25th Oct

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Israel vows to punish Hamas as Gaza unrest spikes

Envoy says Syria, most rebels agree to truce

9

40 PAGES

NO: 15609

150 FILS

7

www.kuwaittimes.net

THUL HIJJAH 9, 1433 AH

Iran looks to Silk Road ties in time of sanctions

Dortmund outclass Real Madrid to go top of group

13

20

MoI re-allows ‘peaceful’ protests after US rebuke Ministry, in U-turn, reverses curbs on public gatherings

Sudan accuses Israel of air raid Two killed in strike • Khartoum threatens to hit back KHARTOUM: Israeli missiles struck a military factory and killed two people in the Sudanese capital yesterday, the government said, 18 months after alleging a similar raid by the Jewish state. “We think Israel did the bombing,” Culture and Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman told a news conference. “We reserve the right to react at a place and time we choose.” The military and foreign ministry in Israel, which has long accused Khartoum of serving as a base for militants from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, refused to comment.

Osman said four radar-evading aircraft carried out an attack at around midnight (2100 GMT) on the Yarmouk military manufacturing facility in the south of the Sudanese capital. Evidence pointing to Israel was found among remnants of the explosives, he said. As the cabinet prepared to hold an urgent meeting at 8:00 pm, about 300 protesters gathered nearby with banners calling for Israel to be wiped off the earth. “The army of Muhammad (PBUH) is returning,” they shouted.

Residents living near the Yarmouk factory told AFP an aircraft or missile flew over the facility shortly before the plant exploded and burst into flames. An AFP reporter several kilometres away saw two or three fires flaring across a wide area, with heavy smoke and intermittent flashes of white light bursting above the state-owned factory.

Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: A few days after a massive protest and riots in the capital, the Ministry of Interior expressed full respect of the freedom of expression and association, but stressed the importance of abiding by the law while doing so. There is no plan to criminalize or restrict Kuwaitis’ right to express their views and protest peacefully, the ministry said in a press statement yesterday. It however added that it has warned repeatedly, in several statements, that it will not allow any violation of law. The ministry’s statement comes after the Cabinet banned public gatherings of more than 20 people on Monday. “Citizens are not allowed to hold a gathering of more than 20 individuals on roads or at public locations without obtaining a permit from the concerned governor,” the Cabinet had said in a statement. “Police are entitled to prevent or disperse any unlicensed grouping.”

Earlier, the United States on Tuesday issued a veiled criticism of its ally Kuwait after 100 protesters were hurt in Sunday’s clashes, defending the “universal right” to freedom of assembly. Riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades and beat up hundreds of demonstrators to break up the protest, which the opposition described as the largest demonstration in the state’s history.

Continued on Page 15

Amir conveys Eid greetings KHARTOUM: A man looks at the image of the remains of ammunition after a press conference held by Sudanese Culture and Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman in the capital yesterday following an overnight explosion at the Yarmouk military manufacturing facility just south of the capital. — AFP

King steering Jordan through turbulence AMMAN: The foiling of a planned Al- civil war from spilling over the border.

So far, Abdullah has largely mainQaeda terror plot in Jordan underscores a new subplot in the story of the Arab tained control, partly by relinquishing Spring: Things are heating up for King some of his powers to parliament and Abdullah II, a Western-oriented monarch amending the country’s 60-year-old constitution. His Westernwho has run a businesstrained security forces have friendly, pragmatic monarbeen able to keep protests chy with some trappings of from getting out of hand. democracy. Jordan, a key US And most in the opposition ally that sits at a strategic remain loyal to the king, crossroads between neighpressing for reforms but not boring Syria, Iraq, the his removal. The stakes are Palestinian territories, Israel high: Abdullah is a close and Saudi Arabia, has so far friend of the United States weathered 22 months of and has been at the forestreet protests calling for a front in its global war on terwider public say in politics. rorism, including in But this week’s announceAfghanistan. Jordan serves ment that Jordanian authoriKing Abdullah II as a buffer zone to Saudi ties had thwarted an AlQaeda plan to attack shopping malls Arabia, another Sunni Muslim country, and Western diplomatic missions in the and to Israel, a friend under a peace country has raised fears that extremists treaty signed in 1994. The kingdom could take advantage of growing calls hosts the largest Palestinian population for change to foment violence. The king outside the West Bank.

“The worst nightmare would be for also has been working overtime to fend off a host of domestic challenges, Israel and Saudi Arabia,” said liberal lawincluding a Muslim Brotherhood boycott maker Jamil Nimri. “Jordan shares the of parliamentary elections, increasing longest border with Israel and is one of opposition from his traditional Bedouin its few remaining Arab friends, while for Continued on Page 15 allies and an inability to keep the Syrian

tried the Gangnam Style routine. “We have a tough negotiations in the United Nations. In such a case I was also thinking of playing ‘Gangnam Style’ dance so that everybody would stop and dance, maybe you can bring UN style,” he said.

The pop star also heaped praise on Ban, telling reporters: “So now you have first and second famous Korean in the same building.” “For all the Koreans he is the guy, you know, in everyone’s heart in Korea, the best among the best,” PSY said.

“To be here and he knows me, even the thing that he knows me is so touching right now and he’s saying he saw my video, he counted my video views.” “I think the music can play a very important role.

Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan conveyed to citizens and residents the congratulations of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Eid Al-Adha yesterday. The Amir wishes them well and happiness on this holy celebration. He also desires peace and harmony in the Islamic world and to preserve the homeland, the statement said. — KUNA

Pilgrims flood Mina as haj begins MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia: The annual haj pilgrimage started in earnest yesterday, with more than two million Muslims thronging roads on foot and by bus for a five-day journey of faith most have spent their entire lives waiting for.

The pilgrims, among them more than 1.75 million people who have travelled from across the world to be in Saudi Arabia for the rituals, left the holy city of Makkah at dawn and headed for the sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. In the arid valley of Mina, a pit-stop en route to Mount Arafat, pilgrims spent yesterday night in government provided tents and buildings, passing the time in prayer and reflection.

The passage to Mina marks the official launch of the haj on the eighth day of the Muslim calendar month of Dhul Hijja.

The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) as pilgrims in the past stopped at Mina to feed their animals and stock up for the following day’s trip to Mount Arafat. But many pilgrims also headed directly to Arafat by late yesterday. Unauthorised domestic pilgrims were seen being dropped by cars and infiltrating tight security checkpoints on the roads leading to the Arafat plain.

Men dressed in the white shrouds symbolising resurrection chanted in unison as they marched to Mina: “I am responding to your call, God.” The

women, dressed from head to foot revealing only their faces and hands, echoed the religious chant. Sweaty and exasperated, 55-year-old Indonesian pilgrim Laila Soharti said she was “trying to get to Mina before the roads start getting too crowded”. “We are thrilled to be heading towards God’s most sacred spots on earth,” she told AFP. In Mina, the desolate plain that only comes to life during the five days of haj, men and women separate for the night, sharing tents with fellow pilgrims of the same sex. For Akram Hussein, a 42-yearold Iraqi on his first pilgrimage with his family described the haj as “great days in which we must follow in the footsteps of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” Syrian pilgrim Mohammed Noor meanwhile said he was “extremely glad God has chosen us from among so many people to perform haj this year and we hope he will also aid us in observing the rites correctly”. “If he chooses that we die here we will be very happy as well since it means we’ll go to heaven,” he told AFP soon after arriving in Mina.

The pilgrims’ stay in Makkah has so far been incident-free, with some 25,700 members of civil defence deployed throughout the kingdom’s holy cities. In Mina, 100 civil defence teams are on call, ready to deal with emergencies.

Continued on Page 15

‘Gangnam’ rapper, daredevil meet Ban UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Kimoon had to admit Tuesday that he is no longer the world’s most famous South Korean as he came face-to-face with “Gangnam Style” rap phenomenon PSY. But the world body’s secretary general got the bonus of an offer of a skydiving lesson from Felix Baumgartner, the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall. Ban said he felt overshadowed by his countryman PSY, who showed off some of the wacky dance moves that have been viewed more than 530 million times on YouTube.

“I’m a bit jealous. Until two days ago someone told me I am the most famous Korean in the world. Now I have to relinquish. I have no regrets,” said Ban, who

Max 36º Min 25º High Tide 07:17 & 21:00 Low Tide 01:43 : 13:54

MAKKAH: Muslim pilgrims head to Mount Arafat ahead of the main haj ritual in this holy city yesterday. — AP

Cyberspace new front in Iran war with foes

NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) is taught how to dance Gangnam Style by Korean rapper PSY during a photo opportunity at the UN headquarters on Tuesday. — AP

WASHINGTON: Two years after the Stuxnet computer worm attacked its nuclear program, Iran is increasingly turning to cyber warfare itself in a growing, stealthy confrontation with its enemies. While the immediate threat of an Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities has eased for now, Tehran’s rulers are under increasing pressure from crippling sanctions, a collapsing currency and rising popular discontent. With all sides apparently keen to avoid an outright conflict, deniable cyber attacks seemingly offer one of the easiest ways of fighting back without risking too much.

Definitive proof of responsibility in cyberspace, experts say, is often all but impossible. But government and private security officials say what evidence exists

points to Iranian involvement in a rising tide of attacks in the last year. Among the most serious were directed denial of service attacks that took down websites of several US banks including Citigroup and Bank of America as well as an assault on Saudi oil firm Aramco that destroyed some 30,000 computers.

What the attacks show, experts with knowledge of government intelligence say, is that Tehran is raising its game fast although its capabilities remain well behind those of the United States, Israel, Britain other powers such as China and Russia. The attacks, they say, have been increasing in both sophistication and intensity. “We’ve known for a long time that the Iranians were working on these Continued on Page 15

2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LOCAL

Kuwaiti people support Amir wholeheartedly: Al-Khorafi Wise ruler of the nation KUWAIT: Former Kuwaiti house speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi revealed yesterday that he had relayed a message from the Kuwaiti people to His Highness the Amir in which the people expressed their wholehearted support to HH the Amir’s endeavors to preserve peace and stability in Kuwait. The message was relayed after a meeting yesterday between HH the Amir and Al-Khorafi, after which the latter made a statement to the press in which he said “The people of Kuwait entrusted me to tell the Amir they had all the confidence in his capacity as a wise ruler of the nation who goes strictly by the Constitution.”

The former house speaker appealed to everyone to respect the Constitution and the Amir’s privileges as the highest authority in the land, noting that differing opinions were welcome but disregard for law and order was not.

Affirming the imperative to heed decisions passed down by the courts, he said the slight change the Amir made on the electoral law came out of absolute necessity to ward off political rancor among contentious political groups and interests and to do was

right for the common good.

He bemoaned the fact that some people, who did not savor the electoral change, decided to take matters in their own hands by showing their opposition to it through tumultuous demonstration in the street and law-breaking behavior.

He referred to some former MPs who, knowing that due to the electoral change would not have the chance to be reelected, were currently inciting their constituents to flaunt the law and demonstrate in the streets ad nauseum.

He behooved everyone to exercise the right of free speech responsibly without recourse to public disturbance, clashing with the police, or damaging public property. They could do that easily by confining their rallies to the location known locally as Irada Square or Decision Square, he said. One could demonstrate one’s dissention there as the location is sanctioned by the authorities.

At the end of his press statement, AlKhorafi lauded the recent meeting of members of the ruling family in which they pledged their firm support to the

Amir and his wise leadership.

Meanwhile, during a meeting of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with a number of Kuwaiti citizens, Dr Mohammed Al-Tabtabai delivered a speech in which he thanked HH the Amir for giving this opportunity a matter which shows his patience and his open-door policy to listen to opinions of citizens.

He said that the loyal Kuwaiti people emphasize the need to abide by the laws of Kuwait and Your Highness with your powers to make decisions and decrees. “We emphasize that and refute of what you have of powers do not allow or enable one to intervene in Your Highness’ jurisdictions stemming from our full and complete confidence in Your Highness’ wisdom.” He stressed that the Kuwaiti national today is at the forefront of the human elements and whether in the Gulf or else by the consensus of everyone.

He believed that the State has built a great mankind and we thank Your Highness for that and for the wise policy that Your Highness is adopting which we must preserve.—KUNA

KUWAIT: Some of the photos of the demonstration released by the Interior Ministry yesterday.

Sharp increase in number of rats

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: A large number of sightings of rats are being reported by people from different areas, including chalets area, Kabd, Sulaybiya farms, and Jeleeb Al Shuyoukh. The Head of the rodents and insects fighting department at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Samiya AlTbayikh, said that the situation is not very serious and that this phenomena is not an epidemic.

According to an employee in this department who wished to remain anonymous, the Norway rat has existed in Kuwait since a long time.

“This name has nothing to do with the origin of this rodent. I am not sure of the reason why this particular breed of rat has spread in the country. It may be that too many of these rats entered Kuwait through different routes such as oil tankers and camions coming from outside Kuwait,” he told the Kuwait Times yesterday.

According to him, this species of rats or mice used to be common in the pens and farms. “It can also be found in old abandoned buildings. So people should take care when venturing near

such areas. Our department has already released statements that the situation is not critical and that the media have presented the news in an exaggerated manner,” he explained.

The most difficult problem facing the Ministry staff in fighting the rodents is the lack of public cooperation. “Our department is always carrying out a drive against the rodents all across Kuwait during different periods all through the year. We face obstacles as too often, people refuse to let us into their houses. They simply do not care.

For instance, when a mouse appears in any house, the residents of the neighboring house do not care to check their own house to prevent any further spread of this menace,” he said. “It is true that we have not registered any serious cases yet, but people should be aware of the issue and they must know that these animals may cause diseases and infections. In fact, about 70 percent of the people refuse to cooperate with us. So we call upon the people to help us do our work which is to their own benefit,” the source said.

People can report any rodent related cases at the telephone no 24848088

ext (775). This phone will remain functional only during the official working hours of the Ministry of Health. Dr. Samiya Al-Tbayikh, the Head of the rodents and insects fighting department at the Ministry of Health, had earlier mentioned in the Arabic press the main aspects of their work to prevent the spreading and multiplying of insects and rodents.

This included routine anti-rodent drives carried out at different buildings such as hospitals, schools, mosques, and public institutions in all governorates. The drives will also be carried out at the ports and airports as these are the main gateways for rats coming from abroad. Other areas such as Jaber Al-Ahmad and Sabah Al-Ahmad, the border areas etc will also be added to these drives. She pointed out only insecticides will be used which pass the chemical tests and are considered safe for human beings.

A list of the used insecticides will be registered at the Ministry. The private companies working in this field should get their services and the materials they use licensed to abide by specified safety measures.

Ministry accuses protesters of ‘predetermined intention to violate law’ KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry criticized the use of the term ‘arrest’ to describe its action of apprehending the suspects during last Sunday’s demonstration, indicating that this term contained implications different from legal measures taken against troublemakers.

“The term ‘arrest’ is only used in the Penal Code in regulations pertaining to cases of call up in which the Interior Ministry can release orders to arrest citizens of hostile countries or states whose ties with Kuwait are severed,” the ministry said in a statement released by the Security Media Department yesterday.

It further explained that the word ‘arrest’ indicates “temporary deprivation of individual freedom and basic rights,” and that individuals can be arrested “without the need for physical evidence.”

Instead, the ministry urged media outlets and social networks users to use correct legal terms to describe the detention, which

include “subpoena, seizure, detention and remand.” The ministry argued that these terms better describe “the legal procedures adopted by the Criminal Investigations General Department against the suspects.” Meanwhile, the ministry reiterated in a separate statement that special task forces did not prevent gatherers from expressing their opinions or demonstrating peacefully at the Iradah Square on Sunday, arguing at the same time that certain gatherers deliberately disobeyed orders.

“The demonstrators were given the choice between peaceful demonstration at the Iradah Square or facing legal deterrence in case they staged unlicensed marches,” the statement read.

The ministry said that the protestors had “predetermined intention to take the hard option through violating the law and attacking police, as part of their efforts to execute their evil plan to instigate [the public] to take

part in different marches within the commercial area of Kuwait City.”

It further accused the protestors of “obstructing traffic at the Arabian Gulf Road, creating riots and chaos as well as damaging private properties.”

In the meantime, the ministry accused “the troublemakers of posting fabricated information and misleading photos on social networks with the intention of creating public confusion.”

Instead, the ministry released photographs showing demonstrators using social networks as well as children “brought to obstruct police’s work.”

The ministry referred to minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud AlSabah’s “goodwill gesture of releasing the suspects,” but insisted that legal procedures will continue. It also criticized political figures “who instigated young citizens and pushed them to the streets, but disappeared and left them to face an unknown fate.”

Blood donation campaign KUWAIT: As part of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Hassan’s Optician Company organized a Blood Donation Campaign Drive at their Head Office in Kuwait City in association with Kuwait Central Blood Bank on Monday.

The President of Hassan’s Optician Co. Hassan Saadat and the CEO Kian Saadat expressed their gratitude to all volunteers who took part in the voluntary blood donation camp in large numbers and applauded their ‘overwhelming support’ towards this initiative.

“On our part we recognize the importance of Blood Donation Campaigns as it assures an adequate supply of blood which is critical to saving precious lives.

We also feel honoured to join the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Health to enrich and ensure healthy living for all,” he said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LOCAL

Iraqi bloc applauds airlines settlement with Kuwait Call for more positive steps

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: An Iraqi political bloc welcomed Kuwait ’s Amir HH Sheik h Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s approval for a $500 million settlement between the two countries’ airlines, a decision they described as “a positive step that needs to be followed with similar steps to settle the remaining pending issues.” “We applaud this step which effectively ends the lawsuits filed by Kuwait against the Iraqi Airways,” said Free Iraqiya Bloc member Aliya Nusayef. “In the meantime, we see the need for it to be followed with similar steps to end pending issues between the two countries.”

Urging Kuwait to consider “neighborly relations” as well as “the current situation in Iraq,” Nusayef hoped that other issues, including “joint oil wells”, “unfair border demarcation as per UN Resolution 833,” as well as “lifting sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter” be also settled.

Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah told his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah signed a decree authorizing the settlement under which Iraq will pay Kuwait $300 million in cash and invest $200 million in a joint airline venture. The agreement allows the Iraqi Airways to rebuild its fleet and obtain new aircrafts for the first time in 22 years.

Bedoons released Five stateless residents arrested for staging unauthorized demonstrations in Taima were released yesterday as per orders of the Public Prosecution. The release came on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha holidays which start tomorrow. The trial is set to resume after the holiday.

Offensive cleric banned The United Arab Emirates banned a Saudi religious figure from appear-

ing on any of the country’s TV channels after recent remarks that were deemed offensive to Kuwait’s Amir HH Sheik h Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah.

Mohammad Al-Uraifi had voiced his suppor t to the opposition in Kuwait through remarks posted on Twitter after last Sunday’s demonstrations. These remarks were found offensive. The decision includes banning new and old material connected to the controversial figure, as well as canceling all those shows that he currently hosts.

Coptic greetings The Orthodox Coptic Church in Kuwait extended greetings to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheik h Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah and to Kuwaiti citizens on the occasion of the Eid AlAdha Muslim holiday.

KUWAIT: Undersecretary Ministry of Interior Gen Ghazi Al Omar received Srgt Mai Mohammad Al Mutairi from the supporting authority in his office yesterday, where he felicitated her for her outstanding work and faithfulness.

The honor was bestowed in the presence of assistant director of Saad Al Abdullah, Academy Brig Haroon Al Omar and assistant director Dalal Al Ruwaished.

Second march on Nov 11?

KUWAIT: The opposition plans to stage a follow up to last Sunday’s demonstration which saw the largest attendance in terms of numbers in Kuwait’s history and use of violence by the police to disperse unauthorized marches. The next event is tentatively set for November 11 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the activation of constitution, with plans to expand such activity all across Kuwait.

The step comes as part of a longterm plan put forth by the opposition during a meeting for oppositionist groups last Monday at the dewaniya of former MP Musallam Al-Barrak. A short-term plan also proposed during the meeting that called for staging public speeches in dewaniyas.

The long-term plan also included staging a “grand march” on December 1, the day when elections are set to take place as per the amended elec-

toral law. “The ‘Grand March’ is set for the election day and demonstrators plan to march throughout Kuwait’s streets, mainly along the Arabian Gulf Road,” said sources close to the opposition in statements to Al-Rai. The opposition and its supporters officially announced plans to boycott the upcoming elections after an emergency decree was released, reducing the number of candidates a voter can vote for from four to one.

Thief arrested in Khaitan

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: Farwaniya security personnel have arrested a Somali expat on charges of stealing from one of the shops located in Khaitan area. Police found the accused while he was stealing tools, and upon interrogation, he confessed to having committed nine thefts in various houses, shops and cars. He also told the police about the places from which he had stolen. He has been taken to the concerned authorities.

Drug gang held Drug enforcement agents have arrested a criminal gang, which specializes in trading drugs. Information was received about a citizen, who was active in trading drugs. After collecting the necessary information and conducting an investigation, legal permission to prosecute was obtained and the citizen’s residence was raided. Upon conducting a search, four kilograms of hashish was found hidden in the house. The accused confessed to sourcing the drugs from another suspect, who is also a citizen. The accused said that an Asian mediator among them would receive the payment for the drugs and deposit it into several accounts of the

KUWAIT: The drug duo pictured after their arrest. second suspect. The three have been arrested and sent to the concerned authorities.

Illegal charities The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has the authority to dismantle a charitable organization or cancel its license, should it ignore repeated warnings that forbid it from collecting donations illegally, a top ministry official said recently. Acting Director of the Charity Organizations and Foundations Ahmad Al-Sane’a further warned citizens against

“fake charity representatives who collect donations from homes and markets for unknown organizations.” He urged people to ask for a receipt for every donation paid in cash or through a credit card.

In his recent statement, Al-Sane’a also urged the Kuwaiti people to report any cases in which they came across cash donations that were made in violation of the regulations imposed during the Eid Al-Adha holiday. The Ministry’s regulations stipulate that donations should only be paid at head offices of charity organizations and certain certified branches.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LOCAL

Man in custody for helping drunken duo escape arrest Hunt on for Qairawan rapist

KUWAIT: The Jahra police managed to apprehend a male driver shortly after he helped two drunken men escape arrest in Waha recently. Patrol officers reportedly stopped by when the two suspects who were under the influence of liquor were trying to steal a car. A man driving a luxury European made car arrived at the scene and helped the suspects escape even as police officers resisted. A police officer sustained injuries when he held on to the suspect’s car as he tried to drive away while the officer’s partner called for backup. Eventually, the suspect managed to escape even though backup officers rushed to arrest the two drunks as he dropped them off and drove away. The driver was soon traced, arrested and charged with attempted murder of the officer who was dragged during his escape attempt.

Suspect’s escape foiled A suspect facing charges of a murder attempt escaped from the police’s custody while still in handcuffs, when he was left unattended briefly, but police was able to nab him again within 20 minutes.

Patrol officers fanned out in search of the fugitive immediately after an officer assigned to guard

him at the General Prosecution Department reported him missing.

Despite being handcuffed at the moment, the man managed to sneak out and melted into a crowd outside the building, taking his case documents with him.

Police found him 20 minutes later hiding behind the Qadsia Sports Club premises, and arrested him. A probe is now on to determine whether any negligence was involved.

Hit-and-run A driver who was involved in a hit-and-run accident was arrested a few days later in Farwaniya on Tuesday and confessed that he was driving under the influence of liquor when the mishap had happened. Detectives had managed to identify the vehicle involved in the accident that left a child injured in Salmiya, and had issued an arrest warrant against its owner who was identified as a Kuwaiti man with a criminal record. He will now face further legal procedures.

Man hit by bus A pedestrian was critically wounded after he was run over by a public transport bus in Sharq recently. The Indian man suffered

multiple bone fractures and was rushed in an ambulance to Amiri Hospital where he was admitted into the intensive care unit. The bus driver was detained and taken into custody at the Sharq police station where a case was filed for investigations.

Rapists at large Investigations are on in search of two suspects accused of sexually assaulting a domestic worker they had kidnapped in Qairawan. The housemaid was reportedly taking out the trash when the suspects forced her into their vehicle. They drove to a remote location where they assaulted her and then dropped her off near her employer’s house. A case was filed at the area’s police station where the wife of the victim’s employer came to her aid.

Home robbery Police are on a look out for a thief who stole KD16,000 from a house he broke into in Bneid Al Gar. The case was filed at the Da’iya police station after a Kuwaiti woman reported that the cash from a bank loan that she had kept in her wardrobe had gone missing. She requested that the police file a report of house robbery. Sleuths

lifted fingerprints from the scene.

Forgery case A man was arrested at a public service office in Al-Na’eem when he tried to get eight forged transactions passed. Police were called to the office after an employee discovered eight forged transactions forwarded by an Indian man. The suspect was taken to the Migration General Investigations Department where it was revealed that he was active in forging immigration and traffic related transactions. He will remain in custody pending investigations during which police will be searching for any possible accomplices.

False kidnap It all turned out to be a huge misunderstanding when a man approached the officers at the Surra police station to report that his son and housemaid were kidnapped by paramedics, only to discover later that the child was hospitalized following an emergency call by his mother while the maid had accompanied the kid to keep him company. The Kuwaiti man was told by his driver when he failed to find his son and maid that paramedics had arrived and taken them to an undisclosed location. —Anba

KRCS organizes seminar on Hepatitis KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) organized, yesterday, a seminar on the causes and prevention of Hepatitis. The seminar presenter and Consultant of Gastroentology and Hepatology at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Dr Mutaz Fathi Saad said that Hepatitis C is a curable infectious inflammatory illness of the liver if it was detected in its earlier stages.

The transition of the viris is “limited,” Dr Saad clarified in the seminar that was attended by KRCS’ male and female volunteers. The illness’ patients can go about their daily lives as normal if they adhered to the physician’s instructions and orders. Transmission of hepatitis C virus results from exposure to infectious blood or body fluids containing blood. Possible forms of transmission include sexual contact, blood transfusions, transfusion with other human blood products and re-use of contaminated needles and syringes. Doctors, medical staff, patients of chronic liver failure that require regular dialysis, Hemphilia patients and other blood disorders’ patients as well as drug addicts are the ones who are mostly prone to get infected by this disease. Dr Saad pointed out that a major number of Hepatitis cases were discovered randomly through blood tests.

KRCS launched an awareness campaign in June to highlight the dangers of viral hepatitis, its causes, prevention and treatment. — KUNA

NBK family shares Eid happy moments with children at hospital KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait’s (NBK) family paid a visit to NBK Hospital at Sabah Medical district to share Eid happy moments with children suffering from permanent and incurable ailments.

Yaqoub Al-Baqer, NBK Public Relations Officer, said that NBK staff have always devoted a considerable part of their time to comfort the children and present them with felicitations and gifts as part of NBK’s corporate social responsibility program.

“Sharing the happy moments of Eid Al Adha and other similar occasions with children is our pleasure. We are proud that NBK devotes such attention to supporting Kuwait society and pro-

viding compassion and support for those in need, including sick children.

NBK’s commitment to shoulder its corporate social responsibility was the basic motive that led NBK to build its children hospital at Sabah Medical district many years ago,” Al-Baqer added.

The visit to the hospital was emotional and overwhelming for both the children and NBK staff.

NBK’s visits to hospitals and care centers reflect the Bank’s high sense of duty and responsibility towards all those in need from different sectors of society. It is a well rooted tradition that has been carried out by NBK each year in its efforts to continuously have an active role in the Kuwait society.

Entertainment City ready to welcome Eid celebrators KUWAIT: The Entertainment City will be closing its doors today (Thursday) to observe the Arafat Day, and will welcome visitors again tomorrow morning, marking the first day of the Eid Al-Adha. This was announced by Acting Director of the Activities and Operations Department at the Touristic Entertainment City, Yaqoub Al-Duaij, who, in a statement released yesterday, said that a special entertaining program “featuring various competitions and other activities” will be featured at the facility throughout the holidays. The Entertainment City opens its doors tomorrow at 11 am and will stay open till 11pm. These special timings will apply everyday till Monday.

Yaqoub Al-Duaij

Boubyan Bank’s religious song a YouTube hit KUWAIT: The Boubyan Bank cooperated with Shaikh Meshary Al-Afasi to produce a new religious song in praise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his teachings. The song registered a large number of views from Kuwait and all over the world during the first two days since it was uploaded on YouTube.

“The song is a simple message and an attempt to respond to the offensive things being said against the Prophet (PBUH), but it is a response made in a civilized way,” reads a statement released by the Boubyan Bank yesterday.

The bank cooperated with Al-Afasi earlier through two songs released during the holy month of Ramadan this year and also the year before. The songs, both of which were a hit, talked about global peace and the value of compassion among people.

Shaikh Meshary Al-Afasi

THRUSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LOCAL

British Airways celebrates 80th anniversary of flights to Kuwait Kuwait market ‘very important’

KUWAIT: British Airways celebrations in progress.

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Handley Page HP42 aircraft took off from Croydon, just south of London, on October 6 eighty summers ago to become the first commercially operated aircraft which landed in Kuwait in 1932. It was then under the Imperial Airways which was later renamed British Airways. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, Paolo De Renzis, British Airways Area Commercial Manager, Middle East & Central Asia, hosted a function at the British Embassy in Kuwait on Monday. The event was graced by British Ambassador to Kuwait Frank Baker along with a number of invited guests. De Renzis said the first flight to Kuwait by the Imperial Airways took a minimum of about six days before it finally arrived in Kuwait.

“It visited some cities before finally landing in Kuwait on 6th October

1932. The aircraft stopped in Kuwait en route to India and also touched down in Bahrain and Sharjah, UAE. Imagine what a journey at that time took six days, we have reduced it now to six hours,” De Renzis noted.

Handley Page HP42 aircraft was a 20-seater plane, a replica of which was displayed at the venue of the event. Today, 80 years later, a British Airways flight from London’s Heathrow airport to Kuwait on a Boeing 747-400 takes approximately six hours, travels at 988kmh and can carry up to 345 passengers across four classes.

A fashion show depicted the evolution of Imperial Airways flight attendants’ uniforms from the 1932 till date as it evolved into British Airways. The uniforms depict the fashion and style of the times, with many having been designed by Britain’s most famous designers and

fashion houses.

An exhibition of Britain’s aircrafts was also enjoyed by visitors. De Renzis added, “The Kuwait market is a very important market nowadays for the British Airways. We want to reaffirm our commitment to Kuwait.”

The growth of the aviation industry has been one of the most signifi-

cant developments in travel and British Airways is particularly proud to have been a part of the Middle East aviation sector.

“British Airways has pioneered many aviation firsts and is currently two years into a £5 billion investment plan that includes new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges and

Paolo De Renzis

British Ambassador Frank Baker

new technologies.” Since 1932, the Middle East has been a key market for British Airways, according to De Rennzis. Currently, the airline flies to eight cities in six GCC countries with 68 flights per week during the winter schedule, including daily flights between Kuwait and London Heathrow. Imperial Airways began passenger flights to Kuwait in April 1935. The journey started in London (Croydon) and the aircraft first flew to Paris. The journey from Paris to Brindisi was by rail, and later continued by air to Athens, Alexandria, Cairo, Gaza, Rutbah Wells, Baghdad, Basra and finally to Kuwait and Bahrain.

The airline’s Concorde service flew between London Heathrow and Bahrain from 1976 to 1980. In February 1979, Queen Elizabeth flew to Kuwait on the Concorde at the start of a three-week Middle East tour

that also included Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Concorde flight from Heathrow to Kuwait took less than four hours. “As the aviation industry in the Middle East continues to grow, we look forward to being a part of its development for the next 80 years and beyond,” De Renzis said.

De Renzis also announced that British Airways has also launched a special fare offer for Middle Eastern travelers to coincide with the 80th anniversary celebrations.

“Passengers can discover Europe, the USA and Canada at special discounted fares if they book before October 31. The fares are applicable for First, Club World (business class), World Traveler Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy) and are valid for travel before 31 March 2013. Fares from Kuwait to London start from KWD 218 in World Traveler,” he informed.

6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

in my view

Still cause for optimism?

Give the forces time off

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij he Sunday night’s events clearly demonstrate that someone wanted to take revenge against the opposition. And I do not blame that party when the opposition had crossed all limits possible, severed all ties with the government and went so far as to disrespectfully ignore HH the Amir’s requests and violate Article 54 of the Constitution.

But while I do not blame those who attempted to stop the opposition’s improper approach, the opposition and their followers are also human beings and fully entitled to the rights of expression and choice, and thus must not be dealt with as violent individuals.

Even more important is the fact that the people who were subjected to unjustifiable use of excessive

T

Even more important is the fact that the people who were subjected to unjustifiable use of excessive force are Kuwaiti citizens who had merely gone out to express their opinion. Not Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, Musallam Al-Barrak or even Ahmad AlSaadoun, but ordinary Kuwaiti citizens who are fully committed to what they believe in, and had gone to express this commitment. force are Kuwaiti citizens who had merely gone out to express their opinion. Not Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, Musallam Al-Barrak or even Ahmad Al-Saadoun, but ordinary Kuwaiti citizens who are fully committed to what they believe in, and had gone to express this commitment.

Whether what they believe is the truth or not can be debatable, but what is not debatable is their constitutional right to express it. And it does not matter whether they voluntarily chose to follow this belief or were simply deceived into it, as many claim they have been. As a matter of fact, if we consider they were actually deceived, then the authorities should deal with them with in a more flexible way instead of with violence.

Now, it is time for the government to ask the special task forces to relax. They deserve it after fulfilling more than just their national and military duty. Give them time off because people who carry an opinion do not need to be disciplined, and peaceful citizens must not be suppressed. Let people have the opportunity to express what they believe is right in a peaceful manner. Changing their opinion is not something that cannot easily be achieved through reason.

The government has already earned public support as a result of the opposition’s foolish practices, especially their recent attack upon the Amir’s status which was highly criticized by Kuwaitis. The government should now use it to its advantage and foster a better relationship with the people, which otherwise has suffered due to suppression. — Al-Qabas

By Frank Baker British Ambassador to Kuwait

I

kuwait digest

With all respect to nationalists

By Dr Sulaiman Al-Khadhari All these articles have been violated by a majorihis is a message to all those young citizens who are members of political groups referred ty of socially and religiously extremist groups to as civil, national, liberal, progressive, or which dominate the political scene in Kuwait whatever term is in vogue these days. In other today. So why follow those who adopt double words, if you are by any chance a member of any standards and an approach that favors personal socially or religiously fanatic group, then you do interests?

I know that for long you have been eager to not have to read any further. express your ambitions and With all due respect, I points of view with regards to am not trying to pretend I know that for long you have your country, and I realize that I know better than been eager to express your that you are paying the price you, but only to express for poor planning on the part what has been building ambitions and points of view of the leaders involved in up within me out of conwith regards to your country, nation building. This is especern for you. and I realize that you are paying cially so when it comes to The constitution must important strategic studies be respected as a whole the price for poor planning on for future generations. I also entity. This fac t must the part of the leaders involved understand that you are payremain the touchstone in nation building. This is espeing the price of the governfor any solution to the ment’s coalition with socially conflic ts we face. All cially so when it comes to imporand religiously fanatic groups through the years, I have tant strategic studies for future and have been waiting for an been seeing a selective generations. oppor tunity to make your approach in addressing presence felt. But the probconstitutional articles, lem is that today you are the with the articles pertaining to the parliament getting almost exclusive right people in the wrong battle. It is the government’s battle against those who were its allies in attention.

And while these articles are important, they are the yesteryears. Now both sides have their own not more significant than other articles in the con- agendas. It is a battle you never chose, but are drivstitution including those that pertain to public and en into by individuals using mega slogans that they private freedoms, freedom of scientific research, going to abandon as soon as they get what they want. —Al-Rai equality among people and religious freedom.

T

kuwait digest kuwait digest

I am really saddened

kuwait digest

A matter of pride for you

By Waleed Al-Ahmad

By Bader Al-Rashidi

hat we expected would happen finally did happen last Sunday when there was chaos all around as demonstrators clashed with the police and it all ended with arrests and injuries to many.

Security officers and demonstrators are both trading charges about who started the clash and social networks are being used to speculate and manipulate the truth in order to serve vested interests.

After the issuance of the emergency decree to change the electoral law and adopt a five constituencies and single vote system, the question that arises is, “Is this issue really a matter of urgency?”

Personally, I do not see that the electoral law needed to be amended urgently. I believe that it should have been better left as it was - with five constituencies and four votes per voter. It could have been left to the new parliament whether to bring in a new law through agreement with the cabinet. I do acknowledge HH the Amir’s right to release the emergency decrees as per article 71 of the constitution, but the conflict here hinges on there being different points of view with regards to the urgency behind the decree to amend the electoral law.

A single vote is undoubtedly better than a four votes per voter system within the five constituencies because it eliminates any chances of sectarian and tribal coalitions. However, I would have hoped that the amendment is passed by the parliament instead of an emergency decree. I am saddened that the law was changed before the elections since this is leading us into a dark tunnel as many political groups have announced boycott of the upcoming elections.

However, chaotic demonstrations are unacceptable as people can express their rejection by boycotting the upcoming elections. Disobedience and threats are not considered peaceful means of expression of opinion.

To ever yone who does not agree with the amendment, I say let us express our objection through organized gatherings and public speeches that avoid verbal insults or unconstitutional practices. This will help us prevent our legitimate demands from being perceived as unconstitutional actions. — Al-Rai

In the description of their charges as recorded in don’t know anyone from those arrested during the demonstrations last Sunday except my colleague the interrogation files, there is mention of disobeying Fahad Al-Qabadni, who was considered by the security men and organizing unauthorized demonMinistry of Interior, as per its press release, as a “riot strations. Very well, but what about those who never obeyed any law all their lives? No travel ban has been maker.”

By God, if Fahad Al-Qabandi is a riot maker, then I issued against such people. I am not asking for arrest am a confirmed terrorist and am sporting six explo- warrant but what about those who organized tensive belts right now. Why stop at that? I am Osama ders for bogus tenders in billions and none of it came to light? And you cannot even order to give him to bin Laden.

It was possible to believe everything in the get a “flu vaccine”.

In general, if the investigators asked you what you Ministry of Interior’s press release, except that a colleague who is one of the quietest persons in the were doing at the demonstration, here is what you press street, Fahad Al-Qabandi, was described as a should be answering, “We were looking and searching for our country.” I might have partially believed rioter and a trouble maker. the interior ministry’s press I cannot buy this press release, say 20 percent of it, release of the Ministry of It is a matter of pride for you but the arrest of my colInterior, even if it was writleague Fahad Al Qabandi ten by Shakespeare and corthat you went to the police staprevented that. I am now rected by a dozen writers. I tion not because you are bribe sure that the press release is am a witness on the ground takers, not because you protectnothing more than a page along with five other colfrom the fictional one thouleagues, and that means 10 ed drugs dealers, not because sand and one night book more eyes, apart from the you are the ones who steal tenthat was dropped purposely editorials and photographs ders, not because you had your upon us. that have appeared and Note: I am not from the described things step by hands in the public funds, not Muslim Brotherhood and I step, and everyone agreed because your hands were soiled totally disagree with them, that what appeared in our with bribes coming from abroad and neither is my colleague Interior Ministr y ’s press Al Qabandi one of them and, release was not just against in order to pass a tender.... in fact, he totally opposes reality, but was also illogical. them. Our intelligence chief To my detained brothers, it is a matter of pride for you that you went to the is not called Omar Sulaiman, and we have no new police station not because you are bribe takers, not announcer called Okasha. Therefore, let us stop because you protected drugs dealers, not because warning everyone about Muslim Brotherhood on you are the ones who steal tenders, not because you any occasion and without even any occasion. But a had your hands in the public funds, not because your thousand thanks to our brothers, the Egyptians, who hands were soiled with bribes coming from abroad in slightly supported some of our activities in a funny order to pass a tender, not because you traded in rot- way. Thanks to all the Egyptians.

Note 2: The youth’s political activities are not an ten foodstuff, not because you put your hands on the money of shareholders, and not because you forced act of sedition, and not against the ruler. No one the government to pay financial bonds amounting to likes Al Sabah family as much as we do, and we tens of millions of dinars for your “paper companies.” believe in them as a ruling family whom we respect You should feel proud that you entered the police and appreciate, and they will remain our rulers so station looking for your country, trying to find out long that this land remains. Ours is a difference of opinion. — Al-Anbaa what has happened to your country.

W

t was with great sadness that I witnessed the violence Sunday night outside Kuwait’s iconic towers. As those who follow my blogs and articles will know, I have often lauded the freedom so intrinsic to Kuwaiti society and the democratic instincts of the Kuwaiti people. As I’m sure all will agree, it is a great shame to see such positivity replaced by violence on the streets.

It is not my place to apportion blame for the escalation that has led to such scenes; and I have heard and understand the arguments made by all sides of the political spectrum. The tear gas clouds have dispersed out over the Gulf, but the political problems remain. Both the government and the opposition have been forthright in their opinions and both believe that right, and the constitution, is on their side. Both have raised the stakes.

The country has reached an impasse. Of course, you don’t need me to tell you that this is a bad thing for Kuwait, for the country’s development, for the economy, and for any kind of political reform, no matter what your priorities.

At the root of this dispute is a quarrel about power, about the nature and meaning of the Kuwaiti constitution, about the checks and balances in the system, about the ability of the system to function. None of these big questions have easy answers, and none of them will be solved quickly. It took the UK more than 350 years to arrive at its political settlement. Kuwait’s is still evolving.

And this is a good thing - peaceful reform should always trump violent revolution as a method of change.

But in this context the one thought that I have been offering to all my Kuwaiti friends is about compromise.

Political progress, in any country, cannot happen when people don’t listen to each other and aren’t prepared to moderate their positions or find the middle ground. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone here, merely stating fact, but the same is inevitably true in Kuwait. And it seems to me, as an observer, that there is much to unite the disparate forces in Kuwait politics behind a common agenda, even if only in the short term, for the good of the country. The opposition - rightly - sees fighting corruption as a key priority. The government has stated the same thing. All sides have talked about the importance of an independent electoral commission. This, as is the case in most democracies, could move the poisonous issue of electoral legislation - the proximate cause for Sunday’s clashes - out of the realm of politics. No one can disagree with the assertion that real and rapid economic reform is needed in Kuwait for the country to move forward and to meet the challenges of the future. The government and the opposition have both committed to the speedy resolution of the Bidoon issue - the most pressing human rights problem hanging over the country. The two sides, it seems to me, are in reality not that far apart on most of the pressing issues.

That’s why, in spite of this week’s events, I remain an optimist, with faith in the Kuwaiti people, in their sense of decency and of fairness and of friendship and I hope that all sides will find a way to cooperate and address their concerns, fears and aspirations.

I

First step to apply the law

By Aziza Al-Mufarej et the events that took place lately be the first step to apply the law, because that is the only right way to bring things under control. It is also the best way to have citizens of all groups to comply with the law.

Let the implementation of nationality law to guard our national security, as other countries are doing, be a starting point. In France, for example, the former president issued a presidential decision to revoke the nationality of anyone who got it within ten years in case they were convicted of killing a French policeman.

In Canada, a decision was issued to revoke the nationality of anyone who got it through forgery, and does not live in Canada. So what keeps us from doing the same for the sake of Kuwait and its people, especially since the nationality law here is integrated, and has did take into consideration the various cases that can lead to the revocation of the nationality? Why, as is the case, the state does not revoke the nationality conferred on the naturalized person who commits a crime that breaches honor and trust? Why is the nationality of anyone not revoked who attacks the police and insults them? Why not revoke the nationality given to someone who creates chaos of all kinds and compromises nationality security? Why is it not revoked in case of those who misuse it in order to increase their revenues by creating fake companies that sell iqamas to those wishing to come to Kuwait and then become thugs and thieves robbing our homes when they fail to find a job to make a living, or if the job is not up to their ambition?

Why does the state not revoke the nationality of thousands who rent their homes and stay in their original countries? Why are the houses not taken away from them and given to the Kuwaiti youth who deserve them more? Why does not the state revoke the nationality from everyone who got it on the basis of lies and false information? There are those who got it because their step father or brother-in-law included the person in their nationality file as one of their children?

Why are the authorities silent on the issue of those citizens who cheated and are acting as if they are rewarding them for their forgery? Also why does the state not revoke the nationality from those who got it by buying a marriage certificate or on the basis of a false marriage?

Such groups of Kuwaitis are “spoiled goods” who do not care about Kuwait as a country. All they care about is how much they can extract from it. They have not cared about the agreement by Kuwait people and the ruling family for over 300 years, and they are not ready to respect it. So, we should be getting rid of them; at least we will be free from those problems that we face because of them. —Al-Watan

L

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Burning rubber, Baghdad bikers race to escape Page 12

Damascus undecided on ceasefire, rebels divided Page 9

GAZA: A trail of smoke is seen as a rocket is launched from the Palestinian Gaza Strip towards southern Israel yesterday. — AFP

Violence surges on Israel-Gaza frontier Palestinians fire dozens of rockets into Israel in the

news

4 dead in murder-suicide STOCKTON: An 88-year-old woman and two of her nieces were killed in an apparent triple murder-suicide in California that left two people, including the suspected gunman, dead at an upscale senior home, police said. Investigators believe Colin McGrattan, 45, killed his ex-wife, Jackie Arata, 57; her sister, Kathleen Arata, 64; and the women’s aunt, Chizuko Kenishi, before shooting himself at the senior home on Monday.

Investigators said they were looking into whether a financial disagreement prompted the violence. The deaths brought to nine the number of people killed in a 51-hour period in Stockton, an agricultural city in Northern California. Police investigating the triple murder-suicide said they initially found Kathleen Arata shot to death at her home near the University of the Pacific.

A minivan spotted leaving the scene was located minutes later at the senior home, where police found the bodies of Kenishi and McGrattan inside a room. “We are looking at the aspect of did he take his own life?” police spokesman Joe Silva said. Investigators later found Jackie Arata in the back of her ex-husband’s minivan.

‘Dead’ turns up alive BRASILIA: A 41-year-old car washer from northeastern Brazil shocked his family by turning up at his own wake after his family mistakenly identified a murdered local man at the morgue as him, local media reported on Tuesday. Family and friends in the town of Alagoinhas in Bahia state were gathered around the body of another car washer resembling Gilberto Araujo when he showed up after being told of his “death” by a friend who had spotted him in the street. “I said, ‘guys, I’m alive, pinch me,’” Araujo told the O Globo news website.

He had not seen his family for about four months until then. His mother, shopkeeper Maria Menezes, said some of those attending the wake fainted while others fled. “It was a fright ... I’m very happy because what mother has a son that they say is dead then turns up alive?” she said. On first learning of the confusion, Araujo tried to call an acquaintance at the wake to inform them he was alive, but his call was dismissed as a prank. The corpse has now been returned, O Globo reported.

Panic on Nigerian flight LAGOS: Panicked passengers aboard a flight in Nigeria swarmed on a man who shouted “Allah Akbar,” but he was found to be harmless and authorities called him mentally unstable, officials said yesterday. The incident on Tuesday occurred with Nigerians jittery over waves of bombings and shootings blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram in the country’s northern and central regions. The flight had left from Maiduguri in Nigeria’s northeast, which has been Boko Haram’s base. “A passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting ‘Allah Akbar’ shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,” a statement from Nigerian airline Arik Air said. “The frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious, thinking the man was about to do something sinister.” Local media reported that passengers rushed the man to restrain him.

JERUSALEM: Palestinians fired dozens of rockets into Israel from Gaza yesterday and an Israeli air strike killed a militant in a surge of violence after the Emir of Qatar embraced the enclave’s Hamas leadership with a visit. Hamas claimed responsibility for some of the rocket and mortar bomb attacks, raising questions among Israelis over whether it had been emboldened by the Qatari visit on Tuesday that challenged the Islamist group’s diplomatic isolation.

Hamas had largely held its fire when other militant factions, including jihadi groups, launched cross-border rocket attacks in recent months.

For its part, Hamas accused Israel of stepping up its air strikes in the Gaza Strip to vent its anger over Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani’s visit and pledged to “continue to hold a gun ... until Palestine is liberated”. Israel said it was “astounding” that Qatar, a US-allied Gulf state, would take

sides in the Palestinian dispute and endorse Hamas, branded by the West as a terrorist group. Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 from fighters loyal to the Fatah faction of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Some analysts saw the Qatari ruler’s trip, the first by any national leader to Gaza since Hamas took over, as an attempt to build bridges between the group and the West and coax it into the peace camp amid Arab turmoil across the Middle East.

Previous rounds of cross-border attacks have usually run their course in days, with both Israel and Hamas seemingly aware of the risks of ramping up the low-intensity conflict to full-scale warfare. Israel’s threeweek-long invasion of the Gaza Strip, launched in 2008 with the declared aim of curbing rocket launchings, drew international criticism over a heavy Palestinian casualty toll in the territory of 1.7 million.

Though hostile to Israel, Hamas has mostly sought to avoid direct clashes as it shores up its rule in the face of more radical challengers and reaches out to potential allies abroad.

In a second day of violence, a Hamas militant was killed on Wednesday in an air strike Israel said was intended to stop rocket firings. On Tuesday, Israel killed three Hamas men, saying they had either launched attacks or were about to do so.

In southern Israel, three agricultural workers were wounded when a Palestinian rocket exploded near them. LieutenantColonel Avital Leibovich, a military spokeswoman, said 72 projectiles were fired at Israel and that the Iron Dome system intercepted seven of them. She said several homes were damaged by Palestinian fire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking a renewed mandate in Israel’s Jan. 22 election, visited

an Iron Dome anti-missile battery near the southern city of Ashkelon on Wednesday and threatened stronger Israeli military action in Gaza.

