3rd Oct 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Obama cancels Asia trip amid shutdown

KAC plans more flights as Haj season begins

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www.kuwaittimes.net

THULQADA 27, 1434 AH

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US expels Venezuela diplomats

Ronaldo sees Real ease past Copenhagen

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Kuwait police disperse ‘stateless’ protesters Court jails writer for tweets ‘defaming’ ex-PM

Max 40 Min 23º High Tide 10:27 & 23:20 Low Tide 04:38 & 17:14

By B Izzak

KUWAIT :Stateless Arabs, locally known as bedoons, take part in a demonstration in demand of Kuwaiti citizenship and basic rights, in Jahra yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Four Bahraini Shiites jailed over bombing

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World population to hit 9.7 billion

KUWAIT: The elite Special Forces and police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stateless people (Bedoons) who rallied in Taima area in Jahra to mark the international day of non-violence. Monitors for local human rights groups said eight Bedoons were arrested but then released after a few hours. There were no reports of injuries.

Online activists have launched a campaign for the past few days urging Bedoons to demonstrate peacefully on the occasion of the non-violence day in order to press for their demands of getting the Kuwaiti citizenship and other basic rights which they have been deprived of.

According to Sarkhat Watan (Homeland Scream) Twitter Account, which has called for the protests, the day’s activities began when Bedoon school children staged a brief gathering outside a number of schools in Jahra, carrying banners calling for granting Bedoons their rights and Kuwaiti citizenship. Later, a dozen Bedoon activists held a very brief stay in the yard opposite the National Assembly building in Kuwait City.

The main event commenced at 3.30 when hundreds of Bedoons, supported by a number of Kuwaiti activists backing Bedoons demands, began a procession in Taima as the Special Forces and police backed by armored vehicles were on alert. Hardly one hour passed, the Sarkhat Watan account declared that the protest is over as a precaution to preserve the safety of the protesters.

But the move did not prevent police action.

The Special Forces fired tear gas and stun grenades when protesters approached the main road and launched a campaign against the protesters, arresting at least eight people, according to the National Committee for Monitoring Violations. They were later released.

Sarkhat Watan however insisted that the protests will continue as long as the problem of Bedoons remains unresolved. It strongly criticized the Ministry of Interior crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

Continued on Page 13

Prominent activist detained in Saudi

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India to overtake China

ABU DHABI: A chef at a luxurious hotel in Abu Dhabi prepares a camel burger dish. — AFP

Camel meat leaps from bedouin tents to top Gulf eateries ABU DHABI: From camel carpaccio to camel bourguignon and gold-leaf burger, the meat offered traditionally at big festivities of bedouins has become a fancy ingredient in the Gulf’s prestigious restaurants. Under the golden dome of Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, which bills itself as a seven-star hotel, French chef Sandro Gamba proudly presents his latest: a camel burger bedded in gold-leaf bread, served with onion jam and smoked halloumi cheese.

On the side, the traditional french fries have been replaced by fried hummus fingers. This dish, priced at around $50 (37 euros), has become “one of our best sellers,” boasts Gamba, the hotel’s master chef who oversees its 15 restaurants. “This burger reflects the image of Emirates Palace,” the extravagant $3 billion hotel, he said. “We have gradually modified some recipes, such as replacing the famous veal

burgundy with camel meat,” said Gamba, who worked in Paris and Chicago before arriving in Abu Dhabi.

And, he added, camel carpaccio has replaced beef in a dish which also boasts Italian truffles and a vinaigrette. “In the United Arab Emirates, I found a wonderful camel farm that produces very tender and great-tasting meat. From then on, I decided to add this meat” to the hotel’s menus, said Gamba enthusiastically. In April, Gamba launched a week-long camel meat festival at Emirates Palace serving everything with a touch of camel from soup to steaks and camel rolls.

“The younger the camel, the more tender its meat will be,” says Gamba. “For some recipes, we must use the meat of young camels, which is as soft as butter.” “When the animal is older, you must marinate its meat and cook it for longer periods.”

Continued on Page 13

PARIS: The world’s population will rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 from the current level of 7.1 billion and India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation, a French study said yesterday. A bi-annual report by the French Institute of Demographic Studies (Ined) projected there would be 10 to 11 billion people on the planet by the end of the century.

The projections ran parallel to forecasts by the United Nations, the World Bank and other prominent national institutes. A UN study in June said the global population would swell to 9.6 billion in 2050 and the number of people aged 60 and above would catapult from 841 million now to two billion in 2050 and nearly three billion in 2100.

Ined said Africa would be home to a quarter of the world’s population in 2050 with 2.5 billion people, more than double the current level of 1.1 billion.

Gilles Pison, the author of the report, said the prevailing fertility rate in Africa was around 4.8 children per woman-far higher than the global average of 2.5.

The Americas will breach the one-billion mark in 2050 with 1.2 billion inhabitants against 958 million at present.

And Asia’s population will increase from 4.3 billion to 5.2 billion in 2050, Ined forecast. The world’s most populous nations are currently China with 1.3 billion people; followed by India (1.2 billion); the United States (316.2 million); Indonesia (248.5 million) and Brazil (195.5 million). But in 2050, India will take pole position with 1.6 billion people with China in second place at 1.3 billion. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, will outstrip the United States with a population of 444 million against a projected 400 million Americans in the middle of the century. — AFP

Iraqi MPs reject Kuwait rail link

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Some Iraqi lawmakers recently expressed reservations about building a railway linking Iraq and Kuwait describing it as “meant for Kuwait’s interests only”. In this regard, the Vice-Chairman of the parliamentary committee for regions and governorates, Mansour AlTamimi said that the project would have a dramatic negative impact on Iraqi ports and the Iraqi economy in general.

“The railway would limit the role played

by Iraqi ports in Basra and mainly focus on Kuwaiti ports”, he stressed noting that the railway would hinder Basra Port’s major project.

In another development, MP Osama Al-Tahous said that he still intends to grill Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Minister of Social Work and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi. “I will not consider filing a no-confidence vote against Al-

Hajraf but, in view of the volume of the issues under her jurisdiction and the fact that she did not take necessary procedures, I will possibly resort to a noconfidence vote with Minister AlRashidi”, he remarked.

Meanwhile, Thekra Al-Rashidi has dissolved Subahiya Co-op’s Board of Directors over some financial violations and appointed a temporar y one in place. Also, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi has filed inquiries to Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity and Water (MPW ), asking whether the cost of Al-Jabriya entrance from the Fifth Ring Road project had actually jumped from an estimated cost of KD650 million to KD 850 million, as repor ted by a local daily. “Such an increase of KD200 million is suspicious; especially since the project had been delayed by MPW and the cost had already been changed five times upon orders from the minister”, he added.

Liquor factory busted in Hawally

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Four Asian women and a man arrested for bootlegging.

KUWAIT: Hawally police arrested an Indian man who was seen walking around in an inebriated manner.

When police approached him, he ran into a house. The policemen followed him, after which they also discovered that the entire building was being used as a liquor factory and was filled with bottles of alcohol and jerrycans. About 142 jerry-cans filled with liquor, 87 jerrycans containing fermentation substance and 1,244 bottles were confiscated with three distillation units and 16 gas cylinders. Four Asian women and a man were also arrested for bootlegging.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LOCAL

KAC plans more flights as Hajj season begins Safety concerns ‘baseless’

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Some passengers have doubts about the safety measures of the Kuwait Airways (KAC) aircraft after many rumors floated about across the media about alleged incidents which took place onboard.

To clear doubts and assure safety of the flight and passengers, KAC held a media tour at the Kuwait International Airport to showcase safety measures applied in operations and maintenance.

Rumors badly affect KAC’s reputation.

“People uploaded a video online and claimed it’s an experience of turbulence due to engine malfunction. When I watched the whole video, I found out that it was a part of a regular training course, where the trainees were wearing life-jackets and most of them were laughing. But normally, people wouldn’t know this. Even the press sometimes exaggerates some small problems which occur normally with any airline and describe it as a huge problem,” said Ahmad Kreebani, Chief Executive Manager of KAC during the tour yesterday.

KUWAIT: Ahmad Kreebani (middle) with other officials of KAC during the tour at the KAC’s counter at the airport. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: One of the KAC’s aircrafts under maintenance.

Hajj season has begun and pilgrims have started to depart for Saudi. During this season, KAC, as every year, prepares special flights for Jeddah and Madinah. “The first flight to Madinah will fly today and then on October 8 onboard the A310 carrying 198 passengers each flight. While there will be nine flights to Jeddah on October 8 and 9 carrying 1,705 passengers on all flights, which will include the A300 for most flights and one flight onboard the A340. With these numbers, KAC’s market share for hajj season increased from 30 percent last year to 41 percent this year. The pilgrims will return on October 13 and 14 onboard 12 flights from Jeddah and one flight from Madinah,” explained Anwar Bin Yousif, Head of the Aircraft Fly Scheduler.

KAC prepared a complex plan of services and facilities for the hajj campaigns travelling with the KAC. “The flights will arrive at North Terminal of Jeddah Airport instead of the pilgrims’ terminal at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, which will provide Kuwaiti pilgrims the privilege of moving quickly without any delays. We will also provide additional services including the 72hour check-in of luggage prior to the flight, giving boarding cards, and a gift to each passenger. Upon their departure from Jeddah, passengers will be offered Oriental coffee and sweets at the gate,” added Bin Yousif.

“On the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, Kuwait Airways will be operating direct flights to Sharm El Sheikh on October 12 and returning on October 16 and additional flights will be operating to Cairo and Beirut,” he further said.

No aircraft flies without rigorous maintenance checks. “We don’t compromise on safety. We check the aircraft on a daily basis and conform to international safety standards. We have a team at all stations and a recorder which collects information on engines to help us fix problems, if any. We have a scheduler maintenance book and we test flights if any engine is affected. After every 600 hours of flying, we check for three days,” stressed Hamad Al-Hajiri, Director of Maintenance Control Center.

According to Amer Al-Majid, Deputy Operation Director of Fly Safety and Quality Assurance, Kuwait Airways was the first carrier in the world to acquire the IOSA for European auditing standards. “We were the first as this test was applied on KAC first and we passed it. I ensure you that the safety standard is very high onboard all our aircraft,” he pointed out.

Army border security mulled to address police shortage KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry is considering a series of initiatives through which it hopes to address the shortage in police staff within five years, which include assigning the process of border security to the Kuwaiti Army, removing police officers from service centers and hiring more stateless residents whose mothers are Kuwaitis.

This was reported by Al-Rai yesterday quoting security sources who indicated that the ministry needs 13,000 security personnel in five years according to a study that took into account population growth and expansion of residential areas as ordered by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source mentioned several factors that contributed to the shortage in police staff including an increase in the number of drop outs, resigned personnel and those who were relieved off of their duties, in addition to reduced interest. The source explained that handing responsibility for land borders to the Kuwait Army for example would free up to 3,000 policemen to work in other departments.

More officers would be freed if mar-

itime border security duties were handed over to the Navy.

Another proposal discussed “and depends on reinstatement of conscription” calls for establishing cooperation with the Kuwait Army in order to utilize young people’s services in police duties, according to the sources.

Interior Ministry officials have most recently cited police shortage as a challenge to securing crowded areas in Kuwait following the murder of a Kuwaiti man inside Marina Mall last week. The ministry announced establishing coordination with managements of local malls to improve coordination and tighten security measures by installing metal detectors and more surveillance cameras. In other news, the Public Prosecution on Tuesday released two out of three suspects in the Marina Mall murder, leaving only the prime suspect who is set to appear before the judge today who will determine the period in which he will be remanded in custody. The defendants’ attorney Sultan Al-Mandeel described the decision as “expected” and explained that the two freed teenagers, a Kuwaiti and bedoon, will be summoned to court for further investigations if necessary.

Kuwaiti, UK health officials discuss cooperation KUWAIT: State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Health Minister Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Al-Sabah discussed yesterday an array of health issues with Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Quality at the Department of Health in the United Kingdom Lord Howe.

Lord Howe is visiting the country along with a delegation made up of officials representing British hospitals, clinics, and medical centers.

There will be meetings between the British guests and their counterparts at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health aimed at reaching agreements toward availing Kuwaitis of the advanced medical facilities and expertise in the UK, said the

Kuwaiti minister in a press statement, following his meeting with Lord Howe and the delegation accompanying him.

Kuwait’s interest lies in either sending patients for treatment in UK health facilities or being able to host great numbers of UK health professionals in Kuwait regularly, said the minister, noting that Kuwait was keen on garnering medical expertise from many parts of the world, with the present concentration now being on the UK. Lord Howe, in a similar statement to the press, said that his meeting today with his Kuwaiti host dealt with an expansive number of issues that would facilitate the cooperation between the two countries in matters of health care. —KUNA

LOCAL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Security campaign in Jleeb KUWAIT: A security campaign was held in Jleeb AlShuyoukh in which immigration detectives, traffic patrols, special forces and security information documentation team participated. About 85 roaming vendors were arrested at the vegetables and fish market and referred to concerned authorities.

Kuwait cannot fulfill 76% of IMF recommendations KUWAIT: The government of Kuwait is incapable of executing about 76 percent of recommendations that the International Monetary Fund mentioned in a recent report. This was reported by Al-Qabas yesterday based on a study that compares between the IMF’s report and the government’s commitments regarding its developmental plans.

Al-Qabas identified diversifying sources of income by improving nonoil revenues as a main field where the government remains incapable despite the IMF’s urging for further investment there. The report points out that placing taxes on companies and sales and increasing public service fees remain out of the government’s short and long term plans, whereas the government’s current expenditure continues to improve with increasing public sector payrolls. Furthermore,

the Al-Qabas points out the fact that Kuwait has failed to increase investment spending on par with the general average of its sister Gulf states.

The IMF had identified slow developmental process and delayed steps in pushing reform programs forward especially by diversifying economy - as areas where Kuwait needs improvement in order to avoid the risk of falling into budget deficit in 2017-18.

On the other hand, the IMF praised Kuwait’s Capital Market Authority, Central Bank regulations and the states banking policies, as well as the new anticorruption and corporations laws.

Meanwhile, Al-Qabas outlined heavy responsibilities placed on senior government officials in order to convince the parliament to adopt at least some of the IMF’s recommendations, especially regarding value added tax

and increased electricity and water fees. “Can the Foreign Ministry take a bold step to improve non-oil income by enforcing new taxes and service fees?”, Al-Qabas questioned before reiterating what it says is the belief of most observers who think that current minister Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah will not take that step.

However, the report suggests that the finance minister can at least stand in the face of any attempts to increase salaries in the public sector; even for a fixed period of time like five years for example. The report also outlines the responsibilit y of M inister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh in speeding up the enforcement of a bankruptcy law. “It is not logical to accept a serious case of delay like this in a country whose stock market is filled with troubled companies since 2008”, the report says.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LOCAL

S Korea celebrates Foundation Day

By Kim Kyung-Sik South Korean Ambassador

O

ctober 3, 2013 marks the 4345th anniversary of the National Foundation Day of the Republic of Korea, or Gaecheonjeol in Korean. The word Gaecheonjeol can be literally translated as “day of the opening sky or heaven”, and it essentially means that the history of Korea started, more than four millennia ago, with a clear vision and a promise of bright future like an open sky.

On this auspicious day, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, my sincere gratitude to the friends from all circles of the Kuwaiti society for their long-standing support to the development of Korea-Kuwait relations. I also take this opportunity to send my best wishes to the Korean community in Kuwait.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties

in 1976, the Republic of Korea and the State of Kuwait have built up close and friendly relations, which are now further expanding and deepening in various fields of cooperation.

First and foremost, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has witnessed rapid and substantial progress. The volume of trade exchange reached nearly 20 billion USD as of last year.

Kuwait is Korea’s No. 2 crude oil supplier, as well as the 4th largest overseas construction market for Korea. I am especially proud to note that the Korean companies have been diligently working here in Kuwait for almost half a century now, and contributed greatly to the economic development of Kuwait.

In the political area, the successful exchange of visits by Korean and Kuwaiti government officials has greatly strengthened the existing foundation for mutual trust and economic cooperation. For example, HH

the Amir’s special envoy paid a visit to Korea earlier this year, and had an important meeting with the newly elected President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye. This meeting is believed to have paved a way to a more comprehensive collaboration between the

two countries. Other various meetings throughout the year have also brought the two sides to explore potentials for better cooperation, namely in the area of infrastructure, trade, energy as well as policy planning on development.

Furthermore, the most remarkable development has taken place in the field of culture. Since last year the Embassy has been organizing monthly program called “KoreanKuwaiti Culture Diwaniya” to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

With growing number of membership and interest from both the Kuwaiti and Korean community, this forum has now become an established platform for dialogue, discussion and exchange of ideas.

To make the best of last year’s achievements, the Embassy is going to take this good momentum to the next level of people-to-people exchanges: we are hosting var-

ious cultural events in the coming days, such as “Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan Cultural Performance” in October and “Korean Cinema Night” in November. Through these opportunities, the people of the State of Kuwait will be able to enjoy and have a better understanding of the essence of the vibrant Korean culture, both modern and traditional.

Looking back on the past three years’ service as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, I realize that I have often been touched not only by the friendly and affectionate sentiments of the Kuwaiti people, but also by their pioneering spirit in many fields, as the history of Kuwait tells us. The national emblem of the State of Kuwait also clearly shows that this glorious nation is always on a journey to the unknown like a ship on the sea. And on this day of ‘open sky’, I send my best wishes for a smooth voyage of our two countries to a brighter and prosperous future.

Three social network offenders in police net Teacher saves life of boy KUWAIT: Three people were arrested after investigations revealed that they used Twitter and Instagram accounts to verbally assault a political activist in Kuwait. Investigations began after a Kuwaiti woman provided information of two accounts which had insulting remarks against her on social network.

Detectives managed to identify three Kuwaiti people including two teenagers who are responsible for the two accounts. They were summoned

and referred to the proper authorities for investigations.

Brave teacher An elementary school teacher saved a six-year-old boy’s life after she performed first aid measures successfully when he suffered a seizure. The incident took place at the Uqail Bin Abi Talib Elementary School in Jaber Al-Ali on Sunday when the first grader fell down after having a seizure. The

KUWAIT: A fire broke out in the main generator of electricity on Abdullah Fadalah Street in Maidan Hawally yesterday which posed a threat to surrounding residential buildings. Firefighters rushed to the area and put the fire under control. — Photo by Sherif Ismail

teacher quickly attended to the boy and simultaneously called for help. An ambulance arrived at the scene minutes after the school’s management made an emergency call. The boy was taken to Adan Hospital where his condition was described as stable.

Abusive sons An old man opted against pressing charges against his two sons after they left him with serious injuries that required intensive care at the Adan Hospital. Police and paramedics rushed to a house in Mubarak Al-Kabeer where the incident was reported. They found out that two young men inflicted multiple injuries on their own father and also stabbed him. The senior citizen was hospitalized while his two sons were taken into custody to face charges. However, the man went to the Public Prosecution immediately after being discharged from the hospital to request dropping the charges. The attackers were released after the case was closed as per their father’s request.

Diesel theft A driver was arrested for stealing diesel from a local gas station and

police also apprehended two employees for facilitating the theft. The incident took place in Shuwaikh where the man in charge at the gas station noticed a truck loading large amounts of diesel into a tank fixed on the vehicle. He called police as he suspected theft since the amount of fuel loaded exceeded the maximum amount allowed, in addition to the fact that two Ethiopian workers were helping the truck driver load the fuel. The Syrian man was arrested after police found out that he loaded KD 300 worth of diesel into his truck, violating the maximum limit. He was taken to Shuwaikh police station along with the two employees who were charged with assisting the theft.

Shells disposed Kuwait Army officials disposed 95 shells found in Nuwaiseeb desert which were revealed to be remnants from the 1990-91 Iraqi Invasion period.

The explosives were found by a Kuwaiti man who made an emergency call after he spotted foreign objects halfburied in the sand at Nuwaiseeb desert. A total of 95 shells were collected by the authorities.

GCC plans exchanged amnesties MANAMA: The ministers of justice of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) six members suggested granting amnesties for prisoners of other nationalities in collaboration with their respective countries and on a mutual basis.

The recommendation has been adopted by the just-ended 25th GCC justice ministers’ meeting, Kuwaiti Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Shareeda Al-Muosherji said yesterday.

“We have explored the possibility of taking advantage of the national days of foreign countries to secure pardoning the GCC prisoners in these countries in exchange for amnesties for their prisoners in the GCC countries,” he disclosed.

“The meeting also discussed ways for promoting judicial cooperation among the GCC member states through coordination with the GCC Secretariat,” Al-Muosherji revealed.

Bahraini Minister of Justice Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa said that the meeting discussed a range of issues relating to the promotion of the judicial systems, the joint training programs for workers in the field of justice and coordination among the judicial colleges.

The meeting also discussed coordination with international judiciar y organizations, the draft single judiciary act and the guidelines for implementation of the treaty on verdicts, Sheikh Khaled added.

The ministers of justice agreed to hold their 26 meeting in Kuwait next year. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Fadi Morsi, Mohammad Al-Harbi, Abdulaziz Al-Dawish, Marzouq El-Enezi, Salman Al Badran and Ibrahim Al-Hamad

VIVA further extends distributor network across Kuwait KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest growing and most developed telecom operator, announced that it has further expanded its reach across Kuwait after signing an agreement with COMTEL, one of Kuwait’s leading mobile phone retailers, making it an authorised VIVA distributor.

Eng. Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Badran, VIVA’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We are very pleased with our new partnership with COMTEL. VIVA’s partnership with COMTEL adds a further 16 branches to our distribution network across Kuwait, making it more feasible for our customers to access and benefit from our wide range of leading services and products. VIVA’s goal is to better serve its customers by being closer to them, and through this partnership, we will further solidify our presence amongst our customers which will allow us to better service them while also presenting them with the latest products available in the Kuwaiti market.”

Marzouq Al-Enezi, COMTEL’s Chief Executive Officer also commented: “We are very proud of our partnership with VIVA as it will add great value to our customers to partner with the fastest growing telecom

operator in Kuwait. We aim to provide both our customers and VIVA’s customers with the latest products and services at the most competitive prices at any of our showrooms across Kuwait.

COMTEL is a main mobile phone distributor in Kuwait since 2010 and currently operates 16 showrooms across Kuwait.

VIVA is the fastest-growing telecom operator in Kuwait. Launched in December 2008, VIVA makes things Possible for its customers by transforming communication, information and entertainment experiences. The company has rapidly established an unrivalled position in the market through its customer centric approach. VIVA’s quest is to be the mobile brand of choice in Kuwait by being transparent, engaging, energetic and fulfilling. VIVA continues to take a considerable share of the market by offering an innovative range of best value products, services and content propositions; a state of the art, nationwide network and world-class service. VIVA offers internet speeds of more than 100 Mbps, due to the implementation of the most advanced fourth generation (4G LTE) network in Kuwait resulting in superior coverage, performance and reliability.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LOCAL

Zain launches breast cancer awareness campaign KUWAIT: As part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced the launch of its Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in October for the sixth year running, in line with the internationally dedicated month to raising awareness about breast cancer.

The campaign for the current year will focus on the critical importance of timing and early detection to save the lives of those we love and care about. The campaign’s advertisement show a bug slowly eating away a green leaf, symbolizing breast cancer as it grows with time.

Zain emphasized that its partnership with Breast Care Kuwait continues, as the campaign targets the biggest possible number of women through press ads, SMS awareness messages, and social programs held throughout this month.

To further support the awareness campaign, Zain launched a T-Shirt design competition where the design has to reflect the importance of early detection to save the lives of those we

love. Participation is available for both professionals and aspiring designers to join, and the first place winner will be awarded with a prize of a KD 1000 while other winners will receive smartphones. Those who are interested in participating can find more information by kindly visiting zain.to/breastcancer The company is also dedicated to spread Breast Cancer awareness among its own employees through the T-Shirt design competition, as well as through many awareness messages and programs dedicated to Zain employees throughout October, as part of the company’s strong belief in strengthening the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility in its employees. Waleed Al Khashti, Corporate Communications and Relations manager at Zain said “Being one of the largest corporate entities in the region, Zain shares a big responsibility to the community and our continuous support for such important life-saving campaigns is within the framework of the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs.”

Kuwaiti-Japanese businessmen explore future cooperation TOKYO: Kuwaiti and Japanese businessmen yesterday tapped cooperation opportunities, while the Kuwaiti side pledged serious outreach towards the abolishment of Kuwait’s Offset Program and the conclusion of free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and the Gulf States.

The 18th meeting of the Kuwaiti-Japanese Businessmen’s Committee in Tokyo features three sessions; Economic policy, Business opportunity in Kuwait with a particular focus on infrastructure and medical services, and Promotion of investment and collaboration.

In his opening address, Kuwaiti Co-Chairman of the committee Khaled Al-Sager highlighted that many projects under the Kuwaiti Development Plan will be coordinated with the private sector through build-operate-transfer (BOT) or public-private partnership (PPP). “Such projects need strategic foreign partners with advanced technology and technical know-how as well as international marketing networks. We believe that Japanese partners can participate effectively in implementing these projects,” head of the Kuwaiti side said.

Trade volume between Kuwait and Japan reached a record high of $17.2 billion in 2012, more than tripled in the last decade, said AlSager, who also serves as Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy Chairman.

On behalf of Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi, Vice Minister Norihiko Ishiguro read a congratulatory message, in which Motegi voiced expectation that the Japanese companies will be able to contribute to Kuwait’s national development through the participation in infrastructure projects and medical service.

At the one-day meeting, Supreme Council for Planning and Development Secretary General Dr. Adel Al-Wugayan provided an overview of the 4th annual plan of the current National Development Plan running through next March, noting that the government is spending over KD 21 billion in 2013/2014. “We are currently in a process to work on the 2nd Mid-range Plan, and aim to get approval from parliament next February,” Dr Al-Wugayan revealed in a statement, adding that the next Mid-range Plan will be of much interest to Japanese companies.

The Kuwait Development Plan is designed to transform the country into a regional trade and finance center through sustaining economic development, economic diversification, and GDP growth. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Director General Dr Naji AlMutairi laid out future vision and recent update of energy conservation and renewable energy projects in Kuwait, including the ongoing Shagaya Renewable Energy Power Park.

According to Dr Al-Mutairi, cost of power generation in his country has been steadily increasing and hit KD 2.4 billion in 2011. There was also a presentation by the Ministry of Health on situation and treatment of cancer in Kuwait, which expressed anticipation of Japan’s contribution to

this field. On the other hand, the governmentaffiliated Medical Excellence JAPAN said it is keen on sharing Japan’s experience in the health sector, including cancer treatment, and on facilitating medical exchanges and cooperation with the Kuwaiti side.

State-run Kuwait Petroleum International and Japanese major refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co. briefed the participants on latest developments of a joint refinery and petrochemical project between Kuwait, Japan, and Vietnam. Other topics discussed in the gathering were bilateral cooperation in agribusiness and overview of economy in both countries.

During the meetings, Japanese Co-Chairman of the committee Saito Hiroshi sought support from the Kuwaiti participants to press the Kuwaiti government for the abolishment of the Offset Program and the early conclusion of Japan-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) FTA. “The Offset Program has become a major obstacle preventing investment by Japanese companies in Kuwait,” Saito said at the meeting. “Without this program, I expect a much larger flow of Japanese investments to Kuwait, which should create many professional jobs and contribute to the development of a diversified Kuwaiti economy.” Saito, who doubles as Honorary Advisor of Mizuho Financial Group, also expressed hope that the Kuwaiti government will reopen and advance stalled FTA talks, in its term as chair of the GCC next year.

The annual economic meeting came after the visit by Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe to Kuwait in August, in which he affirmed keenness on boosting economic relations between Japan and Kuwait through mutual exchanges between the public and private sectors. Kuwaiti Ambassador Al-Otaibi described yesterday’s gathering as fruitful discussions with a satisfactory outcome.

“The meeting today was very significant to really implement recommendation that has been taken during the prime minister’s visit. The (two) sides agreed to expand their cooperation in various fields, particularly in the health sector, which is (a) new area of bilateral collaboration. It is very important for the Kuwaiti side to acquire Japanese experience in crucial areas such as cancer treatment,” Al-Otaibi said after the talks. As for Japan’s concern on the Offset Program, he said the Kuwaiti side understands that the Japanese companies need to eliminate their burden in Kuwait, and that the issue will be conveyed to the relevant authorities.

The Kuwaiti-Japanese Businessmen’s Committee, first launched in 1995, was organized by Japanese Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) with the objectives of encouraging and promoting feasible and viable projects and joint ventures available in both countries. With about 90 representatives from various sectors in attendance on Wednesday, including 70 from the Japanese side, the forum is a most important annual gathering between the government officials and businesspeople of the two countries. —KUNA

Freedom of expression ‘a source of pride’ MANAMA: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah has boasted freedom of expression and pioneering media experience of Kuwait.

“Freedom of expression and media experience in Kuwait is a source of pride, “ Sheikh Salman said at the concluding session of the First Media Forum of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, held Tuesday. “We, in Kuwait, are proud of the absence of any law restricting media freedom or any censorship on press,” he said, adding that Kuwaiti constitution has enshrined freedom of expression for all.

The minister expected a major leap in the performance of media organization in Kuwait in the coming years to allow larger contributions from audience and to better represent all segments in the society.

He regretted the court’s imprisonment verdicts against a number of twitter users, but stressed that the need for law to regulate electronic media to protect individuals and society against the misuse of new media tools to offend others.

Sheikh Salman thanked the Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing the forum and organizing committee. The Gulf Media Forum concluded its activities Tuesday evening with the participation of approximately 150 Gulf media figures, including Information Ministers of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and a number of experts, academics and specialists in the media and telecommunication affairs.

In their concluding session, the conferees discussed media legislation, guaranteeing freedom of opinion and expression and maintaining national security, under the chairmanship of Secretary General of the Arab Media Forum of Kuwait, Madhi Al-Khamis. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Bedoons stage a protest yesterday in Sulaibiya demanding citizenship and basic rights. The march was the largest in more than a year by the so-called ìstatelessî residents, who are mostly descendants of desert nomads. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Vertical construction mulled as housing crisis solution MPs react with caution KUWAIT: Kuwait’s government considers ‘vertical construction’ as an effective way to resolve the housing crisis which culminated mostly as a result of free land shortage, a local daily reported yesterday quoting a source with knowledge of the Cabinet’s thinking. Speaking to Al-Rai daily on the condition of anonymity, the sources revealed that the project has been discussed during cabinet meetings and calls for providing Kuwaitis ownership of “large apartments” with “very encouraging features”.

On the other hand, several MPs received the news with caution motivated mostly by what is seen as the government’s failure regarding the Sawaber Compound project in Kuwait City.

The sources explained in the meantime that the ‘vertical construction’ proposal remains only an option put for discussion behind current plans which are based on horizontal construction on units ranging in area between 400 and 600 square meters. Advantages that vertical construction provides include locations near Kuwait City and other vital sites, short waiting period, and full services. Families sometimes wait for more than a decade to obtain a government house whereas most new residential area projects are planned on lands

relatively far from Kuwait’s populated area.

The parliament had announced that housing will top subjects to be discussed when session resumes on Oct 29. On that regard parliament sources said that there is ‘increasing concern’ in Kuwait’s northern areas with proposals to establish residential areas north of AlMutla’a and towards the northeast whereas the western zone will remain in custody of the oil and defense ministries. The sources who also requested anonymity argued however that freeing lands necessary for housing projects is most likely going to be delayed by government routine.

MPs on the other hands were not enthusiastic about the idea of granting citizens apartments instead of houses, with one lawmaker calling the step an attempt to ‘escape’ from facing the challenge. “The state needs to admit its failure to provide lands before discussing the idea of vertical construction”, MP Rakan AlNisf said. “After that, they are required to outline the features that can make this idea acceptable before the details are discussed”.

On that regard, MP Khalil Abdullah argued that buildings in any vertical construction project should be built in areas near Kuwait

City, contain super deluxe apartments, and other features including a garden, swimming pool, gym, and security system “to make them appealing for young citizens”.

MP Khalil Al-Saleh said meanwhile that the proposed project would provide a ‘temporary solution’ to the problem that need to be followed by other steps to solve the crisis on the long term. On his part, MP Dr Husain AlQuai’an categorically rejected the idea, citing the Sawaber Complex “which was built in the best location in Kuwait” as well as vast unused lands as reasons to support his stance. MP Abdurrahman Al-Jeeran also questioned the government’s ability to carry out vertical construction projects in time “as tours to mega projects construction sites revealed several flaws” in the government’s execution. In other news, Annahar daily reported yesterday that going ahead with the Mutlaa City project remains pending ongoing procedures to eliminate obstacles in its way, including the removal of the Camp Virginia which the United States military evacuated earlier this year. The project includes 52,000 housing units whereas there are more than 100,000 on the Public Authority for Housing Welfare’s waiting list.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LOCAL

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Al-Anbaa

Good, positive initiative

By Dr Aseel Al-Awadhi

T

he steps taken by the parliament’s bureau upon instructions from the speaker, Marzouq Al-Ghanim to conduct a public survey on citizens’ priorities was a good and positive initiative to launch a new methodology in parliamentary work. Public surveys are an integral and important part of a political practice on which many governments and parliaments in democratic countries highly rely on.

In developed countries, politicians build their attitudes and form their priorities according to public opinion and feedback. The good thing about surveys is that they randomly reflect the opinions of different age categories with different interests, which is the best way to probe public opinion, provided they are done professionally and neutrally.

Our real problem and the problem of most elected parliaments is that once a lawmaker wins a parliamentary seat, he soon becomes a puppet in the voter’s hands and adopts their agenda accordingly and defends their interests even if it contradicts public interest whereas an MP is supposed to represent the whole nation regardless of constituencies that are mere procedural measures to make the election process easier.

This problem gets worse with the one-vote electoral system that makes MPs defend the interests of a very limited group of citizens.

Our real problem and the problem of most elected parliaments is that once a lawmaker wins a parliamentary seat, he soon becomes a puppet in the voter’s hands and adopts their agenda accordingly and defends their interests even if it contradicts public interest whereas an MP is supposed to represent the whole nation regardless of constituencies that are mere procedural measures to make the election process easier. This problem gets worse with the one-vote electoral system that makes MPs defend the interests of a very limited group of citizens, which will not necessarily reflect the majority’s demands.

And so our problems remain unsolved because of contradicting priorities and the fact that MPs get preoccupied with the voter’s personal and individual interests, favors and wasta.

The significance of public surveys lies in providing lawmakers with a means to investigate all Kuwaiti priorities leaving the final decision to individual MPs to either consider or dismiss survey results. The survey also tells those who claim that issues they advocate were of concern to the majority of the people what the real public concerns are. What’s more important is how we deal with the survey results because, in the absence of political parties and organized practical and clearly defined group work, surveys contribute to building a joint base from which MPs can bridge the gaps between their contradicting priorities.

The survey results were no surprise because it is normal for housing, healthcare and education to feature at the top of citizens’ concerns as they are related to their basic needs. What was surprising is the low percentage of citizens’ concern with political reform and other demands.

— Al-Jarida

Benefits of conscription

By Nasser Al-Eidan

H

kuwait digest

Who emerged victorious?

By Osama Al-Shaheen

W

inning and losing are two sides of the same coin. One man’s victory is another man’s loss. It depends on your perspective of things and how you list them in the order of priority.

A huge victory might come at a heavy price, making it more like a loss than anything that truly deserves celebration. On the other hand, a loss might carry several gains. A prime example for that was found in early years of Islam when the Romans achieved victory in the Battle of Tabouk. While the Muslim army technically lost the battle, they gained in many ways, including breaking the psychological barrier of the enemy and tactical retreat for the army led by Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed - and this is still taught in military schools today.

The political scene is also a battleground where ideologies and public awareness are used in place of weapons. While the historical example above talks about a battle between Muslims and non-believers, the battle today takes place between reformists and corrupt individuals. Who emerged victorious after the second ‘battle of boycotting’?

On the surface, the government organized parliamentary elections for the second time in accordance with the electoral system that it personally designed and promulgated. However, major political groups boycotted the elections including Islamists (Islamic Constitutional Movement), liberals (Kuwait Democratic Forum) and populists (Public Constitutional Movement), which made the elected parliament lose legitimate public coverage - similar

to its predecessor. Meanwhile, the government paid a heavy price when it turned a blind eye to negative practices featured during the elections including tribalism and sectarianism in order to push people to vote. It appears that the government does not mind fueling the fire of social tensions and dancing around the flames as they celebrate their fake victory. The prime example for that is the court’s decision to shelve cases of primary elections over lack of evidence in the Interior Ministry’s investigations.

Public awareness which the government always overlooks has improved by a great deal during the battles of the electoral system in 2006, 2012 and 2013. The active Kuwaiti people today are what is important because they create change. I believe that the opposition’s commitment to continue their ‘state building’ project combined with the public’s inattention to the empty struggle between the government and its artificial parliaments should ring a warning bell for those who choose to remain in the dark.

In the end, I believe that all Kuwaitis regardless of political orientation seek what is best for their country and its people, but the difference is featured in the means by which they express their respective options. While one team chose to ‘continue’ taking the wrong path and another opted to stand, watch and ‘go with the flow’, a third team chose ‘reform’ as the last lifeline to save the nation and its people under constitutional and historical legitimacy which is indisputable and non-debatable. — Al-Rai

ave you ever wondered what exactly the Kuwaiti army does when everything is peaceful? Does it play a role in comprehensive development? Anyone who thinks that armies are meant for times of war only are mistaken. Armies are never supposed to be a burden on their people during times of peace. When it comes to Kuwait’s army, I personally fail to see any positive role that it plays in the development of the society, especially given the fact that we live in a country that rarely experiences military struggle. Conscription which provided young men the opportunity to train with commitment, perseverance and self-reliance was probably the only clear developmental role that the Kuwait army played until the program was suspended over lack of interest.

The army in Egypt plays several developmental roles in times of peace for example. It oversees 10 factories that manufacture aircraft, automobiles, electronics and high quality heavy industries. That without a doubt achieves a strategic goal that the Egyptian Army identifies as one of its responsibilities, which is to preserve Egypt’s economic development during times of peace. Furthermore, women play a role in that developmental process. The Egyptian army has a nursing institute in which nurses graduate with a lieutenant rank. This means that - unlike Kuwait not only can women enroll in the police force in Egypt, but also in the army. The diversity in social service that this provides adds to the comprehensive development of the state as it also helps reduce unemployment and utilize the huge expenses allocated for the military in a positive way for the benefit of the society.

Kuwait has an opportunity that is not found in many other countries. We have a large American military base, and I do not know the reason why Kuwait does not take advantage of it regarding human development. In any foreign investor’s contract, wise states always put a condition that makes it compulsory for foreign investor to provide a plan to train national labor forces. In Kuwait’s case, we can ask the foreign investor to set up training centers for our military cadets. I do not see any reason that stops Kuwait from making a similar request to the US Military.

Exchange of expertise in that regard, especially when it comes to servicemen in different fields not only benefits the Kuwaiti Army, but the society as a whole.

Maybe we are not currently at a state of war, but who can guarantee that they might not take place in the future? As a strong believer in preparation, I think that conscription’s reinstatement is a national necessity and an indispensable human development project for any nation. — Al-Rai

In my view

Public survey on priorities

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

T

he parliament’s poll to determine national priorities was seen by some people as a “smart democratic step”, while others saw it as “serving personal agenda” and an “attempt to gain political popularity”. In reality, I believe that the issue is a lot worse, regardless of the intentions behind it.

People elect the ‘elite’ to represent them in the state, determine priorities and draw roadmaps to achieve those priorities. The process of listing subjects is based on the order of importance and is supposed to be the sole job of parliamentarians, who are also required to make sure that the government executes the plans in accordance with the country’s capabilities and people’s needs.

MPs who decided to ask people about the topics they want to see given priority of discussion inside the parliament, are the same lawmakers who spent the past few months amongst voters, listening to their needs and promising to work. What happened then? Why did the parliament suddenly decide to go back to the people only a few months after they came close to them?

Leadership should remain only in the hands of specialized experts and politicians who are supposed to be aware of the capabilities that the country has and chal-

lenges it faces, thus helping them draw the overall policy of the state. The public, myself included, do not have what it takes or the necessary qualities to draw general policies or put together future plans. In fact, the public mostly desires to see everything achieved, and are willing to spend everything to realize their current demands. On the other hand, leaders and those that the public have elected as their representatives are required to provide the answers based on prior knowledge of the problems and demands at hand. After all, this is the main reason why people elected them in the first place, and why they are tasked with the duty of leadership, legislation and execution.

Even if we consider the poll necessary and a “step in the right direction” as some people described it, I believe that it was better organized secretly without the uproar that accompanied it. This is a main precondition to make sure that a public survey truly reflects citizens’ priorities and concerns. The media glare that accompanied the poll transforms it into an inevitable result for the dominating media that reflects the visions for those in charge of the society’s moral guidance, rather than being an honest reflection of Kuwaitis’ demands. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Housing problem

Leadership should remain only in the hands of specialized experts and politicians who are supposed to be aware of the capabilities that the country has and challenges it faces, thus helping them draw the overall policy of the state. The public, myself included, do not have what it takes or the necessary qualities to draw general policies or put together future plans. In fact, the public mostly desires to see everything achieved, and are willing to spend everything to realize their current demands.

kuwait digest

Drastic moral deterioration

By Arwa Al-Waqian

By Arwa Al-Waqian

S

tatistic of UAE real estate ownership showed that out of 56,000 houses, Kuwait had the biggest share of 53 percent with 30,094 owners by the end of 2012, according to Al-Qabas.

In 1993, the price of a medium-sized house was nearly 120,000 and the salary of a Kuwaiti employee who was a university graduate was approximately KD 500, and this was not enough to own a suitable house.

In 2003, the salary of the Kuwaiti university graduate was nearly KD 800, which is a good 60 percent increase in his income. If an employee’s salary saw a good jump in a decade, the real estate price also went up to KD 170,000 - exceeding a citizen’s financial ability to buy property. Today the salary of an employee who holds a university degree is nearly KD 1,250, which is more than 100 percent than what it was 20 years ago, but prices of real estate have shot up and gone beyond KD 350,000 - an amount no employee would be able to pay

unless he has another source of income equal to his salary. Where will you find that?

Yes, our salaries in Kuwait have increased, but it is an unfair increase, because it does not take the employee’s family into consideration! It is also not commiserate with the crazy inflation in the absence of an active supervisory body. It is also an unjust increase because it discriminates between citizens without any justification by law or Sharia. It is an increase that benefits businessmen and real estate owners. So who bears the sin of this suffocating chaos?

The housing problem - just like the rest of Kuwait’s artificial problems - only needs the government to perform its duties efficiently or the Parliament to hold it accountable in case of shortcomings, but under a government that does not carry out its duties and an inept Parliament that is unable to employ its constitutional options, things will continue to deteriorate. — Al-Qabas

A

ll professions have their own set of ethics which mostly don’t require book knowledge. For instance, it is obvious that bankers and doctors should maintain confidentiality while dealing with their customers and patients respectively and teachers are the ones who are supposed to teach and spread good values amongst their students. Unfortunately, we have been witnessing drastic moral deterioration of people working in various professions lately!

The video that recently circulated on various social media network of a teacher teasing a young girl crying on her first day at school is actually an act that does not call for interference from the minister of education. Such practices, are unfortunately wide-spread amongst Arabs because they show no respect for individual privacy. But

when teachers who are supposed to teach ethics and manners lack them, it only means that we have hit the rock bottom of moral deterioration.

The same also applies to some doctors who share their patients’ confidential information like treatment, medicines and even their personal profiles with friends at diwaniyas and other social gatherings. Such doctors betray their profession’s honor simply for some cheap gossip. I wonder how a doctor could lack be unprofessional and display a lack of ethics in such a blatant way.

Therefore, I demand imposing a huge financial penalty on those violating patients’ and students’ privacy. I also want special laws to protect an individual’s privacy because we live in a society that lacks manners and violates privacy for the sake of gossip and chitchat. — Al-Jarida

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Weapons experts begin Syria mission amid clashes

US expels Venezuela charge d’affaires

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MANILA: A Filipino protester shouts slogans during a rally near the US Embassy to oppose the planned visit of US President Barack Obama in Manila, Philippines yesterday. Obama has canceled two stops, Malaysia and Philippines, on his long-planned trip to Asia because of the partial government shutdown, the White House announced yesterday. — AP

Obama scraps Malaysia, Philippine visits President and Senate reject plan, call for full funding WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday scrapped part of long-planned trip to Asia and left the remainder of the trip in doubt as a US government shutdown entered a second day with no end in sight to the funding battle in Congress that triggered it.

Obama scuttled two stops on a planned four-country tour and left visits to two other countries up in the air, according to White House statements.

The president told his counterparts in Malaysia and the Philippines he would not be able to meet them as planned and a White House official said the president is weighing whether to attend diplomatic summits in Indonesia and Brunei. “We will continue to evaluate those trips based on how events develop throughout the course of the week,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.

Obama was originally due to leave the United States on Saturday and return a week later. Not only must the president deal with the budget impasse and its effects, but he faces an even bigger crunch in Congress, which will put the United States at risk of defaulting on its debts if it does not raise the US public debt ceiling. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has said the United States will exhaust its borrowing authority no later than Oct 17. The fight between Obama’s Democrats and the Republicans over the government’s borrowing power is rapidly merging with the standoff over every day funding, which has forced the first government shutdown in 17 years and forced hundreds of thousands of federal employees to take unpaid leave. The White House announcements about the Asia trip followed a fruitless day on Capitol Hill, with congressional Democrats and Republicans coming no closer to resolving their differences.

Obama accused Republicans of taking the government hostage to sabotage his signature healthcare law, the most ambitious US social program in five decades, passed three years ago.

Republicans in the House of Representatives view the Affordable Care Act as a dangerous extension of government power, and have coupled their efforts to undermine it with continued efforts to block government funding.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has repeatedly rejected those efforts.

The standoff has raised new concerns about Congress’s ability to perform its most basic duties and threatens to hamper a still fragile economic recovery.

“This is a mess. A royal screw-up,” said Democratic Representative Louise Slaughter of New York.

As police cordoned off landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, and government agencies stopped functions ranging from cancer treatments to trade negotiations,

Republicans in the House sought to restore funding to national parks, veterans’ care and the District of Columbia, the capital.

An effort to pass the three bills fell short on Tuesday evening, but Republicans plan to try again . They are likely to be defeated by the Democratic-controlled Senate. “That’s important - a park? How about the kids who need daycare?” said Democratic Representative Sander Levin of Michigan.

“You have to let all the hostages go. Every single one of them.”

The setback to the Asia trip, designed to reinforce US commitment to the region, is the first obvious international consequence of the troubles in Washington.

“They’ve shut down the government over an ideological crusade to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans,” Obama said on Tuesday.

Republicans said Obama could not complain about the impact of the shutdown while refusing to negotiate. “The White House position is unsustainably hypocritical,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 24 percent of Americans blamed Republicans, while 19 percent blamed Obama or Democrats. Another 46 percent said everyone was to blame.

Republicans said their latest proposal would help elderly veterans who on Tuesday pushed past barricades at the National World War Two Memorial to get into the site.

