25 Dec 2011

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MUHARRAM 29, 1433 AH

Iran begins war games near Strait of Hormuz

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

Navy drill to ‘show off’ defense capabilities

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas BETHLEHEM: Tens of thousands of Christians were flocking to Bethlehem yesterday to celebrate Christmas following a year of political upheaval and change across the Arab world. As day broke on the not-so-little-town, which lies just a few miles south of Jerusalem, locals were busily preparing to welcome thousands of pilgrims who want to see the spot where the Bible says Jesus was born to a couple from Nazareth. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal, the most senior Roman Catholic bishop in the Middle East, made his solemn entry into the birthplace of Christ in the middle of the afternoon. He was accompanied by Palestinian Scout troops playing bagpipes, an inheritance from the British mandate in the first half of the 20th century.

The colourful procession led to Manger Square in the centre of Bethlehem, where a huge poster at Omar’s Mosque showed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Christmas is a national holiday in the Palestinian territories. Hotels and guest houses across this ancient town perched on the hilltops were packed to capacity, Palestinian officials said, with more than 50,000 visitors from around the world expected to join in the festivities. “Hotels are full. We have no rooms left even though the number of hotel rooms has multiplied in the last three years,” Palestinian tourism minister Khulud Daibes told AFP. “We expect up to 50,000 people to come in the next two days.” This year’s theme, she said, was “Palestine celebrating hope.”

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BETHLEHEM: A man dressed as Father Christmas drives past the Israeli separation barrier as Christians arrive to celebrate Christmas mass in this West Bank city yesterday. — AFP

Prince Philip recovers after heart surgery CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom: Britain’s Prince Philip was in “good spirits” after his wife Queen Elizabeth II and his children visited him in hospital yesterday as he recovered from heart surgery, officials said. The 90-year-old, Britain’s longest serving royal consort, was airlifted on Friday from the Sandringham estate where the royals were celebrating Christmas and taken to hospital for an operation to unblock a coronar y arter y. Heir to the throne Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne joined the queen at Philip’s bedside at Papworth hospital near Cambridge in

eastern England, Buckingham Palace said.

“The Duke of Edinburgh had a good night and is in good spirits but he is eager to leave,” a Continued on Page 13

Prince Philip

Max 25º Min 11º Low Tide 06:37 &18:18 High Tide 01:14 & 13:31

TEHRAN: Iran’s navy began a 10-day drill yesterday in international waters near the strategic oil route that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The exercises, dubbed “Velayat 90”, could bring Iranian ships into proximity with US Navy vessels in the area. The war games cover a 2,000-km stretch of sea off the Strait of Hormuz, northern parts of the Indian Ocean and into the Gulf of Aden, near the entrance to the Red Sea, state TV reported. The drill will be Iran’s latest show of strength in the face of mounting international criticism over its controversial nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran denies those charges, insisting the program is for peaceful purposes only.

Navy chief Adm Habibollah Sayyari said Iran is holding the drill to show off its prowess and defense capabilities. “To show off its might, the navy needs to be present in international waters. It’s necessary to demonstrate the navy’s defense capabilities,” state TV quoted Sayyari as saying. The Strait of Hormuz is of strategic significance as the passageway for about a third of the world’s oil tanker traffic. Beyond it lie vast bodies of water, including the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The US Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet is also active in the area, as are warships of several other countries that patrol for pirates there.

Both the US and Israel have not ruled out a military option against Iran over its nuclear program. Iranian hardliners have come out with occasional threats that Tehran would seal off the key waterway if the US or Israel moved against the country’s nuclear facilities. Iran regularly holds war games and has also been active in fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Sayyari said submarines, surface-to-sea missile systems, missile-launching vessels, torpedoes and drones will be employed in the maneuvers.

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Mourning Syrians rally for Assad DAMASCUS: Thousands of people yesterday attended prayers in memory of the 44 people killed by suicide bombers in Syria’s capital as charge and counter-charge swirled over who was behind the attacks.

The funeral prayers, at Damascus’s central Omayyad Mosque, came as an Arab League delegation met Foreign Minister Walid Muallem to discuss the arrival of a team to oversee a deal aimed at ending nine months of bloodshed. Mourners prayed before flag-draped coffins, while a crowd outside waved portraits of embattled President Bashar Al-Assad and banners of the ruling Baath party as police stood watch.

Religious Affairs Minister Abdel Sattar alSayyed read a statement from Christian and Muslim religious leaders “denouncing the criminal attacks on Friday... and the murder, destruction and sabotage,” part of a “dangerous plot against Syria”. “We call upon the Syrian people to be aware that Syria is being targeted, and affirm that we stand with them in the face of this plot. We reject any sort of extremism represented by terrorist organisation.”

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DAMASCUS: Mourners pray at a mass funeral yesterday for 44 people killed in twin suicide bombings that targeted intelligence agency compounds. — AP

US-Hezb cold war heats up BEIRUT: A war of words is heating up between Hezbollah and Washington, with allegations and counter-allegations flying between the two foes as the crisis in Syria takes its toll on the Shiite militant group. The cold war between Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah and the United States - which blacklists the Lebanese group as a terrorist organization - runs back decades. But with political upheaval in the Arab world at a peak, tensions between the two are skyrocketing.

“This year was not the first time Hezbollah has exposed intelligence networks, whether working for the United States or others, and the United States criminal case against Hezbollah goes back months,” said Paul Salem, head of the Beirut-based Carnegie

SEAL BEACH, California: Surfing Santa Michael Pless, 61, catches a wave south of Los Angeles yesterday. Pless, who runs a surfing school in the area, has donned his Santa costume and taken his board out to sea every December since the early 1990s. — AFP

Thousands of protesters pile pressure on Putin

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Middle East Center. “But there’s no doubt that, given what’s happening in Syria along with the US withdrawal from Iraq ... we’re in a phase of high tension in which everyone’s raising the pressure on their opponent.”

The feud began to deepen earlier this year, when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused the Central Intelligence Agency of planting spies within his party’s ranks.

Nasrallah’s announcement in June, which the party hailed as a “victory” over the United States, marked the first acknowledgment of infiltration by the movement founded in 1982. The United States filed a criminal lawsuit against a string of Lebanese financial institutions with alleged ties to Hezbollah on the grounds they were complicit in a massive

scheme to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars.

US federal authorities say the companies were part of a scheme to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from narcotics dealing and other criminal activities in order to fund Hezbollah’s activities. But Hezbollah has staunchly denied the charges, with the group’s second in command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, accusing Washington this week of waging a smear campaign against a Shiite Muslim group which, he said, would never follow a path “prohibited by religion”.

Hezbollah upped the stakes by accusing the “terrorist” United States of being behind twin bombings in the Syrian capital on Friday Continued on Page 13

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

LOCAL

International, national observers for NA polls 24 more candidates apply

Mubarak Al-Walan

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: Salah Al-Ghazali, Chairman of Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS), stressed that HH the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has approved a request by KTS to have both local and international observers monitor the upcoming election process. AlGhazali said that he met with Chancellor Faisal Al-Mershed, Head of the Judiciary, and discussed allowing NonGovernment Organizations (NGO’s) including KTS to observe the Parliamentary elections. Al-Ghazali also said that the most significant remarks so far are on by-elections and vote-buying, which are both very serious crimes during elections. Al-Ghazali urged the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to ambush any culprits in relation to these crimes.

“We have already provided the MoI with names of vote-buying brokers and their mobile phone numbers so that they can be arrested red-handed,” he underlined, pointing out that all of the NGO families and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs must cooperate in fighting by-elections and vote buying.

A further 24 candidates applied to the Ministry of Interior yesterday, bringing to 189 the total number of candidates to have registered so far to run for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Fadhel Bakhan, a candidate in the second constituency, withdrew on the fourth day of registration.

Abdul Aziz Jamsheer, a candidate in the first constituency, commented on his candidacy saying that instead of spending money to build universities, schools and hospitals, billions of dinars have been given to easily-buyable corrupt MPs. He also called for stricter legislation to fight corruption.

Sheikhah Al-Ghanim, a political activist and Manager of Al-Ghanim Consultancies Center, stressed that disputes in the ruling family will be at the top of her priorities. She also warned stateless residents “not to fish in murky waters” to take advantage of the ongoing Arab Spring.

“Kuwait has given you a lot and your demonstrations will only do it wrong,”

Suad Al-Tararwah she warned, calling also for more cooperation among MPs. Lawyer Khaled AlShatti, a first constituency candidate, said that his top priority will be fighting injustice in various ministries and governmental establishments in a bid to fight corruption. “Some lawmakers are unfortunately following some foreign agendas with the aim of deforming Kuwait’s democracy”, he warned.

Suad Al-Tararwah, the legal advisor at the Housing Welfare Public Authority, stressed that a major development requirement is the need to end all sorts of political tension. “The coming Parliament needs specialized members, namely in law”, stated the third constituency female candidate. Former MP, Khalaf Dumaitheer said that taking part in the upcoming elections is the best response to those who have questioned the legality of his candidacy. He also described recent practices as non-democratic. “The final word is up to the people now. Those with foreign agendas will have to answer to them,” he stressed, pointing out that stability within the ruling family will surely mean stability for Kuwait. Abdullah Al-Muhailbi, former Minister of Islamic Affairs and first constituency candidate, stressed that unless the coming Cabinet matches the outcome of the coming Parliament, everything will go back to square one where political disputes and conflicts only impede development. Abbas Murad, a second constituency candidate, thanked HH the Amir for “defusing” the crisis. He also stressed his full rejection of all byelections. Former MP Mubarak Al-Wa’lan said, after registering as a fourth constituency candidate, that he is independent and will never participate in by-elections. He also urged everybody to observe the Constitution as the main reference for both powers. Additionally, AlWa’lan warned of incumbency from those whom he described as the “bribereceiving” MPs. Former MP Ali Al-Diqbasi, registering in the fourth constituency, reminded that the few past tense years have witnessed the formation of seven Cabinets and four Parliaments and that, thanks to the wisdom of HH the Amir, the crisis has been

Khaled Hussein Al Shatti defused and “the ball is now back to the people’s court” to make better choices of those who will fulfill its aspirations.

Ibrahim Al-Gemaz, a second constituency candidate, said he is running upon the request of his fellow constituents to join a majority of young candidates running for the upcoming Parliamentary elections. “National unity is my main concern,” he stressed.

“If political funds are used in this election process, the 2012 Parliament will be even worse than that of 2009,” warned fifth constituency candidate Abdullah AlTameemi.

Major General Mohammed Tanna AlEnezi, a fourth constituency candidate, stressed that he wishes to give Kuwait a leading position among advanced countries by fighting segregation among citizens. He also promised to adopt solving the problems of stateless residents and granting them Kuwaiti citizenship, as well as to work hard on developing Kuwaiti security forces.

Khalaf Al-Failakawi, a fifth constituency candidate, severely criticized former MPs, accusing them of only working to achieve their personal gains regardless of public interests. “At the time all former MPs demanded increasing their allowances, none of them requested increasing the child allowance given to citizens that has been frozen for the past thirty years at KD 50 per child,’ he said. He added that all forms of public services are messy.

Marzouq Al-Bnayyan

Abdul Aziz Jamsheer

Faisal Al-Mezian

Khalaf Al-Enezi

Sheikhah Al-Ghanim

Saud Al-Muhailbi

Rihab Borsily

Nasser Al-Ghemaz

Better pay lures maids to Saudi Arabia via Kuwait

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The current problem of getting a housemaid in Kuwait seems to have caused by non-Kuwaiti factors such as the rising demand in Saudi Arabia for housemaids brought via Kuwaiti manpower suppliers, sources said. According to the sources the maids in Saudi Arabia are paid double the wages they are paid in Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia has enforced a ban on bringing in maids directly from the Philippines and Indonesia leading to a spurt in demand for maids and jump in the cost of transferring sponsorship of housemaids from other nationalities within KSA from SR 20,000 to SR 25,000. This is being done regardless of how long the maid’s visas would remain valid.

Observers feel that this dire situation has prompted Saudis to flock to Kuwaiti manpower suppliers to get housemaids. This has resulted in over 30 percent rise in demand for house-

KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Kuwait held a graduation ceremony for Omani Kuwait University (KU) students, as part of Oman’s national celebrations. The event took place recently at the KU theater in Khaldiya, and was attended by Omani Ambassador, Salem Al-Meshani, top diplomats from the Omani Embassy, as well as ambassadors, diplomats and other dignitaries. Sheikh Faisal Al-Malik Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s former Ambassador to Jordan, was also present at the event. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Kuwait Towers ready to celebrate New Year KUWAIT: The Kuwait Towers will host a New Year ’s Eve celebration nex t Saturday featuring a special dinner buffet, as well as competitions and entertainment programs for visitors of all ages, announced a senior Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) official.

“The event is part of the standards of top qualit y ser vice that Kuwait Tower’s administration is committed to provide,” said I nterim Direc tor of Kuwait Towers Nicolas BuMelheb in a

statement made recently to the press.

In addition to the buffet which features items from local, oriental and international cuisines, special activities will be organized at the Kuwait Towers star ting 7:30 pm on Saturday December 31, 2011, including competitions and travel tickets offered by Kuwait Air ways and other valuable prizes. BuMelheb also noted that the Kuwait Towers will host a variety of activities throughout 2012.

Nicolas BuMelheb

maids in the last quarter of the year over the third quarter.

Interestingly, housemaids brought through Kuwait to work for Saudi families would receive 80 per cent more salaries than what they would usually get in Kuwait.

Commenting on the situation, an owner of a manpower supplying company Nawaf Al-Meshíal commented that the Saudi demand for Filipino and Indonesian housemaids has increased sharply over the past three months, par ticularly from northern Saudi cities of Hafralbaten and Khafji bordering Kuwait.

Saudi clients prefer transferring sponsorship to waiting for a month to get a new maid brought from her home country. The cost of visa transfer has increased from KD700 to KD 800 (approximately SR 10,400).

A Kuwaiti citizen, Meshari Bin Rafe said that he had sponsored a Filipino housemaid to work for his cousin in Riyadh. Instead of demanding the usual rate of KD 50 as they get in

Kuwait, she asked for KD90 as salary to go and work in the KSA, he added.

A Saudi private sector employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that he got a housemaid through Qatar for one fourth of the money he had to pay in KSA to transfer a housemaidís visa. “ The only problem is that I have to go to Qatar every three months to extend her visit visa”, he stressed.

Former MP Dhaifallah Boramia warned HH the Premier Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah that he would face a grilling motion immediately after the inauguration of the new parliamentary season following the February 2 elections unless he cancelled the candidacy of Mohammed Al-Juwaihel.

According to Boramia, Juwaihel is “an ignorant candidate who had been banned by a constitutional court from running for elections”. This “ignorant candidate would damage the national unity and create rift among tribesmen,” he charged.

No property for Al-Saadoun in Qatar KUWAIT: It has been reported that former MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun does not own property in Qatar, contradicting earlier speculation that he had acquired millions of dinars worth of real-estate through ‘political favors.’

Reliable sources familiar with Qatar’s property registry have put rumors to rest.

Prior to the Parliament’s dissolution earlier this month, reports had surfaced about the assets he owned in Qatar which were allegedly gifted in lieu of leading a campaign against former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.

“Local property registry departments do not contain any evidence to

prove that Al-Saadoun owns realestate in Qatar or had carried out any property sale in Qatar’s real estate market,” said a source who asserted that he had obtained information after conducting an extensive investigation.

The source admitted that AlSaadoun’s son, Abdul-Aziz Al-Saadoun had purchased small plots in Qatar, adding that the operation is “too small to be considered as part of a suspicious deal,” reported Al-Rai. In other news, a former lawmaker demanded that the government revoke the citizenship of dual citizens who are “former MPs who stormed the Parliament’s building.” Under the citi-

zenship law, a citizen is not allowed to hold a second nationality along with Kuwaiti citizenship. Speaking to college students at a social gathering, third constituency candidate Dr Rola Dashti warned against “extremely dangerous practices carried out by [some] political blocs,” which are similar to “events taking place in some Arab countries.”

Another third constituency candidate Mohammad Al-Juwaihel also urged the Ministry of Interior to probe the phenomenon were “dual citizens are contesting elections,” reported Annahar.

In other updates, a couple of parliamentar y elections candidates,

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

local

MoH rejects top surgeon’s resignation KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health(MoH) has rejected the resignation of Ibn Sina Hospital’s neurologist and brain and spinal surgery specialist Dr Hesham Al-Khayyat.

Al-Rai had reported on Friday that Al-Khayyat, a certified US and Canada Board surgeon, resigned in protest against lack of cooperation displayed by MoH officials in connection with securing more medical equipment, in addition to resolving the problems facing a “large number of patients who insist on undergoing spinal surgeries.”

“Dr Al-Khayyat’s resignation has not been accepted,” said MoH Undersecretary Dr Ibrahim Al-Abdulhadi on Friday, adding that the ministry seeks to retain its crew of experienced and skilled physicians, reported Al-Rai. In other news, Al-Dar daily reported yesterday citing reliable sources that the MoH is mulling over the option of inoculating all prospective nurses against measles and rubella.

Ministry beefs up safety measures at local schools KUWAIT: Ministry of Education authorities will implement measures to carry out comprehensive plans to boost safety and security in all public and private schools. Special precautions are taken to guarantee safety against fire .

According to sources, the move follows in the heels of an incident that took place at a girls’ school in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Teachers and students fell victims to a fire that broke out in their school.

Their deaths are widely blamed on poor safety measures. One senior MoE official said that periodic inspections are held at public schools, “ The Kuwait Fire Services Department(KFSD) provides fire extinguishers and secures safe fire exits in buildings,” Mohammad AlSayegh, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Facilities Department. He noted that public schools are periodically visited by specialized teams to ensure fire safety measures. Similar statements were made by Mohammad Al-Dahis, Director of the MoE’s Private Education Department. He insisted that teams carry out periodic trips to private schools in Kuwait to check safety measures.

In other news, the ministry will soon place a tender pertaining with a project to equip seven public libraries with their requirements of books, furnishing and computers at an estimated total cost of KD 290,000. This was announced by Assistant Undersecretary for Development and Educational Technologies Department, Badr Al-Furaih.—Al-Jarida

KUWAIT: The stockpile of donations from the Filipino organizations in Kuwait.

Pinoys in Kuwait launch massive donation drive for ‘Sendong’ Vatican Ambassador offers prayer to typhoon victims

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A massive relief and donation drive has been launched by different groups and organizations of Filipinos in Kuwait to deliver help for their countrymen affected by floods caused by typhoon ‘Sendong.’

Yesterday, through the initiative of various Filipino organizations in Kuwait headed by the Filipino Badminton Committee, a total of 33 boxes of relief goods were shipped to the Philippines to support the typhoon victims.

“I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the Filipino organizations who helped and collected those items intended for the typhoon victims in the Philippines and was sent yesterday,” Dr Chie Umandap said.

Filipino organizations that supported the donation drive include Catsclaw, APO, LIFE, Guardians Republican, PSK, FCC, K-TAO, PANIK, Filipino Sailors, GBI-KFC, Club Ilonggo, Tisok, FIL-ASEAK and The Bikolanos in Kuwait. According to Umandap, the donations were the first of a series of projects intended to serve kababayans [countrymen].

“We are now preparing for the next phase of the project which will be the collection of new or old but usable toys, for the children of Cagayan and Iligan. This way, we can help the emotional rehabilitation of children traumatized by the tragic incident. So we encourage everyone to donate and deliver every Friday at the Kuwait Disabled Club, Hawally,” he added.

Several Filipino Christmas gatherings in Kuwait were reportedly cancelled and some were toned down in sympathy with the people of Mindanao. A computer school scheduled to hold a Christmas party on Friday diverted its gifts/collections to the typhoon victims. The International Institute of

Computer Sciences Administration (ICSA) have begun a collection and will continue until the end of this month.

Over 1,000 people were killed and many others missing as many villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were washed away by the unforgiving storm that tore through the southern part of the country last week.

“Yes, it was a tragic disaster and all we can offer from Kuwait is our support and prayers. We hope that with our little way, we could help them alleviate grief and suffer-

KUWAIT: Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pater Rajic, celebrating mass at the Filipino Resource Center in Jabriya.—Photos by Ben Garcia

DORMA acquires DSC to boost Kuwait operations

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: DORMA, the global market leader in premium access solutions and services, has announced the acquisition of Door Service Centre (DSC), its longstanding distributor in Kuwait. With the formal agreement in place, DORMA Kuwait has now been established as a shareholder entity with a fully fledged country office presence in charge of complete operational control of DORMA’s strategic business in the Kuwait region.

As per the acquisition formalized in November, DORMA has acquired DSC’s automatic sales, maintenance and service and installation and Hardware business. “DSC will continue as a producer and supplier of steel and wood doors and remain as a key DORMA customer. The move will strengthen DORMA’s market position in the region and enable the company to roll out its extensive product portfolio spanning door hardware, glass, automatic, movable walls and security time access,” Ben Shaw, Regional Director of DORMA Gulf, told the Kuwait Times. DORMA Kuwait’s establishment reflects a strategic realignment and bolstering of DORMA’s existing sales channels in the country.

“With this strategic acquisition, DORMA will now offer integrated solutions for all door technology needs of the customers covering the entire unique value delivery processes from project specifications to commissioning and technical support under a corporate brand,” added Shaw.

DORMA’s products are present in Kuwait for more than 30 years. “For the last so many years, we were represented by the same company, the Door Service Centre Co WLL (DSC). I am confident that DORMA Kuwait will be instrumental in strengthening DORMA’s position in a relatively steady Kuwaiti market and bring in rich, original experience and technical expertise to our customers,” he further said. “The company works in many businesses much bigger than what was represented in Kuwait. So we thought that the best approach is to invest directly in Kuwait. After Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, Kuwait was

next on the list. So we went for the acquisition. Now we are also looking for extending our business in Kuwait with more products and services in addition to opening a new showroom and office within the next 12 months.

But, our focus is more on service and maintenance,” added Shaw.

According to Shaw, DORMA has rapidly increased its market share in the Middle East and North Africa over the past seven years and is a market leader in door controls and automatic business with a 35 percent share of the market in Kuwait.

“DORMA is a world market leader in door controls and glass fittings and

Ben Shaw is a leading producer in the automatics, movable wall partitions, and security, access and emergency controls systems,” he noted.

As most world manufacturers, DORMA also has a factory in China and Singapore. “To ensure the top quality products, all tools and products are tried in Germany. Also, in every factory we have specialists from Germany as we are very keen on ensuring our impeccable quality,” he further said. DORMA has some expansion plans in the Middle East. “Within the next 6-9 months, we plan to open an office each in Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. We see some political changes, but we look forward to positive changes. We haven’t seen much

ing,” said Aamir Muhammad, ICSA Director.

Muhammad, who is from Pakistan is married to a Filipina from Mindanao.

“My secretary here is from Cagayan de Oro, and many of her friends/relatives were victims. I think, the amount collected will be given directly to the Cagayan de Oro government because she knows somebody there,” he said.

Most of the Filipino groups/organizations are also collecting cash/kind to their members to be given to the flood victims. The

businesses in these countries though people know us and our products. But we want to be fully present in these countries. Because, we believe that there is a strategic market in the Middle East. We are also looking to do more acquisitions in the region. The business in the region is still growing,” he pointed out. Looking at the Kuwaiti market as a vital hub for construction projects, DORMA looks forward to expanding the customer base here. “ The objective of the new Kuwait office is to reinforce and leverage the growth opportunities with particular reference to client services and engagement. The Kuwait office reflects a strategic realignment and bolstering DORMA’s existing sales channels in the region to directly meet varying needs of customers effectively,” concluded Shaw.

Ben Shaw joined the company as the managing director in 1997 and spearheaded the company’s operations from headquarters based in Dubai. During Ben’s 14-year stint with DORMA, the team has grown significantly from four to 253 people. Ben has over 28 years of experience and prior to joining DORMA he worked with Black & Decker Overseas AG as the sales director. Under Ben’s leadership DORMA Gulf brought forward innovations which prompted further expansion across the region.

DORMA is headquartered in Germany and operates through 71 wholly-owned entities in 47 countries.

Its multinational operation has a major production facilities in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia, North and South America.

Last year, DORMA created an important milestone with the manufacture of its 100 millionth door closer and reinforced its position as the market leader in technology, performance, and reliability.

The DORMA Group has significantly increased both sales and earnings. In the course of its 2010/11 financial year (June 30), the company’s consolidated net sales rose by 10.3 percent. After adjustment for acquisitions and foreign exchange, sales increased by 6.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Philippine Overseas Labor Office of the Philippine Embassy has earlier advised Filipinos in Kuwait and other interested parties to channel any donations to the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (Land Bank of the Philippine Account no. 3124-0055-81) Batasan Quezon City Branch) or to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Fund [OWWA] General Fund (Account no.

0512-041900).

The embassy noted that donations in kind at this time are not encouraged due to logistical, health and safety requirements.

“Those who wish to donate in kind may themselves arrange for the shipment to intended beneficiaries,” an embassy statement reads. Meanwhile the Apostolic Nuncio, His Grace Archbishop Pater Rajic, the Vatican Ambassador to Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, offered prayers and mass at the POLO’ Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) to ‘Sendong victims’ last Thursday.

Rajic especially encouraged the faithful attending the mass, who are mostly runaway housemaids, to pray for the victims of floods and remember the suffering of people affected by the typhoon. “ We want to assure the people of Mindanao [Cagayan de Oro and Iligan] that the Church in Kuwait and the entire Gulf region is praying for them. We offer our sympathy and our condolences to the families who are suffering and grieving for the lost of their love ones,” he mentioned.

As Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas, Rajic’s Thursday sermon focused on the real meaning of this special celebration. The mass was celebrated along with the two Filipino priests in Kuwait, Father Ben Barammeda and Fr Fred Micua.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

LOCAL

Local Spotlight

Satire Wire

Parliament elections

No end in sight

Muna Al-Fuzai Sawsan Kazak

muna@kuwaittimes.net he large number of candidates contesting the National Assembly elections seem to be quite unreasonable to me. Some new faces and many old faces have decided to run this time regardless of their public image, appeal or their chances to win! Some new men and women have chosen to register no matter what and how they will serve the people. I have neither heard some of the names yet, nor I am aware whether they have done any serious service to the society. That really makes me wonder why they have entered the fray and who encouraged them to run.

I also fail to understand why these people want to take up the responsibility of a hectic and serious public servant. Or is there something juicy about becoming a member of the parliament, something we the people do not know about?

The dismal per formance of the National Assembly in the recent years clearly indicates that it could be because of both reasons. I think, Kuwait being a small society, some of these candidates want to be under the spotlight and hog public attention even it is for a short period.

The election season this year appears to be like a race between many former and new candidates, some I thought, had made fun of themselves by their often satirical and comical comments to the press over why they were wearing red dresses or why they were giving quarter dinar banknotes to the registration committee. However, I hope that the irresponsible behavior of a few should not dampen our interests or enthusiasm as voters.

The problem with many of these candidates, both men and women, is their lack of knowledge as to how they present themselves as serious candidates before the voters and their inability to convey the purpose of their contesting.

Rumors are already rife that some, who are allegedly involved in the vote-buying scandal during the previous government, contest the elections to distract and manipulate the public opinion.

In fact, many new faces, both men and women, so far failed to spell out categorically their election agenda and solutions to the manifold problems the country faces today.

I like many others do not wish to hear what are the problems because everyone knows what is going on. Since we are calling for reforms to address the cardinal issue of corruption, we are looking forward to some practical solutions from the contestants that can bring an end to the chaos.

The coming days will reveal the truth about the new candidates and their seriousness about staying the election course or bowing out.

sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

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kuwait digest

Learning from others’ experiences

By Dr Ahmad Al-Jassem resident Obama announced the end of military the sectarian seed in Iraqi soil, which is now ready for operations in Iraq in a historic speech from Fort dismantling. After 2003, Iraq became a ring for Prague Base on Dec 14. The cost of the opera- wrestling between Arabs and Persians in their polititions, which started in 2003, were huge. The US lost cal Holy war ‘between Omar people and Ali people.’ $800 billion, with 4,500 Then, the undertakers soldiers killed and 23,000 industry flourished and Today, the external intervention in injured. Are all these sacIraqi households became Iraq has become open and free by full of grief and orphans. rifices worth democracy, both the Libyans and Syrian people, Yes, Iraq got rid of a dicjustice and humanity in the world, and to fight who could sue NATO and Turk Forces tator, and obtained freeterror? after they fail to oppose rulers who do dom and democracy I could have believed America. not know humanity. The Americans through it, if America was not the But they have lost the were very successful in planting the state and are sunk in seccaretaker for the Zionist sectarian seed in Iraqi soil, which is tarian fighting, adminisoccupation in Palestine.

The operation of the fall now ready for dismantling. After trative corruption and of an Arab ruler, the 2003, Iraq became a ring for wrestling many other problems. “hanged Saddam After more than a year of between Arabs and Persians in their forming the last governHussain,” had to be political Holy war ‘between Omar peo- ment, both the Ministry achieved through foreign external intervention, of Interior and Ministry ple and Ali people.’ was something refused to of Defense remained ‘Arab Brothers’ nine years ago. Today, the external without a minister. intervention in Iraq has become open and free by So what has happened in Iraq? Liberation or occuboth the Libyans and Syrian people, who could sue pation? There is not one honest Arab who wishes this NATO and Turk Forces after they fail to oppose rulers tragic situation for Iraq, but “winds blow contrary to who do not know humanity. ships wish.” So, my dear fellow Kuwaitis, can we learn The Americans were very successful in planting from the experience of others? — Al-Anba

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kuwait digest

Suppressing public freedoms

Reap what you sow

By Sherida Al-Maosherji

By Abdellatif Al-Duaij

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kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Children of revolutions ome human rights activists who support bedoons’ cause published pictures that showcase the extent of violence and suppression that protesters are subject to. The objection was expressed against the oppression they have been suffering for ages.

Rubber bullets, hot water, sticks, and tear gas are tools made available by the state or the society, that comprises of us. The authorities help maintain security and deter those who attack public property or work towards harming public interest. These are tools we paid for, and its budget was approved by the elected National Assembly. This is the case with all the democracies around the world.

Security authorities retain the same tools to be used when necessary. In democratic countries, batons, tear gas and hot water is used against those who go overboard, and those who attack public property and attempt to damage others’ properties.

It will be used against those using their right of expression or raise their voice against oppression and injustice. The people were dispersed using the same riot control agents to prevent them from expressing sorrows and object against the inhumane conditions.

There is no objection expressed against brutal torture or even suppression, especially if it is expressed against evil people and those who spread chaos. The objection is expressed against security authorities that have banned non-Kuwaitis from assembling and attacked the people’s constitutional and legal rights before gathering and demonstrating.

The victims are not those who gathered in Taima or attempted to gather at Al-Irada Square. Their victims are expatriates in Kuwait whose have been robbed of their right to expression and freedom to assemble. The Ministry does not have the right to ban demonstrations and also not have the right to decide on allowing gathering based on nationality.

This is a criminal act. — Al-Qabas

gypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq are but a few countries that will ring in the new year while being in conflict. These countries are but a few that have, over the past year, deteriorated politically, socially and economically. In fact, it’s getting hard to remember a time of peace in the region. I know the Middle East has never been the calmest part of the world, but recently the region has become very unstable.

It’s hard to remember a time when people used to go to Egypt and Syria on vacation without the fear of protests, bombings and conflict. It wasn’t too long ago when the Arab Spring seemed to be coming to a timely end.

When the Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country, it was promptly followed with the Egyptian Hosni Mubarak being ousted from power and then the infamous Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed. There was then a talk that the next step was going to be in Syria and the taking over of power from Bashar Al-Assad. There was also the recent withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

For a moment there, it almost seemed as though the Arab Spring was going to lead to a revolution in the region. There were elections taking place in some countries, military withdrawals and presidents being tried in others, the mood was positive. But with the Syrian situation still evolving, the continual conflict in Egypt and the recent attacks in Iraq, among others, it’s getting hard to be hopeful and see an eventual end.

Will there ever be a day when this part of the world will have political stability? Will there come a time when safety and security is not a major issue in these countries? Or is this region doomed to be in constant conflict, instability and uncertainty? I understand that revolutions do not happen overnight and that it takes time to change a country and its philosophy, but there doesn’t seem to be any vertical changes, just horizontal ones. We seem to be going from one bad situation to another one. I haven’t given up all hope on this region, I’m just getting a little impatient.

Hopefully, the new year will usher in calmer and more productive times.

By Iqbal Al-Ahmad mid the euphoria of victory that followed During the gathering, that poor child shouted ‘peoseveral Arab revolutions that achieved goals, ple want [Syrian President] Bashar [Al-Assad] exeone common feature was left unnoticed. It cuted’ (a play on famous Arab Spring slogan ‘people was that of little children who were participated in want the regime ousted’). As if the words sprang mass demonstrations and chanted slogans that from a seasoned revolutionary! The four-year-old’s they didn’t fully comprehend. words drew a rousing response from the crowd of The scene of children aged ten years or younger grown men who enthusiastically repeated after him. participating in demonstrations were replayed in all If you watch the footage, you can notice that the kid TV channels. They have was perplexed as he been raised aloft to tried to figure out Do you know how a parrot usually hold signs or shout slowhat was going on. repeats statements it comes across, gans, completely tarHe repeated the sloand sometimes it fails to repeat a sennishing their childhood. gan, omitting a tence the way it is pronounced?

Sadly, perhaps it’s the word or two each naivetÈ of childhood time.

During the gathering, that poor child that leads unscrupulous The kid, whose shouted ‘people want [Syrian adults take them out of childhood was President] Bashar [Al-Assad] executed’ homes to be thrust in being killed, was (a play on famous Arab Spring slogan the face of rebellious cheered on by a ‘people want the regime ousted’). As if demonstrators. group of people A scene similar to who used him to the words sprang from a seasoned that took place in fuel their anger revolutionar y! The four-year- old’s Kuwait involving a child against Syria’s words drew a rousing response from of four years. Children regime. They probathe crowd of grown men who enthusitend to memorize bly were well-aware everything they hear or of the fact that the astically repeated after him. see, unable to discern child never fully between good and comprehended bad. what he said, ignoring his actions that served as a This child was escorted to a public gathering goal that fell in line with their own interests. organized by Islamist activists to express solidarity Civilized nations strictly prohibit and penalize with anti-government demonstrators in Syria. At individuals who have been accused of abusing chilone point, the kid started shouting a slogan whose dren. Arab children should not be involved in meaning he didn’t understand. demonstrations in Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt or Do you know how a parrot usually repeats state- any other country. Children’s minds and imaginaments it comes across, and sometimes it fails to tions are rich with optimism, innocence and hope. repeat a sentence the way it is pronounced? It absolutely has no place for politics. — Al-Qabas

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oney is dear and one cannot risk throwing it away in careless abandon, so when someone decides to invest in a certain fund, one surely investigates the company’s financial status, the fund goals, the name of those running it, its history and the revenue it is predicted to make? One should not take risks, especially if investing life savings. Then what about the situation with election boxes, that can be otherwise described as ‘future investment boxes’?!

This simple paper vote we are going to cast in these boxes will contribute to either the progress or the decline of this nation; it will contribute to creating its stability or chaos.

Therefore, selecting a candidate is a highly crucial decision to determine those who will make their way to Parliament, those who will take part in shaping the image of Kuwait and setting its tendencies during the next four years and whether the executives and legislatives are going to cooperate in achieving the state’s goals, or more clashes and tension that will take us back to square one.

YOU will be responsible for creating the future of your country and, since one reaps what one sows, make the best choices.

The former Parliament has made it even easier for us to choose, after many masks fell off and the real essence of many MPs is exposed. We have no excuse, then. Let us make the best choices to help lay the foundations of our children’s future.

Although many candidate are newcomers, we all know each other well. It will not be hard for an aware voter to dig out the resumes of a new candidate. The voters will probe everything from their previous occupations, to their reputations among neighbors and friends, their credibility, loyalty and patriotism.

These days people discuss each and every detail in diwaniyas, through Twitter or Messenger.

So, do not vote for those you do not know. Make sure how pure and capable they are to do the job.

Check how they will achieve your aspirations and cope with future and regional changes and challenges and protect us from them. The equation is that simple and uncomplicated; Wise Choices = Better Future. So, it is up to you. If you make good choices, so be it. But if you make bad ones, you will only have yourself to blame! —Al-Anbaa

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

LOCAL

Democratic Forum to back liberal candidates Call to shun primary elections

KUWAIT: The honoring ceremony in progress.

KIFCO chief urges cooperation between private, public sectors KUWAIT: Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser, Deputy Chairman and CEO of Kuwait International Fair Company (KIFCO), said that unless the public sector joins efforts with the private sector, Kuwait will not have its share of exhibition activities and conferences in the region.

“We certainly look for more cooperation from you and to develop our cooperation to make more successful exhibitions, and write the name of Kuwait on the list of states who are capable of organizing international exhibitions successfully,” Al Nasser said at a ceremony to honor government employees.

Al-Nasser was speaking at a ceremony held by KIFCO to commend employees of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), General Administration of Customs Employees and the Union of Gold Traders, who participated in the 9th

International Gold and Jewelr y Exhibition. Al-Nasser said success cannot be achieved without real cooperation from the government sector in all of its projects involving the private sector. He emphasized that the success of any project serves exhibitions and conference sectors.

He valued the constructive role of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the General Administration of Customs and the Union of Gold Traders before and during the gold exhibition activities which he said was reflected positively as a the result of the exhibition. “We greet you and honor you today,” Al-Nasser concluded. Al-Nasser and representatives from Ministry of Commerce and Customs (MCC) honored staff members by presenting them with special trophies and memorial gifts.

KUWAIT: The Democratic Forum fully endorsed the candidates of the fellow Liberal National Democratic Alliance on Friday in addition to its own candidates in the 2012 elections who are running in the first, second and third constituencies. The Democratic Forum, in a statement issued to the press, further urged citizens to shun primary elections and “contribute to the democratic experience that reflects the unity of Kuwaiti people and commitment to the principles of freedom, justice and equality”.

The number of candidates filed nominations papers so far reached 166 including eight women on Friday.

The elections for the parliament are slated for February 2, 2012. As of Friday, the number of candidates registered in the first constituency reached 40, including seven former MPs and two women. Two women also figure in the list of 32 candidates registered in the second constituency as of Friday. The number of candidates in the third constituency reached 35 on Friday that included seven former MPs and two former women MPs. Only one female candidate registered in each of the fourth and fifth constituencies as of Friday

featuring a list of 31 and 28 candidates respectively.

Meanwhile, former MP Abdullah Al-Roumi stated that efforts were being made to persuade fellow National Action Bloc member and former lawmaker Adel Al-Saraawi not to refrain from running in the upcoming elections. “Al-Saraawi had expressed his intention not to run again for parliamentary elections a year ago”, said Al-Roumi, who is the head of the NAB. “A critical phase is ahead in parliamentary democracy which needs strong and experienced individuals such as Al-Saraawi,” Al-Qabas said quoting Al-Roumi.

The National Islamic Alliance (NIA) is said to have adopted a new tactic during this election when they endorsed candidates other than their own nominees in the first constituency. According to sources close to the Shiite political movement, the NIA fears a scenario similar to that of 2009 when its candidate Ahmad Lary lost while their other candidate Adnan Al-Abdulsamad barely made it to the parliament.

The sources added that members of the Kandarah tribe are also taking serious efforts to ensure that their candidates running in the

first constituency get the tribe’s full support.

The situation in the fourth constituency remained a little bit different where the Anza tribe failed to nominate two candidates who could muster the tribesmen’s full endorsement.

The fifth constituency also demonstrates a similar tribal dominance where consultative discussions were being held yesterday. Tribal consultative discussions are seen as an emerging tactic to circumvent the law that bans primary elections.

In other news, Annahar daily reported yesterday that the Islamic Salafist Movement agreed to nominate members Mohammad AlKandari in the first constituency, Khalid AlSultan and Abdullatif Al-Omairi in the second, and Dr Ali Al-Omair in the third. The report quoting sources close to the Sunni group indicates that member Dr Fahad Al-Khannah was chosen to run as an independent in the third constituency in order to avoid contesting with fellow member Dr Al-Omair. Dr Adel AlDamkhi had already announced that he would be running as an independent in the first constituency.

—Al-Qabas, Al-Rai, Annahar

Citizen murdered in Sabahiya

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior is on the hunt for a 28-year-old citizen from AlSabahiya in connection with the murder of a 29-year-old citizen who was stabbed in the neck. A circular issued by the ministry mentions the suspect as being a threat to society. Police received a report yesterday about the citizen’s murder. They discovered that a fight had taken place between the two. Later in the day, the suspect surrendered to police and handed over the murder weapon with which he allegedly killed the deceased. He told police that he had had disputes with the victim previously.

Police said that the suspect was also a drug addict.

Armed robbery Police arrested a citizen who committed an armed robbery at a home in Doha.

Two domestic workers present in the house at the time of the incident sustained injuries. Police searched a camp that was pitched in the area and found some drugs and a gun. These belonged to a man, identified as the prime suspect, based on descriptions provided by domestic workers. The domestic workers recognized him in an identification parade. He confessed to committing the crime in order to fund his drug habit.

Spate of accidents Four people sustained serious injuries in a car accident on Kabd Road, opposite to the gas station yesterday. A 39-yearold Kuwaiti woman and a seven-year-old girl broke their leg and hand respectively while a one-year-old child sustained nose injuries in the accident. A 31-yearold Kuwaiti also was wounded in the mishap. All were taken to Farwaniya hospital.

Another car accident on the King Fahad Road under the 5th Ring Road bridge yesterday resulted in severe leg injuries of a 41-year-old Egyptian expatriate, who was taken to Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital. A 21-year-old Kuwaiti, who was also wounded in the accident, was taken to Adan Hospital.

An accident at Al-Dhubaeya, opposite to McDonald, involving an-all terrain vehicle (ATV) led to serious injuries of a 15-year-old Kuwaiti boy. He was taken to Adan hospital. A 17-year-old Kuwaiti girl broke her thigh yesterday following an accident involving an ATV at Bnaider, opposite to McDonald. She was taken to the Adan hospital.

A 17-year-old Syrian expatriate sustained stab wounds on his right hand and left leg following a fight that broke out at Kheitan area, opposite to a club.

The expat was taken to Farwaniya hospital.

KOC launches Recycling Campaign

Sami Al-Rushaid

KUWAIT: Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has launched a two-year environmental awareness campaign to spread awareness about the importance of recycling amongst school students, housewives, and domestic workers as well as its own staff members. “[The campaign] comes as part of the KOC’s contributions to protecting Kuwait’s environment, and support to different environmental projects around Kuwait” said Sami Al-Rushaid, KOC CEO and Managing Director, in a recent press release. He indicated that the campaign will focus mainly on Al-Ahmadi, the home of Kuwait’s major oil facilities, and expand to cover all other governorates.

As part of the campaign, KOC has so far equipped several schools and homes in AlAhmadi with multicolored trash bins; each of which are designated to hold paper, plastic, metal and glass waste separately.

The campaign is also set to feature seminars, to be hosted at several schools, as well as printed multilingual leaflets to be distributed to residents.

KUWAIT: Girl Scouts from different public schools visited a number Ministry of Interior departments and police stations. They distributed greeting cards and bouquets to police officers on the occasion of the Arab Police Day on Dec 18. The trip was organized by the Ministry of Education and included stops at Sharq police station, the Coast Guard, the Civil Defense General Department. Maj AbduIlah Abdul-Salam, Head of the Traffic Awareness Division at the Security Media Department, escorted them during the trip.

KFSD raises sunken boat

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Marine Rescue Center at the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) received a report from a visitor to Failaka Island stating that a small fishing boat sunk in the harbor was blocking the entry and departure of vessels to and from the dock.

A crew on board the rescue boat ‘Monqeth 1’ responded to the call and winched the sunken boat from the harbor.

After draining the water from the boat, the KFSD rescue crew lifted the boat to a safe place to ensure safety of navigation to and from the harbor.

Busairi lauds results of OAPEC meeting CAIRO: Kuwait’s Oil Minister and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr Mohammad AlBusairi lauded yesterday the efforts by Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in bolstering oil cooperation amongst Arab oil producers. Al-Busairi’s statements to KUNA came before his departure from Cairo after participating in the 87th meeting of OAPEC. He said that the current status of the world economy required cooperation amongst members of OAPEC to come out of the crisis strong, adding that such coordination must also be applied on an international level with other oil organizations and cartels. In regards to the meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Kamal Al-Janzori, Al-Busairi affirmed that the gathering had led to the change of experiences as well as being informed about the current status quo in Egypt. — KUNA

Largest-ever Amiri pardon KUWAIT: The Amiri amnesty scheduled for February on the occasion of the national days will be the largest-ever in Kuwait’s history considering the number of prison inmates included in the pardon.

According to official sources, the pardon will bring joy to a large number of inmates

and their families. The number of inmates to be released during the amnesty is three times larger than the number of inmates released in previous years.

The list of inmates eligible for amnesty is currently being finalized, the sources added.

KUWAIT: Chairman of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports Faisal Al-Jazzaf met recently with the United States Ambassador to Kuwait, Matthew Tueller, to discuss ways of boosting mutual cooperation in athletic fields, as well as joint activities between the two countries. The meeting took place at Al-Jazzaf’s office in the PAYS headquarters building.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

Years

LOCAL NATO praises Kuwait’s role in promoting peace SARAJEVO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commander in Bosnia and Herzegovina, US General Gary Huffman, expressed appreciation to Kuwait’s efforts for pushing peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

General Huffman met with Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Mohammad Fadhel Khalaf at Kuwait’s embassy in Sarajevo and discussed Kuwait’s role in achieving global security and peace, through vigorous political approach in supporting peace between countries and nations of diverse religions.

He expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s support for the NATO via civil and cultural activities through its embassy in Sarajevo.

General Huffman also commended Kuwait’s embassy in working together with NATO through the joint activities in aiding peace in the country.

Ambassador Khalaf affirmed Kuwait’s involvement and contribution to peace for the future generations. General Huffman, during his first visit to the embassy building, presented a memorable shield in appreciation of his role aiding security and peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Bangladesh, Syed Shahed Reza, hosted a reception at his residence on Friday for the outgoing Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Huang Jiemin, and Ambassador Dasho Sherub Tenzin of Bhutan. Prominent officials, diplomats and media persons attended the reception. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Woman shocked by ‘family affair’ of husband in Wafra Alcohol smuggling attempt foiled KUWAIT: A family camping trip turned into a nightmare when the curiosity of a wife led her to discover her husband’s ongoing affair with his brother’s wife. Police rushed to a location on the southern camps road, near a grocery store, following reports about a couple fighting inside a parked vehicle. Police approached the man and woman, who were violently arguing inside the car. The husband insisted that he was only having an argument with his wife. However, the wife reported her husband was in an illegal relationship with his sister-in-law.

Officers decided to escort the couple, along with their 9-year-old son who was watching the whole thing from the backseat of his parents’ car, to the Abdullah Port police station. During investigations, the wife explained that her husband stopped for some groceries as they were on their way for a camping trip in Wafra (south), when she glanced at his cell phone. She admitted that she lost her temper after seeing a picture of her husband in a compromising situation with his brother’s wife, in addition to ‘love texts’ between the two.

The husband refused to cooperate during investigations, insisting that his personal freedom was breached. A case was filed and sent to the Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations.

Fatal crash A male driver was killed and another was injured in a car crash that took place recently on Gulf Road. Paramedics and police rushed to a location on the busy street following reports about a vicious collision between two vehicles on Thursday night. One driver was pronounced dead on the scene, whilst the driver of the other car was rushed to the Amiri Hospital in a critical condition. An investigation was opened into the accident.

Skating hall closed for concerts

Abdullah Al-Kouh KUWAIT: The small hall at the Ice Skating Rink was recently shut down in order to prepare it to host a set of concerts beginning on Dec 30, a senior Touristic Enterprises Company ( TEC) official announced recently.

“Works are currently ongoing to set the stage and stands for the concerts, which feature Arab singers Majid Al-Muhandis, Meryam Faris and Fahad Al-Kabsi”, said Abdullah Al-Kouh, Director of TEC’s Parks and Ice Skating Rink Department, in a statement to the press.

Al-Kouh said preparations are not expected to affect the rink’s main hall, which will continue to welcome visitors during its regular daily hours from 8:30 am to 10 pm divided into seven sessions. The session from 6:30 pm to 10pm every Tuesday is exclusive to female visitors, with a reduced entrance fee price.

The Ice Skating Rink offers training sessions of four lessons a week for a monthly fee of KD10. Entrance fees to the main hall is KD1.5, valid for a single period.

Liquor smuggling Custom officials arrested a traveler at the Nuwaiseeb border checkpoint (south) who was caught trying to smuggle alcoholic drinks into Kuwait. Officials decided to search a car coming from an Arab country, after growing suspicious about the behavior of its two Kuwaiti passengers. The two were placed under arrest as soon as a number of liquor bottles were found in the backseat. They were taken to the proper authorities to face charges.

Rapist at large Ahmadi police are on the hunt for a black SUV driver accused of escaping after sexually assaulting a teenager in Sabah Al-Salem.

Investigations went underway at the area’s police station shortly after a senior citizen reported that his 15-year-old grandson was kidnapped and forced inside a black Americanmade SUV in the area. The teenager was raped at knifepoint before the assaulter released him and drove away. The suspect is believed to be in his thirties, based on the victim’s description to police.

and signed an undertaking to provide better living conditions for his wife. He argued that she is suffering from mental illnesses.

Harassment charges Salmiya police are looking into a case in which a Kuwaiti man faces sexual harassment charges pressed by an Arab woman recently. In her statements to local police, the woman said the suspect was stalking her and her sister while they were shopping at a mall in the area. He would not leave until she accepted a piece of gum he was insisting on giving her. She then found a phone number written on the gum’s wrapping, and confirmed after calling the number that it belongs to the same stalker whom she claims asked her to join him at his apartment. She headed directly to the nearest police station instead and reported the incident.

Meanwhile, the harasser, who agreed to report to the police station when he was called, denied the harassment claims. He insisted that the complainant was cooperative and agreed to take his number, which is why he did the ‘phone number on the gum wrapping trick’ in the first place.

Investigations in the case are still ongoing.

Stateless pledge

Online banking theft

A woman married to a stateless (bedoon)resident in Kuwait approached officers at Al-Waha police station, saying she wishes to return to Iraq which she left 26 years ago to live as a stateless resident in Kuwait. The woman explained to officers that after entering Kuwait illegally in 1985, she disposed of her Iraqi passport upon marrying her bedoon husband the same year. She pleaded with police to help her go back home, citing “desperate living conditions”. She said she shares a room with her husband in a stable in Sulaibikhat. The woman eventually returned to her husband, who arrived at the police station

A female citizen filed a case at Fahaheel police station, insisting that KD800 was stolen from her bank account through an online transaction. The woman went to check with her local bank branch after discovering that the cash was missing. She was told that the money was used for online purchases. She realized that her bank account was hacked since she never made an online transaction before. She explained to the bank employee that she does not even know how to access her bank account online. She reported the incident to local police. — Al-Rai, Al-Anbaa

Kuwait donates $1 million to support Gaza children efforts to support the Palestinian people throughout the years, which reflect the deep Kuwaiti Palestinian “distinctive and historic” relations.

He affirmed that the Palestinian issue is among the priorities of the Kuwaiti leadership, stressing the support of the Kuwaiti people to the Palestinians on all levels.

The Ambassador stressed that this donation comes to provide the simplest living requirements for the Gaza children in light of the “difficult political, economic and living conditions” there.

In March 2010, the Kuwaiti Government donated USD one million to fund ANERA’s Milk for Preschoolers program to children in Gaza.

“This generous gift strengthens ANERA’s capacity to care for Palestinian children at their most vulnerable age,” said Edward Gnehm, former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and ANERA board chairman, telling KUNA ,”This really touches children and it touches the hearts of people. They do feel neglected, they do feel ignored by the world and this is a very special way to reach out to them. We are very much a part of their lives and we are happy to be partners with Kuwait.”

ANERA said the USD one million donation is a “valued endorsement of ANERA’s ability to deliver with the highest standards of accountability and responsibility.”

For more than 40 years ANERA has been a leading provider of development, health, education and employment programs to Palestinian communities and impoverished families through-out the Middlle East.

In 2011, the Relief and Development Agency delivered more than $65 million of relief through different programs to the people of the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan. This WASHINGTON: Kuwait’s Ambassador to the US, Sheikh Salem Al- was up from the USD 51 million raised in 2010. — KUNA Sabah, visiting ANERA’s Washington headquarters.

WASHINGTON: The American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) organization said late Friday it was “absolutely thrilled and grateful” to receive a $1 million donation from the Kuwaiti government to provide nutritional support to children in Gaza. The non-profit relief and development agency said that the substantial donation would provide vitaminfortified milk and high-energy biscuits to over 17,000 pre-schoolers in Gaza, where World Health Organization statistics show nearly four out of ten children under five suffer from anemia and malnutrition. “This is something that’s near to our hearts and I think everyone in the State of Kuwait looks upon innocent children and hopes that they have the basics of life. This is one of the things we are trying to provide. This offers them a safety net so that the ravages of anemia and stunting are not something they have to live with day after day,” Bill Corcoran, President of ANERA said in an interview.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to the US, Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, told KUNA during a visit to ANERA’s Washington headquarters that this is the second donation from Kuwait to fund ANERA’s work with children in Gaza. He added that Kuwait exerts many

Schlumberger offers internships to KSF winners KUWAIT: Schlumberger yesterday announced that it has joined the Kuwait Science Fair (KSF) competition for the third consecutive year to provide the first and second place winners international and local internship opportunities.

KSF was created by ExxonMobil and Kuwait Energy in 2008, in a shared commitment to generate interest and excitement among high school students nationwide in the fields of math and science, and inspire Kuwait’s young future scientists and innovators. This year, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences extends its support as an honorary founder.

Schlumberger Kuwait General Manager, MaenRazouqi, said: “Schlumberger is an

MaenRazouqi active enabler of science education worldwide, and in Kuwait, we continue to work by our philosophy and support education in the sciences. The KSF has inspired over 650 young students to date into exploring math and science, and this is why we did not hesitate to support it again this year. We wish the ‘Best 100’ students the best of luck and we look forward to host the winners in one of our rigorous internship programs.”

