23rd Sep

CR IP TI ON BS SU

www.kuwaittimes.net

THULQADA 7, 1433 AH

Israeli war on Iran will happen: Guards chief

40 PAGES

NO: 15577

150 FILS

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

‘Aggression will spell doom for of Jewish state’

UAE Islamists deny forming military wing DUBAI: An Emirati Islamist group yesterday denied press reports that it has formed a military wing and that it was receiving funds from abroad to set up an Islamic state in the United Arab Emirates. The banned Al-Islah, or Reform, association is “pacifist, civilian and moderate and has never, and will never, choose to take up arms,” as part of efforts to push for reforms in the Gulf federation, the group said in a statement received by AFP. On Thursday, Al-Khaleej newspaper reported that Islamists detained in the United Arab Emirates had confessed to forming a secret organization that included a military wing aimed at establishing an Islamist state. Members of Al-Islah allegedly said they planned to topple the UAE regime, a federation of seven hereditary sheikhdoms, the newspaper said citing unnamed sources close to the investigation.

“Investigations have revealed that the structure of the organization included committees and local branches in every emirate, as well as consultative and executive councils and a military wing,” said the report. It said the group admitted a plot aimed at “seizing power and establishing a religious state or a Caliphate”-the political system improvised by early Muslims after the death of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in the 7th century.

The organization had also been acting “in highlevel coordination with the organizations of the Muslim Brotherhood in three other Gulf states,” the Continued on Page 13

LILLE: A Muslim woman speaks with a French gendarme during an identity control yesterday as police enforced a ban on protests over an anti-Islam film. (Inset) A baby girl plays with a placard that reads “the name of Mohammad is dear to us than anything,” as she is held by her mother during a demonstration against a film ridiculing Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) yesterday in Islamabad. — AFP/AP (See Page 10)

Snipers sow panic in Aleppo; 85 killed ALEPPO, Syria: Troops clashed with rebels near the centre of Aleppo yesterday as snipers sowed panic in Syria’s second city, residents told AFP as monitors reported at least 85 people killed nationwide.

The fighting raged in Suleiman AlHalabi, one of Aleppo’s main streets, and the army prevented residents from venturing in the area as steady gunfire rattled

the district. Violence nationwide left at least 85 people — 34 civilians, 28 soldiers and 23 rebels-killed yesterday, according to a watchdog.

“The clashes broke out two days ago,” said Salah who fled his home on Suleiman Al-Halabi with his wife and three children on Friday for a safer location two streets away in neighboring Midan district.

Continued on Page 13

ALEPPO: A Syrian rebel aims his rifle during fighting to root out government forces from their positions in the Amariya neighborhood of Aleppo yesterday. — AFP

Pakistan offers $100,000 bounty for film-maker ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani government minister yesterday offered a $100,000 bounty for the death of the maker of the anti-Islam film produced in the US that sparked violent protests across the Muslim world.

“I announce today that this blasphemer who has abused the holy prophet, if somebody will kill him, I will give that person a prize of $100,000,” Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour told reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

“I also invite Taleban and Al-Qaeda brothers to be partners in this noble deed,” he said, adding that given the chance he would kill the Haji Ghulam film-maker with his own Ahmed Bilour hand and “then they can hang me”.

His comments came a day after violent nationwide protests against the “Innocence of Muslims” film left 21 people dead. Thousands of Islamist activists in Pakistan staged demonstrations again yesterday but there was no repeat of the previous day’s widespread violence. Protests against the film, which mocks Islam and was made by extremist Christians, have erupted across the Muslim world, leading to more than 50 deaths since the first demonstrations on September 11. — AP (See Page 11)

Max 43º Min 25º High Tide 04:04 & 18:14 Low Tide 11:07 & 22:38

TEHRAN: An Israeli war on Iran “will eventually happen” but the Jewish state will be destroyed as a result, the head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said yesterday, according to reports.

“War will happen but it is not certain where and when,” General Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to the ISNA and Fars news agencies.

“The shameful and cancerous tumor that is Israel is seeking war against us, but it is not known when that war will happen. They now consider war as the only way to confront us, but they are so stupid that their (US) masters should stop them,” he said, speaking during an armed forces exhibition in Tehran.

“If they begin (aggression), it will spell their destruction and will be the end of the story,” he said.

“This (war) will eventually happen as the (Islamic) revolution is moving rapidly towards its goals, and they cannot tolerate this. And finally, they will impose a war situation.”

The comments were the first time Iran has acknowledged the probability of open armed conflict with Israel. Previously, it has dismissed such a scenario as bluff on the part of Israel’s leaders.

Tensions, though, have risen significantly in recent weeks, with Israel threatening to unleash air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel believes Iran’s nuclear program to be aimed at developing an atomic weapons capability that would menace its own existence, and its current status as the Middle East’s sole, if undeclared, nuclear weapons power. Iran insists its program is exclusively for peaceful, civilian ends, but it is locked in a deepening standoff with the UN nuclear watchdog and the UN Security Council over the issue.

Jafari said that, “even if they (the Israelis) act rationally, this incident will happen.” He added: “Everyone knows that they cannot confront the power of the Islamic republic ... But there is no guarantee of rationality, and it is possible that they will go crazy” and attack.

Continued on Page 13

Tide shifts to Obama in most crucial states DES MOINES, Iowa: In a presidential race seemingly frozen in place for months, the advantage has shifted toward President Barack Obama after a series of miscues by Mitt Romney, punctuated by the Republican challenger’s comments about people who pay no income tax.

Despite a continuing gray economic sky and unrest in the Mideast, the president has edged ahead of Romney in some of the most competitive states, including Iowa and Virginia, and forced Romney to redouble efforts in Florida

and Ohio, without which he has little chance of becoming president.

With about six weeks left before Election Day and early voting under way in some states, Romney faces a problematic map, a ticking clock and a campaign demeanor that has failed to click with many voters.

Obama’s momentum did not come overnight. It built over several weeks in which Romney hit some potholes while the president made few errors and benefited from previously unseen advantages Continued on Page 13

President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One yesterday in Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland en route to Wisconsin to campaign. — AP

in the

news

Egypt doctor says Mubarak is well CAIRO: Egypt’s chief forensic doctor has told a staterun newspaper that Hosni Mubarak has never suffered a stroke and that he is not in critical condition, contradicting earlier medical reports that the former president’s health was deteriorating. There have been conflicting reports about the health of the 84-year old Mubarak, who was sentenced in June to life in prison for failing to stop the killing of hundreds of protesters during last year’s uprising. Mubarak was abruptly transferred to a military hospital after three weeks in prison amid reports that his heart had stopped. The state news agency said at the time that Mubarak had suffered a stroke.

Iraq to search for Syria-bound aircraft

84-year-old former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is seen in the defendant’s cage. —AP

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi government official says authorities will conduct random searches of Syriabound Iranian aircraft on suspicion that they might be carrying weapons to the war-torn nation. Iran is an ally to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose military has battled opposition forces during an 18month-old uprising that has become a civil war.

Iraqi spokesman Ali Al-Moussawi said yesterday that Baghdad has informed Iranian authorities that Iraq will be inspecting Iranian planes, flying to Syria.

US officials have accused Baghdad of allowing Iran fly weapons to Assad’s forces through Iraqi airspace.

Iraq denies the claims.

29 held during Bahrain protest DUBAI: Bahrain arrested 29 people in the commercial district of the capital Manama on Friday as anti-government protesters marched in the city centre in defiance of a government ban, state media said late on Friday. Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet is based, has been in political turmoil since a protest movement dominated by majority Muslims erupted in February 2011 demanding the monarchy enact democratic reforms. The demonstration was organized by an opposition group called February 14, said Jasim Husain, one of the leaders of the main opposition group, Wefaq. It came two weeks after protesters and police clashed in the city centre for the first time since last year, following months of demonstrations in other parts of Manama and elsewhere in the country.

2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Long Kem, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Dean of Asian Group, hosted a dinner in honour of Yasuyoshi Komizo, the Japanese ambassador and his spouse at the Crowne Plaza Hotel over the weekend. Asian Ambassadors and their spouses gathered to bid farewell to Ambassador Yasuyoshi Komizo who will complete his tour of duty in Kuwait at the end of October 2012. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Al-Fadhalah in London to refute bedoon allegations Call to support Syrian revolution

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The head of a Kuwaiti agency that works towards finding a solution for the problem of stateless residents, headed recently to the United Kingdom to discuss the issue of the ‘bedoons,’ who are reportedly demanding citizenship after having earlier left Kuwait to go to Europe. “After the UK asked Kuwaiti authorities about individuals, who were seeking asylum in Europe on the basis of a claim that they had been kicked out of Kuwait, the head of the Central Agency for Illegal Residents, Saleh Al-Fadhalah departed for London with documents that prove that these individuals are not Kuwaiti nationals and are not entitled to the country’s citizenship,” sources with knowledge of the case stated.

Meanwhile, other anonymous sources indicated that Al-Fadhalah also discussed with British officials about setting up “a joint mechanism through which London can differentiate between genuine Kuwaiti immigrants and bedoons, who are wrongfully claiming to have been denied citizenship by Kuwait.”

National Front memo A memorandum filed by the National Front

for the Protection of the Constitution has been rejected by the judiciary because it has no legal value, said sources familiar with the issue.

An announcement was recently made about the memorandum being sent to executive and judicial authorities. “This step was only taken to attract the attention of the media, but in reality has no legal standing or effect,” the sources pointed out, explaining that the Supreme Judicial Council will not accept the document, “because it pertains to a subject currently being looked into by the Constitutional Court and does not fall under the jurisdiction of individuals.”

Asian market proposal Kuwait plans to propose, “the establishment of a joint Asian market that will help boost trade and investment,” among the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) countries, during the next ACD forum, which is being hosted by Kuwait next month.

“The proposal has been placed on the forum’s schedule and members states have been notified through their ambassadors in Kuwait, who have been asked to present their suggestions,” sources said. “Kuwait hopes that the forum will encourage the

implementation of currently active economic projects between Asian countries, and will also help resolve many of the current political issues facing the continent,” the sources said. They added that, “economic issues will be highlighted in a speech by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah during the forum’s inauguration.”

Support declaration The International Forum for Muslim Parliamentarians released a declaration in support of the Syrian people yesterday, where they announced that preparations are ongoing for hosting a large Arab-Islamic conference to support the Syrian revolution.

“Given the failure of the international community to resolve the issue and the silence of the Arab and Muslim countries towards the killing, destruction and displacement currently taking place in Syria, the forum found it necessary to support the Syrian people by calling upon civil, political and media forces to pressure the governments of Arab countries and the rest of the world to stop the barbaric treatment of Syrian civilians,” a statement quoting the forum’s Vice President Dr. Nasser Al-Sane’a said.

Divers rescue boat off Kubbar’s shore KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti diving team has removed a 20-feet-long boat that was washed ashore onto the southern coast of the Kubbar Island on account of strong winds. The operation concluded during the last weekend.

The divers started by removing the sand and water collected inside the boat,

before taking it to the Fintas Beach and bringing it out of the water. “The team carries out projects where sunken boats are removed to protect the marine environment as well as remove threats posed to coral reefs,” a statement released by the Environmental Voluntary Foundation’s team said yesterday.

Stray bullet hits Kuwaiti woman

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Security sources said that a 59year-old Kuwaiti woman was admitted to Jahra Hospital, where she underwent an urgent surgery during which doctors removed a bullet from her abdomen.

Security sources said that the Kuwaiti woman was brought to hospital for treatment, bleeding heavily from abdominal injuries.

During recuperation, she said to investigators that she was walking in Aloyoun area when she heard the sound of firing.

She said that she didn’t feel anything and the next thing she knew was that she was brought to the hospital. She told investigators that she has no enemies and the bullet could be a stray one from some wedding.

Fatal fall A 24-year-old Indian expat died after he jumped from the third floor of a building in Abu Halifa area and sustained fatal injuries. Security sources said they had conducted the necessary investigation into the case after receiving a report about the man’s fall. Detectives reported that the Indian was allegedly discovered inside a maid’s room on the third floor of a house belonging to the employer. The employer reportedly saw an unidentified man entering the maid’s room and when he went up to check; he allegedly found the maid and the deceased in a state of undress. On being discovered, the Indian expat panicked and jumped from the balcony of the house and died shortly afterwards.

Boy stabbed to death A fun gathering between a number of youths at dawn Friday night ended in the killing of a 15-year-old Kuwaiti boy by his friend, a 14-year-old bedoon, security sources said. A number of youngsters had gathered and were sitting in Al-Waha when an argument started between two of them which got out of control and ended with one of them stabbing the other with a knife that he was carrying. The Kuwaiti died and the assaulter was arrested.

Inspection campaign Assistant undersecretary for labor

affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Jamal Al Dawari said that the ministry has ended its inspection of 350 companies. Al Dawsari told reporters that the ministry shall take necessary legal action against those owners responsible for the violations and called upon them to finalize those employees registered in their files, and at the same time campaigns shall continue in all governorates to restructure the residential mixture and make all laborers legal.

Al Dawsari further said he chaired a meeting for the committee entrusted with the removal of violations for labors law in the private sector, where 135 business owners have been sent to the Public Authority for investigation at the Ministry of Interior to begin court cases against them after an inspection proved that they are in violation of private sector labor laws.

He also expressed his thanks for the support of acting minister of social affairs and labor Salem Al Othaina and undersecretary Mohammad Al Kandari, along with their follow-up for the inspection campaigns.

Car accidents A car accident on Fahaheel Road near Fintas resulted in an 18-year-old Kuwaiti man injuring his head and right hand while a 20-year-old Kuwaiti man injured his leg. Both the men were taken to Adan Hospital.

A car accident near Khaitan and South Surra towards the airport resulted in the injuries of a 17-year-old Kuwaiti man and a 51-year-old Indian who were admitted to the intensive care unit in Farwaniya hospital. A car accident in Hawally, Musa Ibn Nasair Street resulted in a 65-year-old Iranian injuring his head and breaking his leg. He was rushed to Mubarak Hospital.

A car accident on Fahaheel Road near Al-Qadesiya Club resulted in back-pain for two expats; a 54-year-old Bangladeshi and a 61-year-old Syrian and both of them were taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A fire broke out in a house in AlAndalus near Block 12. A 52-year-old Kuwaiti woman and a 30-year-old Kuwaiti man were treated onsite for suffocation.

Five ambulances were on standby at the site with 10 technicians.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LOCAL

One of the development projects and a refinery in Saudi Arabia

Saudi celebrates 82nd National Day (Message from the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Kuwait Dr Abdelaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Fayiz) he first day of Libra on the horoscope, Sept 23, marks a glorious historic day that witnessed the major patriotic epic that led to the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as one entity and a strong cohesive country in 1351AH / 1932 AD when the late King Abdelaziz bin Abdelrahman al Saud completed the unification of all the country’s components Ambassador Dr Abdelaziz and declared the establishbin Ibrahim Al-Fayiz ment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The day also brings back memories of a dear occasion for every citizen making them remember the sacrifices of the forefathers who established this vast entity and gives them the motive to protect it as well as the gains while continuing the construction of the country and fortify its foundations for the coming generations.

Then when he established the pillars of security and stability for this great country, the civilized, economic, educational and cultural march began along with all other fields covering the entire country to place the country at the threshold of the future. His sons Kings Saud, Faisal, Khalid and Fahad (May Almighty Allah bestow His mercy on them) and continued the legacy of the founding king as far as complying with the edicts of the religion of Islam, serving the country and continued the march of building and flourishing as the kingdom witnessed a comprehensive renaissance in all fields during their reigns.

Then since the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

T

A source of pride — envoy RIYADH: Kuwaiti ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad AlSabah said the Kingdom’s occasion of celebrating the 82nd National Day anniversary would remain a source of pride for coming generations and an inspiration for sacrifices and patriotic devotion.

“I am honored to address warmest congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and his right arm, the Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, may Allah safeguard them, along with the Kingdom and its generous people on the occasion of the National Day,” said Sheikh Thamer Al-Jaber in a statement to KUNA, expressing congratulations to leaders and peoples of the Gulf State. He lauded the late King, Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, who founded the Kingdom after unifying it under the slogan of Islam, praising him for enforcing security and stability in the country, as well as making grand achievements in the political, economic and social domains. Some of the most important foundations of this state is the tangible confidence that has existed between the leadership and the people, the principle of interaction between the two sides through the open door policy, he said alluding to the leaders’ modest attitude of dealing with the ordinary citizens and listening, personally, to their problems and hardships. — KUNA

King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz assumed power, the kingdom enjoyed a distinguished period of luxury and prosperity as his efforts aim at the interest of the Saudi citizen; as the educational, health and social security fields witnessed quality moves with the increase of the number of universities, hospitals and social security allocations. King Abdallah program for foreign scholarships began to give its fruits after sending more than 150,000 students abroad to learn and they will come back to participate in the development and building process. That confirms the keenness of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on employing all national resources to serve the citizen.

He, with his extensive experience in the political and administrative affairs, was able to continue the developmental march and take the kingdom to new levels in all fields despite all the regional and international circumstances that surrounded the area and the kingdom, enabling it to take a leading position in both the Arab and Muslim worlds, in addition to religious, political and economic influence it enjoys as well as the principals it relies on in politics and international relations that are derived from the Islamic ideology, Arab values and the wise policies of its leadership.

Saudi women enjoyed the attention of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as he sought the opening of several fields for their participation with the Saudi men in the building process of the society, as his latest initiative was his instructions to have women becoming members of the shura council and to have the right to run for municipal councils membership as well as vote there.

As for the strategy of the kingdom’s leadership to protect those gains, it relies on adhering to the Islamic ideology both in rhetoric and deeds, second maintaining the Arab identity, third maintaining the country’s

unity and the integrity of its lands and fourth providing dignified sustenance for the citizens of the kingdom through economic development plans.

The kingdom always moves out of the fact that it is the cradle of the two Holy Mosques which confirms the Islamic role it is entrusted with as it places the interests of the Arab and Muslim nations on top of its priorities while bearing the religious responsibilities towards the believes and the two Holy Mosques. The construction of the Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina witnessed over more that 14 centuries enormous construction moves, but the expansion for which the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques laid the foundation lately is considered the largest expansion project in the history of the two Holy Mosques, in addition to several developmental projects in the holy sites.

We will not, as we celebrate this auspicious occasion, forget the efforts of the late their Royal Highnesses Princes Sultan bin Abdelaziz and Nayef bin Abdelaziz who departed the kingdom after serving the religion, the king and the country as they gave all to the country and its citizens and we pray that Almighty Allah bestow His mercy on them.

I will not forget at this point to point to the strong relations between the two sisterly countries the Kingdom and Kuwait, as days proved that they became a model for relations between countries. Contacts are continuing at all levels as they increase the strength of relations at both the official and popular levels, I would like on the occasion of the National Day, to congratulate the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz al Saud, HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Abdelaziz al Saud, the ruling family and Saudi people. I ask Almighty Allah to protect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against all evil and to bring

back this occasion with pride. May Almighty Allah keep the bounties of security, stability and prosperity on the Kingdom, its sister Kuwait, the Arab and Muslim nations. May he keep and protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz al Saud and His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LOCAL In my view

Local Spotlight

A historic step for all of us

The threat of bio-terrorism

By Dr Shamlan Al-Essa he historic decision by the Higher Judiciary Council allowing female law and Shariah graduates to work in the judiciary sector is a historic step for all of us and we should be proud because our country began taking courageous steps towards equality between men and woman.

T

By Muna Al-Fuzai

What are the reasons that make Kuwaiti women vote for the political Islam factions that do not respect women’s rights?

There are many reasons, the most important of which is the inherited culture and the dominant fatherly system, as well as the clear discrimination in the form of not recognizing women’s abilities to bear responsibilities.

This progressive move, however, angered the Islamic political powers that are trying to limit women’s participation in politics.

MPs representing political Islam, who Kuwaiti women voted for and enabled them to reach parliament, are now objecting to a woman’s right to become a judge.

MP Al-Omair believes the issue needs an Islamic shariah discussion, as the nation’s scholars were unanimous that becoming a judge is not allowed.

Also, an MP from the annulled assembly, Ammar Al-Ajmi, opposes a woman’s right to become a judge and considers this move as politicizing the judiciary. Further, propagandist Dawood AlAsaousi believes that appointing a woman as judge contradicts the “Lore of the universe” shariah, and is a waste of life and religion.

The question is why are religious scholars and Islamic movements in Kuwait and the Arab peninsula against women, although their political parties benefit most from women’s votes? Kuwaiti women, with great regret, voted the political Islam groups into parliament and they contributed to keeping the Kuwait National Students Union in the hands of the coalition list (Muslim Brotherhood) for more than 30 years, bearing in mind that female students make up 70% of the population at the university.

What are the reasons that make Kuwaiti women vote for the political Islam factions that do not respect women’s rights? There are many reasons, the most important of which is the inherited culture and the dominant fatherly system, as well as the clear discrimination in the form of not recognizing women’s abilities to bear responsibilities. Is it realistic that a woman teaches as a university professor for male students, then when her students graduate they become judges, while as their teacher she does not have the right to reach the same position as her students?

The Kuwaiti women’s lack of knowledge about their constitutional rights, and as citizens they have rights and duties, and that the first of their rights as citizens is equality with men.

Yet the minimal political knowledge among women pushes them to take stands against their sisters who were candidates in the parliamentary elections. Though the number of registered women voters surpasses that of men by 30,000 votes, then why do women disappoint their sisters and the liberal faction that supports them and defends their rights?

Freedom of women from the restrictions men impose upon them demands hard work, as the women’s work in the judiciary does not mean that she achieved all her human rights as a female citizen... rather, it is a first step towards demanding more rights to restore her human dignity. — Al-

muna@kuwaittimes.net

his is not an article about a revolutionary weapon, which if it lands in the wrong hands would kill only a few people. This is a much bigger issue that must be taken seriously.

In an unstable world where technology is advancing rapidly in both military and medical fields, it is important that the public must be made aware of the ever changing threat of terrorism, especially bioterrorism.

T

kuwait digest

Kuwait’s weapons market

By Dr Naji Al-Zaid hree thousand forty-four felony crimes. Two thousand fifty-eight misdemeanor crimes.

Twenty-four cases of possession of an unlicensed firearm. Eight-eight muggings at gunpoint.

These are official statistics detailing crimes reported last year and published recently by the press.

Meanwhile, a local daily published an investigative report about the spread of weapons in Kuwait, which provides a breakdown on the price of firearms sold illegally in the country.

For example, the report detailed how a 0.25mm handgun is available for KD300, a 9mm gun is sold for KD600, rifles are available for prices ranging between KD350 and KD600, whereas an AK47 can be obtained for KD950 and an M16 for KD1200.

The report also quotes sources who indicate that the Ministry of Interior’s Border Security Department and Customs General Department are responsible for monitoring the smuggling of weapons into Kuwait. It’s unimaginable to see weapons being within anyone’s reach and available in the black market, sometimes for less than what you can pay for a new computer. Could this mean that some within the Interior Ministry’s departments are allowing weapons to be smuggled into the country? And if the ministry is truly responsible for weapons control, then what is the reason behind the lack of serious efforts to collect unlicensed weapons in Kuwait? It’s

T

not a secret that this lack of control has led to weapons spreading throughout the country.

Many people have fallen victim to shootings in Kuwait, and many others were either killed or injured by stray bullets. Despite that, people have not received a response to demands to limit the possession of weapons. Under Kuwaiti law, licensing a firearm is controlled by certain terms that include keeping a firearm inside a household for the owner’s protection. This means that carrying a firearm while in public, even if it is licensed, is not allowed. Yet, weapons continue to remain in the possession of a large number of citizens, some of whom could behave recklessly, while others feel that taking a firearm wherever they go feeds their pride.

Nevertheless, it’s not surprising to see weapons spreading when the Interior Ministry does not make the slightest effort to collect unlicensed weapons.

How can large numbers of firearms enter Kuwait and be made easily available to the public? How are we supposed to feel safe? These are simple questions that come to mind while reading the statistics mentioned in the recent press report.

If reporters can obtain details about the number, prices and types of weapons available at the local black market, I don’t think state authorities have any excuse to stop them from launching a campaign to arrest illegal weapons traffickers. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Give priority to employment

By Dr Nayef Al Adwani he Minister of Education, Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, is a first class state official, making innovative decisions and he is all together outstanding.

He has made several courageous decisions, which moved the still waters in the Ministry of Education, starting with the problem of students’ average scores, the time of spring vacation and, lastly, the excellent initiative in approving a scholarship program for Kuwaiti students who are graduating from high school and receive admissions to study in one of the international universities which are classified among the top 100 universities, as this program has been approved by the council of ministers.

Innovative decisions have been announced to encourage youths to enter those outstanding international universities, and believing in ability of

T

Kuwaiti youths to compete worldwide at an international level and to motivate them to attend those universities. All his efforts are appreciated and they are steps in the right direction.

But, your excellency, this decision and this step should have been with a general plan for the policy of higher education and the policy of employment in the state.

It is not important to send outstanding students on scholarships abroad to study in the best universities, so when they return with honor certificates they find no jobs, while their colleagues who received certificates from Arab and GCC universities, of lower level from their universities, received a job very easily, simply because they have “wasta”.

kuwait digest

Teach them to pray, at least

By Nasser Ahmad Al-Ammari o one else prays at this mosque other than the employees of the Boys Social Welfare Home, which belongs to the Juvenile Care Department.

The social welfare home has been designated for housing juveniles currently serving court sentences for having violated the law. After I finished my prayers and was leaving, I found one of the juveniles waiting at the entrance of the mosque. He seemed to be a new inmate and was waiting for the social worker, who is handling his case.

I could make out that the boy did not pray, even by himself, and that he had never entered a mosque. I asked him, “Why don’t you pray with us?” and he responded with his head down, “I wish I knew how to pray.” I then saw the social worker, who had just left the mosque and heard the juvenile’s answer to my question.

Before I could ask for an explanation, he said, “All of them are built this way!”

But then I asked him about the reports filed on such cases and how was it possible that all of these adolescents were unable to pray? To this the social worker replied, “We must use our time to concentrate on teaching them the aspects of religion and prayers, instead of wast-

N

ing our time in writing reports about them.” He added, “Those juveniles are deviants, and it is unrealistic for us to expect that they’ll pray and earn a good reputation. We must realize that it is their deviant behavior and bad manners that have brought them to this place.

But we have to study them and find out the reasons for their deviation, so that we may succeed in rehabilitating them and bringing them back to society as good citizens, who will be an asset to their society and participate in its development. We are currently dealing with boys aged between 15 and 18 years.

It was clear that the social worker was familiar with such cases. However, in some cases the inmates of the juvenile home lack even the most basic education and training in the tenets of Islam. These inmates are at an age, where they have very little knowledge of prayer and are unable to resist the urge of stealing when they get a chance to do so. Some are even prepared to steal everything they see and also have the inability to deal with others, because of their highly volatile nature.

They hold grudges against the society, which explains why some of them think they have been marginalized and are of no value to anyone. — Al-Watan

The use of biological weapons against civilian populations is an actual threat to national security. Smallpox can be used as a weapon and can be cheaply reproduced today, both technologically and synthetically.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the eradication of smallpox in 1980, this contagious and deadly virus remains high on the list of possible bio-terror threats. This issue was at the top of the agenda for discussion by several officials at the WHO meeting in Geneva in 2011.

They were not wasting their time and here is why The use of biological weapons against civilian populations is an actual threat to national security.

Smallpox can be used as a weapon and can be cheaply reproduced today, both technologically and synthetically. It is a highly contagious and deadly disease, unique to humans and is caused by the Variola virus. Smallpox is an airborne virus and is transmitted via face-to-face contact.

During earlier smallpox epidemics, thousands of samples were taken and frozen in various laboratories around the world. As far as we know there are two virus repositories that officially exist; one is in Atlanta, USA, and the other in Novosibirsk, Russia.

However, intelligence exists that a number of other countries also have unofficial biological weapon programs, which raises serious concerns.

Are we completely safe and protected from the use of biological weapons against civilians here in Kuwait and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?

To answer this question we need to consider all the threat possibilities and act now. The real threat lies in the possibility of a country using a biological weapon to defend itself or a group of suicidal terrorists using this weapon.

But, will that still ensure that no one will try to restructure the smallpox gene in a sophisticated lab?

I guess not In his recommendations for a Global CounterTerrorism Strata given in April 2006, former the Secretary-General, United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, clearly stated, “The most important underaddressed threat relating to terrorism, and one which acutely requires new thinking on the part of the international community, is that of terrorists using a biological weapon.”

I do believe he is right, because there is no proven cure or antiviral treatment for smallpox, once a person is infected with it.

The threat of bio-terrorism is real and small pox is the most deadly virus that can be used as a weapon of mass destruction. It is possible for a group of terrorists to reproduce and deploy this bio-weapon, as information is easily accessible through publications, and even the internet. We already know some terrorists use the internet to learn how to make bombs.

This threat must be taken seriously Should a smallpox vaccine be stocked to keep us safe and as a precautionary measure for protecting the Kuwaiti population?

Every country in the GCC needs to address this threat and buy enough vaccines to protect its citizens. They should also have a stockpile of vaccines and a plan must be put in place, which involves coordination between hospitals, police and the military in the event of an attack. Right now Kuwait has no such plan and no such stockpile.

On the other hand, many countries have a readiness plan and are prepared to meet the largest threat of mass destruction in the 21st century, which is smallpox. For example the USA, UK, Germany, Norway and Malaysia each have a smallpox vaccine stockpile as well as a fully practiced crisis management plan, in case of a smallpox attack.

For the record, Kuwait had earlier prepared a batch of vaccines with the help of US donations during the first Gulf War. Most of these vaccines have expired now and Kuwait must purchase new vaccines to build a stockpile and be prepared for a potential smallpox outbreak.

The smallpox virus has an incubation period that ranges from seven to 17 days without displaying any symptoms. Therefore, any person who contracts the virus can travel around the globe during this incubation period, exposing countless number of people to the deadly virus, without actually realizing that he or she is doing so. This is a virus that can easily result in a global pandemic and it is the responsibility of every government to have a plan in place and be prepared to counter such an eventuality.

This article is a call to all Gulf governments including Kuwait’s, and in particular our Ministry of Health (MOH), asking them to act now and I hope they will.

The lives of millions will be at stake, if we ignore this threat.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LOCAL In my view

Local Spotlight

A historic step for all of us

The threat of bio-terrorism

By Dr Shamlan Al-Essa

T

he historic decision by the Higher Judiciary Council allowing female law and Shariah graduates to work in the judiciary sector is a historic step for all of us and we should be proud because our country began taking courageous steps towards equality between men and woman.

By Muna Al-Fuzai

What are the reasons that make Kuwaiti women vote for the political Islam factions that do not respect women’s rights?

There are many reasons, the most important of which is the inherited culture and the dominant fatherly system, as well as the clear discrimination in the form of not recognizing women’s abilities to bear responsibilities.

This progressive move, however, angered the Islamic political powers that are trying to limit women’s participation in politics.

MPs representing political Islam, who Kuwaiti women voted for and enabled them to reach parliament, are now objecting to a woman’s right to become a judge.

MP Al-Omair believes the issue needs an Islamic shariah discussion, as the nation’s scholars were unanimous that becoming a judge is not allowed.

Also, an MP from the annulled assembly, Ammar Al-Ajmi, opposes a woman’s right to become a judge and considers this move as politicizing the judiciary. Further, propagandist Dawood AlAsaousi believes that appointing a woman as judge contradicts the “Lore of the universe” shariah, and is a waste of life and religion.

The question is why are religious scholars and Islamic movements in Kuwait and the Arab peninsula against women, although their political parties benefit most from women’s votes? Kuwaiti women, with great regret, voted the political Islam groups into parliament and they contributed to keeping the Kuwait National Students Union in the hands of the coalition list (Muslim Brotherhood) for more than 30 years, bearing in mind that female students make up 70% of the population at the university.

What are the reasons that make Kuwaiti women vote for the political Islam factions that do not respect women’s rights? There are many reasons, the most important of which is the inherited culture and the dominant fatherly system, as well as the clear discrimination in the form of not recognizing women’s abilities to bear responsibilities. Is it realistic that a woman teaches as a university professor for male students, then when her students graduate they become judges, while as their teacher she does not have the right to reach the same position as her students?

The Kuwaiti women’s lack of knowledge about their constitutional rights, and as citizens they have rights and duties, and that the first of their rights as citizens is equality with men.

Yet the minimal political knowledge among women pushes them to take stands against their sisters who were candidates in the parliamentary elections. Though the number of registered women voters surpasses that of men by 30,000 votes, then why do women disappoint their sisters and the liberal faction that supports them and defends their rights?

Freedom of women from the restrictions men impose upon them demands hard work, as the women’s work in the judiciary does not mean that she achieved all her human rights as a female citizen... rather, it is a first step towards demanding more rights to restore her human dignity. — Al-Watan

muna@kuwaittimes.net

T

his is not an article about a revolutionary weapon, which if it lands in the wrong hands would kill only a few people. This is a much bigger issue that must be taken seriously.

In an unstable world where technology is advancing rapidly in both military and medical fields, it is important that the public must be made aware of the ever changing threat of terrorism, especially bioterrorism.

kuwait digest

Kuwait’s weapons market

By Dr Naji Al-Zaid

T

hree thousand forty-four felony crimes. Two thousand fifty-eight misdemeanor crimes.

Twenty-four cases of possession of an unlicensed firearm. Eight-eight muggings at gunpoint.

These are official statistics detailing crimes reported last year and published recently by the press.

Meanwhile, a local daily published an investigative report about the spread of weapons in Kuwait, which provides a breakdown on the price of firearms sold illegally in the country.

For example, the report detailed how a 0.25mm handgun is available for KD300, a 9mm gun is sold for KD600, rifles are available for prices ranging between KD350 and KD600, whereas an AK47 can be obtained for KD950 and an M16 for KD1200.

The report also quotes sources who indicate that the Ministry of Interior’s Border Security Department and Customs General Department are responsible for monitoring the smuggling of weapons into Kuwait. It’s unimaginable to see weapons being within anyone’s reach and available in the black market, sometimes for less than what you can pay for a new computer. Could this mean that some within the Interior Ministr y ’s departments are allowing weapons to be smuggled into the country? And if the ministry is truly responsible for weapons control, then what is the reason behind the lack of serious efforts to collect unlicensed weapons in Kuwait? It’s

not a secret that this lack of control has led to weapons spreading throughout the country.

Many people have fallen victim to shootings in Kuwait, and many others were either killed or injured by stray bullets. Despite that, people have not received a response to demands to limit the possession of weapons. Under Kuwaiti law, licensing a firearm is controlled by certain terms that include keeping a firearm inside a household for the owner’s protection. This means that carrying a firearm while in public, even if it is licensed, is not allowed. Yet, weapons continue to remain in the possession of a large number of citizens, some of whom could behave recklessly, while others feel that taking a firearm wherever they go feeds their pride.

Nevertheless, it’s not surprising to see weapons spreading when the Interior Ministry does not make the slightest effort to collect unlicensed weapons.

How can large numbers of firearms enter Kuwait and be made easily available to the public? How are we supposed to feel safe? These are simple questions that come to mind while reading the statistics mentioned in the recent press report.

If reporters can obtain details about the number, prices and types of weapons available at the local black market, I don’t think state authorities have any excuse to stop them from launching a campaign to arrest illegal weapons traffickers. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Give priority to employment

By Dr Nayef Al Adwani

T

he Minister of Education, Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, is a first class state official, making innovative decisions and he is all together outstanding.

He has made several courageous decisions, which moved the still waters in the Ministry of Education, starting with the problem of students’ average scores, the time of spring vacation and, lastly, the excellent initiative in approving a scholarship program for Kuwaiti students who are graduating from high school and receive admissions to study in one of the international universities which are classified among the top 100 universities, as this program has been approved by the council of ministers.

Innovative decisions have been announced to encourage youths to enter those outstanding international universities, and believing in ability of

Kuwaiti youths to compete worldwide at an international level and to motivate them to attend those universities. All his efforts are appreciated and they are steps in the right direction.

But, your excellency, this decision and this step should have been with a general plan for the policy of higher education and the policy of employment in the state.

It is not important to send outstanding students on scholarships abroad to study in the best universities, so when they return with honor certificates they find no jobs, while their colleagues who received certificates from Arab and GCC universities, of lower level from their universities, received a job very easily, simply because they have “wasta”.

kuwait digest

Teach them to pray, at least

By Nasser Ahmad Al-Ammari

N

o one else prays at this mosque other than the employees of the Boys Social Welfare Home, which belongs to the Juvenile Care Department.

The social welfare home has been designated for housing juveniles currently serving court sentences for having violated the law. After I finished my prayers and was leaving, I found one of the juveniles waiting at the entrance of the mosque. He seemed to be a new inmate and was waiting for the social worker, who is handling his case.

I could make out that the boy did not pray, even by himself, and that he had never entered a mosque. I asked him, “Why don’t you pray with us?” and he responded with his head down, “I wish I knew how to pray.” I then saw the social worker, who had just left the mosque and heard the juvenile’s answer to my question.

Before I could ask for an explanation, he said, “All of them are built this way!”

But then I asked him about the reports filed on such cases and how was it possible that all of these adolescents were unable to pray? To this the social worker replied, “We must use our time to concentrate on teaching them the aspects of religion and prayers, instead of wast-

ing our time in writing reports about them.” He added, “Those juveniles are deviants, and it is unrealistic for us to expect that they’ll pray and earn a good reputation. We must realize that it is their deviant behavior and bad manners that have brought them to this place.

But we have to study them and find out the reasons for their deviation, so that we may succeed in rehabilitating them and bringing them back to society as good citizens, who will be an asset to their society and participate in its development. We are currently dealing with boys aged between 15 and 18 years.

It was clear that the social worker was familiar with such cases. However, in some cases the inmates of the juvenile home lack even the most basic education and training in the tenets of Islam. These inmates are at an age, where they have very little knowledge of prayer and are unable to resist the urge of stealing when they get a chance to do so. Some are even prepared to steal everything they see and also have the inability to deal with others, because of their highly volatile nature.

They hold grudges against the society, which explains why some of them think they have been marginalized and are of no value to anyone. — Al-Watan

The use of biological weapons against civilian populations is an actual threat to national security. Smallpox can be used as a weapon and can be cheaply reproduced today, both technologically and synthetically.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the eradication of smallpox in 1980, this contagious and deadly virus remains high on the list of possible bio-terror threats. This issue was at the top of the agenda for discussion by several officials at the WHO meeting in Geneva in 2011.

They were not wasting their time and here is why The use of biological weapons against civilian populations is an actual threat to national security.

Smallpox can be used as a weapon and can be cheaply reproduced today, both technologically and synthetically. It is a highly contagious and deadly disease, unique to humans and is caused by the Variola virus. Smallpox is an airborne virus and is transmitted via face-to-face contact.

During earlier smallpox epidemics, thousands of samples were taken and frozen in various laboratories around the world. As far as we know there are two virus repositories that officially exist; one is in Atlanta, USA, and the other in Novosibirsk, Russia.

However, intelligence exists that a number of other countries also have unofficial biological weapon programs, which raises serious concerns.

Are we completely safe and protected from the use of biological weapons against civilians here in Kuwait and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?

To answer this question we need to consider all the threat possibilities and act now. The real threat lies in the possibility of a country using a biological weapon to defend itself or a group of suicidal terrorists using this weapon.

But, will that still ensure that no one will try to restructure the smallpox gene in a sophisticated lab?

I guess not In his recommendations for a Global CounterTerrorism Strata given in April 2006, former the Secretary-General, United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, clearly stated, “ The most important underaddressed threat relating to terrorism, and one which acutely requires new thinking on the part of the international community, is that of terrorists using a biological weapon.”

I do believe he is right, because there is no proven cure or antiviral treatment for smallpox, once a person is infected with it.

The threat of bio-terrorism is real and small pox is the most deadly virus that can be used as a weapon of mass destruction. It is possible for a group of terrorists to reproduce and deploy this bio-weapon, as information is easily accessible through publications, and even the internet. We already know some terrorists use the internet to learn how to make bombs.

This threat must be taken seriously Should a smallpox vaccine be stocked to keep us safe and as a precautionary measure for protecting the Kuwaiti population?

Every country in the GCC needs to address this threat and buy enough vaccines to protect its citizens. They should also have a stockpile of vaccines and a plan must be put in place, which involves coordination between hospitals, police and the military in the event of an attack. Right now Kuwait has no such plan and no such stockpile.

On the other hand, many countries have a readiness plan and are prepared to meet the largest threat of mass destruction in the 21st century, which is smallpox. For example the USA, UK, Germany, Norway and Malaysia each have a smallpox vaccine stockpile as well as a fully practiced crisis management plan, in case of a smallpox attack.

For the record, Kuwait had earlier prepared a batch of vaccines with the help of US donations during the first Gulf War. Most of these vaccines have expired now and Kuwait must purchase new vaccines to build a stockpile and be prepared for a potential smallpox outbreak.

The smallpox virus has an incubation period that ranges from seven to 17 days without displaying any symptoms. Therefore, any person who contracts the virus can travel around the globe during this incubation period, exposing countless number of people to the deadly virus, without actually realizing that he or she is doing so. This is a virus that can easily result in a global pandemic and it is the responsibility of every government to have a plan in place and be prepared to counter such an eventuality.

This article is a call to all Gulf governments including Kuwait’s, and in particular our Ministry of Health (MOH), asking them to act now and I hope they will.

The lives of millions will be at stake, if we ignore this threat.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LOCAL

Foul play suspected in hit-and-run case Man found dead in Abu Halifa apartment KUWAIT: Investigations are ongoing in a hit-and-run case reported recently in Maidan Hawally, after new information surfaced hinting that the incident was deliberate. The accident took place late Thursday night and resulted in the death of an Asian man. While the case was first reported as an accidental hit-and-run, two eyewitnesses told police that the victim was deliberately hit when he tried to hold onto a car after the driver mugged him minutes before.

Police have been able to identify the suspect’s car, according to a source.

NEW YORK: His Highness the Prime Minister (of Kuwait) Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and his accompanying delegation, arrive in New York early yesterday to participate in the 67th of the UN General Assembly. — Kuna

Wataniya Telecom signs agreement with Tamdeen KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom has recently signed an agreement with Tamdeen Entertainment Company which is a one year exclusive branding partnership at the company’s entertainment venues in 360 Mall. The strategic partnership is a result of Wataniya’s continuous efforts to find creative ways to reach its customers and stay in touch with them wherever they are.

Based on the exclusive agreement between both companies, Wataniya Telecom will be branding 4 of the venues of the Entertainment Center in 360 Mall and that includes The Bowl Room (bowling area), Freeze Club (arcades & video games), Infunity (family entertainment center) and the Flight Experience (Flight Simulator) for a period of one year starting on 1st September, 2012 and ending on 1stSeptember, 2013. Commenting on the partnership, Wataniya Telecom released a press statement saying: “We believe in fostering relationships with organizations like

Tamdeen Entertainment Company because they provide creative avenues of entertainment for young adults and families just like us. Simultaneously, we want to stay close our customers by being present in areas which are visited and like by them. It will also help us inemphasizing our brand value and provide our customers with the latest updates on our services and campaigns.”

From its end, Tamdeen Entertainment Company expressed its pleasure and appreciation for this partnership and stated in a statement “This partnership yields positive yet distinctive aspects which will givecustomers and visitors tothe entertainment venues at 360 Mall the opportunity to enjoy the best atmosphere and the brand newoutlook.”

The company added that “Tamdeen Entertainment’s goal is to provide a wide variety of state-of-the-art entertainment facilities that caters to the entire family needs.”

Suspected homicide Police are looking for a male suspect who remains missing after his roommate was found dead inside their Abu Halifa apartment. Police rushed to the scene following a suicide report after an Asian man was found hanging dead inside his apartment. Criminal investigators found evidence of foul play which led them to believe that the man was murdered. The body was taken for an autopsy to reveal the time and cause of death. Search in ongoing for the roommate.

Work mishap A man was killed at his workplace in Abdullah Port in what appears to be an accident according to preliminary investigations. The 28-year-old Egyptian worker fell under a steel tank that he was cutting, which turned out to be fatal for him. He was

pronounced dead on the scene before his body was taken to the forensic department for an autopsy.

A case was filed at the area’s police station for investigations.

Suicide cases A man was found dead inside his Khaitan apartment in a case classified as suicide according to preliminary investigations. The man, an Asian in his forties, was found hanging dead inside his room by his roommate who called the police. The roommate had to break the ground floor apartment’s window to get inside when he returned home from shopping and found the door locked from inside.

The man was going through financial problems during his final days, according to his roommate.

Investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Sulaibikhat fire-fighters helped prevent a suicide in Qairawan when they talked a domestic worker out of her bid to end her life. The Asian woman was standing on the roof of her employer’s house when fire-fighters arrived following a suicide attempt report. The woman was reportedly demanding that she be helped to go back to her home country, and agreed to cooperate with fire-fighters when they promised to help her go home. A case was filed at the area’s police station to investigate the reasons behind the suicide attempt.

Officer hurt A police officer was hospitalized

after he was accidently hit by a driver while organizing traffic in Salmiya.

The officer’s condition was described as stable by doctors at the Mubarak Hospital. He was diagnosed with several wounds and bruises. An Egyptian driver who accidentally hit him was taken in to custody for investigations.

Desperate mom A shop manager dropped a theft charge against a female shopper after a police officer offered to pay for items she desperately needed for her baby. The Asian woman was caught stealing baby formula and diapers while shopping at a Salmiya market with her baby.

