26 Aug - Friday Times

Summer with kids in Kuwait

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NO: 15192- Friday, August 26, 2011

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KUWAIT: Worshippers are seen performing Tahaggud prayers in the Grand Mosque on Wednesday night. — Photo

by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Syrian cartoonist attacked as ‘warning’ ( See Page 12)

Saudi discovers 9,000 year-old civilization ( See Page 12)

Local FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

local spotlight

In my view

How much good have we done?

Fast and furious

By Lisa Conrad

By muna al-fuzai

lisa@kuwaittimes.net

muna@kuwaittimes.net

W

e’re nearing the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and the Muslim world is now preparing to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr. I wonder if we have learnt our lessons and the true meaning of fasting? Have we thought about what aspects we really need to consider?

Acts of kindness that many people display during Ramadan should not be restricted to one month. I saw many people donating food to poor workers at iftar. It’s a charitable act because the poor workers have no wives to cook for them. They rely on strangers’ kindness to eat a decent meal. Some major banks and companies also held iftar feasts for the poor. I believe this is great. I wonder why these firms don’t take similar initiatives during the rest of the year? Maybe it is not possible to be charitable every day; but it can be done every Friday. I think lunch after prayer would be ideal.

I believe that the virtue of generosity should be spread all through the year. It is similar to helping people in need. Will you not help someone if it is not Ramadan anymore?

There is one question we should ask ourselves: How much good are we capable of doing, not at a specific time, but every day? There are many who are unfortunate in this world, and we can always lend a helping hand to them. Time is never the issue but readiness and willingness are. I hope we can be supportive of those who need us and lessen their misery. muna@ kuwaittimes.net Muna Al-Fuzai’s app is available on App Store now.

T

he absence of public transport options in Kuwait is a major drawback. Whilst Kuwait definitely has a relaxed, laidback lifestyle to enjoy, if you don’t drive, you’ll more than compensate for all the perks you enjoy here with transport stresses. The gas is cheap, the cars are well priced and the roads are wide and well coordinated. Not driving here not only places you at the forefront of a logistical nightmare, but also excludes you from all the great perks of driving in Kuwait.

Accidents are, unfortunately, quite a common occurrence but taking a taxi isn’t saving you from that risk either.

I do not drive in Kuwait. Not driving in Kuwait is awful. Trying to organize your schedule around others, whether incredibly patient friends who are willing to take you to and from your destinations, or taxis, is both time consuming and frustrating. Asking friends continuously is a frustration because you’re constantly having to ask for lifts, thus giving you the equivalent independence of a Sunny Delight swilling adolescent.

But, why not call a taxi if you want

to be independent and not have to rely on others? Taxis here, and, actually, pretty much anywhere I’ve been, are awful. They’re never on time. They pretend to know your address when, in fact, they don’t. Same goes for the location you need to get to. Prices fluctuate regularly and if you don’t have the correct amount, chances are you’re not seeing your change.

The added problem that I find with getting taxis in Kuwait is that I work at a newspaper. I read about every single abduction, rape or murder that takes place. Every single day. This isn’t to say that Kuwait is high-crime or that crime is fuelled by taxi drivers, but being so aware of every crime going on certainly doesn’t help when attempting to remain logical, calm and collected.

Point in case: this morning I ordered a taxi. It was, of course, half an hour late and when I went outside to meet him, I confirmed, by name, that I had the right taxi. A few minutes into the journey, the taxi driver I had booked with calls my phone. I had thought the man driving was the taxi I had booked?

Obviously not. Panic would be an

KUWAIT: Watermelons are on sale before iftar by the roadside. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

understatement of my reaction.

However, finding out that someone had misled you into getting into their car does permit a certain level of panic.

I confronted him, he denied having answered to the wrong name, and turned back around to take me back.

With the realization that he was correcting the mistake, and therefore harmless, my panic turned to anger and I found myself asking “Why did you lie?!”. Calling someone a liar, or even suggesting it, is a serious insult in the Middle East and is especially difficult to remedy. I think it’s safe to assume that had he not been fasting, his temper would have flared considerably as opposed to the enraged glares he directed toward me in the rearview mirror.

Never, ever again. It’s much easier, safer and more convenient to arrange transport with a driver or a taxi driver you know and who will be reliable until you get your license. Going through taxi companies has proven to be an unreliable, inconvenient and bloodpressure elevating experience best avoided.

Local FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

local spotlight

In my view

How much good have we done?

Fast and furious

By Lisa Conrad

By muna al-fuzai

lisa@kuwaittimes.net

muna@kuwaittimes.net

W

e’re nearing the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and the Muslim world is now preparing to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr. I wonder if we have learnt our lessons and the true meaning of fasting? Have we thought about what aspects we really need to consider?

Acts of kindness that many people display during Ramadan should not be restricted to one month. I saw many people donating food to poor workers at iftar. It’s a charitable act because the poor workers have no wives to cook for them. They rely on strangers’ kindness to eat a decent meal. Some major banks and companies also held iftar feasts for the poor. I believe this is great. I wonder why these firms don’t take similar initiatives during the rest of the year? Maybe it is not possible to be charitable every day; but it can be done every Friday. I think lunch after prayer would be ideal.

I believe that the virtue of generosity should be spread all through the year. It is similar to helping people in need. Will you not help someone if it is not Ramadan anymore?

There is one question we should ask ourselves: How much good are we capable of doing, not at a specific time, but every day? There are many who are unfortunate in this world, and we can always lend a helping hand to them. Time is never the issue but readiness and willingness are. I hope we can be supportive of those who need us and lessen their misery. muna@ kuwaittimes.net Muna Al-Fuzai’s app is available on App Store now.

T

he absence of public transport options in Kuwait is a major drawback. Whilst Kuwait definitely has a relaxed, laidback lifestyle to enjoy, if you don’t drive, you’ll more than compensate for all the perks you enjoy here with transport stresses. The gas is cheap, the cars are well priced and the roads are wide and well coordinated. Not driving here not only places you at the forefront of a logistical nightmare, but also excludes you from all the great perks of driving in Kuwait.

Accidents are, unfortunately, quite a common occurrence but taking a taxi isn’t saving you from that risk either.

I do not drive in Kuwait. Not driving in Kuwait is awful. Trying to organize your schedule around others, whether incredibly patient friends who are willing to take you to and from your destinations, or taxis, is both time consuming and frustrating. Asking friends continuously is a frustration because you’re constantly having to ask for lifts, thus giving you the equivalent independence of a Sunny Delight swilling adolescent.

But, why not call a taxi if you want

to be independent and not have to rely on others? Taxis here, and, actually, pretty much anywhere I’ve been, are awful. They’re never on time. They pretend to know your address when, in fact, they don’t. Same goes for the location you need to get to. Prices fluctuate regularly and if you don’t have the correct amount, chances are you’re not seeing your change.

The added problem that I find with getting taxis in Kuwait is that I work at a newspaper. I read about every single abduction, rape or murder that takes place. Every single day. This isn’t to say that Kuwait is high-crime or that crime is fuelled by taxi drivers, but being so aware of every crime going on certainly doesn’t help when attempting to remain logical, calm and collected.

Point in case: this morning I ordered a taxi. It was, of course, half an hour late and when I went outside to meet him, I confirmed, by name, that I had the right taxi. A few minutes into the journey, the taxi driver I had booked with calls my phone. I had thought the man driving was the taxi I had booked?

Obviously not. Panic would be an

KUWAIT: Watermelons are on sale before iftar by the roadside. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

understatement of my reaction.

However, finding out that someone had misled you into getting into their car does permit a certain level of panic.

I confronted him, he denied having answered to the wrong name, and turned back around to take me back.

