious tournaments, is not among them.

With Friday’s rout, Williams sets up a semi-final date with defending champion Li Na of China, who received a walkover into the last four when Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska withdrew from the tournament to attend her grandfather’s funeral.

Williams was in ruthless form to open the match, steamrolling past her opponent to take the first set in just 16 minutes.

Halep offered token resistance in the second but there was never any doubt Williams would prevail as she went on to wrap up her 59th match win of the season in just over an hour.

With eight titles and 10 finals appearances from 11 events this season while losing only three matches, it would be hard to defect any flaw in Williams’s

game.

Certainly Halep, who beat Marion Bartoli in what was the final match of the Frenchwoman’s career before her shock retirement announcement on Wednesday, never threatened to send Williams to a fourth defeat. Though the American’s performance in Cincinnati has impressed nearly everyone else, under her own critical eye it has been something of a disappointment. “I definitely haven’t felt good all week, so surprised I’m still in the event, to be honest,” Williams told reporters. “It’s not really about how you play at the end ... it’s about being able to win, whether you play good or bad.

“I was able to so far and be in the

semi-finals. So, you know, considering, it’s a good result. I obviously want to do better, and I’ll just see how it goes.”

Earlier, 14th-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, the 2009 Cincinnati champion and runner-up in 2011, needed just 63 minutes to book her place in the last four as she pounded 12th seed Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-0 6-4.

“I started aggressive and I felt the ball great,” said Jankovic, who will take on Azarenka for a place in the final.

“I’m really pleased with my performance today, so that’s important. “I love playing here in Cincinnati because I have great results in the past, I was a finalist and a champion before so you always love coming back to places where you can win.”—Reuters

CINCINNATI: Serena Williams returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during the Western & Southern Open. —AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

S P ORTS

Celtic blank 10-man Aberdeen GLASGOW: Celtic maintained their winning start to the new Scottish Premiership season with a 2-0 victory against 10-man Aberdeen yesterday.

A Kris Commons penalty, after Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield had been sent off for bringing down Georgios Samaras, put Celtic in front just before the break, and substitute James Forrest then wrapped up the points at the death.

The win sets Celtic up perfectly for their long trip to Kazakhstan to face Shakhter Karagandy in the Champions League playoff first leg on Tuesday.

Neil Lennon’s side were not in league action last weekend, instead facing Liverpool in a glamour friendly, but they climb to third place in the table with six points.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, were left still looking for their first win against the Hoops at home since January 2009. “It was hard fought and we set the team out to stop them getting a dominance in midfield and it took us a while to get going,” Celtic manager Lennon said.

“We got a breakthrough with the sending-off and the penalty but after that I thought we controlled the match and I’m absolutely delighted and it’s a massive win for us.” His Aberdeen counterpart Derek McInnes had no complaints about the penalty decision.

“I think the referee has made the right decision. There wasn’t much between us in the first half and I thought we could get something from the game but unfortunately once you go down to 10 men and Celtic are 1-0 up it’s difficult to get back in it,” he said.

“I think 2-0 is harsh on us but we will pick ourselves up and be ready to go again.” With the Dons collecting maximum points from their first two matches of the campaign, the match at Pittodrie attracted a sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 for the visit of the reigning champions.

Aberdeen remained unchanged from the side that collected an impressive away win at Motherwell last weekend while

French former Wolves defender Steven Mouyokolo was handed his Celtic debut.

There was plenty in the way of endeavour but little in terms of chances until the half-hour mark, when the visitors’ Joe Ledley collected a Scott Brown pass in the box but the Welshman’s curling effort was pushed away by Langfield.

The game’s turning point came just before the break when Celtic were awarded a penalty. Samaras chased down Charlie Mulgrew’s long ball over the top of the Aberdeen defence and, after holding off the challenge of Russell Anderson, he rounded Langfield in the box only for the ‘keeper to haul him down. Langfield was shown a straight red and Calvin Zola made way for substitute ‘keeper Nicky Weaver to make his debut, but his first job was to pick the ball out the net as Commons rifled his spot-kick straight down the middle.

Celtic looked to add to their advantage quickly in the second half and, after Aberdeen failed to clear a Commons corner, the ball broke to Samaras 10 yards out with the Greek striker slicing his volley high and wide.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side still pushed forward and goalkeeper Fraser Forster came to Celtic’s rescue in the 51st minute, saving well from a Niall McGinn header.

Substitute Mikael Lustig came close to a spectacular goal at the other end before Forrest sealed the win late on when he collected Ledley’s through ball, his shot hitting the legs of Mark Reynolds and looping over the head of the helpless Weaver.

Elsewhere, Inverness Caledonian Thistle remain top following a 2-0 win over Motherwell that maintains their 100 per cent start to the season.

St Johnstone jumped up to second place with a 4-0 win over Ross County while St Mirren drew 1-1 with Kilmarnock.

Scott Robertson scored Hibernian’s first goal of the season to end a run of four defeats to earn a 1-1 draw with Dundee United and ease the pressure slightly on under-fire manager Pat Fenlon.—AFP

FRANCE: Marseille’s French midfielder Mathieu Valbuena (right) vies with Evian’s French defender Yousouf Sabaly (left) during the French League football match. —AFP

Marseille tie with Lyon PARIS: French international Andre-Pierre Gignac inspired Marseille to their second straight win, a 2-0 defeat of Evian which lifted Elie Baup’s side into a tie with Lyon at the top of Ligue 1 yesterday. Gignac put last season’s runners-up on track after just 16 minutes when he turned his defender inside out before firing home a low left foot shot inside the bottom corner at the Velodrome. Evian limited the damage to a 1-0 deficit at half-time but almost gave away a penalty on 62 minutes when a clear foul by Olivier Sorin on Ghana forward Andre Ayew went unpunished by the referee.

The home side then made the points safe with 23 minutes remaining after international winger Mathieu Valbuena saw his right foot volley parried into the path of Dimitri Payet who shook off his marker before smashing home.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said a delighted Baup. “We’ve got six

points, scored five and conceded one so we’ve got our season off to a very good start.

“Psychologically, it should help us to work harder but we should have scored more goals. It was a difficult week with a lot of players on international duty and an early start today in very hot conditions.” he added.

Marseille, who won their opening match with a 3-1 victory over Guingamp last weekend, move level on points with Lyon who have also taken maximum points from their opening two matches.

Lyon lead on goal difference. Payet took his goal tally to three for the season and is the early front runner at the top of the scoring charts along with Lyon’s 22-year-old youngster Alexandre Lacazette. There are five other matches slated for yesterday while champions Paris Saint-Germain host Ajaccio today and Monaco have their home opener against Montpellier. —AFP

Juve to tackle Lazio in Italian Super Cup ROME: Champions Juventus tackle cup winners Lazio in the Italian Super Cup today with new striker Carlos Tevez set to make his official debut.

The Old Lady of Turin have made some significant signings in the close season but only former Manchester City man Tevez is likely to be trusted in their first true test of the new campaign.

However, there will be no place for the Turin giants’ other marquee signing, Spain striker Fernando Llorente, who is apparently yet to adapt to the club’s style.

It has seen him already come in for criticism in the local press, although his teammates at least are sticking by the former Athletic Bilbao man.

“Calm down, he needs time to digest our style of football,” said Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio when asked about Llorente’s struggles. It means Tevez will likely partner inconsistent Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic, who has been linked with a move away from the Juventus Stadium this summer, in attack.

The Super Cup, the traditional curtainraiser to the season, is not being taken lightly by coach Antonio Conte, who has instilled a winners’ mentality in his team since taking over two years ago and leading them to back-to-back Serie A titles.

Conte has not forgotten the way his side were given a footballing lesson by Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League

Photo of the day

Competitors perform at the Red Bull King of The Rock in Aarad Fort, Muharraq , Bahrain—www.redbull.com

Bayern fail to impress despite Frankfurt win BERLIN: European champions Bayern Munich laboured to a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt yesterday while both Hamburg and Champions League side Schalke 04 suffered heavy defeats in the Bundesliga.

Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic gave Bayern the three points at Eintracht, who were humbled 6-1 at Hertha Berlin the previous weekend, when he volleyed home a cross from Germany’s Thomas Mueller on 13 minutes.

But it was a rare highlight in a below-par performance as Bayern failed to dominate, despite enjoying 70 percent possession, while Frankfurt captain Alex Maier had a penalty appeal turned down in the dying stages.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, taking charge of only his second Bundesliga match, started with Dutch winger Arjen Robben, Germany star Mario Goetze and new-signing Thiago Alcantara all on the bench, while Spain’s Javi Martinez failed to even make the matchday squad.

Guardiola put the below-par performance down to last week’s international fixtures when Bayern had 15 players away. “ There are always difficult games when players have been away for the international matches and we can only train for two or three days together,” said Guardiola, whose side beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 on the opening weekend.

“I’m happy with the way we controlled the game, it was much better than the week before against ‘Gladbach when we allowed too many counterattacks.” “ We still created plenty of chances, so I’m happy and 100 percent satisfied.” Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo, who signed for Wolfsburg last week from Bayern after rejecting offers from Arsenal and Barcelona, made his debut in the 4-0 win at home to Schalke 04.

The Royal Blues lost Holland

GERMANY: Frankfurt’s Alexander Meier (right) and Bayern’s Toni Kroos challenge for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match. —AP

striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at the break with a knee injury and Wolfsburg took full advantage with three goals in 12 second-half minutes by defender Knoche, Portugal midfielder Vieirinha and Brazil defender Naldo. Striker Stefan Kutschke then hit the fourth just five minutes after coming off the bench.

Having drawn 3-3 at Hamburg last Sunday, Schalke need to find some form ahead of their Champions League play-off firstleg at home to Greece’s PAOK on Wednesday and coach Jens Keller has called extra training.

“I’ll work on a few things with the team on Sunday, I can’t ignore a result like that,” he

fumed. Hamburg were humiliated 5-1 at home to Hoffenheim as Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino ran riot, scoring twice and setting up the other three.

Firmino’s for ward partner, Frenchman Anthony Modeste, a new signing from French league outfit Bastia, had plenty to boast about with two well-taken second-half goals.

“I didn’t like the fact we fell apart,” said Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink. “We were very, very, very bad defensively, it was an example of how not to defend.

“We don’t have to sugarcoat anything, we just have to work hard and win back the fans’ trust.”

Mainz enjoyed a 2-1 win at

Freiburg while Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen toped the league table ahead of Bayern after picking up their second win of the season with a 1-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart thanks to an own goal by the hosts’ defender Daniel Schwaab.

Bremen also enjoyed another win, a 1-0 victory at home to Bavaria’s Augsburg while Borussia Moenchengladbach bouced back from their opening day defeat at Bayern with a 3-0 win at home to Hanover 96.

Today, Champions League finalists Broussia Dortmund host promoted Eintracht Braunschweig and Hertha are at Nuremberg.—AFP

Forest take root at top Kuwaiti owner finances nine new signings

First true test for Tevez at Juventus. quarter-finals.

The former Juve midfielder is eyeing success on the European as well as the domestic stage and dominating Serie A is not enough for Conte.

Nevertheless, as he looks to lead the team back to the summit of European football they were last European champions in 1996 Conte will be determined that his team starts the season as they mean to go on. Fans can therefore expect a keenly-contested encounter, not least because Lazio will be playing in their home stadium in Rome. That in itself is a story as the match was originally scheduled to take place in Beijing, but Juve refused to go to China just a week before the new season began and a compromise was found by which Lazio will get home advantage in the Stadio Olimpico.—AFP

LONDON: Nottingham Forest swept to the top of the Championship and maintained their 100 percent record with an impressive 3-0 win over Bolton yesterday.

Billy Davies’ side have made a flying start to the second tier campaign and goals from Jamie Mackie, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury brushed aside Bolton, who played much of the second half with 10 men after Darren Pratley had been shown a second yellow card.

Having collected nine points from three games, Forest have made their best start in the Championship since 1997, following a close-season which saw Kuwaiti owner Fawaz Al Hasawi finance nine new signings at a cost of more than £5 million.

Meanwhile, Diego Fabbrini scored a 89thminute equaliser as second placed Watford produced a gutsy second-half comeback to earn a 3-3 draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Reading led three times thanks to a brace from Jem Karacan and an early Adam Le Fondre strike.

But Gianfranco Zola’s Watford, beaten in the play-off final by Crystal Palace last season, hit back with goals from Marco Davide Faraoni, Troy Deeney and a late goal from Fabbrini to prolong their unbeaten start.

Marvin Emnes netted a stoppage time leveller as Middlesbrough ended third placed Blackpool’s 100 per cent start in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

Emnes scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Chris Basham’s 83rd minute score for the Seasiders. Young striker Tom Hitchcock scored a last-minute winner on his QPR debut to give the pre-season promotion favourites a 1-0 win over Ipswich at Loftus Road.

Substitute Hitchcock tapped into an empty net after Charlie Austin’s effort had been parried by Ipswich goalkeeper Scott Loach.

Harry Redknapp’s side had already hit the bar twice, first through Clint Hill and then Austin, before the 20-year-old son of QPR goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock struck.

However, Redknapp will be concerned

about Junior Hoilett after the QPR forward limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury seven minutes into the second half.

Fourth-placed Burnley’s unbeaten start continued after second-half strikes from Keith Treacy and Sam Vokes earned a 2-0 victory over Yeovil at Turf Moor.

Leicester made history as a first-half own goal from Derby County goalkeeper Lee Grant secured a 1-0 win in the local derby at Pride Park.

Grant’s moment of misfortune means Leicester have won their opening two away games of the season for the first time ever.

Bottom side Millwall remain without a point or a goal in the league this season after James Vaughan’s second half goal earned a 10 victory for Huddersfield at The Den. Elsewhere, Brighton won 1-0 at Birmingham and promoted Bournemouth beat FA Cup holders Wigan 1-0. Leeds drew 11 against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Barnsley. —AFP

19

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

SPORTS

Aston Villa stun Arsenal Arsenal 1

Aston Villa 3

LONDON: Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez (centre background) and West Bromwich Albion’s Youssouf Mulumbu (foreground) battle for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match. —AP

Lambert winner lift Saints West Brom 0

Southampton 1

WEST BROMWICH: Rickie Lambert followed up his winning goal for England by scoring a last-minute penalty as Southampton started the new Premier League season with a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion.

It seemed yesterday’s match at the Hawthorns was heading for a goalless draw when Southampton were awarded a spot-kick after left-back Luke Shaw was brought down in the box by West Brom’s Youssouf Mulumbu.

From the resulting penalty Lambert, who marked his England debut by scoring the winner in a 3-2 friendly win over Scotland on Wednesday just four minutes after coming on a second-half substitute at Wembley, slotted the ball low into the corner to give the south coast side all three points.

Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez had earlier hit the crossbar in a game of few chances, with West Brom’s best opportunity coming when midfielder Graham Dorrans struck a 25-yard freekick narrowly over the bar.

But it was a youthful Southampton side who nearly opened the scoring when, after Shaw forced a corner with a good cross, fellow 18-year-old James Ward-Prowse’s long-range shot was palmed away by West Brom and England goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Southampton thought they had taken the lead not long afterwards when, following Lambert’s header from Callum Chambers-making his first Saints startAdam Lallana poked the ball in the far post only for the linesman to raise his flag.

As the match remained goalless, West

Brom manager Steve Clarke took off one striker signed in pre-season in Nicolas Anelka and send another on in Matej Vydra, only for Lambert to score the lone goal of the match.

However, Southampton had goalkeeper Artur Boruc for preserving their lead late on as the Poland international got down low to keep out Billy Jones’s header in the closing seconds.—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings) English Premier League Crystal Palace v Tottenham 15:30 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +9 Aljazeera Sport +10 Aljazeera Sport 6 HD Chelsea v Hull City 18:00 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +9 Aljazeera Sport +10 Aljazeera Sport 6 HD Spanish League Barcelona v Real Betis 22:00 Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Real Madrid v Real Betis 22:00 Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Osasuna v Granada 22:00 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +9 Sevilla v Atletico de Madrid 0:00 Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Italian Super Cup Juventus v SS Lazio 22:00 Aljazeera Sport 3 HD

SUNDERLAND: Fulham’s Swiss midfielder Pajtim Kasami (left) vies with Sunderland’s Irish defender John O’Shea (right) during the English Premier League football match. —AFP

Kasami goal leaves Di Canio feeling blue Sunderland 0

Fulham 1

SUNDERLAND: Pajtim Kasami scored the only goal of the game as Paolo Di Canio’s first full season in charge of Sunderland began with a 1-0 home defeat to Fulham.

The Swiss midfielder rose highest from a corner to head home from sixyards out at the back post on 52 minutes.

It was a smash-and-grab effort from the west London visitors in a game largely dominated by the hosts, although Sunderland were visibly lacking in cutting edge.

Sporting an unfamiliar look following a raft of signings from Di Canio in the

close season, Sunderland did not lack for endeavor, although the same could not be said of their quality.

One of Di Canio’s signings, American Jozy Altidore, proved a nuisance up front for the Fulham defence and had the majority of the home side’s best moments.

However, it was another new signing, Czech full-back Ondrej Celustka who produced the only real moment of quality in the first half, only for Fulham’s own debutant goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to save his 25-yard shot in brilliant fashion.

Stekelenburg would not make it to the end of his debut, though, as he was taken off midway through the second half after a challenge from Altidore left him clutching his shoulder, to be replaced by David Stockdale. And the substitute goalkeeper was called on to save from the ever-lively Altidore late on to ensure the three points went to the Londoners.—AFP

LONDON: Christian Benteke scored twice as Arsenal’s Premier League ambitions suffered an opening day setback with a 3-1 loss at home to Aston Villa yesterday.

The result threw into sharp focus the failure of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to strengthen his side in pre-season. Olivier Giroud put the home side ahead in the sixth minute but Arsenal’s promising start at the Emirates Stadium was quickly forgotten as Villa’s Benteke scored twice before Antonio Luna wrapped up the win for the visitors.

A dismal afternoon for Arsenal was made worse by the 66th minute dismissal of Laurent Koscielny and Wenger was left in no doubt about the frustrations of Gunners fans, who responded with a chant urging the French manager to spend money on bringing new players to the north London club.

Wenger has so far failed to attract any big name signings after failing to land primary targets Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney.

And the team-sheet provided an eloquent reminder of the lack of new faces with the Gunners’ starting XI mirroring exactly the team that finished last season at Newcastle.

Wenger insisted ahead of this game he remained hopeful of strengthening his squad before adding the familiar caveat that he would only buy if the right player became available at the right price.

After this clash, Wenger may consider it time to re-evaluate his stance. There was nothing wrong with the start Arsenal made with Giroud rounding off an excellent

LONDON: Arsenal’s Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (center) is tackled by Aston Villa’s Dutch defender Ron Vlaar (left) during the English Premier League football match. —AFP breakaway to put the Gunners 1-0 up. The move was started deep in the home half when Jack Wilshere moved the ball quicky forward to Tomas Rosicky.

A smart turn and pass to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain allowed the England midfielder to speed past Villa right back Matthew Lowton and advance before delivering a low cross towards the near post where Giroud finished easily after cleverly losing his marker.

While Wenger’s main transfer targets have been forwards, Arsenal’s main weakness appeared to lie at the other end of the pitch where goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and the back four once again appeared unconvincing.

Villa’s response to falling a goal behind was impressive and showed they are likely to be a much more resilient outfit than the one that

flirted precariously with relegation last season.

The pace and strength of front three Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann posed a constant threat while midfielders Fabian Delph and Karim El Ahmadi showed impressive energy. But the visitors were given encouragement

by Arsenal’s fragile rearguard and they were eventually handed a route back into the game when Agbonlahor was able to drive through the heart of the defence and into the area.

Szczesny raced out, arriving late at the feet of the Villa man and was fortunate to escape a red card when Agbonlahor was sent tumbling. The keeper almost made amends when he saved Benteke’s spot-kick but the Poland international was unable to prevent the striker heading home the rebound.

Arsenal lost Kieran Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain to first half injuries but worse was to come after the restart. Rosicky missed an early opportunity for the home side but the Arsenal defence again proved vulnerable, first when Delph struck the post from 20 yards and then when Agbonloahor’s direct running won a second penalty. Television replays suggested Koscielny got the ball before connecting with Agbonlahor but the referee thought otherwise, booking the French centre back and allowing Benteke to score his second goal in the 66th minute. And six minutes later, Koscielny’s frustration saw him make a clumsy challenge on Benteke to earn a second yellow card. Villa made it three five minutes from time when Luna broke from halfway as Arsenal pressed.—AFP

Wolfswinkel rescues Norwich Norwich 2

Everton 2

NORWICH: Norwich City’s record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel marked his Premier League debut with a goal to earn his new side a 2-2 draw at home to Everton yesterday.

The 24-year-old Dutch striker, an £8.5 million ($13.3 million, 10 million euros) signing from Sporting Lisbon, scored with a 71stminute header to earn Chris Hughton’s side a point after Everton came from behind to lead.

His goal prevented Roberto Martinez from enjoying victory in his first competitive game as Everton manager, after he succeeded the Manchester United-bound David Moyes during the close season.

Goals from Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman had turned the game in Everton’s favor after Steven Whittaker gave Norwich a 51st-minute lead, only for Van Wolfswinkel to steal the show.

The Dutch international was handed a start

by Hughton and he came close to making an early breakthrough in the 14th minute, only for Everton centre-back Sylvain Distin to intervene with a timely headed clearance.

Martinez left new signings Arouna Kone and Gerard Deulofeu on the bench, but it did not prevent the visitors from gradually asserting a grip on the game.

Marouane Fellaini headed over from a Leighton Baines corner, Kevin Mirallas shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area, and Barkley drilled an effort inches over the bar in the dying stages of the first half. The second period looked destined to follow a similar pattern after Mirallas shot into the side-netting in the early stages, but instead it was the home side who broke the deadlock.

Whittaker eluded Fellaini after roving forward from right-back and when his initial shot came back off the post, he reacted sharply to drill the ball home from a tight angle.

Everton were quick to react, however, and they drew level after 10 minutes when Barkley collected a pass from Coleman and rifled a vicious shot inside the right-hand post from 22 yards.

Coleman put Everton ahead four minutes later, gobbling up a rebound from close range after Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy had blocked an effort from Nikica Jelavic with his face.

However, Norwich refused to give in, and with 19 minutes remaining, van Wolfswinkel sharply redirected a shot from Whittaker to crown his introduction to English football with a goal.

Everton continued to push-Ruddy brilliantly saving from Steven Naismith, Russell Martin blocking Jelavic’s follow-up effort, and the excellent Coleman grazing the post with a 20yard drive-but Norwich held on.—AFP

CARROW ROAD: Everton’s Ross Barkley (right) heads the ball ahead of Norwich City’s Wes Hoolahan vie for the ball, during their English Premier League soccer match. —AP

EPL results/standings Arsenal 1 (Giroud 6) Aston Villa 3 (Benteke 22, 61pen, Luna 85); Liverpool 1 (Sturridge 37) Stoke 0; Norwich 2 (Whittaker 51, Van Wolfswinkel 71) Everton 2 (Barkley 61, Coleman 65); Sunderland 0 Fulham 1 (Kasami 52); Swansea 1 (Bony 82) Manchester Utd 4 (Van Persie 34, 72, Welbeck 36,

90); West Brom 0 Southampton 1 (Lambert 90-pen); West Ham 2 (Cole 13, Nolan 76) Cardiff 0.

Playing today Chelsea v Hull, Crystal Palace v Tottenham Playing tomorrow Manchester City v Newcastle

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd Aston Villa West Ham Fulham Liverpool Southampton Everton Norwich Chelsea Crystal Palace

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 0 0

1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0

3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 0 0

Hull Man City Newcastle Tottenham Stoke Sunderland West Brom Arsenal Cardiff Swansea

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 2 4

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Aston Villa stun Arsenal

Bolt wins seventh world gold

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

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Djokovic and Murray stumble, Nadal rolls

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SWANSEA: Manchester United’s Dutch striker Robin van Persie (center) scores the opening goal during the English Premier League football match against Swansea City. — AFP

United win Moyes’ league opener Swansea 1

Man United 4

SWANSEA: English champions Manchester United gave new manager David Moyes a win on the first day of the Premier League season with a 4-1 victory away to Swansea yesterday.

Two goals apiece from strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck secured United’s success at the Liberty Stadium.

The forwards scored within two minutes of each other in the first half and van Persie sealed victory 18 minutes from time with a stunning second goal from 20 yards.

Welbeck added his second goal and United’s fourth in stoppage time after a Wilfried Bony consolation goal for south Wales side Swansea eight minutes from time.

Moyes left Wayne Rooney out of his starting XI, amidst ongoing speculation linking the England forward with a move to Chelsea, while Swansea counterpart Michael Laudrup did the same with his £12 million ($19 million) pre-season signing Bony.

Ladrup pushed Michu into an attacking role and played five across the midfield with Jose Canas playing behind Jonjo Shelvey.

United opted for a conventional 4-4-2 with Welbeck and van Persie playing in front of a four man midfield that included Michael Carrick, who missed England’s 3-2 midweek win over Scotland. Having survived one or two early scares, United should have taken the lead in the 15th minute.

Van Persie poked the ball into the path of

Ryan Giggs but when the Welshman inched into the 18 yard box, he inexplicably chose to pass instead of shoot. Ben Davies stuck out a foot and the ball trickled harmlessly back to Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Minutes later Giggs fired wide of the far post after Vorm has saved smartly from Welbeck and Phil Jones had a far post volley saved by the Dutch keeper.

At the other end Michu, Swansea’s leading scorer last season, did have the ball in the net after 20 minutes. However, referee Phil Dowd’s whistle had long since gone for offside when the Spaniard beat David de Gea from close range.

The champions eventually went a goal in front 12 minutes before half-time. Giggs looped a ball into van Persie who somehow managed to scoop his shot past the advancing Vorm. Two minutes later it was 2-0. Van Persie headed Patrice Evra’s cross to Antonio Valencia at the

far post and the Ecuadorian crossed for Welbeck to score.

Carrick followed Valencia into the book for a late tackle on Wayne Routledge just before the break as did Evra for hauling down Angel Rangel.

Although Swansea dominated possession for long periods, they created precious little to worry Moyes. Swansea made a double substitution at half-time with Bony replacing Routledge and Pablo Hernandez coming on for Leon Britton.

It enabled Michu to drop back into his more accustomed position at the head of the Swans’ midfield. Bony latched onto a Davies cross in the 48th minute but his shot went high and wide.

The United fans certainly got behind Moyes, singing his name throughout the game. Michu brought a decent far post save out of de Gea in the 53rd minute but the goalkeeper was

Harsh welcome for Cardiff in top flight

Reds down Stoke Liverpool 1

Stoke 0 LIVERPOOL: Daniel Sturridge showed Liverpool can flourish without Luis Suarez as the striker’s superb finish clinched a 1-0 victory over Stoke on the opening day of the new Premier League season. Sturridge’s first half winner at Anfield was the highlight of an enterprising display from Brendan Rodgers’s team, who showed no signs of being affected by the absence of controversial striker Suarez.