After hearing the woman’s story, an officer at the area’s police station stepped in and paid for the stolen items to free her of shoplifting charges. The woman was released afterwards.

Weapons’ dealer A firearms dealer was arrested in Hawally following a car chase during which three patrol vehicles were damaged. The suspect was reportedly ambushed by police who arrived early at the place where he was supposed to carry out a deal according to sources. The suspect was eventually arrested following a pursuit, after which police found an AK47 and ammo inside his car. The man was taken to proper authorities to face charges.

— Al-Anbaa, Al-Watan, Al-Rai

Building on fire in Khaitan

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The fire department received news yesterday evening about fire in one of the buildings in Khaitan.

Farwaniya fire center and Al-Ardiya fire center were instructed to rush to the site. As firemen arrived, they

saw that the fire had badly damaged the furniture there and the whole place was engulfed in heavy smoke. They evacuated the building and brought the fire under control quickly. Four residents of the building were treated for smoke inhalation at the site by medical specialists.

KUWAIT: The Armenian ambassador to Kuwait held a reception at the Salwa Al-Sabah Hall over the weekend to mark his country’s National Day. A number of diplomats and other dignitaries attended it. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Al-Muhanna elected member in Cairo Arabic Language Academy KUWAIT: Kuwait Arabic Language Professor and Chairman of AlBabtain Center for Dialogue between Civilizations Abdullah AlMuhanna has been elected a member in the prestigious Arabic Language Academy (ALA) in Cairo.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the Foundation of Kuwaiti Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity said the AlMuhanna, a member of its Board of Trustees, was unanimously elected as a correspondent member to ALA in Kuwait for his great contributions to the Arabic language study.

As a corresponding member, Prof

Al-Muhanna will attend the ALA annual general meeting, contribute to the journal of the Academy, keep the Academy informed about Arabic language and studies and facilitate collaboration between the Academy and Arabic language and arts related institutions in the Kuwait.

Prof. Al-Muhanna was born in 1942 and earned a doctorate in Arabic poetry from the University of Cambridge in 1975 and worked as a lecture of Arabic language. He was the editor-in-chief of several cultural magazines and a member of the Board of Trustees Abdulaziz Saud

Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity since 2008. He is also a lecturer at and Dean of the College of Arts, Kuwait University.

Al-Muhanna conducted many Arabic studies, most published in Arabic and English journals.

The Arabic Language Academy in Cairo is the leading language academy across the Arab-speaking world.

It was founded by Royal Decree in 1932 and half of its 20 members are prominent Arabic language figures from around the world. Members who are not residing in Egypt were termed ‘corresponding members’.

— KUNA

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Hundreds in Tokyo rally against China Page 12

French police nip banned Islam demos in the bud Page 10

BENGHAZI: Members of the Rafallah Sahati Islamic Militia Brigades, argue with a Libyan policemen, second left, regarding a request for the militia to evacuate their base in Benghazi, Libya, yesterday. On Friday evening hundreds of protesters angry over last week’s killing of the US ambassador to Libya stormed the compound of the Islamic extremist Ansar al-Shariah Brigade militia suspected in the attack, evicting militiamen and setting fire to their building Friday. —AP

Libya protesters oust Benghazi militias Eleven killed, more than 60 wounded

BENGHAZI: An Islamist militia was driven out of the city of Benghazi early yesterday in a surge of anger against the armed groups that control large parts of Libya more than a year after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

A spokesman for Ansar al-Sharia, which some US and Libya officials blame for the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi last week in which the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed, said it had evacuated its bases “to preserve security in the city”.

In a dramatic sign of Libya’s fragility, after sweeping through Ansar’s bases the crowd went on to attack a pro-government militia, believing them to be Islamists, triggering an armed response in which at least 11 people were killed and more than 60 wounded.

The invasion of Ansar al-Sharia’s compounds, which met little resistance, appeared to be part of a sweep of militia bases by police, troops and activists following a large demonstration against militia units in Benghazi on Friday.

Demonstrators pulled down militia flags and set a vehicle on fire inside what was once the base of Gaddafi’s security forces. Hundreds of men waving swords and even a meat cleaver chanted “Libya, Libya”, “No more al Qaeda!” and “The blood we shed for freedom shall not go in vain!”

“After what happened at the American consulate, the people of Benghazi had enough of the extremists,” demonstrator Hassan Ahmed said. “They did not give allegiance to the army. So the people broke in and they fled. “This place is like the Bastille. This is where Gaddafi controlled Libya from, and then Ansar al-Sharia took it over. This is a turning point for the people of Benghazi.”

Adusalam al-Tarhouni, a government worker who arrived with the first wave of protesters, said several pickup trucks with Ansar fighters had initially confronted the protesters and opened fire. Two protesters were shot in the leg, he said.

“After that they got into their trucks and drove away,” he said. Protesters had freed four prisoners found inside.

Libya’s government had promised Washington it would find the perpetrators of what appeared to be a well

planned attack on the U.S. consulate, which coincided with protests against an anti-Islam video and the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The attack and the outrage directed at the United States over the video across the Muslim world raised questions about President Barack Obama’s handling of the so-called Arab Spring.

Although Ansar al-Sharia denies any role in the consulate attack, the latest events in the cradle of Libya’s revolution appeared at least in part to vindicate Obama’s faith in Libya’s nascent democracy.

“The killing of the ambassador, and a preceding set of serious security incidents, are a wake-up call to the new government to actually start to improve security,” said Oliver Miles, former British ambassador to Libya.

“And now they’ve got backing from the street in Benghazi to do just that.” Libyan political scientist Ahmad al-Atrash told Reuters: “People in Benghazi and all over Libya want to get these militias under control ...

The overwhelming feeling is against any element that keeps the situation unstable.”

The second half of Friday night’s protest proved his point. Continuing to chant anti-Ansar slogans, the crowd, swelling into the thousands, moved on to attack a separate compound where the powerful pro-government Rafallah al-Sahati militia, safeguarding a big weapons store, opened fire on the assailants.

As looters later tried to leave the scene, vigilantes wielding clubs and machetes tried to prevent them driving off with heavy weapons. Officials at three hospitals told a Reuters correspondent they had a total of five dead and more than 60 wounded from the night’s violence.

Police found six more dead bodies near the compound on Saturday morning, police officer Ahmed Ali Agouri said. “We came as peaceful protesters. When we got there they started shooting at us,” student Sanad alBarani said. “Five people were wounded beside me.

They used 14.5 mm machineguns.”

Nasser Abdelhaaq, a Rafallah al-Sahati commander, said the brigade had returned to their compound on

Saturday morning.

He suggested that the crowd had been deliberately manipulated to turn on Rafallah al-Sahati, an officially approved militia that also has Islamist leanings.

“Twenty-five percent of those who came were there as saboteurs,” he said. “Some of them, we know who they are, they were working with Gaddafi’s security brigades.”

While the compound was being looted, the government texted Benghazi mobile phones asking citizens to go home and “not allow saboteurs to destroy your noble and successful demonstration”.

Libya’s new rulers know that, while militias pose the biggest threat to their authority, the state’s weak security forces rely on former rebel units, armed with heavy weapons, that fought in the uprising.

Like the rest of Libya, Benghazi is still prowled by dozens of armed groups operating openly, usually with the official permission of a government that is powerless to stop them.

Ansar al-Sharia’s overt Benghazi presence was never huge. But it was one of the few groups operating openly without official licence.

Its leaders proclaim democratic government to be incompatible with Islam, and the presence on the streets of pickup trucks bearing their Kalashnikov logo was an affront to the government’s authority.

Ansar al-Sharia and other Islamist militias have bases elsewhere in eastern Libya, notably around the coastal city of Derna, known across the region as a major recruitment centre for fighters who joined the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

The attack on the US consulate seems to have provided a strong impetus for local authorities to rally support behind the weak national government. Thousands of Libyans marched in Friday’s “Rescue Benghazi Day” in support of democracy and against Islamist militias.

“It’s obvious that this protest is against the militias.

All of them should join the army or security forces as individuals, not as groups,” student Ahmed Sanallah said. “Without that, there will be no prosperity and no

success for the new Libya.”

US Ambassador Christopher Stevens was well liked, and many Libyans condemned the attack on the consulate despite being angered by the anti-Islamic USmade film that triggered it. Some protesters’ placards read: “We demand justice for Stevens” and “Libya lost a friend”. Others had mixed views.

“I am out today to defend Benghazi. Killing the ambassador is a completely separate thing,” said 26year-old Amjad Mohammed Hassan, a network engineer. “I don’t give a damn about the killing of the ambassador because the Americans offended the Prophet. I am just here for Benghazi.” — Reuters

8

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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

UN warns of Yemen turning into another Somalia BRUSSELS: A senior UN official is urging the international community, in particular Yemen’s neighbours, to increase humanitarian and development aid to the country or risk seeing Yemen fall into chaos and anarchy.

“If Yemen does not get international help it is a new Somalia in the making, “ Naveed Hussain, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative in Yemen told the Kuwait news agency, KUNA, in an interview during a visit to Brussels on Friday.

“Yemen is a country which is going through a lot of upheaval and it is a kind of forgotten crisis,” he said and lamented that Yemen “is seen by the international community largely as a security issue and not a development or humanitarian issue.”

Hussain noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have helped in making a political compromise in Yemen and sign the agreement in 2011. “And that has helped.

But the humanitarian side of it is largely forgotten, “ said the UN official.

Through this GCC initiative, a proces has started called the National Dialogue to bring all the elements in Yemen together and try to agree what the future of Yemen will be, said Hussain.

He, however, stressed that things will not change unless peoples lives are changed. Yemen is at a critical point. If people do not see any difference made by the transition government then they will ask why they fought so much to get (ex-President

Abdullah Saleh) removed, he said .

“If the transition is not successful there is no plan B for Yemen. Yemen could very easily collapse into a political chaos,” he warned.

The UN official explained that Yemen is the poorest country in the region and one of the poorest countries in the world. People live on less than 1 euro per day and has malnutrition rates which in some areas reach 30 percent.

He noted that there are a lot of refugees coming to Yemen from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Last year, over 100, 000 came and this year already 70, 000 people have arrived.

On top of that there are about 500,000 internally displaced persons inside Yemen. “For Yemen to sustain

this increasing burden is becoming impossible”, he underlined. He noted that the recent donor conference on Yemen held in Riyadh pledged over 6 billion euro, half of which was pledged

by Saudi Arabia.

“But they need to do more. There is a good feeling about Yemen in the Gulf countries. But there has to be a more growing feeling that if these people continue to come to Yemen and they are not helped there, they will eventually come to the Gulf,” he said.

Hussain told KUNA that since the signing of the agreement over, 300,000 Yemenis have crossed into Saudi Arabia. “The flow of the refugees is not only a Yemeni problem but a regional and an international one. As

we speak every day between 400 to 500 people come to Yemen from the Horn of Africa,” he said.

Hussain said he was in Brussels to talk to EU officials about the humanitarian situation in Yemen. The UN has launched an appeal for Yemen for USD 583 million and has received till now 272 mn. In 2012, UNHCR in Yemen is seeking almost 60 million USD and have received 40 million.

“So we are asking the EU to help us with that. They have been supportive of our programme,” he said.

Hussain, who hails from Pakistan, has been with the UNHCR for over 18 years and has served in BosniaHerzegovina, Georgia and Switzerland before being appointed to Yemen a year ago. —KUNA

Saleh trying to spoil transition US, Yemen govt put priority on fighting al Qaeda

SANAA: Ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh is interfering in the Arabian Peninsula state’s transition process but Western countries are still reluctant to cut him off completely, a Yemeni government minister said yesterday.

Yemen’s Gulf neighbours led by Saudi Arabia sponsored a US-backed deal that allowed Saleh to leave office in February after a year of fighting to suppress an uprising that left over 2,000 people dead. The deal gave Saleh and his relatives immunity from prosecution, but recent statements and violence linked to military and security units under the control of family members have raised concerns over the fate of the transition process.

Saleh’s successor Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi earlier this month replaced security officials in an apparent move to reduce the influence of the veteran former president. “He has not stopped political activity, and his interventions and messages are not good,” Human Rights Minister Hooria Mashhour told Reuters in an interview.

“He should have been presented to justice (but instead) he is spoiling the political process. He wants to hinder us from rebuilding our country.” Saleh and his supporters say

they are abiding by the transition agreement and other groups are violating it.

The United States and Saudi Arabia long saw Saleh as an ally who could contain Islamist militants operating in Yemen. His ruling party has half the seats in the transition cabinet.

Hadi has been under Western pressure to continue security cooperation with Washington, including allowing US air strikes against suspected militants that have killed civilians.

Restoring stability to Yemen has become an international priority due to fears that al Qaeda and other Islamist militants could become entrenched in a country which neighbours oil producer Saudi Arabia and lies on major shipping lanes.

Mashhour said there were signs Western countries had begun to question their position on Saleh and put more pressure on political groups seen as hindering the transition.

Disgruntled forces loyal to relatives of Saleh stormed interior and defence ministry buildings in the last two months. The defence minister survived an apparent assassination attempt this month, which no one has claimed.

The US embassy was stormed this month by protesters angry over an anti-Islam film made in California which raised questions

about the behaviour of security units under the control of Saleh relatives.

One of Saleh’s sons used Facebook last week to reject accusations that embassy guards had acted suspiciously, saying the Interior Ministry should have sent in riot police.

“Up to now the UN Security Council and international community are trying to be political and diplomatic,” Mashhour said, pointing to a Security Council resolution in June that called on all sides to reject violence for political goals.

She said a transitional law due to be approved by government soon would encourage families of victims of Saleh’s rule since 1978 to prosecute him or others either inside or outside Yemen.

“There were serious violations throughout the president’s rule. It was a police-intelligence regime,” she said, adding there were hundreds of forced disappearances. “It’s a problem still going on now. Revolutionary youth have a list of 129 people who disappeared. Their families are crying and saying if they were tortured (to death), then give us their bodies.”

The US ambassador Gerald Feierstein told Yemeni journalists this week that Saleh’s immunity only applied to his actions before February, when he handed over power. —Reuters

Curbs on Iran female students stir rights concern

BINT JBEIL: A Lebanese girl chants slogans during a protest about a film ridiculing Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the southern border town of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, yesterday, for the latest in a series of protest rallies organized by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. —AP

Iraq aims to unite with new national anthem, flag BAGHDAD: Iraq is seeking to replace its national anthem and flag in a move aimed at providing unifying national symbols and putting decades of conflict and hardship in the country behind it. “We are determined to finish the new flag and anthem this year, in this legislative session,” MP Ali Shlah, the chairman of parliament’s culture and media commission, told AFP. Shlah said a new anthem and flag “will be a unifying factor” for Iraqis, who have suffered decades of violence, privation and division.

Now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein started a war with Iran in 1980 that lasted for eight years, and then launched a disastrous invasion of Kuwait in 1990 only to be forced out in the 1991 Gulf War and hit by a harsh regime of international sanctions.

The country has also lived under an everpresent threat of bombings, assassinations, gun battles and death squad killings since a US-led coalition toppled Saddam in 2003, in which tens of thousands of people have died.

Iraq’s current national anthem, “Mawtini” (“My Homeland”), was adopted in 2004 on the order of Coalition Provisional Authority chief Paul Bremer, who admired the song when he heard it at a concert.

The 2004 change was the fifth time that a new Iraqi national anthem had been adopted.

More than 400 texts by Iraqi poets were submitted as potential national anthems between 2008 and 2009, Shlah said, but the search for an anthem is ongoing.

Earlier this year, the culture and media committee tasked six Iraqi writers with evaluating potential national anthems. They have narrowed it down to three candidates-”Salam ala Hadhabat al-Iraq” (“Peace on the Hills of Iraq”); “Ghareeb ala al-Khaleej” (“A Stranger on the Gulf”); and “Watani al-Haq Yuaiduhu” (“My Country is Supported by Right”).

In discussions on the poems, Iraqi Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians called for verses in their languages to be added, but a compromise was reached whereby the words “Long live Iraq” would be said at the end in various languages.

Shlah said parliament is preparing a second reading of a law on the anthem, after a first reading two months ago, adding that “Peace on the Hills of Iraq” is the current leading candidate.

Agreeing on a new flag and anthem carries a good deal of symbolism, both in moving on from the past and requiring Iraqi politicians to reach a consensus-something that has proved elusive on a wide variety of issues.

“This country, which has witnessed conflicts for decades, will not achieve peace as long as it cannot agree on an anthem and flag,” said Ahmed, a 33-year-old electrical engineer who works for a foreign company in Baghdad.

The selection of a new anthem appears to be on track, but choosing a new flag is more problematic, although a previous committee narrowed dozens of designs down to six.

There was another proposal for a flag dating from the rule of Abdul Karim Qassem, who overthrew Iraq’s monarchy in a bloody coup in 1958, to be adopted, but “this choice faced objections about the person of Abdul Karim Qassem, who symbolises a certain era,” Shlah said. And he said that some people want to keep the current flag, as modifications to it mean that “it is no longer Saddam’s flag.”

Today’s flag will be submitted along with six other designs from artists to a committee for review, he said. The current flag, a design that was adopted in 2008, consists of three horizontal bars-red, white and black. The middle bar bears the words “Allahu Akbar” (“God is Greatest”), written in green in the Kufi style of Arabic script. —AFP

NICOSIA: As Iran’s academic year kicked off yesterday, a US-based rights group raised concern about new restrictions putting scores of university degree courses off-limits to women. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the restrictions extended a creeping “Islamicisation” of Iran’s universities that have been imposed under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Citing an August report by the Iranian news agency Mehr, the group said that women were barred from 77 courses in various universities, including those in computer science, chemistry engineering, business administration and sciences.

A much smaller number of courses were also barred to men in some campuses, including studies in history, linguistics, literature, sociology and philosophy. “As university students across Iran prepare to start the new academic year, they face serious setbacks, and women students in particular will no longer be able to pursue the education and careers of their choice,” Liesl Gerntholtz, women’s rights director at Human Rights Watch, said in the statement.

Some in Iran and elsewhere saw the restriction as an attempt to reduce women’s access to higher education and reinforce the patriarchal domination. Currently, around 60 percent of students are female and 40 percent are male.

But the dean of Iran’s Petroleum University of Technology, Gholamreza Rashed, was quoted by the IRAN newspaper last week as blaming market forcesimplying job prospects were shrinking because of Western sanctions.

He said his school was no longer accepting female students due to “the hardship of the work situation, and because the oil industry does not need female students right now.”

Iranian state media have made little or no mention of the new restrictions. But other news websites spoke of extra curbs imposed on campuses, particularly a new push to segregate men and women into separate classes to prevent mixing of the sexes frowned upon by Iran’s ruling clerics. —AFP

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) and Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi (R) attend a departure ceremony, at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, yesterday. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left Tehran for New York and the UN General Assembly there, where he will deliver his final speech to the world gathering, Iranian media reported. — AFP

JERUSALEM: In this July 29, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney meets with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. It is a taboo for Israeli leaders to give even the slightest hint of favoritism in politics in the United States, Israel’s closest ally. So some Israelis are squirming over a perception that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is siding with Republican Mitt Romney in the US presidential race, in the belief he would take a harder line on archenemy Iran. —AP

Israelis fear premier is meddling in US politics JERUSALEM: It is a taboo for Israeli leaders to give even the slightest hint of favoritism in politics in the United States, Israel’s closest ally. So some Israelis are squirming over a perception that their prime minister is siding with Republican Mitt Romney in the US presidential race, in the belief he will take a harder line on archenemy Iran if elected.

With President Barack Obama holding a narrow lead in opinion polls, Benjamin Netanyahu’s perceived strategy looks risky to Israelis who fear their alliance with the US could be in trouble if the incumbent wins.

“If our prime minister doesn’t get along with their leader, it will hurt our relations,” said Shai Hugi, 20, a car rental clerk in Jerusalem. “The United States is Israel’s best ally, and it’s always good that you have a strong friend behind you.”

Netanyahu, convinced that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons, says Tehran must be stopped. Claiming international diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions have failed, Netanyahu says the threat of force must be seriously considered. He has urged Obama to declare “red lines” that would trigger an American attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, coupling his appeals with veiled threats of a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran.

Obama has rejected these calls, saying diplomacy and U.S.-led sanctions must be given more time and that Iran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. At the same time, American officials have pressed Israel not to attack unilaterally, a move that could set off regional mayhem just ahead of the November election.

Netanyahu has not backed down. In a message directed at the White House, he recently said: “Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel.”

Israeli leaders have relied on broad bipartisan support in the US for decades, but Netanyahu has had a rocky relationship with Obama, underscored by public differences over Iran. These agreements, coupled with his longstanding friendship with Romney, have created a perception that Netanyahu backs the Republicans.

“Whether or not it is true that he is actively taking sides . I don’t know,” said Alon Pinkas, Israel’s former consul-general in New York. “But the pattern of behavior clearly suggests this perception is founded in reality.”

Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said Obama, if re-elected, may seek payback from the Israelis by pressuring Netanyahu to make new concessions to the Palestinians to overcome a deadlock seen as a key failure of the U.S. administration.

Gilboa also said support for Israel is increasingly being seen as a Republican,

not bipartisan, issue in America. Recent polls have shown that Republican support for Israel is significantly higher than Democratic support, a reversal from 10 or 15 years ago.

In interviews on American television this week, the Israeli leader vociferously denied he is meddling in Obama’s reelection campaign and said he appreciated the importance of American support.

“God, I’m not going to be drawn into the American election,” Netanyahu told NBC television.

“What’s guiding my statements is not the American political calendar, but the Iranian nuclear calendar.” Ari Shavit, a columnist for Israel’s liberal Haaretz daily, accused Netanyahu of misreading the American political climate. “Netanyahu not only argued with Obama, but turned himself into the declared enemy of many of Israel’s friends in the United States. He pushed himself into America’s extremist right corner - he pushed all of us into it,” he wrote.

Obama aides have sought to portray relations with Netanyahu as unshaken.

But privately, American officials have grumbled about a perception that Netanyahu is telling Obama what to do.

When Netanyahu travels to New York this week, he likely won’t even see Obama. The US president turned down a request for a meeting, citing scheduling issues. A subsequent phone conversation appears to have done little to ease tensions.

Differences between the men run deep.

Soon after Obama and Netanyahu both took office in early 2009, they clashed over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Under American pressure, Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to slow down settlement construction for nine months in order to restart peace talks with the Palestinians. When the moratorium expired, Netanyahu refused Obama’s appeals to extend it, and a fresh round of peace talks quickly collapsed. In one tense encounter between the two, a frustrated Obama walked out of a White House meeting to eat dinner with his family. In another, Netanyahu appeared to lecture Obama on the pitfalls of peacemaking as they sat in front of reporters in the Oval Office.

During that same trip to Washington, Netanyahu was warmly welcomed in a speech to a joint session of Congress, sending a message that the Israeli leader maintained strong support on Capitol Hill. The US-educated Netanyahu thinks like a Republican on many key issues, whether it be his support for free-market capitalism and disdain for big government, or his security-first approach to foreign policy.

Obama’s first major foreign policy act, reaching out to the Muslim world in a landmark speech in Cairo while failing to visit neighboring Israel, is still seen as an insult by many Israelis. —AP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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

Gangs to fight for drug routes after Colombian capo falls BOGOTA: Crime gangs are likely to engage in a messy battle over lucrative drug smuggling routes through Venezuela following the arrest of Colombia’s last major drug lord, experts said here.

For years Daniel ‘El Loco’ Barrera was the most wanted criminal in South America, accused of shipping some 900 tons of cocaine to the United States and Europe and dealing with both leftist guerrillas and rightwing paramilitary fighters.

Barrera was arrested in the the Venezuelan border town of San Cristobal while making a telephone call from a pay booth Tuesday in an operation that Colombian police chief Jose Roberto Leon Riano directed from Washington. “‘El Loco’ Barrera was the last capo

of his category, one who had major control over an important area of the country,” Christian Voelkel with the Internacional Crisis Group told AFP. Over the past two decades Colombian police brought down the Medellin drug cartel, Pablo Escobar’s syndicate, the Cali cartel, and the gang run by the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers.

Authorities also swept up the lieutenants who stepped in to lead those groups.

Barrera, who was active in eastern Colombia, ran a network that specialized in smuggling cocaine into Venezuela and then shipping it to the United States via Central America, or to Europe via Africa.

“The last of the great capos has fallen,” Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on nationa television,

adding that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Britain’s MI6 intelligence service provided support in the arrest. Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami called Barrera’s arrest a “major coup” for his country. For all his influence Barrera was not nearly as power as, for example, Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, head of the Sinaloa crime syndicate.

In fact, Mexican crime groups may attempt to take over Barrera’s smuggling routes, said Ariel Avila, a specialist on the regional drug trade.

“In the coming months there will be a fight over control of that route.

There are several groups that could engage in that fight,” said Avila, author of a book on the Colombia-Venezuela border. “The Mexicans could send their people, but (the Colombian gang of )

Los Urabenos or some mid-level Barrera leader could also enter the fight,” he said. Another Colombian gang, Los Rastrojos, could also enter the fray. Barrera’s group rarely got involved in violent clashes with police or rivals because his cocaine processing labs and transport routes were protected by a criminal group made up of former right-wing paramilitary fighters, according observers.

Barrera was also generous handing out bribes in both Colombia and Venezuela, and had business ties with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country’s largest guerrilla group.

The leftist rebels provided Barrera with coca leaves-the source plant of cocaine-harvested in guerrilla-controlled territor y, Voelkel said. It’s

unclear if any single crime group has the infrastructure to take over Barrera’s cocaine production labs in the short term, or has the contacts to smuggle the drugs into the United States and Europe, according to Nuevo Arco Iris, a Colombian non-governmental organization that follows the drug trade.

Voelkel believes that Barrera’s network is likely to shatter into small pieces. “But the problem is still there,” Voelkel said. “It is not necessarily easier to fight a fragmented crime network than a unified one.”

Over the last eight years Colombian authorities have cut down its cocaine production by nearly half, but the country is still one of the world’s largest producers, churning out some 345 tons of cocaine last year, according to United Nations figures. — AFP

US Senate passes funding bill to avoid govt shutdown Senate measure insists Iran be denied nuclear weapon

CARRIZAL: Supporters cheer for opposition’s presidential candidate Henrique Capriles during a campaign rally in the municipality of Carrizal, Venezuela, Friday. Capriles is running against President Hugo Chavez in the country’s Oct 7 election. — AP

Guatemalan massacre suspect extradited to US LOS ANGELES: A former Guatemalan soldier accused of taking part in a massacre during that country’s civil war more than a quarter century ago has been extradited to California where he faces immigration fraud charges. Jose Sosa Orantes was turned over Friday by officials in Canada, where he had been in custody since last year on US charges of lying about his role in Guatemala’s war when he applied for American citizenship in 2008, federal authorities said.

Sosa was a member of a Guatemalan military unit known as the “kaibiles” and helped command a unit assigned to track down suspected guerrillas who had stolen military weapons, according to court documents.

According to a 2009 federal grand jury indictment, Sosa and dozens of other soldiers stormed the village of Dos Erres in 1982 and allegedly killed men, women and children as they search for missing weapons. Soldiers bludgeoned villagers with a sledgehammer, threw them into a well, and raped women and girls before killing them, court papers said. More than 150 people died.

Sosa, who lived for many years in Southern California as a martial arts instructor, was charged with one count each of false statement relating to naturalization and procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. If convicted of both counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

“Although he’s not being charged with any war crimes here in the United States, our investigation is a very thorough investigation and we do gather evidence on his actual foreign crimes and it’s our endeavor to share that with any foreign entity charging him,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge of

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s homeland security investigations in Los Angeles.

Guatemala’s civil war, which lasted more than three decades, claimed at least 200,000 lives before it ended in 1996. The US-backed army was responsible for most of the deaths, according to a truth commission set up to investigate the bloodshed.

Sosa is also wanted in Guatemala to face charges for the massacre. An international arrest warrant also has been issued by a Spanish judge for Sosa, who holds Canadian and US citizenship. He faces charges of crimes against humanity, a court official told The Associated Press in April 2011, who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with the court’s policy.

The warrant is part of an investigation into claims made by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu in Spain in a 1999 lawsuit. That lawsuit centered on the disappearance of eight Spanish priests in Guatemala and an attack on the Spanish Embassy in Guatemala in 1980 during which Menchu’s father and more than 30 others died.

Sosa is the ninth person sought by the Spanish National Court since the suit was filed. However, none have appeared in court because Guatemala refused to extradite the other eight suspects, according to the Center for Justice and Accountability.

The case was brought in Spain under the premise of universal jurisdiction, which says crimes such as torture and genocide are so heinous they can be prosecuted there, if the government of the country where those crimes were allegedly committed fails to investigate them. — AP

WASHINGTON: A deeply divided and unproductive Congress wrapped up its final business before November’s elections early on Saturday as the US Senate passed a stopgap measure to fund federal programs and avoid an Oct. 1 government shutdown.

The 62-30 vote on the funding bill, which now moves to President Barack Obama’s desk to be signed into law, was delayed by days of partisan bickering over votes on unrelated measures aimed at boosting both Democrats’ and Republicans’ political fortunes.

For the new fiscal year which begins on Oct. 1, the $524 billion measure slightly raises discretionary spending - which funds government agencies and everything from defense to national parks - from current levels.

It was needed because Congress’ normal process of appropriating money for government operations broke down amid disagreements between Democrat and Republicans over spending levels and funding was due to run out after Sept. 30.

“It is an inefficient way to fund the federal government but it is better than shutting it down next week,” said Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Congress’ bitter fights over spending cuts and raising the debt limit last year led to

threats of several shutdowns as temporary funding measures expired. The last time government funding actually ran out was late 1995 and early 1996, forcing then-president Bill Clinton to shut down non-essential services and furlough non-essential government workers for 28 days.

Saturday’s vote allows lawmakers to return to their home states for a final re-election campaign push, but they leave a huge to-do list for their return after the Nov. 6 election. By keeping the government funded through March 27, Congress has somewhat lightened its post-election workload, which centers on dealing with expiring tax cuts, automatic spending cuts, a debt limit increase and other fiscal deadlines.

With relative peace over the budget, lawmakers will be able to takle more difficult difficult questions - how to avoid $109 billion in automatic budget cuts that start on Jan. 2, and whether to extend some or all of the tax cuts enacted under former President George W Bush, which expire Dec. 31.

Moody’s Investors Service has threatened to downgrade the US credit rating if Congress’ deliberations do not reduce budget deficits in a meaningful way. Economists warn that the United States will slide back into recession if Congress fails to take action to mute the mas-

sive impact of tax hikes and spending cuts.

In other wrap-up business, the Senate also passed by a 90-1 vote a non-binding resolution insisting that the United States prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ruling out any strategy aimed at dealing with a nuclear-armed Iran.

The only senator to vote against the resolution was Republican Rand Paul, a Tea Party and libertarian favorite, who argued that it was a de-facto declaration of war.

Paul had sponsored another measure that would suspend foreign aid to the governments of Pakistan, Egypt and Libya in response to recent attacks on U.S. interests in these countries, but this was soundly defeated by a vote of 81-10.

Senate Democrats also prevailed in a procedural vote that keeps alive legislation aimed at boosting the re-election chances of their colleague Senator Jon Tester, who is in a tight re-election race that threatens the narrow Democratic majority in the Senate.

Tester’s measure would increase hunting and fishing access on public lands - a move popular in his home state - and the vote allows him to claim on the campaign trail that his plan is superior to a similar measure offered by his opponent, Republican Representative Denny Rehberg. — Reuters

US names 55 cleared Guantanamo prisoners WASHINGTON: The US government has published for the first time a list of 55 Guantanamo detainees cleared for release but still held amid challenges identifying a willing host country or concerns about sending them home.

The list, which includes names and serial numbers, represents about a third of the 167 “war on terror” suspects who still linger at the US naval base in southern Cuba more than 11 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks on US soil.

A significant number of the men listed are Yemenis, reflecting US concerns over sending Guantanamo detainees to the troubled nation, where they could become involved in terror-related activities. President Barack Obama suspended transfers to Yemen in January 2010, citing the “unsettled” security situation there.

Since 2009, government officials have kept secret the identities of detainees approved for release or transfer, saying a public release would hinder diplomatic efforts to arrange for the men to be moved to “safe and responsible” locations.

“The United States originally sought protection of this information in order to maintain flexibility in its diplomatic engagements with foreign governments on potential detainee transfers, especially in cases of resettlement in third countries, rather than the detainees’ respective countries of origin,” a Justice Depar tment

spokesperson said Friday.

But in a court filing in the US District Court for the District of Columbia in the capital Washington, government lawyers said “circumstances have changed” such that prisoners’ names “no

last British resident held at Guantanamo, and the prison’s five remaining Tunisians. London has repeatedly called for Aamer to be freed.

Missing from the list was Adnan Latif, a 32-year-old Yemeni man

GUANTANAMO BAY: This image reviewed by the US military shows the front gate of “Camp Six” detention facility of the Joint Detention Group at the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a January 19, 2012, file photo. — AFP longer warrant protection.”

The efforts of the United States to resettle Guantanamo detainees have largely been successful,” they said, noting that 28 prisoners have been sent to their home countries since 2009, while 40 prisoners have been transferred to other countries.

Among the prisoners cleared for release was Shaker Aamer, the

who died at Guantanamo earlier this month, the ninth prisoner to pass away since the prison camp was opened in 2002.

Shor tly after tak ing office, President Barack Obama issued an order to shutter the facility by January 2010. But his plans quickly fell apart amid staunch opposition from Congress, as lawmakers raised security concerns.

Although Congress has placed restrictions limiting prisoner transfers to other countries or on US soil, the Obama administration has sought help from allies willing to take in qualified detainees.

Rights groups were quick to hail the new list’s publication, with the American Civil Liberties Union calling it a “partial victory for transparency ” that should also be a “spur to action.” “ These men have now spent three years in prison since our military and intelligence agencies all agreed they should be released,” ACLU senior staff attorney Zachary Katznelson said in a statement. “It is well past time to release and resettle these unfairly imprisoned men.”

Amnesty International USA executive director Suzanne Nossel said the cleared detainees “should be immediately transferred out of Guantanamo to countries that will respect their human rights...

Indefinite detention is a human rights violation and it must end.”

The disclosure “dispels the myth that the remaining detainees who are trapped at Guantanamo are too dangerous to be released,” said the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents some Guantanamo prisoners. “ The list announced today, however, is incomplete, and not appearing on the list is no indication of wrongdoing,” CCR executive director Vincent Warren added. — AFP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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

Cameroon sentences ex-minister to 25-year jail term YAOUNDE: A court in Cameroon yesterday sentenced former presidential hopeful and senior minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya to a 25-year jail term on embezzlement charges related to the botched purchase of a presidential plane in 2004.

The court handed down the sentence early yesterday morning after a marathon overnight trial. The court handed the same sentence to Yves Michel Fotso, former director of defunct state air transport company CAMAIR. Hamidou Yaha was minister of terri-

torial administration until he was sacked in December in a cabinet reshuffle by President Paul Biya. He was widely believed to harbour ambitions to succeed the 79-year-old Biya. Biya, who has been in power since 1982, launched “Operation Sparrow Hawk” in 2006 to combat corruption in the central African nation. The drive has seen several of his former aides brought to court but critics say the anti-corruption campaign has been used to target opponents.

The court in the capital Yaounde

found the two guilty of embezzling 24 billion CFA francs ($47.52 million) that was meant for the purchase of the presidential plane called “Albatross”.

In letters published after he was arrested in April, Hamidou Yaha denied he par ticipated in any attempt to embezzle public funds and said he was a victim of a political plot.

“Investigations show that the 24 billion CFA francs ... for the purchase of the aircraft were diver ted by Yves Michel Fotso for personal interests,” the presiding judge said in sentencing.

Fotso was at the time director general of the CBC bank in which funds for the purchase of the plane were deposited. “The investigations also show that his friend and then secretary-general at the presidency Hamidou Marafa Yaya was well aware of the money being used for personal interest but failed to use his position as a senior administrative officer to prevent the diversion of the money,” the judge said.

“The court therefore is very certain that he too (Hamidou Yaya) was involved in the entire process,” he said.

Speaking repor ters before he was whisked off by security forces, Hamidou Yaya said he was not surprised by the verdict.

“I am very disappointed with the judgment but not surprised because this all has been politicised. But I will file an appeal against my conviction because I am not guilty,” he said. The case has already landed another former minister, Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara and former ambassador to the United States, Jerome Mendouga in jail. — Reuters

Islamists say Mali must apply sharia before talks ‘If it’s war that they want, we also agree’

PARIS: French mobile policemen talk with a Muslim woman control on the Trocadero square in Paris, yesterday, as police was deployed in several areas of the city to enforce a ban on protests over an anti-Islam film or against a French magazine that published cartoons mocking the Prophet (PBUH). — AFP

French police nip banned Islam demos in the bud PARIS: French police enforcing a ban on on protests over an anti-Islam film and cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made 21 arrests in Paris yesterday and thwarted plans for a march in a northern city.

Those arrested in the capital, who included several veiled women, were detained near the Place de la Concorde, where a week ago an unauthorised demo against the film led to 150 arrests.

Riot police were deployed in several areas of Paris Saturday to enforce the ban on protests over the US-produced film “Innocence of Muslims” and the cartoons published in a French satirical magazine.

Squads were positioned near the city’s Grand Mosque, on the Trocadero square that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, and on the Place de la Concorde.

AFP reporters in the northern city of Lille saw police stopping a group of about a dozen women trying to unveil a banner and detaining a man who appeared to be giving orders to the women.

The would-be protestors said they wanted to demonstrate against “provocations against Islam”. In Marseille in the south, a police helicopter and 60 riot police deployed to prevent any protests, but only a single demonstrator turned

out. Around 30 journalists were also on hand to witness the man’s attempt to defy the ban.

Social networks have been awash this week with appeals for Muslims in France, home to western Europe’s largest Islamic community, to hold fresh protests.

France’s Muslim leaders on Friday urged militants to respect the law.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls has said he will not sanction any protests this weekend on the grounds they will inevitably represent a threat to public order. Also yesterday a 24-year-old rail worker was sentenced to three months in jail for carrying a weapon and taking part in an armed gathering during last Saturday’s protest in Paris.

French police have meanwhile arrested a man for apparently calling on a jihadi website for the decapitation of the editor of the magazine that published the cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a judicial source said.

The man was detained in the western city of La Rochelle for calling on the radical website for the head of Stephane Charbonnier, boss of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, which on Wednesday published the cartoons of a naked Prophet. —AFP

Russia advances sweeping spy bill MOSCOW: Russia’s parliament has advanced sweeping spy legislation targeting civil groups that work with foreigners to upset domestic politics in what rights groups call another attack on freedoms. Friday’s nearunanimous lower house vote in the first of three readings came on the heels of President Vladimir Putin’s decision to ram through a law branding as “foreign agents” local groups with funding from abroad.

Former spy Putin accuses Washington of funding the wave of protests that rose against his dominant 12-year rule this winter and recently saw the foreign ministry shut the door to the USAID development agency’s work in Russia.

The State Duma’s action passed without notice from the state media and was only reported in detail by the respected Vedomosti business daily on its website.

The paper noted that the bill was initially introduced to parliament by Putin’s cabinet in 2008 when he became prime minister upon completing the two successive Kremlin terms allowed by the constitution.

But Putin’s four-year presidential stand-in Dmitry Medvedev-a lawyer by training who preferred more liberal rhetoric before ceding his Kremlin seat back to Putin in Maysent the draft back down for further study in 2009.

The highly-sensitive measure specifically addresses the definitions of “spy” and “state treason”-two of Russia’s toughest offences that could put those found guilty in prison for up to 20 years.

It is being sponsored by the feared Federal Security Service (FSB) agency that succeeded the KGB in post-Soviet Russia and was headed by Putin in the years preceding his meteoric rise to the presidency in 2000.

The new version broadens the definition of “spies” to include Russian nationals who help foreign states or organisations upset the country’s “constitutional order, sovereignty or territorial and national integrity.”

Current law simply refers to actions that “damage the foreign security of the Russian Federation” and makes no reference to domestic politics at all. Rights groups noted that the expanded wording may be used to target advocacy groups such as the prominent human rights organisation Memorial and others working to introduce broader pluralism to Russian society.

Putin has promoted a top-down command system and plays up “domestic order” in speeches dealing with social affairs.

Memorial has been particularly active in the violence-wrecked North Caucasus and defended entire families from prosecution against terrorism and other charges linked to Islamic militancy.

The group-funded by USAID and otherson Friday officially broke Russian law by ignoring a deadline by which it had to register as a “foreign agent” or face a fine.

“Memorial will not take part in events leading to the destruction of Russian society” it said in a statement. “This law is illegal and immoral to its core.”

The tiny organisation may now have to pay up to one million rubles ($32,000) under a new ruling party sponsored penalty that was also given initial approval this month.

Putin has largely scoffed at the street protests as a consequence of Washington’s ambition to unseat him from power because of his domestic strength and highly sceptical view of US foreign policies.

But the decision to shut down the State Department’s USAID programme may have lasting and possibly devastating consequences for rights groups that are already starved of domestic support. Pressure on Memorial and the others rose further this week on news that the Central Bank had drafted a requirement for financial institutions to report all aid being transferred to non-governmental organisation from abroad. The proposal effectively equates such funding with money laundering operations and terrorism activities. — AFP

GAO: Mali’s government must apply Islamic sharia law before armed Islamist groups who control the north of the country will negotiate, an Islamist official said yesterday. Alioune Toure, a security chief in the city of Gao held by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), was responding to an offer of talks made late Friday by Mali’s interim president, Dioncounda Traore.

Toure’s comments came as the country marked its 1960 independence from France with a low-key but heavily-guarded ceremony in Bamako, where Traore laid flowers at the Independence Square monument in the presence of members of government and foreign ambassadors. Traore made his offer of talks in a televised speech on Friday, ahead of Independence Day. “As we are preparing for it, we will wage war if no other choice is left to us,” he said. “But we reaffirm here that our first choice remains dialogue and negotiation.”

“I call on all armed groups operating in the north of our country to agree to commit resolutely to the path of dialogue and of negotiation in a sincere and constructive fashion,” he added. “We accept the hand Mr Traore has held out on one condition, that Mali implements sharia, the law of God, that’s the only condition,” Toure told AFP. But he warned, “If it’s war that they want, we also agree. God is the strongest.” Toure said that the Islamists did not consider Traore to be president if he did not submit to God’s law.

“We are for holy way, nothing will stop us on the path of holy war,” he said. “I have nothing more to add.” Traore Friday described Mali’s present situation as a “tragedy” and warned that the

BAMAKO: Mali’s interim President Dioncounda Traore (L) stands in front of the Monument of Independence after he laid a wreath during a ceremony marking the 52nd anniversary of independence from France, yesterday in Bamako. Mali holds low-key independence day celebrations as the west African country remains split in two after Islamists seized northern regions in the wake of a March coup. — AFP nation’s very existence was at stake.

He was president, he said, of a country at war, and the army needed to be “re-equipped, morally rearmed, put on a war footing and most of all reconciled with itself.”

The much-anticipated speech came as the UN Security Council on Friday called for West African nations to produce a “feasible and actionable” military plan to retake northern Mali from Islamist militants. A statement from the 15nation council expressed “grave concern” at the “increasing entrenchment of terrorist elements, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic

Maghreb” in northern Mali.

Islamist groups and other rebels seized on the chaos of a military coup in Mali in March to take the north of the vast West African country. They have since imposed harsh Islamic law and desecrated traditional Muslim shrines.

The Economic Community of West African States has called on the UN Security Council to back a proposed intervention force for Mali. But the council has repeatedly said it needs more detail on the means and aims of any military operation and the consent of Mali’s transitional government. Mali was

considered one of the region’s stable democracies until a March 22 military coup plunged it into turmoil. Tuareg nationalist groups and Islamists allied to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), including MUJAO, took advantage of the ensuring confusion to step up their military campaign in the north.

They seized key towns in the huge arid north, an area larger than France or Texas. The Islamists have since forced out the Tuareg groups and imposed strict sharia law in the region, with punishments including stoning and amputation of limbs. — AFP

Tens of thousands protest anti-Islam film in Nigeria KANO: Tens of thousands of people yesterday protested on the streets of Nigeria’s second city of Kano against an anti-Islam film made in the US that has stirred outrage across the Muslim world.

The crowd of demonstrators stretched several kilometres (miles) through the city, the largest in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north, with protesters shouting “death to America, death to Israel and death to the enemies of Islam”.

The rally was organised by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, a pro-Iranian group that adheres to the Shiite branch of Islam, which has operated in Africa’s most populous country since the late 1970s.

“We are out today to express our rage and disapproval over this blasphemous film,” said Muhammed Turi, a protest leader and member of the Islamic Movement that organised a similar rally earlier this week in the city of Zaria.

“This protest is also aimed at calling on the US government to put a halt to further blasphemy against Islam,” he added.

Demonstrators carried pic tures of US President Barack Obama, as well as American and Israeli flags as they marched towards a palace owned by the Emir of Kano, the top religious figure in the city of roughly 4.5 million people.

Others were seen waving Iranian flags.

Turi addressed the crowd outside Kano’s central mosque, adjacent to the Emir ’s palace, before the rally ended with no incidents of violence reported. “We are pained by this deliberate insult against our religion under the pretext of freedom of expression,” he told the protesters.

Security forces were deployed around the city and a police officer stationed outside a hospital said the authorities had allowed the demonstration. “We have no problem with the protest as long as it is peaceful,” said the officer who requested anonymity.

