IPT IO N SC R SU B
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 , 2012
7 150 Fils
Iran parades military, warans Israel
THULQADA 6 , 1433 AH
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Long queues for iPhone 5 despite map glitches
No: 15576
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Manning on target as Giants stomp Panthers
Muslims march in honor of Prophet 17 killed in Pakistan protests • Western missions shut
ISLAMABAD: Fresh protests erupted across the Muslim world yesterday against a US-made film and French cartoons mocking Islam, with violent demonstrations in Pakistan leaving at least 17 people dead. In Middle Eastern and Asian countries tens of thousands took to the streets after the main weekly prayers to vent their anger, with little sign that the angry protests which began last week would abate. Western missions were shut across the Islamic world, fearing further escalation of the backlash over the low-budget film “Innocence of Muslims” that has spread across the world. France, where a magazine this week published a series of cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), has shut embassies, consulates, cultural centres and schools in 20 Muslim countries, fearing the fury will spread from US targets. Pakistan bore the brunt of the anger yesterday, with huge crowds of demonstrators throwing stones and setting buildings ablaze to See Pages denounce the film. There were clashes in the country’s five largest cities leaving 17 dead and 219 others wounded, as protesters defied government calls for peaceful demonstrations on what was declared a national holiday in honour of Muhammad (PBUH). Two cinemas were also torched and ransacked in the northwestern city of Peshawar, on the edge of tribal belt strongholds of the Taleban and Al-Qaeda. In Karachi, a policeman who died after being shot when officers used tear gas to disperse a crowd near the US consulate was among 10 people killed in the country’s largest city. Five people were killed in Peshawar, including the driver for a TV channel which blamed police for his death. Police and paramilitary troops deployed en masse fired off volleys of tear gas to hold off protesters from breaching barricades that sealed access to Western embassies and consulates. In Islamabad gunshots were also fired outside the five-star Serena Hotel and police baton-charged some 8,000 protesters trying to penetrate the heavilyguarded diplomatic enclave. Protestors threw stones, shouting “Americans are dogs” and “Friends of America are traitors”, while setting fire to an effigy of a nameless American. The government had declared Friday a “day of love for the
Prophet (PBUH)”, but for hours shut down mobile telephone networks in an apparent bid to prevent extremists from exploiting the protests to carry out bomb attacks. “It is our collective responsibility to protest peacefully without causing harm or damage to life or property,” said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf as shops, markets and petrol stations shut en masse in an unprecedented closure. “If denying the Holocaust is a crime, then is it not fair and legitimate for a Muslim to demand that denigrating and demeaning Islam’s holiest personality is no less than a crime?” Ashraf said in a speech to religious scholars and international diplomats in Islamabad. While the protests turned ugly in Pakistan, in other Muslim countries there was no serious violence during demonstrations. In the Arab world, Sunnis and Shiites took to the streets of Lebanon, while there were also demonstrations in Basra in south Iraq and 12 & 13 in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Tunisia had banned all demonstrations amid fears of violence and Libya’s second city Benghazi braced for rival demonstrations by a jihadist militia and its opponents. In Yemen, where the US embassy was stormed last week, several hundred Shiite protesters chanted anti-American slogans, but riot police blocked the route to the embassy. Lebanon’s Hezbollah-run AlManar television showed thousands of people waving Lebanese and yellow Hezbollah flags as they marched past the Roman ruins of Baalbek and shouted slogans such as “Death to America, death to those who insult the Prophet (PBUH)”. There were also demonstrations across Asia in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Bangladesh, where about 10,000 took to the streets of Dhaka to condemn the film and the French cartoons. US interests bore the brunt of protests against the film. In the Sri Lanka capital of Colombo, about 2,000 Muslims burned effigies of Obama and US flags at a protest after Friday prayers, demanding that the US ban the film. Police clamped a daylong curfew in parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir’s main city, Srinagar, and chased away protesters opposing the anti-Islam film. Authorities in the region also temporarily blocked cellphone and Internet services to prevent viewing the film clips. — Agencies
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A Pakistani Muslim demonstrator brandishes a stick near burning police vehicles during a protest against an anti-Islam film in Karachi yesterday. (Inset) A Lebanese girl with writing on her face in Arabic that reads “Oh Muhammad” (PBUH) chants slogans during a demonstration in Lebanon’s eastern city of Baalbek. — AFP/AP
Makkah imam: Outlaw inciting religious hate MAKKAH: The imam of Makkah yesterday urged that laws be passed to prevent incitement of religious hatred as he reacted to an anti-Islam film and publication of cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “We call on the world... to enact a code of honour and binding law to prohibit and criminalise any violation of monotheistic religions and prophets,” Sheikh Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Taleb said in his weekly sermon at the Grand Mosque. “Let the politicians and policy makers know that the people express uncontrolled reactions when sacred symbols are humiliated,” he said, urging “the wise” in the West to “prevent those who ignite fires”. “We advocate dialogue, understanding and tolerance, but it will be in vain if we continue to perpetuate hatred... against Islam, the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims.” Sheikh Saleh also criticised violent protests by Muslims against the low-budget anti-Islam film pro-
duced in the United States, “Innocence of Muslims”, which have left dozens of people dead. “Muslims must show their kindness in their reactions; it is not kindness to kill innocent people and destroy property,” he said, advising them to “raise awareness of the Prophet (PBUH) using social networks” on the Internet. “Muslims must realise that they do not need fresh incidents to hinder the progress of Islam.” He also criticised the satirical French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing the obscene cartoons. “Since when did freedom of expression mean aggression without limits or restrictions?” he asked, adding: “Why is this freedom of expression not referred to when it comes to denying the Holocaust?” Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites of Islam, has condemned the anti-Islam film and also the resulting violence in several Muslim countries, including attacks against Americans and US institutions. — AFP
LOCAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Graffiti seen on walls in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh
Local suppliers create egg shortage at co-ops Egg may be added to ration items KUWAIT: The shelves at the local cooperative societies are beginning to look bare without eggs after local suppliers reduced supplies to push the government to give subsidies. This has gone on to create a shortage of eggs in the market. Suppliers justified that they are no longer able to absorb losses resulting from high prices of fodder worldwide which has cut into their profits. Egg suppliers have been demanding for a subsidy, especially after the cost of fodder increased. Sources at Ministry of Commerce said that they have been trying to negotiate with the suppliers in order to reach an agreement. Sources said that the ministry has reached some kind of understanding with them after discussing their suggestion to get a subsidy to ensure the supply is not affected. However, a subsidy is not the only solution suggested as the ministry is studying the possi-
bility of adding eggs to the ration card list for Kuwaitis to ensure that the
product is available to them under all circumstances. — Al-Rai
No impact by Saudi ban on vegetables KUWAIT: The Agriculture Authority said Saudi Arabia’s decision to ban exported potatoes, watermelons, sweet melons and pumpkin has no effect on the local market. Acting Authority Director Faisal Al-Siddiqi said that the above mentioned products whose export has been stopped from Saudi Arabia is not crucial and Kuwait can import it from other countries like Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and so on. He also said that the quantity imported from Saudi was not large and added that local production season has begun and will cover the basic needs of all kinds. Al-Siddiqi said that the authority will support three kinds of potatoes, pumpkins and onions. Barrak Al-Subaih Chairman of the Kuwaiti Union for Farmers expressed happiness at Saudi’s decision and said that Kuwaiti farmers were suffering because of the extra vegetables imported to Kuwait which affected the market for local produce. He said that now Kuwaiti farmers are able to cover the local demand for vegetables. — Al-Qabas
Fire breaks out in Salmiya apartment By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: An apartment in Salmiya caught fire prompting Salmiya and south Salmiya fire centers to respond. The fire was on the second floor of the apartment, so the residents were to be evacuated before the fire was put out without spreading. A man suffered from smoke inhalation and was taken to Mubarak hospital. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, a house in Fahad Al-Ahmad area was on fire with people trapped inside. Firemen encountered thick smoke in the two-storey building, so they aerated the smoke and the trapped persons were evacuated subsequently. The fire was contained in the bedroom, while four cases of smoke inhalation were dealt with and the affected were taken to Adan Hospital. Deputy Director General for Fighting and Human Development Brig Khalid Al-Mikhrad said it was necessary to have smoke detectors in houses because they help detect the smoke at the start. He said children should not be left alone without supervision.
KUWAIT: The view of Kuwait City from a parking lot. — Photo by Joseph Shagra
News
in brief
Ex-MP Al-Dousery surrenders KUWAIT: Security sources revealed that former MP Badi Al-Dousery has handed himself to police following a court verdict of imprisonment for three months in a case filed against him by former Immigration Department Lt General Kamal Al-Awadhi. The sources said that the court ordered earlier the imprisonment of Al-Dousery for three months and payment of an initial fine of KD 5,001 in favor of Lt General Kamal AlAwadhi. The minister of interior ordered detectives posted around the residence of the former MP to leave after he has surrendered before the police. Violations in sports projects? KUWAIT: Chairman and Director General of Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) Maj Gen (Rt) Faisal Al-Jazaf sent a number of violations he noticed in several projects contracts related to some sports facilities. The referral was based on a report from the manager and engineers of Facilities Departments at the Authority in order to carry out the necessary investigation to find out how true the violations are and who have committed the violations and whether they involve misuse of public funds. The files sent by AlJazaf includes the ones that related to the National Guard in order to investigate suspicions of forgery. He said there are more files that will be sent to the public prosecution. Shortage of legal typists KUWAIT: Sources warned that a shortage of typists to type out legal verdicts and rulings which occurred last year will happen again this year. The reason for the problem is the ministry’s refusal to increase the number of typists. As the new judiciary year is approaching, legal sources expect to have a hard time dealing with typing delays. Sources also claim that photocopying machines in Riqee courts are not working, and maintenance companies are refusing to repair them because contracts have expired. The third problem, according to them, is the refusal of the transport company which is responsible for taking the court’s mails to other official departments to perform their duties. Bosnia lauds Kuwait ties SARAJEVO: Vice Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija lauded, yesterday bilateral ties with Kuwait. After a meeting held with the Kuwaiti envoy to Sarajevo Mohammad Fadhel, the Bosnian official pointed out that success of these strong ties could be clearly seen in the increasing cooperation in many domains between the two countries in the past few years.
LOCAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Kuwait praises Algeria’s efforts on human rights GENEVA: Kuwait praised here yesterday the efforts made by Algeria in the field of advancement of human rights as well as its acceptance of a large proportion of the recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review of its case at the Human Rights Council. First secretary in Kuwait’s permanent mission to the UN Abdullah Jassim Al-Jeraiwi expressed, in his speech before the Human Rights Council during the discussion of the universal periodic review of Algeria file, Kuwait’s gratitude for accepting its recommendation to continue efforts to GENEVA: First promote and protect the rights of women and chilSecretary in Kuwait’s permanent dren. The Kuwaiti diplomat also asserted Algeria’s mission to the UN Abdullah Jassim Al- keenness on the remarkable progress in the field of Jeraiwi addresses the session. —KUNA human rights through its cooperation with the relevant UN system to achieve what is required to meet the needs of the future, praising at the same time the reforms that have been achieved. He pointed out that those achievements stemmed from its firm will to expand democratic space and to open up broad and real prospects for the civil society. — KUNA
PM leaves London to NY to attend UN session LONDON: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah and his accompanying delegation, has left the UK capital of London and is heading to New York to participate in the
67th UN General Assembly. His Highness the Prime Minister was seen off at Luton Airport by Minister of Information Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti envoy at
GCC parliamentary delegation ends fruitful visit to Brussels BRUSSELS: The first-ever visit of a joint parliamentary delegation from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to the European Parliament accomplished its main goal, Kuwaiti MP Ali Saleh Al-Omair told Kuwait news agency (KUNA). “The visit was without doubt fruitful and it achieved its main goal which was to strengthen the partnership between the GCC and the European Parliament, “ he said after the end of the three-day visit of the GCC parliamentarians to Brussels on Thursday. “We in the GCC are blessed with one religion and one language and common goals,” he said, adding that “we have delayed a lot from moving from a Council to a Union.” He described the meeting of the GCC delegation with the Speaker of the Belgian parliament Andre Flahaut and with the chairperson of the Belgian senate Sabine de Bethun on Thursday as very fruitful. They discussed a number of issues, most importantly strengthening of the partnership between the GCC and the European Union and also the active role of Belgian parliament in this regard. The GCC parliamentarians explained to their Belgian counterparts the composition and the functioning of the parliaments and legislative councils in the GCC countries. —KUNA
the UK Khalid Abdullaziz Al-Duwaisan and Embassy staff. Before his trip to London, the Prime Minister was in Paris to attend the inauguration of the Islamic heritage wing at the renowned Louvre Museum. — KUNA
Student groups fight in university campus KUWAIT: College of Allied Medicine at Kuwait University witnessed a fight between members of Al-Manar Al-Tibbi group and a member of the Democratic Centrist (DC) group recently. The conflict was between two of Al-Manar’s members with Ahmad Al-Sarraf, the Chairman of the Information Committee of DC. Al-Sarraf sustained several injuries and filed a complaint at the local police station. He also informed the security and safety department at the college to take necessary action. Meanwhile, the Democratic Centrist group issued a statement condemning what took place on campus by two influential members of Al-Manar group. The statement said the action is completely contrary to the principles of their group. The statement said this showed an intellectual void and
disrespect of the university campus by some members of Al-Manar. The statement read “We, members of the DC, hope that representatives of Al-Manar do not resort to such barbaric action and respect fellowship and university campus while implementing Islamic teachings, both in word and deed”. On the other hand, Al-Manar issued a statement in which it condemned the fight that took place at the Allied Medicine College, and called for re-conciliation. The statement said “Al-Manar condemns the action that took place on Wednesday, a fight between two students over personal differences. Both groups have nothing to do with. This is not acceptable inside or outside the college.” — Al-Jarida
local
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
3-member gang loots Fintas grocery store Police solve Salwa school theft case KUWAIT: Three unknown people stormed into a grocery store in Fintas, stabbed the clerk in his neck and stole money before escaping. The trio were masked and wore the national costume. A police source said detectives found an injured Asian with cuts on his head and neck and rushed him to the hospital. The second clerk told police that he was surprised by the three storming the store and asked his Asian colleague to give them the money but he refused, so they stabbed him and stole the money before fleeing. Detectives are investigating. Shooting in Waha Police in Jahra are investigating a shooting in Waha after arresting the suspect and sending him to concerned authorities. The suspect fired his gun at a person with whom he had issues. Death in Saad Al-Abdallah Police are investigating the case of a dead citizen who was found in his Saad Al-Abdallah area. A security source said authorities received a call from a citizen who claimed that he found his brother dead in his room at home in Saad AlAbdallah. Detectives are investigating.
Arab thief caught Hawally detectives arrested an Arab for the theft of KD 42,000 from a Salwa school. He was sent to concerned authorities. Meanwhile, four bedoons were arrested in Jabriya for thefts of commercial stores. Suspicious material found Police in Mubarak Al-Kabeer received a call about large quantities of ammunition and rockets found in wooden boxes near a house in Adan area. When policemen arrived, they found out that the boxes contained construction material but some material raised questions especially a giant aircraft engine which was discovered there. Investigations are underway. Fights A 22-year-old Arab sustained several injuries during a fight with an expat who escaped as soon as he saw him fall to the ground bleeding. Police rushed to the complex where the fight took place and took the injured to a nearby hospital. Search is on for the attacker. Meanwhile, a fight broke out between two bedoon neighbors in
Sulaibiya and when a Saudi man tried to intervene, he was punched in the face and lost two teeth. Policemen arrested the two bedoons, while the Saudi was taken to a hospital for treatment. Reckless driver held A British expat was arrested after police noticed his erratic driving. When they stopped him and searched him, two hashish bars were found and he was arrested. Asian helper case A Kuwaiti family was shocked when they discovered that their Asian domestic helper was trying to harm their children by mixing hard plastic with their food. When the woman was questioned, she faked a seizure to avoid being arrested. When paramedics took her to the hospital, they found out that she was acting and the family chose to press charges against her. Smuggling bid foiled Airport customs officers foiled the attempt of an Ethiopian domestic helper to smuggle 36 kg of “Qat” in one of her luggage pieces. —Al-Qabas, Al-Watan
Land reclamation plan serious, says Al-Saleh KUWAIT: Commerce and Industry Minister Anas Al-Saleh said the Commerce and Public Authority of Industry is serious about reclaiming industrial land plots that are used by investors, adding that a new batch of lands being reclaimed will be offered to serious investors. Al-Saleh said that legal action will be initiated against the holders of more than 70 land lots pending final reports. The owners were warned over 10 years ago and asked them to regularize their possession and launch new projects before the plots were reclaimed. However, none responded to the warnings, he said. Al-Saleh said that the Authority’s activities related to the reclamation are in total transparency and all cases were treated without any bias or prejudice. When the withdrawal decisions were taken, the number of licenses were issued without knowing who the owners were, he added. He said the Authority is working on a new mechanism to redistribute the lots to serious investors to ensure good and true returns to the country. About steering youth towards private business and encouraging them to establish projects, Al-Saleh said that the Authority discussed the allocation of one bloc for industrial projects in favor of the youth.
Security campaign launched in Ahmadi KUWAIT: Ahmadi security directorate launched a comprehensive security campaign that resulted in detaining 43 vehicles, filing 177 traffic citations for reckless driving, seizing four wanted vehicles and 38 wanted people, arresting 203 illegal residents, arresting an individual with two bars of hashish and a bottle of liquor and arresting an Asian with 37 liquor bottles.
Gang stealing drugs from hospitals held Citizen in police uniform arrested KUWAIT: Hawally detectives recently arrested four expatriates (three Bangladeshis and an Egyptian pharmacist) for stealing valuable medicines from government hospitals and selling them to a private pharmacy. Case papers indicate that detectives received many reports about stealing medications from pharmacies at Ibn Sina and Mubarak hospitals. Investigations led to a Bangladeshi porter working in Ibn Sina, along with his compatriot who works in Mubarak hospital, who had both been stealing KD 30-70 worth medicines and selling them to a third person for just KD 3-5 who, in turn, resells the medicine to an Egyptian pharmacist working in a private pharmacy. The pharmacist was arrested while purchasing the stolen medicines from an undercover agent and later led police to his accomplices. A case was filed. Fake policeman A citizen was arrested in Mubarakiya for impersonating a police officer and loitering as he gazed at passing women, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a traffic policeman became suspicious about the suspect, who was dressed in a police uniform, as the suspect watched women and asked him which police department he worked in. Noticing that he stumbled in answering, the policeman informed a police captain who arrested the man. The suspect later said he was haunted by an evil spirit who ordered him to dress as a policeman. Further investigations are in progress. Juvenile violence A juvenile was arrested in Jahra for smashing the rear window of a police patrol car, said secu-
rity sources, noting that the patrol had been dispatched to the scene upon a report from a citizen reporting that the youth also broke the window of the citizen’s car. Friend turns thief An Egyptian reported that a fellow-Egyptian stole KD 2010 from him and threatened him with a knife, said security sources. According to the victim, the suspect followed him as he returned home from work, placed a knife to his neck and stole two-year’s savings. A case was filed. Infiltration bid In a strange event, a drunk Iraqi tried to forcefully cross into Kuwait through the northern border exit of Abdali, said security sources. Case papers indicate that border exit security and custom officers saw the man pushing through barriers and, upon stopping him, saw that he was drunk and proceeded to yell slanderous words before he was arrested and referred to relevant authorities. Maid steals $6,000 A citizen reported that her Fillipina maid stole $6,000 from her house and fled with someone in a Japanese car, said security sources. The citizen explained that she saw the maid as she stole the money and upon screaming for help, the maid ran away with someone who had been waiting outside in a car. The citizen said she did not write down the auto’s license plate number. Banker held An Arab banker was arrested for embezzling KD 20,000 from various client accounts at the
bank he worked in, said security sources. Case papers indicate that a citizen reported KD 1000 was missing from his bank account. Investigations led to the banker who confessed he took money from clients who had large accounts, hoping they would not notice the missing sums. The suspect further told police he usually transferred the stolen money to accounts belonging to his relatives, later collecting that money for himself. The man confessed to embezzling about KD 20,000. A case was filed and the suspect was referred to relevant authorities. Subahiya gunshots Security forces were alerted after receiving multiple reports of hearing continuous gunfire that lasted over 30 minutes in Subahiya, said security sources, noting that on rushing to the scene, the firing stopped and no trace of the shooters could be found. However, eyewitnesses said the shooting came from the roof of a house overlooking a wedding hall. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. Drunk Asian A drunk Asian was arrested while in possession of a homemade bottle of liquor, said security sources. Case papers indicate that the man, who was involved in a traffic accident, behaved awkwardly as police investigated the collision. On noticing that he was drunk, policemen searched his car and found the liquor. A case was filed. Credit card stolen A citizen reported that her purse, with two credit cards in it, was stolen. The thief reportedly used one of the cards to make KD 4000 in purchases, and withdrew KD 500 in cash, before the
victim contacted her banks to deactivate the credit cards. A case was filed. Wife abused A citizen filed a complaint against her husband, accusing him of repeatedly beating and insulting her, said security sources, noting that the woman accompanied her complaint with a medical report of her recent injuries. The husband was summoned for further investigations. Ex-wife in dock Another citizen filed a complaint against his ex-wife and the custodian of their child, accusing her of negligence when he learned that the child had been injured. The citizen reported that his son fled the ex-wife’s home after being beaten for coming home late, said security sources. Girl missing A Pakistani reported that his 14-year-old daughter was missing. The man said that on going to pick her up from school, the girl had gone missing. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. Car stolen The owner of a car rental in Jabriya reported that a citizen had rented a sports car from him and later vanished. He also said all attempts to locate him were unsuccessful. A case was filed and further investigations are in progress. Car wheels stolen A female Kuwaiti pharmacist reported that on going out of her house in Bayan, she found the rear wheels of her vehicle had been stolen. A case was filed.
LOCAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Kuwait wage policy spotlighted in Jordan AMMAN: A senior delegation from Kuwait’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF) has highlighted Kuwait’s wage policy in a regional conference organized by the International Labor Organization in the Jordanian capital of Amman. In a paper presented by the KTUF to the conference concluded here late on Thursday, Amani Al-Belushi underlined that Kuwait has a minimum and maximum limits for wages of workers and employees both in the public and private sector. Al-Belushi noted that the wages are based on the cost of living in the country. “The minimum and maximum levels are determined through coordination between government, employers and workers,” she pointed out, noting that trade unions are representing workers in the talks. She added that Kuwait is a signatory to the international convention of worker rights. Abdulrahim Sabra, a member of KCCI, said that wages should be linked to the factors impacting economic growth in the country. He deplored that there are no laws in Kuwait mandating private sector employers to abide by the minimum and maximum level of wages. Sabra stressed that wage rise goes in parallel with the growth rates of prices and costs of living. — KUNA
Kuwait urges IAEA to watch Israeli N-sites Monitor all nuclear activities in region: Al-Salal V I E N N A : Kuwait here Wednesday called upon the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to exert more efforts to monitor all nuclear facilities to assure that programs are designed for peaceful purposes. Additionally, during his address the head of the Kuwaiti delegation, ambassador Mohammad Al-Salal, called for all nuclear activities in the Middle East to operate according to IAEA safeguards. Al-Salal also said he regretted that while nearly all Middle East countries have signed the nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards agreement, Israel is still reluctant to sign the NPT. By possessing nuclear reactors, Israel poses a threat to the entire region, thus blocking efforts to create a nuclearfree Middle East, he said. In this context, he cautioned against Israeli recalcitrance that negatively effects regional
Dietitian Zain Al-Abedeen Qasem and Sarah Dimashkieh at the event
security and stability. But he welcomed a call for holding an international conference late this year on establishing a nuclear-free Middle East. Al-Salal said his country considers the IAEA safeguards system an effective tool for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide. On Iran’s nuclear program, the Kuwaiti ambassador said his country supports the right of all countries to have nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes, but he urged Tehran to boost its cooperation with the IAEA and to respond to questions regarding its nuclear program. He also reiterated Kuwait’s support to establish a nuclear fuel bank under IAEA oversight, saying his country donated $10 million for the fuel bank last year. However, he stressed the necessity of providing safeguards and fulfilling security and safety requirements in order to head off nuclear incidents. — KUNA
The Diet Care team
Kuwait’s first summer nutria-jeopardy night by Diet Care KUWAIT: Diet Care customers, friends and families recently took part in Kuwait’s first summer nutria-jeopardy at Corniche Club in Shaab. Eager participants accepted the challenge to test their summer nutrition knowledge. Diet Care officials then explained to audience members about the essentials of summer nutrition, which
Diet Care customers at the event.
is especially relevant during the summer in Kuwait. Some of the tips included: Tanning- Remain in the sun only 2 hours or less and eat food such as papayas and mangoes to darken your tan. Snacking - Calcium is lost when you sweat during summer so have cold snacks that are high in calcium, including low-fat fruit yoghurt.
Barbequing - Eat barbeque salmon, which is lower in fat than red meat. Diet Care hosts monthly nutritional events for their customers and tackles a wide range of important topics and issues related to health and nutrition to better equip people in making healthy lifestyle choices. Diet Care is also a leading provider of nutritional meals to hospitals in Kuwait. It is the only nutrition center in Kuwait with the expertise and track-record of catering to the country’s healthcare industry, while maintaining quality and nutritional control at all stages of the process. Diet Care is the only nutrition center that operates a microbiology lab to oversee product quality and is the exclusive caterer to Taiba Hospital, Al-Salam Hospital, and Al-Mowasat Hospital, three of the largest private hospitals in the country. Whether by caring for customers looking to lose weight or caring for inpatients on a strict medically prescribed diet, Diet Care is proud to care for thousands of people every day by providing them with the guidance, support, and tools to achieve their objectives.
Participants bringing home their take-away summer gift.
LOCAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Outgoing Japanese ambassador visits Kid World Nursery KUWAIT: On concluding his tenure to Kuwait, the Japanese ambassador to Kuwait, Yasuyoshi Komizo, recently visited the Kid World Nursery and kindergarten at the beginning of the new school year to thank teachers, offi-
cials and children for their sincere condolences to the Japanese people following the deadly tsunami, as well as for their contributions to reconstruction efforts. During his visit, Ambassador Komizo toured the kinder-
garten and participated in some activities with students. He also exchanged trophies with the nursery’s director, Narjes Al-Shatti.
KUWAIT: Japanese ambassador Komizo (centre) with his spouse (right) are seen with Narjes Al-Shatti, Nursery’s director, during their visit to Kid World Nursery. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Assad insists rebels will be defeated, slams Gulf
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3 ex-generals jailed for 20 yrs in Turkey
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India govt regains its muscle with reforms
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TEHRAN: Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards march during an annual military parade which marks Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq in the capital under the gaze of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. —AFP
Iran parades military, warns Israel New air defense system displayed ● Ahmadinejad slams West TEHRAN: Iran warned Israel and the United States against any aggression, as it proudly paraded its troops and military hardware yesterday under the gaze of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and top brass. The Tehran parade, involving thousands of military personnel, dozens of tanks and missiles borne on trucks, marked the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. Ahmadinejad, in a speech broadcast on state television, said that Iran was using “the same spirit and belief in itself” shown in that war to “stand and defend its rights” today against pressure from world powers. Also displayed was a new, all-Iranian-made air defense system designed to confront American warplanes in case of a US attack on the country. Top Iranian generals said the show of military might should be digested by Israel, which in recent weeks has ramped up threats that it could hit Iranian nuclear facilities. “We do not feel threatened by the nonsense
uttered by that regime’s leaders,” the chief of Iran’s armed forces, General Hassan Firouzabadi, told the Fars news agency, adding that Iran’s response to any attack would be “immediate and unstoppable”. General Ataollah Selehi, the commander of Iran’s army, told the ISNA news agency that “us holding a military parade is for deterrence and not a threat”. He and other military leaders renewed their pledge that Israel would be annihilated if attacked. The head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division in charge of missile defence, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hahjizadeh, repeated Iran’s promise to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the Islamic republic were attacked or Western sanctions halted its crude exports. “If one day the Strait of Hormuz has no benefit for us, then we will deprive others from benefiting from it,” he said. However he added that “under current conditions, there is no problem.” Hahjizadeh also dis-
missed navy war games currently being held by the United States and 30 other nations in the Gulf as “no threat to us”. Hahjizadeh warned the new air defence system was ready in case of an attack on Iran. “This system is built with the aim to confront American warplanes,” Hahjizadeh said, adding that Raad carries missiles with a range of 50 km, capable of hitting targets at 22,000 m. He also warned Israel, saying a war against Iran will lead to the destruction of the Jewish state. “The Zionist regime is capable of starting the war” he said. “But the final moment (of the war) will be in our hands. In that case, there will be no Zionist regime anymore.” Also on display at the parade were Iranian missiles Sajjil-2 and Ghadr F-1, both with a range of about 2,000 km and capable of reaching Israel, US bases in the region and parts of southern Europe. Iran is locked in a showdown with the UN Security Council over its contro-
versial nuclear program. Iran and the UN Security Council are locked in a showdown over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. The West, led by the United States, has tightened the vice on Iran by implementing crippling economic sanctions, while Israel - the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear weapons state - has underlined its threats of possible air strikes on Iranian atomic facilities, with or without US help. In his speech, Ahmadinejad also touched on an anti-Islam film made in America by an extremist Christian group that has fuelled violent protests in parts of the Muslim world. He said US government claims it could do nothing to censor the film was a “deception” exploiting the pretext of freedom of expression. He called the film an Israeli-hatched plot “to divide (Muslims) and spark sectarian conflict.” Ahmadinejad implicitly referred to his often expressed opinion that the Holocaust never happened to lambast
the West for perceived selective censorship. “They stand against a question about a historical incident... they threaten and put pressure on nations for posing the question while at the same time in regards to the obscenest insults to the human sanctities and prophets... they shout adherence to freedom (of expression),” he said. Ahmadinejad’s stance challenging the facts surrounding the killing of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II is shared by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the country’s commander-in-chief. Early this week, Khamenei told naval cadets: “In some Western countries, no one dares to question the unknown incident of the Holocaust or for that matter some of the morally obscene policies like homosexuality... but insulting Islam and its sanctities under the pretext of freedom of expression is allowed.” —AFP
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Women on frontline in West Bank village protest NABI SALEH: Every Friday Nariman Tamimi and her 11-year-old daughter Ahed gear up for a confrontation with Israeli troops as their village protests over the seizure of lands by settlers. Earlier this month, this 35-year-old mother of four was arrested by the soldiers and held for hours as villagers from the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh held their weekly demonstration, a tradition since the end of 2009. The villagers are protesting over the seizure in 2001 of around 240 acres of their land by residents of the nearby Jewish settlement of Halamish. But with almost all demonstrations in the West Bank defined as “illegal” under Israeli military law, the protesters are routinely stopped by Israeli soldiers. It was the fourth time in three years that Tamimi had been arrested. “I am one of the villagers here, I feel I am playing an important part resisting the occupation,” she said, adjusting the traditional keffiyeh headscarf on her daughter’s head. “Women should always be next to men doing this.” The weekly protests at Nabi Saleh
which lies some 10 km north of Ramallah, stand out from other demonstrations across the West Bank for the large number of women who take part. Whether it is blocking roads, waving flags, chanting slogans or even throwing stones and using catapults, the women in Nabi Saleh play a similar role to their male counterparts, to the point that even sometimes they get into physical fights with the soldiers. In a traditional society dominated by conservative mores, it is an unusual sight. But these women don’t face any criticism from their menfolk, says Tamimi who has the full support of her husband Bassem, a local activist whose role in the Nabi Saleh protests has earned him time in an Israeli jail - and recognition by the European Union as a human rights defender. Her children, she says, “do not need any encouragement to take part in those protests, they see the settlement on our lands every day and they also see the oppression of the Israeli army.” A recent YouTube video showed their young daughter Aher trading blows with a
group of soldiers who were trying to arrest her mother. “No-one is against the women’s participation - they come here every Friday,” her husband told AFP. “From the day we started protesting, 110 male protesters have been arrested and held for different periods of time,” he says, a figure which equates to more than a fifth of the village’s 500 or so residents. “It has increased the role of women and children in those protests.” In a yard near the village mosque, 39-year-old Bushra Tamimi sits smoking a cigarette while waiting for the Friday prayers to end. “A lot of women attend the protest because we are a small village and we are almost all from the same family,” she says. “I have five kids and the Friday protests have become an important duty for me. I have to be here every Friday to prepare flags and banners.” Along with the village women, there are also a handful of international activists and even some Israeli women who come to join the protests, which the villagers say has also increased local
female participation. Sitting next to Bushra is Atheer Bashir, 18, and Nur Naji, 16, who are also waiting for the prayers to end so they can head off to the protest. “I wake up early every Friday and call my friends to prepare for a day of confrontation with the occupation,” says Bashir. Rawan Jalal, 19, remembers how eight girls once hurled stones at four Israeli army vehicles which had blocked off access to the village. “In Nabi Saleh, women play a similar role in facing the occupation if not a bigger role,” she told AFP. Villager Daif Allah Tamimi says there is nothing unusual about the large number of women joining in the Nabi Saleh demonstrations. “People in the village are fighting for their land. The land is important to both men and women,” he shrugs. The presence of other women activists from outside has “encouraged village women to participate more, which helped break the social and cultural taboos that might prevent women from attending such demos,” he said. —AFP
Assad insists rebels will be defeated, slams Gulf Syria army, rebels clash near Aleppo bases BEIRUT: The Syrian president said in remarks published yesterday that he is adamant his regime will not fall and he also lashed out at Gulf countries, which he accused of using their enormous oil wealth to try to drive him from power. Meanwhile, Syrian troops backed by helicopter gunships clashed with rebels near a barracks in
And a tolerated opposition group said two members - Abdel Aziz Khayer and Iyas Ayash - had gone missing along with the man who had collected them from Damascus airport after they returned from a trip to China to discuss an end to the violence. The National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change groups Arab nationalists, Kurds and
ALEPPO: The body of a 7-year-old boy killed by a Syrian Army sniper arrives at Dar Al Shifa hospital on Thursday. —AP Aleppo yesterday as battles broke out around a military airport elsewhere in the northern province, monitors said. In Damascus, state news agency SANA said the army unearthed the bodies of 25 people shot execution-style in the Qadam district and blamed “armed terrorist groups”, the regime’s term for rebels. In other developments, a masked gunman on a motorbike killed prominent Kurdish activist Mahmoud Wali on Thursday in northeastern Syria, fellow activists said.