Liverpool needed a last-minute penalty save from debutant Simon Mignolet, who kept out Jon Walters’s spot-kick, to seal the points, but a draw would have been extremely harsh on the hosts after a dominant performance. “You always pick the corner to go to and today I picked the right one,” Mignolet told BT Sports when asked about his penalty heroics.

“I was a bit nervous for the first 15 minutes playing in front of the Kop on my debut, but I kept a clean sheet which is the important thing.”

It was exactly the kind of uplifting afternoon Liverpool required after a summer spent dealing with Suarez’s attempts to engineer a move to Arsenal.

Suarez, watching from the stands as

he serves a suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season, was briefly banished to train on his own after claiming Rodgers had gone back on an agreement to sell him when the Reds failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League. He was welcomed back to the fold on Friday after reportedly apologising to Rodgers for his behavior. But England forward Sturridge had enjoyed a superb finish to last season and he picked up where he left off to show Liverpool can still progress, even if Suarez eventually gets his wish to leave. Stoke’s new boss Mark Hughes wasn’t even born when his club last won at Anfield in 1959, but City should have been ahead in the opening minutes when Mignolet, the Belgian goalkeeper signed from Sunderland to replace Pepe Reina, made a hash of punching clear and Stoke defender Robert Huth volleyed against the bar from 12 yards.

That sparked Liverpool into life and Sturridge, back from an ankle injury, headed home from Steven Gerrard’s free-kick, only to see the goal correctly ruled out for a tight offside decision.

Rodgers’s men threatened again through debutant Kolo Toure when the former Manchester City defender powered a header against the bar.

Another quick-fire exchange of passes between Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson gave Jose Enrique a clear sight of goal, but the left-back’s shot was well saved by Asmir Begovic.

Begovic came to Stoke’s rescue

injured in the process and required treatment.

Rooney’s five-minute warm up near the United fans gave rise to a standing ovation from the visiting supporters and one or two boos from the home faithful who sensed a way back into the game for their side. Swansea once again dominated possession and forced United into one or two hasty clearances. Laudrup had pushed Michu up alongside Bony with Nathan Dyer and Hernandez providing the width.

Rooney came on after an hour and immediately settled in just behind van Persie and Welbeck. With 20 minutes remaining Evra saw his header cleared off the line by Canas but two minutes later van Persie stepped inside Ashley Williams and gave Vorm no chance from 20 yards.

Bony bagged a consolation goal when he beat de Gea at his far post before Welbeck struck in stoppage time, chipping Vorm in cheeky fashion. — AFP

West Ham 2

Cardiff 0

LONDON: Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho (right) vies with Stoke City’s French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi (left) during the season’s opening English Premier League football match. — AFP again when he denied Henderson and then Sturridge in quick succession. But Liverpool’s incessant pressure paid off in the 37th minute when Iago Aspas fed Sturridge on the edge of the area and the former Chelsea striker drove a low strike through Huth’s legs and beyond Begovic into the far corner for the first goal of the new Premier League season.

After a shaky start, Mignolet at last showed why Rodgers paid £9 million ($13.9 million, 10.6 million euros) for him with an acrobatic save to keep out a Walters effort, but the Liverpool keeper needed help from a goalline clearance by Lucas when Ryan Shawcross’s header deflected past him

on the stroke of half-time. The Reds almost doubled their lead early in the second half when Henderson’s shot forced a full-stretch stop from Begovic.

And the Liverpool midfielder was frustrated again by Begovic midway through the half when the Bosnian pushed another goalbound strike onto a post. Stoke were given a dramatic chance to snatch an undeserved point in the 89th minute when Liverpool defender Daniel Agger handled as he tried to clear a Charlie Adam free-kick.

But Mignolet came to the rescue as he plunged to his right to keep out Walters’s spot-kick and then denied Kenwyne Jones from the rebound. — AFP

LONDON: West Ham ruined Cardiff ’s return to the top-flight after a 51-year absence as goals from Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan clinched a 2-0 win yesterday.

Sam Allardyce’s side took the lead through Cole’s fine first half strike and Nolan sealed a deserved victory in the closing stages at Upton Park.

It was a brutal introduction to the Premier League for Cardiff, who were making their first appearance in the top flight since 1962 after winning the Championship last term.

Backed by Malaysian owner Vincent Tan, Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has spent close to £30 million over the summer and he paraded record £9.5 million signing Gary Medel at Upton Park, but the Chilean midfielder was largely anonymous, as was his fellow new recruit Steven Caulker.

The Hammers were on top from the start and Matt Jarvis floated a clever cross to the far post, only for Cole to pro-

duce a poor header.

Modibo Maiga helped set up a chance for Jarvis that was spoilt by the winger’s poor first touch before Cardiff staged their first counter attack when Kim Bo-kyung drove high over the crossbar.

Kim had Craig Bellamy in support and the South Korean was scalded by his captain for declining to pass. Play quickly swept to the other end as West Ham bagged their first goal of the season by capitalising on some indecisive defending in the 13th minute.

Jarvis sent a pass across the face of goal to former Chelsea midfielder Cole who controlled the ball, turned and stabbed it into the bottom right corner.

With just goalkeeper David Marshall to beat, Cole should have had a second moments later but his control deserted him.

Cardiff made a bright start to the second half and a frantic goalmouth scramble ensued with West Ham prevailing through sheer weight of numbers.

West Ham winger Stewart Downing, a £5 million signing from Liverpool, came on with 20 minutes left and he soon injected life into the hosts. The Hammers finally got their second goal with 15 minutes remaining when Mark Noble launched a crafty run along the edge of the area before finding Nolan who expertly swept the ball into the net. —AFP

Tepid US retail sales raise doubts about economy Page 23

Business

Greece set to allow home foreclosures Page 22

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

ABK holds annual general assembly meeting

AWB Egypt reports 7.3% profit growth in H1 2013

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HYDERBAD: An Indian rickshaw puller rests in front of an onion wholesale shop in Hyderabad on Friday. Onion prices have been soaring across the country because of the drought in Maharashtra state and heavy rains in other growing areas, among other reasons, according to news reports. —AP

Indian PM rules out repeat of 1991 economic crisis Country grapples with plunging rupee, burgeoning trade gap NEW DELHI: India’s premier ruled out yesterday any suggestion the country could suffer a repeat of its 1991 balance-of-payments crisis as it grapples with a plunging rupee and a huge trade gap. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke a day after India’s currency hit a new low of 62.03 rupees to the dollar and stocks posted their sharpest singleday fall in nearly two years. Singh was finance minister in 1991 and was credited with overcoming the deep economic crisis. “There is no question of going back to the 1991 crisis,” Singh told reporters in New Delhi in televised remarks at a book launch.

In 1991, hard currency reserves had sunk so low that India was on the brink of defaulting on its foreign loans. Singh said the country only had foreign exchange reserves for 15 days in 1991.

“Now we have reserves of six to seven months. So there is no comparison.

And no question of going back to the 1991 crisis,” he said. India still has painful memories of 1991, when New Delhi had to pledge its gold reserves with the International Monetary Fund

to fund its debt. To get India out of its economic morass, Singh unleashed sweeping change, beginning the process of abolishing what was known as the “license raj”, a system of economic management ruled by government monopolies, quotas and permits that dictated what firms could make.

Since June 1 this year, overseas funds have pulled out a combined $11.58 billion in equities and debt from India’s markets over concerns about a sharply slowing economy, regulatory data shows.

To curb the rupee’s fall, Indian policymakers have pushed up short-term interest rates and announced plans to allow state firms to raise funds abroad and curb gold imports. Earlier this week, the central bank also tightened controls on the amount of money local firms and individuals can send abroad.

Asked about the record current account deficit-the broadest measure of trade-Singh acknowledged the problem and said gold imports needed to be further curbed. Gold is the secondlargest contributor to the current

account deficit after oil. “We seem to be investing a lot in unproductive assets,” he noted. Gold is hugely popular in India, especially during religious festivals and wedding seasons, and is also bought as a hedge against inflation.

India’s woes have been exacerbated by signals the US could soon slow its stimulus drive that prompted big investment flows to emerging markets, and homegrown graft scandals that have virtually paralyzed government policymaking.

Singh added that he hoped for “fresh thinking” at the central bank when its new governor Raghuram Rajan takes over in September. “The time has come to look at the possibilities and limitations of the monetary policy in a globalised economy,” he said.

India’s finance ministry is reported to regard the current central bank leadership as overly conservative in its focus on inflation at the expense of economic growth. Rajan is a former International Monetary Fund chief economist and is famed for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis. — AFP

India, Iran looking to resolve oil tanker row NEW DELHI: New Delhi and Tehran were yesterday working to resolve a dispute over the detention of an Indian oil tanker by Iranian naval guards for allegedly polluting sea waters in the Persian Gulf.

The Indian government-owned MT Desh Shanti ship was on its way back to India from Iraq when it was stopped Tuesday by the Iranian authorities and taken to Bandar Abbas port.

“We are working with Iran through diplomatic channels both in New Delhi and Tehran to resolve the issue,” a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP. The development comes at a time when India, the world’s fourth-largest oil importer, has significantly reduced its import of crude oil from Iran with sanctions from the United States and Europe making it harder to ship fuel from the Islamic republic.

The US and EU have shut down use of their financial systems for payment for Iranian crude, in the hope of starving Tehran of cash and forcing it to give up its alleged nuclear weapons program.

Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.

Local Indian media reports have suggested that Iran

may have detained the ship out of “displeasure” because it was carrying crude from rival Iraq. “For India, it is not far-fetched to draw the conclusion that Tehran is peeved with India’s rising crude imports from Iraq and that the seizure of the ship may be a way of showing its displeasure,” the Times of India newspaper said.

But the Iranian embassy in New Delhi sought to downplay the incident, calling it “purely a technical and non-political issue”. “The officials of the shipping authorities of the two countries are engaged in constructive and positive interaction to resolve it according to the international law as soon as ossible,” the embassy said in a statement.

The tanker, the embassy said, was detained following a warning from the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Center, a Bahrain-based organization which fights marine pollution.

India has denied the ship contaminated Iranian waters. The ship had cleared inspections by “maritime authorities and international surveyors”, the Press Trust of India news agency quoted a shipping ministry official as saying. —AFP

Al-Jazeera tackles US market WASHINGTON: With a cast of TV news stars, deep pockets and an ambitious agenda, AlJazeera launches its US news channel on Tuesday, aiming to shake up the broadcast journalism market stateside. The US cable channel will reach more than 40 million households and vastly expands the footprint of the Qatar-based media group, despite questions about how it will be received by American viewers.

Al-Jazeera America’s audience is likely to start out small, but its bosses hope to have a big impact when it competes against already established brands such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.

Americans will be able to get 14 hours of news, documentary and discussion programming daily, and updates at the top of every hour 24 hours each day. But the selling point will be long-form reporting of stories overlooked by other news organizations.

“We know Americans want in-depth coverage of the news that matters to them,” said Ehab Al Shihabi, interim chief executive of Al-Jazeera America. “They want more unbiased coverage and less opinion, that’s what Al-Jazeera is about.”

Yet some analysts say the channel will face a tough sell to US audiences because of its history in the Middle East, where it was the outlet for videos distributed by Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Some conservatives claim it is still antiWestern.

Shihabi said he believes Americans will come around once they see the programs. He said surveys indicate that “75 percent of people who did not watch Al-Jazeera came on the negative size and 90 percent of those who watch Al-Jazeera came on the positive side.” Shihabi said 850 staff have been hired for 12 US bureaus, and will draw on 70 bureaus worldwide to give Al-Jazeera unmatched scale.

While the channel will be available to fewer than half of US households-notably absent from Time Warner Cable, which is in discussions on carrying Al-Jazeera-Shihabi hopes to reach 100 percent soon. “We are investing heavily in advertising and branding,” he said. “I’m sure it will be a short time before Al-Jazeera will be viral and people will be demanding Al-Jazeera.”

Since acquiring Current TV, a struggling US cable channel which nevertheless had reach to US homes, Al-Jazeera has brought in well-known names in the industry, such as Soledad O’Brien and Ali Velshi from CNN, and Sheila MacVicar, formerly with ABC and CNN. Al-Jazeera America president Kate O’Brian said the channel will “stay away from pundits and crazy celebrity news” while “covering all the stories that need to be covered.”

“Our success is how well we tell the stories,” she said in a conference call with reporters. “We will get people talking about the channel and wanting the channel.” Along with 24-hour news,

Al-Jazeera will include several showcase programs starting with the 5:00 pm time slot and carrying into “prime time” evening viewing.

Shihabi said the channel will have only six minutes of advertising per hour, compared with an average of 15 minutes for most other channels. Al-Jazeera’s US operation is headquartered in New York, with a vast news hub and studio across from Penn Station. In Washington, the channel has taken studio space formerly occupied by ABC at the Newseum, overlooking the US Capitol.

David Shuster, a newly hired anchor and MSNBC and Fox News veteran, said he sees a “huge opportunity” because of the vast resources of Al-Jazeera, which he said probably becomes the largest broadcast news organization in the world.

“It turns the news business on its head,” Shuster told AFP. “People want to watch the news, they want to be taken to the scene of what is happening.”

He said other cable news outlets have become politicized and that “rather than invest in the field they put talking heads out there who yell and scream at each other.”

Joie Chen, a former CNN and CBS journalist and one of the big US names lured to Al-Jazeera, said she was attracted by “the quality work they were doing.” “I wanted to be able to participate in the story telling. I did not want to be a news

NEW YORK: Journalists work in the main newsroom area of the new Al Jazeera America television broadcast studio on West 34th Street August in New York. Al Jazeera America, which will launch on August 20, will have its headquarters in New York. — AFP reader,” said Chen, who will host the channel’s flagship US program “America Tonight.” “We are not focused on the size of the audience, we are focused on the quality of the reporting. “We want to tell stories that are currently underreported.” Former NBC news anchor John Seigenthaler sees Al-Jazeera providing “a little more depth, a little more perspective, a little

more context, what we are all looking for in journalism.” Seigenthaler, the nightly news anchor, said the new channel will have notable advantages over other broadcasters. “When I asked about ratings, they said they are not interested in ratings, they are interested in delivering the news. That’s why this seemed like a different journey.” — AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

BUSINESS

Greece set to allow home foreclosures Lawmakers fear backlash from homeowners ATHENS: Greece will lift restrictions on home foreclosures to allow banks to recover bad loans, the finance minister said yesterday, adding fuel to a row that may test the cohesion of its fragile coalition government.

Cash-strapped banks are currently barred from auctioning most first homes owned by delinquent borrowers, under a temporary measure introduced in 2010 to protect austerity-hit households. The freeze on forced auctions, which has already been extended three times and is set to expire on Dec. 31, should not be extended any further, technocrat finance minister Yannis Stournaras said.

“If auctions aren’t liberalized, then banks will collapse,” he was quoted as saying by weekly newspaper Realnews. The European Union and the International Monetary Fund, which have

spent about 38 billion euros ($50.67 billion) between them to rescue Greek banks, are pressuring Athens to take measures to clean up lenders’ balance sheets.

But several lawmakers from the country’s two-party ruling coalition oppose foreclosures, fearing a backlash from home-owners amid record joblessness and plunging wages. “People will take their shotguns... a collapsing property market is better than a civil war,” said lawmaker Sophia Voultepsi, from the conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, earlier this month.

Another 11 lawmakers from New Democracy and its junior coalition partner, the Socialist PASOK party, are pushing for the freeze to be extended, newspaper Eleftherotypia reported.

Stournaras said on Saturday there would be pro-

visions to protect the poor. “There will be social and economic criteria to protect the really needy”. Samaras’s government has only a fiveseat majority in the country’s 300-seat parliament. Any rift could cause its collapse and derail Greece’s international 240-billion euro bailout.

Property foreclosures have already triggered protests in other indebted, crisis-hit European countries such as Spain. Greece’s auction freeze currently covers first homes worth less than 300,000-495,000 euros, depending on whether owners are married and have children.

Home ownership is high in Greece where about eight out of ten people live within their own four walls. Mortgages account for a large part of Greek banks’ sour loans, which have risen to 29 percent of the total after the country’s sixyear recession. — Reuters

LISBON: A man, holding a euro note and lottery tickets, walks past a souvenirs shop board displaying typical Portuguese products and a sign that reads in Portuguese: “Portuguese shop. Quality, Tradition, Pride”, in downtown Lisbon. —AP

Bayt.com weekly report

Gulf Bank announces winners of Al-Danah daily draws KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al-Danah daily draws on August 12, 2013, announcing the names of its winners for the week of August 4th to August 7. The Al-Danah daily draws include draws each working day for two prizes of KD1000 per winner.

The winners were: (Sunday 4/8): Ali Taher Abdullah Al-Amer, Dr Hussein Safar (Monday 5/8): Hussain Ismail Yacoub Mataqi, Ahmed Mohammed Merza Al-Dashti (Tuesday 6/8): Laila Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullah, Badreya Abdullah Naser Al-Banay ( Wednesday 7/8): Bader Al-Jeeran, Fatmah Sayed Muslem Sayed Ali Mostafa Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2013 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD1000), as well as three draw prizes per quarter. Al-Danah’s 3rd Quarterly draw will be held on - 26 September (KD500,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000) and the final draw will be held on

9 January, 2014 announcing winners of KD50,000, KD250,000 and the Al-Danah Millionaire.

Gulf Bank’s Al-Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simultaneously encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account.

Al-Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al-Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al-Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al-Danah winner.

To be part of the Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also log on to www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al-Danah and who the winners are.

Tanzania’s CA deficit narrows DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s current account deficit narrowed 2.2 percent in the year to June helped by stronger tourism and agricultural per formance amid a slowdown in imports, the central bank said. The deficit narrowed to $4.173 billion in the 12 months to June from $4.267 billion during the same period last year. The bank did not say what it was as a percentage of the GDP. “The overall balance of payments recorded a surplus of $449.1 million compared to a surplus of $209.1 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2012,” the Bank of Tanzania said in its latest monthly economic

report. Gold exports, the country’s top foreign exchange earner, declined to $1.83 billion in the year to June, from $2.28 billion a year ago, due to a decline in both export volumes and prices.

The volume of gold exports declined to 36 tons compared to about 40 tons recorded in the year ending June 2012, while the average unit export price declined by 3.6 percent to $1,610.7 per troy ounce.

Tanzania, which has a population of around 45 million, is Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer after South Africa, Ghana and Mali. —Reuters

KSE saw slight movement last week: Al-Oula report

Make each day Count: Ten tips for a happier life KUWAIT: Bayt.com’s recent “Happiness and Wellbeing in the MENA” survey (July, 2013) results indicated that 63% of the respondents in Kuwait are satisfied with their life in general, including 16% who are “extremely satisfied”.

Although these results show a positive trend, it does help to further ask yourself: what would happiness really look like or mean to you? In actuality, happiness need not be a vague evershifting end goal, or the light at the end of an endless tunnel; it can be a goal you can set to achieve every single day.

Below are some tips from the experts at Bayt.com the Middle East’s #1 job site, on how you can incorporate happiness into your life and career:

threatened reforms to support economic growth. “We view the popular legitimacy of Tunisia’s transitional institutions as increasingly contested, jeopardizing the approval of a new constitution, holding of elections, and implementation of growth-promoting economic reforms,” S&P said.

“Furthermore, perceived increased terrorist risks could threaten tourism, which remains a pillar of the Tunisian economy, as well as foreign and domestic investment.”

S&P said it estimated that general government debt would rise from 44 percent of gross domestic product in 2012 to 50 percent in 2016.

“The government’s access to official concessional financing and to the guarantees of Japan and the US for specific bond issues will remain cru-

6. Choose the path of least negativity This is another way of saying choose your battles very wisely, or not at all. Did an aggressive driver swerve suddenly into your lane? Rushed peers didn’t stop the elevator for you? Lunch arrived on your desk a little later than you’d like?

No need to start a world war. Smile, count to ten and think of all your plans to achieve happiness for the day.

1. Have an attitude of gratitude Appreciating what you have is a fundamental step to personal fulfillment.

Regularly take stock of where you are and what you have achieved and be grateful for all the positives in your life.

Give credit where credit is due and don’t overlook any small or large blessing in your life as you feel the gratitude.

7. Aim for levity Humor is a cure for many ills. Keep that twinkle in your eye and don’t get embroiled in discussions that are escalating needlessly out of control such as political or religious discussions in the workplace, or petty arguments and finger-pointing discourses that is likely to go nowhere.

2. Make someone feel special Try to touch someone’s life every day in a special way, whether it be through a warm greeting, a smile, a word of thanks or any other gesture of kindness or goodwill. Be generous and genuine in all your points of contact and always look for the best in others.

S&P downgrades Tunisia two notches PARIS: Rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded debt issued by Tunisia by two notches on Friday because of rising opposition to the government. Tunisia’s opposition have been calling for the resignation of the Islamist-led government and the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly since the assassination in July of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi, the second political killing since February.

The credit rating agency downgraded its notation for Tunisian long-term debt from “BB-” to “B”, indicating low confidence that the country will be able to respect its debt obligations.

And S&P said the outlook was negative, meaning there was one chance in three that it would lower the rating again in the next 12 months if the economic and social situation

habits are unhealthy, and around 17.6% of professionals do not exercise regularly. Sufficient rest, regular exercise and eating well are all essential to your health and happiness and a healthier lifestyle can begin right now. Reach out for some vegetables and fruits instead of that donut or muffin and replace the elevator with the stairs.

By Lama Ataya

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) main index dropped in past week’s trading yet the overall performance was slightly moderate, AlOula brokerage company said in a report released yesterday.

The week operations closed with a rise of the weighted index by 0.42 points to reach 461.81 points, and Kuwait-15 followed suit, increasing 4.32 points to reach 1067.33 points.

However, the price index dropped 1.78 points to stay at 8092.04 points. Moreover, the bourse witnessed moderate purchasing operations that reflected the investors trust in local markets to find trade oppor tunities that would compete with regional and international markets.

The bourse’s recent movement is considered normal for a market that has been on the rise in the past few months. In addition, this movement is also seen a acceptable since there are no incentives for investors to pump fluidity on the financial markets. The report also noted that the existence of 12 companies that have not yet determined its financial status drove investors to choose safer paths for their businesses.

In general, a sense of positivity has prevailed the bourse especially after increasing demands, from the parliament and the government, to support the development process in the country.

Local banks have also seen improvement in half year profits that amounted to 281 million Kuwaiti Dinars, a growth of eight percent, according to the repor t. Kuwait Stock Exchange has passed the psychological barrier of 8,000 points despite slow trading during the month of Ramadan. — KUNA

cial to financing the deficit at a favorable rate,” S&P stressed.

“We expect the support of the international community to remain strong, unless the political transition is suspended indefinitely, which is not our base-case forecast.” The government led by the Islamist Ennahda party is refusing to step down and has proposed instead the formation of a cabinet of national unity and holding general elections in December. But the employers’ organization UTICA, and the powerful UGTT trade union, are backing the opposition’s call for the formation of a government of technocrats.

UTICA reiterated its call on Friday, and urged politicians “to solve the crisis as soon as possible” in order to prevent a further deterioration of the economy. — AFP

8. Treat yourself Decide what rewards makes you happy and treat yourself to one of them every single day. It could be a music session, an afternoon nap, a visit with friends or family, a particular meal or purchase you can afford, or reading material you look forward to. Whatever it is, tell yourself you deserve it and enjoy!

3. Plan ahead Identify what makes you happy and fulfilled and set happy goals. The more organized and in-control you feel the less likely you are to feel worried or dragged down.

9. Watch your thoughts Your thoughts control the measure of your happiness; keep them positive and constructive at all times. Don’t let the shadow of doubt and negativity creep in; instead focus your thoughts on what you are doing and what plans you have to achieve spectacular happiness that day.

4. Enjoy the present moment Instead of fretting excessively about what could have been or what might be, try to enjoy the present moment and give it its full due. Remember the present moment is always yours to shape and enjoy the way you please.

10. Be solution oriented Happy people don’t sink into fear and worry quagmires every time a problem surfaces; they concentrate on finding solutions. Treat every problem as an opportunity for creative thinking and concentrate on the positive aspects associated with creating an optimal solution.

5. Stay healthy The Bayt.com ‘MENA Professionals Health and Eating Habits’ poll (April, 2013) indicated that 31.7% of professionals in the region feel their eating

EXCHANGE RATES 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 Irani Riyal

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.920 4.622 2.767 2.163 2.893 225.840 36.740 3.653 6.506 9.115 0.271 0.273

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 76.004 78.312 740.290 757.010 77.619

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 42.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.677 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.330 Tunisian Dinar 175.220 Jordanian Dinar 402.490 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.912 Syrian Lier 3.096 Morocco Dirham 34.325 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 284.900 Euro 383.480 Sterling Pound 449.000 Canadian dollar 279.040 Turkish lira 147.310 Swiss Franc 310.690 Australian Dollar 263.960 US Dollar Buying 283.700 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

GOLD 246.000 125.000 65.000

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 264.07 279.85 311.68 382.39 284.20 444.29 2.96 3.670 4.623 2.160 2.920 2.778 77.45 756.42 40.35 404.48 739.10 78.48 76.92

SELL CASH 263.000 282.000 311.000 384.000 287.400 443.000 3.000 3.800 5.150 2.700 3.600 2.920 78.000 759.500 41.100 416.200 746.400 79.000 76.300

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso

Selling Rate 284.350 279.560 441.895 379.800 308.900 752.820 77.395 78.050 76.690 400.835 40.329 2.157 4.687 2.775 3.651 6.508

Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht

697.520 3.945 9.270 4.060 3.980 89.575

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY

BUY Europe 0.4327036 0.0065744 0.0467500 0.3734123 0.0445812 0.4312470 0.0397905 0.3009203

0.4437036 0.0185744 0.0517500 0.3809123 0.0497812 0.4387470 0.0447905 0.3079230

Australasia 0.2513219 0.2219178 0.0001128

0.2633219 0.2319178 0.0001128

Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars

America 0.2689223 0.0001448 0.2825500

0.2779223 0.0001628 0.2847000

Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa Guinea Franc Hg Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Jamaican Dollars Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee

Asia 0.0036153 0.0031581 0.0455139 0.0164467 0.0000442 0.0341591 0.0045808 0.0000227 0.0028435 0.0028334 0.0031853 0.0821779 0.0027462 0.0027454

0.0036703 0.0033881 0.0505139 0.0195467 0.0000502 0.0372591 0.0046459 0.0000278 0.0038435 0.0030134 0.0034153 0.0891779 0.0029462 0.0027854

British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling

SELL

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Ethiopeanbirr Ghanaian Cedi Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Sudanese Pounds Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.0060534 0.0000727 0.2205759 0.0021245 0.0087236

0.0065234 0.0000757 0.2265753 0.0021665 0.0093236

Arab 0.7487462 0.0386645 0.0126729 0.1447536 0.0000792 0.0001839 0.3959802 1.0000000 0.0001746 0.0223075 0.0012092 0.7284695 0.0775448 0.0753867 0.0462902 0.0019400 0.1708226 0.0760860 0.0012843

0.7572462 0.0406795 0.0191729 0.1465436 0.0000797 0.0002439 0.4034802 1.0000000 0.0001946 0.0463075 0.0018442 0.7394695 0.0783278 0.0760267 0.0468402 0.0021600 0.1768226 0.0775360 0.0013843

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 284.600 380.200 442.050 277.250 4.645 40.400 2.160 3.655 6.495 2.775 757.650 77.450 75.900

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

BUSINESS

EU’s longest-ever recession comes to an end MADRID: Minube, a travel startup on the outskirts of Madrid, is doing something that many Spanish companies haven’t thought about for years: It’s hiring.