Protester Husseini Ibrahim claimed that the “blasphemy” in the film regarding the

KANO: Protesters gather outside the central mosque during a demonstration against the US-produced anti-Islam movie in the northern Nigerian city of Kano yesterday. — AFP Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is “like an invitation to war.” “The prophet means everything to us. He means more than our lives.”

Turi also urged Nigeria’s government to publicly denounce the film and said all ties with Israel should be severed. The low-budget film “Innocence of Muslims” was reportedly produced by an Egyptian Coptic Christian, but rumours that circulated shortly after its release suggested an Israeli was involved.

The film incited a wave of bloody antiAmerican violence in cities across the Muslim world, with protests occurring in more than 20 countries.

Thousands of Muslims protested in Zaria

on Thursday, burning US and Israeli flags.

The previous week in the religiously divided central Nigerian city of Jos, soldiers fired live rounds outside a mosque to disperse a crowd of several hundred that was seeking to demonstrate against the film.

Nigeria’s 160 million people are roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, and Muslim-Christian tensions have often led to deadly confrontation.

An ar ticle in one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers in 2002 considered blasphemous by Muslims helped spark deadly riots in the northern city of Kaduna in which 3,000 people were killed. — AFP

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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Indian PM wins praise for ‘straight talk’ on reforms ‘The Dream Team is Back’ NEW DELHI: Indian Premier Manmohan Singh won media praise yesterday for his “straight talk” to voters after he made a televised bid for public support for a slew of economic reforms that cost his government its majority.

In a televised speech to the country late Friday, Singh said he acted in the national interest to stop “a loss of support in our economy” and asked for people’s “trust, understanding and your cooperation” to avert a crisis. In the past 10 days the Congress-led government has announced a string of reforms to open up the retail, aviation and other sectors to more foreign investment and cut deficit-bloating subsidies, prompting protests and the exit of a key coalition ally.

“We have to restore the confidence

of foreign investors,” said Singh, who turns 80 next week. “Money does not grow on trees and that is why we have made these decisions.

“At times, we need to say no to the easy option and say yes to the more difficult one.” While political opponents accused Singh of selling out the country to foreign interests, the media lauded him for addressing the difficulties facing Asia’s third-largest economy. “The PM’s straight talk on TV and his greater effort to reach out deserve credit,” commented the influential Indian Express daily in an editorial. It said the opposition had ended up looking “uncaring about the urgency of the economic troubles that loom over us”. The tabloid Mail Today went even further, proclaiming “the Dream Team is Back”. The front-page headline

DHAKA: Bangladeshi police detain an activist of an Islamic group during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, yesterday. Officials and witnesses said scores of people were injured in a clash in Bangladesh’s capital between police and hundreds of Muslims who were protesting a film produced in the United States that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). — AP

Bangladesh police, film protesters clash DHAKA: Scores of people were injured yesterday in a clash in Bangladesh’s capital between police and hundreds of demonstrators, as protests continued in the Muslim world against a film produced in the United States that denigrates Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In Pakistan, where more than 20 people died Friday in clashes with police in cities throughout the country, a Cabinet minister offered a $100,000 reward for the death of the filmmaker. Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Balor told The Associated Press that he would pay the reward out of his own pocket. He urged the Taleban and al-Qaeda to perform the “sacred duty” of helping locate and kill the filmmaker.

The film has sparked violent protests throughout the Muslim world that resulted in the deaths of dozens, including the US ambassador to Libya. In Bangladesh, police fired tear gas and used batons yesterday to disperse the stone-throwing protesters, who were from about a dozen Islamic groups.

The protesters burned several vehicles, including a police van, witnesses said. Dozens of protesters were arrested at the demonstration and inside the nearby National Press Club, where participants took refuge, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police official said on condition of anonymity in line with police policy. Police and witnesses said scores of people were injured.

The clash erupted when authorities attempted to halt the demonstration, police said. Authorities have banned all protests near the city ’s main Baitul Mokarram mosque since Friday, when more than 2,000 people marched and burned an effigy of President Barack Obama.

The protesters announced a nationwide general strike today to protest the police action. In Pakistan, protests continued yesterday, with more than 1,500 people, including women and children, rallying in Pakistan’s capital. The crowd was peaceful but angry over the release of the video called “Innocence of Muslims,” which portrays Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a fraud, a womanizer and a child molester. The protesters - from the Minhaj-ul-Quran religious group marched through Islamabad’s streets and then gathered near Parliament, chanting slogans against the filmmaker and demanding stern punishment for him. — AP

Christian ‘blasphemy’ girl innocent: Police ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police yesterday told a court that a Christian girl who spent three weeks in jail is not guilty and a cleric who allegedly framed her should face trial instead. Investigating officer Munir Jafri said police could not find any evidence against Rimsha Masih, thought to be 14, who was accused in August of burning pages from the Quran in a case which sparked an international outcry.

“We have also told the court that there are witnesses and evidence against the local imam for framing a false blasphemy case against Rimsha,” Jafri told AFP. Judge Ghulam Abbas Shah adjourned the case till Monday, September 24 to decide on whether Imam Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chishti, who was arrested for allegedly adding pages from the Quran to a bag of burnt paper, should face trial.

Rao Abdur Rahim, the counsel for Rimsha’s neighbour Hammad Malik who had accused her along with Chishti, said he was not satisfied with the police report.

“This report is based on the bad intentions of the investigators and is made to prove Rimsha innocent. But, I will fight the case and make her face trial,” he told AFP. Rimsha and her family, who fear for life after the blasphemy charges, were moved to an undisclosed location since her release on bail on September 8. The case of Rimsha Masih, who was accused of setting fire to papers that contained verses from the Koran, incited particular condemnation because she is said to be underage, illiterate and suffering from learning difficulties.

An official medical report has classified her as “uneducated” and aged 14, but with a mental age younger than her years. Others have said she is as young as 11 and suffers from Down’s Syndrome. — AFP

was a reference to Singh and his promarket finance minister P. Chidambaram who were known as the “dream team” in the 1990s for bold moves in kickstarting the liberalisation of the socialist-style economy.

The newspaper added in an editorial the only thing Singh’s administration had to fear “was fear itself” in carrying out its reform agenda. It said the opposition was “unlikely to pull the rug” from under the government’s feet, even though it was now a minority in parliament. The economy grew by just 5.5 percent in the latest financial quarter, its slowest clip in nearly three years, while ratings agencies have warned India is in danger of being downgraded to junk status unless the government acts decisively to rein in its gaping budget deficit. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Security officers rush to restrain an Indian lawyer Santosh Kumar shouting slogans against the recent economic reforms, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, unseen, addresses the International Academic Conference 2012 in New Delhi, India, yesterday. — AP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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

China urges Philippines to mend ties after row BEIJING: Chinese leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping has told a visiting Philippine envoy that he hopes ties hurt by a territorial row can recover, state media said yesterday. Vice President Xi told Philippine Interior Secretary Mar Roxas that tensions between the two countries had “eased” after a blow-up over a disputed island in the South China Sea, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trouble flared in April when vessels from the two countries became engaged in a stand-off over the rocky outcrop known as Scarborough Shoal. Both sides later agreed to withdraw their boats, defusing

some of the tension. “I hope this (situation) will not appear again and again, allowing bilateral relations to return to the track of normal development,” Xinhua quoted Xi as telling the special envoy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino at a trade fair in southern China on Friday.

“China-Philippine relations have encountered some difficulties. However, through effective communication between the two sides, the situation has already eased,” Xi said. In Manila, a government statement quoted Roxas as saying the two had had “a frank and candid exchange of views”. It

said both sides “expressed their desire to resolve outstanding issues while moving forward with their bilateral relations”. “(The) discussions were constructive and the talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere,” Roxas added. The talks in the city of Nanning came after Aquino failed to secure a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Russia earlier this month. Xi is widely expected to succeed Hu as leader of China’s ruling Communist Party at an upcoming party meeting, then take over as presi-

dent in March next year. China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, which is believed to hold vast amounts of oil and gas, is a rich fishing ground and is home to shipping lanes vital to global trade.

But the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have claims to parts of the sea, some of them overlapping. China is also locked in a territorial dispute with Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea, which Japan administers and calls Senkaku but China claims and knows as Diaoyu. — AFP

Hundreds in Tokyo rally against China Anti-China protest over islands row TOKYO: Hundreds of Japanese marched through downtown Tokyo yesterday in a loud but tightly controlled protest against China’s claim to disputed islands in the East China Sea. The protest, organized by the nationalist group “Ganbare Nippon,” or “Go for It, Japan,” followed scores of sometimes violent anti-Japanese demonstrations in China in recent weeks.

Though hundreds of Japanese protesters gathered in a downtown park and then marched through the glitzy Roppongi district, authorities only allowed small groups

of five people each to visit the sidewalk opposite the Chinese Embassy.

“Come on out of there!” some of the protesters screamed at the well-guarded embassy building, which was closed.

Dozens of police kept order, moving the groups away from the embassy after only a few minutes. In the past few days, Chinese authorities appear to have reined in angry anti-Japanese demonstrations that they had been allowing in recent weeks.

After Japan’s government purchased some of the islands, claimed by both sides

TOKYO: Protesters hold Japanese national flags during a rally, opposing China’s territorial claim over the disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, at a park in Tokyo, yesterday. A front banner reads: “Head off China’s invasion to Senkaku.”— AP

Aung San Suu Kyi visits UN, New York NEW YORK: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has visited the United Nations and received a new award as she paid tribune to unknown fighters for democracy in her country.

“Tonight I must pay tribute to my colleagues whose names are unknown to the world,” said Suu Kyi as she received the 2012 Global Citizen Award from the Atlantic Council, a think tank that promotes constructive US leadership and engagement in international affairs.

“Those unknown soldiers are so much bigger than others like me who are known and who had been given so many honors,” she added. The award was presented to her by Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, at a dinner at New York’s Plaza Hotel. “I don’t get intimidated easily: politics, money, power, economy, crisis,” said the IMF chief. “But I tell you something, when it’s resilience in the face of adversity, when it’s simplicity in the face of success, when it is kindness, when it is spirituality, I get unbelievably intimidated ... I’m intimidated to introduce tonight Aung San Suu Kyi.” Mentioning years spent by Suu Kyi under house arrest and her determination to carry on her fight for Myanmar democracy, Lagarde said that Suu Kyi’s life was “our message.”

Other award recipients this year included former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, exUN high commissioner for refugees Sadako Ogata of Japan, and American musician and humanitarian Quincy Jones. “By recognizing these individuals with a Global Citizen Award, we were not simply looking to congratulate them, but also to amplify their achievements and inspire others to follow their path,” said former US senator and Atlantic Council Chairman Chuck Hagel.

Myanmar was ruled by an iron-fisted junta for decades but, since taking office last year, a reformist government under former general Thein Sein has freed political prisoners and allowed Suu Kyi’s party into electoral politics.

Freed in 2010 after 15 years under house arrest, Suu Kyi received a rapturous welcome on her first visit to Washington since her release.

Her visit coincides with a three-day trip by Burmese President Thein Sein to the United Nations, and there have been concerns she will upstage his visit, despite his work pushing through reforms.

Earlier this week, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the top honor bestowed by the legislature, and met at the White House with President Barack Obama.

During her trip to the United States, Suu Kyi endorsed the removal of sanctions on Myanmar, also known as Burma, which were imposed to punish the junta for its formerly

oppressive rule in the Southeast Asian country.

Before her awards ceremony at the Atlantic Council, Suu Kyi visited UN headquarters where she met with UN secretary general Ban Kimoon, who recalled that the Myanmar democracy leader worked in New York at the United Nations headquarters from 1969 to 1971.

“I would like to welcome her home,” Ban said. “She is now a global symbol of human rights. We have great expectations and hope that she will lead this path of reconciliation and greater participatory democracy and development of her country.”

Suu Kyi said that to achieve genuine democracy for Burma, all people “have to learn to work together.” The agenda of Suu Kyi’s unprecedented 18-day US tour includes nearly 100 events across the United States. The Myanmar democracy leader will head on September 25 to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to meet the sizable Burmese community that has resettled in the Midwestern city.

Her other stops include Louisville, Kentucky as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles. The hectic schedule has worried some of Suu Kyi’s supporters. The 67-year-old fell ill in June during a punishing tour of Europe. — AFP

NEW YORK: Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar Member of Parliament and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, speaks after she received the Atlantic Council 2012 Global Citizen Award yesterday in New York. — AFP

but controlled by Tokyo, from their private Japanese owners last week, the protests intensified and Beijing sent surveillance ships into waters near the islands.

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have long been a lightning rod for simmering Chinese resentment toward Japan for its brutal invasion and occupation of parts of China in the first half of the 20th century.

Organizers of Saturday’s march said more than 1,400 people participated. That figure appeared high, but a rough count found at least 800 protesters. Trucks festooned with anti-China banners used megaphones to blare slogans such as “We will not forgive China!” and “We have the power to protect our nation!”

Many protesters carried large Japanese flags or placards reading “Sink the Chinese boats in our waters” and “Do not give in to the Beijing terrorists.” “The Chinese claims over the islands are recent and this is plain stupidity,” said Masanori Ono, 69, who was marching in the protest.

Leaders of the demonstration appeared to be making the best of the limits imposed by police. “Unlike the violent Chinese, we Japanese are holding a calm, peaceful protest,” one organizer said over a loudspeaker. “This is our Japanese way.”

Though the anti-Japanese demonstrations in China, which included attacks on Japanese businesses, appear to have wound down, the rhetoric on both sides has remained uncompromising and there are no signs of progress in resolving the territorial dispute.

Saturday’s demonstration was the first large-scale protest over the issue in Japan, though right-wing protesters in black trucks routinely blast epithets at the Chinese Embassy. — AP

Malaysia urged to stop ‘harassment’ of activists KUALA LUMPUR: Amnesty International has called on Malaysia to stop the “harassment” of a human rights organisation that has accused the government of corruption. Authorities are investigating the funding of Suaram, an oppositionleaning group that has long campaigned against police brutality and other abuse.

Earlier this year, a French court started hearing a complaint launched by Suaram, accusing Prime Minister Najib Razak and others over a 2002 deal to buy two submarines from France.

Amnesty International urged Malaysia in a statement Friday to “end all forms of harassment and intimidation”, saying the recent probe against Suaram appeared “to be a concerted, multi-departmental government campaign”.

“Amnesty International is concerned that the recent government actions against Suaram appear to be linked to the organisation’s legitimate work, in particular a corruption case which it has brought before the French courts,” the London-based group said.

A government spokesperson denied Saturday that Suaram had been targeted. “Malaysia has a free, vibrant and flourishing civil society... Nevertheless, all organisations in Malaysia must adhere to our laws and regulations, and Suaram is no exception,” the official said in an e-mail to AFP. Suaram has said the probe is proof that the government is determined to silence critical voices after it alleged corruption over the purchase of the two Scorpene submarines while Najib was defence minister.

The allegations have posed a headache for Najib, who must face elections by the middle of next year and has been seeking to gain support by touting a reform agenda, including abolishing and amending strict security laws.

But critics have dismissed this as a ploy to bring back voters, who in the last elections in 2008 dealt Najib’s Barisan Nasional coalition its worst ever results, costing it its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority. — AFP

TAIPEI: Premier Sean Chen (4th R) chants the slogan “fight for the economy to save Taiwan” with Parliament speaker Wang Jin-pyng (3rd R) after a no-confidence vote in Taipei yesterday. Taiwanese Premier Sean Chen comfortably survived a no-confidence vote brought by opposition parties over what they see as his cabinet’s failure to curb rising unemployment and inflation. — AFP

Catholic Church in Australia reveals 620 abuse cases SYDNEY: The Catholic Church in one Australian state has revealed that at least 620 children have been abused by its clergy since the 1930s, sparking a fresh call yesterday for an independent inquiry.

The Catholic Church in Victoria revealed the number in a submission to a state parliamentary hearing on Friday but said the instances of abuse reported had fallen dramatically from the “appalling” numbers of the 1960s and 1970s. “It is shameful and shocking that this abuse, with its dramatic impact on those who were abused and their families, was committed by Catholic priests, religious and church workers,” Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said. The full submission was not released publicly but the church said most of the 620 claims it had upheld over the last 16 years related to incidents 30 to 80 years ago, with very few related to abuse that has taken place since 1990.

Hart said the church had taken steps to redress the issue, including a programme implemented in the 1990s involving an independent investigation, an ongoing programme of counselling and support, and compensation. “This submission shows how the church of today is committed to facing up to the truth and to not disguising, diminishing or avoiding the actions of those who have betrayed a sacred trust,” he said. “We acknowledge the suffering and trauma endured by children who have been in the Church’s care, and the effect on their families. We renew our apology to them,” he said in a statement in which he

spoke for church leaders in Victoria.

But victims’ supporters say the number of children abused was likely much higher than that confirmed by the church in its own inquiries. President of the Law Institute of Victoria, Michael Holcroft, said there was a need for more independent investigations.

“Obviously there’s a public perception that the church investigating the church is Caesar judging Caesar and I think that the community is now looking for somebody external, someone independent to get to the bottom of what’s obviously been a big problem for a long, long time,” he told the ABC. Archbishop Hart said victims were strongly encouraged to go to the police. “We look to this inquiry to assist the healing of those who have been abused, to examine the broad context of the Church’s response, especially over the last 16 years, and to make recommendations to enhance the care for victims and preventative measures that are now in place,” he said. The Victorian state government announced the inquiry into the handling of child abuse cases by religious and non-government bodies after the suicides of dozens of people abused by clergy.

Last year Pope Benedict XVI told Australian bishops that their work had been made more difficult by the clerical sex abuse scandal which has rocked the church as he exhorted them to “repair the errors of the past with honesty”. The pontiff met victims of abuse when he travelled to Sydney in 2008. — AFP

MANILA: Residents wade through a flooded street after a sudden heavy downpour in Manila yesterday. Tropical Storm Jelawat gains strength to 95 kph and moves to within 380K from Samar, southern Philippines accordring to local weather forecast. — AFP

S Lankan boat people choose to return over Australia asylum SYDNEY: A group of Sri Lankans have chosen to return to their homeland rather than apply for asylum in Australia, where they faced being sent to a Pacific island for processing, the government said yesterday. Canberra has begun sending boatpeople to the tiny state of Nauru, and intends to ship others to Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island, as a disincentive to stem a record number of arrivals making the dangerous sea journey to Australia.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said 16 Sri Lankan men who were eligible to be sent offshore were voluntarily returning home and left on a flight from Christmas Island to Colombo yesterday.

“These individuals chose not to pursue asylum claims and face transfer to a regional processing centre in Nauru or Papua New Guinea, and instead chose to return home voluntarily,” Bowen said.

Conditions on Nauru are basic, with the government still building permanent accommodation.

Most asylum seekers are likely to spend their first months housed in tents.

Canberra has insisted that asylum seekers arriving by boat will gain no advantage in paying people-smugglers to bring to them Australia. The gov-

ernment says they will have to spend the same amount of time on Nauru or PNG as they would have waited had they had their refugee status confirmed through official channels.

Bowen said transfers to Nauru would continue and warned that people-smugglers were “selling lies” if they were telling would-be refugees a visa would be available to them once in Australia.

“People who pay smugglers to risk their lives on a dangerous sea journey are throwing their money away, as demonstrated by the speedy return of this group,” he said yesterday. “People arriving by boat will be sent to Nauru and Papua New Guinea.”

Australia is battling to stop an influx of asylum seekers arriving by boat after scores of drownings en route. The new policy was introduced after a flood of boatpeople this year, with some 10,000 arriving so far, many of them Afghans, Iraqis and Iranians who have paid people-smugglers to ferry them from Indonesia.

About 2,000 of these have arrived since the government announced the policy change in midAugust, with another boat carrying 17 people picked up west of Christmas Island on Friday.—AFP

NEWS

Arab League revitalized

by Arab Spring revolts CAIRO: Long thought of as a useless talk shop or stage for political theater, the Arab League is seeking to transform itself with the seismic changes from the Middle East ’s revolts. It has shaken off decades of near total submission to the will of the region’s leaders, and reformers inside the league want to turn it into a voice for the Arab public.

The 21-member group is far from becoming an Arab version of the European Union, where member states have surrendered significant powers to the commission in Brussels, allowing it to enforce rules

on anything from monetary policy to immigration. In the Arab world, governments remain entrenched against anything they see as infringing on their sovereignty.

Still, the league has undoubtedly taken steps to date that would have been unthinkable only less than two years ago. Last year, the league sided with rebels fighting the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, recommending the UN Security Council impose a no-fly zone on the North African nation.

The Arab backing was crucial to passing the UN resolution and

paved the way to NATO’s air campaign against Gaddafi’s troops which eventually allowed a rebel victory.

The league again sided with a rebellion against the authoritarian regime of Syria’s Bashar Assad. It suspended Damascus’ membership and has tried to push diplomatic solutions to eventually get Assad out of power - though like UN efforts, attempts at a negotiated peace for the conflict, now in its 19th month, have floundered in the face of the all-or-nothing battle on the ground. —AP

Tide shifts to Obama in most crucial...

Continued from Page 1 in advertising strategy and fundraising. Weeks of campaigning remain, and the three debates, starting Oct 3, are the kind of events that could change the momentum again. But the race has bent toward Obama at a pivotal moment, according to public and internal campaign polls as well as interviews with leading Democratic and Republican strategists in the most closely contested states.

“Months of paid media about Romney not caring about people, being out of touch ... it came into complete focus with Romney making the case against himself,” Democratic strategist Tad Devine, a top aide to past Democratic nominees Al-Gore and John Kerry, said about a video that surfaced last week of Romney speaking at a private fundraiser in May. The polls show trouble rising for Romney almost everywhere he looks. He has fallen dangerously behind in Virginia and Ohio, and his ability to close in on Obama in Iowa and Wisconsin is now in doubt. The polls suggest that Romney must do more than inch his way up in a handful of states. He must win overwhelming shares of undecided voters, maximize the GOP’s turnout, and suppress Obama’s turnout where he can.

GOP officials say it’s too early to count Romney out.

“Maybe he can’t wait forever. But, today, a strong Romney effort offering good policy as opposed to the awful, failed policies of Obama ... will prevail,” said former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a past national GOP chairman. “It’s our election to win, and stakes are too high to let it get away.” Most of the polls were conducted before there was widespread publicity of the video secretly recorded in May. In it, Romney tells donors that the roughly 47 percent of Americans who do not pay income tax will support Obama and “are dependent upon government” and “believe that they are victims.”

The revelation overshadowed Romney’s promise to sharpen his campaign approach and offer more specific proposals to improve the economy. Democrats said the video played into their portrait of Romney as a wealthy politician out of touch with ordinary people.

Romney may not have helped himself later in the week when he released his 2011 tax return. It showed that he and his wife paid $1.94 million in federal taxes on income of $13.7 million. Their effective tax rate was 14.1 percent, lower than many families pay, because most of the couple’s earnings come from investments.

Strategists in both parties have different explanations for Romney’s slippage in the polls. — AP

UAE Islamists deny forming military wing Continued from Page 1 daily said. “The Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE recently received 10 million dirhams ($2.72 million) from its counterparts in the Gulf, because it is currently going through a tough time,” it added.

Other UAE newspapers reported matching statements also attributed to sources close to the investigation. But in yesterday’s statement, Al-Islah dismissed all these claims saying they were “baseless” and stressed that it had no links whatsoever with the Brotherhood.

Al-Islah is “an independent, patriotic group that has received no funds from abroad ... (and) is loyal to the Emirati government,” said the statement. On July 15, the UAE announced it had dismantled a group it said was plotting against state security and challenging the constitution but did not identify their affiliation or give the number of arrests.

According to Al-Khaleej those who made the reported confession are among 60 detained Islamists, including Sheikh Sultan bin Kayed Al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. — AFP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Snipers sow panic in Aleppo; 85 killed Continued from Page 1 “When the clashes began, we would go down to the basement with four other families, but for the past two days the fighting has been almost non-stop so we decided to move to a safer area,” he said.

According to Salah “almost 80 percent of the people in Suleiman al-Halabi left their homes after rebels entered the area.”

The leaders of the rebel Free Syrian Army said yesterday they moved their command center from Turkey to Syria with the aim of uniting rebels and speeding up the fall of President Bashar Assad’s regime. Brig Gen Mustafa Al-Sheikh, who heads the FSA’s Military Council, told The AP that the group made the move last week. He would not say where the new headquarters is located or give other details.

The FSA is the most prominent of the rebel groups trying to topple Assad, though its authority over networks of fighters in Syria is limited. Its commanders have been criticized for being based in Turkey while thousands are killed inside Syria.

Despite the announcement of the command move, rebels still have to rely on Turkey as a rear base for supplies and reinforcements. In the past few months, rebels have captured wide swaths of Syrian territory bordering Turkey, along with three border crossings, allowing them to ferry supplies and people into Syria.

FSA commander Col Riad Al-Asaad announced the move of the command center in a video with the title “Free Syrian Army Communique Number 1 from Inside.”

Wearing a military uniform and surrounded by a dozen gunmen, the commander said the aim is to “start the plan to liberate Damascus soon, God willing.”

In the adjacent neighborhood of Midan, which is held by the regular army, residents panicked as they heard gunfire and some shouted: “Watch out there are snipers.”

Streets in the neighborhoods were empty and shops

were locked up while several buildings were gutted and apartments destroyed. “The battle is now between snipers,” Sheikh Walid, the head of a rebel brigade in the southern Amiriya district, told an AFP correspondent who reported that only few hundred meters separate the rival snipers.

The correspondent witnessed a sniper as he took cover behind a pile of sandbags to open fire while behind him other fighters armed with rocket launchers and machine guns prepared to swing into action.

Elsewhere in Aleppo, five members of the same family, including children, were killed in the eastern Maysar district, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Residents also told AFP that rebel reinforcements were pouring into the eastern district of Sakhur and Shaar.

Yesterday’s death toll also included 11 soldiers who were killed in fighting and rebel attacks in Aleppo province, near the border with Turkey, said the Britainbased Observatory which relies of a network of activists on the ground.

The soldiers, and six rebels, were killed in the Orm and Kaf Jum areas, the monitoring group said, adding that a woman also died in shelling as rebels attacked checkpoints in Abezmo.

“The state has no presence except for military and administrative posts” in the western region of the Aleppo province in northern Syria, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP by telephone.

In Damascus province, three women were among seven people who died when a shell hit a civilian bus and the bodies of six people killed by gunfire were found in the central Qadam neighborhood of the capital, said the Observatory. According to the Local Coordination Committees, the six people were from one family and died at the hands of regime forces.

In the northwest province of Idlib, a Syrian-Arab Red Crescent worker was shot dead along with another man by regime forces, the Observatory said. —- Agencies

Israeli war on Iran will happen: Guards...

Continued from Page 1 He said a war with Israel would contrast with Iran’s last war, the 1980-1988 conflict with Iraq that was characterized by invasion and counter-invasion by massed ground troops.

“We should use the experience of the sacred defense (during the Iran-Iraq war) to prepare for the future war, because its nature will be very different from the previous war,” he said. Fars quoted Jafari as saying that “we are putting all of our efforts into boosting our (military) capability so that, if an aggression occurs, we can defend ourselves and those who need our help.” He added: “We have become more serious in the face of the threats of the enemy against our country.”

Jafari’s abrupt public recognition of the seriousness of the Israeli threat came against the backdrop of military deployments by Iran, Israel and the Jewish state’s ally, Washington.

Iran has held several war games this year, including

one pointedly showing its abilities to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf to oil tanker traffic should it be attacked.

In an annual military parade on Friday, it also displayed several of its missiles, including ballistic weapons capable of striking Israel. Israel on Wednesday staged a surprise drill on the country’s northern border with Syria, Iran’s beleaguered ally. Next month it is to hold missile defense exercises with US forces.

The United States, meanwhile, is leading 30-nation navy manoeuvres in the Gulf and has deployed a squadron of its top-end F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.

In a September 16 news conference, Jafari said Iran’s “declared policy” was to close the Strait of Hormuz if the country came under attack.

He also said that retaliation would target US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates because any Israeli attack could not be carried out “without US permission.”— AFP

14

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Issues

Jailing of Turkish ‘coup plotters’ a warning to army

By Fulya Ozerkan

Turkish court’s landmark conviction of some 300 military officers accused of plotting to oust an elected government sends a stark warning to the armed forces, whose dominance may have reached its end, according to analysts. The civilian court sentenced at least 325 officers to prison terms ranging from 12 to 20 years, at the end of a two-year trial that finally ruled that an army exercise in 2003, named “Sledgehammer,” was an undercover coup plot.

The verdict brought a divided emotional reaction across the political spectrum in Turkey, which has seen four coups in half a century with none of their perpetrators yet convicted. “Even the mightiest of commanders are now being held accountable in courts. That is a positive development,” Deniz Zeyrek, Ankara bureau chief of the daily Radikal, said.

But Zeyrek noted that the process was not perceived as “meticulous enough” by the public, saying the reasons for the court decision should be clearly explained in the justified ruling, which currently remains pending.

Turkey needs to hear the grounds for the conviction of its generals before a judgment on the outcome can be made, a political analyst agreed. “The ruling is a historic turning point, if there really has been a crime which met its punishment,” professor Mensur Akgun from Kultur University said.

“If the legal process failed to operate, then the outcome is disturbing.” The three “masterminds,” former First Army commander Cetin Dogan, former air forces commander Ibrahim Firtina and former naval chief Ozden Ornek initially received aggravated life sentences-the heaviest possible since Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004. But their sentences were immediately commuted to 20 years, on the grounds that their plan to unseat the Islamic-rooted government fell through “due to reasons beyond their control,” the court stated.

Only 36 defendants were acquitted among the 365 suspects, all of them retired or active military officers. The rest were handed at least 12 years in prison for their role in trying to “incapacitate the parliament from functioning by force.”

“The Sledgehammer landed heavily,” read Radikal’s headline yesterday, while the pro-opposition daily Cumhuriyet criticised the ruling with: “Sledgehammer, strike to justice.”

The so-called Sledgehammer plans were first brought to light in January 2010, after leaked army information was publicized by the liberal Taraf daily, which hailed the verdict with the headline: “It is now much more difficult to attempt coups.”

The evidence included documents, diary entries and sound recordings of some of the generals, outlining plans to bomb mosques to provoke internal conflict, as well as to stir chaos with neighboring countries, which would have paved the way for a military takeover to restore peace. The charges triggered a vehement reaction, with defendants openly suggesting that the trial was being used by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to strike down the all-powerful army, the selfappointed guardian of secularism. “I find the verdict too heavy. The accusations are grave, so the ruling needs to be convincing,” Hikmet Sami Turk, former justice and defense minister said.

“I believe such decisions have negative effects on army morale, at such a critical time when there is the Syrian crisis on the doorstep and the Kurdish problem inside the borders.”

Critics have repeatedly claimed the trials are part of a witch-hunt by the government to silence opposition in order to increase its grip. The government, which came to power a year before coup plans were allegedly drafted, gave a cautious initial reaction.

“We need to follow and see the decision of the supreme court of appeals. We all expect a rightful decision to come out from there,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Ankara.

As some raised questions on the shortcomings of the trial, others praised the verdict as a legal victory that could finally put the lid on the military tradition of interfering in politics.

“This decision will put an end to the military tutelage,” Nazli Ilicak, columnist for government-friendly Sabah daily told NTV. But she added, “It is going to be deterring for both civilian and military spheres.” —AFP

A

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

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

Crisis averted; challenges remain

By Dr James J Zogby he crisis created by the film “The Innocence of Muslims” that many feared might spin out of control, seems to be subsiding across the Arab World. The appeal by extremists to escalate the situation appears to have given way to more stable and thoughtful leadership.

Washington acted wisely by not pouring gasoline on the raging flames of unrest. The Administration declined to be provoked by careless partisan attackers into escalating their rhetorical response or engaging in a show of force. Instead, the President dispatched a small force of Marines where they were needed to enhance Embassy protection and spoke firmly and privately to Arab leaders making it clear that swift and decisive action had to be taken to stem the unrest and apprehend those who murdered American personnel and violated US Embassy grounds.

Arab leaders in most countries also refused to be goaded by the extremists (both those who had made the offensive video and those who preyed on alienated and angry youth seeking to exploit the situation for political advantage). In Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, responsible political and religious leaders took steps to restore calm.

But while the crisis was averted, we are not yet “out of the woods”. If anything, the violent riots and the reactions that followed not only unearthed minefields but also revealed deep problems in understanding between America and the Arab and Muslim Worlds.

Most Americans still do not know much about Islam and know even less about the Arab World. And because the US is as deeply engaged as it is in the region, our ignorance remains an enormous liability. A case in point: on last Monday morning, Joe Scarborough, a sometimes thoughtful conservative-leaning television host gave the following explanation for the unrest, “you know why they hate us? I talked to intelligence people all weekend. They hate us because of their religion, they hate us because

T

of their culture, and they hate us because of peer pressure...Think about all the savagery-the unrestrained savagery we have seen across the Middle East and the Arab World because of a crude film...if you scratch the surface, and if you gave every street vendor to prime minister a chance to throw a rock at the US Embassy, they would”.

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, building on this supposed ingrained hostility that exists in “Arab culture” and Islam, proposed that America’s only policy option is to be feared. He argued, as neo-conservatives would, that the reason for the riots was because President Obama had “apologized for America”.

This “displayed weakness”, in effect, giving a green light to the rabble to attack the US. The objectification of all Arabs as a depersonalized mass of seething hatred that can only be controlled by resolve and force is as dumb and dangerous as it is racist. It is also, of course, dead wrong. As our polling makes clear, America’s favorable ratings are, in fact, low across the region because of US policies and not because of Arab religion or culture. Our polls also establish that Arabs like American culture and people and respect American values and accomplishments-but, because of US policies, Arabs are convinced that we don’t like or respect them.

And Arabs, from “the street vendor to the prime minister” are not of one mind. Despite widespread upset with how America treats them, most Arabs were not demonstrating in front of the Embassy or even supportive of these actions. In fact, I will bet Joe Scarborough that on the night when the demonstrations occurred, most Arabs were home eating a meal with their families or watching old movies on their television (a favorite pastime). And that night as they went to bed, most Arabs were not “hating America”. Instead they were worried about their jobs, concerned about their children, and wondering whether they could pay bills at the end of the month.

Just as it would be wrong for some Arabs to generalize that all Americans are opposed to

Islam because some Americans were mobilized against the Park 51 project to build an Islamic Community Center in lower Manhattan; it is equally wrong for Scarborough and company to generalize that those who breached our Embassy compound or those who murdered Chris Stevens represent all Arabs and Muslims.

But if the need to know Arabs, as they really are, and not as bigots or ideologues imagine them to be, remains a serious challenge for Americans, Arabs, too, must be challenged to better understand America and Americans. I was in the Arab World when the crisis first began. Since returning, I have met with a number of visiting Arab delegations and followed the unfolding story in the Arab media. Myths and misunderstandings abound.

Questions I was asked included: “Why wasn’t the film-maker arrested?” “What do you mean you don’t have a law against insulting religion?

Don’t you have a law banning anti-Semitism and denial of the Holocaust?”“Obama is responsible for this, shouldn’t he apologize?”.And more of the same-all displaying a real ignorance of the US Constitution and of American law and culture.

Of course, if the US did have such a law and was not enforcing it, anger might be justified.

But there is no law, nor can there be one. The President condemned the offensive film, but made it clear that the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech. And no law can be passed to abridge that freedom, no matter how badly it is abused. Some European countries may have a ban on “Holocaust denial”. The US does not. Anti-Semitism is also not prohibited by law in the US. In the end, the defense against racist or bigoted speech is in the court of public opinion-not in a court of law. While Jews, African Americans, and others have been able to effectively mobilize public opinion making it unacceptable to use bigoted language against their groups, Arabs and Muslims are still new at this effort. Progress has been made. Though still plagued by bias, there is a significant and growing body of supporters who will speak out

against offensive anti-Arab and anti-Muslim speech. And they do, on a regular basis.

The US does have laws against “hate crimes” that punish acts of violence or threats of violence that involve bias. And law enforcement agencies have been quite effective in punishing individuals who commit such crimes against Arabs and Muslims.

I get ugly hate mail every day-this is repugnant, but not a crime. But when they include a threat, then it is against the law. Since 9/11, the Department of Justice and the FBI have apprehended, convicted, and imprisoned three individuals who threatened my life because I am an Arab American advocate.

Our polling of American public opinion makes clear the challenges Arabs and Muslims still face in the US. Opinion is not monolithic.

There are majorities of Democrats, young people, and other minority communities very supportive of our communities. But there are other groups that still need to be educated or shamed into silence. There is work to be done.

Work, I would add, that is only made more difficult by the scenes of rioters, et al -that only serve to feed the racist stereotypes of the “imagined Arabs”.

So here we are, two weeks after the explosion. Because of some good work done, a deeper crisis was averted. But real dangers remain.

New governments in the Arab World face the challenge of growing their economies and creating jobs and opportunities for a burgeoning youth population. They must also establish effective governance, free of corruption, that can provide services and create confidence.

Here in the US we must bury the neo-conservative fantasies that caused so much damage in the past and find ways to constructively and respectfully engage the Arab World and its people. And both of us, Arabs and Americans alike, must acknowledge how little we know of each other and take the necessary steps to increase mutual understanding.

—Dr James J Zogby is President, Arab American Institute.

Romney can still win, but it won’t be easy

By John Whitesides he last few weeks have been ugly for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney.

A flat Republican convention, a fumbled response to unrest in the Middle East, reports of discord within his campaign and a secretly taped video of Romney deriding 47 percent of US voters have left his team reeling - and has many Republicans fearing doom in the Nov. 6 election. There’s more.

Democratic President Barack Obama has opened a slight lead over Romney in national polls, and new surveys indicate that Obama has a significant edge where it matters most: in Ohio, Virginia and Florida, the most coveted of nine politically divided “swing” states that are crucial to cobbling together the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.

So, seven weeks before the election, is it already over for Mitt Romney?

Not yet. Despite the serial gaffes and the many questions about his campaign, Romney remains within striking range of the president.

The former Massachusetts governor still has time to change the trajectory of the race even though he has not shown an ability to do so for the past several months, as he has cast Obama as a failure in overseeing a struggling economy. There are three presidential debates in October, and Romney who during the past month lightened his campaign schedule in favor of debate practices - clearly is pointing toward the showdowns with Obama as a chance to show Americans he is a better bet to turn things around.

Obama remains vulnerable thanks to a

T

stubbornly high 8.1 percent unemployment rate, tepid economic growth and big majorities of voters who believe the United States is on the wrong track.

“Romney just came out of one of the worst months in presidential politics in recent memory, and he’s hanging right in there,” Republican strategist Rich Galen said. “If I was one of Obama’s guys in Chicago, I’d be thinking: ‘What does it take to get rid of this guy?’

million. A Republican convention dedicated to humanizing Romney appeared to have no lasting impact on voters. The video of Romney denigrating Obama’s supporters as not paying income taxes and living off government handouts reinforced Democrats’ message that Romney is an out-of-touch rich guy.

To have any hope of beating Obama, Romney must project a warmer image, ana-

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney, greets campaign volunteers at a phone banking center in Las Vegas. —AP file photo He won’t go away.”

Romney still faces huge challenges.

Surveys indicate most Americans see Obama as relating to their concerns better than Romney, a former private equity executive with an estimated fortune of up to $250

lysts say.

Romney appeared to be trying to do that late on Wednesday in Florida, where he softened his tone on Obama’s healthcare overhaul and on illegal immigration, and told Univision that “this is a campaign about the

100 percent.” The comments came as his campaign opened a new assault on Obama that aimed to cast the president as wanting to redistribute wealth from rich Americans to the less fortunate.

“The question for Romney is whether he can do what he so far has not been able to do, which is turn around his personal image and make people more comfortable with him,” said pollster Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center. A Reuters/Ipsos poll this week found more than 40 percent of voters viewed Romney less favorably after seeing the “47 percent” video. A USA Today/Gallup poll found the video made almost one-third of independents less likely to vote for him.

“Romney’s likability is still not great.

People don’t see him as credible, he’s not seen as empathetic,” Kohut said. “He’s got to find a way to overcome all those things.” As his campaign has struggled, there has been no shortage of advice from prominent Republicans, many of whom have urged him to be tougher on Obama and more specific on his plans. In a Wall Street Journal column on Thursday, Republican strategist Karl Rove wrote that “Romney has had a bad week but he can recover - if he tells voters more clearly what he would do as president.”

A gaffe-free closing stretch from the sometimes awkward Romney is another key.

“I think it would really help if he stops making mistakes,” Galen said. The stakes will be enormous at the first presidential debate on Oct. 3 in Denver. It will focus on the economy and set the narrative for the final month of the campaign. “Romney will have his best chance to paint a vivid and compelling picture of a brighter economic future,” Republican pollster Whit Ayres said. —Reuters

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

sp orts Bolt joins cause for track athletes

Millar slams doping amnesty VALKENBURG: British rider David Millar, banned for two years in 2004 for doping, has lambasted proposals to implement an amnesty for drug takers in a bid to clean up the sport. Cycling was rocked last month when the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said it was stripping Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles after the American said he would not contest doping charges made against him.

Since Alberto Contador failed a dope test following his 2010 Tour victory, the sport had looked to be making progress in its long fight against doping.

The idea of holding a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” of sorts has been suggested but an amnesty for wrongdoers who come forward and give evidence does not appeal to Millar. “If you did something wrong there needs to be some culpability,” he told reporters yesterday.

“We can’t just say let’s draw a line now and pretend nothing happened in the past because things happened in the past. We have to accept where we’ve been and where we are now, that’s the only way to move forward.

The 35-year-old Garmin-Sharp rider, a BBC commentator at this week’s road world championships and also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency athletes’ commission, has made much of being a reformed character. “It didn’t do me any harm being banned for two years. I sorted my life out,” he said. “The reason the sport is so clean now is because of the culture shift.” —Reuters

Azarenka eyes Tokyo challenge

COLORADO: Jamaican Olympic champion Usain Bolt is among those joining a group of US track and field athletes fighting a rule that bars Olympians from using their names or likenesses for advertising during the Games.

The Track and Field Athletes Association, which includes high-profile American runners such as Sanya Richards-Ross and Bernard Lagat, announced Friday it had added international athletes.

The athletes are opposed to Rule 40, an International Olympic Committee rule that prohibits Olympic athletes from advertising in the days leading up to and during the Games.

In welcoming Bolt, Yohan Blake, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 800-meter world record holder David Rudisha and 19 others from around the world, TFAA president Khadevis Robinson said, “in order to grow our sport, we must establish a unified voice across the international community of athletes.”

Asked about the issue at the US Olympic Committee assembly Friday, CEO Scott Blackmun said he was sympathetic to what the athletes are trying to do.

“We’d like to find ways for the athletes to benefit from their success at the Olympic Games,” Blackmun said. “We also understand there’s a critical need to protect the exclusivity” of the Olympic brand. —AP

TOKYO: Victoria Azarenka is hoping to bounce back from her heartbreaking defeat at the US Open final and cement her place at the top of the world rankings at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo starting today.

The Belarusian, who was left in tears after losing to Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows earlier this month, said she has turned her focus to the $2.17 million title in a strong field, including Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska, the world numbers two and three. “I am looking forward to starting this tournament,” the 23-year-old top seed said. It features 19 of the top 20 seeded players, with just fourth placed Serena Williams absent. When asked whether her physical and mental fitness has improved since the New York tournament, the Australian Open winner responded: “I don’t think so. It’s been too quick.”

She added: “It was a great tournament for me, the US Open. It was so close. I had a great experience there, absolutely no regrets. But I cannot wait to play these last tournaments as well as I can.”

Crowd favourite Sharapova, the French Open winner and silver medallist at the London Olympics, will be looking to avenge her US Open semi-final defeat to Azarenka and win back the title she held in both 2005 and 2009. “To be back here... healthy and as the number two in the world, (I am) really looking forward to it,” she said. Radwanska returns to the Japanese tournament as the defending champion, after reaching her first Grand Slam final this year at Wimbledon, where she also lost to Williams. —AFP

Phillies inch closer to NL playoff PHILADELPHIA: Kevin Frandsen hit one of Philadelphia’s four solo homers to back Kyle Kendrick, and the Phillies inched closer in the NL playoff race with a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and Chase Utley also went deep for the resurgent Phillies, who pulled within three games of St. Louis for the league’s second wild-card spot with their fourth straight win. Milwaukee and Los Angeles also stand in Philadelphia’s way with 11 games remaining.

Despite the loss, the Braves remain in excellent position to secure a postseason berth , leading the NL wildcard race ahead of St. Louis. Kendrick (10-11) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out six.

He is 6-2 with a 2.17 ERA since Aug. 14.

NEW YORK: Yankees’ Curtis Granderson hits a sacrifice fly off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker in the fourth inning of a baseball game. —AP

Yankees edge Athletics NEW YORK: Russell Martin homered in the 10th inning against Sean Doolittle, and the AL East-leading New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 2-1 Friday night for their sixth straight win.

Brandon Moss hit a towering drive to right off Rafael Soriano with one out in the ninth to spoil a dominant three-hit outing

by Yankees ace CC Sabathia, stunning the boisterous crowd of 40,759. It was Soriano’s fourth blown save in 46 chances.

New York maintained its one-game lead over second-place Baltimore, which won 42 at Boston. The A’s, losers of four of five, dropped one game behind the Orioles for the top spot in the wild-card standings.

Yankees slugger Curtis Granderson had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and Ichiro Suzuki continued his torrid pace with two more hits.