“We did not choose this escalation, nor did we initiate it, but if it continues, we are prepared for a much wider and deeper operation,” he said, pledging to press on with “targeted attacks” against militants preparing to fire rockets. Israel kept schools shut in communities near the fenced Gaza boundary and residents were urged to remain indoors. Hamas has refused to renounce violence or recognize Israel’s right to exist, and is ostracized by the Quartet of Middle East mediators comprising the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia. However, Hamas has said it would accept a truce with Israel in return for a state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. — Reuters

Arabs grudgingly favor Obama CAIRO: Many in the Middle East believe Barack Obama failed to deliver on promises of a new US approach in the region but still prefer him to presidential rival Mitt Romney, who they see as too close to Israel and too keen to project US military might.

Whoever wins the Nov 6 election faces a knot of regional issues that will not be easy to unravel. World powers are split over the Syria conflict, a row about Iran’s nuclear ambitions rumbles on and PalestinianIsraeli peacemaking is going nowhere.

Compounding the challenge, the Middle East is a region where perceptions of fading US influence have been hardened by Arab uprisings that have toppled dictators who were longtime US allies, bringing Islamists in their place.

“I am one of those who is very much disappointed with Obama,” said Hassan Nafaa, a professor at Cairo University, where the US president, in his first months in office, spoke of “a new beginning” between America and Muslims. “He didn’t deliver ...

But I think he is much better than Romney,” said Nafaa, who listened to the Cairo speech in June 2009. “I don’t appreciate at all the right wing in the United States with their preference to use extensive military force.” Much of the Middle East has changed dramatically during Obama’s first term. But the upheavals of the “Arab Spring” that ousted entrenched autocrats in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya were driven by the street rather than US policy, even if US and European warplanes assisted Libyan rebels.

Far from winning praise, some Egyptian activists criticized Obama’s administration for being slow to embrace the change.

“Obama was easy on Mubarak at points and the American administration did not play a full role in supporting the Egyptian revolution,” said Mohamed Adel, a spokesman for the April 6 movement that was at the forefront of the 2011 uprising

that toppled Hosni Mubarak after 30 years in power. But he said Romney was not an attractive alternative for Egypt or the region, describing him as more “aggressive” and citing the Republican’s threats to US aid to Egypt during September protests at the US embassy over an anti-Islam film.

Romney has accused Obama of being a weak steward of US power, promising among other things to boost the US naval presence in the Middle East. He has also said he would be a better friend of Israel, a nation Obama has not visited in office. That kind of language rings alarm bells in the region and has drawn comparisons with the policies of President George W Bush, reviled by many Arabs for leading an invasion of Iraq.

As Arabs watched the last of three televised presidential debates on Monday night, one viewer, Ahmed Zaki, wrote about Romney on Twitter saying: “He doesn’t differ much from Bush.” But both candidates disappointed veteran Palestinian negotiator Hanan Ashrawi during the faceoff on foreign policy in which Israel was referred to more than 30 times and the Palestinians were given only passing mention. “What we didn’t see in the debate was any sign of who has the backbone and foresight to bring about a just peace,” said Ashrawi, adding that the candidates were competing on “who’s more loyal to Israel”.

Romney angered Palestinians earlier this year by suggesting they lacked the culture that has driven Israel’s economic success, while ignoring problems generated by Israeli occupation of territories where they Palestinians seek statehood. He also called Jerusalem Israel’s capital. The Jewish state regards all of Jerusalem, including the eastern sector that it captured in a 1967 Middle East war, as its capital, a claim that has not won international recognition. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. — Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Pope names six new cardinals 2 Cardinals from countries with large Muslim populations

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI (left) blesses a baby while leaving his weekly general audience with his secretary Georg Gaenswein yesterday at St Peter’s Square. — AP

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict named six new cardinals yesterday, including two from countries with large Muslim populations, to put his stamp on the future of the Catholic Church. All six are under 80 years old and thus eligible under Church law to enter a conclave that will one day choose Benedict’s successor. Members of the ultra-elite group are known as “cardinal electors”. The six are from the United States, Lebanon, India, Nigeria, Colombia and the Philippines.

The ceremony to install them, known as a consistory, will be held on Nov 24, the pope said in a surprise announcement at his weekly general audience. The pope is a conservative on matters of faith and sexual morals such as birth control, homosexuality and the ban on women priests.

Each time he names cardinals he chooses men who share his views and can shape the Church’s future. Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, 72, the patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon, and Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, 68, from Abuja in Nigeria, are from countries with significant Muslim populations.

The pope’s decision to raise the two to the highest rank in the Church short of the papacy indicates his concern for relations between Christianity and Islam. The pope visited predominantly Muslim Lebanon last September and called

Apex court blocks Florida execution STARKE: Following a slew of conflicting court rulings, a federal appeals court has blocked the scheduled execution of a mass killer convicted of eight killings that jolted South Florida in the 1970s. The US Supreme Court upheld the stay. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision Tuesday came during a flurry of legal decisions over claims that 64-year-old John Errol Ferguson suffers from mental illness so severe he cannot be executed. Ferguson, a paranoid schizophrenic with delusions he’s the “prince of God,” had faced a planned lethal injection at 6 pm Tuesday in Florida’s death chamber.

The Supreme Court rejected an earlier Ferguson emergency appeal Tuesday - as did the 11th Circuit - but the high court would not agree to the state of Florida’s request to overturn the later ruling. The appeals court set a schedule for motions that will likely delay the execution at least until the first week of November, if not longer. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office argued in court papers that the late ruling “makes a mockery of the state’s compelling interest in finality” in Ferguson’s case.

He has been on death row for 34 years.

In Washington, the nation’s high court noted that Chief Justice John Roberts took no part in the case. There was no further

explanation. Ferguson was convicted of shooting eight bound and blindfolded people execution-style in South Florida in 1977, then killing a teenage couple months later in 1978 after they left a church event planning to get some ice cream. He has previously been ruled mentally competent to be executed, and over recent days, federal judges in Florida, Georgia and Washington have wrestled with his appeals over that issue.

The execution was scheduled after the Florida Supreme Court this month upheld a lower court ruling based on testimony by a panel of psychiatrists appointed by Gov Rick Scott. The state justices wrote that “Ferguson understands what is taking place and why.” The latest ruling from the federal appeals court said it would explore whether the Florida Supreme Court’s decision was an “unreasonable determination of the facts” based on Ferguson’s documented history of mental illness.

His lawyers have argued that Ferguson lacks rational understanding, because he suffers from delusions that he’s the “prince of God” and that God is preparing him to return to Earth after his execution to save the United States from a communist plot. —AP

LONDON: Cameras are seen above a sign at the BBC Television Centre yesterday. The BBC is facing questions over sexual abuse allegations against former television presenter Jimmy Savile. —AP

UK turns up heat on BBC over sex abuse scandal LONDON: The British government warned the BBC yesterday that a growing sex abuse scandal was raising “very real concerns” about public trust in the broadcaster. The BBC has been thrown into disarray by accusations that it helped cover up sexual abuse by one of its former presenters, Jimmy Savile, and has struggled to explain why one of its own programs dropped an investigation into Savile last year.

Police and the BBC, which is funded by the public through a licence fee, are looking into allegations that the eccentric, cigar-chomping Savile, who died last year, abused girls as young as 12 over six decades. Some of the attacks were alleged to have taken place on BBC premises.

“These allegations do leave many institutions, perhaps particularly the BBC, with serious questions to answer,” Prime Minister David Cameron told parliament.

“The government will do everything it can do, other institutions must do what they can do, to make sure we learn the lessons of this and it can never happen again.”

Cameron’s comments follow a letter from Culture Secretary Maria Miller who told the BBC that “very real concerns are being raised about public trust and confidence in the BBC”. Lawmakers and the media heavily criticized Director General George Entwistle for his uncertain appearance before parliament on Tuesday to answer questions over the scandal. His predecessor, Mark Thompson, is also fac-

ing scrutiny over his handling of the case.

The public editor of Thompson’s soon-tobe employer, the New York Times, questioned whether the Briton was now fit to serve in his new role with such a scandal hanging over him.

“How likely is it that (Thompson) knew nothing?” Margaret Sullivan wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. “His integrity and decision-making are bound to affect The Times and its journalism - profoundly. It’s worth considering now whether he is the right person for the job, given this turn of events.” Thompson has said he was not briefed on the high-profile Newsnight program that detailed allegations against Savile, who hosted prime-time children’s shows on the BBC, and he was not involved in the decision to shelve its report.

FURORE The furor is the biggest controversy to hit the BBC since its director general and chairman resigned in 2004 after a judgeled inquiry ruled it had wrongly reported that former Prime Minister Tony Blair “sexed up” intelligence to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Entwistle, who was announced as the new director general in August, told hostile lawmakers on Tuesday that failures at the BBC had allowed Savile to prey on young girls, but he denied he had helped suppress the Newsnight report.— Reuters

on members of both faiths to work together to build peace in the Middle East and beyond. In Nigeria, which is about 50 percent Muslim, the Islamist sect Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in attacks since launching an uprising in 2009. Many of the attacks have been on Christians and churches.

1 VATICAN, NO ITALIANS Cardinals are the pope’s closest aides in the Vatican, where they run its key departments, and around the world, where they head dioceses to administer the 1.2 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church. Only one of the six new cardinals, Archbishop James M ichael Har vey, an American, is based in the Vatican and, in a break with past consistories, none are Italian. Harvey, 63, whose title is Prefect of the Pontifical Household, looks after world leaders visiting the Vatican and arranges the pope’s audiences. A native of Milwaukee, Harvey has worked in the Vatican for more than two decades. Benedict was criticized in some Church circles last February when, in choosing his previous batch of cardinals, he elevated many from the Vatican’s central bureaucracy. He was accused of neglecting the needs of the developing world.

Another new cardinal, Baselios Cleemis

Thottunkal, 53, the major archbishop of the SyroMalankara rite in India, is on the front line of interreligious dialogue with Hinduism. The other two come from predominantly Catholic countries Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez, 70, of Bogota, Colombia, and Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, 55, of Manila in the Philippines, which is the largest Catholic country in Asia. After the consistory, the number of “cardinal electors” will rise to 120, the maximum allowed under Church law. The total number of men in the college of cardinals will be 211. Benedict has now named 67, or more than half, of the cardinals who will elect his successor from among their own ranks. The other 53 were named by Pope John Paul.

Italians are still by far the largest group of cardinal electors with 28 members. The pope’s health appears to be good but he has been looking frail recently and has started using a cane. Popes usually reign for life but in a book in 2010, Benedict said he would not hesitate to become the first pontiff to resign in more than 700 years if he felt no longer able “physically, psychologically and spiritually” to run the Catholic Church. The last pope to resign willingly was Celestine V in 1294 after reigning for only five months. Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 to end a dispute with a rival claimant to the Holy See.— Reuters

Confidence in UK PM slips as gaffes mount Gaffes bury good economic news

LONDON: Confidence in British Prime Minister David Cameron is slipping after the delayed resignation of a senior minister for swearing at a police officer added to a pile of gaffes damaging his ruling Conservative Party. Upstaged by the charismatic and popular mayor of London, Cameron can ill afford to appear bumbling at a time when restiveness within his own party is on the rise and a fight is brewing over Britain’s ties with Europe.

Yet, his public relations team seems unable to dispel a growing perception of chaos in Cameron’s office - stumbling from one crisis to another and bogged down in trivialities as it struggles to reduce a big budget deficit. The resignation on Friday of Andrew Mitchell after allegedly calling a policeman a “pleb” - an insult laden with snobbery drowned out what should have been a week of good news for Cameron, with indicators pointing to a modest economic revival.

Mitchell, who denied using the word but admitted swearing, received Cameron’s support but resigned anyway after four weeks of bad headlines, compounding the view of a dithering prime minister unable to manage his party. “The fact that this rolled on for four weeks has inevitably done damage to us. It would have been a storm in a teacup had it been dealt with swiftly and had Mitchell been dispatched as so many of our colleagues and I were saying,” Conservative lawmaker Andrew Percy said. “The inability to communicate our message has been pretty appalling to be honest,” he added.

The “plebgate” affair follows months of policy U-turns, botched policy launches and embarrassing revelations over Cameron’s ties with officials implicated in the phone hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World newspaper.

According to pollster YouGov, Cameron’s approval rating as Conservative leader is at 37 percent, recovering only slightly after this

month’s party conference. His rating dipped sharply in March after an annual budget marked by U-turns on unpopular taxes and a cut to the top rate of tax. Within the party, confidence seems to be sinking.

On coming to power in 2010, Cameron hired Andy Coulson, a former editor of the now defunct News of the World, to be his communications chief. Coulson was seen as good at gauging the public mood and conveying policy to Britain’s boisterous media. Coulson quit last year amid the hacking allegations, and was

right on the things that matter to people, like the economy, welfare and education.” The government has staked its reputation on turning around Britain’s economy, and economists expect growth data due on Thursday to show an end to nine months of recession. But modest economic improvement seems unlikely to cancel out Cameron’s negative press.

“Clearly the media team he’s got there don’t seem to be able to get retail stories out of a wholesale story on the economy that might actually

LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron makes a speech on criminal justice in London. — AP replaced by former BBC executive Craig Oliver. “ The operation at Downing Street just seems chaotic,” a Conservative lawmaker told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “There’s no proper line management structure, there’s no one in control, they miss Andy Coulson massively and it just looks incoherent.”

SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS A Downing Street source dismissed the criticism. “ There are always going to be difficult weeks when you’re in government,” the source said. “In the end what matters is have you got the big decisions

be improving,” said Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary, University of London. “One of the problems is economic improvement is long term and difficult to grasp until people feel it in their pockets. The other stories are quite frankly more media sexy than stories about a small possible uptick in the economy,” he added.

Inflation fell to its lowest level in almost three years and employment rose to a record high data showed last week, yet finance minister George Osborne grabbed headlines for the “Great train snobbery”.

Osborne had sat in a train’s first class section with a only standard

class ticket. An aide said he had paid for an upgrade. Public outrage ensued. Along with “plebgate”, the incident highlighted the difficulty expensively educated Cameron and his cabinet of wealthy ministers have had in dispelling an elitist, upper class image. Another potential headache for Cameron is the ascent of London’s effusive mayor, Boris Johnson, who is riding a wave of popularity after successfully hosting London’s Olympic Games. He is tipped as a possible next prime minister but has been coy on his ambitions, at least in public.

There are no other contenders on the horizon for Cameron’s job for now, but the implications of ebbing confidence in the prime minister are serious as his party readies for national polls in 2015. The Conservative rank and file is becoming increasingly restless, with Cameron suffering his biggest rebellion in July over plans to reform parliament’s upper chamber, a key policy of the Conservatives’ Liberal Democrat coalition partners. As well as severely straining the coalition, the rebellion prompted the Lib Dems to drop their support for proposed electoral boundary changes seen as favoring the Conservatives.

Compounded by a string of reversals resulting from a failure to grasp how the public might receive new measures, respect for government policy within the Conservative Party is sliding. “It saps morale and people just stop fighting the good fight. The backbenchers (lawmakers without a government role) just do not defend things anymore, because they suspect a U-turn is coming,” the anonymous Conservative lawmaker said.

Conservative lawmaker Brian Binley said he had pleaded with Cameron to improve management skills at Downing Street, offering advice as a “critical friend, not an opponent”. He added: “If you believe that the buck stops with the top man, then you have to say that it is David Cameron’s responsibility and he has to sort it out very quickly.”— Reuters

US immigrants come out of shadows TAMPA: Carlos Roa celebrated this summer when the Obama administration announced a new program to defer deportation for young undocumented immigrants. But two months into the program, the 25-year-old activist has yet to apply.

Roa, whose parents brought him here from Venezuela when he was two, is facing many of the same worries and complications as thousands of the other young immigrants, who call themselves “Dreamers” after the failed Dream Act legislation of 2010 that sought to put them on a path to citizenship.

Stepping out of the shadows may identify other family members as undocumented and put them at risk of deportation. And after living for years under the radar, sometimes working off the books, immigrants can find it difficult to assemble all the documentation needed to prove their “continued presence” in the US for at least five years, as the law requires. Further, some eligible young people have decided to wait until after the Nov. 6 election to file papers, worried that if Republican candidate Mitt Romney becomes president he might cancel or modify the executive order, leaving them vulnerable to prosecution.

OFF TO A SLOW START Since Aug 15, when the federal government began accepting applications, through Oct 10, almost 180,000 people submitted requests. So far 4,591 have been approved, according to the US

Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. The number of applicants is a fraction of the 1.7 million potentially eligible for the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization. “That didn’t surprise me at all,” said Laura Lichter, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), who practices law in Denver. “I look at my own cases, and it took me two weeks to pull in documents for the simple ones.” While some applicants have expired visas to prove the date they entered the country, others were small children when their parents led them across the border, with no documentation of the event. School records are crucial to meeting requirements for DACA, including the requisite continuous presence in this country. After high school graduation, however, many students stop leaving a paper trail. While thousands have made it to private colleges on scholarships or money earned through side jobs - allowing them to use transcripts as proof of their presence - others who couldn’t afford the tuition and lacked documentation for the less expensive in-state public colleges had to survive for years working off the books for cash and now lack a solid record of their whereabouts.

ASSURANCE ABOUT ‘LION’S DEN’ What’s more, Lichter said, clients and their families live in a climate of fear and uncertainty.

Though the immigration service issued reassur-

ances that applicants’ information won’t be turned over to enforcement agents, concerns are stoked by record-level deportations and an upcoming presidential election that could affect the future of the deferral program. Romney said in early October that if elected he would honor approved deferrals but scrap the program in favor of broader reforms. But some fear that his immigration reform might exclude Dreamers altogether, noting that he previously opposed the Dream Act. Unlike that legislation, deferred action does not confer legal status but instead offers relief from deportation and a work permit for two years, after which applicants can seek a renewal.

They also can obtain Social Security numbers. To qualify, applicants must pay a $465 fee and show they were under age 31 on June 15; arrived in the country before age 16; have lived here continuously for the last five years; and are in school, have graduated from high school, obtained a GED, or served in the military.

Suspected national security threats, felons or those convicted of “serious” misdemeanors involving drugs or sexual abuse will be turned down. Despite initial reservations and difficulties paying the fee, more undocumented immigrants are coming forward to apply, said Doug Stump, an Oklahoma immigration lawyer who has 120 applications ready to file. “The kids just wanted further assurance that they weren’t walking into the lion’s den,” Stump said.—Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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

Lebanese president seeks all-party talks BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has launched a drive for allparty talks to assess his chances of forming a new government after calls for the premier to quit over a deadly bombing, his office said Lebanon has been in crisis since Friday, when a car bomb blamed on Syria killed police intelligence chief General Wissam AlHassan in Beirut. A high-ranking official in the president’s office told AFP Suleiman “has begun consultations with the leading figures of the country, in the context of the national dialogue, to discuss the possibility of forming a new government.”

The talks come amid a clamor of calls led by ex-premier and opposition chief Saad Hariri for Prime Minister Najib Mikati step down over the assassination of Hassan, who had been prominent in pursuing political killings in Lebanon allegedly linked to Syria.

Mikati said on Saturday he had accepted Suleiman’s request to stay on for the time being in the “national interest.”

The official in Sleiman’s office said that if the envisaged dialogue “were to result in agreement on the form of a new government that can pull Lebanon out of its impasse, then Mikati could present his resignation and the process of forming the government could begin.”

However, Hariri’s March 14 coalition insists that Mikati resign before it will join any national dialogue. An MP from Christian politician Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Current, part of the governing coalition dominated by the Shiite party Hezbollah, an ally of Syria, criticized what he said was opposition obstructionism. “We are open in principle to any discussion about any subject but against the paralysis of (state) institutions,” Ibrahim Kanaan said. “What does it serve to boycott everything the government does,” he asked, referring to March 14’s refusal to participate in any forum where the government is present. “Nothing.” The United States and the European Union, both anxious to ward off any further Syrian interference in Lebanon, have separately warned against creating a political vacuum.

State Department spokeswoman

Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday the “export of instability from Syria threatens the security of Lebanon now more than ever, and it’s really up to the Lebanese people to choose a government that is going to counter this threat.” And EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, without pointing a finger, said in Beirut on Tuesday that “there are some who are trying to divert attention from the situation in the region by causing problems in Lebanon.” The Lebanese official said “their message can be summed up as follows: ‘Come to an agreement on a new government and we will support you. We want to see institutions to continue working and oppose any institutional vacuum.”

US Ambassador Maura Connelly met with Suleiman yesterday to reiterate Washington’s support for efforts “to build an effective government and take the necessary next steps” in the wake of Hassan’s murder, the embassy said. Hassan’s murder has sparked fears of new inter-confessional strife in Lebanon. Much of the Sunni Muslim community opposes the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and most Shiites support him, while Christians are divided. Since Friday’s bombing, at least 11 people have been killed in fighting between pro- and anti-Syrian camps in the northern city of Tripoli. There was also a brief spate of violence in Beirut, but the capital has been calm since late Monday.

Hilal Khashan, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut, said he does not believe the government will fall or yield to demands that it resign. “It could be that the discussions, either in public, or even behind the scenes, might lead to a government of national unity that would incorporate the actual cabinet plus others from the opposition,” he said. “I do not see any other outcome.” “The West ... wants the government to stay in place, not out of any par ticular love for Mikati but because they do not want the situation to deteriorate, and I think that Mikati will remain as chief even if a new government is formed.”— AFP

Damascus undecided on ceasefire, rebels divided Children knifed in Douma attack

BEIRUT: Syria said yesterday its military command was still studying a proposal for a holiday ceasefire with rebels - contradicting international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi’s announcement that Damascus had agreed to a truce. The statement threw Brahimi’s efforts to arrange a pause in the bloodshed in Syria into even more confusion, as divided rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar Al-Assad gave mixed messages.

The prominent Farooq Brigade, which operates out of the battered city of Homs, said it would cease fire.

The Islamist militant Al Nusra Front rejected the truce, saying it is not a group “who accepts to play such dirty games.” A previous ceasefire arrangement in April collapsed within days, with both sides accusing the other of breaking it. Brahimi, the joint UN-Arab League special envoy, had crisscrossed the Middle East to push the warring factions and their international backers to agree to a truce during the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha - a mission that included talks with Assad in Damascus at the weekend.

“After the visit I made to Damascus, there is agreement from the Syrian government for a ceasefire during the Eid,” Brahimi told a news conference at the Arab League in Cairo. Within an hour, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the proposal was still being studied by the military commanders. “The final position on this issue will be announced tomorrow,” a ministry statement said.

Brahimi later told the United Nations Security Council that Assad himself accepted the truce. The holiday starts today and lasts three or four days.

Brahimi did not specify the precise time period for a truce. Nor did the initiative include plans for international observers, and rebel sources had earlier said there was little point if it could not be monitored or enforced.

Assad’s forces and rebels are now locked in a battle with huge potential ramifications in the northwest.

Syrian warplanes carried out bombing raids yesterday on the strategic northern town of Maarat Al-Numan

ALEPPO: Syrian residents carry the lifeless body of a boy off a truck who was killed from an artillery shell that landed near a bakery, in front of a hospital in Aleppo, Syria. — AP and nearby villages while rebels surrounded an army base to its east, an activist monitor said. Five people from one family, including a child and a woman, were killed in the air strikes, according to Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Britishbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Maarat Al-Numan has fallen to the rebels, effectively cutting the main north-south highway, a strategic route for Assad to move troops from the capital Damascus to Aleppo, Syria’s largest city where the insurgents have taken a foothold.

But without control of the nearby Wadi Al-Daif military base, their grip over the road is tenuous and the rebels say the ferocity of counterattacks by government forces shows how important holding the base is to Assad’s military strategy.

More than 32,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which began with peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in March 2011 and then mushroomed into civil war as repression increased. Yesterday, opposition activists and Syrian state

media traded blame for the killing of at least 25 people, including women and children, in the town of Douma near Damascus. “People now are scared and very angry. Some of the martyrs were killed with knives, others were shot,” Mahmoud Doumany, an activist living in Douma said.

Syrian state television said 25 people had been killed by “terrorist members of the so-called ‘Liwa Al-Islam.’”

Opposition video showed the bodies of women and children, one of whom had a hole in his head. “God is great,” said a man off screen, his voice trembling as he walked around the house, filming bodies on several floors of a residential building.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees have poured into a makeshift refugee camp at Atimah overlooking the Turkish border, fleeing a week of what they said were the most intense army bombardments since the uprising began. “Some of the bombs were so big they sucked in the air and everything crashes down, even four-storey buildings. We used to have one or two rockets a day,

now for the past 10 days it has become constant, we run from one shelter to another.

They drop a few bombs and it’s like a massacre,” one refugee, a 20year-old named Nabil, told Reuters at the camp. The army relies on air power and heavy artillery to push back the rebels. Human Rights Watch said the Syrian air force had increased its use of cluster bombs across the country in the past two weeks. The New York-based organization identified, through activist video footage of unexploded bomblets, three types of cluster bombs which had fallen on and around Maarat al-Numan. Cluster bombs explode in the air, scattering dozens of smaller bomblets over an area the size of a sports field. Most nations have banned their use under a convention that became international law in 2010, but which Syria has not signed. In contrast to the Libya crisis last year, the West has shown little appetite to arm the Syrian rebels, worried that weapons would fall into the hands of Islamic

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Guantanamo court stalls over right to boycott GUANTANAMO BAY: A dispute over whether a defendant must be present during a military tribunal brought proceedings to a halt Tuesday in the case of a Guantanamo prisoner accused in the attack on the Navy destroyer the USS Cole. Defendant Abd AlRahim Al-Nashiri decided to boycott the pretrial motions hearing to protest the use of belly chains to move him from his cell at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Prosecutors wanted the 47-year-old prisoner brought to court to explain his reasoning on the record before any discussion of other motions in the case. The defense objected, saying any use of force could traumatize a man who they say was tortured in US custody. The judge, Army Col James Pohl, decided after more than 90 minutes of debate that Al-Nashiri must come to court. “Tomorrow, weather permitting, your client is coming,” Pohl said, referring to Tropical Storm Sandy, which was forecast to grow into a hurricane and strike eastern Cuba, potentially near the US base early Thursday. The judge then adjourned the

hearing for the day. US officials had considered canceling the remainder of this week’s pretrial hearing, which is scheduled to run through Thursday, but had decided to go forward as of late Tuesday, said Kelly Wirfel, a spokesman for the Navy base. The military was forced to postpone hearings and evacuate officials and visitors who came to Guantanamo for proceedings in August because of Tropical Storm Isaac.

Whether a defendant must attend sessions of the tribunal has been a recurring theme with Al-Nashiri, who is accused of orchestrating the deadly 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, as well as in the case of five Guantanamo prisoners charged in the Sept 11 attacks.

Pohl, who presides over both cases, has previously ruled that defendants have a right to be absent from pretrial proceedings just as they have a right to be present for them. He has not said yet whether they must attend their actual trials, which in both cases are not expected to start for at least a year. He has signaled he will likely require them to be in court

once a jur y is convened. Prosecutors want the accused to state their reasons for being absent to make sure they are making the choice willingly and to avoid creating any uncertainty that could become grounds for a later appeal. The prosecution also believes that tribunal rules require defendants to be in court. “The accused has to come to ensure the integrity of the trial,” the chief prosecutor, Army Brig Gen Mark Martins, said of Al-Nashiri.

The judge allowed a compromise of sorts in both the Sept 11 and Cole bomber cases in which each defendant would be asked in the morning if they want to attend that day’s session. If not, they would sign a waiver form acknowledging they were giving up their right to be present and are aware that proceedings would go on without them. Al-Nashiri told a prison legal official on Tuesday he would not attend, then wrote on the form “I am refusing to come today to protest the chains,” a reference to restraints placed across his belly when he is moved within the camp.

Lawyers for the prisoner say he was brutalized in

US custody, before he was taken to Guantanamo in September 2006, and that the chains will “retraumatize” him, a claim the prosecution disputes. The defense team has asked to have medical experts evaluate their client and the potential psychological effects of the restraints. Attorney Richard Kammen told reporters Monday that Al-Nashiri also doesn’t believe the proceedings are legitimate since he could be indefinitely detained at Guantanamo even if acquitted. “If he is acquitted he does life without parole in Guantanamo. If he’s convicted he gets life without parole or death in Guantanamo,” Kammen said. “It’s very easy to see somebody saying ‘Why do I want to participate in this? I’ve got no real stake in the outcome.’” The discussion prevented action on other issues before the court during this pretrial session, including a motion by the defense to dismiss the charges because they say the US was not at war when the Cole bombing occurred so Al-Nashiri should not be facing war crimes charges at the military tribunal. — AP

US candidates intensify efforts to misinform, pressure voters Calls wrongly tell some they can vote by phone

DENVER: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney (right) and his running mate Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI) shake greet before boarding their campaign planes at Denver International Airport yesterday. — AFP

‘Obama riding a sinking ship’ HENDERSON: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney said President Barack Obama’s campaign was “taking on water” Tuesday, as the rivals barnstormed across tossup states while seeking swing votes two weeks before election day. With their debates behind them, the candidates raced out of the blocks and onto the campaign trail, hoping to corral the most ballots from the shrinking pool of Americans still undecided in a race heading for a photo finish. At a rally in Henderson, Nevada, Romney claimed he had the momentum, saying the debates have “supercharged” his White House bid and brought him that much closer to victory in November 6. “His campaign is taking on water and our campaign is full speed ahead,” he said.

The line was a clear swipe at the president’s condescending comment during Monday night’s debate when, reacting to Romney’s repeated charge that the US Navy was undersized, Obama mocked his challenger by saying that working with the military was not like playing a game of “Battleship.” It was a fitting jibe that marked the venomous tone Tuesday, when Obama warned a rowdy Florida crowd that they cannot rely on his “reckless” and elusive Republican foe. Romney was riding a tide of campaign optimism, however, and presenting himself as a voice of change, as he sought to peel away the states of Nevada and Colorado from Obama’s column.

“His is a status quo candidacy. His is a message of going forward with the same policies of the last four years. And that’s why his campaign is slipping. And that’s why ours is gaining so much steam,” Romney said. He repeat-

ed his argument later Tuesday in Colorado, where running mate Paul Ryan and 12,000 other people joined him at one of the more spectacular venues of the entire campaign: Red Rocks, the natural amphitheater above Denver which has hosted the likes of rock acts U2 and Coldplay. “We’re in the home stretch now, and I think the people of Colorado are going to get us all the way there.” At Obama’s rallies, the president’s beseeching tone and the new urgency in his appeals reflect his failure to sink Romney in the debates, as well as signs that it is the Republican, not Obama, who has momentum in the tight race.

Romney has consistently attacked Obama for failing to lay out a roadmap for the next four years. To counter such claims, the president finally rolled out a book detailing his second term agenda and unveiled a new ad laying out his closing argument. But Romney’s senior adviser Kevin Madden mocked the publication as a “glossy panic button,” saying the debates had reshaped the race in the Republican’s favor and that Obama was running out of time.

Obama sought to nail Romney as a political shape shifter after his opponent presented himself as a sober man of peace in Monday’s debate, toning down previously hawkish foreign policy positions. He diagnosed the Republican as suffering from “stage three Romnesia,” accusing him of misrepresenting and simply forgetting a litany of past positions in a win-at-all costs effort. “We are accustomed to seeing politicians change their positions from four years ago, we are not accustomed to seeing politicians change their positions from four days ago,” Obama said.—AFP

From pot to gay marriage, voters have lots to decide CHICAGO: From legalizing pot and gay marriage to wiping outdated segregation laws off Alabama’s state constitution, US voters have a lot more to decide next month than simply picking the next president. Voters in 27 states will face 172 different state-wide measures and scores of local initiatives when they cast ballots in the November 6 election. Many of the measures were designed in hopes of boosting turnout by firing up supporters or drawing people to the polls who might not be motivated by more mundane political issues.

That could make a real difference in a very tight race for the White House. “Having a measure on the ballot increases turnout by a few points because it gets people more engaged in the issues and gets them to come out and vote,” said Jennie Drage Bowser, who analyzes ballot measures at the National Conference of State Legislatures. “What’s not clear is that a conservative measure could get more conservative voters out or a liberal measure could get more liberal voters out. But that doesn’t stop people from trying,” she added.

The key swing state of Florida-which handed President George W Bush victory over Al Gore with just a few thousand votes in 2000 - has a number of measures on the ballot aimed at stirring up conservative voters. They include efforts to ban public expenditure on abortion or any health care plans which cover abortion; a ‘religious freedom’ amendment which would eliminate a ban on using state revenues to help religious groups; and a measure to undermine a key component of President Barack Obama’s landmark health care reform.

Four other states are considering measures to undermine Obamacare, including the swing state of Missouri. Democrats in battleground Ohio are hoping to use a ballot measure aimed at establishing an independent commission to redraw legislative maps so as to regain some of the districts lost in a plan passed by the Republican-led legislature. The young voters who helped propel Obama to victory in 2008 may get fired up in Colorado, yet another swing state, by a measure to legalize marijuana. Polls show it stands a good chance of passing.

Oregon and Washington also have proposals to legalize pot, while Montana and Arkansas voters will consider efforts to allow marijuana use for medicinal purposes. Union members, who also tend to support Democrats, are expected to turn out in Michigan in support of an initiative to make collective bargaining a constitutionally guaranteed right. But the biggest news may come on the gay marriage front, Bowser said. Gay marriage has long been a hot-button issue in the United States. But this year is the first time voters will be asked if they want to approve, rather than ban, legal recognition of same-sex unions.

Voters in Maine are expected to approve a referendum seeking to legalize same-sex marriage just three years after rejecting it in a 53-47 percent vote to toss out a bill passed by the state legislature.

Polls are also showing supporters could prevail in Maryland and the state of Washington, while it’s not clear if efforts to make Minnesota the 31st state to amend its constitution to ban gay marriage will succeed. —AFP

WASHINGTON: In Florida, Virginia and Indiana, voters have received phone calls that wrongly told them there was no need to cast a ballot in person on Election Day because they could vote by phone. In Ohio and Wisconsin, billboards in mostly low-income and minority neighborhoods showed prisoners behind bars and warned of criminal penalties for voter fraud - an effort that voting rights groups say was designed to intimidate minority voters.

And across the nation, some employers notably David and Charles Koch, the billionaire brothers who help fund the conservative group Americans for Prosperity - are pushing their workers to vote for Republican Mitt Romney for president. Two weeks before what could be one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history, efforts to mislead, intimidate or pressure voters are an increasingly prominent part of the political landscape. Analysts say tactics typically seen in the last few days before an election are already in play.

“We’ve seen an uptick in deceptive and intimidating tactics designed to prevent eligible Americans from voting,” said Eric Marshall of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, who manages a coalition that has a telephone hot line (1-866-OUR-VOTE) that collects tips on alleged voter intimidation. Democrats have been more vocal in complaining about such antics. They also cite groups linked to the conservative Tea Party movement that are training tens of thousands of people to monitor polling places on Nov. 6 for voter fraud. The controversial plan has been criticized as an attempt to delay or discourage voting.

But Republicans also have been behind some of the complaints, which have been focused largely on the eight or so politically divided swing states that are likely to decide the race between Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kurtis Killian, a Republican from St Augustine, Florida, was among those in three states who have reported receiving calls that encouraged them to vote by phone so they would not have to go to the polls.

Killian said he received a call from a man who identified himself as an employee of the Florida Division of Elections. Killian said he refused the caller’s offer to cast his vote by phone then reported the call to local elections officials. “I know there is no such thing as phone voting,” Killian said. But “for someone who can’t get out easily,” such as elderly or disabled voters, “they might go for that - it would be convenient for them. Once you think you voted ... you won’t go to the polls. My vote would be canceled out.”

Virginia’s State Board of Elections received similar complaints from at least 10 people - most of them elderly - who said they had been urged to vote by phone. Voters in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, reported similar phone calls in

September, sparking an investigation by the Secretary of State’s office, which oversees Indiana elections. The probe has focused on a firm called Vote USA. It is unclear who was behind the group; its phone number is no longer active. The Secretary of State urged voters who receive a call from Vote USA to ignore it.

BILLBOARDS IN WISCONSIN, OHIO Democratic lawmakers and activists in Wisconsin and Ohio - the most coveted of all the swing states in the presidential race because the

may vote. In response to the complaints, the billboard company, Clear Channel Outdoor, said last weekend that it would take down about 140 billboards in Ohio and Wisconsin that had been scheduled to stay up until Nov 6 - Election Day. The company said it has a policy against putting anonymous political messages on billboards and that it erred in agreeing to the contract.

Some Ohio residents who decided to vote early to avoid long lines on Election Day said they were angry about the billboards. A few compared them with efforts in more than 30 states to impose new

IOWA: Supporters of US President Barack Obama cheer during a campaign event yesterday at Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa. — AFP winner there is likely to win the White House - are angry about several dozen billboard signs that have popped up in recent weeks, warning of stiff penalties for voter fraud. The billboards were put up in mostly black and low-income communities.

Most had a large picture of a judge’s gavel and said “Voter Fraud is a Felony!” punishable by up to 3-1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

They were paid for by an anonymous group described only as “private family foundation.”

Other billboards showed prisoners in jumpsuits peering through prison bars. Community leaders said the signs were aimed at blacks and Hispanics and the poor as well as ex-convicts - all groups that tend to vote Democratic. City Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, whose district in Cleveland includes several of the billboards, said the billboards were designed to intimidate.

“I’m worried they will actually scare some of the ex-offenders, people with felony records who can vote,” said Cleveland, who added that there is confusion about felons voting because it is illegal in some states. In Ohio, 12 other states and Washington, DC, felons who are not behind bars

voting restrictions, such as requiring voters to produce a photo ID. Several photo ID laws have been tossed aside or delayed by courts. “There is a concerted effort to keep specific groups from the polls,” said Camilo Villa, 24, who lives in the Cleveland area and voted early for Obama. “It’s very concerning.”

PRESSURE BY EMPLOYERS Meanwhile, some employers have pressured workers to support certain candidates in the presidential race and other elections. Such employers seem to be taking advantage of a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that overturned laws that banned employers from directly expressing their political opinions to their employees. Critics of the socalled Citizens United ruling - which also led to the creation of big-money “Super PACs,” or political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts and have been a force in this presidential campaign - say it could make workers feel coerced into voting for certain candidates. Several companies have sent out letters urging their employees to vote for Romney. — Reuters

Senate candidate Mourdock draws fire over rape remarks WASHINGTON: US Senate candidate Richard Mourdock drew fire late Tuesday after saying that pregnancies caused by rape were “something God intended to happen” while defending his opposition to abortion. Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney was quick to distance himself from the gaffe as Democrats pounced, sensing an opening to brand him as an extremist among vital women voters less than two weeks ahead of election day. Speaking at a Senate debate, Mourdock said he believed life begins at conception and opposed abor tion in all cases except when the mother’s life was in danger.

“I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen,” he said.

Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker quickly responded, issuing a statement saying that “as a pro-life Catholic, I’m stunned and ashamed that Richard Mourdock believes God intended rape.

“Victims of rape are victims of an extremely violent act, and mine is not a violent God. Do we need any more proof that Richard Mourdock is an extremist who’s out of touch with Hoosiers?” he asked, referring to Indiana natives.

Romney’s campaign moved to distance him from the remarks, with spokeswoman Andrea Saul saying “Governor Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock’s comments, and they do not reflect his views.”

Romney has said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the mother’s life.

The exchange threatened to put the divisive issue of abortion front

and center in the closely-fought presidential race. President Barack Obama has long accused Romney and other Republicans of having extreme views on abortion and other women’s rights, and the Democratic National Committee quickly moved to link Romney to Mourdock. The committee sent a link to a television ad in which Romney endorsed Mourdock, say-

Richard Mourdock, candidate for Indiana’s US Senate seat

ing he would be “the 51st vote to repeal and replace governmentrun healthcare,” referring to Obama’s landmark reforms.

The ad did not mention abortion or other social issues. With the two candidates neck-and-neck, women voters in crucial swing states could decide the November 6 election. In the final presidential debate Monday night, Obama accused Romney of wanting to take America back to the “social policies of the 1950s.”

Romney has vowed to be a “prolife president,” and his current presidential platform supports overturning the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, letting states decide on the legality of the practice.

Another Republican Senate candidate, Todd Akin of Missouri, sparked controversy in August when he said that a woman’s body could prevent conception in cases of “legitimate rape.” Those remarks brought an avalanche of condemnation from both political parties and from Romney himself. Akin apologized for the remarks, but refused Republican demands to quit the race. Akin’s refusal to step down raised doubts about whether Republicans would be able to wrest back control of the 100member Senate from Democrats in congressional elections, also due to be held November 6.— AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

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

‘Millennium Bomber’ faces re-sentencing Prosecutors want Ressam to spend life in jail

WAGAH: In this file photograph, elderly Pakistani man Mehr Din holds a national flag during the daily ceremony of lowering India and Pakistan’s flags at the Wagah border near Lahore. — AFP

Flag-waving ‘Uncle Pakistan’ dies at 90 LAHORE: After 10 years of whipping up crowds at the elaborate daily ceremony to close Pakistan and India’s main land border crossing, the flag-waving star of the Pakistani side of the show has died. Huge crowds gather on both sides of Wagah border post each sunset to see the display of military preening and pageantry, and for a decade Mehr Din, known as Uncle Pakistan, led his compatriots in cheering on their men. Dressed in the vivid green and white of the Pakistani flag, Din, who died on Sunday aged 90, was as familiar a figure at Wagah, near the eastern city of Lahore, as the goose-stepping border guards in elaborate turbans. Din sold vegetables and did other menial jobs before making his regular trips to the flag-lowering ceremony, his nephew Mohammad Altaf said.

Eventually the Pakistani Rangers, the border security force, started paying him 14,000 rupees ($150) a month for his services and transporting him to the ceremony when he was not well enough to go by

himself. Reporting his death, the Express Tribune newspaper hailed Din as “chief patriot” and “custodian of national pride”, while a border official said he was the “motivating force” at the ceremonies. “We will miss him. His slogan raising and flag waving was very heartwarming and patriotic,” the official said. “He had become part and parcel of the flag lowering ceremony.”

Altaf said his uncle was motivated by a dislike of India borne of the bloodshed that followed partition in 1947 as well as a deep-seated love of his country-and its armed forces. “He never married and used to say ‘I am married to my country’,” Altaf said. “He used to carry the portraits of General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf,” he said, referring to the militar y dic tators who ruled Pak istan between 1977-1988 and 1999-2008. Din was buried on Sunday in his ancestral village, near the border, and the Rangers held an honors ceremony as a mark of respect, Altaf said.— AFP

SEATTLE: Convicted ‘Millennium Bomber’ Ahmed Ressam, whose 22-year prison term was judged too lenient by a US appeals court, faced re-sentencing yesterday for a foiled New Year’s Eve 1999 plot to set off explosives at Los Angeles International Airport. Federal prosecutors who appealed the original punishment have asked the Seattle-based US district judge presiding over the case to impose a new sentence that will require Ressam, an Algerian national, to spend the rest of his life in prison.

They argued that Ressam deserves a much harsher penalty because he reneged on an agreement to assist in the prosecution of other suspected militants and later recanted all his testimony and other statements to authorities. By doing so Ressam “has returned to the camp of the terrorist,” prosecutors wrote in a pre -sentencing memorandum. Ressam’s lawyers recommend he be sentenced to between 30 and 34 years imprisonment, arguing that this is close to the 35-year term prosecutors previously recommended.

The defense also said that 35 years in prison is the statutory maximum penalty carried by the core crimes for which Ressam was convicted - an act of terrorism through the use of explosives. They also argue that Ressam should still receive credit for the valuable information he did provide to authorities, including testimony against a convicted coconspirator. According to the defense, Ressam also identified Zacarias Moussaoui, a convicted Sept 11 conspirator, as an individual he

met at a militant training camp in Afghanistan, and gave information leading to the arrest of Al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah.

In a statement filed in court last week, Ressam repeated his retraction of all previous statements, saying a deal to cooperate was made under duress. He also insisted he was “against killing innocent people of any gender, color or religion,” adding, “I apologize for my action.” He concluded by saying, “You can judge me as you wish, I will not object to any of your sentences.”

Defense lawyers have suggested that severe mental stress Ressam suffered from seven-plus years in solitary confinement at the “Supermax” federal prison in Florence, Colorado, may have influenced his decision to recant. He was expected to appear in court for re-sentencing on Wednesday, his lawyer, Thomas Hillier said. Ressam was arrested in December 1999 as he attempted to cross into the United States from British Columbia and aroused the suspicion of a US Customs inspector at a ferry landing in Port Angeles, Washington.

After he tried to run away, the trunk of his rental car was found packed with explosives capable of producing a blast 40 times greater than that of a typical car bomb, authorities said. A jury convicted him in April 2001 of nine felony counts for his role in a plot to set off the explosives at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec 31, 1999. He subsequently reached a deal with prosecutors to cooperate

in helping to bring other terror suspects to justice, and was finally sentenced in 2008 to 22 years in prison, plus five years of supervised release.

Prosecutors, angry that Ressam had by then ceased cooperating, appealed the penalty as falling far short of the prison term called for under US sentencing guidelines. A divided 11-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, and by a 7-4 vote ordered the case sent back to US District Judge John Coughenour for re-sentencing. The appeals court majority ruled that Coughenour failed to properly account for the fact that Ressam, who has been incarcerated since late 1999, would be 51 when released, sufficiently young enough to pose a threat to the public.

Defense lawyers argued that Ressam faces deportation back to Algeria and likely further imprisonment there once released from US custody.

They also said he would most certainly be a marked man, viewed by groups such as Al-Qaeda as a traitor for the cooperation he gave US authorities before his recantation.

Disputing prosecutors’ assertions that the information he provided was of little value, defense lawyers said Ressam gave more than 70 interviews to prosecutors from the United States and several other Western countries. They said he gave dozens of names authorities could act on, as well as vital information about recruitment, training, organization and financing of Islamist militant groups.— Reuters

Shrinking military-led aid triggers Afghan concerns GARDEZ: Military-led teams set up to deliver aid projects in Afghanistan are winding down their operations, spark ing concern among some local officials that the government is not ready to take over their development role. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) were a key part of US-led forces’ strategy “to win hearts and minds” in both I raq and Afghanistan, building schools, hospitals and roads. But now the teams, led by different countries in the coalition, are scaling back in Afghanistan as NATOled forces hand over securit y responsibility to local commanders before most foreign combat troops

pull out by the end of 2014.

Of the 22 existing today-down from 26 last month-three are expected to close by the middle of next year, NATO military officials have said. The PRT in Paktia, a poor, mountainous province in eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan and used as a transit route by insurgents, was the first to open in Afghanistan in 2003.

The PRT was slated to close in December 2014, but the unit’s US commander said he was proposing to shut it earlier, in June 2013, on grounds that Afghans were ready to take on the work. Naiz Mohammad Khalil, governor of the Sayid Karam

district of Paktia, which borders Gardez and benefits from the PRT, said he would be “upset” when it closed. “We need more mentors, we need them to stay for longer to train us more,” he said in the provincial capital Gardez. The PRT’s commander, US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel John Morse, said that when the PRT was established, “We were the only ones that were delivering the basic ser vices to the people. “ That ’s important at the time when there was no one doing that, but now as the Afghan government stands up and starts to deliver basic services, the PRT can be looked (at) negatively, so we can’t do that any longer,” he

told reporters during a media visit organized by NATO last week.

In 2010, the Paktia PRT, headquartered at a US military base near Gardez, managed 114 projects costing $15.5 million. In 2011, that fell to 101 projects worth $10 million and this year to 21 projects costing $800,000. Of those projects, only three remain, Morse said. Morse conceded that Kabul had not sent enough money to Paktia this year for development work. “We really felt that Paktia province is starting to stand on their own and they are getting funding from Kabul, (though) not in the amounts we would like to see,” he said. —Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Burning rubber, Baghdad bikers race to escape Culture clash between pro-Western youth, mainstream Islam BAGHDAD: Filling the night air with roaring engines and screeching tires, youths in bandannas tear down a highway in souped-up motorcyles, pulling wheelies and dodging cars in a cat-and-mouse with police. Dragracing in California, you say? No, this is Baghdad, where youthful rebellion and American biker style clash with conservative mores in Iraq, a country where just a few years ago militias imposed their own radical Islamic views at gunpoint. Giving themselves names like “Wheelies to the Death”, groups of Iraqi bikers gather on Fridays in Jedriya district to taste the thrill of speed, test authorities and forget the worries of living in a city still struggling with bombings and blackouts.

This is no Harley Davidson club cruising the banks of the Tigris. On one Friday, teens sped past standing on the seats of battered mopeds; others roared along on Hondas cobbled from second-hand parts. Those with the cash came on imported bikes. “I live for the speed to be honest,” said Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, a government worker leaning on the red Suzuki he calls “Shark”. “If we think about power cuts, jobs, violence, who’s been killed or kidnapped, what can we do?

Life goes on.” The Iraqi capital is much safer

than the darker days of sectarian slaughter when suicide bombers claimed hundreds of victims a day, and Shiite Muslim religious militias and Sunni Islamist insurgents tried to spread radical versions of Islam.

