4 Sep 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

GCC skeptical of Obama’s hold-up on Syria

Federer stunned as Nadal rolls on at the US Open

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Obama wins bipartisan support for Syria strike Attack on Syria may unleash more turmoil: UN WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s call for a military strike in Syria won significant momentum yesterday, with leaders of both parties in Congress announcing they are convinced that Syrian President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against his own people and that the United States should respond.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner emerged from a White House meeting and told reporters: “This is something that the United States, as a country, needs to do. I’m going to support the president’s call for action. I believe that my colleagues should support this call for action.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also said they will support Obama because the US has a compelling national security interest to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction.

But their endorsements still don’t resolve the deep ambivalence and even opposition toward action in both parties, and Boehner’s spokesman followed up the speaker’s announcement by describing the resolution’s passage as “an uphill battle.” Dozens of conservative Republicans and several liberal Democrats have come out against intervention, and may be prepared to ignore the positions of their leaders and the president.

Pelosi stressed that Americans need to hear more of the intelligence to be convinced that a strike is necessary. “I’m hopeful that the American people are

conspiracy theories

Could you get more serious!

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

G

uys, we have an amazing parliament. This institution never seizes to amaze me.

Sessions are supposed to start in midOctober but every day we are bombarded with MPs’ comments on trivial matters. I would not mind if the parliamentarians were discussing serious issues that concern the nation. What surprises me however, are the petty issues they are occupied with.

The whole world is busy watching the news and analyzing if there will be a war and what would be the impact of a possible hit on Syria for the whole region. I am sure that many of you are worried and are watching the news. I am sure many of you are wondering if there will be a war, if Syria will be hit and what would be the impact for us in the Gulf.

Will Iran respond to that and if it does, would Kuwait be a target, God forbid?

What would be the consequences if Iran responds to a possible strike? I know we do not have the size of Iran’s military defense. But at least, we can take care of our civil defense system in case of a possible attack, God forbid? I expect MPs to participate and lead in such a discussion. Instead, all I could see are attacks against the National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim for a statement he made last week regarding the reorganization of grillings and questioning.

Judging by the reaction of MPs, it seems that this is the most important topic in the country right now. It sounds like attacking Marzouq Alghanim about the meaning of a certain statement he made was the major topic that concerns the nation right now. I expected many MPs to comment on the young orphan girl who died last week and whose whole death was covered in a mysterious fashion.

Nobody from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, which is supposed to be the guardian of this organization, came or sent a representative to the funeral. This ministry is in charge of the orphanage in Kuwait and as such they should have sent a representative at her funeral. Let’s wait and see what would be on the agenda of our dear MPs if everything goes well and if parliament opens on the 15th of October.

Meanwhile, may I ask our MPs to postpone their trivial questioning and emphasize on the current affairs in the region. They should direct their precious attention and efforts to the situation in the region. After all, Kuwait is part of that region.

18 Islamists on hunger strike DUBAI: Eighteen out of 69 UAE Islamists serving jail terms for plotting to overthrow the government are on hunger strike in protest at alleged maltreatment, Amnesty International said yesterday. Six of the prisoners began their hunger strike on July 31, and three of them collapsed between August 21 and August 28, the rights group said.

Amnesty did not say when the remaining strikers started their protest. “Their hunger strike is a protest against alleged ill-treatment by Al-Razeen Prison authorities,” the London-based group said. “They have complained of beatings by prison guards and restrictions placed on family visits. They have also complained of light deprivation and say that prison authorities turn off air conditioning in high temperatures,” it added.

Amnesty called for immediate action to urge the authorities in the United Arab Emirates to “ensure that all detainees are protected from torture and other ill-treatment”. It also urged the UAE to make sure that prisoners “have regular access to their families, are given any necessary medical treatment, and are held in adequate conditions of detention, including ventilation and lighting in line with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners”. — AFP

Max 47º Min 30º High Tide 10:40 Low Tide 05:01 & 18:03

persuaded,” she said. “This is behavior outside the circle of civilized human behavior and we must respond,” she argued as she left the West Wing. Obama met with more than a dozen lawmakers in the White House Cabinet Room to press the case for strikes aimed at dismantling Assad’s chemical weapons capabilities.

The president said he’s confident Congress will authorize the strike and tried to assure the public that involvement in Syria will be a “limited, proportional step.” “This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan,” Obama said. Tennessee Republican Sen Bob Corker, top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters yesterday that he was working with panel Chairman Robert Menendez, D-NJ, to craft a resolution narrower than the broad measure the administration proposed on Saturday.

He said their resolution, which could be ready as early as today, would limit the duration of the operation and prevent the deployment of US ground troops. Obama indicated he is open to changing the language to address lawmakers’ concerns and called for a prompt vote. “So long as we are accomplishing what needs to be accomplished, which is to send a clear message to Assad, to degrade his capabilities to use chemical weapons, not just now but also in the future, as long as the authorization Continued on Page 15

In this file photo, an Arrow missile is launched at an undisclosed location in Israel. Israel and the US conducted a joint missile test over the Mediterranean yesterday. — AP

With eye on Syria, Israel tests missiles JERUSALEM: Israel and the US conducted a joint missile test over the Mediterranean yesterday, in a display of militar y prowess as the Obama administration seeks congressional support for strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Any US strikes, in retaliation for alleged chemical weapons use by the Assad

regime, are not expected before next week when Congress returns from summer recess.

The Israeli Defense Ministry said the test of its Arrow 3 missile-defense system was performed together with the US Defense Department. The system successfully detected and tracked a Continued on Page 15

Expatriates in Kuwait to get subsidized food if....

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WASHINGTON: US Senators view photographs of victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria as Secretary of State John Kerry, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Martin Dempsey testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the topic of ‘The Authorization of Use of Force in Syria’ yesterday. — AFP

Microsoft buys Nokia to fight Apple, Google

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52 Brotherhood members jailed Al-Jazeera, 3 TV channels shut down

Bombings, attacks kill 67 across Iraq BAGHDAD: A series of coordinated evening blasts in Baghdad and other violence killed at least 67 people in Iraq yesterday, officials said, the latest in a months-long surge of bloodshed that Iraqi security forces are struggling to contain. Many of those killed were caught up in a string of car bombings that tore through the Iraqi capital early in the evening as residents were out shopping or heading to dinner.

Those blasts struck 11 different neighborhoods and claimed more than 50 lives in a span of less than two hours. The killing comes amid a spike in deadly violence in recent months as insurgents try to capitalize on rising sectarian and ethnic tensions. The scale of the bloodshed has risen to levels not seen since 2008, a time when Iraq was

pulling back from the brink of civil war.

The evening’s deadliest attack happened when two car bombs exploded near restaurants and shops Baghdad’s northeastern suburb of Husseiniyah, a Shiite area, killing nine people and wounding 32. A row of restaurants was also hit in the largely Shiite eastern neighborhood of Talibiyah, killing seven and wounding 28. Another car bomb hit the nearby Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City, killing three and wounding eight, according to police.

At around the same time, authorities say back-to-back car bombs blew up near a police station in the western neighborhood of Sadiyah, a mainly Sunni area, killing six and wounding 15.

Another blast hit a central square in the Continued on Page15

CAIRO: An Egypt military court yesterday gave a life sentence to a Muslim Brotherhood member and sentenced 51 more to jail for attacking soldiers in Suez following Mohamed Morsi’s July ouster.

The sentences come as army helicopters killed eight militants and wounded 15 in

intensive air strikes in the restive Sinai Peninsula where it has battled a semiinsurgency since Morsi was deposed on July 3. The ousted Islamist president’s supporters organized nationwide protests Continued on Page 15

CAIRO: Supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi, chant slogans during a protest to commemorate two months since he was ousted, in Cairo yesterday. — AP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

LOCAL

Filipinos seek brief suspension of DH deployment to Kuwait Increase in number of abuse, rape cases

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Hawally and Salmiya firemen rescued several persons who were trapped by smoke in an apartment. A call was placed about a fire in a Hawally building and some people were trapped because of thick smoke. The building was evacuated and the fire was put out. — By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Expats to get subsidized food if Iran closes Hormuz Strait KUWAIT: Kuwait’s government plans to give the country’s expatriate community access to subsidized food as part of emergency plans in case Iran closes traffic at the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation to a US-led strike against Syria, a local daily reported yesterday quoting government sources familiar with the plan.

According to the quarterly report released by the health statistics control department in the Ministry of Health, Kuwait’s population is nearly 3,719,000, divided into 1,185,000 Kuwaitis or 31.9 percent of the total population, and 2,534,000 or 68.1 percent of the population. The largest expatriate community is found in Farwaniya Governorate with 980,000 people.

Speaking to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity, the sources said that the government’s emergency plan includes handing cards to foreigners living in the country similar to those granted to Kuwaitis by which they can obtain basic food items at subsidized prices. “This step demonstrates the state’s commitment to taking responsibility for the safety of all residents on its land regardless of nationality”, the sources said.

According to the sources, the plan calls for ‘reducing’ the quantity of subsidized items allocated for Kuwaitis in order to ‘supply’ enough shares to be provided to non-Kuwaitis in similar price rates. A portion’s size varies depending on the number of family members, but the source said that an average package includes rice, sugar, lentils, tomato paste, frozen chicken, cooking oil, in addition to milk and cheese.

The same sources also revealed that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s preparations for worst case scenarios include making three emergency decisions as authorized to the minister by the commodities law; the first one to determine quotas of subsidized food, the second to maintain prices against increase, and the third to stop export of food items. Earlier reports suggested that Kuwait’s strategic reserve of basic food items located at warehouses of co-operative societies around the country has enough supply to meet demand for four months. Preparations for potential after-

math of a military strike against Syria will be the main topic of discussion during a meeting for the parliament’s foreign affairs committee today to be attended by a government team led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.

According to Cabinet sources quoted by Al-Rai yesterday, the team is expected to include as many as eight ministers “to allow discussion of all kind of repercussions including the possibility of a regional war”. The meeting could also extend to the technical side of the issue “and address the political side concerning Kuwait’s official stand on a military strike against the Syrian regime”, said the sources. Parliament Speaker Marzouq AlGhanim issued an invitation yesterday to MPs to attend the meeting which takes place this afternoon at the parliament’s building.

Meanwhile, 10 lawmakers submitted a request to allocate the parliament’s session on November 14, 2013 to discuss national and food security preparations in case of an emergency, as well as the impact of regional changes on the local scene, and the potential effect of a convicted Iranian espionage cell to the national security. According to Al-Rai, the proposal was submitted by MPs Riyadh Al-Adasani, Dr Mohammad Al-Huwailah, Dr Abdullah Al-Turaiji, Dr Abdurrahman Al-Jeeran, Osama Al-Tahous, Mohammad Al-Enizy, Dr Husain Al-Quwa’ian, Dr Awdah Al-Ruwai’ei, Hamdan Al-Azmi, and Madhi Al-Hajri.

In other news, Al-Jarida daily reported that the Cabinet is considering plans to establish a permanent crises management center to deal with emergency situations and wars that could take place in the country and region. According to sources, the plan calls for establishing an independent body which will coordinate with concerned authorities to activate emergency plans when necessar y.

Meanwhile, Al-Anba Daily reported that the Cabinet is also considering a proposal to establish a ‘reserve economic council’ whose job is to address any developments that impact the economic sector in Kuwait as a result of political escalations in the region.

KUWAIT: A group of Filipino community leaders led by Oragon sa Kuwait President Ann Abunda, turned over about 10,000 signatures gathered from the Filipinos in Kuwait favoring a call for an immediate suspension of sending domestic helpers to Kuwait. The document, on two hardbound copies, was received by CDA and Consul General Raul Dado at the Philippine Embassy recently. The signature campaign for moratorium was called in response to the rising number of maltreatment/abuse and rape cases against Filipinas in Kuwait.

Although there are some within the Filipino community who do not want this moratorium to be imposed, a majority of Filipinos here favor the move. “The people have spoken and they actually attached their signatures to stress their points here. It’s up to the central government to weighin on various options. We’ll see how we can get a viable solution to the call for moratorium,” said Raul Dado when he received the documents.

“The signature gathered will be one of our basis for our position papers that will be submitted along with others to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Albert del Rosario). Along with this, we will also send some suggestions from recruitment agencies and employers especially those who are employing Filipinas.

The government will consider all options in deciding such call for moratorium including the economical and humanitarian aspects and even political relations. It’s up to the central government to decide. I agree that domestic helpers must be provided with proper protection,” added Dado.

“We are thankful to everyone especially those who affixed their signatures to the call for the

KUWAIT: Members of the drug gang pictured (left) after their arrest yesterday.

Four-member drug gang in police net

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The operations department at the drugs control department arrested a Kuwaiti and three Arabs with hashish, illicit drugs, fire arms and ammunition in addition to KD 7,000. Police received a tip-off about two Arabs selling drugs in Farwaniya, and arrested them at home after seizing 500 grams of hashish. The two said they got the drugs from another Arab and lead them to him where one kilo of hashish and KD 3,000 was found.

He said the drugs were for sale and that he gets them from a citizen, who is an ex-convict. When police went to the citizen’s house, they found 500 grams of hashish, illicit drugs, a firearm and several rounds in addition to KD 4,000. He said the drugs were for sale, the gun was for self-defence and the money was from the sale of the contraband. The arrested were sent to concerned authorities.

Steady business for US used-car dealer in Gulf FORT WAYNE: Business is steady at the Image Cars lot at 1015 W. Coliseum Blvd. Crowds meander through while the firm’s three salesmen are kept busy as they show off their sparkling inventory of used cars. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Owner Amar Masri has found a secondary market for used cars on the other side of the world that is just as lucrative. He sells and ships cars to nearly all the Gulf states, Middle East countries and parts of Africa.

What has become a nice side business for Masri, a native of Palestine, started when a relative back home asked if he could get him a particular vehicle. He was able to find what was wanted and deliver it via a forwarding company to Palestine. After seeing what he could do, other relatives and friends of the relative began making requests and then friends of friends of friends and even dealers, all of which led to him becoming a regular shipper of used cars overseas. “It’s important to know the market over there,” says Masri, “and then try to keep ahead of its constant changes. For instance, the Saudis presently want big sedans like Lexus, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and high-end SUVs. And they like them to be black with tan leather interiors. They won’t even look at one that is black with a black interior.”

“Iraqis want cars that are newer than 2011.

Jordan has a tax exemption on hybrid cars, so Toyota Camry is a hot item there. Lebanese buyers want fancier cars like BMW and Lexus, while Africans prefer the Japanese Highlander. Some countries have age limitations on imported cars. “Mileage is never an issue as long as the car looks good, rides nicely, is not more than 5 years old and the price is right. All the used cars I send over there have between 100,000 and 200,000 miles and sometimes even more. Highmileage cars, of course, are less expensive.”

Masri’s philosophy of making a little profit on each sale instead of trying to make a lot on an individual sale keeps customers coming back. Some call him directly, which eliminates the competition and one of the middleman steps that cost him time and money.

He says shipping overseas is not as complicated as one might think. He works with an expeditor who arranges for his cars to be shipped. All he does is fill out a bill of lading, a document used in goods transportation. When he has a car loaded onto a forwarding company’s truck heading for the port of Jacksonville, Fla., and on to the Middle East, he already has his money in hand. The more expensive cars are shipped in containers, but most of them are drive-on and drive-off.

Things have changed drastically since Masri sold his first car overseas in the late 1990s. “Now

KUWAIT: Around 10,000 signatures of the Filipinos were turned over by the Oragon sa Kuwait in favor of moratorium.— Photos by Ben Garcia The call for the suspension of sending domessuspension of sending domestic helpers to Kuwait. It was gathered easily because most of tic helpers to Kuwait started to circulate on the Filipinos here in Kuwait would like to see the Facebook or social media outlets until it caught immediate suspension to address the issue of the attention of various government agencies mistreatment. With these signatures, we hope to back home. Oragon sa Kuwait spearheads the send the loudest message as possible. Our mes- call for moratorium and gained momentum sage is clear: we need complete protection for especially after they were supported by various our OFWs in Kuwait, especially the household migrant Filipino organizations in the Middle East. service workers. Enough of maltreatment, abuse Now, they are actively calling for a GCC-wide ban of Filipino domestic helpers. and rape,” she said.

when I bid on a car at Fort Wayne’s two auto auctions or in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Mich., I’m not just bidding against other dealers at the auction. Somebody in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Dubai might be bidding over the Internet.” When dealing with a specific individual, he can simply use his cellphone to shoot photos of the car and its VIN and send them instantly to a server overseas that his customer can access.

Masri says his main interest in cars has always been in driving them, and willingly admits that he knows nothing about fixing them. That’s why he has a trained staff of three mechanics that go over each car he buys at auction with a fine-tooth comb.

Masri’s family moved to Jordan after the first Gulf War. After graduation from high school he immigrated to the United States, attended a junior college in Boston and then earned a liberal arts degree from Boston University. He opened the first retail store in Fort Wayne in 1997 to market cell phones.

Cars were initially just a hobby and side business until he became the principal financial backer for a friend’s used-car business. When the friend quit in 1997 he suddenly found himself in the used-car business ... one that he has taken to the next level and that now generates a good percentage of his overall sales.

Cash stolen A citizen told police that KD 550 was stolen from his son’s account.

Girl beaten up A 21-year-old Kuwaiti girl told Surran police that her brother beat her up when she returned home late. She said that she was at her friend’s house and stayed back late. She submitted a medical report to police.

Noisy fight A loud and noisy fight broke out between an Egyptian couple, prompting neighbors to call the police. The woman suspected her husband of having an affair and started a fight with him.

Maid threat A woman in Jahra told police her maid threat-

ened to hurt her and her children after she decided to return her to the office.

Man found dead An Indian was found hanging in one of Kabed’s stables. Policemen who went to the area along with the coroner dealt with the case as a suicide.

Laptop stolen A Saudi expat told Taimi police that a television set, a laptop, four phones and watches were stolen while he was in Saudi Arabia. He did not accuse anyone.

Drug trader held Hawally police arrested a man with drugs and seized 2,130 Captagon tablets, three hashish sticks and 11 shabu envelops from him. He was sent to concerned authorities.

Twitter rejects Kuwait request for clients’ info KUWAIT: The Appeals Court adjourned a case in which a Kuwaiti man seeks a 10-year jail sentence on accusations of offending Gulf rulers which was overruled, and set Sept 22, 2013 as the date for the next hearing when a ruling is expected to be made.

Meanwhile, legal sources familiar with the case told Al-Qabas daily on Monday that Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry contacted Twitter’s management as per the Public Prosecution’s request in order to inquire about a number of tweets involved in the case, but the management refused to provide the Kuwaiti

government with “any information about this particular case or similar cases”.

The Public Prosecution had charged citizen Hamad Al-Naqqi for posting offensive remarks on Twitter on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in addition to rulers of Gulf Cooperation Council states.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison after the Court of First Incidence found him guilty of the charges, but the same court acquitted him from state security charges that the Public Prosecution also pressed.

Kuwait MPs promote support for people with special needs KUWAIT: Kuwaitis with disabilities should be given a monthly financial assistance of at least KD 300 for life, a parliamentary proposal suggested. MPs Khalil AlAbdullah, Abdullah Al-Tamimi, Mohammad AlHawaila and Safa Al-Hashem said that the financial assistance should be provided by the state regardless of the type or degree of the disability.

Any woman looking after a person suffering from a disability should be given 250 dinars a month, even if she is employed and has an income, the lawmakers said in their proposal, local Arabic daily Al Kuwaitiya

reported on Tuesday. Caretakers assisting people with disabilities should be given a retirement pension that is equal to their salary if they had 15 years of service for men and 10 years for women, the MPs said.

The proposal will be taken up by a parliamentary committee for assessment before it is debated by the lawmakers.

Kuwait is one of the most generous welfare states in the world and provides its citizens with free education and healthcare and subsidises social services, housing, electricity and food.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

LOCAL

Complaints of ‘abusive treatment’ in Asima Cheers and jeers for Al-Ali

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: A tighter grip on Kuwait’s traffic rules over the past few months has been met with both approval and displeasure. While some drivers applaud the emptier streets and law-abiding drivers, others like Mohammad, a Kuwaiti citizen, complain about the Ministry of Interior’s “abusive and despotic treatment and proce dures.” Mohammad explained that his driver whose only fault was that he forgot his legal driver’s license at

General Director of the Traffic Department. Mohammad, 30, explained that his driver was arrested for a non-serious traffic offence and was kept for two days in the detention centre in Asima Traffic Department waiting for Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali to sign his release because, as Mohammad put it, no one else is authorized to release a detained violator.

Since he took the office of an Assistant Undersecretary and the General Director of the Traffic Department, Maj Gen Abdulfattah

KUWAIT: In this file photo a policeman is checking the driver’s licence and ID of a driver at a checkpoint in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The image is used for illustrative purpose only. — Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh home, was kept in a jail with 87 other people for over 48 hours last week, waiting for the signature of Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali, Assistant, Undersecretary and the

Al-Ali, has ensured strict application of the policy in this department. He was instrumental in clearing the streets of illegal drivers, out-oforder vehicles and drivers who had

multiple traffic offences. Since he took over the reins of the Traffic Department in Kuwait, millions of dinars were collected from traffic fines. Many traffic and residency violators were also arrested within this period.

According to a policeman in Asima Traffic Department, even if a detained person provides all his documents, Abdulfattah Al-Ali’s signature is needed in order to be allowed to release the arrested individual from the Asima Traffic Department detention centre.

After Mohammad’s driver disappeared last week, he contacted him to inform him that he was arrested and the car was impounded at a police checkpoint because he did not have his valid driving license with him. According to the law, a driver who fails to provide valid driving license but has one at home, is an offence punishable by law with a KD10 fine.

“My driver was arrested for more than 48 hours and kept in a cell the size of 7x7 with 87 other people.

This is inhuman and illegal in the first place,” Mohammad said explaining that the huge number of people in the cell is due to the increasing number of raids and check-points and also because of the fact that those who are arrested cannot leave the detention centre without the signature of Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali. “Major General Abdulfattah is very busy, and is not available at the department all the time,” Mohammed told the Kuwait Times, elaborating that

he had to go to the station three times.

“I brought his license and the policemen saw that his papers are legal but they didn’t release him and told me I have to wait for Al-Ali to sign his release. I saw many people, both Kuwaiti and expat family members and sponsors, waiting for hours in front of his office. First, they said he will come at 9 am, then 12 pm. Finally, he arrived at 7:00 pm,” Mohammad said.

“I find this rule of taking all responsibilities of policemen from different ranks as despotic. Why should people wait for hours in a humiliating way in front of Al-Ali’s office?” Mohammad asked explaining that he is very busy and couldn’t wait for more than an hour which was why he had to come back thrice every few hours.

According to an official from the Traffic Department in Asima Governorate, if the arrested person had all his legal documents, he could leave easily after getting the signature of Major General Al-Ali. He explained that Al-Ali is available in his office till 1:00 pm and if the sponsor or a relative brought the documents after 1:00 pm, the detained individual will remain behind bars till the following day.

M eanwhile, the M inistr y of I nterior raided garages in Shuwaikh on Car Street yesterday.

According to a witness, some cars were impounded and drivers were arrested for various violations, like tinted windows, car stickers and so on.

NA panel holds talks with Interior minister

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The prosecution of 67 suspects accused of using fake university degree certificates to grant expatriates driving licenses was postponed till October 8, said informed sources noting that, if found guilty, the suspects will be fined and imprisoned.

MP Askar Al-Enezi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Interior and Defense Affairs Committee said that the committee met with Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled yesterday. He added that developing citizen service centers, easing traffic congestions and granting citizenship to bedoons and the kids of Kuwaiti women were discussed at the meeting.

Committee member MP Sultan Al-Shemmari said that the meeting was fruitful and that minister Al-Khaled showed interest in granting citizenship to bedoons as per the law. He also noted that the minister promised to consider granting citizenship to Kuwaitis’ wives.

Sherida Al-Maosherji, Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said an

investigation committee decided to punish 21 officials and employees at Ahmadi mosques department over some financial and administrative violations. He added that in addition to deducting from their salaries, the involved officials had also been degraded.

Saleh Yousif Al-Fadhalah, CEO of Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents, said that the plan endorsed by the Cabinet states that holders of high degrees and technicians who had been in Kuwait since 1965 and even earlier will be granted citizenship in accordance with Kuwait’s rules.

He also noted that Ph.D holders of the same group would be considered.

MP Mubarak Al-Harees, Chairman of the Parliamentary Legislative Committee said that the committee’s decision on some bills pertaining the judiciary, fatwa and legislation, lawyer and ministers’ prosecution had been postponed till further consultations were made with the lawyers society and other concerned bodies.

MP Adel Al-Kharafi yesterday proposed a bill to pay Kuwaiti doctors special allowances of KD 400 for Ph.D holders and KD 200 for Master

Sharp increase in Kuwait spending KUWAIT: Kuwait government’s spending for fiscal year 2012/13 (April to March) reached KD19.3 billion ($76.4 billion), up 14 per cent over last year, mainly driven by current expenditures rather than investment, said a report.

The current spending, which had looked on track to reach KD16 billion or so, ended up at KD17.5 billion, up 15 per cent y/y, the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) stated in its report.

The surprise came mostly from a sharp rise in the large ‘miscellaneous & transfers’ spending category, which incorporates items such as military salaries, transfers to the social security fund and transfers abroad - all of which jumped in the final accounts. This segment accounted for 52 per cent of current spending, said the NBK.

Also in current spending, the civilian wages and salaries increased by a sizeable 18 per cent y/y to KD4.8 billion. This follows an even more impressive 20 per cent increase in the previous year.

The rise reflects a combination of employment gains - public sector hiring rose by some 10,000 in the year to June 2013 - and pay increases, including a 25 per cent increase in basic pay for Kuwaiti nationals, the country’s top lender said.

In combination with high employment rates, these trends have helped support continued strength in the consumer sector, which has been the economy’s main bright spot for several years, it added.

According to NBK, the current spending was also boosted by a huge 32 per cent increase in spending on ‘goods & services’ which hit KD 3.6 billion.

Degree holders. He also said that doctors should not be paid both allowances at the same time.

Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, is scheduled to meet with the Capital Markets Authority to discuss establishing the bourse company. Notably, 50 percent of the company’s shares will be auctioned at KSA while the other 50 percent will be offered for public bidding among citizens.

The criminal court is scheduled to resume its hearings on breaking into the parliament by 70 suspects, including former MPs. The court will also hear the case of former MP Musallam AlBarrak where he was accused of insulting HH the Amir, for which he had been initially sentenced to five years in prison.

The Asian Olympic Council’s medical committee found five people who tested positive for illegal stimulants among athletes taking part in the recent Asian martial arts tourney held in South Korea from June 29 till July 6. According to the committee’s report, the five athletes were from Iran, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan, in addition to Kuwait’s kick-boxer Jarrah Al-Thuwaini.

KUWAIT: Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah holding an inspection tour at the Municpal Council yesterday.

Driving school certificate necessary to apply for test KUWAIT: People applying for a driver’s license are required to obtain a certificate from a driving school in Kuwait before they are eligible for a driving test according to new regulations which went into effect last Sunday.

Al-Rai Daily yesterday quoted Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali, Undersecretary Assistant for Traffic Affairs at the Ministry of Interior: “As of September 1, nobody can come for a driving test unless they provide a certificate issued by the driving school they went to which displays the applicant’s level, the number of classes taken as well as the name of the driving instructor”, Major General Al-Ali said.

The senior official believes that this step will help improve drivers’ skills and their level of acquaintance with traffic regula-

tions, especially when coupled with a new step where applicants will be tested on the streets instead of designated areas at traffic departments.

Major General Al-Ali further indicated that the General Traffic Department plans to “double the effort” of monitoring driving schools in Kuwait to assess their performance, and plans to open new test departments in Sabhan to serve the Farwaniya and Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates before the end of the year.

New facilities provided to applicants include setting test dates online, which Major General Al-Ali said are part of a plan to “improve quality of work under the instructions of Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and Undersecretary Lieutenant General Ghazi Al-Omar”.

Plane to evacuate Kuwaitis from Lebanon BEIRUT: A plane belonging to Kuwait Airways will arrive here late Tuesday to evacuate Kuwaiti nationals from Lebanon, said Kuwait’s Ambassador Abdulaal Al-Qenae.

Ambassador Al-Qenae said that the Kuwaiti and Lebanese authorities were coordinating on the matter to ensure the safe return of Kuwaitis from Lebanon.

The Ambassador called on Kuwaiti nationals in Lebanon to return home due to the critical situation in the region.

He noted that an office for the Kuwaiti Embassy was established in Rafiq Al-Hariri International Airport to facilitate the departure of Kuwaiti nationals. Recently, a number of countries called upon their citizens in Lebanon to depart after the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the possibility of a US airstrike against the Syrian regime. — KUNA

CAIRO: Kuwaiti ambassador to Egypt meeting a delegation from Kuwaiti Arts Union yesterday.

KUWAIT: Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah meeting lawyer Khaled Al-Barrak yesterday.

Bargains seen in Gulf despite political tensions DUBAI: Regional geo-political tensions are likely to keep investors cautious but a recent correction in the equity markets leaves room for bargain hunters, analysts say.

Trade durations across stock markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, have shortened during the political uncertainty with retail investors driving intraday volatility.

Markets in UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, all hitting multi-year peaks, were down around five percent each last week on risks of an attack on Syria and have since regained less than half of the lost ground.

“The sell-off created some extremely attractive entry points on many names, so bidders will likely drive the region a bit higher, especially as the Syrian issue moves further to the background,” says a Dubai-based analyst who asked not to be identified due to company policies.

President Barack Obama’s efforts to persuade the United States Congress to back his plan to attack Syria met with skepticism on Monday.

Lawmakers in his own Democratic Party expressed concern the US would be dragged into a new Middle East conflict. In a move called “prudent planning,” the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and four other ships in its strike group moved into

the Red Sea early on Monday.

A strike on Syria has been put to a congress vote and incase of support, will take place mid-September at the earliest.

This leaves a few days for local investors to look for attractive opportunities.

Kuwait’s Warba Bank, set up with a capital of 100 million dinars ($351m), will be in focus on its exchange debut. No new shares have been issued for this secondary listing however.

In Egypt, a judicial panel set up by the military-backed government supported a legal challenge to the status of the Muslim Brotherhood.

This could compound the rift between the polarized nation and trigger further street violence.

The Brotherhood has plans for a new mass protest on Tuesday. Cairo’s benchmark has fallen 4 percent year-to-date, underper forming its Gulf peers and weighed under by a political crisis.

Investors are struggling to take a longerterm position in the market until there is political and macroeconomic clarity.

Elsewhere, positive global cues might entice Gulf investors to increase risk.

Upbeat factory data from around the globe powered Asian markets on Tuesday, while gold and the yen lost some of their safe-haven appeal as the US delayed a possible strike on Syria.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

LOCAL Local Spotlight

kuwait digest

Is Kuwait an all-male camp?

Children of the damned

By Dr Ibtihal Al-Khateeb

T

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

T

his should serve as a real warning to everyone here in Kuwait. We have enough trouble dealing with a majority of male expats here who live as bachelors, despite being married and having wives back in their home country. They choose to stay here by themselves to save money and send it back home as remittance.

The total number of expatriates here averages around 2,665,000. They make up 59.8 percent of Kuwait’s entire population. So, those men are staying here alone either because they barely make enough money to cover their expenses or they want to save money and send it back home and save their families from unnecessary trouble. There are many reasons for these men who stay here for years on end without going home. While some are lucky and get to travel once a year, others stay here for years together without a holiday.

Those who work for the government are seen as secure but then again, they only make up a small percentage of expats working here as the majority of them are in the private sector. The private sector has more rules and restrictions than the government and the decision of travelling on a holiday is in the hands of the sponsor and depends on the contract between those two. I have seen many expats working in the private sector who haven’t been able to visit their family for two to three years. It’s not fair but is definitely happening.

Now these men, regardless of whether they are married or single, need a partner and some Internet services offer the option of getting friendly with single girls who are looking for a boyfriend. They meet up with one of these girls and date around as he tells her that he’s divorced or single and one thing leads to another before he gets her pregnant and flies away like a bird, leaving her in jail and the child under national care. Though this is a sad ending, who can you blame? The man who wasn’t honest or the girl for being stupid? Or do we blame the government’s rules for not allowing the men to bring their families here?

I think the government should rethink the laws and make it easy for all men to bring their wives here.

Whether he’s able to cover the expenses or not is his problem and not the government’s business. The man is responsible for his family and how he manages is left to him. The law should allow all married men to bring their wives here when they move here with a job visa and why not, Kuwait is not an all-male camp now, is it?

kuwait digest

Fanaticism, extremism

By Waleed Al-Rejaib

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sychiatrists used to classify ‘fanaticism’ or ‘obstinacy’ as psychological problems, which means they are merely wrong behaviors or beliefs resulting from various socio-cultural circumstances. However, recent studies proved that fanaticism, namely religious or sectarian, is a psychological disease. What does this mean?

When some psychological problems develop and become chronic, they alter the brain’s chemistry which means that a patient needs both medical and psychological treatment by both a psychiatric and a psychologist. Some problem may only need psychological treatment but when they chronically last, the brain’s chemistry changes and requires chemical treatment or medications. Take depression, for instance, which can be a simple symptom of stress but may develop into suicidal depression.

Knowing that psychological problems, including everyday life problems resulting from stress, generally develop into more complicated ones unless quickly tended to, this calls for more awareness of and taking care of psychological health at the very first symptoms. We should resort to science instead of superstition.

As we all know, fanaticism is acquired through education and practice. It is not genetic. According to studies, a child may learn it from his parents as early as the age of two, be it racial, nationalistic or tribal. The most dangerous types are the religious and sectarian ones which can be hardly cured or adjusted. Fanaticism that leads to extremism basically starts as a wrong idea regardless of its nature. It is an idea that develops negative emotions like hatred accompanied

by strong dither followed by aggressiveness against those opposing the idea. Commenting on fanaticism psychology, psychiatrist Dr Adel Sadeq says that “A sound mind only accepts logic. So, whenever an idea or an opinion is in question, it accepts it as long as it is logical because it only and naturally accepts logical and causative ideas. Sometimes a person may seem reasonable, rational, intellectual or educated but still act obstinately and refuse to admit being wrong. Contrarily, his mind starts searching for evidence to back up his views at any cost. He only sees what he wants to because his mind works in one direction and does not rest assured until he proves his own opinions right”.

According to Dr Sadeq, fanaticism is the opposite of pertinence which is a positive emotion towards valuable things like a nation, a principle, a positive idea, or a mass agreement to the good of mankind. On the other hand, persistent fanaticism, which is the first phase of extremism, is abnormal.

As a socio-psychological trend, fanaticism is acquired by upbringing and develops by social normalization. Schools, the media and daily practices enhance fanaticism that cannot be defined or restricted to certain cultural or educational levels and both literate and illiterate people may get psychological diseases which are not limited to certain standards of people, either.

Dr Sadeq considers that the lack of democracy is one of the major reasons for fanaticism, be it within the family, at school, on streets or in the whole country. Nature has no prejudices at all. It is well-balanced. —Al-Rai

kuwait digest

Feeling of trepidation

By Dr Hamad Al-Osaidani

T

he atmosphere that we lived in during the past few days, particularly since Wednesday, under the threat of a military attack on Assad’s regime who bombed his own people with chemical weapons, took me 10 years back, when the world stood watching George Bush order his troops to invade Iraq and remove the dictator Saddam Hussein. During those days, particularly in March 2003, Kuwait was in for a hard time following the American troops in the Gulf and its territories to enter Iraq, thinking about Saddam Hussein’s reactions who would not find any place other than Kuwait to retaliate - and this was exactly what happened.

Before the start of that war, the local scene was in chaos. Schools were closed, and thousands lined up in front of the Saudi Embassy to apply for visas before the start of the war, fearful, thanks to the exaggerated picture the media painted.

Citizens also took precautionary measures like buying bread and mineral water etc until the war started and lasted a few days after which people started to gradually feel at ease, confident that Saddam will not be able to strike Kuwait with his remaining troops, despite his attempts which fell flat.

Today, we are reliving the same feeling of trepidation, albeit to a lesser degree, because the capabilities of Assad to retaliate are limited, and will not be able to reach the Gulf in any way shape or form. He accuses the Gulf of supporting terrorists as he describes the opposition, yet the fear is from the Eastern neighbor who is threatening to set the area on fire if the West attacked Syria - and we mean Iran which is trying to deter the US from hitting Syria.

We saw the government’s measures to face any attack against the regime after the council of ministers held an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, and formed a security committee headed by the Interior Ministry to follow the situation. Fear mainly stems from Iran which will try to answer US by activating their sleeping cells which are based throughout the Gulf and this will affect Kuwait also. The Interior Ministry should increase security to prevent any attempts to create trouble from these cells.

One thing is for sure: Kuwait is in the heart of Arab events, no matter where they take place. What took place in Egypt had a ripple effect in Kuwait, though we rejected the Interior Ministry’s decision to deport Egyptians who protested the measures of Al-Sisi and his army against peaceful protesters in Rabiah AlAdawayia square. Kuwait and Syrian blood got mixed in the land of Sham and this proves that Kuwait empathises with the pain of the other Arab nations.

This is what makes Kuwait popular and a true testimonial to this are the pictures where people expressed their gratitude towards Kuwait for its help.

We pray to Allah the Almighty to end Assad’s regime soon and liberate Sham and cleanse it of Baath’s filth which destroyed everything and took the lives of so many innocents. —Al-Rai

his world is very strange. There is great injustice in distribution. While wealth, beauty and good lucks are on one side, poverty, cruelty and deprivation are on the other. One side is full while the other is empty. And since emptiness cannot stay that way, it soon becomes filled with hollowness - even of compassion and humanity.

My husband whispered to me as we walked our little daughter Yasmina to the cinema that “it looks like we are the two oldest people in the theater”. We laughed a lot as we sat in our chairs looking at all the children whose passion with ‘One Direction’ brought them to watch a documentary on the band’s career.

Yasmina was visibly overjoyed as she watched the movie and sang along with the numbers that her favorite band played. She couldn’t contain her happiness as she sat between her parents who came along because they couldn’t resist seeing the smile on her face.

I looked around and saw little girls - most of them wearing t-shirts carrying the band’s name - jumping up and down in happiness. My heart was jumping along in excitement, before it dropped on the borders of Syria, Palestine, Yemen and Libya where children wear headbands that tell stories of death and martyrdom. Those kids also jump; not from excitement, but from fear. They do not jump along with the beat of a musical band, but to the sounds of death.

There is unequal distribution in everything. While my daughter receives enough love and care from her parents to cover at least 20 children, sadness continues to knock on children’s doors in Damascus. I could not erase this thought from my mind as I watched my daughter happily watch the movie. There she was, sitting with nothing of life’s concerns worrying

There is unequal distribution in everything. While my daughter receives enough love and care from her parents to cover at least 20 children, sadness continues to knock on childrenís doors in Damascus. I could not erase this thought from my mind as I watched my daughter happily watch the movie. There she was, sitting with nothing of lifeís concerns worrying her, whereas a girl of her same age and perhaps with the same long hair, the same small nose and same wide eyes filled with life, is sitting in her house in Syria waiting for a rocket to land on her city. She plays hide and seek with the rocket. her, whereas a girl of her same age and perhaps with the same long hair, the same small nose and same wide eyes filled with life, is sitting in her house in Syria waiting for a rocket to land on her city. She plays hide and seek with the rocket. Sometimes she manages to escape it, sometimes she doesn’t.

I do not claim that I can engage in a logical political dialogue about the repercussions of the imminent strike against Syria which has children of my daughter’s age whose hearts shake in fear, who think constantly about death, who keep staring into emptiness and who clutch on to their parents’ clothes as they cry in horror. As I imagine all of that, any political discussions are rendered worthless to me. And since I do not have an alternative, I think I do not have the right to speak on the issue.

I remember being very sad when Baghdad was hit in 2003. I spoke so much that ‘there must be some other way’, that ‘violence can never be an answer’ and that ‘we cannot accept having victims of war as a principle to get rid of a tyrant’. But when I faced the unavoidable question of “what is the alternative?”, I had no answer. I stopped engaging in realistic debate because I do not have a place in it, and I have the right to reject it in a world that believes that the death of innocent people is a ‘due price’ in wars.

“Mom, dad, I want to attend a One Direction concert”, my daughter said to me and her father after the movie was over. Her father replied “Sure honey, whenever we get the chance”. Yasmina skipped as she walked between her parents so ecstatic about the promises we gave her. We can promise her happiness and safety today, but what can Syrian parents promise their children while their cities are under attack? Do they tell them how beautiful Heaven is?

Do they promise to be by their side when they die?

What agony is this? What pain and injustice is in this world? How did we reach a point in which people have to choose between a fascist regime that kills them slowly and thunderous bombardment that accelerates their death? Why isn’t there a third option in this sick world we live in?

The real war starts after the bombardment finishes, when destruction, disease and famine spreads.

Schools will be closed, hospitals will be overcrowded and streets are tainted with blood. Ironically enough, when the real war starts, the media disappears, lights go away, and the victims who the world believes were saved by a strike are left to live a daily life that is more like death itself.

There is no justice or anything good that comes from a world where its wealth gathers in the north and misery in the south. Even mercy, love and happiness, even children’s innocence and passion, even parents’ feelings and care, all these are enjoyed exclusively by people living in the north, whereas people in the south live a horrible drought.

For how long are we going to continue waiting for a savior to come? For how long are we going to wait until justice prevails instead of forcing it into our lands? For how long will humans be paid as a price for a security that we will never get? — Al-Jarida

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

LOCAL

Homeopathy gains popularity in Gulf

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah received yesterday heads of the GCC news agencies that are holding their 17th meeting here. Sheikh Salman affirmed that he was proud that the GCC news agencies were coordinating their efforts within the media domain, stressing that the current happenings in the region required such collaboration.

Gulf news agencies set to boost cooperation Kuwait hosts historic meeting KUWAIT: Heads of GCC news agencies concluded the 17th edition of their conference that was kicked off earlier yesterday approving a number of recommendations to push media cooperation to higher levels and improve the performance of these agencies to match the competence of international ones. The recommendations, discussed in the 8th GCC technical committee that convened earlier today prior to the conference, will be referred to the Ministry of Information to get the final approval.

Bahrain’s News Agency, suggested during the conference setting up an all-inclusive official website for the GCC news agencies which will contain all social media services - youtube, twitter and instagram.

Saudi Press Agency suggested to re-evaluate the news agencies social communication websites and recommended holding a training workshop on the use of multimedia by next year.

Meanwhile, Qatar New Agencey showcased its vision on the joint website for the GCC news agencies and took the initiative to design it.

Bahrain’s news agency expressed its readiness to host the website and handle its expenses. Both Qatari and Bahraini - agencies decided to collaborate and work together to finish up the website

by December.

Kuwait News Agency suggested to exchange expertise and information as well as suggesting holding a workshop in this regard.

Improving visual media resources by holding training courses and workshops is a suggestion made by UAE news agency. Technical staff working of the visual mead realm should exchange visits within the agencies of the six gulf countries to learn and achieve more.

The participants all commended technical department director at the Saudi Press Agency, Abdullah Al-Ghamidi, for building a photo sharing website where all the GCC agencies are able to share pictures and files. They encouraged more efforts to be exerted to improve the website for the better to host more photos and to reach all

the GCC agencies.

The key outcome of the conference focused on increasing communication, workshops, and visits of all media staff, especially the technical teams to improve the quality of the medium where the news is presented. Adel Al-Sammak, a senior engineer at Kuwait News Agency, even took it one step further by suggesting the use of the widely-used smartphone texting app (whatsapp) as a joint platform where all the GCC technical staff can communicate and consult; a step that would, surely, enhance communication with ease and smootheness.

Sheikh Mubarak Duaij Al-Sabah, KUNA’s Chairman of the Board and Director General, said the Gulf news agencies “have proven their credibility which stemmed from our independence in reporting from different sources, bolstering the professionalism and objectivity of our national workforce, as well as developing their capabilities.”

The KUNA chief was speaking at the inauguration of the 17th meeting of heads of news agencies in the six GCC countries - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We have realized, as news agencies, the importance of solidarity ... which will boost the role that media play in development and the need to promote media standards, which is our core responsibility,” said Sheikh Mubarak.

The KUNA chief said coordination among the Gulf news agencies was important in international conferences and fora with the objective of confronting lobbying groups vis-a-vis Gulf, Arab, and Islamic causes.

KUNA, he said, believed in the importance of unity among the GCC countries “because they share social, economic, political, and media objectives.”

He said today’s meeting was held amidst “exceptional regional circumstances which compel us to be everywhere to cover the events in a professional and transparent manner” that meets

expectations of our audience.

Sheikh Mubarak noted that the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) would be hosting the world congress of news agencies which would be attended by delegates from some 125 news agencies.

The congress will discuss how to develop the work in news agencies, and how to report events using modern technology and social media networks, he noted.

Sheikh Mubarak also highlighted the role of the GCC Secretariat in removing all obstacles facing the GCC news agencies.

The 17th meeting is attended by GCC Assistant Secretary General for Cultural and Media Affairs Khaled Al-Ghassani, SPA chief Abdullah AlHussein, Director General of Bahrain News Agency (BNA) Muhannad Suleiman, Qatar News Agency (QNA) Director General Ahmad AlBuainain, Acting Director General of the Oman News Agency Dr. Mohammad Al-Oraimi, and UAE News Agency (WAM) Director General Ibrahim AlAbed.

On his part, Qatar’s chief News Agency Ahmed Saad Al-Bhuainain, lauded the efforts made by the GCC agencies to boost and enhance the performance through joint cooperation. He hoped that this meeting will come out with fruitful results that unify the policies of the GCC agencies.

Oman’s News Agency Director General Mohammad Al-Oraimmi expressed similar wishes as his Qatari counterpart where he hoped the meeting would result in constructive and productive goals to meet. He hoped to see more cooperation in the exchange of technical and news reporting expertise as well as encouraging the exchange of news, photos and training courses.

UAE Director General of the Emirates News Agency Ibrahim Al-Abed highlighted in his speech that this meeting is a great opportunity to follow up on decisions made in previous meetings and put them into actions to elevate the performance of the GCC news agencies to meet higher standards in news reporting as their fellow international peers. —KUNA

MP demands minister’s resignation over orphan’s death

By A Saleh and agencies KUWAIT: Lawmakers, in addition to political and legal activists, demanded an investigation into the death of a social care resident who reportedly died in an accident after she escaped from an orphanage last week.

The victim, who was 21 years old at the time of her death, came out of a social care home supervised by the Ministry of Social Affairs and

Labor early Wednesday morning and drove her car on Gulf Road where she met with an accident and died. According to ministry insiders quoted by Al-Qabas yesterday, the victim’s body remained at the Sabah Hospital’s morgue for four days before she was finally identified.

MP Mansour Al-Thufairi called Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi yesterday to resign over the case, claiming that

Gulf Air ‘puts job cut plans on hold’ MANAMA: Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, is not planning any further redundancies this year, according to trade unionists.

The airline refused to confirm it had put its redundancy scheme on hold, but the Gulf Air Trade Union (GATU) said it had reliable information that no more staff would be let go in 2013.

Union leaders in July called on the management to halt layoffs after it emerged Gulf Air had reduced its losses by 50 per cent through a major cost-cutting programme.

This involved around 950 redundancies, fleet size reduction and the slashing of routes designed to cut losses. “To my knowledge, no-one will be fired until the end of the year,” said union spokesman Mohammed Mahdi yesterday.

“Now this is being said informally among those in Gulf Air. They say that the airline is focusing on other options and is doing well with its cost-cutting.”

The union is still fighting on behalf of 34 Bahraini employees who were previously handed compulsory redundancy. However, most of the 950 employees who have already left, accepted voluntary redundancy packages.

The airline was reportedly seeking to shed up to 1,066 of 3,800 jobs as part of the downsizing operation - of which 565 were based abroad.

“We haven’t given up on the 34,” added Mahdi. “We are trying to get them reinstated, but we are not getting any responses from Gulf Air or the Labour Ministry on that.”

Most recently, the union has been trying to save the job of a pilot who it claims is facing unfair dismissal.

“This pilot has come to the union claiming that he is being terminated because of an extended sick leave, but more so because he was doing the wrong shifts when he got back from his leave,” said Mahdi.

“When he came back from medical leave, he printed off his duty schedule through the system, but when he was told he had to resign or be fired, the management showed him a duty roster that was different to the one he had. This is a clerical mix-up that shouldn’t mean someone gets fired, so we took the complaint to the Labour Ministry yesterday.”

the incident “exposes the level of negligence at the ministry’s facilities which the minister is fully responsible for”.

The sources who spoke to AlQabas on the condition of anonymity indicated that officials at the social care home failed to carry out necessary inquiries after being informed about the girl going missing. “It was after the officials informed the Interior Ministry about the girl’s disappearance that

authorities carried out investigations which revealed that the girl’s body had been lying in the morgue for four days”, the sources said.

The sources also condemned the minister for failing to attend the girl’s funeral on Monday or send an official to represent the ministry as the victim’s guardian. Al-Qabas also reported that they tried to contact the minister and other ministry officials for a comment on the issue, but their efforts were in vain.

DUBAI: An increasing number of UAE residents are opting for alternative medicine options such as homeopathy, according to a senior practitioner. “We grew 168 per cent in 2011, 66 per cent last year and we are projecting growth of 26 per cent this year,” said Dr Mukesh Batra, the founder chairman of Dr Batra’s Healthcare, an international homeopathy chain that operates in Dubai Healthcare City.

The company is very soon planning to open a new branch in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers, and also hopes to start one clinic in Bur Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi within the next one year. As part of its two-year plan, Dr.Batra’s also hopes to expand to other GCC countries including Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

“It’s because of the wonderful response that we have had in Dubai so far,” Dr Batra said.

The DHCC branch is currently the company’s largest revenue clinic in the world.

“When we started in Dubai in 2009, it was very difficult - especially during the first two years. We lost a lot of money. Dubai Healthcare City was not the way it is today. There was nobody on this road - it was almost like a ghost town,” he said. “But we have managed to turn it around in the last one and a half years. We have recovered all our losses and done well.” He attributed the recovery to improved education and greater awareness about homeopathy in the UAE. Estimates suggest that the country has

around 200 homeopathy practitioners, with the majority operating in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. According to a survey conducted

by DHCC few years ago, up to 55 per cent of UAE residents said they would be tempted to try alternative medicine if there were formal regulations in place.

“DHCC has now brought very exacting standards to alternative medicine in terms of doctors, qualifications and operation processes and this has given confidence to people,” said Dr.Batra. The brand’s Dubai clinic has treated 3,000 patients in total, and 93 per cent have gotten better, he said.

While homeopathy is traditionally popular among Indians expatriates in the UAE, Dr. Batra says they are receiving increased local interest. “In the last one year, we have started getting a lot of local people as well. We get a lot of Arabs, but we have also started seeing Emirati women and children,” he stated.

They are opting of homeopathy because of bad experiences with allopathic treatments and a preference for a safe and holistic medical option, he stated. Currently, locals account for 20 per cent of the clinic’s practice, with NRIs accounting for the remaining 80 per cent.

Globally, Dr Batra’s has over 116 clinics across India, Dubai and London, with ambitious plans to reach over 500 clinics in the next two years. “Our goal is to spread homeopathy to the world,” said Dr Batra.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

LOCAL

Mom forgives armed son after calling cops Drunk fugitive caught in Salmiya KUWAIT: A woman refused to press charges against her son after police reported to her house when she called for help from the abusive young man. In her statements to police at her house in Regaei, the Kuwaiti woman said that she locked herself up inside a room after her son followed her with a cleaver when she refused to give him cash because of his excessive spending habits. She added that the young man - who has an Arab nationality - escaped on her request after telling him that police were on their way to arrest him.

Police left the house after the woman, motivated by her sense of motherhood, refused to press charges and asked officers not to look for her son.

Drunk fugitive A fugitive was arrested in Salmiya after he harassed a woman while being under the influence of alcohol Monday. The incident happened at a street commonly known as the ‘Restaurants Street’ where the suspect reportedly approached a female citizen outside a restaurant. He threw a juice glass he was holding at the woman when she called him off for his repeated harassment, and bystanders stepped in to stop him from physically assaulting the woman. Police arrived to the scene shortly after the incident was reported and placed the suspect under arrest. They discovered that he is wanted for four criminal charges and took him into custody for further action.