With the realization that he was correcting the mistake, and therefore harmless, my panic turned to anger and I found myself asking “Why did you lie?!”. Calling someone a liar, or even suggesting it, is a serious insult in the Middle East and is especially difficult to remedy. I think it’s safe to assume that had he not been fasting, his temper would have flared considerably as opposed to the enraged glares he directed toward me in the rearview mirror.

Never, ever again. It’s much easier, safer and more convenient to arrange transport with a driver or a taxi driver you know and who will be reliable until you get your license. Going through taxi companies has proven to be an unreliable, inconvenient and bloodpressure elevating experience best avoided.

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Years

Local FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Summer with kids in Kuwait

By Nawara Fattahova

T

he summer school vacation is dragging and kids are showing signs of boredom. Also, the hot weather and the change of working hours due to Ramadan are limiting outdoor activities for kids. So many prefer to stay indoors.

However, being indoors does not necessarily mean that there is nothing to do at home. Kids can attend courses in all fields.

There are summer clubs organized by the Ministry of Education, which are held in schools and include many activities ranging from sports, arts, music and field trips. Some private schools also organize similar summer clubs with entertaining programs for kids during summer.

There are many religious and cultural courses provided free of charge by different institutes. For instance, Alfurqan Center has a free summer program that lasts three weeks.

These classes are for kids aged 15 years and older. The program includes social and cultural talks. Also they provide holy Quran classes and Islamic sciences, which is available the whole year round.

Narrating stories is another option for kids and their parents. The Better Books and Cafe is a place providing different activities such as story time and music time, where people who teach their children at home come for activities. At “Expat Moms” there, mothers of all nationalities read stories for their children. The place also provides four toastmaster classes, workshops for teenagers, and movie nights for children and adults. Some classes are ongoing, while others start in September. It’s located in Salmiya behind Rashid Hospital and it is open from 10:00 am-8:00 pm during the year, while in Ramadan it’s open from 12:00pm-10:00 pm.

Another good option for young kids is My Gym Children’s Fitness Center, which has created a program and facility devised to help children 6 weeks to 13 years of age develop physically, cognitively and emotionally. Sessions are 12 weeks long and children come twice a week according to their scheduled class for one structured class and one free play. Each class is an hour long. “Little Bundles” for ages 6 weeks to 6 months is a 45-minute long class. My Gym also runs hip hop classes, awesome birthday parties and great seasonal camps. For registration, visit My Gym (at The Discovery Mall) between 10 am and 7 pm Saturday to Thursday.

Swimming is an important sport which everybody should know and is best to learn in childhood. Aqua Tots Swim School is a great choice for kids. Here they get the right and professional swimming education.

The school, teachers say, does not only provide swimming classes. It’s a course of fun for the kids and their parents.

Aqua Tots is located in Khaldiya at the Women’s Cultural and Social Society.

Shaab Park, Entertainment City, the Ice Skating Rink, and the Swimming Pool Complex add to the to-do list for the summer, along with the Aqua Park and the Messilah Water Village for water activities. Bowling, for which Cosmo is most popular, is also a good pastime.

being indoors does not necessarily mean that there is nothing to do at home

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Years

Local FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

The doors of heaven are open

By Sawsan Kazak

T

he last ten days of Ramadan are very special to Muslims around the world. It is believed that ‘Laylat al-Qadr’ (the Night of Destiny) falls on these days on odd-numbered nights and it is usually believed to occur on the 27th of Ramadan. The whole month of Ramadan is holy to Muslims, but it is believed that in ‘Laylat Al-Qadr’, heaven’s doors are open and that the angels are closer. For this reason, people tend to spend nights in mosques and praying at home as it is believed that this one night is the equivalent to 1,000 months.

This night commemorates the anniversary Muslims believe the first verses of the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Because no-one really knows when the actual day is, the last ten days are considered important in Ramadan. Believing their prayers and wishes have a higher chance of getting answered, people pray, worship and supplicate more on the last ten days of Ramadan. Many people spend hours at mosques or at home praying to God to answer their prayers. People wish their hearts away, hoping they will get what they are asking for.

Being that we are in the last ten days of Ramadan, I have begun thinking of what I really want and need and what I should pray for. What would you wish for if you knew the doors of heaven were open and angels were listening?

Thinking about my own hopes and dreams, a very famous expression came to mind: “Be careful what you wish for, because you might actually get it.”

The things we think will bring us happiness, could do the exact opposite. Many people believe that money would solve all their problems and having more of it would make them happy. But money never lasts and once you have it, you must work on protecting it. Money has long been known to cause families to fight and relationships to deteriorate. And we have seen examples when money is the root of evil - causing people to steal and resort to violence just to get their hands on it.

Many people wish for material goods or fame and power. But, like with money, once you have material goods, you have to protect them. And with fame and power, comes responsibility and obligations.

Some people wish harm on others - praying others would pay for their mistakes or that justice be finally served. But these, in my view, are prayers wasted. What other people live or experience is only God’s business. The only thing we can control is ourselves and our experiences.

The one thing I find myself wishing for after I have gone through my list is continued health. Because money cannot buy a healthy body. Material goods will not aid you to feel better and fame and power only add stress to your life.

When you have your health you can make money, then buy material goods and maybe even become influential. But without health you have nothing. For this ‘Laylat Al-Qadr’ I will ask for health for my family and myself, the only thing worth wishing for.

KUWAIT: Men pray at the Grand Mosque early yesterday. —Photo by Yasser Al- Zayyat

The whole month of Ramadan is holy to Muslims, but it is believed that on ‘Laylat Al-Qadr’, heaven’s doors are open and that the angels are closer

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Years

Local

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Abdulaziz Al-Othman Mosque

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: Worshippers from different nationalities come on Friday, humbled by their devotion to God, to listen to the Friday sermon or khutbat al-Jumaa. Driving all the way from their place of residence to this particular mosque located in Kuwait City is for one reason: language. The khutbah or sermon is delivered in English, making it easier for new converts to understand.

The worshippers, a little more than a hundred people, sit and listen intently as the imam speaks about the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan. “Because the prayer is in Arabic, most Muslims learn the language and practice reading the Holy Quran,” says Ibrahim, a convert from India who works with the Ministry of Awqaf’s Department for New Converts.

The Friday sermon quotes the Quran in light of day-to-day issues, offering advice and wisdom to help Muslims in their daily life. The Ministry of Awqaf, working along with local Islamic organizations, designates a number of mosques in which the Friday prayer sermons are delivered in foreign languages so as to better introduce the teachings of Islam to new converts. “The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic organizations

in Kuwait exert a lot of effort to ensure that the questions of converts are answered no matter what language they speak. In the month of Ramadan especially, we try to provide an atmosphere of humility and spirituality,” says Ibrahim.

Ismael, a spokesperson of the Ties Cultural Center, an organization Promoting Western-Muslim relations, says there are plenty of things a non-Arabic speaking Muslim can do during the month of Ramadan.

The center, an affiliate of the Najat

Benevolent Society, offers Arabic courses, leaflets in different languages, introduction to Islam classes, and consultation with imams and clergy. “The month of Ramadan is a month of blessing from Allah Almighty, and we do what we can

to serve our fellow brothers and sisters,” he said. Sermons are delivered in Farsi and Urdu too, with translations in Malayalam and Tamil, he noted.

The number of worshippers who attend the sermons in English is not very large, “People go to the English sermon during the period when they are trying to get a grasp of the language. After that, they go to any mosque that is convenient to them and listen to the khutbah in Arabic, when they have mastered the language. The khutbah is delivered in classical Arabic, which is the same language in which the Holy Quran is written,” he said.