“They’re coming here because they want to visit their

memorial, the World War Two memorial. But no, the Obama administration has put barricades around it,” said Republican Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho.

All three bills won support from a majority of the House, but fell short of the two-thirds vote needed to pass under special rules that allow quick action. Republican leaders plan to bring up the bills for a regular vote. Obama said he would veto the bills if they reached his desk.

The veterans in question got in to the memorial with help from several Republican lawmakers. But they did not seem interested in taking sides. “It’s just like a bunch of little kids fighting over candy,” said George Atkinson, an 82-year-old veteran of the Korean War. “The whole group ought to be replaced, top man down.”

The selective spending plan appeared to temporarily unite Republicans, heading off a split between Tea Party conservatives who pushed for the government funding confrontation and moderates who appear to be losing stomach for the fight.

Representative Peter King, a New York moderate, estimated that more than 100 of the chamber’s 232 Republicans would back Obama’s demand to restore all government funding without conditions. That would be enough to easily pass the House with the support of the chamber’s 200 Democrats.

The shutdown closed landmarks including access to the Grand Canyon and pared the government’s spy agencies by 70 percent. In Washington, the National Zoo shut off a popular “panda cam” that allowed visitors to view its newborn pan-

da cub online. In Pennsylvania, white supremacists had to cancel a planned rally at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Stock investors appeared to take the news in stride on Tuesday, with investors confident a deal could be reached quickly. The S&P 500 closed up 0.8 percent and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.2 percent.

But the US Treasury was forced to pay the highest interest rate in about 10 months on its short-term debt as many investors avoided bonds that would be due later this month, when the government is due to exhaust its borrowing capacity. A week-long shutdown would slow US economic growth by about 0.3 percentage points, according to Goldman Sachs, but a longer disruption could weigh on the economy more heavily as furloughed workers scale back personal spending.

The last shutdown in 1995 and 1996 cost taxpayers $1.4 billion, according to congressional researchers.

The political crisis has raised fresh concern about whether Congress can meet a mid-October deadline to raise the government’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling. Some Republicans see that vote as another opportunity to undercut Obama’s healthcare law. Failure to raise the debt limit would force the United States to default on its obligations, dealing a blow to the economy and sending shockwaves around global markets.

A 2011 standoff over the debt ceiling hammered consumer confidence and prompted a first-ever downgrade of the United States’ credit rating. Analysts say this time it could be worse. — Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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

Iran warns Israel it will respond to any attack UNITED NATIONS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed a charm offensive by Iran’s new president as a ruse concocted by a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and declared that Israel was ready to stand alone to deny Tehran an atomic weapon.

In a combative address to the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu assailed the trustworthiness of Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s centrist president who has made diplomatic overtures to the United States and spoke by telephone last week with President Barack Obama. “Rouhani doesn’t sound like Ahmadinejad,” Netanyahu said, referring to Rouhani’s hardline predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose annual UN addresses were stridently anti-Western and anti-Israel.

“But when it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the only difference between them is this: Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf’s clothing, Rouhani is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a wolf who thinks he can pull the wool over the eyes of the international community,” Netanyahu said.

“This is a ruse,” Netanyahu added. “It’s a ploy.”

Netanyahu’s address, the last at this year’s gathering ofworld leaders in New York, reflected Israeli worries that the emerging signs of what could become a USIranian rapprochement might lead to a premature easing of international sanctions and military threats designed to deny Iran the means to make a bomb.

“Don’t let up the pressure,” Netanyahu said, adding that the only deal that could be made with Rouhani was one that “fully dismantles Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”

Asked about Netanyahu’s speech, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Israel’s “skepticism is understandable.” “After all, this is a country whose leadership until recently was pledging to annihilate Israel,” he said, referring to Ahmadinejad’s suggestions

that Israel had no right to exist.

The United States, Israel and other countries accuse Iran of using its nuclear program to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says the program is for peaceful energy purposes only. During his General Assembly speech last week, Rouhani said nuclear weapons “have no place in Iran’s security and defense doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions.”

The Israeli leader referred to Rouhani’s 1989-2003 tenure as the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a time when he said Iranian “henchmen” killed opposition leaders in Berlin, 85 people at a Jewish center in Buenos Aires and 19 US soldiers in a bomb attack on the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia.

“Are we to believe that Rouhani, the national security adviser of Iran at the time, knew nothing about these attacks?” Netanyahu said. “Of course he did, just as 30 years ago Iran’s security chiefs knew about the bombings in Beirut that killed 241 American Marines and 58 French paratroopers.”

Netanyahu made clear that Israel, believed to possess the Middle East’s only atomic arsenal, was prepared to resort to unilateral military action against Iran if it deems diplomacy a dead end.

“I want there to be no confusion on this point. Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others,” Netanyahu said.

The bulk of his speech was about Iran, but he also touched on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying the Jewish state was prepared to make a “historic compromise.” He faulted Palestinian leaders for not reciprocating enough.

Rouhani, who took office last month after being

Bahrain jails 4 Shiites for 15 years over a bomb DUBAI: A Bahraini court jailed yesterday four Shiites 15 years each after convicting them of detonating a bomb that wounded an Asian worker in Manama, a judicial source said.

The ruling is the third tough sentence since Sunday and brings to 91 the number of Shiites jailed in four days over violence, amid criticism from rights watchdog Amnesty International.

Two of the defendants were in the dock, while the other two remain at large, said the source. The four were accused of “forming a terrorist group, attempted murder, and (carrying out) bombings,” according to the charge sheet.

Prosecutors say they planted two roadside bombs in November last year in Manama’s Al-Adliya district.

One bomb exploded near a rubbish bin wounding an Asian worker, while the second one near an electricity generator was defused.

On Sunday, a Bahraini court handed jail terms of up to 15 years to 50 activists, including a prominent Shiite Iraqi cleric, convicted of forming a clandestine opposition group. Amnesty had slammed the ruling against

them as appalling and demanded a probe into allegations that some were tortured.

On Monday, a court jailed 37 other Shiites for up to 15 years for carrying out “terrorist crimes” in the kingdom. In August, King Hamad decreed stiffer penalties for “terror acts” in the country rocked by a Shiite-led uprising since 2011.

These include a minimum 10-year jail term for an attempted bombing. If casualties result, the sentence can be life imprisonment or death.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain was rocked by Arab Springinspired protests led by the kingdom’s Shiite majority that were crushed in March 2011. Bahraini Shiites continue to demonstrate in villages outside the capital and frequently clash with police. At least 89 people have been killed since the protests erupted in 2011, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

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 neighbours. — AFP

elected in June, projected a more moderate tone from Iran at the world forum last week, with long-term adversaries Iran and the United States now preparing for renewed nuclear talks.

Later this month, Iran will meet with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany in Geneva to pick up from last week’s discussions in New York that included Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry. Iran has made clear it wants a swift deal that would lift the crippling international sanctions against it and put an end to the decade-long standoff over its nuclear ambitions.

In a response to Netanyahu’s speech, Khodadad Seifi, a representative of the Iranian U.N. delegation, rejected Israel’s allegations and told the 193-nation General Assembly that Iran was “fully committed” to its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

He warned Israel that Iran was able to respond to any Israeli attack, saying, “The Israeli prime minister had better not even think about attacking Iran, let alone planning for that.”

Netanyahu said Iran’s nuclear program had continued at a “vast and feverish” pace since the election of Rouhani. “Like everyone else, I wish we could believe Rouhani’s words, but we must focus on Iran’s action,” Netanyahu said, adding that sanctions should be tightened if the Iranians pursue nuclear projects while negotiating with world powers.

At last year’s UN General Assembly, Netanyahu made headlines when he used a marker to draw Israel’s “red line” across a cartoonish bomb he displayed as a visual aid during his speech to illustrate advances in Iranian uranium enrichment.

“Iran has been very careful not to cross that line, but Iran is positioning itself to race across that line in

the future at a time of its choosing,” he said. “Iran wants to be in a position to rush forward to build nuclear bombs before the international community can detect it and much less prevent it.”

Although Iran did not cross that “red line”, Israel worries that it has improved its technologies and is now capable of dashing toward a first bomb within weeks. On Tuesday, Netanyahu noted the Iranian heavy water plant Arak that, he said, could produce plutonium - another potential fuel for nuclear weapons. If there are any changes taking place in Iran, Netanyahu said, it was the result of pressure on the Islamic Republic. “I have argued for many years, including on this podium, that the only way to peacefully prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons is to combine tough sanctions with a credible military threat. And that policy today is bearing fruit.”

Referring to the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, Netanyahu said: “Since that time, presidents of Iran have come and gone. Some presidents were considered moderates, others hardliners.”

“But they have all served that same unforgiving creed, that same unforgiving regime, that creed that is espoused and enforced by the real power in Iran, the dictator known as the supreme leader, first Ayatollah (Ruholla) Khomeini and now Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei,” he said. “President Rouhani, like the presidents who came before him, is a loyal servant of the regime,” Netanyahu added. Netanyahu also noted the thousands of years of Persian-Jewish amity that ended with the fierce anti-Israel hostility ushered in by the 1979 revolution in Iran. After meeting with Netanyahu on Monday, Obama reiterated his determination to prevent Iran from getting nuclear arms.

Both leaders said their countries were cooperating on the issue. — Reuters

Weapons experts begin Syria mission amid clashes Clashes between troops, rebals kill 12 soldiers BEIRUT: International inspectors in charge of overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons left their hotel in Damascus yesterday to begin their work as deadly clashes raged on the edge of the capital.

The inspectors’ mission - endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution that calls for Syria’s chemical stockpile to be scrapped by mid-2014 - faces the tightest deadline ever placed before the experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

It was not clear where the inspectors, who arrived in Syria on Tuesday from neighboring Lebanon, were headed from their hotel in central Damascus.

Their work comes against the backdrop of relentless fighting.

On the northern edge of the city, fierce clashes between Syrian troops and al-Qaeda-linked fighters killed at least 12 soldiers and pro-government militiamen on Tuesday, anti-regime activists said, as the army pressed on with a campaign to dislodge opposition fighters from the capital. The fighting in the contested district of Barzeh had flared up on Monday, when the army stepped up attacks against opposition forces who have been trying to capture the area for months, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Barzeh is important for rebels trying to take their battle closer to President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. At least 19 government troops have been killed in Barzeh since Monday - including the 12 on Tuesday - and dozens of others have been wounded, the Observatory said.

The rebels, mostly from the ranks of alQaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra fighters, also sustained losses, but have not disclosed them, the Observatory said.

The fighting illustrates the enormous challenges the inspectors - an advance team of 19 from a Netherlands-based chemical weapons watchdog and 14

NEW YORK: Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Dr Bashar Ja’afari speaks to members of the media after a UN Security Council meeting yesterday in New York City. — AFP U.N. staff members - face as they kick off their work.

Within a week, a second group of inspectors is scheduled to join them to form teams that will fan out to individual locations. They have around nine months to complete their mission, which calls for finding, dismantling and eliminating Assad’s estimated 1,000-ton chemical arsenal.

Experts at The Hague, where the OPCW is based, said Sunday the inspectors’ priority is to reach the first milestone of helping Syria scrap its ability to manufacture chemical weapons by a Nov. 1 deadline, using every means possible.

Some of the inspectors will be double-checking Syria’s initial disclosure of what weapons and chemical precursors it has and where they are located. Others will begin planning the logistics for visits to every site where chemicals or weapons are reported to be stored.

They are empowered to conduct sur-

prise visits to sites they suspect may contain undeclared weapons, and the UN resolution says they must be granted unfettered access. The inspectors’ mission was born out of a deadly chemical attack on opposition-held suburbs of Damascus on Aug. 21. The US and its allies accuse the Syrian government of being responsible, while Damascus blames the rebels.

The chemical attack prompted the Obama administration to threaten punitive missile strikes against the Assad regime, touching off weeks of frantic diplomacy that culminated with a Russian-brokered proposal to have Syria surrender its chemical weapons and ended with the UN resolution that was adopted Friday. The resolution also endorsed a roadmap for political transition in Syria adopted by key nations in June 2012, and called for an international peace conference in Geneva to be convened “as soon as possible” to implement it. — AP

Gaza’s tunnels idle amid Egypt crackdown RAFAH: Gaza’s tunnel smugglers along the border with Egypt are mostly idle these days. Some rest on cots in the dank underground pathways, stretching out for a smoke.

Others pass the time cleaning the small carts on wheels that are normally pulled through the tunnels carrying cement or consumer goods from Egypt.

Since the summer, Egypt’s military has tried to destroy or seal off most of the smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, a consequence of the heightened tensions between Cairo and the Hamas government in Gaza. In July, Egypt’s military brought down the country’s Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, in a popularly-backed coup and cracked down on his Muslim Brotherhood movement. The military accused Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood, of fomenting unrest in Egypt and moved to shut down the border tunnels, citing security reasons.

The tunnels have served for years as a lifeline for Gaza, home to some 1.7 million Palestinians. They became particularly important after Hamas overran the territory in 2007, prompting Israel and Morsi’s Western-backed predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, to impose a stifling border blockade.

Israel has eased the blockade in recent years, but still restricts the imports of some goods, including cement and steel rods. Until recently, the tunnels served as a conduit for

such construction materials and for subsidized Egyptian fuel.

The tunnels once employed thousands of young men in Gaza. By early September, with most tunnels closed, only few tunnel workers reported to their jobs for maintenance work. Some mask their faces with shirts to avoid identification while working, for fear of repercussions in case they were to travel to Egypt in the future.

Some began digging new tunnels to replace the ones destroyed by the Egyptian security forces. “We have no other alternative but to work in these

tunnels,” said one of the workers, Hussam Rashwan. “They are the only crossing to bring needed goods to Gaza.”

From the Gaza side, some of the workers watched as bulldozers leveled an olive grove on the Egyptian side of the border, marked by a low wall. The Gazans said they’d learned from their Egyptian smuggling partners that the army had just destroyed a house built on top of a tunnel, and the bulldozers were now presumably clearing away any other cover where one could be hidden. —AP

RAFAH: In this Monday, Sept 30, 2013 photo, a Palestinian man works in a tunnel in Rafah, on the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. Since the summer, Egypt’s military has tried to destroy or seal off most of the smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, a consequence of the heightened tensions between Cairo and the Hamas government in Gaza. — AP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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

Dying ex-Black Panther freed after 40 years in solitary WASHINGTON: A terminally ill former Black Panther, who spent 40 years in solitary confinement for murder, was set free Tuesday after a judge reversed his controversial 1974 conviction for murder. Judge Brian Jackson on Tuesday “ordered that the state immediately release Mr. (Herman) Wallace from custody,” according to a copy of the decision obtained by AFP. He was left the prison in an ambulance at 7:30 pm (0030 GMT), and now “will be able to receive the medical care that his advanced liver cancer requires,” his lawyers said.

Wallace, 72, who is dying from liver cancer, is one of the “Angola three,” named after a notorious prison where they were held, built on the site of a former plantation worked by slaves from Africa.

The three embraced the Black Panther movement-a black, revolutionary socialist organizationwhile already in prison for lesser crimes.

They were active in organizing sit-ins and other protests to demand desegregation and better protection of inmates against abuses. At the time, the prison had no black guards and a reputation as one of the most violent in the United States.

Wallace, who was behind bars for armed robbery, and fellow Panther Albert Woodfox, were sentenced to life after being convicted of stabbing a white prison guard to death in 1972. A third, Robert King, was never charged but blamed for the murder nonetheless and, like Wallace and Woodfox, placed in solitary confinement. He was released after 29 years.

According to Wallace’s defense counsel, the charges against him rested on the “incoherent” testimony of four prisoners who later retracted their statements.

No fingerprints taken from the scene matched

Ex-Guatemala soldier lied about massacre RIVERSIDE: After just a few hours of deliberations, a California jury convicted a former Guatemalan army officer of lying about his role in the massacre of at least 160 people more than 30 years ago on a US citizenship application.

The federal jury found Jorge Sosa guilty Tuesday of making false statements and obtaining citizenship unlawfully. The 55-year-old former second lieutenant could face both a prison sentence and loss of his US citizenship when he’s sentenced Dec. 9.

The verdict followed a five-day trial that brought haunting testimony from Guatemala’s 36-year civil war to a present-day courtroom in Riverside County, where Sosa previously lived and taught martial arts. While Sosa is not charged with war crimes, the case included accounts from former soldiers about how they brought men, women and children to the well in the village of Dos Erres to be killed, their bodies dumped inside.

“It was a significant case for our office, and I believe justice was done today,” assistant US attorney Jeannie Joseph said after the verdict was read.

Sosa listened to the verdict through a Spanish interpreter and appeared to take notes, as he did for much of the trial, without visible reaction. His lawyer, Shashi Kewalramani, said Sosa would appeal. “They were clearly swayed by what happened in Dos Erres, as any person would be,” Kewalramani said of the jury. “It’s difficult to divorce yourself from the background that’s here.” Prosecutors said Sosa was a member of a special forces patrol that went to Dos Erres in December 1982 to search for weapons believed stolen by guerrillas. The weapons were never found and prosecutors say the patrol decided to kill the villagers after some of the soldiers began raping the women. More than two decades later, Sosa failed to mention his military service or role in the massacre on his application to become an American citizen even though the paperwork inquired about affiliations and past crimes, prosecutors said.

Kewalramani said authorities knew Sosa was in the military because he told them about his service when he unsuccessfully sought asylum in 1985, and referred to this application when he later sought to naturalize. He said the case is about how Sosa, as a former soldier, answered the questions on his immigration forms, not the atrocities of war, which ought to be addressed in Guatemala.

During the trial, two former soldiers testified they saw Sosa standing near the well in Dos Erres where they were ordered to bring villagers to be killed and that he fired his rifle at the screaming, dying victims inside. One of the survivors of the massacre recounted the horror of watching soldiers bash small children into a tree and toss their bodies into the well and seeing his mother yanked from the family as she pleaded for her life. —AP

those of the men convicted of the crime, and witnesses said they were working in another part of the prison.

With his health deteriorating, Wallace wrote in July to Judge Jackson to plead for an expedited review of his case, noting that it had been three and a half years since he had filed a habeas corpus petition and no action had been taken. On Tuesday, Jackson voided Wallace’s “conviction and sentence, on the ground that systematic exclusion of women from the grand jury that indicted him violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws.” Jackson also ordered Louisiana to decide within 30 days if it intends to reprosecute Wallace. Later Tuesday, the judge rejected an appeal from the prosecutor’s office, ruling that Wallace has served four decades “under a conviction and sentence based on an

unconstitutional indictment” and, given his age and poor health, was unlikely to be a “a flight risk or a danger to the public.”

Louisiana’s governor’s office and the state attorney general were unavailable for comment.

Amnesty International, which had called for Wallace’s release, cheered the decision even as it lamented that it came only as he “is dying from cancer with only days or hours left to live.

“No ruling can erase the cruel, inhuman and degrading prison conditions he endured for more than 41 years-confined alone to a tiny cell for 23 hours a day,” the group’s executive director, Steven Hawkins, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Wallace’s defense team pledged that “litigation challenging Wallace’s unconstitutional confinement in solitary confinement for four decades will continue in his name.” — AFP

US expels Venezuela diplomats Two countries at each other’s throats politically CARACAS: The United States has expelled Venezuela’s charge d’affaires in Washington and two other diplomats in reprisal for the expulsion of three American diplomats from Caracas, both countries said late Tuesday.

The tit-for-tat move came a day after the expulsion of the Americans, accused of plotting acts of sabotage against the government, the foreign ministry in Caracas said. It called the American move unjustified, saying the Venezuelan diplomats had not been meeting with people opposed to President Barack Obama.

Venezuela said the three diplomats it ejected, including charge d’affaires Kelly Keiderling, had met with the “Venezuelan far right” — the government’s term for the opposition-to finance President Nicolas Maduro’s opponents and “encourage actions to sabotage the power system and the economy.

The two countries-at each other’s throats politically but eager supplier and buyer of Venezuelan oil-have not had ambassadors in each other’s capitals since 2010. Maduro is a firebrand anti-US populist in the mould of his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, who died in March of cancer.

Some analysts in Venezuela said Maduro expelled the Americans to create a fracas and divert people’s attention from his country’s economic woes, with key municipal elections due in December.

“The United States is the big wild card for the revolutionary government. That is why the government does not want any stability in relations,” said Felix Gerardo Arellano, a professor of political science at the Central University of Venezuela.

Venezuela suffers from inflation, acute and regular shortages of basic goods, rampant street crime and other woes. On September 3 an electrical blackout left 70 percent of the country without power for hours.

The government has blamed the opposition, saying it seeks to create social unrest. In Washington, a State Department official confirmed the Venezuelan charge d’affaires Calixto Ortega Rios and two other diplomats had been told on Monday they had 48 hours to leave the United States. Ortega and another diplomat were based in Washington while the third was the consul in Houston, Texas.

CARACAS: Kelly Keiderling, Charge d’Affairs of the US embassy in Venezuela, arrives to give a news conference after Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro expelled her and two other embassy officials from the country, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday. — AP “It is regrettable that the Venezuelan government has again decided to expel US diplomatic officials based on groundless allegations, which require reciprocal action,” the official said. “It is counterproductive to the interests of both our countries and not a serious way for a country to conduct its foreign policy,” the official. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said earlier in the day Venezuela’s charges appeared to have arisen out of a trip to Bolivar state by the three Americans who “were there conducting normal diplomatic engagement.”

“We, of course, maintain regular contacts across the

Venezuelan political spectrum. And we maintain a broad perspective on Venezuela and travel frequently ....that’s what diplomats do.” Keiderling, the Caracas government said, acknowledged meeting with members of “civil society” as part of her normal diplomatic work. The foreign ministry blasted this as “a confession of open interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela.” Washington has been trying to improve ties with Caracas since the death of longstanding US foe Chavez, but little progress has been made.

Still, the United States is Venezuela’s top oil buyer, purchasing 900,000 barrels a day. —AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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

Letta wins Senate confidence vote by 235 votes to 70 Berlusconi U-turn secures government survival ROME: Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote in parliament yesterday after Silvio Berlusconi, facing revolt in his own party, backtracked on threats to bring down the government. As dozens of centre-right senators prepared to defy their media magnate leader and salvage the left-right coalition led by Letta, Berlusconi staged an abrupt U-turn and said he too would back the centre-left prime minister, just days after he sparked the crisis by pulling his ministers out of Letta’s cabinet.

After a sometimes fiery debate in the upper house, in which he faced repeated accusations of sowing chaos in a bid to stave off his imminent expulsion from parliament following a tax fraud conviction, Berlusconi said: “We have decided, not without some internal strife, to support the government.” Financial markets reacted positively, but the resolution of this crisis, seven months after an inconclusive election, leaves big question marks over Letta’s ability to address deep problems in Italy’s economy which are troubling its partners in the euro.

Berlusconi’s belated declaration of support for him brought a smile of astonishment from the prime minister, who by then seemed sure of victory with the support of centre-right rebels. Berlusconi masked his face with his hands after speaking. In what may be one of his last acts in the Senate before the procedure for his removal begins on Friday, the 77-year-old billionaire then cast his vote among 235 for Letta to continue in office. Later, as he drove away, he was heckled by onlookers.

Letta, backed by his own Democratic Party (PD) and

by Berlusconi and his People of Freedom (PDL), had opposition only from other parties, who mustered 70 votes against him. The prime minister, who took office in April after an election in February that gave no one a clear majority, said he would press on with a program of fiscal measures to keep Italy’s badly strained public

finances under control and reforms to confront the worst recession in 60 years. He also pledged to reform the widely criticized electoral law which gives the two houses of parliament equal powers and makes it difficult for any party to win a functioning majority. However, the

surprising nature of his victory leaves a series of unanswered questions about both the stability of his government and the future of Italy’s centre-right political movement, which came close to implosion as the vote neared.

Having begun as a vote of confidence in Letta, the

ROME: Former Prime Minister and leader of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi (C) is congratulated by a senator after his vote yesterday at the Senate in Rome during yesterday’s confidence vote at the Parliament. Enrico Letta warned lawmakers ahead of a crucial vote of confidence today that the country ran a “fatal” risk as Silvio Berlusconi tries to topple his government. “Italy runs a risk that could be a fatal risk. Seizing this moment or not depends on us, on a yes or a no,” Letta said in his address. — AFP

day turned into a test for Berlusconi, whose previously unchallenged grip on the conservative side of the political spectrum faced its gravest threat since he took up politics two decades ago. His declaration for Letta capped a day that veered between high drama and what one centrist politician called farce, as an unprecedented party rebellion persuaded the three-time premier that there was no point in continuing resistance.

Having covered his face with his hands after his speech, when he later stepped into a car outside the Senate to be driven away, a crowd of onlookers heckled the centre-right leader. Letta, who had appeared on course for victory with PDL help even before the startling turn of events in the chamber, reacted with visible surprise, laughing slightly and shaking his head in disbelief as Berlusconi made his announcement.

DRAMA Financial markets, already buoyed by confidence that Italy would avoid uncertain new elections, reacted positively. Shares on the Milan bourse rose nearly two percent and yields on 10-year government bonds fell to a low for the day of 4.34 percent. As the debate on the confidence motion opened, Letta said Italy risked being left without a stable government.

“Italy is running a risk that could be fatal, without remedy,” he told the Senate. “Thwarting this risk, to seize or not seize the moment, depends on the choices we will make in this chamber. It depends on a yes, or a no.” A second confidence vote will be held in the lower house but Letta’s centre-left majority there ensures him an easy victory. However, uncertainty remains over whether the government will be capable of the kind of deep reforms or painful tax and budget measures needed to reverse a decade of economic stagnation and cut its 2 trillion euro ($2.7 trillion) debt. —Reuters

Russia charges five activists Piracy carries a punishment between 10-15 years

MANCHESTER: British Prime Minister David Cameron (Centre R) and his wife Samantha leave the stage following his speech at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, north-west England, yesterday. — AFP

UK’s Cameron promises ‘land of opportunity’ MANCHESTER: British Prime Minister David Cameron urged voters yesterday to give his Conservative party time to finish the job of economic recovery and create a “land of opportunity” built on pro-business values.

In his keynote speech to the party’s annual conference, Cameron insisted that the economy was turning a corner after years of austerity as he set out his goal of a majority in the 2015 general election.

Cameron repeatedly attacked the “socialist” opposition Labour party, on whom he blamed the record deficit that his government is tackling, and said that profit and tax cuts were no longer “dirty, elitist words”.

“Together we will finish the job we’ve started and together we will build that land of opportunity,” Cameron said to applause from delegates in Manchester, northwest England. “A country built on that enduring principle, seared in our hearts, that if you work hard, save, play by the rules and do your fair share-then nothing should stand in your way.” The Conservative-led coalition with the Liberal Democrats has pushed through three years of public spending cuts and finance minister George Osborne warned in his conference speech on Monday that they would continue to bite for years to come.

But Cameron is seizing on signs of recovery to try to create a more upbeat tone, painting a picture of a country where children are pushed hard at school, the jobless are helped “to stand on their own two feet”.

In the penultimate party conference before what is likely to be a tightly-fought May 2015 election, Cameron said the Conservatives would not seek another coalition with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s Lib Dems. “When that election comes, we won’t be campaigning for a coalition, we will

be fighting head, heart and soul for a majority Conservative government-because that’s what the country needs,” he said. He accused Labour leader Ed Miliband of failing people by expecting nothing of them, accusing the party of “1970s-style socialism” after Miliband last week pledged to freeze energy costs.

“The land of despair was Labour but the land of hope is Tory,” Cameron said in a string of bitter attacks on Labour. “We know that profit, wealth creation, tax cuts, enterprisethese are not dirty, elitist words. They’re not the problem, they really are the solution,” Cameron said.

The Conservative party has announced a raft of policies this week aimed at “hard-working people”, its new slogan. They range from state guarantees for mortgages to help people afford their first home to making the long-term unemployed carry out community work for their benefits.

Cameron meanwhile insisted Britain had won allies in Europe by taking a strong stance on reform of the European Union. “I vetoed that treaty, I got Britain out of the EU bailout scheme and yes I cut that budget,” he said.

“And in doing all this we haven’t lost respect, we have won allies to get powers back from Europe.” Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU and put the new terms to an in-out referendum in 2017 if he is re-elected in 2015. “That is our pledge, it will be your choice, in or out,” he said. He made no reference to the anti-EU UK Independence Party, which is pressuring the Conservatives on the right.

The Tories are slowly eroding Labour’s lead in opinion polls-but current electoral boundaries mean that Cameron’s party will likely require a hefty margin of victory to secure a majority. — AFP

Bodies pulled out of Nairobi mall as Shebab warns of fresh attacks NAIROBI: Bodies have been retrieved from Kenya’s Westgate mall following a brutal siege by Islamist gunmen, police said yesterday, as the extremists warned “rivers of blood” would flow in fresh attacks.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has said a formal inquiry will be launched into apparent security lapses during the deadly assault last week on the shopping complex, in which at least 67 were killed, with 39 more listed as missing. Shopkeepers have complained their stores in the upmarket centre have been completely looted.

Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab, who claimed responsibility for the attack, threatened yesterday to step up militant attacks against Kenya, after Nairobi refused to pull its troops out of Somalia.

“We will strike Kenyans where it hurts the most, turn their cities into graveyards and rivers of blood will flow in Nairobi,” the Shebab said in a statement. “The Kenyan government’s decision to keep its invading force in Somalia is an indication that they

haven’t yet learnt any valuable lessons from the Westgate attacks,” the extremists added, warning that Kenya was “inviting unprecedented levels of insecurity, bloodshed and destruction.”

Part of the mall’s rooftop carpark collapsed after explosions and a fierce fire, leaving the key area where the insurgents are understood to have made their final stand-along with possible hostages-buried under tonnes of concrete slabs and rubble.

As many as nine bodies have been retrieved from the charred rubble of the mall, some badly damaged in the intense fire that gutted part of the complex. “Some of the bodies are not recognisable and need DNA testing to get them properly identified, some are badly damaged,” a senior police source said. It was not immediately clear if the retrieved bodies were already included in the official toll of 67 — including 61 civilians and six Kenyan troops-or if they could be among the 39 people listed as missing by the Red Cross. —AFP

MOSCOW: Russian investigators yesterday charged five Greenpeace campaigners with piracy over an open-sea protest against Arctic oil drilling, the environmental group said, calling the move an “outrage”.

The charge against the activists-a Briton, a Finn, a Brazilian, a Russian and a dual US-Swedish citizendimmed hopes that 25 others detained over the protest could be indicted on a lesser charge. Piracy by an organised group carries a punishment of between 10 and 15 years.

A spokeswoman for the Moscow-based Investigative Committee declined to provide details of the charges, confirming only that the activists from the group’s Dutch-flagged Arctic Sunrise icebreaker detained for two months were being charged. Greenpeace called the charges “extreme and disproportionate.” “This is an outrage and represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest,” Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said. “Any claim that these activists are pirates is as absurd as it is abominable. It is utterly irrational, it is designed to intimidate and silence us, but we will not be cowed.” He said the charges represented the “most serious threat” to environmental activism since the group’s ship Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk by French special services in New Zealand in 1985.

The charges of piracy came despite President Vladimir Putin’s statements last week that the activists “of course are not pirates.” He however said that they did break the law by protesting dangerously close to an oil rig.

Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP Wednesday that Putin had expressed his personal opinion. “He is not an investigator, nor a prosecutor, judge or defence lawyer.” Among those already charged were Brazil’s Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel, British freelance videographer Kieron Bryan, and Finnish activist Sini Saarela, who was one of the climbers who attempted to scale a Russian oil platform. The other two charged were spokesman Dmitri Litvinov, a dual US and Swedish citizen, and Russia’s Roman Dolgov. Greenpeace says it will appeal and turn to the European Court of Human Rights. Russian investigators accused the activists of piracy after several of them tried to scale state energy giant Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya oil platform in the northern Barents Sea last month.

The group has denied the charges and accused Russia of illegally boarding its ship in international waters. The 30 activists from 18 countries are being

WARSAW: A Greenpeace activist sits in a cage and another one holds a placard reading “I am 1of the 30” in a protest against the imprisonment of Greenpeace activists in Russia, in downtown Warsaw, Poland, yesterday. Thirty Greenpeace members were detained in Russia after they protested last week near a Russian oil drilling platform in the Arctic and can face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. — AP held in pre-trial detention centres in the cities of Murmansk and Apatity, which are nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) north of Moscow and above the Arctic Circle. All but four of them are non-Russians from countries including Britain, the United States, Finland and Argentina. The Arctic Sunrise crew members are “close to shock” over their conditions in their jails, an activist said.

They have complained of cold, smoke-filled cells, and a lack of suitable clothing and food, Irina Paikacheva, the head of a state-linked prisoners’ rights watchdog, told AFP. The Dutch government last month called on Moscow to release the activists immediately and said it was considering legal action. The arrests have also sparked outrage from rights activists. “It is a Kafkaesque story,” Tanya Lokshina, deputy head of Human Rights Watch in Russia, told AFP. “We could not have imagined this is

possible.” Greenpeace held a similar protest at the same oil platform last year without incurring any punishment. The unusually tough charges are likely to generate new controversy as Russia gears up to host the Winter Olympics in February already overshadowed by claims of gay rights abuse.

Since returning to the Kremlin for a third term as president last year, Putin has sought to re-assert his control over the country after huge protests in winter 2011-12. Last month, Putin lambasted the West and pledged to fiercely protect Russia from foreign influence, saying its sovereignty and independence were “red lines” that could not be crossed. On Saturday, a pro-Kremlin NTV channel broadcast a smear documentary claiming Greenpeace served US corporate interests and made huge profits staging protests against Russian rather than US industries.

The group has denied the accusations. — AFP

Greek neo-Nazi lawmakers indicted ATHENS: Four lawmakers from Greece’s Golden Dawn neo-Nazi party were charged yesterday with belonging to a criminal organisation as the authorities move to dismantle the group after the murder of an anti-fascist musican.

The indictments-the first ever against neo-Nazi MPs in Greece-were unveiled as Golden Dawn’s leader was due to appear in court later Wednesday facing the same charge. Three of those indicted Wednesday were released, a move seen as surprising given the gravity of the charges, but government officials stressed the political importance of the judicial action against them.

“Criminal charges have been filed... this is just the first phase,” Interior Minister Yiannis Michelakis told Skai TV. “What is politically important is that Golden Dawn is characterised as a criminal organisation,” the ruling party’s parliament spokesman Makis Voridis told the station.

Golden Dawn was the country’s third most popular party until the murder of anti-fascist hip-hop musician Pavlos Fyssas on September 18 sparked nationwide protests and a government crackdown on the group long accused of attacking immigrants, charges that it denies. The four lawmakers-Ilias Kasidiaris, Yiannis Lagos, Nikos Michos and Ilias Panagiotaros-were all indicted by magistrates on a charge of belonging to a criminal organisation.

Lagos was placed in pre-trial detention, but the remaining three were conditionally released, a judicial source said. Kassidiaris was ordered to pay 50,000 euros ($68,000) in bail, and all three freed lawmakers were banned from leaving the country, the source said. “Enjoy your democracy,” the lawmakers told reporters as they walked out of the court complex. “You can eat false witnesses for breakfast,” Panagiotaros fumed at reporters, calling them “losers” and “little slaves”.

Kasidiaris punched a camera on his way out.

Party leader and lawmaker Nikos Michaloliakos, a

56-year-old mathematician and former disciple of Greek dictator George Papadopoulos, is scheduled to appear in court from around 1300 GMT. If convicted, the lawmakers face sentences of at least 10 years in prison. Overall some two dozen people including six Golden Dawn’s lawmakers, lower-ranking party members and three police officers, face charges ranging from attempted and murder to illegal arms possession and belonging to a criminal organisation.

Golden Dawn denies all the accusations and says it is the victim of political persecution designed to stem its rise ahead of local elections next year.

Once a fringe party, Golden Dawn rode a wave of

public discontent during last year’s elections over unchecked immigration and austerity policies in the recession-hit country to enter parliament for the first time. Magistrates have compiled a large dossier on the group, whose leading cadres the conservative-led government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras wants to put behind bars.

“We are now crushing (Golden Dawn) in a way fully within our constitutional framework and the rule of law,” Samaras said Tuesday on a visit to the United States. An investigation has revealed a series of “criminal acts” by the group, culminating in the killing of Fyssas allegedly by a self-confessed neoNazi, according to a government report. —AFP

ATHENS: Greece’s Golden Dawn supporters gather outside an Athens court yesterday as four lawmakers from the neo-Nazi party were charged with belonging to a criminal organisation.

The indictments — the first ever against neo-Nazi MPs in Greece — were unveiled as Golden Dawn’s leader was due to appear in court facing the same charge. — AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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

Indian govt repeals move to shield convicted MPs Singh rules out resigning after clash

CHAMAN: Pakistani paramilitary solders shift an injured suicide attack victim into a helicopter at Chaman yesterday. A suicide bomber killed at least three people and wounded 12 others at a southwestern border crossing point between Afghanistan and Pakistan, officials said. — AFP

Disputes threaten US-Afghan pact KABUL: A planned deal to let US forces stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to fight Al-Qaeda remnants is under threat because of disagreement over the Americans’ right to conduct military operations, Kabul says.

President Hamid Karzai is now directly leading the talks after they ground to a halt despite US pressure to complete the security agreement by the end of this month, said Karzai’s spokesman Aimal Faizi.

The US plans to pull out the bulk of its 57,000 troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but it has tentative plans to retain some bases and a smaller force of around 10,000 after that. “The US wants the freedom to conduct military operations, night raids and house searches,” Faizi told reporters late Tuesday.

“According to them, there are 75 Al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan, which is very strange as this agreement will be for 10 years to have the right to conduct military operations anywhere in the country. “Unilaterally having the right to conduct military operations is in no way acceptable for Afghans.”

Faizi said the two sides could also not agree on how the bilateral security agreement (BSA) should define an attack on Afghanistan that would trigger US protection.

“We believe that when terrorists are sent to commit suicide attacks here, that is also aggression,” Faizi said, alluding to Pakistan-based militants whom Afghanistan believes are supported by Pakistani intelligence services.

“We are a strategic partner of the US and we must be protected against foreign aggression. For us and for the US, that’s the conflicting point. We are not of the same opinion and we need clarity from the US side,” he said.

Karzai has repeatedly said he will not be rushed into signing the pact, and that it may not be finalised until after his successor is chosen in April elections. “If signed by the current president, he will be definitely held accountable in the history of Afghanistan if things go wrong,” Faizi said.

On Monday US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel described the pact as “critically important” as the US and its NATO allies plan the drawdown that will see most foreign troops leave the country by December 2014.

“I hope we’ll have that agreement by the end of October, because we just can’t move without it,” Hagel said. The collapse of a similar agreement with Iraq in 2011 led to the US pulling all its troops out of the country, which is currently suffering its worst sectarian violence since 2008.

Kabul believes Washington will not chose the “zero option” for Afghanistan, and has dismissed parallels with Iraq. “We want to sign this document but we want to make sure our demands and our conditions are met,” Faizi said.

Karzai officially suspended talks on the deal in June in fury at the Taliban militants, after they opened a liaison office in Qatar that was presented as an embassy for a government in waiting.

But political contacts continued over the draft and Karzai recently took personal control of the Afghan negotiations. Any agreement faces another obstacle as the president has vowed to seek approval from a loya jirga (grand assembly) before signing it.

The gathering could cause lengthy further delays as tribal elders, religious scholars and civil society groups debate a continued US military presence on Afghan soil.

The hardline Taleban regime was driven from power by a US-led coalition in 2001 for sheltering the Al-Qaeda leaders behind the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. Since then the Islamist rebels have fought a bloody insurgency against US-led NATO forces and the fledging Afghan army. — AFP

BANGALORE: Indian artists participate in a painting movement titled “Colours of Mahatma” held as part of the Gandhi Jayanthi Celebrations at a Mall in Bangalore yesterday. 144 artists took part in the painting marathon to mark the 144th birthday of The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. — AFP

NEW DELHI: India’s Congress-led government yesterday withdrew a decree which would have allowed convicted politicians to run for elections while appeals were pending, demonstrating the authority of party leader Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi had slammed the measure as “complete nonsense”.

His defiance of the government decision was seen as an attempt to distance himself from an administration that has been dogged for years by corruption scandals, which have stalled legislation and hindered efforts to revive Asia’s thirdlargest economy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet issued an executive order last week that could allow convicted lawmakers to continue to hold office and stand in elections, prompting intense criticism from the main opposition par ty and activists. Critics said the order was aimed at shielding allies that Congress party may need to form a ruling coalition after elections due by next May. About 30 percent of lawmakers across federal and state assemblies have criminal charges against them.

“The decision of the union cabinet was unanimous,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

“It was decided that we would take both the bill and the ordinance back.” Gandhi, a scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty and contender for prime minister if the Congress party-led alliance wins a third straight term, made a dramatic appearance at a news conference last week to lambast the ordinance and suggested it to be “torn up and thrown out”.

The 43-year-old Congress vicepresident ’s outburst has also brought out into open the differences within his party between young leaders and the old guard.

Several senior ministers of the government including Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had defended the ordinance.

The row comes at a time when Congress party appears to be ceding ground to the Narendra Modiled opposition Bharatiya Janta Party, who is using corruption scandals and economic mismanagement by Singh’s government to gar-

ner public suppor t for his own prime ministerial bid. Several political commentators reckon the open snub by Gandhi has undermined the octogenarian Singh’s authority, making it difficult for him to continue as prime minister. Singh, however, has ruled out his resignation.

Following a Supreme Cour t order in July, many lawmakers, including Congress party allies, faced the prospect of losing their seats. The ruling alliance had already moved a parliamentary bill to partially reverse the decision of the court that any lawmaker found guilty of a crime could no longer hold or run for elected office.

By pushing that change through in an executive order, opposition parties said it appeared to be trying to bypass parliament to save the political skin of its allies. The country’s president, himself a Congress party stalwart, also sought a clarification on the ordinance that he would have to sign into law. Before July’s Supreme Court order, convicted lawmakers took advantage of a loophole by filing appeals within three months of a guilty verdict to stay in office. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmmohan Singh (R) pays his respects at the memorial to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi yesterday, in honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s 144th birth anniversary. — AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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

Vietnam dissident sentenced to 30 months in jail HANOI: A Vietnamese court sentenced a UStrained lawyer and well-known dissident to 30 months in jail Wednesday after finding him guilty on tax evasion charges, the latest salvo in a crackdown against activists in the authoritarian Southeast Asian nation.

The verdict against Le Quoc Quan was immediately criticized by the United States, which is pressing Vietnam’s Communist leaders to loosen restrictions on those advocating democracy and human rights.

Washington, along with human rights groups and other observers, had considered the charges against Quan to be politically motivated.

Quan, who maintained a popular blog that highlighted human rights abuses and other issues off-limits to the state media, proclaimed his innocence throughout the one-day trial. Hundreds of his supporters braved an intense security crackdown to rally in the normally sleepy city during the trial.

“I have long been denouncing and fighting against corruption, bureaucracy and the stagnation that is

doing harm to this country,” Quan said. “To be frank, I was prosecuted because I love this country,” he said before the audio and video feed into a side-room where a small number of reporters and diplomats were allowed to listen to proceedings was briefly cut off.

Presiding Judge Le Thi Hop said Quan was found guilty of evading corporate income tax of $30,000 in relation to a consultancy he had headed before his arrest last December in Hanoi. He was also fined $60,000. The maximum penalty Quan could have received was seven years.

Trials in Vietnam do not meet international standards for fairness, according to human rights groups.

Quan was giving access to lawyers during his detention, but his family had been prevented from meeting him.

The US Embassy in Hanoi said the use of tax laws “to imprison government critics for peacefully expressing their political views is disturbing” and

called on the government to “release all prisoners of conscience and allow Vietnamese to peacefully express their political views.”

The verdict could complicate efforts by the Obama administration to press ahead with a free trade pact it is currently negotiating with Vietnam and other AsianPacific nations. Congress will have to pass any deal, and US officials have said that ongoing human rights abuses in the country will make it a difficult sell.

Quan, in his early 40s, was detained in 2007 for three months on his return from a US governmentfunded fellowship in Washington. He kept up his activism, meeting with reporters and diplomats, and taking part in peaceful protests against Chinese sovereignty claims over parts of the South China Sea in 2011. He is a Roman Catholic and drew some of his support from the church, which has difficult relations with the Hanoi government because of its social activism.

Vietnam converted to a market economy in the

late 1980s and wants to integrate with the world, but maintains strict controls on freedom of speech and political expression. Bloggers, activists and others are routinely arrested and imprisoned. Foreign media representatives are allowed to live in Vietnam but are subject to restrictions on where they can travel and what they can report.

The Internet has emerged as a vital organizing tool for dissidents in recent years, and there has been a surge of blogs and Facebook pages highlighting criticism of the government. The rise of the Internet, combined with an economic slowdown, has left the ruling elite feeling vulnerable.

In an interview with The Associated Press last September, Quan said he was under constant surveillance and that he, his family and staff received frequent warnings and pressure from authorities. But he pledged to keep speaking out against the government and in favor of multi-party democracy and freedom of speech and religion. — AP

Myanmar Muslims hide amid deadly sectarian clashes President visits riot-hit western state

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) smile during a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta yesterday. Xi arrived in Indonesia yesterday on his first trip to Southeast Asia since taking power, as Beijing seeks to tap into the country’s booming economy. — AFP

Chinese president visits Indonesia to boost ties JAKARTA: Chinese President Xi Jinping is making his first visit to Southeast Asia since taking office, arriving yeterday in Indonesia to boost ties and economic partnerships with the region’s biggest country.

He will meet his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and become the first foreign leader to speak at the country’s Parliament. The countries are expected to sign a number of agreements including loans, mining, transportation and joint investment.

Investment deals for monorails in the capital, Jakarta, and the West Java provincial capital of Bandung are also planned with all deals totaling $20 billion. A currency swap that could be utilized to support Indonesia’s sliding rupiah in a crisis is also expected. “ This visit is very significant for the improvement of bilateral relations in political, economic and other sectors,” Industry Minister Mohamad Suleman Hidayat said at a news conference Tuesday.

He said the two countries agreed to create a strategic partnership that will benefit not

only both countries, but the region and the business world.

“Therefore it needs strong will and commitment from both parties,” Hidayat said.

Promoting deeper ties between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations also will be discussed.

Indonesia has been a broker during heated territorial spats over disputed islands in the South China Sea. China claims most of the entire sea on historical grounds, but Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan all strongly disagree. The number of maritime incidents between China and its neighbors has increased tensions in recent years, raising worries of potential violence.

Xi, who took office in March, is also expected to visit Malaysia and attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next week on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali.

China is Indonesia’s second-largest trading partner. Two-way trade reached $66 billion last year, while Chinese direct investment rose to $2 billion. — AP

CANBERRA: New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key, left, shakes hands with his Australian cpounterpart Tony Abbott as they pose for photos at the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, yesterday. — AP

Thai woman jailed for five years for insulting royals BANGKOK: A Thai court yesterday sentenced a woman to five years in jail for breaching the kingdom’s strict royal defamation laws in the the second such conviction in days. Under controversial lese majeste rules, anyone convicted of insulting the Thai king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count. Nopawan Tangudomsuk was found guilty of lese majeste and breaking computer crime laws with comments posted on a popular website in 2008, an official from Bangkok’s court of appeal told AFP, without giving further details.

