30th Sep 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Bomb kills 40 in northwest Pakistan

Speaker hails brotherly ties with Jordan

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THULQADA 24, 1434 AH

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21 Kuwait groups back call for bedoon protest Barrak gets compensation from Shahed daily

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By B Izzaak conspiracy theories

Quite scary

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

I

t was shocking to see the picture of the young man dressed in a red T-shirt and blue jeans lying motionless on the stairs of Marina Mall. What a loss of life! What a loss of youth! My deepest condolences go to his mother and family.

This is the second shocking and futile murder since the start of the year after the death of the young dentist in Avenues whose life perished over a trivial dispute-a parking lot.

Murders happen in many big cities and even in villages. In Kuwait, however, we are not used to this kind of violence. Kuwait was known as a quiet and safe city. You could walk around wearing expensive jewellery or carrying a large bag of money and you would not be bothered.

Unfor tunately, in the last couple of years, Kuwait has stopped being the tranquil city I used to boast about. Kuwait has changed.

Today, there is not much security on the streets.

The population has increased dramatically.

More than 3.5 million people from different walks of life live here now. There has been an erosion of values. The society is no longer traditional and conservative. Modern technology has changed the youth. The mentality of the young people also has changed.

Actually, the blame for the rise in crimes falls on both - the society and the government. The government is expected to protect the society, that is why it is blamed first. I am not demanding the Minister of Interior to assign police protection to every resident. Many times I wonder where is the police? Why don’t we see them in big malls, such as Marina Mall and Avenues, especially on weekends? The young doctor was killed in a weekend attack and so was the latest victim Al-Enezi.

Every year we see a parade of cadets graduating from the Police Academy in Kuwait, but we never see them walking around in the markets, shops or on the streets after their graduation.

As I have mentioned before, I lived in London for quite some time. There, I used to see two young officers strolling inside the high street.

Why can’t this be done in Kuwait? I know it will not stop crimes but it will instill confidence among the people who are shopping. I feel safer when I see a young policeman or a police woman walking up and down. I do not think that would cost the police here any money.

Af ter the death of the young doc tor in Avenues we noticed increased police presence for a month or two. I t made people more relaxed. Then the security disappeared. How come poorer countries can install security systems that screen those who enter the malls and why we cannot do this in Kuwait?

When Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali started to streamline the traffic, we saw police patrol on every street. There were police checkpoints even in odd places with no traffic. If you really mean it then it is possible to have police patrolling near big malls and souqs in Kuwait.

Why can’t Kuwait invest in installing metal detectors at the entrances of malls where young people gather?

I am sure they can work out a way for shops and malls to pay for the safety of people if the government does not want to be burdened with the finances.

Like I said before, we always act when a tragedy strikes or something serious happens.

These incidents should make us think that it is not only the police that is to be blamed.

Families and the education system are also to be blamed. We are losing our values and traditions. And this is quite scary.

GUJBA: Rescue workers and family members gather to identify the shrouded bodies of students killed following an attack by Islamist extremist on an agricultural college in Gujba, Nigeria, yesterday. — AP

Militants storm Nigeria college, kill 50 students POTISKUM, Nigeria: Suspected Islamic extremists attacked an agricultural college in the dead of night, gunning down dozens of students as they slept in dormitories and torching classrooms, the school’s provost said, reporting the latest violence in northeastern Nigeria’s ongoing Islamic uprising.

As many as 50 students may have been killed in the assault that began at about 1 am yesterday in rural Gujba, Provost Molima Idi Mato of Yobe State College of Agriculture, said. “They attacked

our students while they were sleeping in their hostels, they opened fire at them,” he said.

He said he could not give an exact death toll as security forces still are recovering bodies of students mostly aged between 18 and 22.

The Nigerian military has collected 42 bodies and transported 18 wounded students to Damaturu Specialist Hospital, 40 kilometers (25) miles north, said a military intelligence official, who insisted on anonymity because he is not

authorized to speak to the press.

The extremists rode into the college in two double-cabin pickup all-terrain vehicles and on motorcycles, some dressed in Nigerian military camouflage uniforms, a sur viving student, Ibrahim Mohammed, told the AP. He said they appeared to know the layout of the college, attacking the four male hostels but avoiding the one hostel reserved for women. “We ran into the bush, nobody is left in the school now,” Mohammed said.

Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: Twenty one Kuwaiti political groups and movements yesterday expressed their total backing for calls by bedoons to organize a peaceful protest to observe the International Non-Violence Day and demand their rights.

The groups, which include the Popular Action Movement, the Kuwait Democratic Forum, the Progressive Movement, besides student and civil society organizations, also called on the government to introduce a comprehensive and lasting solution to over 110,000 stateless people.

The groups declared their position as bedoon activists have been calling on bedoon people to stage a peaceful protest on October 2 to observe the NonViolence Day and remind authorities that their plight has not been resolved. In their joint statement, the groups affirmed the rights of individuals and groups as enshrined in international covenants which have been signed and ratified by Kuwait.

They demanded for a comprehensive and fundamental solution to the issue of bedoons which should involve a well-defined plan to naturalize bedoons insisting the plan should start with granting bedoons all their basic civil, economic and social rights.

Continued on Page 15

‘Driving hurts Saudi women’s ovaries’ RIYADH: A Saudi cleric sparked a wave of mockery online when he warned women that driving would affect their ovaries and bring “clinical disorders” upon their children. The warning came ahead of an October 26 initiative to defy a longstanding driving ban on women in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

“Physiological science” has found that driving “automatically affects the ovaries and pushes up the pelvis,” Sheikh Saleh Al-Luhaydan warned women in remarks to local news website Sabq.org. “This is why we find that children born to most women who continuously drive suffer from clinical disorders of varying degrees,” he said. His comments prompted criticism on Twitter, which has become a rare platform for Saudis to voice their opinions in the absolute monarchy.

“What a mentality we have. People went to space and you still ban women from driving. Idiots,” said one comment.

Continued on Page 15

Suspects deny murder intent Cabinet to discus Mall killing amid security questions KUWAIT: Three teenagers suspected of killing a Kuwaiti man at the Marina Mall on Thursday night pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder during a marathon interrogation that took place at the Hawally Prosecution Department from 9:00 pm Friday to 8:00 am the following morning.

Saad Thuwaini, who was identified as the prime suspect in the case admitted that he stabbed 24-year-old Jamal AlEnizy with a knife, but denied murder intentions and argued that he acted in self-defense.

According to the preliminary interro-

gations’ transcript published by Al-Rai yesterday, Thuwaini and the other two suspects were first engaged in a fight in the mall’s crowded food court when they were “outnumbered by eight guys” following an altercation that escalated into a fist-fight. The three then escaped and walked towards the Marina Crescent where the crime took place. “My friend Abdullah Mubarak (the third suspect) was wearing two tee-shirts and he gave me one because mine was torn during the initial fight”, Thuwaini said during interrogations according to the transcript. The three stopped briefly before

making their way down the escalator where they sought to exit the complex.

“It was then that my friend Saad Faraj (the second suspect) accidently bumped into the victim and he became angry and pushed him. My friend pushed him right back and a fight ensued”, he said.

According to Thuwaini, the victim was the first to take a knife out as soon as Faraj pushed back. “At that point, my friend took out his own knife to defend himself”, he said, adding that Faraj soon fell on the floor, and that he had to step in to prevent the victim from stabbing him.

Continued on Page 15

Bahrain jails 50 for up to 15 years

WASHINGTON: The sun rises behind the White House in Washington yesterday.

The United States braced for a partial government shutdown tomorrow after the White House and congressional Democrats declared they would reject a bill approved by the Republican-led House to delay implementing President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform. — AP

DUBAI: A Bahraini court handed jail terms of up to 15 years yesterday to 50 Shiites, including a prominent Iraqi cleric, convicted of forming a clandestine opposition group, a judicial source said. Sixteen defendants were handed 15-year terms, while four were jailed for 10 years and the other 30 for five, the source said.

The defendants, including Iraqi cleric Hadi Al-Mudaressi who was tried in absentia, were charged with forming the “February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition”, which Bahraini authorities accuse of terrorism. The group has been the main driving force behind a Shiite-led uprising that began in 2011 to demand more rights for the majority community from the ruling Sunni dynasty. Several defendants were tried in absentia, including Saeed Al-

Shahabi, a key London-based opposition figure who faces an earlier life sentence for his role in the 2011 uprising.

Among those sentenced to five years in jail is a woman arrested in April during practice sessions for the Formula One Grand Prix on suspicion of plotting to carry out an attack on the Sakhir circuit, which hosts the world motor sport event.

Police at the time said two women were arrested, saying one of them had concealed a pillow under her clothes as a dry run to test security measures. The interior ministry in June named 11 suspects who were arrested in the case, in addition to 13 people who live abroad. Authorities said at the time that they were still hunting down others.

Continued on Page 15

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LOCAL

Six new faces in Kuwait municipal elections KUWAIT: None of the four women candidates running in Kuwait ’s Municipal Council elections was able to win a seat.

The results announced by the local authorities late on Saturday showed that 10 men carried their constituencies amid a rather low turnout attributed to “little interest in the municipal polls and to the high frequency of elections in the country”.

Women fared poorly even though 205,342 were registered to cast their ballots in the elections, compared with 178,887 male voters, confirming the belief in Kuwait that women candidates needed to secure the support of female voters in order to win seats in national elections. The women in the municipal elections had to face

Women fail to win in polls

57 male candidates.

Six of the winners are new faces while the other four are former council members who were re-elected.

According to Kuwait News Agency, Hassan Ali Khazaal won in the First Constituency with 1,999 votes, Muhalhal Al Khalid won in the Second Constituenc y with 1,234 votes, and Fahd Al Sane in the Third Constituency with 1,226 votes.

In the Four th Constituenc y, Abdullah Al Kandari was re-elected with 3,264 votes, while Fahd Al Ghurayyib will represent the Fifth Constituency after winning 3,510 votes.

In the Sixth Constituency, Ahmad Al Rashidi won with 3,200 votes, while Nayef Al Mutairi won in the Seventh Constituency with 4,205

votes, and Mishari Al Mutatah took the top spot in the Eighth Constituency with 6,431 votes.

The Ninth Constituency winner was Mane Al Ajmi with 4,294 votes and the Tenth Constituency winner was Adel Al Mai with 4,198 votes.

Prior to the announcement of the results, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Shaik h Mohammad Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah said that municipal elections were “fine and smooth”.

Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Shareeda Al Muosherji said, after meeting judiciary authorities, that all parties cooperated to organise and supervise the elections, Kuna reported.

Voters were able to cast their ballots between 8am and 8pm.

Three companies banned from World Bank contracts KUWAIT: Three Gulf companies recently have been banned from working on projects associated with the World Bank under its corruption and fraud policy.

The firms are among 11 in the Middle East to be added to the list since January, and are on top of several, including two from the UAE, that have been permanently delisted since 2000. The Saudi base of international conglomerate ARINC will not be able to bid for contracts with the World Bank until October, 2015, after breaching procurement guidelines, while another Saudi company, Lavalin Fayez Co, has been blacklisted until April 2023, in one of the longest nonpermanent bans.

The Lavalin case extends to any entity it directly or indirectly controls, although the ban could be lifted after eight years if the company and its entities comply with the ban and implement conditions set by the World Bank.

Consulting Engineering Services in Oman was recently barred for five years for breaching the international bank’s consulting guidelines.

However, the company will be eligible to participate in Bank-financed activities in the final three years if it meets conditions including implementing an acceptable corporate compliance program, cooperating with the bank and complying with the terms and conditions of the contract.

The UAE companies permanently banned are Eastern Trading Ltd and Inter Emirates. There are no details to clarify whether the blacklisted firms are the same as companies with the same name still operating in Sharjah and Dubai, respectively.

The World Bank, which has funded about $200bn worth of projects in developing countries in the past five years, says companies are banned when they breach either its corruption or procurement procedures.

The bans also apply to the Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and African Development Bank under a mutual enforcement agreement.

Crimes increasing at alarming rate

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Commenting on the recent murder of a Kuwaiti citizen at the Marina Mall, MP Sultan AlShemmari said that cases of manslaughter have been spreading at an alarming rate in Kuwait. He added that all penalties should be reviewed and made tougher and said “enough is enough”. He also wondered about the purpose of wasting millions on unspecialized media awareness campaigns. “What we need is more focus on finding suitable solutions”, he added, appreciating efforts exerted by security officials in arresting the culprits related to the murder quickly.

“We cannot ask the Interior Ministry to monitor shopping malls and recreation places more because they are facing a shortage of staff already as many young men have been refraining from joining the force”, he said, urging the interior minister compensate for the shortage by accepting Kuwaiti women’s sons. “Our security is at stake and needs a decision-maker like Al-Khaled”, he said. He also called for safety measures and giving all shop owners the license to hire enough security personnel, get more surveillance cameras and metal detectors to trace sharp objects.

MP Askar Al-Enezi suggested establishing a special police force to maintain law and order inside shopping malls and recreational sites. He also suggested that the special security team comprise of retired police and army personnel, in addition Kuwaiti women’s sons to make up for policemen shortage. “Irresponsible people take advantage of situations like this and start rioting, harassing, killing and damaging private and public property”, he warned, noting that such practices have scared families into staying home on

NEW YORK: Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah pictured with members of Kuwait Permanent Mission to the UN during the luncheon hosted by Kuwait’s UN Ambassador Mansour AlOtaibi.

FM briefs diplomats on Kuwait’s contributions to UN NEW YORK: Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah addressed Saturday Kuwaiti diplomats about their country’s contributions to the UN and its role in the international organization’s meetings.

Sheikh Sabah talked about Kuwait’s activities during the 68th UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) session, and instructed the diplomats on the means to postively contribute to meetings of the UN committees.

He was addressing members of Kuwait Permanent

Mission to the UN and other diplomats who came to New York to participate in the UNGA session, and meetings of affiliate political, economic, social and legal committees.

Kuwait’s UN Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi then held a luncheon in honor of Sheikh Sabah and the delegation accompanying him. The foreign minister arrived in New York last Friday as part of the official delegation of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah, who represented His Highness the Amir to the UNGA session. — KUNA

LBC, MediaCom announce Christmas promo partnership

weekends instead of heading out for a good time.

“These incidents are damaging Kuwait’s reputation in front of other GCC and foreign countries,” he underlined.

In an inquiry he filed to the Deputy PM and Oil Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi wondered why Kuwait lost over $72 million and didn’t take any measures to prevent further losses over the years. “Delay in closing down the Napoli refinery in Italy has cost KPC $72 million”, he said noting that the auditing bureau revealed that KPC had failed to reach a settlement with the Italian authorities regarding cleaning the refinery site though it was closed since 1994. He added that the Italian ministry of environment has prosecuted KPC and is demanding compensation for the damage the refinery caused.

Moreover, Al-Azmi said that Kuwait Petroleum International Co (KPI) has been paying $5 million a year to a security company guarding the refinery site though it is closed. “Who is responsible for such violations and losses? Have we formed any committee to investigate the losses? What are the measures the Oil Ministry took in this regard?”, he inquired.

Kuwait’s KGL said that a company operating in Oman where it owns a 47.7 percent stake recently signed a contract with the US army to provide handling and other logistic services at Omani ports of Qabous and Slalah. KGL added that the $99 million-worth contract was limited to one year and that its expected profit was 5 percent.

The Central Bank of Kuwait agreed to a request made by Boubyan Bank to extend the period of purchasing and selling the maximum of 10 percent of its shares for six months starting October 14, 2013.

‘Shop and Send Promo’

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Would you like to send advance gifts to your family and loved ones in the Philippines this Christmas? LBC, in partnership with MediaCom offers options which meet OFW ’s requirements. Veronica V Rey, Brand Specialist Middle East announced special Christmas promotion packages to cater to the needs of Filipino families this Christmas. “Filipinos in the Philippines as well as overseas are known to be very happy people who like sharing unforgettable moments and experiences,” she said.

Rey noted this special way of sharing and caring for loved ones has become a notable tradition in many parts of the country. “LBC and MediaCom recognized that we can be united in many ways. The special way of doing it in the Philippines is through music and we can only share through MediaCom karaoke,” she added.

“Almost ever y family in the Philippines has karaoke and we want to provide that to your

loved ones,” she said. LBC and Mediacom are proud to announce ‘Shop and Send Promo’ which runs until October 31 only.

How the shop and send promo works:

Combo Package, you’ll get 50 percent discount if you send it via LBC Air Cargo.

3. The first 100 customers will get KD 3 discount if they send it via LBC Air Cargo.

“Filipino families are not that

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complicated. They are happy with simple things like karaoke.

There’s also chance to win a portable Mediacom Handy-oke in a monthly raffle draw for LBC Air Cargo customers,” Rian Baniaga, Team Leader for LBC Kuwait, told this reporter. As the pioneer in the deliver y of

Balikbayan Boxes, LBC aim to provide total convenience for Filipinos and make it easy to send gifts to family and friends in the Philippines. LBC provides full door-to-door service, from picking up the box to delivering it right at the family’s doorstep.

“We are happy that LBC Kuwait is trusted by every customer, individual and even companies,” he added. LBC is proud of their urgent delivery services where the box is sent via air.

“Christmas is coming and we want to be a part of the family tradition of giving gifts to loved ones. We are here because we want those wishes and gifts to be delivered to your family in the easiest way,” he opined. LBC accepts important documents like authorization letters, official forms, letters and photos and delivers them anywhere in the Philippines. For more details about the promotion please call LBC hotline number 99616522 or 22461522 or visit: www.lbcexpress.com or visit MediaCom office at Shop #6 Mezzanine Floor, Al-Salam Tower, Kuwait City.

KISR holds workshop on innovative technological projects management KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has organised a workshop on leadership in the management of innovative technological projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The course, held in cooperation with the Kuala Lumpur-based International Centre for South-South Co-operation in Science, Technology and Innovation, discusses technical and innovative training and highlights the importance of innovative technological projects, how they are launched and internationally-adopted mechanisms to market scientific innovations.

“This workshop, which ends on Oct 3, aims at assessing the fundamentals of commercial opportunities, highlighting the major components required to create new projects and understanding the major factors which enable the launch of a project,” said KISR Deputy Director General for

Information Nader Al-Awadhi.

The concepts of innovation and commercial transactions are fundamental factors included in KISR’s strategic plan, he said, expressing hope the course would enhance the strategy of commercial growth, competitiveness, commercial patterns and understanding of marketing mechanisms for innovative technological projects.

Some 45 experts in the field are taking part in the event from Malaysia, Egypt, India, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, Kenya, Zambia, Pakistan, Sudan and Kuwait, represented by bodies like Kuwait University and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The attendees are expected to come up with budgets for innovative projects, in addition to their means of marketing and the skills required for negotiating with financial experts in the industrial field in order to reach the best deals. — KUNA

Kuwait chooses new representative at OAPEC KUWAIT: The Ministry of Oil said yesterday that its Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs Sheikh Talal Nasser Al-Athbi AlSabah was appointed as Kuwait’s representative in the Executive Bureau of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).

Sheikh Talal’s appointment of such an important regional post in OAPEC, after being nominated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil Mustafa AlShemali, comes to contribute to boosting joint Arab cooperation, mutual coordination in establishing petroleum projects, and laying Arab economic integration, the ministry said in a statement.

Also, the ministry indicated that OAPEC’s Executive Bureau assists the Arab oil ministerial council in super-

vising the Organization’s affairs, adding that each OAPEC member state has a representative in the Executive Bureau. Each representative assumes chairmanship of the Bureau on a rotating basis according to the alphabetical order of the member countries for a period of one year, it noted. In addition, it pointed out that Sheikh Talal is a member of the board of directors of the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), and member of the audit committee of one of OAPIC’s affiliated companies, which specializes in financing petroleum industry projects for various member countries. Kuwait is a co-founder of the OAPEC, which was formed in January, 1968 by an agreement concluded with Saudi Arabia and Libya, indicated the statement. —KUNA

Man acquitted of theft KUWAIT: The Court of First Instance acquitted a Kuwaiti man of break-in and theft charges and overruled a three-year prison sentence issued against him in absentia. The Public Prosecution accused the man of breaking into another Kuwaiti man’s house and stealing items. The court order came after the man’s attorney Mohammad Kamal presented evidence to prove that the case was fabricated, and used eyewitnesses’ testimonies to support his argument, including the building’s janitor’s statements. The janitor said that the accused man was not seen at the building for a long time.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LOCAL

AMMAN: Kuwait Parliament speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim pictured with Jordaninan officials during his visit to Amman yesterday.

Al-Ghanim hails brotherly ties with Jordan AMMAN: Parliament speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim expressed the Kuwaiti National Assembly’s appreciation of Jordan’s role on the Syrian crisis and pledged Kuwait’s commitment to parliamentary ties with its Arab neighbours.

“HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is dedicated to strengthening brotherly relations with Jordan,” he said, noting specifically that “parliamentary cooperation between both countries is a reflection of the strong bond that ties together the two wise leaderships of the brotherly nations.”

The Kuwaiti chief parliamentarian, who is currently on his first visit to Jordan since assuming office, was speaking in a meeting with Jordan’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Saad Al-Srour, during

which both agreed on a joint declaration for early consultations on issues of mutual significance ahead of attending regional and international podiums.

Al-Ghanim, as head of the Arab group at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), expressed the readiness of the National Assembly “to accept any suggestions aimed at supporting Arab stances and aiding their causes at this important international venue.”

He highlighted the importance of unity on issues that affect Arab parliaments by building upon joint interests in facing challenges that threaten the region and leave negative repercussions on its nations.

Meanwhile, Al-Srour, who was invited by Al-Ghanim to visit Kuwait, said “we (Jordan) will be loyal to the State of Kuwait, which always stood

by Jordan, and we will make sure to maintain the purity of relations between both nations.”

The people of Jordan value highly Kuwait’s support, which was sometimes extended to “critical periods”, and at times his country went through rough times, said the Jordanian parliamentarian.

Noting examples of the cooperation between both countries, he said that “King Abdullah II of Jordan continues to direct his government to work to ease the stay of Kuwaiti college students in Jordan, providing them with the smoothest of facilities,” and that Kuwaiti investments have had a huge impact on development plans in Jordan.

Kuwaiti policies have always been a source of great admiration and appreciation in Jordan, and its deci-

sion to host an Arab-African summit is an important factor illustrating the role it plays in the region.

On Arab affairs, the two lawmakers saw eye-to-eye on the need for a political solution that puts a stop to the bloodshed in Syria and limits the suffering of its people. They also agreed the need for joint Arab action on the parliamentary scale to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque from the “campaign” it is being targeted with from the forces of the Israeli occupation.

Al-Ghanim also later met Jordan’s Speaker of the Senate Taher Al-Masri, who reiterated his compatriot parliamentarian’s comments on the ties which combine both countries. AlMasri also spoke highly of Kuwaiti democracy, which he described as “stable, firm and proactive in the field of pan-Arab action.” — KUNA

New security system to provide protection at shopping malls Murder of youth terrifies residents

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The recent murder that took place at Marina Mall in Salmiya, where a 24year-old Kuwaiti man was stabbed to death signifies increasing violence in the country.

The incident has left people terrified of going to malls on weekends. The Ministry of Interior held a meeting yesterday and agreed to establish a security system that will provide complete protection at shopping malls in all governorates. The system will be designed to provide better surveillance and prevent crimes at the malls. This will be enforced in cooperation with security departments at all governorates and the security teams at the malls.

“The ministry is now discussing the

Dr Kazem Abal security systems in the malls. We agreed that the number of surveillance cameras should be increased and alarms and metal detectors should be installed at mall entrances and maintained regularly,” Maj Raed Buslaib told the Kuwait Times.

Recently, a local Arabic daily published a terrifying statistic about crime rates in Kuwait. Head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faisal Al-Mershed made the statistics official to Al-Qabas daily where he warned that crime cases reached 222,000 in 2012 with an average of 3,000 cases a day - which was up by 11 percent compared to 2011 which saw 198,000 cases.

“Unfortunately, crimes have increased while tolerance levels have dropped within members of the same family” he said.

Psychotherapist Dr Kazen Abal has a different perspective on the elements leading to the increase in violence. “The first element is the weak role of the family in their

children’s awareness and upbringing.

Children who grow up in unstable families, especially when their parents are separated, reflect their home’s negative attitude outside. The father’s role in such families is weak as he is mostly busy with work.

Studies have also proven that a father’s influence on his kids is greater than the mother’s,” he explained.

The second element he takes into consideration is school. “I think that the role of a school may be even more important than family. The schools take care of the children from their early childhood till they graduate from high school. Schools have to take extra initiatives to make the children aware and guide them. This system is applied in Europe and the United States. Our educational system lacks such awareness programs and only focuses on teaching the curriculum and doesn’t focus on the students’ attitude and behavior,” stressed Dr Abal. NGOs also play an important role in increasing violence in our community. “The NGOs should provide teenagers with enough opportunities to learn the culture and practice sports and entertainment.

Their role is to complement the role of the family and school in the child’s life who has been deprived of either or both. Media is an important platform to spread awareness of laws and regulations,” he pointed out.

Dr Abal mostly blamed the institutions executing the laws. “Laws are applied randomly. The killers at Marina Mall knew that they have someone to get them out of prison. I think that such weak laws have encouraged the youngsters to commit the crime. This wasn’t the first time a crime has been committed openly in a shopping mall. A doctor was murdered in a similar fashion earlier this year in at another mall,” said Dr Abal.

Delivering the verdict on the guilty should happen fast. “ The punishment should be announced within a week or two as it will serve as a lesson for others and make people think a hundred times before committing such crimes. I think the execution should take place in public like a yard or someplace where youngsters and the public in general will be able to witness it happen and this will go a long way in ensuring that such crimes aren’t committed,” he concluded.

KUWAIT: Health Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Abdullah yesterday launched the Newborn Hearing Screening program at Ghanima Al-Ghanim Center. Speaking on the occasion, the minister stressed that according to WHO and Kuwait’s regulations, the new program is very important in early detection of hearing problems. The minister also announced launching another program to examine kindergarten kids eye sight in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LOCAL

kuwait digest

In my view

Fake degrees phenomenon

Accusations of Al-Adsani

By Nabil Al-Fadhl

By Abdullah Buwair

M

I

t is strange to see that academic degrees continue to be bought and sold in Kuwait. This problem came to light in the late 1990s, and since then has only been on the rise. Today, it has become an extremely dangerous phenomenon.

I personally know of a citizen who works in the public sector and, until now, only had a high school degree as his top academic qualification. Suddenly and without any prior notice, I learned that he had obtained a PhD in a field that I know is not amongst his interests. I believe this is one example of many cases where people ‘import’ degrees from abroad and receive them right at their desks without any trouble whatsoever.

A local daily recently reported that the Ministry of

What about our other priorities?

By Ahmed Al-Faqm Al-Azmi

A

s expected, the housing issue was on top of citizens’ priorities, as per a poll conducted by the parliament. Accordingly, lawmakers held a meeting to discuss prioritizing this issue and treated it as an example for the next parliamentary term. The question here is: What about other priorities like healthcare and educational concerns?

I do not expect the housing problem to be solved soon even if it is prioritized by the parliament. Facts in Kuwait have proven that simple problems sometimes take over a decade to be resolved. This happens because of the instability of our Cabinets and occasionally changing governments and parliaments, which negatively affects planning and projects, not to mention the bureaucracy. Now we are used to the fact that

Lawmakers’ focus on one problem is a good thing because their efforts will not be squandered. Well, what we need is real cooperation between both powers to quickly solve problems. Both legislative and executive need to cooperate to introduce new laws and legislations to solve citizens’ major problems and avoid wasting precious time in the bargain while citizens wait for houses and more applications accumulate. simple transactions that normally require one signature take months to be finally completed. So what happens to Kuwait’s major issue: housing?

If solving the housing issue takes decades, what will happen to other concerns during these years? How will citizens manage while watching health and educational services deteriorate due to neglect?

Lawmakers’ focus on one problem is a good thing because their efforts will not be squandered.

Well, what we need is real cooperation between both powers to quickly solve problems. Both legislative and executive need to cooperate to introduce new laws and legislations to solve citizens’ major problems and avoid wasting precious time in the bargain while citizens wait for houses and more applications accumulate - eventually bringing us back to square one! — Al-Jarida

al rov

kuwait digest

Cabinet

it’s wa ion Ku tect ct proproje

Higher Education refused to accredit higher degrees of many Kuwaiti citizens from universities in the Philippines.

Fake degrees come from many sources - there are many people ready and willing to help anyone looking for one and soon after, these people were given the green light to take full advantage of their degrees.

The Ministry of Education has continued to be irresponsible. In the same way that they had previously encouraged the rapid increase in private tuition, they now encourage people to obtain fake degrees. I’ve heard of certain “conditions” that need to be met for obtaining a higher degree outside Kuwait, which include helping an instructor obtain a work permit and a decent job in Kuwait, in addition to giving them valuable “gifts” amongst others. Moreover, even though all the universities in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries teach only on weekdays, there is a group of new “graduates” in Kuwait who have managed to obtain degrees from a GCC country taking classes on weekends.

These practices must not be encouraged and I leave you with a quote to reflect upon: Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” (39:9).

p Ap

I’ve heard of certain “conditions” that need to be met for obtaining a higher degree outside Kuwait, which include helping an instructor obtain a work permit and a decent job in Kuwait, in addition to giving them valuable “gifts” amongst others.

N As atio se na m l bl y

kuwait digest

The bear which killed its savior

By Dr Wael Al-Hasawi

O

nce upon a time there was a bear whose life was saved by a man. One day, the bear spotted a fly on the man’s nose while he was sleeping.

Wanting to return the favor, the bear lifted a boulder to kill the fly with, but ended up killing both the fly and his friend when he threw it on his face.

This folktale describes many situations we experience but fail to learn from them. For example, AlQaeda members rushed to Syria to fight against the Ba’athist regime. After they were allowed to fight alongside rebel fighters, they soon turned their backs on the rebels, leaving them exposed to their enemy. Al-Qaeda fighters have now waged war against the Free Syria Army and another faction that shared their ideologies such as the Nusra Front.

Rebel leaders were supposed to kick Al-Qaeda members out of Syria right from the start but instead allowed thousands of volunteers to join the fight against the rebels.

Unfortunately, the same scenario has been repeated quiet often in other places. Less than two years ago, Muslims in Mali rebelled against Al-Qaeda members and sought France’s help to free their lands from Al-Qaeda’s oppression. And in Somalia, people united to expel the Al-Shabab group out of their country after the Al-Qaeda subsidiary

destroyed their land and caused the death of thousands of Somali civilians. Instead of making amends and rectifying their mistakes, Al-

Somalia, and tried to justify their actions to Muslims by releasing the Muslim civilians from the mall while killing non-Muslims. A similar situation is also seen in Nigeria where the Boko Haram group commits heinous crimes, in addition to other countries with Al-Qaeda presence like Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Muslim countries have the duty to not only eliminate this destructive ideology within our societies, but also study the reasons behind its emergence and spread as well as why many Muslim youth end up adopting it. They are also required to study ways to curb its spread through religious awareness that explain the difference between Jihad and terrorist activity.

There is no doubt that countries which persecute moderate Islamic movements whenever those take part in the democratic process, have contributed to the spread of extremism in Arab and Muslim countries by giving the wrong message to groups whose efforts are based on spreading moderation; and instead making them believe that terrorism could be the best way to achieve their goals.

Meanwhile, moderate Muslim groups are required to play a great role in fighting extremism and spreading moderation within youngsters, which must happen in parallel with abandoning any kind of practice that leans towards violence. — Al-Rai

Less than two years ago, Muslims in Mali rebelled against Al-Qaeda members and sought France’s help to free their lands from AlQaeda’s oppression. And in Somalia, people united to expel the Al-Shabab group out of their country after the Al-Qaeda subsidiary destroyed their land and caused the death of thousands of Somali civilians. Instead of making amends and rectifying their mistakes, Al-Shabab committed a new crime in Nairobi which helped Somalia free its lands from those criminals.

Shabab committed a new crime in Nairobi which helped Somalia free its lands from those criminals. They killed innocent civilians who had nothing to do with the situation in

kuwait digest

Angelina and Etab

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

A

ngelina Jolie is considered one of the most successful Hollywood stars and yet is seen by many as a “disbeliever” whose religion is not known for certain, and a “sinner” who stripped in front of the camera multiple times and had two children with her boyfriend, fellow Hollywood star Brad Pitt.

Born in 1975, Jolie made a name for herself as an excellent actress and successful director, and won several awards including three Golden Globes. She is also considered one of the best Hollywood celebrities in many fields, and the only one to visit refugee camps in Afghanistan, Iraq, and areas within other Muslim countries that most celebrities in the Arab World most likely know nothing about. She is credited for donating tens of millions of dollars from her own money to the poor worldwide (noting that she is not a billionaire), with a large number of her donations going to Arabs and Muslims.

Jolie spends long periods of time roaming in the poorest and most dangerous locations in the world; not to shoot a movie or hunt exotic animals, but to relieve the suffering of those who are tormented. She is also known for

adopting four orphans from different races, and has said on numerous occasions that she and Pitt consider adopting more children.

Despite the life of luxury and fame that she lives in, Jolie is known to be very down to earth. She does all house work when she’s at home, and often receives help from Pitt himself!

On the other hand, Iraqi lawmaker Etab Al-Doury is a Muslim woman who wears a hijab and is k nown for being a devout person.

She is also said to enjoy a large salary that is paid to Iraqi MPs from public tax something that is often discussed in the Iraqi media, yet never either confirmed or denied. She lives in a lavish mansion located in Baghdad’s Green Zone, has three modern vehicles and hires three domestic helpers in addition to receiving allround protection from armed bodyguards. In the meantime, she failed to provide anything for the service of the poor in her country.

The two examples above might not be 100 percent accurate, and do not aim to improve the image of one at the expense of the other. They are only portrayed to indicate that those who help others do not necessarily have to be the ones who are most religious or devoted. — Al-Qabas

She lives in a lavish mansion located in Baghdad’s Green Zone, has three modern vehicles and hires three domestic helpers in addition to receiving all-round protection from armed bodyguards. In the meantime, she failed to provide anything for the service of the poor in her country.

P Riyadh Al-Adsani made a very confusing statement on Monday where he not only mocked but also directly attacked the government and accused it of “being careless towards people’s lives and considering them a toy.” This is after some tragic accidents that included the drowning of two children in a pond in Wafra, a girl slipping into coma in Adan hospital after she was mistakenly injected with cortisone and the air leakage from the emergency door of one of KAC planes! We also tried to speak with some experienced scientists to find the missing link between the three accidents but were left empty-handed.

The drowning of the kids was sad and it would solely be the parents responsibility, as the father allowed them to swim in a contaminated pond in an off-limit place. The cortisone injection, as Al-Adsani himself said, was a human mistake among thousands of mistakes that occur in all hospitals around the world. Indeed, we have to hold those who committed accountable but we cannot hold the government responsible for this mistake. Also the incident of the air leakage from one of the emergency doors of Kuwait Airways aircraft was just an accident that occurs in thousands of aircraft every day. If the defect was discovered on ground, it would have been repaired before take-off, but it occurred mid-flight, so the captain took all the necessary precautions to reduce the leakage as well as the noise resulting from it.

Yet, what is the link between this leakage and the cortisone injection? And how is this linked to the kids drowning? And on what basis has the MP linked all the events and questioned the government? People’s lives are in the hands of fate, not the government. There are so many cases of old people living a long life while their young and athletic kids die in untimely and unfortunate accidents.

If Al-Adsani is keen on people’s safety, then why don’t we hear anyone speak about those who instigate demonstrations on the streets which almost always result in police force and injuries being reported? Who don’t such incidents move Al-Adsani to warn the youth against inviting an injury or a court sentence? Al-Adsani, enough teasing... concentrate on whatever is beneficial serves the people. — Al-Watan

kuwait digest

Principle-less liberals, MB!

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

L

iberals have double standards and so do the Muslim Brotherhood. Such a fact is easily and clearly noticeable when we review each side’s reactions to similar cases with different accused people!

When the Egyptian army deposed elected president Mohammed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) made a political transition to wailing and complaining sessions in the parliament, accusing the army of tyranny and dictatorship. On the other hand, the liberals described what happened as a triumph to the secular state.

Each side’s argument presented proof to justify its own views and concepts using accusations of infidelity on one side and retrograding on the other. They exchanged accusations and the verbal conflict extended into Kuwait on talk shows, newspapers and social media networks.

Three months later, when both sides are still clinging to their opinions, Sudan is now plagued with demonstrations against Al-Basheer’s regime. However, the image is reversed now with liberals, who had applauded for the army’s reaction against MB demonstrators, describing what happened as ‘a blessed public movement’ by the Sudanese people to change the regime. On the other hand, MB in both Egypt and Kuwait made no comments, not even for the sake of

Kuwait has been suffering from its politicians’ contradictions who have double standards because there are no fixed principles in politics. Those amazed at such attitudes and those criticizing both liberals and MB for adopting them, should realize that the variables are more than fixed principles in politics. The main political principle is that, in order to avoid falling, one should act according to variables, not according to principles. saving themselves from shame! The only victims of such contradiction in both countries are simple citizens while the biggest winners are politicians, or rather the “the political elite”! This applies to all Arab countries and not only to Egypt and Sudan.

Kuwait has been suffering from its politicians’ contradictions who have double standards because there are no fixed principles in politics. Those amazed at such attitudes and those criticizing both liberals and MB for adopting them, should realize that the variables are more than fixed principles in politics. The main political principle is that, in order to avoid falling, one should act according to variables, not according to principles.

For instance, the majority of the Kuwaiti opposition took a slogan of ‘All But The Constitution’ two years ago and have, more than once, warned that violating the constitution would blow the whole democratic process in Kuwait.

The very same opposition is calling for electing a Cabinet nowadays, which calls for a constitutional amendment. One shouldn’t be a genius to analyze their motives.

When they called for protecting the Constitution, they aimed at protecting democratic public gains against governmental attempts to control them. And now when calling for an elected Cabinet, they are also trying to embarrass the government because they believe that the appointed governments have been the reason for all the problems over the past two decades. This means that shifting attitudes is normal in politics. It wouldn’t be normal to find a political movement or party throughout the Arab world that has adapted fixed principles all the way. For that reason, and that reason alone, all our political attempts towards democratization are doomed to fail because neither Arab governments nor oppositions have fixed principles. That is why foreign attempts to destabilize security in any Arab country becomes easy because they make use of political contradictions to create total chaos. — Aljarida

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LOCAL

A gang of 4 beats, kidnaps a Syrian

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: A Syrian expat accused four persons of kidnapping and beating him, before handcuffing him. They also took KD 600. The Syrian also accused an officer at Firdous police station of kicking him out and refused to register a complaint. A security sources said the expat went to Qairawan police station. The victim who works in construction, received a call from a lady who wanted to repair her house in Nahda area where he went to agree with the lady on the value of what she wanted done.

He said that while at the house, he was surprised by four men entering the lady’s house, beat and handcuffed him, then took me to a Firdous area house after placing him in the trunk of the car, and took KD 600. The Syrian said he went to Firdous police station and explained to the officer what happened, but

he kicked him out and did not accept his complaint. The Syrian said he knows one of the attackers, who is a citizen and has previous differences with him.

Fire breaks out Fire broke out in a bridge under construction, for the new expansion project of First Ring Road near Al-Sabah health zone. Firemen from industrial Shuwaikh, Sulaibikhat, and back up centers rushed to the scene and fought the fire that continued from 3 pm until 8 pm because of difficulty reaching some places. No injuries were reported.

A “tug” lifted KFSD through Shuaiba Sea Rescue Center along with the diving team, lifted a navigation hazard which is a “tug” in Jlaiah sea area. The process took seven hours to be completed.

This is not the first time the two sides cooperate in various areas.

Fire on boat A boot was on fire across from Souk Sharq prompting Shuwaikh Sea Fire Center to rush to the boat and put out the fire. No injuries were reported.

Drug dealers arrested Narcotics officers arrested two Arabs for selling drugs in Kuwait. Local drugs fighting unit received information about an Arab selling drugs, so an undercover source was asked to buy five grams of ICE, and he was arrested during the exchange. 50 grams of heroin and 40 grams of ICE were found in his house. He said that he receives the drugs from another Arab, where 250 grams of hashish, 10 grams of ICE and 20 illicit tablets were found.

Praise for Kuwait’s role in eliminating world poverty Huge achievements in various fields VIENNA: Kuwait suppor ts the work of OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) due to the instilled faith in its social responsibilities to eliminate poverty around the world, said OFID Director General, Sulaiman AlHarbash. Kuwait has been one of the first countries to support poor nations as it also supports increasing OFID’s resources, said AlHarbash yesterday, after receiving Kuwait’s newly-appointed ambassador to Austria and Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, Sadiq Marafi.

Al-Harbash said that during one of his visits to HH the Amir, “HH Sheikh Sabah was pleased to know that the fund is keeping on aiding the developing countries as 50 percent of that aid goes to Africa as it consists of poor and disadvantaged countries.”

On a similar note, Al-Harbash said that an Arab-African econom-

ic forum will be held in Kuwait on Nov 11 and 12, noting that the Fund has been invited by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to attend and participate at the gathering, which will pave the way for the third Arab-African summit.

He said OFID was also invited

by General Secretariat of the Arab League to attend the summit, which will be held in Kuwait on Nov 18 and 19.

On receiving Ambassador Marafi, he said the meeting was within the framework of introducing him to his counterparts and heads of International Organizations as well as briefing him on the development of the Arab world in particular and the rest of the world in general.

Marafi was also briefed on the development activities implemented by KFAED, especially the preparations for the upcoming summit. Marafi was then briefed

by Al-Harbash about OFID, which

is the development finance institution established by the Member States of OPEC in 1976 as a collective channel of aid to the developing countries.

OFID Director General said that the ambassador, during his visit to the fund, met with the fund’s Kuwaiti work force as he expressed his appreciation to what the working groups have been implementing.

Ambassador Marafi expressed his pride and gratitude towards OFID’s aid to the developing countries, including supporting infrastructure projects such as education, health, provision of water, boosting energy use, in addition to provision of special aid to combat AIDS, supporting efforts of relief teams in Palestine as well as providing food aid for Africa.

The resolution of the Finance Ministry taken during the latest ministerial council last June to increase the Fund’s resources is an

explicit recognition of the active and positive role of the Fund as the member states are keen to achieve the noble goals of supporting developing countries to eliminate poverty, he added.

He pointed out that these goals primarily fall within the main target, which was put by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah. He noted that during the meeting, they touched on a number of topics, including OFID’s organization of a training course in Vienna to train a group of young people from the Foreign Ministr y, Information Ministr y, Finance Ministry and others to enhance and strengthen relations among the Fund’s member states.

Marafi said the outstanding efforts of the work force in OFID reflects a bright image of Kuwait, its civilization and culture as well as its huge achievements in various fields due to the wise leadership of HH the Amir. — KUNA

Dow marine conservation program ‘a big success’ KUWAIT: Dow Chemical, in partnership with The en.v Initiative (en.v) and implementing partner Kuwait Society for Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH), announced yesterday the significant achievements of the Dow Marine Conser vation Program (DMCP) Summer Awareness Campaign which concluded earlier this week. The campaign which lasted for 13 days over a period of four weeks, managed to attract a total of 1,500 visitors at three key commercial centers around Kuwait, with 222 families signed up to participate in future DMCP beach clean-ups. The DMCP is an integral component of Al Yaal, a nationwide marine conservation initiative to protect Kuwait’s rich marine ecosystem.