socialists. Syria’s crisis began in March last year with anti-government demonstrations inspired by the Arab Spring and demanding reforms. The protests were met with a brutal crackdown by the regime. Syria later became embroiled in a civil war between forces fighting for Assad and those trying to topple him. Activists now say that nearly 30,000 people have been killed since the crisis began, the vast majority of them civilians. After Assad’s remarks were published,
Syrian Information Minister Omran Al-Zoebi told state-run TV on Friday that the president had received nine Egyptian journalists and had a chat with them about the latest developments in the country. The minister said none of the journalists took notes as the meeting was considered a “personal visit”, but a reporter for the weekly Al-Ahram AlArabi published some of what was said. The weekly quoted Assad as saying that the rebels “will not succeed” and that a foreign military intervention such as the one that helped topple Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will “not be repeated” in Syria. In his remarks, Assad also launched one of his harshest attacks on Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which have been among his strongest critics and backers of the opposition, saying they are trying to influence the region with their money. “They think their money can buy geography, history and a regional role,” Assad said, according to the Egyptian weekly. “They are giving terrorists weapons and money with hope of repeating the Libyan model,” Assad added. “Instead of helping regional stability, they are supplying armed elements with weapons and training in order to weaken the Syrian state.” The upheaval in Syria presents an opportunity for the Gulf’s Sunni rulers to bolster their influence and possibly leave Shiite powerhouse Iran without its critical alliances that flow through Damascus. Assad’s regime, which is allied strongly with Iran, is led by the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Syria’s ties with the Gulf nations have been strained in the past - Assad once called Saudi King Abdullah and other Arab leaders “half men” for being critical of Hezbollah over the 34-day war between the Lebanese Shiite militant group and Israel in 2006. In the briefing, Assad added that the only way to solve the Syrian crisis is through “dialogue with the opposition” and that the “door for dialogue is open”. —Agencies
BEERSHEVA: An injured Israeli soldier is wheeled into Soroka hospital in this southern town yesterday following an exchange of fire with militants along Israel’s southern border with Egypt. —AP
Israeli soldier, 3 gunmen killed near Egypt border JERUSALEM: Three armed militants slipped into Israel from Egypt’s Sinai peninsula yesterday, killing an Israeli soldier and wounding another before being shot dead, the army said. It was at least the fourth cross-border attack in just over a year - violence that has persisted despite an Egyptian army and police crackdown on Sinai militants begun last month. The latest incident underscored deep Israeli concern about faltering security in Sinai since the fall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in a democratic uprising in 2011. Israel is now building a fence along the desert border to improve security. “A big terror attack was thwarted,” Israeli army spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Avital Leibovich said of yesterday’s violence. “Three terrorists infiltrated from Sinai into Israel and opened fire towards IDF soldiers guarding the border. The terrorists were well armed and carried explosive belts upon their bodies,” she added. General Tal Russo, commander of Israeli troops in the region, said the gunmen ambushed soldiers who had just intercepted some African migrants trying to cross into Israel and were providing water to the group. “In the first round of fire, one of our fighters was killed,” Russo told reporters near the scene. Another soldier was wounded by shrapnel when a gunman blew up due to an explosives vest he was wearing, the general said. Russo said he had no information on the affiliation of the gunmen but promised an Israeli response for the attack once their identities were discovered. Previous attacks were blamed on Palestinian militants from Gaza and supporters believed to have established bases in the sparsely inhabited Sinai. An Egyptian security source said one of the gunmen died when a bomb he was carrying detonated and the other two were killed in a gun battle with Israeli forces. He added that the nationalities of the gunmen were not immediately known. —Reuters
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
3 ex-generals jailed for 20 yrs in Turkey Landmark verdict first from a series of coup trials
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (left) takes the oath of office yesterday, vowing to maintain the legacy of long-time ruler Meles Zenawi. —AFP
Ethiopia’s new PM takes power ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn took the oath of office yesterday, vowing to maintain the legacy of long-time ruler Meles Zenawi who died last month. “I, Hailemariam Desalegn, in front of the parliament, accept to be the prime minister of Ethiopia,” he said, as lawmakers banged on their desks in support. Hailemariam, 47, was elected last week as the chairman of the ruling coalition Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which holds an overwhelming majority in parliament. “With the decision of the EPRDF and the parliament, I am very happy to take the responsibility of being prime minister,” he said, speaking after taking the oath with his hand on the bible. A close ally of Meles as deputy prime minister and foreign minister since 2010, Hailemariam pledged to continue in the footsteps of Meles who ruled the country for over two decades. “We brought peace, democracy and development to the country,” he said. “Meles considered himself as a son of the people,” he added, promising to continue “Meles’s legacy without any change.” Some analysts have argued that Hailemariam will be handicapped by his relatively young age, limited experience in national politics and the fact he was not part of the still powerful core of ex-rebels who seized power in 1991. Facing tough challenges in the wider volatile Horn of Africa region - with Ethiopian troops battling Islamist insurgents in Somalia as well as frosty relations with arch-foe Eritrea - Hailemariam also promised to ensure the “security of our country”. Education minister Demeke Mekonnen, chosen last week as deputy chair of the EPRDF, was elected deputy prime minister taking over the post from Hailemariam. “I will serve the country and faithfully serve the prime minister,” Demeke said as he took the oath. He vouched his support for Hailemariam, praising his “leadership with the late prime minister” and his “significant role in the EPRDF regarding democracy and the development of the country.” — AFP
Seven killed in I Coast attacks ABIDJAN: At least three people were killed after armed men attacked three police stations late Thursday in the south of Abidjan, the defence minister said, while a clash near the Ghana border left four dead. Ivory Coast Defence Minister Paul Koffi Koffi travelled yesterday to the scene of the Abidjan attacks, which took place in the Port-Bouet district, and said that the three dead included a soldier, a civilian and an attacker. “These were bandits who acted yesterday. All the weapons they took have been recovered. A passerby was killed by stray bullets, a passing soldier also lost his life and one of the attackers was killed,” he told the press. He added that another attack occurred late Thursday in the town of Noe along the Ghana border, but did not provide other details, except to say he saw no link between the incidents. “Four attackers who came from Ghana were killed and five people were arrested in the fighting” between the armed men and security forces, a security source told AFP later, adding that the situation was under control. “Shots were first fired in Noe at around 3 in the morning. The residents are frightened, the border with Ghana has been closed,” the source also said. An earlier raid had been repulsed late Wednesday by security forces, the source said. — AFP
SILIVRI, Turkey: A Turkish court yesterday handed down 20-year prison terms to three former generals accused of plotting to overthrow the government in 2003. The three chief suspects in the trial, including alleged mastermind Cetin Dogan, former commander of the First Army, were initially given life sentences, which were reduced on the grounds that the alleged plot failed. They have the right to appeal the landmark verdict, the first from a series of trials over alleged plots by the once-dominant Turkish army, which has been responsible for four coups in half a century. Dubbed the “Sledgehammer” trial after a 2003 military exercise, it was the first such case tried in a civilian court. The two-year-long trial of 365 defendants including retired and active army officers wrapped up at the court in Silivri, near Istanbul, yesterday with the final testimonies of the last suspects accused of plotting against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). A total of 250 have been in custody since their arrest. Only 34 defendants were acquitted. The Sledgehammer trial, which began in Dec 2010, was unprecedented in its offensive against the military, seen as the guardians of Muslim-majority Turkey’s secular political system founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Pro-government circles have praised the trial as a step toward democracy, while critics have branded it a witch-hunt to silence opposition. The Turkish army overthrew three governments in 1960, 1971 and 1980. In 1997, it pressured an Islamicleaning prime minister, Necmettin Erbakan, into stepping down. Erbakan was the political mentor of current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The families of the suspects, who were present in the courtroom, chanted
republican songs and shouted “Turkey is proud of you” in a show of solidarity, and the suspects saluted the crowd in return. Some of the defence lawyers also joined the protest. Dogan testified on Thursday: “Here we see a process unfolding to make the soldiers of
unlawful”, claiming it had been launched by people with “a mentality considering all those who do not belong to their brotherhood as enemies”. His remarks were seen as an implicit reference to the AKP government and the influence on the judiciary of Islamic cler-
ANKARA: Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) receives Al Quds University’s honorary doctorate from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday. — AP Mustafa Kemal, who give their lives for their country, pay the price of their commitment to the republic and its principles,” according to the written transcript of his defence. He branded the trial “unfair and
ic Fethullah Gulen’s religious movement. Hundreds of suspects, including army officers, journalists and lawmakers, are being tried separately over their alleged roles in plots to topple the Islamic-rooted government. — AFP
‘No doubt’ Nazi war criminal Heim dead BERLIN: German judicial authorities yesterday officially said for the first time that Nazi war criminal Aribert Heim, known as “Doctor Death”, had died in Egypt in 1992 as reported. A regional court in the southwestern town of Baden-Baden said it was abandoning an investigation because there was “no doubt” the body found in Cairo was that of Heim, who had changed his identity and converted to Islam. “The criminal case against Dr Aribert Heim on Aribert Heim suspicion of multiple murders has been abandoned because of the death of the accused,” the court said in a written statement. Heim, one of the world’s most wanted war criminals, became known as “Doctor Death” and the “Butcher of Mauthausen” after performing medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners. Besides Mauthausen in Austria, he also served at the Sachsenhausen and Buchenwald camps in Germany. In Feb 2009, German public television channel ZDF and the New York Times said that Heim, a former member of the Nazi SS, had died of bowel cancer in 1992 at the age of 78, citing his son and acquaintances in Cairo. But his death was never confirmed and a report by
Der Spiegel news weekly several months later said investigators believed the ZDF and NYT report did not provide “any proof of his death” and they were continuing to examine “every lead” on the Austrian-born Nazi. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem also said it did not believe the story. The Baden-Baden court however said yesterday that it no longer doubted that Heim was in fact a man named Tarek Hussein Farid who died of cancer in Aug 1992 in Cairo. The court said it had reached the conclusion after, among other things, the defence for the accused had presented it with documents, including a certificate showing his conversion to Islam. Together with information provided by his son, there remained “no doubt that the accused is identical to the person Tarek Hussein Farid and died in 1992 after suffering from cancer”, it said. German authorities charged him in 1979 with having “cruelly killed prisoners through injections or unnecessary operations” at the Mauthausen camp in 1941, the court said in its statement. The court had announced in August that it aimed to establish in the coming months whether Heim was dead after receiving the initial results of the analysis of original documents from Egypt. In 1945 at the end of World War II Heim was arrested by the US military but he was let go after two and a half years, and he went on to work as a gynaecologist in Baden-Baden. — AFP
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Trash-to-energy plan worries Delhi ragpickers NEW DELHI: Leaning on a battered set of scales while flies swarmed his piles of trash, Akbar said he wasn’t demanding much: “All I want is continued access to waste.” Akbar is one of an estimated quarter-million people in New Delhi who make their living in the informal world of garbage. While ragpickers go door-to-door collecting and sorting waste, Akbar, a 29-year-old who uses only one name, is a middleman who buys the most valuable trash and resells it to recyclers. Those whose survival depends on this gray market fear their lives are about to be upended. Where they see money in those mountains of garbage, the New Delhi government sees electricity. Desperate for cheap energy, the Delhi government is experimenting with power plants fueled by garbage. One plant is running on a trial basis and two more are under construction. If those plants go online, they would generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes by burning much of the 8,000 tons of garbage the Indian capital generates each day. That garbage would be hauled from homes and offices by private companies, instead of the networks of ragpickers who came to the city seeking opportunity and found it wheeling pushcarts of garbage through the streets. Some who recycle 100 kg daily can earn as much as $6 a day, but most earn about $4.
Akbar is more of a mogul, with nine collectors who come to him to sell their sifted waste. “Where others see filth, I see opportunity,” he said, proudly surveying the mountains of garbage and swatting flies hovering near his mouth. City offi-
is neither clean nor renewable energy. But for waste pickers, “The single most important thing ... is access to garbage,” said Federico Demaria, a researcher working with the All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh, a group
NEW DELHI: Indian ragpickers go about their routine of searching through garbage at a dumping ground on the outskirts of New Delhi in this Sept 13, 2012 photo. —AP cials declined repeated requests for comment, but have said that the issue of garbage collection was complex and was being studied. Environmentalists have joined the ragpickers in opposing the trash-to-energy plan, saying incineration
that represents the ragpickers. “If the (waste-to-energy) plants start burning it, the government is condemning hundreds of thousands of people to unimaginable poverty.” Their lives are already difficult. A ragpicker named
Romney takes the long view after tough week Battered GOP hopeful hopes to bounce back SARASOTA, Florida: After perhaps the worst week of his White House campaign, Mitt Romney’s team is taking the long view, insisting the Republican candidate will be able to bounce back by Nov 6. As polls showed President Barack Obama ahead in key battleground states and panicked conservatives rained criticism on Romney, the candidate held at least five fundraisers over as many days beginning last Friday without a single public event. Just seven weeks away from election day, it was an extraordinary gap, and veteran campaign reporters said they could not remember the last time a presidential can-
didate stayed off the trail for so long in the final stretch. Romney aides dismissed the pause as the normal ebb and flow of politicking, insisting their strategy was geared toward November. “The race is very close,” senior advisor Kevin Madden told AFP as thousands of supporters gathered under a blistering Florida sun for a Romney rally on Thursday. “This is not an election that’s going to be won or decided here in September. Ultimately it’s going to be decided in November, and that’s where we put our focus - all the way until election day.” Observers, including several Republicans,
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida: Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney greets members of law enforcement yesterday. —AP
say the party’s nominee put himself behind the eight ball when a secretly filmed video surfaced showing him branding “47 percent” of Americans as government-dependent freeloaders. The remarks emerged as Romney was already in damage-control mode over a statement accusing Obama of sympathizing with Islamist protesters that was released just hours after the killing of four Americans in Libya. Romney’s remarks in the video, shot at a May fundraiser and published by Mother Jones magazine earlier this week, kicked up the worst firestorm of his campaign - and yet the candidate is not shying away from the message, but doubling down on it. Romney aides told AFP they are confident that “videogate” will blow over in a couple of news cycles. Some say Romney has little to lose from running as a recovery-not-dependency candidate and spelling out a stark contrast between himself and Obama. “I don’t know if it’s so much a shift,” an aide who is close to Romney said. “He’s been talking about these things for a long time.” One senior campaign official said there has been “no nervousness” within Romney’s inner circle despite a report last Sunday that detailed extensive disarray, and Tim Pawlenty’s announcement Thursday that he is stepping down as campaign co-chair to lobby for the banking industry in Washington. “Look, we’ve had at least two mini-controversies a month,” said one senior campaign official. The strategy, he said, is to move past them and “focus like a laser on the economy”, which is Romney’s bread and butter. —AFP
Munari and his five illiterate sons collect trash from about 1,700 homes, and must spend much of their earnings on bribes and rent. They live in a cluster of shelters made from plastic sheeting and corrugated metal near a 70-acre public landfill site. “The work is hard and life tough,” said Munari, sitting on a small rope bed in front of his hut. But he added that life is better here than it was in his former home in the impoverished state of Bihar. The ragpickers live a hazy legal existence. They pay bribes for the right to collect the city’s garbage, doing the work that the city’s 30,000 official garbage collectors are supposed to do, but don’t, confident that the government won’t bother to try to fire them. Akbar’s home and office is in a brick building surrounded by piles of paper, plastic and glass 3 m high. He points to a rusty tricycle loaded with plastic bottles and grins with the brashness of a Wall Street broker. Trash is “like our gold,” he said. “The prices are changing all the time, so we have to monitor the situation and cash in at the peak.” While he enjoys his smartphone and clean clothes, he doesn’t know what he or the thousands of other residents of the poor Seemapuri neighborhood will do if the new plants go into operation. “Recycling is what 70 to 80 percent of the residents do. We have nowhere else to go,” he said. —AP
US Nation of Islam leader visits Cuba HAVANA: Louis Farrakhan, leader of the US-based Nation of Islam, met with President Raul Castro Thursday to discuss the future of US-Cuban relations, the US visitor told reporters. In their two-hour meeting, Farrakhan said that Castro asked him to tell the world that Cuba is ready to talk with the United States without preconditions. Cuba and the United States have had no diplomatic relations since 1961, and the Communist-led island has been under a US trade embargo since 1962. The 79 year-old US activist, who heads the African-American religious movement founded in the US city of Detroit, also blasted the crudely-made amateur online video attacking the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Louis Farrakhan that has unleashed widespread protests in the Muslim world. Farrakhan said that he believed the person who made the controversial video “The Innocence of Muslims” was ignorant about Islam and did not consider the consequences of his actions. “This is a teaching moment for America and as well a teaching moment for us (Muslims),” he said. Farrakhan denounced the amateurish anti-Muslim film, but he added that it was “shameful” that some Muslims had used their outrage over its content as an excuse to harm others. He said he hoped his fellow Muslims would soon realize that nothing in the 14-minute film could possibly leave any lasting mark on the reputation of the Prophet (PBUH). “I hope that as tempers calm down that reason will prevail because there’s nothing that film has done to mar the nobility and the beauty of the character of the man who is the foundational stone of modern Islam,” Farrakhan said. Farrakhan arrived on the island last Saturday and left yesterday. Before meeting Castro on Thursday, Farrakhan delivered a lecture at the University of Havana. —Agencies
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
US lifts ban on New Zealand naval ships AUCKLAND: The United States has lifted a ban that prevented New Zealand naval ships visiting US ports or bases since the 1980s, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said yesterday, hailing a “new era” in relations between the two nations. The policy change, part of efforts to bolster security ties, will “allow the US Secretary of Defense to authorise individual visits to Department of Defense or Coast Guard facilities in the United States and around the world”, he said. “I suspect that soon we’ll be able to see one of those ships in our ports,” he added, when asked when New Zealand vessels would stop in the United States. In a joint news conference with his New Zealand counterpart Jonathan Coleman, the Pentagon chief also announced that restrictions on meetings between defence officials and military exercises also had been rescinded. “These changes I think are important and are in the interests of both our nations,” he said. The announcement underscored improving defence ties between the two countries since a chill during the Cold War, when New Zealand imposed a ban on any visits by US nuclear-armed
or nuclear-powered ships to its ports. “While we acknowledge that our countries continue to have differences of opinion in some limited areas, today we have affirmed that we are embarking on a new course that will not let these differences stand in the way of greater engagement on security issues,” Panetta added. The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) treaty was suspended between Wellington and Washington in 1986 amid concerns in Wellington about French nuclear tests in the South Pacific and US foreign policy. In return, the United States prohibited New Zealand naval ships from docking at American ports and bases. But Coleman ruled out any change to New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy. “We are in a new era and I don’t think we should get hung up about trying to turn the clock back to pre-1986 because the reality is the relationship is very, very good,” Coleman said. “In terms of restrictions from the New Zealand side we are very clear about our policy and the US has been very understanding about that ... And we’ve moved on from the point where that is an issue.” —AFP
AUCKLAND: US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (left) exchange smiles with his New Zealand counterpart Jonathan Coleman after their joint news conference at the Government House yesterday. —AP
India govt regains its muscle with reforms Govt loses majority but wins key support
YANGON: A demonstrator wears a bandana with a sign against war during a peace rally held by demonstrators including ethnic Kachins, artists and civil society groups yesterday. —AFP
Arrest threat overshadows Myanmar rally YANGON: Several hundred people defied authorities to march through Yangon yesterday calling for an end to the festering conflict between Kachin ethnic minority rebels and Myanmar’s army. But the colourful rally, marking the International Day of Peace, was overshadowed by police threats to arrest organisers for going ahead with the march after being denied permission. “As they demonstrated without official permission, they violated the law and bylaws. So we will charge them,” said Yangon Police Major Myint Htwe late yesterday after the rally ended. “We will charge them not because they didn’t rally peacefully, but because they violated the law.” The march, which culminated with Buddhist prayers and the building of a peace “milestone” at Inya lake, close to democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s house, was led by Kachins, artists and civil society groups. It was held to draw attention to the Kachin conflict. Fighting has gripped Myanmar since June last year when a 17-year ceasefire between the government and Kachin rebels collapsed. Organisers said authorities denied them permission to march for spurious reasons, citing the possibility of traffic build-up and “disturbances among the people”. “We were just protesting for peace, peacefully. So you can imagine what is happening here as they are arresting the people who tried to get peace here,” Khin Sandar Nyunt told AFP, adding she was ready to face arrest for marching without permission, which carries a penalty of one year imprisonment and a $35 dollar fine. The country’s reformist government has agreed ceasefires with several other ethnic rebel groups as part of reforms since coming to power last year, but fighting rages unabated in Kachin State, in the nation’s far north. “We need the rule of law to get peace. When we get peace, we can get development... so we ask for rule of law first, then to build peace,” said Nay Myo Zin, leader of civil society group the Myanmar Social Development Network. —AFP
NEW DELHI: Manmohan Singh’s coalition has splintered and his government is fighting for survival. But the Indian prime minister, who has been criticized for presiding meekly over a corrupt government, is suddenly being hailed as a bold, powerful leader. Since pushing through a battery of unexpected economic reforms last week, and refusing to back down in the face of protests and political threats, Singh appeared to have rejuvenated a government thought hopelessly paralyzed. In a rare televised address to the nation yesterday, Singh said that a series of reforms which prompted the resignation of a coalition ally were vital to combat an economic slowdown and restore investor confidence. “I want your support to implement the economic reforms which are vital to combat the economic slowdown,” he said. “I promise that the country will return to a faster and inclusive growth track but I will need your support, please do not listen to those who are dissuading you,” he added. “We have to restore the confidence of foreign investors,” said the premier. “Money does not grow on trees and that is why we have made these decisions.” “We have been faulted in the last few months of not being adequately a doing government. Now the time has come that we are doing something, and we hope that everybody who cares for this country and the new generation will join in,” Law Minister Salman Khurshid said. A day after a national strike by opponents of his economic program, Singh got a political breather yesterday when a regional party opposed to the reforms said it would continue to support the government from outside the coalition. “We will not allow communal forces to come into power. Why should I withdraw support to the Congress?” Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters in New Delhi. The turnaround for the soft-spoken 79-year-old economist has been shocking. “He made up his mind that he’s going to push through his economic reforms agenda, even if it means he was going to lose power,” said Dileep Padgaonkar, a veteran journalist and political analyst. Padgaonkar said Singh was looking to rescue his legacy and reclaim the glow of his most famous achievement two
decades ago when as finance minister he led wholesale reforms widely credited with sparking India’s economic rise. In the past few years, his government was battered by scandals, including the irregular sales of cellphone spectrum and coal blocks that India’s auditor said cost the country’s treasury tens of billions. The opposition protested by paralyzing Parliament, making it impossible for the government to pass many bills. Bureaucrats, fearing they would get caught up in the next scandal, stopped making decisions, freezing business.
growth, was sputtering. The rupee had plunged in value and the country’s huge deficit was putting it under threat of a possible ratings downgrade. Last week, Singh’s government responded. It cut the subsidy on diesel fuel by 5 rupees (10 cents) a liter and placed limits on cooking gas subsidies. It agreed to let in foreign retailers, loosened rules on foreign investment in airlines and TV and agreed to sell off stakes in four state owned companies. The Indian Express newspaper said in an editorial the reforms were not likely to have much
ALLAHABAD, India: Indians watch Prime Minister Manmohan Singh address the nation on TV at a television showroom yesterday. —AP The Trinamool Congress, an important coalition partner, regularly blocked decisions. Its leader, Mamata Banerjee, torpedoed an aboutto-be-signed water treaty with Bangladesh and fired the national railway minister, who was from her party, when he presented a budget including the first fare increases in nearly a decade. A low point came last year when the government decided to allow foreign retail chains to come into the country - and then suspended the decision two weeks later after Banerjee protested. Meanwhile, India’s economy, which officials had recently hoped would hit double-digit
immediate impact, but “they are a crucial statement of intent”. The moves sparked outrage from opponents who fear Indian jobs will be lost if large US and European retailers enter the market. “(Singh) is out to destroy the interests of small traders and farmers,” said Sitaram Yechuri, a lawmaker from the communist party. Jai Prakash, a student at a protest rally in New Delhi, said the economic package showed “politicians are not bothered about the welfare of millions of poor people”. Banerjee demanded an immediate rollback or she would pull out of the coalition. —Agencies
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Muslims march against
British Muslims hold placards as they demonstrate across the street from the French Embassy in London.
Moroccan protesters hold banners which read in Arabic ‘The Friday of anger is for the victory of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’ and ‘We should commit to our Prophet’s (PBUH) traditions to make his enemies angry’ during a protest in Sale, the twin town of the Moroccan capital Rabat.
Palestinians chant slogans during a protest after Friday prayers outside the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Protesters torch a cinema in Peshawar, Pakistan.
A boy holds up a poster reading ‘We love you Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’ during a demonstration in Freiburg in Breisgau in western Germany.
Bangladeshi Muslims burn a US flag and a coffin of US President Barack Obama during a protest in Dhaka.
Afghan parade an effigy representing US President Barack Obama in Kabul.
A child displays a banner reading ‘Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the best of humanity’ during a demonstration in downtown Rome.
Sri Lankan Muslims burn a poster depicting US President Barack Obama during a protest after Friday prayers near the US embassy in Colombo.
Lebanese girls chant slogans during a protest in Lebanon’s eastern city of Baalbek.
INTERNATIONAL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
anti-Islam film, cartoons
Indonesian Muslims shout slogans with banners reading ‘Don’t insult my Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’ during a protest outside the US Embassy in Jakarta.
Norwegian Muslims demonstrate outside the US Embassy in Oslo.
Iraqis chant slogans as they hold posters of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei while chanting ‘death to America’ and ‘no to America’ during a protest in Basra.
Pakistani Muslim demonstrators topple a freight container placed by police to block a road to the US consulate in Lahore during a protest.
Members of the radical Kashmiri Islamic women’s group Dukhtaran-e-Millat, or daughters of the nation, participate in a protest as white smoke of teargas fired by police rises on the street in Srinagar.
Thai-Muslim youths read a statement during a demonstration outside the US embassy in Bangkok.
A Yemeni protester gestures before riot policemen during a demonstration on a road leading to the US embassy in Sanaa as security forces prevented protesters from reaching the heavily guarded embassy.
Muslim expatriates stand on an American flag in protest after prayers at the main mosque in Taipei, Taiwan.
Philippine Muslims collect money to be used to file lawsuits against showing an anti-Islam film during a gathering in Marawi City, Lanao del sur, in southern island of Mindanao. Meanwhile in Manila, a law professor of the state university showed the controversial film to his class in defiance of university order banning the screening.