Bombs still haunt Baghdad, power shortages are part of daily life and sectarian tensions run close to the surface. But, nine months after the last US troops left, Baghdad is demonstrating signs of a city returning to some form of sanity. Years of American military presence left many Iraqis with dark memories of US influence, even after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. But Western-style music and dress often rival popular Lebanese pop culture, especially since the retreat of militias. Like many frustrated Iraqi young, for the Jedriya bikers their weekend sport is a way out of the daily grind brought on by the lack of jobs, basic services and improvements they were promised from their country’s growing oil wealth. “It’s like you’re in a different world when we come here,” Ahmed Faruq, a mechanic riding a yellow Honda with “Monster” sprayed in purple on the side.

“What have we gotten since the war? We’re young and we’ve seen nothing so far, nothing good.” Still, in a country where youth life

is often an uneasy navigation between conservatism and more open Western styles, the sight of rebellious bikers hot-rodding along a major highway is a strange attraction, drawing crowds of curious onlookers. “I worry about them, they’re so young and it’s not safe,” said Hussein Amad, a taxi driver sitting on the rear of his yellow cab watching the bikers. “But some of them are like real heroes with what they can do.”

CREEPING CONSERVATISM Iraq is usually a less conservative Muslim society than many neighbors like Saudi Arabia and Iran, thanks to the religious, ethnic and sectarian mix of Shiite, Sunni and Kurds. In Baghdad, women often go without the hijab - or traditional headdress, especially in private clubs or areas of the city considered less conformist. Westernstyle hair salons and even gyms for women are even starting to appear. But after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam, militias often forced hardline Islam on neighborhoods they controlled and Islamist political parties came to the fore, bringing with them stricter interpretations of the religion.

Artists, filmmakers and musicians say

they feel stifled by conservatism. Bars and stores selling alcohol and nightclubs in Baghdad are occasional raided and shuttered by the armed forces, or sometimes even targeted by insurgent bombers. In a sign of stubborn militia influence earlier this year, at least 14 Iraqi youths were bludgeoned to death in what appeared to be a campaign by Shiite militants against youth wearing Western “Emo” punk clothing and hair styles. Militia gangs in Shiite neighborhoods circulated warnings for those youth to change the way they dress.

But on the Jedriya highway, bikers show no such worries, regarding their sport as a way of expressing themselves. Dressed in jeans, bandannas and some in plastic body armor used by professional racers, they stood smoking, admiring their bikes and watching each other weave between the cars, showing off skills learned from satellite television sports shows. One youth sat with a long-haired female companion on his bike, a rare sight in a country where public interaction between unmarried men and women is traditionally more restricted.

Two other young women, one wearing a tattoo with the Arabic letters “Love Forever” on her shoulder, smoked and giggled with

another group of young bikers along the banks of the Tigris near the highway. “I want to be stronger like a man,” said Inas Mohammed Ali, 22, wearing a cloth cap pulled over her eyes. “The boys are teaching me to ride the bikes now. Just to get away from all this stress.” Even the traffic police were no object on one recent night. The flash of blue lights sent bikers roaring off temporarily, only to gather again elsewhere.

Spectators enjoying the show jeered at traffic cops trying to keep them away. The next night, a heavily armed police special forces team arrived to sweep up young men caught drinking alcohol along the highway’s grassy verge. Bikers scattered for the night. “Neighbors complain to us and we have orders to arrest those who are drinking,” said an Interior Ministry officer at the scene who refused to give his name. “These bikers are into kidnapping and stealing. Not all of them, but most.” But police crackdowns will not stop mechanic Salwan Satar.

“People are proud of us when we do this kind of strange thing in Iraq. It’s something different,” said Satar, sitting on his custom green and red spray-painted Suzuki Bandit.

“We could die in a roadside bomb, but here we make people happy.”— Reuters

China’s propaganda post likely to go to Hu loyalist Sichuan party boss Liu Qibao front-runner

DANUBE: A picture shows a part of the construction of the Calafat-Vidin bridge on Danube river between Bulgaria and Romania.— AFP

NGOs in Romania facing closure; Funds withheld BUCHAREST: Hundreds of Romanian organizations working for the integration of Roma, the disabled and the vulnerable are facing shutdown because failings by the government have led to European Union funds being withheld. Hundreds of those affected protested in several towns yesterday. The Impreuna (Together) association, which has been working for the past 13 years on Roma community development, has been waiting for more than a year for reimbursement of the expenses it incurred for five vocational retraining projects.

Normally the waiting time is 45 days. “It is the first time that the very existence of the association is in danger,” according to association president Gelu Duminica. “In two months if the situation doesn’t change we will have to close down,” she said.

Impreuna has already had to lose half its staff as it cannot pay them. It is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the country’s civil society. In a country where the state often faces charges of inertia or inefficiency non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in the development of society, diplomats and experts say.

“We cannot continue these projects financed by the European Union (EU) any longer because we have no more money but no more can we halt them because when we obtained the funds we promised Brussels to see them through or face having to pay the money back,” said Amedeea Enache, director of the Estuar foundation, which specializes in integrating people with mental disabilities into the labor market.

The European Commission has provided Bucharest with 20 billion euros ($26 billion) between 2007 and 2013 to help it catch up with other member states. A total of 3.5 billion euros ($4.5 billion) was directed at human resources development programs

(POSDRU). This money is channeled through the Romanian government which is charged by the EU both with approving requests for finance and also managing the repayments effected throughout the implementation of the projects. However, a European Commission audit has highlighted problems in the evaluation and eligibility of the projects. In May the EU stopped payments.

“The Romanian government is responsible for ensuring that the activity of these projects is not affected,” the commission said. In other words, it is up to the Romanian government to ensure payments are made. But it pleads a lack of resources.

Following heavy NGO pressure, 100 million euros ($142 million) were released at the end of September to settle about 1,500 requests for payment. Meanwhile the ministry of labor, which is responsible for POSDRU, insists that it has taken “a series of essential and urgent steps” to fill the gaps identified by the EU. Romania risks losing 100 million euros if payments are suspended until the end of the year and 1.1 billion if the suspension continues in 2013.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta conceded yesterday that Romania would suffer financial consequences following its breaches.

European experts will visit the country to assess the progress the Romanian authorities have made and decide on a possible resumption of repayments. “ These European funds represented an unheard of opportunity for the development of Romanian civil society but the institutional incapacity of our state has turned them into a real ordeal,” according to Flavia Preda, who works for a coalition of NGOs at the centre for resources for public participation. “It’s sad but European money isn’t at all attractive today and the associations are doing all they can to find other less risky sources of finance.”—AFP

BEIJING: A loyal ally of Chinese President Hu Jintao is the front-runner to become propaganda minister during a once-in-a-decade generational leadership change, two sources said, but while media-savvy he is unlikely to drastically loosen tight controls. Liu Qibao is tipped to be appointed to the post during the Communist Party’s 18th congress, which opens on Nov. 8, at which the party will anoint Xi Jinping as the country’s fifth generation leader after Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.

China’s apex policy-making body, the sevenmember standing committee of the politburo, will be unveiled at the congress. The meeting will decide upon a whole slew of new officials, including provincial party heads and cabinet ministers. “Liu Qibao is likely to take over as propaganda minister unless there is a change at the last minute,” one source told Reuters, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions for discussing secretive elite politics. A second source confirmed that Liu was the front-runner for the position.

The post is vital to both instilling confidence in the party and its policies and ensuring a monopoly on the flow of information, something which is getting harder in modern, wired China, with web sites and several feisty new publications straining at the leash to uncover corruption and abuse of power.

Whoever runs it will be in charge of disseminating official policy and viewpoints as well as trying to combat rumors spread by the growing lack of public trust in mainstream state-run media’s often mundane and occasionally dubious reporting.

Liu, 59, is currently party boss of the populous southwestern province of Sichuan, a job he was given in 2007. He won plaudits for rebuilding areas struck by the massive 2008 earthquake in which at least 87,000 people died. Liu can be media-savvy, engaging ordinary people’s problems via online questions and using the popular Twitter-like microblog Sina Weibo to send messages, unusual for a senior Chinese official. “Speaking the truth-these are the best words you can use,” state media quoted Liu as telling a forum last year. “If you want the people to tell you the truth, then officials have to be brave enough to hear the truth, and they must create the right conditions for it.” Yet he has taken a hardline approach to tackling a surge of self-immolations and protests in restive ethnic Tibetan parts of the province, and has locked up some dissidents. He has also come down hard on Sichuan-based dissi-

dents, including Tan Zuoren, serving five years for subversion after documenting shoddy construction that contributed to deaths in the 2008 quake, and human rights advocate Chen Wei, jailed for nine years for writing essays critical of the government.

POOR BACKGROUND Liu has direct experience working at the centre of China’s formidable propaganda machine, spending a year as a deputy editor at party mouthpiece the People’s Daily from 1993 to 1994. According to an official biography, he comes from a poor background and rose to the upper echelons of the party through Hu’s powerbase of the Communist Youth League. For the party, these attributes make him an ideal candidate to run the propaganda team. “They have to be very reliable in the eyes of the party,” said Xiao Qiang, a China media expert at the University of California at Berkeley.

“For the propaganda department, they always need control freaks, not somebody who will make

BEIJING: A Chinese police officer checks the identity of Chinese men resting on Tiananmen Square in Beijing yesterday near the Great Hall of the People where the Chinese Communist Party will hold its 18th National Party Congress on Nov 8. — AP

Rebel Catholic group expels Holocaust-denying bishop

Merkel and survivors to open memorial for Roma genocide BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will yesterday inaugurate a somber memorial to the estimated half million Roma and Sinti murdered by the Nazis, joined by survivors of the genocidal campaign. The long-delayed monument, consisting of a round pool of water and stele on which a single fresh flower will rest each day, sits opposite the Reichstag parliament building in central Berlin.

A timeline of the Nazi extermination drive stands next to the memorial, which was finally built with a federal government grant of 2.8 million euros ($3.6 million).

“Auschwitz” by Italian poet Santino Spinelli is engraved around the rim of the dark pool in English and German, recounting the suffering and sorrow inflicted on the Roma. It was designed by Israeli artist Dani Karavan, 81, and is located near two other memorials for victims of Nazi barbarism, a sprawling field of pillars for the six million murdered Jews and a smaller monument for gay victims.

Merkel stressed the crucial importance of living up to the crimes of history and providing a site to educate, to mourn the victims and to warn coming generations.”That is why we must have appropriate places where

that is possible-where people can also go in the future when the survivors are no longer alive,” she said in her weekly video podcast.

She will be joined at the opening by President Joachim Gauck and about 100 elderly survivors, as well as the leader of the Central Council of Sinti and Roma in Germany, Romani Rose, who heads a community of about 70,000.

The Nazis deemed the Roma and related Sinti like the Jews to be racially inferior, and unleashed a systematic campaign of oppression against them. In 1938 SS chief Heinrich Himmler ordered the “final solution of the gypsy question”. Those caught in the sweep were confined to ghettos, deported to concentration camps and slaughtered. Many were subjected to grotesque medical experiments. Historians estimate nearly 500,000 Roma men, women and children across Europe were killed between 1933 and 1945, decimating a population with roots in Germany dating back six centuries.

Rose, who was born in 1946, one year after the war’s end, had fiercely objected to the memorial referring to “gypsies”, a term commonly used in the past but now viewed as derogatory. — AFP

mistakes, and that seems like the kind of personality Liu Qibao has,” he added. Other candidates for the post include Hu Chunhua, party boss of the northern region of Inner Mongolia, and Wang Yang, the reform-minded party boss of the booming southern province of Guangdong, the sources said.

The job reports to an overall propaganda tsar on the standing committee. If confirmed, Liu will replace Liu Yunshan, who is a preferred candidate to make it to the standing committee. The two Lius are not related. Liu Yunshan has kept domestic media on a short leash and struggled to control China’s increasingly unruly Internet, which has over 500 million users. The new leadership will most probably keep those restrictions, nervous as it is about stability and the need to ensure one-party rule. “I see no sign of a relaxation of media controls on the horizon.

What are the benefits? If you do it, then all the bad stuff comes out,” said Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group.—Reuters

ECONE: A file photo shows fundamentalist Roman Catholic bishop Richard Williamson of Great Britain during an ordination mass of the breakaway fundamentalist Roman Catholic Society of St Pius X in Econe, western Switzerland. — AFP

PARIS: A rebel Catholic traditionalist group has expelled British-born Bishop Richard Williamson who deeply embarrassed the Vatican by denying the Holocaust shortly before he was readmitted to the Church three years ago. The Swiss-based Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), whose four bishops were excommunicated from 1988 to 2009, said yesterday it took the step because Williamson had disobeyed his superiors. Williamson, 72, an opponent of recent SSPX efforts to win full reintegration into the Church, caused an international uproar with his ultra-hardline views broadcast only days before the Vatican lifted the bans on him and three other bishops.

His presence in the SSPX leadership appeared to be a hurdle to any accord with the Vatican. But negotiations have broken down in any case so his departure may not have an effect on the group’s relations with Rome. The statement said Williamson was excluded for “having distanced himself from the management and the government of the SSPX for several years and refusing to show due respect and obedience to his lawful superiors”. The Vatican declined to comment on the SSPX statement, which said Williamson was excluded by the group on Oct 4.

The SSPX opposes modernizing reforms decided by the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council. In his bid to end

its schism, Pope Benedict has promoted the old Latin Mass the SSPX champions and lifted the excommunication bans on its bishops. But talks aimed at creating a special status for the group within the Church have broken down because it has refused to accept the Council as legitimate, especially its recognition of other Christian denominations and Judaism as valid faiths. Williamson’s denial of Holocaust gas chambers in a television interview in January 2009, just before the excommunication bans were lifted, sparked a wave of criticism from Catholics and Jews. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the Vatican to distance itself from him. The Vatican ordered Williamson to recant his denial but he apologized only for any misunderstanding he had caused. A German court later fined Williamson for publicly denying the Holocaust took place, which is a crime in Germany. The Williamson affair was also embarrassing because it showed how isolated the Vatican was in the Internet age.

In an unprecedented letter to Catholic bishops, Benedict admitted he did not know Williamson’s far-right wing views despite the fact the bishop had published them on the Internet. The Vatican would use the Internet more in future, he said.

Since that uproar, Williamson had used the Internet to publish commentaries critical of the SSPX’s effor ts to reach an accord with the Vatican.— Reuters

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Iran looks to Silk Road ties in time of sanctions DUBAI: In back-to-back Asian summits this month, Iran’s president made sure to carve out special time to look east.

At one gathering in Azerbaijan, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reminded the president of Kazakhstan about the vision of a railway linking the heart of Central Asia with Iran’s warm ports. At another meeting in Kuwait, he held talks with Tajikistan’s leader about their growing trade ties. Even as US and European sanctions tighten around Iran’s economy, officials in Tehran are busy reaching out to Asian markets as a critical lifeline. For months, Iran’s oil sales to energy-hungry nations such as China and India have been the focus of intense Western efforts to reduce the flow as part of pressure over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Yet lesser - but not insignificant - economic pathways for Iran also run along the ancient Silk Road connecting China and the Middle East. While Iranian trade and projects in Central Asia are tiny compared with oil sales to the continent’s economic powerhouses, the outreach represents another way for Tehran to seek economic buffers from sanctions in a region where Washington holds relatively limited sway. It also displays some of Iran’s first steps at trying to diversify its economy away from oil - which still represents 80 percent of foreign currency revenue - and develop backyard markets for its construction and technology industries.

“The Iranian economy is so strong that it could live without oil revenues,” said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a pan-Asian summit last week in Kuwait.

“Our people could get accustomed to that and I think that things will change in the near future.” On Tuesday, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told an energy conference in Dubai that Iran has contingency plans to run the country without the critical oil revenue, including investments in solar and other renewable sources.

While Iran is a long way off from functioning without its oil income - and may never reach that stage - the remarks reflect real ambitions to turn Central Asia into a key market for Iranian goods and technological expertise while offering the landlocked former Soviet republics access to the sea. In August, carmaker Iran Khodro announced plans to boost exports to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In Tajikistan, Iranian construction firms are major builders with projects such as hydroelectric power stations and a $39 million tunnel that connects the capital Dushanbe to northern Tajikistan.

But the centerpiece of the Islamic Republic’s outreach an uninterrupted rail link through Central Asia - remains caught up in disputes and competing ventures more than 15 years after the first leg was opened between Iran and neighboring Turkmenistan. Last month, Turkmenistan’s president, Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, abruptly canceled a reported $700 million contract with Iran’s Pars Energy to continue the rail line to Kazakhstan along the Caspian Sea coast. The reasons were unclear, but Turkmenistan has been reviewing its deep trade ties with

Iran as Western sanctions widen.

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have expressed interest in joining a rail project running from Azerbaijan’s Caspian Coast to the eastern Turkish area of Kars. Such a railway would bypass Iran and still provide the sea access coveted by the Central Asian states. “Iran has no choice but to turn to Asia for trade” because of the Western sanctions, said Sasan Fayazmanesh, an economic affairs expert and head of the Middle East Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. “But that, of course, will not solve Iran’s problem of selling its oil since the Central Asian countries, for the most part, do not need Iran’s oil.”

But for Tehran, its overtures to Central Asia mean more than just a price tag. Iran has been a cultural point of reference for centuries across the ex-Soviet states through books, films and traditions dating back to Persia’s preIslamic Zoroastrian faith. Iran’s main Central Asian foothold, Tajikistan, also shares linguistic ties that give Iran an important commercial edge over China and Russia. A weak link for Iran, however, is the rifts within Islam. Much of Central Asia is Sunni Muslim and governments are cautious about any moves that could stir sectarian tensions with Shiite minorities. These same divides, in turn, help cement the influence of Shiite Iran in Iraq and parts of Afghanistan.

“Iran’s future in Central Asia and most of Afghanistan is constrained by the fact that its government is officially Shiite and nearly all the populations of these countries are

Sunni,” said Frederick Starr, chairman of our Central AsiaCaucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University. “Both sides worked out a practical understanding of this issue shortly after the collapse of the USSR, which effectively keeps Iran from advancing its religious cause in the region,” he added.

At the same time, Iran is increasingly fearful that Washington could seek to build stronger ties in Central Asia following the planned withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Central Asia has been a stop for top US envoys in the past year. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Uzbekistan a year ago and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta traveled in March to Kyrgyzstan, where the US already has an air base used for airborne refueling missions and as a transit point for troops in Afghanistan.

“Iran’s ruling elites are practically unanimous in their belief that the announced departure (from Afghanistan) is nothing but a cover for a strategic regrouping,” wrote Nikolay Kozhanov, a regional affairs analyst at the Institute of the Middle East in Moscow. He also noted that the growing attention to the region has given Central Asian leaders more options. “These countries have undergone drastic changes in self-perception over the past decade,” he wrote in an August essay for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “No longer do they see themselves as living in a landlocked, isolated region whose relations with the external world depend completely on Russia or Iran.” — AP

14

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

opinion

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

EU rift leaves impoverished south behind

By Sinikka Tarvainen he gulf between northern and southern Europe is growing ever wider, as the south becomes increasingly cut off from economic and technological development, experts are warning. The former ideal of a socially oriented, economically united Europe has been replaced by conflicting interests, the erosion of production structures in the south, and the reappearance of mutual prejudice, says Fernando Luengo, an economist at Madrid’s Complutense University. “What we have now is a fragmented Europe,” he told dpa, adding that the euro was at risk of collapsing.

Luengo belongs to EconoNuestra, a group critical of eurozone governments’ handling of the euro crisis, backed by hundreds of economists, and which is preparing a conference of economists from Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy in November. Already before the introduction of the euro in 1999, there was a divide between technologically sophisticated northern countries and the south, whose economy was based on weaker sectors such as textiles, cheap cars or low-quality industrial products. That divide deepened after the creation of the euro, which eliminated exchange rates and lowered interest rates, unleashing an abundant flow of cheap credit from German banks to southern banks and companies, Luengo explains. “German banks have done an enormous amount of business with the debt of Spain, Greece and Portugal,” the economist said. In Spain, the flow of northern credit fuelled a property bubble, consolidating an economic model based on sectors with low productivity, such as construction, according to Luengo. In Greece, many factories producing building materials in what were once the country’s main industrial areas near Volos and Thessaloniki were already abandoned after the 2004 Olympics, when investment in infrastructure fell and fuelled a rapid decline in the construction industry.

The south did receive structural funds from the European Union, but they were insufficient to bridge the gap with more developed countries. Southern governments share the responsibility in the current crisis. “We squandered the credit that the euro gave us, stopped saving, invested in erroneous and non-productive projects,” Portuguese economist Antonio Borges said. The northsouth polarization has contributed to the devastating effect of the global crisis in southern European countries, which is also benefiting the north by sending investors seeking safety to countries like Germany, according to Luengo.

The eurozone has poured hundreds of billions of euros into rescuing Greece and Portugal from economic collapse. A bailout is in the pipeline for Spanish banks, while Madrid could also seek a rescue from the eurozone’s new stability mechanism. Resentment over the expenditure is widespread in countries such as Germany, Finland and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of Spaniards, Italians and Portuguese disapprove of how German Chancellor Angela Merkel has handled the European economic crisis, according to a survey of the German Marshall Fund.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has for weeks been expressing concern over rising populism, xenophobia and anti-EU feelings within the bloc, calling for a special EU summit to debate those problems. “The crisis has brought out old prejudice on both sides,” Spanish political scientist Pedro Chaves told dpa. “Northerners think we don’t work hard, while Spaniards - formerly among the most proEuropean people in the EU - are increasingly criticizing Germany and the north,” he added.

Spain, Greece and Portugal have faced repeated protests against anti-austerity measures, which many see as German-imposed and which have in many cases turned violent, particularly in Greece. The perception that southern Europeans work less is in fact not correct. Greeks and Spaniards work considerably longer hours than Dutch and Germans, according to an OECD study. Meanwhile, the austerity policies that the EU and International Monetary Fund have recommended to Mediterranean EU countries are widening the gulf separating them from countries up north, Luengo says. Governments have cut spending on education, research and infrastructure - measures that contribute to a “massive deindustrialization” and erode the productive tissue, he explained. The economist blames the crisis mainly on financial speculation by banks, and calls for a new European vision involving federalism and loans to the Mediterranean countries to allow them to modernize their economies. Such decisions, however, are “light years away,” he admits. — dpa

T

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.

Savile scandal shines harsh light on BBC

By Anna Tomforde nown for its perceived prudishness and puritanical outlook, Britain’s BBC has long been affectionately nicknamed “Auntie” by Britons who turn to it for news and entertainment. But a rapidly unfolding sex abuse scandal, dating back decades, has caused many to question how well they really know “Auntie” - and whether they can trust her judgement. They wonder whether the BBC condoned a culture in the 1960s and 1970s that resulted in hundreds of girls being preyed upon by a now-deceased celebrity, and then tried to play down - or even cover up - the issue in recent months.

The man at the centre of the scandal, former DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile, is dead. But the past is catching up with the broadcaster with an intensity and vigour that has led commentators to label the current crisis the “worst” yet in the corporation’s history. “There’s no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved - the culture and practices of the BBC seemed to allow Jimmy Savile to do what he did - will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us,” George Entwistle, the BBC’s director general, conceded Tuesday.

However, while the scandal surrounding Savile filled Entwistle with “horror”, it was also true that there was a different “culture of awareness” at the BBC today, insisted Entwistle.

Entwistle, who took up his job as the head of the world’s largest public broadcasting organization just a month ago, is

K

under fire over the Savile row, and in particular over a decision by the BBC not to broadcast a TV documentary on Savile’s misdemeanours last year. Entwistle was head of BBC television at the time.

The scandal surrounding Savile, who presented children’s programs and the famous pop music show Top of the Pops, was first revealed in a documentary aired by rival commercial broadcaster ITV a month ago. It has since rapidly spread, and prompted a criminal investigation by police into allegations that others might have aided and abetted Savile as he groomed and abused underage girls throughout much of his 40-year career with the BBC. Around 200 potential victims have come forward so far, and a further 400 leads are being followed in what Scotland Yard has described as “sexual abuse on an unprecedented scale”.

Although concern, rumours and allegations against Savile were rife while he was still alive, no charges were ever brought against him. The fact that a police investigation had been launched into his misconduct became known only after his death. Savile, a TV personality recognizable by his long white hair, round tinted glasses, eccentric dress and cigar-smoking habit, allegedly abused women and children not only on BBC premises, but also in hospitals, schools and other institutions he visited in the course of his work. He died in Oct 2011, aged 84 - an occasion for the BBC to broadcast lengthy tributes to him in its Christmas schedule - even though police investigations into Savile had already begun and top BBC journalists

had warned their bosses that the eulogies might have to be pulled from the program.

The allegations against Savile have prompted such public anger and disgust that his family last month agreed to have the headstone removed from his grave in Scarborough, in northwest England. Charities and organizations associated with him have dropped his name or closed down. Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested that Savile should be stripped of his knighthood, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.

A documentary screened on the BBC’s Panorama program Monday - the same program BBC bosses are alleged to have stopped from being aired last year - revealed shocking details of the abuse allegations. One of the key witnesses, Karin Ward, said she was abused by Savile as a schoolgirl on BBC premises.

She also claimed that she saw Gary Glitter - the now disgraced rock star convicted of child sex offences - having sex with a girl from her school in Savile’s dressing room. Savile, exploiting his high public profile, is also alleged to have abused children working on his Jim’ll Fix It television show, and at hospitals and other institutions he visited. In one instance, nurses are said to have advised children to pretend to be asleep while he visited so as to avoid advances. “This horror, for that is what it was, took place while all of society was watching,” former BBC DJ Paul Gambaccini told the BBC’s Panorama program. “But because it was off the scale of everybody’s belief system they didn’t really come to terms with it.” — dpa

Aleppo business leaders targeted in violence

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi op Syrian businessman Fares Shehabi says he lives in constant fear of being kidnapped by rebels fighting loyalist forces for control of his home city Aleppo.

But he clings on in the city, saying it is his duty to try to keep its economy running. “I was attacked three or four times and they tried to kidnap me many times,” said Shehabi, 40, scion of a wealthy merchant family with interests ranging from pharmaceuticals and food to real estate and banking. In one attack, assailants riddled one of his factories with gunfire and tried to plant explosives in it, he said. He now moves around with bodyguards, sometimes in disguise.

Nineteen months into the uprising against President Bashar Al-Assad, Syria’s biggest city and main industrial centre has been crippled by the fighting. Located among the olive groves and pistachio trees of northwest Syria, it has a population of about 3 million in peacetime. In addition to widespread damage to factories and shops and an exodus of refugees from neighbourhoods caught in the fighting, Aleppo’s community of businessmen and industrialists has been hit hard. Some of the wealthiest are linked to Assad’s government through partnerships with officials.

Many have fled with their families to places such as Lebanon, Dubai and Egypt.

Others have stayed, but say they are targets of violence, extortion and kidnapping attempts by rebel groups and governmentlinked gangs known as shabiha. The businessmen developed Aleppo into Syria’s economic engine, the focus of its export trade and the seat of its pharmaceutical, textile and plastics industries. So the damage to the merchant class bodes ill for a recovery of the Syrian economy when the fighting eventually ends. Armed groups in Aleppo are “attacking every businessman, small or big, whether he has a factory or a workshop, if he does not want to meet their demands and buy them weapons,” Shehabi said by telephone from the city.

Aleppo’s business community dates back many centuries, to when the city was a trading centre on the Silk Road between East and West. In recent years it has been seen as a bastion of loyalty to Assad’s rule; some of its members were accused of financing loyalist thugs who attacked demonstrators in the early days of the uprising. Heading the city’s chamber of industry, Shehabi worked

T

closely with the government to develop its manufacturing base, which he estimates accounts for almost half of Syria’s industrial capacity. Before a rebel offensive in the city began in July, Aleppo was a major source of revenue for Assad.

Shehabi is one of four top Syrian businessmen who were slapped with European Union sanctions last year for providing economic support to the Syrian regime. He said some of his assets abroad were frozen, and that he was contesting the penalty through a law firm in Belgium. “It violated my rights and they did not hear my side of the story. I challenge them to provide a single proof that I financially backed any side,” he said.

Although he blames the rebels for most of the damage to the city, Shehabi is now also critical of authorities’ handling of the crisis, saying the government has been slow to promote political reforms and to fight organised crime. “Aleppo is being punished by the revolution and now neglected by the state,” he said.

At least 100 businessmen have been kidnapped since the start of the conflict, the chamber of industry estimates. Scores of factories have been set ablaze after their owners refused to pay extortion demands, according to several local businessmen who requested anonymity out of concern for

their personal safety. Many industrialists now pay protection money to gangs, with monthly fees ranging from $4,000 to $5,000 plus a down payment that can go up to $100,000 depending on the size of the factory, businessmen said.

When two fires last December gutted the German-equipped textile plants of the Olabi family, known for their close ties to the authorities, it was clear that much of the violence was becoming politically motivated, the businessmen said. Panic began to set into the business community in the weeks before the July rebel offensive, when the body of ice cream factory owner Ibn Nayef was found. He had refused to heed a call by rebel groups for a general strike.

The most publicised attacks were against the prominent Alweis business family, which lost two of its members in what appeared to be revenge killings for failing to pay protection money. A third member, Jihad Alweis, owner of big milk production plants in the city, escaped an attempt on his life and has since fled the country, Aleppo businessmen said. The general manager of Aleppo Cables Co, Mohammad Mustapha Jweid, was kidnapped from his home by a gang a month ago; he was beaten up and released three days later. Among the most prominent recent kidnappings has been

In this Oct 23, 2012 photo, Syrian residents carry the lifeless body a boy killed from an artillery shell that landed near a bakery in front of a hospital in Aleppo. — AP

that of businessman Mohammed Maher AlMalah, released after a 5 million Syrian pound (about $80,000) ransom was paid, businessmen said.

Aleppo’s industrialists say much of the violence has its roots in Syria’s rural-urban divide, and the envy and antagonism which poor rebels from the countryside feel for wealthy businessmen in the city.

Some of the owners of Aleppo’s textile factories have moved to Egypt, which has a major textile industry, and become involved in the business there in order to preserve their links to export markets in Europe that have been built over decades.

Shehabi said that on a recent visit to Egypt, he met Syrian businessmen who would come back to Aleppo as soon as security conditions permitted.

But the hatreds created by the uprising may prevent a return to business as usual even when the fighting stops. Aleppo’s merchant community is increasingly polarised between those who intend to stick with the regime until the end and those who clandestinely sympathise with or even support the rebels. Commerce and trust between these camps may not resume under any circumstances. Yusef Abdul Wahed, an Aleppo plastics manufacturer who has now left the country, said he felt little sympathy for industrialists who used their political connections to make unfair profits before the war. “They benefited in previous years and when the crisis happened, they were asked to pay the salaries of the shabiha,” he said.

In any case, the damage to the city’s manufacturing facilities and infrastructure will take years to repair. Shehabi estimated Aleppo’s industrial zones were now operating at only 5 to 10 percent of capacity.

Shelling and close-quarters combat have destroyed hundreds of factories and shops, filling streets with rubble. The state-of-theart Sheikh Najjar industrial zone to the east of the city, which attracted hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, is now little more than a ghost town where guards try to protect some factories at great risk to their lives. “What is happening is the wholesale destruction of Syria’s infrastructure. The stoppage of industry is a big catastrophe - for over two months there has been total stoppage,” said Fouad Jumaa, a leading furniture maker in Aleppo.

“We are bracing ourselves for a long period of disruption. This is destruction in every sense.” — Reuters

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

A herd of sheep is brought to market on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo yesterday to celebrate upcoming feast of Eid Al-Adha. — AFP

Cyberspace new front in Iran war with foes ‘Gangnam’ rapper, daredevil meet Ban Continued from Page 1 kind of techniques, but it is a surprise how fast they have advanced,” said James Lewis, a former US foreign service officer now senior fellow and cyber specialist at Washington DC’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies. “Neither side really wants a war because of the economic costs in particular. So this is what they do instead.”

Speaking through local media, Iranian officials denied involvement in the bank hacking. But they say they themselves have come under mounting attack, with oil facilities, infrastructure and communications firms all suffering system failures they blamed on cyber attacks from other countries. What Stuxnet unleashed, experts say, is the most sophisticated and perhaps dangerous cyber conflict yet seen. While no government has ever taken responsibility for Stuxnet, it is widely assumed to have been a joint USIsraeli project designed to damage and destroy nuclear centrifuges. “Stuxnet was effective, but it wasn’t a knockout blow,” says Ilan Berman, a former CIA and Pentagon consultant now vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council. “What it has done, however, is open a new front.”

The Islamic Republic’s rulers first woke up to the dangers, and the potential, of cyberspace in 2009 when antigovernment protesters used the Internet to organise huge protests against presidential elections they said were rigged. Since then, largely Shiite Iran has beefed up the ability of its Revolutionary Guards to monitor the web to track and intimidate potential dissidents. But it has also ploughed resources into hitting back at its enemies, not just the United States and Israel but Gulf monarchies such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Some believe Tehran may also be providing technical support to long-term ally Bashar Al-Assad in Syria, where cyber warfare has played a role in the worsening bloodshed. Assad’s own emails were hacked by the opposition, while experts suspect Syria or Iran may have been behind last week’s apparent interference in regional broadcasts of BBC World. “Cyber is the domain where the brunt of the confrontation will move to,” says Dina Esfandiary, a research associate and Iran specialist at London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. “For Tehran, (it) is the ‘safest’ form of confrontation because of its secretive and deniable characteristics.”

Exactly who is doing the hacking, however, is harder to say. “A lot of these capabilities are fluid,” said the American

Foreign Policy Council’s Berman, who has testified to Congress on the issue. “You have groups of hackers that may or may not be part of the Revolutionary Guards but clearly are encouraged by them. There is also the possibility that Iran is buying additional cyber capabilities, or even manpower, on the open market. We simply don’t know.”

In a major speech on cyber security last week, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta described the attack on Aramco as the most destructive ever suffered by a private sector company - although he stopped short of explicitly blaming Tehran. The thrust of his speech, however, was seen by analysts as an explicit warning that further attacks could bring consequences.

The very attractions of the silent war - deniability and use of arms-length proxies - may make it harder to control.

The rules in cyberspace, experts say, remain far from clear.

Washington announced last year it reserved the right to retaliate militarily for any cyber attack that caused death or damage, but in reality most believe the technology has far outpaced the discussion on its use. “States at the moment seem to have little self-restraint in cyber,” said Alexander Klimburg, cyber security expert at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs. “This is very dangerous... The consequence may be that... we find ourselves with a redefinition of ‘war’ - one that is never declared, seldom visible but effectively constant.”

What is increasingly clear is that cyber confrontation will be at the heart of many if not all international disputes and rivalries in the years to come. Russia and China are believed to have ploughed billions into capabilities they believe may allow them to work around the conventional military dominance of the United States, allowing them to turn off essential systems and communications. US officials already accuse China of hacking corporate and state secrets and stealing technology. Meanwhile, Beijing accuses Washington of supporting Internet dissidents it fears want to bring down the communist government.

At worst, some fear cyber disputes could wreck international relationships and spark shooting wars - and not just in the Gulf. “We have a situation where governments and their proxies are increasingly indulging in cyber attacks to damage rivals’ interests,” said John Bassett, a former senior official at British signals intelligence agency GCHQ and now senior fellow at London’s Royal United Services Institute. “There’s a really serious lack of shared understanding and informal rules needed to regulate and limit these activities.” — Reuters

Pilgrims flood Mina as haj begins Continued from Page 1 Interior ministry spokesman Mansur Al-Turki said about 85 percent of the pilgrims will head to Mina while the rest will head straight to Mount Arafat. The pilgrims will mostly walk or catch a bus for the journey, though about a quarter of the faithful will travel on the Mashair Railway. More than 18,500 buses will also be used to carry pilgrims, while vehicles carrying less than 25 people will not be allowed access into the three holy sites. Yesterday, pilgrims were seen scrambling for a seat on the buses, with some deciding to risk riding on roofs to ensure they don’t get left behind.

Hussein Ali, 37, a Syrian who lives in Kuwait, decided to walk from Makkah to Arafat. “I start marching to Arafat after midnight where it should take about three hours,” he said.

Today, Arafat Day, is the climax of the haj, when pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat, some 10 km southeast of Mina, to spend the day in prayer. The hilltop and the surrounding plain is where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final haj sermon before his death. After sunset, the pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, between Mina and Arafat, where they collect stones to throw at the devil, one of the last rituals which takes place Friday and marks the first day of Eid alAdha, the feast of sacrifice. The symbolic “stoning of the devil” is followed by the ritual sacrifice of an animal, usually

a lamb. During the remaining three days of the haj, the pilgrims continue the stoning ritual before performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba in Makkah and heading home.

The haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once. Despite being marred by deadly incidents in the past, including floods, stampedes and fires, the haj has passed nearly incidentfree in recent years, thanks to multibillion-dollar projects being implemented every year. This year alone, the kingdom spent more than 1.1 billion riyals ($293.3 million) on development projects in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, all outside Makkah.

Many say the experience of worshipping alongside hundreds of thousands of the faithful makes them feel as though Islam transcends the political and sectarian conflicts dividing the Muslim world. Ali Ahmad Younis, a Libyan who said his sons were are all rebel fighters during last year’s civil war to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi, broke down in a well of tears, his emotions overwhelming him. “I wish all the Arab nations would unite,” Younis said, wiping a stream of tears from his face. “I also wish my country Libya and all its cities - Bani Walid , Misrata, Tripoli - would be united. I wish we could all be united as one to bring an end to the bloodshed in Libya.” — Agencies

MoI re-allows ‘peaceful’ protests after US...

Continued from Page 1 The opposition said Monday it will push ahead with protests until the government meets its demands for reform.

“We’re obviously following the situation in Kuwait City carefully,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “We call on all sides to exercise restraint, to approach their differences peacefully and in a manner that’s consistent with the Kuwaiti constitution and rule of law, including the universal rights of Kuwaitis to peacefully assemble and to express themselves,” Nuland said. “We support, whether it’s in Kuwait or whether it’s anywhere else in the world, the right of peaceful assembly.”

The opposition called Sunday’s demonstration to

protest against a decision by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah to amend the electoral law. Activists claim the change is aimed at electing a rubber-stamp parliament. The Islamist and nationalist-led opposition, which says that more than 100,000 people took part in the protest, has pledged to boycott snap parliamentary polls slated for Dec 1.

Yesterday’s interior ministry statement accused participants in Sunday’s protest of instigating violent riots and attacking security personnel who were carrying out their role in maintaining security. It pointed out that the security forces were forced to intervene to protect public and privately-owned properties that were attacked by the rioters.

The ministry warned protesters that they should adhere to laws or face prosecution. — Agencies

Continued from Page 1 I hope that we can work together using your global reach. ... You have, I think, unlimited global reach,” Ban told PSY. “You are so cool, I hope that you can end the global warming,” Ban added.

Ban was also diverted from conflict in Syria and other world hotspots with his earlier meeting with Baumgartner.

Ban asked Baumgartner if he would be able to jump from the top floor of the United Nations headquarters, to which the skydiver replied: “With your permission, sure.” But he later added: “I’m officially retired from the daredevil business now,” though he offered to give the UN leader a skydiving lesson. Ban told Baumgartner how he had joined the millions who watched live coverage of the jump from 39 km above New Mexico when the Austrian reached a claimed

top speed of 1,342 km per hour, 1.24 times the speed of sound.

“I thought my heart would stop,” the UN leader said, hailing the 43-year-old Austrian as “the most courageous person in the world.” “We talked about what I accomplished on October 14 and about future plans, how to inspire young people and women,” Baumgartner told AFP after his meeting with Ban. The former paratrooper said he was now concentrating on becoming a commercial helicopter pilot as a retirement job. “I am going to put myself into public service as a pilot, rescuing people from mountains, as a firefighter,” he said, adding that he would work in Austria, Switzerland and the United States. It was a break from the conflict and wars the UN chief usually deals with. Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, told reporters the secretary-general thinks it’s important to engage different parts of society. — Agencies

King steering Jordan through turbulence Continued from Page 1 the Saudis, it’s a neighboring country with a similar monarchy system in trouble.” Concern over Jordan’s stability was underlined last month, when its US, British and French allies quickly dispatched their military experts to help Jordanian commandos devise plans to shield the population in case of a chemical attack from neighboring Syria.

Jordan is worried that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad might lose control over his chemical weapons in the civil war and that his stock could subsequently fall into the hands of Al-Qaeda or Lebanon’s Islamic militant group Hezbollah. More than 210,000 Syrian refugees also have fled to the kingdom to escape the violence at home, straining basic services like water, electricity and the health care system. In the past three months, dozens of Jordanian policemen were wounded in violent riots at a dust-filled refugee camp packed with 35,000 Syrians near the northern border.

A growing number of stray Syrian missiles also have fallen on Jordanian villages in the north in recent weeks, wounding several civilians as Assad widened his offensive against rebel holdouts near the Jordanian frontier. A Jordanian border patrol officer also was shot dead Monday during army clashes with eight militants who sought to illegally cross a border fence into Syria. Hours before the clash, Jordan announced that authorities had arrested 11 suspected Al-Qaeda-linked militants for allegedly planning to attack shopping malls and Western diplomatic missions in the country with explosives and rockets.

Two Arab diplomats, insisting on anonymity because they are not allowed to make press statements, said regional intelligence indicates that militants see Jordan as an “easy prey” as they try to consolidate their presence between hot spots. “The Jordanian people can never enjoy complete stability when our country is surrounded by wars and uprisings,” said Yousef Matarneh, a 45-year-old civil servant. Abdullah has tried to forestall Arab Spring-style uprisings that have toppled autocratic regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya, and led to the war in Syria.

His reform roadmap envisions parliamentary polls as a vehicle toward having an elected prime minister for the first time in Jordan’s history. Previously, it was the king’s prerogative to appoint the premier. Abdullah also has been trying to buttress his ailing economy, straining under $23

billion foreign debt, a record deficit of $2 billion and rising inflation, by inviting foreign investment and marketing Jordan as a tourist destination. “If you want to change Jordan for the better, there is a chance, and that chance is through the upcoming elections,” he told a gathering of 3,000 prominent politicians and businessmen on Tuesday.

“There is a way, and that way is through the next parliament.”

But the opposition, dominated by the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, is boycotting the Jan. 23 vote and vowing to continue street protests. The Islamists argue that a new election system gives too much weight to traditional tribally based conservatives loyal to the monarchy who dominate local politics. The government insists that Jordan’s system is used by many countries, and that the Islamists’ preferred all-party list system would inflate their numbers.

Many Jordanians are keen to avoid the turmoil that followed the revolution in Egypt, which led to the election of a Muslim Brotherhood member as president of the Arab world’s most populous nation. “We will not trade our stability for anything. People in the region envy us for it,” said 25year-old Mohammed Shneikat, who works at a music store in Amman. The king’s supporters point to voter registration that has exceeded 2.3 million, or 33 percent of the country’s 6 million population. “Nobody wants the king to abdicate,” said independent lawmaker Hosni Shiyyab. “There’s a consensus among supporters and opponents that he should stay because he is a stabilizing factor among the different segments of the society.”

There are, however, signs of increasing opposition.

Street protests in Jordan have remained largely peaceful, but recent slogans have begun pointing to the king, breaking a longstanding taboo against criticizing him. “Abdullah, listen well, your reforms are cosmetic. The Arab Spring’s next stop is Amman,” chanted 7,000 Islamist opposition and youth movements during a recent protest in the Jordanian capital - the largest gathering in months.

Even the king’s traditional supporters have started to voice unheard of criticism, with young Bedouins staging small rallies to rebuke the monarch, although their families still form the bedrock of support for Abdullah’s Hashemite monarchy. “He gave us nothing. In fact, he made us poorer and without jobs,” lamented Yazan, 26, a high school teacher who earns $300 a month. He declined to give his last name fearing government reprisal. — AP

Sudan accuses Israel of air raid Continued from Page 1 In 1998, Human Rights Watch said a coalition of opposition groups alleged that Sudan stored chemical weapons for Iraq at the Yarmouk facility but government officials strenuously denied the charge at the time. In August of that year, US cruise missiles struck the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in North Khartoum, which Washington alleged was linked to chemical weapons production. Evidence for that claim later proved questionable.

“I heard a sound like a plane in the sky, but I didn’t see any light from a plane. Then I heard two explosions, and fire erupted in the compound,” said a resident who asked to be identified only as Faize. A woman living south of the compound also reported two initial blasts, after she saw “a plane coming from east to west”. “Then I saw fire and our neighbour’s house was hit by shrapnel, causing minor damage. The windows of my own house rattled after the second explosion.”

The sprawling Yarmouk facility is surrounded by barbed wire and set back about two kilometres from the district’s main road, meaning signs of damage were not visible later yesterday when an AFP reporter visited. But at least three houses in the neighbourhood had been punctured by

shrapnel which left walls and a fence with holes about 20cm in diameter, the reporter said. The fires appeared to be extinguished by 03:30 am, more than three hours after they began, an AFP reporter said.

Osman said Yarmouk makes “traditional weapons”. “The attack destroyed part of the compound infrastructure, killed two people inside and injured another who is in serious condition,” he said. There have been other mysterious blasts in Sudan - and allegations of Israeli involvement. In April last year, Sudan said it had irrefutable evidence that Israeli attack helicopters carried out a missile and machinegun strike on a car south of Port Sudan. Israel refused to comment but officials there had expressed concern about arms smuggling through Sudan.

Last year’s attack mirrored a similar strike by foreign aircraft on a truck convoy reportedly laden with weapons in eastern Sudan in Jan 2009. Khartoum is seeking the removal of US sanctions imposed in 1997 over its alleged support for international terrorism, its human rights record and other concerns. Major damage to the Yarmouk plant would be a blow to Sudan’s army in its battle against insurgencies in the western region of Darfur and the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, bordering arch-rival South Sudan. — Agencies

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

sp orts Lampard doubtful for United clash LONDON: Frank Lampard could miss Chelsea’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United on Sunday after limping out of his side’s Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk after only 18 minutes on Tuesday with a calf injury.

The 34-year-old midfielder was having a scan which will determine whether he can play in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, the first of two matches between the sides in four days.

They are also meeting each other at Stamford in the League Cup next Wednesday. “It’s a recurrence of an old injury,” Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo told reporters after the 2-1 defeat in Ukraine. Lampard was ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers earlier this month against San Marino and Poland with a calf problem. “He was training fine and there were no alarm bells before the game,” added Di Matteo. “He was in good condition to play.”—Reuters

Cluj split with coach Andone BUCHAREST: CFR Cluj coach Ioan Andone has left the club by mutual consent despite a decent start to their Champions League campaign because of disappointing domestic results, the Romanian champions said yesterday.

“CFR Cluj’s club management and Ioan Andone have reached an agreement to end relations,” the club said in a statement. “We are proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. Andone has and will always have a special place in the hearts of our supporters.”

The Railwaymen, playing for more than an hour with 10 men, drew 1-1 at Galatasaray in a lively Champions League Group H match on Tuesday to

stay second behind Manchester United having won one, drawn one and lost one of their opening three matches.

United have nine points, Cluj have four, followed by Braga (3) and Galatasaray (1). However, local media and fans criticised Andone for CFR’s domestic performances. They are 10th in the Romanian top flight with 16 points from 12 matches, 13 points behind leaders Steaua Bucharest and only six points above the relegation zone. Andone, who led Cluj to a domestic double in 2008, began his second spell as coach in April after replacing Portuguese Jorge Costa and guided the team to their third league title.—Reuters

Yuvraj named to play England NEW DELHI: Cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh has been given a chance to play for India in the upcoming four-test home series against England after being picked for a three-day warm-up game in Mumbai next Tuesday.

Left-handed Yuvraj underwent three cycles of chemotherapy in the U.S. in March for a rare germ cell cancer near his lungs, and was recalled by India last month before playing in the World Twenty20.

Yesterday, he was named in the 14-man India A squad led by Suresh Raina. Yuvraj, a star limited-overs player who was instrumental in triumphs at the 2007 World Twenty20 and the 2011 World Cup but has never been a certainty in tests, scored 208 this month for North Zone against Central Zone in the first-class Duleep Trophy.

England also plays two other warm-ups before the test series, at Mumbai (Nov. 3-5) and Ahmedabad (Nov. 811). The tests are scheduled for Ahmedabad (Nov. 1519), Mumbai (Nov. 23-27), Kolkata (Dec. 5-9) and Nagpur (Dec. 13-17).—AP

Well-rested Tigers take on well-tested Giants

Lindsey Vonn in action in this file photo.

Vonn against men ‘great for sport’ TORONTO: If Lindsey Vonn is cleared to race the men’s World Cup downhill at Lake Louise it would give the sport a huge boost, but the American should reconsider loftier plans to tackle Kitzbuehel, the head of Alpine Canada said on Tuesday.

A four-time overall World Cup champion, Vonn set the ski racing world abuzz earlier this month when she petitioned the International Ski Federation (FIS) to let her race in the men’s season-opening downhill on Nov. 24 in the Canadian Rockies.

“It would be great for the sport,” Alpine Canada president Max Gartner told Reuters on Tuesday. “That is what the sport needs, stories that are bigger than the sport itself.”

But before Vonn can have her name added to the start list there are several technical issues that must be resolved. Vonn has stated she will only take part in the men’s race if she is allowed to compete in the women’s downhill season-opener the following weekend on what is essentially the same course.

Under FIS rules, however, no racer is allowed to ski on a race course a week prior to their own competition. In a compromise, Vonn has reportedly offered to forgo two training runs for the women’s race as a way of evening out the playing field if she can compete in both events.