Work mishap A construction worker was hospitalized after falling from a building in Salmiya on Monday. Police rushed with an ambulance shortly after the incident was reported, and then rushed the worker to Mubarak Hospital where he was diagnosed with several broken bones and bruises. Co-workers told police officers at the constructions site that the Egyptian man lost balance while working in the upper floor and fell to the ground.

Investigations are ongoing to determine if foul play was involved in the case.

Drug possession A drug addict faces multiple charges after he tried to run police officers over before his arrest. The incident took place in Ahmadi recently where the 38-year-old Kuwaiti was pulled over for suspicious behavior. The police tried to arrest him after they found Captagon tablets with him and but he rushed back to his car and tried to run over the police before they managed to control him. The suspect reportedly almost hit a police officer during his failed escape bid and is now cooling his heels behind bars.

Parking lot brawl Investigations are ongoing in search of a man who left a citizen injured following a dispute at a parking lot in Fahaheel on Monday. In his statements to police who arrived to the scene shortly after the incident was report-

ed, the Kuwaiti man explained that he engaged in a fight with the suspect over a traffic dispute, adding that the suspect stabbed his shoulder before escaping. The man gave police the plate number and description of the suspect’s car to be used in investigations.

Jet ski accidents Two men were hospitalized following separate jet ski accidents reported in Kuwait City on Sunday. The first accident took place off of Bnaid Al-Gar and left a 19-year-old Kuwaiti man with a serious leg injury and several bruises.

The man was taken to the Amiri Hospital in an ambulance.

The second accident took place at the beach near the Army Club and left a 28-year-old American with a head wound and several bruises. The man was also taken to the Amiri Hospital for treatment.

Botched escape A domestic worker suffered a broken backbone and other injuries in a botched escape reported recently in AlDhahr. Paramedics and police rushed to the scene where the incident was reported, and found the victim lying motionless on the ground outside the house. She was taken to Farwaniya Hospital where she was admitted inside the intensive care unit in a critical condition. Preliminary investigations indicate that the 25-year-old Sri Lankan woman fell accidently while trying to escape through the window for reasons that are largely unknown.

KUWAIT: A Kuwait Red Crescent Society team led by Chairman Barjes AlBarjes visited the social rehabilitation home at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor yesterday in order to examine renovation works funded by the KRCS.

Jordanian-Kuwaiti ties extolled AMMAN: Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour lauded the solid ties with the state of Kuwait and described them as “ever growing” due to great efforts from the two leaderships.

Ensour said yesterday that these strong ties are built on mutual interests and stressed that both countries aspire for more cooperation that comes in line with the joint Arab framework.

He also noted that Kuwait and Jordan defend crucial Arab issues in order to establish peace and stability in the region and they always encourage economic cooperation to achieve prosperity among Arab countries.

The Jordanian Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the support given by Kuwait within the GCC grant programs that reached up to $1.25 billion which helped his country to face its economic challenges. He also pointed out that Kuwait has been a welcoming second home to all of Jordan’s nationals living in the gulf country.

Jordanian-Kuwaiti economic cooperation is an exemplary of the joint Arab cooperation where both countries seek setting up strong economic and financial ties in all domains. Therefore, “I

express my deepest appreciation to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for such support,” Ensour noted.

He further said that Jordan will

always facilitate investments from Kuwaiti businessmen in his country.

“We need Kuwaiti investments,” because the steady or even increased Kuwaiti investments would strengthen Jordan’s economy especially in a politically-changed scene in the region that affects the economy of his country.

He pointed out that Kuwaiti investments are safe in Jordan due to the country’s clear regulations and efficient banking laws. “We always strive to solve any obstacles Kuwaiti businesses might encounter.”

There are $10 billion-worth of Kuwaiti investments in Jordan and more than 5,200 Kuwaiti students studying there. Jordan is the number one beneficiary of Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development where 25 projects were funded by it worth $610.8 million between 1962 to 2012.

Kuwait also has given Jordan $1.25 billion through the GCC development fund to be allocated to setting up developmental projects. —KUNA

New batch of doctors get KIMS board certification KUWAIT: Another group of Kuwaiti doctors got board certification by Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS) of the Ministry of Health, after the 22 doctors completed theoretical study and clinical training for five years in the field of dermatology and reproductive system.

KIMS assistant Program Director for this specialization Dr Mohammad Faihan Al-Otaibi said the board examination took place in Kuwait over the first three days of this month, and noted all study and training, as well as

examination, was under KIMS’ supervision.

On the examination panel, he said the doctors were asked to respond to questions by six specialists from Austria, Canada, and Germany.

The board certification is the equivalent of a PhD, he added. This certification exam is conducted in Kuwait annually, organized by KIMS, and the exam procedures are of highest standards, he said. KIMS is the Kuwaiti authority responsible for organizing all aspects of postgraduate training of medical practitioners and other health professionals. —KUNA

Burgan Bank supports World Humanitarian Day KUWAIT: Burgan Bank recently supported World Humanitarian Day to honor the many humanitarian aid workers who sacrifice their lives for the benefit of less fortunate people. Over 600 Burgan Bank employees took part in the event to raise awareness about Humanitarian Day and the work of the United Nations.

This year’s World Humanitarian Day was held under the theme of “The world needs more of”. The event, which is held annually on the 19th of August, was designated by the United Nations’ General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations’ headquarters in Iraq and to honor the lives of all aid workers.

Burgan Bank continues to participate in worldwide initiatives with emphasis on positive contributions as part of its social responsibility program as well as overall internal communications framework which aims at promoting a strong internal corporate culture.

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial Bank and third largest by assets in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has five majority owned subsidiaries, which include Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad BOB (Iraq & Lebanon), Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) Tunis International Bank TIB (Tunisia), and fully owned Burgan Bank - Turkey, (collectively known as the

“Burgan Bank Group”).

The Bank has continuously improved its performance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base.

The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire. ‘People come first’ is the foundation on which its products and services are developed. Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ - the international brand valuation company- rated Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook.? The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at 2nd amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait.

Excellence is one of the Bank’s four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The Bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the first bank in the GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive such accreditation. The Bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive years.

Burgan Bank won the prestigious “Banking Web Awards” prize in the commercial and corporate Category for

Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan Bank was awarded with the “Best Internet Banking Service award” from Banker Middle East Awards.

Burgan Bank was recognized in 2011 as Kuwait’s “Best Private Bank”, by World Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted “International Platinum Star for Quality” award from Business Initiative Directions, and “The Best Technical Award” from Banking Web Awards. In 2012, Global Banking and Finance Review online magazine recognized Burgan Bank as the “Best Banking Group in the MENA” as well as the “Best Corporate Bank in Kuwait”.

The bank also won the coveted “Best Bank Branding” award by the Banker Middle East. For the second consecutive year in 2012, Burgan Bank also won World Finance’s “Best Private Bank” award, as well as the “Best Private Bank in Kuwait 2012” award from Capital Finance International.

The bank also won the “Best Bank in Kuwait” award from EMEA Finance, along with the “Deal of the Year” award from Acquisition International.

In 2013, Burgan Bank Group was named “MENA - Bank of the Year” by Acquisition Finance Magazine. The bank also won the coveted “Best Domestic Retail Bank of the Year” award from the Asian Banking and Finance Magazine.

Moreover, Burgan Bank also picked up the Best Employee Development in GCC’ award from World Finance.

Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned regional Bank in the MENA region.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Wary of Pakistan, US steps up surveillance

Ambiguous religion policy backfires in Tunisia Page 8

Page 11

View of US as hesitant superpower sharpens GCC skeptical of Obama’s hold-up on Syria BEIRUT: The world’s most powerful man decides to threaten Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. “We will strike with all our might,” says US President Barack Obama, depicted in a cartoon in Saudi newspaper Alsharq. But when? Wearing a dreamy smile, Obama replies: “In a day, a week, a month, a year, 10 years - or however many years you can count.”

The implicit mockery reflects a suspicion among both friends and foes of Washington in the Middle East that Obama’s move to refer military action to Congress is a sure sign of weakness - and one that places unprecedented strains on the credibility of his administration in its standoff with Syria and Iran. Obama’s abrupt decision on Saturday to halt plans to punish Assad for using poison gas and instead wait for congressional approval momentarily united a fractious region in astonishment.

Reflecting a widespread view voiced in interviews by Reuters across the region, Algeria’s El Watan newspaper said Assad’s foes seemed riven with doubt in their confrontation with the embattled Syrian leader, fearing intervention would be a “flop”. At the same time, sentiment across the Middle East often differentiates between Obama’s deliberative - some critics say hesitant - leadership style, and an abiding perception of the United States as a superpower bent on policing the region on behalf of its friend Israel and of oil-rich Gulf Arab allies.

OBAMA’S ‘RETREAT’ Used to the uncompromising approach of his predecessor, George W Bush, who proclaimed “You are either with us or you are with the terrorists” in the wake of the 9/11 attacks of 2001 and went on to invade Iraq in 2003, many Arabs tend to see Obama’s apparent distaste for war as unusual, even exceptional.

Wathiq Al-Hashimi of the Iraqi Group for

Strategic Studies, said Arabs associated wars in the region with Republicans rather than Obama’s Democrats; the end of the Cold War gave Washington scope to attack former proteges of Moscow, notably in Iraq, in conflicts launched by

name, Yassin said, smiling: “Abu Hussein has no balls.” Assad deserved punishment, but not from foreigners, he said. “There’s a saying in Syria: a barking dog never bites,” said Adnan Diab, a Syrian teacher living in Lebanon. “That’s what we expect

two or three opinions at once: “He definitely won’t strike Syria now.” That is precisely the outcome Assad’s enemies fear.

A number of Syrian opposition figures contacted by Reuters said they remained confident

GOLAN HEIGHTS: An Israeli soldier walks over a mobile artillery unit in the Golan Heights, near the border between the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and Syria. — AP Bush and by his father a decade earlier. At the same time, Hashimi said, Obama’s move was confusing for many in the region and represented “a retreat”. Mohammed Yassin, a 45-year-old Palestinian in Gaza said Obama did not look like the “tough guy Bush was”. Employing an Arab nickname for Obama, derived from his Kenyan father’s

... God willing, nothing will happen.” In Istanbul, Mustafa Toprak, a 37-year-old salesman, sucking on a water pipe at a cafÈ on the shores of the Bosphorus, said the hold-up made Obama look both weak and insincere. In downtown Cairo, Mohsin Ahmad El-Tayeb, 38, selling bags on the street, described Obama as “wavering” and holding

Obama would eventually carry out a strike on Assad’s forces, possibly a substantial one. Speaking from Berlin, veteran Syrian opposition campaigner Fawaz Tello said it would be bizarre if Obama had assembled all his military might just to give Assad “a slap on the wrist”. Ayman Abdel Nour, a former university friend and adviser to Assad who left

Syria in 2007, said that if there was a strike that went beyond the cosmetic, some top officers would defect. Yet among allies of the opposition, doubts persist.

SAUDI DISAPPOINTMENT In Saudi Arabia, a foe of Assad which has continued to urge international intervention since Obama’s decision to delay a strike, there was no response from two officials contacted for comment. But analysts say that in private there was concern. Abdulaziz Al Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre, said Obama’s decision “reflects a lack of resolve”, something he said had been evident since the beginning of the Syrian crisis: “There is a deep sense of disappointment in the Gulf region with the president’s decision to seek the Congress’s approval.” For their part, senior Obama administration officials are arguing that Obama’s move to consult Congress should be seen as one that would buttress his decision and America’s credibility abroad - assuming Congress backs the president. They warn it would undermine the credibility of the United States in the Middle East and around the world if Congress does not approve his deployment of military force in Syria.

Anthony Cordesman of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies wrote that Obama had to show real leadership, “not overreaction, sudden reversal and uncertainty”. A No vote in Congress would be a “near disaster”, the military scholar wrote. US influence in the Middle East would be seriously undermined and the United States would still have no meaningful strategy for the Syrian war, he added. Echoing Cordesman’s concern, Yezigh Sayigh of the Carnegie Middle East think tank in Beirut said that the absence of a Syria policy was why Obama appeared to be “dithering”, and this arguably reflected Washington’s wider struggle to engage with the region since the Arab uprisings of early 2011.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Ennahda party faces electoral defeat, possible split Ambiguous religion policy backfires in Tunisia TUNIS: The young man at the entrance to Zitouna, the oldest mosque in the Tunis medina, was adamant. NonMuslims could no longer enter the building, not even just its outside gallery overlooking the busy souk. “You can only come in if you declare, ‘There is no god but God and Mohammad is God’s messenger’,” he said - effectively making conversion to Islam the new admission ticket to a monument that used to welcome non-Muslim visitors.

Hardline views like these have spread through Tunisia in the past two years as radical Muslims seized control of about a fifth of all mosques, attacked westernized liberals and tried to impose their puritan ideas on one of the most secular Arab societies. The governing party Ennahda, which formally advocates a democratic form of Islamism, long treated the radicals mildly, seeing them as informal allies in reclaiming Islam’s place in the small North African country.

But two assassinations of secular politicians this year widely blamed on militant Islamists alienated many Tunisians and united the secular opposition parties, powerful trade unions and other civil society groups against Ennahda. “Ennahda now realises the Salafis are very unpopular and it has to accept the opposition demand for new elections,” said Alaya Allani, a historian of Islamism at Manouba University near Tunis. “It will not be the majority party after the next polls.” Geoffrey Howard, North Africa analyst at the Control Risks consultancy, said Ennahda was now far below the 37 percent it polled in Tunisia’s first democratic election in 2011. “The party has been severely damaged by the latest crisis.”

Tunisia was the first of the “Arab Spring” countries to overthrow its autocratic leader, president Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali, in January 2011 and the first to elect an Islamist-led government that October. As in Egypt, which voted the Muslim Brotherhood into power the following year, freedom brought a wave of local radicals and foreign imams who preached a hardline Islam inspired by Saudi Wahhabism and other literalist schools from the Gulf.

Radicals took over around 1,000 of Tunisia’s 5,000 mosques, which are normally run by the Religious Affairs Ministry, and turned them from quiet places of prayer to platforms to call for jihad and sharia (Islamic law). Violent Salafi groups rioted over an art show they deemed blasphemous, demonstrated at Manouba University to demand that women students wear full face veils and patrolled some districts to pressure residents into following their puritan Islam.

In the assembly writing Tunisia’s new constitution, Ennahda members have argued for it to include sharia, annul the gender equality brought in under previous secular rulers and drop references to international human rights conventions. As the respected jurist Yadh Ben Achour put it in August 2012: “Religion has invaded the social and political debate to such an extent that we are starting to get indigestion ... The country’s real problems have been pushed aside or put off indefinitely.” Tunisia is suffering from a severe fiscal crisis and high unemployment - other major factors in recent popular unrest.

Religious Affairs Minister Noureddine Khadmi said his staff have been able

over the past year to roll back the number of Salafi mosques through persuasion, pressure and legal action. “Now there are fewer than 100,” he told Reuters in an interview. “In about 50 cases, we have called on the Justice Ministry to step in and resolve the issue.”

In the case of the 1,300-year-old Zitouna, the imam now controlling it is not a Salafi but a staunch conservative who rejects state control over the famed mosque.

Khadmi said the government sought to “correct the religious landscape” after five decades of autocratic secularist rule and described its goal as “the coexistence of democracy and Islam”.

But its record seems more favorable to the Salafis than he presents it. In its first year, the government approved three Salafi groups and Hezb ut-Tahrir, an international movement calling for an Islamic caliphate, as legal political parties.

It also registered about 200 new Salafi charities and schools and allowed radical preachers from the Gulf and Egypt to go on speaking tours around the country. “There is no control over their activities or revenues,” Allani said.

Khadmi’s image is also ambiguous.

Critics say the minister, who sports a trim beard and stylish suit, was a fiery preacher calling for jihad at a radical mosque before his appointment. He dismisses this as lies from opponents of the 2011 revolution.

Ennahda’s approach began to change in September 2012 after hundreds of radicals attacked the United States embassy in Tunis to protest against a film ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad. Its resolve further stiffened

TUNIS: Tunisian demonstrators hold banners reading in Arabic: ‘leave’ as they flash the sign for victory and shout slogans during a demonstration calling for the government’s resignation in Tunis. —AFP this year as the jihadi group Ansar Al- hardliners by cracking down on the Sharia repeatedly clashed with army Salafis, according to Allani.

Tension seems to be increasing in the troops in western Tunisia, and following the assassinations of the two secular ranks as Ghannouchi, sensing probable opposition leaders. But it was only last defeat at the polls due next year, tries week that Prime Minister Ali Larayedh to steer the party to a compromise banned Ansar as a terrorist group - after with the secular opposition and the having previously described its training best starting position for its next elecareas in the rugged western mountains toral campaign. “What you could see happening, if they perform very badly as sports camps.

Ennahda’s ambiguous religious poli- in the elections, is a split in the party, cies stem from its own internal conflicts, into either a more radical and a more said Allani. He estimates that Ennahda’s moderate political wing, or into a politmore liberal wing represents only one- ical and a religious wing,” said Howard. third of the party base while two-thirds “The liberal wing of Ennahda could be are conservative to hardline in their accepted by Tunisian society,” Allani views. Party leader Rached Ghannouchi said. “There is a chance it could even be has tried to balance between the two a partner in the next government coalicamps and is reluctant to confront the tion.” — Reuters

Brotherhood under threat Islamists under siege; Bomb hits central Cairo CAIRO: A judicial panel set up by Egypt’s military-backed government supported a legal challenge to the status of the Muslim Brotherhood on Monday, compounding a drive to crush the movement behind the elected president deposed by the army in July. While short of a formal ban on the Brotherhood, which worked underground for decades under Egypt’s previous military-backed rulers, the panel’s advice to a court to remove its non-governmental organization status threatens the million-member movement’s future in politics.

An attack on a police station in central Cairo and plans for new mass protests by the Brotherhood showed the stability the interim government says it took over to impose after two-and-a-half years of turmoil is still elusive. At least 900 people, most of them Islamist supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, have been killed since the army takeover on July 3. The government has accused the Brotherhood of inciting violence and terrorism, and arrested its leaders.

Egypt’s oldest political organization, the Brotherhood won a series of elections after protesters forced out longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak in 2011, culminating in last year’s presidential vote. It formally registered itself in March as an NGO to secure its legal status. The judicial panel backed Brotherhood opponents who argued that the NGO registration was illegal because the Brotherhood-led government had effectively issued a license to itself.

The panel’s recommendation to the court due to rule on the case is not binding, judicial sources said, adding that the court’s next session would be on Nov 12. It adds to a whole array of steps taken against the Brotherhood since the army stepped in after mass protests against economic mismanagement and attempts to entrench the movement’s power during Morsi’s rule. The Brotherhood formally operates in the political arena as the Freedom and Justice Party. There has so far been no attempt to outlaw the party, but its NGO status was seen as a bulwark against legal attack.

‘MILLION-PERSON MARCH’ Most of the group’s top leaders have been arrested and face charges of inciting violence or murder. Morsi was

himself referred to trial on Sunday on those charges.

Authorities arrested on Monday one of the few remaining senior Brotherhood members who had thus far managed to evade arrest, the state news agency reported. MENA quoted unnamed security officials as saying police had arrested Saad Husseini, who had served as governor of the Nile Delta province of Kafr El-Sheikh under Morsi, at an apartment in a Cairo suburb.

The government is shaping a new constitution to remove the Islamist additions that the Brotherhood introduced. On Sunday it tasked a 50-member constituent assembly, which includes only two Islamists, with reviewing a draft constitution that may allow members of Mubarak’s government, banned from office after the 2011 revolution, to return. The Brotherhood accuses the “putschist regime” of staging a coup against democracy and fabricating allegations of violence and terrorism to justify a drive to erase it from public life.

The National Coalition for Legitimacy, which includes the Brotherhood, called for a “million-person march” in all Egypt’s squares yesterday under the slogan “The Coup is Terrorism”. At least six people were killed during similar protests last week. Although the Brotherhood says it is committed to peaceful resistance, fears have grown that attacks by Islamist radicals, such as those that have already hit lawless Northern Sinai, could develop into a wider insurgency.

Memories are still vivid of an Islamist insurgency in the 1990s, when bombs and shootings destabilized Egypt and ravaged tourism. Three people on a motorcycle hurled a homemade hand grenade at a police station in a working class area of central Cairo on Monday, wounding two workers, the state news agency said.

On Sunday, an army source said three people had been arrested for firing machineguns on Saturday at a container ship passing through the Suez Canal, the global shipping ar ter y that runs through Egyptian territor y. Canal Authority sources said a rocket-propelled grenade had also been used in the attack. As well as being vital to global trade, the canal is one of Egypt’s most important sources of income.— Reuters

and the Great Sphinx that guards them below drew thousands of visitors a day, most bringing foreign currency with them.

But on one day last week two armored vehicles stood at the gates and a bus park easily big enough for 100 tourist coaches lay empty. In the burial chamber deep inside the 136-metre Pyramid of Khafre, a Reuters reporter had only the pharaoh’s granite sarcophagus for company. The army’s overthrow two months ago of Islamist Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, is just the latest in a series of upheavals since the autocrat Hosni Mubarak fell in a popular uprising in January 2011.

SHEIKH ZUWEID: A general view of damaged buildings and houses is seen in the village of Al-Toma after it was hit during an Egyptian army operation on the outskirts of Egypt’s northern Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid. — AFP

in brief

Saudi beheaded RIYADH: A Saudi was beheaded by the sword yesterday after being convicted of murdering his brother, the interior ministry said. Abdullah Al-Harbi was convicted of shooting dead his brother Mohammed with a pistol, it said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. His beheading in Qasim province, north of Riyadh, brought to 63 the number of people executed in Saudi Arabia so far this year, according to an AFP count. In 2012, the conservative Muslim kingdom carried out 76 executions, according to a tally based on official figures.

Human Rights Watch has put the number at 69. Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under the oil-rich Gulf state’s strict version of sharia, or Islamic law.

Cocaine ring smashed MADRID: Spanish and Swiss police said yesterday they had smashed a South America-linked cocaine ring, leading to 19 arrests. The gang moved cocaine from South America to Spain, from where it was shipped to Switzerland and Italy, Spanish and Swiss police said in separate statements. Some 19 people were arrested as part of an investigation that began in November last year: six in Spain including the Gambia-born alleged gang boss living in Barcelona, 12 in Switzerland and one at Italy’s Milan airport, they said. Just over three kilograms of cocaine was seized, police said.

CAIRO: Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi clash with security forces in Cairo. — AFP

Unsettled Egypt lacks ‘pharaoh’ GIZA: The pharaohs of Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty knew what they were doing. As soon as they ascended the throne, they began building a pyramid that would not only see them through to the afterlife, but also give work and purpose to an unsettled nation. In a way they still provided for modern Egypt 4,500 years later, their pyramids attracting the tourists who accounted for 10 percent of its national income and one in eight jobs.

By contrast, Egypt’s rulers of the last 2-1/2 years have failed utterly to provide for a nation that is once again unsettled. Before 2011 the pyramids of Giza, which stand on a desert plateau overlooking modern Cairo,

News

Tourists have increasingly stayed away since then, put off by hundreds of thousands or even millions taking to the streets every few months, to say nothing of the killing of hundreds since July when security forces cleared Islamist protest camps. In Cairo, only 17 percent of hotel beds were occupied in July, according to the hotel research firm STR Global, compared with 53 percent a year earlier and 70 percent in July 2010.

Even in Sharm el-Sheikh, a Red Sea resort largely shielded from the political upheavals in Cairo and other big cities, occupancy tumbled to 49 percent from 79 percent two years ago. In Giza, even the trinket sellers and selfappointed “guides” are few and far between.

They seem to lack the persistence, sometimes bordering on aggression, which they once used in persuading tourists to buy their goods and services. Abdurahman Adem, 61, proffering a plaster Sphinx with each hand, says these days he makes between $1.50 and $2 a day. Before 2011, it was more than double that.

SELF-INTEREST OVER SECURITY? “This is the worst season ever,” says tour guide Joseph Selim. Once he had bookings for 25 days a month, often made a year in advance. Before July’s violent crackdown, it was still 15 or 20. Now he gets five or six. For many people in the tourist industry, even though the army ran Egypt for 17 months after Mubarak, the mess is the fault of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood.

They say the crackdown on Brotherhood members, who were persecuted under Mubarak but won a series of elections after his fall, is a necessary evil to get rid of a group that had become a threat. If mentioned at all,

the killing of Morsi’s supporters is something that foreign media overplayed. “At the start I thought: ‘These are people who have suffered, they might try really hard and be good for the economy.’ But they didn’t care about anything except securing power for themselves,” says Selim.

The Brotherhood says the army set it up to fail, and that charges of fomenting violence are a pretext for a drive to wipe it out. To critics, Morsi chose ideological confrontation and turmoil over Egypt’s priority - stability and security. The pharaohs understood the need for security well, siting their tombs above the Nile, safe for millennia from the annual floods in the valley below - if not from those who looted the treasures stored with them for the afterlife.

Today, few can understand why Morsi chose a member of a formerly militant Islamist group as governor of Luxor, home to many of Egypt’s loveliest pharaonic relics about 500 km south of Cairo. The group, Gamaa Islamiya, is blamed for killing 58 tourists at a temple complex there in 1997, although it has now renounced its violent campaign for an Islamic state. Last Friday, the pyramids were closed altogether as Brotherhood supporters staged protests across Egypt.

THE PHARAOH PRESIDENT Shop assistants and hawkers say they were all ready at first to support and respect Morsi because, as Selim says, “Egypt’s president is still like a pharaoh: You can’t say anything bad about him”. But Morsi soon worried people across a country of diverse communities and differing degrees of religious observance.—Reuters

Truck thieves storm airport JERUSALEM: A spokeswoman for Israel’s international airport says flights were temporarily grounded after two Palestinian truck thieves stormed through airport checkpoints. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says it was unclear why they entered the airport, but it did not appear to be a politically motivated attack. Ben Gurion Airport spokeswoman Liza Dvir says two Palestinians stole a truck in a nearby residential area early Tuesday and drove toward the airport, barreling past two airport checkpoints. Dvir says the truck made it close to the main airport terminal when a security guard shot at the car. The two men fled by foot and guards apprehended them. There were no injuries. Dvir says flights were briefly grounded, and some flight schedules were delayed. She says airport activity has returned to normal.

Blast kills 4 Afghan police KABUL: A provincial official says four police officers guarding a mayor were killed when their convoy hit a roadside bomb in northern Afghanistan. Abdul Marouf Rasekh, spokesman for the governor of Badakhshan province, says the incident occurred yesterday in Barak district. It’s the latest in a surge of attacks across Afghanistan as US-led foreign forces reduce their presence after years of battling the Taleban. Nazer Mohammad Neyazi, mayor of Faiz Abad city, was the apparent target. He was returning from a visit to a road project when the blast hit the convoy. The mayor was not hurt in the attack. One police officer was wounded.

Rasekh says Neyazi is a former military general and an influential provincial politician.

Air strikes leave 8 dead in Sinai CAIRO: Egypt military helicopters killed eight militants and wounded 15 others in intensive air strikes yesterday in the Sinai Peninsula, where the army has been battling a semiinsurgency, security sources said. The strikes near the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip were ongoing, the sources said, adding that the target was militants using the area bordering the Palestinian territory as a hideout. “Eight militants were killed and 15 were wounded when air strikes hit four Islamist positions south of Rafah,” one source said.

The restive region has seen an increase in clashes between militants and security forces since Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military on July 3. A security source said the air operation was the “biggest aerial assault of its kind in Sinai”. Witnesses said “Apache helicopters” bombed several villages south of Rafah border crossing when the operation began at around 9:00 am.

They said the helicopters hit several houses where militants had been hiding, and that the attacks had left four people wounded and six houses destroyed.—AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Who’s a victim of human sex trafficking?

CICERO: Cops in the Chicago area call it a “track,” a stretch of street known for its steady sex trade. Women in tight, scant clothing stand in high heels on street corners along an industrial strip in suburban Cicero. Customers, usually men, slow their cars and roll down a window. “How much?” they ask. Some might see these interludes as exchanges between consenting adults, or at the very least, consenting criminals, if the prostitute is, indeed, an adult and seemingly free to come and go as she pleases.

They may call it a victimless crime, seeing domestic prostitution as something very different from human sex trafficking with its cross-border abductions and brutal coercion - a scourge that’s come to the forefront of news in recent years. But are they so different, after all? Increasingly, experts in the field are saying no, and applying the label human trafficking to homegrown prostitution. And now more lawmakers, police and prosecutors across the country are starting to shift their view on this, too.

Increasingly, they are focusing on arresting traffickers and customers (pimps and johns, as it were) and on getting help for prostitutes. “It’s almost similar to a domestic violence issue,” says Michael Anton, commander of the Cook County Sheriff’s vice unit, based in the Chicago. “A lot of (people) say, ‘Well, they can just get out.’“Well, it’s not that easy.” As of this year, Illinois became one of several states where prostitution is no longer a felony.

It’s also one of a growing number where a minor cannot be charged with prostitution, even as a misdemeanor. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Cook County, which includes Chicago, have set up a human trafficking unit and, in recent years, have been using new state laws to put more traffickers in jail.

Cook County Sheriff’s police also run regular sting operations to ticket customers who proposition undercover female police officers, or who use popular escort websites.

The johns must pay a fine. Police also impound their cars.

“Dear John,” read billboards the department has posted near various tracks, “If You’re Here To Solicit Sex, It Could Cost You $2,150. We’re Teaming Up To Bust You.” The money funds a rehabilitation program for prostitutes, and Anton says his vice unit officers have never arrested the same customer twice. “I’m not saying we’ve stopped it,” he says. “They might be going to other areas.

But we haven’t seen them again.”

Elsewhere, a law passed in New York state in 2010 allows women who can prove they were coerced to have prostitution convictions wiped from their records - a move that advocates say allows them more options for housing and employment. And in California, voters recently passed Proposition 35, which increases prison terms for human traffickers, as well as fines, which also are to be used to pay for services for victims.

It’s progress, experts say. Yet a question often persists: Who is really a victim? “We’ve got this idea of an ideal victim - someone who is physically locked in a room, chained up and who makes no money,” says Catherine Longkumer, a Chicago attorney who works with victims of trafficking to help them get their lives back together.

Certainly that classic example of the locked-up trafficking victim exists on our shores, too. But others, she says, are forced into prostitution with more subtle, yet equally paralyzing coercion. While it’s not always obvious to the outside world, intimidation and drug addiction become tools for control.

“The reality is that traffickers are very smart,” Longkumer says. “You can use a lot of psychological coercion to keep a person bonded, things like threats, or ‘If you try to leave, you’ll be deported, or your family will be harmed.’” But the matter of victimhood can get even murkier than that. Bridget Carr, a trafficking expert and clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan, sees it all the time. She is director of the law school’s human trafficking clinic, where students get credit for representing clients, many of them teens and young women who are trying to break free from traffickers and start new lives.

But can people be “victims” if they sell their bodies for sex - and keep some of that money or trade it for drugs? Are they victims if a pimp provides cell phones, buys them clothes, or even cars, or places to stay? In some instances, a prostitute might even have children with her pimp. “Do we believe that people who make bad choices are victims?” Carr asks. Often they are, she believes. But sometimes she says the public - and the people who are supposed to enforce these new laws - still have a difficult time seeing prostitutes as victims, even when they’re young.

Peru coca growers switch to coffee, battle fungus LIMA: Peru’s anti-drug strategy hinges on persuading farmers to grow coffee instead of coca, the raw material of cocaine, but low prices and plant disease are getting in the way. President Ollanta Humala’s government is allocating $35 million to help coffee growers pay off debts and cope with “la roya,” a stubborn fungus known as coffee rust. The fungus, which creates orange spots on leaves and damages the bean, has devastated coffee plantations across Central America, Colombia and Peru this year. Peru was hit particularly hard.

The Andean nation became the world’s leading organic producer last year and is the world’s eighth largest overall coffee producer behind Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia. In 2012, coffee exports accounted for a full quarterabout $1 billion-of all revenue from Peru’s agricultural exports, but this year are unlikely to produce anything close to the same yield, depriving Peru of critically needed funds. The fungus and low coffee prices on international markets have triggered a 30 percent drop in production, according to coffee grower associations.

Peru exports coffee to 46 countries, but the bulk - 60 percent-goes to Europe.

Germany is Peru’s largest single customer.

“This is the country’s main crop, with 400,000 hectares under cultivation, as well as the main agricultural export,” Agriculture Minister Milton Von Hesse said. He defended the government aid as a tool to fight drug traffickers and rejected critics who call the move a populist strategy aimed ultimately at winning votes. Many coffee farmers used to grow coca

in the mountainous jungle valleys, selling it to drug traffickers to be made into cocaine.

“Coffee has been an efficient tool against drug trafficking, eradicating coca plantations in the countryside and providing a dignified standard of living to those who opted for it,” Agriculture Minister Milton von Hesse said.

The European Union and the United States have backed programs promoting coffee and cacao beans as alternative crops to wean farmers off the lucrative coca business. In Peru, 14 companies formed by ex-coca farmers now grow coffee, cacao, palm trees harvested for their edible hearts and another kind of palm grown for its oil.

The ventures are backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Those associations bring together nearly 27,000 families of former coca farmers, working on 78,644 hectares in parts of the jungle that include the rough and tumble area where the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro rivers meet. Drug traffickers, as well as remnants of the Shining Path Maoist guerrilla group patrol the troubled junction, killing soldiers and police who dare stray into the territory.

Peru ranks alongside Bolivia and Colombia as the world’s main producers of coca, grown exclusively in the Andes of South America, mostly on the eastern slope. Some 62,000 hectares of coca crops produce more than 280 tons of leaves a year, according to the latest government figures from 2012. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy estimated in July 2012 that Peru’s cocaine production was 325 tons, ahead of Bolivia (265 tons) and Colombia (195 tons). —AFP

One recent Friday morning in a stuffy, crowded classroom at the Cook County jail in Chicago, a few women shared stories at a meeting of a group called Prostitution Anonymous. If they agree to get help, the women usually are not charged with prostitution in Cook County, though they may face other charges, from drug use to disorderly conduct. Sheila Johnson, a 33-year-old inmate, told her peers how she had a difficult time breaking free from a boyfriend who was also her pimp, even though she feared him. She was addicted to drugs and, she admitted, “the money.”

“I never met any prostitute who said, ‘This was my ultimate goal in life,’” Friesen says.

“They’ve all been brought into this life by someone. They’ve been exploited by someone.”

When determining who’s a victim of trafficking, though, his officers are trained to look for signs of coercion. They might ask a hotel clerk if the prostitute was not allowed to speak, or seemed frightened, when checking into a room. They look for bruises and other signs of abuse and bring in former prostitutes to do the interviews.

“You can dig more deeply and ask specific

CICERO: A ‘john’ who attempted to pick up an officer posing as a prostitute is escorted in handcuffs to an area where he will be ticketed during a prostitution sting in Cicero, Ill. —AP “As a regular person, I wouldn’t dare do the things that I did because I was on drugs,” Johnson said after the meeting, as tears streamed down her face. “Being sober, I wouldn’t DARE prostitute.” Tiffany Schipitz, a 35-year-old inmate, said she eventually escaped from a pimp who threatened to kill her if she didn’t work for him. “I’d never been put out on the street. I’m a white suburbanite girl.. That was unheard of growing up,” Schipitz says, describing how she fled the car of the first man who came to pick her up for sex. Eventually, though, she ended up back on the street, high, looking to earn more money for drugs.

“The next thing I know, I’m out on that corner, taking cars - one, two, three - like it’s nothing,” she says.

These are the sorts of stories Sgt. Craig Friesen, head of the vice unit for the police department in Anaheim, Calif., hears often.

questions,” say Friesen, whose department began working with a local social service agency in 2010 in hopes of getting help for prostitutes and cutting the number of repeat offenders.

Department statistics show that from August 2011 through October 2012, Anaheim police arrested and charged 38 pimps. In that time, the department also got help for 52 women who were determined to be victims of human trafficking and thus, were not charged. Of those, four are known to have returned to prostitution.

Carr, at the University of Michigan, says she hopes more departments will focus on screening prostitutes, female and male, and training officers to recognize the signs of trafficking.

“Really good screening can’t take place 10 minutes after an encounter with a law enforcement officer. The victim needs to be

put in a safe place,” Carr says. “There are lots of incentives to not say what’s happening to you.” But even when officers determine that help is needed, there’s often not much they can do. “Victims assistance is the weakest link in the chain,” says Mark Ensalaco, a trafficking expert who’s director of the human rights studies program at the University of Dayton.

He recalls one case, in recent years, when a young woman was rescued after an Ohio state trooper stopped a car on the interstate and recognized that she was a victim of sex trafficking. Beyond abuse, those signs can include malnourishment, having few possessions, avoiding eye contact and not having control of personal identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport.

This woman, too, was addicted to drugs, Ensalaco says, but never got the help she needed. Eventually, she committed suicide.

Even in states such as Illinois, long-term help - housing, mental health counseling and trauma services that are survivor-led are lacking, says Lynne Johnson, the policy and advocacy director for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation.” We have little pockets of progress,” she says, noting that much of it is aimed at minors.

In Chicago, for instance, there’s now a long-term safe home with space for eight girls that is funded by a private donor. A drop-in center for youth on the city’s West Side, funded by federal grants, is open a couple days a week, Johnson says. The Salvation Army, as it does in other cities, also helps for victims of human trafficking through its STOP-IT initiative. Those services might include giving victims cellphones, clothing and food, items traffickers may have provided to keep them dependent.

The victims also have access to counseling, but aren’t required to attend. “We don’t tell them what to do. Our goal is to build independence, both from traffickers - and from us,” says Elyse Dobney, STOP-IT’s volunteer manager in the Chicago area.

Brenda Myers-Powell - a former prostitute who now works as a peer specialist and counselor at the Cook County jail - agrees that independence should be the goal.

Early in the process, it’s good for the public to understand that victims are victims, she says. “But you can’t stay a victim forever,” she says. “At some point, you become a survivor.”—AP

Potential action against Syria reignites US budget concerns Lawmakers trying to ease Pentagon cuts WASHINGTON: The US military’s decision to move an aircraft carrier into the Red Sea to help out with any “contingencies” underscores concerns a strike on Syria could evolve into another costly war as US defense spending faces massive, mandatory cuts. Current and former military officials say the cost of firing cruise missiles at selected targets in Syria would be relatively easily absorbed, and analysts say the effect on US weapons makers would be relatively minimal. But some US lawmakers worry a strike against Syria could trigger a broader conflict.

They are using that argument as another reason to avert more than $500 billion in military spending cuts facing the Pentagon over the next decade under the process known as “sequestration,” on top of $487 billion in cuts that were already planned. “We cannot keep asking the military to perform mission after mission with sequestration and military cuts hanging over their heads,” Republican Buck McKeon, chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, told CNN on Monday.

Top military leaders have repeatedly warned lawmakers that further cuts will jeopardize the US military’s readiness to respond to crises like the one now playing out over Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. President Barack Obama’s administration says the Syrian government must be punished for the Aug. 21 chemical weapons onslaught in the Damascus suburbs that killed over 1,400 people. But Obama halted plans for a strike against President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces until he receives congressional approval.

Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute consultants’ group, said the administration’s proposed limited strike on Syria could buoy

“Any chance of military action tends to boost defense shares and bolster the case for defense spending,” Thompson said, noting there was always the potential for escalation, despite the relatively small cost of cruise missile strikes. Obama has said he will not put US soldiers on the ground in Syria, but military planners say they are preparing for all possible “contingencies,” a fact reflected by the decision to reroute the USS Nimitz carrier strike group to the Red Sea, instead of letting it return home.

“The prospect of military action has to raise questions about whether sequestration should continue,” Thompson said.

WASHINGTON: Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-OH, delivers remarks after a meeting with the US President and other congressional leaders on Syria at the White House. —AFP shares in major weapons makers such as missile maker Raytheon Co and Lockheed Martin, which builds the Aegis combat system used on Navy ships. Weapons makers are looking to foreign military sales and commercial markets to offset the downturn in US military spending, but a new overseas conflict could increase demand for expendable items such as Raytheon’s Tomahawk missiles.

TOMAHAWK MISSILES A limited strike using Tomahawk missiles against Syrian command structures and chemical weapons delivery systems would not be an expensive mission by Pentagon standards. Tomahawk missiles cost an average of about $1.2 million each, so the overall price for a limited operation using missiles would depend on how many targets the administration decided to hit and the number of missiles it would have to use.

Retired Navy Admiral Gary Roughead, who served as chief of naval operations during the allied strike on Libya in March 2011, said the cost of a limited strike on Syria was unlikely to require a supplemental budget submission, unless the Obama administration decided to launch a more protracted campaign. “We did Libya and pretty much absorbed that out of the budget, he said.” But the cost for strikes against Syria could rapidly escalate if the response prompted additional US action, such as trying to destroy Assad’s air defenses or establishing a no-fly zone with aerial patrols. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Yanukovich wants laws to underpin pro-Europe policy KIEV: Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich urged parliament yesterday to pass laws to underpin the country’s proEurope drive, even as Russia renewed pressure on Kiev to halt its westward course. But, with European envoys looking on, opposition politicians accused Yanukovich of endangering Ukraine’s proEurope policy himself by failing to pledge an end to political trials and staying silent over his arch-rival, jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whom Western governments want to be freed.

The European Union says her trial for abuse of office was political and her continued confinement could still jeopardize the signing of key association and free trade agreements with Ukraine at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in November.

“The issue of Yulia Tymoshenko’s release is a question of the political will of President Viktor Yanukovich exclusively. Our principled position is that this was a political

sentencing and it must be repealed, and quickly,” said Vitaly Klitschko, the world boxing champion and potential challenger for the Ukrainian presidency who heads the UDAR (Punch) party.

In a keynote speech to parliament, Yanukovich urged deputies to prepare draft legislation to reform the judiciary and law-enforcement bodies and fight corruption to help bring the former Soviet republic more in line with EU standards. The 28-member EU has set criteria for democratic progress which it says Ukraine must meet if the landmark agreements are to be signed in November.

“Success at the Vilnius summit must be prepared. Documents, vital for our further advancement towards Europe, must be approved. This is work which the Ukrainian parliament must do in order for Ukraine to be able to sign agreements on association and free trade with the EU,” he declared.

Even as the Kiev government seeks to persuade the EU that Ukraine is a fit partner for the future, it has come under pressure from Russia, its biggest single trading partner, which wants to entice it instead into a Russia-led Customs Union. Russia fears a flood of highly competitive goods on the Russian market if Ukraine joins an EU free-trade zone. In a warning shot to Ukraine, Russia conducted extra customs checks on Ukrainian imports over several days last month and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of possible “protective” measures by Moscow and its Customs Union allies, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

TRADE WAR TALK The pressure has led to talk of a trade war in Kiev and injected new tension into Moscow’s relationship with Ukraine, which has pleaded unsuccessfully for a lower price for strategic supplies of

Russian gas to bring relief to its economy.

The Kremlin renewed its charge over Ukraine’s westward thrust yesterday with a Putin aide warning that Kiev would forfeit special partner status if it went ahead with signing the EU agreements. Sergei Glazev, Putin’s point man on relations in the Customs Union, said this would put Ukraine in violation of a bilateral friendship and cooperation agreement with Russia.

“To sum up, by signing the Association Agreement (with the EU) Ukraine will lose its self-reliance and for us will cease to be a strategic, a complete, partner,” Glazev said in an interview with Kommersant Ukraine newspaper. Russia, which would like control of Ukraine’s gas pipeline network, has used the promise of much cheaper gas to try to coax Kiev into the Customs Union - proposals dismissed by Yanukovich last week as “humiliating”.

Yesterday, he sought to calm Moscow’s

concerns saying that Ukraine would always regard Russia as a strategic partner. “Attempts to set cooperation in the European direction against cooperation with our strategic partners - Russia and the countries of the Eurasian society - are groundless.” While Kiev has stuck to its aspiration to join the European mainstream, diplomats say it is unlikely the agreements will be signed unless Yanukovich relaxes his stance on Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko, his most dangerous opponent, was jailed for seven years in 2011. But she would be a real threat to his chances of re-election in 2015 if she were freed and Yanukovich has shown no inclination to bow to EU pressure for her release. European envoys are trying to persuade him to pardon her so she can go to Germany for treatment for back trouble. But he says he had no legal powers to allow this. —Reuters

‘Clever’ Merkel vows to shield Germany Chancellor, rival face off in a debate

ST PETERSBURG: A shuttle boat, on the Neva River, passes by the Peter and Paul Fortress as it transports the media for the upcoming G20 summit of world leaders in St Petersburg. —AP

Frosty ties between Obama, Putin deepen policy clashes WASHINGTON: Sharp policy clashes over fugitive leaker Edward Snowden and Syria may be exacerbated by apparent personal animosity when President Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin come face-to-face in Russia this week. Obama will arrive in St Petersburg tomorrow for the G20 summit, after canceling a one-on-one encounter with Putin in Moscow, as a string of policy rows ranging from human rights to geopolitics rage between the Kremlin and the White House. The testy personal relationship between Putin and Obama, and the diverging policy agendas, have put paid to the “reset” of relations which Obama engineered with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev early in his first term.The G20 summit of developed and developing nations comes with many analysts diagnosing the state of US-Russia relations as at their worst since the end of the Cold War. While US officials were infuriated by Russia’s offer of asylum to Snowden, who leaked National Security Agency snooping secrets, they said Obama canceled the Moscow summit because of a lack of progress across a wide range of issues. But it is largely Snowden, and Russia’s support for its last major Middle Eastern ally Syria, that have brought the relationship to its current low.

Frigid personal ties between Obama and Putin were in evidence when the two held an awkward photo op when they met in Northern Ireland at the G8 summit in June. Then a few weeks ago, Obama declared that he did not have a bad personal relationship with Putin, but then went on to mock his counterpart as “the bored kid at the back of the classroom.” The New York Times reported that Putin was infuriated by the comment. “The good news is that this is not the Cuban Missile Crisis,” said Andrew Kuchins, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“But one thing is clear to me-that this is the worst personal relationship between US and Russian, perhaps even US and Soviet, leaders in history,” Kuchins said. “I really think these two guys, Mr Putin and Mr Obama, don’t like each

other at all. I think there’s a deep degree of disrespect.”The White House has ruled out a one-onone meeting between Putin and Obama at the G20 summit-but the two will be forced to interact at leaders’ meetings and public photo ops, and amateur body language experts are likely to have a field day.

“This is less a visit to Russia than a trip to the G20, which happens to be hosted by Russia,” said a senior US official, on condition of anonymity.

“At this time there is no bilateral meeting or pullaside expected between the presidents.” Since the start of the Syrian civil war, the United States has frequently lamented Moscow’s support for President Bashar Al-Assad and its decision to block any UN Security Council action to censure him or to use military action against his regime.

For his part, Putin has dismissed US claims that Syrian forces used chemical weapons against civilians nearly two weeks ago.

For Assad to have done so would defy common sense, he said. Clifford Gaddy, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington, agreed that the Obama-Putin relationship was toxic. “I think the way to gauge it is in terms of what are the prospects for dealing with major issues that still remain between the two countries and that may emerge,” he said. “I think it’s very poor, because we simply don’t have any sense of trust in the relationship, especially at the highest level, which is the most important, between the two presidents.”

Still, while the atmosphere is frosty between the Kremlin and the White House, both Putin and Obama are pragmatic politicians acting in their own national self interests. So it is not impossible that the sentiments currently driving USRussian relations could change down the road, said Steven Pifer, also of the Brookings Institution. “I think it’s probably unlikely there will be a major Obama-Putin (meeting) in the next several years. “If the Russians are prepared to engage, and they get a sense that (a) summit might do something, I think the attitude might change. “But that rests on Putin.” —AFP

Nigeria ruling party tested by dissent, opposition challenge LAGOS: The party that has controlled Nigeria’s presidency since a return to civilian rule in 1999 has found itself in unfamiliar territory, rocked by dissent and facing a stronger opposition.

The combination of internal dissent against President Goodluck Jonathan as well as serious efforts by the country’s main opposition groups to unite have come amid early strategizing for 2015 polls.

Whether the ruling Peoples Democratic Party can iron out its differences and fend off the opposition will have huge implications for Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer. The crucial 2015 vote will come after years of deadly Islamist attacks in the north and with oil theft in the south estimated to cost the country some $6 billion (4.5 billion euros) per year in revenue. “The party may lose the next election unless genuine efforts to reconcile the aggrieved members are made,” said Laja Odukoya, a political science lecturer at the University of Lagos.

Others, however remain more optimistic, believing the PDP remains a behemoth more than capable of righting the ship, flush with cash and with the power of the presidency.

Still, the challenges facing the party cannot be underestimated. The latest development came on Saturday, when a PDP convention in Abuja exposed the party’s divisions. Seven of the party’s 23 state governors (Nigeria has 36 states) along with others, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, walked out of the event

and met nearby for a parallel meeting of what they now call the real PDP. The rift had been in the making for months, with factions within the party opposed to Jonathan’s re-election and several members believed to be plotting their own run. Regional politics have combined with personal ambitions and other factors to create shifting alliances. Much of the opposition to Jonathan within the party is based on an unwritten pact intended to rotate control of the presidency between Nigeria’s predominately Christian south and mainly Muslim north.

According to many northerners, Jonathan, a Christian from the oil-producing Niger Delta region, should have never been allowed to run in 2011 as it was the north’s turn. The dissidents who walked out on Saturday have been seeking to publicly make their case. One of the most prominent Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers state in the Niger Delta who has been in a high-profile feud with the president, met with foreign journalists on Monday in Lagos.

The governor, considered a possible vice presidential candidate, said the electorate had come to expect more in a country where corruption and mismanagement has long characterized politics.”What we’re doing is to correct the party to ensure that when we present ourselves before the people in 2015, we will be credible enough to get the number of votes that will put us back in power,” Amaechi said. —AFP

BERLIN: Angela Merkel urged Germans yesterday to re-elect her “clever” government, saying it would shield their businesses and jobs from tax hikes by the centre-left. The chancellor, whose bid for a third term on Sept 22 is a close contest despite her popularity, said Peer Steinbrueck would ruin her progress on cutting unemployment and cementing economic recovery if his Social Democrats (SPD) came to power. “ These are all successes of our citizens, employers and entrepreneurs - but also the result of clever political leadership,” 59-year-old Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament in a debate on ‘ The Situation in Germany’. Seizing on the SPD and Greens’ economic ideas as a weapon for the final stage of the campaign, she said higher taxes on top incomes, wealth and inheritance would “put jobs at risk and de-motivate the Mittelstand”, referring to the family-owned firms that form the backbone of Europe’s biggest economy.

“What citizens must decide on Sept 22 is nothing more and nothing less than whether we continue on the path of success or see gross mistakes that will destroy our success,” she said.

Steinbrueck, a 66-year-old former finance minister, has a reputation for arrogance which contrasts with the chancellor’s modest, understated style - part of her enduring appeal to the German public even after eight years in office.

But he SPD and its Green allies are only a few points behind Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), in most opinion polls, which might explain her more assertive tone in yesterday’s parliamentary debate.

BERLIN: Germany's Social Democratic Party's (SPD) top candidate for Chancellor Peer Steinbrueck (right) listens as German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) speaks during a session of the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) yesterday. —AFP BURNING BRIDGES Merkel needs her junior coalition partner, the struggling Free Democrats (FDP), to clear the 5 percent threshold for the Bundestag so that she can avoid being forced into a repeat of her conservatives’ 2005-2009 ‘grand coalition’ with the SPD. The SPD is even keener to avoid this as the last coalition with Merkel eroded its grassroots support. Steinbrueck served in that coalition and has vowed never to join another Merkel-led cabinet, meaning his fate is sealed if the SPD is defeated.

Fresh from a close-fought TV debate with Merkel on Sunday, when the SPD’s gaffe-prone candidate performed better than expected, Steinbrueck used his sharp tongue to great effect in a Bundestag debate that turned into a second round of that duel. “Frau Merkel, the most impor-

tant two words you used in your speech were ‘we will, we will, we will’ - raising the question: who has been in government for the last four years in Germany?” he said, branding her policies “labels on empty bottles”.