There are two mosques that deliver the Friday prayer sermon in English - one in Kuwait City and one in Fintas. The details are: Kuwait City - Abdulaziz AlOthman Mosque, Gulf Road, right next to the National Assembly.

Fintas - Al-Radhan Mosque, on the coastal road.

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Local

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Elevator etiquette The motive for starting a conversation which has no chance of spanning over the few brief minutes that you are forcibly sharing an air supply with a complete stranger is certainly limited and quite questionable.

By Lisa Conrad

“T

he elevator doors at my hotel were closing, so I rushed in to catch it. There was already a man in it, and when I entered, he rushed out. I snickered as I’d managed to successfully catch the elevator he was clearly trying to close me out of, but gradually began to feel offended as I had no idea why he’d scurried off,” said American expatriate, Louise B. Cultural differences span across many aspects, from working in a multicultural environment, to socializing with people to different backgrounds and, especially, rules for what defines the ordinary from the outrageous.

Even the most dedicated peoplewatcher, anthropologist or culture enthusiast, however, may neglect to notice that even the most mundane elements of our daily routines are dictated by cultural etiquette. An example of this is elevator etiquette, the perfect example of a simple activity riddled with complexity.

Etiquette In Kuwait, the elevator etiquette is very specific. Not region specific, but Kuwait specific. Other Middle Eastern countries don’t share quite the same rules. The elevator represents one of the only places in Kuwait where people are in extremely close confines with one another. It poses an opportunity for mixes of nationalities, genders and religions to stand within a mere meter of one another, which is most probably why there are rules governing who, and who should not, share elevators.

Firstly, men should ask before they enter an elevator with women inside.

It will be seen as insensitive, and rude, to do otherwise. It’s easy to forget how close of a space an elevator really is. For those few awkward moments of silence and pretending to write text messages/BBMs/WhatsApps, that person is in a range close enough that, in any other circumstance, would be considered an invasion of personal space. Kuwaiti national, Aya, says: “I hate it when a guy enters an elevator without asking if I mind. It’s odd because in Kuwait guys and girls don’t really have many opportunities to meet strangers, let alone hang out alone together, so being there, even for those few minutes, feels really inappropriate.” She adds, however, that it’s not a matter of religious beliefs: “It’s a cultural, societal thing.

It’s socially unacceptable. What if the guy starts flirting, and the girl is left there in a closed space with no one around and no way out until it stops?”

Hesitancy However, Kuwaiti national Farah disagrees. “I never realized that this was a trend here. It makes sense now when guys seem hesitant to enter the elevator. I don’t understand it

though, it’s such a short period of time, is there really the opportunity for anything to go wrong in such a small window? I doubt it. It’s ridiculous. Why should you wait for the elevator to go down, and come all the way back, just because the person inside can’t stand having to stand next to a stranger?” However, she adds, “That’s regarding malls and public places. In apartment buildings and quieter locations, I am a bit more cautious and if the guy looks creepy I’ll avoid sharing the elevator with him. Not because I think it’s inappro-

priate, but because I’ve heard stories of women being raped in elevators in apartment buildings.”

Mingling While some women in Kuwait wouldn’t enter an elevator if there were men already inside, expatriates, such as Louise B, didn’t understand when a man rushed out as she entered the elevator. Kuwaiti national, Mohammad, explains: “If he’s very religious, he may not be comfortable sharing such a closed space with a woman. It’s like sometimes if you go

to shake hands with someone who’s especially religious, you’re met with a decline expressed by their patting their chest. Insisting that he shake your hand would be an insult, in the same way that rushing into the elevator when the guy is clearly hammering at the ‘close doors’ button is.”

Mohammad concluded that Louise’s experience shouldn’t have left her feeling offended but, on the contrary, that she was the one failing to conform to given norms.

If you do end up in an elevator with someone of the opposite sex, given that they didn’t oppose sharing with you, then there are further rules to heed to. The most obvious? Don’t try flirting with the other person. This applies for both genders. It’s hugely inappropriate, and you have no idea what is standing on the other side of the doors waiting for them. A father, possibly? Or, even worse, a brother. A scowling wife? Common sense dictates that as you’re in the same building, for whatever reason, there may be a chance that you have acquaintances in common. The tiny size of Kuwait adds to this risk, and so does the fact that society is quite tight-knit.

“My brother’s friend tried flirting with me in the elevator once. He was such a moron, I don’t know how it didn’t occur to him that there may be a chance I’m related to his friend, given I was going to the same floor. I didn’t tell my brother, it would have ended their friendship and the guy wasn’t knowingly trying to disrespect him,” says Lebanese expatriate Sanaa.

Chit chat Making small talk with the same gender is up to you and how much you think a few minutes of chit-chat would be an annoyance/highlight to their (your) day. Making small talk with the opposite gender, however, will usually be construed as flirting.

This point is less Kuwait-specific in all likelihood, as the motive for starting a conversation which has no chance of spanning over the few brief minutes that you are forcibly sharing an air supply with a complete stranger is certainly limited and quite questionable. Unless in the States, possibly, where frequent enquiries of how you are and hopes that you’ll “have a good/great/wonderful day” are commonplace.

The infamous fake phone call trick also leaves much to be desired, where marital status (single), job (anything that sounds well paid) and interests (usually something extremely charitable or extremely expensive) are all compacted into a brief not-sosubtle one-sided telephone call. For example, “Oh yes, I’m still planning to hold that charity event on my yacht.

Being single leaves me with some free time, despite the long hours I work as an investment banker.” This is the equivalent of the BlackBerry pins plastered on the back of cars in hopes that someone will take the bait.

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Local

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

MP urges integrated legislative system Barrak condemns tweeter’s harassment

By A Saleh KUWAIT: MP Dr Rola Dashti said that corruption can only be eliminated by approving an integrated legislative system, which will include boosting transparency in cases related to disclosing personal wealth, protecting the whistleblower, conflict of interests and citizen’s right to know. She added that the proposal approved by the government to set up an Anti-Corruption Authority will, in its current form, give the corrupt “a certificate of innocence”, and a path to accumulating unlawful wealth and political influence. Dashti said, “We call upon our colleagues to quickly approve the proposals we put forward to fight corruption, and utilize the experience and opinions of those with international experience.

Meanwhile, MP Musallam Al-Barrak condemned the harassment that Tweeter Saad Al-Adwan i has been subject to. He pointed out that some even use Amiri Diwan’s name to threaten him for just expressing his opinion. Al-Barrak said that the Amiri Diwan does not interfere with such issues. He questioned the audacity of some government officials in pursuing tweeters. “They published such information on the internet to embarrass him. He was also threatened by the State Security Department, adding that such matters will not be tolerated.

Separately, MP Yousuf Al-Zalzalah has proposed that a department be established at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to monitor the agencies that recruit domestic helpers in Kuwait. He said that this department should file citizens’ complaints against agencies that force them to comply with the Consumer Protection Law. Some agencies charge large amou nts that add up to KD 1,000. He added that those offices are not audited or monitored. He added that some agencies force some domestic helpers to pay two months’ salaries. He said offices shirk responsibilities as the sponsor pays for the airline ticket of the domestic helper.