Schlumberger has maintained continuous operations in Kuwait since 1939 and is a supporter of educational programs. In addition to its support of KSF, Schlumberger

holds a long-running partnership with the Engineering and Petroleum College at Kuwait University, donating the latest technologies and software as well as enabling students to acquire hands-on experience in the field.

The Kuwait Science Fair Managing Director, Aseel Al-Turkait, said: “We thank Schlumberger for their valuable grants, and we are glad to have them participate in the competition again this year and join other oil and gas leaders in one common aim, to encourage Kuwait’s young scientists to innovate.” KSF is the largest science competition in Kuwait, encompassing 200 public and private schools. It is the largest initiative gathering local and international institutions and companies in Kuwait.

Each year, the competition offers support and guidance to participating students over two cycles in the five-month period, to help them develop their scientific ideas, master them, and turn them into tangible projects. Since KSF’s inception, two local university scholarships, over KD6,000 in cash prizes and training opportunities in leading international oil and gas companies have been awarded to twenty students in both public and private schools across Kuwait. This year, an international university scholarship and a local university scholarship will be granted to the first and second place winners, as well as cash prizes and Schlumberger’s international training grants in the oil and gas industry.

The Kuwait Science Fair is a five month-long competition held annually for students from more than 200 public and private schools across Kuwait. It is held in both Arabic and English and extends over two cycles. The first phase is the pledging phase, in which students from across Kuwait are asked to submit their ideas to the Kuwait Science Fair Selection Committee. The Committee then selects the ‘Best 100’ ideas based on a pre-defined check-list of criteria.

During the second phase, students behind the ‘Best 100’ ideas will be asked to build their projects with the support of mentors and the Kuwait Science Fair team. This phase lasts for three months.

The final projects will then be judged by a panel of judges, comprising engineers, educators, and other experts, and finally showcased in an exhibition that is open to the public.

Burgan Bank entertains ‘BuBa’ Kids Account holders at Baroue stores KUWAIT: Burgan Bank recently concluded its ‘BuBa Kids Account’ celebrations, which were held in Baroue at both the Avenues and the Discovery Malls.

The celebrations included musical and magic shows, clowns, balloon twisting, the appearance of the BuBa account’s mascot, and the distribution of gifts from the bank to all attending children. The newly launched BuBa Kids Account provides a range of benefits designed for children up to 14 years old, and gives parents the opportunity to save money for their children in a productive and practical manner.

Haneen Al Rumaihi, Head of Marketing

at Burgan Bank, said “Our new Buba Kids account goes beyond providing simple financial solutions. The account adds to the children’s educational aspect of the banking sector, thereby enhancing their overall knowledge of savings and financial planning. At Burgan Bank, we believe that our customer’s lifetime experience begins at an early stage with the BuBa Kids account.”

To find out more about Burgan Bank’s BuBa Kids Account, customers are urged to visit any of Burgan Bank’s conveniently located branches, dial the call center on 1804080, or log on to Burgan Bank’s website at www.burgan.com.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

N Korean heir lauded as ‘supreme commander’

Raul: Cuba to pardon nearly 3,000 prisoners

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MOSCOW: Protesters gather to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia’s parliamentary elections on Sakharov avenue in Moscow, Russia yesterday with the words on the stage read as “for Fair Elections” and “Russia will be free”. —AP

Protesters pile pressure on Putin Putin still expected to win presidential poll MOSCOW: Tens of thousands of flagwaving and chanting protesters called yesterday for a disputed parliamentary election to be rerun and an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule, increasing pressure on the Russian leader as he tries to win back the presidency. The protesters shouted “Russia without Putin” and “New elections, New elections” as one speaker after another called for an end to Putin’s 12-year domination of the country at the second big opposition rally in two weeks in central Moscow.

“Do you want Putin to return to the presidency?” novelist Boris Akunin asked from a large stage. Whistling and jeering, protesters chanted: “No!” Witnesses said at least as many people turned out as at the last big Moscow rally on Dec. 10 to protest against alleged vote-rigging in the Dec. 4 election won by Putin’s United Russia party.

Police said at least 28,000 attended the rally on Prospekt Sakharova (Sakharov Avenue), named after Soviet-era dissi-

dent Andrei Sakharov. But one of the organisers, liberal politician Vladimir Ryzhkov, put the crowd size at 120,000.

Some climbed lamp-posts or trees to get a better view.

The big turnout is likely to encourage organisers to believe they can keep up the momentum of the biggest opposition demonstrations since Putin rose to power in 1999, although the prime minister seems intent on riding out the protests. “I see enough people to take the Kremlin and the White House (government headquarters) right now!” anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who has emerged as the most inspirational of the opposition leaders, said to loud cheers.

“But we are a peaceful force, we won’t do it - yet. But if the crooks and thieves continue trying to deceive us and lie to us, we will take (power) ourselves. It is ours!” The organisers did not set a date for the next protest. Russia is about to start the 10-day New Year holi-

day when it would be hard to attract large numbers to rallies.

The protesters were heartened yesterday by the Kremlin’s human rights council saying a new election should be held, although it is only an advisory body whose recommendations are regularly ignored by Russia’s leaders. Many of the protesters wore white ribbons, the symbol of the protests, and others carried balloons and flags at the rally, which brought together liberals, nationalists, anarchists, environmentalists and urban youth on a bitterly cold day. “The last protest made a huge impression and I want others to come and realise they can stand up for their right. We all know the election results and we all know how dishonest they were,” said Andrei Chernyshov, a 22year-old student. President Dmitry Medvedev, who is stepping aside for Putin to return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister, has promised electoral reforms to relax the Kremlin’s

grip on power.

But the opposition has rejected these conciliatory efforts and says Putin and Medvedev have ignored its key demand for a rerun of the poll, in which United Russia won a slim majority. The protesters say United Russia benefited from widespread voting irregularities and international monitors said the vote was slanted in the ruling party’s favor. “ The party of swindlers and thieves are the only ones who benefit from the preservation of the status quo,” journalist Leonid Parfyonov said on a video message shown on a screen.

Protesters held signs saying: “For Russia without Putin.” Others waved condoms blown up like balloons, mocking Putin for saying earlier this month that he had initially mistaken the protesters’ white ribbons, pinned to their chests, for condoms. One protester carried a poster showing a doctored portrait of Putin with a condom wrapped around his head. Dozens of police

trucks lined the city’s main ring road nearby and the police blocked off roads around the protest site, but they did not intervene.

There was no immediate reaction to the protests from Putin but state and other tightly controlled television channels provided coverage of the rally, without any direct mention of the criticism of the 59-year-old prime minister.

Putin is still expected to win the presidential election in March and return to the post he held from 2000 until 2008 - the opposition is divided, has no candidate to unite it and may struggle to keep protests going in midwinter. But there are growing doubts that Putin will win outright in the first round of voting. Many Russians say he is out of touch and some sources close to Russia’s leadership suggest he has not grasped the seriousness of the protests.

The popularity of the former KGB spy, who has remained Russia’s para-

mount leader, has dropped since he and Medvedev announced plans in September to swap jobs next year.

Many Russians said this showed a disregard for democracy and, although some still admire Putin for restoring order after the chaos that followed the Soviet Union’s collapse, others fear his return would bring political and economic stagnation.

Putin has also alienated many people by suggesting that a large number of people at the protests, which were mainly organised on social networking sites, were paid to turn up and accused the United States of encouraging them.

“I didn’t go to the first demonstration. I didn’t think it was worth it. But seeing the news I realised how angry I was that my vote had been stolen,” said Mikhail, a 46-year-old real estate salesman who declined to give his full name. “You can feel that things are changing among people. There is solidarity among people. We’re not afraid any more.”—Reuters

Troops hit protesters marching into Sanaa SANAA: More than 100,000 protesters who entered Yemen’s capital yesterday after a 4-day march from another city were attacked by elite troops loyal to outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who opened fire with guns, water cannons and tear gas. Medical officials said at least three protesters were killed, including a woman. The crowd of protesters had marched from Taiz, a city that has been a major opposition center 170 miles (270 kilometers) to the south. The first of its kind protest, called the March of Life, aimed to put pressure on the country’s new government not to grant Saleh immunity from prosecution.

The violence underlined the continuing turmoil in Yemen even after Saleh signed a US - and Saudibacked deal last month by which he handed his powers to his vice president and committed to step down completely in return for immunity. Protesters who rallied by the thousands for the past 10 months rejected the deal, demanding Saleh be tried for his bloody crackdown on their movement.

At the same time, Saleh has seemed to continue to exercise influence through his relatives and loyalists still in their positions, even after Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi formed a unity govern-

ment between the opposition and ruling party.

Forces loyal to Saleh have defied orders to withdrew from the streets of Sanaa after a deadline was reached yesterday to do so. The marchers yesterday were trying to pass down a main avenue on which the presidential palace is located when it was met at Sanaa’s southern entrance by a force from the Republican Guard, which is commanded by Saleh’s son, and Central Security forces, led by Saleh’s nephew, backed by tanks.

Troops fired to disperse the crowd, who responded by throwing stones. A medic at the scene, Mohammed el-Qoutbi, says three protesters including a woman were killed, and more than 30 people were injured by gunshots and tear gas. As clashes went on, thousands of protesters camping in Sanaa’s Change Square, which is the epicenter of Yemen’s protest movement, marched to the scene to join in. The protesters were cordoned by security forces before reaching the site of clashes. Witnesses said they saw tanks and artillery units from military camps around the capital also heading to the site.

In the evening, Hadi, who heads a Military Committee in charge of preserving security and ending military presence in the streets, ordered the

Republican Guard and other security forces to open the way for the protesters to continue marching.

The forces eventually did let the protesters continue their march after international ambassadors working with Hadi also intervened, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the behind-the-scenes efforts. The march came as Yemen’s parliament convened yesterday for the first time since opposition and independent lawmakers suspended their participation in March to protest the crackdown against protesters. Lawmakers were to discuss the program of the new national unity government, headed by veteran independent politician Mohammed Basindwa. On Dec 7, Basindwa said the government will focus on providing public services to the people, including electricity, water, fuel and basic commodities together with restoring security and stability.

Services and security have been in short supply during the unrest in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world. However, the presence in the country of Saleh, his sons, family members and loyalists who still hold key positions could pose a challenge to the new administration.—AP

SANAA: Yemeni members of the House of Representatives attend a board meeting to listen to the government’s program of national reconciliation in Sanaa yesterday.—AFP

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

A woman’s touch in the Arab Spring BEIRUT: An Egyptian woman beaten by soldiers, a Syrian blogger detained for her work and the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize highlight the central role played by women in the Arab Spring uprisings.

From Tahrir Square in Cairo to Pearl Square in Manama, women joined mass demonstrations, distributed leaflets and led crowds just like their male counterparts in societies where female political activists were once scarce.

“These revolts are leaderless, faceless and genderless.

The women were as oppressed as men before and dur-

ing the protests,” said Nadim Shehade of Chatham House in London.

Challenging the stereotypical image of the housebound Arab woman, female protesters have faced tear gas, baton-wielding troops, sexual assault and have, in several cases, been killed. In Egypt, liberal women and their conservative Muslim sisters wearing the niqab stood side by side during the popular revolt that toppled president Hosni Mubarak and is now challenging military rule. In a society where a woman’s privacy is con-

sidered sacred, recent images from Cairo of a veiled demonstrator stripped down to her bra being hit by soldiers sparked outrage and a rare apology from the Egyptian army. In Yemen, the mass rallies staged by women in black abayas inspired such awe that Tawakkol Karman, a rights activist at the heart of protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, became in 2011 the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Razan Ghazzawi, a 31-year-old Syrian blogger who became an icon of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s

regime, was arrested as she headed to Jordan for a press freedom workshop and only released after international pressure. But protesting amid these prominent women are thousands of others whose plight has received far less public attention. “In Syria, in 80 percent of the cases, the relatives of a detained woman do not speak out for fear a scandal,” said Alia, an activist living in Lebanon.

“We must fight so that the dignity of women is no longer defined by men. This mentality will not change in just a year,” she added.—AFP

Registration starts for Iran’s parliamentary poll Major reformist groups staying out of race TEHRAN: Iran yesterday began registering potential candidates for March parliamentary elections, a vote that will be especially hard fought between supporters and opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad within the conservative camp. The country’s major reformist groups are staying out of the race, claiming that basic requirements for free and fair elections have not been met.

In their absence, the poll for the 290-seat assembly is likely to pit hard-line candidates who remain staunchly loyal to the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against conservatives who support Ahmadinejad. Whatever the outcome, the vote is unlikely to change Iran’s course. The country is a theocracy and Khamenei has final say on all state matters.

The March 2 elections will be the first nationwide balloting since Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election in 2009, which the opposition said was heavily rigged. That vote set off months of near-daily protests in which hun-

dreds of thousands took to the streets in support of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi who they claimed was the rightful winner.

The wave of protests was the biggest challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership since it came to power in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But a heavy crackdown suppressed the protests, and many in the opposition - from midlevel political figures to street activists, journalists and human rights workers - were arrested. The opposition has not been able to hold a major protest since December 2009.

For the March elections, the Interior Ministry is in charge of the weeklong registration process. All Iranian nationals between 30 and 75 years of age who hold a master’s degree and have “proven themselves to be loyal” to Khamenei are allowed to run. Once submitted, candidacies have to be approved by the hardline constitutional watchdog known as the Guardian Council. The council’s chief, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, has said the reformists, whom he called traitors, need not participate. His

TEHRAN: Iranian candidates register for the upcoming parliamentary elections at the interior ministry in Tehran yesterday.—AFP

statement was widely seen as an indication the hard-line body would disqualify anyone perceived as a reformist from running.

In the previous parliamentary elections, in 2008, the council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates. Former President Mohammad Khatami, a reformist, recently demanded that political prisoners be freed and that Mousavi and another opposition leader, Mahdi Karroubi, be released from house arrest.

Khatami said those were preconditions for reformists participating in the March polling.

None have so far been met. Ali Mohammad Gharibani, a prominent reformist leader, confirmed last week that the reformists will stay out of the race. “Despite efforts ... to create an appropriate election climate, unfortunately more restrictions have been imposed,” said Gharibani, who runs the Reformist Front Coordination Council. “Therefore, the council has decided that it won’t issue any election list and won’t support anyone.”

A major reformist party, the Islamic Revolution Mojahedeen Organization, or IRMO, said in a statement released yesterday that it would also boycott the vote. The statement was released outside Iran and posted on its website, which is blocked inside Iran. “IRMO ... won’t field any candidates in this sham election and won’t vote. It calls on all reformist forces not to give in to ... pressure from the rulers who have spoken with the language of force and deception to the people ... and continue their civil disobedience by refusing to register,” it said.

The group said reformist parties including IRMO have been forcefully dissolved, and had their websites blocked and their leaders jailed, leaving their sympathizers with no way to engage in free political activity. Hard-liners say the threat to the ruling system now comes from Ahmadinejad’s supporters. The president has been the target of a backlash since April for trying to impose too much autonomy in how the government is run, including defying Khamenei on his choice for the powerful post of intelligence minister. Dozens of Ahmadinejad’s allies have been detained over the past months - including four senior government officials last week - in the evolving power struggle. — AP

Thriving tunnel imports in Gaza unleash building boom GAZA: At last, Nael Zeyara has a steady job in construction, thanks to the smuggling of cement through Gaza’s network of tunnels to Egypt, an underground supply line that boosts the Israeli-blockaded enclave and creates jobs. Zeyara, 30, has been out of work for four years. “I lead a tough life with a wife and four children in a rented house,” Zeyara told Reuters as he worked. “Six or seven months ago I got my job back when supplies began to flow again,” he said. Zeyara earns about $19 a day.

Thanks to hundreds of tunnels in the sandy soil of the border zone, a construction boom has buoyed Gaza’s otherwise crippled economy, according to a United Nations report. Israel only allows construction materials into Gaza for the use of international relief agencies, including the building of houses and schools. It has recently permitted the import of limited quantities to rebuild some factories destroyed in its largest militar y offensive in Gaza, in 2009. The UN report said that in an economy severely depressed for most of the past decade developments in the first half of 2011 provided some marginal relief. “Employment jumped by more than 47,000 jobs in first-half 2011, or 24.7 percent, to an estimated 237,475. The broad unemployment rate declined to 32.9 percent from 45.2 percent in second-half 2010,” the report said.

Gazans say the tunnels have enabled them to bring in all of their needs “from the needle to the rocket”. The underground business continues to flourish, undeterred by dozens of deaths from Israeli air strikes or cave-ins, and now far outstrips overland imports from Israel that enter Gaza via carefully supervised official crossing points.

“Despite the easing of restrictions on the Israeli-imposed blockade, tight controls of the crossings from Israel into Gaza are a significant factor behind the growth in the tunnel economy ”, said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA).

UN estimates for the import of building materials in September show that 46,500 tonnes of aggregate arrived via the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel into Gaza, whereas 90,000 tonnes came through the tunnels.

Some 9,195 tonnes of cement came through Kerem Shalom, against 90,000 through the tunnels. For steel rods, 1,418 tonnes transited Kerem Shalom versus 15,000 via the underground route.

UNRWA says Gaza’s jobless rate is still one of the most severe in the world and a “reversal of deepening poverty and aid dependency among ordinary people in Gaza is unlikely.” About 1.7 million Palestinians are estimated to live in the narrow coastal enclave, a strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea between southern Israel and Egypt’s Sinai border. It is controlled by the Islamist movement Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel and the West.

The Hamas administration says many factories that had closed doors in 2007, when Israel tightened its blockade after Hamas seized Gaza from forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, have now re-opened and re-hired their employees. “The more building increases, the bigger the number of people who will join the labour force,” said contractor Majed Sabra, supervising at team of 10 at a construction site.

Israel restricts the import by Gaza of construction materials such as cement and steel, which it says could be used for military purposes by Gaza’s armed factions. Hamas and

Islamic Jihad have used the tunnels to import rockets which are fired sporadically into Israel. Nevertheless, construction seems to be going on in every street. New roads have been paved, others are under construction and modest shopping malls have been inaugurated using private and Hamas money.

UNRWA acknowledges Gaza’s “expanded activity due to the tunnel economy” but says the situation of about half a million Palestinian refugees in the territory remains a concern. UN and Palestinian officials say Gaza will not see real progress without freedom to export. Israel allows limited exports from Gaza at the peak season for cut flowers and strawberries, shipped fresh to Europe.

The flow of building materials also has a social impact. “I have built some houses for people whose marriages had been delayed because they could not build a house or expand the building at their family home,” said Sabra, 42. Hussam Breika, a businessman, he and his brothers were building a large home to unite them all under one roof, as Gazans traditionally live. “Right now, each brother lives in a different area of Gaza. A family house is different. Family ties get stronger,” said Breika, who imports food products and soft drinks via Israel.— Reuters

Libya marks independence day ignored under Gaddafi TRIPOLI: Libya celebrated its independence from colonial rule yesterday for the first time in four decades, marking a date in the nation’s history that Muammar Gaddafi did not recognize. Gaddafi, who was toppled then killed following a popular uprising that became a civil war, insisted that September 1, the anniversary of his 1969 coup, be honored as the national holiday.

After his downfall, Libya’s new rulers organized ceremonies to commemorate December 24, 1951, when the country gained independence under former king Idris from the French and British, who had administered

the territory following Italy’s defeat in the Second World War. The ruling National Transitional Council’s chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil and Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib were to attend ceremonies marking Libya’s 60th independence day.

Yesterday, an abundance of traders were selling Libya’s new flag at Martyrs Square in Tripoli. The black, red and green flag with a crescent and a star-the flag of the monarchy that Gaddafi ousted in 1969 — became a symbol of the rebellion against Gaddafi and has now officially replaced his regime’s green flag. — AFP

AMMAN: Jordanian riot policemen prevent the Islamic Action Front Party protesters from approaching to the government office yesterday, during an anti-government demonstration in the capital Amman a day after police broke up clashes between pro-reform Islamist demonstrators and government loyalists in the northern city of Mafraq.—AFP

Radical Shiite cleric proposes ‘peace code’ BAGHDAD: Iraq’s anti-American Shiite cleric launched yesterday an initiative calling for peaceful coexistence among all Iraqis after the withdrawal of US troops from the country. Muqtada Al-Sadr, whose militiamen were blamed for sectarian killings during the worst years of Iraq’s violence, is seeking to assert his political weight in post-US troops Iraq. The initiative comes as a government crisis has strained ties between two main Muslim sects, Sunnis and Shiites to the breaking point.

The Shiite Prime Minister, Nouri AlMaliki is engaged in a showdown with the top Sunni political leader in the country.

His government has issued an arrest warrant for Sunni Vice President Tariq AlHashemi for what Al-Hashemi says are trumped-up charges that he ran hit squads against government officials. Al-Sadr’s proposal comes just two days after a terrifying wave of Baghdad bombings killed 69 people and wounded nearly 200. The bombs tore through mostly Shiite neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital, evoking fears the country could dissolve into a new round of sectarian violence.

Al-Sadr’s associates handed out to the media a 14-point “peace code” proposal written by the radical cleric. It warns against spilling Iraqi blood and urges

respect for all religions, sects and ethnic groups. Al-Sadr’s aide Salah Al-Obeidi described the code as an attempt “to preserve the unity of the country and save it from fighting.” “It is the best solution, to reject all kinds of violence and to preserve the Iraqi people from internal and external attacks,” Al-Obeidi said.

According to Dhia Al-Assadi, another prominent Sadrist politician, 500 people, including politicians, lawmakers, academics, scholars and tribal sheiks have signed on to this code. “This charter is like a life jacket in this very tough phase we are passing through,” Al-Assadi said. Former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who also attended the Sadrist conference in Baghdad yesterday, hailed the initiative, saying “came at the right time” for Iraq.

It remained too early to say how much traction Al-Sadr’s proposal could gain among Iraqis or the country’ top leadership. The final text of the code, entitled “Iraqi National Code of Honor,” remains to be worked out. The Sadrists hope to put it to a countrywide referendum. Also in yesterday, two policemen were killed and two other people were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in Hawija, 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Baghdad, said Kirkuk police commander Brig. Gen Sarhad Qadir. — AP

CAIRO: An Egyptian man walks behind the national flag in downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square yesterday. —AFP

Egypt Islamists continue gains in 2nd round vote CAIRO: Islamist parties have consolidated earlier gains in Egypt’s multistage parliamentary elections, winning nearly 70 percent of the seats determined so far, according to results announced yesterday. Election commission chief AbdelMoez Ibrahim announced results from the second round of three rounds, which was held Dec 14-15, followed by a runoff this week. The second round was held in nine provinces, and Ibrahim said turnout reached 65 percent. Based on the results he gave, the Muslim Brotherhood says it won around 86 of estimated 180 seats up for grabs in the round, or 47 percent.

The Al-Nour Party, the political arm of the ultraconservative Salafi movement, won around 20 percent of the vote. The secular and liberal forces that largely drove Egypt’s uprising against former leader Hosni Mubarak were trounced, failing to turn their achievement into a victory at the polls. The secular alliance of Egyptian Bloc and youth Revolution Continues won less than 10 percent of the seats.

The results mirror those from the first round of voting, held in late November, when the two blocs together won nearly 70 percent. A third round of voting is to be

held Jan. 3-4. It is not expected to alter the result and could strengthen the Islamists’ hand. The exact numbers of seats won by each group is not immediately known because of the complicated voting system Egypt is using. Some seats are determined by a direct competition between candidates, while others are divvied out in proportion to each party’s percentage of votes. The commission is to announce the actual numbers of seats at the end of the entire vote.

The commission yesterday also suspended announcement of results for few seats because of lawsuits filed by candidates citing irregularities. The election is the first since Mubarak’s Feb 11 ouster and is the freest in Egypt’s modern history. The 498-seat People’s Assembly, the parliament’s lower house, will be tasked, in theory, with forming a 100-member assembly to draft a new constitution.

But its actual role remains unclear. The military council that has ruled since Mubarak’s fall says the parliament will not be representative of all of Egypt, and should not have sole power over the drafting of the constitution. Last week, the military appointed a 30-member council to oversee the process. — AP

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

Mexico makes huge meth precursor chemicals seizure MEXICO CITY: Mexico said Friday that it seized 229 metric tons of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine, the third such huge seizure this month at the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, all of which were bound for a port in Guatemala. The seizure brings to more than 534 tons the amount of meth chemicals detected at the Mexican port in less than a month.

Authorities announced on Dec. 19 that they had found almost 100 metric tons of methylamine at Lazaro Cardenas, and earlier said that 205 tons of the chemical had been found there over several days in early December. Experts familiar with meth production call it a huge amount of raw material, noting that under some production methods, pre-

cursor chemicals can yield about half their weight in uncut meth.

The Attorney General’s Office said the most recent seizure was found in 1,600 drums, and had been shipped from Shanghai, China. All three shipments originated in China and were destined for Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. The office has not indicated which cartels may have been moving the chemicals, but U.S. officials have noted that the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico’s most powerful, has moved into meth production on an industrial scale.

Sinaloa also has operations in Guatemala, and given recent busts by the Mexican army of huge meth processing facilities in Mexico, the gang may have decided to move some production to the

Central American country. Lazaro Cardenas is located in the western Michoacan state, which is dominated by the Knights Templar cartel and previously by the La Familia group.

However, a series of arrests, deaths and infighting may have weakened those gangs’ ability to engage in massive meth production.

Also Friday, the attorney general’s office in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz reported that it had found ten bodies in an area along the border with the neighboring state of Tamaulipas. The office said investigators were alerted to the bodies by a tip, and are working to identify them and the cause of death. The area has been the scene of bloody battles between the Gulf and Zetas cartels. Finally

Friday, federal police captured Javier Mercado Guerrero, alias “El Indio,” who allegedly led the operations of the Zetas drug cartel in the Veracruz city of Poza Rica and surrounding areas inland.

Police said Mercado Guerrero had served as a local police officer in 2010, and passed information to the Zetas. Local police in Veracruz have become so corrupt that on Wednesday, the government decided to dissolve the entire police force in the state’s largest city, also known as Veracruz, and sent the Navy in to patrol. State spokeswoman Gina Dominguez said 800 police officers and 300 administrative employees were laid off. Dominguez said they can apply for jobs in a state police force, but must meet stricter standards. — AP

Raul: Cuba to pardon nearly 3,000 prisoners Group amnesty of unprecedented size

SOUTH CAROLINA: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich greets supporters on Friday in Columbia, South Carolina.—AFP

Will retail campaigning help ‘the others’ rise?

IOWA: Rick Perry drew standing-room-only crowds. Michele Bachmann lost her voice.

Rick Santorum made a duel pitch -for votes and cash. And all mixed serious policy talk with everyday chit-chat while doggedly, if not desperately, traveling the state, from Dubuque in the east to Council Bluffs in the west and back again in their individual quests for late-game surges in the Republican presidential race.

Running behind in the polls ahead of the Jan 3, Iowa caucuses, this trio of conservatives campaigned the old-fashioned way, in town squares, coffee shops and community centers, with routes so welltrodden that they sometimes came within hours of crossing paths in the same city. “I grew up with snow. I grew up a little farther north than most people realize,” Perry told one packed diner here as snow began falling outside - a Texas governor with a Southern drawl trying to connect with Midwesterners who craned their necks to snap pictures of him. He wandered through the Whisk Away Cafe to talk economics with patrons eating chicken and dumplings. Later, he walked through town and ducked into a barbershop to laugh it up with retired veterans in for a trim.

Hours after that, Bachmann was the center of attention in this eastern Iowa town, speaking to county Republicans at a community center and reminding them, as she does often, that she spent her childhood in Iowa. “This election is our last chance,” the Minnesota congresswoman said, delivering a sober message in a raspy voice after shaking every voter’s hand. “We cannot afford to get this election wrong.

This is our exit ramp.” Bachmann and Perry each logged more than 1,000 miles last week aboard campaign buses that made stops at gas stations and catering companies, sports bars and churches. Santorum, who visited each of the state’s 99 counties on his own tour earlier this year, is spending the run-up to the caucuses returning to many of those places.

“Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery,” Santorum said, poking at Perry and Bachmann. The three - their presidential candidacies likely come down to strong finishes in Iowa- are betting that Republicans here will reward them for engaging in the hand-to-hand, retail campaigning that Iowans typically demand of White House hopefuls. The leading contenders in polls - Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul - have simply bopped into the state on occasion to woo voters rather than planting themselves in the state.

To varying degrees, Romney, Gingrich and Paul have chosen to compete primarily through TV advertising, nationally televised

debates and interviews on media outlets like Fox News Channel. And that strategy has seemed to pay off for them; they are clustered at the top of the GOP field - at least for now. Little more than a week before the caucuses, the race in Iowa is arguably any candidate’s to win given that polls show that many likely caucus-goers are still undecided or willing to change their minds. So, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that someone other than those three could get first, second or third place in the caucuses that typically winnow the presidential field ahead of the next-up New Hampshire primary.

To be sure, time is short for them to rise.

And, for Bachmann and Santorum at least, money is, too. Among the trio, Perry is the only one with the cash to run ads - $4.4 million so far on the air here. Santorum, by contrast, has aired his first TV ad just twice so far for about $24,000, and just rolled out his second spot Friday. And the cashstrapped Bachmann is only just now starting to run radio and TV commercials in the homestretch, her first since before her August straw poll victory in Iowa. In them, she stresses her Christian values and that she’s “an Iowa girl from Waterloo.” The TV ads offer testimonials from voters she encountered so far on her 99-county tour. Until now, she’d largely been relying on constant interviews with national broadcast outlets to reach voters.

Given the time and money constraints, the candidates have little choice but to canvass Iowa’s small towns to find votes with oldschool persuasion - and hope for the best.

Pack a bed and breakfast’s living room for a rousing indictment of Washington?

Perry is the guy to do it, even though his message isn’t breaking through. Pose for pictures at a rest stop? Bachmann does it, even though only a dozen fans show up and she’s there just minutes. Challenge Iowans on their knowledge of home-state trivia? Santorum is on it. The schedules are tough. In one day, Bachmann made 10 stops - and a primetime appearance on Fox News Channel. The voters are skeptical.

Dale Peters, a retiree, followed Perry from business to business hoping to hear him speak and was disappointed, complaining: “Is he going to do anything other than shake hands? People want to hear him, not just see him. So far, all he’s done is smile.” For all three, the plea is the same in the closing days of the Iowa caucuses. And it’s a humbling one. “Don’t defer to national polls or pundits,” Santorum told supporters in an Iowa City living room. And Bachmann told the parents of high school students: “I need your support on Jan. 3 ...

We are really going to surprise the nation on Jan 3, Iowa.”— AP

CIUDAD JUAREZ: A police officer poses for a picture as snow covers Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Friday. Snow and sub zero temperatures are a rarity in this area. —AFP

HAVANA: Cuban President Raul Castro has unveiled plans to pardon some 3,000 prisoners for “humanitarian reasons,” a group amnesty of unprecedented size, and “gradually” reform onerous laws restricting foreign travel. The pardons include 86 foreign nationals from 25 countries, and will take place “in the coming days,” Castro said in a closing address to the National Assembly Friday.

However US contractor Alan Gross, jailed in Cuba for espionage, will not be among those released, top foreign ministry official Josefina Vidal told AFP. Gross-a State Department contractor arrested in December 2009 for delivering laptops and communications gear to Cuba’s small Jewish community- “will not be on the list” of foreigners to be pardoned, the official said. Castro said factors that played into the pardon decision included requests from the Catholic Church and various Protestant churches, and the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. The pardon is the largest ever under the communist regime, much larger that the 299 prisoners released ahead of the visit of the late pope John Paul II in January 1998.

Cubans were intensely and emotionally keen to hear about migration reform, which Castro-the ex-defense chief who took over from his brother, revolutionary icon Fidel Castro, in July 2006 — has promised but not yet delivered. “I reaffirm my unswerving will to gradually introduce the changes required in this complicated area,” Raul Castro said. Many people “consider a new migratory policy an urgent issue, forgetting the exceptional circumstances that Cuba is going through,” he added. He referred to the US trade embargo on the island and Washington’s alleged “subversive” policy, “always on the lookout for any opportunity to reach its known purposes.”

Castro said the administration of President Barack Obama in Washington “lacked political will to improve relations with Cuba.” But he reiterated Havana’s readiness to move toward normalization of relations with the United States “in all areas that can benefit both countries.” Neither the communist government nor the state-run media have given details of the migration reforms being considered. Local experts believe Castro intends to end the

requirement of exit visas (for Cubans on the island), entrance visas (for Cubans living overseas who return home) and the legal status of “permanent emigrant.”

Cubans usually can only leave the country when they have received a letter of invitation from overseas. Then they have to file a request for an exit visa, just at the start of a maze-like bureaucratic process that costs about $500.

They also need entry visas from the countries to which they travel. The price is near unaffordable in Cuba, where doctors and street cleaners alike make about 20 dollars a month.

The Roman Catholic Church and regimefriendly personalities have joined a chorus of Cubans calling for an end to the rules, including one that penalizes “permanent emigrants” from the only one-party Communist regime in the Americas. Those who are deemed to have left illegally (permanent emigrants) in essence are classed as defectors, their homes and assets seized. Castro did not give details about who would be released, but did say

that 13 women were among the foreigners being freed. The release of foreigners would depend on “whether the governments of their countries of origin accept their repatriation,” Castro said. However the highest-profile prisoner, US citizen Gross, will not be leaving.

Gross, 62, was found guilty in March of “acts against the independence or territorial integrity” of Cuba and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has already spent two years behind bars.

Washington renewed its calls on December 2 for his immediate release. Earlier this month, a group of 19 US senators sent a letter to the head of the Cuban interests section in Washington, Jorge Bolano, asking the Cuban government to take into consideration the health and economic conditions of the Goss family. “Mr Gross has lost 100 pounds and suffers from numerous medical conditions,” they wrote. “Mr Gross’s daughter and mother are both fighting cancer, and his wife is struggling to make ends meet.” — AFP

HAVANA: Cuba’s President Raul Castro, center, smiles as he talks to parliament members during a parliamentary meeting in Havana, Cuba, Friday.—AP

Three US citizens among victims in Mexico attack PACHUCA: Three US citizens traveling to spend the holidays with their relatives in Mexico were among those killed in a spree of shooting attacks on buses in northern Mexico, authorities from both countries said Friday. A group of five gunmen attacked three buses in Mexico’s Gulf coast state of Veracruz on Thursday, killing a total of seven passengers in what authorities said appeared to be a violent robbery spree.

The Americans killed were a mother and her two daughters who were returning to visit relatives in the region, known as the Huasteca, said an official in the neighboring state of Hidalgo, where the mother was born. Hidalgo state regional assistant secretary Jorge Rocha identified the dead US mother as Maria Sanchez Hernandez, 39, of Fort Worth, Texas, and the daughters as Karla, 19, and Cristina, 13. Rocha said all three held dual US -Mexican citizenship. A 14-year-old Mexican nephew traveling with the three was also killed.

A US Embassy official confirmed the women’s nationalities, but could offer no information on their ages or hometowns. The official, who was not authorized to be quoted by name, said consular authorities were offering assistance to the victims’ relatives. While funeral plans were unclear, Rocha said Sanchez Hernandez’s mother wants her daughter to be buried in Mexico. Three other Mexican citizens were killed in the Thursday attacks on the three buses. The five gunmen who allegedly carried out the attacks were later killed by soldiers. Earlier in their spree, the gunmen shot to death three people and killed a fourth with grenade in the nearby town of El Higo, Veracruz.

On Thursday, the US Consulate General in Matamoros, a Mexican border city north of where the attacks occurred, said in a statement that “several vehicles,” including the buses, were attacked, but did not specify what the other vehicles were. The consulate urged Americans to “exercise caution” when traveling in Veracruz, and “avoid intercity road travel at night.” While the specific area where the Thursday attacks occurred is not frequented by foreign travelers, other parts of the Huasteca - a hilly, verdant area on the Gulf coast - are popular among Mexican tourists and some foreigners.

The attack occurred near the border with the state of Tamaulipas, an area that has been the scene of bloody battles between the Zetas and Gulf drug cartels. — AP

Holiday tribute to troops from Obama, first lady WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is wishing a Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all Americans in his weekly radio and Internet address, with a special message of thanks to the troops. “Let’s take a moment to give thanks for their service; for their families’ service; for our veterans’ service,” the president said yesterday. “And let’s say a prayer for all our troops standing post all over the world, especially our brave men and women in Afghanistan who are serving, even as we speak, in harm’s way to protect the freedoms and security we hold dear.”

The president was joined by his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, in recording the weekly address. Mrs. Obama added her own word of thanks, saying “let’s make sure that all of them know just how much we appreciate everything they do.” The president noted that with the Iraq war over, the last troops from that conflict are home for

the holidays. And the Obamas urged people to find a way to give back to the military, directing listeners to Joining Forces, the first lady’s initiative to help military families.

Republicans also set aside talk of legislative and partisan battles in their weekly address, recorded by Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. Pence urged Americans to remember the troops and also to think of those who are less fortunate, struggling to make ends meet in the tough economy or unable to find work. “This holiday season, let’s all make a special effort to come alongside these families in their time of need and support local charities as they provide for the needs across our communities,” Pence said. “Let’s also make a point to personally reach out to that neighbor or friend who needs a helping hand, a kind greeting or an invitation - it might be just the gift someone needed most.”— AP

HAWAII: President Barack Obama salutes as he steps off of Air Force One at Hickam Air Force Base Friday in Honolulu.—AP

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Mandela grandson to marry despite ban on third wife JOHANNESBURG: Nelson Mandela’s grandson was due to tie the knot with a third wife in a traditional ceremony on Christmas Eve yesterday despite a court ban on the wedding, according to a report. All systems were go for chief Mandla Mandela’s union with Swazi princess Mbali Makhathini at the Mvezo Royal Palace in rural Eastern Cape province, family spokesman Sidima Mnqanqeni told Sapa news agency.

“We are confident that there will be no disturbance and the marriage is on,” said Mnqanqeni.

Mandla is a grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela and also a member of parliament. He heads the Mandela family clan. A South African court Thursday granted his first and currently only legal wife a ban on him marrying another woman, for the second time in seven months.

Tando Mabunu-Mandela successfully claimed her civil law union with Mandla Mandela blocks his marriage to customary wives. South Africa allows a person to be married either to one spouse under civil law or several spouses under customary law.

He cannot have wives under the different laws at the same time. Mabunu-Mandela had her estranged husband’s 2010 marriage to a woman from Reunion Island declared illegal in May this year on the same grounds.

A sheriff this week seized assets worth 100,000 rands ($12,000, 9,000 euros) from Mandla after he failed to pay maintenance to Mabunu-Mandela pending their divorce that has been lagging since 2009. Mandla Mandela blamed his wife for the delays in the divorce, but said he would make a

new divorce offer. “Instead of engaging these offers seriously, Ms Mabunu appears intent on delaying the matter indefinitely while attracting negative publicity,” Mandela said in a statement.

Nelson Mandela was elected the country’s first black president in South Africa’s first all-race vote in 1994 and served one term before stepping down in 1999. The anti-apartheid icon, now 93, returned to his rural home in June after being discharged from hospital in January where he was treated for an acute respiratory infection. — AFP

Nigeria sect clashes kill at least 68: Officials Conflict with Islamist sect escalating KANO: Gun battles between Nigerian security forces and an Islamist sect killed at least 68 people in two days of fighting in northern Nigeria, authorities and hospital sources said yesterday. Militant group Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the country, has been blamed for scores of shootings and bombings in the north, including a spate of attacks in the past few weeks.

Nigeria’s army killed more than 50 members of the sect during fighting on Thursday and Friday in the northeastern city of Damaturu, the force’s chief of staff Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika said in comments published in local media. Three soldiers also died, he added. “There was a major encounter with Boko Haram in Damaturu and we overran their stronghold and their ammunition site,” Ihejirika said. “They came with sophisti-

cated and heavy weaponry including GPMGs (machine guns) and bombs but our trained soldiers subdued them.”

Hospital sources in Damaturu said they had counted 50 bodies so far, but most of the dead were civilians. “So far 50 bodies have been deposited at the mortuary by the military and police operatives,” a hospital worker told Reuters by telephone. “They were ... seven policemen, two soldiers and 41 civilians.” In a separate incident in Damaturu on Friday, suspected sect members opened fire on a group of policemen shortly after prayers, killing four, police officials said.

At least 11 people were killed in another shootout in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s heartland, on Thursday, a morgue official said. Clashes between security forces and the sect, whose name roughly translates as “Western educa-

Somalia appeals against US wire transfer closure MOGADISHU: Somalia appealed against a decision by a US bank to shut down its money transfer service that serves as a lifeline for tens of thousands of Somalis who depend on remittances, saying the closure could lead to the collapse of the economy. Sunrise Community Banks handles a large amount of Somali transfers from Minnesota to Somalia, has said it will ends its service from Dec. 30 over fears it could risk violating US regulatory and anti-terrorism finance laws.

The deadline has sparked appeals by the Somali diaspora in Minnesota, the Somali government, US lawmakers and relief groups to find a swift alternative to a service in which US -based Somalis send about $100 million a year back home. The Somali government says an estimated $2 billion - a third of the country’s gross domestic product - is channeled to Somalia through “hawala” or small money transfer businesses.

Somalia’s prime minister has warned that without remittances, the unstable economy would face collapse and said he had written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to intervene, according to a statement sent to media yesterday. Sunrise had extended its closure deadline to Dec. 30, but said in a statement on Friday it had no choice but to discontinue the service. “Money remittances from the Somali diasporas through the US banking system must have a new solution to satisfy the important legal and regulatory requirements currently in place across the nation,” it said.

“Without legal and regulatory relief, the bank must stand by its decision to close the money ser vice business accounts on Dec 30.”

In past years, other US banks have shut down the service, leaving Sunrise as one of the main institutions through which the bulk of “hawalas” go through to the anarchic Horn of Africa countr y. US Congressman Keith Ellison, who represents Minneapolis, home to the largest Somali-American population, has appealed to President Barack Obama to find a solution that would allow for remittances flows without risking financing militancy. “While always important, remittances to Somalia are now more crucial than ever because of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Somalia,” Ellison said in a letter signed by himself and Congressman Donald Payne, dated Dec. 16.

In addition to the worst drought in decades, a 20-year cycle of violence has meant sustained jobs are near impossible to come by, forcing many Somalis to depend on remittances. Hamdi Hasan, a young mother in Minneapolis who sends $300 a month to her four half-brothers and sisters, said she could not imagine how her family would survive without the stipend. “Although it is very difficult financially for me and my husband, the money we send is the only income for them and without it they will not be able to buy food, pay rent, buy medicine, or go to hospital,” she told Reuters.

Relief agency Oxfam warned it was the “worst time for the service to stop”, particularly with a famine still declared in some parts of Somalia, which could have been far worse had it not been for remittances sent to families and local charities. “Any gaps with remittance flows in the middle of the famine could be disastrous,” Shannon Scribner, Oxfam America’s

Humanitarian Policy Manager, said.

Hassan Warsame, a consultant with the Somali American Money Ser vices Association, said the closure was especially worrying because it could spur institutions in European countries and Canada and Australia to follow suit. He warned the move could force Somalis to resort to other means, which are not as transparent and easily traceable, to send money negating the very purpose of financing laws Washington has imposed to prevent funds from reaching groups such as the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants who control large swathes of central and southern Somalia.

MOGADISHU: In this photo of Sunday, Dec 18, 2011, Nasro Mohamed speaks during an interview in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. She said the decision to end the Somali remittances in the US is a “painful”one that will ruin the daily life of many Somali people who were dependent on the remittances to receive money from the United States. —AP “I’m afraid they will resort to unsafe and untraceable ways to make that their loved ones continue to receive remittance funds needed for food, healthcare and education,” Warsame said. “Al Shabaab and other radical groups will use this action as a recruiting tool and for propaganda,” he said, echoing a worry by advocacy groups.

“They can say ‘Look, we are fighting this kind of government that wants to even block your people from sending money’,” Dahir Jibreel, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Centre in Minnesota, said. Al Shabaab denied it received any funds through hawala and analysts say the closure will do little to dent al Shabaab’s funding. “The US has decided to allow already suffering Somalis to perish,” rebel spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage said. “It is foolish and cruel to say such money is intended for al Shabaab. The US faces an economic crisis - so it wants to loot Somali wealth,” Rage told Reuters yesterday.

In Somalia, residents lamented the closure. Shukri Abdi, a 58-year-old single mother of seven in Mogadishu said she relied on her former neighbours to send $250 each per month from Virginia and Minnesota, and used it on school fees and health care. “If the hawala shutdown is true, it will represent a new page of war against Somalia people.” — Reuters

tion is forbidden”, have become increasingly frequent in the past couple of weeks, as the north’s simmering conflict escalates. There was no immediate comment from Boko Haram, which rarely makes public statements.

Before this year, the Islamist insurgency was largely contained in its heartland in the remote northeastern city of Maiduguri. Since it has spread to other parts of the north, including neighbouring Yobe state, where Damaturu lies.

Damaturu was the scene of the most deadly Boko Haram assault to date when 65 people were killed in a wave of shootings and bombings on November 5 that left churches, police stations and mosques reduced to smouldering rubble. This year the Islamists struck the capital Abuja twice, including a suicide car bomb attack against the U.N. headquarters that killed 26 people. — Reuters

27 Kurdish rebels killed in Turkey ANKARA: Turkish security forces have killed 27 Kurdish rebels in a helicopter-backed offensive in southeast Turkey, authorities say - days after another major anti-PKK offensive.

The rebels, including an alleged senior commander, were killed in a five-day long attack targeting caves and other hideouts on Mt. Cudi in Sirnak province, which borders Iraq, the office of the governor said late Friday.

Five other rebels, suspected members of the autonomyseeking Kurdistan Workers’ Party - or PKK - were captured alive, it added. Pro-Kurdish news agency Firat confirmed clashes in Cudi, but made no mention of any rebel deaths.

The announcement came two days after another major offensive against the autonomy-seeking group, also backed by airpower, left 21 suspected rebels dead in Diyarbakir province, some 300 kilometers (190 miles) away.

The rebels, branded as terrorists by the United States and the European Union, are fighting for autonomy in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast. Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict since 1984. The operations are a victory of sorts for the Turkish military, which seemed to be struggling to clamp down on guerrilla activities after a spate of attacks killed dozens of soldiers and civilians this year. They follow the US deployment of four Predator drones to Turkey from Iraq following the American troops’ withdrawal from the country. The US has pledged to assist Turkey in its fight against the rebels who often stage attacks from bases across the border in Iraq’s north. Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said this week that Turkey is determined to press ahead with the anti-rebel operations, rejecting speculation of possible new negotiations with the PKK to end the violence.

“At this moment, no place is secure for the PKK and its members - nor will it be,” Atalay said. In a related development, Turkish authorities yesterday released a photographer for the French news agency, Agence France Presse, along with 13 other people who were detained as part of an investigation into a group prosecutors accuse of having links to the PKK. The Anadolu Agency said, however, that a court had ordered 35 other suspects formally arrested pending trial over their alleged involvement in the Union of Kurdistan Communities, which authorities say is an offshoot of the PKK and of working as its political arm. Kurdish activists reject the accusation and insist the group is an umbrella organization to unite all Kurds.

Hundreds of Kurdish activists, including elected mayors, have already been charged as part of the investigation since 2009. AFP photographer Mustafa Ozer and 48 other suspects, including a number of other journalists, were detained in police raids in seven cities on Dec. 20, sparking increased concerns over media freedoms in Turkey, where dozens of journalists have been jailed mostly on anti-terror charges, accused of aiding alleged terrorist groups.—AP

Ukraine must respect rule of law: EU’s Ashton BRUSSELS: The European Union’s foreign policy chief said yesterday that she regretted the failed appeal of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and reminded the former Soviet republic that respect for the rule of law was essential for better EU ties. Catherine Ashton said in a statement that she was concerned that a Ukrainian appeals court had upheld the guilty verdict and seven-year jail term, adding that the appeals process had not adequately addressed failings of the original trial.

Ashton said she regretted that Tymoshenko would be prevented from participating in next year’s parliamentary elections. “The issue of selective justice in Ukraine continues to require attention,” she said. Tymoshenko, a fierce opponent of President Viktor Yanukovich, was sentenced in October for overstepping her powers in forcing through a gas deal with Russia in 2009.

The European Union this week put off signing agreements on political association and free trade with Ukraine, saying Ukraine first needed to resolve the case of the jailed opposition leader. “The High Representative also notes the conclusion, in the joint statement of the EU-Ukraine Summit of 19 December, that respect for the Rule of Law will be critically important for the speed of Ukraine’s political association and economic integration with the EU,” Ashton’s statement said. — Reuters

ANKARA: Turkish students hold Turkish flags as they stage a protest outside the French Embassy in Ankara yesterday.—AFP

Turkey to launch diplomatic offensive after row with France ANKARA: A French bill criminalising the denial of the disputed Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 has galvinised Turkey to try to head off similar initiatives in future. Turkey’s ambassadors from all over the world, gathering in the Turkish capital at an annual event, would yesterday hold a closed-door session on the subject. “We should all be prepared also because we will face an intensive campaign from the Armenian diaspora in 2015,” a senior Turkish diplomat told AFP, referring to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. “And we should take history not from 1915 but from 1914 and explain what happened in the Balkans during that period,” said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The French bill drew fury from the Turkish government which immediately recalled its ambassador from Paris and froze military and diplomatic ties with this country. Analysts here criticised the French legislation for undermining freedom of thought, but they also called on Ankara to adopt a proactive rather than reactive policy on the issue.

“Unfortunately, we are constantly expecting people to bring the subject up,” Burcu Gultekin Punsmann, a senior analyst at Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, told AFP. “Now 2015 (the 100th anniversary) is the biggest deadline in front of us when the campaign will grow like a snowball rolling down hill,” she said.

In 1915 and 1916, during World War I many Armenians died in Ottoman Turkey.

Armenia says 1.5 million were killed in a genocide. Turkey says around 500,000 died

in fighting after Armenians sided with Russian invaders. “Isn’t it the time to confront with what happened in 1915,” Mehmet Tezkan wrote in Milliyet daily.

“We have avoided any talk on 1915 for decades... One must be blind not to see what will happen four years later.

Genocide will be recognised by the entire world in 2015 on its 100th anniversary,” he said.

Punsmann said Ankara could take a symbolic step and apologise for the 1915 killings, like it did recently regarding the killings of Kurds in the 1930s. In November, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first Turkish premier to apologise for a bloody military campaign that killed more than 13,000 Kurds in the 1930s. Turkey’s foreign minister pledged his country would approach toward Armenian diaspora, while speaking at an inaugural conference of Turkey’s 160 ambassadors from all over the world on Friday.

“Each and every individual who migrated from our land is our diaspora regardless of their religion or sect,” said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressing the Turkish diplomats. “We will win the hearts of our Armenian friends,” he said. France recognised the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001 and on Thursday the National Assembly approved a first step towards a law that would impose a jail term and a 45,000-euro fine on anyone in France who denies this. The law will now go to France’s upper house, The Senate, and could become law next year-although Turkey will lobby hard to prevent this. — AFP

MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy speaks during a video conference with the Spanish troops deployed abroad during his first intervention from the Palacio de la Moncloa in Madrid yesterday.—AFP

Gbagbo supporters stage Hague protest THE HAGUE: Several hundred supporters of ex-Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo yesterday protested outside the International Criminal Court prison where he is spending a first Christmas behind bars. “ We are celebrating Christmas here with the president and even if he cannot see us, we think he does hear us,” Abel Neki, president of the pan-African CRI association, told an AFP journalist at the prison.

The supporters, mainly from France, gathered outside the International Criminal Court’s detention unit in the seaside suburb of Scheveningen, where Gbagbo has been locked up since his transfer to The Hague on November 30.

The first former head-of-state to be surrendered to the ICC, Gbagbo, 66, was imprisoned in The Hague after being transferred by plane from northern Ivory Coast, where he has been under house

arrest since April.

He faces charges before the ICC for his involvement in crimes committed during five months of post-presidential election violence after the restive west African country’s disputed November 2010 polls.

Gbagbo’s refusal to hand over the reigns to his long-time political opponent and now President Alassane Ouattara plunged the world’s top cocoa-grower into a deadly crisis which the United Nations said claimed around 3,000 lives.

Organisers said a previous demonstration to support Gbagbo, held on December 10 in front of the ICC headquarters, attracted around 2,000 people.

Police put the figure at 600. Ouattara’s Rally of Republicans (RDR) party earlier this month won the greatest number of seats in the Ivorian parliament in elections which were boycotted by Gbagbo’s camp. — AFP

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Nepal’s Maoists reveal wartime scars SHAKTIKHOR CANTONMENT: As Man Bahadur Chhetri contemplates life away from the squalid camp in which he has languished with hundreds of comrades for five years, his thoughts turn to the horrors of war.

Chhetri is among 19,000 Maoist fighters who have been confined to makeshift rural cantonments since Nepal’s ten-year insurgency ended in 2006, as rival political factions argued over what to do with the fighters in peacetime. But his life is about to change, for the veteran of many bloody battles will ditch his uniform for civilian clothing after a landmark peace deal offering the fighters jobs in the regular army or help to reintegrate into society.

The slight 28-year-old sits with dozens of highly-trained guerrillas under a tent at the Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan, southern Nepal, recalling the hardships of the last 15 years. Chhetri joined the Maoists when

he was barely 15 and lost an elder brother, cousin and uncle to the conflict. Six years ago his best friend was killed in a battle with the Nepalese army that left at least 50 Maoist fighters dead in the country’s remote hills.

“We were firing and advancing. But when I looked back, I saw that my friend had fallen. I felt like the sky was falling,” he says. “Our comrades passed his body to one another in successive human chains. Shrapnel hit my head and later I realised that my left leg was also hit by a bullet,” he recalls, adding that blood was pouring from the wounds.

“I fell unconscious. My friends took me away for medical treatment.”