Steinbrueck said Germany’s last meaningful economic reforms came a decade ago under the last SPD chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder. Despite record low unemployment of 6.8 percent, he cited data showing that seven million people earn less than the 8.5 euros per hour the SPD would introduce as the minimum wage. He rebuked Merkel for calling the SPD “unreliable” on Europe and reminded her that his party had supported all parliamentary votes on the euro crisis, even when she was short of a majority. “You are burning bridges with such comments,” he said. —Reuters

Barefoot Japanese diplomat wrestles for peace in Sudan KHARTOUM: In the thousands of years of Sudanese Nuba wrestling history, there had never been anything like it: A barefoot Japanese diplomat in a tight-fitting blue singlet stepping onto the sandy pitch to take on Sudan’s toughest. Four times this year, Yasuhiro Murotatsu has challenged the Sudanese. Four times he has lost.

But “Muro” is not giving up.

He says his wrestling diplomacy highlights this “precious culture” and can help unite a divided country. The Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan state are home to a linguistically and religiously diverse group of people collectively known as ‘Nuba’. Wrestling is central to their farm-based society, but for more than two years a more modern form of combat has devastated the region.

Non-Arab rebels from South Kordofan have joined with other insurgents from Darfur, in Sudan’s west, in rising against the Arab-dominated regime which they complain has marginalized the regions.

“Sudanese wrestling can be a symbol of a united Sudan,” says Murotatsu, 33, a Japanese embassy political officer who tries to spend one hour a day training for his bouts. “That’s why I am fighting. This is very important. I will be very happy if all tribes... come to Haj Yousef to support Sudanese wrestling. This is my intention,” he said before his latest match at the stadium in the Khartoum district.

More than one million people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states have been displaced or severely affected by fighting in the area, the UN says. At the same time in Darfur, tribal violence has worsened this year, leaving hundreds dead and uprooting hundreds of thousands more.

Murotatsu has competed since February in special “friendship” matches during the regular Friday evening card in Haj Yousef, a poor neighborhood of mud-brick houses.

He says the Sudanese sport is similar to the more widely-known freestyle wrestling, in which he finished among the top eight when he was in junior high school. “I read about

wrestling in Nuba Mountains before I came to Sudan... I became quite interested” and wanted to challenge them.

“I thought that I could win,” says Murotatsu, a former oil industry administrator who is fluent in Arabic.

“I think I’m good,” he proclaimed in an interview before his latest match.

suit in the colors of the Sudanese flag.

Kafi came to Khartoum from the Nuba region at the age of eight. He lives with his family but some relatives who remained in South Kordofan have fled to the mountains because of the fighting, he says.

The war has hit the sport hard in its

KHARTOUM: Japanese diplomat Yasuhiro Murotatsu (right), known as “Muro” in the ring competes against Sudanese fighter Saleh Omar Bol Tia Kafi, nicknamed ‘Al-Mudiriya’ in a traditional Sudanese Nuba wrestling match. —AFP Murotatsu’s opponent is a thin, muscular high school student, Saleh Omar Bol Tia Kafi, who says he has been wrestling since the age of 12. “I would come to the ring, watch the matches, and after that I wrestled with other young boys,” says Kafi, 18. He competes under the nickname “AlMudiriya”, the same moniker used by his father, a wrestler who is “one of the heroes of the Nuba Mountains”-and Kafi’s inspiration.

Nuba men would hold impromptu matches while in the fields caring for their cows, Kafi says, wearing a track-

Nuba homeland but wrestling still takes place, officials say. It is now formally known as “Sudanese” wrestling because it has grown beyond the Nuba community, says Hassan Abu Ras Saliem, deputy chief of the local wrestling federation. “We are fully convinced that this wrestling can unite Sudan,” says Al-Tayeb Ahmed Ajoan, the federation’s secretary general.

And that is Muro’s wish, as he sits on the edge of the circular red-earth pitch, stretching before his latest match. Fans have taken up every inch of the stadium, which was built by the

Khartoum state government a year ago. They even perch atop the concrete wall, moving to the rhythmic music played between bouts.

Small boys lugging plastic containers of drinking water and silver cups squeeze through the crowd, while women sell trays of snacks. Far away, people are fighting and dying in Sudan’s wars but here in the stadium, fans from different parts of the country have come together in joy. “I think this wrestling can have a role in ending racism in Sudan,” said Mutasim Ahmed, who is from North Kordofan and is a regular spectator. A Darfur native, Abdurrahman Tajideen, said he supported local boy Mudiriya because “he is representing Sudan.”

The widening appeal of the sport to people like Tajideen from other ethnic groups means it could help bring peace to the country, and the Nuba region in particular, said wrestling fan Hafiz Sulaiman, a Nuba. Sulaiman was hoping for a Muro victory “because he lost three matches and still came back. This means he has good will”.

Hands raised, concentrating in a half-crouch, the two wrestlers move cautiously, pawing each other like cats as the match begins. The pace picks up. Mudiriya holds Muro around the waist and pulls him into the dirt before the Japanese twists around.

Mudiriya is on his back. Muro raises his arms, as if in victory. No, not yet. They play on, Mudiriya’s left shoulder dusted with dirt.

After about three minutes he puts Muro on the ground again. Game over. Mudiriya wins. “A lion! He’s a lion!” a female fan calls in his honor as the two athletes are hoisted up by others.

“Muro’s tactics were completely different from last time and his skill has improved,” a sweating Mudiriya said.

“He’s a very good wrestler,” the Japanese diplomat says, vowing a return to the ring. “I cannot withdraw until I get at least one victory.” A win in Khartoum would, he hopes, pave the way for a bout in the wrestling heartland of Nuba itself. “It will be a very good message for peace,” Murotatsu said. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

India ‘mistakenly’ named in anti-Syria coalition NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister David Cameron mistakenly named India among countries which had concluded that Syrian regime forces were behind a chemical attack near Damascus, India’s foreign ministry said yesterday. New Delhi took note of the lapse during Cameron’s August 29 speech to lawmakers in London, in which he called for Britain to join military action against Syria after the

attack near Damascus.

More than 1,000 people died, according to US intelligence. “We asked how this had come about and they admitted that this was a mistake,” a foreign ministry spokesman said, adding that the matter had been raised “informally”.

Cameron named India alongside other countries including Canada, Australia, Turkey and the United States which had concluded that forces

Brazil and Mexico summon US envoys over spy claims BRASILIA: Brazil and Mexico demanded explanations from the United States on Monday over allegations that the National Security Agency spied on the communications of their presidents. Brazil’s Foreign Minister Luis Figueiredo said the interception of Internet data from President Dilma Rousseff reported by US journalist Glenn Greenwald, if proven, “represents an unacceptable and unallowable violation of Brazilian sovereignty.” In Mexico, the foreign ministry said it sent a diplomatic note to Washington calling for an “exhaustive investigation” into claims that the NSA spied on President Enrique Pena Nieto’s emails before his election last year.

Mexico warned that, if true, the snooping would be a “violation of international rights” and that it “rejects and condemns any espionage work on Mexican citizens.” Both governments summoned the US ambassadors to their countries, though the envoy to Mexico was out of the country on Monday.

A State Department official sought to downplay concerns, saying that “while we are not going to comment publicly on every specific alleged intelligence activity, as a matter of policy we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations.”

The claims reported by Greenwald, who obtained secret files from NSA leaker Edward Snowden, follow allegations of widespread US electronic espionage in Latin America that angered the region’s leaders.

The report emerged as Rousseff and Pena Nieto, who lead Latin America’s two biggest economies, prepare to travel to Russia later this week for a Group of 20 summit during which they will see US President Barack Obama.

Rousseff is also scheduled to visit Washington in October, five months after Obama visited Pena Nieto in Mexico. Citing a June 2012 NSA document, Greenwald told Globo television on Sunday that the agency was trying to better understand Rousseff’s methods of communication and interlocutors using a program to access all Internet content she visited online. The NSA program allegedly allowed agents to access the

entire communications network of the president and her staff, including telephone, Internet and social network exchanges, the Rio-based journalist said.

Figueiredo said he told US Ambassador Thomas Shannon that his government wanted “a formal, written explanation” this week. After a cabinet meeting with Rousseff, Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said Brazil would wait for a response to determine “what measures to take.” The officials said Brazil wants Internet governance and US espionage accusations to be discussed in international forums. The Brazilian Senate plans to name a special committee late yesterday to investigate allegations of US spying in the South American country.

Senator Ricardo Ferraco, head of the Senate foreign relations committee, denounced the US government’s “lack of limits.” In Mexico, a Mexican diplomatic source said US Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne was out of the countr y but was expected in the next hours. A US embassy source refused to comment on the allegations but said the two countries were in contact and that Obama’s visit in May showed both leaders want to “work more closely for the prosperity and security” of their citizens.

The Globo report also said the NSA intercepted some of Pena Nieto’s voice mails, which included messages in which he discussed the names of potential cabinet members before his July 2012 election victory. In July, Greenwald co-wrote articles in O Globo newspaper revealing that the US government had a joint NSA-CIA base in Brazil to gather data on emails and calls flowing through the country.

The issue was discussed during a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry in August, but Brazil said it was not satisfied by Washington’s explanations. Cardozo, the justice minister, met with US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington last week to discuss the matter and said the United States rejected a Brazilian offer to negotiate a bilateral agreement on surveillance. Snowden, a former NSA contractor wanted by Washington on espionage charges, is now a fugitive in Russia under temporary asylum. —AFP

loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad had used chemical weapons.

India has expressed concern about the worsening violence in Syria, but has pressed for any action against the Assad regime to be authorized through the United Nations. “The international legal norm against the use of chemical weapons anywhere and by anyone should not be breached. However, we would prefer to await the

full results of the UN inspection,” its foreign ministry said in a statement.

India was in favor of bringing the Syrian government and the opposition to the negotiating table, the statement added, urging all sides to abjure violence. Cameron suffered a stunning parliamentary defeat in his bid to authorize action against the Syrian regime, dealing him a personal political blow and

undermining plans by US President Barack Obama to launch military strikes. A spokesman for the British High Commission in New Delhi admitted the “innocent mistake” and attributed it to oversight during hurried preparations for the emergency debate. “There’s a lot of work that has to be done in a very short period of time,” he said. “It’s a little something that has fallen through the gaps.” —AFP

Wary of Pakistan, US steps up surveillance Washington about biological, chemical arms sites WASHINGTON: While US intelligence agencies spend billions monitoring enemies like Al-Qaeda and Iran, they pay just as much attention to ally Pakistan, The Washington Post reported yesterday. The United States has intensified surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and is concerned about biological and chemical arms sites there and tries to evaluate the loyalty of Pakistani counter-terrorism agents recruited by the CIA, the Post said.

It quoted a 178-page summary of what it called the US intelligence community’s “black budget” and said the documents were provided by fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden. The paper said the documents reveal broad new levels of mistrust in an already fragile security partnership.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry reacted by saying it is fully committed to “objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation” and follows International Atomic Energy Agency standards. “As a nuclear weapons state, Pakistan’s policy is characterized by restraint and responsibility,” it said in a statement.”Pakistan has established extensive physical protection measures, robust command and control institutions... comprehensive and effective export controls regulatory regimes to ensure safety and security of nuclear installations and materials,” it added.

The Washington Post said US efforts to gather intelligence on Pakistan are more extensive than previously disclosed by US officials. America has delivered nearly $26 billion in aid to Pakistan over the past 12 years, with the money aimed at stabilizing the country and ensuring its cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, according to the paper. But now that Osama bin Laden is dead and AlQaeda is weaker, US spy agencies appear to be shifting their attention to dangers that have surfaced outside Pakistani areas patrolled by CIA drones. “If the Americans are expanding their surveillance capabilities, it can only mean one thing,” said Husain Haqqani, who served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US from 2008-11. “The mistrust now exceeds the trust.”

On other issues, the Post said other classified documents provided to it by Snowden reveal new allegations of human rights abuses in Pakistan. US spy agencies reported that senior Pakistani military and intelligence officials knew of and possibly ordered a broad campaign

LAHORE: Pakistani lawyers stand on the photographs of the US President Barack Obama and a US flag, against a possible US attack on Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Bashar Al-Assad government, during a protest in Lahore yesterday. —AFP of extrajudicial killings of militants and other adversaries, the Post said. These reports were based on communications intercepts from 2010 to 2012 and other intelligence.

Public disclosure of the reports could have forced the administration of President Barack Obama to sever aid to the Pakistani armed forces. This is because of a US law that prohibits military assistance to human rights abusers. But the Post said the documents indicate that administration officials decided not to press the issue so as to preserve an already frayed relationship with Pakistan. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council said the United States is “committed to a long-term partnership

with Pakistan, and we remain fully engaged in building a relationship that is based on mutual interests and mutual respect.”

“We have an ongoing strategic dialogue that addresses in a realistic fashion many of the key issues between us, from border management to counterterrorism, from nuclear security to promoting trade and investment,” said the spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden. “The United States and Pakistan share a strategic interest in combating the challenging security issues in Pakistan, and we continue to work closely with Pakistan’s professional and dedicated security forces to do so.” —AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Somali president survives assassination attempt MOGADISHU: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud escaped unhurt yesterday from an ambush on his heavily armored convoy claimed by Al-Qaeda linked Islamists, the latest attack targeting the internationally backed leader. Shebab gunmen claimed to have ambushed the convoy as it travelled to the port of Merka south of the capital and boasted of destroying vehicles with rocket-propelled grenades.

But officials said that the attack had failed and all in the presidential entourage were safe. “Gunmen tried to disrupt the president’s trip ... but I can confirm the president and his delegation are well and reached their final destination Merka to have meetings with local community,” said Somali army official Mohamed Qorey, speaking by telephone from

Merka. The president was travelling in an armored convoy from the 17,700-strong African Union force (AMISOM) that fights alongside the Somali army against Shebab gunmen. “We ambushed a convoy that was escorting the self-appointed Somali president,” Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab said.

The attack took place near the small settlement of Buffow, close to Merka, a former Shebab stronghold captured one year ago around 100 kilometers south of the capital.

“The presidential convoy was attacked but they have continued after about 15 minutes of heavy gunfire,” said Ibrahim Adan, a resident of Buffow.

Diplomatic sources played down the attacks saying it had consisted of little more than a roadside bomb.

Residents in Merka said Mohamud appeared in the

port, greeting officials and residents as he toured the town. “He was fine and well, meeting the people who had come to see him,” said Nasir Abdirahmam, a resident of Merka.

Somalia’s weak central government, selected in a UN-backed process in August 2012, has made some progress in Mogadishu but has little concrete influence outside the capital. The government was the first to be given global recognition since the collapse of Somalia’s hardline regime in 1991. But the authorities have been dealt a number of setbacks in recent months, including a string of Shebab attacks, accusations of rape against the army and AU soldiers and a pull-out by aid workers because of a wave of kidnappings and killings.

Shebab fighters in May 2012 ambushed the con-

voy of Mohamud’s predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, but the president escaped unharmed. More recently, Shebab fighters have carried out a series of bombings, attacks and killings aimed at overthrowing the government. UN Monitoring Group reports in July estimated the Shebab are still some 5,000 strong, and said they remain the “principal threat to peace and security to Somalia”.

In June, Shebab suicide commandos carried out a brazen daylight attack on a fortified United Nations compound, and in July a suicide car bomber attacked a Turkish embassy complex in the city. Last month Doctors Without Borders-an aid agency that has earned a reputation for working in the toughest of conditions-closed all its operations in the war-torn country, warning of growing insecurity. — AFP

Australia Prime Minister battles Murdoch empire Murdoch’s clout in UK, US diminishes

BEIJING: A cook rests outside a restaurant in Beijing yesterday. — AFP

China corruption fight goes higher, and more political BEIJING: China’s anti-corruption campaign is ensnaring ever more senior figures, with speculation now swirling about the powerful former security tsar, but analysts are raising questions about its effectiveness and the political currents underpinning it. The net could be tightening around Zhou Yongkang, who would become the most senior figure in decades to face investigation, after executives from a top state-owned oil company and a province that he headed came under investigation.

The intensification of the drive against corruption comes just after the sensational trial of former Communist Party bigwig Bo Xilai-yet analysts say it could be motivated as much by political infighting, and could fail to make much headway against rampant graft. “If there’s any truth in the Zhou Yongkang story, then maybe this is the strategy to show that no one’s immune,” said Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese politics at the University of Sydney. “But it seems to me an unsophisticated kind of way to try and deal with what is actually obviously a very common and widely spread structural issue,” he said.

Even with a greater push to crack down on corruption, Brown said “it’s just too slow for the amounts of wealth and the amounts of profits and the amounts of business we’re talking about”. With no system of external accountability, allied to the fact that government bodies and state-owned enterprises play key roles in the economy, observers say that China’s political class is so awash in graft that a genuine cleansing is effectively impossible.

And analysts say that Zhou may well have been targeted by the new leadership to tackle a factional threat. Zhou was seen as a prime backer of Bo before the Chongqing boss’s downfall, and despite retiring he retained much power as a former domestic security chief, when he sat atop a vast surveillance apparatus. New party and state leaders under President Xi Jinping took office over the past year acknowledging popular dissatisfaction with the government and vowing to clean up.

Xi warned that corruption could destroy the party and threatened to stamp down on highranking officials, or “tigers”, along with low-level “flies”. Several figures have been brought down, from Yang Dacai, a provincial safety official tried last week over a luxury watch collection, to former senior economic policymaker Liu Tienan, ousted from the party on suspicion of taking bribes.

Over the past week inquiries were announced into Jiang Jiemin, former chairman of the giant state-owned firm China National Petroleum Corp-which Zhou headed from 1996 to 1998 - and four other executives of the com-

pany. Li Chuncheng, the deputy party chief of Sichuan province-which Zhou oversaw from 1999 to 2002 - lost his post last December after coming under investigation. If investigated, Zhou would replace Bo as the most senior figure to fall-he was one of China’s top nine politicians when he stepped down in November.

But the timing of the Jiang inquiry-so soon after he was tapped in March to run the government body that oversees state-owned enterprises-undermines the credibility of anti-corruption efforts, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a political scientist at Hong Kong Baptist University.”It’s either lack of coordination, lack of efficiency of the system... or the people who supported him have weakened and are not around any more,” he said, as state media announced that Jiang had been dismissed from the government enterprises body. “I think it shows that the system doesn’t work well.” Bo’s trial was seen as a purge of an ambitious and controversial figure, with corruption charges restricted to his early career and 27 million yuan ($4.4 million) - far below the level of wealth associated with China’s top politicians. Meanwhile ordinary Chinese have been detained after reiterating longstanding calls for public officials to disclose their assets. Even such a move might achieve little in an economic system where opportunities for corruption at the intersection of state and business have proliferated in China’s decades-long boom, for example, by taking kickbacks for massive government contracts or land-use rights.

ANTI-GRAFT WEBSITE Meanwhile, the secretive anti-graft department of China’s ruling Communist Party has launched a website, as Beijing promotes its anticorruption campaign with a fanfare of publicity.

The website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China officially went online this week, according to a statement posted on www.ccdi.gov.cn.

It was unveiled as authorities step up a graft crackdown that, according to Chinese media reports, has seen nine officials at or above vice ministerial level fall since new leaders under Xi Jinping took over in November.

For years, the CCDI has conducted its operations in secret, neither issuing statements to foreign media, nor publicizing a contact telephone number. But despite the website launch, when news of the dismissal of senior official Jiang Jiemin emerged yesterday it came via China’s official news agency Xinhua. The CCDI site will be “a major channel” to release news, interpret policies, listen to public opinion and receive online reports of wrongdoing, according to an introductory statement on it. — Agencies

Tensions mount as China builds at disputed shoal MANILA: The Philippines accused China yesterday of laying concrete blocks on a small group of reefs and rocky outcrops within its territory, the latest escalation in a hostile maritime dispute. Defense department spokesman Peter Galvez released to the media an aerial photograph of what he said were about 30 blocks on Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. “It’s unfortunate that they keep on doing activities that do not contribute to our pursuit towards regional peace,” Galvez told reporters. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin briefed members of parliament about the issue yesterday, telling them the concrete blocks were a “prelude to construction”, according to Galvez.

Galvez said the photograph was taken from a Philippine navy plane on Saturday, and three Chinese coastguard vessels were also observed there. AFP could not immediately verify the photograph. When asked for comment, Chinese embassy spokesman Hua Zhang said by email: “I will look into it.”

Scarborough Shoal is about 220 kilometers off the main Philippine island of Luzon, within the country’s internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.

The outcrop is about 650 kilometers from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese land

mass. China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other neighbors. The Philippines and Vietnam have in recent years repeatedly accused China of becoming more aggressive in staking its claims to the disputed waters, which are believed to sit atop vast gas and oil reserves.

The Philippines says China has effectively occupied Scarborough Shoal, home to rich fishing grounds, since last year by stationing vessels there and banning Filipino fishermen.

Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing claims to parts of the South China Sea, and the rivalries have been a source of tension for decades. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, in particular, have become increasingly tense in recent years. The Philippines angered China in January this year by asking a United Nations tribunal to rule on the validity of the Chinese claims to most of the South China Sea. China rejects international arbitration, preferring to deal with the issue on a bilateral basis while maintaining it has sole territorial rights.

Legislator Walden Bello, who attended Gazmin’s briefing yesterday, said that Filipino politicians were concerned China could be laying the foundations for a military garrison on Scarborough Shoal. —AFP

SYDNEY: Rupert Murdoch’s clout in Britain and the United States might have diminished, but in Australia he dominates the media landscape, playing a prominent role in undermining Kevin Rudd’s dream of retaining power, analysts say. While the ruling Labor party has long trailed the Tony Abbott-led conservative opposition in opinion polls, Rudd’s ousting of Julia Gillard to retake the prime minister-ship in June reignited hopes that he could pull off an unlikely upset in the September 7 general election.

But Rudd quickly found that he was battling not only undecided voters but also Murdoch, who controls about two-thirds of the press in the country where he established his powerful global media empire. Few other countries have media concentrated in such a way and the day after Rudd announced the election date, Murdoch’s Sydney tabloid The Daily Telegraph made clear its stance, running a picture of Rudd on its front page under the headline “Kick This Mob Out”.

Around the country, publications under News Corp-which backed Rudd during his successful 2007 election-have launched a series of scathing headlines with Murdoch himself taking to Twitter to attack Labor and throw his support behind Abbott. To ram home the point, The Sunday Telegraph at the weekend splashed a picture of Abbott on its front page under the headline “Australia Needs Tony”, less than a week away from polling day.

“You can see by the reaction of the politicians that the media is obviously influential. It can set the agenda,” said David McKnight, of the University of New South Wales and author of the book “Rupert Murdoch: An Investigation of Political Power”. “Given that he (Murdoch) controls 70 percent of the capital city newspaper circulation in Australia, his moods and beliefs are a material factor during

elections in Australia,” McKnight said.

“Prime ministers and opposition leaders seek his favors but are grateful if they can just have his neutrality.” Debate has raged over why Australian-born Murdoch would want to influence the outcome, with Rudd pointing to the tycoon opposing Labor’s national broadband (NBN) network. He suggested this threatened the business model of News Corp’s pay-TV arm Foxtel, which is one of the company’s key assets, generating decent profits in a difficult media age where traditional newspapers are losing money.

The argument is that consumers

could opt to use fast NBN speeds to download their own visual entertainment rather than pay for a Foxtel subscription. But McKnight said Murdoch was a political animal and his backing of Abbott could not be explained simply through commercial interests. “Newspaper ownership in Australia is among the most concentrated in the world and it is very significant that it is controlled by a highly political proprietor,” he said. “Murdoch has a history of influencing governments.

It’s something he can and does do.

People look for commercial reasons but he has a profound belief in certain political philosophies.”

How successful his campaign

Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

will be remains to be seen. During the US presidential election last year, the mogul, whose empire includes Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, used Twitter to savage the Obama-Biden campaign-to no avail. News Corp has long played a role in politics. Famously in Britain, in 1992, Murdoch’s newspaper The Sun ran a triumphant front-page headline proclaiming, “It’s The Sun Wot Won It”, after the Conservatives unexpectedly kept office.

Tom Watson, the British Labor MP who played a big part in helping expose the News of the World phone-hacking scandal that led to Murdoch shutting down his massmarket paper, agrees he can have a strong impact. “It insults Australians when they produce content like that,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the “Kick This Mob Out” front page and others depicting Labor politicians as clowns and Nazis.

“But they do it for a reason. If you traduce someone’s character, even in a seemingly satirical way, it has a drip-drip effect. This stuff works.” Australia’s other main media player, Fairfax, has taken a more balanced election line and in an apparent dig at News Corp started running full-page adverts mid-campaign touting its independence.

The head of advanced journalism at the University of Melbourne, Margaret Simon, said that people who want to buy a newspaper in most places in Australia, outside the cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, have no choice but to read a Murdoch publication.

“The News Corp coverage will be quite damaging (for Rudd),” she said, adding: “Murdoch just likes to pick winners and influence outcomes.” Indeed, in Britain after 1992, Murdoch ditched his support for the Tories and backed Tony Blair-after a long campaign of courtship by the business-friendly Labor leader. — AFP

Japan unveils ice wall plan for Fukushima water leaks TOKYO: Tokyo yesterday unveiled a half-billion dollar plan to stem radioactive water leaks at Fukushima, creating a wall of ice underneath the stricken plant, as the government elbowed the operator aside. Acknowledging global concerns over the “haphazard” management of the crisis

by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his administration will step in with public money to get the job done.

“The government needs to resolve the problem by standing at the forefront,” he told a meeting of his nuclear disaster response team.

“Discarding the current, impromptu response, we will set up our basic policies for a fundamental resolution of the contaminated water problem.

“The government will do its best and take the necessary fiscal action,” he said, referring to tapping taxpayer funds.

The intervention comes just days before a decision in Argentina by the International Olympic Committee on who should host the 2020 Games. Observers have warned the situation at Fukushima could prove the undoing of Tokyo’s bid. “The world is paying attention to whether we can realize the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi, including the contaminated water problem,” Abe said.

Thousands of tons of radioactive water are being stored in temporary tanks at the site, 220 kilometers north of the Japanese capital, much of it having been used to cool molten reactors wrecked by the tsunami of March 2011. The discovery of leaks from some of these tanks or from pipes feeding them, as well as radiation hotspots on the ground even where no water is evident, has created a growing sense of crisis.

Some of the highly toxic water that has escaped may have made its way into the Pacific Ocean, TEPCO has admitted. On top of this, the natural flow of groundwater from the surrounding hillsides, which goes underneath the plant and out to sea, is also causing problems. As it pours through the soil it is mixing with polluted fluid that has seeped into the ground under the reactors.

TEPCO says up to 300 tons of this mildly radioactive groundwater is making its way into the sea every day. Under the 47 billion yen ($470 million) scheme announced yesterday, scientists

will freeze the soil around the stricken reactors to form an impenetrable wall they hope will direct groundwater away from the plant. This will entail burying pipes vertically and passing refrigerant through them. Officials estimate the whole project will cost around 32 billion yen.

The government hopes this ice wall will be operational by March 2015, with a feasibility study already under way, Kyodo reported. A further 15 billion yen will be spent on equipment to remove radiation from water currently being stored. On Monday, the head of Japan’s nuclear watchdog said it was “unavoidable” that water would have to be released into the ocean at some point, although he stressed it would have to be largely decontaminated first.

TEPCO’s clean-up at Fukushima has come in for increasing criticism from politicians, academics and Japan’s usually quiescent public. Abe on

Monday described TEPCO’s approach to the crisis as “haphazard” and vowed to take the initiative in containing the leak. Last week, one of his ministers compared TEPCO’s handling of the leaks with playing “whack-a-mole”, the anarchic fairground game in which players must hit furry creatures with a mallet as they pop up from random holes.

The utility-one of the largest in the world-has been effectively nationalised by vast government bailouts needed to stop it from sinking beneath the weight of bills from the clean-up and compensation claims. While the natural disaster that sparked the nuclear emergency at Fukushima claimed more than 18,000 lives, no one is officially recorded as having died as a direct result of the radiation leaks. However, vast tracts of land had to be evacuated, with tens of thousands of people still unable to return to their homes.— AFP

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (3RD-left) speaks during a joint-meeting by Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and Nuclear Power Disaster Management Council at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP

14

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

ANALYSIS

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Issues

Obama lobbies for Syria vote

By Jeff Mason and Richard Cowan fter putting a decision to launch military strikes on Syria into the hands of Congress, President Barack Obama is doing what his critics have long accused him of failing to do: reaching out, personally and aggressively, to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. While top lieutenants including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry lobby their former congressional colleagues, Obama is making individual calls himself to members of the US Senate and House of Representatives to press his case for action.

What Obama has not done since he made his announcement on Saturday is appeal to the public, which both Democrats and Republicans say will be crucial as polls show little enthusiasm for US military action anywhere. The stakes for the president are high - and the arguments being made in support of a ‘yes’ vote from Congress are making them even higher.

A vote against strikes to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for alleged use of chemical weapons, officials argue, could undermine Obama’s standing in the Middle East as his administration seeks to deter Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians and stabilize a region already in turmoil. “A rejection of this resolution would be catastrophic, not just for him but for the institution of the presidency and the credibility of the United States,” Senator John McCain said after meeting with Obama at the White House on Monday.

Mindful of those stakes, the White House has employed a “flood the zone” strategy, according to an administration official, using an American football term for an offensive move where players flood an area of the field to overwhelm the opposing team’s defenders.

The evidence of that strategy: an onslaught of briefings, calls and meetings with lawmakers from both political parties. On Monday National Security adviser Susan Rice, Kerry, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and the top US military officer, Martin Dempsey, held an unclassified briefing call for Democratic House members, and Obama met with McCain and fellow Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. On Tuesday Obama will meet with the chairs of key national security committees in Congress and Kerry, Dempsey, and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will testify to the Senate foreign relations committee.

“In all calls and briefings, we will be making the same fundamental case: The failure to take action against Assad unravels the deterrent impact of the international norm against chemical weapons use,” a senior administration official said. “It risks emboldening Assad and his key allies - Hezbollah and Iran who will see that there are no consequences for such a flagrant violation of an international norm.

Anyone who is concerned about Iran and its efforts in the region should support this action,” he said.

A

CONSULTATION, AFTER THE FACT Obama has stepped up his interactions with lawmakers this year, holding dinners and building relationships that critics say he lacked. But any goodwill he has obtained from that effort is limited, and one Republican aide noted on Monday that Obama had only come to Congress after already articulating a decision that strikes were necessary. “They’re certainly doing more, but it’s after the fact. They already made a decision on what they want to do,” a senior Senate Republican aide said. Running parallel to the White House contacts with Congress are conversations that senior Democratic and Republican senators are holding in an attempt to get a resolution passed in the full Senate.

The aide said the Democratic chairmen of relevant Senate committees were consulting with the highest-ranking Republicans on those panels to try to work out language that could pass the Senate next week. Passage in the Republican-controlled House remains much more problematic, with lawmakers expressing skepticism about US involvement in another war as well as the effectiveness of the limited strikes that Obama has proposed.— Reuters

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait.

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

Doctors worry as heart drug research loses steam

By Ben Hirschler he hunt for new heart drugs is losing momentum as resources are switched to other areas, notably cancer research, where investors get a better bang for their buck. Cardiologists fear the fight against heart disease could stall as a result, following major advances in recent decades marked by the advent of drugs to fight cholesterol, lower blood pressure and prevent dangerous blood clots.

The disparity between advances in cancer and heart medicines is already stark.

Since the start of 2012, 17 new drugs been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for cancer compared with just three for heart disease. “There is a clear move of R&D from cardiovascular to cancer and other areas,” said Michel Komajda, a heart specialist at Pitie Salpetriere Hospital in Paris and a former president of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Komajda, like many of his colleagues gathered at the annual ESC congress this week in Amsterdam, is worried. Despite the giant manufacturers’ stands touting heart medicines at this week’s meeting of some 30,000 doctors, investment in cardiovascular medicine is ebbing - prompting calls for an urgent rebalancing of research priorities. “There is a view among some that because we have already made a lot of progress in cardiovascular medicine then maybe it doesn’t make sense to

T

invest any more,” Komajda said. “But there are still some big areas where we need progress, including acute heart failure, which is a growing problem because of an ageing population.” To some extent, cardiology is a victim of its own success. By any measure, the global war on heart disease to date has been a success, thanks not only to better drugs but also prevention strategies such as anti-smoking campaigns. In Europe, the death rate from cardiovascular disease has halved over the past 30 years, while the risk of dying within 30 days of a heart attack has been cut by more than half in just 20 years.

NO 1 KILLER Yet cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer worldwide and doctors fear a renewed epidemic of heart problems in 20 to 30 years time as a new generation of overweight and obese youngsters reaches middle age. “It’s a huge concern,” said Patrick O’Gara of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who is also president-elect of the American College of Cardiology. “We need to replenish the fuel that drives the engine.” Many patients remain at risk of clogged arteries, despite taking cholesterol-lowering statins, while heart failure - where the heart fails to pump blood adequately - remains a deadly disease that has seen little progress in treatment in 40 years.

Developing new heart drugs takes particularly heavy spending with uncertain

returns. What is more, patent expiries mean many previously profitable heart drugs are now available as cheap generics, reducing drug companies’ revenue from the sector. In contrast to oncology, where a better understanding of the genetics behind different tumors means drugs can be tested rapidly in small groups of highly targeted patients, heart drugs still need large and lengthy studies to prove a benefit. These tests can each cost hundreds of millions of dollars, raising doubts as to whether cardiovascular research is money well spent - especially after recent highprofile setbacks. Both Pfizer and Roche suffered disappointments with drugs designed to raise levels of “good” HDL cholesterol. The relatively bare heart medicine cabinet was evident at the ESC meeting, where negative clinical trials outnumbered positive ones and the biggest positive news a was a fourth-to-market new oral anticoagulant from Daiichi Sankyo.

LEARNING FROM CANCER Some heart doctors argue it is time to learn from cancer. “We need to take a lesson from our colleagues in oncology where the approaches are really very smart,” said Keith Fox, professor of cardiology at the Edinburgh University. “We need to move from blanket approaches to more targeted approaches.”

So far, however, working out how to target heart drugs effectively has proved elusive - a fact that has not been lost on

investors in emerging medical technologies, according to Briggs Morrison, head of global medicines development at AstraZeneca, which is investing in both areas. “If you are a biotech company and you go into oncology, there is a very rapid path to approval with a small patient population that means investors can get a return,” he said. “In cardiovascular disease, it’s a long road, it’s a lot of patients and it’s a big investment.” What the cardiovascular field needs is a “Glivec moment”, according to American Heart Association president Mariell Jessup, referring to the Novartis leukaemia drug that kick-started interest in targeted cancer drugs a decade ago.

One research area that might deliver fresh impetus, doctors believe, is the emerging class of experimental cholesterol-lowering drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors. These are now in mid-stage studies.

The man-made antibodies, which are given by injection, offer a new way to fighting atherosclerosis, or the build-up of artery-clogging fatty deposits - but they still need to prove themselves in late-stage tests. O’Gara from Boston said PCSK9 drugs from the likes of Sanofi , Amgen, Pfizer and Roche were exciting but the research net still needed to be cast wider.

“There are other discoveries out there like this that we need to be making,” he said.

“We need to peel away at this onion of atherosclerosis because we understand only about a third of the risk factors responsible for it.”— Reuters

Obama’s strange strategy on Syria

By Trudy Rubin f President Obama ever does get around to targeting Syria, with congressional approval, it will be the strangest US military strike in recent memory. The administration has made a convincing case that the Syrian regime gassed 1,400 of its own people to death last month, including 426 children. And yes, the use of poison gas violates longstanding international norms.

Yet Obama can’t seem to make up his mind if he wants to punish Syria for using chemical weapons or not. On Saturday, he made a strong case for using military action to deter anyone from deploying these terrible weapons again. He said he’d decided to strike Syria, then - in the very same speech - said he was postponing the mission until he gets authorization from Congress, which won’t return until Sept 9. Obama and his spokesmen have already spent a week insisting, over and over, that any strike would be a “limited narrow act.” Missiles would be fired from ships in the Mediterranean for a short time, aimed only at sites linked to the delivery (not the storage depots) of chemical weapons. Furthermore, the aim would not be to unseat President Bashar al-Assad, or to impact the wider Syrian conflict. Meantime, his aides have so clearly telegraphed the possible targets that, according to opposition sources, the regime has been trucking troops, files, and equipment away from those sites.

The administration’s litany of limitations already had Syrian opposition leaders comparing a possible strike to “Operation Desert Fox,” the Clinton administration’s much derided four-day bombing campaign in 1998 that aimed to degrade Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.

After Saturday’s speech, this latter-day Desert Fox is looking more like Operation Desert Farce.

Obama’s public dithering is confusing both his allies and his foes. “He seems unable to make difficult decisions,” says Hisham Melhem, the veteran Washington bureau chief of al-Arabiya news channel. “This will embolden Assad and the opposition jihadis and demoralize the secular, moderate Syrian opposition. Obama is gambling with his reputation at home and abroad.” Why Obama is seeking congressional cover this late in the day is perplexing. He didn’t ask Congress for permission when he backed the NATO operation in Libya in 2011, but he may be feeling lonely after British lawmakers rebuffed their government’s plan to

I

cooperate in the strike.

Now with US ships at the ready in the Mediterranean, there will be days more of debate over should-we, shouldn’t we. If Congress votes no - which is entirely possible - Obama will be humiliated at home and abroad. What’s so depressing about this whole mess is that the real rationale for any strike on Syria was to rescue Obama’s credibility - especially with Tehran. The use of chemical weapons does violate a hard-won international taboo, and the president has said repeatedly over the past year that Syrian use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line.”

Last month’s hideous gas attack came after several previous small ones had gone unpunished; this time the president had to react with more than rhetoric. Secretary of State John Kerry made this clear, last week, when he said the US response to the chemical strike “matters deeply to the credibility ... of the United States of America. ... It is directly related to ... whether countries still believe the United States when it says something.

They are watching to see if Syria can get away with it. It is about whether Iran ... will now feel emboldened, in the absence of action, to obtain nuclear weapons.” I sympathize. The president does have a real credibility problem in the Middle East, the result of an incoherent (or absent) Mideast strategy, especially on Syria. But the administration’s tactical plan for a one-off punitive strike - divorced from

any larger strategy - never made sense.

Now Obama has to sell that limited concept to Congress. He will argue that Syria’s chemical weapons threaten us, which they do not. The real danger to US security interests lies elsewhere - in a Syria collapsing into chaos and providing new havens for jihadis who could threaten the region and beyond. Over the past two years the White house chose not to arm moderate, non-jihadi Syrian rebel commanders who had been vetted by the CIA. These commanders have been pushed aside by new Al-Qaeda affiliates and other radical Islamists. Flush with supplies from rich Gulf Arabs, they are now setting up a new Afghanistan in eastern Syria and western Iraq.

The administration says any strike will not address this bigger problem; it will not be aimed at breaking the current Syrian military stalemate between regime and rebels, or at scaring Assad into entering serious peace talks. Not is there any sign it will be accompanied by a new policy of seriously arming moderate rebels..

This kind of tactical strike, divorced from any larger strategy will leave Assad in power, crowing that he survived America’s aggression. Yet a failure to punish Assad after threatening to do so for weeks - will be a terrific blow for Obama, and undercut America’s standing and influence abroad. This is the Hobson’s choice to which the president’s indecision has led him. Operation Desert Farce is already heading our way.— MCT

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Sinai emerges as new theater for jihad

SINAI: Egyptian Army officers supervise the destruction of tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip at the border, near the town of Rafah, northern Sinai, Egypt yesterday. — AP

With eye on Syria, Israel tests missiles Continued from Page 1 medium-range decoy missile that was not carrying a warhead, the ministry said, but did not intercept it. “A successful test was held to check our systems,” Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said. “We will continue to develop and research and equip the Israeli military with the best systems in the world.”

In Washington, there was no immediate White House comment. Experts and defense officials said the test had been scheduled weeks ago and was not directly connected to the current tensions in the region. Uzi Rubin, former head of the Arrow system, said the test was “completely technical.

Nothing connected to Syria.” He said the “only message” it would send was that Israel has “good missile defense systems.”

Nonetheless, it served as a reminder to Syria and its patron, Iran, that Israel is pressing forward with development of a “multilayered” missile-defense system. Both Syria and Iran, and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah, possess vast arsenals of rockets and missiles. The Arrow 3, expected to be operational around 2016, would be the first such “multilayer” missiledefense system, designed to intercept long-range missiles such the Iranian Shahab before they re-enter the atmosphere.

Last year, Israel also successfully tested a system designed to intercept missiles with ranges of up to 300 kilometers which is expected to be operational by early 2015. Another system for short-range rockets successfully shot down hundreds fired from the Gaza Strip during eight days of fighting in November, and more recently intercepted a rocket fired from Lebanon.

Meanwhile in Syria, regime troops recaptured the town of Ariha, a busy commercial center in the restive northern province of Idlib following days of heavy bombardment, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group obtains information from a network of antiregime activists. Ariha has changed hands several times in the past two years. Rebels had succeeded in wrestling it from government control late last month.

Since the outbreak of the Syria conflict in March 2011, the two sides have fought to a stalemate, though the Assad regime has retaken the offensive in recent months. Rebel fighters control large rural stretches in northern and eastern Syria, while Assad is holding on to most of the main urban areas.

Also yesterday, rebels detonated a bomb along a gas pipeline near the northeastern town of Deir El-Zour, the staterun Syrian news agency SANA reported. The Observatory confirmed that a fire had broken out along the pipeline, but said

it had no details on the reporting bombing. The eastern province of Deir El-Zour, along Syria’s border with Iraq, is one of the two main centers of the country’s oil production.

The rebels have been seizing oil fields there since late 2012. It is not clear how much of the fields they control.

Activists and state media say most of Syria’s fields are no longer under direct government control. The Syrian conflict, which began as a popular uprising against Assad in March 2011, later degenerated into a civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people.

The UN refugee agency announced yesterday that the number of Syrians who have fled the country has surpassed the 2 million mark. Along with more than four million people displaced inside Syria, this means more than six million Syrians have been uprooted, out of an estimated population of 23 million. Antonio Guterres, the head of the Office for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said Syria is hemorrhaging an average of almost 5,000 citizens a day across its borders, many of them with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Nearly 1.8 million refugees have fled in the past 12 months alone, he said. The agency’s special envoy, actress Angelina Jolie, said “some neighboring countries could be brought to the point of collapse” if the situation keeps deteriorating at its current pace. Most Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

Despite the grim toll, Assad has not shown any signs of backing down. Assad and some in his inner circle are from Syria’s minority Alawites, or followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam, who believe they would not have a place in Syria if the rebels win. Most of those trying to topple Assad are Sunni Muslims, with Islamic militants, including those linked to the Al-Qaeda terror network, increasingly dominant among the rebels.

The missile test came at a time of heightened tensions as Washington weighs sea-launched strikes against Syria. Israel has been increasingly concerned that it could be drawn into Syria’s brutal civil war. Since the weekend, the Obama administration has been lobbying for congressional support for military action against the Assad regime.

The administration says it has evidence that Assad’s forces launched attacks with chemical weapons on rebel-held suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus on Aug 21. The US has alleged that the nerve agent sarin was used and that at least 1,429 people were killed, including more than 400 children.

Last week, President Barack Obama appeared poised to authorize military strikes, but unexpectedly stepped back over the weekend to first seek approval from Congress, which returns from summer recess next week. — AP

Obama wins bipartisan support for Syria...

Continued from Page 1 allows us to do that, I’m confident that we’re going to be able to come up with something that hits that mark,” Obama said.

Sen Rand Paul said he would probably vote against any resolution. But he said it also wouldn’t be helpful to amend the resolution in a way that constrains the president too much to execute military action, if authorized. After Obama met with the congressional leadership, administration officials offered a classified briefing for all members of Congress.

Sen Joe Manchin, D-W Va, emerged saying he has concerns about a US attack, including how Assad’s purported use of chemical weapons represented a threat to the US. “There’s an old saying, we don’t have a dog in the fight. In this case, back home in west Virginia, they’re saying we don’t have any friends in the fight either,” Manchin said. Asked specifically about Boehner’s endorsement, freshman Rep. Trey Radel, RFla., said he still hadn’t made up his mind.

“Being new here, I’m very skeptical of Republicans and Democrats that have dragged us into wars of the past,” he told reporters. “Still today, when we look at Afghanistan and Iraq, I am questioning: What is the end goal within these countries?

What have we accomplished with so many lives being lost?”

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck put responsibility for winning votes in the White House’s hands in a written statement following up on the speaker’s brief comment to reporters.

“Everyone understands that it is an uphill battle to pass a resolution, and the speaker expects the White House to provide answers to members’ questions and take the lead on any whipping effort.

All votes authorizing the use of military force are conscience votes for members, and passage will require direct, continuous engagement from the White House,” Buck said.

Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Martin Dempsey also attended the meeting with lawmakers before heading over to Capitol Hill for testimony later in the day before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The US said it has proof that the Assad regime is behind attacks that Washington claims killed at least 1,429 people, including more than 400 children. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information from a network of anti-regime activists, says it has so far only been able to confirm 502 dead.

“We are talking about weapons of mass destruction. This is a war crime,” said New York Rep Eliot Engel, who attended the White House meeting as the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “If we didn’t respond in kind it would send a message to every despot, every thug, every dictator, every terrorist group in the world that you can commit war crimes and murder your own citizens with impunity and nothing is going to happen.”

Boehner said only the United States has the capability and the capacity to stop Assad. “We have enemies around the world that need to understand that we’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior. We also have allies around the world and allies in the region who also need to know that America will be there and stand up when it’s necessary,” he said.

Boehner was the only Republican to speak to reporters after the White House meeting and he took no questions.

Cantor announced his support in a statement that argued, “America has a compelling national security interest to prevent and respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction, especially by a terrorist state such as Syria, and to prevent further instability in a region of vital interest to the United States.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also attended the meeting, but did not commit to supporting authorization afterward and instead encouraged the president to keep updating the public. “While we are learning more about his plans, Congress and our constituents would all benefit from knowing more about what it is he thinks needs to be done and can be accomplished - in Syria and the region,” he said in a statement.

After a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, polls show most Americans opposed to any new military action overseas.

Their skepticism is shared by many tea party Republicans and others, whose views range from ideological opposition to any US military action overseas to narrower fears about authorizing the use of force without clear constraints on timing, costs and scope of the intervention.

Obama’s task is complicated further because he left for a three-day trip to Europe yesterday night, visiting Stockholm, Sweden and then attending the Group of 20 economic summit in St Petersburg, Russia. Vice President Joe Biden’s office said he was postponing a trip to Florida tomorrow to stay in Washington and work on Syria while Obama is away.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday that the use of force is only legal when it is in selfdefense or with Security Council authorization, remarks that appear to question the legality of US plans to strike Syria without UN backing. He also said that a US attack could lead to further turmoil in conflict-ravaged Syria, where the United Nations says over 100,000 people have been killed in the country’s 2-1/2-year civil war.

“The use of force is lawful only when in exercise of selfdefense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations charter and/or when the Security Council approves of such action,” Ban said. “That is a firm principle of the United Nations.” Obama said on Saturday he was “comfortable going forward without the approval of a United Nations Security Council that so far has been completely paralyzed and unwilling to hold Assad accountable.”

Russia, backed by China, has used its veto power in the Security Council three times to block resolutions condemning Assad’s government and threatening it with sanctions. Assad’s government, like Russia, blames the rebels for the Aug 21 attack. The United States has bypassed the United Nations in the past when the council was deadlocked, such as during the Kosovo war in 1999. At that time, Washington relied on NATO authorization for its bombing campaign.

Ban also questioned whether the use of force to deter Syria or other countries from deploying chemical arms in the future could cause more harm than good. “I take note of the argument for action to prevent future uses of chemical weapons,” he said. “At the same time, we must consider the impact of any punitive measure on efforts to prevent further bloodshed and facilitate a political resolution of the conflict.” — Agencies

CAIRO: An Egyptian doctor once close to Osama bin Laden is bringing together multiple Al-Qaeda-inspired militant groups in Egypt’s Sinai to fight the country’s military, as the lawless peninsula emerges as a new theater for jihad, according to Egyptian intelligence and security officials. There have been other signs of a dangerous shift in the longtime turmoil in the peninsula bordering Israel and Gaza since the military’s July 3 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, the officials say.

With the shifts, Sinai’s instability is becoming more regionalized and threatens to turn into an outright insurgency.

Sinai has seen an influx of foreign fighters the past two months, including several hundred Yemenis. Several militant groups that long operated in the area to establish an Islamic Caliphate and attack their traditional enemy Israel have joined others in declaring formally that their objective now is to battle Egypt’s military.

Also, Sinai has become the focus of attention among major regional jihadi groups. Al-Qaeda’s branch in Iraq last weekend called on Egyptians to fight the military, as did Al-Qaeda’s top leader, Ayman Al-Zawahri. The militant considered the most dangerous man in the Sahara - one-eyed terror leader Moktar Belmoktar, a former member of AlQaeda’s North Africa branch - joined forces with a Mali-based jihadi group last month and vowed attacks in Egypt.

Topping the most wanted list in Sinai is Ramzi Mawafi, a doctor who joined AlQaeda in Afghanistan in the 1990s.

Mawafi, 61, escaped from an Egyptian prison in 2011 in a massive jailbreak that also sprung free Morsi and more than a dozen Muslim Brotherhood members during the chaos of the uprising against autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Mawafi is now believed to be in Sinai coordinating among militant groups and helping arrange money and weapons, security officials told The Associated Press. The four officials were from military intelligence, the military and the security forces and spoke on

condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Sinai’s disparate militant groups are now “on the same page, in full cooperation in the face of the same threat,” Gen Sherif Ismail, a recently retired security adviser to the governor of Northern Sinai said. He said the groups are inspired by Al-Qaeda, but not necessarily linked to the mother group. Morsi’s fall opened the way for an escalation by Sinai’s jihadis.

Most militants had seen Morsi as too willing to compromise in bringing rule

by Islamic Shariah law in Egypt. But his removal by the military, backed by liberals, was seen as an attack on Islam. More importantly, it ended the policy Morsi pursued during his year in office of negotiating with Sinai armed groups, restraining security operations against them in return for a halt in attacks on the military. Now, the military has stepped up operations.

Yesterday, helicopter gunships struck suspected militant hideouts in several villages near the borders with Israel and Gaza, killing at least eight and wounding 15 others, the state news agency MENA announced. Since Morsi’s ouster, more than 70 police and soldiers have been killed by militants in a cycle of attack and counterattack that has seen jihadis turn to more brutal tactics. In the worst single attack, gunmen pulled police recruits from buses, lay them on the ground and shot 25 of them to death on Aug 19.

Days later, a group of militants was killed before carrying out a suicide car bombing in a significant escalation.

Over the same period, security forces have killed 87 militants - including 32 foreigners - and arrested 250 others, including 80 foreigners, according to the army spokesman’s office. Hit-andrun attacks take place nearly daily in northern Sinai, targeting security forces in the provincial capital of el-Arish and towns dotting the coast and the borders with Gaza and Israel.

Two militants - a Yemeni and a Palestinian - who were recently arrested

in Sinai provided information about Mawafi’s role while under questioning, the security officials said. Recently, Nabeel Naeem, a founder of the Islamic Jihad militant group who has known Mawafi since Afghanistan - said on an Egyptian TV station that Mawafi “is leading the militants in Sinai.” Mawafi specialized in bomb-making during his years in Afghanistan, the officials said.

He also supervised clinics that treated wounded Islamic fighters, earning him the nickname “bin Laden’s doctor” though Naeem said he never treated the late Al-Qaeda leader himself. An Egyptian court in June last year accused Mawafi, along with members of Muslim Brotherhood group, including Morsi, of conspiring with Hamas and Hezbollah to orchestrate the 2011 break from Wadi Natroun prison. The court described Mawafi as “the secretary general of AlQaeda in Sinai.”

The number of jihadi groups operating in Sinai’s rugged, mountainous deserts has mushroomed over recent years, believed to have thousands of fighters. Some are mainly Egyptian, such as Ansar Jerusalem - thought to include Egyptians from outside Sinai and the Shura Council of Mujahedeen of Environs of Jerusalem - which is mostly Sinai locals - and the Salafi Jihadi group.

Among Sinai’s population, there has been a growing movement of “Takfiris,” who reject as heretical anyone who does not adhere to their strict interpretation of Islam. While not all Takfiris are involved in armed action, their ideology makes them an easy pool for armed groups to draw from. Other groups are based in the neighboring, Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, such as the Islam Army and Jaljalat, which are believed to send fighters into Sinai.