The FIS Council is expected to make a decision at its next meeting on Nov. 3-4 in Switzerland. “You can work around those things,” said Gartner. “There has got to be a bit of give and take.”

Vonn has had a long-running love affair with Lake Louise having recorded 11 wins and a staggering 17 podium finishes on the undulating layout tucked away in the wilderness of Banff National Park. The 28-year-old speed queen claimed her first career World Cup win at the posh Canadian resort in 2004 and had nine of her 26 career downhill wins come on the Olympic course.

Given her familiarity with the track, officials and fellow racers say Vonn will face no added

risks, but Lake Louise, like any other downhill, has claimed its share of victims.

Among them is Canada’s John Kucera, the 2009 world downhill champion, who suffered a devastating leg injury the following season that sidelined him for the better part of two seasons.

“Her picking Lake Louise wasn’t a fluke,” Kucera told Reuters. “She’s well aware that it is the course she has the best chance on. “It’s longer and it’s prepared a little more challenging than the women’s course but all-in-all it has a lot of similarities.

“Lindsey is a good skier and it’s not like it’s way above her ability level but it’s definitely going to be a change.” Racing at Lake Louise, rated as one of the most benign layouts on the men’s circuit is one thing, but challenging the ferocious Hahnenkamm is another.

Vonn told the Austrian Press Agency recently that she would like to race Kitzbuehel before she retires but some people have suggested that it is one item she might want to remove from her bucket list. “I admire every athlete that pushes out of that start gate wanting to go as fast as they can because it’s scary,” said Gartner. “Once you push out there is no more stopping. There is no slowing down, you’re going.

“It’s expertise, guys who have skied it for many years know this beast and how to manage it.” The treacherous Streif course is routinely the scene of some of ski racing’s most terrifying crashes striking respect and fear into even the most seasoned downhiller.

Canadian downhiller Brian Stemmle narrowly survived a near fatal crash that left him in the hospital for months when he lost control and flung into the safety netting. “I loved how she said about Kitzbuehel that she will race that at the end of her career because it probably will be the end of her career,” smiled Stemmle. “I give her credit for laying it out there and wanting to do it and progress her sport. “Kitzbuehel I think is a little over her head, it’s just different”— AP

NZ seek Muralitharan help on Sri Lanka tour CHRISTCHURCH: Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan will be asked to pass on his expertise to New Zealand’s bowlers and batsmen on their tour of Sri Lanka, the country’s head coach has said.

The New Zealand-based members of the team leave for the tour, which includes a Twenty20 match, five one day internationals and two tests, today with new bowling coach Shane Bond making his first tour with the side.

The former New Zealand paceman was only appointed to the role last week and has had little to do with spin bowlers throughout his career, hence head coach Mike Hesson’s decision to seek Muralitharan’s help.

The 40-year-old off-spinner retired from the longer form of the game in 2010, capturing his 800th wicket with the final ball of his test career.

“Obviously Muralitharan lives in Sri Lanka in Colombo and he’s someone we’ve got contacts with,” Hesson told reporters at Christchurch airport yesterday. “We haven’t been able to firm things up but we’re also looking into the possibility of another specialist coach.

“We’ve got some guys lined up but they add to the mix and help Shane in terms of his development - and also the players.

“We play half of our cricket in the sub-

continent and even now the West Indies’ conditions are very sub-continental. We’ll get exposed to a lot of spin, and in this series 70-80 percent of our overs we face will be spin-based. “How well we adapt and how well we play them will dictate the outcome.”

Local media also reported that former Sri Lankan left arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas would help Bond work with the attack. New Zealand have selected three left arm seamers - Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and James Franklin - for the tour, while Jeetan Patel and newcomer Todd Astle are the only specialist spin bowlers in the test squad.

Off-spinner Nathan McCullum and left arm spinner Ronnie Hira have been included in the limited-overs squad, while batsmen Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson are handy part-time spinners. “That (spin bowling) is an area of weakness I think,” Bond told Television New Zealand. “In terms of technique, psychology and playing under the pressure it is all the same bowling seam and pace. “It is probably more getting into the mindset of a spin bowler.

“All I can do is communicate and talk as much as I can with those spin bowlers and still challenge around their plans and what they want to do.” The first match will be the Twenty20 international at Pallekele on Oct. 30. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Jim Leyland and the Detroit Tigers found out the hard way that rest means rust in the World Series. Six years ago, their last Series appearance, they lounged around for nearly a week before getting wiped out by St. Louis.

This time, while once again waiting for the National League opponent to be decided, they stayed busy by working on bunts, playing against their instructional league team and letting ace Justin Verlander throw to hitters.

“Well, we just tried to come up with something,” Leyland said Tuesday. “It wasn’t like in 2006, where some people would indicate we sat around happy to get there, not doing anything, eating bon-bons.”

“That wasn’t the case. We ran into bad weather problems in Detroit, so we were really handicapped,” the manager said. “So this time we’ve done some things to try to keep us from being idle for four or five days. I definitely think it affected the last World Series.”

Verlander will start Game 1 late yesterday against Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants, fresh off another stirring comeback and a Game 7 win Monday night over the Cardinals.

“I feel like I haven’t played in over two months when you clinch so quick like this and have to wait for the other team,” Tigers reliever Jose Valverde said. Not quite that long.

“What is it, eight months of baseball?

What’s five days?” Tigers star Prince Fielder asked. Said Zito: “ I guess we can hypothesize for a while on how prepared they are, being that they haven’t played these high-intensity games.”

The Tigers made it easy on themselves, sweeping the Yankees in the AL championship series. They traveled to San Francisco on Tuesday and held a late-afternoon workout at AT&T Park.

“I loved it because it means we’re in the World Series,” Tigers catcher Alex Avila said.

“Someone asked me that question after we won and I was like, ‘Would you rather if we had lost some of those games?’ It doesn’t really matter to me. We did everything we could to stay mentally sharp.”

The Giants had no trouble in that department. They’ve been on quite a wild ride this October, first overcoming an 2-0 deficit to beat Cincinnati in the best-of-five division series, then escaping a 3-1 hole to beat the defending champion Cardinals in the NLCS. “You have to throw it all away because it could work in either team’s favor,” Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “We’ve been playing every day, so guys might be a little more tired, whereas they’ve got more rest. Then again, we’ve been playing, so we’ve got our timing, where they might not.”

And this little fact: Three times in the past, the World Series has matched a team that went to Game 7 in the LCS against a club that swept its series. In all three instances, the team coming off a Game 7 win breezed to the championship.

Boston swept Colorado in 2007, St. Louis chased Detroit in five games in 2006 and Orel Hershiser and the Dodgers beat Oakland in five games in 1988.

“We’re fine. I think we’re in the groove and feeling good,” Giants ace Matt Cain said.

Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera has gone both routes in early rounds. The Tigers slugger was a rookie with the Marlins in 2003 when they rallied past the Chicago Cubs to win the seven-game NLCS and went on to beat the Yankees for the title. This time, the Tigers gave themselves five off days.

“It’s very different. In ‘03 we came from behind like San Francisco did this year,” he said. “We have to focus on what we can do.

We can’t focus on, ‘OK we haven’t played, we’re going to get down.’ It’s tough. We have to be ready to play tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

Leyland and Giants manager Bruce Bochy both hoped to be a quick study. There’s not a lot of history between these longtime franchises - they’ve never met in the postseason, and have played only 12 times since interleague action began in 1997. “I don’t really know the Giants that well. I’m kind of getting a crash course on them,” Leyland said.

“But to be honest, when they were down

SAN FRANCISCO: Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera throws a ball during a workout for baseball’s World Series. The Tigers play the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 late yesterday. — AP 0-2 going into Cincinnati having to win three games, for me that was unbelievable. So nothing surprised me when they got to the championship series after I saw what they did in the divisional series,” he said. Likewise for Bochy. “I’ll have to learn a lot about them real

soon, to be honest,” he said Monday night. “I know what a great club they are. And we know all about the guy we’re going to be facing opening day and their whole staff,” he said. “They swept the Yankees. That tells you how good they are.” — AP

Time not on Stoner’s side SYDNEY: Confidence and time-Casey Stoner knows both are in short supply as the double world champion prepares for his tilt at a record sixth successive Australian MotoGP victory.

Stoner needed surgery after breaking his right ankle in a crash during qualifying at Indianapolis in August and while he returned for the last two races in Japan and Malaysia, the 27-year-old knows he needs more time to fully recover.

With retirement looming in November, however, time is not on Stoner’s side. “There is a bloody good reason why I can’t ride like I really want to,” the Honda rider told local media yesterday.

“I know I am not at 100 percent and, to win at this level, everything has to be very close to 100 percent to feel fantastic.

“So for Phillip Island, I really don’t know what to expect,” added Stoner, who said he felt as if something was “holding him back”.

Stoner, who has notched 37 MotoGP wins, finished fifth in Japan on his return from injur y and while he took third in Malaysia last weekend, he admitted he lacked the confidence to challenge for the win in wet weather.

Casey Stoner in action in this file photo.

“The thing is I’m not fully healed. Most people would have waited a lot longer before coming back and I should have but I can’t. I haven’t got much time left before the end of my season,” said Stoner.

“If I was in much better shape and I crashed and hit my foot, it would not be a problem but, if I do that now, then I am going to put myself back another four or five months.”

“If I dislocate it again, I’m in strife. We are talking broken ligaments - not just torn,” he added. “Last Sunday in Sepang, I went thinking I’d just go around carefully, finish the race and not take any risks.”

Stoner, who is out of the championship race, will have Turn 3 at the Phillip Island track named after him at a ceremony today.

His final MotoGP race is in Valencia next month. Fellow Australian world motorcycling champions Mick Doohan and Wayne Gardner also have portions of the track named after them at the circuit on the island southeast of Melbourne.

Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo leads the standings on 330 points ahead of fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa of Honda on 307. Stoner is in third on 213 points. — Reuters

17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

S P ORT S

Heat scorch Bobcats

KUALA LUMPUR: Tiger Woods of the United States walks on the 18th hole after finishing his putt during the pro-am CIMB Classic golf tournament. —AP

Woods: Good not great year, as major drought continues KUALA LUMPUR: Claiming three PGA Tour victories whilst battling to reconfigure your swing would amount to a great year for most golfers but for Tiger Woods, his extended major drought means 2012 can only be classed as a ‘good’ season.

In a career defined by rewriting records, the 14-times major winner collected the third of those titles at the AT&T National tournament at Congressional in July to overtake Jack Nicklaus in second place on the PGA Tour winners list with 74.

However, for the 36-year-old American regarded as one, if not the greatest golfer of all time, anything short of major wins to haul him closer to the prized record of Nicklaus’ 18 results in a tinge of disappointment for the perfectionist.

“I’ve always said winning one major championship turns a good year into a great year,” Woods told reporters in Malaysia on the eve of the co-sanctioned CIMB Classic.

“I’ve had years where I’ve won five times on Tour. Yeah, it’s a really good year, no doubt, but winning a major championship just makes it a great year.

“The majors are such a different animal and different breed and we place so much emphasis on the them.” His last major victory was a remarkable 2008 U.S. Open triumph at Torrey Pines, where Woods hobbled around on a failing knee to defeat compatriot Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole Monday playoff. A year out followed as he underwent rehabilitation following knee construction surgery before his return to tournament golf was derailed by the public humiliation of sordid details of his private life and divorce from his wife.

Then came the swing changes with current coach Sean Foley before he ended his PGA Tour drought with a five-shot victory at the Arnold Palmer invitational in March and quickly followed that up with a win at the Memorial Tournament.

Successes Woods, one of the most iconic sportsmen in the world, credits to a career-best year of driving. “I’m excited about turning some of my weaknesses into strengths,” said Woods, who also has Sam Snead’s 82 PGA Tour wins in his sights along with Nicklaus’ majors tally.

“I hadn’t driven very well in a very long

time but this year is probably the best I had driven in my entire career. Length and accuracy, so I’ve improved in that regard.”

While the American was content with his accuracy off the tee, statistics show he has room for improvement as he sits 53rd on the PGA Tour’s driving list and despite his progress in that area, when it goes wrong, the results are alarming.

His opening tee shot at the Ryder Cup last month drew gasps of disbelief as his attempted left-to-right fade ended up buffeting a hospitality marquee way left of the fairway on a difficult morning.

Woods and his US team recovered to dominate the first two days before going on to lose the cup to an inspired European fightback on a dramatic final afternoon.

Difficult moments, like that, have left the American’s confidence slightly shaky at times, but now in his 17th year on Tour, the world number two knows how to rectify errors.

“There are times as I’ve gone through periods where I didn’t hit it very good, didn’t chip very good, didn’t putt very good,” Woods said. “I just got to go back and work harder.”

The scorching sunshine on Wednesday certainly made for hard work on the course as Woods competed in the tournament’s pro-am with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

After competing in the 48-man PGA, Asian and Malaysian Tour event, Woods will head to China to take on world number one Rory McIlroy for a head-to-head showdown dubbed ‘Duel at Jinsha Lake’ before ending his year by hosting the Chevron World Challenge.

As in previous seasons, Woods has ignored many lucrative opportunities to play in events across Asia in the final months of the year because of his commitment to his two children.

“Golf has always been a high priority in my life but family has been number one, so that hasn’t changed. “I certainly want to break Jack’s record and catch Snead’s record but being the best father I can possibly be to my two great kids, that is certainly number one in my life.” —Reuters

RALEIGH: Chris Bosh scored 21 points to help the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats 98-92 in a preseason game Tuesday night.

LeBron James added 10 points and eight assists for the Heat (4-2), who gave Dwyane Heat the night off. Ray Allen added 15 points off the bench for Miami, which shot 52 percent and hit 11 3-pointers.

Ramon Sessions and Kemba Walker each scored 24 points for the Bobcats (1-5), who shot just 36 percent. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 overall draft pick, had four points on 2-for-8 shooting.

The game was held at PNC Arena, about 21/2 hours northeast of Charlotte and home to North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference as well as the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

In Cleveland, Danny Granger, playing in his first preseason game after being out sidelined by a sore left knee, scored nine points to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-82 on Tuesday night. Granger, who missed five games, made 4 of 7 shots from the field, including a 3pointer. He added three rebounds in 13 minutes of action.

David West led Indiana with 15 points, and Paul George added 14.

Kyrie Irving, showing no effects from being elbowed near his right eye by teammate C.J. Miles in practice on Monday, scored 20 points in 33 minutes to pace Cleveland.

Alonzo Gee scored 18.

Cleveland will open the regular season against Washington on Oct. 30. Indiana will play its final preseason game against Chicago on Friday.

In Chicago, Carlos Boozer had 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 94-89 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. The Thunder played

without three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who were rested by coach Scott Brooks.

Serge Ibaka picked up the slack

Luol Deng scored 21 points and Joakim Noah finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who led by as many as 14 early in the third quarter.

Richard Hamilton secured the game for Chicago with four free throws in the final 13 seconds. He finished with 13 points. Jones scored 14 points in 20 minutes.

RALEIGH: Charlotte Bobcats’ Ramon Sessions (right) guards Miami Heat’s Garrett Temple during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game. —AP for the Thunder with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting. James Harden, who won the NBA’s Sixth Man Award last season, got a rare start and scored 13 points but was just 2 of 17 from the floor. Ibaka did not play in the fourth quarter.

Harden made two free throws and then found rookie Perry Jones for a dunk to cut the Chicago lead to 87-84 with 44.1 seconds left, but Boozer answered with a fadeaway jumper to put the Bulls up 89-84 with 34.4 seconds to go.

Boozer scored 13 points and Deng added 10 in the first half to help the Bulls take a 51-40 lead at the break. After scoring eight points in the first half, Kirk Hinrich sat out the second half with a right groin strain. —AP

Harrington leads Grand Slam BERMUDA: Triple major winner Padraig Harrington, a late addition to the four-man field, birdied three of the last five holes to grab a two-shot lead after Tuesday’s opening round of the end-of-season PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda.

The 41-year-old Irishman, who replaced British Open champion Ernie Els in the elite event which brings together the winners of the year’s four majors, fired a sparkling five-under-par 66 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.

In a relaxed and chatty mood with his playing partners, Harrington sandwiched birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th around a bogey at the 16th to finish two strokes clear of American left-hander Bubba Watson, the Masters champion.

Webb Simpson, winner of this year’s US Open, was a further shot back after carding a 69 in the 36-hole event while fellow American Keegan Bradley, the defending champion, shot a 72. “Every day I play, I always try to make an effort to enjoy the day, talk to my playing partners,” Harrington told reporters after mixing seven birdies with two bogeys in ideal scoring conditions.

“Today it was better than ever. We were all very relaxed out there. Everybody was up for a chat. Selfishly, I play better when the whole group enjoys it. If the guys have any sense, they shouldn’t talk to me tomorrow,” he added with a grin.

Harrington, who accepted an invitation to compete at Port Royal after South African Els withdrew on Saturday because of an ankle injury, is bidding to win the prestigious event for the first time after twice losing out in playoffs.

The Irishman was edged out by Argentina’s Angel Cabrera in 2007 and was pipped to the title by American Jim Furyk in 2008.

On Tuesday, however, Harrington was stunned by the accuracy off the tee by Watson who is one of the game’s longest hitters.

“It’s unbelievable how straight he hits the ball,” said the Irishman who won the British Open in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008. “Bubba is long, there’s no doubt about it, but he’s incredibly straight. “It’s unusual to see the long hitter always reaching for the driver, and it’s obviously the best club in his bag.” Watson eagled the par-five seventh on the way to an adventuresome 68 that also included five birdies and four bogeys.

“Anytime you can come to this event, it’s fun,” said the wiry American, a self-taught player. “I had a couple of tough shots out there and a few three-putts.

“I wasn’t comfortable on greens but other than that, three under, can’t get too mad at that. The weather was perfect, the fans were great. It was good.” —Reuters

SHANGHAI: Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland tees off during the Pro-Am tournament of the Masters golf tournament. —AP

Rose aims to unseat McIlroy SHANGHAI: Justin Rose can unseat Rory McIlroy atop of the Race to Dubai money list with a top-two result in the BMW Masters starting today.

McIlroy, the defending BMW Masters champion, would also need to finish outside the top seven on the Lake Malaren Golf Club course.

With six official events remaining this season, Rose arrived in China’s financial capital trailing McIlroy by ‚Ǩ437,334 ($353,000). Having won the European Tour money title in 2007, Rose says it would mean a lot more to earn it this time.

“When I won the Order of Merit in 2007 it kind of felt like it happened out of the blue that season,” Rose said. “But I now feel like if it happened again this season, it would come from a different place.

“It would come from what has been a bit of a miraculous year, and a year when I seemed to play well in the right tournaments. It would be a lot more meaningful based on there’s been a lot of hard work that’s gone on between 2007 and now.

“I am a lot more aware of why I’m playing well, and a lot more sustainable into the future. And to be No. 1 of any tour, especially the European Tour, that’s a huge goal and that would be a huge honor to be honest. “So it’s got my attention for

these next few events.”

Rose comes into the BMW Masters on a high after a superb season on the U.S. PGA Tour, winning the Ryder Cup, and the eight-man World Golf Final exhibition in Turkey last week.

“I’m hoping not to come down from that (Ryder Cup) high just yet, I’m still feeling positive about everything,” Rose said.

“For some guys you can come back to real life and real tournaments and when you’re not in contention, the thrill of that week seems a million miles away from what you might be experiencing on the golf course if you are running 30th, 40th in the field.

“So while it is very important not to be in the past when you’re playing each individual tournament, you have got to cherish those memories, because what happened for me personally at the Ryder Cup on that Sunday are stories for the grandkids.”

McIlroy and Rose, who will play the opening round together in Shanghai, will also compete in next week’s HSBC Champions in Shenzhen.

However, McIlroy will have the opportunity to go further ahead of Rose as the Englishman has elected not to contest the following Singapore Open and Hong Kong Open, whereas McIlroy has. —AP

Jones urges Japan to move forward

George Smith

TOKYO: Japan coach Eddie Jones yesterday slammed the country’s rugby development structure for being stuck in the past and urged players to be more aggressive if they want to challenge the best teams. While announcing a 30-man squad for next month’s tour of Europe, Jones said he had avoided the urge to blood young players as they were far from ready for the top-flight.

“I haven’t picked any university students as we only have a short preparation and the level of rugby they are playing makes it impossible for them to play Testmatch rugby by November 10,” he told Japanese media.

“I watched a university game at the weekend and it was like I was in a time warp. I thought I was in the 1950s,” he said, according to Kyodo news agency.

“I have to be honest, it’s just not rugby. I don’t know what they do in training but they have got to change.” The Australian took charge of Brave Blossoms in April, leading them to a fifth straight Asian Five Nations crown a month later.

Since then, however, they lost all three matches in the Pacific Nations Cup in June, when they also proved no match against the French Barbarians in two games at home.

His stated goal is to develop Japan into a top-10 nation before the 2015 World Cup in England. The Brave Blossoms will play Test matches against Romania on November 10 and Georgia on the 17th, before taking on a Basque select team on November 21 and the French Barbarians four days later.

“The players that have not made the squad are not doing what they are supposed to be doing in the Top League,” he said referring to Japan’s nine-year-old rugby union league.

“George Smith runs around like he’s got spiders on him because no one wants to tackle him,” Jone said, citing the former

Wallaby flanker who retired from international rugby in 2010 and now plays for the Top League’s Suntory Sungoliath.

“He should be an inspiration to every backrow forward in Japan. He’s the same size but he has the highest work rate,” Jones said. “But no one ever hits him. You need to see that attitude of ‘I’m going to smash him,’ if you want to make a mark in world rugby.”

Romania are currently ranked 18th and Georgia 15th in the world, close to 16thplaced Japan, which hope to improve their standing before they host the World Cup in 2019. —AFP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

S P ORT S

Formula One: The 2012 season so far NEW DELHI: The 2012 Formula One season so far, ahead of the Indian Grand Prix on Sunday:

Romain Grosjean.

Standings: Vettel 53, Hamilton 49, Webber 48

Australian Grand Prix - March 18 McLaren’s Jenson Button threw down the gauntlet to two-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel as he relegated the German to second in a flying start to the season. McLaren had locked down the front row of the grid and it was Button who nipped past pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton at the start and went on to dominate. Vettel grabbed a giant slice of luck when a timely safety car intervention allowed him to steal second from Hamilton late in the race. Mark Webber was fourth for Red Bull and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished fifth.

Standings: Button 25 pts, Vettel 18, Hamilton 15

Spanish Grand Prix - May 13 Pastor Maldonado became the first Venezuelan to win an F1 race by triumphing at the Spanish Grand Prixbefore going on to play an heroic role in a dramatic blaze in his Williams team’s garage. Maldonado’s win, in just his 24th race, was also the team’s first victory since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix and came on the weekend of team founder Frank Williams’ 70th birthday. He later carried his young cousin to safety after the team garage was engulfed by flames, injuring 16 people. On the track the Venezuelan produced a flawless race, holding off Alonso.

Raikkonen was third.

Standings: Vettel 61, Alonso 61, Hamilton 53

Malaysian Grand Prix - March 25 A nearly hour-long storm interruption threw the race into confusion and left drivers fighting just to stay on the track. Alonso emerged from the chaos at the head of the field and drove his unrated Ferrari brilliantly to win the unpredictable race, chased all the way by Mexico’s Sergio Perez who claimed a career-high second place for Sauber.

Hamilton, heading another grid one-two for McLaren, was happy to settle for third again after an early crash left Button outside of the points alongside Vettel, who suffered a late puncture following a collision with Narain Karthikeyan.

Standings: Alonso 35, Hamilton 30, Button 25

Monaco Grand Prix - May 27 Webber steered his Red Bull to victory and claimed his first win this year and his team’s third successive Monaco Grand Prix victory. Webber’s second win in the race and the eighth of his career also meant six different drivers had won the opening six races of this season, for the first time in Formula One history. Webber started from pole to finish six-tenths of a second clear of Rosberg with Alonso third for Ferrari. Vettel was fourth ahead of Hamilton and Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Standings: Alonso 76, Vettel 73, Webber 73

Chinese Grand Prix - April 15 Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg claimed what he termed an “amazing” first victory in 111 attempts as he led from pole position to take the Chinese Grand Prix in style. The German’s faultless drive in Shanghai saw him home more than 20 seconds ahead of the McLarens of Button and Hamilton, for what was also Mercedes’ first victory since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. Webber was fourth and Vettel fifth after some frantic jostling for the other podium places. Alonso trailed in ninth.

Standings: Hamilton 45, Button 43, Alonso 37

Canadian Grand Prix - June 10 Hamilton made it seven different winners in seven races when he drove with flawless speed and control to win in Montreal. He produced a magnificently judged performance in a race that passed off smoothly despite a weekend of student protests and police action resulting in around 60 arrests, to seize his first win of the year.

Grosjean of Lotus came home second after an equally well-judged race to finish ahead of Perez. Hamilton’s 18th career victory came five years to the day after he had claimed his maiden win at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Standings: Hamilton 88, Alonso 86, Vettel 85

Bahrain Grand Prix - April 22 Bahrain’s controversial race went off without incident after a week of angry protests away from the desert circuit that put the non-sporting focus on reform demands in the Gulf state. Vettel led from start to finish to claim his first win of the year to take over as leader of the title race.

He registered his 22nd career victory with a near-flawless drive from pole position. In second came Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, and the Finn’s Lotus team-mate

European Grand Prix - June 24 Local hero Alonso became the first man to win two Formula One races this year by driving his Ferrari to victory in Valencia. Alonso, who won superbly from 11th on the grid, was followed home by Raikkonen of Lotus and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes. The race was punctuated by incident, with Hamilton crashing out after a final lap collision with Williams’s Maldonado. Red Bull’s defending world cham-

pion Vettel was forced to retire despite dominating most of the race after starting from pole position, as was his nearest challenger Grosjean of Lotus.

Standings: Alonso 111, Webber 91, Hamilton 88

to complete a podium of world champions. Schumacher, in his 300th Grand Prix and back at his favourite circuit where he made his debut in 1991, finished seventh.

Standings: Alonso 164, Vettel 140, Webber 132

British Grand Prix - July 8 Red Bull’s Webber dragged himself into contention for the drivers’ world title by winning a dramatic race at Silverstone. The Australian posted a near-flawless performance to come in ahead of Ferrari’s Alonso, with Webber’s team-mate Vettel third. There was an acrimonious collision when Maldonado of Williams drove into Perez’s Sauber, and a pit-lane accident when Kamui Kobayashi braked late and hit his own mechanics at a pit stop. McLaren duo Hamilton and Button-the home favourites-finished eighth and 10th.

Standings: Alonso 129, Webber 116, Vettel 100

Italian Grand Prix - Sept 9 Hamilton won his third race of the year with a commanding drive from pole position which moved him up to second in the drivers’ standings. Sauber’s Perez roared through the field to finish second, with Alonso claiming third to extend his championship lead. But a retirement dashed the title hopes of Hamilton’s McLaren stablemate Button. The race was also overshadowed by speculation over Hamilton’s future after he admitted his team for next year was undecided.

Standings: Alonso 179, Hamilton 142, Raikkonen 141

German Grand Prix - July 22 Alonso started from pole position and dominated the race in consummate style, leading from start to finish. Local favorite Vettel was handed a 20-second penalty for running off the track at a hairpin exit as he tried to pass Button on the penultimate lap. The penalty bumped him from second to fifth and left Button in second. Button’s McLaren teammate Hamilton had hoped to make his 100th Formula One race a memorable one, but had to retire after a series of problems including a puncture caused by debris left on the circuit following an early crash involving Massa, Grosjean and Bruno Senna of Williams.

Standings: Alonso 154, Webber 120, Vettel 110 Hungarian Grand Prix - July 29 Hamilton delivered a flawless drive from pole position to the chequered flag to revive his title challenge, resisting strong late pressure from former world champion Raikkonen. Hamilton’s win was his second of the year and the 19th of his career. Raikkonen’s Lotus team-mate Grosjean and Red Bull’s Vettel came in third and fourth, with Alonso in fifth. As they climbed the podium, a grinning Hamilton said to Raikkonen: “It’s just like old times, Kimi.”

Standings: Alonso 164, Webber 124, Vettel 122 Belgian Grand Prix - Sept 2 Button claimed his second win of the year and 14th of his career in a race marred by a horrific first-bend crash that took out Hamilton, championship leader Alonso, and Grosjean. Grosjean’s Lotus went airborne as he tried to get past Hamilton, a move that earned the Frenchman a onerace ban and fine. Vettel took second with Raikkonen third

Singapore Grand Prix - Sept 23 Vettel roared back into the title race as he survived two safety cars and capitalised on the retirement of race leader Hamilton to claim his second win of the season. The twotime defending champion moved up to second in the standings behind Alonso, who finished third. Button was second. Hamilton went out with a gearbox failure on the 23rd lap, and later put an end to intense debate about his career plans as he confirmed he would leave McLaren for Mercedes at the end of the season.

Standings: Alonso 194, Vettel 165, Raikkonen 149 Japanese Grand Prix - Oct 7 Vettel slashed the title race to just four points as he stormed to victory at Suzuka after championship leader Alonso span out on the first turn. The German escaped a chaotic start and sped away to win by more than 20 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Massa and home favourite Kamui Kobayashi, whose first podium received huge roars from the capacity crowd. Vettel became the only man this year with back-to-back victories. Alonso was eliminated when he was hit by Raikkonen’s Lotus at the first corner and suffered a puncture.

Standings: Alonso 194, Vettel 190, Raikkonen 157 Korean Grand Prix - Oct 14 Vettel leapfrogged Alonso at the top of the world championship with victory at Yeongam. The German led from the first corner to seal a Red Bull one-two, the first of the season, ahead of his team-mate Webber with Alonso finishing third. Vettel’s third win in three races made him favourite for the title with strong momentum heading into the final four races in India, Abu Dhabi, the United States and Brazil.

Standings: Vettel 215, Alonso 209, Raikkonen 167.—AFP

Red-hot Vettel cool on Formula One title treble

PARIS: (From left) cyclists Bradley Wiggins of Britain, Australia’s Cadel Evans, Mark Cavendish of Britain, Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, Tejay Van Garderen of the US, Christopher Froome and Alberto Contador pose, after the presentation of the hundredth edition of the Tour de France.

The race wil starts on June 29, 2013 and arrive in Paris on July 21.—AP

Tour de France unveil route for 100th edition PARIS: While the sports world struggles to come to terms with the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, Tour de France organisers unveiled yesterday a mountainous route for the 100th edition of the world’s greatest cycling race.

The 2013 Tour, which starts from Corsica, will take l’Alpe d’Huez’s 21 hairpins twice in the same stage, ascend the gruelling Mont Ventoux and end at dusk on the Champs Elysees.

But with nine of the last 14 title wins wiped out due to doping, it remains to be seen how much credibility this year’s race will retain. Seven of those titles belonged to Armstrong, who was stripped of his 19992005 victories when the International Cycling Union ratified the United States AntiDoping Agency’s decision to nullify the American’s results from August 1998 onward. According to Tour director Christian Prudhomme, however, the sport is changing.

“A movement has started a few years ago and it must go on.Everybody must work on it,” Prudhomme told reporters.

“You cannot say that (anti-doping) tests don’t work. I remind you that we lost two winners in five years recently (over doping),” he added, referring to Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador who were stripped of their 2006 and 2010 victories after failing dope tests during the race. Prudhomme said the day belonged to the magic of the Tour.

“Today is the Tour de France presentation ceremony,” he said. In a passionate outburst during the ceremony added: “The Tour de France is our cultural heritage. It is stronger than doping.”

He praised the member teams of the MPCC (Movement for Credible Cycling), who “have fiercer anti-doping rules than the UCI and WADA”.

The MPCC was created in 2007 and four teams (IAM, Sojasun, Lotto Belisol and NettApp-Endura) joined the seven existing members (French teams FDJ, Europcar, Bretagne-Schuller, Cofidis, AG2R, as well as Gamrin-Sharp and Argis Shimano) on

Tuesday. “We will be with you,” said Prudhomme.

MPCC teams have pleged not to hire a rider who has been banned for more than six months over a doping offence. Next year’s route is expected to suit top climbers with Spain’s Contador and Briton Chris Froome the likely favourites, while defending champion Bradley Wiggins might find it tough to contain the attackers throughout.

Froome suggested on Monday that Wiggins could concentrate on the Giro d’Italia next year while he would be Team Sky’s leader on the Tour, which will feature four mountaintop finishes and some 65 kms of individual time trial compared to this year’s 101.4 kms.

With the first stage being totally flat, Briton Mark Cavendish, who is joining the Belgian team Omega Pharma-Quickstep from Sky, will have the opportunity to wear the coveted yellow jersey for the first time.

“It is the first time since 1966 that a sprinter will have the chance to get the yellow jersey on day one,” Prudhomme said. The route will quickly go uphill as the peloton makes its way towards Calvi in northern Corsica.

Following a short team time trial around Nice, the Tour will visit Marseille and Montpellier en route to the Pyrenees, with two mountain stages on the menu, to Ax 3 Domaines and Bagneres de Bigorre.

The peloton will be transferred to Brittany, where the riders will battle it out on a 33 kms time trial to Mont St Michel, one of 10 UNESCO World heritage sites on next year’s route.

Organisers hope the Tour will be decided in the Alps. A couple of climbs up l’Alpe d’Huez and a summit finish on the Ventoux should sort the men from the boys before a final, gruelling and hilly time trial.

The last stage will start from Versailles palace gardens and finish on the Champs Elysees at dusk, with the podium ceremony being held at night. “I’m a Parisian. And I have this image of Paris as the City of Light,” said Prudhomme.—Reuters

NEW DELHI: Sebastian Vettel’s Asian hot streak has put him in the driving seat for a historic hat-trick of Formula One world titles-but the Red Bull ace is playing down the prospect in India this week.

Three straight wins in Singapore, Japan and South Korea have catapulted the German to the top of the standings, ahead of long-time leader Fernando Alonso, and made him narrow favourite to become Formula One’s youngest treble champion. But Vettel, who can emulate Michael Schumacher and the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio by claiming his third straight world title, at the age of just 25, is steeling himself for a thrilling end to the season.

“We know what to do and what to expect, but we are not expecting anything. It looks like it could go down to the last race again, right to the wire,” said Vettel. “We are ready for anything.”

With four races to go, Vettel is just six points ahead of Ferrari’s Alonso, with Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen another 42 points back in third.

It sets up the prospect of another climactic year’s end, after Vettel sealed his maiden title on the last day of the season in 2010.

Alonso and Ferrari, who have re-signed resurgent Brazilian Felipe Massa for 2013, arrive at India’s Buddh International Circuit believing they have resolved some of their performance problems after a successful wind tunnel test.

Ferrari chief designer Nicolas Tombazis said separate aero tests have helped the team understand where rogue wind tunnel results were hampering the performance of recent upgrades.

He said: “The wind tunnel can only ever be a model of what things are like in reality and can never be completely real. The data we saw in our wind tunnel did not match 100 per cent the data

we had at the track. “We had some unpleasant surprises from some of the updates we brought to the last couple of races, so immediately, we wanted to fix that and understand where it had gone wrong.”

McLaren also remained defiant about their ability to bounce back in the race for the team title, with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button now out of the running for the drivers trophy.

“They (Red Bull) are within reach and we will never give up trying to turn that around,” said technical director Paddy Lowe.

“I think we have seen this year that if you can qualify on the front row and then have even a moderate advantage or no advantage at all, it works for you to stay at the front. So we will have to

turn qualifying around.”

He added that he felt Red Bull’s recent recovery in pace and performance is just another part of the ongoing development war that has dominated the entire season.

He said McLaren plan for more upgrades that may see the team back on top this weekend. “We have some big stuff we are working on-whether it will be enough, we don’t know yet, but it will be spread across India and Abu Dhabi,” said Lowe. “It is going to be difficult to catch Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, but we have a great determination to take second place-and we always like to keep Ferrari behind us. “That will be the least we should want to manage out of this season.”—AFP

Sebastian Vettel rides his Ferrari in this file photo

Holder Kvitova shocked, Serena, Sharapova win

ISTANBUL: Maria Sharapova of Russia shouts as she returns a shot to Sara Errani of Italy during their tennis match at the WTA championship.—AP

ISTANBUL: Holder Petra Kvitova was stunned at the W TA Championships on Tuesday with a defeat that reduced her to tears while Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova began their campaigns in top form at the end-of-season competition.

Sixth seed Kvitova was toppled 6-3 6-2 by Poland’s Agnieszk a Radwanska in a contest that saw the Czech commit a whopping 41 unforced errors to only five from her opponent in the round robin competition featuring the world’s top eight women.

Wimbledon and US Open champion Williams eased to a 6-4 6-1 victor y against Germany ’s Angelique Kerber, while French Open champion Sharapova beta Italy’s Sara Errani 6-3 6-2.

Kvitova, so impressive winning the 2011 title, had trouble keeping the ball in court off the ground while fourth-seeded Radwanska put on a smart performance, easily moving her opponent out of position. It was the Czech’s first loss in 25 matches on indoor hard courts dating back to October 2010.

Kvitova came into her news conference with tears in her eyes and admitted having lost control of her emotions. “It was a little bit different, but the ner ves were there for sure,” Kvitova told reporters. “I was nervous all the match. I felt my fingers weren’t

still moving and I didn’t move on my legs. I’m disappointed in myself. “I had a lot of errors and it wasn’t good tennis from my side...

If you are not playing like some matches before and now you have a player who’s number four in the world, it’s not easy to be relaxed.”

Third seed Williams, who won her 15th grand slam at the USOpen, did not appear nervous at all despite playing for the first time since winning the title in New York on Sept. 10.

The American pulled out of this month’s tournament in China with stomach flu but said she was healthy now and proved it against fifth-seeded Kerber as she sent down her booming big serves and took control of the action from the ground.

“I felt like I was ready to play,” Williams said. “I felt like I practised too much, and if I hit another practice ball I’m going to go nuts. So I just really wanted a match.

“I was like, if I have another practice day, I don’t know if I can handle it.”

Number two seed Sharapova hit 22 forehand winners against Errani in a rematch of the French Open final which the Russian won by the same scoreline. Late yesterday, Williams meets China’s Li Na, top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays Kerber and Sharapova faces Radwanska.—Reuters

19

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

SPORTS

Calamity for Man City after 3-1 defeat at Ajax

CROATIA: PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) is challenged by Dinamo’s Josip Pivaric, during the Champions League Group A soccer match.—AP

Dominant PSG triumph ZAGREB: French table-toppers Paris Saint-Germain extended Dinamo Zagreb’s miserable European run with a comfortable 2-0 win in Champions League Group A yesterday at a sparselyfilled Maksimir Stadium. Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jeremy Menez propelled Carlo Ancelotti’s side past their overmatched Croatian opponents, as PSG made it two wins from three to stay within touching distance of group leaders Porto and consign Dinamo to a ninth consecutive Champions League group stage defeat. Victory for the Parisians moved them into sole possession of second place on six points, three adrift of Porto with Dynamo Kiev third on three points and Zagreb propping up the standings, having yet to open their account.

With Nene and Mamadou Sakho added to a mounting list of absentees following Saturday’s 1-0 over Reims, Ancelotti opted to restore Menez and Javier Pastore to the starting XI, while Mathieu Bodmer returned to the line-up after a month out with an ankle problem.

Dinamo coach Ante Cacic, who was without the services of Arijan Ademi after the midfielder sustained a toe injury at the weekend, had labelled Ibrahimovic as one of the “best four players in the world” ahead of the clash.

The big Swede soon made his presence felt as he forced goalkeeper Ivan Kelava into a fine block after just two minutes.

The Dinamo captain was again called into action soon after, denying Ibrahimovic for a second time as he palmed away his fizzing effort.

The hosts, meanwhile, were largely restricted to speculative strikes from outside the box in the opening period, although Salvatore Sirigu was forced to

tip over Sammir’s corner from under his own crossbar. Menez then forced a good low save from Kelava before Ibrahimovic was again guilty of spurning another golden opportunity.

The Swede exchanged a series of intricate passes with Marco Verratti on the edge of the Dinamo box but having timed his run to perfection and with just the goalkeeper to beat he miscued badly, sending the ball high and wide of the target.

The home side’s vulnerability in defence was clearly evident though and they were eventually punished as Menez escaped down the left, getting behind Ante Puljic before cutting the ball back to Ibrahimovic who coolly slotted beyond Kelava.

Menez then embarked on a solo effort to double PSG’s lead as the visitors hit Dinamo on the counterattack. Pastore slipped the ball to the France international who again ran at Puljic before drilling low through the legs of Kelava two mintues before half-time.

Last time Dinamo played French opposition-a 7-1 hammering at home to Lyon a year ago-the Croatian champions completely unraveled in a second half that saw them concede six goals.

There was to be no repeat of such farcical events this time although Ibrahimovic should have added to his haul when he placed an attempted lob wide of the mark after incisive play from Pastore. Thiago Silva saw his downward header from a Pastore corner deflected onto the bar by Marcelo Brozovic, while Guillaume Hoarau had a late strike ruled out for a foul on Sime Vrsaljko, but it had little bearing on the final result as PSG clinched a well-deserved victory for just their second away win in the competition in 16 attempts.—AFP

AMSTERDAM: The prospect of a second successive group-stage exit in the Champions League is staring Manchester City in the face after a 3-1 defeat at Ajax yesterday left them rock bottom of Group D. The English champions were looking for their first win of the campaign, but despite taking the lead against the run of play through Samir Nasri, they fell to goals from Siem de Jong, Niklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen in Amsterdam.

The visitors finished the game with Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli all on the pitch, but by the fulltime whistle they found themselves looking down the barrel of another autumn elimination.

Ajax move into third place after claiming a first home win over English opposition since 1980, leaving City bottom of the pool with a solitary point to their name after three games.

Matters were compounded by Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 win at home to Real Madrid in the other game. City now trail Dortmund by six points, Madrid by five points, and Ajax by two, and may need to win all three remaining games-starting with the return fixture against Ajax on November 7 — to stand any chance of going through.

Dzeko had been rewarded for his brace at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday with a starting place in the City attack, but neither he nor strike partner Aguero were given much to work with in the first half.

Eriksen, Ajax’s highly coveted Danish playmaker, helped the hosts pin City back, cracking a half-volley just off target in the

AMSTERDAM: Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer (left) intercepts a header by Manchester City player Edin Dzeko during the Champions League Group D soccer match.—AP ninth minute and then drilling wide from 20 yards after leaving Gareth Barry for dead.

It was one-way traffic, but City exploited their first real sight of goal in the 22nd minute to take the lead. A gloriously incisive pass from Micah Richards found James Milner and he rolled the ball into the path of Nasri, who bent a first-time shot inside Kenneth Vermeer’s left-hand post from 15 yards.

Vermeer then had to beat away a shot from Richards but Ajax were quickly back on the attack, with Ricardo van Rhijn to the fore.

The highly rated right-back gave a warning with a shot over

the bar, but City did not heed it and on the cusp of half-time he created the equaliser with a low cross that skipper de Jong swept home imperiously. The goal was recompense for Ajax’s enterprise and in the 57th minute they procured another, Finnish centreback Moisander rising above a static defence to meet Eriksen’s right-wing corner with a glancing header.

City coach Roberto Mancini responded by introducing Aleksandar Kolarov from the bench and switching to a threeman defence.

The Serbian teed up Milner for a header that went over the bar, but the defensive re-shuffle

Zenit not at their peak in first CL win

Mitroglou lifts Olympiakos MONTPELLIER: A last-gasp goal from substitute Kostas Mitroglou kept Greek champions’ Olympiakos Champions League hopes alive yesterday with a 2-1 win over hosts Montpellier.

The Greek side left it late after trailing a goal down when Gaetan Charbonnier, playing just a few months ago in Ligue 2, scored his first European goal for the French champions just after the break.

But Olympiakos captain Vasilis Torosides grabbed the equaliser after 73 minutes, and Mitroglou, 24, scored a minute into injury time to give the Greek side their first points of the campaign.

Olympiakos are third in the Group B table after three games, with Montpellier taking over the bottom spot with one point as Germany’s Schalke lead with seven points, one point ahead of English giants Arsenal.

Montpellier coach Rene Girard, who followed the match from the stands due to a touchline ban, had surprised by opting for Laurent Pionnier in goal over Geoffroy Jourdren with Charbonnier up front. But the Ligue 1 strugglers had been boosted by the return of captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who was suspended from league action, and regained his spot in defence with Benjamin Stambouli stepping in for the suspended Garry

Bocaly. The hosts controlled early play but despite dominating went into the locker room at half-time with little to show for their efforts largely thanks to the efforts of Northern Ireland veteran Roy Carroll.

Younes Belhanda had the first effort at goal after eight minutes but his drive went wide of Carroll. It was then the turn of John Utaka whose 20th-minute effort was blocked, and three minutes before the break Carroll kept out a Charbonnier shot with his back to goal.

But back after the break the hosts piled on the pressure and the 23-yearold Charbonnier, playing in his first European match, volleyed past Carroll from the edge of the box four minutes into the half. Olympiakos captain Torosidis grabbed the equaliser after 73 minutes. The 27-year-old Greek international held off Souleymane Camara before controlling the ball with his knee to fire home to level proceedings.

Belhanda missed the chance for Montpellier to pull ahead again a minute later. But in a frantic finale two substitutes combined to grab the winner as Djamel Abdoun beat Henri Bedimo and fed Mitroglou, allowing the striker to slot the ball easily past Pionnier for a precious three points.—AFP

Champions League tables Champions League tables after yesterday’s matches matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Group A Porto PSG Kiev Dinamo

3 3 3 3

3 2 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 1 2 3

6 6 5 0

2 2 7 6

9 6 3 0

Group E Shakhtar Chelsea Juventus Nordsjaelland

3 3 3 3

2 1 0 0

1 1 3 1

0 1 0 2

5 7 4 1

2 4 4 7

7 4 3 1

Group B Schalke 04 Arsenal Olympiakos Montpellier

3 3 3 3

2 2 1 0

1 0 0 1

0 1 2 2

6 5 4 4

3 4 6 6

7 6 3 1

Group F Valencia BATE Bayern Lille

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 0

0 0 0 0

1 1 1 3

6 6 4 1

2 5 4 6

6 6 6 0

Group C Malaga AC Milan Zenit Anderlecht

3 3 3 3

3 1 1 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 2 2

7 3 3 0

0 3 6 4

9 4 3 1

Group G Barcelona Celtic Spartak Benfica

3 3 3 3

3 1 1 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 2 2

7 4 6 1

3 4 7 4

9 4 3 1

Group D Dortmund Real Madrid Ajax Man City

3 3 3 3

2 2 1 0

1 0 0 1

0 1 2 2

4 8 4 4

2 5 6 7

7 6 3 1

Group H Man United CFR Cluj Braga Galatasaray

3 3 3 3

3 1 1 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 2 2

6 4 4 1

3 3 5 4

9 4 3 1

seemed to confuse City’s defenders and moments later, the Dutch champions made it 3-1.

After Barry slipped in midfield, Eriksen took up possession and beat Vincent Kompany before dispatching a shot that took a cruel deflection off Gael Clichy to leave Joe Hart with no chance.

The England goalkeeper came out superbly to thwart Tobias Sana moments later, before the visitors roused themselves.

Vermeer saved twice, brilliantly, from Dzeko, but despite the introductions of Tevez and Balotelli, City were unable to conjure up the kind of improbable escape that had seemed to be becoming their trademark.—AFP

PORTO: Dynamo Kiev’s Oleh Gusev (right) losses the ball to FC Porto’s Maicon Roque, from Brazil, during their Champions League Group A soccer match.—AP

Porto march on in CL OPORTO: Former titleholders Porto made it three out of three with a pulsating 3-2 Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev to maintain possession of Group A here yesterday.

A fiery opening at the Estadio do Dragao saw the 2004 champions take the lead on the quarter of an hour mark. Lucho Gonzalez got the better of a brace of Dynamo players on the edge of the box, with Silvestre Varela pouncing on his cut-back to shoot into the top corner of Alexander Shovkovsky’s net.

Down at the other end Shovkovsky’s counterpart Helton did well to block Miguel Veloso’s teasing low 30metre effort as the Ukrainians went in search of a quick equaliser.

They didn’t have to wait long, with Oleg Gusev leaping over the Porto defence to glance in Portugal international Veloso’s well-taken corner with a close-range header in the 21st minute.

That was the first home goal Porto had conceded in all competitions since the start of the season.

Porto, intent on maintaining their best European start since the 1999/2000 season, regained the initiative with nine minutes left of the

first period.

James Rodriguez’ through ball set up his fellow Colombian Jackson Martinez who after rounding Dynamo’s Yevgen Khacheridy kept his cool to shoot past Shovkovsky.

The second half mirrored the first in terms of intensity, with Czech Republic referee Pavel Kralovec kept occupied trying to keep a lid on emotions. Porto coach Vitor Pereira replaced Varelo with Ghana international Christian Atsu. With 18 minutes remaining some excellent work from Atsu’s fellow west African, Brown Ideye then put Dynamo back level. The Nigeria forward earned what the visitors hoped would be a well earned share of the spoils when he skilfully controlled Andry Yarmolenko’s assist with his chest, his shot deflected into the net by Helton. But Porto were to have the final say with Martinez getting his double, tapping into an empty goal at the far post after a defence-splitting cross from Argentine Lucho.

Hard as they tried Dynamo were unable to find their third equaliser, leaving them in third spot on three points, behind Paris Saint Germain in second on six and Porto in pole on nine.—AFP

ST PETERSBURG: Ailing Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg grabbed their first win of this season’s Champions League campaign here yesterday with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Belgian opponents Anderlecht. A 72nd minute penalty by Alexander Kerzhakov gave the Russians a barely-deserved three points and saw them climb to third in the table.