At each of the three locations, Al Yaal staff assembled a faux beach setup constructed of recycled materials usually found on beaches, such as shells, plastic bottles, bags, and clean sand, with the help of shovels, sand sifters, rakes and gloves. The staff also displayed a series of photographs documenting successes and accomplishments of previous clean-ups, where volunteers had spotted and rescued endangered species. The booth also included before and after shots of cleaned up beaches, it showcased educational fun facts about Kuwait’s marine environment and offered a variety of fun games and activities for the visitors and volunteers.

“DMCP’s summer awareness campaign was a tremendous success and we are pleased to witness this initiative conclude for this season with a fruitful accomplishment,” stated Jamel Attal, Managing Director at Dow

Chemical in Kuwait. “At Dow, we firmly believe in the importance of engaging community members in sustainable practices and we are delighted to be part of an initiative that seeks out members of the public, educates them about the importance of sustainable practices and offers them an opportunity to play an active role in making a positive change and preserving Kuwait’s marine environment.”

Al Yaal staff along with volunteers from K’S PATH, Spread the Passion and I AM Challenge - Kuwait staged demonstration beach clean-ups, answered visitor queries and questions about various environmental activities and organized fun recycling games. They also actively encouraged registration for future clean-ups.

Other volunteers also walked around in the vicinity of Al Yaal’s display area carrying photo-cards of cleaned up sites and a registration clipboard to gauge the interest of community members to partake in future cleanups. All volunteers across organizations successfully raised awareness and drove activity at the booth for a total of 165 hours. “ We are very pleased with the interest our Summer Awareness Campaign has garnered from members of the community in Kuwait.

Raising awareness amongst the general public and providing opportunities for citizens to actively participate in positive change is key to the success of en.v’s social programs”, stated Zahed Sultan, Managing Director of the The en.v Initiative.

The Al Yaal initiative focuses on conserving ecologically rich marine habitats along the Bay of Kuwait and islands with two key sites, Sulaibikhat

and Doha, which are home to many species of flora and fauna at risk from man-made pollution. To date, Al Yaal has manually collected over 19000 kgs (19 tonnes) of waste. Each beach clean-up is conducted after securing permit from the Kuwait Ministry of Interior and follows the program methodology and defined safety guidelines. Volunteers are briefed on site and each clean-up is assessed on a number of key performance indicators.

K’S PATH Chairman and Founder Ayeshah Al Humaidhi noted, “We are delighted by the positive outcome of the summer awareness drive and the educational role it played in sensitizing Kuwait’s community to the importance of protecting our natural marine habitats for posterity. Over the past three years, we have expanded our focus as the implementation partner of the program to visit schools, exhibitions and youth groups to mobilize them to clean up habitats that are nesting grounds for a variety of species including flamingos, mudskippers, spiny tailed lizards, and many migratory birds. It is encouraging to see schools and visitors at the drive show a collective interest in pro-active measures as well such as responsible waste management and recycling.”

Dow combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LOCAL

Burgan Bank’s Riyal X-Change card devoted to Hajj, Umra KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday that its multi-currency X-Change cardholders travelling for Hajj and Omra can now enjoy a comfortable and convenient travel experience. As a means to provide added convenience for its XChange cardholders, Hajj and Umra travelers can choose their card in Saudi Riyal and purchase it at the best rate for the ease and convenience of their transactions.

The card will retain the same value of the exchange rate at which it was purchased to protect customers from currency fluctuation. The card can be purchased online through the banks website and can be also reloaded online.

To find out more about Burgan Bank’s latest X-Change card, or any of its products and services, customers are urged to visit any of the bank’s branches, or contact the call center on 1804080.

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”.

Interpol hands fugitive to Egyptian authorities Bikini-clad woman creates furor KUWAIT: Kuwait Interpol handed a fugitive over to Egyptian authorities after he arrived in Kuwait recently. The German national arrived at the Cairo International Airport on Saturday following his arrest in Kuwait where he traveled after issuing checks which bounced. The man was sent back to Egypt to face charges.

False alarm Bomb squads headed to a location in Salmi desert where a Kuwaiti man reported finding a foreign object half buried in the sand. Bomb technicians were called in after a shepherd who worked for a Kuwaiti man said that he suspected the halfburied object to be a landmine. Closer examination revealed that the object was just some garbage which was strewn after the camping season.

Bomb squads successfully detonated a landmine found recently in Kabd. The technicians rushed to a spot near a Kuwaiti man’s private property where the landmine was found and detonated it after evacuating the area. The experts left the scene after sweeping the place clean for other potential hazards.

Illegal renting Criminal Investigation officers arrested a number of building janitors for renting apartments illegally. The arrests were made based on information that the janitors allowed people to rent apartments for a short period of time, like a few days or even for a few hours. They are currently being questioned to reveal if they aided and abetted individuals who practiced illegal activities in the dark.

Police also found bank transfer documents with the suspects which showed that they remitted an average of KD 450 weekly to their home countries.

Wife beater A Salmiya resident faces charges after he reportedly assaulted his wife and kicked her out of their apartment. Patrol officers approached a

woman when she waved at them on the road and discovered that her husband threw her out of the house. The Arab woman was taken to the area’s police station where she filed a case, and then police called her friend to come over and take her home after she explained that she has no relatives in Kuwait and has been in the country for only a few months. Police have summoned the husband for questioning.

Fake passport A truck driver was arrested at the northern border after he tried to enter Kuwait with a forged passport. The Pakistani man raised suspicions when he was spotted avoiding eye contact with the police and was arrested when a fingerprint

scan revealed that he was blacklisted after being deported previously. He was referred to the proper authorities for further action.

Bikini-clad woman Police were called to Khairan beach over the weekend after several people at chalets complained about a woman in a bikini. The swimsuitclad lady was soon approached by officers who informed her that she was required to cover up if she wanted to continue walking on the beach. She insisted that she didn’t do anything wrong and the police were forced to explain that many people complained about her “inappropriate behavior”.

The officers left the beach after the woman eventually agreed to stay away from the public’s eyes.

Bahrain to host GCC Media Forum MANAMA: The 1st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Media Forum will kick off in Bahrain today. The theme of the two-day forum is “Media, Communications and National Security Means” and will see the participation of a large number of experts from the Gulf and Arab regions.

Bahraini Information Affairs Authority’s (IAA) President Ali Mohammed Al-Rumaihi told (KUNA) yesterday the meeting is a great chance to enhance the joint cooperating and coordination among the media institutions in the Gulf region, to best serve the national security of the GCC countries.

The meeting, the first of its kind, will see participation of 150 senior officials and experts in the media and communication affairs, he said. This event is held upon the

decision of the GCC media officials to boost the joint GCC media strategy 2010-2020, he affirmed. This strategy aims at reaching balanced relations between media freedom, respect of professional and ethical regulations in the face of current challenges represented in the violence, radicalism and terrorism in the region.

The meeting will witness Kuwaiti participation, during which the speakers will tackle the rights and obligations of print, audio-visual media, besides the electronic social networks.

He hailed the deep-rooted ties between Kuwait and Bahrain, stressing Kuwait’s support of Bahrain’s security and stability.

The forum coincides with Bahrain’s nomination as the capital of Arab media for 20132014, he said. — KUNA

Al-Anba holds mock evacuation drill KUWAIT: Kuwait local Arabic daily Al-Anba successfully conducted a mock evacuation drill on Wednesday after its employees and journalists underwent a three-day training course on evacuation and sheltering.

The drill involved evacuating the Al-Anba building after a mock terrorist explosion where injured staff had to be moved to nearby shelters.

The drill was supervised by Editor-in-Chief Yousif Khaled Al-Marzouq, his Deputy, Adnan Al-Rashid and Editorial Advisor, Yousif Abdul Rahman. Retired Lit General Musaed Al-Ghuwanem lectured trainees on the concept of evacuation and providing shelter and also elaborated on the types of evacuation, regulations to be followed, types of fires, combating different kinds of blaze, the difference between various kinds of fire extinguishers and which one to use to extinguish a domestic fire apart from a really destructive one.

The course also laid emphasis on the best ways to provide first-aid assistance for different kinds of injuries as well as the best ways to carry the injured to temporary evacuation centers.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Australia defends response as refugee sinking toll hits 28 Page 12

Assad vows to comply with UN resolution Page 8

PESHAWAR: Pakistani shop owners gather at the site of a bomb explosion in the busy Kissa Khwani market in Peshawar yesterday. A car bomb killed at least 40 people in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, officials said, the third deadly strike to hit the city in a week. — AFP

Bomb kills 40 in northwest Pakistan Pakistani govt condemns drone attack PESHAWAR: A car bomb ripped through a crowded street in Peshawar’s oldest bazaar yesterday, killing 40 people in the third blast to hit the troubled city in a week, officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The explosion appeared to have been caused by a bomb planted in a parked car and detonated by remote control, said police officer Zahid Khan. It went off near a mosque and a police station, damaging the house of worship and nearby shops and engulfing many vehicles in flames, police said.

At least 40 people were killed and 90 wounded, said Jamil Shah, a spokesman for Lady Reading Hospital, where the victims were taken. Such attacks in Peshawar, in northwestern Pakistan, have claimed more than 140 lives since last Sunday, when two suicide bombers blew themselves

India, Pakistan PMs seek end to Kashmir tension NEW YORK: The prime ministers of India and Pakistan agreed yesterday they need to stop the recent spate of attacks in the disputed Kashmir region in order for peace talks to advance, a senior Indian official said.

They also both accepted invitations to visit each other’s countries, but no dates were set. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif met for just over one hour at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It was their first face-to-face meeting since Sharif was elected in May. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, and relations between the nuclear rivals have been strained since the 2008 Mumbai attacks blamed on Pakistan-based militants that killed 164 people in India’s commercial hub. This year, a renewed spate of violence has threatened a decade-long cease-fire on the Kashmir frontier.

Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon called Sunday’s meeting useful and constructive. He said that Singh and Sharif had tasked senior military officers to find a way to shore up a decade-long cease-fire along the disputed frontier in Kashmir, known as the Line of Control.

“They were both agreed that the pre-conditions for forward movement in the relationship which they both desire is an improvement of the situation on the Line of Control where there have been repeated cease-fire violations,” Menon told reporters at a briefing.

“Our overall impression of the meeting was that it was useful because it provided an opportunity for high-level contact on issues that are troubling the relationship,” he said. “We will now see how both sides take it forward in the next few months.”

Pakistani officials were briefing reporters later yesterday. On Thursday, twin attacks by suspected separatist rebels on Indian security forces killed 13 people in the Indian-held portion of the Himalayan region - an attack that the top elected official there said was aimed at derailing the meeting of Sharif and Singh in New York.

In comments Friday at the General Assembly, Sharif called the meeting a chance for a “new beginning” in relations. Singh had downplayed expectations. At the meeting, Singh raised the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan and reiterated — AP

up in a crowd of worshippers at a church, killing 85 people.

On Friday, 19 people died when a bomb planted on a bus carrying government employees exploded in the Peshawar outskirts.

The Sunni militant group Jundullah claimed responsibility for the church attack, saying it targeted Christians to avenge the deaths of Muslims killed by US drone strikes.

After the latest attack, one man at the hospital said 13 members of a single family were among the dead.

Mohammad Alam said they had come to Peshawar from a nearby village to invite him to their son’s wedding. He said they were in a van when the bomb exploded.

A bookshop owner, Nazar Ali, had just opened his shop when the bomb went off. “It was a huge blast that was fol-

lowed by fire in vehicles. Thick black smoke covered the air and splinters spread all over. I saw people lying dead and bleeding all over,” he said.

Many of the old buildings in the historic Qissa Khawani market are wood, which easily caught fire, said senior police officer Shafqat Malik. People bloodied and covered with ash ran from the scene, one man carrying a young child whose face appeared blackened from soot.

The new government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said it would like to negotiate with Pakistan’s largest militant group, the Taleban, to end the bloodshed, but so far those efforts have made little progress.

On Saturday, a spokesman for the Taleban said Sharif’s demand that the militants lay down their weapons and

respect the constitution indicated the new leader is not serious about peace talks. Previously Sharif had not given preconditions for the talks.

Sharif “showed that he is following the policy of America and its allies,” the spokesman said. “We will hold talks with (the government) only when it gets the real power to take decisions.” Also in northwestern Pakistan, two missiles from an American drone hit a compound in North Waziristan yesterday, killing three militants affiliated with the Punjab province branch of the Pakistani Taleban, said two intelligence officers. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Pakistan government condemned both the bomb blast and the drone attack. — AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

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

Netanyahu aims to nix Iran ‘charm offensive’ JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed for the United States yesterday determined to use White House talks and a key UN speech to counter “sweet talk” by arch-foe Iran.

Netanyahu has been dismissive in his response to a drive by Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani to mend fences with the international community that culminated in a historic 15-minute telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama on Friday.

The premier says Rouhani is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” whose talk of allaying Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme is a “confidence trick” and has called on the Jewish state’s US ally not to be fooled. “I intend to tell the truth in the face of the sweet talk and charm offensive of Iran,” public radio quoted him as saying before boarding a plane for Washington.

“Telling the truth at this time is essential for world

peace and security and, of course, for Israel’s security,” he said. Israeli media said Netanyahu had instructed government ministers to refrain from publicly commenting on the telephone call between the US and Iranian presidents for fear of complicating his White House talks today.

But that has not stopped his confidants speaking out, and President Shimon Peres warned that the tone of much of the commentary was dangerously scornful of Israel’s key ally. “You can agree or disagree (with the Americans) but I don’t like this scornful tone,” Peres told army radio.

“Other people have brains to think too, not just us.

We should talk to them and try to influence them.”

After meeting Obama, Netanyahu is due to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, the same forum where last year he used a cartoon bomb as a prop to

underline how close he believed Iran was to being able to build one.

Israel, the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nucleararmed power, remains adamant that Iran is bent on developing a weapons capability under cover of its civilian nuclear programme, something it regards as a threat to its existence.

Israeli leaders have repeatedly vowed to take military action rather than see the Islamic republic develop a bomb and have called on Washington to take tougher action against Tehran, saying they see no real change of policy under Rouhani.

Former national security council chief Uzi Arad, who is close to Netanyahu, told public radio that he regretted the “softening of US policy towards Iran.”

“The cracks that have appeared in President Obama’s position worry me. We need to get him to be

consistent with what he has said about Iran in the past.” Freesheet Israel Hayom, which backs Netanyahu, warned “the spirit of Munich is sweeping the West.” It was alluding to the 1938 Munich agreement under which Britain and France agreed to the annexation of large swathes of then Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany in a failed bid to avert war.

But opposition Labour party leader Shelly Yachimovich warned of the dangers of a “paranoid” response to the Iran-US contacts, saying it was “vital to prevent any conflict of interest between Israel and the United States”.

Alon Pinkas, former Israeli consul general in New York, said Netanyahu was making a mistake by “assuming the role of prophet of doom.” “Last year, the problem for the world was the Iranians,” he said. “This year, it’s us.” — AFP

Assad vows to comply with UN resolution

HEBRON: Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (C) attends the opening of the 2013 Palestinian Grape Festival in the village of Halhul, near the West Bank town of Hebron, yesterday. — AFP

Sudan says no going back on fuel rise despite unrest KHARTOUM: Sudan vowed yesterday to stand firm on its decision to hike fuel prices, despite days of deadly protests and criticism from within the ruling party and from hardline Islamic leaders.

Authorities say 33 people have died since the near-doubling of petrol and diesel prices last Monday sparked the worst protests in the history of President Omar alBashir’s regime.

Activists and international human rights groups say at least 50 people were gunned down, most of them in the greater Khartoum area.

There was no confirmation of fresh protests yesterday but an AFP correspondent in Khartoum’s twin city Omdurman said riot police and security forces were on the streets in large numbers.

Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman told AFP there was no going back on the fuel price hikes. “No, it is not possible at all. This is the only way out,” he said in a telephone interview. Bilal said authorities had to intervene when crowds turned violent. “This is not (a) demonstration,” he said. “ They attacked the gas stations. They burned about 21.”

Bilal said the government knew “riots” would occur if the cost of fuel went up but the reduction of subsidies would save billions of dollars. “Our economy cannot tolerate such support,” he said. “We have to carry on. We know it is a bit heavy for the people.”

Arab-spring style calls for the regime’s downfall began after pump prices rose last Monday to 20.80 Sudanese pounds ($4.71) a gallon from 12.50 pounds ($2.83), while diesel jumped from 8.50 pounds a gallon to 13.90 pounds. Sudan’s most popular newspaper, which has been an outspoken critic of the decision to cut subsidies, said it had been ordered to stop publishing.

Al-Intibaha is run by Bashir’s uncle, AlTayeb Mustafa, who told AFP that state security agents gave no reason for the suspension. Journalists have complained of worsening censorship since the protests began.

Fuel prices had already almost doubled last year after a partial lifting of subsidies.

Sudan lost billions of dollars in oil receipts when South Sudan gained independence in 2011, taking with it about 75 percent of the formerly united country’s crude pro-

duction.

Since then the north has been plagued by inflation, a weakened currency and a severe shortage of dollars to pay for imports. The country falls near the bottom of a United Nations human development index measuring income, health and education.

It also ranked among the lowest of 176 countries in Transparency International’s index of perceived public sector corruption last year.

Officials in the Khartoum area yesterday extended a school closure, in effect since the protests began, until October 20, official media said. Classes had been expected to resume today.

Residents say they have been struggling with rising prices for two years. Yet, until last week when thousands began protesting mainly in the capital, the poor had largely failed to take to the streets.

“People have accepted price increases before without much annoyance. But I think it’s the overall bleak picture of the economy, and of the country’s mismanagement,” said Magdi El Gizouli, a fellow at the Rift Valley Institute.

Reformers in Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party on Saturday told Bashir that the deadly crackdown was a betrayal of his regime’s Islamic foundations. Hardline Islamic religious leaders called on the government to reverse the fuel price increase.

In a statement late Saturday they advised the regime “to turn back to God and provide justice”. The information minister said that even though fuel subsidies have been cut, financial support will remain on wheat and medicine.

He added that compensatory measures aim to ease the burden as fuel prices rise.

About 700,000 poor families receive handouts of about 150 pounds a month along with medical insurance, he said.

In their letter to Bashir, the ruling party reformers sought an independent investigation into the shooting of civilians. Bilal said a probe was being conducted especially into what happened on Friday when “some innocent people” were shot dead.

Gizouli, the analyst, dismissed the government’s portrayal of the other protesters as “vandals”. “The government’s calculation is... if you shoot enough, they will be scared and go back home,” he said. —AFP

CAIRO: Tens of Sudanese men and women chant slogans against longtime President Omar Al-Bashir during a protest in front of the Sudanese embassy in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. Sudanese security forces in pickup trucks opened fire Saturday on hundreds of mourners marching after the funeral of a protester killed a day earlier, the latest violence in a week of demonstrations calling for the ouster of Al-Bashir. — AP

BEIRUT: Syria’s president vowed yesterday to abide by the UN resolution calling for the country ’s chemical weapons stockpile to be destroyed. Speaking to Italy’s RAI News 24 TV, President Bashar Assad said his government approved of the UN Security Council plan to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons program, and also agreed to join the international convention that outlaws such arms.

“Of course we have to comply. This is our history to comply with every treaty we sign,” he said in a video of the interview posted on the Syrian presidency’s official Facebook page. “According to every chapter in the agreement, we don’t have any reservation.”

The UN resolution, which passed unanimously Friday, aims to strip the Assad regime of its estimated 1,000-ton chemical arsenal by mid-2014. It also calls for consequences if Syria fails to comply, though the council would have to pass another resolution to impose any penalties.

For the first time, the Security Council also endorsed a roadmap for a political transition in Syria adopted by key nations in June 2012, and it called for an international peace conference to be convened “as soon as possible” to implement it.

In the interview, Assad brushed aside a question about whether he would personally attend talks in Geneva, saying the framework of the negotiations is still unclear. He said he is willing to hold a dialogue with the political opposition to try to resolve the crisis, but not with armed groups trying to overthrow his government.

“Regarding the militants,” he said, wagging his finger as he spoke, “if they give in their arms, we’ll be ready to discuss with them anything like with any other citizen.” “We cannot discuss with alQaida offshoots and organizations that are affiliated with Al-Qaeda,” he added. “We cannot negotiate with the people who ask for foreign intervention and military intervention in Syria.”

He also welcomed the recent thaw in relations between the US and Iran, a close ally of Syria that has provided it with weapons and cash to help Assad weather the war. “If the Americans are, let’s

DAMASCUS: A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) yesterday shows President Bashar Al-Assad (R) giving an interview with Italian television station Rai News 24 in Damascus. International chemical weapons experts were preparing to launch an ambitious and dangerous disarmament mission in Syria even as its relentless conflict raged on. — AFP say, honest about this rapprochement, I think the results will be positive regarding the different issues, not just the Syrian crisis,” he said.

The agreement to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons was prompted by the deadly poison gas attack Aug. 21 near Damascus. The US blamed the Assad regime and threatened to launch punitive missile strikes, while the Syrian government accused the rebels of being behind the attack.

Inside Syria on Sunday, more than 40 rebel brigades around Damascus announced that they were banding together to form a new group called the Jaish al-Islam under the leadership of the head of one of the most powerful factions,

Rights debate reflects blurred lines in Egypt CAIRO: A brutal crackdown on Islamists after a military coup that ousted Egypt’s first democratically elected president is posing a dilemma for the country’s intellectual elite, which championed greater freedoms during a popular revolt two years ago but now seems largely acquiescent in the wave of arrests and raids targeting the Muslim Brotherhood.

The reason: a widespread bitterness over Islamist leader Mohammed Morsi’s year in power, further stoked now by a media campaign depicting the clampdown as a fight against terrorism. The human rights community itself has been split after security forces raided pro-Morsi sit-in camps in Cairo, with many supporting the action despite brutal tactics and the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

Groups criticizing what they call the excessive use of violence against the Brotherhood face smear campaigns in the media and are accused of jeopardizing state security, often by the same pro -democracy activists who acknowledged that Islamists must be included in the political system after the 2011 revolution that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The dilemma is part of a broader debate about Egypt’s stuttering march toward democracy after the popularly supported coup, which redefined alliances forged during the revolution and its aftermath and left many in the international community feeling conflicted about whom to support. Concern about the July 3 toppling of Morsi, his largely incommunicado detention since, and mass arrests of Brotherhood members has threatened US-Egyptian ties, with the Obama administration considering the suspension of millions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Egypt’s new rulers.

Rights advocates warn the fears of violence and general weariness after more than two years of turmoil and economic woes could pave the way for the restoration of a Mubarak-style police state. Already, the military-backed interim administration has reinstated a state of emergency law that grants authorities sweeping powers to make arrests and silence critics - along with a curfew in much of the country.

But the majority of Egyptians - including activists who led the protests in 2011, then against the post-Mubarak military rulers in 2012 and finally against Morsi this summer - are giving the army and its chosen government significant leeway, seeing them as the lesser of two evils.

“I’m still against a military regime, but we need the power of the army to save us from the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Mohamed Abla, an award-winning artist whose fourth-floor downtown studio in Cairo served as a rest stop for protesters occupying nearby Tahrir Square in 2011. “It’s political.”

Abla, 60, dismisses complaints that Islamists’ rights are being violated, saying he didn’t initially oppose the proMorsi sit-ins but supported the military crackdown after hearing reports the camps were being armed. — AP

Liwa Al-Islam.

Charles Lister, an analyst with IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre in Britain, said the move represents an effort by Syria’s strongest Islamist rebel brigades to consolidate on a regional and possible national basis.

The Damascus factions already cooperate on the ground, and it is unclear what practical effect their consolidation will have in the fight against Assad, Lister said.

But the unification effort, coupled with the decision last by Liwa al-Islam and nearly a dozen other rebel organizations to break with the main opposition group in exile, is another blow to the Western-backed political opposition.— AP

Smugglers behind Lebanese asylum-seekers deaths of Java TRIPOLI: Lebanese asylum-seekers who died when a boat sank off Indonesia were the victims of people smugglers who prey on them and Syrian refugees seeking to better their lives.

The death toll from the sinking on Friday of the Australia-bound boat off the coast of Java has risen to 28, with many more still feared missing, according to Indonesian police. The Lebanese foreign ministry said there were 68 Lebanese, including children, on board the ill-fated vessel and that 18 survived the ordeal while at least 29 were still missing.

Most of them came from Akkar, an impoverished and remote province of north Lebanon where thousands of Syrians have sought refuge from the 30-month that has wracked their country.

“Illegal migration has increased with the influx of Syrian refugees,” a Lebanese security source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“Criminal networks have started to focus on Syrians but also on Lebanese who want to emigrate,” he said of the people smugglers.

According to the source, around 250 people, including Syrians and Lebanese, have since March paid huge sums of money to people smugglers for trips to Australia.

Relatives of Lebanese who have emigrated through such networks in recent months told AFP that a Tripoli-based man organises the journeys from Lebanon to Australia through Indonesia.

The smugglers’ contact in Indonesia is an Iraqi man known only as Abu Saleh who monitors the arrivals, they said. The first part of the trip consists in obtaining a visa for Jakarta, which the Indonesian embassy in Lebanon grants Lebanese passport-holders without much difficulty.

Once in Jakarta the migrants are led secretly to main Indonesian island of Java from where they take boats for the high-risk sea trip to Australia seeking asylum.

Lebanese authorities on Saturday arrested a suspect involved in the people smuggling network as part of an investigation ordered by Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi.

In Lebanon’s second city Tripoli, Khaled alRai is mourning the loss of his uncle Talal and of his cousins seven-year-old Karim and nine-year-old Nour, who were on the boat that sank Friday.

“They were fleeing conflict and poverty in Tripoli. It seems their fate was to die in Indonesia,” Rai said. His aunt Randa and five-

year-old cousin Khalil survived the tragedy.

Rai’s family flew to Jakarta from Beirut International Airport in July. The wanted to escape their home in Bab el-Tebbaneh, an impoverished district of Tripoli that has been rocked by frequent sectarian fighting linked to the conflict in Syria. “Their situation was terrible. My uncle was a mechanic. Because of the constant fighting, he hardly ever had work and his house was shot at twice,” said Rai. Fed up and hoping for a better life, he was lured by the people smugglers into selling his garage and taking loans to pay for the family’s trip to Australia. Most of the other victims are from the village of Kabiit in Akkar province. “In March and April, some 50 residents, among them my 16-year-old son, emigrated (illegally) to Australia through Indonesia,” said village mayor Ahmad Darwish. “I paid $8,000 for his trip. I hesitated, but I know that there isn’t any work here.

Most young people emigrate, and even more now with the influx of Syrian refugees,” Darwish told AFP. An estimated nearly 760,000 Syrians fleeing their country’s brutal war have fled to Lebanon since the conflict erupted in March 2011, and many found refuge in Akkar, exacerbating fragile resources.

Nasr Khodr said his brother Hussein paid a smuggler $40,000 to get to Australia along with his pregnant wife and their eight children.

All but Hussein died in the tragedy, Nasr said. Kabiit residents said migrants used to try to reach Australia via East Timor but when applying for visas became difficult they turned their attention to Indonesia.

Rai says he is trying to repatriate his aunt and cousin from Indonesia, but “they tore up their passports to be able to seek asylum”.

The security source added that “some Lebanese migrants have bought fake Syrian passports off mafias, so that they can apply for asylum”. Refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka often take routes via Indonesian waters to try to flee their countries. Thousands of asylum-seekers have travelled by boat to Australia this year, and scores have died trying to make the journey in unseaworthy vessels over the years.

Officials in Indonesia say they fear many people are still missing after the boat carrying would-be refugees also from Jordan and Yemen broke into pieces and sank in rough waters. — AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

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

Austrian ruling coalition faces far-right challenge Centrist coalition seen eking out combined majority

NEWTOWN: In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead a line of children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 after a shooting at the school. Hundreds of children at the school that day survived, but the horrors have been especially difficult to overcome for some of the 6- and 7-year-olds who witnessed the bloodbath, even as the school year resumed in autumn of 2013. — AP

Five dead in fiery crash in Southern California BURBANK: Five people were killed early Saturday morning after their car spun out and burst into flames in Burbank, trapping people inside, officials said.

Firefighters assisted the coroner’s office in removing the bodies, which were “burned beyond recognition,” from the wreckage for further investigation, Burbank Fire Capt. Peter Hendrickson said.

Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner said fingerprints or dental records would be used to identify those killed depending on how badly they were burned. There was one survivor, an 18-year-old woman who managed to crawl out of the burning Nissan and was found by police about 50 yards away from the wreckage when they arrived shortly after 4 am. The woman suffered a broken leg and was being treated for non-life threatening injuries at the Los Angeles County Medical Center, Sergeant Darin Ryburn said. He said her father was with her at the hospital.

Paramedics reported smelling alcohol on her breath, Fire Battalion Chief Ron Barone said. Authorities don’t yet know whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash - the woman was not the driver but speed does appear to be a factor.

The car burst into flames after striking a guardrail near an I-5 off-ramp and careened into a freeway pillar behind it. “It’s a horrific scene, it’s just, it’s a tragedy,” Ryburn told reporters at the scene, where the burned hulk of the car sat Saturday afternoon.

Scores of young people visited the crash site throughout the day and into the evening, leaving candles, flowers, posters

and pictures. Some sobbed as they embraced one another.

Ryburn told The Associated Press late Saturday that authorities still hadn’t confirmed the victims’ identities and likely wouldn’t before today. Several of the young people who visited the crash site said they knew them from school and the neighborhood. They said they ranged in age from late teens to early 20s.

“These are people that I grew up with, went to school with, hang out with every day of the summer. It’s just unreal,” Alex Davis told KCAL-TV. The curving stretch of roadway has a posted 45 mph speed limit, but vehicles often fly off the freeway at speeds closer to 70 mph, and accidents have happened in the area in the past, according to authorities.

It’s unclear if the surviving woman was wearing a seat belt. She was one of six total people squished into the car, which had only five seatbelts, Ryburn said.

Investigators will be conducting an interview with the woman, who they are not currently identifying, to learn more about the accident and how it occurred, Ryburn said.

The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. “ There was absolutely no possibility of any rescue whatsoever,” Barone said. The flames from the fire spread to nearby trees and brush and Barone said they were doused within moments of firefighters’ arriving. “It was a horrific tragedy for these five individuals that lost their lives, and we’re working with the families,” Ryburn said. — AP

Guinea’s elections turn page on years of ‘chaos’ CONAKRY: Guineans have voted in the first parliamentary elections for more than a decade in the troubled west African nation, after numerous delays and a campaign marred by deadly unrest.

Voters on Saturday chose from more than 1,700 candidates vying for 114 seats in a national assembly, which will replace the transitional body that has been running the country since military rule came to an end in 2010.

The vote, originally due within six months of the swearing-in of President Alpha Conde in 2010, had been delayed amid disputes over its organisation, stoking deadly ethnic tensions that have dogged Guinean politics since the country’s independence from France in 1958.

The campaign had been marred by days of violence between government and opposition activists which saw more than 70 people wounded and a trainee policeman killed. But no major incident was reported Saturday.

“We faced the challenge of a huge turnout. We are moving towards a participation rate of over 80 percent. We had a calm day of voting and there was no violence-Guineans behaved well,” election commission chief Alpha Yero Conde told reporters.

Large crowds gathered in the capital Conakry for what was regarded as Guinea’s first genuinely democratic parliamentary election. Polls held during the military dictatorship in 2002, which were faced with opposition boycotts, were widely dismissed as a sham. “ These elections will allow us to emerge from a chaotic five-year transition,” the president told reporters on the eve of the vote, expressing the hope that Guinea was about to enter a new era of prosperity.

Ballot-counting began in some polling stations as soon as voting ended, continuing into the small hours under lamp and torch light in some Conakry centres. However complete provisional results aren’t expected until Wednesday. Despite hopes that the election will be fair, the opposition has accused the president’s camp and the electoral commission of conniving to rig the vote, and protests in Conakry over recent years have often descended into violence.

Sidya Toure, a former prime minister and a prominent opposition leader, vowed early Saturday that “all of Guinea would be on the streets” if his supporters believed the results did not

square with what they were seeing at the polling stations.

Conde’s main rival Cellou Dalein Diallo said many “anomalies” about which his party had complained had not been corrected-without elaborating-and accused the president’s party of trying to “cheat”.

Guinea’s Muslim and Christian leaders had called for a peaceful election day, urging all parties to put their country before their own interests.

Problems were reported in several polling stations in Conakry and in the regions, with heavy storms keeping voters away.

There were also reports of a lack of the indelible ink-used to distinguish who has already voted-and lost electoral cards. Some centres stayed open beyond the official cut-off time to complete 10 hours of voting.

But many stations in the capital reported healthy crowds as the polls opened amid tight security. ‘I tell them to fear nothing’. A long line of soldiers queing to vote applauded Conde as he left a polling station near his residence in the city centre wearing a blue traditional robe and sunglasses.

“I hope that the people of Guinea vote overwhelmingly and in peace, and I tell them to fear nothing,” he said.

“From now on the state will discharge its responsibilities and the country will be calm. And I hope everything goes well and that the expression of the Guinean people is respected.”

One of the poorest countries in the region despite its vast potential for mineral exploitation, Guinea was run by a succession of autocratic rulers after gaining independence from France.

A militar y junta took control in December 2008 at the death of president Lansana Conte, who had seized power in a coup 24 years earlier. In 2010, civilian rule was ushered in after a transition period and an election also marred by delays and violent ethnic clashes.

Politics in Guinea typically polarises some two dozen ethnic groups who otherwise live in harmony alongside each other-with the Fulani the largest at around 40 percent of the population followed by the Malinke and Soussou.

Conde, a Malinke, leads the Rally of the Guinean People and claims to espouse socialism while his main rival, Diallo, is a Fulani and heads the centrist liberal Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UDFG). — AFP

VIENNA: Austrians voted in a parliamentary election yesterday with a resurgent far right party challenging the political establishment and calling for an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts of struggling euro zone countries.

The governing Social Democrats (SPO) and their People’s Party (OVP) conservative partners were counting on their record in piloting the Alpine republic through the global financial crisis relatively unscathed to win another five-year term.

Opinion polls indicated the two pro-Europe parties that have dominated post-war politics would scrape through to a combined majority, with the anti-immigrant and eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPO) hard on their heels.

“My gut feeling is fine,” Chancellor Werner Faymann said as he cast his vote in Vienna. But the two mainstream parties may need to find a third partner to govern should two small blocs clear the 4 percent hurdle for entering parliament.

The environmentalist Greens, an opposition party that has sided with the coalition on European issues such as creating the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) bailout fund, is the most likely option should the big two need a partner to govern. Heinz-Christian Strache’s FPO could improve on the 17.5 percent it got in the 2008 election. It may even overtake the OVP despite competition from car-parts magnate Frank Stronach’s new party, also eurosceptic but without the anti-foreigner tone.

Unlike in neighbouring Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel scored a landslide victory on Sept. 22 partly on the strength of the German economy, many Austrians feel hard done-by despite the lowest EU jobless rate and economic growth clearly above the EU average.

Around 19 percent of the Austrian population are first- or second-generation immigrants, and the FPO plays on fears that these and asylum-seekers are depriving Austrians of benefits, while euro zone bailouts only benefit banks.

A string of corruption scandals has contributed to disenchantment with mainstream Austrian politicians, helping trigger ructions at provincial elections this year in which long-entrenched parties were ousted from power.

At one polling station in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district close to the centre, voting was brisk but most voters declined to divulge their choice.

VIENNA: The head of the Austrian Green party, Eva Glawischnig, casts her ballot at a polling station in Vienna, Austria yesterday. Austrians voted yesterday in general elections that looked likely to keep the two-party centrist coalition in government, but possibly with their worst result since 1945 amid expected inroads by the far-right. — AFP counted - by today.

Greens were most open about their vote.

Faymann’s Social Democrats have led the pack Christine Kraus, a 47-year-old office worker from Klosterneuburg near Vienna, said earlier she would from the start, campaigning on a platform of switch to the Greens from the Social Democrats as defending jobs and pensions and redistributing she was disappointed with the status quo and liked wealth via a new tax on millionaires.

The more free-market Peoples Party, led by the personality of the Greens’ leader.

“I’m your typical vote-switcher. I’ll look at all the Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, has called parties apart from the FPO and the BZO,” she said, for liberating business of red tape to promote ecoreferring to the small, right-wing and economically nomic growth and help shore up public finances hit by aid to bailed-out banks. liberal party that split from the FPO in 2005.

Raimund Berger, a farmer selling his wares at a Turnout in dry, mild early autumn weather was expected to be close to the 79 percent of the last Vienna market on Saturday, said he would vote for national vote in 2008. Polls close at 1500 GMT, the right wing. “The left doesn’t know how to do when initial projections are set to appear. business,” he said, adding he had nothing against Preliminary official results are due around 1730 foreigners who came to Austria, worked hard and GMT, but in a very close election the outcome may integrated, but said they had no right to get benenot be clear until domestic absentee ballots are fits. — Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

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

The Jains, silent heroes of Nairobi mall attack NAIROBI: As a jihadist commando sowed death and horror inside Westgate mall last week, Nairobi’s Jains became the silent heroes of the days-long emergency effort.

The Jain community, whose small Indian religion upholds non-violence as a sacred principle, opened their doors at the onset of the attack on September 21 claimed by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group. As the crackle of gunshots filled the air, the Oshwal religious centre just 100 metres (yards) away was a haven where survivors, relatives, security forces and journalists were sheltered, treated, counselled and fed. “We have a lot of space and numerous parking places,” said Bhupendra Shah, a senior member of the Visa Oshwal community.

On the Saturday the raid was launched, “I made a round, I saw soldiers and policemen standing, who where hungry and thirsty.” “We sent emails to request help, and donations started to arrive on Sunday morning,” said Shah.

Within hours the Jains mobilised like an army and tapped into their formidable economic power.

Families brought gallons of juice freshly squeezed at home, a sporting club donated eight vans packed with food, an industrial bakery and a top retail chain gave tonnes of bread and water bottles.

The Jains have only 12,000 members in Nairobi, a city of four million with a large population of Indian descent, but among them are the CEOs of Nakumatt, East Africa’s retail giant, and other top companies. On the second and third days of the brutal siege, Oshwal volunteers served around 15,000 meals inside their religious centre, an imposing ochre building of Hindu architecture surrounded by sprawling grounds.

Three times a day, the red vests of the Red Cross, the green ones of the St John ambulance service, the camouflage gear of the elite forces battling the

mall attackers, mingled in the queue. Police officers bristling with assault rifles and journalists with cameras also got in line for a plate of food, taking a short break as the siege dragged on.

Serving this exhausted crowd on the front line of one of the worst attacks in Kenya’s history were 400 Jain volunteers working in shifts to welcome their visitors. A first aid centre was set up in the underground car park to ease the burden on the city’s overwhelmed hospitals.

The Oshwal centre also made space available to teams offering psychological counselling to traumatised survivors and bereaved families, or helping people to report a missing person. ‘Do not kill, don’t have anger’ At least 67 people, including children, are so far confirmed to have been killed in the attack, that also left dozens wounded and 61 people are still reported missing. “Jain is one of the oldest religions in the world,” Shah said. “Our religion says ‘do not kill, don’t have anger’, ‘respect any form of life’.” Jainism is thousands of years old, a religion whose philosophical roots date back to ancient India and are inspired by the same principles of tolerance that influenced Mahatma Gandhi. Most its followers are vegetarians or vegans and some of them even refrain from eating roots and tubers in order not to kill insects.

Jain monks sweep the floor in front of them and cover their mouths with their hands as they walk to avoid stepping on or swallowing the slightest creature. The community is estimated at barely five million worldwide.

Conspicuously absent from the temporary crisis management hub set up at the Oshwal were the Kenyan government services. “When you live in Kenya, (help from the government) is the last thing you ask. You have to rely on yourself,” said Shah.

“Not a single person from the government came

NAIROBI: Members of the Jain community dance to mark the end of a 24-hour prayer vigil for the victims of the Westgate Mall massacre at Oshwal centre in Nairobi yestereday. As a jihadist commando sowed death and horror inside Westgate Mall last week, Nairobi’s Jains became the silent heroes of the days-long emergency effort. The Jain community, whose small Indian religion upholds non-violence as a sacred principle, opened their doors at the onset of the attack on September 21 claimed by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group. — AFP to ask what they could do.” But the Jains’ efforts didn’t go unnoticed, galvanising good will among other religious communities and in some cases even breaking down the prejudice that permeates Kenya’s complex social fabric.

“The important thing is that all Kenyans came together as one, as Kenyans, people from all origins, all communities came to help,” said Miten Shah,

another member of Oshwal’s Jain community.

“I never thought the Indians could be so generous,” a black African Kenyan who survived the attack said. A week after the bloodshed, as the nation took stock and licked its wounds, hundreds of people were back at the Oshwal centre for a marathon ecumenical prayer vigil for the victims of the massacre. — AFP

Italy grapples with new crisis after Berlusconi party quits Blames new government for crisis

MANCHESTER: British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) arrives at his hotel on the morning of the first day of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester yesterday.

Running the September 29 to October 2, conference will see speeches from key members of the cabinet as well as discussion on how to win the 2015 election. — AFP

Britain may leave European Convention on Human Rights LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron ratcheted up the rhetoric against Europe yesterday by demanding a radical change to Britain’s ties with the European Union and offering the prospect of an exit from the continent’s principal treaty on human rights.

Europe poses one of the biggest obstacles to Cameron’s re-election in 2015 and he is under pressure from Conservative lawmakers to stem the loss of support to the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which calls for an immediate withdrawal from the EU. Cameron said the EU will have to renegotiate the treaties on which it was founded, an idea rejected by some EU members as being too complicated and time-consuming. “My goal is to renegotiate our relationship with Europe, very radically,” Cameron told the BBC at the start of his Conservative Party ’s conference in Manchester, northern England. “We need a treaty renegotiation, I am convinced one has to happen.”

Cameron said in January that he would negotiate Britain’s EU relationship before holding an in/out referendum by the end of 2017, provided he wins the next election in 2015.

That promise was seen as an attempt to mollify anti-EU Conservatives and mount a stronger challenge to UKIP. Some EU members have warned Britain that they will resist attempts to reclaim powers unilaterally. Business leaders say talk of Britain leaving its biggest trading partner could undermine confidence and investment.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was re-elected with a strong mandate this month, has started talking about powers flowing back to member states from Brussels, but “she means something different from the British” and is still committed to a more integrated EU, an aide told Reuters.

With an election less than two years away, Cameron said the Conservatives were the only party guaranteeing voters a straight in/out referendum by a specific date.

The opposition Labour Party, leading in opinion polls, says an in/out referendum is currently not in the national interest. The Liberal Democrats, junior member of Cameron’s coalition government, decided earlier this month to back an in/out referendum, but only if there is a big change to the treaties that govern the EU. Voters don’t like the idea of an “ever closer union”, one of the EU’s guiding principles, and think the alliance has become too bureaucratic and anti-competitive, Cameron said. Polls show more Britons want to leave the EU than remain a mem-

ber, although many are undecided.