Some groups were oriented toward fighting Israel, occasionally firing rockets across the border. Others carried out attacks on Egyptian security forces, usually in retaliation for arrests or out of the deep-seeded resentment of the police among Sinai’s population. — AP

Bombings, attacks kill 67 across Iraq Continued from Page 1 commercial district of Karradah, killing six and wounding 14. The force of the blast shattered the windows of Karim Sami’s nearby clothing shop.

Like many Iraqis in recent months, he expressed frustration with the Shiite-led government’s inability to stop repeated attacks despite assurances that it is tightening security. “We started to feel a little bit safe over the past few days because they were relatively calm, but the violence is back today,” he said. “Whenever the government assures us that security is being tightened, we see attacks like these.”

Car bombs also struck shopping streets in the religiously mixed western neighborhood of Shurta, killing five people and wounding 12; the southeastern Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, killing four and wounding 11; the southern Shiite neighborhood of Abu Dashir, killing two and wounding nine; the mostly Shiite New Baghdad area, killing six people and wounding 17; and the largely Sunni Dora neighborhood, killing two and wounding five, according to police.

Another car bomb exploded near an outdoor market in the Shiite village of Maamil, in the eastern suburbs of the capital, killing 3 people and wounding 41. No one claimed immediate responsibility for the attacks, but coordinated car bombings and attacks on civilians and Iraqi security forces are a favorite tactic of the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda.

It typically does not lay claim to attacks for several days, if at all. Iraqi officials say the lawlessness roiling neighboring Syria, where the civil war has taken on sharp sectarian overtones similar to those that nearly tore Iraq apart, is fueling the upsurge of violence inside Iraq. Al-Qaeda’s Iraq arm and other Sunni extremist groups are fighting on the side of rebels trying to topple the regime of President Bashar Assad, which is dominated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

“The recent threats of a military operation against Syria have encouraged the insurgents to wage more attacks inside Iraq. We have warned of this, but unfortunately,

nobody is listening,” said Ali Al-Moussawi, the spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. The evening blasts added to a death toll that had been mounting throughout the day. Authorities awoke to find four bodies with gunshot wounds to the back laying in the streets in different locations around the Iraqi capital.

Their discovery was particularly chilling because it was reminiscent of the sectarian violence that engulfed the country after the US invasion and peaked in 2006 and 2007, when corpses were commonly found dumped on the streets. Shiite and Sunni leaders have both called for calm as the death tolls mounted in recent months, hoping to avoid a return to those dark days. But the bloodshed continues, with more than 4,000 people killed over the past five months alone.

That includes 804 Iraqis killed just last month, according to United Nations figures released earlier this week. Gunmen shot two other people dead in Baghdad’s southern Dora neighborhood, police said. In Baghdad’s southern suburbs, gunmen stormed the house of a member of a Sunni militia opposed to Al-Qaeda, killing him and his wife and three children in a southern suburb of the capital, according to police.

The militia, known as the Sahwa, helped US troops fight AlQaeda at the height of the war and since been a target for hard-line insurgents who consider them traitors. Prominent Sahwa leader Wisam Al-Hardan managed to escape unharmed an assassination attempt on Monday by two suicide bombers, but six of his bodyguards and a bystander were killed. Elsewhere, a car bomb blew up early yesterday at a restaurant in the town of Jbala just south of the capital, killing two people and wounding seven.

In the southern city of Basra, gunmen shot and killed Sunni cleric Abdul-Karim Mustafa as he was walking near the AlTaqwa mosque, said police and other officials in the city.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures, and all of the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed reporting. — AP

52 Brotherhood members jailed Continued from Page 1 yesterday against his overthrow. One Brotherhood member was given a life term-the first imposed since the military toppled Morsi-three got 15 years in prison and 48 were sentenced to terms ranging from five to 10 years.

Twelve were acquitted, the army said. The defendants were accused of “aggression” against the army in the canal port city of Suez last month.

They were also accused of shooting at and using violence against the army in Suez on August 14 following a military crackdown that day on Morsi supporters in Cairo.

The military had further accused the defendants of carrying guns and throwing petrol bombs at soldiers. The court delivered yesterday’s verdict after two hearings held on August 24 and 26.

On August 14, the military and police cracked down on Morsi supporters in the capital’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, killing hundreds of people. It was the deadliest such crackdown in Egypt’s recent history. Since then, the authorities have carried out a relentless pursuit of Islamists in which more than 1,000 people have been killed and some 2,000 Brotherhood members arrested.

The Brotherhood’s supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, is also under arrest, and Morsi himself has been in custody since his ouster. Yesterday, a helicopter assault in the Sinai Peninsula killed eight militants and wounded 15, security sources said. They said air strikes near the Rafah crossing into the Palestinian Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip were ongoing, adding that the target was militants using the area as a hideout.

The region has seen an increase in clashes between militants and security forces since Morsi was ousted. A security source said the air operation was the “biggest aerial assault of its kind in Sinai”. Witnesses said Apache helicopters bombed several villages south of Rafah when the operation began at around 9:00 am. They said the raids wounded four people and destroyed six houses.

Militants have launched near-daily attacks on police and army facilities in Sinai, a region mostly populated by Bedouins who are often in conflict with the central authorities. On August 19, militants killed 25 policemen in an attack on two buses heading for Rafah. Meanwhile, troops sealed off roads to Cairo’s Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square ahead of planned Islamist marches, state media reported. The official MENA news agency reported military vehicles stationed at entrances to the northern Cairo square, an opposition symbol after the August 14 crackdown. The measure comes after Morsi supporters called for nationwide demonstrations two months to the day since his overthrow. Soldiers also blocked entrances to Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square, MENA reported. On Monday, the Brotherhood-led Anti-Coup Alliance said demonstrations would be held under the slogan “The coup is terrorism”. But the alliance’s ability to mobilize supporters has greatly waned because of the sweeping arrests of the Brotherhood’s senior leaders detained since mid-August.

Also yesterday, a Cairo court ordered the closure of four television channels, including Al-Jazeera Egypt and Ahrar 25, a network belonging to the Brotherhood. Two other channels to be taken off the air are the Islamist broadcasters Al-Yarmuk and Al-Quds, according to the court order. The closure orders come a day after Islamist broadcaster Al-Hafez was ordered shut after being accused of “inciting hatred” against Coptic Christians and “undermining national unity”.

Ahrar 25 was among several Islamist networks shut down soon after Morsi’s ouster. Yesterday’s order against Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr comes two days after Cairo expelled three foreign freelancers working for the Doha-based network’s English-language channel.

Egypt’s authorities have accused Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr of bias in its reporting of the coup that toppled Morsi. The channel has previously complained that the security forces raided its Cairo offices and seized equipment. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

S P ORT S Barca reject criticism after failed bid for centre back

Lobbe returns to lead Pumas against All Blacks

Australia allows Ahmed to drop beer logo from shirt

MADRID: Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has rejected criticism of the club’s transfer policy after a failed attempt to land a centre back before the window closed on Monday. The Spanish champions were chasing Thiago Silva but the Brazil captain opted to stay with Paris St Germain in France’s Ligue 1 and Barca’s only major signing was Silva’s international team mate and forward Neymar from Santos.

Defensive weakness was cited as one reason for last year’s failure in the Champions League and the back four looked far from assured in Sunday’s 3-2 La Liga win at Valencia. Zubizarreta told a news conference yesterday the club was closely observing the market, raising the prospect they could move for another centre back in the January transfer window.

The former Spain and Barca goalkeeper said the imminent return of captain Carles Puyol from injury was as good as a new signing and added the club was in talks with Marc Bartra on extending his contract beyond the end of the current season. “We have the squad we wanted and one that will be able to compete extraordinarily well,” Zubizarreta said. “In the history of Barcelona, the signing of a centre back has always been complicated. “We are always focused on making the squad the best it can be and I am delighted to have the chance to do my job.” —Reuters

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of the first two Rugby Championship matches against South Africa to lead to his country against New Zealand on Saturday.

Lobbe, who was inspirational in the Pumas’ debut season in the competition last year, replaces Leonardo Senatore who was banned for seven weeks for biting Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth in their narrow 22-17 loss in Mendoza on Aug. 24.

Pablo Matera, who was cited for eye gouging in the Mendoza match but found not guilty, will join Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamon in a combative and rangy loose forward trio. Former captain Felipe Contepomi, who captained the side in Lobbe’s absence against the Springboks, has been dropped to the bench for the match at Waikato Stadium, with Santiago Fernandez joining the impressive Marcelo Bosch in the midfield. Fullback Juan Martin Fernandez has also returned to the starting side after he missed the narrow loss to the Springboks in Mendoza with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino dropping to the bench. The Pumas have never beaten the All Blacks in their previous 16 matches, with their best result a 21-21 draw in Buenos Aires in 1985.They recovered from a 73-13 thrashing in Johannesburg in their opening clash to almost record their first Rugby Championship victory a week later on home soil. —Reuters

SYDNEY: Cricket Australia (CA) have agreed to let Muslim leg spinner Fawad Ahmed compete without the logo of a sponsor’s beer brand on his shirt out of respect for his “personal beliefs”.

Australia’s touring international teams have competed with the logo of Victoria Bitter, a popular locally-brewed beer, on their shirts for a number of years.

Victoria Bitter, known colloquially by its brand “VB”, is brewed by Carlton & United Breweries, which was acquired by global brewing giant SABMiller in 2011. Ahmed, a former Pakistani refugee who received his Australian citizenship in July, made his international debut in the first of two Twenty20 matches against England last week.

He has been named in Australia’s squad for six one-day matches that begin in Edinburgh yesterday. Ahmed had requested to be excused from wearing the ‘VB’ logo as it conflicted with his religious beliefs, Fairfax Media said yesterday, and CA executive general manager of operations Mike McKenna said the governing body had approved it. Ahmed is considered a strong prospect for a test debut when England travel to Australia for their return Ashes series in November. Australia lost the recently completed Ashes 3-0. South Africa’s Muslim batsman Hashim Amla has also been excused from wearing a beer brand logo on his shirts. — Reuters

Athletics and Tigers advance OAKLAND: Coco Crisp hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth that was confirmed by a video review as the Oakland Athletics pulled into a firstplace tie with Texas atop the American League West by beating the Rangers 4-2 on Monday.

Yoenis Cespedes homered leading off the second inning and Chris Young added an RBI single in Oakland’s fourth straight win.

Crisp set a career high with his 17th homer that stayed just fair of the left-field foul pole, topping his 16 for Cleveland in 2005. He fouled a ball off the area below his right knee in the sixth. He stayed in and struck out, and then was removed for what the team called a shin contusion.

Dan Straily (8-7) won back-to-back starts for the first time since early July and Grant Balfour got three outs for his 36th save.

David Murphy hit a tying two-run shot in the Texas fifth for his first homer since Aug. 1. Rangers starter Derek Holland (9-7) allowed four runs, three earned, and five hits in 4 2-3 innings.

DENVER: Carl Crawford No. 25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground rule double to score A.J. Ellis No. 17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and take a 10-7 lead over the Colorado Rockies. — AFP

Dodgers defeat Rockies DENVER: Clayton Kershaw surrendered a career-high 11 hits in five shaky innings and got the win and Yasiel Puig scored the go-ahead run before leaving with a strained right knee as the surging Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8 on Monday.

Puig was called out for interference on the bases in the first inning. He then hurt his knee on an awkward slide into third base and gingerly jogged home on Hanley Ramirez’s sacrifice fly in the sixth, before being replaced in right field.

Andre Ethier had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Dodgers won their fifth straight. The NL West leaders are 35-8 since the All-Star break.

Kershaw (14-8) gave up five runs as his ERA jumped from a league-leading 1.72 to 1.89. He was productive at the plate, lining a two-run single. Jeff Manship (0-5) took the loss in relief.

PIRATES 5, BREWERS 2 In Milwaukee, Neil Walker hit a three-run homer and Charlie Morton pitched seven strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Milwaukee to retake the NL Central lead.

The Pirates moved one game ahead of St. Louis. Pittsburgh won the opener of a nine-game road trip. Walker’s homer made it 5-1 in the seventh. Morton (7-3) gave up seven hits and one earned run. He won his fourth straight decision. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances. Tyler Thornburg (1-1) allowed two runs in six innings.

REDS 7, CARDINALS 2 In Cincinnati, Choo Shin-soo and Joey Votto homered as Cincinnati roughed up Adam Wainwright for the second start in a row, leading Mat Latos and the Reds over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series between the NL Central rivals. Latos (14-5) gave up four hits in his first complete game of the year.

The Cardinals took two of three in St. Louis last week, the only loss coming when the Reds tagged Wainwright (15-9) for nine runs in a career-low two innings. They had his number again on Monday, piling up six runs and 10 hits in six innings.

PHILLIES 3, NATIONALS 2 In Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Philadelphia’s tworun eighth inning, helping the Phillies get the victory.

Cesar Hernandez started the winning rally with a two-out walk against Tyler Clippard (6-3). He came around to score on Jimmy Rollins’ double. After Chase Utley was walked intentionally, Ruiz drove in Rollins with a single to left.

BJ Rosenberg (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth for the win and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 24th save in 30 chances.

The Nationals put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but Wilson Ramos was called out on strikes and Anthony Rendon struck out swinging to

end the game. Ryan Zimmerman homered for Washington, which had won nine of 12.

BRAVES 13, METS 5 In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman homered, doubled and tied a career high with five RBIs, powering the Atlanta Braves past the New York Mets.

Freeman put the Braves ahead with a two-run double off Daisuke Matsuzaka in the first inning. Freeman made it 6-1 with a three-run homer a dozen rows deep into the right-field seats in the second. Jordan Schafer got four hits and stole three bases for Atlanta before leaving with a lower back strain. Andrelton Simmons drove in three runs. The NL East leaders matched their season high for runs and have won seven of eight. Paul Maholm (10-10) snapped his four-game losing streak. Matsuzaka (0-3) lasted only three innings and has a 10.95 ERA in three starts since signing with the Mets.

BLUE JAYS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1 In Phoenix, Esmil Rogers pitched 6 1-3 innings of one -hit ball and Edwin Encarnacion hit his 35th home run to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over Arizona.

Rogers (4-7) struck out five and walked one. Casey Janssen got his 27th save.

Diamondbacks starter Brandon McCarthy (3-9) pitched a five-hitter for his second complete game of the season.

PADRES 4, GIANTS 1 In San Diego, Ian Kennedy beat an NL West opponent for the first time in 12 starts this season, pitching the San Diego Padres past the San Francisco Giants.

Kennedy (6-9) gave up one run and five hits over six innings while striking out seven. He is 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA since the Padres got him in a trade with Arizona on July 31.

Kennedy improved to 1-5 with a 4.97 ERA in his starts against NL West teams this year. Huston Street worked a spotless ninth to earn his 26th save in 27 chances. Barry Zito (4-11) lost his eighth straight decision.

He has won only once in his last 20 starts.

Zito was pulled after four innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He fell to 0-9 with a 10.00 ERA in his last 11 starts away from AT&T Park.

MARLINS 4, CUBS 3 In Chicago, Henderson Alvarez hit his first career home run and pitched six innings before exiting with a hamstring injury as the Miami Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs.

Alvarez hit a three-run shot off Travis Wood in the second inning and also had a single and a sacrifice bunt. Alvarez (3-3) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings before he left with a tight right hamstring in his first career appearance against the Cubs.

Steve Cishek earned his 29th save in 31 chances for the Marlins, who have won two straight after losing six in a row. Wood (811) allowed four runs and nine hits in seven innings. — AP

TIGERS 3, RED SOX 0 In Boston, Doug Fister rebounded from a miserable start with seven sharp innings, helping Detroit beat Boston in a matchup of teams with the AL’s best records.

The Tigers won despite missing Miguel Cabrera for the third straight game. He has been sidelined by a strained abdomen, though general manager Dave Dombrowski said the Triple Crown winner has been more hampered by a groin problem. The AL Central-leading Tigers won for the fourth time in five games. Fister (12-7) allowed four hits, struck out four and walked four. Jose Veras worked the ninth for his 21st save and second with the Tigers, finishing the six-hit shutout. John Lackey (8-12) was the tough-luck loser, giving up three runs and seven hits over 7 1-3 innings.

ANGELS 11, RAYS 2 In Anaheim, Garrett Richards worked around a career-high seven walks over five innings and Erick Aybar drove in four runs for the surging Angels.

Richards (5-6) gave up a run and two hits while striking out six in the opener of a four-game series. The seven walks matched Richards’ total from his previous five starts combined, but the Rays stranded eight runners while he was in the game and 12 altogether.

Ben Zobrist drove in both of Tampa Bay’s runs with a first-inning homer and a sixth-inning single. The Rays have lost five straight and eight of nine to fall 61/2 games behind AL East-leading Boston.

Rookie Chris Archer (8-6) threw 90 pitches in 3 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and nine hits in a rematch of his 4-1 victory against Richards last Wednesday. The right-hander’s outing was the second-shortest of his 22 big league starts. The Angels have won nine of 10.

ORIOLES 7, INDIANS 2 In Cleveland, Bud Norris stayed unbeaten as a starter with Baltimore and Nate McLouth homered and had three RBIs. Norris (10-10) allowed one run - a homer to Jason Kipnis - and four hits in seven innings. The right-hander improved to 4-0 as a starter with the Orioles, who acquired him at the July 31 trading deadline from Houston. He lost once in relief.

Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer in the ninth and Brian Roberts drove in two runs for the Orioles, who came in three games behind Oakland and Tampa By in the wild-card race. The Indians lost for the sixth time in seven games and could be without All-Star Justin Masterson (14-10) for the most important stretch of their season.

Masterson left in the second with soreness in his left side.

YANKEES 9, WHITE SOX 1 In New York, Derek Jeter ended a slump with two hits and two RBIs and Alex Rodriguez reached base twice in an eight-run fourth inning as the Yankees beat the White Sox in a game interrupted

BOSTON: Alex Avila No. 13 of the Detroit Tigers chases down a bunt by Jarrod Saltalamacchia No. 39 of the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. — AFP

MLB results/standings NY Yankees 9, Chicago White Sox 1; Atlanta 13, NY Mets 5; Cincinnati 7, St. Louis 2; Detroit 3, Boston 0; Kansas City 3, Seattle 1; Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 2; Minnesota 10, Houston 6; Miami 4, Chicago Cubs 3; San Diego 4, San Francisco 1; Oakland 4, Texas 2; Baltimore 7, Cleveland 2; LA Dodgers 10, Colorado 8; Toronto 4, Arizona 1; Philadelphia 3, Washington 2; LA Angels 11, Tampa Bay 2.

American League National League Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB Atlanta 84 53 .613 Boston 82 57 .590 69 68 .504 15 Washington 75 61 .551 5.5 Tampa Bay Philadelphia 63 75 .457 21.5 Baltimore 73 63 .537 7.5 NY Mets 62 74 .456 21.5 NY Yankees 73 64 .533 8 Miami 51 85 .375 32.5 Toronto 63 75 .457 18.5 Central Division Central Division Pittsburgh 80 57 .584 Detroit 81 57 .587 St. Louis 79 58 .577 1 72 65 .526 8.5 Cleveland Cincinnati 77 61 .558 3.5 Kansas City 71 66 .518 9.5 Milwaukee 59 78 .431 21 Minnesota 60 76 .441 20 Chicago Cubs 58 79 .423 22 Chicago White Sox 56 80 .412 24 Western Division Western Division LA Dodgers 82 55 .599 Oakland 79 58 .577 Arizona 69 67 .507 12.5 79 58 .577 Texas Colorado 65 74 .468 18 LA Angels 64 72 .471 14.5 San Diego 61 76 .445 21 Seattle 62 75 .453 17 San Francisco 61 76 .445 21 Houston 45 92 .328 34

for nearly two hours by rain.

A day after giving up seven runs in the seventh inning in a loss to wild card-rival Baltimore, the Yankees rocked reliever Dylan Axelrod and took advantage of the sloppy White Sox for their most productive inning since Oct. 1.

With thunder clapping in the first inning, Jeter had a run-scoring single off Jose Quintana (7-5) to stop an 0-for-14 slide. The Yankees bats then made all the noise after a 1-hour, 53-minute delay.

Alfonso Soriano, Mark Reynolds Austin Romine, Vernon Wells, Brett Gardner and Jeter all drove in runs during the fourth-inning barrage.

The offensive outburst made life easy on David Huff (2-0), who entered for Phil Hughes with one out in the second when play resumed.

ROYALS 3, MARINERS 1 In Kansas City, Will Smith had a career-high eight strikeouts in a dominant relief performance, helping Kansas City get the win.

Smith (2-1) allowed one hit in 4 1-3 innings. He finished with the most strikeouts by a Royals reliever since Tom Gordon struck out eight over 4 2-3 innings against Detroit on July 9, 1993.

Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (12-9) lost his

fourth consecutive start. The ace right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Hernandez departed after his back cramped up while he was pitching to Alex Gordon. But Hernandez said he will be OK. The Royals scored two runs in the fifth to open a 3-1 lead. Jarrod Dyson came home on a wild pitch, and Emilio Bonifacio added a sacrifice fly. Greg Holland pitched a one-hit ninth for his 37th save in 39 opportunities.

TWINS 10, ASTROS 6 In Houston, rookie Chris Colabello homered twice for Minnesota, including a tiebreaking grand slam in the ninth inning.

It was 6-all before Chia-Jen Lo (0-3) allowed a single to Brian Dozier with one out in the ninth.

Doug Bernier and Chris Herrmann drew two-out walks on full-count pitches before Colabello hit the next pitch into the bullpen in right-center.

It was the first career grand slam for Colabello, who ended a 0-for-23 skid with a single on Sunday. Chris Carter and Jason Castro drove in two runs apiece for the Astros, who have lost six of seven. Josh Roenicke (3-1) pitched two hitless innings for the win. — AP

Sheikh Khalid hails racing teams success

Chairman of Qatar Racing Club Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Thani

KUWAIT: Chairman of Qatar Racing Club Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Thani praised the prominent participation of the Kuwaiti car racing teams in the club’s previous tournaments, hoping to see more Kuwaiti presence in the coming events.

Sheikh Khalid told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) yesterday that Kuwaiti teams enjoy a competitive spirit and always achieve positive results in all the tournaments’ different categories, both in cars and motorcycle racings.

He noted that Kuwaitis have a high level of technical experience in these racings, and they always help increase the level of expertise for other participants.

Moreover, the chairman welcomed all those who want to apply to participate in the club’s tournaments for the 2013-1014 season,

adding that Qatar is organizing international racing tournaments, for drivers from all around the world. Organizing international events help develop this sport in Qatar and all GCC countries he noted, especially with the increasing number of people being attracted by cars and motorcycles racings.

Sheikh Khalid said that all staff members are well prepared for the upcoming events, with great experience in organizing such tournaments, adding that his club has one of the best car racetracks in the world. The tournaments usually have more than 100 participants in seven different categories, he said.

The club’s events are set to kick off late September until May, with more than five tournaments to take place, held according to international regulations. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

S P ORTS

Tour de France cyclists live 6 years longer than average AMSTERDAM: French riders in the Tour de France live an average of six years longer than the general population and die less often of cardiovascular problems, researchers said, which may help ease worries about the effect of extreme exercise on the heart. The research also offered limited assurance that doping was unlikely to pose a major heart health risk, at least in the short term, since any major adverse impact would have skewed the results. Illicit use of the bloodboosting drug EPO, or erythropoietin, has been rampant in competitive cycling since the 1990s. The study presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress yesterday examined all 786 French competitors in the gruelling bicycle race from 1947 to 2012, and found their death rate was 41 percent lower than average for French males as of last September. Dr. Xavier Jouven of the European Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, who led the analysis, said the mortality reduction was “huge” and the result suggested that doctors should be more assertive in championing vigorous exercise.

“We should encourage people to exert themselves,” he said. “If there was a real danger in doing high-level exercise then we should have observed it in this study.”

Riders in the Tour de France - which has been compared to running a marathon several days a week for nearly three weeks - actu-

Photo of the day

ally had a 33 percent lower risk for death from heart attacks or strokes than the general population. Indeed, they suffered lower rates of death from all causes, including cancer, with the one exception of traumatic injury, which Jouven said reflected the frequency of road accidents. Worries about high-intensity exercise like cycling and marathon-running have been fuelled by some previous small studies using advanced imaging techniques that suggested possible heart abnormalities, such as heart arrhythmias.

Alfred Bove of Temple University Medical Center and a former president of the American College of Cardiology, who was not involved in the latest study, said such imaging data could be misleading.

The long-term analysis of Tour de France riders offered a unique insight that clearly vindicated the value of extensive exercise, Bove said. “The message is clear - even the level of intensity involved in the Tour de France is not going to shorten your life,” he said. The study did not adjust for different smoking rates among cyclists, but Bove argued this was “essentially irrelevant”.

“If exercise and a commitment to that kind of lifestyle makes you stop smoking, then that is an additional benefit,” he said. The French cyclists studied took part in a median 2.5 Tour de France races and their median age at the first race was 25 years.—Reuters

Stricker grabs Cup spot NORTON: Steve Stricker earned a place on the United States team for the Presidents Cup after a second-place finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday moved him ahead of Webb Simpson. American veteran Stricker was the only player on either team to move into the top 10 in the Cup points standings in the final week of qualification as he guaranteed automatic selection for October’s showdown with the Internationals.

United States captain Fred Couples and his International counterpart Nick Price will announce their two additional picks today to round off the 12-man teams.

Stricker moved up from 11th while Zach Johnson, who began the week ranked 10th for the United States, earned his spot at the very last moment, sinking a 26-foot birdie putt on his final hole for a 66 to finish in a tie for 27th at the TPC Boston.

At Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, the 46year-old Stricker will be playing in his fifth Presidents Cup, having made his debut in 1996, and his achievement is all the more impressive given he has played a restricted schedule this year.

“I texted Freddie earlier in the week, I didn’t want one of his spots as a pick, I wanted to make the team on my own,” Stricker told reporters after closing with a four-under 67 on Monday. “So I had a great motivation to play well this week. I’m excited to be a part of

another team and represent the USA at Muirfield.”

Simpson finished joint 53rd at the TPC Boston, signing off with a 70 to fall from ninth to 11th place in the Cup standings, and leaving him waiting for a call from Couples.

“I’d love to make the team, I’d love to be a pick,” said former US Open champion Simpson.

“I thought about it the last two years ever since we won (the Presidents Cup) in Australia.

“Freddie is going to make two good picks and all the guys, myself and three or four (others) are playing good golf. He’s got a tough job and we will see what he does.”

Former major winners Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson and rookie sensation Jordan Spieth are also among the options available to Couples.

Canada’s Graham DeLaet qualified for his first Presidents Cup with a third-place finish at the TPC Boston, making him just the second Canadian, after Mike Weir, to make the International team.

Qualified players for the Oct. 3-6 Presidents Cup: United States: Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, Stever Stricker, Tiger Woods.

International: Angel Cabrera, Jason Day, Graham DeLaet, Ernie Els, Branden Grace, Hideki Matsuyama, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Richard Sterne.—Reuters

Jessy Nelson performs at the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, California. —www.redbull.com

Stenson wins in Norton NORTON: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson won the Deutsche Bank Championship by two shots with a five-under-par round of 66, leaving him with a tournament record-tying total of 22-under 262 at the TPC Boston on Monday.

Stenson, enjoying a rich run of form, moves above Tiger Woods into top spot in the FedExCup standings after the second of the PGA Tour’s four lucrative playoff events.

The Swede’s victory was his first on the US circuit since the 2009 Players Championship but follows a second place finish at the British Open and third spot at the PGA Championships.

“It’s been a great week, ball-striking wise, and the putter was working nicely for me here on the weekend,” said a delighted Stenson.

“It’s nice to come through and win a big event after all the good finishes and getting close to winning like I’ve been the last couple of months. It’s great to get one my belt.

“I got off to a bad start (bogeying the second hole)... but I came back with three straight birdies on four, five and six to put me back into the ball-game. I made some nice putts today and just kept it going. I have been playing nicely for a long time.” Veteran American Steve Stricker finished second, two shots behind Stenson, after firing a four-under 67 to secure himself an automatic place on the United States Presidents Cup team.

Canadian Graham DeLaet shot a solid 69 to finish alone in third, four adrift of Stenson, to follow up on his second place at The Barclays last week.

DeLaet sealed his place on the International team for the Presidents Cup, becoming only the second Canadian to achieve the honor, and rose to fifth in the FedExCup standings.

Overnight leader Sergio Garcia fell back into a tie for fourth at the TPC Boston after closing with a disappointing 73, ending up five strokes behind Stenson. “I just wasn’t comfortable. I wasn’t able to trust myself as I did the first few days,” said the

Spaniard. “It was hard, but I tried as hard as I could the last four holes and I felt like I played quite well.

“But overall, I think it’s been a good week. Very, very positive things from the first three rounds.” World number one Woods wound up joint 65th after shooting a two-over 73, despite low-scoring conditions on a rain-softened course.

Stenson made a stumbling start with a bogey on his second hole, the par-five second, but fired himself into the lead with a run of four birdies between the fourth and eight holes.

Stricker applied some pressure at the close, a birdie at the 17th reducing the Swede’s advantage to two strokes, but on the same hole Stenson responded by splashing out from a bunker, the first time he had been in sand all week, for birdie. American rook-

ie sensation Jordan Spieth equalled the best round of the week with a superb 62, finishing with three birdies and an eagle on the 18th.

Spieth tied for fourth at 17-under, level with Spaniard Garcia and Americans Matt Kuchar (66) and Kevin Stadler (68). Britain’s Brian Davis capped a good week with a 67 to finish at 16-under, a stroke better than compatriot Ian Poulter who had been well set for a higher finish before he got into bunker trouble at the last where he double-bogeyed to end up with a 69. World number three Phil Mickelson, who began the week in magnificent form, bogeyed four holes on the front nine and double-bogeyed the 16th after finding water but ended with two birdies for an even-par 71 that left him in a tie for 41st.—Reuters

NORTON: Henrik Stenson of Sweden is presented with the winner’s trophy after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.—AFP

The short, sad life of Tommy Morrison

Veronica Campbell-Brown

Jamaica hearing begins in Campbell-Brown case KINGSTON: A disciplinary panel in Jamaica on Monday started a hearing into a positive drug test by Veronica Campbell-Brown, one of the Caribbean island’s marquee sprinting stars. Warren Blake, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, said the hearing began but declined to say where it’s being held. He said it was not unusual for the whereabouts of Jamaican disciplinary hearings to be secret.

Blake said he had “no idea how long it will take” to conclude, and added that a statement will be issued when the panel’s hearing is over. The process is being handled according to rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The disciplinary panel is made up of a former judge, a former senior military official and the head of the island’s medical association.

Campbell-Brown is being represented

by P.J. Patterson, a former prime minister who led Jamaica from 1992 to 2006 and remains a highly influential figure on the island. The 31-year-old champion sprinter is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. The 2004 and 2008 Olympic winner in the 200 was suspended from competition in June after testing positive for a banned diuretic at a May meet in Jamaica, according to a top Jamaican anti-doping official. But the doping case involving Campbell-Brown appears

to involve a “lesser” offense of unintentional use of a banned substance, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies told The Associated Press in June shortly after her positive test was revealed.

Diuretics can be used to mask the use of banned substances. But some diuretics are classified as a “specified substance,” a designation for drugs that might have been consumed without an intention to enhance per formance. Athletes can receive a reduced sanction if they can prove how a substance was ingested. Campbell-Brown’s manager, Claude Bryan, has said she is not a “cheat” and is determined to clear her name.

He has said the decorated athlete does not accept “guilt of willfully taking a banned substance.” In addition to her two individual Olympic titles, Campbell-Brown also won gold in the 4x100 relay at the 2004 Athens Games. In London, she won bronze in the 100 and silver as part of the 4x100 relay team. A few weeks after Campbell-Brown’s positive test was revealed, Jamaican sprinting stars Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson also tested positive for a banned substance and didn’t attend the world championships in Moscow. The doping positives of three of the island’s sprinting stars staggered many in Jamaica, where track athletes are beloved and global domination in sprinting is a huge source of national pride.—AP

LAS VEGAS: Tommy Morrison was just a few hours away from a comeback bout that was supposed to lead him to Mike Tyson when he got the news inside the crowded casino at the MGM Grand hotel.

Chances are he already knew what was coming. A few days earlier he had refused to take a blood test mandated

by Nevada boxing authorities, citing religious objections. He took it only after being told that without it he would not fight.

Morrison had tested positive for the HIV virus. Instead of fighting for the heavyweight title, he would now be in for the fight of his life.

It seemed impossible. The blonde Adonis who had beaten the fearsome George Foreman for the heavyweight title and starred with Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky V” was too fit, too strong, to carry the dreaded virus. Magic Johnson testing positive a few years earlier was shocking enough, but now a heavyweight contender with HIV, too?

Morrison quickly got on a plane back to his native Oklahoma. The fights that night went on without him, and the crowd booed when told he wasn’t fighting for undisclosed medical reasons.

Morrison would end up living another 17 years before he died Sunday night in a Nebraska hospital at the age of 44. But life as he knew it was over. There would be no Tyson fight. No more multimillion dollar paydays. No more movies with Stallone. “This is not a death sentence, by any means,” he insisted a few months later.

But for the troubled Morrison, it was. He spent much of the remainder of his life in a fog of drugs and denial.

Occasionally he would resurface, like he did in 2007 when he tried to resurrect his boxing career at the age of 38 in a fight for a few hundred dollars at a racetrack in West Virginia.

He had once blamed his HIV diagnosis on a fast and reckless lifestyle.

Now he made an even more outlandish claim - that he never had the virus.

“The bottom line is we passed every test on the market, even one they don’t have on the market,” Morrison told me a few days before the fight in West Virginia. “That tells me it was never there.” Drugs and denial. They combined to kill Morrison just as surely as the HIV he claimed he never had.

A few weeks ago, his mother told an ESPN.com writer that Morrison still believed he never had the virus. But she said he had full-blown AIDS and she was hoping that he would die peacefully.

He had long since blown through

the estimated $16 million he made in the ring, long since given up on the idea of fighting again. Life wasn’t a Rocky movie, and there would be no miracle saving him at the end. Twenty years earlier, his future seemed to have no limit. With flowing blonde hair, a chiseled body and a powerful left hook, he was a star in the heavyweight division, carefully guided by promoter Bob Arum into a title fight with George Foreman.

“If I don’t win,” Morrison says, “people will throw me in the heap with Duane Bobick, Jerry Quarry and Gerry Cooney. As a white fighter, you get twice as much criticism. You have more to prove than black or Hispanic fight-

NEBRASKA: In this Feb. 20, 2007 photo provided by Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Center, Tommy Morrison is shown in Chester W Va. Morrison, a former heavyweight champion who gained fame for his role in the movie “Rocky V,” has died. He was 44.—AP

ers.” But on June 7, 1993 he did win, outboxing Foreman with a smart and disciplined game plan that took Foreman’s vaunted power away.

Boxing had a fresh young star, and he was welcomed back to his hometown of Jay, Okla., with a huge sign near the country store proclaiming the town the birthplace of the heavyweight champ.

But “The Duke” - he claimed a distant kinship with John Wayne - would get knocked out in the first a few months later by Michael Bentt in a homecoming bout in Tulsa. He took a bloody beating from Lennox Lewis two years later, but signed with Don King and was being groomed for a fight with Tyson when he was given a tuneup fight against journeyman Art Weathers in February 1996.

Nevada was one of the few states testing for HIV at the time, and Morrison was sent to a doctor for a prefight physical and blood test. State boxing officials weren’t sure why he didn’t want his blood taken, only that he would not be allowed to fight unless it was.

The positive test stunned boxing, a sport that was especially vulnerable to HIV transmission because of close proximity of fighters to each other and the very real possibility of cuts and blood mixing. Mills Lane, who refereed Morrison’s bloody fight with Lewis a few months earlier, got himself tested the day after Morrison’s result was announced to make sure he hadn’t gotten the virus from Morrison’s blood.

Magic Johnson called Morrison a few days later, urging him to stay upbeat and fight the disease. Johnson said Morrison was listening, but he wasn’t sure he had heard.

The folks in Jay, meanwhile, took the big sign down. Morrison didn’t blame them, saying most people thought HIV was “a loser’s virus.” His hometown had deserted him. His career was over. The long downward spiral had begun.—AP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

S P ORTS

IOC inspectors see ‘progress,’ but timeline tight RIO DE JANEIRO: IOC inspectors have seen “strong, solid progress” but think organizers need a sharper focus in the countdown to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The IOC coordination commission, headed by former Olympic hurdles champion Nawal El Moutawakel, finished a two-day inspection visit on Monday and seemed to take a stronger tone than on its previous four visits.

El Moutawakel said she was confident the games would provide a lasting legacy, but warned about delays in starting construction on one of the four main venue areas — the Deodoro area in a run-down part of northern Rio de Janeiro.

“A lot of work has been done, but a large amount still remains across the entire project and some timelines remain very, very tight,” she said. “Rio must therefore continue to focus on its priorities such as meeting the matrix of responsibility and delivering the venues and associated infrastructure.”

El Moutawakel and Gilbert Felli, IOC executive director, responded to ques-

tions about the possibility of protests at the games.

Protests took place almost every day at the recent Confederations Cup — a warm-up for next year’s football World Cup in Brazil. Demonstrators took to the streets with complaints about spending billions on mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup in a country with poor public services and large economic inequality.

Brazil is spending about $13.3 billion of largely public money on the World Cup. Olympic organizers are expected to announce their budgets in a few months, but public spending could be similar to that of the World Cup — or higher.

“We are for peaceful demonstrations, but we’d like also to protect our athletes,” El Moutawakel said. “We’d like to make sure that the Olympic games are run in peaceful way. ... But we also don’t want to have the Olympic Games used as scapegoats. The games are a peaceful event.

The games are for the athletes to gather together and compete in friendship.”

Felli, who like El Moutawakel speaks

English as a second language, sought to clarify his colleague. “I’m not saying we are in favor of demonstrations, but we are in a democracy where people want to demonstrate. ... But we are not saying you

must all go in the streets and demonstrate every day.”

Felli said the IOC had “experts” from Australia and Britain working with Brazilian authorities on crowd-control and

BRAZIL: Gilbert Felli, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games, speaks during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. — AP

policing measures, which were criticized as heavy-handed during the Confederations Cup. Police routinely used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, including crowds outside the tournament final between Spain and Brazil at Rio’s Maracana stadium.

“Probably the fact they are not so used to (crowd control) because there were not so many protests before in Brazil,” Felli said.

Felli said some sports federations and national Olympics committees were concerned that late delivery of venues would jeopardize test events.

And he also acknowledged that selling local sponsorships for the games has slowed and threatens to leave a shortfall of as much as $700 million in the local operating budget, which will have to be made up by the government.

He said this was fallout from a slowing economy with the government withdrawing generous suppor t and private investors being more cautious. “Now they have difficulties,” he said. “Probably it’s this new economy.”—AP

Zimbabwe bowlers rip open Pakistan batting

Marc Gasol

Spain seeks third straight European basketball title LJUBLJANA: Spain is favored to win a third straight European basketball championship despite losing plenty in size by the absence of Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka and the shooting of Juan Carlos Navarro when the 24-team tournament starts today.

Spain will rely on Marc Gasol and Ricky Rubio to become the first winner of three straight European titles since Yugoslavia in 1977. Their campaign begins against Croatia in Celje.

Two years ago in Lithuania, the Gasol brothers were a huge presence under the basket, while Navarro added 27 points in the 98-85 victory over France in the final.

France is back with Tony Parker, but is missing some of its own big men, including Joakim Noah.

The tournament features 24 teams for the first time, split into four groups in four Slovenian cities - Ljubljana, Jesenice, Koper and Celje. The final two rounds are in the capital of Ljubljana.

In Group A in Ljubljana, France opens its campaign today against Germany, which is without Dirk Nowitzki and has brought in a young, untested side.

Group B in Jesenice features Lithuania, with its two NBA big men, Jonas Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas.

Lithuania is rebuilding after being upset by Macedonia in the quarterfinals at home two years ago. The Lithuanians will get to know where they stand when they open

against Serbia, another unknown entity coming in with a young team featuring NBA first-round pick Nemanja Nedovic.

Lithuania will also run into Macedonia again in a group that is a Balkan-Baltic showdown. Other teams are BosniaHerzegovina, Latvia and Montenegro, which is without Nikola Pekovic but with the NBA center Nikola Vucevic.

Spain heads Group C, while Group D features Greece, a balanced team playing stifling defense. Vassilis Spanoulis led Olympiakos to two consecutive Euroleague titles and hopes to deliver a medal for Greece for the first time since the bronze in 2009.

The tournament also serves as qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Spain. The top six teams, aside from Spain, will qualify.

Spain is already qualified as host.

NBA center Marc Gasol and playmaker Rubio are Spain’s standouts but the defending champion also has newcomers and a new coach in Juan Orenga.

Most experts see France as Spain’s biggest challenger again. But with Noah, Kevin Seraphin and Ronny Turiaf deciding to sit out, France has lost some NBA muscle. Coach Vincent Collet still has NBA swingman Nicolas Batum and former NBA forward Mickael Gelabale.

Parker led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA finals and the guard is as keen as ever to finally lift the European title.— AP

Buckingham Palace to stage first football match LONDON: Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, will stage its first football match in October as part of the Football Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the FA announced yesterday. The match was arranged with the help of Prince William, the Queen’s grandson and second in line to the throne, in his role as president of the FA. But rather than featuring a host of Premier League stars, the October 7 fixture will see two of England’s oldest amateur clubs compete in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, one of London’s most famous landmarks. Civil Service FC, the sole surviving football club from the 11 teams who founded the FA at a meeting at London’s Freemasons’ Tavern in 1863, will play west London rivals Polytechnic FC, formed in 1875, in a Southern Amateur League fixture in the Palace grounds.

The Queen gave her permission for the match and Tony Stones, the groundsman at Wembley, the England national side’s headquarters in north London, will work with the royal household gardeners to create a pitch in

the 40-acre garden.

William will host the event and also present medals to 150 volunteers in recognition of their commitment to grassroots football. “In our 150th year, it is hugely important for the FA to honor the efforts of the many thousands of volunteers who week in, week out, help to provide the opportunity for millions more people to enjoy football at grassroots level,” William said in an FA statement issued yesterday. “Inviting 150 of these volunteers to Buckingham Palace provides a fitting way for the FA to pay tribute and give thanks.”

FA chairman Greg Dyke added: “These volunteers are the heartbeat of football. Without them, the game simply wouldn’t function at a grassroots level and it is only right that the FA honours their tireless and selfless work.

“We are delighted that, in his role as president of the FA, HRH (His Royal Highness) The Duke of Cambridge (William) has given his support to this initiative-even going as far as arranging for the first-ever game of football to be played at Buckingham Palace in honor of our grassroots heroes.” — AFP

HARARE: Zimbabwe’s unheralded bowling attack plunged Pakistan into deep trouble on the first day of the first Test at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Pakistan were floundering at 182 for eight before tailenders Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan added an aggressive 67 for the ninth wicket to enable the tourists to finish the day on 249 for nine.

Opening bowlers Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara, who went into the match with only five Test caps between them, started the Pakistan slide with some disciplined bowling at the start of the day. They were well backed up by off-spinner Prosper Utseya and medium-pacer Shingi Masakadza.

But Chatara and Panyangara were guilty of some loose bowling with the second new ball as Ajmal (49 not out) and Junaid (17) gave the Pakistan innings some respectability. Junaid was out to the fifth ball of the final over of the day when he flashed at Panyangara and was caught behind.

Azhar Ali, who made a patient 78 off 185 balls, and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (53) were the only Pakistan top-order batsmen to shine.

They put on 93 for the fourth wicket.

Hamilton Masakadza, standing in for regular captain Brendan Taylor, was justified in his decision to send Pakistan in as the tourists lost their first three wickets for 27 runs inside the first hour, with both Chatara and Panyangara taking advantage of early life in the pitch.

Chatara struck first when Mohammad Hafeez was caught at second slip off a ball which lifted sharply. Panyangara followed up with the wickets of Khurram Manzoor, who went back on his stumps and was leg before wicket to a ball which cut back, and Younis Khan, who was bowled when he played forward tentatively and the ball trickled back onto his stumps.

Utseya dismissed Misbah and Asad Shafiq in quick succession during the afternoon, with both batsmen falling to ambitious shots, and Shingi Masakadza was rewarded for some accurate bowling when he took two wickets after tea, including that of Azhar, who was drawn into a drive and caught at first slip.

Taylor withdrew on the morning of the match after his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child. Pakistan-born Sikandar Raza replaced him, earning his first Test cap.

The withdrawal of Taylor, Zimbabwe’s leading batsmen, was the latest setback for the host nation following a pay dispute which threatened to prevent the match from taking place. The players only agreed on Monday to play following a commitment by their board to pay outstanding salaries before next week’s

HARARE: Pakistan batsman Saeed Ajmal (right) plays a shot during the opening day of the first Test match between Pakistan and hosts Zimbabwe. —AFP

second and final Test in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe fielded an inexperienced bowling line-up, following the retirement of Kyle Jarvis in order to pursue a county cricket

career in England and Graeme Cremer’s unavailability because of the pay issue.

Batsman Sean Williams also withdraw because of the pay dispute. — AFP

SCOREBOARD HARARE, Harare Province: Close of play scores on the first day of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan at the Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Pakistan, first innings Khurram Manzoor lbw b Panyangara 11 Mohammad Hafeez c Sibanda b Chatara 5 Azhar Ali c Sibanda b S. Masakadza 78 Younis Khan b Panyangara 3 Misbah-ul-Haq c Sibanda b Utseya 53 Asad Shafiq c Mawoyo b Utseya 4 Adnan Akmal b Chatara 18 Abdur Rehman lbw b S. Masakadza 7 Saeed Ajmal not out 49 Junaid Khan c Mutumbami b Panyangara 17 Extras (lb3, w1) 4 Total (9 wkts, 89.5 overs) 249 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Hafeez), 2-21 (Manzoor), 327 (Younis), 4-120 (Misbah), 5-132 (Shafiq), 6-157

(Akmal), 7-173 (Rehman), 8-182 (Azhar), 9-249 (Junaid) Bowling: Chatara 22-6-64-2, Panyangara 19.5-271-3, S. Masakadza 22-8-40-2, Chigumbura 2-015-0, Utseya 23-1-55-2, H. Masakadza 1-0-1-0 (1w) To bat: Rahat Ali Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Vusi Sibanda, Tina Mawoyo, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Richmond Mutumbami (wkt), Prosper Utseya, Shingi Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara Match situation: Pakistan are 249 for nine in the first innings.

Tougher doping sanctions, Indian exile on IOC agenda BUENOS AIRES: Wider-ranging sanctions for doping and India’s eight-month Olympic exile will be high on the agenda when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meets in Buenos Aires this week to decide the venue for the 2020 Games and a new president.

Calls for more stringent punishments for doping have grown over the years, as doctors or coaches of athletes who have failed tests have simply moved on to another potential star, leaving athletes to face the rap alone.

Pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, head of the Entourage Commission set up by IOC president Jacques Rogge to look into the issue, has now put together its recommendations, a copy of which AFP has obtained. The commission’s recommendations lay out 13 instances where a member of an athlete’s entourage can be held accountable.

They range from doping violations to match-fixing and also propose protecting an athlete from “any form of harassment or abuse (physical, professional, sexual, mental)”.

Any member of an athlete’s entourage will potentially face punishment if their athlete is found to have broken the rules, even if they were not aware he or she was doing so.

“Members of an Athlete’s entourage may also be sanctioned for the acts and/or omissions of persons over whom they have influ-

ence or for whom they are responsible,” the recommendation reads. The proposals also say that “Sporting Entities should put in place mechanisms, such as educational programs, so as to allow that members of an Athlete’s entourage are aware of and understand the rules applicable to them.”

Nine possible punishments are put forward, including a reprimand and fine, but also “Permanent exclusion from the event/Sporting Entities (club, National Federation, sport, International Federation)” and the removal of an agent’s licence.

Bubka, one of six men vying to succeed Rogge who is retiring after 12 years as IOC president, said in Moscow at the World Athletics Championships in August how important he considered bringing the entourage to account.

“They can be anyone from a coach to a doctor to a member of the family and they must not only be held accountable as they are the influence around the athlete but also educated in what is right and what is wrong,” said the 49year-old Ukrainian.

India has been out in the cold since last December when the IOC’s executive board suspended the South Asian giant after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi

Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOC wanted the IOA to amend its constitution so that officials facing criminal or corruption proceedings in court would be kept out of the IOA election process.

The stand-off looks set to continue for the IOA, however, as on August 25 it rejected the IOC’s demand. The IOA’s general body decided to bar only those who had been convicted and not just charged.

“We have accepted all the amendments proposed by the IOC, except the charge sheet clause,” senior sports official S. Reghunathan, who chaired the meeting, told reporters.

“We have modified that clause so that only those persons who have been convicted by a court for a jail term of two or more years will not be able to contest elections. “If the jail term is for less than two years, the case will be referred to the IOA’s ethics commission.”

The amendment was in keeping with Indian law, which says that those facing charges are allowed to contest parliamentary elections since they are innocent until proven guilty, Reghunathan said. The diluted version means influential sports officials such as Bhanot and Suresh Kalmadi, who is also on trial for corruption linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, can stand for IOA elections. — AFP

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

SPORTS

Madrid 2020 low-budget bid could reap riches MADRID: Debt-struck Madrid is betting its penny-pinching bid to host the Olympics in 2020 will reap rich economic dividends for recession-hit Spain. The Spanish capital is banking on a low-cost $5 billion (3.8 billion euros) Olympic bid that relies heavily on existing stadiums to surprise Tokyo and Istanbul when Olympic chiefs make their decision in Buenos Aires on Saturday. It is a tactic of necessity for the Madrid 2020 team, backed by the city, the region and the central government.

Madrid has debts of 7.4 billion euros ($9.8 billion); the wider Madrid region is in debt to the tune of 21.6 billion euros; and Spain’s overall public debt stands 923 billion euros, equal to 88.2 percent of the country’s entire annual economic output.

Madrid 2020 is proposing to spend $3.1 billion to put on the Games, plus another $1.9 billion in construction investment. It is a modest sum compared to London 2012’s estimated cost of 8.8 billion pounds, or $13 billion.

Madrid says it can save money

because 28 of the 35 venues already exist and only four permanent structures will be added, including an Olympic Village of 19 apartment blocks, to be built with private investment and later used as social housing.

As recession-hit Madrid residents protest health and education cuts, and with popular unease over Olympic spending already evident in Brazil ahead of Rio 2016, a costlier bid could have been difficult to sell at home and abroad.

One member of the minor left-wing opposition Izquierda Unida in Madrid city hall, Jorge Garcia Castano, derided the bid earlier this year in an opinion piece headlined “The Hunger Games”, criticising it as wrong-headed in a period of financial and economic crisis.

But an International Olympic Committee-commissioned poll found 76-percent popular support for Madrid 2020 in the capital, and 81 percent in the rest of the country.

“We need it more than ever”- “Most of the investment to celebrate and organise 2020 has already been done.

Madrid today, unlike other cities, does

not have to turn itself upside down with works across the whole city,” said Juan Maria Gay de Liebana, economist and professor at Barcelona University.

The investment should be financed as much as possible so that payments are made in the 2018-2020 period, he said, a time when the Spanish economy “in principle” should be growing and the income from tourists and benefits from business investment would be visible.

Spanish Olympic Committee president Alejandro Blanco has said that in the seven weeks from the opening of the London Games to the closing of the Paralympics, an extra 2.6 billion pounds or 3.0 billion euros entered the city. Madrid offered a no-risk option as host for the Games despite the economic crisis, he said in an interview with AFP in the run-up to the decision.

“The investment required to have everything ready is not affected at all by the crisis. That is why we have the citizens’ support,” Blanco said.

“We are all in high spirits, we all have a good feeling about it, but we also realise that there is a vote and the

result could go any way. You have to be optimistic, fight to the last and wait for the decision.”

Madrid 2020 bid organisers say hosting the Games in Madrid would provide a 3.87-billion euro boost to the Spanish economy and generate 83,000 full-time jobs.

“I sincerely believe that the Games would revitalise the economy, though they would not be a panacea,” Madrid Mayor Anna Botella said in an interview with leading daily El Pais a week before the decision. But analysts say it is hard to predict the economic impact accurately. “It is obviously a plus if you can afford it, if you have got the infrastructure built and you can bring people in to use some of these things,” said Edward Hugh, independent economist based in Catalonia.