Spanish debutants Malaga top the table with six points from two games, while AC Milan are on four and Anderlecht have just a point and are yet to score a goal in this season’s competition.

Kerzhakov, who has had a tempestuous past few months with a poor Euro tournament and then going on strike over the huge wages being paid to big money signings Hulk and Axel Witsel, had the first serious effort on goal in the seventh minute, his shot flashing past the near post. Anderlecht returned fire when a nicely worked move saw Milan Jovanovic slipped free but his shot scraped the far post as the players battled atrocious weather conditions.

Hulk then went close after winning a freekick on the edge of the box, his whipped in effort sliding past the far post with Anderlecht goalkeeper Silvio Proto beaten.

The second-half was not of great quality with few clear chances, Zenit substitute Vladimir Bystrov going closest in the 69th minute with a shot that went over the bar.

However Lady Luck smiled on Zenit two minutes later as Jovanovic clumsily gripped Alexander Anyukov round the neck and threw him to the ground in the box and Kerzhakov made no mistake with the resulting penalty for his seventh goal of the season.

Jovanovic, who got with a booking for his moment of madness, almost made up for his error with seven minutes remaining firing in a fierce volley from outside the area, but it went just over the bar.

Zenit’s total lack of unity was encapsulated in two incidents within seconds of each other towards the end of the encounter as first Kerzhakov fired in a wild shot with Hulk in a better position and then the bulky Brazilian opted to go on his own in taking on two Anderlecht defenders with his strike partner free on the left.

Kerzhakov let his feelings be felt wringing his hands in frustration and shaking his head in the direction of the former Porto star.

Indeed Hulk was to enrage Kerzhakov further in time added on as he produced a barnstorming run into the penalty area but again instead of passing to the unmarked Russian he was dispossessed of the ball and received a volley of abuse for his selfishness.—AFP

ST. PETERSBURG: Milan Jovanovic of RSC Anderlecht (left) fights for the ball with Zenit’s Aleksandr Anyukov during their Champions League Group C soccer match. —AP

Calamity for Man City after 3-1 defeat at Ajax

Well-rested Tigers take on well-tested Giants

19

16

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Red-hot Vettel cool on Formula One title treble

Page 18

DORTMUND: Real’s Raphael Varane (left) and Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski of Poland challenge for the ball during the Champions League Group D soccer match. — AP

Dortmund nudge Real off top spot

DORTMUND: Germany defender Marcel Schmelzer hit a second-half winner as Borussia Dortmund beat Real Madrid 2-1 yesterday in the Champions League to snatch top spot in Group D from the Spanish giants.

Having beaten Ajax 1-0 at home and only been denied a win at Manchester City three weeks ago by a late penalty in the 1-1 draw, the German champions produced another battling European display at home against Jose Mourinho’s Madrid.

“It was a strange match, neither team was better, but it was an incredibly difficult game,” said Mourinho. “They were very organised and defended very well. Dortmund deserved the victory, but we had our chances to win the game.”

An opening goal by Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski was immediately cancelled out by Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the first-half before Schmelzer’s 64th-minute winner.

“It feels overwhelming, it was a sensational evening, you can only imagine something like this in your

wildest dreams,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

Defeat drops Real to second in the group on six points with Dortmund top on seven, but the teams meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in a fortnight.

Despite having been European champions nine times, Real continued their appalling record on German soil and in their 24 matches in Germany they have now suffered 17 losses and their single victory was 12 years ago.

Dortmund produced a highly disciplined display as they bounced back from losing the Ruhr derby 2-1 at home to Schalke in the Bundesliga on Saturday to claim victory despite only around 40 percent possession. “It was important for us to show a reaction after losing at the weekend,” said Schmelzer.

“We must be realistic, but we can also be consist in Madrid.” Both Schmelzer and midfielder Mario Goetze, who missed the Ruhr derby with injury, returned to the starting line-up, while Mourinho made three changes to

Malaga down Italian giants MALAGA: Malaga heaped the pressure on embattled AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri after the Italian giants suffered a 1-0 defeat to the dominant Spanish side in the Champions League here yesterday.

Milan are languishing below midtable in Serie A with only two wins in eight games, a situation which has led to daily speculation about Allegri’s position as coach of the Rossoneri.

Milan came into this Group C game buoyed by a 3-2 win away to Zenit Saint Petersburg, following a scoreless draw at home to Anderlecht, and still sit second in the group. Their latest setback is likely, however, to put Allegri’s tenure firmly back in the spotlight. Leaders Malaga meanwhile joined Porto of Group A as the only team to remain unbeaten after three rolls of the Champions League dice.

Malaga dominated the first half but their biggest chance to break the deadlock came in the 44th minute when the hosts were awarded a penalty following a foul in the area by Kevin Constant.

Forward Joaquin stepped up but his shot went over keeper Marco Amelia’s crossbar. Joaquin made up for that miss in style when he ran on to a delightful chip over the Milan defence by Manuel Iturra to beat the advancing Amelia at his

near post in the 64th minute. Milan were lucky not to be 2-0 down moments later.

Malaga won a freekick just outside the area and Pereira dos santos Eliseu confidently struck a superb curling effort which looked destined for the top corner until Amelia produced a superb diving save. Allegri sent on Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato in place of Constant in a bid to bolster the Milan front line. And for awhile the ploy appeared as though it might pay dividends. In the 70th minute Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini got his head to a cross whipped in from the right but his effort went just wide. With barely a quarter hour remaining Allegri sent on Spain international striker Bojan Krkic for defender Francesco Acerbi, prompting a chorus of whistles from the Malaga crowd aimed at the former Barcelona man.

The changes seemed to invigorate Milan, and Stephan El Shaarawy broke through into the area to unleash an angled shot that brought a good block from Malaga keeper Wilfredo Caballero.

From the corner, French defender Phillipe Mexes pounced on a rebound from a Milan header to hit an angled, first-time shot that went just wide of the post. For Milan, however, it proved too little too late. —AFP

the team which won 2-0 at Celta Viga on Saturday in La Liga.

Germany midfielder Sami Khedira, who lasted only 20 minutes before going off clutching his left hamstring, France’s Karim Benzema and Argentina’s Angel Di Maria boosted an already powerful line-up. Captain Ilker Casillas made his 125th European appearance in front of a capacity crowd of 65,829.

Both sides had early chances as Lewandowski wasted a great shooting position on 16 minutes to fire just left of goal, while Di Maria fired over for Real on 21 minutes.

Luka Modric came into the Real midfield for the injured Khedira, but Dortmund began to find some space to exploit with captain Sebastian Kehl firing over approaching the half hour mark.

Dortmund took a deserved lead after a rare mistake

by Real’s Pepe saw Kehl snatch possession to thread a pass through the Madrid defence for Lewandowski to fire home on 36 minutes.

With the home crowd still celebrating, the lead lasted just two minutes as a superb pass from Germay’s Mesut Ozil found Ronaldo who lifted the ball over Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidefeller and into the net.

It was his fifth goal of the competition as it stayed 11 at the break. Only a reflex save from Casillas kept Dortmund out as Germany midfielder Mario Goetze unleashed a fierce shot in the 50th minute as Borussia laid siege to the Real goal.

At the other end, di Maria fired across the goal and just wide of goal with both Weidenfeller and the Dortmund defence at sea in the 55th minute.

Both Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso picked up second-half yellow cards for rough defending as Borussia kept pushing forward and were rewarded with their second when Schmelzer fired home from the edge of the area on 64 minutes. Real burst into life after falling behind and Dortmund’s defence found themselves working over time to keep Madrid at bay and hold on for victory. — AFP

Schalke strike late to add to Arsenal’s woes LONDON: Schalke piled on the misery for Arsenal as the German side struck twice in the closing stages to clinch a shock 2-0 win in yesterday’s Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Dutch duo Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay netted in the final 14 minutes to deal another significant blow to Arsene Wenger’s team just days after they crashed to a dismal 1-0 defeat at Premier League strugglers Norwich.

Wenger could have few complaints about the result as Arsenal paid the price for a lacklustre display that saw them out-fought and out-thought for long periods. The Gunners’ 100 percent record in Group B was shattered in emphatic fashion and they are now behind Schalke in second place, with tricky trips to the German club and Olympiakos among their remaining three fixtures as they try to edge into the last 16.

To make matters worse for Wenger, he is due to attend the club’s annual general meeting on Thursday, with already angry shareholders likely to make their feelings known.

France striker Olivier Giroud, replaced by midfielder Francis Coquelin, was the only casualty from the Norwich embarrassment as Wenger opted against making wholesale changes and gave his flops a chance to make amends.

How he must have rued that decision after his side were booed off. Watching from the Arsenal directors’ box as he completed his three-match LONDON: Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla (right) attempts to chip the ball over FC European touchline ban, Wenger cut an anxious Schalke 04’s Roman Neustaedter during their Champions League Group figure as Schalke opened up with some slick approach play.

B soccer match. — AP

After Gervinho squandered an early chance for Arsenal, the Ivorian shooting well wide after good work from Lukas Podolski on the left flank, Schalke had a strong appeal for a penalty controversially turned down. Jefferson Farfan played in Afellay and, seizing on hesitation from Carl Jenkinson, he poked the ball past sliding Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who made no contact with the ball as he caught the forward with his arms. Afellay tumbled to the turf and turned to demand a penalty, but Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson responded by booking the Schalke star for diving.

Schalke were probing away intelligently around the Arsenal penalty area and Dutch forward Huntelaar should have done better when he tried to steer Atsuto Uchida’s cross goalwards in the final moments of the first half.

Schalke’s poor finishing let Arsenal off the hook again early in the second half when Farfan skipped past Andre Santos and cut a pass back to unmarked skipper Benedikt Howedes, who had the goal at his mercy but blazed high over the bar from just 10 yards out.

There was alarmingly little response from Wenger’s team, who seemed to lack the belief or the will to wrestle the initiative away from Huub Stevens’ men.

It didn’t help that Gervinho repeatedly picked the wrong option whenever he had a chance to drive at Schalke’s defence and the striker earned a booking after throwing himself to the floor in a desperate bid to win a penalty. —AFP

Business

Mashreq bank Q3 profit jumps 86% Page 22 China’s manufacturing show signs of recovery Page 25

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Facebook’s mobile surprise allays growth fears

US new home sales soar, factory activity edges up

Page 23

Page 23

GENK: Ford workers react yesterday in front of the main entrance of Ford’s Belgian assembly plant in Genk after an extraordinary meeting between Ford Belgium and Ford Europe management and the trade union representatives with the future of its 4,300 employees at risk. Ford announced at the meeting that it would close the Genk plant by the end of 2014. When sub-contractors are included, some 10,500 people depend on Ford Genk for work. — AFP

Peugeot rescued, Ford closes Belgian plant VW bucks European auto crisis PARIS: The European car industry reeled yesterday with French Peugeot Citroen needing a 7.0billion-euro state rescue for its credit arm, and Ford closing a factory in Belgium with 4,300 job losses. Peugeot, number two in Europe, waived its dividend and its shares fell to a 26-year low point. Both companies have warned they are hugely burdened by overcapacity in Europe.

In stark contrast Europe’s number one carmaker, Germany’s Volkswagen, said profits had risen by 60 percent in the third quarter. The Peugeot-Ford announcements highlight the effects of four years of crisis beginning with the financial meltdown in the banking sector and then austerity cutbacks to fight the eurozone debt crisis.

Several European governments responded to the first wave of crises with “cash for clunkers” subsidies, but as these ran out and recession bit in several markets, the drive went out of car sales. The VW group has pulled through with strong sales of top-range vehicles in globally diverse markets with localised production. PSA Peugeot Citroen has already announced 8,000 job cuts and a plant closure which the French government wants pruned back.

The firm reported that sales had fallen by 3.9 percent in the third quarter and that it was waiving dividends for three years, the duration of 7.0billion state guarantee for its credit arm.

Volkswagen meanwhile said in an interim report that net profit amounted to 11.3 billion euros ($14.6 billion) in the July-September period. “Although the times aren’t easy... we remain committed to our ambitious goals for 2012, despite growing headwinds,” VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn said.

The decision by US auto giant Ford to close its “under-utilised” factory in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014, will cost 4,300 jobs.

The closure is part of an overall shake-up of Ford’s European operations in the face of falling demand, a statement said.

The plan would “help to address manufacturing overcapacity stemming from a more-than20-percent drop in total industry vehicle demand in western Europe since 2007,” Ford explained. Ford Genk is the main employer in

the Flemish region of Limbourg near the Dutch border and, when taking into account subcontractors, provides work for some 10,500 people.

The French government support for Peugeot Citroen’s credit arm BPF is intended in part to enable the group to leverage its assets, but the

condition that dividends must be waived hit the group’s capitalisation hard. In late morning trading, shares in PSA Peugeot Citroen were showing a fall of 7.48 percent to 5.38 euros, the lowest for 26 years, but later recovered to a 3.74-percent fall. PSA Peugeot Citroen, a private sector institu-

tion still largely run by the Peugeot family, on Wednesday also announced joint-venture projects with its strategic partner GM of the United States, although unions said these measures lacked ambition.

The group said that sales fell to 12.9 billion

Women still face gender gap in jobs, wages: Report GENEVA: Women are closing the gender gap with men in health and education but struggle to get top jobs and salaries, data from a study of 135 countries showed yesterday. “Gaps in senior positions, wages and leadership levels still persist,” even in countries that promote equality in education and have a high level of economic integration among women, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its annual Global Gender Gap Report.

The new figures were released just hours after a European Union initiative to set a 40percent quota for women on the boards of listed companies stalled because of a lack of support. The report, which covered more than 90 percent of the world’s population, looked at how nations distribute resources and opportunities between women and men.

It found that the Nordic countries, headed

by Iceland, Finland and Norway, had done the best job of closing the gap, while Chad, Pakistan and Yemen had the worst rankings.

While almost all countries had made progress in closing the gap in healthcare and education between women and men, only 60 percent of countries had managed to narrow the economic gender gap and only 20 percent had progressed on a political level, the study said.

Of the top four global economies, the United States, Japan and Germany all made progress in closing their economic gender gap in 2012. However, they slipped in the overall

ranking, which also looks at health, education and politics, with Germany falling two spots to 13th place, the United States sliding five spots to 22nd, and Japan dipping to 101st from 98th last year.

China, which took a step backwards when it came to closing the economic gender gap, also fell in the overall ranking to 69th place from 66th last year. Greece, which ranked 82nd, registered one of the biggest falls since 2011, when it ranked 56th-largely owing to a change in the percentage of women holding ministerial positions, from 31 percent in 2011 to only six percent in 2012.

Countries such as Nicaragua (9) and Luxembourg (17) climbed up the ranking thanks to an increase in the percentage of women in parliament. Reducing the malefemale employment gap has been an important driver of European economic growth in the last decade, the report said.

It added that introducing even more equality could boost US gross domestic product by nine percent and eurozone GDP by up to 13 percent. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said Tuesday that a move to set a 40percent quota for women on the boards of listed companies had been delayed amid an ongoing row over the lack of female candidates for a key European Central Bank (ECB) job.

Reding, who was scheduled to present the plan, said on Twitter: “Gender balance directive

postponed,” owing to insufficient support for the idea within the 27-member European Commission. The delay came a day after the European Parliament’s economic affairs committee rejected the nomination of Luxembourger Yves Mersch to the ECB executive board, because it would result in an allmale board until 2018. The WEF report said that closing the global gender gap was fundamental to economic growth and stability. It pointed out that no country in the Middle East or north Africa featured in the top 100 of the index: these were regions often troubled by instability and frequently pointed to when gender inequality is discussed.

Elsewhere in Africa, however, five countries ranked in the top 30. By region, the Philippines (8) remained the highest-ranking country from Asia in the index. With women making up 50 percent of countries’ “human capital”, governments needed to find ways to benefit from their talent, insisted Saadia Zahidi, senior director at the World Economic Forum.

“If that capital is not invested in, educated or healthy, countries are going to lose out in terms of their long-term potential,” she said.

Only six countries had showed an improvement of 10 percentage points since the report launched seven years ago, Zahidi added, and almost 75 countries have improved by less than five points. “So the progress is very slow... even though we are seeing a trend in a positive direction,” she said. — AFP

euros ($16.7 billion) in the quarter amid increasing competition and a weakening of the European market. It warned that it now expected sales in Europe, its main market, to fall by 9.0 percent instead of 8.0 percent forecast previously. And it expected its net debt to rise to 3.0 billion euros at the end of the year instead of 2.4 billion euros.

The group’s financial arm BPF announced that it would receive state guarantees totalling 7.0 billion euros over three years. BPF said it had also obtained cash facilities from banks amounting to 11.5 billion euros of which 1.0 billion euros was an additional sum. Group finance director Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon said that most of these credit lines had already been negotiated for 2013-2015.

“The state has announced its intention to provide its guarantee for refinancing in respect of new bond issues in the next three years, up to 7.0 billion euros,” he said. This would enable BPF to leverage its assets and to launch a savings plan for savers in France, as the financial arm of French rival automaker Renault had done recently, he said.

The government said in a separate statement that another condition attached to the state guarantee was the creation of a monitoring committee on which the state, PSA and an independent administrator would sit.

A representative of the staff of PSA would also join the group’s supervisory board. An independent expert brought in to examine the politically sensitive job cuts had found that restructuring was needed because of strategic mistakes going back 20 years and said that the group had failed to seize the opportunities of globalisation.

In a separate statement, the group announced a four-pronged programme for joint industrial projects involving new models with GM. Ford Genk is the main employer in the Flemish region of Limbourg near the Dutch border and, when taking into account subcontractors, provides work for some 10,500 people.

Meanwhile in Stockholm, Volvo trucks, the second-biggest maker of lorries in the world, reported a 64-percernt fall in net profit in the third quarter. — AFP

22

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

BUSINESS

New Abu Dhabi debt policy aims to cut risks DUBAI/ABU DHABI: An official document clarifying ultimate responsibility for new debt issuance by Abu Dhabi’s government-related entities aims to eliminate any risk of a Dubai-style debt crisis in the emirate.

The document introduces centralised mechanisms to manage debt and restraints on borrowing by quasi-sovereign bodies. But it does not change the level of state support available to Abu Dhabi’s key development vehicles, bankers and analysts said.

The document, dated Aug. 7 and delivered to state-owned entities by the Executive Council, which assists the ruler of Abu Dhabi, says the government will only be responsible for debt formally guaranteed by the council or Abu Dhabi law if the borrower is unable to meet its obligations.

Entities obtaining a council guarantee

must obey financial standards and report their performance against them to the emirate’s Department of Finance on a half-yearly basis. However, the document added, the Executive Council has the ultimate say over all debt issuance, and can issue a guarantee even if an entity’s finances do not meet the targets.

Major government-related entities (GREs) in Abu Dhabi include Mubadala Development Co, International Petroleum Investment Co and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. These firms have ramped up their public borrowing in recent years as part of an expansion drive aimed at diversifying Abu Dhabi’s oildominated economy, which has seen them take stakes in the likes of Daimler and UniCredit among other investments.

Overall GRE debt in the United Arab Emirates stood at $185 billion or 51 percent of gross domestic product last year,

Tourism Development & Investment Co. Prices of outstanding Abu Dhabi state-linked bonds have not moved significantly since news of the document emerged as investors aren’t worried about it, said Chavan Bhogaita, head of markets strategy at National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

The document’s main function is to clarify aspects of debt issuance, and particularly the role of Abu Dhabi’s fledgling Debt Management Office, which is tasked with ensuring public debt is managed at sensible levels and that any entity issuing bonds does so in line with the emirate’s wider strategy.

“It is clear that some solid governance procedures are being introduced to avoid any future ambiguity of credit risk within Abu Dhabi,” said a senior debt banker in Abu Dhabi. Such planning has grown in importance ever since Dubai’s

with Abu Dhabi accounting for over 54 percent of the total, the International Monetary Fund said in May. The document says annual debt issuance from Abu Dhabi, which sits on 7 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, and its GREs should not exceed 5 percent of expected nominal GDP. But while the document, first revealed in the Financial Times on Oct. 23, prioritises the role of the Executive Council, it does not significantly change investors’ view of the level of government support for GREs, bankers and analysts said.

“Abu Dhabi’s four major state-owned enterprises...are essentially unaffected by the emirate’s recently approved public debt policy,” Fitch Ratings said in a report yesterday. It added that the document was in line with previous statements offering broad and continued state support to Mubadala, IPIC, TAQA and

2009 debt crisis, which required Abu Dhabi to bail out its neighbour and caused the restructuring of billions of dollars of debt. This damaged the reputations of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, of which Abu Dhabi is the largest member.

Abu Dhabi is cautious about debt risks, so the issue of the document “was expected sooner or later after what happened in Dubai”, said an official at one Abu Dhabi state entity. In the longer term, however, the document underlines that Abu Dhabi sees its GREs operating as financially independent companies. “ This document does make the GREs more conscious of the fact they need to stand on their own feet, and that the government is willing to rein in control over debt issuance to avoid debt levels spiralling out of control,” Bhogaita said. —Reuters

Mashreq bank Q3 profit jumps 86% HSBC Bank Oman 9-mth profit drops DUBAI: Mashreq, Dubai’s secondbiggest bank by stock market value, yesterday posted an 86 percent yearon-year jump in net profit for the third quarter of this year, citing a decline in bad loan provisions.

Net profit climbed to 379 million dirhams ($103 million) in the quarter from 204 million dirhams a year earlier, according to Reuters calculations based on the bank’s nine-month earnings statement.

For the first nine months of the year, profit rose 28 percent to 970 million dirhams, Mashreq said.

“The last two quarters in particular have shown very promising trends which have culminated in healthy bottom line growth,” Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Mashreq’s chief executive, said in the statement.

“We are witnessing increasing stability in the UAE and look forward to continuing this positive growth in the coming quarters.” A forecast by analysts at Arqaam Capital had put thirdquarter net profit at 242 million dirhams.

Mashreq’s provisions for bad loans fell 37 per cent from a year earlier to

Li Ka-shing suspends yuan IPO in Singapore SINGAPORE: A real estate investment trust backed by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing said yesterday it had suspended its planned $800 million yuan-denominated IPO in Singapore due to weak global markets. Dynasty REIT’s initial public offering (IPO), sponsored by real estate fund manager ARA Asset Management, would have been the second yuan-denominated flotation outside mainland China after Hong Kong hosted the first one in 2011. Dynasty REIT had planned to price its initial shares offer on Wednesday after formally launching it last week, with a listing on the Singapore Exchange scheduled for October 30. “While Dynasty REIT did receive substantial support from institutional and retail investors... weak global mar-

kets continue to impede overall demand, which would likely impair aftermarket performance,” ARA said in a statement.

“After consulting with the underwriting banks, ARA would like to announce that it has suspended Dynasty REIT’s IPO until further notice,” it added. ARA is an affiliate of the Cheung Kong Group, whose chairman is Li, Hong Kong’s richest man. But ARA said that since it launched its prospectus with Singapore’s central bank, “there has been a marked change in investor sentiment given the recent aftermarket performance of several IPOs”. It also cited a “gradual worsening of the overall market conditions” driven largely by weak earnings results by major multinational companies. —AFP

533 million dirhams in the first nine months. Lending throughout the United Arab Emirates banking sector was flat at the end of August compared to the end of the second quarter, according to central bank figures. It has grown 1.8 percent since the beginning of the year.

Dubai’s largest bank, Emirates NBD, said on Monday it expected loan growth to remain relatively modest as global uncertainty hits demand. It posted forecast-beating quarterly results due to lower bad loan provisioning.

The Dubai economy is recovering from its 2009-2010 corporate debt crisis, with signs this year that real estate prices have started rising. Fitch Ratings affirmed Mashreq’s ‘A’ rating on September 26, adding the restructuring of some of its larger problem loans and a change in strategy would help boost core earnings.

Mashreq’s loans and advances grew to 40.5 billion dirhams in September 2012 from 37.7 billion dirhams at the end of 2011. Customer deposits shrank 4.1 percent to 43.5 billion dirhams as the bank shed highcost deposits. These changes moved Mashreq’s loan-to-deposit ratio from 83 percent at the end of December to 93 per cent in September.

HSBC Bank Oman, formed earlier this year by a merger of HSBC’s Oman unit and Oman International Bank, posted a 4.2-percent fall in net profit for the first nine months of 2012 as higher impairments impacted earnings growth.

The lender, now Oman’s secondlargest by market capitalisation, made

a nine-month net profit of 10.57 million rials ($27.45 million), compared with 11.03 million rials in the same period of 2011, a bourse statement said yesterday.

Third-quarter net profit stood at 3.4 million rials, according to Reuters calculations based on the bank’s half-year financial statements. It is only the second time that HSBC Bank Oman has published results since its merger first-half profit at the bank was 7.2 million rials, up 4.3 percent on the corresponding period last year. Loan impairment charges were the main drag on earnings, rising to 2.3 million rials in the nine months to Sept. 30 versus 0.6 million rials during the same period last year. “The increase was mainly due to higher general provisions and the downgrade of some customers to non performing advances,” the bank said in the statement.

The rise in provisions overshadowed a 60-percent gain in net interest income, which climbed to 26.7 million rials from 16.7 million rials in the same nine-month period of 2011. The formal completion of the merger was announced at the beginning of June, with HSBC holding 51 percent of the new entity. Previously, OIB was Oman’s fifth-largest bank, with the secondlargest branch network in the country and gross assets of $3.2 billion.

Earlier this month, one of Oman’s richest businessmen increased his shareholding in the bank to 25 percent from 18.39 percent. Shares in HSBC Oman ended Tuesday down 21.2 percent year-to-date. By comparison, the Muscat index has dropped 0.6 percent in the same period. —Reuters

WARSAW: Richard Branson, chairman and founder of Virgin Group, stands next to a hostess as he promotes the new mobile operator in Poland “Virgin mobile” yesterday in Warsaw. —AFP

Gas producer Egypt turns to Algeria, Qatar for more Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani held meetings in Cairo yesterday. “This is in order to cover Egypt’s needs in the local market and to prevent using fuel oil which is used now in electricity plants and which has negative effects on electricity plants,” the prime minister said.

Qatar, which is the world’s largest LNG producer, said in September it would invest $18 billion in tourism and industry projects along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast over the next five years, in a bid to support the battered economy.

Egypt has also been seeking support from other Arab states and the international community after political turmoil following the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak last year encouraged many investors and tourists to pack up.

“We are pushing hard to attract investments.

We have investment agreements worth $18 billion along the Mediterranean sea,” Kandil said.

The projects previously cited include $8 billion for gas, power and iron and steel plants at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal and $10 billion for a giant tourist resort on the Mediterranean coast. —Reuters

CAIRO: Egypt, a gas producer and exporter, has agreed to import Algerian gas and is in talks with Qatar for a similar deal, the prime minister said yesterday, a move that may help Egypt meet its own export contracts while domestic demand rises. Egypt has two liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants and a pipeline to export gas, but energy industry sources say the government has been diverting some gas contracted for export to the domestic market, which suffered fuel shortages and electricity cuts in the summer.

“We have reached a general agreement with the Algerian side to import gas from Algeria but the amount is still under negotiation,” Prime Minister Hisham Kandil told reporters after returning from a trip to Algiers this week. He said Cairo was also studying importing Algerian crude oil to Egypt, where it would be refined.

Kandil said an Algerian delegation would visit Egypt after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which falls over the weekend. In addition, he said Egypt was in talks with Qatar to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to cover Egypt’s needs.

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 .4470000 .3640000 .3000000 .2800000 .2870000 .0040000 .0020000 .0760950 .7413670 .3870000 .0720000 .7267780 .0430000

.2840000 .4600000 .3720000 .3070000 .2910000 .2980000 .0058500 .0035000 .0768590 .7488180 .4050000 .0780000 .7340830 .0510000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2803000 .2824000 GB Pound/KD .4488300 .4521930 Euro .3660300 .3687720 Swiss francs .3022430 .3045070 Canadian dollars .2824040 .2845200 Danish Kroner .0490710 .0494390 Swedish Kroner .0424690 .0427880 Australian dlr .2893400 .2915070 Hong Kong dlr .0361670 .0364380 Singapore dlr .2294810 .2312010 Japanese yen .0035090 .0035350 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0053000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0021820 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0029680 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0034890 UAE dirhams .0763450 .0769170 Bahraini dinars .7437970 .7493700 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .3994340 Saudi Riyal/KD .0747670 .0753270 Omani riyals .7283360 .7337920 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0068870

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.547 5.227 2.945 2.175 3.281 232.250 36.293 3.427 6.776 9.163 92.334

GCC COUNTRIES 75.030 77.309 730.800 747.310 76.614

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 48.400 45.981 1.313 181.220 396.880 1.888 4.847 33.482

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 281.250 Euro 370.550 Sterling Pound 454.500 Canadian dollar 286.110 Turkish lire 156.860 Swiss Franc 306.370 US Dollar Buying 280.050 GOLD 332.000 168.000 86.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL CASH 294.400 749.550 3.670 287.900 553.500 45.900 50.300 167.800 48.430 370.000 37.060 5.480 0.032 0.161 0.248 3.630 399.410 0.191 95.050 45.400 4.330 232.900 1.826

50.500 732.110 3.070 7.010 77.960 75.250 232.070 36.390 2.685 453.100 43.600 306.600 4.100 9.530 198.263 76.850 282.200 1.350

731.930 2.962 6.815 77.530 75.250 232.070 36.390 2.166 451.100 305.100 4.100 9.360 76.750 281.800

SELL DRAFT 292.900 749.550 3.470 288.400

232.100 46.135 368.500 36.910 5.250 0.032

3.330 231.400

76.605 77.255 75.015 396.745 46.099 2.164 5.260 2.945 3.440 6.809 690.395 4.515 9.275 4.365 3.430 92.080

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

10 Tola 1,817.050 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 451.100 281.800

Sterling Pound US Dollar

COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

SELL DRAFT 294.88 288.71 306.04 367.63 281.40 452.97 3.60 3.464 5.249 2.170 3.312 2.954 76.68 749.27 46.13 400.90 732.37 77.71 75.25

SELL CASH 294.500 286.500 308.000 371.000 282.500 455.000 3.690 3.600 5.500 2.320 3.750 3.150 77.350 748.500 48.500 398.500 735.000 78.000 75.750

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 399.380 0.190 95.050

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

GOLD

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY 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

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

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate 281.450 284.220 451.725 368.625 305.095 745.130

Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 281.800 Pak Rupees 2.957 Indian Rupees 5.256 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.175 Bangladesh Taka 3.445 Philippines Peso 6.850 UAE Dirhams 76.830 Saudi Riyals 75.300 Bahraini Dinars 749.200 Egyptian Pounds 46.180 Pound Sterling 454.800 Indonesian Rupiah 2.990 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Euro 371.700 Canadian Dollars 289.900 Nepali rupee 3.345

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 281.350 Euro 368.200 Pound Sterling 450.900 Canadian Dollar 286.250 Japanese Yen 3.590 Indian Rupee 5.245 Egyptian Pound 46.130 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.164 Bangladesh Taka 3.462 Philippines Peso 6.805 Pakistan Rupee 2.942 Bahraini Dinar 749.350 UAE Dirham 76.500 Saudi Riyal 75.100 *Rates are subject to change

THRUSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

BUSINESS

Facebook’s mobile surprise allays growth fears SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc grew mobile advertising revenue several times in the third quarter, a fasterthan-expected pace that helped drive shares in the world’s No 1 social network nearly 13 percent higher.

Facebook said on Tuesday that it now gets 14 percent of its advertising revenue from mobile ads, helping to reassure investors that the social network is beginning to figure out how to earn money off smartphone and tablet users.

Mobile ad revenues totalled roughly $150 million, up from an estimated $40 million to $50 million in the second quarter and almost nothing in the first.

“This certainly dispels the most bearish view, that Facebook couldn’t monetize people on phones or tablets,” said Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Robert Baird & Co. “In about a six-month period they’ve actually started to generate decent revenues form their mobile applications,” Sebastian added, though he said Facebook still needs to show that its mobile ads can command the same rates as its traditional ads and that they can deliver results for marketers.

Mobile advertising has been among the key investor concerns hanging over Facebook, helping slash more than $40 billion off its market value since its May IPO. As its users increasingly access the social network with their smartphones, Facebook has struggled to transition its business to mobile devices.

The mobile ads helped reignite Facebook’s overall advertising business during the third quarter, following several consecutive quarters of slowing revenue growth that raised questions about Facebook’s long-term prospects.

Advertising revenue increased 36 percent to $1.09 billion, up from 28 percent growth in the second quarter. B ut revenue from its payments and other businesses increased just 13 percent to $176 million.

Mark Zuckerberg, the 28-year-old chief executive who created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room, said mobile was the “most misunderstood aspect” of the company and took issue with the “myth” that Facebook could not earn money on mobile.

“Over the long run we’re going to see more monetization per time spent on mobile than on desktop,” Zuckerberg said on a conference call with analysts on Tuesday. The company’s shares leapt nearly 13 percent to $21.97 in after-hours trading on Tuesday.

Facebook said it had crossed the 1 billion threshold for monthly active users by Sept. 30, of which 604 million were mobile users, a gain of 61 percent from a year earlier. The shift to mobile has challenged many of the Web industry’s top companies. Google Inc is the No.1 provider of smartphone software with its Android operating system. But the company missed Wall Street’s revenue targets in the third quarter, with some analysts blaming the shortfall on its increasing reliance

on lower-priced mobile ads.

Social game maker Zynga Inc, which announced layoffs of 5 percent of its staff on Tuesday, has suffered as it struggles to translate its hit games to mobile devices and as the use of its games on Facebook’s service declines.

Zynga’s woes were visible in Facebook’s results, with Facebook’s payments revenue from the maker of Farmville down 20 percent year on year. Zuckerberg said he was not pleased with revenue from gaming, but said that beyond Zynga - which accounts for 7 percent of Facebook’s total revenue - the situation was brighter.

“The interesting thing is that the rest of the games ecosystem has actually been growing. Our monthly payments revenue from the rest of the ecosystem increased 40 percent over the past year, since payments has been adopted,” he said.

Zuckerberg also said Instagram, the photo-sharing app that Facebook acquired for roughly $750 million this year, now has 100 million users, up from 27 million when Facebook bought the company.

Facebook posted a net loss of $59 million or 2 cents a share in the three months ended Sept. 30 after booking a big provision for income taxes.

Excluding share-based compensation and income tax adjustments, it earned 12 cents a share, a penny higher than the average analyst expectation.

Facebook Finance Chief David Ebersman said the company would

NEW YORK: A man looks at a sign welcoming Facebook at the NASDAQ stock exchange on Times Square in New York, in this May 18, 2012 photo.

Optimistic forecasts by Boeing and Facebook pushed US stocks higher in opening trade yesterday, reversing course after a slew of earnings disappointments sent markets sharply lower on Tuesday. —AFP continue to invest aggressively during the fourth quarter, though the company did not provide a specific financial outlook, in keeping with its previous practice.

Ebersman said that the total number of ads that Facebook delivered in the third quarter increased 27 percent year-on-year and that the average price per ad increased 7 percent.

Facebook’s third-quarter mobile revenue marked a big jump from the second quarter, when Facebook said that it was generating more than $1 million a day from a new class of ads that appear in users’ newsfeeds. Facebook said that roughly half of that revenue

was from mobile ads, suggesting that mobile advertising revenue totaled $45 million in the second quarter.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jordan Rohan said that Facebook’s mobile ad revenue was impressive, but said that Facebook needs to proceed carefully so as not to damage the user experience by overloading its service with too many ads.

And he said that Facebook’s desktop PC advertising business appeared to have shrunk by about $40 million from the second quarter. Rohan said he would rather see the desktop ad business remain stable as the mobile ad business grows. — Reuters

US new home sales soar, factory activity edges up Median new home price jumps 11.7%

BERLIN: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi (C) and President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert arrive for a committee meeting of the Bundestag yesterday. The head of the European Central Bank yesterday faced tough questions from German lawmakers over his euro-crisis strategy, after his plan to buy bonds of struggling nations was attacked in Europe’s powerhouse. — AFP

Draghi defends bond buying plan in lion’s den BERLIN: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi made a robust defence of his bond-buying plan to ease the euro zone’s debt crisis, telling German lawmakers their fears of illegal funding of governments or stoking inflation are misplaced.

A smiling Draghi entered the lion’s den of the Bundestag lower house for a twohour grilling behind closed doors yesterday on the ECB’s Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) programme, which the German central bank has denounced as tantamount to printing money to finance governments.

Rebutting the main objections point by point, Draghi said, according to an opening statement released by the ECB: “First, OMTs will not lead to disguised financing of governments. “Second, OMTs will not compromise the independence of the ECB... Third, OMTs will not create excessive risks for euro area taxpayers... Fourth, OMTs will not lead to inflation.”

The rare appearance in a national legislature underscored how important it is for Draghi to keep politicians in Europe’s biggest economy on-side amid a broader German backlash. The Italian ECB chief addressed a joint session of the parliamentary budget, European and foreign affairs committees on a day when business surveys suggested Germany is being sucked into the euro zone’s economic malaise.

Outside the parliament building in Berlin a handful of protesters demonstrated in red T-shirts bearing the slogan: “Hands off the printing presses, Mr Draghi!” The demonstrators were from a Eurosceptic group called “Young Entrepreneurs”. One banner read: “ECB = Bad Bank.”

Unveiled in early September, the ECB bond-buying programme aims to support troubled euro zone states such as Spain by reducing their borrowing costs, provided they request aid and submit to strict policy conditions and monitoring.

Even though it has not yet been implemented, the policy has already helped ease the euro zone’s crippling three-year crisis, but German critics say it violates an ECB taboo on financing governments, taking the bank into dangerous new territory.

Draghi said the central bank had considered the possible risks carefully and designed the programme to minimise them - “But I am aware that some observers in this country remain concerned about the potential impact of this policy,” he added.

One lawmaker attending the briefing told Reuters in a text message from inside the room: “So far I’ve heard nothing new from Mr. Draghi except for a strict monetary

policy defence of his measures.”

Jens Weidmann, head of the Bundesbank, opposed the plan from the outset, as did conservative German media, and the Bundesbank renewed its public assault on the policy as recently as Monday, warning of a transfer of risks to European taxpayers.

“What the ECB is doing at the moment has nothing to do with its mandate,” KlausPeter Willsch, a lawmaker from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), said before the session.

“I want to hear from Mr. Draghi how he can reconcile unlimited bond purchases with the bank’s price stability objective,” said Willsch, a leading critic of Europe’s bailouts. Another Merkel ally denounced Draghi as a “Falschmuenzer”, or counterfeiter, after he announced the OMT plan.

Draghi was not the first ECB president to appear in Germany’s lower house of parliament. His French predecessor Jean-Claude Trichet, along with former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, briefed lawmakers in April 2010 on the details of the first financial bailout for Greece.

But Wednesday’s session, which began with a 10-minute introductory statement and was to be followed by a lengthy question and answer period and short public statements from Draghi and Bundestag President Norbert Lammert, was a rarity.

The ECB was designed to be fully independent, and its president is not answerable to politicians. The briefing only took place because Draghi volunteered to explain his policies in Berlin after they triggered uproar at the end of the summer.

Merkel, many of her conservative allies and opposition parties like the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens have voiced support for the ECB chief’s programme, but there are still many unanswered questions he will be pressed on.

“Mr. Draghi has made clear that bond purchases can only take place under certain conditions,” said Priska Hinz, a budget expert for the Greens. “We will want to know what kind of aid programme and conditionality he sees as prerequisites.”

This is crucial for Spain, which has resisted putting in a formal request for state aid, in part because of concerns among Spanish leaders and voters that they would be forced to take additional painful measures on top of the budget cuts, tax rises and economic reforms already enacted.

Many of Merkel’s allies are resistant to a Spanish rescue precisely because they fear it would trigger “unlimited” bond purchases

by Draghi’s ECB.— Reuters

WASHINGTON: New US singlefamily home sales surged in September to their highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years, further evidence the housing market recovery is gaining steam. Optimism over the economy was tempered somewhat as other data yesterday showed only a modest pickup in factory activity this month amid a darkening cloud of economic uncertainty at home and slower growth abroad.

The Commerce Department said new home sales increased 5.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted 389,000-unit annual rate - the highest since April 2010, when sales were boosted by a tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

Though August’s sales pace was revised down to a 368,000unit pace from the previously reported 373,000 units, the tenor of the repor t was relatively strong, with the median price of a new home rising 11.7 percent from a year ago.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast sales rising to a 385,000-unit rate last month.

The housing market is on the mend after collapsing in 2006 and dragging the economy through its worst recession since the Great Depression. Home sales are increasing, pushing down the stock of unsold properties, giving a modest lift to house prices and builders’ confidence to take on new projects.

A separate gauge of homes prices released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency late on Tuesday showed a gain of 0.7 percent in August and 4.7 percent over the past year. However, the housing market recover y lacks the muscle to take the baton from manufacturing as the main driver of the economic recover y. “Although housing activity is improving, economic growth is going to remain subdued around the vicinity of two

EDMOND: In this Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, photo, a new home is under construction in Edmond, Okla.

US sales of new homes jumped in September to the highest level in more than two years, further evidence of a sustained housing recovery that could help lift the lackluster economy. The Commerce Department said yesterday, that new home sales rose 5.7 percent in September. — AP But fewer orders from domes- ultra-accommodative monetary percent or so because other drivers of economic activity - con- tic clients and a fifth straight policy stance. The US central sumer spending and business monthly decline in overseas bank has targeted housing as a investment as well as exports - demand for US goods indicates channel to boost growth, are still growing at a fairly manufacturing was acting as a announcing last month that it restrained pace,” said Tanweer drag on growth and employ- would buy $40 billion in mortAkram, senior economist at ING ment, said Markit chief econo- gage -backed securities per Chris Williamson. month until the outlook for Management in Atlanta. On mist Friday, the government will “Purchasing managers report employment improved signifireport its first estimate of third- that the key to the ongoing cantly. The Fed’s monetary policy quar ter growth. Economists weakness remains uncertainty setting committee met for a secpolled by Reuters expect the among customers in export mar- ond day yesterday, but is not economy to have expanded at a kets, notably Europe and Asia,” he expected to announce any 1.9 percent annual rate after said. Factory activity has slowed changes to policy when it congrowing 1.3 percent the prior in recent months, also as uncer- cludes its meeting this afternoon. quarter. In separate report, finan- tainty over US fiscal policy causes Though the inventory of new cial information firm Markit said businesses to scale back on pro- homes on the market rose 1.4 its US “flash,” or preliminar y, duction and capital expenditure percent in September, it Purchasing Managers Index for programs. There are fears that remained near record lows.

At September’s sales pace it the manufacturing sector edged the US Congress might fail to up to 51.3 this month from 51.1 avoid the automatic tax hikes would take 4.5 months to clear in September. A reading above and government spending cuts the houses on the market, the 50 indicates expansion. A modest that will suck about $600 billion lowest since Oc tober 2005, down from 4.7 months in rise in output helped boost busi- out of the economy next year.

The housing recovery is being August. Sales last month were ness conditions in the sector, which suffered its weakest quar- supported by record-low mort- up in three of the four regions. ter in three years during the July- gage rates, which have been held They tumbled 37.3 percent in down by the Federal Reserve’s the Midwest. —Reuters to-September period.

Gloom deepens over Germany as business falls FRANKFURT: The economic skies above Germany darkened Wednesday when business confidence slumped to a two-and-a-half-year low. But top companies such as carmaker VW and software giant SAP rose above the gloom and confirmed or even upped their profit targets for the whole year.

“The clouds over the German economy are darkening,” said the head of the Ifo economic think tank, Hans-Werner Sinn, after the institute’s widely-watched business confidence index fell for the sixth month in a row to the lowest level since February 2010.

“Companies again expressed growing dissatisfaction with their current business situation,” Sinn said. That was not the case, however, for Volkswagen, Europe’s biggest carmaker, which notched up a 60-percent increase in third-quarter net profit and confirmed its forecasts for the whole year.

“The Volkswagen Group maintained its positive trajectory in the first nine months of 2012 despite difficult conditions,” said VW’s chief executive Martin Winterkorn.

“Although the times aren’t easy... we remain committed to our ambitious goals for 2012, despite growing headwinds,” he said. German software giant SAP, too, said it was “pleased” with its overall performance in the third quarter, when it notched up double-digit software and software related service revenue growth for the 11th consecutive quarter.

And finance chief Werner Brandt insisted the software maker remained “confident in our full-year outlook.” VW and SAP effectively rang in the autumn season of quarterly earnings reports for Germany’s biggest companies and it remains to be seen whether the other companies that make up the blue-chip DAX index are equally confident.

Sportswear maker Puma, which is on the Frankfurt stock exchange’s mid-cap MDAX index, complained that heavy restructuring costs sliced 85 percent off its third-quarter profits. The drop in the Ifo was unexpected, with analysts sur veyed by Dow Jones Newswires expecting a small rise in the index, which is calculated on the basis of companies’

assessments of their current business and the outlook for the next six months.

The sub-index measuring current business dropped to 107.3 in October, its lowest level since June 2010, and the outlook sub-index was unchanged at 93.2 points.

Unlike many of its neighbours, Germany has shown strong resistance to the debt crisis that has swept through the 17-country bloc, relying on its powerful export motor to keep the economy humming.

It notched up modest growth of 0.3 percent in the second quarter while the eurozone as a whole contracted by 0.2 percent. But even the German powerhouse has been unable to resist forever and a raft of economic data recently has suggested the economy is beginning to falter.

Looking at the wider eurozone as a whole, the picture certainly looks gloomy. The Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a survey of 5,000 eurozone businesses compiled by the Markit research firm, fell to 45.8 points in October from 46.1 in September.—AFP

24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

business

Turkey’s foreign bond issues balloon on upgrade hopes ISTANBUL: When a Turkish brewing company issued a US dollar bond last week more cheaply than its government, the message to international debt markets was clear: Expect a flood of bonds from Turkish issuers in coming months. Already, Turkish banks are on track to issue more than double the amount of foreign bonds this year compared to last year. The surge is likely to continue in 2013, as the countr y ’s expected upgrade to investment status lures investors. Lenders including Akbank and Isbank have sold some $5.9 billion in foreign currency-denominated bonds so far this year as they look to lengthen their debt maturities and diversify their sources of financing at low cost.

The figure is expected to rise to around $8.5 billion by the end of this year, bankers say, well over twice the $3.4 billion that Turkish banks borrowed abroad last year. “Turkish banks want to take advantage of the abundant global liquidity. The nominal interest rates that Turkish banks pay are still very attractive for investors,” said Cihan Saraoglu, a banking analyst at Ekspres Invest. Many of these investors “borrow money from the European Central Bank with a rate close to zero percent and lend it to the Turkish banks with an interest rate of around 5-6 percent.”

Firms outside the banking sector, which did not issue any foreign bonds last year, are also seizing the opportunity. Conglomerate Calik Holding and oil

refiner Tupras mandated banks this month for planned dollar eurobonds.

Brewer Anadolu Efes, which issued a $500 million, 10-year bond last week at a yield almost 10 basis points inside the Turkish government’s benchmark 2022 notes, says it may become a frequent issuer in the market.

Global liquidity became cheap and abundant after major central banks launched quantitative easing programmes in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. On Sept. 14, the Federal Reserve launched another stimulus programme, pledging to pump $40 billion into the US economy each month.

Turkey looks perfectly positioned to attract such money. It is a country which is still rated below investment grade, meaning yields remain relatively high and its supply of bonds to the global market has been moderate; but it has shown its ability to ride out the global financial crisis comfortably, meaning an upgrade appears increasingly likely.

This accounts for the massive investor demand for recent bond issues

by Turkish banks.

Akbank, Turkey ’s four th-biggest lender by assets, borrowed $1 billion on Oct. 15 in two-part notes with yields of 3.948 percent and 5.129 percent. The issues attracted bids of $9 billion.

Isbank, Turkey’s largest bank by assets, borrowed $1 billion via the issue of a 10year dollar-denominated bond at 6.0 percent, attracting bids over $10 billion.

“The level of yields offered by Turkish

banks and hopes for a credit rating upgrade for Turkey boosted demand for the eurobond issues,” said Kerim Rota, executive vice president in charge of treasury at Akbank. “Although costs are slightly higher than current short-term borrowings...banks need this type of financing to manage their interest rate and liquidity risks.” The average maturity of deposits in the Turkish banking system stands at around 70-75 days while the average maturity of mortgage loans is 3.5-4.0 years, leaving lenders with a potential maturity mismatch that they need to plug.

Turkish state-run lender Vakifbank and Finansbank , the Turkish unit of National Bank of Greece , have recently mandated banks for possible long-term bond issues in the overseas market. Yapi Kredi, the Turkish bank owned by Italy’s Unicredit and Koc Holding, announced on Oct 22 that it was planning to issue foreign exchange or lira-denominated bonds or debt instruments worth up to $1.5 billion with a maturity of 10 years.

Fitch Ratings raised the long-term foreign currency default ratings of both Isbank and Akbank in December 2009 to BBB-, which is investment grade, helping them to attract larger investor bases. “I expect the overseas borrowing to accelerate next year on prospects of a credit rating upgrade for Turkey,” said Saraoglu at Ekspres Invest.