Chhetri and his colleagues have bided their time in a ramshackle township of tiny tin-roofed wooden and concrete houses while their future was put on ice by five years of wrangling between Nepal’s powerbrokers. Around 40 share a kitchen, taking turns to cook

with basic rations. They sleep in sparse living quarters, six to a room, and have little but volleyball, table-tennis and chess to help them pass the time. Their daily duties revolve around morning exercise, guarding the entrances and watching towers, for which they receive a monthly stipend of 6,500 rupees ($80).

But the rules governing their confinement to the cantonment has been loosely enforced and the cadres are often seen wandering outside. Some venture out to nearby town of Narayangadh or even as far as Kathmandu. The war ended when the Maoists struck a deal with parliamentary parties in 2006 and organised nationwide protests that forced the king to step down.

They went on to win elections two years later and abolish the country’s 240-year-old monarchy. Under the final peace accord struck between the Maoists and the three other major

political parties last month (NOV ), Chhetri and his comrades are being offered places in the army they fought for a decade. The alternatives are a retirement package of up to 800,000 rupees ($10,000) or rehabilitation that includes vocational training but no government cash. “After discussions with my family, I made up my mind to go for voluntary retirement,” Chhetri told AFP. As former fighters describe their reasons for joining the Maoists, a picture emerges of a country riven by a rigid caste system, abject poverty and gender discrimination. Forty percent of camp inmates are women. One of them, Tulku Syangtan, 22, was first persuaded to join up by the Maoists’ avowed goal of ending violence against women. “Traditionally, women are perceived as weak and dependent on others. I wanted to prove that we are at a par with men,” she said, adding that she had decided to integrate into

the regular army. But former rebels voice concerns that not much has changed in the country since the war and their aspiration to end inequalities and lift millions out of poverty remains a distant dream.

Sunita Gautam, 30, a battalion commander, has opted to join the national army she once fought against, but is angry over the way integration has been conducted. “The United Nations Mission in Nepal has already verified us as combatants. But the peace deal says we have to fulfil the criteria set by the Nepalese Army to qualify for integration,” she says. “We are not satisfied with this.” Gautam is proud to have fought during the “people’s war ”, which she says helped her better understand her country and the contradictions inherent in society. “We had high hopes when we joined the party,” she says. “But the country has not moved ahead as per our expectations.”—AFP

Suicide attack kills 6 Pakistani soldiers Bombing meant to avenge senior commander killing

NANGARHAR: Afghan Muslims attend a special prayer session for rain in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan yesterday.—AP

Afghan coal mine explosion kills 11 KABUL: An explosion at a coal mine in northern Afghanistan has killed 11 people, an official said yesterday. The miners, who were all working at the site without government permission, died after an explosion triggered a collapse at the mine in Baghlan province on Friday night, said the provincial governor’s spokesman Mahmood Haqmal. “Late on Friday a number of local people were digging at a coal mine in the Chenarak area of Nehrin district when an explosion killed 11 workers,” he said. Police are at the scene working to recover the bodies.

Conditions in Afghan coal mines can be dangerously primitive, with miners working by hand and little in the way of ventilation, equipment or safety gear.

Afghanistan is believed to have mineral reserves worth as much as $3 trillion which could theoretically generate billions of dollars in tax revenue for the troubled country.

But exploitation of these resources faces massive hurdles due to ongoing instability after 30 years of war in the countr y, woeful infrastructure, and endemic corruption. Nevertheless, mining lots are being quickly parcelled out among Afghanistan’s resource-hungry neighbors, and according to mining ministry documents the country is planning to sell extraction rights for up to five mines every year until the departure of the last foreign combat troops in 2014.—AFP

Political dynasties are all over NEW DELHI: If North Korea’s new leader is looking for advice on how to carry on his family’s dynasty, he could turn to Rahul Gandhi, who is on a quest to become the fourth generation of his family to rule India. Or to Joseph Kabila, who is celebrating his questionable re-election to the Congolese presidency he inherited from his father. Or to former Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of the country’s first president.

North Korea’s preparations to transfer power to a third generation of the Kim family, following the recent death of Kim Jong Il, is by no means an anomaly: In both democracies and dictatorships, political dynasties abound across the world. While former President George W Bush - the son of a president and the grandson of a senator - was never dubbed “the Great Successor,” and Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto who followed in her assassinated father’s footsteps - was never said to have been “born of heaven,” just like Kim Jong Un they ended up in the family business of running a country.

While some dictators pass on power to their children as a veritable inheritance, dynasties exert a powerful pull in democracies as well. The identity of a party might be deeply linked to a family. A familiar name might give a political scion an edge on the ballot, further strengthened by the family’s established political and fundraising machines. Sometimes the heir is a puppet, a brand name needed to rally the public, while backroom power brokers pull the levers. Or a nation in mourning over the death of its leader might turn to the grieving child for comfort and continuity.

Stephen Hess, a Brookings Institution scholar and author of “America’s Political Dynasties,” sees nothing unusual about politics becoming a family business. “Aren’t bakers more likely to be bakers if their fathers were bakers?” he said in an email.

The most successful dynasty in the world is probably India’s Nehru-Gandhi family, which held the prime minister’s post for 37 of the country’s 64 years of independence and is working on bringing another generation to power.

In the huge, multiethnic tapestry of

India, the Gandhis are seen as among the few with a nationwide appeal that cuts across language, region and caste, said historian Ramachandra Guha. Less than two years after the death of India’s first Prime Minister Jawarhalal Nehru, leaders of his Congress party turned to his daughter, Indira Gandhi, to head the country, incorrectly judging her as a weak and pliant puppet.

After her assassination in 1984, the mourning nation looked to her son Rajiv to take her place. After his 1991 assassination, his widow Sonia eventually became the most powerful politician in the ruling party even as she groomed her son, Rahul, to eventually take over. But Guha believes dynastic politics are waning in the country, with voters more focused on development and other issues.

“Rahul Gandhi has by no means shown anything like the popular appeal that his father or grandmother or great grandfather had,” he said. Then there’s the Philippines, where President Benigno Aquino, son of former President Corazon Aquino, took over last year from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal.

Unlike in many countries, where voters might feel a loyalty to a political party, in the Philippines, they identify with a family that has traditionally looked out for their welfare, said political analyst Ramon Casiple. The dynastic system is so entrenched it survived and thrived during centuries of Spanish and American rule and even the transition to democracy, he said. When par ty leaders die in the Philippines, their children nearly always replace them. If the party chooses someone else, the spurned heir often forms a new party, leaving the old one to wither, Casiple said.

“The party is not that strong. It doesn’t have an independent life. They depend on the good will of the family on top of it,” he said. The passing of power is a delicate maneuver in authoritarian regimes. While Fidel Castro managed the transition to his brother, Raul, in Cuba, dynastic politics were strongly rejected in the Arab world this year. —AP

PESHAWAR: A Pakistani Taleban suicide bomber rammed a car filled with explosives into a paramilitary camp in northwestern Pakistan yesterday, killing six soldiers in the second attack in as many days meant to avenge the killing of senior commander in a US drone strike. The blast caused a part of a building to collapse inside the Frontier Corps camp, which was located in Bannu town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said local police officer Tahir Khan. At least 19 soldiers were wounded in the attack, and rescue workers were searching for additional casualties, he said. A Pakistani Taleban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to The Associated Press. He said it was meant to avenge the death of commander Taj Gul in a US drone strike in October in the South Waziristan tribal area, a key sanctuary for the militants. Gul was the Pakistani Taleban’s operational commander in South Waziristan and was responsible for many attacks against security forces.

Around three dozen Pakistani Taleban fighters armed with assault rifles attacked a paramilitary camp in Tank district near South Waziristan before dawn Friday, killing one soldier and kidnapping 15 others. Ehsan, the Taleban spokesman, said Friday that attack was also meant to avenge Gul’s death. The militants targeted the soldiers because of Pakistan’s alliance with the United

BANNU: Pakistani army soldiers gather at the site of suicide bombing at a paramilitary camp in Bannu, Pakistan, Saturday yesterday.—AP States, he said.

Ehsan pledged they would kill the kidnapped troops, saying “we are going to cut these soldiers into pieces one by one, and we will send these pieces to their commanders.” The Pakistani Taleban has waged a fierce insurgency in Pakistan over the past four years, killing tens of thousands of security personnel and civilians. Their aim is to topple the civilian government, partly because of its alliance with the

US, and impose Islamic law throughout the country.

Pakistan has launched a series of military offensives against the Pakistani Taleban in the northwest along the Afghan border, including in South Waziristan.

Analysts say the operations, combined with hundreds of US drone attacks, have contributed to a significant decline in violence in Pakistan this year. The number of people killed in suicide attacks in Pakistan in the first 11 months of

2011 dropped almost 40 percent compared to the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. Deaths from all attacks

by Islamist militants fell nearly 20 percent.

But violence still takes a large human toll in the country in near daily attacks. More than 2,300 people were killed in militant attacks in Pakistan through November, according to the institute. — AP

Pro-India party member killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Relatives of Bashir Ahmed, a shopkeeper and member of the ruling National Conference wail during his funeral procession in Srinagar, India yesterday.—AP

SRINAGAR: Police say suspected rebels have shot dead a member of a pro-India political party in Indian Kashmir. Police said Bashir Ahmed was shot in the head at close range in Srinagar yesterday. He was a shopkeeper and member of the ruling National Conference.

Police said the gunmen escaped. The shooting was the second strike by suspected rebels in the last two weeks.

On Dec 11, Indian Kashmiri Law Minister Ali Mohammed Sagar survived a militant attack, but his security guard was killed. Muslim militants have been fighting since 1989 to end Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan territory. More than 68,000 people have died in the conflict.—AP

Quakes overshadow Christmas in N Zealand WELLINGTON: Aftershocks continued to rattle the earthquake-shattered New Zealand city of Christchurch yesterday overshadowing Christmas preparations for weary residents in a “hellish year”. The unrelenting series of tremors, several stronger than magnitude 5.0, had the city on edge again 10 months after a devastating quake claimed 181 lives and destroyed much of the inner city.

Emergency services were rushing to restore electricity and water supplies and an army of 2,000 volunteers were helping clean up the worst affected suburbs by Christmas Day. “There is a real determination in our city not to let the events of the past 24 hours ruin Christmas. Our crews have worked overnight and will be working all today to restore services to the city,” Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said.

“Our goal is that by the end of the day we will have made the necessary emergency repairs to

our water, wastewater and roads. “It has been a hellish year. I am determined to get as much as we can fixed by tonight so that our staff, apart from a skeleton team, can spend Christmas with their families.” The latest flurry of earthquakes began at 1:58pm (0058 GMT) on Friday, sending Christmas shoppers fleeing from stores in panic as stock fell from shelves and forcing the closure of the international airport as a precaution.

Over the following 24 hours there were 39 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or stronger including four over 5.0. At least three houses that had been in a precarious state following powerful shakes earlier in the year collapsed and one large shopping mall was unable to open Christmas Eve, one of the most lucrative days of the year. Prime Minister John Key toured the city yesterday and said he did not believe the latest quakes would have a dramatic impact on the already significant repair bill.

“What we can conclude is that the most significant damage from the earthquakes is really the psychological damage and the impact on the confidence of the people of the Christchurch,” he said. “This is quite a blow to the people of Canterbury (region), but I want them to know that the country is 100 percent behind them, that our resolution to see Christchurch rebuilt has not diminished in any way as a result of the aftershocks.” The repair bill from the ongoing earthquakes which began with a 7.0 magnitude shock 15 months ago, has already reached NZ$20 billion (US$15.5 billion).

As tension mounted in the city and a special help-line was set up for people feeling distressed, civil defence warned the aftershocks would continue for some time.”Unfortunately when there is a large earthquake of this kind, people do need to expect aftershocks,” civil defence spokesman Vince Cholewa said.—AFP

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Chinese activist charged with subversion: Report Crackdown aimed at preventing Arab Spring-style uprisings

TENGGARA: Several injured demonstrators lie on the ground as police round up protestors after a clash broke out during a rally at Sape town port located in West Nusa Tenggara province yesterday.—AFP

2 killed in Indonesia mine protests JAKARTA: At least two people were killed and eight wounded in clashes between protesters and police during demonstrations over a planned gold mine in eastern Indonesia, police said. Hundreds of protesters gathered in the town of Bima in the West Nusa Tenggara province on Sumbawa island, disrupting port and ferry services. The gold mining project is a joint venture between Indonesia’s PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara and Australian-listed Arc Exploration Limited, according to the Arc Exploration website.

The company said in its June quarterly report no exploration work was possible in the quarter because of protests.

Women and children were among protesters who have barricaded roads and the town’s port since Monday and a police station and a government office were burnt down, police spokesman Saud Usman Nasution said in a statement.

Siti Maemunah, executive director of the Mining Advocacy Network, said three people had been killed during the protests. Footage on Indonesia’s Metro TV showed police carrying batons and firing warning shots towards protesters.

Bima residents fear mining by will threaten forest areas and drain water resources, Indonesian media have reported. The project has a concession area of 24,980 hectares. The protest is the latest in a series of tensions in the mining industry in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy over land rights and a push by workers for a greater share of profits.

In November, about 400 workers went on strike in a dispute over working shifts at a gold and copper mine run by Newmont Mining Corp’s Indonesian unit in Batu Hijau in Nusa Tenggara. The Bima project is about 230 km (140 miles) east of Newmont’s Batu Hijau copper and gold mine.—Reuters

CAGAYAN DE ORO: Children hold up placards on a street in Cagayan de Oro yesterday. Thousands of people in the southern Philippines are facing Christmas in emergency shelters after floods that left more than 1,000 people dead and another 1,000 unaccounted for. —AFP

Thousands in Philippine face Christmas in shelters CAGAYAN DE ORO: Thousands of people in the southern Philippines are facing Christmas in emergency shelters after floods that left more than 1,000 people dead and another 1,000 unaccounted for. As government workers recovered more bodies of those killed when tropical storm Washi hit last weekend, one local mayor bleakly told those left homeless or bereaved by the floods that there would be “no Christmas” this year. Tens of thousands of people are jammed in crowded evacuation centres, short of water and sanitation facilities.

“There is no Christmas,” Vicente Emano, mayor of the hard-hit city of Cagayan de Oro, curtly said yesterday when asked if he would be delivering his traditional holiday message. Washi spawned heavy rains, overflowing rivers and flash floods that wiped out whole villages, many built on riverbanks and sandbars in the coastal port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, which were the worst hit last Saturday. The government civil defence agency put the toll of dead at 1,100 with 1,079 reported missing although it remained unclear if some of the missing were among the hundreds of unidentified corpses already recovered. The storm and floods have displaced around 330,000 people with more than 69,000 others huddled in emergency shelters. Just hours after the latest death toll was announced, village chairman Cairunding Embader said his staff had found 16 more dead bodies on the outskirts of Iligan City. Emano said city employees and search team members would be working through the Christmas holidays, recovering bodies and caring for those who were evacuated from their homes. To deal with the hundreds of dead, with the stench of decomposing bodies in parts of the city overwhelming, Emano said two large communal graves had been dug and unclaimed bodies would soon be buried in them.

While Christmas is normally one of the most festive times of the year in the Philippines, a largely-Roman Catholic country, few in the affected areas felt like celebrating. “Because of this flood, I don’t know if our Christmases will ever be merry,” said Junie Legaspi, 32, a vendor who lost his house and livestock animals in the flood. Huddled in an evacuation centre, wearing an ill-fitting woman’s blouse donated to him, Legaspi fought back tears as he said his eight children would forever associate Christmas with the floods. “ This is the worst Christmas gift one can receive.” Regional social welfare director Araceli Solamillo said her agency was bringing in professionals to counsel depressed people at the centres. “We have provided psychosocial intervention like stress debriefing with social workers. But we need more psychologists and trained social workers, we need volunteers,” she told AFP. —AFP

BEIJING: A veteran Chinese activist has been charged with subversion, a human rights group said yesterday, after another dissident was jailed for nine years in a crackdown aimed at preventing Arab Spring-style democratic uprisings. Chen Xi was arrested Nov 29 and charged Friday in the southern province of Guizhou, the Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said. The Hong Kong-based center said Chen, who left prison in 2005 after serving a 10-year sentence, was accused of writing 30 essays that incited subversion.

A man who answered the phone at the Guiyang Intermediate People’s Court said he had no information about the case. On Friday, activist Chen Wei was sentenced to nine years, also on subversion charges. Communist leaders launched a sweeping effort to crush dissent early this year in response to anonymous online calls urging Chinese to imitate protests that toppled governments in North Africa and the Middle East.

Human rights activists have criticized the ruling party’s use of vague subversion laws to jail its critics. Authorities began using the subversion law against activists after repealing a widely criticized law on counterrevolutionary activities. Chen Xi, 57, was active in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests and was sentenced to three years in prison, the Information Center said in a statement. It said he was jailed for 10 years in 1995 on charges of counterrevolutionary offenses.

After his release, Chen was the first activist to sign the Charter 08 manifesto calling for an end to one-party rule and advocating democratic reforms, according to the Information Center. The charter’s co-author, Liu Xiaobo, who also is imprisoned on subversion charges, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his pro-democracy activism. Also this week, a government conference on politics and law called for a struggle against “hostile forces at home and abroad” and

“illegal religious activities” next year, according to the Information Center, which is run by a mainland activist who lives in Hong Kong.

“Human rights conditions will continue to worsen next year,” the Information Center said. China’s communist leadership was spooked early this year when online messages called for a Chinese “Jasmine Revolution,” the name of the uprising in Tunisia. Even though few outright demonstrators responded to the protest calls, China launched one of its broadest campaigns of repression in years, rounding up dozens of bloggers, lawyers and intellectuals. Most have since been released.

Others rounded up include Beijing activist Wang Lihong, who was sentenced to nine months in jail in September for staging a protest on behalf of other activists, and Yang Qiuyu, a Beijing activist who was sentenced to two years of re-education through labor.

Chen Wei’s sentence appears to be the

heaviest meted out in the crackdown, said Wang Songlian, a researcher with Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a Hong Kong-based advocacy group.

Yesterday, the European Union ambassador to Beijing, Markus Ederer, expressed concern about the sentence. “ The delegation of the European Union to China is deeply concerned by news of the disproportionate sentence handed down to democracy activist Chen Wei,” Ederer said. “The EU firmly upholds freedom of expression as a universal human right and we encourage political debate rather than the use of criminal law as a means to resolve diverging political opinions.” Chen Wei, 42, previously served time for participating in the 1989 protests and was sentenced to five years in 1994 for “counterrevolutionary propaganda and incitement.” Amnesty International called for Chen Wei’s release, saying his sentence was “clearly retaliation” for his criticism of the Communist Party.—AP

North Korean heir lauded as ‘supreme commander’ SEOUL: North Korea vowed yesterday to uphold with “blood and tears” Kim Jong Il’s son as “supreme commander” as the country builds up the untested young man in preparation for a third generation of the Kim family dynasty. Even as North Korea emphasizes anointed heir Kim Jong Un’s bloodline and his family’s claims as spiritual protectors of the North Korean people, millions are grieving for Kim Jong Il, who state media said died one week ago of a heart attack. North Korea is in an official mourning period until after Kim’s funeral Wednesday and a memorial Thursday.

Footage from Associated Press Television News in Pyongyang showed a throng of North Koreans climbing stairs and placing flowers below a smiling portrait of Kim Jong Il. They placed wreaths neatly in a row as solemn music filled the air, and young uniformed soldiers, their heads shaved, bowed to the portrait with their eyes closed. A sobbing Jong Myong Hui, a Pyongyang citizen taking a break from shoveling snow, told APTN that she came out voluntarily to “clear the way for Kim Jong Il’s last journey.”

The Rodong Sinmun - North Korea’s main newspaper - said in an editorial yesterday that the country would uphold Kim Jong Un as “supreme commander” with vows made in “blood and tears” before Kim Jong Il. Two special groups of South Korean civilians will visit North Korea on Monday to pay condolences to Kim, South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Choi Bohseon said in a briefing yesterday. One group will be led by the widow of a late former president who held a summit with Kim in 2000 and the other by the wife of a late businessman with ties to the North. They will return Tuesday, and Seoul has said it won’t allow any other visits by South Koreans.

Citizens in the capital, Pyongyang, meanwhile, received a special gift from the recently deceased leader: loads of fish.

North Korea’s state-run media reported that Kim was worried about the supply of fish in Pyongyang, and had looked into the matter the day before he died. A Korean Central News Agency report said Kim Jong Un “took all necessary measures to truck fresh fish to the capital city in time and supply the fish to the citizens, even in the mourning period.”

Hunger and malnutrition are major problems for North Korea’s mostly impoverished population, with the United Nations warning that rations are inadequate and the U.S. considering sending food aid. Kim’s government has long made military spending a priority under the policy of “songun,” or military first. Official media yesterday were filled with reports of the fish made available by Kim Jong Il. The Rodong Sinmun showed a photo of a woman covering her mouth in sadness and gratitude as she watched loads of herring and walleye pollack being distributed at a crowded grocery store, where they were piled up in baskets.

North Korea has yet to descend to the depths of famine that killed an estimated 5 to 10 percent of its people in the mid- and late 1990s, but hunger has worsened through the year. A recent food security and crop assessment by experts from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program said health officials reported a 50 to 100 percent increase this year in hospital admissions of malnourished children. North Korean media have been flowing with eulogies for Kim Jong Il, who ruled the country for 17 years after the death of his father, North Korea’s national founder and eternal President Kim Il Sung.

Both Kims were the object of intense personality cults.

The reports have stressed how the North Korean people are deeply indebted to the largesse of their leaders, despite the deepening political isolation and economic hardship they have faced in recent years.

The state media has broadcast constant scenes of public mourning, with women and children wailing, soldiers bowing before Kim’s smiling portrait and senior

officials lining up to view his body, which is on display in a glass case at the same funeral palace where his father’s embalmed remains are on view.

In Pyongyang, the youngest son of Unification Church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon was seen carrying a wreath as he paid respects to Kim. Moon Hyungjin, 32, had recently met with senior North Korean officials, and his father maintains links with Pyongyang. It was not clear when Moon, who the church said is an American citizen, arrived in North Korea and whether he was there to solely pay respects. The elder Moon founded the church in Seoul in 1954. It later grew into a worldwide movement.

A group of South Koreans and foreigners, meanwhile, launched balloons carrying hundreds of pairs of socks to North Korea yesterday, saying they hoped to help North Koreans deal better with frigid winter temperatures. South Korean activists occasionally send balloons containing antiPyongyang leaflets to North Korea. North Korea has also claimed that Kim’s death generated a series of spectacular natural phenomena, creating a mysterious glow atop a revered mountain, cracking a sheet of ice on a lake with a loud roar and inspiring a crane to circle a statue of the nation’s founder before perching in a tree and drooping its head in sorrow. “Leader Kim Jong Il is always with us as we have respected Comrade Kim Jong Un identical to him,” KCNA quoted Song Hye Yong, a 42year-old woman, as saying as she carried “a bag full of fish in her hand.”

Despite initial jitters over possible instability, officials in Seoul and Washington are calling the political transition in North Korea smooth so far. There have been no outward signs of unrest on the streets or unusual troop movements along the borders. The North, however, is highly sensitive to what it sees as outside threats. Its government-run website, Uriminzokkiri, has slammed South Korea for putting its military on alert, calling that move an “insult” to a nation in mourning.

The Korean peninsula remains in a state of war because the three-year Korean War ended in 1953 in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Tanks and troops still guard the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing the two sides.—AP

PYONGYANG: This handout picture taken by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency yesterday shows President of World Peace Federation Moon Hyung Jin carrying a wreath to lay near the portrait of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il at Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang. —AFP

PYONGYANG: This screen capture of North Korean TV footage taken yesterday shows residents receiving fish in Pyongyang. Kim Jong-Il’s “loving care” for the North Korean people lingers even beyond his death, with residents in the capital enjoying a special treat of fresh fish, official media reported yesterday.—AFP

Kim’s last gift to Korea: loads of fish SEOUL: The people of North Korea’s capital have received a special gift from recently deceased leader Kim Jong Il: loads and loads of fish. North Korea’s state-run media reported that Kim was concerned about the supply of fish in Pyongyang, and had looked into the matter the day before he died. North Korea announced Monday that he died of a massive heart attack on Dec 17. A Korean Central News Agency report said Kim’s young son and heir, Kim Jong Un, “took all necessary measures to truck fresh fish to the capital city in time and supply the fish to the citizens, even in the mourning period.”North Korea is in official mourning until after Kim’s funeral Dec. 28-29.

Hunger and malnutrition are major problems for North Korea’s mostly impoverished population, with the United Nations warning that rations are inadequate and the US considering sending food aid. Kim’s government has long made military spending a priority under the policy of “songun,” or military first.

Official media yesterday were filled with reports of the fish made available by Kim Jong Il. The Rodong Sinmun - North Korea’s main newspaper - yesterday showed a photo of a woman covering her mouth in sadness and gratitude as she watched loads of herring and walleye pollack being distributed at a crowded grocery store, where they were piled up in baskets. The paper added in an editorial that the country will uphold Kim Jong Un as “supreme commander” with vows made in “blood and tears” before Kim Jong Il. Though Pyongyang is better supplied than other cities, feeding the people is a major problem for North Korea. The US . pushed back its long-awaited decision on providing food aid following the death of Kim Jong Il. North Korea has yet to descend to the depths of famine that killed an estimated 5 to 10 percent of its people in the mid- and late-1990s, but hunger has worsened through the year.

A recent food security and crop assessment by experts from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program said health officials reported a 50 to 100 percent increase this year in hospital admissions of malnourished children. Their report said much of the North Korean population suffered “prolonged food deprivation” in 2011 as the public distribution system that most rely on was reduced to 200 grams (7 ounces) or less per day, providing only one-third the minimum daily energy requirement. Almost all households surveyed indicated they added water to food to increase its volume, it said.

North Korean media, however, have been flowing with eulogies for Kim Jong Il,

who ruled the country for 17 years after the death of his father, North Korea’s national founder and eternal President Kim Il Sung.

Both Kims were the object of intense personality cults. The reports have stressed how the North Korean people are deeply indebted to the largesse of their leaders, despite the deepening political isolation and economic hardship they have faced in recent years.

With Kim Jong Un poised to extend the Kim family dynasty into an additional generation, North Korea is quickly building the mythology by emphasizing his bloodline and the Kim family legacy, from its roots as revolutionaries fighting the Japanese to their spiritual role as protectors of the North Korean people. The state media has broadcast constant scenes of public mourning, with women and children wailing, soldiers bowing before Kim’s smiling portrait and senior officials lining up to view his body, which is on display in a glass case at the same funeral palace where his father’s embalmed remains are on view.

North Korea has also claimed Kim’s death generated a series of spectacular natural phenomena, creating a mysterious glow atop a revered mountain, cracking a sheet of ice on a lake with a loud roar and inspiring a crane to circle a statue of the nation’s founder before perching in a tree and drooping its head in sorrow. “Leader Kim Jong Il is always with us as we have respected Comrade Kim Jong Un identical to him,” KCNA quoted Song Hye Yong, a 42year-old woman, as saying as she carried “a bag full of fish in her hand.”

The report also quoted Kim Jong Hwa, a saleswoman at a grocery in the central district of the city, as saying she was deeply touched by leader Kim Jong Il’s gift of fish to the people. “All of citizens are deeply moved by his deep care,” she said. The reports did not specify how much fish was being made available. Despite initial jitters over possible instability, officials in Seoul and Washington are calling the political transition in North Korea smooth so far.

There have been no outward signs of unrest on the streets or unusual troop movements along the borders.

The North, however, is highly sensitive to what it sees as outside threats. Its government-run website, Uriminzokkiri, has slammed South Korea for putting its military on alert, calling that move an “insult” to a nation in mourning.

The Korean peninsula remains in a state of war because the three-year Korean War ended in 1953 in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Tanks and troops still guard the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing the two sides.—AP

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NEWS BETHLEHEM: A Christian pilgrim from Nigeria dressed as Santa Claus visits the Church of the Nativity in this West Bank city yesterday. — AFP

US-Hezb cold war heats up

Prince Philip recovers after heart surgery

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

which left 44 dead and 166 wounded, according to officials. “These bombings which resulted in the death and injury of dozens of people, mainly women and children, are the specialty of the United States, the mother of terrorism,” read a statement released by the movement Friday. It said the timing of the bombings, which ripped through two security service offices in the Syrian capital, clearly signaled they were a “cowardly, bloody act of revenge” over the US “defeat” in Iraq.

Analysts say the crisis in Syria, which provides Lebanon with its only open border, has dealt a blow to Hezbollah which must now face the possibility of a future without a key

regional ally. And as power structures shift in the Middle East, experts say Western pressure on the Lebanese militant movement will continue to mount as the group risks losing the support provided by the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. “The latest US accusations against Hezbollah are ... part of a wider campaign against the SyriaIran-Hezbollah axis,” said Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, author of the forthcoming “The Iran Connection: Understanding the Alliance with Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas”. “We’re only going to see more of these accusations,” Saad-Ghoryaeb told AFP.” The United States is aware that ... Hezbollah has already lost some support in the region because of Syria, so now’s the time to tarnish its reputation, to move from labeling the group as terrorist to actually criminalising it.” — AFP

Iran begins war games near Strait of Hormuz Continued from Page 1 The United States has noted Iran’s drill. Tehran in September rejected a Washington call for a military hotline between the capitals to defuse any “miscalculations” that could occur in the Gulf. The war games were ordered as the United States and its allies ratchet up economic sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil and financial sectors. More measures were expected to be imposed in coming weeks. The sanctions

have helped fuel a depreciation of Iran’s currency, the rial.

A rumour that spread last Tuesday from an Iranian lawmaker’s comments that Tehran was to block the Strait of Hormuz in the drill sent the rial to a new low and oil prices soaring before it was denied by the government. But while the foreign ministry said last week such drastic action was “not on the agenda,” it reiterated Iran’s threat of “reactions” if the current tensions with the West spilled over into open confrontation. — Agencies

Mourning Syrians rally for Assad Continued from Page 1 The nature of that “terrorism” was hotly debated yesterday, amid conflicting claims about who carried out the bombings. Within minutes of the Friday morning explosions, state television said initial enquiries held Al-Qaeda responsible. Not long afterwards, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad said “this is the gift we get from the terrorists and Al-Qaeda”. However, the government did not release details on how it reached such a conclusion so quickly.

Later on Friday, the opposition accused the government itself of carrying out the attacks. Opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council said “the Syrian regime, alone, bears all the direct responsibility for the two terrorist explosions”. It said the government was trying to create the impression “that it faces danger coming from abroad and not a popular revolution demanding freedom and dignity”.

The Muslim Brotherhood, an influential component of the SNC, issued its own statement pointing the finger at the regime. “The regime gave a bloody welcome to the team of Arab observers, on the morning of Holy Friday, to cover up the weekly demonstrations across the Syrian map,” it said. “We draw attention... to the fact that Syrian television delayed nearly an hour in broadcasting images of the incident from the time of its announcement, as the theatre director put the finishing touches on the scene, including fake blood.” It also noted the speed at which the government blamed Al-Qaeda.

Adding to the confusion was what

the Brotherhood said was a bogus website fabricated to resemble its own, which claimed yesterday that the group itself had carried out the attacks and promised more.

Brotherhood spokesman Zuhair Salem said the claim was “completely fabricated under our name on the Internet,” pinning responsibility on the regime. It was “completely orchestrated by the regime, just as the attacks were,” he added. Hours later, the “bogus” website was no longer accessible.

Friday’s bombings, the first against the powerful security services in central Damascus since the uprising against Assad began in March, came a day after the arrival of an advance group of Arab League monitors. They met Muallem yesterday in talks the ministry’s spokesman called “positive”. Arab League Assistant Secretary General Samir Seif Al-Yazal, head of the ninemember advance team, said the first group of observers would leave for Damascus tomorrow. He said it would consist of more than 50 experts in politics, human rights, military matters and other issues. The observers will eventually number between 150 and 200.

The mission is part of an Arab plan endorsed by Syria on Nov 2 that also calls for the withdrawal of the military from towns and residential districts, a halt to violence against civilians and the release of detainees. In Cairo, the head of the 22-member bloc, Nabil Al-Arabi, condemned the “criminal bombings,” but said they “will not prevent the Arab League’s observer mission from carrying out its task”. Muallem has said he expects the observers to vindicate his

government’s contention that the unrest is the work of “armed terrorists,” not overwhelmingly peaceful protesters as maintained by the West and rights groups.

Opposition leaders charge that Syria’s agreement to the mission after weeks of prevarication was a mere “ploy” to head off a League threat to go to the UN Security Council over the crackdown, which the world body says has killed more than 5,000 people. Syria says more than 2,000 security force personnel have been killed in attacks by rebels since March. There was no let-up in the bloodshed on Friday with human rights activists reporting at least 21 civilians killed, most of them by security forces.

The bodies of four detained civilians were found yesterday with signs of torture in restive Homs province, activists said. “The corpses of four citizens were found this morning in the streets of the town of Hula and a fifth citizen was found in a critical condition,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement received in Nicosia. “Security forces and ‘Shabiha’ (pro-regime militia) groups had arrested them after midnight on Friday-Saturday in the AlBustan neighbourhood... There were signs of torture on the bodies of the martyrs,” the Observatory said. It demanded that the Arab League “immediately head to the town of Hula to document this flagrant violation of human rights which is just the tip of the iceberg of what is going on in Syria.” The Observatory also said 17 people were killed by security forces yesterday. — AFP

Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told reporters outside the hospital. He is however set to remain in hospital under observation for a “short period”, the palace said without elaborating. Reports suggested he could be kept there for up to five days. The health scare means Philip is likely to miss much of the traditional festivities at Sandringham, where Prince William’s new wife Catherine was set to spend her first Christmas alongside the other royals. He may also miss hosting his traditional Boxing Day shoot.

The Greek-born prince Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth 64 years ago, and has become a national institution almost as much for his often brusque comments as for his suppor t for the monarch. He announced after celebrating his 90th birthday this year that he would be winding down his royal duties, although with the queen’s diamond jubilee coming up in 2012 it promises to be a busy year. British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Downing Street office said he had been “kept informed of the situation and wishes the Duke of Edinburgh a very speedy recovery”.

Buckingham Palace said Prince Philip suffered chest pains late Friday and was taken by helicopter from Sandringham to the hospital, where tests revealed that he had a blocked coronary artery. “This was treated successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting,” it said in a statement.

The procedure involves inserting a tube-like device called a stent into the blocked artery to open it up and help restore a healthy blood flow. It is often performed under local anaesthetic. Palace officials refused to say whether he had had a heart attack.

Yesterday, Britain’s normally stoical royals - who were criticised for their lack of public emotion after the death of Prince Charles’ ex-wife Princess Diana in 1997, made an unusual dash to Prince Philip’s bedside. The 85-year- old queen, her younger sons Andrew and Edward and her daughter Anne flew by helicopter from Sandringham to the hospital just before 1100 GMT and spent 45 minutes with him, the palace spokeswoman said. Charles and his second wife Camilla arrived later at the hospital from their Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, southwest England, for a separate visit. No further visits were expected yesterday, the spokeswoman said. A traditional service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate was “going ahead as planned” and the royal family’s Christmas plans remained unchanged, she added.

Prince Philip and the other royals have had a busy year with the wedding of his grandson Prince William to Catherine, and he joined his wife on an 11-day tour of Australia in October. He has been in largely good health but pulled out of a trip to Italy in October nursing a cold. In an interview to mark his 90th birthday in June, he said he would finally scale back his workload.

“I reckon I’ve done my bit. I want to enjoy myself a bit now, with less responsibility, less frantic rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say,” he told the BBC. Thinking of things to say has sometimes landed him in hot water. On a visit to China in 1986, he warned a group of British students: “If you stay here much longer, you’ll all be slitty-eyed.”

In 2012 the queen is due to celebrate 60 years on the British throne, but while other royals are scheduled to tour the globe next year, she and Philip are set to stay in Britain. — AFP

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas Continued from Page 1 Christmas Eve celebrations are all taking place in and around Manger Square, the central plaza next to the Church of the Nativity. The church is built over the site where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, and laid him in an animal’s feeding trough, or manger. The boy scouts, with their drums and bagpipes, marched through the town during the afternoon for the annual Christmas parade, after which concerts and other entertainment got underway on what is the biggest tourist attraction of the year in the Palestinian territories.

A huge Christmas tree covered in lights and glittering decorations dominated the centre of the square, which was already filling up with excited visitors, some wearing red Santa hats, others in the sombre garb of various monastic orders.

Singing filled the square as pilgrims belted out carols in Arabic, and street vendors carried out a brisk trade in cakes, sweets and hot air balloons.

“This is my first time here. It’s very

surreal,” said Josh, a American in his 20s from Arkansas who was wearing a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. “Being here in the Holy Land where Jesus is from is great!”

Excited tourists snapped pictures of the giant tree and of a local dressed up as Father Christmas, as a group of foreign activists in Santa hats, each wearing a letter on their clothes, lined up to spell the words: Free Palestine. There were also Muslims among the crowds. Many veiled women brought their children to join the celebrations over the birth of Jesus, or Isa in Arabic, whom they revere as a prophet. “I’m here today to see the celebrations like every year. We come as Christians and Muslims to see them,” said Shireen Knaan. “There is no difference between Christians and Muslims as it is the Prophet Isa’s birthday.”

The celebrations were to continue into the night and culminate with a celebration of midnight mass by Twal. The mass is traditionally attended by top officials from the Palestinian Authority including

Abbas and prime minister Salam Fayyad. Twal is expected to deliver a message of hope for peace in the Middle East and around the world, which was also expected to touch on the revolutions sweeping the Arab world. In a message delivered earlier this week, Twal acknowledged feeling “a little anxious and concerned” about the ongoing turmoil in the Arab world. “I have always defended the changes taking place in favour of freedom and democracy. I have repeatedly emphasised that Christians are not excluded from these movements,” he said.

Twal urged the ruling authorities to “make every effort to calm the spirits, without violence,” demanding they “grasp this moment of opportunity to build a new society based on equal citizenship for all”.

He also called for a “just and comprehensive peace” to end the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Bethlehem attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year and is the main tourist attraction in the Palestinian territories. — AFP

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

opinion

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Washington Watch

War not over, danger ahead

By Dr James J Zogby he dust left in the wake of US forces departing from Iraq had barely settled when Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki intensified his crackdown against Sunni Arab leaders, deepening the country’s sectarian divide. While American leaders may speak glowingly of Iraq’s new democracy, all evidence points to serious problems on the road ahead. This can be discerned both from events on the ground and also from the results of our most recent poll of Iraqi public opinion.

In Sept 2011, in preparation for the Sir Bani Yas Forum, we surveyed Iraqis to measure their attitudes toward the impact of the war and their concerns about the future of their country in the aftermath of the US withdrawal. We also polled Americans, Iranians, and Arabs from six countries on many of the same questions. From the data several observations can be made. First and foremost are the divisions among Iraq’s three major groupings: Sunni Arabs, Shiite Arabs, and Kurds. In the United States, there is a deep partisan divide. And finally, there is a disconnect between the attitudes of Iraqis and their Arab neighbors.

All these patterns play out in response to almost every question asked in the poll. For example, when we ask “are Iraqis better off or worse off than they were before American forces entered the country?” we find that Iraqis are conflicted, with about one-half of both Shiite and Sunni Arabs saying that they are “worse off,” while 60 percent of Kurds say they are “better off.” But on the US side, 58 percent of Republicans say Iraqis are “better off” compared with only 24 percent of Democrats who hold this view. A striking 44 percent of all Americans either are “not sure” or say things are “the same”.

When we looked more closely at how the war has impacted many areas of life in Iraq, this division amongst the groups in Iraq and the political parties in the United States once again comes through quite clearly. Kurds, for example, say their lives have improved in every area considered. At the same time, overwhelming majorities of Sunni and Shiite Arabs say that conditions have worsened.

Judging from their respective views, it would appear that Republicans and Democrats are looking at two different wars, with Republicans tending to see the war’s impact as positive in every area, while Democrats largely judge the war as having made life worse for Iraqis.

Looking forward, Americans and Iraqis seem to agree, at least on the surface, that the departure of American forces from Iraq is a “good thing.” By a margin of two to one Iraqis say the withdrawal is positive, as do a strong majority Americans from both parties. But when we ask what emotion they feel when contemplating the departure of US forces, this consensus breaks down. Three-quarters of Americans saying they are “happy” at the prospect of leaving Iraq. But this emotion is shared by only 22 percent of Iraqis, with another 35 percent saying they are worried and 30 percent saying they feel both emotions. The reasons for this mixed Iraqi mood can be seen when we look more closely at the concerns they have for the post-withdrawal period. Almost six in ten Iraqis say they are concerned about the possibility that the following might occur: “civil war”, “the country will split into parts”, “increased terrorism”, “economic deterioration”, and the fear that Iraq “may be dominated by a neighboring country”. US attitudes toward each of these concerns might best be described as ambivalent, with only “increased terrorism” registering.

Examining how Iraqis view issues close to home can also be quite instructive. About one in five Iraqis wants a democracy and believes a democracy “will work” in their country.

Another two in five say that they would like a democracy but they don’t “believe it will work.” At the same time, one in five “do not want a democracy” because they believe “it won’t work” in Iraq. Depending on how you add up these responses, it can either be said that six in ten Iraqis want their country to be a democracy, or six in ten Iraqis don’t believe that democracy will work in Iraq. This is the definition of being conflicted. We asked Iraqis to evaluate their leaders and found that most are polarizing figures. Iraqi List coalition Iyad Allawi has the best overall rating of any Iraqi political figure receiving strong support from Sunni Arabs and Kurds. He, however, is not viewed favorably by Shiite Arabs. The current Prime Minister, Nuri al Maliki, is more polarizing with quite limited support from Sunni Iraqis and Kurds. In fact his numbers across the board are strikingly similar to those received by cleric, Moqtada Al-Sadr, except that Al-Sadr does better among Shiites, and receives approximately the same ratings as al Maliki among Sunni Arabs and only slightly worse among Kurds. The bottom line is that America leaves an Iraq that is deeply divided.

After decades of ruthless rule, Iraqis endured an invasion and occupation, suffered from terror and ethnic cleansing, and while the trappings of a democracy have been set-up, it remains in a gestational state.

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NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab American Institute

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.

Mexico 2012 frontrunner stirs optimism

By Michael O’Boyle nvestors frustrated with years of gridlock on economic reforms in Mexico now believe the best chance for progress lies with the party that has done most to prevent change over the last decade. Enrique Pena Nieto of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, has a commanding poll ahead of the presidential election in July and, if its support holds, the PRI could win the first ruling party majority in Congress in 15 years. Pena Nieto, 45, has pledged an ambitious reform agenda that backs some of the very policies his party has blocked since 2000, when a victory by the conservative National Action Party, or PAN, ended seven decades of PRI rule.

The reforms include boosting tax revenues and allowing more private investment in the state-run oil industry. The failure of Mexico’s political leaders to reach a deal on those issues is blamed for holding back the economy. Growth has averaged about 2.2 percent during the past eight years barely half the rate for Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole. Investors say failure to liberalize the labor market, improve a paltry tax take and attract more foreign investment could condemn Mexico to years of weak growth and threaten its credit rating.

They hope that PRI leaders who blocked reforms over the past decade will push them through if they win back power. “The PRI knows good and well that this is going to blow up in their faces,” said Alonso Madero, who manages $4 billion in fixed income assets at Actinver in Mexico City.

“Eventually it will be in their interest to approve many things they rejected in the past,” he added.

The PRI currently holds just under half the 500 seats in Mexico’s lower house. But it only has a quarter of seats in

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the 128-member Senate due to a poor showing in 2006 elections. A clear victory for Pena Nieto next year could restore to the PRI the congressional majority it lost in 1997.

Ever since then, bickering between Mexico’s three major parties has scuttled a host of economic and political reforms. Legislative inertia sapped confidence in President Felipe Calderon’s PAN, which has been battered by a drugs war that has claimed more than 45,000 lives in the last five years. The PAN could still mount a strong campaign in the presidential election but is very unlikely to win a majority in Congress.

Provided it ousts the PAN, the PRI could change its position and back a value-added tax on food as part of a wider overhaul of public finances. “If they want to hold onto the presidency for a couple of terms, it’s clear they need to do something different to move the economy in the right direction,” said Will Landers, the head of BlackRock’s $8.5 billion Latin American equity fund. The risk of a fresh economic slump in the United States, where Mexico sends nearly 80 percent of its exports, makes the need for reforms in Mexico even more pressing.

Polls show Pena Nieto with a big lead over his rivals although the gap has narrowed this month as he has stumbled with a series of gaffes. If Pena Nieto does win, J P Morgan economist Gabriel Casillas expects Mexico’s peso currency to rocket back by about 18 percent next year to 11.80 per dollar, spurred by a wave of inflows into bonds and stocks due to optimism on reforms. Behind Pena Nieto’s campaign is Luis Videgaray, a protege of former finance minister Pedro Aspe, who helped lead a reform drive in the 1990s. Videgaray is respected by investors who see him as Pena Nieto’s likely pick for finance minister.

During Aspe’s time, Mexico became a emerging-market

darling, negotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement and privatized pension funds. But investors have since turned their attention to faster-growing economies like China and Brazil. Mexico’s weak tax revenues have been a major worry, and past administrations have chosen to bleed the state-run oil giant Pemex rather than levying new taxes. With nearly a third of the economy off the books and ample corporate loopholes, Mexico has one of the lowest tax takes in Latin America. Excluding oil income, the state collects taxes worth around 11 percent of gross domestic product. Oil revenues fund nearly a third of the federal budget and the country’s dependence on finite crude supplies was the main reason credit rating agencies downgraded Mexico in 2009.

Pena Nieto devoted a whole chapter of his new book “Mexico - la gran esperanza (the great hope)” to fiscal reform, pledging to simplify taxes and expand the taxpayer base. He has yet to offer details of his plans, but argues that a shake-up could bolster Mexico’s economic potential and fund an overhaul of its ailing justice system. “For these transformations to become reality, a bigger public budget is needed,” Pena Nieto wrote.

Doubts still linger about whether the 45-year-old will be able to carry out his reform plans, with his calls to open up Pemex to private investment in exploration, production and refining likely to face strong opposition from unions.

Since Mexico nationalized the oil industry in 1938, public support for the policy has helped shield Pemex and its bloated workforce from allegations of corruption and inefficiency. “Pena Nieto is promising a lot of things he will not be able to deliver when it comes to private investment in Pemex,” said Mexico City political analyst Fernando Dworak. — Reuters

Syria bombings signal deadlier phase of revolt

By Alistair Lyon and Erika Solomon wo suicide bombs that killed 40 people in Damascus on Friday may mark a new order of violence aimed at toppling Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad, although some of his foes pointed the finger at his own intelligence services. “We have all sorts of suspicions that this could be organised by the regime itself,” said Basma Qadmani, spokeswoman for the main opposition Syrian National Council.

The authorities, this argument goes, want to show Arab League monitors, whose advance team arrived in Damascus on Thursday, that Syria is the victim of blind violence, and are willing to wreak bloody havoc in their own capital to prove it.

Several analysts dismissed such theories. “I don’t see any logic for the regime,” said Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma. “They want to seem in control. They do want to make the opposition seem barbaric but they’re very anxious about not frightening people too much.” For weeks Syria had resisted accepting the monitors, who are to check if Damascus is complying with an Arab League plan to end the violence. It calls for withdrawal of troops from the streets, release of prisoners and dialogue with the opposition.

Syria, which needs to prove compliance to escape Arab economic sanctions, is perhaps painfully aware that if the peace plan was properly implemented it would embolden protesters who now risk violent consequences if they take to the streets.

On the face of it, the worst bombings to hit the Syrian capital in years would appear to be a humiliating blow to the prestige of the country’s pervasive secret police apparatus, especially since security buildings were the targets.

But they also fit conveniently into the Assad government’s narrative that foreign-backed Islamist “terrorists” are behind nine months of unrest reported to have cost 7,000 lives. The United Nations says more than 5,000 have been killed by the security forces. The government says it has lost 2,000 dead. “The regime is blaming ‘terrorists’ and Al-Qaeda and it is difficult to know at this stage who is behind the operations,” said Marwa Daoudy, a

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scholar at St Anthony’s College, Oxford.

State media, often selective in their approach to news, devoted blanket coverage to the bombings, showing graphic footage of the victims and featuring interviews that drove home a single message.

insurgency. “The Free Syrian Army does not appear to possess such (suicide bombing) infrastructure and has denied any responsibility in carrying out such operations,” Daoudy said.

The main opposition Syrian National

A body lies on the ground at the site of a suicide attack which targeted the Syrian General Intelligence headquarters in Damascus on Friday. — AFP “What do the foreigners who support the opposition say now? What do you say now to the carnage and bloodshed that we’ve seen today?” Mansour Murad, a proSyrian Jordanian former lawmaker, asked repeatedly on Syrian television. Syrian citizens were shown asking: “Is this the freedom they (the opposition) want? Is this freedom?”

The television also showed a redframed screen with “Al Qaeda terrorism” written in bloody-looking script. Suicide bombings would certainly be an alien tactic for the protesters who in March launched largely peaceful demonstrations against four decades of Baath party and Assad family rule. They would also be a departure for the Syrian Free Army, composed mainly of army defectors who are the backbone of an increasingly violent

Council has tried to discourage violence, but it is not clear how much influence it wields over those now fighting back after months of fierce government repression of popular protests. For now the truth is murky, like much of what happens in a country run by Assad’s secretive, securityoriented circle and from which most independent media have been barred for months.

Until now, Al-Qaeda has not claimed any part in the anti-Assad revolt, although it has no ideological sympathy with the Arab nationalism preached by Syria’s secular Baathist rulers. US officials have long accused the Syrians of supporting Islamist militants when it suited Damascus, notably after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, when Al-Qaeda-linked fighters from around the Arab world found easy transit

through Syria. But Syria has also fought home-grown Muslim militancy since the early 1980s when the president’s father, Hafez Al-Assad, crushed an uprising of an armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, killing many thousands of people in their stronghold of Hama.

Beirut-based commentator Rami Khouri said he doubted the government would have hit its own security targets, suggesting that the bombings could have been the work of armed rebels, who he said include hardline Salafi Islamists in their ranks. “There is a war going on in Syria now. There’s a national insurrection and this is a normal part of that process,” he said, noting that the government had also used heavy firepower.

Hilal Khashan, political science professor at the American University of Beirut, also said he did not believe that the Syrian government was behind the bombings.

“When it comes to security in Damascus, the government does not play games.” Nor did he believe Al-Qaeda was responsible, despite a Syrian statement that neighbouring Lebanon had warned Damascus that Al-Qaeda fighters had crossed into Syria from its soil. “Al-Qaeda flows from Syria to Lebanon, not the other way around,” Khashan said. “And everyone knows that Syria has been behind the flow of Al-Qaeda operatives around the region since the unrest in Iraq.” He said the bombings were a “symptom of desperation” after so many Syrians had seen blood and death in the crushing of protests. “This is definitely a turning point. I think the phenomenon of suicide bombs in Syria could be on the rise.”

Landis of Oklahoma University said Friday’s bombings were “a small premonition” of what was in store for Syria as the opposition to Assad became increasingly militarised. With little prospect of Libyastyle international military intervention, Syrian insurgents realised they were on their own. “And they’re getting fed up with the Syrian National Council and this talk of ‘peaceful, peaceful’,” Landis said. “They think: ‘You’re a fool, you’re waiting for NATO to do a Libya, and they’re not going to do that. They’re killing us here...and we’re going to make the government pay a high price for that’.”— Reuters

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

analysis

What’s the plan if North Korea collapses?

By Bill Tarrant and Raju Gopalakrishnan orth Korea appears to be making an orderly transition after the death of leader Kim Jong-il last week, but the risk of collapse is higher than before and regional powers need to start discussing that contingency with China, diplomats and analysts say. The problem is China refuses to contemplate any unravelling of North Korea which has nuclear ambitions and is its long-term ally. Beijing has rebuffed such overtures from the United States, Japan and South Korea. “Secret talks with China to plan for contingencies have long been overdue,” said Douglas Paal, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in a paper last week. “Beijing has been reluctant to engage in this kind of dialogue, although Chinese thinkers have increasingly acknowledged privately the need for such an authoritative conversation.” Yet little evidence has emerged that such talks have taken place or are being planned, despite a flurry of discussions betweeen the four countries in the aftermath of Kim’s death last Saturday. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda traveled to Beijing at the weekend, but it is unlikely that China would entertain anything more than platitudes. No contingency plan can be coordinated without China’s agreement, since it borders North Korea and supplies much of its food and fuel. Christopher Hill, a former envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea nuclear disarmament, said it was difficult to raise North Korean instability scenarios with China. “The Chinese are always skittish about these things”, he said, adding that the disclosure of secret US diplomatic cables by Wikileaks have made them especially wary of contingency planning.

Still, the transition of power in North Korea from the departed “Dear Leader”, Kim Jong-il, to his son, the “Great Successor” Kim Jong-un, is going smoothly so far. “We hope it stays that well,” said Pentagon spokesman George Little. “We have not seen any unusual North Korean troop movements since the death of Kim Jong-il. That would be one indicator of a less than smooth transition.”

The real worry is further down the road if a contest for power develops and piles stresses on a state that is already perilously close to economic collapse. China, the United States and other regional powers around the peninsula may face a number of daunting scenarios if the transition goes badly over the medium term. These could include civil conflict, a mass exodus of refugees, military mutiny, lost control of the North’s small nuclear arsenal or military attack.

China is however undergoing its own leadership transition in 2012 and down the line it’s not impossible that there may

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be some changes in its steadfast refusal to work with the United States and its allies on contingency planning for North Korea. In one Feb 22, 2010 cable by then US ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens, a top South Korean diplomat cited private conversations with two high-level Chinese officials who said China could live with a reunified Korea under the control of South Korea. The then South Korean vice foreign minister, Chun Yung-woo, who was also a delegate at the sixparty talks, said the two Chinese officials told him privately that China “would clearly not welcome any US military presence north of the Demilitarized Zone in the event of a collapse”. But the Chinese officials told him Beijing “would be comfortable with a reunified Korea controlled by Seoul and anchored to the United States in a ‘benign alliance’ - as long as Korea was not hostile towards China”. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea and remains the Supreme Commander of unified American and South Korean troops in the event of a crisis with the North. Chun, now the South Korean president’s national security adviser, did not respond to a request for comment. Chun also told the US ambassador in that cable that China would not militarily intervene in the event of a North Korea collapse, and he expected that to happen within two to three years after the death of Kim Jong-il.