Martin’s second game-ending homer this season gave the Yankees their ninth win in 11 games. David Robertson (2-7) pitched a perfect 10th for the victory.

Doolittle (1-1) pitched the ninth before giving up Martin’s homer on an 0-1 pitch.

Orioles 4, Red Sox 2 In Boston, Matt Wieters drove in three runs, Miguel Gonzalez pitched 6 1-3 solid innings and the Orioles remained one game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. The Orioles also moved one game ahead of Oakland for the top wild-card spot. Jon Lester (9-13) lost for the first time in his 21 career starts against Baltimore. He had been 14-0, the longest winning streak against the Orioles franchise for a pitcher at the start of his career since at least 1901. It had been the longest current winning streak by an active pitcher against any team. But he’s 0-1 in his last four starts against them, all Orioles victories.

Gonzalez (7-4) allowed two runs and seven hits as the Orioles improved to 6-1 this season at Fenway Park. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his club-record 46th save.

Rays 12, Blue Jays 1 In St, Petersburg, James Shields pitched seven shutout innings and Tampa Bay’s suddenly potent offense scored runs in bunches to help the Rays continue an uphill battle to remain in playoff contention. Ben Zobrist and Jose Molina homered in support of Shields (15-9), who limited the Blue Jays to six singles and struck out nine to reach 200 for the second straight year.

He fanned JP Arencibia leading off the second inning, giving the Rays the American League single-season record for strikeouts.

Luke Scott drove in four runs with a pair of doubles for the Rays, who pulled within 41/2 games of Oakland for the second AL wild card.

Zobrist hit a solo homer in the first and Molina had a two-run shot in the second

against Carlos Villanueva (7-6), who allowed seven runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings.

Royals 6, Indians 3 In Kansas City, Luis Mendoza pitched into the seventh inning in his first start since a bout of flu, leading Kansas City to the victory.

Mike Moustakas and Brayan Pena each drove in two runs for the Royals, who have won three straight and four of six. Mendoza wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and allowed two runs and eight hits in six-plus innings.

The Indians have lost 40 of 52 games since July 26 when they were 50-49 and trailed AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox by 31/2 games. They have lost six straight against Kansas City and eight of nine overall in the season series.

Mendoza (8-9), who was scratched from a Wednesday start with the illness, struck out three and walked two. Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 15th save in 18 opportunities. Justin Masterson (11-15) lost his third straight start. He was charged with four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Angels 6, White Sox 2 In Anaheim, Ervin Santana struck out 11 while pitching seven innings of two-hit ball and the Angels gained ground in the playoff race. Mike Trout and Kendrys Morales homered for Los Angeles, which pulled within 31/2 games of Oakland for the second AL wild card.

Chicago’s lead in the AL Central was trimmed to 11/2 games over second-place Detroit, which had its series opener against Minnesota postponed by rain. White Sox starter Jake Peavy (11-12) gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings.

Alejandro De Aza got the White Sox off to a fast start with a leadoff homer in the first, but Santana (9-12) quickly recovered and retired 21 of his final 23 batters.

Ramirez’s 11 strikeouts matched a career high and he only walked one while throwing 108 pitches.

Mariners 6, Rangers 3 In Seattle, Miguel Olivo hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to help Seattle stop a four-game slide. Justin Smoak had three hits and scored two runs for the Mariners, who had dropped six of seven overall. Carlos Triunfel hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the fourth and eventually came around to score on an error by third baseman Michael Young.

Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma (7-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth for his 28th save in 32 chances.

David Murphy had three hits and drove in three runs for Texas, which remained four games ahead of Oakland in the AL West. Rangers starter Martin Perez (1-2) gave up three runs and six hits in four

Brewers 4, Nationals 2 In Washington, Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez had consecutive RBI hits in the ninth inning off Nationals closer Tyler Clippard and the Brewers extended their season-high winning streak to six games with a win over the Nationals.

The victory combined with a St. Louis loss moved the Brewers within 1 1/2 games of the Cardinals for the final wild card berth in the National League. Held to one run over eight innings against Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, the Brewers scored three against Clippard (2-6). Norichika Aoki led off with bunt single, took second on a passed ball by catcher Jesus Flores and moved to third on Rickie Weeks’ fly ball out.

Braun followed with a single to left, scoring Aoki. He then stole second and came around to score the go-ahead run on Ramirez’s double to left. Ramirez scored on Travis Ishikawa’s infield single. Jose Veras (54) worked one inning in relief and John Axford pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

CUBS 5, CARDINALS 4 In Chicago, Darwin Barney spoiled Chris Carpenter’s season debut with a two-run, game-tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning, and David DeJesus hit a game-ending single in the 11th to help the Cubs beat the Cardinals. DeJesus hit an 0-2 pitch off of Joe Kelly (5-6) to right field to score pinch-runner Brett Jackson. Alberto Cabrera (1-1) struck out two in a perfect 11th to earn his first career victory. Carpenter allowed two runs over five innings and was in line for the win before Barney’s late home run.

Dodgers 3, Reds 1 In Cincinnati, Matt Kemp’s two-out single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning sent the Dodgers to a victory that denied the Reds’ first chance to clinch the NL Central.

The Dodgers won for only the fifth time in 15 games, moving two games behind St. Louis for the final NL wild card. They also trail Milwaukee by a half-game.

Cincinnati was trying to lock up its second division title in three years without manager Dusty Baker, still in a Chicago hospital with an irregular heartbeat.

The Dodgers loaded the bases off Sam LeCure (3-3). Sean Marshall got ahead 0-2 in the count to Kemp, who singled to right for his third hit. Ronald Belisario (8-1) pitched two perfect innings for Los Angeles, fanning five.

Mets 7, Marlins 3 In New York, the Mets managed to avoid falling into last place in the NL East, beating the cellar-dwelling Marlins behind a big game by Scott Hairston.

New York, which also got a solo homer from Ike Davis, had lost nine straight at home since beating Houston on Aug. 26.

The Mets won for only the fifth time in their last 30 games at Citi Field and ended a team-record streak of 16 home games without scoring more than three runs.

Hairston hit a two-run homer and an RBI triple.

Jonathon Niese (12-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings as New York won for just the second time in 12 games overall. Jacob Turner (1-3) gave up six runs - three earned - and eight hits in five innings.

eight strikeouts in five innings. He is 0-5 in eight career major league starts.

D’backs 15, Rockies 5 In Denver, rookie Wade Miley pitched six innings for his 16th win, Chris Johnson homered among his three hits and drove in three runs, and the Diamondbacks beat the slumping Rockies.

Miguel Montero had three hits and three RBIs, and Adam Eaton added a home run for the Diamondbacks, who set season-highs with 15 runs and 19 hits. Wilin Rosario had two hits for the Rockies, who have lost seven straight. Colorado needs to win five of its remaining 12 games to avoid losing 100 games for the first time in the franchise’s 20year history. Miley (16-10) is the second rookie NL pitcher since 1986 to win 16 games, according to the Diamondbacks. Jason

ATLANTA: Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon (58) high-fives catcher Erik Kratz (31) after their tenth inning 8-5 win against the Atlanta Braves as Phillies’ Kevin Frandsen (28) and Cliff Lee (33) also celebrate. —AP Astros 7, Pirates 1 In Houston, Jed Lowrie hit a three-run homer and Justin Maxwell and Brett Wallace added solo shots to help the Astros coast to a win over Pittsburgh, further dampening the Pirates already dim postseason hopes. The Pirates couldn’t find much offense as they lost their fourth straight game to fall to six games back for the second NL wild card spot. They’ve lost 16 of their last 20 games in this late-season swoon to fall to 74-76.

Houston starter Edgar Gonzalez lasted just 1 2-3 innings before leaving with a strained right hamstring. That forced the Astros to use six different relievers to cobble together the rest of the game. The bullpen combined to fan 11 and allow six hits. Fernando Rodriguez (210) struck out four in 3 1-3 innings for the win.

Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke (0-2) yielded three hits and three runs with a career-high

Jennings also won 16 for Colorado in 2002 when he was named the NL Rookie of the Year.

Giants 5, Padres 1 In San Francisco, Buster Posey hit a tiebreaking RBI single on the night he received a prestigious award and the Giants reduced their magic number for clinching the NL West to two with a victory over the Padres. Posey was honored in a pregame ceremony with the “Willie Mac” award as the most inspirational player on the team. He then delivered another big hit when he drove in Marco Scutaro with a single off Casey Kelly (2-2) that gave San Francisco a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. That helped Ryan Vogelsong (139) match his career high in wins and put the Giants in position to clinch a division title late yesterday. —AP

Storm blow away Silver Stars SEATTLE: Katie Smith scored 16 points, Lauren Jackson became the fourth WNBA player to reach 6,000 career points, and the Seattle Storm beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 84-75 on Friday night.

Ann Wauters added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Camille Little and Sue Bird each had 12 for the Storm (15-18). Jackson finished with 11 points and now has 6,003.

Danielle Adams had 16 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio (20-13), and Sophia Young added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Storm scored the first four points of the game and led all the way, increasing the advantage to 21 in the second quarter.

The Silver Stars pulled to 79-75 on a 3-pointer

by Shemeka Christon with 39 seconds left in the game. However, they didn’t score again and Seattle hit five free throws to seal the win.

Lynx 89, Mercury 66 At Phoenix, Maya Moore scored 13 of her 21 points in the first half as Minnesota cruised past Phoenix. Seimone Augustus added 16 points

and four assists for defending champion Minnesota (27-6). The Lynx, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, open the playoffs at home against Seattle next Friday.

DeWanna Bonner scored 17 points for

Katie Smith in action in this file photo.

Phoenix (7-26), which matched the franchise record for losses in a season, set in 2003. The Mercury finish the season Sunday against the Storm. The Lynx played their starters into the third quarter, extending their lead to 33 after leading 51-34 at the break.

Fever 66, Mystics 53 At Washington, Erin Phillips scored a seasonhigh 19 points as Indiana pulled away in the second half. Jessica Davenport added 14 to help the Fever (21-12) end its three-game losing streak.

Indiana also reached 21 wins for the seventh time in the last eight years.

Monique Currie scored 16 points to lead lastplace Washington (5-28). Phillips, starting in place of the injured Briann January, scored 11 of her points in the third quarter as Indiana extended a two-point halftime lead to 12 points heading to the fourth. The Mystics pulled to 54-47 on a 3-pointer by Jasmine Thomas early in the last quarter, but Indiana soon went on a 6-0 run and Washington got no closer than within 11 the rest of the way. —AP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

sp orts

Hamilton on pole for Singapore Grand Prix SINGAPORE: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth pole position of the season in Singapore Grand Prix qualifying yesterday to strengthen his bid for a second world title.

The Briton settled a thrilling session with a lightning lap of 1min 46.362sec early in Q3 which proved uncatchable by the other drivers. The 2008 champion was nearly half-a-second quicker than Pastor Maldonado of Williams.

Red Bull’s defending world champion Sebastian Vettel will be on the second row of the grid for Sunday’s race alongside Jenson Button, Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate.

Championship leader Fernando Alonso settled for fifth, Force India’s Paul di Resta was sixth, Mark Webber was seventh and Romain Grosjean of Lotus, back from a one-race ban over a crash in Belgium, survived some hairy moments to claim eighth.

Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher and

Nico Rosberg opted to preserve their tyres for the race and spent most of Q3 in the garage, settling for ninth and 10th places respectively.

Hamilton trails Alonso by 37 points heading into the last seven races, but Saturday’s performance underlines form that has won him two of the last three grands prix-despite intense speculation over his future. “It’s an incredibly tough circuit for tyre degradation,” said the Briton, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes.

“I think everyone’s going to struggle with that. We just want to get away well at the start (on Sunday) and continue with the strategy we’ve planned.”

Grosjean was quickest in Q1 ahead of di Resta, former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel and Hamilton, who seemed untroubled by a bumpy run over the chicane curbs.

Bruno Senna also escaped serious damage when he clipped a barrier after

SINGAPORE: McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain races his car during the qualifying session of Formula One’s Singapore Grand Prix night race. — AFP

running wide to overtake a slower car. But the Williams driver lasted just a few minutes of Q2 before a similar mistake loosened a rear wheel and put him out.

Grosjean had a close call when he

knocked a barrier early in Q2, but reemerged to continue the session after a check by his pit mechanics.

Seven-time world champion Schumacher escaped elimination in his

last lap of the session to time ninth quickest. Hamilton led Q2 ahead of Vettel, Webber, Grosjean and Alonso, with Raikkonen surprisingly missing Q3. In the top-10 shoot-out, Hamilton came out flying to take the early lead and his time was never challenged. Grosjean flirted with another bump and Hamilton also veered dangerously close to the barriers in the closing seconds.

“That means I’m using all the road,” Hamilton said. “I didn’t mean to and I didn’t feel it-hopefully it hasn’t caused any damage.”

Marussia’s French driver Charles Pic was handed a 20-second penalty for overtaking under a red flag during Saturday’s free practice. And officials were investigating an impeding incident involving Webber and Marussia’s Timo Glock.

Separately, officials also announced a five-year extension guaranteeing the race until 2017, after lengthy contract negotiations. — AFP

Preview

Gilbert, Boonen lead charge into world cycling road race VALKENBURG: Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen will lead a powerful Belgian team as the world championship road race takes centre stage on the roads around Valkenburg today. “No other team will be as strong as Belgium with Tom as a sprinter and myself as an attacker,” boasted Gilbert ahead of the 267km race over rolling terrain on the final day of the one-week championships. Gilbert will definitely fancy his chances on a route very similar to that used for the Amstel Gold Race one-day classic, which he has won twice in 2010 and 2011 before finishing sixth in 2012.

The difference is the finish line, which comes after the climb to Cauberg and is 1.8km further ahead after an initial 500m ascent before 1.3km of flat sprinting which makes Gilbert’s task that much harder to hold off the speedsters in the peloton. “It will be another kind of race,” warned Gilbert. “No-one is going to go flat out to Cauberg in order to retain energy for the final 2km.”

The attacking riders or punchers will need to be wary of the sprinters who possess climbing skills and will try to stay in touch over the Valkenburg climbs that will come into play over 10 laps of the 16.5km circuit which is proceeded by 100km of racing across several Limburg municipalities.

Defending champion Mark Cavendish is being given little chance of retaining the rainbow jersey, while Britain’s team come into the race with little left in the tank and Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and runner-up Chris Froome feeling the effects of an exhausting season. The pick of the sprinters is Boonen, who was very much the man in form early in the season and his victory during the Paris-Brussels race underlines his credentials as not only a sprinter but a strong one-day racer as he chases a second world crown seven years on from his triumph on the roads of Madrid.

“Boonen is not just a sprinter,” warned French hope Thomas Vockler, who also has championship credentials after a strong season, including two stage wins on the Tour de France and winner of the climber’s polka-dot jersey.

Other contenders to look for are Slovakian champion Peter Sagan, who picked up three stage wins on the Tour and finished third at Cauberg during the Amstel Gold Cup race.

Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway is another rider who will like the conditions and his outright speed has brought him into the frame as another potential champion on Sunday. The weather may also play havoc with the race with the possibility that national teams will build their strategy around their punchers such as Simon Gerrans of Australia (winner of the Quebec GP), Russia’s Alexandr Kolobnev or the Italian duo of Moreno Moser and Vincenzo Nibali. While Belgium may have the strongest team on paper, the Spaniards will be also be near the front as Tour of Spain winner Alberto Contador makes his return to the race following suspension and is well-supported by Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez and 2008 Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez. Three-time world champion and 36-year-old veteran Oscar Freire will take inspiration from Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov who won the Olympic gold medal at 39. — AFP

SPARTA: Joey Coulter (left) and Johnny Sauter (right) lead the field at the start of the NASCAR Trucks Series auto race. (Inset) James Buescher hoists the trophy — AP

Buescher wins at Kentucky SPARTA: Once the smoke cleared, James Buescher made sure the field knew his truck was the strongest. Again. Buescher won the wreck-filled NASCAR Trucks race Friday night to complete a Kentucky Speedway season sweep, using strong pit stops and restarts to stay in contention before pulling away en route to his fourth victory of the year.

Buescher moved up a spot to second place in the season standings, four points behind rookie Ty Dillon. Parker Kligerman was second in the race, and Dillon finished third.

“Once we got this Chevy up front, it was on kill,” said Buescher, who led three times for 64 laps after starting eighth. Buescher also won at the track in June.

Though Buescher seemed to have a strong truck, he had to wait a while before showing it dominance. That’s because the first half of the race featured five cautions totaling 34 laps, denying many of the contenders the long green-flag runs they wanted.

One of the incidents collected championship contender Timothy Peters, who fell one spot to third and 22 points behind Dillon. Peters took several hits on lap 55, first from Max Gresham and then from rookie John King after his No. 17 Toyota drifted down on the apron, impact that lifted the truck off its wheels.

Kligerman brought out a caution on the 81st lap when he got close to the left rear of John Wes Townley in the fourth turn,

avoiding contact but not trouble as he spun out. But soon after the restar t, Kligerman was back in the top 10 and managed a runner-up finish.

“We got what we needed on fuel stops,” Kligerman said. “We were so loose on restarts it really stopped us from stamping our authority.” Pole-sitter Joey Coulter was fourth, and Brian Scott fifth. Coulter set the early pace, though Buescher made his first charge to run second by lap 14.

That’s when the madness began, as Todd Bodine spun without contact coming out of turn 4. Things reshuffled quickly soon after on lap 21 as Johnny Sauter blew a tire and collected Tim George Jr. and Bodine, whose No. 11 Toyota sustained heavy damage and did not return. The sec-

Hsieh lifts Guangzhou title

Lee surges into Japan Open final TOKYO: Lee Chong Wei will meet Thailand’s unseeded Boonsak Ponsana in the final of the Japan Open after the two-time champion breezed past Simon Santoso yesterday. The top seed and Olympic silver medallist, winner in

JAPAN: Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia tries to return a shot against Simon Santoso of Indonesia during their men’s singles semi-finals at the Japan Open badminton tournament in Tokyo. — AFP

Japan in 2007 and 2010, needed just over 30 minutes to see off the third seed 21-7, 21-17 in a one-sided semi-final.

“Simon seemed not to play his best. He made too many mistakes, especially in the first game, so I just needed to play my game,” said Malaysian Lee, 29.

“My next opponent tomorrow is also a veteran player.

Currently, me and Lin Dan are leading the world, but I’m sure younger players will be coming up very soon.”

Indonesia’s Santoso admitted: “I was completely beaten today. I can read the course of his shuttle, but he was much more speedy and powerful. Hopefully, I can beat Lee and Lin Dan and win a big tournament like this.”

Lin, along with the rest of the China team, is not in Tokyo after they boycotted the tournament over a diplomatic wrangle.

Boonsak set up today’s showdown with Lee after he defeated the unseeded Hu Yun of Hong Kong 21-17, 17-21, 21-19. “It was really tough. I’m very tired,” said Boonsak.

“I attacked very well in the first game and put a lot of pressure on him. But I rushed too much to attack in the second game. In the final game, I tried to make a chance to attack. I was confident to beat him.” Reflecting on his final opponent, the unseeded Boonsak said: “He plays very fast and controls the game very well. It will be very difficult. I lost to him many times, but I defeated him twice before. I will do my best.”

In the women’s draw, Eriko Hirose, the unseeded home hope who eliminated fourth seed Bae Yeon-Ju of South Korea on Friday, pulled off another upset by beating sixth seed Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand 21-19, 21-13.

“I’ve never beaten her before, so I’m really happy to win today. My goal is to win a title in the Superseries. I have one more match to go. I’m going to concentrate on each point to win the title,” said Hirose. Hirose will play Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan in the final. Tai, the fifth seed, defeated second-seeded Sung Ji-Hyun of South Korea 16-21, 21-13, 21-17. — AFP

ond caution lasted 12 laps as crews cleaned up debris.

Scott led the restart but Buescher won a door-to-door battle on the low side to take the lead with Nelson Piquet squeezing through for third. But then another yellow flag followed, as rookie Bryan Silas spun and brushed the turn 2 wall. Ryan Blaney, the 18-year-old who became the series’ youngest winner last week at Iowa Speedway, finished 11th after starting 16th.

He struggled to get through the mess, but stayed out during the fourth caution caused by Brennan Newberry’s wreck in the backstretch and led on the restart at lap 50. Blaney cracked the top 10 late in the race before falling back. Only 14 of 36 trucks finished on the lead lap. — AP

GUANGZHOU: Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh lifts the trophy after beating Briton’s Laura Robson in the WTA Guangzhou Open final.—AFP

BEIJING: Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh beat Briton Laura Robson in the WTA Guangzhou Open final yesterday, ending the teenager’s attempt to become the first British woman to win a main tour title in 24 years.

Hsieh won the match 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 48 minutes, leaving the 18-year-old Robson still waiting for a maiden tour win. Robson, the world No.74, had defeated Chinese second seed Zheng Jie and Romanian third seed Sorana Cirstea on her way to becoming the first British woman to reach a main tour final since 1990. But her attempt to follow up her Olympic mixed doubles silver with compatriot Andy Murray by taking her first senior tour title ended in failure.

She broke early on in the first set but her opponent hit back with a run of games to take a 5-2 lead, and Robson committed three double faults before finally holding serve in the eighth game. Hsieh wrapped up the set in 49 minutes. At first it was a similar story in the second set, with Robson breaking first but the 26-year-old Taiwanese, the world No.53, again hitting back with two breaks of her own. Left-handed Robson looked to be on the ropes but fought long and hard to hold serve in the ninth game, saving several championship points.

She then won the next three games, including two breaks, to finally take the set 7-5 after a one-hour, seven-minute struggle and send the match into a decider. A brief suspension for hot conditions did little to dispel Robson’s new-found momentum, and yet again she broke first, building up a 3-0 lead only for the Taiwanese to break back twice and draw ahead, an advantage she never surrendered. The win gave Hsieh the second WTA title of her career and made her one of only two players from Taiwan, officially referred to in competition as Chinese Taipei, ever to win a WTA title. Nonetheless British tennis appears to be in a historic purple patch, with Murray’s triumph at the US Open earlier this month making him the first men’s winner of a Grand Slam tournament in 76 years.

Reaching the final in Guangzhou was a landmark in a superb season for Australian-born Robson, who also made an impressive run to the last 16 of the US Open, beating Kim Clijsters and Li Na. —AFP

17

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

S P ORT S

Australia advance after rain-hit Windies match

PRATTVILLE: Lexi Thompson watches her drive from the 18th tee during second round play in the Navistar LPGA Classic golf tournament. —AP

Lexi remains on top in Alabama PRATTVILLE: Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Navistar LPGA Classic.

The 17-year-old Thompson had a 12under 132 total on the links-style Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill complex. She matched the tournament record Thursday with a career-best 63.

“I played pretty consistent today,” Thompson said. “I hit a few squirrely iron shots that I wasn’t happy with, but overall I played consistent. My putting has gotten a lot better.

“It’s all about confidence really and just getting up to it and saying to yourself, you’re going to make the putt. That’s all I’m doing really, just getting a line and commit to it.”

Last year, Thompson became the youngest champion in LPGA Tour history at age 16, winning by five strokes.

Fifteen-year-old amateur Lydia Ko broke the record last month in the Canadian Women’s Open. Mindy Kim and Mi Jung Hur were a stroke back. They played in the same group and each shot 65. Kim and Hur also missed late chances to tie Thompson. Hur missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 eighth, their 17th hole of the day, and Kim missed a 6-footer on the par-4 ninth.

Kim started the day with five straight

birdies and had eight overall, along with a bogey. “My putter was really hot today, right off the get-go,” Kim said. “I’m just really excited to be in this position. I haven’t been in this position for a while, so hopefully I can play some good golf on the weekend.”

So was Hur, who said it’s been a “long time, no see” as far as her name being on any leaderboard, and she didn’t figure this would be the day to change that.

She woke up feeling lousy, still suffering from a cold she got earlier this week after playing in the cold at the Women’s British Open.

But Hur also started the second round with five straight birdies and felt better in a hurry. “After I made the third birdie, I was feeling much better,” she said. “It was a pretty fantastic round with (Kim). We had a really great round together.”

Dori Carter was two strokes back at 10 under along with Hee Young Park and Lizette Salas. Carter had a 67, and Park and Salas shot 69.

“It wasn’t the best ball-striking day for me, but I saved pars when I needed to and I just rolled in a couple birdies,” Salas said. “Bogey-free round. I just kept steady, didn’t force anything.”

Top-ranked Yani Tseng was 3 under after a 70. Michelle Wie missed the cut by a stroke, shooting a 73 to finish at even par. —AP

Furyk takes charge at Tour Championship ATLANTA: Veteran Jim Furyk, hunting his first PGA Tour victory in two years, took advantage of a sizzling start to grab a one-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the elite Tour Championship.

While tournament favorite Rory McIlroy carded a two-under-par 68 to stay on track for FedExCup playoff honors and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million, Furyk birdied seven of the first 10 holes on the way to a best-of-the week 64.

On a steamy day at East Lake Golf Club, American Furyk scorched the front nine in six-under 29 with a stunning display of pinpoint approach shots before finding the going much tougher after the turn. He offset birdies at the 10th, 15th and 17th with bogeys at the 13th, 16th and parthree last to post a seven-under total of 133 in the PGA Tour’s fourth and final playoff event.

“To be able to write ‘three’ on your card nine times in the first 11 holes was a lot of fun,” a smiling Furyk, 42, told reporters.

“I struggled to kind of keep that momentum going the last six holes, but I feel like I played a real solid round of golf.

My iron game was as good as it’s been all year on the front nine.

“I’ve got myself in good position for the weekend, and I’m a lot closer to the top of the (FedExCup) leaderboard than I was starting on Thursday. I’m in good spirits.”

Britain’s Justin Rose, co-leader overnight with twice winner Tiger Woods in the elite 30-man field after opening with a 66, was alone in second place after sinking a five-foot birdie putt at the last for a 68. Masters champion Bubba Watson birdied two of the last three holes for a 66 to finish at five-under, level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (68) and one ahead of Dustin Johnson (67) and Matt Kuchar (69), also of the United States.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts, was a further stroke back at three-under while Woods battled to a 73 for a one-under

total.

“I didn’t play very good today,” Woods said after recording his worst score at East Lake since he opened 75-76 at the 1998 Tour Championship. “Didn’t hit it very good, and definitely didn’t putt well, so it was a struggle all day.

“But I’m still right there. This is a golf course that is playing tough but some of the pins are pretty accessible. You’ve got to get the ball on the fairway.”

Furyk has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he clinched the Tour Championship and FedExCup honors in 2010 and to complete the ‘double’ this week he needs a lot to go his way.

Among several requirements, FedExCup points leader McIlroy would have to finish 12th or worse and secondranked Woods fifth or worse.

Any of the top five players in the standings would secure the playoff title by winning the Tour Championship today — and that quintet comprises McIlroy and Americans Woods, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker.

However, McIlroy remained in overall control of FedExCup honors after eagling the par-five 15th on the way to a 68 that also included a birdie and a bogey.

“I’m only four shots back, so I’ve still got a good chance going into the weekend,” the 23-year-old said. “First and foremost, I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really think about anything else.

“If it comes down to it on Sunday where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, then if I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedExCup or trying to win the golf tournament, I think I know what I’m going to choose.

“But we just have to play until we reach that point. At the minute, I’m just concentrating on trying to play as well as I can.” —Reuters

COLOMBO: Australia qualified for the Super Eights round of the World Twenty20 by defeating the West Indies in a rain-interrupted Group B match in Colombo yesterday.

Australia, chasing a challenging target of 192, were 100-1 in 9.1 overs when heavy rain forced the match to be called off in front of 18,000 fans at the Premadasa stadium.

The Aussies, who were ahead of the par score of 83 at that stage, won by 17 runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Australia’s second successive win-they beat Ireland by seven wickets on Wednesdayleaves the West Indies and Ireland battling for the other Super Eights spot from the group on Monday.

The weather ruined a keen finish with Australia edging ahead, needing 92 more from 65 balls with nine wickets in hand.

David Warner hit 28 in an opening stand of 30 with Shane Watson, before Mike Hussey joined Watson to add 70 in 42 balls for the unbroken second wicket. Watson was unbeaten on 41 off 24 balls with three sixes and two boundaries. Hussey was on 28 with three fours and a six.

Earlier, the West Indies posted 191-8 following attacking half-centuries from Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. Left-handed Gayle smashed 54 off 33 balls and Samuels plundered 50 from 32 balls after the West Indies elected to bat in their first match of the tournament.

Sri Lankan fans were treated to a flurry of strokes as Gayle hit four sixes and five boundaries and Samuels chipped in with four sixes and three fours.

Australia rued a dropped catch at third man by Watson when Gayle was on four, as the opener pounded young fast bowler Pat Cummins for 18 runs in the fifth over.

When Gayle reached his half-century off 26 balls in the eighth over, the West Indies had moved to a promising 80-2. He put on 39 in 23 balls for the second wicket with Johnson Charles (16) and 46 for the third with Samuels.

Watson avenged his error by holding a high return catch to dismiss Gayle off the first ball of the 11th over, but Samuels took over to destroy the Australian bowling. —AFP

COLOMBO: West Indies’ batsman Marion Samuels plays a shot during their ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match against Australia. —AP

Scoreboard COLOMBO: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 group B match between Australia and the West Indies at the Premadasa stadium yesterday.

West Indies: D. Smith b Starc 2 C. Gayle c and b Watson 54 J. Charles b Christian 16 M. Samuels c Warner b Hogg 50 D. Bravo b Cummins 27 K. Pollard c Hussey b Watson 10 D. Sammy c Warner b Starc 12 D. Ramdin b Starc 3 R. Rampaul not out 0 S. Narine not out 4 Extras: (lb10, w2, nb1) 13 Total (for eight wickets, 20 overs) 191 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Smith), 2-47 (Charles), 3-93 (Gayle), 4-140 (Samuels), 5-162 (Pollard), 6-171 (Bravo), 7-187 (Sammy), 8-187 (Ramdin).

Bowling: Watson 4-0-29-2 (w1), Starc 4-0-35-3 (w1), Cummins 4-1-41-1 (nb1), Christian 3-0-29-1, Hogg 4-0-30-1, Maxwell 1-0-17-0.

Australia: D. Warner c Ramdin b Edwards 28 S. Watson not out 41 M. Hussey not out 28 Extras: (w1, nb2) 3 Total (for one wicket, 9.1 overs) 100 Fall of wicket: 1-30 (Warner).

Bowling: Edwards 2-0-16-1 (w1), Rampaul 1.1-0-23-0 (nb1), Narine 2-0-16-0 (nb1), Sammy 2-0-15-0, Samuels 1-0-22-0, Bravo 1-0-8-0 Australia won by 17 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method).

SA upstages Sri Lanka in rain-shortened match HAMBANTOTA: South Africa beat hosts Sri Lanka by a convincing 32 run margin in a rainshortened seven-over-a-side World Twenty20 Group C match here yesterday.

South Africa were good with both bat and ball as their pacemen never allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen to chase a daunting 79-run target.

Skipper AB de Villiers smashed two sixes and a boundary during his 13-ball 30 while Hamshim Amla (16) and Faf du Plessis (13) were the other main run contributors in a total of 78-4 after South Africa were sent in to bat.

Sri Lanka were without their ace spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took 6-8 in their win over Zimbabwe, after suffering from a side strain.

Heavy rain delayed the start by two and a half hours as a sell-out 35,000 crowd waited anxiously for action and although they got it late the fireworks in a shorter game gave them some consolation.

Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, losing star duo Tillakaratne Dilshan (nought) and Mahela Jayawardene (four) in the first two overs. Dale Steyn was South Africa’s best bowler with 2-10. Dilshan Munaweera and Kumar Sangakkara both made 13.

De Villiers said his team was ready for the next round. “Beating Sri Lanka is nice because they are one of the top teams and now we are ready for the Super Eights, we didn’t take anything for granted and it was nice to win,” said the South African captain.

Jayawardene said it was tough in a reduced match. “It is always tough in a rain reduced match. We were without Mendis because we didn’t want to take risk with important matches coming up,” said Jayawardene. “We must improve our fielding.”

South Africa, who finished top of the group, and Sri Lanka qualified for the Super Eight rounds. Both had beaten Zimbabwe in their opening matches.

Sri Lanka will be in group one of the Super Eights while South Africa will be in group two, regarded as the group of death with India, Australia and Pakistan likely to be the other teams. —AFP

HAMBANTOTA: Sri Lanka’s batsman Dilshan Munaweera (right) bats as South Africa’s captain AB de Villiers (left) watches during a ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Cup match.

—AP

Scoreboard HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: Scoreboard of the World Twenty20 group C match between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Hambantota yesterday.

South Africa R. Levi c Munaweera b Kulasekara 4 Hashim Amla st Sangakkara b Herath 16 Faf du Plessis c J. Mendis b Perera 13 AB de Villiers c J. Mendis b Malinga 30 JP Duminy not out 12 A. Morkel not out 0 Extras: (lb1, w2) 3 Total: (for four wickets, seven overs) 78 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Levi), 2-27 (Amla), 3-65 (de Villiers), 4-68 (du Plessis).

Bowling: Kulasekara 1-0-9-1, Malinga 2-0-27-1 (w2), Herath 2-0-21-1, Mathews 1-0-8-0, Perera 1-0-12-1

Sri Lanka M. Jayawardene c Behardien b Steyn 4 T. Dilshan run out 0 D. Munaweera c Behardien b A Morkel 13 K. Sangakkara c de Villiers b Kallis 13 T. Perera c Duminy b Steyn 1 J. Mendis not out 7 L. Thirimanne not out 5 Extras: (lb1, w2) 3 Total: (for five wickets, seven overs) 46 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Dilshan), 2-8 (Jayawardene), 3-30 (Sangakkara), 4-32 (Perera), 5-40 (Munaweera).

Bowling: M Morkel 2-0-9-0, Steyn 2-0-10-2 (w1), Botha 1-0-9-0, Kallis 1-0-9-1, A Morkel 1-0-8-1 Result: South Africa won by 32 runs

KQMMC announces 2013 schedule

Sheikh Ali Al-Fawaz Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: Secretary General of the Kuwait Quarter Miles Motorsports Club Sheikh Ali Al-Fawaz Al-Sabah announced the schedule for 2013 season which will be ‘different but packed’ with activities compared to previous seasons, in a press statement released recently.

In addition to local competitions to be organized by the club, the activities also include hosting international tournaments in Kuwait. Following the meetings since last June, the KQMMC agreed to

host several international competitions under the umbrellas of the KIM and the FIA”, Sheikh Ali said.

Sheikh Ali said that Kuwait will host the International Asian Motocross Championship, the first of its kind to be held in the Gulf and Middle East regions.

The KQMMC also will host the 2013 Kuwait Rally, one of the Middle East Rally rounds.

The KQMMC is a founding member of the ‘GCC Speed Race Grand Prix’ which

kicks off in January 2013. Sheikh Ali indicated, that the race will be held as per the ADRL regulations. KQMMC members are also preparing to represent Kuwait in different competitions including the Bahrain Speed Race Grand Prix, the Qatar Speed Race Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Speed Race Grand Prix, the Saudi Arabia Speed Race Grand Prix, as well as taking part in the 2013 Middle East Rally rounds in Jordan, Cyprus, and Dubai. Meanwhile, racer Nasser Al-Mutairi will participate in

the Asian International Drifting competition, which takes place in Philippines, Bangkok and Thailand.

Local competitions for the 2013 season take place between October and April, and include the Kuwait Rally, the Kuwait Motocross Championship, the Kuwait ATV Championship, as well as competitions for karting, auto test, speed test, drifting, autocross and four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The KQMMC also hosts festivals for classic cars, Sheikh Ali added.

18

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

sp orts

Bayern on top, Dortmund lose

BASTIA: Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) vies with Bastia’s French midfielder Julian Palmieri during the French Ligue 1 football match. —AFP

Ibrahimovic brace cheers PSG PARIS: A brace from star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped to propel Paris Saint Germain to a 4-0 romp at Bastia yesterday as the capital club moved into provisional third spot in Ligue 1.

A flurry of early draws have held up PSG’s assault on the summit currently occupied by Marseille, who were three points ahead of their traditional rivals ahead of a home meeting with Evian on Sunday. But they were well on their way to a third straight victory once Jeremy Menez eased them in front in the seventh minute before Ibrahimovic struck five minutes before half-time.

Blaise Matuide added a third to kill off Bastia with 18 minutes remaining before Ibrahimovic delivered the coup de grace in the final minute.

The Swede insisted the match had not been a stroll in the park, however, as PSG moved onto 12 points from six games.

“It was 4-0 - but not easy,” he said.

“People were saying it was easy after we beat Kiev (4-1 in the Champions League) in midweek. But it wasn’t. You still have to go out there and do things on the pitch. We were playing a good team.

“But we got the four goals and I am playing better and better - against Kiev I was a little tired.”

As PSG gather steam, defending champions Montpellier will wish they could find similar form which has proved elusive so far this term.

The southerners were held to a 1-1 draw by Saint Etienne on Friday, bringing

an end to a frustrating week where they had suffered two successive defeats.

Beaten 3-1 by promoted Reims seven days ago, and then 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Montpellier needed a secondhalf equaliser from veteran Senegalese international striker Souleymane Camara to salvage a point. In the 69th minute, Anthony Mounier’s cross was cleared but Remy Cabella picked up the loose ball to put Camara through for the goal.

Saint Etienne had gone ahead in the third minute of injury time at the end of the first half when Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed his fourth goal of the season.

Montpellier boss Rene Girard was furious that his team had to play on Friday just 48 hours after the Arsenal game. “I am not paranoid. I simply say that it’s a question of fairness. We played Arsenal, one of the best sides in Europe; we did not play Pink Floyd of Kiev,” said Girard.

Montpellier are 14th in the table with just five points, already ten off the pace.

Later yesterday, unbeaten Lorient were hoping to close within one point of Marseille with a home success over Nice while Toulouse, hosting Rennes, and Valenciennes, at Brest, were eying a move into the top four.

Lyon, currently second two points off the top, are in action Sunday at midtable Lille, while Bordeaux - one of five unbeaten sides to date - host Ajaccio looking to go level on points with PSG. —AFP

Preview

Mancini warns City to fear Arsenal challenge MANCHESTER: Roberto Mancini has warned his Manchester City stars that Arsenal are real contenders for the Premier League title and pose a serious threat to the champions at Eastlands today.

City suffered a disappointing draw with Stoke last weekend and then crashed to a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Spanish champions Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. They go into today’s game hoping to get back to winning ways, but Mancini is expecting a tough test against a team who has been in good form of late despite losing Robin van Persie and Alex Song last month. “I don’t think we have an easy game,” Mancini said. “When you start the season after a European Championship, you have problems with some injuries.

I don’t think it will be easy. It is important that we do a good performance.

“I think Arsenal can compete for the title. I don’t know if they are better than last year but there is less pressure than last year.

“They have lost two or three important players but I am sure they will play for the title. “Arsenal have good players, Manchester City the same. It is a good game for people who come.”

One of City’s ex-Gunners, Samir Nasri, will miss the game with a hamstring injury suffered in Madrid, but Argentina striker Sergio Aguero could feature despite not making an appearance from the bench in Spain after recovering from a knee injury.

Mario Balotelli is also set to be included in the squad following his omission in midweek and reports of a bust-up between the Italian striker and Mancini. “I don’t think Samir will be ready for today, I hope for the next game,” Mancini said. “Sergio is fit. We are unlucky because I wanted to put him on at the Bernabeu but we had two injuries.” Arsenal’s campaign has

taken a significant upturn after successive goalless draws in the opening two games of the season prompted early mutterings about the club’s prospects.

Last weekend’s impressive 6-1 home defeat of Southampton has diminished fears that Arsene Wenger’s side will not be able to compensate for the loss of van Persie’s goals and, while the midweek Champions League victory in Montpellier was no stroll, it nonetheless provided the Gunners with their third successive victory.

Winning at Eastlands will prove far harder, but three points on Sunday would intensify the optimism that is slowly growing at Arsenal and Wenger believes this game will provide a clear indication of his side’s title credentials.

“It will tell us a lot about our quality.

How we handle the big games will decide how well we do in the championship,” Wenger said. “That is why it is an interesting weekend for us. “I have no doubt about the desire and hunger of my squad. It will just tell you how strong we are at the moment. “I believe we are quite strong but we have some room for improvement. — AFP

BERLIN: Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller fired Bayern Munich back to the top of the Bundelsiga yesterday with a 2-0 win at Schalke while champions Borussia Dortmund saw their 31-match unbeaten run ended

by Hamburg.

Bayern clinched a fourth win in four matches and reclaimed top spot on goal difference from Eintracht Frankfurt, who also have a perfect 12 points following their 2-1 win at Nuremburg on Friday.

Yesterday marked the start of Oktober fest in Munich, the world’s largest beer festival, and Bayern celebrated in style despite missing French star Franck Ribery, sidelined with a thigh injury. Both Bayern’s goals came in the space of three minutes in the second half.

Kroos, who was on the scoresheet in the 2-1 win over Valencia in the Champions League in midweek, found the target after 55 minutes with a right-foot drive. Then Mueller doubled the lead in the 58th minute after a maz y run to delight veteran coach Jupp Heynckes.

“It’s very gratifying to have a five-point gap (over Dortmund) but the championship is a 34match marathon,” said Heynckes, with Bayern on the crest of a wave having won all seven of their matches to date in all competitions for their best ever start.

Meanwhile, Dortmund’s 31match unbeaten run came to an end in a shock 3-2 loss at struggling Hamburg, who registered their first league win of the season. The star for Hamburg was South Korea’s Son Heung-Min, who scored twice.

Son grabbed the opener after just two minutes and a

goals in the 46th and 59th minutes. The champions now stand fourth in the table and coach Juergen Klopp lamented their poor early play. “ We made a very poor start - that wasn’t in the plan. And they made the most of their chances. But we will keep plugging away,” he said.

Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink, who had been under pressure to deliver after three

MADRID: Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is certain he will manage again in England once his time at the Bernabeu comes to an end.

The Portuguese, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, said it did not matter which Premier League club he would return to despite his affection for the Blues.

“I cannot deny what is clear in my mind.

After Real Madrid, England. That is for sure,” the former Porto and Inter Milan coach told Britain’s Sky Sports Television yesterday.

Asked which team he would like to join, he added: “In England, everyone. I’m a blue, I’m a London blue but I’m a professional.”

The idea of replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who has been in charge since 1986 and was due to retire in 2002 but changed his mind, has long appealed to the confident Portuguese manager. Chelsea remain his true love though and he has previously stated he will return to Stamford Bridge one day. Mourinho fears they will badly miss striker Didier Drogba this term after the Ivorian, matchwinner in the Champions League final in May, left for Shanghai Shenhua. “I believe Drogba is a big difference to them. You can’t replace Drogba,” he said, aware that Fernando Torres has been hit-andmiss so far this term as Chelsea’s lone striker.

“Chelsea will miss Drogba and it will mean a few points less.” — Reuters

Matches on TV (Local Timings) English Premier League Liverpool v Man United Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

15:30

Newcastle v Norwich Abu Dhabi Sports HD 4

17:00

Tottenham v QPR Abu Dhabi Sports HD 6

18:00

Man City v Arsenal Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

18:00

Spanish League Rayo v Real Madrid Aljazeera Sport +2

22:30

Italian League Udinese v AC Milan Aljazeera Sport +1

16:00

Inter v Siena Aljazeera Sport +7

18:00

Lazio v Genoa Aljazeera Sport +1

21:45

Werder Bremen v Stuttgart Aljazeera Sport +5

straight losses, said he believed his men may have turned the corner.

“We turned in an efficient showing today and it’s great to get this boost,” said Fink. Mainz

Bremen.

Third-placed Hanover travel to rock-bottom Hoffenheim, who have lost all four matches, conceding 12 goals. On Friday, goals from Austrian striker

GERMANY: Schalke’s Ibrahim Afellay of the Netherlands (center) challenges for the ball with Bayern’s Luiz Gustavo of Brazil (left) and Bayern’s Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland (right) during the German First Division Bundesliga soccer match. —AP

Mourinho will return to England ‘for sure’

German League Leverkusen v Borussia Dubai Sports 4 Roberto Mancini

second-his team’s third-just before the hour mark. Ivo Ilicevic had added a second for Hamburg in the 55th minute while Croatia’s Ivan Perisic scored both of Dor tmund’s

16:30 18:30

also claimed their first win of the season, beating Augsburg 2-0. Fortuna Duesseldorf were held 0-0 by Freiburg while Wolfsburg claimed a point in a 1-1 draw with promoted Greuther Fuerth thanks to an equaliser from Croat veteran Ivica Olic. Today, Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Ruhr derby while second from bottom Stuttgart travel to Werder

Erwin Hoffer and Japanese midfielder Takashi Inui had fired newly-promoted Eintracht Frankfurt briefly top of the table with a 2-1 win at Nuremberg.

The 25-year-old Hoffer, on loan from Serie A side Napoli, put the visitors ahead after 25 minutes when he picked up a corner from the right off Inui to fire into the net on front of a crowd of 45,000 at the Nuremberg Stadium. —AFP

Preview

Fergie calls for calm ahead of Liverpool showdown LIVERPOOL: Sir Alex Ferguson has called for calm ahead of Manchester United’s emotionally-charged clash against bitter rivals Liverpool today.

United manager Ferguson is well aware that the eyes of the football world will be on Anfield this weekend for the 186th installment of the English game’s most volatile grudge match.

The fixture marks Liverpool’s first home match since the publication of an explosive report into the Hillsborough disaster which saw 96 Reds fans killed due to crushing at an FA Cup semi-final in 1989.