Late in August, Fitch said it might raise Turkey’s long-term rating to investment grade if it made progress in restor-

ing the economy’s potential growth rate, trimmed inflation to its target and cut the current account gap to a more sustainable level. Currently, Fitch rates Turkey at BB+ with a stable outlook, one notch below investment grade. The agency said early in October it would hold a conference on Turkey’s credit outlook in Istanbul on Nov 8. Expectations for an upgrade any time soon may be premature. Although the International Monetary Fund said this month that Turkey was on track to return to its longterm growth path after a slowdown, it predicted a current account deficit of 7.5 percent of gross domestic product this year - high enough to remain a concern.

Annual inflation, around 9.2 percent in September, is well above the central bank’s year-end target of 5 percent; on Wednesday the central bank raised its inflation forecast for 2012 to 7.4 percent from 6.2 percent, and said inflation would still exceed its 5 percent target at the end of 2013. Meanwhile, the other two big rating agencies do not appear as close as Fitch to upgrading Turkey.

However, Turkey’s microeconomic strengths may offset macroeconomic weaknesses in the eyes of investors.

Turkish banks’ average capital adequacy ratio was 16.5 percent in June, according to Turkey’s banking sector watchdog BDDK, far above the 8 percent imposed by the Basel II international standards and the 12 percent required by the BDDK. “ Turkish banks overall compare

favourably to developed market peers on a standalone basis, on the back of better credit matrices, supervision and corporate governance in particular,” sai d Gaurav Arora, director of regional debt origination at RBS. Banks are expected to use proceeds from their international bond issues mostly to buy Turkish government debt and to generate more loans, though the central bank’s efforts to limit loan growth mean the impact on lenders’ profits may be modest. “These resources can constitute a gain for banks only if the loans increase significantly.

But loans will never again grow around 30-35 percent,” said Recep Demir, banking analyst at Garanti Securities. Annual loan growth in Turkey hit a spectacular 30 percent in 2011 but had fallen to 10.6 percent by early October, because of the central bank’s tight monetary policy to prevent overheating. The more moderate growth rate may also make foreign investors more comfortable with Turkish banks.

Anadolu Efes’ dramatic success with its issue last week was partly due to special factors: it was the first Turkish company outside the banking sector to sell 10-year bonds, and the first such firm with two investment-grade ratings to issue overseas. “ There haven’t been any big blue chip corporate out of Turkey in the debt capital markets. The rarity value supported by strong fundamentals has captured the investors’ attention andtheir cash,” sai d Arora of RBS.— Reuters

BANGKOK: This picture taken on October 10, 2012 shows workers at a rice stockpile in Bangkok.

Thailand’s status as the world’s top rice exporter is under threat from a controversial scheme to boost farmer incomes that has resulted in a growing mountain of unsold stocks, experts warn. — AFP

Thai rice mountain casts shadow over world market BANGKOK: Thailand’s status as the world’s top rice exporter is under threat from a controversial scheme to boost farmer incomes that has resulted in a growing mountain of unsold stocks, experts warn.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s year-old policy to buy rice from farmers for 50 percent more than the market price has hit the competitiveness of Thai exports, which are expected to almost halve in 2012.

“It’s the worst year we have ever faced,” said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. “We are already losing our market share in the world to our competitors, especially the newcomers like Cambodia and Myanmar which are producing more and more rice for export,” he told AFP. Rice is the staple food for more than three billion people-nearly half the world’s population. Last year Thailand had nearly a third of the global export market. But its worldwide share is forecast to drop to less than one-fifth in 2012, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which expects the Southeast Asian nation to fall behind rival exporters Vietnam and India.

Thailand produces about 20 million tonnes of rice each year on average, about half of which is normally sold overseas. This year, however, exports are expected to reach only about 6.5 million tonnes, according to the exporter association and the USDA. With its warehouses filling up quickly, Thailand is running out of space to house its unsold stocks and even briefly considered using an aircraft hanger in Bangkok’s number two airport Don Mueang.

The longer the government holds on to the stocks, the bigger the drain on the public finances.Yet experts say if Thailand abandons the scheme now, it risks flooding the world market. “They are in a jam because with all this rice hanging around they have very little option to do anything else other than just keep on going because otherwise the rice price will drop and then they will have political problems,” said Ammar Siamwalla, an economist with the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation (TDRI).

“The Vietnamese and the Indians are rubbing their hands. They’re taking advantage of the fact that we’ve slowed down our exports considerably,” he said. If Thailand tries to shift its glut of rice on

world markets now, “the price would plummet,” Ammar warned. “There is no exit strategy.”

He estimates that Thailand has about 10 million tonnes of stock sitting around in storage. The USDA predicts the country will have stocks of about 9.4 million tonnes at the end of 2012 and 12.1 million tonnes in 2013.

China and India also have large stockpiles but their production and domestic consumption are much higher. While the scheme is putting strains on Thailand’s government finances, it has been welcomed by many farmers, whose support helped sweep Yingluck to a landslide election victory last year.

Her older brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister by royalist generals in a coup in 2006, is hugely popular with Thailand’s rural poor thanks to his populist policies while in power.

“I want the government scheme to continue because, at the very least, it helps us farmers sell our rice at a high price,” said Supoj Joopia, who has 9.6 hectares (24 acres) of rice paddy in Chachoengsao province east of Bangkok.

He said his annual earnings from rice cultivation have soared by more than half to 780,000 baht ($25,000) since signing

up. About four million households rely to some extent on farming in Thailand, of which 900,000 have joined the scheme so far, according to the TDRI. The policy is seen as benefiting owners of large farms in particular as they have a bigger surplus to sell to the authorities after their own household consumption. The scheme has also been dogged by allegations of corruption.

The government says it is confident that it can find buyers for its rice on world markets at a price that will raise the living standards of its farmers. It says it has signed deals to sell rice directly to other countries.

Nigeria, Iraq, Indonesia, Ivory Coast and South Africa are the top customers so far this year, according to the Thai Board of Trade, which says exports slid 45 percent in January-September from a year earlier, to 5.0 million tonnes. “We’re still confident that we can keep releasing the rice that we have,” Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said earlier this month. But not everyone is so optimistic and the fear is that Thailand might struggle to recapture lost market share. “If the situation continues like this, you will see a lot of exporters gone out of business,” Chookiat said. — AFP

FlyDubai to increase flights to Sana’a DUBAI: FlyDubai, Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline, is introducing two additional flights to Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, from 28 October 2012.

Increasing the current four-times weekly service to six, the two extra flights will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flight FZ095 will depart Dubai Terminal 2 at 9 pm, landing at El Rahaba Airport (Sana’a International) at 10:50 pm local time. The return flight, FZ096, leaves at 11:35 pm, arriving in Dubai at 3:10 am the following day.

Sana’a is one of FlyDubai’s most recently established routes having joined its network in April this year, the carrier’s fifth launch in 2012.

The additional flights are in direct response to strong passenger demand and will further boost trade and tourism between the two countries. “We are delighted to add more flights to further strengthen our operations to Sana’a and we are deeply grateful to the Yemeni authorities for their ongoing support.

FlyDubai’s low-cost direct connection will continue to provide travelers with an easy link to Sana’a, in turn driving tourism and investment to this historicallyrich and culturally-vibrant city.

According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the total volume of trade between Yemen and UAE reached $687 million in 2011. The launch of FlyDubai’s cargo services to Sana’a, which took place earlier this year in parallel to its commercial passenger flights, is set to play an important role in growing this multibillion dollar trade relationship.

Further information and details of the carrier’s car rental and travel insurance services can also be found on our website.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

business

Pollution tax stokes Australian inflation SYDNEY: Australian inflation came in ahead of forecasts yesterday, rising a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent in the September quarter as electricity prices jumped following the introduction of a pollution tax.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the consumer price index was 2.0 percent higher on-year as power prices rocketed 15.3 percent. Analysts had expected quarter-on-quarter inflation of 1.1 percent, and 1.7 percent over the year. The spike in electricity prices followed the introduction on July 1 of a

Aus$23 per tonne (US$24) tax on pollution linked to climate change.

Australia’s coal-fired power stations are big emitters.

Apart from electricity, the bureau said the prices of gas and other household fuels, vegetables, international travel and medical and hospital services were the major drivers of the biggerthan-expected increase.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said the impact of the tax was “well within our expectations” and the “great bulk ” reflected price hikes over and above

the pollution levy to pay for new infrastructure like electricity poles and wires. “Electricity prices have risen over 50 percent over the past four years, and that has been unrelated to carbon pricing. That’s five times the expected impact of the carbon price,” Swan told reporters. The treasurer said overall prices were well contained, with the impact of the new tax to be “temporary”.

Underlying inflation, a measure that strips out volatile items and is used by the Reserve Bank of Australia in deter-

mining monetary policy, was up 0.75 percent in the quarter and 2.5 percent on an annual basis.

That is well within the bank’s 2.0-3.0 target range. The Australian dollar jumped to $1.0303 from $1.0271 on the data, seen as reducing the chances of an interest rate cut in November. “It’s still well behaved, core inflation, but it is moving up a little bit faster than we anticipated and you’d have to argue that there is a bit more broad-based strength in prices,” said RBC Capital Markets economist Su-Lin Ong.

“The market is going to question whether there is another rate cut on the cards.” Australia’s central bank cut rates to 3.25 percent this month-their lowest level since the height of the global financial crisis-in a bid to shore up the economy against a weakening outlook. Canberra cut its growth forecasts to 3.0 percent in a budget update this week, down from 3.25 percent forceast in May, also trimming its budget surplus predictions as demand slows in key market China and Europe struggles. — AFP

China’s manufacturing show signs of recovery Consumer price index slowed in September

HONG KONG: A man walks past a currency exchange booth in Hong Kong yesterday. Hong Kong’s de facto central bank said it expects capital inflows into the city to continue after its fourth intervention in the forex market in a week to curb the local dollar’s strength. — AFP

HK expects more capital inflows despite action HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s de facto central bank said yesterday it expects more capital inflows into the city after its fourth intervention in the forex market in a week to curb the local dollar’s strength. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said it sold a further HK$3.06 billion ($395 million) in late New York trading on Tuesday after two similar moves earlier in the day to weaken the Hong Kong dollar’s value, as the local unit hit its upper trading limit with the greenback.

The late sale brought the total amount the HKMA has sold to a combined US$1.85 billion from the four interventions since Friday-the first time the de facto central bank intervened in the currency market in three years.

“We expect net inflows into the Hong Kong dollar will continue for some time,” the HKMA said in a statement. “Since the US Federal Reserve’s launch of the third round of quantitative easing, demand for Hong Kong dollar has increased, and similar rises are also noted in other currencies within the region,” it said.

The authority is obliged to act by buying or selling the local dollar when-

ever it touches either side of the HK$7.75-HK$7.85 trading band against the US dollar, to which it has been pegged for 29 years.

Analysts have said the interventions did not come as a surprise, and are expecting more action from the authorities as hopes for the global economy have picked up following monetary easing measures in the United States and Europe.

“If it continues to touch the 7.75 level, we will have to continue to act,” HKMA deputy chief executive Eddie Yue told reporters. The moves reignited talk of abolishing the local currency’s peg to the US dollar, with some leading officials-including the former head of the HKMA Joseph Yam-calling for a review.

Yam said in a research paper earlier this year it was time for other options to be explored, including a peg to a basket of currencies or a complete float. The HKMA made multiple interventions to weaken the local currency in 2008 and 2009 at the height of the financial crisis, as traders moved into the Hong Kong dollar, which was seen as a safe haven.— AFP

BEIJING: China’s manufacturing sector showed signs of recovery yesterday as an HSBC survey provided fresh evidence that the worst may be over for the world’s number two economy. The preliminary purchasing mangers’ index (PMI) released by the British banking giant hit 49.1 this month, the highest level in three months and up from 47.9 in September. A reading above 50 indicates growth and anything below points to shrinkage. While the figure marks the 12th straight month of contraction, it is also the second consecutive monthly improvement and adds to recent indications the economy is on the mend after a slowdown stretching back to last year. They also come at an important time politically as the country prepares for a once-adecade leadership change at a Communist Party meeting that starts on November 8.

The index, compiled by information services provider Market and released by HSBC, tracks manufacturing activity and is a closely watched barometer of the health of the economy.

China’s official PMI figure was 49.8 for September, a second straight contraction.

October ’s official figures are expected on November 1, the same day HSBC will release its final result. HSBC economists Sun Junwei and Qu Hongbin said in a report that October’s reading came as total new orders picked up to a six-month high, while new export orders had their best showing in five months. They also noted that the PMI result “reflected the filtering through of earlier easing measures” introduced by policymakers this year to boost growth.

Those include two interest rate cuts in quick succession as well as the loosening of restrictions on how much money banks must keep on hand in an effort to boost lending.

China last week said the economy grew 7.4 percent in the three months to September, slowing for the seventh straight three-month period and its worst performance since the first quarter of 2009. Improvements in September for exports, industrial production and retail sales spurred optimism that the worst may be over for the Asian giant, although Sun and Qu

warned that problems in overseas economies and China’s job market continued to weigh.

“Growth has likely bottomed out and is headed for a gradual recovery” into the next three months, they said.

“With inflation still under control and downside risks to growth lingering, China should continue with its current easing efforts to secure a firmer growth recovery.”

China’s consumer price index slowed in September, rising 1.9 percent year-on-year, slightly down from the 2.0 percent recorded in

JIASHAN: This picture taken on October 19, 2012 shows customers and real estate agents looking at several building models at a real estate exhibition in Jiashan, east China’s Zhejiang province. China recently said the economy grew 7.4 percent in the three months until September, slowing for the seventh straight three-month period and its worst performance since the first quarter of 2009.— AFP

LG post profit on smartphone sales SEOUL: South Korean consumer electronics maker LG Electronics Inc. reported a third straight quarterly profit yesterday as sales of smartphones designed for faster wireless networks helped end losses at its mobile phone business.

LG forecast higher smartphone sales for the current quarter but warned lower seasonal demand

for home appliances and air conditioners may result in a decline in overall profit. LG’s mobile business also faces stiff competition in the premium smartphone market dominated by Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics.

LG Electronics said its net profit totaled 157 billion won ($142 million) for the three months ended

China’s Huawei blasts US ‘protectionism’ SYDNEY: Chinese telecoms giant Huawei yesterday accused the US of “protectionism” after Congress labeled it a spy threat, and offered to lay bare its source code and equipment in Australia to allay fears. The firm’s Australia chief John Lord urged against the cyber-security debate becoming “distorted the way it has in the US”, vowing that the company would “never” allow state or individual abuse of its equipment for illegal ends. Huawei, which was founded by former People’s Liberation Army engineer Ren Zhengfei, was barred from tendering for Australia’s national broadband network this year on security grounds.

Those fears were echoed by the US House Intelligence Committee this month, when it warned equipment supplied by Huawei and ZTE, another Chinese telecom equipment maker, could be used for spying and called for their exclusion from government contracts and acquisitions.

Lord said the Congressional committee’s report should be “called for what it really is: protectionism not security”, dismissing it as part of an “ongoing trade conflict between the US and China”. “The fiery rhetoric of the US Committee’s report may make good headline-fodder in an election year, but it should really be seen as a missed oppor tunity,” he told Australia’s National Press Club. Lord said Huawei’s future depended on its “complete transparency” on security and other issues, and dismissed questions about

its links to the Chinese state, denying that client information had or ever would be shared. “Huawei would never allow any third-party country or individual to interfere with our equipment for an illegal purpose,” he said. “Cybersecurity infringements, violations are illegal and we would never allow anyone to do that and we haven’t ... We would never allow our equipment to be misused and I make that point quite strongly.”

Lord said Huawei had been surprised and disappointed to be barred from Australia’s broadband project and had not “to this day” been offered an explanation. He called for the establishment of an independent cybersecurity testing centre where “all equipment implemented into major or critical Australian networks can be subjected to the same thorough security assessment”. “Huawei is willing to offer complete and unrestricted access to our software source code and equipment in such an environment,” said Lord.

A similar centre had been set up in Britain, where Huawei was helping telecoms group BT build a national broadband network with the blessing of state security agencies, he added. Lord said simply blacklisting a country or company no longer made sense, with major telecoms companies sourcing their components from the same factories across the globe. Some 70 percent of Huawei’s own materials came from outside China, he added. — AFP

August. Inflation plagued China’s economy in much of 2010 and 2011, with CPI peaking in July last year at 6.5 percent. Zhang Zhiwei, economist at Nomura International in Hong Kong, agreed that the economy is on the mend.

“Leading indexes all point to rising growth momentum”, he said in a written commentary after the initial PMI announcement by HSBC. Zhang said he expects China’s official PMI figure to rise to 50.2 for October and the economy to accelerate to 8.4 percent year- on-year growth in the fourth quarter.— AFP

SEOUL: A logo of LG is seen in front of the headquarters of LG Electronics in Seoul yesterday. South Korea’s LG Electronics reported a third quarter swing back to profit compared to a huge loss a year ago, after its mobile phone business moved back into the black. — AFP

India wants 8% growth via domestic demand NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the country’s faltering economy should be able to grow at least eight percent a year even when global conditions are poor. The Indian economy expanded at near double-digit rates between 2005 and 2011, but the International Monetary Fund forecasts just 4.9 percent growth in the current fiscal year.

“We cannot be satisfied with the status quo.

Our growth should be maintained at the level of 8 to 8.5 percent regardless of what happens in the world economy,” Singh told senior government officials on Tuesday according to a statement.

“We must learn to swim and swim fast

enough whatever be the circumstances,” he added. India’s once-booming economy has been hit by high interest rates, Europe’s debt crisis that has slowed exports, and sluggish investment caused by domestic and overseas concerns about policy and corruption.

Singh said India could revive growth by focusing on its burgeoning middle-class. “Even if the international demand is not there, domestic demand should drive the investment and our endeavours,” he said. In the past, Singh often blamed eurozone problems for straining India’s economy, saying that the global slowdown had left his government with less room for manoeuvre.—AFP

Sept. 30, compared with a 414 billion won loss a year earlier. Sales fell 4 percent to 12.4 trillion won as LG sold fewer low-end cellphones and the weak economy pressured demand for TVs. The result was better than expected. LG’s shares closed up 1.4 percent in Seoul following the earnings announcement. The maker of Optimus G smartphones lost money in the last two quarters of 2011 before returning to profit in the first quarter of this year when the mobile communications division made a small profit.

Its forecast-beating performance in the third quarter mainly stemmed from a surprise profit at LG’s mobile business. Some analysts had forecast its mobile business to continue losing money for a second straight quarter after losing 57 billion won in the April-June period. But LG’s mobile communications division earned 22 billion won and sold more than 7 million smartphones, the highest quarterly sales for the company and a sign that its smartphones are growing in popularity.

LG credited demand for smartphones that run on faster “LTE” networks, which are taking off in South Korea, Japan and the United States. It sold 14.4 million mobile phones during the three months, with smartphone sales accounting for half of the volume. More than 70 percent of its mobile revenue came from smartphone sales.

Although its mobile profit and smartphone sales still pale in comparison to those of Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc., the latest result puts LG among the few global mobile manufacturers that are on track for a recovery. Nokia and Research In Motion are still struggling to pull off a turnaround.

Analysts expect LG’s mobile business to report its first annual profit in three years. LG’s mobile communications division lost more than 900 billion won in 2010 and 2011 combined as it ceded market share to Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy brands.

But they are skeptical that LG’s mobile business will be as profitable as those of Samsung or Apple, as growth of high-end smartphone sales could slow in developed countries and Chinese smartphone makers are advancing in low-end smartphone markets. “Although LG isn’t expected to post as high a profit as Samsung, it is on track to report profit in mobile business,” said Kwon Sung-ryul, an analyst at Dongbu Securities. Kwon said the Optimus G martphones and other models in the pipeline will increase its smartphone sales in coming quarters.

The company also needs to have a blockbuster smartphone, like the Galaxy or Apple’s iPhone, to strengthen its position in the smartphone market.

Industry watcher says LG is the maker of Google’s upcoming Nexus smartphone, expected to be announced next week.

LG reported a quarterly operating profit of 221 billion won compared with a 32 billion won operating loss a year earlier. —AP

26

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

BUSINESS

Al-Futtaim’s Trading launches Fisker hybrid cars in ME DUBAI: Fisker, the world’s first environmentally-responsible luxury car made its official Middle East appearance last night as Trading Enterprises and Fisker Automotive leadership unveiled the award-winning Karma sedan in front of global and regional media at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City.

Senior management from Al-Futtaim and Fisker Automotive pulled the wraps off the world’s first high performance electric luxury vehicle, making the privately held Dubai-based business group exclusive partner in the GCC and MENA regions.

The launch was attended by Henrik Fisker, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Fisker Automotive, Barny Koehler, Co-Founder and CEO of Europe and Middle East, Fisker Automotive, Len Hunt, President - Automotive, Al-Futtaim Group, Colin Cordery, Managing Director, Trading Enterprises and other senior management from Al-Futtaim.

Trading Enterprises will distribute the Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio endorsed Fisker automobiles exclusively in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and the Levant. The region’s first Fisker showroom will open in Dubai Festival City’s automotive park before the end of the year. Depending on

the chosen interior trims, accessories and paint combinations.

Colin Cordery, Managing Director, Trading Enterprises said: “We are familiar with first-class automotive brands and

Fisker and support their vision of delivering uncompromised, responsible luxury to this part of the world. Al-Futtaim has built strength and credibility in delivering great customer experience and this latest part-

understand the need to offer premium customers a technologically advanced vehicle that respects the environment.

“Fisker offers an environmental alternative to traditional luxury vehicles and we are well placed and proud to partner with

nership with Fisker automobiles further reiterates our position as the region’s number one dealer of the finest automotive brands.”

Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo Di Caprio is an equity investor in

Fisker Automotive who are committed to producing electric vehicles with extended range that deliver uncompromised responsible luxury. The company is on the forefront of designing and developing the world’s first line of premium plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.

Henrik Fisker, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman at Fisker Automotive said: “Today is a proud moment for the Fisker brand as it is the start to our journey in the Middle East. We could not have found a better business house than AlFuttaim Group to partner us. Al-Futtaim is one of the strongest players in the automotive segment with proven capabilities in customer engagement, high standards of after-sales service, network of showrooms and parts distribution centres. We are honoured to have a partner with such strong legacy.”

Following the unveiling of the Fisker Karma, Fisker said: “The Karma sedan is built according to the company’s sustainable and Accountable Design(tm) philosophy, which represents a dramatic leap forward for the auto industry. Fisker’s approach to responsible luxury goes well beyond minimising fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Fisker uses renewable materials and the lowest-impact technolo-

Nissan Patrol drives to highest sales in Gulf Over 3,500 units between July and September DUBAI: Nissan Patrol has posted the highest ever quarter for sales in the Gulf market, recording more than 3,500 units between July and September 2012. August was a record month with sales close to 1,500 units. At 89%, Nissan Patrol’s sales growth is almost double that

of the Large Sport Utility Vehicle Segment SUV-L. Additionally, the Patrol market share is up 33% reaching 20% of the segment this year. The significant growth in demand of the SUV segment can be attributed to a buoyant customer sentiment in the region, and of course the refreshing new blend

of luxury and technology that Patrol offers to the discerning SUV customers today.

Meticulously engineered for over 60 years, the Patrol is Nissan’s flagship SUV model and enjoys a rich heritage and passionate following in the Middle East that dates

back to the 1950s. It is no small statement to say that for many owners across the Middle East, the Patrol is the vehicle that they grew up with; becoming an inseparable part of the social and cultural fabric of Arabia.

“These record sales are a direct result of the aesthetic and techno-

Joyalukkas launch mega promotion KUWAIT: Joyalukkas has announced exciting offers and winnings for the festive season. The mega promotion will commence during Eid and continue till 17 November, 2012. All Joyalukkas showrooms across GCC will feature a host of new jewellery collections to meet the demands and requirement of the festive shoppers.

Some of the great offers planned by Joyalukkas include an incredible 50% discount on Diamond and Polki jewellery with 4gm gold coins every KD 1,000 purchase of Diamond and Polki jewellery, the opportunity to book jewellery in advance to get the price advantage plus a chance to win up to 2 kilos in gold bars on every spend of KD 50.

“The festive season is here and we are starting our mega offers from the Eid period to ensure all festival shoppers make the most during the celebration period. We have completely refreshed our designs and collections with latest designs and some exquisite festive collection across all our showrooms. In addition to this we have created excellent offers to make the festival special for all our customers,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD, Joyalukkas Group.

Joyalukkas has created special offers and promotions exclusive to every country they are located during this festive season to cater to the exclusive needs and desires of their customers located around the world.

Each country will feature designs and collections exclusive to their location plus have a host of new international and festive designs to meet all expectations of the jewellery lovers during the festive period.

“We are a customer centric brand and every effort we take is to ensure our customers remain excited and happy to shop at Joyalukkas. I would like to wish all our customers a grand Eid celebration and wish them prosperity and good health at all times”, said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group.

logical superiority of the Patrol in a very competitive segment,” said Samir Cherfan, Sales and Marketing Director, Nissan Middle East. “With unique features like the independent body motion 4WD control, Around view monitor and Fuel efficient 5.6 V8 engine, we are confident that our

flagship SUV for the Middle East will continue to excite our customers and exceed all expectations”.

The current new generation Patrol was launched in 2010. The success can be traced back to Nissan mission to build the best possible Patrol to break through the competition. Nissan engineers first tested

200 prototypes at the proving grounds in Japan before sending them to the Middle East where they were exposed to every imaginable challenge; desert, rocky surfaces and highway conditions. A further program of tests was then carried out, in the tough terrain areas close to the UAE and Saudi border to perfect performance and durability of the Patrol prior to its launch in 2010.

The Patrol is available in two specification grades - SE and LE with a very wide choice of equipment levels on each grade to satisfy individual customer requirements. The LE grade features a 400hp/560Nm version of the ‘VK56VD’ 5.6-litre V8 engine with VVEL (variable valve event and lift) and DIG (direct injection gasoline) technologies together with a 7speed automatic transmission with manual mode shift technology.

The SE grade secures the same 5.6litre V8 engine but in highly competitive 317hp engine tune and with a choice of either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission. The Patrol is now available for excellent value that starts from well below AED 190,000. Customers can find out more about the new Patrol at our site. GCC markets excluding KSA.

MENA women in focus at leadership initiative DUBAI: The stereotype of the Arab woman is Women’s Leadership Network, Middle East and changing so quickly, investors better take note if North Africa, MasterCard Worldwide said: “We are they don’t want to be left behind. With wealth of proud to associate with the Women In Leadership $40 billion, female Gulf investors are forging a initiative that focuses on advancing women’s new identity which focuses on financial and contribution to the economy and also creating social independence. Seeking high-level invest- more opportunities for them in the workforce. ments to help pave a legitimate path to increas- We support initiatives that encourage concrete ing their portfolios, the majority of these ultra- actions toward maximising women’s contribuwealthy women live in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, tions for societal development and economic Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, where growth.”

Raghu Malhotra, president, Middle East and women alone control assets worth $245 billion.

For those who want to be involved in the North Africa, MasterCard Worldwide added: “To compete in today’s comground breaking mileplex, ever-changing global stones being made by marketplace, a diverse women, The Women In workforce is not merely an Leadership Forum Middle asset, it’s a necessity. That is East and Africa provides the why MasterCard Worldwide perfect platform to discuss has put a premium on nurthe development of busituring an inclusive culture nesswomen from all backwhere employees with grounds, industry sectors wide-ranging backgrounds and locations around the and qualities find themworld. Focusing on this selves highly motivated, year’s theme ‘Womenomics engaged, and connected.” as the region’s key driver for “With approximately growth,’ the two days fea1,000 members in 36 locature an impressive list of tions across MasterCard’s local and international five regions, the Women’s speakers and industry leadLeadership Network seeks ers from different regions, to advance women’s including the Middle East, careers and performance Africa, Europe and the through a culture of menAmericas. toring and coaching. By Organised by French enabling the members’ information company professional and personal Naseba, this year’s edition Raghu Malhotra growth, it provides reputafocuses on the importance of increasing women’s business opportunities. It tional and financial benefit to MasterCard and is providing local and global organisations with our shareholders,” continued Malhotra.

The topics for discussion during Women In the ultimate opportunity to showcase their diversity and inclusion initiatives to an elite target Leadership Middle East and Africa will reveal sucaudience of the world’s most prominent and suc- cessful strategies for providing local talent with global opportunities. In addition, it will address cessful business leaders.

MasterCard is one such organisation and a the major challenges expected in the Middle ‘Supporting Partner’ of the platform. Speaking East and Africa region in the coming years, and about their outstanding contributions to female also identify solutions to maintain sustainable empowerment, Ngozi Megwa, president, growth.

gies at every stage of the engineering, production and marketing processes.”

The Fisker Karma sedan has already picked a number of global awards in its debut sales year, including Top Gear’s Luxury Car of the Year, Automobile’s Design of the Year Award, listing in TIME Magazine’s Top 50 Innovations of 2012, a Global Green Design Award, and Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte named Karma Most Stylish Car of 2012.

Also last week, the Fisker Karma was awarded the prestigious Fast Company Magazine ‘Innovation by Design’ Awards to win the Transportation Category finishing ahead of competitors including the Boeing 787 airliner, the Faraday Bike and Ford’s Fusion. The Karma was also awarded a coveted Auto Bild Magazine “Golden Steering Wheel Award” as “Classic Car of the Future” - limousine category - voted for by readers of this highly respected publication.

Finally, in eco-conscious Sweden, the Fisker Karma was voted by Auto Motor Und Sport Magazine as the Environmental Car of the Year for 2012. The magazine praised the Karma for its ability to combine both desire and environmental compatibility whilst making a statement in automotive development.

CBK offers services during Eid holidays he Commercial Bank of Kuwait continues to offer bank ing ser vices to clients during the Eid Al-Adha holidays, and that Kuwait International Airport branches located in the departure and arrival lounges. Clients can also use services presented at the call center on the hotline, as well as ATMs located across the countr y throughout the holidays.

Finalizing banking transactions through the CBK’s website is also available throughout the holidays.

T

Gulf Bank closes during Eid Al-Adha holidays KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced the closing of its branches during Eid Al-Adha based on the resolution of Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) to standardize holidays for all local banks. Therefore, Gulf Bank’s head office and all branches will be closed from Thursday, 25 October through to Monday, 29 October. The Bank will commence normal working hours on Tuesday, 30 October 2012.

During the holidays, customers will continue to have round-the-clock access to Gulf Bank on our lines, where Gulf Bank staff are available 24 hours to directly assist customers. Customers can also

logon to Gulf Bank’s website, to get more information about the bank’s latest products and services.

On this blessed occasion, Gulf Bank would like to convey its sincere congratulations and best wishes to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah - May Allah Almighty safeguard and preserve them for their nation, as well as to the government and people of Kuwait. May Allah protect Kuwait and its people from all harm.

Kuwait to hold conference on investment KUWAIT: Future Generations Advisors Co WLL is preparing for the first conference about investment opportunities in Sheraton Kuwait on Sunday, January 27, 2013 with the title: Kuwait Investment Opportunities.

The goal of the conference is to be the main event where Kuwaiti companies meet global companies with interest to invest in emerging the markets. There are many international firms that are interested to invest in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and South America. Such firms look for growing economies with good rule of law and protection of property rights.

Kuwait is a country that recorded high economic growth over the past decade and it has an advanced court system compared with neighboring

countries. Therefore, it is the conference goal to put Kuwait on the front of emerging market countries for the future.

The conference is about special investment opportunities for global investors. There will be discussions about specific legislations that protects property rights in Kuwait and the need for outside capital. The conference is an excellent opportunity to sell Kuwaiti assets without worrying about perception of weakness from owners. There are many participants who are serious buyers and are looking for investment opportunities. The conference will also discuss success stories of foreign investors in Kuwait.

It also fits with his highness vision of making Kuwait a financial center and a gate to big regional economies.

Al-Ajmi wins KD 10,000 from Wataniya Telecom KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom has announced the winner of the ninth weekly draw as part of a series of draws for prepaid customers. Saad Hamdan Mesfir Al-Ajmiwas announced as the winner this week for a cash prize of KD 10,000.

The draw was held in the presence of the company representatives and under the supervision of an officer from the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Trade and Industry Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

Wataniya launched this exclusive campaign last August which includes weekly draws for a chance to win KD 10,000 at each draw. To enter the draw, customers need to recharge their Wataniya prepaid lines for a minimum of KD 1 using any recharge method, such as vouchers, our website, recharge kiosk machines or Wcharger. They will get one chance to enter the draw for every fils; therefore 1,000 chances for every KD 1.

On the occasion, Wataniya Telecom congratulated its customer and stated “Winners are so

thrilled and delighted whenever they are informed that they are the winners of this amazing prize every week. We would like to congratulate Saad Al-Ajmi winning the prize of KD 10,000 this week, and we wish all our prepaid customers the very best for the upcoming draws.” Wataniya added “The series of draws will continue for few upcoming weeks. This exclusive draw is considered to be the first of its kind in Kuwait offering valuable cash prizes to customers. Wataniya looks forward to engaging its customers with many more exciting campaigns and surprises in the near future.”

All prepaid customers are eligible to enter the draw and win KD 10,000 by simply recharging their lines starting at KD 1 only. The more they recharge their line, the more chances they can get in the draws.

Furthermore the chances collected by the customer are valid for all the remaining draws and the customer can check the total chances by calling customer service.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Majority of GCC Internet users unaware of dangerous threats DUBAI: A recent survey conducted by O+K Research for Kaspersky Lab in GCC shows that most of respondents have never heard of online threats, while 14 percent of those surveyed admitted to only knowing about them in general terms.

Stuxnet, Duqu, and Zeus are the names of the most dangerous online threats, and have been reported even outside of the specialist computer press. But it seems that many ordinary users remain largely ignorant of them. As per the company’s official statement highlighting the findings of the study, it has been revealed that the participants of the survey represented all GCC countries, they were asked about zero-day attacks and botnets. 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 do not 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) in GCC countries think their data is relatively safe. 7percent of respondents are sure their computer 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: 10 percent of tablet owners and 15 percent of modern smartphone users in are sure their devices are in no danger. About one third of all mobile users in GCC countries 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 2013 ensures timely protection from all cyber-threats, including todays’ most dangerous cyber-weapons.

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.

Automated vehicles to help reduce crash risk US govt to examine technology

SAN JOSE: Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller announces the new iPad Mini during an Apple special event at the historic California Theater in San Jose, California. — AFP

Mighty iPad Mini looks like a holiday hit SAN JOSE: Apple’s iPad Mini will bring a lot more excitement and a little more confusion to the holiday shopping season.

It only takes a few minutes playing with the iPad Mini to realize the scaled-down tablet computer will be a sure-fire hit with longtime Apple disciples and potential converts who’ve been looking for a more affordable entree into the mobile computing market.

With a 7.9-inch screen, the iPad Mini is perfectly sized to be stuffed in Christmas stockings. Recipients who will discover the pleasure and convenience of being able to take pictures, surf the Web, watch video, read books and listen to music on an exquisitely designed device that’s pancake thin.

As enticing as that all sounds, the iPad Mini also causes a dilemma, albeit a pleasant one.

The new option will make it even more difficult for holiday shoppers to figure out which mobile device to buy for their loved ones -or for themselves. I felt the pangs of indecision within a few minutes of picking up the iPad Mini for the first time.

As the company usually does at its product unveilings, Apple Inc. only provided reporters with limited, strictly supervised access to the iPad Mini on Tuesday. That meant I could only experiment with it for about 15 minutes, but as an experienced user of the iPad 2, I could quickly see that the smaller tablet does just about everything its bigger brethren does.

Even though the Mini’s screen is 1.8 inches smaller than the standard iPad, the movie “ The Avengers” looked lush, even in a side-by-side comparison with the larger tablet.

When I pulled up the latest issue of the New Yorker, I didn’t have to strain to see the text or pictures on the smaller screen. A quick check of other websites verified that the Mini’s screen isn’t so tiny that it’s going to cause a lot of squinting. After I took a very crisp picture of another reporter testing out a Mini, I decided to email it to her to test how easy it was to use the keyboard on the smaller screen. No problem there.

Best of all, the iPad Mini can be held in one hand and is about half the weight of the larger iPad. The Mini worked so much like my standard iPad that it immediately caused me to have second thoughts about a decision I thought I had already made. I like my iPad 2 a lot, but it’s just too big to carry with me wherever I am. But there have been times I really wish I had it with me, like when I spot something that would make a great picture or when I’ve needed to check something on

the Web. For various reasons, I didn’t want a smartphone that would require a data plan, so I had my mind set on buying the latest iPod Touch, which has an iPhone-size screen and superb camera.

Now, the iPad Mini has me vacillating. Apple isn’t making it easier with its pricing strategy. The latest iPod Touch with 32 gigabytes sells for $299. An iPad Mini with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $329. I’m tempted.

Like others who will no doubt be weighing the same decision, I’ll have to make up my mind. Do I want something that can fit in my one of pant pockets like the Touch? For starters, it comes in more colors than the black-or-white Mini and offers more storage capacity for a cheaper price.

Or do I want to pay a little more for another tablet computer that can slip into a coat pocket and offer a richer experience with a screen nearly two times larger than the new Touch?

The iPad Mini is so mighty that I can’t believe the iPad 2 will be on the market too much longer. The iPad 2’s $399 price now looks like too much, given that the iPad Mini can do just about everything it does on a slightly smaller screen. The iPad 2 still may have some appeal for people who want a larger tablet at a lower price the newest iPads, but I can’t see too many consumers buying Apple’s second-generation tablet now that the Mini is available.

Consumers who aren’t set on buying one of Apple’s devices will have even more choices to make.

The iPad Mini is clearly aimed at siphoning sales away from the Nexus 7 tablet that Google Inc. began selling four months ago and the longer-established Kindle Fire from Amazon.com Inc. Figuring out which one is best-suited for you (or that special someone on your shopping list) will likely come down to weighing price against performance.

Amazon is sells a Kindle Fire HD with 16 gigabytes of storage and 7inch screen for $199 and a similarly sized Nexus 7 goes for $249. That means an iPad Mini will cost $80 to $130 more, a price that Apple believes is justified because it boasts more features, such as front and back cameras. The Mini’s reliance on aluminum instead of plastic for its exterior also makes it look more stylish and more enjoyable to hold.

If the speculation on technology blogs pans out, Google might make things even more interesting - and dizzying for holiday shoppers - by introducing a $99 version of the Nexus 7 in the coming weeks.— AP

WASHINGTON: Cars that drive themselves may hold the potential to save thousands of lives, an Obama administration safety official said yesterday, as the government prepares to launch a research initiative to determine the safety and reliability of automated driving technologies. Automated vehicles are the next “evolutionary step” in car technology, David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told an industry gathering sponsored by Swedish automaker Volvo and the Swedish Embassy in Washington. He said his agency has held extensive discussions with automakers and Google about what needs to happen before automated cars can be safely introduced to consumers.

“Automated vehicles offer an important and challenging method for reducing crash risk that we believes holds great promise,” Strickland said. He noted that human error was a factor in about 90 percent of the over 33,000 traffic deaths recorded in 2010. “We have the chance of ... saving thousands and thousands of lives as” cars in use today are replaced with automated vehicles, he said.

Google is developing a fleet of automated vehicles. Most auto manufacturers are moving in that direction as well. Three states - Nevada, Florida and California - have authorized testing of automated cars on their roads. Legislation has been proposed in several other states and the District of Columbia.

The kinds of automated cars Google and most automakers envision eventually bringing to market

involve the driver ceding control of the vehicle to its computers - feet off the pedals and hands off the wheel - but still remaining ready to retake control if necessary, Strickland said. That means the driver would need to monitor the vehicle and what’s going on outside it.

In a fully-automated vehicle, the driver would program a destination into the car’s computers, but would not be expected to control the vehicle, he said.

“We know of no such vehicle being designed for civilian highway use at this time, but at some time in the future this may be the logical outcome for all the current efforts that are underway by manufacturers and other non-automotive company providers,” Strickland said.

He declined to say when the government might propose safety standards for automated cars. Setting such standards would require the government to fundamentally rethink the way it evaluates auto safety, he said.

“We may have to depend on modeling and simulation of detailed traffic interactions that lead to crashes as opposed to the typical crash-testing model that we’ve used ... over the past 40 years,” Strickland said.

Key questions will be whether the software in automated cars will be able to handle complicated driving situations and whether there will always need to be a human driver paying attention and ready to step in. Besides reducing traffic deaths, automated cars may be an alternative for people like the elderly

and the blind whose mobility is limited because they don’t drive, he said.

“If this is done in a reliable and safe way it could be a game changer for that population,” Strickland said.

Volvo used the gathering to showcase a new “traffic jam assistance system” that enables a car to automatically follow the vehicle ahead in slow-moving traffic up to 30 mph. Volvo described the new system, which will be ready for production in 2014, as “another step on the journey toward ... self-driving vehicles.”

Over the past decade, automakers have been gradually introducing automated safety features into cars, especially high-end vehicles. Forward-collision warning systems, for example, alert drivers when they are likely to crash into a car in front of them and, in some cases, will briefly take control of the vehicle away from the driver to apply the brakes.

The government is already testing “connected vehicle” technology in which cars continuously communicate over wireless networks with other similarly equipped vehicles, exchanging information on location, direction and speed 10 times a second within about 1,000 feet. A computer analyzes the information and issues danger warnings of impending collisions to drivers, often before they can see the other vehicle. Still, automated cars “are not around the corner,” Peter Mertens, Volvo’s senior vice president of research and development, said. “There is more (public) acceptance needed.” — AP

Pushing the limits of the touch screen NEW YORK: Making pinching or flicking motions against the screen of a smart phone or tablet is often more intuitive than navigating a computer screen with a mouse, but Michael Knuepfel thinks touch screens can do much more. Knuepfel, who just graduated from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, has created devices that enable the screens to register more aspects of a user’s touches. His goal is to make touch-screen interactions “more tactile, more physical, and potentially more expressive and fun.”

Touch Screen: Knuepfel’s devices work with “capacitive” touch screens such as the one in this iPad. The iPhone, as well as most smart phones and tablets, uses similar technology. It works by detecting the way a user’s finger disrupts the pattern of electrical charge on the screen. Like the moves and clicks of a mouse, this information can be converted into an input.

Video-Game Controller: Playing most video games involves pressing buttons quickly, acting by feel rather than sight. A touch screen is difficult to use that way, so Knuepfel turned one into a game controller by adding physical buttons. He applied conductive material that creates an electrical path from a finger to the screen when a button is pressed. Pulse Generator: Knuepfel modified an electrode with external circuitry and duct-taped it to the screen to create a prototype pulse generator. The electrode simulates the human touch and sends touch “pulses” at a rate detected by the screen.

Analog inputs, such as information

about varying volume or pressure, could be converted into a faster or slower series of pulses so that the touch screen could process them.

Light-Sensor Output: To make his creations even more useful, Knuepfel wants them to be able to receive data from the touch screen in addition to providing it. For example, he created a prototype robot that has a light sensor and can sit on top of a touch screen.

When a user touches the screen, the device translates the gestures into light patterns; the robot detects them and moves accordingly. Mechanical Stylus: Today’s touch screens respond the same way no matter how hard you press on them. Knuepfel’s mechanical stylus demonstrates one way that could be changed. The device has two arms, which spread farther apart as the user applies more pressure. Software detects the distance between the arms, thinning or thickening a corresponding line that appears on the screen.

Signet Ring: Capacitive touch screens can also accept input from multiple simultaneous touches. That’s the basis of a low-level security feature Knuepfel designed. He made rings that use conductive material to create several electrical pathways from the user’s fingers to the screen. These pathways are arranged in a distinct pattern; software on a tablet could look for a user’s pattern before allowing access to private content. Sound Stylus: This stylus includes a wire that plugs into an iPad’s microphone input jack. Pressing the stylus to the screen generates pulses of sound that speed up with greater pressure. —MCT

NEW YORK: An attendee at the Philips Sonicare “Great Dig” learns about the benefits of Philips Sonicare technology on Tuesday in New York. A 5,000 year-old technology-the manual toothbrush-was among the many “ancient technologies” uncovered at the event. —AP

SEOUL: A woman looks at LG Electronics’ products near advertisement of the company’s Optimus G smartphone at a shopping mall in Seoul yesterday. South Korean consumer electronics maker LG Electronics Inc. reported a third straight quarterly profit yesterday as it sold more smartphones designed for faster wireless networks. — AP

The rise of the virtual office HOUSTON: The idea that the office is a specific place where our professional lives happen is becoming less universal, and less important.

These days many knowledge workers can be productive anywhere, thanks to smarter, more numerous mobile devices, faster network access, and a growing number of online collaboration tools. And wherever the office may be, wider and better use of social networks, data analytics, and technologies such as voice recognition could be poised to increase productivity dramatically-meaning that both real and virtual offices may have fewer people in them.

But while the physical office is changing, certain connotations of the word “office” are not.

One can think of at least two-”hierarchical organization” and “place for human interaction”that are not becoming any less important. Even the most progressive high-tech companies retain organizational trappings of their industrial-age predecessors: full-time managers, org charts, job descriptions, and so on. And since humans remain social animals, gathering places will remain important in business. These spaceswhether they be conventional offices, temporary ones, or conference facilities-must be made conducive to collaboration. They must also become physically healthy places to spend hours of time, since sedentary work has emerged as a significant health threat.

As the office expands beyond its conventional boundaries, key challenges must be met, including the privacy and security issues posed by a distributed workforce of people who use multiple digital devices. New tools like cloudbased office productivity apps must be made not only user-friendly but resistant to attacks and data loss. And workers will need better tools-including improved voice-recognition software, e-mail-organizing technologies, and intelligent agents that help handle complex tasks once reserved for specialists-to streamline work processes and make sense of the overwhelming volumes of data besieging them.

To date, IT-driven productivity gains within the office have been modest, at least compared with those seen in manufacturing. In 1989 the U.S. manufacturing sector employed 18 million people; by 2009 that figure had declined to 11.8

million. But though the workforce shrank 34 percent, the value added by US manufacturersthe value of their output minus the cost of raw materials purchased-surged 75 percent. We’ve observed white-collar productivity improvement as well, especially since the mid-1990s, but it hasn’t been as big.

That may soon change. Consider that people already routinely deal with computers rather than office workers when they make an airline reservation, buy products and arrange for delivery, or troubleshoot a problem with a product. If a task involves simple and predictable forms of communication without much nuance or emotion, computers can do just fine, leaving humans to handle an everdwindling number of exceptions to the usual procedures or questions. More far-out advances in artificial intelligence could push productivity even further. Voice recognition, speech synthesis, and automatic translation have improved significantly. And we’ve seen that computers can now accurately understand and reply to questions: IBM’s Watson supercomputer beat human competitors at Jeopardy! this year.

Skeptics will point out that futurists have been promising an AI-driven revolution in knowledge work for decades. But by now even the skeptics are finding phone numbers with the help of computer operators. When the productivity enhancements from these innovations are tallied, I predict, they will be striking.

On top of this, software and social tools can boost the productivity of the remaining human office workers. For example, a customer-service rep who answers technical questions can work with just one customer at a time on the phone, but it’s easy to handle two or more simultaneously if the medium is instant messaging. Whole office-based industries may become vastly more efficient. The legal profession, for one, may be in the early stages of a deep transformation. A new breed of legal outsourcing offers much cheaper ways to accomplish certain tasks: contract lawyers and digital tools scan documents during discovery processes, for example.

Intelligent software will only get better at finding associations in those documents and mining meaning from it all.—MCT

so erey

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Men, not women, are better multitaskers: Swedish study STOCKHOLM: Working mothers may have to juggle more tasks than their husbands, but the long-held belief that women are better than men at multitasking is a myth, according to new Swedish research. “On the contrary, the results of our study show that men are better at multitasking than women,” Timo Maentylae, a psychology professor at Stockholm University, said.

Men are sometimes better than women at handling multiple tasks simultaneously, but the performance

gap is correlated to the female menstrual cycle, according to his study, to be published in US peerreviewed journal Psychological Science.

In line with previous research, men and women with good so-called working memory were also better than others at multitasking. However, Maentylae found that the ability to combine several different tasks at once was also linked to spatial ability which, for women, is linked to their menstrual phase.

“Previous studies have shown that women’s spatial skills vary across the menstrual cycle with high capacity around menstruation and much lower around ovulation, when oestrogen levels are high,” he said.

“The results showed a clear difference in multitasking between men and women in the ovulation phase, while this effect was eliminated for women in the menstrual phase.”

The participants, 160 men and women between 20

and 43 years of age, were instructed to keep track of three digital “clocks”, or counters, that displayed different times at different speeds. While registering certain times displayed by the clocks, defined by a simple set of rules, they also had to watch a scrolling ticker featuring common Swedish names, pressing the mouse button when one of the names was repeated. Differences in spatial ability and working memory were based on separate tests. — AFP

Meningitis suits may turn on how injections are defined Lawsuits target physicians, health clinic

TRENTON: File photo shows Sierra Club volunteer Becky Williams uses a megaphone in Little Rock, Ark, at a rally against a coal-fired power plant near a large inflatable depicting a hand holding an asthma inhaler. — AP photos

Glaxo starting first US inhaler recycling program TRENTON: Patients who use respiratory inhalers will be able to recycle the devices for the first time in the US, according to British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC, which is launching its “Complete the Cycle” program yesterday in drugstores in 31 cities. GlaxoSmithKline is the top seller of respiratory medicines in the US, with brands including the blockbuster Advair, but its new program will also recycle inhalers made by competitors. The program, starting in cities from Anchorage, Alaska, to Atlanta, will enable patients to drop off inhalers in boxes at participating pharmacies. When bags inside the boxes are full, they’ll be shipped to a Glaxo recycling contractor.