Cameron said he would consider abolishing the Human Rights Act, which since 2000 has made the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) enforceable in Britain’s courts.

Although the ECHR is not part of the EU system, British eurosceptics often drag it into the Europe debate, using it as an example of external interference in Britain’s sovereignty.

The case of radical cleric Abu Qatada who resisted British attempts to send him to Jordan to face terrorism charges for more than a decade - angered many voters and exposed successive governments to the accusation that they do not control Britain’s borders.

Asked if Britain should leave the Convention, Cameron said: “It may be that that is where we end up.” The Convention was drafted by the Council of Europe in 1950 and was ratified by a British Conservative government. It is enforced by the European Court of Human Rights. Both pre -date the establishment of the European Economic Community by several years and have no organic link with the European Union or the European Court of Justice. — Reuters

ROME: Italy was mired in a fresh political quagmire yesterday after Silvio Berlusconi pushed his party’s ministers to quit the fragile coalition government, a move Prime Minister Enrico Letta called a “crazy act”.

All five ministers from the People of Freedom (PDL) party Saturday took the decision to step down at Berlusconi’s urging, said deputy prime minister Angelino Alfano, the number two in government who was among the resignations.

Italy newspapers put the blame for the new government crisis squarely at the exprime minister’s feet. “The convict has made Italy fail,” read the headline in the leftist daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, alluding to Berlusconi’s conviction for tax fraud.

The centre-right La Stampa and business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore decried “the madness” of the actions taken by the media mogul who has dominated Italian politics for most of the last two decades.

The flamboyant billionaire, who turned 77 yesterday, dismissed as “unacceptable” a demand by Letta on Friday for parliament to express support for the government next week , in a bid to end a crisis that has plagued the bickering ruling coalition.

Now President Giorgio Napolitano will have to mediate to find a way out of the latest political impasse. He is expected to meet Letta yesterday.

Letta’s government was cobbled together following a two-month stand-off after an inconclusive general election in February.

The premier of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) had won the confidence of financial markets by managing to keep together the improbable right-left coalition. Italian media yesterday speculated that if the crisis deepens there could be a reversal in market confidence, making it harder for Italy to deal with its economic difficulties and enact needed reforms.

The revolt among Berlusconi’s backers boiled over on Thursday when they first threatened to resign over the former leader’s legal problems. A Senate committee was preparing to vote on whether to eject Berlusconi from the chamber after he was sentenced to a year in prison for tax fraud, a ruling that was upheld by Italy’s top court in

ROME: This handout file picture released by the Italian presidential press office on April 28, 2013 shows Italian newly appointed Prime Minister Enrico Letta (L) and President Giorgio Napolitano prior to the swearing in ceremony of the new government at the Quirinale Palace in Rome.

Ministers of Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right People of Liberty party have decided to resign over an “unacceptable” ultimatum from Prime Minister Enrico Letta, a spokesman said. — AFP

August.

‘Using the VAT as an alibi’ Letta Friday told a cabinet meeting tasked with approving key measures to rein in the recession-hit country’s budget deficit that no further legislation would be enacted until the political crisis was resolved.

The cabinet had convened to determine how to delay a controversial planned rise in value-added tax, but the meeting ended in disarray amid the escalating tension over Berlusconi’s conviction. As a result, the VAT hike from 21 percent to 22 percent will go ahead, with effect from Tuesday, as economists worry that it will dampen consumption. In encouraging the PDL ministers to resign, Berlusconi said they should not be “complicit in the latest vexation imposed on

Greens expect exploratory coalition talks with Merkel BERLIN: A week after German elections, the Greens party, like the Social Democrats, expect to enter exploratory talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s victorious conservatives on forming a coalition government, two top party officials said yesterday.

Although Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) triumphed in the September 22 vote, it must now cast around for a new governing partner after its previous allies, the pro-business Free Democrats, failed to win any seats.

Most observers believe the biggest opposition group, the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), will eventually form a left-right ‘grand coalition’ with the CDU, but the ecologist Greens also said they are expecting exploratory talks with Merkel.

“Mrs Merkel will also speak with the Greens after her talks with the SPD,” the Greens’ election candidate Juergen Trittin told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, adding that his party had “received signals” pointing to such a dialogue.

The outgoing party leader Claudia Roth also told the Sunday newspaper that she presumed “that the chancellor will invite us to exploratory talks.”

However, both politicians-who are due to step

down from senior party posts after a disappointing 8.4 percent election result for the Greens-also said they thought it unlikely that they would end up in a governing alliance with the CDU. Merkel, after Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster, decided to phase out nuclear power and promote renewable energies, a decades-old goal of the Greens-but the parties remain far apart on many other issues from tax to same-sex marriage. The SPD announced Friday it was ready to start early talks with the CDU on forming a grand coalition like it did from 2005-09, although many rank-andfile members reject the idea of their 150-year-old party again governing in Merkel’s shadow.

If they did agree to enter another coalition government, the SPD would be expected to seek a high price in terms of policy compromises and ministerial posts, in a poker-like negotiating process that could take weeks or months.

SPD chief Sigmar Gabriel has projected confidence, warning that, should the talks fail, his party “is not scared” of ending up on the opposition benches or even even facing fresh elections.

A poll for ZDF public television on Friday found 58 percent support for another grand coalition government, while 32 percent approved of a conservative-Greens alliance. — AFP

Italians by the left”.

Letta retorted: “To try to justify his crazy and irresponsible act, aimed fully at protecting his personal interests, Berlusconi is... using the VAT as an alibi.” With the PDL ministers unlikely to return, the next moves on the political chessboard are uncertain. Letta could tr y to form another government, counting on various defections and the support of left-wing groups.

A new primarily left-wing government may have little room for manoeuvre. Former comedian Beppe Grillo, head of the antiestablishment Five Star Movement, repeated his call for fresh elections, but these would likely result in just as great a stalemate unless the electoral law is first modified. — AFP

Greek police arrest 5 MPs in crackdown on neo-Nazi party ATHENS: The head of Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party was facing a charge of leading a criminal organisation yesterday after he was arrested by anti-terror police along with four fellow MPS. Party founder Nikos Michaloliakos and the four Golden Dawn lawmakers were held overnight after they were arrested in dawn raids Saturday amid high tensions in Greece following the murder of a leftist musician, who was allegedly stabbed to death by a party activist.

They were placed under judicial investigation along with 10 other party members facing likely charges of belonging to a criminal organisation, a court source said.

Michaloliakos faces an additional charge of leading a criminal organisation.

The arrests came a day after Golden Dawn threatened to pull its lawmakers out of parliament, a move that could trigger a political crisis in the recession-hit country.

Greek anti-terror police arrested Michaloliakos, who founded the party in 1980, along with party spokesman and MP Ilias Kasidiairis and three other lawmakers.

The five will remain under arrest pending the outcome of a judicial investigation into the possible charges to be laid, a process of

up to five days, a court source said. The serious nature of the case could lead to discussion in parliament to strip the deputies of their parliamentary immunity.

Golden Dawn faced mounting pressure after a self-confessed neo-Nazi was arrested over the fatal stabbing of popular hip-hop musician Pavlos Fyssas, 34, on September 18, a killing that sparked nationwide protests.

The police sweep came after Greece’s supreme court, which has been charged with investigating the far-right group, issued arrest warrants for some 30 members. Two policemen suspected of neo-Nazi links were among those arrested Saturday, while a sixth Golden Dawn MP is still being sought.

Following the arrests, Golden Dawn urged its followers to demonstrate against what it called an “illegal decision”, and several hundred faithful gathered outside the police station where the suspects were being held.

Amid a sea of Greek flags, the protesters chanted the party’s slogan, “Blood, honour, Golden Dawn”, watched over by anti-riot police. “Golden Dawn is still there, it will not retreat. You can’t put its ideas in prison, we will fight to the end,” Artemis Matheopoulos, a party MP, said. — AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

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

India’s hardliner Modi pledges clean govt ‘India needs a dream team and not a dirty team’ Afghans say Taleban take district HQ in north KABUL: Taleban fighters yesterday overran a district headquarters in a remote and mountainous region of northern Afghanistan, their latest offensive in an insurgent campaign to regain territory as foreign troops withdraw from the country, according to officials.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said a group of insurgents took over the building after police evacuated the facility in Badakhshan province’s Karan wa Munjan district to prevent any civilian casualties.

“This year the enemy is trying to show their existence in northern parts of the country and that is one of the reasons that they are attacking Badakhshan province, “Sediqi said. He pointed to a successful operation last week to clear insurgents from another district, Wurdoj, and said preparations were under way to retake the headquarters building. Sediqi added that the insurgents are only controlling the single building, which had a very small police presence.

At least 18 Afghan policemen died in the Wurdoj operations along with 47 insurgents, the ministry said last week.

Afghan officials regularly report high

death tolls from battles in remote areas that are impossible to verify.

“We did have successful military operations in Wurdoj district and now as they have been defeated there and couldn’t keep their strongholds, so they made another choice and attacked Karan wa Munjan district,” Sediqi said.

“There is no doubt that we had fewer police forces in the district, they were not more than 30 policemen there at time the attack. Reinforcements are coming now.”

Although attacks are increasingly common as insurgents escalate their campaign against government forces across Afghanistan, they are rare in Badakhshan. The region is nestled in the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges and bordering China and Pakistan, one of the most remote in the country.

In another incident, two people including a police office were killed and three civilians were wounded when a suicide attacker blew himself up outside a district police headquarters in the Marjah district of southern Helmand, provincial spokesman Omar Zwak said. — AP

LAHORE: Pakistani army soldiers arrange relief supplies for earthquake survivors in Lahore yesterday. The victims of a new earthquake to hit southwest Pakistan, days after a massive tremor, were buried as officials distributed a fresh consignment of relief goods to survivors. — AFP

Pakistan buries victims of quake

AWARAN: The victims of a new earthquake to hit southwest Pakistan, days after a massive tremor, were buried yesterday as officials distributed a fresh consignment of relief goods to survivors.

The powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday and killed at least 22 people in a region already devastated by a 7.7-magnitude quake which killed more than 300 people last Tuesday.

“All the 22 victims were buried in Nokjah village of Awaran district, which had been badly affected by the quake yesterday,” senior local government official Shafqat Anwar told AFP. He said 14 trucks carrying relief goods including tents, blankets, food packets, water, rice and lentils had reached the Mashkey area of Arawan.

Local officials distributed the goods among quake-hit people in different areas including Gajjar, Khaliqabad and Nokjah yesterday. Anwar said 16 more trucks with relief goods had left Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, and would reach Mashkey by today.

Infrastructure in the rugged and arid province is minimal and the army and para-

military Frontier Corps have been heavily involved in the relief effort, along with nongovernment organisations.

Awaran was shattered by the quake last Tuesday which left 359 dead and more than 100,000 people homeless. The district’s population is scattered over more than 21,000 square kilometres (8,000 square miles)and infrastructure is extremely limited, with few medical facilities or even roads.

Relief efforts have at times been thwarted by insurgent attacks on rescue convoys, and local officials admit that teams have been unable to reach thousands of survivors in the worst-hit areas.

The area is a stronghold of Baluch separatist rebels waging a decade-long insurgency against the Pakistani state. On Thursday a helicopter carrying the head of the National Disaster Management Agency came under rocket fire while flying in Arawan district, but no one was hurt.

On Friday insurgents opened fire on another helicopter and, in two separate incidents, fired on rescue convoys, officials said. Again, no one was hurt. The quake is Pakistan’s deadliest since the Kashmir tremor of 2005 which killed 73,000. — AFP

NEW YORK: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) shakes hands with India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid (R) as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (C) looks on before their meeting on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday at the New York Palace Hotel in New York. — AFP

NEW DELHI: India’s opposition prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi vowed yeterday a corruption-free government and a tough stand against rival Pakistan if his party wins elections next year.

During his first rally in the capital, the Hindu hardliner called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh weak and said his government was riddled with graft, as tens of thousands of supporters screamed Modi’s name. “The coalition (government) is now addicted to corruption and instead of finding solutions to end the culture of graft, it stops functioning,” Modi told the crowd, many waving party flags and wearing Modi face masks.

“India needs a dream team and not a dirty team in 2014 and people must decide that during the elections,” he said in a speech at Japanese Park lasting just over an hour.

Modi was elected the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) prime ministerial candidate early this month before national elections due by next May. The rally helped launched the BJP’s campaign for the Delhi state elections, to be held later this year and seen as a dry run for the national polls.

The BJP is seeking to overthrow the Congressled coalition government, which has been embroiled in a string of graft scandals and is desperate to boost sluggish economic growth, after almost a decade in power. But Modi, the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, is a polarising figure-tainted by deadly anti-Muslim riots on his watch in 2002, but also credited with turning Gujarat into an economic powerhouse.

Modi was also chief minister at the time of the riots, during which as many as 2,000 people were killed, mainly Muslims. He is accused of turning a blind eye to the violence but denies any wrongdoing. Yesterday Modi branded premier Singh as too weak to raise the issue of attacks on Indian soil, which India blames on Pakistani-based militants, during his first talks with his Pakistani counterpart later yesterday.

Singh will sit down on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with Prime Minister Nawaz

NEW DELHI: Gujarat state Chief Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi (C) wears a garland as he greets supporters with other senior leaders during an election rally in New Delhi yesterday. Chief Minister Narendra Modi addressed his first rally in the national capital since his anointment as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2014 general elections. — AFP Sharif, who has called for improved ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours since he was elected in May. “Today the prime minister meets Nawaz Sharif but the country doubts whether the prime minister has the courage to discuss the issue of terrorism unleashed on us by Pakistan,” Modi said.

“It is also doubtful whether our prime minister will discuss the issue of our soldiers being killed on the borders. The nation wants the prime minister to bring back the heads of Indian soldiers severed

by Pakistani forces,” he said.

Modi was referring to deadly incidents along the heavily militarised de facto border that divides

Kashmir between Pakistan and India. The countries have fought two wars since independence over the Himalayan region.

In front of diplomats and media and amid a heavy police presence, Modi attacked the ruling Congress party headed by Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, whom he said ran roughshod over premier Singh.

“Today dynastical rule is strangling democracy and the nation must decide whether India should be governed constitutionally or at the whims of the Prince (Rahul Gandhi), who has insulted the prime minister, the cabinet and the constitution of India,” he said. — AFP

NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Bahrain jails 50 for up to 15 years

‘Driving hurts Saudi women’s ovaries’

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

The defendants are accused of forming an illegal group opposing the political system and “training elements to commit violence and vandalism,” in addition to “attacking security men,” according to the charge sheet.

“Terrorism was among the means used,” by the group, which also had “contact with a foreign state,” it said, apparently referring to Iran.

Earlier this month, Bahraini authorities arrested former MP Khalil Marzooq, a leading figure in Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition bloc, on charges including having links to the February 14 group. Marzooq was deputy speaker of Bahrain’s 40-member parliament before its 18 Wefaq

members walked out in February 2011 in protest at violence against demonstrators. Bahraini Shiites continue to demonstrate in villages outside the capital, mainly in response to calls by the February 14 Coalition, and frequently clash with police. At least 89 people have been killed since the protests erupted in February 2011, according to the International Federation for Human Rights. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s appeal court cut jail terms handed down against two policemen convicted of torturing to death a Shiite protester from 10 years to two.

Strategically located across the Gulf from Shiite Iran, Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and is an offshore financial and services centre for its oil-rich Gulf Arab neighbors. — AFP

21 Kuwait groups back call for bedoon...

Continued from Page 1 The groups also called for allowing bedoons legal recourse in courts over nationality issues which is not allowed under the existing nationality law. The groups also called on the government to allow the participation of civil societies and rights organizations in the solution to the decades-long problem. The government has previously said that around 34,000 bedoons out of a total of around 110,000 are eligible to be considered for naturalization whereas the rest are not eligible for consid-

eration. The government claims that most of the bedoons or their forefathers had come from other countries and deliberately damaged their identification documents to claim Kuwaiti citizenship to make use of huge benefits given to citizens.

Bedoons however claim they are entitled to Kuwaiti citizenship as they or their ancestors had been ignored when the nationality law was introduced in 1959. In order to force them produce their original nationality, authorities have been launching a crackdown against most of bedoons depriving them of basic

rights including identification papers, the right to work, education, health and others.

In another development, the court ordered the Al-Shahed newspaper to pay KD7,000 in compensation to former MP and opposition leader Mussallam Al-Barrak over defamation claims.

The ruling was issued in connection with an article written by the daily several months ago that claimed that the former lawmaker was being patronized and supported by senior members of the Al-Sabah ruling family.

Militants storm Nigeria college, kill 50...

Continued from Page 1 Almost all those killed were Muslims, as is the college’s student body, said Adamu Usman, a survivor from Gujba who was helping the wounded at the hospital. Wailing relatives gathered outside the hospital morgue, where rescue workers laid out bloody bodies in an orderly row on the lawn for family members to identify their loved ones. One body had its fists clenched to the chest in a protective gesture. Another had hands clasped under the chin, as if in prayer. A third had arms raised in surrender.

Provost Idi Mato confirmed the school’s other 1,000 enrolled students have fled the college. He said there were no security forces stationed at the college despite government assurances that they would be deployed. The state commissioner for education, Mohammmed Lamin, called a news conference two weeks ago urging all schools to reopen and promising protection from soldiers and police.

Most schools in the area closed after militants on July 6 killed 29 pupils and a teacher, burning some alive in their hostels, at Mamudo outside Damaturu.

Northeastern Nigeria is under a military state of emergency to battle an Islamic uprising prosecuted by Boko Haram militants who have killed more than 1,700 people since 2010 in their quest to install an Islamic state, though half the country’s 160 million citizens are Christian. Boko Haram means Western education is forbidden in the local Hausa language. United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday described the group as one of the most vicious terrorist organizations in the world, speaking at a meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan at which both reaffirmed their commitment to fight terrorism.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau last week pub-

lished a video to prove he is alive and prove false military claims that they might have killed him in an ongoing crackdown. Government and security officials claim they are winning their war on terror in the northeast but yesterday’s attack and others belie those assurances. The Islamic extremists have killed at least 30 other civilians in the past week. Twenty-seven people died in separate attacks Wednesday and Thursday night on two villages of Borno state near the northeast border with Cameroon, according to the chairman of the Gamboru-Ngala local government council, Modu-Gana Bukar Sheriiff. The military spokesman did not respond to requests for information on those attacks, but a security official confirmed the death toll. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to give information to journalists.

Also Thursday, police said suspected Islamic militants killed a pastor, his son and a village head and torched their Christian church in Dorawa, about 100 kilometers from Damaturu. They said the gunmen used explosives to set fire to the church and five homes. Meanwhile, farmers and government officials are fleeing threats of imminent attacks from Boko Haram in the area of the Gwoza Hills, a mountainous area with caves that shelter the militants despite repeated aerial bombardments by the military.

A local government official said there had been a series of attacks in recent weeks and threats of more. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his life, said Gwoza town was deserted when he visited it briefly under heavy security escort on Thursday. He said militants had chased medical officers from the government hospital in Gwoza, which had been treating some victims of attacks. And he said they had burned down three public schools in the area. — AP

Luhaydan, a member of the senior Ulema (Muslim scholars) Commission and former head of the Supreme Judicial Council, said that “evidence from the Holy Quran and Sunna (the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) completely prohibit (women’s driving) on moral and social background.” An online petition titled “Oct 26th, driving for women” amassed nearly 12,000 signatures, while access to it was blocked in the kingdom yesterday. Saudi Arabia is the

only country where women are banned from driving.

Activists declared a day of defiance against the ban on June 17, 2011, but few women answered the call to drive. Some of those who did were stopped by police and forced to sign a pledge not to take to the wheel again.

Saudi Arabia imposes other restrictions on women, including a requirement to cover themselves from head to toe when in public. The 2011 call, which spread through Facebook and Twitter, was the largest mass action since November 1990, when 47 Saudi women were arrested and severely punished after demonstrating in cars. — AFP

Suspects deny murder intent Continued from Page 1 “After that, the victim stabbed me on the shoulder, and I responded by snatching the knife from my friend’s hand and stabbed him on the shoulder as well”, he said.

The victim was pronounced dead on the scene from severe bleeding as a result of two fatal wounds in the upper chest area. According to Thuwaini, the man who was killed was not among those three suspects initially clashed at the mall’s restaurant area, which suggests that the two incidents had no relation with each other.

He also noted both the fights happened 10 minutes apart. Furthermore, Thuwaini insisted that neither he nor his friends knew the victim, reiterating that he was only trying to protect himself and his friend. He added that the third suspect was standing at a distance when he stabbed the victim.

Police then interrogated the second suspect, Saad Faraj, who confirmed the prime suspect’s story and added that they both escaped when the stabbing happened, believing the man was only injured. Faraj further confirmed that the murder weapon belonged to him, and that he did not use it during the first fight “because no one else drew their weapons out”. He also said that Thuwaini did indeed snatch the knife from his hand when he fell onto the floor, but ruled out any murder intentions. When asked about the third suspect, Faraj said that he was standing at a distance after he participated in the first fight.

Officers then moved to question the third suspect, Abdullah Mubarak, who started by denying any intention of murder and went on to provide an identical story to that of Thuwaini and Faraj. He then explained that after handing the prime suspect his extra teeshirt, he walked ahead of them and took the stairs while they took the escalator. He looked back after reaching the door but did not find them and didn’t expect them to be engaged in another fight. Mubarak added that he passed out soon afterwards since he’s anemic. Asked about what happened next, Mubarak said that he remembers being taken to Farwaniya Hospital where he received medical treatment while Thuwaini’s shoulder was tended to. He added that they sought the hospital’s detectives to file a complaint, and were advised to file a case against an anonymous assailant because they did not know the man.

Al-Rai also quoted attorney Sultan Al-Mandeel who was hired to represent the perpetrators in the case.

“The picture became clearer following interrogations

that lasted for 10 straight hours and rejected allegations posted on social networks regarding details of the incident”, he said before urging the public to not influence court verdicts without knowing the full picture.

According to Al-Mandeel, the perpetrators are all high school students and the third suspect, Abdullah Mubarak came first in class last year. Meanwhile, AlAnba daily spoke to the prime suspect’s mother who shed light on the dark history of their bedoon family.

“Saad is 17-years-old and 6 months of age. He finishes morning classes at a private school in Riggae, then spends the afternoon and night hours working as a roaming vendor”, she said.

According to the mother, Saad usually sells pirated CDs and vegetables in front of shopping malls after school and on weekends to help support his family since his father’s death six years ago, which left him with four younger siblings to look after. She further insisted that aside from casual tickets from Kuwait Municipality inspectors, her son has never had a criminal history.

Saad’s mother said that he opted to hang out with his friends on Thursday instead of selling CDs, citing “intensive municipality campaigns” as the reason. She further insisted that her son did not carry a knife that day. The same daily also spoke to Thuwaini’s uncle who confirmed that his nephew arrived home early Friday morning with three stab wounds which he had looked at. “[Thuwaini] told his mother that he was engaged in a fight and received treatment at the Farwaniya Hospital, but was not aware that the victim had died”, the uncle added.

The incident sparked strong public reactions in Kuwait, especially since it happened close on the heels of a similar murder at Avenues Mall earlier this year. The crime reignited calls for improved security at local malls and crowded public areas with many lawmakers criticizing the Interior Ministry for what they said was a failure to properly maintain security in a country of 3.8 million people. Security sources quoted

by Al-Rai yesterday revealed that security will be the main topic of discussion at the Cabinet’s meeting today after ministers are briefed with the latest updates regarding the crime. The sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity further indicated that, during the meeting, an Interior Ministry team is expected to reiterate demands for increasing police force, in addition to deploying a police team at malls, markets and leisure parks where fights take place regularly on weekends. — Al-Rai, Al-Anba

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Srinivasan re-elected BCCI chief but court ban stays

Ainslie set for talks on British AmCup team

Sousa seals first ATP victory for Portugal

MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) re-elected its beleaguered president N Srinivasan for another year yesterday even though a top court order prevents him from taking charge immediately. Srinivasan, 68, stood down in June in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which led to the arrest of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan on charges relating to the scandal.

Meiyappan is the former team principal of the Chennai Super Kings, which is owned by Srinivasan’s company India Cements.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court by the Cricket Association of Bihar, seeking Srinivasan’s ousting from cricket administration but the court refused to halt the elections, instead barring the president from taking charge until it has ruled on the protest.

The BCCI also banned former India fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan for life on spotfixing charges while Srinivasan publicly distanced himself from his sonin-law. —Reuters

LONDON: Fresh from masterminding Oracle Team USA’s stunning America’s Cup victory, four-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie says he is due to open talks about entering a British team in the race.

Oracle stormed back from 8-1 down to beat Team New Zealand 9-8 in the America’s Cup in San Francisco earlier this week after Ainslie was installed as team tactician.

In the aftermath of the race, Ainslie said he wanted to repeat his victory with a British team and he revealed yesterday that moves to achieve that ambition have already been made.

“It’s a matter of weeks, literally,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I’m heading back to the UK on Monday. I’ve got some key meetings with some of these people and we’ll talk pretty honestly about whether we think it’s realistic to get a campaign together.

“None of us want to do it unless we’ve got a good shot of winning it.

Otherwise, we’re just wasting everyone’s time.” However, Ainslie is also conscious that serious investment will need to be forthcoming for Britain to secure a first victory in the competition’s 162-year history.

“It’s the cost of securing the talent,” he said. “It’s a relatively small world, the America’s Cup world, and there are probably four or five guys out there who can design a winning boat.—AFP

MALAYSIA: Unheralded Joao Sousa completed a fairytale run at the Malaysian Open yesterday when he beat France’s Julien Benneteau 2-6 7-5 6-4 in the final to become the first Portuguese to win an ATP Tour title. The 24-year-old, ranked 77th in the world, fell flat on his back in delight after claiming victory on the indoor hard court when Benneteau missed with a backhand down the line on his second match point. Sousa beat top seed and world number four David Ferrer in the last eight and then fourth seed Juergen Melzer of Austria in the semi-finals to reach his first final at the $875,500-event in Kuala Lumpur.

Dressed in black with his cap back to front, the young Portuguese right-hander struggled with his serve in the opening set as the experienced Benneteau broke twice to wrap it up 6-2. The duo were on serve in the second before Sousa was forced to save a match point at 5-4 down before holding and then snatching the crucial break to take the set 7-5 and force a decider. The young Portuguese broke again in Benneteau’s opening service game of the third set and he held firm, saving four break points to close out the set 6-4 and claim the breakthrough win. The loss was tough on fifth seed Benneteau who was searching for his first ATP Tour title in his ninth final.—Reuters

Pirates pound Reds

HOUSTON: Ichiro Suzuki No. 31 of the New York Yankees hits a single in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. —AFP

Indians and Yankees advance MINNEAPOLIS: The Cleveland Indians won their ninth straight game and took sole possession of the AL wild-card lead on the next-to-last scheduled day of the regular season, beating Minnesota 5-1 Saturday behind Scott Kazmir’s 11 strikeouts.

Seeking their first postseason appearance since 2007, the Indians (91-70) hold a one-game lead over Tampa Bay and Texas (both 90-71).

Cleveland is assured of at least a tie for the AL wild card. With three teams seeking the two wild cards, Late yesterday’s results could decide the matter or lead to one or two tiebreaker games at the start of next week. After a rain delay of 2 hours, 26 minutes at the start, Kazmir (10-9) allowed one run and six hits in six innings. Cole De Vries (0-2) allowed five runs in five innings.

YANKEES 2, ASTROS 1 In Houston, Andy Pettitte completed his career in a most fitting fashion. The 41year-old left-hander pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game since 2006, leading the New York Yankees over his hometown Houston Astros.

“It couldn’t end any better,” Pettitte said, trying to hold back tears. Houston extended its team-record losing streak to 14 with its 110th loss of the season. Pettitte (11-11) never had a losing record in 18 major league seasons. He was 256-153 with a 3.85 ERA and excelled in October, where he compiled a record 19 postseason wins. He struck out five and walked two in a 115pitch effort. Paul Clemens (4-7) took the loss.

BLUE JAYS 7, RAYS 2 In Toronto, the Tampa Bay Rays dropped into a tie with Texas for the second AL wildcard berth, losing to Toronto as Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar hit two-run homers.

The Rays and Rangers are even, one game behind Cleveland. AJ Happ (5-7) got the win. Alex Torres (4-2) lost in relief. On Sunday, Matt Moore (16-4) starts for the Rays against Blue Jays rookie right-hander Todd Redmond.

RANGERS 7, ANGELS 4 In Arlington, Craig Gentry doubled, scored and bunted home a run, helping the Texas Rangers beat the sloppy Los Angeles Angels for its sixth straight win.

The Rangers, trying to make the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, and Tampa Bay are tied for the second AL wild-card spot, a game behind Cleveland.

The Angels made five errors for a game for the first time since Sept. 16, 2006, also

at Texas. Garrett Richards (7-8) threw two wild pitches and made an error. Joakim Soria (1-0) got his first major league victory since July 23, 2011, and Joe Nathan got his 43rd save in 46 chances.

The 11:07 a.m. start was the earliest home game in the 42 seasons the Rangers have played in Texas - the game was moved up eight hours because of the threat of bad weather. Nathan closed it out in heavy rain.

ORIOLES 6, RED SOX 5 In Baltimore, Steve Pearce drove in the go-ahead runs with a double in the eighth inning and the Baltimore Orioles rallied to a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox, who clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason earlier in the day.

The victory brought a measure of consolation for the Orioles, making them the only AL East team to win the season series against the Red Sox. Boston was assured of the best record in the American League when Oakland lost to Seattle with one day to spare in the regular season. The Red Sox will open their division series at Fenway Park on Friday against the winner of the wild-card playoff - either Cleveland, Tampa Bay or Texas.

Kevin Gausman (3-5) pitched 1 1-3 innings to get the win, and Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 49th save. Junichi Tazawa (5-4) took the loss.

MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 5 In Seattle, Brad Miller hit a pair of home runs, including his first grand slam, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics in a game that decided division-series matchups in the American League.

The AL West champion A’s will host their playoff opener next Friday against Central winner Detroit. Brandon Maurer (5-8) got the win and Danny Farquhar got his 16th save in 20 chances. Jarrod Parker (12-8) allowed seven runs and seven hits - including three homers - in 4 1-3 inning.

WHITE SOX 6, ROYALS 5 In Chicago, Adam Dunn and Conor Gillaspie each hit two-run homers and the Chicago White Sox topped the Kansas City Royals. After the game, the Chicago White Sox announced they had fired hitting coach Jeff Manto.

Marcus Semien and Jordan Danks added solo homers for the White Sox. Mike Moustakas, Billy Butler and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals. All 11 runs in the game came on homers. Erik Johnson (3-2) won and Addison Reed got his 40th save.

Yordano Ventura (0-1) took the loss.—AP

Kawamura takes title after Koreans falter in Japan OSAKA: Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura birdied the final two holes to claim the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Osaka yesterday, his first Asian and Japan Golf Tour title.

Kawamura, 20, started the final round two shots behind overnight leader Park Sungjoon but fired a four-under-par 67 at the Ibaraki Country Club to edge the South Korean by one shot and claim the 150 million yen ($1.53 million) title.

Park dropped shots on the 16th and 17th but still had a chance to force a playoff at the co-sanctioned event but he misread his 10ft birdie putt on the par five to leave Kawamura celebrating. “I am more surprised than anything as I was expecting a playoff,” Kawamura was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency. “This win is really big. Obviously it is the biggest thing to happen in my career.

Now I get to play in Japan and on the Asian Tour as well. I’m sure it will brighten my future and help me improve,” the Japanese told the Asian Tour. Kawamura reached the turn oneover for his round but came to life on the back nine with five birdies and no drop shots

to claim the breakthrough victory with a nine-under 275 total and moved him upto seventh on the Japan Golf Tour money list.

Park’s sloppy finish meant he signed for a one-under 70 and eight-under total and his fourth runner-up finish on the Japan Golf Tour this season.

“Maybe next time I will have better luck.

I’m still playing okay so that’s the positive I can take back from this week,” said Park, who is second on the Japan money list.

Another Korean to falter on the back nine in Osaka was former U.S. PGA champion Yang Yong-eu, who was one back off Park after 10 holes but a poor tee shot at the 11th cost put paid to his title bid as he finished two off the pace. “I played good. I only missed my drive on the 11th hole and dropped three shots there. My game is in great shape at the moment and I’m happy with where it is heading,” Yang said.

China’s Liang Wenchong shot a final round 68 to finish in a tie for fourth on 279 along with Australian Brad Kennedy (70) and Japan’s Akio Sadakata (71).—Reuters

CINCINNATI: Neil Walker hit two of Pittsburgh’s six homers - its biggest power surge in six years - and the Pirates clinched home-field advantage for the NL’s wild card playoff game by beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 Saturday.

Pittsburgh will host the Reds on Tuesday night in the Pirates’ first playoff appearance in 21 years.

They went 50-31 at PNC Park, the third-best home record in the NL.) Pittsburgh hit five homers off Bronson Arroyo (14-12), who had never given up that many in a game in his career. Walker homered twice off the right-hander, Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez also hit solo homers, and Marlon Byrd had a two-run shot that ended Arroyo’s outing in the fifth and made it 6-3. Prospect Andrew Lambo hit his first homer off Logan Ondrusek, the first time the Pirates had six in a game since Aug. 22, 2007 at Colorado.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton also struggled, leaving with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth. Vin Mazzaro (8-2) fanned Zack Cozart and retired Ryan Hanigan on a fly ball as the slumping Reds left the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

CARDINALS 6, CUBS 2 In St. Louis, Adam Wainwright earned his 19th victory in a tuneup for the NL division series opener and St. Louis showed no letup after clinching the NL Central, beating Chicago for its fifth straight win. Matt Holliday homered for the second day in a row and Yadier Molina drove in two runs for St. Louis (96-65). Wainwright (19-9) allowed two hits in shutout 5 1-3 innings and tied for the league lead in victories with Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann, who lost his last scheduled start Wednesday in St. Louis. Seth Maness earned his first career save by getting Darwin Barney on a double-play ball.

Edwin Jackson (8-18) allowed six runs and eight hits in 2 2-3 innings before leaving with mild side discomfort. He leads the majors in losses.

PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 4 In Atlanta, Chris Johnson made a headfirst dive into first base but was thrown out to end the game, then argued in the dugout with Atlanta coach Terry Pendleton after the Braves lost to Philadelphia.

Down 5-1, the Braves rallied in the ninth on Justin Upton’s three-run homer, his 27th, with two outs. Freddie Freeman singled and Evan Gattis walked to keep the rally going against Jonathan Papelbon.

Johnson hit a grounder to the hole and Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins made a diving stop, got up and made a one-hop throw to first baseman Darin Ruf for the final out.

When Johnson got to the dugout, Pendleton grabbed him and there were angry words before they pulled apart. Mike Minor (13-9) took the loss after allowing two earned runs in six innings.

Philadelphia rookie Ethan Martin started and allowed a first-inning run in three innings. Fellow rookie Luis Garcia (1-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.

BREWERS 4, METS 2 In New York, Carlos Gomez homered and had four hits, including a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning that sent Milwaukee over New York.

Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs to help the Brewers (74-87) win their fourth straight as they put together a strong finish to a disappointing season. Pinch-hitter Caleb Gindl drew a four-pitch walk from Scott Atchison (3-3) to start the 10th and went to third on Jonathan Lucroy’s broken-bat single. Gomez followed with a flare to right-center to put Milwaukee ahead. Betancourt added an RBI single that made it 4-2.

Donovan Hand (1-5) initially tried for a six-out save and instead wound up with his first major league win. With the Brewers resting closer Jim Henderson, Alfredo Figaro got three straight outs for his first career save.

CINCINNATI: Bryan Morris No. 29 pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch during the game against the Cincinnati Reds. —AFP Greinke for his first victory in six starts and Nolan NATIONALS 2, DIAMONDBACKS 0 In Phoenix, Dan Haren brought his disappoint- Arenado had an RBI double, leading Colorado over ing season with Washington to a strong conclu- Los Angeles.

Nicasio (9-9) allowed three hits over 5 1-3 sion, blanking Arizona on four hits through seven innings. Haren (10-14), the former Diamondbacks innings and struck out seven while winning for the pitcher who signed a one-year, $13 million deal first time since Aug. 26 against San Francisco.

Adam Octavio followed Josh Outman out of the with the Nationals and struggled mightily for much bullpen in the sixth, retiring Juan Uribe on a foul of the season, struck out five and walked one.

Brandon McCarthy (5-11) gave up two runs on pop and Scott Van Slyke on a fly ball with the bases five hits in seven innings. With the loss, Arizona fell loaded. Rex Brothers, the sixth Rockies pitcher, got to 80-81, the first time the Diamondbacks have four outs for his 18th save in 20 chances.

Troy Tulowitzki doubled with one out in the been under .500 all season. fourth and scored on Arenado’s two-out double to left-center. Greinke (15-4) allowed a run and four PADRES 9, GIANTS 3 In San Francisco, Jesus Guzman, Chris Denorfia hits through six innings. and Jedd Gyorko each homered and drove in two INTERLEAGUE runs and San Diego beat San Francisco.

MARLINS 2, TIGERS 1 Hunter Pence, who reached a tentative agreeIn Miami, Anibal Sanchez all but clinched the ment on a $90 million, five-year contract before the AL ERA title by pitching five scoreless innings for game, hit a two-run homer for the Giants.

Eric Stults (11-13) pitched seven effective Detroit, but Joaquin Benoit blew a save and they innings to win his third straight start after going 0- lost to the Miami.

Detroit took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but the 6 in his previous 10 starts. He also helped himself Marlins rallied against Benoit. He blew a save for with an RBI single during a four-run fourth.

Stults allowed three runs and seven hits. He did only the second time in 26 chances this year, which not walk a batter and struck out three. Yusmeiro prevented Sanchez from earning his 15th victory.

Ed Lucas singled home the tying run with two Petit (4-1) lasted a season-low 3 2-3 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. Luke Gregerson outs in the ninth, and Benoit loaded the bases. pitched the eighth and Huston Street worked the The got out of the inning after throwing 31 pitches. Evan Reed (0-1) loaded the bases with a walk ninth. and, with one out, Giancarlo Stanton hit a winning RBI single. Steve Cishek (4-6) pitched a hitROCKIES 1, DODGERS 0 In Los Angeles, Juan Nicasio outdueled Zack less 10th. —AP

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

American League Eastern Division W L Boston 97 64 Tampa Bay 90 71 Baltimore 84 77 NY Yankees 84 77 Toronto 74 87 Central Division Detroit 93 68 Cleveland 91 70 Kansas City 85 76 Minnesota 66 95 Chicago White Sox 63 98 Western Division Oakland 95 66 Texas 90 71 LA Angels 78 83 Seattle 71 90 Houston 51 110

PCT .602 .559 .522 .522 .460

GB 7 13 13 23

.578 .565 .528 .410 .391

2 8 27 30

St. Louis Pittsburgh Cincinnati Milwaukee Chicago Cubs

.590 .559 .484 .441 .317

5 17 24 44

LA Dodgers Arizona San Diego San Francisco Colorado

Atlanta Washington NY Mets Philadelphia Miami

National League Eastern Division 95 66 86 75 73 88 73 88 61 100 Central Division 96 65 93 68 90 71 74 87 66 95 Western Division 92 69 80 81 76 85 75 86 73 88

.590 .534 .453 .453 .379

9 22 22 34

.596 .578 .559 .460 .410

3 6 22 30

.571 .497 .472 .466 .453

12 16 17 19

Avalanche beat Kings

LAS VEGAS: Alec Martinez No. 27 of the Los Angeles Kings defends against Nathan MacKinnon No. 29 of the Colorado Avalanche during their preseason game. —AFP

LAS VEGAS: Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in the second period, rallying the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.

Ryan O’Reilly started Los Angeles’ comeback from two goals down at 8:11 of the second period. Landeskog tied at 22 with 7:02 remaining in the period, beating Mathieu Garon on the first shot he faced after replacing Ben Scrivens.

Landeskog got the tiebreaker with 3:54 remaining, knocking in a rebound from just in front of the goal. Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 23 saves for the Avalanche (3-3-0). Mike Richards scored twice for Los Angeles, putting the Kings (3-31) on the scoreboard with 3:22 left in the first and doubling the lead 14 seconds into the second period. Scrivens had 17 saves and Garon finished with nine.

With 15 seconds left in the game, the Kings’ Azne Kopitar had one final chance to tie with a loose puck just right of the net, but couldn’t get a good shot off.

Andre Benoit had two assists for Colorado. Kings captain Dustin Brown returned from a hamstring injury. Brown, who did not start, made his first appearance less than two minutes into the game. He had 18 goals and 11 assists last season.—AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Kipsang smashes marathon record in Berlin victory BERLIN: Kenyan Wilson Kipsang made the most of the notoriously flat and fast Berlin streets to smash the marathon world record by 15 seconds en route to taking the title yesterday.

The 31-year-old Kipsang clocked a time of two hours, three minutes and 23 seconds to better the previous mark set two years ago in the same race by compatriot Patrick Makau, who was forced to pull out through injury two weeks ago.

Kipsang, who won the 2012 London Marathon and also took bronze at the Olympics, produced a storming finish to leave compatriot Eliud Kipchoge a distant second almost a minute behind.

“I’m very happy that I have won and broken the world record,” Kipsang said in a televised interview after the race.

“I was really inspired by Paul Tergat

BERLIN: Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang holds his gold medal as he celebrates on the podium after winning the 40th edition of the Berlin Marathon. —AFP when he broke the world record here 10 years ago and I’m very happy that I was in a position to break the record on

the same course.”

Kenyan Tergat’s time of 2:04:55 at the 2003 Berlin Marathon was the first to be ratified as a world record by governing body the IAAF, who previously recognised fastest marathon times as world bests.

Makau’s mark had looked safe as the leading bunch dropped more than 20 seconds off the pace after 30 kilometres but they clawed back the deficit over the next five kilometres.

With the group whittled down to three runners, Kipsang made his decisive move at the 37 km mark and held off former 5,000 metres world champion Kipchoge before pulling well clear in the final two kilometres on the fastest of the big city courses. Kipchoge’s time of 2:04:05 was a personal best with Geoffrey Kipsang third in 2:06:26.

It was the ninth world record at the race - which celebrated its 40th running on Sunday - and fifth by the men in the last decade. Despite running under cool and sunny skies, Kipsang said calmer conditions could have produced an ever quicker time.

“If I prepare very well and stay in shape then maybe,” he said when asked if he could better the mark. “Today there was a lot of wind... but if the wind would have been a little bit then it (the time) would come down.”

Never theless, the victor y boosted Kipsang’s chances of winning the world marathon majors series which awards points during a two-year cycle from finishing positions in the Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York marathons.

He will move up to second behind Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede in the race to win a cut of the million dollar jackpot split between the men’s and women’s winners.

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat took the title after she overcame a duel with compatriot Sharon Cherop, who faded to finish 45 seconds back.

Kiplagat repeated her 2011 success in Berlin with another strong run but her time of 2:21:13 was six minutes shy of the women’s world record set by Briton Paula Radcliffe a decade ago. Germany’s Irina M ik itenko was third in 2:24:54, breaking the world masters record for over 40s. —Reuters

Costa crowned world road race champion FLORENCE: Alberto Rui Costa stunned Spanish rival Joaquin Rodriguez at the finish line of the world championships’ road race to become the first Portuguese winner of the coveted rainbow jersey yesterday.