She was initially acquitted in a 2011 trial when prosecutors failed to prove she was behind the posting on the Prachatai sitewhose editor has been convicted in a separate case of failing to remove a comment critical of the monarchy. “The appeal court decided to reverse the ruling” in Nopawan’s case, a court official said, without giving details, but adding she was “found guilty of violating article 112”-the kingdom’s royal defamation law.

The ruling comes a day after the founder of the royalist “Yellow Shirts” was sentenced to two years in prison by the same appeal

court under lese majeste laws. Sondhi Limthongkul, one of Thailand’s most controversial political figures, was convicted after prosecutors appealed an earlier acquittal over remarks quoting a speech by a political rival in 2008.

The “Red Shirt” activist whom Sondhi quoted was jailed for 15 years in 2011 for comments made during political rallies. The royal family is a highly sensitive topic in politically turbulent Thailand, where King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 85, is revered but has been in ill-health for several years.The kingdom has come under fire from rights groups and media freedom campaigners who say its defamation laws have been heavily politicised and pose a threat to freedom of speech.

Critics say many of those charged over recent years are linked to the Red Shirts, who are loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Two months of mass street protests by the Reds against the previous government in early 2010 triggered the kingdom’s worst civil violence in decades, with 90 people killed, mostly in a bloody military crackdown.—AFP

THANDWE: Terrified Muslim families hid in forests in western Myanmar yesterday, one day after fleeing a new round of deadly sectarian violence that erupted even as the president toured the divided region. The discovery of four bodies brought the death toll from the latest clashes up to at least five.

Tuesday’s unrest near the coastal town of Thandwe, which saw Buddhist mobs kill a 94-year old woman and four other Muslims and burn dozens of homes, underscored the government’s persistent failure to stop the sectarian violence from spreading.

Rights groups say President Thein Sein, visiting the region for the first time since clashes flared there last year, has done little to crack down on religious intolerance and failed to bridge a divide that has left hundreds of thousands of Muslims marginalized and segregated, many of them confined by security forces in inadequately equipped camps for those who fled their homes.

Thein Sein arrived in Thandwe yesterday, the second day of his visit to Rakhine state, and was to meet religious leaders from both communities. While Thein Sein has condemned the violence in Rakhine state before, critics say his security forces have not done enough to contain it. They also say his government has failed to crack down on radical monks who have instilled hatred and fear of the nation’s Muslim minority, arguing they pose a threat to Buddhist culture and traditions.

In a message to religious leaders that ran in Myanmar’s state-run newspapers yesterday, Thein Sein said the sectarian unrest threatens the government’s reform process “and tarnishes the national image internationally.”

“The constitution of Myanmar fully guarantees freedom of religion as the fundamental right of citizens,” Thein Sein said. “We all should never misuse this noble idea of freedom of religion, or use it as a springboard for any kind of extremism or for fueling hatred.”

Thein Sein has been widely praised for overseeing an unprecedented political opening in the Southeast Asian nation since the army ceded power two years ago to a nominally civilian government led by retired military officers.

Even with a boosted security presence, unrest engulfed several villages in the Thandwe area a day before the president’s arrival. Witnesses said soldiers and police made no efforts to step in to try to stop Tuesday’s violence.

In Thabyuchaing, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Thandwe, more than 700 rioters, some swinging swords, took to the streets, police officer Kyaw Naing said.

A 94-year-old Muslim woman died from stab wounds in the clashes that followed, the officer said, adding that between 70 and 80 houses were set on fire. Another officer, however, said only 19 homes were burned. Thandwe township police confirmed yesterday that the bodies of four Muslim men were in the village.

A Muslim resident of Thandwe, Myo Min, said a small mosque in Kyikanyet, about 43 kilometers (27 miles) from Thandwe, was burned by attackers Tuesday night. Police said they were trying to confirm that report.

Myo Min said he was concerned about the safety of families who fled Tuesday’s violence. Many families in Thabyuchaing, he said, fled into forests when their village was attacked. “Many of them, including women and children, are still hiding, and they are cornered and unable to come out,” Myo Min said. “They need food and water, and Muslim elders are discussing with authorities to evacuate them or send food.”

Smoldering buildings - and three injured Buddhist Rakhines - were also seen by The Associated Press in the nearby village of Shwe Hlay. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because he did not have authority to talk to the media, said the village of Linthi also was hit by rioters. Both villages are about 32 kilometers (20 miles) outside of Thandwe.

Sectarian clashes that began in Rakhine in June 2012 have since morphed into an anti-Muslim campaign that has spread to towns and villages nationwide. So far, hundreds of people have been killed and more than 140,000 have fled their homes, the vast majority of them Muslims.

Most of those targeted in Rakhine state have been ethnic Rohingya Muslims, considered by many in the country to be illegal migrants from Bangladesh, though many of their families arrived generations ago. But in the latest flare-up this week, the victims were Kamans, another Muslim minority group, whose citizenship is recognized.

Muslims, who account for about 4 percent of Myanmar’s roughly 60 million people, have been the main victims of the violence, but they have been prosecuted for crimes related to the clashes far more often than members of the Buddhist majority.

A statement issued Wednesday by the US Embassy in Myanmar expressed deep concern about the reports of violence, and urged the authorities “to respond quickly and decisively to the violence to help protect all the region’s residents and their property” and bring to justice those responsible for the attacks.

“Most importantly, we call on religious and civil society leaders, and all citizens throughout the country, to stand against continued violence targeting Muslim communities, and to promote understanding, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among all people in this diverse country,” the statement said. — AP

THABYU CHAI: Muslim residents take shelter at a house in Thabyu Chai village near Thandwe, in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state yesterday. Terrified women and children hid in forests and security forces patrolled tense villages in western Myanmar yesterday as police said the toll from fresh anti-Muslim unrest rose to five. — AFP

S Korea-US sign plan to deter North nuke strike SEOUL: South Korea and the United States have mapped out a new strategy to counter the growing threat of a North Korean nuclear or chemical weapons attack, their defence ministers said yesterday.

They also agreed to review the sensitive issue of when Seoul should assume operational wartime command over their combined forces in South Korea. Visiting US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the new pact signed with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-Jin established a “strategic framework” for dealing with “key North Korean nuclear threat scenarios” in the wake of its third atomic test in February.

Although neither side provided details, Kim said the plan-which is certain to be condemned by North Korea-would “greatly enhance” the alliance’s deterrence capacity.

Observers said it was largely a confidencebuilding measure to underline Washington’s support for Seoul against any provocation from Pyongyang.

South Korea is protected by the US nuclear umbrella and there are currently nearly 30,000 US troops stationed in the country. But Seoul insists that the alliance must respond to what Kim described as the “vastly different” security situation on the Korean peninsula following the North’s nuclear test. To that end, it has requested an extension of US wartime command over South Korean troops-currently scheduled to end in 2015. In case of war with North Korea, the alliance at present calls for the US military commander to lead the US troops deployed to the country, as well as South Korea’s 640,000-strong force.

Seoul argues that the transition to South Korean command should be postponed until the nuclear threat from Pyongyang has been neutralised. Washington has indicated it wants to keep to the original schedule, but Hagel said he had listened “very seriously” to

Seoul’s concerns and promised further consultations on the issue.

“We are very optimistic we will have an agreement,” he added. At a joint press briefing with Kim, Hagel also stressed that the new deterrent strategy covered all the North’s weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons.

According to South Korean defence officials, North Korea has up to 5,000 tonnes of chemical arms-an alleged stockpile that has been highlighted by the use of such weapons in Syria. “There should be no doubt that North Korean use of chemical weapons would be completely unacceptable,” Hagel said. The North’s nuclear test in February-its third and most powerful to date triggered months of heightened military tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Pyongyang threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes against South Korea and the United States, while the Pentagon responded by deploying nuclear-capable B2 stealth bombers during joint military exercises with Seoul. And in March, Seoul and Washington signed another pact providing for a joint military response even to low-level provocation

by North Korea.

Tensions have since eased, but acute concerns remain over the North’s nuclear weapons programme after satellite image analysis suggested it had expanded its production of weapons-grade fissile material.

“North Korea has increased its threat clearly against South Korea, and against the United States. It has increased its capability,” Hagel said. But he also noted that South Korea’s military has grown “stronger, more professional and more capable” over the past decade. On Tuesday Hagel had attended the South’s largest military parade for a decade, which showcased a new cruise missile capable of pinpoint strikes anywhere in North Korea.—AFP

SEOUL: US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, left, receives the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command flag from the unit’s outgoing commander US Army Gen. James D. Thurman, as South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, second from left, watches him during a change-of-command ceremony for the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea at a US military base in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. — AP

NEWS

Regulatory cloud hangs over e-cigar revolution PARIS: The electronic cigarette is seducing Europe and America, luring millions away from traditional tar-depositing tobacco with a battery-powered alternative that claims to be satisfying and harmless. And while many smokers have swapped tobacco for a plastic gadget that emits a vapor inhaled like smoke, the “e-cig” faces a threat in Brussels and Washington, where policymakers fret it exploits a legal grey zone. The e-cig claims to mimic the look, feel and flavor of the real thing-minus its tar, ash, smoke and most of its toxins. The gadget contains a liquid that is heated and inhaled as a vapor.

The liquid usually has propylene glycol, nicotine and flavorings; there are also non-nicotine versions.

E-cigarettes first emerged in China in 2003 as an alternative to tobacco, which is said to kill nearly six million people a year and inflicts tens of billions of dollars annually in health and productivity costs. Smokers, anti-tobacco campaigners, policy advisers and many medical practitioners have hailed the device as a valuable aid to quitting tobacco, whose perils have been known since the mid-1950s.

Others, though, question the e-cigarette’s safety. “Vaping”, as the practice is called, is banned in nearly a dozen countries, led

by Latin America, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has “strongly advised” against it. “The potential risks they pose for the health of users remain undetermined,” the UN’s health organ states in guidelines on its website, adding the device’s safety “has NOT been scientifically demonstrated”.

European lawmakers want to classify e-cigarettes as medicinal products that can be sold only in pharmacies like nicotine patches, chewing gum and other tobacco-quitting aids. For now, e-cigs can be sold on the internet or in specialist stores, depending on the country-in some places also in tobacco shops and pharmacies. Opponents say the move to regulate the e-cig as a medicinal product will limit availability, push up prices and force millions of nicotine addicts back to traditional cigarettes.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates tobacco products, is also expected to unveil proposals in October to govern the sale of e-cigarettes.

“There is no doubt in my mind that e-cigarettes are saving the lives of smokers who have switched to them, and persons around them who would have been exposed to... tobacco smoke,” Joel Nitzkin, an American physician and tobacco policy adviser said.

“E-cigarettes should be considered ‘recreational’ alternatives to cigarettes for people who have the urge to smoke but would rather not expose themselves and those around them to the many harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.” Researchers Gerry Stimson of London’s Imperial College and Clive Bates, a former director of UK-based Action on Smoking and Health, in a study last month described the e-cig as “a very low risk alternative to cigarettes, used by smokers as a pleasurable way of taking the relatively harmless recreational drug nicotine”.

Regulations on e-cigarettes differ, though, between countries. In most, it is still legal to vape in public places; in others, vaping is restricted and the gadget itself, and advertisements for it, may be banned. Affordability also varies. In France, for example, vaping works out about a third cheaper over a year than traditional smoking. In countries where tobacco is cheaper, the cost benefits would be less. A recent New Zealand study said tobacco-free electronic cigarettes have proved as effective as nicotine patches at weaning smokers off their habit, but both techniques were only modestly successful. Other researchers have expressed concern that non-smokers may get hooked on nicotine through e-cigarette use, or that the gadget would keep people addicted to nicotine who might otherwise have quit.

Nicotine can be harmful to children, pregnant women and adults with heart disease. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September noted a “deeply troubling” doubling of e-cigarette use among American teenagers, and top justice officials from 40 American states have urged the FDA to be tough in its regulation of the industry. Out of 1.78 million Americans aged 11-18 who are said to have vaped in 2012, some 160,000 had never even smoked a conventional cigarette, said the CDC. The gadget may get children hooked on nicotine, “a highly addictive drug,” it said. — AFP

Heart disease - exercise ‘as good as medicines’ LONDON: Exercise may be just as good as medication to treat heart disease and should be included as a comparison when new drugs are being developed and tested, scientists said yesterday. In a large review published in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Britain’s London School of Economics and Harvard and Stanford universities in the United States found no statistically detectable differences between exercise and drugs for patients with coronary heart disease or prediabetes, when a person shows symptoms that may develop into full-blown diabetes.

For patients recovering from stroke, the review - which analyzed the results of 305 studies covering almost 340,000 participants - found that exercise was more effective than drug treatment. Cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one killer, leading to at least 17 million deaths a year. “In cases where drug options provide only modest benefit, patients deserve to understand the relative impact that physical activity might have on their condition,” the researchers wrote.

The review also said the amount of trial evidence on the health benefits of exercise is considerably smaller than that

JEDDAH: Saudi authorities detained prominent rights activist Waleed Abulkhair yesterday for setting up an “unauthorized” gathering hall where he held meetings with reformists in the absolute monarchy, his wife said. Abulkhair, was taken into custody for setting up “an unauthorized diwaniya,” or gathering place, and “due to his relations with the reformists and for hosting them in our diwaniya,” Samar Badawi said.

She said Abulkhair will be inter-

rogated today by the public prosecutor of Jeddah, who will decide whether to release him on bail on keep him in custody. The lawyer is already facing two trials over disrespecting the judiciary and having contact with foreign organizations.

In June 2012, Abulkhair was accused of “disrespecting the judiciary system... contacting foreign organizations and signing a petition demanding the release of detainees,” some of whom were being held over suspected terror

links, his wife said at the time.

Three months earlier, authorities banned him from travelling to the United States where he had been due to attend a forum organized by the State Department, he said. And in February 2011, he signed two petitions demanding political reform in the ultra-conservative kingdom, where political parties are banned. Abulkhair has created a group on Facebook-Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi-which has nearly 7,000 members. — AFP

on drugs, which the scientists said may have had an impact on their results. They argued that this “blind spot” over exercise in scientific evidence “prevents prescribers and their patients from understanding the clinical circumstances where drugs might provide only modest improvement but exercise could yield more profound or sustainable gains”.

The review adds to a large body of evidence showing that regular exercise is key to human health. According to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths around the world each year. The WHO says regular moderate intensity physical activity - such as walking, cycling or participating in sports - can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression, as well as cutting the risk of bone fractures and helping to control body weight. In the United States, where health experts estimate half of adults will be obese by 2030 unless lifestyle habits change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says less than 48 percent of adults exercise enough to improve their health.— Reuters

Kuwait police disperse ‘stateless’ protesters Continued from Page 1 In another development, the lower court yesterday sentenced opposition writer and journalist Mohammad Al-Wushaihi to three months in jail for remarks he wrote on Twitter and deemed highly offending to former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah.

According to the ruling, Wushaihi, a columnist and a

Television presenter, must start serving the sentence immediately unless the Appeals Court judge suspends the implementation until he had reviewed the case.

Wushaihi is expected to challenge the ruling in the Appeals Court where he can request a temporary freeze on the jail term. Sheikh Nasser resigned from his post in late November 2011 following street protests organized by the opposition demanding his ouster on the basis of corruption allegations.

Camel meat leaps from bedouin tents...

Continued from Page 1

Saudi authorities arrest prominent rights activist

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Dubbed the “ship of the desert”, the camel occupies a significant place in the culture of the Arabian Peninsula.

In the UAE there are camel races, camel beauty contests and competitions for the tastiest camel cuisine.

Energy-rich Gulf states are now trying to promote their favorite animal’s meat to the international gastronomic scene, after it has been traditionally eaten with rice by bedouins on special occasions. This year, The Emirates Industry for Camel Milk and Products (EICMP), the maker of “Camelicious” camel milk, began exporting its products to Europe and Japan. It uses camel milk as an ingredient in French desserts or coffees such as the “camel-ccino” and camel-milk lattes.

Dubai investors have also partnered with EICMP to produce chocolate made with camel milk, which contains less fat and three times more vitamin C than cow’s milk. Al-Nassma company now ships camel milk powder to Austria, where it is used to make chocolate that is then sent to Dubai for packaging. “There are so many

chocolates around the world, but they’re mostly made from cow’s milk. We wanted to present something different and special,” said Al-Nassma spokeswoman Kirsten Lange. “Our largest market right now lies in Japan.

We are also focusing on South Asia and Europe,” she said. In neighboring Qatar, French chef Alain Ducasse came up with a local adaptation of the famous Tournedos Rossini dish using camel meat, which he served at his Idam restaurant in the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. The meat is braised for five days and served with foie gras and black truffle sauce to create a “Camel Rossini”, which costs around $90.

“The camel meat dish is very special. It’s the mostselling recipe on our menu,” Idam’s executive chef Romain Meder said. “Qataris highly demand the dish, in which we blend together two faraway worlds”-the classic French cuisine and that of the Gulf, said Meder. At the Emirates Palace, a German tourist in her 60s savors her camel burger. “It’s delicious. But I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the idea of eating this animal’s meat.” — AFP

14

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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Issues

‘Abenomics’ wins praise, but tough work lies ahead

By Hiroshi Hiyama n unprecedented campaign by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to revive the nation’s economy is paying early dividends and earning praise, but analysts say the tough work still lies ahead. Nearly a year after sweeping national elections on a ticket to revitalize the world’s number-three economy, Abe is basking in high approval ratings-and it’s not hard to see why.

The stock market is up about 40 percent from the start of the year, driven by a sharply weaker yen, which is boosting profits at major exporters such as Toyota and Sony, while confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers sits at its highest level in more than five years. The long-suffering economy-spurred by government stimulus spending and central bank monetary easing, a policy mix dubbed Abenomics-is growing at a 3.8 percent annualized rate, outpacing other G7 nations.

And victory in July upper-house elections has effectively silenced the opposition with no national polls in sight for at least three years. That gave Abe enough legislative muscle to smash through the political paralysis that had doomed his immediate predecessors. On Tuesday, he vowed to go ahead with a plan to hike Japan’s sales taxes, a decision supported and derided in equal measure, opinion polls show, but one seen as critical to shrinking Japan’s massive national debt.

Abe is the first premier in 15 years to attempt a tax rise, a rare example of risk-taking in the country’s political scene but one that proved career-ending for previous leaders. Masaaki Kanno, managing director of economic research at JPMorgan, said “all conditions were right” to raise the levy.

“The political environment is unusually stable,” said Kanno, who was among 60 economists and business leaders advising Abe on the pros and cons of the move.

“I am very bullish on Japan. We are getting out of deflation.” Kanno is not alone in his assessment on the grand experiment to fix Japan’s once-world beating economy. Abe’s hand-picked Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda played his part with a huge monetary easing scheme launched in April.

The yen has lost about a quarter of its value against the dollar since Abe’s promise while in opposition in November to push through such a program. A BoJ target to reach two-percent inflation in as many years was cited as key to ending years of deflation as falling prices weighed on private spending and stifled business investment.

Abe’s supporters say the cheaper currency’s boost to corporate earnings should eventually push up wages and shareholder dividends, in turn lifting spending among the country’s 128 million people. But appeals for the corporate sector to hike wages have largely fallen on deaf ears so far. “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 Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

CRITICAL STAGE Appealing to advocates of big government and small bureaucracy alike, Abe’s plan mixes social spending, including help for low-income earners, with talk of corporate tax cuts. He has also moved on a mooted Pacific free-trade pact and pledged to lure more women and highly-skilled foreigners into the workforce.

A

REFORMS CRUCIAL But this so-called Third Arrow of Abe’s plan-structural reforms-is where he faces the heaviest resistance, including from a powerful farm lobby steadfastly opposed to lifting tariffs. “I am fairly pessimistic on reform, deregulation and the growth strategy,” said Credit Suisse chief economist Hiromichi Shirakawa, dismissing vague reform talk as “underdeveloped” and “fairly weak”. But reforms are “what will determine whether Japan’s reflation drive succeeds”, HSBC said in a note.

If Abe fails to force deep changes in Japan’s economy, his big spending plan will fall apart like a house of cards, critics warn, leaving an already debt-crippled country even worse off. Japan is wrestling with the rich world’s heaviest debt burden, inflated by years of ineffective efforts to stimulate the economy through spending and soaring welfare costs in a rapidly ageing society. That has sparked credit downgrades by international ratings agencies and calls from the International Monetary Fund, among others, for Tokyo to gets its fiscal house in order.

Hiking sales taxes to 8.0 percent from 5.0 percent is seen as key boosting revenues. But with consumers facing higher prices, convincing a high-saving population to spend more remains a daunting challenge. The new levy may be even harder to swallow if Tokyo cuts corporate taxes, giving a further boost to Japan Inc.’s bottom line, while regular folks have little confidence of earning more. “The fortunes of firms and households in Japan look likely to continue to diverge,” said London-based Capital Economics. — AFP

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers.

Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Myanmar old guard clings to $8 billion jade empire

By Andrew RC Marshall and Min Zayar Oo in Tun picked all night through teetering heaps of rubble to find the palm-sized lump of jade he now holds in his hand.

He hopes it will make him a fortune. It’s happened before.

“Last year I found a stone worth 50 million kyat,” he said, trekking past the craters and slag heaps of this notorious jade-mining region in northwest Myanmar. That’s about $50,000 - and it was more than enough money for Tin Tun, 38, to buy land and build a house in his home village.

But rare finds by small-time prospectors like Tin Tun pale next to the staggering wealth extracted on an industrial scale by Myanmar’s military, the tycoons it helped enrich, and companies linked to the country where most jade ends up: China. Almost half of all jade sales are “unofficial” - that is, spirited over the border into China with little or no formal taxation. This represents billions of dollars in lost revenues that could be spent on rebuilding a nation shattered by nearly half a century of military dictatorship.

Official statistics confirm these missing billions. Myanmar produced more than 43 million kg of jade in fiscal year 2011/12 (April to March). Even valued at a conservative $100 per kg, it was worth $4.3 billion. But official exports of jade that year stood at only $34 million. Official Chinese statistics only deepen the mystery. China doesn’t publicly report how much jade it imports from Myanmar. But jade is included in official imports of precious stones and metals, which in 2012 were worth $293 million - a figure still too small to explain where billions of dollars of Myanmar jade has gone.

Such squandered wealth symbolizes a wider challenge in Myanmar, an impoverished country whose natural resources including oil, timber and precious metals - have long fueled armed conflicts while enriching only powerful individuals or groups. In a rare visit to the heart of Myanmar’s secretive jademining industry in Hpakant, Reuters found an anarchic region where soldiers and ethnic rebels clash, and where mainland Chinese traders rub shoulders with heroin-fueled “handpickers” who are routinely buried alive while scavenging for stones.

Myint Aung, Myanmar’s Minister of Mines, did not reply to written questions from Reuters about the jade industry’s missing millions and social costs. Since a reformist government took office in March 2011, Myanmar has pinned its economic hopes on the resumption of foreign aid and investment. Some economists argue, however, that Myanmar’s prosperity and unity may depend upon claiming more revenue from raw materials.

There are few reliable estimates on total jade sales that include unofficial exports. The Harvard Ash Center, which advises Myanmar’s quasi-civilian government, has possibly the best numbers available. After sending researchers to the area this year, the Harvard Ash Center published a report in July that put sales of Burmese jade at about $8 billion in 2011. That’s more than double the country’s revenue from natural gas and nearly a sixth of its 2011 GDP. “Practically nothing is going to the government,” David Dapice, the report’s co-author, told Reuters. “What you need is a modern system of public finance in which the government collects some part of the rents from mining this stuff.”

T

HIDING STONES Chinese have prized jade for its beauty and symbolism for millennia. Many believe wearing jade jewelry brings good fortune, prosperity and longevity. It is also viewed as an investment, a major factor driving China’s appetite for Burmese jade. “Gold is valuable, but jade is priceless,” runs an old Chinese saying. Jade is not only high value but easy to transport. “Only the stones they cannot hide go to the emporiums,” said Tin Soe, 53, a jade trader in Hpakant, referring to the official auctions held in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyitaw.

The rest is smuggled by truck to China by so-called “jockeys” through territory belonging to either the Burmese military or the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), both of whom extract tolls. The All China Jade Trade Association, a state-linked industry group based in Beijing, declined repeated requests for an interview.

Hpakant lies in Kachin State, a rugged region sandwiched strategically between China and India. Nowhere on Earth does jade exist in such quantity and quality. “Open the ground, let the country abound,” reads the sign outside the Hpakant offices of the Ministry of Mines.

In fact, few places better symbolize how little Myanmar benefits from its fabulous natural wealth. The road to Hpakant has potholes bigger than the four-wheel-drive cars that negotiate it.

During the rainy season, it can take nine hours to reach from

Myitkyina, the Kachin state capital 110 km (68 miles) away.

Non-Burmese are rarely granted official access to Hpakant, but taxi-drivers routinely take Chinese traders there for exorbitant fees, part of which goes to dispensing bribes at police and military checkpoints. The official reason for restricting access to Hpakant is security: the Burmese military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have long vied for control of the road, which is said to be flanked with land-mines. But the restrictions also serve to reduce scrutiny of the industry’s biggest players and its horrific social costs: the mass deaths of workers and some of the highest heroin addiction and HIV infection rates in Myanmar.

There are also “obvious” links between jade and conflict in Kachin State, said analyst Richard Horsey, a former United Nations senior official in Myanmar. A 17-year ceasefire between the military and the KIA ended when fighting erupted in June 2011. It has since displaced at least 100,000 people. “Such vast revenues - in the hands of both sides - have certainly fed into the conflict, helped fund insurgency, and will be a hugely complicating factor in building a sustainable peace economy,” Horsey said.

The United States banned imports of jade, rubies and other Burmese gemstones in 2008 in a bid to cut off revenue to the military junta which then ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma. But soaring demand from neighboring China meant the ban had little effect. After Myanmar’s reformist government took power, the United States scrapped or suspended almost all economic and political sanctions - but not the ban on jade and rubies. It was renewed by the White House on Aug. 7 in a sign that Myanmar’s anarchic jade industry remains a throwback to an era of dictatorship.

The US Department of the Treasury included the industry in activities that “contribute to human rights abuses or undermine Burma’s democratic reform process.” Foreign companies are not permitted to extract jade. But mining is capital intensive, and it is an open secret that most of the 20 or so largest operations in Hpakant are owned by Chinese companies or their proxies, say gem traders and other industry insiders in Kachin State.

“Of course, some (profit) goes to the government,” said Yup Zaw Hkawng, chairman of Jadeland Myanmar, the most prominent Kachin mining company in Hpakant. “But mostly it goes into the pockets of Chinese families and the families of the former (Burmese) government.” Other players include the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL), the investment arm of the country’s much-feared military, and Burmese tycoons such as Zaw Zaw, chairman of Max Myanmar, who made their fortunes collaborating with the former junta.

THE CHINA CONNECTION Soldiers guard the big mining companies and sometimes shoot in the air to scare off small-time prospectors. “We run like crazy when we see them,” said Tin Tun, the handpicker. UMEHL is notoriously tight-lipped about its operations. “Stop bothering us,” Major Myint Oo, chief of human resources at UMEHL’s head office in downtown Yangon, told Reuters. “You can’t just come in here and meet our superiors. This is a military company. Some matters must be kept secret.” This arrangement, whereby Chinese companies exploit natural resources with military help, is both familiar and deeply controversial in Myanmar.

Last year, protests outside the Letpadaung copper mine in northwest Myanmar triggered a violent police crackdown. The mine’s two operators - UMEHL and Myanmar Wanbao, a unit of Chinese weapons manufacturer China North Industries Corp shared most of the profits, leaving the government with just 4 percent. That contract was revised in July in an apparent attempt to appease public anger. The government now gets 51 percent of the profits, while Myanmar Wanbao and UMEHL get 30 and 19 percent respectively.

China’s domination of the jade trade could feed into a wider resentment over its exploitation of Myanmar’s natural wealth. A Chinese-led plan to build a $3.6 million dam at the Irrawaddy River’s source in Kachin State - and send most of the power it generated to Yunnan Province - was suspended in 2011 by President Thein Sein amid popular outrage.

The national and local governments should also get a greater share of Kachin State’s natural wealth, say analysts and activists.

That includes gold, timber and hydropower, but especially jade. A two-week auction held in the capital Naypyitaw in June sold a record-breaking $2.6 billion in jade and gems. But jade tax revenue in 2011 amounted to only 20 percent of the official sales.

Add in all the “unofficial” sales outside of the emporium, and Harvard calculates an effective tax rate of about 7 percent on all Burmese jade. It is, on the other hand, highly lucrative for the

mining companies, whose estimated cost of production is $400 a ton, compared with an official sales figure of $126,000 a ton, the report said. “Kachin, and by extension Myanmar, cannot be peaceful and politically stable without some equitable sharing of resource revenues with the local people,” said analyst Horsey.

THE PECKING ORDER At the top of the pecking order in Hpakant are cashed-up traders from China, who buy stones displayed on so-called “jade tables” in Hpakant tea-shops. The tables are run by middleman called laoban (“boss” in Chinese), who are often ethnic Chinese.

They buy jade from, and sometimes employ, handpickers like Tin Tun. The handpickers are at the bottom of the heap - literally. They swarm in their hundreds across mountains of rubble dumped by the mining companies. It is perilous work, especially when banks and slag heaps are destabilized by monsoon rain. Landslides routinely swallow 10 or 20 men at a time, said Too Aung, 30, a handpicker from the Kachin town of Bhamo. “Sometimes we can’t even dig out their bodies,” he said. “We don’t know where to look.”

In 2002, at least a thousand people were killed when flood waters inundated a mine, Jadeland Myanmar chairman Yup Zaw Hkawng told Reuters. Deaths are common but routinely concealed by companies eager to avoid suspending operations, he said. The boom in Hpakant’s population coincided with an exponential rise in opium production in Myanmar, the world’s secondlargest producer after Afghanistan. Its derivative, heroin, is cheap and widely available in Kachin State, and Hpakant’s workforce seems to run on it.

About half the handpickers use heroin, while others rely on opium or alcohol, said Tin Soe, 53, a jade trader and a local leader of the opposition National League for Democracy party. “It’s very rare to find someone who doesn’t do any of these,” he said.

Official figures on heroin use in Hpakant are hard to get. The few foreign aid workers operating in the area, mostly working with drug users, declined comment for fear of upsetting relations with the Myanmar government. But health workers say privately about 40 percent of injecting drug users in Hpakant are HIV positive - twice the national average.

Drug use is so intrinsic to jade mining that “shooting galleries” operate openly in Hpakant, with workers often exchanging lumps of jade for hits of heroin. Soe Moe, 39, came to Hpakant in 1992. Three years later, he was sniffing heroin, then injecting it.

His habit now devours his earnings as a handpicker. “When I’m on (heroin), I feel happier and more energetic. I work better,” he said.

The shooting gallery he frequents accommodates hundreds of users. “The place is so busy it’s like a festival,” he said. Soe Moe said he didn’t fear arrest, because the gallery owners paid off the police.

MOVING MOUNTAINS Twenty years ago, Hpakant was controlled by KIA insurgents who for a modest fee granted access to small prospectors. Four people with iron picks could live off the jade harvested from a small plot of land, said Yitnang Ze Lum of the Myanmar Gems and Jewelry Entrepreneurs Association (MGJEA) in Myitkyina.

A 1994 ceasefire brought most of Hpakant back under government control, and large-scale extraction began, with hundreds of backhoes, earthmovers and trucks working around the clock. “Now even a mountain lasts only three months,” said Yitnang Ze Lum. Many Kachin businessmen, unable to compete in terms of capital or technology, were shut out of the industry.

Non-Kachin workers poured in from across Myanmar, looking for jobs and hoping to strike it rich.

The mines were closed in mid-2012 when the conflict flared up again. Myanmar’s military shelled suspected KIA positions; the rebels retaliated with ambushes along the Hpakant road.

Thousands of people were displaced. Jade production plunged to just 19.08 million kg in the 2012/13 fiscal year from 43.1 million kg the previous year. But the government forged a preliminary ceasefire with the Kachin rebels in May, and some traders predict Hpakant’s mines will re-open when the monsoon ends in October.

When operations are in full swing, the road to Hpakant is clogged with vehicles bringing fuel in and jade out. Such is the scale and speed of modern extraction, said Yitnang Ze Lum, Hpakant’s jade could be gone within 10 years. “Every Kachin feels passionately that their state’s resources are being taken away,” a leading Myitkyina gem trader told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “But we’re powerless to stop them.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

S P ORTS McCaw to captain All Blacks

Mata aims for best season

Bale suffers thigh injury

JOHANNESBURG: Captain Richie McCaw was restored to the New Zealand team as expected for their decisive Rugby Championship match against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday in one of two changes to the team. The other is prop Charlie Faumuina replacing the injured Owen Franks, ruled out of the test at Ellis Park because of a groin injury sustained in Argentina last weekend.

Dan Coles is drafted onto the bench in Faumina’s place from the team that beat the Pumas 33-15 at La Plata. The 32-year-old McCaw has missed the last two internationals because of injury but makes a timely return for what is expected to be a keenly contested battle where his experience at the breakdown could prove decisive.

He had been scheduled to be out for longer after sustaining a knee injury against Argentina early last month but made remarkable progress in training last week and was earmarked for a return by coach Steve Hansen.

McCaw has played three tests since returning from an unusual six-month sabbatical. World champions New Zealand will successfully defend their Rugby Championship if they stop the Springboks from scoring four tries and winning by more than seven points.—Reuters

LONDON: Midfielder Juan Mata believes this can be his best season yet at Chelsea despite starting the season down the pecking order at the west London club. Chelsea’s player of the year for the last two seasons has started just two Premier League games this campaign under new manager Jose Mourinho but put in an impressive display during the 4-0 Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.

“I’m not the kind of man that gets down. I always believe in myself and train really hard. This is my way to behave, to be positive as much as I can,” the 25-year-old fan favourite told the club website (www.chelseafc.com) “I have really enjoyed playing for this club in the last two seasons. I know what I can give to the team and I’m just trying to do that.

“I try to improve every season, my first and second seasons were fantastic but I want this one to be even better so I will try to improve, score goals, assist and do what I have to do.” Mourinho had previously said that Brazilian Oscar was his preferred choice at number 10 and Mata needed to adapt to the way the Portuguese coach wanted the team to play.

Spain international Mata responded eloquently through his performances on the pitch and earned a place in the starting line-up in Romania after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. He helped the 2012 Champions League winners get their European campaign back on track after the shock 2-1 defeat by Swiss club Basel last month, with a bright display.—Reuters

MADRID: Real Madrid’s Wales winger and record signing Gareth Bale has a muscle strain in his left thigh, the La Liga club said yesterday.

Real did not say how long Bale, who became the world’s most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of 100 million euros ($135 million) in the close season, will be sidelined for.

He is likely to miss Saturday’s La Liga game at Levante and may not be able to join up with Wales for their World Cup qualifiers at home to Macedonia on Oct. 11 and away to Belgium four days later.

Bale played the second half of Real’s 1-0 league defeat at home to Atletico Madrid last weekend but was unable to train on Tuesday and was left out of the squad for the Champions League Group B match at home to FC Copenhagen late yesterday.

He had been due to play his first game at the Bernabeu against Getafe the previous weekend but was withdrawn from the starting lineup after tweaking his thigh muscle in the warmup.

Real won their opening Champions League match 61 at Turkish side Galatasaray but have faltered in La Liga and Saturday’s defeat left them five points behind champions Barcelona and Atletico, who both have a perfect 21 points from seven games. —Reuters

Els paves the way for South Africans Park seeks to regain winning form in China BEIJING: South Korea’s Inbee Park will seek to regain her dominant form with a strong showing at the inaugural Reignwood LPGA Classic in Beijing.

Park, the world No. 1, is being joined by third-ranked American Stacy Lewis at the tournament, which begins today. Park swept the first three major championships of the season, and has added three other US LPGA Tour wins this year.

However, she finished well out of contention at the British Open and last month’s Evian Championship, failing in her attempt to become the first golfer - male or female - to win four majors in a year.

Park said the familiar feeling of the tournament’s setting at the Nicklaus Course at Pine Valley Golf Club on the outskirts of the Chinese capital boded well for success.

“I’m from Asia and I just feel very comfortable playing here. I’m going to try my best this week and play good,” said Park, who tops the LPGA money list this year with $2,186,601 in winnings.

Lewis will also be looking for a strong tournament after giving up her No. 2 ranking to Norway’s Suzann Pettersen at the rain-shortened Evian Championship in France on Sept. 15.

Lewis trails Pettersen, who is sitting out the tournament, by about $170,000 on the money list, adding some late -season excitement to the final seven events of the tour schedule.

“It’s been a great year the three of us kind of going back and forth,” said Lewis, who has 14 top-10 finishes in 21 tournaments this year, the most of any player on the tour. “It’s a good competition. You see what the other players are doing, and you

try to figure out how to get better and watch what they are doing.”

“You always want to play well in this last Asia swing just because there is so much money out for grabs and there are a lot of things on the line,” said Lewis, who won her second career major at the British Open this year.

Park took the US Women’s Open in June for her third consecutive major of 2013, but stumbled at the British Open in August by four-putting for double bogey on the first hole of the final round.

Since the modern version of the Grand Slam began in 1960, Park is the only player to win the first three majors of a season.

The only other pro to do that was Babe Zaharias in 1950, when the U.S. LPGA Tour had only three majors.

The event is the LPGA’s first tournament in China, highlighting the role of homegrown star Shanshan Feng in bringing six out of the top 10 women golfers to a country that already boasts more than 400 courses. Feng won the LPGA Championship last year to become China’s first major champion.

“I think we just need to say thank you to Shanshan because we’re here this week because of her. It’s really cool to come play in her country and her winning the LPGA Championship last summer certainly spurred this on a little bit,” Lewis said.

The other top golfers in the field include No. 4-ranked So Yeon Ryu of South Korea, No. 6 Beatriz Recari of Spain, No. 7 Na Yeon Choi of South Korea, as well as former No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan and American Michelle Wie. Mostly sunny weather is forecast in Beijing this weekend after rain earlier in the week. —AP

DUBLIN: Ernie Els remembers them as being part of his junior golf foundation in South Africa. He referred to Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel as leaders on his junior team that traveled the country, with strong voices and a game to back it up. Oosthuizen went on to win a British Open at St. Andrews, and Schwartzel won the Masters.

Branden Grace was another youngster who came through his foundation, a kid with raw power who needed some polish.

Grace was perched on a sand dune at Fancourt in fading light 10 years ago watching Els, his hero, make a tense 6-foot par putt against Tiger Woods to end the Presidents Cup in a tie. “That is when I knew I wanted to play golf,” Grace said. Now they’re together on the same International team at the Presidents Cup. The matches begin Thursday. The Americans have never lost on home soil since the event began in 1994. The International team has only won once, in Australia in 1998.

Els said Tuesday after a day of team pictures and practice at Muir field Village that this International squad could be the one to turn the tide.

“They’re pros now,” he said. “They were juniors and then they were amateurs and now we’re professionals and now we’re playing together. It’s very weird. It’s hard to explain.

“Louis and Branden and Charl, I’ve known them since they were so young. And now they’re playing on the big stage. It’s quite nice.”

Oosthuizen, whose swing is regarded as one of the best in golf, is making his debut and happy to do so. He missed the past three months with pain in his lower leg, back and neck and only returned to competition last week at the Dunhill Links in Scotland.

Oosthuizen and Schwartzel were on the wrong end of a bad haircut Monday night, providing more than a few laughs in the International team room.

Then, they played together against Els and showed that there might be plenty of fight from this team that looks outmatched on paper.

“They won all the money today, the two little rascals,” Els said, choosing his words carefully in front of the cameras. “We had a ton of money we

DUBLIN: Ernie Els of South Africa and the International Team watches a shot during a practice round prior to the start of The Presidents Cup at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. —AFP played for and they won the most money. Maybe they can grow their hair with that.”

The matches will be played at the course Jack Nicklaus built, the third time Muirfield Village has hosted an international competition, after the Ryder Cup in 1987 and the Solheim Cup in 1998.

The International team has seven rookies and only one player - Masters champion Adam Scott in the top 10 in the world. The only American without Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup experience is 20year-old Jordan Spieth, who is playing so well that he’s now ranked No. 21 in the world.

Els and Scott have been the most vocal about needing to make the matches competitive - the past three have been blowouts - and see what it’s like to win. Schwartzel has been around Els for a long time, and he noticed a change in his voice when the four-time major champion speaks.

“You can sense in the way he’s speaking that he’s really tired of being on the losing side,” Schwartzel said. “Even out of Adam, too. They’ve had enough of this.”

Even so, there is a sense of pride from Els when he sees the young South Africans. “We got pretty

lucky to get talent like that,” Els said. “And we’ve got some more talent now in our foundation again. They have really laid a great foundation.

They’re great kids ... well, they’re not kids anymore.”

Grace was 15 when he spent a week at Fancourt in what remains the tensest Presidents Cup. It ended in a tie, and by rule, one name from each team was pulled from an envelope to decide who would win the cup - Woods and Els. They halved the first two holes as darkness fell.

Woods rolled in an 18-foot putt that broke both ways, later calling it the most nervous he had ever been. Els rolled in a 6-foot par putt that looked twice as long to halve the third extra hole. The captains declared it a tie.

Oosthuizen, who remembers watching the final round on television, said the ending also made a lasting impression. Then again, just about everything about Els has made a difference to him. “He was a great guy to look up to, what he was doing in golf and the golfing world,” Oosthuizen said. “To play under his name and his clothing was like having your hero’s shirt on. It was just good fun.”—AP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

S P ORTS

In Nigeria, basketball dreams are growing LAGOS: Abiodun Francis Ayetimiyi was meant to follow his father and pursue medicine in Nigeria. He found a different path one morning seven years ago when he was playing soccer and came upon another ball, a big orange one.

The 16-year-old’s natural speed and athleticism now have him pursuing basketball stardom, a dream that is becoming more achievable in a country that produced one of the NBA’s greats but, like most of Africa, has had little space for any sport other than soccer.

About 30 years after Hall of Famer Hakeem “ The Dream” Olajuwon first emerged from the sprawling city of Lagos, Ayetimiyi is part of a new drive for basket-

me,” the teenager said with a grin, leaning forward to make his point.

Picked by the NBA as one of seven Nigerians to attend the recent talentscouted Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa, Ayetimiyi is among a new generation ready to ride the momentum basketball is gaining in this West African country of nearly 160 million people, albeit decades after Olajuwon blazed a trail.

Nigeria’s participation in the 2012 Olympics raised the international visibility of the country’s basketball talent, but several Nigerians who had already made it to international stardom also make it a priority to actively encourage the sport back home.

LAGOS: In this photo taken, Sept. 5, 2013, an unidentified player from Mark Mentors BC (centre) in red and black is challenged by Kano Pillars players during Nigeria’s own final four in Lagos, Nigeria which the Pillars went on to win. —AP ball here, and a chance for new dreams in Nigeria. “In my country I’m known here, but I want to be known elsewhere. I want my hard work to be seen by agents, coaches. I’d like to finish high school in the U.S. They don’t need to put much work into

First came Olajuwon, the two-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star with the Houston Rockets. More recently there has been Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri, who directs the Basketball Without Borders Africa program and runs

his own camps in Nigeria. And former Seattle Supersonics and Orlando Magic center Olumide Oyedeji.

On a steaming hot Friday in the Yaba neighborhood of Lagos, Oyedeji coaches at least 250 kids from the age of five and up who practice layups, passes and basic dribbles wearing brightly colored T-shirts.

The 6-foot-10 Oyedeji plays with them, towering over the youngsters who line up laughing and clapping for each other around four different baskets. With the blow of a whistle, everyone stops and listens, excited to be in his gentle, inspiring presence. The subsidized camp gives the underprivileged kids a chance to learn the sport, and be close to a Nigerian hero.

“Nigeria is my home. I started this camp so I can share my experiences,” Oyedeji said. “I hope we can contribute to their lives and give them hope for the future because that’s what basketball gave me. I had a difficult childhood.”

Kids gather close, hanging on Oyedeji’s words. Oyedeji will leave soon for Japan, where he now plays. But his impact will remain, for girls as well as boys.

“Even though we (girls) are not recognized very well, we can still play. I want to be the best and play for the WNBA,” said 15-year-old Ibeh Lucy Chinelo, who started a pickup game during the camp’s lunch break. Her friend Ayomide Olukayode chimed in: “I want to be a professional player and I want to play for the national team.”

Nigeria is offering more local opportunities: high school teams, university leagues and state franchises like Mark Mentors, Kano Pillars, Union Bank and Dodan Warriors, who faced off at Nigeria’s own Final Four in September.

Dodan Warriors forward Ifeanyi Modo started playing at a local court in Ajegunle, a Lagos neighborhood known for churning out soccer players, though also known for its slum areas and gangs.

“Basketball gives you an opportunity to get off the streets, it gives you an opportu-

nity to not join gangs, to go to school and to be a better person,” he said. He said that many Nigerians leave to play in other countries “because they need money, they need to support their families.”

The reality right now is the average salary in the Nigerian league is only about $100 a month, said Joe Touomou, the Mark Mentors head coach and a consultant to the Nigerian Basketball Federation, the NBBF - “not enough for a kid to live off.”

Touomou is part of a bigger plan to encourage youngsters to seek careers in basketball. That involves the promised land of playing for college teams in the United States and the chance for two things; better coaching and a good education - opportunities Olajuwon seized in the early 1980s at the University of Houston, and others have also more recently taken.

Yet, not all Nigerian kids will make it to an American college so there’s work being done at home, too.

Nigeria’s Basketball Federation wants to foster local talents. Touomou, a Cameroonian who played for Georgetown and turned to coaching after an injury, is also tasked with building coaching expertise in the capital Abuja and its surrounding state. “Every time I came here I was impressed by the potential. The size, the athleticism, the strength of the players,” Touomou said of Nigeria. “The one thing I knew was lacking was the skills. A lot of players were not polished yet, a lot of players lacked game experience, a lot of players lacked good coaching.”

Tijjani Umar, president of the NBBF, said basketball in Nigeria “needs the private sector to take interest.” Nike has signed to be the official uniform provider for the national team and a subsidiary of the sports management group IMG is looking into Nigeria, Umar said.

DSTV, a South African satellite television network that beams across the continent, has a four-year sponsorship program with the NBBF. Live NBA games will also be broadcast on that network to 47 territories

LAGOS: In this photo taken , Sept.

10, 2013, a child learns ball work during a basket ball camp organized by former Seattle Supersonics and Orlando Magic center Olumide Oyedeji. —AP in Africa, including Nigeria, from this year.

“Fifty countries are watching the game and it’s unbelievable,” Umar said. Young hopeful Ayetimiyi leaps high to dunk in Lagos, then dribbles the ball back to center court, skipping with pleasure in his shiny sneakers and sharp, white longsleeved Basketball Without Borders jersey.