Hillsborough remains a hugely sensitive issue for Liverpool fans and feelings are still running high after the report proved that the authorities engaged in a cover-up in a bid to blame the tragedy on drunken supporters.

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 could do the same at Anfield and potentially spark serious crowd disorder.

There is also the potential for another ugly meeting between Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and United defender Patrice Evra.

Suarez served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra during a Premier League match at Anfield last October and the pair clashed again when the sides met at Old Trafford later in the season.

With such a tense build-up to the game, Ferguson has written a letter that will be distributed to all United fans at Anfield in which he warned them not to drag the club’s name through the mud.

“Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honor for so long,” Ferguson wrote.

“It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just 10 days ago, we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back. “What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game.

“Our great club stands with our great neighbours Liverpool today to remember that loss and pay tribute to their campaign for justice. I know I can count on you to stand with us in the best traditions of the best fans in the game.”

While Ferguson is keen to show respect to Liverpool’s cause, he has no intention of allowing the occasion to distract him from the task of ending United’s poor run at Anfield.

United have not won at Liverpool since 2007 and have picked up just a solitary point in their last four visits, as well as crashing out of the FA Cup there last

season. It is a record Ferguson is keen to improve so that his side can keep on the tails of early league leaders Chelsea. “It’s similar to when I came down here and we couldn’t win the league but could beat Liverpool,” Ferguson said. “The motivation leans on the side of Liverpool, particularly at Anfield.

“The crowd get behind them. They make it a real competition in terms of challenges and tackles.” Ferguson, who will be without injured forwards Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, also called for Liverpool to be patient with new boss Brendan Rodgers even though they could fall into the bottom three this weekend.

“He’s a young manager, any young manager needs time. In the modern world you don’t get all that time,” Ferguson said. “We’re in an age where patience is not a realistic thing. It’s just not there.”

Rodgers is confident the game will pass off without incident. “ There is respect in terms of the traditions of both clubs,” he said. “I am sure once we pay the tributes to the families we can get on with the football. A lot of work has been done and hopefully Sunday will pass off peacefully and well and we can talk about the tributes and football.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard urged his side to get up for their biggest game so far this season and get Rodgers’ first league win.

“For me, it’s the biggest game in the

Sir Alex Ferguson world because the Premier League is the biggest league in the world and these are the two most successful clubs,” Gerrard said. “I’m not being biased when I say that - I think Liverpool versus Man United is the biggest game. Maybe Barcelona and Madrid is up there close to that, but for me it’s still this one.

“It’s a massive game - we’re looking for our first league win of the season and there would be no-one better for us to get a win against.” —AFP

19

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

SPORTS

Lambert answers Saints’ prayers

Soccer results/standings Chelsea 1 (Cole 85) Stoke 0; Southampton 4 (Lambert 58, 90-pen, Clyne 63, Clark 72-og) Aston Villa 1 (Bent 36); Swansea 0 Everton 3 (Anichebe 21, Mirallas 43, Fellaini 82); West Brom 1 (Lukaku 71) Reading 0; West Ham 1 (Nolan 90) Sunderland 1 (Fletcher 9); Wigan 1 (Kone 90) Fulham 2 (Rodallega 31, Duff 68).

Playing tomorrow Liverpool v Man Utd, Newcastle v Norwich, Man City v Arsenal, Tottenham v QPR. English Football League results Championship Crystal Palace 3 Cardiff 2; Derby 1 Burnley 2; Ipswich 1 Charlton 2; Leeds 2 Nottingham Forest 1; Millwall 1 Brighton 2; Peterborough 0 Wolves 2; Sheffield Wednesday 1 Bolton 2; Watford 2 Bristol City 2.

Playing later Birmingham v Barnsley

Wycombe 0 AFC Wimbledon 1; York 0 Cheltenham 0.

Scottish Premier League results Celtic 2 (Hooper 43, Wanyama 49) Dundee 0; Dundee Utd 0 Hearts 3 (Paterson 28, 61, Novikovas 30); Hibernian 2 (Doyle 23, Wotherspoon 31) Inverness CT 2 (Pepper 39, Foran 81); Kilmarnock 3 (Sheridan 26, Fowler 57, Dayton 61) St Mirren 1 (McGowan 83); Ross County 1 (Morrow 68) St Johnstone 2 (Craig 30, Wright 86).

Playing today Aberdeen v Motherwell Scottish Football League results First Division Dumbarton 3 Hamilton 3; Dunfermline 4 Livingston 0; Falkirk 1 Airdrie 1; Morton 1 Raith 0; Partick 2 Cowdenbeath 1.

Second Division Albion 4 Stenhousemuir 4; Alloa 3 Stranraer 0; Arbroath 1 Forfar 1; Brechin 0 Queen of the South 3; East Fife 2 Ayr 3.

Playing today Leicester v Hull Playing tomorrow Blackpool v Huddersfield Division One Brentford 1 Oldham 0; Bury 1 Milton Keynes Dons 4; Coventry 1 Carlisle 2; Crawley 2 Tranmere 5; Crewe 1 Leyton Orient 1; Doncaster 1 Stevenage 1; Hartlepool 2 Shrewsbury 2; Notts County 3 Portsmouth 0; Scunthorpe 1 Colchester 0; Swindon 4 Bournemouth 0; Walsall 3 Preston 1; Yeovil 0 Sheffield Utd 1.

Division Two Accrington 1 Aldershot 0; Barnet 0 Rotherham 0; Bristol Rovers 0 Fleetwood 0; Morecambe 2 Plymouth 3; Northampton 0 Chesterfield 0; Oxford 0 Bradford 2; Port Vale 0 Gillingham 2; Rochdale 2 Dagenham and Redbridge 2; Southend 2 Exeter 1; Torquay 1 Burton 1;

Third Division Annan Athletic 2 Peterhead 1; Berwick 4 Stirling 1; East Stirling 3 Clyde 0; Elgin 0 Queen’s Park 4.

Playing today Rangers v Montrose German League results Mainz 05 2 (Ivanschitz 10, Szalai 26) FC Augsburg 0; Hamburg 3 (Son 2, 59, Ilicevic 55) Borussia Dortmund 2 (Perisic 46, 60); Fortuna Dusseldorf 0 SC Freiburg 0; Schalke 04 0 Bayern Munich 2 (Kroos 55, Mueller 58); VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Olic 42) Furth 1 (Pogatetz 27-og).

Playing today Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Moenchengladbach; Werder Bremen v VfB Stuttgart; Hoffenheim v Hanover.

English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Chelsea Everton West Brom Fulham Man Utd Arsenal Man City West Ham Swansea Tottenham Newcastle Sunderland Stoke Aston Villa Wigan Norwich Southampton Liverpool QPR Reading

5 5 5 5 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 5 4 4 4

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

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

0 9 2 13 1 9 5 10 1 7 4 10 2 12 7 9 1 10 5 9 0 8 1 8 0 9 6 8 1 5 4 8 2 10 7 7 1 6 5 5 1 5 6 5 0 4 4 4 1 4 5 4 3 5 9 4 3 5 10 4 1 2 7 3 4 9 15 3 2 3 8 2 2 2 9 2 3 4 9 1

English Football League tables Championship Brighton 7 5 1 1 Blackburn 7 4 2 1 Blackpool 6 4 1 1 Hull 6 4 1 1 Wolves 7 4 1 2 Cardiff 7 4 1 2 Middlesbrough 7 4 0 3 Huddersfield 6 3 2 1 Bristol City 7 3 1 3 Nottingham 7 2 4 1 Leeds 7 3 1 3 Bolton 7 3 1 3 Crystal 7 3 1 3 Leicester 6 3 0 3 Burnley 7 3 0 4 Derby 7 2 2 3 Birmingham 6 2 2 2 Charlton 7 2 2 3 Watford 7 2 1 4 Sheffield 7 2 1 4 Barnsley 6 2 1 3 Millwall 7 2 0 5 Ipswich 7 1 2 4 Peterborough 7 0 0 7

14 15 15 11 11 12 11 9 15 10 12 10 11 8 13 12 8 8 9 11 6 9 5 5

4 11 4 5 7 9 12 5 13 9 12 11 13 7 13 11 9 9 13 16 11 15 15 16

16 14 13 13 13 13 12 11 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 7 6 5 0

Division One Tranmere Notts County Stevenage Milton Swindon Sheffield Utd Walsall Crawley Town Brentford Carlisle Preston Doncaster Yeovil Leyton Orient Crewe Shrewsbury Bournemouth Scunthorpe Oldham Hartlepool Portsmouth Colchester Coventry Bury

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 8 8 8 8

6 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

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

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

21 15 12 11 13 11 11 10 12 11 14 9 11 8 8 11 10 5 5 6 10 5 7 6

4 7 7 5 8 7 11 13 9 12 9 6 10 7 11 10 15 13 8 12 15 12 15 16

20 17 16 14 14 14 14 13 12 12 11 11 10 10 10 9 8 8 6 6 5 4 3 3

Division Two Gillingham Port Vale Exeter Bradford Fleetwood Accrington Burton Albion Southend Northampton Rochdale Cheltenham

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

7 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3

1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 3

0 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2

17 21 17 16 12 12 15 12 10 12 9

4 11 11 10 7 9 11 10 8 11 10

22 16 16 16 14 14 13 13 12 12 12

Rotherham Chesterfield Torquay York Plymouth Oxford Utd Morecambe Aldershot AFC Wimbledon Wycombe Dagenham Bristol Rovers Barnet

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8

3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1 0 0 0

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

Scottish Premier League table Motherwell 6 3 3 Hibernian 7 3 3 Celtic 6 3 2 Kilmarnock 7 2 3 Hearts 7 2 3 St Mirren 7 2 3 Dundee Utd 6 2 2 Ross County 7 1 5 St Johnstone 7 2 2 Aberdeen 6 1 4 Inverness CT 7 0 5 Dundee 7 1 1

3 1 1 2 3 5 4 4 5 5 4 3 6

14 12 9 13 9 10 12 7 8 7 7 4 3

12 10 7 13 12 16 15 10 18 11 13 13 16

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

10 5 12 11 10 12 11 7 11 9 7 9 8 6 9 9 8 9 7 6 8 3 3 8 6 9 8 3 3 7 11 16 5 2 10 4

Aston Villa 1

SOUTHAMPTON: Rickie Lambert struck twice as Southampton beat Aston Villa 4-1 at St Mary’s yesterday for their first Premier League points of the season.

The early pressure on Saints manager Nigel Adkins, whose newly promoted side kicked off bottom of the table following four straight defeats, increased when England striker Darren Bent gave Villa a 36th-minute lead. But striker Lambert started the south coast club’s second half recovery before Nathaniel Clyne and an own goal from Ciaran Clark saw the hosts turn the match on its head.

Lambert then scored his fourth league goal of the season from the penalty spot in added time as Southampton, who had a tough start to the season with matches against last season’s top three, won at last.

Villa were outplayed throughout but the manner of their second half capitulation was particular cause for concern for manager Paul Lambert.

Adkins responded to his side’s disappointing start by replacing Kelvin Davis, the goalkeeper, with Paulo Gazzaniga, who was handed his Premier League debut following his pre-season move from fourth tier Gillingham. For 36 minutes, the 20year-old Argentine was barely troubled as he acclimatised to his new surroundings. Southampton were the more dominant team during the opening period and, while they struggled to create many clear chances, they controlled the midfield.

LONDON: Southampton’s Rickie Lambert (right) celebrates scoring against Aston Villa with teammate Jason Puncheon during the English Premier League soccer match.—AP Saints captain Adam Lallana, called up into the last England squad, made a series of promising breaks on the left. And it was from one such move that the midfielder released Rickie Lambert, who curled a right foot shot wide after breaking to the edge of the Villa area.

Adkins also handed first Premier League starts to Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida following their arrival towards the end of the transfer window. Ramirez was brought in from Genoa for a club record £12 million and quickly demonstrated his ability to drive forward from deep, shooting wide after attacking the heart of Villa’s back-four.

Then Lallana finally forced a save

from Brad Guzan with an overhead kick as the frequency of Southampton’s attacks began to mount. For Villa, Stephen Ireland attempted to provide a link to the front two of Bent and Christian Benteke but the visitors struggled to make inroads until they were gifted the lead. Daniel Fox, the Saints left back, failed to prevent Bent reaching a far post cross with the ball breaking to Ireland on the edge of the area.

Then Fox was guilty of switching off completely, allowing Bent to steal in and divert Ireland’s shot past Gazzaniga from just five yards out.

Southampton clearly needed to raise their game after the break if they were to force their way back

15 15 12 7 11 8 6 5 5 4

3 3 8 4 10 9 10 11 12 18

18 15 11 10 9 7 5 5 3 1

Second Division Queen of South Forfar Arbroath Alloa Stenhousemuir Albion Brechin Stranraer Ayr East Fife

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0

1 1 2 1 3 1 0 2 1 2

0 1 1 2 1 3 4 3 4 4

16 13 11 12 11 8 5 5 10 5

2 5 12 7 11 11 11 11 16 10

16 13 11 10 9 7 6 5 4 2

Third Division Queens Park Peterhead Elgin Rangers Clyde Berwick Annan Athletic East Stirling Montrose Stirling

6 6 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 6

4 3 3 2 3 2 2 2 1 1

1 1 1 3 0 2 2 0 2 0

1 2 2 0 3 2 2 4 2 5

11 8 10 13 6 11 7 8 7 9

4 13 6 10 11 10 5 9 9 9 8 8 10 8 15 6 8 5 14 3

4 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

0 0 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0

0 14 2 12 0 11 4 12 0 9 4 7 1 8 5 7 1 7 5 7 1 6 5 7 0 2 0 6 1 6 6 5 1 2 5 5 1 4 4 4 2 4 5 4 2 2 6 4 2 5 5 3 2 3 5 3 3 5 8 3 3 1 7 1 2 1 7 1 3 4 11 0

into the game and Lallana and Lambert combined to raise home hopes. Lallana worked his way down the right hand flank before picking out Lambert, who created space before beating Guzan with a low drive in the 58th minute.

Southampton’s tails were up and Clyne added the second in the 63rd minute after neat interplay between Lambert and Ramirez. Then Jason Puncheon confirmed the home side’s superiority with an angled finish that went in off Clark. The game was effectively over but there was more misery for Villa when Guzan brought down Saints substitute Emmanuel Mayuka and Lambert scored his second from the spot.-—AFP

Lukaku strike lifts Albion

11 11 11 10 9 9 8 8 7 4 4 4 2

Scottish Football League tables First Division Partick 6 6 0 0 Dunfermline 6 5 0 1 Morton 6 3 2 1 Raith 6 3 1 2 Cowdenbeath 6 3 0 3 Airdrie Utd 6 2 1 3 Falkirk 6 1 2 3 Livingston 6 1 2 3 Hamilton 6 0 3 3 Dumbarton 6 0 1 5

German League table Bayern Munich 4 Eintracht 4 Hanover 3 Dortmund 4 Schalke 4 Nuremberg 4 Dusseldorf 4 SC Freiburg 4 Wolfsburg 4 Borussia 3 Mainz 4 Furth 4 Werder Bremen 3 Bayer 3 Hamburg 4 FC Augsburg 4 Stuttgart 3 Hoffenheim 3

Southampton 4

LONDON: West Ham United’s Winston Reid and Sunderland’s Steven Fletcher (top) battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match at Upton Park.—AP

Nolan rescues Hammers West Ham 1

Sunderland 1

LONDON: Kevin Nolan rescued West Ham as the midfielder’s last-gasp equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw against Sunderland yesterday. Sam Allardyce’s side were moments away from their first home defeat of the season after Steven Fletcher’s first half goal put Sunderland in control at Upton Park.

But captain Nolan kept his cool to rifle home his third goal of the season just as time was running out for the hosts, who are now unbeaten in their last three Premier League games.

It was a frustrating finale for Sunderland and Martin O’Neill’s team are still waiting for their first league win of the season after four successive draws.

Sunderland had taken the lead after just nine minutes as Scotland striker Fletcher claimed his fourth goal in four games since his £12 million move from Wolves.

Sebastian Larsson pounced on James Collins’ scuffed clearance and lofted the ball back over his head for Fletcher, who cleverly worked space to drill a low shot past Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

West Ham came close to an equaliser after 23 minutes when Nolan’s shot on the turn was blocked and Matt Taylor turned the ball back in for Ricardo Vaz Te, whose far-post header was just wide. The hosts threatened again through Mark Noble, who turned to shoot wide from Carlton Cole’s flick. Vaz Te then combined with Guy Demel to reach the byline and pick out Nolan, whose acrobatic volley was well saved by Simon Mignolet.

Substitute Matt Jarvis teed up Joey O’Brien for a second half shot that was saved by Mignolet and he then caused more panic in the Sunderland box with another teasing cross which earned a corner. From Noble’s delivery, Collins rose well but planted his header onto the bar. West Ham’s pressure finally paid off in the fourth minute of stoppage-time. Noble launched the ball forward and Jarvis hooked it back to Modibo Maiga, who headed down to Nolan and the former Newcastle star volleyed past Mignolet.—AFP

BIRMINGHAM: West Bromwich Albion climbed to third place in the West Brom 1 Premier League as Romelu Lukaku’s goal clinched a 10 win over Reading yesterday. Steve Clarke’s side Reading 0 maintained their 100 percent home record so far this season thanks to onloan Chelsea striker Lukaku, who bagged the winner midway through the second half at the Hawthorns. Lukaku’s goal ensured Albion won their opening three home fixtures of a top-flight campaign for the first time in 58 years and also pushed Reading to the bottom of the table after their fifth game without a victory. Albion started brightly and Chris Brunt’s long-range effort drew a fine stop from Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Reading threatened for the first time when Garath McCleary attempted an overhead kick which contained plenty of power but flew straight at Ben Foster. Clarke’s team remained the more potent force and Jonas Olsson’s header hit the angle of bar and post from a Brunt corner just before the break. McCarthy had to be alert to push away a fierce dipping volley from James Morrison as West Brom kept pressing in the second half. West Brom fans chanted for Shane Long to be introduced and Clarke took notice, sending on the Irish striker after 65 minutes. Just six minutes later the switch paid off as Long played his part in the winner against his former club.

Graham Dorrans’ cross was knocked back by Long to Belgian forward Lukaku, who steadied himself before driving a low shot past McCarthy. Reading tried to respond but the closest they came to an equaliser was a header from substitute Hal Robson-Kanu which looped over the bar. —AFP

Celtic back on track GLASGOW: Reigning Scottish Premier League champions Celtic returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at home to bottom of the table Dundee yesterday.

Beaten by St Johnstone in a shock upset last weekend, and held to a goalless draw by Benfica upon their return to the Champions League in midweek, Celtic moved to within a point of leaders Motherwell thanks to goals from Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama.

Hooper put Celtic ahead shortly before half-time and four minutes into the second half Wanyama’s long range shot doubled Celtic’s lead to the delight of the Parkhead faithful. Only a superb display by Dundee’s former Celtic keeper Robert Douglas kept the hosts to two goals.

With Motherwell not playing Aberdeen until today, Hibernian missed the chance to go top after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Goals from Eoin Doyle and David Wotherspoon put Hibs on top before Conor Pepper pulled one back for Caley ahead of Richie Foran’s late equaliser.

Meanwhile, promoted Ross County’s 40-

match unbeaten run was brought to an end

by St Johnstone, who won 2-1 at Victoria Park despite being reduced to 10 men.

Liam Craig gave Saints the lead before the Perth side saw Rowan Vine sent off for an off the ball incident with Richard Brittain.

County levelled thanks to Sam Morrow’s 68th minute goal before, five minutes from time, Frazer Wright headed in St Johnstone’s winner following a corner.

Teenager Callum Paterson scored his first senior goals as Hearts beat Dundee United 30 at Tannadice for their first win since the opening day of the season.

The 17-year-old, who had been converted into a striker by Hearts manager John McGlynn, gave the Jambos a 28th-minute lead with a 20-yard strike and sealed victory when he he seized on a loose back pass by Sean Dillon.

In between those goals, Arvydas Novikovas made it 2-0 with a swerving shot as Hearts bounced back from successive defeats by Dundee and St Mirren.

Kilmarnock defeated St Mirren 3-1 at Rugby Park. —AFP

LONDON: West Bromwich Albion’s Gareth McAuley (rear) and Reading’s Adam Le Fondre battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match.—AP

Parma grab late equaliser MILAN: Serie A strugglers Parma overcame a late sendingoff to grab an injury-time equaliser fron the penalty spot at home to Fiorentina in yesterday’s early Serie A game.

Parma looked to be heading for their third defeat in four games after Argentinian Facundo Roncaglia grabbed his first goal for La Viola in the 20th minute.

But despite seeing defender Aleandro Rosi sent off late in the second half, a determined Parma side were handed a lifeline when former Italy striker Luca Toni, a second half substitute, handled in the box. Chilean midfielder Jaime Valdes stepped up and beat Fiorentina keeper Emiliano Viviano from the spot to grab a share of the points.

Champions Juventus play host to Chievo in the late game with Antonio Conte’s side looking to make it four wins from four games.—AFP

Australia advance after rain-hit Windies match

17

Ibrahimovic brace cheers PSG

18

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Mourinho will return to England ‘for sure’

Page 18

LONDON: Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel (left) challenges Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match.—AP

Cole burns bright for Chelsea Chelsea 1

Stoke 0

LONDON: Ashley Cole’s late goal saw Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge yesterday as the European champions went four points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Stoke had looked like posting a record fifth successive draw since the start of the

new season as the match entered the 85th minute but Cole’s goal condemned them to their first league defeat this term.

Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo left John Terry and Frank Lampard on the bench after their exertions in the midweek Champions League draw against Juventus, with Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar lining up behind Fernando Torres. Stoke boss Tony Pulis also opted to leave out Michael Owen in favour of another England striker in Peter Crouch as the Potters looked for a first win at Stamford Bridge since 1974.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening exchanges but it was Stoke who

had the first real chance as Michael Kightly’s shot was blocked by Cole in the fourth minute. Torres wasted a good chance from Mata’s accurate corner soon afterwards as Chelsea struggled to break down a stubborn Stoke defence.

Stoke gave notice of their attacking threat in the 19th minute when Jonathan Walters headed against the bar following a free kick from Glenn Whelan.

Seven minutes later, Mata finally carved open the Stoke defence when his excellent ball played in Torres, but the Spaniard missed his kick from just six yards out after controlling well on his chest. Chelsea continued to dominate

possession but were reduced to speculative efforts from distance.

The visitors then created two great chances in the space of 60 seconds, with Marc Wilson’s powerful drive well saved by Petr Cech, before the Chelsea keeper had to be at his best to deny a flying header from Kightly. Two efforts from Cole and David Luiz that flew high and wide just before the break summed up a frustrating first 45 minutes for the home side.

Chelsea started the second half in determined fashion and thought they should have had a penalty five minutes in when Oscar clashed with Ryan Shawcross.

But referee Michael Oliver deemed

that the Stoke defender had won the ball and booked the Brazilian for diving instead. Mata should have done much better when the ball was played back to him in acres of space but he curled his shot embarrassingly wide.

Oscar at least managed to force Asmir Begovic into a save after his effort from just outside the box, while Walters went close up the other end when he just failed to connect properly with Crouch’s knockdown. Mata then found space inside the Stoke area after good work from Torres but was denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle from Shawcross.

Owen was introduced as a substitute

Fulham clinch first away win

Everton go second after Swansea stroll Swansea 0

Everton 3

SWANSEA: Everton swept into second place in the Premier League with an impressive 3-0 victory over 10-man Swansea yesterday.

David Moyes’ side surged into a two-goal lead at the Liberty Stadium thanks to first half strikes from Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas.

Swansea’s hopes of avoiding a second successive defeat were in tatters when substitute Nathan Dyer, who had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes, was sent off in the second half.

Marouane Fellaini put the result beyond doubt with a late goal and Everton’s third win of the league campaign moved the Toffees level on points with leaders Chelsea, although they are likely to surrender that lofty position by Sunday evening.

Swansea had handed a full debut to Spanish midfielder Pablo Hernandez, the club’s record signing from Valencia, while Anichebe replaced injured Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic for Everton.

After the disappointment of squandering the lead in Monday’s draw against Newcastle, Everton looked determined to make amends in south Wales and the visitors opened the scoring in con-

troversial fashion in the 21st minute.

Fellaini beat Alan Tate to a high ball and the Belgian midfielder’s flick, which appeared to come off his elbow, reached Anichebe, who fired home to claim his second goal of the week.

Everton doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Mirallas ended his wait for a first Premier League goal since his £6 million move from Olympiakos on transfer deadline day last month.

Steven Pienaar unhinged the Swansea defence with a burst down the right flank and his low cross found Mirallas, whose initial shot was touched on to the bar by Michel Vorm before the Belgian striker reacted quickest to nod the rebound over the line. Michael Laudrup’s side were being carved open time and again and Mirallas’s second half shot was pushed onto the bar by Vorm, who then scrambed to block Anichebe’s effort from the rebound.

There was no way back for Swansea after Dyer’s foolish 57th minute dismissal. The winger, who replaced Hernandez at half-time, had already been booked for dissent when he launched into a rash challenge on Leighton Baines, giving referee Anthony Taylor no choice but to show a second yellow card. Everton kept pressing for more goals and Fellaini’s effort was cleared off the line by Leon Britton.

But Fellaini sealed the points in the 82nd minute as his header from Baines’ free-kick took a deflection off Ashley Williams and flashed past Vorm.—AFP

for Charlie Adam and the visitors continued to look dangerous on the break.

Oscar again called Begovic into action in the 67th minute when the keeper did well to save his deflected shot.

But di Matteo’s men continued to struggle and the Italian sent on Lampard with nine minutes to play in an attempt to salvage a win. However, it was left to another of the Blues’ old guard to secure victory five minutes from time as the ball deflected to the unmarked Cole. The defender, showing no sign of his goal drought going back to May 2010, calmly lifted a shot over the onrushing Begovic to finally break the deadlock.—AFP

LONDON: Everton’s Victor Anichebe (left) and Swansea City’s Alan Tate battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match at the Liberty Stadium. —AP

WIGAN: Fulham gained their first away win of the Wigan 1 season yesterday with a 2-1 win over Wigan to extend their unbeaten streak against their opponents to Fulham 2 12 games.

Goals from former Wigan favourite Hugo Rodallega - whose goal on the final day of the season saved their Premier League status two seasons ago — and Irish veteran Damien Duff sealed the points for the Cottagers. Arouna Kone grabbed a late consolation for the hosts. The first-half had seen the home side have the first chance Kone forcing veteran Aussie ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer into a save.

Referee Lee Probert was lucky to see out the half after he was clattered into accidentally by Steve Sidwell and Wigan’s Ben Watson but after lengthy treatment was able to continue.

Rodallega went close midway through the first-half but Ali AlHabsi saved from his header.

However, the 27-year-old Colombian striker made no mistake in the 31st minute rising to meet Dimitar Berbatov’s cross and beat Al-Habsi. Wigan striker Jordi Gomez went close to levelling seven minutes from the break but his excellent first-time effort came back off the bar.

Kone had a great chance to level early in the second-half as he was put through but with just Schwarzer to beat he produced two dreadful touches and the opportunity was wasted.

That proved to be costly as Fulham doubled their lead through Duff, who was set up by Costa Rican striker Brian Ruiz, who had somehow managed to hold off four Wigan players to deliver the decisive pass. Schwarzer denied Wigan again with a fine save from Ivan Ramis while Al-Habsi produced a breathtaking stop to deny Berbatov. Kone did finally find the target, beating Schwarzer in the final minute.—AFP

Business

Qatar Airways introduces 4 world renowned chefs Page 25 Three steps to being a management superstar Page 26

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Proposed Trans-Pacific trade deal ignites fears

Italy on tenterhooks ahead of talks with crisis-hit Fiat Page 23

Page 22

JAKARTA: Visitors observe a McLaren MP4 12C sports car during the 11-day 20th Indonesia International Motor Show 2012 exhibition in Jakarta yesterday. Annual car sales in Indonesia jumped around 16 percent in 2011, reaching 890,400 units, and are expected to hit 940,000 this year, according to a Frost & Sullivan report. — AFP

Spain sovereign bailout faces opposition Spain struggles with ‘confidence’ problem BRUSSELS: A Spanish cry for a full sovereign bailout, seen as a racing certainty over the summer, faces newly-expressed opposition from Germany even as EU officials lay the groundwork should one be judged necessary in Madrid. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that Spain did not need a further aid program on top of promised loans to recapitalize its banking sector, but that Madrid was suffering from a lack of confidence on the financial markets.

Schaeuble told members of the foreign press that he was “steadfast” in agreeing with the government in Madrid that “Spain is on the right path and needs no further program”.

“What Spain needs is confidence in the financial markets and there Spain really has problems,” he said. “It is hard to deny that Spain’s standing on the financial markets does not take the real

economic data sufficiently into account,” he added. Euro-zone sources have said that the past week has been marked by shifting opinions, with Germany and Spain resisting pressure from France and the European Commission for Madrid to request a full bailout.

This drift follows significant divergences laid bare between what Germany and France see as the way forward for the currency area as a whole, going into a trio of difficult EU summits before the year ends. The European Commission said on Friday it was working with the Spanish government on a national reform program due to be announced next week, but insisted that this did not mean it was preparing a sovereign bailout.

“Further decisive progress in taking forward the reform agenda is we believe the best way for Spain to re-establish confidence,”

said Simon O’Connor, spokesman for EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn. Under the banking aid deal, worth up to 100 billion euros awaiting new IMF figures for recapitalization needs due next week, Spain agreed to reforms in the sector and wider economy so as to avoid a repeat of the banking sector’s disastrous over-exposure to a collapsed property market.

There has been mounting speculation that Madrid may now seek a full rescue on top of that agreed for its banks, a step that was said to be politically possible only once “conditions” it would have to meet in that event were thrashed out.

Another EU source said “our approach is to be prepared in case there is fresh pressure placed on Spain by markets going forward”. The risk premium for Spanish borrowings “is manageable”, this source said, having fallen below levels considered critical in

previous bailout cases. The idea then is that the Commission can get itself “ready” so it can say further down the line that “no extra conditions will be required” in the event Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy does formally ask for a bailout.

Analyst Ben May of Capital Economics in London for one argued on Friday that “the main reason why bond yields have remained pretty low is that markets still expect Spain to seek assistance soon”. A new risk for Spain could come as early as Tuesday, with Catalan leader Artur Mas tipped to call elections after Rajoy rejected a demand for full fiscal autonomy. In a bid to ease the risk of a full-blown constitutional and political crisis on top of its economic problems, the government in Madrid said on Friday that it would look to “reform” financing models for Catalonia and other territories.— AFP

Lebanese face further economic difficulties

MARRAKESH: Tourists ride a horse-drawn carriage near the Koutoubia minaret and Jamaa El-Fna Square during a tour of Marrakesh, 18 months after a terrorist attack struck at the heart of Morocco’s ochre city and impacted the number of visitors which continues to fall. Tourism is one of the pillars of the economy, especially crucial this year after drought badly affected agricultural output.

(Right) Photo shows Jamaa El-Fna square and the Koutoubia mosque of Marrakesh. — AFP

Morocco fabled ochre city yearns for visitors MARRAKESH: With its labyrinthine souks, palmfringed palaces and Islamic heritage, Marrakesh has developed over the years as a chic tourist destination, drawing in the world’s rich and famous.

But 18 months after a terrorist attack struck at the heart of Morocco’s ochre city, the number of visitors continues to fall. Down a narrow alleyway in a hidden corner of the medina, Riad Karmela is one of many exquisitely restored houses in the old city whose leafy courtyards, dripping pools and roof terraces offer luxurious relaxation in the fabled former capital. “Business has been going down every year since we opened in 2006,” says Joel Castrec, the French owner, who moved to Marrakesh after running hotels in Paris and London.

“There were simply too many riads. Many people were opening four or five bedroom guest houses. But I’d say most of them didn’t know what they were doing. Then we had the economic crisis and the attack last year,” he adds. The April 28 bomb that tore through the Cafe Argana in the Jamaa elFna, Marrakesh’s famed central square, killed 17

people, mostly foreign tourists, including from France, Britain, Canada, Portugal and Switzerland.

It was the deadliest bombing in the North African country since attacks in the coastal city of Casablanca in 2003 killed 33 people and 12 bombers. Some argue the tragedy only seriously affected Marrakesh for about three months, after which business rebounded quickly.

Certainly it has done nothing to stop a string of super-luxury hotels opening this year, from the Palais Namaskar, with its copious waterways and marble arches, to the Selman, which boasts its own collection of Arabian thoroughbreds. Whether they will inspire an influx of profligate visitors remains unclear. But as Marrakesh gears up for the new holiday season, which kicks off in the coming weeks as the sweltering heat starts to abate, hoteliers at the country’s top tourist destination are desperately hoping for a revival in their fortunes. And so too is the government. Tourism is one of the pillars of the economy, especially crucial this year after drought badly affected agricultural output, and with remittances from Moroccans working abroad

also down. But the signs are not good.

Empty hotels, enduring charm-The Marrakesh Regional Tourism Council said last month that arrivals in the first half of 2012 dropped by 4.0 percent on the previous period, with hotel occupancy and overnight stays falling 2.0 and 6.0 percent respectively. Europeans, traditionally the mainstay of Morocco’s tourism industry, accounted for the sharpest drop in arrivals, down 12 percent.

Nureldin, a 60-year-old Spanish convert to Islam, owns a small riad in the medina, which he asks not to be named, whose guests come mostly from Spain. “This year has been a catastrophe. It’s been empty,” he says.

“Autumn brings better weather. But with the crisis in Europe we don’t know where our clients will come from. People are just spending less,” he laments, adding that he has slashed his prices from around 120 euros per night to 80 euros (from about $155 to $100). James Wix, a Briton who opened the upscale Riad Farnatchi eight years ago, agrees the euro-zone crisis, along with the Arab Spring and the Marrakesh bombing created a toxic

combination of disincentives for potential visitors.

“But it looks like things are picking up for us now,” he said. In the nearby Jamaa el-Fna, musicians bang their drums amid a cacophony of trilling pipes, as snake charmers pose for the cameras and a Barbary ape sits impassively in the shade, held on a lead by its owner.

The stunning 12-century Koutoubia minaret, which rises 69 meters above the square, testifies to the wealth and power the city once knew, built at a time when Moroccan rule extended across most of Spain and to Tripoli in the east. But on an afternoon in mid-September, the plaza is largely empty of foreigners. Standing at a juice bar just opposite the Argana cafe, currently being rebuilt and hidden under scaffolding canvas cover, a young Scottish couple are enjoying freshly squeezed fruit cocktails, during their five-day visit.

“I feel really safe here,” says Margaret, before admitting to not knowing about last year’s deadly blast. “You do get a wee bit of hassle... But I wouldn’t have any problem walking home alone at night,” she adds with a smile. — AFP

BEIRUT: Many Lebanese, particularly those who support families, are seeking second and third jobs in a bid to alleviate burden of cost of living that has dramatically soared due to high prices of necessities. The government has recently attempted to ease off these hardships, approving limited pay raise, however most of employees can barely make ends meet, due to unprecedented hike of costs in education, books, commodities, fuel, medicines, medical treatmentóaggravated with very low value of the national currency. (USD equals 2,500 pounds).

Dr Ghazi Wazni, an eminent economic expert, noted in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that ìgreedy merchants and owners of schoolsî highly rose the costs and fees, soon after the government endorsed the raise of salaries and wages. Prices of commodities, compared to August last year, climbed 9-13 percent. Hike of prices fuel on the international markets have also contributed to the domestic inflation, for Lebanon imports 85 percent of products from the euro-zone countries. Inflation is forecast to grow seven percent by the end of the year.

As to unemployment, currently estimated at more than 15 percent, it will hit 26 percent, Dr Wazni says. Number of unemployed young citizens, per year, is estimated at 10,000, he said, noting that many of the young seek jobs abroad.— KUNA

22

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

BUSINESS

LOS ANGELES: Sheila Bird (right) waits in line for employment interviews at a job fair at City Target in Los Angeles. The Labor Department said Friday, Sept 21, 2012, that US unemployment rates rose in 26 states last month, the latest evidence that hiring remains tepid across the country. (Right) Job seekers fill out applications at a construction job fair in New York. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at a seasonally adjusted 374,000, suggesting slow improvement in the job market. — AP

Proposed Trans-Pacific trade deal ignites fears Autoworkers fear loss of 26,500 domestic jobs LEESBURG: With 1,350 employees in its five US factories, New Balance is proud that it still produces 7 million pairs of shoes each year at its plants in Maine and Massachusetts, the last major athletic footwear company that still has manufacturing jobs in the United States. But the company says those jobs could very well disappear if the US scraps its tariff on athletic footwear coming in from Vietnam. It’s part of the mounting anxiety caused by the new Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest trade pact proposed in US history.

And as 400 negotiators from nine countries met privately at a golf resort in northern Virginia last week in an attempt to finalize details, New Balance officials weren’t the only ones fretting. Autoworkers feared the loss of 26,500 domestic jobs and said the production of American cars would fall if Japan joins the pact and the United States drops a 2.5 percent tariff on Japanese cars, making them cheaper to buy. Doctors worried that it will be harder to get medicines to fight AIDS and other diseases in developing countries if US negotiators insist on extending patents for pharmaceutical companies.

And many members of Congress and other critics lamented that such big decisions were being made in secret meetings, at a luxury resort in the Potomac River Valley, far from public view. But while opponents derided the new trade pact as “NAFTA on steroids,” a reference to the huge North American Free Trade Agreement passed by Congress in 1993 that opponents say led to US jobs moving to Mexico, backers predicted the Trans-Pacific deal would increase US exports, create more jobs and lower prices for American consumers.

Negotiations include nine countries: the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and

Vietnam. Mexico and Canada will soon formally join the talks, bringing the total membership to 11 countries. Japan already has expressed interest in participating, and China is regarded as a potential partner down the road. “It’s NAFTA on steroids in terms of its geographic scope, its economic scope and the new powers it gives to corporations,” said Arthur Stamoulis, a critic of the trade deal and executive director of the Citizens Trade Campaign, a coalition that includes labor and environmental groups.

The deal is an attempt to get the United States to cash in on a region that accounts for more than 40 percent of all international trade. In addition to eliminating many tariffs, negotiators hope to reduce regulations and the cost of trade, to promote more digital and “green” technology, and to come up with rules on a wide variety of topics, addressing everything from sanitary standards to customs procedures to environmental issues. The Asia-Pacific region is an increasingly important market for US businesses, accounting for $775 billion in exports in 2010, a 25.5 percent increase from just a year earlier.

In Washington state, where at least one of every three jobs is tied to international trade, the pact presents “a tremendous opportunity” to boost trade with the AsiaPacific region, which already accounts for nearly 70 percent of the state’s exports, said Eric Schinfeld, president of the Washington Council on International Trade. He predicted the pact would particularly help the state’s apparel industry and some of its biggest companies, including Nordstrom, REI, Costco and Starbucks, helping them export more products. And with its close proximity to the region, the state would benefit from more imports passing through on their way to final destinations. “That’s big business for our ports,” Schinfeld said. “Asia-Pacific is a

really big deal for us.”

In a speech in Russia on Sept 8, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the deal marked a major push by the Obama administration to open new foreign markets and reduce barriers to trade, which she said would lead to “more and better growth.” She said it’s part of the president’s plan to advocate for US businesses and to double the nation’s exports during a five-year period, from the year that Obama took office in 2009 to 2014.

“American companies are eager to invest more in Asia,” Clinton said. Negotiators have concluded their 14th round of talks, wrapping up 10 days of meetings at the Lansdowne Conference Center in Leesburg.

The talks are expected to continue into next year, with the next round of talks set for Dec 3-12 in Auckland, New Zealand. While specific details of the negotiations have been kept secret, some documents have been leaked.

Responding to one leak, the group Doctors Without Borders said it fears that the pharmaceutical industry will prevail in its fight to protect brand-name medicines, making it much more expensive for developing countries to gain access to cheaper generic drugs that would help treat victims of AIDS and other diseases. The industry argues that patents help drug manufacturers protect their investment and raise money for new research, noting that it can cost $1 billion, on average, to develop one new medication.

Japan’s potential entry is particularly worrisome to some members of Congress, including Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who complain that Japan has passed too many policies that make it nearly impossible for foreign competitors to crack the Japanese market,

especially in the automobile industry. They, along with seven other senators, have urged the administration to bar Japan from the trade talks, noting that 95 percent of all vehicles sold in Japan are made by Japanese manufacturers. Brown has introduced a bill to give Congress greater oversight in negotiations of the trade deal.

Sitting on a patio outside the luxury hotel in Leesburg last week, Stamoulis complained that he and other members of the public were locked out of the negotiations.

US officials intend to release the final agreement only after it’s signed by all parties. “It’s worth getting right, and (the secrecy is) not a recipe for sound public policy as far as we’re concerned,” he said. “This is supposed to be setting the rules for global trade and investment for a generation to come.”

On Capitol Hill, key lawmakers have joined the growing criticism. In a speech in May, Democratic Sen Ron Wyden of Oregon, the chairman of the subcommittee that oversees international trade policy, said most members of Congress are “being kept in the dark,” while US trade negotiators consult and share details with corporations and power ful advocacy groups such as Halliburton, Chevron, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Comcast and the Motion Picture Association of America.

And in June, more than 130 House members sent a letter sent a letter to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk asking for more oversight from both Congress and the public. Assistant US Trade Representative Carol Guthrie said the negotiators met with 450 members of the public and heard presentations from more than 90 groups during last week’s talks. And she said the Obama administration has hosted hundreds of briefings for members of Congress to keep them updated on every step of the talks.

But she defended the private negotiations, saying in an interview “there is a certain level of confidentiality that has to be maintained in order to preserve the United States’ strategic negotiating ability.”

In the middle of the Leesburg talks, Kirk went to Maine to tour a New Balance factory, seeking to quell the fears of company executives. Guthrie said that US negotiators “know that footwear is a sensitive issue for the United States,” and that it’s important to gather input from affected companies to help shape the talks. Matt LeBretton, public affairs director for Massachusetts-based New Balance, said the number of US manufacturing jobs in the athletic shoe industry already has dwindled from more than 50,000 three decades ago to fewer than 3,000 today.

“For us the big message is: Hey, we’ve been doing this here when everybody left,” he said. But he said the company, which reported worldwide sales of more than $2 billion last year, will have a hard time competing with Vietnam and its low-paid workers if the United States removes its tariffs, which range from 10 percent to 38.5 percent, depending on the type of shoe.

Stamoulis said that with Vietnamese workers earning only a third to a half of what a typical Chinese worker makes, he worries that the latest trade agreement will continue a “race to the bottom.” “They’re one of thousands that would be facing increased competition from countries that are known for having sweatshop labor,” Stamoulis said. “First the jobs move from the United States to Mexico under NAFTA. Then under the WTO (World Trade Organization) they move from Mexico to China. And now they’re moving from China to Vietnam. And each time the workers get paid less and less. ... How are you supposed to compete with that?” — MCT

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2740000 .4500000 .3620000 .2980000 .2830000 .2900000 .0040000 .0020000 .0759460 .7399160 .3870000 .0720000 .7253550 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2797500 GB Pound/KD .4544120 Euro .3665560 Swiss francs .3015850 Canadian dollars .2870110 Danish Kroner .0491630 Swedish Kroner .0424370 Australian dlr .2926600 Hong Kong dlr .0360850 Singapore dlr .2283670 Japanese yen .0035560 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0761950 Bahraini dinars .7423380 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0746200 Omani riyals .7269070 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

3.645 5.220 2.974 2.138 3.257 231.380 36.326 3.430 6.754 9.131 91.752

.2860000 .4600000 .3710000 .3040000 .2950000 .2990000 .0058500 .0035000 .0767090 .7473520 .4100000 .0780000 .7326450 .0510000 .2818500 .4578230 .3693080 .3038490 .2891660 .0495320 .0427560 .2948570 .0363560 .2300820 .0035820 .0052220 .0021380 .0029920 .0034630 .0767670 .7479100 .3986560 .0751800 .7323630 .0068060

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 75.083 77.364 731.320 747.840 76.668

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.135 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.314 Tunisian Dinar 180.300 Jordanian Dinar 397.000 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.889 Syrian Lier 4.911 Morocco Dirham 33.426 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 281.450 Euro 368.980 Sterling Pound 460.450 Canadian dollar 291.360 Turkish lire 157.020 Swiss Franc 304.930 US Dollar Buying 280.250 GOLD 328.000 166.000 84.250

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

297.400 748.100 3.660 291.900 552.500 45.800 50.900 167.800 48.060 368.800 36.950 5.390 0.032 0.161 0.235 3.700 398.640 0.190 94.200 45.200 4.330 236.500 1.822

50.300 730.690 3.070 7.000 77.810 75.110 231.250 36.330 2.680 460.400 43.900 305.400 4.300 9.470 198.263 76.700 281.700 1.350

10 Tola

GOLD 1,871.350

Sterling Pound US Dollar

730.510 2.978 6.748 77.380 75.110 231.250 36.330 2.138 458.400 303.900 4.300 9.330 76.600 281.300

COUNTRY

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 458.400 281.300

SELL DRAFT

295.900 748.100 3.441 290.400

231.200 46.177 367.300 36.800 5.260 0.031

SELL DRAFT

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

297.53 292.49 308.03 370.67 280.55 459.15 3.65 3.434 5.181 2.129 3.256 2.975 76.45 747.01 46.12 399.70 730.16 77.47 75.02

SELL CASH

299.000 292.000 307.000 370.500 281.700 458.000 3.690 3.560 5.400 2.290 3.530 3.150 77.000 746.500 47.800 398.500 735.000 78.000 75.300

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 398.800 0.189 94.200 3.300 235.000

Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

280.900 288.297 456.909 368.280

Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

294.707 743.669 76.457 77.104 74.871 395.968 46.067 2.125 5.178 2.967 3.433 6.733 689.046 4.581 9.025 4.356 3.248 89.546

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

280.900 2.968 5.190 2.130 3.427 6.770 76.580 75.065 746.800 46.125 461.800 2.990 1.550 373.700 294.200 3.200

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

280.900 368.200 457.550 289.800 3.625 5.235 46.135 2.138 3.438 6.740 2.980 747.900 76.500 74.950

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

BUSINESS

Japanese buyers turn to fuel-efficient cars TOKYO: With the end of the Japanese government’s subsidy program for eco-friendly vehicles approaching, low-priced minivehicles have been attracting more attention, intensifying competition in the market. Japan’s two top minicar manufacturers - Daihatsu Motor Co and Suzuki Motor Co - have together held about 70 percent of the minicar market for many years. But Honda Motor Co is coming up fast from behind with its new N Box minivehicle, leading to fierce competition among the three companies in the minicar market.