The alleged remarks from the two Chinese diplomats do not represent China’s official position on North Korea. But China’s ability to influence North Korea is sometimes over-estimated. In April 2009, He Yafei, then China’s vice foreign minister, told a US diplomat in Beijing that North Korea acted like a “spoiled child” to attract US attention through steps such as firing a three-stage rocket over Japan. The official line from Beijing, repeated during a visit by Kim Jong-il to China in May, is that the relationship remains “sealed in blood” of the allies that fought together in the Korean War. “For China, the core imperative remains the avoidance of anything that might compromise North Korea’s stability,” said Sarah McDowall, an

analyst at IHS Jane’s. “Occasionally, however, when North Korea commits particularly blatant provocations, this priority comes into conflict with another of China’s over-riding diplomatic objectives - its desire to be seen as a responsible global player. China’s behaviour with regards to North Korea in recent years has been a struggle to balance these two objectives.”

In another Wikileaks cable from Astana, Kazakhstan on June 8, 2009, Chinese ambassador Cheng Guoping told his US counterpart Richard Hoagland that China opposes North Korea’s nuclear tests and hopes for peaceful reunification of the peninsula over the long term. Cheng said China’s objectives in North Korea were to ensure their commitments on non-proliferation, maintain stability, and ‘don’t drive (Kim Jong-il) mad,’” Hoagland said in the cable.

John Park, at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, used a medical analogy to describe the difference in the US and Chinese approaches. “The way contingency planning is framed by the US is, ‘Let us coordinate so that if the North Korean state does collapse we can harvest the organs, and we think they should be implanted in a unified Korea, and the more the US and China coordinate on this, the more smooth and stable it will be.’ Whereas China’s view is, ‘Why would you wait for until the patient dies? Why wouldn’t you prevent the death of the regime.’ So there the Chinese are adopting almost this preventive medicine approach.”

Jia Qingguo, professor of international relations at Peking University, said prospects for political stability in North Korea were bleak and interested powers needed “to step up communications, especially now the risks of a crisis are quite high”. — Reuters

Isolated on tax cut, House GOP blinks

By David Espo ith tea party-backed first-termers calling the shots, House Republicans snatched political defeat from the jaws of victory in a year-end showdown over Social Security payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits. This time, they pushed the country to the brink - and wound up blinking. “In the end House Republicans felt like they were re-enacting the Alamo, with no reinforcements and our friends shooting at us,” said veteran Republican Rep Kevin Brady of Texas. Precisely. By spurning a deal that Senate Republicans had embraced, for a two-month extension of tax cuts for 160 million Americans and jobless benefits for millions more, the House wing of the party isolated itself politically and by some calculations improved President Barack Obama’s re-election prospects. Friday brought a humbling surrender, the only realistic alternative despite grumbling from scattered holdouts and Newt Gingrich, courting tea party support in the race for the presidential nomination.

By then, even allies said Republicans had

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become vulnerable to Obama’s accusation that they, alone, were threatening a fragile economic recovery and the well-being of the employed and unemployed alike. “Right now, the bipartisan compromise that was reached on Saturday is the only viable way to prevent a tax hike on Jan. 1,” Obama said Tuesday after the House rejected the two-month measure that had sailed through the Senate on a vote of 89-10. The reliably conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal piled on, referring to a circular Republican firing squad.

The GOP has “achieved the small miracle of letting Mr Obama position himself as an election-year tax cutter. ... This should be impossible,” it wrote on Wednesday.

One poll said Obama ran ahead of Republicans when it came to handling taxes, an issue that has generally favored the GOP since Ronald Reagan sat in the White House three decades ago. No less critical were Senate Republicans, fearing the impact on their own political prospects, both individually and as a group eager to gain a majority in the 2012 elections. A gain of four seats would give them control, and several close races are likely. Losses suddenly seemed possible

instead. There was in even talk that the hardline stance by House Republicans was putting the GOP’s big majority in that chamber in danger.

Most importantly, for the first time all year, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell wasn’t in a position to help as House Speaker John Boehner sought to carry out the wishes of his rank and file, the Kentucky senator having voted for the bill that House Republicans insisted was a loser. At its core, the dispute was a simple one. Talks between the two parties in the Senate on a full-year extension faltered when negotiators could not agree on the cuts needed to make sure the measure did not increase deficits. The two-month stopgap bill was designed to keep the tax cuts and jobless benefits going until the negotiations could resume again after the first of the year.

To the tea party types, that smacked of government as usual, precisely what they came to Washington to change. “We’re as unified as we’ve been all year,” said Rep Louie Gohmert on the night before the House Republicans rejected the Senate bill, demanded negotiations on a compromise

and drove themselves into a political dead end. This time, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democrats had no incentive to negotiate, unlike earlier when brinkmanship pushed the government to the edge of a partial shutdown or an unprecedented default.

They and the White House had already caved to Republican demands that any extension be paid for, and that Obama decide within 60 days whether to allow construction of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. The president had threatened to veto any measure that linked tax cuts and the pipeline, hoping to postpone a decision on the project until after the election. Late last week, he did an about-face and demanded Congress send him a bill that did precisely that.

The reversal gave Republicans the political victory some had sought if they were going to approve an extension of the tax cuts and jobless benefits at the core of Obama’s jobless program. Boehner told House Republicans as much in a conference call on Saturday, according to several officials who listened. They added he recommended no specific course of action and sought the all views.—AP

Nazarbayev reinforces power with sackings

By Robin Paxton azakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s decision to fire his sonin-law for mishandling an oil workers’ strike is a signal to would-be successors that the veteran leader is not ready to relinquish his firm grip on power in the Central Asian state. By removing Timur Kulibayev from the top job at the sovereign wealth fund, 71-year-old Nazarbayev is unlikely to appease the families of those killed when police opened fire during clashes that killed 16 in a western oil region last week.

The surprise decision to fire Kulibayev - on which the president has not yet followed through officially - may have more to do with preventing the husband of his middle daughter from gaining too much political power too quickly.

“There has been talk for the last 18 months about Timur Kulibayev as a possible successor and the strengthening of his team. Maybe the president considered that such talk was turning into political capital,” said political analyst Dosym Satpayev. “This will show any sensible member of the business elite that nobody runs into political territory without the president.”

The violence in western Kazakhstan, presaged by seven months of protests by sacked oil workers, has presented Nazarbayev with the most serious challenge to the image of stability that he has cultivated in more than two decades in power. Foreign investors, who have poured more than $120 billion into Kazakhstan since independence, cite a lack of clarity over the succession to Nazarbayev as the biggest investment risk in a country that holds about 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves.

A billionaire who rarely speaks in public, Kulibayev has often been cited by foreign investors as a leading candidate to succeed Nazarbayev, although the 45-year-old has always said he is a businessman with no political ambitions. Nazarbayev, appearing on state television on Thursday, said he would take the decision to dismiss Kulibayev. “The latest actions put a full stop to all speculation about a successor,” said Ivan Safranchuk, deputy director of the

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Moscow-based Institute of Contemporary International Studies. “Most probably there will be no successor, and the current leader wants to stay in power under any circumstances.” But resentment still runs deep with many people on the ground, even though the square in Aktau where hun-

Nazarbayev quashed succession talk in April by winning a presidential election with an overwhelming 96 percent of the vote. This secured the former steelworker, who has prioritised economic growth over democracy, another five years in office. The topic resurfaced in the summer, after an

In this Dec. 17, 2011 file photo, a Kazakh riot police officer patrols in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan. — AP dreds of protesters had faced off with riot police was empty for a second consecutive day on Friday. Officials say 16 people were killed in riots that broke out on Dec. 16-17 in and around the oil town of Zhanaozen.

Witnesses have said police opened fire, and some say the death toll could be higher. Nazarbayev has said police acted within legal grounds. Kenzhegali Suyeov, head of an independent trade union in the regional capital Aktau, said oil workers had shown no jubilation at Nazarbayev’s sacking of key officials, nor even his pledge to find work for the oilmen he says were sacked illegally. “They will find jobs for the people, but they cannot bring back those who died,” Suyeov told Reuters by telephone. “Those who lost people close to them would expect the interior minister to be fired, at the very least.”

unsourced report in a German tabloid newspaper that Nazarbayev underwent prostate surgery in Hamburg. The president’s close adviser, Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, broke the official silence by saying Nazarbayev had gone abroad for a routine medical screening, something he does every year.

Perhaps more tellingly, Yertysbayev also named Kulibayev as the person most likely to follow the president’s course in a “force majeure situation”. Safranchuk said it was “an open secret” that a section of the political elite had been unnerved by the strengthening of Kulibayev’s position.

“Nazarbayev has decided to weaken the person who would most probably lay claim to power,” Safranchuk said. “ This step means he has no intention to step down.”

As head of the wealth fund Samruk-

Kazyna, which controls assets worth $78 billion, Kulibayev’s position at the top of the chain of oil companies made him a scapegoat for the riots. The fund’s failure to revive the fortunes of BTA bank, which completed a debt restructuring to much fanfare last year, might also have diluted the president’s trust in Kulibayev, said Eurasia Group analyst Gemma Ferst. BTA, majority owned by Samruk-Kazyna, said on Thursday it would propose a second debt restructuring, a move that could see foreign creditors writing off at least half of their investment in the country’s thirdlargest bank by assets.

“Having injected billions of state funds into BTA already, it is understandable that Nazarbayev is highly dissatisfied with being asked for more from the oil fund,” said Ferst. This would hush talk of Kulibayev as successor, at least temporarily. “Although his associates permeate Samruk-Kazyna and its subsidiary companies, they lack the traction to attempt any kind of rebellion, and his connections with the security services are poor,” she said.

What might happen in the longer term is uncertain. Some analysts did not rule out that Kulibayev, who has a string of business interests beyond his role at the wealth fund, could be appointed prime minister after a Jan. 15 parliamentary election. “The way our political culture works, you cannot talk about the political death of such people,” said analyst Aidos Sarym. Analysts said they had expected officials in central government to have been fired in the same manner that the heads of KazMunaiGas and its London-listed subsidiary KazMunaiGas Exploration Production were dismissed. “The Labour Ministry and the government also ignored this issue for seven months,” said Meruyert Makhmutova, director of the Public Policy Research Centre in Almaty. But the appointment of Deputy Oil and Gas Minister Lyazzat Kiinov as KazMunaiGas head may help to appease oil workers. “Kiinov is an old oilman.

Another plus is that he is from the Mangistau region,” said Makhmutova.

“People in the west of the country are convinced outsiders will not solve the problems of the region.” — Reuters

Focus

How did Putin party win 99% in Chechnya?

By Thomas Grove agmein Khaseinova beams with pride recalling the day her Chechen village, devastated a decade ago in a war launched by Vladimir Putin, gave the Russian ruler’s party nearly 100 percent support in a parliamentary vote this month. Her little village of Mekhketi, she said, is even on the way to winning the cash prize she says authorities have promised for the polling station registering the biggest turnout. “(We’ve) already won the regional competition. In a few days we’ll hear whether we won throughout all of Chechnya,” Khaseinova, 53, said, wearing a traditional Chechen scarf over her head and squinting in the cold mountain air. “The organizers of the polling station have been promised some kind of prize money if they win,” she adds, hiding a smile.

Putin’s United Russia recorded a higher percentage of votes in predominantly Muslim Chechnya, where federal troops fought two wars since the fall of the Soviet Union, than anywhere else in the country. Official results show support at 99.5 percent and voter turnout of 99.4 percent. Nationwide, the party won just under half the votes, securing a slim majority in the State Duma. Even that outcome, critics said, was the result of ballot stuffing and fraud. Countless complaints have been filed; but not in Chechnya. Official monitors here have not lodged a single complaint of voting violations, but among many local residents, the outcome has stirred some incredulity, albeit cautiously expressed.

“United Russia is the party of Putin, and Chechnya would never vote for Putin,” said one middle-aged resident of the regional capital of Grozny, who declined to give his name for fear of retribution. “In the mind of every Chechen he is associated with the bombing that destroyed Grozny and other cities all over the region.

Voting for Putin is about as absurd as any vote with a 99 percent outcome,” he said.

Regarding the competition between polling stations, the head of Chechnya’s Central Election Committee Ismail Baikhanov said that a competition had been organised, but only with the aim of “informing local populations, the technical equipping of polling stations and visual campaigning”. International monitors were out in force on election day in much of Russia, and say the vote was slanted in favour of United Russia and marred by numerous instances of ballot stuffing.

But they did not observe the poll in Chechnya or the rest of the North Caucasus because of security concerns over an insurgency, rooted in past wars, being waged in the region. Militants want to throw off Russian rule and create an Islamist state. Russia sent troops into Chechnya in late 1994 to try to crush a drive for independence.

Much of Grozny was flattened in heavy fighting but the army struggled to quell separatist rebels fighting a guerrilla war in the mountains. Thousands of troops and fighters were killed, and various estimates put the civilian death toll in the tens of thousands, before the demoralised Russian army withdrew. Many more people who had their homes destroyed were displaced.

When Putin launched a second war in 1999 that established federal control over Chechnya after a period of de facto independence, Makhketi in Chechnya’s Vedeno region saw some of the fiercest fighting. A little over a decade later, a left-over United Russia election poster flaps in the wind over the quiet village square with a huge picture of Chechnya’s smiling leader Ramzan Kadyrov donning a construction worker’s hat. Locals say Kadyrov’s second wife hails from a family in the village.

Kadyrov says that although he accepts polygamy as a Muslim practise, he has only one wife.

His strict rule has sparked accusations of human rights violations, say rights groups, including extra-judicial detention and torture. Few people, though, dare to talk about their experiences for fear of retribution.

Villager Daudov Vasady, 79, said he had no choice but to vote for United Russia. “My wife and I, we voted for United Russia. If our (leader Kadyrov) votes for United Russia then we have to as well,” he said. “If I hadn’t voted, if others wouldn’t have voted, then people would have noticed and it would have created problems,” he said, refusing to explain further. As another villager speaks, a blue car carrying three men drives past. One shouts from the car: “Don’t wag your tongue about anything personal!” On the popular Caucasian Knot internet site, a blogger who was identified as lamro95 says all the teachers in the city were called into work on the day of the elections to make sure they voted. “An acquaintance of mine voted three times in the same polling station. Since the stations were in Chechen schools, teachers voted several times.”

Others say the key to the results was not in the force used to make people vote, but in ballot stuffing. Human rights workers say they have given up monitoring elections. They say polling station workers told them they had stayed up late into the night to fill ballot boxes with United Russia votes long after polling stations had closed. “We didn’t monitor the elections because we knew there was no point to it,” said an independent rights worker who refused to allow his name or the title of his organisation to be published for fear of retribution.

“The turnout will always be 99 percent and the number of votes (for the ruling party) will always reach 99 percent. We should simply stop the elections and save everyone a lot of money.”

The day after the election, Chechnya’s voting commission was forced to raise the number of eligible voters in the republic, after the number of ballots cast exceeded the registered voter number by some 2,000 votes. The head of Chechnya’s voting committee Baikhanov said the original number of voters - 608,797 - was already six months old when it was announced as the number of voters on Dec 2, two days before the election. “Since that time a number of people reached voting age, and they cast their ballots. There were also those who voted with absentee ballots, and there were military who have since come to our region” he said. Many people say they are content to accept the outcome of the election and want to maintain the small gains they have seen since the second Chechen war, but anger at the perception of vote rigging is not far from the surface.

Isa Khadjimuradov, who was until recently the leader of the left-leaning Just Russia party in Chechnya, said he had received an awkward phone call from his party’s headquarters in Moscow the day after the election. Why, he was asked, did the official results show that some 90 percent of the party’s 12,000 members had cast their ballots for another party? “You can’t look at the situation in Chechnya in the same context as you look at the situation in the rest of Russia,” said Khadjimuradov, who wore a traditional Chechen costume, including a hat made from baby lambskin. —Reuters

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Wilkinson: I will finish my career at Toulon TOULON: Two weeks after calling time on his 91-cap England career, Jonny Wilkinson said Friday that he will end his club career at French Top 14 side Toulon. “The aim is to finish my career at Toulon, continue to improve and do the best I can do until the moment comes when it is no longer possible,” said the 32-year-

cannot imagine playing for any other team.” Wilkinson, a World Cup winner in 2003, kicked 15 points in Toulon’s 20-15 win over Lyon on Friday which kept his team in third place in the table.

Such is his hold on the position that former French outside-half Frederic Michalak, who has reached a verbal agreement to

Wilkinson.

“It’s necessary to stand back and think about things. After the World Cup in New Zealand, I told myself that there are younger players than me coming along and that they must have the opportunity to show what they can do at international level.

“England also needs to build a

TOULON: RC Toulon’s lock Simon Shaw (right) vies with Lyon’s flanker Juan Leguizamon (left) during the French Top 14 rugby union match Toulon vs Lyon at the Mayol stadium on December 23, 2011 in Toulon, southern France. —AFP old, who recently signed a new deal at the French side until 2013.

“I see myself as someone who can be trusted. I spent 13 years at Newcastle because I like to think long-term.

Here at Toulon I have the same goal. “I feel really at ease here and I get a lot of pleasure from the contact I have with the team, the coaches, the fans and the region. I

play for Toulon next season, has already been told that he will have to slot into the scrum-half position.

Wilkinson brought the curtain down on his international career on December 12 after 13 seasons playing for England. “When I was young, I never envisaged the end of my career, but, despite that, the moment is coming,” said

Beauxis hammers out Six Nations reminder PARIS: Lionel Beauxis put on a majestic kicking performance in front of French coach Philippe Saint-Andre as Toulouse romped to a 45-25 win over Montpellier on Friday.

Beauxis, who won the last of his 15 caps in 2009, kicked 28 points, including three drop goals, as the defending champions stayed in pole position in the French Top 14 after a clinical dismantling of Montpellier in a repeat of last season’s final. “Lionel Beauxis did what Lionel Beauxis does. When he is like that, playing so well, he allows the team to play with confidence,” said Toulouse coach Yannick Bru. Toulouse, starting with just five players who began last weekend’s European Cup defeat by Harlequins, enjoyed a flying start with full-back Maxime Medard grabbing a fifth-minute try after a clever chip through by Beauxis who also converted. The champions then lost South African hooker Gary Botha who suffered a worrying right leg injury and was stretchered off to be replaced by William Servat. Argentine fly-half Martin Bustos Moyano reduced the arrears with a penalty but Beauxis, playing instead of former All Black Luke McAlister, added nine more quick points with two drop goals and a penalty for a 16-3 lead.

Wallabies scrum-half Luke Burgess added his team’s second try of the evening, stepping inside Francois Trinh-Duc. Montpellier, who were down to 14 men at the time after Thibault Privat was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Daniel Human, watched Beauxis add the conversion for a 23-3 lead.

Beauxis and Bustos Moyano exchanged penalties to make the half-time score 26-6.

Beauxis succeeded with another drop goal early in the second half for a 29-6 lead before Montpellier got their first try of the night, 11 minutes into the second period, when South African replacement hooker Rassie Van Vuuren barreled over.

Servat was then yellow-carded, leaving Toulouse without a recognized hooker, but Beauxis kept finding the target with another two penalties for a 38-13 advantage before he was replaced by McAlister. Van Vuuren scored his second try after 66 minutes, a score which required the intervention of the video referee, but Toulouse hit straight back with a try from No 8 Louis Picamoles, a former Montpellier player, converted by McAlister for a 45-18 lead. Yoan Audrin grabbed a last-minute try for Montpellier which was converted by Bustos Moyano Australian fly-half Brock James kicked all of Clermont’s points as the 2010 champions squeezed out a 9-6 local derby win at Brive which kept them in second place, three points behind Toulouse. Stade Francais chalked up a fourth successive win with a 2310 triumph over Biarritz who remain rooted to the foot of the table. —AFP

team for the next World Cup.” After losing to France in the World Cup quarter-finals, it was looking increasingly likely that Wilkinson would not feature in the Six Nations which gets underway in February. “The years I spent with England were the best of my life,” said Wilkinson. “It was a magnificent experience, an honor and a privilege. To play for my country,

with the team, the different coaches and the support I received, it was a real pleasure.”

Wilkinson played 91 times for England between 1998 and 2011, scoring 1,179 points. Considered one of the greatest fly-halves of all time, he is the second highestscoring player in international history. Including appearances for the British and Irish Lions, Wilkinson scored 1,246 points from a total of 97 international matches.

In another development, Former French international flyhalf Frederic Michalak, who is currently on the books of Coastal Sharks in South Africa, has reached a verbal agreement on a three-year contract to play for Toulon. “Nothing has been signed but there is a verbal agreement on a contract for three years,” said Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, who added that the deal would start on July 1, 2012. “I think he will be a Toulon player next season. He has been impressed by the chance to play with Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau. We need four to five players of a very high level and, if he signs, Fred will be the start of that.”

With Wilkinson dominant at flyhalf, Boudjellal said that Michalak would feature at scrum-half. “It’s a good thing,” said coach Bernard Laporte. “We have been talking for a month. He is a name and this will be his last sporting challenge. “He will come and play at scrum-half, he knows that. His age and experience will help him in this position.”

Michalak, 29, played scrum-half as well as outside-half at Toulouse before he left for the Sharks where he had already played in 2007 and 2008, winning the Currie Cup in the process. At Toulouse, where he made his debut in 1998, Michalak won the French title in 2001 and three European Cups in 2003, 2005 and 2010. He played 54 times for France, featuring in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, but hasn’t played for the national side since March 2010. —Agencies

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (right) sits out with a wrist injury as he talks with forward Luke Walton during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles. —AP

Injured Bryant eyes season opener LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant plans to play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against the Chicago Bulls despite a torn ligament in his right wrist. Bryant suffered the injury during a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday and was initially considered “dayto-day” by the Lakers. While the twotimes NBA Finals MVP was left out of Wednesday’s game against the Clippers, he played a full role in team practice on Friday at their El Segundo training facility.

“It’s just getting used to it,” Bryant told reporters. “I’ve just really ignored it.

You’ve just got to go out there and play your game, just not think about it as much. I try to block it out. “It’s always been in my nature to try to figure out a way to play. I’ve still got a couple of days before the game.” The 33-year-old conceded he had made a few adjustments to his ball handling and shooting, adding that he would probably shoot righthanded today. “It depends on the severi-

Colts’ win throws Luck sweepstakes up in air MINNEAPOLIS: All that good luck the Indianapolis Colts have received on the field these last two weeks could leave them with no Luck at all when the NFL draft rolls around. The Colts have won two straight games to fall into a tie with the Vikings and Rams for the league’s worst record and the chance to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No 1 pick. With Peyton Manning out for the year with a neck injury, the Colts lost their first 13 games of the season, and most figured Luck could start looking for an Indy-based realtor.

Then a funny thing happened - the Colts started winning. The Colts beat Tennessee two weeks ago for their first win of the season. No big deal, right? They still had a game on two-win teams in Minnesota and St Louis and didn’t have to deal with the ignominy of going winless for an entire season. Vikings fans were already dreaming of USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil coming in to protect Christian Ponder and clear a path for Adrian Peterson. With Sam Bradford under center, Rams fans were drooling over the prospects of bringing in Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon as the stud receiver he’s been missing early in his career.

Then the Colts went out and won on Thursday night against the playoff-bound Texans. What were they thinking?!? That was some of the outcry heard from fans and pundits after the victory, which many view as jeopardizing the franchise’s long-term health by risking losing out on another AllPro caliber quarterback in Luck to eventually replace the face of the franchise, albeit one who will turn 36 in March and has had multiple neck surgeries over the past two seasons.

All of a sudden some Colts fans - particularly those who were showing up to Lucas Oil Stadium with blue No 12 jerseys that had “Luck” written on the back - have an entirely different pain in their necks. “That’s not for the players to worry about,” Colts running back Joseph Addai said. “I don’t worry about that. I just go out and keep playing ball.”

Now all three teams are tied for the fewest wins in the league, with the Vikings and Rams still to play this weekend. Minnesota has lost six in a row and played at Washington yesterday before hosting Chicago in the season finale on Jan 1. The Rams figure to have a tough time in Pittsburgh on Saturday and with San Francisco at home to end the season.

The Colts hold the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over Minnesota and St Louis. So a loss at Jacksonville next week would clinch the No 1 pick for Indianapolis. But the Jaguars haven’t exactly been hitting their stride as the season wears on. Rookie

quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been erratic and head coach Jack Del Rio has already been fired. “For one thing, not knowing what my future’s going to be, just wanting to get a win,” Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said after making the game-winning touchdown catch with 19 seconds to play Thursday night. “Couldn’t get anything bet-

John Elway. Luck’s touchdown-to-interception ratio is almost 4 to 1, he calls his own plays for the Cardinal and takes puppies to visit senior citizens in hospice care.

Well, that part about the puppies has not been confirmed, but you get the point.

Should either the Vikings or Rams luck out and sneak into the top spot, they also could

INDIANAPOLIS: Indianapolis Colts’ Reggie Wayne makes a catch in front of Houston Texans’ Kareem Jackson during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis. Indianapolis won 19-16. —AP ter than this.”

Sorry Reggie, but some fans would say that a 6-foot-4, 235-pound College star with a rocket right arm and a completion percentage of 70 percent trumps one more victory in a season that has been lost since the moment Manning went under the knife.

And even though the Vikings and Rams both have already spent high first-round draft choices on young signal-callers in the last couple of years, they would have to at least consider Luck with the top pick. Scouts lavish praise on a prospect they call the best quarterback to come out of college since

decide to stick with their young guns, trade down with another team eager to take Luck and stockpile picks to fill the numerous holes on each roster. Just look what the Chargers did in 2004 when the New York Giants so badly wanted Eli Manning. The Giants sent the Chargers draft picks that amounted to Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding to get their hands on a quarterback who would eventually lead them to a Super Bowl victory. Up until two weeks ago, the thought of having to make that decision seemed absurd. Then again, so did a Colts winning streak. — AP

ty of it,” said Bryant, who has guided the Lakers to five championships. “The fingers are a little bit more complicated because that’s the last point of contact with the ball. But I’ve dealt with so many hand injuries I should be all right.”

Much is new about the Lakers this season with Mike Brown replacing the retired Phil Jackson as coach and disgruntled forward Lamar Odom, the league’s best bench player last season, having been traded to NBA champions Dallas. The Lakers will also be without Andrew Bynum for their first four games while the seven-foot (2.13 metres) center serves a suspension imposed on him at the end of last season. “We are working hard and we are getting things down in terms of what he (Brown) wants to see from us defensively execution-wise,” Bryant said. “He’s very particular about that kind of stuff. It’s a work in progress for it to become a habit but we are getting there.” —Reuters

NBA Preview

Mavs and Thunder set to roar in shortened season LOS ANGELES: The much-anticipated NBA season is in our midst and in the short build up to a rushed season many faces have switched teams including those on the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks. “I think our goal cannot be to be the best team right now,” Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki said. “Our goal is to get better and also better game to game. Hopefully by April, May and June we can be back to where we were last year.”

After almost having to cancel the season, the league and players union agreed on a last-minute collectivebargaining deal which resulted in an abbreviated 66game schedule, beginning Christmas Day. Because of the lockout teams have had a little more than two weeks and just two exhibition games to get ready. “We weren’t really blessed with that much time to do it any different unless you wanted less games, so it kind of is what it is,” said Los Angeles Clippers new guard Chauncey Billups. “The good thing about it is we’re not the only team that’s dealing with it; everybody is. All the things we’re complaining about, they’re dealing with it too.” Dallas caught fire last year and beat the Miami Heat for the NBA title but they have a big hole to fill with the loss of Tyson Chandler and Jose Barea.

Fortunately their core players remain the same and will be pleased to accept their championship rings in front of the Heat at home in one of five games on opening day. That’s why Dallas is one of five teams, including the Chicago Bulls, the Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City, who have the best chance at winning the title. Not included in that list for the first time in several years is the Los Angeles Lakers who actually helped strengthen the Mavericks by giving them Lamar Odom in a panicked trade after the league nixed the Chris Paul deal to the Lakers.

The trade was heavily criticized by Lakers star Kobe Bryant who should have more to say when Los Angeles faces the Mavericks for the first time this season on January 16. Without legendary coach Phil Jackson, the often-injured Andrew Bynum suspended for the first four games of the season, and Bryant suffering a right wrist injury before the season has even begun, it seems the only way the Lakers can go is down. Bryant says he is going to try and play with a torn ligament in his wrist.

“It’s always been in my nature to try and figure out a way to play,” Bryant said. “It’s not really going to heal.

It’s gone. The ligament’s gone. There’s nothing I can do about it. But I’ve dealt with so many hand injuries, it should be all right.” Across town the Los Angeles Clippers can’t wait to get the season started. Not only have they added the most dynamic point guard in the league in Paul and proven winner Billups, but NBA rookie-of-the year Blake Griffin will be a year older and should be headed for another all-star campaign.

Two victories over the Lakers in the shortened exhibition schedule also helped boost their confidence heading into their season opener against Golden State.

There should be plenty of drama on opening day as the other games comprise, Lakers hosting Chicago, Boston at New York and Orlando at Oklahoma City. —AFP

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sp orts

Casey eyes 2012 Ryder Cup, PGA Tour success

Kuwait shooters shine at Arab games KUWAIT: Kuwait shooters excelled during the Arab games in Doha. Kuwait grabbed a total of 17 medals (6 gold, 3 silver, 8 bronze). The President of Kuwait and Asian Shooting Federations and Vice President of the International Shooting Spor t Federation Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah dedicated the achievements to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad and the Kuwait people. He urged Kuwaiti shooters to continue in their winning ways. Sheikh Salman thanked the Amir for his continued support.

Meanwhile, the president of Arab Shooting Federation (ASF), ISSF Administrative Council member and Vice President of Kuwait Shooting Spor t Federation Engineer Duaij Khalaf Al-Otaibi said the shooting competitions at the Arab games were very successful and the ASF was able to conduct a fair and clean event. There were “no cases of doping

found among the shooters,” he added. AlOtaibi thanked members of the Arab Shooting Federation for their good efforts.

He also thanked the Technical Representative Maj General Mohammad Adel Ahmad and the Arab referees. AlOtaibi congratulated Kuwait for their outstanding achievement under the leadership of Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud and the efforts of administrative and technical teams, as well as shooters for their outstanding performances.

Al-Otaibi also thanked Qatar leaders for their hospitality during the Arab Games.

The Arab and Kuwait Shooting Federations secretary general Obeid AlOsaimi said the shooting community is happy and ver y proud of the latest achievements. “The shooters put in their best and kept the Kuwait flag flying,” he said. Al-Osaimi extended his appreciation to the Public Authority For Youth and Sports and Kuwait Olympic Committee for their continued support.

LOS ANGELES: Frustrated for much of this year by a lingering foot injury, Britain’s Paul Casey has set his sights on a healthy 2012 campaign, another victory on the US PGA Tour and a long coveted return to the European Ryder Cup team. Though the Englishman won two tournaments worldwide during 2011, his form and consistency were adversely affected after he was hampered by a sore right toe in May, a condition which was never accurately diagnosed until months later.

“It’s been incredibly frustrating,” Casey told. “The trouble with the toe injury was that I didn’t really know what was going on until it was too late. “I picked it up in late May, battled through it and I didn’t really get a full diagnosis until August. By then, it was too late to take a medical (exemption) so I tried to play through it and got into a lot of bad habits.” An 11-times winner on the European Tour whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2009 Houston Open, Casey played with a plate in his right shoe and his toes taped up over the last six months. “It was a joint in my foot which wasn’t allowing my foot to move correctly and that put pressure on my toe,” the world number 21 said.

“What’s interesting is that if I swing the club the way I should swing it, correctly and the way I used to swing it, the toe is fine. “But those bad habits led to erratic golf. My weight got back on the heels and the club started to go up rather than around, very simply it was too steep.” Casey, who climbed to a career-high third in the world rankings in 2009, has worked hard in recent months to shift his weight back on to his toes, and on to the balls of the feet. “That’s where it should be,” he said. “I need to do a better job of turning because I ended up hitting the ball with the hands and the arms this year a lot. I just need to put those things right.”

WINNING TWICE Asked to assess his 2011 campaign, Casey replied: “Well I’ve managed to win twice around the world, but not on the PGA Tour, and I’ve sort of clung on to a world ranking. “I have dropped a bit but I am still ranked twentysomething and that’s with playing very average golf for me. Touch wood, I can stay healthy and 2012 can be a great season for me.” An inveterate goal setter whose most recent victory came at the Korean tour’s Shinhan Donghae Open in October, Casey has established clear-cut targets for next year. “My very lofty goals I haven’t yet achieved so they’re going to be the same in 2012, and those will be the majors and World Golf (Championships) events,” he said. “But I have other goals ... winning tournaments, winning a certain number of world ranking points, making the Ryder Cup team, being back in the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.” Casey is especially motivated to represent Europe at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, Illinois, having failed to qualify for the 2010 team that regained the trophy at Celtic Manor in Wales.

“I am really hungry to get back on that team,” said the 34-year-old, a Cup player in 2004, 2006 and 2008. “With the depth of talent that we’ve got in Europe, it’s probably going to be the most difficult team to make since I’ve been on tour. “But first things first, I need to win golf tournaments and get back on that team. And stay healthy.”— Reuters

Paul Casey

Camper take Ocean Race lead as Doldrums kick in CAPE TOWN: New leaders Camper were the only team feeling the seasonal cheer yesterday as the Doldrums put a heavy brake on their Volvo Ocean Race rivals in leg two. Favorable breezes were all too difficult to find on the route from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi but Camper ’s canny navigator Will Oxley managed to grab one by taking a marginally more westerly route than arch-rivals Telefonica.

That gave Camper, skippered by Australian Chris Nicholson, a 21nautical mile advantage-tiny in terms of the 39,000nm, nine-month race but one that could be enough to see them over the line first and

take them top of the overall leaderboard. Behind the top pair, France’s Groupama were just under 100nm off the pace with US-led Puma and Abu Dhabi around 150-160 further adrift.

With the weather so difficult to predict and favorable winds in very short supply, Camper were taking nothing for granted as they raced towards a secret stop-off point from where they will be shipped to the Northern Emirates coastline to avoid the risk of a piracy attack.

“We’ve wriggled our way through the lead,” said skipper Nicholson.

“The navigators had a good plan from the get-go in the last few days

and we’ve been able to deliver on that plan up on deck. It’s been really pleasing to see the work the guys have done and the way we went about making the decisions. It’s quite a good feeling.”

Behind him, Puma’s experienced skipper Ken Read was bursting with frustration after watching his early positive progress in a leg they once led drift away. “We entered the Doldrums 40 miles to the north of Telefonica and 60 on Camper and it just turned to rubbish on us,” he said. “Now we’re fighting back out of it. We think we have a way out of it but there’s tons more weirdness ahead. “Nobody ever said this sport

was easy but man, I don’t think it needs to be this hard.”

Leg Two is split into two stages with the boats being picked up by an armed ship in a secret location in the Indian Ocean and then transported to a point near Sharjah from where they will race into the final destination of Abu Dhabi. The team winning the first stage to the secret stop-off point will obtain 24 points with a further six on offer for the victors of the second part from Sharjah taking six. Telefonica currently lead the overall standings on 37 points, three clear of Camper with Groupama of France 10 further behind.— AFP

Wild Oats XI set to secure sixth Sydney-Hobart win Maria Sharapova

Sharapova pulls out of Brisbane over injury SYDNEY: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova yesterday withdrew from January’s Brisbane International due to an ankle injury, but said she expected to be ready for the Australian Open later that month. Sharapova twisted her left ankle at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in September and she is still troubled by the injury. “I was really looking forward to starting my 2012 season at the Brisbane International, which has a fantastic reputation as a great and welcoming event,” Sharapova said in a statement.

“Unfortunately my ankle is not 100

percent and I won’t be able to make it this year.” But the former Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion said she was keen to compete at the Australian Open which gets underway in Melbourne on January 16.

“I do expect to be ready for the year’s first Grand Slam and I am really looking forward to competing on court,” she said.

The Brisbane International is a WTA and ATP tournament, running from January 18. On the women’s side, Serena Williams, Samantha Stosur and Kim Clijsters are all confirmed starters.— AFP

SYDNEY: Supermaxi Wild Oats XI looks set to secure its sixth win in Australia’s Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but southerly winds and cyclone-related swells mean its race record is likely to stay untouched. Eighty-eight boats are due to make the grueling 628 nautical mile dash from Sydney Harbor tomorrow, down the southeast coast of Australia to the Tasmanian state capital Hobart. Success in the famously unforgiving ocean race, which takes crews across the notorious Bass Strait and up the maddening calm of the Derwent River, often comes down to weather. Catastrophic conditions claimed six lives and sank five yachts in 1998, and vessels are routinely unable to complete the race, with just 69 of 87 starters last year finishing the course.

Coastal currents and the rapidly changing weather make the Sydney to Hobart one of the world’s most challenging races, and a cyclone brewing to the northeast is set to whip up some challenging seas for the 2011 edition. “(There

will be) two different wave trains, one from the south and one from the northeast, that will make for fairly erratic conditions,” said weather forecaster Rob Webb. Tropical Cyclone Fina will see favorable northerlies and swell for the race’s start on Boxing Day, but a southerly front is expected within the first 12 hours bringing strong headwinds likely to persist until Wednesday.

The conditions will favor the 100-foot (30 meter) Wild Oats XI, with one bookmaker so confident the super-maxi will bag a sixth line honors victory from seven starts he has paid out a win on Thursday. Wild Oats navigator Adrienne Cahalan said the forecast meant its 2005 race record of one day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds looked safe. “I’m afraid it is out of the window, there’s too much southerly in this forecast,” Cahalan said of the chances the record would fall. “I can’t see any record breakers here.”

The race awards line honors for the first boat

LPGA founding member Bettye Danoff dies at 88 WASHINGTON: Bettye Danoff, one of the 13 founders of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, has died in Texas at age 88, the association said in statement Friday.

Danoff, known by her fellow golf pros as “Mighty Mite” because she was a petite woman, weighing about 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and only five-foot-two (1.57 meters), died on Thursday, the LPGA said.

A trailblazer for the sport, Danoff brought her children with her to tournaments and became the first grandmother on the tour. “Bettye really did make a difference, in the world of golf and all of us are living proof,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said in a statement posted on the association website. “Because of her courage, and the vision/belief of many others that followed our Founders, we all get to participate in a fantastic business and game.” The Dallas native got her start in golf at age six after her parents opened a driving range and nine-hole course. She

won four consecutive Dallas Women’s Golf Association Championships from 1945 to 1948. And in 1947, Danoff defeated Babe Zaharias in the Texas Women’s Open, ending Babe’s 17-tournament winning streak.

Danoff turned pro in 1949.

Danoff would often bring her three daughters, Kaye, Janie and Debbie, with her when she competed. There was no childcare for LPGA players on the road at that time. “I remember traveling for five consecutive tournaments with her while she played,” said Debbie Bell, Danoff ’s youngest daughter. “She was often frustrated because she had to find friends and people to help watch us while she competed.” In 1961, Danoff’s husband, Dr Clyde Walter Danoff, died suddenly. After that and until the mid-1970’s she played only in tournaments in Texas and Oklahoma and taught golf. In 1962, Danoff made her first hole-in-one at a tournament in Austin. Her award - a case of beer.— Reuters

SYDNEY: In this file picture, Australian supermaxi ‘Wild Oats XI’ (left) leads arch-rival ‘Loyal’ (right) and ‘Wild Thing’ at the start of the 66th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race out of Sydney Harbor. Race favorite ‘Wild Oats XI’ hopes to take its fifth line honors in the 628-nautical-mile blue water classic. — AFP

across the finishing line as a well as handicap honors, which takes into account each boat’s dimensions, including its sail area, whether it has a canting or fixed keel, and age.

Fellow 100-footer Investec LOYAL is seen as Wild Oats’ major rival for line honors, having nabbed second place in 2010, along with 98foot Wild Thing, 2003 line honors winner.

Lahana, a 98-footer, is also in the mix and while the super-maxis were faster boats, technician Carl Crafoord said he was confident of challenging them in the handicap stakes. “If we can stay in their weather pattern and they park up, or have a quiet time in the Derwent, and we are in their time zone, we can beat them on handicap,” Crafoord said. Midnight Rambler, a new yacht yet to be tested in rough conditions, is also among handicap favorites and skipper Michael Bencsik said his involvement in the disastrous 1998 race had instilled the importance of preparation.

“I think that sort of experience you have never leaves you,” Bencsik said, adding that success was equal parts preparation, crew and the elements. “If we can sort of look after the first two parts of the equation we’ve got as much of a chance as any of the other competitors in the race,” he said. Tony Kirby, who will be competing in his 27th Sydney to Hobart on the Patrice Six, came agonizingly close to winning handicap honors two years ago, only to see boats cross after him with a quicker time overall due to better winds after he finished the race. “I’ve learned from that, that it’s a very hard race to win. The Derwent can be a very tricky place,” he said.

Asked why he chose to keep entering the testing race he said: “Probably the desire to try and win.” “The closer you get the more it gives you the drive to try to get there. Many people do it just for the fun of doing an adventure. I’ve always been a competitive person so I really want to try to win it.

“To me it’s one of the pinnacles of world offshore racing.” The race attracts yachts as small as 30-footers (nine meters) and as big as 100footers, sailed by crews who range from weekend club sailors to full professionals. The oldest yacht in the race is the 79-year-old nine-meter Maluka, which is also the smallest entrant, while boats are also competing from France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Britain and the United States.— AFP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

S P ORT S

India look to end Australian test series drought MELBOURNE: With an Australian cricket team in upheaval, India might have its best chance in decades to end an unwelcome streak Down Under - it has never won a test series since it began touring here 64 years ago. And regardless of the outcome, both captains said yesterday that they’ll try to keep the series free from controversy that marred India’s last visit. When the four-test series begins tomorrow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar might have an opportunity to give India a solid start towards ending that streak, and create a historic milestone for himself: becoming the first cricketer to score 100 centuries in tests or limited-overs internationals.

Tendulkar warmed up for an attempt at the mark when he hit a stylish 92 in India’s drawn tour match against a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI a week ago. Tendulkar’s last international century came in March against South Africa. Fellow batsman Rahul Dravid has also been in strong form, scoring 1,067 runs in 2011 with five centuries. But Dravid said he’d trade all the personal achievements for a test series win in Australia. “I wouldn’t have minded scoring five hundreds (fewer) or 1,000 runs less if we could win a series in Australia,” Dravid said. “The greatest memory for me now is not necessarily statistical ... it’s those magical moments. The series wins in tests stay with you.”

Former India captain Kapil Dev believes his side has edged closer to an elusive Australia series win.

And he claims former captain Ricky Ponting, who is in a batting slump, is the biggest threat. The 37year-old Ponting has not scored a century in nearly two years, has averaged 50 just once in his past seven series and has made 323 runs at an average of 24 in seven tests over the past 12 months. The 158-test veteran will play in his 15th Boxing Day test after being named in the team yesterday.

Shaun Marsh, who is returning from a back injury

and scored an unbeaten 99 in a Twenty20 match this week, was thought to be a strong chance to replace Ponting, but both were named in the starting side.

“I am more concerned about Ricky Ponting than anybody else because he is experienced,” Dev said.

“If we can control him, we can control the entire Australian team. He has not scored enough runs in the last year, so he is due.” The Australian team is in tatters after losing eight wickets for 74 in a sevenrun loss to No. 8-ranked New Zealand in Hobart two weeks ago, New Zealand’s first test win in Australia since 1985. The collapse against New

Zealand extended concerns over a batting order which was dismissed for a record low of 47 at Cape Town weeks earlier.

Yesterday, rival captains Michael Clarke and MS Dhoni said they were anxious to avoid the tensions and bad blood that spilled over when India last toured Australia in 2007-08. Harbhajan Singh was initially suspended for racial abuse after clashing with Australia’s Andrew Symonds during the Sydney test of January 2008. Amid reports that Anil Kumble’s side would go home mid-tour, Singh’s suspension was overturned, he was found guilty of abuse and given a fine.

MELBOURNE: Indian fans wait to gather autographs as members of the Indian and Australian teams meet a large crowd at a public event in Melbourne. Australia and India meet in the first Test match starting today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). — AFP

Australia won the series 2-1. “The relationship between the Australia team and the India team could not be stronger,” Clarke said. “We all understand there’s a line you can go to but there’s a line you can’t cross. I can guarantee you that nobody in the Australian team will cross that and if they do, there’ll be punishments from the ICC but also from Cricket Australia.” Dhoni said sport played a key role in Australia’s culture and his players knew what to expect. “They are a side that play tough when it comes to sport or in life, so it’s good to compete against them,” Dhoni said. “Even the last series when we were here, we really enjoyed it, keeping the controversies apart.”

Dhoni said India would do its best to behave. “A few individuals did make mistakes at that point in time,” he said. “It’s something that we don’t really want to do as professional cricketers. “There’s a lot at stake. People look up to us. So we’ll try to keep it controversy-free. “Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Cameron Hodgkins said there would not be too much life in a pitch that traditionally plays low. He advised both sides that they might need some variation in their attacks to take the 20 wickets needed, adding that after the pitch flattens out, “you tend to need a fair bit of variety to conjure up wickets.” Australia will take just four genuine bowlers into the test, with Marsh replacing allrounder Dan Christian. Seamer Ben Hilfenhaus replaces 12th man Mitchell Starc, while the other bowlers are Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and James Pattinson, who has taken two five-wickets hauls in his first two tests. Clarke said he felt he has the right lineup to get 20 wickets at the MCG, but admitted it was a gamble to leave out Christian on a flat pitch. “I’m confident we’ve got the best 11 to help us win this first test match,” Clarke said. “I can use Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and myself to bowl a few overs. David Warner can bowl a few legspinners.” — AP

S Africa aim to seal overdue series win

KARACHI: Shakeel Abbasi (right) of Pakistan vies for the ball with Lu Fenghui of China during the second field hockey match in Karachi. — AP

Pakistan clinch China series 3-0 FAISALABAD: Pakistan yesterday emerged victorious in a four-match series with China, the first international hockey in the troubled country since 2004. Pakistan notched up a 3-1 victory after taking the first two meetings in the port city Karachi earlier this week by 3-0 and 5-3. Their final match will be played in Lahore tomorrow, but yesterday’s win gives Pakistan the series’ title.

Before a home crowd in the city of Faisalabad, Pakistani forward Ali Shan struck in the second minute of the match, scoring a field goal to give the hosts an early lead in the series’ third encounter. Vice-captain Shakeel Abbasi doubled Pakistan’s lead with another field goal in the 21st minute. Chinese Liu

DURBAN: South Africa and Sri Lanka both have the opportunity to put an end to unwanted records when they clash in the second test at Kingsmead in Durban tomorrow. The hosts have not won a home series since they beat Bangladesh 2-0 in 2008 while they have lost three consecutive tests at Kingsmead. Sri Lanka have suffered a wretched run of form in test cricket and have not won in 15 matches with their last victory coming against India in Galle in July 2010 in what was to be off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s last test match. The Proteas will take a lot of confidence into the second test after securing a thumping innings and 81-run victory in the first test and the home side will be anxious to nail down the series before the third and final test in Cape Town.

South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince said that complacency may have been the reason for the Proteas’ recent inability to win home series.

“We’ve had a few opportunities in the last few series to put them away and for some reason or other we haven’t been able to do that. Perhaps there has been a bit of complacency when we

have been in good positions,” Prince told a news conference. “But we have another opportunity and hopefully we can kill it off before we go to Newlands,” he added.

South Africa’s vice-captain AB de Villiers said that the Proteas poor record at Kingsmead is something that the team are well aware of and will be doing utmost to rectify.

“We haven’t been playing good cricket here (Kingsmead) of late. We want to turn that around and win a few games here, and win this test match. It’s something that we have talked about,” said De Villiers. Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara felt that his team could draw confidence from South Africa’s poor record at Kingsmead. “Every test is an opportunity for us to change things around and we need to change it around now,” said Sangakkara. “Losing, like winning, can become a habit. For us to go into this test match, knowing that South Africa doesn’t have a great record here, is good but it us up to us to deliver.” Sri Lanka endured a miserable time with the bat in the first test in Centurion, being shot out for 180 and 150 in their two

Australia’s Hilfenhaus comes in from the cold

Yixian converted a penalty corner in the 61st minute to give the visitors their only goal of the match. Pakistan’s Waqas Sharif drew another field goal in the 64th minute to help his side cap their victory.

A campaign of Taleban and Al-Qaeda linked attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, made Pakistan a virtual “no go” zone for international sport. Pakistan, which last hosted an international hockey game seven years ago, hopes the Chinese tour will help convince other foreign teams to visit. The country is also working to resume a bilateral hockey series with arch-rivals India, after they were suspended following the Mumbai attacks in 2008.— AFP

Pakistan’s confidence high ahead of England test KARACHI: Test series wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have whetted Pakistan’s appetite for success and they are capable of beating world number one test side England next month, coach Mohsin Khan said. However, interim coach Mohsin, who was retained after guiding his team to series victories over the sub-continent teams, said that England would pose a far bigger challenge for Pakistan.

“England is the number one test team in the world and their recent performances have been outstanding,” Mohsin said yesterday. “We are expecting a very tough contest and the good thing is our players are already talking about the series and its significance to Pakistan cricket.” “It is true that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are not as strong a challenge as England will be.

But the good thing is that our team has developed a taste for success and every player is contributing in some way so we can win.”

Pakistan will play three tests, four one-dayers and three Twenty20 matches against England in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, starting next month. Mohsin,

who was the chief selector until he was appointed coach last September, denied that the hosts will have any advantage from the low and slow pitches in the Gulf nation. “England is a thorough professional side and has been stable under the guidance of (coach) Andy Flower and (captain) Andrew Strauss so what will matter is how you play session by session,” Mohsin said. “Conditions will be same for both sides.”

Mohsin, who played 48 test matches for his country, denied that Pakistan will rely heavily on their spinners during the three-test series. “We are fortunate to be blessed with both quality pacers and spinners so we are not going to rely on anyone in particular,” the 56-year old said. “Our recent mantra has been to focus and plan things on a match-to-match basis and we will continue with that against England as well.” The Pakistani selectors are due to name the test squad for the series on Monday. Pakistan are playing “home” series in the Gulf region due to security concerns in their own country. — Reuters

innings, and talk out of the tourists’ camp is that wicketkeeper/batsman Dinesh Chandimal will make his test debut in Durban in place of Causal Silva. The 22-year-old Chandimal has played in 17 one-day internationals and has scored two centuries in that format, including a match-winning 105 not out against England at Lord’s in July this year. “I think he is one of the fine youngsters that we have found over the last few years,” Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said.

“We have discussed giving him a test debut and he can gain some valuable experience by playing against South Africa’s attack. Personally I think he is good for the team and he can be groomed for the future.” The visitors took a physical and mental battering during their heavy defeat at Centurion and Sangakkara said that it was vital that he and his team mates were in the right mental state for the second test. “The difference between the best performing teams and the ones chasing them is probably the mental side of things. It is not skill or technique but being tough when the pressure is on,” he said. — Reuters

MELBOURNE: Ben Hilfenhaus of Australia is seen during training at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. — AP

MELBOURNE: Workhorse Ben Hilfenhaus has been brought back into the test fold after a year in the freezer to add swing to Australia’s pace attack for the first test against India starting tomorrow. The 28-year-old Tasmanian was dropped after a poor series against England earlier this year and criticized for becoming predictable, but he has worked his way back into the side with strong form in domestic cricket.

Hilfenhaus replaces Mitchell Starc from the team that lost the second test to New Zealand and joins fellow pacemen Peter Siddle and James Pattinson for the Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Nathan Lyon retains his place as the lone specialist spinner, with all rounder Shane Watson yet to recover from injury.

“He’s a very good new ball bowler and he can bowl longer spells and he’s had success against India as well,” Australia captain Michael Clarke told reporters of Hilfenhaus, who has worked on his variation after overcoming a series of injury niggles.

Starc may count himself unlucky after showing promising signs in his debut test series against New Zealand, but took few wickets and let himself down with loose patches, which would be severely punished against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. “Mitch is obviously disappointed, he would have liked the chance, but he understands the reasons,” added Clarke. “He’s just got to keep working hard on his game and continue to improve.” Top order batsman Shaun Marsh rested on Saturday but was fighting fit after recovering from a back strain suffered in South Africa, Clarke said.

Marsh, who scored an unbeaten 99 in the domestic Twenty20 competition tomorrow, would have a session in the nets on Christmas Day, Clarke said. Former captain Ricky Ponting and middle order batsman Mike Hussey have retained their places, despite struggling for runs, while Ed Cowan is likely to have his test debut at the top of the order in place of the axed Phillip Hughes. Clarke will lead Australia into the first match of a four-test series, with his counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni hoping to guide India to their first test series win on Australian soil.— Reuters

Former Argentine goalkeeper takes charge of Godoy Cruz BUENOS AIRES: Former Argentine World Cupwinning goalkeeper Nery Pumpido is to take charge of Godoy Cruz amid a series of coaching changes in the country’s first division ahead of the Clausura championship in the second half of the season. Racing Club are on the verge of lining up former Argentina coach Alfio Basile to replace Diego Simeone, who departed for Atletico Madrid, while Uruguayan Jorge da Silva is taking charge at Banfield.

“Nery Pumpido, the ex-world champion with the Argentina team in 1986, will lead the squad that will play in the first division tournament and the Copa Libertadores,” Godoy Cruz said on their website.

(www.clubgodoycruz.com.ar) on Friday.

The 54-year-old will fill the vacancy left by Da Silva, who surprised the club’s board by quitting despite having steered them into the Libertadores, South America’s elite club competition, for the second time. Pumpido has already won the Copa Libertadores as a player with River Plate in 1986 and as a coach with Olimpia of Paraguay in 2002. Ex-Uruguay striker Da Silva left Godoy Cruz because he was unhappy at criticism over poor results in the Apertura run-in which nearly scuppered their Libertadores ambitions.