Basketball’s exposure on TV is what changed his father’s opinion. “My parents saw me on TV during a state festival game and said I was too good to stop playing,” he said. “They were proud of me, and I’m lucky I have their support.”

He circles back to the court, grins, dribbles and goes for another layup, believing every shot he makes can take him closer to his dream of international basketball stardom. —AP

Blackhawks down Capitals

Nissan’s Championship battle to be decided at the Nurburgring DUBAI: Nissan takes its team of talented gamers to the Nurburgring in Germany this weekend for the final round of the Blancpain Endurance Series. The result of this race will decide both the driver and team titles in the Pro-Am class of the 2013 Series.

The Pro-Am team championship is a straight fight between Nissan and Ferrari, currently separated by just one point with Nissan having the upper hand.

Lucas Ordonez leads the Pro-Am driver’s championship, ahead of team-mates Peter Pyzera and Alex Buncombe but with 33 points awarded to the race winner that title battle is still wide open. Nissan GT Academy Team RJN will field two cars for this event. The No.35 Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 will be raced by Lucas Ordonez, Wolfgang Reip and Peter Pyzera, while the sister No.32 GT-R will be in the hands of Alex Buncombe, Mark Shulzhitskiy and Jann Mardenborough who will also be competing in the British F3 International Series at the Nurburgring this weekend. The final event of the Blancpain Endurance Series is a one-off 1000kms race so tactics and strategy will play a key part in the outcome. Lucas Ordonez is ready to get out there and fight for the championship. “It’s a long race so anything can happen but I will be racing with the championship in my mind,” said Lucas. “It will be a tough track for us so we really need to nail the set up. I’ve not actually raced on the Grand Prix track before but I have done many driving events there. I won my class at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2012 though so it is a good place for me. This is a very important event for me, for Nissan and for GT Academy. It has been a very busy and very exciting year and I hope we can finish it with a championship in our hands.” Like Lucas, Peter Pyzera has never competed on the Grand Prix track but he knows it well from taking part in many track days there. “I really like the atmosphere at the Nurburgring and that fact that this is my home race makes a big difference to me,” said Peter. “It is only two hours from my home so I hope to get a lot of local support. I have a good feeling about this race.

To be honest the only time I haven’t had a good feeling before a race was at Ricard and that didn’t go well at all! This is my first season as a racing driver and we are going to the last race leading the championship. I’m very proud to be part of this team and I hope we can hit our targets at the Nurburgring. It would be great to stay in front of Ferrari and maybe get a podium.

To win the championship would be fantastic so like always I will give 100% and see what happens.” The Nurburgring 1000kms will also see another Nismo Exchange taking place when Nismo’s Kazuki Hoshino jumps into the No.23 JRM Racing GT-R with Peter Dumbreck and Steven Kane. “Thank you very much to Nissan for giving me the chance to race in Blancpain, said Kazuki. “I am very interested in the series and I like the track so much. I have been there five times for the Nurburgring 24 Hours but not this year so I am pleased to go there again. It is good to be part of the Nismo Global Driver

Salman Al Khater — 2013 ME GT Academy Winner Exchange. I was very surprised and impressed by the three drivers who have been over to Japan so far (Lucas, Alex and Jann). They only needed three laps to get used to driving at a new track before they were putting in very quick laps. I also really enjoyed racing with Lucas. He is a good guy with a great racing ability and I hope to race and share the same car with him again.” The six-hour Nurburgring 1000kms gets underway this Sunday at 1215hrs CET. Qualifying takes place on Saturday at 1650hrs CET and you can follow all the action on nismo.tv.

MOMENT OF TRUTH While most of the GT Academy graduates are fighting for the Blancpain title at the Nurburgring, two of the newest winners will be taking part in their prize drive at Silverstone.

Salman Al Khater and Ashley Oldfield are the winners of the 2012 GT Academy competitions in the Middle East and South Africa respectively. Since winning GT Academy last March, Salman and Ashley have been on an intensive driver development programme to prepare for them for international competition.

Like Lucas Ordonez, Jann Mardenborough and all of the winners before them their prize is to compete in an international endurance event in a Nissan 370Z Nismo GT4 race car.

An important part of the GT Academy process is the lessons the winners learn from their mentors. Lucas was mentored by Johnny Herbert in 2008 and the ex-F1 star joined Lucas on the grid for the 2009 Dubai 24 Hours. For Ashley and Salman they have the expertise of Tomas Scheckter to call upon as the successful South African racer will join them for the Silverstone 1000kms this weekend.

CLEAN SWEEP Philippe Sinault’s Signatech Team won the European Le Mans Series race at the Hungaroring last weekend, leading home a Nissan-powered 1-2-3-4 and continuing the clean sweep of Nissan victories in both the ELMS and FIA WEC. The FIA World Endurance Championship moves to the United States this weekend to race at the Circuit of the Americas in Houston. With seven LM P2 cars powered by Nissan the racing will be as close as ever so tune into radiolemans.com or catch the action live at fiawec.com when the race gets underway on Sunday at 11:00hrs local time.

CHIC AGO: Brandon Saad, Johnny Oduya and Marian Hossa scored in the third period as the Chicago Blackhawks kicked off their Stanley Cup title defense with a 6-4 victory over Mikhail Grabovski and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in the NHL regular-season opener.

Patrick Kane, Brent Seabrook and Brandon Bollig also scored as Chicago won its first game for the second straight season.

Corey Crawford made 28 saves, including a couple of huge stops when the Blackhawks killed off a late 5- on-3 power play.

Grabovski had three goals and an assist in his first game since he signed with Washington in August. Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, but the Capitals were unable to protect a third-period lead.

Grabovski had consecutive power-play goals in the third, lif ting Washington to a 3-2 advantage with 14:44 left. But Saad finished a beautiful giveand-go with Michal Handzus, and Oduya conver ted a long slap shot at 13:53 to put the Blackhawks ahead to stay.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, CANADIENS 3 I n Montreal, Tyler Bozak scored a short-handed goal and Mason Raymond netted the winner in his first game with the Maple Leafs as Toronto spoiled Montreal’s home opener.

James van Riemsdyk and Dion Phaneuf also scored in a fight-filled game in which Montreal’s new enforcer George Parros was carried off on a stretcher following a bout.

Toronto’s Colton Orr pulled Parros down during the fight and the Canadiens for ward’s face crashed into the ice.

CHICAGO: Martin Erat No. 10 of the Washington Capitals controls the puck under pressure from Patrick Sharp No. 10 of the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. —AFP

Lars Eller’s second goal of the game with 2:22 left brought the Canadiens within 4-3 but they couldn’t get even. Eller also set up a goal by Brendan Gallagher.

The mood turned somber 2:34 into the third period when Parros was prone on the ice. Orr had fallen and pulled down Parros, who was bleeding and looked woozy. A team of trainers from both teams spent several minutes treating him. The Canadiens said Parros sustained a concussion, but was aler t and conscious

and undergoing more tests.

JETS 5, OILERS 4 In Edmonton, Michael Frolik scored a pair of goals, and the Winnipeg Jets rallied to spoil Edmonton’s home opener with a 5-4 victory over the Oilers.

With 5:02 left, Eric Tangradi sent a beautiful backhand pass in front to Frolik, who broke a 44 tie by directing his second goal of the night into the net before goalie Devan Dubnyk could get back across the crease.

Jacob Trouba also scored and

added an assist in his first NHL game for the Jets, who made their first appearance as a Winnipeg team in Edmonton since 1996. Mark Scheifele and Bryan Little also scored for the Jets, and Ondrej Pavelec made 34 saves for the win. Luke Gazdic, Boyd Gordon, Ales Hemsk y and Jesse Joensuu scored for the Oilers, who squandered a 4-2 lead. Dubnyk stopped 23 shots. Gazdic’s goal was changed to Mike Brown but then awarded back to Gazdic after the game.—AP

Pirates down Reds to book NLDS berth PITTSBURGH: After more than two decades of misery, the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their return to postseason action with a rousing 6-2 home victory over the Cincinnati Reds in their do-or-die National League wild card playoff game on Tuesday.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano held the Reds to one run on four hits over seven innings and was backed by two home runs from catcher Russell Martin as a standing-room only crowd of more than 40,000 at PNC Park waved black hankies and roared their support at Pittsburgh’s first playoff game in 21 years. The victory advanced the Pirates to the best-of-five Division Series against the top-seeded NL Central champion Cardinals starting today in St Louis.

“You talk about feeling good all over,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters after getting showered with champagne by his players.

“Our ball park showed up. Our fan base showed up. Our city showed up. Our guys fed off of that from the beginning,” he added.

“It was tremendous energy. I’ve been to a lot of great venues, played in some important games, but that spark from our fan base, I don’t know if I ever felt that before.”

Liriano was dominant, setting down the first nine Reds batters, who did not get the ball out

of the infield until the fourth inning. The Dominican walked one and struck out five before giving way to Tony Watson and closer Jason Grilli.

Second-inning home runs by Marlon Byrd and Martin off Reds starter Johnny Cueto got the Pirates started and they added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Pedro Alvarez for a 3-0 lead.

The home run by 36-year-old Byrd came in his first postseason at-bat after playing 1,250 major league games for seven clubs.

Cincinnati got on the scoreboard with a fourth-inning run that made it 3-1 when Jay Bruce’s two-out single to left scored Shin-Soo Choo, who became the first Reds player to reach base when he was hit by a pitch leading off the frame.

The Reds almost tied it up later in the fourth, but third baseman Todd Frazier’s bid for a tworun homer drifted to the foul side of the left-field line before Liriano struck him out to end the threat.

The Pirates promptly extended the lead in their half of the fourth with two more runs after doubles by Starling Marte and Neil Walker that made it 5-1, and Martin crushed another home run off reliever Logan Ondrusek in the seventh.

Martin became the only catcher ever to hit postseason home runs for three different teams, having previously homered for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees in the playoffs.

Choo got the Reds one run closer with a home run in the eighth but the Korean’s blast was not enough as Pittsburgh won in the postseason for the first time since 1992.

“Those balls in the heart of the plate are highpercentage pitches to hit and out of the park,” Baker said about the troubles experienced by Cueto and the six relievers that followed him to the mound.

Baker bemoaned the narrowly missed opportunity the Reds had in the fourth. “It’s a different ball game if Frazier’s ball stays fair. That’s a totally different ball game,” he said.

Martin saluted the work of starter Liriano and the lift the team got from the fans and looked forward to the rest of the postseason.

“Francisco pitched an unbelievable game and we were able to score some runs for him,” his battery mate said. “It was overall a great day for everybody in Pittsburgh.

“This is 20 years of waiting and you just saw it all come out in one night. Hopefully, we c a n k e e p t h i s a t m o s p h e re l a te i n to October.”—Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

S P ORTS

Vettel eyes Korean GP SEOUL: Sebastian Vettel has heard boos from the crowd after winning the last three races but Sunday ’s Korean Grand Prix should put a stop to that.

Fed up Formula One fans hoping to see a different driver standing on the top step of the podium may be disappointed but they are more likely to be shouting at their television sets than making a noise in Mokpo. The Yeongam circuit, reached after a three hour journey south from Seoul on the country’s fastest train, is near a remote port more on the map for shipbuilding than tourism or a passion for motorsport.

“The atmosphere at the track isn’t great because there aren’t many spectators, but the track’s got some challenging sections and some good corners,” commented Vettel’s Red Bull team mate Mark Webber.

The Australian started on pole position last year but it is Vettel who has won the race for the past two seasons and is favorite for the hat-trick, even if that does not sit well with Ferrari fans and others yearning for a closer battle.

The champion’s fourth successive title looks a foregone conclusion and could be won by the end of the month but until then the 26-year-old is putting into practice the old German saying that all good things come in threes.

Since the end of the August break, Vettel has chalked up his third Italian win, his third Singapore GP victory in a row and his third successive win this season.

Only Vettel and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, the man who is now his closest rival in the championship even if there is a 60 point gap with six races remaining, have ever won the Korean race since it first appeared on the calendar in 2010.

Alonso needs to win it again but even he recognises that it will likely take a stroke of luck to slow the German’s rush to the title.

“We need to be lucky for the last six races if we want to win the championship,” the Ferrari driver said after finishing sec-

ond, for the third race in a row, under the Singapore floodlights.

“If we cannot win the race, we need to be right behind and try to take any opportunity but being realistic, we know that we need to be very, very lucky,” added the Spaniard.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali put it even more bluntly after Singapore.

“The only thing we have to do is try to stay there and see because maybe next time something will happen to him (Vettel) and realistically speaking this is the only chance we have to win the championship,” said the Italian. Alonso’s nightmare would be to have another Red Bull one-two like last year but he has already done his best, albeit unwittingly, to ensure that does not happen.

Webber, who has been on the Korean podium and ahead of Alonso in the last two years, will have a 10 place grid penalty on Sunday after collecting his third reprimand of the season in Singapore.

That came after he hitched a ‘taxi ride’ on Alonso’s Ferrari to get back to the pits after the race was over but while cars were still on their slowing down laps.

His demotion should lift Alonso up the grid, even if the front row may still be out of reach with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fancying their chances for Mercedes.

“It’s a good racing track with places that you can attack to overtake which makes it a good challenge for the drivers,” commented Hamilton.

“We’ll be hoping to improve our qualifying performance this weekend to give the best possible chance in the race and I hope we can have a strong weekend.” Lotus will also be hoping that Kimi Raikkonen’s back pain has eased after a difficult weekend in Singapore for the Finn. “When the car is right, you can go well there,” said the 2007 champion, who finished fifth at Yeongam in 2012. “Last year, we saw it’s a good place to race with a good car.” —Reuters

ANTWERP: US gymnast Simone Biles competes in the vault qualifications at the 44th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. —AFP

Biles leads world qualifying ANTWERP: Simone Biles used superb floor and vault exercises to sweep past US teammate Kyla Ross yesterday and take the provisional lead in all-around qualifying at the world gymnastics championships. Biles was the only gymnast to break the 60-point mark with 60.133, leaving overnight leader Ross well behind with 59.198 in second place overall. With only one of five qualifying groups to go, Yao Jinnan of China was in third position with 57.965.

“She did an excellent job. She handled here temper and was aggressive,” US coach Martha Karolyi said of Biles. “She even can do a better job.”

Even though the top 24 go through and all start from scratch in the all-around, the wobbly performance of 2010 champion and title favorite Aliya Mustafina drew much attention as the Russian finished nearly three points behind Biles with 57.165. The women’s all-around final is set for Friday, one day after Japan’s Kohei Uchimura is seeking to become the first four-time all-around world champion in the sport.

In a US battle of 16-year-olds, Biles came up on top off Ross, but together they proved the strength in depth the US team has early in the new Olympic cycle ahead of the 2016 Rio Games.

And for showing few nerves in their first world championships, look for veteran coach Karolyi, long known for her tough handling of recruits to prime them for the top. Biles said no one could intimidate her at the Antwerp Sports Palace because “Martha scares me more than the judges.”

Karolyi should certainly scare her more than Mustafina. The Russian wobbled her way through the opening balance beam exercise and followed it up with clumsy fall on the opening series of tumbles of the floor exercise in another listless performance.

The indignity was complete when she landed on her backside on her second vault, slapping her hand into the mat in frustration. She was through to the final so it left only her confidence and reputation badly bruised after Wednesday’s performance.

The US team came into Antwerp without defending champion Jordyn Wieber and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas but still will be favored to at least medal on Friday.

It was almost a luxury to have three U.S. gymnasts fighting for only two available places per nation in the final. McKayla Maroney stood in provisional sixth place but won’t make Friday’s final behind Biles and Ross.

There should be plenty of Americans in the apparatus finals too. Maroney topped Biles in the provisional standings of the vault and should at least make that weekend final.

Biles was outstanding on the floor too, letting her stocky muscles do the work on leaps and tumbles while letting her personality take over on the dance elements and should be joined by Ross there. In all, Biles could make all apparatus finals on top of her outstanding all-around performance.—AP

Ex-police chief to probe horse racing operation LONDON: Britain’s former top policeman John Stevens is to look into the entire horse racing operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum after being asked to investigate by the Dubai ruler himself. UK authorities seized unlicensed veterinary products, which included steroidal injections, anaesthetics and anti-inflammatories, described as “potentially toxic and dangerous to horses”, from a Dubai government private jet at London’s Stansted airport in May. Then, in August, there was a raid by the UK’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate on Moorley Farm, owned by the Sheikh’s Darley company, in the eastern English town of Newmarket that is the headquarters of British racing, where similar goods were taken. These incidents followed the unearthing of the biggest doping scandal in racing history when the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) revealed in April that 22 horses stabled at the Sheikh’s elite Goldolphin Racing complex in Newmarket had tested positive for anabolic steroids.

The BHA said then no one other than

trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was culpable and he was later banned for eight years.

Sheikh Mohammed is Britain’s leading racehorse owner.

Stevens, the former head of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, said in a statement quoted Wednesday by the website of Britain’s Guardian newspaper: “I have been asked by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to oversee an internal inquiry that will examine organisational structures, internal communication and veterinary practices at all of the major components of Sheikh Mohammed’s equestrian properties and operations, including Darley, Godolphin, Meydan and Janah, the equine flight company. “We will look into events surrounding the seizures at Stansted and Moorley Farm, including the chain of custody for the medications in question and their intended purpose. “We will also look beyond those specific events for a wide-ranging assessment of veterinary procedures and practices to determine whether they are in support of horse welfare and in keeping with all applicable laws and regulations.”—AFP

Photo of the day

Jerome Smith and Mubarak Marzouk perform at Red Bull King of the Rock on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, USA.— www.redbull.com

Del Potro sends Berlocq packing TOKYO: Top-seeded Juan Martin del Potro moved into Japan Open quarterfinals with a comfortable 62, 6-2 win over fellow Argentine Carlos Berlocq yesterday.

Del Potro broke Berlocq’s serve twice in the second set, and lost only eight points on serve under the roof, closed by rain. After Tuesday’s three-set victory over Marcos Baghdatis, del Potro said it was good to find his rhythm.

“I played a lot better than yesterday,” del Potro said. “I served well, my forehand was strong and I was able to break his serve and be aggressive. I had control of the match all the time which was important to me.” Del Potro, who is seeking his third title of the season following victories in Rotterdam and Washington, will next play Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, who defeated eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3, 7-6 (2).

In the day’s only upset, Ivan Dodig of Croatia ousted secondseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6 (5). Matching 2009 champion Tsonga with nine aces, Dodig saved all three break points he faced.

Dodig will attempt to earn a place in his third semifinal of 2013 against Jarkko Nieminen of Finalnd, who beat Michal Przysiezny of Poland 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2.

In other matches, third-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 7-6 (0) win over wild card Go Soeda of

JAPAN : Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina returns a shot against his compatriot Carlos Berlocq during their second round match of the Japan Open. —AFP Japan in the opening match on Center Court. Raonic, coming off a win at the Thailand Open on Sunday, dominated Soeda with his serve, hitting 24 aces. “I served really well,” Raonic said. “It was a bit ear-

lier in the day than what I’m used to but I played well on the important points and did what I needed to do.”

Raonic lost in the final last year to local favorite Kei Nishikori, who will face Feliciano Lopez of Spain in

the second round today.

The fourth-seeded Nishikori is on the verge of becoming the first Japanese player to break into the top 10 and is bidding to win his second title of the season. —AP

Nalbandian announces retirement

CHINA: Li Na of China returns to Sabine Lisicki of Germany during her women’s single match of the China Open tennis tournament. —AFP

Li advances in China CHINA: Home favorite Li Na overcame Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 7-5 6-4 at the China Open yesterday to set up a quarter-final showdown with former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

The Czech, who won the Japan Open last weekend, overcame Italian fifth seed Sara Errani 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 in their third round clash at the prestigious $5 million Beijing tournament.

World number four Agnieszka Radwanska was one of a number of high profile women to win through in second round action on the hard courts at the National Tennis Centre as the Pole dispatched promising American Madison Keys 6-3 6-2.

Radwanksa will next face Slovenian wildcard Polona Hercog, who stunned former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-4 in the day’s only upset.

“It was a big challenge for me to go out there on a big court and play against Ana Ivanovic, and I’m just really happy the way it turned out,” Hercog told the WTA Tour. “It’s probably one of the biggest victories for me.”

Germany’s Andrea Petkovic provided the upset of the first round when she ousted Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka and the Bosnia-born world number 43 followed that up with a second round win over another grand slam champion yesterday.

Petkovic again needed to go the distance

as she beat former French and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6 6-4 6-1.

“This is the first tournament that I’ve been able to really keep up my intensity and keep up my focus. I think I’ve played two good matches,” Petkovic said after setting up a clash with Czech Lucie Safarova in the third round.

“Personally it’s really important to see that I can still beat the players on the top level, two past grand slam champions. It’s just a big boost for my confidence, no matter what happens now in the future.” The victories though were only warm-up acts for the home fans keen to see their compatriot Li in action.

Li, the first Asian to win a grand slam singles title when she triumphed at the 2011 French Open, had the crowd happy as she scored a break in her 13th seeded opponent’s first service game.

The world number five ran in to trouble though as she attempted to serve out the set as Lizicki broke back to level at 5-5 only for Li to break again and win it 7-5.

Another break came midway through the second set as Li wrapped it up 6-4 despite a match total of seven double faults.

That ser ving issue will need to be resolved if she is to find a way past in-form Kvitova. World number one Serena Williams is back in action today when she takes on Maria Kirilenko in the third round. —Reuters

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian said he would quit tennis next month, citing physical problems that have sidelined him for most of the year.

“It’s not easy what’s happening to me now, my shoulder is not helping me to train as I should for the circuit,” the 31-year-old told a news conference on Tuesday.

“It’s a tough day to (have to) announce my retirement today,” said the former world number three, winner of 11 ATP Tour titles including the season-ending ATP Championship in Shanghai in 2005 when he beat Roger Federer in the final.

Nalbandian, who had right shoulder surgery in May, said he would quit tennis after playing two exhibition matches against his friend Rafael Nadal, the world number two, in November, one in Buenos Aires and the other in his birthplace, Cordoba.

A fierce competitor, Nalbandian said the emotional highs during his career had been playing for Argentina in the Davis Cup including three finals between 2006 and 2011. “The closest was the final in Mar del Plata. It’s not easy to win the Davis, it’s the only title Argentina lacks,” he said after the Argentine team blew their best chance at home to a Spanish side without Nadal in 2008. Nalbandian, who climbed to number three in the ATP rankings in March 2006, turned professional in 2000 and ends his career with a 383-192 win-loss record.

The junior US Open champion in 1998, he reached the semi-finals of the four grand slam tournaments after a surprise appearance in the 2002 Wimbledon final which he lost to Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

He is also remembered on the grass courts of London for an incident in last year’s final at Queen’s against Marin Cilic when he kicked in frustration at the board surrounding a line judge’s chair, injuring him, and was disqualified.

In 2009, when the ATP named the top five players of the decade as Federer, Nadal, Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, Nalbandian was given a special mention for having finished in the world’s top 10 in five consecutive seasons from 2003. Nalbandian helped Argentina to upset France in their Davis Cup quarter-final in April as a doubles player, before his shoulder operation.

Asked whether he might one day become Argentina’s Davis Cup captain, he said: “I’m not thinking about the future beyond my present state.”

World number one Novak Djokovic is also going to play Nadal in an exhibition match in Buenos Aires and Nalbandian said he might call the Serbian “to arrange something”. —Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

S P ORTS

Swansea City looking to retain Euro momentum

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

UEFA Europa League Anzhi v Tottenham Aljazeera Sport +7 Aljazeera Sport 3 HD

19:00

Kuban v Valencia Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

19:00

Sevilla v Freiburg 20:00 Aljazeera Sport +1 Rijeka v Real Betis Aljazeera Sport +1

20:00

Alkmaar v PAOK Aljazeera Sport +4

20:00

Lyonnais v Guimaraes Aljazeera Sport +6 Aljazeera Sport 5 HD

20:00

Trabzonspor v SS Lazio Aljazeera Sport +5 Aljazeera Sport 4 HD

20:00

Wigan v Maribor Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +9

22:05

Odessa v Eindhoven Aljazeera Sport +8 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

22:05

Apoel v Eintracht Aljazeera Sport +7 Aljazeera Sport 3 HD

22:05

Dnipro v Fiorentina Aljazeera Sport +5 Aljazeera Sport 4 HD

22:05

Swansea v St. Gallen Aljazeera Sport +6 Aljazeera Sport 5 HD

22:05

Dortmund unfazed by coach Klopp’s absence BERLIN: Suspended Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp was allowed to enjoy a rare relaxed evening in the stands as his team shrugged off his absence in their 3-0 victor y over Olympique Marseille to bounce back in the Champions League.

Klopp, who was suspended from the touchline following an outburst in their opening Group F defeat to Napoli last month, sat high in the stands on Tuesday to watch Dortmund cruise past their French opponents in style.

“It was a bit strange not having our coach around,” said right back Kevin Grosskreutz. “I kept looking over to the right and he was not there and that was unusual.”

“So we won this one for him because he knows exactly where to deploy each one of us.” Klopp, whose suspension has yet to be officially announced by UEFA, watched and cheered wildly as Dortmund overran Marseille in a onesided affair that lifted last season’s runners-up to second place in the group.

“The good thing is you can see a lot better from up there but it is still not something I want to do often,” said the coach. “But when the game goes so well then it is bearable.

“The team applied exactly everything we had set out to do. We can always get an advantage by working more and

harder and the team did exactly that.”

For Bundesliga leaders and last season’s Champions League runners-up the win was crucial to get their European campaign back on track as they extended their winning run at home in the competition to seven straight games.

Klopp’s magic touch may have been missing in the dugout but it was clearly visible in his starting line-up with 21year- old Erik Durm slipping in for injured Marcel Schmelzer and enjoying a flawless Champions League debut.

With Durm joining Jonas Hofmann and Marvin Ducksch as a new set of young players in the senior squad this season, Klopp is spoilt for choice despite the absence of injured captain Sebastian Kehl, Ilk ay Guendogan, Lukasz Piszczek and Schmelzer.

“I am super happy with the cool way Erik set up the first goal. He could have even scored one himself on his debut.

His per formance was exceptionally cool.”

Klopp is now faced with the dilemma of who to pick next time around. “There are so many games coming up that the work load is that big so we will need every single player. That is why Kevin Grosskreutz will be happy when (regular right back) Lukasz Piszczek is back and Erik will be happy when Marcel Schmelzer is back.”—Reuters

PARIS: Swansea City will be looking to build on their stunning win at Valencia when they host Swiss side St Gallen on match day two of the Europa League group stage at the Liberty Stadium today.

Swansea thumped Valencia to come away with a 3-0 win from their opening Group A trip to the Mestalla, while the Swiss also won their opener at home to Russian outfit Kuban Krasnodar. Goalkeeper Michel Vorm believes that Swansea can take heart from their record at home in European competition this season despite injury worries and a 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League at the weekend.

The Welsh outfit could be without captain Ashley Williams with an ankle ligament problem, with right-back Angel Rangel (ankle) and wingers Roland Lamah (toe) and Pablo Hernandez (thigh) also in a race for fitness.

“We have a few injuries which is disappointing, but we have coped quite well and I don’t think we feel tired,” said Vorm. “If we want to grow as a team and a club we want to play in Europe. “We have to make sure we are fit to play all those games.” “Ash is very important for us and Angel is also a player with a lot of experience,” said Vorm.

“Ash is a leader, of the team, of the group, on the pitch and off the pitch. “It’s hard when he’s missing, but he is injured and we have to cope with it.”

Vorm believes Swansea’s past record at home, with European victories against both Swedish side Malmo and Petrolul Ploiesti of Romania this season, will boost morale.

“We have played some of the big sides, but in he past we have made it a bit more difficult for them at home,” added Vorm. “That’s something I think we have to do.”

Meanwhile, Valencia, the 2004 UEFA Cup winners and two-time Champions League finalists, are desperate for all three points as they travel to Kuban Krasnodar, who lost 2-0 to St Gallen on match day one.

English side Tottenham Hotspur, who got

GENK: FC Thun’s Dennis Hediger heads the ball during a training session on the eve of the Europa League football match KRC Genk vs FC Thun. —AFP their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over Norwegian outfit Tromso, also travel to Russia when they meet Anzhi Makhachkala in Group K. FA Cup holders Wigan Athletic, also bidding to win promotion back to the Premier League and impress in Europe, will be looking to get a home win when they host Slovenian club Maribor after drawing 0-0 away to Zulte Waregem in Belgium in their Group D opener.

In other games, Fiorentina of Italy are hoping to follow their 3-0 win over Pacos Ferreira of Portugal when they travel to Group E rivals Dnipro of Ukraine, who also won their opener.

French Cup holders Bordeaux will try to put their chaotic start to the season behind them against Group F rivals Maccabi Tel-Aviv of Israel

as Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt go to Croatia to face Rijeka.

“The players have to take responsibility. We’re the only ones who can turn the situation around,” said Bordeaux midfielder Gregory Sertic as 1996 UEFA Cup runners-up Les Girondins chase a first win in seven in all competitions.

“We have to be warriors on the pitch and bounce back quickly.” PSV Eindhoven, the 1988 European Cup winners, travel to Chornomorets Odessa after a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria in Group B, and Dynamo Kiev visit Rapid Vienna afer losing 1-0 at home to Belgian Cup holders Genk in Group G. Meanwhile, Lazio take on Trabzonspor in Turkey in Group J and Sevilla are at home to Bundesliga outfit Freiburg in Group H.—AFP

Mourinho happy after Chelsea clean up CL act LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will have headed home from Romania in a better mood than when he arrived after Chelsea’s 4-0 demolition of Steaua Bucharest ‘cleaned up’ their Champions League mess.

Mourinho’s team selections had been questioned by the British press after last month’s shock 2-1 home defeat to Basel in their European opener and the Portuguese coach cut short his pre-match news conference on Monday irritated by further questions on the issue.

While Mourinho looked impassive after watching his side, he was clearly happier about his team’s position in Group E where they are now second on three points behind Germany’s Schalke 04, who won 1-0 against Basel on Tuesday to move onto six.

“We needed to clean up what we did at home (against Basel)and we did it with a good performance,” he said of the 2012 Champions League winners who failed to advance from the group stage last season. “If we didn’t win today we were in trouble. We finish the group with a game at home (against Steaua), that is an advantage, but at this moment I don’t want to think about finishing first, I want to think about qualifying for the next stage.”

Brazil midfielder Ramires scored twice, either side of an own goal from Daniel Georgievski, Frank Lampard got the fourth, while German winger Andre Schurrle and Spain’s Juan Mata were outstanding in a game Chelsea could have won by a bigger margin. “Schurrle was fundamental. We identified what we had to do to penetrate their

defence He was the man for that,” said Mourinho, who had publicly criticised the newly-arrived German after the Basel defeat. “We scored four and probably could have scored six or seven because we played really well.

“I put a lot of pressure on the players for this game, and they coped well with that pressure,” he added. “In attacking areas we had beautiful moments in the game but everything started at the back. (Branislav) Ivanovic, David Luiz, who made zero mistakes all game, (John) Terry and (Ashley)Cole gave us stability and from there the team could cope with the situation.” Mourinho even maintained his optimism when talking about Fernando Torres’ knee injury after the Spain striker had limped off in the 11th minute.—Reuters

Curtocares United, Malabar United, FC Sparx win

Curtorcares United KUWAIT: The third round of KIFF League matches were held on Sept 27, 2013 at the Al Kazema grounds in Adeliya amidst favorable climatic conditions. The early two matches saw Curtocares United clashing with Santos United on ground ‘A’ and AVC - Kuwait locking horns with Indian Strikers on ground ‘B’.

Santos United buoyed by their first round win went on a immediate attack and took the lead through John Costa. Curtorcares regrouped themselves and equalized through Bonny Niasso.

The m a tc h re a c h e d a f r a n t i c pace and Curtorcares scored again through Cleto who was instrument a l t h ro u g h o u t t h e m a tc h . Th e result was put to rest when Bonny N i a s s o s co re d h i s b r a ce a n d earned his side a well deser ved win. Santos United tried their best but could not penetrate the deter-

Malabar United mined Curtorcares defense.

Cleto of Curtorcares United was declared the Man of the Match and the award was handed over by Carmo Santos, President of Santos United. On ground ‘B’ Indian Strikers and AVC - Kuwait started the match with vigor and both sides showed attacking intent. AVC dominated the first half and took the lead through Savio.

In the second half Indian Strikers came strongly and equalized through Harris. AVC surged ahead through their star striker Anthony who unleashed a superb volley. Not to be outdone Indian strikers once again equalized through Sinesh Mohan, but Anthony scored his second goal to put AVC ahead.

In the dying m i n u te s o f t h e match Indian Strikers scored the equalizer through Harris and the match ended in an exciting draw

Sparks at 3-3. Joseph Quadros of AVC Kuwait was awarded the Man of the match which was presented by Mr. Cajetan Pereira, President of

United Friends Club.

The second 2 matches of the day saw FC Sparx taking DHL FC on ground ‘A’ and Malabar United and

Skynet Raiders on ground ‘B’. FC Sparx who has impressed everybody this season took the lead through their hardworking Hussain Ali. DHL pressed hard for the equalizer, but the young brigade of FC Sparx would not let in their famed counterparts dominate them.

They held on the lead till the final whistle and earned themselves an all important win and top the table in their group which itself is a major achievement for this dynamic club.

Once again the young Hussain Ali was unanimously adjudged the Man of the Match and the award was presented by Shyam Kumar President of Kerala Challengers.

In the other match Malabar United and Skynet Raiders started the proceedings with attacking intent and Malabar United took the lead through Jibu Varghese. As time came to a close Skynet tried hard for

the equalizer but Malabar defense held firm and the match ended in favor of Malabar United who are now undefeated in their two league outings. Mostafa was declared the Man of the Match and Mr. Dominick Pereira, Asst Sports Secretary of KIFF gave away the award.

The matches were supervised by IFRA officials. Men of the Match awards for KIFF League season are sponsored by United Steel Industrial Company.

The match schedule for 4th October 2013 to be played at Al Kazma Grounds is as follows: At 6.45 am Real Betalbatim FC v/s Kuwait Goan Association on Ground ‘A’ and Don Bosco Oratory v/s GOA Maroons on Ground ‘B’.

At 7.45 am United Goan Center v/s YRC Rising Stars on ground ‘A’ and Kerala Challengers v/s United Friends Club on Ground ‘B’.

19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

SPORTS

Man City outclassed by brilliant Bayern

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (center) is blocked by Benfica’s Brazilian defender Guilherme Siqueira (right) during a Group C Champions League football match. —AFP

Benfica blown away by first-half PSG burst PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain indicated that they are genuine contenders to win this season’s Champions League with a stunning first-half display in a 30 win against Benfica in their Group C match yesterday. Superbly-worked goals scored by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marquinhos and another effort by the Swede had PSG 3-0 up within half an hour, and a shell-shocked Benfica never looked capable of recovering.

Laurent Blanc’s side are now in command of the section with a maximum six points and seven goals scored in two games, and a double-header of fixtures against Belgian title-holders Anderlecht offers them a glorious chance to seal their last-16 place with something to spare.

The French capital club were without injured captain Thiago Silva, but his fellow Brazilian Alex recovered from a thigh knock in time to take his place in the heart of the defence, while Blaise Matuidi shook off a foot problem to start in midfield and Edinson Cavani returned in attack after being rested at the weekend.

Sitting five points behind leaders and bitter rivals Porto in their domestic top flight just now, this was always likely to be a massive test for Benfica, even if the huge Portuguese immigrant population in Paris guaranteed them a sizeable and noisy following inside the Parc des Princes.

PSG have not been entirely convincing domestically this season, but they came into this fixture still unbeaten a nd t h e i r e x p e n s i v el y-assemb l ed sq u ad p la ye d wi t h an insat iab l e a pp et i t e e a r ly on , carving ap art a Benfica side who dream of reaching a final that is scheduled to be played in their own stadium next May. The hosts were ahead inside five mi nu te s a s a m a gnificent mo ve, involving Marco Verratti and Matuidi, ended wi t h G r e gor y V an der Wiel c ro s s i n g low f r om t he rig ht fo r

Ibrahimovic to roll the ball into the net. Any hopes that Benfica had of ending PSG’s unbeaten home record in Euro p e an c ompetition s, wh ic h stood at 24 games at the start of the evening, already appeared forlorn and their coach Jorge Jesus would have feared a hiding when they fell further behind on 25 minutes.

It was another wonderful goal, and the precocious Italian international midfielder Verratti was at its origin, his brilliantly improvised pass inside the box releasing Matuidi to cross low for Marquinhos to stab into an empty net.

It was a second goal in as many C hamp io n s L eague games for th e young Brazilian defender, who is only now getting a run in the side following his summer acquisition from Roma.

The visitors then lost Serbian midfielder Ljubomir Fejsa to injury before conceding again when Thiago Motta’s corner was nodded in by Ibrahimovic, w ho sco red h is 3 3 r d Ch ampion s League goal on the eve of his 32nd birthday.

The tempo dropped after that and Benfica finally tested Salvatore Sirigu in the home goal two minutes into the second period, the Italian fisting away a well-struck Ezequiel Garay free-kick.

However, the outcome of the game was never in doubt in the second half, and Lucas might even have made it 40 shortly after coming on with 20 minutes to go, his shot from range stinging the palms of Artur in goal.

The sole concern for Blanc would have been the limited impact made by Cavani, the record summer signing from Napoli who does not yet fit into the PSG system.

The Uruguayan saw little of the ball from his position on the right of the at t ack an d was outsh on e by Ibrahimovic, although he fared a little better after moving inside for the closing stages, finally forcing a save from Artur after 74 minutes.—AFP

CL results/standings Group A Shakhtar Donetsk 1, Manchester United 1.

Bayer Leverkusen 2, Real Sociedad 1.

Standings Man United Shakhtar Donetsk Bayer Leverkusen Real Sociedad

P W D L 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 2 0 0 2

F A 5 3 3 1 4 5 1 4

Played on Tuesday Group E Basel 0, Schalke 1 Steaua 0, Chelsea 4 Pts 4 4 3 0

Group B Juventus 2, Galatasaray 2, Real Madrid 4, FC Copenhagen 0 Real Madrid Juventus Copenhagen Galatasaray

2 2 2 2

2 0 0 0

0 2 1 1

2 2 2 2

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 10 0 3 1 1 1 3

1 3 5 8

6 2 1 1

2 2 2 2

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 0

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 1 1 2

4 2 5 0

0 2 2 7

6 3 3 0

Arsenal Napoli Dortmund Marseille 2

2 2 2 0

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 2

0 1 1 1

4 2 4 5

1 3 2 0

6 3 3

0 1 1 1

5 2 0 1

2 2 1 3

6 3 1 1

0 0 1 2

5 3 1 0

0 1 5 3

6 4 1 0

Group G Zenit 0,Austria Vienna 0 Porto 1,Atletico 2 0 1 1 2

7 4 2 0

1 4 3 5

6 3 3 0

Group D Man City 1, Bayern Munich 3 CSKA Moscow 3, Viktoria Plzen 2 Bayern Munich Man City CSKA Moscow Viktoria Plzen

2 2 2 2

Group F Dortmund 3, Marseille 0 Arsenal 2, Napoli 0

Group C Paris St Germain 3, Benfica 0 Anderlecht 0, Olympiakos 3 Paris St Germain Olympiakos Benfica Anderlecht

Schalke Basel Chelsea Steaua

0 1 1 2

Atletico Porto Austria Vienna Zenit

2 2 2 2

2 1 0 0

0 0 1 1

MANCHESTER: Defending champions Bayern Munich proved they remain the team to beat in the Champions League with a classy 3-1 win at Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

Playing in England for the first time since their victory over Borussia Dortmund in last season’s final, Pep Guardiola’s side gave City a lesson in relentless attacking to take control of Group D. A goalkeeping error from Joe Hart helped Franck Ribery give the visitors a seventh-minute lead and they added further goals from Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben in the second half.

Substitute Alvaro Negredo replied in the 80th minute, before former City player Jerome Boateng saw red for a last-man foul on Yaya Toure, but on the ground where they had crushed derby rivals Manchester United just 10 days ago, City were deservedly beaten.

Victory sent Bayern three points clear at the top of the group and consigned City to a first home defeat in Europe since 2008, four days on from an unexpected 3-2 loss at Aston Villa.

Guardiola boldly elected to play without a recognised striker, bringing Toni Kroos into his team to replace Mario Mandzukic and deploying Mueller as a ‘false nine’. Pellegrini handed Micah Richards only his second start of the campaign at right-back, but if the Englishman was selected to help muzzle Ribery, the plan quickly backfired.

David Alaba ran in behind Richards to cross for Robben to head wide in the third minute and moments later, Bayern went ahead.

A sweeping pass from Rafinha found Ribery wide on the left and he brought the ball down, cut

LONDON: Manchester City’s French defender Gael Clichy (right) and Bayern Munich’s German forward Thomas Muller jump for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match. —AFP inside Jesus Navas, and dispatched a fierce right-foot shot from 25 yards that beat Hart at his near post.

It was another moment to forget for the England goalkeeper, who has committed several blunders since the turn of the year, but his team-mates were faring little better.

With Bayern pressing high, City were unable to get a foot on the ball, leaving Edin Dzeko as a lonely outpost in the visitors’ half and causing rumbles of discontent to roll around the arena.

Save an early header from Richards that Manuel Neuer easily caught, City were almost non-

existent as an attacking presence.

Dzeko headed wide during a succession of City corners early in the second period, but Bayern were soon back on the attack, with Robben seeing a shot deflect wide off Vincent Kompany.

Two goals in the space of three minutes put Bayern out of sight. They scored their second in the 56th minute, with Mueller ghosting in behind Gael Clichy to bring down Dante’s lofted pass, evade Hart’s star jump, and tuck the ball home.

Moments later, Fernandinho was robbed on halfway by Mueller, who fed Robben, and

Olympiakos win at Anderlecht BRUSSELS: A hat-trick by Kostas Mitroglou took Olympiakos Piraeus to a 3-0 Champions League victory yesterday over an Anderlecht side who missed a penalty and a host of other good chances.

The Greece striker’s precision and a fine performance from keeper Roberto gave the Greek side their first points in Group C. Anderlecht, with no points and lying fourth in the domestic league, were left to rue their misfiring front line after the Greek champions made the most of limited chances in both halves.

After several Anderlecht forays, Argentine Javier Saviola exploited disarray in the home defence in the 17th minute to find Mitroglou, who poked the ball past Anderlecht’s keeper.

Anderlecht, beaten 2-0 by Benfica two weeks ago, dominated possession and were awarded a penalty when Andreas Samaris wrapped his arm around Sacha Kljestan at a corner. However, Roberto dived to his right to save Aleksandar Mitrovic’s spot kick in the 24th minute.

Mitroglou nipped past a stumbling Bram Nuytinck to take a looping header in the 56th minute and completed his hat-trick in style with a long right-footed shot in the 72nd minute to knock the energy out of the Belgian champions.

“It was Mitroglou’s night but I have to sing the praises of all the players,” Olympiakos coach Michel told uefa.com.—Reuters

BRUSSELS: Anderlecht’s Aleksandar Mitrovic (right) vies with Olympiacos’ Kostas Manolas during their European Champions League football match. —AFP

Leverkusen notch first win LEVERKUSEN: Bayer Leverkusen needed a last-gasp goal from substitute Jens Hegeler to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Champions League and notch their first Group A win yesterday.

Hegeler sailed in a free kick in stoppage time to earn the winner on his debut.

Leverkusen, who lost their opening game 4-2 at Manchester United, scored on the stroke of

halftime with captain Simon Rolfes sliding in after seeing his powerful header saved.

The Spaniards, in the competition for the first time after a decade, levelled early in the second half with Mexican Carlos Vela scoring on the rebound after keeper Bernd Leno saved his 52nd minute penalty. The Germans, who won all home games in their previous two Champions League group stage appear-

Group H Ajax 1, AC Milan 1 Celtic 0, Barcelona 1 6 4 3 2

1 3 5 6

6 3 3 0

Barcelona AC Milan Ajax Celtic

2 2 2 2

2 1 0 0

0 1 1 0

Plzen gift Moscow victory MOSCOW: A blunder by Viktoria Plzen goalkeeper Matus Kozacik letting a back pass from Radim Reznik slip under his foot into the net helped CSKA Moscow beat the Czech team 3-2 in Champions League Group D yesterday.

The error in the 78th minute of the match at Petrovsky stadium in St Petersburg put the Russian team 3-1 up before Marek Bakos pulled one back in added time for the visitors.

A fourth minute goal Frantisek Rajtoral gave Plzen an early lead, soon overturned by strikes from Zoran Tosic in the 19th and Japan forward Keisuke Honda ten minutes later.

CSKA, beaten 3-0 at Bayern Munich in their opening group match last month, joined the German side and Manchester City on three points before their match at the Etihad. Plzen have no points from two matches. —Reuters

the Dutchman streaked past Matija Nastasic before beating Hart at his near post.

Hart saved from Robben, Kroos and Ribery thereafter, while Mueller hit the post, before City salvaged a measure of pride with a late flurry.

After substitute James Milner tested Neuer with a rising drive, Negredo curled home a fine 80thminute consolation from the edge of the box. Boateng was then shown a straight red card by referee Bjorn Kuipers after felling Toure as he bore down on goal, with David Silva hitting the bar from the resulting free-kick, but by then it was too late. —AFP

GERMANY: Real Sociedad’s Mexican forward Carlos Vela (right) scores past Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno during the UEFA Champions League Group A football match.—AFP

ances in 2004 and 2011, are on three points, one behind Manchester United and Shakhtar Donetsk after they drew 1-1 in Ukraine. Real Sociedad, who lost their opener 2-0 against Shakhtar, are in bottom place with no points.

With Germany coach Joachim Loew in the stands to watch Stefan Kiessling with his starting strikers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez injured ahead of World Cup qualifiers this month, the hosts, third in the Bundesliga, enjoyed a strong start.

Kiessling and South Korea’s Son Heungmin repeatedly tried to catch the slower Spaniards on the break as a hard-working Leverkusen defence quickly stifled any potential threat.

Rolfes almost grabbed a 20th minute lead but keeper Claudio Bravo did well to palm his deflected shot wide. Chile’s Bravo again came to the rescue three minutes later, stretching to turn a Sidney Sam effort wide as the Germans kept on the offensive.

It took more than half an hour for Real to balance the scales with Leverkusen’s Leno twice denying their long-range efforts. The visitors came out fighting after the break, earning a 52nd minute penalty when Vela was brought down.

The 24-year-old Mexican stepped up, saw his effort punched away by Leno but slid in to level with his team’s first goal in the competition this season.

In a free-flowing final 30 minutes both teams went out in search of the winner but despite several chances on each side failed to score until Hegeler’s strike at the death. —Reuters

Del Potro sends Berlocq packing

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

17

Swansea City looking to retain Euro momentum

18

In Nigeria, basketball dreams are growing

Page 16

SPAIN: Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal (left) duels for the ball with FC Copenhagen's Olof Mellberg (right) during the Champions League Group B soccer match. —AP

Ronaldo sees Real ease past Copenhagen MADRID: Real Madrid made it six points from two games in Group B as doubles from Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria guided them to a 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen yesterday.