Malaysian Muslim demonstrators march towards the US embassy after a mass Friday prayer in Kuala Lumpur. —AP/AFP photos
INTERNATIONAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Vietnam soldier’s war diary returned to family HAI DUONG, Vietnam: A battered diary retrieved from the body of a Vietnamese soldier by a US serviceman in 1966 was returned to the author’s family yesterday in an emotional ceremony. The diary, an identity card, old bank notes and a small photograph were discovered by the American soldier who found the body of Vu Dinh Doan slumped in a machine-gun pit after a battle in central Quang Ngai province. “I never knew my father but I have always dreamed of him - and now I have a chance to know more, to understand more about him,” said the fallen soldier’s eldest son, Vu Dinh Son, fighting back tears as he accepted the mementos. The small hand-written diary details the daily hardships faced by Doan, a father of four who joined the communist North Vietnamese army in 1965. “In the morning, having breakfast - rice and salt. My life is harsh but full of glory. We con-
tinue (to fight) after six nights without sleep,” he wrote in his small, precise script, the red ink he used faded but still legible.US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta returned the belongings to Hanoi earlier this year in an exchange of war-time belongings with the Vietnamese - a symbol of healing of wounds caused by the bloody conflict, which ended in 1975. As incense burned in front of a photo of Doan, who was 31 when he was killed in action, an army official handed the small maroon diary and other papers to his son, who was a toddler when his father left for war. “The return of the diary and papers is a noble thing. I believe there will be a message inside from my father, something he wanted to tell us,” Son added, as his sister wept loudly over the diary and a small photograph found inside. —AFP
DPJ reelects PM Noda as leader TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stormed to victory in a party leadership poll yesterday, vowing to revamp his troubled ruling Democratic Party of Japan ahead of upcoming general elections. Noda won more than 60 percent of points available in a vote by lawmakers, local assembly members and individual lay members in a weighted poll for party president, which at present automatically confers the post of premier. Lawmakers’ votes count for more than those of other party members. “I would like to beef up our teamwork so that we can shift the DPJ once again to make it a fighting force that can serve Japan,” Noda told his fellow lawmakers. At a news conference, Noda hinted he would be reshuffling his cabinet after returning from the UN General Assembly in New York later this month. “I think changes are possible, of course, in terms of strengthening our cabinet function,” Noda said. “Anyway, all I should do is to Yoshihiko Noda put the right people into the right posts.” Noda’s reelection after a little over a year in the post was all but certain from the moment his telegenic environment minister Goshi Hosono decided against running for leadership. Hosono, 41, who was seen as an electable leader for a party that is struggling in the opinion polls, would have become Japan’s youngest ever prime minister if he had won. Under party rules a leadership contest must be held every two years. That interval has now been extended to three years. As premier and leader of the DPJ - currently the biggest party in parliament - Noda has pushed through unpopular legislation on doubling sales tax. —AFP
HAI DUONG, Vietnam: Vu Dinh Son, cries as he receives his late father Vu Dinh Doan’s personal documents including a frayed diary, handed over by Colonel Nguyen Xuan Nang, director of the Vietnamese War Museum during a ceremony held at his village yesterday. — AFP
Six dead in car bomb in southern Thailand SAI BURI, Thailand: At least six people were killed and more than 40 were wounded yesterday after a car bomb exploded in a busy shopping street in Thailand’s insurgency-hit south, officials told AFP. Overwhelmed nurses scrambled to help as casualties poured into the main hospital in Sai Buri town, an AFP reporter at the scene said, describing blood trails smeared across the floor as the bodies of the dead were carried in. “There are six dead now, three men and three women,” a Public Health ministry official said in Bangkok - a toll confirmed by the local hospital which said five civilians were among the dead. “Altogether 41 people have been wounded either from shrapnel or burns,” she said, adding 19 “seriously injured” people had been ferried to bigger provincial hospitals. An army spokesman said CCTV footage showed three militants opening fire on shops in Sai Buri town centre shortly after Friday prayers in the Muslimmajority region, to lure security forces to the scene, before detonating the bomb. A complex insurgency calling for greater autonomy has plagued Thailand’s Muslim-majority far south near the border with Malaysia since 2004, claiming more than 5,300 lives, both Buddhist and Muslim, with near daily bomb or gun
SAIBURI, Thailand: Thai firemen and rescue workers try to put off the fire caused by the blast of a bomb hidden in a pickup truck in this district of Pattani province yesterday. — AP attacks. The bomb, which sparked a fire that destroyed several shops, was meant as a warning to locals not to talk with security forces after nearly 100 suspected militants “surrendered” last week, according to Colonel Pramote Prom-in, an army spokesman in the south. “The perpetrators are the hardcore
and do not want a peaceful solution (to the conflict) so they wanted to terrorise residents not to take sides with government,” Pramote said. “We know who they are, they are the same group who incited other unrest incidents,” he said, adding security teams were hunting the suspects. —AFP
S Korea fires warning shots at North boats
PAJU, South Korea: A South Korean army 155 mm howitzer fires in a live fire drill during the annual exercise in Paju, south of the demilitarized zone that divides the two Koreas, yesterday. — AP
SEOUL: South Korea said its navy patrol boats fired warning shots yesterday at six North Korean fishing boats that crossed their disputed Yellow Sea border in the latest of a series of incursions. None of the North Korean vessels were hit and they swiftly returned to their side of the western sea boundary after the incident, a Defence Ministry spokesman told AFP. “Dozens of Vulcan machine gun rounds were fired into waters near North Korean fishing boats which violated the sea border,” the spokesman said. “The operation, involving two naval patrol ships, began around 3:00 pm (0600 GMT) after our side broadcast warning messages. All North Korean boats had retreated by 4:00 pm,” he added. There was no immediate comment from the North Korean side. The incident,
which occurred close to Yeonpyeong island on the South side of the border, followed a series of recent border violations by North Korean fishing vessels. It was the first time for two years that the South has resorted to firing warning shots to push the fishing boats back. Earlier Friday, Yonhap had quoted an unidentified senior military official as saying the navy would take action if the incursions continued. “If North Korean boats repeatedly cross (the border) for fishing, the military will promptly and sternly respond, without hesitation,” the official said. The de-facto maritime boundary between the two Koreas - the Northern Limit Line - is not recognised by Pyongyang, which argues it was unilaterally drawn by the US-led United Nations forces after the 1950-53 Korean War. —AFP
Japanese firms say China protests affect business plans
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China vows ongoing support to resolve euro crisis
Business
19
British budget deficit swells to August record
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
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India unveils more reforms as stocks surge
CHICAGO: Over 200 American Airline pilots march on a picket line at O’Hare International Airport Thursday in Chicago, Ill. The airline expects to cancel up to 2 percent of its total flights through the end of October because of a dispute with pilots. Even if passengers find other flights, it’s a setback for American, which is struggling to reverse years of heavy losses. — AP
BP may buy Rosneft stake Structure suggested at meeting with Putin in Sochi SOCHI: British oil company BP wants to buy a stake in Russian state-controlled peer Rosneft, adding a new dimension to a long-running struggle for control of a big chunk of the country’s oil production. BP chief executive Bob Dudley and chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg put the Rosneft proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said yesterday. The deal would see Rosneft take BP’s stake in TNK-BP a $60 billion joint venture with Russian oligarchs that BP wants to exit. Last year, TNK-BP blocked a deal that would have seen BP and Rosneft explore for oil in the arctic. “We are very pleased by this offer. It allows us to fulfil the tenets of cutting the state’s stake (in Rosneft), and we are working firmly toward this,” said Sechin, a close ally of Putin. A BP spokesman said: “BP is considering fur-
ther investment in Russia regardless of who we sell our stake to ... we would be interested in investing some of the proceeds in buying shares in Rosneft”, adding that any purchase depended on a sale of its TNK-BP stake going through. BP is seeking to exit its troubled but lucrative investment in TNK-BP, Russia’s third-largest oil company, which it formed nearly a decade ago with four tycoons - Len Blavatnik, Mikhail Fridman, German Khan and Viktor Vekselberg to tap the country’s vast energy reserves. In July, BP entered a 90-day period to talk to potential buyers including the AAR consortium which represents those tycoons. Sechin said Rosneft was not in talks with AAR to buy its stake, adding Rosneft has no plans itself to buy shares in BP. Rosneft’s plan to buy BP’s TNK-BP stake are progressing and it is talking to banks about raising $15-$20 billion to finance the deal,
bankers told Reuters this week. Kommersant reported on Thursday a deal being discussed would see Rosneft buy 25 percent of TNK-BP’s shares for $10-$15 billion cash with the other 25 percent paid for with Rosneft shares, leaving BP with a stake of at least 12.5 percent in Rosneft. Sechin said the deal’s structure has not been finalised, a position corroborated by BP sources. His news conference, made at a business forum in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, coincided with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s keynote address, and stole headlines during one of the premier’s annual policy speeches. Putin issued a rare rebuke of Medvedev’s government on Tuesday, criticising its fiscal plans. Tension has been less well concealed between Medvedev’s government and Sechin over plans to privatise Rosneft. The government is aiming to raise $20 billion
selling state assets, including stakes in Rosneft and other energy assets. Sechin has lobbied for a sale of state energy assets to Rosneftegaz, the holding which owns much of the state’s stake in Rosneft, as a halfway house for state assets to gain value before being floated on the market. BP’s proposal could be a compromise solution. Instead of buying new or treasury shares, it would buy part of the state’s Rosneft holdings, transferring them to a Kremlin-approved strategic investor while achieving the government’s formal aims. Sechin’s main opponent on privatisation, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, told a newspaper last week he objected to the possible purchase of TNK-BP by Rosneft on the grounds that it increased state control of the oil industry. BP shares closed down 0.7 percent at 441 pence. — Reuters
business SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Canadian auto union reaches deal with GM TORONTO: The Canadian Auto Workers union said late Thursday it reached a tentative deal with General Motors, leaving Chrysler as the only Detroit automaker that hasn’t agreed to a new labor deal. CAW President Ken Lewenza called it a difficult few days but said GM ultimately agreed to the pattern of a deal that the union reached with Ford earlier this week. The union said earlier Thursday it could serve GM with a 24hour strike notice after saying GM failed to meet the pattern of the Ford deal. The union decided to keep working past a midnight Monday strike deadline after reaching a deal with Ford that night and extending its contracts with GM and Chrysler. Workers stayed on the job as talks continued, but the union warned it could go on strike after giving GM and Chrysler 24 hours’ notice. They wanted the Ford contract to serve as a template for the other two companies. Like the Ford deal, the GM agreement cuts wages for new hires and freezes pay for current workers. But it also gives them lump-
sum payments to cover inflation and for ratifying the deal. Under the Ford and GM deals, the companies will pay new workers 60 percent of the current top wage of $33.89 Canadian dollars ($34.74) an hour, according to the CAW. That would mean new workers would be paid around $20.33 Canadian ($20.84). They can move up the wage scale and reach the top wage in 10 years. “We’re avoiding a permanent two tier wage system which was the stumbling block today,” Lewenza said. US workers at the Detroit automakers approved a similar two-tier wage agreement five years ago, but in those agreements, workers don’t automatically get the top wage after 10 years. Lewenza said Chrysler hasn’t agreed to the pattern set by Ford. “As long as we’re making progress there is no need to pull the trigger,” Lewenza said of the possibility of putting Chrysler on 24-hour strike notice. “The trigger is the last tool in the tool box.” Canadian Ford auto workers will vote this week-
end on the tentative agreement and the union said results of the vote will be released on Sunday night. There was no immediate word when GM workers would vote on their deal. The auto companies say Canada is the most expensive place in the world to make cars and trucks, and they could move production south if the CAW doesn’t cut costs. The CAW represents about 21,000 auto workers in Canada and about 16 percent of auto production in North America. “This set of talks with our labor partner have been candid and constructive, reflecting the challenges facing Canadian manufacturers,” GM said in a statement. GM and Chrysler make popular models in Canada that would soon be in short supply if a strike occurred. CAW workers also make key engine parts and other components for U.S.-built cars. In Canada, GM makes the Chevrolet Camaro, Impala and Equinox, along with the Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS and GMC Terrain. Chrysler makes minivans and the Dodge Challenger and Charger, Chrysler 300,
and Ram Cargo Van in Canada. Canada’s advantages in the past - a weak Canadian dollar and government health care have all but vanished compared with U.S. factories. In addition, the United Auto Workers union in the US has agreed to steeper concessions than the CAW, making U.S. labor costs cheaper. Going into the talks, the Detroit automakers were paying an estimated $60 to $62 an hour for labor and benefits in Canada, compared with $50 an hour at Chrysler, $56 at Ford and $58 at GM, according to the Center for Automotive Research, a nonprofit research group. The federal Canadian and Ontario province governments worked in tandem with the U.S. government on auto bailouts in 2009 to maintain Canada’s share of North American auto production. Canada’s share peaked at 3.2 million cars in 1999, about 17.4 percent of North American production. In 2011, Canada produced 2.1 million vehicles, or about 16 percent. —AP
British budget deficit swells to August record Osborne to face downgrade in OBR’s growth forecast LONDON: Britain’s budget deficit widened to the biggest on record for any August, data showed yesterday, a day after the central bank governor said overshooting budget targets may now be acceptable. The government said a weak economy pushed down corporation tax receipts and drove up benefit payments. As a result, public sector net borrowing excluding financial sector interventions the government’s preferred measure rose last month to 14.410 billion pounds from 14.365 billion in August 2011. That was the highest for any August since records began in January 1993, although slightly below economists’ forecast in a Reuters poll for 15.0 billion pounds. Finance minister George Osborne, who has made reducing the deficit a central plank of his policies, may soon face a tough choice between imposing more spending cuts or abandoning his goal of ensuring that the
debt-to-GDP ratio starts falling by 2015. Late on Thursday, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King - a firm supporter of the government’s efforts to cut the budget gap - said missing the reduction goal would be acceptable if the reason was weakness in the global economy. In March, the state forecasting body the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted public sector net borrowing would amount to 5.8 percent of GDP in the 2012/13 fiscal year. Economists said that target now looked unattainable. By way of contrast, countries in the euro zone - deemed to be in a debt crisis that Britain has largely escaped if its record low borrowing costs are any guide - are striving to shrink their budget deficits to 3 percent of GDP over the next year. “The (UK) overshoot is a result of reduced corporate tax receipts and increased government benefit costs,” RBS economist Ross Walker said. “In an
ROME: Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (C) stands next to Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti upon arrival at Chigi Palace in Rome yesterday. Samaras and Monti will attend talks on the economic situation in the Eurozone and the new austerity package. —AFP
absolute sense they’re bad numbers, but they’re consistent with the overall trend.” David Tinsley, an economist at BNP Paribas, said the government now risked missing its targets by as much as 20 billion pounds. In his annual Autumn Statement on Dec. 5, Osborne is likely to face a downgrade in the OBR’s growth forecast, as well as a gloomier prediction for the budget deficit. He is already under pressure to loosen his austerity drive as Britain’s economy is struggling to move out of recession and a meaningful recovery looks elusive. Bank of England policymaker Spencer Dale said earlier yesterday the economic backdrop was still “pretty challenging”, but that there were encouraging signs from local businesses that access to bank finance was becoming easier due to the BoE’s new Funding for Lending Scheme. Borrowing in the fiscal year to date actually fell to 31.003 billion pounds from 48.446 billion in the April-August period 2011. However, stripping out the transfer of Royal Mail pension assets, the deficit stood at 59.0 billion pounds, up 21.8 percent compared with April-August 2011 — far above the OBR’s forecast for the full year of an increase by just 0.5 percent. The government had originally planned to eliminate the structural budget deficit by 2015 with a tough programme of spending cuts and tax rises. But a weak economy has forced it to extend austerity by another two years and Prime Minister David Cameron has warned austerity could last even longeruntil 2020. Yesterday’s data showed that government receipts rose 1.8 percent on the year in August, while current spending grew 2.5 percent. Within that, corporation tax inflows fell 2.1 percent on the year, while social benefit payments rose 4.9 percent. —Reuters
MUMBAI: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, General Manager, Emerging Markets - Asia, Herfried Hasenoehrl poses with a Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II car as it is unveiled to the media at an event in Mumbai yesterday. —AFP
UK gas imports to rise above $11bn by 2015 LONDON: Britain must begin shale gas exploration to ease its growing dependency on imports, the Institute of Directors (IoD) said yesterday. Without the development of new domestic gas resources, Britain’s import costs for natural gas could rise from $8.5 billion today to more than $11 billion by 2015 as North Sea supplies dwindle and Norway struggles to fill the gap, Reuters research showed this week. Britain was a net exporter of gas until 2004, but a steady decline in output over the past few years has made it more reliant on imports, mostly from Norway and, increasingly, Qatar. The only way to offset the effects of this increasing dependency on imports is to begin shale gas exploration in Britain, the IoD said in a report. “Shale gas development can counter falling North Sea production, halting the increase in gas imports,” the business lobby group said. “It can also help to reduce price rises for consumers.” In the United States, a shale gas boom has resulted in a sharp rise in natural gas production, leading to a collapse in domestic prices and the possibility of the U.S. exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2015. The British Geological Survey estimates Britain’s onshore shale reserves at 5.3 trillion cubic feet (150 billion cubic metres), which would be enough to meet Britain’s gas consumption for one and a half years, though UK shale gas exploration companies such as Cuadrilla Resources have put their figures as high as 200 trillion cubic feet. However, the IoD said that the development of a shale gas industry in Britain would not be on a scale comparable with North America and that Britain would still face several energy problems. “Shale gas development does not magically solve all the UK’s energy issues,” the report said. “North Sea production will still fall, the renewables programme will still increase energy prices for industry, and coal and nuclear will still decline in capacity. “A mix of power sources is vital, and domestic shale gas is unlikely to account for a majority of the UK’s electricity generation, or even of its gas usage. But it could and should play an important role.” The Institution of Mechanical Engineers also published a paper this week, saying UK shale gas reserves would not end the country’s reliance on costly and unpredictable gas imports. —Reuters
business
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
ABN AMRO to shut grain desk on CBOT trading floor CHICAGO: Brokerage ABN AMRO will shut its pit trading grains desk on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) on Nov. 1, the desk’s five members said on Thursday, in one of the clearest signs that the iconic ‘open outcry’ style of trading is drawing to a close. The CBOT, the citadel of the global grains trade, has seen business shift from the trading pits where raucous traders in multi-colored jackets execute trades with hand signals to what is considered the more efficient electronic platform. ABN AMRO’s four phone clerks and one runner, an average sized trading desk, had been a mainstay at the 164year-old exchange. But, the overall
population at the open-outcry venue began to dwindle with the arrival of financial investors about a decade ago who viewed grains as an alternative asset in their large portfolios. A veteran trader from a prominent brokerage in Chicago said about 1,000 floor traders, phone clerks and runners worked there about two decades ago. Now, there are about 250. Sources said the services of four people on ABN AMRO’s livestock desk on the trading floor at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which owns the CBOT, will also end on Nov 1. “A few companies who consider it a cost of doing business keep staff around, but others look at it as a losing proposition and are taking a
sharper pencil to their costs and looking for other ways to get by,” an independent CME livestock broker said. In August, 96 percent of CBOT agricultural futures contracts were traded electronically, according to exchange data, underscoring how the personal relationships fostered by pit traders had given way to quick-hit electronic trades. Traders said the importance of pit trading took another hit in June when the CME decided that settlement prices would be based on both electronic and pit trading activityending the tradition of basing the prices on open-outcry trades alone. ABN AMRO’s electronic trading operations will not be affected by the closure of its desks on the Chicago
trading floors, a source at the firm said. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed that customer money held by ABN AMRO in segregated accounts totaled $2.4 billion as of July 31 this year, more than double from two years ago. “We’re closing November first,” one of the desk staffers said, declining to be named. “We were busy about five minutes after the open and about 10 minutes before the close but that was about it. The rest of the day there was no business.” Spokesmen in Chicago and New York for ABN AMRO Clearing, which is owned by the nationalized Dutch bank ABN AMRO , declined to comment. — Reuters
Spain eyes pension reform with aid package in sight Move may be welcomed by EU as part of rescue talks
BERN: People walk past a Cartier store in a street of the Alpine resort of Gstaad, in the canton of Bern, yesterday. The canton of Bern is set to vote tomorrow on the removal of a controversial low-tax deals for wealthy foreigners based on the rental value of their property rather than their actual income or wealth. — AFP
America says ‘protectionist’ Brazil policy hurting trade WASHINGTON/SAO PAULO: US Trade Representative Ron Kirk urged Brazil to reconsider plans for tariff increases, prompting a stinging rebuke of American monetary policy that has “distorted” global exchange rates. The spat drew attention to growing trade barriers in the world’s No. 6 economy as it struggles to emerge from a year of disappointing growth and highlighted Brazil’s sensitivity to the latest aggressive stimulus by the US Federal Reserve. In a letter to Brazil’s foreign minister, Kirk expressed “in strong and clear terms” the US concerns about plans to raise import tariffs on 100 foreign products, warning that they could spark retaliation from trade partners. Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota replied in a letter on Thursday that the currency effects of US monetary stimulus had forced Brazil to confront “a flood of imported goods at artificially low prices.” Patriota emphasized that the measures were “legitimate instruments” under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The temporary increase in levies, initially for a year, would apply to products ranging from glass to iron pipes and bus tires. The rate will roughly double to 25 percent for most of those products. Kirk said the United States expects scheduled tariff increases around Sept. 25 to “significantly hit US exports to Brazil in key areas of export interest to the United States.” Patriota answered that the US has been one of the main beneficiaries of a stronger Brazilian currency, which hit a 12-year high last year. American exports to Brazil nearly doubled from 2007 to 2011, he said, as Brazil went from the 16th to the eighth biggest market for US goods. “It would be fairer if those increases took place in an environment not distorted by exchange rate misalignments and blatant government support,” Patriota wrote. — Reuters
MADRID: Spain is considering freezing pensions and speeding up a planned rise in the retirement age as it races to cut spending and meet conditions of an expected international sovereign aid package, sources with knowledge of the matter said. The measures would save at least 4 billion euros a year as well as fulfil European Union policy recommendations issued in May which senior euro zone sources said were being used as a blueprint for the terms of a sovereign aid programme. The accelerated raising of the retirement age to 67 from 65, currently scheduled to take place over 15 years, is a done deal, the sources said. The elimination of an inflation-linked annual pension hike is still being considered. Spain, the new epicentre of the euro zone debt crisis after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, is hesitating to apply for external aid to handle a high public deficit and soaring debt. Its borrowing costs fell on Thursday at an auction of a 10-year benchmark bond but relief may be short-lived. The new pensions steps, which could be announced as soon as next week along with the 2013 budget, would send a strong signal to investors that Spain is serious about implementing structural reforms it has delayed because of the political cost. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was forced earlier this year to break campaign pledges such as not raising taxes, has repeatedly said he would not touch pensions, but he has few options left to trim the budget after drastic cost cuts. He toned down his language last week and said it would be “the last thing” he would do. On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the government was not implementing any cut on the pensions “for the time being”. Sources with knowledge of the government’s thinking said Rajoy’s comments were a sign that his stance was shifting. “He just said that he would not cut the pensions. But did you hear any-
thing else? We both know that there are several ways of cutting. One is to simply leave them steady against inflation,” said one of the sources. A second source said the acceleration in the change in the retirement age was backed by the government while a third source, who discussed the issue with senior Spanish officials, said a freeze was expected. “Not increasing them is also an adjustment,” the third source said.Many economists also believe a freeze is inevitable. The 2012 budget earmarks a 1 percent inflation review - or about 1 billion euros - but inflation is running close to 3 percent, meaning an extra 4 billion euros that would be paid to pensioners in January but booked to the 2012 budget. So cancelling this year’s inflation-linked raise would save the government about 5 billion euros. For following years, based on annual inflation of 2 percent, the reference used by the European Central Bank to set its main rates, the adjustment would cost 4 billion euros. “There is no way around it. You have to cut the link with inflation and freeze the pensions next year,” said Jose Carlos Diez, chief economist at Intermoney brokerage in Madrid. “And to me, that would be just a start... The pensions, the unemployment benefits and the borrowing costs are eating up all the efforts on the spending side so you need to act in those areas,” he added. Both removing the inflation adjustment and accelerating the retirement age increase are long-standing European Union demands and any bond-buying programme to help Spain finance its debt would insist on this, senior euro zone sources said. Countries which were previously rescued, such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal all had to pass steep cuts on pensions. In Greece, the cuts ranged from 20 percent to 40 percent, while new pensioners had a 10 percent pay cut in Ireland and Portugal scrapped the Christmas and summer extra payments. While an announcement could be made next week when the government
adopts the first draft of the 2013 budget, political analysts say Rajoy may be tempted to wait until after a regional election in his native north-western Galicia. The timing of any request for European aid is in Rajoy’s hands. Some pointers suggest he could make the move along with the budget package to pre-empt a credit review by ratings agency Moody’s, due by endSeptember, which might otherwise downgrade Spanish debt to junk status. Moody’s has said it would welcome a Spanish aid request. However in Brussels, EU officials close to the discussion said they did not expect Madrid to seek an assistance programme before the Oct. 21 regional vote. That would mean Spain would have to get over a 27.5 billion euro refinancing hump at the end of October without the euro zone rescue fund or the ECB buying its bonds. The spread between Spanish and German benchmark 10-year bonds , a measurement of the perceived risk of investing in Spain, widened a few basis points on Friday to 417. As Reuters reported first last month, Spanish officials led by Economy Minister Luis de Guindos have been talking discreetly to the European Commission since at least early August about possible conditions and supervision for a precautionary programme that would keep Spain in capital markets. De Guindos made clear at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Cyprus last weekend that Spain, keen to avoid having terms imposed from outside, would announce its own reform measures and timetable on Sept. 28, a day after a draft 2013 budget is approved by the cabinet. Rajoy performed especially well among pensioners when he was elected in a landslide last year and his first move after taking office was to restore the inflation adjustment his predecessor Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero had removed in May 2010 when Spain entered in the eye of the storm of the euro zone debt crisis. — Reuters
BUSINESS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Young jobless on the rise in Europe’s rich north ANTWERP: At 29, Samira Ahidar just got a permanent job, her first. Ahidar, who still lives with her parents, dropped out of school a decade ago and her adult life has been dominated by the search for work. She would still be jobless if it were not for a job creation scheme that employs her at an elderly care home. “I’ve no idea where I’ll be in five years time,” said Ahidar, dressed in an orange apron that comes with her new role. “It is so hard to find work, you feel like giving up.” Ahidar does not live in Greece or Spain, countries where as many as one in two young people are without work, but in the wealthy Belgian port city of Antwerp. With its stunning 16th-century Gothic houses, the city is a world centre for diamond trading and boasts a cutting-edge fashion industry. It also has a fast-growing number of unemployed twentysomethings. Youth unemployment is notoriously a problem of southern Europe. What is less obvious, as the euro zone slips into its second recession in just three years, is the scale of the problem in the north. A quarter of 18-to-25 year olds in Antwerp are now jobless, up from 19 percent in 2008. In some parts of Brussels, the Belgian and European capital and the third-
richest region in the European Union, youth joblessness is as high as 40 percent. In France, Britain and Sweden, as many as one in five young people are now out of work. The rising pool of jobless youth is fuelling class and racial divisions, according to youth workers and some politicians. Many experts blame joblessness for outbursts of violence such as last year’s riots in Britain. And today’s problem could have a big impact on Europe’s future. The continent’s labour force is set to decline by 50 million people over the next 50 years, according to the World Bank. Skilled, experienced new workers will be needed to support an ageing population. “Young people are being marginalised with major economic consequences,” said Francois Robert, a social worker at the employment institute Bruxelles Formation. “The problems people are talking about in Greece and Spain are right outside the European Commission’s door in Brussels.” Southern Europe has long struggled with youth unemployment. In Italy, the rate has not dropped below 20 percent in more than two decades, according to the EU’s statistics office Eurostat. In Spain, the rate has averaged 30 percent since 1990.
By contrast, in the United States, youth unemployment is 17 percent, up from just under 12 percent in December 2007. The European exception is Germany, where only 8 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are out of work, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is normal that unemployment goes up in tough times. But worryingly, some of the problems, even in northern Europe, are structural. In Belgium as elsewhere, these include a lack of skills, discrimination and the cushion of welfare payments that approach the minimum wage. Belgium has an open, high-tech economy and the world’s 12th highest per capita income, but “the education we offer is not always in tune with what the market needs,” says Pascal Smet, education minister for Flanders, the northern, Dutch-speaking half of the country. The shortcomings have important consequences. The gap between young people’s skills and those required by employers means Belgium has one of the highest percentages in the industrialised world of young people who are not in employment, education or training, according to the OECD. —Reuters
Asian markets rise, dealers digest stimulus plans HONG KONG: Asian markets rose yesterday, rebounding from the previous day’s losses, as stimulus moves by the central banks of the United States, Europe and Japan outweighed another round of weak economic data. Shares looked set for a positive end to a week that saw the Bank of Japan follow the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) in unveiling plans to boost growth, but also showed manufacturing in China was still shrinking. Tokyo rose 0.25 percent, or 23.02 points, to 9,110.00, Seoul advanced 0.60 percent, or 12.04 points, to 2,002.37, and Sydney added 0.25 percent, or 11.1 points, to 4,408.3. Hong Kong was 0.70 percent higher, adding 144.02 points to end at 20,734.94 and Shanghai added 0.09 percent, or 1.85 points, to 2,206.69. Buying sentiment has been lifted since the ECB said it would buy unlimited amounts of debt from under-pressure eurozone nations to keep their borrowing costs down, followed a week later by the Fed move to buy huge amounts of US bonds. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) said Wednesday it would extend its own asset-purchasing scheme. “We are in the aftermath of some pretty big announcements, with moves by the European Central Bank and the (Fed), and investors are still digesting that, while economic data is still on the soft side,” said Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital in Sydney. While the banks’ moves provided hope to the markets, reality hit home with a string of weak data, including an HSBC survey that found China’s manufacturing activity contracted for an 11th straight month in September. Wall Street provided an anaemic lead following a batch of numbers including disappointing jobless claims figures. The Dow rose 0.14 percent, the S&P 500 was flat and the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 0.21 percent. The euro bought $1.3030 and 101.96 yen in early European trade, compared with $1.2972 and 101.46 yen in New York late Thursday. It had surged as high as $1.3170 at the start of the week after the Fed easing plan and 103.50 yen on Wednesday. The dollar was at 78.22 yen against 78.24 yen. In Tokyo, Japan Airlines, which relisted just days ago after bouncing back from bankruptcy, tumbled 4.29 percent on news it will slash flights to China because of a bitter diplomatic row between the two countries. On oil markets crude rose, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, gaining 73 cents to $93.15 and Brent North Sea crude for November delivery adding 66 cents to $110.69. Gold was at $1,774.34 at 1040 GMT compared with $1,759.60 on Thursday. In other markets: Singapore climbed 0.51 percent, or 15.62 points, to 3,078.23. Taipei rose 0.35 percent, or 27.04 points, to 7,754.59. AU Optronics gained 5.05 percent to Tw$11.45 while Hon Hai Precision was 0.83 percent higher at Tw$96.8. Manila ended flat, dipping 2.91 points to 5,292.06. Metropolitan Bank and Trust fell 1.09 percent to 91 pesos while Philippine Long Distance Telephone dropped 0.64 percent to 2,810 pesos. —AFP
BEIJING: An elderly Chinese couple look at a model of a property on sale during the China Property and Investment Show in Beijing yesterday. A Chinese government office is forecasting economic growth of between 7.7 and 7.8 percent for the year in a sign of an expected improvement in prospects for the world’s second-largest economy. — AP
Japan’s ANA to order 11 more Dreamliners ANA’s fleet to gradually replace Boeing 767 and 777-200 TOKYO: Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) said yesterday it would order 11 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with a list price of around $2.68 billion, hoping the fuel-efficient aircraft will help cut costs. The announcement comes as Japan’s once cosseted airline industry faces rapid change with the entrance of several low-cost carriers. “ANA currently has 55 Dreamliners on order, 13 of which have so far been delivered, and the new order today will take ANA’s fleet of this innovative and fuel-efficient airliner to 66,” ANA said in a statement. The carrier, Japan’s biggest by passenger numbers, said all of the new aircraft will be B787-9 and are expected to be delivered between 2018 and 2021. “ANA’s future fleet plans involve the gradual replacement of the Boeing 767 and Boeing 777-200 with the 787,” the company said. “The fuel efficiency of the B787-9 is similar to that of the B787-8, while it
has greater seat capacity, helping support the profitable expansion of ANA’s international and domestic route networks.” The company gave no value for the order, but airlines rarely pay the list price for planes. The airline got its first 787 in October last year and is now flying the plane on eight domestic routes, as well as from Tokyo’s Haneda airport to Frankfurt in Germany. Plans are in place for the 787 to be used on a new Tokyo to San Jose route, and to replace aircraft currently used on the service to Seattle from October 1. From October 28, the Haneda to Beijing route will use the Dreamliner, the company said. However, an ongoing territorial row between Japan and China over disputed islands in the East China Sea has badly dented demand for flights between Asia’s two largest economies. ANA said Tuesday 18,800 seat reservations had been cancelled on routes between the two countries for the three
months to November. The carrier said in August that it was back in the black, logging a net profit of 668 million yen ($8.55 million) in its fiscal first quarter to June, reversing a yearearlier loss, thanks to increased travel demand. It had seen an 8.1 billion yen operating loss in the first quarter of last year as passenger demand collapsed in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake-tsunami and meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. But cost cutting and a recovery in international travel demand helped the airline post a record operating profit of $1.2 billion in the fiscal year ended in March. ANA said international flight sales rose more than 20 percent on year in the latest quarter. Japan’s aviation market has long been dominated by ANA and rival Japan Airlines (JAL), but this year has seen the launch of a number of new cheap carriers that could challenge that supremacy. —AFP
BUSINESS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
China vows ongoing support to resolve euro crisis BRUSSELS: China pledged continued assistance to help tackle the eurozone debt crisis, saying Europe was “on the right track” but needed to implement the measures agreed to fix its problems. Premier Wen Jiabao told EU and Chinese business leaders that Beijing had continued purchases of European government bonds in recent months and discussed cooperation with the new eurozone rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). As the 500-billion-euro ($648 billion) ESM becomes operational next month, “China will continue to play its part in helping resolve the European debt issue through appropriate channels,” Wen said. “Europe is on the right track in tackling its debt issue... What is crucial now is to fully implement the policies agreed” to put it on firmer ground, he told the meeting, held alongside the annual European Union-China summit. The EU and China form “one of the most important partnerships in the world,” added Wen, who will step down early next year as China changes leadership. “I hold the development of this relationship close
to my heart,” he said after signing a 49point, four-page agreement with the EU ranging from foreign policy to research and development, and thousands of student scholarships. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy told the businessmen that, faced with slowing world growth, China and the 27-state bloc had to do their utmost to bolster the relationship, worth one billion euros a day in trade alone. “Our economies are integrated to the point where it is difficult to imagine one without the other,” he said, stressing the need for open markets and free trade-an apparent allusion to a series of trade disputes with Beijing. Both sides, however, argued that the wider relationship was bigger than any trade spat, reaffirming in the summit statement “the importance of trade openness to sustainable economic growth and development.” Van Rompuy also highlighted efforts made to stabilise the eurozone through closer economic and political integration, speaking of an “unrelenting commitment to the euro.”