The 50-year-old replaces former Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe, who left Banfield after

failing to lift them off the bottom of the championship standings. “I liked how convinced the directors were about me being the person capable of taking charge of the team because I think there are very good players here to do a good job,” Da Silva told reporters after his unveiling on Friday. The Racing board were discussing personal terms with Basile before deciding whether to bring the twice Copa America winning coach back to the club for the fourth time as team boss. More than half the clubs in the 20-team first division have parted company with the coaches who were at the helm of their teams at the start of the Apertura in August.— Reuters

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

S P ORT S

Celtic close gap as St Mirren stun Rangers GLASGOW: Celtic survived a late scare to hand their fans an early Christmas present in the shape of a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock which cut their deficit to leaders Rangers to just one point yesterday. Celtic host Rangers at Parkhead on Wednesday, but the champions’ hopes of striding confidently into the derby clash suffered a blow with a shock 2-1 defeat away to St Mirren.

Goals in either half from Georgios Samaras had Celtic seemingly cruising to victory before a late strike from substitute Danny Racchi put the home fans on edge for the closing minutes. It was Celtic’s eighth in a row, and their bid for

a ninth will be boosted by the news that Rangers pair Lee McCulloch and Dorin Goian-both of whom were sent off against St Mirren-will be suspended from Wednesday’s meeting. Kilmarnock began brightly with Gary Harkins’ shot being snuffed out by Charlie Mulgrew.

Celtic winger James Forrest wasn’t far away with a fierce strike from 25 yards before Dean Shiels dragged his shot wide at the other end after good from Heffernan.

Gar y Hooper missed a golden chance to give Celtic the lead when he flicked the ball over the bar from close range after keeper Cammy Bell had

through Samaras in the 53rd minute.

Hooper picked him out and Sissoko’s slip allowed the Greek room at the edge of the box to rifle his shot low under Bell. Kilmarnock pulled one back in the 87th minute when substitute Raachi crafted a chance out of nothing and sent a superb low strike under Fraser Forster to set up a nervy finish. Rangers had got off to a great start when Lee Wallace gave the visitors an 11thminute lead in Paisley with his first goal for the club.

However things went from bad to worse for Ally McCoist’s side, who went in at the half-time interval 2-1 down

spilled Forrest’s initial shot. Scott Brown made some room for himself on the edge of the Killie box but sent his low drive straight to Bell before Hooper flicked Mulgrew’s free-kick on to the roof of the net. Samaras made the breakthrough two minutes into firsthalf stoppage time. Persistent work from Cha Du-Ri saw the South Korean whip the ball across from the right and Samaras out-jumped Mohamadou Sissoko to send a downward header past Bell.

No sooner had news filtered through of Rangers’ defeat to St Mirren than the Hoops doubled their advantage

after losing Lee McCulloch to a red card in the 24th minute for violent conduct.

Aaron Mooy equalized for the Buddies in the 44th minute, with Paul McGowan giving the hosts a deserved lead two minutes into first-half injur y time.

Rangers’ late push for an equalizer came apart when Dorin Goian was sent off for his second bookable offence of the game with less than 10 minutes remaining. Elsewhere, Hearts put their financial woes to one side to defeat Motherwell 2-0, Inverness defeated Aberdeen 2-1, St Johnstone thrashed Dunfermline 3-0 and Dundee United won 3-1 against Hibernian.— AFP

Man Utd turn up heat on Man City MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s manager Roberto Mancini (left) stands alongside his assistant manager Brian Kidd in this file photo. — AP

Mancini wants away-day cheer for Manchester City LONDON: Invincible at home this year, Premier League leaders Manchester City face consecutive away games over Christmas with manager Roberto Mancini wary of offering up unexpected gifts at West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland. City, who lead the table at Christmas for the first time since 1929, drew 1-1 at Liverpool, then lost 2-1 at Chelsea in their last two away league games and Mancini wants a return to winning ways on the road, starting at West Brom on Boxing Day. “We still have Chelsea, United, Tottenham and Liverpool to come to the Etihad Stadium, but we need to win away games as well, and we have only one point from our last two,” Mancini, who is about to experience his third Christmas campaign as City manager, told the club’s website (www.mcfc.co.uk) “I have a lot of respect for West Bromwich, and I have a lot of respect for (manager) Roy Hodgson - he is one of the best managers in Europe.

“I think it will be very hard because they play good football. They have had some problems but they have won their last two away games and seem to be in good form, it will be a hard match,” added Mancini, whose side lead champions Manchester United by two points. City have few injury worries ahead of a spell of three games in little more than a week and should have swashbuckling full back Micah Richards available after injury.

While Mancini can boast an embarrassment of riches, United and the rest of the pursuing pack are feeling the pinch a little with injuries and suspensions testing their squads.

United have home games against Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers before concluding their holiday fixtures away at Newcastle United and manager Alex Ferguson, preparing for his 26th Christmas in the Old Trafford hot seat, knows how vital the jam-packed holiday program can be. He was boosted by the news that Phil Jones suffered no break to his jaw in the dazzling 5-0 win at Fulham on Wednesday, although winger Ashley Young is sidelined for the clash with Wigan, a fixture United have never dropped a point from. Despite the statistics, however, Ferguson is a big fan of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, whose third-from-bottom side will arrive in good heart after morale-boosting home draws with Chelsea and Liverpool. “I

watched Wigan versus Chelsea the other day and I thought Wigan were terrific,” he told United’s website (www.manutd.com) “It says a lot for Roberto Martinez, he continues to play good football irrespective of what position they’re in. We have a good record against Wigan but we won’t take anything for granted. We need to keep our foot on the pedal.” Injury-hit Tottenham, in third place with 35 points face a trip to Norwich City on Tuesday before a New Year’s Eve clash with another of the promoted sides, Swansea City. They will be without Rafael van der Vaart and winger Aaron Lennon while striker Jermain Defoe is another struck by a hamstring curse afflicting the north London club as they mount a creditable top-four challenge. Fourth-placed Chelsea (33 points) are low on defensive options as they prepare for the Dec. 26 derby at home to close neighbours Fulham. Manager Andre Villas-Boas, who has worries over Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi-Mikel after they limped off in the 11 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, said he would try to buy a centre back in January. Until then, however, the Portuguese, like his Tottenham counterpart Redknapp and even United’s Ferguson, must juggle his squad and hope to keep City in his sights. “ They have the squad for sure,” Redknapp said of City’s strength in depth.

“They are the favorites but Man United won’t be far behind them. But anything can happen still, it’s very close in the top four.” Fifth-placed Arsenal (32 points) will not have to travel out of the capital over the holidays, hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday before London derbies with Queen’s Park Rangers and Fulham. Liverpool will hope to put the controversy surrounding their support of Luis Suarez, found guilty of racial abuse, behind them with home games against bottom club Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United before their trip to City. Manager Kenny Dalglish said he had some sympathy for Rovers, the club he took to the league title in 1995, and their beleaguered manager Steve Kean who faced vociferous criticism during his side’s defeat by Bolton Wanderers this week.

“The frustration is understandable in many ways but I don’t think it’s helpful and it’s sad really it has come to that, but that’s the way it is,” Dalglish said.— Reuters

Bridge puzzled by Man City behavior LONDON: Out of favor Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge says he has no idea why Coach Roberto Mancini has frozen him out of his first team calculations. The 31-year-old has made just one appearance for the Premier League leaders who are looking to sell him in the January transfer window. The former Chelsea left-back, who collects a reported £90,000 weekly salary which other clubs are unwilling to match, spoke out in Saturday’s Daily Mail. He told the paper: “When I was at Chelsea I was playing for a team where Ashley Cole was the best in the world and I still got games. “It won’t happen at City. There has never been an explanation, but it’s obvious they don’t want me. “Mancini doesn’t really speak to me, he doesn’t really speak to any of the players. The only time I’ve known a player isolated like this was Winston Bogarde at Chelsea. Usually you still train with the first team, even when they want you out.”

Bridge added: “I’ve never caused trouble, I’m not that kind of character. “There will be days when I’m frustrated - not depressed, but down. Training helps take my mind off the fact that I don’t play. “If I kicked up a fuss I might have got out easier.”

Chelsea reject proposal LONDON: Chelsea have turned down a

LONDON: Almost halfway through the Premier League season and there is already seven points separating Manchester rivals City and United from the chasing pack. “At this point in time everyone thinks it is going to be a one-two for the city (of Manchester),” United manager Alex Ferguson said Friday.

“But things change. You only need to go back over the years to see how dramatic our league can be.

Lose a game in this league and all the rest get a pickup and start chasing harder.”

After a glut of goals in the opening four months of the season, it is Ferguson’s rivals across Manchester entering the packed Christmas fixture program as the top team in England for the first time since 1929. Back then, Manchester City failed to stay the course, taking until 1937 to win the title and 1968 to repeat the feat. This time, another slip-up would be unacceptable for City’s owners after an expensive overhaul of the squad over three years.

But City has displayed resilience since exiting the Champions League and losing for the first time this season at Chelsea, bouncing back with successive Premier League wins to establish a twopoint lead over Manchester United. Ahead of tomorrow ’s match at West Bromwich Albion, City has already scored 53 goals in 17 league matches - more than twice the haul at this stage a year earlier. “Last season we got a lot of uncalled-for negative publicity because the goals weren’t flowing freely,” City defender Joleon Lescott said. “But this year we have the belief and the confidence to score more goals.

“We did need to change and there is an air of confidence about us now. But it is controlled, you don’t want it to be too arrogant.

The main thing is to keep progressing and keep our feet on the ground.” I t is two years since Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as City manager. Having already ended the club’s 35-year trophy drought by lifting the FA Cup in May, the focus is firmly on delivering the club’s first league crown since 1968. “We need to win away games,” Mancini said. “We

Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson have only one point from our last two.”

Stumbling at West Brom could allow United to go top with a win over Wigan tomorrow. The champions are maintaining the pressure on City despite a series of setbacks

this season - including Champions League elimination and a humiliating 6-1 loss against its neighbor.

“We have shown the resilience and determination to do something about it each time (a setback) has happened,” Ferguson said. “That

Scottish Premier League table GLASGOW: Scottish Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Rangers Celtic Motherwell St Johnstone Hearts Dundee Utd St Mirren Kilmarnock Aberdeen Inverness CT Hibernian Dunfermline

20 20 19 20 20 20 20 19 20 20 19 19

15 15 10 8 8 6 6 5 5 5 3 3

3 2 4 5 4 7 7 8 5 3 5 5

2 3 5 7 8 7 7 6 10 12 11 11

11 15 21 20 14 31 25 28 28 39 32 43

48 47 34 29 28 25 25 23 20 18 14 14

Wenger mulls Henry’s return

proposal for their players to wear shirts in support of captain John Terry who has been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Some of the Blues squad and staff had raised the prospect of donning T-shirts showing their backing for the skipper. Liverpool were heavily criticized in some quarters for allowing their players to wear T-shirts in support of Luis Suarez during the warm-up before Wednesday’s Premier League game at Wigan, following the striker’s eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

West Brom’s Reid sidelined WEST BROMWICH: West Brom will host Premier League leaders Manchester City tomorrow without right-back Steven Reid who is facing one month on the sidelines following a knee operation. The 30-yearold required surgery “to repair wear and tear” and Friday’s surgery was not related to the ankle injury sustained by the player against Newcastle on Wednesday. Baggies boss Roy Hodgson will also assess the fitness of James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu ahead of the Boxing Day clash with City. A statement on the club’s official website yesterday read: “Steven Reid will be sidelined for around a month after undergoing a successful knee operation yesterday.

37 40 24 24 22 28 20 25 23 27 17 20

says a lot about the character of the team. We lose games in normal seasons. “This season we have lost games that have been dramatic and a bit more emphatic in the sense of the impact it had on our chances of winning trophies.

These were bad results for us but the character of the team has rescued us each time.”

The Manchester teams have ended the week further ahead of their title rivals after Tottenham drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the clash of third and fourth. Tottenham is seven points behind United and a further two adrift of City with a game in hand, while Chelsea is two points further back in fourth.

But Tottenham’s injury crisis deepened in Thursday ’s draw with Chelsea as playmaker Rafael van der Vaart sustained a hamstring problem - like four teammates that is likely to rule him out until January.

Winger Aaron Lennon was injured against Sunderland on Sunday and is likely to be out for the club’s next three games, while defenders Ledley King and Younes Kaboul both hurt their hamstrings against Chelsea, the latter in the warmup. While striker Jermain Defoe also missed the London derby, he could be fit for the trip to Nor wich on Tuesday to help Tottenham close the gap on second-place United. Arsenal is struggling to break into the top four and its defensive troubles have been compounded by Kieran Gibbs undergoing surgery on his left groin and being ruled out for another month, having already been sidelined since October.

Arsenal hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday in a match pushed back 24 hours due to a strike by public transport workers in London. In fixtures still going ahead tomorrow, Newcastle is at Bolton looking to end a run of six games without a win, Liverpool hosts bottom-place Blackburn still mired in controversy over Luis Suarez’s ban for racially abusing an opponent, Ever ton goes to Sunderland and Stoke takes on Aston Villa. Two of the promoted sides meet on Tuesday when Swansea host Queens Park Rangers.— AP

TEXAS: In this file photo, New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry (right) makes a pass as FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd pursues in the second half of an MLS Cup soccer match in Frisco, Texas. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering trying to bring Henry back to the club on a two-month loan from the Red Bulls to fill the void left by strikers going to the African Cup of Nations. — AP

LONDON: Thierry Henry could make a remarkable return to Arsenal with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger considering the possibility of a two-month loan deal for the club’s favorite son. The 34-year-old Frenchman has been training with the Londoners since the close of the MLS season in November and recently had a statue of him unveiled at the Emirates Stadium to underline his legendary status at the club.

Henry will not be required back in the United States until March and Wenger will lose Ger vinho and Marouane Chamakh for up to a month at the end of January due to the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving him short of strikers. For that reason, Wenger is considering the possibility of a potential two-month loan deal for the star. “I have to think about that,” Wenger said. “Short term is ideal for us, but I haven’t made any enquiry yet.

Thierry is not here at the moment. It has never come up in conversation. “January 1 is the vital date for us. We have seven days to make decisions and I will make a decision in the next seven days on players.”

Henry is regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on an Arsenal shirt, winning two league titles and three FA Cups during the Frenchman’s hugely successful eight-year spell at the club. Henry, the club’s record all-time scorer, left Arsenal in 2007 for Barcelona before moving to the United States where he currently plays for the New York Bulls. Robin van Persie equalled Henry’s club record of 34 league goals in a calendar year at Aston Villa on Wednesday as the Gunners returned to winning ways with victory over Alex McLeish’s side. The Dutchman now has two more games to see if he can pass Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 36 goals in a year, which was set in 1995.—AFP

Wenger mulls Henry’s return

Sharapova pulls out of Brisbane International

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Celtic close gap as St Mirren stun Rangers

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GLENDALE: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St Louis Blues attempts to control the puck under pressure from Martin Hanzal #11 of the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on December 23, 2011. — AFP

Bruins rout Panthers 8-0 Canucks overwhelmed by Flames BOSTON: Brad Marchand scored his first career hat trick and a career-high five points to help Boston beat the Florida Panthers 8-0 on Friday night, giving the Bruins their sixth consecutive victory and their most lopsided of the season.

Marchand scored a short-handed goal to start things off, then added two more and a pair of assists to lead the defending Stanley Cup champions to their 20th win in 23 games. After his third goal, midway through the third period to make it 8-0, fans showered the ice with all kinds of headwear, including a fair number of Santa hats. Patrice Bergeron had a goal and two assists, and Tuukka Rask made 30 saves for Boston.

RANGERS 4, FLYERS 2 At New York, Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves in his second win over powerful

Philadelphia this season, and rookie defenseman Stu Bickel had two more assists, as New York moved into first place in the Atlantic Division. Bickel, in his third NHL game, helped set up goals by Derek Stepan and Ruslan Fedotenko in the second period. He has four assists since being recalled from the AHL, hitting the score sheet in every game. Marian Gaborik added his league-leading 21st goal early in the third period and Ryan Callahan also scored for the Rangers (21-8-4), who jumped over the Flyers (21-9-4) in the Atlantic with their fourth straight win including three in four days over divisional foes.

HURRICANES 2, SENATORS 1, OT At Raleigh, North Carolina, Tuomo Ruutu tipped in Jay Harrison’s shot in overtime, lifting Carolina past Ottawa.

DOHA: Bahrain’s players throw their US coach Peter Taylor in the air as they celebrate after beating Jordan in their 2011 Arab Games final football match in the Qatari capital on December 23, 2011. Bahrain won 1-0. — AFP

Bahrain soccer team crowned champions DOHA: The Bahraini soccer team was crowned champions of the 12th Arab sports tournament beating Jordan 1-0 in the final match played here late on Friday. Ismail Abdul Latif secured the winning goal for his team two minutes ahead of end of the match, held at the Qatari Al-Sad stadium. He netted the ball after an easy pass and solo encounter with the Jordanian goal-keeper. The final match was attended by the Qatari Crown Prince and Chairman of the Qatari Olympic Committee Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad and a number of eminent sports figures. The bronze medal was given to the Kuwaiti team at the conclusion ceremony, capped with signing by the eminent Iraqi singer, Kathem Al-Saher, and dazzling fireworks.-—KUNA

Cam Ward made 22 saves for Carolina, which won its first overtime game of the season. The Hurricanes outshot the Senators 38-23, including 29-14 through the first two periods. Carolina dominated the early play but couldn’t get much past Craig Anderson, who stopped 36 shots for Ottawa. The Hurricanes had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:52 just past the midway point of the first period, but Anderson saved all their chances. Andreas Nodl scored for Carolina less than 3 minutes in off the skate of an Ottawa defenseman. Nodl’s goal was his second of the season - both coming in the last two games. Filip Kuba countered for the Senators with 2:45 left in the first, sending a bouncing shot through Ward’s legs.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, ISLANDERS 3 At Uniondale, New York, Clarke MacArthur scored a goal and added an assist, and James Reimer stopped 30 shots to lead Toronto to victory over New York Islanders. Nazem Kadri, Carl Gunnarsson, Joey Crabb and Joffrey Lupul also had goals for the Maple Leafs, who head into the league’s Christmas break with two straight wins. Kyle Okposo, Franz Neilsen and John Tavares scored, and Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for the Islanders in their second straight loss.

DEVILS 4, CAPITALS 3, SO At Newark, New Jersey, Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias scored in the shootout and Martin Brodeur made an outstanding glove save on Alex Ovechkin as New Jersey, after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period, beat Washington.

Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist in regulation and Alexander Urbom and Adam Henrique scored the other goals for the Devils, who won for the fifth time in six games. Jason Chimera scored twice and Brooks Laich once for the Capitals in the third period. Kovalchuk scored on a wrist shot in the shootout to give New Jersey the lead and Elias snapped one past Michal Neuvirth moments after Brodeur kept Washington off the board with a glove save on Ovechkin’s bullet.

STARS 6, PREDATORS 3 At Dallas, Vernon Fiddler, Loui Eriksson and Steve Ott scored during a threeminute span in the first period as Dallas downed Nashville. Dallas rookie Richard Bachman stopped 34 shots in his seventh consecutive start in place of Kari Lehtonen, who is out with a groin injury

NHL results /standings NHL results and standings on Friday.

Boston 8, Florida 0; New Jersey 4, Washington 3 (So); Toronto 5, NY Islanders 3; NY Rangers 4, Philadelphia 2; Carolina 2, Ottawa 1 (OT); Pittsburgh 4, Winnipeg 1; Dallas 6, Nashville 3; Colorado 2, Tampa Bay 1 (OT); St. Louis 3, Phoenix 2; Calgary 3, Vancouver 1; San Jose 2, Los Angeles 1 (SO). (OT denotes overtime win) (SO denotes shootout win) Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Chicago 22 9 4 118 102 48 NY Rangers 21 8 4 99 72 46 St. Louis 20 10 4 87 74 44 Philadelphia 21 9 4 118 99 46 Detroit 21 12 1 111 78 43 Pittsburgh 20 11 4 114 91 44 Nashville 18 13 4 95 99 40 New Jersey 19 14 1 95 99 39 Columbus 9 21 4 85 117 22 NY Islanders 11 16 6 77 108 28 Northwest Division Northeast Division Minnesota 20 11 5 86 82 45 Boston 23 9 1 119 63 47 Vancouver 21 12 2 115 85 44 Toronto 18 13 4 110 113 40 Calgary 17 15 4 90 98 38 Ottawa 17 14 5 111 122 39 Colorado 18 17 1 96 105 37 Buffalo 16 15 3 92 101 35 Edmonton 15 16 3 93 91 33 Montreal 13 16 7 88 101 33 Pacific Division Southeast Division San Jose 19 10 3 95 77 41 Florida 18 11 7 94 98 43 Dallas 20 13 1 92 96 41 Winnipeg 16 14 5 96 104 37 Phoenix 18 14 3 92 92 39 Washington 17 14 2 98 101 36 Los Angeles 16 14 5 76 85 37 Tampa Bay 14 17 3 90 116 31 Anaheim 9 19 6 80 113 24 Carolina 11 19 6 91 121 28

but is expected back within a week. Mike Ribeiro and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who improved to 5-2 in their last seven games. The Predators were coming off a 6-5 home win over Columbus on Thursday night, when they rallied from a three-goal deficit. They almost pulled off another comeback against the Stars.

PENGUINS 4, JETS 1 At Winnipeg, Manitoba, James Neal scored the winning goal just 22 seconds into the third period, before Pittsburgh scored two more goals in the final 20 minutes to ease past Winnipeg. Neal’s team-leading 20th goal of the season was followed by goals from Jordan Staal and Pascal Dupuis within the first 5 minutes of the period. Joe Vitale also scored, Chris Kunitz had a pair of assists and MarcAndre Fleury had to make only 18 saves for Pittsburgh, which won its third straight. Alexander Burmistrov scored midway through the second period and Ondrej Pavelec stopped 35 shots for the Jets. Winnipeg finished its six-game homestand with a 3-2-1 record.

DENVER 2, TAMPA BAY 1, OT At Denver, Matt Duchene scored late in overtime and Jean-Sebastien-Giguere stopped 29 shots to lead Colorado over Tampa Bay. Ryan O’Reilly also scored for

Colorado, which has won a team-record eight straight home games. Mathieu Garon made 27 saves and Pavel Kubina scored for Tampa Bay. Duchene got the winner when he sent a shot past Garon from the left side with 1:22 left in overtime for his team-leading 12th goal of the season. TJ Galiardi nearly won it late in regulation when he had a short-handed breakaway chance with 1:51 left, but Garon made the save. O’Reilly had a goal waved off with 48 seconds left because he knocked it in with his glove, while Paul Stastny hit the right post with 3:02 left in overtime.

FLAMES 3, CANUCKS 1 At Vancouver, Leland Irving made 29 saves for his first NHL victory as Calgary toppled Vancouver at home. Curtis Glencross, Mikael Backlund and Olli Jokinen, with an empty-netter in the final minute, each scored as Calgary won its third straight. Irving preserved the win with a diving save off Daniel Sedin before Jokinen scored the Flames; third goal to seal it. Irving was making only his second NHL start after an earlier call-up this month from Abbotsford of the AHL. Dan Hamhuis scored for the Canucks, who lost for only the fourth time in 16 games.

BLUES 3, COYOTES 2 At Glendale, Arizona, Alexander Steen scored his team-leading 12th goal and Brian Elliott made 24 saves to help in-form St Louis Blues beat Phoenix. Matt D’Agostini and Jason Arnott also scored and Evgeny Grachev had a pair of assists for the Blues, who have won six of eight. St Louis has points in 18 of its last 21 games (14-3-4) since Ken Hitchcock took over as coach after David Payne was fired Nov 8.

Shane Doan and Keith Yandle scored for the Coyotes, who had won two in a row.

After a scoreless first period, Steen gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 7:12 of the second when he took a long outlet pass from Alex Pietrangelo and beat Jason LaBarbera from the bottom of the left circle.

SHARKS 2, KINGS 1, SO At San Jose, California, Ryane Clowe scored the lone shootout goal in the fourth round and Antti Niemi stopped Mike Richards to lead San Jose to their fourth straight win. Logan Couture scored in regulation for the Sharks, who matched their best winning streak of the season following a stretch of five losses in six games.

Niemi made 28 saves. Richards scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, who had won their previous two games in a shootout.

But Dustin Brown, who had the winners in those two contests, was stopped by Niemi in the third round this time. Los Angeles has scored fewer than three goals in regulation for 14 straight games the longest such streak in franchise history.—AP

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China announces currency swap with Pakistan Page 22

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

OPEC to accommodate increased Libyan output Page 25

Cuba wraps up dramatic year of economic change Page 23

LONDON: Christmas shoppers walk past a shop advertising a sale on Oxford street in London yesterday. Shoppers struck out into a busy Oxford Street in London looking for last minute bargains before Christmas. — AFP

S&P turns positive for 2011 Traders exchanged 2.22 billion shares NEW YORK: Stocks closed higher after a quiet, pre-holiday session that turned the S&P 500 index positive for the year.

Traders we re relieved by news that Congress extended a payroll tax holiday for workers and emergency unemployment benefits. Both programs were set to expire at the end of the year. Letting that happen would have reduced economic growth by about 1 percent, analysts said.

Th e f i n a l b u s i n ess day b efo re Christmas also was the slowest full day of trading so far this year. Traders exchanged just 2.22 billion shares, about half of the recent average. The market will be closed on Monday because Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. Stocks have risen steadily since Tuesday on hopeful si gn s a b ou t t h e p ace o f eco no mic

growth in the fourth quarter, which ends next week. New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since April 2008, long before anyone realized the nation was in a recession.

A series of mixed economic reports Friday did little to derail that optimism.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 11.33 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,265.33. It started the year at 1,257.64. Stocks might surge into the new year if the S&P 500 passes a couple of key technical thresholds, said Todd Salamone, research director at Schaeffer’s Investment Research.

Fund managers currently hold relatively few stocks, Salamone noted, and many of their funds have underperformed the market and are negative for the year. If the index rises farther above its break-

even point for the year or its average over the past several months, fund managers might flood into the market in a lastditch attempt to improve their annual returns, he said.

“The worst thing that can happen for a fund manager is to underperform and be in the red when your benchmark, the S&P index, is in the green” for the year, Salamone said. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 124.35 points, or 1 percent, to 12,294. Bank of America Corp. was the Dow’s biggest gainer, adding 2.4 percent.

All but two of the 30 Dow stocks rose, Alcoa Inc. and Boeing Co. The Dow has risen 527.74 points, or 4.5 percent in the past four days. It was the first four-day winning streak for the Dow since mid-September. The Nasdaq com-

posite index gained 19.19 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,618.64. Earlier Friday, the government said that consumer spendi ng a nd i ncom e s b a re l y gre w i n November. The weak gains suggest that consumers may have trouble sustaining their spending into 2012.

In another worrying sign, a measure of business investment decreased for the second straight month. Business investment has been a pocket of strong demand and spending amid a sluggish recovery. A tax break that encouraged companies to invest in new equipment and facilities expires at the end of the year.

Yet hopes for the economy remained high after this week’s encouraging news about the job market and strong holiday

sales for retailers. Among the companies making big moves: Rambus Inc. jumped 12.2 percent after the technology licensing company said it reached a patent license deal with Broadcom Corp. and settled a lawsuit with the chip maker.

TripAdvisor Inc. rose 6.1 percent, the most in the S&P 500, as traders reassessed the value of the newly-spun off travel review website. The stock had fallen sharply since it officially started trading on Wednesday. It recovered some losses on Friday as analysts weighed its rapidly growing revenue and market share. Eastman Kodak Co. rose 9.5 percent after the struggling photography company said its general counsel, Laura Quatela, would become co-president on Jan. 1. — AP

Last-minute buyers top off strong shopping season NEW YORK: It’s that time for caroling, eggnog, holiday cheer - and for some, a frantic dash to the mall. Last-minute shoppers hit stores on Christmas Eve in a surge that is expected to top off an unexpectedly strong holiday shopping season.

Among them was Len Boswell. He started his shopping at 6 a.m. at Starbucks and by later morning was at a CVS drugstore in Decatur, Ga., picking up candy and a neck pillow for his wife.

“I should have done this a couple of weeks ago,” acknowledges Boswell, 68, a director of book publishing at a nonprofit. Stores are expected to ring up $469.1 billion during the holiday season, and the final week before Christmas can account for up to 20 percent of those sales. Retailers tempered their expectations heading into the season because they worried that Americans weren’t ready to spend in the weak economy. But sales have been so brisk during the two-month period that the National Retail Federation, the industry’s big trade group, upgraded its sales forecast a full percentage point to 3.8 percent.

Sales from the star t of the season in November through last Saturday rose 2.5 percent, according to research firm ShopperTrak.

Online, shoppers had spent almost $32 billion online for the holiday season, a 15 percent increase from a year ago, according to the comScore, which tracks Web use.

“We’re seeing good traffic, good sales,” said Sherif Mityas, a partner in the retail practice at A.T. Kearney, a management consulting firm.

“Even with all the bad news and hesitancy in terms of the economy, consumers are still opening up their wallets more than last year, which is good news.”

But at a time when Americans are still concerned about high unemployment, lower wages and market uncertainty, retailers aren’t willing to leave anything to chance on the final shopping days before Christmas. Macy’s and Toys R Us have been open for 24 hours in the days leading up to Christmas. At malls, Abercrombie & Fitch has been offering a blanket 50 percent off on all items while J. Crew and Madewell offered 30 percent off. And retailers’ promotional e-mails from has been up 34 percent from a year ago, according to Responsys, which tracks e-mail activity from more than 100 merchants.

Has “They’re clearly putting best foot forward on promotions right now,” said John Morris, analyst at BMO Capital Markets, who estimates pro-

motional sale activity is up about 7 percent compared with last year, taking into account the level of mark downs and the amount of goods marked down.”

Whether it’s the sales or just plain, old procrastination, last-minutes shoppers were drawn to stores across the country on Christmas Eve. Yesterday morning, at Manhattan Mall in New York, a steady stream of shoppers. Shamek Shider, 22, was among the shoppers on Christmas Eve morning. He had spent $100 at Macy’s on snow suits for his god daughter on Friday, his first time out holiday shopping. He came back on Christmas Eve he was back out again and spent $250 on jewelry and clothing at Macy’s and J. C. Penney for his mother, sister and other relatives. “ This is when I see the best deals,” said Shider, who lives in Newark, N.J. Ryan Eagle, 25, planned to hit South Park Mall in Charlotte, N.C., yesterday morning to shop for presents for his wife. He always shops on Christmas Eve, he said, to get good deals and to people watch. Last year, he found $200 boots on sale for $50 at Macy’s. “I’m a last minute person,” he said. “I enjoy going out and watching everyone run around.” — AP

LONDON: A pedestrian walks past a new artwork by British graffiti artist Banksy on the side of a building in east London. Britain’s economy grew by a higher-thanexpected 0.6 percent in the third quarter, a revised estimate from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday. — AFP

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BUSINESS

Iran denies banning trade finance for imports from UAE TEHRAN: Iran denied yesterday reports that the country had prohibited financing for imports of products from the United Arab Emirates.

“Banking transactions between Iran and UAE are being continued as

before and they have not stopped,” state TV reported. An Iranian lawmaker said on Friday the country had banned the opening of letters of credit for importing products from UAE. A letter of credit is a form of

financing used in international trade for deals between a supplier in one country and a customer in another.

While some Western countries have imposed tight sanctions on trade with Iran over its disputed

nuclear programme, the UAE has served as a conduit for trade between Iran and other countries.

But Western pressure may be mounting on the UAE and other of Iran’s neighbours to limit that trade.

Kuwait revenues well ahead of target lion, down 12% y/y. The cost of fuel incurred by the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) typically makes up more than two thirds of

maintenance and land purchases, reached KD 553 million 7 months into FY11/12, which marks the second year of the development plan.

this category. We suspect that the decline is related to reporting delays which typically are adjusted or corrected as we approach yearend. lSpending on chapter 3, vehicles and equipment, was a mere KD 56 million, slightly down y/y. This chapter remains a small (and volatile) spending category with minimal impact on aggregate figures. lSpending on chapter 4, projects,

This vital chapter is down a notable 15% y/y, yet at 23% of budget remains in line with the historic average and behavior. Here again, spending (or reporting) generally picks up towards the close of the year. l Chapter 5, transfers and miscellaneous expenditures, came at KD 3.2 billion, up 6% compared to the same period of FY10/11. At 35% of

budget, spending on this chapter seems to be falling behind historic trends mostly due to delays in some transfer payments. Meanwhile; the largest increase came from transfers to social security (PIFSS) but the ministry of defense also showed a notable increase (KD 103 million) reflecting the salary increases of military personel which were approved by the government last year (military salaries fall under Chapter 5). l Revenues reached KD 16.3 billion, well surpassing the budget figure for the whole year. The increase was largely driven by strong oil receipts. Kuwait export crude (KEC) averaged around $105 pb in the first 7 months of FY11/12, well above the average oil price during the same period of FY10/11. lNon-oil revenues totaled KD 897 million, up 37% y/y. The increases were led by “miscellaneous revenues and fees” most likely due to compensation payments from the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC). Kuwait received two large payments from the UNCC so far in FY11/12. Meanwhile, “land sales” and “property fees”, though small categories, saw decent growth likely related to improved real estate sales this year.

Monetary developments l During October, money supply M2 expanded KD 120 million or 0.4% m/m after a major increase the previous month. This was primarily from an increase in local currency deposits. M1 also rose KD 154 million (+2.4% m/m). l Outstanding credit to residents was up KD 89 million in October, following last month’s strong KD 135 million gain. In line with previous months, personal facilities continue to drive this growth. Since December, total bank credit is up KD 290 million (+1.1%). l Personal facilities, excluding loans for the purchase of securities, had a very strong gain this month of KD 107 million (+7.5% ytd). This was mainly due to an increase of KD 84 million from consumer/installment loans, which saw their biggest monthly gain since December 2007. Unlike the past two

months, October saw little activity outside the consumer sector except for real estate.

Real estate loans gained for the fourth consecutive month increasing 4.2% year-todate. l Non-consumer credit declined across sectors. Loans to the productive sectors (trade, industry, and construction) fell by KD 49 million after seeing some gains in previous months. Meanwhile, loans to non-bank financial institutions as well as for the purchase of securities fell KD 38 million and KD 9 million, respectively. l Resident deposits were up KD 119 million in October, which is less than a quarter of last month’s gain. The increase came mainly from local currency sight deposits. Low interest rates are driving the shift from long term to sight deposits. Year-on-year, resident

deposits were up KD 2.2 billion or 9.1%. liquid assets increased by KD 243 million in October (+3.6% m/m) following no change the previous month. The increase appeared mainly in cash and balances at the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and in inter-bank deposits. Meanwhile, time deposits with the CBK were down significantly, more than offsetting September’s increase. Banks saw a rise of KD 566 million in their total assets in October, largely from the increase in liquid assets and foreign assets. l The average rates offered on KD private deposits fell 2 to 3 basis points (bps) this month across all maturities. The 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month rates were 0.84%, 1.05%, 1.31%, and 1.61%, respectively. l Banks’

tries - totalled 19.5 billion dirhams ($5.3 billion) in the first six months of this year, up from 14.3 billion dirhams a year earlier. Dubai in the UAE has a large community of Iranian traders. —Reuters

China announces currency swap with Pakistan BEIJING: China announced a currency swap with Pakistan yesterday in a new step to gradually expand use of its tightly controlled yuan abroad. Beijing has begun allowing limited use of yuan in trade with Hong Kong and Southeast Asia in a move that could help to boost exports. It has signed swap currency deals with central banks in Thailand, Argentina and some other countries.

The Chinese central bank said it agreed Friday with its Pakistani counterpart to swap 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) for 140 billion Pakistani rupees.

It said the money would promote investment and trade but gave no details of how it would be used.

Such agreements give central banks access to each other’s currency but commercial banks still need to create systems to issue letters of credit and handle other transactions in those currencies before companies can use them. The United States and other trading partners complain Beijing’s controls on the yuan keep it undervalued, giving its exporters an unfair price advantage and hurting foreign

Spending pace slightly behind historic trend KUWAIT: Total government spending was KD 6 billion, seven months into the fiscal year 2011/12 (FY11/12). Year on year (y/y) growth in total expenditures was 2%, while growth in demand-impacting spending was a stronger 7% and is expected to accelerate in the second half. lTotal revenues were up a strong 41% y/y mostly driven by higher oil prices and receipts. At KD 16.2 billion, they were well ahead of the budgeted numbers for the full FY11/12. So far, Kuwait’s budget reveals a massive surplus of KD 10.2 billion. We forecast a similar surplus for the entire fiscal year (as spending picks up later in the year). l Total expenditures were KD 6 billion, and came at 31% of FY11/12 budget, slightly behind the 5-year average for October. However; spending should generally pick up towards end of the year. l Spending on chapter 1, wages and salaries, reached KD 1.3 billion, an increase of 15% from the comparable period of FY10/11. Salary hikes that were approved last year by the government on top of the usual annual raises drove the increase in spending on this chapter. l Spending on chapter 2, goods and services, came at KD 996 mil-

Recent data from the UAE customs authority shows that re-export trade between Iran and the UAE - goods sent to the UAE for on-shipment to Iran and Iranian goods sent to the UAE for on-shipment to other coun-

competitors at a time when the global economy is struggling.

Some American lawmakers are demanding punitive tariffs on Chinese goods if Beijing fails to move more quickly in easing its controls.

Expanded use of the yuan abroad would reduce costs for Chinese traders who do most of their business in dollars and euros. It also might increase the appeal of Chinese goods for foreign buyers who have yuan to spend.

Beijing also has created a market for yuan-denominated bonds in Hong Kong. It said last week that some foreign investors who obtain yuan abroad would be allowed to invest them in China’s stock markets.

The Chinese central bank announced a currency swap agreement with Thailand this week and has carried out swaps with Argentina and Kazakhstan.

It has pledged to lend yuan to some other countries’ central banks in case of emergencies. Chinese leaders say they plan eventually to allow the yuan to trade freely abroad but analysts say it might be decades before that is completed. —AP

US delays decision in China solar case until Feb WASHINGTON: The US Commerce Department is giving itself an extra month to investigate charges of unfair Chinese government subsidies in a case brought by the US unit of German solar energy company SolarWorld, a department official said on Friday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department will issue its preliminary decision on counter vailing duties on Feb. 14, instead of around Jan. 12 as originally scheduled. The high-profile case has further strained US trade relations with China, with Beijing slamming any move by Washington to impose duties on Chinese -made solar panels as “protectionist.”

In addition, many companies that install solar panels in the United States are opposed to duties and have urged Solar World to drop the case, which they say threatens the

viability of solar power compared to other fuels. The United States imported $1.5 billion of the solar products in 2010, up from $640 million in 2009.

SolarWorld Industries Americas has accused China of providing a long list of subsidies to help Chinese solar cell and panel manufacturers grab market share. Industry officials on both sides of the case had expected the Commerce Depar tment to delay its preliminar y decision on countervailing duties to offset the alleged subsidies because of the complexity of the case.

SolarWorld also is seeking additional anti-dumping duties of more than 100 percent to offset what it says are unfair pricing practices by its Chinese competitors. The Commerce Department is scheduled to make its preliminary decision on anti-dumping duties in late March. —Reuters

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 Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4340000 .3620000 .2970000 .2690000 .2800000 .0040000 .0020000 .0752410 .7330540 .3810000 .0710000 .7186270 .0040000 .0430000

.2805000 .4440000 .3730000 .3080000 .2790000 .2900000 .0070000 .0035000 .0759970 .7404210 .4010000 .0770000 .7258490 .0072000 .0520000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2771500 .2792500 GB Pound/KD .4361090 .4394140 Euro .3642030 .3669620 Swiss francs .2990720 .3013380 Canadian dollars .2710250 .2730780 Danish Kroner .0489970 .0493680 Swedish Kroner .0406460 .0409540 Australian dlr .2828870 .2850300 Hong Kong dlr .0356250 .0358950 Singapore dlr .2147780 .2164060 Japanese yen .0035670 .0035940 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0053390 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0024590 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0031170 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0034600 UAE dirhams .0754870 .0760590 Bahraini dinars .7354390 .7410110 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .3949790 Saudi Riyal/KD .0739260 .0744870 Omani riyals .7201510 .7256070 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0064420

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.598 5.337 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

GCC COUNTRIES 74.150 76.402 722.230 738.540 75.715

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 47.500 46.282 1.272 189.860 392.670 1.865 6.003 33.814

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.950 Euro 370.650 Sterling Pound 431.930 Canadian dollar 268.420 Turkish lire 153.940 Swiss Franc 300.620 Australian dollar 277.000 US Dollar Buying 277.750

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

SELL CASH 287.300 742.260 3.870 277.800 548.200 44.500 50.000 167.800 48.100 369.200 36.560 5.660 0.032 0.212 0.243 3.670 396.370 0.189 90.570 46.600 4.290 220.100 1.808

47.800 724.970 3.270 6.700 77.210 74.520 216.930 36.970 2.659 439.500 41.500 301.900 5.100 9.330 198.263 76.100 279.500 1.340

724.790 3.130 6.420 76.780 74.520 216.930 36.970 2.450 437.500 300.400 5.100 9.120 76.000 279.100

10 Tola

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 437.500 279.100

Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL DRAFT 285.800 742.260 3.440 276.300

216.900 46.387 366.700 36.410 5.290 0.031

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro 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

288.33 276.64 305.31 369.92 441.29 3.64 3.455 5.257 2.443 3.316 3.100 75.77 740.40 46.23 396.00 723.41 76.76 74.32

286.00 278.00 305.00 372.00 443.00 3.70 3.820 5.600 2.650 4.000 3.310 76.25 740.00 48.10 395.00 725.00 77.20 74.95

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 395.490 0.188 90.570 3.330 218.600

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate 278.950 273.160 433.935 365.820 297.605 738.695

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

75.925 76.570 74.345 392.660 46.390 2.446 5.299 3.121 3.462 6.351 684.255 3.670 8.980 5.875 3.310 92.660

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

GOLD 1,684.550

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

GOLD 315.500 159.000 81.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 278.850 Pak Rupees 3.105 Indian Rupees 5.260 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.455 Bangladesh Taka 3.475 Philippines Peso 6.385 UAE Dirhams 76.010 Saudi Riyals 74.505 Bahraini Dinars 741.200 Egyptian Pounds 46.395 Pound Sterling 438.200 Indonesian Rupiah 3.190 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Jordanian Dinars 396.100 Syrian Pounds 5.750 Euro 368.400 Canadian Dollars 273.300 Nepali rupee 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 277.950 Euro 368.300 Pound Sterling 439.800 Canadian Dollar 273.700 Japanese Yen 3.580 Indian Rupee 5.285 Egyptian Pound 46.170 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.441 Bangladesh Taka 3.420 Philippines Peso 6.365 Pakistan Rupee 3.095 Bahraini Dinar 740.200 UAE Dirham 75.750 Saudi Riyal 74.300 *Rates are subject to change

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Taiwan industry, banks back Thai flood recovery efforts BANGKOK: A delegation of Taiwanese bankers will visit Thailand next week to offer help to both Taiwanese and local businesses that were hit by the floods. The assistance will include low-interest loans for business restoration, said Gary Yang, director of the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Yang said he had urged TAMI members to give priority to Thai customers, especially for machinery replacement, so factories here can return to normal operations as soon as possible.

“Despite the recent flood crisis, I’m still confident in the Thai market. I still believe that Thailand will enjoy positive economic growth and there will be no repeat of this flood incident. Taiwanese machinery suppliers will do their best to stand by Thai factories and distributors,” he said.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council

(Taitra) joined with 53 Taiwanese manufacturers showcasing their business capabilities at the Metalex 2011 fair at Bitec Bang Na, which kicked off on Wednesday and ends today. A huge pavilion, occupying more than 1,700 square metres, demonstrated state-of-the-art machine tools and technologies for factory restoration.

Taiwan has participated in the Metalex exhibition in Thailand since 1997. The Taiwanese pavilion has occupied the largest space at the show for many years. The objective is to promote Taiwanese machinery among Thai factory operators and take the lead in sales via face-to-face communication.

According to Taitra, the value of machinery imported to Thailand from Taiwan last year exceeded Bt2.5 billion (US$79 million). The major categories imported are machining centres at Bt1.14 billion,

lathes at Bt930 million, and drilling/tapping devices at Bt390 million.

Taiwan is the second-largest machinery exporter to Thailand behind Japan. Machinery imports from Taiwan increased by 7.76 per cent in the JanuaryOctober period this year compared with the same period in 2010.

According to the Thai Machinery Association, machinery imports from Taiwan will increase significantly, by at least 10 per cent, because of damage caused by the recent floods.

Japan is still the leader in the machine-tool market in Thailand, especially among multinational manufacturers, whose equipment-purchase decisions are determined by their overseas headquarters. Taiwan, however, targets local manufacturers, particularly medium-sized companies, whose decisions are

made by Thai management.

At Metalex this week, manufacturers have had a chance to experience new, efficient technologies and capabilities of world-class machines and tools and to consult on best practices for restoring floodhit factories.

Taitra director Justin CK Tai said the event was also a good opportunity for Taiwanese business operators to take part in providing assistance and suggestions to all manufacturers in Thailand that have been hit hard by the floods. The council therefore invited 53 leading machine-tool manufacturers to showcase their machines and technologies, which have been recognised by many international manufacturers as world-class. The showcase covered all industrial sectors and offered reasonable prices, he said. — dpa

Cuba wraps up dramatic year of economic change Lives transformed, dreams realized

BEIJING: A construction worker walks before buildings of the Beijing skyline. Home prices in most major Chinese cities fell in November from the previous month, official data showed December 18, as government efforts to cool the red-hot property market prove effective. — AFP

Greek strikers close Acropolis over Christmas ATHENS: Hundreds of tourists were barred from visiting the Athens Acropolis on Christmas Eve after the site’s guards called a strike to demand overdue weekend pay.

Visitors had to resort to taking photos of themselves outside the monument’s shuttered gates on Saturday, peering through the bars to get a look at the 5th century BC temple.

“It kind of sucks because this is one of your main sites here ... It throws off our whole weekend,” said Anita Amin, 25, a tourist from the United States. Greece has been hit by a wave of strikes provoked by cuts imposed by its debt-laden government to meet the terms of lifeline bailout deals from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

The country’s vital tourism industry has already taken a hit from walkouts by taxi

drivers and other key workers. Guards at many other archaeological sites across Greece went on strike on Saturday, saying they would stay home every weekend until the government hands out the two months of weekend pay it owes them.

“We are working people. We have seen our salaries greatly reduced because of the economic crisis and we can’t keep working without getting paid,” said the president of the guards’ union, Yannis Mavrikopoulos.

The Acropolis is the leading attraction in a tourism industry which accounts for almost a fifth of the country’s ailing economy. “Considering that tourism is one of the main incomes for the country, I think that they should find another way to express their disappointment with their employers,” said Eduardo Gouveia, 34, a visitor from Brazil. — Reuters

MADRID: Spain’s new Economy Minister Luis de Guindos arrives at the Moncloa Palace for the new conservative Spanish government’s first cabinet meeting in Madrid, yesterday. — AP

Industrial metals and crops end week higher NEW YORK: Industrial metals ended the week higher on growing optimism that economic growth will strengthen in the United States. Copper for March delivery rose 5.4 cents to $3.4695 per pound. That leaves copper almost 4 percent higher for the week. March palladium rose $11.85 to $666.25 an ounce, putting it up about 6.5 percent since Monday.

Industrial metals tend to rise when traders think economic activity will increase. Factories buy copper and palladium to make everything from televisions to building materials for new housing construction. Hopes of stronger growth were stoked Friday after Congress extended a payroll tax holiday for workers and emergency unemployment benefits. Analysts had worried that economic growth could have fallen by about 1 percent if the programs were allowed to expire at the end of the year.

The news came a day after the Department of Labor said the number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level since April 2008. A weak job market has restrained consumer spending since 2008,

so any rebound in hiring could increase demand. In other trading, crop prices were also higher. Crops tend to rise when traders think stronger economic growth will spur demand for both food and crop-based fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. January soybeans rose 7.5 cents to $11.725 per bushel.

That puts soybeans nearly 3 percent higher for the week.

March wheat rose 0.25 cents to finish at $6.22 per bushel, putting it 6 percent higher for the week. March corn rose 2 cents to $6.195 per bushel, also up 6 percent since Monday.

Precious metals were mixed. Gold for February delivery fell $4.60 to end at $1,606 an ounce, leaving it nearly flat for the week.

March silver gained 3.7 cents to end at $29.084 an ounce, down 2 percent for the week. January platinum gained $5.10 to $1,429.50 an ounce.

Benchmark oil rose 15 cents to finish at $99.68 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Heating oil lost 1.59 cents to end at $2.8995 per gallon, gasoline futures rose 4.13 cents to $2.6781 per gallon and natural gas lost 5.5 cents to $3.114 per 1,000 cubic feet. — AP

HAVANA: A year at the vanguard of Cuba’s economic revival has not brought Julio Cesar Hidalgo riches. The fledgling pizzeria owner has had his good months, but the restaurant he opened with his girlfriend often runs at a loss. At times, they can’t afford to buy basic ingredients.

Yet the wide-faced 31-year-old says he is grateful to be in business at all. A year ago, Hidalgo was concocting chalky pastries in a Spartan state-run bakery where employees and managers competed to pilfer eggs, flour and olive oil, the only way to make ends meet on salaries of just $15 a month. Today, he is his own boss, a taxpayer, employer and entrepreneur.

“I think my expectations were met because in Cuba today I couldn’t have hoped for anything more,” he said one recent December afternoon as his girlfriend, Giselle de la Noval, served customers. “We survived.”

Hidalgo’s story is mirrored by many of the entrepreneurs The Associated Press has followed since January in a yearlong effort to document Communist Cuba’s awkward embrace of freemarket reforms.

Their experiences - like the reforms themselves - cannot be described as an unmitigated success. Of the dozen fledgling business owners, including restaurateurs, a DVD salesman, two cafe owners, a seamstress, a manicurist and a gymnasium operator, three have closed down or begun working for someone else, and one has been harassed by her former state employers.

None could be considered successful by nonCuban standards.

But despite their struggles, many tell of lives transformed, dreams realized, attitudes changed, and doors opened that had been closed for more than half a century.

For Hidalgo, personal hardships have added to the challenges of starting a business on a Marxist island that has looked askance at entrepreneurship since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution turned a one-time capitalist playground into a Soviet satellite.

After suffering through a slow, hot, summer when nobody wanted a pizza, Hidalgo had to close for two months to care for his grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Even while the business was shuttered, he and de la Noval had to make tax and social security payments, wiping out the few hundred dollars they had saved.

They reopened in late November with so little money they can’t always afford to serve their house special.

“We’ve had to start from scratch, but the only reason we didn’t lose the business altogether is because we were disciplined,” said de la Noval, 23. “Before we did anything, we always put away the money we needed to pay the state.”

A year that President Raul Castro described as make or break for the revolution is ending after a dramatic flurry of once-unthinkable reforms that are transforming economic and social life. In October, the government legalized a used car market, and a month later extended it to real estate, sweeping away decades of prohibitions.

On Tuesday, the state began extending bank credits to new business owners and those hoping to repair their homes.

But one of the most powerful reforms was Castro’s decision last year to greatly expand the ranks of the self-employed, part of a somewhat unsuccessful effort to trim bloated state payrolls.

Some 355,000 people have received licenses to start their own businesses, and the results can be seen and heard everywhere. On nearly every street in Havana and in thousands of hamlets and towns across Cuba, makeshift signs and bright parasols mark the entrances of new businesses, and the long-lost cries of curbside vendors hawking everything from fruit and vegetables to mops and household repair services fill the warm Caribbean air.

“The reforms have advanced, perhaps not quickly enough considering the problems that have accumulated, but they have advanced, one after another, and there is no sign that they will stop or be rolled back,” said Omar Everleny Perez, the head of Havana University’s Center for Cuban Economic Studies.

The government has declined to release any statistics on tax revenue or payroll savings from the reforms, except for an October report in the Communist Party newspaper Granma that said tax revenue from new businesses had tripled.

Cuban leaders this month lowered their forecast for economic growth for 2011 to just 2.7 percent - from the 3 percent originally hoped for - an extremely poor showing for a developing country. By contrast, China is forecast to grow by about 9 percent in 2011, Vietnam by between 6 and 6.5 percent and Brazil by 3.8 percent.

Private business owners have complained about the high taxes they must pay, the lack of raw materials and the fact they are suddenly sur-

rounded by competitors. Because most entrepreneurs don’t have the capital to start innovative businesses, many have opened cafeterias, nail parlors, small roadside kiosks and the like.

Anisia Cardenas, a seamstress, is among more than 100,000 Cubans who have held private business licenses since the 1990s, the island’s last experiment with the free market. In the latest reform, she decided to expand, paying $2 a day to rent the front porch space of a neighbor’s house to set up her sewing machine.

But business was slow - and competition from new license holders fierce. Within a few months she had to retreat to her tiny apartment.

By the summer, she began to wonder if she might have to close down, unable to meet the $19 monthly tax payments. By December, she had gone to work as an employee for another seamstress.

“Things are hard,” said Cardenas, who is trying

are not major changes,” he said. “Cuba has tremendous difficulties. This is a marathon, and they are taking baby steps.”

Romeu, who has worked around the world studying emerging economies, said that Cuba is moving much more deliberately than the Chinese did when they began opening their economy in the late 1970s, or the Vietnamese a decade later.

Cuba’s predicament is somewhat different, as well. Both China and Vietnam were deeply agrarian economies whose challenge was lifting tens of millions out of crushing poverty, Romeu said.

Cuba is a more urban country with an aging population whose citizens have gotten used to benefits including health care and education, but who have grown accustomed to a system that doesn’t make them work for such middleclass perks.