Rodriguez finished second to take the silver with compatriot Alejandro Valverde taking bronze at the end of rain-hit 272.2 km epic that claimed several pre-race favourites as well as the entire British team.

Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali had to settle for fourth after being left with no teammates for the thrilling finale in the final stages of the 10th and last lap of a hilly 16.9 km circuit around Florence.

Rui Costa, who won two stages at July’s

Tour de France as well as the Tour of Switzerland, succeeds Philippe Gilbert of Belgium as world champion. Gilbert’s Belgian team looked among the strongest amid a reduced, 42-man field on the final lap.

However the defending champion, as well as pre-race favourite Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, were among those unable to respond when Rodriguez countered an attack by Nibali late on the second of the circuit’s three climbs.

Gilbert eventually crossed the finish line in ninth place at 34secs behind Rui Costa’s winning time of 7hr 25min 44sec, with Cancellara on his wheel.—AFP

ITALY: Gold medalist Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa of Portugal (center) poses with silver medalist Joaquin Rodriguez (left) of Spain and Alejandro Valverde of Spain on the podium of the elite men’s road race UCI World Championship. —AFP

Photo of the day

Abdo Feghali during one of the qualifiers of Red Bull Car Park Drift.—www.redbull.com

Sochi in final stretch as flame lit in Olympia ANCIENT OLYMPIA: The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic torch was lit in ancient Olympia yesterday heralding the start of what will be the longest torch relay for any Winter Games, including a trip to space, as Russia prepares to showcase its modern post-Soviet face.

The Black Sea resort of Sochi, the first Russian city to stage a Winter Olympics, will receive the flame on Oct. 5 after a short relay in Greece, to kick off a 123-day odyssey culminating at the opening ceremony on Feb. 7.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to deliver a “brilliant” Games to show how far Russia has come since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

On a hot autumn day, Greek actress Ino Menegaki, playing a high priestess, lit the torch in seconds as the sun’s rays bounced off a concave mirror at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics, a ritual first established for the 1936 Berlin Games.

“I hope the Games show the world that Russia is not only salt cucumbers and vodka,” Denis Kruzhkov, 40, a university professor from a town near Sochi, told Reuters.

Wrapped in a Russian flag on the green slopes hugging the ancient stadium, he said: “I hope Sochi represents the new Russia. Sochi is multi-national and safe, and sport unites people.” After leaving Greece, the flame will travel to outer space, the bottom of Lake Baikal, the North Pole and Europe’s highest peak in the mammoth trek across the vast country, carried by a record 14,000 torch-bearers.

“This is the beginning of an epic journey for the Olympic torch,” Sochi Games chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said. “A journey that will change Russia forever.”

It will not be plain sailing for the Russian organisers until the Games opening, however, with mounting international criticism over a new anti-gay propaganda law which critics believe is repressive.

Security in the city near the volatile North Caucasus region is also a major concern with Putin saying more needed to be done. On Friday Russian security forces killed five suspected militants in the North Caucasus province of Agestan, including one believed to be a local Islamist insurgent leader.

“Just as in ancient Greece, the Olympic Games cannot settle political problems or secure lasting peace between peoples,” new International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said in a brief speech from the ruins of the ancient stadium.

“The Olympic flame thus reminds us to be aware of our own Olympic limits.” Human rights groups and some athletes have criticised the IOC for failing to do more to press Russia over the new law.

“The IOC is not meant to be a government who imposes laws and regulations,” Bach told Reuters after the ceremony, conducted amid an unusually small crowd of spectators and draconian security measures, including hundreds of

GREECE: Greek actress Ino Menegakie acting as the priestesses passes the flame to the first torch bearer, Greek skier Giannis Anoniou, at the Temple of Hera yesterday during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 B.C.—AFP police on the ground and helicopters clattering overhead. “The IOC is not a supra-national parliament or government which can impose laws outside the Olympic Games on a sovereign country. “But we are very clear that we will not tolerate any form of discrimination. The task of the IOC is that the Olympic Charter is applied 100 percent,” Bach said on his first official assign-

ment since succeeding Jacques Rogge.

Ice hockey player Alexander Ovechkin was the first Russian to run with the torch after Greek Alpine skier Ioannis Antoniou kicked off the relay. It will eventually travel across 83 regions in Russia and 2,900 settlements on its 65,000 kms route through the world’s largest country.—Reuters

IOC says a 2022 winter World Cup won’t affect Winter Games ANCIENT OLYMPIA: Staging the 2022 Qatar soccer World Cup in winter will not affect the Winter Olympics in the same year, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said yesterday.

Bach, who was attending the Sochi 2014 Winter Games torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, said he had had talks with FIFA president Sepp Blatter and was confident the two major sports events would steer clear of each other.

“This is a FIFA discussion and the IOC will not interfere,” German Bach told two international news agencies. “I have spoken with president Blatter a couple of weeks ago when he made the proposal to have the World Cup in November 2022 and we will now follow these discussion in the executive commission of FIFA.” Qatar, which had bid for a traditional summer tournament in a country where summer temperatures top 45 degree Celsius, was

awarded the World Cup three years ago in a surprise decision. The IOC’s winter Games usually fall in the first three months of the year.

“I am very sure that there will be a solution in the mutual interest because neither FIFA nor the IOC want a clash of dates for such major world sports events. This is why I am not worried at all,” said Bach, who succeeded Jacques Rogge at the helm of the IOC this month.

Officials in the energy-rich Gulf state have repeatedly said they are open to a switch to winter dates but reiterated that despite the extreme heat the World Cup could be staged in summer by building air-conditioned stadiums using newly environmentally friendly technology.

There have already been calls for compensation if the dates are switched and Blatter said this month it may have been a mistake to award a summer tournament to Qatar.—Reuters

ASC holds annual Technical Forum By: Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The Asian Shooting Confederation held its second annual Technical Forum on Friday and Saturday to discuss matters relevant to the advancement of the Asian shooters and better development of the sport of shooting in general.

The meeting was held at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex, as those present expressed their appreciation of such meetings that proved fruitful since the first time it was held here in Kuwait where the ASC headquar ter is located, and headed by Sheikh Salman Sabah AlSalem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah.

They said deep rooted changes have taken place since Sheikh Salman became president and moved Asian shooting to where it belongs as the largest continental shooting confederation in the world. They said that Asian shooting has its prominence in the world and its represented by Sheikh Salman at the ISSF as Vice President.

Vice President of Kazakhstan Clay

Target and Practice Shooting Federation Sushil Chowdhary said shooting officials in Asia are happy with such meetings as they allow us the opportunity to exchange ideas and proposals regarding some difficulties face such as the use of paper and electronic targets.

He said that there are several proposals to be presented to Sheikh Salman who represents the entire Asian continent and will take those proposals to ISSF for consideration.

He said that he was happy because discussions were fruitful and will come with important results during the meetings of ISSF in November. When asked about the new ISSF rules that are now in effect he said these rules were made to make our sport more attractive to the media and closer to fans, but unfortunately there were complaints especially that they take longer time and become boring.

He said the chane of rules in the final rounds was to add excitement but the problem remained that others still did not know what was going

on. He personally does not think the rules succeeded in achieving what it aimed for in the first place.

Chowdhary said that as the ASC is the largest continental confederation in the world representing 45 country and its shooters are winning medals in various championships in an unprecedented fashion, results of this meeting will be heard during the ISF meetings in November and they should adopt what we present to them.

Isteaqe Ahmad from Bangladesh believes that to develop shooting we should understand the technical rules better and how to implement what the ISSF has introduced. He said that rules were reviewed and proposals were made to be considered later by the ISSF. He said we are very appreciative of the ASC’s opportunity to hold the meetings and facilitate everything making the meetings go smoothly.

He said all what we have to do is work on developing Asian spor t and improve shooters performance. He said good results started to appear

after the election of Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah as ASC president. Isteaqe said Sheikh Salman is a hard worker and active and works to better this sport.

Razi Ahmad Khan from Pakistan said these meetings are the first after the change on the technical rules, and it was the president’s idea to work on understanding the rules and determine the drawbacks in them, adding that the ISSF will be compelled to change some of them when ASC president presents his proposals.

Bunnag from Thailand said special emphasis were given to the rules related to final rounds, and got some ideas from the committee members and presented various solutions to both the ASC and ISSF. He said the new ISSF are still under trial and so far very few are those who are comfortable with them, as coaches, players and some officials do like the long time the rounds take and we must work on improving them because the core idea cannot be changed but can be amended. He said that Sheikh Salman paved the

way for the improvement of the Asian shooting sport and this will continue for many years to come.

Chairman of ASC Technical and Judges Committee said that coaches and shooters have an idea about the new rules, but we found several mistakes in the rules and those were highlighted. He said technical committee members are interested in

helping needy shooters to allow them participate in tournaments and other shooting related events.

He said Asian sport in continually improving and for the past three years world champions were from Asia. KIM Il Hwan concluded by saying “we are proud that Sheikh Salman is paying such attention to our sport and he already gave us a lot.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Georgia outlasts LSU

LOS ANGELES: Brian Vera (right) lands a left hand to the head of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. during their Light Heavyweight bout at StubHub Center. —AFP

Chavez Jr wins unanimous decision over Vera CARSON: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. won a unanimous decision over Bryan Vera on Saturday night in his return to the ring from a yearlong absence.

Chavez (47-1-1) overcame weight struggles and a lively challenge from the unsung Vera to get the decision on all three judges’ scorecards, winning 96-94, 97-93 and 9892.

“I definitely won seven or eight rounds of the fight,” Chavez said. “I was very close to knocking him out like three times in the fight.”

Not many ringside observers agreed: The crowd at StubHub Center, largely proChavez during the fight, roundly booed the decision and Chavez as he left the ring. The Associated Press scored it 96-94 for Vera.

The win capped a tumultuous stretch for Chavez, who hadn’t fought since Sept. 15, 2012, when he received his first career defeat in a thrilling decision against middleweight king Sergio Martinez.

After serving a nine-month drug suspension, Chavez missed the original 168pound contract limit for his comeback bout with Vera. The notorious boxing scion struggled just to get to the new 173-pound limit for Friday’s weigh-in.

Vera (23-7) and his camp were furious with the verdict, feeling he outpointed Chavez with superior activity and aggression in the 10-round bout. Vera landed 176 of his 734 punches - throwing more than twice as many as Chavez, who landed 125 of 328 - while also landing more power shots than Chavez, whose face was swollen and cut by the final bell.

“This is the best performance of my career,” Vera said. “The weight was never an issue. The game plan was exactly what we did. I was never hurt during the fight.”

Vera was the aggressor from the opening bell, chasing Chavez around the ring and throwing twice the volume of punches.

Chavez, who wouldn’t step on HBO’s scale before the fight, consistently backed up against his smaller opponent. But Chavez also landed his left hook consistently, set-

ting up short right hands that turned Vera’s head.

The sixth round was a corker, with both fighters trading big shots. Vera appeared to be winning the seventh round, cutting Chavez on the nose during a flurry against the ropes, but Chavez staggered him with a big left hook in the final seconds.

Chavez complained repeatedly about head butts and low blows by Vera, who finished the final round aggressively and thrust his arms skyward at the final bell.

No matter the decision, Chavez showed some rust and conditioning issues in his first bout since losing to Martinez. Chavez took a pounding in the first 11 rounds of that bout before staggering and nearly stopping Martinez in the 12th, possibly falling a few seconds shy of an upset victory. But Chavez’s career hit the rocks shortly after that impressive moment. He tested positive for marijuana use, receiving a ninemonth suspension and a hefty fine, and he split with respected trainer Freddie Roach and strength coach Alex Ariza.

Chavez was ostensibly trained for this fight by his famous father, although the Hall of Famer watched the evening’s opening bouts in a tuxedo while broadcasting for Mexican television’s Azteca Deportes.

Chavez had hoped to return with another middleweight fight, but realized early in negotiations with Vera that he couldn’t get down to 160 pounds any more. Chavez tried to make the super middleweight limit, but gave up several days ago - and reportedly paid a hefty penalty to Vera on top of Vera’s $275,000 purse. Chavez, whose purse was $2.5 million, could afford it.

Vera is the son and brother of boxers from Austin, Texas. He competed on the reality show “The Contender” before upsetting Andy Lee in 2008, leading to a decent career as a second-tier opponent for numerous 160-pound contenders.

Vera revitalized his career in the past 18 months with victories in his last four bouts, including a surprise stoppage of Ukraine’s Sergiy Dzinziruk in January. —AP

ATHENS: Aaron Murray threw four touchdown passes, including a 25yarder to Justin Scott-Wesley with 1:47 remaining, and No. 9 Georgia rallied to beat No. 6 LSU 44-41 in a thrilling game between Southeastern Conference powerhouses Saturday.

The Bulldogs (3-1, 2-0) completed their opening-month run through a gauntlet of top-10 teams with a victory that propelled them back into the thick of the national championship race.

LSU (4-1, 1-1) got a career-best 372 yards passing from former Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger in his return to Athens, and the Tigers went ahead 41-37 on Jeremy Hill’s 8-yard touchdown run with 4:14 to go.

But that was plenty of time for Murray and the high-powered Bulldogs on a day when neither defense had much success. He completed three straight passes to quickly move the Bulldogs into LSU territory, and freshman JJ Green broke off an 18-yard run to the Tigers 25.

Then it was Scott-Wesley, breaking wide open behind the secondary to haul in a pass and tiptoe just inside the pylon for the winning score.

ALABAMA 25, MISSISSIPPI 0 At Tuscaloosa, TJ Yeldon rushed for 121 yards, Kenyan Drake gained 99 and a dominating defense powered Alabama past Mississippi.

Yeldon scored on a 68-yard run and Drake added a 50-yard scamper to revive a struggling running game for the Crimson Tide (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference), which outgained the Rebels 434-205.

Ole Miss (3-1, 1-1) was seeking its first 4-0 start in 43 years but instead was shut out for the first time since Arkansas did it in November 1998.

OREGON 55, CAL 16 At Eugene, Oregon, Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for another for Oregon in the rain-drenched Pac-12 opener for both teams.

Bralon Addison returned two punts for touchdowns and Byron Marshall ran for 130 yards and two more scores for the Ducks (4-0, 1-0).

The game was played as a strong storm swept across the Pacific Northwest, leaving it a sloppy mess on the field, with eight fumbles - four for each team - in the first half alone.

The Ducks handled the soggy conditions better, building a 41-3 halftime lead.

CLEMSON 56, WAKE FOREST 7 At Clemson, South Carolina, Tajh

ATHENS: Todd Gurley No. 3 of the Georgia Bulldogs carries the ball against the LSU Tigers at Sanford Stadium. —AFP Boyd became the second Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback to account for 100 career touchdowns, leading Clemson to the easy win.

Boyd threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another score. He stands at 102 TDs, joining former North Carolina State star Phillip Rivers in the ACC’s century club He had touchdown throws of 64 yards to Sammy Watkins, 75 yards to D.J. Howard and 14 yards to Mike Williams as Clemson (4-0, 2-0) built a 35-7 halftime lead.

Winston had first-half touchdown passes of 56 and 10 yards to tie the game after BC, coming off a 28-point loss to Southern California, opened a 17-3 lead.

The desperation heave to Kenny Shaw made it 24-17, and then Winston added a fourth TD pass in the second half as the Seminoles (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) pulled away.

TEXAS A&M 45, ARKANSAS 33 At Fayetteville, Arkansas, Johnny Manziel accounted for 320 total yards of offense and threw two touchdown passes to Mike Evans to help Texas A&M pull away.

Manziel, who totaled 557 yards of offense in a win over the Razorbacks last season, was 23-of-30 passing for 261 yards and he rushed for 59 yards for the Aggies (4-1, 1-1 SEC).

STANFORD 55, WASHINGTON ST. 17 At Seattle, Kevin Hogan picked apart Washington State, throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns, and Stanford won its 12th straight.

Hogan connected with Devon Cajuste on touchdowns of 57 and 33 yards in the first half then found Michael Rector on a 45-yard TD during a third-quarter blitz where the Cardinal scored 21 points as part of a stretch where they ran just two offensive plays. Jordan Richards and Trent Murphy both returned interceptions 30 yards for touchdowns 2:04 apart in the third quarter as the Cardinal (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) quickly turned a 17-3 halftime advantage into a 38-3 lead.

WEST VIRGINIA 30, OKLAHOMA STATE 21 At Morgantown, West Virginia, Clint Trickett threw a touchdown pass in his first start at West Virginia, and Ishmael Banks returned an interception for a touchdown. Josh Lambert kicked three field goals for West Virginia (3-2, 1-1 Big 12).

FLORIDA STATE 48, BOSTON COLLEGE 34 At Boston, Jameis Winston threw for four touchdowns for Florida State, including a 55-yard Hail Mary as time expired in the first half.

SOUTH CAROLINA 28, CENTRAL FLORIDA 25 At Orlando, Florida, Mike Davis rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns as South Carolina overcame an injury to its starting quarterback,

my favor because I was wearing him down.”

Stevenson’s next fight is to be a mandatory defense against England’s Tony Bellew, likely early next year.

“I’m not 5-foot-10 like Cloud and I’m not scared or intimidated by Adonis Stevenson,” said the 6-3 Bellew. “I’ll come with a game plan and execute it.”

On the undercard, former champion Jean Pascal stopped George Blades with three knockdowns in the fifth round in a light heavyweight fight. Pascal (28-2-1) used the fight as a tuneup bout for his scheduled match in January with fellow Montreal fighter Lucian Bute. Blades is 235-2. “This does me an enormous amount of good,” Pascal said after his first knockout since 2009. “I’m a guy with power, but it had been a long time since I knocked anyone out. Now, I’ll go into camp with more confidence.” In a matchup of Colombian light heavyweights, Eleider Alvarez unanimously outpointed Edison Miranda in a 10round bout to improve to 13-0. Alvarez had winning scores of 99-90, 97-92 and 9594.—AP

MONTREAL: Adonis Stevenson (right) from Montreal, and Tavoris Cloud, of the United States, exchange blows during their boxing bout. —AP

OKLAHOMA 35, NOTRE DAME 21 At South Bend, Indiana, Blake Bell threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma jumped to a twotouchdown lead in the opening three minutes. It was the Sooners’ second win over the Fighting Irish in 11 meetings.

MIAMI 49, SOUTH FLORIDA 21 In Tampa, Florida, Stephen Morris threw for two touchdowns before limping off with an ankle injury and Duke Johnson scored a TD in his eighth consecutive game, helping Miami roll to the win.

Miami (4-0) is off to its best start in nine years heading into next weekend’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener at home against Georgia Tech.

WASHINGTON 31, ARIZONA 13 At Seattle, Bishop Sankey carried a school-record 40 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and Keith Price threw for two touchdowns to lead Washington.

FLORIDA 24, KENTUCKY 7 At Lexington, Kentucky, Matt Jones rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Murphy threw for 156 yards and a score as Florida beat Kentucky for the 27th straight time. —AP

McKenzie hoping for mature performance in Pumas clash

Stevenson stops Cloud to retain WBC crown MONTREAL: Adonis Stevenson retained the WBC light heavyweight title Saturday night at the Bell Centre when Tavoris Cloud failed to answer the bell for the eighth round after sustaining a cut over his right eye. Stevenson (22-1) successfully defended the title he won in June with a firstround knockout of Chad Dawson. Cloud (24-2), the former IBF champion, also was cut on the left eyelid in the opening round.

Stevenson, from Blainville, Quebec, is the only Canadian currently with a world title.

He stung Cloud with a stiff left in the opening round that left the cut and swelling on his eyelid.

Cloud rebounded in the second, but the right-hander rarely used his right hand.

That drew taunting from Stevenson, who twice stood before his opponent with his arms stretched out, daring him to throw a punch.

“I’m proud, because I worked hard and I showed I can box,” Stevenson said. “I did everything according to my game plan.

“My corner said to go to the body. I knew the longer it went on it would be in

four turnovers and a halftime deficit to get the win.

SPAIN: Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates after winning the MotoGP race of the Aragon Grand Prix at the Motorland racetrack. —AFP

Marquez wins, Pedrosa crashes ARAGON: Spaniard Marc Marquez edged closer to the world title with a win at the Aragon MotoGP ahead of Jorge Lorenzo on Sunday, when another of his closest challengers, Dani Pedrosa, crashed out in spectacular fashion.

The 20-year-old rookie started on pole but needed to reel in world champion Lorenzo, who had made a flying start to hit the front, and he eventually passed the Yamaha rider with 10 laps to go and cruised to his sixth win.

Marquez’s Honda team mate Pedrosa was in second place when he high-sided his bike and crashed as he came out of a corner with 18 laps to go, after the two riders clipped each other.

Italian Valentino Rossi came in third ahead of Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, Germany’s Stefan Bradl and Britain’s Cal Crutchlow after a thrilling final-lap tussle between the four.

Championship leader Marquez moved on to 278 points with four races left, 39 ahead of second-placed Lorenzo. Pedrosa is third with 219 points.

“Once again we have not done well at the start and it is something we have to improve on for the future,” Marquez told Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.

“I was recovering (from the poor start) when Dani passed me but I slowly found some more speed.” Marquez was asked if there had been contact between him and Pedrosa moments before his team mate crashed, something that was not clear from television replays.

“I touched him a little with my elbow,” Marquez said. “But they are telling me I may have hit his traction control cable and it was for this reason he fell. It was really bad luck.”

Pedrosa, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, was taken to the circuit hospital for a check-up but did not seem to have suffered a serious injury when he spoke after the race. “Marc is always pushing to the very limit when he has riders in front of him,” a clearly unhappy Pedrosa told Telecinco.

“As has been happening almost all season he was coming at me from behind.

When he touched me, he broke the sensor for the traction control and this is how my race finished.

“I fell because of this....this...I don’t know what to call it. “Through the years these little things keep happening. Many of us more experienced riders have tried to calm those with less experience. It isn’t a case that anything goes in these races.”

On his injury, he said: “My pelvis is very sore because I fell very hard on my backside. We’ll see how I am in the morning.”

Lorenzo missed out on making it a hat-trick of consecutive wins when Marquez nipped inside him with 10 laps to go.

“We have had a lot of problems with the set-up of the bike over the weekend but there are no excuses,” Lorenzo said. “Marc has been much quicker than us and we have to congratulate him and wait for the next race.”

Spaniard Nico Terol won the Moto2 race ahead of compatriots Esteve Rabat and Pol Espargaro, with championship leader Scott Redding of Britain fourth.

Second-placed Espargaro closed to within 20 points of Redding in the Moto2 world championship. There was another Spanish winner in Moto3 with Alex Rins finishing ahead of Maverick Vinales and Alex Marquez. Championship leader Luis Salom was fourth.—Reuters

CAPE TOWN: Australia coach Ewen McKenzie wants a more mature performance from his side as they bid to avoid the Rugby Championship wooden spoon when they face Argentina in Rosario on Saturday. McKenzie kept his side on the field at halftime of their 28-8 defeat to South Africa at Newlands, their biggest ever margin of defeat in Cape Town, as he gave them a very public dressing down. Having trailed 23-3 at the break, they did improve in the second half but at no point looked like mounting a significant fightback.

“You can have all the ideas you like about how the game will pan out but you have to make adjustments on the field,” McKenzie told reporters.

“We were probably a bit too conservative for too long, but as soon as we ran at them the penalties started coming our way.

“There are parts of our game that are improving, we have been putting in the effort, I can’t fault that. But I feel like I say this every second week, there is a maturing aspect that we need to find.”

Australia have lost four of their five Rugby Championship matches this season, their only respite a narrow 14-13 win over Argentina in Perth.

McKenzie does not believe that adds any extra significance to Saturday’s final fling in Rosario. “Every game is crucial. We don’t sit there and value the games,” he added.

“The good teams do well for longer periods of time and grab their moments, we are not grabbing our moments. Test matches are about pressure and right now we lack composure in key moments.

“As a coach you come across these periods of time, I’ve had it before with other teams. There is not one thing you can fix and it magically comes right, you have to fix a bunch of things and that is what we are trying to do.

“We had opportunities to put pressure on South Africa but lost out through poor execution. That’s where we are at the moment, all we can do is keep plugging away.”

Argentina showed enough at home against South Africa and New Zealand to suggest they will be a big test for Australia, something McKenzie acknowledges.

“Argentina is a tough place to play, but that’s alright, we will dust ourselves off and get over there. I think we have made a fair bit of progress, it has just not showed itself in the scoreboard.”—Reuters

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

SPORTS

Ancelotti drifting into troubled waters with Real MADRID: The honeymoon period for Carlo Ancelotti has run its course at Real Madrid and the Italian faces his first rumblings of discontent after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid in the city derby.

Real lie third in La Liga after seven games with 16 points, five adrift of champions Barcelona and Atletico who have both swept to perfect starts in a league that allows very little margin for error.

Real and Barca won the last two league titles, in 2012 and 2013 respectively, by amassing 100 points each, dropping only 14 points over their 38 games, and on current form Ancelotti’s team appear to be losing their way rather than improving.

They drew 2-2 at promoted Villarreal two weeks ago and were rescued from a 1-1 draw at another pro-

moted club, Elche, during the week when they were awarded a controversial penalty deep into added time, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted.

Daily El Mundo ran the headline: “Atletico ring the alarm bells at the Bernabeu” over their match report, while a leader in Madrid-based sports daily AS said: “Ancelotti has lost all his credit within a few days.” Ronaldo jumped to Ancelotti’s defence after the game.

“We have to recognise we played badly. I played badly,” the Portugal forward told Spanish broadcaster Canal Plus.

“The league is going to be tough but we have to keep our heads up and continue to work to improve. It isn’t the coach’s fault, it’s the players’. “I am very pleased with the coach. He is one of the best I have

worked with in my career.”

Ancelotti was whistled at by sections of the crowd when he substituted midfielder Isco for striker Alvaro Morata in the second half.

The fans have lost patience with inconsistent striker Karim Benzema and wanted the French international removed instead of new recruit Isco who has quickly become a crowd favourite.

Ancelotti was brought in to replace Jose Mourinho at the end of last season, and the former AC Milan, Chelsea and Paris St Germain boss has set about trying to change the way the team plays.

At his presentation in June he promised to produce ‘spectacular football’ with an attacking style based upon possession, in contrast to his predecessor who preferred to play on

the counter.

However, Real are struggling to make that change, in particular when it comes to breaking down opponents who sit deep and gather men behind the ball, as Atletico do. The visitors won the game by dominating the midfield.

“It was the same problem as in recent games,” Ancelotti told the postmatch news conference. “The build-up is slow and when the ball reaches the forwards there is no space. We need to be a bit more direct, move a bit quicker and play with greater movement.

The system isn’t the problem, the problem is speed.

“I don’t think the league title is getting away from us. Five points behind is significant but the league is a long race, and we have time to recover.”

For Atletico, it was a second victory

at the Bernabeu in five months, after they beat their city rivals in the King’s Cup final there 2-1 after extra time last May, ending a 14-year run without a derby victory.

Diego Simeone’s side lost the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona only on the away goals rule after a 1-1 draw at the Calderon and a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp last month, and a clean sheet at the Bernabeu proves what tough opponents they have become.

The Argentine continues to dismiss the idea that Atletico can realistically compete with Real and Barca for the championship next May, but Ancelotti thinks otherwise.

“They are a very solid team with a great deal of quality, they play very well and are very compact,” he said. “I think they can challenge for the title.”—Reuters

Stuttgart hammer Braunschweig

FRANCE: Rennes’ French goalkeeper Benoit Costil (center) vies with Nantes’ US midfielder Alejandro Bedoya during the French League football match. —AFP

Nantes defeat Rennes to claim Brittany derby PARIS: Promoted Nantes continued their fine start to the Ligue 1 campaign with a display reminiscent of the style that made them eight-time champions as they defeated Rennes 3-1 yesterday.

The afternoon kick-off at Rennes’s Stade de la Route de l’Orient produced a feisty Brittany derby that was eventually taken over by the ‘Canaries’ thanks to strikes from Filip Djordjevic, Serge Gakpe and an injury time clincher from Lucas Deaux.

The win lifts Michel Der Zakarian’s side up to sixth place in the table, five points back of leaders Paris SaintGermain while Monaco can reclaim top spot late yesterday with at least a point away to Reims.

“We had a very good first half and produced good play and created good chances,” said the 50-year-old Armenian coach. “We should have been 3-0 up at half-time because we should have had a clear penalty and after we had a black spell at the start of the second half.”

His slick passing formation outwitted their hosts in midfield and which led to Djordjevic’s headed opener after just 17 minutes. It was the 25-year-old Serbian’s fourth goal of the season after putting away 20 in the second division last season. In front of a crowd of some 25,000, Rennes, who suffered only their second league defeat, pushed forward in search of an equaliser only to slip further behind

with a brilliant Nantes second on the stroke of half-time.

Togo international Gakpe, cut into the box before turning two defenders inside out and then hooking a low shot around Rennes ‘keeper Benoit Costil and into the far corner.

However with Nantes looking in control, the momentum shifted back in favour of the home side. Nelson Oliveira broke through the back-four on 55 minutes after the ball pin-balled into his path and he made no mistake with his oneon-one duel against Nantes number one Remy Riou.

Der Zakarian’s men then had to endure a nerve shredding finale before Lucas Deaux finished off a counter-attack deep into injury time to make the scoreline 3-1.

“When they came back with a goal, I was a bit afraid,” said Der Zakarian.

“We’re growing up in all domains and we’re growing up quick,” he concluded.

In the weekend’s penultimate match, Fabrizio Ravanelli’s Ajaccio side followed their first win of the season against Lyon in midweek with a hard earned 1-1 draw at home to 2012 champions Montpellier.

The Corsican side went behind when Ajaccio-born midfielder Remy Cabella converted a ninth minute penalty before grabbing a share of the points with Ronald Zubar’s header 10 minutes before the break.—AFP

Afghanistan eye two-win passage to cricket WCup DUBAI: Afghanistan can reach the World Cup for the first time if they clinch back-to-back wins over Kenya in Sharjah on Wednesday and Friday.

With 15 points from 12 matches, Afghanistan are currently in fourth place in the eight-team World Cricket League. Leaders Ireland, with 24 points, have already made sure of their place in the 2015 World Cup leaving the United Arab Emirates (18 points) and Afghanistan as the only two teams left in contention to grab the second and final automatic qualifying spot.

The UAE yesterday defeated Namibia by 135 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in their last group game to move into second spot in the table and eliminate third-placed Netherlands (also 18 points) from the direct qualification race by virtue of having won more matches.

Afghanistan now must beat Kenya in their remaining one-day internationals on October 2 and 4 to pick up maximum points and seize second spot from the UAE. While the top two sides qualify automatically for the 2015 World Cup, being played in Australia and New Zealand, the bottom six teams in the

World Cricket League will receive a second chance to advance at next year’s qualifier in New Zealand, when they will lock horns with Hong Kong, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Uganda for the final two spots in the flagship 50-over tournament.

Yesterday, the UAE’s Shaiman Anwar again led with the bat, with a knock of 57 making him the highest run-getter of the tournament (625 runs from 14 innings) and helping his side to a total of 215 all out. Twenty-four year old Rohan Mustafa contributed 39. In response, Namibia lost some early wickets and never recovered, with Mustafa following up his performance with the bat to claim three wickets for eight runs which helped dismiss Namibia for just 80.

“Winning and moving to second place was what we always wanted before the Namibia matches,” said UAE coach and former Pakistan fast bowler Aqib Javed. “Now we have to see what happens when Afghanistan play Kenya.”

Despite the importance of those clashes, Aqib doesn’t think he’ll be at the Sharjah stadium to watch. “I’m not a good spectator,” he said. —AFP

BERLIN: VfB Stuttgart moved up to sixth in the Bundesliga with an emphatic 4-0 rout of bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig yesterday. After Bosnia striker Vedad Ibisevic headed Stuttgart ahead five minutes before the break, Guinea midfielder Ibrahima Traore’s parried long-range shot was netted by Romania’s Alexandru Maxim for a 2-0 lead.

The 25-year-old Traore then scored his first league goal of the season when he latched onto Christian Gentner’s pass behind the defence to slot home on 76 minutes.

Traore then found acres of space on the left wing and his cross was converted by Austria’s Martin Harnik four minutes from time to inflict a sixth defeat from seven games on Braunschweig.

Earlier, Werder Bremen and Nuremberg fought out a six-goal thriller with Dutch winger Eljero Elia scoring twice for the hosts for a 3-3 draw.

Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake played a key role in sparking Nuremberg’s fight back from 2-0 down with a first-half goal before his superb pass saw Czech midfielder Adam Hlousek hit the equaliser.

Bremen raced into a 2-0 lead after Nuremberg defender Berkay Dabanli turned the ball into his own net before Elia bagged his first with a superb shot on 34 minutes.

Nuremberg fought back after Kiyotake produced a goal from nothing just before the break, then Josip Drmic made it 2-2 early in the second half.

Former Juventus star Elia restored Bremen’s lead with a thunderbolt shot from outside the area with 66 minutes gone before Kiyotake’s through ball saw Hlousek hit the equaliser to share the points. The result left Bremen joint eighth and Nuremberg in 15th, but still chasing their first win of the season.

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund consolidated their place at the top with a 5-0 rout of 10-man Freiburg. Bayern Munich’s 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena means Pep Guardiola’s second-placed side remain level on 19 points with Dortmund, but Jurgen Klopp’s team have a superior goal difference.

Dortmund ran riot at Signal Iduna Park with Germany winger Marco Reus and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski scoring twice before Polish midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski added the fifth 10 minutes

Vedad Ibisevic from time.

Freiburg’s fortunes took a sharp downturn at 1-0 down when Senegalese centre-back Fallou Diagne was sent off after hauling down Lewandowski and Reus drilled home the resulting spot-kick in the 47th minute.

Dortmund host Marseille in the Champions League tomorrow looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Napoli while the defeat keeps Freiburg second from bottom.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match at Manchester City, Bayern stuttered to a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg. “We won, but we must improve a few things,” admitted Guardiola ahead of the trip to Manchester and next Saturday’s Bundesliga clash at thirdplaced Bayer Leverkusen.

“I am certain that we will put in a good performance in Manchester and Leverkusen.”

Bayern needed an hour to break the deadlock as Germany star Thomas Mueller netted his first Bundesliga goal of the season when he met Franck Ribery’s pass from the left wing at the far post.

Bayer Leverkusen stayed third, just a point behind Dortmund and Bayern, with a 2-0 win at home to Hanover 96 as Germany midfielders Simon Rolfes and Sidney Sam scored firsthalf goals.

Leverkusen’s Sami Hyypia host Real Sociedad in the Champions League on Wednesday and deserved the win having peppered the Hanover goal with 17 shots compared to the guests’ seven.

Ex-Holland boss Bert van Marwijk made his debut as Hamburg coach with a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt as the Hanseatic side twice came from behind with Marcell Jansen scoring a late equaliser.

Van Marwijk, who steered Holland to the 2010 World Cup final, saw Hamburg pick up their first point in three matches, but they stay 16th.

Schalke, who are at FC Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday, were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Hoffenheim while Hertha Berlin moved up to fifth after coming from behind to beat Mainz 05 3-1 in the capital.—AFP Preview

Newcastle didn’t need signings, says Martinez LIVERPOOL: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has defended Newcastle United’s close-season transfer dealings, ahead of today’s Premier League meeting between the clubs at Goodison Park.

Newcastle made only one major acquisition during the transfer window, signing Loic Remy on loan from Queens Park Rangers, and crashed 4-0 at Manchester City on the season’s opening weekend.

However, they have since climbed the table to 15th and Martinez feels that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew’s squad has been unfairly underestimated.

“As I’ve mentioned many, many times, the transfer window ‘circus’ allows people to have perceptions of teams that are wrong,” said the Everton manager.

“They made their business early with the loan of Remy and after that they didn’t sign anyone. It seemed from the outside that they didn’t do good business, but the reality is the squad has been strong since January.

They made a lot of good signings and that group of players are settled.

“I see a really good balance between experience and organisation, but then a real threat with the likes of Remy, (Papiss) Cisse, (Hatem) Ben Arfa, (Yohan)

Cabaye. “You’re talking about top, top footballers who are in a good moment in their careers and full internationals. “You take away the Manchester City game and they’ve been per-

at West Ham United last weekend and Martinez hopes the atmosphere of an evening game will help his side maintain their early momentum.

“It reverts back to a proper,

Roberto Martinez forming at a very, very good level, so it would be foolish for anyone to underestimate the potential of this Newcastle side.” Everton preserved their unbeaten record with a 3-2 win

classic environment to enjoy your football,” said the Spaniard, whose side beat Chelsea in their last home game.

“The special feeling that

floodlights brings to Goodison is quite unique and that’s when all the players look forward to playing those sort of games.”

Pardew has praised captain Fabricio Coloccini, who appears to have digested the disappointment of being denied a move to former club San Lorenzo during the January transfer window.

Asked to describe the Argentina international’s importance, Pardew said: “I don’t know how to put that into words, really. He is very, very important, a very steady, calming influence.

“Last year when he wasn’t playing, there was something missing from the team. That’s why it’s so important that he stayed, and hopefully he will stay for a lot longer than this year as well.”

With French defenders Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Mathieu Debuchy beginning their first full seasons at the club, Coloccini has had an important role marshalling Newcastle’s new-look defence.

“We have got a new back four this year because Mapou has played all year, and Colo, Mathieu and Davide (Santon),” said Pardew. “That’s been our back four, with (goalkeeper) Tim (Krul), quite settled. Thank goodness, and long may that continue.”—AFP

Chavez Jr. wins unanimous decision over Vera

Sochi in final stretch as flame lit in Olympia

17

18

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Ancelotti drifting into troubled waters with Real

Page 19

SUNDERLAND: Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez (right) celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the English Premier League football match against Sunderland. — AFP

Suarez sends Liverpool second Sunderland 1

Liverpool 3

SUNDERLAND: Luis Suarez scored two goals on his Premier League comeback as Liverpool climbed back up to second place with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at struggling Sunderland yesterday.

Suarez added to Daniel Sturridge’s opening goal to put Brendan Rodgers’s side 2-0 ahead at the break against the winless and managerless hosts, who remain bottom of the table with just a single point from six games.

Sunderland pulled one back early in the second half through Emanuele Giaccherini, but Suarez celebrated the end of his 10game ban with a second as stoppage time

approached.

It had taken him only 36 minutes to score his first goal, having made his return from his suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last season in the midweek League Cup loss at Manchester United.

Displaying all his predatory skills in the box, Suarez was on hand to slide home a low cross from Sturridge at the far post at the end of a sweeping move launched by a 50-yard pass from Steven Gerrard. The 26year-old raised his top as he was mobbed by his team-mates to reveal a T-shirt with a message welcoming his new-born son, Benjamin, to the world following his birth on Thursday.

Suarez’s close-range strike doubled a lead procured by Sturridge after 28 minutes; the England forward’s 11th goal in as many Premier League games.

There was a touch of controversy as the ball appeared to find the net via the Liverpool forward’s elbow, as he rose

unmarked to meet Gerrard’s corner and record his seventh goal of the campaign.

In front of watching owner Ellis Short, Sunderland put in a hard-working performance for interim head coach Kevin Ball, who is in charge of the first team while the club seek a successor to the sacked Paolo Di Canio. The hosts, who had already hit the bar through a powerful Sebastian Larsson free-kick, almost halved the deficit before the break, but former Black Cats goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saved well with his feet to deny Craig Gardner from close range.

The result left Sunderland without a Premier League win in 10 attempts stretching back to April 20; the day before Suarez amazingly sank his teeth into Ivanovic’s arm during a 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Not content to settle for a single goal on his return, the unmarked Liverpool forward should have done better when, shortly after the re-start, he fired across the face of goal when Sunderland failed to clear a corner.

To their credit, the Wearsiders stuck doggedly to their task, and fought their way back into the contest seven minutes into the second half courtesy of Giaccherini.

The Italian international pounced on a loose ball to slot home his third goal of the season after Mignolet saved Ki Sungyueng’s long-range shot.

Belgian international Mignolet was at full stretch moments later to keep out Gardner’s angled drive as the hosts sensed an equaliser that had appeared highly unlikely at the break.

However, in their efforts to force parity, gaps inevitably opened at the back, and a cross-shot from victor Moses went agonisingly close to restoring Liverpool’s twogoal cushion.

Westwood saved well to prevent Kolo Toure from making it three, only for Suarez to do just that with a close-range finish from another inviting Sturridge cross in the 89th minute. — AFP

strike which brought a great diving save from Padelli. Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic, who replaced Giovinco in the 74th minute, forced another diving save from the Torino ‘keeper six minutes from time.

Elsewhere, rock bottom Sassuolo enjoyed a morale-boosting afternoon as they came back from 2-0 down to force a 2-2 home draw with Lazio while Cantania scored either side of halftime to ease past Chievo 2-0.

A 74th minutes penalty from Brazilian 21year-old Jorginho was the difference in Verona’s 2-1 win over Livorno and Atalanta eased away from the relegation zone with a valuable 2-0 victory over Udinese. On Saturday, Goran Pandev ended his recent goal drought with a first-half brace to secure a 2-0 away win at Genoa to put Napoli top. Pandev had gone nine games without hitting the net since scoring against Pescara last April. But with coach Rafael Benitez resting forwards Marek Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain ahead of tomorroway’s Champions League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, Pandev made the most of a rare start with strikes in the 14th and 25th minutes.

Benitez said: “I’m really happy because we got the win against a team that was determined and showed a lot of character and quality football. “It’s just a shame we didn’t put the game beyond reach earlier with a third goal, we had the opportunities.” AC Milan claimed only their second win in six games when Valter Birsa’s 46th minute goal secured a 1-0 win at home to Sampdoria. — AFP

Stoke City 0 Norwich City 1 (Howson 34); Sunderland 1 (Giaccherini 52) Liverpool 3 (Sturridge 28, Suarez 36, 89).

Playing today Everton v Newcastle United.

English Premier League table after yesterday’s early match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Arsenal Liverpool Spurs Chelsea Southampton Man City Hull Everton Aston Villa West Brom Cardiff Man Utd Swansea Norwich Stoke Newcastle West Ham Fulham Crystal Palace Sunderland

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6

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

0 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 1

1 13 7 1 8 4 1 6 2 1 7 3 1 5 2 2 14 7 2 6 7 0 6 4 3 9 8 2 6 5 2 6 7 3 8 8 3 8 9 3 4 6 3 4 6 2 5 8 3 4 5 4 4 9 5 4 10 5 4 14

15 13 13 11 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 5 4 3 1

Subdued Stoke punished

Juve win derby, Inter held FLORENCE: A second-half header from French midfield sensation Paul Pogba secured a 1-0 derby win for Juventus at Torino yesterday to send the champions up to second place in Italy’s Serie A. Juventus’s fifth win in six games leaves them level on 16 points with leaders Napoli but second due to inferior goal difference. Inter Milan were seven minutes from also going on to 16 points when Argentine striker Mauro Icardi gave them a 1-0 second half lead at Cagliari before Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan levelled for the home side in a 1-1 draw.