Following his hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of Galatasaray in matchday one, Ronaldo now has five goals in just two Champions League games this season.

The Portuguese headed home the opener midway through the first-half from Marcelo’s fine cross and made the game safe 25 minutes from time with another headed effort from Di Maria’s cross.

The Argentine winger made it 3-0 himself with a sensational curling effort from 25 yards

and rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with another precise left-footed finish.

A 2-2 draw between Juventus and Galatasaray in the night’s other game in Group B leaves Madrid well on course for the last-16, four points ahead of Juve with the Italians set to visit the Spanish capital next time out.

“We played a great match, we changed the system a bit and played with three up front,” Di Maria told Spanish TV station Canal Plus. “The manager continues to believe in us and he is very happy with our work tonight.”

“We need to continue in this manner, we are the ones that can make the games easy and if we keep playing like tonight things will go well.”

With Gareth Bale sidelined due to a thigh strain, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti had reacted to Saturday’s 1-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid by making five changes.

Iker Casillas returned in goal for the first time in nearly nine months at the Bernabeu, whilst Raphael Varane and Marcelo also made their first appearances since recovering from injury.

Madrid didn’t have things quite as easy as might have been expected in the early stages with Karim Benzema’s header from close range that drifted wide their only clear-cut opportunity.

However, they did eventually make the breakthrough on 21 minutes as Copenhagen

keeper Johan Wiland got caught under Marcelo’s out-swinging cross from the left and Ronaldo was left with a simple header at the back post.

Di Maria should have made it 2-0 moments later when he side-footed wide from Benzema’s intelligent cut-back and then saw a flicked header from another dangerous Marcelo cross creep just wide.

However, the Danish champions will feel they should have gone into half-time level after Nicolai Jorgensen’s header came back off the bar when Casillas flapped at a corner and Luka Modric had to clear the bound off his own line.

And moments later veteran defender Olof

Taison lands late blow to force draw with United DONETSK: Brazilian striker Taison’s goal 14 minutes from time denied Manchester United a second successive win in the Champions League group stage yesterday as Shakhtar Donetsk grabbed a 1-1 draw. The draw-which sees Shakhtar remain unbeaten at home to English teamsleaves both sides unbeaten after two games with four points.

The point-United took the lead through Danny Welbeck early in the first-half-will ease some of the pressure on manager David Moyes, whose side have made their worst start to a league season since 1989.

“That was a good point coming here and getting one isn’t easy,” said Moyes, who was handed the unenviable job of replacing the legendary Alex Ferguson as manager when he stepped down at the end of last season. “Shakhtar have a great record here so to get a point is no mean achievement. “I thought the team stood up well tonight and we defended very well.”

Moyes, who made his reputation by keeping Everton competitive despite having little money to spend, said that the result did not have any greater significance. “It is another point in the Champions League that is all, nothing more. It doesn’t take us any further along the line.”

United had the better of the early

exchanges, Robin van Persie, who was returning to the starting XI for the first time since the opening group win against Bayer Leverkusen, curling a shot high over the bar in the ninth minute after a super ball by Tom Cleverley.

However, that sparked the hosts into life and for several minutes they dominated play, although, clever approach play was not rewarded with shots on target.

Cleverley, though, was a little fortunate to get the benefit of the doubt from Czech referee Pavel Kravlovec when he brought down Alex Teixeira in the box.

United went ahead shortly afterwards as Marouane Fellaini got to the byline and his low cross evaded a Shakhtar defender and fell to Welbeck, who made no mistake from close range. Shakhtar harried and pressed United for the remainder of the half but to no avail, their final ball proving to be either too ambitious or inaccurate.

However, the hosts kept at their task, while United went into their shell and created very little, Moyes sending on Ryan Giggs for a Champions League record 145th appearance to try and add some urgency to their play.

However, it was Shakhtar who finally struck, Taison making no mistake when the ball fell kindly to the 25-year-

Mellberg also headed just wide from Claudemir’s cross. Madrid continued to dictate play at the start of the second-half without much penetration as Modric fired just wide before a Ronaldo free-kick dropped onto the roof of the net.

The second goal did finally arrive when neat play between Di Maria and Benzema released the former to send over a wonderful cross that Ronaldo bulleted home.

Di Maria sealed a fine individual performance with a sweet left-footed strike six minutes later. And he piled more misery on Copenhagen in stoppage time as he collected a loose ball inside the area and fired low into the bottom corner. — AFP

Galatasaray stun Juve

DONETSK: Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini vies with Shakhtar’s Tomas Hubschman (right) during their European Champions League football match. — AFP old as it rebounded off Nemanja Vidic to put them level 14 minutes from time-the hosts reliance on Brazilians exemplified by the fact of their last 15 Champions League goals 14 have been by players from Brazil.

United were left to hang on grimly for a point and had goalkeeper David de Gea to thank for leaving Ukraine with a point, as the Spaniard saved a deflection off United defender Chris Smalling that was goal bound. — AFP

TURIN: Juventus were stunned by a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Galatasaray after scoring two late goals to virtually seal certain victory in another frustrating Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday.

Juventus dominated throughout but went in for the interval a goal down after Didier Drogba pounced on defensive lapses to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in what was Roberto Mancini’s first match in charge of the Turkish champions.

As Mancini’s men defended in numbers, they looked to be heading for a shock win until Arturo Vidal scored from the penalty spot on 78 minutes after Fabio Quagliarella fell under a soft challenge from Nourredine Amrabat.

Quagliarella gave Juve a shock lead minutes later when he headed past Fernando Muslera from Andrea Pirlo’s perfect delivery.

But as the celebrations began, the hosts were stunned when substitute Umut Bulut beat Gianluigi Buffon from close range after collecting Drogba’s delivery as the Juventus defence proved conspicuously absent.

The result left Juventus, who drew 1-1 away to FC Copenhagen a fortnight ago, still winless with Galatasaray securing their first point under Mancini having been routed 6-1 at home by Real Madrid.

Drogba’s opener came after he pounced on a wayward back pass from defender Leonardo Bonucci and coolly slotted the ball into a virtually empty net after Buffon had raced off his line in panic.

Until then it had been a cagey and at times physical affair, although Juventus were guilty of wasting several chances, the first when Mirko Vucinic chested down for Tevez only for the Argentinian to fluff his shot.

Juve suffered a blow when Vucinic was

forced off injured in the 26th minute after stumbling as he ran on to Pirlo’s long ball. He was replaced by Quagliarella, who failed to make an immediate impact against a side essentially playing on the counter and keeping plenty of men behind the ball.

Swiss winger Stephan Lichsteiner was replaced by Mauricio Isla for the start of the second half and the Chilean made a promising impact, finding space on the right to send several dangerous deliveries towards goal.

Juve picked up the tempo but were struggling to penetrate a tight Galatasaray backline. However when Pogba threaded a delightful through ball for Quagliarella, only for the ball to be bundled to safety, spirits were raised. From the resulting corner the ball found its way to Isla on the right and the Chilean came close with a superb volley that went only a metre over.

Moments layer Vidal tried his luck from 20 metres and although Muslera had it covered the midfielders drive was inches over the bar.

Shortly after the hour mark Conte, sensing the danger, sacrificed Bonucci for extra firepower, switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-1-2 to hand Fernando Llorente his Champions League debut.

Relief almost came immediately, Llorente sending a bullet header a metre over from Asamoah’s powerful delivery on the left on 70 minutes. However it was the tactical nous of Quagliralla which offered the Italian champions immediate hope.

He fell in the area under a soft challenge from Amrabat and Vidal stepped up to beat Muslera with a powerful drive from the spot.

The goal sparked Juve into life and they were rewarded when Pirlo turned on the magic to cross for Quagliarella, who headed past Muslera from close range. — AFP

Business

UAE bourses hire advisors as merger gathers steam Page 23 World stocks, dollar dip amid US deadlock

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Page 24 Unbeatable offer; Al-Zayani marks 50th anniversary

US companies add 166,000 jobs in September Page 25

Page 26

KOLKATA: Indian hand-pulled rickshaw riders, cyclists and others sit with placards during a protest in Kolkata yesterday. Hundreds of angry cyclists held noisy protests in the centre of the Indian city of Kolkata over a move by the local government to ban them from major roads in the congested metropolis. — AFP

Saudi high loan growth ‘sustainable’ Government spending surges to help avert protests in the

news Egypt business activity shrinks

CAIRO: Egyptian business activity shrank for the 12th straight month in September as both output and new orders fell, a survey showed yesterday. Most of Egypt has been under nighttime curfew since mid-August, when security forces broke up sit-ins of supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, deposed by the army on July 3. More than 1,000 people died in clashes in July and August between security forces and Morsi supporters. The seasonally adjusted HSBC Egypt Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the non-oil private sector stood at 44.7 points in September. That was up from 42.2 in August, the thirdlowest reading since the survey began in April 2011, but still well below the 50 mark separating growth from contraction, the survey of around 350 private sector firms showed. “It’s a disappointing reading that underscores how long and difficult Egypt’s road to recovery may prove to be,” Simon Williams, chief Middle East economist at HSBC, said in a statement accompanying the poll results.

“Support from overseas can offer the currency some immediate relief, but as this month’s PMI shows, it will take more fundamental changes inside Egypt itself for private sector activity to normalize.” Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates pledged Egypt $12 billion in aid days after Morsi’s removal and have indicated they are prepared to send more.

Saudi group drops California lawsuit LOS ANGELES: A wealthy Saudi Arabian business group has dropped a lawsuit filed in California against a former banker it alleged was a key player behind a $9 billion fraud, lawyers said yesterday. The Algosaibi family and its partnership, Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi and Brothers, sued Glenn Stewart in 2011 for allegedly fraudulently obtaining loans when he headed a Bahraini bank, The International Banking Corporation. The deal to drop the lawsuit, under which both sides agreed to pay their own legal fees, was agreed Monday after film producer Stewart met with the Saudi group’s lawyers to discuss transactions behind the lawsuit. “After several years of scorched earth litigation where we chipped away at the plaintiff’s case, we feel totally vindicated by this settlement,” said Stewart’s attorney Haig Kalbian. “We knew that this case should never have been brought against Glenn Stewart. The fact that the other side has walked away from the case for no money speaks volumes,” he added. The Saudi group’s lawyer Eric Lewis said information shared by Stewart “at the end of the day is far more valuable than any monetary recovery against him as an individual.” The Algosaibi family claimed that Stewart, a former employee of one of their companies who fled to Bahrain in 2010, was behind a huge international fraud and money laundering scheme.

RIYADH: High loan growth to the private sector in Saudi Arabia is likely to continue in the next two to three years as government spending supports a surging economy, Saudi British Bank (SABB) Managing Director David Dew said. According to central bank data, bank lending to the private sector was up 15 percent in August against the same period in 2012, growth that will likely push SABB to raise its own capital as it loan book grows, Dew said.

“We do see that range (of loan growth) in the mid teens as sustainable over the next two-three years because of the underlying growth of the economy and government revenues,” he said in a rare interview with a head of a Saudi bank. Real gross domestic product growth in Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, was 5.1 percent last year and 8.5 percent in 2011 when government spending surged to help avert protests during the Arab Spring.

“If you’re going to maintain your capital adequacy ratios, which we are, you’ve got to grow your capital at least at the same rate as your loans,” Dew said. SABB, the kingdom’s fourth-largest listed bank by market capital and 40 percent owned by HSBC, has one of the lowest capital ratios of any Saudi bank, but one that is still nearly double the minimum 8 percent mandated by the central bank. While Dew said he would not discuss specific plans to raise capital, banking sources told Reuters in August SABB was aiming to sell a riyal-

denominated sukuk by the year-end to boost its Tier 2 capital position.

However, he said other options were also available. “Instruments such as convertible bonds that will convert to equity or be written down in the event of breaches of ratios and so on, those are being issued with increasing regularity around the world and I think you will see them in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Saudi banks are well provisioned against non-performing loans thanks to very conservative regulation by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA-central bank), Dew said. “From a capital perspective the Saudi banks are pretty much qualified for Basel III already ... given the positive economic environment, we don’t expect to see any material changes in provisioning levels in the next two-three years,” he said.

LITTLE CHANGE WITH MORTGAGE LAWS Saudi Arabia introduced a long-awaited package of new mortgage laws last year aimed at addressing a chronic shortage of affordable housing and regulating an existing market in home loans. However, Dew said expectations voiced by some analysts that the changes would revolutionize the sector were misplaced. “The (lack of) mortgage laws did not stop us introducing a home loan product and growing a product and getting the second largest market share. And I don’t think the mortgage laws will significantly change our approach to that part of the business, which we are keen

to develop,” he said. SABB was the first Saudi bank to introduce a dedicated home loan product and its mortgage business is growing in the 15-20 percent range each year, Dew added, saying that growth rate would likely continue.

He said Saudi banks would need to develop ways to hedge against interest rates rising above the historically low levels they are at now, and that it would be important to develop a securitization market in the kingdom. “Clearly if you’ve got a large fixed interest rate loan or investment portfolio that’s going to hurt you when rates start to rise. So you’ve got to have a better ability to hedge against that risk,” he said. “A strong securitization market in the kingdom, at least for home loans ... is going to be an important part of the overall solution,” he added.

MARKET OPENING Many Saudi investors are keenly anticipating plans to open the kingdom’s stock market up to more direct foreign investment. At present foreign institutions can only invest in the Saudi bourse via swap deals, something the Capital Market Authority has said may change. However, Dew said he did not see any need to open the market quickly and that it was important to reduce the risk of destabilization. “I certainly don’t see any particular need for urgency. The country does not need additional funds. The fiscal position is unbelievably strong,” he said. “There is no point

opening up any economy including the Saudi economy to potentially destabilizing capital flows. So I expect any continuing opening up to be gradual and to take place over an extended period of time,” he added.

SABB PERFORMANCE Dew said SABB’s main focus in the next two years would likely be on its corporate business, rather than in retail. “Our strategic objective is to be the leading international bank in Saudi Arabia so our corporate and international business is relatively more important to SABB than to some of the other Saudi banks,” he said. SABB is based in Riyadh, listed on the Saudi stock market and regulated by SAMA, but like some other banks in the kingdom that are partly owned by foreign lenders, it is seen as international because of its affiliation with HSBC. Comparing SABB to its peers, Dew said the lender had outperformed the market in net earnings and margins in recent years. “If you look at market share of corporate business, you’ve got five or six banks that are broadly similar. If you look at retail, it’s a very different story with over half the market accounted for by the two largest banks,” he said. Al-Rajhi Bank and National Commercial Bank, which is not listed, boast more than half of all Saudi retail customers between them. “If you’re devising a sensible overall strategy you wouldn’t necessarily want to take on the big two in the retail mass market,” Dew said. — Reuters

Bahrain economy shrinks DUBAI: Bahrain’s economy shrank 0.3 percent from the previous quarter in the April-June period, its first quarterly drop in a year, largely because of weakness in the financial sector, official data showed. Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, had expanded 2.5 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2013. The small nonOPEC oil producer last experienced a quarter-onquarter contraction in April-June 2012. On a yearon-year basis, however, GDP growth quickened to 5.3 percent in the second quarter of 2013, the highest rate since the final quarter of 2010, from 4.2 percent in January-March, the data from the Central Informatics Organization showed.

Limited oil resources have forced the island kingdom of 1.3 million people to rely on other forms of business, particularly finance. But political unrest since 2011, in which the government has clashed with mainly Shiite-led pro-democracy protesters, has hurt Bahrain’s status as a regional financial hub while increasing pressure on the state budget.

Output in the hydrocarbons sector, which accounts for a quarter of Bahrain’s $30 billion economy, grew 1.2 percent in April-June from the previous quarter, after a 1.3 percent rise in the first three months. On a year-on-year basis, hydrocarbon output jumped 18.6 percent in the second quarter, as last year’s drop in crude oil output from Bahrain’s key Abu Safa field, which it shares with Saudi Arabia, was corrected.

Meanwhile the financial industry, which accounts for roughly 16 percent of GDP, shrank 1.0 percent quarter-on-quarter in April-June, the first contraction since the second quarter of 2012. In the hospitality sector, which nosedived during the 2011 turmoil, output climbed 1.7 percent quarter-onquarter in April-June, accelerating from a 0.5 percent rise in the previous three months. Analysts polled by Reuters in September forecast that Bahrain’s GDP growth would accelerate to 4.0 percent in 2013 from 3.4 percent in 2012, before slowing again to 3.5 percent next year. — Reuters

HONG KONG: A general view of skyscrapers in Hong Kong is seen yesterday. The Asian Development Bank cut its economic growth forecast for developing Asia yesterday, citing weakness in region’s two largest economies China and India and jitters over plans to scale back US stimulus that destabilized financial markets. — AP (See Page 22)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BUSINESS

ASAR acts as Kuwait legal counsel to World Bank KUWAIT: ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners (ASAR), Kuwait’s leading and most prominent corporate law firm, and one of the region’s top tier firms announced yesterday that it had acted as Kuwait local counsel to the World Bank as they undertook an assessment of the effectiveness of the Kuwait insolvency and creditor/debtor regime within the framework of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Reports on the observance of Standards and Codes Initiative.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the authorities in Kuwait, including the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry using the World Bank’s Revised Principles and Guidelines for Effective

Insolvency and Creditor Rights Systems of 2005 and the Recommendations of the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law which represent the international consensus on best practices and set forth a unified standard for ICR systems.

The new project aims to strengthen Kuwait’s commercial law and regulation to be more responsive to the current needs and aspirations of market participants and upgrade to regional and international standards. ASAR assisted the World Bank’s team in Kuwait which included some of the world’s foremost experts on corporate rehabilitation, distress resolution, debt recovery, secured transactions, financial reporting, and

judicial system strengthening, contributed to Kuwait’s vision of becoming a financial and trade center.

“We are proud to have been of assistance to the World Bank in relation to the review of Kuwait’s current insolvency framework. Insolvency regimes have evolved over the years and Kuwait is taking steps towards improving the country’s framework of financial laws.” said Rob Little, partner as ASAR. With dedicated offices in Kuwait and Bahrain coupled with its associated offices and relationships, ASAR provides clients across an extensive range of industry sectors with comprehensive legal advice and support for their business activities in Kuwait, across the GCC and

beyond. The firm has been consistently rated as the leading corporate and commercial law firm in Kuwait by reputable legal guides such as the Chambers Global Guide, International Financial Law Review and the Legal 500. In their annual law firm Global Guide for 2013, Chambers & Partners have exclusively ranked ASAR as Kuwait’s only tier 1 law firm for business law.

In 2012, ASAR was named as the “Best Law Firm in Kuwait 2012” by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR), the market-leading guide for financial law firms worldwide. The firm also won the “Best Equity Deal in the Middle East” award by IFLR during the same year.

Qatar to spend $100 billion on roads, railways projects KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz” recently published the executive summary of its report on Qatar Roads and Railways.

In this report, Markaz examines and analyzes the current status of Qatar Roads and Railways sector. The report highlights the market structure, growth trends, current & planned investments & projects in Qatar Roads and Railways sector. The report also presents a SWOT analysis and key learning points for the Qatar Road and Railways sector.

According to Markaz report, Qatar had already planned to invest around $100 billion on infrastructure projects as a part of the National Vision 2030. The plan aims to reduce the number of accidents and build the capacity of roads. Low prices of petroleum, absence of railways, and high number of motor vehicles per 1,000 people have led to high number of road accidents per year.

In 2010, Ashghal, the Public Works Authority that oversees all infrastructurerelated projects in Qatar, declared its plans to spend $20 billion up to 2015. Qatar’s roads development plans got fresh catalyst when it was awarded with the responsibility of hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup. It is expected that 30 highway projects valued at around USD 27 billion are going to be awarded to build adequate roads capacity. Some of the big projects, which are in construction or planning phase include Doha Expressway, Dukhan Highway - Eastern section, Lusail Expressway and Orbital Highway.

There is no railway network in Qatar currently. However, witnessing high congestion and huge number of traffic accidents every year, Qatar is now planning to build railways in the country to overcome

these problems. For this purpose, Qatar Railway Development Company (QRDC) was formed for the development of railways in the country and almost $41 billion worth of rail projects are in execution or planning phase.

Qatar Integrated Rail Project consisting Doha Metro, Passenger Rail and Freight Rail, is estimated to cost $37 billion. Some other big projects include West Bay people mover and Lusail light rail transit.

Moreover, no less than half a million people are expected to visit Qatar during the FIFA World Cup in 2022, which boosted the urgency to speed up railways projects.

The GCC has historically focused its transportation investments in building roadways, thus ensuring high quality roads across most of the region. Almost 100% of the roads in the GCC are paved roads; compare this high percentage to the average in other emerging countries, which is below 75%. Though the quality of roads is significantly better than other emerging markets, there is concern over the current capacity.

The increase in both population and propensity to purchase an automobile has led to clogged roads across most of the major GCC cities. Currently, the majority of the GCC rank high in terms of traffic density. Most of the GCC countries do not have significant railway networks.

However increasing population and high congestion on roads have forced governments to think about an alternative mode of transport in the form of railways. In 2012, $4.9 billion worth of road projects were awarded in the GCC region.

Approximately $160 billion worth of railway projects are either in construction or planning phase in the region.

ERC receives renewal of Egypt’s ‘Comfort Letter’ KUWAIT: Financial backers and debt providers of Core Citadel Capital platform company Egyptian Refining Company have received a renewal of its comfort letter from the Government of Egypt, signaling unwavering state backing for the strategic $3.7 billion greenfield refining project.

Egyptian Refining Company (ERC), a core platform company of Citadel Capital (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Exchange), the leading investment company in Africa and the Middle East with $9.5 billion in investments under control, has received official renewal of the Government of Egypt’s comfort letter for the strategic national project.

“ERC is a strategic national project that has enjoyed the unwavering support of successive Egyptian administrations since it was merely an idea on the drawing board in 2007. I am very pleased to report receipt of the renewal of our comfort letter from the Government of Egypt.

We remain on track for our planned 2016

commissioning of the refinery, which will reduce Egypt’s present-day diesel imports by approximately 60% while simultaneously reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by nearly one-third.” ERC is building a US$ 3.7 billion greenfield petroleum refinery in the Greater Cairo Area and is widely recognized as a cornerstone of Egypt’s energy security.

The state-of-the-art facility will call on the most advanced and environmentally stringent technologies from Conoco Philips/Bechtel, Axens and KTI to produce over 4.1 million tons of refined products and high-quality oil derivatives per year, including more than 2.3 million tons of Euro V diesel (the cleanest-burning diesel fuel in the world). Citadel Capital presently holds an 11.7% stake in Egyptian Refining Company, alongside the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and leading international, Gulf and Egyptian investors. ERC is scheduled to begin operations before the end of 2016.

SHANGHAI: A woman walks in front of a construction site in Shanghai, China. Five years since the global financial crisis, the Chinese government is now pulling back from its loose-credit policy to rein in excessive borrowing, which is slowing growth. — AP

ADB cuts Asia forecasts as India and China slow Slower growth, US uncertainty hurt momentum HONG KONG: Slower growth in China and India and uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s stimulus program is hurting Asia’s economic momentum, the Asian Development Bank said, as it cut its forecast for the region. In an update to its annual Asian Development Outlook published in April, the bank tipped regional gross domestic product to grow six percent this year, compared with its earlier forecast of 6.6 percent.

Growth in 2012 was 6.1 percent.

It also trimmed its 2014 estimate to 6.2 percent from the 6.7 percent previously stated. Asian economies have seen a marked slowdown this year owing to a troubled first six months in China-a key driver of regional growth-while India has been hit by political paralysis, rising inflation and a slumping rupee. On top of this are worries about the Fed’s massive bondbuying program, which saw a huge investment splurge in emerging economies when unveiled late last year but which the central bank is now considering winding down. The ADB cut its 2013 forecasts for China to 7.6 percent, well down from its April estimate of 8.2 percent, blaming weaker domestic demand, a softening industrial rebound and sharp downturn in foreign trade. “Moderating growth in the People’s Republic of China is the price of structural reform as authorities engineer a medium-term transition to a more sustainable growth path than one led by exports and investment,” ADB chief economist Changyong Rhee said in a statement.

“However, this growth deceleration could impact the rest of Asia... since the PRC’s economic influence has grown in the past decade,” Rhee said. India is seen growing 4.7 percent this year, compared with six percent forecast previously, with the ADB blaming a depreciation in the rupee-it hit a record low against the dollar last month. It also cited capital outflows as foreigners repatriate their cash on expectations the Fed’s stimulus

will soon end. India’s economy is also hit by industry and investment bottlenecks due to poor infrastructure and delayed structural reforms, the report said. The ADB now forecasts growth in East Asia-including Hong Kong and Taiwan to come in at 6.6 percent for the year.

Growth for Southeast Asia is seen at 4.9 percent, from 5.4 percent, as it is hampered by the performances of its three biggest economies-Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia-which are seeing “lacklustre exports and moderating investment”. The report said uncertainty over the Fed stimulus has “sparked the recent exodus of foreign capital from emerging markets including India

and Indonesia” causing nervousness and contributing to lower-than-expected growth. “Current conditions highlight the need for the region to exercise vigilance to safeguard financial stability in the short term while accelerating structural reforms to sustain economic growth in the longer term,” Rhee said. He said he expected economic activity to edge up in 2014, adding that the region was much stronger than during the Asian financial crisis with economies having higher foreign reserves. Developing Asia groups 45 nations or territories from Central Asia through to the Pacific islands, but excludes Japan. — AFP

VARANASI: Indian Pradeep Kumar Yadav, 42, inspects a finished product at his embroidery factory in Varanasi, India. Pradeep, owner of a fast-expanding manufacturer of water pumps and electric fans, says he finds stocks confusing and prefers investing in real estate and putting money back into his business. — AP

EXCHANGE RATES Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

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

2.899 4.554 2.673 2.154 2.841 226.800 36.561 3.639 6.524 9.065 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

75.630 77.927 736.650 753.290 77.237

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 269.49 278.05 317.62 386.74 282.90 461.87 2.96 3.653 4.546 2.145 2.840 2.675 77.09 752.96 41.04 402.63 735.72 78.12 75.57

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 Lira Morocco Dirham

41.700 40.679 1.323 173.080 400.510 1.903 1.308 34.914

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 283.500 Euro 384.430 Sterling Pound 460.400 Canadian dollar 274.820 Turkish lira 141.040 Swiss Franc 313.780 Australian Dollar 266.350 US Dollar Buying 282.300 GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

244.000 124.000 64.000

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 283.400 278.355 459.375 384.830 312.525 750.300 77.135 78.690 76.440 399.495 41.070 2.140 4.510 2.675 3.639 6.498 696.090 3.890

Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

10.035 3.087 3.820 88.450

Singapore Dollar South African Rand Sri Lankan Rupee Taiwan Thai Baht

0.223059 0.022394 0.001828 0.009480 0.008734

0.229059 0.030894 0.002408 0.009660 0.009284

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 0.745533 0.038090 0.000078 0.000183 0.395643 1.0000000 0.000139 0.022699 0.001200 0.730332 0.077160 0.074963 0.001930 0.167966 0.141053 0.076205 0.001288

0.753533 0.041190 0.000080 0.000243 0.403143 1.0000000 0.000239 0.046699 0.001835 0.736012 0.078373 0.075663 0.002150 0.175966 0.148053 0.077354 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 0.007369 0.453748 0.006653 0.047418 0.378618 0.043133 0.081803 0.008129 0.040188 0.307526 0.141053

SELLDRAFT 0.008369 0.482748 0.018653 0.052418 0.386118 0.048333 0.81803 0.018129 0.045188 0.317026 0.148053

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar

Australasia 0.257691 0.229431

0.269191 0.238931

Canadian Dollar US Dollars US Dollars Mint

America 0.269830 0.279400 0.279900

0.278330 0.283750 0.283750

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 0.003063 0.044861 0.034479 0.004296 0.000020 0.002803 0.003353 0.000253 0.083826 0.002938 0.002471 0.006389 0.000089

0.003663 0.048361 0.037229 0.004697 0.000026 0.002983 0.003353 0.000268 0.089826 0.003108 0.002751 0.006669 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) 282.850 385.650 460.250 275.850 4.539 41.030 2.157 3.635 6.518 2.676 753.425 77.050 75.600

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BUSINESS

Treasury bleeds from oil theft, competition for resources Pre-electoral feuding threatens Nigeria’s economy LAGOS: In Nigeria, as elsewhere, foreign exchange markets can be a barometer of internal strife, so when central bank governor Lamido Sanusi noticed a surge in dollar demand at forex bureaux in July, he feared something was amiss. The bank found tens of billions of naira was traded for dollars in cash, much more than importers needed to buy goods or investors to repatriate funds, and there was no trace of where the money came from or where it was going.

“Obviously this was some form of money laundering to cover all the trails,” Sanusi said.

“And with interest rates as high as they are, the only people who can take that much naira and buy dollars are people who are not borrowing their money.” The prime suspects, he says, are politicians jockeying for position ahead of what look likely to be bitterly divisive 2015 polls in Africa’s second-biggest economy. He blames “dollarization of the economy by political elites” for continued weakness of the naira, despite central bank moves to prop it up with dollar sales that have depleted its reserves to an eight-month low. Some economists dispute that explanation of the currency’s troubles, but it highlights the economic risks of Nigeria’s costly and often violent preelectoral politics. Nigeria’s growth rate of more than 6.5 percent and its huge consumer market are a draw for foreign investors, but they worry about stability and the country’s tendency to squander its windfall as Africa’s biggest oil producer.

OPEN AND DESTRUCTIVE Nigerian elections always cost the coun-

try billions of dollars and, often, many hundreds of lives, especially when they ignite ethnic rivalries or regional tensions between the largely Muslim north and mostly Christian south. This cycle could be especially costly, in terms of blood and treasure. A feud is bubbling between President Goodluck Jonathan and rivals in his ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over his assumed intention to run for another term, which is distracting from vital economic reforms.

A bill to reform the oil industry, which feeds 80 percent of government revenue, is stuck in parliament and unlikely to pass before the elections. Thanks largely to the feud, unofficial campaigning has begun almost two years early, so politicians will need to sustain spending on patronage for longer. Such spending can come from politicians’ private interests, but there are other ways, including state money for projects that benefit constituents, and government contracts for allies.

“The need of politicians to spend money now will be a big drag on the economy,” said Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Lagos-based consultancy Financial Derivatives. “If it comes from the treasury, the fiscal deficit will widen, you’ll get more inflation, the naira will weaken.” There is also widespread concern that some politicians profit from criminal gangs that make money from kidnapping, extortion or the theft of oil from the Niger Delta.

MONEY TALKS Seven ruling party governors and a former presidential candidate have formed a

PDP splinter group determined to stop Jonathan from running again, though as recently as Sunday he declined to say whether he would. All but one are northerners who feel another spell in office would break an unwritten rule that the presidency should rotate between north and south every

Centre for Democracy and Development, an Abuja-based think-tank.

“The northern political class feels it needs to get back into power, and the president will do all he can to stay in.” It may not be such a bad thing for democracy, he says, if the dominant PDP ends up breaking up into two or

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan two terms, or are disappointed with his record on tackling security challenges like an Islamist insurgency in the north. The president last month sacked nine ministers he suspected of disloyalty. “The crisis in the PDP is very deep, and I don’t see them resolving these issues ... It’s such an open and destructive fight,” said Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the

three parties. But it would damage public finances if state money is used to shore up wavering loyalties, and all three tiers of government - local, state and federal - will need to fight expensive battles. “The more contentious the election ... the more funds will be utilized to fight it, both at federal and state levels,” said Kayode Akindele, partner at

Lagos-based advisory 46-Parallels.

Nigeria’s cash position always plummets ahead of election time, but this time oil theft is proving an unprecedented drain, dragging official output to a four-year low, nearly a fifth below its 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) capacity. “Oil theft tends to shoot up in periods of heightened political instability and competition,” London’s Chatham House wrote in a report this month. “Nigeria’s upcoming ... elections scheduled for 2015, are a particular wild card.”

Rampant theft has also left the government with less money, despite high oil prices, just when governors and legislators are clamoring for it. Nigeria’s oil savings account had around $9 billion in it in December. By March it had fallen to $5.8 billion, after several withdrawals, including two distributions of $1 billion to governors for constituency projects. It has not recovered. Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has crafted a tighter budget plan for 2014 - 4.5 trillion naira ($28 billion), against 5 trillion in 2013 - mindful that parliament often inflates spending.

But the savings were made largely by slashing capital spending needed to address chronic infrastructure bottlenecks. Though the budget is conservative in its oil price assumption, it assumes production of 2.39 million barrels a day (bpd), which analysts say may be optimistic, given the thefts. Output is currently around 2.11 million bpd. “Nigeria is facing a very serious situation with ... oil output,” Standard Chartered’s Razia Khan said.

“The test is: are the politics going to allow for keeping spending under control?” — Reuters

UAE bourses hire advisors as merger gathers steam JP Morgan, First Gulf Bank, Citigroup chosen

NEW YORK: Oil storage tanks are reflected in the Gowanus Canal in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Federal officials say dredging will begin on the canal in about three years to remove sludge that’s polluted with sewage and chemicals. The cleanup cost estimate is half a billion dollars. — AP

Oil falls below $108 on signs of better supply LONDON: Brent crude oil slipped below $108 a barrel yesterday, extending five weeks of falls on signs of improving global supply. Oil prices have tumbled over the past month as output has risen, with Libya ramping up production, while tensions over Syria and Iran have eased, dampening worries of disruption to production from the giant Middle East oilfields.

Libyan Oil Minister Abdelbari Arusi said yesterday oil output had risen to around half the level seen earlier this year, and full production could be restored within days once strikes that have blocked oilfields and ports are resolved. “Supply is no longer a worry,” said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil and commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. “There is plenty of oil in the market and the risks are to the downside. We expected prices to fall further.” Brent crude for November fell 10 cents to $107.84 a barrel by 1100 GMT. The benchmark has fallen by more than 8 percent from a six-month high hit in late August.

US crude traded around $101.80, down 24 cents, extending losses for a fourth straight session. Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) industry group show US crude inventories rose by 4.6 million barrels last week and figures yesterday from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) are expected to confirm the trend. The EIA is expected to report that US crude oil stocks rose 2.3 million barrels in the week to Sept 27, according to a Reuters survey of analysts.

The weekly API report, published late on Tuesday, said crude oil stocks at the US Midwest delivery hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for the US oil futures contract, fell by 83,000 barrels last week. Cushing crude stocks

have fallen for 12 consecutive weeks, EIA data show, but the pace of the drawdown has slowed as supply has improved and analysts say that a US stock rebuild may now be under way. The EIA data will be released at 1430 GMT. Investors have also expressed concern that a US government shutdown may reduce demand for commodities such as oil.

Wrangling in the United States between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans has forced the first government shutdown in 17 years. The shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees on unpaid leave and is expected to crimp demand in the world’s largest oil consumer.

“That’s going to hurt demand,” said Jonathan Barratt, chief executive of commodity research firm Barratt’s Bulletin, adding that geopolitical risks had also faded from view.

“All the premium risk that was built into the oil market has evaporated. The bullish sentiment is just not there any longer.” The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries expects demand for its crude to fall to 29.61 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2014, down 320,000 bpd from 2013, because of rising supply outside the producer group. OPEC’s Secretary General Abdullah AlBadri indicated in an interview with Reuters that the cartel may not make big changes to output policy at a December meeting, adding that he was “comfortable” with the market outlook for 2014. “It is not a huge drop in the call on OPEC,” Badri said. OPEC, which pumps more than a third of the world’s oil, meets on Dec. 4 to decide whether to adjust its output target of 30 million bpd. — Reuters

Dubai Lynx 2014 Festival And Awards new website launched KUWAIT: The new website showcasing what’s in store at the upcoming Dubai Lynx 2014 Festival and Awards has been launched. The Dubai International Festival of Creativity will take place from 9-11 March 2014, with the Dubai Lynx Awards Ceremony and Dinner happening on 12 March.

The Madinat Jumeirah Arena will once again play host to the event which last year drew over 1,300 delegates from the Middle East and North Africa’s creative communications industries to the Festival and over 1,800 to the awards.

From 20 October 2013, anyone wishing to attend will be able to register through the website for both delegate passes and tables at the awards. For the first time, content at the Festival will follow a theme, which will run across all seminars and workshops. ‘Stories of Creativity’ will offer tales of success, failure, drama and comedy which will work to inspire the industry professionals that have come together in Dubai.

It was in the MENA region that the world’s oldest literary work, ‘The Epic of Gilgamesh’, was first composed and the most powerful communication tool in the world was born. It is therefore fitting that Dubai Lynx will bring

storytelling back to its origins and to a region that sees changing media, technology and consumer attitudes.

The program will offer learning to delegates on the fresh challenges facing their industry and the opportunities, tools and platforms that are available to help in today’s changing communications landscape.

Looking to the next generation, the Young Lynx Competition will expand beyond being solely integrated for 2014, offering three separate competitions: Print, Media and Integrated.

Teams from across the region will come together at the Festival to compete for the glory of taking home a gold medal and springboarding their career.

The Festival will also see the return of the Student Creative Award for a second year. With expanded categories, further details of the competition, brief and how to enter will be released on the website in early November.

Continuing the Festival’s investment in the future of the industry, four academies - The Digital Lab, The Lynx Academy, Future Leaders of Marketing and Think Tank - are again set to take place during the event, offering young and senior talent the unbeatable opportunity to advance their knowledge and experience.

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi and Dubai have hired banks to advise on a possible merger of their two main stock exchanges, a state-backed deal that could energize financial markets in the United Arab Emirates, sources familiar with the plan said. Merging the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) would be one of the biggest reforms in the country’s financial industry in recent years.

It would make it easier for investors to operate across the markets and could stimulate trade and attract more foreign investment. Shares in DFM, the only listed bourse operator in the Gulf region, surged 15 percent to the daily limit reaching the highest level since November 2009. Dubai’s broader benchmark index reversed earlier losses to close up 2.7 percent on the Reuters report.

Talks on a tie-up between the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) have occurred on and off since at least 2010, but they have been hindered by differences over valuations and Dubai’s 20092010 corporate debt crisis. With a renewed focus on cooperation between the two emirates in several fields, the idea of a merger of the two bourses has once again gained traction.

Abu Dhabi, the richest emirate in the UAE, has hired US investment bank JP Morgan Chase and local lender First Gulf Bank to advise on the merger, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public. One source said Abu Dhabi’s mandate came from the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the top policymaking body in the emirate. The council did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), the flagship holding company which owns stakes in

many of Dubai’s top entities, including DFM’s parent, Borse Dubai, has hired Citigroup to advise on the matter, according to the sources.

A spokeswoman for JP Morgan and spokesmen for Citigroup and First Gulf Bank declined to comment; ADX and DFM declined to comment.

A media representative for the Dubai government said she could not immediately comment.

Three of the sources said the governments aimed to reach an agreement on the merger by the end of this year. “The two emirates have made a call to complete this merger before the year-end. Now that there is a political will, the main challenge for the advisers will be to do a proper valuation exercise which is acceptable to both the parties,” one said.

MORE LIQUID Companies listed on DFM, which include property developer Emaar Properties and bank Emirates NBD, have a combined market capitalization of about $54 billion. Stocks on the Abu Dhabi exchange, home to companies such as regional telecommunications giant Etisalat and National Bank of Abu Dhabi, have a market value of $101 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data. Globally, a number of exchanges have been attempting to merge to give themselves the scale need to confront challenges of new technology and tough cost competition. In the United States, BATS Global Markets and Direct Edge said in August that they would merge; IntercontinentalExchange is mounting an $8.2 billion bid for NYSE Euronext.

Expectations for a merger were already partly in the market, “but it gives us something new to look forward to,” said Sanyalaksna Manibhandu,

senior analyst at NBAD Securities. “The difficulty is in knowing the format of this merger.” He adds, “The merger is positive because there will be one exchange, which will be more liquid and attract more listings - both primary and secondary.”

VALUES DFM, which is the only listed Gulf stock exchange, has a market value of about $5.1 billion; its stock price has more than doubled this year, as Dubai’s recovery from its debt crisis has accelerated and boosted trading volumes on the bourse. According to one source familiar with the merger plan, it values DFM higher than ADX, at about 20 times its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).

ADX is valued at about 10-12 times, according to the source.

A separate Abu Dhabi government source said the tie-up between the two exchanges was likely to be announced as a merger of equals, with a public announcement probable in December. A merger could allow the exchanges to cut costs, harmonize their technologies and make it simpler for new investors to obtain access to a full range of the UAE’s top companies.

A Dubai government source said the current facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi would probably continue as stock exchanges, but they would operate under a single joint entity. DFM is 80 percent owned by Borse Dubai, a holding company which also owns 33 percent of the Nasdaq Dubai bourse and nearly 21 percent of the London Stock Exchange, according to its website. Nasdaq Dubai, much smaller than the two main exchanges, is unlikely to be part of the merger, the sources said. — Reuters

Cyclists fume as Kolkata bans biking on key roads ‘Turn off your engine • Kids breathe here’ KOLKATA: Angry cyclists held noisy protests in the centre of the Indian city of Kolkata yesterday over the local government’s move to ban them from major roads in the congested metropolis. Under strong sunshine, crowds gathered in the Esplanade area of the former colonial capital, chanting “We want cycles back!” and holding placards which read “Turn off your engine.

Kids breathe here!” “Banning cycles in a city like Kolkata does not make any sense. It’s a crazy decision,” said Gautam Shroff, a spokesman for local cycling group Ride 2 Breathe.

“We wonder, when many countries are encouraging cycling in a bid to ease growing pollution, why authorities put a ban on cycling here?” he said. He put the number of participants at 4,000 - “95 percent of them commoners whose livelihoods are affected” - but the crowd appeared smaller. Local police barred cyclists as well as the city’s famous hand-pulled rickshaws from 174 roads and streets in August to try to reduce the legendary traffic jams in the eastern city of 14 million.

Shroff said this amounted to “virtually the entire city” because it was impossible to navigate using only small streets and lanes. Officers recently started seizing bikes and fining defiant riders, who are mostly working-class people who run a daily

gauntlet among thousands of aggressively driven cars and trucks. “Police are harassing cycle riders. My cycle was seized a week ago when I was riding to supply milk,” said Yogesh Yadav, a milkman who works in the centre of the city.

“We will fight against the decision,” he added. Traffic speeds locally are down to 8-11 miles per hour (14-18 kilometers per hour) compared to the average in Indian cities of 13 mph, state transport minister Madan Mitra explained to AFP. “Kolkata has less cars than other metropolitan cities in the country, but most of its roads and streets are narrow,” he explained. “It’s a decision to ease the traffic bottlenecks and increase the speed of vehicles,” Mitra said, adding: “It’s not a blanket ban. One can ride cycles in the lanes and bylanes of the city.”

Shroff said the ban on cyclists and other non-motorized transport applied to 32 streets 24 hours a day, and in the remaining 142 from 7am to 11 pm. “It’s as good as a blanket ban,” he said.

Indian cities have grown progressively more congested and polluted as car ownership increases in step with growing wealth. City authorities have been slow to invest in improving public transport networks. New city roads rarely include dedicated lanes for cycling, which is one of the main forms of transport for the poor. — AFP

KOLKATA: Indian cyclists pedal as a hand-pulled rickshaw transports plastic toys along a busy road in Kolkata yesterday. Local police barred bikers as well as the city’s famous hand-pulled rickshaws from 174 roads and streets in August to try to reduce the legendary traffic-jams in the eastern city of 14 million people. — AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BUSINESS

Stocks, dollar dip amid US deadlock Financial markets take a sanguine view of the crisis LONDON: World stock markets began to show some more anxiety over a US government shutdown yesterday, the lack of progress in Congressional talks undermining faith in a swift and undamaging conclusion to the impasse. Financial markets had taken a sanguine view of the crisis on the first day of paralysis for the Federal government on Tuesday, European shares amongst others rising to a three-week high. But there is concern that the longer the shutdown continues, the more likely it is that lawmakers will fail to deal with another potentially more crucial deadline to raise the US public debt ceiling and prevent a government default.

US stock index futures showed Wall Street was set to open 0.6 percent lower after a fruitless day of negotiations in Washington on Tuesday. The dollar, which had fallen on Tuesday as the shutdown began, fell another 0.5 percent to its lowest since

late August against the yen. “We do fear that as this discussion drags on, volatility in the market will continue to increase,” said Patrick Moonen, senior equity strategist at ING Investment Management.

Still, the shutdown would have to drag on for some time to have a substantial effect on the US economy and analysts expect pressure on Republicans who have blocked government funding as part of a campaign against President Obama’s healthcare reform may be forced to concede ground. Global equities, as measured by MSCI’s world equity index , were down just 0.3 percent by 1100 GMT having started the new quarter with a 0.9 percent gain on Tuesday.

The cost of insuring US government bonds against default for the next year also rose, gained five basis points to raise the cost of protecting $10 million of debt to $35,000 - the highest since August

31 and above the rate for 5-year insurance. Usually it costs more to buy longer-term default insurance so the current level is considered a classic sign of credit stress, reflecting the concerns over whether the US would be able to raise the debt limit in coming weeks.

ECB EYED The euro was drawing support from events in Washington but is hampered by a weak economic outlook that may yet provoke more action - or at least the threat of action - from the European Central Bank, meeting yesterday in Paris. It was steady at around $1.3530, not far from an 8-month high touched a day earlier. ECB President Mario Draghi has raised the possibility of even looser policies in a bid to prevent market interest rates from rising and undermining economic recovery.

But the US Federal Reserve’s surprise move not to trim bond-buying last month for now looks to have done the job for him. “They (the ECB) will stick to their happy talk of being supportive and keeping low rates for a long time,” said Luca Jellinek, head of European interest rates strategy at Credit Agricole CIB. ECB President Mario Draghi has raised the possibility of even looser policies in a bid to prevent market interest rates from rising and undermining economic recovery. But the US Federal Reserve’s surprise move not to trim bond-buying this month and growing likelihood it will keep policy loose for now looks to have done the job for him. Meanwhile the latest round of political turmoil in Italy has not helped the region’s prospects - although there are signs that Prime Minister Enrico Letta was on course to garner enough support to win a crucial vote of confidence, expected later in the day easing the threat of early elections.

Italy’s benchmark share index, the FTSE MIB, was

up 1.2 percent as the vote neared bucking the trend across Europe which saw the broad FTSE 300 index shed 0.6 percent. The main barometer of market concern, the premium investors demand to hold Italian 10-year government bonds over AAA-rated German Bunds, fell to 266 points from 300 basis points at the start of the week as 10-year bond yields eased 9.5 basis points to 4.4 percent. “People in general expect the Italian government to survive,” Nordea chief analyst Anders Svendsen said.

In commodity markets, gold edged up from two-month lows below $1,300 an ounce hit when a massive sell order stoked fears of further liquidation Getting some support from the weaker dollar.

Copper futures though had dipped 0.4 percent after posting their biggest quarterly gain since March 2012 thanks to steadier outlook for global growth.