“We expect to bring back at least 100,000 inhalers in the 31 markets” in the first year, Jorge Bartolome, Glaxo’s senior vice president for its respiratory business, told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. The company will then decide deciding where to expand the program in the US and internationally. It’s already running in the United Kingdom and a pilot program has begun in Chile.

“This is good for patients. This is good for pharmacists.

This is good for the environment,” Bartolome said, noting the program is part of Glaxo’s ongoing efforts to minimize its environmental impact, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and limiting waste and use of water. Glaxo, the world’s seventh-biggest drugmaker by revenue, ran pilot projects in some pharmacies in five of the 31 cities, and got back about 3,000 inhalers in a year.

It’s now signed up about 10 percent of the 20,000 pharmacies in those cities and hopes more will join the program.

Millions of Americans use one inhaler on average each month, inhaling or squirting the medicine inside into the back of the throat to relax and expand airways. Some inhalers are used once or twice every day, while others, called rescue inhalers, are used during an attack of asthma or a flareup of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

When attacks are triggered - by cigarette smoke, viral infections, cold air, stress, exercise or by allergens such as pollen or certain foods - airway muscles spasm and constrict, and can even be blocked by an increase in mucus production.

That leaves the person gasping for breath. Inhalers, often called rescue inhalers, provide a fast-acting medicine to reverse those effects. Glaxo chose the 31 cities because more than 30 million inhalers, about one-third of annual US sales, occur in those markets - and they have high rates for recycling household waste.

A specialized recycler working with Glaxo will separate the inhalers’ plastic and metal component, for them to be turned into products such as plastic hangers and car parts.

Gas remaining in inhalers that use a propellant will be recovered and reused. Glaxo’s Advair inhaler, sold under the brand name Seretide in some other countries, was the third-best-selling prescription drug product worldwide in

TRENTON: This undated image provided by GlaxoSmithKline PLC shows a respiratory inhaler recycle bin. — AP 2011, with annual sales of about $8.7 billion, according to drug data firm IMS Health. Glaxo also sells inhalers under the Flovent, Serevent, Ventolin and Relenza brands.

London-based Glaxo also is a major seller of vaccines and consumer health products, including the Alli weight loss pill, commit smoking cessation lozenges and Aquafresh toothpaste. — AP

Tennessee. A company representative did not respond to a request for comment on the litigation. In one Massachusetts case, plaintiffs have tried to go after NECC’s executives, seeking a court order to freeze the assets of company owners Barry and Lisa Cadden and Greg Conigliaro.

Damage calculations Product-liability claims against doctors or hospitals are not always allowed. In some states, doctors are protected from strict liability standards, and some states impose caps on damages for such claims, said Charles Joern, a Chicago lawyer who defends companies in product liability lawsuits. “That’s going to play a role in determining where claims are filed,” Joern said. Indeed, the issue of damages is central to personal injury litigation, and limits on damages can deter litigation. Compensatory damages, which cover a plaintiff’s financial loss, are often modest.

But plaintiffs usually seek punitive damages, designed to punish wrongdoers, which can be much higher.

In practice, punitive damages can be difficult to win, except in extreme cases. “In New York, for example, unless a doctor comes in the room drunk and cuts off the wrong leg, it’s hard,” said Jaroslawicz. “Most doctors, if they make a mistake, it’s an honest mistake.”

Because lawsuits are likely to be filed in multiple states, outcomes could vary. Plaintiffs may file claims for both product liability and malpractice, in hopes one or both stick, said Andrew Meyer, a personal injury lawyer at Massachusetts law firm Lubin & Meyer, which has been looking into potential cases on behalf of meningitis plaintiffs. Hospitals and doctors may not be the only defendants. Everyone in the supply chain, from suppliers to compounders to distributors, could face litigation, Meyer said.

One entity unlikely to be sued is the federal government, said Motley Rice’s Migliori. “You can point the finger and say these steroids should have been regulated betterthat’s the big controversy,” he said. “But you can’t say the government in this case failed to carry out a duty.” While the US Food and Drug Administration have limited authority to regulate pharmacies such as NECC, it has been under scrutiny because it had flagged violations at the company as recently as 2006. There is some precedent for successfully suing the government over faulty products, but only when the government played a key role in letting those products into the market, such as through negligent testing or regulation, Migliori explained.

Lawsuits could target the Massachusetts state government, which had regulatory responsibility over NECC, but legal standards may be too rigorous for plaintiffs to overcome, Meyer said. “You can always make a claim, but the difficultiesassociated with suing any government, federal or state, are enormous,” he said. — Reuters

Pollution as harmful as malaria, TB in developing world Pollution from factories and mines is putting the health of 125 million people at risk worldwide and is as dangerous in the developing world as malaria or tuberculosis, according to a report published on Tuesday by two environmental advocacy groups. The researchers behind the “2012 World’s Worst Pollution Problems” report say theirs is the first substantial attempt to estimate the number of people sickened or killed worldwide because they work in or live near tanneries, recycling plants, chemical factories or mines, among other toxic industries.

“Appropriately, large amounts of time and resources are devoted to addressing the burden of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria,” said Stephan Robinson, a researcher at Green Cross Switzerland, which produced the report with the Blacksmith Group, a New York-based non-profit environmental organization. “The striking fact is that international and local government action on these diseases great-

Green tea drinkers show lower cancer risks: Study BEIJING: Older women who regularly drunk green tea may have slightly lower risks of colon, stomach and throat cancers than women who don’t, according to a Canadian study that followed thousands of Chinese women over a decade. The researchers, whose report appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that of the more than 69,000 women, those who drank green tea at least three times a week were 14 percent less likely to develop a cancer of the digestive system.

The study adds to debate over the impact of green tea on cancer risks. Past studies have so far come to conflicting findings on whether green tea drinkers really do have lower cancer risks. “In this large prospective cohort study, tea consumption was associated with reduced risk of colorectal and stomach/esophageal cancers in Chinese women,” wrote study leader Wei Zheng, who heads epidemiology at Vanderbilt University school of Medicine in Nashville, and his colleagues. Nobody can say whether green tea itself is the reason, since green tea lovers are often more health-conscious in general.

But the study did try to account for that, Zheng said.

None of the women smoked or drank alcohol regularly, and the researchers also collected information on their diets, exercise habits, weight and medical history. Yet even with all these things factored in, women’s tea habits

NEW YORK: Victims of a deadly US meningitis outbreak are starting to sue the physicians and clinics that administered tainted steroid shots, and the success of the suits could hinge on whether judges decide the injections are subject to product liability or medical malpractice laws.

The drug-mixing pharmacy linked to the outbreak, the New England Compounding Center, already faces lawsuits related to the shots, as do its executives. But because the Massachusetts company is relatively small, patients exposed to meningitis are beginning to sue more wellinsured defendants.

Plaintiffs have sued at least two physicians and orthopedic clinics in New Jersey that provided the injections, and legal experts predict similar cases against other doctors and clinics. Such lawsuits, however, may hinge on whether courts define the tainted injections as products that were sold. In that case, hospitals and doctors could be sued for product liability and held responsible regardless of intent to harm. These strict standards are part of most state product liability laws.

However, if courts define an injection as a service, plaintiffs likely would face the tougher task of showing negligence under medical malpractice laws. “The question will be whether the doctor or hospital failed to investigate the competence and safety of the steroids, and you’ll have to put some flesh on those bones,” said personal injury lawyer Fred Thompson of law firm Motley Rice.

Motley Rice plans to sue NECC on behalf of meningitis plaintiffs in the next several days, said another attorney at the firm, Don Migliori. The lawsuits may expand over time to include other defendants, he said. In the New Jersey case, plaintiffs accused the physicians of negligence, but sought to invoke strict liability for the clinics, meaning the facility could be held liable for selling a defective product even without knowing of a defect.

One of the clinics, Professional Pain Management Associates in Vineland, New Jersey, declined to comment, while the other clinics and doctors named as defendants were not immediately available to comment. To build a case under the legal standard of strict product liability, plaintiffs’ lawyers may look at clients’ medical bills, said New York personal injury lawyer David Jaroslawicz, who said he is not yet involved in any lawsuits linked to the meningitis outbreak.

If a bill shows separate prices for the injection and the steroid, a plaintiff could argue that the steroid was a product sold. That argument may be harder if doctors only bill for the service or do not itemize, Jaroslawicz said. Twentythree people have died and nearly 300 have been infected in the meningitis outbreak. Health regulators estimate as many as 14,000 people were exposed to the steroids, which were used as pain medications.

NECC, the compounding pharmacy, has been sued by patients in states including Michigan, Minnesota and

remained linked to their cancer risks, Zheng noted - even though this type of study cannot prove cause and effect.

Few clinical trials have looked at whether green tea can cut cancer risks, and the results have been inconsistent, according to the National Cancer Institute. There is “strong evidence” from lab research - in animals and in human cells - that green tea has the potential to fight cancer, Zheng’s team wrote.

For the study, Zheng and his colleagues used data from a long-running health study of over 69,000 middleaged and older Chinese women. More than 19,000 were considered regular green-tea drinkers, who consumed it more than three times a week. Over 11 years, 1,255 women developed a digestive system cancer. In general, the risks were somewhat lower when a woman drank green tea often and for a long time. For example, women who said they’d regularly had green tea for at least 20 years were 27 percent less likely than non-drinkers to develop any digestive system cancer. And they were 29 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer.

Green tea contains certain antioxidant chemicals, particularly a compound known as EGCG, that may ward off the body-cell damage that can lead to cancer and other diseases. None of this proves that people should start downing green tea to thwart cancer.—Reuters

ly outpaces the attention given to toxic sites, which as demonstrated in this report, contribute greatly to the global burden of disease,” he said.

Researchers examined more than 2,900 active or shuttered industrial sites in 49 low- and middleincome countries and estimated the health impact of pollutants - such as lead, mercury or chromium - on the people who live nearby or work at the sites, often producing goods or providing services for people in richer countries. The advocacy groups noted that their numbers “are by no means conclusive, but can be taken as indicative of the potential scale of the problem,” adding that they expected the figures to be underestimates of the full scale of the problems.

Researchers analyzed data from their own field studies at toxic sites and combined that with census data as well as epidemiological studies to extrapolate an estimate of the health problems involved. The report cautioned that in many cases the data were

“very limited.” Smaller companies, often producing for local markets, tended to have the biggest negative health impact. No specific companies were named in the report.

Researchers used the notion of a disabilityadjusted life year, or DALY, which is a measure of the number of years an individual loses from a healthy lifespan because of sickness, disability or early death. In those 49 countries, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, they estimated more than 17 million years of healthy life were lost because of pollutants caused by the 10 industries examined, compared to 14 million for malaria, 25 million for tuberculosis and nearly 29 million for HIV. It is easier, the report said, to diagnose and count people with HIV than it is to count the number of children whose brain development is being slowly stunted by chronic exposure to lead from varied industrial sources. — Reuters

Study: Serious birth complications rising WASHINGTON: Severe complications from childbirth, including heart attacks and strokes, have been rising in the United States, although they still remain rare overall, according to a US government study. In 2008-2009, there were 129 cases of severe complications - including heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding and kidney failure during or after childbirth - for every 10,000 women who delivered in a hospital, said researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC) That was up 75 percent from a decade earlier. At the same time, complications during women’s post-delivery hospital stay also rose to 29 cases for every 10,000 women, up 114 percent from 10 years before.

Serious complications and deaths from childbirth still remain uncommon in the United States. Over four million women give birth each year, and this study, which appeared in Obstetrics & Gynecology, found about 590,000 cases of severe complications over 11 years. “We don’t want to send the message that pregnant women should be afraid,” said William Callaghan of the CDC, who led the study. But he added that it’s welldocumented from other research that more women are giving birth at older ages, are obese or have certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

There are also more young women with serious con-

ditions, such as congenital heart conditions, who are surviving and having children. “The characteristics of the pregnant population are changing,” Callaghan said, noting that it’s thus not unexpected that rates of certain complications might rise. Another recent CDC study found minority women at particular risk. Between 1993 and 2006, minority women accounted for 41 percent of all births nationwide, but 62 percent of all pregnancyrelated deaths. Black women were at greatest risk. For every 100,000 babies born to African-Americans, 32 to 35 mothers died. That was roughly four times the rate among white mothers.

Heart problems were the most common cause of death, and Callaghan’s team found that one childbirth complication - the need for cardiac surgery during or after delivery - showed a “dramatic” rise over time. But it was still rare. In 2008-2009, just under 5 per 10,000 women needed a heart procedure during delivery though that was up 75 percent from a decade before.

Callaghan said the bottom line for is to be as healthy as possible before pregnancy, such as losing weight if you’re obese and getting high blood pressure and diabetes under control. “Not all complications can be avoided, of course. But the best outcomes happen when a woman is as healthy as possible going into pregnancy, he added. — Reuters

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Australia’s Antarctic runway melting SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday it was searching for a new aircraft landing site for planes supplying its three bases in Antarctica because the current runway is melting. Australia has three stations on the icy continent-Casey, Davis and Mawson-occupied by scientists and support staff, with the Wilkins runway, carved into glacial blue ice, a vital transport link. But a melting surface has started to restrict use of the Aus$45 million (US$46.4 million) landing strip near Casey and the Australian Antarctic Division said they were looking at alternatives. They include the ice-free Vestfold Hills near Davis. “During the first few years since the introduction of Australia’s airlink to Antarctica in 2007/08 our operations have, on occasions, been hampered by glacial melt at the current Wilkins runway,” a spokesperson told AFP. “The Australian Antarctic Division will investigate a range of alternative or additional landing sites for fixed-wing aircraft near our three stations in Antarctica.” Meteorological stations have shown a temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius in the past 50 years in the Antarctic peninsula, which is roughly triple that of the global temperature rise. Planes can only land if the temperature is below minus 5 degrees Celsius. Instead of the 20 flights a season predicted by the Australian Antarctic Division before the runway opened, just two landed in the 2010/11 season with the runway closed from December to February due to melt. Four landed last season and six are planned this year. The Australian bases are also serviced by ship but the journey can take up to two weeks, compared to the 4.5 hour flight from Hobart in Tasmania state. — AFP

BERLIN: A person holds a photograph showing animal keeper Thomas Doerflein with polar bear Knut in front of the just unveiled sculpture ‘Knut The Dreamer’ at the zoo in Berlin yesterday. Knut, who died suddenly aged four from a suspected brain seizure in 2011, had shot to fame as an ueber-sweet cub after being abandoned by his mother and reared by hand. — AFP

POREBA: A fossil of one of the world’s oldest-known turtle shells with a limb bone dating from 215 million years ago, discovered in clay deposit north-west of Krakow, is being examined at Institute of Palaeobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. — AFP photos

POREBA: A fossil of one of the world’s oldest-known turtle shells with vertebrae dating from 215 million years ago, discovered in clay deposit north-west of Krakow, is being examined at Institute of Palaeobiology of the Polish Academy.

World’s oldest turtle shells stand the test of time POREBA: Plucked from a pit of grey clay next to a rubbish dump in southern Poland, fossilized turtle shells resembling the battle-scarred shields of ancient warriors are the world’s oldest and most complete. Dating back 215 million years, experts say they could provide invaluable clues in solving the riddle of the origin of this ancient reptile, venerated by cultures across the globe.

“Late-Triassic turtle fossils are extremely rare. There are around eight spots on Earth where you might find them, and here in Poland we’ve unearthed the oldest and most extensive collection,” said Tomasz Sulej, a palaeobiologist with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) who made the discovery in a region known as the Polish Jurassic Highland. “I’d say my guardian angel led me here,” Sulej told AFP of a hunch that inspired him to poke around a landfill near the southern town of Poreba in September 2008.

Euphoria came after just 15 minutes as he unearthed a prized turtle fossil, which recent tests confirmed to be the world’s oldest. The prestigious Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and National Geographic Polska recently published details of the discovery. “Finding something that has been in the mud for 215 million years, it’s like bringing it back to life!” Sulej exclaimed on a trip back to the site. While turtle fossils of a similar age were also discovered in Germany, the Polish find includes shells, along with neck and tail vertebrae, as well as limb bones that are unique.

“We’ve discovered two species, including one which is unknown,” Sulej said. His team identified a Proterochersis-

type turtle similar to a single Proterochersis robusta fossil found in Germany, while another appears to be of a smaller, as yet unknown species. This region’s picturesque, craggy countryside shaped during the Jurassic era and known for vast nearby coal reserves has proven to be a prehistoric treasure trove. Sulej’s discovery came on the heels of a new 200 million-year-old dinosaur species unearthed in nearby Lisowice in 2006-7. It was christened the Smok Wawelski-Wawel Dragon-after a fabled firebreathing dragon, whose lair was in a cave at the foot of Krakow’s 14th century Wawel Castle.

Digs in the area have turned up several hundred fossils from six species including turtles, sharks, scaled fish and dinosaurs. Now, Sulej says his mission is to find a turtle skull. Though fossils carry no organic material for DNA testing, their structures hold precious clues to the origins of species. “Each new turtle fossil is invaluable as it could provide clues to their origin, which up to now has been a bit of a mystery,” he said. These most ancient of creatures are thought to have evolved from Procolophons, a type of parareptile living in the Permian period up to 300 million years ago.

The Odontochelys semitestace, a 2008 find in China dating back 220 million years has also been classed by experts as a turtle ancestor, which like them had a belly shell, but unlike them had teeth and no full top shell.

DNA tests on modern-day turtles suggest they may be related to crocodiles, according to Sulej. Adding to the intrigue, Procolophons are not thought to be related to crocs, he said.

Few predators, except man The bright yellow spokes on the shell of a Radiated Tortoise native to Madagascar catch the eye of school children visiting the Warsaw Zoo. “They’re like army tanks with their heavy armor!” exclaims 12-year-old Wojtek. But the shells that have afforded turtles protection from predators for aeons are no match for humans.

Hunted for meat, traditional medicine or caught in the illegal pet trade, this species could become extinct during Wojtek’s lifetime. About half of the globe’s 328 recognised species of fresh water and marine turtles and land-faring tortoises could vanish in the coming decades, according to the Turtle Conservation Coalition, an alliance of wildlife societies around the globe.

“After being here for a couple hundred million years, dozens of species of turtles are now on the verge of extinction, quite simply due to being captured or eaten on an unprecedented scale, particularly in Asia,” says Mariusz Lech, reptile keeper at the zoo. Known to live up to 130 years, these ancient creatures carry deep meaning as primordial symbols of longevity, stability, security and wisdom and feature in creation myths from India to native North America. Yet their future seems bleak.

“Being realistic about the modern-day threats they face, especially in southeast Asia- China, the Philippines, Indonesia or Madagascar-turtles are disappearing fast. Some species could vanish within 20 years if radical steps aren’t taken to protect them now,” Lech warned. — AFP

30

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Special invitation - Laif Convention 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

Congratulations!

he Life Abundant International Fountain (LAIF Church) specially invites you and your family to our Annual convention, coming up from the 25th to 28th of October. This convention will be featuring teaching, ministration, Couple’s night, special seminar for young adults and a banquet on Sunday 28th.

We will be glad to be honored by your presence. We are believing God for an awesome time in His presence in this great occasion. Below are the full details of the program: Day 1 - Thursday 25th Opening Ceremony by 6pm @ Family House Fintas Day 2 - Friday 26th Morning Session A Celebration service/LTI graduation by

T

10am @ Family House Fintas Day 2 - Friday 26th - Evening SessionSpecial Shiloh Hour/Power Service by 10pm @ the Hall of faith (NECK) Day 3 - Saturday 27th - Picnic -Family Day out (Featuring Football match/Youth Seminar) 12 noon- 3pm @Fintas Garden by Fintas Gas station Day 3 - Saturday 27th - Couples Night by 7pm @ Family House Fintas Day 4 - Sunday 28th - Dinner 6:30pm- 9:30pm @ Hall of faith (NECK Compound-Kuwait City) Family House Address - Fintas Block 4, Street 11, House 40

appy many returns P Anu as you celebrate your 9th birthday. Greetings from dad, mom, Sister, grandfather and grandmother.

H

Porsche Childhood Road & Traffic Safety Program he Decade of Action for Road Safety is an international World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) global initiative. Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), a non-profit rehabilitation clinic owned by the foundation FAWSEC, is proud to design and support innovative health reform initiatives to address the most pressing public health challenges facing Kuwait. This year, through RunQ8 10km Run for Road and Traffic Safety, FSRI was able to raise funds through sponsors, and to partner with local organizations to implement initiatives that address the goals set out for this Decade of Action.

Under the Patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad Al Humoud Al-Jaber Al Sabah, Minister of Interior and with the support of Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, Qadsiya Sports Club and the Ministry of Interior, the Porsche Early Childhood Road and Traffic Safety Program is now available to schools throughout Kuwait. Research indicates that young children form attitudes that will shape their behavior later in life, and with early intervention, we can have a direct impact on their future behavior.

Children develop their own driving habits before the age of 7 by watching and learning from the driving habits of the adults who drive them regularly. This Porsche Early Childhood and Traffic Safety Program for Schools is designed to introduce road and traffic safety guidelines to children between the ages of 3 and 7 years. A specially designed curriculum pro-

T SPG offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences n the heels of offering VVIP access to Dubai’s ‘dXb Beach Festival’ and backstage access to Cirque de Soleil in Doha, Moments by Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels and Resorts, offers its members even more exclusive experiences in the Middle East. Moments

by SPG, which provides a series of auctions for exclusive and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, gives members a chance to use their Starpoints to bid for access to a private acoustic performance by Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Natasha Bedingfield, a meet-and-greet with racing legend Michael Schumacher and a private polo lesson with world-renowned Argentinean polo player, Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras.

The groundbreaking SPG Moments program launched in 2007, and since then thousands of members have transformed their Starpoints into extraordinary lifestyle events.

SPG members have gained insider access to red carpet movie premieres, live concerts by top artists, championship sporting events, private dinners with worldrenowned chefs, and others. Recent Moments have included VIP access at the Monaco Grand Prix and Women’s Final at the Wimbledon, singing lessons with Natasha Bedingfield and a personal tour of El Bulli Taller with Chef Ferran Adria.

“SPG Moments gives us the opportunity to build on our relationship with members by going beyond gaining and redeeming points and giving them experiences that they are most passionate about,” said Steven Taylor, Vice President Marketing, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. On November 1, through its global partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, SPG will host a private acoustic performance by UK pop star Natasha Bedingfield at the Grosvenor House Dubai. With the radio hits, ‘These Words’, ‘Unwritten’ and ‘Pocket Full of Sunshine, among others Bedingfield will be visiting the UAE for the special event, which will be attended by her fans from the SPG program.

O

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER SPG will also fulfill the dreams of its motoring enthusiasts with the opportunity to meet Formula One legend, Michael Schumacher, on November 3 at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa. Schumacher, who will be in the capital with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team for the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will meet with fans at an exclusive VIP event organized by SPG. In May, Starwood partnered with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to become an official Team Partner and will host the team as they travel to various Grand Prix venues on the Formula One calendar.

SPG Moments with St Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras Polo star and St Regis Connoisseur, Nacho Figueras will be visiting the region bringing to life St Regis’ very special take on the Sport of Kings and will host a private polo experience for SPG members on November 9.

Figueras has been associated with St Regis over the last few years and has helped cement the brand’s historic involvement with polo and the sport’s ubiquitous style around the world. In the Middle East, other Moments by SPG have included a golf challenge which gave out one million Starpoints to the winner, equivalent to up to 100 free nights’ stay at over 1,000 Starwood hotels and resorts around the world.

SPG Moments also offered members an exclusive meetand-greet with legendary jazz musician Wynton Marsalis at the grand opening of the Jazz at Lincoln Centre in Doha, meet-and-greet with comedian Russell Peters and a golf clinic hosted by professional golfer, Colin Montgomerie, at The St Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Taylor added, “The number of SPG members in this market is growing and a lot of our global members are choosing the Middle East as a preferred destination to redeem their Starpoints.

The region is growing as a tourist hub and has amazing and unique experiences that we feel our members would enjoy. We look forward to offering more Moments in this region that caters to the passions of our members.”

vides a child focussed road and traffic safety program which identifies and builds on the child’s knowledge and understanding, showing how road safety can be incorporated into classroom topics and activities.

Schools are invited to arrange visits for

tions, tunnel, speed bumps and a pedestrian crossing. This exciting and fun filled, practical learning experience informs children of the importance of remaining seated and wearing seat belts, never to use the mobile phone whilst driving, how to cross

Handbook for the parents. By the end of 2012 over 7000 children will have attended the Porsche Early Childhood Road and Traffic safety program for Schools at Qadsiya Sports Club, influencing the driving habits of the next generation and tak-

their children to the Porsche Driving Centre at Qadsiya Sports Club, Hawally, where they will have the opportunity to drive model Porsche pedal cars around a specially designed road circuit. Children will experience firsthand the importance of the ‘Golden Rules of Road and Traffic Safety’ as they encounter a variety of traffic signs, traffic lights, roundabout, junc-

the street safely, not to stick arms or heads out of the windows and to stay within the speed limits.

On completion of their visit, each child receives a Porsche drivers cap, first driving license, certificate and activity books from Porsche, Zain and the Ministry of Interior to practice their skills and knowledge.

There is also the Porsche Safe Driving

ing a huge step in the right direction towards making the streets and roads of Kuwait safer for everyone. Schools are invited to contact Aisha, Program Director, on 99826552 to participate in the program.

Leaving for good ankeepuram’ Sriman Sathyanarayanan is leaving Kuwait for good. A befitting farewell was arranged by Tiruvenkatam group on the occasion of Sri Manavaala Maamunigal Thirunakshathram held in Sri Narayanan’s house on 20th October 2012.

‘V

Open Football Tournament fter a successful inaugural tournament which had teams participating from Kuwait and the GCC countries, Real Betalbatim Football Club are all set once again for the 2nd edition, which is scheduled on 27th October 2012. The tournament is organized in Fond Memory of Late Sheikha Huda Bader Mohamed AlAhmed Al-Sabah, and is a much awaited feature in the expatriate football circuit in Kuwait. A total of 22 teams participated in the fiesta which coincided with the 50 Years of National Day Celebrations of Kuwait, last year and more details are envisaged to join in

A

this year to claim the glittering Trophy and valuable prizes.

To know more about it, kindly call +965 66060985 on how best to contribute towards the success of the tour-

nament and your participation queries.

Last year, Aldona Football Club took flight with the prestigious trophy to the United Arab Emirates to add to their collection, together with one of the ‘Man of

the Match’ awards and the Best Goalkeeper award. Among others who shone during the tournaments were teams: Vaxim Divar from Dubai (UAE), Fahaheel Bros. from Kuwait, CRC Chinchinim from Kuwait and DHL FC, Kuwait whose players were declared to receive special citation and prizes among the 22 teams who equally gave their best during the one day tournament which was cheered by hundreds.

Real Betalbatim FC looks forward to your presence on 27th October 2012 (Saturday) which will be a public holiday.

31

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

WHAT’S ON Audi Kuwait supports Skelps FC for 2nd consecutive year

Embassy Information

udi Kuwait, represented by Fouad Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company, announces its continued partnership with SKELPS FC Football Academy and sponsors the youth club for another season, with an exclusive presence at the club for the brand with the four rings. Established in 2007, SKELPS FC offers professional courses for Children 3-16 years old as well as tournaments and adult leagues

A

across all stages of development ranging from the Tiger Tots and Skill Builders courses, which focus on the beginners, to the Elite Academy program which harnesses the ability of the more experienced players.

Nick Henderson, Academy Director of SKELPS FC, stated “SKELPS FC in association with Green Circle is delighted to able to continue its sponsorship partnership with Audi Kuwait, and Fouad

Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company.

Our dedicated focus is on offering a value for money community football program for the children and the youth is one of our core values. With Audi Kuwait’s keen interest and spirit in supporting the local community, we look forward to working together in the next season, and towards further developing the club and fostering an environment that keeps kids off the streets and

engaged in team building exercises.”

Sponsorship of the youth football club is in line with Audi Kuwait’s corporate social responsibility program and its goal of supporting the youth by promoting team sports and social development throughout the local community.

Celebrate Eid at The Radisson Blu Hotel or the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, you are invited to spend a memorable moments at The Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait. Families can celebrate this joyful occasion through an unforgettable stay at Al Hashemi Residence where the available spacious rooms and unique suites are overlooking the sea. The Eid period is rich with valuable benefits for the families to enjoy this occasion, the entire family young & old can entertain themselves in a relaxed and luxurious environment.

Rangoli restaurant offers a wide variety of Oriental & International cuisine with the highest standards of presentation & preparation starting form salad buffet, to sumptuous dishes from around the world, the buffet also includes a selected variety of European pastry & Arabic sweets in addition to the live Pasta Station during lunch while Sushi, Shawarma and Mixed Grill

F

K

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Canadian Embassy in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 7:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed for lunch from 12:30 to 13:00. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday.

■■■■■■■

live stations are additionally served during dinner.

Seafood & Steak lovers can enjoy Al Boom restaurant, which opens for dinner and offers an all-inclusive menu

concept with salad, main course fresh from the grill, tea or coffee and a platted dessert. Moreover, Families can enjoy access to the hotel’s Beach Club “Viking Club”, first of its class and fur-

nished with the latest sport’s equipments and overlooking the beach and swimming pools to spread more happiness and fun to all family members.

K’S PATH organizes Shelter Open Day uwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH) a local non-profit organization committed to animal welfare and environmental protection held its first Open Day of the season at the K’S PATH Shelter in Wafra on Saturday, October 20th 2012. In celebration of World Animal Day, 170+ visitors were in attendance with ‘Care Bags’ for shelter dogs, cats, baboons and donkeys. In all, the donations amounted over 270 items including dog food and treats, cat food, dog and cat toys, cat litter, nylon leashes and collars, grooming brushes, kitten feeding kits, vegetables and fruits, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, blankets and towels.

The Open Day saw student participation with over 60 students from the American University of Kuwait (AUK) visiting the shelter with Care Bags and 13 student volunteers from the Kuwait English School

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.

(KES). Sharing background stories of animal rescue, residents of sanctuary species, and the cheerful peculiarities of animals

mal care.

Says K’S PATH Founder & Chairman Ayeshah Al Humaidhi, “Open Days are

see people donate care items for our animals with a big smile.

We’ve had many first-time visitors inquiring about our work

members of the community see just how happy, healthy and safe our animals are.” K’S PATH Open Days are held from October through April and are an opportunity for visitors to learn about K’S PATH’s programs and work; interact with

shelter animals; meet shelter management and animal-loving people; and learn how they can help in improving the quality of animals’ lives in Kuwait. for adoption, K’S PATH staff and volunteers guided visitors on walking dogs, playing with smaller dogs in the yard, grooming cats and basic ani-

much looked forward to in K’S PATH’s annual events calendar.

The community response this time has been particularly encouraging and we’re glad to

and programs, who were delighted to see the high quality of care our animals receive.

Open Days debunk misinformation about our work when

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. ■■■■■■■

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 INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed today - Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF NEPAL On the happy occasion of Vijayadashmi and Eid Al-Adha, the Embassy of Nepal will remain closed from Monday, October 22 to Saturday, October 27, 2012. The office will resume on Sunday, October 28, 2012.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE

UAE Exchange Blood Donation Campaign n the occasion of their 32nd anniversary, UAE Exchange, Kuwait, conducted a Blood donation campaign with support from Central Blood Bank, Kuwait. The event, which was held on Tuesday, October 23, was inaugurated by UAE Exchange Country Head Pancily Varkey along with Ali Hussan, Public Relation Executive of Blood Bank, Kuwait. Ramdas Nair, Manager Corporate Marketing and Renjith Pillai, Manager Retail Marketing, were also in attendance when more than 100 staff donated their blood as part of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

O

The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait would like to remind that the external polling station No 90046 was created in the Embassy’s premises at the following address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str. 6, build. 5. The working hours of the polling station: Sunday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Monday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Tuesday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Wednesday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Thursday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Friday from 10.00 to 13.00 pm; Saturday from 10.00 to 13.00 pm On October 28, 2012 the working hours of the polling station from 8.00 am to 20.00 pm. Please be advised to refer to the Embassy to check your data in the Electoral Register as well as to pick up your personal invitation from the polling station if you did not receive this document by post.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 I Was Bitten 01:35 I’m Alive 02:25 The Magic Of The Big Blue 03:15 Speed Of Life 04:05 Wildest Africa 04:55 Predator’s Prey 05:20 Escape To Chimp Eden 05:45 Vet On The Loose 06:10 Vet On The Loose 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Talk To The Animals 07:25 The Jeff Corwin Experience 08:15 Dogs 101 09:10 Your Very First Puppy 10:05 Wildest Africa 11:00 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 11:55 Wild Animal Repo 12:50 Wildlife SOS 13:15 Shamwari: A Wild Life 13:45 Animal Cops Houston 14:40 Wildest Africa 15:35 Escape To Chimp Eden 16:00 Talk To The Animals 16:30 Cats 101 17:25 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:50 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 18:20 Dogs 101 19:15 Wildlife SOS 19:40 Shamwari: A Wild Life 20:10 Predator’s Prey 20:35 Escape To Chimp Eden 21:05 Wildest Africa 22:00 Wild Animal Orphans 22:25 Wild Animal Orphans 22:55 Max’s Big Tracks 23:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 23:50 Animal Cops Houston 00:30 Antiques Roadshow 01:20 10 Years Younger 02:10 10 Years Younger 03:00 Living In The Sun 03:50 MasterChef 04:15 Living In The Sun 05:05 MasterChef 05:55 Saturday Kitchen 06:25 Saturday Kitchen 06:50 MasterChef Australia 08:00 MasterChef Australia 08:25 10 Years Younger 09:15 10 Years Younger 10:05 Bargain Hunt 10:50 Antiques Roadshow 11:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 12:25 Gok’s Fashion Fix 13:10 MasterChef 14:05 Come Dine With Me 14:55 Bargain Hunt 15:40 Antiques Roadshow 16:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 18:00 Home Cooking Made Easy 18:30 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 19:00 Rhodes Across China 19:45 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 23:45 Gok’s Fashion Fix EditionEdition 00:15 01:10 02:05 03:00 03:55 04:20 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 14:35 15:05 15:30 16:25 17:20 18:15 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Dynamo: Magician Impossible Mythbusters Mythbusters Mythbusters Border Security Auction Hunters Auction Kings How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Extreme Fishing Street Customs Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Border Security Auction Hunters How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Dynamo: Magician Impossible Mythbusters Mythbusters Border Security Auction Hunters Auction Kings Ultimate Survival Street Customs Extreme Fishing Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Border Security Dirty Money Auction Kings American Guns Hellriders Chris Ryan’s Elite Police

23:20 Surviving Disaster 00:35 01:25 02:15 03:05 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:40 08:43 09:12 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:45 15:35 16:00 16:03 16:32 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

Building The Biggest Space Pioneer Meteorite Men The Gadget Show Sport Science Race To Mars Scrapheap Challenge Building The Biggest Space Pioneer Meteorite Men Head Rush Tech Toys 360 Patent Bending Race To Mars The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Building The Biggest Scrapheap Challenge Space Pioneer Meteorite Men Race To Mars The Gadget Show Head Rush Tech Toys 360 Patent Bending Building The Biggest Race To Mars Scrapheap Challenge Weird Or What?

How The Universe Works The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Weird Or What?

How The Universe Works The Science Of Fear And Lust

20:20 Bang Goes The Theory 00:15 00:40 00:55 01:10 01:30

Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso

01:55 Pooh 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:20 03:40 04:05 Pooh 04:10 04:35 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:50 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:45 08:10 08:20 08:35 08:50 09:05 09:15 Pooh 09:20 09:35 09:45 09:55 10:20 Pooh 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:00 Pooh 12:10 12:25 12:40 13:05 13:15 13:30 13:55 14:20 Pooh 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:25 15:55 16:20 16:30 16:45 17:10 17:40 17:55 18:10 18:20 18:35 19:00 19:05 19:25 19:40 Pooh 20:05 20:20 20:30 Pooh 20:35 20:40 20:45 21:00 21:25 21:40 21:55 Pooh 22:20 22:30 22:45 22:55 23:20 23:35 23:50

Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Hive Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates Handy Manny The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Mouk Mouk The Hive Mickey Mouse Clubhouse New Adventures Of Winnie The Art Attack Imagination Movers Lazytown Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Handy Manny Jungle Junction Imagination Movers The Hive Special Agent Oso Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse New Adventures Of Winnie The Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Imagination Movers Lazytown Jungle Junction Mouk Art Attack Lazytown Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mouk Imagination Movers A Poem Is...

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jungle Junction New Adventures Of Winnie The Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The A Poem Is...

A Poem Is...

Mouk Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Special Agent Oso New Adventures Of Winnie The Timmy Time Jungle Junction Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Lazytown

ecial Agent Oso 23:50 Lazytown 00:25 00:50 01:20 02:15 03:10 04:05 04:30 05:00 05:55 07:00 07:25 07:55 08:20 08:50 09:15 09:45 10:40 11:05 11:35 12:30 13:25 14:20 15:15 15:40 16:10 16:35 17:05 17:30 18:00 18:55 19:50 20:45 21:40 22:05 22:35 23:30

Wrestling With Reality Wrestling With Reality Pro Bull Riders 2011 World Combat League TNA: Greatest Matches Crusty Demons: No Borders Crusty Demons: No Borders Enfusion Pro Bull Riders 2011 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2009 Tread BMX Tread BMX Ticket To Ride– 6 2012 Ticket To Ride– 6 2012 Winter Dew Tour 10/11 Fantasy Factory Fantasy Factory Pro Bull Riders 2011 Mantracker Born To Run World Combat League Fantasy Factory Fantasy Factory Tread BMX Tread BMX Ticket To Ride– 6 2012 Ticket To Ride– 6 2012 Mantracker Pro Bull Riders 2011 Born To Run World Combat League Crusty Demons: No Borders Crusty Demons: No Borders TNA: Greatest Matches Enfusion

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 Charly’s Cake Angels 01:20 Charly’s Cake Angels 01:45 Unique Sweets 02:10 Unique Sweets 02:35 Kid In A Candy Store 03:00 Kid In A Candy Store 03:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Guy’s Big Bite 04:40 Outrageous Food 05:05 Unique Sweets 05:30 Chopped 06:10 Barefoot Contessa 06:35 Barefoot Contessa 07:00 Iron Chef America 07:50 Barefoot Contessa 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Unique Sweets 09:05 Charly’s Cake Angels 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 Unwrapped 11:35 United Tastes Of America 12:00 Chopped 12:50 Guy’s Big Bite 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Unique Sweets 14:55 Charly’s Cake Angels 15:20 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco

15:45 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:05 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:10 23:40

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:40

00:15 00:45 01:40 02:05 02:35 03:00 03:30 03:55 04:25 05:20 05:45 06:15 Planet 06:40 Planet 07:10 07:35 08:05 09:00 09:25 09:55 10:20 10:50 11:15 11:45 12:40 13:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 Planet 14:55 Planet 15:25 16:20 16:45 17:15 17:40 18:10 18:35 19:05 20:00 Planet 20:30 Planet 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:25 22:55 Planet 23:20 Planet 23:50

Food(Ography) Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Guy’s Big Bite Unique Sweets Charly’s Cake Angels Chopped Iron Chef America Crave Crave The Big Cheese Food(Ography) Food(Ography) Guy’s Big Bite

Ghost Lab A Haunting Behind Mansion Walls American Greed Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab A Haunting Disappeared Mystery ER Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery ER Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Murder Shift Disappeared Forensic Detectives Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Stalked: Someone’s Watching Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Great Crimes And Trials Great Crimes And Trials Nightmare Next Door Dr G: Medical Examiner

Delinquent Gourmet Long Way Down Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Danger Beach Into The Drink

By Any Means Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Food Lover’s Guide To The

18:30 Baby Daddy 19:30 New Girl 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fall on 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 22:00 23:00 23:00

Fairly Legal Combat Hospital Supernatural Grimm Body Of Proof Franklin & Bash Fairly Legal Emmerdale Coronation Street Royal Pains Supernatural Combat Hospital Body Of Proof Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Royal Pains Fairly Legal Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Royal Pains Parenthood The X Factor U.S. American Horror Story Grimm Grimm23:00 Grimm

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00 23:00

Full Metal Jacket-18 Kalifornia-18 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?-PG15 Last Breath-PG15 Taxi-PG15 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?-PG15 Friday Night Lights-PG15 Taxi-PG15 Arachnophobia-PG15 Alien Resurrection-18 Hustle And Flow-18 Open Graves-18 The Morgue-18

00:00 The Trip-PG15 02:00 Friday After Next-18 04:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG 06:00 Below The Beltway-PG15 08:00 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son-PG15 10:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 12:00 Austin Powers In GoldmemberPG15 14:00 Just Go With It-PG15 16:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 18:00 The Breakfast Club-PG15 20:00 The Royal Tenenbaums-18 22:00 Love And Other Drugs-R

Food Lover’s Guide To The 22:00 Frenemy-18 Delinquent Gourmet Delinquent Gourmet Long Way Down Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Danger Beach Into The Drink

By Any Means Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Food School Food School Food Lover’s Guide To The Food Lover’s Guide To The Long Way Down Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Danger Beach Into The Drink

By Any Means Food Lover’s Guide To The Food Lover’s Guide To The Food School Food School Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Food Lover’s Guide To The

01:45 Witch Hunt-PG15 03:30 Bright Star-PG15 05:30 The Weather Man-18 07:15 Witch Hunt-PG15 09:00 An Invisible Sign Of My OwnPG15 11:00 Mademoiselle Chambon-PG15 13:00 The Third Wave-PG15 15:00 An Invisible Sign Of My OwnPG15 17:00 Six Days Seven Nights-PG15 19:00 Coyote Ugly-PG15 21:00 The Wild Hunt-PG15 23:00 Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind-18 Square Grouper-18 01:00 Jackass 3-R 03:00 Once Brothers-PG15 05:00 On Strike For Christmas-PG15 06:45 The Way-PG15 09:00 Lego: The Adventures Of Clutch Powers-FAM 11:00 Hurricane Season-PG15 13:00 Transformers: Dark Of The Moon-PG15 16:00 Les Miserables 25th Anniversary-PG15 19:00 Super 8-PG15 21:00 John Carter-PG15 23:15 Blue Valentine-18

Food Lover’s Guide To The David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1

23:00 Naked Science 00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 22:00 23:00

Hunter Hunted Hooked Wild Mississippi Built For The Kill Caught In The Act The Living Edens Crocs Of Katuma Wild Mississippi Built For The Kill Caught In The Act Amazonia’s Giant Jaws Dragon Chronicles Swamp Men Fish Warrior Secrets Of The Mediterranean Built For The Kill Caught In The Act Croc Ganglands How Big Can It Get Swamp Men Wild Mississippi Built For The Kill Caught In The Act Amazonia’s Giant Jaws Dragon Chronicles Zoo Confidential Dangerous Encounters

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 23:00 20:00 22:00

Deadtime Stories 2-18 Sinners & Saints-18 Survival Of The Dead-18 Biker Boyz-PG15 Judge Dredd-18 Dad Savage-PG15 Aeon Flux-PG15 Judge Dredd-18 Vengeance-PG15 Aeon Flux-PG15 Saving Private Ryan-18 The Untouchables-PG15 Fighting-PG15 Homecoming-18

01:30 04:30 Leno 07:00 10:00 11:00 Leno 14:30 17:00

The Boondocks The Tonight Show With Jay Late Night With Jimmy Fallon New Girl The Tonight Show With Jay New Girl Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 Turtle Hero: Part I-FAM Christmas 02:00 Beethoven’s Adventure-PG 04:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy YearsPG 06:00 Princess Lillifee-PG15 08:00 Emperor’s Secret-PG 10:00 Horrid Henry-PG15 12:00 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure-PG 14:00 Mr. Popper’s Penguins-PG 16:00 Turtle Hero: Part II-FAM 18:00 Horrid Henry-PG15 20:00 Cher Ami-PG 22:00 Mr. Popper’s Penguins-PG 22:15 Resident Evil 4: Afterlife-18 01:00 HSBC World Series 04:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 04:30 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 05:00 Currie Cup 07:00 International Rugby Union 09:00 HSBC World Series 12:00 Premier League Snooker 15:30 Trans World Sport 16:30 PGA European Tour 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:30 Live Premier League Snooker

00:00 Darts 02:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 02:30 Wake The Line 03:00 Kiteboard World Cup 03:30 Downtown Showdown 04:00 NHL 06:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 08:30 PGA European Tour Weekly 09:00 Live PGA European Tour 13:00 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 13:30 Rugby Union Currie Cup 15:30 Wake The Line 16:00 Kiteboard World Cup 16:30 HSBC Sevens World Series 19:30 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 20:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 21:00 NHL 23:00 Trans World Sport

KUWAIT KNCC PROGRAM FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (25/10/2012 TO 31/10/2012) SHARQIA-1 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-2 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

MUHALAB-1 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-2 THE SWEENEY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-3 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-1 LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-2 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

FANAR-3 FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) RUSH (DIG)(Hindi) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-4 TAKEN2 :2D MISS MOMMY (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

FANAR-5 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-1 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D NO TUE+WED

NO TUE+WED

NO TUE+WED AVENUES-3 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-4 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-5 THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-6 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 1:00 PM HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 3:15 PM HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 5:30 PM HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 7:45 PM NO SUN (28.10.2012) Special Show “HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D)” for KNPC 7:45 PM SUN (28.10.2012) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 10:00 PM HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) 12:15 AM NO TUE+WED

360 º- 8 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 11:15 PM

360 ∞- 9(VIP-1) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 11:15 PM

360 º-10(VIP-2) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 11 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-7 LOOPER (DIG) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) AJAB GAZABB LOVE(DIG) (Hindi) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 12 MISS MOMMY (DIG) 1:45 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 4:00 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 6:15 PM NO SAT (27.10.2012) Special Show “HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (DIG-3D)” for KNPC 6:45 PM SAT (27.10.2012) MISS MOMMY (DIG) 8:30 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 10:45 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 1:00 AM NO TUE+WED

AVENUES-8 TAKEN2 :2D PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 13 FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-9 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 1:00 AM

360 º- 14 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D RUSH (DIG)(Hindi) TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-10 THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:15 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 1:15 AM

360 º- 15 AJAB GAZABB LOVE(DIG) (Hindi) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) AJAB GAZABB LOVE(DIG) (Hindi) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 11:45 PM

AL-KOUT.1 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.2 MISS MOMMY (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.3 THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-11 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 1 THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

360 º- 2 LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 11:30 PM

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360 º- 3 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) TAKEN2 :2D NO TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

AL-KOUT.4 TAKEN2 :2D FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-2 MISS MOMMY (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 4 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) TAKEN2 :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

BAIRAQ-1 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 5 THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) NO TUE THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) THE ILLUSIONAUTS (DIG-3D) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) NO TUE+WED

BAIRAQ-2 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-1 FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:15 PM 9:00 PM 12:00 AM

360 º- 6 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG)

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 7 FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG)

BAIRAQ-3 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:30 PM 7:15 PM 10:00 PM 12:45 AM

PLAZA MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) FOR GREATER GLORY (DIG)

AVENUES-2 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG)

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM

Classifieds THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR MEA SAI ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR QTR JZR KAC THY THY PIA DHX JZR KAC BAW JZR KAC RJA MEA KAC THY FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY IRA GFA QTR IZG IRA FDB ETD BAB GFA UAE MEA JZR MSR MSC SYR JZR FDB KAC MSR KAC GFA FDB OMA JZR QTR SVA FDB RJA JZR KAC QTR MEA FDB KAC JZR JZR ETD UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR UAE TAR KAC JZR ABY KAC KAC QTR KAC BAB KAC FDB MSR MSC RBG JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC KAC AXB FDB OMA MEA QTR GFA ALK FDB JZR UAE ETD BBC ABY QTR JZR JAI AIC GFA UAL JZR DLH MSR FDB THY KLM JAI

Arrival Flights on Thursday 25/10/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 406 BEIRUT 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 544 CAIRO 5590 ISTANBUL 770 ISTANBUL 2052 LAHORE 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 5133 AMMAN 408 BEIRUT 382 DELHI 5596 ANTALYA 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 605 ISFAHAN 223 BAHRAIN 132 DOHA 4161 MASHAD 617 AHWAZ 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 871 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 401 ALEXANDRIA 341 DAMASCUS 537 CAIRO 8055 DUBAI 1672 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 57 DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 173 DUBAI 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 8057 DUBAI 640 AMMAN 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 400 BEIRUT 8053 DUBAI 118 NEW YORK 535 CAIRO 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 3853 DUBAI 328 TUNIS 176 GENEVA 241 AMMAN 127 SHARJAH 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 786 JEDDAH 438 BAHRAIN 104 LONDON 63 DUBAI 624 SOHAG 405 SOHAG 3553 ALEXANDRIA 175 DUBAI 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 614 BAHRAIN 572 MUMBAI 774 RIYADH 562 AMMAN 389 KOZHIKODE 61 DUBAI 647 MUSCAT 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 229 COLOMBO 59 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 859 DUBAI 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 513 SHARM EL SHEIKH 576 COCHIN 981 CHENNAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 239 AMMAN 636 FRANKFURT 614 CAIRO 8067 DUBAI 772 ISTANBUL 411 AMSTERDAM 574 MUMBAI

Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 1:00 1:30 1:45 2:20 2:25 2:30 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:10 4:15 4:35 4:45 5:00 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:20 7:30 7:30 7:35 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:35 8:40 9:00 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:45 10:55 11:05 11:25 12:00 12:05 12:25 12:45 13:25 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:20 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:35 17:45 17:45 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:50 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:35 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50

Airlines TimeAIC RJA FDB FDB UAL DLH MSR THY MEA THY ETH SAI UAE FDB ETD MSR QTR THY JZR QTR PIA JZR GFA THY RJA KAC BAW FDB MEA THY JZR ABY KAC JZR KAC GFA IRA UAE KAC QTR FDB JZR ETD IRA BAB JZR IZG GFA KAC KAC MEA KAC JZR UAE MSR MSC SYR KAC JZR FDB GFA FDB MSR KAC OMA JZR KAC FDB KAC RJA JZR SVA QTR FDB KAC KAC MEA ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR TAR ABY UAL SVA JZR UAE QTR FDB BAB RBG MSR MSC JZR KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA FDB DHX ALK JZR ABY ETD UAE QTR KAC KAC JZR JAI BBC AXB QTR GFA KAC KAC JZR

Depature Flights on Thursday 25/10/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA 5555 AMMAN 8064 DUBAI 8068 DUBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 5465 ISTANBUL 407 BEIRUT 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 442 LAHORE 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 5473 ISTANBUL 536 CAIRO 149 DOHA 2062 LAHORE 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 5134 AMMAN 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 409 BEIRUT 5469 ISTANBUL 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 1671 DUBAI 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 224 BAHRAIN 606 MASHHAD 856 DUBAI 101 LONDON 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 172 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 616 AHWAZ 437 BAHRAIN 356 MASHHAD 4162 MASHHAD 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 240 AMMAN 872 DUBAI 623 SOHAG 406 SOHAG 342 DAMASCUS 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 8056 DUBAI 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 646 MUSCAT 174 DUBAI 673 DUBAI 8058 DUBAI 617 DOHA 641 AMMAN 512 SHARM EL SHEIKH 505 JEDDAH 135 DOHA 8054 DUBAI 773 RIYADH 613 BAHRAIN 401 BEIRUT 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 538 CAIRO 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 328 TUNIS 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 3854 DUBAI 145 DOHA 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 3554 ALEXANDRIA 607 LUXOR 402 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 343 CHENNAI 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 60 DUBAI 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 502 LUXOR 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 554 ALEXANDRIA 575 KOCHI 44 DHAKA 390 MANGALORE 147 DOHA 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK 415 KUALA LUMPUR 528 ASSIUT

0:05 0:05 0:10 0:15 0:25 0:30 0:35 1:15 2:00 2:15 2:45 3:00 3:45 3:50 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:30 5:35 5:40 6:45 6:55 7:05 7:10 8:05 8:10 8:25 8:25 8:30 8:50 9:00 9:05 9:05 9:10 9:20 9:25 9:35 9:40 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:05 10:15 10:15 10:25 10:30 10:35 10:45 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:15 12:20 12:25 13:00 13:05 13:10 13:20 13:25 14:25 14:25 14:30 14:40 15:00 15:05 15:05 15:25 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:15 16:20 16:25 16:30 16:45 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:05 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:45 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:50 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:40 23:50 23:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Single bedroom flat for family near Salmiya garden.