“In Cuba, the challenge is sustaining the mid-

HAVANA: Cuban President Raul Castro (R) and his grandson and bodyguard Raul Dominguez Castro, read a document during the second annual session of the National Assembly, at the Conventions Palace in Havana. Cuba’s National Assembly opened its second annual session Friday with plans to take up economic reforms. — AFP to save money for her daughter’s 15th birthday party in January. “Everything is very expensive.”

Others complain of rules that are often illogical, and state employers who still view entrepreneurship with suspicion.

Maria Regla Saldivar is a black belt in taekwondo who got a license to give private lessons to neighborhood kids in a scruffy park across the street from her job. She began the year with dreams of persuading the government to let her turn an abandoned dry-cleaning warehouse into a private recreation center.

But the government refused to grant her a lease. Then her bosses at Cuba’s National Sports Institute docked her pay because they said her outside work was affecting her performance.

She quit. Finally, her former boss prohibited her from using the park for martial arts lessons, which are technically prohibited. The government considers it potentially deadly training, even though most of Saldivar’s students are not even teenagers yet.

“It’s called envy,” Saldivar said of her boss. She insists she is not teaching taekwondo, slyly calling the discipline “Quimbumbia” - a word of her own invention. She has moved classes for her 14 students into the tiny covered patio in the back of the apartment she shares with her teenage daughter.

But Saldivar says she has no regrets about how the year has unfolded. She says making business decisions for herself has increased her self-esteem, and she is thrilled that she’s managed to put away 2,000 pesos ($80), about four months salary at an average state job.

“You may laugh, but for me it’s a lot of money,” she said, running her coarse fingers over the stripes on a pair of sky-blue track suit bottoms she bought. “I’ve wanted these for so long and now I have them. I look like a proper trainer now, not someone out picking mangoes from a tree.”

Rafael Romeu, the head of the Washington, D.C.-based Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, said Castro has “changed the conversation” since taking over from his ailing brother in 2006, pushing the leadership to get the island’s economic house in order rather than blaming external factors such as the 49-year U.S. travel and trade embargo.

But so far, the changes don’t go far enough to revive Cuba’s moribund economy. “These are positive steps but when you say them out loud, just think about it. ... You are allowed to have a cellphone, you are allowed to buy a home, you are allowed to buy a car or have a microenterprise. This is not the fall of the Berlin Wall. These

dle class, not creating one,” Romeu said. Still, some reforms seem to be moving along more quickly than many analysts had hoped. Business is booming at a street corner long known as the center of Havana’s informal real estate market.

Only now, the handwritten listings on trees openly advertise legal home sales, instead of disguising them as property “swaps.”

Mendez Rodriguez, an unofficial real estate broker, said the buying and selling is aboveboard, controlled by a relatively untangled bureaucracy. “Everything is by the law now,” said Rodriguez, even if his profession is not officially licensed. He and other so-called facilitators work for “gifts” left to the discretion of their clients, he said. Rumors that real estate brokers would be the latest addition to the list of 181 licensed entrepreneurial activities have not come to pass, but there’s still hope the profession will be added in 2012. Rodriguez said the opening seems to have led to a steep increase in prices, with a home worth $20,000 a couple of months ago going for 50 percent more today.

That’s the kind of price jump many of the new struggling business owners say they could use. Javier Acosta has sunk more than $30,000 he saved as a waiter into his own upscale establishment, and says business is far from booming.

“This has been a hard year, a year of sacrifice,” he said. “There are days when nobody comes, or when I have just one or two tables, and then there are days when the place is filled.”

He said his costs run to about $1,000 a month, and when business is slow he struggles to break even. Yet the reforms, he says, have changed the face of Cuba, and cynical countrymen who doubt the opening will be lasting must wake up to a new reality.

“After 50 years where everything was prohibited it takes time to change people’s minds and make them understand that this time is different,” he said, sitting in his empty second-floor restaurant one recent afternoon. “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

Despite his struggles, Acosta says he would take the risk again if given the chance, a sentiment shared by Hidalgo and de la Noval. They had hoped to close on New Year’s Eve, which Cubans of means celebrate with a traditional feast of pork leg, yucca, black beans and sweets. Hidalgo said the family simply doesn’t have enough saved to take the night off after its year of trials and tribulations. Instead, he’s planning to keep the pizzeria open late and celebrate on the job with his girlfriend and his aunt at his side. — AP

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

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KSE ended last week in red BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the red zone. The price index ended last week with a decrease amounted to 0.50%, while the weighted index retreated by 1.41% compared to the closings of the week before. Furthermore, last week ’s average daily turnover decreased by 37.163%, compared to the preceding week, reaching K.D 14.65 million, whereas trading volume average was 120.39 million shares, recording decrease of 33.45%. KSE performance marked with hesitation, as a result of the succession of speculations and profit taking, both of them were concentrated on the small stocks, but also included, many of the leading stocks in several sectors. On the other hand, the leading stocks suffered from notable selling pressure, especially for Banks and Non-Kuwaiti Companies sectors. As a result, the weighted index

recorded bigger loss than the price index.

In addition, some investment groups practiced selective buying deals; few of it was to improve some stocks prices before the end of the year.

The buying deals managed to lighten the market losses. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 5,794.3 points, down by 0.50% from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index regis-

tered a 1.41% weekly loss after closing at 401.90 points. KSE total market capitalization declined by 1.42% during last week to reach KD 28.28 billion, as five of KSE’s sectors recorded a decrease in their respective market capitalization, whereas the other three recorded increases.

The Non Kuwaiti Companies sector headed the decliners list as its total market capitalization reached KD 1.60 billion, decreasing by 5.23%. The Services sector was the second in terms of recorded decline with 1.81% decrease after the total value of its listed companies reached K.D. 7 billion. The third place was for the Banks sector, which total market capitalization reached KD 12.60 billion by the end of the week, recording a decline of 1.45%. The investment sector was the least declining with 0.29% recorded decrease after its market capitalization amounted to K.D.

2.10 million. On the other hand, the Insurance sector headed the growing sectors as its total market capitalization reached K.D. 297.64 million, increasing by 2.28%. The Food sector was the second in terms of recorded growth with 0.42% increase after the total value of its listed companies reached K.D. 707.27 million.

The third place was for the Real Estate sector, which total market capitalization reached K.D. 1.72 billion by the end of the week, recording an increase of 0.17%.

During the past week, a total of 9,555 contracts were executed on some 601.95 million shares, with a total value of KWD 73.23 million. Out of 214 listed companies, the total number of issues that participated to the week’s trade counted to 214; of which, a number of 41 issues closed higher, 62 ended with losses while 111 issues remain unchanged.

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Santa rally may face test next week WALL STREET WEEKLY OUTLOOK NEW YORK: Get ready. The last trading week of the year will be a test for stocks to prove whether they have the strength to carry a rally into next year. The broad S&P 500 index broke through its 200-day moving average on Friday after turning positive for the year as a four-day rally lifted stocks following a spell of betterthan- expected economic data. At Friday’s close, the S&P 500 was up 0.6 percent for the year.

But despite the recent economic data that suggest the US economy is on the right track to recovery, Europe’s sovereign debt crisis is troubling investors and weighing on the market. Many market participants are reluctant to believe in a

“Santa Claus rally” this year, which refers to stocks’ seasonal tendency to gain in the final five trading days of the year and first two trading days of the new year.

Warnings from major credit rating agencies on a potential downgrade of several European nations have kept investors on edge. After Standard & Poor’s surprised financial markets back in August with a downgrade of the United States’ triple-A credit rating on a Friday evening, investors worry a similar move could come at any time - even between Christmas and New Year’s.

But the absence of European sovereign bond auctions for the next two weeks could lend support to stocks. “The fact

that there won’t be a (European) bond auction until the second week of January, that takes away some spotlight from Europe, at least for a little while,” TD Ameritrade chief derivatives strategist J.J. Kinahan said.

“Unless we get earth-shattering news, the S&P could go up to (the) 1,300 levels,” he said. The S&P 500 closed Friday at 1,265.33. The correlation between US stocks and European sovereign bond yields has been high, especially the link with Spanish, Italian and German bonds.

A poor bond auction in any one of these countries could trigger an instant selloff in the US stock market.

What happens next week is important

as it sets a tone for the coming year. “If Santa should fail to call, bears may come to Broad & Wall,” so goes the Wall Street adage, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac.

Ari Wald, a technical strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman, said the key level on the S&P 500 to watch is 1,260, which is a resistance from the index’s downward sloping 200-day moving average and the downtrend connecting its October and December peaks.

“A breakout above this supply would argue for continued seasonal strength through the first quarter of 2012,” he said.

He also noted that 1,200 is support from the index’s downward sloping 100-day

moving average and the uptrend connecting its October & November lows.

“A breach of this demand could stir additional technical selling to 1,130-1,150 intermediate-term support,” Wald said.

With many investors absent until the start of 2012, trading volume is expected to be light, creating more volatility.

Next week’s data includes the S&P 500 Case-Shiller House Price Index and consumer confidence data on Tuesday.

The Chicago Purchasing M anagers Index and pending home sales data are due Thursday. After a strong gain in November, the Chicago index is seen giving back a modest amount in December.— Reuters

OPEC to accommodate increased Libyan output International sanctions affect Syria: Oil minister

ERFURT: People with shopping bags cross a street in Erfurt, central Germany. German business and consumer confidence ended 2011 on a high note despite ongoing fears about the European economy, two closely watched surveys showed last Tuesday. — AP

Job growth is lifting hopes for consumer spending WASHINGTON: Consumer spending and incomes barely rose last month. Business investment has slowed. New-home sales remain dismal. Despite all that, some economists say a brightening US job market is lifting their hopes for 2012.

More aggressive hiring, the thinking goes, would fuel enough spending to boost the economy.

Economists point to a big drop reported this week in applications for unemployment benefits, the third straight decline. Applications are now at their lowest level since April 2008. The trend is signaling that layoffs have all but stalled and that employers may be ready to step up hiring. Unemployment, after hovering around 9 percent for more than two years, dropped in November to 8.6 percent. Employers have added at least 100,000 jobs each month from July through November. It’s the best such streak since 2006. Ian Shepherdson, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics, said he expects the economy to grow at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the current October-December quarter.

That would be the best performance in a year. More jobs would mean more income. More pay tends to raise consumer spending, which makes up about 70 percent of the economy. Companies then have reason to increase hiring to meet stronger demand.

“We are hopeful that the plunge in jobless claims signals exactly that,” Shepherdson said in a research note Friday. Chris G. Christopher Jr., senior economist at IHS Global Insight, noted that many households are still struggling with slight or no pay increases.

“But gasoline prices have been falling, and that is giving them more money to spend on other items,” he said. The government said Friday that consumer spending rose just 0.1 percent in November, matching the increase in October. Incomes also rose a scant 0.1 percent. Modest as they were, economists said the figures at least signaled that incomes and spending aren’t stalling. Healthier economic data in recent weeks have helped make the prospect of another US recession seem more remote - as long as Europe’s debt crisis doesn’t trigger a catastrophe that infects the global economy.

Some economists trimmed their forecasts for growth based on the weakerthan-expected consumer spending data for November. But they said they still expected the economy to expand at a solid annual rate of 3 percent in the current October-December quarter. It would be the best showing since the spring of 2010. “We are seeing some momentum going into the new year,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial. “At least we are not in a tight

spot where we are still worried about relapsing into recession.”

Hoffman said that a major source of uncertainty for 2012 was removed this week with Congress’ agreement to extend a Social Security tax cut for 160 million workers - for two months, anyway. As part of the deal, Congress also renewed benefits for the long-term unemployed. If that hadn’t happened, millions of unemployed people would have begun to lose weekly checks averaging about $300 - the main source of income for most of them.

And if the payroll tax cut and the long-term unemployment benefits hadn’t been renewed for 2012, economists said the modest growth of around 2.5 percent they expect next year would have been a full percentage point lower.

On Friday, the government also released a cautionary report on US manufacturing. Companies’ demand for long-lasting manufactured goods rose by the most in four months in November.

But so-called core capital goods, a gauge of business investment spending, dropped for a second straight month.

Still, analysts said that with demand for items such as autos still strong, they expect further gains in factory orders and production. In a third report, sales of new homes rose 1.6 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 315,000. Even with that small gain, 2011 is likely to end up as the worst year for new-home sales on records dating to 1963.

More significant for the economy was Friday’s report on incomes and spending in November. The scant income gain reflected a decline in wages and salaries.

They are the biggest component of incomes.

The sluggish rise in spending was held back by a 0.3 percent drop in spending on non-durable goods such as food, clothing and gasoline. Spending on durable goods rose 0.8 percent. The gain reflected solid auto sales in November.

Spending on services rose a modest 0.1 percent. This category includes such items as medical treatments and rent, The consumer spending report covers all items that households buy, including services, which make up about twothirds of spending. After-tax incomes showed no growth in November. The savings rate dipped to 3.5 percent of after-tax incomes, the lowest rate since late 2007. That shows consumers are having to tap their savings to finance their spending because of the weak income growth. The best antidote for that would be an increase in hiring now that fewer people are being laid off. “The jobless claims data point to stronger jobs growth emerging,” said John Ryding, an economist at RDQ Economics. — AP

CAIRO: There is a “gentlemen’s agreement” between OPEC members to accommodate increasing output from Libya, the North African country’s oil minister said yesterday. The comments by AbdulRahman bin Yazzah indicate that while there is no formal deal among members of the 12-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output, the producer group is willing to take the step as Libya’s production ramps up to pre-civil war levels of 1.6 million barrels per day.

“If the situation calls for it, they will meet,” bin Yazzah said, adding that the decision is dictated by supply and demand. But “there is a gentlemen’s agreement to accommodate Libya’s production,” he told reporters after a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OAPEC, in Cairo yesterday.

OPEC agreed Dec. 14 to raise its production ceiling to about 30 million barrels per day. The decision marked an increase from its earlier output target and was the first time it changed the ceiling in three years. The producer bloc has grappled for years with noncompliance by member with their allotted quotas. The situation became further muddled over the past year as Libya’s civil war ground production from that nation to a near standstill.

To offset the drop, other OPEC members, most notably Saudi Arabia, stepped with additional barrels. Libya is currently producing slightly more than 1 million barrels per day, the chairman of the National Oil Corp. Nouri Berruien said. The country expects to return to full production by mid -2012, he said - much quicker than analysts had anticipated.

Aside from accommodating

increased oil from Libya and Iraq, OPEC must also deal with an economic crunch in Europe where sovereign debt worries are squeezing growth forecasts and, in turn, dampening demand for oil.

If OPEC overproduced, or fails to curb its members’ production to adjust for Libya’s return to the market it could see prices fall below the $100 per barrel level favored by price hawks like Iran and Venezuela.

Others like bloc kingpin Saudi Arabia favor prices between $80-85 per barrel.

The US benchmark crude futures contract on Friday settled at $99.68 per barrel in New York, while it’s North Sea counterpart, Brent, settled at $107.96 a barrel in London.

Separately, Syria’s oil minister said that international sanction had affected oil production in the country. Sufian Allaw said that production was down by about 35 per-

cent, reaching 255,000 barrels per day. Allaw said Syria was no longer exporting crude and that European oil companies like Shell and Total had halted their operations in the country because of EU sanctions.

“We have no ability to export now” because of the sanctions, he said. The measures were imposed as Syria’s government comes under tremendous criticism for its deadly approach to dealing with protesters demanding the end of President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed since March, when the uprising began and the regime responded by deploying tanks and troops to crush protests across Syria.

Allaw said that current oil production effectively covered domestic refining capacity and that Syria still needed to import refined fuels.— AP

Dollar flat in holiday-thinned trade NEW YORK: The dollar was flat against the euro in holiday-thinned trade, as traders sought to cover positions ahead of the threeday US weekend. Investors continued to show more taste for the single currency after Italy accepted fresh austerity measures and following positive US jobs data, traders said.

The euro was stable at $1.3040 against $1.3050 in New York late Thursday. “A combination of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti’s success in gaining approval for his austerity package and continuing economic progress

in the US is the catalyst for the markets drive at present,” said Spreadex trader Jordan Lambert.

Italy’s senators gave their approval on Thursday to austerity tax increases and pension reforms in a bid to avoid bankruptcy for the eurozone’s third-biggest economy as a recession looms. Trade continued to get a bounce from news that US new claims for jobless benefits last week fell to the lowest level since April 2008, with fewer layoffs in most states. Tepid data on US consumer income

and spending failed to dampen spirits ahead of the Christmas holiday weekend. Earlier in the day the dollar had weakened against the euro, amid more optimism. “The US dollar fell versus commodity-linked currencies in the North America trading session today amid a surge in risk appetite,” said Trang Nguyen of DailyFX. The dollar was virtually unchanged at 0.9370 Swiss francs and, while the pound strengthened to $1.5589 from $1.5673. The dollar bought 78.06 yen versus 78.15 the day before. — AFP

Singapore firms see potential in N Korea SINGAPORE: Singaporean Quek Chek Lan, 67, blazed the trail when he set up North Korea’s first fast-food restaurant in the capital Pyongyang in May 2009, and has expanded his business rapidly since. He now owns three fastfood restaurants - called Samtaesong or “three big stars” in Korean, and which sell hamburgers, french fries and waffles - as well as six convenience kiosks, a cold room for food storage, and a food-processing plant.

But for now, Quek is shelving his expansion plans until a clearer picture of the North’s new leadership emerges, following the death of “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il last Saturday at age 69. Kim’s youngest son Jong Un is poised to take over, but there are reports of a potential power struggle, and not much is known about the Swiss-educated successor’s inclination towards business.

Said Quek, who has also been trading metal and minerals with the North for over 25 years: “I’m sure the North Koreans have made plans to ensure a smooth transition. But I want to wait and see if the son will be friendly to businesses.”

Several Singaporean businessmen are also adopting a wait-and-see approach, but told The Straits Times that they are not writing off the communist North yet. They believe that new opportunities lie ahead amid the leadership change, and that the new leader could be more pro-business than his late father.

Tan Fuh Gih, 58, director of investment firm Kim Seng Holdings, is looking out for investment opportunities in the North, particularly in its oil and gas sectors. He owned a subsidiary chartering North Korean oil rigs to China for 11 years until he sold the business in 2006.

Despite challenges, such as inconsistent government policies and the frequent security risks triggered by the nuclear-armed “hermit kingdom”, Tan said foreign investors are sought-after by the North Koreans, especially for sectors that need skills and overseas contacts: “It can be quite lucrative, given the first-mover advantage, but it depends on one’s risk appetite.”

Mr Douglas Foo, boss of the Sakae Sushi chain, said he believes it will be “business as usual”, and he might step up talks with his North Korean business partners on plans to take his sushi outlets there and bring North Korean cui-

sine to Singapore.

Singaporean Geoffrey See, who founded Choson Exchange, a Singapore-registered nonprofit organisation focused on economic policy, business and legal training in North Korea, is hoping that more North Koreans will be able to visit Singapore on exchange programmes.

Analysts say opportunities could also arise for Singapore on the whole if the younger Kim, who is in his late 20s, decides to open up the country to more trade and economic development.

East Asian Institute assistant director Lye Liang Fook, who believes this could be a possible scenario, said: “It is the only sustainable way to prop up the regime, instead of relying on foreign aid.”

If it does, the North could look to tap on Singapore’s expertise in building industrial parks overseas, added Lye. Other factors cited in favour of Singapore are

its pro-business reputation and the long-running diplomatic ties with North Korea, since 1975. But Singapore remains the only Asean country without an envoy accredited to Pyongyang, with ties conducted through the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry and the North Korean embassy in Beach Road.

The latest figures on bilateral trade show it amounted to S$126.4 million (US$98 million) in the 10 months of 2008, compared with S$83.7 million in 2007.

Singapore’s key exports include paper articles, special fabrics products and aluminium, while it imports mostly cuttlefish, machine parts and electronic valves.

It is still early days to talk about opportunities, as Lye put it. “We don’t know whether Kim Jong Un will last. If he does, he will also have to send a strong message about economic reforms to attract investors,” he said. —dpa

ATHENS: The general manager of the Greek furniture company Coco-mat Costas Maltezos, 35, poses in his showroom in the northern Athens suburb in Kifissia.

The company sees itself as a model for overcoming the domestic Greek crisis, having just opened a store in Paris and planning to open one in Jeddah by the end of the year to sell is high-end organic products. — AFP

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GCC should continue enjoying abundant demand from China

Jet Airways honoured with ‘best domestic airline’ award by TAAI MUMBAI: Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, has been honoured with the ‘Best Domestic Airline’ award for 2011 by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) at their Diamond Jubilee Awards 2011 celebrations.

Ms Sonu Kripalani, Vice President- Sales (India), Jet Airways, received the award on behalf of the airline from Shri Subodh Kant Sahay, Union Minister for Tourism, at the TAAI Annual Awards held at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai, in the presence of several luminaries from the trade and travel industry.

According to Sudheer Raghavan, CCO, Jet Airways, “On behalf of Jet Airways, I would like to thank the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) for this honour.

Importantly, this award holds special significance as it is a recognition of our renowned service as acknowledged by the travel trade community, with whose con-

tinued support we will endeavour to make India a global tourism and business hub of choice.”

Jet Airways was selected based upon a vote of 1400 travel agents who are TAAI members. These TAAI Awards seek to recognize outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of travel and tourism in a responsible and sustainable manner. In August 2010, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award of the Year by the Travel Agents Association of India ( TAAI), by the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Chhagan Bhujbal at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai.

TAAI is a professional coordinating body of different segments of the travel and tourism industry, aimed at the development of the travel and tourism industry in India.

Absenteeism in the workplace ontrolling absenteeism has become a big concern for companies all over the globe today. Its causes are many but corrective measures can be implemented. The Middle East’s #1 Job Site, Bayt.com, offers you key information about absenteeism and how to deal with it.

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What is absenteeism and can it be measured?

Absenteeism is traditionally defined as a specific employee’s unavailability for work, when work is actually available for this specific employee. Absenteeism can fall under 3 broad categories: legal (such as public holidays), authorized (such as approved holidays) and unauthorized (also referred to as casual absence).

Unauthorized absence is what most organizations strive to avoid and keep to a minimum.

“Absence measurement” is essential in order for management to compare between individual absences and departmental absences. Measuring absence is critical to identify the different patterns of employee absence and target the variables affecting it.

There are various ways to measure absenteeism, the most commonly used are the “lost time rate” formula and the “individual frequency” formula.

Lost Time Rate= (Number of Working Days Lost /Total Number of Working Days)* 100 Individual Frequency= (Number of Absent Employees/Average Number of Employees)*100 Limitations do exist when trying to measure absenteeism, whether with data collection or data correctness; thus, managers should be alert to stay on top of such limitations and handle them with care and accuracy.

Why Does Absence Occur?

Work absenteeism occurs for many reasons. Its causes are mainly either personal or workplace related. The most common ones are the following: A) Personal: * Age: Proven research shows that older employees tend to be absent less frequently than younger ones (as time stabilizes them in their jobs and the thrill of an unauthorized day off no longer tempts them.) However, once an older employee is actually absent - usually for sickness leaves - the period of absenteeism is usually longer than that of a younger employee.

* Gender: Women tend to be absent more frequently than men usually, especially when they are responsible for the welfare of a family and have variables beyond their control to contend with. * Seniority: If an employee has been with a company for a long time, his/her absence level tends to become relatively lower. Fresh employees by contrast, are usually tempted to benefit from an “unauthorized” day off to relax and unwind. * Personal Attitude: Employees with solid work ethics value the contribution they make to their companies and rarely allow themselves to take unauthorized time off. On the other hand people with a poor work ethic don’t frequently carry the same amount of responsibility and do not feel obliged to show up to work every single day.

B) Workplace: * Job Stress: When a job is stressful, employees tend to take unauthorized casual days off in order to reduce their stress levels and get rid of tension. * Daily Job Routine: People with repetitive and monotonous jobs tend to take advantage of a casual absence to break free from their somewhat boring daily routine and engage in something more interesting for the day. * Job Satisfaction: This is interrelated to daily job routine. The more an employee is dissatisfied with his overall job functions, the more he absentees himself from work.

What you, as a company/manager, can DO about it: * Create a concise absence policy in order to bring down the employee absenteeism level. Make sure your statement is simple and straightforward before communicating it clearly across all organizational levels. * Communicate the costs of absenteeism appropriately to your department heads to make them aware of it being a serious issue that cannot be tolerated unless there is a valid reason. * Measure absenteeism regularly, monitor closely, and treat all employees and management alike vis-‡-vis absenteeism. * Take into consideration that employees could sometimes need to be absent “casually”, but commit yourself to digging deeper into the reasons behind their casual absence. * Recognize regular and punctual attendance whenever possible and reward it occasionally.

KUWAIT: With the Yuan appreciating by about 5% this year, the Chinese imports from GCC countries reached an average greater than 4% in the period between January and October of 2011, compared to an average of 3.3% in the same period of last year. That, happened despite the current political situations and the fact that oil prices hit historical highs this year.

In the case the Chinese Yuan continues to strengthen against the US dollar, the GCC should continue enjoying abundant demand from China.

China’s domestic currency, the yuan (CNY), has appreciated by about 5% against the US dollar this year alone. In other words, China’s purchasing power has strengthened in regards to buying US dollar-denominated assets.

Given that oil from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is only sold in US dollars, a result of the 1971 Nixon shock that led to OPEC’s agreement to sell its oil exclusively in US dollars in 1975, oil bought and imported from OPEC countries has become cheaper for China than for other importers. Made up of only twelve oil-producing countries, OPEC produces about 40% of the world’s total oil supply, with one third of its members originating from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Together, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar make up about half of OPEC’s total supply. Thus, the value of the US dollar has significant influence on GCC’s exported oil prices: demand for oil could ease if the US dollar appreciates too much, as other countries’ purchasing power gets reduced; or supply could get tightened if the GCC oil giants feel that their product could be sold at a fairer price, compared to the US dollar value. The following supply/demand fundamentals will continue to drive GCC countries’ growth, given oil receipts from exports are a major component of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Exports of other products are similarly affected since the GCC’s currencies are pegged to the US dollar, except for Kuwait whose currency is tied to a basket, the main component of which is the US dollar. The graph shows the foreign exchange rate of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar, and China’s imports from OPEC’s GCC countries as a percentage of total Chinese imports. As the yuan appreciated for more

than a year and a half, China increased its imports from OPEC’s GCC countries’ products.

The Jan-Oct 2010 average of China’s imports from OPEC’s GCC countries was about 3.3% of its total imports; in the same period this year, the share averaged more than 4%, the equivalent of a 20 billion dollar increase from last year. In a sense, the appreciation of the yuan has helped China consume more oil from the GCC, even though oil prices hit historical highs driven by supply fears during the Arab spring.

Indeed, China gained by buying oil at a relatively better price than the rest of the world, and OPEC’s GCC countries benefited by seeing their exports to China rise to unprecedented levels, in terms of both nominal levels and share of total Chinese imports, and in a year where Brent oil prices consistently remained above 100 US dollars per barrel. The current 4.6% of total Chinese imports coming from the GCC giants is the equivalent of 6.5 billion US dollars in November alone. This should be seen as a reassuring sign: if the US is under economic strain and the US dollar weakens, China, along with other Asian tigers, whose currencies could well be appreciating, can preserve demand for GCC’s exports.

As the European crisis continues to unfold, pushing its leading members closer to reces-

sionary territories, investors will naturally tend to park their capital in safer assets, such as US Treasury bonds and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen and the Swiss Franc, along with the US dollar. However, the Chinese yuan’s appreciation, among the few worldwide to strengthen against the US dollar year-todate, was because of the Chinese government’s maneuvering in the CNY. Given that China tends to devalue its currency in times of crises, a flattening, or even depreciation of the Chinese yuan, is a possible scenario in the medium term. In such a case, we could see two outcomes: (a) OPEC could attempt to lower the price of oil, as a means to boost demand, or (b) other countries with increasing purchasing power could fill the gap left by China (if any) - given Asian currencies already strongly depreciated this year. If Asian currencies do weaken further, it could boost EU demand, via cheaper imports, which would maintain demand for GCC’s oil. In the case the Chinese Yuan continues to strengthen against the US dollar, the GCC should continue enjoying abundant demand from China. In the end, however the scenario unravels, the GCC seems to be in a relatively better position than the rest of the world, even if a global meltdown materializes.

NBK best trade finance bank in Kuwait for 4th consecutive year KUWAIT: “We have selected the banks that are best serving the needs of corporations worldwide as they engage in cross-border trade” For the fourth consecutive year, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) was named the Best Trade Finance Bank in Kuwait in 2012 by Global Finance, the renowned international finance magazine.

“We have selected the banks that are best serving the needs of corporations worldwide as they engage in cross-border trade,” said Joseph D. Giarraputo, Global Finance president and publisher. “Now more than ever, the availability of trade finance at reasonable prices is crucial to the health of the global economy.”

NBK was among Global Finance’s annual survey for best trade finance banks along with major global banks such as Citi, BNP Paribas, UniCredit Group and Standard Chartered.

Criteria for choosing the winners included: transaction volume, scope of global coverage, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative technologies.

Global Finance highlighted NBK’s leadership status, thanks to its impressive performance, prudent management and conservative approach to risk. In 2011, NBK was named the Best Bank in the Middle East for the second consecutive year by the world’s premier finan-

cial voices: Global Finance, Euromoney and The Banker. NBK was also named one of the 50 safest banks in the world for the fourth time in a row. NBK enjoys the highest credit ratings in the region by international rating agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and

Fitch Ratings. It has the largest overseas network encompassing more than 180 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located in 17 countries spread over four continents, including 10 countries in the Middle East.

TEC platinum sponsor for 2012 HORECA

Khalid Al-Ghanim

KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) reached an agreement with organizers of the 2012 HORECA Kuwait exhibition to participate as platinum sponsor for the event which takes place between the 22nd and 24th of January 2012 at the Arraya Ball Room - Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

“Not only does the HORECA exhibition share the same goals and interests with the TEC, but it also adopts elements that fall in line with the TEC’s plans of improving and diversifying its

services”, said Deputy CEO and Managing Director Khalid AlGhanim in a recent statement.

The TEC Board of Directors recently approved a decision to increase its capital to reach KD50 million. Al-Ghanim explains on that regard that the KD35 million added to the capital will help “finance the TEC’s future strategy that includes establishing 16 touristic projects within 5 years in order to meet local demand in this field”.

The TEC gave a priority to par-

ticipate in the 2012 HORECA expo “which offers a great opportunity to meet with activists and specialists in the touristic, entertainment and hospitality fields”, Al-Ghanim added.

The 2012 HORECA Kuwait is a comprehensive event covering the hospitality, catering and food industry sectors in Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is organized by the Leaders Group for Consulting & Development in cooperation with Hospitality Services of Lebanon.

Chinese shoppers spending more on luxury goods LONDON/SHANGHAI: Chinese shoppers are spending more on luxury products abroad this Christmas, despite the current world economic downturn. And they are buying more tax-free goods than shoppers from any other country, China Daily learned from Global Blue, the largest tax-refund and shopping services provider in the world.

In the financial year ending in November, Chinese shoppers spent $2.15 trillion on tax-free products, a 56 percent increase from the same period a year before, according to Global Blue. “This is a dramatic increase, driven by China’s growing prosperity and its appreciating currency,” said Manelik Sfez, vice-president of global marketing at the Switzerland-based company.

Global Blue said Chinese shoppers took part in 21 percent of the tax-free sales made so far in the world this year. In that regard, that put them ahead of Russian shoppers, who accounted for 15 percent of such sales, and of Japanese, US, and Indonesian shoppers, who each accounted for 4 percent.

Meanwhile, the value of November retail sales in Britain increased only by 0.7 percent above what it had been in the same month a year ago. In November 2010, the comparable increase was 2.8 percent and it was 4.1 percent in November 2009, according to statistics from the British Retail Consortium.

Stephen Robertson, director-general of the British Retail Consortium, said the pessimistic figures are “worrying”, especially

with “Christmas being so near ”. Helen Dickinson, head of retail at the accountancy firm KPMG, said the retailing business in Britain is becoming weaker.

“Christmas is a crucial trading period for the UK retail sector but this year many retailers will be nervous and unsure as to how the season will pan out,” Dickinson said. Even so, Chinese shoppers helped to raise the December post-tax annual profits at the London department store Harvey Nichols by 32 percent above what they had been a year before, the company said.

Its neighboring depar tment store, Harrods, meanwhile brought in more than 1 billion ($1.6 billion) in sales in 2011. Its pre-tax profits rose by 39 percent to hit 108 million. To accommodate Chinese shoppers, Selfridges, a luxury department store

in London’s Oxford Circus, began accepting payments from China UnionPay cards this past year.

Britain’s smaller cities are also experiencing an influx of Chinese shoppers. To take advantage of that trend, Manchester’s Selfridges stores began giving their staff Mandarin lessons in October. The work is paying off. Chinese customers are coming much more frequently to the stores - their numbers have increased by 62 percent this year - and are spending 1,000 on average in a single trip. The average for other customers is 70.

Recognizing the purchasing power of the Chinese, Angela Ahrendts, CEO of the fashion brand Burberry, has come to speak of the “Travelling Luxury Consumer”. Such customers are among the most important

for the company.

“When Chinese consumers travel, they spend six times more than when they stay at home,” Ahrendts was quoted as saying by the Financial Times. “Saying ‘I bought this in London’ adds further cachet.”

Sfez agreed. “It is much more romantic and powerful to buy products of a luxury brand from its country of origin,” he said.

“That explains why duty free shops in airports don’t perform as well.”

“I prefer shopping for luxurious products in European cities like London, Paris and Milan - mostly for bags, watches and shoes, which are much cheaper and come with more options than you can find with the same items in China,” said Shen Jie, who lives in Wenzhou, a city in Zhejiang province. —dpa

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TECHNOLOGY

LG and intel sign strategic alliance for Intel wireless display (widi) technology KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG) and Intel entered into a strategic alliance to adopt and jointly promote Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. Intel WiDi will be embedded into next year’s LG CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, making them the first in the TV industry to feature Intel WiDi technology. Intel WiDi is a wireless connectivity inter-face which allows for instant, high-definition viewing of content stored in notebooks and other external mobile devices on large screen TVs, projectors or monitors.

“Through this strategic alliance, CINEMA 3D Smart TV users will be able to access a wider variety of content in a more convenient manner,” said Seog-ho Ro, Senior Vice President of LG Home Entertainment Company’s TV Business Unit. “Intel WiDi will be one of several features that will enhance the user convenience of our CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, further differentiating our products from the competition.”

“Intel is planning to expand Intel WiDi technology to various devices to provide con-sumers the seamless, smarter usage experience,” said Hee-Sung Lee, Country Manager of Intel Korea. “Through this collaboration with LG Electronics, LG CINEMA 3D Smart TV users could also benefit from Intel? WiDi without the need to

purchase an external adapter.”

Intel WiDi not only enables sharing of stored content, it also transfers onto CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, projectors and monitors a spectrum of online contents - such as YouTube videos and streaming TV shows from broadcast websites - that are accessible through notebooks and other mobile devices. Users can view such contents through the expansive and immersive high-definition CINEMA 3D display.

Like wired connectivity standards, such as HDMI and USB cables, Intel WiDi does not require an active wireless internet or WiFi connection to transfer content between external mobile devices and CINEMA 3D Smart TVs. Intel WiDi establishes a direct connection between the WiFi chips embedded in the external mobile devices and the CINEMA 3D Smart TVs. Furthermore, Intel WiDi does not tie down the mobile device during real-time content sharing. Users may perform other tasks on their notebooks and tablet PCs while simultaneously streaming content to a CINEMA 3D Smart TV, projector or monitor. LG and Intel would undertake co-marketing activities and Intel WiDi-enabled LG CINEMA 3D products will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next month in Las Vegas.

Honda Exhibits World Premiere of EV-STER The next-generation electric small sports concept TOKYO: Honda Motor Co, Ltd. will exhibit the world premiere of the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model, at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011, which will take place at Tokyo Big Sight from Saturday, December 3 through Sunday, December 11, 2011.

Featuring a dynamic and innovative styling design and excellent environmental performance, the EV-STER, an electric rear-wheeldrive two-seater convertible sports car, will propose a new way to enjoy a sports type model which is unique to the electromotive mobility. The adoption of carbon materials made it possible to reduce the vehicle weight contributing to the vehicle’s high driving performance and range of approximately 160km. The easy-to-operate twinlever steering was adopted for the thorough pursuit of the joy of driv-

ing. Moreover, the new concept model enables the driver to make his/her own adjustments to some vehicle characteristics such as motor output and suspension settings, to embody the joy of maneu-

enjoy driving as well as the network display used for the audio and navigation systems and also for the internet access. The welldesigned layout of the meters and displays enables the driver to con-

vering to the fullest extent.

Furthermore, the instrument panel features not only meters, but also the vehicle information display which enables the driver to

centrate on driving and enjoy the comfortable space.

Honda remains committed to developing sports models beyond the expectations of its customers

and offering exciting and thrilling mobility products.

Key specifications of the EV-STER Vehicle length 3,570mm Vehicle width 1,500mm Vehicle height 1,100mm Wheelbase 2,325mm Maximum speed 160km/h Acceleration (0-60km/h) 5.0 sec Maximum range Approximately 160km (JC08 mode) Battery 10kWh lithium-ion battery Maximum battery output 58kW Charging time 200V: under 3 hours 100V: under 6 hours

Sharp Middle East launches the PN-L702B in the region KUWAIT: Sharp Middle East has officially launched the PN-L702B in the region - the latest interactive LED display solution that makes copying discussion notes a thing of the past using Sharp’s new infrared touch screen technology.

From training to brainstorming to business presentation, interactive working is today a proven method for

obtaining the best possible results in a minimum of time. The new PN-L702B Touch Monitor makes it simple to exchange knowledge between several people. With a diagonal screen size of 176.6 cm and full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the display precisely renders every detail. With its innovative detection software, any changes and comments can be immediately integrated in existing drafts on the monitor and then optionally saved or

printed out.

“The size of the monitor at full HD resolution, plus a sensitive interactive display, the unit is ideal for teaching in schools and universities, giving presentations in the boardroom and conference centres and also for digital signage,” said Gautam Chakrabarty, Deputy General Manager, Marketing, Sharp Middle East. “The PN-L702B is

even immediately ready to use as part of a videoconferencing system, where people in different locations can confer on-screen or even share screens in real time.”

Getting it all moving with just two fingers The Infrared Detection System developed by Sharp improves touchscreen response and enhances its capability to integrate handwritten

FBI computer system delayed again after snag WASHINGTON: The FBI’s upgrade of its computerized case file system has hit another snag and will not be fully deployed until mid-2012 after it crashed twice during a trial run by agents in October, according to a government report released on Friday. The agency has struggled to upgrade its systems for years despite efforts by FBI Director Robert Mueller to make it a priority after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.

The $451 million project, known as Sentinel, has experienced cost overruns and was temporarily halted a year ago when more problems emerged. Lockheed was originally contracted for the project but its role has since been significantly reduced. The latest attempt to launch Sentinel hit a bump in October when a test by almost 750 agents led to it to crash twice, according to a report by the inspector general for the Justice Department, which oversees the FBI. The FBI determined that the outages were a result of inadequate hardware infrastructure. —Reuters

notes. This system comprises various infrared sensors that rapidly and precisely detect the position of the finger or touch pen. The PN-L702B also has a “Dual Touch Function”, i.e. users can scroll through contents by brushing two fingers up and down the screen and can also zoom in and out by spreading or pinching fingers.

With the UV2A technology developed by Sharp, the PN-L702B also delivers impressively bright whites, brilliant colours and deep blacks. This technology at the same time ensures highly efficient LED backlighting (full array) and prevents any loss of brightness at the edges of the screen. As a result, the contents always retain optimal legibility, whilst power consumption remains extremely low.

Easy to use and instantly networked In developing the PN-L702B, particular emphasis was placed on ease of use. Sharp’s Pen Software was specially developed for Sharp interactive display monitors, making the display extremely simple to manipulate. Users can write and draw directly on the screen with the aid of the touch pen or with their own fingers. The displayed pictures can be enlarged or rotated, and handwritten notes can be selected and moved around the screen. After making these adjustments, the final screen display can be saved and printed. For example, the latest status of discussions or brainstorming sessions can be simply saved and then made accessible to a selected group of people. The PN-L702B can be connected without problem to Sharp MFPs, printers, scanners and to the organisation’s network.

Even displaying scanned images on the interactive display and then saving and printing them complete with handwritten comments is now within easy reach of anyone.

US appears to soften ban on online betting WASHINGTON: The Obama administration appears to have softened a US ban on Internet gambling. In a legal opinion posted Friday, the Justice Department said online betting unrelated to sporting events falls outside the reach of federal law. The US government has long considered such gambling illegal when it crosses state lines.

The gambling industry is worth billions worldwide but many operators are based overseas. Washington has cracked down on some of them, and a 2006 law forbade financial institutions from processing funds for most online wagering. Because of the difficulty in enforcing age and other requirements, the issue has divided lawmakers and the industry. But several states have been studying plans for web betting within states.

The opinion letter was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. —AP

Nissan Al-Babtain announces the winner of their new promotion KUWAIT: Ahmad Abdul-Aziz Ibrahim Al Mahis is the winner of the grand prize of Nissan Sunny 2011. Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz AlBabtain Co. the sole authorized distributor for Nissan Genuine Spare parts in Kuwait held the grand draw for “Buy Nissan Genuine Parts and WIN valuable prizes” promotion on 7th December 2011, at Nissan Al Rai showroom in the presence of officials from the Ministry hosted by

Ghazi Al-Babtain.

The first prize was won by Ahmad Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Mahis.

The key to the Nissan Sunny 2011 was handed over to the winner by Mohamed Shalaby - COO of AlBabtain Group at the Al Rai showroom.

Nissan Al-Babtain After Sales have made sure to offer the best deals to their valued customers at all times. This year their exceptional

offers are based on the concept of encouraging customers to either service their vehicles at any of the service network outlets and to purchase Genuine Nissan Parts from their Spare parts network outlets.

The special promotion offer was loaded with exciting high value prizes.

Nissan Al-Babtain after sales congratulate all participants and winners of the raffle draw.

Data to be a defining tech trend in 2012 SAN FRANCISCO: The start of this year was marked by a tech industry obsession with where to put growing mountains of information gathered online and by sensors increasingly woven into modern lifestyles.

External drives boasted seemingly unfillable capacities and companies touted services for storing bits and bytes at massive data centers in the Internet “cloud.” As 2012 approaches, focus has turned to searching for trends, patterns and other useful insights about people’s preferences and behaviors that might be buried in troves of data.

“Big analytics toward the end of the year became the big term and into next year it will be the big term,” independent Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle told AFP on Friday.

“Analytics is really the core of what will be happening in everything from medical research to advertising.” The theme for this year’s Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco was unlocking the power of “big data,” and the topic was dissected by top Internet company executives at an array of industry gatherings. “Analyzing data can tell you want resonates and what doesn’t,” Enderle said. “Applied to elections it could be the difference between winners and losers.”

An IBM computer called “Watson”

that made headlines by beating a human Jeopardy! television quiz show champion at his own game demonstrated the power of data analytics, according to the analyst. “Could you imagine Watson used for legal or medical research?” Enderle asked.

“You can do some amazing things by drawing conclusions from information you already have but couldn’t make heads or tales of before now.”

He predicted that analytics would drive major breakthroughs in the years ahead. Large businesses out to recapture the intimacy of running small shops in tune with local customers are turning to a startup that gleans insights about people from cold, hard data. Collective(i) will come out of stealth mode in January with a unique service that helps businesses better understand even their smallest customers through real-time data analysis. “We are bringing analytics and business intelligence to the masses,” said Collective(i) chief executive Stephen Messer. “What Ford’s assembly line did for cars we are doing for analytics,” he said.

The New York City-based firm operated by Cross Commerce Media has been in test mode for seven months, winning fans such as US gift service 1-800-Flowers and flash-sale website Gilt. “At the end of the day,

what I am always trying to do is recreate the relationship we had with customers when we started with one flower shop in Manhattan in 1976,” said 1-800-Flowers president Chris McCann.

“Collective(i) has given me the ability to do that in a different way than has been done before,” continued McCann, who was 15 years old when he joined his older brother in their first florist shop. While analysis companies typically present clients with charts showing break-downs of market or sales data, Collective(i) figures out why numbers turn out as they do. Messer gave the examples of deducing that people buy more macaroni-and-cheese when the outside temperature dips below a certain temperature, or that folks see the dish as a prime alternative to soup.

Stores can tailor ad pitches or promotions to the weather as well as their customers, he explained.

“Others give you the facts, we give you the ‘why’,” Messer said. “What it means is that companies are listening to their customers again and not just pitching you products you don’t want,” he contended. Analytics will let companies more shrewdly target money spent on advertising, potentially saving money in the multi-billion-dollar ad market. —AFP

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Study linking virus and chronic fatigue retracted NEW YORK: A prestigious scientific journal is retracting a controversial 2009 report that linked chronic fatigue syndrome to a virus. In an unusual move, the journal Science is taking that step on its own. Normally, authors retract their own research papers when serious problems arise after publication. But Science has lost confidence in the report and the validity of its conclusions, editor-in-chief Bruce Alberts writes in Friday’s issue. He said most of the authors have agreed in principle to retract the paper “but they have been unable to agree on the wording of their statement.” A retraction signed by all the authors “is unlikely to be forthcoming,” Alberts wrote.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by severe fatigue for at least six months, impaired memory and other symptoms. The 2009 paper, from scientists at the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, Nev, the Cleveland Clinic and the National Cancer Institute, reported finding a virus called XMRV in blood cells of some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. That raised hope that a cause of the mysterious illness had been found, although other viral suspects over the years had proven to be false leads. But follow-up studies found no evidence of such a link. Last May, Science published two reports suggesting the original finding was due

to lab contamination.

At the time, Alberts published a statement declaring that the validity of the study was “now seriously in question.” Then in September, the authors retracted some of the data, citing contamination. In his statement on the full retraction, Alberts said the authors had also acknowledged omitting important information about the study’s procedures in an illustration of some lab results. Rober t Silverman of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the paper ’s 13 authors, said in a statement Thursday that he was pleased by the full retraction. He said he had sought one this

summer after finding that blood samples were contaminated.

Through a spokeswoman, another study author, Francis Ruscetti of the cancer institute, declined to comment. Annette Whittemore, president of the Whittemore institute, said in a statement that her organization remains committed to discovering the roots of the disorder.

“It is not the end of the story, rather it is the beginning of our renewed efforts,” she said. “We ... look forward to the rigorous review of our scientific research.” A key figure in the research, Judy Mikovits, is no longer with the Whittemore institute. — AP

French health minister says implant boss must answer Interpol says ‘red notice’ for Mas unrelated to implants

PHOENIX: Sam Schmid listens as Dr Robert Spetzler, unseen, talks about Schmid’s brain injury during a news conference at Barrow Neurological Institute. — AP

Arizona coma patient now speaking, walking PHOENIX: It will be a special Christmas for the family of a 21-year-old University of Arizona student who was nearly taken off life support before awaking from a coma. Sam Schmid was walking and speaking Friday at a Phoenix hospital. Dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers, he was able to use a walker and talk in brief sentences. “Right now, I’m feeling all right .. except for the rehabilitation, I’m feeling pretty good,” Schmid said. Doctors at Barrow Neurological Institute say Schmid has a long recovery ahead of him to regain full speech, balance and memory abilities. Schmid was involved in an Oct 19 car crash in Tucson that left him with a brain aneurysm, among other life-threatening injuries. Because of the complexity of his brain injury, Schmid was flown to Phoenix. He underwent surgery performed by Dr Robert Spetzler. With no responsive signs, staff discussed taking Schmid off life support. “They never approached me to say would I donate his organs,” said Susan Regan, Schmid’s mother. “The people that were surrounding us were just asking about Sam, his quality of life, what would Sam want if we had to come to a difficult decision.”

Spetzler said Schmid was never officially classified as a potential organ donor. And after an MRI scan showed he wasn’t at a point of no hope of survival, Spetzler recommended keeping him alive for one more week.

Then on Oct 24, Schmid shocked doctors by following commands to hold up two fingers. “It may not seem like a lot to you,” Spetzler said. “It’s an incredible loop to show brain ability. That was like fireworks going off.”

Since then, Schmid has been spending his days in physical rehabilitation.

Dr Christina Kwasnica, who is overseeing Schmid’s rehabilitation, said he has gone from practicing sitting in a chair to doing rehab three hours a day.

She described his recovery so far as amazing but hesitated to make any predictions of what “normal” would be for him. “It’s so early in Sam’s injury.

We have no idea where the ceiling is,” Kwasnica said. While he will be able to spend Christmas day with family in Phoenix, Schmid will not officially be released until next week. His brother, John, based in Tucson, will relocate to Phoenix so Schmid can continue rehabilitation on an out-patient basis.

Schmid, who is a business major and was coaching basketball at a University of Arizona recreation center, is holding onto the belief that he can get back to what his life was like before the accident. “I see myself leaving the house, going to school, work, basic things like that,” Schmid said. “I just want my life to be what it used to be.”—AP

PARIS: France’s health minister called yesterday for the head of the breast implant maker accused of selling faulty prostheses to tens of thousands of women around the world to be found, calling the growing scandal a “shady business”. Jean-Claude Mas, 72, the founder and CEO of French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) has not been seen or heard of in public since the scandal potentially affecting 300,000 women around the world broke.

His company is accused of using sub-standard industrial silicone in some of its implants, which were sold globally before being taken off the market in 2010.

“It’s obvious we have to find him (Mas) and those who had an interest in this company,” French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand told Europe 1 radio yesterday. “They have to answer for their actions.” “It’s a shady business with lots of money involved,” Bertrand said. “In not using the advertised product (silicone) they tried to make some money, that’s the worst of it, on the health of women.” PIP’s lawyer has said Mas and the company’s chief financial officer were keeping silent “out of decency and discretion” but were still in the south of France. Yesterday, international police agency Interpol confirmed that it had issued a so-called “red notice” for Mas, but said it was unrelated to his activities at PIP. Interpol said the notice was related to an affair in Costa Rica in June 2010, when police there say he was arrested for a drunk driving offence but fled the country and did not show up for a court date.

Mas was briefly questioned by police in November 2010 but has never been summoned to court. A judicial source has told Reuters, however, that between four and six executives could be charged by a Marseilles criminal court for aggravated fraud.

‘Home-made’ goo Just what that fraud was is the subject of controversy, with varying accounts of who knew what at the company in an industrial town outside the southern city of Toulon. Undated photographs that accompanied news stories in 2010 and taken by a photographer for the regional newspaper VarMatin showed workers in blue gowns filling rows of prostheses with silicone gel. Masked and gloved, they looked as if they worked at an above-board professional health company.

But French health officials discovered last year that PIP was using a home-made brew of silicone, an industrial variety not approved by health authorities. “You had to have been a chemist to have noticed anything,” a former PIP worker and union chief, Eric Mariaccia, told Reuters. “The responsible ones aren’t the workers but the heads of the company, notably the four who were linked to production and thus responsible for their quality,” he said.

At the company, which eventually shut its doors in 2010 after bankruptcy, Mas gave the orders, even though he was technically in retirement and CFO Claude Couty worked on operations, Mariaccia said. “The silicone gel was made at the factory, at PIP,” he said. “It was a ‘home-made’ gel.”

But other workers painted a more menacing picture of operations at PIP. The false gel had been used since 2001, as PIP bosses were seduced by the price difference between their home-made version and the approved gel, according to an unnamed

former PIP executive interviewed for an Aug 2, 2010 story in Var-Matin.

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the account given by the Var-Matin source. Var-Matin quoted the unidentified former PIP executive as saying that while medical silicone gel cost about $60 for 200 kg (441 pounds), PIP’s industrial version cost about $10. Although nobody at the company talked about the two different kinds of silicone being used in the implants, it was obvious by sight, the ex-manager told Var-Matin.

“The medical gel didn’t run. By contrast, the

‘fake gel’ was like soapy water.” PIP was able to continue its ruse because periodic checks by regulators were pre-announced and even suppliers of the industrial oil used to make the silicone were lied to, according to the former executive. “PIP said that this oil was being used to make hand soap.” Some buyers of the implants, however, were in on the game, Var-Matin quoted the former executive as saying. “With exports, you’d hear, ‘You want a pack of prostheses. Good ones or bad ones?’ Everything depended on the relationships we had with the distributors,” he said. — Reuters

PARIS: A photo of a computer screen shows the Interpol’s website with French Jean-Claude Mas, CEO and founder of the French Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) company, who is wanted by Costa Rican authorities for crimes involving ’life and health’. — AFP

CARACAS: Venezuelan Vera Aulestia, 26, who has breast implants from the now-bankrupt Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), shows the boxes of the product, during an interview with AFP. — AFP

Mentally ill flood ER as US states cut services NEW YORK: On a recent shift at a Chicago emergency department, Dr William Sullivan treated a newly homeless patient who was threatening to kill himself. “He had been homeless for about two weeks. He hadn’t showered or eaten a lot. He asked if we had a meal tray,” said Sullivan, a physician at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago and a past president of the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians. Sullivan said the man kept repeating that he wanted to kill himself. “It seemed almost as if he was interested in being admitted.”

Across the country, doctors like Sullivan are facing a spike in psychiatric emergencies attempted suicide, severe depression, psychosis as states slash mental health services and the country’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression takes its toll. This trend is taxing emergency rooms already overburdened by uninsured patients who wait until ailments become acute before seeking treatment.

“These are people without a previous psychiatric history who are coming in and telling us they’ve lost their jobs, they’ve lost sometimes their homes, they can’t provide for their families, and they are becoming severely depressed,” said Dr Felicia Smith, director of the acute psychiatric service at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Visits to the hospital’s psychiatric emergency department have climbed 20 percent in the past three years.

“We’ve seen actually more very serious suicide attempts in that population than we had in the past as well,” she said. Compounding the problem are patients with chronic mental illness

who have been hurt by a squeeze on mental health services and find themselves with nowhere to go. On top of that, doctors are seeing some cases where the patient’s most critical need is a warm bed.