Oil prices softened as a result of the US government gridlock with the November contract down 8 cents percent to $107.86 per barrel.— Reuters

Standard Chartered partners with Al Mal Capital on services DUBAI: Standard Chartered announced yesterday its partnership with Al Mal Capital to provide the investment institution with Custodial and Fund Administration services. This comes as part of Standard Chartered’s continued commitment to bring best international practice to the sector in the region and the UAE. Under the terms of the partnership, Standard Chartered will deliver Custody Services such as equity and fixed income securities settlements, safekeeping, corporate actions, income and entitlements collection, cash management, reporting, and market information services.

The bank will also provide multiple Fund Services including fund accounting, fund administration and transfer agency services. Standard Chartered continues to expand its fund services capabilities in the Middle East. The Bank’s services portfolio includes fund accounting and administration, compliance reporting, performance measurement and analytics, and institutional transfer agency services.

The bank’s regional fund services currently support funds domiciled in and managed out of Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tariq Qaqish, Head of Asset Management at Al Mal Capital said: “We are pleased to partner with Standard Chartered for our awardwinning Al Mal UAE Equity Fund, Al Mal MENA Equity Fund and Al Mal Saudi Shariah Funds.

Together we will seek to enhance the return for unit holders by providing optimal, cost effective services. As a leading investment bank, Al Mal Capital is committed to exceptional relationship management and continuously strive to improve our levels of service towards our valued customers.

We believe our newly established partnership with

an esteemed institution like Standard Chartered will pave the way for such enhanced interaction and hence satisfy our ultimate goal of client satisfaction.”

Stewart Adams, Regional Head of Investors and Intermediaries, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered, said: “Our partnership will enable Al Mal Capital to better focus on their core fund management activities and benefit from world class fund administration and management service. Standard Chartered’s strong local, regional and international network will bolster Al Mal’s strategic investment funds in various MENA markets. We will continue to improve and expand our Investors and Intermediaries services to better meet the needs of our clients in this dynamic region.”

Al Mal Capital’s is an investment institution licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE since 2005, with business activities targeted towards banks, institutions, corporate entities and high net worth individuals. They cover three main areas: Investment Banking, Asset Management, and Brokerage. The financial institution is known for its exceptional ability to attract high-calibre fund management talent and provide insightful analysis into timely investment opportunities. More information on Al Mal Capital is available at http://www.almalcapital.com. Standard Chartered has been operating in the Middle East region for more than 92 years and has a strong global network covering 69 markets and 1700 offices globally. The bank generates most of its income and profit from the markets of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In the UAE, the bank has the largest retail distribution network among international banks operating with 11 branches, five Electronic Banking Units and more than 100 ATMs and CDMs.

Handover of Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Whispering Pines units imminent DUBAI: Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) has announced that it has gained approval for a 120 Mega Watt (MW) power grid for Phase A of the development from the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). Seven-11KV substations under this grid are already supplying an aggregate of 12 MW to the Whispering Pines community of the luxury residential golf community arising along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Dubai. This puts JGE on track to fulfill its commitment of handing over the initial 160 villas of the Whispering Pines portion of Phase A’s ‘Earth’ zone in coming few days.

JGE features four world-class golf courses with different environmental themes -Fire, Earth, Water and Wind. Phase A of the development covers 13 residential communities of 1,100 villas adjacent to the 18-hole for each Fire and Earth courses designed by golfing legend Greg Norman. The Earth Course serves as the annual venue for the DP World and Tour to Dubai Championships.

JGE’s contractor has installed LV (Low Voltage) cables for Whispering Pines Villas and MV (Medium Voltage) cables for the entire Phase A grid at a total cost of over AED 130 million. Of this amount, more than AED 130 million was spent on laying the cables and installation of the substations at Whispering Pines and other infrastructure facilities.

With the newly-built DEWA substations already supplying power to the Whispering Pines community, handover of the initial batch of villas from this community is set to commence shortly. Moreover, JGE revealed that villas in the Lime Tree Valley, Olive Point and Sienna Lakes communities will also be provided with electricity during same period and will also handover villas to their customers soon.

The Whispering Pines community includes 3 and 4-bedroom villas constructed from authentic Tuscan-inspired materials. Each European countrystyled villa comes with two-car garages and an exterior swimming pool. Customized Poggenpohl kitchens with Miele appliances, smart home solutions and Bang & Olufsen audio-video equipment also come as standards. The entire community is lined with secluded gardens and various water features. Unlike other regular flat-landed property developments in the country, the villas of JGE are spread around and on hills - a first of its kind in the UAE.

“The approval of the DEWA facility marks a major milestone in Jumeirah Golf Estates’ evolution and affirms our ability to meet our commitments.

We are well on our way to creating a unique golfing-themed community that further cements Dubai’s stature as an elite property hub. We would like to thank DEWA for cooperation and working closely with us to ensure the timely commissioning of the facility,” said Yousif Kazim, General Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates.

JGE is the Master Developer for Phase A, which includes the Fireside, Flame Tree Ridge and Whispering Pines communities; the other communities are being built by JGE’s various sub-developers. It also offers plots in the Juniper Way and Wild flower districts. Seventy-five per cent of all properties front the golf courses, with the rest facing lakes and greenery.

Jumeirah Golf Estates is located between Green Community and Dubai Sports City off the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Its Fire zone includes Orange Lake, Fireside, Sienna Lakes, Sienna Views, Juniper Way, Valencia Grove and Flame Tree Ridge East and West residential communities, while the Earth zone comprises Sanctuary Falls, Whispering Pines, Wildflower, Olive Point, Lime Tree Valley, and The Sundials communities.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BUSINESS

US companies add 166,000 jobs in September WASHINGTON: A survey shows US businesses added 166,000 jobs last month, a sign of only modest improvement in hiring. Payroll company ADP said yesterday that employers added just 159,000 jobs in August and 161,000 in July, both slightly lower than the previous estimates. The figures are taking on greater importance because they may be the only measure of the September job market for some time.

The Labor Department will have to delay its September jobs report, scheduled for tomorrow, if the government shutdown goes past today. The ADP report covers hiring only in the private sector. The figures often diverge from the government’s more comprehensive jobs report. The economy has been growing too slowly to rapidly boost hiring. It expanded at 1.8 percent annual rate in the first half of the year.

Growth is expected to have stayed weak in the July-September quarter at an annual rate of about 2 percent. Most economists forecast that growth will pick up in the final three months of the year to a rate of 2.5 percent or higher. Hiring slowed over the summer. Employers have added 155,000 jobs a month in the four months through August. That’s down from an average of 205,000 in the first four months of the year.

MERCK TO CUT 8,500 MORE JOBS In another development, Merck & Co plans to cut another 8,500 jobs as the drugmaker continues its struggle with competition from cheaper generic medications that have squeezed the pharmaceutical industry for several quarters now. The New Jerseybased company said the reductions it announced Tuesday are in addition to a total of 7,500 cuts it had previously announced but hasn’t carried out. That means it is slashing about 20 percent of its workforce, currently at about 81,000 people.

Merck, the world’s third-largest drugmaker, said the restructuring will cost a total of between $2.5 billion and $3 billion before taxes, mainly due to employee severance costs. But it expects the moves

to help generate annual savings of about $2.5 billion by the end of 2015. It expects to realize $1 billion by the end of 2014. Most of savings are expected to come from marketing and administrative expenses and research and development. Company shares rose $1.13, or 2.4 percent, to close at $48.74. Merck’s stock is up about 19 percent this year.

“The stock market almost always reacts well to big expense cuts,” said Erik Gordon, an analyst and professor at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. “It’s the simplest, clearest thing for analysts to understand.” In addition, Merck said Tuesday it will now move its headquarters from Whitehouse Station, NJ, to Kenilworth, NJ. The company had previously planned to move to Summit, NJ, but it determined it could save more money by closing both its Summit and Whitehouse Station locations.

Its operations in Summit, which include its Animal Health and Consumer Care divisions, will be moved to other locations in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. The headquarters move is expected to begin next year and be finished by 2015. Merck has been based in Whitehouse Station since 1992. Company spokeswoman Kelley Dougherty said Merck already has office space, research and development and manufacturing locations in Kenilworth, which is around 20 miles from New York City.

Since early in the last decade, Merck has been steadily slashing jobs and announcing a new restructuring program every two or three years. After buying Schering-Plough Corp in November 2009, the combined company had a total of about 100,000 jobs.

Like many other drugmakers, the company is being squeezed by the weak global economy, private and government health programs pushing for lower medicine prices, and generic competition that slashes revenue from former blockbuster drugs.

Last year, Merck’s top seller, the asthma and allergy treatment Singulair, got US generic competition.

This year, the company has been hurt by plunging sales for the migraine drug Maxalt, the baldness

WASHINGTON: A Jobs sign is seen on the US Chamber of Commerce Building in Washington, DC, in this file photo. Private payrolls data released yesterday showed slow job creation for September, supporting concerns that US growth lagged in the third quarter. — AFP treatment Propecia and the allergy pill Clarinex. In July, the maker of the blockbuster diabetes pill Januvia said its second-quarter profit fell by half in part because generic competition slashed revenue from several older medicines. Acquisition costs and other charges also hurt its bottom line. Merck earned $906 million, or 30 cents per share, which was down from $1.79 billion, or 58 cents per share, a year earlier.

Competition from generic drugs only tells half the

story about the challenges facing big pharmaceutical companies like Merck, said Gordon, the University of Michigan professor. He noted that that these companies also are not developing enough new drugs to replace the revenue they lose to the cheaper competitors. Merck said Tuesday that it still backed its adjusted 2013 profit prediction of between $3.45 and $3.55 per share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect $3.47 per share.— Agencies

C European profit plunge hit Tesco’s recovery drive Tesco shares down 3.5%, Sainsbury down 1.3%

WASHINGTON: A protester covers his mouth with a dollar bill as he joins others in a demonstration in front of the US Capitol in Washington, urging congress to pass the budget bill. — AFP

For President Obama, it is ‘Republican shutdown’ WASHINGTON: For President Barack Obama, the US government shutdown that rippled across the country on Tuesday is the “Republican shutdown” and he is working hard to see that the name sticks to his political opponents. “We may not know the full impact of this Republican shutdown for some time,” he said in the White House Rose Garden, with 12 Americans gathered behind him brought in to illustrate the benefits of his signature healthcare law, popularly known as “Obamacare.”

Also unknown: The full impact of the shutdown on Obama himself. There is a recognition inside and outside of the White House that the president could eventually catch some of the public anger from a prolonged shutdown, especially if the US economy takes a hit from the idling of hundreds of thousands of government workers. For now, Obama is following the model used by Democratic President Bill Clinton during the 1995 and 1996 shutdowns that he encountered: Lay the blame at the feet of Republicans.

Polls have consistently shown that Americans oppose the Republicans’ strategy linking continued funding of the government with defunding or delaying Obamacare. One potential flaw in the Obama strategy, said former Clinton White House press secretary Mike McCurry, is that Clinton was more popular at that point than Obama is now and the US economy was in better shape in the mid1990s than now.

“We weren’t confident that Clinton was going to avoid the blame,” said McCurry. “I

remember day in and day out being very concerned that this was going to produce a reaction in which all sides got equal blame. We had no real confidence that we were going to come out on the winning end of things.” As for the Obama White House, McCurry said: “They have to be cautious. They can’t assume they come out at the same place as Clinton did.

But if they manage their communications effectively and remind people what the purpose of the fight is all about, they come out ahead.”

White House officials see a number of advantages that Obama holds over Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Every Democratic senator is united behind the idea of not shutting down the healthcare law, and both Democrats and Republicans see the need to avoid damaging the US economy.

Obama is coming under heavy criticism from Republicans for refusing to negotiate with them over the healthcare law. But Obama is under equal pressure from Democratic loyalists to protect the central achievement of his first term, extending health insurance to millions of Americans who have been without.

Pressed on why Obama does not sit down with his opponents, White House officials say that could just result in more demands. “Well, if they get what they want in order to reopen the government or not default for a few months or a few weeks, next they’ll say, ‘OK, undo the increase in tax rates for the wealthiest of Americans, for millionaires and billionaires,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “That could be next.”—Reuters

LONDON: Plunging profits in mainland Europe blew a fresh hole in Tesco’s recovery plan yesterday, piling pressure on the world’s No 3 retailer as it struggles to reverse market share losses in its main UK market and extricate itself from other foreign failures.

The supermarket group said first-half trading profit slumped 68 percent in its European division, which includes countries such as Turkey, Poland and Hungary as well as Ireland, adding to signs of a slowdown in developing markets after a warning from consumer goods group Unilever on Monday.

That, along with weaker trading in some Asian markets, dragged down Tesco’s group profits for a third straight half-year and sent its shares down almost 4 percent as several analysts cut their full-year forecasts. “With profits nosediving in Europe and Asia, the foreign markets that once provided a perfect hedge against weak demand at home are now more hurdle than help,” said John Ibbotson, director of retail consultants Retail Vision. The darling of the retail sector during two decades of uninterrupted earnings growth, Tesco has suffered in recent years from failed attempts to break into the United States and Japan and a costly, still unprofitable, expansion in China.

While it invested abroad, it also neglected Britain, where it still makes over two-thirds of sales, and started losing market share to rivals including Wal-Mart’s Asda and J Sainsbury, as well as discounters Aldi and Lidl and upmarket Waitrose. Despite being 18 months into a 1 billion pound ($1.6 billion) turnaround plan in Britain, which has included revamping stores, recruiting more staff and new product ranges, the group said sales at UK stores open over a year, excluding fuel and VAT sales tax, were flat in the 13 weeks to Aug. 24.

Though that was at the top end of analysts’ expectations and an improvement on a 1 percent decline the previous quarter, it was well below the 2.0 percent rise, excluding fuel, reported by Sainsbury for the 16 weeks to Sept 28. Ibbotson said Sainsbury had managed a delicate balancing act which has so far eluded Tesco, with its premium “Taste the Difference” and budget “basics” ranges helping Sainsbury to fend off competition from both the discounters and Waitrose.

COMMITTED TO EUROPE Tesco, which lags France’s Carrefour and US industry leader Wal-Mart by annual sales, said first-half trading profit dropped 7.6 percent to 1.59 billion pounds. That included like-for-like sales declines in all ten of its overseas markets and particularly heavy falls in central and eastern Europe, which the company blamed on weakening economies, austerity measures and rising inflation.

Deutsche Bank analysts said European profits were 60 percent below their expectations and predicted analysts’ full-year group trading profit estimate would fall 2-4 percent to 3.35-3.45 billion pounds, excluding the benefits from Tesco’s move to fold its Chinese business into a state-run firm. Despite the problems, Tesco said it remained committed to its European unit, which accounts for about 12.5 percent of group sales. It expects to benefit in the second half from curbing store openings in the region and focusing on stronger-growing convenience store and online markets. Chief executive Phil Clarke said there were also signs the turnaround plan in Britain was working, with like-for-like food sales in the second quarter growing 1 percent, clothing sales up 8.6 percent and online grocery sales up 13 percent.—Reuters

Microsoft’s investors push for chairman Gates to step down NEW YORK: Three of the top 20 investors in Microsoft Corp are lobbying the board to press for Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the software company he co-founded 38 years ago, according to people familiar with matter. While Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has been under pressure for years to improve the company’s performance and share price, this appears to be the first time that major shareholders are taking aim at Gates, who remains one of the most respected and influential figures in technology. A representative for Microsoft declined to comment on Tuesday.

There is no indication that Microsoft’s board would heed the wishes of the three investors, who collectively hold more than 5 percent of the company’s stock, according to the sources. They requested the identity of the investors be kept anonymous because the discussions were private. Gates owns about 4.5 percent of the $277 billion company and is its largest individual shareholder. The three investors

are concerned that Gates’ role as chairman effectively blocks the adoption of new strategies and would limit the power of a new chief executive to make substantial changes. In particular, they point to Gates’ role on the special committee searching for Ballmer’s successor.

They are also worried that Gates - who spends most of his time on his philanthropic foundation wields power out of proportion to his declining shareholding. Gates, who owned 49 percent of Microsoft before it went public in 1986, sells about 80 million Microsoft shares a year under a pre-set plan, which if continued would leave him with no financial stake in the company by 2018. He lowered his profile at Microsoft after he handed the CEO role to Ballmer in 2000, giving up his day-to-day work there in 2008 to focus on the $38 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In August, Ballmer said he would retire within 12 months, amid pressure from activist fund manager

ValueAct Capital Management. Microsoft is now looking for a new CEO, though its board has said Ballmer’s strategy will go forward. He has focused on making devices, such as the Surface tablet and Xbox gaming console, and turning key software into services provided over the Internet. Some investors say that a new chief should not be bound by that strategy.

News that some investors were pushing for Gates’ ouster as chairman provoked mixed reactions from other shareholders. “This is long overdue,” said Todd Lowenstein, a portfolio manager at HighMark Capital Management, which owns Microsoft shares.

“Replacing the old guard with some fresh eyes can provide the oxygen needed to properly evaluate their corporate strategy.” Kim Caughey Forrest, senior analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group, suggested now was not the time for Microsoft to ditch Gates, and that he could even play a larger role. “I’ve thought that the company has been missing a technology visionary,” she said. “Bill (Gates) would fit the bill.”—Reuters

LONDON: A man carries his shopping after visiting a Tesco store in south London yesterday. Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco agreed a major deal yesterday to create a retail giant in China, as it seeks to offset ‘challenging’ trading conditions in Europe which hit profits hard. — AFP

ECB holds rates PARIS: The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged yesterday, holding off any fresh policy action for now while it waits to see whether a fragile euro-zone recovery strengthens. Financial market attention now shifts to ECB President Mario Draghi’s news conference, at which he is likely to keep open the options of an interest rate cut or a bumper cash injection into the banking system should the euro-zone outlook sour.

The ECB has grown concerned about market interest rates, which moved higher over the summer at the prospect of the US Federal Reserve unwinding its stimulus.

Seeking to guide them down, the ECB said in July it would keep its rates at current or lower levels for an “extended period”, its first use of forward guidance. The ploy struggled to gain traction until the Fed last month delayed unwinding its stimulus. Investors will gauge how dovish Draghi sounds after the decision to leave the ECB’s main interest rate at 0.5 percent.

The central bank also left the rate on its deposit facility at 0.0 percent and held its marginal lending facility - or emergency borrowing rate - at 1.00 percent. “This is as expected,” Berenberg bank economist Christian Schulz said of the rate decision.

“The economy is recovering, there is little pressure to cut rates at the moment. At the same time, inflation is low and plenty of downside risks are out there, so there is no pressure to tighten policy quickly.”

Last week, Draghi underlined the ECB’s readiness to act, saying that, if needed, it could use another LTRO - ultra-long loans it issued in late 2011 and early 2012 to pump over 1.0 trillion euros ($1.35 trillion) into the system. A majority of economists in a Reuters poll expect the ECB to keep its key rate at 0.5 percent until at least April of 2015.

But they also expect it will serve up another course of LTROs to banks, possibly by the end of this year. “They could announce a follow-up for the 3-year LTROs later this year,” said Schulz. “The idea would be that nobody gets worried about liquidity getting tight next year.”

Excess liquidity - the amount of money beyond what the banking system needs to function - has fallen to 221 billion euros from

over 800 billion early last year, approaching a level expected to push market rates closer to the ECB’s main rate. The excess has fallen as banks repay the LTROs they took from the ECB in late 2011 and early 2012 and the ECB is concerned that higher short-term market rates that banks use when lending to each other could hurt the euro-zone’s recovery and push inflation further below target.

NOT URGENT ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said last week the bank was monitoring money market rates and had a number of tools it could use if needed. “It’s not an urgent decision,” he said. The euro- zone economy is broadly sticking to the ECB’s scenario for a slow recovery. Inflation slowed to 1.1 percent in September - its lowest since February 2010 and a level that allows the ECB to maintain its loose monetary policy.

However, manufacturing growth in Italy and Spain eased off in September, highlighting the fragile state of the recovery in the eurozone periphery. Battered Greece’s contraction deepened.

Italy’s political troubles - keeping a fragile coalition government from having to call new elections - are also in the background, but the ECB does not usually get involved publicly in such matters. “I don’t see the Council budging an inch in response to the latest Italian crisis,” said RBS economist Richard Barwell. “Like parents trying to bring out the best in their children, council members are trying hard to be consistent and predictable and impervious to melodrama in their dealings with politicians.”

A new LTRO could aim to raise excess liquidity, and ease banks’ funding situation before the ECB’s asset quality review (AQR) next year, a precursor to its new supervisory role. But the fall in market rates has relieved some of the pressure to act, and the ECB risks disappointing markets if banks, which have been repaying early some of the twin LTROS from 2011 and 2012, show little interest in additional loans. The forward rate which shows where one-year Eonia rates are seen in a year’s time, has fallen to levels last seen in July when the ECB launched its forward guidance. — Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

BUSINESS

A brand new Jaguar on a silver platter Unbeatable offer as Al-Zayani marks 50th anniversary KUWAIT: For 50 years now, Al-Zayani Trading have been introducing luxurious brands into the Kuwaiti automotive market that have proved to be highly desirable and under constant demand. Today, they hold key brands that include Bugatti, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati and the popular Jaguar. With a full range of award-winning cars, Al-Zayani are offering the Kuwaiti market an unbeatable offer.

They are making it easier for every true cars’ admirer to own a Jaguar. Every interested buyer may simply enter the showroom and leave his car outside and walk out with the key to brand new

XF, XK or an XJ. Not only that, but the new Jaguar owner is not asked to pay a penny! The remaining amount (after the trade-in value) may be payed in installments within 12 months and with zero interest!

As the market is already well aware, Jaguar’s multi-award winning XF features significant enhancements for the 2013 Model Year with considerably improved efficiency through a newly expanded powertrain range. Jaguar’s latest 340PS Supercharged Petrol Engine is capable of accelerating the XF sports saloon to 100kph in 5.7 seconds

and on to limited top speeds of 241kph.

A customer may want cruise the roads in Jaguar’s grand tourer; the XK carries power, style and uncompromised luxury; a car that has been in demand since its launch in the market. The XK delivers exhilarating performance and unparalleled comfort plus the versatility of a 2 + 2 seating configuration.

XK’s aerodynamic sweeping curves, low-riding profile, lightweight aluminum body and cuttingedge automotive technology enable exhilarating handling wherever you go. Its hand crafted cabin

ensures absolute comfort however far you travel.

Last but not least, the Jaguar XJ; a new level of innovation and premium luxury that Al-Zayani offers to the Kuwaiti market to lavishly enjoy.

Jaguar has always prided itself on creating unique cabin environments and the interior architecture of the XJ is like no other, combining graceful and unexpected forms with quality materials that reward the senses with their tactility, visual splendor and luxury. Visit Al-Zayani showroom in Al-Rai to explore the endless possibilities of being a proud Jaguar owner.

Sharjah highlights its investments, tourism, culture at US road show WASHINGTON: The Sharjah Roadshow in the USA commenced its busy Washington DC meeting schedule on Monday, successfully kicking off the biggest foray of the emirate of Sharjah into the US to date. Organized by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) under the slogan “Sharjah - Promising Opportunities, Global Horizons”, the Roadshow delegation is comprised of more than twenty Sharjah based corporations, entities, organizations, and government departments taking part in a fiveday tour of Washington DC and New York City, from the 30th of September to the 4th of October.

The first day’s activities started with a meeting chaired by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre and Head of the Sharjah Delegation. The meeting was attended by a number of CEOs of the participating entities from Sharjah in the presence of David Hammoud, President and CEO of the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce, Curt Silvers, Executive Vice President of the National US Arab Chamber of Commerce, and Steve Lutes, Director of MENA Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce, as well as senior officials from both chambers and representatives from other investment communities.

The meeting was attended by H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) Chairman, H.E. Abdulla Ali Al Mahyan, Chairman of Sharjah Health Authority, H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, H.E. Mohammed Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Director General of Sharjah Media Corporation, H.E. Khalid Al Huraimel, Director General of the Sharjah Environment Company (Bee’ah), H.E. Ameera Binkaram, Chairperson

of Sharjah Business Women Council, Badr Jafar, President of Crescent Petroleum, Nasser Akram, Head - Investor Relations & Corporate Communications at Dana Gas and Dr Nada Mourtada Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumi Affairs at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) as well as a number of representatives from various participating entities.

The meeting began with a video screening about Sharjah and the most important investment offerings in the Emirate. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi delivered a thank you speech to all the parties that contributed to organizing the Roadshow. He spoke about the deep-rooted historical relations between the USA and the UAE, in general, and Sharjah, in particular, saying: “Trade and business relations between the UAE and the US are strong and only getting stronger.

Despite the remarkable development in our relations over the last decades, Sharjah is willing to further develop ties with the US business community. Our goal is to change that”.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Media Centre, went on to emphasize: “With its central location, direct access to both the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, excellent infrastructure and logistics capabilities, and extremely business friendly regulatory framework, in addition to its offerings in culture, education and art fields, Sharjah forms an ideal base for operations in the Middle East. Our aim is to make our counterparts in the USA aware of Sharjah’s potential and facilitate the creation of new business relationships”. He went on to note that the cultural and business potential of Sharjah have long been attractive to culture and business communi-

ties from all over the world.

H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), organizers of the Roadshow, remarked: “The emirate of Sharjah has a great deal to offer foreign investors, both in terms of investment potential and ease of business, and as the authority tasked with promoting Sharjah’s many opportunities in the global arena, Shurooq has been very busy making the Emirate’s potential known internationally.

The Sharjah Roadshow in the USA was organized under the ongoing directives of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, which call for building new international business relationships as well as strengthening existing ties. In the last two years alone, Shurooq has facilitated a number of highly successful roadshow events across the world, including trips to parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa, and we are very pleased to now be expanding our scope to the United States. This roadshow is only the first step of many in the journey of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between Sharjah and the USA”. Meanwhile the conference room at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC was a venue for intensive meetings between Sharjah’s delegations and a large number of US firms, investors and authorities. A number of B2B meetings were coordinated in advance before the delegation’s arrival in the USA. Representatives of the Sharjah delegation are expected to hold over 300 meetings during the roadshow in Washington DC and New York.

A lunch for the Sharjah delegation The US-UAE Business Council hosted a lunch for the entire Sharjah delegation, in presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Head of the Sharjah Delegation, Michael Corbin, United States Ambassador to

the United Arab Emirates and Danny Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council as well as the Sharjah delegation’s representatives and about 100 individuals from the US business community.

Delegates discussed possible ways in which to increase cooperation and strengthen the mutual ties between the business communities in Sharjah and the US in the light of the investor friendly climate in the UAE, which attracts US businessmen from a range of sectors. Discussions focused on introducing the Emirate, its history, future development plans and legislative framework, which attract investors from all over the world. Discussions touched upon the advanced levels of education, healthcare and culture in Sharjah, in addition to the rights of women and their role in the Emirate and the country at large.

In a statement during the lunch, Michael Corbin commended the tremendous and ongoing development in the Emirate and paid tribute to the efforts of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in supporting development and growth in Sharjah and boosting cooperation and friendly relations with the peoples of the world. He commented: “In recent years, the UAE has emerged as a global cross-roads, fuelled by the country’s policy of economic openness, its transportation links, tourist facilities and the energy of its entrepreneurship. Our trade relationship with the UAE is the largest in the Middle East. The Sharjah Government and Industry USA Roadshow is an important part of expanding the strong business relationship we enjoy with the UAE”. He added that

Sharjah has been an attractive destination for business and cultural tourism since the 1960s, and is now once again emerging to boost its position in the region.

“The US-UAE Business Council is the bilateral business council tasked with promoting trade and commerce between the United States and the entire United Arab Emirates,” said Danny Sebright, President of the US-UAE Business Council. “Initiatives like Shurooq’s ‘USA Roadshow’ are important to highlight commercial partnership opportunities ripe for exploration between the two countries, and to raise Sharjah’s profile with American executives and potential investors.” “Sharjah is a welcoming, safe, and secure location for US business, and one that is fostering partnerships for US companies at a time when the business environment is uncertain in other parts of the region,” continued Sebright.

SITE VISITS IN WASHINGTON In addition to the primary meeting schedule, a number of B2B meetings as well as ofsite visits and tours were set up to facilitate networking between the participating parties and their American counterparts. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi accompanied

by Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Mohammed Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Khalid Al Huraimel, Bader Jafar, Ameera Binkaram and representatives from the Emirate’s delegations held a meeting with Keiko Honda, Executive Vice President of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group and one of the world’s foremost promoters of foreign direct investment in developing countries.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the agency and was followed by a meeting with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), also a member of the World Bank Group. During the meetings ways of cooperation between the World Bank Group’s agencies and Sharjah’s authorities and organizations were discussed. The MIGA Executive Vice President expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Sharjah and MIGA’s readiness to support the enterprises of Sharjah based firms all over the world, as part of this partnership. She expressed eagerness to support businesswomen and to encourage expansion of Sharjah’s corporate businesses abroad.

In the afternoon, representatives from the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Sharjah Museums Department (SMD), Shurooq, and the USA Regional Trade Centre (USARTC) took part in a meeting with representatives of Sister Cities International (SCI), including President and CEO Mary Kane, Membership Director Adam Kaplan, and Membership Manager Paul Rothman. The Sharjah delegation was led by SC TDA Chairman H.E. Mohammed Al Noman, and included Khalid Al Midfa, SCTDA Director General, and Manal Ataya, SMD Director General. The meeting explored ways to activate joint work with the SCI and improve cooperation to serve their common goals.

H.E. Hana Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), and delegates from the authority met with Marshall Jones, Senior Conservation Advisor at the Smithsonian Conservatory and Biology Institute to discuss ways of joint cooperation and the exchange of expertise in developing protected areas.

The Sharjah delegation also undertook a behind the scenes tour of the Institute.

Sharjah Health Authority Chairman H.E. Abdulla Ali Al Mahyan and Sharjah Healthcare City Commercial Affairs Manager Binu Pisharadi, met with representatives from the Lombardi Cancer Center at the Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, including Vice President Nicole Duncan, Dr Christine Teal, Linda Winger, and Dr Peter Dritschilo.

The delegates presented the authority’s plans as well as the Sharjah Healthcare City project, and explored possible avenues of cooperation and how to best benefit from the hospital’s healthcare experience.

Shurooq was established in 2009 with the aim of achieving social, cultural, environmental and economic development on the basis of Sharjah’s distinct Arab and Islamic identity, and to encourage investment by adopting the best international standards in providing quality services that help attract investors from the region and the world. Shurooq’s key mission is to provide facilities and incentives to help overcome obstacles facing investment activities in the Emirate, evaluate tourism and investment related infrastructure projects, and lay down the necessary plans to complete such projects.

NBK highlights developments in London’s residential property KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) on Tuesday organized a seminar for its customers highlighting the latest developments in the residential real estate market in London and the UK New Statutory Test. The seminar, titled “London Residential Property and the new UK Statutory Residence Test” was attended by Isam Al Sager, NBK Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Fawzi Al Dajani, NBK London General Manager.

Liam Bailey, Global Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, presented the trends and outlook of the residential property market in London. Robert Blower, a partner at the leading London Law Firm Charles Russell LLP presented an overview of the UK New Statutory Residence Test. “NBK is keen to present to its customers the latest economic and financial developments in the world,” said Al Sager. “This seminar aims to provide our customers with an insight of London’s residential real estate market and the recent change in the UK residency rules from two of the world leading firms in their field.”

Al Dajani shed the light on the various real estate services that NBK offers to customers in London. “NBK’s real estate services allow customers to easily own, rent and lease properties with legal consultations in London,” he said. “In a simple and straightforward procedure, NBK customers can buy and sell, lease or rent, settle bills, receive real estate assessments and many other services with competitive prices.”

TRENDS AND OUTLOOK Bailey presented to NBK’s customers a detailed update on the current performance and outlook for prime London prices. Bailey said that house prices in prime central London increased by 21% since January 2008. Annual total returns on residential prime central London surpassed 10% in 2013. Bailey stated that prices have been rising for 35 consecutive months, although the rate of price growth has slowed. Annual growth currently stands at 7% in September this year, compared to growth of 10% in the same month last year. The key driver for price growth continues to be the sub-£2m price bracket.

“While house prices have continued to rise in central London, there is little sign that new highs in pricing are reducing buyer demand,” Bailey noticed. The volume of new buyer registrations has risen by 28% in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period of 2012. Bailey noted: “This increase in buyer interest has translated into higher sales volumes. In 2013 to date sales in the prime central London sales market are 47.8% higher than during the same period of 2012.”

“Unsurprisingly, given the higher level of transaction activity, the stock levels across prime central London have been falling back. The number of available properties for sale was 8% lower in September 2013 than in September 2012,” Bailey said.

STATUTORY RESIDENCE TEST On the other hand, Blower made a presentation on the UK New Statutory Residence Test. The new rules which are effective from 6th April 2013 are used to determine the circumstances under which a person will be regarded as resident in the UK. “The new rules are simpler than before, more certain and generally allow a person to spend more time in the UK without being considered resident there,” Blower said.

Blower noted that the new rules look at two factors to determine UK residence. Firstly, the number of days that a person is present in the UK during any tax year, which runs from 6th April to the following 5th April.

Secondly any close ties that a person has with the UK such as employment in the UK, a place to live in the UK and whether they have any close family member, such as a wife or child under 18 years who is resident in the UK. “For many Kuwaiti people, whose only close tie is

owning a property in the UK, under the new rules they should now be able to spend up to 120 days each tax year in the UK without becoming tax resident there,” he added. Blower considered the changes good news as the new rules now allow a person to spend more time in the UK than previously. If any person has any doubts or questions it is recommended that they take professional advice.

NBK’S REAL ESTATE SERVICES BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE: Find the right real estate or a suitable offer to sell your current real estate with competitive prices due to the solid business relationship with trust worthy real estate agencies.

Leasing or Renting: through trust worthy business relationships in London, NBK can find the most suitable real estate or tenant.

REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT: A number of certified real estate experts to help evaluate the proposed real estate whether for buying or selling.

LEGAL CONSULTATIONS: Find a proper lawyer to execute all legal procedures related to proposed real estate buying or selling.

REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY INSURANCE: Preserve

rights and properties saving time, effort, and expenses.

BILL SETTLEMENT SERVICE: Includes on time settlement of all periodical bills such as electricity, water, gas, telephone line.

SAVING YOUR PROPERTY CONTRACTS: All property documents related to your real estate are properly saved.

REAL ESTATE EXPENSES REPORT: Provide a detailed real estate expense report when needed allowing follow up expenses FREE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OR EXTENDING OWNERSHIP CONTRACT: Assigning a real estate lawyer to supervise and finalize all the steps and procedures to buy the right of free ownership or extend the ownership or even add or cancel an individual from real estate ownership register OFFSHORE SERVICES: To establish and manage companies offshore and own real estate.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

technology

Kaspersky Lab committed with renewed partnership program DUBAI: Kaspersky Lab has announced launching its updated channel partnership program across Latin America, Middle East, Africa as well as Turkey and Eastern Europe to create a single, unified approach to channel development across the region.

“Our pursuit in building a strong partner community has always been one of the key principles of our strategy leading Kaspersky Lab to success.

The company’s strong support of its channel has seen the number of Kaspersky resellers increase by 10 percent in 2012 and now exceed 25,000 companies worldwide, - says Garry Kondakov, Chief Sales Marketing and Support Officer at Kaspersky Lab.

“With this new program we made a further step in constant perfection of our partnership. While maintaining the previous advantages Kaspersky Lab is adding more benefits to ensure the constant growth, efficiency and successful operations for our partners.”

The benefits are based on the partner titles, which are also introduced. The higher title will attract richer benefits. The main of them, rebates, will be granted to top-level partners: Gold, Platinum, Distributer and Strategic. The rebates are introduced in addition to the marge encouraging keeping up with the sales plan and acquiring new customers. Understanding this is a challenge

Kaspersky Lab will back up the existing rich training and marketing support with the set of efficient tools enabling partners to reinforce their business.

For top partners the insight on the security market is needed to predict and react to changes beforehand and to help with that Kaspersky Lab will periodically conduct special trainings and roadmap webinars to share the valuable knowledge on where exactly the market is heading and what the company is doing. A dedicated technical support to keep the customers always satisfied with the top-level service is provided for high titles as well.

From the client’s side the choosing of proper

security associate is becoming transparent as Gold and Platinum partners are now able to select their security specialization (from System Management, Virtualization or Mobile Device Management and Security) adding even more advantages. From a B2C perspective, partners will be ranged from Registered Retailer to Premier Retailer. “I’m sure the updated program will see partnership with Kaspersky Lab becoming even more fruitful allowing our partners to enjoy all the new opportunities, shared expertise and outstanding support while expanding their business along the world-known brand of Kaspersky Lab”, - concluded Garry Kondakov.

Sharper display Apple iPad Mini faces delay Limited iPad Minis available this year

Review: New Kindle good contender for Amazon users

By Anick Jesdanun NEW YORK: Amazon’s new Kindle Fire HDX tablet resembles Google’s Nexus 7 in many ways - from its light weight to its sharp display. Both tablets run a version of Google’s Android operating system, and they even have the same starting price of $229. The similarities end when you turn them on. Amazon.com Inc. modifies Android so much that it no longer resembles Android. The company calls it Fire OS 3.0, or Mojito. Amazon’s services are front and center on the Fire, and Google’s are nowhere to be found. It’s the other way around on the Nexus 7 and other Android devices. For a day or two, I even forgot the Kindle Fire can do much more.

Regular customers of Amazon will appreciate that integration. A row of tabs at the top of the screen offers quick access to various Amazon services, including e-books, music, videos and audiobooks, the latter from the Audible business that Amazon bought in 2008.

Another tab gets you Amazon’s shopping site, where you can buy television sets, vacuum cleaners and tennis rackets. The Kindle is already tied to your Amazon account, so it’s easy - perhaps too easy to just click and buy.

You also get Amazon’s excellent recommendation technology. Browsing the e-book section, “The Great Gatsby” came up, likely because I had just added a movie version to my video watch list.

Kindle versions of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer ” comic books came up, likely because I own the entire television series on DVD. Under music, digital copies of physical CDs I had purchased were waiting for me, along with recommendations for other songs and albums from artists in my shopping history.

If you spring for Amazon’s $79-a-year Prime membership, you also get quick access to thousands of free movies and television episodes and the ability to borrow one e-book a month from a select list.

For the first time, you can download the free Prime video to watch on a plane or anywhere else lacking an Internet connection. On older Kindle Fires and other devices, you’re limited to streaming,

I tried three times to stump the tech advisers. For the most part, I found them patient and knowledgeable. It appeared to me they were really thinking through the problem, rather than following a script, as I typically find with my cable company. That said, one late-night staffer was willing to give up easily and dismiss my issue as a device malfunction, until I nudged him to walk me through the steps to discover one I had inadver tently skipped.

I’ll wait until the support center is fully staffed and trained before making a final judgment, but I’m pleased with what I’ve seen so far. I particularly like the security protocols; the adviser made sure to pause the screen sharing whenever I typed a password. As devices get complex, we could use more of this type of offering.

I’m hoping Amazon’s approach to customer service gets adopted by Apple, Samsung and other rivals.

As for the hardware, the 7-inch HDX has a screen resolution of 323 pixels per inch, which is the same as the Nexus 7 and better than Apple’s iPad Mini and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0.

For streaming video, I didn’t see much difference in video quality, largely because of limitations in what’s being sent over Wi-Fi. The differences are more pronounced with video downloads and ebooks. Text on the HDX and the Nexus 7 is sharp, whereas letters bleed on the iPad and the Note.

The Apple and Samsung tablets do have slightly larger screens, about an inch longer diagonally. But both are also heavier and more expensive. The Nexus 7 is the lightest at 10.2 ounces, while the HDX weighs 10.7 ounces. The HDX’s front-facing camera is 1 megapixel, which is comparable with the Nexus 7 but much poorer than phones and tablets with rear cameras. The HDX does have one of the fastest processors for a tablet, but unless you’re playing games or doing other dataintensive tasks, it won’t make much difference.

One area where the HDX falls short is in app selection. The iPad Mini reigns with access to the thousands of apps adapted for tablets. But even compared with other Android tablets, the HDX doesn’t have as

TAIPEI/TOKYO: Apple Inc will be unable to widely roll out a new version of the iPad Mini with a high-resolution “retina” display this month, people who work in the company’s supply chain said, leaving the gadget without the sharper screen found on rival tablets from Google Inc and Amazon.com Inc Apple’s supply chain is only now gearing up to make retina displays for the iPad Mini, which means the gadgets could be available in only limited quantities this year, if at all, and the company may miss the chance to cash in on the year-end holiday shopping season, the sources said.

Cupertino, California-based Apple has come under pressure to preserve market share and bolster sales against rivals that are rapidly raising specifications and lowering prices. It remains unclear exactly what new features and modifications could find their way into the next iPad Mini, which the sources said was due to be unveiled this month. But higher-resolution screens and cameras, as well as thinner and lighter dimensions, are among the improvements users have come to expect with updated smartphones and tablets. “If they don’t put in retina ... there will be howls,” said Frank Gillett, an analyst with Forrester.

Apple declined to comment about any product launches and the sources at companies in Apple’s supply chain declined to be identified due to the confidentiality of the matter.

Display disappointment Apple defines retina display as resolution that is detailed enough that the human eye can’t detect pixelation. The feature is available on some full-sized iPads, and similar resolutions are available on iPad Mini competitors such as Google’s Nexus 7, as well as Amazon’s seven-inch Kindle Fire HDX due to go on sale this month. The reason behind the delays in manufacturing the retina display screens for the iPad Mini were unclear. One source at a supplier said there were delays in Apple’s certification of panel producers, which were given strict power-saving requirements.

LG Display Co Ltd, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd’s display unit and

Sharp Corp all vied to manufacture the panels, supply chain sources said.

The three display makers declined to comment. Given the time required to ramp up screen production, a retina display-equipped iPad Mini would not be available in large volumes until early next year, the sources said.

The sources expected Apple to either wait until early next year for a full-fledged launch of a retina display iPad Mini, or to make a retina version only available in limited quantities before the end of the year. Apple has also told suppliers to reduce costs, two of the sources said, with one person saying the US firm is looking at rolling out an iPad Mini with a smaller 8 gigabytes of memory.

Less memory may allow Apple to

Nintendo ready to stop making Wii console for Japan market TOKYO: Japanese game console maker Nintendo said yesterday it will stop making its Wii console for the Japanese market, but will keep producing it internationally. The move to abandon the home console, which competes with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony ’s PlayStation 3, will allow Nintendo to focus its efforts on its successor. “Our new generation Wii U console is already on the market and allows users to play software originally designed for the Wii,” a Nintendo spokesman told AFP. “So this is part of the transition of our products to new models,” he said. The company will keep producing Wii for markets abroad including its cheaper version Wii mini, he said. Since its release in 2006 Wii has sold more than 100 million units worldwide. The Wii disrupted

ing that made use of wireless controllers fitted with accelerometers. These controllers, which sparked the production of games where players could actually mimic the body movements of a sport or playing a musical instrument, were widely copied.

Nintendo launched the Wii U console late last year, although analysts said a lack of games took away some of the fizz the company had been hoping for after its 3DS console saw disappointing demand abroad. Nintendo, maker of the iconic Donkey Kong and Super Mario brands, has been locked in a war with Sony and Microsoft, makers of the PlayStation and Xbox video game consoles, for dominance of a sector worth about $44 billion a year. Nintendo swung to a net profit of $88 million in the three

lower the price of the Mini to boost sales in emerging markets like China where cheaper tablets, many of them running Google’s Android operating system, are gaining market share.

“Right now the iPad Mini is more expensive than everyone else in the 7- to 8-inch tablet segment,” said Arthur Liao, an analyst for Fubon Securities in Taipei. “If it could reduce its price by even just $50, it would appeal to more consumers.” The iPad’s total market share almost halved to 32.5 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, while Android devices, including Samsung’s Galaxy series, gained nearly a quarter to 62.6 percent, a survey by tech research company IDC showed.

Amazon’s new 7-inch Kindle Fire is priced from $229 for 16GB wifi-only models, while Google’s second-generation Nexus 7 offers a similar screen size and storage capacity at the same price. By comparison, the cheapest model in Apple’s current 7.9-inch iPad Mini lineup with 16GB storage size starts at $329. Anyone expecting Apple to dramatically cut prices is likely to be disappointed, analysts said, pointing to the higher-thanexpected price tag for the iPhone 5C unveiled this month. “Don’t expect the prices to be significantly lower,” said one of the sources. “Even though Apple aims to cut down on component costs, it still ends up around the same as the current Mini because the new Mini will have upgraded specifications.” —Reuters

Time for Gates to go NEW YORK/SEATTLE: Three of the top 20 investors in Microsoft Corp are lobbying the board to press for Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the software company he co-founded 38 years ago, according to people familiar with matter. While Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has been under pressure for years to improve the company’s performance and share price, this appears to be the first time that major shareholders are taking aim at Gates, who remains one of the most respected and influential figures in technology.

A representative for Microsoft declined to comment on Tuesday. There is no indication that Microsoft’s board would heed the wishes of the three investors, who collectively hold more than 5 percent of the company’s stock, according to the sources. They requested the identity of the investors be kept anonymous because the discussions are private. Gates owns about 4.5 percent of the $277 billion company and is its largest individual shareholder.

The three investors are concerned that Gates’ presence

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Multiple sclerosis cases hit 2.3 million worldwide LONDON: The number of people living with multiple sclerosis around the world has increased by 10 percent in the past five years to 2.3 million, according to the most extensive survey of the disease to date. The debilitating neurological condition, which affects twice as many women as men, is found in every region of the world, although prevalence rates vary widely. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is most common in North America and Europe, at 140 and 108 cases per 100,000 respectively, while in sub-Saharan Africa the

rate is just 2.1 per 100,000, the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s Atlas of MS 2013 showed yesterday.

The atlas also confirmed that MS occurs significantly more in countries at high latitude, with Sweden having the highest rate in Europe and Argentina having more cases than countries further north in Latin America. The reason for the link to high latitudes is unclear but some scientists have suggested that exposure to sunlight may reduce the incidence of the

disease. The survey found a big increases in the number of medical experts trained to diagnose MS and help patients with treatment, while the number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines available to carry out scans has doubled in emerging countries.

But huge disparities remain when it comes to access to modern disease-modifying drugs. MS medicine has seen a number of advances in recent years, particularly with the introduction of a new generation

of oral therapies such as Novartis’ Gilenya, Biogen Idec’s Tecfidera and Sanofi’s Aubagio. These medicines offer an effective alternative to older disease-modifying treatments that are given by injection. The survey found that injectable drugs like Biogen’s Avonex and Teva’s Copaxone were partly or fully funded in 96 percent of high-income countries, while Gilenya was available in 76 percent. However, none of these drugs was available under government programs in lowincome countries. — Reuters

When diseases have a bad name, change is hard WASHINGTON: Some diseases just have a bad name.

But even when their commonly known labels glorify Nazi doctors or slander certain ethnic groups, old habits are hard to change, experts say. Medical conditions, viruses and even personality quirks have long been named after places, famous athletes, pioneering doctors and literary giants. The H1N1 influenza that sparked a worldwide pandemic in 2009 was initially called Mexican swine flu, while Pickwickian syndrome is another name for obesity hypoventilation syndrome, based on a fat character in a Charles Dickens novel.