“But since we have no idea where the Spanish economy is going to be in 2020 it is very hard to make more than very general platitude-type statements.”

Whereas the Barcelona Games in 1992 had transformed the city, opening up beachfront areas that still lure

visitors today, Madrid’s more modest ambitions could have a slighter longterm impact, he said.

After failing to win the Games in 1972, 2012 and 2016, many people in Madrid believe it could be fourth time lucky, and they hope for a boost to a national economy that has been in recession for two years with a jobless rate of more than 26 percent.

“We need it more than ever. It is going to create jobs and that will give us some motivation, a dream for the young,” said 23-year-old Diego Casada, visiting a Madrid 2020 exhibition at the city hall.

Gildo Seisdedos, an economist and lecturer at IE Business School, said Madrid had been smart to stress the infrastructure it already has rather than mounting grand projects like Brazil’s for 2016 or Istanbul’s rival bid for 2020. “The country is going through such a restructuring and such cost cutting that it is impossible for these Games make us commit the error of inflating structure and equipment investments,” Seisdedos said.—AFP

Winners and losers: A wrap-up of deadline day LONDON: As football managers around Europe recover from a frenzied night of negotiations on transfer deadline day, the traditional post-mortem begins. We look at five of the transfers that dominated the headlines and attracted the big money.

Adidas signs Pep Guardiola as ambassador RS

Pep Guardiola announced as the Adidas ambassador KUWAIT: FC Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has been officially announced today as an Adidas ambassador. Formerly a cultured defensive midfielder for FC Barcelona and Spain, Guardiola is now undoubtedly one of the best managers in the game and over the course of his career he has become one of the most decorated names in football.

As part of his new ambassadorial role, Guardiola will become the face of this season’s Adidas UEFA Champions League campaign, Gamedayplus, which will run for the entirety of the forthcoming European season.

Guardiola has won the UEFA Champions League once as a player and

twice as a manager and has recently joined the reigning UEFA Champions League holders FC Bayern Munich.

Further details on Gamedayplus will be announced in the coming weeks.

Upon signing with Adidas, Pep Guardiola said: “It is with great pride that I have signed with adidas as one of their ambassadors. Adidas have an amazing heritage but at the same time they are also proud to be at the cutting edge of football and these are two qualities that I really admire. I’m looking forward to fronting their forthcoming UEFA Champions League campaign and fans can look forward to a further announcement in the next few weeks.”

Del Bosque: Injuries should not be a problem for Spain MADRID: Spain should not be too concerned about the absence of key players due to injury before Friday’s World Cup Group I qualifier against Finland, according to coach Vicente del Bosque.

The world and European champions, who top the group by one point from France after five of eight matches, will be missing midfielders Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso for the game in Helsinki before they play a friendly against Chile in Geneva on Sept. 10.

Del Bosque told yesterday’s edition of As sports daily there was no need to make a drama out of the absences, saying Spain had plenty of other players capable of rising to the occasion.

“We have a number of important midfielders missing,” the former Real Madrid coach said before the squad met up at the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) headquarters outside Madrid yesterday.

“But those that are here will do a good job because they are in excellent shape.

“We are relaxed about the trip to Finland due to the players we ultimately have selected.”

Del Bosque mounted another strong defence of his captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has yet to win back his place in the Real Madrid starting lineup after injuring his hand and then falling out with coach Jose Mourinho last season.

Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes has been in fine early-season form, prompting speculation that he might start Friday’s match. “I am not saying, nor will I say, that Iker Casillas has to play for Madrid,” Del Bosque told As. “What I am doing, and what I will do, is defend him because he, Casillas, is the captain of the national team and a lad who is part of Spanish football, and a key part,” he added.

“He is going through a bad patch and he needs the support of those who appreciate him and hold him in high

Moyes failed in his attempt to also bring in defender Leighton Baines from his former club.

JAMES McCARTHY Having sold Fellaini, Everton replaced him with midfielder James McCarthy from Wigan

the year Kaka left Real Madrid to rejoin AC Milan on a free transfer.

The Brazilian playmaker had largely been a bit-player at Madrid for the last few seasons and looked a pale shadow of the player who was widely regarded as the best in the world during

LEIGHTON BAINES While teammate Fellaini managed to rejoin former manager Moyes at Old Trafford, Leighton Baines remained at Everton. The club rejected a reported bid of 15 million pounds from United to poach the England defender, with Martinez clearly reluctant to lose two of his regular starters.

GARETH BALE Gareth Bale is now the most expensive footballer ever after Real Madrid paid Tottenham 100 million euros for the Welsh winger, who was officially presented in the iconic white jersey in front of around 20,000 delighted fans on Monday. However, it remains to be seen how Bale combines with fellow superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in his muchanticipated debut, which could come as soon as Madrid’s La Liga match at Villarreal on Sept. 14.

MESUT OZIL Finally silencing the loudest of his critics, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger secured the services of Germany’s attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil for a fee of 50 million euros from Real Madrid, which needed the money to help pay for Bale. The transfer, which shattered Arsenal’s previous transfer record of 15 million pounds for Andrei Arshavin, is a strong sign of intent from Wenger that his team is to be taken seriously. The face that fans at the Bale presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday were chanting “don’t sell Ozil” demonstrates just how much the 24-year-old German international meant to his former club.

MAROUANE FELLAINI With new Manchester United manager David Moyes having struggled all summer to make a first big signing, he finally pulled one off late Monday by getting Marouane Fellaini from his former club Everton. The Belgian midfielder had been a target for Moyes for months, and a deal was finally struck for a reported 27 million pounds. However,

Fabio Coentrao seems to have broken down over the paperwork, and a deal for the Portugese left back was not completed by the deadline. That left many fans wondering why the club had left the deal so late.

ANDER HERRERA In one of the more bizarre transfer-day twists, Manchester United did not succeed in their attempt to sign Herrera, amid reports that impostors posed as United officials in Spain and attempted to sign the young Athletic Bilbao midfielder.

However, United said the deal collapsed because of the player’s buy-out clause of 36 million euros.

SHANE LONG Shane Long arrived at Hull late Monday night to formalize his move from West Bromwich Albion, only for his current club to change its mind with less than 30 minutes to go of the transfer window. The Ireland striker is likely to be frustrated with West Brom for pulling the plug, having already undergone a medical for Hull.

MADRID: New Welsh striker of Real Madrid Gareth Bale waves during his presentation in this file photo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. —AFP with only minutes to spare.

It was another case of a manager raiding his former club, with Roberto Martinez having left Wigan to replace Moyes at Everton - a typical example of a Premier League merry-go-round.

his days in Italy. He’ll have a chance to rediscover that form now at a club where the fans still hold him in the highest regard.

And then there are those nearly-happened deals, that didn’t quite get over the line:

KAKA No money was involved in this one, as former world player of

FABIO COENTRAO Manchester United’s attempt to sign Real Madrid defender

DEMBA BA Talks between Chelsea and Arsenal over a loan deal for striker Demba Ba broke down late Monday, with the Gunners reportedly hesitant over a 3-million pound asking price and Jose Mourinho’s club unwilling to lend the forward to a title rival.

That in turn seems to have led to Crystal Palace failing in its bid to sign Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner, with the Dane possibly needed at the Emirates.—AP

Sturridge and Wilshere sit out England training Vicente del Bosque regard. “It’s not a comfortable situation for anyone but above all it’s uncomfortable for him.” Spain can take a big step towards securing their place in the tournament in Brazil next year with a win in Helsinki.

However, they will not take their opponents lightly after surrendering the lead to draw 1-1 with them in Gijon in March. Finland are third in the group, four points behind the French.

“France are lying in wait and Finland still have a chance and will be looking to beat Spain and fight for a playoff spot,” Del Bosque said.

“We have to be very careful about this match. What’s more, I recall that all Finland’s qualifiers have been close, meaning they are tough opponents who improve at their own stadium. “We drew in Gijon in March and the last time we visited Helsinki in 2007 we could not do better than a 0-0 draw. “I don’t expect an easy game but we are confident that we will get the result we want and then wait for the matches against Georgia and Belarus in October.”—Reuters

LONDON: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere both missed England’s training session yesterday, Britain’s Press Association reported.

Sturridge recently sustained a thigh injury, while Wilshere was substituted in the first half of Arsenal’s 10 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday due to stomach cramps.

Both players are nonetheless expected to remain with the squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier at home to Moldova and the trip to Ukraine four days later. Winger Theo Walcott played down the significance of the duo’s absence from training.

“He (Sturridge) is here-that is the positive. Hopefully Dan can get over the knock,” he said. “He played with it (against Manchester United on Sunday), I think, so fingers crossed he will be OK for Friday and Tuesday.”

On his Arsenal team-mate Wilshere, Walcott added: “He’s had an illness so he needs an extra couple of days to recover. I am sure he will be fine, hopefully.”

Cardiff City centre-back Steven Caulker and Spurs striker Jermain Defoe were also absent from the morning session at St George’s Park

in central England, but they were due to take part in light fitness exercises later in the day. England manager Roy Hodgson has already seen three players withdraw from his squad.

Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson and Manchester United defender Phil Jones both picked up injuries during their clubs’ Premier League clash on Sunday, while United striker Wayne Rooney was ruled out with a head injury. He can nonetheless call upon Everton teenager Ross Barkley and Spurs winger Andros Townsend, who trained with the squad for the first time on Monday after being handed their first senior international callups. “It’s a great opportunity for youngsters coming into the squad, that they are going to take their chance,” Walcott said.

“I came in at such a young age and I got a hat-trick against Croatia (in a 2010 World Cup qualifier in September 2008). Anyone can do that against Moldova and Ukraine.

There are chances there to be taken.

It’s only going to be positive when you see these youngsters coming through. “It is important to get to know the players and staff and the set-up here. It helps you when you

go to tournaments. It helped me when I went to the 2006 World Cup. “I didn’t feature but I knew what to expect at the next tournament, which sadly didn’t happen. You want to see the best young talents come through very early and they will only improve.” England currently trail Montenegro by two points in European qualifying Group H, but

have a game in hand. “We are very professional, we know the task ahead and we have to treat Moldova with respect. Ukraine is the big one,” Walcott said.

“I like to look at games coming up.

Hopefully we can have a good performance and not pick up any injuries going into Tuesday’s match.”—AFP

LONDON: England midfielder Frank Lampard kicks the ball during a training session ahead of their World Cup 2014 European zone Group H qualifying football match against Moldova. —AFP

Sturridge and Wilshere sit out England training

Stenson wins in Norton

17

19

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Zimbabwe bowlers rip open Pakistan batting

Page 18

NEW YORK: Tommy Robredo of Spain reacts after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their fourth round men’s singles match on Day Eight of the 2013 US Open. — AFP

Shocked Federer sent packing Nadal advances after minor scare NEW YORK: Roger Federer suffered a shock loss to Tommy Robredo at the US Open on Monday, ruining the prospect of meeting Rafa Nadal at the only grand slam where the two greats have never played each other.

In the biggest upset of the tournament, Robredo demolished a badly out-of-sorts Federer 7-6(3) 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round, marking the first time in a decade the Swiss master has fallen before the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

“I kind of feel like I beat myself, without taking any credit away from Tommy,” a dejected Federer told reporters. “I kind of self-destructed, which is very disappointing, especially on a quicker court.

“I just couldn’t do it. It was a frustrating performance today.”

As expected, Nadal safely made it through, recovering after losing a set for the first time in the tournament to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 67(4) 6-4 6-3 6-1 at an electrified Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But his win was overshadowed by Federer’s unforeseen loss against a player he had beaten in each of their 10 previous meetings, spoiling what was looming as the first meeting between the

pair in the Big Apple. “Two times we were one point away. This time we were one match away.

But it’s always the same,” Nadal said.

“When I see the draw, I think about my first round. If I win, I think about my second. That’s it. “I don’t see the quarter-finals or the fourth round before the first round. You know how tough is every tournament, every match.”

Robredo was almost as surprised as everyone else after one of the biggest wins of his career.

“It’s amazing,” Robredo said. “For me, Roger, for the moment, is the best player of all time. “And to beat him in a huge stadium like the US Open and in a grand slam... it’s like a dream.”

There was an omen even before the match began when officials moved it from the center court to the smaller Louis Armstrong Stadium following a five-hour rain delay.

US Open champion for five straight years from 2004, the last time Federer played a match away from Arthur Ashe Stadium was in 2006 but refused to blame the court switch for a performance that will raise fresh speculation whether he is capable of adding to his record 17 grand slams.

“That should not be the issue,” Federer said.

“That’s definitely the last excuse you could find.”

Robredo will now face Nadal in the quarters, ensuring there will be at least one Spaniard in the semi-finals. There well could be another after David Ferrer joined his countrymen by beating Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic 7-6(2) 3-6 7-5 7-6(3).

The fourth seed will play Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman saved a match point in the fourth set tiebreak before going on to outlast Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(9) 7-5 in a slugfest that lasted four hours and 40 minutes. Raonic served 39 aces and hit 102 winners but paid the price for 80 unforced errors.

Earlier, Daniela Hantuchova advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in more than a decade. The 30-year-old Hantuchova had not reached the last eight in New York since she was a teenager in 2002 but made up for lost time with a 6-3 5-7 6-2 victory over American wildcard Alison Riske. “I guess the best things happen when you don’t expect them,” said Hantuchova, now ranked 48th in the world.

Hantuchova will have to wait another day to learn who her opponent will be after the fourth round match between Victoria Azarenka and Ana

Ivanovic was postponed until Tuesday because of the foul weather. However, it is already guaranteed that Italy will have a semi-finalist after Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci won their fourth round matches to face each other in a quarterfinal.

Vinci beat yet another Italian, Camila Giorgi, 64 6-2 in just over an hour, escaping before the US National Tennis Center was drenched by a thunderstorm that sent players and spectators running for cover. Tournament officials were again forced to cancel dozens of matches, before Pennetta returned to finish off in-form Romanian Simona Halep 6-2 7-6(3).

Pennetta has lost in the quarter-finals on three previous occasions and desperately wants to make it through to the semi-finals for the first time.

She said achieving her goal would come at a heavy price because Vinci is one of her closest friends. “I think it’s going to be just a really tough match for both of us,” Pennetta said.

“We know each other really well... 20 years or more, because we live almost in the same place, just 35, 45 kilometres (away).” A late bloomer,

Kameda brothers secure place in history books TAKAMATSU: Japan’s Daiki Kameda beat Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico on points yesterday to secure the vacant International Boxing Federation superflyweight title and a place in the history books for himself and his two brothers.

The 24-year-old’s victory by a unanimous verdict meant the Kamedas, once known for their crude behaviour in and out the ring, became the first trio of brothers to hold world boxing titles at the same time. His elder brother Koki, 26, is the current World Boxing Association ( WBA) bantamweight champion and Tomoki, 22, holds the World Boxing Organisation bantamweight title.

When Tomoki won his title last month, the Kamedas became the first trio of brothers to have held world titles at separate points in their careers.

Only eight pairs of brothers have held world titles simultaneously. The IBF’s third-ranked Kameda used his footwork to dodge fourth-ranked Guerrero, a former holder of the same title, who tried to fight in close range and switched between left-handed and right-handed stances.

There was a moment of suspense in the tenth round when Kameda’s short one-two hooks to the face left the Mexican tottering. But Guerrero fought back Kameda’s flurry of punches to wage an exhaustive slugfest.

The three American judges all scored in Kameda’s favour. Glenn Feldman carded it 114-112, Eugene Grant 116-110 and Robert Hoyle 117-109.

Kameda, a former WBA flyweight champion, was slapped with a one-point penalty twice for a low blow in the fifth and 11th rounds. Guerrero disputed the scorecard, saying: “I thought I was slightly ahead on points.”

“My opponent was deducted a point twice. In particular, two judges gave such a big margin which is unreasonable.” The champion’s belt had been stripped from Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez on June 8 when he failed to make the weight for his title defence in Las Vegas against Argentine challenger Roberto Domingo Sosa.

Sanchez won the fight but the title in the 52.1kilo (115-pound) division, also known as junior bantamweight, had remained vacant.

Kameda’s record improved to 29 wins, 18 of them by knockout, and three losses. It was the 25year-old Mexican’s fifth loss against 19 wins, 12 of them by knockout, and one draw.

It was also Kameda’s first world-title bout since he bowed to WBA super-flyweight champion Tepparith Kokietgym of Thailand in December 2011.

“I am really happy to join my brothers (as champions),” a tearful Kameda said on the ring as his siblings, who had earlier helped in from his corner, looked on.

“Now we are the world’s number-one brothers and I want you to keep on supporting us. “I have always been told that if I stuck to my game plan I

Vinci has hit her peak at an age when a lot of professional players begin to slow down.

The 30-year-old won just one singles match at the US Open between 2001 and 2010 but in the past year and a half, she has made it to the fourth round or better in five of the last six majors, reaching a career high ranking of 11.

And she has also won three grand slam doubles titles, to share the world number one ranking with Sara Errani. “I know that I’m not young, but I’m enjoying playing,” Vinci said. “I have a high ranking so I’m happy, and I try to stay focused every single day.”

New York’s fickle weather has been a major talking point at the US Open for years with each of the last five men’s finals spilling into a third week because of rain delays.

For years, US Tennis Association officials balked at the idea of building a roof because of the enormous cost of covering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world.

But they have finally relented, announcing two weeks ago that they would commence a massive renovation program, which would include a roof, by 2016 at the earliest. — Reuters

Federer clinging on as legacy takes battering

JAPAN: Japan’s Daiki Kameda (center) poses with his elder brother Koki (left) and younger brother Tomoki (right) after he defeated Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico at the IBF superflyweight title boxing match. — AFP would win. But in my last fight, I lost because my emotions got the better of me.” Guerrero said that the Japanese “moved better than I expected”.

The fight was the first IBF title bout in Japan since the Japan Boxing Commission joined the world body in April. — AFP

NEW YORK: Roger Federer was clinging to the wreckage of his battered legacy yesterday after crashing to another humiliating Grand Slam defeat.

The 32-year-old Swiss, the holder of a record 17 major titles, suffered his earliest US Open exit for a decade when Tommy Robredo, who had lost all 10 previous meetings with him, clinched a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4 fourth-round win.

But Federer is not for quitting despite a year in which he failed to reach a final of any of the Grand Slams for the first time since 2002.

“I’ve definitely got to go back to work and come back stronger, get rid of this loss now as quick as I can, forget about it, because that’s not how I want to play from here on,” Federer said. “I want to play better.

I know I can.”

Worryingly for Federer are the cold, cruel statistics of his defeat to the 31-year-old Robredo. He won only two of 16 breakpoint chances and while he hit 45 winners, he also made 43 unforced errors.

“The story of my life-when I lose, people are shellshocked to see me play this way. If I win, it’s the best thing,” Federer said.

“I can see that. But there’s no doubt about it, I’m trying hard out there trying to make it work. Sometimes it just doesn’t

happen.” It hasn’t been happening at all in New York since he captured the last of his five titles in 2008.

The following year, he was defeated in the final by Juan Martin Del Potro in five sets despite being two sets to one to the good. In 2010, Federer lost a five-set semifinal to Novak Djokovic with the Serb winning again 12 months later at the same stage, again in five sets having been two sets to love ahead.

Last year, he never made it that far, blasted off court by Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals. Federer will be 33 by the time the 2014 US Open swings around. His great hero Pete Sampras quit at 31, going out with a bang on home ground with the 2002 US Open title.

In 2013, Federer reached the Australian Open semi-finals, the quater-finals at the French Open before slumping to a second round exit at Wimbledon at the hands of Sergiy Stakhovsky, the world number 116.

That was earliest exit from a major since a second-round loss at the 2003 French Open and his worst defeat at the All England Club in 11 years.

That loss also ended his astonishing run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances, a streak stretching back nine years. — AFP

Business

Renault head takes full reins after deputy exit Page 23 Kuwait govt spending provided significant support for economy Page 24

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

India’s rupee slides, shares slump 3.5%

Kuwait hits 4-month low on Syria worries Page 25

Page 22

ESPOO: Standing together are, left-right, Nokia’s new CEO Timo Ihamuotila, left, Chairman of the Board Risto Siilasmaa, and former CEO Stephen Elop, during the press conference of the Finnish mobile manufacturer Nokia in Espoo, Finland yesterday. Microsoft has announced a takeover of the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia in a deal reported to be worth some 5.44 billion euros ($7.2 billion). — AP

Microsoft buys Nokia for $7.17bn Nokia CEO Elop to rejoin Microsoft HELSINKI: Nokia said yesterday it was selling its beleaguered mobile phone unit to Microsoft for 5.44 billion euros ($7.17 billion) as the US tech giant tries to fight back against rivals Apple and Google. Investors cheered the news, as Nokia’s share price soared by 45 percent in opening trading on the Helsinki stock exchange to 4.3 euros.

Nokia, once the world’s leading mobile phone maker, will grant the US software giant a 10-year non-exclusive licence to its patents and will itself focus on network infrastructure and mapping services, which it called “the best path forward for Nokia and its shareholders.”

With yesterday’s announcement, Microsoft is following in the footsteps of its internet rival Google, which already invested in hardware when it bought US phone manufacturer Motorola. Nokia and Microsoft entered into a partnership in 2011 to create Nokia smartphones using Microsoft’s Windows Phone software. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer told reporters the Nokia acquisition “will accelerate our success in smartphones.”

He said Windows Phone was “the fastest growing smart platform today, growing by 78 percent last year.” Analysts saw yesterday’s move as a bid to compete with Google and Apple. “The trigger behind this is without a doubt the cur-

rent restructuring of business at Microsoft in which the tech giant attempts to stem the decline in global product sales,” ETX Capital analyst Ishaq Siddiqi said in a comment.

Microsoft “is still behind Apple and Android based handset devices in the global mobile phones market share but under this deal, Microsoft can start to take control of the operation and turn Nokia’s declining handset business into a formidable competitor in a competitive market,” he said.

Nokia also announced the immediate departure of chief executive Stephen Elop, who was hired from Microsoft in 2010 to turn the company around. He will be replaced in the interim by Risto Siilasmaa, Nokia’s chairman of the board. Elop will take over Nokia’s mobile phone unit, and will transfer back to Microsoft once the deal is completed, Nokia said, triggering speculation that he could take over as head of Microsoft after Ballmer’s scheduled retirement within the next 12 months.

“We expect Elop becomes a more viable candidate for Microsoft chief executive, given the obvious importance of devices,” Citi Research said in a comment.

Nokia dominated the mobile phone market for 14 years, until it was overtaken by Samsung in 2012 as the top-selling brand, as it struggled to establish winning business

models and mobile devices amid increasing competition from Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy.

Rumours of a Nokia sale have swirled in recent months.

Nokia dramatically changed its strategy in February 2011 when Elop warned the company was “standing on a burning platform” and needed to shift course immediately.

The shake-up involved phasing out Nokia’s Symbian platform in favour of the partnership with Microsoft, and Nokia bet its future on its new line of Lumia smartphones.

But yesterday’s announcement marks the end of Nokia’s days as a phone manufacturer.

“Management concluded that there was no improvement in sight anytime soon. From that point of view, the sale could be a wise decision,” Pohjola bank analyst Hannu Rauhala told the online edition of business daily Taloussanomat. Some 32,000 Nokia employees are expected to transfer to Microsoft, including some 4,700 people in Finland, the company said.

The operations affected by the transfer generated approximately 14.9 billion euros in 2012, or almost 50 percent of Nokia’s net sales, it added.

Nokia will book a gain on the sale of some 3.2 billion euros, which will “clearly strengthen our financial position

Spain economy ‘touches bottom’ after jobs data

MADRID: People queue to enter a government-run unemployment registry office in Madrid, Spain, yesterday. The government will release unemployment figures for the month today. — AP

MADRID: Spain’s government said yesterday the two-year recession has touched bottom after the eurozone’s fourth largest economy eked out a sixth straight month of shrinking jobless queues in August.

The total number of registered unemployed — 4.70 million in raw figures-was basically unchanged, according to a Labour Ministry report. But a fall of just 31 people from the previous month was enough for the Spanish government to hail a sixth consecutive month of declines, and the first drop in the month of August since 2000.

“I think we have touched bottom,” Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said.

“Although the task ahead of us is huge, I would say these are encouraging figures,” he told Spanish radio Cadena Ser. “They show something that we expected, that there is a stabilisation of the labour market, there is much less destruction of jobs.”

When the latest job figures were adjusted to smooth out seasonal variations, the number of claimants fell by a more substantial 13,700 people to 4.87 million.

The government and financial markets usually focus on the raw figures rather than the seasonally adjusted data. Spain’s state

secretary for employment, Engracia Hidalgo, said the figures were coherent with other positive economic indicators such as improving sentiment and competitiveness “together with an increase in the credibility of our economy”.

Spain is still struggling to overcome the aftermath of a decade-long property bubble that imploded in 2008, destroying millions of jobs and sending debt levels soaring.

The economy has been shrinking for two years. Official data based on a broader household survey show the unemployment rate hit 26.26 percent in the second quarter of this year, slightly below the record 27.16 percent posted in the first quarter.

The International Monetary Fund released a report last month warning Spain it faces five more years with an unemployment rate topping 25 percent unless Madrid enacts new reforms including measures to help firms slash wages instead of axing staff. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government is forecasting a jobless rate of 26.7 percent in 2014 and 25 percent in 2015. — AFP

and it will provide a solid basis for future investment in Nokia’s continuing businesses,” Siilasmaa said.

Last month, Nokia finalised the purchase of German engineering giant Siemens’ 50-percent stake in Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) for 1.7 billion euros.

NSN, which is specialised in high-speed mobile broadband, was set up as a joint venture between the two companies in 2007, a partnership that expired in April. The unit has posted stronger earnings than Nokia’s mobile phone business.

NSN posted a net profit of 8.0 million euros in the second quarter of this year, compared to Nokia’s net loss of 227 million euros in the same period.

Going forward, Nokia now needs to invest in its networks systems, where its main rivals will be Sweden’s Ericsson and Huawei of China, according to Danske Bank Markets analyst Ilkka Rauvola. “Huawei’s market share is growing and Ericsson’s is stagnating. That’s Nokia’s real challenge,” Rauvola said. Yesterday’s announcement is also likely to spark speculation about the future of another big yet struggling phone maker, RiM’s BlackBerry of Canada.

Microsoft’s acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014. — AFP

Lockheed braces for cuts WASHINGTON: Lockheed Martin Corp is bracing for cuts and delays next year in major weapons programs, including a new coastal warship it builds for the US Navy, unless Congress acts to reverse mandatory budget cuts in U.S. military spending, a top company official said yesterday.

Dale Bennett, executive vice president of Lockheed’s Mission Systems and Training division, said the company was already seeing a slowdown in programs and declines in contract awards as result of spending cuts required under a process known as “sequestration,” and the situation could worsen next year. Bennett told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit the Pentagon had largely achieved the cuts required in fiscal 2013 through furloughs of non-military employees and by reducing operations and maintenance spending, but weapons programs would likely take a bigger hit going forward.

It will also be difficult for the Pentagon to start any new development programs.

“The impact of sequestration will be felt more acutely next year,” Bennett said, noting the Pentagon could not cut personnel costs quickly enough to achieve the required cuts, which was forcing them to make difficult choices about programs.

Lockheed and other defense companies have been laying off workers and consolidating facilities to brace for a downturn

for years after the end of the Iraq war, and the drawdown in Afghanistan. But the budget cuts now planned - about $1 trillion over the next decade - are more farreaching than many companies or defense officials expected.

Bennett said Lockheed was focused on keeping its programs within budget and on schedule, and making sure it delivered the technical capabilities it promised. “All the programs are on the table to be discussed,” Bennett said. “The programs that are performing will have a higher probability of proceeding forward.”

Bennett said Navy and Pentagon officials had not notified Lockheed about possible cuts to the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program despite reports that officials could halt the program at 24 ships, instead of the 52 units now in the Navy’s plan.

Lockheed and Australia’s Austal Ltd are building two different models of the new smaller warships for the Navy. Defense officials said the Navy is working through several scenarios to achieve another 10 percent cut in military spending, including options that could reduce the total number of LCS ships that it would buy, but no decisions had been made. Bennett said Lockheed remained convinced the LCS class of ships, which are smaller and require less personnel, offered the Navy the best way to increase the size of its fleet, which is now at historic lows.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Surge in retail activity supports Dubai rally DUBAI: A surge in lending to investors by brokerages in the United Arab Emirates has helped make Dubai the world’s second-best performing market this year, but has left it prey to volatility.

Some investors have been able to make profits in the range of 40 to 60 percent this year on local stock markets but the question is whether such margin lending - borrowing with cash or holdings as security - is setting the region up for trouble.

The trend is developing as the UAE prepares for a fresh influx of money from foreign institutional investors next year after index compiler MSCI decided to upgrade it to emerging market status from June 2014. “Cash is coming back to the market where there are big gains to be made - this year has been good,” said Asem Alsaifi, manager of a 1.5 billion UAE dirhams ($408.39 million) portfolio for a private Dubai company.

Dubai’s stock market was almost dormant for four years after a 2008 crash triggered by the collapse of the emirate’s over-inflated property market. Over the last few months, however, property prices have been recovering, igniting a spectacular equities rally.

The main Dubai stock index is up about 60 percent year-to-date, outperformed among the world’s markets only by Venezuela. Trading turnover in Dubai has revived with stock prices; on one day last week the market traded 1.29 billion shares, the highest since June 2009.

Individual investors have been responsible for most of the market’s recovery. Retail trading accounted for 10.3 billion dirhams ($2.8 billion) of total turnover of 13.6 billion dirhams in June, according to the latest bourse data; in June 2012, it accounted for 1.3 billion dirhams out of 1.9 billion dirhams.

Most of the retail investors are UAE nationals, who accounted for 7.6 billion dirhams of trading in June this year. Value of turnover in June was seven times a year earlier.

But many of these retail investors have taken to using margin trading to magnify their gains through leverage - that is, borrowing to buy and using cash or holdings as security - in a market where stocks such as Union Properties have been jumping nearly 50 percent in a couple of weeks.

“Last week, most of the retail clients were using margin,” said Wael Darwish, Dubai-based head of sales and trading at Mubasher Financial Services, which offers margin loans.

UAE exchanges and regulators do not provide data on the share of margin lending in trading turnover, but Darwish estimated at least 10 percent of all retail money in the market was now on margin. Others believe it to be closer to 50 percent.

From one perspective, the rise of margin trading is a positive signal that confidence has returned to Dubai after its bruising financial crisis.

But it can also pose problems by exposing the

market to sharp drops when falls, which are initially moderate, prompt brokerages to make margin calls demands for clients to provide more cash or securities to maintain a minimum margin.

“Margin lending is a positive for the liquidity and people can easily double profits in an uptrend, but you have to educate the market that when the prices drop, it can be brutal as well,” said Nabil Al Rantisi, Menacorp managing director in Abu Dhabi.

Clients sell to raise money to cover the margins, magnifying the drops. That happened last week when a pull-back triggered by the escalating Syria crisis snowballed into a 7.0 percent tumble in a single day, Dubai’s biggest drop since October 2009.

The Dubai index has posted 16 daily moves of 2.0 percent or more so far this year, compared to 14 in all of 2012. Eight brokerage firms are licensed to offer margin loans in the UAE, according to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) - a small fraction of the 50-plus brokers trading in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

But the actual number of brokerages offering margin lending is considerably higher, industry sources say - brokerages which do not offer the service risk losing clients to competitors.

“It’s a common practice to give margins - whether it’s regulated or not, it’s not illegal,” said Al Rantisi. “If you say no to giving margins, the client will go somewhere else.” Under the SCA’s rules on margin lending, issued in June 2008, loans granted to any single client

should not exceed 10 percent of the capital he provides. But industry sources said that in most cases, margin lending was much higher. Darwish said that customers with a 1 million dirham account could obtain margin lending of 2 million dirhams. Some brokers even offer lending at 3 to 1 ratio in some cases.

The SCA did not respond to queries about its regulation of margin loans. The rise of margin lending does not appear to pose any threat to the banks, however, which are also involved in lending for equity trading.

Abu Dhabi’s First Gulf Bank said its share financing was 2 percent of its net loans in the second quarter of this year. Banks usually hold shares as collateral in exchange for loans, as opposed to brokers who don’t have guarantees that clients will pay them back.

FGB’s annual loans for shares trading have dropped to 2.7 billion dirhams in 2012 from 5.3 billion in 2008, seemingly a lesson learned from the global credit crunch. “If there is a sharp, sustained correction I don’t think it will have an impact on profitability for banks because it’s a small percentage of the loan book,” said Shabbir Malik, UAE banks analyst at EFG-Hermes. “If brokers have borrowed from banks, the amount is still small.” Nevertheless, the increase of margin lending may have a major effect on the Dubai market for some time to come at least until it is offset by growth in institutional investment attracted by the MSCI upgrade, a process which could take years. —Reuters

Kuwait hits 4-month low on Syria worries

NEW YORK: Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, yesterday. — AP

Aramco extends bidding for Ras Tanura fuels project have an annual production capacity of around 1 million metric tonnes of aromatics. In March, Aramco shut its joint venture refinery with Exxon Mobil for nearly two months to bring a $2 billion clean fuels project on line.

The state-run firm is building three new refineries in Saudi Arabia, one in the East with France’s Total, one near the Red Sea city of Yanbu with China’s Sinopec, and another at Jizan, near the border with Yemen. All will produce cleaner fuels and some petrochemicals.

The new power plant to supply the Jizan refinery will use integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology to convert vacuum residue fuel from the refinery into a synthetic gas.

Construction of the project is split into four parts. Bids for three have been extended to Oct. 9, while the remaining package known as the gasification unit is extended to Oct. 23.

The Jizan refinery, currently under construction, is likely to be delayed by six to 12 months, because work on associated infrastructure is behind schedule, sources said in July. —Reuters

KHOBAR: State oil giant Saudi Aramco has extended the deadline for companies to bid for construction of a clean fuels and aromatics project at its largest refinery in Ras Tanura, three industry sources said.

Bids are now due by Oct. 20, pushed back from Sept. 8, for the multi-billion-dollar project. “Bidders requested an extension as there were so many additions to the scope of work,” one of the sources said.

The world’s top oil exporter has embarked on a programme to upgrade its refineries as part of a shift by Middle Eastern refiners to produce cleaner fuels for export markets.

Aramco has also extended the date for bids to build a 2,400 megawatt power plant to supply electricity to its new 400,000 bpd refinery in Jizan, sources said, after companies asked for more time to prepare their offers.

The Ras Tanura clean fuels and aromatics project due on line by 2016 is part of Aramco’s second phase of its refineries upgrade. It will also help supply a new petrochemicals joint venture with Dow Chemical. It includes a naphtha hydrotreater among other units and will

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s bourse falls for an eighth straight session, slumping to a four-month closing low as many retail investors sell shares due to geopolitical tensions over Syria.

The index drops 1.7 percent to 7,464 points, trimming 2013 gains to 25.8 percent. “There’s a serious fear from investors about participating in the market,” said Fouad Darwish, head of brokerage at Global Investment House. “The delay on the Syria strike is causing havoc on the market.”

A US military strike on Syria has been put to a congress vote and in case of support, will take place mid-September at the earliest.

Russian radar detected the launch of two ballistic “objects” in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday but there was no sign of a missile strike on the Syrian capital Damascus, Russia’s state-run RIA news agency said. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and four other ships in its strike group moved into the Red Sea early on Monday.

Kuwait’s newly listed Warba Bank fails to lift sentiment on the bourse. Shares in the Islamic lender rise 8.3 percent to 325 fils. It trades 4 million shares out of a market total of 242 million.

Darwish warns Warba’s shares may now be too expensive to attract new buyers, although banking sector fundamentals remain strong.

Shares in Warba Bank jump 8.3 percent in early trade as the lender starts its first day of trading on the Kuwait bourse yesterday.

The Islamic lender set up three years ago with a capital of 100 million dinars ($351 million), was majority owned by Kuwaiti nationals and the sovereign wealth fund Kuwait Investment Authority holds 24 percent. Shares opened at 300 fills and are trading up at 325 fills. Kuwait’s index slips 0.1 percent to 7,588 points. — Reuters

s

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti traders follow the stock market activity at the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in Kuwait City yesterday. Kuwait Stock Exchange took on a red board till closing, yesterday, and the weighted index came to 445.85 points on a loss of 2. 71 points, while the price index reached 7,464.67 points, a loss of 131.13 points. — Photos by Yasser Zayyat

Barclays to sell UAE retail bank after review DUBAI: Barclays Plc has decided to sell its retail banking operations in the United Arab Emirates after conducting a review of the business, the British lender said yesterday.

The potential sale may impact up to 280 employees, a source familiar with the plan said, adding the lender plans to offload its retail portfolio in the Gulf Arab country, which includes credit cards, mortgages, personal lending and deposit taking operations, while keeping its two branches in Dubai.

A separate banking source confirmed that the bank was keeping its Dubai branches to service corporate banking clients.

Under Chief Executive Anthony Jenkins, Barclays is axing at least 3,700 jobs, reining in pay of senior bankers and closing businesses across the group in the face of new regulatory curbs on risk.

“Following a strategic review, Barclays has decided to re-focus its efforts in the UAE on its key strengths in corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment

management,” the bank said, declining to provide any additional details.

Sources had told Reuters last month that the review of the bank’s retail business in the Gulf Arab state was taking place, with a disposal a likely option.

B a rc l ays’ co r p o r a te b a n k i n g, p r i v a te banking and investment banking activities in the UAE are not part of the review. The bank’s retail operations in Egypt, where the lender has nearly 60 branches, is also unaffected by the move. —Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal Irani Riyal

2.866 4.273 2.717 2.143 2.868 224.760 36.813 3.664 6.443 8.927 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

76.150 78.463 741.720 758.470 77.769

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

41.300 40.779 1.332 173.530 403.260 1.915 3.102 34.309

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 285.450 Euro 377.220 Sterling Pound 445.160 Canadian dollar 271.600 Turkish lira 141.170 Swiss Franc 306.610 Australian Dollar 258.900 US Dollar Buying 284.250 GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

263.000 133.000 68.000

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 258.55 275.14 311.12 380.75 284.10 444.64 2.96 3.671 4.204 2.135 2.659 2.741 77.42 756.15 40.65 404.34 738.84 78.45 75.89

SELL CASH 261.000 275.000 313.000 386.000 285.500 449.000 3.000 3.780 4.800 2.700 3.220 2.900 77.900 757.900 41.000 410.000 740.000 78.800 76.200

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 Cyprus pound Japanese Yen

Selling Rate 285.200 273.705 445.065 377.520 305.170 755.075 77.625 78.285 76.915 402.035 40.778 2.140 4.275 2.715 3.667 6.428 699.610 3.860

Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

9.200 4.075 3.900 86.770

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc

SELL CASH Europe 0.4370876 0.0067539 0.0463982 0.3713828 0.0429110 0.4335150 0.0392094 0.3008539

SELLDRAFT 0.4460676 0.0187539 0.0513982 0.3788826 0.0481110 0.4410150 0.0442094 0.3078539

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling

Australasia 0.2476988 0.2152440 0.0001130

0.2598988 0.2252440 0.0001130

Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars

America 0.2635463 0.0001451 0.2831000

0.2725463 0.0001631 0.2852500

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 Philippine Peso Sierra Leone

Asia 0.0036224 0.0031645 0.0456039 0.0164833 0.0000443 0.0342301 0.0042149 0.0000207 0.0028500 0.0027905 0.0031972 0.0824808 0.0025217 0.0026910 0.0059850 0.0000729

0.0036774 0.0033945 0.0506039 0.0195833 0.0000503 0.0373301 0.0042799 0.0000258 0.0038500 0.0029705 0.0034272 0.0894808 0.0027217 0.0027310 0.0064550 0.0000759

Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht

0.2201244 0.0021042 0.0085263

0.2261244 0.0021462 0.0091263

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

Arab 0.7502049 0.0387659 0.0126708 0.1450356 0.0000793 0.0001844 0.3967581 1.0000000 0.0001750 0.0223758 0.0012127 0.7298987 0.0776958 0.0755333 0.0463803 0.0019439 0.1716933 0.0762357 0.0012869

0.7587049 0.0407809 0.0191708 0.1468256 0.0000798 0.0002444 0.4042581 1.0000000 0.0001950 0.0462758 0.0018477 0.7408987 0.0784788 0.0761733 0.0469303 0.0021639 0.1776933 0.0776857 0.0013869

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) 284.900 378.650 445.850 272.400 4.200 40.770 2.141 3.660 6.430 2.720 758.500 77.600 76.050

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Facing dead whale or lost cargo, Maersk turns to social media COPENHAGEN: Who would have thought a container shipping firm could rally as many Facebook “likes” as a big brewer, find lost cargoes via Instagram or use Pinterest to limit the public relations setback of accidentally killing a whale?

Maersk Line is doing just that and the Danish company says its embrace of social media - more usual in consumeroriented sectors like cars or fashion - has given it an edge in the normally low-profile business-to-business shipping sector.

The world’s biggest container shipping company - part of A.P. MollerMaersk - sees the Internet as a cheap

way to boost its profile, making it a more likely choice for freight forwarders.

“There is a lot to gain from it, such as better press coverage, higher employee engagement and better brand awareness,” said Jonathan Wichmann, its head of social media. The strategy proved its worth when the ship Maersk Norwich hit a whale and arrived in Rotterdam harbour in June last year with the 12-metre animal lying dead across its bulbous bow. Rather than play down the incident, Maersk posted pictures on Facebook and created an album “In Memory of the Maersk Norwich Whale” on Pinterest. Both were widely shared

and the company says comments were mostly positive. Maersk Line’s new ships all have have a Web page and Maersk is present on most social media, including Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Vimeo, Flickr and Tumblr. Its social media crew covered the two-year construction of its $185 million, “Triple E” container ship the world’s biggest vessel - and its arrival in Europe last month.

Maersk Line’s corporate Facebook page has more than one million “likes”.

While that is far less than the 11 million likes accumulated by Daimler’s Mercedes brand, it is in the same league as consumer brands such as Danish brewer

Carlsberg’s 1.3 million and more than Swedish carmaker Volvo’s 675,000.

Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company, the second-biggest container shipper, has just 4,500 “likes”. The thirdbiggest, France’s CMA CGM, has about 11,000. “Maersk Line has been the first social media mover within the shipping industry. I’m convinced others will follow,” said Frederik Preisler, partner at Danish advertising company Mensch.

Wichmann said that when Maersk Line publishes news on social media, it is often re-tweeted or shared, while fewer people take notice of its traditional advertising. The company launched its

social media strategy in October 2011 and spent around $100,000 in the first year - compared with millions needed for traditional media advertising.

Wichmann declined to disclose the company’s spending on advertising.

Now it plans to use social media to recruit help in tracking down lost containers. Its 550 ships on average lose some 18 containers a year and finding them is tough.

The project will allow people to photograph a container on a beach and upload the picture and serial number to Facebook or Instagram so that Maersk can retrieve it. —Reuters

OECD trims US, China outlook, warns on monetary policy ‘Euro area is no longer in recession’

THESSALONIKI: Employees of ELVO (Hellenic Vehicles Industry) shout slogans yesterday during a protest in Thessaloniki against Greek government plans to privatize the company. Greece’s state-run privatization fund will remain in the country’s hands, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said. — AFP

Asian stocks climb further after Europe, China data HONG KONG: Asian shares yesterday extended their gains and the dollar pushed back towards 100 yen after strong manufacturing data in China and Europe pointed to an uptick in the global economy.

Stocks in several emerging economies also enjoyed small rises after a painful August that saw a huge global sell-off, while easing fears of an imminent strike on Syria helped push oil prices down further.

Tokyo surged 2.99 percent, or 405.52 points, to close at 13,978.44 as the yen weakened against the dollar, while Hong Kong added 0.99 percent, or 219.24 points, to end at 22,394.58. Sydney closed 0.16 percent higher, adding 8.3 points, to 5,196.6 and Seoul rose 0.46 percent, or 8.93 points, to finish at 1,933.74. Shanghai was up 1.18 percent, or 24.66 points, at 2,123.11.

But Mumbai crashed 3.45 percent or 651 points to close at 18,234.66 in another major sell-off spurred by a gloomy economic forecast by Goldman Sachs.

The rupee, the worst performing major currency in Asia this year, skidded 3.25 percent to 68.15 to the dollar with Goldman Sachs adding it was likely to plunge to as low as 72 against the US unit in six months. US markets were closed on Monday for the Labor Day holiday. September trade started strongly in Asia Monday after weekend figures showed China’s official purchasing managers index (PMI) of manufacturing activity came in at a 16-month high in August.

The upbeat numbers add to recent figures indicating a painful slowdown in the world’s number two economy, a key driver of global growth, may be coming to an end. Figures by Markit Economics on Monday showed the PMI for the eurozone jumped to a 26-month high of 51.4 points in August from 50.3 in July. A figure above 50 indicates growth while anything below points to contraction.

The European PMI also follows recent data that have raised hopes the region’s drawn-out recession may be in the past.

But as the Asian markets closed Tuesday the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development trimmed its growth forecasts for China and the US, warning that lasting recovery was still not firmly on its feet. It forecast Chinese growth this year of 7.4 percent instead of 7.8 percent, and said the US economy would probably grow by 1.7 percent compared to its forecast of 1.9 percent in April. Currency investors in Asia were confident enough to move into higher-yielding, higher-risk units, sending the yen lower.

The dollar rose to 99.61 yen from 99.34 yen in London late Monday. The greenback dived below the 96-yen level last week because of jitters over Syria.

The euro changed hands at $1.3171, against $1.3193, while also buying 131.19 yen from 131.11.

Crude prices eased further on Tuesday as worries about supply receded after US President Barack Obama said he would ask Congress to approve a military strike on Syria.

The announcement means any attack is unlikely in the immediate future.

In Asian trade, New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in October, was down 60 cents at $107.05, while Brent North Sea crude for October was one cent off at $114.32.

Both contracts peaked at multi-month highs and global shares slumped last week as traders bet on US-led action that they fear could spill over in the wider Middle Eastern region. Among emerging markets, Manila rose 0.36 percent, or 22.11 points, to 6,083.91, Kuala Lumpur gained 0.39 percent, or 6.65 points, to 1,724.21, and Jakarta ended up 1.53 percent, or 62.78 points, at 4,164.01, despite disappointing manufacturing figures from Indonesia. August was a torrid month for developing economies as investors pulled out their cash in expectations the US Federal Reserve will soon wind down its stimulus programme. Gold cost $1,393.90 an ounce at 1120 GMT, up from $1,390.00 late Monday.

In other markets: Taipei rose 0.62 percent, or 49.51 points, to 8,088.37.

Design house MediaTek was up 1.54 percent at Tw$363.5 while Hon Hai Precision climbed 0.49 percent to Tw$82.0.

Wellington closed up 0.23 percent, or 10.35 points, at 4,606.71.

Fletcher Building added 2.66 percent to NZ$9.25 and Chorus climbed 0.68 percent to NZ$2.97, while Telecom eased 0.22 percent to NZ$2.24.

Singapore closed down 0.03 percent, or 0.94 points, at 3,054.78.

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation shed 0.30 percent to Sg$9.98 while Singapore Airlines shed 0.84 percent at Sg$9.50.

Bangkok lost 0.63 percent or 8.29 points to 1,315.41.

Telecoms company True Corp. slid 7.04 percent to 6.60 baht, while Airports of Thailand dropped 3.55 percent to 163.00 baht. — AFP

PARIS: The OECD trimmed its growth forecasts for China and the United States yesterday, warning that lasting recovery is still not firmly on its feet despite a rebound in some countries.

A central risk to recovery is how the US Federal Reserve bank winds down its easy-money policies, the OECD said, a concern which has already upset several emerging economies.

Central banks which have provided stimulus need to maintain their lax monetary policies for some time, it advised. “The pace of recovery in the major advanced economies improved in the second quarter and growth is expected to be maintained at a similar rate in the second half of the year,” the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

“Activity is expanding at encouraging rates in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, while the euro area as a whole is no longer in recession,” it added.

Nevertheless, it said that the US economy would probably grow by 1.7 percent this year, compared to its forecast of 1.9 percent in April, after taking into account the latest data.

Japan’s forecast was unchanged at 1.6 percent. Growth for Britain was raised to 1.5 percent from 0.8 percent and Germany’s increased

ket volatility and strong capital outflows in recent months in some emerging economies could intensify, exerting an additional drag on growth,” it added. Easy-money policies from central banks that have propped up demand are needed a while longer, said the OECD. “It is necessary to continue to support demand, including through unconventional monetary policies, in order to minimise the risk of the recovery being derailed,” it said in its Interim Economic Assessment.

The OECD endorsed the Federal Reserve’s plans to begin gradually reducing its the monetary stimulus it injects into the US economy from its current level of $85 billion per month.

It said Japan should keep up its stimulus efforts until deflation ends, while the eurozone should be ready to undertake further monetary easing if the recovery fails to take hold.

The OECD said the European Central Bank may need to undertake measures to boost sluggish lending such as “providing direct incentives to banks to extend credit to the real economy.”

Despite subdued inflationary pressures in China, the OECD recommended caution over monetary easing if growth slows due to the fast increase in lending. — AFP

Australia’s CB holds rates at 2.5% SYDNEY: Australia’s central bank yesterday left interest rates on hold at a historic low of 2.5 percent, in a widely expected move four days ahead of national elections.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last month cut rates to their lowest level since it was established in 1959, underscoring fears of a slowdown as country’s the decadelong mining boom slows down.

On Tuesday RBA governor Glenn Stevens said in a statement: “At its meeting today, the board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.5 percent.”

“The easing in monetary policy since late 2011 has supported interest-sensitive spending and asset values, and further effects can be expected over time, including from the declines in rates seen over recent months.”

The bank has cut back its official cash rate by 225 basis points since November 2011 to spur growth in the economy as it grapples with a cool down in investment in the Asia-driven mining boom.

The economy has been a key focus of campaigning for Saturday’s election, which opinion polls suggest centre -left Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will lose to conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott.

The RBA, which has cut rates by 25 basis points twice in 2013 — in May and August-said it would continue to assess the outlook and adjust policy as needed to foster sustainable growth in demand and inflation outcomes consistent with its target.

The Aussie dollar rose to 90.12 US cents immediately after the announcement, from 89.84 US cents just before-and was sitting around 90.35 US cents in late afternoon trade.

The bank said although the local

Gold steadies ahead of US data LONDON: Gold was little changed yesterday, as investors held off doing business before U.S. economic data that is expected to provide clues on the Federal Reserve’s policy moves, while uncertainty remains around a possible strike on Syria by the United States.

The metal rose to a 3-1/2 month high of $1,433.31 an ounce today when a US strike on Syria seemed imminent. But safe-haven demand started to abate after US President Barack Obama decided to seek congressional approval and the UK parliament rejected British participation in any military action.

“It is difficult to predict development in the geopolitical situation, but obviously this will be followed by the gold market and if we have a massive crisis prices will rise on the back of it,” Standard Chartered analyst Daniel Smith said.

Spot gold was down 0.1 percent at $1,393.20 an ounce by 1101 GMT, while US gold futures for December fell $2.70 to $1,393.40. The metal hit a one-week low of $1,374.10 in the previous session, but regained some ground on Tuesday, also helped by stronger crude oil prices. The positive correlation between gold and oil has risen in the past few sessions as gold is seen as a hedge against oil-led inflationary pressures.

Prices were, however, kept in check by a stronger dollar , which hit a one-month high against a basket of cur-

to 0.7 percent from 0.4 percent and France’s forecast flipped to 0.3 percent growth from 0.3 percent contraction.

“While the improvement in growth momentum in OECD economies is welcome, a sustainable recovery is not yet firmly established and important risks remain,” it added.

The OECD now sees the economy of China, which is not part of the 34-nation group of advanced economies, growing by 7.4 percent instead of 7.8 percent. “Growth in China has seemingly already passed the trough and looks set to recover further in the second half of 2013, although the expansion is still expected to be more subdued than in earlier cycles,” said the OECD. It also pointed to the perils of the scaling back of US monetary stimulus, which has led to capital outflows from emerging countries and tightening of financial conditions in much of the global economy.