In opening remarks to the summit earlier in the day, Wen noted a long list of positives but expressed regret that two issues were unresolved-an end to an EU arms embargo imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests and China’s market status. “I have to be very frank in saying this... the solution has been elusive over the past 10 years. I deeply regret this and I hope the EU side will take greater initiative to solve these issues,” Wen added. This was Wen’s last attendance at these summits, ahead of planned Chinese leadership changes due in the coming months. China will not get full market status until 2016 after accepting a 15-year transition period when it joined the World Trade Organization. EU sources said that Wen’s comments were taken as his summing up of his summit record and that both issues were not addressed in the later discussions. On China’s bond investments, the sources said they reflected a positive assessment of EU efforts to remedy the debt crisis and Beijing would “continue the support, as it has been given, as long as the conditions
Japanese firms say China protests affect business plans Strained ties put trade, investment at risk TOKYO: About 41 percent of Japanese firms see an escalating territorial row with China affecting their business plans, with some considering pulling out of the country and shifting operations elsewhere, a Reuters poll showed yesterday. The Reuters poll comes as relations between Asia’s two biggest economies have hit their lowest point in decades over a dispute centred on an uninhabited group of islands in the East China Sea-known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Customs officials in the port city of Tianjin near Beijing have told Japanese companies their imports will be inspected more frequently, the Asahi newspaper reported, in a worrying sign that Japan’s shipments to China could slow. Automaker Honda Motor Co said it was already making contingency plans. “We are trying to forecast things in advance and preparing as much as possible to avoid any impact on our business,” Takanobu Ito, Honda’s chief executive, told a news conference. Street protests in China have forced some Japanese firms to suspend operations in that country, and the share prices of Japanese firms with exposure to China have tumbled. But the Reuters poll of 400 large and medium-sized firms, of which roughly 260 responded between Aug. 31 and Sept. 14, was taken before the worst of the protests, which damaged factories, restaurants and retail stores. “We’re worried that Chinese workers could start boycotting production lines at Japanese firms in China or start making unreasonable demands for wage increases,” said one transportation equipment maker. Firms in sectors such as wholesale, transport equipment and electric machinery were among those expecting the most fallout from worsening relations with China and other parts of Asia. Some of the firms which see friction with China affecting business plans have suffered not only from rowdy protests involv-
SHANGHAI: The new ticker on top of the main door of a private securities company shows a headline that reads: “Diaoyu Island situation becomes more serious” yesterday in Shanghai, China. China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.1 percent to 2,027.03 yesterday, as Asian stock markets rebounded, led by oil and technology shares, despite uncertainty about the fragile global economy. — AP ing damage and consumer strikes, but other problems as well. “We were stranded at customs there even as we followed proper procedures for exporting parts,” said one machinery firm. A transport machinery company complained that it was excluded from bidding in China. “We need to consider closing our base in China and withdrawing our personnel,” said one metal products company. Others voiced caution about investing in China, while considering putting off plans to make inroads into Chinese markets or seeking alternate sites. “We have had many diplomatic clashes in the past, and in the end this always comes back to hurt Japanese companies who are in China,” said Naoto Saito, a senior economist at Daiwa Institute
of Research. “This is likely to happen again, so companies will seriously start to question whether they want to go to China or tap other markets.” Japanese companies could bypass China for Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Thailand, Naito said. China, the world’s second-largest economy, and Japan, the third-largest, have total two-way trade of around $345 billion, but some experts believe anti-Japan sentiment could prompt firms to rethink investments in China in the longer term. “The impact on our business so far has been small, but Japanese and non-Japanese employees at our offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong have bee subjected to harassment,” said one services sector firm. — Reuters
are right.” Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso meanwhile paid tributes to Wen’s role in fostering burgeoning ties over the past 10 years. “Your role has been essential in bringing us to where we are today,” Van Rompuy said. European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs meanwhile welcomed what he said was a commitment from China to tackle spiralling greenhouse gas emissions in return for EU financial aid and expertise. One of the measures mentioned included a polluting permits trading market in Beijing. “We commend China’s commitments and we’ll support their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to make cities cleaner and to better manage water, waste and heavy metal pollution,” he said in a statement. Piebalgs and Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming signed a deal for aid worth 25 million euros. Home to half a billion people, the EU is China’s single largest export market while China is the EU’s second largest trading partner after the United States, with total trade worth nearly 430 billion euros in 2011. — AFP
Turkish cbank sees growth picking up KOCAELI: Turkey’s economic growth is expected to pick up next year and inflation will fall to within target, Central Bank Governor Erdem Basci said yesterday, while policy steps to support domestic demand would depend on the pace of export growth. The economy was expected to grow between 3-4 percent this year, just under the government’s target, with growth quickening to 4-5 percent in 2013, Basci told a chamber of commerce event in the northwestern city of Kocaeli. He said the bank’s inflation expectation for the end of the year was around 6.2 percent, before falling to 5 percent by mid-2013. Basci also said he saw no reason to put the brakes on loan growth any further and that the lira was at “reasonable” levels, requiring no action from the central bank. Turkey’s economy was the fastest-growing in Europe last year, expanding by 8.5 percent, but growth has slowed this year as domestic demand has weakened and policymakers have been trying for a soft landing. The central bank has had some success in a battle to bring down inflation, giving it scope to cut rates, but the country also has a large shortfall on its current account deficit. Basci said current export price levels were not helping to narrow that deficit. The central bank cut its overnight lending rate for the first time in seven months at a monthly policy meeting on Tuesday and hinted it could do more to try to cushion a slowdown in economic growth. The bank cut the upper boundary of its interest rate corridor by 150 basis points to 10 percent, a bigger cut than economists had forecast and took steps to keep loan growth in check to avoid overheating. It has kept the one-week repo rate, its main policy rate, at an all-time low of 5.75 percent for more than a year and has used the rate corridor the gap between its overnight lending and borrowing rates - to tighten monetary conditions. Basci said the bank would only consider cutting its main policy rate if inflation fell below 5 percent, the lira strengthened sharply, or in the event of a major “Lehman-style” bank crisis. — Reuters
BUSINESS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
AirAsia may buy 100 new Airbus planes SINGAPORE: Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier AirAsia is considering placing a new order for an additional 100 Airbus planes including the A320neo, chief executive Tony Fernandes said yesterday in Singapore. Fernandes also said AirAsia X, the carrier’s long-haul arm, will probably launch an initial public offering in December if all goes according to plan. “The board is evaluating it now,” Fernandes said of the carrier’s ongoing exploratory study of whether it should buy more Airbus planes. He said if the order goes ahead it
will likely be for 100 planes, including the fuel-efficient A320neo. Last year the Malaysian budget carrier placed a record order for 200 of the mediumhaul aircraft, with a catalogue price of $18.2 billion, at the Paris Air Show. The public-listed discount carrier is one of Airbus’s biggest customers with a fleet of 58 new A320s. According to Airbus, the A320neo model uses 15 percent less fuel than its current top A320 model. Fernandes, who was speaking with foreign correspondents, also said a December listing for AirAsia X is likely if all falls into place, but the final deci-
sion will be made by management. “It is progressing and the board and the management will decide when is the right time,” said Fernandes. “I reckon it’d be December... If the board agrees and it has been finalised,” he said. Fernandes has previously said a public listing of AirAsia X was on the cards but did not specify a timeframe. There have been reports that AirAsia X could list on the Kuala Lumpur exchange by the end of the year to help fund its ambitious expansion plans. Fernandes, a former record indus-
India unveils more reforms as stocks surge Walmart aims for first store within 18 months NEW DELHI: India moved yesterday to encourage investors to put extra money in the stock market and spur more domestic companies to borrow cheaply abroad, leading to fresh leaps on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram announced a tax incentive scheme for new investors earning below one million rupees ($19,000) a year who invest up to 50,000 rupees in the stock market. “Gold is a dead asset,” Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi. “There are millions of people with surplus assets and I hope this will encourage them to come to the market.” Retail investor participation in the stock market is still relatively low in India with many people’s savings invested in gold, real estate and lowrisk avenues like high-yielding bank deposits. India, where gold is also widely purchased for religious and ceremonial occasions, is the world’s largest buyer of bullion. The new equity investment scheme is designed to boost domestic capital markets and promote a greater “equity culture” in India, Chidambaram said, adding “we must wait and see” how much investment in stocks was generated by the move. Under the scheme, investors will get a 50-percent deduction from their taxable income of the sum invested. The minister’s announcement came as the government has been pushing ahead with contentious reforms by opening up the retail, aviation and other sectors to greater foreign investment to spur a slowing economy. The benchmark 30-share Sensex Index was up 2.82 percent at 18,866.87 points, with retail and aviation stocks among the biggest gainers after the government signed into law a decision to allow wider foreign investment in the sectors. “The buoyancy is there due to a decisive signal from the government that reforms would continue,” said Alok Churiwala, managing director of Mumbai’s Churiwala Securities.
AMRITSAR: (FILES) In this photograph taken on September 19, 2012, an Indian shopper gestures to a product while a store employee looks on at the Bharti Wal-Mart Best Price wholesale store in Manawala, some 11kms from Amritsar. US giant Walmart said yesterday, that it aims to open its first retail store in India within the next 12-18 months after the government opened the vast consumer market to foreign chains. — AFP The Indian currency also climbed, infrastructure in the coming five years hitting a four-month-high against the and hopes that much of the investdollar of 53.59 rupees on hopes that ment for projects will come through foreign investor sentiment towards through public-private partnerships. India would improve and lead to Meanwhile, US giant Walmart said stronger overseas inflows. yesterday it aims to open its first store In a bid to spur investment to mod- in India within the next 12-18 months ernise India’s dilapidated roads, ports after the government opened the vast highways and other infrastructure, consumer market to foreign chains. Chidambaram also said the govern“That is the plan-to open (stores) in ment would cut a tax on foreign bor- 12 to 18 months,” a Walmart rowing by local companies to five from spokesman told AFP, declining to dis20 percent. close how many stores it might open Such borrowing would no longer or other details. Up to now, foreign require case-by-case approval for com- groups such as Walmart could only panies seeking cheap loans abroad, he operate as wholesalers amid fears that added. “This is to encourage more bor- big Western retail chains could swamp rowings at very low costs abroad-this is small family-run stores that dominate really for infrastructure,” Chidambaram the sector. said. The central bank’s benchmark The government signed into law a lending rate at which it loans to com- decision late Thursday to allow foreign mercial banks stands at eight percent multibrand retailers to set up shop in while the key US federal funds rate is India via joint ventures as it moved to near zero percent. India aims to spend further open up the economy and kickaround $1 trillion on overhauling its start sharply slowing growth. — AFP
try executive, plucked ailing AirAsia from insolvency in 2001 and quickly turned it into a profitable budget carrier and one of the aviation sector’s biggest successes. He established a successful template that included flying into cheaper secondary airports in major cities and launched AirAsia X in 2007 to serve routes beyond the airline’s core Southeast Asian market. But AirAsia X this year cut unprofitable routes to Europe, India and New Zealand to focus on expanding its services to China, Japan and elsewhere in Asia. — AFP
China eases access to insurance, travel industries BEIJING: China has eased restrictions on foreign companies in parts of its insurance, travel and delivery industries in a possible effort to reverse a slide in investment from abroad, an American business group said yesterday. Some of the measures were promised in talks with US officials in May, but the timing is unusual, coming ahead of a leadership transition during which major regulatory changes were not expected, said Christian Murck, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. “I view it as partially a response to a trend of declining foreign investment,” Murck said. “I know the Chinese have been concerned about what’s driving that and what they can do to make sure foreign investment is encouraged.” Beijing doesn’t publicize many of its regulatory changes and it’s not uncommon for the first word to come from the companies affected. The commerce ministry said this week that foreign direct investment in China declined in August for a third month. It blamed economic weakness in the United States and Europe. Regulators granted licenses to two global express delivery services this month to offer courier services in some Chinese cities, the American Chamber said. It said foreign airlines have been told they no longer are required to use the same state-owned company to distribute fare information to travel agents beginning in October. Under a change proposed in August, foreign securities firms will soon be allowed to own up to 49 percent of joint ventures, up from the present limit of 33 percent, the group said. It said they will be allowed to expand the scope of their business after two years of operation, down from the current five years. In May, foreign insurers were allowed for the first time to sell third-party liability auto insurance in China. The decline in foreign investment is a setback for government efforts to encourage spending by companies as part of its effort to reverse China’s deepest economic downturn since the 2008 global crisis. Authorities have imposed curbs on real estate development to cool surging housing costs but are trying to encourage spending in other industries. Murck said another possible area for liberalization might be the foreign investment approval process. He said the government has circulated a proposal to allow provincial-level authorities to approve investments up to $300 million instead of seeking approval from Beijing. China’s latest regulatory changes come amid a slump in global consumer demand that is fueling trade tensions as countries compete harder for export markets. On Monday, the United States filed a challenge in the World Trade Organization accusing China of improperly subsidizing exports of autos and auto parts. Beijing filed its own WTO case the same day challenging US anti-dumping measures on Chinese kitchen appliances, paper and other goods. — AP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
No buts, in Beverly Hills it has to be a butt job Page 24
Newcomers aim to knock ‘Mad Men’ off Emmys throne Page 27
A model displays a creation as part of Just Cavalli Spring-Summer 2013 collection yesterday during the Women’s fashion week in Milan. — AFP
Lifestyle
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
John Travolta
wanted to retire after his son died
T
he ‘Grease!’ actor and wife Kelly Preston were left devastated when son Jett passed away in 2009 and he admits it was only the support from his fans, loved ones and faith in Scientology which prevented him from turning his back on his career in the aftermath of the tragedy. He said: “I lost my son a few years ago and I had been having quite a time of that. “And after three years of getting a lot of support from the church and a lot of support from people - fans and family - I decided that it was OK to go back to work. “Because I even thought of retiring at one point, because it just felt like too much.” John -
who is making his acting return in new movie ‘Savages’ - admits he is still impressed by his “extraordinary” career achievements. He added in an interview with ‘BBC Breakfast’: “‘Grease!’ and ‘Saturday Night Fever’ were the number one and two records in history until Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ came along. “So for five years we held the crown for one and two! It was pretty extraordinary. And still I think that ‘You’re The One That I Want’ [from ‘Grease!’] is the biggest duet in history.”
Dame Helen
Mirren up for a challenge
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he 67-year-old actress - who has previously played the monarch in hit movie ‘The Queen’ - is to star in ‘The Audience’ in London’s West End next year and admits the role will be tough as she has to portray the royal from when she took the throne aged 25 right up until the modern day. She said: “That’ll be a challenge.” However, the actress has given the role some thought and thinks the monarch’s “unbelievable consistency in everything” will help with the transition, and she is also studying the changes in her speech patterns. She explained to the Daily Mail newspaper: “Her voice has changed and I can use that - she had a terribly posh voice when she was young. “But now even the queen, while she isn’t quite dropping the ends of her lines - though her grandsons do - there’s a tiny bit of estuary creeping in there. “I can use all that to signify the age range and we’ll come up with other things.” Helen - who also played Queen Elizabeth I in TV series ‘Elizabeth I’ and Queen Charlotte in ‘The Madness of King George’ - admitted she was initially apprehensive about taking on the role. She said: “I certainly don’t want to be known as the actress who played the queen, so there was a slight sense of apprehension about that element. “I was thinking, ‘You really shouldn’t be doing this Helen, I don’t think it’s right.’ And the thought of doing a play - you can’t go anywhere for six months.” ‘The Audience’ - which examines the relationship between the queen and her Prime Ministers - begins previews on February 15, officially opening on March 5 with a run scheduled until June 15.
Robbie Williams is obsessed with board games
Salma Hayek
can be a pushy mother
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he ‘Savages’ actress used to think she was a “laidback” mum until she had a party for her daughter Valentina who turned five - and found she was pushing through crowds of children to make sure her little girl had a candy. She said: “I make an effort to be laidback and often I want to give her space, and then I catch myself doing things. In Paris I had a birthday party with a pinata with kids, who were Mexican, they were boys and they were older. “She was really concerned she wouldn’t be able to take a candy when the pinata broke. I said, ‘Don’t worry’. When the pinata broke, she couldn’t get in, I was pushing them, trying to get in. And then I caught myself and I thought, ‘I’ve turned into one of those mothers!’ I moved away. I think I’m a bit of both. I think we all are.” Despite Valentina being the daughter of an Oscar-nominated actress and a billionaire father - French fashion mogul Francois Henri Pinault - Salma thinks her offspring wants to become a gymnast because of the London Olympics. Speaking on UK TV show ‘Lorraine’, she said: “She’s into the gymnastics because of the Olympics. It’s amazing how she points her toes, like a little bird or something. She’s doing it every day.”
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he ‘Candy’ singer - who has previously battled drug addiction - admits his life is much quieter these days and he is excited about taking his new baby daughter, Theodora Rose, toy shopping. He said: “Fun these days is a bag of Minstrels and a game of Uno. I love Yahtsee, I like Balderdash and I’m a Trivial Pursuit guy. I can’t wait to take the kid to Hamleys.” Robbie - whose wife Ayda Field gave birth to Theodora admits he is easily content these days. He is quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: “All I need wherever I am is Wi-Fi, the sports channels and some chocolate.” Meanwhile, the 38-year-old pop star dedicated his hit single ‘Angels’ to a seven-year-old boy who died four years ago when he learned his mother was in the audience. Friends of Mel Hall - whose little boy Matthew passed away from rare nervous system disorder Batten Disease - had tweeted Robbie to tell her she was attending his show in Southend, Essex, South East England, last Sunday. He said from the stage: “Is he your son? Oh bless you, what a beautiful little boy. God bless you mummy, this one is for your son.” Mel later praised the singer’s “very sincere” tribute to her son. She said: “Robbie was very sweet and very sincere. It was very poignant. Matthew was such a special little boy. We had to come to terms with having a child who wasn’t going to live very long.”
Lifestyle
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Blake Lively
loves throwing ice cream soda parties
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he ‘Gossip Girl’ actress - who recently married Ryan Reynolds - is happiest when she is at home making edible treats, according to domestic goddess Martha Stewart , who lives near the couple in New York. She told E! News: “They are the nicest couple. And very, very modest and nice, contrary to the parts they play. “Blake makes fabulous things. I got invited for an ice cream soda party.” Blake recently revealed she likes to experiment with cooking when she travels so is always smuggling local ingredients home with her and has to get them through customs without being found out. She said: “I love to go to cooking school when I travel and I like to smuggle ingredients home. I have smuggled so many ingredients across so many borders, like shallot confit from Thailand, or a new sauce from New Orleans not approved by the FDA. “I’m stuffing them in teddy bears cut in half and put back together again and I’ve gotten really good at it, although now I’m talking about it, I’m sure customs will be all over me next time I go anywhere.”
Kanye West urges Kim Kardashian to take style tips
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he rapper believes his girlfriend of six months - who shot to fame after making a tape with her then boyfriend Ray J - could learn a lot from the British royal’s “poise and sophistication” along with her conservative style. Speaking about the duchess - who was previously known as Kate Middleton - a source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Kanye has been urging Kim to tone down her make-up and style her hair in a more conservative style, like Kate. “And it’s not just Kate’s regal look that Kanye wants Kim to mimic. He’s also told her that she could learn a thing or two about poise and sophistication from Kate.” Kim recently revealed Kanye has managed to convince her to live her life at a slower pace and focus less on her work and more on her personal life. She said: “I’ve slowed down a little bit and for the better. It was a good lesson learned. I now make it a priority to take time out for myself and have private vacations. “To be in a happy, healthy relationship means everything. It’s everything when you want to share your life with someone.”
Paparazzo accuses
Amanda Bynes of pinching him
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Javier Bardem is happiest with Penelope Cruz
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he Spanish actor - who has 20-month-old son Leonardo with the brunette beauty - says he gives thanks every day for how lucky he has been in his personal life and revealed he loves being married. He told America’s GQ magazine: “I’m happily married. I breathe and stay in peace. I truly thank whoever’s up there for giving me the opportunity to be loved.’ Javier’s wife Penelope has also spoken out about their happy home life in the past and despite being an Oscar winning actress, insists she loves nothing more than being a housewife. She said: “I’m a housewife and it’s beautiful, the best thing in the world. I know how to cook and it’s important to me to make fresh food every day. I don’t do crazy diets, just the good Mediterranean food that I love because it’s important to eat well. “I’m good at cleaning too. I learnt that when I made the film ‘Volver’. My character was always cleaning the house, so when I started preparing for the role I would go to my mother’s house and to my sister’s house, and they were like, ‘I think she has a fever, because I don’t know why else she has come to clean my house today.” - Bangshowbiz
he actress - who recently had her car impounded, her driving licence suspended and is facing a DUI (driving under the influence) charge - had a run in with a photographer on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles which quickly escalated into a war of words as she begged him to delete a picture of her because she wasn’t happy with her appearance. In a video obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Amanda says: “You have to delete the one of my face, I have to look beautiful.” She tries to get the snapper to do as she asks by complimenting him saying “Let’s get along, I like your shirt,” but loses her temper when he fails to delete the picture. The photographer can be heard saying: “Can you stop pinching me? All right, stop? Amanda stop pinching me it is not necessary. “Let me go, what the hell is wrong with you? Stop that!” Amanda’s parents are reportedly so worried about her, they have leased out their home in Cedar Park, Texas, and intend to sell it so they move to Los Angeles to be by her side. Sources close to the family say they have no plans to pursue a conservatorship - which would give them legal control over Amanda - but they want to be on-hand to support their daughter.
Lifestyle
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
No buts, in Beverly Hills it has to be a butt job
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orget face lifts or chest jobs-in California the latest cosmetic surgery must-have is the buttock enhancement, whether higher, rounder or just smoother. “I just knew that I was unhappy. And you know I did something for myself, something that did make me happy. And I feel great,” said Kristina, 21, after going under the knife of surgeon Ashkan Ghavami. He has carried out the S-Curve Buttock Lift operation-which, instead of using implants, involves fat taken from the tummy and elsewhere and transferred to the buttocks-on around 700 people. Another of his patients, a 49-yearold accountant with no children, plumped for the operation because, after looking in the mirror, she knew there were “certain areas that no amount of dieting or exercising was going to touch.” “So, at 49, I finally said: why not? It makes you feel a lot better, it’s esthetically nice, you look nicer in clothes,” she said, asking not to be named. Ghavami, an Iranian-American who is assistant clinical professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine, said Hollywood stars had raised people’s desire for a nicer “derriere.”
achieving a better behind is not done “A lot of people focused more on without at least some pain. breasts-for the buttock to be a focus of “We do liposuction with small incibody shaping is definitely very new,” sions, we go in with a canula and we the medic, who pioneered the S-Curve suction the fat into a and now teaches it to sterile container and other surgeons, told then we wash the fat AFP at his Beverly and put it into Hills clinic. “Finally syringes and then thanks to Kim inject it into the butKardashian, Jennifer tock,” he said. “When Lopez and all the I’m injecting into the media, now we are buttock, we do what’s realizing this a much called the fanning more natural way technique-it actually than butt implants.” improves cellulite, He has performed because it fills the skin the operation-which underneath,” he typically costs $9,000added. $16,000 — for seven And contrary to years, with the sursome misconcepgery most popular Plastic surgeon Dr Askan tions, even prejuwith black, Latino, gay Ghavami poses before he per- dices, the operation is and transgender peoforms buttock enhancement not necessarily anyple in Los Angeles, cosmetic surgery in Beverly thing to do with a where the cult of the Hills, California. —AFP patient being overbody is everywhere. weight. “I never had a Ghavami’s clinic is in weight issue, but after I hit 40 I had 10 the Zip code area “90210”-the name of extra pounds. I actually gained 10 a coming of age TV show set in Beverly pounds just to have the procedure, so Hills, a city where dreams famously there would be more fat to transfer-the come true on the silver screen, espemore the better,” said the accountant. cially if you look beautiful enough. But
Luc Besson unveils ‘Film City’ Paris studios
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rench filmmaker Luc Besson cut the ribbon yesterday on his “Film City”, a vast studio complex created in a disused power station to offer Hollywood-style facilities right on the edge of Paris. “I had always said I’d love to make our own films here in France. This is a beautiful adventure,” Besson told French politicians, film executives and project partners. “And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in this dream,” he said under the
a gap in the French film production landscape, which until now had no one studio facility able to see a movie project through from A to Z. Back in 1997, Besson had to spend 18 months in Britain to shoot his scifi blockbuster “The Fifth Element”. Besson recalled how “I went with a heavy heart.” Christophe Lambert, general director of Besson’s production firm EuropaCorp, said: “France has Europe’s biggest film industry and yet it was the only European country
A woman walks past a picture of French actress Marion Cotillard during the inauguration of the new studios of “La Cite Europeenne du Cinema” (European City of Cinema), in Saint-Denis, outside Paris yesterday. —AP vast glass and steel vaults of the 1930s power plant where a giant tubrbine brightly painted by local street artists towered in the centre. The 170-million-euro “Cite du Cinema”, a project 12 years in the making, aims to plug
without the infrastructure to produce a film.” So in 2000, the filmmaker set out to create a studio complex that would make it possible to create a film in France from A to Z, in an Art Deco-style former thermal power plant in Saint Denis, a working class sub-
urb north of Paris. Located just outside the Paris ring road, on the edge of the world’s most filmed city, Besson had used the site before to shoot scenes from two hitman dramas, the 1990 “Nikita” and the 1994 “The Professional”. The site of the complex was purchased by Nef-Lumiere, owned by France’s Caisse des Depots and the Vinci conglomerate. Half of the film sets were financed by EuropaCorp, with the Tunisian businessman Tarak Ben Ammar and the Euro Media group splitting the financing on the remaining 50 percent. As well as nine film sets, the Cite du Cinema houses a vast office complex, much of it occupied by EuropaCorp which shifted its headquarters to Saint Denis, as well as film production facilities, and the Louis Lumiere National film school. It will also host a second film school, created by Besson to offer a two-year course in screenwriting or directing, free of charge, to some 60 youths with no prior qualifications. “The students will be able to rub shoulders with Hollywood stars at the cafeteria,” joked Lambert, who says he is fielding quote requests from top US producers and predicts the studio will be fully booked within a year. Besson himself started shooting there over the summer for his new film “Malavita” starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, who will be attending a private inauguration dinner yesterday night with the likes of Jean Dujardin. And for everybody else, the site is being thrown open today for a one-off tour of what is being dubbed “Hollywood on Seine”. —AFP
“My weight is really the same, it’s just redistributed,” she added. According to the Association of Plastic Surgeons, last year some 13.8 million cosmetic operations were carried out in the United States-five percent more than in 2010. The most popular surgery is breast-enhancement, followed by nose jobs, liposuction and face lifts. But the number of buttock enhancements has surged, with 38 percent more this year than in the same period in 2010. Ghavami says most of the 700 he has carried out were within the last three to four years. “It’s new for a lot of surgeons right now, that’s why I’m invited to go lecture at meetings about it, because surgeons are very curious about it, it’s trendy,” he said. For the patients the outcome can be life-changing. “They definitely save and invest to do it because when you’re not happy with your body shape, there’s something out there that can help you with it,” said Ghavami. “It’s good for them, to their relationship, their husbands, their confidence.” —AFP
Jennifer Lawrence heats ‘House at the End of the Street’
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his weekend will provide a heat check for Jennifer Lawrence, the young star of “House at the End of the Street,” the thriller expected to challenge for the top spot at the box office. If the low-budget PG-13 movie from Relativity delivers, and industry analysts say it will compete for the top spot with Clint Eastwood’s “Trouble With the Curve,” it will surely increase the buzz surrounding Lawrence - and that’s saying something. In January, Relativity shifted the original release from April 20, ostensibly to avoid a crowded schedule. But there will be plenty of competition this weekend, too. Besides Eastwood’s baseball film “Trouble With the Curve,” Open Road Films is rolling out its police drama “End of Watch” and Lionsgate bows “Dredd 3D.” The expansion of the Weinstein Company’s “The Master” - which was the No. 1 seller for online ticket broker Fandango Thursday - and the debut of Summit Entertainment’s “Perks of Being a Wallflower” highlight the specialty release lineup. It’s a broad slate of movies but their target audiences are diverse, which bodes well for overall box office revJennifer enues. Her turn as Katniss Everdeen in Lawrence this spring’s blockbuster “The Hunger Games” made Lawrence the highestgrossing action heroine of all-time. She has been getting critical raves for her first film comedy role in “Silver Linings Playbook,” the David O. Russell film that won the audience award at the Toronto International Festival. And she already has the boxoffice hit “X-Men: First Class” and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for 2010’s “Winter’s Bone” under her belt. Not bad for a 22-year-old. She even sings “All You’ve Got to Do is Fall in Love” by Benji Hughes in the new film. Young women are the target audience for “House at the End of the Street,” which will be in 3,083 theaters. Elizabeth Shue and Max Theriot co-star, and Mark Tonderai directs. Relativity didn’t screen it for critics, but thriller and horror films tend to be review resistant. Relativity sees it opening in the $10 million range, but analysts have it doing considerably better, as high as $18 million. —AFP
Lifestyle
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Review
‘Trouble With the Curve’: Predictably pleasing
T PETA activists wearing monkey masks stage a protest in front of US television network National Broadcasting Company (NBC) headquarters in New York. —AFP
PETA makes a monkey of itself at protest
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ETA is going ape over NBC’s new sitcom “Animal Practice” - and not in a good way. The animal-rights group descended on the network’s North Hollywood, Calif, offices Wednesday for a protest that saw protestors donning money masks as they decried the new series. According to PETA, the series - which stars former “Weeds” actor Justin Kirk as a veterinarian with a list of famous animal patients - practices cruelty to animals on multiple levels. At the demonstration/press conference, primate experts Dr Mel Richardson and Kari Bagnall took exception to “Animal Practice’s” inclusion of a capuchin monkey named Crystal as a central character on the show. According to Richardson and Bagnall, when “Friends” - also an NBC show featured a monkey on the series (as a pet of character Ross Geller) - numerous people began buying pet monkeys, which were subsequently abandoned to animal sanctuaries when the owners realized they couldn’t care for them. PETA further claims that the creatures used on “Animal Practice” spend their lives “deprived of everything that is natural and important to them. Stolen from their mothers shortly after birth - a cruel act for both the baby and the mother that denies the infants the care
and nurturing that they need.” NBC has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment. And though Crystal might appear happy in promos for the show, which premieres Sept 26, don’t be fooled - behind that seemingly happy simian grin lies a world of furrytailed misery, PETA says. “The ‘smile’ that Crystal exhibits on the show is actually an expression that indicates fear and stress in capuchin monkeys,” PETA claimed on its website. “As capuchin authority Dr Eduardo Ottoni explains, ‘ since we do not usually understand their communicative behaviors properly, fear, submission, or avoidance displays can easily be mistaken for ‘smiles.’” A second protest was planned for Thursday, in front of NBC’s New York headquarters. Earlier this year, PETA targeted the HBO series “Luck,” calling for law-enforcement to investigate the deaths of horses that expired during the series’ production. PETA claimed that the show was racing retired horses that were unfit for the work, and of overworking the horses by racing them twice in the same day. HBO pulled “Luck” from its schedule in March, after a third horse died during the show’s production. —Reuters
he good news: Clint Eastwood never once addresses an empty chair in his latest movie. Even better news: the closest the movie comes to presidential politics is that it’s about baseball, which has been known to have sitting Presidents throw out the first pitch at the start of a Major League season. “Trouble With the Curve,” a film that holds no surprises but offers much pleasure in its performances, stars Eastwood as Gus Lobel, an aging scout for the Atlanta Braves. He was widowed years ago and has a patchy relationship with his only child, Mickey (Amy Adams), who was named after Mickey Mantle, the legendary Yankee slugger. Mickey is an ambitious lawyer and up for a partnership with her Atlanta law firm so she’s none too enthusiastic when her father’s boss (John Goodman), who’s also his best friend, urges her to join Gus on a road trip through North Carolina to scout a promising hitting prospect (Joe Massingill). The pal fears that Gus’ job is on the line and suspects that his eyesight isn’t what it once was. Over the course of several days on the road and at minor league ball parks, father and daughter bicker and bait each other, learn each other’s secrets and frailties, and inevitably grow closer. Mickey also begins a tentative romance with Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake, who’s improving as an actor), a former pro pitcher now working as a scout for the Boston Red Sox. As scripted by newcomer Randy Brown and directed by Robert Lorenz, a longtime producer and assistant director for Eastwood, “Trouble” is an old-fashioned movie, grounded in character and storytelling. Much like a pitcher who signals ahead of time what he’s going to throw, the movie is pretty obvious in laying down with a thud early on the paving stones for several late-breaking plot developments. Put it this way: nothing that happens in “Trouble” comes out of left field. All that really separates the film from a TV movie is its A-level cast. But with Eastwood and Adams working off each other, one just
Apartment raised around NY’s Columbus statue
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ew Yorkers can now admire the city’s statue of Christopher Columbus up close and personal-so personal that it’s inside an apartment room. Starting Thursday and running through November 18, visitors can enter the “Discovering Columbus” apartment built around the statue, located in the downtown Columbus Circle, by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi. The 74 square meter (800 square foot) furnished apartment, elevated from the ground by scaffolding, includes large sofas, a television set and a book collection. The art project was financed with $1.5 million from the Public Art Fund, an organization that presents contemporary art in the city’s public spaces. “There’s always a way to look at something you think you know from a different point of view,” Nishi told AFP. “Up until then, the statue was only a small figure. Now they can look at it in the eyes,” he said. Nishi is known for building temporary structures that place historic monuments in intimate, domestic environments. New York city officials said they hope to invest $1 million in restoring the weathered Columbus statue, built in 1892 by Italian sculptor Gaetano Russo. —AFP
her work here with her recent steel-hard intensity in “The Master” and it’s obvious that she’s the real deal; one looks forward to many more extraordinary performances to coe. In the end, “Trouble” is too pedestrian and predictable to score a critical home run, but the stellar performances and warm story make it a solid double. Heck, if viewed under the right conditions (plenty of popcorn and no crying babies), it could even stretch into a triple. —Reuters
Scarlett Johansson returns to Broadway
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The face of the iconic 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus stands in the 810-square-foot “living room” art installation by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi in New York City. —AFP
sits back and enjoys. Looking grizzled and projecting a whiff of incipient frailty, Eastwood essentially reprises his cranky, growling tough guy from “Gran Torino,” the 2008 film that marked his last time he was in front of a movie camera. His Gus is a cranky codger with heart, which is the best kind. Adams takes the most clichÈd of scenes in “Trouble” and make them genuine. She radiates humanity and realness. Contrast
carlett Johansson is slinking her way back to Broadway as Maggie the Cat. “The Avengers” actress will star opposite Benjamin Walker (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”) in a new revival of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” in a role most commonly associated with Elizabeth Taylor. But Johansson brings with her some formidable theater chops to the role of the sex-starved Maggie. Her previous foray onto Broadway, the 2010 revival of Arthur Miller’s “A View From a Bridge,” scored her a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. Ben Brantley, the often irascible theater critic for the New York Times, raved about her performance in the kitchen-sink drama, writing, “Ms. Johansson melts into her character so thoroughly that her nimbus of celebrity disappears.” In contrast to that play, Williams’ sultry melodrama will allow Johansson plenty of opportunities for glamor-pussing and sizzle. Her character, a desperately unhappy woman, flaunts her sexuality in an attempt to draw her repressed homosexual husband Brick (Walker) back to the marriage bed. —Reuters
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Real ‘Jersey Boy’ Frankie Valli to play Broadway F
or a short time this fall, Broadway will feature Frankie Valli in two different places. There will be the fake one taking the stage of the August Wilson Theatre for the Tony-winning “Jersey Boys,” and the real one appearing for seven nights at the Broadway Theater with The Four Seasons beginning Oct 19. The 78-year old Valli has been belting iconic hits like “Can’t Take My
This photo shows Frankie Valli, of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in New York. — AP
Eyes Off You,” and “Sherry” with his trademark falsetto for years. Recently, the New Jersey native spoke to The Associated Press about his career, a stint on “The Sopranos” and where to get the best corned beef sandwich in New York. AP: What’s special about playing Broadway this fall? Valli: I can’t think of anybody who had a play on Broadway about their life and appeared on Broadway at the same time, so it was something that I was trying to get happening for a couple years and unable to get anybody to really understand what I was talking about. AP: Since recording technology was far less sophisticated when you started out, how important was it to emotionally deliver the song in the studio? Valli: The first and most important part about having a hit record is something that I learned a long, long time ago. You needed to have a hit song in order to have a hit record. If you didn’t have a hit song it didn’t matter how great the performance was or the arrangement or the production - you didn’t have a hit record. That’s just the way it was. It didn’t matter if your name was Frank Sinatra or James Brown. It just didn’t matter. Every artist has misses. You hopefully go into the studio and do music that your audience is going to like but that does mean they’re gonna like everything that you make and sometimes you can run out of ideas. AP: How did The Four Seasons approach it? Valli: I always looked at The Four Seasons as being more of an innovative group for the kind of music that they did. We really never followed what was happening on
the radio. We weren’t listening to what was happening on the radio. We went in and made music that we loved to do. We had fun doing it. I think when you start to sit down and try to figure out what is it that makes the hit is when you begin to have trouble. AP: What was it about The Four Seasons and that era? Valli: It was a very strange phenomenon because we were a guy’s group and girls liked what we did, but in a lot of cases there were groups that guys didn’t like because they felt they were being threatened. We were not that. We were saying a lot of things that these street guys wanted to say. AP: When did you realize you wanted to be a recording artist? Valli: I first started out in this business not really wanting to be a pop singer. I was more interested in jazz. That’s what I wanted to do. And I remember as a kid, I would sit in the kitchen on the floor - we lived in the projects - with the door open to the outside and I’d listen to “Symphony” Sid, which was on the radio from 12 at night until 6 in the morning. My father would go bananas so I had to keep it so low. AP: What led you to your trademark falsetto vocals? Valli: A lot of groups did. They just used falsetto a little differently than they did. We used it as a lead-in. We used it much stronger. Everybody else used it as background. In a lot of cases we used it as background, too. I sang lead and then when we were making the record I sang a high background part with it. AP: At what point did you know you were
onto something? Valli: To be perfectly honest with you, at first when I decided to do pop music I wasn’t overly excited, you know? I was trying to do this jazz thing. Jazz wasn’t really happening to any great degree. Listening to the radio one day I said, ‘Hell, I can do this too.’ AP: What would we be surprised to learn that you listen to? Valli: I like country music, I like jazz, and I like blues. (Bob) Dylan is probably one of my all-time favorite, favorite people that there is. Probably America’s greatest poet. I’ve always seen him as that. As (Bruce) Springsteen is the other side of Dylan. Dylan brings out everything that’s wrong in the world and Springsteen he finds things that are good. AP: What was it like playing Rusty Millio on the “Sopranos”? Valli: I loved it. It’s a part of my life that was really a part of my life, although I was never mobbed up. I grew up in New Jersey. I lived in a neighborhood where there was a presence of organized crime... but all the clubs and bars that everybody worked in were owned by these guys. So I got to know everybody. AP: What did you have for lunch? Valli: We went for a corned beef sandwich on Houston Street - Katz Deli. The secret isn’t in not how much meat it is. I don’t know if you noticed but they cut it with a knife. It doesn’t cut on a machine because it just crumbles. There are no places that do it like that anymore. They undercook it in most places, because they get more sandwiches out of it. You overcook it, and it shrinks. But that’s the only way it tastes just right. — AP
‘Hoop Dreams’ director takes on concussion issue
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he North Side Raiders look like little men as they take the field for their Pee Wee football game in the opening scene of “Head Games,” their shoulder pads and helmets dwarfing the rest of their small bodies. Only the Raiders aren’t little men and, the film argues, the games they’re playing could do irreparable damage to their brains. “We’ve got to get past this, ‘Little kids involved in a pillow fight’ mentality,” concussion guru Chris Nowinski said. “If parents knew what I knew, they would not be tolerating a lot of things in the sports world that they are. We are clearly exposing children to needless risk, and we’re not upset about it. And we should be.” The concussion crisis that has engulfed the NFL and NHL came to the big screen yesterday with the release of “Head Games,” a documentary by “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James. Inspired by Nowinski’s book by the same name, the film blends a stark, sometimes graphic portrayal of the science of concussions with personal stories of parents and athletes struggling with head injuries’ potentially devastating effects. “Head Games” opened yesterday in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The 90-minute film also will be available on demand at iTunes and Amazon, as well as from some cable and satellite providers. “Before making the film, I had the typical fan’s knowledge of the issue and shared concerns about its potential seriousness. But I also thought that perhaps it was all being overblown a bit by the media,” James said in an email to The Associated Press. “Making the film helped me realize that while there’s so much we don’t know, it’s an issue that deserves to be seen as a huge public health issue. “It’s why we chose to make a film more focused on informing an audience versus my usual approach, which is to focus more on the life or lives of a very few people.” By now, most people know sports has a concussion problem.