The company, which sells bookings as it helps travelers share their experiences using social media, has nearly doubled its headcount from 17 at the end of last year to 30. Business is booming as customers come in from across Europe - including some places hardest hit by Europe’s economic crisis.

“We’re finally starting to see a bigger growth curve in Spain, and the strong growth in Italy has been a surprise,” Minube’s co-founder, Pedro Jareno, said.

“The improvements we are starting to see in the market are constant.” That brighter or less gloomy - backdrop was confirmed in figures Wednesday, which showed that the longest-ever recession to afflict the euro-zone came to an end in the second quarter of the year. Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, said the 17 EU countries that use the euro saw their collective economic output increase by 0.3 percent in the April to June period from the previous quarter.

That’s the first quarterly growth since the euro-zone slipped into recession in the last three months of 2011. The ensuing recession of six quarters was the longest since the euro currency was launched in 1999. The improvement made up for the previous quarter’s equivalent decline and was moderately better than the 0.2 per-

LISBON: A man runs past containers placed at Lisbon’s Santa Apolonia port. Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office, said the 17 EU countries that use the euro saw their collective economic output increase by 0.3 percent in the April to June period from the previous quarter.— AP cent anticipated in the markets. Growth, however anemic, had been predicted by many economists following an easing in market concerns over Europe’s debt crisis over the past year and record low interest rates from the European Central Bank.

The euro-zone’s growth, which translates to an annualized rate of around 1.3 percent, is still well below the 1.8 percent

Euro-zone recession end is cold comfort for Greece FRANKFURT: Europe’s recession is over, thanks to second-quarter growth in big countries Germany and France and an improvement in some of the smaller ones that have been hit hard by the financial crisis. But the pain is not over, because many still have mountains of public debt to pay off and record unemployment. It’s also uncertain how long a recovery can be sustained. Here’s a look at how the hardest-hit countries are doing: GREECE Greece’s economy contracted 4.6 percent in the second quarter compared with a year earlier. While that is slightly less than in the previous quarter, it still leaves the country in an economic hole that some have termed a depression. The official forecast is that growth will only return in 2014, and it will take years before the economy reaches pre-crisis levels. Greece triggered Europe’s debt crisis in October 2009, when it admitted it had underreported its budget deficit for years. It was the first of the continent’s economies to get an international bailout. The policy of spending cuts and tax increases demanded by creditors to cure public finances has reduced the deficit but savaged the economy and society.

The economy has shrunk by roughly 24 percent since 2008, business bankruptcies have skyrocketed and unemployment is at a record 27.6 percent - and 64.9 percent for people under 25. The statistics bear some resemblance to those during the Great Depression in the U.S., when gross domestic product fell 27 percent in 19291933 and unemployment climbed to more than 20 percent.

Although there’s no fixed definition of depression, economist Barry Bosworth at the Brookings Institution says Greece qualifies because of the unusual depth and length of its downturn. “It goes way beyond anything that looks like a recession,” he said. “It’s absolutely appropriate to refer to Greece as in a depression.”

SPAIN The economy shrank in the second quarter by 0.1 percent from the quarter before, but the contraction was better than the 0.5 percent fall recorded in the first three months of 2013.

The country has been stuck in reces-

sion for most of the past four years after its property market collapsed, causing several banks to fail and require bailouts.

Spain looks like it could finally post some quarterly economic growth before the end of the year. Nonetheless, Spain has an unemployment rate of 26.3 percent, which the International Monetary Fund forecasts will only fall slightly over the next two years.

ITALY Italy’s economy shrank by less than expected in the second quarter. The 0.4 percent decline compared with a quarterly rate of 0.6 percent in the first quarter.

Italy has also embarked on the austerity path to control its high public debt, which has grown to 130 percent of annual economic output. The economy has contracted for eight straight quarters, a record, and unemployment is at 12 percent. There are concerns that the government, a broad coalition of parties, won’t last long and be too weak to implement the tough economic reforms needed to reduce debt and get the economy growing again.

PORTUGAL The country returned to growth in the April-June quarter with a robust figure of 1.1 percent from the quarter before, after contracting for 10 straight quarters. Yet the country has a long way to go to reduce unemployment of 17.4 percent and to generate enough growth to repay debts that fall due in coming years.

Portugal needed a bailout in 2011 after a decade of meager growth and mounting debts. The country’s creditors expect GDP to contract by 2.3 percent this year before growing 0.6 percent in 2014 and 1.5 percent in 2015.

CYPRUS The Mediterranean island country needed a bailout this year after its banks collapsed because of losses on defaulted Greek government bonds. A part of deposits at its two largest banks were seized to help pay for the bailout. The banking collapse is expected to contribute to a big drop in investment and spending. Cyprus’ international creditors project that its economy will shrink by a cumulative 13 percent by the end of 2014. Most analysts predict it will be worse. —AP

France out of recession with 0.5% Q2 growth PARIS: The French economy is officially out of recession, according to data released that showed gross domestic product had its strongest quarterly growth in two years.

The national statistics agency, Insee, said that France’s gross domestic product rose 0.5 percent in the second quarter, largely on a rebound in exports, domestic household demand and public spending. The figure was well above the consensus forecast of 0.1 percent and even the more optimistic Banque de France prediction of 0.2 percent growth.

But the positive figure wasn’t a total surprise. Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said this weekend that the economy was out of recession, even before the official data became known. In a statement Wednesday, he reveled in the return to growth, saying that France’s exports - which rose 2 percent in the quarter - were benefitting from a pickup in demand throughout the eurozone. Data for the rest of the

European Union will be released later in the day. Insee says the April-to-June growth was the strongest quarterly growth since early 2011, when Europe’s debt crisis exploded, forcing governments to cut spending and dragging many economies into recession.

France, Europe’s secondlargest economy, has fared better than many, but its growth has been stagnant for two years. GDP shrank 0.2 percent for each of the last two quarters. But the government’s growth projections for the full year indicate that France is not out of the woods yet.

Moscovici recently said that growth would be between a fall of 0.1 percent and a rise of 0.1 percent in 2013; that was a slight downgrade of the official projection of 0.1 percent annual growth.

That would mean that the second half of 2013 will not keep pace with the second quarter’s growth. Wednesday’s figure is also just a first estimate and could later be revised.—AP

the US enjoyed during the second quarter.

The wider 27-country EU, which includes non-euro countries such as Britain and Poland, also emerged from its own, milder recession, and like the euro-zone is also growing at an annualized rate of around 1.3 percent.

Growth in Europe provides a boon to the global economy. The EU, which now

totals 28 following Croatia’s accession in July, has a population of around 550 million and its annual gross domestic product stands at around $17.3 trillion - both more than the U.S., which has GDP of $16.6 billion for 315 million people.

The EU’s recovery marks the first time since a brief period in 2011 that the four major pillars of the world economy - the US, China, Japan and Europe - are growing at the same time. The figures will be greeted with a sigh of relief by Europe’s policymakers, who have spent nearly four years grappling with a debt crisis that has threatened the very future of the euro. But they were not ready to declare victory, aware that this is only the start of what is expected to be a slow and uneven recovery.

“This slightly more positive data is welcome - but there is no room for any complacency whatsoever,” Olli Rehn, the EU’s top monetary official, said in his blog after the release of the figures. “I hope there will be no premature, self-congratulatory statements suggesting ‘the crisis is over’.”

The improvement was largely due to solid growth of 0.7 percent in Germany and a surprisingly strong 0.5 percent bounceback in France following two quarters of negative growth.

Aside from Europe’s top two economies, there were signs of stabilization elsewhere, notably in Portugal, which expanded by a surprising 1.1 percent.

Spain and Italy saw the pace of their eco-

nomic contractions slow. There was even evidence that the recession in Greece, the country at the heart of Europe’s debt crisis, is easing, too. Eurostat doesn’t publish quarterly figures for Greece. It only has annual comparisons and they showed that the year-on-year contraction eased to 4.6 percent in the second quarter from 5.6 percent in the first.

Major European companies have benefited from the more stable economy.

ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker, says the worst is over and that European demand is finally on the rise again. Many companies, however, are still relying on foreign markets to drive profits.

Big exporters, like German car maker BMW, are selling a lot in China and pushing into fast-growing emerging markets. The recovery in Europe, the world’s largest trading bloc, is expected to cause an increase in global trade levels later this year as exporters like Germany gather pace and Europeans buy more products from companies in the US, Japan and elsewhere.

Despite that cautious note of optimism, analysts said the euro-zone still has a long way to go before it can say it has proved the skeptics wrong. Europe’s indebted governments still face years of spending cuts and tax increases and many, notably Greece and Spain, are weighed down by record-high unemployment of over 25 percent. A full recovery across the eurozone is not expected before 2015.—AP

Tepid US retail sales raise doubts about economy Consumer confidence may be tapering off WASHINGTON: Bleaker outlooks at retailers like Wal-Mart and Macy’s are raising doubts that consumers will spend enough in coming months to lift the still-subpar US economy.

Though the economy is growing steadily, Americans are being hampered by weak pay, higher taxes and tepid hiring. Sluggish overseas economies are also slowing sales for US retailers.

It’s a picture the Federal Reserve will weigh in deciding whether to scale back its bond purchases as soon as next month.

“Consumers aren’t going to start spending with abandon until we see much stronger job and wage growth,” says Mark Vitner, an economist at Wells Fargo.

Average weekly paychecks have grown just 1.3 percent since the recession ended more than four years ago. Over the past 12 months, pay has trailed even low inflation. That’s partly why spending has remained lackluster and why many Americans may be postponing purchases at department stores so they can buy cars, homes and other costly necessities.

Americans increased their spending at an annual rate of just 1.8 percent in the April-June quarter down from a 2.3 percent rate in the January-March period. Consumer spending is expected to improve in the second half of the year. But most economists foresee only a slight acceleration to an annual rate of 2 percent to 2.5 percent. Those spending rates are historically weak. And they’re too meager to significantly boost the economy, which grew at an annual rate of just 1.4 percent in the first half of the year. Consumer spending fuels about 70 percent of the US economy.

For much of this year, many Americans have made major purchases they had postponed during the recession and the weak recovery. Auto and home sales have strengthened. Yet that’s left less spending money for discretionary purchases such as electronic goods, clothes and eating out.

“Consumers are very much need-based,” said Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics, a retail research firm. “If they’re buying a new car, that leaves less money for a child’s wardrobe.”

The trend has weakened sales and profits at retailers like Macy’s. On Wednesday, Macy’s reported a disappointing profit for its second quarter and cut its outlook for the year.

And Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, issued an earnings report Thursday that intensified worries about the strength of US consumers, long a driving force for the global economy.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based discounter said it expects economic strains in the United States and

abroad to squeeze its low-income shoppers the rest of the year. Wal-Mart is considered an economic bellwether: It accounts for nearly 10 percent of nonautomotive retail spending in the United States.

The company attributed its gloomier report in part to a Social Security tax increase that’s reduced most Americans’ paychecks this year. Charles Holley, Wal-Mart’s chief financial officer, said its customers appear reluctant to buy discretionary items like flat-screen TVs. The state of the American consumer will be a key factor the Fed will consider in deciding whether to scale back its $85 billion a month in Treasury and mortgage bond purchases. Those

extraordinary circumstances.

“It’s not something you use when the economy is just struggling,” Vitner said. Retail analysts note that back-to-school sales have been slow so far - potentially a worrisome sign for winter holiday sales late this year. If back-to-school business falls below expectations, stores could pare their holiday orders, Perkins said. That would slow production at manufacturers.

Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers, expects sales for the back-to-school season to grow 3.1 percent from last year to $42.2 billion. That would be less than the 3.6 percent gain in 2012 and below the 3.3 percent average annual increase for the

Bleaker outlooks at retailers like Wal-Mart and Macy’s are raising doubts that consumers will spend enough in coming months to lift the still-subpar US economy.—AP purchases have been intended to keep rates on mortgages and other long-term loans near record lows. Chairman Ben Bernanke and other Fed officials have said the central bank could start slowing its bond purchases later this year if the economy continues to strengthen. Many economists think a slowdown in bond purchases will be announced at the Fed’s next meeting on Sept 17-18.

Fears that a slowdown in Fed bond buying will hurt stocks and bonds, coupled with retailers’ gloomier outlooks, sent financial markets plunging Thursday. Many traders worry that less Fed bond buying will cause interest rates to rise and loans to grow more expensive. The Fed’s aggressive bond buying is credited with helping drive the stock market’s record run. Vitner is among those who think the Fed will start slowing its purchases in September. He suggested that bond purchases on a scale of $85 billion a month are intended for

past decade. Among consumers who are making tough decisions about where to direct their limited spending money is Lance McConnell of Urbandale, Iowa. McConnell, 33, a teacher, bought a used car a few weeks ago for $23,000. He said the $350 monthly payments mean he won’t be making any impulse purchases for the back-to-school season and beyond.

“I feel overall confident about the economy,” said McConnell, a father of three daughters, ages 3, 6 and 8. “But we really watch what we spend and how we spend.”

Such sentiment may help explain why Macy’s, typically a stellar performer, issued a dim outlook Wednesday. Similarly, Kohl’s Corp, a department store chain that serves middle-income shoppers, announced Thursday that its second-quarter net income declined 4 percent. It, too, trimmed its outlook for the year.—AP

Lies, damn lies, and China’s economic statistics

SHANGHAI: A stock investor sits in front of an electronic screen showing index numbers at a brokerage in Shanghai on Friday.— AP

BEIJING: China has soared almost to the top of the world’s economic league tables, but whether the official data underpinning its status can be trusted is a constant headache, analysts say. Simmering unease regarding China’s economic figures has taken on new meaning in recent months with discrepancies in some statistics and questions over just how much gross domestic product (GDP) is really growing.

Earlier this year, economists took issue with Chinese monthly trade statistics, which diverged wildly from expectations, and two weeks ago official and private purchasing managers surveys-a key measure of manufacturing-surprisingly pointed in opposite directions. Doubts have also been raised about how inflation is calculated. “If there was an index for suspicion about China’s official statistics, it would be off the charts, or to use the technical American term, ‘crazy bad’,” Standard Chartered economist Stephen Green wrote in a report.

No less an authority than China’s new premier Li Keqiang has expressed doubts on the issue. Leaked US diplomatic cables show that as the top official in Liaoning province in 2007, he told the then US ambassador that some Chinese data was “man-made” and thus unreliable. When evaluating the provincial economy, Li said he focused on only three figures-electricity consumption, rail cargo volume, and the amount of loans issued, according to a confidential memo released by the WikiLeaks website in late 2010.

“All other figures, especially GDP statistics, are ‘for reference only,’ he said smiling,” according to the cable. China officially overtook Japan as the world’s second-largest economy in 2010, and analysts say it is

only a matter of time before it knocks the United States off the pedestal it has held for more than a century. But when that day finally comes, can the data be believed? Michael Pettis, a finance professor at Peking University and a senior associate at the US-based Carnegie Endowment, said that among China economists, “no one” found Li’s purported comments surprising.

“I mean, we’ve been told this many, many, many times by government officials,” he said. “There’s a lot of problems in China. One is that there’s a perception that the numbers have political incentives embedded in them.” China calculates monthly and annual data far more quickly than France, a much smaller economy believed to have much higher quality data, he noted.

“So you sort of wonder how they’re able to do it more quickly than the French,” he said. “That leaves all sorts of questions open.”

Economists have long questioned the reliability of numbers provided by local government officials whose career trajectory depends on the performance of their region, creating incentives to make figures look better than the reality. Toshiya Tsugami, a former Japanese diplomat who now heads a China business consultancy, blames a governmental structure which gives local authorities broad administrative powers but reserves control over assignments and promotions for the centre.

“The personnel ratings are done based mostly on each leader’s performance, and what is most given weight is to what extent each local leader has developed his/her local economy, for which purpose the most used measure is GDP,” he said. —AFP

BUSINESS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

Kuwait market indices remain mixed BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week with variance on its indices. The price index closed at 8,092.04 points, up by 0.34 percent from the week before closing, the weighted index decreased by 0.23 percent after closing at 461.81 points, whereas the KSX-15 index closed at 1,067.33 points down by 0.01 percent.

Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover increased by 22.93 percent, compared to the preceding week, reaching K.D 24.44 million, whereas trading volume average was 262.72 million shares, recording increase of 51.31 percent.

The Price Index was able to end the week in the green zone, supported y the random purchasing activities on small-cap stocks of companies with positive financial results for the first half of the current year, whereas the continuous profit collection operations on some blue-chip stocks since a week ago, pushed the Weighted and KSX-15 indices to close in the red zone.

Moreover, the stock market is still considered to be weak in general. Despite the increase in trading values in few daily sessions, it remained to be below the targeted level. Probable reason is the traders conservatism state in waiting for the late announcements of the listed companies first half financial results, and their fear of having defaulted companies’ stocks being stopped from trading, especially that the legal waiting period for declaration is finished by the end of the week.

For the annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 36.36 percent annual gain compared to its closing in 2012, while the weighted index increased by 10.57 percent, and the KSX-15 recorded 5.77 percent increase.

Sectors’ Indices Five of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone, six recorded declines, whereas the Telecommunications sector’s index closed with no change from the week before. Last week’s highest gainer was the Consumer Services sector, achieving 2.61 percent growth rate as its index closed at 1,242.05 points.

Whereas, in the second place, the Consumer Goods sector’s index closed at 1,254.99 points recording 1.78 percent increase. The Real Estate sector came in third place as its index achieved 0.98 percent growth, ending the week at 1,554.41 points. On the other hand, the Health Care sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 2.66 percent to end the week’s activity at 1,164.58 points. The

Insurance sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 1.28 percent, closing at 1,167.51 points, followed by the Technology sector, as its index closed at 1,123.16 points at a loss of 1.21 percent.

Sectors’ Activity The Financial Services sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 501.39 million shares changing hands, representing 47.71 percent of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 32.33 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 339.73 million shares.

On the other hand, the Financial Services sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD37.92 million or 38.78 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Real Estate sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover was KD26.91 million represented 27.53 percent of the total market trading value.

—Prepared by the Studies & Research Department Bayan Investment Co.

US stocks retreat on weak data NEW YORK: US equity markets suffered one of their poorest weeks of 2013 ending Friday, tumbling on the back of uninspiring economic data and troubling earnings reports from Walmart and other retailers. The economic picture that emerged was one of tortoise-like economic growth that might add weight to those who are urging the US Federal Reserve that it is too early to scale back its bond-

buying program. Yet treasury bond markets appeared to conclude that the Fed could indeed soon taper the program-the yield on the 10-year bond rose from last Friday’s 2.58 percent to 2.83 percent at week’s end. The 30-year bond also rose significantly. Analysts cited concerns about higher yields as a factor behind the week’s declines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered two days of triple-

digit losses on the way to shedding 344.04 (2.23 percent) on the week to 15,081.47.

The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 35.59 (2.10 percent) to 1,655.83, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index finished at 3,602.78, 57.32 (1.57 percent) lower.

The Nasdaq in particular got a lift from news that activist investor Carl Icahn took a large stake in Apple and

was pressing the technology icon for a large stock buyback. Apple shares closed the week 10.5 percent higher. A busy week of economic data included a few bright spots, such as a drop in initial jobless claims, which fell to their lowest level in six years.

But most of the other indicators gave markets little reason to smile. US consumer prices increased a scant 0.2 percent in July, while US producer price data was flat in July.

Analysts also rued weak consumer confidence and retail sales, which rose by only 0.2 percent.

“What this week did confirm is that we’re in this very modest growth, very modest inflation period,” said Scott Wren, senior equity analyst at Wells Fargo Advisors.

Adding to the unimpressive data was a spate of earnings reports from leading retailers that showed a consistently frugal global consumer. The world’s biggest retailer, Walmart, led the pack, reporting a 0.3 percent decline in comparable store sales at Walmart US due to higher payroll taxes, high gasoline prices and almost non-existent inflation.

The tough conditions domestically were matched by a meager outlook internationally, prompting Walmart to cut its 2013 financial forecast. “The retail environment remains challenging in the US and our international markets, as customers are cautious in their spending,” said Walmart chief financial officer Charles Holley. The pattern carried to other retailers, such as the high-end Nordstrom, which also cut its full-year forecast, and the more mid-market Kohl’s and Macy’s, which missed analyst expectations and cited “consumers’ continuing uncertainty about spending on discretionary items in the current economic environment.”

Analyst Wren said there is little reason to think consumers will change course quickly given that many continue to work off debt wracked up ahead of the housing bust.

The current low-growth, low inflation environment could “easily” last another two or three years, he said. “You’re not going to get through the aftermath of a gigantic credit bubble in a year or two,” Wren said.

Wren said he was confident that even in the event of a near-term correction, the stock market was on track to appreciate in 2013 and 2014 due to rising economic growth in the US and abroad.

But Michael Gayed, chief investment strategy at Pension Partners, said the week’s jump in bond yields was concerning. He rated the current sentiment “probably the most fragile the market has been all year as far as risk to the downside.”

Gayed said the Fed’s course was difficult to predict, particularly if bond yields continue to rise in the weeks ahead.

“I think the Fed realizes it has to step away,” Gayed said.

“But the problem is even the threat of stepping away has caused a significant rate hike.”

Markets will get another reading on the Fed’s thinking when the central bank Wednesday releases minutes from its most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

Other highlights of the week ahead include new home sales, existing home sales and earnings reports from Home Depot and Hewlett-Packard. — AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

BUSINESS

AWB Egypt reports 7.3% profit growth in H1 2013 NBK subsidiary’s total assets rose to EGP18 billion

VIVA announces winners of Cadillac CTS 2013 ‘Win a car every week’ campaign KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing telecom operator, announced yesterday the winners of the ‘Win a car every week’ campaign. The lucky draw winners were Yana Dahr Snouka, Saud Eid Hathal Alnasaly, Ayman Mayar Salem, Sheikh Ghadeer Pasha, Wasana Mawmany and Rafee Bathny Fatyl who each won a Cadillac CTS 2013.

The winners drawn on 8th July will have until 7th of August 2013 to claim their prize, winners drawn on 15th July 2013 will have until 14th August 2013 to claim their prize, winners drawn on 22nd July 2013 will have until 21st August 2013 and winners drawn on 29th July 2013 will have until 28th August 2013 and winners drawn on 5th August 2013 will have until 4th September 2013 to claim their prize, and winners drawn on 12th August 2013 will have until 11th September 2013 to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will be given to the alternate winner.

VIVA congratulated the lucky winners and invited its customers to participate in the longest on-going campaign of its kind.

With the continuous success this campaign is witnessing, VIVA is keen to further engage its customers and therefore; developed further means to facilitate the process of entering the draw, where the next draw prize will be one car, a Chevrolet Camaro V6 2013.

Entering the draw can be done through one of the following options. The first option is to subscribe with 500 Fils per day giving customers infinite minutes and SMS to any VIVA line. This option entitles the customer to one chance to enter the draw each week.

The second option is to subscribe to the BlackBerry KD3.9 service, which gives customers full and unlimited BlackBerr y

Services. This option provides customers with 7 automatic chances to enter the draw each week.

The third option is to purchase the KD2 prepaid line. Upon activating the line, customers should simply send ‘GO’ to 535, and will be presented with four chances to enter the draw each week.

The fourth option is to recharge for 500fils or more, and this entitles the customer to one chance to enter the draw for every 500fils.

In addition, customers can also enter the draw by subscribing to the 500fils local bundle which presents customers with 60 local minutes per day. This can be done by sending ‘3’ to ‘232’, and entitles the customer to one chance, or by subscribing to the 500fils international SMS bundle, which presents customers with 100 international SMS to any country for the duration of seven days. This also entitles the customer to one chance.

Last but not least, customers who choose to enjoy the prepaid internet service will receive either one chance upon subscribing to the 500fils ‘Surf On’ service, which offers 500 MB for a day, or two chances upon subscribing to KD1 ‘Surf On’ service, which offers 500 MB for five days, automatically upon activation. Customers can also subscribe to more than one of the eight options, increasing their chances each week to win the valuable prizes. In the case a customer does not win, the points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw.

Prepaid customers interested in the full, unlimited, local KD3.9 BlackBerry offer, can send an SMS with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’.

For the full menu of the prepaid offers, send an SMS with the word “GO” to number ‘535’.

KCIC reports KD1.12m in profit for H1 2013 H1 revenues: KD4.52 million, up 5.85% KUWAIT: Kuwait, August 15, 2013 - KCIC, which specializes in investments in domestic demand-driven sectors in Asia, today announced a net profit of KD940,250 for the second quarter of 2013, bringing the Company’s earnings for the first half of 2013 to KD1.12 million.

KCIC registered in Q2 earnings per share of 1.32 fils and a return on equity of 1.04 percent.

Total revenues for the second quarter reached KD3.23 million, which resulted in total revenues of KD4.52 million for the first half of the year, a 5.85 percent increase in comparison to the first half of last year when the company reported revenues of KD4.27 million.

H1 2013 milestones: 1. KCIC continued to outper form Asian Equity benchmarks across most strategies 2. The Company developed its client infrastructure to allow for the scaling of the business 3. Marketing efforts broadened to include Asian clients 4. Developed timely and informed economic research on our target countries and markets.

KCIC Vice Chairman and CEO, Ahmad Abdlatif Al-Hamad, said, “Although the first half of the year witnessed increasing volatility and high uncertainty in global economies and in turn global markets, KCIC remains committed to maintain its focus on high quality investment opportunities in robust businesses across the region. As a testament to this, we managed to complete a funding round for one of our flagship investments during one of the most difficult fund-raising periods. We remain optimistic that Asia will continue to evolve towards establishing its internal markets which will transform their economies to a more sustainable growth model.”

Listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, KCIC invests in domestic demand-driven sectors in Asia, namely energy, real estate, healthcare, infrastructure, and

financial services. KCIC is an investment company founded by an Amiri Decree with a capital of KD80 million and a mandate to invest in domestic demand-driven sectors in Asia. KCIC is the Parent Company of a Group that includes Asiya Investments Dubai Limited and Asiya Investments Hong Kong Limited. Asiya Investments Dubai Limited serves as the marketing and investment advisory hub for KCIC. Asiya Investments Hong Kong Limited is fully equipped with a skillful and experienced investment team which has further demonstrated KCIC’s commitment to the Asian markets. The publicly-listed Group employs a team of Asia specialists and currently manages assets in excess of $500 million. Key shareholders include the Kuwait Investment Authority (Kuwait’s Sovereign Wealth Fund), National Investments Company (one of the leading investment banks in the Middle East), and Alghanim Industries (one of the largest conglomerates in the Middle East).

Ahmad Abdlatif Al-Hamad

KUWAIT: Al-Watany Bank of Egypt (AWB), the subsidiary of National Bank of Kuwait Group (NBK) in Egypt, reported net profits of EGP 173.2 million in the first half of 2013 compared with EGP 161.4 million in the same period last year, an increase of 7.3 percent year-on-year.

As of end of June 2013, AWB’s total assets increased to EGP 18.0 billion from EGP 17.4 billion at the end of June 2012. Customers’ deposits grew 19 percent y-o-y to EGP 15.1 billion. ROA increased to 1.93 percent compared with 1.86 percent a year earlier, and ROE increased to 21.55 percent from 20.09 percent.

Isam Al-Sager, NBK Group Deputy CEO and AWB Chairman said that “AWB’s strong results despite the difficult operating environment in Egypt and the region reflect NBK group’s conservative approach and affirms the success of its regional expansion.”

“AWB has once again proved its ability to post strong profits despite the unfavorable and challenging situation in Egypt, which reflects the bank’s strength and solid financial position,” added Al Sager. “AWB has been one of the fastest growing banks in Egypt over the past few years and is moving forward with its strategy to strengthen its position in the Egyptian market.”

Yasser Hassan, AWB’s Managing Director, said that “the bank has been able to maintain its strong performance despite the tough operating environment. As a subsidiary of NBK Group, one of the safest banks in the world, AWB has benefited from the flight-to-safety, which is reflected in the growth in customers’ deposits and other balance sheet indicators.”

AWB, a member of NBK Group, was established in 1980 and has a large branch network situated at strategic locations within the various Egyptian governorates and cities, including Cairo. NBK has the widest banking presence with around 170 branches worldwide. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including London, Paris, Geneva, New York and Singapore, as well as China (Shanghai). Meanwhile, regional coverage extends to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

NBK continues to collectively enjoy the highest ratings among all banks in the Middle East from the three international rating agencies; Moody’s, Fitch Ratings and Standard and Poor’s.

The Bank’s ratings are supported by its high capitalization, prudent lending policies, and its disciplined approach to risk management, in addition to its highly recognized and very stable management team.

NBK Group Deputy CEO Isam Al-Sager

AWB Managing Director Yasser Hassan

Epicor recognized as 2013 sales achiever by Microsoft DUBAI: Epicor Software Corporation, a global leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations, yesterday announced that it has won the 2013 Microsoft Sales Achievement for Services - Support. Epicor was selected among a global field of top Microsoft partners for achieving exceptional sales results in the fiscal year 2013. Winners and finalists of the 2013 Sales Achievement program were announced at the 2013 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

“It is an honor to receive this recognition from Microsoft for outstanding achievement and execution,” said Erik Johnson, vice president, technology strategy for Epicor. “This is a testament to our long-standing technology innovator relationship with Microsoft and our ability to evaluate, understand and leverage emerging tech-

nologies to bring next-generation enterprise software solutions to our global customers that promote business agility to drive greater success.”

“Partners that won this year’s sales achievers recognition have demonstrated extraordinary commitment in transforming their businesses to support customers worldwide with Microsoft technology,” said Chris Atkinson, vice president, Partner Growth and Enablement, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft. “As customers’ needs evolved, these partners made the right investments to grow their businesses with Microsoft and are now well positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in fiscal year 2014 and beyond.” The inaugural Sales Achievement recognition acknowledges Microsoft partners that have achieved substantial results during the

past year. Selected companies are recognized for contributions and dedication to achieving growth together.

Epicor Software Corporation is a global leader delivering inspired business software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail and services industries. With over 40 years of experience serving small, midmarket and larger enterprises, Epicor has more than 20,000 customers in over 150 countries. Epicor enterprise resource planning (ERP), retail management software, supply chain management (SCM), and human capital management (HCM) enable companies to drive increased efficiency and improve profitability. With a history of innovation, industry expertise and passion for excellence, Epicor provides the single point of accountability that local, regional and global businesses demand.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer for euro-zone Recession over, but recovery’s roots still shallow LONDON: The cheery freeze frame of the euro-zone economy last quarter is no guarantee of a happy ending to what has been a horror movie for most of the single currency bloc since the onset of the great financial crisis. The return to growth, albeit of just 0.3 percent between the first and second quarters, is unalloyed good news for Europe and the world after 18 months of contraction.

But the recovery is vulnerable to external shocks and too weak yet to make a difference to two of the major issues hanging over the eurozone: record unemployment and the sustainability of the area’s public and private debt. Quarterly growth of 0.7 percent in Germany and 0.5 percent in France, the bloc’s two biggest economies, was faster on an annualized basis than in the United States, whose economy expanded 1.7 percent in the second quarter using that calculation.

Context counts, however.

Inflation-adjusted US output is about 5 percent higher than it was in the first quarter of 2008.

Households have acted swiftly to pay down debt and the housing market is enjoying a brisk upswing.

Growth has responded, even if the recovery has been weak by historical standards. The euro-zone, by contrast, is still in catch-up mode.

Gross domestic product remains 3 percent below the peak reached five years ago and, on current

trends, is unlikely to regain that high water mark until the middle of 2015 at the earliest, according to Jefferies, an investment bank, in London.

Mirroring the unused resources in the economy, unemployment is a record high 12.1 percent. “Europe is a long way behind the US in the cycle. We had a decent Q2 - better than expected, for sure - but it’s still very early days,” said Marchel Alexandrovich, a Jefferies economist.

LOOKING UP AT LAST Some of the factors boosting growth, such as the end of a hard winter giving way to a buoyant tourism season, are inherently fleeting. A build-up in inventories which accounted for 40 percent of France’s growth in the second quarter - will turn out to be a dead weight if final demand does not improve. But the benefits of the European Central Bank’s near-zero interest rates and generous liquidity provision are gradually rippling through the economy. The drag from higher taxes and government spending cuts is fading. Global uncertainty is easing somewhat as China stabilizes and economists pencil in faster US growth in 2014.”This is what is allowing the region to exit recession. The situation is not great, but it is no longer as bad as it was last year,” Greg Fuzesi, an economist with JP Morgan, wrote. Ebrahim Rahbari

with Citi in London said he was reasonably optimistic that the eurozone would be able to keep posting quarterly growth. “No matter how bad things are, you really do reach a trough at some point unless you are continuously hit by bad shocks. And we haven’t been hit by major shocks in Europe for a while,” he said. “With all of this slack, an economy should be able to generate clearly positive growth at this point in the cycle.”

For many, however, it will still feel like recession. That is because firms have plenty of spare capacity and so

will be able to meet rising demand without hiring more workers - or investing in new plant - until this socalled output gap has been closed.

Productivity will rise before employment does. “It’s not enough for growth to be positive to create jobs.

Output growth has to exceed productivity growth. We’re in an environment where firms are trying to become more efficient, so even the growth pattern we see right now does not give you much promise of unemployment coming down,” Rahbari said. —Reuters

US energy companies eye Brazil shale gas: US BRASILIAL US energy companies want to use their experience to help Brazil tap into its vast shale gas reserves, US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said on a visit to the Brazilian capital.

Studies show that one-tenth of the world’s known shale gas reserves are in Brazil, and if it decides to exploit them the South American giant-currently a gas importer-could be the world’s second natural gas producer. Shale gas production could be viable only by 2023 assuming that investments begin now, a representative of the state-run National Petroleum Agency said in May. The United States “clearly today has the most experience in this area,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said at a press conference Friday in Brasilia after a meeting with Brazilian industrialists. Shale gas is extracted by a controversial technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking has unlocked an energy boom in the United States, but has been banned in other countries over fears of environmental damage. “It really has enormous impact and then when you come to Brazil, with its potential resource in gas, of course our companies are very interested in participating,” Moniz said. —AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

BUSINESS Gulf Bank announces winners of 1st VISA credit card Campaign

ABK holds annual general assembly meeting to elect two additional board members KUWAIT: ABK held its ordinary General Assembly Meeting at its Head Office yesterday at 10 am. This General Assembly was held for a specific purpose, which is the election of two additional board members to complete the total number of board members to nine. ABK obtained the approval of the Central Bank of Kuwait for the following nominees: 1). Khaled Abdallah Mohamed Al-Meshari 2) Prasana Hardicar 3) Azzam Abdul-Aziz Ibrahim Al-Fulaij

The agenda of the General Assembly Meeting included just one item: “Election of two additional members to the Board of Directors of Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait for the current term of three years (2013 - 2015) to complete the number of the board members to nine.”

The accumulated voting procedures were carried out as per the Articles of Association of ABK and in the presence of the representatives of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Kuwait Clearing Co. After counting the tally of votes, the accumulated voting results were as follows:

Prasana Hardicar (representative of Behbehani Investment Co), was the first winner, and Khaled Abdallah Mohamed Al-Meshari was the second winner.

DSI net profit, revenues surge 53.9%, 71.8% in H1 2013 Order backlog closes at AED 11.7bn DUBAI: Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI), a regional market leader in the integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of General Contracting, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing

senting a 58.1 percent growth compared to AED 7.4 billion recorded during the same period last year.

Selling, General & Administrative Expenses (SG&A) as percentage to revenues fell by 4.2 percent from 9.4 percent to 5.2 percent compared to H1 2012 and net operating cash flow generated during the first half of 2013 was AED 83 million.

Quarterly Net Profit increased by 63.2 percent closing at AED 52.2 million compared to AED 32 million recorded in Q2 2012.

Q2 2013 Revenues nearly doubled surging to AED 1.340 billion compared to AED 717.3 million achieved in Q2 2012 .EPS for the same period closed at AED 0.0192 representing a Year on Year increase of 60 percent. Commenting on the results, Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI said, “We have successfully managed to deliver on our growing backlog in the first half of the year. The consolidated Net income and Revenues recorded during H1 2013 constitute 100 percent and 77.3 percent of the respective results achieved in fiscal 2012 ended December 31st.”

“We are well on track in achieving our growth objectives for the year. KSA and the UAE continue ●

Khaldoun Tabari - CEO of Drake & Scull International (MEP), Water and Power, Rail and Oil and Gas reported today total Revenues of AED 2.567 billion and total Net Profit of AED 114.9 million for the first half of 2013 ended June 30th, representing a top line and bottom line growth of 71.8 percent and 53.9 percent respectively, compared to the first half of 2012.

Earnings per Share (EPS) for the first half of the year stood at AED 0.044 indicating a 56.1 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) reached AED 189.9 million compared to AED 107 million indicating improved operational efficiency.

Total project awards year to date reached AED 5.2 billion in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Jordan and India. The total Order Backlog reached a record high closing at AED 11.7 billion as of the 30th of June repre-

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

to be the key drivers to our top line growth. Our recent contract awards in the Jordanian market and the on-going projects in Southern Iraq will contribute to the bottom line growth in the second half of the year as productivity on project sites improve.”

“Operations in Qatar, Kuwait, Algeria and India are steady with sustained margins across all our business streams.”

“The results of the first half of the year are a testimony of our commitment to deliver growth and solid quality of earnings by increasing revenue growth while improving our operational margins and reducing our SG&A.” Khaldoun Tabari added.

“Our operational cash flow has substantially improved compared to H1 2012 as we remain focused and determined on improving collections and enhancing our cash conversion cycle to improve our working capital and deliver on our backlog.”

“We remain optimistic on the prospects of the second half of the year across all our markets and we expect to continue with the same momentum with additional emphasis on improving liquidity and sustaining profitability.”

Consolidated Net Profit stood at AED 114.9 million in H1 2013 compared to AED 74.6 million in H1 2012 representing a 53.9 percent YoY growth H1 2013 Revenues reached AED 2.567 billion compared to AED 1.494 billion in H1 2012 representing a 71.8 percent YoY growth EPS reached AED 0.0437 indicating a 56.1 percent YoY growth SG&A as percentage to revenues fell by 4.2 percent from 9.4 percent to 5.2 percent compared to H1 2012 EBITDA reached AED 189.9 million compared to AED 107 million representing an increase of 77.5 percent compared to H1 2012 Total Backlog closed at AED 11.7 billion as of June 30th 2013 compared to AED 7.4 billion recorded during the same period last year Net Operating Cash flow was AED 83 million in H1 2013 Q2 2013 Net Profit reached AED 52.2 million compared to AED 32 million recorded in Q2 2012 Q2 2013 revenues reached AED 1.340 billion compared to AED 717.3 million achieved in Q2 2012 EPS closed at AED 0.0192 representing an increase of 60 percent compared to Q2 2012

Globe Express Services features in Logistics Mideast’s Power List 2013 MD Mustapha Kawam ranks 14th among execs Globe Express Services, one of the world’s top 100 global logistics providers, recently featured in the 2013 Edition of Logistics Middle East magazine’s Power List, an annual listing of the most powerful logistics executives in the region. The company’s Managing Director for Gulf States, Mustapha Kawam, ranked 14th in the Middle East, up 8 places from his 22nd position in 2012.

Kawam’s exceptional rise among the ranks reflects the dynamic growth of Globe Express Services (GES) over the past few years. In 2012 the Group completed a new state of art warehouse in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone and opened a new Dammam Terminal Yard in Saudi Arabia. Kawam has been a driving force behind GES’ success, helping establish GES Kuwait and further expanding the company’s presence in the Arabian Gulf.

Commenting on the recognition,

Mustapha Kawam said, “It is indeed an honor for me to be ranked among the region’s top logistics executives and to lead an extremely dedicated and hard working team at Globe Express Services.

It is the invaluable contributions of the team that continue to elevate GES among the world’s leading logistics

players. Last year in particular was very memorable for us as we opened new key facilities and further strengthened our position in the region’s highly competitive logistics sector, and we are confident of ending 2013 on a very positive note as well.”

Globe Express Services is a full-service, global logistics services provider.

Out-of-gauge services are a core offering of the company’s Project Logistics and Management portfolio. Through its Logistics and Compliance Consulting division, the company offers expertise in creative warehouse design, distribution, supply chain execution and material handling solutions for leading retail, wholesale, and consumer product manufacturing companies. GES’s consultancy service also covers selection and implementation of supply chain execution software, including comprehensive systems for warehouse management,

asset management, transportation management, yard management and labor management.

Globe Express Services offers a robust, well-rounded suite of logistics services to companies doing business in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and around the world. Since 1974, we have enabled our clients’ supply chain success through ocean & air freight forwarding, overland transport, Customs brokerage & compliance consulting, cargo consolidation, warehousing & distribution, specialty cargo handling, and project logistics. Our state-of-the-art technology platform provides outstanding visibility, flexibility and customization potential, while our highly trained personnel share a commitment to providing the ultimate customer service. For more information, please visit www.globeexpress.com.

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced the winners of its first VISA summer campaign giving cardholders the chance to win deluxe travel packages to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, or prizes of Gulf Rewards redeemable points. The draw recently took place at the Bank’s Mubarak Al-Kabeer branch.

The lucky winners of the Travel package to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi were: Reem Ezzeddine Mohmoud Al-Hassan, Mohammed Abdulmordy Bayoumi Hassan, Majdi Al-Aghbar, Adnan Ahmed Almas, Salah Abdul Wahab Hussein Baqer, Thai Quoc Vu, Elham Hussein Mohammed Akbar and Wabel Yousef Abdullatif Al-Busairi.

Winners of 250,000 Gulf Rewards Points were: Kamal Mustafa Alsultan, Najeeb Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Fulaij, and Mariam Khalid Al Hassan. In addition, Dalal Hassan Abdulla Mahmeed, Jassem Mohammed Hussein Bin Essa, Ali Hmoud Mansour AlHajri and James Nelson Porter were the winners of the 100,000 Gulf Rewards Points.

Gulf Bank’s VlSA summer campaign will last until 5 September, with the second draw scheduled on 9 September 2013. All

Gulf Bank VISA credit card holders will automatically enter a draw to win a host of exciting prizes.

To find out more about Gulf Bank’s latest promotions, customers can visit the Bank’s bilingual website www.e -gulfbank.com. Customers can also visit one of Gulf Bank ’s 56 branches, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Canon Europe supports WWF International expedition to remote Laptev Sea in Siberia LONDON: Canon Europe, world-leader in imaging solutions, is sponsoring a WWF expedition to the Laptev Sea in Siberia as part of its role as Conservation Imaging Partner of WWF International. This is the second WWFArctic expedition in 12 months, following a successful research trip entitled ‘Sailing to Siku - Voyage to the Last Ice Area’ in the summer of 2012.

WWF International is mounting the expedition to the Taimyr Peninsula in the Laptev Sea, one of the least explored areas of the Russian Arctic, from 13-26 August. Its aim is to determine, by collecting the required genetic material, if there are genetically-distinct Laptev populations of walrus and polar bear, or whether the animals in the Laptev Sea are related to one or more of the adjacent populations. The answer to this question is required for development of effective status monitoring systems for both species and to determine the actions needed for their protection.

Alongside the scientists on board, Russian wildlife photographer Alexey Ebel will be participating in the expedition to capture the expedition through images.

Alexey Ebel is sponsored by Canon for this expedition, and will be using Canon camera and lens equipment.

“As the latest chapter of our partnership,

we’re proud to support WWF International on this latest Arctic mission,” commented Cyp da Costa, Brand Communications Director, Canon Europe. “Imaging has a powerful role to play in scientific research, and on the Laptev Sea expedition Canon imaging equipment and expertise will help WWF record and promote awareness of the state of the environment and climate change.”

Clive Tesar, Head of Communications and External Relations WWF-Global Arctic Programme commented, “Canon’s support is vital to helping us crack this mystery of whether the animals in the Laptev are related to surrounding populations. It’s also a great opportunity to share this almost unknown part of the world through photography and video, making the Arctic real to people worldwide.”

Canon Europe has been a conservation partner of WWF International since 1998.

The continued partnership demonstrates Canon Europe’s dedication to a sustainable future in which humans live in harmony with the natural world. The partnership includes support for a range of initiatives beyond Arctic expeditions, including continued sponsorship of the WWF-Canon Global Photo Network and photography training for WWF employees.

Arabtec Holding reports 114 percent rise in net profit for H1 2013 DUBAI: Arabtec Holding PJSC (the “Company” or “Arabtec”), a leading MENA construction company specializing in complex projects,has reported a net profit of AED 155 million for the first half of 2013, up 114 percent from a year earlier, driven by strong performance in its Saudi Arabia and UAE operations and continued realignment of its businesses.

First Half 2013Key Points H1 2013 net profit up 114 percent to AED155 million driven by strong performance of its UAE and Saudi Arabia operations and continued realignment of businesses for future growth ● EBITDA rose 48 percent in H1 2013 to AED 363 million ● SG&A expenses declined by 16 percent to AED 239 million due to cost savings and reallocation of overheads to the delivery organisation ● Backlog rising by AED 7.3billion (net) to AED 24.4billion due to significant increase in new project awards and geographic expansion in H1 2013 ● AED2.4 billion raised to fund growth strategy through the completion of a rights issuein July 2013 (“Rights Issue”) ● Good progress made on implementation of strategyacross the business.

Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, Managing Director and CEO of Arabtec Holding commented: “Our businesses have delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2013, particularly in the UAE and in Saudi Arabia, and our results are a clear indicator of the health of the industry and the potential for sustained growth in the medium term.”

“We have realigned our businesses to ensure that we are properly organized for further growth in accordance with our five-year strategy. In doing so, we have already achieved measurable efficiencies and cost-savings. Our financial position is very strong indeed, with healthy cash flow generation and the successful conclusion of our AED 2.4 billion Rights Issue which was 30 percent oversubscribed by our shareholders. All of this is supported by our geographic expansion and growing backlog, which now stands at AED 24.4 billion, giving us visibility over our earnings for the coming years.”

“All these positive developments are precursors to a strong performance in 2013 and beyond, which will start to show enhanced returns from 2014 onward ●

since profits are tied to progress of work. We expect that this substantial backlog will have significant positive impact on the Company’s financial position and profitability during the next five-year period as well as in the long term.” “Our focus now is on refining our project management organisation and execution platform in order to help deliver more value and stronger results for our clients and stakeholders. Our ultimate aim will be on turning Arabtec into one of the most sought after shares in the region, providing superior returns to shareholders.”

Financial Review Net profit attributable to the Ownersof the Parent grew by 114 percent to AED155 million in H1 2013 compared to H1 2012. The Company reported gross revenues of AED3.1 billion in H1 2013and AED1.6 billion in Q2 2013, up 20 percent and 21 percent respectively, compared to the same period in2012. The continuing strong performance of the Company’s operations in the UAE and in Saudi Arabia, as well as the realignment of Arabtec’s businesses, have contributed significantly to the Company’s enhanced financial performance in H1 2013. Arabtec has maintained double digit gross margins with 12 percent in H1 2013 and 11 percent in Q2 2013. The stable double-digit margins reflect a return togrowth in the construction industry in the Middle East, as the region emerges strongly from the global financial crisis.

The Company is continuing to focus on the realignment of its businesses to enhance efficiency.

Earlier in 2013, Arabtec launched cost savings measures to optimise operational efficiency and project profitability. The measures employed have started to reflect positively on the results with the selling, general and administrative expenses(“SG&A”)down AED 45million or 16 percent in H1 2013 and down AED 44million or 29 percent in Q2 2013 compared to the same period last year. The reduction in SG&A in Q2 2013 is partly due to the reallocation of related overheads to the project delivery organisation within the Company to improve the utilisation of resources and provide a more accurate indication of project profitability. On a pro forma, like-for-like basis compared to 2012, SG&A fell 7 percent and 13 percent in H1 2013 and Q2 2013, respectively. H1 2013 SG&A margin was 8 percent compared to 11 percentfor the same period last year.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

technology

Is this quadcopter a drone for the masses?

Drone enthusiasts consider Phantom ‘major milestone’

PALO ALTO: In this file photo, an employee drives a Google vehicle around Palo Alto, Calif. —AP

Google Maps cam-toting teams map US beaches PANAMA CITY BEACH: Gregg Matthews fancies himself a lumbering Star Wars character of sorts as he treks along a popular Florida beach. He wears stout hiking sandals on the squishy sand and uses ski poles for balance as he shoulders a 40-pound backpack, a blue-orb with 15 cameras extending over his head. “It attracts a lot of attention,” Matthews laughed about all of his gear, while trodding along Panama City Beach.

Matthews and his trekking partner, Chris Officer, are contracted through Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency, to gather images for Google Maps. All told, they have already walked more than 200 miles of Florida beachfront, each logging up to 7.5 miles a day with the camera orb. Each camera on the orb takes a shot every 2.5 seconds as they walk.

Their quest: to create panoramic views to place online of every Florida beach - similar to the internet giant’s Street View - which has taken photos of everything from ordinary homes and businesses to worldfamous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State building.

Visit Florida has partnered with Google in the effort to map all 825 miles of Florida’s beaches. And for good reason: tourism is Florida’s top industry, accounting for 91.4 million visitors last year and $71.8 billion in spending that employed more than 1 million in the state. The project began in late July when Matthews and Officer began walking from the Alabama-Florida border.

After mapping Florida Panhandle beaches, they will hopscotch over to Florida’s Atlantic coast and move south. Eventually, another camera team will take over, curling past Miami’s South Beach and other hotspots aiming to finish the project sometime in November.

Google has a similar project with mappers trekking the trails of the Grand Canyon.

But the Florida project is the first large-scale beach mapping project. The mapping teams were contracted through Visit Florida.

Agency spokeswoman Kathy Torian said the project is entirely funded with public money and Visit Florida budgeted $126,000 for a private contractor to oversee the production of images to be sent to Google.

The mappers are paid a straight fee of $27 per mile, but no expenses, she said, with the walkers covering all of their own transportation and accommodations. The only money Google will pay is $1,000 at the end to buy images from the state, she said. For Matthews, $27 a mile is worth it. And he’s even shed 15 pounds in the first three weeks alone.

“It is enough to cover expenses but mostly it is fun and probably cheaper than a gym for me,” Matthews told inquisitive sunbathers as he passed them on his Panama City Beach walk. The project could be a boon for beach towns around Florida in their competition to draw tourists from other states and countries.

Susan Estler, vice president of marketing for the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Google’s beach view will let potential visitors see the clear turquoise waters and gleaming white sand - an enticement to any and all to check out the scene in person. “Certainly Panama City Beach is known for its beautiful beaches

and having that available with Google is just the perfect way of presenting the beach,” she said.

But Matthews said it is the people who will never set foot on a Florida beach that he thinks about the most when he is out walking.

“I enjoyed most the desolate stretches of unpopulated islands where literally all I heard for hours was waves and birds,” he said. “This is a way to bring those experiences to people who for whatever reason health, money, whatever - will never be able to get here.”

Matthews and Officer have seen dolphins frolicking, sea turtles, sting rays, even alligators. On a remote bird-sanctuary beach, a shore bird even dive-bombed the Google cameras. Already, the duo has trekked past thousands of vacationers splashing in warm Gulf waters or relaxing on powdery white beaches in such destinations as Pensacola, Destin and Panama City.

“I’ve had a couple of people offer me a beer.

Unfortunately, I don‘t take it because I’m kind of in the middle of a workout,” Officer said.

The men trade off carrying the camera pack - usually, one will take the morning shift and the other the afternoon. Their heft includes a battery pack that provides up to six hours of power for the cameras. Pictures, once taken, are uploaded to camera hard drives. When the photos are eventually posted - probably next spring - online viewers will be able to see panoramic images from any spot the teams walked.

“It is pretty ground breaking. It is really cool to know that our work is going to contribute to people being able to see different beaches all over the world,” Officer said. The two will finish mapping the Panhandle soon and then map about 100 miles along the east coast until they hand off duties to another two-person team. For Matthews, the toughest part of the job has been the blisters on his feet. He began by walking barefoot, but switched to hiking sandals and neoprene socks after the blisters set in.

Officer has walked barefoot the entire time.

Using the special socks and converted ski poles to balance the load, Matthews stays fairly comfortable during his daily five-to-seven-mile beach walks. Though both are tanned - not burned - they wear hats and protective gear against the blistering sun. “You look hot in all that,” a young girl splashing in the surf told Matthews as he walked past on Panama City Beach. “Yes, that’s why I get in the water a lot. It helps,” he responded.

The finished beach maps will include views of some small barrier islands, accessible only by boat, and glimpses of breathtaking mansions tucked away on exclusive stretches of beach. But the maps will not include some sections of military-owned beaches in the Panhandle that authorities restricted because of security concerns.