The most recent affliction to make headlines is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, which has killed 58 of the 130 people infected since 2012. The illness has been found in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Its name initially referred to Saudi Arabia, because an Egyptian scientist first identified it in a Saudi patient.

But, according to Ron Fouchier, a leading scientist at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands where the analysis was done, Saudi officials “were not pleased.”

“We then renamed the virus isolate HCoV-EMC for human coronavirus Erasmus MC, to take away any sensitivities,” he told AFP. But Fouchier said Saudi leaders were not pleased by the new name either, so he and other investigators convened, discussed and agreed unanimously on a new name: MERS-CoV. The World Health Organization approved the name in May, but added: “WHO generally prefers that virus names do not refer to the region or place of the initial detection.”

No central authority With no central regulatory body for names, diseases and conditions can end up with multiple or contentious labels. “Where there’s disagreement, it can get messy,” said Stephanie Morrison, an expert with the Genetics Home Reference at the US National Library of Medicine.

Some inappropriate names have quickly disappeared.

HIV/AIDS was once referred to as 4-H disease, referring to Haitians, homosexuals, hemophiliacs and heroin.

Another name that was introduced in 1982 but soon vanished was GRID, for Gay-related immunodeficiency.

No longer are diseases regularly named after their discoverers, but many persist, like Alzheimer’s disease (after a German psychiatrist) and Tourette’s syndrome (after a French neurologist). Naming conditions after geographic places has created memorable descriptors but which tend to offend. The naming of a new drugresistant superbug in 2009 after New Delhi sparked outcry in India, where medical experts and parliamentarians said the name cast the city as a dirty place. The enzyme was named New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1, or NDM-1, and its related gene blaNDM-1, after it was found in an Indian man who had settled in Sweden but became ill on a visit to India in 2007. —AFP

STOCKHOLM: Midwife Sofie Laaftman checks Christina Singelman’s pregnancy progress at Mama Mia, a pregnancy care clinic in Sweden. — AFP photos

Delivering the goods: Sweden’s midwives stand test of time STOCKHOLM: Only one ultrasound in nine months and no need to see the doctor or obstetrician: at first glance, Sweden’s pregnancy care appears rather simplistic. But while it may be far from the medical approach to pregnancy seen in most Western countries, where mothersto-be have loads of doctor’s appointments and tests, the Swedish system, where midwives reign supreme, has proven its merits. According to the organization Save the Children, Sweden is the second-best country in the world to become a mother, behind Finland.

Neonatal mortality is low, at 1.5 deaths per 1,000 — the second lowest in Europe behind Iceland-as is maternal death in childbirth, at 3.1 per 100,000 births, according to the European Perinatal Health Report from 2010.

In Sweden, midwives are entrusted with caring for the health of the expectant mother and the foetus. It is the only pregnancy care available to women, and is free for the patient, falling under state health care benefits. “A doctor can be called in at the midwife’s initiative as soon as she notices that something is not right,” says Sofie Laaftman, a midwife in central Stockholm.

For those accustomed to intensive medical care during pregnancy, the Swedish way may seem rudimentary: a few blood and urine tests are done to detect vitamin deficiencies or anomalies, the mother’s blood pressure and the heartbeat of the foetus are checked, and a little nutritional advice is doled out. During a normal pregnancy without complications, just one ultrasound will be done over the whole nine months-and not a single gynaecological exam.

Meanwhile, in France for example, a 2011 report from the health ministry showed 20 percent of expec-

STOCKHOLM: 80-year-old Marianne Blomberg works out at a gym.

tant mothers had more than six ultrasounds and four percent had more than 10 — without any obvious benefit. “Pregnancy is a normal condition” and not an illness, says Marie Berg, professor in health and care sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg. Laaftman echoed that notion, saying most women under 40 did not need more medicalised care since their bodies were healthy and capable of giving birth, which is after all a natural process.

Lonely, but in good hands A scientific study published in August by the Cochrane Collaboration, an organisation of health practitioners, concluded that “most women”-those who have no complications in pregnancy-would benefit from seeing a midwife during pregnancy rather than a doctor. Care by a midwife can actually reduce the number of premature births, the study’s authors say. In Sweden, only five percent of babies are born prematurely. But the lack of contact during pregnancy can be tough for some expectant mothers.

Christina Singelman, a 31-year-old expecting her second child, recalls the sense of loneliness she felt during her first pregnancy: from the time she registered at the clinic until her first ultrasound, some 10 weeks went by without a single appointment. But if the woman is under the age of 40, has no prior medical conditions and has fallen pregnant by natural methods, “there’s no reason to have more frequent checks in the beginning”, insists Laaftman, the Stockholm midwife, who cares for about 100 pregnant women at a time.

Adina Trunk, 33, saw two different midwives for her

PHILIPPINES: Elderly Filipino women chat at Rizal Park, in Manila.

two pregnancies. “They were both very competent but the system puts them in a very passive position. It’s always up to the expectant mother to take the initiative, to ask questions and possibly ask to see a specialist,” she says. “And since this is a culture where people don’t like to make a fuss, it keeps costs down,” she adds. Midwives also take care of the delivery, although that is with an entirely different team than the one that has followed the mother throughout her pregnancy.

A doctor will only intervene if there are complications during the delivery, or if the woman in labor asks for an epidural, which is the case in about half of all deliveries. Entrusting pregnancy and delivery care to midwives to such an extent is unique in the world.

Midwives in Sweden have been in charge of pregnancy care since the 18th century.

While the rise of the modern medical profession meant midwives in much of Europe were forced to yield at least part of their responsibilities to doctors, Sweden’s midwives held onto their traditional role thanks to doctors’ consent and, in recent times, a strong union. The system has never been called into question, owing primarily to its strong track record. The number of Caesarian sections is relatively low in Sweden, at around 17 percent of births in 2011, and only 10 percent of women undergo episiotomy, an incision to widen the opening for delivery. “It’s an efficient system in terms of cost management,” says University of Gothenburg professor Berg. In countries where doctors care for pregnant women, she says, the number of “tests and ultrasounds often multiply, which opens the way to easy money”. — AFP

NEW DELHI: File photo shows an elderly man listens to a speaker at a political rally. — AP

Global study: World not ready for aging population STOCKHOLM: The world is aging so fast that most countries are not prepared to support their swelling numbers of elderly people, according to a global study being issued Tuesday by the United Nations and an elder rights group. The report ranks the social and economic well-being of elders in 91 countries, with Sweden coming out on top and Afghanistan at the bottom. It reflects what advocates for the old have been warning, with increasing urgency, for years: Nations are simply not working quickly enough to cope with a population graying faster than ever before. By the year 2050, for the first time in history, seniors older than 60 will outnumber children younger than 15.

Truong Tien Thao, who runs a small tea shop on the sidewalk near his home in Hanoi, Vietnam, is 65 and acutely aware that he, like millions of others, is plunging into old age without a safety net. He wishes he could retire, but he and his 61-year-old wife depend on the $50 a month they earn from the shop. And so every day, Thao rises early to open the stall at 6 am and works until 2 pm, when his wife takes over until closing. “People at my age should have a rest, but I still have to work to make our ends meet,” he says, while waiting for customers at the shop, which sells green tea, cigarettes and chewing gum. “My wife and I have no pension, no health insurance. I’m scared of thinking of being sick - I don’t know how I can pay for the medical care.”

Thao’s story reflects a key point in the report, which was released early to The Associated Press: Aging is an issue across the world. Perhaps surprisingly, the report shows that the fastest aging countries are developing ones, such as

Jordan, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Vietnam, where the number of older people will more than triple by 2050. All ranked in the bottom half of the index. The Global AgeWatch Index (www.globalagewatch.org) was created by elder advocacy group HelpAge International and the UN Population Fund in part to address a lack of international data on the extent and impact of global aging.

The index, released on the UN’s International Day of Older Persons, compiles data from the UN, World Health Organization, World Bank and other global agencies, and analyzes income, health, education, employment and agefriendly environment in each country. The index was welcomed by elder rights advocates, who have long complained that a lack of data has thwarted their attempts to raise the issue on government agendas. “Unless you measure something, it doesn’t really exist in the minds of decision-makers,” said John Beard, Director of Ageing and Life Course for the World Health Organization. “One of the challenges for population aging is that we don’t even collect the data, let alone start to analyze it. ... For example, we’ve been talking about how people are living longer, but I can’t tell you people are living longer and sicker, or longer in good health.”

The report fits into an increasingly complex picture of aging and what it means to the world. On the one hand, the fact that people are living longer is a testament to advances in health care and nutrition, and advocates emphasize that the elderly should be seen not as a burden but as a resource.

On the other, many countries still lack a basic social protection floor that provides income, health care and housing for

their senior citizens. Afghanistan, for example, offers no pension to those not in the government. Life expectancy is 59 years for men and 61 for women, compared to a global average of 68 for men and 72 for women, according to UN data.

That leaves Abdul Wasay struggling to survive. At 75, the former cook and blacksmith spends most of his day trying to sell toothbrushes and toothpaste on a busy street corner in Kabul’s main market. The job nets him just $6 a day - barely enough to support his wife. He can only afford to buy meat twice a month; the family relies mainly on potatoes and curried vegetables. “It’s difficult because my knees are weak and I can’t really stand for a long time,” he says. “But what can I do? It’s even harder in winter, but I can’t afford treatment.”

Although government hospitals are free, Wasay complains that they provide little treatment and hardly any medicine. He wants to stop working in three years, but is not sure his children can support him. He says many older people cannot find work because they are not strong enough to do day labor, and some resort to begging. “You have to keep working no matter how old you are - no one is rich enough to stop,” he says. “Life is very difficult.”

Many governments have resisted tackling the issue partly because it is viewed as hugely complicated, negative and costly - which is not necessarily true, says Silvia Stefanoni, chief executive of HelpAge International. Japan and Germany, she says, have among the highest proportions of elders in the world, but also boast steady economies. “There’s no evidence that an aging population is a population that is economically damaged,” she says.

Prosperity in itself does not guarantee protection for the old. The world’s rising economic powers - the so-called BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - rank lower in the index than some poorer countries such as Uruguay and Panama. However, the report found, wealthy nations are in general better prepared for aging than poorer ones. Sweden, where the pension system is now 100 years old, makes the top of the list because of its social support, education and health coverage, followed by Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. The United States comes in eighth.

Sweden’s health system earns praise from Marianne Blomberg, an 80-year-old Stockholm resident. “The health care system, for me, has worked extraordinarily well,” she says. “I suffer from atrial fibrillation and from the minute I call emergency until I am discharged, it is absolutely amazing. I can’t complain about anything - even the food is good.” Still, even in an elder-friendly country like Sweden, aging is not without its challenges. The Swedish government has suggested people continue working beyond 65, a prospect Blomberg cautiously welcomes but warns should not be a requirement. Blomberg also criticized the nation’s finance minister, Anders Borg, for cutting taxes sharply for working Swedes but only marginally for retirees. “I go to lectures and museums and the theater and those kinds of things, but I probably have to stop that soon because it gets terribly expensive,” she says. “If you want to be active like me, it is hard. But to sit home and stare at the walls doesn’t cost anything.” — AP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

China’s e-cigarette inventor fights for financial rewards BEIJING: The Chinese inventor who dreamed up the electronic cigarette in a nicotine-induced vision says that despite its global popularity, copycat versions and legal disputes mean he has battled to cash in on his creation. “Smoking is the most unhealthy thing in people’s everyday lives.... I’ve made a big contribution to society,” said Hon Lik, 57, in a cramped office in Beijing, sending tobacco-scented smoke into the air as he puffed on a batterypowered pipe.

“But I don’t live like a rich person, because of all the troubles our company has faced.” Hon, a soft-spoken man from northwestern China, is the co-founder of Ruyan, a company which has produced electronic cigarettes and cigars-starting at 68 yuan ($11, eight euros) — for more than a decade. His patents are set to be sold in a $75-million deal with Britain’s Imperial Tobacco, but Hon says he will see little of the windfall, and that years of copyright disputes and negative publicity have eroded his profits. His battles highlight rising competition in a market that’s skyrocketed to $2 billion in global sales, according to research firm Euromonitor International.

E-cigarettes, as the devices are commonly known, heat a liquid nicotine solution to turn it into vapour. Manufacturers say a lack of tar and other ingredients, as well as an absence of smoke, makes the devices safer than conventional cigarettes. Research from the British medical journal The Lancet in August called them more effective than nicotine patches in helping smokers quit.

Early e-cigarette designs were drawn up in the US as early as the 1960s, but Hon is acknowledged among industry commentators as the first person to develop a viable commercial version.

He came up with his design in 2003 while working as a medical researcher and trying to quit a pack-a-day habit developed in his teens. “In the evenings I sometimes forgot to take off my nicotine patch, which gave me nightmares all night,” he said. In one dream Hon said he found himself drowning in a sea that turned into a cloud of vapour, giving him inspiration for the product which he scribbled down on a bedside notepad. After a year spent perfecting the design, he said, sales took off and by 2006 Ruyan was “producing 24 hours a day with demand still exceeding supply”.

But that same year, media reports that described his products as addictive and causing heart attacks dented sales. China’s tobacco sales administration accused the company of irresponsi-

BEIJING: An electronic tobacco pipe is displayed in the office of Hon Lik, acknowledged among industry commentators as the first person to develop a viable commercial version of the electronic cigarette. — AFP photos ble advertising and recommended Beijing shops stop selling its products. Hon said China’s state-run tobacco industry-a powerful lobby that contributes as much as 10 percent to total government revenues, according to the US-based Brookings Institutionwas wary of the competition. “All tobacco companies disliked our products, especially the large ones, and they have influence over governments,” Hon said, accusing the industry of driving some of the negative coverage. “It’s like how the inventor of a perpetual motion machine would receive pressure from the energy industry.”

‘Maybe in 20 or 30 years I’ll be very famous’ Meanwhile rival firms sprang up in China and abroad. But Hon maintains they are copycats infringing patents owned by Dragonite International, a Hong Kong-listed company of which he is chief executive. The firm has filed lawsuits against several manufacturers in the United States, and Hon said at least one has

BEIJING: Hon Lik, acknowledged among industry commentators as the first person to develop a viable commercial version of the electronic cigarette, smokes an electronic tobacco pipe as he rests at his office.

agreed to settle out of court. “They have made some small adjustments, but their basic structure is the same,” he said. “If I received just one mao ($0.02) from each cigarette sold, that would be a huge amount.”

Hon’s invention has also faced setbacks in Asia, with Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand banning the sale of e-cigarettes on safety grounds. His biggest fear is that governments will classify them as medical products, as in Hong Kong-where sales are low-potentially limiting the market by subjecting them to standards they were not designed to meet. His latest gambit is to team up with Europe’s second-largest tobacco company, Imperial Tobacco, which has announced plans to pay $75 million for the ecigarette patents owned by Dragonite, in which Hon says he only has a small shareholding.

The inventor said the proceeds will be invested back into the company, and he will not get any immediate financial benefit.

Eric Bloomquist, an independent tobacco industry analyst based

in London, said the patents may have been strong enough to be attractive to Imperial but that they could also lose relevance as the product evolves. “They found the patents compelling,” he said, but added that it was not clear “to what degree Dragonite’s patents are critical components to the newest standards in the market”.

Imperial said the acquisition would “further strengthen our growing presence in the e-vapour sector” but declined to elaborate. Hon will remain in the e-cigarette business as adviser to Imperial-he says there’s “nothing contradictory” about working with a tobacco company-and will also work on devising new products. He hopes his invention can eventually replace the conventional cigarette entirely-and perhaps bring him the recognition he says he deserves. “It’s like a digital camera taking over from the analogue camera. It needs time,” he said. “My fame will follow the development of the e-cigarette industry. Maybe in 20 or 30 years I will be very famous.”— AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Kuwait Marriott Hotels offer exciting family packages for Eid

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Greetings

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appy birthday to Teresita! Many many happy returns of the day. Best wishes from friends and relatives.

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our contagious smile and innocent eyes have brought so much joy to our life!

Happy 1st birthday! From Baba, Mama, Aanish and Alizey!

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n lieu of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha festival, Kuwait Marriott Hotels will celebrate this special occasion by offering valuable tailor-made packages this year. The special promotions run from October 10 until October 19 at both the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City and Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Kuwait City. Guests at the JW Marriott hotel can look forward to an inviting offer per room/per night for a single or double room with complimentary buffet breakfast for two adults including children aged 6 and under.

At the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, guests can enjoy their exclusive holiday package per night. The Eid AlAdha offer is valid for families in Kuwait and GCC citizens/residents. Guests can also take advantage of complimentary breakfast buffet for 2 adults and 2 children under 6 years of age, discount vouchers for shopping at

the adjacent mall, shared airport pick up and drop off, 20 percent discount on all restaurants, 50 percent discount on all meals for children under 12 years of age, and 50 percent discounts on spa treatments and laundry services. A wide range of other benefits accompany the room, some of which include free high speed internet access, free access to the health club and swimming pool along with valet parking service. Early check-in and late checkout will also be offered subject to availability. Rates would be subject to 15 percent service charge per room per night.

Visitors whose taste palettes crave for unique and diverse cuisines can enjoy the renowned La Brasserie restaurant which offers international buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Terrace Grill restaurant, known to be one of the best steakhouses in Kuwait, is

also available for guests who prefer an extensive menu of the finest meat cuts and seafood. Other interesting cuisines can be tried at the Japanese Kei restaurant offering sushi and Teppanyaki, CafÈ Royal with its vibrant food selections and monthly specials, as well as the much-celebrated Indian contemporary restaurant Soul and Spice in Courtyard by Marriott that is known for its Indian cuisine with a unique fusion twist.

“During this auspicious time, families unite over good food and entertainment to revive the festive Eid spirit. We spare no efforts in ensuring our guests are well served and satisfied with our diversified offerings.

On behalf of the team, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Eid,” said George Aoun, General Manager of Kuwait Marriott Hotels.

Holiday Inn Salmiya celebrates 8 years of achievements

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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Indian Embassy sets up helpline he Indian Embassy in Kuwait has set up helpline in order to assist Indian expatriates in registering any complaint regarding the government’s ongoing campaign to stamp out illegal residents from the country. The embassy said in press release yesterday that it amended its previous statement and stated if there is any complaint, the same could be conveyed at the following (as amended): Operations Department, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. Fax: 22435580, Tel: 24768146/25200334. It said the embassy has been in regular contact with local authorities regarding the ongoing checking of expatriates. The embassy has also conveyed to them the concerns, fears and apprehensions of the community in this regard. The authorities in Kuwait have conveyed that strict instructions have been issued to ensure that there is no harassment or improper treatment of expatriates by those undertaking checking.

“The embassy would like to request Indian expatriates to ensure that they abide by all local laws, rules and regulations regarding residency, traffic and other matters,” the release read. It would be prudent to always carry the Civil ID and other relevant documents such as driving license, etc. In case an Indian expatriate encounters any improper treatment during checking, it may be conveyed immediately with full details and contact particulars to the embassy at the following phone number 67623639. These contact details are exclusively for the above-mentioned purpose only.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Monjed Salha

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oliday Inn Kuwait Salmiya celebrated its eighth year of many successes and accomplishments, where the hotel proven its presence in the world of hospitality and also won highest satisfaction and approval of its guest in Kuwait and abroad.

The day started with a wonderful festive atmosphere where the lobby had a great adornment reflecting the spirit of this ceremony. An exclusive lunch was hosted in honor of all media personnel at Ayam Zaman as a recognition and gratitude from the hotel management for their usual presence and continued support in covering all the activities of the hotel and its special offers.

Inaugurating the festival was welcoming the guests by the management of the hotel headed by Monjed Salha, the general manager who expressed his delight in having this event, warmly welcomed their presence on this occasion and expressed his appreciation for their constant support for the hotel during the year around and wished them to have a great lunch. Then everyone was invited for a group picture and cutting cake. All the attendees received a gift as a token for this very special celebration.

The invitees were introduced to the hotel’s new Indian Restaurant Jamawar which will be launched very soon and

offers its guests the true taste of India.

Jamawar will join the Holiday Inn restaurants fleet by end of this year. The invitees were also introduced to the new 8 meeting rooms which is fully equipped with the highest technologies to guarantee a great success to all business functions.

After the tour the invitees were treated with a delectable Lunch that satisfied all tastes at Ayam Zaman which is famous for its stunning terrace overlooking the garden. It’s the perfect place where you can find oven - fresh bread, wide range of appetizers, grilled specialties and Lebanese traditional desserts. In addition to the shesha which was provided throughout the day on the terrace with a wide variety of flavors.

Holiday Inn Salmiya launched many special offers that met the expectations and satisfaction of all hotel guests as they were welcomed in opulent rooms and suites that offers the ultimate in luxury accommodations featuring an abundance of technology amenities convenience of hotel guest, in addition to the business suites for the long staying guests which is totally inspired with a touch of elegance and comfort and designed to feel more like a comfortable private residence than a hotel accommodation.

Maged Hanna, Shereen Al-Monofy and Haydar - Marketing and Public Relations Team tech communications plus two state-ofThe hotel also offers a wide range of the-art ballrooms accommodating every excellent Restaurants that serve both Regional and International Cuisines, each type of event from small business meetings to large social gatherings. with a unique style, EDGE Fitness Center a fully equipped 24 hours Health Club, extensive Outside Catering service, . For the convenience of all business traveler Our 24 hour’s business center & 24 Meeting Rooms provide an efficient place with the latest amenities and high-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Marina Hotel Kuwait organizes Beach Cleanup Drive

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

M

arina Hotel Kuwait recently saw the participation of its employees in the hotel’s Beach Cleanup Drive at the Marina public beach. In its continuous efforts to build awareness on environmental initiatives, this campaign was undertaken by the hotel’s social committee and brought together a number of staff. The cleaning campaign began at 5 pm with the hotel team distributing gloves, t-shirts, caps and trash bags and concluded around 8 pm with a Barbeque dinner for all the participants.

Nabil Hammoud, General Manager, Marina Hotel Kuwait thanked each and every employee who took part in the drive. He said “We are very happy with the active participation of our staff towards this worthy activity. This is a clear demonstration of their personal commitment to environmental protection.”

“Our aim is to encourage everyone to take responsibility for their environment through a range of affordable actions. We

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.

are very keen to support and participate in activities that foster a greener, cleaner and healthier environment. Through the cleanup we intended to not only pick up every piece of trash that we could reach, but also take part in educating the public on the responsibility of keeping the surroundings clean.”

The stretch of the Marina public beach was cleaned as part of the event. This involved the collection and removal of a full container of rubbish and debris including plastic bottles and plates, cans and several other items, leaving the beach cleaner and more beautiful.

Marina Hotel Kuwait believes strongly in the importance of environmental initiatives that have a direct impact on the community. The hotel encourages organizations and individuals to take part in these eco-friendly causes, helping to increase the level of awareness amongst the community.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA

GROHE hosts training session on counterfeit products

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

EMBASSY OF GREECE

G

ROHE, the world’s leading premium brand for sanitary fittings, recently hosted a special training session at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers for Kuwait Customs officials such as Osama K Al-Shami-Head of Intellectual Property Rights Office and Saba & Co IP, Kuwait - on how to identify fake GROHE products in the market.

GROHE experts were on hand to explain the importance of battling against counterfeit products, as well as walking officials through GROHE’s shipping methods and distribution structure in Kuwait. Guests were also given a lecture on how to spot counterfeit goods, and shown examples of goods previous-

ly seized by authorities. Official certificates were handed out to guests to mark the completion of the training.

GROHE will continue to collaborate with both Kuwait Customs and Saba & Co IP - Kuwait in order to clean the Kuwaiti markets from fake products, and will conduct further seminars for staff to enable them to differentiate between fake and genuine GROHE products in the future.

Angelos Zeidan, GROHE Regional Retail Manager for Upper Gulf, comments: “GROHE’s top priority is the end user’s best interest, satisfaction and enjoyment of water through its products. This is why, as a company, we are

concerned by the damage that counterfeit products have on the consumer in terms of quality, performance and water conservation. We are delighted to have been able to share this training with Kuwait Customs, as it will no doubt ensure that our customers in Kuwait receive the best original sanitary fittings from GROHE”.

“Thanks to the courageous efforts of customs in Kuwait, we were able to track down and destroy this latest batch of counterfeit products in order to ensure that our customers receive the best fittings money can buy - a GROHE original,” continued MaguyMakhoul, GROHE Regional Project Manager for Upper

Gulf. Muhammad El Sayed, General Manager of Saba & Co IP - Kuwait, comments: “The training was highly interesting and informative. It was effective and efficient in delivering the content which was comprehensive and clear. In our opinion the Customs are now well aware of GROHE’s products and how to differentiate between fake and genuine ones.” Representatives from SABA in attendance at the training also included Muhammad Abd Al-Wahid, Muhammad Essam, Raed Ragheb and Abdallah Nehme.

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 INDIAN The Embassy of India will remain closed on Oct 13, 2013, Sunday on account of Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami). Holiday for Eid Al-Adha will be intimated after declaration of the same. nnnnnnn

Oula Fuel Marketing Company concludes First Aid Workshop

O

ula Fuel Marketing Company announced the conclusion of its training workshop entitled “First Aid Basics” that was organized by the Training & Administrative Affairs Department. The training was held at the company’s headquarters in the Kuwait Business Town Tower from September 17-19, 2013.

The workshop, which was held in cooperation with one of the leading consultancy centers, lasted for three days and acquainted 60 station managers with the safety procedures and first aid basics required in the case of an emergency. In accordance with the strong emphasis Oula places on maintaining public safety, and as a confirmation of the company’s commitment to implementing the highest of safety standards; the workshop came in line with a series of similar training programs regularly organized by Oula for its managers and employees.

Through such workshops, stations managers are provided with all the necessary information and skills to efficiently handle

both humanitarian cases and emergencies that may arise during a customer’s presence at any of the stations. In addition, employees are equipped with the appropriate means required to prevent or minimize any amount of human and material losses that may occur.

Upon completion of the workshop, and as proof of the stations managers’ qualification and readiness to carry out first aid procedures and early intervention, Oula distributed certificates approved by the Management of Medical Emergencies.

Participants also received a license from the Health Care Association, the American Heart Association and the American Hospital Management Company. Such efforts represent Oula’s genuine keenness on implementing its core strategy founded on constantly developing its products and services, along with ensuring that all health and safety standards are met in hopes of pleasing customers and maintaining the safety of citizens and station workers.

The Regency brings back authentic BBQ every Wednesday night

A

s the eagerly awaited winter season approaches, The Regency is set to relaunch its charming poolside Barbeque Nights starting Wednesday. The BBQ nights will offer mouth-watering barbequed delicacies including fresh meats, seafood and a variety of delightful salads and breath-taking views of the Arabian Gulf every Wednesday from 7:00 pm onwards. The hotel’s spectacular setting, beautiful landscape combined with the warm spring weather reflects the ambience of the BBQ dinner buffet. The BBQ stations offer a range of mouthwatering dishes that have been specially prepared to cater to any guest’s tastes -starting from the Pasta Corner to the grills’ stations which includes beef medallions rested in cola and chili marinade, smoked prime ribs with honey and teriyaki sauce, jumbo prawns marinated with garlic and Mediterranean herbs, swordfish steaks in addition to Shawarma and Saj stations. Along with side orders of Chinese fried rice, Italian crisp fried seafood and Indian

chicken Tandoori among others, guests will indulge in a menu that offers delicious cold buffet that include mixed seafood salad, Hawaiian chicken salad, Thai tuna salad and a selection of homemade bread rolls.

“We launched the BBQ nights at a time when people crave for a soothing and uniquely elevating experience. There’s no better way to celebrate the last season of the year than to dine poolside under the stars and the moonlight, while enjoying The Regency luxurious hospitality.” said Tom Spaan, Director of Food and Beverage at the hotel. To end a perfect night, a scrumptious assortment of desserts is available, with homemade gateaux, Cheese cakes to the irresistible chocolate fountain, crepes and ice cream. At poolside, The Regency presents the highest quality dining experience with premium cuts of beef, lamb and chicken, the fresher seafood, exciting sauces, salads and condiments and artistically crafted works of art amongst our collection of desserts.

Arignar Anna’s birthday celebration in Kuwait

K

uwait Marumalarchi Peravai has celebrated the 105th birthday anniversary of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C N Annadurai on 27th September 2013 in Kanyakumari restaurant at Kuwait City. V Muthuraman, the advisor of the Peraval was presided over the function and Pinnalur Manikandan delivered the welcome address. Tamilnadan and Dr K Kumar were the guest of honors of the program. Tamilnadan paid floral tributes to the portrait of Arignar Anna.

Vilathikulam Selvakumar, Kalingapatti Kanagaraj, Viruthunagar Suburaj, Aranthai Sathyan, Suburaj were reigned as the front liners in the stage. The

Peravai’s Secretary Poet Pattukotai Sathyan, Seenu Vaiko Venkat, Ramesh and other prominent poets including Vidyasagar, Kavisai Sekar, Eela Ganesan, M Sivasankaran, Viruthaipari, Nilavan were focused in their speech about Arignar Anna’s dedicated contribution to the Tamil language and its people.

The MDMK General Secretary Vaiko enthralled his scintillating wishes to the prgrammes over phone which is the highlight of the program. The Peravai president Embavai Ravichandran delivered vote of thanks and the program was successfully concluded with delicious lunch.

EMBASSY OF US The US Embassy in Kuwait has new procedures for obtaining appointments and picking up passports after visa issuance.

Beginning August 9, 2013, we now provide an online visa appointment system, live call center, and in-person pick-up facilities in Kuwait. Please monitor our website and social media for additional information. This new system offers more flexibility for travelers to the US and to meet the increase in demand for visa appointments.

The general application steps on the new visa appointment system are: 1. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/kw (if this is the first time on ustraveldocs.com, you will need to create a profile to login).

2. Please complete your DS-160 Online Visa Application which is available at ceac.state.gov/genNIV. 3. Please print and take your deposit slip to any Burgan Bank location to pay your visa application fee.

4. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview online at www.ustraveldocs.com/kw or by phone through the Call Center (at +965-22271673).

5. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so 24 hours beforehand, as a courtesy to other applicants. For more information, please visit the US Embassy website kuwait.usembassy.gov - as it is the best source of information regarding these changes. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF BHUTAN The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in the State of Kuwait would like to inform all concerned that its chancery has shifted to its new premises in South Surra, Al-Salaam, Block 3, Street 308, House 3. Telephone:25213601- 25213602,Fax: 25213603 and Email: bhutankuwait@gmail.com. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed from Monday to Thursday, October 14-17, 2013 on the occasion of Holy Eid-ul-Adha.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

03:15 Amazon Abyss 03:40 Amazon Abyss 04:05 Mekong: Soul Of A River 04:55 Animal Battlegrounds 05:20 Baboons With Bill Bailey 05:45 Wild Animal Repo 06:35 Call Of The Wildman 07:00 Monkey Life 07:25 Pandamonium 08:15 The Most Extreme 09:10 Talk To The Animals 09:35 Talk To The Animals 10:05 Big Five Challenge 11:00 Animal Cops Houston 11:55 Animal Battlegrounds 12:20 Call Of The Wildman 12:50 Swamp Brothers 13:15 Swamp Brothers 13:45 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 14:40 Big Five Challenge 15:30 Baboons With Bill Bailey 16:00 Monkey Life 16:30 The Most Extreme 17:25 Extraordinary Dogs 17:50 Extraordinary Dogs 18:20 Baby Planet 19:15 Monkey Life 19:40 Call Of The Wildman 20:10 Animal Battlegrounds 20:35 Baboons With Bill Bailey 21:05 Lion Feeding Frenzy 22:00 Beast Lands 22:55 Swimming With Monsters: Steve Backshall 23:50 Swimming With Monsters: Steve Backshall 00:45 I’m Alive 01:35 Untamed & Uncut 02:25 Lion Feeding Frenzy

03:00 Bedlam 03:45 One Foot In The Grave 04:15 The Weakest Link 05:00 Tweenies 05:20 Boogie Beebies 05:35 The Large Family 05:45 Nina And The Neurons 06:00 Jackanory Junior 06:15 Tweenies 06:35 Boogie Beebies 06:50 The Large Family 07:00 Nina And The Neurons 07:15 Jackanory Junior 07:30 One Foot In The Grave 08:00 Lead Balloon 08:30 The Weakest Link 09:15 Eastenders 09:45 Doctors 10:15 Dalziel And Pascoe 11:05 New Tricks 11:55 One Foot In The Grave 12:25 The Weakest Link 13:10 Lead Balloon 13:40 Eastenders 14:10 Doctors 14:40 New Tricks 15:30 Dalziel And Pascoe 16:25 The Weakest Link 17:10 Eastenders 17:40 Doctors 18:10 New Tricks 19:00 Keeping Up Appearances 19:30 Alan Partridge’s Mid-Morning Matters 20:00 Bedlam 20:50 Gavin & Stacey 21:20 Getting On 21:50 The Stephen K Amos Show 22:20 The Fat Fighters 23:10 Keeping Up Appearances 23:40 Alan Partridge’s Mid-Morning Matters 00:05 Gavin & Stacey 00:35 Bedlam 01:15 Eastenders 01:45 Doctors 02:15 The Fat Fighters

03:15 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 03:40 Great British Menu 04:05 Cash In The Attic 04:55 Bargain Hunt 05:40 Britain’s Dream Homes 06:30 Great British Menu 07:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 07:45 Bargain Hunt 08:30 Homes Under The Hammer

09:25 Food & Drink 09:55 Food Glorious Food 10:45 Come Dine With Me 11:35 Celebrity MasterChef 12:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 13:15 Antiques Roadshow 14:10 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 15:00 Phil Spencer - Secret Agent 15:50 Bargain Hunt 16:35 Cash In The Attic 17:20 Antiques Roadshow 18:15 Homes Under The Hammer 19:10 Hairy Bikers’ Bake-ation 20:00 Tareq Taylor’s Nordic Cookery 20:30 Come Dine With Me 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Cash In The Attic 23:45 Homes Under The Hammer 00:40 Come Dine With Me 01:30 Celebrity MasterChef 02:25 Britain’s Dream Homes

03:00 Mythbusters 03:50 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 04:15 Auction Hunters 04:40 Baggage Battles 05:05 How Do They Do It? 05:30 How It’s Made 06:00 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Finding Bigfoot 08:40 American Chopper: Senior vs Junior 09:30 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 09:55 Auction Hunters 10:20 Baggage Battles 10:45 How Do They Do It? 11:10 How It’s Made 11:35 Ben Earl: Trick Artist 12:25 The Big Brain Theory 13:15 Mythbusters 14:05 Border Security - Series 6 Specials 14:30 Auction Hunters 14:55 Baggage Battles 15:20 Countdown To Collision 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 Baggage Battles 21:10 How Do They Do It? 21:35 How It’s Made 22:00 Sons Of Guns 22:50 Amish Mafia 23:40 Shadow Ops 00:30 Sons Of Guns 01:20 Amish Mafia 02:10 Shadow Ops

03:00 03:25 03:45 04:30 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

I Was Murdered I Was Murdered I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Nightmare Next Door 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

21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40 00:30 01:20 02:10

Couples Who Kill On The Case With Paula Zahn Nightmare Next Door I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab On The Case With Paula Zahn

03:35 Super Comet: After The Impact 04:25 Superships 05:15 The Gadget Show 05:40 Tech Toys 360 06:05 Superships 07:00 How Stuff’s Made 07:25 How Stuff’s Made 07:50 Plastic Fantastic Brain 08:40 The Gadget Show 09:05 Tech Toys 360 09:30 Finding Bigfoot 10:25 Engineered 11:20 Scrapheap Challenge 12:10 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 13:00 Bang Goes The Theory 13:25 Bang Goes The Theory 13:50 Sci-Fi Science 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:45 Tech Toys 360 15:10 How Stuff’s Made 15:35 How Stuff’s Made 16:00 Sport Science 16:55 Superships 17:45 Thunder Races 18:35 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 19:30 Weird Or What?

20:20 Plastic Fantastic Brain 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 Tech Toys 360 22:00 Weird Or What?

22:50 Plastic Fantastic Brain 23:40 The Gadget Show 00:05 Tech Toys 360 00:30 Sci-Fi Science 01:00 The Gadget Show 01:25 Tech Toys 360 01:50 Thunder Races 02:45 Weird Or What?

03:25 03:50 04:20 05:10 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:35 10:30 11:20 11:45 12:10 13:05 13:55 14:50 15:45 16:40 17:35 18:25 18:50 19:20 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50 00:45 01:35 02:30

Hero Factor Hero Factor Daredevils Biblical Mysteries Explained 3 Men Go To New England When Disaster Strikes Victory By Design 3 Men Go To New England World’s Busiest Greatest Tank Battles Hero Factor Hero Factor Daredevils Biblical Mysteries Explained Mummy Autopsy Empire When Disaster Strikes Greatest Tank Battles Daredevils Hero Factor Hero Factor True Stories Victory By Design Who Was Jesus?

True Stories Aircrash Confidential Secrets Of Interrogation Victory By Design True Stories Aircrash Confidential

03:00 03:20 03:45 04:05 04:30 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:25

The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Austin And Ally Austin And Ally

DO NO HARM ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

06:45 07:10 07:35 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:35 13:00 13:25 13:45 14:10 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 00:00 00:20 00:45 01:05 01:30 01:50 02:15 02:35

A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Jessie Good Luck Charlie Sofia The First Doc McStuffins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm Jessie Jessie Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Gravity Falls Shake It Up Shake It Up Austin And Ally Austin And Ally A.N.T. Farm Shake It Up My Babysitter’s A Vampire That’s So Raven 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 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody Sonny With A Chance Sonny With A Chance Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place

03:20 Handy Manny 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Special Agent Oso 04:00 Timmy Time 04:10 Imagination Movers 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:15 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:00 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Higglytown Heroes 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 08:35 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 08:50 Doc McStuffins 09:05 Doc McStuffins 09:20 Zou 09:35 Henry Hugglemonster 09:50 Henry Hugglemonster 10:00 Sofia The First 10:25 Higglytown Heroes 10:40 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 10:55 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 11:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:45 Mouk 12:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 12:05 Art Attack 12:30 Doc McStuffins 12:45 Doc McStuffins 13:00 Zou 13:15 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 13:30 Henry Hugglemonster 13:45 Henry Hugglemonster 13:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 14:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 14:45 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 15:00 Lilo And Stitch 15:25 Mouk 15:40 Higglytown Heroes 15:55 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 16:10 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 16:20 The Hive 16:30 Zou 16:45 Lilo And Stitch 17:10 Doc McStuffins 17:25 Doc McStuffins 17:40 Higglytown Heroes 17:55 Zou 18:10 Henry Hugglemonster 18:25 Henry Hugglemonster 18:35 Sofia The First 19:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 19:05 Pajanimals 19:25 Doc McStuffins 19:40 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 19:45 Zou 20:00 Pajanimals 20:15 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 20:30 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 20:45 Doc McStuffins 21:00 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 21:25 Pajanimals 21:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:05 Timmy Time 22:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 23:00 The Hive 23:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:35 Jungle Junction 23:50 Special Agent Oso 00:05 Special Agent Oso 00:15 Imagination Movers 00:40 Jungle Junction 00:55 Jungle Junction 01:10 Handy Manny 01:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 01:55 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 02:00 Little Einsteins 02:25 Special Agent Oso 02:40 Special Agent Oso 02:50 Imagination Movers

23:00 Taken 2 01:00 Down The Shore

04:30 The Adventures Of Don Quixote 06:00 Krazzy Planet 08:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling 10:00 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer 11:30 Jingle All The Way 13:00 Arthur’s Missing Pal 14:30 Teo: The Intergalactic Hunter 16:00 The Happets 18:00 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer 20:00 Kung Fu Panda 2 22:00 Teo: The Intergalactic Hunter 23:30 The Happets 01:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling 02:45 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer

04:15 Batman: Year One 06:00 Project Nim 08:00 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One 09:30 The Dark Knight Rises 12:15 Seeking Justice 14:00 Flicka 3 16:00 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part One 18:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger 20:00 Goon 22:00 Chernobyl Diaries 00:00 Carjacked 02:00 You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger

RAISING ARIZONA ON OSN MOVIES COMEDY

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:10 Scaredy Squirrel 06:35 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 07:00 Max Steel 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Slugterra 08:15 Crash & Bernstein 08:40 Kickin IT 09:05 Kickin IT 09:30 Phineas And Ferb 09:55 Phineas And Ferb 10:20 Lab Rats 10:45 Lab Rats 11:10 Kick Buttowski 11:35 Max Steel 12:00 Zeke & Luther 12:25 Zeke & Luther 12:50 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 13:15 Scaredy Squirrel 13:40 Pair Of Kings 14:05 Pair Of Kings 14:30 Phineas And Ferb 14:40 Phineas And Ferb 14:55 Phineas And Ferb 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 Kickin IT 18:25 Phineas And Ferb 18:35 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 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 21:45 Phineas And Ferb 21:55 Phineas And Ferb 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:20 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Scaredy Squirrel 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

03:00 Unique Sweets 03:25 Food Wars 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 United Tastes Of America 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Unwrapped 07:25 Unwrapped 07:50 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 08:15 Kid In A Candy Store 08:40 Jonathan Phang’s Caribbean Cookbook 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Iron Chef 10:20 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 10:45 Aarti Party 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 Unique Sweets 12:00 Amazing Wedding Cakes 12:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 13:40 Charly’s Cake Angels 14:05 Siba’s Table 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:20 Symon’s Suppers 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Siba’s Table 19:30 Charly’s Cake Angels

19:55 Recipes That Rock 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Chopped 22:00 Recipes That Rock 22:25 Recipes That Rock 22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Food Wars 00:55 Tastiest Places To Chowdown 01:20 Outrageous Food 01:45 Recipes That Rock 02:10 Recipes That Rock 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

03:00 The Colbert Report 03:30 Louie 04:00 Legit 04:30 The League 05:00 Breaking In 05:30 Whitney 06:00 Seinfeld 06:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 07:30 All Of Us 08:00 The Neighbors 08:30 Friends 09:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 10:00 Seinfeld 10:30 All Of Us 11:00 Breaking In 11:30 Whitney 12:30 Friends 13:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 14:00 The Neighbors 14:30 Seinfeld 15:00 All Of Us 15:30 Friends 16:00 Whitney 16:30 Whitney 17:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 18:00 The Colbert Report 18:30 The Neighbors 19:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 20:00 Breaking In 20:30 30 Rock 21:00 Community 21:30 The Office 22:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 23:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 23:30 The Colbert Report 00:00 Web Therapy 00:30 Legit 01:00 The League 01:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 02:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00 00:00

The Americans Bones Warehouse 13 24 Switched At Birth Suits Bones Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Suits 24 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Suits The Carrie Diaries The X Factor U.S. Red Widow The Americans 24

03:00 05:00 Factor 08:00 10:00

Botched Covert One: The Hades Arctic Blast Rewind

12:00 Burden Of Evil 14:00 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 16:15 Rewind 18:15 Do No Harm 20:00 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 22:15 Beneath The Darkness 00:00 No Man’s Land: The Rise Of Reeker 02:00 Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings

03:00 Covert One: The Hades Factor 06:00 Arctic Blast 08:00 Rewind 10:00 Burden Of Evil 12:00 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 14:15 Rewind 16:15 Do No Harm 18:00 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol 20:15 Beneath The Darkness 22:00 No Man’s Land: The Rise Of Reeker 00:00 Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings 02:00 Beneath The Darkness

04:00 Tower Heist 06:00 Mrs. Miracle 08:00 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom 10:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie 12:00 Tower Heist 14:00 Raising Arizona 16:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie 18:00 The Beautician And The Beast 20:00 Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy 22:00 Under New Management 00:00 Grassroots 02:00 Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy

03:00 Second Chances 04:30 Hindenburg 07:30 Ring Of Deceit 09:00 Matching Jack 11:00 Too Late To Say Goodbye 13:00 The Wild Hunt 15:00 Encounter With Danger 16:45 Here 19:00 The Memory Keeper’s Daughter 21:00 Peacock 23:00 Hesher 01:00 Here

05:00 07:00 09:30 11:30 13:30 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00 02:00

Resolution 819 Tora! Tora! Tora!

Ceremony Black Forest Treasure Island Raggedy Man The Beaver Closer John Rabe Raggedy Man

03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 Seas 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00

The People vs George Lucas Here Comes The Boom Shark Tale Arbitrage Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Here Comes The Boom Another Harvest Moon Arbitrage Wrath Of The Titans Insidious

03:30 European Tour Weekly 04:00 Inside The PGA Tour 04:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 05:30 European Senior Tour Highlights 06:30 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 07:00 NRL Premiership 09:00 Trans World Sport 10:00 Total Rugby 10:30 The Presidents Cup Preview 11:30 Inside The PGA Tour 12:00 European Tour Weekly 12:30 Live PGA European Tour 18:30 NFL Gameday 19:00 WWE NXT 20:00 UFC - Unleashed 21:00 UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 22:00 Champions League Twenty20 01:00 PGA European Tour

04:30 This Week In WWE 05:00 UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 06:00 UFC - Unleashed 07:00 Champions League Twenty20 10:00 Champions League Twenty20 13:00 Total Rugby 13:30 AFL Premiership Highlights 14:30 Trans World Sport 15:30 NHL 17:30 UFC - Primetime 2011-13 18:00 The Presidents Cup Preview 19:00 Live The Presidents Cup 01:00 WWE NXT 02:00 UFC - The Ultimate Fighter Season 18

07:00 The Gazebo 08:40 The Adventures Of Robin Hood 10:20 Abbott And Costello In Hollywood 11:45 Young Cassidy 13:40 North By Northwest 16:00 The Charge Of The Light Brigade 17:55 Friendly Persuasion 20:10 Show Boat 22:00 Telefon 23:40 Logan’s Run 01:40 Telefon

03:00 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 Rides 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 Rides 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30 00:00 00:30 01:00 Rides 02:00

Descending Departures Xtreme Waterparks Xtreme Waterparks World’s Greatest Motorcycle Globe Trekker Departures Airport 24/7: Miami Airport 24/7: Miami World’s Greatest Motorcycle Xtreme Waterparks Xtreme Waterparks Ultimate Braai Master Bizarre Foods America International House Hunters International House Hunters International House Hunters International House Hunters Hotel Impossible Destination Weddings Destination Weddings Ultimate Braai Master Bizarre Foods America International House Hunters International House Hunters Airport 24/7: Miami Airport 24/7: Miami Monumental Mysteries Airport 24/7: Miami Airport 24/7: Miami Xtreme Waterparks Xtreme Waterparks World’s Greatest Motorcycle Off Limits

Classifieds THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

Kuwait

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) MUHALAB-3 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) 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

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

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

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (26/09/2013 TO 02/10/2013) FANAR-3 RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PLANES (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

FANAR-4 RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

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

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

AVENUES-2 Seats-140 GETAWAY (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG) GETAWAY (DIG)

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-3 RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) PENGUINS (DIG-3D) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:30 PM

AVENUES-4 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) RUNNER RUNNER (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

360º- 1 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

360º- 2 MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG)

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM

360º- 3 PENGUINS (DIG-3D) PENGUINS (DIG-3D) PENGUINS (DIG-3D) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1 RUSH (DIG) PLANES (DIG-3D) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG) RUSH (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.2 EMPIRE STATE (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) MALAVITA (THE FAMILY)(DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG) EMPIRE STATE (DIG)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

AL-KOUT.3 PRISONERS (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) PRISONERS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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 I, Shahjahan Malek Ali Sadek D/O Sayyed Mohammad Jaffery, holder of Indian Passport No. Z1886955 have changed my name from Shahjahan Malek Ali Sadek to Shahjahan Sayyed Mohammad Jaffery.