Research has shown that repeated blows to the head can lead to brain trauma, with a study released earlier this month finding that NFL players were unusually prone to
dying from degenerative brain disease. The NFL faces more than 140 lawsuits from almost 3,500 former players, including at least 26 Hall of Famers, who allege the league conspired to hide the dangers of concussions. Former NHL MVP Sidney Crosby was essentially sidelined for 14 months because of concussion-related symptoms. Enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak, tough guys who made their livings by dropping their gloves, all died in the summer of 2011; Boogaard’s brain showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease that’s been found in other former fighters. But that drip, drip, drip of information doesn’t have the same impact as a 90-minute tutorial on concussion awareness. “That’s where I felt it was most valuable, (that) they were able to present it with the personal touch for anyone,” said former NHL All-Star Keith Primeau, whose career was cut short by concussions. “Nobody wants to sit and listen to a guy in a lab coat explain the dangers of brain injury. So the format it was presented in, I was not just pleasantly surprised, I was overwhelmed by it.” The film includes extensive interviews with Primeau and Nowinski, whose own history of concussions led him to write “Head Games” and found the Sports Legacy Institute. It also features interviews with concussion expert Dr Robert Cantu and parents struggling to decide whether to pull their children out of the sport they love following a head injury. As easy as the information in the film is to absorb, its details are unflinching, including: Dr Ann McKee, who along with Nowinski and Cantu is a co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University’s School of Medicine, slicing through someone’s brain with what looks like a gigantic butter knife. Tissue samples from former players’ brains with what look like charring, or cigarette burn holes - a telltale sign of CTE. —AP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
This file photo shows cast and crew from the TV show “Mad Men” in the press room after the show won the Best Drama Series Award during the 2009 Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. — AFP
Newcomers aim to knock ‘Mad Men’ off Emmys throne
C
ult retro series “Mad Men” and comedy hit “Modern Family” are Emmys favorites again this weekend-but a bunch of newcomers could yet produce surprises at US television’s annual awards show. “Mad Men,” which has broken records by winning Best Drama every year since its 2007 premier, is vying for the biggest prize once more, along with a brace of others from its 17 nominations tomorrow’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony. The beautifully stylized show, about life and love in a 1960s New York advertising agency, is up against “Boardwalk Empire,” British-made “Downton Abbey,” “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones” and “Homeland” for the top gong. With 11 nominations, HBO’s big-budget epic series “Game of Thrones” will hope to follow up on its success at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys-
the technical trophies-where the fantasy drama swept the board. Thriller “Homeland,” starring Claire Danes as a CIA agent probing a US Marine suspected of planning a terrorist attack, is only in its first season but has earned rave reviews and nine Emmy nominations for pay channel Showtime. On the lighter side, mockumentary-style “Modern Family” is hoping to win its third straight Best Comedy series Emmy with a cast of gay, step-sibling and generally non-orthodox nuclear family characters. But it faces stiff competition from “The Big Bang Theory,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “30 Rock” and newcomers “Girls” and “Veep.” HBO dramedy “Girls,” which only launched in April, follows the lives of a quartet of 20-something New Yorkers-markedly different from the more upmarket “Sex and the City” four-
Video shows Lohan-pedestrian encounter at NY club
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rainy black-and-white surveillance camera footage shows an encounter between Lindsay Lohan and a pedestrian who says she clipped him while driving outside a New York City nightclub and then drove away. The footage was released Thursday by the New York Police Department. It’s blurred to protect the identities of witnesses standing near Lohan’s Porsche outside the nightclub at the Dream Hotel in Manhattan. The footage shows Lohan’s car turn toward the crowd, but the blurriness obscures what restaurant worker Jose Rodriguez says was the car hitting him. The car drives off as Rodriguez chases it. Police say the Jersey City, NJ, resident suffered a knee injury. Lohan was arrested later on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and causing injury. She was given a ticket. Her publicist says the injury claims are false. — AP
some. It has been a huge hit with viewers and critics alike, and could produce an upset night. The long list of “Mad Men” nominees included Jon Hamm for best actor, Elisabeth Moss for best actress, Jared Harris for best supporting actor and Christina Hendricks for best supporting actress. Overall, “Mad Men” collected 17 nominations, one more than “Downton Abbey,” which last year won in the miniseries category. Up for best miniseries or TV movie are “American Horror Story,” “Game Change,” “Hatfields & McCoys,” “Hemingway & Gellhorn,” “Luther” and “Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia.” “American Horror Story” racked up 17 nominations in all, including best actress (Connie Britton), another for best supporting actor (Denis O’Hare), and two for best supporting actress (Frances Conroy and Jessica Lange). In the race for best competition reality
show are “The Amazing Race,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Project Runway,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Top Chef” and “The Voice.” Trailing with just three minor nominations was the high school musical series “Glee,” two years after it racked up 19 nominations. Missing from the nominees’ lists, unveiled in July, was “American Idol,” a pillar of the US music industry after 11 seasons, but now at a crossroads after the sudden departure of judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Its host Ryan Seacrest is nevertheless among the nominees for best host of a reality programas is Betty White, still going strong at 90, for “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.” Tomorrow’s awards show will be hosted by late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. — AFP
Penny Marshall advises budding directors P
ioneering film director and producer Penny Marshall has some advice for future filmmakers: Take some chances and don’t be a slave to Hollywood ambition. The 69-year-old Marshall who rose to fame as a comedic actress in the sitcom “Laverne and Shirley,” and ultimately broke barriers for female directors in a male-dominated field with a string of hit Hollywood films, chronicles her colorful life in a new memoir, “My Mother Was Nuts” that hit US stores this week. The book is filled Marshall’s anecdotes about her childhood in the Bronx with her dance instructor mother, her shotgun marriage in 1961, drug-fueled times with a circle of famous names, her bout with cancer and an acting and directing career spanning 44 years. She said her lack of fear of being thrown out of Hollywood helped her succeed as the first female director to make a film that grossed over $100 million with 1988’s family comedy “Big” starring Tom Hanks. “I’ll try anything. What are they gonna do, kick me out of show business?” she told
Reuters in an interview. “I didn’t have that problem because I wasn’t ambitious enough.” Another key success ingredient? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. “I talked to my crew and said, ‘Just tell me the truth.’ I turned to the crews and asked them for their help,” she said. The gambit worked: “Big” was both a box office and critical success and her second film, “Awakenings,” picked up an Oscar nomination for best film, while her third, the baseball comedy drama “A League of Their Own,” became a Marshall fan favorite.
Youtube advantages But after helping pave the way for female directors to helm critical and box office hits, these days Marshall said she doesn’t have an opinion on the lack of female directors that still haunts Hollywood. She said her situation was unique since “they asked me - I didn’t knock on their door.” She did encourage aspiring filmmakers to use current filmmaking tools that were not available to her, including advances in technology and social media.
“Look at YouTube, how many talented people there are,” she said. “It’s a whole new world of how to express yourself. I don’t know how to work that world, but take advantage of it.” Throughout her life, her propensity for trying new things extended beyond the professional realm: she writes candidly about her drug use during the 1970s and 80. Contrast that to now, she said, where vitamins, thyroid medication, and the occasional Motrin are her legal drugs of choice. She is also vocal about her support for abortion rights after her own experience with unplanned pregnancies. “I’m pro-choice. But I’m glad that there was no choice back then, because I have a wonderful daughter and three grandchildren,” she said. These days, after beating a brain-tumor scare, she is passionate about activism on behalf of war veterans with brain injuries. She also directs the occasional television episode. She has not directed a Hollywood film in years-her last movie in cinemas was 2001’s “Riding in Cars with Boys.” —Reuters
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
sixties
Back to the
with Moschino in Milan
Models wear creations part of the Moschino women’s Spring-Summer 2013 fashion collection, during the fashion week in Milan, Italy, yesterday. — AP photos
T
he sixties were back with a bang at the latest Moschino collection at Milan Fashion Week yesterday in a show starring girls with beehive hairstyles, psychedelic dresses and flared
trousers. The catwalk kicked off with a series of striped outfits-black horizontal stripes down white mini-skirts, the front of trouser legs or on short jackets all worn with black or white horse-ridingstyle helmets. But it was flower power that reigned with the stripes giving way to dresses and close-cut suits in yellows, blues and reds adorned with flowers-a theme of the spring/summer 2013 collections already picked up by Prada and Gucci. Dresses and short jumpsuits were
worn high at the neck, with panels cut out at the side to show skin, while mustard yellow and baby pink suits and short jumpsuits were worn with short white gloves and large hooped earrings. As the song “Let’s have a good time” belted out over the soundtrack, the collection took a racy turn with black-netting dresses worn over white underwear. Designer Rosella Jardini’s woman was on the whole sporty and care-free in tennis-style skirts and light tunics with tiny pockets on the front-though also ready for disco dancing in short silver dresses jazzed up with gemstones. The third day of fashion week continues with Etro and Versace, followed by a plethora of parties in the evening, including a Moschino cocktail and a soiree starring US singer Beth Ditto to show off Versace’s second line Versus. — AFP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Lights, camera, sweat? Emmy fashion makes it work
E
In this file photo, Brenda Strong arrives at the 2012 Creative Arts Emmys at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. — AP
ach year, the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony presents a steamy challenge for the red carpet’s most fashionable, since September is typically LA’s hottest month. This Sunday should be no exception. The mercury is expected to soar into the 80s midday, when nominees parade inside the Nokia Theatre. Add hundreds of spotlights and a dose of nerves, and maintaining a cool, camera-ready appearance can be a challenge. But the stars have strategies. Emmy-winning animator Kevin Shinick, for example, has a powerful plan. “Battery-operated tux,” he said. “I have little mini fans all throughout. So you know, that was extra, I couldn’t afford all that!”Actress Lake Bell suggests minimizing movement. “If you do not move that much, you will not sweat. So I am trying to exercise restraint,” she said at last week’s Creative Arts Emmy celebration, where temperatures topped 100 degrees. “But the dress is helping me because it’s very serre, as we say in French, very narrow.” “Dancing With the Stars” choreographers Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini agreed with the no movement policy. Plus “pit pads,” Lazzarini said, and chilled champagne in the car on the way to the ceremony. Stylists offer some more practical solutions. Opt for light fabrics and minimal undergarments, suggests celebrity stylist and costume designer Tanya Gill. That means choosing looks that allow for a Spanxfree approach: “If you can avoid all those undergarments that a lot of people tend to rely on for these events - maybe a little Pilates, a little juice the week before - you’ll feel so much more comfortable not to have all that on.” A spray tan can help, too. “If they can spare a couple of hours and get a spray-on tan, they’ll feel amazing,” she said. “It also makes you feel slimmer, so then you might not have to wear all those undergarments.”Men should consider light fabrics as well - and mind the lining of their tuxedos. “Avoid anything polyester, even the lining,” Gill said. “Cotton, fabulous. Linen, fantastic.” When it comes to hair, ladies should skip the side-swept ponytails and half-up/halfdown ‘dos popular in seasons past, says celebrity stylist and global creative director for
Alterna Professional Haircare Michael Shaun Corby. “This season it’s all about the beehive, topknots and super-sleek ponies,” he said. “What I like about these styles is they keep your hair off the neck, keep you cool and keep you right on trend.” Men should avoid the “shaggy, hipster look” in the heat, says Corby, because “when you start to sweat, the ends will start to curl, and that will be a red-carpet miss.” He suggests opting for shorter cuts - and don’t forget the sunscreen. For guys who must rock longer styles, “try putting dry shampoo close to the
Maya Rudolph arrives. scalp, because that will dry up excess oil and keep you from looking shiny on those HDclose-ups,” Corby said. Since many of the nominees are actors, there’s always the option of acting cool. At last week’s Creative Arts ceremony, Brenda Strong worked her skills to beat the heat. “I’m not beating anything. It’s beating me, very slowly,” she said. “I look cool. Thank you. It’s an act, it’s all an act. I’m not cool at all, I’m boiling up.” Of course, there’s always Maya Rudolph’s advice for beating the heat while dressed to the nines. “You don’t beat it,” she said. “You try to gently lay next to it.” — AP
Lake Bell arrives at the 2012 Creative Arts Emmys. — AP
New York City Ballet Fall Gala
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker poses with fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the New York City Ballet Fall Gala honoring Valentino at Lincoln Center on Thursday, Sept 20, 2012 in New York. — AP photos
Actress Anjelica Huston arrives with a guest.
Model Karolina Kurkova arrives at the New York City Ballet Fall Gala.
technology
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Appeals court allows $9.5m Facebook deal over privacy claims NEW YORK: A US appeals court refused to disturb Facebook Inc’s $9.5 million class action settlement over allegations that the social networking company’s defunct “Beacon” service violated its members’ privacy rights. The 2-1 ruling on Thursday came from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, with the one dissenting judge saying the settlement unfairly benefited Facebook and plaintiff attorneys. In 2007 Facebook launched Beacon, which allowed users to broadcast their Internet activity to friends. If a user rented a movie from Blockbuster, for
instance, Facebook would broadcast that transaction to the person’s entire network, according to the ruling. However, Facebook didn’t require anyone’s affirmative consent to participate in the program, and users soon complained about their private information being transmitted without permission. In the face of complaints and negative publicity, Facebook eventually discontinued the service. A group of 19 plaintiffs filed a proposed class action in federal court against Facebook and other businesses who participated in Beacon. Facebook soon agreed to
settle the case for $9.5 million. Roughly $3 million of that was set aside for attorney’s fees, with the rest going to establish a charitable group focused on online privacy rights. A subset of plaintiffs objected to the settlement, but in its ruling on Thursday the 9th Circuit said the $9.5 million was not too low. “A $9.5 million class recovery would be substantial under most circumstances,” the court wrote, “and we see nothing about this particular settlement that undermines the district court’s conclusion that it was substantial in this case.” Facebook deputy general counsel Colin
Stretch said the company was pleased the 9th Circuit found the settlement fair. Plaintiffs’ attorney Scott Kamber said he looked forward to the formation of the privacy rights group. In dissent, 9th Circuit Judge Andrew Kleinfeld said the settlement “perverts the class action into a device for depriving victims of remedies,” while enriching the company and plaintiff lawyers. “Facebook users who had suffered damages from past exposure of their purchases got no money, not a nickel, from the defendants,” Kleinfeld wrote. — Reuters
Long queues for iPhone 5 rollout despite map glitches Sales expected to fuel strong quarter
HONG KONG: A customer tests the new iPhone 5 at the Apple store in Hong Kong yesterday. In a now-familiar ritual following Apple’s latest releases, the tech juggernaut’s fans jammed shops in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore yesterday to pick up the new iPhone 5. — AP
New Maps app is rare Apple flub NEW YORK: With a touch of geek whimsy, Google Maps famously warns anyone who seeks walking directions to Mordor -the land of evil in “The Lord of the Rings”- to use caution. “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” it says. Apple is finding this week that creating an alternative to Google Maps isn’t a simple walk, either. Apple released an update to its iPhone and iPad operating system on Wednesday that replaces Google Maps with Apple’s own application. Early upgraders are reporting that the new maps are less detailed, look weird and misplace landmarks. It’s shaping up to be a rare setback for Apple. “It’s a complete failure,” said Jeffrey Jorgensen. “It’s slower, its directions are poorer and its location data doesn’t seem to be accurate. All around, it’s not quite there yet.” Jorgensen, a user interface designer for a San Francisco-based startup, began using Apple Maps months ago, because Apple made it available early to people in its software development program. He said he finds himself relying on Google Maps running on his wife’s Android phone instead. The most-hyped feature of the new app is a “Flyby” mode that shows three-dimensional renderings of buildings and other features. It presents a convincing depiction of the canyons of Manhattan, but has a hard time rendering bridges and highway overpasses, which tend to look wobbly or partly collapsed. The Apple app also has a tendency to judge landscape features by their names. For instance, it marks the hulking Madison Square Garden arena in New York as green park space because of the word “Garden” in its name. The TD Garden football stadium in Boston gets the same treatment. — AP
LONDON: Apple’s iPhone 5 hit stores around Asia, Europe and North America yesterday, with long queues of devotees undeterred by a lukewarm welcome from experts and complaints about the smartphone’s new mapping system. The lines of eager fans outside stores looked set to make the latest iPhone another commercial success for the trend-setting US tech giant, with Apple saying it had received more than two million orders online. Australians were the first to get their hands on the device. In Sydney faithful fans filmed the experience on their iPhones and iPads as staff inside clapped and cheered when the doors opened at 8:00 am (2200 GMT Thursday). Companies looking for publicity took advantage of the media frenzy accompanying the launch, with the first dozen or so in the queue wearing promotional T-shirts or carrying advertising materials. “Seven of us are here from our company, since midday Tuesday,” said Todd Foot, 24, who was first in the line and works for an organisation that reviews mobile phones. The same was true at Apple’s store on London’s Regent Street, where at the head of the queue, Richard Wheatcroft and George Horne camped out for a full seven nights to promote their bakery, staffed by victims of domestic violence. “We decided to buy four iPhones and auction them off. Anything raised will go towards the bakery,” Wheatcroft told AFP. “We’re just putting them on eBay now and then we’re going to get some sleep.” Compared to the iPhone 4S, Apple’s new smartphone boasts a bigger screen, stronger battery and faster connection to the latest 4G networks. It is lighter and slimmer, and its operating system iOS 6 contains tweaks designed to improve the user’s experience. But many analysts say Apple has fallen short as other companies such as Samsung improve rival offerings pow-
ered by Google’s Android operating system. “Unless Apple ups its device innovation game, we may be seeing Apple’s iOS empire approaching its zenith,” Tony Costa of Forrester Research said. Apple has also been hit by a barrage of criticism after it ditched Google’s maps application in favour of an inhouse system that is reportedly riddled with errors. Many users have protested that the new maps misplace some landmarks and leave others off altogether. The maps are included in the iOS 6 system, which comes pre-installed on the new iPhone and became available for download by existing iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users on Wednesday. But enthusiasm among early-bird shoppers was undimmed as stores opened in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Germany, Britain, the US and Canada. Ryoho Yamashita, a 23-year-old student, had queued since midnight at a Softbank store in Tokyo and said there had been a celebratory atmosphere among those waiting. “It’s like a festival that I enjoy every year,” he said. In Hong Kong, grey-marketeers pounced on anyone who emerged from the city’s official Apple store, offering a premium for their purchase in the
hope of reselling it for even more given short supplies of the coveted phone. In France, Apple’s flagship Paris store was doing a roaring trade as a threatened strike by workers over a pay dispute failed to materialise, while some fans in the Netherlands were heading across the border to buy in Germany. The phone is not released in the Netherlands until next Friday, with Apple planning to roll it out in 100 countries by the end of the year. London police, meanwhile, were seeking a Pakistani shop assistant over the theft of 252 of the phones from a store in Wimbledon, south London. Samsung says it is considering adding the new iPhone to a patent infringement case as part of a long-running global legal battle between the rival electronics giants. “Our company considers adding Apple’s iPhone 5 to the (patent infringement) case... but we cannot say when,” a Samsung spokesman told AFP. “Our decision will be made after our company has analysed the iPhone 5 to see what aspects of its device constitute patent infringement.” Apple shares rose to $702.99 yesterday, up 0.6 percent, as markets opened in New York. — AFP
MUNICH: Customers queue to enter the Apple Store in the southern German city of Munich yesterday as the iPhone 5 goes on sale. — AFP
TECHNOLOGY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
AU Optronics fined $500mn in US for price fixing TAIPEI/SAN FRANCISCO: Taiwan-based AU Optronics Corp was fined $500 million by a US judge for price fixing in the market for liquid crystal display panels, but the company’s shares jumped as much as 5 percent early yesterday amid relief the fine wasn’t larger. US District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco also handed down three-year prison sentences to two individual defendants on Thursday. A jury convicted the company and two AU executives, HsuanBin Chen, 60, and Hui Hsiung, 58, in March. Former AU Chief Executive L.J. Chen, who remains a top executive at the company, was acquitted at the trial. AU was charged as part of an investigation into an alleged price-fixing cartel between 1999 and 2006. Several other companies, including LG Electronics Inc, have pleaded guilty in the LCD probe.