Matthews said he has heard other concerns from beachgoers worried about having their bikini-clad bodies captured on the beach views on Google maps - Street View once caught a Miami woman standing naked in her front yard. But Matthews said any faces will be too blurry to recognize. —AP

Facebook to test mobile payments service NEW YORK: Facebook plans to test a mobile payments service that lets users make purchases inside mobile applications using payment information they have added to their account on the social network. Facebook Inc said Thursday that it is working on a “very small test” and the company says there is no set schedule for making the service available to users. The service would use payment information that shoppers store on Facebook to automatically complete checkout forms of certain mobile apps. Then, the app would process the purchase. Spokeswoman Tera Randall said in an e-mailed statement that Facebook has a “great relationship with PayPal, and this product is simply to test how we can help our app partners provide a more simple commerce experience.”

The test, she added, won’t involve moving payment processing “away from an app’s current payments provider, such as PayPal.” Nonetheless, shares of PayPal’s owner, eBay Inc. declined on news of the potential competition. The stock closed down $1.05, or 1.9 percent, at $53.18. Facebook’s stock closed down 9 cents at $36.56. Forrester Research analyst Denee Carrington thinks Facebook will face a challenge in offering mobile payments even though the company has been building up its database of users’ credit cards. “Consumers want safe, seamless and convenient mobile payments and there are a growing number of competitors that consumers trust more - such as PayPal, Visa (V.me) and others,” Carrington said in an e-mailed statement. —AP

SIMRISHAMN: Unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, are revolutionizing warfare. Now, some of that technology is coming home from the war, to amuse us and give us an aerial perspective on our surroundings. I’ve been trying out a helicopter-type drone called the Phantom this summer. It’s been an eye-opener in many ways. It’s easy to see these agile, relatively stable aircraft being put to a number of uses, from aerial photography to package delivery - at least once the dangers can be managed and the legal issues worked through.

The video camera on the phantom also lets me see in a new way a patch of Swedish countryside that I’ve been to every year since I was a child. It wasn’t a huge epiphany, but it was interesting to see a well-known place from a completely new angle.

The $700 Phantom, made by a Chinese company called DJI, is at the forefront of bringing drone technology to the masses.

Roughly a foot in diameter, the four-propeller craft is sold as a complete unit with only minimal assembly required. This hasn’t been the norm in the industry. The Phantom could be to drones what the Apple II was to computing more than three decades ago - offering one of the first complete, integrated PCs. In any case, some drone enthusiasts consider the Phantom a major milestone. The Phantom doesn’t come with a built-in camera, but it does have a holder for a GoPro action camcorder, which is what I used. These cameras cost about $200.

Remote-control aircraft have been around for decades. What’s different this time around? First, the aircraft are much easier to fly, thanks to battery technology, electronics and GPS. The Phantom uses a GPS chip to stay steady in the air, even in a wind, and can stay up for nearly ten minutes on a single charge of its battery, which uses the same energydense technology as smartphones.

The second revolution is “first-person view,” or FPV. That’s when the user can see out of the drone’s camera as it’s flying, freeing the user to send the aircraft out of eyesight and making it easier to capture good video. The military uses advanced FPV to keep drones on patrol over Afghanistan for hours, thousands of miles away from their “pilots.” It vastly expands the range and usefulness of remote-controlled aircraft. It also expands the amount of mischief you can cause with them, from spying to eggdropping.

The Phantom is not equipped for FPV out of the box, and I didn’t try any of the $200-plus kits that are available. I had to keep my eyes on the drone and could examine the captured video only after the aircraft was safely back on the ground. This was the drone experience “lite,” but it was an intriguing introduction.

So where to try this thing? In New York City, where I live, that’s a tough question. The city parks don’t allow flying machines of any kind without permits, and that’s probably a good thing. The Phantom would hurt if it crashed into you, and the spinning propeller blades could cause real damage to your eyes.

Outside major cities, the Federal Aviation

Administration allows remote-control aircraft as long as they’re flown for non-commercial purposes, stay below 400 feet and away from “real” aircraft. A new law passed last year will make it easier to get a license for commercial and government drone use by 2015.

In any case, I happened to be heading on vacation to the Swedish countryside, so that’s where I flew it. On my first try, the four propellers spun up, and the Phantom jumped into the air in a stiff breeze, which it seemed unable or unwilling to counteract. To prevent it from flying away, I brought it down quickly - too quickly. It lost a propeller, never to be found again, as it cartwheeled over the turf.

Luckily, it ships with replacements.

The second flight went much better. The drone hovered nicely, and I got the hang of the controls up, down, left, right, spin around. The drone worked

flying low. They came out well, except that the vibration of the propellers causes the image to jiggle in waves, left to right across the screen. There are camera-mounts available that are supposed to minimize this effect. You certainly want to get rid of it if you’re using the video for any professional purpose.

Though it may be a groundbreaking drone in terms of accessibility, the Phantom still feels like a first-generation product, one that enthusiasts will love but rank amateurs will be baffled by. The flight computer is smart, but the remote is a “dumb,” conventional model that doesn’t receive any information from the drone. Instead, the drone communicates things like GPS signal strengths and the need for compass calibration through three colored LEDs on the airframe. The user is supposed to watch them blinking, then match up the patterns with the manual. For instance, six green flashes means the sen-

This photo provided by DJI North America shows the Phantom drone. —AP well for most the following 20-odd flights, but it would still occasionally dart off in a random direction right from the take-off, just as it did the first time, forcing an emergency “landing.”

The airframe proved very sturdy, but the propellers were getting scrubbed pretty hard in these crashes. I had to install a set of plastic propeller guards, costing $15. I consider this a must-have accessory, one I would have liked to see in the original package.

Once, I sent the drone straight up to see how far it could go. I stopped it when I could hardly make it out anymore. Based on the camera footage, I estimate the altitude at about 1,000 feet. It could have gone higher, but I feared losing control of it because I couldn’t see it, or feared running out of battery power on the descent.

The more interesting videos were captured when

sors are out of whack, but a continuous string of green flashes means it wants to record a “home” point. This is not a friendly, human-centric way to communicate.

The Phantom was a lot of fun to fly, but as soon as I wanted to record some really interesting video, it failed me. I wanted to take it up over a rare gathering of extended family and then record the sun rising over some ancient megaliths the next day. But the drone started spinning uncontrollably around its axis, rendering it useless. This may be a calibration issue that I could deal with by connecting the internal flight computer to my Windows PC, but I haven’t gotten there. It’s another illustration of how the Phantom is still more of a hobbyist product than a true consumer product. Still, it was fun while it lasted, and it points to more fun ahead, with friendlier drones. —AP

No catch for students in shark tagging study ISLAMORADA: Sharks abound in the waters off Florida. But not on this day at this particular spot off the Keys as some ‘young scientists’ are on watch for them. About a dozen high school students - guests of the University of Miami’s marine research program went aboard the vessel Curt-A-Sea. Their mission: to help scientists capture sharks, measure them, take blood and conduct other tests before tagging them so they can be tracked.

The sharks would then be released back into the ocean.

Students including 14-year-old Kyle Truesdell, kissed chunks of fish, placed the bait on 10 weighted hooks and waited. And waited. And waited some more. For six hours. But on this day, no sharks were biting. Catherine Macdonald, lab manager for the university’s R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program, has been tagging sharks for 10 years. Tuesday’s trip was her first shutout. Although some students got seasick or stung by jellyfish while swimming, Macdonald tried to make it a learning experience.

“If there are no sharks, there is a reason for it,” she said. “Whether it’s a change in barometric pressure, the presence of all these jellyfish or it’s the water temperature, I don’t really know. But the more days we have like this the better able we are to sort of look at that data and see what it might be telling us.”

And while there were no sharks to catch, organizers hope these students will be hooked on science. Each summer, nearly five dozen students are immersed in a 6-week marine science and technologyprogram with activities at the Miami Museum of Science - the first science museum in the nation to become an Upward Bound Math & Science Center - and other facilities. The students work in teams to complete hands-on research projects.

Leandra Gonzalez wants to be a marine biologist. She said she was disappointed she didn’t get to tag any sharks. The data the students help gather serves to evaluate the size of shark populations and record crucial habitats for those populations.

The information also allows scientists to determine ways to help some of

the shark populations that have declined dramatically to rebuild.

“Everybody thinks (sharks) are these dangerous things in the ocean and that they’re monsters, but they’re mostly misunderstood,” said the 17year-old Gonzalez of Miami, noting most sharks are actually harmless.

Gonzalez and most of the other South Florida students are part of Upward Bound, a federal program that helps teens who would be the

number of shark species are already protected by regulations in both state and federal waters But nowhere are these warm water creatures more misunderstood than in Florida, shark experts say.

More than half of all shark attacks in the U.S. occur in the Sunshine State, according to the International Shark Attack File compiled by the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. The state sees

said, shark sightings have risen because more people are in the ocean and engaged in water sports, such as surfing and sail boating. Those sports, he said, “put people in more danger by putting them closer to sharks.”

But shark populations are beginning to recover - slowly. “It’s not going to happen in my lifetime and that’s just the reality,” Macdonald said of sharks making any measurable recovery in coming decades. “But if I die

ISLAMORADA: This photo provided by Christine Shepard, a sandbar shark is secured on a platform with a water pump in its mouth to push oxygenated ocean water over its gills during a shark tagging expedition off Islamorada in the Florida Keys. —AP first in their family to attend college to succeed at getting into universities. The program aims to steer them toward degrees in science, math ortechnology. The program with the UM shark researchers brings out 1,500 high school students every year for the day-long shark outing.

Shark populations had been in decline worldwide for decades, with overfishing and a decline in coral reefs among culprits blamed. Sharks have slow growth rates, mature late in life and produce few offspring. A

more than 20 attacks per year, mostly puncture wounds and small lacerations. Occasionally there is a worse injury and about one fatality of per decade, on average.

“We are seeing more shark attacks numerically but that is not a new trend,” said George Burgess, director of the museum’s Florida Program for Shark Research. “We see more sharks now than we saw ten or 20 years ago because there are more sharks and more people in the water.” Yet as the human population increases, Burgess

feeling like I contributed to making sure there will be sharks in the ocean 100 years for now, that’s fine by me.”

Indeed, while no sharks were tagged on her student outing, Macdonald said she hopes the teens were encouraged to get involved in science - even if they don’t pursue careers as scientists. “At the end of the day our goal is to provide role models and mentorships to students,” Macdonald said. “Even without sharks, we more or less accomplished that goal.” —AP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

US obesity leveling off, but at high rate WASHINGTON: Obesity levels among adults appear to be holding steady across the United States, adding to recent evidence that the growth rate for US waistlines is slowing, according to an analysis released on Friday.

But within the holding pattern there is a dramatic rise in “extreme” obesity among adults and children.

The annual “F as in Fat” report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that the proportion of adults who are extremely obese - at least 100 pounds (45.4 kilograms) overweight - has climbed over the last three decades from 1.4 percent in the late 1970s to 6.3 percent in 2009-2010. That is about a 350 percent increase, researchers for the health nonprofit groups said. About 5 percent of

children and teenagers are also now severely obese, they added. Rates of extreme obesity were nearly twice as high for women as for men, and were also particularly high for Hispanic boys and black girls. “As long as we continue to see those increases in extreme obesity, I think we need to be worried,” Trust for America’s Health Executive Director Jeffrey Levi told Reuters.

Overall, the report found obesity rates stabilizing across the United States, though at historically high levels with nearly 36 percent of U.S adults obese as of 2010. Only one state, Arkansas, had an increase in obesity levels.

The findings follow this month’s announcement that the obesity rate among low-income children between the ages of 2 and 4 dropped slightly, after 30

years of increases. “After decades of bad news, we’re finally seeing signs of progress,” researchers for the two health groups wrote in Friday’s report that said government efforts to encourage healthier diets and more exercise were paying off. “I’m delighted but not surprised,” said Kelly Brownell, dean of Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. “The collective effect is having an impact and turning things around ... We’ve managed the plateau, we may remain there. We will have to do more to achieve a downturn.”

The analysis, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, underscored America’s continuing battle with weight.

Obesity rates were highest in the South and Midwest in states including Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

In addition to geographic differences, rates were higher for people with less education and lower incomes, it found.

Rates for those ages 45 to 64, the bulk of the so-called Baby Boomer generation, were also a concern as their obesity rates were 30 percent or higher in 41 states. In Alabama and Louisiana, their rate reached 40 percent.

Increasingly heavy men also narrowed the obesity gender gap. “Ten years ago, the obesity rate for women was significantly higher than the rate for men,” 33.4 percent compared to 27.5 percent, researchers wrote. Now, their “rates are essentially the same” at nearly 36 percent, they said. Health experts agreed with the report’s conclusion that various government programs making school lunches healthier, mandating calorie counts on

menus, discouraging soda consumption, integrating physical activity into the daily life and other weight-conscious changes were adding up to widespread behavior changes.

The report recommended strengthening such programs. It said food and beverage companies should market only their healthiest products to children, the nation’s transportation plans should encourage walking and biking, and everyone should be able to buy healthy, affordable foods close to home.

Obesity is commonly measured by body mass index (BMI), a measure of one’s height to weight. A BMI score of 30 or more is defined as obese, while extreme obesity is a score of 40 or higher.

A score of 25 to 29 is considered overweight. — Reuters

Abortion coverage for Congress under US health law

POTTSVILLE: Family members in support of Barbara J. Mancini, 57, of Philadelphia, hold pictures of Joseph Yourshaw, 93, of Pottsville, after Mancini’s preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Justice James K. Reiley in Pottsville, Pa. Mancini is accused of giving a bottle of morphine to her dying father, 93-year-old Joe Yourshaw of Schuylkill County, and has become the latest lightening rod in the nation’s longrunning debate over assisted suicide. — AP

Roche drops India patent for breast-cancer drug NEW DELHI: Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche says it is abandoning a patent for top-selling breast cancer drug Herceptin in the Indian market, paving the way for local drugmakers to make a cheaper generic version.

The decision comes after an Indian health ministry committee earlier this year urged the government to issue a “compulsory licence” that would have obliged Roche to license a domestic generic firm to make a much cheaper copy.

“Roche has come to the conclusion not to pursue” the patent, the company said in an emailed statement to AFP late Friday.

Roche said its decision to relinquish its patent took “into account the strength of the particular rights and the IP (intellectual property) environment in India in general”.

India’s patent laws are tougher than in many other countries as part of attempts to make medicines more affordable to its vast poor population.

This has led to a string of patent setbacks in India for Western drugmakers which have been engaged in a series of intellectual property battles.

Indian patient rights groups accuse Western pharmaceutical firms of greedy pricing that denies impoverished patients in India and across the world access to vital medicines.

India, known as the “pharmacy to the world”, has a huge generic drug industry that turns out cheaper copycat versions of life-saving branded medicines.

The active ingredient of Herceptin, used to treat an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer, was discovered before 1995 when India did not recognise patents.

To join the World Trade Organization, India had to change its law but it did not start recognising drug patents until 2005.

Even then, it gave patent protection only to drugs discovered after 1995.

Roche obtained an Indian patent for Herceptin six years ago that involved a different composition of the drug. But that patent was challenged by India’s Cancer Patients’ Aid Association as insufficiently innovative.

Indian law refuses patents for tweaks to drugs-so-called “evergreening”. “ They (Roche) had seen the writing on the wall, they knew the Herceptin patent had been granted on very shaky legal grounds,” Kalyani Menon Sen, a leading campaigner for affordable medicines, told AFP. Earlier this year, India said in a ruling on Novartis’s leukaemia drug Glivec that no new patent for a reformulations of an old medicine could be granted unless they displayed a “significant therapeutic improvement”.

Like Roche’s Herceptin, Glivec’s main ingredient was discovered before 1995.

Roche did not disclose its price for Trastuzumab, sold under the brand name Herceptin, but said it had a “local pricing policy”.

Patient rights groups said the drug cost 92,000 rupees ($1,490) for a single dose, and called the price “exorbitant” in a country like India. “More than a million women (in India) have been diagnosed (with aggressive HE2+ breast cancer) in the six years that this patent has been in forcewith less than 10 percent able to access the drug,” Sen said.

Roche said Herceptin would remain on sale in India. It has global patents on Herceptin running through 2019. It noted there were “no approved bio-similars (copies) of Herceptin in India” yet but Sen said two Indian firms are working on generic equivalents. — AFP

MOGADISHU: A Somali baby receives a polio vaccine, at the Medina Maternal Child Health center in Mogadishu, Somalia. The UN’s humanitarian affairs office says a polio outbreak in Somalia is spreading. The UN said Friday, that Somalia has 105 confirmed cases of polio, with another 10 cases confirmed in neighbouring Kenya. — AP

WASHINGTON: The politics of the abortion debate are always tricky for lawmakers. They may soon get personal. An attempt to fix a problem with the national health care law has created a situation in which members of Congress and their staffers could gain access to abortion coverage. That’s a benefit currently denied to them and to all federal employees who get health insurance through the government’s plan.

Abortion opponents say the Obama administration needs to fix the congressional exception; abortion rights supporters say such concerns are overblown.

The abortion complication is another headache for the administration as it tries to shoehorn members of Congress and certain staffers into insurance markets coming later this year under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

An amendment by Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley - who opposes “Obamacare” and abortion - requires lawmakers and their personal staff to get private coverage through the same markets that uninsured Americans will use.

Last week, the Office of Personnel Management said the government would keep paying its share of premiums for lawmakers and affected staffers who must leave the federal employee health care system by Jan. 1. That eased a major anxiety for several thousand staffers accustomed to getting the same benefits as other federal employees.

But the proposed regulation did not explicitly address abortion coverage. Under the health care law, insurance plans in the new markets may cover abortion unless a state passes a law prohibiting them from doing so. Plans offering coverage for abortion, however, may not use federal funds to pay for it. Federal tax credits to help the uninsured afford coverage must be kept apart from premiums collected for abortion coverage.

Abortion opponents say the regulation would circumvent a longstanding law that bars the use of taxpayer funds for “administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions.” Unlike many private corporate plans, federal employee plans only cover abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

“Under this scheme, (the government) will be paying the administrative costs,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., author of the abortion funding ban for federal employee plans. “It’s a radical deviation and departure from current federal law, and it’s not for all federal employees, but for a subset: Congress. Us.” Smith is calling on the Obama administration to specify that lawmakers and staffers must

choose a plan that does not cover abortions. The funding ban, in place since the 1980s, is known as the Smith amendment.

The personnel office initially refused to address the issue on the record. Late Friday, spokesman Thomas Richards released a statement saying: “No federal funds, including administrative funds, are used to cover abortions or administer plans that cover abortions. Nothing restricts a federal employee from seeking additional coverage of elective abortion services at 100 percent premium cost to the enrollee.”

But Smith’s office said that did not resolve the congressman’s concerns, because no health plans in the government program cover abortion. Obama, who supports abortion rights, has said previously he does not want his health care overhaul to change existing laws on abortion.

An independent expert on the federal employee plan said abortion opponents appear to have a legitimate question, but the applicable laws are so arcane that it’s hard to tell who’s right.

“This goes into a legal thicket the complexity of which I can’t begin to fathom,” said Walton Francis, lead author of an annual guide to federal health benefits. “It would take lawyers hours to decipher the interrelationship between these statutes, and they would probably come to different conclusions.”

Abortion opponents say the longstanding

ban on “administrative expenses” related to abortion coverage precludes the personnel office from dealing with health plans that cover abortion.

“To comply with the Smith amendment, they would have to advise members and congressional staff that they can only choose plans that do not cover abortions,” said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee. “And, of course, they would have to enforce it.”

Abortion remains a legal medical procedure in most cases, but it’s subject to increasing restrictions in conservative-leaning states. So far, 23 states have barred or restricted abortion coverage by plans in the new health insurance markets. But 27 states and Washington, D.C., have not. Under the health care law, every state must have at least one plan that does not cover abortion. Judy Waxman, a leading attorney for the National Women’s Law Center, said the outcry from abortion opponents is overblown. In the new insurance markets under Obama’s law, states decide whether abortion coverage can be offered, she explained. If it’s allowed, insurers decide whether they want to offer the coverage.

They may not use federal funds to pay for it and must set aside part of the premium collected from enrollees into a separate account to cover abortions. “No federal money will go to abortion,” she said. — AP

JACKSON: Republican Gov. Phil Bryant says Mississippi needs to pursue health care businesses to promote economic growth during a health care economic development meeting Thursday, at the Jackson Convention Complex, in Jackson, Miss. Bryant says the state is working to create “medical corridors” by offering incentives to private companies such as pharmaceutical firms, medical equipment manufacturers and others. — AP

Amid cattle health concerns, Merck halts Zilmax sales CHICAGO: US drugmaker Merck & Co said on Friday it is suspending sales of its Zilmax animal feed additive in the United States and Canada following concerns about animals showing signs of distress after use of the product, which is given to cattle to increase their weight before slaughter. Zilmax has been the focus of attention in the livestock industry since Tyson Foods Inc announced last week it will no longer accept Zilmax-fed cattle for slaughter.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose Friday on expectations that a cutback in Zilmax use could trim the supply of beef beginning this fall, although producers said they did not expect major changes.

Reuters reported earlier this week that a second major meat packer, JBS USA, at a cattle industry conference had presented a video from a JBS plant showing cattle having difficulty walking after they were fed beta-agonist drugs, additives that speed weight gain in animals. Zilmax is the leading commercial brand of beta-agonist.

In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Merck said no safety issues had been discovered in 30 studies since the product was introduced in the United States in 2007. Merck said on Friday it remains confident in the safety of the product, which had sales of $159 million last year in the United States and Canada. But the company added it will conduct an audit of how it is used “from the feedyard to the packing plant.” The product is sold by Merck’s animal health unit.

Merck said its decision to suspend sales will allow the company time to implement its plan announced on Tuesday to establish study protocols, identify feeders and packers to participate in its audit while creating a third-party team to oversee the process and validate its results.

Also on Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it was working with Merck

and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to gather information on Zilmax and determine if it poses a safety issue. Livestock analysts said they were surprised by Merck’s decision because the company’s earlier move to address concerns about Zilmax had not included a sales halt.

“They laid out a strategy in the last few days that did not include suspension,” said Jim Robb, director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center. The halt in sales will not cause a major disruption in North American beef production if producers switch to Optaflexx, a less-potent growth promoter sold by Eli Lilly and Co’s Elanco animal health unit, Robb said.

Prices for CME live cattle to be delivered in late winter 2013 and spring 2014 had been down Friday morning before the Merck announcement and then rebounded after the news. Investors bought based on a belief that cattle brought to slaughter without feeding on Zilmax would have lower body weight, resulting in less beef and higher prices, traders said.

One of Tyson’s rivals, Cargill Inc, the country’s third-largest meat producer, called Merck’s decision to halt sales “prudent” and said it reflects a “thorough assessment of the situation.”

“While Cargill has not experienced some of the cattle wellbeing issues others have, we support Merck’s decision,” Cargill spokesman Mike Martin said. Cargill will continue to buy cattle fed Optaflexx, he added. Major beef packers National Beef and JBS USA could not immediately be reached for comment. The use of Zilmax drew increased scrutiny after Tyson on Aug. 7 said it would stop purchases of cattle fed the popular feed additive after some animals arrived at its packing plants having difficulty walking or moving. Tyson, the country’s biggest meat processor, said it does not know what was behind the animals’ behavior, but company executives said that

animal health experts have suggested that the use of Zilmax may be a cause.

In response to Merck’s suspension of Zilmax, Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said: “We appreciate Merck’s decision and will continue to monitor this issue. We’ll also continue to seek input from our Animal Well-Being Advisory Panel as well as other independent animal health and welfare experts.” Following Tyson’s decision to stop buying cattle fed with Zilmax, Merck defended its product. The drug company said in a statement on Friday that tests have proven that Zilmax is safe. Merck also said it was working with Tyson to resolve questions about the drug.

Merck shares closed down 0.6 percent at $47.70 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. The halt of Zilmax sales may translate into a 1 percent drop in U.S. beef production, said Rich Nelson, chief strategist for commodities brokerage firm Allendale Inc. Feedlots will shift to rival additive Optaflexx from Zilmax because they still want to add weight to their animals, Nelson said.

Optaflexx is less effective at adding weight to animals than Zilmax, according to producers.

Merck’s decision to suspend Zilmax sales raises cattle producer Charlie Coblentz’s hopes for bigger profit. Coblentz does not use beta-agonists in his Oklahoma feeder operation because he does not raise cattle to the their finishing weights - the last few weeks before slaughter, when doses of Zilmax or Optaflexx help cattle add weight. However, increased prices for fully grown cattle will have an effect on all cattle prices, even the younger animals Coblentz raises on his Oklahoma operation, he said.

“If everybody would take that out and cattle aren’t able to gain as easily as they are now, the price of beef is going to go higher,” said Coblentz.

“That was my first thought.” — Reuters

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

Are vaccines only for children?

“We are physicians from different specialties with a specific interest in public health advocacy and promotion. We, also, aim to increase awareness among the Kuwaiti public regarding a variety of diseases and conditions and to rectify the misconceptions they may have. Since our group consists of multiple physicians we decided to write under the pen name of

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ell not quite! It is true that the big bulk of the vaccinations that a person receives are usually in childhood; however, there are other important vaccines that are necessary even for adults. The first vaccine was invented in 1769 when Edward Jenner used materials from cowpox pustules to provide protection against smallpox. It was then noted that other materials could also be used to provide transient or permanent protection against various infectious diseases.

One these vaccines are the influenza vaccine, which should be taken yearly. The US center for disease control and prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone over the age

of 6 months should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. There are two types of the influenza vaccine; the nasal form, which is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (not dead virus) or the injection form, which is an inactivated influenza vaccine (killed virus). Both these vaccines are safe to use. The nasal influenza vaccine is not recommended for any one that is younger than 2 years of age or anyone that is older than 50 years. The World Health Organization along with other organizations recommend yearly influenza vaccines to be given to certain people; these include, the elderly, people with chronic lung, heart, liver, or renal disease, people who are

immunosuppressed, and people who attend large gatherings like hajj in Mecca or the Olympic games. However, there are some contraindications to using the flu vaccine and one of them is severe allergies to egg protein or people with a history of Guillan-Barre syndrome. The second vaccine that should be administered to adults is the Pneumococcal vaccine. The CDC recommends that all people aged 19 through 64 should get one dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). In addition, they recommend that all people aged 19 and older should receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) once or twice if they have the following: asple-

nia (spleen is removed or not functional), sickle cell disease, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, or cochler implants.

It is also recommended that people who are above 65 years of age receive one more dose of the pneumococcal vaccine. The third vaccine is the shingles vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended this vaccine in 2008.

Shingles is a very painful localized skin rash that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (same virus as chickenpox). This condition usually emerges when a person reaches the age of 50 or older, or s/he is immune compromised in anyway. Thus, it is recommended for those

who are above the age of 50 or are immunocompromised. The last and most important is the hepatitis B vaccine. In Kuwait, recently, there was a campaign urging ever person to get vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine.