(C 4527) 3-10-2013 I, Palleemeera Mutterahamath, holder of Indian Passport No. L0083056, issued at Hyderabad, A.P, hereby change my name to Palleemeera Mukthiyar.

(C 4525) 2-10-2013 I, Pallippadan Joseph Francis holder of Indian Passport No: A4917770 hereby change my name to Pallippatt Joseph Francis.

(C 4523) 1-10-2013

LOST Original document policy No. 633001498, Nabila Zubair Khan DV the State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan, Gulf Zone is reported to have been lost.

Anyone finding the same or claiming any interest in it should communicate with the Manager Kuwait State Life office. Phone: 22452208. (C 4524) MATRIMONIAL Marriage proposal invited for Pakistani Muslim family daughter, Pharmacist, on job, Kwt. Resident, tall, smart, from reasonable boy match through parents.

Email: contact9132000@gmail.

(C 4526)

FOR SALE

Prayer timings Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

04:23 05:42 11:37 15:00 17:32 18:49

112

No: 15947

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 SITUATION VACANT

2:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 11:30 PM

Required house driver, KD 130, housemaid KD 70, visa and ticket provided. Indian, Christian only. Mobile: 67696227. (C 4522) 30-9-2013

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Airlines QTR JZR JZR FDB SAI THY ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR QTR THY MSR DHX FDB KAC JZR JZR BAW KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE IRA KAC KAC KAC IZG ABY IRA FDB QTR ETD SYR GFA MEA DHX JZR FDB TBZ MSC UAE MRJ MSR MSR THY QTR JZR KAC ABY SVA KNE OMA KNE

Arrival Flights on Thursday 3/10/2013 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 8063 DUBAI 441 LAHORE 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI-INTL 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 5509 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 412 MANILA 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASYUT 157 LONDON 332 TRIVANDRUM 503 LUXOR 53 DUBAI 206 ISLAMABAD 302 MUMBAI 382 DELHI 855 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 362 COLOMBO 284 DHAKA 352 COCHIN 4161 MASHAD 125 SHARJAH 617 AHWAZ 55 DUBAI 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI-INTL 341 DAMASCUS 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 870 BAHRAIN 165 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 5483 MASHAD 403 ASYUT 871 DUBAI 4813 MASHAD 610 CAIRO 579 SOHAG 766 ISTANBUL 140 DOHA 241 AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA 546 ALEXANDRIA 121 SHARJAH 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 645 MUSCAT 470 JEDDAH

Time 00:05 00:20 00:40 01:10 01:30 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 03:30 04:35 04:50 05:10 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:40 06:30 07:55 07:40 07:45 07:25 07:50 07:30 08:25 08:40 08:45 08:15 08:05 08:45 08:50 09:10 09:15 09:25 09:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 11:15 11:35 13:50 12:30 12:40 12:45 12:55 13:00 13:05 13:10 13:45 12:35 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:05

NIA RJA KAC JZR QTR ETD UAE ABY UAL SVA GFA TAR QTR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC AFG JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR FDB GFA AXB JAI OMA FDB ABY MEA MSC MSR KNE MSC ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA JAI FDB JZR THY AIC JZR JZR UAL DLH JAI JZR MSR KLM THY

251 640 788 535 134 303 857 127 982 510 215 327 144 542 774 614 176 786 4902 104 618 562 118 674 502 415 177 787 257 125 777 63 219 393 572 647 61 129 402 405 618 474 401 229 859 307 136 217 576 59 189 6512 981 239 185 981 636 574 513 614 411 772

ALEXANDRIA AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA JEDDAH CAIRO DOHA ABU DHABI-INTL DUBAI SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES RIYADH BAHRAIN TUNIS DOHA CAIRO RIYADH BAHRAIN GENEVA JEDDAH MEDINAH LONDON DOHA AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA NEW YORK DUBAI BEIRUT KABUL DUBAI RIYADH BEIRUT BAHRAIN JEDDAH DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE MUMBAI MUSCAT DUBAI SHARJAH BEIRUT SOHAG ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI-INTL DOHA BAHRAIN COCHIN DUBAI DUBAI ISTANBUL CHENNAI AMMAN-QUEEN ALIA DUBAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI SHARM EL SHEIKH CAIRO AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL

15:50 15:55 15:00 16:10 16:15 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:20 18:00 18:25 18:15 19:25 19:35 17:45 18:30 15:20 18:45 19:10 14:40 16:00 19:25 18:50 20:20 17:30 16:15 14:30 16:25 17:50 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:25 20:30 15:25 21:00 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:30 21:45 22:05 22:20 20:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:40 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC AXB JAI MSR DLH JZR FDB THY SAI THY ETH UAE FDB MSR ETD QTR QTR FDB GFA THY JZR KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR JZR KAC ABY KAC IRA IZG KAC UAE FDB IRA ETD QTR KAC KAC SYR GFA KAC KAC MEA JZR JZR DHX KAC JZR JZR TBZ MSC MSR MSR MRJ THY UAE FDB

Departure Flights on Thursday 3/10/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 615 CAIRO 637 FRANKFURT 502 LUXOR 8064 DUBAI 773 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 442 LAHORE 765 ISTANBUL-SABIHA 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 70 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 240 AMMAN 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 563 AMMAN 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 606 MASHHAD 4162 MASHHAD 4901 MADINAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 616 AHWAZ 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 501 BEIRUT 342 DAMASCUS 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 786 RIYADH 521 BAGRAM 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 124 BAHRAIN 5484 MASHHAD 406 SOHAG 580 SOHAG 611 CAIRO 4812 MASHHAD 767 ISTANBUL-ATATURK 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:30 00:30 01:30 01:55 02:20 02:30 02:40 02:45 03:45 03:50 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 06:30 07:00 07:10 07:10 07:20 07:25 08:25 08:25 08:50 09:10 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:40 09:45 09:45 09:50 09:55 10:10 10:15 10:25 10:25 11:10 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:25 12:50 13:00 13:00 13:20 13:30 13:30 13:40 13:50 14:00 14:05 14:10 14:15 14:30

QTR ABY KAC KNE OMA KAC KAC JZR KNE SVA KNE KAC NIA RJA JZR JZR QTR ETD JZR MSR ABY UAE SVA GFA UAL JZR JZR TAR QTR FDB GFA AXB KAC JAI FDB ABY KAC KAC OMA KAC MEA AFG MSC MSR KAC DHX MSC ETD ALK UAE QTR KAC GFA KAC FDB VIS JAI JZR KAC KAC JZR

141 122 673 473 646 617 773 188 471 505 475 613 252 641 238 512 135 304 538 5510 128 858 511 216 982 184 266 328 145 64 220 394 283 571 62 120 331 343 648 351 403 415 404 619 543 171 402 308 230 860 137 301 218 205 60 3103 575 554 411 415 528

DOHA SHARJAH DUBAI JEDDAH MUSCAT DOHA RIYADH DUBAI JEDDAH JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA AMMAN AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT TUNIS DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM CHENNAI MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT JEDDAH ASYUT ALEXANDRIA CAIRO BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DUBAI AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL ABU DHABI ALEXANDRIA BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR ASYUT

14:55 15:05 15:05 15:30 15:40 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:20 17:40 17:50 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:30 18:40 18:50 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:15 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:50 22:00 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:40 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:20 23:40 23:50 23:55

34

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

s ta rs CROSSWORD 329

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a great time to review your nutritional needs. As we have all come to learn, a day with three good meals and a few high-protein snacks is the best answer for a healthy you. If you find it difficult to stay awake in the afternoon and you enjoy milk, you might think about eliminating products that have l-tryptophan in their content until evening: turkey, milk, etc. Positive results and personal achievements can be recognized. You attract money and although this is a busy day, it is a very good day for jobrelated events. There are opportunities to correct, change or improve on working situations. You may shine in your particular job. You have a lot of energy for improving your surroundings or life situation. You are very motivated to improve.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a good day to take off for a vacation or just take the time to relax.

Time away from regular responsibilities gives you new insight and renewed appreciation of just where you are in life. Short trips into the country for materials to decorate with may boost the spirits. Your support system--family, home and those who give you nourishment--becomes more secure. You are able to dispense with some of the unessential and develop what is most basic and true in your environment. You encourage better support.

Your mind could be quite clear and natural. Ideas are flowing and come with ease. If you are not vacationing now, it is a great time to be with others in most any environment.

People seek you out to be a leader, at work or home.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A form of address for a married woman.

4. Hard outer covering or case of certain organisms such as arthropods and turtles.

12. An index of the cost of all goods and services to a typical consumer.

15. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

16. Not regulated or sanctioned by law.

17. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself ).

18. The feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally.

20. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

21. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

22. The basic unit of money in Gambia.

23. The shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object.

24. A sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey.

26. In operation or operational.

27. A former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia.

29. A guide who conducts and informs sightseers.

32. The French-speaking part of the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

33. A republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean coast.

35. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

38. A Kwa language spoken by the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria.

39. An accountant certified by the state.

42. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

43. A hidden drawback.

46. The lean flesh of a fish similar to cod.

49. A soft gray ductile metallic element used in alloys.

50. A soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures).

51. The branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication.

52. Any plant of the genus Erica.

54. Type genus of the Amiidae.

56. Of or belonging to an aecium.

59. (Zoroastrianism) Title for benevolent deities.

61. The principal evil jinni in Islamic mythology.

63. Russian goldsmith noted for creating a series of jeweled and enameled Easter eggs for European royalty (1846-1920).

66. A small cake leavened with yeast.

68. Kamarupan languages spoken in northeastern India and western Burma.

71. A heavy brittle diamagnetic trivalent metallic element (resembles arsenic and antimony chemically).

72. A woolen cap of Scottish origin.

73. A hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care.

76. Leave or strike out, as of vowels.

77. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages.

78. (comparative and superlative of `early') More early than.

80. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

81. 100 fen equal 1 yuan.

82. Resembling a bladder.

83. (Irish) The sea personified.

DOWN 1. Do wrongly or improperly.

2. A switch made from the stems of the rattan palms.

3. (Old Testament) The first king of the Israelites who defended Israel against many enemies (especially the Philistines).

4. An ancient town on Crete where Bronze Age culture flourished from about 2000 BC to 1400 BC. 5. (grammar) Of or relating to the aorist tense.

6. A radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium.

7. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

8. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

9. (of reproduction) Not involving the fusion of male and female gametes reproduction".

10. Airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc..

11. Exultantly proud and joyful.

12. A gathering of passengers sufficient to fill an automobile.

13. Any of several low-growing pines of western North America.

14. Complacently or inanely foolish.

19. United States physicist (born in Austria) who proposed the exclusion principle (thus providing a theoretical basis for the periodic table) (1900-1958).

25. An elaborate song for solo voice.

28. A ridge that forms a seam between two parts.

30. One of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes.

31. King of Denmark and Norway who forced Edmund II to divide England with him.

34. An edict of the Russian tsar.

36. God of fire.

37. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

40. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

41. Coffee with the caffeine removed.

44. Tropical American trees with palmately compound leaves and showy bell-shaped flowers.

45. Heal or recover.

47. (Sumerian) Goddess personifying earth.

48. The work of caring for or attending to someone or something.

53. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

55. (of persons) Befitting a warrior.

57. Inhabitant of the island of Cebu.

58. In a straight unbroken line of descent from parent to child.

60. The state of existing and being localized in space.

62. A native-born Israeli.

64. A cushion on a throne for a prince in India.

65. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia).

67. A dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain.

69. Made from or covered with gold.

70. Lacking sufficient water or rainfall.

74. (informal) `johnny' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War. 75. (meaning literally `born') Used to indicate the maiden or family name of a married woman.

79. A soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element of the alkali metal group.

You and a long-time friend may have words or may have gotten into the habit of arguing. Now is as good a time as any to change a negative to a positive. The mind simply cannot focus on misery when it is flooded with the desire to heal and make happy, even if the appearances and forms of misery remain. If you are in sales, this is the day you may have to work double-duty. All the energies seem to be in your favor for outstanding sales. This is another good day for requesting a loan or requesting that someone return a loan to you. There is an opportunity to attend a social event this evening. If you decide you want to attend this event, you will be at your most elegant. Your communication skills are at their best.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) If professional advice is needed, today is the best time to seek that advice. This could be a challenging day. There is an open door to success, however. In business, your secret for success seems to be that you always have another plan or project ready to lift off the ground. When you do things for others you actually help yourself and as usual, you look for ways to be helpful. Serving those who cannot help themselves--and getting such help if you need it--are essential lessons. Watching how people with difficulties make changes in their lives may encourage you to be more appreciative of your life and of those around you. If change is needed in your life, this is a good time to instigate a change. Change is the easiest thing to do. Let it flow and let it go.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Independence and the urge to try new and different things may be on your mind today. Someone says something or an advertisement in the paper for some new adventure has your mind in a swirl. Wouldn't it be nice to do this or to do thatyou say. Well, you can do anything you want; make your plans. Take a 3x5 card catalog box and start keeping track of all the information that you would need to reach that goal; before you know it, you have the time, the money and the plans for exactly what you want to accomplish. You enjoy unusual or unconventional behaviors and have an interest in the exotic or in eccentric friends. In other words, you do not mind creating a situation where others will question an outcome.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is not perhaps a good time for you to try out new things or break away from the old routine. Business may be moving along very well but advancing or making changes could be on hold for a time. Do not try to dig too deep to find answers at this time. There will soon be a time for better understanding. For now, just know that life would be rather dull if there were not some of the treading-water type of activity for a bit.

You have good insight and can excel above most when it comes to making adjustments or coaching others to make adjustments. Partners are idealistic or unusual in some way.

Romance and other things that tug at the heartstrings come your way as a new cycle begins in this realm. A loved one may come to mean everything.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Increased confidence and a more outgoing manner may be the keys that open many a new door in your career. With you, dreams and ideals have become a way of life. You seek to bring them down to earth and make them real. You will never let your dreams fade. You may find an old interest in music, mysticism and the arts has returned and now would be a good time to drag that old instrument out or to join a musical group. If you are involved in a technical job, your hobby will become a main attraction--you could be working to support your hobby for a while. You may discover a new you through creativity and self-expression. A kind of romantic wistfulness characterizes your approach to life now. This could mean a longing for a soul mate.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A need to be respected is an emotionally charged issue at this time. You show your talent today for organizing things and people, as a sense of ambition and practicality takes hold. Work, achievement and ambition mean a lot to you.

You are at your most practical when it comes to dealing and working with others. You know just what to do and can act without haste and emotion. You may even have a little opportunity to show off a bit--perhaps a master of ceremonies or some performing arts.

You are called on to make use of your natural abilities. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. A sense of support and harmony makes this a happy time.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may not appreciate the emotional energy of someone you meet today but with patience, you will do fine. It is not necessary for you to point the behavior out to anyone--this could be a political situation of which higher-ups are aware. Your comments may not be beneficial to your position and you will want to remember that others may take note of your professional behavior. You are good at making practical decisions concerning important issues. You always seem to have a different slant on situations and can bring simple solutions when others go a step too far in finding solutions. You usually have a natural sense of what the public wants. This evening is a good time for surrounding yourself with friends and taking a break from your hard work.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) This is a prime time to complete unfinished tasks and to work in a team. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job, especially if you complain. You are willing to lend a helping hand to a co-worker today. You may be moved to appreciate many things this afternoon as you shop, perhaps a new store. You seem to be echoing the words, "ah, wouldn't that be lovely here," or "ah, wouldn't that be lovely there," careful. Be wise not to overspend or indulge too much just now--enjoy feeding the ducks or flying a kite. You can expect a little boost, some sort of extra support or recognition from those around you today. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others; the lines of communication are open.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You feel a love of order and law--an appreciation for responsibilities and duty. Problems are valued for the lessons they represent, rather than perceived as obstacles. Others may find you especially witty and eccentric today. You may have insights or breakthroughs concerning your living situation or life circumstances.

People value you for your independence and unique qualities. You may enjoy spending time with a favorite pet this afternoon. You enjoy teaching your animal friend new tricks and showing off to others. Children mimic your behavior and your patience. You may find yourself reflecting on your own youth or some event in the past. Communication with those around you, especially young people, may be quite wonderful today.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be asked to come to the rescue due to some difficult problem in the workplace today. Do not be surprised and know that you will be able to achieve a positive result. Your directional abilities are in high focus. You find that you can think things through and really use your mind to make clear choices. Work moves along smoothly in the afternoon once again and you may begin to think on ways you can improve your position. You could receive unexpected help from someone older or from authority figures. A person or teacher could appear. Perhaps you are learning the art of carpentry or the art of balance.

Whatever the case, you enjoy diving in and tackling whatever is at hand. Horoscopes october 2013

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

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Yesterday’s Solution

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

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22545171

Sabhan

24742838

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22434853

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22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

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25710444

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22621099

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25713514

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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

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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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

Clooney

&

M o v i e s

Producer sues

hopes shutdown ends soon

Eastwood

eorge Clooney knows the country is going through a tough time with the partial government shutdown. But the actor is optimistic that “cooler heads will prevail” and things will get back to normal. He applauded Congressman Peter King, a New York Republican, as one of the “guys on the right,” saying he’s trying to get the government back up and running.

Clooney says: “I know for a fact that there’s a lot of guys on the right, Peter King, for instance, and some people like that, who are also doing the best they can to stop this from happening or to put an end to it.”

He adds: “You just hope that it happens soon.” King has spoken out against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, a tea party conservative from Texas who delayed action on the temporary spending bill. Clooney made the comments at the New York premiere of his new film, “Gravity.”—AP

A

over ‘Trouble with the Curve’

G

Indian Bollywood actors Shahid Kapoor and Sonu Sood pose with actress Sonakshi Sinha during the unveiling of the first trailer of their forthcoming Hindi film ‘R...Rajkumar’ directed by Prabhu Deva in Mumbai late October 1, 2013.—AFP

Def Leppard George Clooney and Sandra Bullock attend the premiere of “Gravity” at the AMC Lincoln Square Theaters on Tuesday in New York.—AP

talks cancer, concert film, new music

R

Giamatti on films

about JFK assassination, slave trading

I

t’s been almost a decade since actor Paul Giamatti introduced himself to the world as the hapless and neurotic but lovable wine aficionado Miles in “Sideways.” Since then, he’s played a US president (John Adams) and a Federal Reserve chairman (Ben Bernanke) and this fall he has two more roles based on reallife characters to add to the list. In “Parkland,” a drama about the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, he plays Abraham Zapruder, the Dallas businessman who accidentally shot the famous 26-second film of the event on his Super 8 camera. The film opens in US theaters on Friday.

In “12 Years a Slave,” a grueling tale of a free black man sold into slavery, Giamatti is a slave trader who puts the naked slaves on display and negotiates prices and packages. The film, which critics consider a serious Oscar contender, opens Oct18. Giamatti, 46, spoke to Reuters about playing a man wrestling with the decision to sell the JFK footage and the difficulties of making ruthless slave trading look like acceptable behavior.

Q: Your “Parkland” character Abe Zapruder fills in an information gap most of us have.

Apart from the script and the book “Four Days in November” by Vincent Bugliosi, how did you find out more about him?

A: I didn’t know anything about him really.

There’s footage of him, not a lot, but some of that was very useful. I met his family. They said some things in the course of just chatting with them that were really interesting. You play a real person and sometimes you meet the family, that’s great. But in this instance I felt like they had had enough people stomping around their lives. So I didn’t want to get too all over them about stuff.

Q: At the beginning we see this is a good man. What most worried you about getting the balance right?

A: I didn’t want to make him too good, goody, goody good. I worried about making him too nice a guy, but that is what he was. One of the things I worried about the most is that he had an incredibly heavy accent. And I wanted to get that, without overdoing it. He was a Ukrainian Jew raised in New York and he sounded like it, which set him apart hugely from everyone else down there (in Dallas). It’s just bizarre that he was there in the first place. He had a crazy heavy accent.

Q: We see Zapruder worried about the impact of the film and how it is going to change his life forever.

A: It did really change his life. He seemed to know right away what it was going to do to his life, which is amazing. The whole thing of selling it was a real struggle for him. I know it was a part of his thinking from something I read: he felt like, as a Jew, it is going to look bad if he sold this thing to people. It was a really complicated decision for him and he didn’t feel good about it. And he got a lot of crap for it, that it was so inappropriate to sell this to people. But he wasn’t doing it to make a big bundle. It was kind of a sense that ‘I need to get this out of my life, out of my family’s life, but be able to take care of them because of the trauma everyone is going to have visited on them.’

Paul Giamatti

ocking with Def Leppard between bouts of chemotherapy proved healing for guitarist Vivian Campbell. The 51-year-old musician relied on his bandmates and the thrill of performing to help him through a diagnosis of Hodgkins lymphoma (he started treatment in April). The band hit the road this summer for a month long tour that wrapped in July.

“We’ve actually been able to work through it,” said Campbell. “We did the shows in Europe while I was doing chemo ... and mentally that was a big part of my recovery.”

“I’m glad I had the opportunity to work through it instead of stay at home and feel sorry for myself,” he added. After more than 30 years together, Def Leppard isn’t slowing down for cancer - or anything else. Fans already saw band at local cineplexes yesterday and can see them again next week in “Def Leppard Viva! Hysteria Concert.” Filmed during a Las Vegas residency earlier this year, it shows the quintet doing something unprecedented: performing the 1987 mega-hit album, “Hysteria,” live from start to finish.

“It was fun, actually, and a totally different way of doing it,” said guitarist Phil Collen. “It was a different dynamic doing the album in full, and it was much more theatrical.” Part of the theatrics came in the form of Ded Flatbird. Singer Joe Elliott suggested the band open for itself during its first-ever Vegas residency, but do it as a fake cover band. “We would actually go out and pretend to be Ded Flatbird, who were supposedly the greatest Def Leppard cover band in the world,” said Campbell. “Joe gave us all aliases. We became different characters, and as the shows progressed, we kind of developed those personalities a little bit more, and that was a fun part of the show...

“Then, of course, the curtain reveal and it’s Def Leppard doing ‘Hysteria.’” Ded Flatbird performed nightly during the nine-show engagement, playing obscure material from the early days of Def Leppard and other tracks apart from the “Hysteria” album. Ded Flatbird’s performances are included in the double CD and DVD set, “Viva! Hysteria,” out on Oct 22. “We were so convincing that a lot of people didn’t actually realize it was us,” said drummer Rick Allen.

“We actually got booed by a few people.”

“Because we went out and found another one-armed drummer!”

Campbell quipped. (Allen lost his left arm in a car accident a year after the release of the band’s breakthrough album, 1983’s “Pyromania.”) Next up for Def Leppard? New music. The fivesome, which also includes bass player Rick Savage, plan to meet in Dublin in the new year to start writing. “A whole Def Leppard album would probably take a bit long,” Collen said. “So we’re probably going to do an EP or something, get that out, then perhaps the year after, release an album.”—AP

Q: What is your role like in “12 Years a Slave?”

A: This movie has like 40 million people in it. It basically has a lot of cameos, which is essentially what I do in it. But it was really interesting. I play a real guy. No one knows much about him. He was named Theophilus Freeman, who was one of the big slave traders in New Orleans in the 1850s. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays this guy who is kidnapped and they sell him. They bring him to me and I process him through this slave market and sell him to Benedict Cumberbatch. So you see some of the mechanics of selling slaves and you see the things they did to these people, like splitting up a family.

Q: There is quite a bit of buzz around this film.

A: I read the script and I thought immediately I would like to be a part of this. I didn’t care what the hell I do in it. It’s negligible, but it was really fun to do. Like the JFK movie, the idea behind this movie was to try to be in the moment, not retrospective. And for the people living in the moment, this is a completely normal thing. I knew when I played this character my goal was to make this as absolutely unremarkable and normal a thing - to be standing here with these people and trading them like they are horses and say this woman is not going to be sold with her child and tell her to shut up and go whip her to shut her up. It is all incredibly mundane for the guy doing it. The only person who is shocked and amazed by it is this poor guy being sold into slavery.—Reuters

Indian Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan addresses the audience during the inauguration of ‘Yes! I am the Change’ film festival in Mumbai on October 1, 2013.—AFP

Los Angeles film producer has sued Clint Eastwood’s production company and studio giant Warner Bros over the Oscar-winning director’s 2012 baseball movie “Trouble with the Curve,” alleging they stole his work. Ryan Brooks said the movie, about an aging baseball scout who takes his daughter along on one last recruiting trip, breached copyright law by borrowing various plot elements from a screenplay he wrote in 2008, according to court papers released Tuesday. The case “is about a conspiracy to steal the body, structure, theme and soul of a unique, original, copyrighted screenplay from a production company and its owner,” said the lawsuit, which seeks “tens of millions of dollars,” the documents said.

Brooks—whose screenplay was first called “Run Down” and later “Omaha”—cited Warner Bros, Eastwood’s Malpaso Productions, the film’s director Robert Lorenz and talent agencies United Talent Agency and the Gersh Agency. He claimed there was a vast conspiracy to deny his company, Gold Glove Productions, due credit for the screenplay of the movie, which was relatively poorly received and has made less than $50 million worldwide, according to the Los Angeles Clint Eastwood Times. “Dirty Harry” icon Eastwood, 83, has won four Oscars over a more than half-century career, including most recently best movie and best director for 2004’s “Million Dollar Baby.” He took the same two Academy Award prizes for 1992’s “Unforgiven.” A Warner Bros spokesman, Paul McGuire, said the studio had no comment on the lawsuit.—AFP

’Captain Phillips‘ up, ‘Foxcatcher’ out – and ‘Wolf of Wall Street’?

T

he Oscar race is starting to take shape, as films drop out and screen before influential audiences. In the past week, “Foxcatcher” and “Grace of Monaco” moved out of contention. Two more potential contenders - “Captain Phillips” and “Inside Llewyn Davis” - captured attention at the New York Film Festival, while “Nebraska” screened well with voters in Los Angeles. And a big question mark hangs over the head of Martin Scorsese and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which will not make its Nov 15 release date.

Now a jam-packed and competitive awards race looks a little less crowded, but just as competitive. The actual release date for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Scorsese’s look at the excesses of the financial markets from the perspective of an out-of-control stockbroker played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is now uncertain. Scorsese is working around the clock to trim what was reportedly a three-hours-plus cut of the film in hopes of getting it into theaters before year’s end.

“It is so outrageous,” songwriter-composer Robbie Robertson, who is working on the music with Scorsese and who saw an early cut, told TheWrap. “It is very long, and they’re working day and night trying to get it down.”

The film may still be finished in time for a December release (Scorsese delivered “Hugo” at the very last minute two years ago, and that was nominated for Best Picture), but a move to Christmas would conflict with Paramount’s scheduled release of “Jack Ryan: Shadow One,” which figures to be a more valuable commercial property, if less of an awards presence.

Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher,” meanwhile, is definitely out of 2013 and into 2014, scotching Sony Classics’ plans for an awards campaign on behalf of the director whose last two films, “Moneyball” and “Capote,” both landed Best Picture nods. And Weinstein has moved the Grace Kelly biopic “Grace of Monaco,” starring Nicole Kidman, into next year as well, though that film was always considered a longshot for serious awards attention.

On the upside, though, late September was a good time for some of the movies that are in the race to stay. “Captain Phillips,” for instance, followed the standing ovation at its New York Film Festival premiere on Friday with a strong reception at its Sunday screening for Academy voters at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Paul Greengrass’ gripping tale of the real-life hijacking of a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia was a clear hit at NYFF, but it faced an even more important test on Sunday, when Oscar voters got a look at it.

The verdict, according to members in attendance: Thumbs up. With a big crowd in attendance at the 1,000seat Goldwyn, the film was met with sustained applause at the end, with particular enthusiasm for Greengrass and star Tom Hanks. If the reaction didn’t strike some observers as indicate of a slam-dunk Best Picture nominee, they do expect it to be in the conversation for picture, director and actor, among other categories.

The Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” was the other movie-of-the-weekend at NYFF, not only with a gala screening but also with a post-screening concert that included stars Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan performing alongside Jack White, Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Marcus Mumford and others.—Reuters

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Why doesn’t

Justin Timberlake hit higher notes at the box office?

J

ustin Timberlake’s new album “The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 could top the iTunes and Billboard charts this week, and he’s about as hot as it gets in the music world. But that hasn’t always translated to high notes at the box office for the singer, who will take another run at it Friday when “Runner Runner” opens nationwide.

Musicians have been taking their acts to the big screen since Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley, with varying degrees of artist and commercial success. Will Smith was “The Fresh Prince” before he made blockbusters and Cher won a Best Actress Oscar for “Moonstruck.” Timberlake isn’t in that league, but he’s near the top of the recent list.

He’s not Mark Wahlberg, the former Funky Bunch front man who’s starred in Best Picture Oscar winner “The Departed” and the raunchy comedy hit “Ted.” But he’s not current hot topic Miley Cyrus in “The Last Song,” Rihanna in “Battleship” or Mariah Carey in “Glitter,” by a long shot. “He’s one of the rare talents that has successfully made the transition from musician to actor, and that’s an achievement,” said Exhibitor Relations vice-president and senior analyst Jeff Bock.”He may never be a leading man along the lines of Tom Hanks, but in the right project, he’s as solid as they come.”

Timberlake bucked his squeaky-clean “N Sync image with roles in gritty indie films like “Alpha Dog” and “Southland Tales” early on, then broke out with his portrayal of Napster co-founder and Facebook mentor Sean Parker in 2010’s “The Social Network.” In 2011, he showed his comedy chops in “Bad Teacher” and “Friends with Benefits,” which was wellreviewed and lucrative, taking in $150 million worldwide for Sony Screen Gems.

But then he starred with Amanda Seyfried in Fox’s sci-fi thriller “In Time,” which worked overseas but opened to a soft $12 million and topped out domestically at $37 million in 2011. He followed that up with a supporting role in last year’s Clint Eastwood baseball movie “Trouble With the Curve,” an underperformer.

In New Regency’s Brad Furmandirected “Runner Runner,” Timberlake plays a college student who is cheated out of his tuition money playing online

’Chronicles of Narnia‘

fourth film planned thanks

to deal with Gordon

A

slan will roar on the big screen again. The CS Lewis Company will partner with The Mark Gordon Company to jointly develop and produce a feature film adaptation of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.” Plans for a big screen version of the fourth book in Lewis’ fantasy series were delayed after the third film in the series, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” made slightly less at the box office than its producers had hoped, grossing north of $400 million on a $155 million budget.

Compounding matters, Walden Media, which produced the first three films, underwent a major restructuring this year and laid off a big chunk of its employees and announcing it will concentrate on third party productions. In Gordon, CS Lewis Company gets a veteran producer who has worked on such films as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Wonder Boys” and “Speed.”

“Like many readers, both young and old, I am a huge fan of CS Lewis’s beautiful and allegorical world of Narnia,” Gordon said in a statement. “These fantasy stories inspire real-world passion among millions of devoted fans around the world. As we prepare to bring the next book to life, we are humbled and excited to contribute to the outstanding legacy of Narnia.”

Mark Gordon and Douglas Gresham along with Vincent Sieber, the LA- based director of The CS Lewis Company, will serve as producers and will work with The Mark Gordon Company on developing the script. The first three Narnia films combined have grossed over $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office.—Reuters

With new film,

Ja Rule

’Grandmaster‘

W

Richard Clayderman

A

l-Mulla Exchange, the premier money remittance company in Kuwait, is to present a live concert by the legendary pianist, Richard Clayderman on October 25 to 26 at the Regency Hotel. Known as the ‘Prince of Romance’, for his versatility in playing soulful tunes on the piano, Richard Clayderman was born in Paris in 1953. He joined the Conservatoire de Paris at the young age of 12. Propelled by hard work and dedication his career began to flourish at the age of 20, when he began re-interpreting popular tunes and composing rich, fantastical music.

Following a big break in 1977, when he recorded ‘Ballade pour Adeline’ a captivating tune that was light and hypnotic, Richard launched his success onto the world stage. His debut album sold more than 20 million copies and was distributed in 38 countries. His luxurious, orchestral sound was compared by many admirers to the well-known American pianist and vocalist Valentino Liberace, but the Frenchman stands in a class of his own.

When Richard’s first album was available on mail order, thousands of besotted women sent their cheques and fan letters.

Nancy Reagan, the widow of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, was credited with giving him the title of ‘Prince of Romance’. Clayderman has recorded over 1,300 melodies, and has created a new romantic style through a repertoire which combines his trademark originals with classics and pop standards.

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Richard Clayderman is “the most successful pianist in the world.” He has clocked up worldwide record sales of albums and has 267 gold and 70 platinum discs to his credit. Accredited to his brilliance is a vast discography of over 200 albums, where he has infused his soulful touch to Andrew Lloyd Webber love songs, Bollywood movie soundtracks, and the folk music of Germany, Turkey, and Japan.

Clayderman’s popularity resurged with the release of his 2013 album, ‘Romantique’ which features a mélange of film music, pop and light classical standards, as well as a recording of his best-known tune, ‘Ballade pour Adeline’.

Since its inception in 2001, Al-Mulla Exchange has revolutionized the exchange industry in Kuwait by continuously offering innovative, customer-centric remittance solutions. Today, Al Mulla Exchange is the leading exchange of choice for customers looking for trust, reliability and speed in their money remittance operations. This is an invitation only event and for passes please call 65873423/97228568.

J

Anthony Chen is up for best new director for “Ilo Ilo,” alongside actors-turned-directors Vicki Zhao for “So Young” and Juno Mak for “Rigor Mortis.” “Cold War” actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, already named best actor at the Hong Film Awards, is up for the Golden Horse award for the same role. Jimmy Wang Yu in “Soul,” Nick Cheung in “Unbeatable” and Lee Kang-sheng in “Stray Dogs” are the other nominees.

Zhang received her third Golden Horse nomination.

Other best actress nominees are last year’s winner, Gwei Lun-mei, for “Christmas Rose,” seven-time nominee Shu Qi for the comedy “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons,” Sammi Cheng for “Blind Detective” and Hong Kong newcomer Cherry Ngan for “The Way We Dance.”—AP

File photo shows Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai poses during the Japan premiere of his latest film ‘The Grandmaster’ in Tokyo.—AP

File photo, from left, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung pose for the media upon their arrival on the red carpet event for 2013 Chinese Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea. —AP photos

KT Daily Paper layout 2.indd 2

presents concert by

looks ahead after prison

leads Golden Horse film nominee ong Kar-wai’s martial-arts epic “The Grandmaster” received a leading 11 nominations for Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards, including best picture. Other contenders include Jia Zhangke’s “A Touch of Sin” and Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo,” each with six nominations.

“The Grandmaster” about the legendary Ip Man is Wong’s biggest hit, with his stylized emotional imagery punctuated by crowd-pleasing combat featuring stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Ziyi Zhang. It earned $5 million in a limited US release after a $55 million global run.

Wong, Leung and Zhang were nominated Tuesday, and the film will compete in its category against “A Touch of Sin,” “Ilo Ilo,” “Stray Dogs” and “Drug War” by Hong Kong’s Johnnie To. The other directing nominees are To, Jia Zhang-ke for “A Touch of Sin,” Tsai Ming-liang for “Stray Dogs” and Chung Mong-hong for “Soul.”

poker and confronts the offshore entrepreneur (Affleck) behind it. He becomes the kingpin’s right-hand man and winds up in a tight spot when the FBI wants to use him to bring the operation down. Leonardo DiCaprio is a producer, and Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie co-star. Fox Distribution President Chris Aronson thinks this is the right project for Timberlake.

“It’s a really fun movie and his chemistry with Affleck, who plays a great bad guy, is a big part of the film’s appeal,” he said. Fox marketers are targeting women, both over and under 25, with “Runner Runner,” in part to take advantage of the teaming of the hunky Timberlake and Affleck. Back in January of 2001, pop diva Jennifer Lopez had the nation’s No. 1 album and the top film at the box office at the same time with her second album “J. Lo” and the romantic film comedy “The Wedding Planner.” With the high-profile sci-fi thriller “Gravity” debuting this weekend as well, that’s not going to happen for Timberlake.

Fox sees “Runner, Runner” opening between $10 million and $12 million and analysts are projecting a $40 million domestic total. That would put it on the path to profitability, since its production budget is under $30 million. While Fox didn’t directly piggy-back onto Timberlake’s album release to push the film, the singer has been front and center on the late-night TV circuit leading up the release of “The 20-20 Experience - 2 of 2.”

“No matter what he’s talking about, all that cross-promotion will have to help,” Bock said. Timberlake is very much a global music star, and that has helped his movies at the international box office. “In Time” may have been a misfire domestically, but it took in $135 million overseas. Aware of that, Fox has sought to build momentum by opening “Runner Runner” abroad ahead of its US debut.

It brought in nearly $12 million from 38 markets over the weekend, led by Russia with $3 million, and France, Australia and the U.K at about $1.2 million. Timberlake’s biggest box office score came in a film in which he didn’t appear. He voiced Artie in “Shrek the Third,” which grossed $800 million globally in 2007.—Reuters

Al-Mulla Exchange

a Rule, who recently spent nearly two years behind bars for illegal gun possession, landed a role in a new movie because screenwriter Galley Molina empathized with the rapper’s missteps. “People used to ask, ‘Well, you know he’s a felon?’ And I would say, ‘Well, so am I,’” recalled Molina, a 44-year-old pastor who was locked up for five years for drug trafficking.

“I know his heart. I know what type of dude he is and he was probably one of the most professional guys on the set.”

“I’m in Love With a Church Girl” will debut Oct 18 in more than 280 theaters in the US Ja Rule stars as a high-level drug dealer who struggles to leave his illegal lifestyle behind after getting into a serious relationship with a churchgoing woman played by Adrienne Bailon of Cheetah Girls and 3LW fame. Stephen Baldwin, “Sopranos” actor Vincent Pastore and Michael Madsen also appear in the movie.

The film, which was produced

by Molina and Grammy-winning Christian singer Israel Houghton, is based on Molina’s life. Ja Rule was hired while his gun possession cases were pending.

He was released from house arrest in July after he had served most of a two-year sentence in a New York state prison before his subsequent transfer into federal custody in a tax evasion case. He admitted to failing to pay taxes on more than $3 million earned between 2004 and 2006. “This role was very different for me,” said Ja Rule, whose film credits include “The Fast and the Furious.”

“I’ve done a lot of films that all have been pretty edgy. I played thug characters, but with this character, even though I play a thug somewhat, he’s really a guy going through a transition.”

The 37-year-old Ja Rule, born Jeffrey Atkins, said he put on 30 pounds in jail and read a

File photo shows rapper Ja Rule inside a vehicle outside Martin Luther King, Jr Courthouse after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges in Newark, NJ.—AP number of books. He also earned his GED and said ex-New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi and ex-Tyco International CEO Dennis Kozlowski urged him to pursue higher education. “It’s really minimum - all of the fame, the movies and the music. When you’re behind that wall, all that becomes very minimum,” said Ja Rule, who burst on the music scene in 1999 and released back-toback multiplatinum and platinum albums. “I was more focused on getting my mind right, getting my body right, more thinking about my family. Those are the things you cherish.”

Ja Rule became known for hip-hop jams that became Top 40 successes, including No. 1 hits with Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti. He earned a number of awards, including four Grammy nominations. He said he’s still excited about recording, but he wants to focus on TV and film.

“I love music, it’s my passion,” said Ja Rule, who independently released “Pain Is Love 2” during his incarceration last year but put up subpar numbers. “This is my second wind right now, and I’m happy to be home, but I think as I’m getting older, my passion is leaning toward doing more television and film. Music is my heart, but I see television and more movies in the next stage of my life.”—AP

10/2/13 8:20 PM

38

LIFESTYLE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

F a s h i o n

l e anolor as

c h t i Cdazh w zles

Models present creations by Iris Van Herpen during the 2014 Spring/Summer readyto-wear collection fashion show.—AP/AFP photos

s n o i h s a f hnic t e go

K

arl Lagerfeld is a man of many talents. In addition to Chanel’s lauded designer, he also is an industrious artist, a sensitive colorist and a gallery curator. These were the hats he wore Tuesday at Chanel’s glorious spring-summer 2014 show, one of the biggest at Paris Fashion Week. With a snap of his black-gloved finger and the backing of a Chanel-sized budget, curator Lagerfeld transformed the vast interior of Paris’ Grand Palais into his very own gallery space. “It’s like the days of Andy Warhol,” Lagerfeld said backstage, raising the age-old philosophical question: Is fashion art?

Katy Perry certainly seemed impressed by the artistic musing. The pop star watched the 89-look-strong show from the front row next to a whole host of curious art objects which scattered the runway - like a giant-sized handbag or a surreal 1-meter (yard) perfume bottle made of marble that seemed to sink into the floor. “Karl has such a fantastic sense of humor. He is so self-deprecating with his styles,” said Perry, near a statue of a man kneeling down with a Chanel truck tire on his back. “It’s good to be light-hearted,” quipped the designer.

Other shows of the day included a presentation from Dutch wunderkind Iris Van Herpen who did the impossible and made clothes play music, and collections from Alexander McQueen and Valentino who both channeled ethnic vibes but produced very different results.

IRIS VAN HERPEN

If clothes could make music, what would they sound like? This was the abstract question that Iris Van Herpen - better known for her couture creations - answered during her official debut in ready-to-wear.

Van Herpen used state-of-the-art technology to stage a performance, where models writhed against each other clad in dark, shimmering dresses with touch-sensitive electronic chips inside sinewy ribs on the material. Caressing each other in scenes that could have been lifted from a Lynch film, the models’ touches sent out audio signals to the DJ booth in the club, producing a macabre electronic musical aria. The atmosphere nicely complemented the darkness of the looks, which featured a great techno-fabric on a cropped jacket and cross-over dress that gave off a watery, metallic sheen. A black skeletal sheath made of leather had the dark feel of her exaggerated couture creations. With only 16 looks on display, next time it would be nice to see the talented designer broaden her repertoire with a larger collection.

ALEXANDER McQUEEN

39

LIFESTYLE F a s h i o n

ALEXANDER McQUEEN

Combative metal helmets, neck clasps and leather straps clashed with bright ethnic patterns in Sarah Burton’s show for Alexander McQueen that, while bold, moved the house in a slightly more wearable direction - away from the theatrical excess of last season. On a minimal, geometric runway the first black looks of the 32-piece-strong collection, could have been worn by warrior queen Boudica with features such as a leather harness, a thick padded leather coat and an aggressive red layered skirt. But the looks softened, as did the colors, as the collection progressed. A series of black and white optical coats with cinched waists gave way to an abstract, sporty vibe in ultra mini patterned crop tops and some bouncy angular skirts in white. The best looks seemed to channel tribal African that’s big this season, with a strapless column dress with red and black horizontal stripes. It cut an unusual silhouette with a large black feathered peplum.

VALENTINO

VALENTINO

Valentino put its typical Italian aristocratic look on hold this season to channel Balkan-style ethnic patterns. It was clear from the discordant musical mix - which flitted between arias from Puccini’s Tosca to syncopated contemporary bass beats - that designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were determined to try something new. With a clean white shirt and a couple of pairs of shorts, it felt like the designers were trying to loosen up their silhouette a bit to show some street cred. But the show was dominated by patterns such as vivid blue-and-yellow lines and oval shapes on full skirts with dense, Eastern decorative patterns in dull browns and greens. It meant that the austere feel of their previous ready-to-wear collections remained in Tuesday’s show, heightened by the silhouettes’ high necks and thick fabrics.—AP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

37

Marc Jacobs t o l e av e

Louis Vuitton

Models present creations for Louis Vuitton during the 2014 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show, yesterday at the Cour Carre du Louvre in Paris.—AFP

M

arc Jacobs, the US designer credited with transforming Louis Vuitton from “stodgy luggage house” to global fashion giant yesterday received a standing ovation as news of his departure broke. The US designer with a flair for showmanship is wrapping up his 16-year tenure to concentrate on a stock exchange flotation of his own brand, estimated by market sources to be “approaching the billion-dollar leagues”. Under his stewardship, Louis Vuitton has become one of the most sought after luxury brands, particularly in the lucrative Asian market, with “Vuitton mania” regularly prompting round-the-block queues outside the brand’s stores.

The news coincided with Jacobs’ last show for Louis Vuitton, on the final day of the Paris ready-towear collections. A celebration of his work for the label, it was presented entirely in black, just as his first was. Jacobs and Bernard Arnault, chairman of Louis Vuitton parent company LVMH, confirmed the move to industry journal Women’s Wear Daily following months of speculation. The designer, whose contract had been due to expire at the end of the year, had been in contract negotiations with Louis Vuitton and LVMH. The 50-year-old, who pioneered Louis Vuitton’s first ever ready-to-wear clothing collection in 1997, was hailed for his innovation at the luxury brand.

“Jacobs leaves Vuitton after a dazzling 16-year run during which he orchestrated the transformation of the leather goods giant from a stodgy luggage house to a global fashion presence,” WWD said. “He pioneered the concept of the fashion-art runway collaboration, first with Stephen Sprouse and later, with several artists including Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince,” it said, recalling how the bags he designed with Sprouse and Murakami became global phenomena.

It is understood that the initial public offering (IPO), expected within the next three years, will require Jacobs to be fully focused on his own brand in order to ensure the highest possible valuation.

Mikiko Kashiwagi, owner of a Japanese online clothing firm, said Jacobs would be a huge loss to Louis Vuitton and much missed in Asia. “It was the most impressive show from Vuitton I’ve ever seen,” she said after yesterday’s show.

“I love Louis Vuitton, it’s my favorite brand. The show today looked like a black swan’s show... like the swan saying goodbye to leave,” she added. A successor has not been named but Louis Vuitton is understood to have held talks with former Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquiere about succeeding Jacobs as artistic director, sources told WWD earlier. Frenchman Ghesquiere parted company with Balenciaga in November 2012 following a 15-year tenure. LVMH owns a substantial stake in the New York-based Jacobs business, and has overseen the introduction of the brand Marc by Marc Jacobs and roll-out of a global network of stores. Citing market sources, WWD said estimates for the entire Jacobs brand were “approaching the billion-dollar leagues”.

Jacobs attended the Parsons School of Design in New York before joining forces with Robert Duffy who has been his business partner since the mid1980s. His first collection for the Marc Jacobs brand came in 1986. Marc by Marc Jacobs was introduced in 2001. The news of his departure came as nine days of ready-to-wear fashion for spring/summer 2014 wrapped up in Paris yesterday.—AFP

US designer Marc Jacobs acknowledges the public at the end of the Louis Vuitton 2014 Spring/Summer ready-towear collection fashion show, yesterday in Paris.—AP/AFP photos