“As emerging economies contributed the bulk of global economic growth in recent years, and since their share of global output has increased so much, this widespread loss of momentum makes for sluggish near-term growth prospects for the world economy,” said the OECD. “There is a risk that the financial mar-

rencies. Many economists expect the US Federal Reserve to decide whether to begin tapering its commodityfriendly stimulus measures at its two-day policy meeting starting on Sept. 17.

A scaling back would hurt prices, which have been boosted by central bank liquidity over the past four years. Investors are scrutinising economic data to gauge the strength of economic recovery and predict when the Fed is likely to start curbing its $85 billion per month bond-buying programme.

The focus will be on major central bank meetings later in the week and a series of crucial US economic data, culminating in the most important, the payrolls report, on Friday. Yesterday, market participants will monitor the US Institute of Supply Management to publish its bellwether PMI for US factories. “Any data out of the United States this week is going to be pretty critical to the outlook of gold and we are expecting a strong labour report, which encourages the idea of QE tapering,” Standard Chartered’s Smith said.

In South Africa, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which represents about two-thirds of more than 120,000 unionised gold miners in the country, is set to start a strike for higher pay later on Tuesday, although President Jacob Zuma appealed to unions to avoid it. —Reuters

SYDNEY: A woman walks in front of a pre-poll voting center in the western part of Sydney yesterday.

Australia’s central bank yesterday left interest rates on hold at a historic low of 2.5 percent, in a widely expected move four days ahead of national elections. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last month cut rates to their lowest level since it was established in 1959, underscoring fears of a slowdown as country’s the decade-long mining boom slows down. — AFP currency remains at a high level it has depreciated by about 15 percent since April, and it was possible that it could fall further, which would help to foster a rebalancing of growth in the economy.

It added that the economy has been growing a bit below trend over the past year and this was expected to continue in the near term as it adjusts to lower levels of mining investment.

On the global front, it said recent information was consistent with growth running slightly below average this year, with “reasonable

prospects of a pick-up next year”.

The central bank’s “wait-and-see” approach was widely expected, but analysts said rates were likely to remain low for some time, with a further cut possible before January.

“We expect one more cut to the cash rate by 25 basis points before the end of the year and forecast that rates will remain on hold in 2014,” said Capital Economics economist Daniel Martin.

“The consensus is for rates to end 2013 and 2014 at 2.5 percent.”

Australia’s GDP figures for the AprilJune quarter are due out today,

with expectations of modest growth.

“The contribution of net exports to GDP in the June quarter was effectively zero, and then you’ve got government spending, which is actually going to detract from GDP growth-it suggests a very modest outcome in terms of the economy for the quarter,” CommSec chief economist Craig James said.

“It suggests that, for the first time in a long time, we could see the US economy growing at a faster rate than Australia, which is just quite remarkable.” —AFP

Renault head takes full reins after deputy exit

PARIS: A picture taken on February 14, 2013, in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, shows French auto group Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn.

Ghosn announced yesterday, he will not replace number two Carlos Tavares, sacked last week. —AFP

PARIS: Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of French auto group Renault, announced a broad management restructuring yesterday that permanently leaves vacant the job held by his evicted number two.

Last week, deputy head Carlos Tavares was pushed out of the company, which also controls Nissan of Japan, after he publicly said he wanted to head a US auto group.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Tavares had said he had little prospect of being able to succeed chief executive Carlos Ghosn as head of the group one day and hinted that he might seek career opportunities elsewhere.

Ghosn, 59, is nearing the end of his mandate with Renault-set to expire next year-but so far there are few signs indicating that he plans

to leave the post.

The Tavares interview caught Renault, in which the French state holds a 15-percent stake, and its management by complete surprise.

Tavares, born in Portugal and educated in France, had spent most of his career at Renault or Nissan and was considered a company loyalist.

In its announcement, Renault said responsiblities held by Tavares would be split across two newly created divisions, one devoted to product and manufacturing and the other to boosting market share.

In afternoon trading, shares in the company had dipped 0.18 percent to 53.99 euros in line with a Paris market where the CAC 40 index showed a loss of 0.19 percent. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Kuwait govt spending provided significant support for economy NBK’S ECONOMIC UPDATES KUWAIT: Final public finance figures for fiscal year 2012/13 (April to March) show that government spending jumped by 14% last year, much more than expected. The increase will have provided considerable support for the broader economy, where the growth picture remains mixed. However, the spending increase was driven almost entirely by current expenditures rather than investment, whose performance again disappointed. We look for capital spending to improve this year, although overall government spending growth may be more muted.

• Total government spending reached KD 19.3 billion, much higher than we had expected thanks to some unusually large adjustments between the 11-month data and the end-year accounts - likely reflecting reporting issues.

Current spending, which had looked on track to reach KD 16.0 billion or so, ended up at KD 17.5 billion, a rise of 15% y/y. The surprise came mostly from a sharp rise in the large ‘miscellaneous & transfers’ spending category, which incorporates items such as military salaries,

transfers to the social security fund and transfers abroad - all of which jumped in the final accounts. This segment accounted for 52% of current spending.

• Also in current spending, civilian wages and salaries increased by a sizeable 18% y/y to KD 4.8 billion. This follows an even more impressive 20% increase in the previous year. The rise reflects a combination of employment gains public sector hiring rose by some 10,000 in the year to June 2013 - and pay increases, including a 25% increase in basic pay for Kuwaiti nationals.

In combination with high employment rates, these trends have helped support continued strength in the consumer sector, which has been the economy’s main bright spot for several years.

• Current spending was also boosted by a huge 32% increase in spending on ‘goods & services’ to KD 3.6 billion. These are mostly comprised of inter-governmental transfer payments to cover the hypothetical cost of purchasing fuel from local refineries to supply power stations.

The increase was trailed in the budget targets for the year, and is likely related to rising electricity output.

• Capital spending was unchanged for the year at KD 1.8 billion, partly a reflection of continued sluggish implementation of the government’s FY2010/11-13/14 development plan (not all of which appears on budget). The spending execution rate actually improved to 69% last year from an especially soft 64% a year earlier, thanks to a decline in the official budget target for the year. Soft investment spending continues to be one of the economy’s key weak spots.

Over the past five years, for example, government capital spending has grown by 7% per year on average, compared to 16% for current spending; as a share of total government spending, capital expenditures (capex) stand at 9%, which remains low by regional standards.

• In terms of its impact on the overall macro economy, the above spending figures suggest that fiscal policy was very supportive of economic growth last year. Once we strip out cer-

tain large items (some of which we have estimated) that have little or no impact on domestic demand - such as payments abroad and intergovernmental transfers - spending looks to have risen by some 15% y/y. This compares to a small reduction the year before.

• Unlike expenditures, budget revenues were in line with our expectations, at KD 32.0 billion, up 6% y/y. The bulk of this was oil revenues, which reached an all-time high of KD 30.0 billion. Although oil prices, at $106 per barrel, averaged a little lower than a year earlier, the impact on revenues was more than offset by a 5% rise in oil production to 2.9 million barrels per day.

Kuwait and other OPEC countries increased output to compensate for declining supplies elsewhere. Non-oil revenues also posted a solidlooking 22% y/y increase to a record KD 2.0 billion, driven by higher telecom charges and rising compensation payments from the UNCC. • As a result of the unexpected jump in overall budget spending, the FY12/13 fiscal balance turned out a bit lower than the KD 14 billion sur-

plus we had expected, at a still strong KD 12.7 billion. This is equivalent to 25% of 2012 GDP. The surplus is the latest in a long line of superstrong budgetary outcomes, dating back to the turn of the century. Over the past 14 years, the cumulative surplus has totaled some KD 71 billion, which has contributed to Kuwait’s now vast sovereign wealth fund.

• The year ahead (FY13/14) is likely to see a further large budget surplus, though perhaps slightly lower than last year’s. With oil prices and production remaining high, revenues are likely to come in close to last year’s levels. The government has outlined a 1% y/y drop in the budget spending target for FY13/14. But given last year’s under-spend, this still leaves room for a decent-sized increase in actual spending of 5% or so while staying well within the budget target. This should provide continued support for the broader economy. Just as importantly, we look for capital spending to register a solid gain given recent signs that large government-led projects are at last beginning to get underway.

Qatar Airways announces frequency increases to new destinations DOHA: Qatar Airways has announced frequency increases to destinations in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific in preparation for the busy winter season.

Strong passenger demand and additional aircraft inducted to the fleet has prompted the Doha-based airline to add frequencies to its popular and growing routes. Highlights of the frequency increases are: Ankara (Turkey) 4 flights a week from 3 beginning Sep 18; Belgrade (Serbia) 4 flights a week from 3 beginning Sep 18; Bucharest (Romania) 5 flights a week from 4 beginning Sep 17; Dubai (UAE)91 flights a week from 77 (13 daily flights) from Aug 1; Islamabad (Pakistan) 7 flights a week from 4 (daily flights) beginning Oct 27 Jakarta (Indonesia) 14 flights a week from 11 (double-daily flights) beginning Sep 1: Manama (Bahrain) 49 flights a week from 47 (7 times a day) beginning Sep 15: Moscow (Russia) 12 flights a week from 10 beginning Sep 3; Sofia (Bulgaria) 5 flights a week from 4 beginning Sep 17; Yangon (Myanmar) 7 flights a week from 3 (daily flights beginning Oct 27.

The numerous increases in frequency on these routes will provide business and leisure passengers travelling to and from these destinations with more flexibility and greater choice to connect onto Qatar Airways’ extensive global network covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the increases will ensure that these popular routes grow from strength to strength.

“At Qatar Airways, we remain committed to opening up access to destinations that have great market potential. As we continue to expand our network and receive more aircraft, we will keep looking at opportunities to add capacity to our existing network and further strengthen our brand presence around

the world,” said Al Baker.

On August 1st Qatar Airways increased its frequency on its very popular Doha - Dubai route with two additional daily flights, taking its capacity up to 13 services per day. Dubai has the highest frequency in the airline’s route network; this popular Gulf destination is served 91 times a week.

Flights to the Gulf region will see another increase as services to Manama in Bahrain will rise by seven to a total of 49 flights each week. Expansion highlights also include one additional weekly flight to key European routes Ankara, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia and flights to Moscow will grow from 10 to 12 weekly flights. Yangon, which was relaunched last October with three flights a week, will be upgraded to a daily non-stop service. Another popular far-eastern route Jakarta will see increase in capacity from 11 to 14 flights a week, resulting in double-daily flights to the Indonesian capital city.

Qatar Airways will also be strengthening its commitment to Pakistan; the recent frequency increases to Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar will be supplemented by Islamabad moving from four weekly services to a daily service.

To make bookings or check schedules, visit www.qatarairways.com Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 129 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways has so far launched seven destinations this year - Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq) and Sulaymaniyah (Iraq). Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Chengdu, China (September 3), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 27) and Philadelphia, USA (2 April 2014).

Spirent CEO steps down LONDON: British telecoms testing company Spirent Communications Plc said Chief Executive Bill Burns would step down immediately, and Chief Financial Officer Eric Hutchinson would take charge, sending its shares up as much as 5.8 percent.

Spirent did not comment further on Burns’ exit from the company, where he was at the helm since 2008. Shares in the Crawley, UKbased Company were up 4.8 percent at 134.7 pence at 0858 GMT on the London Stock Exchange. The stock was the largest percentage gainer on the mid-cap FTSE 250 index.

“The change is unexpected and appears to be a consequence of the disappointing performance of the business over the past year, where Spirent has faced challenges in its core markets and missed some opportunities to benefit from stronger adjacent markets like security testing,” Numis Securties analyst Nick James said in a note.

The company has been struggling over the past few quarters and reported a 72 per-

cent drop in first-half profit last month due to lower orders and a weak performance at its network and applications unit.

“The timing of this departure suggests that perhaps we are not going to see a turnaround this year,” Jefferies and Co analyst Lee Simpson told Reuters.

Spirent, which tests ethernet networks and 3G and 4G wireless networks and devices, said in a statement on Tuesday that it would begin the search for a new CEO in due course.

“They have got an excellent (possible) CEO in a lady called Sue Swenson, who is already on the board,” Panmure Gordon analyst George O’ Connor told Reuters.

Sue Swenson is a independent non-executive director on Spirent’s board and has served as President and CEO of Sage Software Inc and mobile service provider Cellular One in the past. However, Numis’s James said it is likely that such an appointment could take a year or two.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Expert networks: Thriving in Asia, away from US scrutiny SINGAPORE/HONG KONG: Expert networks - a matchmaking service linking investors such as hedge funds with company insiders - are under scrutiny from regulators in the United States, but are expanding across Asia, where the market for corporate intelligence is less transparent.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has charged over three dozen people and firms as part of a broad investigation into ties between investors and expert networks that has uncovered insider trading and helped trigger the high-profile fall of Raj Rajaratnam’s Galleon hedge fund.

Those cases have bruised confidence in expert networks in the United States, and some clients have stopped using the service for fear of falling foul of regulators. But in Asia, where regulators have yet to pay the industry much attention, the service is thriving fertile ground where emerging market investors are willing to pay for inside knowledge on company supply chains, key personnel moves or regulatory shifts.

“The fastest sales process has been in Asia,” said David Legg, managing director of Asia and Europe for Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), the biggest player in the industry. GLG says it has tripled its Asia revenue in the past three years. Several local firms have also entered the market.

Legg says a relative lack of transparency in Asian markets means investors are much less willing to rely solely on research from investment banks and brokerages. “In London and New York, you get a lot of people who say: ‘Look, I can rely on some banking analyst on the sell-side to help me figure out something’; In Asia, nobody believes that”. The growth of expert networks across Asia equips the region’s struggling hedge fund industry with a key information service, while presenting regulators and companies with a new challenge how to police this paid-for exchange of information.

According to people interviewed by Reuters, few

companies in Asia are aware that their employees may be speaking to investors through a middle-man, and being paid for it.

Capvision, the biggest expert network group in China, said it has tripled in size over the past 3-4 years and now employs close to 200 people. It says it can connect clients with more than 60,000 “knowledge consultants” across all major industries.

“We have been fortunate enough to be in one of the fastest growing markets in the world and were able to capitalise on the fact that information flow in China has always been fairly un-transparent,” said Kai Hong, a former Bain & Co consultant who co-founded the business in 2006.

Expert networks are similar to dating agencies that match couples based on their compatibility criteria.

They build a database of company executives, policy experts and academics, whose services are offered to investors interested in tapping this expertise. They make money by taking a slice of the fee the clients pay for talking to the expert.

Expert networks and hedge funds that Reuters spoke to said experts are paid anywhere from $300 to more than $3,000 an hour, depending on their area of expertise. The networks don’t say how much revenue they are generating. GLG said it has around 400 institutional investor clients across Asia, as well as clients at strategy consultancies, hedge funds, banks, companies and private equity firms.

The primary research industry, which is mainly expert networks but also includes some market research firms, was worth $466 million last year, according to Integrity Research, which monitors the independent research industry. The networks don’t offer any regional revenue breakdown, though GLG’s Legg said investors tend to spend more on their services per dollar invested in the region compared to the United States.

Vick Aggarwala is an ‘expert’.

He is president of Supreme Components International, a Singapore-based distributor of highend electronics to Samsung Electronics, Sony Corp and other big technology companies, and he speaks several times a month to investors and bank analysts he was introduced to through GLG. “We know what the trends are, we know what manufacturers are doing in terms of pricing, the inventory channel, whether their lead times are stretching out or coming down,” he said, adding people in his position know which emerging markets are doing well, and what is anticipated in the coming quarters.

That’s the kind of intelligence investors hope will give them a steer as to which companies will sell more smartphones or TVs in the next few months. That helps them position themselves in the market, betting on which way share prices may go.

Aggarwala says he follows strict protocol when talking to investors so as not to let slip any confidential information. Expert networks say their rules of engagement mean they help prevent, rather than encourage, insider trading.

“The last place you’d want to be if you want to get into insider trading is on an expert network platform where it’s obvious to the regulator or anybody else who wants to inquire exactly who you spoke with, when, and what the topic was,” said GLG’s Legg.

Others, however, question why investors would spend so much money for an hour of a senior executive’s time if the information doesn’t give them an inside edge.

Paul Sheehan, former CEO of hedge fund Thaddeus Capital in Hong Kong, said he blocked all networks when they tried contacting his firm. “I did not want to be associated with them because it was very clear to me that what they were offering was a major compliance risk,” he said.

Another hedge fund manager in Hong Kong, who didn’t want to be named, said he had regularly used the networks, but does so less nowadays. “What you think is your special adviser is not yours,” the fund manager said. “He’s someone many people are calling and he’s generally answering the same questions.”

Philippa Allen, CEO of ComplianceAsia, a regulation consulting firm, said that since the insider dealing scandals in the United States, expert networks themselves and their large institutional clients had become more selective in the experts they sought, with many investors avoiding those working at public listed companies, due to the heightened regulatory risks.

“They are trying to sort of put some distance between very current information and the information they receive. That’s become a lot more common. It’s actually being driven by the expert networks themselves,” she said.

Insight Alpha, a network focused on India and Southeast Asia, says on its website how it can put investors in touch with CEOs, army generals, cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and market regulators, among others. It says it has firm rules on avoiding conflicts of interest.

Regulators in Asia have yet to get to grips in dealing with any such conflicts.

“It’s just not an area that Asian governments have really wanted to prosecute and look into. A lot of countries don’t even have data privacy rules in place yet,” said ComplianceAsia’s Allen.

Sanford Bragg, CEO of Integrity Research, said some local law enforcement agencies are now paying more attention. “I’ve heard of a small China-based expert network, which is no longer around, setting up consultations with government officials,” he said, adding the network ran into trouble when it was found the officials received perks in exchange for information. — Reuters

India’s rupee slides, shares slump 3.5% Rupee to reach 72 per dollar in six months

TOKYO: A man walks past an electric quotation board flashing the Nikkei and other US key indexes in front of a securities company in Tokyo yesterday. Tokyo stocks jumped 2.54 percent morning, boosted by a strong dollar and following upbeat manufacturing data from China and Europe. — AFP

Japan to tell G20 it will proceed with sales tax hike TOKYO: Japan will tell G20 nations at a summit this week that it will proceed with a planned two-stage sales tax hike, and consider compiling an extra budget for fiscal spending to ease the pain on the economy, Finance Minister Taro Aso said yesterday.

Aso, who will accompany Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Group of 20 summit in Russia, also said Japan is unlikely to face criticism from other countries this time about the yen’s weakness that boosts the competitive advantage of its exports.

“Japan has launched fiscal and monetary stimulus to pull out of deflation. The yen’s weakness was only a side-effect of that ultimate goal of beating deflation,” Aso told a news conference after a regular cabinet meeting.

Japan has pledged at previous G20 gatherings that it will make efforts to rein in its ballooning public debt which, at double the size of its $5 trillion economy is the biggest among major industrialised nations.

Abe will decide by early October whether to proceed with a planned twostage increase in the sales tax from next year, a move considered as crucial in fixing Japan’s tattered finances.

Critics of the tax hike plan have called for delaying or watering down the tax hike, for fear of threatening Japan’s budding economic recovery.

“Japan’s basic stance is to raise the tax,” said Aso who, as finance minister, has consistently called for the need to raise the sales tax given Japan’s dire fiscal state.

Unless there is a change in the plan, Japan’s sales tax will be raised to 8 percent from 5 percent in April and to 10 percent in October 2015. If the sales tax is increased as planned, the government will consider compiling an extra budget for fiscal spending to cushion the damage to the economy and submit relevant bills to parliament early next year, Aso said. He added that he did not have any idea of the size of the spending yet. — Reuters

MUMBAI: India’s currency slid yesterday and the share market crashed nearly 3.5 percent in another major sell-off caused by uncertainty in the Middle East and a new gloomy economic forecast by Goldman Sachs.

The rupee, the worst performing major currency in Asia this year, closed down 2.46 percent at 67.63 rupees to the dollar, up from the day’s lows, while shares closed down 651 points or 3.45 percent to 18,234.66 points.

“In India, we have cut our full-year GDP growth forecast to four percent, from six percent,” Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients.

The investment house added that the rupee was likely to reach 72 per dollar in six months’ time, recovering to 70 over a 12-month horizon.

Goldman Sachs added growth could be even weaker and the rupee might fall further than its targets “especially if there are pressures on the banking and corporate sectors due to weakness in growth”. Goldman Sachs joined a string of investment houses from HSBC to Nomura which have cut their growth forecasts for the oncebooming Indian economy.

The most bearish was BNP Paribas, which slashed its forecast to 3.7 percent from 5.2 percent target, saying India’s “macro muddle” was nearing crisis levels. But a top advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected the investment houses’ dire projections.

India’s economy is likely to grow around 5.5 percent this fiscal year, lifted by strong farm output, C. Rangarajan told reporters in New Delhi.

Agriculture growth should reach four-to-five percent this year, thanks to bountiful monsoon rains, boosting expansion, said Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. The agriculture sector grew just 1.7 percent last year.

“Even if we assume the non-farm sector will grow at the same rate as last year, the GDP growth rate would be closer to 5.5 per cent,” Rangarajan said.

India tells firms to be more adventurous in oil quest NEW DELHI: India’s foreign minister told energy firms yesterday to be more adventurous in searching for oil supplies as a report warned of a likely large rise in the country’s fuel import needs. Oil imports already make up 75 percent of consumption, a dependence which has caused India’s current account deficit to soar and prompted a crash in the value of the rupee.

Import dependence is seen rising to at least 90 percent within two decades, according to a study by global consultancy Pricewaterhouse Coopers released yesterday.

“There will have to be a sense of adventure in us... and that has to come from within the Indian psyche,” Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid told an energy conference.

Khurshid said he had recently visited conflict-racked Iraq and Saudi Arabia to push energy ties and found “nothing stood between them and our opportunities” except “our unwillingness to be a little adventurous”.

India in 2012 was the world’s fourth-largest energy consumer at 563 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE), less than a fifth of heavily industrialised China with 2,735 MTOE, the report noted. Khurshid admitted rival China has “moved ahead of us, they’ve come with much more resources” in securing overseas supplies.

But he added India was still held in high esteem in many parts of the world, giving “us an opportunity to go there and fulfil our dreams”.

China, with its deep pockets and energetic diplomacy, has been beating bureaucratic India to the punch in the quest to lock in long-term supplies in Asia, Africa and Latin America, energy analysts say. Since oil is India’s biggest import, the plummeting rupee and higher oil prices are raising its import bills. The oil ministry is set later this month to announce austerity

measures to curb fuel consumption, but will not pursue a radical proposal to close gas stations at night which sparked an outcry on Monday.

The rupee was down nearly three percent at 67.80 rupees to the dollar on Tuesday amid worries over the weak economy and troubled public finances. But PwC said there was scant hope of significantly reducing fuel imports because domestic fuel self-sufficiency was only a “distant possibility”, and India needs to acquire more energy assets abroad.

To do that “calls for encouraging very strong

diplomatic ties and economic ties” with oil- and gas-producing countries, said Deepak Mahurkar, senior PwC analyst.

D.K. Sarraf, managing director of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp’s overseas arm, ONGC Videsh, said India needs its own “diplomats groomed in the energy sector to take up the cause of oil and gas more aggressively”.

India has some oil and natural gas reserves in the western state of Rajasthan and the Bay of Bengal but the sectors have said that their output will grow little in the next few years. —AFP

HYDERABAD: In this photograph taken on July 13, 2007 a Chinese engineer welds carbon steel pipes as part of a gas pipeline for India’s Reliance Industries Ltd at Medak, some 175kms from Hyderabad. India’s foreign minister told energy firms yesterday to be more adventurous in searching for oil supplies as a report warned of a likely large rise in the country’s fuel import needs. — AFP

MUMBAI: Indian onlookers watch share prices on a digital broadcast outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building during intra day trade in Mumbai yesterday. India’s currency slid sharply and the share market crashed nearly 3.5 percent in another major sell-off caused by uncertainty in the Middle East and a new gloomy economic forecast by Goldman Sachs. — AFP India’s economy grew by just 4.4 percent in the first three months of the fiscal year, the slowest quarterly expansion in over four years, sparking widespread worry about its prospects.

The concern was amplified on Monday when an HSBC survey showed that India’s manufacturing shrank in August for the first time in over four years.

India’s growth rate slowed to decade low of five percent last year, partly due to high interest rates which weighed on demand.

Russian reports of missile launches in the Mediterranean Sea accelerated the downward trend in mid-afternoon trading. The stock market plunge was led by banking shares on worries

about the effect of corporate bad debts on their balance sheets.

The rupee’s depreciation will pose a major challenge for Raghuram Rajan, the new central bank governor, who takes charge Thursday, replacing outgoing chief Duvvuri Subbarao.

“We saw a temporary recovery in the rupee,” said Param Sarma, chief executive with consultancy firm NSP Forex, referring to a two-day rally late last week. “But this could not be sustained” amid persistent concerns about the economy, Sarma said. The currency has also been depressed by the record current account deficit the broadest measure of trade-which has been fuelled by India’s massive oil import bill. — AFP

Indian firm latest to be caught in Mozambique land woes MAPUTO: Indian firm Jindal has become the latest company in Mozambique to become embroiled in a mining resettlement scandal, which threatens to trip up the booming coal sector. On August 14, amid much fanfare, Mozambique’s President Armando Guebuza inaugurated Jindal’s massive new coal mine in northwestern Tete province that hugs the mighty Zambezi River.

It was the third biggest mine of its kind in the country, which has already seen seven percentannual growth fuelled by revenues from one of the world’s largest unexploited coal fields.

Two decades after of a crippling civil war, it is just the kind of investment Mozambique welcomes and that-if well managed-may help pull it out of poverty. Jindal, which is also a steel maker, eyes exporting ten million tonnes of coal annually, cashing in on industrial development in India and China. But just days before the inauguration of the mine, anger at the company’s failure to relocate 2,500 nearby residents boiled over into conflict.

Irate locals-most of whom survive from subsistence farming-attacked four Jindal employees according to local environmental group Justica Ambiental (JA). “It is the sowing period and one of the things (Jindal) promised is that they would give them lands to grow,” JA spokesman Ruben Mann said. “They didn’t, so the population saw their food safety threatened and knew that yet again they were not going to have a harvest.”

Jindal Mozambique head Manoj Gupta told AFP the government only approved the resettlement plan recently, which had delayed the process and blamed the trouble on “outsiders” who create problems. “There was an issue with the community, because some of the people were drunk,” he said without elaborating. The firm expects to resettle 434 families within the next two years. It is not the first foreign firm to stumble into a resettlement controversy. Brazil’s Vale and Anglo-Australian Rio

Tinto, who like Jindal use open-pit mining, have had their problems too.

Vale moved 1,300 families to make way for its mine in Moatize in Tete province. But the community complained they were settled too far away and that their new houses were crumbling.

Protesters blocked the mine and railway in April demanding more compensation and slowed exports. After the 16-year civil war ended in 1992 Mozambique passed a law giving communities considerable power over their territory.

Land is owned communally and firms have to make several commitments before they are granted usage concessions.

But activists say the communities get the short end of the stick. Human Rights Watch has attacked both Vale and Rio Tinto for shoddy resettlements.

“Many of the 1,429 households resettled to make way for Vale and Rio Tinto’s international coal mining operations... have faced serious disruptions in their access to food, water, and work,” the rights group said in May. The group says that is devastating in a country where four out of five people survive through subsistence farming.

Citing government data, Human Rights Watch said 60 percent of Tete’s total surface is taken up by mining concession and exploration licences as well as applications pending approval.

“The high concentration of land designated for mining licences in Tete province has profoundly limited the availability of appropriate resettlement sites for communities displaced by mining operations.” Jindal has had to hack out part of land it had set aside for mining because the government did not have any free to give to landless communities.

“To give the land for resettlement is the responsibility of the government but the government does not have the land. So we have taken out the land from our concession area,” said Gupta. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Changing relationship between gold and financial markets LONDON: The UK parliament rejects the government’s motion backing the use of force “if necessary” by 285 votes to 272. Prime Minister David Cameron says: “I strongly believe in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons but I also believe in respecting the will of this House of Commons. It is clear to me that the British Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that and the Government will act accordingly.”

Senior White House officials tell CNN that “unilateral action” may now be necessary in Syria, citing sources saying that it is now a serious “possibility” that the US will take independent action. One official adds: “We’re going to make the decision we’re going to make.”

Spokesperson for President Obama’s National Security Council, Caitlin Hayden, says: “The President believes that there are core interests at stake for the United States, and that countries who violate international norms regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable.”

India: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says that the drop in the INR is a “matter of concern.” He states that the current account deficit is unsustainably large and says that the nation must reduce its appetite for gold and oil.

He says he will take all steps to keep the current account deficit below USD 70 Bn. He argues that the fall in the INR is part of a needed adjustment and can increase export competitiveness and reduce imports.

Nevertheless, he states that the forex markets are overshooting. He also states that India is not contemplating capital control measures. He notes that FX reserves are more than sufficient to meet overseas liabilities.

US: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker says: “When we originated the (asset purchase) program, we said that we were going to continue with the program of purchases until we’d seen a significant improvement in the outlook for labour market conditions. I think a good case can be made that that condition has been met.”

Japan: July industrial output rises 3.2% m/m. This compares to a 3.1%decline in June and forecasts of a 3.7% rise. Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expect output to rise 0.2%

m/m in August and 1.7% in September. July core CPI rises 0.7% y/y. This compares to a 0.4% increase in June and forecasts of a 0.6% rise. This was the largest increase in four years. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate falls to 3.8% in July from 3.9%(forecast 3.9%). This was the lowest reading since October 2008.

Economics Minister Akira Amari says: “If it’s a question of whether today’s data is positive or negative for implementing the sales tax, then you could say its positive.

Japan is escaping from deflation.”

Finance Minister Taro Aso says: “Recent indicators show the economy is expanding. These numbers will influence discussions on a sales tax increase.” He also notes: “Few people talk about the risk of having to make the Bank of Japan buy government bonds that are declining in price. It will be difficult to maintain the current economic situation without a clear commitment to fiscal reform.” UK: Bank of England Governor Mark Carney tells the Daily Mail (when asked whether the bank could provide more stimuli): “We are telling you the minimum amount of stimulus we are going to provide.

There could be more if necessary. But there won’t be less.

We are absolutely clear on that.”

The Gfk consumer confidence index for August rises to -13. This compares to forecasts of an increase to -14 from -16 in July. This was the strongest reading since October 2009. If we take the USD’s performance against gold as being the truest measure of changing attitudes towards the currency then we need to know why the metal has risen 18% against the greenback since the high summer. To get to the heart of this we first need to remind ourselves of the role US monetary policy has played in driving the gold price over the past forty odd years. Much like during the past decade, Fed policy through the 1970s proved consistently lax. As one simple measure of this the average headline inflation rate between January 1971 and the election of Ronald Regan as President in November 1980 was 7.78% y/y while the average Fed Funds rate was 7.44% (a 34bp lag). Similarly, since start of 2002 the average level of headline inflation has been 2.37% y/y while the average Fed Funds target rate has been 1.79% (a 58 bp lag). In sharp contrast, between November 1980 and December 2001 the aver-

age headline inflation rate came in at 3.79%while the average Fed Funds rate was a rather more impressive 6.95%.

If relative Fed policy settings over the past decade proved similar to those of the 1970s then so did the performance of the USD index, gold and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Between January 1971 and November 1980the USD index lost 26.6% (USD/JPY dropped a substantial 41%) while XAU/US rallied 1566%.

In contrast the Dow Jones Industrial Average spent the entire decade in a wide (and volatile) range, net ending up just 10%.Similarly, between 2002 and today the USD index has lost 29% (USD/JPY is off 21.9%), XAU/USD is up 396% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has spent most of the past decade in a wide and volatile range.

The key ingredient for a true trend change in the gold price would therefore appear to be a fundamental shift in stance at the Fed. This is why Dr Bernanke’s speech in Chicago on May 10th was so important. In his speech he stated quite explicitly that “in light of the current low interest rate environment, we are watching particularly closely for instances of ‘reaching for yield’ and other forms of excessive risk taking.” He added that such activity “may affect asset prices and their relationships with fundamentals.” By highlighting the link between ultra-loose monetary policy settings and asset bubbles he appeared (albeit indirectly) to be calling time on the policy of “benign neglect” towards the USD. Sure enough, this was also exactly the point that the gold price began to head lower, falling from USD 1461 per oz to USD 1180 in a little under two months. In line with this the December 2014 Fed Fund futures contract moved to forecast a better than evens chance that the Fed would have hiked rates for the first time by the end of next year while US 10-year Treasury yields made a sustained break above the 2% barrier.

The initial stages of the rebound, when it came, also followed a similar logic. Following the publication of the minutes of the June FOMC meeting and dovish comments from Ben Bernanke in Cambridge, Massachusetts, investors began to fine tune their expectations about the pace of tapering and subsequent monetary tightening. As US Treasury yields declined and then rose while

Fed Funds futures staged a temporary rebound, the gold price duly rose and then began to track gently lower going into early August. Something odd, however, happened somewhere around August 12th. Despite the fact that expectations the Fed would begin tapering in September had started to rise again (reflected in higher US Treasury yields and declining December 2014 Fed Funds futures contract) gold began to rally again, gaining over 12% against the USD by Wednesday of this week. So what happened?

The real clue comes from observing that the rally really began to gain steam on August 15th following the publication of the first time jobless claims numbers in the US along with the latest CPI data. Although expectations of tapering might have begun to rise at this point, it also marked the start of an astonishing sell-off in a growing number of emerging markets. In short gold began to act as a perfect reflection of the strains in these markets. This was even apparent yesterday and today with gold easing back as tensions in a number of markets have moderated.

What we have therefore seen over the past two weeks or so is a dramatic reversal of the way that the relationship between, for example, a currency pair such as USD/INR and XAU/USD has worked in recent years.

Particularly after the summer of 2011, INR weakness and gold weakness have pretty well gone hand in hand up until now, reflecting a more bullish picture for the USD against both. Now this relationship has flipped with INR weakness now being reflected in gold strength (and vice versa).

Whether this reflects gold now being treated as a safe haven asset (a much talked about but seldom seen phenomenon) or growing inflationary concerns in a wide range of markets (such as India) or even a view that the Fed will be forced to moderate talk of tapering in the face of this crisis remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that investors in gold do not feel sanguine about developments in financial markets over the past two weeks. Arguably, given how well gold has reflected the relative health of the US Dover the years, it also reflects a rather more equivocal view about the outlook for the greenback in the face of an EM crisis.

VIVA sponsor of Al Watan Academy for second year Investing in Kuwait’s media professionals KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most dynamic telecoms operator, announced its strategic sponsorship of Al Watan Academy for media skills, a four-week intensive course held at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) and attended by a selection of the country’s most promising high school and university students. The Al Watan Academy program commenced on 18 August and will continue until 16 September 2013.

The program systematically covers the skills vital to working in today’s media, from print journalism and television production to marketing and public relations. Al Watan Academy is a hands-on experience, reflecting VIVA’s belief that the key to success is encouraging our students to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom or lecture hall.

VIVA’s sponsorship of the Academy stems from its commitment to unlocking the potential of a generation of talented young students. Participants have reaped the benefits of direct contact with experienced journalists and renowned media professionals working at the cutting-edge of the field

Powerful all-wheel drive Mercedes GLK-250 launched KUWAIT: A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. - the exclusive general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait - has launched a new turbocharged, all-wheel drive version of the dynamic GLK compact Mercedes-Benz SUV. With an output of 211 hp and torque of 350 Newton metres, the state-of-theart direct injection engine in the GLK 250 4MATIC delivers effortlessly superior performance and well-balanced drive comfort.

Featuring a four-cylinder petrol engine for the first time, the lightweight, high-tech 2.0-litre unit offers the impressive drive comfort of Mercedes-Benz with impressive performance and conservative fuel consumption, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, with a 215 km/h top speed.

The sporty and dynamic new GLK’s improved performance combines an exhaust gas turbocharger and fast-acting piezo injectors to make multiple injections of fuel possible, while reliable combustion of the air/fuel mixture is ensured by demand-actuated multi-spark ignition.

The new model year also brings the added benefit of sporty design courtesy of an Interior Sport Package with

burr-walnut wood trim, and exterior sporting a Chrome package, ILS (Intelligent Light System) with LED daytime running lights, rolling on five spoke, 19 inch light-alloy wheels.

The GLK also boasts a new-generation infotainment system with extended functionality for the GLK, as for all SUV models from Mercedes-Benz.

Speaking on the launch of the new GLK in Kuwait, Michael Ruehle, General Manager, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Co., said: “The Mercedes-Benz GLK seamlessly combines the drivability and luxury of our passenger car range with the functionality of SUV to provide a vehicle with compelling appeal to our customers in Kuwait. Whether it’s driving to the office, doing the shopping, heading out to dinner or taking the kids to football or camping, this sporty new GLK with all the latest gadgets is sure get the job done, in style, and with a smile on your face.” Better networked thanks to a new generation of telematics The latest generation of infotainment systems extends the possibilities when the optional COMAND Online system is specified. A photo-realistic map display in the navigation menu is among the new features, as well as an additional Bluetooth(r) profile that makes it easier to integrate an iPhone(r) into the vehicle’s communications architecture.

Further benefits include the SPLITVIEW concept already seen in the S-Class, whereby the central display unit can show two different forms of content at one and the same time. While the driver is able to call up all the information that he/she needs as and when required, the front passenger can, for example, view the day’s holiday snaps from the SD card of a digital camera in any of the formats jpg, .bmp or .png.

The GLK 250 4MATIC bespoke specifications for A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. Mercedes-Benz customers in Kuwait include Active Parking Assist including PARKTRONIC, Media interface including cable kit, Audio 20 radio including CD changer, Light package, Interior Light package.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 4MATIC is available to view now at the A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. MercedesBenz showroom in Shuwaikh.

around the world. The intensive nature of the course has pushed participants to achieve more than they ever thought they could and has offered unrivalled preparation for a role in media.

This is the second year that VIVA has had the privilege of sponsoring Al Watan Academy. VIVA will continue to sponsor opportunities for the young people of Kuwait to put their skills to use outside the classroom as the country continues to play a central role in the global community.

Lufthansa voted Europe’s best airline for 3rd time FRANKFURT: For the third time in a row Lufthansa German Airlines has been voted “Europe’s leading Airline” at the World Travel Awards - a commendation to the best of Europe’s travel industry following a voting process involving 230,000 travel tourism and hospitality professionals worldwide. Lufthansa was selected as winner from a shortlist of eleven top European airline brands.

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards said: “For 20 years World Travel Awards has been celebrating those brands which push the boundaries of industry excellence. In this period Lufthansa has been leading the prestigious airline category, winning the title of Europe’s Leading Airline six times overall and now for the third year in a row; an impressive accolade which has been recognized by thousands of travel professionals around the globe”.

Jens Bischof, Chief Commercial Officer at Lufthansa added: “This award is an incredible acknowledgment of the commitment of more than 100.000 Lufthansa Group colleagues on the ground and on board. It demonstrates the appreciation towards our intensified efforts to offer the best network coverage, connectivity and flexibility. We won’t rest on our laurels but spark even more fascination for our Lufthansa brand.”

Over the next months Lufthansa is investing more than €3 billion into its services: the retro-fit of the new First and

Business Class, the installation of FlyNet (the wifi-internet on board), new lounges at its hubs & international premium stations, a new catering concept on longand short-haul flights as well as an enhanced service assisting for children and their parents. Another 2014-highlight will be the introduction of a brand new Premium Economy Class on longhaul flights.

The World Travel Awards as “Europe’s Leading Airline” comes hot on the heels of Lufthansa being voted “Best European Airline in the Middle East” during the recent Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2013 in Dubai and being honored “Best Western European Airline” and “Best Transatlantic Airline” at the World Airline Awards in Paris earlier this summer.

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards (on the right) celebrates the award handover with Lufthansa’s General Manager Turkey, Stefan Loecherbach.

Canon ME recertified to ISO 14001 environmental management standard DUBAI: Canon Middle East, the leader in imaging solutions, has been recertified to ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard, underpinned by the organisation’s clear targets to manage the environmental impact of its products and operations across the region.

The internationally recognised standard ISO 14001, certified in more than 800 Canon sites worldwide, was achievedonce again by Canon Middle East following an external environment audit reporting no ‘non-conformities’, a strong reflection of the successful integration of environmentally responsible practices across all aspects of the business.

Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East said: “The ongoingISO 14001 certification affirms our continuous commitment to implementing operational measures that reduce environmental impact. Canon has set clear environmental targets1for the entire EMEA region including reducing

carbon footprint by 15 per cent by 2020, recycling 52 per cent of waste at EMEA offices by 2014, and recycling 85 per cent of waste at Canon EMEA and outsourced warehouses by 2014.

“The Canon Group is one of very few organisations that has achieved consolidated ISO 14001 certification covering all operations globally. Operating under the organisation’sKyosei philosophywe aim for sustainable growth, to deliver value for customers and stakeholders, while supporting the natural environment and respecting the communities we live and work in. These credentials are key to our corporatebusiness EMEA-wide and demonstrate how seriously we take our environmental responsibilities.”

Canon Middle East continues to invest heavily in sustainable best practices with environmental initiativesat the core of Canon’s CSR commitment. The ISO 14001 environmental management system provides a framework for employees in

Canon Middle East to identify and control the environmental impact of operations in line with regional regulations. A CSR and environment coordinator is appointed in each company department and every employee receives environmental awareness training.

Throughout the whole lifecycle of Canon products, the focus is on reducing resource use, from lowering environmental impacts and improving waste recycling from design and production, through to customer use. Last year, Canon Emirates launched a recycling program for carbon neutral toner and ink cartridges and, to highlight the importance of recycling and waste management, Canon collaborated with Averda to reward employees for best practice through Riva vending machines.

Canon is involved in several CSR initiatives in the region aimed at fostering community and humanitarian partner-

ships. As part of the many charitable initiatives taking place to mark the Holy Month of Ramadan, Canon supported Dubai Cares with photo booths in The Dubai Mall to raise awareness of the importance of child education, and as part of ‘Ramadan Care Packages 13’ campaign, 200 care packages were sponsored to provide essential items for UAE labourers at ‘The Adopt a Camp’ charity event,where employees also volunteered.

The company supports the Emirates Environmental group in their initiatives as corporate members and has two key strategic partnerships with WWF: with WWF Internationalsince 1998 as their conservation imaging partner, and the EWSWWF locally. Canon Group is ranked 8th in the World’s Most Reputable Companies (2013), 30th on Interbrand’s 2013 Best Global Green Brands and its score on the Climate Counts scorecard is 66/100.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

technology

Who has futuristic vision to crack the ‘smartwatch’?

Developing mobile interface for wristwatches a challenge

NEW YORK: In this screen grab provided by BlueLine shows the BlueLine webpage. Bill Bratton, the former head of the New York and Los Angeles police departments, is in the final stages of launching BlueLine, a social media network exclusively for the men and women in blue, a la Facebook, with “likes” and sharing. —AP

New social network for law enforcement to launch SAN FRANCISCO: The final stages are near completion for the launch of a law enforcement social media network designed exclusively for the men and women in blue. Created by former high-profile New York City police commissioner and Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton, BlueLine is being touted as a site where officers can share their expertise, insight and information securely through video, instant messaging, videoconferencing and screen share capabilities.

The network is scheduled to go live at the International Association of Police Chiefs’ annual conference in Philadelphia in late October, Bratton said.

Regarded as an international expert on reducing crime, combating gang violence and improving police-community relations, Bratton said there’s been a longstanding belief that federal, state and local agencies work closely, especially since the Sept 11 attacks. That’s not entirely true, Bratton said, adding that he hopes BlueLine will be another tool to help bridge the gap.

Those who join will be accredited members of law enforcement. They also will be able to create databases, have PowerPoint meetings and search for other members via name, topics and interests.

“This is a big void that needed to be filled,” Bratton said. “Our intent is to have officers locate their counterparts and closely interact with each other on a number of topics such as gangs and counterterrorism as well as share their best practices and strategies.” No stranger to meshing technology with crime-fighting, Bratton is widely credited with co-creating Compstat, the innovative crime-mapping system used in New York, Los Angeles and several other major cities.

Compstat uses computer data to direct police to specific high-crime areas.

Police in San Francisco credit the system with helping that city recently reach near record-low crime levels. Bratton said BlueLine was conceived earlier this year and created by his New York-based venture capitalist-backed startup, Bratton Technologies, after hearing for years that fellow officers didn’t have a safe network to share information with each other.

BlueLine is currently being beta-tested among 100 officers within the Los Angeles Police and LA County Sheriff’s departments and the University of Southern California’s campus police.

While initial reports have compared BlueLine to Facebook, company officials say it will more closely resemble popular social media businessoriented sites like LinkedIn. BlueLine will also allow companies who sell products geared for law enforcement to market to the more than

17,000 agencies the network hopes to lure. “Our focus is to have a walled community where you’re verified and authenticated, so you have a safe form of communication with law enforcement, analysts and administrators,” said David Riker, Bratton Technologies’ president. That wall of security is extremely important, said longtime Los Angeles Police Capt. Sean Malinowski, who has a group of officers testing BlueLine.

“We’re already seeing a lot of potential with it,” Malinowski said. “This is not a traditional ‘social media site,’ even though you can share files, photos and stuff. It’s really specific to the subject matter and expertise that officers want to divulge with each other.” Malinowski said BlueLine is long overdue. “That’s the thing with innovations. You are always asking questions like, ‘Why didn’t we have this already?’” Malinowski said. However, Malinowski said most officers have some safety and privacy concerns using social media sites due to the dangers associated with their jobs.

“They try not to be as traceable because there are threats made against officers all of the time,” said Malinowski, who is also married to a police officer. “You try not to be paranoid about it, but it does cross your mind.”

BlueLine will require multiple verifications for members of law enforcement to join and enter the network, said Jack Weiss, Bratton Technologies’ chief strategy officer. He added that the platform will be housed in a secure data center that is compliant by the US Department of Defense and the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services. Also, Weiss said BlueLine will not be a venue where law enforcement can share information about specific criminal cases with each other.

BlueLine, however, will join the ranks of other law enforcement resource/information-sharing sites, including PoliceOne. BlueLine’s emergence also comes as police departments - many shrinking in manpower due to budget cuts - have begun experimenting with social media, according to a report by the US Department of Justice and the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington, DC-based think tank for police chiefs. The joint study released in May noted that in a recent survey of 800 law enforcement agencies, 88 percent reported using social media ranging from preventing crime, community policing to investigations and intelligence gathering, but only 49 percent had a social media policy.”I think we’re just on the front-end of understanding how social media can help, especially during a crisis,” said Chuck Wexler, the Police Executive Research Forum’s executive director. “I don’t think we’ve fully recognized its full potential.” —AP

TOKYO: Japan’s toy giant Bandai employee displays the new model of the company’s communication robot “Primopuel”, which can speak more than 2,000 words and sing songs at a press preview yesterday. The new Primopuel doll, which can communicate with other dolls with infrared communication devices and download new words and phrases through the website, will go on sale on November 9. —AFP

SINGAPORE: The smartwatch could be as revolutionary as the smartphone - an intelligent device on our wrist that connects our bodies to data and us to the world - but only a handful of companies have the heft and vision to be able to pull it off.

It’s not through lack of trying. Watchmakers and others have been adding calculators, calendars and wireless data connections to wrist-straps for at least 30 years.

Sony Corp is also launching a modest update of its Android-compatible SmartWatch, while heavyweights Apple Inc and Google Inc have shown tentative signs of interest in developing such technology. The market potential, cheerleaders say, is vast. Leveraging advances in voice technology, biometrics, communications, cloud storage and power consumption, smartwatches and other wearable devices could be a $50 billion market by 2017, according to Credit Suisse.

“Look at the way we experience mobile communication today - this is not the end point,” said Andrew Sheehy, chief analyst at British-based consultancy Generator Research, pointing to the awkwardness with which most of us clasp the handset to our ear, remove it from our pockets to read messages, or tap in appointments and emails.

“If you look at the phone today, it’s important to ask: is this as good as it gets?” Wearable devices such as smartwatches or digital eyewear, the argument goes, could take over many of the more cumbersome functions of a smartphone while also adding functions we can so far only dream of. By tapping into sensors around the body, on objects and in other devices, they could offer what Plantronics, a headset maker, calls “contextual intelligence”, harvesting data to create “a highly personalized experience in realtime”, according to Joe Burton, the company’s CTO. Advances in technology Driving this optimism are advances in technology, and a more sophisticated audience already familiar with smartphones, apps, and wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth. The prices and size of sensors have fallen rapidly - making them a feature of many smartphones. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 has nine, according to a report on wearable technology by Credit Suisse.

An addition to Bluetooth, for example, uses much less energy and can push and pull data to a watch via the mobile phone, says Paul Williamson of CSR plc, a maker of such so-called Bluetooth Smart chips. With the technology now integrated into devices running the latest versions of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems, “smartwatches can render data from any of the applications that are running on your smartphone”, Williamson said.

Smartwatches like the Magellan Echo, for example, can stream data wirelessly from a range of third party fitness apps on a smart-

phone, without requiring frequent recharges.

Tim Ensor, head of connected devices at Britishbased Cambridge Consultants, which advises companies and develops new technologies, called the adoption of Bluetooth Smart “a real game-changer”.

But so far wearables have remained a niche for early adopters, such as fans of Pebble Technology’s crowd-funded smartwatch, which has sold 100,000 units since its launch earlier this year, or health and fitness enthusiasts embracing Nike’s Fuelband or Under Armour’s FitBit. And therein lies the rub, says Generator Research’s Sheehy. Most of these players have either thought too small, or lack the heft to be able to break into the mainstream. That not only means having capital and resources, but being able to build on existing expertise in hardware, software, cloud and processing data. “This is tough technology,” he says. “The number of companies who can do this are very few and far between.”

Hurdles remain First there are remaining technological hurdles, such as powering the devices. Batteries will need to be 5-10 times smaller than those in smartphones, says Cosmin Laslau, mobile energy analyst at Lux Research, requiring innovation in cell materials such as silicon anodes and packaging - such as Apple’s work on flexible batteries.

Then there is a need for better displays. Both Apple and Samsung have been working on curved glass - Samsung is investing more than $6 billion on displays this year alone, and is planning to launch a curved mobile device later this year, according to a source familiar with the matter. There’s also the fact that wearing a device is not quite the same as carrying one.

For one thing it has to be stylish, says Gartner research director Angela McIntyre. Jonathan Peachey, CEO of Filip Technologies, spent three years working on a watch to make it acceptable for the kids who would wear it and their parents who would use it to track and communicate with their offspring via a smartphone.

“Consumers need to develop a more personal relationship with a wearable computing device than they would otherwise with a handheld device,” Peachey said. Key to this is the interface, says Thad Starner, Professor of Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology, whose pioneering work with wearable computers led to him be a technical lead for Google Glass.

Developing a mobile interface for wristwatches and heads-up displays requires lots of experimentation, he says. The best way, he adds, is to build “living laboratories” where more and more people use them in everyday life. “The most important thing, right now, is to reduce the time between the user’s intention to perform a task and the user’s action to complete that task.” His other projects point to the possibilities: a contraption that lets him answer students’ text messages by voice while wandering across campus

Smartwatches to light up Berlin electronics show BERLIN: Smartwatches look set to dominate this year’s IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin, which opens today, stealing the limelight from smart phones and tablet computers. “One of the big hype products and topics this year for IFA are smart watches,” said Annette Zimmermann, analyst at consultancy Gartner.

South Korean giant Samsung will once again set the tone, since US rival Apple never traditionally exhibits at international electronics fairs. And Samsung, which already dominates the smartphone market, is scheduled to unveil its hotly anticipated Galaxy Gear watch today, for once pipping Apple at the post on a major product launch. The opening of last year’s IFA was overshadowed by a patent war between the two bitter rivals, with Apple having just won an important legal victory over Samsung.

But this time, innovation will be the battlefield, with the Koreans one step ahead. After months of rumour, Samsung will premiere its smart watch, while reports suggest Apple’s “iWatch” is still being manufactured in Taiwan.

Samsung has been whetting appetites for days now. Last week, the group’s head of mobile business, Lee Younghee, confirmed the Galaxy Gear launch to the Korea Times.

“The new device will enhance and enrich the current smart mobile experience in many ways. It will lead a new trend in smart mobile communications. We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry,” Lee said. Following smartphones and tablets, wearable computers look set to be the way forward for the high-tech industry. At the start of the year, Google gave a foretaste when it unveiled a prototype of Internet-enabled interactive spectacles.