The result keeps Inter fourth on 14 points, two back of Napoli and Juventus. AS Roma, however, who began the weekend with a twopoint cushion on their pursuers, will restore that lead with a win against Bologna at the Olympic Stadium in Sunday’s late game.

Juventus had several chances to put the match beyond the reach of Torino, but had to rely on Pogba’s header in the 54th minute.

The French midfielder, signed on a free transfer from Manchester United prior to last season, found himself in the right place at the right time when a corner came flying in from the right.

Carlos Tevez rose to meet the ball and after his glancing header came off fellow striker Sebastian Giovinco, Pogba was on hand to nod the ball into the net past goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.Juventus, who face Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday, should have scored more in a dominant second half when Tevez proved a constant threat.

The Argentinian striker hit a superb first-time

EPL results/standings

Stoke 0

Norwich 1

TURIN: Juventus’ French midfielder Paul Labile Pogba (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Serie A football match against Torino. — AFP

STOKE-ON-TRENT: Norwich City hauled themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone and claimed only their second away win of 2013 with a 1-0 success at Stoke City yesterday.

Midfielder Jonathan Howson claimed the game’s only goal 11 minutes before halftime on a sunny afternoon at the Britannia Stadium with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.

Victory took Chris Hughton’s side up to 14th place in the table, level on points with Stoke, who have now gone three games without victory.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes kept faith with the 11 players who started in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, with Kenwyne Jones retaining his place up front at the expense of Peter Crouch.

Norwich made four changes to the team beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa in their last outing, with Ryan Bennett, Martin Olsson, Alexander Tettey and Anthony Pilkington all

drafted into the starting XI. Bennett almost made an immediate impact in the ninth minute, sliding in at the back post to volley a right-wing corner against the crossbar and then seeing his follow-up effort blocked by home goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Stoke were unusually subdued and they fell behind in the 34th minute when Howson gathered a pass from Pilkington and, with defenders backing off, drove a dipping shot into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards. In response, Ryan Shawcross headed wide from a Charlie Adam corner, but their lack of cutting edge prompted Hughes to introduce Stephen Ireland and Jermaine Pennant from the bench at half-time. The home side had a penalty appeal turned down early in the second half when Leroy Fer appeared to hold back Jones, who was then thwarted by John Ruddy after brilliantly weaving past three Norwich defenders.

It was Jones’s last contribution, with Crouch sent on in his place in the 66th minute. Stoke’s fans had to wait until the 79th minute to see their team muster an effor t on target, but Steven Nzonzi’s speculative shot was comfortably fielded

by Ruddy.

The visitors might have even added a second, but Begovic repelled a curling attempt by Robert Snodgrass with a flying finger-tip save. — AFP

Business MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Oman looks beyond Iran sanctions for gas lifeline Page 22 Japan PM launches policy blitz with sales tax hike Page 23 flydubai means business

British property market facing new bubble fears Page 25

Page 26

SHANGHAI: Ralph Haupter, corporate vice president of Microsoft, talks with reporters during a press conference after the inauguration of the new Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone in Pudong district of Shanghai yesterday. — AFP (See Page 23)

Kuwait CB to enforce provisioning controls Local banks seek clear guidelines to make credit portfolio KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Central Bank Governor Dr Mohammad Al-Hashel assured local banks that the Central Bank will enforce certain controls on provisioning from the beginning of next year in order to give bank managements a better perspective about the costs for allowances they are required to make in accordance with their credit portfolio and quality of assets in each fiscal year.

This was reported by Al-Rai recently, quoting sources with knowledge of the situation. The sources indicated that the promises are based on requests made by a number of banks during discussions regarding the basis on which allowances are to be made and whether or not their levels are

adequate.

In this regard, the sources - who spoke on the condition of anonymity - indicated that some banking sector officials believe that their respective banks no longer need to make provisions at the current rate in accordance with the Central Bank stipulation.

On the other hand, the sources added, the Central Bank continues its warnings, “based on interior and foreign information, that indicates that unusual allowances remain necessary given the difficulties of markets”. While Dr Al-Hashel accepted banks’ request to set clear controls for provisioning, he made it clear that the Central

Bank’s vision on that regard will not be ready before 2014; in the meantime local banks are expected to not change their policies regarding making more allowances until the end of the current year.

According to the sources, local banks are not against the idea of provisioning in principle, but instead of leaving the process to continue under the Central Bank’s unpredictable estimations, they prefer to work according to a clear basis and a mechanism that sets the number of allowances that need to be allocated as per measurable indicators.

“A banking official indicated that when he sends his periodic or annual data to the

Central Bank, he holds his breath in anticipation of whether or not he is going to be told to reinforce their allowances”, the sources said.

Figures announced by the Central Bank show that non-performing loans (NPLs) have been covered by allowances of 175 percent by the end of last year. It may also be noted that when making their requests, local banks explained that it is not related to high provisioning levels allocated in the past, but to a desire of setting standards for their future plans. “Bank directors explained to the governor that when they were asked to allocate more allowances in the last few years, it was considered a step necessary to

Era ends, new chapter set for Washington Post WASHINGTON: With Jeff Bezos set to take over The Washington Post, the big question is: Can he arrest its decline and deliver an economic model for the rest of the industr y? The 49-year-old founder of Amazon could give the storied newspaper a chance to make the transition to the digital age, but it remains unclear whether he has a winning formula for ailing metropolitan daily newspapers. Bezos, who agreed in August to buy the Post for $250 million and take it private, is expected to close the deal sometime in early October, though no official date has been disclosed.

He has said little about his plans for the 136-year-old daily, which has long been seen as among the most influential in the United States, famous for its trailblazing coverage of the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover up which led to the resignation of president Richard Nixon in 1974.

Bezos said in August that he had “no map” for the Post but in a recent interview with CNN he called the newspaper “an important institution,” and remarked that he was “optimistic about its future.” “It’s a personal investment. I’m hopeful that I can help from a distance in part by providing runway for them to do a series of experiments, in part through bringing some of the philosophy that we have used at Amazon to the Post,” he said.

‘Long and patient view’ Some say Bezos, a pioneer in online retailing, could revitalize a traditional business where recent years have seen jobs being slashed amid sinking revenues as news and adver tising moves to the Internet. “He is willing to take a long and patient view... to let things roll without worrying about profitability,” said Alan

Mutter, a Silicon valley-based media consultant and former Chicago newspaper editor.

“He’s obviously a very talented businessman and has to be counted as one of the true digital natives,” who could offer new ideas.

“He can look at the problems dispassionately. He didn’t go to journalism school. He did not sell ads. Most of the people in the business have been in the newspaper business, they might not be out- of-the box thinkers.” But Peter Copeland, a former editor and executive for the EW Scripps newspaper group and now a media consultant, cautioned against dramatic change, noting that the Post’s print circulation still generates significant revenues, though less than previously.

“I don’t think it would be wise to blow up The Washington Post,” he said. “It has a great brand. And this is a place where people really care about news.” Copeland said the Post is among the few US dailies that can draw a wide online audience outside its home market, and this gives it some flexibility.

But Bezos may also help bring some hard-nosed business skills to the newspaper, long-owned by the Graham family.

“Because the Post was run by a family, a caring family, it has been often run like a family,” Copeland said. “It’s still a giant organization and it needs to be resized for the amount of revenue they have now.”

Daily circulation is estimated at 447,700, down from over 800,000 two decades ago.

In the most recent quarter, the newspaper lost $49 million, mostly from pension obligations. These were effectively subsidized

address the difficult financial situations that markets faced”, the sources said. “Now that the situation has improved, they indicate that the process needs a clearer vision”.

Meanwhile, a banking source said: “A better understanding of the magnitude and trends of the judgmental provisions required by the Central Bank will improve the transparency of the sector’s profitability and limit the volatility of earnings”. He added, “with clearer guidelines on the required levels of judgmental provisioning, banks with good or improving asset quality and provision coverage can benefit from the higher risk management standards they continue to apply”.

Dubai surges to 5-yr high MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

WASHINGTON: Philip L Graham, publisher and Eugene Meyer, former publisher and father-in-law, with the first The Washington Post via Getty Images Times Herald on March 18, 1954. — AFP by the other Washington Post Co units, mainly in television and education. Dan Kennedy, a professor of journalism at Northeastern University who is writing a book on changes in the newspaper industry, said he is encouraged that Bezos is taking the risk. “He seems to be in for the right reasons,” Kennedy said.

“He sees it as a civic trust, and wants to run it as a good newspaper, and maybe even expand it,” noting that that Bezos “is really our leading digital visionary when it

comes to the consumer economy.”

“I’m totally optimistic that he has put himself in a position to do something about this terrible calamity that has affec ted paid journalism,” Kennedy added, noting the lasting lore of Watergate in American journalism. “So many people in my generation went into journalism because of ‘All The President’s Men,’” he said, referring to the book and film about the Post ’s role in the Watergate scandal. —AFP

DUBAI: Dubai’s shares rose to their highest level in almost five years in heavy trading yesterday yesterday as retail investors bet on small-caps ahead of third-quarter earnings, while other regional markets were mixed. Dubai’s benchmark advanced 1.2 percent to 2,771 points, its highest finish since November 2008, taking year-to-date gains to 70.8 percent. Turnover surged to 1.3 billion dirhams ($354 million), the biggest daily value since a spike on June 3.

“We have a lot of catalysts - real estate is doing well, the Expo 2020 decision is coming up and later, people will start gearing up for the MSCI upgrade,” said Amer Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset Management. “Political risk has dissipated and the outlook is positive.”

Yesterday’s rise suggested a break above the August peak of 2,762 points, though another daily close will be needed for confirmation. A double bottom formed by lows dating back to 2009 points the index up to the 3,500-point area in the long term. The World Expo committee will make a decision on Nov. 27 on whether or not Dubai will win the rights to host the world’s fair in 2020. Index compiler MSCI upgraded the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to emerging market status earlier this year, which will bring in fresh foreign funds when it takes effect in June 2014.

In Saudi Arabia, the index declined 0.4 percent, down for a fourth consecutive session to hit a two-week low. Investors sold most large-cap stocks ahead of third-quarter earnings.

Analysts and investors are expecting most earnings growth to come from sectors that rely on domestic demand, which benefits from a strong economy and growing population.

The petrochemical sector slipped 0.5 percent; Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) retreated 0.3 percent. Heavyweight Al Rajhi Bank shed 0.6 percent.

In Egypt, Cairo’s benchmark index slipped 0.6 percent to 5,667 points, easing off a seven-month high. It failed to confirm a break of chart resistance at 5,682 points, the August peak. — Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Tunisia CB chief ready to step in to stem inflation ABU DHABI: Tunisia’s monetary policy is still in a tightening mode and the central bank will intervene with various tools, including interest rates, if inflation starts climbing again, Tunisian central bank governor Chadli Ayari said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Arab central bankers in Abu Dhabi, he also said the country’s foreign exchange reserves had rebounded to about 103 days’ worth of imports, which was a “more or less safe” level. Tunisia has been struggling with high inflation and pressure on its foreign reserves as it negotiates a political crisis. The Islamistled government agreed on Saturday to resign after

talks with secular foes to form a caretaker administration, which will prepare for elections in an effort to safeguard the transition to democracy.

Inflation fell for the second month running to reach 6.0 percent in August, compared to March’s 6.5 percent, which was the highest rate in at least five years. The central bank raised its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage point in March, its second rate hike in seven months, to fight inflation.

According to official data, foreign currency reserves on Sept. 25 totalled 11.291 billion dinars, the equivalent of 103 days of imports, after inflows of foreign aid and an overseas bond issue. In June, reserves

est rate in February, by 3 percentage points to 15 percent, but inflation hit a 15-month high of 14.2 percent in May. “I guess inflation when you look at it from the commodity aspect, it is not that high.

By the end of the year it will amount to something around 6-8 percent, I guess,” Hamam said.

“From December to June it is not more than 12 percent, so maybe by the end of the year it will be around 6-8 percent.”

Yemen’s recovery plans are heavily dependent on foreign aid; Saudi Arabia provided a $1 billion loan to beef up Yemen’s foreign reserves last year but other foreign aid, out of $7.9 billion pledged by donors in 2012, has been slow to arrive.

Hamam said the Saudi Arabian deposit was the only major, recent boost to foreign reserves. The central bank’s gross foreign assets fell to a 10-month low of $5.7 billion in June, or 6.1 months of imports.

That level of reserves is comfortable and “when the donor money will be flowing in, the level of reserves will be increasing,” he said.

Hamam said the International Monetary Fund expected Yemen’s gross domestic product to grow around 6 percent this year, a prediction with which he agreed. — Reuters

Lebanon CB selling govt bonds to boost liquidity ABU DHABI: Lebanon’s central bank has been selling some of its holdings of international bonds issued by the Lebanese government to improve its foreign currency liquidity, central bank governor Riad Salameh said yesterday.

“The central bank has sold from its own portfolio the equivalent of $5 billion this year. During the month of September alone we sold $1.1 billion,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an Arab central bankers’ meeting in Abu Dhabi. “ These are Republic of Lebanon Eurobonds that the central bank was carrying in its portfolio. We liquidated that to improve the quality of our balance sheet in terms of improving liquidity in foreign currency.”

He did not elaborate on the sales of Lebanese bond holdings. The central bank held 25.45 trillion Lebanese pounds ($16.9 billion) worth of securities in July, down from a peak of 26.92 trillion pounds in April, according to central bank data.

The yield on Lebanon’s $650 million bond maturing in 2019 is up 52 basis points since late May to 6.27 percent, outper forming the bonds of many emerging market economies.

Lebanese commercial banks are often keen buyers of Lebanese government

we still have a rather high rate of inflation but it is starting to stabilize...and we expect it to decrease.”

He added, “If by any bad luck we see inflation restart going up, which is also possible, we will intervene with different means including higher interest rates.” He predicted the inflation rate would be at 5.65.7 percent by the end of 2013, and around 4 percent by the end of 2014. The government said this month that it expects the economy to grow 4.0 percent next year after an expected 3.6 percent expansion this year. Ayari predicted yesterday that gross domestic product would expand between 3.0 and 3.6 percent in 2013. — Reuters

Oman looks beyond Iran sanctions for gas lifeline

Yemen may issue sukuk to fund oil product imports ABU DHABI: Yemen’s government may issue a local-currency Islamic bond this year to finance its imports of petroleum products, its central bank governor Mohammed Awad bin Hamam said yesterday. “We might issue a sukuk during the coming short period,” Hamam told Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting of Arab central bank governors in Abu Dhabi.

He said the sukuk could be worth about 50 billion Yemeni rials ($233 million) and use a salam structure, which resembles a forward contract in conventional finance. “It will be around the prevailing interest rate, maybe even less.

Maybe it will be around 10 percent, something like that,” Hamam said, adding that the maturity would be more than one year, perhaps three or five years.

Yemen’s economy has improved since 2012 after years of political instability and violence, but the recovery is fragile and the country remains the second-poorest Arab state after Mauritania.

Asked whether the central bank might cut interest rates again in coming months, Hamam replied: “Of course, yes, but we have to look at that. We have to watch inflation. Inflation is only one factor. We have look at more than one factor.”

The central bank last cut its key inter-

had dropped to 94 days. In a statement on Thursday, an International Monetary Fund mission to Tunisia said: “Fiscal and external imbalances are continuing to worsen, and the reforms (most of which are already in progress) are facing some constraints and are proceeding more slowly than anticipated.

“The short-term risks are on the downside, and vigorous measures - including in the implementation of reforms - are essential, notwithstanding the constraints associated with political developments.” Ayari said yesterday: “We will see if the increase of the rate of interest is justified or not. That depends on different factors including how inflation is behaving. So far

debt offered in the secondary market.

Lebanon’s economy has suffered over the past two years as the civil war in neighboring Syria has caused capital inflows to dry up, although the total size of its foreign reserves has held up and there does not appear to have been heavy pressure on its currency peg to the US dollar.

On Lebanon’s foreign exchange reserves, Salameh said: “We are running over $36 billion of liquid foreign assets.

Gold is evaluated around $16 billion....We have improved from last year in terms of liquidity.”

Maintaining ample deposits in the banking sector is key to keeping the government funded, since the banks use some of those deposits to buy state debt.

Salameh said: “ Total deposits in the banking sector have grown by 8 percent - it is essentially driven by a non-resident increase in deposits.

“Last year, we ended up with a 7 percent growth,” he added. Salameh said the central bank’s expectation of 2.0-2.5 percent growth in gross domestic product this year was in line with the impact of political instability on the economy. He predicted inflation would be below 4 percent in 2013, “which is in line with the central bank objectives.” — Reuters

Iran liquefied gas exports from Oman unlikely DUBAI: If Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s dream of reaching a deal with world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program in six months comes true, Oman, an important intermediary in the dispute, could be a big winner. There have been too many false dawns in Iran’s decade-old standoff with the West over Tehran’s nuclear program to bank on Rouhani’s call in New York last week for a deal within 3-6 months.

But in the weeks leading up to Rouhani’s first foreign trip since he became president in August, Omani officials have been visiting Tehran in a bid to buy Iranian gas in the hope that someday sanctions on Iran will be lifted and Oman can finally get the supplies it desperately needs over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran sits on the world’s largest reserves of gas and Oman has been trying to buy some of it since 2005 to feed energy intensive industries and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants planned before it cut its own reserves estimate.

Price disagreements, Western sanctions that have stunted Iranian energy projects and US pressure on Oman to find other suppliers have prevented any real progress with the pipeline project since then. But Oman is ahead in a queue like that which formed at Myanmar’s door as sanctions against the southeast Asian state were eased. Muscat has moved quickly to cement ties since the election of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani improved long-term trade prospects, with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Bin Said the first head of state to meet Rouhani after his inauguration in early August.

On that trip, the two countries’ energy ministers signed a gas supply agreement that Iran’s energy minister valued at $60 billion over 25 years, which would be by far the biggest trade deal between the two neighbors, if any gas ever flows between them.

“The new government of Iran has a different approach. We are very optimistic that all the political issues between Iran and the West, particularly, will be resolved,” Oman energy minister Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Rumhy told Reuters in early September after signing the gas deal in late August. “This is our wish in Oman and we’re working towards it... The feeling in Oman is that things are changing.” Sunni Gulf Arab leaders have tense relations with Shiite Tehran, but Sultan Qaboos has been on relatively good terms during his 43-year reign. He met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and top Iranian military officials on his latest trip, and his defense minister signed a military cooperation deal in Tehran in mid-September, Oman’s state news agency reported.

Oman is a close US ally and has acted as a gobetween for Tehran and Washington in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, according to US embassy cables published by Wikileaks dating back to 2006. Tehran dismisses Western suspicions it plans a bomb, saying its nuclear aims are purely peaceful. U.S. officials have been warning that building a gas pipeline to Iran would likely be in violation of sanctions since an early trade deal was signed in 2007, according to U.S. Embassy cables published by Wikileaks. Although the political environment has improved since Rouhani came to power, sanctions remain firmly in place and any company involved in the project would probably be in violation of them, a Western diplomatic source said.

MUSCAT: Energy ministers of Iran and Oman signed a gas supply agreement that Iran’s energy minister valued at $60 billion over 25 years, which would be by far the biggest trade deal between the two neighbors.

The US ambassador to Oman wrote in a Sept. 15, eficial agreement,” Richard Quin, Lead Analyst 2008 cable published by Wikileaks that his office Middle East & North Africa Upstream Research at would “continue to remind relevant officials as consultants Wood Mackenzie in Edinburgh, said.

“The advantage of this being a long term play is appropriate of the potential applicability of the Iran Sanctions Act,” but noted that “Oman’s urgent need that it allows time for geopolitical challenges that for new gas supplies and dearth of potential suppli- exist between Iran and the rest of the world to make some kind of material progress.” ers severely limits receptivity to our message”.

Tehran has signed deals to supply gas to Oman started importing Qatari gas through a pipeline across the United Arab Emirates in 2007. Pakistan, Iraq and Oman, but Iran’s own voracious But it was not enough. A US embassy cable dated gas appetite has made it difficult to meet existing May 6, 2009, quoted Minister Rumhy saying gas sales commitments with Turkey and forced Iran to imports from Iran were “necessary and inevitable” import gas from Turkmenistan. Delays to an overbecause Qatar and Saudi Arabia had turned down land link to Pakistan highlight the financial and political obstacles to any such project as long as his supply requests.

The US embassy and Oman energy ministry in Tehran is in Washington’s bad books.

The Oman route has not yet been decided. But Muscat declined to comment on the latest gas deal but the Western diplomatic source said it had not the options available are all technically challenging been done with US approval, despite a brighter out- for a country that has only ever laid relatively short look on relations with Tehran. A US official in pipelines in the shallow waters of the Gulf. Iranian Washington said: “US concerns have been conveyed hopes of using spare capacity at Oman LNG export plants to ship Iran’s gas to a global market are even to Oman,” but did not elaborate.

Oman’s ever-growing gas appetite has already more distant dreams, analysts say, because sanctaken a bite out of its potential LNG exports and tions-wary Western companies hold shares in them.

The biggest obstacle could be reaching agreeunless it can find a lot more feedstock those exports could dry up altogether over the next decade, ana- ment on the value of Iran’s gas. Gas prices in Oman lysts say. Iranian officials have said they expect gas are fixed at below the costs of most producers and exports to Oman to start in under two years, but even after planned rises in the next few years, are set Rumhy has said it is unlikely construction of the to remain well below international levels.

The LNG part of the project would improve the physically challenging subsea pipeline could even start in that time. His talks with Iran coincide with economics from an Iranian perspective, because it continuing negotiations to finalize British energy could open access to the markets of east Asia company BP’s Khazzan project to extract hard-to- which currently pay five times more for gas. But reach gas in Oman that could supply around 1 bil- analysts say it is hard to see Oman’s LNG project lion cubic feet a day by 2018. Oman will still need partners agreeing terms with Tehran, and unless more imports in the longer term, so it makes strate- Iran agrees to supply gas to Oman at a price below gic sense to do the political groundwork even if the low levels set in long-term LNG export deals sanctions hold back progress. “Given the recent Oman has signed, they say it would make more changes in the political leadership in Iran, this is economic sense for Oman to stop exports of LNG good time to start working towards a mutually ben- instead. —Reuters

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UAE Exchange Centre WLL

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

2.875 4.558 2.686 2.145 2.867 227.870 36.580 3.642 6.546 9.086 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

75.684 77.982 737.170 753.820 77.292

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 270.83 279.97 316.08 386.32 283.30 457.28 2.93 3.659 4.516 2.145 2.835 2.685 77.20 754.03 41.10 403.20 736.76 78.23 75.68

SELL CASH 263.000 282.000 311.000 384.000 287.400 443.000 3.000 3.800 5.150 2.700 3.600 2.920 78.000 759.500 41.100 416.200 746.400 79.000 76.300

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

41.450 40.707 1.324 172.990 400.790 1.904 3.083 34.853

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer Euro Sterling Pound Canadian dollar Turkish lira Swiss Franc Australian Dollar US Dollar Buying

283.700 386.400 461.010 278.140 140.630 315.220 268.380 282.500

GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

252.000 128.000 66.000

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 283.800 278.745 454.780 383.175 311.130 751.360 77.245 77.900 76.545 400.060 41.122 2.146 4.535 2.666 3.649 6.514 696.170 3.845

Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

9.120 4.090 3.825 86.675

Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

0.222818 0.022352 0.001888 0.009482 0.008725

0.228818 0.030852 0.002468 0.009662 0.009275

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar Turkish Lira UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

Arab 0.745931 0.038112 0.000078 0.000183 0.395855 1.0000000 0.000139 0.022718 0.001201 0.730722 0.077202 0.075003 0.001931 0.168058 0.141129 0.076246 0.001288

0.753931 0.041212 0.000080 0.000243 0.403355 1.0000000 0.000239 0.046718 0.001836 0.736402 0.078415 0.075703 0.002151 0.176058 0.148129 0.077395 0.001368

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Belgian Franc British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Romanian Leu Slovakia Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Turkish Lira

SELL CASH Europe 0.007373 0.451389 0.006661 0.047445 0.3778114 0.043555 0.081847 0.008138 0.040073 0.306998 0.141129

SELLDRAFT 0.008373 0.460389 0.018661 0.052445 0.385614 0.048755 0.81847 0.018136 0.045073 0.316498 0.148129

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar

Australasia 0.258275 0.228849

0.267775 0.238349

Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint

America 0.270109 0.279550 0.280050

0.278609 0.283900 0.283900

Bangladesh Taka Chinese Yuan Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Korean Won Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone

Asia 0.003079 0.044885 0.034498 0.004312 0.000020 0.002801 0.003342 0.000253 0.084146 0.002939 0.002500 0.006407 0.000069

0.003679 0.048385 0.037248 0.004713 0.000026 0.002981 0.003342 0.000268 0.090146 0.003109 0.002780 0.006687 0.000075

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) 283.450 385.650 456.550 277.450 4.542 41.105 2.147 3.640 6.518 2.663 754.950 77.100 75.750

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Threat of a historical debt default looms NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT KUWAIT: Last week, the dollar movement was hampered by the threat of a historical debt default and the lack of clarity over when the Federal Reserve will scale back its 85 Billion quantitative easing programs. Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve Bank meetings in October 29-30 and December 17-18. Although some suspect the Federal Reserve would not start its tapering process until early 2014 .Chicago Federal Reserve President Evans ,said that the third quarter GDP data that is due to come out on Oct 30th would give more insight on the timing of the FED’s tapering .

The US House of Representatives refused to give in to President Barack Obama’s demand for straightforward bills to run the government beyond Oct 1 and avoid a debt default that could threaten a fragile economic recovery.

The US debt is at a new record high of $16.7 trillion. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew calculated that the United States would run out of money by October 17 and would have less than $30 billion cash in hand if Congress fails to pass its spending bill.

We had mixed economic indicators in the US, the consumer confidence index fell slightly. However, the manufacturing sector continued to perform strongly, and the Jobless Claims dropped to its lowest level since 2008, suggesting that US economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace.

In Europe, the ECB president Mario Dragi told the European Parliament that he is ready to issue another Long Term Refinancing Operation if needed to maintain a low interest rates environment. In addition, Germany, Europe’s largest economy, had positive economic indicators especially in the business, manufacturing and consumer confidence sector.

More news that is positive came out of the Far East with the Chinese manufacturing index rising to a six-month high and Japanese exports rising 14.7 percent year on year. Also in Japan, August headline CPI came in stronger

than expected, rising to 0.9 percent y/y from the 0.7 percent pace in July suggesting that the Bank of Japan easing program is helping Japan move out of the deflationary conditions.

The EUR/USD, traded in a tight range of 1.3460-1.3564 ahead of the ECB’s rate decision due next week, also the AUD/USD, followed suit trading in a tight range of 0.9295-0.9460 ahead of RBA’s rate decision early next week.

US Treasury yields neared the 2.6 percent mark as investors moved to a safe haven as both the debt ceiling and the Fed Reserves tapering plan encouraged buyers.

US consumer confidence The US consumer conference Board,

tained in the months ahead.

US durable orders US manufactured goods moved higher in August, signaling that the factory sector improved in the third quarter.

Durable goods orders rose 0.1 percent during last month, after a large 7.4 percent dropped in July mostly because demand for aircrafts fell. The durable orders report showed that shipments of non-military capital goods other than aircraft grew 1.3 percent, snapping two straight months of declines.

US new home sales US new home sales rose in August but held near their lowest levels this year, a sign that a sharp rise in interest

US unemployment The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits, dropped last week to its lowest level since 2008. The better than expected jobless data supported the Federal Reserve case to unwind its ongoing stimulus program . Jobless claims benefits dropped 5,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 305,000.The Fed said it held back on tapering due to concerns over a still-weak labor market, although Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said policymakers were also worried about a debate in Congress over fiscal policy. The United States Congress must raise a limit on government borrowing by midOctober or the nation could begin defaulting on its obligations soon after.

US Final Gross Domestic Product The US economy expanded at faster pace in the second quarter from the previous three months, a sign the US was weathering federal budget cutbacks and higher taxes or otherwise what is so called the “sequester”. The gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the April-June period.

said its index of consumer attitudes fell to 79.7 from a revised 81.8 in August, slightly missing market expectation of 79.9.The drop in the confidence index was due to the resurfacing of concerns over jobs and earnings. Consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions, however, was more positive. While overall economic conditions appear to have moderately improved, consumers are uncertain whether the momentum can be sus-

rates is weighing on the US economy.

Sales rose 7.9 percent to an annual rate of 421,000 units following a 390,000 units the prior month. The mortgage rates rose sharply in the beginning of May when the Fed signaled it was thinking of unwinding its bond-buying stimulus program soon after the mortgage rates dropped after the Fed surprised the financial markets last week when it announced it would put off reducing monthly bond purchase program.

German Ifo German business confidence increased for its 5th straight month in September amid signs the economic recovery is continuing in the Euro Zone.

The Ifo business climate index is based on a survey of 7,000 companies about how they think the situation is now, and how they see things going in the coming months.

The index edged up to 107.7 points from 107.6 in August. Market analysts had expected it to rise slightly more, to 108.0. Germany is benefiting from unemployment near a two-decade low and the end of the euro-zone longest ever recession.

The German government is depending on domestic demand to support growth this year as exports weaken. The Ifo survey strengthened those hopes by showing retailers more upbeat about their business outlook than at any point since February 2011.

Germany’s Flash PMI Germany’s private sector improved in September at its fastest rate since January, last week Germany’s Flash PMI Service index, suggested that Europe’s largest economy will grow again this quarter. The Purchasing Managers’ Index, which tracks growth in both the manufacturing and services sector and covers more than three quarters of the German economy, moved up to 53.8 in September from 53.5 in August. After shrinking in the fourth quarter of 2012 and suffering a subdued start to 2013, the German economy expanded 0.7 percent in the April to June quarter thanks mainly to domestic demand.

Last week Germany’s consumer sentiment rallied to its highest level in six years heading into October as historically low interest rates encouraged greater willingness to buy. The GfK’S consumer sentiment indicator rose to 7.1 for October beating market expectation of a 6.9-point rise. The latest polled survey indicated that the German consumers are still expecting their economy to grow further.

The ECB President Mario Draghi told the European Parliament in his quarterly testimony “We are ready to use any instrument, including another LTRO if needed, to maintain the short term money markets at the level that is warranted by our assessment of inflation in the medium term.” At the same time, Draghi said the central bank was monitoring the impact of having ultra-low interest rates for a long time, saying the central bank was “very sensitive” to risks to financial stability stemming from low rates, and would act against those risks, if needed. Acting to ensure banks had access to funds as interbank markets; Draghi introduced the twin three-year liquidity operations lifting excess liquidity to more than 800 Billion Euros early last year.

Kuwait Kuwaiti dinar at 0.28280 The USDKWD opened at 0.28280 yesterday morning.

China opens new free trade zone in Shanghai Officials add details to reform plans

TOKYO: Shoppers checking clothing on sale in Tokyo’s Harajuku shopping district.

Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe’s long-awaited decision this week on whether to hike sales taxes is a major political gamble that proved career-ending for his predecessors, analysts say. — AFP

Japan PM launches policy blitz with sales tax hike TOKYO: Japanese premier Shinzo Abe’s longawaited decision this week on whether to hike sales taxes is a major political gamble that proved career-ending for his predecessors, analysts say.

Since sweeping December elections on a ticket to kickstart the world’s third-largest economy, the prime minister launched an unprecedented policy blitz-dubbed Abenomics-which appears to be taking hold as the economy expands while the stock market roars. Abe underscored that early success with an upbeat speech to the New York Stock Exchange last week, calling for investors to get on board with his bid to regain Japan’s one-time economic glory.

“Japan, as the third-largest economic powerhouse on the planet, will be back in full force again,” he promised. But his decision on hiking the tax levy, seen as crucial to chopping Japan’s massive national debt, threatens not only to sink Abe’s growth plans; it could also dim his popularity with voters.

Few, however, see the 59-year-old as having much choice, given the size of the country’s national debt, proportionately the worst in the rich world at more than twice the size of the economy. The International Monetary Fund, among others, have been calling on Tokyo to fix its books, after debt agencies cut their ratings on Japan’s credit. “This is Abe’s biggest political decision since he took office,” said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of politics at Tokyo’s Nihon University. “Japan is in the middle of an epic experiment and his decision is a crucial test of Abenomics.” Speculation has been building for weeks ahead of the announcement on Tuesday, which will come after the Bank of Japan publishes its Tankan business confidence survey. Some expect the closely watched survey to hit a three-year high, possibly the tipping point that will give the premier the green light to implement a tax rise that was passed by the administration he booted out of office.

Abe has officially been undecided for months on whether to go through with raising the levy to 8.0 percent from the current 5.0 percent, expected to come into force in April. A further hike to 10 percent by 2015 is written into legislation, although there are caveats. “Considering the level of Japan’s national debt, I would say the sales tax hike is inevitable,” said Yoko Takeda, chief economist with Mitsubishi Research Institute, who is

among 60 prominent economists and business leaders invited to brief Abe on the pros and cons of a tax rise.

“If Japan failed to take action now, it would lose its trust with the world.”

Economists estimate the impact of the consumption tax hike on households at some 8.0 trillion yen ($81 billion). Some worry that Japan’s fragile consumer confidence will feel it is a hammer blow just as the economy shows signs of picking up.

In a bid to soften the impact, Abe is expected to unveil a one-time $50-billion stimulus package with benefits for lowincome earners and corporate incentives to boost investment. A cut to the corporate tax rate is also reportedly in Tokyo’s sights, although the timeline for such a move remains unclear. Despite securing his power base in July upper house elections-putting off elections for at least three years-historical precedents are not good for premiers who force consumers to shell out more. Two months after then-prime minister Noboru Takeshita ushered in Japan’s first-ever sales tax-a modest 3.0 percent-in April 1989, he was forced to resign amid plunging popular support due the levy and a corruption scandal. His successor was then defeated in national elections.

Ryutaro Hashimoto quit as premier after his party lost landslide 1998 elections amid a public outcry over the increase in sales taxes to 5.0 percent a year earlier. The increase was widely blamed for helping snuff out a fledgling economic recovery. Abe’s immediate predecessor suffered at polls partly due to his Democratic Party of Japan passing the taxrise bill.

‘Critical stage’ But ultimately, Abe’s biggest challenge may be convincing Japan’s thrifty corporate sector to help with the battle against the country’s long-running deflation by hiking employees’ pay, seen as key to convincing them to open up their wallets and spend more. The premier has called on Japan Inc. to do just that, but few seem to be biting. “If Abe fails to persuade companies to raise wages, the risks of entering another deep phase of deflation will increase,” said Yoshikiyo Shimamine, executive chief economist at Daiichi Life Research Institute. “Japan’s economy is approaching a critical stage.” —AFP

SHANGHAI: China opened a new free trade zone in Shanghai yesterday in what has been hailed as potentially the boldest reform move in decades, unveiling fresh details of plans to liberalize regulations governing finance, investment and trade in the zone.

The Shanghai FTZ, which covers an area of nearly 29 sq km on the eastern outskirts of the commercial hub, was approved by China’s State Council, or cabinet, in July. State-run Xinhua news agency quoted Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng as saying that the creating FTZ was a crucial decision made in the new era of China’s reform and opening-up. “It follows the tendency of global economic developments and reflects a more active strategy of opening-up,” Gao said at the launch ceremony.

The State Council said on Friday it would open up its largely sheltered services sector to foreign competition in the zone and use it as a testbed for bold financial reforms, including a convertible yuan and liberalized interest rates. Economists consider both areas key levers for restructuring the world’s second-largest economy and putting it on a more sustainable growth path.

Some Chinese and foreign firms have already moved to set up subsidiaries in the zone. A total of 25 companies so far have been approved

SHANGHAI: Guests attend the inauguration of Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone during an official ceremony in Pudong district of Shanghai yesterday. — AFP to set up operations in a variety of sectors, alongside 11 financial institutions, most of which are domestic banks but including the mainland subsidiaries of Citibank and DBS. Some have trumpeted the FTZ, which integrates three existing zones, as comparable to Deng Xiaoping’s creation of a similar zone in Shenzhen in 1978. Many credited that move as being crucial to China’s economy opening up to foreign trade and investment.

Skeptics, however, point to a similar scheme launched near Shenzhen,

in Qianhai, last year, but that has so far failed to live up to expectations.

Qianhai was presented as place for radical experimentation with China’s capital account. Analysts and economists say that the plans for Shanghai, at least, are more specific and ambitious. For example, one major planned change officials described yesterday will be in the regulations governing how foreign and Chinese individuals can invest across borders.

Previously foreign and Chinese investors were only allowed to invest across the border by buying into

funds regulated through either the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) program or the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) program, both of which are restricted by quotas. But Dai Haibo, deputy director of the zone administrative committee, said on Sunday that this requirement would be waived for foreign and Chinese individuals within the zone, who will be allowed to invest funds directly for the first time. He did not say whether they would also be subject to a quota.— Reuters

Malabar Gold and Diamonds’ annual turnover crosses $3.5bn KUWAIT: The annual turnover of Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the world’s largest gold and diamond jewelers, is expected to reach $3.5 billion this year, which marks the company’s 20th anniversary, reinforcing its position among the top jewelry retailers in the world.

The company, which has a strong presence in the Gulf and India, also announced the opening of its 100th retail outlet, which elevates its position among the world’s top three gold and diamond jewelry retailers. The 100th outlet will be inaugurated by cricket legend Padma Bhushan Kapil Dev at Gurgaon.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Malabar Gold and Diamonds has chalked out a series of massive celebrations, spanning more than three weeks, which will see distribution of over 400,000 coins to its customers as gifts for purchases made during the 23-day celebrations.

The opening of the company’s 100th store is part of its three-year expansion and re-branding vision announced in March 2012, that will eventually raise the company’s retail network to 220 outlets, with an investment outlay of more than $560 million and create 16,000 jobs and triple its annual turnover to $6 billion and make it the world’s largest jeweler in terms of

annual turnover by 2015.

“Malabar Gold & Diamonds is in its endeavor to become the world’s leading retailer in value appreciating gift articles, is undergoing a transformation in its brand to better suit its future business vision. We are embodying a change to help us scale greater heights and to better ser ve our discerning customers,” said MP Ahamed, Chairman of Malabar Group.

The company, owned by 1,600 shareholders, mostly Indians, has recently appointed Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor as its new brand ambassador to help reflect the company’s image.

Malabar Gold and Diamonds, whose annual turnover exceeded $2.4 billion in 2011, was ranked as the third largest jewelry retailer last year after Hong Kong-based C TF with a turnover of $6 billion and Tiffany and Company, which has an annual turnover of $3 billion.

“With our ambitious expansion plan, we are fast changing the global ranking of the world’s top jewelry retailers to rise to the top position in the near future,” said Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director - International Operations of Malabar Gold and Diamonds.

“However, our biggest success lies in our ability to serve our clients in the best possible

ways and the satisfaction of our customers and the trust they attach to our company is reflected in the growth in customer retention and loyalty,” he added.

The company, which excels in quality products and services, has more than 7,000 professionals on its payroll. “As the gold, diamond and jewelry trade thrives, we see greater opportunity in our business. That ’s why, today ’s announcement of expansion and our 20th anniversary celebrations come at the most appropriate time and reiterates our long-standing commitment to the jewelr y business,” Shamlal Ahamed added.

On this joyous occasion, the company has also announced strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that will see a higher portion of the company’s profits distributed amongst the neediest people.

“What differentiates a great company from a good one is in its use of wealth - how it contributes to the social causes and pays back to the society,” said KP Abdul Salam, Group Executive Director of Malabar Group. He added, “Like our products and services, we also want to make a difference in our societies - by giving back a sizeable portion of our wealth to the society.”

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Make-or-break for Poland as European cash floods in WARSAW: Elzbieta Bienkowska, a 49-yearold mother with a tattoo on her arm and back, has more money to invest than any other Polish minister in history.

As minister for regional development, she is responsible for allocating 73 billion euros ($99 billion) of European Union money over the next seven years with the aim of closing the gap between ex-communist Poland and western Europe. But with wealth comes responsibility. This will be the last time Poland will get such a huge amount of EU development funding, and if it does not use the opportunity to re-make its economy, it will have blown a once-in-alifetime opportunity.

And it is not as easy as it may sound.

Poland needs to go from being a low-cost

economy to one based on knowledge and technology - a complicated task that cannot be achieved just by throwing money at it.

Bienkowska, unfazed by the responsibility, has a plan.

“What is very important, maybe it is a kind of dream and it may sound funny, is to build a Polish Nokia,” she said in an interview. The Finnish Nokia, which started as a rubber company, became a dominant global player on the mobile phone market over 2000-2010, creating wealth and high-value added jobs for the sparsely populated Scandinavian country.

Nokia sales have since collapsed, ravaged by nimbler rivals such as Apple, but Bienkowska believes that Polish companies should follow the example set by Nokia in

its growth years and work with scientists to develop new products. “Our companies do not spend money on their own innovations.

They prefer to buy the ideas from abroad.

We will try to change this way of thinking,” Bienkowska said.

PLAN Poland wants to make local firms innovate more by setting aside 10 billion euros of EU money and making it available for companies and universities, but only if they work together.

“In this program a university must find a partner on the market,” Bienkowska said. “I am always calling it a kind of a blackmail: this money is for you, but only if you invent something that the market will use.” Nearly

five decades of Communist rule left Poland with run-down infrastructure and firms that were not able to compete on increasingly competitive global markets.

Over the last 20 years of market economy, local firms have grown stronger, benefiting from foreign capital and technology pouring into the country.

But Poland is one of the European Union’s least innovative members, something that has to change if Poland is ever to join the world’s wealthier nations.

Bienkowska said IT, medicine and aviation were among the most promising sectors.

“We have quite a lot of innovative companies,” she said. “We have to really push them and give them a chance to develop, by giving them a lot of money.”

There are signs the country’s strategy of fostering clusters of innovative companies is beginning to bear fruit. Poland’s so-called “Aviation Valley” cluster near the south-eastern city of Rzeszow has attracted global leaders such as United Technologies, whose subsidiary Sikorsky Aircraft produces its renowned Black Hawk helicopters there.

Also local companies are starting to have global aspirations. Poland’s top software maker, Asseco Poland, plans to team up with a larger partner to become Europe’s No 2 over the next five years and challenge market leader Germany’s SAP. “One day we will find a Pole who will manage to achieve such success as Bill Gates,” Asseco chief executive Adam Goral said. In less than a decade, Asseco managed to increase its revenue from around 40 million zlotys ($13 million) to more than 5.5 billion and is now present in around 40 countries.

EU-funded infrastructure has already transformed the everyday life of Poles. Since the country entered the bloc in 2004, new highways have reduced travel times and IT systems have increased the administration’s

efficiency. Bienkowska said projects funded with European money have created about 300,000 jobs so far, raising living standards of the population of 37 million.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has called EU structural funds Poland’s “Marshall plan”, drawing parallels to the vast sums the United States transferred to western Europe to rebuild it after World War Two. Since 2006, Poland’s gross domestic product has increased by over a third in real terms.

Bienkowska said about half of this growth in output was attributable to EU structural funds. Poland’s GDP per capita now accounts for 66 percent of the EU average.

Over the same period the country moved 19 places up in the World Bank’s ranking of ease of doing business and now ranks 55.

But red-tape still hinders growth.