US prosecutors had accused company executives of meeting more than 60 times at luxury hotels to fix prices of LCD panels, saying the conspiracy cost the US economy billions of dollars. Criminal trials against publicly traded companies are rare, and AU has said it would appeal its conviction. At the trial, AU’s lawyers asserted that the company “competed fiercely” and that the mere exchange of information between companies was not illegal. AU, which has a market capitalisation of about $3.3 billion, had argued it should be fined no more than $285 million. US antitrust prosecutors had sought $1 billion. Yesterday, AU shares jumped as much as 5 percent, versus a broader market’s 0.49 percent gain, because the fine was less than some investors had expected. The Taiwanese company said in a statement that it will make an extra provision of
$223 million this quarter. “This was a documented, far-reaching, clearly illegal conspiracy to fix pricing,” Judge Illston said at Thursday’s hearing. She said she took into consideration fines imposed on other companies in the investigation, and the fact that AU had already incurred heavy costs in money and time for this trial. “That’s why I find that $500 million is adequate but not excessive,” she said. Rival LG Electronics agreed to pay a $400 million fine in 2008, while Samsung Electronics Co Ltd cut an early deal to avoid prosecution. AU was the sole Asian LCD maker to plead not guilty. “$500 million is not enough to deter cartels like this from forming,” Department of Justice antitrust division trial attorney Heather Tewksbury said. In urging a larger penalty, Tewksbury said LG Electronics had been fined $400 million even after providing substantial
assistance to authorities. “AU Optronics is getting a 50 percent discount and that’s an inequitable result,” she said. The judge also ordered three years of probation for the company, including implementation of a compliance and ethics program. The company was ordered to pay the fine over three years. Both Chen and Hsiung declined to make personal remarks when asked by Judge Illston. They sat motionless as she sentenced them to three years in prison for making “poor choices and bad judgment.” “The Antitrust Division will continue to pursue vigorously international cartels that target American consumers and rob them of their hard-earned money,” Scott D. Hammond, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program, said in a statement. — Reuters
RIM restores service after BlackBerry outage in Europe Outage comes during transitional period for RIM
SUMISWALD: In this Sept. 21, 2005 file photo, an employee at Mobatime Swiss Inc. finishes a Swiss railway station clock at their factory in Sumiswald, Switzerland. Switzerland’s national rail company is accusing Apple Inc. of stealing the iconic look of its station clocks for the iOS 6 operating system used on iPad mobile devices. — AP
Google says it will shut China music service BEIJING: Google Inc. said yesterday it will close a music download service in China, further reducing its presence in the world’s most populous Internet market two years after the company closed its mainland search engine in a dispute over censorship and computer hacking. Google said the 3-year-old service failed to achieve the market impact it wanted and will be shut down Oct. 19. The service, which was available only to computers with an Internet address in mainland China, was intended as a legal alternative to Chinese pirate music sites. It shared advertising revenues with global and Chinese music companies that have seen their potential sales undercut by rampant unlicensed copying. “The impact of this product is not as great as we expected, so we decided to shift resources to other products,” said an announcement on Google’s company blog. A Google spokesman said he could not provide information about revenues or the service’s number of users. Google’s share of China’s search market has dwindled but the company says it still makes money selling advertising on its global sites to Chinese customers. Google’s Android mobile phone operating system also is widely used in China. Google, based in Mountain View, California, closed its mainland search engine in China in 2010 after saying it no longer wanted to cooperate with Beijing’s Internet censorship following hacking attacks traced to China. In June, the company added a feature to warn users whose accounts it believes are targets of “state-sponsored attacks.” Mainland Web surfers can use Google’s Chinese-language search engine in Hong Kong, which is Chinese territory but has Western-style civil liberties. However, the communist government’s Internet filters make access slow. In May, the Hong Kong search site added a feature that warns users in China who enter search keywords that might produce blocked results. The move had the potential to irritate Chinese authorities who try to conceal their efforts to control access to online material. Google had 15.7 percent of China’s search market in the second quarter of the year, well behind local rival Baidu Inc., which had 78.6 percent, according to Analysys International, a research firm in Beijing. Another local rival, Sogou, was a distant third with 2.9 percent. —AP
TORONTO: Research In Motion Ltd said it had restored service to all BlackBerry users affected by a service outage in Europe yesterday, the same day as Apple Inc began delivering of its new iPhone around the world. The outage hampered service for some BlackBerry users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for several hours. It is the latest in a series of setbacks that have driven the Canadian company’s share price sharply lower over the past year. RIM shares fell 20 Canadian cents, or about 3 percent, to C$6.55 shortly after the open on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The struggling BlackBerry maker, whose market share has plunged as the iPhone and a slew of devices that run on Google’s Android operating system grow more popular, said it had fixed the problem. “Our apologies to any customers impacted by the BlackBerry service issued yesterday,” the company said in emailed statement. The outage comes during a transitional period for RIM, which is preparing to launch a next-generation BlackBerry with a new operating system that the company hopes will help it regain its stride. RIM said it was investigating the cause of the outage and did not say how widespread the problem was, though Britain’s Vodafone Plc said
some of its clients were affected by the outage. “This outage could not happen at the worst quarter ... when all devices are coming out and the Christmas season is approaching. They are close to their last chance, if they miss it, they will not recover,” said IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo. Last October a system-wide failure of the service left tens of millions of frustrated BlackBerry users on five continents without email, instant messaging and browsing for four days. It took days for RIM’s chiefs to apologise over the problems and the company’s handling of the issue was heavily criticised. “This is an opportunity to demonstrate that RIM has learnt lessons from last year. If it is handled poorly again, it could see a faster erosion of its installed base,” said Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham, acknowledging that the impact from problems lasting just a few hours would likely be minimal. Earlier this week some customers of T-Mobile, the fourth-biggest US mobile service provider, faced a service disruption that affected emails and internet browsing for some BlackBerry users. The BlackBerry once dominated the corporate market because companies believed RIM was best at protecting enterprise data and prevent the theft of corporate secrets. —Reuters
TORONTO: In a Thursday June 21, 2012 file photo, Tim Neil, Research In Motion Ltd.’s Canadian Operating Director of Operations, Platforms and Tools, speaks about the BlackBerry 10 architecture during the RIM BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour in Toronto. Struggling BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion said yesterday it resolved an outage affecting users in Europe, Middle East and Africa that had interrupted service for customers on the very day Apple Inc. unveiled its new iPhone 5.— AP
CINEMA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
KUWAIT
KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/09/2012 TO 26/09/2012) SHARQIA-1 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM
SHARQIA-2 BAIT (3D- Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM
SHARQIA-3 SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM
MUHALAB-1 SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM
MUHALAB-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM
MUHALAB-3 BAIT (3D- Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 0:45 PM 12:45 AM
FANAR-1 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-3 WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital)
WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:45 AM
FANAR-4 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM
FANAR-5 SILENT HOUSE THE EXPENDABLES 2 SILENT HOUSE THE EXPENDABLES 2 SILENT HOUSE SILENT HOUSE NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM
MARINA-1 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM
MARINA-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM
AVENUES-8 STOLEN (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM
AVENUES-9 FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) Starting Time=12.30am THE EXPENDABLES 2 FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
MARINA-3 BAIT (3D- Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED
7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM
AVENUES-5 BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM
AVENUES-6 BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM
AVENUES-7 SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) BARFI! (Hindi)(2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital)
1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM 2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM
1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM
AVENUES-10 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM
1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM
AVENUES-11 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM
AVENUES-3 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM
360 º- 1 BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM
AVENUES-4 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO TUE (25/09/2012)
12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM
360 º- 2 SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital)
AVENUES-1 TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM
1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM
AVENUES-2 SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM
12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:45 PM
Special Show “PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital)” for Mr. Dhari Al Aiban TUE (25/09/2012) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM
SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED 360º- 3 SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) 360 º- 4 FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED 360 º- 5 HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) FRI+SAT HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED 360 º- 6 WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital)
12:15 AM
2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM 12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM
2:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 11:30 PM
1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM
360 º- 7 THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2D-Digital) THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2D-Digital) THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2D-Digital) THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2D-Digital) THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM
360 º- 8 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM
360 º- 9 (VIP-1) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM
360 º-10 (VIP-2) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM
360 º- 11 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED
12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM
360 º- 12 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION
12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM
TV listings
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
00:45 01:35 02:25 03:15 04:05 04:55 05:20 05:45 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 Baker 09:10 09:35 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:50 Irwin 13:45 14:40 15:35 16:30 17:25 18:20 19:15 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50
Human Prey Untamed & Uncut Sharkzilla Shark Attack File I Shouldn’t Be Alive Cheetah Kingdom Shamwari: A Wild Life Animal Airport Animal Airport Wildlife SOS Animal Crackers Meerkat Manor Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Weird Creatures With Nick Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Natural Born Hunters Cats 101 Crocodile Hunter Sharkman New Breed Vets With Steve Shark After Dark Surviving Sharks Shark Attack Survivors Shark Family Air Jaws Mutant Planet Mutant Planet Great Ocean Adventures Adrift: 47 Days With Sharks Sharkbite Beach Bear Feeding Frenzy Untamed & Uncut
00:20 Holmes On Homes 01:10 Antiques Roadshow 02:05 To Build Or Not To Build? 02:30 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 03:25 Living In The Sun 04:20 MasterChef 05:15 Living In The Sun 06:05 MasterChef 06:35 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 07:00 Antiques Roadshow 11:25 Open House 11:55 MasterChef 13:40 Bargain Hunt 15:10 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 16:35 Come Dine With Me 17:25 Antiques Roadshow 21:00 Cash In The Attic 22:45 Bargain Hunt
05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 08:15 09:10 10:05 10:55 11:50 12:45 13:40 14:35 15:30 16:25 17:20
How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Deadliest Catch How It’s Made Battle Machine Bros Mega Builders Extreme Engineering Man Made Marvels Asia Man, Woman, Wild Alaska’s Great Race Ultimate Survival Ultimate Survival Flying Wild Alaska Swamp Loggers River Monsters Around The World In 80 Ways
00:00 Hell-18 02:00 Rollerball-18 04:00 Ronin-18 06:00 Warbirds-PG15 08:00 In The Line Of Fire-PG15 10:15 The Librarian: The Curse Of Judas Chalice-PG15 12:00 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 13:45 In The Line Of Fire-PG15 16:00 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World-18 18:00 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 20:00 Kiss Of Death-18 22:00 Disturbing Behavior-18
01:00 A Film With Me In It-PG15 03:00 Ong Bak 2-PG15 05:00 My Sassy Girl-PG15 07:00 The Adjustment Bureau-PG15 09:00 A Film With Me In It-PG15 11:00 South Solitary-PG15 13:00 Red Riding Hood-PG15 15:00 St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold-PG15 17:00 Mars Needs Moms-PG 19:00 The Company Men-PG15
21:00 Bad Teacher-18 23:00 Middle Men-18
00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 02:30 Hot In Cleveland 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 09:30 The Simpsons 10:00 Modern Family 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 14:30 Modern Family 15:00 The Simpsons 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Man Up! 18:30 Man Up! 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 The Office 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:00 Hot In Cleveland 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30
X Factor Us Glee Survivor: Philippines Survivor: Philippines Big Love Good Morning America Alphas Emmerdale Coronation Street
09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Big Love The View X Factor Us Glee Touch Live Good Morning America Alphas The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street House C.S.I. C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Miami Big Love
The Glades Survivor: Philippines Touch Greek X Factor Us Touch The Glades Emmerdale Coronation Street The Closer Glee X Factor Us Survivor: Philippines Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Closer The Glades Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Closer House C.S.I. C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Miami Greek
Deadliest Catch Crash Course One Car Too Far Border Security Auction Hunters
00:00 Pretty Bird-18 02:00 The Marc Pease ExperiencePG15 04:00 Vice Versa-PG 06:00 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie-PG15 08:00 The Marc Pease ExperiencePG15 10:00 Snow Dogs-PG 12:00 The Beverly Hillbillies-PG15 14:00 Sgt. Bilko-PG 16:00 Snow Dogs-PG 18:00 The Trip-PG15 20:00 Little Fockers-PG15 22:00 A Little Help-18
01:00 The Greatest-PG15 03:00 Morning Glory-PG15 05:00 Six Days Seven Nights-PG15 07:00 Soldier Love Story-PG15 09:00 Ice Dreams-PG15 11:00 West Is West-PG15 13:00 Strength And Honour-PG15 15:00 Ice Dreams-PG15 16:45 When A Man Loves A WomanPG15 19:00 Indecent Proposal-18 21:00 Chelsea On The Rocks-18 23:00 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind-18
00:15 Your Highness-18 02:30 The Smurfs-PG 04:45 Ramona And Beezus-PG 07:00 Robots-PG 09:00 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt.1-PG15 11:30 Water For Elephants-PG15 13:30 Kung Fu Panda 2-PG 15:00 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt.1-PG15 17:45 Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Pt.2-PG15 20:00 Rabbit Hole-PG15 22:00 Bridesmaids-18
00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 01:20 Powerpuff Girls 02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:25 Casper’s Scare School 07:00 The Powerpuff Girls 07:15 Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi 07:40 Total Drama: Revenge Of The Island 08:05 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:30 Adventure Time 08:55 Level Up 09:20 Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated 10:10 Redakai:conquer The Kairu 10:35 Hero 108 11:00 Adventure Time 11:25 Grim Adventures Of... 12:15 Courage The Cowardly Dog 13:00 Eliot Kid 20:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge 20:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 21:25 Redakai:conquer The Kairu 21:50 Grim Adventures Of... 22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:50 Ben 10 23:40 Chowder
00:15 03:00 03:25 04:20 04:50
01:00 Sniper: Reloaded-18 03:00 The Burningmoore IncidentPG15 04:30 Kingdom Of Heaven-PG15 07:00 Rocky III-PG15 08:45 Odysseus: Voyage To The Underworld-PG15 10:30 Kingdom Of Heaven-PG15 13:00 Fatal Secrets-PG15 15:00 Odysseus: Voyage To The Underworld-PG15 17:00 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 19:00 Sleep Dealer-18 21:00 Disturbing Behavior-18 23:00 Dread-18
00:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 02:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling-FAM 04:00 The Ugly Duckling Goes On Holiday-FAM 06:00 Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back-PG 08:00 The Three Bears: The Amazing Adventurers-FAM 10:00 Looney Tunes: Back In Action 12:00 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling-FAM 14:00 Marco Antonio-PG 16:00 Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back-PG 18:00 Looney Tunes: Back In ActionPG15 20:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON OSN MOVIES ACTION
00:00 MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews 01:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 02:00 Live NBC Nightly News 02:30 ABC World News W/ Diane Sawyer 03:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 04:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show
06:00 NBC Nightly News 06:35 ABC Nightline 07:00 ABC World News W/ Diane Sawyer 07:30 Live NBC Nightly News 08:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show 09:00 MSNBC The Ed Show 10:00 MSNBC Morning Joe 13:00 MSNBC Caught On Camera 14:00 Live NBC Saturday Today Show 16:00 MSNBC Up With Chris Hayes Saturday 17:57 Live MSNBC Hardball W/ Chris Matthews
00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:15 12:00 13:45 15:15 17:30 20:00 22:00
The Resident-18 Senna-PG15 Winnie The Pooh-FAM 127 Hours-PG15 The Way-PG15 Senna-PG15 Certified Copy-PG15 Rising Stars-PG15 The Way-PG15 X-Men: First Class-PG15 Rabbit Hole-PG15 Sucker Punch-PG15
00:00 Rugby Union Currie Cup 02:00 AFL Premiership 04:30 European Challenge Tour Golf Highlights 05:00 Super League 07:00 European Tour Weekly 07:30 Trans World Sport 08:30 Live Rugby Union ITM Cup 10:30 Futbol Mundial 11:00 Top 14 13:00 AFL Premiership 15:30 Rugby Union Currie Cup 17:30 European Challenge Tour Golf Highlights 18:00 Live Rugby Union Currie Cup 22:00 UFC 152 Countdown 23:00 UFC Unleashed
00:00 UFC Countdown 01:00 Super League 04:00 NRL Premiership 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Live AFL Premiership 10:00 Super League 12:00 European Challenge Tour Golf Highlights 12:30 Live NRL Premiership 14:30 Rugby Union ITM CUP 16:30 Super League 18:30 Trans World Sport 19:30 Live Super League 22:00 AFL Premiership
00:00 02:30 04:30 06:30 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 13:30 14:30 15:00 16:00 18:00 22:30 23:30
Total Rugby Rugby Union Currie Cup Pro 12 Total Rugby Top 14 NRL Premiership Pro 12 PGA European Tour Weekly Squash PSA World Series Total Rugby Trans World Sport NRL Premiership AFL Premiership Trans World Sport Rugby Union ITM Cup
01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 14:30 15:30 16:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 22:30
WWE SmackDown WWE Bottomline UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown WWE Bottomline WWE Vintage Collection V8 Supercars European Le Mans Series WWE Bottomline WWE SmackDown WWE NXT UFC 152 Countdown UFC The Ultimat Fighter V8 Supercars
what’s on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! This summer, 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
Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20
Announcements Calling all Ten-pin Bowlers he Indian Bowling League (IBL) Season 3 will be held at Cozmo Entertainment, Salmiya commencing on Friday the 28th of September at 3 pm. Kindly reserve your team in advance to avoid disappointment, on a first come first serve.
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‘Leniency of Islam’ n unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait. The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.
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Focus Kuwait 6th annual day s a part of the 6th anniversary celebrations, Forum of Cadd Users (FOCUS Kuwait), a non-political, non-religious organization is set to stage a mega cultural event “Focus Fest-2012”. This mega event will be a blend of traditional and contemporary dance and musical extravaganza by renowned South Indian playback singers Jyotsna and Sudeesh. Scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed School Auditorium, Hawally, the mega musical show, is expected to be a super-hit in Kuwait.
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Audition for ZEE Antakshari or the first time Indian Cultural Society brings you live excitement of ZEE - International Antakshari in Kuwait. Audition & first round will be held in Kuwait, there after followed by semi finals in India & Grand Finale in Dubai. Complete team of Carnival films & Zee TV will be in Kuwait for the final round of selection on Friday 5th October with Jaaved Jaaferi: Celebrity Judge, Akriti Kakkar: Female Bollywood Singer & Host of Antakshari, Manish Paul: Host for Auditions, Sarfaraz Khan: Actor, Director and Producer, Michael Amin: Producer & Director Carnival films world. Musicians, Male Singer & many more for live performances. Final audition at 10 am & music show at 7:30 pm at AISHawally.
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Tulukoota Kuwait ‘Merit Scholarship’ pplications are now being invited for “Tulukoota Kuwait Merit Cum Means Scholarship” to be awarded during Tuluparba 2012 scheduled to be held on October 11 and 12, 2012. The objective of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance and support to deserving meritorious students, to enable them to pursue their higher studies. Applications are accepted from minimum one year valid Tulukoota Kuwait member’s children studying either in the State of Kuwait or in India and scoring high grades in Xth and XIIth standard Board Examination held for Academic year 2011-2012.
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Vanitha vedi Onam anita vedi, Kuwait will be celebrating the Onam festival this year as titled Ragothsavam-2012 on Friday 28th September 2012 at Kaithan Indian Community school. This is a full day program. Prof. Omanakutty the famous classical musician will be the chief guest. A classical music recitation ‘Sangeethakacheri’ by Prof Omanakutty will be showcased. Shanta R Nair (Program convener) Dr Vasanthy S Nair, Minerva Ramesh (Joint conveners) Sumathi Babu, Sajitha Scaria, Shobha Suresh, Presanna Ramabhadran, Rema Ajith, Valsa Stanley and Valsa Sam are selected for various committees. Sam Pynummoodu is the patron of Ragothsavam-2012.
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Expat Mums’ Autumn Bazaar xpat Mums in Kuwait will hold its autumn bazaar on Saturday, September 29th by 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Rumaithiya Block 9, Street 96, House 1, Basement. Free entry! This autumn we’re excited to support our members who hand make crafts, who have home business and who provide services to the expat community in Kuwait. Expat Mums in Kuwait is a group of nearly 400 mums from over 42 countries around the world. We meet online and in person and provide friendship, information, advice, reviews, support and networking opportunities to fellow expat mothers.
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Study in Canada exhibition
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rganized by the Embassy of Canada, the seventh annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) will be visiting Kuwait from Oct 2 to 4, 2012. Representatives of 20 leading Canadian universities and colleges will be available to meet
students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to present the advantages of studying in Canada. On Wednesday, Oct 3, 2012 a Study in Canada exhibition will be held at the Marina Hotel, Salmiya from 6:00 - 9:00 pm for potential students and their parents to attend. The Canadian institutions will also be visiting local schools to speak to interested students about opportunities to study in Canada Winter 2012 AMIE examination he AMIE Winter 2012 examinations will be held between Dec 01-07, 2012 as follows:
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Section A (Diploma) - December 1-4, 2012 Section A (Non-Diploma) - December 1-7, 2012 Section B - December 1-7, 2012 The last date for submission of examination application forms are given hereunder: Candidates not appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Aug 21 - Sept 21, 2012 Candidates appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Sept 21 - Oct 19, 2012. Candidates who intend to appear for the Winter 2012 examination must apply directly to Kolkata by filling the prescribed application form along with requisite amount of demand draft in favour of The Institution of Engineers (India), payable at Kolkata.
Kuwait Cricket to organize open tourney for schools uwait Cricket, the apex body of cricket in Kuwait would like to invite school cricket teams to participate in their tournaments which are planned to be to be held at the turf ground at Sulaibiya. Kuwait Cricket intends to conduct two cricket tournaments for U-15 and U-18 school children who should have valid Kuwait residence and be a student of their respective school. The tournaments will be played on Saturdays at Sulaibiya grounds and the matches will be 30 overs. Kuwait Cricket’s principal aim is to provide quality cricket to the young school cricketers in Kuwait and guide them to face international exposure which will nurture and develop their sporting skills. Moreover, Kuwait Cricket also aims to make use of sports to strengthen friendship and to bridge the gap between cultures and communities. Kuwait U-16 & U-19 teams have made various successful international tours to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Nepal and Pakistan. Participation of school cricket teams will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the open cricket tournament and we look forward to your confirmation of attendance. A meeting of school representatives will be arranged shortly.
K
what’s on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information. The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy. The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency. ■■■■■■■
T
he Life Abundant International Fountain Church Kuwait yesterday held its ‘Shiloh Hour’ at the NECK premises. The event attracted lots of Christians from other denominations. In his message, Bishop Jonathan Njoku urged Christians to promote peace and shun violence. ‘Shiloh Hour’ is an interdenominational prayer and deliverance service with high praise. The special church program attracts people of all works of life.
British online appointment booking system
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he British Embassy - Consular Section has started an online appointment booking system for consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. The online booking system is accessible at the following link: http://ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk/en/help-forbritish-nationals/living-in-kuwait/ In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take applicants to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page. The Consular Section no longer accept walkIn customers for legalization, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If applicants have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, they should call 2259 4355/7/8 or email the Embassy on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If applicants require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730l430hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320. For the latest FCO travel advice please visit: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-eastnorth-africa/kuwait
Patriotic songs competitions
I
ndo-Kuwait Friendship Society, Kuwait (www.indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) is planning to conduct competitions in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. This is the first time in Kuwait, an Indian Association is organizing contests in “Patriotic Songs” for both Indian and Kuwaiti School students. The first 3 places will be declared separately by Judges who are experts in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. Several prizes and awards will be handed over for the winning schools. Pradeep Rajkumar and A K S Abdul Nazar said that IKFS wants let our children learn what they mean as a “Patriotic” to their home country. 4 pages of spot Essay competition related to “Patriotism” also will be held in the same day as a spot registration. 1 girl and 1 boy student from each school can participate in the essay contest. Dr Mohamed Tareq, Chairman of the First Indian Model School in Kuwait “ Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS) already confirmed as a Co-Sponsor of the Program. Conditions apply 1) The competitions are meant for all the Schools located in Kuwait and should be nominated by school authority 2) Each school can select group of 7 students for the ‘patriotic songs’ (Indian and Kuwaiti)” and nominate separately 3) Children of above 12 years till 17 years (VII classes to XII classes) are eligible for the contest. But if School is permitted 4) Musical instruments or KARAOKE mixer should be accompanied by the participating students/Children and the school team should operate and select the mixers
EMBASSY OF BRITAIN Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page. Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320. ■■■■■■■
EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.
HEALTH
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
FDA may consider new rules for arsenic in rice Consumer groups clamor for federal guidance
PARIS: French President Francois Hollande (center), surrounded by French Social Affairs and Health Minister, Marisol Touraine (center left) and French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Genevieve Fioraso (center right) attends a meeting on Alzheimer’s disease with National researchers yesterday during World Alzheimer’s Day in Paris. At left is seen French Junior Minister for the Elderly and Disabled People Michele Delaunay. More than 100 years after it was first caught in the act of decaying a patient’s brain, Alzheimer’s remains one of medicine’s greatest challenges as it robs ever more people of their memory and independence. — AFP
Marine park ‘the size of the Moon’ takes shape in Pacific AVARUA, Cook Islands: An ambitious plan to link marine parks across a vast swathe of ocean-whose surface area would equal that of the Moon-is slowly coming together piece by piece, say conservationists. Former international rugby league player turned environmentalist Kevin Iro is a driving force behind the part of the park that will encompass the Cook Islands-a nation whose combined landmass is barely bigger than Washington DC. “When I was a kid, this was all alive,” said Iro, grimacing as he scooped up a lump of dead, grey coral while walking the white sands of a Cook Island beach in the Pacific. “There were tracks in the coral and if you walked off them you could hear the coral crunching. Now there’s no coral here, basically.” The Cooks’ Prime Minister Henry Puna formally unveiled the 1.065 million square kilometer (411,000 square mile) reserve when he hosted the Pacific Islands Forum last month, vowing to protect the ocean for future generations. Puna said the commitment by the tiny nation of 15 islands was its major contribution “to the well-being of not only our peoples, but also of humanity”. Peter Seligmann, co-founder of green group Conservation International (CI), said the establishment of such a large marine park was a courageous move for the Cooks and placed the Pacific at the forefront of ocean conservation. But to Seligmann the Cook Islands park, while welcome, is just a single piece of the jigsaw. The American is working with Pacific island states to create a network of similar parks across the region to ensure one of the world’s last pristine ocean ecosystems is managed sustainably. The scale of the proposed network, dubbed the Pacific Oceanscape, is unprecedented-a 40 million square kilometre area stretching from the Marshall Islands in the north almost to New Zealand in the south. That’s about eight percent of the world’s surface area, almost four times larger than Europe and big enough to fit Australia in five times over. It’s almost exactly the same size as the surface area of the Moon. “What we are seeing is the largest conservation initiative in history,” Seligmann told AFP. “Piece by piece, nation by nation, it’s coming together. It’s massive.” “The oceans are under siege”Kiribati and Tokelau have already joined the Cooks in declaring huge marine parks, while the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia has signaled its intention to declare a 1.4 million square kilometre reserve in the next few years. Seligmann said members of the 15-nation Pacific Islands Forum, all of which have enormous marine territories, had unanimously backed the proposal and more reserves were in the pipeline. “It’s in the enlightened self interest of each of these nations, they’re the beneficiaries,” he said. “The oceans are under siege. We have major fisheries under duress, coral bleaching due to the changing climate and acidification of the ocean. —AFP
WASHINGTON: The Food and Drug Administration may consider new standards for the levels of arsenic in rice as consumer groups are calling for federal guidance on how much of the carcinogen can be present in food. So far, FDA officials say they have found no evidence that suggests rice is unsafe to eat. The agency has studied the issue for decades but is in the middle of conducting a new study of 1,200 samples of grocery-store rice products short and long-grain rice, adult and baby cereals, drinks and even rice cakes - to measure arsenic levels. Rice is thought to have arsenic in higher levels than most other foods because it is grown in water on the ground, optimal conditions for the contaminant to be absorbed in the rice. There are no federal standards for how much arsenic is allowed in food. Arsenic is naturally present in water, air, food and soil in two forms, organic and inorganic. According to the FDA, organic arsenic passes through the body quickly and is essentially harmless. Inorganic arsenic - the type found in some pesticides and insecticides - can be toxic and may pose a cancer risk if consumed at high levels or over a long period. How much organic and inorganic arsenic rice eaters are consuming, and whether those levels are dangerous, still remains to be seen. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says consumers shouldn’t stop eating rice, though she
does encourage a diverse diet just in case. “Our advice right now is that consumers should continue to eat a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of grains - not only for good nutrition but also to minimize any potential consequences from consuming any one particular food,” she said. The agency on Wednesday released 200 of an expected 1,200 samples after the magazine Consumer Reports released its own study and called for federal standards for arsenic in rice. The FDA will not complete its study until the end of the year, Hamburg said, and cannot draw any conclusions from the results until then. Both studies show relatively similar levels of arsenic in rice. The FDA’s analysis, including 200 samples, showed average levels of 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per serving. Consumer Reports, with 223 samples, found levels up to 8.7 micrograms. That is roughly equivalent to one gram of arsenic in 115,000 servings of rice. It is almost impossible to say how dangerous these levels are without a benchmark from the federal government. Consumer Reports uses New Jersey’s drinking water standard - a maximum of 5 micrograms in a liter of water - as comparison because it is one of the strictest in the country. But it is unclear how accurate it is to compare arsenic levels in water and arsenic levels in rice - most people con-
sume more water than rice, so drinking water standards may need to be tougher. It is because of this uncertainty that consumer groups have urged the FDA to set a standard. Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports says the group is not trying to alarm rice eaters and parents feeding their children rice, but to educate them so they can diversify their diets. Consumers should be more protected since arsenic is a known carcinogen and could build up in the body over time, she said. “It doesn’t make sense not to have standards for rice,” she said. The Consumer Reports study found higher levels of arsenic in brown rice than white rice, a result of how the two different types are processed. It also found higher levels in rice produced in Southern US states than in rice from California or Asia. Rice growers jumped on the report. A statement from the industry group USA Rice Federation said that US rice growers do not use pesticides with arsenic. “We understand that ‘arsenic’ is an alarming word, but we believe it is important for consumers to know that arsenic is a naturally occurring element in our air, water, rocks and soil,” the group said in a statement. “This is how plants uptake arsenic. As a result, it’s always been in the food supply and is in many healthy foods that are consumed by billions of people every day.” —Reuter
Skiers, rowers may not have more back pain: Study Competitive rowers and cross-country skiers may not have any more chronic lower back pain than the rest of us despite putting constant stress on their backs, according to a Norwegian study. Elite athletes in certain sports that ask a lot of the spine, such as gymnastics and wrestling, have been found to have an increased risk of lower back pain. Rowers and cross-country skiers don’t have to bend themselves backwards, but they do have to flex and extend their spines, over and over again. “They expose their backs to monotonous movements for a number of years,” said lead researcher Ida Stange Foss, at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences in Oslo, whose study was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Yet in the long run, Foss’s team found, elite rowers and skiers may have no more lower back woes than people who get their sports from TV. Of 415 former rowers and crosscountry skiers surveyed, about 56 percent said they’d had any lower back pain in the past year. That compared with 53 percent of non-athletes, a difference that could have been due to chance. “This is an important and positive message for the athletes,” Foss said in an email. But there were variations. Rowers and skiers who’d trained harder in the past year, more than 550 hours, were
also more likely to have had a bout of low back pain in the past year, although the pain was generally short-lived. The study included 173 rowers and 242 cross-country skiers who’d been surveyed back in 2000. Foss’s team surveyed them again in 2010, asking about
their training and exercise levels over the past decade and any problems with back pain. For comparison, the researchers surveyed 116 non-athletes and 209 athletes in orienteering, a sport that involves outdoor running and no specific strain on the back.