PM chairs meeting of development panel KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah headed at Seif Palace yesterday a ministerial meeting of the Kuwait development plan committee. Minister of State for Development Affairs and Planning Abdulwahab Rashed Al-Haroun said that the committee had discussed the progress and achievements of the plan thus far, noting that the meeting also focused on the upcoming period and what was needed to be done to continue the process. The Cabinet referred a number of legislations concerning the plan to parliament for more deliberation, said the minister, adding that there were more legislations awaiting approval from the National Assembly before being sent back to the Cabinet. During its weekly

meetings, the Cabinet has been working on approval of several legislations, assigning numerous ministries to

complete the process and in order to send them to parliament, said the official. —KUNA

US embassy officers give toys to Kuwaiti children in hospital KUWAIT: US embassy diplomats and family members brought smiles to the faces of scores of children in Kuwait when they made a large donation of toys on August 25 to the Children’s Ward of NBK Hospital, which specializes in cancer

treatment; two of the three children’s wards treat leukemia and the third oncology.

The event was organized in partnership with the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospitals (KACCH).

The US embassy community actively serves its local community, volunteering with KACCH and numerous other groups.

The toys were donated by employees and family members of the US Embassy.

Representatives from the US embassy

were received by NBK Hospital staff and the children themselves. They then spent the morning distributing gifts and talking with the children from the hospital’s three children’s wards, as they opened and enjoyed their new toys.

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Local

FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

KUWAIT: The Arabic calligraphy exhibition at The Avenues mall from Aug 15-22 attracted many visitors and enthusiasts interested in this form of high-level art, said an official yesterday. The Head of the Kuwait Center of Islamic Arts Fareed Al-Ali said that the event was co-organized by the center and The Avenues’ administration. Undersecretary at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Khlaif Al-Athaina said that the event was a success, adding that during his visit to the exhibition, many people were very keen to browse the exhibition’s offerings. This event, which saw the participation of Kuwait and foreign calligraphers, also reflected the strong cooperation between the public and private sectors, affirmed the official, hoping that more activities of such kind would be held in the near future. —KUNA

Man tears down Assad’s portrait at airline offices Worker dies after falling from crane

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

worth KD 5,000 were stolen during iftar time.

KUWAIT: A security source said that authorities are looking for a person who entered the offices of Syrian Airlines and tore down a portrait of President Bashar Al-Assad. Syrian Airlines Director General Abdelmalek Al-Masry said, “We were surprised when a person entered the company and jumped over the counter in a flash, tore down the picture and admonished the employees for hanging the picture of a ‘butcher’ before escaping.”

Employees ran after him but he was able to escape in a white car. Investigations are underway.

Pusher arrested Drugs’ control authorities arrested an Indian in possession of heroin at his house. The suspect resisted arrest and attempted to escape but was brought under control. When his house was searched, 1,500 illicit tablets were found along with 50 gm of heroin. The arrest was made at the instructions of acting assistant undersecretary for criminal security Shiekh Ahmad Al-Abdallah AlKhalifa. He was sent to concerned authorities.

‘Erroneous’ death An Asian was killed in Amghara following a fall from a crane, and it was registered as an accidental death.

Spate of robberies Meanwhile a citizen told Sharq police that his Egyptian mandoub stole KD 24,000 after he gave it to him to deposit in the bank . An Iranian told Sharq police that mobile phones

Asian’s death probed Farwaniya police have been investigating the case pertinent to the mutilated body of an Asian that was found recently. The forensic department has prepared a sketch of deceased, which will be shown in areas that have a strong concentration of Asians. The victims is believed to have been engaging in illegal activities like prostitution, drugs and thefts. Several Asians are being questioned in an attempt to nab the murderer.

Driver arrested A reckless driver, who deliberately inflicted injury on a police officer at the office of Assistant Undersecretary for General Security with his vehicle, was arrested. He had even tried to sabotage other police vehicles. The suspect was arrested after he attempted to escape and was referred to concerned authorities.

Transvestite arrested A transvestite tried to evade police arrest in Hawally by knocking a policeman down. In a hot chase that followed, a patrol vehicle accosted him and arrested him, while the injured police officer was admitted to the nearest hospital. The incident began when police noticed a confused female motorist. After intercepting the vehicle, police asked the individual to produce an identification card. They learnt that the driver at the helm was a transvestite. —Al-Watan Lovers arrested Salmiya police arrested a citizen and a Lebanese woman who were found in a compro-

mising position before iftar. Police’s suspicions were aroused when they spotted a car parked on the wayside an hour before sunse t. Upon approaching the vehicle, the couple were found in an intimate position. They were charged with adultery and referred to concerned authorities.

Girls caught stealing A female vendor in Jahra accused four girls of stealing accessories. The woman caught the four girls stealing the goods. When the woman insisted on informing the police, they begged her not to do so. The issue was settled amicably.

Hearing on MPs’ case The fourth sitting bench headed by Judge Adel Al-Saqer will hold the first hearing on MP Mohammad Hayef’s case on Sept 6. The State Security Department had filed a complaint against him, charging him with harming Kuwait’s interests and threatening to damage diplomatic relations with a friendly country. He was also accused of spreading false evidence, in addition to issuing threats to the Syrian ambassador in Kuwait. —Al-Rai

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Libyan rebels ready Gaddafi knockout punch Rebel commanders preparing a new advance TRIPOLI: Hardened rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli yestrday seeking to deliver a knockout punch to Muammar Gaddafi‘s diehards and to flush out the elusive strongman, who has a $1.7 million price on his head. Rebel commanders said they were also readying a new advance against forces defending Gaddafi ‘s hometown Sirte, 360 kilometres (225 miles) east of Tripoli and to break a siege of Zuwarah, a town to the west.

British Defence Minister Liam Fox said NATO was helping the rebels with intelligence and reconaissance to find Gaddafi, but the Western alliance denied his claim. However, an AFP reporter discovered that French and British operatives are working with rebels as they press towards Sirte, amid unconfirmed reports British special forces SAS members were sent to Libya several weeks ago. Leading the army of reinforcements into Tripoli were seasoned combatants from Misrata, whose fellow fighters spearheaded the weekend assault that saw the capital swiftly overrun and Gaddafi‘s Bab al-Aziziya compound captured.

Rebel commanders said that while they control most of Tripoli, hot spots remain where sniper fire, rocket explosions and heavy weaponry make life dangerous. In an example of that, Tripoli’s Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, where numerous foreign journalists are based, came under attack on Thursday, apparently by Gaddafisnipers, but there were no reports of casualties.

“Heavy shooting is going on in central Tripoli just at the doorstep of our hotel. Street battle. Sniper fire. Hotel under gunfire attack,” an AFP correspondent reported of the firefight, which last about 40 minutes. The Corinthia is located a few hundred metres (yards) from the centre of Tripoli’s Old City, near the sea.

The rebels are also hell-bent on finding Gaddafi, so they can proclaim final victory in an uprising that began six months ago and was all but crushed by Gaddafi ‘s forces before NATO warplanes gave crucial air support to the rebels. Rebel leaders say they want to put Gaddafion trial even though he also faces charges of crimes against humanity along with his son Seif al-Islam and spymaster Abdullah al-Senussi at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. On Wednesday, the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) offered a $1.7 million reward for the capture of Gaddafi, dead or alive, and amnesty to any members of his inner circle who kill or capture him. The 69-year-old Gaddafihas not been seen in public for weeks. But despite losing control of the oil-rich North African country he ruled with an iron first for 42 years, he is still managing to broadcast messages urging Libyans to drive out the “rats”-as he disparagingly calls the rebels. Britain’s Defence Minister Liam Fox told Sky news that NATO is providing “intelligence and reconnaissance assets to the NTC to help them track down Colonel Gaddafiand other remnants of the regime.”

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu denied that. “No specific individual is a target as an individual, whether it’s Gaddafi or anybody else,” she told AFP in Brussels. The alliance has repeatedly denied targeting Gaddafisince NATO-led warplanes began bombing regime forces in March and has always rejected claims that it was serving as the rebels’ proxy air force. “There is no military coordination with the rebels,” Lungescu said.