The World Bank says an outdated and inefficient construction code is one of the most acute problems. A Polish company needs 29 permits to build a warehouse on the outskirts of the capital, a nearly worldbeating number.

“Sometimes we are forced repeat the whole procedure,” said Zbigniew Kmicic, head of construction firm Poleksbud-Trade and vice-president of the Employers of Poland lobby. “This is painful.” In July, the government approved new legislation to simplify the process. Bienkowska said the changes could come into force next year, but it will likely take longer for businesses to feel the difference.

Despite the challenges, Bienkowska said she believed Poland was now living through one of its most prosperous times in its turbulent 1,000-year history. Asked what Poland will look like in 2020, when most of the funds are spent, she leaned back in her chair in the freshly renovated ministry compound in Warsaw and said: “Poland will be a beautiful, boring European country.” — Reuters

TOKYO: Shoppers strolling at Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district. Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe’s long-awaited decision this week on whether to hike sales taxes is a major political gamble that proved career-ending for his predecessors, analysts say. — AFP

S Africa Amplats mine workers to rally today JOHANNESBURG: Striking South African workers at mines operated by Anglo American Platinum kept the company guessing about whether they will call off the stoppage at a rally yesterday. Miners with the hardline Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) downed tools on Friday to protest plans by Amplats, the world’s largest producer of the precious metal, to cut 3,300 jobs to restore profits.

The strike is centred around Amplats mines near the town of Rustenburg in the restive platinum belt, where AMCU has poached tens of thousands of members from the once unrivalled National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in a bloody turf war that has killed dozens of people the past 18 months.

AMCU activists have said they will strike until their demands are met. “We are going to continue with the strike until the company withdraws these forced retrenchments,” Makhanya Siphamandla, an AMCU organizer in Rustenburg, told Reuters by telephone.

AMCU’s national leaders were not immediately available for comment. Amplats, a unit of global mining giant Anglo American which served the workers with lay-off notices on Sept. 2, has already backed away from an initial target of 14,000 job cuts after a fierce backlash from the government and unions, including brief stoppages organized by the AMCU. Unlike those stoppages, the current action is legal and in keeping with a change of tactics by AMCU, which was behind a wave of wildcat strikes that rocked South Africa’s gold and platinum sectors last year.

Amplats chief executive Chris Griffith, mindful of how strikes drove the company into losses last year, said on Friday stoppages could put more jobs at risk.

Cutting jobs strikes emotional and political chords in South Africa, where income disparities are glaring and the unemployment rate is officially around 25 percent but could be over 40 percent.

The mining industry has shed hundreds of thousands of jobs since the ruling African National Congress (ANC) came to power when white rule ended in 1994, but the party has taken a tough line with Amplats ahead of elections next year. NUM is also a key political ally of the ANC and its loss of members to AMCU has made the ruling party especially sensitive to worker anger in the mining shafts.

Amplats needs to find a path back to profitability given relatively poor global demand for the white metal used for building emissions-capping converters in automobiles. Anglo American chief executive Mark Cutifani told Reuters in August that “nothing is sacrosanct” and the platinum unit would be removed from the portfolio if it did not deliver.

Coal producers and unions also meet today to hammer out wage agreements and avert strikes that could hit exports to Europe and Asia and supplies to power firm Eskom. Platinum wage talks have hardly gotten off the ground and could lead to more strikes next month. This could help support the price as South Africa accounts for about 75 percent of global supplies of the commodity. — Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Yuan will open up, cutting costs for GCC firms KCIC ASIA ECONOMIC REPORT

By Francisco Quintana KUWAIT: Some currencies have a disproportionate importance in the world compared to the economic weight of the country that issues the currency. That is the case of the US dollar (USD). The United States is the largest economy in the world, representing around 22 percent of global GDP. Its share of global trade is much lower, around 10.7 percent of total world’s imports and exports. But the USD is used in 36 percent of global payments of any kind. The opposite is the case of China.

The second largest economy of the world accounts for 11.2 percent of global GDP but its currency ranks number 11, used only on 0.87 percent of global payments. The relatively low use of the renminbi (RMB) is even more notable if we take into account that China is the world’s leading trading nation, slightly ahead of the US. Only two years ago it ranked 17th, with 0.6 percent of global payments.

The comparison of trade shares and currency utilization between the United States and China shows the countries’ different uses of their currencies. The dollar is a fully international currency, widely used to settle payments. It is also fully convertible, because there are virtually no limits to the amount of currency inflows and outflows in the country. Most importantly, it is a reserve currency held by central banks to store value, granting the US access to a virtually infinite pool of cheap credit.

The Chinese renminbi has none of these characteristics simply because its authorities did not want it to have them. The very successful Chinese export led growth model was based on controls of the exchange

rate, stock markets, capital movements and interest rates. A heavily manipulated exchange rate allowed the currency to remain stable and competitive in spite of massive demand for Chinese goods. A restricted stock market and capital controls ensured that savings from corporate and individuals ended up in government banks in spite of the low interest rates offered.

Banks would then provide state-owned companies with cheap credit to invest.

But this system no longer works. Chinese citizens, desperate to get some return on their savings, turned to real estate, provoking a serious bubble that could paralyze the country if it turns sour. Local govern-

Dimah report

Corporate earnings should rebound with recovery

By Hayder Tawfik

A

fter its peak back in the late nineties, corporate profits have gone through a see-saw, not rising much, but falling sharply with every global crisis starting with the burst of the technology bubble, back in 2001, and ending with the 2007 financial crisis.

After the collapse of Lehman Brothers, equity valuation looked very cheap relative to most other asset classes, such as bonds, real estate and cash and gold. At the time equity risk premium had risen sharply, mainly in the emerging markets, and recently also in the Euro zone markets. With central banks around the world pushing interest rates to record lows, inflation falling in line on the back of sharply rising unemployment, and with falling commodity prices, government and corporate bond yields fell steeply.

Equity investors started looking for safety. Initially they raised cash, and then some of them moved to other asset classes such as bonds and real estate investments. This process pushed equity valuation to extremely attractive levels that had not been seen in a long time. The very cheap equity valuation was justified - as the risk of the Euro Zone breaking up and the fragile US economy were seen by investors as a reason to avoid investing in equities. By the middle of last year, investors concluded that economic conditions and risks were fully priced into equity valuation and that it was worth gradually stepping in. Equity markets started the recovery and the momentum picked up: investors had started to realize that all the measures taken by central banks would ultimately lead to economic recovery.

I think that the initial recovery in the stock markets may be over and we now face the tough task of identifying those markets and sectors that will benefit mostly from a global economic recovery

in the next few years. Investors should focus on those markets and sectors that will be driven by earnings and dividend growth. Hopefully, and assuming that we do not face any crises, profits should grow as world economic growth returns close to trend rates in 2014 and accelerates into 2015. The good signs are there already. The Euro Zone it seems has come out of a deep recession, and a slow and sustainable recovery is perhaps on the way. Also, with emerging markets finally giving in to foreign exchange correction, and in some places actual devaluation, an economic recovery lead by exports may be coming at last.

This global economic recovery will certainly be accompanied by continuing low inflation and high unemployment. There is also the issue of a big build-up of excess capacity and a larger pent up demand. The latest Federal Reserve decision to not scale down on its monthly bond buying operation has sent a clear signal to other central banks that the low interest rate environment is here to stay for a much longer period. I don’t want to call it a ‘Goldilocks’ scenario, but there are some similarities to previous times when equity markets were at their best.

Perhaps the clear signal to investors will come from the corporations themselves.

We have already seen a big buy back in the US and lately some pick up in, either the management buyout, or the merger and acquisitions activates. We all know that cash levels at the corporate level are extremely high.

As fundamental economic conditions change, so should the investors style of investment. The selloff in bonds and rising yields should make companies that offer high dividend yields less attractive to investors. Also, some of the defensive sectors such as utilities, food and pharmaceuticals could start underperforming in the coming months. I believe that investors should look for those companies that have a strong balance sheet, a good dividend yield and strong earnings growth potential.

—Hayder Tawfik is Executive Vice President of Asset Management, at Dimah Capital.

COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan man walks past floral garlands for sale outside a Hindu temple in Colombo yesterday. The majority of Sri Lanka’s population are Sinhalese Buddhists, sharing many customs and rituals with the Tamil Hindu minority, many of which involve the use of flowers. —AFP

ments, which depend heavily on revenues from land sales, encouraged construction. Those that could not afford a house, put their monies in the shadow banking system, unsafe but more profitable. Meanwhile, the private sector, the only real employment generator, chokes without access to credit as government firms take all the funding. If this vicious circle is not broken, the stability of the country and the Communist Party power will be at stake. The Chinese authorities have realized that liberalization is necessary to move forward, and the internationalization of the currency is a priority.

A gradual liberalization of the Chinese currency

would have a significant impact on the global economy. The most significant one would be the reduction of both, foreign exchange risk and costs. Take the case of the GCC. In 2012, the region exported $79 billion worth of goods to China. China had to buy that amount of USD to pay for those exports, mostly energy. These USD were in turn used to buy Chinese RMB to pay the $52 billion of imports that the GCC bought from China. In total $131 billion were exchanged from RMB to USD, producing hefty fees for banks. An international RMB could allow all buyers and sellers to hold RMB accounts in any of the many clearing centers, and perform most of the operations in RMB, avoiding the need to buy USD. Financing costs would be lower, even more in a context like the current one in which many financial and non-financial firms struggle to get liquidity in USD to perform their operations. However the internationalization of the renminbi will not imply a structural change in the world monetary system in the next decade. Without a doubt, the Chinese currency will gain relevance as an international currency, but the Chinese authorities will not accept a fully liberalized renminbi. The likeliest scenario in a decade is one in which the RMB reaches a status similar to that of the Japanese yen today. The rising volumes of RMB held by firms would multiply, forcing companies to manage their treasury more actively to maximize returns: just leaving it in the till, waiting for the currency to appreciate is not good enough. Substantial opportunities would be created for banks and asset managers in the GCC designing products to hedge against the renminbi risk and generate returns.-Francisco Quintana is Senior Economist from KCIC.

British property market facing new bubble fears House prices surge in and around London LONDON: Britain’s house market is showing strong signs of recovery largely on the back of surging prices in and around London, fuelling fears of a new property bubble, according to analysts. The average cost of a home in the capital surged by 10 percent between July and September compared with the third quarter of 2012, British bank and major mortgage provider Nationwide said on Friday.

It added that the average London home, including flats as well as houses, now costs £331,338 ($532,730, 394,551 euros) — 8.0 percent higher than in 2007 or during the run-up to the global financial crisis that eventually led to prices crashing.

Across Britain, the average price of a home stands at £170,918 after gaining 4.3 percent in the third quarter on an annual basis, Nationwide said. “The acceleration in house prices... reported by the Nationwide will fuel concern that we could be on our way to a new housing bubble,” said Howard Archer, chief UK economist at IHS Global Insight research group.

“Housing market activity is now really stepping up a gear, supported by markedly strengthening consumer confidence and elevated employment, and fuelled by” government initiatives, Archer said.

“On top of this, the Bank of England has indi-

cated that interest rates are unlikely to rise before mid-2016, which seems likely to give many people greater confidence in their ability to purchase a house,” he added. The government launched a new program called “Help to Buy” earlier this year, offering interest-free loans for a set time period to help buyers with only a 5.0percent deposit to purchase newly built properties. The scheme will be extended in January to offer mortgage guarantees for new and existing homes worth up to £600,000. People will not be allowed to benefit from the scheme if they intend to own more than one property. The current state of the housing market has meanwhile led to splits in the governing ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition.

Outspoken Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned that Help To Buy could fuel a new bubble. However, Conservative MP George Osborne, who as finance minister holds a more senior role in government, maintains that the scheme is needed to help homebuyers struggling to find sufficient deposits.

Several factors Britain’s housing market has been bolstered in part by the country’s economic recovery in the first half of the year and on keen demand from cash-rich foreign buyers, particularly for

investment property in London. Analysts also blame a shortage of affordable property for the current boost in prices. And estate agencies are reaping the rewards, with upmarket group Foxtons enjoying a strong stock market debut this month. Foxtons and its rivals are also benefiting from rising rental values-a consequence, experts say, of people struggling to afford to buy homes. Amid market concerns, the Bank of England (BoE) last week insisted that it would remain “vigilant” and was ready to act over the threat of a dangerous property bubble.

“There has been much discussion recently on whether the upturn in the UK housing market is too vigorous,” said Matthew Poignton, an analyst at consultancy firm Capital Economics.

“Our view is that housing is already overvalued... and that makes any further gains in prices a matter for concern.” BNP Paribas economist David Tinsley said prices were being driven by a lack of supply but cautioned against speaking too quickly about a potential bubble. “The argument that there is a housing bubble in the UK right now is not persuasive,” Tinsley wrote in a note to clients.

“Arguably, there is a deep-seated supply problem in the UK, which is forcing up the real price of housing, but that is not the same thing” as a bubble leading to a crash, he said. — AFP

ECB in spotlight as euro-zone credit stays weak FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank finds itself in the spotlight this week as it mulls ways of curbing expectations of rising interest rates and boosting chronically weak credit in the euro-zone.

The ECB’s governing council will hold its regular policy meeting in Paris rather than its usual venue of the bank’s Frankfurt headquarters. And the meeting is being brought forward to Wednesday as a result of the national public holiday in Germany on Thursday.

Nevertheless, ECB watchers are confident that central bank chief Mario Draghi will not announce any moves in interest rates or other policy measures, even if the heat is on to bolster rapidly falling credit in the 17 countries that share the euro. Recent better-thanexpected data mean a further cut in ratesfrom their current historic lows of 0.5 percentis unlikely, analysts said.

“The firmer tone of the economic data has ruled out any change in interest rates,” said Capital Economics’ Jennifer McKeown.

“The further reduction in liquidity in the banking sector could prompt the council to announce additional LTRO (long-term refinancing operations), but there are question marks over their likely effectiveness,” she said.

New ECB data last week showed that lending to businesses in the debt-mired Euro-zone is continuing to contract sharply, undermining momentum of the tentative recovery in Europe’s crisis-battered economy.

The ECB already flooded euro-zone banks with more than 1.0 trillion euros ($1.35 trillion) in cash via two LTROs at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 in a bid to avert a potentially disastrous credit crunch. And ECB chief Draghi told a hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels last week that another LTRO could be on the cards.

UniCredit chief euro-zone economist Marco Valli believed “the ECB will launch another LTRO in the coming months.”

Nevertheless, the timing of such a move was “highly uncertain,” the expert cautioned.

“While the ECB is having an open discussion on liquidity, there was no specific focus on any particular instrument,” he said, pointing out that ECB executive board member Benoit

Coeure had suggested that pumping more liquidity into the system “is not an urgent necessity.”

Commerzbank economist Michael Schubert also believed that the current situation is nowhere near as dangerous as when the ECB launched the previous LTROs. Such action this time round would be like “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” Schubert said.

“We doubt whether ... a new LTRO would be proportionate to the magnitude of the problem,” he said. Money market rates in Europe have been rising recently amid talk about a so-called “tapering” or winding down of anticrisis measures by the US Federal Reserve on the other side of the Atlantic, Schubert believed. But the US Fed recently sought to counter such speculation by insisting it will keep its foot on the monetary stimulus pedal.

Furthermore, recent economic data for the single currency area had surprised to the upside, also adding to expectations of a possible end to expansive monetary policy.

But “the phase of positive data surprises of the euro-zone is over,” the Commerzbank

economist said. Speculation of rising rates in Europe was therefore likely to diminish and without those, “there will probably be no new LTRO,” he concluded. ING DiBa senior economist Carsten Brzeski believed the combination of the three factors-the Fed, higher money market rates and lacklustre credit growthcould mean that action was needed from the ECB and not just words.

And “the strategy of words without deeds could soon wear out.” By launching a new LTRO, the ECB “could kill three birds with one stone,” Brzeski said. “It would ease liquidity tensions, lower money market rates and credibly lock in its forward guidance.

“Consequently, we expect further ECB action in the next six months, with liquidity operations being the preferred option,” Brzeski said. Valli at UniCredit said that he had so far believed a new LTRO would come before the end of the year. “Now, this conviction has weakened a bit. A delay of the Fed’s tapering increases the probability that the ECB may decide to wait until early 2014 before acting,” he concluded.— AFP

Al-Tijari announces winners of Najma Account draw KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al-Najma Account Daily draw on 29th September 2013. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Saquer Al-Manaie.

The winners of the Najma Daily Draw are :Fayez Ghazi Ayed Al-Enezi — KD 7000, Mohsen Mohammed Shabankareh — KD 7000, Essam Khalaf Othman Qasem — KD 7000, Abdulazeez Haidar Gholoum Al-Talib — KD 7000, Fatma Hudar Ali Mugnatess — KD 7000.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily

prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on June 19 which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Guest host Aiman El-Kaissouni and Hadeel Al-Fadhli, Senior Manager, External Relations at Gulf Bank calling the winner

Guest host Aiman El-Kaissouni presenting a prize to a visitor during the event.

Hadeel Al-Fadhli, Senior Manager, External Relations at Gulf Bank, during the winner announcement.

Sundus Al-Raqum wins Al-Danah’s KD500,000 Ghadir Al-Duwargi, Hamidah Kabeli win KD125,000 and KD25,000 respectively KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced Sundus Sulaiman Al-Raqum as the Al-Danah KD500,000 draw winner of 2013. Ghadir Abdullah Al-Duwargi was the winner of KD125,000 and Hamidah Abdulredha Kabeli won KD25,000.

The draw announcing the winners was the highlight of a special Al-Danah event that took place at the Avenues Mall- Dome 1 on 26 September, held under the supervision of a Ministry of Commerce representative and hosted live by celebrity television personality, Aiman El-Kaissouni, from the show

‘Super Star’ alongside Hadeel Al-Fadhli, Senior Manager, External Relations at Gulf Bank, as co-host.

The event was filled with excitement and included numerous valuable on the spot prizes for the visitors. In addition Gulf Bank held a special competition entitled ‘What Would You Do With a million KD?’ on its Instagram page (@Gulf_Bank) in which the top ten winners received KD200 in an Al Danah account during the event.

Aiman El-Kaissouni called the winner live during the event to inform her of the news. Reacting upon

hearing she had just won KD500,000, Sundus Sulaiman Al-Raqum said: “I would like to thank Gulf Bank for having this prize draw and turning my dream into reality and I would like to encourage everyone to invest in this account. I personally treat Al-Danah as a savings account, and always thought it would be nice to win. This proves to me that everyone stands a fair chance to win” Gulf Bank reminded all its Al-Danah customers to increase their deposits and prospective customers to open an Al-Danah account by 31

October to enhance their chances of winning one of the major cash prizes in the next Al-Danah Quarterly draw which will be held on 9 January 2014 for draw prizes of 1 million dinars, KD250,000, and KD50,000. To be part of the Al-Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Customers can also log on to www.e gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al Danah and who the winners are.

flydubai means business Airline introduces a Business Team for the business traveller

VIVA announces winners of Chevrolet Camaro in ‘Win a car every week’ campaign KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most developed telecom operator, announced yesterday the winners of the ‘win a car every week’ campaign. The lucky draw winners were Alma Fontaila, Mohammad Alsayed Sulaiman, Ghada Jassem Alshatti, Salem Ali Abdullah Alshuwaiman, Sheikh Abdulrasheed and Rajesh Rama who each won a Chevorlet Camaro V6 2013.

The winners drawn on 19th of August will have until 18th of August 2013 to claim their prize, winners drawn on 26th August will have until 25th September 2013 to claim their prize, winners drawn on 2nd September will have until 1st October 2013 and winners drawn on 9th September will have until 8th October 2013 and winners drawn on 16th September 2013 will have until 15th October 2013 to claim their prize, and winners drawn on 23rd September 2013 will have until 22nd October 2013 to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will be given to the alternate winner.

VIVA congratulated the lucky winners and invited its customers to participate in the longest on-going campaign of its kind. With the continuous success this campaign is witnessing, VIVA is keen to further engage its customers and therefore; developed further means to facilitate the process of entering the draw, where the next draw prize will be one car, a Ford Mustang Coupe.

Entering the draw can be done through one of the following options. The first option is to subscribe with 500 Fils per day giving customers infinite minutes and SMS to any VIVA line. This option entitles the customer to one chance to enter the draw each week.

The second option is to subscribe to the BlackBerry KD3.9 service, which gives customers full and unlimited BlackBerry Services.

This option provides customers with 7 automatic chances to enter the draw each week.

The third option is to purchase the KD 2 prepaid line. Upon activating the line, customers should simply send ‘GO’ to 535, and will be presented with four chances to enter the draw each week.

The fourth option is to recharge for 500 Fils or more, and this entitles the customer to one chance to enter the draw for every 500 Fils.

In addition, customers can also enter the draw by subscribing to the 500 fils local bundle which presents customers with 60 local minutes per day. This can be done by sending ‘3’ to ‘232’, and entitles the customer to one chance, or by subscribing to the 500 fils international SMS bundle, which presents customers with 100 international SMS to any country for the duration of seven days. This also entitles the customer to one chance.

Last but not least, customers who choose to enjoy the prepaid internet service will receive either one chance upon subscribing to the 500 fils ‘Surf On’ service, which offers 500 MB for a day, or two chances upon subscribing to the 1 KD ‘Surf On’ service, which offers 500 MB for five days, automatically upon activation.

Customers can also subscribe to more than one of the eight options, increasing their chances each week to win the valuable prizes.

In the case a customer does not win, the points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw.

Prepaid customers interested in the full, unlimited, local KD 3.9 BlackBerry offer, can send an SMS with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’. For the full menu of the prepaid offers, send an SMS with the word “GO” to number ‘535’.

Ahmad Meshari appointed as Acting CEO of QFB DOHA: The Board of Directors of Qatar First Bank (QFB), the first independent Sharia-compliant bank authorized by the QFC Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) announced yesterday the appointment of Ahmad Meshari as Acting Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Ahmad will replace Emad Mansour who recently resigned from the Bank.

Ahmad brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in the financial sector gained through different senior management positions in regional banks and key roles on highprofile boards, primarily with Islamic financial institutions. Ahmad Meshari joins QFB from Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) where he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Ahmad will have responsibility for QFB’s business lines including the Wealth Management business, Principal Investments, Asset Management and Corporate Finance Advisory. QFB’s current investment stands at QAR 1.8 billion across various sectors including energy, financial services, industrials, real estate and healthcare in markets as diverse as Middle East and North Africa, Turkey and in the United Kingdom.

Abdulla bin Fahad bin Ghorab Al-Marri, Chairman of QFB, commented, “We thank Emad for his efforts and major contributions in growing the Bank and wish him all the success in his future endeavors. We congratulate Ahmad on his new appointment. Ahmad brings a depth of experience to this important role and we are excited to have someone with his calibre and talent to lead the team and grow the Bank to new heights” Ahmad holds a

Ahmad Meshari Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kuwait University. He is a Fellow member at the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Services and has been a holder of the Certified Lender of Business Banking from the Institute of Certified Bankers in the USA since 2003Ahmad has served as a board member at several of QIB’s subsidiaries including QIB-UK (the investment arm of QIB in United Kingdom), Aqar, Solidarity Group, Q-Invest, Arab Finance House and Al Jazeera Finance. Formally known as Qatar First Investment Bank, QFB offers Principal Investments, Corporate Advisory, Asset Management and Wealth Management services. QFB reported strong financial results in 2012, as net income rose by 21 per cent from QAR 94 million ($25.8 million) in 2011 to QAR 113.2 million ($ 31.1 million) in 2012.

KUWAIT: Following the recent launch of its Business Class service, Dubai-based flydubai introduces its dedicated Business Team responsible for delivering what promises to be a more personal flying experience.

The carrier will welcome its first Business Class passengers in October, marking the beginning of a new phase in the evolution of flydubai’s passenger offering.

Commenting on the new premium service, Ghaith Al-Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, said, “Since day one, flydubai has been committed to delivering a unique passenger experience; we have already differentiated ourselves through our existing product offering and therefore it’s the next logical step in the evolution of our business model.”

“The journey leading to the moment you take off is just as important as the on board experience itself. As a result, we have invested in a dedicated Business Team who will ensure that our Business Class passengers are well taken care of around the clock, enjoying an easier and faster journey on the ground.”

Always ready To help passengers make the most out of their Business Class travel with flydubai, the dedicated Business Team will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the telephone, at the airport or by SMS, which supports Arabic, English and Russian enquiries (+971 56 644 8866).

The team can assist in making or amending a booking as well as selecting seats, choosing meals, handling enquiries about the latest films on board or checking in for a flight. flydubai is also introducing an On Demand service where Business Class passengers can SMS the Business Team to check in for a flight and ask for a Call Back service.

At the airport Business Class passengers will be able to take advantage of flydubai’s priority checkin, Assigned Business Team representatives will always be present at the terminal

The newly refurbished T2

to assist with enquiries, priority luggage drop off, check-in and provide a fast-track through immigration, security and boarding.

“Our Business Class, which came as a result of our customer feedback, will offer leisure and especially business travellers a more personalized flying experience to a number of destinations across our network , including some that have never offered business class air travel before,” added Al-Ghaith.

The airline took delivery of the first aircraft with a business class cabin in August 2013. All new aircraft due for delivery later this year will include business and economy classes. Its program to retrofit the existing fleet started in September. flydubai aims to make travel more convenient for its passengers through services such as visa facilitation for select destinations, a user friendly mobile website, car

flydubai Business Class

hire and insurance services. Most recently, the airline has made holiday pack ages available to its passengers.

Dubai Cruise Tourism participates in sea trade Europe industry conference DUBAI: Dubai Cruise Tourism participated in the global industry conference Seatrade Europe in Hamburg from September 24-26 as part of ongoing efforts to promote Dubai’s cruise offering around the world. DTCM Director of Cruise Tourism Jamal Al-Falasi represented Dubai Cruise Tourism and participated along with delegations from more than 40 countries across the globe.

The Dubai Cruise stand showcased the world-class facilities Dubai offers passengers and cruise operators alike with the aim of further consolidating the Emirate’s position as the regional cruise tourism hub. The stand also displayed a range of services by some of DTCM’s partners in the industry including Inchcape Shipping Services, Orient Tours, Rais Hassan Saadi Group and Sharaf Tours.

Speaking ahead of the conference, DTCM Executive Director of Business Tourism, Hamad Bin Mejren said: “We are extremely pleased with the positive reception of DTCM’s participation in Seatrade Europe. “We have worked hard over the last twelve months to ensure Dubai’s cruise facilities are amongst the best in the world with dedicated facilities spanning over 20,000 square meters and a new cruise terminal building under construction which will add another 27,000 square meters and enable Dubai to handle complete passenger turnaround of five cruise ships simultaneously. DTCM looks forward to demonstrating what we have achieved to delegates.

“Dubai, with its year-round sunshine, calm waters and superb geography, is fast becoming a leading global cruise destination, popular with both passengers and operators. “We are confident that our efforts to promote

Dubai at Seatrade Europe will lead to increased interest in cruising into or out of Dubai.” Held annually, Seatrade Europe brings together buyers, planners, suppliers and key decision makers from all parts of Europe’s river and ocean cruise industries.

More than 150 exhibitors are expected to take part in the conference. This year’s conference program focuses on the key topics including the state of the cruise industry in Europe, the cruise line-port interface, shipbuilding and refurbishment, F&B and hotel, onboard revenue, environmental advances in technology, itineraries and deployment and

training sessions.

DTCM is committed to playing a significant role in meeting the Dubai government target of bringing 20 million visitors to the emirate by 2020. The popularity of Dubai’s cruise offering has grown sharply in recent years as efforts by DTCM to promote it globally have taken effect.

In 2012-13 season, 116 ships carrying 410,906 passengers were processed through Dubai’s Cruise Terminals. Enthusiasm for cruising remains high in Europe, with over 38% German cruise passengers visiting Dubai in 2012.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

TECHNOLOGY

Solar-charged lanterns spurring development

K

enya’s unreliable electric grid doesn’t reach Chumvi, a village about two hours southeast of Nairobi, where many of the 500 residents live in mud-walled, grass-roofed homes and eke out a living raising goats and growing kale, maize, and other crops. Yet an economic transformation is taking place, driven by an unlikely source-solar-charged LED lanterns. It can be traced to the vision of Evans Wadongo, 27, who grew up in a village much like this one. As a child, Wadongo struggled to study by the dim, smoky light of a kerosene lantern that he shared with his four older brothers. His eyes were irritated, and he often was unable to finish his homework.

“Many students fail to complete their education and remain poor partly because they don’t have good light,” says Wadongo, who speaks slowly and softly.

As a student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, he happened to see holiday lights made from LEDs and thought about what it would take to bring LEDs to small villages for general lighting. After taking a leadership training course from a nonprofit group, he designed a manufacturing system for portable LED lamps that could be recharged by sunlight. While many such lamps are already for sale commercially-and are increasingly

making their way into villages in poor countriesWadongo decided that his lanterns would be made in local workshops with scrap metal and off-the-shelf photovoltaic panels, batteries, and LEDs. Wadongo feared that the technology would be less likely to take hold if the lamps were simply given to people who had no financial stake in them. But the lanterns normally each cost 2,000 Kenyan shillings (about $23), which is out of many villagers’ reach. So he uses donations (including proceeds from a recent exhibition of his lamps at a Manhattan art gallery, at which donors gave $275 apiece) to provide initial batches of lamps to villages. Residents are generally quick to see the value in the LED lamps because of the money they save on kerosene.

Wadongo then encourages them to put the resulting savings into local enterprises.

The transformation in Chumvi began two years ago, when a woman named Eunice Muthengi, who had grown up there and went on to study in the United States, bought 30 lanterns and donated them to women in the village. Given that the fuel for one $6 kerosene lamp can cost $1 a week, the donation not only gave people in the town a better, cleaner light source but freed up more than $1,500 a year.

With this money, local women launched a village microlending service and built businesses making bead crafts and handbags. “We’re now able to save 10 to 20 shillings [11 to 23 cents] a day, and in a month that amounts to something worthwhile,” says Irene Peter, a 43-year-old mother of two who raises maize and tomatoes. “Personally, I saved and got a sheep who has now given birth.” She also got started in a business making ornaments and curios.

As profits rolled in from new enterprises like these, the women who got the original 30 lamps gradually bought new batches; according to Wadongo, they now have 150. “Their economic situation is improving, and this is really what keeps me going,” he says, adding that some people are even making enough to build better houses. “The impact of what we do,” he says, “is not in the number of lamps we distribute but how many lives we can change.”

Wadongo is also changing lives with the manufacturing jobs he is creating. In an industrial area of Nairobi, banging and clanking sounds fill a dirtfloored shack as two men hammer orange and green scraps of sheet metal into the bases of the next batch of lamps (soon to be spray-painted silver). Each base is also stamped with the name of the lamp-Mwanga

Bora (Swahili for “Good Light”). The three men in the workshop can make 100 lamp housings a week and are paid $4 for each one. Subtracting rent for the manufacturing space, each man clears $110 per week-far above the Kenyan minimum wage.

Some of the lamps are completed in the kitchen of a rented house in Nairobi. Three LED elements are pushed through a cardboard tube so they stand up inside the lantern’s glass shade. The LED elements, photovoltaic panel, and batteries are sourced from major electronics companies. Overall, the devices are rugged; the steel in the housing of the lantern is a heavy gauge. If a housing breaks, it can be serviced locally-and the electronic parts are easily swapped out.

Wadongo now heads Sustainable Development for All, the NGO that gave him his leadership training, and he is focusing it on expanding the lamp production program. It has made and distributed 32,000 lamps and is poised to increase that number dramatically by opening 20 manufacturing centers in Kenya and Malawi. Wadongo says that teams in those centers will independently manufacture not only the lamps but “any creative thing they want to make.” — MCT

Asian social networks move to conquer Europe IMs take attributes from Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook

Stars of Science reveals this season’s 16 candidates DOHA: After a heated debate in the presence of a panel of 10 jurors, the science and technology edutainment reality TV program Stars of Science, initiated

by Qatar Foundation and aired on MBC4, has announced the 16 candidates who are in the running for a place amongst this season’s top four winners.

A total of 16 of the region’s brightest minds were selected in the last round of the competition in Doha, by permanent jury members Youssef Abdulrahman AlSalhi, General Manager of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre and Professor Fouad Mrad, Executive Director for the Regional Technology Center at the United Nations - ESCWA , along with the region’s top eight academic jurors.

The overall score was broken down by type of innovation (40 percent), market outlook (30 percent), project practicality and feasibility (20 percent) as well as candidate presentation and overall motivation (10 percent). Permanent jury member for this season, Youssef AlSalhi, GM of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre said: “We have been supporting Stars of Science for the past four seasons so it’s a pleasure for me to honor this collaboration by joining the program as one of the permanent jurors for the fifth season.”

“So far, I have met so many committed and passionate young Arab innovators, which demonstrates that the region’s future generations are ready to prove themselves.

We were presented with numerous interesting ideas and projects during the casting which made it difficult to

The top 16 finalists are:

select just 16 candidates. However, I am confident that we’ve made the right selection and that our journey with the different candidates will be an interesting one.”

This Friday, the 16 innovators will undergo a series of psychological and physical assessments during Orientation Week, including a rigorous physical boot camp and psychometric testing which will give candidates feedback on their character and personality traits.

The testing will be carried out by a host of leading experts from around the world who will expose the candidates to a variety of tasks including a swimming and raft building challenge, vertical flying, rock climbing and solving mathematical equations 6,000 feet in the air.

Permanent jury member Dr Fouad Mrad, Executive Director for the Regional Technology Center at the United Nations - ESCWA, commented: “It is important that the candidates are not only mentally but physically prepared for the competition ahead. I hope we see their can-do spirit this week in and out of the lab.”

Hosted by Khaled Al-Jumaily, Stars of Science Season Five consists of eight prime-time episodes plus the live finale, where the public will be invited to vote alongside the Jury. The program began on September 13, 2013 (8 pm KSA), with daily updates airing from Saturday October 5 at 4:30 pm KSA on MBC4.

These sites also include information on the application process for Stars of Science Season Six which is currently accepting submissions from applicants until December 15, 2013.

PARIS: Move aside Facebook and Skype. Asian social networks, already hugely popular on their continent, have set their sights on Europe where they could prove stiff competition for their US rivals. China’s WeChat and Japan’s Line, which let users make free calls, send instant messages and post funny short videos and photos, take attributes from Facebook, Skype and messaging application WhatsApp and roll them all together.

This week, Line executives travelled to France and Italy for a public relations offensive aimed at raising awareness of the mobile app, which already counts some 230 million users around the world including 47 million in Japan alone.

The social network has already taken root in other parts of Europe. In Spain, for instance, Line has forged heavyweight partnerships with football clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, brands such as Coca-Cola or tennis star Rafael Nadal. FC Barcelona, for instance, has a home page on the app where it posts photos that has already drawn more than 8.2 million friends. Line even has a permanent office in Spain, where it counts some 15 million users already.

A French version of the mobile app, meanwhile, is to be launched before the end of the year. One of the main selling points for Line, which was launched at the beginning of 2011, is its “stickers”-funny, cartoon-like figures that express emotions in a way deemed far more original and fun than traditional emoticons.

On WeChat, users can post figures that move about dancing, blowing kisses or punching the air. Both social networks also supply a selection of “stickers” that users have to pay for. “We’re betting a lot on this new form of communication with stickers,” Sunny Kim, assistant director general of Line Europe and America, told AFP on a trip to Paris.

This part of the business represents 30 per-

cent of Line’s overall turnover and in July alone, users bought eight million euros ($10.8 million) worth of stickers. The company makes the rest of its money on the sale of games integrated in the mobile app (50 percent) and from partnerships and products on the side. Line’s logo is green with a conversation bubble inside, and looks remarkably similar to the icon of WeChat, which began in January 2011.

Already translated into 19 languages, the social network has 500 million users, including 100 million outside of China, and plans to launch in France towards the end of the year. While Line has Real Madrid, WeChat has enrolled the help of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi, who has become ambassador of the brand and has

filmed a commercial for the social network.

But WeChat-which belongs to China’s web giant Tencent-is also banking on the huge Chinese diaspora to expand. “The French of Chinese origin or the Canadians of Chinese origin, for instance, are the bridge between China and the rest of the world,” said Renaud Edouard-Baraud, who heads up an Asia consulting branch of the BNP-Paribas bank and advises WeChat. Many brands keen to tap into the giant China market also have a presence on WeChat. Companies can for instance use geolocalisation to pinpoint the exact location of Chinese users when they are visiting Europe, and send them promotional offers to lure them into their shops. — AFP

HK counts the cost after losing Alibaba’s listing HONG KONG: The collapse of negotiations for Alibaba’s listing in Hong Kong, which sees the lucrative initial public offering set to head to New York, has prompted sharp criticism of the city’s stock exchange from the Chinese online trading giant and some investors. Talks between the Hong Kong bourse and Alibaba, looking at ways to grant founder Jack Ma and its senior management some control over the board of directors ended in vain, according to a blog post

by Alibaba’s co-founder Joe Tsai on Thursday.

In a scathing attack on the exchange’s regulators, he warned that the world’s largest companies would “pass by” Hong Kong unless its bourse was more willing to be flexible. “We firmly believe that Hong Kong must consider what is needed in order to adapt to future trends and changes,” Tsai said on his blog.

“The question Hong Kong must address is whether it is ready to look forward as the rest of the world passes it by.” However others welcomed the move as a sign the Hong Kong stock exchange was willing to stick by its own rules despite the potential size of the listing. Hong Kong’s loss will likely be New York’s gain. Dow Jones Newswires, quoting a source, said Wednesday the company now plans to list in the American city, has already hired a US law firm to work on an IPO there, and would likely hire banks soon.

The company’s stock market listing is expected to raise about $10 billion, which would make it the technology industry’s largest IPO since Facebook’s offering last year. Tanrich Securities vice president Jackson Wong believes Hong Kong is losing out from an investor’s perspective.

“We really would like to see a giant Internet stock from China to be listed in Hong Kong, rather than in New York,” Wong told AFP, describing any listing by the company to be a “blockbuster IPO”.

“When investors are in the stock market, they want to make money and to buy some quality stocks and Alibaba is one of the two big Internet companies.” The initial impact on the city’s stock exchange could be huge with a boost to its daily turnover in the long run, Wong said, without providing any figures. According to Wong, Alibaba would trade in a similar way to Chinese Internet giant Tencent, which adds around two percent to the daily turnover for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKex).

Hong Kong’s bourse does not allow companies to issue two types of shares which give

HONG KONG: This file picture shows the logo of online shopping portal Alibaba.com near its office in Hong Kong. — AFP founders and management a greater voting weight compared to minority shareholders. The dual-class share structure is a preferred method for US technology companies such as Facebook and Google and is offered in the US. An “unfair” structure But some analysts were unfazed about the potential loss of Alibaba’s listing in the southern Chinese city, and applauded its regulatory bodies for turning the listing down, despite its size.

“Hong Kong is in a better position because if you grant special treatment to one company, what if another company comes up and says we want special treatment too?” Geo Securities Chief Executive Officer Francis Lun told AFP. Abuse in a dual-class share system could occur when minority shareholders who own the bulk of company’s shares cannot make a significant impact when a smaller amount of shares owned by the company’s senior management has more weight. “We don’t want something that is so blatantly unfair to the investors,” Lun said. In an editorial on Saturday, the South China Morning Post said the stock exchange was “right not to make an exception for Alibaba”.

“The one share, one vote principle is not to be abandoned lightly,” the paper wrote. But the editorial added that some debate over reform of the bourse was needed. “The controversy has thrown open the question whether our listing rules are in line with the times. Regulators and the government should encourage the debate,” it said.

The highly-anticipated relisting of the e-commerce giant, which privatised in 2012, and the collapse of talks between the Hangzhou-headquartered firm and Hong Kong authorities led to a clash of ideologies between company executives and the authorities.

Charles Li, the chief executive of HKex, said Wednesday that he defended public interest against the rights of certain company shareholders in a lengthy and unusual blog post about a dream he recently had. Without directly commenting on the technology company, Li said: “As enshrined in our charter, in the event of a conflict, public interest is put ahead of shareholder interest at HKEx.” But Alibaba’s Tsai defended the company’s structure and said they didn’t propose a dualclass share system. “We proposed a governance structure that would enable Alibaba’s partners key people who manage our businesses - to set the company’s strategic course without being influenced by the fluctuating attitudes of the capital markets,” he wrote.

Losing the coveted deal could hamper the city’s efforts to maintain its appeal as the destination for public listing, after being eclipsed by other bourses since 2012 as the world’s IPO venue. Hong Kong’s bourse was one of the world’s top IPO venues from 2009 to 2011, but took a hit after Chinese companies became worried about slow economic growth last year. Hong Kong stock exchange refused to confirm that talks between the two have broken down. — AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Dar Al Shifa Hospital launches breast cancer early detection campaign

HERAT: Afghan farmers work in a rice field on the outskirts of Herat yesterday.

Despite continuing security issues, Herat is seen as flagship province in Afghanistan, attracting investment and building on its strengths in agriculture, mining and trade links with neighbours Iran and Turkmenistan. — AFP

Dialectical behavior therapy ‘a formula for effectiveness’ NEW YORK: Mindfulness. Distress tolerance. Emotion regulation. Interpersonal effectiveness. If ever there were a set of psychological skills for negotiating life in the 21st century, this is it.

They just happen to be the skills that are the focus of dialectical behavior therapy, the cognitive-based therapeutic program specifically designed to help those with borderline personality disorder curb their self-destructive impulses and manage their unruly emotions. The more that studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, which consists of both group instruction and individual therapy sessions, both conducted weekly for a year, the more it has been applied to other disorders.

Take interpersonal effectiveness. One of its core principles is that learning how to ask directly for what you want diminishes resentment and hurt feelings, reactions that typically emotionally derail borderlines but which are no strangers to the rest of us; just ask the nearest divorce lawyer.

In DBT, the skill is encapsulated in a mnemonic device known as DearMan: Describe what you want; Express yourself in ways that reflect the importance of your request; Assert yourself effectively but not aggressively; Reinforce a request by explaining what good would come from it; stay Mindful and don’t get caught up in another’s defensiveness or your own intensity; Appear confident; Negotiate, don’t demand. Why should a diagnosis be required to acquire such basic relationship skills?

Or to acquire mindfulness? Learning how to stay focused on the present moment, noting the fleeting nature of emotions so as not to get whipsawed by them, not getting mired in regret about the past or overcome with anxiety about the future. It affords us a choice of how we want to respond to experiences.

“When Marsha Linehan first came out with dialectical behavior therapy,” says Barry Lubetkin, cofounder and director of New York ’s Institute for Behavioral Therapy, “most of us looked around and said, ‘My God, this is the stuff we have been teaching people for the last 20 years, and this is the way we ourselves want to live our lives. As therapists and as human beings we are always trying to develop more effectiveness.’”

If DBT made sense for a clinical population when it was introduced two decades ago, it makes at least as much sense for the general population in 2013. There’s considerable evidence that pathology is increasing among Americans; the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and narcissism is rising,

especially among younger cohorts. One in 10 Americans now takes antidepressant medication.

The increasing rates of such conditions may in fact reflect sudden changes in the way we now must live our lives.