Manufacturers such as Sony, Motorola and Casio are also lining up to launch smart watches. Zimmermann at Gartner said “ultramobility” was one of the themes of this year’s IFA. “Users today have strong mobility/portability needs and vendors are trying to address that,” she said. EMail access, social networks and photos are all becoming indispensible. So-called “phablets”, devices that are midway between phones and tablets, are also attracting attention, and hybrid tablets or “smart PCs” combining touch screens and keyboards were already the buzz of last year.

For household electronics, the new buzzword is ultraHD-TV screens with four times the resolution of Full HD sets. Last year, 3-D television was the hot novelty. Even if many hi-tech gadgets never actually establish themselves, electronic products exert an “unbelievable fascination,” said Christian Goeke, head of Messe Berlin, the exhibition centre’s operator.

The IFA’s exhibition space this year has grown by 2.0 percent to 145,000 square metres. And last year, the show attracted a total 240,000 visitors. The IFA is Europe’s answer to the International Consumer Electronics Show held each January in Las Vegas, and sets the trend for Christmas gift giving. While phones and TV sets are by far the biggest draw for visitors, IFA is also a showcase for household goods such as refrigerators, coffee machines and state-of-the-art ceramic top stoves. Today and tomorrow are reserved for the media, but the general public can gasp at the technological wonders from Friday through today next week. —AFP

and a gesture interface that understands sign language.

Do I need it?

But even if those hurdles are overcome, just how useful is a wearable device going to be?

“Finding a role or a use for wearable electronics is the central question facing the industry today,” says Mykola Golovko, an analyst at Euromonitor.

Right now the most appealing prospects are as a “slave” to the smartphone or tablet, where the wearable devices collects data from the user’s body or environment and relays it to the smartphone. The smartphone acts as a gateway to the Internet to process this information and merge it with other data before feeding it back to the device. “In this world the role of the smartwatch is not to replace the phone but to keep the data feed going and make it even more accessible,” says Rob Milner, technical leader of smart systems at Cambridge Consultants. But this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. “The multisensor combo packages and low-power wireless chips are available,” says Shane Walker, an analyst at IHS, “now the data created from this pairing needs to be made compelling and useful.”

Cracking the nut Which means that whoever cracks the nut of a mass market wearable device is less likely to be a pure hardware maker than a broader-based company. “You can call me a smartwatch sceptic,” says Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst at Forrester. “I don’t see that any vendor, with the possible exception of Apple, can make smartwatches a mainstream success.”

Speculation aside, Apple has kept its cards close to its chest. CEO Tim Cook has called the wrist “interesting” and Apple has registered the trademark iWatch in Japan. Several Apple patents point to wrist-worn devices. And Google has staked a claim in wearables with its Google Glass, spectacles that include a small visual display. It bought start-up WIMM Labs, which had launched a smartwatch in 2011, and has demonstrated the power of contextual information with Google Now, which mines users’ emails, location and other data to provide a personalised stream of data.

Other possible players, says Generation Research’s Sheehy, include Microsoft Corp, Yahoo Inc. “If Samsung or Google succeeded at this and Apple failed at this level, it would really be a handing over of the baton,” he said. If the Galaxy Gear is the first salvo, Apple has little to fear. After two earlier wrist-phone flops in 1999 and 2009, Samsung is taking a cautious approach with its latest version of the smartwatch, according to the source familiar with Samsung’s thinking.

“Samsung is trying to say that it is not following but jumping into it ahead of its key rival, ie Apple,” he said. “They are simply dipping their toes into the market as they don’t want to take big risks with a costly bet on the new unproven category yet.” —Reuters

Apple launches iPhone trade-in program in US SAN FRANCISCO: Apple began letting US iPhone owners trade in their smartphones for credit toward buying new models. The California company’s trade-in program kicked off in the wake of unconfirmed reports of a September 10 event at which Apple will unveil new iPhones, with rumors ranging from a gold handset to a low-price version aimed at emerging markets. “iPhones hold great value,” Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette said in an email reply to an AFP inquiry.

“So, Apple Retail Stores are launching a new program to assist customers who wish to bring in their previous-generation iPhone for reuse or recycling.” She would not specify how much Apple is paying for old iPhones, but they can fetch $300 or so depending on model at an array of websites or US consumer electronics shops that

buy handsets.

The Wall Street Journal earlier this month reported that Apple had asked its Taiwan-based supplier, Hon Hai Precision, to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone in September, including a lowercost model. Speculation has centered around whether Apple will shift its strategy of focusing on premium devices priced at the high-end of the market to include a lower-cost handset to appeal to people with tight budgets.

A survey by Gartner said Apple’s share of the smartphone market worldwide fell to 14.2 percent in the second quarter, while Samsung’s share rose to 31.7 percent.

Samsung has found global success with smartphones powered by Google’s free Android software, which now dominates the market. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Sleep disorder can lead to serious health problems MANILA: While sleep is something that many people can blissfully sink into, others find it extremely difficult to fall into a deep and restful slumber. Makati Medical Center, the country’s leading health institution, lets you in on the different types of sleep disorders and how you can prevent or combat them.

Dr. Katerina Tanya Gosengfiao, chief of the Neurophysiology Sleep Disorders Laboratory at MakatiMed, explains that sleep happens in various stages. “Essentially, there are two types of sleep. Rapid Eye Movement, or REM sleep, is characterized by shifting eye movements. This is when dreaming normally occurs. The second kind is non-REM sleep, which is the deeper type of slumber. This is the period when your body recovers from the day’s activities to keep it from feeling fatigued the next day,” she relates.

A sleep disorder, she adds, can affect a person’s daytime activities; effects can range from more common consequences including irritability, slower reaction times, slurred speech and fatigue, to more serious and lifethreatening repercussions such as hypertension, heart disease, and depression.

If you are experiencing any of the sleep disorder symptoms mentioned above, it is important to visit a sleep laboratory to have your condition diagnosed, evaluated, and treated properly.

MakatiMed’s Neurophysiology Sleep Disorders Laboratory, for instance, has an “apnea link” device that screens for sleep apnea, a type of sleep disorder.

• Insomnia. A short-term or chronic inability to get quality sleep, insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, poor bedtime habits or a sudden change in sleep schedule. While this is one of the more

common sleep disorders, it can also be a symptom of a serious mental ailment, such as clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Sleep apnea. This sleep disorder, although also common, can likewise be serious and life- threatening. Sleep apnea can be caused by obesity, nasal congestion or blockage, or even a uniquely shaped head or chin.

Symptoms to watch out for are frequent gaps while breathing, gasping or choking, loud snoring, and excessive daytime fatigue.

• Narcolepsy. A neurological condition that causes extreme sleepiness, narcolepsy can make a person fall asleep in the midst of an activity without warning - even after getting a good night’s rest. While the causes of narcolepsy are mostly genetic, studies are being done on the environmental influences that can trigger it.

Some symptoms of narcolepsy are: intermittent and uncontrollable “sleep attacks” (falling asleep during daytime), excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (sudden, shortlived loss of muscle control during an emotional situation).

Dr. Gosengfiao stresses that the best prevention for sleep disorders is a good sleep hygiene. “Set a good sleeping and wake-up routine that you can consistently follow, even during holidays. Avoid exercising at least two hours before bedtime and excessive daytime napping. If you smoke or drink, avoid doing so right before bedtime. Try to do something relaxing, such as deep breathing or yoga, to get your body ready for rest.”

She adds that the atmosphere also plays a central part in helping one sleep. “Make the bedroom conducive to rest - it should be dark, quiet, and cool. If need be, use earplugs or shades to coax yourself to sleep.”

BEIJING: A resident clears dead fish from the Fuhe river in Wuhan, in central China’s Hubei province yesterday after large amounts of dead fish began to surface early the day before. According to local media, about 30,000 kg of dead fish had been cleared by late Monday. The official Wuhan municipal government’s emergency office Weibo account announced yesterday that the fish had died of severely high levels of ammonia. — AFP

Protein-enhanced food becoming health craze Attempts to maintain healthy weight

Japanese firm kept shipping cosmetics after recall decision TOKYO: Japanese cosmetics company Kanebo yesterday admitted it had continued shipping products blamed for skin blotches for a week after deciding to recall them, saying it wanted to avoid causing “confusion”.

Kanebo decided to recall the products on June 28, with managers at the parent company Kao endorsing their decision on July 2, a Kanebo spokesman said.

But the recall, involving almost 4.75 million products on retail shelves, was not announced until July 4, meaning the company kept shipping the flawed cosmetics for almost a week after it first decided to take them off the shelves.

The delayed action “could have increased the number of customers affected”, said the official, who declined to be named. “In the meantime, however, we were establishing call centres and making other preparations (for expected inquiries and complaints from customers),” he said, arguing the company did so “as urgently as possible”.

“Otherwise we could cause confusion among customers... Concerns among customers could get worse if we were not

properly prepared to answer their questions.” Kanebo announced a recall of 54 of its products that contained a substance called 4HPB, a synthetic version of a natural compound, developed by the company.

It said it would pay medical costs for any customers who had been left with uneven colouring of their skin, which in some cases continued after they stopped using the products.

As of August 25 a total of 8,678 consumers in Japan had been confirmed to have blotches after using creams such as “Blanchir Superior”, with 65 people reported as having the trouble overseas, according to Kanebo.

The value of shares in the parent company Kao has fallen more than 15 percent since the recall was announced. Kanebo is not listed.

Kanebo’s recall affects Japan, Britain and 10 Asian territories-Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Skin whitening products are popular among women all over east Asia, with users seeking lighter tones.—AFP

TOKYO: Japanese cosmetics company Kanebo employee attends to a customer in Tokyo yesterday. Kanebo admitted it had continued shipping products blamed for skin blotches for a week after deciding to recall them, saying it wanted to avoid causing “confusion”. —AFP

LONDON: Can you hear that strange whirring sound - like a food processor getting to work on a pile of woodchips? That’s Stanley Green (aka the Protein Man) spinning in his grave. For the uninitiated, Green spent a quarter of a century pacing up and down Oxford Street in London, extolling the evils of one particular foodstuff: protein.

Sadly for him, the “less lust - less protein” message he communicated to shoppers through his homemade sign and pamphlets never really caught on. And now, according to market analysts Mintel, foods made with extra “lust-provoking” protein may just be the next big health trend in the UK. “The general awareness of protein among consumers has increased considerably,” explains Laura-Daisy Jones, a global food science expert at Mintel. “People are looking to increase their intake for a number of reasons, from weight loss to trying to maintain a healthy weight. They’re also recognising the role of protein in general nutrition, and its ability to fill you up for longer.”

The demand for protein-enriched food first started among bodybuilders in the US, who were looking for a more convenient way to fill up on protein after a workout than scarfing down chicken or fish. However, Jones believes the trend is now trickling down to consumers more interested in their weight than their muscles. “Today carbohydrate-based diets have gone off the boil in favour of the South Beach diet - which is high in protein - and the Paleo diet, which focuses heavily on getting the right kind of proteins,” she says.

Where trends lead, food companies tend to follow, and many are already putting a “high protein” label on their products. So you can grab your Marks & Spencer high-protein Fuller for Longer sandwich before nipping over to a health store and picking up a protein shake or even the punningly titled Wheyhey - an ice-cream that contains as much protein as a chicken breast.

M&S sarnie aside, much of the above has the same relationship to real food as the stuff astronauts eat during space flights. But there is a move toward adding protein (in the form of protein powder) to everyday food that actually tastes half-decent. Take Dr Zak’s. Last month the company launched a high-protein bread into Ocado and independent health stores, and a pasta is on its way during September. “Our target market is people that are into sports and fitness,” says sales director Ray Brilus. “Our approach is making everyday foods, such as pasta and bread, that you might avoid if you were a training athlete.”

It’s not an easy process. Dr Zak’s went through two years of research and development and a couple of bakers before hitting upon a formula that tasted, and felt, like proper bread. Now it’s on the shelves, Brilus hopes that it might have broader appeal.

Stranger things have happened. After all, gluten-free food was once a niche product, and now it’s worth £238m, according to retail analyst Kantar. “There is a crossover,” Brilus says. “We’ve seen people picking up on the bread as a product that can help them diet, because proteins are harder to process than

carbohydrates and so can help people feel full.”

But the £3.99 price tag (protein isolates don’t come cheap) means that Dr Zak ’s appeal could be limited to hardcore fitness fanatics at the moment. And what about the rest of us? Should we put “upping our protein” on the personal to-do list that begins with “eating more vegetables” and ends with “drinking less”? Dietician Gaynor Bussell points out that, at the moment, there is absolutely no evidence that people are in any way lacking in protein. “Dietary surveys always reveal we get more than enough,” she says. She believes there is some evidence that upping protein (usually in low-fat products) can be helpful for weight loss, but suggests simply eating a good, lean, low-saturated-fat source of the stuff, rather than reaching for a protein shake.

This sounds like common sense, though it may not do much to stem the tide of protein-enhanced foods due to hit shelves near you. We’ve already got Powerful Yogurt - a macho dairy brand with 20g of added protein - to look forward to this year. Where’s Stanley Green when you need him?

Beekeepers, vintners rediscover ‘mead’ GROTON: Once called the nectar of the gods, the oldest fermented beverage is seeing a renaissance.

Beekeepers and vintners are rediscovering mead, an alcoholic drink made of fermented honey and water. These days, fruits, spices and even carbonation are being added for distinct flavors that aren’t a far cry from the beverage favored during the Middle Ages. American Mead Makers Association President Chris

Webber estimates there are 200 to 250 commercial mead makers in the US, up from just 100 five years ago. Some are beekeepers-turned-mead makers looking to find other ways to sell their honey.

Others are craft beer brewers-turnedmead makers with some now dabbling in beekeeping to produce their own honey.

A Vermont meader y called Ar tesano opened in 2008 and says it sells out of 20,000 bottles a year. — AP

2.2 million Zimbabweans face food shortages HARARE: Zimbabwe faces its worst food shortages in four years following a drought and poor harvest, the UN World Food Programme said yesterday, a month after veteran President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF disputed re-election.

The agency said it was working with the government and other international aid organisations to provide food assistance to about a fifth of Zimbabwe’s 13 million people from October until the next crop harvest in March/April 2014. “Hunger is on the rise in Zimbabwe with an estimated 2.2 million people - one in four of the rural population expected to need food assistance during the pre-harvest period early next year,” it said in a statement.

That is the highest number of Zimbabweans requiring food assistance since early 2009, when more than half the population relied on such aid.

That was the peak of a decade-long economic crisis critics blame on Mugabe’s policies, notably his government’s seizure of white-owned commercial farms for redistribution to landless blacks. Mugabe, 89 and Zimbabwe’s ruler since independence from Britain in 1980, maintains he was correcting ownership imbalances created by colonialism.

The latest food shortages were due to bad weather, high seed and fertiliser costs and projections that food prices will climb because of the poor maize harvest. Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, who were declared overwhelming winners in a July 31 election rejected as a fraud by his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai, have promised food imports and said no Zimbabwean would die from hunger.— Reuters

SRINAGAR: Indian school children receive a free midday meal at a government school on the outskirts of Jammu. India plans to subsidize wheat, rice and cereals for some 800 million people under a $20 billion scheme to cut malnutrition and ease poverty.The Food Security Bill, which is expected to be approved by India’s president, guarantees citizens a legal right to food. — AP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Pain studies enhance precision medicine

I

n the 1980s, Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, was working as a clinical nurse specialist in a pain management center at the University Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

“One day this woman walked in who couldn’t move her shoulder,” says Miaskowski. “She talked about the pain she’d experienced since her radical mastectomy, about how her surgeon kept telling her she was healed, and how she’d been hospitalized in a psychiatric institution as a crazy postmenopausal woman. She said if we didn’t help her, she would kill herself.

We were able to tell her she wasn’t crazy - we knew the pain was real, a neuropathic, postsurgical pain syndrome - but as we began to explore these cases, nearly every surgeon I called told us this wasn’t a real problem for their patients.” Her patients’ ordeals and that of Miaskowski’s own father - “who died in intractable pain from this same postsurgical syndrome” - have driven a career that has made Miaskowski an internationally respected pain researcher. In December 2012 her work came full circle, when she and a diverse team of experts published the results of a major study in The Journal of Pain. The work established that after breast cancer surgery, about 25 percent of women experience persistent breast pain and 35 percent of women experience persistent arm and shoulder pain.

“It’s rewarding to complete that work,” says Miaskowski, now the associate dean for Academic Affairs at UC San Francisco’s School of Nursing and co-director of the Research Center for Symptom Management, one of the only such centers housed at a school of nursing in the country.

The rewards may grow if the research team she has assembled with her primary collaborator, geneticist Bradley Aouizerat, PhD, can show that incorporating genomics into a much broader group of potential factors - including environmental and psychosocial components can help clinicians better understand which patients are at greatest risk for persistent postsurgical pain and how to better prevent or treat it. The result would be an important refinement and broadening of the precision medicine concept, which could in turn reduce a considerable amount of human suffering and billions of dollars in health care costs. According to a 2011 report from the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans live with persistent pain, the treatment of which costs $635 billion every year in medical bills and lost productivity. The report was a culmination of how awareness of persistent pain as an important medical condition has grown over the last decade or so. In the aftermath of the IOM report, Miaskowski was named one of six nonfederal scientists -

and one of only three nurses - to a federal Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, which is dedicated to improving pain research and patient care. In addition, UCSF recently became one of 12 National Institutes of Health Centers of Excellence in Pain Education, dedicated to making sure clinicians and those training to be clinicians are aware of best practices in pain management.

But treatment options remain limited.

Despite a decade of scientific discoveries about the mechanisms, pathways and role of psychology in persistent or chronic pain - as well as advances in diagnostic tools and clinical breakthroughs in specific areas, like headache - for many types of chronic pain, effective therapies remain elusive. Highly publicized concerns about the addictive properties of opiates, one of the few known effective therapies for certain types of pain, have further constrained clinicians’ options. In the case of breast cancer, the theory is that postsurgical pain results from nerve injury. Thus the general wisdom is to try an anticonvulsant, but in Miaskowski’s recent study, the most widely prescribed medications were antidepressants. “Very few of these women were on analgesics, and we don’t know why,” she says. “We’ve long appreciated the pain problems,” says breast surgeon Charles Elboim of the Redwood Regional Medical Group, who was a co-investigator on the study.

“I’ve always tried to listen to patients and anticipate ... but doctors are different, and there may be surgeons who don’t have the same appreciation of these patients’ experience.” For well over a decade, he has been involved in research to understand postsurgical symptoms, often working with nurse practitioner Kathleen Mott, a graduate of UCSF School of Nursing.

“I think a lot of practitioners still see the big problem - the cancer - and the symptoms are a lesser issue,” says UCSF neurologist Gary Abrams, MD, a longtime research collaborator with Miaskowski and co-investigator on the breast cancer project. “But these symptoms have a significant impact on quality of life. As survival rates increase and cancer becomes more of a chronic disease, the associated symptoms will continue to rise in importance.” That’s why the work of Miaskowski, Aouizerat and their team is so important. While it is still too early to generalize studies on persistent pain after breast cancer surgery to other types of pain treatment, the group’s broad, precision medicine approach can offer insights for other pain researchers.

“We’re trying to understand all of the characteristics of the persistent pain - to not just find the associations between the pain and genes, but also do a detailed characterization of the phenotype,” says Aouizerat. —MCT

BANGKOK: A boat is back to a port after a fishing trip in the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Sakhon Province, west of Bangkok, yesterday. Some workers are forced onto Thai fishing boats by their families, others by unscrupulous employment brokers. —AP

Dire work conditions on Thai fishing boats Back-breaking labor BANGKOK: Some workers are forced onto Thai fishing boats by their families, others by unscrupulous employment brokers. Nearly half the workers make less than $160 a month in exchange for back-breaking labor. Some might not see any money at all. And their employers get away with it, because Thailand the world’s No. 3 seafood exporter after China and Norway - either lacks comprehensive laws to protect poor migrants from exploitation or fails to enforce existing laws, such as those prohibiting the employment of children younger than 15 in fishing.

Researchers from the International Labor Organization and the Asian Research Center on Migration at Chulalongkorn University questioned nearly 600 workers in four provinces along Thailand’s coasts for a study, released Monday, on the state of the country’s fishing industry. They found conditions on trawlers so bad that Thais, who have better opportunities elsewhere, are rarely found working on one.

More than 90 percent of the workers interviewed came from Myanmar or Cambodia, where poverty is widespread and jobs scarce. Many workers were smuggled into Thailand, arriving without valid work papers that might grant them legal protection. A small number of workers were younger than 15, separated from their parents. While most workers said

they accepted the job willingly, virtually none was given a written contract that spelled out the conditions of the job or how regularly they would be paid.

Nearly 40 percent of the workers said “deductions” were taken from their pay but they didn’t know why.

Others said they were lied to about the true nature of the job until it was too late to escape.

Physical violence, nonpayment of wages, and the withholding of food were among punishments meted out to workers who did not submit. In one case, a Laotian man who traveled to Bangkok in search of work was recruited to work on a vessel. He was told the salary was good and that he would return to shore every 15 days. When he found out that he would have to work for two years before returning to shore, he refused to get on the boat and was severely beaten by the captain. After five months, the ship docked and he managed to escape.

Max Tunon of the ILO’s TRIANGLE project, which aims to prevent exploitation of migrant workers in the Mekong region, said the organization is urging Thailand adopt standards and protection measures that conform to ILO standards. Thailand should require boat operators to maintain crew lists, to provide reliable payment of salaries and a written work contract in a language that the worker can under-

stand, and to set minimum rest hours. The Thai government is setting up seven centers to oversee recruitment and training as well as registration of vessels, which Tunon called “a positive step as long as there is sufficient oversight of these centers.” There has been some international pressure to clean up the industry. The European Union enforces restrictions against the sale of seafood involving forced labor. The United States prohibits importation of goods produced by forced labor. But the strongest pressure for change in the industry may actually come from consumers themselves, the study said.

“There are already indications that consumers are increasingly putting pressure on such large distribution companies, demanding that they cut their ties to suppliers with links” to forced labor and human trafficking, the study said. A recent petition demanding Wal-Mart, the world’s No. 1 retailer, adopt higher standards for purchasing seafood products collected 100,000 signatures. But more must be done, especially to protect workers on “long-haul” boats that leave shore for six months or more, said Dr. Supang Chantavanich, director of the center at Chulalongkorn University that co-authored the study.

“When a boat goes very far,” she said, “it is beyond the protection of the law.” —- AP

W H AT ’ S O N

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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

Grand Ramadan Raffle Draw at Palms Beach Hotel & Spa W

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any, many happy returns of the day to Shaik Munawar Basha. Best wishes from wife Famida Begum, Mubashir, Tamanna, Anwar Basha, Sajida Begum, Mohd Parvez, Faiz Shaik, Khader Basha, Abida Begum, Mohd Arshad, Mohd Asif, Mohd Rafi, Ayesha Begum, Aneesa, Anas, near and dear ones from Kuwait and India.

ithin the location of the Arabic & Andalusia atmosphere that extended during the holy month of Ramadan, the Palms Beach Hotel & spa arranged an impressive raffle draw on the August 19, 2013 for two airline tickets to Europe for an open distention- sponsored by KLM & Air France additional to certain raffle draws for assorted gifts sponsored by SAMA Clinic, Fly Dubai.

The Hotel General Manager- Rabie AlSukhon along with the hotel administration team are fetched this occasion in welcoming with their guests from Ministry of Commerce, press & media guests as he appreciate their sponsor-

ship for the hotel events and activities saying (we evaluate the memorable Palms Andalusia’s nights and appreciate the special time spent with our precious guests). Furthermore, he thanks the official sponsors KLM & Air France, SAMA Clinic, Fly Dubai, SebaMed for their effective role during Ramdan. Finally the hotel management congratulate the winners.

Future Eye Theatre presents solo drama Announcements AWARE CENTRE welcomes newcomers

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he Aware centre hosts orientation for newcomers to Kuwait today at 7:00 pm. Over the past 10 years, the AWARE Center has opened its doors to many multicultural visitors to Kuwait with the goal of enhancing understanding, communications and promoting positive relations between Arabs and Westerners. To assist newcomers with cross-cultural understanding, we wish to inform you of the upcoming “AWARE Welcome to Kuwait Western Expatriate Orientation for Newcomers.” This Orientation welcomes newly arriving westerners to Kuwait, shares details of the cultural programs & services provided by AWARE and is followed by a buffet dinner. These orientations are free of charge and provide an opportunity for newly arriving Western guests to meet the AWARE team and discover the many services designed to assist with cultural adjustment and settling comfortably in Kuwait. You may select from one of the following orientation dates (Monday, September 2nd, Thursday, September 5th or Saturday, September 7th). The AWARE Center is located in Surra, Block 3, Surra Street, Villa 84.

Japanese festival

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two-day Japanese Pop Culture Festival will be held on September 12 at 6:00 pm and September 13 at 6:00 pm. The event will be held in the National Library, Mubarakiya Street in Kuwait City.

Issue of online visa by Indian embassy

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oreigners requiring visas for India need to apply it online from 16th June 2013. Applicants may log on to the Public portal at www.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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uture Eye Theatre, Kuwait, an open arena for theatre people, presented a solo drama ‘Megham Manalinodu Paranjathu’ (What the Cloud told to the Sands) by its founder member and well-known theatre actor P D Poulose on Friday. The 30-minute play written by Sunil Cherian was presented before a packed crowd of theatre lovers and Indian community members at the Pravasi Auditorium, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

Unlike the conventional proscenium stage, the play was performed on an arena stage and the audience was seated on three sides.

Poulose presented the drama as a farewell performance as he was leaving Kuwait for good wrapping up his 15 years of expat life in the country.

The play centeredaround the life of an expat shep-

herd who is haunted by nostalgic memories and bizarre dreams. The actor enacted superbly the fantasies of the shepherd who drifts between realism and myth. As the play came to an end, a thunderous applause from the audience greeted Poulose.

Earlier, Future Eye Theatre President Sajeev K Peter presided over a farewell meeting convened in honor of Poulose which was also addressed by Future Eye Theatre Patron Adv John Thomas, UAE Exchange Country Head Pancily Varkey and Balu Chandran.

Treasurer Biju Samuel welcomed the audience. Future Eye Theatre President honored Poulose with a memento while A R Subbaraman presented a gift for the theatre group. For Kalpaktheatre group, its President Kumar Thrithala presented a memento to Poulose. Alina Joel

anchored the session.

A 5-minute short film, written and directed by Sunil Cherian and acted in by Poulose and Biju Samuel was also screened on the occasion.

In the second session, a discussion on ‘Theatre and Pravasi’ was held in which several well-known theatre activists actively participated and congratulated Poulose. Thomas Mathew Kadavil, Pancily Varkey, Babu Chakola, Babuji Bathery, Mohammed Riyaz, Santhoshkumar Cheroth, John Mathews and George Mathew were among those who joined the discussion.

Indian Embassy sets up helpline

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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.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

ASSE organizes technical meet

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merican Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Kuwait Chapter as part of continuous efforts in its professional journey, organized its 83rd Technical meet and 1st for the term 2013-14 on August 19, 2013 at Hotel Safir, Fintas, Kuwait titled “An Insight into ASSE resources for HSE professionals”.

The meet kicked off with a welcome address by CH Rama Krushna Chary, Secretary of ASSE Kuwait Chapter with the briefing of the agenda. Fadhel Al-Ali, Chairman and Ahmad Al-Attar, President welcomed the participants. Amarnath Burgapalli, the official delegate of ASSE Kuwait Chapter for ASSE PDC USA 2013 delivered a presentation on the best practices and shared his experience of his visit.

Jignesh Shah, Head, Technical Events Committee, briefed about the topic “An Insight into ASSE resources for HSE professionals” and introduced the speaker Ashok Garlapati, who has more than 24years of experience in

HSE consultancy and HSE management in the oil and gas industries. At present he is working Kuwait Oil Company as Senior HSE Specialist in the Drilling & Technology Directorate. He is also an ASSE Ambassador for Middle East, India and SE Asia, Administrator, ASSE International Practice Specialty, USA & Advisory Committee Member, ASSE-Kuwait Chapter.

The speaker briefed on the how to explore vast resources available on ASSE website. He explained how members can utilize and benefitted by exploring the available resources and members can utilize the same as an opportunity for networking amongst HSE professional worldwide. It was followed by the introduction of the various committee members of term 2013 - 2014. CH Rama Krushna Chary, made an announcement on the upcoming ASSE Kuwait Chapter Activities.

As a token of appreciation EC Members presented a memento to the Speaker of the Day Ashok Garlapati. The

meet concluded with a vote of thanks by Dan Mangalam, Treasurer ASSE Kuwait Chapter. More than 110 members attended the technical meet. High Tea was served at the end of the meet.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Pasta Festival in true Italian style only at Carluccio’s

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE For the Argentinean citizens who had not already enlisted in the embassy’s electoral register, and taking in consideration the elections which was held on Sunday 11/08/2013, it is necessary to justify they no vote by presence at our embassy which located in (Mishref - Block 6 - Street 42 - Villa 57) and should present the DNI and/or the Argentinean Passport. The Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the State of Kuwait avails itself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest consideration.

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arluccio’s is playing host to a pasta festival that offers eight varieties of mouth-watering pasta available in different shapes and sizes. The restaurant does not disappoint, and presents customers with a range of pastas made from the freshest wheat and natural ingredients along with other tempting selections available till 30th September 2013.

With this festival, Carluccio’s brings together a luscious array of products for Italian food lovers including Polpa Di Pomodoro - crushed tomato pulp with basil, Sugo Alle Vongole - a classic clam and tomato sauce best served with spaghetti and Pesto Genovese true ligurian pesto, ideal served with Trofie pasta. The products in the restaurant are exclusive and made especially for Carluccio’s and are not available anywhere else.

People are not aware of the wide varieties of pasta and ingredients that are different in appearance, taste and style of cooking; with this promotion customers can experience a taste of Italy which produces a rich and diverse range of products.

Carluccio’s is a restaurant, a caffé and a food shop and as such is a unique brand -open all day for a quick coffee or a full 3 course meal.

Carluccio’s aims to offer customers the opportunity to eat simple, high quality Italian food in a casual Caffé environment, as well as being able to take the same foods home by choosing from a range of exclusive food products for the larder or as gifts. With a fine selection of traditional Italian specialties, Carluccio’s brings a unique taste of Italy to Kuwait. Carluccio’s is conveniently located in The Avenues, Phase 1 and is open daily from 9:00 am11:00 pm.

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 GREECE

Johnarts Kalabhavan showcases artwork

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 BHUTAN The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in the State of Kuwait would like to inform all concerned that its chancery has been shifted from Adailiya to its new location in South Surra, Al-Salaam, Block 3, Street 308, House 3 with effect from September 1, 2013. The Royal Bhutanese Embassy is opened Sunday to Thursday, from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm. Friday and Saturday is a weekend.

The Embassy has processed for new telephone and fax line connections, which will be intimated to all concerned as and when the same are connected.

Inconvenience caused in this regard is greatly regretted.

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EMBASSY OF US The US Embassy in Kuwait has new procedures for obtaining appointments and picking up passports after visa issuance.

Beginning August 9, 2013, we now provide an online visa appointment system, live call center, and in-person pick-up facilities in Kuwait. Please monitor our website and social media for additional information. This new system offers more flexibility for travelers to the US and to meet the increase in demand for visa appointments.

The general application steps on the new visa appointment system are: 1. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/kw (if this is the first time on ustraveldocs.com, you will need to create a profile to login).

2. Please complete your DS-160 Online Visa Application which is available at ceac.state.gov/genNIV. 3. Please print and take your deposit slip to any Burgan Bank location to pay your visa application fee.

4. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview online at www.ustraveldocs.com/kw or by phone through the Call Center (at +965-22271673).

5. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so 24 hours beforehand, as a courtesy to other applicants. For more information, please visit the US Embassy website kuwait.usembassy.gov - as it is the best source of information regarding these changes.

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Pictured here are paintings by Elena Elsa George, 13, daughter of George Mathew and Elizabeth Kkadavil, Chandanapally, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, and pencil drawings by Alen Saji Thomas, a class 8 student. Both are art students of Johnarts Kalabhavan.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:30 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 01:20 Top Hooker 02:10 River Monsters: Untold Stories 03:00 Mythbusters 03:50 Border Security 04:15 Auction Hunters 04:40 Auction Kings 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Yukon Men 08:40 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 09:30 Border Security 09:55 Auction Hunters 10:20 Auction Kings 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 Hillbilly Handfishin’ 12:25 Top Hooker 13:15 River Monsters: Untold Stories 14:05 Border Security 14:30 Auction Hunters 14:55 Auction Kings 15:20 Finding Bigfoot 16:10 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 17:00 Ultimate Survival 17:50 Dirty Jobs 18:40 Mythbusters 19:30 Sons Of Guns 20:20 Auction Hunters 20:45 Auction Kings 21:10 How Do They Do It? 21:35 How It’s Made 22:00 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 22:50 The Big Brain Theory 23:40 Mythbusters

00:05 The Tech Show 00:30 Food Factory 01:00 How The Universe Works 01:50 Scrapheap Challenge 02:45 Scrapheap Challenge 03:35 Junk Men 04:00 Junk Men 04:25 X-Machines 05:15 The Gadget Show 05:40 The Tech Show 06:05 How The Universe Works 07:00 Alien Mysteries 07:50 The Science Of Star Wars 08:40 The Gadget Show 09:05 The Tech Show 09:30 Sci-Trek 10:20 X-Machines 11:15 Smash Lab 12:05 Brave New World 13:00 The Science Of Star Wars 13:50 Food Factory 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:45 The Tech Show 15:10 Alien Mysteries 16:00 Sci-Trek 16:55 X-Machines 17:45 Scrapheap Challenge 18:35 How The Universe Works 19:30 Alien Mysteries 20:20 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 The Tech Show 22:00 Alien Mysteries 22:50 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 23:40 The Gadget Show

00:30 01:20 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00

Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Dates From Hell Dates From Hell Deadly Women I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door Mystery Diagnosis

07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 Jones 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 Jones 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 Jones 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:20 03:45 04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:05 Pirates 09:15 Pirates 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 15:30 15:50 16:10 17:00 17:20 17:45 18:10 18:30 18:55 19:20 20:05 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:10 23:35

Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth...

True Crime With Aphrodite Solved Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth...

Disappeared Solved Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Dr G: Medical Examiner Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill LA: City Of Demons Deadly Affairs I Almost Got Away With It

Hannah Montana Hannah Montana Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School The Replacements The Replacements Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School The Replacements The Replacements Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Austin And Ally Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up A.N.T. Farm Jessie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Doc McStuffins Jake And The Neverland Jake And The Neverland A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Jessie Jessie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Shake It Up Austin And Ally Austin And Ally Austin And Ally Cow Belles Gravity Falls Jessie Violetta A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Gravity Falls Shake It Up That’s So Raven A.N.T. Farm Violetta Jessie My Babysitter’s A Vampire Austin And Ally Austin And Ally That’s So Raven Jessie A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:10 Iron Man Adventures 06:35 Kickin It 07:00 Max Steel

Armored

07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:35 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Slugterra 08:15 Pair Of Kings 08:40 Kickin It 09:05 Kickin It 09:30 Lab Rats 09:55 Lab Rats 10:20 Pair Of Kings 10:45 Kick Buttowski 11:10 Mr. Young 11:35 Slugterra 12:00 Kickin It 12:25 Max Steel 12:50 I’m In The Band 13:15 Lab Rats 13:40 Almost Naked Animals 14:05 Phineas And Ferb 14:30 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 14:55 Lab Rats 15:20 Phineas And Ferb 15:30 Phineas And Ferb 15:45 Kickin It 16:10 Pair Of Kings 16:35 Crash & Bernstein 17:00 Lab Rats 17:30 Kickin It 18:00 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 18:25 Phineas And Ferb 18:35 Phineas And Ferb 18:50 Phineas And Ferb 19:00 Phineas And Ferb 19:15 Slugterra 19:40 Crash & Bernstein 20:05 Ultimate Spider-Man 20:30 Max Steel 20:55 Pair Of Kings 21:20 Rated A For Awesome 21:45 Kick Buttowski 22:10 Mr. Young 22:35 Scaredy Squirrel 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:30 01:20 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 Jones 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 Jones 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 Jones 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Dates From Hell Dates From Hell Deadly Women I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth...

True Crime With Aphrodite

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 Leno 05:30 06:00

The Daily Show The Colbert Report The Big C South Park Unsupervised Two And A Half Men Raising Hope Seinfeld The Tonight Show With Jay

Solved Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth...

Disappeared Solved Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Dr G: Medical Examiner Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill LA: City Of Demons Deadly Affairs I Almost Got Away With It

All Of Us The War At Home

DOOM ON OSN MOVIES HD ACTION

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 Leno 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30

Malibu Country Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Seinfeld All Of Us Last Man Standing Two And A Half Men Arrested Development Malibu Country The Tonight Show With Jay

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 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

24 Top Gear Specials Breaking Bad Banshee 24 The Finder Necessary Roughness Top Gear Specials Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Necessary Roughness 24 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Necessary Roughness Warehouse 13 Bones Castle Justified Smash

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Homeland Good Morning America American Idol The Client List Good Morning America Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Once Upon A Time Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. Miami Homeland Live Good Morning America C.S.I. Miami Once Upon A Time Homeland C.S.I. Miami Once Upon A Time Homeland The Client List American Idol

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

Hellboy Elfie Hopkins 15 Minutes The Rescue Darkman True Justice: Angel Of Death Do No Harm The Blood Bond True Justice: Angel Of Death Romancing The Stone The Blood Bond Doom

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 PG15 10:00 12:00 14:00 PG15 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Elfie Hopkins-18 15 Minutes-PG15 The Rescue-PG15 Darkman-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of Death-

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 PG15 20:00 22:00

Zero Effect-PG15 Caddyshack-18 Lying To Be Perfect-PG15 Snow Day-PG Rebound-PG Barnyard-PG Lying To Be Perfect-PG15 The Family Stone-PG15 Barnyard-PG Who Framed Roger Rabbit-

The War At Home Seinfeld All Of Us Malibu Country Raising Hope Two And A Half Men Arrested Development The Daily Show The Colbert Report The War At Home Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Family Tools The Simpsons Modern Family Happy Endings The Tonight Show With Jay The Daily Show The Colbert Report The Big C South Park Unsupervised Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Do No Harm-PG15 The Blood Bond-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of DeathRomancing The Stone-PG15 The Blood Bond-PG15 Doom-18 Scream Of The Banshee-18

A Few Best Men-18 Zero Effect-PG15

01:00 Comes A Bright Day-PG15 03:00 The Terminal-PG15 05:15 Another Harvest Moon-PG15 07:00 Encounter With DangerPG15 09:00 Comes A Bright Day-PG15 10:45 The Iron Lady-PG15 12:45 Catch Me If You Can-PG15 15:15 Blue Lagoon: The Awakening-PG15 17:00 My Own Love Song-PG15 19:00 Down The Shore-PG15 21:00 We Need To Talk About Kevin-18 23:00 Cleanskin-18

ZERO EFFECT ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY HD

01:00 Look Again-PG15 03:00 Closer-18 05:00 Mahler On The Couch-18 06:45 The Evening Star-PG15 09:00 Look Again-PG15 11:00 Underground: The Julian Assange Story-PG15 13:00 Cinderella PT 1-PG15 15:00 Cinderella PT 2-PG15 17:00 Underground: The Julian Assange Story-PG15 19:00 Contagion-PG15 21:00 Wind Chill-PG15 23:00 The Scarlet Letter-18

01:00 Prime Mover-PG15 03:00 Bernie-PG15 05:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva LA Fiesta!-PG 06:45 A Mother’s Choice-PG15 09:00 Think Like A Man-PG15 11:15 A Monster In Paris-PG 13:00 Christmas Comes Home To Canaan-PG15 14:45 Dolphin Tale-PG 16:45 Think Like A Man-PG15 19:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger-PG15 21:00 Midnight In Paris-PG15 23:00 Margaret-18

07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 PGA Tour Highlights 09:00 European Challenge Tour 10:00 Golf The Challenge Series 10:30 Ladies European Tour Highlights 11:30 AFL Premiership Highlights 12:30 NRL Premiership 14:30 NRL Full Time 15:00 Futbol Mundial 15:30 ICC Cricket 360 16:00 Golf The Challenge Series 16:30 European Challenge Tour 17:30 Top 14 19:30 PGA Tour Highlights 20:30 PGA European Tour Weekly 21:00 Live Sailing Red Bull Youth Cup 23:00 Inside The PGA Tour

01:00 02:00 02:30 05:00 07:00 09:00

WWE Bottom Line NRL Full Time AFL Premiership Top 14 Rugby Union Currie Cup Sydney Darts Masters

13:00 Rugby Union Currie Cup 15:00 Cricket Twenty20 18:00 ICC Cricket 360 18:30 NRL Full Time 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:30 AFL Premiership 22:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 23:00 UFC Unleashed

00:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00

AFL Premiership Top 14 Highlights NRL Full Time Futbol Mundial World Cup of Pool World Cup of Pool Golfing World Golfing World Trans World Sport World Cup of Pool World Cup of Pool Sailing America’s Cup PGA Tour Highlights Trans World Sport Golfing World Top 14 Highlights

16:30 18:30 19:30 20:00 22:00 22:30 23:30

Pro 12 Golfing World ICC Cricket 360 Rugby Union Currie Cup Top 14 Highlights World Cup of Pool World Cup of Pool

01:00 UFC 04:00 UFC Unleashed 05:00 US Bass Fishing 06:00 UIM Powerboat Champs 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 WWE NXT 09:00 Ping Pong World 10:00 US Bass Fishing 11:00 Mass Participation 12:00 Mass Participation 13:00 WWE SmackDown 15:00 European Le Mans Series 18:00 WWE Vintage Collection 19:00 UFC Finale Prelims The Ultimate Fighter 22:00 Triahlon UK 22:30 Triahlon UK 23:30 Mobil 1 The Grid

01:00 Arthur’s Missing Pal 02:45 The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz 04:30 Emilie Jolie 06:00 Arthur’s Missing Pal 08:00 A Very Fairy Christmas 10:00 The Marvelous Land Of Oz 11:30 Snowmen 13:00 Wheelers 14:30 Scooby-Doo! Legend Of The Phantosaur 16:00 The Ugly Duckling In The Enchanted Forest 18:00 The Marvelous Land Of Oz 20:00 The Tooth Fairy 2 22:00 Scooby-Doo! Legend Of The Phantosaur 23:30 A Very Fairy Christmas

00:00 Beware The Gonzo-PG15 01:45 Mission: Impossible III-PG15 04:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 06:00 Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl-PG 08:00 Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked-PG 10:00 Nacho Libre-PG 12:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 14:00 Madea’s Big Happy FamilyPG15 16:00 Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked-PG 18:00 Carnage-PG15 20:00 How I Spent My Summer Vacation-PG15 22:00 Ruby Sparks-18

00:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 01:00 PGA Tour Highlights 02:00 ICC Cricket 360 02:30 Rugby Union Currie Cup 04:30 NRL Full Time 05:00 Futbol Mundial 05:30 ICC Cricket 360 06:00 AFL Premiership Highlights

British musician Roger Waters clenches his fist as he poses for a picture next to art work from Pink Floyd’s The Wall on the remains of the Berlin wall (East side gallery) on the eve of his show, ‘The Wall’ at the Olympic stadium in Berlin yesterday. — AFP

Papal biopic in the works

A

film about the life of Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas, is in the pipeline in his native Argentina, Variety reported Monday. The film, to be entitled ìHistoria de un curaî (ìA priestís taleî), will be directed by Alejandro Agresti and star Rodrigo de la Serna as the pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires. ìMore than a rapid biopic of key events, Iím more concerned with getting inside this very singular person, his decision to follow his vocation, and

how he combined his faith and reason, having studied as a Jesuit for 14 years before being ordained,î Agresti told Variety.

The Argentine pope with a humble personal style has shown a strong reformist drive in his first few months in office and has set up a series of committees aimed at reforming the Vatican hierarchy, its economic affairs and its bank. — AFP

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

Kuwait

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (29/08/2013 TO 04/09/2013) SHARQIA-1 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-2 TURBO (DIG-3D) TURBO (DIG-3D) TURBO (DIG-3D) PARANOIA (DIG) THE CONJURING (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

SHARQIA-3 2 GUNS (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

MUHALAB-1 2 GUNS (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) SATYAGRAHA (DIG) (HINDI) PARANOIA (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM

MUHALAB-2 THE CONJURING (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) THE CONJURING (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM

MUHALAB-3 TURBO (DIG-3D) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) TURBO (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM

FANAR-1 ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-2 DESPICABLE ME 2 (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) THE WOLVERINE (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG)

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

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM

THE WOLVERINE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 AM

FANAR-3 RED 2 (DIG) JOBS (DIG) SATYAGRAHA (DIG) (HINDI) CHENNAI EXPRESS (DIG) (HINDI) RED 2 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-4 TURBO (DIG-3D) TURBO (DIG-3D) TURBO (DIG-3D) 2 GUNS (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

FANAR-5 THE SMURFS 2 THE CONJURING THE SMURFS 2 THE CONJURING THE CONJURING THE CONJURING NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

MARINA-1 YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) YOU’RE NEXT (DIG) PARANOIA (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:30 PM

MARINA-2 TURBO (DIG) TURBO (DIG) TURBO (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) 2 GUNS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

MARINA-3 THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) THE SMURFS 2 (DIG-3D) THE CONJURING (DIG) THE CONJURING (DIG) THE CONJURING (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-1 ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG) ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (DIG)

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM

FOR SALE Mazda zoom (3) silver color, model 2009, excellent condition, KD 1,550. Tel: 50994848. (C 4496) 2-9-2013 Toyota Camry model 2011, silver color, GL, four cylinder engine, excellent condition, installment possible, cash prize KD 3,875. Tel: 66507741. (C 4495) 1-9-2013 SITUATION VACANT A Kuwaiti family in Jabriya is looking to hire an Indian driver, part-time from 7 am to 4 pm. Salary KD 80 per month, weekly day off on Friday, one month paid leave annually.

Tel: 67094773. (C 4497) 2-9-2013

Prayer timings

Fajr:

04:05

Shorook

05:27

Duhr:

11:47

Asr:

15:20

Maghrib:

18:07

Isha:

19:26

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

112

1889988

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines QTR JZR KAC THY JZR ETH GFA MEA UAE ETD LZB THY RJA FDB MSR OMA QTR THY DHX FDB KAC JZR JZR JZR BAW RBG MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB UAE ABY IRM FDB QTR IRA ETD QTR UAE TGZ GFA MEA IAW MSC IRM KNE NIA JZR JZR JZR UAE MSR THY CLX KNE IYE KAC QTR FDB KAC

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 4/9/2013 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 504 BEIRUT 764 SABIHA 539 CAIRO 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 408 BEIRUT 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 7779 BOURGAS 768 ISTANBUL 642 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 412 MANILA 1541 CAIRO 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASYUT 157 LONDON 557 ALEXANDRIA 2401 ALEXANDRIA 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 352 COCHIN 344 CHENNAI 284 DHAKA 302 MUMBAI 53 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 1186 TEHRAN 55 DUBAI 132 DOHA 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 6130 DOHA 4987 DUBAI 1553 BATUMI 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 157 BAGHDAD 403 ASYUT 1188 MASHAD 470 JEDDAH 255 ALEXANDRIA 165 DUBAI 561 SOHAG 563 SOHAG 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 792 LUXEMBOURG 480 TAIF 826 SANAA 672 DUBAI 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 790 MEDINAH

Time 00:05 00:20 00:15 01:40 00:40 01:45 01:55 02:10 02:25 02:30 02:35 02:50 03:10 03:10 03:15 03:20 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:15 06:25 06:20 06:40 06:30 06:25 05:55 07:25 07:30 08:05 08:20 08:15 07:50 07:45 08:25 08:50 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:25 09:30 09:45 10:05 10:35 10:40 10:55 11:00 11:35 11:45 12:15 10:00 11:35 12:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:10 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:40 13:45 13:50 13:55

IRC MSR SVA JZR KAC JAV FDB FDB KAC KAC RJA JZR JZR QTR ETD JZR UAE ABY UAL GFA SVA JZR KNE JZR NIA KAC QTR KAC KAC SYR FDB GFA KAC MSC KAC KAC MSR KAC JAI FDB OMA ABY ETD JZR JZR MEA AXB KLM ALK UAE QTR ETD DHX GFA JAI FDB KAC JZR AIC JZR JZR UAL DLH JAI KAC MSR THY

6692 575 500 257 788 621 8055 8051 502 538 640 535 787 134 303 357 857 127 982 215 510 177 462 777 251 542 144 786 166 1333 63 219 618 405 674 774 606 102 572 61 647 129 933 481 189 402 489 417 229 859 136 307 872 217 576 59 154 185 975 135 239 981 636 574 1542 614 772

MASHAD SHARM EL SHEIKH JEDDAH BEIRUT JEDDAH AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA DUBAI DUBAI BEIRUT SHARM EL SHEIKH AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA CAIRO RIYADH DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL MASHAD DUBAI SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI MEDINAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH PARIS DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA SOHAG DUBAI RIYADH LUXOR NEW YORK MUMBAI DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH ABU DHABI-INTL SABIHA DUBAI BEIRUT COCHIN AMSTERDAM COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL BAHRAIN BAHRAIN COCHIN DUBAI SABIHA DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI CAIRO CAIRO ISTANBUL

14:00 14:15 14:30 14:30 15:00 15:10 15:25 15:35 15:40 15:50 15:55 16:10 16:15 16:15 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:40 18:45 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:05 20:10 20:10 20:15 20:35 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:30 21:40 21:45 22:05 22:20 22:20 22:40 22:25 23:00 22:30 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:20 23:30 23:45

Airlines AIC JAI UAL DLH MSR THY THY ETH MEA LZB THY UAE FDB RJA MSR OMA ETD QTR QTR JZR JZR FDB MSC GFA RBG THY JZR KAC BAW FDB JZR KAC JZR KAC KAC ABY KAC KAC UAE FDB ETD KAC QTR IRA IRM UAE NIA JZR QTR GFA KAC TGZ MEA IAW KAC JZR KAC JZR MSC JZR KAC IRM KNE JZR MSR

Departure Flights on Wednesday 4/9/2013 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 621 ADDIS ABABA 409 BEIRUT 7780 BOURGAS 769 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 613 CAIRO 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 562 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 2402 ALEXANDRIA 212 BAHRAIN 558 ALEXANDRIA 771 ISTANBUL 164 DUBAI 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 117 NEW YORK 534 CAIRO 789 MADINAH 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 501 BEIRUT 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 153 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 133 DOHA 602 SHIRAZ 1187 TEHRAN 4987 BEIRUT 256 ALEXANDRIA 356 MASHHAD 6131 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 1554 BATUMI 405 BEIRUT 158 AL NAJAF 175 FRANKFURT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 480 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 406 SOHAG 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 1189 MASHHAD 461 MADINAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:30 02:20 02:40 02:45 03:10 03:25 03:40 03:45 03:50 04:00 04:15 04:20 04:20 04:25 05:15 05:35 06:05 06:30 06:55 07:00 07:05 07:10 07:25 08:00 08:25 08:25 08:50 09:05 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:45 09:50 09:55 10:15 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:30 10:50 11:00 11:00 11:15 11:25 11:30 11:35 11:55 12:00 12:10 12:25 12:30 12:30 12:35 12:50 13:00 13:10 13:10 13:20 14:00

THY KNE UAE IYE FDB CLX QTR IRC MSR KAC KAC SVA JZR KAC FDB FDB JAV KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD JZR ABY UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR JZR KNE NIA QTR FDB SYR GFA JZR KAC MSC MSR JAI FDB ABY KAC KAC OMA KAC MEA DHX KLM ETD ETD ALK UAE KAC KAC QTR GFA FDB KAC JAI JZR JZR KAC DHX JZR

767 481 872 827 58 792 141 6693 576 673 617 503 188 773 8056 8052 622 1541 641 238 135 304 538 128 858 216 511 982 184 266 471 252 145 64 1334 220 134 283 404 619 571 62 120 361 331 648 351 403 171 417 934 308 230 860 381 301 137 218 60 205 575 554 1540 415 873 528

ISTANBUL-ATATURK TAIF DUBAI RIYAN MUKALLA DUBAI GIALAM DOHA MASHHAD SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI DOHA MADINAH DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI AMMAN CAIRO AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA DOHA DUBAI DAMASCUS BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DHAKA ASYUT ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH COLOMBO TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT BAHRAIN DAMMAM SHARJAH ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DELHI MUMBAI DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD ABU DHABI ALEXANDRIA CAIRO KUALA LUMPUR BAHRAIN ASYUT

14:10 14:10 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:02 16:20 16:30 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:20 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:30 18:40 18:40 19:00 19:25 19:35 19:45 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:50 22:05 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:40 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:20 23:25 23:50 23:50 23:55

34

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

stars CROSSWORD 300

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) You may find yourself very appreciative of your career and practical skills.