HOUSTON: Buildings of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The nation’s largest cancer center is launching a massive “moonshot” effort against eight specific forms of the disease, similar to the all-out push for space exploration 50 years ago. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston expects to spend as much as $3 billion on the project over the next 10 years and already has “tens of millions” of dollars in gifts to jump start it now, said its president, Dr Ronald DePinho. — AP
HEALTH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Al-Madena
22418714
Al-Shohada’a
22545171
Al-Shuwaikh
24810598
Al-Nuzha
22545171
Sabhan
24742838
Al-Helaly
22434853
Al-Fayhaa
22545051
Al-Farwaniya
24711433
Al-Sulaibikhat
24316983
Al-Fahaheel
23927002
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh
24316983
Ahmadi
23980088
Al-Mangaf
23711183
Al-Shuaiba
23262845
Al-Jahra
25610011
Al-Salmiya
25616368
Hospitals 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
Clinics
FOR SALE VW TAUREG, 2004 model, white color, beige interior, full options, only 83,000 km. Price KD 4,200. Contact: 99405067. (C 4145) 22-9-2012 Furnished room with balcony and separate bath in a 2 bedroom flat near Abbassiya opp new BEC. Call 99516426. (C 4143) Subaru outback model 2005, metallic color, mileage 2,12,000. Passing up to May 2013, good interior & exterior for only KD 600. Tel: 22493358. Toyota Camry model 2011 GL silver color, 8,600 km done, excellent condition, price KD 4,350. Contact: 66839506. (C 4138) 17-9-2012
Rabiya
24732263
Rawdha
22517733
Adailiya
22517144
Khaldiya
24848075
Khaifan
24849807
Shamiya
24848913
Shuwaikh
24814507
Abdullah Salim
22549134
Al-Nuzha
22526804
Industrial Shuwaikh
24814764
Asr:
15:09
Al-Qadisiya
22515088
Maghrib:
17:47
Dasmah
22532265
Bneid Al-Ghar
22531908
Isha:
19:04
Al-Shaab
22518752
Al-Kibla
22459381
Ayoun Al-Kibla
22451082
Mirqab
22456536
Sharq
22465401
Salmiya
25746401
Jabriya
25316254
Maidan Hawally
25623444
Bayan
25388462
SITUATION WANTED Australian Project Manager, with two Engineering Degrees and four Master Degrees, with 23 years experience in Gulf and Australia, seeking top management job. Call: 65695468. (C 4140) 22-9-2012
CHANGE OF NAME I, Donga Hanumanthu Ram holder of Indian Passport No: F2522828, son of Donga Swamy has changed my name to DONGA HANUMANTHA RAO. (C 4142) SITUATION VACANT Required driver for a Kuwaiti family. Call: 99854312. (C 4144) 22-9-2012
Prayer timings Fajr:
04:16
Duhr:
11:41
THE PUBLICAUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988
112
Lady Chartered Accountant seeking suitable placement. Phone: 97572174. (C 4137) 16-9-2012 Wanted full time maid/nanny in Salwa. Offering KD 120 salary. Must speak English and be good with small children. Call 9768-7172. 12-9-2012
GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net
The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw
Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw
Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw
Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw
Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw
Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw
Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw
Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw
Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw
Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw
Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw
Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw
Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw
Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw
Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw
Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw
Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw
Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw
Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw
Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw
Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org
information SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines QTR JZR QTR SAI ETH PIA GFA UAE ETD OMA FDB MSR QTR JZR THY JZR DHX JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY GFA QTR FDB ETD BAB GFA UAE JZR MSR IRM JZR MSR GFA KAC FDB JZR KNE JZR QTR SVA KAC RJA KNE JZR KAC QTR KAC IZG KAC JZR ETD UAE IRC UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY KAC KAC KAC QTR BAB
Arrival Flights on Saturday 22/9/2012 Flt Route 6130 DOHA 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 239 ISLAMABAD 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 770 ISTANBUL 1541 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 416 JAKARTA 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 223 BAHRAIN 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 871 DUBAI 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 5066 MASHAD 325 NAJAF 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 241 AMMAN 472 JEDDAH 535 CAIRO 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 562 AMMAN 640 AMMAN 476 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 788 JEDDAH 134 DOHA 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 4161 MASHAD 118 NEW YORK 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 6791 MASHAD 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 176 GENEVA 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 438 BAHRAIN
Time 0:05 0:15 0:20 1:30 1:45 2:05 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:35 4:55 5:00 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:35 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:40 9:00 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:45 11:05 11:25 11:55 12:30 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:55 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:20 18:40
KAC FDB KAC MSR JZR KAC KAC JAI KAC IRA AXB OMA MEA QTR KNE KAC GFA KNE ALK KLM UAE JZR BBC SYR ABY QTR JZR KAC FDB JZR AIC GFA UAL JZR DLH FDB MSR THY DHX JAI
786 63 104 620 175 618 674 572 774 607 393 647 402 146 460 790 221 474 229 415 859 135 43 341 129 136 513 614 61 539 975 217 981 239 636 51 614 772 372 574
JEDDAH DUBAI LONDON ASSIUT DUBAI DOHA DUBAI MUMBAI RIYADH MASHAD KOZHIKODE MUSCAT BEIRUT DOHA MEDINAH MEDINAH BAHRAIN JEDDAH COLOMBO AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN DHAKA DAMASCUS SHARJAH DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO CHENNAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN AMMAN FRANKFURT DUBAI CAIRO ISTANBUL BAHRAIN MUMBAI
Airlines AIC UAL DLH MSR JAI KLM QTR THY SAI ETH PIA UAE FDB OMA ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA THY JZR BAW FDB JZR JZR ABY JZR KAC KAC GFA KAC UAE QTR KAC
Departure Flights on Saturday 22/9/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA 981 WASHINGTON 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 573 MUMBAI 413 AMSTERDAM 6131 DOHA 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 240 SIALKOT 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 534 CAIRO 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 240 AMMAN 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 324 AL NAJAF 561 AMMAN 671 DUBAI 224 BAHRAIN 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH
18:40 18:45 18:45 19:10 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:25 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:30 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50
Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 0:50 0:55 1:30 2:15 2:30 2:45 3:20 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:55 7:05 7:10 7:30 8:25 8:25 8:35 9:00 9:05 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:25 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00
KAC FDB ETD BAB JZR GFA KAC KAC KAC JZR UAE MSR KAC JZR IRM GFA FDB MSR JZR KAC JZR KNE KAC RJA KNE JZR KAC SVA QTR KAC IZG ETD JZR QTR IRC UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR KAC QTR FDB BAB JZR MSR KAC JAI IRA KAC KAC OMA MEA KNE KAC GFA KNE DHX ALK KLM JZR ABY KAC UAE SYR QTR KAC KAC FDB JZR BBC QTR AXB GFA KAC JZR
101 56 302 437 356 214 541 165 501 776 872 619 785 176 5065 220 58 611 174 673 538 473 617 641 461 512 789 505 135 773 4162 304 238 141 6792 858 216 134 128 982 511 266 613 145 64 439 184 621 283 571 604 331 351 648 403 477 543 222 475 171 230 415 1540 120 381 860 342 137 301 205 62 554 44 147 394 218 411 504
LONDON DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN MASHHAD BAHRAIN CAIRO ROME BEIRUT JEDDAH DUBAI ASSIUT JEDDAH DUBAI MASHHAD BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO DUBAI DUBAI CAIRO JEDDAH DOHA AMMAN MADINAH SHARM EL SHEIKH MADINAH JEDDAH DOHA RIYADH MASHHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN DOHA MASHHAD DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DHAKA MUMBAI ISFAHAN TRIVANDRUM KOCHI MUSCAT BEIRUT JEDDAH CAIRO BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN COLOMBO DAMMAM CAIRO SHARJAH DELHI DUBAI DAMASCUS DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD DUBAI ALEXANDRIA CHITTAGONG DOHA KOCHI BAHRAIN BANGKOK LUXOR
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:20 12:25 13:10 13:20 13:25 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:05 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:45 15:50 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:45 17:20 17:30 17:45 17:55 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:35 20:50 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:35 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:40 23:45
C R O S S W O R D
8 0 4
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Yesterday始s Solution
ACROSS 1. A person's brother or sister. 4. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue. 9. Containing or filled with salt. 13. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma. 14. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World. 15. The content of cognition. 16. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research. 17. Insectivorous usually semiaquatic web-footed amphibian with smooth moist skin and long hind legs. 18. Long and thin and often limp. 19. Jordan's port. 21. Water scorpions. 23. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984). 25. Of or relating to or containing barium. 27. Type genus of the family Arcidae. 31. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret. 36. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 37. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 38. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity. 39. A state in northwestern North America. 41. (from a combination of MOdulate and DEModulate) Electronic equipment consisting of a device used to connect computers by a telephone line. 44. Occurring during the middle of the week. 45. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh. 48. A unit of length of thread or yarn. 49. Regional and archaic. 52. An anti-inflammatory drug that does not contain steroids. 56. A local computer network for communication between computers. 57. Lower in esteem. 60. The lean flesh of a fish similar to cod. 61. The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet. 62. A historical region of southwestern India on the west coast. 64. Fish eggs or egg-filled ovary. 65. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders. 66. A port city in southwestern Iran. 67. Either extremity of something that has length. DOWN 1. Food mixtures either arranged on a plate or tossed and served with a moist dressing. 2. Of or relating to Iraq or its people or culture. 3. An imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children. 4. Of deserts of northern Africa and southern Asia. 5. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 6. A decree that prohibits something. 7. Pertaining to or containing any of a group of organic compounds of nitrogen derived from ammonia. 8. Filled with a great quantity. 9. A white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (SiO2). 10. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 11. A Russian river. 12. The income arising from land or other property. 20. A small cake leavened with yeast. 22. An informal term for a father.
24. Being one more than fifty. 26. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material. 28. Tear down so as to make flat with the ground. 29. A block of solid substance (such as soap or wax). 30. Any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses. 32. A dark-skinned member of a race of people living in Australia when Europeans arrived. 33. Having undesirable or negative qualities. 34. The lower house of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland. 35. Of time long past. 40. Covered with water. 42. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet. 43. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance. 44. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element. 46. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 47. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 50. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922). 51. A town in north central Oklahoma. 53. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 54. A visual representation of an object or scene or person produced on a surface. 55. A notable achievement. 58. Experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness. 59. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. 63. An associate degree in nursing.
Yesterday始s Solution
SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Nationals clinch playoffs slot WASHINGTON: The Washington Nationals brought postseason baseball back to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1933, earning a playoff spot Thursday night with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Nats Clinch” flashed on the scoreboard as Washington ensured at least an NL wildcard spot behind Ross Detwiler’s six strong innings and Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI double. A crowd of 30,359 stood and cheered in the ninth inning, then got even louder when Drew Storen struck out Hanley Ramirez to end it. Manager Davey Johnson saluted the fans as he left the field and the team wore caps acknowledging the playoff berth. Washington’s magic number to win the NL East was reduced to eight. The Nationals lead idle Atlanta by 51/2 games. Washington was last in the postseason 79 years ago, when player-manager Joe Cronin and the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games in the World Series. The loss dropped the Dodgers three games behind St Louis for the NL’s second wild-card spot. Milwaukee moved ahead of Los Angeles with its win over Pittsburgh. Detwiler (10-6) allowed just Mark Ellis’ fourth-inning home run and two singles. Storen earned his third save. Chris Capuano (11-11) got the loss. REDS 5, CUBS 3 The Reds became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, beating the Cubs while manager Dusty Baker remained in a hospital after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Ace Johnny Cueto (18-9) and the NL Central leaders ensured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. Cincinnati cut its magic number to two for winning the division for the second time in three years. The Reds said Baker would remain in a Chicago hospital for an additional day so doctors could monitor his progress. He is hoping to return to Cincinnati on Friday. Bench coach Chris Speier ran the team for a second straight game. Alfredo Simon got four outs for his first save. The Reds broke a scoreless tie by getting five straight singles off Manuel Corpas (0-2) in the seventh during a five-run rally capped by Henry Rodriguez’s two-run double. PHILLIES 16, METS 1 Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley sparked an eight-run first inning, Ryan Howard added a late grand slam and the Phillies routed the inept Mets before a few hundred fans at quiet Citi Field. Rookie right-hander Tyler Cloyd (2-1) pitched eight innings of three-hit ball and the Phillies stayed four games behind St Louis for the second NL wild card, with two other teams in their path. Juan Pierre matched a career high with five hits, Utley added four and Philadelphia set season highs for runs and hits (21) - including 19 singles. The Phillies finished a three-game sweep and won for the 11th time in 14 games. New York rookie starter Jeremy Hefner (2-7) did not record an out in the makeup game for Tuesday night’s rainout. With the Mets setting marks for futility at home, it appeared fewer than 1,000 fans were in the stands for the first pitch. CARDINALS 5, ASTROS 4 Pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran snapped a
sixth-inning tie with a two-run double and Allen Craig hit a three-run homer, powering the Cardinals to a season sweep at home against the Astros. Beltran’s double put St. Louis up 5-3, rewarding Jaime Garcia (5-7) for keeping it close and leaving the Cardinals 21/2 games up for the second NL wild card with 12 games remaining. They took care of business against the lowly Astros, who absorbed their 102nd loss while leading for a single inning in the three-game series. The Cardinals were 6-0 at home against Houston, their first season series sweep in St. Louis since 1996. Bud Norris (5-13) allowed five runs in 5 1-3 innings for Houston after getting sent back to the team hotel Wednesday night suffering from flu-like symptoms. Jason Motte finished for his 38th save in 45 chances. BREWERS 9, PIRATES 7 Rickie Weeks hit a tying two-run triple and scored the go-ahead run on Aramis Ramirez’s single, helping surging Milwaukee rally for the victory. The Brewers have won five straight, eight of nine and 15 of 19 to climb into the playoff race. They remained 21/2 games back of St. Louis for the second NL wild-card slot. Milwaukee trailed 7-4 before it rallied for four runs in the eighth inning. Ramirez had three hits and three RBIs for the Brewers, who built an early 4-0 lead. Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run drive for his 30th homer. Chris Resop (1-4) got the loss. The Pirates (74-75) have dropped three straight and 11 of 13 to slip under .500 for the first time since late May. They are in danger of a 20th straight losing season, which would extend their major North American professional sports record. Manny Parra (2-3) picked up the win and John Axford worked the ninth for his 31st save in 39 chances. GIANTS 9, ROCKIES 2 Pablo Sandoval homered from both sides of the plate and the NL West-leading Giants reduced their magic number to clinch the division to four. Buster Posey also connected to back another strong start by Barry Zito (13-8) as San Francisco completed a four-game series sweep. Zito won his fifth straight decision and has done everything he can to earn himself a spot in the postseason rotation after being left off all three rounds for the 2010 World Series champions. The second-place Dodgers were set for a night game at Washington, trailing by 91/2 games. San Francisco (87-63) moved a season-best 24 games above .500. Colorado has lost six in a row. Jorge De La Rosa (0-1) was tagged for five earned runs, six in all, and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings. PADRES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5 Jesus Guzman homered to help San Diego get the victory. Clayton Richard (14-12) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings to raise his career record against Arizona to 6-0 - including three wins in three starts at Chase Field over the past 10 weeks. Anthony Bass, the last of five Padres pitchers in the ninth, struck out Aaron Hill on a checked swing for his first career save. — AP
ANAHEIM: Nelson Cruz #17 of the Texas Rangers slides safely past the tag of catcher Chris Iannetta #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and scores a run in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. — AFP
Athletics avoided a three-game sweep DETROIT: Seth Smith homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and the Oakland Athletics avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Detroit Tigers 12-4 Thursday in a matchup of AL playoff contenders. Oakland is tied with Baltimore for the wild-card lead. The Tigers are two games behind Central-leading Chicago. Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead single in a four-run sixth inning that made it 6-3, then had an RBI double to cap a six-run ninth that included Smith’s three-run double. Pat Neshek (2-1) retired the only batter he faced and got the win. Anibal Sanchez (3-6), who held Cleveland hitless for 6 2-3 innings in his last start, gave up six runs on six hits and two walks in 5 2-3 innings. RANGERS 3, ANGELS 1 Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Angels closer Ernesto Frieri in the ninth inning, and the Rangers dealt yet another blow to Los Angeles’ fading playoff hopes. Yu Darvish (16-9) held the Angels to four hits and struck out nine in a scintillating eight-inning duel with Zack Greinke, who gave up five hits and struck out eight. Beltre then rewarded Darvish with his 34th homer to left field off Frieri (3-2), who wasted a phenomenal start by Greinke for the second time in six days. Joe Nathan earned his 34th save. Texas (89-60) improved the AL’s best record and stayed four games ahead of Oakland (85-64) in the AL West by taking two of three from the Angels. Los Angeles (81-69) dropped 41/2 games behind the Athletics and Baltimore in the AL wild-card standings. ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 3 Alex Rios was thrown out at the plate, Alexei Ramirez was picked off third base and the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox again failed to come up with a clutch hit in a 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night. Eric Hosmer singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning. The White Sox stayed two games ahead of Detroit, which lost in the afternoon to Oakland, with 13 games remaining. The Royals beat the Chicago for the ninth time in
their last 11 meetings. Jesse Crain (2-3) took the loss. Greg Holland (7-4) worked a scoreless ninth for the victory. YANKEES 10, BLUE JAYS 7 Streaking Ichiro Suzuki hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a seven-run fourth inning capped by Nick Swisher’s grand slam, and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto to open a one-game AL East lead over idle Baltimore. After struggling for much of the summer, the Yankees completed a threegame sweep of the Blue Jays and have won five in a row, their longest winning string since June 23-27. Backed by an 8-2 lead, Phil Hughes (16-12) lasted just five innings. David Robertson got three outs for his second save this season and first since May 8. Suzuki homered in the third, then doubled in the fourth. His ninth hit in 10 at-bats chased Aaron Laffey (3-6). RAYS 7, RED SOX 4 BJ Upton hit a game-ending, three-run homer off Vicente Padilla, capping Tampa Bay’s six-run ninth inning and lifting the Rays over Boston. Tampa Bay salvaged a split of the four-game series and remained 51/2 games behind Oakland and Baltimore for the second AL wild-card slot. The Rays have 12 games left on their schedule. Andrew Bailey (1-1) gave up four hits and a walk before Padilla came in to face Upton, who drove a 21 pitch over the wall in center for his 24th homer. Burke Badenhop (2-2) recorded one out to get the win. INDIANS 4, TWINS 3 Casey Kotchman hit an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians topped Minnesota. Pinch hitter Shin-Soo Choo doubled off the wall in left-center to start the inning against reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-5). Choo took third on Jason Kipnis’ groundout before Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley were intentionally walked to load the bases. Kotchman fouled off the first pitch before bouncing a ground ball up the middle against the drawnin infield for his third hit of the game. — AP
sports SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Spain keeps four MotoGP races for 2013 BARCELONA: Spain will again host four rounds of an expanded MotoGP world championship next year despite the economic crisis gripping the country. Motorcycling’s governing body (FIM) on Friday published a provisional 19race calendar, one more than last year, with races pencilled in for the Jerez, Barcelona, Valencia and Motorland Aragon circuits. Jerez’s race is subject to contract, however. Portugal, which held a grand prix in Estoril in May, did not feature on the calendar which has two slots in April yet to be confirmed after the opening night race under floodlights in Qatar on March 31. The opener will be a week earlier than this year. Argentina and a new circuit in Austin, Texas, could fill the unconfirmed slots while India’s new Buddh Formula One circuit has also been mooted as a possibility. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone moves from June
to Sept 1. Italy will have two races, one of them the San Marino Grand Prix at the Marco Simoncelli Misano circuit recently renamed after the grand prix rider who was killed in a crash in Malaysia last year. The season will end at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit on Nov 10. Valencia also hosted a Formula One race this year, in the port area of the Mediterranean city, but is due to be absent from next year’s F1 calendar as part of an alternation with Barcelona. Cash-strapped local administrations in Spain are under pressure to make budget cuts as part of a central government austerity drive. Spanish-based promoters Dorna hold the commercial rights to MotoGP and the sport is hugely popular in the country with Spanish riders well placed in the battle for all three world championships this season. —Reuters
SINGAPORE: Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel (left) of Germany and teammate Mark Webber of Australia have their cars pushed back into their team garages following the second practice session yesterday. —AP
Red Bull’s Vettel fastest in Singapore GP practice SINGAPORE: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time in yesterday’s opening practice session for the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix. The world champion was only 5-hundredths of a second faster than McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who sat out the final quarter hour of the session due to a minor technical issue. Vettel won in Singapore last season but has won only one race this season, whereas Hamilton has taken the two most recent grand prix and looms as the greatest threat to championship leader Fernando Alonso. Hamilton’s teammate, Jenson Button, was third fastest as McLaren gave an early indication that it
can handle the twisty layout of Marina Bay after winning the past two races at the faster Belgian and Italian circuits. Ferrari’s Alonso was fourth fastest - a second off the pace - on a track where he has twice won, while Pastor Maldonado of Williams was fifth and Mark Webber of Red Bull sixth. The session began with the cars on intermediate tires because of a damp Marina Bay track caused by an afternoon thunderstorm, but slick tires were soon applied. The Force India pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta finished seventh and eighth fastest respectively, while Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo and Sauber’s
Sergio Perez rounded out the top 10. Teams tried to quickly discover how to get the best out of new wings and parts, which are required given the big shift in racing styles between Monza and Marina Bay. Mercedes has the biggest upgrade this weekend, using a new exhaust system that directs air onto the rear wing and rear diffuser to aid downforce and traction. Michael Schumacher was 14th and Nico Rosberg 18th, indicating the team has some way to go to find how to maximize the new setting. Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen, who is third in the championship despite not having a race, was 13th.—AP
No 24 Boise State holds off BYU 7-6 BOISE: Mike Atkinson has often talked with his Boise State teammates about that rare moment of glory for a nose tackle: The elusive pick six. That heroic moment finally came Thursday night when he dropped back into pass coverage, stepped in front of a throw by Brigham Young quarterback Riley Nelson and rumbled 36 yards for a touchdown. His score turned out to be the difference as the No 24 Broncos (2-1) held off a late rally to beat the Cougars 7-6 in a game dominated by defenses and marred by turnovers and penalties. “We always talk about getting interceptions and taking it to the house,” said Atkinson, a Canadian who goes by the nickname ‘Canadian Bacon.’ “We always talk about it happening, but it rarely does. You don’t really think when it’s happening, you just react.” It’s also the second time this season the defense has supplied all of the Broncos’ touchdowns as the offense struggles to find a rhythm in the wake of quarterback Kellen Moore’s departure. In opener, safety Jeremy Ioane returned an interception for a score in a 17-13 loss at Michigan State. The Boise State defense also forced five turnovers and held BYU scoreless until the game’s final minutes. With 8:03 remaining, BYU backup quarterback Taysom Hill engineered an 11-play, 95 yard drive capped by his four-yard touchdown run. But BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall gambled, electing to go for a 2-point conversion to try to secure the Cougars’ first-ever victory over Boise State. Hill dropped back to pass, was immediately flushed out of the pocket and his on-the-run throw was deflected by linebacker J C Percy and fell incomplete into the end zone. “I wanted to win,” Mendenhall said. “We had momentum for the first time in the game, moving the ball offensively. We wanted to capitalize on it. I’d do it again.” The Broncos, aided by a 40-yard kick return by Mitch Burroughs, ran out the clock to notch their third straight victory over BYU. “I’m ecstatic for what happened on” defense, Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “We have to go back to the drawing board on the other side. That happens sometimes.” But give credit to the BYU defense, which came into the game as one of the stingiest in the nation, allowing just 14.3 points per game and an average of 59 yards on the ground. Boise State managed just 261 yards on offense. Running back D.J. Harper was a bright spot, rushing for 112 yards on 31 carries. But quarterback Joe Southwick struggled again. The redshirt junior was 15 of 25 for 145 yards, and he and the offense failed to convert five times on fourth down attempts. Four of those fourth-down tries came in BYU territory, including one possession the Broncos failed on four downs to convert after the defense recovered a fumble on the Cougar 1-yard line. Some of Boise State’s fourth-down risk-taking may have been due to Michael Frisina missing a 33-yard field goal early in the first quarter, but the BYU defense clearly met every challenge the Bronco offense had to offer throughout the game. “Our defense is the focal point of this team,” said BYU linebacker Brandon Ogletree. “We lead with energy and emotion and hopefully, try to pass that on to the offense. But any time that an offense has four times to score inside their own one, and you don’t let them, that’s the best feeling in the world as a defender.” It was a night to forget, however, for Nelson. The lefty struggled throughout the first half and was picked off three times. The first came when Jamar Taylor stepped in front of an underthrown ball at the Boise State 2-yard line, squelching the Cougars’ best scoring chance in the first half. The second went to Atkinson, but it was Nelson’s third on the following possession that sent him to the bench. He finished 4 of 9 for 19 yards, was sacked twice and fumbled once. Hill, who grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, and was recruited by Boise State, was 4 of 10 passing for 42 yards and he led the team with 72 yards rushing on 12 carries. The Cougars amassed only 200 yards of total offense, had two fumbles and were penalized eight times for 64 yards. While Hill may have energized the Cougars late, Mendenhall made sure to douse speculation Nelson will be replaced as the starter for the Sept 28 game against Hawaii. “Riley is our quarterback,” Mendenhall said after the game. “I want him to be healthy and I want him to be able to look me in the eye and tell me, ‘Coach, I am absolutely ready.’ I don’t have any different feelings about him than I did going into this game.” —AP
SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Birthday boy Gayle reveals big-hitting secret COLOMBO: Hard-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday by telling batsmen how to hit sixes during the ongoing World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. “It takes a bit of strength and once the ball is in your slot you go for it,” Gayle said ahead of the West Indies’ first match against Australia in Colombo today. “It’s instinct to be honest. You have to let the mind and body flow together. You don’t want to get stuck in a two-minded situation. “You just try and
be natural out there and things will actually flow for you in the end,” Gayle was quoted as saying by the West Indies Cricket Board in a statement. Left-handed Gayle, whose 27 sixes are a tournament record in the World Twenty20, is one of the most feared batsmen in all formats of the game with a penchant for big hits against both pace and spin. His rapid-fire 117 off 57 balls with 10 sixes and seven fours against South Africa in the inaugural World Twenty20
in 2007 remains the highest individual score in the competition. “The key is balance. You have to have good balance to be able to hit a lot of sixes,” said the Jamaican, who also has two triple-centuries in Test cricket to his credit. “I pay special emphasis to my balance. You have to realize that bowlers are not always going to make it easy for you. You have to create the shots, so you have to make sure you do it well.” Gayle said he looked forward to
McCullum record ton powers New Zealand PALLEKELE: Brendon McCullum blasted the highest individual score in Twenty20 Internationals to fashion New Zealand’s comprehensive 59-run victory over Bangladesh in the Group D opener of the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday. The swashbuckling opener hammered a 58-ball 123 to become the first player to score two centuries in Twenty20 Internationals as New Zealand posted an intimidating 191 for three wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The batsman, who turns 31 next week, hit seven sixes and 11 fours in a highly entertaining innings to better the record of South African opener Richard Levi whose unbeaten 117 earlier this year against New Zealand was the highest individual score in this format. Bangladesh simply crumbled under the run mountain and managed 132 for eight wickets, largely because of Nasir Hossain’s gritty 50. McCullum cleared the boundary at will and one of his sixes came when he came dancing down the track to swat a short delivery from Mashrafe Mortaza over long-off boundary in a shot that looked more like a tennis forehand. Put into bat, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill (11) in the fourth over but McCullum and James Franklin (35) added 94 run in the next 10 overs to lay the foundation for a big total. McCullum, batting on 92, was lucky to get a reprieve when Mortaza dropped him at extra cover off Elias Sunny. The batsman celebrated by hitting the left-arm spinner for two boundaries and a six in that eventful over to complete his century. Bangladesh struggled early in their chase, losing their scoreless opener Tamim Iqbal to the third ball of the innings sent down by Kyle Mills (3-33) who claimed two more top order wickets to derail the chase. His new ball colleague Tim Southee (3-16) removed the other opener Mohammad Ashraful (21) and returned to claim two more as Bangladesh finished well short of their target. New Zealand meet Pakistan in their next Group D match on Sunday, two days before Bangladesh play the same team. — Reuters
PALLEKELE: New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum bats during the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh in Pallekele, Sri Lanka yesterday. — AP
Scoreboard PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 group D match between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Pallekele stadium yesterday. New Zealand M. Guptill b Razzak 11 J. Franklin c Sunny b Mortaza 35 B. McCullum c Iqbal b Razzak 123 R. Taylor not out 14 Extras: (lb2, w6) 8 Total: (for three wickets, 20 overs) 191 Fall of wicket: 1-19 (Guptill), 2-113 (Franklin), 3-191 (McCullum). Bowling: Mortaza 4-0-26-1 (w5), Islam 3-0-34-0, Razzak 4-028-2 (w1), Hasan 4-0-40-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-13-0, Sunny 3-0-36-0, Rahman 10-12-0 Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal c Guptill b Mills Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Southee
0 21
Shakib Al Hasan c Williamson b Mills 11 Mushfiqur Rahim c Williamson b Mills 4 M’ Mahmudullah c Williamson b N. McCullum 15 Nasir Hossain c Guptill b Southee 50 Ziaur Rahman not out 14 Mashrafe Mortaza c Franklin b Oram 5 Elias Sunny c Oram b Southee 5 Abdur Razzak not out 0 Extras: (lb3, w4) 7 Total: (for eight wickets, 20 overs) 132 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Iqbal), 2-19 (Hasan), 3-33 (Rahim), 4-37 (Ashraful), 5-87 (Mahmudullah), 6-115 (Hossain), 7-123 (Mortaza), 8-128 (Sunny), Bowling: Mills 4-0-33-3, Southee 4-1-16-3 (w3), Oram 4-0-341, Vettori 4-0-31-0, N. McCullum 4-0-15-1 (w1) Result: New Zealand won by 59 runs
playing against Australia, who thrashed Ireland by seven wickets in their first game on Wednesday. “The first game is vital,” he said. “You don’t want to play catch-up cricket in T20, so it’s a very big match for us. It will also get our confidence going. “In our team we bat right down, and bowling-wise we have spinners and fast bowlers. The key for us is to get to the second round and try and take it step by step.” The West Indies, one of the pre-tournament favorites, play Ireland on Monday. — AFP
S Africa out to tame Sri Lanka’s Mendis HAMBANTOTA: South Africa skipper AB de Villiers said his batsmen will put Sri Lanka’s magician spinner Ajantha Mendis under pressure when the two teams meet in a group C match in Hambantota today. Mendis, 27, sounded a warning to all batsmen by picking up 6-8 - the best figures in all Twenty20 cricket-to crush Zimbabwe in the opening match of the World Twenty20 on Tuesday and promises further destruction. But de Villiers said his team will be ready for the mystery spinner. “Mendis is a world class bowler,” said the South African captain yesterday. “When he’s going well he will always pick up wickets. But we’ve seen him perform under pressure and seen him break down under pressure as well. “So, hopefully, we can get the upper hand against him and not let him bowl to us.” South Africa also thumped Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in their opening match on Thursday to qualify for the Super Eights round with Sri Lanka but de Villiers promised no let-ups. “I don’t think there will be any drop in intensity. We’re in the beginning stages of a very, very big event, a tournament that we really want to win,” said de Villiers of South Africa, who are among the title favorites in the 12-team event. The South African captain admitted his team were underdogs against the fancied hosts. “We know we’re not a perfect team. Sri Lanka are the home team and we’re probably underdogs. We’ll try and gain more momentum out of the game,” said de Villiers, whose country has not won a major event since winning the 1998 ICC knock out event in Bangladesh. Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene played down the hype around Mendis, who is often compared with world record holder countryman Muttiah Muralitharan. “They’re big boots to fill. It’s going to be tough for anyone to fit into Murali’s shoes because of the quality of the player,” said Jayawardene of Murali, whose 800 Tests and 534 one-day wickets are the highest in the world. — AFP
Zimbabwe’s captain brands team ‘sloppy’ HAMBANTOTA: Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has described his team as “sloppy” and “below par” after they crashed out of the World Twenty20 with a ten-wicket thumping by South Africa on Thursday. Zimbabwe were no match for the formidable South Africans as they were reduced to a paltry 93-8 in their 20 overs before seeing their opponents overhaul the low target without losing any wicket with 7.2 overs to spare. Zimbabwe lost the first group C game against Sri Lanka by a big 82-run margin. “We came here to win games, and to end on the note we have is very disappointing,” said Taylor after the match. “The sun comes up tomorrow, and unfortunately we head home. There’s a long way to go for us and there’s a lot of cricket to be played next year. We just want to keep trying to improve and improve in different conditions.” Taylor regretted his team was below par in a major event. “We went wrong in all three departments. We dropped chances and were sloppy in the field, leaked runs with the ball and didn’t score many runs with the bat,” said Taylor whose batting was rocked by Jacques Kallis’s 4-15. “You’re not going to win games than that. All in all our cricket was way below par, and against quality opposition you’re not going to stand a chance,” said Taylor, who promised a swift comeback. “We’d love a couple more games just to prove that we are a far better side. But that’s not to be. — AFP
sports SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Ryder Cup - labor of Love for team USA
ATLANTA: Tiger Woods watches his approach shot on the first hole during the first round of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. —AFP
Tiger lands first blow in East Lake ‘duel’ ATLANTA: Tiger Woods delivered the best possible response to suggestions earlier this week that he is intimidated by Rory McIlroy as he outscored the world number one by three shots in the Tour Championship first round on Thursday. Playing with the mop-haired Northern Irishman in the final pairing in front of huge galleries at East Lake Golf Club, Woods birdied two of the last four holes for a fourunder-par 66 to burst into a share of the lead. McIlroy, who led the FedExCup points standings coming into the PGA Tour’s fourth and final playoff event, carded a 69 in his first competitive round on the challenging East Lake layout. “I enjoy playing with Rory,” Woods, 36, told reporters after joining Britain’s Justin Rose atop the leaderboard in the 2012 FedExCup finale. “He’s a great kid. Over the years there are certain pairings for me that I’ve enjoyed, and Rory is one of them.” Woods, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour this season, was paired with McIlroy for a fifth time in this year’s FedExCup playoffs, a perfect scenario for television ratings as well as for the East Lake fans. “I think that is the whole idea of the playoffs, trying to get the top players all playing more often but also in the same group,” said world number two Woods, who won the Tour Championship in 1999 and 2007. “You figure the top players are going to gravitate towards the top of the points list and hence, you’re going to have these types of pairings throughout the playoffs. And it’s turned out that way this year. McIlroy, who has overshadowed Woods this season by winning four times, including his second major title at last month’s PGA Championship, relished playing again with the American former world number one. “It was great,” the 23-year-old Northern Irishman said. “I always say with groupings like that, it’s a great atmosphere and it’s a
great buzz. I wish I could have shot a couple of shots better. “But I’m in a good position going into tomorrow. I’ll just go out there and try to play the same way, maybe hole a few more putts and turn what I shot today into something in the mid-60s.” BURGEONING RIVALRY McIlroy and Woods enjoy a burgeoning rivalry and appear to thrive in one another’s company. Thursday was no exception as they laughed and joked while striding down the first fairway before treating the fans to a series of clutch putts. Woods rammed in a 21foot birdie putt at the par-three second, then McIlroy followed suit with a slippery 18-footer downhill to birdie the third. The American chipped in to birdie the 12th, and McIlroy responded by draining a 22-footer. Woods finished the stronger though, birdies at 15 and 16 putting him level with Rose in a tie for the lead. All this after former world number one Greg Norman of Australia had sparked debate earlier in the week when he told FoxSports.com that Woods had effectively handed over the baton to McIlroy as the game’s leading player. “What I’m seeing is that Tiger’s really intimidated by Rory,” Norman said. “When have you ever seen him intimidated by another player? Never.” Both Woods and McIlroy laughed off Norman’s suggestions in the build-up to the Tour Championship, although the American was certainly the happier with his position heading into Friday’s second round. “As a whole, I played well today. I hit a lot of good shots, made a few putts out there, but actually I had a couple of good up-and-downs, which is nice,” said Woods. “I prefer the old, traditional golf courses like this. Trouble is just right there in front of you. It’s very simple, but it’s hard.” —Reuters
LOS ANGELES: Davis Love says a Super Bowllike atmosphere and Medinah’s home-course advantage will empower the Americans and enable them to reclaim the Ryder Cup from their European rivals. The 48-year-old US skipper knows all about the pressure of a Ryder Cup, having competed in a half dozen, beginning with his first in 1993. He also knows about winning major championships, capturing the 1997 PGA Championship. “It is our Olympics or our Super Bowl,” said Love. “It is the biggest thing you can play in golf. “It is not the same as the PGA Tour where you play week after week after week and then there is a major. It is more pressure. It is something where we are scared to lose and we want the Cup back.” The Americans have lost four of the last five Ryder Cups, including the last one in 2010 at Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. Their last victory was four years ago at Valhalla in Kentucky and they hope playing on home soil in front of raucous partisan galleries will give them the edge this time. “You get to the last nine of PGA Championship and you are in the hunt and you get really nervous,” Love said. “At the Ryder Cup you get really nervous on Thursday when they have the opening ceremonies and put the flags up and you realize you are playing for your country and every shot from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon is that kind of last nine holes of a major pressure.” With four rookies this year and 10 of the top 16 ranked players in the world there will be no shortage of firepower for the US team that will play Europe at Chicago’s historic Medinah course September 28-30. This is the first time the event will take place at the Medinah Country Club but the golf course is no stranger to international tournaments having hosted five major championships. “It is going to be a great event,” said American Steve Stricker, who is making his thirdstraight appearance in the Ryder Cup. “From what I heard is they sold out of just about everything. “I know the Chicago area is going to support it tremendously. We lost it last time at Celtic Manor and we want to get that back. Everybody will be fired up and it should be quite a scene and a lot of fun. “It is the best golfing spectacle we have. There is so much
history.” Love also named Scott Verplank and Jeff Sluman as his vice-captains for the USA team which comprises eight qualifiers and four captain’s picks. Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar grabbed the seventh and eighth qualifying spots as the final round of the PGA Championship capped the points table for selecting the US team. Tiger Woods led the standings and Bubba Watson finished second. Also qualifying were Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Zach Johnson. Dufner, Bradley and Simpson will be making their Ryder Cup debuts. Love filled out the team with his four wildcard picks on September 4, adding Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker. That mean’t there was no room for Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney or Rickie Fowler. Mahan looked poised to make the team but finished near the bottom at Firestone and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Stricker, who is ranked 10th in the world, is a steady influence and a great partner with Woods. “We get along. Our games are somewhat similar but different if you know what I mean,” Stricker said. “We chip and putt well and get it around the course well. “Obviously he hits it a lot further than I do and has a lot more other talents than I do. But the basic principle is we are good with one another and we understand one another. “Our short games are good and when you put guys together with good putting then they are tough to beat.” Stricker expects that his experience and competitive fire will help him adjust to the super-charged atmosphere of a Ryder Cup. “You find an inner calmness,” he says. “Guys get through it. When you make one, you want to make another.” Johnson and Snedeker earned their way in a three-week tryout which Love watched closely. “You can’t argue with the golf that Brandt and Dustin have been playing,” Love said. Love also said they plan to set Medinah up so that it gives the USA the upper hand. “It’s going to look like a major championship because Medinah is a big old golf course, with big trees and obviously big tents,” Love said. “It’s going to look like a major, but it’s going to play probably easier than a major. “That benefits our team. We’re a long-hitting, freewheeling, fun-to-watch team.” —AFP
Veteran Fujita leads in Japan TOKYO: Japanese veteran Hiroyuki Fujita grabbed the second-round lead at the AsiaPacific Panasonic Open on home soil yesterday but had reigning Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan in hot pursuit. Fujita, a twotime winner on the Asian Tour, carded a three-under-par 68 for a one-shot lead over Pagunsan, who birdied the last three holes for 66. He was tied in second with Darren Beck of Australia and Koumei Oda of Japan. India’s Shiv Kapur battled fatigue and jetlag for 68 and was three shots off the pace, followed by Asian Tour rookie David Lipsky (64) of the United States and Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa (65), who were a further shot back. Overnight leader Yuta Ikeda, who shot an opening-round 62, slipped back with a 76 for tied 24th place at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club. With him were Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Chinnarat Phadungsil at the 150-million-yen (about $1.9 million) event sanctioned by the
Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. “My putter went cold on the back nine and I couldn’t score,” Fujita told the Asian Tour after his birdie on the last hole saw him sitting top of the pile. “It was quite disappointing but this is just the second day and we do not know how it will turn out in the end,” said Fujita, who won in Japan last week. “The course setup might get tougher in the last two days so I hope I can continue shooting in the 60s. “Last week’s win has boosted my confidence but like I said, it is still early in the tournament and there are many good players behind me.” The sweet-swinging Pagunsan got off with a bogey, birdie and bogey start but steadied ship with six further birdies including a missed eagle opportunity from 25 feet on the 18th hole. “My approach shot landed on a slope (18th) and the ball could have rolled into the water but it went towards the green instead. I had a chance for eagle but settled for an easy birdie instead. I’ll take that,” he said. —AFP
SPORTS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Reigning champions Giants rout Panthers NEW YORK: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning delivered another razor sharp performance, and running back Andre Brown ran in a pair of touchdowns, as the defending Super Bowl champions steamrolled the Carolina Panthers 36-7 in Charlotte on Thursday. Manning, who threw for a career-best 510 yards and three touchdowns against Tampa Bay on Sunday, completed 27 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown before being relieved by backup David Carr in the fourth quarter as the Giants improved to 2-1. Manning, last season’s Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, outshone NFL rookie of the year Cam Newton, who had a tough time against the Giants defense, completing 16 of 30 passes for 242 yards with three interceptions as the Panthers fell to 1-2. While New York kept the dynamic Newton in check, holding the slippery quarterback to just six yards rushing on six carries and one touchdown, Manning shredded the Carolina defense and manufactured points from the Giants’ first four possessions. New York took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in eight plays, Manning firing a 14-yard touchdown strike to Martellus Bennett as the Panthers allowed their opponent to score on the opening drive for the third consecutive game. “We talked about getting a fast start, jump out to a lead,” Manning told reporters. “Get the ball, go 80 yards for a touchdown, that was a great start. “It set the tempo for the whole game and we kept it going.” Lawrence Tynes booted a 47-yard field goal to give the visitors a 10-0 first quarter advantage and the Giants kept up the pace in the second, scoring on their first possession when Brown barreled over from a yard out and Tynes kicked a 49 yarder to make it 20-0 at halftime. Brown, getting his first start in place of injured Ahmad Bradshaw, ran for a career high 113 yards on 20 carries. The second half was more of the same, the Giants capitalizing on a Panthers turnover to go 23-0 ahead with a 30yard Tynes field goal. The Panthers offense finally let loose and Newton led a 13-play drive before diving over for a touchdown from the one yard line. Tynes was on target again with a 36-yard field goal to pad New York’s lead to 26-7 entering the final quarter. In the fourth, Brown ran in another one-yard touchdown and Tynes completed the rout with a 27-yard kick, his fifth field goal of the game. —Reuters
Teams, youth leagues strive to make sport safer NEW YORK: In the small northeast Ohio town of Massillon, a few miles from the National Football Hall of Fame, some 20,000 fans pack into a high school stadium, drowning out the roar of a real tiger mascot on the sidelines. Football is akin to religion in Massillon and, like a religion, it can be resistant to change. For decades jolts to the head were written off as “getting your bell rung” and considered part of the game. Now, concerns about serious brain injuries have penetrated American football culture and high schools are taking action. After an off-season with suicides by two former National Football League players, publicity over a lawsuit against the league by NFL players and new studies adding to the growing body of research, nearly every state entered the fall season with some type of legislation protecting young athletes. Jamey Palma, the assistant principal of Washington High School in Massillon, knows the pressure players feel to play through concussions. A high school and college player, he said he suffered four concussions, including one during a game in high school when he stayed in until the end. The concussion was discovered afterward, when he failed to remember what happened on the field. “Back in those days, we’d play through it,” said Palma, 36. Now many coaches and players know “seeing stars” might very well be a concussion and a concussion is a brain injury that needs time to heal. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has devised rules to immediately remove a player and provide him medical attention upon showing signs of a concussion, said Hank Zaborniak, the association’s assistant commissioner. Between 2009 and 2011, 33 states plus the District of Columbia passed laws aimed at preventing concussions in youth sports, and another 15 states have introduced legislation this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Only Montana and Arkansas have yet to act. Many were inspired by the case of Zackery Lystedt, who suffered a life-threatening brain injury and permanent disability when at age 13 in 2006 he was sent back into the second half of a game after suffering a concussion. With Zackery recovering enough to tell his story, a Washington state coalition of medical professionals, later backed by the NFL and the American College of Sports Medicine, helped pass “Lystedt Laws,” first in Washington and then around the country. “This is a brave young man who put a face on traumatic brain injury,” said Dr. Stanley Herring of the University of Washington School of Medicine and a Lystedt Law advocate.