Suzuki started selling its new Wagon R minivehicle - the most fuelefficient minivan in Japan - on Sept 6, one year ahead of schedule. The engine of the Wagon R stops automatically when the minivehicle stops, a feature that is proving popular with buyers. A senior official at Suzuki’s regional

sales company in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, said, “The number of customers hoping to test-drive the minivehicle has increased by almost 10 times.” But on the day following the minivehicle’s launch, Suzuki reported a recall involving the left rear door latch of the vehicle to the Japanese government. The recall prompted speculation that the automaker might have hastily rushed the new Wagon R to market.

Suzuki led the nation’s minivehicle market for 34 years until 2006. Since then, it has been No 2. Because the carmaker had not launched any new models for a while, its share in the minicar market declined by four percentage points from last year to 28 percent by August this year. Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki expressed concern at an event launching the new Wagon R, saying, “Even though we have an advantage today, we can’t say

we’ll have the advantage tomorrow.”

Honda, meanwhile, increased its minicar market share by 8 percentage points from last year to 17 percent this year.

Honda’s N minivehicle series, launched in December, has gained popularity with its spacious interior, holding a commanding lead in the minicar sales ranking since April. “We never imagined the series would sell so well,” a senior Honda official said. In autumn, Honda will start sales of its N One minivehicle, an updated version of its once-popular N360 minivehicle, in an effort to boost its minivehicle business. Daihatsu, the nation’s No 1 minivehicle manufacturer, launched its fuel-efficient new Mira e:S model, dubbing it a third-category eco-friendly vehicle, which has set the trend for fuel-efficient minivehicles.

Daihatsu will promote sales of the

new model in the Kyushu region, where minivehicles are widely used, and other areas to counter Honda’s moves. All the eight major automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., are competing fiercely in the minicar market.

Minivehicle manufacturers supply vehicles to Toyota and Nissan, which they sell under their brands. While minicar sales have been declining after peaking in 2006, the ratio of minicar users has been increasing due to a larger decline in the sales of standardsized vehicles.

With income levels growing at a sluggish pace, many people are shifting to minicars because they are cheaper and are taxed at lower rates than regular-sized vehicles. Observers say the end of the government’s subsidy program for eco-friendly vehicles will have little impact on the minicar

market because consumers are turning to smaller, cheaper cars anyway. “The differences between regular-sized vehicles and minicars are disappearing,” Suzuki said, suggesting that minivehicle makers face intense competition not only among themselves but also with makers of low-priced compacts priced at around 1 million yen (about $12,800).

Meanwhile, while profit from selling one luxury vehicle sometimes exceeds 1 million yen, the profit from selling one minivehicle ranges from several tens of thousands of yen to less than 200,000 yen. “We can make more profit by selling one luxury vehicle than by selling 10 minivehicles,” a major auto sales company official said.

Automakers face the challenge of maintaining the market for regularsized cars while increasing the profitability of minivehicles. — MCT

Italy on tenterhooks Monti, Marchionne meet over crisis-hit Fiat MILAN: Italians waited with bated breath yesterday for talks between Prime Minister Mario Monti and Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne on the future of a troubled auto giant that once symbolized Italy’s boom. Marchionne has repeatedly warned he may be forced to shut down one of Fiat’s five massive Italian plants, which are all producing way below capacity because of a slump in European car sales that has hit Italy particularly hard.

The subject is an emotive one in Italywhere Fiat is the biggest employer in the private sector and the company’s 113-year history is closely bound up with the ups and downs of the Italian economy and the trade union movement. Marchionne laid out his cards on Friday, saying he hoped the Italian government had taken note that Fiat’s recent successes in Brazil had been helped by “financing and tax breaks” given to auto sector investors there. Fiat’s Brazilian plant in Pernambuco, he said, had received “up to 85 percent financing on a total investment of 2.3 billion euros ($3.0 billion).”

“We know very well that, considering the current European rules, similar financing conditions are impossible within the European Union,” he added.

“Fiat’s last operation of this kind in Italy was in the early 1990s.” A report in La Repubblica daily said Fiat could unveil a program of early retirements and reduced hours and a plan to allow production at its Italian plants by other auto companies to stave off outright factory closures. The most recent controversy over Fiat was unleashed when the company last week said it was dropping a strategic plan it had announced in 2010 to invest 20 billion euros and produce 1.4 million cars in Italy by 2014.

Fiat said it could no longer meet the targets because the economic crisis has brought car sales in Italy back down to their level 40 years ago. Marchionne said this week that he wanted Fiat to have a presence in Italy but gave few details on the future of the company’s plants. Trade unions have been clamoring for the government to step in. The controver-

sy comes at a particularly tough time for Monti who is already in sensitive negotiations with trade unions as unemployment increases and the end of a punishing recession is still not visible on the horizon. Marchionne, who is also the chief executive of Chrysler which Fiat is now merging with, is a hugely divisive figure in Italy.

Supporters laud his managerial quality but his many critics accuse him of “ingratitude” towards Italy and a high-handed attitude.

“Fiat is about to announce to closure of its Italian plants and a departure from this country... after more than a century of history,” Curzio Maltese, a columnist for the La Repubblica daily, wrote on Friday. “This is the final act,” he said, claiming that Marchionne “could not wait for a chance to cut the last ties with his homeland.” “This means that in the eyes of the whole world, Italy is no longer a place to invest,” he said. A report in Il Sole 24 Ore business daily even said the future headquarters of the merged Fiat-Chrysler group may not be in Italy. — AFP

Once-hot rental market for Malibu homes cools LOS ANGELES: Being super-rich just isn’t what it used to be. As the summer leasing scene in Malibu wraps up, real estate experts report that for homeowners the rental season smelled worse than a red tide at morning. “It was a disastrous leasing season,” said Michael Gardner, an agent with Prudential Malibu Realty. “The renters needed to save money, and the lessors needed to make money.” Of course, a bad deal for a homeowner means a good deal for someone looking for temporar y refuge by the beach.

Renting a place in Malibu could cost as little as $150 a night, according to industry statistics.

For that price a renter could luxuriate in a creek-side studio cottage “minutes from Malibu beach,” according to HomeAway.com. The online rental service’s top price is $5,000 a night for a seven-bedroom, six-bath manse on Broad Beach. Unlike many other workaday markets where transactions are increasing, the once-hot Malibu rental picture has cooled considerably since five years ago, the Multiple Listing Service shows. Half as many lease deals have been reported this year as during the same period in 2008, and rental closings were down 25 percent from last year.

At play, area real estate agents say, are financial belt-tightening and a more active for-sale market spurred by a sense that the market has seen bottom. The result was less competition for rental houses and more deal-making for shorter-term rentals. “Five years ago, everyone wanted three months,” said Gardner, who keeps tabs on the local housing market at TheMalibuRealEstateBlog.com. This year, renters haggled for one-month stays. That doesn’t go over well in gated Malibu Colony, the sandy refuge of big bank accounts. Some beach-house seekers even went so far as to ask for two- or three-day rentals, Hilton & Hyland agent Chad Rogers said.

“Owners of $10-million-to-$20-million homes want to do one or two leases at the most and then not think about it,” Rogers said. “The majority in the Colony don’t want to rent for less than a month.” Rogers said he completed lease deals this year at $80,000, nearly $90,000 and $125,000 a month, but not every home among his listings found a tenant. Homeowner Phil Roman, whose main residence is in Los Angeles, has leased out his beach house on occasion during his 20 years in the exclusive enclave.

“If you are living in town, why not lease your home and make some money?” said Roman, who spent about $3 million upgrading the nearly 3,000-square-foot house along the

sand before pricing it at $125,000 a month this summer. The traditionalstyle two-stor y on a double lot received two one-month offers but not the three-month term the businessman wanted.

Now he is hoping for an even longer term. “If I could get $70,000 a month for a year,” Roman said, “I’d take it.” The decline in completed leases may have left some Malibu houses sitting unclaimed, but the challenge in agent Stephen Shapiro’s niche was finding enough suitable properties for his ultra-rich clients. “There were far fewer high-end houses available in the $100,000-plus range,” said Shapiro, cofounder of Westside Estate Agency.

In one of the most expensive leases this year, a Shapiro client paid $300,000 - $150,000 a month for two months - for a double-lot oceanfront compound in Malibu Colony with a sun deck by the sand, a six-bedroom main house and a two-room guest cottage. That’s pricey, but not as luxe as the Multiple Listing Service’s record Malibu deal: $200,000 a month, set in 2009, which translates into nearly $214,000 when adjusted for inflation.

Landlords include Hollywood A-listers, sports legends and other uberwealthy notables for whom a place along the sand is a second, third or fourth home. Joining the fray as potential landlords this summer were Miami Heat President Pat Riley and actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Pierce Brosnan. Riley’s nearly 1,400-squarefoot house in a gated community was priced at $35,000 a month in May and was most recently listed at $18,500.

DiCaprio’s beachfront compound was listed in May at $150,000 a month for less than six months or $75,000 for a longer term. Brosnan’s 13,000-squarefoot beach estate hit the market at $250,000 a month in June, but was withdrawn from the MLS before a lease was reported.

The micro-market, with its sliver of coastal playground off LA’s Westside, mainly attracts tenants from within a 20-mile radius of Malibu and includes people in the entertainment industry, lawyers and business magnates, agents say. A few come from the East Coast and the United Kingdom. “This is no Saint Tropez,” said Shapiro, referring to the tony Mediterranean resort town in France. “This town closes at 9:30 pm in the summer. You get people who want that lifestyle, and that’s not the Europeans.” Some are share -the wealth renters who throw large parties and invite everyone they know to enjoy fireworks shows. Others crave privacy and want to cocoon in lavishly appointed seaside mansions shutting out the world. — Agencies

BELEM: People protest outside the presidential palace in the Lisbon suburb of Belem during a meeting of the State Council, a presidential advisory body.

Portugal’s President Anibal Cavaco Silva called the state council members to discuss the current economic and political situation in the country. The banner with the photo of the Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho reads in Portuguese: ‘Thief’. — AP

Portuguese govt gives up on levy, mulls alternatives

NBK announces 3 Al-Jawhara winners KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announces the three lucky winners in Al-Jawhara weekly draws during the month of September. Saleh Mohammed, Salim Gerges and Mohamad Al Saman each won KD 5,000. The winners expressed their gratitude and thanked NBK for its great services and promotions.

NBK recently re-launched Al-Jawhara account, by offering customers more chances to win bigger prizes, KD5,000 weekly, KD125,000 monthly and a grand prize of KD250,000 quarterly draw.

Al-Jawhara is one of Kuwait’s leading cash prize accounts offering numerous benefits to its customers. Not only is it an interest-free account with regular deposit and withdrawal privileges, it also entitles account holders to enter the weekly, monthly and quarterly Al-Jawhara draws. Each KD 50 in an Al Jawhara account entitles the customer to one chance in any of the draws. All prizes are automatically credited to the winners’ accounts the day after the draw.

The more money held in Al-Jawhara account, the greater the chances of winning. Al-Jawhara account is available to both Kuwaitis and expats and can be opened at any one of NBK’s branches around Kuwait.

For further information visit www.nbk.com , or call Hala Watani at 1801801.

LISBON: In an about-face, Portugal’s government has agreed to negotiate alternative solutions to a social security tax hike that sparked the worst backlash to austerity since last year ’s EU/IMF bailout, an official statement said yesterday. After an eight-hour meeting of the presidential state council that was besieged by protesters and ended long after midnight yesterday, the council said the negotiations would now proceed between the government, unions and employers.

On Friday, Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho promised to “listen to the country” after huge street protests last weekend and criticism of the plan by unions and business leaders alike.

He had previously only agreed to “calibrate” the measure. The plan to raise the contributions in 2013 to 18 percent form 11 percent has undermined a reluctant acceptance of austerity in Portugal, increasing pressure on the government as it strives to meet the strict conditions of the bailout. “The council was informed of the government’s readiness to study, within the framework of the social bargaining process, alternatives to changes in the social security rate,” the statement said after the council meeting.

It also said that “difficulties that could affect the solidity of the ruling coalition have been overcome”, confirming earlier statements by the two centre-right coalition partners that they remained committed to the

bailout’s targets. Junior coalition partner CDS-PP is traditionally against tax hikes. Thousands of protesters gathered next to the presidential palace where President Anibal Cavaco Silva’s met with his council-the consultative body made up of senior political figures, including Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. They demanded the government’s resignation and chanted: “Thieves, thieves!”. Over a hundred stayed until the end of the meeting and booed the council members as they left.

Expresso weekly newspaper said in its weekend edition the premier had decided to abandon the measure, which had irritated workers because it simultaneously reduced social security contributions by companies, but was preparing a new cut in holiday subsidies for workers instead to meet tough fiscal goals of the bailout.

Some analysts say the badly-devised attempt to hike the social security levy will make additional austerity measures harder to swallow now despite the government’s retreat and strife is likely to grow especially since Portugal’s economic recession is now expected to continue next year.

Portugal has entered its worst recession since the 1970s as it labors under sweeping tax increases and spending cuts, with the centre-right government’s popularity slumping to an alltime low after it announced the tax changes. — Reuters

Brazil, US battle over tariff hikes BRASILIA: Brazil yesterday slammed as “unjustified and unacceptable” a US warning of possible retaliation over Brasilia’s plans for tariff increases on 100 products, rejecting accusations of protectionism. “We view as unjustified and unacceptable both the content and the form of ” the letter sent on Wednesday by US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota told a press conference. In his letter made public by the Brazilian press, Kirk expressed concern after Brazil announced this month it would raise tariffs on 100 imports, describing the move as “protectionist” and warning the US could strike back.

In a strongly-worded letter sent late Thursday, Patriota criticized US monetary policy which, in Brasilia’s view, created an “artificial appreciation” of the Brazilian currency and led to “a flood of imported goods at artificially low prices”. The United States, Brazil’s second largest trading partner after China, “has been one of the main beneficiaries of this situation. Between 2007 and 2011, exports of US products to Brazil have virtually doubled,” he noted. Patriota told reporters that the measures adopted by Brazil were permitted by the World Trade Organization. — AFP

THESSALONIKI: A man holds a piece of paper which reads in Greek ‘I am hungry’ as women walk by in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece. The leaders of Italy and Greece are insisting on the “absolute need” to preserve the eurozone, as Greek politicians struggle to put together an austerity package critical to the country’s financial survival. — AP

24

business

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

KSE ends in the green zone

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the green zone. The price index ended last week with an increase amounted to 1.50%, and the weighted index advanced by 2.70% compared to the closings of the week before, whereas KSX-15 Index gained 2.97%.

Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover increased by 11.53%, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD32.07 million, whereas trading volume average was 293.90 million shares, recording increase of 34.02%.

KSE witnessed dramatic change in its mode, as a general state of optimism spread among the traders, in the shadow of news about expected activities on the national portfolio. Some resources estimated that about KD2 billion will be injected into the market to buy Real Estate and Investment assets, in addition to supporting the Banks. As a result, active buying trend dominated the market during last week.

For the annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 1.13% annual gain compared to its closing in 2011, while the weighted index decreased by 0.07%, and the KSX-15 recorded 3.55% retreat compared to its value when it was launched. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 5,879.82 points, up by 1.50% from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered a 2.70% weekly gain after closing at 405.33 points. Moreover, the KSX-15 index recorded 2.97% weekly gain after closing at 964.46 points.

SECTORS’ INDICES All of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the green zone except for one sector. Last week’s highest gainer was the Insurance sector, achieving 4.04% growth rate as its index closed at 892.42 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Health Care sector’s index closed at 1,006.89 points recording 3.40% increase. The Consumer Goods

BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT sector came in third as its index achieved 2.96% growth, ending the week at 990.79 points. The Consumer Services sector was the least growing as its index closed at 929.43 points with a 0.36% increase. On the other hand, the Technology sector was last week’s only loser

as its index declined by 1.81% to end the week’s activity at 926.30 points.

SECTORS’ ACTIVITY The Financial Services sector dominated total trade

volume during last week with 729.80 million shares changing hands, representing 49.66% of the total market trading volume. The Real Estate sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 21.37% of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 314.02 million shares. On the other hand, the Banks sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 53.98 million or 33.66% of last week’s total market trading value. The Financial Services sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD49.98 million represented 31.17% of the total market trading value.

MARKET CAPITALIZATION KSE total market capitalization grew by 2.65% during last week to reach KD 27.42 billion, as ten of KSE’s sectors recorded an increase in their respective market capitalization, whereas the other two recorded declines. The Consumer Goods sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached KD 718.76 million, increasing by 12.57%. The Health Care sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 4.12% increase after the total value of its listed companies reached K.D. 188.37 million.

The third place was for the Telecommunications sector, which total market capitalization reached KD4.09 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 2.90%. The Oil & Gas sector was the least growing with 0.03% recorded growth after its market capitalization amounted to KD 334.78 million. On the other hand, the Technology sector headed the decliners list as its total market capitalization decreased by 1.35% to reach, by the end of the week, K.D. 62.29 million. The Consumer Services sector was second on this list, which market value of its listed companies declined by 0.0009%, reaching KD 710.76 million.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

BUSINESS

Belize gets 2-month extension for interest payment BELIZE CITY: Belize’s creditors yesterday gave the tiny Central American country a two-month reprieve after it paid a portion of its overdue debt interest. The move came after Belize paid $11.7 million interest on a $544 million bond, narrowly avoiding full-blown default after missing a deadline for repayment. The amount represented 50 percent of an interest payment that had been due August 20, and came as a 30-day grace period expired.

In response, a committee representing a group of bondholders said it would not go to court for an additional 60 days to allow for the conclusion of negotiations on debt restructuring, announced a co-president of the group, AJ Mediratta of US

investment fund Greylock Capital Management, in a statement. The committee also recommended to other bondholders to abstain from legal action during this period following the country’s show of good faith.

The government said late Thursday that bondholders had agreed to “reach an understanding regarding a restructuring of the instrument consistent with Belize’s debt servicing capacity.” It added that the two sides had “identified a common framework to advance negotiations.” Mediratta confirmed that talks are progressing and that a common framework had been defined. The low-lying, English-speaking nation on Central America’s

Caribbean coast is famous for diving, fishing, hiking and ecotourism.

With just 330,000 people, it has a government debt of $1.1 billion-a drop in the bucket by world standards, but a serious challenge for a country already hit hard by poverty and sluggish economic growth. Analysts see the government’s position as difficult; it wants payments spread over 50 years, with a 15-year grace period and interest of two percent, down from 8.5 percent. Another option would compel creditors to take a 45 percent cut on their investment, with a 30-year maturity and 3.5 percent interest rate. The sluggish global economy has taken a toll in Belize, where

25 percent of the economy is linked to tourism.

Growth is at two percent.

The country exports a minuscule $600 million in goods-mostly food and seafood-and imports $780 million. Chamber of Commerce head Kay Menzies said this week that there was a will to pay, but perhaps not a way, with growth so low. In August, Standard & Poor’s placed Belize under “selective” default after the country missed its interest payment-a step above a full default, because it was already in talks with creditors to reschedule its debt.

Belize, which aid organizations say has a poverty rate of about 40 percent, became independent from Britain in 1981. — AFP

Discover finds partners in evolving mobile payments Welcome to the digital wallet!

Qatar Airways introduces world renowned chefs to 5-star service Passengers to Savor finest culinary delights DOHA: Qatar Airways yesterday officially introduced an incredible line-up of globally renowned chefs to their unrivalled 5-star service, with the award-winning Chef Ramzi Choueiri, Chef Vineet Bhatia, Chef Tom Aikens and Chef Nobu Matsuhisa inspiring an entirely new in-flight dining experience. Handpicked to set a new standard for dining in the sky while representing the finest international cuisine from every corner of the world, the all-star team of culinary ambassadors has collaborated exclusively with Qatar Airways to create the ‘Qatar Airways Culinary World Menu’ - a new range of tempting signature dishes to satisfy the tastes of the airline’s discerning passengers.

CHEF RAMZI CHOUEIRI Chef Ramzi, from Lebanon, brings his exquisite experience of Middle East cuisine to the fore; Mumbai-born Chef Vineet has his unique blend of exotic Indian food; Chef Aikens, from the UK, provides his own variety of European culinary offering; and Chef Nobu, from Japan, adds a touch of Asian fusion cuisine to Qatar Airways’ ambassadorial line-up. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the airline’s collaboration with such global icons and gastronomic pioneers further proves Qatar Airways’ commitment to redefining the passenger experience by offering a truly 5-star service.

The chefs were unveiled yesterday at an international press conference in Doha, Qatar Airways’ hub city, where they delighted the gathered media with a live cooking demonstration of some of their favorite dishes. Al Baker said “Qatar Airways continues to challenge and lead the aviation industry, enhancing different service elements of air travel today and pushing the boundaries of genuine luxury and comfort. “The imminent arrival of one of the most advanced aircraft in the world, our new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, heralds the start of an exciting new era for travelers worldwide and yesterday’s introduction of a unique food offering is part of the overhaul of the entire travel experience for our passengers.

“Whether for business or pleasure, modern-day travelers want to arrive relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated regardless of time zones or destinations. Yet as a truly global airline we understand that beyond superior service, travelers also want to enjoy the journey of discovery, exploring new tastes and cuisines. “That is why we’ve travelled the world to assemble a team of culinary experts to offer our passengers the very best dining experience available in the sky,” added Al Baker, himself an admirer of food from different parts of the world.

Having been selected to create a unique and diverse menu for all international flights, the renowned chefs spent several months adapting and testing their specialties for Qatar Airways’ passengers. Their menus have begun to be rolled out on flights to and from Doha International Airport. The chefs took into account not only the flavors, textures, arrangements, aromas and tastes required for a memorable dining experience, but also how the taste buds are altered at 35,000 feet, and what types of food are most suited to long-haul flights.

The highly celebrated team consists of chefs that have gained a distinguished list of accolades including, multiple Michelin Star winners, multiaward winning authors, TV broadcasters, successful restaurateurs and even a Guinness Book of World Recorder holder. With each chef specifically chosen as a master of their own local cuisine, Chef Ramzi Choueiri was chosen as the culinary ambassador for the Arab World. One of the most popular and widely recognized chefs in the Middle East, Chef Ramzi has brought Lebanese cuisine to the masses with a daily live TV cooking show with over 10 million television viewers.

Speaking at the press conference in the Qatari capital, Chef Ramzi explained his pride in being given the opportunity to work with Qatar Airways and the chance to take his unique style of Lebanese cuisine to the world. “Since food reflects the traditions of a society, representing the Arab World, the home culture of the airline, is an exciting challenge and I’m extremely honored to be involved.

Arabic food is a melting pot between traditional recipes, new techniques and new methods so it’s always ready to be discovered whether you’ve grown up on traditional dishes or sampling for the first time,” he said.

CHEF VINEET BHATIA The second member of the chef team is the internationally renowned and multi-award winning Chef Vineet Bhatia, the only Indian chef to have won two Michelin stars. Describing his passion for cooking while showcasing his signature dishes in Doha, Chef Vineet said: “My cooking comes from the heart. “I believe in my food and I believe in what I do. As a child, I dreamt of being a pilot, so I jumped at the chance to work with Qatar Airways and share my passion with such an established and rapidly growing award-winning that is bringing a whole new travel experience to the world. My objective is to match the service with a 5-star dining experience.”

CHEF TOM AIKENS The third member of the all-star line-up, Chef Tom Aikens, has quickly risen to fame to become the youngest British chef ever awarded two Michelin stars by perfectly combining British and French influences.

Renowned for exploring unique flavors and tastes, Chef Tom explained the need to push boundaries. “I want to give passengers that try my dishes onboard Qatar Airways an exciting

taste sensation and a dining experience to be remembered by bringing together world-class service and world-class food. Qatar Airways is known for its service, setting new standards by innovating. I want it to be also known for its food through my culinary creations.”

CHEF NOBU MATSUHISA The final member of the exclusive team responsible for Qatar Airways Culinary World Menu is Chef Nobu Matsuhisa - a culinary icon around the world, simply known as Nobu. With a reputation built over three decades for cuisine blending traditional Japanese cuisine with South American ingredients, Chef Nobu has earned two Michelin stars and the admiration of thousands that he has introduced to Japanese cuisine through his line of 29 restaurants in 25 cities, spanning across five continents.

Speaking in Doha, Chef Nobu explained the philosophy behind his cuisine. “I want to see those sampling my dishes eat, smile and laugh. To me this is happiness. Qatar Airways understands my philosophy. Working with Qatar Airways is an exciting experience and I look forward to having my food served onboard a 5-star airline that cares about the product and the service. Meals and dining are an important part of flying and it is an exciting new challenge to adapt my food to the service aboard their superb aircraft.”

The exquisite gourmet offering, already available on selected flights, will be introduced to passengers onboard the airline’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner when the next generation aircraft starts flying in Qatar Airways’ colors in the coming months. Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 15 years of operation, currently flying a modern fleet of 111 aircraft to 118 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Since the beginning of 2012, Qatar Airways has launched flights to Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi (Georgia); Kigali (Rwanda); Zagreb (Croatia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad (Iraq), Perth (Australia) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania). Over the next few months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Yangon, Myanmar (October 3); Maputo, Mozambique (October 31); Belgrade, Serbia (November 20); Warsaw, Poland (December 5); Gassim, Saudi Arabia (7 January 2013); and Chicago, USA (10 April 2013).

CHIC AGO: I n a memorable episode of “Seinfeld,” George suffers from back problems because of a ridiculously overstuffed wallet.

His wallet later explodes. The episode mocked one of the inconveniences of the modern world, the explosion of cards. Credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, insurance cards, loyalty cards. Where to store them all? New wallets are coming into marketplace that don’t explode because, well, they are not physical pieces of leather.

Welcome to the digital wallet. It stores credit and check ing accounts on a mobile phone or in the cloud, an Internet-based data storage center, enabling consumers to make payments via computer, tablet or mobile phone.

The digital wallet promises to transform the way consumers shop both online and offline, setting off a massive race among financial institutions, retailers and technology companies to develop the best applications. Discover Financial Services, the Riverwoods, Ill.-based credit card issuer, has gotten off to a fast start, but it so far has taken a different path than some of its credit card rivals. I nstead of launching its own digital wallet, Discover has joined two of Silicon Valley’s largest and best-known companies to achieve scale and brand recognition in the emerging technology.

In the past few weeks, Discover has announced separate partnerships with Google and PayPal. Discover cardholders now can use the Google Wallet for payments.

PayPal, the online-payment unit of eBay Inc, plans to use Discover’s extensive merchant network to make a big push into bricks-andmortar stores. The deals underscore Discover’s distinctive place in the credit card world. Discover has about 50 million cards in circulation, one-sixth as many as Visa. But Discover’s payment network reaches more than 7 million merchants, penetrating about 95 percent of the US market.

“The size of its merchant footprint exceeds the size of its consumer footprint,” said James Friedman, an analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group. “The challenge for Discover is to better utilize its network.” That’s why financial analysts like the PayPal alliance.

Think of Discover’s payment network like a toll road. The more cars on the tollway, the more Discover collects. PayPal has more than 50 million active US customers - similar in number to Discover cardholders. PayPal has become so large in e-commerce that it has become a viable competitor with the payment networks run by Discover, Visa Inc, American Express Co and MasterCard Inc. Customers fund their PayPal accounts with debit cards, credit cards or checking accounts.

Discover, though, has less to lose partnering with PayPal because it issues its own credit cards and has smaller market share among consumers than its credit card rivals, said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. “If Discover can secure a critical-mass amount of volume from PayPal, it can turn that into a revenue stream,” Sakhrani said. “It’s a fairly decent bet.” The PayPal deal doesn’t preclude Discover from developing its own digital wallet. Visa, AmEx and MasterCard are testing digital platforms, but Discover is more cautious as the mobile ecosystem evolves. “As we think about our payment network, we are still looking to use a partnership approach,” said Joe Hurley, Discover’s head of global business development. “We are leveraging this huge infrastructure we have in place to gain further scale for our partners.”

PayPal is one of many companies trying to offer payments via smartphones, eliminating the need to carr y cash or credit cards.

Mobile payments are still in their infancy, but surveys show growing consumer interest. Forrester Research Inc. estimates that 30 percent of American mobile phone owners would consider mobile payments at the checkout counter, based on a poll of about 7,600 adults.

But PayPal’s development of a mobile-payment system was missing a key ingredient. While it has built a huge online network, consumers could not widely use PayPal’s digital wallet in bricksand-mortar stores. “To be a leader, we have to be everywhere the consumer wants to be,” said Don Kingsborough, PayPal’s vice president of retail. Starting in the second quarter of 2013, PayPal users will be able to access their accounts at Discover merchants.

That kind of scale would have taken PayPal years to achieve on its own, said Denee Carrington, a Forrester analyst.

Discover has direct relationships with 1,500 large merchants and also works with entities known as “merchant acquirers” that have contracts with smaller retailers.

Not all 7 million locations will be available at launch, but both sides expect a quick rollout. “Merchants will not have to do any work to accept PayPal,” said Joby Orlowsky, Discover’s vice president of strategic initiatives. “It will be a seamless integration.” But PayPal customers won’t be able to simply wave their

phone at the retailer’s payment terminal. The technology isn’t there yet. PayPal customers will have to enter a cellphone number and personal identification number on the terminal.

Because many merchants don’t have PIN-enabled payment terminals, PayPal will provide customers with another option to pay. The company will give its customers a plastic card that works much like a credit or debit card to swipe at the terminal. A PayPal card would be at odds with the whole idea of a digital wallet, analysts said. “ Why would a consumer bother using a PayPal card when all other cards in their wallet have been working just fine?” Carrington said.

“Without a compelling reason to switch, consumers will default to existing, preferred payment products.”

Kingsborough, though, said the PayPal card could replace all of the credit and debit cards in consumers’ wallets. And over time as the technology for accepting mobile payments improve, the card could be phased out. PayPal also will be marketing the flexibility of its digital wallet to store gift cards and coupons. “It’s all about everything being in the cloud and following you,” Kingsborough said.

“You’ll also have the security of not having your personal data transmitted at the point of sale. It’s a more secure way to pay.” And the end of exploding wallets. — MCT

TREG offers exclusive properties in Britain KUWAIT: Top Real Estate Group ( TREG), working as exclusive agent for Barratt Homes (Northampton) in Kuwait and Qatar, continue their successful relationship by offering exclusive properties in the much sought after Milton Keynes area in the UK. Already very popular amongst the Kuwaiti investors, Milton Keynes has proved to be a successful investment. TREG strive to offer the best developments Milton Keynes has to offer attracting both the investor and end user.

Milton Keynes is still one of the UK’s fastest growing urban areas with a population of approximately 250,000 people.

The substantial growth offers a range of first-class opportunities.

Over £1 billion of private investment has been committed in the last decade, transforming the city’s skyline with new architecture and generated an unparalleled air of optimism throughout the city.

Barratt Developments, Britain’s biggest house builder sell around 13,000 homes a year across the UK. They continue to grow from strength to strength having been named “UK house builder of the year 2012”. For the third year running, Barratt Homes is officially the highest quality major national house builder, having been awarded the exclusive 5 star House builder award.

Milton Keynes looks and feels like no other UK city. Only 30 minutes by train from London Euston station, it’s modern and well organized, with a unique grid road system that keeps people and business moving. It’s well connected, with easy access to markets worldwide. It’s green and clean and it’s got a ‘can do’ attitude that gets things done. The city is one of the UK’s fastest growing urban areas and has propelled itself onto the leader board of economic growth areas in Britain. At 14% business growth it’s higher than both the South East (10.3%) and England

Adrian Endersby

as a whole (10.7%).

Milton Keynes’ success is a testament to the vision and drive of the many people who planned the city - and to the people whose ‘can do’ spirit over the years has turned the vision into reality. Adrian Endersby, who is the TREG Business Development Manager for the UK, stated: “I am very excited by the opportunities we can bring to the Kuwaiti market. By working alongside the UK’s largest house builder, we at TREG can select the perfect projects to suit our clients requirements. The demand for Milton Keynes is growing and the Kuwaiti investors really do understand what a great opportunity it is.

Being so close to London and a fraction of the price, the projects Barratt Homes have in Milton Keynes not only provide an ideal investment opportunity but also a holiday home for clients who regularly stay in the UK” TREG will be presenting the Barratt Homes Milton Keynes projects at the Kuwait International Property Show KIPS 2012, which will be held in the Fairground, Mishref, 24-29 Sept.

26

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

BUSINESS

IIMK, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, organizes ‘Gurukul for Gurus DUBAI: With a vision to fundamentally transform the Indian education sector in the UAE, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK), is all set to organize a workshop, ‘Gurukul for Gurus’, for school teachers, principals and educationists in Dubai. The workshop will be held from 18 to 20 December 2012 in Dubai. Announcing this in a press conference Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIMK said that the objectives of the program is to familiarize educational leaders with the world’s best practices and enduring values in creating centers of excellence; understanding self to enhance effectiveness; broadening the horizon of perception and nurturing effective learning in the classrooms.

“This workshop is a demonstration of the fact that the destiny of our country is being shaped in our classrooms”, added Prof Chatterjee, who has designed and taught this workshop around the world. The workshop is sponsored by Malabar Gold & Diamonds to fulfill their share of what Prof. Chatterjee describes as ‘Corporate

Educational Responsibility’. “Our workshop is a commitment to reinventing teaching and learning excellence by encouraging schools to move away from the old-fashioned approach of teaching to a text toward learning in context. You can teach a child what is far only when he learns what is near.

Technology is fast changing the way the younger generation receives information and teacher’s today have to adapt to their new learning environment.

Teachers need to be oriented towards the realization that India is emerging as a global power, and the future generation and leaders are under their stewardship in the classrooms of today.”

Sharing his thoughts on the significance of school education and teachers, Shamlal Ahammed M P - Managing Director-International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds said: “We believe quality education at the school level is important to build a base for secondary education and developing the human resources. We feel honored with this association of a journey to support academic excellence in schools that fol-

low Indian curriculum by partnering with IIMK”. “The program of GURUKUL presented by Prof Chatterjee is planned to gave a new dimension to the process

and the Student. The program will be an attempt to revive the fading bond between the teaching and student communities,” added Shamlal.

of teaching and learning. The very name Gurukul rings a bell in every Indian as an endearing and warm word representing the emotive bond between the Teacher

According to K P Abdulsalam Executive Director, Malabar Group, this is a continuation of the workshops that was successfully executed by Prof

ABK rewards its loyal customers Discounts from the International Clinic

Stewart Lockie

KUWAIT: Two years ago Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait created its ABK Advantage Program to provide diversified services and offer its clients savings at popular retail outlets.

ABK is now proud to announce its most recent partnership with the International Clinic where ABK customers can use their credit or debit cards at IC’s new Farwaniya Branch to receive instant discounts on their medical bills.

Stewart Lockie, GM, Retail Banking at ABK explained that “Our customers’ well being is important to us, so we thought of something that could help them get the best medical treatment with conces-

sions that would automatically make them feel better! After a great deal of research we agreed that the International Clinic offered the very best of medical services, using the latest equipment and they also had some of the best medical personnel available in Kuwait.

It is a great way to reward our customers that use the ABK Advantage Program.” Lockie further explained that, “Our partnership with the International Clinic is our latest initiative added to a full range of discounts that the ABK Advantage Program offers our loyal customers.

The service exclusively offers

pipelines and multidisciplinary plants globally since 1962.

On this occasion, Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of Drake & Scull International PJSC said, “The Iraqi

Khaldoun Tabari

construction market offers massive potential in areas such as Oil & Gas where there is a huge demand for EPC contractors. The country is also undertaking substantial developments to revolutionize its social infrastructure and as such we can expect demand for our type of services to extend to other key sectors such as healthcare, education, hospitality , housing , waste water and water treatment. Our work on the Zubair Oil Field marks an important milestone for DSI and will optimize our exposure and market reach to the Oil & Gas domain”.

Tabari added, “Our strong foot print in the region gives us the flexibly to fast track mobilization of resources on the ground. Our history in Civil and MEP Projects in the Oil and gas and petrochemical industry has given us the knowhow and competitive advantage to make substantial indoors into this competitive field. Our offices in Iraq are gearing up to tackle the complexities and dynamics of the project and we expect to complete the work in July 2014.” DSI reported AED 1.5 billion in revenues for the first half of the year and managed to sustain its backlog at AED 7.4 billion and continues to explore other opportunities in the Rail and Oil & Gas sectors.

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons announces exclusive trade-in KUWAIT: Due to its continuous efforts to offer the best deals for its valued customers, Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons has developed and launched an exclusive promotion during the month of September, offering customers excellent trade-in offer value on their old vehicles to utilize the value to finance their purchase of a brand new Cadillac.

All of Cadillac’s models have been rising in popularity due to several factors including the vehicle’s modern and innovative interior and exterior design, luxurious cabin area and its unique engine features that places it in the forefront of performance-centric vehicles.

Cadillac’s globally successful status affirms its quality safety measures that have been seamlessly integrated to redefine its iconic standards of luxury.

The Cadillac CTS sedan stands out with a unique price that starts at KD11,695 while the starting price for the Cadillac SRX is KD13,495.

The popular Escalade Luxury SUV is priced at KD21,995 and lastly, the CTS Coupe, a vehicle that is praised by the performance-loving youth in Kuwait, has an attractive starting price of KD15,995. All the cars are available in

the Cadillac showroom located in Safat, Al-Rai. Any customer can take advantage of this exclusive offer that will run throughout the entire month of September. If you are looking to differentiate yourself from the crowd with any of Cadillac luxurious models, the Cadillac trade in offer gives customers the best value

to trade in their current vehicle for a brand new Cadillac. Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons offers all customers this special promotion in cooperation with Alamana Group.

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons further enhances the Cadillac ownership experience by offering the following services that are included in the Cadillac Premium Care Program such as vehicle service and maintenance every four years or 100,000 km, 4-year roadside assistance in the Middle East with

Three steps to being a management superstar KUWAIT: Being promoted to a managerial position is a gratifying feeling, as it is a culmination of all the hard work you put into your job. As the statistics from Bayt.com’s Hiring Management in the MENA’ poll suggest, four in 10 professionals (42%) in the Middle East agree

unlimited distance, periodic delivery maintenance service, warranty for four years or 100,000 km and providing customers with an courtesy vehicle during scheduled repairs.

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim service center is distinguished by its continuous and successful efforts in providing the highest quality of

services that have set an example to international standards. The largest in the world, the service center is equipped with a large variety of the most advanced equipment operated by a team of skilled professionals and effective consultants who ensure timely service. Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive continues to offer exclusive promotions that encourage people to purchase their very own Cadillac and experience the limitless luxury and benefits of this vehicle.

your HR depar tment with clear job descriptions and mention the required skills-sets you are looking for. Bayt.com’s latest poll findings on ‘Management Challenges in the MENA’ might come in handy when assessing your potential team: WHAT MANAGERS LOOK FOR 24.3% of managers in the region look for ‘professional success’ above all else in candidates. Team-playing skills were found to be second most important when hiring. In fact, 22.1% of managers will choose a candidate who knows how to work in a team over character (14.7%), general success (11.4%), technical skills (10.7%), communication skills (6.6%), leadership (5.5%) and academic success (4.7%).

ABK customers instant discounts in retail showrooms throughout Kuwait by just using their debit or credit ABK cards.

Hotels and resorts, fashion, jewelry and watches, furniture, restaurants and cafes, health and beauty, gifts and services, lifestyle and so much more are all offered at discounted prices but only to ABK customers. That’s a great advantage to banking with ABK! “ For more information on how to join the ABK Advantage Program please visit www.eahli.com to talk directly with one of our account managers through Al Ahli Chat Service or call Ahlan Ahli on 1899899.

Substantial oil and gas project for DSI in Iraq KUWAIT: Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI), a regional market leader in the integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of Civil Contracting, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP), Water and Power, Rail and Oil and Gas announced yesterday that it has been awarded in collaboration with Sicim spa of Italy a AED 1.314 billion Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for pipeline installation at the Zubair Oil Field in southeastern Iraq. DSI’s share of the overall contract value is 50%.

The Zubair Oil Field is considered one of the largest in the world - and is developed by a consortium led by Eni, one of Italy’s largest companies specialized in Oil &Gas, petrochemicals, oil field services, and power generation.

The project scope is EPC services for oil and water flow lines, water trunklines, oil transfer pipelines, and connections to wellheads and degassing stations. This represents DSI’s first project in Iraq and its first major Oil & Gas contract in the region. DSI will execute the project in Joint Venture collaboration with European EPC specialists SICIM. SICIM has been involved in the execution of EPC projects for the Oil and Gas industry, installing large diameter

Debashis Chatterjee in India. “IIMK organized a four-day workshop during the month of May in India. During the workshop many interesting facts and issues emerged. It was noticed that the Central Education Boards are obsessed with imitating and buying education methods and technologies from countries as far as Australia without paying enough attention to the wealth of knowledge that already exists in the works of Indian gurus such as Tagore, Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda. This needs to be addressed on a priority basis.

Moreover there is an urgent need to find out how technology needs to be integrated with learning and teaching along with ‘chalk and talk’ method.

These issues and much more will be covered by Prof. Debashis Chatterjee in the seminar that will be exclusive for teachers from schools that follow the Indian education stream,” he added.

“The process of short listing the participants have already started and we are looking forward to the workshop,” he pointed out.

that management level jobs in their company are occupied by those promoted within the organization.

However with the gratifying feeling also comes the slight trepidation and selfdoubt, especially for first time managers. The thought that your promotion is indeed well deser ved and is an acknowledgement of your abilities can be comfor ting. To fur ther help you armor yourself with skills that will help you succeed in your new managerial role with confidence and focus, the career experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading Job Site have these steps to recommend.

SET YOUR GOALS Try to take some time off in between roles to review thoroughly your new tasks and set your goals ahead of time.

Do your research and make sure your goals are in-line with those of your manager and the company’s overall objectives. The more you are aware of what is expected of you and what your deliverables are, the more you can anticipate and plan ahead.

FOCUS ON YOUR TEAM A good and successful manager is one who puts his or her team as his or her number one priority. Get to know the members who are already on your team: know each person’s role; what their personal goals, ambitions, and skills are; how challenged they currently are; what problems they have had in the past; what they would like to see done differently; and what they expect from their manager. Make sure you define the team’s mission by setting common goals and values to work by. If you have to recruit new team members, provide

MAIN CHALLENGES 29.9% of managers claim that the most difficult aspect of their job is managing multicultural teams, though building trust and loyalty is also considered challenging by 24.8%.

According to the poll, the other areas that managers find challenging are motivating and inspiring teams (18.6%), encouraging open communications (16.2%), training and coaching (5.7%), as well as delegating adequately (4.8%).

BE A LEADER The best leaders lead by example.

Have a clear vision, solid managerial skills, maintain open communication channels with your team, be understanding and show flexibility. Make sure your team members are always challenged and are working towards a common goal; keep them motivated, inspire them and give them the opportunity to grow. Below is what employees seek, as per Bayt.com’s poll results on ‘Management Challenges in the MENA’.

WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT As far as employees are concerned, the conduct they seek most from their manager is ‘open, respectful communication’, with 35.1% choosing this over other options. Also, 20% place stock in a good work environment; 16.6% want rewards and career progression; 13.4% want training and learning opportunities; 9.9% want a good work-life balance and only 5% value long-term security. A resourceful manager can provide these things without hampering the department’s profitability and by keeping employees’ morale high. Make it a point to recognize publicly a job well done at weekly meetings. Reward team members for excellence with unexpected treats like a free lunch or a few hours off.

Bring in speakers or share articles so they ‘re exposed to best practices.

Assign projects to foster collaboration and closer relationships within your team. Don’t let your team stagnate; stay on the offensive to keep your momentum going.

Largest retailer cuts out largest e-tailer LOS ANGELES: The nation’s largest retailer has cut out the nation’s largest e-tailer. WalMart has announced it will stop selling Kindles and other Amazon.com-branded products after it sells out of its existing stock.

Here’s the entirety of Wal-Mart’s statement on the change: “Recently, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. made a business decision to not carry current Amazon products beyond our purchase commitments and existing inventory.

“Our customers trust us to provide a broad assortment of products at everyday low prices, and we approach each merchandising decision through this lens. “We will continue to offer our customers a broad assortment of tablets, e-readers and accessories at a variety of great price points. This decision is consistent with our overall merchandising strategy.” Reuters was first with the news. The Wal-Mart decision follows a

similar move in May by rival Target, with that discount chain saying it “continually evaluates its product assortment” and would phase out Amazon-branded products in the spring of 2012.