Rent KD 200 includes water electricity and internet.

Furniture/ appliances available as additional. Contact: 94427060. (C 4190) Sharing accommodation for Filipino Farwaniya blk 1, st 122, in front of Gulf Mart, non-smoking, decent person only, call 66390770.

(C 4191) 25-10-2012 An apartment for rent in Farwaniya, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, including a master room, good location, rent KD 205 per month available starting from 1/11/2012.

Contact: 99977472.

Single bedroom flat available for family in Salmiya with furniture, appliances plus a Mercedes B200 car, 2008. Contact: 94427060/ 66982274. (C 4188) 24-10-2012

FOR SALE Prado 2005, silver, 4 cylinders, full option, including double gear and censor, one owner only. Price KD 4,750. Tel: 97479763.

Refrigerator (LG) KD 70, automatic washing machine (2 kg) KD 40, safe KD 65, Good condition, almost new, in Farwaniya Blk 1, St 22. Contact: 66396770. (C 4192) 25-10-2012

2012, excellent condition, km 12000, KD 2850. Tel: 50699345. (C 4187) 22-10-2012 A Nissan Maxima in very good condition with one year registration validity.

Tel: 90908406.

20-10-2012

TUITION Maths teacher over 20 years experience. Tuition: KS2/3, IGCSE, AS/A2, CIC2C3C4, S1S2, M1M2, familiar with all boards.

Contact: 66710630.

(C 4183)

112 Prayer timings

Mercedes 280s 1994 dark blue registered valid to July 2013, KD 1,000 please call 99633674 after 5 pm.

(C 4186) Mazda (3) white color,

No:

Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

04:36 11:32 14:43 17:08 18:25

15609

Room with attached bath available in a C-AC flat in Abbassiya near High Way Center, couple or ladies are preferred.

Contact: 66552905. (C 4185) 22-10-2012

SITUATION WANTED Young Indian, 3 years experienced CCNA & MCITP professional 18 no. visa, looking for suitable job in IT field. Contact: 55341119.

(C 4189) 24-10-2012

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 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

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

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

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

ST TAT TE OF K KUW WA AIT

Te el.: 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENERAL GENE OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT DA AY Y: Wednesday e

Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630

WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

24/10/2012

BY Y DA AY:

Visibility isibil i will improve gradually and relatively humid weather especially over coastal areas with variable wind changing to light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Humid weather especially over coastal areas with light to moderate south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear No Current Warnings arnin a

WA ARNING

33 °C

27 °C

22451082

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

36 °C

25 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WAISEEB A

36 °C

24 °C

Sharq

22465401

WA AFRA

39 °C

23 °C

Salmiya

25746401

SALMI

36 °C

22 °C

ABDAL LY

37 °C

22 °C

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YAH A

36 °C

22 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

32 °C

25 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

32 °C

27 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

33 °C

29 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WA ARBA A - BUBY YA AN

31 °C

23 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

ST TATION T

SFC. CHART

24/10/2012 0000 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA ATE T

WEA AT THER

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

Thursday

25/10

R. humid + scattered clouds

37 °C

24 °C

S-SE

15 - 38 km/h

Relatively humid

37 °C

25 °C

SE-S

10 - 32 km/h

partly cloudy + scattered rain

34 °C

24 °C

NE-N

10 - 32 km/h

34 °C

22 °C

NE-N

15 - 35 km/h

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

Friday

26/10

South Jahra

24775066

Saturday

27/10

North Jahra

24775992

Sunday

28/10

Relatively humid

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

PRA RA AY YER TIMES

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WAIT A AIRPORT

Fajr

04:36

MAX. Temp.

36 °C

Sunrise

05:56

MIN. Temp.

24 °C 84 %

Firdous

24892674

Zuhr

11:32

MAX. RH

Al-Omariya

24719048

Asr

14:44

MIN. RH

Sunset

17:09

MAX. Wind

Isha

18:27

TOT TAL AL RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

23900322

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

21 % SE 32 km/h 00 mm

24/10/12 02:35 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

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

Dr. Salem soso General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

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

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours

KUW WAIT A CITY

Fintas

Al-Shohada’a

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

07:00

Issue Time

MIN. REC.

24710044

22418714

Fax: 24348714

MAX. EXP P.

N.Kheitan

Al-Madena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Theron

tackles futuristic topics

harlize Theron tackled futuristic topics this year’s sci-fi epic “Prometheus.” Now she’s going old-school - very old-school - for a new project at ABC. Theron is working with the network to develop “The Clan,” a drama set in the Highlands of medieval Scotland. And because, when one thinks Charlize Theron, one’s mind naturally drifts to Vikings, yes - there are Vikings involved. The project will follow the various clans of medieval Scotland as they battle each other, while simultaneously fending off Viking invaders. “Hotel Rwanda” director Terry George will write and direct the project, as well as serve as an executive producer. Theron’s Denver and Delilah Production Company will executive-produce the project in conjunction with ABC Studios. Earlier this year, Theron sold a modern-day version of the Hatfields and McCoys saga to NBC. Hollywood Reporter first reported news of the “Clan” development.

C

Swift, Minaj to perform at American Music Awards

Brown

arrested on suspicion of DUI

t’ll be a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll on stage at next month’s American Music Awards. Organizers announced yesterday that Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Linkin Park will perform at the 40th annual ceremony on Nov 18. All are also up for awards. Minaj is the night’s leading nominee, along with Rihanna, with four bids each. Swift is nominated for favorite female country artist and Linkin Park is in the running for alternative artist. Fans can pick the winners by voting online. Christina Aguilera will also perform at the ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, where it will be broadcast live on ABC.

I

obby Brown has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). The 43-year-old singer was pulled over in the early hours of this morning when police observed him driving erratically on a Los Angeles street.

According to gossip website TMZ.com, officers approached Bobby’s car and asked him to get out of the vehicle when they could detect a strong smell of alcohol. After performing a field sobriety test, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI. This is the second time Bobby has been arrested for drunk driving this year. In March, he was taken into police custody after failing a sobriety test and as part of his release deal, he agreed to enter rehab. However, in August he checked out early because he didn’t think he needed anymore help. A source said at the time: “Bobby is no longer in rehab, he decided he’s had enough treatment for his problems. “When he first checked in, he promised his family and friends, including his New Edition bandmates, that this time he was going to stay in rehab for the full treatment. That’s normally a 90-day program. “However, after fulfilling his duties for his DUI plea deal, Bobby has decided that he doesn’t need treatment anymore.”Bobby’s wife Alicia Etheredge had previously admitted she and his children - three-year-old Cassius from the couple’s relationship, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown with late ex-wife Whitney Houston, and Landon, 23, La’Princia, 22, and Bobby Jr, 19, with previous partners - were “proud” of the singer for entering rehab.

B

Kristen Stewart:

Mistake made relationship stronger

risten Stewart says her relationship with Robert Pattinson is stronger than ever - despite her cheating on him. The ‘Twilight Saga’ actress shocked the world when it was revealed she had had an affair with her ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ director Rupert Sanders, but she insists she has learned a lot from her “mistake” now she and

K

Robert are back together. She told Mexican magazine 15 a 20: “You have to be OK with your own fears. If you’re an honest person you’ll make mistakes, but it’ll be OK. The most interesting things happen after making mistakes.”

However, it has been claimed Robert, 26, is finding it difficult to trust Kristen, 22, again and is being careful to take things slowly. A source told RadarOnline.com: “Kristen is working hard to try and force the relationship into what it was before. “But the truth is, she’s going to have to take it slowly with Robert because he’s still having trouble trusting her again. “For him to carry on like nothing happened is very hard. Kristen is eternally sorry for cheating on him and he has forgiven her - kind of.” While Kristen is adamant her relationship with married Rupert was never sexual, Robert is having a hard time believing her. The source added: “The problem is he can’t forget her infidelity. Kristen claims she never actually slept with Rupert, but Robert still has that nagging feeling of doubt that she did. “It’s too early for him to fully accept that they’re an item again, but Kristen is pushing for them to go back to how they were.”

Allen

needs specialist tools for Halloween

ily Allen is going to make the greatest ever Halloween lantern this year. The ‘Smile’ singer is getting prepared for the annual spooky holiday next Wednesday and wants to create a very impressive Jack-o’-lantern - traditionally a hollowed out pumpkin with a scary face carved into it and a candle in the centre - for her family home for when the trick or treaters come. Pregnant Lily - who has an 11-month-old daughter Ethel Mary with her husband Sam Cooper - is on the hunt for some special pumpkin carving tools so she can get her design perfect. She wrote on her twitter page: “Where can one purchase proper pumpkin carving tools in the London area. I am stepping up my game this year.” Lily’s loyal followers were quick to message her back with various carving tips, but no definite information on specialist utensils. Twitter follower Charlie Brown ?(@charlzton) wrote: “@lilyrosecooper All you need is a knife and some skills. (sic)” Novellist Brendan Halpin ?(@bhalpin) tweeted: “@lilyrosecooper You need power tools to really do it right. A jigsaw works wonders. (sic)”

L

Marlohe

overwhelmed by ‘Skyfall’ reception

erenice Marlohe was left emotional by the reception of the fans at the ‘Skyfall’ premiere. The French actress - who plays the role of Severine in the 23rd James Bond movie - was shocked at how many people turned up to support the film and the cast, and the event brought back many happy memories of shooting the movie. Speaking on the red carpet at the world premiere of ‘Skyfall’ at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday night, she told BANG Showbiz: “This is very moving; suddenly it brings back all the memories from filming a long time ago. I feel very moved to be here.” Berenice stars alongside Daniel Craig - who is playing British spy Bond for the third time - and she admits she loved working with him because of his great sense of fun. She added: “Daniel is amazing.

He’s very excited. He has a wonderful sense of humor. I felt very at home.” Berenice was joined on the red carpet by stars of the 007 film including Daniel, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Javier Bardem, as well as Kelly Brook, Tulisa Contostavlos and ‘Skyfall’ director Sam Mendes.

B

Beatty

sells Los Angeles mansion

arren Beatty has sold his Los Angeles mansion for $6.7 million. The Mediterranean-style property - which can be found in the Beverly Crest neighborhood of the city - has sold for $300,000 less than the asking price, after Warren decided to sell it following a year of it being a rental property. The home was built in 1992, the same year he married Annette Bening. Covering 10,954 square feet, the potential buyer will likely have a large family as it features six bedrooms and eight bathrooms over the two stories. In addition, it has a separate guest house, a swimming pool, maid’s quarters and reading enthusiasts can enjoy a huge library. It also has stunning views of the neighboring valley. Warren and Annette already own another property in Los Angeles where they are believed to have moved to.

The 75-year-old actor is not the only Hollywood star to sell their Californian home recently - Billy Bob Thornton sold the home he once shared with exwife Angelina Jolie. It was listed for sale at $9.995 million, 12 years after he paid Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash $3.75 million for the property.

W

Hurley

left hungry by Shane

lizabeth Hurley struggles to stick to her diet when she cooks for Shane Warne. The 47-year-old actress spent the morning drooling over her fiance’s fried breakfast and admitted she was being tormented by the delicious smell of the bacon she was frying for him. She posted a series of tweets, saying: “Who can fry bacon for others without nicking a bit from the pan for yourself-even though you’ve sworn you won’t have any? #hangshead “And who likes back bacon and who likes streaky? / Smoked or unsmoked? “Hmmm ... I think majority of u like smoked back. Me? Thin cut, unsmoked streaky, with crispy rinds. Swoon. And ketchup. “And no, I don’t like black pudding. (sic)” Hurley also described in length how she likes her eggs, and it seems the brunette beauty has a number of excellent ways to cook the protein-laden food. In another twitter post, she added: “I like eggs every way - soft boiled eggs with bread & butter soldiers, fried sunny side up, VERY soft scrambled, poached... (sic)” The ‘Gossip Girl’ star sticks to a very strict diet and only eats one main meal a day. She previously revealed: “I have mugs of hot water first thing, maybe an espresso and a few oat cakes mid morning ... The only meal I have is dinner.” However, Australian cricket legend Warne is reaping the benefits of Hurley’s healthy eating regime and was able to enjoy a calorific breakfast with a double bacon portion, smothered in HP Sauce. In case there was any confusion, Liz revealed: “PS @warne888 is an HP man, rather than ketchup, with bacon. (sic)” HP Sauce is a brand of brown sauce and the condiment is made from malt vinegar, tomatoes, dates, tamarind extract, sweetener and spices.

E

Moss

helping Harry Styles decorating advice ate Moss is helping Harry Styles decorate his new home. The One Direction singer recently purchased a £3 million property in London’s exclusive Primrose Hill and has asked the supermodel for her advice on the interior design. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Harry has a rough idea of what he wanted the place to look like but didn’t really know where to start. “Kate has given him a list of her trusted furnishing contacts and her favorite shops and told him to get on to them. She’s even given him the number of her florist. “Kate thinks Harry’s really sweet and she’s more than happy to help him out.” Earlier this month, it was revealed Harry had ordered pictures of Rihanna and Kate Moss for his new home. The 18-yearold hunk splurged £100,000 on works by urban artists Banksy and Bambi depicting the famous beauties. Art trader Lenny Villa said: “We’ve had a call from a dealer who says Harry is looking for investment art, but modern and funky. “We’re sending him Bambi’s painting of Rihanna and a Banksy print of Kate Moss. Harry knows Robbie Williams and Brad Pitt both own a Bambi.” —Bang Showbiz

K

37

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

French designer Jean Paul Gaultier holds handicrafts during a press conference held in the framework of the Cali Exposhow fashion week, in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia. —AFP

Gaultier switches production to Gibo Spa rench designer Jean Paul Gaultier has moved production of his women’s ready-to-wear range back to the Italian group Gibo Spa after severing ties with another Italian company, Aeffe. Gibo Spa, which handled the manufacture and distribution of Gaultier’s range from 1981-94, will take over from Aeffe from the 2013/14 autumn/winter collection.

The deal means Gaultier’s production and distribution will be handled by the a group that already handles a string of top fashion brands, including Jil Sander, John Galliano, Roberto Cavalli and Paul Smith. —AFP

F

This undated photo released by Rent the Runway shows CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway, Jennifer Hyman, left, and co-founder Jenny Fleiss in New York. —AP

Rent the Runway taps its users as models reality check is coming to Rent the Runway, the online company that allows consumers to borrow for a fee - designer clothes and accessories. It has unveiled a social-shopping platform with 12,000 customer photos to see how styles hang on different shapes. “You haven’t seen this diversity of models anywhere else,” says Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder. Accessibility drives Rent the Runway, and that doesn’t only mean cost, she says. The site offers dresses and accessories by a revolving roster of 160 designers, often attracting renters looking for special-occasion looks or the chance to wear a top-tier label without a four-digit investment. The Our Runway program also aims to open options of silhouette and style to

A

women who might not think there’s a strapless dress or full poufy skirt out there for them but then finds it with the guidance of her peers, Hyman explains.

She also might learn a few styling tips, set new ideas for handbags and jewelry, and how to adapt one dress to many occasions, she adds. Over the past year, the company has been collecting input from users and found that - without any incentive - more than 35 percent of users chose to post photos and reviews of the items they rented. Hyman says she was surprised at the level of detail that came with these reviews, including a majority listing height, weight, body type and bust size. “What it’s all about is, ‘Will it look good on me?’ and ‘Will I feel comfortable?’ They like to see

Life is an adventure with MAX’s 2012 winter collection KUWAIT: Winter is here and the temperature is dropping. Layer up and look fashionable this season by stepping into Max. Colour inspiration has come from our country heritage look, with autumnal shades of brown, camel, bottle green, rust, mustard and the key colour of the season, Berry Red. Monochrome is still on trend this season interpreted in classic greys and black with accents of soft rose pinks to lend a touch of femininity.

It’s all about studs this season as is evident in the Military Grunge collection. Studs come in all shapes and sizes, from flat round ones to pyramidal squares. Bohemian styling also finds resonance in our

70s glam inspired collection. Jewel tones of tangerine, fuchsia and cobalt come together in this glamorous concoction.

Sweaters at Max get a major makeover this season. Choose from belted sweater dresses, ponchos, and button through cardigan styles, with turtle necks and oversized roll over collar details. Houndstooth, argyles, Scandinavian patterns, cables and stripes are key this season in a palette of grey, black, berry, forest green and mallard blue.

This winter, men’s fashion at Max offers you more style and exceptional value! Urban Heritage, Varsity and Vintage are some of the key looks that have inspired new detail-

ing in the men’s casual collection this winter. Key colours include winter shades of grey, olive, brown, navy, forest green and burgundy.

These colours are contrasted with ochre, rust and ivory.

Key items for the season include casual jackets in cotton and corduroy, patterned plaid shirts in autumnal hues, vintage and washed hoodies, worn jeans, chinos, plain and patterned sweaters, preppy cardigans, striper and color blocked polo tees and utility styled shirts.

Cityscape graphics are a great subject to house all year round with monochrome colour ways being even more versatile. Polaroid

imagery gives a retro undertone which is proving particularly popular right now. The Great Outdoor trend from the winter catwalks finds resonance in shoulder and elbow patched knitwear. Corduroy and suede are also essential fabrications for this story.

Jackets come in both formal and casual styles this winter. Choose from overcoats and military styled jackets, to tweed and corduroy blazers for the English dandy look. For the young at heart, check out our biker jackets and casual jackets with utilitarian styling. Graphic tees are going strong even this winter.

Choose from our vast selection of on-trend graphics that reflect varsity, cityscape and urban themes.

This season Max Kidswear is all about fun knits and layering solutions to warm up in the colder months. Infant Boys collections are packed with lovely chunky knits to keep your lil’ man warm and snug in the colder months. Layering is essential this season and we have the perfect pieces for that, lovely graphic tees with padded jackets and hooded flannel shirts. Infant Girls collection include, corduroy trousers, intarsia knits and a-line woven tops all of which are ideal to be layered underneath our adorable jackets and coats.

The 2-8 boys collection is packed with great pieces in exciting themes with lovely wildlife and forest ranger themes, featuring lots of chunky striped sweaters, flannel plaid shirts, colored corduroys and utility jeans. These are perfect for any little boy on the quest for adventure and outdoor fun! The 814 Boys Winter range is all about attitude and spirit! Key themes include Midnight Racer, City Rock and Urban Style, all with exciting graphics and pieces. Our knitwear has taken a serious update and we’ve got a lot of variety from argyles to stripes and placement printed panels.

The 2-8 girls’ collections are really outstanding! Classic a-line shapes mixed with lovely textures of herringbone, tweed and corduroy make this perfect for your Winter Wonderland princess. The 8-14 Girls Winter range is full of fun and stylish pieces to inspire any budding fashionista. Key themes include KPop, Geometric Vibe and Razzle Dazzle. Also select from a wide range of trousers and denims in a variety of fabrications, lengths and styling to add to your winter wardrobe essentials. Step into any Max store this winter located at Hawally, Fahaheel, Al Rai, Salmiya, Khaitan, The Avenues, Jahra, Kuwait City and Fintas to stay warm and very on trend.

how they will look in a dress before they rent it from someone who looks like them, and they’re willing to pay it forward.”

The target audience of the site is 15-45. “These are the same women who live their lives on Facebook and Instagram, and are creating an image for themselves,” Hyman says. She reports that rental rates double when a user interacted with a customer photo verses a model.

Hyman had posted 47 photos of herself ahead of the launch. “I’ll tell you what dress fit me and which one was tight in the hips.” —AP

Pakistan Fashion Week

Models present creations by Pakistani designer Huma Adnan on the last day of the Pakistan Fashion Week in Karachi. —AFP photos

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

K

In this photo released on Tuesday, Nick Cannon is seen in his Wonka Candy Room at home featuring SweeTARTS and NERDS in Los Angeles. — AP

ung fu legend Bruce Lee’s former residence in Hong Kong will be put up for sale after a plan to turn the property into a museum dedicated to the icon failed, a repor t said yesterday.

Philanthropist Yu Panglin, who owns the mansion, which became a rundown ‘love hotel’, said he was planning to sell the property for HK$180 million ($23 million) after talks with the government for the museum collapsed last year.

“I’m no longer considering (the museum plan) since the government is not supportive,” the 90-yearold billionaire told Hong Kong’s Chinese-language Singtao Daily in an interview. “I’m running out of patience, I don’t want to wait anymore,” he said, adding that the hotel owner had failed to pay rent for two years due to poor business, with the property in urgent need of refurbishment. Lee’s legions of fans have long-demanded a significant hometown tribute to the Chinese-American star, who died in 1973 at the age of 32 after helping to bring martial arts to the mainstream with classic kung fu films such as “Fists of Fury” (1971) and “Enter the Dragon” (1973).

However they were left disappointed after the Hong Kong government shelved the museum plan in June last year, saying it failed to reach a consensus with Yu following two years of negotiations, without giving details. Yu told Singtao Daily the government rejected his proposal to expand the mansion-Lee’s last residence-by adding three floors to include a cinema, library and martial arts training centre, which were his

conditions to donate the property. The 5,000 squarefoot (460 square-metre) two-storey house in Hong Kong’s upscale residential district of Kowloon Tong was turned into a short-stay hotel with rooms rented for as little as US$25 an hour, usually to amorous couples.

Yu could not be reached yesterday for comment but Lee’s fans urged the billionaire to reconsider his plan. “If the house is sold and re-developed or demolished later, I think the Hong Kong people and Bruce Lee fans worldwide will be very disappointed,” Wong Yiu-keung, chairman of the Bruce Lee Fan Club in Hong Kong said. “We hope the government can try to persuade Yu again,” he added. The star died in Hong Kong after a severe reaction to medication. His fans have criticized the lack of a larger memorial to their hero in his hometown, except for a statue on the water front Avenue of Stars. Authorities said in October last year a gallery would be set up in Lee’s honor at the government-run Hong Kong Heritage Museum. — AFP

C

hristian sister trio Barlowgirl is retiring after nearly a decade of chart-topping success. Alyssa, Lauren and Rebecca Barlow are releasing their final song, “Hope Will Lead Us On,” on Oct 30. They will hold an online chat with fans Oct 29 on Ustream, where they will take questions and perform acoustically.

No reason was given for the decision to retire. A spokesman says, simply, “They’re ready for a new season.” In a statement, the sisters call their music career “one of the most incredible adventures.” They thanked fans for sharing their dream. Barlowgirl has sold over a million copies of their self-titled debut album released in 2004. They earned four No. 1 hits, including 2005’s “I Need You To Love Me” which spent a record 13 weeks at the top. — AP

This undated photo provided by Warner Music Group/Word Entertainment shows the platinum-selling music trio BarlowGirl, from left, Becca Barlow, Alyssa Barlow and Lauren Barlow. — AP

M

emphis will now be the home of a national program deploying music industry veterans to mentor young and up-and-coming musicians. David Porter, the songwriter who co-wrote such classics as “Soul Man” and “Hold on I’m Comin,” announced the program Tuesday in Memphis. He said the initiative to develop a talent pool of new musicians is called “The Consortium MMT” - the acronym standing for “Memphis Music Town.” The program seeks to nuture successful professional musicians to help restore Memphis’ reputation as a capital of soul music, said Porter, who wrote for artists recording with the famed Stax Records. Along with soul music, Memphis also is a cradle of rock and roll, where Elvis Presley,

Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and others recorded hits on the Sun Records label.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr lauded the program, noting the city’s popular music history.

Music drives a steady tourism business in the city. “The one thing about our soul music is that wherever you go, the story of Memphis is told,” Wharton said. Stax Records helped create the “Memphis sound,” featuring artists such as Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MGs and Isaac Hayes, who was Porter’s songwriting partner. Porter’s two biggest hits, “Soul Man” and “Hold on I’m Comin,” were made famous by the soulful duo Sam & Dave.

Al Bell, former owner of Stax Records, is a consortium committee member. So is James

Alexander, an original member of the Bar-Kays.

Others involved in the program include drummer-producer Steve Jordan, songwriter-producer Ray Parker Jr, saxophonist Kirk Whalum and rapper Al Kapone. Porter, a member of the National Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, said the influence of a professional on a young artist’s career could turn a good musician into an exceptional one. “If we don’t give back, we’ll have done an injustice to the place that we love, which is Memphis,” Porter said. — AP

Indian rapper and hip hop singer Hard Kaur performs at the release by Sony Music of her sophomore album P.L.A.Y. amidst glitz, glamour and great music in Mumbai on October 23, 2012. — AFP

This Jan 31, 2008 video frame grab release by AP Television shows Sam Lutfi leaving UCLA medical center after visiting Britney Spears in Los Angeles.— AP

T

he man who presided over Britney Spears’ life during her well-publicized meltdown is portraying himself in court as a benevolent personal manager who saved her from ruin. Sam Lutfi was to finish his direct testimony yesterday and face cross-examination by a battery of lawyers for the singer’s parents and conservators. They are fighting a multimillion-dollar lawsuit by Lutfi, who claims he was defamed by Lynne Spears in her book about her daughter.

He also said he was promised 15 percent of the millions of dollars that Spears earned during their association. Spears’ mother portrayed him as a Svengali-like figure preying on Britney’s vulnerabilities. Lutfi said he was actually a peacemaker, reuniting Britney with her mother after a long estrangement. He said the superstar implored him to become her personal manager after she had fired her entire staff. Under questioning by his lawyer, Lutfi said Spears asked him to be her personal manager in June 2007, about a month after they met and struck up a conversation at a nightclub.

Lutfi described the singer at that time as being “in crisis mode.” “She was very distraught,” he said. “She was having a child custody battle and was in the middle of a divorce.”

He added she also had drug problems. He was reluctant to become her manager, he said. “I told her I had no experience as a manager for someone of her caliber. I wanted time to think about it.” But Lutfi said Spears pressed him, saying: “Sam, do you know what this job pays?” “She said, ‘I’m getting $800,000 a month even when I’m not working. You will get 15 percent of that,’” he recalled.

Lutfi said he accepted the job with conditions, insisting that Britney allow him to put together a new “varsity team” consisting of a lawyer, agent and business manager.

“And I wanted her to promise me to stay clean,” he said, noting he brought drug-sniffing dogs to Spears’ home, where they found a baggie full of a white powder. He said she promised and he flushed the powder down the toilet. He said he then took control. “I took charge of dealing with the press. I acted as a liaison between Britney and her child custody attorneys. I interfaced with her record label and video producers. I helped her choose artwork for her album and merchandise.” Lutfi said he negotiated a peace pact with paparazzi who dogged her every move, giving them access to her schedule if they would follow at a safe distance and save her a parking space at her destination.

Once, he said, he and Britney traveled to Las Vegas to see if she could

find a venue for a permanent performing spot. But he said by September, the singer had relapsed on drugs, and he walked out. On Oct 1, 2007, he said, “Britney called me from her car and asked me to come back and help her kick drugs.” Lutfi said Spears had been parked all night outside a tanning salon in a mini mall, where he found her and took her home. He said he moved into her house after that, although there was no romantic relationship. Through all of this, he said he had no written management contract nor was he ever paid. In her book, Lynne Spears refers to him during that period as “the gatekeeper,” “the general” and “Svengali.”

In a passage of the book read by the judge outside the jury’s presence, Lynne Spears wrote: “He lorded over me that he had complete access and I had no access to my own child.”

File photo shows new ‘X Factor’ judge Britney Spears attending the FOX network presentation party at Wollman Rink, in New York.—AP Lutfi, wearing a suit and blackrimmed glasses, spoke in a businesslike manner as he described his increasing role as intermediary in the star’s career and private life. He said he broached the subject of her estrangement from her parents and arranged for a reunion for Britney and her mother. Jurors were shown a photo of the two women meeting and smiling. He also said he approached her father about a meeting, but he declined. The star’s parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, have been in court every day. After Britney was hospitalized for mental illness, her father became her conservator, an ongoing arrangement. — AP

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

M File photo shows Zee Avi performing on stage during Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching Malaysia’s Sarawak state.—AFP

M

alaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi’s path to musical stardom began five years ago in her bedroom with a second-hand guitar, a clunky old laptop and a YouTube account. Her grainy, self-shot black-and-white rendition of her song “Poppy” soon gained a following, and further videos led to her discovery by Patrick Keeler of The Raconteurs and two albums that charted on the American Billboard 200. “It was my birthday and I was out with friends for dinner. When I came back, I was like, ‘Why are there 3,000 emails from YouTube?’” Zee, 26, said of her selection as the videosharing site’s featured artist for Christmas 2007.

She only posted “Poppy” for the benefit of a friend who had missed her maiden public performance. With a folk-soul sound resembling early Norah Jones, USbased Zee, who comes from a Muslim family, is among a wave of Malaysian women artists who have used social media to appeal directly-and successfully-to fans.

Another rising star is Yuna, a Muslim ethnic Malay whose soulful self-titled debut this year peaked at number 19 on Billboard magazine’s “Heatseekers” chart and has made some waves in the US. She is currently based in New York.

Yuna-who swaddles her hair in a chic version of the Muslim hijab head covering worn by many Malay women-gained “three fans, then 3,000, then 300,000” after uploading her first song on Myspace in 2006. For both singers, the use of social media has helped them gain popularity and flourish overseas. “It’s amazing what social media can do to your music and art if you know how to use it, have the right platform and what you want to sell,” said the 25-year-old Yuna, whose full name is Yunalis Zarai.

But they say it has also helped them when it comes to the constraints faced by female singers in their predominantly Muslim country, giving them more say when it comes to record company demands. At home they face criticism from religious authorities, online trolls and the mainstream media over what they wear, what they do, who they date and where they go.

File photo shows Mizz Nina answering questions during an interview at her studio in Kuala Lumpur.

“Muslim females are generally free to perform in small venues in the local scene. But once they gain popularity, that’s when the problems start,” said Daryl Goh, senior music writer for English language daily The Star. “The moral police start paying attention”.

Crossing the line Malaysia bars hugging, kissing, jumping, and foul language by performers on stage. It also prohibits women from baring skin between their shoulders and knees. Dance-pop artist Mizz Nina, who has a more overtly sexual style, pushes those limits and released a debut single “What You Waiting For” in 2010 that has been viewed nearly four million times on YouTube. Her songs also have been downloaded half a million times as phone ring tones, reflecting a more tech-savvy fanbase in a country where Internet use-especially Facebook-is heavy.

But Nina, 32, who released a suggestive video for “What You Waiting For” that also featured US singer Colby O’Donis, told AFP she was taken aback by abuse on her Facebook page accusing her of “degrading Malay women”. Female stars often elicit attacks that they are promoting free sex and alcoholism-and in the case of Malay Muslim artistes, that they are degrading the community. Male stars rarely face such accusations.

Authorities fined top American female group Pussycat Dolls 10,000 ringgit ($3,200) for “gross indecency” following a performance in 2006.

R&B superstar Beyonce Knowles twice cancelled shows in Malaysia amid protests over her “sexy” image while American singer Erykah Badu had a concert cancelled in February over a photo of the Arabic word for “Allah” painted on her body. Nina, a Malay whose real name is Shazrina Azman, says she must walk a tightrope-between the “sex-sells” approach that finds success overseas and “limitations to what you can do as a Muslim”. “The director said, ‘Nina I want some scenes where you’ve got the dancers grinding and getting dirty with each other’,” she said of a recent music video

shoot. “They can, but 100 percent it’ll be banned and they will say ‘Nina is promoting sex on the dancefloor’.

That’s where we have to be more creative,” she added.

Breaking stereotypes Zee and Yuna dress more conservatively and grasp guitars rather than men on stage and in videos but have also come under criticism. As Zee’s career took off, she was chosen last year as a youth ambassador of her home state of Sarawak on Borneo island but she was accused of denying her roots when she spoke only English in a 2010 promotional visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Nevertheless, “this generation is definitely breaking stereotypes and as far as possible, the government has been very supportive as seen with the recognition Zee Avi has in Sarawak,” Goh said. With Yuna’s hijab framing her fashion-model looks, many young women look to her as a more conservative role model, someone who has deftly balanced success, both at home and abroad, with a Muslim image. “She’s done everything right,” Goh said.

But even she-the Malaysian face of global giants Oil of Olay, Samsung and Canon-says her choice of a life in show business has seen her commitment to Islam questioned. “I’m not Mizz Nina. I’m covered head to toe but still they say bad things about me. They say I’m a disgrace,” she said. Zee said social media has given more power and leverage to the artist to decide “what to do and how to dress” rather than have that dictated by record labels. Yuna agreed, saying it gives her enough independence to have “this racehorse view-just shut everything out and go towards your goal and success”.

“Whatever happens after that, you know Grammys, an award, would be nice,” she said laughing.— AFP

aybe if you’re 20 years old and high in your dorm room with your friends, the platitudes presented in “Cloud Atlas” might seem profound. Anyone else in his or her right mind should recognize it for what it is: a bloated, pseudo-intellectual, self-indulgent slog through some notions that are really rather facile. Ooh, we’re all interconnected and our souls keep meeting up with each other over the centuries, regardless of race, gender or geography. We’re individual drops of water but we’re all part of the same ocean. That is deep, man.

Perhaps it all worked better on the page.

“Cloud Atlas” comes from the best-selling novel of the same name by David Mitchell which, in theory, might have seemed unfilmable, encompassing six stories over a span of 500 years and including some primitive dialogue in a far-away future. Sibling directors Lana and Andy Wachowski - who actually have come up with some original, provocative ideas of their own in the “Matrix” movies (well, at least the first one) working with “Run Lola Run” director Tom Tykwer, have chopped up the various narratives and intercut between them out of order.

The A-list actors who comprise the cast play multiple parts across the various stories and in elaborate makeup that’s often laughable.

Tom Hanks, left, and Halle Berry, from the upcoming film ‘Cloud Atlas,’ pose for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif. — AP Tom Hanks is a scheming doctor on a voyage across the South Pacific in 1849, a trashtalking novelist in present-day London and a peaceful goatherd who’s part of a post-apocalyptic tribe in the 2300s. Halle Berry is a composer’s white trophy wife in 1936 Scotland, an investigative reporter in 1973 San Francisco and a member of an elite society of prescients in the farthest future. Hugh Grant is often the least recognizable of all beneath layers of prosthetics and goop: at one point, he’s a vengeful old man; at another, he’s the raging leader of a band of cannibals. One easy rule of thumb: If you see Hugo Weaving, you know he’s a bad guy. Except for the story line in which he plays a woman, that is: an oppressive Nurse Ratched figure in a psychiatric hospital.

Maybe the concept of transformation and of connectedness despite the physical vessels we occupy felt especially resonant for the transgender Lana Wachowski, formerly Larr y Wachowski. But rather than serving as a satisfying, cohesive device, the multiple-parts strategy feels like a distracting gimmick. Instead of seamlessly melding with the film’s philosophy of continuity, it keeps you constantly wondering: “Who is that actor made up to look Asian?

Who is that beneath the henna tattoos and macrame? Is that... Susan Sarandon?” It takes you out of the heart of the stories and holds you at arm’s length.

“Cloud Atlas” is ambitious in its scope, for sure - edited fluidly and often wondrous to look at, but totally ineffective from an emotional perspective. As you’re watching it you may ponder as I did whether any of these six stories across disparate genres would be more compelling as its own, stand alone film. Possibly the one set in pre -World War II, starring Ben Whishaw as an up-and-coming composer who flees London when he’s exposed as a homosexual and goes to work for an aging musical master (Jim Broadbent), all the while writing letters to his lover (James D’Arcy) full of humor and longing. —AP

This publicity file photo released by Warner Bros shows the character Gollum voiced by Andy Serkis in a scene from the fantasy adventure ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.’ — AP

M

iddle-earth will sound more realistic in “The Hobbit.” Dolby Laboratories Inc and director Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production announced yesterday that “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ” will be mixed and released in Dolby Atmos, the company’s immersive new sound system that features two extra arrays of overhead speakers and the ability to direct sounds to individual speakers inside movie theaters. “(Jackson) felt it was going to make a big difference in how he tells stories,” said Stuart Bowling, Dolby’s senior technical marketing manager. “He doesn’t want people to just go and observe his movies. He wants you to feel like you’re part of the experience of the stories that’s he’s trying to tell on the screen and allow you to be part of Middle-earth.” The director of the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings” films adapted JRR. Tolkien’s tale of Bilbo Baggins set in the fictional realm of Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the

Rings.” Besides the standard 2-D format, Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures are releasing the series in high-frame-rate 3-D, IMAX and other 3-D formats.

Bowling said Dolby’s goal is to have the Atmos platform installed in 80 to 100 theaters in time for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which is scheduled to premiere on Dec 14. The second and third films, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” are set for release Dec 13, 2013, and July 18, 2014. Other movies slated to be released in the Atmos format include Fox’s “Chasing Mavericks” and “Life of Pi.” Disney-Pixar’s “Brave” was the first film to debut with the audio format earlier this year. Bowling said the company expects more than 15 films to be released in Atmos next year and hoped to have the system in 1,000 theaters by the end of next year.

“Dolby Atmos is fantastic from a sound quality position,” said John Neill, head of sound at Park

Road Post Production. “We can now hear full range surround speakers, meaning that when we pan from the front to surround, the sound does not change in quality. The overhead speakers give us the opportunity to place the theater patron really in the location.” Jackson shot “The Hobbit” in 3-D and at 48 frames a second, twice the speed that’s been the standard since the 1920s. He received a mixed reception for high-frame-rate preview footage of “The Hobbit” at the Cinema Con theater owner’s convention last year. Some thought the images were too clear and realistic, taking away from the magic of the film medium. — AP File photo shows actress Susan Sarandon, from the upcoming film ‘Cloud Atlas,’ poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Malaysian pop divas try to balance fame and religion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

39

An actor portrays Ted Bundy on the electric chair at Killers: A Nightmare Haunted House, at Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center on October 5, 2012. Visitors can see an exhibit of drawings and other artifacts once belonging to reallife monsters such as John Wayne Gacy and Charles Manson, donated by an anonymous collector. Each room of the house depicts a scene based on a notorious serial killer, with performers acting as murderers, victims, or both.

Killers will run September 28 through November 3, 2012 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. — AFP

B

This image provided by the Denver Art Museum shows Vincent van Gogh’s “Self Portrait with Grey Felt Hat.”— AP photos

efore Vincent van Gogh painted “Sunflowers” or “The Starry Night,” he worked as a teacher and hoped to become a minister. After he was told he didn’t have the skills to be a preacher, he turned to art. The story of how one of the most popular postimpressionist painters developed his signature style is told in an exhibit that the Denver Art Museum assembled using more than 70 van Gogh works from dozens of museums and collections around the world. The exhibit also includes artists who influenced him and from fellow postimpressionists. “Becoming Van Gogh” opens Sunday and runs through Jan 20 at the Denver Art Museum. “We’re showing an earlier part of his career, his mentors,” said Timothy Standring, the Denver Art Museum painting and sculpture curator who curated the exhibition with Louis van Tilborgh of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. “We’re showing his self-taught moments when he learned how to draw. We’re showing all those phases that people don’t really know about. It’s not just ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘Starry Night.’ It’s a richer, complicated story, and everybody’s going to be thrilled when they leave this exhibition and say, ‘I know this guy much more.’”

The exhibit doesn’t include those two paintings or any versions of “The Bedroom” but does have three of van Gogh’s self-portraits as well as paintings from the last year of his life. It also includes lesserknown early works, from before the Dutch painter joined his brother Theo in Paris. “We’re telling another component about his career,” Standring said. “I mean, imagine if we had Hemingway and we only had ‘A Movable Feast,’ and we didn’t have ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.’”

The museum doesn’t disclose its budget for exhibits, but it decided if it was going to show van Gogh, it was going to go big. General admission prices to the exhibit are even more than tickets earlier this year for “Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective,” which also was a U.S.

F

or many American travelers, Guatemala is an inexpensive, exotic destination for visiting Mayan ruins or studying Spanish in a language immersion program. But for a couple of US college students, the country was the setting for a social experiment. They spent a summer living there on the same daily budget that sustains over a billion people around the world: $1 a day.

Then they made a film about it, “Living on One.” The film shows just how hard it is to buy enough food on so little money - never mind paying bills and coping with emergencies - but it has another theme that’s not quite as sexy as sheer survival. “Living on One” also tries to illustrate how people living in extreme poverty manage their money, and how microcredit - small loans for local entrepreneurs who can’t

File photo shows Chris Temple and Ryan Christofferson preparing food outside the dirt-floor hut where they lived for a summer in the village of Pena Blanca, Guatemala.

Timothy Standring, who curated the upcoming “Becoming Van Gogh” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, stands with Vincent Van Gogh’s “Edge of a Wheat Field with Poppies.”

This photo provided by the Denver Art Museum shows Vincent van Gogh’s “Wheatfield with Sheaves.”

exclusive for Denver. Standring said he worked about seven years to put together the show. He estimates that work included traveling about 100,000 miles a year for close to four years to see the loaned pieces - and persuade institutions to lend them to better tell van Gogh’s history. “Well, I can sell sand in the desert and icicles on the

North Pole,” Standring quipped. “No, it was the merits of the story that encouraged people to take the risk to loan their works of art to come to Colorado.”— AP

their neighbors’ incomes as day laborers. Temple, Ingrasci and two other students with filmmaking experience who joined them lived on a total of $224 - $1 for each of the four of them, for 56 days - but they disbursed their money randomly. They filled a hat with numbers from zero to nine, and pulled one number each morning to determine their budget for the day. Expenses included firewood, rice, beans and other staples; renting a hut where they slept on a dirt floor; and making payments on a $125 microloan they used to start a radish farm. They had an outhouse and no running water; their camera was powered by a connection rigged off an electric line.

The worst moment, they agreed, was when Temple became seriously ill with giardia, an intestinal parasite. “After

File photo shows from left, Sean Leonard, Zach Ingrasci, Chris Temple and Ryan Christoffersen in Pena Blanca, Guatemala.—AP photos

get traditional bank loans - can make a difference.

“By filming the whole experience, we felt we could bring people along on this journey with us,” said Chris Temple, who conceived the project with Zach Ingrasci, a classmate from Claremont McKenna College in California. “We thought that by going through this dollar-a-day experience ourselves, we could make it more understandable and show through our eyes what life is like there.”

Now back in the states, they’re taking the film on a college tour - Georgetown, Boston College, Berkeley, Stanford and others - and have founded the Living on One organization to connect students to these issues through social media. They hope to hit the film festival circuit eventually.

A key aspect of their 2010 adventure in the tiny highlands village of Pena Blanca was replicating the unpredictability of

10 days of being sick, waking up on the dirt floor throwing up, constantly going to the bathroom throughout the night, I was completely dehydrated,” he recalled. It was a low point for others too. “I can’t sleep another night like this,” Ingrasci says in the film after waking up covered with flea bites, with his sick friend next to him on the floor.

Temple says his illness was when “our simulation failed.

We tried to go to a doctor in town to see what the cost would be. It was $25, which would have meant sacrificing food for a very long time.”They decided to use medicine they’d brought with them in case of emergency even though their neighbors would have no such safety net.

Before making the film, Temple and Ingrasci, now both 23, had studied economic development and worked for organizations that promote microfinance. (Microfinance

made headlines in 2006 when Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi banker, won a Nobel Peace Prize for showing how small loans can foster economic development among the poor.) Temple had also worked in Guatemala for Whole Planet Foundation, a charitable arm of Whole Foods that grants microfinance loans.

The film ranges from scenes of pure joy - the shy smiles of curious children, shared meals with neighbors, the successful radish harvest - to YouTube-style goofball clips of the guys horsing around. There are also moving moments like a young woman wiping a tear as she says: “We are poor and we will continue being poor.”

But that woman, Rosa, turns out to be a success story. She starts a weaving business with a microloan and uses the profits to pay for nursing school. Ignasci says the women’s group that funded Rosa has a 100 percent repayment rate for microloans, but he acknowledges that “we can’t say all microfinance is good.” Indeed, critics have found microfinance programs in some parts of the world have failed, often due to high interest rates.

Other neighbors featured in the film include a bright, charming 12-year-old boy, Chino, who wants to learn English to “get a job,” and a resourceful man who belongs to a savings club where a dozen families invest $12 a month so each can get a $144 lump sum annually, funding large purchases they could never otherwise afford.

Ingrasci says it’s easy to “idealize” the simple lives of the rural poor: “They don’t have computers; they don’t have this overload of information.” But the reality of malnutrition, unemployment and illness, he says, is devastating. Temple notes that locals are not immune to the illness that struck him: Intestinal disease caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation can kill a baby, knock family breadwinners out of work and force kids to drop out of school.

While they understand that they may be criticized for “playing at poverty,” Ingrasci says they tried hard to avoid making viewers feel they were “getting played or preached at. It was such an important thing for our peers to feel like they’re part of this journey. When someone tells us the film has shown them the issues in a new way, or has encouraged someone to grant a microfinance loan, that’s the reason we’re doing it.” — AP

A

teardrop of salt, a whisper of saffron, a drizzle of lobster: luxury in small doses was the keynote at a giant food industry fair outside Paris this week.

Out with mustard cubes and marshmallow fluff: simplicity and taste were the common thread among the 19 products to receive a special innovation prize, whittled from a shortlist of about 400 at this year’s SIAL fair.

But simple need not mean predictable, with flavour coming in sprays, as tiny grains to roll on the tongue or as bite-sized mouthfuls.

“The global trends are ‘pleasure, health, practicality’,” summed up Xavier Terlet, analyst and consultant for the international food fair, which wraps up Thursday.

“In times of crisis, with the focus back on basics and centered on the home, what works best are goodies for sharing. Not the nasty, cheapest option, but little, unassuming luxuries.” Examples could be a lobster oil, made by the last remaining canning plant on the Brittany island of Groix-which conjures up the luxurious flavor from grapeseed oil and crustacean carcasses.

“You can add it to a fish fillet, a seafood salad or even mashed potatoes,” the company’s Emmanuelle Bernhardt said. Likewise, truffle-flavored Cajun nuts offer a hint of black gold, at a fraction of the price. Or saffron, one of the most expensive spices on the planet, offered as a liquid spray, by a Paris region company, Foodbiotic, which developed it over two years of research. “It’s ready to use, and easier than having to soak the filaments,” said the firm’s Maiten de Saint-Paul.

On the banks of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, Acetificio Mengazzoli, a 19th-century vinegar manufacturer, landed on a way to bottle liquid salt.

How is it different from seawater? “Basically, our water is clean,” explained the firm’s head of exports Marco Nodari, before the red, white and black vials filled with salts from Hawaii, the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. —AFP