CHARLOTTE: New York Giants cornerback Jayron Hosley (28) intercepts a pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Brandon LaFell (11) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte. — AP
NFL result/standings NY Giants 36, Carolina 7. American Football Conference AFC East W L T OTL PF NY Jets 1 1 0 0 58 New England 1 1 0 0 52 Buffalo 1 1 0 0 63 Miami 1 1 0 0 45 AFC North Baltimore 1 1 0 0 67 Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 47 Pittsburgh 1 1 0 0 46 Cleveland 0 2 0 0 43 AFC South Houston 2 0 0 0 57 Indianapolis 1 1 0 0 44 Jacksonville 0 2 0 1 30 Tennessee 0 2 0 0 23 AFC West San Diego 2 0 0 0 60 Denver 1 1 0 0 52 Oakland 0 2 0 0 27 Kansas City 0 2 0 0 41
High school football trying to save brains
PA 55 33 65 43
PCT .500 .500 .500 .500
37 71 41 51
.500 .500 .500 0
17 61 53 72
1.000 .500 0 0
24 46 57 75
1.000 .500 0 0
National Football Conference NFC East Philadelphia 2 0 0 0 41 NY Giants 2 1 0 0 94 Washington 1 1 0 0 68 Dallas 1 1 0 0 31 NFC North Green Bay 1 1 0 0 45 Chicago 1 1 0 0 51 Detroit 1 1 0 0 46 Minnesota 1 1 0 0 46 NFC South Atlanta 2 0 0 0 67 Tampa Bay 1 1 0 0 50 Carolina 1 2 0 0 52 New Orleans 0 2 0 0 59 NFC West San Francisco 2 0 0 0 57 Arizona 2 0 0 0 40 Seattle 1 1 0 0 43 St. Louis 1 1 0 0 54
39 65 63 44
1.000 .667 .500 .500
40 44 50 46
.500 .500 .500 .500
45 51 79 75
1.000 .500 .333 0
41 34 27 55
1.000 1.000 .500 .500
IMPROVED RULES, EQUIPMENT In the meantime, experts explore improvements in helmet design and advanced mouth guards. Some coaches mandate neck strengthening as prevention. Since 2010, the National Federation of State High Schools rule book requires removing a player from a game when he shows signs of a concussion. With rule changes and better equipment, death has become increasingly rare. Of 1.1 million high school football players, two died of brain injury in 2011, when a rate of 0.86 per 100,000 players suffered permanent brain damage, according to an annual study by a University of North Carolina researcher. A 2011 study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that survivors of a single traumatic brain injury in young adults can show changes in their brains years later, possibly leading to neurodegenerative disease similar to Alzheimer’s. In Ohio, where 715 high schools play football, the rules removed 102 high school football players from games last year. Thirteen of them returned to the game after being checked out by medical professionals but most were held out for the remainder of the game and many for several games. The Ohio House has passed a bill that would require youth sports coaches and officials to do what Zaborniak’s group now requires in high schools - remove a player from a game or practice if the player is exhibiting symptoms or behavior consistent with concussions. The Ohio Senate has yet to approve the legislation. Alabama is developing a concussion data bank. A California law approved in August requires trainers to understand the signs and symptoms of concussions and know the appropriate responses. —Reuters
SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Italian League Preview
Spanish League Preview
Real kick-start Liga campaign at Rayo MADRID: Champions Real Madrid aim to get their La Liga campaign back on track away to city rivals Rayo Vallecano following a dismal start which has seen a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona open up an eight-point lead over them with the season little over a month old. Many reasons have been offered for the run of just one win in four games, from a demanding pre-season tour to claims that Jose Mourinho has lost the control of the dressing room. But Real did offer the motivation and fight that had been missing to come from behind to beat Champions League opponents Manchester City at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. Defeat away to Sevilla last weekend, however, means that Real have only picked up four points so far and afterwards an angry Mourinho was particularly disappointed with the manner of the defeat where the players appeared to lack interest. Sergio Ramos, one of the heavyweights in the Madrid dressing room and has stood up to Mourinho in the past, appeared to be the one to pay the price as he was dropped against City and Raphael Varane came in to partner Pepe at centre half. The pressure on the shoulders of the Portuguese coach would really have increased with a further defeat which looked quite possible at 2-1 down with six minutes to go but Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo turned the game around. “We knew that we were not playing well and we didn’t need the trainer to tell us that,” said defender Alvaro Arbeloa. “There is a very good relationship in the dressing room and we are in agreement with the coach. Now after that important win (against City) we need to keep going.” Most of the question marks at the start of the season were over how Barca would be able to overturn Madrid with their new coach Tito Vilanova, and with Messi leading the way they have made a storming start with four straight wins in the league and now play Granada at the Camp Nou. Messi also proved his value on the European stage with two late goals as Barca too had to come from behind to beat Spartak Moscow on Wednesday. The main concern for Vilanova is the number of players missing from the defense with Gerard Pique adding to the list against Spartak which saw Alex Song come on to partner Javier Mascherano at the back. Carles Puyol and Jordi Alba were also out along with long term absentee Eric Abidal. The off-field problems concerning Malaga have not affected their start to the season and they sit behind Barcelona on 10 points with Athletic Bilbao their next opponents. Qatari owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani offloaded some of the star players over the summer and was looking for buyers but the crisis now appears to have passed although he has cut back on investment. Real’s conquerors last weekend, Sevilla, now travel away to Deportivo la Coruna while Mallorca, who have also made a strong start, have a tough match with the visit of Valencia. Europa League champions Atletico Madrid entertain newly promoted Valladolid who have slumped to back-toback defeats. At the foot of the table Osasuna and Espanyol both have just one point and now take on Zaragoza and Real Betis respectively. — AFP
Juve look to pull ahead as AC Milan hit panic button MILAN: Serie A champions Juventus will look to add to the domestic woes of their title challengers when they host Chievo hoping to extend their unbeaten streak to 43 matches today. Although Juve are one of four teams to hold 100 percent records after three league games, their most likely title challengers - Inter Milan and AC Milan - are playing catch-up, and Milan are already in crisis mode. Juventus overcame an 18th-minute opener by hosts Genoa last week by producing a second-half performance worthy of the scudetto champions to secure a deserved 3-1 win.
Anything less than three points against a Chievo side, which has suffered two defeats since an opening day win against Bologna, would be a major surprise. A valiant Juve side fought back to level 2-2 away to Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday to remind Roberto Di Matteo’s defending champions they could be a force to be reckoned with. It is widely-expected that Juventus will defend their Serie A title with relative ease this season, and some sections of the Italian media are already talking of a Champions League-Serie A double. Goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon,
LONDON: Chelsea’s British defender Ryan Bertrand (left) vies with Juventus’ Chilean midfielder Mauricio Isla during an UEFA Champions League group E football match at Stamford Bridge in London. — AFP
who played in the 2003 Champions League final when Juventus finished runners-up for a fifth time in their history, was however quick to play down that speculation. “It would be presumptuous to think about that midway through September,” Buffon said. After their Stamford Bridge match Juventus could rest several top players for Chievo, with Chilean forward Arturo Vidal expected to be sidelined with a minor ankle problem. That could pave the way for Danish international striker Nicklas Bendtner to make his debut for the Turin side. Ahead of the fourth round of matches Juventus sit top on nine points, ahead of Napoli and Lazio who also have nine. Genoa-based Sampdoria have also won all three games but have only eight points having started the season with a one-point penalty for their role in the ‘Calcioscommesse’ illegal betting scandal. Although Napoli and Lazio are showing some fine early season form, AC Milan’s worst start to the season in over 80 years-and continued doubts over coach Massimiliano Allegri-could dominate this weekend. Since Milan finished league runners-up last season the spine has been ripped out of Allegri’s side, with a clutch of key players either being sold or retiring. With only one win in three league games and having failed to win in three home appearances at the San Siro, including Tuesday’s scoreless draw against Anderlecht in the Champions League, Allegri’s time could soon be up. The man who led Milan to a league and Super Cup double in 2011 has so far been given the backing of Milan chief-executive Adriano Galliani. “The faith we have in Allegri won’t come to an end Sunday in Udine,” said Galliani. While it is Inter’s time to host at the San Siro, with Siena visiting today Milan’s away match at fourthfrom-bottom Udinese could decide Allegri’s future-especially after Thursday’s drama. —AFP
Scottish Premier League Preview
Celtic desperate to see golden Brown GLASGOW: Celtic manager Neil Lennon has highlighted the importance of keeping captain Scott Brown fit for the rest of the Scottish Premier League season after some recent impressive displays. The Scotland international has had a stopstart campaign due to a hip injury which has seen him sidelined for most league games so far. But the Celtic skipper was in fine form as he led his side to a goalless draw against Portuguese side Benfica on Wednesday in their opening Group G Champions League match. Brown was the only player in the Hoops side with any experience of Europe’s elite club competition and Lennon praised him for leading by example in the match. The Celtic manager, whose side sit a surprising fifth in the league, hopes to have his influential captain available for the home match against Dundee today as the Hoops aim to get back to winning ways following a disappointing defeat to St Johnstone in their previous league fixture. “He just gives the team real drive,” Lennon said. “There were moments in the second half against Benfica when he saw the danger coming and he covered the ground quickly to make tremendous tackles. “He stopped the majority of Benfica’s counter attacks by nipping them in the bud quickly. He’s improving all the time. He has matured a lot since coming to the club, taken the captaincy and blossomed into the skipper he is.
“He’s one of our more experienced players who has played at this level before. We had 10 players out there who hadn’t played in the Champions League before the game against Benfica. He sets the example for the rest of them. “But there were so many pluses for the team. However, I thought Brown in the second half was colossal. “We may have to be careful with his injury but he recovered quickly from the game at the weekend which was pleasing. “He also finished the game tremendously strong which was surprising considering the condition he’s had. We’ll now have to see how he is over the next couple of days.” The visitors to Celtic Park today are Dundee, who took the place of Rangers in the top flight after the Glasgow side were demoted to Division Three. They have taken just four points from their opening six fixtures but defender Gary Irvine says the Dundee players can use St Johnstone’s defeat of Celtic to inspire them to victory over the Hoops. “It was good to see St Johnstone getting points. It gives us a wee bit of confidence going into the game but in the same breath I’m sure it gives them a massive kick up the backside,” Irvine said. “But it’s just been an example of how unusual the start of the season has been. With Rangers out of the league, I don’t think anybody looked ahead of what was going to happen. —AFP
Today’s matches on TV
English Premier League Swansea v Everton Abu Dhabi Sports HD Chelsea v Stoke City Abu Dhabi Sports HD Southampton v Aston Villa Abu Dhabi Sports HD Bromwich v Reading Abu Dhabi Sports HD West Ham v Sunderland Abu Dhabi Sports HD Wigan Athletic v Fulham Abu Dhabi Sports HD
14:45 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00 17:00
Spanish League Zaragoza v Osasuna Aljazeera Sports +2 Celta v Getafe Aljazeera Sports +2 Betis v Espanyol Aljazeera Sports +5 Barcelona v Granada Aljazeera Sports +3
17:00 19:00 21:00 22:00
Italian League Parma v Fiorentina Aljazeera Sports +1 Juventus v Chievo Aljazeera Sports +1
19:00 21:00
sports SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Carrick calls for calm as United head to Anfield LONDON: Michael Carrick has pleaded with Manchester United fans to keep the peace when his side face bitter rivals Liverpool in an emotionally charged clash at Anfield this weekend. United’s visits to Liverpool are always potentially explosive given the animosity between supporters, but the build-up to this season’s clash is especially tense as it is the club’s first home game since the release of an explosive report into the Hillsborough tragedy. The report cleared Liverpool fans of any blame for the deaths of 96 of their own supporters during crushing on the terraces before and during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium. But United fans, who have often taunted their rivals about Hillsborough in the past, engaged in anti-Liverpool chants during last weekend’s win over Wigan, raising fears they would do the same at Anfield and potentially spark serious
crowd disorder. Carrick, who scored United’s winner in their 1-0 Champions League victory over Galatasaray in midweek, admits there is huge responsibility on both players and fans alike to ensure there are no ugly incidents tomorrow. “After what has gone on there is added responsibility on the players for everything to go smoothly. We will be doing our utmost to make sure that is the case,” Carrick said. “It is a heated game because it is a great football match. It is a rivalry of two great clubs with great histories and traditions. It is what makes the game so special, a classic game worldwide. “Hopefully it will be a cracking game of football because it is vital that after tomorrow, everyone is talking about the football.” While all eyes will be on any potential flashpoints at Anfield, the fixture is crucial for both teams and for vastly different reasons. Second placed United have failed to
Chelsea told to get tough LONDON: Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has warned his team-mates that the European champions are in danger of becoming a soft touch this season. Ivanovic was left frustrated after Roberto Di Matteo’s side blew a two-goal lead to Juventus in the midweek Champions League draw with the Italian club. Stoke’s visit to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League today provides Chelsea with an early opportunity to remedy the defensive lapses that contributed to their failure to make a winning start to their Champions League defense. Those deficiencies were also exposed by Atletico Madrid in the 4-1 European Super Cup defeat. And Tony Pulis’s side are likely to provide a tough test with Michael Owen in line to make his first start for Stoke alongside his former England strike partner Peter Crouch. After dropping their first league points of the season in last weekend’s scoreless draw at QPR, Chelsea will be anxious to claim a first win in four games. The arrivals of Eden Hazard and Oscar-who marked his full debut with two goals against Juventus-has given Chelsea a more dynamic look in attack. But Ivanovic has highlighted the need to rediscover the defensive solidity and desire that delivered Champions League and FA Cup glory last season. “We started well against Juventus but after that it was too easy for them. We can improve 50 per cent more on this performance,” Ivanovic said. “We are playing differently this year with more emphasis on attacking but everyone also has to be focused on defending. This is what helped us last season. “It’s all about our concentration and motivation. We have to think that every situation is dangerous and cover well. It’s more of a mental situation because our training is hard enough to prepare for a big game. Mentally we have to do more. “Every player has to self-motivate themselves, to make sure they are in the right position and be in the right way, so they can give good things for the team.” Fernando Torres will again lead the Chelsea attack, but the Spaniard is in need of a confidence boost after two lackluster displays against QPR and Juventus. Stoke are still searching for their first win after recording draws in their opening four Premier League games. Pulis’s squad is still coming together with USA midfielder Maurice Edu, like Owen a late recruit to the Potters, hoping to feature against Chelsea. Edu switched to England from Glasgow Rangers following the Scottish club’s financial meltdown and is determined to make a big impression in his new surroundings. “I don’t think I was much different to any other kid-when you dream of playing overseas, you dream of playing in the Premier League,” said Edu. “For my personal situation, it was inevitable that I had to get out and move on. —AFP
win any of their last five trips to Liverpool, but they look to have a golden opportunity to end that run against Brendan Rodgers’ side, who are struggling at the wrong end of the table after opening the season without a win in their first four league games. Also tomorrow, champions Manchester City will aim to bounce back from their misery in Madrid when they host in-form Arsenal. City threw away a 2-1 lead in the closing minutes against Real Madrid, eventually losing 3-2 in the Bernabeu on Tuesday to open their Champions League campaign on a low note. However, Yaya Toure, City’s midfield powerhouse, believes the experience of taking on a European giant like Real will be invaluable in the long run. “I think we played against a fantastic team. Real Madrid have a big history, they are a big club. It was quite good for us to play against them to see what level we are at now,” Toure said. While City
were losing in Madrid, third-placed Arsenal secured their third successive victory in all competitions thanks to a 2-1 win over French champions Montpellier. Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta believes one of the keys to that run is the good form of unheralded full-backs Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs. “I think they’ve been very consistent,” Arteta said. “Gibbsy has been playing really well. I think he’s finding himself more comfortable going forwards. “Carl’s had four or five games under his belt and you can see he’s confident. “Against Montpellier he put a brilliant cross in for Gervinho to score the goal. That’s what we need because we’re missing players.” Elsewhere, Chelsea, held by Juventus in midweek, will look to secure their first win in four games in all competitions when they host Stoke, while bottom of the table Southampton bid for their first point of the season against Aston Villa. —AFP
Arsenal’s solidity faces test at City LONDON: Arsenal’s newfound defensive resilience will be put to the test in the English Premier League tomorrow against a Manchester City team that is set to feature fitagain striker Sergio Aguero. The only goals Arsenal has conceded in five matches this season have been from a penalty in the 2-1 win over Montpellier in the Champions League, and from a goalkeeping error by Wojciech Szczesny in last weekend’s 6-1 rout of Southampton. Much of the credit for the team’s obduracy at the back has gone to Steve Bould, a member of the famously stingy Arsenal defense of the 1990s who was hired as assistant coach in the offseason. “We have had a decent start to the season and we have kept the run going so it’s important allround, for the whole season,” Bould said. “We will go to Manchester City with a bit of confidence. It is better being this way, but it is a proper test. It is where we want to be and hopefully we can come away saying we did OK again.” It is surely no coincidence that having Bould around the training ground has led to the team being tougher for opponents to break through. Arsenal’s defensive solidity contrasts with City’s frailties at the back, with Roberto Mancini’s Premier League champions winning just two of their five competitive games. City is reeling from throwing away a 2-1 lead at Real Madrid on Tuesday in the last few minutes to lose their Champions League opener 3-2. “It has not been an ideal start to the season,” midfielder Gareth Barry said. “We finished last season with a great defensive record. “This time we are scoring a lot of goals but conceding at the same time. I am sure as the season goes on it is something we can work on.” Midfielder Samir Nasri is set to miss playing his former club Arsenal after limping out of the Madrid match with a hamstring problem, but Aguero is fit again after a monthlong absence with a knee injury. Both Arsenal and City are unbeaten after four league games, and have eight points, two behind Chelsea. Chelsea, though, experi-
enced a midweek Champions League result similar to City’s in throwing away a 2-0 lead to open its title defense with a 2-2 draw against Juventus. It’s exposed the difficulties of trying to entertain more on the pitch while retaining the resilience that helped Chelsea win the European Cup for the first time in May. “We are playing differently this year, with more emphasis on attacking, but everyone also has
as Arsenal’s trip to City, Man United resumes its fierce rivalry with Liverpool with a trip to Anfield. The animosity been the sides has been inflamed by the racism row following last season’s match at Anfield when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez repeatedly racially abused Patrice Evra. Suarez then refused to shake the United defender’s hand at the return fixture at Old Trafford. There have been appeals for calm from both teams, particularly after
MONTPELLIER: Montpellier’s French defender Garry Bocaly (left) challenges for the ball with Arsenal’s German forward Lukas Podolski during the Champions League Group B soccer match between Montpellier and Arsenal, at the La Mosson stadium in Montpellier. —AP to be focused on defending and being organized,” defender Branislav Ivanovic said ahead of today’s match against Stoke. “This is what helped us get good results last year ... we are much more creative in the attacking third, but we have to have the right balance and still work hard to get to the top level.” Chelsea’s match is the headline fixture today before the more glamorous matchups tomorrow. As well
United fans chanted abuse in reference to the Hillsborough stadium tragedy last weekend. That followed the release of a report into the 1989 disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. “It is difficult to control all the fans but most of them are aware of the responsibility and I think they will respond well,” United captain Nemanja Vidic said. —AP
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012
Sports
Reigning champions Giants rout Panthers
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BERN: Young Boys’ defender Christoph Spycher (left) vies with Liverpool’s forward Suso during an Europa League Group A football match between Young Boys and Liverpool on September 20, 2012 in Bern. Liverpool won 3-5. — AFP
Liverpool win thriller; Spurs held Titleholders Atletico Madrid trash Hapoel Tel Aviv PARIS: Liverpool almost paid the price for fielding a near second-string side for their Europa League opener with Swiss side Young Boys in Bern on Thursday, but held on to win a thrilling match 5-3. The Merseyside giants were the only English winners on the night with Newcastle held 0-0 at Maritimo in Portugal and Tottenham also left goalless at home to Lazio. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper Jose Reina, striker Luis Suarez, first-choice defenders Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Welsh international midfield playmaker Joe Allen all remained behind on Merseyside for Thursday’s trip to Switzerland. And Brendan Rodgers’ decision seemed it might backfire against a doughty Swiss side in a match with goal-scoring opportunities galore. Liverpool, in their 100th UEFA Cup and Europa League match, went 1-0 up after just four minutes thanks to a most bizzare Juhani Ojala own goal. A defensive header by Christoph Spycher rebounded off Ojala’s own head into the net past hapless ‘keeper Marco Wolfli. But Raphael Nuzzolo pulled one back for Young Boys before Andre Wisdom made it 2-1 for Liverpool at the break.
The home side shot into the lead with goals from Ojala and, thanks to an excellent finish, Gonzalo Zarate in the 63rd minute. But Sebastian Coates got one back to draw the Reds level, and impressive 20-year-old replacement Jonjo
Shelvey bagged a brace to give the scoreline a slightly more healthy hue than it deserved. Rodgers, whose team tackle Manchester United in the Premier League tomorrow, said he always had faith in his young players.”I don’t see it as
Swedes stabbed by Napoli’s fans MILAN: Attacks by hardcore fans of Serie A side Napoli left three more Swedes hurt following a Europa League match Thursday in the southern Italian port city, reports said. According to the ANSA news agency, the attacks occurred following Napoli’s 4-0 win over Swedish side AIK Solna in Group F of Europe’s second tier club competition. Police told the news agency the Swedish supporters were having dinner in Piazza Borsa after 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) when they were approached by a group whose faces were covered. Two were stabbed in the buttock and leg and the third victim was admitted to hospital for tests. The report did not say whether the third man was also stabbed, but added that the wounds were believed not to be life threatening. On Thursday police launched a hunt for
what they called “pseudo fans” of Napoli who stabbed two Swedes and the owner of the pizzeria where they were eating after an ambush late on Wednesday night. Reports said the pizzeria owner was injured while trying to defend the Swedish fans against “a group armed with baseball bats and knives”. Luigi de Magistritis, the mayor of Naples, said yesterday it was time to stop labeling the perpetrators “fans” of the club. “We should call them criminals, not fans, because that’s what they are,” said De Magistritis. “Napoli can go far in both the Europa League and Serie A but we as fans and as a city still have a long way to go. “I urge all fans, whether in organized groups or not, to keep well away from these criminals.” —Agencies
courageous or brave, I just trust in my players,” he said. “They are still coming to grips with how I want to play, we’ve got a long way to go. The most important characteristic is our fight.” ”Reigning Europa League champions Atletico Madrid kicked off the defense of their title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Israeli club Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Goals from Cristian Rodriguez and Diego Costa in the first half, allied by a third from Raul Garcia in the second period, saw the Spanish club stretch their European winning streak to 14 matches. In Turkey, controversial English midfielder Joey Barton-still ineligible for league action following a ban picked up last season, made his debut for Marseille, whom he has joined on loan from Queens Park Rangers. And it turned out to be a memorable night as the southern French club snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw with Fenerbahce, although Barton was substituted in the 71st minute with the score at 2-0. “He blended well with the other players,” said Marseille coach Elie Baup of Barton. “He tried to play his own game and be clean with his passing. It’s fundamental in our team to give as few balls away as possible and he was successful in this.”—Agencies