“The more I see these patients, the more I realize that if it’s sleeting and raining outside, the emergency room is the only place they have,” said Dr R Corey Waller, director of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Center for Integrative Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Government agencies such as the National Institutes of Mental Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration could not provide fresh data on use of psychiatric services in recent years. But doctors from more than a dozen hospitals nationwide, mental health advocacy groups and state-funded agencies told Reuters they are all seeing a marked increase in psychiatric emergencies.

A worsening problem The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), an organization of state mental health directors, estimates that in the last three years states have cut $3.4 billion in mental health services, while an additional 400,000 people sought help at public mental health facilities. In that same time frame, demand for community-based services climbed 56 percent, and demand for emergency room, state hospital and emergency psychiatric care climbed 18 percent, the organization said.

“This wasn’t one round of cuts,” says Ted Lutterman, director of research analysis at NASMHPD Research Institute. “It was three or four for many states, and multiple cuts during the year.”

If the economy doesn’t improve, next year could be worse because many community mental health agencies are cutting programs and using up reserve funds, says Linda Rosenberg, president of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “It’s been horrible,” she said. “Those that need it the most the unemployed, those with tremendous family stress have no insurance.” In the emergency room, this increased demand has meant doctors and social workers are spending hours and sometimes days trying to arrange care for psychiatric patients languishing in the emergency department, taking up beds that could be used for traditional types of trauma.

More than 70 percent of emergency department administrators said they have kept patients waiting in the emergency department for 24 hours, according to a 2010 survey of 600 hospital emergency department administrators by the Schumacher Group, which manages emergency departments across the country.

Ten percent said they had “boarded” patients for a week or more.

And many hospitals are not prepared for the increased caseload of psychiatric patients, says Randall Hagar, director of government affairs for the California Psychiatric Association. California cut $587 million in state-funded mental health services in the past two years, the most of any

state, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a patient advocacy group.

“They don’t have secure holding rooms. They don’t have quiet spaces. They don’t have a lot of things you need to help calm down a person in an acute psychiatric crisis,” Hagar said. “Often you have a patient strapped to a gurney in a hallway outside of the emergency department where social workers are desperately trying to find an inpatient bed,” he said.

From cities to small towns In North Carolina, the state has cut its inpatient psychiatric capacity by half since 2005, says Dr. Bret Nicks, an emergency physician at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem and a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians. Nicks points to a report from the Institute of Medicine released in 2006 that found U.S. emergency departments were already overtaxed and overcrowded. “Now you are adding in patients who are unsafe to leave but yet have nowhere to go,” he said. “I consider patients with acute psychiatric needs as really the forgotten patient population in the US right now.”

Dr Stephen Anderson is an emergency department doctor at Auburn Regional Medical Center, a mid-size suburban hospital outside of Seattle. “When the economy is hurt they are some of the first to drop off the healthcare rolls,” he said of local residents in the largely blue-collar community.

Anderson, who heads the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency

Physicians, said the state has lost a third of its inpatient psychiatric beds in the past decade.

Lately he is seeing a marked escalation in patients with psychiatric problems turning up in the emergency department. In early December, a third of its beds were occupied with people in a psychiatric crisis who were not safe to return to the community.

The problem extends out to small towns.

Sullivan splits his time between the big emergency department at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago and St Margaret’s Hospital, a tiny facility in Spring Valley, Illinois, about 100 miles southwest of the city. On a recent shift, a young woman with schizophrenia arrived at the hospital. She had just lost her job and apartment and was living with relatives. She could not afford the medications that were keeping her illness in check.

The woman asked Sullivan to switch her prescriptions to drugs that could be found on the $4 discount list at Wal-Mart and other discount stores. “I didn’t feel comfortable doing that,” Sullivan said, noting that emergency physicians are being asked to deliver specialized care that should be handled by a psychiatrist. He found a healthcare facility about 25 miles away with a psychiatrist who could help, but even that presented a problem for the woman, who had no way of getting to the appointment. “It’s almost akin to having a cardiac patient come in and say, ‘I need someone to adjust my defibrillator.’ In the emergency department, we can do a lot, but there are some things we have to leave with the specialists,” he said. — Reuters

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Dangers stalk childbearing women in Afghanistan KABUL: Three times Hasrat Bibi gave birth. Each time her baby died before reaching the outside world.

After the third, she was left a social outcast and unable to have more children, but in Afghanistan her story is all too familiar. Bibi first fell pregnant as a teenager 22 years ago. Her body may have been too young to cope with nine months carrying a child, but she was living in a society where motherhood is considered a woman’s primary, if not sole purpose. Yet having a baby can be treacherous in Afghanistan, where new figures show that one woman dies every two hours from pregnancy-related causes and nearly three percent of babies are stillborn.

In Bibi’s case, her experience of childbirth left her with a complicated fistula-a hole next to her urinary tract-that has left her incontinent and unable to bear more children. Although the national survey, carried out last year, reveals that maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan have fallen with the provision of foreign aid-funded healthcare, 500 out of 100,000 live births still end in death. And health professionals in Kabul now fear that improvements paid for by Western donors through 10 years of war could stagnate as NATO combat troops carry out a staggered departure, leaving more would-be mothers at risk. Bibi’s face, dotted with traditional rough blue tattoos, crinkles into tears as she tells how her condition has left her shunned, even by her husband.

“Because I’m always wet and the urine smells, other women won’t speak to me. Even my husband,” she says, wiping tears from her pierced nose with her scarf. “He says ‘you smell’, and he leaves.” A plethora of problems endemic to Afghanistan delay proper treatment, say medical experts. Families living in remote, impoverished communities rarely understand the seriousness of medical issues, and local provision is scant. Transportation to the nearest health facilities can take several hours on foot or by donkey.

And most women live in purdah-unseen by men outside their families-and may be house-bound and unable to see a doctor. Bibi, who comes from a rural village in the eastern province of Ghazni and doesn’t know how old she is, said she had no proper help for 10 years. With UN funding, she has now been sent to Pakistan for treatment, and an operation there to mend her fistula has a 60 percent chance of success.

Although there is a fistula centre at Kabul’s Malalai maternity hospital, it was unable to help her because of a lack of trained staff and medical supplies.

The centre recently received another patient, a mother of six, who does not want to be named for

security fears, but who is now recovering after an operation on a fistula she developed three years ago following a stillbirth. Doctors say her husband threw her out of their home because of her condition-taking three of her children away from her, selling off the eldest daughter, and arranging to marry another. The 35-year-old has been living in a tent, her remaining children forced to beg to survive. On average, Afghan women each give birth to five children. Two of every three births happen in the home without trained help because of social customs and a severe shortage of midwives, the new national report showed.

The figures come from the Afghanistan Mortality Survey 2010, which was carried out by the Afghan Public Health Institute, Ministry of Public Health and Central Statistics Organization, across 87 percent of the country. It did not include rural parts of the southern provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul, where the Taliban-led insurgency is rife. Despite the dire conditions, aid-funded improvements now mean that fewer women die during pregnancy and childbirth, and more children are living past their fifth birthday than at any time before, the report shows.

The US State department welcomed the report’s “encouraging trends”, which partly resulted from a US, UN and World Bank-funded education program that has bumped the number of midwives up threefold since 2003. Each midwife’s training costs $12-18,000.

The women spend two years studying in one of 34 provincial centers before returning to work in communities. The training focuses on preventing postbirth haemorrhage, which is responsible for most deaths. But plans to move responsibility for the program from foreign donors to the ministry of public health next October have left medical experts fearful.

Instead of money flowing from aid donors directly, the central bank and health ministry will be charged with routing funds. “This is a very big concern because it’s not just money but a technical issue,” said the UN’s Dr Mohammad Tahir Ghaznavi, voicing concern that the increased bureaucracy would sap funds and cause delays to payments. Jobs would also need to move to the public sector, with ministries unlikely to match foreign wages which have so far been paid to recruited midwives. “If it’s decentralized, is the government willing to hire all these people?” Ghaznavi added. A recent World Bank report showed that Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is likely to need around $7 billion a year from foreign aid after the scheduled departure of all international troops in 2014. While NATO is urging foreign donors to continue giving money to Afghanistan after combat troops depart in 2014, the economic crisis in the West and corruption in the war-torn country make a downturn in financing likely. “Transport and health are highly vulnerable,” the report said. — AFP

Australia says Bali tattoo likely gave patient HIV SYDNEY: Australian health authorities have said a patient diagnosed with HIV likely caught the virus while having a tattoo done on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. They recommended that people who had recently been tattooed on the island, known for its white, sandy beaches, partying and nightlife, should consider being tested for HIV and other blood-borne viruses. Authorities did not reveal any details of the patient concerned. “All the evidence points to a tattoo received recently in Bali as being the source of the infection,” Western Australia’s Department of Health said in a statement dated Friday.

“This case demonstrates the very real health risk in having this type of procedure done overseas,” said Paul Armstrong, the department’s director of communicable disease control. The department highlighted the risk not only of tattoos but also of body piercings, saying that besides HIV, patients were also potentially exposing themselves to Hepatitis B and C as well as bacterial infections. Indonesian officials said last year that the number of known HIV/AIDS cases on Bali was soaring, with one in four prostitutes reported to be HIV-positive and the number of infections jumping almost 19 percent from the year before. — AFP

BRAZIL: A Siberian tiger sniffs a paper-made snowman given by the staff as a Christmas present. The zoo staffers have secretly delivered special food to more than 40 species as Christmas gift in three days. — AFP

Russian satellite hits ‘cosmonaut street’ in Siberia MOSCOW: A fragment of a Russian satellite that crashed into Siberia in the latest setback for Russia’s space program hit a residential house on a street named after cosmonauts, officials said yesterday. The Meridian communications satellite failed to reach orbit Friday due to a failure with its Soyuz rocket, raising new concerns over the Russian space program which has now lost over half a dozen satellites in the last year. Its fragments crashed into the Novosibirsk region of central Siberia and were found in the Ordynsk district around 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the regional capital Novosibirsk.

“A sphere was found, around 50 centimeters (20 inches) in diameter, which crashed into the roof of a house in the village of Vagaitsevo” in the Ordynsk district, an official in the local security services told the Interfax news agency. In an extraordinary irony, the official said that the house was located on Cosmonaut Street, named after the heroic spacemen of the Soviet and Russian space program. There were no reports of casualties while officials said that radiation was within normal limits. The owner of the house Andrei Krivoruchenko, who was at home with his wife at the time, said that he heard a huge noise and a crash as the satellite hit his roof. “I climbed up onto the roof and could not work

out what had happened. Then I saw a huge hole in the roof and the metal object,” he told Russian state television. The head of the Ordynsk district, Pavel Ivarovksy, told Interfax that the damage was being examined by specialists and the owner of the property would receive compensation. The failure of the Soyuz-2.1B rocket to deliver its payload is a particular worry as it comes from a member of the same family that Russia uses to send multinational manned crews to the International Space Station (ISS).

An unmanned Progress supply ship bound for the ISS crashed into Siberia in August after its launch by a Soyuz, forcing the temporary grounding of the rockets and as well as a wholesale re-jig of the station’s staffing. The loss of the Meridian satellite caps a disastrous 12 months for Russia that has already seen it lose three navigation satellites, an advanced military satellite, a telecommunications satellite, a probe for Mars as well as the Progress.

Russian space agency Roscosmos said the satellite came down due to third stage rocket failure just seven minutes after the launch.

“This again shows that the (Russian space) industry is in crisis,” admitted Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Roscosmos, in comments broadcast on state television. —AFP

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

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Greetings

Happy Birthday to Neha Suresh Mathur.

Best wishes from Pappa, Mamma & Brother Athurl Suresh

Diabetes seminar

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ow do we improve quality of life and longevity in people with diabetes? A free seminar for the public by Indian Doctors Forum Diabetes shortens a person’s life by 10 years on an average. It is the major cause for the heart diseases, kidney failures, blindness, stroke and other neurological problems, gangrene, non healing ulcers and amputations and greatly reduces the quality of life in those affected. The quality of life is further decreased by frequent infections, high /low blood sugars, sexual difficulties, side effects of medications, psychosocial factors etc.

This free seminar, under the patronage of Kuwait Medical Association, Indian Doctors Forum in co-operation with Dasman Diabetes Center and sponsored by AMMA Kuwait, aims to educate and empower people with diabetes to manage their health better and to have better quality of life now and in the future.

There will be informative lectures in simple and easy to follow English by top experts in the specialties of diabetes, cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology and surgery. This will be followed by interactive question and answer sessions with experts in all fields of medicine. A limited number of free blood tests will be done for the registrants on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. This will be on Friday, December 30, 2011 and blood testing will take place between 4:00-5:30 pm and the seminar and interaction will be from 5:30-800 pm at Kuwait Medical Association Auditorium, Jabriya (near Mubarak Hospital and the Blood Bank). For logistic reasons registration will close when the number of registrants reach 500 or on 25/12/11, whichever is earlier. Please contact for queries: Email: ammakuwait@yahoo.com / admin@indiandoctorsforum.org.

Upcoming events Aware Center Arabic lessons The AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Winter 1 Arabic language courses will begin on November 20th, 2011 until January 12th, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind.

The environment is relaxed and courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together.

AWARE Arabic courses highlight: lIntroductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics lBetter prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic lCombine language learning with cultural insights lTaught in multi-nationality group settings lProvide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

For more information or registration, call 25335260/80 ext 105/104/0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.

Rak dance academy new year hangama-2012 The RAK Dance Academy (RDA) Kuwait, is planning to put a charity event as celebration of its New Year Hangama 2012, on 31st December, 2011, from 6.00pm onwards, at Carmel School Khaitan. All participants are well known artists from Kuwait. The main purpose of this celebration is to collect donations and raise money for supporting handicapped children in India. Advertisement will be published throughout Kuwait absolutely free of charge. We are expecting huge crowd for this event. The fund raised will be beneficial handicapped children. In order to make this event joyous and successful we are seeking kind contributions from you. Your attendance is your donation. Please join for an evening for a good cause. Darla Srinivasulu Achari, 99 692266; Mob: 65728740 K. Eswar Babu, Phone 99692266, Lashmeesha 65925730 Email: rakdanceacademy@gmail.com

KNES Year 1s visit the zoo

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n Wednesday, the 14th of Dec 2011, the Year 1 classes from Kuwait National English School visited the Kuwait Zoo. The trip served as a culminating activity for the children’s science studies on people and other animals, as well as serving as an of example of one of the recreational activities available to them, as discussed in their geography lessons on their local area. The children observed the different ways in which the animals moved their coverings, and their different diets. The children were thrilled at the friendly, inquisitive nature of most of the animals, but also remembered to stay safe and respect the dignity of the animals.

Get ready get set - RunQ8

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egistrations are now open for RunQ8, the annual 10km charity race to be held on January 21, 2012. Organized by the Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI) and Agility, the race route will run from Marina Crescent in Salmiya along the Gulf Road up to the Third Ring Road and back. The race is aimed at supporting health issues affecting our community and raising awareness around them.

In its second year, RunQ8 is promoting road traffic safety. 2011-2021 has been named the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety with a goal to stabilize and then reduce global road traffic fatalities by 2021. In Kuwait, traffic accidents are the third leading cause of mortality and a large number of people and their families are affected by the debilitating effects of injuries caused by road accidents.

Last year, the race raised over KWD 50,000 for the Kuwait University’s Community Eye Health Care Initiative that supports Vision 2020, a joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

RunQ8 invites all members of the community to join in this initiative and help support road traffic safety in Kuwait. To register contact the FSRI office 25720338 or visit the race websitewww.Runq8.org for more details.

There are also pre-race articles and videos produced by FSRI’s specialized sports trainers, physiotherapists, nutritionists and psychologists to help get you ready for the race. Please see our website www.runQ8.org and our Facebook page for updates on our running and walking clinic, race events, and other initiatives.

KERA conducts mass signature campaign

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uwait Ernakulam Residents Association (KERA) conducts mass signature campaign on a memorandum to show the solidarity and support in the Mullaperiyar Dam issue especially to the residents of Idukki, Kottayam, Athanamthitta, Alapuzha and Ernakulam districts of Kerala. The campaign is focusing to obtain signature from minimum 10,000 people from Kerala.

The memorandum is demanding to the authorities to immediately bring down the water level to 120 feet in the dam to ensure safety of 3.5 million people and properties. Approval to construct a new dam as it fears that a strong earthquake might damage the existing dam. Protect the lives and properties of over 3.5 million citizens. Find an amicable solution (preferably outside court) to this Kerala-Tamil Nadu dispute.

Consider the Government of Kerala commitment to undertake ‘water for Tamil Nadu and safety for Kerala’.

The organizers stated in a press release that the signed documents will be submitted to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, and the Union Minister for Water Resources of India, and the Chief Minister of Kerala.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

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he Premier GOAL Academy in association with Everton FC are pleased to announce that their winter football camp has been extended for a further week due to popular demand. Sponsored by Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, the Camp runs from Sunday to Thursday, 09301330 daily at Shaab Park. Lots of fun games, activities and matches help to develop skills and techniques for boys and girls aged from 4 to 15 years.

T-shirts, footballs and certificates are provided for all participants. For further details contact Baker on 66918666. Pictured are some of the young players from last week’s Winter Camp receiving their certificates from coaches Baker, Peter, Khalid, Agheel, Yousef and Joey.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca.

The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait.

Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY

Christmas celebrations at India International School

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customary and traditional Christmas celebration was organized by our team of devout teachers and students. The programme began with the singing of carols by our school choir to express joy and happiness on the noble birth of Jesus Christ. A spectacular skit portraying Nativity of Jesus Christ speckled with carol songs was presented by the students of class V.A glorious crib was displayed by the students of class VI &VII. Audience were left mesmerized by the synchronized dance performance executed by the students of class VII. Significance of Christmas tree and the message of Christmas were delivered by Sreeja and Priya respectively. The delightful appearance of Adil dressed as Santa Clause, thrilled the audience. Principal F.M.Basheer Ahmed, addressed the gathering with his universal message of love peace and harmony and wishing all of them a merry Christmas and Happy New year. Vice Principal Mrs.Narider Kaur & K.G(HOS) Mrs.Shifana also graced the occasion. The programme came to an end with a melodious Christmas and New Year song, sung by Mrs.Pareira.

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (AlBabtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed December 25, 2011 (Today) - “Christmas Day”. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PERU Peruvian Permanent Expo will be temporary close from December 2lst 2011 to January 21st 2012. The Expo will reopen on January 22nd 2012 and offer once again “Peruvian Private Gastronomy Tasting Lunches” and much more like Peruvian culture, tourism, trade and great possibilities of investment. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA Embassy of the Russian Federation invites all the Russian residents in Kuwait to visit the Consulate for registration and updating your database. This information is necessary for promptly notice, assistance and warning in case of emergency. The consulate reception hours: 10:00 - 13:00, Sunday - Wednesday.

The Embassy is located in Kuwait City, Daiya, Block 5, Diplomatic campus, Plot 17. Tel: (+965) 22560427, 22560428. Fax: (+965) 22524969, email: rusposkuw@mail.ru, consdepkuw@mail.ru Information also available on the website: www.kuwait.mid.ru

Al Dente delivers premium pizza right to your offices

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he Movenpick Hotel Kuwait- Free Trade Zone is already well known for its 5 star restaurants and excellent food quality. So, the hotel have decide to go a step further and deliver its premium Italian Pizza from Al Dente restaurant right to your offices, but only at the Free Trade Zone and at a very special neighbor rate.

“We love to offer our customers the freshest combinations of true Italian pizza, the office delivery service is just another great way we can cater to our patrons when they can’t come to us.” said Benjamin Hieber F&B Manager.

Customers have a variety of pizza types to choose from such as pizza bologna, seafood, chicken, four cheeses and much more. The hotel delivery operating timing starts from Saturday till Thursday from 11:30am till 3:00pm with no extra delivery charge.

All you have to do is to dial: 24 61 00 33 and order your favourite pizza freshly prepared from the wood fired oven, thin and crispy. What are you waiting for?

Call Movenpick Hotel Kuwait now and relish a wide rang of mouth-watering pizzas.

GIS celebrates sports day!

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he 18th Annual Inter-House Athletic Meet of Gulf Indian School witnessed a multitude of exuberant participants and spectators. The Meet was held at Al Sahel Sports Club. Abu Halifa.

After the welcome address by our Principal Shyamala Divakaran, the Meet was declared open by Sreekumar, the Manager of GIS. In her inaugural speech, the Principal stressed on the importance of Sports in the overall development of a child. She took this opportunity to congratulate the current year’s GIS winners of the CBSE Cluster Meet in which GIS secured the 41h position among the 14 participating schools.

The day began with the spectacular

March Past of the jour houses - Sathya Seva, Jyothi and Santhi. Athletic events followed bringing out the true sportsman spirit in each athlete. Promising athletes were awarded medals and championship trophies. The Parents race followed by the staff race provided some of the most exciting moments to the students and spectators.

Jyothi House lifted the Championship trophy for the best performing house. The Meet came to a close with the winners taking a victory lap. The event was well appreciated and acclaimed by parents and well wishers alike. Thanks to our Physical Education teachers, Mariamma Santhosh and Mr. Vinod Arujunan.

Individual championships were

bagged by the following students: Sub Juniors: Boys: Sankar Naveen Kumar - Sathya House Girls: Anju Prakash - Jyothi House Juniors: Boys: Shabir Saleem - Santhi House Girls: Afiya Begum - Jyothi House Seniors: Boys: Sidharth Menon - Sathya House & Abhinav Sudhir - Seva House Girls: Micha Raichel Koshy - Jyothi House Super Seniors: Boys: Mahmood Murshed - Seva House & Hussain Firoze Kagdi - Santhi House Girls: Neha Imtiyaz Thakur - Jyothi March Past- Sathya House and Seva house CBSE Kuwait Cluster Athletic Meet: Best Athlete: Abhinav Sudhir of class IX

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA On the occasion of Christmas & Good Will Day, the South African Embassy will be closed from Thursday, December 22, 2011 to Monday, December 26, 2011. Please note on Tuesday, December 27, 2011, working hours will be from 8:00 to 10:00. The Embassy will resume its normal working hours on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the Working hours will be from 8:00 to 16:00 & the Consular Section operation hours will from 8:30 to 12:30.

On the occasion of the New Year, the Embassy will be closed on Sunday, January 1, 2012.

Please note on Thursday, December 29, 2011, working hours will be from 8:00 to 10:00. The Embassy will resume its normal working hours on Monday, January 2, 2012, as follows: Please note that the working hours will be from 8:00 to 16:00 & the Consular Section operation hours will from 8:30 to 12:30.

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00:50 Untamed & Uncut 01:45 Dogs 101: Specials 02:40 Shark Attack File 2 03:35 Into The Shark Bite 04:30 Shark Invasion 05:25 Dogs 101: Specials 06:20 Animal Cops Phoenix 07:10 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 09:15 Breed All About It 09:40 Talk To The Animals 10:10 Pandamonium 11:05 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 11:30 Monkey Life 12:00 Crocodile Hunter 12:55 Dogs 101 13:50 Crocodile Hunter 14:45 Baby Planet 15:40 Natural Born Hunters 16:35 The Really Wild Show 17:00 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 17:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 18:25 Bondi Vet 18:50 Bondi Vet 19:20 Animal Kingdom 20:15 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 21:10 Dogs 101 22:05 Shark Attack File 3 23:00 Wildest India 23:55 Whale Wars

00:00 Jam and Jerusalem 00:40 Carols from Kings 01:55 Doctor Who 02:40 One Foot In The Grave 03:40 After You’ve Gone 04:10 Last Of The Summer Wine 04:40 Little Robots 04:50 The Large Family 05:00 Penelope K, By The Way 05:15 Poetry Pie 05:20 Tweenies 05:40 The Tale of Jack Frost 06:10 The Large Family 06:20 Penelope K, By The Way 06:35 Poetry Pie 06:40 Tweenies 07:00 The Tale of Jack Frost 07:30 Little Robots 07:40 The Large Family 07:50 Penelope K, By The Way 08:05 Poetry Pie 08:10 Tweenies 08:30 Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost 09:00 Little Robots 09:10 The Large Family 09:20 Penelope K, By The Way 09:35 Poetry Pie 09:45 Buzz & Tell 09:50 Tweenies 10:10 Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost 10:40 As Time Goes By 11:10 Last Of The Summer Wine 11:45 Doctor Who 12:35 The Weakest Link 13:20 Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost 13:50 Pride 15:20 Carols from Kings 16:35 Last of the Summer Wine 17:10 Victoria Wood’s Midlife Christmas 18:10 Victoria Wood: What Larks!

19:05 Jam and Jerusalem 19:45 Green Green Grass: Christmas Special 20:25 Doctor Who at the Proms 21:25 Doctor Who 22:15 Pride 23:40 Sherlock Holmes

00:05 Kirstie & Phil’s Perfect Christmas 03:30 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey: Christmas 04:25 Rick Stein’s Taste Of Italian Opera 05:15 Glamour Puds 08:00 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern

Odyssey: Christmas 08:55 The Hairy Bakers’ Christmas Special 09:45 James Martin’s Champagne 11:45 James Martin’s Brittany 12:10 Kirstie & Phil’s Perfect Christmas 14:45 Kirstie & Phil’s Perfect Christmas 15:35 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey: Christmas 16:30 The Hairy Bakers’ Christmas Special 17:20 Glamour Puds 20:55 Glamour Puds 21:20 Kirstie & Phil’s Perfect Christmas

00:00 BBC World News 00:30 Dateline London 01:00 BBC World News 01:10 Best Of 2011 02:00 BBC World News 02:10 World Features 02:30 Middle East Business Report 03:00 BBC World News 03:10 World Features 03:30 Talking Movies 04:00 BBC World News 04:30 Dateline London 05:00 BBC World News 05:10 Best Of 2011 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Newsnight 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 Click 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 India Business Report 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 Fast Track 10:00 BBC World News 10:10 The Health Show 10:30 Talking Movies 11:00 BBC World News 11:10 World Features 11:30 Dateline London 12:00 BBC World News 12:10 World Features 12:30 Best Of 2011 13:00 BBC World News 13:10 World Features 13:30 Adopting Abroad: Saira’s Story 14:00 BBC World News 14:10 World Features 14:30 Newsnight 15:00 BBC World News 16:15 Sport Today 16:30 Click 17:00 BBC World News 17:30 Best Of 2011 18:00 BBC World News 18:10 Best Of 2011 19:00 BBC World News 19:30 India Business Report 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 Talking Books 21:00 BBC World News 21:10 World Features 21:30 Adopting Abroad: Saira’s Story 22:00 Sports World Have Your Say 22:30 Sports World Have Your Say 23:00 BBC World News 23:10 This Week With Christiane Amanpour

00:00 00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00

Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 07:15 07:40 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:00 23:39 23:50

The Addams Family Popeye Paddington Bear Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Puppy In My Pocket Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Garfield Show The Garfield Show The Garfield Show

00:15 Samurai Jack 00:40 Megas XLR 01:05 Robotboy 01:30 Squirrel Boy 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Cramp Twins 02:45 Chop Socky Chooks 03:10 Best Ed 03:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Generator Rex 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 05:40 Chowder 05:55 Powerpuff Girls 06:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:55 I Am Weasel 07:20 Squirrel Boy 07:45 Cow & Chicken 08:00 Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Jingle, Jingle, Jangle 08:25 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 08:50 Codename: Kids Next Door 09:10 Robotboy 09:30 Megas XLR 09:55 Billy & Mandy Save Christmas 10:25 Powerpuff Girls 10:45 The Amazing World Of Gumball 10:55 Cow & Chicken 11:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 11:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 12:20 Generator Rex 12:45 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 13:10 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 13:35 Hero 108 14:00 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 14:25 Robotboy 14:50 I Am Weasel 15:15 Best Ed 15:40 Chowder 16:05 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 16:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 16:55 Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Jingle, Jingle, Jangle 17:20 Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends 17:45 Codename: Kids Next Door 18:10 Robotboy 18:35 Megas XLR 19:00 Billy & Mandy Save Christmas 19:30 Powerpuff Girls 19:50 Firebreather 21:05 Chowder 21:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:55 Cow & Chicken 22:20 Best Ed 22:45 I Am Weasel 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:50 The Secret Saturdays

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:15 04:30 05:00 06:00 Room

BLOOD OUT ON OSN ACTION HD

News Special African Voices The Best Of Backstory World Sport World Report Mainsail World Report Inside Africa CNN Marketplace Europe CNN Marketplace Africa African Voices Piers Morgan Tonight The Best Of The Situation

07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:15 09:30 10:00 10:15 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:45 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

World Sport Mainsail World Sport The Best Of Backstory World Report CNN Marketplace Middle East Road To Durban World Report CNN Marketplace Europe I Report For CNN World Sport Mainsail African Voices Talk Asia News Special Inside Africa World Report World Sport Piers Morgan Tonight Fareed Zakaria Gps State Of The Union International Desk Inside Africa I Report For CNN World Sport Prism CNN Marketplace Middle East International Desk Road To Durban World Report Mainsail Piers Morgan Tonight

00:15 Flying Wild Alaska 04:50 Flying Wild Alaska 05:40 How It’S Made 06:05 Dirty Jobs 07:00 American Chopper 07:50 Wheeler Dealers 08:45 Ultimate Biker Challenge 09:10 South Beach Classics 09:40 Extreme Fishing With Robson Green 10:30 Marley Africa Road Trip 11:25 Coal 12:20 How Stuff’S Made 12:45 How It’S Made 13:15 Auction Kings 18:15 Auction Kings 18:45 How Stuff’S Made 19:10 Deadliest Catch 20:05 Gold Rush: Alaska 21:00 Mythbusters 21:55 Curiosity 22:50 Auction Kings 23:45 Auction Kings

00:40 Bang Goes The Theory 01:05 The Tech Show 01:30 Race To Mars 02:20 Green Wheels 06:15 Green Wheels 06:40 The Tech Show 07:10 What’s That About?

08:00 Race To Mars 08:55 Head Rush 08:58 Sci-Fi Science 09:25 Weird Connections 09:55 Smash Lab 10:45 Prototype This 11:35 Green Wheels 12:00 Green Wheels 12:25 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 14:55 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 15:45 Head Rush 15:48 Sci-Fi Science 16:15 Weird Connections 16:45 Bang Goes The Theory 17:10 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 17:35 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 18:00 Bang Goes The Theory 20:05 Bang Goes The Theory 20:30 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 20:55 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 21:20 Bang Goes The Theory 23:50 Bang Goes The Theory

00:00 Kim Possible 00:20 Replacements 01:10 Fairly Odd Parents 02:00 A Kind Of Magic 02:45 Stitch 03:35 Kim Possible 04:25 Emperor’s New School 05:15 Stitch 06:00 Phineas And Ferb 06:45 Suite Life On Deck 07:10 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 07:30 So Random 08:00 A.N.T. Farm 08:25 Good Luck Charlie 09:15 Shake It Up 09:40 A.N.T. Farm 10:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place 10:30 Good Luck Charlie 12:00 Suite Life On Deck 12:50 Good Luck Charlie 13:40 A.N.T. Farm 14:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place 15:15 Fish Hooks 15:35 So Random 15:55 Phineas And Ferb 16:45 My Babysitter’s A Vampire 17:30 Shake It Up 18:20 A.N.T. Farm 18:45 A.N.T. Farm 19:10 Good Luck Charlie 19:30 Aladdin 21:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:25 My Babysitter’s A Vampire 21:50 Good Luck Charlie 22:15 Suite Life On Deck 22:40 Sonny With A Chance 23:05 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 23:30 Hannah Montana

00:25 00:55 01:25 02:20 04:10 05:05 05:30 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:45 10:15 16:55 17:55 19:55

Fashion Police Chelsea Lately E!es E! Investigates Sexiest Reality Hell Wildest TV Show Moments THS Behind The Scenes Style Star Style Star Giuliana & Bill Behind The Scenes Giuliana & Bill Giuliana & Bill

20:55 Ice Loves Coco 21:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 23:25 The Soup 23:55 Chelsea Lately

00:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 01:00 Word of Mouth 01:30 Food School 02:00 Danger Men 03:00 Going Bush 04:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 06:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 07:00 Word of Mouth 07:30 Food School 08:00 Danger Men 09:00 Going Bush 10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 12:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 13:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 13:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:00 Exploring The Vine 14:30 Exploring The Vine 15:00 Word of Mouth 15:30 Banged Up Abroad 17:30 Destination Extreme 18:00 Travel Madness 18:30 Latin America On A Motorcycle 19:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 19:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 20:00 Exploring The Vine 20:30 Exploring The Vine 21:00 Word of Mouth 21:30 Banged Up Abroad 23:30 Destination Extreme

00:00 PG15 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:15 PG15 12:00 14:00 16:15 18:00 20:00 22:00

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:45 18:45 21:00 23:00 PG15

A Lonely Place For DyingParanormal Activity-PG15 Rollerball-18 Tank Girl-PG15 X2-PG Stonehenge ApocalypseI, Robot-PG15 X2-PG Fast Lane-PG15 I, Robot-PG15 Case 39-18 Blood Out-18

Two Lovers-18 The Tender Hook-PG15 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 The Spy Next Door-PG Attack On Leningrad-PG15 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 The Spy Next Door-PG True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 Nine-PG15 Home By Christmas-PG15 The LXD: Secrets Of The Ra-

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Saturday Night Live 02:30 The Cleveland Show 03:00 Raising Hope 03:30 2 Broke Girls 04:00 Will And Grace 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Two And A Half Men 06:30 Melissa And Joey 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Will And Grace 08:30 Raising Hope 09:00 Seinfeld 09:30 30 Rock 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:30 Melissa And Joey 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Two And A Half Men 12:30 Will And Grace 13:00 2 Broke Girls 13:30 Seinfeld 14:00 Melissa And Joey 14:30 Hot In Cleveland 15:00 30 Rock 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Happy Endings 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:30 State Of Georgia 20:00 Mad Love 20:30 Curb Your Enthusiasm 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:00 The Cleveland Show 23:30 Mad Love

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

The Killing C.S.I. Miami Top Gear (UK) Breakout Kings No Ordinary Family The View Good Morning America The Glades Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Persons Unknown Breakout Kings The Cape C.S.I. Miami Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Body Of Proof Unforgettable Pan Am Top Gear (US) The Glades

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00

Drop Dead Diva Top Gear (UK) The Killing C.S.I. Miami

TWO LOVERS ON OSN CINEMA 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Breakout Kings The Chicago Code Drop Dead Diva Modern Family Marathon Coronation Street Kojak Top Gear (UK) Breakout Kings C.S.I. Miami Modern Family Marathon Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Kojak Drop Dead Diva Modern Family Marathon Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Law & Order: Los Angeles Body Of Proof Unforgettable Pan Am Top Gear (US) The Chicago Code

20:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG15 22:00 A Christmas Carol-PG

01:00 The Alphabet Killer-18 03:00 Rollerball-18 05:00 Rage: Carrie 2-PG15 07:00 The Karate Kid III-PG 09:00 Superman/ Batman: Apocalypse-PG15 11:00 X-Men-PG15 13:00 Rocky IV-PG15 15:00 Superman/ Batman: Apocalypse-PG15 17:00 No Time To Fear-PG15 19:00 Talento De Barrio-PG15 21:00 Julia’s Eyes-18 23:00 Carrie-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 PG15 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 PG15 22:00

Nativity!-PG The Making Of Plus One-PG15 I’ll Be Home For ChristmasThe Big Green-PG Frank Mcklusky, C.I.-PG15 Stuart Little 2-FAM Heart And Souls-PG Miami Rhapsody-PG15 Nativity!-PG Bob Roberts-PG15 Revenge Of The BridesmaidsFunny People-18

01:00 Proteger & Servir-18 03:00 Little Man Tate-PG 05:00 Veronica Guerin-PG15 07:00 Not Since You-PG15 09:00 The Italian Job (1969)-PG 11:15 North-PG 13:00 Little Man Tate-PG 15:15 Stomp The Yard Homecoming-PG15 17:15 9-PG 19:00 Up In The Air-PG15 21:00 The Sting II-PG15 23:00 Fascination-18

2:

01:00 Ghost-PG15 03:15 Just Wright-PG15 05:00 The Joneses-PG15 07:00 Sleepover-PG15 08:30 Post Grad-PG15 10:00 Beethoven Saves ChristmasPG15 12:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG15 14:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 16:00 Post Grad-PG15 18:00 Avatar-PG 21:00 Tron: Legacy-PG15 23:00 Get Him To The Greek-18

00:00 Astro Boy-FAM 02:00 The Three Musketeers (2008)FAM 04:00 Christmas In New York-PG 06:00 Casper Haunted ChristmasFAM 08:00 Astro Boy-FAM 10:00 Beethoven Saves ChristmasPG15 12:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG15 14:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 16:00 Marmaduke-PG 18:00 Beethoven Saves ChristmasPG15

00:00 02:00 PG15 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Pelican Blood-18 The Men Who Stare At Goats-

01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 11:00 12:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 23:30

UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed Trans World Sport Masters Football Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Powerboats F1 Powerboats UIM Scottish Premier League Trans World Sport Masters Football Scottish Premier League WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line WWE NXT Powerboats F1 Scottish Premier League Masters Football

Grown Ups-PG15 Furry Vengeance-PG Ways To Live Forever-PG15 The Silent Fall-PG15 Lottery Ticket-PG15 StreetDance-PG15 The Silent Fall-PG15 The Chaperone-PG15 Inhale-PG15 Robin Hood (2010)-PG15

02:00 Scottish Premier League 04:00 European Tour Weekly Review 05:00 Trans World Sport 06:00 ICC Cricket World 06:30 World Hockey 07:00 Darts PDC World Championship 11:00 Futbol Mundial 11:30 Scottish Premier League 13:30 Steve Davis Trickshots 15:00 The Open Championship Official Film 16:00 The US PGA Championship Official Film 17:00 European Tour Weekly Review 18:00 HSBC Sevens World Series 21:30 Darts PDC World Championship

01:00 Trans World Sport 02:00 World Cup of Pool 03:00 World Pool Masters World Pong 04:00 Ping Championship 05:00 Volvo Ocean Race 06:00 European Tour Weekly 07:00 Scottish Premier League 09:00 Masters Football 12:00 HSBC Sevens World Series World PDC 15:30 Darts Championship 19:30 Scottish Premier League 21:30 Steve Davis Trickshots 23:00 The Open Championship Official Film

01:00 04:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 19:00 20:00 23:00

Prizefighter UFC 135 WWE Vintage Collection WWE Tough Enough Speedway UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale WWE Bottom Line

00:40 A Haunting 01:30 A Haunting 02:15 The Haunted 03:05 Ghost Lab 03:50 A Haunting 04:40 A Haunting 05:25 On The Case With Paula Zahn 06:15 Disappeared 07:10 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 08:00 FBI Files 08:50 Forensic Detectives 09:40 Murder Shift 10:25 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 11:10 Real Emergency Calls

11:35 Real Emergency Calls 11:55 On the Case with Paula Zahn 12:40 Disappeared 13:25 Murder Shift 14:15 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 15:00 Real Emergency Calls 15:25 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

15:50 On the Case with Paula Zahn 16:35 Disappeared 17:20 Forensic Detectives 18:10 Murder Shift 19:00 FBI Files 19:45 Real Emergency Calls 20:10 Life or Death: Medical Mysteries 20:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

21:20 On the Case with Paula Zahn 22:10 Disappeared 23:00 Nightmare Next Door 23:50 I Faked My Own Death

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00 10:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Globe Trekker People Of The Sea Going South Essential Trabant Trek Rivers Of The World Globe Trekker Culinary Asia Food Tripper Flavours Of Scotland Flavours Of Greece Floyd On Africa Planet Food Sophie Grigson In The Orient The Thirsty Traveler Planet Food Floyd Uncorked Globe Trekker Special Planet Food Cruising The South China Sea Third Class Traveller

00:00 Clash Of The Gods 01:00 King Arthur’S Round Table Revealed 02:00 Peace, Love And Murder: Ira Einhorn 03:00 Pawn Stars 03:30 Pawn Stars 04:00 The Real Robin Hood 06:00 Clash Of The Gods 07:00 King Arthur’S Round Table Revealed 08:00 Peace, Love And Murder: Ira Einhorn 09:00 Pawn Stars 09:30 Pawn Stars 10:00 The Real Robin Hood 12:00 Clash Of The Gods 13:00 King Arthur’S Round Table Revealed 14:00 Peace, Love And Murder: Ira Einhorn 15:00 Pawn Stars 15:30 Pawn Stars 16:00 The Real Robin Hood 18:00 Clash Of The Gods 19:00 King Arthur’S Round Table Revealed 20:00 American Pickers 21:00 Pawn Stars 21:30 American Restoration 22:00 The Real Face Of Jesus?

00:05 01:00 02:00 02:55 03:25 04:20 05:15 06:10 06:35 07:05 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:25 10:55 11:50 12:50 13:50 14:45 21:20 21:45 22:15 23:10

Wicked Fit Homes With Style Videofashion Daily Videofashion News How Do I Look?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Married Away Homes With Style Area Clean House Big Boutique Videofashion Daily Top 10 Top 10 Homes With Style Open House Videofashion News Elements Of Style Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Fashion Police Elements Of Style Tia And Tamera Jerseylicious

Classifieds SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya with Indian family separate room with separate bathroom available, preferred single or 2 working ladies or small family from India. Contact: 99509436.

(C 3795)

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines LMU KNE AFR JZR KAC JZR JZR MLR ETH THY UAE QTR DHX MSR FDB ETD RJA GFA KAC KAC DHX FCX JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB IRA GFA FCX RBG IRC JZR IRA RKM MEA SYR MSR JZR KAC GFA KAC KAC FDB UAL QTR SVA RJA ABY KAC JZR KAC KAC QTR JZR JZR ETD UAE GFA SVA RBG ABY JZR ALK JZR FDB KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB JAI OMA AFG MLR KAC DHX VOS MEA GFA QTR UAE KAC JZR KAC AIC KAC JZR UAL AXB

Arrival Flights on Sunday 25/12/2011 Flt Route 1109 ALEXANDRIA 989 JEDDAH 6708 PARIS 185 DUBAI 154 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 1405 COLOMBO/DUBAI 620 ADDIS ABABA 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 138 DOHA 370 BAHRAIN 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 382 DELHI 544 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASSIUT 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 213 BAHRAIN 203 DUBAI 3555 ALEXANDRIA 6801 AHWAZ 165 DUBAI 615 SHAHRE KORD 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 341 DAMASCUS/ALEPPO 610 CAIRO 201 DAMASCUS 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 744 DAMMAM 774 RIYADH 57 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 123 SHARJAH 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 284 DHAKA 550 SOHAG 134 DOHA 561 SOHAG 213 DEIREZZOR/ALEPPO 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 3564 ASSIUT 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 227 COLOMBO/DUBAI 177 DUBAI 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 787 RIYADH 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 166 PARIS/ROME 102 NEW YORK/LONDON 562 AMMAN 61 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 405 KABUL/DUBAI 1407 COLOMBO/DUBAI 512 TEHRAN 372 BAHRAIN 81 BAGHDAD 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 172 FRANKFURT 135 BAHRAIN 502 BEIRUT 981 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD 678 MUSCAT/ABU DHABI 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 389 KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE

Time 0:01 0:05 0:10 0:20 0:35 0:45 0:50 0:55 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:10 3:15 3:30 4:40 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:20 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:40 9:55 10:30 10:45 11:10 11:20 11:35 11:45 11:55 12:35 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:25 13:45 13:50 14:05 14:20 14:30 14:40 14:45 14:50 15:00 15:00 15:15 15:25 16:10 16:45 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:40 18:50 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:30 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:35

Airlines AXB UAL LMU AIC KNE BBC AFR MLR KAC ETH THY KAC FDB UAE DHX MSR ETD QTR JZR GFA RJA JZR FDB BAW KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC JZR JZR UAE ABY ETD KAC FDB QTR KAC IRA GFA KAC RBG FCX KAC IRC JZR KAC IRA KAC RKM MEA SYR KAC JZR MSR GFA FDB KAC KAC UAL KAC ABY RJA SVA JZR KAC KAC KAC QTR JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE GFA RBG ABY SVA JZR JZR ALK FDB JZR KAC FDB DHX KAC JAI OMA MLR DHX MEA GFA FCX QTR JZR KAC UAE KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC AFG

Departure Flights on Sunday 25/12/2011 Flt Route 394 COCHIN/KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 1110 ALEXANDRIA 976 GOA/CHENNAI 990 JEDDAH 44 CHITTAGONG/DHAKA 6708 DUBAI/VIETNAM 1405 COLOMBO 283 DHAKA 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 381 DELHI 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 200 DAMASCUS 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 549 SOHAG 671 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 171 FRANKFURT 787 JEDDAH 560 SOHAG 212 ALEPPO/DEIREZZOR 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 117 NEW YORK 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 773 RIYADH 602 SHIRAZ 214 BAHRAIN 743 DAMMAM 3563 ASSIUT 204 DUBAI 541 CAIRO 6802 AHWAZ 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 614 SHAHRE KORD 381 DELHI 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 342 ALEPPO/DAMASCUS 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 561 AMMAN 673 DUBAI 982 BAHRAIN 677 MUSCAT/ABU DHABI 124 SHARJAH 641 AMMAN 503 MEDINAH/JEDDAH 786 RIYADH 617 DOHA 501 BEIRUT 511 TEHRAN 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 135 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 3556 ALEXANDRIA 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI/COLOMBO 64 DUBAI 184 DUBAI 361 COLOMBO 62 DUBAI 171 BAHRAIN 351 COCHIN 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 1407 COLOMBO 373 BAHRAIN 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 BAHRAIN 137 DOHA 554 ALEXANDRIA 301 MUMBAI 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 343 CHENNAI 502 LUXOR 415 KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA 411 BANGKOK/MANILA 406 DUBAI/KABUL

Time 0:40 0:45 0:45 0:50 0:50 1:00 1:55 1:55 2:40 2:45 3:15 3:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:30 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:05 9:25 9:30 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:25 10:40 10:40 10:45 11:25 11:45 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:30 12:35 12:45 12:50 12:55 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:35 14:45 15:05 15:20 15:25 15:25 15:35 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:45 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:50 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:30 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:59

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

One furnished room accommodation available for a decent Indian bachelor immediately in a CAC 2 bedroom flat with Indian family at Salmiya near Indian Community School, with Internet 24x7, rent KD 65.

Contact: 97237934, 25658475.

(C 3796) 25-11-2011 Separate room with separate bathroom available in a flat with African family in Abu Halifa near round about, rent KD 75 for single working lady or couple. Call 66971502, 2371683, 90033641. (C 3793) 24-12-2011

SITUATION VACANT American family looking for live in maid. Contact: 50645422 / 66104141.

(C 3791) 22-12-2011

FOR SALE PC IBM Pentium 4, small size flat CPU, Intel 2.6GHz, HDD 80GB, Ram 512MB, DVD Writer, Windows XP Professional, 17” LCD, excellent condition. Contact: 99322585/ 99337034.

(C 3792) 22-12-2011

LOST State Life Insurance Policy # 633000165 - Name: Maqsood Ali and Policy # 633001462 - 1471 Mumtaz Hussain has been lost.

Anybody found, please contact SLIC office No.: 2245208-9. (C 3794) 23-12-2011

SITUATION WANTED Indian 26 years experiences in Accounts, Finance, Commercial sector. Can implement Accounts setup, Finalization of Accounts, control of department. Seeking suitable senior position. Contact: d.manabendra@yahoo.com / 66598202.

(C 3788)

Palestinian having 6 years experiences in Accounts can handle Payroll, BRS, A/R, A/P, Financial Report. Contact: amoorree79@hotmail.com / 97901392.

(C 3789) 20-12-2011 CHANGE OF NAME

I, Moidin Kunhi Badiyar Husan S/O Husan Kunhi

Urmene Moidin, holder of Indian Passport No: F4932532 have changed my name to MOHAMMED MOHIDEEN for all purposes.

(C 3786) I, Marshal Agnelo Lawrence, holder of Indian Passport No. F5623328 hereby change my name to Marcelo Agnelo Lourenco.

19-12-2011 y

As the U.S. unemployment rate teeters at just under 10 percent, let’s face it: It’s a scary time to graduate.

With thousands of Americans facing unemployment despite their long histories in the work force, you’re lucky if you’re graduating with a job lined up.

Getting hired certainly isn’t as easy as it used to be, but there are ways to rise to the occasion. And let’s look on the bright side: According to a March 9 Bureau of Labor Statistics release, there were 2.7 million job openings on the last business day in January, boosting that rate to 2.1 percent.

By narrowing in on the fields and companies that are hiring, specializing your networking skills and gaining some life experience, landing the job of your dreams is not so far out of reach.

BY MOLLY KLINEFELTER, MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Even with all this knowledge, it can be hard to land a job, especially in this economy. These tips from Yahoo! Hot Jobs (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com) will assist you in making connections all over the business world.

Personalize your resume. For every job you apply to, alter your resume a bit to emphasize the qualities that prospective employer is looking for. That way, your resume will pop off the page instead of getting lost in an inbox.

Network, network, network. Use your public interactions as a way to make connections. Employers agree they’d rather hire someone they know than a complete stranger.

Use the Web. The Internet is a huge resource for employers, and by registering with career Web sites and doing your research on specific companies, you’ll be more educated than your competition.

Follow up. Whether you’ve just interviewed with a prospective employer or met a possible connection at the grocery store, e-mail or call them within a few days to thank them or further discuss your career. This way, your name won’t fade out of their mind.

Be patient. Finding a job isn’t easy, so don’t expect to be employed within a month. Don’t give up if you haven’t heard back from prospective employers; just be more persistent.

Does the word “networking” scare the living daylights out of you? It’s not as hard as it seems. “Making It in the City,” a book and Web site (www.makingitinthecity.com) founded by writer Adina Kalish Neufeld to help others adapt to living in a big city with no money, resources or connections, gives the basic networking tips.

The Golden Rule: Multiply your connections. When you meet someone helpful, ask him or her for five other names and their contact information.

Keep your hands and mouth free. It’s hard to meet people when you’re holding a plate and your mouth is full of food.

Do your research. Know who the top people are and what’s going on in the field. That way, if you unexpectedly run into a connection at Starbucks, you’ll have something to talk about.

Know the guest list. Before an event, find out who’s going to be there so you can practice your conversation and read up on a particular person.

Introduce yourself. People will be impressed if you know who they are and take the initiative to approach them. Be honest and confident, but avoid sounding over-enthusiastic.

Ask about them. People love talking about themselves, and if you ask them advice on how to break into the business, they’ll probably tell you how they did it.

Dress for the occasion. Don’t show up in a suit and tie if you’re going to a backyard barbecue. Wear something comfortable. You don’t want to be in scratchy fabric or too-tight pants; it’ll end up making you feel insecure.

Assert yourself without being annoying. Don’t take up too much of someone’s time, but ask if you can contact them in the future, or if they can give you someone’s information that may be of interest to you.

Practice your handshake! Many people judge people at first solely on how they shake hands.

Say their name. Not only will this help you remember their name, but they’ll be impressed you remembered, as well.

Bring your resume and business card. You never know when you’ll need it.

Don’t get discouraged. If you’re not the best conversationalist, it’s OK. Not everyone can talk to a wall. Keep it one-on-one so you’ll feel more comfortable.

Although it’s a scary thought, you may not get a job right after you graduate. But instead of sitting on your couch eating Cheetos waiting for a job to fall into your lap, try doing something productive that also will boost your resume.

Get an internship. Many companies won’t even hire you unless you’ve interned with their company,

so why not look at an internship as an opportunity to impress your bosses and potentially score a full-time gig at the end of the trial run?

Travel the world. You’re young and most likely single, so what better time to travel the world?

After you land a full-time job and start a family, there may not be another opportunity to scale the Alps,

Are you unsure about what field you want to break into but know you want to work as soon as possible? You’re in luck, because according to Forbes (www.forbes.com), these three professions are hiring now: Paralegal at bankruptcy or foreclosure firm. These firms are especially busy in this economy, which means they need a bigger staff.

Generally, the legal field is no longer firing, and as of April 1, 26 percent of the field said they would be hiring. The positions available range from administrative and support staff to high-paid lawyers.

Sales and business development. As of the second quarter, 10 percent of the field plans to hire additional staff.

Information technology. The industry comes in third, with 5 percent hiring by April.

Who's not hiring: Finance and accounting. Forbes says negative 1 percent of these fields have the intention of hiring right now.

If you’d rather take a different approach to getting hired, consider researching individual companies. Some are known to treat employees better than others, and many have higher hiring rates than others. CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com) has the top five companies to work for, and the companies hiring now.

TOP COMPANIES TO WORK FOR: SAS: The world’s largest privately owned software company, this

employer offers its staff great benefits. Included are high-quality child care at $410 a month, 90 percent coverage of the health care premium, unlimited sick days, a free medical center staffed by four physicians and 10 nurse practitioners, a free 66,000 square foot fitness center and natatorium, a lending library and a summer camp for children. On top of that, the company’s turnover is the nation’s lowest at 2 percent.

Edward Jones: Also on the list of companies hiring now, this investment adviser company hasn’t laid off a single employee or closed any of its 12,615 offices. Impressive, huh?

Wegmans Food Markets: This grocery company was rated one of the best in the nation, and has astonishingly never had a layoff in its 94year history.

Google: They’re hiring again! Reports say Google will add thousands of employees in 2010. The company also added a stock-option exchange program last year to help employees with underwater options.

And music to your ears, 20 percent of each employees’ time is devoted to a project of his or her choosing.

Nugget Market: This lesser-known supermarket chain has frequent employee-appreciation events. Another perk? Upon being hired, employees receive cards for 10 percent off of $500 of groceries every month.

COMPANIES HIRING NOW: Edward Jones: The company has more than 600 openings for finan-

cial advisors and branch office administrators. They’re looking for self-starters who put the client’s interests first and like working with and helping people.

Their advice to prospective employees? Make sure you understand the job, have past stable work experience and an appropriate commitment level.

Wegmans Food Markets: Also one of the best companies to work for, the grocery chain has 1,500 openings for jobs such as customer-service team members, chefs, team leaders and department managers.