This is because hepatitis B is a deadly virus that can cause transitory or permanent liver damage. Through vaccination we can decrease the risk of transmission of this deadly virus. In the end I would like to say that vaccines are important for both children and adults as they decrease morbidity and some times even mortality. Stay healthy Kuwait!

L’homme en Blanc.”

Cosmonauts prepare for new lab in record Russian spacewalk CAPE CANAVERAL: Two Russian cosmonauts floated outside the International Space Station on Friday to set up power and ethernet cables for a new research lab-

orator y scheduled to arrive in December.

Flight engineers Fyodor Yurchik hin and Alexander Misurkin opened the hatch on the

JALALABAD: An Afghan amputee practises walking with his prosthetic leg at one of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hospitals for war victims and the disabled in Jalalabad yesterday. The ICRC orthopaedic project, which began in 1988 in Kabul, now has seven centres in various Afghan provinces. — AFP

station’s Pirs airlock at 10:36 a.m.

EDT (1436 GMT ) to kick off a 7hour, 29-minute spacewalk, the longest ever by Russian cosmonauts.

The spacewalk eclipsed by 13 minutes the Russians’ previous record set in July 2000 outside the Mir space station. The longest spacewalk overall was an 8-hour, 56-minute outing in 2001 by two NASA astronauts working outside the International Space Station.

Yurchikhin, who was making his seventh spacewalk , and Misurkin, on his second, spent most of their time routing two power cables and an ethernet line for a new Russian multipurpose laboratory called Nauka.

“There’s a lot of intricate and delicate stringing (of the cables) through handrails and hook points,” NASA mission commentator Rob Navias said during a televised broadcast of the spacewalk.

The outing is the third of six spacewalks Russia plans to conduct this year.

NASA meanwhile is still investigating the cause of a spacesuit helmet leak that forced two other crew members at the space sta-

tion to abort a spacewalk on July 16. Russia’s Orlan spacesuits are different from NASA’s but “due diligence was paid in preparation for this spacewalk,” Navias said.

“Ever ything was in good shape,” he added. In addition to rigging cables between the Russian Zarya and Poisk modules, Yurchikhin and M isurk in attached a panel of experiments on a handrail on Poisk that will remain outside to expose sample materials to the space environment.

The cosmonauts are scheduled for another spacewalk on Aug. 22 to install a swiveling platform for a telescope. Russia’s Nauka module, which will serve as research lab, dock ing por t and airlock , will replace the Pirs docking compartment, which will be detached from the space station and flown into the atmosphere, where it will be incinerated.

The station, a $100 billion project of 15 nations, flies about 250 miles (about 400 km) above Earth.

It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: Dr. Pierre Comizzoli, a Reproductive Physiologist at the Center for Species Survival, opens up a freezer filled with frozen samples of Giant panda blood at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, August 13, 2013. — AFP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

TIES Center film show

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Greetings

Enjoy the taste of true Espresso at Vergnano Cafe at Olympia Complex

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any, many happy returns of the day to Shaikh Ashraf. Best wishes from father Shaikh Aslam Basha, mother Tabasum Begum, Brother Parvez, Ayaan, Sister Faiz, Uncle Shaikh Anwar Basha, Omar (Haji), aunty Sajida Begum and Grand Father Mohd, Khasim, Mastan Saheb Grand Mother Khatunbee, Beejan Bee and Khader Basha, Abida, Arshad, Asif, Munawar Basha, Famida, Mubashir, Thamanna, Mohd Rafi, Ayesha, Anisa, near and dear ones from Kuwait and India.

he superior quality of the blends comes from the meticulous selection of the best raw materials available, and from an extraordinary production process. Cafe Vergnano is the first to introduce an innovation that brings all the passion and pleasure of the perfect

espresso to everyday life at home.

Espresso is now available in Kuwait, through Al-Sanabel Al-Thahabiya Est. Tel: 22413795/98. Espresso Vergnano can be ordered through www.taw9eel.com Espresso Vergnano capsules are compatible with other espresso machines.

IES Center cordially invites all those interested to its movie entitled, “Islam: An American Faith,” on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 7:00 pm. Because of misconceptions, some people believe that Islam and America are not compatible. Some on both sides feel that there is a great divide and that America can never reconcile with Islam. This film aims to dispel that myth. This film shows how Muslims live in peace within America. In addition to that, Muslims are productive, law-abiding citizens that contribute a lot to the well-being of American society. If you are interested in the movie, you are welcome on Monday, August 19 at 7:00 pm You are also invited to TIES’ presentation entitled, “Polyglots” - A Linguistic Study by Tony Braun on August 20, 2013 at 7:00 pm. A polyglot is someone who speaks more than one language. Tim Doner is a 17-year-old American who speaks over 20 languages fluently.

Shockingly, there are many others similar to Tim who can effectively communicate in multiple languages. Do they have superpowers, or is there some trick to learning multiple languages? In this presentation, Tony will be examining the methodology of language acquisition.

Please note: Tim Doner will not be present for the lecture. The presenter is Tony Braun from Canada,

who can barely speak his own native language properly (just kidding). If you are interested in the topic, TIES Center is the most appropriate place to visit on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 pm If you are new to Kuwait whether teacher or embassy staff, TIES Center wecomes you to its Cultural Orientation course to be presented

by Jehan Al-Hobaishy.

Understanding the local culture has proven effective for settling more comfortably in Kuwait. In addition to that, it is a helpful gateway to success in business and social relations here in Kuwait, as well as the other Middle Eastern countries. This one-day course will help you understand appropriate manners and etiquette, which is a very important element of Arab culture.

Who are the Kuwaitis? What is their culture? This one-day course will be offered at 7:00 pm on the following days: August 28, 29 and September 2, 5 and 9. Prior registration is required. Please indicate the day that you would like to attend.

For more inform about the aforementioned events, please call 25231015/6 or log onto: www.tiescenter.net or e-mail: Hassan@tiescenter.net .

Announcements Indian Embassy sets up helpline he Indian Embassy in Kuwait has set up helpline in order to assist Indian expatriates in registering any complaint regarding the government’s ongoing campaign to stamp out illegal residents from the country. The embassy said in press release yesterday that it amended its previous statement and stated if there is any complaint, the same could be conveyed at the following (as amended): Operations Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. Fax: 22435580, Tel: 24768146/25200334. It said the embassy has been in regular contact with local authorities regarding the ongoing checking of expatriates. The embassy has also conveyed to them the concerns, fears and apprehensions of the community in this regard.

The authorities in Kuwait have conveyed that strict instructions have been issued to ensure that there is no harassment or improper treatment of expatriates by those undertaking checking. “The embassy would like to request Indian expatriates to ensure that they abide by all local laws, rules and regulations regarding residency, traffic and other matters,” the release read. It would be prudent to always carry the Civil ID and other relevant documents such as driving license, etc. In case an Indian expatriate encounters any improper treatment during checking, it may be conveyed immediately with full details and contact particulars to the embassy at the following phone number 67623639. These contact details are exclusively for the above-mentioned purpose only.

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Issue of online visa

by Indian embassy oreigners requiring visas for India need to apply it online from 16th June 2013.

Applicants may log on to the Public portal at ww.indianvisaonline.gov.in. After successful online submission, the hard copy, so generated, has to be signed by the applicant and submitted with supporting documents in accordance with the type of visa along with the applicable fee in cash at any of the two outsource centres at Sharq or Fahaheel. It is essential that applicants fill in their personal details as exactly available in their passports. Mismatch of any of the personal details would lead to non-acceptance of the application.

Fees once paid are non-refundable. All children would have to obtain separate visa on their respective passports.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Tennis Shaab Sea Club concludes tennis tourney

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he Tennis Shaab Sea Club concluded a tennis tournament featuring 26 players in senior category and 16 in junior category. The event is a part of annual competitions organized by the Touristic Enterprises Company at the Shaab Sea Club and other sea clubs for members and their families.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Embassy of Australia has announced that Kuwait citizens can apply for and receive visit visas in 10 working days through www.immi.gov.au. All other processing of visas and Immigration matters are handled by the Australian Visa Application Centre located in Al Banwan Building, 4B, 1st Floor, Al Qibla Area, Ali Al Salem Street, Kuwait City. Visit. www.vfs-augcc.com for more info. The Embassy of Australia does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters is conducted by the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: Info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VIS), immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office), Tel: +971 4 205 5900 (VFS), Fax: + 971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). Notary and passport services are available by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling the Embassy on 22322422.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday.

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EMBASSY OF UK As of July 22, the British Embassy’s Visa Application Center (VAC) will be extending opening hours to be from 08:00 to 15:00 (previously from 09:30 to 14:30). This will generate more appointments in addition to the ones created from the Iftar opening time from 20:00 - 22:00. This step comes in response to the increasing number of applicants during summer.

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EMBASSY OF GREECE

KES entertains kids at Khorafi Center

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he young engineers committee at Kuwait Engineers Society organized a special day during the holy month of Ramadan for kids of special needs at Al-Khorafi Center. The volunteers carried out many entertainment activities to entertain the kids. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, Al-Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait.

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EMBASSY OF US Parents of Kuwaiti citizen children may drop off their sons’ and daughters’ visa applications - completely free of an interview or a trip inside the Embassy. The children must be under 14 years of age, and additional requirements do apply, but the service means parents will no longer have to schedule individual appointments for their children, nor come inside the Embassy (unless they are applying for themselves). The service is only available for children holding Kuwaiti passports. To take advantage, parents must drop off the following documents: Child Visa Drop-off cover sheet, available on the Embassy website (http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.htm) - Child’s passport; The Child’s previous passport, if it contains a valid US visa; 5x5cm photo of child with eyes open (if uploaded into DS160, photos must be a .jpg between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, less than 240kb, and cannot be digitally altered); A completed DS160 form; Visa Fee Receipt from Burgan Bank; A copy of the valid visa of at least one parent. If one parent will not travel, provide a visa copy for the traveling parent, and a passport copy from the non-traveling parent with a letter stating no objection to the child’s travel. - For children of students (F2): a copy of the child’s I-20.

Children born in the US (with very few exceptions) are US citizens and would not be eligible for a visa. Parents may drop off the application packet at Window 2 at the Embassy from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, Monday to Wednesday, excluding holidays. More information is available on the U.S. Embassy website: kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.html ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait would like to inform that submission of the documents for tourist visa is temporary closed (from August 26 till September 26). Within the above-mentioned period, the visa will be issued only in the case of emergency. In the case of planning travel to Ukraine, please apply for visa before August 20.

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EMBASSY OF VATICAN The Apostolic Nunciature Embassy of the Holy See, Vatican in Kuwait has moved to a new location in Kuwait City. Please find below the new address: Yarmouk, Block 1, Street 2, Villa No: 1. P.O.Box 29724, Safat 13158, Kuwait. Tel: 965 25337767, Fax: 965 25342066.

Email: nuntiuskuwait@gmail.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Predator’s Playground 01:35 Animal Cops Houston 02:25 Into The Pride 03:15 My Cat From Hell 04:05 My Pet’s Gone Viral 04:30 My Pet’s Gone Viral 04:55 Animal Cops Houston 05:45 Wild France 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 08:15 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 09:10 Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous...

10:05 Escape To Chimp Eden 10:30 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 11:00 The Most Extreme 11:55 Wild France 12:50 Search For The Knysna Elephants 13:45 Running With Wolves 14:40 Lion Man: One World African Safari 15:05 Lion Man: One World African Safari 15:35 Bondi Vet 16:30 Talk To The Animals 16:55 Talk To The Animals 17:25 My Cat From Hell 18:20 Call Of The Wildman 18:45 Call Of The Wildman 19:15 Austin Stevens Adventures 20:10 Fur Seals: The Dark Side 21:05 Charles & Jessica: A Chimp Tale 22:00 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 22:55 Lion Man: One World African Safari 23:20 Lion Man: One World African Safari

00:05 World’s Scariest 00:55 Kidnap And Rescue 01:45 First Week In 02:35 How It’s Made 03:00 How It’s Made 03:25 How It’s Made 03:50 How It’s Made 04:15 How It’s Made 04:40 How Do They Do It? 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How Do They Do It? 06:00 How Do They Do It? 06:30 How Do They Do It? 07:00 Fast N’ Loud 07:50 Overhaulin’ 2012 08:40 Fifth Gear 09:30 Gold Divers 10:20 Alaska: The Last Frontier 11:10 Ice Cold Gold 12:00 Aircrash Confidential 12:50 Destroyed In Seconds 13:15 Destroyed In Seconds 13:40 How It’s Made 14:05 How It’s Made 14:30 How It’s Made 14:55 How It’s Made 15:20 How It’s Made 15:45 Auction Hunters 16:10 Auction Hunters 16:35 Auction Hunters 17:00 Auction Hunters 17:25 Auction Hunters 17:50 Border Security 18:15 Border Security 18:40 Border Security 19:05 Border Security 19:30 Border Security 19:55 Mythbusters 20:45 Head Games 21:35 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 22:25 North America 23:15 Battleground: Rhino Wars

00:05 00:30 01:00 01:50 02:45 03:35 04:25 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:40

The Tech Show Mean Green Machines Finding Bigfoot Finding Bigfoot Finding Bigfoot Finding Bigfoot Finding Bigfoot The Gadget Show The Tech Show Alien Mysteries Body Spectacular Curiosity The Gadget Show

09:05 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:30 13:00 13:25 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:45 Wars 18:35 19:00 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Tech Show Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Food Factory Mean Green Machines The Gadget Show The Tech Show Body Spectacular Mighty Ships Punkin Chunkin 2010 The Science Of Star Game Changers Game Changers Extreme Bodies Curiosity The Gadget Show The Tech Show Curiosity Curiosity The Gadget Show

00:45 Final 24 01:35 Final 24 02:30 Mummy Autopsy 03:25 Mummy Autopsy 04:20 Mummy Autopsy 05:10 Trashopolis 06:05 Trashopolis 07:00 Joanna Lumley’s Nile 07:50 Discovery Atlas: France Revealed 08:45 Animal Armageddon 09:35 Prehistoric Assassins 10:30 Prehistoric Assassins 11:20 Ultimate Cars 11:45 A Racing Car Is Born 12:10 Ultimate Cars 12:35 A Racing Car Is Born 13:05 I Shouldn’t Be Alive 13:55 I Shouldn’t Be Alive 14:50 I Shouldn’t Be Alive 15:45 Guns: The Men Who Made Them 16:40 Treasure Quest 17:35 The Aviators 18:00 The Aviators 18:25 Secrets Of...

19:20 Welcome To India 20:10 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India 21:05 Guns: The Men Who Made Them 22:00 Welcome To India 22:55 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India 23:50 The Aviators

00:00 Stitch 00:20 Stitch 00:45 A Kind Of Magic 01:05 A Kind Of Magic 01:30 Emperor’s New School 01:50 Emperor’s New School 02:15 Replacements 02:35 Replacements 03:00 A Kind Of Magic 03:20 A Kind Of Magic 03:45 Emperor’s New School 04:05 Emperor’s New School 04:30 Replacements 04:50 Replacements 05:15 A Kind Of Magic 05:35 A Kind Of Magic 06:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 06:30 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 06:45 A.N.T Farm 07:10 A.N.T Farm 07:35 Jessie 07:55 That’s So Raven 08:20 That’s So Raven 08:45 Dog With A Blog 09:05 Shake It Up 09:30 Jessie 09:55 Jessie 10:15 Jessie 10:40 Cadet Kelly 12:15 A.N.T Farm 12:35 Good Luck Charlie 13:00 Dog With A Blog 13:25 Austin And Ally 13:45 Teen Beach Movie First Look 13:50 That’s So Raven 14:10 That’s So Raven 14:35 A.N.T Farm

15:00 15:25 15:50 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:20 17:40 Look 17:45 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 Place 23:35 Place

Jessie Jessie Jessie Dog With A Blog A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Austin And Ally Teen Beach Movie First Austin And Ally That’s So Raven That’s So Raven That’s So Raven Jessie Jessie Jessie Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm That’s So Raven Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up A.N.T Farm Austin And Ally Wizards Of Waverly Wizards Of Waverly

00:05 Special Agent Oso 00:15 Imagination Movers 00:40 Jungle Junction 00:55 Jungle Junction 01:10 Handy Manny 01:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:00 Little Einsteins 02:25 Special Agent Oso 02:40 Special Agent Oso 02:50 Imagination Movers 03:20 Handy Manny 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Special Agent Oso 04:00 Timmy Time 04:10 Imagination Movers 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:15 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:00 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Higglytown Heroes 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 08:35 The Little Mermaid 09:00 The Hive 09:10 Doc McStuffins 09:20 Zou 09:35 Henry Hugglemonster 09:50 Henry Hugglemonster 10:00 Sofia The First 10:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 11:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 11:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 11:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 11:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 12:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 12:05 Higglytown Heroes 12:20 The Hive 12:30 Doc McStuffins 12:45 Doc McStuffins 13:00 Zou 13:15 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 13:30 Henry Hugglemonster 13:45 Henry Hugglemonster 13:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 14:45 Higglytown Heroes 14:55 The Hive 15:05 Sofia The First 15:30 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 15:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:45 Art Attack 17:10 Lilo And Stitch 17:35 The Little Mermaid 18:00 The Hive 18:10 Henry Hugglemonster 18:25 Henry Hugglemonster 18:35 Sofia The First 19:00 Timmy Time 19:10 Pajanimals 19:25 Doc McStuffins 19:35 Zou 19:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship

ANONYMOUS ON MOVIES FESTIVAL

20:25 Pajanimals 20:35 Doc McStuffins 20:45 Mouk 21:00 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 21:25 Pajanimals 21:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:00 Timmy Time 22:10 The Hive 22:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Little Einsteins 23:50 Special Agent Oso

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:10 American Dragon 06:35 Kickin It 07:00 Phineas And Ferb 07:20 Phineas And Ferb 07:45 Lab Rats 08:10 Lab Rats 08:35 Phineas And Ferb 08:45 Phineas And Ferb 09:00 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 09:30 Max Steel 09:55 Slugterra 10:20 Crash & Bernstein 10:45 Kickin It 11:10 Lab Rats 11:35 Pair Of Kings 12:00 Phineas And Ferb 12:10 Phineas And Ferb 12:30 Scaredy Squirrel 13:00 Motocrossed 14:35 Phineas And Ferb 14:45 Phineas And Ferb 15:00 Phineas And Ferb 15:10 Phineas And Ferb 15:25 Lab Rats 15:50 Slugterra 16:15 Max Steel 16:40 Kickin It 17:05 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 17:30 Crash & Bernstein 17:55 Pair Of Kings 18:20 Lab Rats 22:35 Scaredy Squirrel 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:20 Unwrapped 01:45 Food Wars 02:10 Food Wars 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:25 Unique Eats 03:50 Food Crafters 04:15 United Tastes Of America 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Amazing Wedding Cakes 06:10 Unwrapped 06:35 Unwrapped 07:00 Everyday Italian 07:25 Everyday Italian 07:50 Everyday Italian 08:15 Everyday Italian 08:40 Extra Virgin 09:05 Extra Virgin 09:30 Extra Virgin 09:55 Extra Virgin 10:20 Symon’s Suppers 10:45 Symon’s Suppers 11:10 Symon’s Suppers 11:35 Symon’s Suppers 12:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 12:50 Barefoot Contessa 13:15 Barefoot Contessa 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Jonathan Phang’s Caribbean Cookbook 14:30 Jonathan Phang’s Caribbean Cookbook 14:55 Amazing Wedding Cakes 15:40 Amazing Wedding Cakes 16:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 16:55 Charly’s Cake Angels 17:25 Iron Chef America 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:30 Food Wars 19:55 Food Wars 20:20 Food Wars 20:45 Food Wars 21:10 Chopped 22:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 22:50 Amazing Wedding Cakes 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

00:15 Delinquent Gourmet 00:45 Travel Madness 01:10 The Best Job In The World 01:40 Scam City 02:35 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 03:30 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now 04:25 Eat Street 04:50 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 05:20 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 05:45 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 06:15 Exploring The Vine 06:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 07:10 Danger Beach 07:35 Bondi Rescue 08:05 Bondi Rescue 08:30 Bondi Rescue 09:00 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 09:25 Market Values 09:55 Eat Street 10:20 Kimchi Chronicles 10:50 Travel Madness 11:15 Don’t Tell My Mother 11:45 Scam City 12:40 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 13:35 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now 14:30 Eat Street 14:55 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 15:25 Earth Tripping 15:50 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 16:20 Bondi Rescue 16:45 Bondi Rescue 17:15 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 17:40 Market Values 18:10 Eat Street 18:35 Kimchi Chronicles 19:05 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 19:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 20:00 Exploring The Vine 20:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 21:00 Danger Beach 21:30 Bondi Rescue 22:00 Somewhere In China 22:55 Market Values 23:20 Eat Street 23:50 Kimchi Chronicles

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Pirate Patrol Air Crash Investigation Air Crash Investigation Naked Science Alaska Wing Men Inside World War II Banged Up Abroad Ultimate Disaster Pirate Patrol Air Crash Investigation Air Crash Investigation Naked Science Alaska Wing Men Nazi Temple Of Doom Banged Up Abroad Lockdown Pirate Patrol Air Crash Investigation Air Crash Investigation Salvage Code Red One Ocean Dangerous Encounters Salvage Code Red Storm Worlds

00:20 01:10 02:00 02:20 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:05 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 08:45 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:50 14:45 15:40 16:35 17:30 18:25 19:20 20:10 21:00 21:50 22:40 23:30

The Incredible Dr. Pol When Sharks Attack Indonesia Beyond The Reefs Indonesia Beyond The Reefs Cameramen Who Dare When Sharks Attack Alpha Dogs Alpha Dogs The Incredible Dr. Pol Outback Wrangler Man vs Monster Monkey Thieves Monkey Thieves Super Predators Speed Kills Dangerous Encounters Kingdom Of The Oceans Dangerous Encounters Built For The Kill Ragged Tooth Bear Nomad World’s Deadliest Killer Three Dead Or Alive Croc Invasion Kingdom Of The Oceans Dangerous Encounters Built For The Kill Ragged Tooth Bear Nomad World’s Deadliest Killer Three

01:30 Broken Path-PG15 03:15 The Da Vinci Code-PG15 06:00 Pizza Man-PG 08:00 True Justice: Violence Of Action-PG15 10:00 Superman vs. The Elite-PG15 12:00 Darkman-PG15 14:00 True Justice: Violence Of Action-PG15 16:00 Metal Tornado-PG15 18:00 Darkman-PG15 20:00 Meskada-PG15 22:00 Disturbing Behavior-18

01:00 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom-PG 03:00 Web Of Lies-PG15 05:00 Horrid Henry-PG 07:00 The Wishing Well-PG15 09:00 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom-PG 11:00 Princess Lillifee-FAM 13:00 My Afternoons With Margueritte-PG15 15:00 Shadow Dancer-PG15 17:00 Like Crazy-PG15 18:45 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel-PG15 21:00 Morning-PG15 23:00 This Must Be The Place

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 Leno 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 Leno 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

The Daily Show The Colbert Report Saturday Night Live Friends Ben And Kate Ben And Kate Hope & Faith The Tonight Show With Jay Hope & Faith The War At Home Arrested Development Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Hope & Faith Hope & Faith Ben And Kate Community Happy Endings Arrested Development The Tonight Show With Jay The War At Home Hope & Faith Hope & Faith Brothers Ben And Kate Community Happy Endings The Daily Show The Colbert Report The War At Home Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Guys With Kids The Mindy Project The Mindy Project Happy Endings Parks And Recreation The Cleveland Show The Daily Show The Colbert Report Saturday Night Live The Ricky Gervais Show Parks And Recreation

Survivor: Philippines Supernatural Good Morning America American Idol Glee Supernatural Good Morning America Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Once Upon A Time Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Survivor: Philippines The Bachelor Supernatural Live Good Morning America Survivor: Philippines Once Upon A Time The Bachelor Survivor: Philippines Once Upon A Time The Bachelor Glee American IdolX

LIARS ALL ON OSN MOVIES HD

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Revenge White Collar Sons Of Anarchy Homeland Body Of Proof C.S.I. New York Revenge Eureka Grey’s Anatomy C.S.I. New York White Collar Body Of Proof Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Grey’s Anatomy Revenge Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Grey’s Anatomy Psych Top Gear (UK) C.S.I. Defiance Homeland

00:00 01:45 03:30 05:15 08:00 10:00 Action 12:00 14:00 16:00 Action 18:00 20:00 22:00

Nitro Circus: The Movie Hell Broken Path The Da Vinci Code Pizza Man True Justice: Violence Of

01:30 L.A I Hate You-18 03:15 Anonymous-18 05:30 Neds-PG15 07:30 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 09:00 Dolphin Tale-PG 11:00 Take Shelter-PG15 13:00 Yona Yona Penguin-PG 15:00 An Inconvenient Truth-PG 17:00 Take Shelter-PG15 19:00 The Tourist-PG15 21:00 The Most Fun You Can Have Dying-18 23:00 Arc-18

00:30 Liars All-18 02:30 The Beaver-PG15 04:15 The Dragon Chronicles: Fire & Ice-PG15 05:45 The Vow-PG15 07:30 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One-PG15 09:00 Why Did I Get Married Too?PG15 11:00 This Means War-PG15 13:00 Love Will Keep Us TogetherPG15 15:00 Now Is Good-PG15 17:00 Why Did I Get Married Too?PG15 19:00 Safe House-PG15 21:00 The Grey-18 23:00 American Reunion-18

Superman vs. The Elite Darkman True Justice: Violence Of Metal Tornado Darkman Meskada

00:00 High School-18 02:00 Peep World-PG15 04:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 06:00 Problem Child-PG 08:00 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach-PG15 10:00 Mrs. Miracle-PG15 12:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 14:00 Police Academy 6: City Under Siege-PG15 16:00 Mrs. Miracle-PG15 18:00 The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad-PG 20:00 The Romantics-PG15 22:00 High School-18

01:00 Brave 02:45 The Muppets 04:30 A Fairy Tale Christmas 06:00 The Ugly Duckling In The Enchanted Forest 08:00 The Nimbols: Part I 10:00 Crab Island 11:30 Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas 13:00 The Muppets 14:45 Tom & Jerry: Robin Hood And His Merry Mouse 16:00 Vickery’s Wild Ride 18:00 Crab Island 20:00 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 22:00 Tom & Jerry: Robin Hood And His Merry Mouse 23:30 Vickery’s Wild Ride

00:00 Do No Harm-PG15 02:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15

04:00 Ice Age: Continental Drift-PG 06:00 Below The Beltway-PG15 08:00 StreetDance 2-PG15 10:00 The Family Stone-PG15 12:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 14:00 Deadly Hope-PG15 16:00 StreetDance 2-PG15 18:00 The Odd Life Of Timothy Green-PG 20:00 Prometheus-PG15 22:15 Butter-18

01:30 03:25 05:05 07:00 08:35 10:15 12:10 14:30 16:00 17:50 19:35 22:00 23:45

Get Carter-18 Flareup-PG The Girl And The General-PG Hotel Paradiso-PG Funny Face-FAM Les Girls-PG Ice Station Zebra-FAM The Naked Spur-PG Jeremiah Johnson-PG The Girl And The General-PG The Prize-PG Shaft The Omega Man-PG

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 Rides 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 Rides 11:00 Rides 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Bert The Conqueror Bert The Conqueror Xtreme Waterparks Xtreme Waterparks World’s Greatest Motorcycle Globe Trekker Bizarre Foods America Bizarre Foods America Eden Eats Globe Trekker Off Limits Off Limits World’s Greatest Motorcycle World’s Greatest Motorcycle Bizarre Foods America Bizarre Foods America International House Hunters International House Hunters International House Hunters International House Hunters Bert The Conqueror Bert The Conqueror Insane Coaster Wars Insane Coaster Wars Xtreme Waterparks Xtreme Waterparks Bizarre Foods America Bizarre Foods America Departures Asian Times

DISTURBING BEHAVIOR ON ON OSN ACTION HD

Classifieds SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-2 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

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

SHARQIA-3 RED 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) 12:30 PM ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) 6:30 PM HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) 9:30 PM PACIFIC RIM (DIG) 11:45 PM MUHALAB-2 KILLING SEASON (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

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

MUHALAB-3 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-1 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) 1:00 PM RED 2 (DIG) 3:00 PM DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) 5:30 PM ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI DOBARA RED 2 (DIG) 10:30 PM RED 2 (DIG) 12:45 AM FANAR-2 KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

FANAR-3 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:30 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (15/08/2013 TO 21/08/2013) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SAT

FANAR-4 THE WOLVERINE (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

360º- 1 RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

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

360º- 2 THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

1:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 1:00 AM

360º- 3 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

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

AL-KOUT.1 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.2 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

FANAR-5 THE SMURFS 2 PACIFIC RIM THE SMURFS 2 EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET PACIFIC RIM

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

MARINA-1 KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) KILLING SEASON (DIG) 3:30 PM

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

MARINA-2 THE WOLVERINE (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) MARINA-3 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

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

AVENUES-1 HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) 7:30 PM

1:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

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

AVENUES-2 CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI)

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

AVENUES-3 EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG) EL7ARAMY & EL3ABIET (DIG)

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

AVENUES-4 THE WOLVERINE (DIG)

12:30 PM

3:00 PM 5:30 PM

AL-KOUT.3 RED 2 (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) STREET DANCE ALL STARS (DIG) RED 2 (DIG) RED 2 (DIG)

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

AL-KOUT.4 HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG) PACIFIC RIM (DIG) HAMMER OF G’S (DIG) THE LONE RANGER (DIG)

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

BAIRAQ-1 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG-3D) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:45 PM

CHANGE OF NAME I, Juzar Ali, holder of Indian Passport No. E 6573312, have changed my name to Juzar Ali Bohra as per affidavit. (C 4484) 18-8-2013 I, Bhaskar Hungarkatha of Indian Passport No. G 0638528 hereby wish to change my name to JOHN B. ALMEIDA. (C 4482) 15-8-2013 LOST Original document Policy No. 633002728-1 of Mohammad Naeem by the State Life Insurance Corporation of

Pakistan, Gulf Zone is reported to have been lost. Anyone finding the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with State Life Office Kuwait Tel: 22452208.