Amazon did not return a call for comment.

Wal-Mart will still carry devices including the Apple iPad, Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Barnes & Noble Nook. Although the retail behemoth wasn’t specific about its reasons for getting rid of the popular Kindle family, Wal-Mart might be worried about losing sales of physical media, such as DVDs and books, as consumers use their Kindles to stream movies and download e-books from Amazon directly. And the two companies also compete heavily for sales of non-electronics products, with analysts saying Amazon consistently offers shoppers lower prices across several categories. —MCT

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Majority of users never heard of most dangerous online threats DUBAI: Stuxnet, Duqu, and Zeus are the names of the most dangerous online threats, and have beenreported even outside of the specialist computer press. But it seems that many ordinary users remain largely ignorant of them. A recent survey conducted by O+K Research shows that nearly two third of respondents have never heard of them, while 28% of those surveyed only know about them in general terms.

The participants of the survey - who represented 25 countries - were also asked about zero-day attacks and botnets and the result was almost the same - the users knew no more about these threats than about the above-mentioned malware.

However these results are not unequivocally bad because integrated antivirus solutions protect devices from the latest threats regardless of what the owners know about them.

At the same time, users who don’t clearly understand the level of risk presented by the malware landscape may not fully understand the need for proper security software.This, according to the survey, is where the most serious problem lies. Nearly half of PC users and laptop owners (except for Apple products) think their data is relatively safe. 8.5% of respondents are sure their computer or laptop does not need any additional protection. Meanwhile, just one successful malware infection could lead to the loss of all important data stored on the user’s computer.

The situation with mobile devices is even more complicated: 16% of tablet owners and 15% of modern smartphone users are sure their devices are in no danger. Just under half of all mobile users can be classified as doubters - they think their devices are more or less protected although they admit the use of specialized software such as Kaspersky Mobile

Security will provide additional levels of security.

Generally, most users tend to underestimate the danger which malware poses for their devices and their data. It is largely due to the fact that users simply do not know how malicious programs penetrate the computer, how they behave and what havoc they can wreak. It’s important to note that Kaspersky Internet Security ensures timely protection from all cyber-threats, including todays’ most dangerous cyber-weapons.

User attitudes to software packages which use advanced cloud-based technologies - such as Kaspersky Security Network - are also interesting.

More than a quarter of the surveyed (27%) have never heard about such solutions. Most respondents (57%) have heard of them but aren’t interested. And only 16% of those surveyed already use solutions which support these technologies. The result is not

encouraging considering the fact that it is cloud technologies which ensure that antivirus software gets information about emerging threats and can provide the necessary protection level.

Kaspersky Lab is the largest antivirus company in Europe. It delivers some of the world’s most immediate protection against IT security threats, including viruses, spyware, crime-ware, hackers, phishing, and spam. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users. Kaspersky Lab products provide superior detection rates and one of the industry’s fastest outbreak response times for home users, SMBs, large enterprises and the mobile computing environment.

Kaspersky(R) technology is also used worldwide inside the products and services of the industry’s leading IT security solution providers. Learn more at: http://www.kaspersky.com/.

iPhone 5 storms market with careful, thoughtful upgrades Jewel-like precision

HAREN: Workers clean up debris in a street in the northern dutch town of Haren yesterday a day after riot police went into action to contain thousands of party-goers who turned up after a teenager’s birthday invite on Facebook went viral. — AFP

Police swamped after teen’s Facebook party goes viral THE HAGUE: Riot police went into action in a sleepy Dutch town late Friday to contain thousands of party-goers who turned up after a teenager’s birthday invite on Facebook went viral.

Dutch news agency ANP quoted a correspondent as saying the situation in Haren near the northern city of Groningen was getting out of control as police were pelted with stones, bottles, bicycles and pots of flowers by angry youths.

Describing “chaos”, ANP quoted local police as saying several people had been injured, two seriously. Four arrests were made, but police said more could be expected after pictures they took were studied.

The police had been on high alert after the schoolgirl posted a message inviting friends to her 16th birthday party on Friday, but forgot to mark it as a private event, prompting more than 20,000 replies.

Public television station NOS said up to 4,000 people, the vast majority of them young, had turned up in Haren, population 18,000. Cars and doorways were damaged by objects thrown at police blocking the

street where the girl lives.

Riot police made several charges to disperse the youths trying to get access to the downtown street. The birthday girl had meanwhile fled her home earlier in the day.

“She posted the invitation on Facebook and sent it to friends, who then sent it to other friends and soon it spread like wildfire across the Internet,” Groningen police spokeswoman Melanie Zwama told AFP. Several websites have sprung up dedicated to the party and referring to 2012 US teen film “Project X”-about a suburban birthday party getting out of control after an invitation goes viral.

One site referred to Friday’s party as “Project X Haren”, counting down the seconds to the event and claiming 150,000 people had been invited. It also published the party’s address, adding: “By all means bring some friends!”

Previously “Project X” parties have run riot in different parts of the world including Germany, Australia and especially the United States, where teens wrecked an unoccupied Texas home, causing damage of up to $100,000. —- AFP

Turing’s enduring importance BERLIN: When Alan Turing was born 100 years ago, on June 23, 1912, a computer was not a thing-it was a person. Computers, most of whom were women, were hired to perform repetitive calculations for hours on end. The practice dated back to the 1750s, when AlexisClaude Clairaut recruited two fellow astronomers to help him plot the orbit of Halley’s comet. Clairaut’s approach was to slice time into segments and, using Newton’s laws, calculate the changes to the comet’s position as it passed Jupiter and Saturn. The team worked for five months, repeating the process again and again as they slowly plotted the course of the celestial bodies.

Today we call this process dynamic simulation; Clairaut’s contemporaries called it an abomination. They desired a science of fundamental laws and beautiful equations, not tables and tables of numbers. Still, his team made a close prediction of the perihelion of Halley’s comet. Over the following century and a half, computational methods came to dominate astronomy and engineering.

By the time Turing entered King’s College in 1931, human computers had been employed for a wide variety of purposes-and often they were assisted by calculating machines. Punch cards were used to control looms and tabulate the results of the American census. Telephone calls were switched using numbers dialed on a ring and interpreted by series of 10-step relays.

Cash registers were ubiquitous. A “millionaire” was not just a very rich person-it was also a mechanical calculator that could multiply and divide with astonishing speed.

All these machines were fundamentally limited. They weren’t just slower, less reliable, and dramatically poorer in memory than today’s computers. Crucially, the calculating and switching machines of the 1930s-and those that would be introduced for many years to come-were each built for a specific purpose. Some of the machines could perform manipulations with math, some could even follow a changeable sequence of instructions, but each machine had a finite repertoire of useful operations. The machines were not general-purpose. They were not programmable.

Meanwhile, mathematics was in trouble.

In the early 1920s the great German mathematician David Hilbert had proposed formalizing all of mathematics in terms of a small number of axioms and a set of consistent proofs.

Hilbert envisioned a technique that could be

used to validate arbitrary mathematical statements-to take a statement such as “x+y=3 and x-y=3” and determine whether it was true or false. This technique wouldn’t rely on insight or inspiration on the part of the mathematician; it had to be repeatable, teachable, and straightforward enough to be followed by a computer (in Hilbert’s sense of the word). Such a statement-proving system would be powerful stuff indeed, for many aspects of the physical world can readily be described as a set of equations. If one were able to apply a repeatable procedure to find out whether a mathematical statement was true or false, then fundamental truths about physics, chemistry, biology-even human society-would be discoverable not through experiments in the lab but by mathematicians at a blackboard.

But in 1931, an Austrian logician named Kurt Godel presented his devastating incompleteness theorem. It showed that for any useful system of mathematics, it is possible to create statements that are true but cannot be proved.

Then came Turing, who drove the final stake through Hilbert’s project-and in so doing, set the path for the future of computing.

As Turing showed, the issue is not just that some mathematical statements are unprovable; in fact, no method can be devised that can determine in all cases whether a given statement is provable or not. That is, any statement on the blackboard might be true, might be false, might be unprovable ... and it is frequently impossible to determine which. Math was fundamentally limited-not by the human mind but by the nature of math itself.

The brilliant, astonishing thing was the way Turing went about his proof. He invented a logical formalism that described how a human computer, taught to follow a complex set of mathematical operations, would actually carry them out. Turing didn’t understand how human memory worked, so he modeled it as a long tape that could move back and forth and on which symbols could be written, erased, and read. He didn’t know how human learning worked, so he modeled it as a set of rules that the human would follow depending on the symbol currently before her and some kind of internal “state of mind.” Turing described the process in such exact detail that ultimately, a human computer wasn’t even needed to execute it-a machine could do it instead. Turing called this theoretical entity the “automatic machine” or a-machine; today we call it a Turing

NEW YORK: If you run your finger over one of the joints where plastic and metal meet on the rim of the iPhone 5, you feel just the slightest hint of the seam. The materials have been machined to blend into one another with astonishing, jewel-like precision. This is the essence of Apple: creating a product that looks and feels so good, you just know it has to be good.

The iPhone 5 lives up to its looks in the sense that it’s the best iPhone yet. It’s also the biggest overhaul to the line since the release of the 3G, four years ago. Compared to other high-end smartphones, however, it’s more of a catch-up move.

The iPhone has a winning recipe already, and Apple’s upgrades are careful and thoughtful.

Beyond the beauty and thinness of it, there are no new hardware features you can’t get with other phones.

For instance, the screen is bigger, but not big.

It’s the first time Apple is increasing the screen size of the phone, from a diagonal of 3.5 inches to one of 4 inches. The width has stayed the same, so the entire increase has come from making the screen taller.

Other smartphone makers have increased their screen sizes in the last few years, after realizing that a big screen is something customers like -and something Apple had refused to provide. Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S III has a 4.8inch screen, for instance.

The taller screen means that third-party apps will be hemmed in by black bars until the developers get around to updating them for the new dimensions.

The other major upgrade in the iPhone 5 is that it now comes with the ability to connect to “LTE” networks in the US, Canada, and a few other countries. These are the latest, fastest data networks, and they’ll make a huge difference, at

least for Sprint and Verizon customers, who have been stuck on the relatively slow, older networks of those carriers (though Sprint customers will be hard pressed to find any LTE towers - the company has just started building out the network.) For AT&T customers, the difference will be noticeable but not as big.

When it comes to LTE, Apple is trailing the pack. The company skipped the first generation of LTE-capable chips, which went into competing phones as far back as a year and a half ago, because they were too power-hungry. Now that the chips have improved and LTE is a near-standard feature in smartphones, Apple is coming on board.

Apple is pushing the envelope on screen technology by adopting a display that eliminates one glass layer. Ahead of Apple’s announcement, company watchers were betting it would use the space freed up by the new technology to increase the battery size for the benefit of LTE users, keeping the size of the phone the same.

But Apple has actually made the phone considerably thinner, while keeping the stated battery life at an impressive eight hours of LTE usage (I did not have enough time with the phone to test this claim).

This, along with obsessive attention to fit and finish, makes for an exquisitely tight, light phone that seems perfect for the hand. The iPhone 4S suddenly looks chunky in a Stalinist way, and the Galaxy S III looks cheap and plasticky.

The phone is really too pretty to cover with a case - I’d get a good insurance plan for it instead.

The glass on most of the back has been replaced with matte aluminum, which will probably scratch and wear considerably, but it should be less fragile than the notoriously breakage-prone backs on the 4 and 4s.

One victim of the slimmed-down body is the old connection port. It was just too big to survive.

Apple has replaced it with a much smaller port it calls “Lightning.” This means the iPhone 5 won’t fit into your iPod dock. Old charging cables won’t work, either. You’ll have to buy an exquisitely overpriced $29 adapter from Apple or wait for knock-offs.

It would have been nice, and uncharacteristic, of Apple to go with the flow and use the micro USB port every other phone uses these days. That way, you could charge iPhones with other chargers, and vice versa. The Lightning port is better than micro-USB because it provides a deeper, more secure fit and it’s reversible, you don’t have to worry about whether you’re trying to fit in the cable upside-down. But as the number of gadgets in the home keeps rising, standardizing on one port would have been welcome help with managing the chargers.

There’s something else that now has a deeper, more secure fit: the new earbuds. These “EarPods” are completely redesigned. Instead of broad, round speakers, they have small, oval outlets that beam sound into the ear canal. The sound quality is outstanding. They can be bought separately for $29, and this time, that price tag looks modest.

The hardware updates mean that I’m still comfortable recommending the iPhone as the best phone out there. They don’t break much new ground, but they support the things that really set the iPhone apart: the slick, reliable operating system and the multitude of highquality, third-party applications. There’s a reason Apple can sell two-year-old phones (like the “4”) while other manufacturers retire theirs after a year or less. The iPhone phenomenon is about so much more than the phone. —-AP

Canon celebrates production of 80 million EF lenses DUBAI: Canon announces the achievement of a new lens manufacturing milestone, following the production of the company’s 80-millionth EF lens. This new milestone comes just over nine months after announcing the production of the 70-millionth lens in October 2011 and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Canon EOS System.

“Since the first ever EF lens was produced in 1987, we’ve been dedicated to providing the best possible performance to users of all levels.” said Hendrik Verbrugghe, Marketing Director, Canon Middle East. “Using decades of expertise and the latest optical technologies, our EF lens range offers both outstanding image quality and creative flexibility - whether you shoot stills or video. This is an incredible milestone, and speaks volumes about the quality and popularity of our EF lens line-up.”

Production of Canon’s world-renowned EF lens series first began in March 1987 alongside the introduction of Canon’s first EOS SLR camera system at the company’s Utsunomiya plant.

Over the past 25 years the range has continued to pioneer technical advancement in the industry through the introduction of a series of innovative technologies, including the world’s first1 Ultrasonic Motor-powered lens (USM) and Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, as well as a multi-layered diffractive optical (DO) element, and Subwavelength Structure Coating (SWC) anti-reflection technology.

Designed to offer both photographers and videographers exceptional creative flexibility, the EF lens series now comprises over 76 different models2. In addition to a range of EF and EF-S lenses designed for DSLRs, the range now includes an expanding selection of 4K-resolution EF Cinema Lenses that provide class-leading professional video performance. In July 2012, Canon also announced a new line of EF-M lenses developed specifically for the company’s EOS M compact system camera, which combine Canon’s signature image quality with compact, lightweight designs.

HONG KONG: An Apple iPhone 5 map application, utilising the new iO6 software, shows two sets of the disputed islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and claimed by Beijing under the name Diaoyu, in Hong Kong yesterday. —-AFP

Apple maps disaster may solve China-Japan islands row TOKYO: Apple’s new iPhone 5 may have been criticised for its glitch-ridden new maps program, but it may have inadvertently provided a diplomatic solution to China and Japan’s ongoing row over disputed islands.

The new smartphone, which has dumped Google Maps in favour of its own version, has been ridiculed for misplacing major landmarks, shifting towns and even creating a new airport.

But amid a row over an outcrop of islands claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing, Apple’s new iO6 software has provided a resolution of sorts. When a user searches for the Tokyocontrolled Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, claimed by Beijing under the name

Diaoyu, two sets of the islands appear alongside each other.

“The map has one set of islands for each country. Is this a message from Apple that we civilians must not get engaged in a pointless dispute?” one Japanese blogger wrote.

The new mapping program was released last week as part of Apple’s updated mobile operating system software, which powers the new iPhone 5, released Friday, and can be installed as an upgrade on other Apple devices.

To the chagrin of many, the new operating system replaces Google Maps, which had been the default mapping system in Apple devices until now.

Twitter channels TV viewers SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter chief Dick Costolo said Friday that the Internet Age one-to-many text messaging service is turning out to be a boon for good old television.

“There is a fascinating relationship between Twitter and tune-in, and Twitter and TV,” Costolo said during an on-stage chat at an Online News Association gathering in San Francisco. “We are just scratching the surface of that.”

His comments came during a conversation that touched on an array of topics, from where Twitter was heading to worries by software developers about the startup’s tightening control over the globally popular platform. Costolo envisioned Twitter one day being woven into television viewing in real time, allowing for real-time exchanges or voting during shows or broadcast sporting

events. He cited the deluge of Twitter chatter related to the recent Olympic Games in London, implying that tweets prompted more people to tune into events broadcast exclusively on television in the United States by NBC. “The fascinating thing about NBC was that while the digerati were tweeting ‘#NBCfail,’ it is still the case that they had the highest-rated Olympics in 36 years,” Costolo said, noting broadcast-time complaints by viewers. Twitter and Facebook synchronization was feature in a TVGuide.com smartphone application tailored to give people personalized watchlists that make it easy to find shows they like amid the exploding array of options.

“You can share with your friends; talk about shows in real time,” TV Guide Digital general manager and executive vice president Christy Tanner

said in a recent interview. “People are actually watching more live TV, time-shifted TV, ondemand TV and more streaming TV... At the same time, we are creating a new paradigm of discovery and watch management.”

San Francisco startup Yap.TV mated the television program guide with the Twitter stream, Facebook and other social networks to let people see what shows people are talking about and join in the conversation along with the viewing.

Costolo said that Twitter was also working on tools for “curating” messages focused on common topics and that by year’s end, users would be able to download all of their tweets. “The caveat is that this is the CEO saying this, not the engineer who is building it,” he quipped. “I would dearly like to have it out by the end of the year.” — AFP

28

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

health & science

After victory, Endeavor rolls in to retirement Handling Endeavour costs $28 million

KUWAIT: Laila Alghanim, President of Hayatt Breast Cancer Foundation (third right) and Dr Labiba Temmim, Executive Director & Medical Affairs, HayattRuqayah Abdulwahab Alqatami Breast Cancer Foundation, (second left) with members the Hayyatt-Wataniya press conference.

Hayatt, Wataniya launch breast cancer charity drive KUWAIT: Hayatt, a part of Ruqayah Abdulwahab Alqatami Breast Cancer Foundation, is partnering with Wataniya to launch the Breast Cancer Charity Drive to raise money for patients suffering from breast cancer and raise awareness.

The drive is coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October 2012) and will include a charity dinner on October 4, 2012, at Sheraton Kuwait, and hosted by the Syrian diva Waad Al-Bahri.

All proceeds and donations will go to Hayatt.

A conference on breast cancer awareness - one of the most common women’s health issues - and the importance of prevention and early diagnosis was held at the Sheraton Hotel Kuwait. It was attended by Laila Alghanim, President of Hayatt- Ruqayah Abdulwahab Alqatami Breast Cancer Foundation; Dr Labiba Temmim, Executive Director & Medical Affairs, Hayatt - Ruqayah Abdulwahab Alqatami Breast Cancer Foundation, Abdulaziz Fakhroo, Deputy CEO, Wataniya, members of Bader Sultan & Brothers Co, Osrati Magazine, Diplomatic Club, Al-Hamra Real Estate Co, Tanagra (Habchi & Chalhoub), as well as local media and members of Hayatt-Ruqayah Abdulwahab Breast Cancer Foundation and Wataniya Telecom.

Speaking at the conference Laila Alghanim, President of Hayatt Breast Cancer Foundation said, “October is observed as the breast cancer awareness month worldwide and it is important to remind women in Kuwait of the dangers of the disease. A renowned oncologist Dr Luis Compos, President “Oncology Consultants”, Houston, Texas and President of Hayatt Scientific Advisory Board will join us to attend the gala to support Hayatt.

Alghanim continues, the campaign goals are to stress on the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection for women past a certain age and to encourage them to have regular mammography check-ups and consultations.

It is important to implement a screening program in Kuwait our beloved country.

Over the last four years, we tried (Hayatt) to start such program as we do not want anymore to have a close friend an aunt or a cousin loose her battle to this disease and not in Kuwait the country with such high medical standard.

Hayatt first women wellness center at Yarmouk Al-Abdulhadi Health Center was inaugurated on the March 5, 2012 that was made possible thanks to donations of generous philanthropists and partners. Our ambition will be to duplicate such a center in each of Kuwait governorate giving the chance to women come regularly for their yearly follow-up and have all their check-ups done the same day at a one - stop clinic.

In addition, donations will be collected to cover the treatment of our sisters’ expatriates living in Kuwait, who cannot afford the costs of specialized treatments which are in the range of KWD 25,000 for one year and may cost more if the treatment is extended. I would like to take this opportunity to thank “Wataniya” for being the first to sponsor the treatment of one breast cancer for one year. I would like to express my gratitude to the pharmacy staff and particularly the chairman of the pharmacy department Dr Abdullah Al-Mutairi, the nursing staff, the medical staff and administration of the cancer center.

Dr Labiba Temmim, Executive Director & Medical Affairs, Hayatt- Ruqayah Abdulwahab Alqatami Breast Cancer Foundation said: “Breast cancer is on the

rise. Big countries have the most cases but not always the highest incidences and rates in the developing world may be even higher than the spotty data suggest.

In 2009, 53 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer cases were females and breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Kuwaiti and nonKuwaiti females (Kuwait Cancer Registry, 2009) and constitutes with colorectal, non- Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid and Leukemia about half of the total cancer burden of the newly diagnosed cases.

Among the 5 most commonly diagnosed cancers , breast ranks first in Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti women followed by , thyroid and colorectal. Corpus uteri and ovary run for the fourth and fifth place in Kuwaiti females while cervix and corpus uteri are fourth and fifth in non-Kuwaiti females.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Kuwait exceeded only by cardiovascular disease, (health, Kuwait 2009); followed by colorectal cancer and blood. Breast cancer is a curable disease, agonizing and painful months of chemotherapy treatment can be avoided by only doing yearly check-ups and undergoing a life- saving mammography in women aged 40 years to 72 years.

The donations received from the charity drive will go towards the Breast Cancer Foundation to help breast cancer patients get the much needed treatment but also reinforce the importance of early detection, and give to all Kuwaiti women access to proper assessment of breast cancer. We are hopeful with the help of generous donors to have sisters women wellness centers in all governorates and give the chance to all Kuwaiti women to be assessed properly and dream for a Kuwait... free of breast cancer!

Our duty: raise awareness, so women in Kuwait understand the importance of early detection. We are delighted that our foundation and our activities are helping women to empower themselves, and take a more active role in their longterm health.”

In his words, Deputy CEO at Wataniya Telecom, Engineer Abdulaziz Fakhroo said, “Since its launch, nearly twelve years back, Wataniya Telecom has always been a pioneer and supporter of social responsibility initiatives. I’m proud to say that Wataniya has made a significant contribution in this regard.” “We have made sure Wataniya’s CSR programs and initiatives are continually contributing towards the welfare of Kuwaiti Society.

We have invested in events that raise awareness of significant issues and contribute towards the development of society by encouraging sectors such as sports, health and education.” Fakhroo added.

Wataniya has supported and partnered with the Hayatt Breast Cancer Foundation which has been doing commendable work on early detection of breast cancer since 2011. We were keen that this kind of philanthropic support and partnership was undertaken to ensure that people suffering from cancer can receive treatment in time.

Fakhroo stated that Wataniya continues to support Hayatt Foundation this year as well. But this time through a Social Media Campaign that will bring more awareness to the people and will encourage customers to make donations towards this worthy cause. Alghanim concluded her speech thanking the sponsors for their support of this campaign.

KUWAIT: Members after the Hayatt-Wataniya press conference.

LOS ANGELES: Space shuttle Endeavour rocketed beyond Earth orbit 25 times. Its 26th mission: a 12-mile (19-kilometer) commute through the streets of Los Angeles to its new retirement home in a museum. With Endeavour permanently on the ground after a majestic aerial spin Friday around California, crews over the weekend will begin unbolting the shuttle from the 747 jumbo jet and putting it on a special flatbed trailer, a process that will take a few weeks. The road trip in early October to the California Science Center has been billed as a parade, but some residents along the route have objected to the cutting down of some 400 trees to make room for the five-story-high shuttle with a 78foot wingspan.

A crowd recently packed a public meeting where concerns were raised about the loss of shade and greenery in their neighborhoods.

Museum officials have pledged to replant at least double the number of lost trees. But Friday brought nothing but good feelings as the shuttle became California’s biggest star, the people its paparazzi. From the state Capitol to the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hollywood sign, massive crowds of spectators pointed their cellphones and cameras skyward as the shuttle, riding piggyback atop a 747 jumbo jet, buzzed past.

Peggy Burke was among the hordes of camera-toting tourists who jammed the water front along the San Francisco Bay, reflecting on the end of an era. “It’s just a shame that the program has to end, but I’m so glad they came to the Bay area especially over the Golden Gate Bridge,” she said. “Onward to Mars.” Known as the baby shuttle, Endeavour replaced Challenger, which exploded during liftoff in 1986. Endeavour rolled off the assembly line in the Mojave Desert in 1991 and a year later, rocketed to space. It left Earth 25 times, logging 123 million miles.

Friday’s high-flying tour was a homecoming of sorts. After a nearly five-hour loop that took Endeavour over some of the state’s most treasured landmarks, it turned for its final approach, coasting down the runway on the south side of the Los Angeles International Airport, where elected officials and VIPs gathered for an arrival ceremony. As the jumbo jet taxied to the hangar, an American flag popped out of the jet’s hatch. Endeavour will stay at the airport for several weeks as crew prepare it for its 12-mile trek through city

streets to the California Science Center, its new permanent home, where it will go on display Oct 30.

NASA retired the shuttle fleet last year to focus on destinations beyond low-Earth orbit.

Before Endeavour was grounded for good,

the White House and National Mall. Atlantis will remain in Florida, where it will be towed a short distance to the Kennedy Space Center’s visitor center in the fall.

Derek Reynolds, a patent attorney from a Sacramento suburb who saw the last shuttle

SAN FRANCISCO: Space Shuttle Endeavour mounted on NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, passes over the Golden Gate Bridge. — AP Californians were treated to an aerial farewell.

Endeavour took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave desert Friday after an emotional cross-country ferry flight that made a special flyover of Tucson, Arizona, to honor its last commander, Mark Kelly, and his wife, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. It circled the high desert that gave birth to the shuttle fleet before veering to Northern California. After looping twice around the state Capitol, it swung over to the San Francisco Bay area and Silicon Valley and then headed down the coast, entering the Los Angeles air space over the Santa Monica Pier.

The cost for shipping and handling Endeavour was estimated at $28 million, to be paid for by the science center. NASA officials have said there was no extra charge to fly over Tucson because it was on the way. Endeavor’s carefully choreographed victory lap was by far the most elaborate of the surviving shuttle fleet. Discovery is home at the Smithsonian Institution’s hangar in Virginia after flying over

launch last year, felt the flyover in Sacramento was a rare opportunity to share a firsthand experience of the space program with his 5year-old son, Jack, who he pulled out of kindergarten for the day. “I want him to experience it and give him the memory since it’s the last one,” Reynolds said. As Endeavour approached LAX, other airplanes were forced to circle and wait. Passengers on an American Airlines flight from Miami snapped pictures and shot video out their windows as the shuttle arrived.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said pilot Doug Causey, who has been flying for 29 years. “That was a real treat to see something like that.” Contributing to this report were Associated Press staff members Tom Verdin and Juliet Williams in Sacramento; Terry Chea and Marcio Sanchez in San Francisco; John Antczak in Pasadena; Jae Hong in Santa Monica; and Greg Risling, Martha Mendoza, Raquel Maria Dillon, Richard Vogel and Chris Carlson in Los Angeles. — AP

IUDs, implants urged for teen girls’ birth control CHICAGO: Teenage girls may prefer the pill, the patch or even wishful thinking, but their doctors should be recommending IUDs or hormonal implants - long-lasting and more effective birth control that you don’t have to remember to use every time, the nation’s leading gynecologists group said. The IUD and implants are safe and nearly 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, and should be “first-line recommendations,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in updating its guidance for teens.

Both types of contraception are more invasive than the pill, requiring a doctor to put them in place. That, and cost, are probably why the pill is still the most popular form of contraception in the US. But birth control pills often must be taken at the very same time every day to be most potent. And forgetting to take even one can lead to pregnancy, which is why the pill is sometimes only 91 percent effective.

An IUD, or intrauterine device, is a small, Tshaped piece of plastic inserted in the uterus that can prevent pregnancy for up to 10 years. An implant is a matchstick-size plastic rod that releases hormones. It is placed under the skin of the upper arm and usually lasts three years. The new guidelines don’t tell teens not to use other methods, but “if your goal is to prevent a pregnancy, then using an implant or an IUD would be the best way to do this,” said Dr Tina Raine-Bennett, head of the committee that wrote the recommendations.

The organization’s previous guidelines, issued in 2007, also encouraged the use of IUDs and implants among teenagers. The new guidelines go further in saying physicians should discuss the two types of birth control with sexually active teens at every doctor visit. The gynecologists group said condoms should still be used at all times because no other birth control method protects against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. While it may sound surprising that such invasive contraceptives are being endorsed for teenagers, 43 percent of girls ages 15 to 19 have had sex, a government survey found. Most are using some kind of effective birth control, but only about 5 percent use the long-lasting devices, the gynecologists group said.

In 21 states, all teenagers can get contraceptives without parental permission, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks laws affecting women’s health. A few other states allow it under certain circumstances. The IUD and implant cost hundreds of dollars. The new health reform law requires health insurance plans to cover birth control without co-payments. Also, some publicly funded health clinics offer birth control free or at a reduced cost.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has been more cautious and has not endorsed specific methods of birth control, but is updating its guidance.

Some pediatricians have been reluctant to recommend IUDs for teens, partly because of concerns over infection risks; an older model was blamed for infertility. — AP

ARIZONA: This photo provided by NASA shows the next Landsat imaging satellite during testing at Orbital Science Corporation’s facility in Gilbert. — AP

New NASA photo satellite to join 40-year mission SIOUX FALLS: A fleet of picture-snapping NASA satellites that for 40 years has documented forest fires, tsunamis and everyday changes in the Earth’s geography will soon get a new member. With Landsat 8 set for a February launch, nearly 140 scientists and engineers from more than 25 countries are scheduled to gather in South Dakota next week to discuss how to best download, process and distribute the millions of data-rich images used in agriculture, education, business and government.

Since 1972, Landsat satellites have been continuously snapping pictures across the globe as part of a 40-year mission to document the planet. But with Landsat 7 aging and its older sibling Landsat 5 failing, a new orbiter is needed to continue the long-term data record, said Jenn Sabers, remote sensing branch chief at the US Geological Survey Center for Earth Resources Observations and Science.

“One of the things we want to do is preserve that legacy by ensuring that we collect consistent data with the prior missions,” Sabers said. “Although we have that consistency, we also want to make improvements.” The USGS Center for EROS, located in the middle of farmland north of Sioux Falls, is the main federal repository for satellite images. Officials wanted to locate the center in the middle of the US, and they chose South Dakota in 1970 over several other states, partly due to persistent campaigning by the late Sen Karl Mundt.

Members of the Landsat Technical Working Group will gather at the center next week to discuss how to best use the data-packed photos from the new

orbiter, which will be known as Landsat 8 once it reaches space. The team, which provides scientific and technical input to the US Geological Survey and NASA, will plan how to establish reception, processing and distribution capabilities from the new satellite.

Landsat satellites help document calamities, such as forest fires and hurricanes, as well as mapping the world’s mangrove forests and tracking ice in the Antarctic. The images differ from programs such as Google Inc.’s Google Earth, as you can’t see individual homes, but are able to see larger things, such as highways, NASA says. Sabers said Landsat 8 will take pictures at a scale and resolution consistent with previous Landsats, with much improved accuracy and data quality. It will also work harder, capturing at least 400 scenes a day instead of 250, and record additional information to detect clouds and mapping of surface water. Another new feature will be offnadir pointing capability, which can greatly assist the gathering of data during a disaster, she said. “Before where the satellite would see exactly below it in the track, we can actually point the collection as well,” Sabers said. “So we can get something next to where we would normally be collecting.” EROS is part of an international charter that allows the US to get access to other country’s satellite data during a disaster and provide it to other countries when calamity strikes there.

Engineers have worked through many anomalies to keep the grizzled veterans taking snapshots. NASA launched the first Landsat satellite in 1972, and the orbiters have been sending images back to EROS ever since. — AFP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

health & science

Studies more firmly tie sugary drinks to obesity NEW YORK: New research powerfully strengthens the case against soda and other sugary drinks as culprits in the obesity epidemic. A huge, decadeslong study involving more than 33,000 Americans has yielded the first clear proof that drinking sugary beverages interacts with genes that affect weight, amplifying a person’s risk of obesity beyond what it would be from heredity alone. This means that such drinks are especially harmful to people with genes that predispose them to weight gain. And most of us have at least some of these genes.

In addition, two other major experiments have found that giving children and teens calorie-free alternatives to the sugary drinks they usually consume leads to less weight gain.

Collectively, the results strongly suggest that sugary drinks cause people to pack on the pounds, independent of other unhealthy behavior such as overeating and getting too little exercise, scientists say. That adds weight

to the push for taxes, portion limits like the one just adopted in New York City, and other policies to curb consumption of soda, juice drinks and sports beverages sweetened with sugar.

Soda lovers do get some good news: Sugar-free drinks did not raise the risk of obesity in these studies.

“You may be able to fool the taste” and satisfy a sweet tooth without paying a price in weight, said an obesity researcher with no role in the studies, Rudy Leibel of Columbia University.

The studies were being presented Friday at an obesity conference in San Antonio and were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

The gene research in particular fills a major gap in what we know about obesity. It was a huge undertaking, involving three long-running studies that separately and collectively reached the same conclusions. It shows how behavior combines with heredity to affect how fat we become.

Having many of these genes does not guarantee people will become obese, but if they drink a lot of sugary beverages, “they fulfill that fate,” said an expert with no role in the research, Jules Hirsch of Rockefeller University in New York. “The sweet drinking and the fatness are going together, and it’s more evident in the genetic predisposition people.”Sugary drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet, and they are increasingly blamed for the fact that a third of US children and teens and more than two-thirds of adults are obese or overweight.

Consumption of sugary drinks and obesity rates have risen in tandem both have more than doubled since the 1970s in the US. But that doesn’t prove that these drinks cause obesity.

Genes, inactivity and eating fatty foods or just too much food also play a role. Also, diet research on children is especially tough because kids are growing and naturally gaining weight.

Until now, high-quality experiments have not conclusively shown that reducing sugary beverages would lower weight or body fat, said David Allison, a biostatistician who has done beverage research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, some of it with industry support. He said the new studies on children changed his mind and convinced him that limiting sweet drinks can make a difference. In one study, researchers randomly assigned 224 overweight or obese high schoolers in the Boston area to receive shipments every two weeks of either the sugary drinks they usually consumed or sugar-free alternatives, including bottled water. No efforts were made to change the youngsters’ exercise habits or give nutrition advice, and the kids knew what type of beverages they were getting. After one year, the sugar-free group weighed more than 4 pounds less on average than those who kept drinking sugary beverages. — AP

NEW YORK: A man lights a cigarette as he walks past an advertisement created in collaboration with Mountain Dew and New York Art Department. —AP

30

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

WHAT’S ON

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS 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

W

Certificate of appreciation 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

ulf Express Company, distributor of TOTAL Lubricants brand in Kuwait conducted a ceremony to award “Certificate of Appreciation” to Kuwait’s top 10 retailers, selling TOTAL brand. This ceremony was an excellent platform for customers to share ideas and build plans for continuous improvement and growth of TOTAL brand in Kuwait high street market.

All dealers were recognized for their unparalleled contribution, determination and hard work for sales achievement. Ghazi Saleh Al-Babtain-informed: We believe in the principle of mutual advantage and to build productive relationships with our dealers and our customers. “Also he added (in Gulf Express Co. Our aim is to be the market leader in TOTAL Lubricants and

G

Football for All program he Premier GOAL Academy in association with Everton Football Club and sponsored by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, is pleased to announce the launch of their ‘Football for All’ program for the coming season at Shaab Park, which includes; football coaching courses for 3 to 16 year olds, the Academy Centre of Excellence for advanced players aged 7-18 years, specialist goalkeeping courses, Football Freestyle courses for 10-16 years and girls courses. Teams from the Premier GOAL Academy will be selected to compete in tournaments in Dubai and UK.

T

deliver the best value to our customers.

Ahmad Shihadeh - Operations Manager, Gulf Express Co added: “consumers shop for more than price; they want service and quality too. Our retailers deliver all three”.He further added that Total Kuwait team along with our partners are committed to deliver added values to the end users and by doing so we aim to become No. 1 choice for end users.

Hasan Ali- Divisional Manager Lubricants, highlighted “The goal of Gulf Express Co. is to be the leading provider of high-quality lubricants in the Kuwaiti markets and to Provide full commitment to assure long-term client satisfaction, based on honesty, reliability, competitive pricing, and professional workmanship.”

Study in Canada exhibition 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

O

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.

E

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.

V

Winter 2012 AMIE examination

T

he AMIE Winter 2012 examinations will be held between Dec 01-07, 2012 as follows:

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.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Hawally Pakistan English School participates in PGA program tudents from the Hawally Pakistan English School are participating in a five-week football coaching course organised by the Premier GOAL Academy, sponsored by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company. The coaching course for 6 to 14 year olds is held every Thursday afternoon from 4-5pm at Shaab Park as part of the P.G.A. ‘Football For All’ Community Programme.

S

NCCAL, Indian Embassy to hold ‘Indian Dance and Music’ ances have been greatly appreciated he National Council for Culture, by the connoisseurs within and outArts & Letters, Kuwait and the side the country. She has traveled Embassy of India, Kuwait will extensively for performances and jointly hold an evening of ‘Indian workshops in Hungary, Korea, Austria, Dance and Music’ on Thursday, China, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, October 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm onwards Brazil, UK, France, Spain, South Africa; at Abdul Aziz Hussain Auditorium, to name a few. Her work as an artist Mishref. Renowned Odissi dance was filmed in a documentary by BBC exponent Performance by Parwati in 1999. Her dance productions range Dutta and her troupe from the Indian from traditional concepts to narrative, Council for Cultural Relations, will be highlight of the first segment of the evening.

The creator of ‘Satvik Veena (Indian slide guitar)’ maestro Salil Bhatt will present an exhilarating session of guitar rendition in the second segment. Parwati Dutta is one of the most talented, versaParwati Dutta Salil Bhatt tile thinker-dancers in contemplative and research themes, India. A performer, guru and artmany of them performed at major administrator, she is credited with national and inter-national festivals. introducing Kathak and Odissi dances Salil Bhatt in the remote region of Marathwada Creator of the Satvik Veena and in western India. She is the director heir to a 500-year musical legacy, Salil and guru of Mahagami Gurukul in Bhatt represents the dynamic face of Aurangabad, southern Maharashtra, the new age, Indian musician. Being India. hailed as the ‘Global Indian Musician’, Blessed with a graceful bearing Salil has done it all. From solo conand command on technical virtuosity, certs and international collaboration bhaava and taal, Parwati’s perform-

T

to exotic Jugalbandis and global fusions, Salil has not only managed to marvel audiences in India, bit also has a big fan base in Canada, Germany, Australia, America, Taiwan, England, Switzerland, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Singapore, Spain, Austria, and Italy.

That too, in just a span of his trailblazing 25-year career!

Salil V Bhatt represents the tenth generation of the famous Bhatt lineage, where music has been flowing for more than five hundred years.

Salil is the son of the legendary slide player and India’s Grammy Award winner Padmashree Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt is the creator of the Mohan Veena, a revolutionary instrument which has been hailed as a discovery in the Indian classical music scenario.

Salil reflects the dynamic style of rendering the classical nuances on the Satvik Veena in his concerts. His style incorporates the authentic and systematic exposition of Classical Indian Ragas and the embellishments of world music as well.

UPCOMING EVENTS 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.

T

‘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.

A

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.

A

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.

F

31

WHAT’S ON

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 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.

■■■■■■■

FAIPS-DPS celebrates Founder’s Day ounders Day is celebrated every year as the day on which FAIPS opened its doors to spread the gift of knowledge and ignite the minds of the students. Since its inception on September 11, 1995, FAIPS has imparted quality education to Indian students in Kuwait. Be it academics or extra-curricular activities, FAIPS has definitely left its footprints in the sands of time.

Students of Grade 11 organised a grand program to celebrate seventeen glorious years of excellence achieved by FAIPS in every field. The show witnessed by the chief guests Mohammed AlShuaibi, CEO, Prem Kumar, CFA, Hemant Aggarwal, CFO, parents, principal, vice- principal, staff and students began with the auspicious lighting of

F

the ceremonial lamp against the backdrop of the rendition of guru vandana and an invocation dance seeking the blessings of the Lord Almighty.

Following an inspiring speech by the principal. Class XI presented a scintillating skit, reiterating the message that the ‘time spent in FAIPS is the time of our life’ - a panacea for any one suffering from loss of memory!

A musical performance striking the chords of ‘Lambada’ was the highlight of the program. A video presentation ‘a glorious past.., a pulsating present. a promising future ‘ emphasised the various milestones achieved by FAIPS during the years, with a note of further success and achievements. A fast paced, foot tapping fusion dance number and a

group song showcased the multifarious talents of the students.

The principal Anju Dheman took this opportunity to felicitate the meritorious students with blue tie, green tie, scholar badge and merit certificates for academic achievement during the year 2011-12 in the CBSE and IGCSE curriculums. 89 scholars from Grade 10 received their ties and badges. It was a proud moment for the parents to watch their wards walk smartly up on stage to collect their awards.

Teachers who brought laurels to the school at the CBSE Board exams during the academic year 2011-12 were also honoured.

Special awards were given to the students who have been subject toppers

securing highest marks in each of the subjects both in the CBSE exams 2012 and IGCSE Exams, June 2012. Special mementoes were given to pioneer staff as a token of appreciation for their contribution. The chief guest congratulated the school for its achievements and urged the students to continue to strive for the best. The curtain was rung down with a vote of thanks by Ravi, vice-principal followed by Indian national anthem.

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.

■■■■■■■

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.

■■■■■■■

IKFS nominates Mullick for Padma Shri award n a recent meeting with Dr Vidhu P Nair (IFS), the Charge d’ Affaires of Indian Embassy in Kuwait, the patrons and executive members of Indo-Kuwait Friendship Society (www.indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) has submitted a nomination letter requesting Vidhu . Nair to recommend Muzammil Mullick, a prominent Indian industrialist and patron of IKFS to honoring him with India’s 4th prestigious award Padma Shri.

Muzammil Mullick, as being a successful NRI industrialist, who hails from Calcutta (India) and settled in Kuwait is a renowned Industrialist and businessman.

His firm Al-Kulaib International Trading Company is a private Kuwait based company, established in 1973, is specialized in construction and maintenance fields of

I

civil, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation works for the oil, power, water and petrochemical sectors.

Al-Kulaib’s team strengths are based on highly motivated management and execution staff with huge quantities of infrastructure equipments and also, provides technical services and become as one of the leading pioneers in the field of mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation and technical support service.

The company is functioning as one of the main support service providers in Kuwait and other Gulf region.

Dr Ghalib Al-Mashoor, President of IKFS and patrons Dr Biswaroop Choudhury, Sayid Nasir Thangal, Dr Abdul Razzak Rumane also requested Dr Vidhuji to send Indian Embassy’s recommendation from a prospective base that his firm is employing majority of

fellow Indians from the company’s 2000 strong work force located in Kuwait and GCC countries.

In June, this year, IKFS has requested Satish Mehtaji, Ambassador of India to Kuwait when its Patron Sami Bubere, (a leading scribe and chairman of Sahyog Society, Mumbai), visited Indian Embassy to consider Muzammil Malik’s name for the nomination of Padma Shri award and to recommend strongly. Copies of the nomination letter has been forwarded also to S M Krishna, External Affairs Minister, Ahamed, Minister of State (EA IKFS said in a press release.

EMBASSY OF FRANCE The Embassy would like to inform that starting September 2nd, 2012, visa demands for France will be handled by the outsourcing company “Capago - MENA Company”. Capago - MENA’S Call Center will be operational starting Sunday August 26 for setting appointments beginning September 2nd (+965 22270555).

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, Al-Salaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com.

■■■■■■■

NBK celebrates graduation of 5th batch of NBK Academy ational Bank of Kuwait (NBK) celebrated the graduation of the fifth batch of newly hired young Kuwaitis from NBK Academy. NBK Academy aims to train and develop the professional skills of young Kuwaitis as part of NBK’s strategy to attract and develop national human resources.

NBK organized a special ceremony for

N

the graduation of the 19 newly hired young Kuwaitis. The ceremony was attended by Isam Al-Sager, NBK deputy group CEO, Mazin Al-Nahedh, General Manager, Consumer Banking Group, Adel Hechme, General Manager, Human Resources Group, and Emad Al-Ablani NBK Deputy General Manager Human Resources, along with a group of senior

leaders from the bank.

Al-Ablani said: “NBK Academy is the first initiative of its kind in the private sector in Kuwait, and is part of NBK’s strategy to attract young Kuwaitis by offering them a range of career and professional development opportunities.” “I congratulate the graduates of NBK Academy and call on them to exert every effort in order

to continue their path of professional excellence,” he added. “This program marks the start of what will be a continuing process to nurture and grow our young talent.” NBK Academy programs run for five months and are specially tailored to provide trainees with theoretical and practical skills covering the different aspects of the banking industry.