You enjoy solving puzzles and problems and finding solutions, etc. There is a renewed appreciation for your work and this is apparent to your superiors—in fact, to everybody. Pacing yourself and squelching the urge to react in certain negative situations have paid off for you. You are good at handling emotional people and emotional situations. Stability and permanence satisfies a deep emotional need. Music is likely to play a more important role for you than usual and a period of material acquisition can satisfy a deep yearning to be free from want. Perhaps this would include stamp collecting, art, etc. Sympathy and understanding are emotional qualities that matter now.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is rather low-keyed day, considering the activities of yesterday. It is however, easy for you to make correct decisions, find the right path and move forward where career and success are concerned. Life’s problems seem manageable and easy to solve. You may spend some time this afternoon clearing away the leftovers of some project—clutter. Looking through magazines later today, you may come across a good product for your company to purchase as a sales item. You make career gains by your ability to sense quality and choose accordingly. There is a feeling of being at peace and stable on the emotional level this evening and music is likely to fill your space. This may mean the radio, a new CD or you have joined a musical group.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. Someone who works (or provides workers)

during a strike.

5. A unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains.

12. A colloid in a more solid form than a sol.

15. Edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants.

16. Someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art.

17. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

18. A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university).

20. Of or relating to apnea.

22. A young woman indulged by rich and powerful older men.

24. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

25. With rapid movements.

27. (prefix) Within.

29. Having two axes.

32. Fix firmly or securely.

36. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers.

37. An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape.

40. An electrically charged particle.

41. A unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters.

42. 100 thebe equal 1 pula.

44. Plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves.

45. Strike with disgust or revulsion.

47. A woman sahib.

49. The emotion of hate.

50. An elaborate song for solo voice.

51. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

53. (in Gnosticism) A divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe.

54. A white the color of pearls.

57. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

58. Type genus of the Ranidae.

59. Fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period.

61. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

63. Unshaken in purpose.

67. A mountain in the central Himalayas on the border of Tibet and Nepal (27,890 feet high).

71. A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures.

72. A periodical that summarizes the news.

75. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest.

76. A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth.

77. The act of emitting.

79. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

80. A United Nations agency that invest directly in companies and guarantees loans to private investors.

81. A female ballet dancer.

82. A rapid escape (as by criminals).

DOWN 1. A thrusting blow with a knife.

2. City in southwestern Colombia in a rich agri-

cultural area.

3. Starch resembling sago that is obtained from cuckoopint root.

4. Trees of chiefly South America.

5. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

6. Being one more than one hundred.

7. A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel.

8. An organization of independent states to promote international peace and security.

9. Someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations.

10. Turkish sea power was destroyed in 1571 by a league of Christian nations organized by the Pope.

11. Bulky grayish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail.

12. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

13. A town in north central Oklahoma.

14. A cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment).

19. A genus of the cactus family with scarlet flowers.

21. A slender double-reed instrument.

23. One million periods per second.

26. Fermented alcoholic beverage similar to but heavier than beer.

28. The form of RNA that attaches the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA).

30. Be inherent in something.

31. A deficiency of red blood cells.

33. 1 species.

34. The part of a continent that is stable and forms the central mass of the continent.

35. Capital of the state of Montana.

38. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

39. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

43. A bachelor's degree in architecture.

46. The title of the ancient Egyptian kings.

48. A design fixed to some surface or a paper bearing the design to be transferred to the surface.

52. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

55. Filled with a great quantity.

56. A town in south central Washington.

60. A garment covering the leg (usually extending from the knee to the ankle).

62. A feudal lord or baron in Scotland.

64. Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience.

65. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

66. A strip of land projecting into a body of water.

68. A bluish shade of green.

69. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

70. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

73. The compass point midway between south and southeast.

74. God of war and sky.

78. A mouth or mouthlike opening.

You’re coming into a new period of time that will be centered on taking your past studies and your present knowledge along with any other information and combining everything into some action. This could mean you are opening a new store or beginning a new practice of your own as a doctor, a dentist or a massage therapist, etc. You are no longer the apprentice. Do not allow yourself to be late today—you could miss an important activity. This evening a young person may want some privilege that the person is not ready for yet. It is your house, your rules and you are not a wimp ruled by the occupant. This is one of your overall best days this month—you will look back with pride. The birds in your yard need a new birdbath.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your career may be tied more to your appearance and how you come across to others. Professionally dressed, you will be ready to think in a professional manner and you gain the interest of business people when making those important first impressions. You are determined to make your speech as well as point out your ideas, insights, inventions and perhaps, an independent point of view. Your first impressions are positive and others will listen. At home this afternoon you may be tempted to get to business all over again by getting on the computer to do a bit of research. Relax . . . Take a few notes from what you have heard today and do the work tomorrow, as work was meant to be. You need some fun time with friends or family.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You shine at a group activity today. You will make valuable progress in whatever you set out to do this morning. One person could be a bit distracted, but do not worry about the final outcome—the most important message is clear, no matter who the speaker.

Subjects that are psychic, mysterious and spiritual gain your attention. You may find someone you have been thinking about lately actually comes into your life today. This can be inspiring, depending on how you are able to integrate it into your overall experience. Artistic talent and appreciation are heightened beyond words. This evening you enjoy old friends and discussions about old times. It may be a good time to bring out the old pictures and to also take a few new ones.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) It’s a time for business dealings, details and putting things together. While learning a new technique or business, you assimilate information and experience, learning lessons and putting them into practice. You focus on these areas today. It is the technical areas where you will excel in most cases. Your observations are accurate and others benefit from your input. A friend in need or something you believe in that will suffer from a lack of your support gets your attention this afternoon. You are able to turn a difficult situation around into a more positive one. This is one of your best days this month for love and money. You may want to share your good fortune with a loved one this evening. Pay attention to the little things around you this evening.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You talk about your dreams to a loved one this morning and have fun deciphering the meaning. Today is a day when you can expect a little boost, some extra support or recognition from those around you. You may feel that you are very much aware of the needs of others and even in harmony with their minds and how they would react to certain communications. People find it easy to talk with you and any changes or beginnings that you want to negotiate now will have positive results. Your professional life reaches new levels. You may look back on these months and see a time that is very transforming. An article you read may interest you enough to begin a new study group. This could be a step in the right direction for learning about a hidden talent.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Completing any unfinished business is in the forecast for today. Things that may have been in suspended animation for many years will now take on structure.

These next years are ones in which you should plan to work hard to bring out and shape the ideas you have pored over in the desire to extend or improve your home. Tonight brings a relaxing time; you can rest a while and analyze some of the day’s activity. You see that one part of your life is coming to an end and a new part of your life is just beginning.

There is much excitement and intrigue involved that matches your requirement for a full life. Keep a promise made to a loved one tonight.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your ability to communicate may be lost on others this morning—do not reprimand yourself, however. Wait until after the noon break and call a meeting or make your announcements. You could be most persuasive and will find support for what you want to accomplish. You could find yourself lecturing or teaching this afternoon. The energies now are good for self-expression and your very own particular ideas and thoughts. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus. You have the mind of a lawyer, always able to size up a problem and come up with a solution. Using your mind to negotiate obstacles and handle dilemmas, you are able to guide and lead others through the hurdles. Enjoy the company of a loved one this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) CAPRICORN Driving in to work this morning you have to concentrate more than usual.

Your mind is full of ideas and your drive is strong. It might be a good idea to have an easy to reach tape recorder that you can use to record notes for further exploration later. You have a lot on your mind and feel a strong need to communicate and gather ideas. You could come up with new solutions or inventions. A yearning to broaden horizons and reach for the ultimate is the sort of thing that takes center stage in your life. Law, politics and education are some of the areas in which you may have new experiences. You follow your inner guide and your ambitions show the way into the future. Focus; pay attention! Enjoy a long walk after this evening’s meal.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Stability and permanence satisfies a deep emotional need. Being needed in the workplace just seems to heighten those gratifying feelings. The work world seems to move along in a smooth manner and progress is noticed. Today is a good time to make those appointments that you keep putting behind you. An overall successful day may find you working in a garden or cooking this afternoon. You have great insight into matters of personal freedom and you work very hard to achieve just that. You come up with brilliant ways to express, emote or act through situations. New methods of lovemaking, raising kids and caring for animals are yours at this time. The activities you enjoy seem to unfold around you this evening.

This is a good time.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You make changes to an old story, script or lesson in order for young people to take an interest in the content. Ideas, words, books and the like are pursued with great gusto.

There may be an opportunity to visit a library or bookstore during the noon break. Work progresses as usual this afternoon and fortunately, since your mind is elsewhere, your routine actions are all that is needed. On the way home from work this afternoon you may find yourself in an antique store or furniture store. There are some things you want to add to your home or to a collection. It would be easy to be impulsive just now, so step back and ask yourself if you need what you are wanting to purchase. Volunteering to be the cook this evening creates happy times; you are creative.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 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

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

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amar Odom’s alleged drug dealer has claimed he spent $50,000 on cocaine in three years. The New York-based dealer - who has concealed his identity - has come forward to allege he witnessed the former Los Angeles Clippers basketball player consume the illegal drug on as many as 10 occasions since 2010 when Lamar visited Queens in New York where he grew up. In a video interview with RadarOnline.com, the dealer said: “[Lamar has a] huge problem and he has a very addictive personality. It is becoming worse as you can see.” “He [Lamar] likes to party, He’s a pretty nice guy to be honest with you, but he’s becoming ... his problem seems to be becoming a bigger problem. In my experience, he literally likes cocaine. He is a cocaine guy. He likes to smoke it.” The allegations come in the wake of Lamar’s recent marriage troubles to Khloe Kardashian-Odom following claims she kicked him out of their Los Angeles home for cheating on her, and even attempted an intervention to get her husband help for his drug use.

RadarOnline.com reports the dealer supplied Lamar with cocaine - which he would then freebase, a method of consumption whereby the user purifies the drug by burning it and then inhale the fumes. The drug pusher claims Lamar, 33, even freebased cocaine before a game between the LA Clippers and the

New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 10 this year. He alleges the sportsman spent $16,000 on cocaine. The dealer said: “I know it for a fact because I sold him the stuff and saw him smoke it, he spent about 16 grand. Quantity wise, it was a little under half a kilo.” When asked how much the Lamar spent over three years, he replied: “Roughly, more than 50 grand ... over the time I’ve known him.” Lamar and Khloe’s representatives are yet to comment on the allegations. Lamar’s father was a heroin addict and his mother died of colon cancer when he was just 12, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother Mildred. Amid the drug and cheating allegations, the basketball player had his driving licence suspended for one year after he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) at 3.25am last Friday. According to a report compiled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, he showed “objective signs of intoxication and was unable to perform sobriety tests as explained and demonstrated”. He was booked into Van Nuys prison at 5.01am before posting $15,000 bail and being released.

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carlett Johansson is having too much “fun” with her career to start a family yet. The 28year-old actress - who is dating French journalist Romain Dauriac - definitely wants to have kids in the future but at the moment she is enjoying such a productive and rewarding period of acting she doesn’t want to take time out to have a baby. Scarlett’s recent films include ‘We Bought a Zoo’, ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Hitchcock’ and she has five films coming out in the next 18 months, including another outing as super-spy Black Widow in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Speaking in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, she said: “Eventually I want to have a family, and that would be my focus, but right now I’m having fun with it. There have been times in my career where I’ve struggled to find ... I was stuck for a while. It was more difficult, maybe, to find the right thing to do. Now I’m enjoying a really productive, creative period.” Scarlett - who was previously married to Ryan Reynolds - currently splits her time between Romain’s home in his native Paris and her apart-

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he ‘Katie’ talk show host’s boyfriend, 50-year-old banker John Molner, proposed with an impressive diamond ring over the weekend and she had no hesitation in saying “yes”. A representative for Couric, 56, has confirmed the happy news to People magazine and revealed Molner popped the question as the sun set on the beach in East Hampton, New York. Couric and Molner have been in a relationship for nearly two years and they publicly confirmed their romance in April 2012. Later that same year, she gushed about the banker who is head of mergers and acquisitions at Brown Brothers Harriman - saying: “He’s great. He’s from Chicago. I love Midwesterners!” Former ‘Today’ host Couric was married to Jay Monahan, but she was widowed when he tragically died from colon cancer in 1998 at the age of 42. They had two daughters, Ellie, 21, and Carrie, 17, together and after Monahan’s death, Couric became a spokeswoman for colon cancer awareness.

ment in her hometown of New York. Although she is one of the world’s most recognizable actresses she doesn’t let her fame stop her from living a normal life and Scarlett actively makes an effort to avoid having a showbiz lifestyle. She explained: “Luckily, I’m relatively uninteresting. I’ve always tried, as much as possible, to keep the prying eye at arm’s length, which doesn’t always work in my favour - but I think if you establish that early on, you remain relatively unscathed. As I get older, I realise what an incredible waste of time it is to scurry around like some kind of urchin. I want to enjoy things, like just walking around my city.” See Scarlett’s photo shoot and interview in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar which hits newsstands on September 5.

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ooney Mara “couldn’t relate to other people” when she was growing up. ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ actress was shy and introverted while at school and found it a particularly difficult time socially and, although she has got better, she still spends a lot of alone time. She told LOOK magazine: “I was very, very, shy. I had problems with anxiety and not being able to relate to other people. I would spend all my free time in school by myself. I couldn’t relate to other people or get myself to feel comfortable hanging around with other kids in school and it wasn’t the happiest time of my life. “It took me a long time before I felt more at ease mak-

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icole Scherzinger gave “everything” to her relationship with Lewis Hamilton. ‘The X Factor’ star split from her boyfriend of five years in July after their hectic work schedules made it difficult to spend time together and although she admits the break-up is still “raw”, Nicole is confident she poured all she could into her romance with the Formula One race car driver. She said: “He knows that I gave everything. I really earned my stars and stripes as a woman and as a girlfriend in that relationship.” The 35-year-old beauty revealed she is finding it difficult to process the split, especially following Lewis’ grand gesture of love, dedicating his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July to his former girlfriend just weeks after they went their separate ways. Quizzed about the romantic declaration, Nicole responded: “I’m still taking all of that in. I’m still in the eye of the storm. I know I was genuinely happy for him and I continue to support him. I was his number one believer. I told him he could do anything he wanted and could be anything he wanted.” While the ‘Boomerang’ singer is still coping with her split from Lewis, 28, she feels her recent heartbreak is a test of her resolve and believes it will only make her a stronger person. In an interview with the new issue of Glamour magazine, she said: “When you’ve been in a relationship for five years, it’s gonna take time. You grow a pair! Everybody knows what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and my focus is to put my pieces back together. So whatever relationship comes next, I’ll be a whole person.”

livia Wilde dreams of performing in London’s West End theatres. The ‘Rush’ actress would love to swap the big screen for the stage, but she has so many upcoming movie commitments she is unable to make room in her busy schedule. When quizzed on possible theatre plans at the world premiere of ‘Rush’ in London’s Leicester Square on Monday night, she told BANG Showbiz: “I have no time but that’s something I would love to do. Absolutely. It’s such a dream.” The 29-year-old beauty turned heads by exposing her cleavage and midriff in a black Gucci blazer on the red carpet and it seems Olivia took inspiration from her supermodel character Suzy Miller - wife of playboy race car driver James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth - in the new Formula One biopic, who she believes was equally daring. She explained: “She was so cool to play because she epitomises the glamour of the time. She was fearless and confident, and I

think she was James’ match. She wasn’t intimidated by him. She wasn’t a long-suffering wife, she was a supermodel and it-girl of the time. They fell in love really quickly and it didn’t last, but I think it was a real hot romance.” New York-born Olivia - who is dating ‘We’re the Millers’ star Jason Sudeikis adopted an English accent for the part of Suzy and she admits it wasn’t too difficult because her father, journalist Andrew Myles Cockburn, was born and raised in London. She added: “My father has an English accent, so I’ve grown up with it. I didn’t stay in the accent in between shots consistently, but I tried to stay in the rhythm. It helped that the crew had an English accent so I tried to listen to them and stay in it.” Olivia was joined on the red carpet by co-stars Chris and Daniel Bruhl, ‘Rush’ director Ron Howard, and a host of celebrities including Naomi Campbell and Chris’ brother Liam Hemsworth.

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ing friends and not putting up walls around me. I still like the time I spend alone, just thinking by myself or watching people. I need that kind of quiet time.” The 28-year-old star had her nipple pierced and wore leather and fake tattoos for her role as Lisbeth Salander ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ and admits her personality lends itself to darker roles. She said: “I tend to be guarded and that suits me being in darker kinds of films. I can easily slip into characters who don’t laugh and smile a lot.”

isele Bundchen has recorded a song for H&M’s new campaign. The Brazilian supermodel will not only star in the high street brand’s autumn/winter 2013 TV adverts, but she has also provided the soundtrack, recording a cover of The Kinks’ ‘All Day and All of the Night’. The song will be available to download for free from H&M’s official website on September 12, however, fans who are impressed by Gisele’s vocal chords can also buy the track on iTunes, with proceeds being donated to charity. A portion of every sale will be gifted to UNICEF to purchase vaccines for children in third world countries. Gisele said in a statement: “I am so excited to be the face of H&M this autumn. I love the street style look, and that we can raise funds for a good cause. I hope everyone downloads my song!” Gisele follows in the footsteps of singing superstar Beyonce, who fronted H&M’s summer campaign and provided the vocals for the TV advert, also, with an original song called ‘Standing on the Sun’. The 33-year-old beauty isn’t the only singing supermodel, however; Tyra Banks once released a song called ‘Shake Ya Body’, and Naomi Campbell released an album titled ‘Baby Woman’ in 1994.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

lifestyle F e a t u r e s

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urope’s major Awards and Festival for the creative communications industry, Eurobest, today announced the final jury presidents who are set to complete this year’s line-up.

StEphane Xiberras, President and Chief Creative Officer of BETC Paris, will preside over the Radio and Outdoor jury. StEphane is in charge of, amongst others, the CANAL+ account which has seen him create winning campaigns that include ‘The Bear’, winner of the 2012 Cannes Lions and Eurobest Film Craft Grand Prix and ‘The Closet’, which was the most awarded film of 2010 according to The Gunn Report.

Stephane has also been responsible for innovations and inventions that include CAI, a unique software robot, the BETC Start Up Lab, a commando unit within the agency exclusively dedicated to start ups and the BETC Academy which is the agency’s internship program.

Commenting on his appointment Xiberras says, “I am delighted to be part of the Eurobest experience this year. It is my first time being a jury President and I am honored but also under a lot of pressure to get it right. Of course winning is important, but we mustn’t forget the huge amount of work that creatives put into each entry.”

Heading up the Design jury will be Gesina Roters, Co-Founder and Creative Partner at Day Creative Business Partners - a blend between business consultancy and design agency. With an extensive career as an Art and Creative Director in branding and interior architecture, Gesina’s strategic thinking balances on the border between all disciplines of design, reinforcing the connections between spatial, graphic and digital media with a focus on branding and retail. She has built up an extensive portfolio of multi-disciplinary clients that include Orange, Nike, Bugaboo, Van Gogh Museum, MTV Networks and Abu Dhabi Terminals. She has acted on the design jury at both Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx and her work has been awarded both nationally and internationally.

About her position as jury president Roters says, “As jury president I am excited and honored to work with the design jury, and to challenge ourselves as strongly as the powerful European design talents, in order to be par t of innovation and progress. I believe excellent design is more than only a pretty picture, it is an amazing tool to transform innovative ideas and visions into tangible realities. Intelligent design can represent the ambitions of our society in every form and discipline. Creative thinkers and designers are the agents of our future ambitions, and are able to increase purpose by beauty - and to strengthen beauty by purpose.”

James Cunningham, Head of Content at Academy Films / A+ will lead the Film Craft jury. James started his career as an account man at TBWA before moving to Mustoe Merriman as Client Service Director.

Relocating to Cape Town he moved into Production, working at Suburban Films and playing an instrumental part in setting up Film South Africa, a committee that unified the country’s production industry under one global marketing strategy. On returning to the UK James joined Academy Films as Head of Content and Academy’s multi-disciplinary content division, A+, was launched in 2011. Since its inception, A+ has picked up multiple awards which include Cannes Cyber, Media and Branded Content & Entertainment Lions. James served as a member of the Branded Content & Entertainment Lions jury at Eurobest in 2012.

Commenting on his role Cunningham says, “Needless to say I feel honored to be asked to be President of this jury. The creative process has always been a collaborative one, involving specialists from many fields, and the Film Craft category gives recognition to those frequently overlooked in this process.”

Taking the helm of this year’s Media jury will be Belinda Rowe, Global Managing Par tner, ZenithOptimedia. Prior to joining ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, Belinda was CEO of ZenithOptimedia Australia - the agency she founded in 1999 and built to become the fifth biggest media agency in the market. During her time leading agencies in Australia, Belinda played an active role in shaping the country’s advertising industry. Having been elected to the board of the Advertising Federation of Australia in 2008, she went on to become Chair of the AFA and then led an industry-wide move to unite advertising, PR, production and digital under one newly created trade body, the Communications Council. Belinda leads the development of ZenithOptimedia’s global client partnerships and products and has overall responsibility for the marketing of the agency.

Belinda Rowe says about her role, “I am hugely honored to have been invited to lead the media jury at Eurobest. With the amazing array of digital, social, and content opportunities available to agencies, I am really excited about seeing some truly innovative media work that delivers ROI for clients.”

Colin Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, UK & EMEA, Weber Shandwick, will preside over the PR jury.

Colin joined Shandwick, now Weber Shandwick, in London in 1995. He led the public affair’s business, then became UK CEO in 2003, and stepped up to EMEA CEO in 2008. Under his leadership Weber Shandwick has become the UK’s most award winning agency and in London the agency has won four Cannes Lions. Prior to PR consultancy Colin had a series of in-house roles including Head of PR for the Labour Party and communications director for the international arm of The Prince’s Trusts.

Commenting on his position as jury president, Byrne says, “At a time of great creative challenge and opportunity for the public relations industry, and speaking as head of a multiple Cannes Lions winning business in the UK, I am delighted to be part of this premier creative communications showcase” About these presidents, Terry Savage, Chairman of Lions Festivals says, “We’re delighted to complete this year’s president line-up with such inspirational individuals. They have all achieved outstanding feats within their respective industries and we can be sure that they will judge this year’s entries with tenacity and unbeatable knowledge.”

Eurobest will be accepting entries into its 26th Awards from 22nd August 2013. The work will be judged by some of the region’s greatest industry leaders with the best entries being awarded and celebrated at the Eurobest Awards Ceremony, which will draw the Festival to a close.

A gallery employee poses for a photograph next to a painting entitled ‘The River Thames Goes Past’ by Susan Wilson at the Pumphouse Gallery in Battersea Park, central London yesterday. Forming part of an exhibition titled ‘Artists of the River Pageant’ which showcases works created at various points along the route of the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, they are to be displayed from 4 September - 15 September 2013. — AFP

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new era. New attitudes and perspectives mark a different way of dressing.

Naturally classic, pure Armani, with a severe allure that is highly contemporary. A collection with a strong metropolitan ethos, accentuated by innovative silhouettes and materials that create surprising effects and convey a tangible sense of energy and an impression of privilege and wealth.

The Emporio Armani man selects iconic styles from the male wardrobe - overcoat, caban, jacket, turtleneck and tuxedo jacket but these are re-visited in high-tech materials. The focus is on each single piece in turn, as if it was under a spotlight.

Shapes A new silhouette. Slim-cut trousers, in wool-jersey or neoprene, accentuate the ample volumes of the outerwear (much of which is constructed from different fabrics on a neoprene-membrane frame) and oversized knitwear in thick yarn.

Materials Wool, knitted yarns, leather and even velvet are coated and come with raw edges, or feature, on the inside, a thin membrane to make the fabric stiffer and give them substance. For example, see the classic jacket in laser-cut black nappa leather, where the orange membrane makes it change colours.

The knitwear is innovative and luxurious, and is tailored with lapin and tricot stitching, to be worn under a tuxedo.

Colours Are paired with eternal blue and asphalt grey; the range of khakis covers the spectrum from lighter sandy hues to more intense and darker tones, with hints of yellow or orange.

There are touches of emerald green and purply blue.

Accessories Traditional lace-ups feature new lacing and echo the detailing in the clothing. Classic moccasins with a fringe come in velvet and leather. There are ankle boots, and boots in soft calf hair, with unusual detailing.

Backpacks with multiple pockets come in sheepskin fur or in laser-cut nappa leather coupled with neoprene. The maxi-clutches are new and unexpected.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

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he artwork may have made people laugh, but Prince’s new song is no joke. The mercurial superstar announced yesterday that he’s released “Breakfast Can Wait.” It caused a stir when Prince released the cover art for the song - a photo

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OSN gets a new look

In this March 2, 2007 file photo, Prince accepts the award for outstanding male artist at the 38th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles. —AP

the region’s broadcast sector.”

Bethany Bunnell, OSN’s Creative Marketing Director added: “We know that our brand is a key source of differentiation that guides our customers’ purchase decisions. Our brand refresh is designed to ensure that our brand promise and values come through in everything we do from programming and technology to the customer experience.

“There’s no other pay-TV brand quite like OSN and we want this to come out loud and clear in our on-air spots. Our creative approach was to be emotive and apparitional while reinforcing our key differentiators.

Our objective was to leverage our on-air platform to expand the conversation. The new OSN platform ids are focused on the amazing moments that happen in life and integrate actual tweets and Facebook messages so our viewers are now part of the conversation and the viewing experience.”

As part of the on-air revamp, OSN has also aligned its genre colors for movies, sports, series, Arabic and news.

New packaging has been developed for OSN’s box office series making the customer experience richer underlining OSN’s position as a premium entertainment provider.

OSN’s new and refreshed look draws on the power of infographics and the unmatched technological strengths of the network. The new brand approach is also reflected in OSN’s logo, which is now brighter and crisper, reflecting the network’s strength and leadership in high definition TV.

of Dave Chappelle dressed as Prince - on YouTube. Prince has been raising his profile lately with performances worldwide with his new group, 3rdeyegirl.

He also recently started tweeting from the group’s account, surprising some, given his negative comments about the Internet in the past. The song is being released through his new distribution deal with the independent Kobalt Label Services. He’s working on a new album that’s set to be titled, “Plectrum Electrum.” —AP

In era of leaks, Toronto film festival tackles transparency A

s director Bill Condon was finishing up his film “The Fifth Estate” about Julian Assange and anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden started leaking US security documents, reigniting the public debate over secrecy, security and whistleblowing in the Internet era. “The same lines were being used, the same script was being recited, it was fascinating,” said Condon. “And then Assange appeared and became part of the story.”

“The Fifth Estate,” which will open the 38th annual Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, comes just months after Snowden leaked documents about spying at the U.S. National Security Agency with the support of Assange and WikiLeaks. The film boldly leads the way on a prevalent theme throughout this year’s lineup - transparency and secrets.

“It’s the tension between transparency and privacy in the Internet age and how far each one goes and how those ideas butt up against each other,” said Condon, who directed “Dreamgirls” and won a screenwriting Oscar for “Gods and Monsters.”

“The Fifth Estate” stars English actor Benedict Cumberbatch as Assange and is based on the book by Assange’s once trusted lieutenant Daniel Domscheit-Berg about events that led to the largest leak of official secrets in American history in 2010.

For Condon, Toronto is the best place to premiere his first foray into government and politics: not only is it “a generous movie-loving audience, it is also a wellinformed one.” It is also a festival that has come to be known as the starting block in the race for Oscars six months down the road. The coveted People’s Choice Award propelled the fortunes of “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The King’s Speech,” which both went on to win the Academy Award for best picture.

Oscar buzz abounds The Toronto winner could also emerge from a number of films that already premiered at the Venice and Telluride festivals in the last week, stealing a bit of Toronto’s thunder and picking up early Oscar buzz.

“12 Years a Slave,” the story of a free black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, by British director Steve McQueen,

DUBAI: OSN, the region’s leading pay-TV network has refreshed its on-air brand identity further strengthening the network’s position as an iconic and premium brand that is relevant to and resonates with its viewers.

Now live, the modern and unifying on-air brand identity creates more synergy between the OSN brand, its channels, genres and services at the same time reinforcing and highlighting OSN’s key differentiators - content, technology and world-class customer service.

The network has set the standard for regional broadcasting with the breadth and depth of its premium content and has delivered an impressive array of innovative firsts to enhance the viewer experience, including the introduction of High Definition (HD) and 3D television, OnDemand and PVR (Personal Video Recording) technology.

The new on-air look marks another significant first for the region’s broadcast industry integrating customer engagement via social media with the TV viewing experience. “Our objective was to create an emotional connection with our viewers and move the customer conversation from an online environment to a richer on-air experience,” said David Butorac, CEO of OSN. “The advent of social media has changed the way people consume entertainment. We recognize that viewers want to be more involved and be part of the conversation. They want to be heard and seen. We therefore developed a strategy that weaves social media and OSN’s added value benefits into our on-air communication - a first for

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Prince delivers ‘Breakfast’ for his new song

Bhutanese monk s film to open Busan film fes tival Bhutanese monk’s movie about a South Indian dance will open the Busan International Film Festival next month. Officials say it’s the first time the continent’s showcase film festival has chosen a movie from Bhutan for the red carpet event usually taken by a Chinese or Korean feature. Festival director Lee Yong-kwan said yesterday that “Vara: A Blessing,” the dance drama about Bharatanatyam South Indian dance, will be shown Oct 3. The movie has interesting themes the festival wants to showcase, he said.

Filmmaker Khyentse Norbu is a Buddhist monk and cannot attend the Lee Yong-kwan, director of the glitzy showing of his third Busan International Film Festival, feature film because of a speaks during a press conference in scheduling conflict with Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. —AP religious training. The 10day festival will end with “The Dinner,” a South Korean movie about an ordinary family’s misfortunes after screening 300 movies from 70 countries.

Among them are two movies from Mongolia and many from Kazakhstan. There are three single-shot movies, while more than 50 films are being premiered at Asia’s largest film festival. Other highlights include Kim Ki-duk’s controversial “Moebius” and Bong

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(From left) British actor and co-writer Steve Coogan, Scottish actress Sophie Kennedy Clark, British actress Judi Dench and British director Stephen Frears arrives for the screening of ‘Philomena’ — AFP Audience is ‘secret sauce’ earned rave reviews after a surprise films like “The Armstrong Lie,” a documenWhat sets Toronto apart from the other screening in the Colorado mountain town tary about disgraced cyclist Lance of Telluride. “Gravity,” a space thriller by Armstrong, and “Trap Street,” a Chinese festivals, Bailey said, is the public audience, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron and a film that looks at the disappearance of what he calls its “secret sauce.” “It’s why filmtwo-person cast of Sandra Bullock and people and places in the rush to modern- makers love to bring their films here, it’s why people who are selling their movies for George Clooney, opened the Venice festi- ization in China.

The documentary lineup also reflects a distribution like to bring their films here to val to widespread acclaim.

“Philomena,” starring Judi Dench as an trend of filmmakers shedding light on the see how they play in front of the Toronto elderly Irish woman searching for a child big news topics of the times. “The Square” audience,” Bailey said.

It is also a place where a young director she was forced to give up for adoption, is a chronicles Egypt’s revolution in Cairo’s favorite to win Venice’s top award, the Tahrir Square, while Oscar-winning docu- like Ned Benson can get a career-making mentarian Errol Morris conducts an inter- bounce. Benson is premiering his feature Golden Lion.

Some 366 films, including 146 world view with former US Defense Secretary debut “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: premieres, will screen at the Toronto Donald Rumsfeld in an exploration of Him and Her,” starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy as a couple whose relationInternational Film Festival over 11 days. post-9/11 American policy.

“It seems to be something that a lot of ship is told from his and her perspectives.

World premieres of note in Toronto include “August: Osage County” starring filmmakers in many parts of the world are He is looking for a buyer. “The taste and the Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in a drama dealing with and trying to understand: curation of the festival make it a fantastic of a dysfunctional family, and “Dallas what this new world means when some- place,” said Benson. “I remember when Buyers Club,” in which Matthew times governments, or corporations, or ‘American Beauty’ premiered there ... comMcConaughey plays an AIDS activist who different sources of power have so much ing out of nowhere and becoming best piccontrol over information,” said festival ture (Oscar). It just has a way of being a platsmuggles treatment drugs from Mexico. form into the rest of the year.” — Reuters The theme of transparency crops up in artistic director Cameron Bailey.

Big in Japan: American Chris Hart finds J-pop home In this Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 file photo, Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. —AP

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eaving San Francisco, singer Chris Hart has made him- Music companies are getting creative,” said Tomonobu self at home in “J-pop.” His album of cover versions of Yonai, a spokesman for the recording industry group.

Japanese pop tunes is rising on the charts. And the Hart’s career took off with an appearance in a popular crooner is scoring on this nation’s equivalent of “American Japanese TV show called “Nodojiman The! World,” in March Idol,” being billed as a genius who understands the musical 2012, where foreigners compete in karaoke. soul of Japan. His success highlights a music industry that’s Hart blew away the judges, mostly singers and celebristill booming, and increasingly eager to internationalize. ties who not only praised his technique but also his underIt’s even ready to eclipse the US music standing of the lyrics and the emotions world, where CD sales have plunged with of the tunes. He was crowned “the the arrival of digital technology. world’s best foreign J-pop singer.”

Hart, 29, says he is living his dream.

“I feel embarrassed to come on stage,” And he doesn’t mind a bit that his fame said singer Masahiro Nakai after Hart has come so far from home. “I am a part covered one of his songs in his clear, of the J-pop world now,” he said in a smooth tenor. Akiko Wada, another recent interview, using the term for pop singer, called him “just perfect.” Hart music in the world’s third-biggest econostarted learning Japanese when he was my.

12. He wanted to study Korean because Hart has won over Japan by focusing his aunt was of Korean descent, but his on adaptations of local hits such as school offered only Japanese. He was “Home,” a 2008 ballad popularized by quickly drawn to Japanese culture. A singer Yusaku Kiyama about the joys of year later, he went on a home-stay probecoming a father. Hart’s rendition, gram in Japan, where he fell even deeper released as a single in May, surged to No. in love with Japan. Hart started a rock 13 on the Oricon music charts, Japan’s band performing Japanese songs in San equivalent of Billboard. A month later, Francisco, while working over the years Hart released his first album, “Heart as a police officer and a clerk at a cosSong,” which reached third on Oricon.

In this photo taken Monday, metics company. In 2009, Hart stumbled That’s saying a lot, given the size of Aug 5, 2013, San Francisco- on an opportunity to go back to Japan Japan’s market. Japan’s music industry is born Chris Hart sings at an out- with a job at a vending machine compaestimated at $4.42 billion, closely trailing ny. He uploaded videos of himself door concert in Tokyo. —AP the US at $4.48 billion, although Japan singing in Japanese on YouTube. To his has less than half the population, accordsurprise, he got invited to be on the TV ing to the International Federation of the Phonographic show. Although some music critics say Japanese tunes are Industry, which tracks such data. While other countries bland and unsophisticated, Hart believes music is more have shifted to digital music, CDs still make up 80 percent personal and emotional in Japan, rather than focused on of Japan’s music sales, according to the Recording Industry catchy riffs.

Association of Japan. Only 34 percent of music sales are That’s why he prefers to call his fans “family.” Hart has CDs in the US, and 58 percent is digital. also made a point of adopting Japanese mannerisms, Recent albums from established Japanese acts such as such as bowing. “People feel more inclined to buy the B’z and Southern All Stars are setting off a CD revival. album out of the support, like a friend,” said Hart, wearing AKB48 and other groups featuring young women, known his trademark fedora and vest. In a recent outdoor conas “idols,” are boosting CD purchases among the younger cert in Tokyo, hundreds of people, some with children in crowd. The CDs sometimes come with concert tickets and their arms, crowded the stage as Hart sang in near-perother benefits, so some fans are buying multiple copies of fect Japanese. “I think it’s really special that somebody the same one. from another country sings Japanese songs because he “Japanese people tend to want the physical CDs or the thinks it is great music,” said Akane Kawano, a 31-year-old gifts and trinkets that come as perks with many albums. receptionist. — AP

‘American Idol’ taps Lopez, Connick as judges

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merican Idol’ is betting that a judges’ remix with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban will fare better with viewers than bickering divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj did last season. The rumored addition of Lopez and Connick as judges for season 13 was announced yesterday by Fox. They’ll join Urban to make up the talent show’s first panel consisting solely of singers - a la NBC’s successful 2011 upstart “The Voice.”

Pop star and actress Lopez will be back on “American Idol” after a two-season run as judge in 2011 and 2012 that was a boon for the show and her career. Connick, a respected jazz singer and musician, proved adept as a mentor in several “Idol” appearances. Urban’s return to the contest was announced last month by Fox Chairman Kevin Reilly, who said the singer didn’t get a chance to show his personality in his first turn as a judge. Urban appeared overwhelmed last season by the Carey-Minaj crossfire that drew complaints from some viewers.

“I think this season of ‘Idol’ is gonna be a blast,” Urban said in a statement yesterday. “New team, new energy and a whole new field of artists to be discovered and given a chance!” Fox also announced that original judge Randy Jackson, who exited along with Carey and Minaj at the end of last season, will be back in a new role as in-house mentor to the contestants. Ryan Seacrest, also part of “Idol” from the start, will again host. “Surprise, surprise! I am so happy to be back as part of this amazing show that started it all,” said Jackson. “The original talent show is back with a vengeance and ready to discover the best talent in America.” —AP

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Spanish film ʻInstructionsʼ storms US box office “I nstructions Not Included,” a Spanish-language film with English subtitles, generated $10 million in ticket sales over the four-day Labor Day weekend, a record for a Spanish film in the United States and a sign of the potential the Hispanic market represents for Hollywood. The film, which stars 52-year-old Mexican TV star Eugenio Derbez as an Acapulco playboy forced to raise a baby girl left on his doorstep, ranked fifth among films in US theaters, despite opening in scant 347 theaters, according to Hollywood.com.

As a result, it generated average ticket sales of $28,818 per screen, more than four times the average of “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” the weekend’s top film. “No one saw this coming,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office division of Hollywood.com. “A cute family-oriented concept with a terrific marketing campaign.”

The movie is distributed by Pantelion, a joint

venture of Hollywood studio Lionsgate Entertainment and Mexican media giant Televisa that intends to tap the Hispanic American moviegoing audience that last year bought 10.9 million tickets or 26 percent of all tickets sold, according to the industry group Motion Picture Association of America.

“Hispanics were the heaviest moviegoers, as they represent 18 percent of the moviegoing population but accounted for 25 percent of all movies seen,” said media research company Nielsen in a separate study. “Hispanics were also the only demographic group that went to more movies in 2012 than in the prior year - 9.5 movies on average compared with 8.5 in 2011.” To tap that market for “Instructions Not Included,” Pantelion put ads on Univision, Telemundo and other Spanish-language channels as well as social media sites like Fandango, Facebook and Youtube that are heavily used by the

Hispanic population.

Pantelion also relied heavily on Derbez, who promoted the film to his 3.2 million Twitter followers and 1.5 million “likes” for his official Facebook page. To kick off its campaign, the company peppered US Spanish-language network Univision with ads for its annual “Premios Juventud” awards show in July. Derbez received a lifetime achievement award on the show, which was seen by over 10 million viewers, Pantelion said.

“He’s the biggest star you never heard of,” said Pantelion chief executive Paul Presburger. “The strength of this film is that it has had great world of mouth, and he’s a big part of that.” The biggest-selling Spanish-langugage film in the United States ever is “Pan’s Labyrinth,” a horror film directed by Spain’s Guillermo del Toro, that opened in early 2007 with $4.5 million on its first weekend and totaled $83 million in worldwide sales, according to

movie site Box Office Mojo.

“Instructions Not Included,” with its Mexican setting, may have resonate with the US Hispanic audience, which includes many Mexican immigrants, than “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which is set in Spain in 1944.

Pantelion, whose formation was announced in announced 2010 by Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and Grupo Televisa CEO Emilio Azcarraga, intends to produce eight to 10 films a year aimed at the Hispanic market in the United States and Mexico, in an effort to duplicate the success Lionsgate has with the African American market through films it distributes for Tyler Perry.

“Instructions Not Included” will expand to about 500 theaters this weekend, said Presburger, and will be marketed to a “crossover” market that includes English-speaking movie goers in areas with larger Hispanic populations. The movie will open as well in Mexico later in September. — Reuters

An Egyptian woman, who is part of a group of musicians, plays traditional music on the drum at the MaKan cultural centre in Cairo, minutes before the night-time curfew comes into force. (Centre) Egyptians play and listen to traditional music at the MaKan cultural centre in Cairo. (Right) A group of Egyptian musicians play traditional music. — AFP photos

Cairo musicians jam through curfew nights

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or the Egyptian musician Hind and her group, the night-time curfew in Cairo has turned into an opportunity to jam until the sun comes up. When the curfew comes into force from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, Hind and her group play traditional Egyptian music throughout the night. In the Arab world’s cradle of culture and home of some of its greatest voices, a night-time curfew has been in place since a deadly crackdown on Islamists on August 14.

It has since been gradually shortened. In the

Makan cultural centre, Hind and her band play all night, as part of a project called “The music of the curfew”. It was born of “the sentiment of musicians who usually work at night and who felt that the curfew hit something they liked the most,” says Ahmed El-Maghraby, head of Makan.

“So we decided to take advantage” of it,” he said. “As soon as the curfew starts, we listen to our music for hours before closing Makan at the end of the curfew.” The decor inside Makan gives off vibes of traditional Arabic music evenings

with its yellow cellar walls, red-carpeted floors and red-and-black wooden chairs. A wooden staircase leads to a small room filled with old instruments and wooden trunks, as Hind performs a powerful song with her eyes shut and left hand raised, before a small but enthusiastic crowd.

Behind her three women musicians play the traditional Arabic drums, while seven men including a guitarist, a saxophonist and traditional Egyptian flute players, complete the

ensemble. “It’s better to be here than at home where we can’t do anything. Here we can exhaust all the energy that we hold inside,” says flutist Amine Chahine. Among the audience is 31-year-old Gina Moqbel who says that Cairo’s “curfew turned our lives upside down because we used to stay up late.” Her friend Becky Harett from Nigeria said she was quite ready to stay and take in the atmosphere “until six in the morning”.

After three hours of non-stop music, the

audience is offered falafel and beans - staple Egyptian fare-during a short break, before the musicians take to the stage again. The marathon performance is staged in three parts. After 3 am, the musicians rest and “Baraka”, a silent movie showcasing rich landscapes and sites from some of the remotest areas of the world, is projected on a wall. Finally, the audience streams out of the centre and into the noisy city streets teeming with people in the Arab world’s most populous country. — AFP

Mad men, lonely hearts and cigarettes in Venice

Cinema as tool to help end violence in Syria: Israeli filmmaker

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rom deranged anti-heros to lonely hearts, tattoos and cigarettes, here are some of the themes which have emerged so far from this year’s Venice Film Festival.

Mad Men: The prize for the most skin-crawling performance of an unbalanced social outcast goes to the anti-hero in James Franco’s “Child of God”, who kills women to have sex with their bodies. Milder versions of derangement unnerve or evoke sympathy in Xavier Dolan’s thriller “Tom on the Farm”, David Gordon Green’s brutal “Joe” and Terry Gilliam’s futuristic “Zero Theorem”.

Lonely hearts: Amid a plethora of broken relationships, Robyn Davidson in “Tracks” weeps with only camels for company in the Australian desert, the hero of “Zero Theorem” refers to himself as “we” to keep himself company, and Sandra Bullock’s astronaut character in “Gravity” misses her chance to romance George Clooney when their space shuttle is destroyed, flinging them into deep space.

Cigarettes: Japanese master of animation Hayao Miyazaki goes to town with smoking in “The Wind Rises”, with characters lighting up so often-even fishing in ashtrays to find butts to smoke-the film looks like a cigarette

Canadian author Michel Marc Bouchard, actress Evelyne Brochu, Canadian director Xavier Dolan, Canadian actress Lise Royand and actor Pierre-Yves Cardinal pose during the photocall of ‘Tom a la Ferme’. —AFP photos Israeli director Amos Gitai and Israeli actress Yuval Scharf pose during the photocall of “Ana Arabia” presented in competition at the 70th Venice Film Festival yesterday at Venice Lido. —AFP sraeli filmmaker Amos Gitai yesterday urged cinema makers and artists to create works promoting integration and co-existence to counter the culture of violence in crisis-torn Syria. “Filmmakers, artists, writers should ask questions and find ways through fiction to say that co-existence is possible, even in this oppressive moment in the region,” Gitai, who is in Venice to present his latest film, told AFP. “Ideas are not weak things. There are money, machine guns and bombs, but ideas have also changed the planet, so we must not hesitate to propose ideas,” he said in French.

The director, known for his documentaries and feature films based on Middle Eastern conflict, is in Venice with “Ana Arabia”, the story of a young journalist who visits a tiny community of Arabs and Jews living in Jaffa. The film, in competition for Venice’s top Golden Lion award, is based in part on the true story of a Jewish woman born in a concentration camp, who converted to Islam to marry a Palestinian man, keeping her origins secret for 50 years.

Gitai said he was inspired by an article by AFP Jerusalem journalist Majeda El-Batsch on the woman, and his own 30 years of documentary work about a small Haifa community where Arabs and Jews live side-by-side. In the film, Jewish Israeli journalist Yael, played by Yuval Scharf, meets the relatives of the now deceased woman, who was called Hanna Klibanov but nicknamed “Ana Arabia”, meaning “me, the Arab”.

Topics touched upon during the slow-moving, dialogue-heavy movie include the difficulties of intercultural marriage, love, and whether new Russian immigrants to Israel who take cleaning jobs are treated better by Israelis than Palestinian Arabs. — AFP

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British director Jonathan Glazer , US actress Scarlett Johansson and producer James Wilson pose during the photocall of ‘Under the Skin’ presented in competition at the 70th Venice Film Festival yesterday at Venice Lido. advertisement. Joe in “Joe” also coughs his lungs out splendidly, amid drags. British director Gilliam has his characters in a post-cigarette world get their buzz from smoking make-believe fags and exhaling pretend smoke.

ANIMALS: Dogs are the animal of choice, though many come to sticky ends. We also have deer, rats, camels, cows,

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US director and actor James Franco arrives for the screening of the movie ‘Child of God’. a cat, a monkey and some pesky doves. The most moving portrayal has to be “Tracks”, where black labrador Diggidy’s fate had viewers sobbing, while a bloody, literal dog-eatdog scene in “Joe” turned stomachs.

Mothers: Judi Dench drew tears with her portrayal of an Irish woman searching for her son after he was given up for adoption against her will in Stephen Frears’ tragi-comedy “Philomena”, while Canadian actress Lise Roy portrays a ghostly mother in mourning in “Tom on the Farm”. Other mothers are longed for, as in “Tracks”, or loathed and avoided at all cost, as in Emma Dante’s “A Street in Palermo”.

Violence: Where to begin? Alien Scarlett Johansson kills men for their flesh in Jonathan Glazer’s “Under the Skin”, “Child of God” was based on a real-life killer who also inspired “Silence of the Lambs”, the alcoholic father in “Joe” beats his son until slipping over the line into murder, and the brother in “Tom at the Farm” strangles his victim in a corn-field.

Tattoos: The most elegant tattoo is seen in “A Street in Palermo”, where the protagonist has a slender black line from earlobe to wrist. Canada’s Dolan who stars in his own film-wins for the most unique, with three tattoos on his inner forearm taken from his feature films. He also has a copy of Henri Matisse’s “The Flight of Icarus” on his upper arm and-as he kindly showed AFP-two figures intwined near one of his armpits. — AFP

Mickey Mouse as Italian Romeo in Venice

besotted Mickey Mouse brought light relief to a crisis-themed Venice film festival yesterday as a gondolier who is rowing up the Grand Canal in the floating city when he is smitten by young signorina Minnie. “O Sole Minnie”, a short by Emmy award-winning artist Paul Rudish, who helped develop and direct the much-loved animation series “Dextor’s

Laboratory” and “The Powerpuff Girls”, captures the romantic spirit of the canal city.

Mickey leaps off his gondola into the restaurant where Minnie works as a waitress and puckers up for a kiss, but from there the hapless mouse is thwarted at every step, with pesky hippopotami, chickens and an operatic whale getting in his way. The city’s narrow waterways are

thrown into confusion as he launches himself from the top of a building in his gondola, pings off a washing line and bounces from spire to spire to spin around the top of the majestic St Mark’s Basilica.

The technology may be cutting edge but the illustration harks back to the 1950s and 1960s and Mickey’s wild ride

through Venice-from cries of “ciao bella!” to romancing with a plate of pasta-will delight those who grew up with him.

Rudish’s postcard hommage to the Italian city is just one of a series of short animations which will feature Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto going on adventures in Santa Monica, New York, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing. — AFP

Cairo musicians jam through curfew nights

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

A gallery employee poses for a photograph in front of a work entitled ‘Diamond Jubilee (Guinness Court St Party)’ by Dominic Madden and the residents of Guinness Court at the Pumphouse Gallery in Battersea Park, central London yesterday. Forming part of an exhibition titled ‘Artists of the River Pageant’ which showcases works created at various points along the route of the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, they are to be displayed from 4 September - 15 September 2013. —AFP

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A set is displayed in the haunted house ‘The Cursed Tooth’.

shiver down the spine is one way of keeping cool during summer in Japan-traditionally viewed as a time when the spirit world makes its presence felt. August sees millions of Japanese return to their home towns for the Obon season, in which relatives gather to temporarily welcome back the spirits of their dead forebears. Despite its association with the deceased, Obon is a cheerful period that frequently involves fireworks and dancing in “yukata”, a light summer kimono. But it’s also a time for ghost stories, with dozens of temporary haunted houses opening up across the country to mark the season.

“Goosebumps can be very refreshing,” said Sayaka Makabe, a schoolgirl who came to witness “The Cursed Tooth” at Tokyo Dome, which tells the story of a woman driven to madness after sacrificing her once pearly white teeth for her child and has been condemned to pull them out one-by-one. To allow her to rest in peace, visitors must pluck a black tooth from her mouth and take it to the exit. As her screams echo around the building, a loudspeaker relays the public’s fearful cries to those queuing up to get in. Three small children cling to their father, Ryuta Sato, in terror as they stand in front of an old woman with a knife stuck in her throat, surrounded by pools of fake blood.

“I used to visit these kinds of things when I was a kid,” said 42-year-old Sato, who admitted he was more scared than he was letting on. “The dead come back to the human world in August.

This is a period in which all kinds of terrifying things are supposed to happen,” said Hirofumi Gomi, the creator of “The Cursed Tooth”, who is credited with setting up dozens of other haunted houses around the country. The tradition goes back to the Edo period (1603-1868), when people packed Kabuki theatres in August to see ghost stories.

Obon religious ceremonies are based on the popular belief that ancestral spirits spend a few days on Earth in the month of August. Families craft small “horses” from cucumbers and toothpicks, symbolizing a form of transport for spirits to come from the netherworld. As the festival ends, small boats with lanterns are set adrift, taking souls back to heaven. “I have always practiced

Visitors try to watch a set of the haunted house ‘The Cursed Tooth’.

Visitors scream in the haunted house ‘The Cursed Tooth’.

Hirofumi Gomi, the creator of ‘The Cursed Tooth’ who is credited with setting up dozens of other haunted houses around the country, checks out a set of haunted house at the amusement park Tokyo Dome City Attractions. — AFP photos

this tradition because I think my parents really come back, I sometimes feel their presence with me,” said Yumiko Tominaga, visiting a cemetery in Hitachiota, north of Tokyo, with her husband to sweep the graves of his ancestors. “When I die, if I go back to Earth, I will certainly be happy if my children greet me the same way.” — AFP

A set is displayed in the haunted house ‘The Cursed Tooth’.

A set is displayed in the haunted house ‘The Cursed Tooth’.