(C 4483) 18-8-2013

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988 112

Prayer timings Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:53 05:18 11:52 15:27 18:26 19:48

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines BBC QTR THY JZR JZR RJA RJA THY ETH GFA UAE ETD THY CLX KAC FDB MSR QTR THY DHX FDB KAC JZR JZR BAW JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB UAE ABY FDB IRA QTR ETD IRC GFA MEA JZR JZR JZR KAC UAE KAC MSR THY SYR KAC KAC QTR FDB IRC SVA

Arrival Flights on Sunday 18/8/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 5464 SABIHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 644 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 642 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 768 ISTANBUL 610 LUXEMBOURG 544 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 412 MANILA 555 ALEXANDRIA 1541 CAIRO 157 LONDON 529 ASYUT 382 DELHI 352 COCHIN 332 TRIVANDRUM 284 DHAKA 206 ISLAMABAD 302 MUMBAI 53 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 6666 AHWAZ 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 241 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 561 SOHAG 172 FRANKFURT 871 DUBAI 742 DAMMAM 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 1261 DAMASCUS 672 DUBAI 774 RIYADH 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 6507 SHIRAZ 500 JEDDAH

Time 00:05 00:05 00:10 00:20 00:40 00:30 01:10 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:25 02:30 02:50 03:10 04:10 03:10 03:15 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:25 06:30 06:40 07:30 08:05 07:55 08:15 07:25 07:50 07:45 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:20 09:25 09:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 11:35 12:35 12:00 21:15 12:45 13:30 13:00 13:10 13:00 13:40 13:45 13:45 13:50 14:10 14:30

JZR KAC KNE OMA RJA JZR JZR KAC QTR ETD SYR UAE ABY UAL GFA SVA JZR ZR NIA KAC KAC KAC KAC QTR FDB GFA AXB MSR JAI AFG KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR FDB OMA ABY MEA KLM ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA QTR JAI FDB AIC UAL JZR DLH JAI MSR PIA THY JZR

257 774 472 645 640 535 787 1802 134 303 341 857 127 982 215 510 177 777 251 542 786 502 166 144 63 219 393 606 572 415 618 674 102 562 514 239 481 189 61 647 129 402 417 229 859 307 136 217 146 576 59 981 981 185 636 574 614 205 772 135

BEIRUT RIYADH JEDDAH MUSCAT AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA CAIRO RIYADH CAIRO DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL DAMASCUS DUBAI SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA CAIRO JEDDAH BEIRUT PARIS DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE LUXOR MUMBAI KABUL DOHA DUBAI NEW YORK AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA TEHRAN AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA SABIHA DUBAI DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH BEIRUT AMSTERDAM COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI-INTL DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA COCHIN DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT MUMBAI CAIRO LAHORE ISTANBUL BAHRAIN

14:30 13:45 14:35 14:40 15:55 16:10 16:15 16:40 16:15 16:35 16:45 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:50 18:00 18:15 18:30 18:50 18:40 18:25 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:30 19:35 19:45 19:10 19:25 19:35 20:45 20:50 22:30 20:10 20:10 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:05 22:20 22:25 22:40 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:45 23:00

Airlines AIC AXB JAI UAL DLH MSR THY BBC RJA THY THY ETH THY UAE FDB MSR ETD QTR CLX QTR JZR FDB RJA GFA THY JZR KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR KAC JZR KAC ABY UAE FDB KAC ETD IRA KAC QTR KAC KAC IRC GFA KAC MEA JZR KAC JZR JZR KAC JZR MSR SYR THY

Departure Flights on Sunday 18/8/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 5465 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 44 CHITTAGONG 645 AMMAN 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 621 ADDIS ABABA 769 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 852 HONG KONG 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 240 AMMAN 171 FRANKFURT 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 117 NEW YORK 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 1801 CAIRO 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 773 RIYADH 133 DOHA 741 DAMMAM 501 BEIRUT 6667 AHWAZ 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 480 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 1262 DAMASCUS 767 ISTANBUL-ATATURK

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:30 01:10 01:30 01:30 02:20 02:40 02:45 03:40 03:45 03:50 04:15 04:20 04:25 04:40 05:15 05:35 06:30 06:35 07:00 07:10 07:10 07:15 07:25 08:25 08:25 08:50 09:05 09:10 09:25 09:30 09:50 09:55 10:05 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 10:30 11:10 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:55 12:25 12:30 12:30 12:50 13:00 13:20 14:00 14:00 14:10

UAE FDB QTR KAC IRC KNE KAC OMA SVA KAC JZR KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD JZR SYR ABY UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR JZR NIA QTR FDB GFA JZR KAC AXB MSR JAI FDB ABY AFG OMA MEA DHX KLM ETD ALK UAE KAC QTR KAC GFA KAC FDB QTR JAI KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC JZR

872 58 141 673 6508 473 561 646 503 617 188 513 641 238 135 304 538 342 128 858 216 511 982 184 266 252 145 64 220 134 283 394 619 571 62 120 415 648 403 171 417 308 230 860 343 137 301 218 205 60 147 575 351 554 1540 411 415 528

DUBAI DUBAI DOHA DUBAI SHIRAZ JEDDAH AMMAN MUSCAT MADINAH DOHA DUBAI TEHRAN AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO LATAKIA SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DHAKA KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH JEDDAH MUSCAT BEIRUT BAHRAIN DAMMAM ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI CHENNAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI KOCHI ALEXANDRIA CAIRO BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR ASYUT

14:15 14:30 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:30 15:40 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:20 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:20 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:30 18:40 19:00 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:45 20:55 21:15 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:05 23:10 23:20 23:25 23:40 23:50 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 283

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Fondness and appreciation for the past and for your roots in life take on greater importance for you now. Making your home situation more pleasant and attractive plays a part in this. The sale or purchase of real estate could bring you much gain before the end of this cycle. You may yearn for family harmony. Lasting values and whatever you find to be true and lasting can guide you now—opening up avenues that have remained blocked.

Your home environment, friends and surroundings in general receive much attention. You could gain from the time you spend with young people today. Do not forget to include all family members in any decisions to move or purchase property. Your timing should be perfect for anything you want to do today.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You cannot become expressive very readily unless you are also receptive, and receptive you are—all morning. You may find yourself serving to guide someone younger than you in matters of importance today. This may make today a bit challenging but with your sense of humor, anything heavy-duty will quickly be turned toward a positive result. This is a time in which support and recognition should be available from both your family and friends.

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. Plans to entertain or be entertained may be the activity this afternoon. Your mate or love partner is smart—listen and be patient—she or he may be helping you save money.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. Being one more than ninety.

4. Any of 12 kings of ancient Egypt between 1315 and 1090 BC. 12. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

15. The month following February and preceding April.

16. Raspberry native to eastern North America having black thimble-shaped fruit.

17. An ugly evil-looking old woman.

18. Gone by.

19. For which money has been paid.

20. Jordan's port.

21. Make synchronous and adjust in time or manner.

23. The basic unit of money in Lesotho.

25. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

26. A series of things depending on each other as if linked together.

28. Given or having a specified name.

31. A member of a North American people formerly living in the Colorado river valley in Arizona.

33. A native or inhabitant of Rio de Janeiro.

37. A unit of current equal to 10 amperes.

38. A protocol developed for the internet to get data from one network device to another.

40. Characteristic of or relating to winter.

41. A larval frog or toad.

43. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

45. The universal time coordinated when an event is received on Earth.

46. A soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures).

47. A white trivalent metallic element.

51. A very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses.

53. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

54. Any of a group of antidepressant drugs that inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase in the brain and so allow monoamines to accumulate.

57. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

59. A small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time.

60. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

63. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

65. An ancient Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile opposite Cairo.

67. Squash bugs.

68. (Norse mythology) One of the Aesir known for his beauty and skill with bow and skis.

70. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

73. Inflammation of the female pelvic organs (especially the Fallopian tubes) caused by infection by any of several microorganisms (chiefly gonococci and chlamydia).

74. (botany) Especially of plant parts.

77. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

78. A dog trained to guard a house.

80. The supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe.

81. Of a light yellowish-brown color n 1.

82. The stroke of an engine piston moving away from the crankshaft.

83. The compass point midway between north-

east and east.

DOWN 1. A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.

2. Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others.

3. Inflexibly entrenched and unchangeable.

4. A mature blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues.

5. Paralysis of the vocal cords resulting in an inability to speak.

6. (trademark) A type of fiberboard.

7. Not fake or counterfeit.

8. Coils of worsted yarn.

9. An honorary degree in science.

10. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

11. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

12. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

13. A small cake leavened with yeast.

14. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

22. Someone who has won first place in a competition.

24. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else.

27. Place side by side or in close proximity.

29. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

30. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the faces.

32. Lower in esteem.

34. The ending of a series or sequence.

35. A waiter at a drive-in restaurant.

36. Of or pertaining to or written in Altaic.

39. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

42. A digital display that uses liquid crystal cells that change reflectivity in an applied electric field.

44. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

48. Having or being distinguished by diminutive size.

49. (informal) Exceptionally good.

50. Filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock.

52. South African term for `boss'.

55. A large Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria.

56. Small evergreen trees or shrubs with aromatic leaves.

58. Destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle.

61. (Jungian psychology) The inner self (not the external persona) that is in touch with the unconscious.

62. Club consisting of a heavy stick (often bamboo) bound with iron.

64. Cause to change.

66. A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.

69. Make anew.

71. Sweet pulpy tropical fruit with thick scaly rind and shiny black seeds.

72. Produced by a manufacturing process.

75. The longest division of geological time.

76. How long something has existed.

79. (informal) Being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

You are at the top of your class and if a project is at hand . . . Take your time to complete everything and then look over your work thoroughly, as you will tend to hurry yourself today. Personal achievements are easy at this time. This could mean a sports competition but it could also mean just the simple things you do around your own property. You may enjoy working in your yard, painting or rearranging furniture, etc. There is much energy and drive for whatever you want to accomplish. A social affair may be in the works for this evening and there is still time to do a bit of shopping before they come. A puzzle that you may want to work through today concerns a friend. Take him or her shopping with you. All will be understood soon.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You may find yourself analyzing your life circumstances. Conversations of an inspiring kind may be in order with young people or others around you. Someone is sympathetic to your thinking today and there is a sense of support and harmony. An interesting conversation with some friends may have you thinking about the puzzling psychic events in your life. You place a high value on your dreams and ideals and do not consider them otherworldly or impossible.

You experience the unity around you—that which joins things together. Mysticism, mythology, poetry and music are natural. These are all known to you. People who encounter you may sometimes feel deceived by your remarkable vision—they may wish they could see the world as you see it.

Leo (July 23-August 22) This is not the time for planning but the time to enjoy the plans you have previously made for today—a good day. You may enjoy probing into your inner workings. You value your darker, more secretive areas and do not mind working through some sensitive problems. As long as you can maintain a balance with your emotions, your health will be excellent.

Learn to recognize the negative so that you can rework and transmute to the most positive that you can become. This may not be a lot, but it will be a beginning and it will create a habit of recognition and change. There is a healing taking place, a healing within you as well as within the people that are the closest to you. You have the opportunity today to understand a loved one like never before.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Take care of any financial responsibilities soon. Those you feel you cannot take care of should be acknowledged by sending a note with a promise of payment to come.

Then, make it a point to set up some plans for setting aside the funds to pay off outstanding debts. You spend a great deal of time with plants and using water selectively around your place of living today. Upkeep around your living area is the mode of the day. This afternoon is a good time for surrounding yourself with friends and young people and for having a good time.

There could be some sports competition, either involving you or with you coaching young people. You appreciate your particular situation and enjoy support from those around you.

Passions can be enjoyed.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Yes . . . A weekend! Friendships and involvement in group activities play a more important part in your life now. Friends are our only true riches and the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing or sharing experiences with others is something no one can take away from you. You are very painstaking and deliberate when it comes to partnerships, lovers and relationships of all kinds. You tend toward long-lasting friendships and are very loyal, sometimes too sedate. You display your sharp, nimble mind with a ready wit. You are quick to gain insight and to see new solutions—approaching genius when it comes to communication skills. Natural physical dexterity—good hands too! You are the life of the party when it comes to spontaneity today.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) This is a time when you can expect some extra support or recognition from those around you. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others; the lines of communication are open. The support you need is there for anything you want to accomplish. Your energies run effectively toward making yourself felt in the material, physical outer world. You are an “action” person who gains the attention of others and seems to get things moving. You may be encouraged to defend your belief with a neighbor—perhaps political. Consider this is a good thing and you will be thinking quickly and honestly without a sense of defense. If you are reasonable and try to understand the other person’s point of view, this person may become a valued friend.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Do not take chances or risks just now—be satisfied with the ordinary and usual. Novel ideas or insights could be more damaging than useful. There is hectic emotional energy present. You are very expressive and outgoing when it comes to your feelings and emotions—you may find yourself in deep discussions today concerning world affairs, trends of the community, etc. This urge to express yourself, to speak out and be heard, propels you into many an interesting situation. Creativity of all kinds holds your interest now and you could find yourself spending money on some form of music, art or literature. You are driven to excel in many forms of physical or creative expression—sports, theatrics, arts and crafts, etc.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) CAPRICORN You are an aggressive starter, able to instigate projects and get things moving. Not always hot on the follow-up, you may tend to get the ball rolling and get out, to move on to other things. You could discover some new things about yourself through creativity and self-expression. Increased confidence and a more outgoing manner may be the key that opens many a new door for you. You may be able to enjoy and value your own life situation or feel especially kind towards a friend or loved one. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. General good feelings and a sense of support and harmony make this a happy time. Someone may compliment you on your tastes or belongings tonight.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Maybe seems to be the main theme today. Young people want to know, older people have questions, students are curious and you think that the answers to the questions you hear are a definite maybe. The desire to please others is so strong as to make it hard to decide or act for fear of offending someone. Perhaps you should not answer questions today and just listen. There is something important for you to hear but not if you do not listen. Smile and let others know that this is a listening day for you. Sometime the teaching becomes more of a time of guiding others. The mental world appeals to you and you are very discriminating but appreciative when it comes to concepts, ideas, thoughts and the like. You value good research.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) A strong urge for the social life may find you out and about today. There are all sorts of trade sales and doodad or curio shops available for the perusing. You may find a quaint antique store you like. This may be a better time to work on any repairs or upkeep, or to catch up on some interesting reading material. Later today your love relationship could benefit from some nourishment. This would be a great area deserving of your attention. A concert or open air performance can be a treat for your beloved. Perhaps a blanket and a small cooler with a few drinks and goodies to enjoy while you listen to the entertainment would be good. Of course, a little bug repellent would not be a bad idea either. Can you identify the stars that are out tonight?

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

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

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Salem soso

22618787 General Surgeons

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

Endocrinologist Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

Brad Pitt too ‘dumb’ for of LA Museum of Contemporary Art

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he 49-year-old actor has been a long-time supporter of the centre but bosses have apparently decided he isn’t smart enough for a place alongside the intellectual elite. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Brad has always supported the museum, so he asked if he could participate on a higher level. “But while the committee admires Brad’s ambition, the fear is that he might be a little on the dumb side to serve on an art board. He doesn’t even have a college degree.” Taking on a role on the muse-

um’s board may have been ambitious for Brad because of more than his intelligence, though, after it was recently reported he and Angelina Jolie could be set for a move to the UK while he shoots a sequel to zombie blockbuster ‘World War Z’. An insider previously said: “Brad and Angelina are already planning for next year and have put the feelers out for properties. “They would like to stay in Surrey like last time. Their kids are home-schooled so it won’t cause much disruption.”

Sir Mick Jagger wants to set up his own music festival

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he Rolling Stones may have only just made their debut at Glastonbury this summer, but the group’s iconic front man is already keen to create his own version in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Mick has put some feelers out in Brazil to put on a big show.” The plans are ambitious but if he pulls it off it will be huge. The whole vibe of the event is very much ‘flower power’ and the same hippy values that Glastonbury prides himself on. “The publicity drive will begin in the next six months or so but there’s no doubt there will be big names on the bill.” The event - which is tentatively set for November 2014 - is said to be in line to replace the annual Rock In Rio festival held each September. The legendary rocker might be entering the unknown, but he isn’t above doing his research - the band

looked over videos of four years of Glastonbury headliners to prepare for their debut. He previously said: “Festivals are great to be at but not always the easiest to play. “You’ve got to really work at that bit, but I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re really looking forward to it and I’m thinking about the set list for that day and how we’re going to deal with it.”

Aaron Taylor-Johnson learns from his children

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he ‘Kick-Ass 2’ star has two daughters - Wylda Rae, three, and 18-month-old Romy Hero - with wife Sam Taylor-Johnson, as well as two step-children from Sam’s previous marriage, and says his little girls are “incredibly smart” and he has learned so much about the world from them. He told BANG Showbiz: “The way I was brought up was to always be encouraged in doing what you love doing and having the opportunity to do that, and being honest.

Being honest with your kids is most important really. They know when you’re lying for sure. I learn more from my kids than anyone else ... they are incredibly smart and they’re sweet.” The 23-year-old actor has taken on life-changing responsibilities since filming the first ‘Kick-Ass’ movie when he was 19, and found it strange playing high school student Dave Lizewski again in the sequel. He said: “It’s odd to play an adolescent teenage high school kid, and, you know, I’m married and I’ve got four kids essentially - four girls, two of which are stepdaughters. It’s strange and odd but the challenge was to create that character and get into that headspace.”

Tom Parker’s girlfriend thinks his crazy antics are ‘stupid’

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elsey Hardwick - who has been dating The Wanted singer for the past three years - isn’t a fan of the boy band’s headline-grabbing behaviour, including throwing a drink on a passer-by from a hotel balcony last month. She told new! magazine: “It’s stupid, but they obviously think they’re rock ‘n’ roll doing it. They’re young and having fun.” The 24-yearold blonde was also mortified to discover her boyfriend was wanted by the police in the US for defecating in a bag and throwing it onto the highway. She laughed: “That is so disgusting.

I heard that’s true. It’s so embarrassing. That’s my boyfriend!” Kelsey made several appearances on the ‘Glad You Came’ hitmakers’ reality show, ‘The Wanted Life’, and says living with the five boys - Tom, Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuiness - during their stay in the US was tough because they are so dirty. The long-suffering star said: “Max was the worst for not cleaning dishes. We had to use paper plates and cutlery by the end. I couldn’t cope.”

Aaron Paul fell in love with his wife at Coachella

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he ‘Breaking Bad’ star married documentary film director and activist, Lauren Parsekian, in Malibu in May and revealed the music festival, which is held in Indio, California, will always be special to them because it is where they met and had their first kiss. Speaking on Reddit, he said: “Me and Lauren are addicted to musical festivals. We met at Coachella. “We fell in love at Coachella.

We had our first kiss on a ferris wheel at Coachella. So anything that reminds us of that we’re very excited to do.”

Aaron previously revealed he begged Lauren to marry him, when he went down on one knee in Paris. He said: “I’m the luckiest man on the planet. It doesn’t make sense to me. The way she looks at me ... she has that magical glow about her. “We got engaged over New Year’s and I walked from the Eiffel Tower to St. Germain recently and I went to the stoop, the little step where I proposed to Lauren - and I took a picture of it and I sent it to her. “It’s just this little courtyard outside of this hotel, and we were just dancing to Edith Piaf by ourselves on New Year’s and then I begged her to marry me.” “She’s the greatest woman that has ever existed.”

Angelina Jolie’s doctor commended actress for speaking out about mastectomy

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he 37-year-old star took the decision to have both of her breasts removed after she was found to have the BRCA1 cancer gene, giving her an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer and Dr. Kristi Funk says Angelina’s public revelation has helped educate people about cancer. She told Los Angeles magazine: “When someone who is arguably the most beautiful woman in the world removes the part of her body that is symbolic of femininity and sexuality, you have to say, ‘Why would she do that?’ “[Angelina] waited to find the perfect timing in her personal and professional life, but I think most importantly in her soul [to tell people about her surgery]. She is intensely private, but she calculated the moment when she would be ready to reveal something so personal.”

Dr. Funk also revealed she wasn’t surprised Angelina went public with the details of her ordeal, because her philanthropic nature meant she would want to help other people. She added: “She knew always that in her philanthropic core she couldn’t keep this a secret and be who she is. She always knew.”

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

Kristen Stewart is ‘crushed’ that Pattinson has moved to Beverly Hills

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he ‘Twilight Saga’ heartthrob left his home in Los Feliz, Los Angeles to move to a gated mansion nine miles away so he wouldn’t run into his former girlfriend, who cheated on him with director Rupert Sanders, and she is reportedly devastated. A source told HollywoodLife: “Kristen is crushed that Rob felt it was necessary to move to Beverly Hills. She feels like this was his way of saying, ‘I can’t be bothered with you anymore.’ Los Feliz was their home for years. It has a completely different vibe than Beverly Hills. “Rob told Kristen he was moving, but Kristen didn’t really think he would go through with it. Of course, she’s sad. She’s heartbroken. If she could get back together with Rob, she would do it in a heartbeat. “After Kristen and Rob split, she kind of took comfort in knowing that he was still so close by and that she could run into him.” Kristen, 23, is also upset that their dogs, Bear and Bernie, are living with Robert, 27, in his new home.

The insider added: “The dogs, Bear and Bernie, are living with Rob. Kristen knows that Bear was originally Rob’s dog and even though they got Bernie together, she didn’t want to separate them.”

Fergie

has officially changed her name

T Robert Pattinson became a model to meet girls

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he 27-year-old actor - who first worked as a model before finding fame in movies such as ‘The Twilight Saga’ - says he never planned to make a career of it but just wanted to get close to the opposite sex. He told Germany’s GQ magazine: “I became a model to meet girls. “I was simply still young. I did it without a plan for a career of any form.” While he once struggled to meet girls, Robert doesn’t have any trouble getting attention these days. Following his split from Kristen Stewart, he was linked to Riley Keough and his ‘Maps To The Stars’ co-star Sarah Gadon, who he has been close to since meeting on the set of ‘Cosmopolis’ in 2011. A source said: “There’s a real spark between them. And they’ve already been spending time together when filming ends for the day.

“They have become very close. When there’s a break in filming, they’ll often sit on their own and chat. Sarah’s really into the arts and literature, which Rob loves. And they even talk about English soccer together because she watches games on TV. They have a lot in common.” Robert has also been spending time with ‘The OC’ beauty Mischa Barton, although they are reportedly just friends. A source told E! News: “Rob is very low-key and just wants to be with friends right now. “He is extremely cool and laid-back and hasn’t been overly flirting with lots of girls or anything. He just wants to enjoy himself and be with good people.”

he Black Eyes Peas singer, who is heavily pregnant with her first child with her actor husband Josh Duhamel, filed documents in Los Angeles last month requesting to change her name from Stacy Ann Ferguson to Fergie Duhamel and TMZ reports it became official on Friday. The 38year-old star, who has been married for more than four years, revealed she wanted to change her name in order to “conform to the first name which she is commonly and professionally known as, and has been for many years”. In order for the court to grant her request, the singer had to publish a notice about her new name in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, Fergie’s husband recently revealed he can’t wait to be a father. Josh, 40, said: “Everyone is saying, ‘You better sleep now [because] you’re not going to get any when the baby’s here,’ [and] ‘Oh, your life is over after that,’ [and] ‘Oh, it’s the most beautiful thing ever, but it’s tough. “I look forward to putting the attention [on the baby]. All the love that you have for something like that is what makes it so great and I think we are both ready for that.” Josh also revealed he wants to take time off when the baby is born so he can spend time with his wife and child.