Depression, argues Brandon Hidaka in the Journal of Affective Disorders, is likely a disease of modernity. In fact, a signal marker of modernization-per capita GDP-correlates with lifetime risk of the disorder, the result of an evolutionary mismatch between longstanding human environments and recent lifestyle shifts. Declining social interaction, increased sedentariness, diminished sun exposure, sleep deprivation-all the products of the way we now function-contribute to depression risk.

The context of all our lives has changed dramatically just within the last two decades. The most obvious change is the advent of the Internet and related technologies.

It’s axiomatic that different environments impose differing demands on us.

This, after all, is the fundamental dialectic of evolution: Adapt-or wither into ineffectuality. The Internet, the universe many Americans inhabit much of the time, increasingly enables our livelihoods. But it also offers unlimited opportunities for distraction: View pornography and every other kind of sexual activity at the touch of a button. Prefer to search for that old sweetheart, or a new one? Or just contact friends? Maybe video games are more your thing, made all the more irresistible by instant feedback. Escape and entertainment are often overwhelmingly tempting in the face of difficulty. (Much of the popularity of so-called study drugs can be attributed to the attempt, however misguided, to maintain a focus in the face of easy escape.) Hello, distress tolerance.

Think of digital diversions as add-ons; traditional outlets for frustration have not lost their appeal in the electronic age. In 40 years of practice, Lubetkin notes, “I have never seen so many people having affairs.

A man has a fight with his wife or girlfriend and he immediately acts out with someone else, rather than managing the distress and finding alternative ways of controlling a bad reaction or learning better communication skills. “ Adolescent psychologist Carl Pickhardt sees a growing gap between the degree of self-discipline young people now need and the little they acquire. Concerned parents, he contends, typically focus on their kids’ academic achievement and on minimizing social risk-taking. “But they’re really not preparing their kids for self-management.” —MCT

Halal food market boom on its way?

LONDON: The halal food market has huge potential for growth after being “largely neglected” in the UK - despite the country’s large Muslim population, the founder of the one of the world’s largest Halal food festivals said yesterday.

Some of the biggest names in British retail will be attending this weekend’s consumer food show dedicated entirely to halal produce, with supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Asda sending buyers, along with high-end department store Harrods.

“Business can appreciate the sheer size of the market, and it has largely been neglected,” said Imran Kausar, a former doctor who founded the Halal Food Festival. “The West if finally twigging onto the fact that that there’s a huge market here.”

He highlighted that vegetarians make up three percent of the UK’s population, whereas Muslims comprise nearly five percent, according to 2011 census data, but stressed: “It would be unheard of to walk into a restaurant or grocer and not have a vegetarian option.”

A Pew Research study from 2012 forecast that Muslims will make up over 8 percent of Britain’s population by 2030 - and the vast majority of these will continue to govern their consumption by halal standards, Kausar said.

Translated as “permissible” or “lawful,” halal food is cuisine prepared according to Islamic guidelines. These state that the animal faces no undue stress up until the point of slaughter, which must be conducted by a Muslim. A sharp knife is used to cut the animal’s throat, after which the blood is drained.

While beef and chicken can be halal, pork and derived gelatine products - often found in in candy - are strictly off limits.

According to Bryan Roberts, director of retail insights at Kantar Retail, the existence of the Halal Food Festival suggests the produce is becoming more mainstream, with brands and retailers looking to boost their halal offerings.

Among the major retailers, Tesco and Asda are ahead of the curve when it came to halal food, Roberts said. These supermarkets offer a range of halal products, and even have halal butcher counters in some stores, operated by third parties.

Well-known food brands including Kellogg’s, Kingsmill, Hellmans, Krispy Kreme and McCain have also tapped the sector, all certifying halal products under the UK’s Halal Food Authority.

The market is already significant in Britain, with the Halal Monitoring Committee putting its value at between £4.2 billion-5 billion in the UK alone. This gives it a share of around 5 percent of the UK’s total agricultural food market, which the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs valued at £96.1 billion in 2011.But the sector in Britain could be about to shift,according to Saqib Mohammed, the acting chief executive of the HFA. “The halal meat market might reach its super saturation level within very few years,” he said. Instead, Mohammed expects more opportunities in halal food additives and ingredients, animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

But although a few health and beauty vendors made the Halal Food Festival list, gastronomy dominates, with traditional halal cuisine sitting alongside some more unusual offerings. Some 100 vendors from around the world will exhibit ranges of products that include gourmet hot dogs, vegan-friendly sushi and even halal candy. — AP

KUWAIT: Dar Al Shifa Hospital announced yesterday the launch of its breast cancer early detection campaign “The Warning Bells are Ringing”, which sheds light on the causes and factors leading to this disease and ways to prevent it. The campaign will run across the month of October 2013, in which the hospital will provide 50% discount on the mammography, breast ultrasound, as well as on one of the latest breast MRI machines in Kuwait, as part of its awareness campaign. The hospital’s medical team will also educate interested female visitors about different methods of self-exams, while also providing them with a number of educational leaflets and brochures about the same.

Dr. Dalia El-Robi, Specialist Diagnostic Radiology at Dar Al Shifa Hospital said: “It is crucial to highlight Breast Cancer at an early stage and to understand the signs, symptoms and methods of treatment. New technologies have been developed that help in detecting the disease earlier in the process.”

Deaths from breast cancer among women in Kuwait are considered the world’s highest due to a lack of awareness and delay in detection of the disease. The ratio of deaths among patients of breast cancer worldwide is 1:8. Even as studies confirm the rate of breast cancer is higher globally, deaths resulting from breast cancer in Kuwait are higher than the global rate because

the disease is always detected in its late stages.

“Breast Cancer is a wide spread disease that is considered to have high death rates amongst women worldwide, although it can be treated and cured if detected at an early stage. Through this campaign, Dar Al Shifa Hospital aims at showcasing its overall commitment towards raising more awareness while also becoming a pri-

mary healthcare information source across the community. The hospital’s team will be present to provide factual information that women need to be familiar with, such as for example selfexams,” added Dr. El-Robi.

Cancer is made up of abnormal cells growing out of control, and over time, if not detected and treated, the cancer can spread from the breast to other organs such as liver, brain, lungs and bones. Breast Cancer treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and endocrine/ anti hormone therapy. The treatment success depends on the age factor, stage of growth of the cancer and its type, and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

Screening is a primary prevention step where early detection will be made, and further allows early intervention measures to be implemented in order to secure a greater possibility of surviving and overcoming the cancer.

The breast cancer early detection awareness campaign takes place annually and is part of the continued development of the Dar Al Shifa Hospital’s successful contributions to raise awareness on the disease, and to encourage women to do the preventive checks. The hospital utilizes its state-of-the-art technology, and renowned leading doctors and consultants to deliver optimal levels of healthcare to its patients.

Commercial cargo ship reaches International Space Station NEW YORK: An unmanned US commercial cargo ship flew itself to the International Space Station yesterday, completing the primary goal of its debut test flight before supply runs begin in December.

After a series of successful steering maneuvers, the Orbital Sciences Cygnus freighter parked about 12 meters from the station at 6:50 am as the ships sailed 420 km above the Southern Ocean south of Africa.

Ten minutes later, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA’s Karen Nyberg used the station’s robotic arm to pluck the capsule from orbit and prepared to attach it to a berthing slip.

“That’s a long time coming, looks great,” radioed astronaut Catherine Coleman from NASA’s Mission Control in Houston.

Cygnus’ arrival had been delayed a week first by a software glitch and then by the higher priority docking of a Russian Soyuz capsule ferrying three new crewmembers to the $100 billion outpost, a project of 15 nations.

Orbital Sciences’ new unmanned Antares rocket blasted off on Sept. 18 from a new launch pad on the Virginia coast to put Cygnus into orbit.

NASA contributed $288 million toward Antares’ and Cygnus’ development and awarded Orbital Sciences a $1.9 billion contract for eight station resupply missions, the first of which is targeted for December.

The US space agency also provided $396 million to privately owned Space Exploration

NEW YORK: This framegrabbed image provided by NASA-TV shows the Cygnus spacecraft at the 30 meter hold point from the International Space Station yesterday as both cross over the Atlantic Ocean. — AP On Sunday, SpaceX was poised to test an Technologies to help develop the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo ship. The firm, known as upgraded version of its Falcon 9 rocket. Launch SpaceX, holds a $1.5 billion NASA contract for 12 from a new complex at Vandenberg Air Force cargo runs to the station, two of which already Base, located just north of Lompoc on the central California coast. —Reuters have been completed.

Childhood obesity obsession masks fitness ‘time bomb’ Poor levels of fitness LONDON: Britain’s “national obsession” with obesity is creating a potential public-health crisis by neglecting the growing numbers of unfit schoolchildren, experts are warning. Declining child-fitness levels are being overshadowed by obesity targets, leaving schoolchildren at increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to researchers.

By the age of 15, children are five times more likely to be unfit than obese, according to the first study to compare rates of obesity and fitness among British schoolchildren.

The alarming figures are fuelling calls for fitness tests in schools to identify children at risk.

Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, former Chief Medical Officer, warned: “There is a risk that tunnel vision on childhood obesity will mean cardiovascular fitness is ignored. Being fat shortens life but so does being unfit and of normal weight.” The study sampled 8,500 pupils, aged 10 to 16, from 24 schools in the East of England. The children involved were measured for their body mass index (BMI) and made to do 20-metre shuttle runs to test cardiorespiratory fitness.

Researchers found that while more than one in 10 (11 per cent) of 11- to 16-year-olds are obese, a far higher proportion - more than one in five (20-plus per cent) - are unfit. One in four obese children has good physical fitness, and one in five children with normal BMI has a low fitness level. And while levels of obesity fell from 13 per cent of 10-year-olds to 8 per cent of 15-yearolds, the proportion of unfit children soared from 15 per cent of 10-year-olds to more than 40 per cent of those aged 15, according to the study.

“Our data on older children show a drop in obesity levels throughout secondary-school children...

Unfortunately the results show that poor fitness, which is a much better indicator of overall health than BMI, increases dramatically,” said Dr Gavin Sandercock, of the University of Essex, who led the research. He added: “The national obsession with children’s weight... may be leading us away from a much bigger problem - their poor levels of fitness.” The findings, presented at the annual conference of the British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (Bases) this month, will appear in the December edition of the Journal of Sports Sciences. “The fact that nearly half of Year 11 pupils are unfit by the time they leave school is frightening, as this is likely to get worse when they stop doing PE - it is creating a potential public-health time bomb,” warned Dr Sandercock.

Children with a normal BMI who are unfit face greater health risks than those who are overweight but fit, say experts. Yet schoolchildren are only measured for their BMI, and there is no sys-

tematic evaluation of their fitness.

Professor Mitch Blair, officer for health promotion at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said there was no time to waste: “As this important study suggests, we need to rethink how we use values such as BMI for predicting long-term health .... Being thin is not necessarily the same as being fit, and we need to re-examine how we measure children’s fitness, for example by piloting a standardised measurement strategy in schools.” Sir Liam Donaldson, chair of health policy at Imperial College London, said: “I strongly urge the Government to pilot test comprehensive fitness testing in schools” - repeating a recommendation he made in 2009 which the Government has yet to act upon.

The study comes amid mounting concern over the health of Britain’s children. Nearly half (49 per cent) of seven-year-olds fail to meet the Government’s minimum recommended level of one hour of exercise a day, according to research published in the medical journal BMJ Open last month. The health risks faced by unfit children are part of a wider problem. Last week the World Heart Federation warned that most Britons (67 per cent) fail to manage even 30 minutes of brisk walking a day - putting themselves at greater risk of ill health.

Dr Kathryn Taubert, the federation’s chief science officer, said: “Paying attention to how much

we walk should be as simple as watching what we eat. By reaching the recommended minimum 30 minutes of moderate exercise, which includes brisk walking, at least five days a week, many premature deaths can be prevented.”

And Dr Keith Tolfrey, of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, said: “Low fitness , particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, is equally, if not more, important than obesity in young people.” In a statement, a government spokesperson said: “We know that too many children are overweight so it is vital that children exercise regularly. All schools should ensure that pupils have a strong understanding of personal fitness and are free to decide how to judge this as part of their PE lessons.” Primary schools are being given £300m of ring-fenced funding over the next two years to improve PE and sport and help all pupils to develop healthy, active lifestyles, they added.

Recognising that simply slimming fat children through healthy eating is not the answer, the Government recently launched a Change4Life campaign in a bid to encourage people to get more active. Professor Blair, a consultant paediatrician and expert on child public health , said that healthy eating and exercise are “essential life skills” and “need to be seen as important as reading, writing and maths. “Until we get this right, the growing issue of obesity and decrease in fitness is only going to get worse.” — Reuters

Now, a pacemaker for the food pipe NEW DELHI: For patients suffering from acid reflux that cannot be managed with medicines, here is some good news. A device developed by a former AIIMS doctor promises to treat the condition by controlling the movement of food into the stomach. Endostim, or pacemaker for the food pipe, was recently implanted in a 23-year-old IT professional with chronic inflammation of the food pipe at Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon.

“Normally, such patients have to deal with the side-effects of lifelong medication, or undergo complex surgery to create a barrier that keeps the stomach acid from flowing backwards, or tighten the lower oesophageal sphincter. The pacemaker is a much simpler and more effective way of dealing with the condition,” said Dr Sandeep Malhotra, associate director and the gastrointestinal surgeon who conducted the procedure. He said the patient, Raghunandan from Bangalore, is doing well after the surgery.

It takes less than an hour to implant the device.

Lead electrodes are attached to the lower end of the food pipe through laparoscopy and connected

to Endostim, run by battery, placed beneath the skin of the abdomen. The device is programmed to send a a regular stream of electronic signals for ensuring muscle contraction.

Acid reflux is a chronic digestive condition characterized by backflow (reflux) of stomach acid or bile into the food pipe (oesophagus). The backwash irritates the lining of the oesophagus and causes a burning sensation in the chest, sometimes spreading to the throat, with a sour aftertaste. Obese, diabetics, pregnant women, children, hiatal hernia patients, smokers are at risk, said Dr Malhotra, adding the pacemaker works by controlling the muscle that would choke acid reflux.

The innovative device has been termed a breakthrough. “The technology has been invented by a former AIIMS doctor, Dr Virendra Sharma, now based in Arizona.

He was among the faculty at the department of medicine, division of gastroenterology and hepatology, and director, oesophageal clinic at Mayo Clinic,” said an official of Invive Healthcare. that is marketing the product in India.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Sitting disease a main cause of morbidity, mortality “We are physicians from different specialties with a specific interest in public health advocacy and promotion. We, also, aim to increase awareness among the Kuwaiti public regarding a variety of diseases and conditions and to rectify the misconceptions they may have.

Since our group consists of multiple physicians we decided to write under the pen name of L’homme en Blanc.”

People in the old days used to travel by means that required physical activity, such as walking or riding a donkey, however, nowadays everyone has a car and tends to park it at the closest available spot to the entrance of their office or the shopping mall. This change in behavior has resulted in a dramatic decrease in an individual’s average level of physical activity.

The average person should walk around 10,000 steps a day. I personally connected a step meter on myself and found that I walk around 5000 steps a

day. Thus I am short of half the average steps I need to fulfill the requirement of a healthy day. I also convinced my family to do the same and it was not a surprise when I found that their average was around 3,000.

So why is it important to stay active?

Well that is fairly easy. Think of your body as a machine. Now if this machine is not used for a long time it starts to decay and wear out. This is actually what is happening to our bodies when we sit down for long periods of time. Our heart

starts to weaken and cholesterol starts to build up in our arties resulting in an increased risk of heart attacks. In addition, when we are physically unfit we increase our risk of developing dementia (deceased cognitive brain function).

Furthermore, staying inactive increases your risk of developing osteorthritis.

There is a video that went viral on TouTube a few years back, it spoke about the sitting disease in an interesting way.

This video is called twenty three and a half hours. I urge everyone to YouTube

the video. The basic summary of that video is that since you have 24 hours in a day, 23 and 1/2 of those should be used for work, sleep, leisure, and further activities that you usually engage in. The 30 minutes of your day that are left should be used as a medicament, and that medicament is physical activity. Physical activity has been proven to decrease the risk of heart disease and dementia by half, and the risk of osteoarthritis by 30%.

I know the weather in Kuwait does propagate the problem of the sitting dis-

ease, but that does not mean we should surrender to this deadly disease and just give up. No! There are ways that we can overcome this obstacle. One of these ways is to have a gym membership, which would enable you to get your 30 minutes a day. Other ways include going for a brisk walk at night when the weather is cooler, especially since the temperatures are dropping and we will enjoying the winter breezes soon. Keep walking and stay healthy Kuwait!

— L’Homme en Blanc

Cranberries make special claims on the brain LONDON: It was called “the waif of the swamplands,” and so little was the cranberry valued that even accidental discoveries of ways to promote growth of the evergreen shrub were not exploited for commercial purposes. But that was in 1840, before growers could recite the names of antioxidants or the benefits of vitamin C or even the biological virtues of pectin. Then, in the middle of the 19th century, in the bogs of Cape Cod that are home to the tart fruit, cranberry culture took off.

Native to northern climates, and primping for harvest right about now, cranberries are botanically related to the North American blueberry and the bilberry and lingonberry of Scandinavia. They

are linked nutritionally as well. All entered the 21st century as “superfoods,” rich in phytochemicals and other compounds so biologically helpful they are commonly called “nutraceuticals.”

“No other fruit or berry is so representative of America and all she stands for,” nutritional biochemist Paul Eck enthuses, and catching sight of the bright berries that grew wild in the marshes where the Pilgrims landed just south of Cape Cod in late fall of 1620 “undoubtedly heartened” the country’s first immigrants. The cranberry was not only the sole edible fruit available at that time of year; its payload of vitamin C relieved their debilitating symptoms of scurvy, a common affliction

of ocean voyagers.

The 16-month growth cycle of the cranberry ends between September and November, which made it available for the very first Thanksgiving feast. The Pilgrims were introduced to the fruit by Native Americans, who ate the bitter berries raw or added maple sugar to make a sweetened sauce. Cranberries were also an essential ingredient of pemmican, a high-energy mix of deer fat and dried meat or fish that was mashed into a pulp, formed into cakes, and baked in the sun; the acidic berries not only acted as a preservative but brought nutritional balance to the mix. Green berries were pounded into a poultice for wounds

and used to control fever.

But it is the deeply hued berries that are a potent source of flavonoids, a family of pigmentconferring compounds in plants that are increasingly thought to be responsible for many of the benefits associated with fruit-and vegetable-rich diets. Although Mediterranean cuisine is much heralded for its medicinal value, it’s not the only cuisine that serves up a large helping of health.

Traditional Scandinavian offerings do, too, and a notable part of the benefit comes from colorful berries. A group of Nordic researchers recently studied 70 people who followed a healthy diet rich in fish, game, and bilberries. —MCT

Like blueberries, bilberries, and lingonberries, cranberries are loaded with anthocyanins, blue-red pigments that are potent antioxidants as well as powerful antiinflammatory agents.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

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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

KDMCA celebrates ‘Onam-Eid’

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Announcements A photowalk in Kuwait on Oct 5th photowalk is more like a social photography event where photographers gather in a spot, take photos for an hour or two then maybe meet up at a restaurant after that. Scott Kelby’s worldwide photowalk never took place in Kuwait until now. Kuwait’s photowalk will be held on October 5th at Souk Al-Mubarakiya at 10am.

There are some prizes to be won like a Canon 70D and Adobe Creative Cloud Membership. So far there are 700 registered photowalks with 8700+ photographers. The prizes are for the worldwide event, not just Kuwait. Kuwait Mapping Meet-Up will be held on September 2 at 5:30 pm in Coffee Bean (Mahboula, Coastal Road). The event is for anyone interested in maps, spatial analysis or surveying in Kuwait. For more information, contact Wil at 9722-5615.

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Issue of online visa

by Indian embassy oreigners requiring visas for India need to apply it online from 16th June 2013.

Applicants may log on to the Public portal at 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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he number one awarded five-star hotel in Kuwait has developed an unparalleled reputation as the leading luxury hotel and conference venue in Kuwait. “Through developing new programs, adding innovative new dining concepts and driving a true five star outside catering division, The Regency is a hospitality leader in Kuwait” said Aurelio Giraudo, General Manager.

To thank and appreciate its loyal supporters The Regency has introduced “Regency Rewards”, an ultimate loyalty scheme which offers redeemable points when booking bedrooms, conferences, meetings or making restaurant bookings.

“The continued success of The Regency is very much owed to the loyalty of its corporate supporters. We simply wish to say “thank you” and, as we continue to grow, give something back to that community” said Russell Loughland, Director of Sales & Marketing.

He added: “Through extensive research we are confident that we have been able to create a Rewards Scheme that supersedes those of our competitors. It is important that the scheme is,

firstly, easy to understand and use, secondly, has no limitations, and, third, is open to all bookers of hotel services. We have achieved this and at the same time introduce complete freedom to fly, stay, sail, ski, climb, walk or skate in any country at any time, as long as you have the right number of points. No restrictions, just an appreciative “thank you” from us.

“Regency Rewards” is available now, membership is free and points can be immediately gained. As well as rewarding the bookers, The Regency Kuwait, as the only member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts in the city offers the “iPrefer” program to all guests. “With Silver, Gold and Platinum levels the program undoubtedly attracts and engages new guests and secures the return of existing clients through a direct link of “STAY=REWARDS” across all continents” said Loughland.

“We are proud to be the flagship property of Preferred Hotels and Resorts in Kuwait and the combination of iPrefer for guests and “Regency Rewards” for our bookers only serves to confirm The Regency as the preferred five star hotel of choice in Kuwait.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

TRASSK holds Onam celebrations

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hrissur Association of Kuwait (TRASSK) conducted Onam celebrations at Indian Community School with a variety of programs on September 20, 2013. The daylong programs were started with “Paayasa Malsaram” and “Pookala Malsaram”, which portrayed the beauty and taste of Kerala. Joy Tholath, General Secretary welcomed the audience to the colorful memory of our homeland. Jose Joel, the President inaugurated the Onam celebrations by lighting the traditional lamp. Afsal Khan, Zonal Manager of Malabar Gold inaugurated the Maholsavam 2013 coupon release and Shri John Simon; Marketing Manager of Al-Mulla Exchange, Lissy Wilson - Vanitha Vedi President, Master Ajmal Jamaludheen, Kalikalam president gave felicitation speeches. The inaugural functions were concluded with the vote of thanks from treasurer Prasad K R Media Convener Joyson Ponnore released a Kids Magazine by TRASSK, containing the hand written talents from the

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SBC members of staff as well as other tenants in the Al-Kharafi Building this week donated blood to support the Kuwait Blood Bank in their drive to have a sufficient supply of blood. This is the second event of its kind this year that was hosted and organized by HSBC in Kuwait.

CEO of HSBC in Kuwait, Simon Vaughan Johnson, said: “Statistics show that blood is needed for patients every three seconds and that the demand often surpasses the supply. At HSBC we greatly value the support and effort of our staff and neighbours to try and address this concern. HSBC understands the importance of playing an active role in the communities in which it operates.”

The event was very well supported by HSBC members of staff as well as the other tenants in the office block. The Kuwait Blood Bank was very impressed by the number of volunteers who participated and

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Jaison Joseph Program General Convener.

Felicitation speech were done by Raju Zacharias, Roy, Mathew and Reshmi. A variety of cultural activities were staged by Meba, Jessica, Dona, Dilna, Neha, Sneha, Twinkle, Jessica, Neha, Eva, Deona, Eleena, Joyal, Jeevan, Jerin, Neona, Leona, Jees, Joyal, Liya Jose, Christeena, Alwin, Aldrin, Neethu, Reshmi and Aishwarya entertained the audience with orchestra. Vallamkali performed by senior members of the association was the main attraction of the day.

Kalikalam children.

Variety of Cultural programs - like Onapattu, Kaikottikali, dance, skits etc were also performed from different areas followed by the Thiruvaathira kali Competitions.

Rhythms capes Kuwait, Baladarshan Kuwait, and Bhavans Rhythm Scape won the prizes for Thiruvaathira Kali Competitions. Delicious traditional style Ona Sadhya was served in the program. The cultural programs were enjoyable to all members, especially the Pulikali, Khoshayathra, chenda melam and other programs. The Half yearly general body was conducted after the Onam Celebrations.

President Jose Joel presided the meeting, were the reports were presented by the General Secretary, Joy Tholath, Vanitha Vedhi Secretary - Dina Ramanadh and the Treasurer Prasad K R. TRASSK area committees demonstrated variety of Onam Cultural programs.

Lissy Wilson, Vanitha Vedi President and Ajmal Jamaludheen gave felicitation speech followed by the vote of thanks by Prasad K R.

HSBC supports Kuwait Blood Bank

Indian Embassy sets up helpline he Indian Embassy in Kuwait has set up helpline in order to assist Indian expatriates in registering any complaint regarding the government’s ongoing campaign to stamp out illegal residents from the country. The embassy said in press release yesterday that it amended its previous statement and stated if there is any complaint, the same could be conveyed at the following (as amended): Operations Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. Fax: 22435580, Tel: 24768146/25200334. It said the embassy has been in regular contact with local authorities regarding the ongoing checking of expatriates. The embassy has also conveyed to them the concerns, fears and apprehensions of the community in this regard.

The authorities in Kuwait have conveyed that strict instructions have been issued to ensure that there is no harassment or improper treatment of expatriates by those undertaking checking. “The embassy would like to request Indian expatriates to ensure that they abide by all local laws, rules and regulations regarding residency, traffic and other matters,” the release read. It would be prudent to always carry the Civil ID and other relevant documents such as driving license, etc. In case an Indian expatriate encounters any improper treatment during checking, it may be conveyed immediately with full details and contact particulars to the embassy at the following phone number 67623639. These contact details are exclusively for the above-mentioned purpose only.

8th Expo Pakistan to commence in September he 8th Expo Pakistan will be held from September 26 to 29 in Karachi. Held annually, Expo Pakistan is the biggest trade fair in the country showcasing the largest collection of Pakistan’s export merchandise and services.

Foreign Exhibitors also use the event to launch their products. Expo Pakistan 2012 was visited by delegates from 52 countries and generated a business of over $ 518 million. A 16 member delegation from Kuwait including reputable companies like Al-Yasra Foods also took part in the last exhibition.

Expo Pakistan 2013 is being held under the auspices of the Trade Development Authority Pakistan. Details about the event can be viewed www.expopakisan.gov.pk. Further information and details of sponsorship can be obtained from the office of Commercial Secretary, Pakistan Embassy, Jabriya (25356594) during office hours.

uravilangad Deva Matha College Alumni association (KDMCA) Kuwait Chapter celebrated Onam, the festival of Kerala and “Eid ul-fitr” together on Friday, September 20, 2013 at Hi-Dine auditorium, Abbasiya. KJ John (KDMCA former president) provided the introduction, IOB Kuwait head. KK Joseph was the chief guest and inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp. KDMCA President Jose Pullanthi chaired the function and General Secretary Jojo Mathew, welcomed the gathering. The reporting was done by

expressed their sincere gratitude.

Ali Al-Mahameed, Public Relations Manager of Kuwait Blood Bank, said: “I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to HSBC Kuwait for organising a very successful blood donation event. We look forward to more of these events in the future as the importance of donating blood as well as the need for all types of blood, especially the rare ones, is very great.”

Blood donation is a recommended activity for healthy people and has benefits for the donor as well as the receiver. People with rare blood types are encouraged to donate blood as often as possible.

HSBC participates in a number of community activities annually that include educational, environmental as well as community programmes.

ICSK bids adieu to Ambassador Mehta

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n the bright afternoon of Friday, September 27, 2013, the Indian Community School, Kuwait hosted a grand farewell for Satish C Mehta, Ambassador of India to Kuwait, and Preeti Mehta. The remarkable performances by the children and poignant speeches by the dignitaries emotionally surcharged the auditorium of the ICSK Senior Branch. The function saw the gracious presence of the Honorary Chairman of the ICSK Board of Trustees Ashok Kalra, Honorary Vice-Chairman Rajan Daniel, Honorary Secretary Vijay Karayil, Honorary Joint-Secretary Kamlesh Kumari, other respected members of the Board of Trustees, a wellrespected member of the Council of Elders Kuldeep Singh Lamba, School sponsor Essa Abdul Rahman Al-Essa, officials from the Indian Embassy, eminent Indians in Kuwait and the principals, vice-principals, staff and students of the ICSK. Vijay Karayil accorded a warm welcome to the esteemed guests. In his distinctive style, he spoke about the innumerable occasions when the ambassador had stood by the ICSK. He thanked the ambassador for the unflinching support rendered and for the headway made with the Kuwaiti authorities for land allotment for ICSK. Karayil also expressed gratitude for Preeti Mehta’s social initiative through the staff and student welfare committee of the ICSK. Honorary Chairman of the ICSK Board of Trustees Ashok Kalra congratulated the ambassador for the exemplary service and complimented Preeti Mehta for the social initiatives undertaken by her in Kuwait. Kalra thanked Mehta for the steadfast support rendered to the Indian community in Kuwait, in general, and to the ICSK, in particular. He expressed gratitude for the efforts undertaken for the procurement of land for the school. Honorary Vice-Chairman of Board Rajan Daniel appreciated the ambassador for standing by

ICSK and acknowledged his love and affection for children. The school sponsor Essa Al-Essa spoke with love and affection about the outgoing ambassador.

The ambassador was presented with a special memento by the office-bearers of the ICSK Board of Trustees- Ashok Kalra, Rajan Daniel, Vijay Karayil and Kamlesh Kumari. The event was interspersed with a ‘Kabila Dance’, performed by the students of ICSK Junior, a tribute to Bharat Mata by the dancers of ICSK Khaitan and a fusion performance by ICSK Amman. The moving solo performance of Master Tojan and Julia Anil won many hearts. The highlight of the evening was a documentary film especially made by the ICSK showcasing the various events graced by the ambassador and an interview of the ambassador conducted at the Indian Embassy by the students of the ICSK. The documentary shared the ambassador’s views on various subjects and also included informal chit-chat snippets with the ambassador. The students of ICSK Khaitan sang a song especially composed for the ambassador which drew accolades from the audience. Mehta was presented with a special canvas as a token of love by the ICSK senior.

Satish C Mehta congratulated the school for the tremendous effort and expressed his gratitude for the love and affection showered upon him. In his parting words to children, he advised them to always stand for what is correct and wished a bright future to the children of the ICSK. Rajesh Nair, Principal ICSK Amman, thanked the Ambassador Satish C Mehta, Preeti Mehta and the audience on behalf of the ICSK. The special afternoon concluded with the senate members of the ICSK chit-chatting with Mehta over sumptuous lunch.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Aviation Showcase at Australian College of Kuwait

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. nnnnnnn

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n invited audience of ambassadors and diplomats, together with representatives from defence, aviation, and allied industries, participated in an Aviation Showcase at Australian College of Kuwait. Delegates were given a full presentation and tour of the Aviation Centre and its extensive training facilities, followed by informal networking with instructors, trainers and academic staff.

Abdul Hameed Al-Refai, Head of the Aviation department at ACK commented “As an internationally qualified and certified vocational training center we have great pride in showcasing our state of the art training facilities, classrooms, training aids and a live Boeing 737-200 Aircraft, demonstrating how our investment in time, money and resources generate, through both classroom and practical skills based training, a thorough understanding of the aerospace maintenance industry requirements and practices. Aviation is, by its very nature, a truly global industry with universal requirements on which we all depend for efficiency and, particularly, safety. We are at an interesting stage in the development of aviation in the region. Projected requirements, in the Gulf alone, over the

next 20 years, are for 40,000 pilots and 53,000 technicians. Our intentions and forward thinking concern broadening the appeal of this facility to potential partners outside Kuwait, offering, to overseas students, vocational opportunities and employment potential in an ever developing and expanding industry, both locally and Internationally. We are delighted with the interest shown by the international community here in Kuwait. There has been positive feedback and engagement which we will shortly be taking forward to further business discussions.”

The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) as an approved (EASA) Part-147 Basic Maintenance training organization, is very proud to be associated with some of the world leading organizations locally and Internationally, as follows: Lufthansa Technical Training (LTT): Hamburg, Germany; Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): Kuwait; General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA): Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Kangan Institute (KI): Victoria, Australia; Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC): Kuwait.

The Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Mechanical) B1.1 program

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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CANADA

is specially designed for those seeking to gain employment in the aerospace industry as aircraft trainee mechanics or trainee engineers.

Successful completion of the Diploma program offers the additional option of an articulated pathway into Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical) and/or Bachelor of

Engineering Technology (Electronics and Control) Degrees. The Aviation Showcase was part of an ongoing programme of promotional activity which will see ACK participating in the 2013 Dubai Air Show from November 17-21.

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. nnnnnnn

Hotel Missoni appoints executive chef

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Safir Hotel & Residence Kuwait-Fintas hosts associate summer outing at Messilah Water Village

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afir Hotel & Residence KuwaitFintas organized a treat for its associates with an outdoor summer outing at the Messilah Water Village. This is one of the many events on the Human Resources Department’s calendar dedicated for the associates of Safir-Fintas.

The summer outing is organized annually to bring the associates together to have fun, relax and unwind and to promote camaraderie amongst the entire team of Safir Fintas.

A full program was arranged to award and recognize the associates who have made excellent contributions and servic-

es for guests and fellow colleagues over the past year. Saif Eddin Mohammed, General Manager, congratulated the associates and handed over certificates to the outstanding among them who were selected in recognition of their high performance and contributions towards the guests and the hotel.

Associates came along with their families and socialized with one another. The Associates enjoyed a whole day of games and prizes facilitated by the Safir One Voice Committee (SOV) and the Human Resources.

otel Missoni Kuwait has appointed Mirco Nocchetti as executive chef. Nocchetti has an extensive background in culinary training. A graduate from Commis de Cuisine in Asissi Perugia, Nocchetti then went on to do six months of training in a 2-star Michelin restaurant, Vissani in Baschi Terni Italy. Earlier in his career Mirco worked in restaurants such as Aqua Tokyo One Peking Road in Hong Kong, and Leonardo restaurant as a menu and food consultant. He has been involved in consultancy work with restaurants all over the world including Moscow, Dubai, and Tokyo. In his new role Nocchetti will be responsible for maximizing guest satisfaction by providing the highest food quality, utilize leadership skills and motivation to maximize employee productivity and satisfaction, and managing all activities in the kitchen, including production, and stewarding.

EMBASSY OF GREECE 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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait would like to inform that submission of the documents for tourist visa is temporary closed (from August 26 till September 26). Within the above-mentioned period, the visa will be issued only in the case of emergency. In the case of planning travel to Ukraine, please apply for visa before August 20. nnnnnnn

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 +9652227-1673).

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. nnnnnnn

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.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:05 Alien Encounters 00:55 The Big Brain Theory 01:45 The Big Brain Theory 02:35 The Big Brain Theory 03:25 The Big Brain Theory 04:15 The Big Brain Theory 05:05 The Big Brain Theory 06:00 Mythbusters 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Extreme Fishing 08:40 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 09:30 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 09:55 Auction Hunters 10:20 Auction Kings 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 Fast N’ Loud 12:25 Fantom Works 13:15 Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up 14:05 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 14:30 Auction Hunters 14:55 Auction Kings 15:20 Ice Cold Gold 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 River Monsters 22:50 Deadliest Catch 23:40 Deadliest Catch

00:05 Tech Toys 360 00:30 Sci-Fi Science 01:00 Finding Bigfoot 01:50 Finding Bigfoot 02:45 Finding Bigfoot 03:35 Finding Bigfoot 04:25 Finding Bigfoot 05:15 The Gadget Show 05:40 Tech Toys 360 06:05 USA Memory Championships 07:00 Prototype This 07:50 Nyc: Inside Out 08:40 The Gadget Show 09:05 Tech Toys 360 09:30 Finding Bigfoot 10:20 Engineered 11:15 Scrapheap Challenge 12:05 NASA’s Greatest Missions 13:00 Nyc: Inside Out 13:50 Sci-Fi Science 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:45 Tech Toys 360 15:10 Prototype This 16:00 Finding Bigfoot 16:55 Superships 17:45 Scrapheap Challenge 18:35 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 19:30 Prototype This 20:20 Under New York 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 Tech Toys 360 22:00 Prototype This 22:50 Under New York 23:40 The Gadget Show

00:30 00:55 01:20 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:45 04:30 04:55 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15

I Was Murdered I Was Murdered Dr G: Medical Examiner Dates From Hell Dates From Hell On The Case With Paula Zahn LA: City Of Demons I Was Murdered I Was Murdered Dr G: Medical Examiner Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol

08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Solved Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Solved Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Dr G: Medical Examiner Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Deadly Devotion Deadly Sins I Almost Got Away With It

00:00 00:20 00:45 01:30 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 09:30 10:15 10:40 11:05 12:15 12:35 13:00 14:35 15:00 15:25 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

Stitch!

Stitch!

A Kind Of Magic Emperor’s New School The Replacements The Replacements A Kind Of Magic A Kind Of Magic Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School The Replacements The Replacements A Kind Of Magic A Kind Of Magic Austin And Ally Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Sofia The First Doc McStuffins Jake And The Neverland A.N.T. Farm Jessie Jessie Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Shake It Up High School Musical A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm 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 Shake It Up 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 Armored Adventures 06:35 Kickin It 07:00 Max Steel 07:25 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 Kickin’ It 14:55 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 15:20 Slugterra 15:45 Max Steel 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 18:50 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 00:55 01:20 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:45 04:30 04:55 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

I Was Murdered I Was Murdered Dr G: Medical Examiner Dates From Hell Dates From Hell On The Case With Paula Zahn LA: City Of Demons I Was Murdered I Was Murdered Dr G: Medical Examiner Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Solved Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Solved Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Dr G: Medical Examiner Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Deadly Devotion Deadly Sins I Almost Got Away With It

00:00 Wilfred 00:30 The Daily Show 01:00 The Colbert Report 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 02:30 The League 03:30 The Mindy Project 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 All Of Us 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 All Of Us 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 All Of Us 14:00 The Mindy Project 15:00 Hot In Cleveland 15:30 The Daily Show 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 The Simpsons 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:00 Parks And Recreation 20:30 Wilfred

21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 23:00 The League 23:30 Parks And Recreation

00:00 01:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 11:00 12:30 15:00 19:00 23:00

24 Top Gear (UK) Psych C.S.I. 24 Switched At Birth Psych Coronation Street 24 Once Upon A Time The Americans

02:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 14:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 23:00

Good Morning America Good Morning America Emmerdale Coronation Street Body Of Proof Emmerdale Coronation Street Live Good Morning America Body Of Proof Drop Dead Diva Body Of Proof Nip/Tuck

00:00 02:00 04:00 05:45 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Last Exorcism Prowl Meskada Tombstone Beverly Hills Cop 3 Super 8 Metal Tornado Killer Mountain Super 8 Riddle Killer Mountain The Apparition

00:00 02:00 03:45 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Prowl-18 Meskada-PG15 Tombstone-PG15 Beverly Hills Cop 3-PG15 Super 8-PG15 Metal Tornado-PG15 Killer Mountain-PG15 Super 8-PG15 Riddle-PG15 Killer Mountain-PG15 The Apparition-PG15 Creature-18

00:00 Revenge Of The Nerds II: Nerds In Paradise-PG15 02:00 Venus And Vegas-PG15 04:00 Celtic Pride-PG 06:00 While You Were SleepingPG15 08:00 My Dog’s Christmas MiraclePG15 10:00 Another Stakeout-PG15 12:00 Celtic Pride-PG 14:00 Hit List-PG15 16:00 Another Stakeout-PG15 18:00 Bowfinger-PG15 20:00 You, Me And Dupree-PG15 22:00 Revenge Of The Nerds II: Nerds In Paradise-PG15

01:00 03:00 05:00 PG15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Henry’s Crime-PG15 Web Of Lies-PG15 Love Will Keep Us TogetherPlaydate-PG15 Henry’s Crime-PG15 Like Crazy-PG15 Ties That Bind-PG15 A View From Here-PG15 Waiting For Forever-PG15 Morning-PG15 Lawless-18 The Ledge-18

01:00 Broken-PG15 03:00 Footloose-PG15 05:00 Snow Flower And The Secret Fan-PG15 07:00 Cool It-PG15 09:00 Money For Nothing-PG15 11:00 I Am-PG15 13:00 Mutum-PG15 15:00 The Forger-PG15 17:00 I Am-PG15 18:30 The Firm-PG15 21:00 Straw Dogs-18 23:00 Vincere-18

01:45 Violet & Daisy-18 03:15 Klitschko-PG15 05:15 The Double-PG15 07:00 The Wild Girl-PG15 09:00 We Bought A Zoo-PG 11:15 The Wishing Well-PG15 13:00 Arthur 3: And The War Of Two Worlds-PG 15:00 Frankenweenie-PG 16:45 We Bought A Zoo-PG 19:00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel-PG15 21:15 The Woman In Black-PG15 23:00 Chloe-R

THE LAST EXORCISM ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

01:15 The Ugly Duckling And Me 02:45 Kong Return To The Jungle 04:15 Brave 06:00 Quest For A Heart 07:45 The Three Bears: The Amazing Adventurers 09:30 Blue Elephant 2 11:15 The Adventures Of Tintin 13:00 Brave

THE WOMAN IN BLACK ON OSN MOVIES HD 14:45 Charlie And The Chocolate Factory 16:30 Happy Feet Two 18:15 Blue Elephant 2 20:00 Crab Island 22:00 Charlie And The Chocolate Factory 23:45 Happy Feet Two

00:00 Dungeons & Dragons: The Book Of Vile Darkness-18 02:00 Bernie-PG15 04:00 Arthur Christmas-PG 06:00 Dating Coach-PG15 08:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 10:00 Arrietty-FAM 12:00 Ice Age: Continental Drift-PG 14:00 American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars-PG 16:00 Hotel Transylvania-PG 18:00 Moonrise Kingdom-PG15 20:00 Flypaper-18 22:00 Paranormal Activity 4-18

02:30 Cricket Champions League Twenty20 05:30 ICC Cricket 360 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Futbol Mundial 07:30 PGA European Tour 13:00 ICC Cricket 360 13:30 Live Cricket Champions League Twenty20 16:30 Trans World Sport 17:30 Live Cricket Champions League Twenty20 20:30 ICC Cricket 360 21:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 22:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 23:00 Trans World Sport

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Broadway’s ‘The Glass Menagerie’ thrilling

T

he way Laura makes her entrance in the new Broadway production of “The Glass Menagerie” is jaw-droppingly brilliant. She emerges from out of the middle of a sofa, as if being born anew. It’s a tip that a thrilling night at the theater awaits. There’s magic from start to finish at the Booth Theatre, where the new production of Tennessee William’s great play about regret opened Thursday starring a superb Cherry Jones and a revelatory Zachary Quinto. It’s evocative, sometimes surreal and sublimely organic - the perfect package for a play about faded and frayed memories.

Like Laura’s dreamlike entrance, the visual tricks include a business card pulled out of Laura’s ear by the Gentleman Caller and the waving of a handkerchief over a slumbering Tom as if to help him disappear. Even the glass on the stage is an illusion: it’s actually water.

“Yes, I have tricks in my pocket, I have things up my sleeve,” the narrator Tom explains at the beginning, his words perfectly fitting for this beautiful, dreamy staging by the American Repertory Theater. The tricks remind you about the unreliability of memory and the games the mind can play.