Meanwhile, Fox declined to comment on reports that Britain’s SAS special forces were working with the rebels to track down Gaddafi. The Daily Telegraph newspaper, quoting defence sources, said SAS members were sent to Libya several weeks ago and played a key role in coordinating the battle for Tripoli, which fell into rebel hands on Sunday.

In the oil refinery town of Zuwaytina, the new eastern front about 150 kilometres (93 miles) southwest of the opposition bastion Benghazi, an AFP reporter saw French and British operatives working with Libyan rebels .

They are equipped with telecommunications equipment and housed in two shipping containers, within walking distance of the headquarters of Fawzi Bukatif, commander of the eastern front.—AFP

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INTERNATIONAL FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Syrian protesters chant ‘Bye Gaddafi, Bashar next’ Assad quoted as saying Syria will not sell out

GAZA: Palestinians carry the body of Islamic Jihad militant Ateya Mkat, 22, killed in an Israeli air strike Wednesday, during his funeral in Gaza City yesterday. —AP

Gaza militants fire rockets, Israel hits back JERUSALEM: Palestinian militants fired rocket barrages that wounded an Israeli baby Wednesday, and Israel retaliated with airstrikes that killed four Gaza fighters, Gaza officials said. The new round of violence began last Thursday when gunmen, apparently from Gaza, crossed the border from Egypt and ambushed cars and buses in southern Israel, killing eight people. That was followed by massive Palestinian rocket attacks and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Adham Abu Salmia said a member of the Islamic Jihad group was killed Wednesday evening in Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said “aircraft targeted a terrorist squad that fired rockets into Israel.” Israeli aircraft killed another Islamic Jihad fighter before dawn on Wednesday, Hamas security officials said. The Israeli military said the dead man had smuggled weapons into Gaza and was involved in militant activity in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, near Israel’s southern border.

Two more were killed and 20 wounded in airstrikes early Thursday, Palestinians said. One targeted an Islamic Jihad club. The Israeli military said its aircraft hit a weapons storage facility and smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, retaliation for Wednesday’s rocket fire. Palestinians fired more than a dozen rockets into Israel Wednesday, sending residents in Ashkelon and elsewhere in the south running for cover. A baby was injured by shrapnel from one of the Palestinian rockets, Israel’s rescue service said.

Israeli media reported that security forces sent reinforcements to the area. A music festival that was to be held in the southern city of Ashkelon was canceled, conforming with military recommendations against large gatherings in tense security times, the military said. Also Wednesday, Israeli defense officials said Israel gave Egypt the results of an initial military probe into the deaths of Egyptian police officers during fights between Israeli soldiers and militants Thursday. Egypt threatened to recall its ambassador while in Cairo, and protesters surrounded the Israeli Embassy Saturday and tore down the Israeli flag replacing it with an Egyptian one. The officials said video filmed from a helicopter during the fighting shows soldiers didn’t shoot toward locations near the Egyptian positions even after they came under attack from missile attacks and sniper fire from militants there. The head of Israel’s southern command is heard in military radio transmissions ordering soldiers not to shoot in the Egyptian’s direction, the officials said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak with the media, did not explain how the preliminary report addresses how the police officers died. — AP

AMMAN: Syrian protesters chanted “Bye, bye Gaddafi, Bashar your turn is coming” overnight, but President Bashar al-Assad showed few signs of cracking after months of demonstrations and his forces raided an eastern tribal region again yesterday.

The new chant, inspired by the apparent collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule in Libya, was filmed by residents in the Damascus suburb of Duma after prayers on Wednesday. But in eastern Syria, tanks and armoured vehicles entered Shuhail, a town southeast of the provincial capital of Deir alZor, where daily protests have taken place against Assad’s rule since the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, they said. “Initial reports by residents describe tens of tanks firing randomly as they stormed the town at dawn. Shuhail has been very active in protests and the regime is using overwhelming force to frighten the people,” a local activist said.

Since Ramadan began on Aug 1, tanks have entered the cities of Hama, scene of a 1982 massacre by the military, Deir al-Zor and Latakia on the Mediterranean coast, trying to crush dissent after months of street protests.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an activist group based in Britain, said 11 civilians had been killed across Syria on Wednesday, including seven in the province of Homs. State news agency SANA said “armed terrorist groups” killed eight soldiers when they ambushed two military vehicles near the towns of Rastan and Telbiseh. Syria has expelled most independent journalists, making it difficult to verify accounts on the ground from authorities and activists.

Prominent cartoonist and Assad critic Ali Ferzat was beaten up in Damascus by a group of armed men and then dumped in the street, an opposition activist group said. SOHR said Ferzat was taken to hospital with bruises to his face and hands. Ferzat, whose cartoons often mock repression and injustice in the Arab world, has criticised Assad’s repression of protests. He told Al Arabiya television three weeks ago: “For the first time there is a genuine and free revolution in Syria.”

The defeat of Gaddafi may encourage Western nations to step up moves against Assad. He has pursued parallel policies of strengthening ties with Iran

and Shi’ite Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah while seeking peace talks with Israel and accepting European and U.S. overtures that were key in rehabilitating him on the international stage.

European Union diplomats said on

apparent acceptance of Syria’s argument it faces armed opponents. In an interview with state television this week, Assad said the unrest “has shifted toward armed acts”. Authorities blame the violence on “armed terrorist

DAMASCUS: In this photo released by the Syrian News Station website, Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat lies injured at a hospital in Damascus, Syria yesterday. —AP Wednesday the bloc’s governments were likely to impose an embargo on imports of Syrian oil by the end of next week, although new sanctions may be less stringent than those imposed by Washington.

Syria exports over a third of its 385,000 barrels of daily crude oil output to Europe, mainly the Netherlands, Italy, France and Spain. A disruption would cut off a major source of foreign currency that helps to finance the security apparatus, and restrict funds at Assad’s disposal to reward loyalists and continue a crackdown in which the United Nations says 2,200 people have been killed. In a sign the prospect of sanctions was already having an effect, traders said French oil major Total had not lifted a cargo of naphtha from Syria’s Banias refinery which it had bought in a tender.

Arab League ministers will meet in Cairo on Saturday to discuss Syria. An official said they would discuss imposing a time frame for Assad to enact reforms. But they would also call on “all parties to end the conflict”, the official said, in an

groups”, who they say have killed an unspecified number of civilians and 500 soldiers and police.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said it was up to the Syrian authorities and people to find a way out of the unrest. “The hope of the West is to attack Syria they way they intervened in Libya but the people and the government in Syria should sit down together and reach an understanding on reforms,” he told al-Manar television channel. “The people should have the right to elections, freedom and justice (so) they should set the timeline about it (together).” Human Rights Watch said in a new report the vast majority of civilian deaths documented by Syrian human rights groups “have occurred in circumstances in which there was no threat to Syrian forces”. “President al-Assad has said he is pursuing a battle against ‘terrorist groups’ and ‘armed gangs,’ and Syrian authorities have claimed that they have ‘exercised maximum restraint while trying to control the situation’. Neither claim is true,” the report said. — Reuters

Saudi find shows horses used 9,000 years ago

JEDDAH: A Saudi man looks at archaeological artefacts displayed during a news conference in the Red Sea city of Jeddah yesterday. — AFP

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has found traces of a civilisation that was domesticating horses about 9,000 years ago, 4,000 years earlier than previously thought, the kingdom said. “This discovery shows that horses were domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula for the first time more than 9,000 years ago, whereas previous studies estimated the domestication of horses in Central Asia dating back 5,000 years, Ali al-Ghabban, vicechairman of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, said at a news conference late Wednesday.