Kim Kardashian blasts Katie Couric as two-faced

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he reality TV star was furious when the veteran US journalist insisted she doesn’t understand why Kim and her family are famous because Katie recently sent Kim and her boyfriend Kanye West a gift following the birth of their daughter, North. Posting a picture of the gift on Instagram, along with a note from Katie congratulating them on their new arrival, Kim wrote: Kim, 32, was reacting to Katie’s comments to In Touch magazine, when she said: “I don’t understand - why are they so famous? I think it’s mostly teenage girls that are interested.” Kim and Kanye, 36, have kept their baby under wraps since their birth amid reports the rapper is trying to convince his good friend Anna Wintour to put his girlfriend and the tot on the cover of US Vogue, even though the editor-in-chief doesn’t like the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ star. A source close to Kanye said: “It’s no secret that Kanye is a huge fan of fashion, Vogue and especially Anna Wintour. “But it’s also pretty well-known that Anna is no fan of Kim or any reality star appearing in the pages of the magazine. Kanye is determined to make sure baby North isn’t photographed by paparazzi then splashed across the world. He knows what he wants-a professional photographer and the cover of Vogue - nothing else. But clearly, trying to persuade Anna is going to be an uphill battle.”

Liam Hemsworth jokes he is the best actor in his family

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he ‘Hunger Games’ star’s two older brothers Chris and Luke are also actors and when asked who is the most talented in their family, Liam quipped he is better than his siblings. He told MTV: “Which is the best?

Well, I don’t wanna say it, but I’d probably go with me! “That’s just arrogant, isn’t it?” However, Liam then got serious, crediting his brothers with getting him into the business and calling them his best friends. He said: “My brothers are my best friends, I wouldn’t be doing this job I think if it wasn’t for them. “My oldest brother Luke got into acting first and he did TV shows for a long time in Australia. Then Chris got into it, and that was kind of how I got into it.” Chris recently revealed the brothers try to support each other for acting but when it comes to sports their competitive natures come out. He said: “We have a healthily competitive relationship in everything - as brothers do. Whereas with [acting], all three of us are so aware of the instability of it all and how much is up to chance. It’s far more of a supportive relationship [we have in acting] than backyard football, or surfing, or whatever else we do in our free time.”

Lauren Silverman will visit Cowell on his £40m yacht

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he socialite - who is pregnant with the music mogul’s first baby - settled her divorce this week and she has apparently told friends she will visit the ‘X Factor’ boss in the next few days. According to reports in the Daily Mirror newspaper, Lauren, 36, and Simon, 53, are still “very much together” after her divorce from ex-husband Andrew was finalized on Wednesday, when they both agreed to joint custody of their son Adam, seven. While news of the secret romance came as a shock to the world when reports first surfaced, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge David Walliams revealed his boss trusted him with the news before it became public. Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s TV Magazine, the British comedian said: “I’d known for a little while but I was incredibly good at keeping it a secret. “I realised I had this incredibly piece of information but it was a private thing and I had to respect that. “Simon lives in the public eye, however this is about a new life coming into the world.” While Lauren was recently slated by a former schoolmate and has come under criticism for her affair with the star, David, 41, was quick to defend her and called her a “lovely lady”. He said: “I’ve met Lauren a few times with Simon and some of these weird depictions I’ve read of her don’t ring true. “She’s a lovely lady and I’m thrilled for them both. He’ll be a fantastic father as he is brilliant with kids.

“He’s incredibly generous with his time for them on ‘BGT’ and visits a lot of hospices.

There’s this perception of him as a bit of a Bond villain, but he’s really quite cuddly.”

38

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LIFESTYLE T r a v e l

Afghan female stars defy clerics’ pressure J

udges on TV talent shows always attract controversy for making or breaking the careers of desperate wannabes-but for Aryana Sayeed, the job is also a fight for Afghanistan’s future.

The glamorous 28-year-old singer is a judge on worldwide hit series “The Voice” that launched in Kabul in May, immediately attracting huge audiences and an array of angry critics.

As a symbol of female independence in a strictly conservative Islamic country, Aryana receives regular death threats and lives in fear of being kidnapped by religious extremists.

On the set outside Kabul where the show is filmed for private channel Tolo TV, armed guards outnumber contestants and have machine guns held at the ready.

“I’m here to make a difference for women,” Aryana told AFP. “I want women to have rights, to talk freely, to walk freely, to be able to go shopping when they wish.

“I’m not saying that they have to take their clothes off, or even remove their head scarves.

Freedom is being able to live as a human being.”

As contestants belt out songs that could propel them to stardom, Aryana nods encouragingly and sways gently - acutely aware that her every move is studied across the country.

“I have to be so careful as they’re constantly checking what you are doing, what you are saying, even how you laugh,” she said. “I said ‘I love you’ to one contestant because he was so good.

He was 15-years-old. Even that caused trouble.

People asked ‘What did she say? This is not something normal in Afghanistan’.”

Aryana was born in Afghanistan before moving to Pakistan as a child and then to Europe. She now divides her time between Kabul and London.

As one of Afghanistan’s biggest stars, she has taken a stance against Islamic clerics who insist that women should remain at home and never earn a living of their own.

‘I am a slave’ In one of her songs, Aryana sings “Because I am a woman, I am a slave” against a background of images of women in burqas.

“Women have no rights whatsoever here, so I want to be an example as somebody who is constantly fighting,” she said, admitting that her beliefs mean that security concerns dominate her life.

“I have a lot of trouble online, receiving messages from people telling me that they will kill me or that they’ll put acid in my face. They tell me to stop singing.

“Kidnapping is something to keep in mind all the time. You’d rather die than be kidnapped. I don’t get out a lot.”

One young Afghan actress, Benafsha, was stabbed to death last year, and some religious hardliners recently declared a jihad against popular reality shows based on Western hits such as “The X-Factor” and “Pop Idol”.

One lawmaker calling for the programmes to be banned branded them “blasphemous and vulgar”.

“Islam cannot accept girls and women who become singers, dancers or film actresses,” Enayatullah Baleegh, a leading cleric in Pul-eKhishti mosque in central Kabul, told AFP. “Our culture and traditions do not allow it. I prefer a woman to wear fabric that covers her body with only her eyes and hands visible. If girls and women choose this life (of singing and acting), it will degrade their dignity.”

Afghan-American actress Fereshta Kazemi, (L) acts during a video recording for her documentary at ‘Flower Street Coffee’ in Kabul.

Afghan-American actress Fereshta Kazemi speaks during an interview in Kabul.

Kazemi, who was born in Kabul but grew up in the US and returned to Afghanistan only last year, accepts that her profession is often equated with sexual availability.

After her performance in recently-released film “The Icy Sun”, which tackles the taboo subject of rape, she said she was surrounded by admiring fans.

Actress Fereshta Kazemi, who was born in Kabul but grew up in the United States and returned to Afghanistan only last year, accepts that her profession is often equated with sexual availability.

“Actresses are considered by some to be prostitutes,” the 33-year-old told AFP. “My private life outside work is not respected. I get crazy phone calls from people because they think I am available.

“After many months here, it has become very difficult. I feel that I’m being objectified and not human, because I’m choosing a job that is about putting myself out there.

For sociologist Barayalai Fetrat, a lecturer at Kabul University, the challenges that Aryana and Fereshta face exemplify how Islamic conservatives are pushing to regain ground since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 particularly with NATO troops due to leave in 2014.

“As foreign troops pull back, traditionalists who have been largely silent for the past decade-and who still have strong backing in society-are reappearing to attack the gains that Afghan women have achieved,” he said.

“They are now boldly attacking the rights of women to work in offices, to become artists, or even the right to education.

“The women who have been pioneers in the fight for their rights are now facing more and more pressure and are fearful for their future.

Artists like Aryana and Fereshta are the primary targets.”

But Fereshta does find some reasons to stay optimistic despite the gloomy outlook and

Aryana Sayeed (3rd R) walks with contestants.

Afghan female singer Aryana Sayeed listens to contestants from The Voice of Afghanistan television show at Qargha lake on the outskirts of Kabul. The glamorous 28-year-old singer is a judge on worldwide hit series “The Voice” that launched in Kabul in May, immediately attracting huge audiences and an array of angry critics. —AFP Photos mounting challenges.

After her performance in recently-released film “The Icy Sun”, which tackles the taboo subject of rape, she said she was surrounded by admiring fans.

“There were all these girls who came to kiss me. They were happy, because I had made a film that speaks honestly about the situation of women.” —AFP

Royal fall for princess accused of cockfighting

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rincess Irina Walker, the daughter of the last king of Romania, was hobnobbing two years ago with European royalty in Bucharest to celebrate the 90th birthday of her regal father. On Friday, she and her husband - a former Oregon sheriff’s deputy - are expected to appear in court to face charges of running a cockfighting business on their ranch in Eastern Oregon.

Government prosecutors say Irina and John Walker staged at least 10 cockfighting derbies between April 2012 and April 2013, bringing in as much as $2,000 a day. Blades were attached to the birds’ legs, spectators were charged admission, and food and drink were sold, the indictment said.

Irina Walker, 60, is the third daughter of former Romanian King Michael I. The 91-year-old Michael, one of the few surviving heads of state from World War II, was forced to abdicate by the communists in 1947. Sent into exile, he lived in Switzerland and worked as a commercial pilot and briefly as a chicken farmer.

According to a statement on the royal family’s website, King Michael expressed “deep sorrow” about Princess Irina being arrested and hopes that the American justice system and Oregon courts will act as quickly as possible. He does not mention his son-in-law and adds he hopes the presumption of innocence will function.

The Walkers are charged with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to violate the federal Animal Welfare Act. Each of the offenses carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Federal prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the ranch.

Authorities arrested 16 other people in the case.

Irina Walker moved to the US from Switzerland in 1983 with her former-husband John Kreuger, according to her daughter, Angelica Kreuger of Myrtle Point, Ore. She said her parents were school friends in Europe and her father fell in love with Oregon.

Angelica Kreuger said her mother is proud of her

heritage - she keeps a large picture of her father in the living room - but never lived a lavish lifestyle. As for herself, Kreuger said being the child of a princess only got her picked on in school. “We tried to live as normal as possible around here,” she said. “Then you go over to Europe and that’s sort of like all fancy.”

Never a particularly social person, Irina Walker rode horses, gardened, studied the Bible and raised two children while living in Myrtle Point. She later divorced her husband and, in 2007, married a man who had been a family friend and neighbor - former Coos County sheriff’s deputy John Walker.

Angelica Kreuger said John Walker took her mother to the Hermiston area in Eastern Oregon.

“She kind of turned hippie,” Angelica Kreuger said.

“From when we were growing up to when she moved to Hermiston, she just kind of did the whole free-spirit thing. She just wanted to wake up in the morning and tend to her goats and mess with her horses.”

Kreuger said her mother became isolated from

the family and the two have not spoken in a couple months. Walker visited Myrtle Point earlier this year and Kreuger sensed something was wrong.

She said she had warned her mother about John Walker, whom she called “bad news,” but her mother didn’t want to believe it. She said Walker made her mother feel beautiful and special, and her mother would do anything he said.

“My mom’s kind of naive, that’s the easiest way to put it,” Kreuger said. “She doesn’t really know the bad side of people.” Kreuger said she has been to the Hermiston area a couple times and never saw a fighting chicken. She doesn’t believe her mother knew the full extent of what was allegedly going on, and wouldn’t have gotten caught up in such a thing if she knew the potential for a jail sentence.

“I don’t see her being there watching it, because my mom loved animals,” Kreuger said. “She wouldn’t want to watch a chicken die like that.” — AP

39

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Kick-Ass 2 looks at consequences of vigilante violence A

fter a summer dominated by superheroes fighting evil and winning over audiences at the box office, “Kick-Ass 2” aims to show the violent underside of being a costumed vigilante. “The sequel is set up to deal with the consequences,” director Jeff Wadlow told Reuters.

“Kick-Ass 2,” out in theaters on Friday, is based on Mark Millar’s comic-book of the same name and follows the nerdy teenage boy Dave, played by British actor Aaron TaylorJohnson, as he becomes real-life superhero Kick-Ass, along with his 15-year-old sidekick Hit Girl, played by Chloe Moretz.

“The superhero movement has spread and people were inspired by Kick-Ass and I wanted to show all the different kinds of consequences these characters doing these things and how it ripples through their life,” Wadlow said.

Kick-Ass and Hit Girl, also known as Mindy, dispensed with villainous drug lord Frank D’Amico in the first film and in “Kick-Ass 2,” D’Amico’s ruthless son Chris, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, wages revenge on the masked crusaders with his own team of super-villains.

The sequel, which is rated R like the original movie, has come under fire for its graphic violence and explicit language. Jim Carrey, who plays Colonel Stars and Stripes, departed from Hollywood convention in June and criticized the film on Twitter. He said because of the December shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 26 people dead in Newtown, Connecticut, he could not “support that level of violence” in the movie.

“It was disconcerting, I’m not going to lie, to read those tweets,” Wadlow said. “If you’re going to do a movie and you’re going to get

This undated publicity photo released by Universal Pictures shows Aaron Taylor-Johnson, left, as the young masked hero Kick-Ass, and Chloe Grace Moretz, as the blade-wielding Hit Girl, in a scene from the film, ‘Kick-Ass 2.” —AP paid all that money, you should at least have the good manners to phone up your collaborators and discuss whatever points of view you might have or might be changing that will affect your press obligations.”

Wadlow said “I trusted my gut” when he

Stunning cinematography overwhelms a slight story

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here’s a very talented ensemble of actors in “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” but the real star of the movie is director of photography Bradford Young (“Pariah,” “Middle of Nowhere”) who renders the Texas locations in the kind of butterscotch shadows and magic-hour auras and screen-door silhouettes that call to mind classics like “Days of Heaven.”

It’s a gorgeous film to behold, but writer-director David Lowery gets so wrapped up in the visuals that the storytelling lags at critical moments. Even after he’s made it clear how things are going to be resolved, he staves off the inevitable with one more sunset, one more weathered pickup truck driving down a dirt road, one more dimly-lit roadhouse.

(Lowery, it should be noted, is one of American independent film’s busiest Renaissance men these days; at this year’s Sundance, he represented not just this film but also “Upstream Color,” which he edited, and “Pit Stop,” which he co-wrote.)

“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” boasts a great deal of care and talent and creativity, but it will be up to individual viewers to decide whether its visual pleasures outweigh the script’s case of get-on-with-it-itis; as for me, I went from enraptured to restless, but I still admire the film’s many virtues.

We begin with young lovers Ruth (Rooney Mara) and Bob (Casey Affleck); in one long take, they squabble and reconcile the way a young couple would, but there are two more vital pieces of information to learn at the end of the scene. Ruth is pregnant, and she’s also an accomplice to Bob’s crimes. At a shoot-out with the police, Ruth hits local cop Patrick (Ben Foster) in the arm, but Bob takes the blame and says that Ruth was just along for the ride.

Cut to a few years later: Ruth is still living in the same small town, raising daughter Sylvie (played by Jacklynn Smith and Kennadie Smith) under the watchful eye of Bob’s adoptive father Skerritt (Keith Carradine). Bob, longing to run away with Ruth and Sylvie, escapes from prison. Patrick starts keeping an eye on Ruth, since everyone knows Bob is heading straight to wherever she is, and Ruth and Patrick find themselves getting along.

That’s pretty much all that happens in “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” and it could certainly be enough in the hands of a filmmaker more capable of spreading out the tale, supplying revelations and character insight along the way to keep things compelling. But Lowery doesn’t seem particularly interested in any kind of forward momentum. We know who these people are, and what they want, and what’s likely to be the outcome, and then we’re forced to wait for it all to happen.

Despite the script’s flaws, Mara, Affleck and Foster all turn in splendid performances. There’s often a danger of actors getting condescending when they play relatively inarticulate characters, but even though Ruth and Bob and Patrick aren’t chatty urbanites, they communicate a great deal through their silences and faces and body language. It never feels like these actors are talking down to the material, and they create vivid personalities under Lowery’s assured guidance.

And make no mistake, Lowery is a talent to watch; the complex and opaque “Upstream Color” lives and dies by its editing, the screenplay of “Pit Stop” ranks among the year’s best, and his skill as a director permeates every frame of “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints.” This film’s script doesn’t equal his other work this year, but he’s a rising film talent who’s only just begun to leave his mark. —Reuters

made decisions on which violent scenes to include in the film, and that he also wanted to portray a more realistic side of the violence.

Mintz-Plasse said in an interview with Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM earlier this week that a rape scene and a scene in which a

dog is killed were both omitted from the final edit.

“I know for a fact that the movie is less violent than the first movie,” Wadlow said. “It’s a much more intimate style of violence, more about hand-to-hand, which was by choice,

because the movie’s about the superheroes movement spreading so I wanted to show how normal people fight.”

“Kick-Ass 2” follows Mindy as she tries to put aside her Hit Girl persona and embrace life as an average high-school teenager, while Dave tries to find purpose by joining a band of amateur masked vigilantes led by ex-soldier Colonel Stars and Stripes.

“The first film was about them figuring out superhero identities,” Wadlow said. “This movie should be about figuring out their real identities.”

The film comes on the heels of a summer dominated by superheroes, such as “Iron Man 3” which opened with $174 million in domestic theaters in its opening weekend and has crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide.

“Kick-Ass 2,” produced by Comcast Corp’s Universal Pictures and independently financed with a budget of $28 million, is not expected to match its superhero counterparts at the box office, with moderate industry projections of $19.8 million in its first weekend. Its 2010 predecessor grossed $96 million globally.

Wadlow said he hoped the film stood out in the flurry of big-budget action films with its themes of responsibility and redemption, as the vigilantes consider the long-term effects of the violence caused by their campaign against criminals.

“We show consequences to the violence, unlike some of these PG-13 blood-less movies you see this summer ... We’re dealing with those consequences in a somewhat realistic fashion, to both mine drama but also comedy,” he said. —Reuters

‘Free Willy’ actor August Schellenberg dies at 77 C

anadian-born actor August Schellenberg, who starred in the “Free Willy” films and appeared in numerous television roles, has died at his Dallas home after a fight with lung cancer, his agent said Friday.

He was 77.

Schellenberg played the role of Randolph Johnson, a whale trainer in all three “Free Willy” movies. In 2007, he was nominated for an Emmy as a supporting actor for his role as Chief Sitting Bull in the HBO series, “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.”

Schellenberg’s big-screen work also included appearing in the 2005 film, “The New World,” alongside movie stars Christian Bale and Colin Farrell. One of his last notable works was in 2012, when he played the lead role in an all Canadian cast of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, said his agent, Jamie Levitt.

“I got a call this morning from the NAC saying they have lowered their flags to honor him,” Levitt said. “He was a loving father and grandfather and a very good husband. He was a very well-known Canadian and an iconic actor.”

Levitt said Schellenberg, with whom she had worked for the past 15 years, died at his home Thursday.According to his personal website, he taught acting workshops in Toronto at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and at York University. He also was a former boxer, participated in various celebrity charity sporting events and served as a motivational speaker in Canada and the US. Schellenberg, who was born in Montreal, was half Mohawk and half Swiss, according to his website. He was survived by his wife, actress Joan Karasevich, and three vdaughters. —AP

This undated file photo supplied by HBO shows actors Eric Schweig, left, August Schellenberg and Nathan Chasing Horse, right, in the HBO film “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” Schellenberg, who starred in the “Free Willy” films and appeared in numerous television roles, has died at his Dallas home after a fight with lung cancer, his agent said Friday. He was 77. —AP

Chris Brown sentenced to 1,000 hours labor

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Robin Thicke and his wife make love as much as possible

judge reinstated Chris Brown’s revoked probation Friday and gave the singer a new sentence to perform 1,000 hours of community labor such as cleaning beaches or highways, removing graffiti or performing other chores assigned by the probation department.

Brown’s current legal troubles are the latest repercussions of his arrest four years ago for assaulting his former girlfriend, Rihanna.

The popular R&B singer sat in a courtroom for nearly an hour as his lawyer, Mark Geragos, and a prosecutor shuttled in and out of the judge’s chambers, with Geragos apparently seeking his client’s approval for a plan to keep him from facing more serious consequences.

Superior Court Judge James Brandlin finally emerged and announced that an agreement had been reached.

Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray withdrew a request to rescind Brown’s probation because of a hit-and-run charge that was dismissed in another court Thursday.

Brandlin then told Brown he must perform 1,000 hours of community labor with one of four public programs: California

Department of Transportation highway cleanup, graffiti removal, beach cleanup or Probation Alternative Work Services.

Brown, 24, didn’t speak during Friday’s hearing, other than to agree to the deal worked out while he waited in the courtroom with his mother and two other people.

The singer has been in and out of court since pleading guilty to the 2009 assault on Rihanna. Besides making reports on fulfilling the requirements of an earlier order for community labor, he has had subsequent run-ins with the law for assault and traffic accidents.

The work that Brown did previously does not apply to the new sentence, said district attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison. Brown has a year to perform the work and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 20 for a progress report.

Brown, who won a Grammy in 2011 for Best R&B Album with “F.A.M.E.,” could ask the court to end his probation when he completes the community labor, but the final decision on the length of probation will be up to a judge. —AP

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he ‘Blurred Lines’ singer has been married to his high school sweetheart, Paula Patton, since 2005 and says they keep their romance alive by making sure they always have time alone. He told People magazine: “When we feel like we’re in a bad place, we try to switch it up. We’ll go for a walk or put on some fun music. You just gotta laugh, dance and make love as much as possible.” While Robin has been criticised for the explicit video accompanying ‘Blurred Lines’ - featuring topless models - he claims Paula was fully behind it and even convinced him to release it. He explained: “It was director Diane Martel’s idea. When I saw both versions I said, ‘Maybe just go with the clothed one’ but my wife saw the topless one and was like, ‘No way! That is so hot, sexy and original.” Robin, 36 and Paula, 37, have three-year-old son Julian together and the singer says his young one is already showing signs of following in his footsteps. He said: “He’s written six songs already. He’s three and wants to be a rock star! He’s my little road dog and the best thing to ever happen to me.”

Chris Brown

Afghan female stars defy clerics’ pressure

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013

A giant alphorn is on display while 508 alphorn blowers play together establishing a new world record for largest alphorn group performance, on the Gornergrat Mountain 3,089 meters above sea level (10,134.5 ft) with the Matterhorn mountain in background, near Zermatt, Switzerland yesterday. —AP

NZ prisoners go gourmet Thyme and punishment

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hipping up a blackcurrant jus in Wellington’s Rimutaka Prison, shaven-headed convict “Pete” rhapsodises about his new-found love of gourmet cooking, the swastika tattoos on his hand blurring as he whisks intently.

“You can get five dishes, five different flavours, from one fish,” the New Zealander says. “I thought normal fish all just tasted the same but I’ve learned a lot.”

Pete-not his real name-is among a team of inmates from the jail on the capital’s outskirts who prepared a five-star banquet for the public as part of this year’s Wellington on a Plate food festival.

More than 30 prisoners a year earn catering qualifications in the prison’s kitchens, providing them with skills to help them land jobs in Wellington’s thriving restaurant scene after their release.

This year, authorities decided to display the prison’s culinary prowess publicly for the first time.

In a programme that gives a whole new meaning to “doing stir”, they enlisted Martin Bosley, whose eponymous restaurant was named New Zealand’s best in 2007, to train six prisoners over a nine-month period.

The result was Prison Gate to Plate, two nights of fine dining in August that offered 140 paying customers a four-course banquet in the prison grounds.

“It’s been the most extraordinary thing I’ve

done in 30 years, and the most confronting,” said Bosley.

The chef, whose restaurant is situated in the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, admitted he was initially sceptical about swapping his swish waterfront location for weekly sessions in the grim surrounds of a prison kitchen.

“I wasn’t interested. I had very set views on crime and punishment, paying your debt to society, and wanted nothing to do with them,” he said.

“Then the idea started to intrigue me and I realised that these guys are going to get out eventually, what are they going to be doing on the outside?”

Asking an inmate what he did to end up behind bars is a serious breach of prison etiquette but Bosley said he initially assumed the six convicts selected for the programme would not have committed serious offences because Rimutaka is a medium security jail.

He soon realised he was incorrect, as most of his students had originally served time in high-security institutions before being moved to Rimutaka as a reward for good behaviour.

“It’s made me question some of the things I believed in, getting to know these guys, working with them and coming to like them,” said Bosley, who was not paid for his involvement.

“But always at the back of your mind there is the thought that there are victims out there.

This photo taken on July 30, 2013 shows inmates from Rimutaka prison putting together “Savannah Grass-fed Beef Fillet” for the “Wellington on a Plate” festival in the Upper Hutt area of Wellington.

“There’s been days when I’ve come out and just sat in the car park here for half an hour feeling desperately sad and despondent, thinking what a terrible place. Other times I’ve come out and thought ‘that’s amazing, we’re making a difference’.”

Bosley, who now has a former Rimutaka prisoner working part-time at his restaurant, said the skills of each inmate gradually emerged during his weekly sessions.

“Brownie” turned out to be a skilled butcher, wielding a razor-sharp knife with a surgeon’s care to trim fat from prime cuts of beef.

“Marco”, who says he could not make a sandwich before he was jailed in 2004, dreams of becoming a baker on the outside after perfecting his jailhouse pastries: “I want to make wedding cakes,” he told AFP. “Wolf” took charge of the vegetarian option, creating a meat-free Wellington roulade accompanied by French puy lentils and goat’s cheese mousse.

“Every time I failed, I learned something,” he said. “Once I realised you can’t chuck all the stuff in a pot and just go for it, you actually have to study it, I found it fascinating.”

Bullet-headed and with a frame almost as wide as it is tall, Wolf admits that contact with non-inmates has been the most challenging aspect of the programme, saying that like many prisoners he is intensely shy and being inside “stuffs up your social skills”.

He describes working on the banquet as nothing short of life changing, saying cooking has given him a goal to work toward.

“I’ve been here a long time and most officers would agree that when I came I was a troubled inmate,” he said.

“Since I’ve been involved in this it’s changed my whole focus (going) forward. I’ve now got a passion for this. It’s something I want to do and nothing else matters now.

“You sort of muddle yourself through the years and you’ve got no focus because every day is the same. It’s really good when you finally zoom in on something and go ‘bang, that’s what I want to do when I get out’.”

Wolf and the other prisoners were nervous about the reception their food would receive when AFP spoke to them just before the banquet on August 9 and 10.

They need not have worried. It received rave reviews, including one from the Dominion Post restaurant critic David Burton, who cited the opinion of one happy diner in his write-up: “If the food is always like this, I’d consider doing time.” —AFP

Martin Bosley posing in the kitchen where he helps inmates from Rimutaka prison put on a fine dinning experience in the Upper Hutt area of Wellington.

Martin Bosley (R) mentoring inmates from Rimutaka prison as they build towards putting on a fine dinning experience at the “Wellington on a Plate” festival in the Upper Hutt area of Wellington. —AFP Photos