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” - (+ 965) 972-79-206.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Great Savannah Race 01:35 Animal Cops Houston 02:25 Adrift: 47 Days With Sharks 03:15 Sharkbite Beach 04:05 Bear Feeding Frenzy 04:55 Great Ocean Adventures 05:45 Cats 101 06:35 Wildlife SOS International 07:00 Animal Crackers 07:25 Meerkat Manor 07:50 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 08:15 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 09:10 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 09:35 Natural Born Hunters 10:05 Dogs 101 11:00 Crocodile Hunter 11:55 Sharkman 12:50 Mutant Planet 13:45 Mutant Planet 14:40 RSPCA: Have You Got What It Takes?

15:05 RSPCA: Have You Got What It Takes?

15:35 Wild Africa Rescue 16:00 Wild Africa Rescue 16:30 Must Love Cats 17:25 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 18:20 Austin Stevens Adventures 19:15 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 20:10 Killer Jellyfish 21:05 Sharkzilla 22:00 Perfect Predators 23:50 Untamed & Uncut 23:50 Animal Cops Houston 00:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 01:10 Cash In The Attic 02:00 Cash In The Attic 02:50 Bargain Hunt 03:35 Bargain Hunt 04:20 Gok’s Fashion Fix 05:10 Antiques Roadshow 06:00 Antiques Roadshow 06:50 Open House 07:20 Antiques Roadshow 08:15 Antiques Roadshow 09:10 MasterChef Australia 09:55 MasterChef Australia 10:45 MasterChef Australia 11:35 MasterChef Australia 12:25 10 Years Younger 13:15 Extreme Makeover: Edition 14:00 Extreme Makeover: Edition 14:40 Cash In The Attic 15:35 Cash In The Attic 16:30 Holmes On Homes 17:15 Bargain Hunt 18:00 Bargain Hunt 18:45 Extreme Makeover: Edition 19:30 Extreme Makeover: Edition 20:15 Holmes On Homes 21:00 MasterChef 21:50 MasterChef 22:45 Extreme Makeover: Edition Edition 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:00 03:25 03:55 04:20 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 09:40 10:30 11:25 12:20 14:10 14:35 16:25 16:55 18:45 19:10 20:05 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45

Home Home

Home Home

Home

Hellriders Ultimate Cops How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How It’s Made How Do They Do It? X-Machines Crash Course Fifth Gear One Car Too Far Around The World In 80 Ways River Monsters How It’s Made How It’s Made Auction Hunters Auction Hunters Border Security Border Security Mythbusters Mythbusters Superhuman Showdown Hell Roads Moonshiners Moonshiners

23:20 Surviving Disaster 00:05 Things That Move 00:35 Bang Goes The Theory 01:00 Bang Goes The Theory 01:25 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 01:50 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 02:15 Things That Move 02:45 Prototype This 03:35 Prototype This 04:25 Prototype This 05:15 Prototype This 06:05 Prototype This 07:00 Prophets Of Science Fiction 07:50 Weird Or What?

08:40 Head Rush 08:43 Stunt Junkies 09:10 Stunt Junkies 09:40 Mega World 10:30 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 10:55 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 11:20 Tech Toys 360 11:45 Tech Toys 360 12:10 Bang Goes The Theory 12:35 Bang Goes The Theory 13:00 Things That Move 13:25 Things That Move 13:50 Race To Mars 14:45 Meteorite Men 15:35 Mean Green Machines 16:00 Mean Green Machines 16:25 Head Rush 16:28 The Tech Show 16:55 The Tech Show 17:25 Meteorite Men 18:15 Things That Move 18:40 Bang Goes The Theory 19:05 Bang Goes The Theory 19:30 Brave New World 20:20 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger

20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:15 23:40

Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Things That Move Things That Move Brave New World Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger Stuck With Hackett

20:20 Bang Goes The Theory 00:15 Little Einsteins 00:40 Jungle Junction 00:55 Jungle Junction 01:10 Little Einsteins 01:30 Special Agent Oso 01:45 Special Agent Oso 02:00 Lazytown 02:25 Little Einsteins 02:50 Jungle Junction 03:05 Jungle Junction 03:20 Little Einsteins 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:55 Special Agent Oso 04:10 Lazytown 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Jungle Junction 05:15 Jungle Junction 05:30 Little Einsteins 05:50 Special Agent Oso 06:00 Special Agent Oso 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Jungle Junction 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Little Einsteins 07:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:20 Imagination Movers 08:45 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 08:55 Lazytown 09:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:30 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:45 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

09:55 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

10:05 The Hive 10:15 Mouk 10:30 Handy Manny 10:45 Art Attack 11:10 101 Dalmatians 11:35 101 Dalmatians 12:05 101 Dalmatians 12:15 101 Dalmatians 12:30 Jungle Junction 12:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 13:00 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 13:15 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

13:25 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

13:40 Mouk 13:50 Art Attack 14:15 Imagination Movers 14:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:05 The Hive 15:20 Mouk 15:35 Handy Manny 15:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:20 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

16:35 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

16:45 Art Attack 17:10 Lazytown 17:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 18:05 Mouk 18:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:35 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 19:00 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:25 101 Dalmatians 19:40 Mouk 19:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:20 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

20:30 Engine Nine, Feelin Fine!

20:45 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:50 A Poem Is...

20:55 Animated Stories 21:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 21:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:40 Special Agent Oso 21:55 Little Einsteins 22:20 Timmy Time 22:30 Jungle Junction 22:45 Handy Manny 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Special Agent Oso 23:35 Special Agent Oso 23:50 LazytownLazytown23:50 Lazytn 00:25 TNA: Greatest Matches 01:20 M1 Selection 2010 02:15 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 02:40 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 03:10 Ed’s Up 05:00 Summer Dew Tour 2011 05:55 Summer Dew Tour 2011 07:00 Alli Presents 08:50 Alli Presents 09:45 Maloof Money Cup 2010 10:40 Maloof Money Cup 2010 11:35 Tread BMX 12:00 Tread BMX 12:30 Alli Presents 13:25 Alli Presents 14:20 Alli Presents 15:15 I’ll Do Anything 16:10 I’ll Do Anything 17:05 Carpocalypse 18:00 Ed’s Up 18:25 Ed’s Up 18:55 Ed’s Up 19:20 Ed’s Up 19:50 Featured 20:15 Featured 20:45 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 21:10 Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Ride 21:40 Kelly Slater: Letting Go 22:35 Crusty Demons: Broken Records 23:30 Crusty Demons: Night Of World Records...

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 06:10 06:35

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Outrageous Food Outrageous Food Chopped Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Guy’s Big Bite Outrageous Food Unique Eats Chopped Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa

07:00 Iron Chef America 07:50 Barefoot Contessa 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:05 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:30 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 09:55 Cooking For Real 10:20 Cooking For Real 10:45 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 11:10 Kelsey’s Essentials 11:35 Hungry Girl 12:00 Chopped 12:50 Guy’s Big Bite 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Kid In A Candy Store 14:55 Kid In A Candy Store 15:20 Unique Sweets 15:45 Food Network Challenge 16:35 Barefoot Contessa 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Guy’s Big Bite 18:40 Unique Sweets 19:05 Unique Sweets 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Iron Chef America 21:10 Food Network Challenge 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:50 Unwrapped 23:15 Unwrapped 23:40 Guy’s Big Bite 23:40 Guy’s Big BiteBite 00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 Jones 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 Jones 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 Jones 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 Jones 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40 23:40 00:00 00:30 01:00 Planet 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 Planet 19:30 Planet 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30

A Haunting The Haunted Ghost Lab A Haunting A Haunting True Crime With Aphrodite Mystery Diagnosis Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Disappeared Forensic Detectives FBI Case Files Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Stalked: Someone’s Watching Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Evil, I Evil, I Stalked: Someone’s Watching Stalked: Someone’s Watching Scorned: Crimes Of Passion Scorned: Crimes Of Passion Market Values Market Values Food Lover’s Guide To The One Man & His Campervan Kimchi Chronicles David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 Wheel2Wheel Danger Beach One Man & His Campervan David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 First Ascent The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia Danger Beach Danger Beach Long Way Down Wheel2Wheel Treks In A Wild World Food School One Man & His Campervan David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 Wheel2Wheel Danger Beach City Chase Marrakech Market Values Food Lover’s Guide To The Food Lover’s Guide To The Departures Travel Oz Don’t Tell My Mother Don’t Tell My Mother On The Camino De Santiago The Best Job In The World

23:00 Naked Science 00:00 Python Hunters 01:00 Caught In The Act 01:55 Hooked 02:50 World’s Weirdest 03:45 Built For The Kill 04:40 Caught In The Act 05:35 Wild Chronicles 06:00 Wild Chronicles 06:30 Swamp Men 07:25 Swamp Men 08:20 Python Hunters 09:15 World’s Worst Venom 10:10 Extinction Sucks 10:35 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 11:05 Wildlife Rescue Africa 12:00 Sahara 13:00 Savannah 13:30 Savannah 14:00 Croc Labyrinth 15:00 Extinction Sucks 15:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 16:00 Catching Giants 17:00 Ultimate Predators GPU 18:00 When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs 19:00 Monster Fish 20:00 Savannah 20:30 Savannah 21:00 Croc Labyrinth 22:00 Extinction Sucks 22:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 23:00 Hunter Hunted

00:00 Seventh Moon-18

02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 20:00 22:00

Kiss Of Death-18 Disturbing Behavior-18 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World-18 Rocky IV-PG15 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 Last Breath-PG15 Rocky IV-PG15 Alien Resurrection-18 Quarantine 2: Terminal-18 Fighting-PG15 Homecoming-18 KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (20/09/2012 TO 26/09/2012)

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 02:30 Hot In Cleveland 03:00 Man Up! 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 Man Up! 09:30 The Simpsons 10:00 The Office 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 14:30 The Office 15:00 The Simpsons 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:30 Last Man Standing 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 The Office 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:00 Hot In Cleveland

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

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 23:00

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

The Glades C.S.I. New York C.S.I. Miami Greek C.S.I. Miami House The Glades Emmerdale Coronation Street The Closer C.S.I. New York C.S.I. House Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Closer Hawthorne Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Closer House Unforgettable The Killing True Blood Greek Greek

01:00 Sleep Dealer-18 03:00 Disturbing Behavior-18 05:00 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 07:00 Fatal Secrets-PG15 09:00 Blank Slate-PG15 11:00 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 13:00 Men In Black-PG15 15:00 Blank Slate-PG15 17:00 Lords Of Dogtown-PG15 19:00 Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night-18 21:00 The Godfather II-18 23:00 The Speak-18 Luste

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 PG15 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Lottery Ticket-PG15 Sgt. Bilko-PG Snow Dogs-PG The Beverly Hillbillies-PG15 Sgt. Bilko-PG Mean Girls 2-PG15 How To Train Your Dragon-PG My Best Friend’s Wedding-

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 PG15 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:45 23:30

Le Code A Change-PG15 Chelsea On The Rocks-18 Indecent Proposal-18 Strength And Honour-PG15 The Silent Fall-PG15 When A Man Loves A Woman-

Mean Girls 2-PG15 The Answer Man-PG15 The Joneses-PG15 40 Days And 40 Nights-18

Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale-PG15 The Silent Fall-PG15 The Fantastic Water Babes-PG The River-PG15 Munich-18 2:22-18 Square Grouper-18

00:30 Dirty Girl-18 02:45 Pina-PG15 05:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 07:00 Kung Fu Panda 2-PG 09:00 Despicable Me-FAM 11:00 Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Pt.2-PG15 13:15 Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story-PG 15:00 Waiting For Superman-PG15 17:00 Despicable Me-FAM 18:45 Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-PG15 21:00 Never Let Me Go-PG15 23:00 Cedar Rapids-18

00:00 Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back-PG 02:00 The Three Bears: The Amazing Adventurers-FAM 04:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 06:00 Marco Antonio-PG 08:00 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 10:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG 12:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 14:00 Rainbow Valley Heroes-FAM 16:00 Emilie Jolie-PG 18:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG 20:00 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules-PG 22:00 Rainbow Valley Heroes-FAM

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 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 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 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 FANAR-5 SILENT HOUSE THE EXPENDABLES 2 SILENT HOUSE THE EXPENDABLES 2 SILENT HOUSE SILENT HOUSE NO SUN+TUE+WED

NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 0:45 PM 12:45 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

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM

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 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 13 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 14 TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360º- 15 STOLEN (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) BARFI! (Hindi)(2D-Digital) BARFI! (Hindi)(2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.1 RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

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) AVENUES-8 STOLEN (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) HEROINE -Hindi (2D- Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

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

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 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

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:45 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

AL-KOUT.2 SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SEVEN BELOW (2D-Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) SEVEN BELOW (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

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

AL-KOUT.3 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (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

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 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

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.4 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM

BAIRAQ-1 BAIT (3D- Digital) RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION FINDING NEMO (3D-Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) BAIT (3D- Digital) 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

BAIRAQ-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) STOLEN (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

BAIRAQ-3 ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) WAR OF THE DEAD (2D-Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) ROBOT & FRANK (2D- Digital) SILENT HOUSE (2D- Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

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-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)

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

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

AVENUES-4 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO TUE (25/09/2012) 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

1:00 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-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

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

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

PREMIUM RUSH (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

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)

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 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

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 8 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

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 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM

PLAZA PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) BARFI! (Hindi)(2D-Digital) PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA (2D-Digital)

3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM

LAILA RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION PREMIUM RUSH SILENT HOUSE PREMIUM RUSH

4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM

AJIAL.1 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) 3:30 PM PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) 5:30 PM THAPPANA (Malayalam) (2D-Digital) 7:30 PM PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) 10:30 PM

Classifieds SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

CHANGE OF NAME

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

Single room accommodation for 2 Keralite bachelors (non-smoking) in CAC flat (single tenant occupies portioned hall) at Abbassiya opposite to Jas Cargo (opposite side of police station), reasonable rent. Call 66349475. (C 4176) 23-9-2012 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)

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 SITUATION VACANT Required driver for a Kuwaiti family.

Call: 99854312. (C 4144) 22-9-2012 Wanted full time maid/nanny in Salwa. Offering KD 120 salary. Must speak English and be good with small children. Call 9768-7172.

Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

04:18 11:40 15:07 17:44 19:00

THE PUBLICAUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR RBG QTR KAC THY JZR CLX DHX JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY IRA GFA QTR FDB IRA ETD GFA IRC UAE MEA JZR MSR MSC JZR SYR KAC MSR KAC GFA KAC FDB KNE KAC

Arrival Flights on Sunday 23/9/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 3553 ALEXANDRIA 138 DOHA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 1541 CAIRO 792 LUXEMBOURG 170 BAHRAIN 505 LUXOR 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 615 SHAHRE KORD 223 BAHRAIN 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 6801 AHWAZ 871 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 401 ALEXANDRIA 561 SOHAG 341 DAMASCUS 742 DAMMAM 610 CAIRO 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 774 RIYADH 57 DUBAI 472 JEDDAH 538 SOHAG

Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 1:45 2:10 2:20 2:25 2:30 3:10 3:20 3:20 3:25 4:10 4:35 4:55 4:55 5:00 5:55 6:00 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:25 8:30 8:35 8:40 9:00 9:20 9:25 9:30 10:00 10:15 10:45 10:55 11:05 11:25 12:00 12:25 12:35 13:25 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 13:45 14:15 14:20

QTR SVA RJA QTR JZR ETD KAC UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY KAC KAC QTR KAC KAC FDB MSR MSC JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC AXB FDB OMA MEA QTR GFA KAC JZR ALK KLM JZR UAE KAC ETD ABY QTR LMU AIC FDB GFA UAL JZR DLH MSR THY JAI PIA

140 500 640 134 535 303 1802 857 982 215 510 177 777 127 502 542 144 166 786 63 624 405 787 618 674 102 572 562 389 61 647 402 146 221 514 481 229 417 135 859 172 307 129 136 1109 981 59 217 981 239 636 614 772 574 205

DOHA JEDDAH AMMAN DOHA CAIRO ABU DHABI CAIRO DUBAI WASHINGTON DC DULLES BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI JEDDAH SHARJAH BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA PARIS JEDDAH DUBAI SOHAG SOHAG RIYADH DOHA DUBAI NEW YORK MUMBAI AMMAN KOZHIKODE DUBAI MUSCAT BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN TEHRAN SABIHA COLOMBO AMSTERDAM BAHRAIN DUBAI FRANKFURT ABU DHABI SHARJAH DOHA ALEXANDRIA CHENNAI DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN AMMAN FRANKFURT CAIRO ISTANBUL MUMBAI LAHORE

14:25 14:30 14:55 15:15 16:00 16:35 16:40 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:50 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:35 23:40 23:50 23:55

Airlines AIC FDB UAL DLH MSR DHX JAI THY ETH UAE FDB RBG ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR RJA JZR GFA THY KAC CLX BAW FDB KAC ABY JZR KAC GFA IRA UAE QTR KAC KAC FDB ETD IRA KAC KAC GFA IRC KAC MEA KAC JZR UAE MSR KAC MSC KAC JZR JZR SYR

Depature Flights on Sunday 23/9/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA 52 DUBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 573 MUMBAI 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 3554 ALEXANDRIA 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 537 SOHAG 792 GIALAM 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 171 FRANKFURT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 224 BAHRAIN 614 SHAHRE-KORD 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 117 NEW YORK 1801 CAIRO 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 773 RIYADH 741 DAMMAM 214 BAHRAIN 6802 AHWAZ 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 872 DUBAI 623 SOHAG 103 LONDON 406 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 480 ISTANBUL 176 DUBAI 342 DAMASCUS

Time 0:05 0:10 0:25 0:30 0:35 0:40 0:50 2:15 2:45 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:50 6:55 7:05 7:10 8:05 8:15 8:25 8:25 8:55 9:05 9:10 9:20 9:25 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:25 10:45 11:15 11:30 11:55 12:00 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:15 13:20 13:35

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

GFA FDB MSR KAC KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR RJA QTR KAC ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR QTR FDB MSR MSC JZR KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA JZR DHX ALK KLM ABY ETD UAE KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR LMU QTR AXB FDB GFA KAC KAC

220 58 611 561 673 473 503 617 786 641 135 513 304 238 538 141 858 216 134 128 982 511 266 145 64 621 402 184 361 571 62 283 351 648 403 543 222 502 171 230 417 120 308 860 343 137 301 205 554 1110 147 390 60 218 411 415

BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN DUBAI JEDDAH MADINAH DOHA RIYADH AMMAN DOHA TEHRAN ABU DHABI AMMAN CAIRO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH BEIRUT DOHA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DUBAI COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI DHAKA KOCHI MUSCAT BEIRUT CAIRO BAHRAIN LUXOR BAHRAIN COLOMBO DAMMAM SHARJAH ABU DHABI DUBAI CHENNAI DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DOHA MANGALORE DUBAI BAHRAIN BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR

14:25 14:25 14:30 14:40 15:05 15:15 15:45 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:15 16:25 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:20 19:25 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:45 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:30 23:40 23:50

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-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

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

ST TAT TE OF KUW K WA AIT

Te el.: 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours BY Y DA AY:

Hot with light to moderate north westerly to northerly wind, with speed of 15 - 38 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with light to moderate northerly to north westerly wind, with speed of 10 - 32 km/h

No Current Warnings arnin a

WA ARNING MIN. REC.

KUW WAIT A CITY

42 °C

32 °C

22451082

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

43 °C

24 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WAISEEB A

40 °C

26 °C

Sharq

22465401

WAFRA A

42 °C

26 °C

SALMI

Salmiya

25746401

42 °C

26 °C

ABDAL LY

44 °C

25 °C

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YA AH

43 °C

27 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

41 °C

27 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

38 °C

30 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

38 °C

32 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YAN A

40 °C

21 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

West Jahra

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

MAX. EXP P.

New Jahra

Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630

Fax: 24348714

ST TATION T

SFC. CHART

22/09/2012 0000 UTC

4 DA AY YS FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA AT TE

WEA AT THER

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

24575755

Sunday

23/09

hot

44 °C

25 °C

NW-N

12 - 35 km/h

24772608

Monday

24/09

hot + raising dust

43 °C

24 °C

NW-N

20 - 45 km/h

Tuesday

25/09

hot + raising dust

42 °C

23 °C

NW-N

20 - 45 km/h

Wednesday e

26/09

hot

42 °C

23 °C

NW-N

15 - 38 km/h

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

RA AYER Y TIMES PRA

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

AY AT KUW WA RECORDED YESTERDA AIT AIRPORT

Fajr

04:17

MAX. Temp.

43 °C

Sunrise

05:37

MIN. Temp.

24 °C

Zuhr

11:41

MAX. RH

80 %

Asr

15:08

MIN. RH

Sunset

17:45

MAX. Wind i

Isha

19:02

TOT TA AL L RAIINF FALL A L IN 24 HR.

07 % NE 39 km/h 00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Bono

to receive Mexico’s Order of the Aztec Eagle

exico will bestow the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest decoration awarded to foreigners, on U2 singer Bono in recognition of his humanitarian work and close ties with the country. President Felipe Calderon may deliver the medal to the Irish star during his visit to New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa told reporters on Friday. But she noted that the singer has not yet confirmed the exact date for the medal ceremony, due to prior commitments. Espinosa said she spoke to Bono, who founded the global anti-poverty group ONE to help fight poverty and disease in Africa, to inform him of the decision. “He said that he feels very honored and very pleased with this decision, and that Mexico is a country that he loves and admires,” she said. Calderon, who leaves office on December 1, met with Bono at the presidential residence of Los Pinos last year to thank the singer for expressing solidarity with Mexico over the country’s drug violence during a concert in the capital. “Mexico needs to know you are not alone and we are with you... you are not alone in the darkness,” Bono told 93,000 fans at the Azteca football stadium.

M

Bynes

faces new charges in driving case rosecutors have charged Amanda Bynes with knowingly driving on a suspended license. It’s the third court case the actress has racked up in recent months. Bynes was charged Friday in Burbank, Calif., with two counts of driving on a suspended license. The charges stem from an incident last Sunday that led to her car being impounded. Bynes faces two other cases a drunken driving case and a hit-and-run case involving two accidents. Bynes’ driver’s license was revoked in August, and a judge last week ordered her to stop driving. The 26-year-old starred in the Nickelodeon series “All That” and the 2010 film “Easy A.” She has pleaded not guilty in the DUI case. Her attorney Richard Hutton was not available for comment. The new charges were first reported by celebrity website TMZ.

P

Watson

used to

believe love was ‘pain’ he 22-year-old actress - who is dating student Will Adamowicz - had a “revelation” that relationships could be happy and admits she has had some bad experiences in the past. She said: “When I started dating, I had this kind of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, fateful, romantic idea about love. It was almost that you were a victim - that there was a lot of pain involved and that was how it should be. “Shakespeare said the course of true love never did run smooth and I had a sense it had to be painful. It was such a revelation to realize it shouldn’t be that way and you get to choose who you love and who you give your heart to.

“It sounds like a cliche but I also learnt that you’re not going to fall for the right person until you love yourself and feel good about how you are. “The sad thing is you only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn.”

Apart from Will - who she has been dating for almost a year - Emma insists she has only ever had three other boyfriends, inancier Jay Barrymore, indie rocker George Craig, and actor Johnny Simmons, and she admits constant speculation about her personal life makes relationships “difficult”. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s difficult on my dating life. Anyone I get photographed with is automatically my boyfriend. So it makes it look as if I’ve had, like, 6000 boyfriends.”

T

Contostavlos

meets special guy

ulisa Contostavlos has met “someone special”. The ‘Young’ singer - who embarked on a brief relationship with actor Jack O’Connell earlier this year following her split from N-Dubz bandmate Fazer - insists her new romance is not yet serious; she is “open” to finding love again. She said: “There is someone special but its early days.

You could say I’m open to dating - but nothing official yet.” Earlier this year, Tulisa was devastated when an ex-boyfriend, Justin Edwards, released a sex tape of them, and the experience made her “isolate” herself from everyday life. She told The Sun newspaper: “The last year has been really hard for me. There’s so much attention on you all the time, which can be difficult to deal with, and I started to isolate myself - I stopped doing normal things like going to the shops or to the pub because I worried about being around people.

“The only way I could blow off steam was to go out with my friends and a load of security and get hammered. That does work and I spent a few months doing it but I can’t cope with the hangovers anymore.” The blonde beauty has realized she can’t live that way forever and is making changes to her life. She added: “Sometimes it’s not worth the hangover and you can’t live your life constantly surrounded by security. So I’ve made a pact with myself to stop living that way. I’m just going to go back to doing things the way I did before and not worry.”

T

Spears

compared to Monroe

ritney Spears has been compared to Marilyn Monroe. The reaction fans give when they see the pop singer has stunned her fellow ‘X Factor’ judge LA Reid, who claims his co-star has the same mystique as the late icon. He said: “People go crazy for Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z. I’ve seen them go crazy for Rihanna.

But this? Britney has the same magic that made Marilyn Monroe famous, that intangible ability to be completely loved and for people to be completely consumed by her everything.” However, Britney insists the idea of being an icon “freaks” her out. She explained to America’s Elle magazine: “I try not to think about that.

It’s just - that’s an overwhelming thing to think about. And I still feel new and fresh at the whole game. And when people say they know me, it still freaks me out. Still. To this day.” ‘X Factor’ boss Simon Cowell, who recruited Britney to the show, revealed he was shocked by how shy she is in person. He said: “She’s one of the most humble people. I was raving about a song she’d written and she got really uncomfortable and it’s not an act. It’s partly down to her shyness. I didn’t realise it until I started to work with her. We all remember her [performance at the MTV awards] with that snake around her neck and think, ‘She can’t be shy.’ But she is.”

B

Stefani’s

solo career was ‘never meant to be taken seriously’ he singer has reunited with her original band, No Doubt, for their new album, ‘Push and Shove’ and despite having sold millions of copies of her two solo records, her heart always lay with her original band. She said: “It just feels so much more natural being back in this mode. The solo records allowed me to indulge my girly side but it was never meant to be taken seriously. It was just like an art project that kept going longer than I expected. The group never ended - we always knew we’d come back to make this album.” Gwen, 42, also said her rocker husband, Gavin Rossdale from Bush doesn’t listen to her ska-pop group - which also includes Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont - as he doesn’t like their style of music. She added to the Guardian newspaper: “Oh, he’s never been a fan of what we do. He’s more into dark, indie stuff.

But I’m not saying he doesn’t think I’m amazing.” —Agencies

T

Apatow

to work on

comedy scripts for women udd Apatow started working on comedy scripts for women after his wife complained about a lack of quality roles for the female sex. The director and producer has worked on the movie ‘Bridesmaids’ and TV show ‘Girls’ and says he would never have gotten involved if it wasn’t for his actress wife Leslie Mann. He said: “Leslie would always say, ‘There aren’t any good roles for women, the female parts aren’t developed, the women are serving the men.’ And just seeing the stack of scripts showed me how little effort was put into making great female characters. “If Leslie didn’t mention it, I don’t know if I would’ve ever thought about it. But when you notice it, you get ashamed. When you’re reading other people’s scripts, your friends’ scripts and seeing your friends’ movies, suddenly it sticks out: Oh my God, what were they having the poor actress do?”

However, Leslie believes her husband has always depicted women well in his own movies. She added to US Elle magazine: “He makes his own decisions. Women have always been well represented in his own movies and he’s doing better all the time.”

J

37

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

At 82, relaxed Clint throws another curveball lint Eastwood made headlines with his off-the-cuff Republican convention speech-and defies expectations again with his latest film, returning to the screen as an actor at the age of 82. The Hollywood icon and “Dirty Harry” star, which plays an ageing baseball scout in “Trouble with the Curve,” has long focused on directing, and even announced his retirement from acting after starring in the 2008 film “Grand Torino.” But he said he felt comfortable being directed by long-time producer and collaborator Robert Lorenz in the movie, which co-star Amy Adams.

Lorenz “did a terrific job. He was making noises about wanting to direct for some years,” Eastwood told reporters Beverly Hills, presenting his latest movie which opens this weekend in the United States. Eastwood is one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, adored by generations of

C

fans since he starred in the 1960s TV series “Rawhide,” through Westerns like “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964) to his “Make my Day” period as Inspector Harry Callahan in the 1970s and 1980s.

As a director he won plaudits and Oscars-for 1992’s “Unforgiven” and 2004’s “Million Dollar Baby.” Eastwood’s Republican political leanings have never been a secret-he was mayor of his hometown of Carmel, California in the 1980sand he endorsed Mitt Romney as the party’s White House candidate in early August. But his bizarre speech at the Republican National Convention-famously including talking to an invisible Barack Obama in an empty chairraised many eyebrows, with some wondering if the icon was simply, sadly, growing senile.

Eastwood appears to have enjoyed the bafflement, and dismisses the suggestion he is going

gaga. “When you get to a certain age, you’re just glad to be there,”

he said with a smile. “I’ve been enjoying the journey to this stage

Cast member Clint Eastwood, center, cast member Justin Timberlake, right, and director Robert Lorenz pose together at the premiere of “Trouble With the Curve” at the Westwood Village Theater. —AP

and so I intend to enjoy the rest of the journey.” The ageing process is at the center of his new film: Eastwood plays an elderly Atlanta baseball scout, refusing to admit that he is going blind.

His daughter, played by Adams, is frustrated by her father’s obstinacy and gruffness, and insists on joining him on a scouting trip to North Carolina, to try to break through to him.

Eastwood says he enjoyed being able to leave the director’s hat off, and to get back to his acting roots. “After ‘Gran Torino’ I kind of thought that this is kind of stupid doing both jobs,” he said. “And I thought, maybe I should just do the actor and allow myself a little bit of comfort zone. And this was the opportunity. So I just didn’t have to do anything but watching Amy throw the ball.”

He added: “It’s quite relaxing because I can just sit back. I prob-

ably won’t do both again, at least for a moment. But I said I wouldn’t act again a few years ago, and that changed too, so sometimes you just... lie.” At the Republican convention Eastwood wasn’t lying when he urged US voters not to re-elect Obama-but he admits that his decision to use an empty chair as a prop was literally a last-minute affair. “I don’t know if I’d do it the same way, I doubt it because I thought of that about five seconds before I was on stage,” he said.

“When you walk out there you got an audience of 10,000 people extremely enthusiastic and your mind goes blank anyway.” In any case, he joked, the Tampa speech failed in at least one sense. “It didn’t get the response that I wanted because I was hoping that they’d nominate me. That was my ambition,” he said, smiling. —AFP

Billy Crystal to walk red carpet in N.O. ctor Billy Crystal babysat for his granddaughters for five days, and from the experience, a movie was born. On Friday, Crystal walked the red carpet for a screening of his latest film, “Parental Guidance,” which opens in theaters later this year and co-stars Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei. “It was exhausting,” Crystal said of his babysitting experience as he walked the red carpet in New Orleans. Crystal said the movie is a fun, touching and comedic take on “the phenomenon of being able to take care of your kids’ kids.”

The film’s director, Andy Fickman, said it was “a dream opportunity as a director to work with two comedy geniuses” in Crystal and Midler. Fickman, who also walked the red carpet, said he was drawn to the story because many people can relate to the subject matter. “Every generation thinks they know more than the previous generation,” Fickman said.

“We all like to talk about how we were raised.”

Crystal starred in the hit films “City Slickers” and “When Harry Met Sally” and has hosted the Academy Awards nine times.

Crystal said he hasn’t been approached to host the Academy Awards for a 10th time but he’d be up to the challenge. “I’m always willing to do it,” he said. He turns 65 next year and has made a career out of turning his life into comedy: “City Slickers” was a story of mid-life crisis. The actor is also working on a book that will be part memoir with jokes about getting older. Friday’s “Parental Guidance” screening coincides with the AARP’s national convention in New Orleans.

The screening is one of several films with baby boomer appeal showing at the AARP convention.

Others include “The Descendents” with George Clooney, the British comedy “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” the romantic comedy “The Oranges” and the documentary “Paul Williams Still Alive” about the musician and actor whose songwriting credits include the Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun.”. —AP

A

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, left, and Martha Plimpton pose together at the Variety and Women in Film Pre-Emmy Event at Scarpetta on Friday. —AP photos

Zooey Deschanel

Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn

Emmy nominees celebrate at pre-ceremony parties K

evin Costner, Amy Poehler, Bryan Cranston, Zooey Deschanel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and other Emmynominated actors celebrated their success at a

Krysten Ritter

series of parties around Hollywood. Most began their evening at the Emmy Performers nominee reception Friday at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. That’s where nominees received certificates acknowledging their acting achievements.

The nominated actors posed for a class photo, with many proudly holding their certificates above their heads. “This is like graduation,” said Elizabeth Moss, nominated for her work on “Mad Men.” “You get to meet so many people you might not get to see at the Emmys,” beamed the newly blonde actress.

Also among the guests: Martha Plimpton, Loretta Devine, Mare Winningham, Julia Ormond and Eric Stonestreet. Cranston, Louis-Dreyfus and “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell hopped over to the Women In Film party in Beverly Hills after noshing on kale salad, roasted chicken and grilled skirt streak at the official Emmy

reception. The Emmy Awards will be presented today at the Nokia Theatre and broadcast live on ABC. —AP

Ty Burrell

Crew diver drowns on set of new ‘Lone Ranger’ movie diver working on the set of Johnny Depp’s new Western movie “The Lone Ranger” drowned on Friday while cleaning out a tank, police and movie studio Walt Disney Co said. The man, who was not immediately identified, was wearing scuba equipment to carry out maintenance at a deep pool on a ranch near Palmdale, in the desert north of Los Angeles, where “The Lone Ranger” is being shot, a spokesman at the Palmdale Sheriff’s station said. It was not immediately clear how the man died.

“We regretfully confirm that a ‘Lone Ranger’ crew member has passed away after being taken to a local hospital. Our hearts and thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues at this time, and our full support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this terrible event,” Walt Disney Co studio spokesman Paul Roeder said in a statement.

The man was thought to be preparing a tank for an underwater scene to be shot at a later date, a source close to the production said. There was no filming underway on the set when the incident occurred. The source did not want to be named because the investigation is ongoing. “The Lone Ranger”, a new spin on the classic Western adventure with Depp as Native American spirit warrior Tonto and Armie Hammer in the title role, is due to be released in July 2013. —Reuters

A

Usher performs at the iHeart Radio Music Festival on Friday, Sept, 21, 2012 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. —AP

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n

F

endi hit Milan fashion week yesterday with a “big bang explosion,” showing off a sleek summer/spring 2013 collection strong on furs and leathers layered and inset over one another to create a 3D effect. “It’s an explosion of a traditional fashion house, a big bang explosion,” the brand said, as models took to the runway in tunics and dresses decorated with patterns which erupted across the surface in pastels and earthy colors.

There were classic looks, such as ivory shirts worn with slim brown leather trousers-jazzed up with panels inset in the inside leg. But the majority of the outfits pushed the boundaries with bold blocks of colors and angular cuts.

Dresses were two-toned, with cotton or leather fronts and fur backs. Outfits in blocks of color were broken up with stark borders on necklines and cuffs. Texture was key, with tiny colored adornments in greys and reds hanging off skirts which swayed as they sashayed down the catwalk, and an eye-catching mosaic-style dress covered with tiny beads-all worn with thick-heeled shoes. Fendi director Karl Lagerfeld gave a nod to the sixties with an Audrey Hepburn-style coat and used the mustard yellows and baby blues of the era.

The house’s double “FF” trademark logo appeared on striking black outfits, while the collection also had a sporty angle, with blue shorts and a jacket in crocodile leather, as well as a dress with flowers-a trend this season. The Germanborn Lagerfeld, 78, who has his own fashion label and is also the creative director

at Chanel, emerged after the show in his trademark sunglasses, ponytail hair and black leather gloves to a standing ovation.

Founded in 1925 in Rome, Fendi is now owned by French luxury giant LVMH. Earlier in the day, Bottega Veneta had unveiled its own collection-inspired like Prada, Gucci, and other houses this season by flowers-but keeping the silhouette slim and retaining black as the base color.

“It’s easy for a woman to dress in a way that sends a simply message: serious or sexy or bohemian or whatever,” said designer Tomas Maier. “It’s much harder to come across in a multifaceted way. For Spring, we wanted to make clothes that blur the lines, that offer a more complex idea. These are women who’d rather not be summed up in a word or two,” he added.

The collection was complex, mixing sharply tailored cuts with softer pieces, with demure skirts down to the knee and high-waisted trousers. Sheer black tops revealed skin or a floral bra beneath and skirts in earthy colors were broken up by black panels-though fabrics were cashmere and silk chiffon, and created a subtler look than the dramatic fur insets at Fendi. Though some shoulders were cut away, most of the necklines rested on the collarbone, with only a few dresses flaunting a V-shaped plunged neckline. Hefty heels were on show here as well, along with cut-away platforms. — AFP

Models display creations as part of Fendi SpringSummer 2013 collection yesterday during the Women’s fashion week in Milan. — AFP photos

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n

D

onatella Versace has bared her soul at Milan fashion week, joining Prada and Gucci in creating a soulful collection which contrasted sharply with Moschino’s swinging sixties and Etro’s garden of Eden. Versace’s feminine summer/spring 2013 offering was delicate and intensely feminine, starring chiffon creations with seductive lace embellishments. The first looks onto the runway were hot pants and a top revealing the midriff, both in an intricate nude lace that looked like a second skin. Pale blues, oranges and greens then dominated the show in the lush courtyard of Versace’s palace headquarters in the Milan fashion district, with a series of lingerie pieces, cocktail dresses and long, floating evening gowns.

Black or nude lace marked nearly every creation-used to reveal nude skin under a cut-away pattern on trousers, as swirling centre-pieces on short blue dresses or as the hem of a skirt on an ivory-coloured shirt dress. Sensual lingerie pieces in lace were worn with black masculine jackets or cream ones cinched in at the waist-as well as a striking leather jacket. The shoes were killer high heels, with straps that wound around the leg up to the knee-and when worn with a tunic-inspired longsleeved mini-dress pulled in with two belts, they evoked the raw sensuality of ancient Rome.

The fashion house’s Medusa logo was printed in tie-dye on many of the dresses, and there was an abundance of the gold and silver adornments so loved by Donatella, the sister of the late fashion legend Gianni Versace. Dresses were worn with large choker necklaces made of slim metal chains-a theme then picked up in skirts, tops and even a dress made of the free-moving chains which swished from side to side to create a sense of liquidity.

Over at Moschino, the sixties were back with a bang 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-riding-style helmets. But it was flower power that reigned, with the stripes giving way to dresses and closecut suits in yellows, blues and reds adorned with flowers-a theme regularly emerging on catwalks for the upcoming spring and summer season.

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 hoop earrings. As the song “Let’s Have a Good Time” belted out over the soundtrack, the show took a racy turn with black-netting dresses worn over white underwear. Designer Rosella Jardini’s woman was on the whole sporty and carefree 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.

Flowers were also a central theme over at Etro, where the collection seemed to conjure up a garden of Eden, with earthy

color tones brightened by large hand-painted prints of birds of paradise, butterflies and flamingos. “Rooted in a dream-like earthly paradise, the collection delves into a female fantasy yet imparts a sense of discipline and rigorous restraint in its simplified shapes and compact materials,” the luxury brand said.

Designer Veronica Etro drew on Oriental influences-another regular theme cropping up this fashion week-with a modern take on the kimono with short jackets, cropped wide-legged judo trousers and soft, pyjama-style suits. The fashion house said the collection was inspired by “richly feminine Orientalist paintings” and “Japanese vase prints,” though there were clear nods to the poncho and sari as well, with dresses cut from single squares of fabric.

For the evening, glittering striped trousers, a silver dress with large sparkling beads, a canary yellow dress (which the model had to keep hitching back into place), or pink and black trousers with orange ruffles down the legs. The result was a rather confusing mix of themes and colors-a white suit with blue flowers and wide red, green and black stripes on the sleeves raised eyebrows-though embroidered, quilted kimonos gave the collection an edge. — AFP

Models display creations as part of the Versace women’s Fall-Winter 2012-2013 collection that was presented in Milan, Italy. — AP/AFP photos

Etro

At 82, relaxed Clint throws another curveball

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

37

A picture taken yesterday in Delme, eastern France shows the Gue(ho)st House, an architecture-sculpture created by Christophe Berdaguer and Marie Pejus in the area surrounding the Synagogue de Delme contemporary art centre. Gue(ho)st House borrows Marcel Duchamp’s wordplay: a Guest + A Host = A Ghost.—AFP

capital threatened by scent of modernity

An Indian perfume producer boils Attar, perfume.

I

n the remote town of Kannauj, the perfume capital of India, traditional workers are struggling to keep their craft alive in the face of fierce competition from modern fragrance makers. This fight, between small businesses such as the Pragati Aroma Oil distillery and global groups such as Armani and Chanel, mirrors thousands of other battles across India between ancient practices and the forces of modernity. Laxmi Narayan, 72, has spent the last 30 years making what is known as attar, an oil-based perfume manufactured using a method dating back thousands of years.

“Attar-making is a painstaking craft,” Narayan told AFP through a cloud of thick smoke that billowed from wood fires set below a row of simmering copper pots that he was constantly monitoring.

“We rely on our instincts, we know the attar is ready by the smell and feel of it,” he added. Sushil Singh, a supervisor at the distillery about 130 kilometers (80 miles) from state capital Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh state, believes machines can never take the place of experienced hands. “The smell will be lost if we start using machines. People are forgetting the value of attar. But we know what goes into (its) making. For us, attar is our life.”

Each morning local farmers near Kannauj pluck bagfuls of rose, jasmine and other petals and deliver them to the nearby perfume distilleries dotting this sleepy town. In a process that can take days to complete, the flowers are mixed with water and heated in the copper pots. The aromatic steam is then transferred via a bamboo pipe to a receptacle containing sandalwood oil which acts as the base for the attar. But while it is still popular with natural fragrance enthusiasts, attar is increasingly shunned by India’s brand-conscious consumers who have become used to foreign products since economic reforms in the 1990s opened up the country.

Rising raw material costs, particularly of oil which must be imported because of limited production in India, are also a major headache. “The attar industry is gasping for survival,” says Rohan Seth, the vice-president of the Fragrances and Flavors Association of India, an umbrella group of around 800 traders.

Fading fragrances Located on the banks of River Ganges, the city of Kannauj was once a key trading centre for Indian perfumes, spices and silks that

An Indian Muslim tests Attar, perfume, before purchasing it at a shop in New Delhi. were sent mainly to the countries in the Middle East. The city of 1.7 million people reached the peak of its glory during the 7th century AD when it was the capital of an empire led by a Hindu king called Harsha Vardhan. Local perfumers would later supply to the Moghul emperors, who ruled India for nearly 300 years. Remnants of sprawling forts and royal facades stand testimony to the bygone glory of the city. “Kannauj has been the perfumery town of the country for thousands of years,” says Shakti Vinay Shukla, the deputy director of the Fragrance and Flavour Centre (FFDC) in Kannauj. “Kannauj is to India what Grasse is to France. Here perfume-making is art. It is an integral part of the culture and heritage of the people,” Shukla told AFP at the centre, surrounded by lemongrass, mint and henna shrubs. The centre has been trying to help the farmers who pick the flowers and the perfume makers in a bid to stem the decline in the numbers of distilleries. “The city boasted nearly 700 distilleries up until the late 1990s,” said Pulkit Jain of Pragati Aroma Oil Distillers. “Now the numbers have come down to about 150. Chemical alternatives and paraffin-based perfumes are much cheaper to make so it makes business sense to switch to these,” Jain told AFP. A study by the country’s leading trade body ASSOCHAM in May this year said the domestic perfume market was seeing annual growth of about 30 percent and was currently worth about $270 million. The sector, which includes attar and other locally produced perfumes, accounted for nearly 30 percent of the total fragrance industry sales, it said. Armani, Azzaro and Burberry were listed as the top three “most sold” leading perfume brands in the country, boosted by a trend for male grooming among urbane Indians, the report said. Shukla of FFDC conceded the industry needed to find new uses for attar to stave off international competition, such as in aromatherapy where essential oils are used for their healing properties.

Love for attar In the narrow winding streets of the old area of New Delhi, Praful Gundhi, 49, runs his perfume business which was started by his family in 1816 and draws well-heeled customers as well as those looking for cheap rip-offs. His shop-Gulab Singh Johrimal-

Indian flower farmers sort out petals at a farm in Kannauj in the northern state of Kanpur.

Indian perfume producers empty sacks of flowers into pots to make Attar, purfume, at a factory.

An Indian perfume producer boils Attar.

In a picture taken on August 14, 2012, Indian flower farmers weigh petals at a farm in Kannauj in the northern state of Kanpur.—AFP photos stocks perfumes in beautifully carved and colored glass bottles displayed neatly on shelves all around. Workers take great care to ensure the essence is not lost in the air as they prepare bottles tagged with names such as Iceberg, White Musk and Sandal Gold.

“Muslims form the biggest customer base for us because Islam prohibits them to use alcohol-based perfumes which is what most of the foreign brands are,” said Gundhi, himself a Hindu.

“Even tourists coming to India flock to our shops because of the natural and organic quality of these perfumes. They know attar is kind to the skin, you won’t have any allergies.” Gundhi said he usually charged 14,000 rupees ($252) for 10 milliliters of pure rose oil but synthetic ones could be had for as cheap as 400 rupees ($8).

“It is all about taste and choice. The true connoisseur will not mind spending as long as he is satisfied about the quality.” But for many like Delhi businessman Anshul Agarwal, nothing compares to the high-end brands that he is fond of buying from the modern glass and steel shopping malls in the city. “One of my friends had gifted me attar around a year back. It is still lying unused because I love my Calvin Kleins and Davidoffs,” said the 34-year-old.—AFP

Indian farmers pick flowers at a farm in Kannauj in the northern state of Kanpur.

An Indian salesman fills bottles of Attar, perfume, at a shop in New Delhi.

Indian perfume producers boil Attar.