The remains of the civilisation were found close to Abha, in southwestern Asir province, an area known to antiquity as Arabia Felix.

The civilization, given the name al-Maqari, used “methods of embalming that are totally different to known processes,”

Ghabban said. Among the remains found at the site are statues of animals such as goats, dogs, hawks, and a metre-tall bust of a horse, Ghabban said. “A statue of an animal of this dimension, dating back to that time, has never been found anywhere in the world,” Ghabban said.

He added that archaeologists also found arrowheads, stone tools, weaving tools and mortars for pounding grain, reflecting the development of that civilization. The remains were found in a valley that was once a riverbed, at a time when the now-arid Arabian Peninsula was more humid and fertile, the official said. An international team of archaeologists published an article in January that suggested human beings could have been present on the Arabian Peninsula about 125,000 years ago. —AFP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Clashes, disruptions as strike begins in Chile 36 people injured SANTIAGO: Protesters supporting a 48-hour strike called by student groups, unions and opposition politicians threw up burning barricades and clashed with police Wednesday to demand fundamental changes in Chile. The government said 36 people - 19 police officers and 17 civilians - were injured and 348 people detained over the course of the day. Earlier, police Maj Christian Kuntzman said one injured officer was shot in the hand.

The day began with a long and noisy pot-banging protest known as a “caceroleo,” conducted by students who have been boycotting classes for three months to demand improvements in public education.

Treasury Secretary Felipe Larrain had said the strike would cost Chile $200 million a day in lost production, but it was unclear Wednesday how much of a shutdown the strikers achieved.

Although Santiago’s buses and the subway mostly functioned normally, most people stayed out of the capital’s normally busy city center, leaving only light street traffic.

Most stores were open, but got few customers and many employees stayed home. Other cities and provinces around Chile also were unusually quiet.

President Sebastian Pinera said at the government palace that “fortunately, as of now, the country is functioning with considerable normality.” Arturo Martinez, president of the organized labor coalition that organized the strike, denied that.”This country is not normal today,” Martinez said. “The authority is not capable of saying the truth.” Martinez said union demands include changes in pensions, health care, education, taxes and a new labor code. “And we propose a new constitution,” he added.

Public transportation functioned normally in Santiago, with the exception of some suburbs where rock-throwing protesters forced

drivers to abandon routes. In various areas around the capital, activists put up barricades, blocked traffic and faced off against riot police who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Hospitals had warned anyone

up a 37-day-old hunger strike Wednesday at their parents’ request, but said they would keep up the fight for education reform.

One of them, Gloria Negrete, who was hospitalized and reported near death, said they gave up “for our

SANTIAGO: Riot police officers remove barricades from the streets of Santiago, Chile yesterday during a 48-hour national strike, the first to hit Sebastian PiÒera’s government, convened by the largest workers union in the South American country with some 780,000 members. —AFP but the gravely ill to stay home as a precaution, but the government said only 6 percent of health care workers joined the strike.

Unions put out far different numbers. Raul de la Puente, president of the government workers union, said that “more than 80 percent are in solidarity.” Polls say that after three months of mass student protests, most Chileans disapprove of Pinera’s government. His approval rate has fallen to 26 percent, the lowest of any elected Chilean president.

Three high school students gave

health, for the precarious state that each of us were in, because our parents were suffering.” About 40 other students in schools around Chile continued their hunger strikes to keep up pressure on the government, which has only partly responded to demands that include calls for free schooling and improvements in the quality of Chile’s education. Pinera reached out to union and student leaders Wednesday, saying: “They always have the doors open to dialogue.

The government is ready to talk directly with them.”—AP

Salvadoran court won’t detain accused officers SAN SALVADOR: El Salvador’s Supreme Court refused to order the detention of nine former military officers indicted in Spain for the 1989 slayings of six Jesuit priests during the Central American country’s 1980-1992 civil war. The court ruled that no formal extradition request has been received from Spain. The ex-officers turned themselves in voluntarily in early August at a military base, but are not under detention.

The court has said it would consider an extradition request if one were received. But at present, all that is pending against the men in El Salvador is an Interpol request that they be located, something that has already been accomplished. “The supreme court cannot deliberate

on whether it will decree the detention (of the men) or not, because Spain has not requested it,” Justice Ulises De Dios Guzman told the government-run Radio Nacional station.

Guzman said the men “are not really” being released, because they were never detained. Five of the six slain priests were Spaniards, and a Spanish court has invoked international jurisdiction to prosecute the case.

The ruling came after about a hundred people rallied in San Salvador, the capital, to demand the extradition of the men. In the Unite d States, meanwhile, another exSalvadoran military officer charged in the case was freed on bail Wednesday while facing an immigration charge in Boston. —AP

7.0-magnitude quake shakes Peruvian Amazon LIMA: A strong earthquake struck a remote Amazon region of Peru on Wednesday, shaking buildings far away in the capital and in neighboring Brazil, although no injuries or damage were reported. The 7.0-magnitude quake’s epicenter was near the town of Pucallpa, which lies some 600 km (370 miles) from Lima in a sparsely populated central-eastern region close to the Brazilian border, the US Geological Survey said.

“There have been no damages reported, either to structures or to people,” said Javier Urrelo, head of the government’s civil defense agency in the Ucayali region, where Pucallpa is located. Energy companies in the area, which produces some oil and natural gas, said their facilities were operating normally. It was the most powerful earthquake to hit the Andean country since a 7.9-magnitude temblor killed more than 500 people and destroyed thousands of houses in 2007.

One seismologist said the depth of Wednesday’s quake — 145 km (90 miles) — meant damage was unlikely. Across the nearby border in the Brazilian city of Cruzeiro do Sul, journalist Nelson Liano was in a supermarket at the time of the quake and said some goods fell off the shelves.

“It was that sensation when you’re on a boat and it rocks,” he told Reuters. In Peru’s coastal capital of Lima, office buildings shook and mobile phone services were interrupted. Local radio bulletins said the quake caused alarm across central Peru, sending panicked students and workers rushing out of classrooms and offices.

Earthquake-prone Peru is a leading metals exporter, but the region hit on Wednesday is not a mining area. Leading Peruvian miner Southern Copper, which is controlled by Grupo Mexico, said its operations in southern parts of the country were not affected.

Energy companies are more active in the region where the quake hit. Pucallpa is the terminus for an oil pipeline from the Ganso Azul fields, but operators said it was transporting fuel normally. A source at Maple Energy Public Ltd Co said its oil refinery in the town was also functioning pr operly, and US based Duke Energy said its nearby gas plant was operating normally.

Spain’s Repsol, which has operations in the area, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Brazil’s Petrobras, which has a natural gas exploration project in Peru, said it had received no information about damage to operations or equipment there. — Reuters

Judge orders Cuba to pay 2.8b in damages WASHINGTON: A US judge on Wednesday ordered Cuba to pay 2.8 billion dollars in damages to a Cuban-American who sued the communist Cuban government over expropriation of his family’s assets. Florida Circuit Court Judge Beatrice Butchko ruled in favor of the massive compensation for Gustavo Villoldo, 72.

Villoldo and his brother Alfredo Villoldo had sued parties including former Cuban president Fidel Castro, 85, and current Cuban President Raul Castro, 80, for noncompensation and emotional distress in events dating back to 1959.

“I am very happy about the ruling. Justice is going to be done to right a historic wrong,” Gustavo Villoldo told the Spanish-language daily El Nuevo Herald. Their father was a wealthy businessman who had some of the first General Motors dealerships in Cuba.