Director John Tiffany, scenic designer Bob Crowley, lighting designer Natasha Katz and choreographer Steven Hoggett - who all made the musical “Once” so special - have done it again, blurring text and music and movement into a fresh and flowing, intimate staging. There is nothing excess here, no look-at-me pieces to distract. Jones, already known as a force of theatrical nature, eagerly grasps Amanda Wingfield in all her complexity. Her faded Southern belle is smothering and needy, but also rightfully

worried and loving, even if it’s all wrapped up in her narcissism. She’s no mere tyrant, as other productions are want to make of her.

Quinto as Tom is special - sarcastic and restless, yes, but also frustrated and sweet. (He makes a terrific drunk, too.)

The “Star Trek” star mocks his mother with eye rolls and bitterness at times, but he also melts into her during less angry moments. His performance has so many colors, so much feeling, that it’s breathtaking. Mother and son are utterly believable as adults who equally frustrate and comfort. The two others in the cast prove up to these two aces, making it a true ensemble: Celia Keenan-Bolger is a delicate Laura, never overplaying her deformity and prone to staring into nothingness when she shuts down emotionally.

Brian J. Smith as the Gentleman Caller is funny and warm and wonderfully lost.

The action takes place on Crowley’s evocative set, with a fire escape that disappears into the roof and the stage made of interlocking wooden platforms above still water, serving like islands on a sea of memory. There is plenty of music, including original pieces by Nico Muhly, who relies on violins, as the text suggests. Katz’s lighting is moody and dim, like a distant remembrance, only sparkling to life when a beam hits a glass unicorn. And Hoggett has gotten his actors to enter and exit scenes in movements that are sometimes jerky or exaggerated, like watching warped film. Tom, for instance, basically falls backward into the play’s opening scene, as if tumbling into the past. Another powerful moment has Laura and her mother endlessly setting the table, their hands fluttering as if in a montage of dozens of meals. —AP

Classifieds MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Kuwait

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (26/09/2013 TO 02/10/2013) SHARQIA-1 RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM

SHARQIA-3 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) PLANES (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) 1:45 PM RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) 4:00 PM NO FRI+SAT ATTARINTIKI DAAREDI (DIG) (TELUGU) 4:00 PM FRI+SAT MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) 6:00 PM NO FRI+SAT RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) 8:15 PM RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) 10:15 PM MUHALAB-2 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) PLANES (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM

MUHALAB-3 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG)

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

FANAR-1 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

FANAR-2 KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE (DIG)

1:30 PM

KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE (DIG) 3:30 PM PRISONERS (DIG) 5:30 PM PRISONERS (DIG) 8:30 PM PRISONERS (DIG) 11:30 PM FANAR-3 RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PLANES (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) FANAR-4 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

MARINA-1 MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 12:05 AM

ACCOMMODATION Accommodation available with Tamil Muslim family for family/ladies/bachelors in Hawally Dawar Sadiq.

Call 97988528, 66594790.

(C 4520) 28-9-2013 CHANGE OF NAME

MARINA-2 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

MARINA-3 PLANES (DIG-3D) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

I, Byju Kandankulangara Vaylil holder of Indian Passport # H3127996 hereby change my name to Faiju Kandankulangara Vayalil.

(C 4517)

AVENUES-1 MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

I, Shakeel Abbas Pawashkar holder of Indian Passport No. F8317333 hereby change my name to Shakeel Abbas Pawashkar Al Refaei.

(C 4518) 25-9-2013

I, Bondalapati Venkata Ramana Devi, holder of Indian Passport No. J5550579, hereby change my name to Syeda Ayisha Siddeeqa. (C 4519) 26-9-2013

LOST Original policy document No. 633002905-3 of Sajjad Haider Chohan of State Life Insurance Cooperation of Pakistan Gulf Zone is reported to have been lost.

Anyone find the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with Manager Kuwait State Life Office. Tel: 22452208.

(C 4515)

FOR SALE Definitive speaker, subwoofer & Denon receiver, Definitive Studio 65 (one pair) KD 160, Definitive Supercube, reference subwoofer KD 240, Denon AVR 3311.7.1 receiver KD 250.

Please contact: 99725095.

(C 4521) 30-9-2013

Prayer timings SITUATION VACANT Required house driver, KD 130, housemaid KD 70, visa and ticket provided. Indian, Christian only. Mobile: 67696227. (C 4522) 30-9-2013

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

04:21 05:40 11:38 15:03 17:37 18:54

1889988

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines QTR JZR JZR FDB THY ETH GFA AFG UAE ETD FDB MSR KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR QTR THY DHX FDB QTR BAW FDB UAE ABY FDB QTR ETD KAC GFA MEA MSC JZR IRC JZR SYR UAE MSR MSR KAC QTR FDB MPH SVA OMA RJA RJA KAC

Arrival Flights on Monday 30/9/2013 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 8063 DUBAI 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 416 JEDDAH 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 302 MUMBAI 284 DHAKA 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 503 LUXOR 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 6130 DOHA 157 LONDON 53 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 55 DUBAI 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 344 CHENNAI 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 403 ASYUT 165 DUBAI 6521 LAMERD 561 SOHAG 341 DAMASCUS 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 579 SOHAG 672 DUBAI 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 93 AMSTERDAM 500 JEDDAH 645 MUSCAT 640 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 1141 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA

Time 00:05 00:20 00:40 01:10 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:15 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 07:50 08:15 06:15 07:25 07:40 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 05:25 06:30 07:45 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:25 09:30 09:35 10:40 10:55 11:35 11:35 11:45 12:00 12:05 12:45 13:00 13:05 13:40 13:45 13:50 13:55 14:30 14:40 15:55 15:50 14:15

KAC KAC JZR JZR QTR ETD UAE JZR ABY GFA SVA NIA QTR RBG FDB GFA MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI OMA FDB ABY MEA MSR AXB MSC ALK UAE JZR JZR JZR QTR ETD GFA JAI FDB AIC TAR DLH PIA JAI MSR KLM THY

118 788 535 777 134 303 857 177 127 215 510 251 144 553 63 219 405 742 104 786 542 674 774 618 572 647 61 129 402 618 489 401 229 859 239 185 135 136 307 217 576 59 975 327 636 205 574 614 411 772

NEW YORK JEDDAH CAIRO JEDDAH DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL DUBAI DUBAI SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH ALEXANDRIA DOHA ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BAHRAIN SOHAG DAMMAM LONDON JEDDAH CAIRO DUBAI RIYADH DOHA MUMBAI MUSCAT DUBAI SHARJAH BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA COCHIN ALEXANDRIA COLOMBO DUBAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL BAHRAIN COCHIN DUBAI CHENNAI TUNIS FRANKFURT LAHORE MUMBAI CAIRO AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL

16:00 15:00 16:10 17:50 16:15 16:35 16:55 17:30 17:10 17:20 17:20 18:00 18:25 18:30 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:30 18:45 18:30 18:15 19:25 19:25 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:30 20:35 21:00 21:10 21:15 22:30 22:40 23:00 21:30 21:30 21:45 22:05 22:20 22:25 22:55 23:10 23:15 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC JAI UAL DLH MSR JZR FDB THY THY ETH AFG UAE FDB MSR ETD QTR QTR JZR FDB QTR GFA THY KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR KAC ABY KAC UAE FDB ETD QTR GFA KAC KAC MEA JZR KAC MSC IRC KAC SYR JZR MSR MSR UAE

Arrival Flights on Monday 30/9/2013 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 502 LUXOR 8064 DUBAI 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 621 ADDIS ABABA 416 KABUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 6131 BEIRUT 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 406 SOHAG 6522 LAMERD 785 JEDDAH 342 DAMASCUS 176 DUBAI 580 SOHAG 611 CAIRO 872 DUBAI

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:30 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:40 02:45 03:15 03:45 03:50 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 05:35 06:30 06:55 07:00 07:10 07:20 07:25 08:25 08:25 09:10 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:50 09:55 10:15 10:25 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:25 12:30 12:35 12:35 13:00 13:05 13:20 13:50 14:00 14:15

FDB QTR KAC MPH OMA SVA KAC KAC KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD RJA JZR ABY UAE GFA SVA JZR JZR NIA RBG QTR FDB GFA JZR KAC MSC JAI FDB ABY KAC OMA KAC MEA MSR DHX MSC ETD ALK UAE QTR KAC GFA KAC FDB JAI KAC TAR

58 141 673 93 646 501 617 773 741 641 238 135 304 1142 538 128 858 216 511 184 266 252 554 145 64 220 134 283 404 571 62 120 331 648 351 403 619 171 402 308 230 860 137 301 218 205 60 575 411 328

DUBAI DOHA DUBAI AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL MUSCAT JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH DAMMAM AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI BEIRUT CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DHAKA ASYUT MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DUBAI ABU DHABI BANGKOK DUBAI

14:30 14:55 15:05 15:25 15:40 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:30 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 19:00 19:10 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:30 21:50 22:00 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:40 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:40 23:45

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 326

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES Beginning early today—the phone rings. Your friends must have gathered and decided to call you all day long. It might be more fun just to meet and have lunch together at a fun restaurant. Philosophizing and expressing your theories are the things you and your friends love to do and everyone has an opinion. Someone may bring up a subject of interest today that you may also want to explore. You enjoy fair, just, frank and broadminded persons and long conversations with your friends, touching on a variety of subjects; there is much laughter. You dare to dream big. You are very tolerant and accepting of differences. Your sense of inner direction is good and should lead to some ideas for future monetary opportunities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Obtaining and exchanging information takes on a great deal of emotional significance as you gather with some of your friends. You could be in a religious setting or attending a social affair. Whatever the case some of the people around you have been gone for a long time and you enjoy being updated with everyone’s life happenings as much as you can. This may be a celebration of a marriage or a shower with lots of gifts.

You keep good company and have lots of good friends. Working or studying this afternoon can be satisfying. You are not in a frivolous frame of mind and you help the host or hostess with whatever is needed. This afternoon a parent may want you to give a report of all the people you have visited with and the changes over the years.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. The compass point that is one point south of due west.

4. Genus of North American and east Asian perennial herbs.

11. Similar to the color of jade.

15. The fatty flesh of eel.

16. Resembling air or having the form of air.

17. A person who makes use of a thing.

18. Start abruptly.

20. A language group of the Hokan family.

21. Wild or seedling sweet cherry used as stock for grafting.

22. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

23. A river that rises in northeastern Turkey (near the source of the Euphrates) and flows generally eastward through Armenia to the Caspian Sea. 25. Of female homosexuality.

27. Inhabitant of the island of Cebu.

29. Yellow-fever mosquitos.

31. The compass point that is one point north of due east.

34. A territory in southwestern Germany formerly ruled by the counts palatine.

37. The address where a person lives.

39. Gull-like jaeger of northern seas.

41. (Judaism) Sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments.

44. A religious belief of African origin involving witchcraft and sorcery.

45. Having been read.

47. Having resources completely depleted.

51. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

53. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

54. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

58. A kind of polyester fabric.

60. Be compatible or in accordance with.

64. Woody climbers of tropical Asia to Australia.

67. A downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles.

68. The cry made by sheep.

69. (music) Characterized by avoidance of traditional Western tonality.

72. Feeling or showing extreme anger.

73. Any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism.

74. A plant of the genus Valeriana having lobed or dissected leaves and cymose white or ink flowers.

76. Having a toe or toes of a specified kind.

77. An informal term for a father.

78. A state of readiness to respond.

79. To make a mistake or be incorrect.

DOWN 1. A black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning.

2. Soviet chief of secret police under Joseph Stalin.

3. Eat noisily.

4. A town in southwest Mississippi on the Mississippi River.

5. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

6. A family of acrocarpous mosses.

7. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

8. Ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path.

9. An edict of the Russian tsar.

10. A fractional monetary unit of Japan and Indonesia and Cambodia.

11. Type genus of the Juglandaceae.

12. An association of nations dedicated to economic and political cooperation in southeastern Asia.

13. No longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life.

14. Bulky grayish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail.

19. Proceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles.

24. An awkward and inexperienced youth.

26. A state in the Rocky Mountains.

28. Any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species.

30. The compass point that is one point east of due south.

32. Spicy fruit of the cubeb vine.

33. The main city of ancient Phoenicia.

35. Freed from bondage.

36. Jordan's port.

38. Order by virtue of superior authority.

40. A member of the Dravidian people living in the Nilgiri hills in southern India.

42. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

43. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

46. An informal term for a father.

48. The compass point that is one point south of due east.

49. Reddish long-tailed monkey of west Africa.

50. A dry scab formed on the skin following a burn or cauterization of the skin.

52. A person who groans.

55. Any organic compound formed by adding alcohol molecules to aldehyde molecules.

56. Mostly tropical songbird.

57. Having no employment.

59. An anti-TNF compound (trade name Arava) that is given orally.

61. Fill with high spirits.

62. The rotating armature of a motor or generator.

63. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia).

65. Avatar of Vishnu.

66. Cheap showy jewelry or ornament or clothing.

70. The products of human creativity.

71. Being two more than fifty.

75. An associate degree in nursing.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

It is amazing what you have uncovered in a science experience. Perhaps these results are something that many would understand but it is always good to be cautious when testing chemicals that are new to you. This could be something as simple as organic vinegar that will kill the weeds. You have a way of tending to research that informs you and guides you so that you have the information that you need. This is where your energies are focused for now. Your mental energies, ideas, thoughts and so on may undergo some transformation or change. There is a natural sense of growth and development. At a mall this evening you may be privy to a flash mob, singing and dancing to some popular song. Life is interesting.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You may appear very relaxed today. Everything seems to be working well together. You may want to express your appreciation when timing and requests are met with an agreeable response. Characterized by high energy, you can be a bit impatient— eager to move forward and to learn and grow. You seek contact, involvement and do not become bogged down with gossip or negative thinking. You will find yourself giving way to others in almost all situations. In a word, you could be most encouraging to others but you have to make a concentrated effort to do so at this time. You have an ability to supervise people and have a built-in sense of responsibility. This makes you a unique individual. There are not many people of your caliber in management.

Leo (July 23-August 22) There is a lot of interest and passion available for you to accomplish whatever you want to achieve this day. There are fall fun things to do and you may grab a willing friend or relative and fill the day with fun things to do. This may be a fair or a hardware show or some kind of convention. The nice part about the day is that you don’t have to work or speak or be responsible for anything but yourself. You may find some specialty items to purchase for loved ones when you celebrate the holidays. It is nice to see loved ones wear or have something they received from you. Later today a bit of decorating may be in the forecast. Shopping for the food that is needed this next week will help cut out the chores during an upcoming workweek.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) With your enthusiasm, you could speak or communicate very well. You may enjoy using some of your fun skills around home today. If you are working, your enthusiasm is contagious. You have plenty of talent and you are always ready to jump up and lend a helping hand, whether you have completed your work or not. This talent will help you learn more about your co-workers and the higher-ups and enable you to pick up the slack or to help in the workplace where another person might need guidance.

Your positivism lets you get right to the point but you may have to call on your patience with those who seem too hesitant in their job. You have plenty of eagerness that comes into play when anyone needs your help.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You might like to join a friend today. This friend may have recently acquired a new toy or equipment or technical advancement and it is plucking at your curiosity.

With your friend’s help you will learn to drive, deep-sea dive, sail, hunt or some other activity. The day is full of laughter, hunger, accomplishments, complaints and praise by the time you get home. If you wrote books, today might make for a really cool short story—maybe a scary one. Your response to what life offers you is always elevated, although perhaps not always practical. This could lead to some disappointments. Take time to review your goals and perhaps make use of some of the same methods in which you are working to reach those goals.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Today is perfect for the volunteer group to which you belong to gather and test one another on the techniques you have been learning. You could be volunteering for the city or for a hospital but whatever the case, you will be sure to serve a most useful service. As soon as you can, you plan to be busy passing on to others just how much fun this volunteer work happens to be. Your willingness to give credit to others is noticed. You may also go beyond the assigned and expected tasks asked of you. Today is a self-expression day as well as a day you listen and follow instructions. A good conversation with those you love is possible this evening. Learn to enjoy and share successes with your family. Seek advice and support from them.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You enjoy crafts and may find this the perfect day to work on your craft and accomplish much. You may enjoy woodcraft and you have several ideas of what your friends might like. You have crafted a wall hanging and you have made door wreaths and houses for animals to enjoy in the winter. Some of your dog houses can be quite elaborate and you like to either give them away to friends or sell them at a flea market. You sign your work on the right, no matter what the item is that you complete. This is a time to enjoy and appreciate your ties to others and to seek and promote harmony in the interaction between people. Slow down and look at the beauty around you. Just checking out the backyard, you may wonder why you haven’t made birdhouses?

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You and a sibling may chat about which one of you is smarter. Of course this could be veiled as who took what test and what the score was. A period of great mental activity and heightened communication with others begins now. You may decide to take psychic, psychology, mathematical, history or writing tests. As it turns out you and your siblings have the talent of writing and you may compete in a short story competition. Continue to turn in your work to different sources as you will find each of you are good at writing but in different ways. The choices are many, a few of which are fiction, non-fiction, plays, short stories, novels, comic books, etc. Of course, in your case, you may do the art for a children’s book.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You might like to ignore responsibilities and do some socializing today, but realities demand you tend to a bit of personal business around your living area today. You may want to cook the lunches for next week’s work lunch and do a bit of washing. You like to have a clean car and you may be puzzled for a short while over how long it has been since you washed your car. You are most persuasive and you will find your family or roommates cooperative as you suggest some activities for next week. You possess a powerful, persistent drive and by the afternoon, you have achieved what seemed too difficult to tackle earlier this morning. A young person could use your help later today. There is an opportunity to enjoy dinner out-of-doors this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Intense focus on your career can find you mercilessly cutting back and getting down to the essentials regarding the path you are taking with your life. You will have a sense of being almost driven to pursue your course and succeed. Your work may be paying for furthering your education so you are careful to keep other expenses at a minimum. The afternoon is looking like the perfect time to grill. You and a family member may decide to put together a late afternoon meal, making it large enough to equal a missing lunch and the soon to be evening meal. Cookies and a little tea to finish the meal open up the opportunity for good conversation. Relax with your loved one this evening.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 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

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22545171

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24810598

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22545171

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24742838

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22434853

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22545051

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24711433

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24316983

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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

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25616368

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24849807

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24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

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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

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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

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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

36

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Gallagher wants £10 million divorce settlement

Sharon demanded Ozzy divorce over addictions

S

L

haron Osbourne demanded a divorce when she found out Ozzy was back on drugs. The ‘X Factor’ UK judge was surprised her husband - whose drug and alcohol addiction spiralled out of control over the last year - wasn’t “mortified” when she told him she wanted to end their 32-year marriage after giving him a second chance. Writing in her book ‘Unbreakable’, she said: “As soon as he spoke he was cocky and arrogant. There didn’t seem one shred of remorse. “Something snapped. I thought, ‘I can’t carry his problem any more. It’s what I have always done, and I’m tired.’ I said, ‘I want a divorce’ ... He didn’t look shocked. “I don’t think he believe me, but at the time I meant it wholeheartedly. I was expecting him to be mortified.” Sharon then demanded “half of everything” and £100,000 a month, knowing “the thought of losing” money would have a huge impact on the Black Sabbath rocker. The two then brawled after the 60-year-old star threw coffee over Ozzy. She continued: “I knew money was Ozzy’s Achilles heel, and the thought of losing it might have more impact than the thought of losing me. ‘No way. Over my dead body’, he said. “My Achilles heel is respect, namely the lack of it, in other people. I felt he was being dismissive, so that was it. Snap. I was drinking a cappuccino and the whole lot went on his head - the coffee, the cup and the bloody saucer. “Then I grabbed him and pulled at his precious hair with one hand, while trying to yank off his jewellery with the other.”

iam Gallagher is nearing a £10 million deal with Nicole Appleton for a quick divorce. The former Oasis star who moved his new girlfriend Debbie Gwyether into his home five minutes away from his estranged wife - is reportedly close to agreeing a huge settlement to attempt to bring the drama to an end. An insider told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: “Liam has completely moved on from his marriage and wants Nicole to do the same. “He’s told friends he is in love with Debbie and wants Nicole out of the way so he can move on and start a new life without her. “Liam is ready to fork out £10 million in a divorce settlement to Nicole. He’s been joking with friends that she’ll be able to buy some new handbags with that.” Noel, 41, is said to have justified the “huge amount” because he wants to avoid a “long, messy divorce”, and wants “it all finished”. The source added: “He knows it’s a huge amount of money but he could end up paying even more if he enters a long, messy divorce. “At the end of the day he knows he was the one who cheated and he doesn’t have much of a defense ... He has completely moved on and while Nicole is heartbroken and still struggling to accept the marriage is over, Liam wants it all finished.”

Aniston

used to eat unhealthy

Silverman warns Cowell away from Sinitta

J

ennifer Aniston used to poison herself with unhealthy food. The clean-living actress - who recently revealed she detoxed for days after gorging on a hamburger wasn’t always so health-conscious and claims she used to treat her body like “bad”. Speaking on French TV show ‘50 MN INSIDE’ on TF1, she confessed: “I used to eat really bad, I didn’t sleep. You overestimate yourself so much when you’re young because we think we’re invincible. I honestly didn’t even drink water, only sodas, I just didn’t take that good care of myself.” Jennifer, 44, and her fiancé Justin Theroux, 42, have been plagued with wedding rumors since they first got together while filming ‘Wanderlust’ in 2010, and pregnancy speculation has only increased since the ‘Friends’ star announced her engagement to the actor. Asked whether her friends frequently call her, excited she may be pregnant or about to marry, she replied: “Yeah, that’s happened. Even my family. They say, ‘Did you go off and get married?’ or ‘Have you really had your 900th child?’ or ‘Are you planning a wedding party and you haven’t invited me?’ “Jennifer has come up with a fail safe way to avoid getting caught up in the media attention. She said: “[I have] a really great support group of friends and family back home. I surrounded myself with what’s real.”

Lauren Silverman wants Simon Cowell to stay away from Sinitta.

The US socialite - who is pregnant with his first son - is upset with how close the media mogul is to his ex-girlfriend. A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “Lauren doesn’t want Simon near Sinitta anymore. “And as difficult as it is for him, Simon is going to back the mother of his baby. Simon tore a strip off Sinitta - but then he pleaded with her to see sense and keep a low profile. “But she’s being driven insane with jealousy and isn’t able to control herself.” The reports come after Sinitta took to Twitter to promise she would speak the truth about her abortion of Simon’s baby a few years ago, and friends are said to be concerned she is heading for a breakdown. Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday newspaper, an insider said: “This isn’t the way Sinitta saw it happening in her head. “The news had knocked her completely and she hasn’t been in a good way since she found out.

Simon always told her he didn’t want children. “She didn’t think he would ever start a family and believed if he ever changed his mind, he would start a family with her. She is finding it hard to control her emotions and friends are worried about her, they think she is having a breakdown.”

T

Tamara

hoping for a baby girl

he 29-year-old socialite is delighted to be expecting her first child with former stockbroker Jay Rutland - who she married in June after four years of dating - but is secretly wishing the tiny tot is female because she wants it to play with her sister, Petra’s, daughter, seven-month-old Lavinia. She said: “I hope it’s a girl. I used to want a boy, but now Petra has a daughter I feel that your girls could be sisters.” The brunette beauty can’t wait to start developing a baby bump in coming weeks but admits the pregnancy is already playing havoc with her as she can’t stomach her favorite foods anymore and was living off plain carbohydrates for the first 12 weeks. She explained: “I can’t bear bacon, eggs, chicken or steak anymore, all of which I used to live on. I can’t even eat Galaxy chocolate, which I was addicted to. For the first 12 weeks, I lived on pasta with butter on it and plain toast. It was hard to stomach anything when I felt so sick and it’s better to eat white carbs than nothing at all.”

Merrygold

too ‘crazy’ to babysit

M

arvin Humes thinks Aston Merrygold is too “crazy” to babysit his daughter. The 28-yearold singer welcomed his first daughter, Alaia-Mai, into the world with The Saturdays’ star Rochelle Humes earlier this year but doesn’t think 25-year-old Aston is ready to look after his little girl just yet. When asked if his former JLS bandmates - Aston, Oritse Williams and J.B. Gill - had been helping take care of the four-month-old, Marvin told BANG Showbiz: “Not yet, when she’s a little bit older ... They will do though ...

Uncle Aston last because he’s still crazy. J.B. and Oritse first and uncle Aston when she’s a bit older.” Marvin also isn’t sure if his boys are up the challenge of changing nappies. He said: “I’m used to it so it’s fine ... I’m not sure they want to really have the baby just yet.” The R&B group - who found fame after finishing second on ‘The X Factor’ in 2008 - are set to split later this year but are confident they will remain friends after they go their separate ways. Oritse said: “We’ve always said that we’re brothers, bandmates then business partners. Brothers comes first because for us we came together through a love of music and a love of the same things. “We’re still meeting up and we’re still going out and that’s going to continue. Our families are all one big family as. Family is family and that doesn’t change.” JLS will be releasing a live DVD of their concert at The O2 in London and ‘Goodbye - The Greatest Hits Tour DVD’ is available to pre-order now.

Victoria Beckham sticks with Tana Ramsay

V

ictoria Beckham won’t let the rift between David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay come between her and Tana Ramsay. The fashion designer is determined that just because her husband has pulled out of a joint London restaurant venture with Gordon it won’t affect her close friendship with his wife. A source said: “Victoria’s despairing. She’s be gutted if their friendship with Gordon and Tana became strained. They usually meet at least once a week when they’re in the same city. But Victoria and Tana have agreed to not talk about it and have decided to let their husbands get on with it.

They know the boys will sort it out in the end.” Neither David, 38, nor Gordon, 46, have spoken publicly about the reasons for not working together anymore, but it has been suggested they had different ideas about the direction of the eatery. The source added to Closer magazine: “David had reservations about the project, but walked away after a number of disagreements with Gordon. He didn’t want a Mediterranean restaurant like Gordon, his dream was a chain of Pie and Mash cafes.” Victoria, 39, is also said to have warned her husband about going into business with friends. The source said: “Victoria wasn’t in love with the idea of David going and Gordon working together, she thinks you should avoid mixing friends and business in case it gets awkward, which it has.” —Bang Showbiz

37

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Gaza’s

T

he Gazan winner of the Arab Idol talent competition, a rare symbol of Palestinian unity, gave his first concert outside the Arab world in The Hague yesterday. Mohammed Assaf, 24, became a national hero when he won the pan-Arab contest in June after transfixing millions of television viewers with his soaring renditions of Arab love ballads and patriotic Palestinian songs. Organizers said that the 800 tickets for the young heartthrob’s concert in The Hague’s town hall last night, his first outside the Middle East and North Africa, was sold out.

Assaf arrived in the Netherlands after giving a concert in Dubai and had dinner with Arab ambassadors on Saturday evening, a spokesman for the Palestinian delegation in the Netherlands, Roel Raterink, told AFP. Palestinians from Germany and Belgium are also expected to travel to the Netherlands for the concert, organizers said, which will also be attended by most Arab ambassadors.

Israel in August took the exceptional step of allowing Assaf to move from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli occupied West Bank as a “humanitarian gesture”. Israel has maintained a land, sea and air blockade on Gaza since 2006, which was tightened further when the Islamist movement Hamas seized control there the following year. No Israeli diplomats will be attending. Israeli President Shimon Peres is on a visit to Amsterdam at the same time, the Israeli embassy said.

One-time wedding singer Assaf will also meet members of the Netherlands’ Palestinian community, before heading to Italy for another European concert, Raterink said. Born to Palestinian parents in Misrata, Libya, 23-year-old Assaf grew up in the teeming Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza before winning the 2013 edition of Arab Idol in Beirut in June. His victory sparked scenes of jubilation across the Palestinian territories.

The week after he won, Assaf performed in front of some 40,000 fans in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The contest in Beirut transfixed the viewing public with Assaf’s story which saw him sneaking out of Gaza, nearly missing his initial audition in Cairo, and then only making it through after a fellow Gazan pulled out. Palestinians remain divided between the Islamist Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip and its Fatah rival which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. On his return to Gaza in June, Assaf called for an end to the “division” with the West Bank, and urged “unity” between Palestinians.—AFP

Arab Idol winner

Mohammed Assaf in European debut

A file picture shows Palestinian winner of “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf performing in the West Bank city of Ramallah on July 1, 2013. –AFP photos

Wonder

A file picture shows Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf performing after winning the “Arab Idol” singing contest in Zouk Mosbeh.

headlines NYC concert highlighting poverty

Season 3 of Homeland and Robin Williams’ television comeback to headline OSN’s October programming DUBAI: The multi-award winning drama, Homeland will return for its third season; while Academy award-winner Robin Williams will mark his television comeback with the premiere of The Crazy Ones, exclusively on OSN at the same time as the US, this October. OSN will showcase an extensive repertoire of 70 exclusive movies and over 10 blockbuster premieres every month and viewers can look forward to five brand new series and 13 seasons of continuing shows same time as the US as part of its new programming season.

Headlining the October programming is Season 3 of the much awaited Homeland, starring award-winning actress Claire Danes, a CIA officer suffering from bipolar disorder; and Damian Lewis, a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper who has been taken hostage. The third season of this critically acclaimed show will premiere exclusively on OSN First HD on Oct 1 at 21:00 KSA, at the same time as the US. Robin Williams returns to series television in The Crazy Ones, a singlecamera workplace comedy about a larger-than-life advertising genius whose unorthodox methods and unpredictable behaviour would get him fired… if he weren’t the boss.

Simon Roberts (Williams) is the head of a powerful agency, with the biggest clients and brands in the world, but even more important to him is that his daughter Sydney (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is by his side.

As his partner, Sydney is Simon’s exact opposite – focused, organized

S

tevie Wonder gave an electrifying performance at New York’s Central Park in front of thousands of fans and several world leaders Saturday, singing his hits and calling for an end to poverty worldwide at the Global Citizen Festival.

Bono gave a funky, rousing introduction to Wonder, who headlined the second annual concert. Wonder wowed audience members, who danced and sang along to songs including “Superstition” and “Isn’t She Lovely.”

“This is a global celebration,” Wonder yelled to the crowd. “We will end extreme world poverty in our lifetime.” Wonder has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on disabilities since 2009. Messengers have recognized talents in the arts, academia and sports and help bring attention to UN work. The Global Citizen Festival coincides with the UN General Assembly. Fans earned free tickets for helping spread the word or volunteering to help end world poverty. World leaders who attended included Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

“There is so much energy here tonight. We can power the world,” Ban told the crowd. Will.i.am and Olivia Wilde were among the celebrity attendees. Wonder ended the five-hour event, electrifying the crowd during his hourlong performance. He even teased concertgoers before singing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” “That’s it!” he yelled, then added: “Y’all wanna jam some more?”

John Mayer also performed Saturday and was a favorite with his solo work on the guitar. He was full of power when he performed “Slow Dancing In a Burning Room” and “Gravity.”

“It’s so nice to be here,” he said. Other performers included Kings of Leon and Alicia Keys, whose set included “No One” and “Empire State of Mind.” “I believe if we don’t care about each other, who will?” the singer said. “Help me celebrate tonight so we never forget.”

Wonder also had a touching moment when he sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” and encouraged the audience to lobby for more gun laws.

“Can you believe blind people have guns?” he said.

“Let’s keep it real. Ridiculous.” Last year’s Global Citizen Festival featured Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters and The Black Keys. The festival’s nonprofit partners pledged $1.3 billion in new fundraising commitments last year. Wonder, who played the piano and harmonica, was joined onstage by R&B singers Maxwell and Janelle Monae. “I can’t believe this is happening,” Maxwell gushed when singing “Superstition.”—AP

and eager to make a name for herself, but also too busy parenting her father, which she’d resent if he wasn’t so brilliant at what he does. Audiences can enjoy The Crazy Ones exclusively on OSN First Comedy HD at the same time as the US from Oct 1, at 19:00 KSA. Grey’s Anatomy is back with an all-new Season 10. Shonda Rhimes acclaimed drama will see major changes in the lives of several characters in the season. Meredith and Derek welcome Baby Bailey. Calzona could be splitting.

And, find out if Arizona and Callie’s relationship survives or if Richard pulls through. Tune in exclusively on OSN First HD from Oct 1 at 19:00 KSA as the drama unfolds at the same time as the US.

Gancino Bracelet

Salvatore Ferragamo timepieces

I

nspired by the Gancino, the ultimate symbol of the Ferragamo universe, the brand’s most iconic collection for women debuts Gancino Bracelet at Baselworld 2013. With its extremely feminine design and minute proportions, Gancino Bracelet is an impeccable cocktail watch for exclusive occasions, while during the day it becomes a fashionable jewellery watch.

The stand-out features are the small 22.5 mm diameter Gancino-shaped case in steel or IP rose gold, and the polished bangle bracelet which wraps around the wrist, following its contours. The soleil finish dial has applied indexes, which are available in silver and antique rose hues. Available from June 2013 in Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques, authorised retailers or online at www.ferragamotimepieces.com.

Technical information: Case: IP rose gold 22,5 mm WR: 30 m/3 ATM Movement: quartz (RONDA 751) - Swiss-Made Dial: silver with guilloché finish and applied indexes Strap/bracelet: IP gold bangle bracelet - jewellery buckle

Plus, viewers can look forward to two brand new shows premiering at the same time as their US airing exclusively on OSN from Oct 2 – Betrayal and Zero Hour. Betrayal is a provocative and gripping new drama where two lovers’ worlds collide, culminating in a powerful and compelling story of intimacy, love, loyalty, marriage and treachery while Zero Hour is a conspiracy theory-driven series that follows the story of a man who spent 20 years as the editor of a magazine targeting skeptics.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

LIFESTYLE F a s h i o n

fa sh io n is sometimes cruel, always fun

Models dance during Jean Paul Gaultier 2014 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show in Paris.—AFP

VIKTOR & ROLF Viktor and Rolf are going back to school. At least, it appeared so in the Dutch design duo spring-summer 2014 show in Paris which had a vibe of fictional girls’ boarding school St Trinian’s. Blazers with badges came in scholarly navy and knee-length double skirts featured knife pleats (layering is the duo’s forte), as well as several looks in a black and white plaid, reminiscent of English boarding school uniforms. Since designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren returned to the couture stage this July after a 13-year hiatus, there was an optimistic sense that they were trying to revitalize themselves after playing it safe in recent seasons. Sadly, instead of moving on their couture musings, Saturday’s show not only went back to school, but brought them back to where they were last year.

The best look in the show was one that captured this abstract mood they excel at: A deceptively-simple white bustier dress, with folded, almost origami-like pleats giving it a shard-like jagged silhouette.

Paris fashion

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

Paris

T

he fashion world can be a cruel place. No one knows this better than veteran Jean Paul Gaultier who decided to turn his springsummer 2014 collection on its head and do the criticizing for himself. With a tongue in his cheek, the irreverent designer turned his catwalk collection, one of Saturday’s most popular tickets, into a high-octane pastiche of “So You Think You Can Dance” - the US dance competition show. Rossy de Palma, the muse of filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, sat on a panel inside the cabaret theater venue holding up signs such as “boring” and “no thanks” to auditioning models such as Karly Kloss who vogued in vain to energizing music.

A theatrical Almodovar-esque scene of wife-beating interrupted the presentation, with de Palma striking the assailant down - a moment of pure pantomime drawing whoops from the crowd. Such was the audacity that even the normally poised Catherine Deneuve, who sat in the front row, was clapping in time and laughing by the end. In other shows of the day, presentations were distinctly more restrained - such as that of Belgian designer Veronique Leroy, whose delicately constructed clothes in black and white did the talking for themselves.

Monochrome was also seen in a surreal collection by Comme des Garcons. Elsewhere, Vivienne Westwood stayed true to her natural eccentricities and channeled medieval peasants, whereas Viktor & Rolf’s collection disappointed by losing the creative energy achieved in their last, abstract couture show.

Such was the creative mayhem of the Gaultier presentation, it seemed as if the clothes took second place. The collection opened with several looks in black lace, studs and leather with asymmetrical paneling. They seemed to channel the movie “Grease,” with the reference brought home loud and clear when two models danced like Sandy and Danny on the podium to the sound of “You’re the One That I Want.” The best of the rather confusing collection were the parts to not use gimmicks.

A series of stones colored coats cut a stylish look, one hanging over the torso in circular, diagonal strips as if ripe for the peeling. Elsewhere, an on-trend metallic jacket and baggy pants came in a great burnt bronze, with a complementary dark orange top. But the late ‘70s punk looks and floral sections were harder to reconcile with the collection as a whole.

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LIFESTYLE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

F a s h i o n

Paris fashion

VERONIQUE LEROY

Like in previous seasons, Veronique Leroy went to the silver screen for inspiration. For spring-summer - it was award-winning French film “Black and White” by Claire Devers. But the designer should know she doesn’t need to rest on creative references for her show, as her clothes speak for themselves. Demure looks in black and white, as well as rippling stripes defined the vibe, and delicate construction defined the aesthetic.

Though there were no huge creative

leaps here, the first look - a white and ultra pale peach look which hung in pleats and ruffles with a quiet majesty - was possibly one of the most beautiful constructed creations seen all day. Delicate ripples and curves snuck out from waists and shoulders. But this wasn’t just poetical musing: With some of the striped ensembles it was clear this Belgian designer also had her eye on an older clientele.—AP

VERONIQUE LEROY

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD Paris fashion

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood acknowledges the public with her husband Andreas Kronthaler.

Medieval pilgrims that Vivienne Westwood imagined during a visit to Canterbury Cathedral were the unlikely muses for the British designer’s collection.

Muddy faces, colored earth-splashed knees, hanging girdles and earthy brown canvas cotton and yarn upon yarn of glamorous flowing rags provided the peasant-inspired wardrobe.

These features - sometimes minimalist, sometimes festive - combined with colorful page’s stripes, medieval short tabard coats and Juliette sleeves to produce a veritable display from yesteryear. There was even a saintly halo hat. But collections from eccentric Westwood elude definition - and indeed to define her would be to limit her art. So, breaking out of the medieval shackles the designer also included a Latin colored headdress, a gaucho look in yellow ochre and an ode to punk in bright blue - plus her famed peaked shoulders for good measure. Bags in the show, for example, were made in Kenya in a project organized by the UN-supported “Ethical Fashion Initiative.”But Westwood flits between the serious and the gay. After describing the origins of the fabrics, the designer chuckled that she’d created a style she referred to as “sexy nun.”

Gaza’s Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf in European debut

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

37

Indian folk dancers from the Panghat Group of Performing Arts assist each other at a full dress rehearsal for the forthcoming Navratri festivities or Dance Festival of Nine Nights in Ahmedabad yesterday. Navratri festival takes place from October 5 to 13, 2013.—AFP

Philippines celebrates first Miss World winner

T

he Philippines—where beauty contests are a serious affair— celebrated yesterday its first victory in the Miss World contest despite hardline Islamic protests against the event in the host country Indonesia.

The triumph of 23-year-old Megan Young was the main headline in major newspapers, who noted that it finally gave the Philippines a winner in all major beauty pageants after several victories in the Miss Universe and Miss International contests. President Benigno Aquino’s communications secretary Ramon Carandang congratulated Young on government radio.

“This is another Filipino who has gone out there... and shown the rest of the world what we can do as Filipinos and another reason for us be proud,” Carandang said.“Finally, the blue-beaded crown for the Philippines,” the Manila Bulletin said in its main story. The newspapers also mentioned the tight security at the Miss World pageant in the Indonesian resort island of Bali, following weeks of hardline Muslim protests that forced the event to be relocated from its original planned venue near Jakarta. Thousands of protesters had earlier taken to the streets across Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslimmajority country, to denounce the contest.

But in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, the victory of Young—a film student at a prominent university—was a cause for celebration especially on social media. “Feeling proud. The beauty of the Pinay (Filipina) has come out on top,” said one message on Twitter. “I’m so proud of you Megan. You prove that we’re beautiful. I’m proud to be a Filipino,” another message read.

Beauty queens in the Philippines have often gone on to successful careers as actresses and fashion models.

But Young is already a showbiz veteran, having hosted and starred in several TV shows and movies since 2005. Earlier this month the national director for the Philippine licensee of Miss World charged that there was a “smear campaign by a negligible sector of the Philippine pageant industry” against Young. Although the details of the campaign were not given, Philippine beauty pageant blogger Joyce Ann Burton Titular said steamy photographs of Young, taken last year for local men’s magazine “Rogue”, had been circulating internationally.—AFP

A man reads a local newspaper with front page photos featuring Miss Philippines.

Miss Philippines, Megan Young wears the crown after winning the new Miss World title.

A man shows local newspapers with front page photos featuring Miss Philippines, Megan Young who wears the crown after winning the new Miss World title over 126 beauty contestants in the Miss World 2013, in Manila.—AFP photos

Paris fashion tiptoes around lack of black models

P

aris fashion this week tiptoed around the scarcity of black models on the catwalk with reaction raeflecting the growing controversy surrounding the issue highlighted by models Naomi Campbell and Iman.

Designers told AFP their only concern was to find models who embodied the spirit of their creations irrespective of skin color. And one industry professional put the lack of black faces down to a minimalist trend that has sparked a demand for Asian models. “I don’t only do shows for white girls, but I don’t do quotas (either). I choose girls that please me,” said Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello, whose show included Asian and mixed race models. Another designer, Damir Doma, told AFP: “I never judge anyone by skin... I’m looking for the right personality.” Doma’s show featured one black and two Asian models but the number could me “be more or less”, he said. “It depends on the season and the girl that comes to the casting. If she’s right for the clothes I would definitely take her,” he said. Their comments follow a letter sent earlier this month to fashion governing bodies around

the world by models Iman, Naomi Campbell and US model-turned-activist Bethann Hardison.

In their letter, the trio condemned fashion houses that used just “one or no models of colour” for a collection, saying the result was “racism”, even if it was unintentional. Virginie Deren of the agency Ford Models Europe stressed the importance of trends in the industry. “For the last two or three seasons, there has been a real passion for Asian models, especially Chinese ones,” she said. Chinese consumers have become increasingly important to the fashion world as their economic power has grown in recent years.

Other trends down the years had seen black models in demand as well as Belgians and what Deren called “healthy Americans”. “We have black models (on our books) but we are not asked for them for the catwalks (at the moment). “It’s not racism. Things are not like that. Models have to fit in with trends (and) the current fashion is a minimalist one that the designers associate with Asian girls,” she said. In their letter, Campbell, Iman and Hardison named dozens of labels they considered

to be most at fault including Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs.

“Eyes are on an industry that season after season watches fashion houses consistently use one or no models of color,” they wrote. “No matter the intention, the result is racism. Not accepting another based on the color of their skin is clearly beyond aesthetic...,” they said, adding that the issue was specifically a lack of black models, not Asian ones. Malaika Firth, 19, in Paris for her first catwalk shows, said she had not experienced any difficulties she could link to skin colour but stressed that she was mixed race, not black.

“So far so good..., I support equal opportunities,” said the half-British, half-Kenyan model who has appeared in advertising campaigns for Burberry and Prada. Other models with more catwalk experience, however, were more nuanced. Brazilian model Muriel Beal, 31, said that there were too few black models working in the industry. But when asked if the lack of black faces at shows was for this reason or due to discrimination she replied: “It depends.” .—AFP