They’re looking for food enthusiasts and people who are passionate about good service. Their perfect employee is someone committed to continuous learning, with diverse experiences who exemplifies the values of caring for and respecting others.

Google: In addition to being one of the top companies to work for, Google has 1,000 openings in software engineering, user-experience researching, product marketing, finance and human resources. They want people who thrive in ambiguous situations and are energized by complex challenges. An employee must be passionate about technology and committed to the community.

Qualcomm: This software designer has more than 600 openings for engineering and business positions including software engineers, digital design engineers, patent counselors, architects and product marketing directors. They’re looking for people with a passion for technology and a desire to innovate. Their advice? Do research on the company and be self-aware.

Cisco: With close to 600 openings, this company is offering careers in engineering and design organization, services, product managing, sales, finance, marketing, IT, manufacturing, supply chain and human resources.

They want strong collaborators who have a focus on execution and know the needs of organization. They advise prospective employers to ask good questions at the interview.

S O U R C E S : U . S . B U R E A U O F L A B O R S TAT I S T I C S ; F O R B E S ( W W W. F O R B E S . C O M ) ; C N N M O N E Y ( H T T P : / / M O N E Y. C N N . C O M ) ; YA H O O H O T J O B S ( H T T P : / / H O T J O B S . YA H O O . C O M ) ; W W W. M A K I N G I T I N T H E C I T Y. C O M .

surf in Australia or visit the Queen of England.

Do nonprofit work. Have you always wanted to build houses in a developing country or teach children English? Take your time off as a blessing, because you can do that now. Not only will the experience be personally rewarding, but it also may impress potential employers.

I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y PA U L T R A P / M C T

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 538

CALVIN & HOBBES

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Using common sense and being more conscientious takes on special importance for you. Taking care of the necessary supports of life, health, work, and so forth, becomes a greater preoccupation. Sorting things out and getting them organized to the utmost efficiency keeps you very busy. You may want to just stop and take a deep breath to relax for a few minutes. You are either planning a big get-together with friends and relatives or worrying about work; for a few minutes relax and be grateful for what you have, where you are and that you have the keen mind to make things work. This can be an expansive, creative and even romantic phase—a time you’ll look back on with pride and fondness. This evening you show off your talents!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. The local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England.

4. Large tree of Trinidad and Guyana having odd-pinnate leaves and violet-scented axillary racemes of yellow flowers and long smooth pods.

9. A flat device with narrow pointed teeth on one edge.

13. An implement used to propel or steer a boat.

14. At or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane.

15. The capital of Western Samoa.

16. Small genus of South American evergreen vines.

18. A hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck.

19. A genus of Lamnidae.

22. A metallic element having four allotropic forms.

24. One or some or every or all without specification.

25. Title for the former hereditary monarch of Iran.

28. A city in western Germany near the Dutch and Belgian borders.

30. Australian evergreen shrubs.

33. Used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son.

36. Surveying instrument consisting of the upper movable part of a theodolite including the telescope and its attachments.

38. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

39. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

40. A doctor's degree in religion.

43. A member of an agricultural people in southeastern India.

45. A Dravidian language spoken in south central India.

46. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

49. Being or moving higher in position or greater in some value.

51. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

53. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

58. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

59. The act of scanning.

60. Lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part.

61. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

62. Type genus of the Ranidae.

63. A city in northern India.

64. A small cake leavened with yeast.

DOWN 1. The state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it.

2. God of death.

3. A conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.

4. The seventh month of the Moslem calendar.

5. A religious belief of African origin involving witchcraft and sorcery.

6. The cry made by sheep.

7. 30 to 300 kilohertz.

8. Relating to or being a member of an ethnic group.

9. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

10. A quantity upon which a mathematical operation is performed.

11. The capital of Lombardy in northern Italy.

12. Informal or slang terms for mentally irregular.

17. (used of certain religious orders) Barefoot or wearing only sandals.

20. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

21. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993).

23. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

26. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

27. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

29. (folklore) Fairies that are somewhat mischievous.

31. A genus of Ploceidae.

32. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

34. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

35. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

37. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

41. A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix.

42. Stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings.

44. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

45. A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow).

46. A unit of dry measure used in Egypt.

47. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

48. Tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pink-tinged fruit.

50. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

52. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

54. A decree that prohibits something.

55. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

56. A human limb.

57. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

58. Being nine more than ninety.

Yesterday’s Solution

Take a look into your deeper, more spiritual nature just now. You may be able to discover whole new areas of your psyche or mind that have been closed up until now. There are new insights into dreams and ideals as you visit or communicate with friends and family. Energies culminate to help you get in touch with your more unique and unusual qualities and talents. You will be appreciative of the fact that someone you are close to will be understanding and supportive of your ideas as well as your eccentricities. Allowing your creative and intuitive side a free rein could be your ticket to new solutions or inventions. You show great understanding and awareness of the needs of others just now and are in a good place to help through listening.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Many times, you find yourself talkative and quick-witted—much to the amusement of those lucky enough to be around you. Ideas are clear and easy for you to express. Fun conversations and political differences can be maneuvered through with great success. There is talk about living on the moon. It should be a super day for making plans or decisions or finding your way through just about any problem that may present itself—but not the moon! You feel successful and able to contend with things. Good advice from a guide or an older person may be coming your way. This is a wonderful day in general and an exceptional time to make a difference with the people in your own surroundings. This could be in simply volunteering to help the needy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You just seem to have a natural sense for communicating with others, especially those that are younger than you. Clear thoughts about the past may also be flowing in this Saturday. Other people and the general circumstances should be very pleasant. You usually enjoy the company of many people. If you are living in the town where you were born, there will be opportunities to visit with old school friends this winter. If you are visiting your home town, you will find school friends calling on you. Fun conversations and renewing old friendships make you feel in touch as you have never felt before. You are thankful for your many blessings. Attitude is everything and your attitude is most positive. This evening you may decide to update the photograph album.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

ZITS

You may find your friends calling on you in some very special way today, or it could be that circumstances force you to reorganize and be more frugal. All of this will work out to your benefit. Your more practical qualities are present and should serve you very well. Wanting and needing to be the center of your families’ attention takes hold in your life now—there is a craving to be appreciated for your gifts. This should work out to be an expansive, creative and possibly even romantic time—a phase that you could look back on with a great deal of pride and fondness. You receive good news about a creative project. This is a wonderful time to surround yourself with family and friends. This is a great time to celebrate life.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Expect a festive time that will help reveal you at your most elegant, especially in social situations. You will not only have a handle on abstract and spiritual things but will have the ability to help others to understand, as you do. You may find yourself luxuriating in the limelight, particularly from superiors or in relation to your work. You could find that you enjoy your job or the responsibility that it entails more than usual. Your neighbors or family may be involved in your life more at this time. Enjoyment is derived by obtaining and sharing information with other folks. Communicating your feelings becomes most important. Some of your more unique and unusual talents will surface now. Tonight brings some welcome news.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

This will be a day that you will want to ignore responsibilities and do some socializing and that could include domestic types of things. You would much rather be in a situation where you could just visit and not have to worry about anything. Unfortunately, you may not be afforded that luxury and may have put forth some effort in the workplace today. You may be left to work on some project—but not for long . . . quitting time could come early. There is an opportunity to gain some real understanding of someone you love this evening.

Perhaps there is also an opportunity to have some special time with that loved one.

General good feelings and a sense of cheer and goodwill should turn this hard-working day into a lovely event.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) If you are working today, you may find that you are actually going to be able to work on a special project you previously felt you would miss. Others could find you very easy to follow, as you are most eloquent in speaking and in leading others. Your self-expression is quite natural and kind and great things just magnetically fall into your lap at this time. Romance and being in love is becoming most agreeable. This will be a fulfilling time for you romantically. A worthwhile conversation with someone you love completes your day. Some of you will be announcing an engagement. Some of you will be showing off a special gift.

The evening just takes care of itself; enjoy. Expect the most positive kinds of activity to evolve.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Someone may come to you in secret and ask for your help and guidance concerning a very personal and emotional issue. Your terrific ability to understand and help others is commendable. A rumor that does not support you may be making the rounds, especially in relation to your work. It will serve your personal progress by objecting to attacks on someone else. You are admired for your ability to speak up and be heard. You could find yourself really imaginative, especially when it comes to art work or creative writing. Right now you have an opportunity to rise above the everyday thoughts and soar into more universal or endless musings. Today especially, should help you discover the beauty in your life and the beauty in those around you.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Something could happen today that will help you to understand that you need to make some important changes in your life.

Perhaps, there is a need to break away from some of the old fashioned ideas you are carrying from your past. You long to try new and different things. Your emotional nourishment and feeling of protection comes from your friends, principles and social involvement now. Those around you will be appreciative of your time and sensitivity to their needs—the favor is returned. You are in a win-win position to communicate concerning groups and society, as well. If you find yourself invited to a party or festive gathering of some kind, you will probably outshine everyone. You prepare for a celebration.

Yesterday’s Solution Aquarius (January 20- February 18) The spirit of the holiday season is strong and should find you in a position to really enjoy and understand those that you care about the most. Wonderful feelings and a sense of support and harmony make this a truly joyous time. Celebrate the feelings that you have today and allow them to carry you throughout the upcoming year, as well. You will find that others are very respectful of your ability to make good commonsense decisions concerning group issues. You just seem to have a natural sense of what others want and need at this time. Clear decisions affecting others could be made now. There is good news about companionship and it is at this time that there will be a new understanding and a deeper connection between loved one(s).

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You most assuredly will find yourself gaining materially. Tangible things have a great deal of importance for you just now. You just have a greater appreciation for things of value—and even the idea of value and investments is in order now. It should not be hard for you to be able to enjoy and value your own life situation or to feel especially kind toward a friend or loved one. You should find pleasant communication and helpful family members are available for most anything you desire. Some pretty neat compliments may find a way to your ears today, making a nice day even more joyous. Being more involved with friends, neighbors and family is highly likely now and makes for a very rewarding day. Your efforts this evening prove most positive.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

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

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

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

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

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

Hawally

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

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

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

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

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

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0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

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e niv rsar n

Years

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

De Niro welcomes baby girl ctor Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower have become the proud parents of a baby girl born via a surrogate, the actor’s spokesman confirmed on Friday. The child is the second for De Niro, 68, and Hightower, 56. She is named Helen Grace Hightower De Niro, and weighed a healthy 7 lbs 2 oz at birth. The “Meet the Parents” star

A

married actress Hightower in 1997, and the couple have a son, Elliot, born in 1998. De Niro also has a son and adopted daughter with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott and two twin sons with former girlfriend Toukie Smith.

The actor can currently be seen in the star-studded, feel-good film “New Year’s Eve.”

Louis Vuitton sues over knockoff bag in ‘Hangover 2’

Gibson, wife finalize divorce judge on Friday approved a divorce settlement between actor Mel Gibson and his estranged wife Robyn, ending their 31 years of marriage. Robyn Gibson will return to using her maiden name, Robyn Denise Moore, but other details of the divorce were kept confidential. The settlement becomes effective on January 9. Gibson, 55, and his wife married in Australia in 1980 and have seven children together.

The couple separated in 2006 after Gibson was arrested for drunk driving in Malibu, California, and made antiSemitic remarks that generated headlines around the world. The actor’s wife sued for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences following Gibson’s relationship with Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he has a 2-yearold daughter. The “Lethal Weapon” star

A

pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery following an altercation with Grigorieva in 2010, and was sentenced to three years’ probation. He recently settled a custody battle with his former girlfriend, agreeing to pay Grigorieva $750,000 and share custody of their daughter. The Oscar winner’s turbulent five years since his arrest and the antiSemitic rant have tarnished his reputation and set back a remarkable career that had made him one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors, directors and producers. While no details of the divorce settlement were released, the actor was previously estimated to be worth $900 million, and he owns several properties in the wealthy, seaside enclave of Malibu, outside Los Angeles.

t might be more expensive, but sometimes it really pays to buy name-brand. French luxury brand Louis Vuitton has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros over the use of a Louis Vuitton knockoff bag in “The Hangover: Part II.” According to the suit, filed in US District Court in New York on Thursday, an airport scene in the film makes use of a counterfeit bag made by a company named Diophy, which is currently being sued by Louis Vuitton for trademark infringement. During the scene, Zach Galifianakis’ character, Alan, warns the character Stu (played by Ed Helms), “Careful, that is ... that is a Louis Vuitton.” The French company objects to both the movies use of its trademark, and the characterization of the bag as a real Louis Vuitton.

According to the suit, Warner Bros. is “explicitly misleading the public about the source of the Diophy Bag” and undermining the company’s enforcement efforts against counterfeits of its product. According to the suit, Louis Vuitton objected to Warner’s after the film’s opening, but the company still released the film on DVD with the offending footage included. Citing a previous lawsuit over the film-during which Warner’s said it was considering altering a scene that featured a tattoo that might have violated a copyright-Louis Vuitton argues that altering the airport scene to eliminate the company’s trademarked design would have been an easy fix. In the suit, the French company is asking that the court permanently enjoin Warner’s from using its marks in any way, and order the company to surrender all copies of the film containing the marks. It is also asking for triple damages on all profits that Warner Bros. may have amassed from using Vuitton’s marks, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. This is far from the only lawsuit that “The Hangover Part II”-a huge hit that has amassed a worldwide take of more than $500 million-has sparked. In addition to the tattoo lawsuit, which was settled in June, the company was sued in October by an aspiring actor who claims that the plot was stolen from his life experiences. Warner Bros had no comment for TheWrap on the lawsuit.

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James hospitalized for breathing trouble tta James’ longtime manager says the terminally ill blues singer has been hospitalized after experiencing difficulty breathing. Lupe De Leon says James’ family is with her at a Southern California hospital where she was taken earlier this week. De Leon, who has been James’ manager for 30 years, says the singer is “in pretty bad shape” but it remains unknown whether she will be able to be released. He says James was taken to the hospital on Wednesday evening and is on a breathing apparatus. James’ doctor recently announced that the “At Last” singer has been diagnosed with terminal leukemia. The Grammy-winner and Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame member is also suffering from dementia. She has been receiving mostly at-home care. A judge on Monday set aside $350,000 for James’ treatment.

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Bieber having family Christmas ustin Bieber thinks family are the most important part of Christmas. The ‘Never Say Never’ hitmaker - who is in a relationship with Selena Gomez - loves the festive season and is planning to enjoy Christmas relaxing with his family. He said: “I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday for sure. “It has always been a time for family and friends. To enjoy each other’s company and to be able to be back with my family is the most important part to me.” While Justin has few expectations for Christmas this year, last year he requested an extravagant present. The ‘Baby’ singer - who was given a car by his mentor Usher for his 16th birthday last March - admitted 12 months ago he was hoping to unwrap another vehicle from either the ‘OMG’ hitmaker or his mother. He said: “I got a car for my birthday, Usher helped buy it.

Maybe he will get me another car for Christmas. “My mom is trying to figure out something to get me. I want a motorcycle. Not a big one, a little pocket one, a small miniature one which is really cool. I do like fast cars.” —Agencies

J Dido secretly gave birth to a son in July he ‘White Flag’ singer - who announced her pregnancy earlier this year - and her husband Rohan Gavin welcomed their boy, Stanley, into the world in the summer but decided not to publicly announce his arrival. According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Dido - who will celebrate her 40th birthday today - gave birth to Stanley at London’s exclusive Portland Hospital. Before his birth, Dido said she wanted to find out the sex of her unborn baby and was really enjoying being pregnant. She said: “I’m too curious. It’s enough of a surprise on the day. “There’s a real calmness about being pregnant which I think is really nice. Your decisions are sort of made for you. You just have this priority that is unchangeable and I think that’s a

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great calmness that comes from that.”

However, her pregnancy meant she missed out on the opportunity to perform her song ‘If I Rise’ at February’s Oscars. She wrote on her website at the time: “Hello everyone, It’s been a month of amazing news for me and now I have some more to share. Me and my husband Rohan are expecting a baby and we’re beyond happy and excited about it. “So as some of you already know, I won’t be able to travel to LA for the Oscars ceremony to perform ‘If I Rise’. “Obviously I’m really gutted about not being there - going to the Oscars has literally been a dream of mine since I was about nine.”

How CK made one million and gave half away ouis CK cut out TV networks by selling his latest comedy special online-then used network airtime to promote it. The strategy helped him earn a cool million dollars in a matter of days, half of which he’s giving away to his staff and charities. It’s hard to think of a more stick-it-to-The-Man approach to distributing your work. But The Man-in this case TV networks and the conglomerates that own them-don’t seem to mind. Networks have given him prominent platforms to promote the special, “Live at the Beacon Theater,” and its success has only added to the prestige of CK’s FX comedy, “Louie.” It hasn’t hurt CK’s reputation, either: The New York Times said this week he’s ascended to show-business sainthood. And that was before he announced plans to give $280,000 to charities. They include the Fistula Foundation, which helps battered women; Green Chimneys, which works with children and animals; the Pablove Foundation, which help children with cancer, Charity: Water, which provides clean drinking water; and Kiva, which gives microloans. He will also pay out $250,000 in bonuses to staff. If you pitched CK’s success with the special as a Christmas movie, people might say it was too corny to be believable. The comedian did his last three

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specials for HBO, Showtime and Comedy Central. This time, he sold it on his website for $5, including a note asking people please not to pirate it. It went on sale Dec 9. “People told me everyone’s gonna steal it,” he told Jimmy Fallon. “So I just wrote a note that said please don’t do that ... And they didn’t.” CK has sold the special to about 220,000 people so far.

Besides the more than half a million dollars for his staff and charities, he paid about $250,000 in production costs. He’ll pocket the rest. He said he decided to give much of the money away because “I’ve never had a million dollars all at once ... I felt uncomfortable about having that much money.” His D.I.Y. approach wouldn’t work for everyone. CK is one of the best comedians alive, and could draw nearly a quarter-million people to download his material. He’s also the rare talent who can not only write, star in, and produce and direct his own special, but also develop a simple and convenient way to sell it. He used TV networks to promote, seizing on a long relationship with NBC to appear on both “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” (Besides writing for “Late Night” when Conan O’Brien was its host, CK has also gueststarred on “Parks and Recreation.”) He also appeared on ABC’s nightline.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Mother Dolores Hart is interviewed.

File photo shows actress Dolores Hart lights a cigarette for actor Bradford Dillman, in a break of the shooting of the movie, “Saint Francis of Assisi,” in Rome. —vAP photos

File photo shows actress Dolores Hart escorted by banker and investor Serge Semenenko, arrives for the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia in Hollywood.

Mother Dolores Hart pets a cat.

Nun famous for kissing Elvis prays for miracle n the little town of Bethlehem, a cloistered nun whose luminous blue eyes entranced Elvis Presley in his first on-screen movie kiss is praying for a Christmas miracle. Dolores Hart, who walked away from Hollywood stardom in 1963 to become a nun in rural Bethlehem, Conn, now finds herself back in the spotlight. But this time it’s all about serving the King of Kings, not smooching the King of Rock and Roll.

The former brass factory that houses Mother Dolores and about 40 other nuns cloistered at the Abbey of Regina Laudis needs millions of dollars in renovations to meet fire and safety codes, add an elevator and make handicap accessibility upgrades. Like 73-year-old Mother Dolores, the order’s nuns have taken a vow of stability with the intent to live, work and die at the complex. The order was established in 1947 in Bethlehem, a small burg in Connecticut’s rolling western hills. Now, the historically self-supporting nuns have launched a fundraiser for the $4 million renovation project dubbed “New Horizons.”

They don’t have much money, but they have Mother Dolores: a starlet-turned-supplicant whose unique story might lure the attention and donations of generations of movie fans, particularly those who adore all things Elvis. “This work may not be in my lifetime that

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it’s finished, but we’re sure trying,” Mother Dolores said of the upgrades, which are budgeted to run about $2 million for the fire code and accessibility compliance work and another $2 million for improvements to the housing and other facilities.

They hope to break ground in January.

They’re not in imminent danger of needing to move out, but many of the older nuns can no longer navigate the narrow steps to the main building’s third floor and must live in another building. And without adequate fire escapes, the monastery has caught the eye of local inspectors, though they’ve worked closely with the nuns on the improvement plans and haven’t ordered them to close the building.

For Mother Dolores, the monastery has been home since she was a 24-year-old actress in 1963 and walked away from Hollywood for a life of contemplation and prayer as a postulant. The abbey’s chapel, workshops, livestock pastures and other features are part of her soul now, and its wood-paneled monastery is the only home she’s known for 50 years. Its theater holds a special place in her heart, harkening to the former career that landed her on talk shows, in magazines and twice as Elvis Presley’s co-star.

Dolores Hart was a vivacious, quick-witted blond starlet when she charmed Hollywood in

the 1950s and early 1960s. She shared a kiss with Presley in the 1957 Paramount film, “Loving You” - a modest liplock over which Mother Dolores still fields frequent questions about whether the King was a good kisser. “I don’t know why they ask me. It’s right there on the screen to see; it’s right there for the looking,” she said Thursday.

Hart acted in 10 movies alongside stars including Montgomery Clift, Myrna Loy, Connie Francis and Anthony Quinn. She said she was engaged to be married before joining God’s service and leaving the acting world behind. She broke off her engagement, though her fiance remained a close friend and was a frequent visitor and supporter of the abbey until his recent death.

The nuns also received support and help over the years from Mother Dolores’ longtime friend and fellow actress Patricia Neal, who was buried at the abbey after her death in August 2010.

Mother Dolores is still a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, receiving copies of movies to watch in her small room - or cell, as they’re known in the order - to help select yearly Oscar winners.

Her own movies, including the highly popular “Where the Boys Are,” were made before stars routinely could negotiate to collect later royal-

ties, she said, so that’s not a potential source of income for the upgrades to the abbey.

The abbey is financially independent from the Archdiocese of Hartford and supports itself through the sale of everything from artisan cheeses and hand-crafted pottery to recordings of its choir. Mother Dolores even recently signed autographs at a New Jersey convention, a rare foray out of cloistered life as a favor for a friend, and one that helped boost the fundraising efforts.

Sister Angele Arbib, a coordinator of the New Horizons renovation and fundraising efforts, said the order is applying for grants and the nuns are trying to spread the word among the abbey’s supporters, but are not disclosing publicly how much they’ve raised so far. Unlike some orders, the Abbey of Regina Laudis has retained a steady number of nuns and new postulants, including two starting in the next few weeks - but that can’t continue if the housing and other facilities keep eroding with age.

“We have focused on building our community, which has been wonderful, but now it’s time that we really have to address our space,” said Sister Angele, 63, who left a thriving career of managing opera singers when she was 50 to join the order. “None of this, not one single thing we’re doing, is an extravagance,”

she said of the upgrades. “It’s to make it possible for us to grow, for the elderly among us to live with as much independence as possible and to allow us to live together in surroundings that let us continue our service.”

Sister Angele said the nuns are not in any imminent danger of needing to move out, though she acknowledges they’d be in dire straits if they had not anticipated the problems early enough to prepare the upgrade plans and launch the fundraising efforts.

As word has spread of their needs, supporters of the nuns and those who’ve visited the abbey, prayed in its chapel and picked up items in its gift shop have tried to help in ways of their own. Liz Carpenter, a Watertown resident who owns the Children’s Dance Workshop, said its children have raised $600 to help through a raffle. She’s been a grateful supporter since the nuns helped her through a cancer battle about 10 years ago and now volunteers to clean the church once a week. “I wanted to teach the kids that it’s important to give back,” she said of their fundraiser, “especially for a place that does as many wonderful things as this one does.” —AP

Spielberg seeks oldfashioned spectacle in teven Spielberg’s new film “War Horse” is almost deliberately old-fashioned, pitting noble beast against the horrors of war, with sweeping, emotional set pieces-and dividing critics as Hollywood’s awards season looms. The movie, which got a Golden Globe nomination this month ahead of its Christmas Day release in the United States, is even made on good old celluloid in a snub to the digital revolution. “I think that movies like that don’t get made much anymore, you know the kind of epic sweeping historical drama that were used to be made quite a bit 30, 40 years ago,” producer Kathleen Kennedy told AFP. ‘“It’s what makes the movie a little old-fashioned but at the same time modern,” she added. The movie tells the story of Joey, a horse raised in a bucolic English countryside who is torn away from his home-and stable lad Albert-and sent to France to the battlefields of World War I. To a soundtrack heavy on violins, the moviegoer is swept into the epic struggle Albert has in finding his equine partner amid the blood, mud and misery of the Great War. “World War I was the last hurrah for the horse (in) warfare,” three-times Oscar winner Spielberg-who also has his 3D “Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn” out for the holidays-told industry daily Variety.

“It was a time when the technological revolution, mainly in the implementation of new technologies to kill more efficiently and more cruelly, were supplanting the usefulness of the horse, which had brought terror into the hearts of standing armies for centuries,” Spielberg said. ‘“And after World War I, that was over and the horse went back to a more bucolic and sane way of life. So it’s really more of a story about courage and connections and less of a story about combat.” “War Horse,” which is on the shortlist for the best dramatic film Golden Globe, is based on a 1982 children’s book of the same name by British writer Michael Morpurgo, and the play adapted for the stage

by Nick Stafford.

‘Almost two years ago, Kennedy was on vacation in London and went see the stage version of the story with her daughters.

“When I got home I talked to Steven (Spielberg) about it and told him what the

S Siblings Gustavo, 13, behind left, Angie, 10, center, and Abelardo, 15, of the Vazquez Sounds band, perform at their father’s office in Mexicali, Mexico. —AP

Kid band Vazquez Sounds takes Mexico by storm

en-year-old Angie Vazquez has become an Internet phenomenon belting out a soulful cover of Brit pop star Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” In an online video seemingly shot at home, her teenage brothers Abelardo and Gustavo play the keyboard, guitar and drums.

The video drew almost 18 million views, interviews on Mexico’s major television networks and a mention on Good Morning America.

Within weeks of its Nov 11 posting, the socalled Vazquez Sounds signed a contract with Sony Music Mexico. They released their first album this week that includes another Internet smash cover, of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” ‘Their nearly overnight success online evokes the now legendary saga of Canadian ‘tween idol Justin Bieber, who was discovered after his mother posted online amateur footage of him crooning and strumming. “We make a lot of videos of a lot of things, but my son Abelardo wanted to record this song and share it with friends and family,” said father Abelardo Vazquez in a telephone interview from the family’s hometown of Mexicali, on the California border. “We really didn’t expect the cover to become such a phenomenon on the Web.” ‘Before you call the Vazquez clan Mexico’s version of Bieber-mania, consider this: The elder Abelardo Vazquez is a professional music producer instrumental in creating the sound of well-known Mexican bands such as Reik and Nikki Clan, also from the border. The videos of Angie and her brothers in their home studio are

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also professionally produced, mixed and lighted, with slick camera work. Abelardo Vazquez says he’s not driving his kids into the music business, though he acknowledges they’ve had a leg up. “My kids have had a musical education since they were very young, because I have worked producing groups for many years,” the father said.

‘When the video sparked interest in a few million people beyond the Vazquez’s immediate circle, the decision to cut a CD was natural, Vazquez said. He added that he retains total control over the project, and Sony music is working as a distributor. “The contract with Sony isn’t the traditional type,” Vazquez said. “It isn’t the typical contract with record companies, in which they used to control the artists’ career.

This is a family project.” Although Vazquez has had an eight-year relationship with Sony, Roberto Lopez, president of the label, said he and his team were unaware of the Vazquez Sounds and first heard the group like everyone else - on the Internet.

‘Working with such a young group poses special challenges and “very strong personal care,” Lopez said. “It is something special because they are children, and we want them to stay in school,” he said. “The agreement was that their involvement in music, which has been going on for years now, would continue without affecting their lifestyle.” Vazquez said other record companies had expressed interest, but Sony was the only one that met his conditions for the kids. —AP

File photo shows director and producer Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hiddleston attending the “War Horse” world premiere at Avery Fisher Hall. —AFP play was about and he said ‘Wow, that sounds like a story, it would make a wonderful movie’,” she told AFP. The most difficult thing, said the producer-who worked with Spielberg on classic movies including “”ET,” “Indiana Jones” and “Schindler’s List,” was the use of “so many animals,” she said. ‘“Whenever you are using animals in a movie you have to take extraordinary care, I mean, you do that to the people as well, but when you have innocent animals, it requires that everybody involved being specially careful.” Joey, the real hero of the movie, was played by around a dozen horses from all from around the world, notably Spain. Stable boy Albert is played by 21-year-old British actor Jeremy Irvine, who had previously only worked in TV. “Steven felt that he wanted to make a discovery, he wanted to bring a young actor to the role who hadn’t necessarily done

a lot of things in the movies,” said Kennedy.

Most critics so far have been broadly positive, although some have questioned Spielberg’s approach, like the Guardian’s newspaper critic Andrew Pulver, who said the director “can’t seem to snap out of a now-habitual mode of vitality-erasing, dewy-eyed affectation.”

‘Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter said the film “possesses a simplicity that is both its greatest strength and an ultimate liability. “Whatever its missteps, this is a film that kids, middle-aged adults and grandparents can all see-together or separately-and get something out of in their own ways,” he wrote.

“There are precious few films that fit this description today, and hats off to Spielberg for making one.” —AFP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Pedestrians pause to view the Christmas light decorations outside a home in Alhambra, east of Los Angeles on December 23, 2011 in California. Christmas light decorations for the festive season are a common sight among many homes in the United States, and most of the homemade decorations seen here were put together by a father and son team taking almost three weeks to finish their annual tradition. —AFP

You’ve worked hard in the kitchen, so dress up food gifts H omemade food makes a wonderful gift this time of year, but so often carefully made delicious treats are piled unceremoniously onto paper plates, wrapped haphazardly in tinfoil or carelessly tossed into plastic bags.

It may be the thought that counts, but packaging matters

With so many easy and inexpensive ways to wrap food gifts, there is no excuse not to create an attractive presentation.

too. With so many easy and inexpensive ways to wrap food gifts, there is no excuse not to create an attractive presentation. Discount and craft stores are great sources for inexpensive containers and low-cost embellishments. Many items can be found around the house, such as twine, recycled boxes, even dried pasta.

There’s always the Internet to spark ideas; sites such as Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) and Craft Gossip (www.craftgossip.com) feature numerous ideas. Graphic design books are a good source of inspiration, as is a spin through a gourmet food store to see how commercial items are packaged. “I know women who can spend weeks baking Christmas cookies and then just put them on a paper plate,” says Dinah Corley, a Virginia-based cooking teacher and author of “Gourmet Gifts: 100 Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion to Make Yourself and Wrap With Style.” “I think that’s not honoring what you did. And if you don’t honor it, no one else will.”

Corley adds that packaging doesn’t have to be an extravagant, over-the-top production. “I do think it has to reflect the gift itself and the recipient,” she says. Some ideas included in her book are wrapping pistachio sugarplums in pyramid-shaped boxes, dressing up rhubarb tea loaves in decorative paper and a label, and enclosing a jar of sugar pumpkin chutney in a little paper pumpkin.

“You can do nice things with stuff you find at the grocery store,” she says. “Paper cups can make nice containers, and sometimes a paper bag makes a lot more sense than a paper plate.” The simpler, she says, the better. “You can never go wrong with kraft paper and cream-colored twine.”

Chain retailers such as the Container Store stock inexpensive, unadorned tins, plus bags and boxes of various sizes and shapes that can be easily dressed up. Hardware stores are great sources for mason jars and empty paint cans, and thrift stores and flea markets can have one-of-a-kind pieces such as vintage bowls, casserole dishes and platters at reduced prices.

Craft stores such as Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft have aisles filled with containers and embellishments,

Hardware stores are great sources for mason jars and empty paint cans. — MCT photos plus tools such as decorative scissors and paper punches, rubber stamps and ribbons, most for less than $20.

A hot new item in the craft world is washi tape: thin decorative paper tape that comes in a wide variety of

widths and patterns and can be adhered to almost anything. Tape can be striped around a paper bag or tin, or used to decorate a tag or plain box. Charissa Pomrehn showcases innovative gift wrapping on the Gifted Blog (www.thegiftedblog.com), which she started in 2009 out of her love of paper and gift wrap. With an eye for turning other people’s castoffs into art and a philosophy that gift wrap can be found everywhere, she’s created clever packages out of mint tins and tea towels and has fashioned a bow out of a burp cloth.

“I grew up receiving gifts that were so beautifully and spontaneously wrapped,” Pomrehn says. “Things don’t have to be perfect or formal-they can incorporate scraps, and you can make something that’s really fun and fun to open.”

Pomrehn’s forte is using recycled items in her wrapping, such as an up-cycled tea box to hold a gift card and cutting pretty bias tape from an old pair of pants to use as a ribbon. “I like found objects because there’s already a history there.”

For food packaging, she recommends making pennants for cupcakes or muffins by wrapping washi tape around a toothpick. Pomrehn also likes recycling food containers: Clean berry boxes and mesh from a produce bag can hold cookies, and a plastic tray that once held mushrooms can be washed and wrapped in parchment paper to contain baked goods.

Although making packages look attractive is the goal, practicality has to be considered too. “You do have to think, will this be appropriate for the gift?” Corley says. Some containers won’t work for foods that are especially gooey or delicate. Pies baked in flimsy foil pie pans, for example, can collapse if not wrapped properly. But shored up with a stiff cardboard cake round underneath and wrapped in cellophane, it’s ready for giving. “Money is awfully tight right now,” she adds, “but you can give the most luxurious foods in the world and it will cost a tenth of what hard goods cost.” And you don’t have to spend a lot to dress them up, either: “I don’t like gifts that say I’m on a budget,” Corley says. “The more you can hide it, the better.” — MCT

Young sculptors Christmas tree industry strives to remain a holiday necessity visit Island of Misfit Toys S C after critics labeled it a “Christmas tax.” Betty Malone, an Oregon tree farmer who leads a group of check-off supporters, said the industry will continue to push for the fee. “Farmers know how to grow trees, but we’re not really good marketers,” she said. “We can’t just coast on the fact that we know it’s a good product. We know we have to do something.”

Since the 1980s, a task force of Christmas tree growers and wholesalers across the country has worked to raise funds to promote the purchase of live trees. To date, the fund-raising efforts have been voluntary, and “boosted sales each time we did it by millions of trees sold,” said Loiterstein, who is on the task force. However, the task force had difficulties sustaining contribution levels year after year. So the industry began searching for a more stable way to fund marketing efforts.

In recent years, tree growers across the country began pursuing a mandatory fee, called a “check-off,” that’s used by other agricultural industries to help pay for promotional costs and research. Check-offs are currently in place for about 20 other agricultural products or commodities, from blueberries to mangoes.

The idea is that since these marketing effort help the entire industry, producers should pay.

The best known examples of producer-supported marketing efforts are the “Got Milk?” and “Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner ” campaigns. Last year, the United States Department of Agriculture published the proposed rules in the Federal Register, with the intent of eliciting public comments.

The rule, as backed by the industry, would require growers or importers of 500 or more trees to pay as assessment of 15 cents per tree.

Supporters include the Missouri Christmas Tree Association, saying the industry needs a stable funding source.

“As an association we have supported Sam Shipp prepares to wrap a tree for a customer at Ted the voluntary marketing efforts of the Drewes Christmas Tree lot on Chippewa in St Louis, Christmas tree industry, but we cannot Missouri, December 7, 2011.— MCT sustain the funding. —MCT

hristmas tree knick-knacks cover nearly every visible surface in Irwin Loiterstein’s north St Louis office. From tiny tree figurines that line a tree-shaped rack over his desk to the tree backdrop on a wall clock, trees are everywhere. Loiterstein, 67, who worked in the Christmas tree business for 43 years, owns Seasonable Sales, a wholesaler of trees, wreaths and stands, with sales around the state.

What worries him is that fewer Americans share his passion for real trees. Changing consumer tastes and competition from artificial trees have steadily chipped away at live Christmas tree sales. In 1990, about 35 million live Christmas trees were sold. That figure dropped to a low of 22 million trees in 2002, according to surveys by the National Christmas Tree Association, a Chesterfield, Mo.-based trade group. The industry has a voluntary marketing program, which it says helped push sales higher; sales this year are expected to be around 30 million live trees.

But an attempt last month to implement a “check-off” fee on US growers and importers to pay for marketing was put on hold indefinitely

ome misfit toys received recent pardons. Instead of being tossed into a landfill, bodyless Barbie dolls, an armless Shrek and cars missing wheels joined a pile of other castoff toys inside the Akron Art Museum. Children gathered around a table, carefully selecting the toys they wanted to use to create funny sculptures. In the next room, the kids took the toys to the Island of Misfit Toys Workshop. There, with the help of volunteers and parents, they gave the toys new lives.

Griffin Wentz, 6, of Stow, Ohio and his cousin, Jack Young, 6, of Stow, build their toy creations from multiple misfit toy parts at the annual Island of Misfit Toys workshop. —MCT photos

Macy Buck, 9, of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, laughs at one of the many hat possibilities for the doll she is creating.

Uriah Bishop sat at a table wearing an oversized hat in honor of his fourth birthday.

He giggled as he lifted his head high enough to see beyond the brim. This was the second year that he and his two sisters participated in the workshop. “The toys they took home last year are some of their favorites,” said Keytsa Bishop, their mother, an Akron, Ohio,

artist. “I like bringing them here. I want to share the art experience with them. And they look at the toys differently because it’s something they’ve created.”

Employees of the museum, members of the community and Goodwill donated the toys that were used by some 200 workshop participants during three sessions Saturday.

To add to the holiday magic, guests brought new toys to donate to needy children. “I made a car last year with boys (super hero figures) glued to the top and sides,” said an excited Uriah.

Before their arrival at the museum, Keytsa and her husband, Kurran Bishop, talked to the children about what they would like to make this year. Uriah was the only one who seemed to know what he would design, but at the moment, he was sitting on the floor, playing with cars he had formed into a line.

Back at the table, Uriah’s 6-year-old sister, Uriel, was whispering to a doll she was planning to use in her sculpture. “Hey, stay away from those cars,” Uriah warned his kid sister,

though Uelle had no intentions of messing with her brother’s cherished belongings.

Across the room, Brianna Dawson, 8, rummaged through a bag of old toys that she, her sister, Alyssa, 10, and her mother, Stephanie, brought from their Lodi, Ohio, home. “We have a lot of broken toys in here,” Brianna explained, grabbing the leg of a dismembered Barbie doll. When asked whether she was making room for new toys she would receive for Christmas, Brianna shrugged. “I guess so,” she said.

Raising her eyebrows, Stephanie quickly interjected; “Yes, that is what Mommy was trying to do.” Nearby, Macy Buck, 9, of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, was assembling a doll to add to her collection, which she started three years ago during a museum workshop.

“We have a lot of weird things at home to make art out of, but not like this,” said Macy’s mother, Jenny. “The first time we, including (my) daughter, Laney, 10, came down here, we fell in love with it.” They will return next year for doll No 4. — MCT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Great gift confection ideas

Pros get peek Zoo employees in Santa costume pose in front of giraffes at National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.—AP

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e had a ball making these little confections and learned something important along the way.

Gifts from the kitchen don’t have to take a lot of time or effort. All these treats are round and rolled. Some are baked, most are not. One requires only three ingredients. You can make one recipe and roll the finished confection in a variety of coatings, from powdered sugar to nuts to crushed candy. Or you can make a few for an intriguing combination of tastes. Either way, they’ll look decadently inviting packaged in a pretty box and tied with a ribbon. The recipient will thank you.

Peanut butter bonbons Makes about 7 dozen This recipe is from “Southern Living: 1001 Ways to Cook Southern” (Oxmoor House, $34.95).

Ingredients: 1 (18-ounce) jar creamy or chunky peanut butter 1 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs 4 cups powdered sugar 1 1/2 cups finely chopped roasted peanuts Instructions: Beat peanut butter and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add graham cracker crumbs, beating until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in peanuts. Cover and chill one hour. Store in refrigerator.

Truffles Makes about 30 This recipe is from Bee entertainment editor Pat Clark. Said she, “I saw Michael Symon prepare these truffles on ‘ The Chew’; they’re super easy. Symon used a variety of great toppings to roll the truffles in, including lime zest, bacon and coconut.

Looking for something a little different and more Christmassy, I added orange extract to half my chocolate and rolled some in dried cranberries mixed with orange zest. Yum. If they’re all going to adults, an orange liqueur would be delicious in place of the extract.”

Ingredients: 8 ounces shaved bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips 1/2 cup cream 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Toppings: finely chopped pecans or other nut; diced dried cranberries mixed with orange zest; coconut Instructions: Place chocolate in a large bowl. Heat the cream until bubbles form around the outside edge. Pour cream over chocolate and whisk to combine as it melts. Add the butter and continue to whisk until smooth.

(Add the orange extract, if using). Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Place toppings on plates. Scoop the chocolate with a small ice cream scoop or a teaspoon and roll in the palms of your hands to form balls. Roll the balls in the toppings until coated and place on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Refrigerate the truffles until firm. They will store in refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to two months.

Note: For orange truffles, add 2 teaspoons orange extract.

Almond macaroons Makes 14 large cookies This recipe is from “Baking Style: Art - Craft - Recipes,” by Lisa Yockelson Ingredients: 8 ounces almond paste (see recipe at right) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar Pinch salt 1 large egg white plus 1tablespoon egg white 1 teaspoon vanilla extract } teaspoon almond extract 2/3 cup sliced almonds, for rolling Instructions: Place almond paste in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until reduced to moist

crumbles.

Turn the paste crumbs into a medium mixing bowl and add all the remaining ingredients except the sliced almonds.

Beat ingredients on moderately slow speed for two minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently with a rubber spatula, until a sticky dough is formed.

Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerator for three to eight hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place sliced almonds in a shallow bowl. Divide dough into 14pieces, roll into balls and roll the balls in the sliced almonds. Place 2 1/2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until set, baked through and slightly medium golden on top.

It’s essential that the dough is chilled and kept chilled before baking and the egg whites are measured accurately.

Almond paste Prep time: 20 minutes This recipe is from “The Art of French Baking,” by Ginette Mathiot and edited by Clotilde DuSolier . The book was originally published in 1938 as “Je Sais Faire la Patisserie.”

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups ground almonds 1\ cups superfine sugar 3 egg whites Instructions: Pound the almond meal with the sugar and egg whites in a mortar to form a smooth paste; this also can be done in a food processor.

Black walnut balls Makes about 3 dozen This recipe is from Bee copy editor Christine Kosko.

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups all-purpose flour 1\ cups sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups finely chopped walnuts 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sweetened Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Blend together butter, flour, sugar, salt and vanilla. Add walnuts and mix well. Shape into 1inch balls. Bake for 25 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. Remove from oven and let cool. Roll balls in cocoa powder. Store flat _ not stacked on top of one another.

Snowballs Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 to 25 minutes Serves: 6 This recipe is also from “ The Art of French Baking”. These cookies need no adornment, so consider skipping the step with the apricot preserves and coconut coating.

Ingredients: 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 2/3 cup superfine sugar 1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 2 teaspoons baking powder 3 tablespoons apricot preserves, warmed and strained Generous 1 cup shredded coconut Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease baking sheets with butter. Beat butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Mix the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl, then stir them into butter and sugar mixture.

The dough should be fairly thick. Knead briefly until smooth. Break off walnut-size pieces of dough, shape these into balls, and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, increasing the oven temperature to 400 degrees after 10 minutes.

When the snowballs have cooled, roll them in the apricot preserves and then in the shredded coconut. If especially thick, the preserve can be thinned with 2 tablespoons of hot water when warming it.

Note: Unsweetened, finely shredded coconut can be found at Asian markets.

at next year’s poinsettias T

his Christmas season is old news to the folks in Northeast Ohio’s poinsettia business.

They’re already focused on determining which types of the favorite holiday plant will grace hallways, tabletops and church altars in 2012. This month, members of the Greater Cleveland Flower Growers Association gathered to scrutinize 21 poinsettia cultivars during their portion of Ohio’s poinsettia trials, a statewide assessment that helps nurseries decide which plants to grow for next year. The event at Barco Sons Inc, a wholesale greenhouse just outside Medina, was one of five such gatherings around the state where professionals and consumers rated poinsettias on their appearance.

Jeff Belmont of Huron, Ohio and an evaluator with the Greater Cleveland Flower Growers, both in background, is surrounded by poinsettias as he looks over the row of 21 new poinsettia varieties at the annual poinsettia trials at Barco Sons Inc. —MCT photos

An unnamed new variety of poinsettia waits to be looked at by evaluators.

The annual trials are put on by Ohio State University and OFA-the Association of Horticulture Professionals, a trade organization that used to be called the Ohio State Florist Association. Most of the professional participants are greenhouse owners or employees, along with some sales representatives for horticultural companies, said Claudio C Pasian, an OSU floriculture expert who coordinates the poinsettia trials.

The plants in the Greater Cleveland trial were all grown in one of Barco’s greenhouses. The company grew multiple examples of each cultivar, but only one representative plant of each type was chosen for the judging. The plants were identified only by numbers so the judges wouldn’t know their names, although the participants were given that information after they finished their scoring. They were asked to rank each plant on a scale of 1 to 5, choose up to three they considered favorites and provide additional comments-information that will be compiled and shared with growers to help them decide what to order for next Christmas season.

Pens and scoring sheets in hand, the participants perused a row of poinsettia plants, all of them in identical pots and grown under the same conditions. Periodically, the judges would pause in front of a plant, studying its shape or the color of its bracts, the modified leaves that many people think of as a poinsettia’s flower petals. Pablo Martinez of Green Circle Growers in Oberlin stopped at a rosy pink and cream poinsettia with pronounced red veins and leaned in to peer at the

A new variety of ruby frost poinsettia waits to be looked at by evaluators with the Greater Cleveland Flower Growers. budlike structures at the center of the bloom, which are actually the plant’s flowers. Although the plant, called Ruby Frost, had been the top scorer in earlier judging by consumers, Martinez was troubled by evidence that the flowers hadn’t opened properly. To him it was a tip-off that the plant might be difficult to grow successfully.

A creamy white poinsettia called Whitestar, however, earned his unqualified admiration. He noted its big leaves and its fullness. “That’s a perfect plant,” he said. Ken Swimkosky, a horticultural sales representative with Ball Horticultural Co who is based near Pittsburgh, liked the dark red foliage of an experimental cultivar from plant breeder Syngenta. He was also pleased to see consistent white speckling on the red bracts of a poinsettia called Sonora White Glitter Early, an indication that breeders are getting closer to producing a stable speckled poinsettia a type that’s notorious among growers for producing inconsistent results from plant to plant, he explained. The 21 poinsettias that were judged this year represented an unusually small field, said Pasian, an associate professor of horticulture and crop science at OSU’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in

Wooster Township. Some years, close to 50 types of poinsettias are judged, he said.

The majority of this year’s cultivars were brand new, while others were already on the market.

Almost all were red, although they differed slightly in bract shape, color, fullness or other factors. That didn’t surprise Swimkosky. While some consumers like unusual poinsettias, he said, most still prefer the traditional. “Red is still your key color,” he said.

Besides the trial at Barco, judging was conducted at nurseries in Bowling Green, Columbus and Cincinnati. In addition, consumers got a chance to rate the plants during a fundraising poinsettia sale at OSU, Pasian said. What the trials can’t reveal, he said, is how easy or difficult the plants are to grow, or considerations such as their susceptibility to insects or how easily their branches break. All those elements factor into a breeder’s decision on whether to continue producing a particular plant, so even poinsettias that rate well in the trials might not make it to stores next Christmas. But the feedback from the trials will help growers in Ohio choose from what’s offered, he said.

Poinsettia care tips Here are tips on caring for poinsettias from the Ohio State University Extension: • Check the soil daily. When the surface is dry to the touch, water until it runs freely out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the container.

• Don’t let the plant sit in water in a saucer.

• Place the poinsettia near a sunny window, but don’t let any part of the plant touch the cold panes.

• Keep the plant away from heat and cold drafts.

Ideally it should be in a place that’s 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and moved to a cooler place at night.

Getting a poinsettia to reflower the following Christmas takes vigilance. The OSU Extension offers instructions on its Poinsettia Care in the Home fact sheet, available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hygfact/1000/1248.html. —MCT

Students dressed as Santa Claus sing during Christmas celebrations at a school in Jammu, India, Saturday.

Christmas Day is observed as a national holiday in India. —AP

De Niro welcomes baby girl

36

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

Dutch violinist Andre Rieu and his orchestra perform during their Christmas concert in the Gelredome stadium in Arnhem, on December 17, 2011. —AFP

For some Muslims, Christmas is a holiday, not a holy day W

ith Christmas comes tradition in the Traband household: A plate of cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. A stocking full of treats for Omar, the family dog. A noble fir decorated with golden garland and keepsake ornaments. But there is no angel atop the tree.

Sahira Traband feels that would conflict with her family’s faith. They are Muslims. “The magic of Christmas is the part we celebrate,” said Traband, 45. “We didn’t get into the whole religious thing.”

At a time when the holiday is being pulled in different directions-some people replace “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” so as not to offend, while others campaign to “Keep the Christ in Christmas”it’s not uncommon for Muslims to use the occasion as an entry into American culture, no different from signing up their children for Little League.

Just how many Muslims do observe the holiday is unclear, since it is a personal choice fellow faithful might criticize. But if they were to ask, Muslims might discover they know a family or two who put up trees or send letters to Santa. That fact may come as an even bigger shock to those outside the community who regard Muslims and their faith as being at odds with Western lifestyles.

“To me, Christmas, unless you’re going to go to church, is a pop culture holiday,” said Maha Awad, a producer and media consultant who is working with the TLC reality show “All-American Muslim.” Though Jesus is regarded as a prophet in Islam, celebrating Christmas “is not a religious practice,” Awad said.

In her home in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, much of the holiday revolves around her 4-year-old daughter,

Sarah, who attends an Islamic school on Sundays and is memorizing parts of the Quran. Awad takes her to visit Santa; they put up a tree and decorate the house with lights and stockings. “Islam is our religion and Christmas is just a fun holiday we partake in,” said Awad, whose father is Palestinian and mother Egyptian. Growing up in Los Angeles, “it was absolutely part of assimilating,” she said.

Most clerics, however, will argue that followers of Islam should not participate in the Christian holiday, despite its commercialization. A small number of Muslims even go so far as to say that wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” is tantamount to blasphemy. Still, many Muslims-as well as Jews, Buddhists and other non-Christians-celebrate the day.

The act of putting up some tinsel, said Emil Ali, a Muslim, doesn’t conflict with their religious beliefs. The lawyer, who works at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC, remembers having to defend himself when he was 12 years old and another Muslim boy told him that celebrating Christmas was forbidden. He responded that the Quran doesn’t forbid having a tree. Now some of his more conservative friends jokingly say he’s becoming Christian.

“I don’t think Christmas is very religious,” said Ali, 26, whose mother is from Pakistan and father from Tanzania. “When you’re in an American country, you want to blend in and assimilate.” For Ali, sending out holiday cards and decorating his house with lights is just part of being a good neighbor. Not doing it, he said, would be akin to keeping his empty trash cans by the curb.

Andrew Walther-a spokesman for the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charitable group that regularly sponsors “Keep the Christ in Christmas” campaigns _ is much

Sahira Traband is a Muslim, but for years she has put up a Christmas tree, decorated her house, hung stockings and put gifts under the tree for her kids. — MCT more concerned with Christians who have lost sight of the holiday’s religious origins.

He sees no harm in people of other faiths taking part in the holiday.

“The message of Christmas, of having peace on Earth and goodwill, is a very broad message ... that resonates with many people,” he said. Shanaz Khan, a mother of two in West Los Angeles, said she tries to put a Muslim spin on what she sees as the Christian-holiday-gone-secular. On the “holiday tree” in their home, along with Christmas ornaments, hang decorations wishing everyone a “Happy Eid”-a Muslim holiday that comes twice a year, most recently in early November. On Christmas Day, Khan prepares a traditional holiday

Ornaments decorate the trail around University Lake, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. The recent storm coated the Anchorage bowl with anywhere from 6 - 16 inches of snow. — AP

meal, making sure the turkey is “halal,” or slaughtered according to Islamic law. The Christmas celebration “is what makes a community,” she said. “It doesn’t deter me away from being a good Muslim or following my faith.”

As a child growing up in England, Traband said, her family celebrated Christmas. When they moved to the United States when she was 9, her parents started to become more religious. “One year, we just didn’t get any Christmas gifts and we never spoke about it. It was like this shameful thing,” she said. When Traband left home at 18, she re-embraced Christmas. She and a roommate got a small tree and decorated it with jewelry because they had no orna-

ments. One recent evening, Traband was sitting on a comfortable sofa in her South Los Angeles home. Behind her was a framed calligraphy that read: “There is no victor but Allah.” She asked her two sons, “You know that a lot of Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas, right?” “I don’t get it,” said 10year-old Teo. “Is it because Jesus was born that day?” “It’s not a Muslim holiday,” Traband explained. “That’s messed up,” Teo said, looking at his mother for affirmation. “People should be able to celebrate whatever they want.”

When she became a mother, Traband said, she started filling the space beneath the tree with gifts. Now she too struggles to keep the holiday from becoming overly commercial. When Teo told her that he thought Jesus was only a Christian figure, Traband saw it as an opportunity to educate her children. She said that because there is so much emphasis on the prophet Muhammad in Islam-almost to the exclusion of other prophets-Muslims can feel as though they have less of a claim on Jesus.

“I think Jesus has been a bit co-opted by Christians,” she said. This year, the family attended a Christmas party held by the group Muslims for Progressive Values. The adults spoke about Jesus’ role in Islam: as a messenger, a healer and the son of the Virgin Mary. Most of the children, however, were too focused on the sugary holiday treats to pay attention. A few days later, Traband asked Teo whom he would have dinner with if he could choose anyone, dead or alive. Inspired by the recent lessons on the importance of Jesus in Islam, Teo was torn between the prophet and his favorite rapper. “I don’t think I would have much to talk about with Jesus, because of my age,” he said. “So I picked Eminem.” — MCT

People take pictures of ice statues of Nisse, a model of Norwegian Santa Claus, at a hotel in Tokyo yesterday. Ice carving championship medalist Yoshihito Kosaka sculptured the ice statues as a main feature to attract visitors at the hotel on Christmas Eve. —AFP