Villoldo attorney in Miami, Andrew Hall, said he hoped Cuba would be forced to pay a substantial part of the compensation through businesses it owns abroad. The Villoldos won an earlier 1.2-billion-dollar judgment but it was struck down on appeal. The United States and neighboring Cuba do not maintain full diplomatic ties. — AFP

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FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

Austrian probed for abusing daughters for 41 years VIENNA: Austrian officials said yesterday they are investigating allegations that a man locked up his two mentally disabled daughters in a small room in their home, sexually abused them for 41 years and kept them subservient with repeated beatings and threats to their lives.

Police said that the women have accused the 80-year-old of repeatedly raping them between 1970 and May 2011. The alleged victims are now 53 and 45 years old. A police official did not name either the suspect or the alleged victims. He did not identify him-

self on the telephone. Police confirmed they are investigating the case after a report in the Oberoesterreichische Nachrichten newspaper. The daily said the women escaped when the father was unable to get up after the older daughter pushed him over when he last tried to rape her.

The allegations evoke the case of Austrian Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned his daughter in a windowless cellar for 24 years and repeatedly raped her, fathering her seven children. Fritzl was sentenced to life imprisonment two years ago for that crime and for

Spain seeks El Salvador clarification on suspects MADRID: Spain has asked El Salvador to clarify the legal status of nine former military officers indicted in Madrid over the slayings of six Jesuit priests during the Central American country’s 1980-1992 civil war, a court official said yesterday. El Salvador’s Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to order the arrest of the nine, saying it has not received a formal extradition request from Spain. The men surrendered in El Salvador voluntarily this month, but are not under arrest.

The Salvadoran tribunal said it would consider an extradition request if one were received. But at present, all that is pending against the men in El Salvador is an Interpol request that they be located, which has already been accomplished.

The Spanish court official said Judge Eloy Velasco has sent El Salvador a document seeking clarification of the suspects’ status. Velasco indicted the nine in May and issued arrest warrants through Interpol, the official said.

Such warrants are for the purpose of eventual extradition for trial, in this case to Madrid, . Spain is acting under observance of the principle of universal jurisdiction. This holds that some crimes are so egregious they can be prosecuted in countries other than those where they allegedly occurred. The Spanish court official said Spain cannot issue a formal extradition request to El Salvador for the nine suspects because it has not been informed if they are under arrest.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with court rules. Five of the six slain priests were Spaniards, and the sixth was Salvadoran. Two women working for them were also killed in the massacre on Nov. 16, 1989 by Salvadoran soldiers during a leftist rebel offensive. In the United States, another ex-Salvadoran military officer charged in the case was freed on bail Wednesday while facing an immigration charge in Boston. —AP

Russians search for crashed spaceship in Siberia MOSCOW: Russian emergency workers are using helicopters yesterday in their search for the wreckage of the unmanned supply ship that crashed and exploded in a forested area in Siberia. The spaceship was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan some 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) southwest of the crash site.

It fell after the third stage of its booster rocket failed a few minutes into the launch, in the Choisky district in Russia’s Altai province.

It was the 44th launch of a Progress supply ship to the space station - and the first failure in the nearly 13year life of the complex. The Progress ship carrying almost 3 tons of supplies to the International Space Station was destroyed. The rocket failed barely a month after NASA’s final space shuttle flight. Without the shuttles, NASA now is counting on Russia, Europe and Japan, as well as private US businesses, to keep the station stocked. —AP

responsibility in the death of one of the children. The police official said yesterday that the 80-year-old suspect, from the Upper Austrian village of St. Peter am Hart, is free, pending an investigation and possible charges because there is no danger of him fleeing.

Local police commander Martin Pumberger said the suspect denies the accusations, adding it was up to the regional state prosecutor’s office to now decide whether to formally charge him on the basis of the police investigation. During questioning the

women said their father repeatedly warned he would kill them if they resisted him, occasionally threatening them with firearms, said Alois Lissl, a senior state police official. They also said that their mother, who died two years ago, was also repeatedly abused by the suspect.

The newspaper said the victims were also beaten with a stick and a pitchfork. State broadcaster ORF said the allegations were revealed only recently because the two alleged victims did not tell anyone about them for weeks after their escape. —AP

Lawyers wrap up Intl Court’s first trial THE HAGUE: Prosecutors began wrapping up the International Criminal Court’s landmark first trial yesterday by urging judges to convict a Congolese warlord of recruiting hundreds of child soldiers and sending them to fight and kill in his country’s brutal conflict. Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told judges that evidence in the trial that began in January 2009 gave voice to children that militia leader Thomas Lubanga had “transformed into killers; those girls that Mr Lubanga offered to his commanders as sexual slaves.”

Bensouda said the armed wing of Lubanga’s Union of Congolese Patriots political party trained hundreds of children in 20 camps scattered across the Ituri region of eastern Congo in 2002-2003. “They were used to fight in conflicts. They were used to kill, rape and pillage,” she added. Lubanga’s defense lawyers are expected to tell judges today that the prosecution evidence was flawed by false witness testimony and that Lubanga in fact tried to liberate child soldiers, not recruit them.

Lubanga’s trial has been hailed as a significant step in the development of international law. It was the first international case to focus exclusively on child soldiers and the opening trial at the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal. However, it also was overshadowed by delays and by friction between prosecutors and judges. The trial was put on hold in June 2008 - just 10 days before it was scheduled to start when judges ruled that Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had not given lawyers evidence that could have helped Lubanga.

He refused to turn over some 200 documents because they came from organizations including the United Nations on condition that they not be disclosed to others.

Judges said the confidentiality agreements meant, “the trial process has been ruptured to such a degree that it is now impossible to piece together the constituent elements of a fair trial.” MorenoOcampo eventually got consent from all the organizations and disclosed the material to defense attorneys, allowing the trial to get under way. But judges halted it in July 2010 and ordered Lubanga released from custody when prosecutors defied a court order to reveal the identity of an intermediary who had helped prosecutors contact witnesses.

Prosecutors appealed the decision and Lubanga remained in his cell, but the incident underscored simmering tensions between prosecutors and the judges over disclosure of sensitive evidence. Faced with the prospect of the case collapsing, prosecutors revealed the identity of their intermediary to the defense and appeals judges

ruled that the trial could resume. Lubanga was arrested in March 2006, the first suspect to come into the custody of the International Criminal Court, which became operational in 2002.

The court has since issued indictments in high profile flashpoints such as the

sexual violence.

“It was shocking to many of us that the announcement in 2006 of the case against Mr. Lubanga did not include charges for such crimes and overlooked the suffering of thousands of women,” said Brigid Inder, executive director of a group called

THE HAGUE: Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga (Back C) sits in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court in the Hague yesterday.

Former Congo militia leader Thomas Lubanga is guilty “beyond any possible doubt” of conscripting child soldiers, the International Criminal Court heard from the prosecution in the closing stages of its first ever trial. —AFP Darfur conflict in Sudan and the Gadhafi regime’s brutal but unsuccessful campaign to stamp out dissent. Lubanga is accused of leading a rebel group called the Union of Congolese Patriots which used child soldiers in savage fighting in the Ituri province in 2002-2003. While welcoming his prosecution and the groundbreaking child soldier charges, human rights groups have criticized prosecutors for the narrow scope of the trial, saying they should also have charged him for the numerous rapes that victims say members of his militia perpetrated in a region notorious for widespread

Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice.

However others applauded the likely deterrent effect of the Lubanga trial. The U.N. special envoy for children in armed conflicts, Radhika Coomaraswamy, said leaders in conflict zones have often asked her about the ICC and the Lubanga prosecution.

“I found that fear of the ICC a healthy development in international law,” Coomaraswamy told The Associated Press.

“Nobody can measure how many children have been saved because of deterrence.

That’s not something you can measure, but hopefully that will be the case.” —AP

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FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

Cameron presses S Africa to unfreeze Libyan assets Jibril meets with Berlusconi MILAN: Britain’s prime minister pressed South Africa yesterday to drop its opposition to UN Security Council moves to unfreeze Libyan assets. British Prime Minister David Cameron called his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma as the leader of Libya’s rebel Cabinet headed to Italy, his second stop on a European diplomatic tour aimed at securing the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets.

Mahmoud Jibril was meeting with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi in Milan yesterday, a day after laying out plans in Paris for the governing Libya after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi’s 42-year autocratic regime.

The Libyan opposition says they country.” lion) in 2010, before trade between the urgently need at least $5 billion in frozen Italy, Libya’s old colonial ruler, devel- countries was halted in February with assets to pay state salaries, maintain vital oped into Libya’s largest trading partner the outbreak of civil war. That was down services and repair critical oil facilifrom a pre-economic crisis high ties. The UN Security Council, of?20 billion ($28.9 billion) in 2008. meanwhile, is preparing to vote Foreign Minister Franco Frattini this week on a resolution that says he expects the rebels to honor would release $1.5 billion in Libyan all business contracts assets in US banks that the world with Italian firms. That includes body froze to thwart Gadhafi’s abilthose with the oil giant Eni, the ity to wage war on his people. largest foreign producer in Libya.

Analysts estimate that as much as “They have committed to honor all of the contracts, also those of $110 billion are frozen in banks Italian businesses, that were signed worldwide.

by Libya. They weren’t contracts The United States has been trywith Gadhafi,” Frattini told RAI ing for more than two weeks to state radio. Eni has dispatched get the Security Council committechnicians to Benghazi to prepare tee that monitors sanctions against Libya to unfreeze $1.5 bilto restart oil and natural gas prolion in assets to pay for immediate duction. Eni, which derives 13 perhumanitarian aid, but diplomats cent of its revenues and 15 percent said South Africa objected. In the of its production from Libya, has committee, agreement of all 15 said it can take up to a year to council nations is required. relaunch oil production, and severCameron and Zuma “agreed that al months for natural gas.

Before the civil war, Eni pumped Libya now has the opportunity for about 280,000 barrels of natural transition to a peaceful, democratgas and oil a day. Libya’s sovereign ic and inclusive government and wealth fund also has notable they discussed how the internastakes in Eni, Unicredit bank, the tional community should actively and urgently support this process,” Juventus soccer club and the Cameron’s office said in statement. defense and aerospace company Zuma has pledged to support Finmeccanica. In addition, Eni and the release of $500 million, and Finmeccanica, along with their said African leaders meeting yessubsidiaries, have significant terday in Addis Ababa would disinvestments in the country, where cuss the unfreezing of additional some 600 small and medium assets. British Defense Secretary Italian businesses are eager to relaunch operations.

Liam Fox said that South Africa Meanwhile, four Italian journalmust join others in siding with the ists taken at gunpoint in Libya Libya people, and believed there were freed yesterday in a raid on would be “huge moral pressure” on Johannesburg. “They wanted LONDON: British Prime Minister David the house where they were being the world at one point to stand Cameron steps out of 10 Downing Street to held. Details of the raid, first with them against apartheid,” Fox deliver a statement about ongoing develop- reported on Corriere della Sera’s told BBC radio. “I think they now ments in Libya, London.—AP website, and who conducted it need to stand with the Libyan were not immediately available. people, help unfreeze their assets and as old colonial resentments matured The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed allow their authorities to get access to into mutually beneficial economic ties - that the four were freed, but had no furthe capital they need to rebuild the which were worth?11 billion ($15.9 bil- ther details. —AP

8 mass graves now seen in Sudan region NAIROBI: A U.S. monitoring group says satellite imagery had revealed the existence of two more mass graves in a contested region of Sudan, bringing the total number of mass graves sited there to eight. The Satellite Sentinel Project, a group backed by actor and Sudan activist George Clooney, said Wednesday that witnesses told the group that a backhoe was used to dig some of the graves at sites in Kadugli, South Kordofan. Workers with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society were present during some of the burials, the group said.

The U.S. group has not made any estimates of the number of bodies it

believes have been buried in the graves, saying that onsite research would need to be carried out. South Kordofan lies just across the border from newly independent South Sudan and has been the site of clashes between government troops from Sudan’s Arab north and black tribesmen aligned with the south’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Many inhabitants of South Kordofan fought for the south during the country’s two decades-plus civil war against the north and are ethnically linked to the south.

A report released this month by the UN human rights office in Geneva said Sudanese security forces allegedly car-

ried out indiscriminate aerial bombardments in South Kordofan that killed civilians in the weeks before South Sudan became independent on July 9. It also alleged that Sudanese forces executed prisoners accused of belonging to the south’s Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement before burying them in mass graves. “The evidence against the Sudanese government continues to compound and has now become impossible to dismiss. It is time for the international community to take serious action and execute its responsibility to protect innocent lives in Sudan,” said John Prendergast, co-founder of the activist group the Enough Project. —AP

PESHAWAR: Children displaced by last year’s floods and living in tents play after heavy monsoon rains in Peshawar, Pakistan yesterday. Flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains swept through a village in northwestern Pakistan, killing 16 people and leaving several others missing, disaster management officials said yesterday. —AP

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency ineffective LAGOS: Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency is unable to challenge the corrupt politicians who cling to power in the oilrich nation, according to a Human Rights Watch report released yesterday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has only garnered four convictions against Nigeria’s political elite since its creation in 2003, with those found guilty facing little or no prison time, the rights group said.

The international watchdog said that Nigeria must strengthen the commission and its fellow agencies to fight graft in a nation where estimates suggest leaders have stolen as much as $8 billion a year since it became a democracy in 1999. The group called for an independent investigation into the actions of the commission’s current leader, Farida Waziri, over mismanagement and corruption allegations. It also said the country’s judges should not hinder prosecutions of suspected corrupt officials, as the commission’s own laws allow for speedy trials.

Femi Babafemi, a commission spokesman, said his agency did not challenge any of the facts and figures contained in the Human Rights Watch report. He pointed to the recent prosecution of top bankers as a sign the commission had done its job. However, he said nothing in the report warranted an investigation into Waziri’s actions. The anti-graft agency came into existence only a few years after Nigeria became a democracy following a series of military rulers and failed civilian governments. Its first chief, Nuhu Ribadu, claimed at one point that Africa’s most populous nation likely lost more than $380 billion to graft between 1960 and 1999, the country’s post-independence period that saw a string of military dictatorships and failed civilian governments. Theft may also be rising as crude oil prices have spiked in recent years, sending more unaccounted-for cash into one of the top suppliers to the U.S. Under Ribadu, the agency aggressively pursued suspected government fraud, especially against Nigeria’s 36 state governors who control personal fiefdoms fueled by huge sums of federal oil money that rival the budgets of nearby countries. However, the agency trampled on suspects’ rights while avoiding targeting the allies of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Human Rights Watch said. The administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua forced Ribadu from the agency in 2008. Waziri, who took over the commission, has been criticized by U.S. diplomats in leaked cables for being unprepared and for apparently being controlled by politicians. Others have leveled corruption allegations against her and operatives of the commission, though none have been proven.

The commission under Waziri has charged several prominent bankers over the fraud that caused the near-collapse of the country’s banks in 2009. It also recently arrested and charged former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole over corruption allegations - the first major strike against the nation’s political elite in many months. Still, prosecutions by the agency have not risen since 2007. Human Rights Watch said the commission’s funding tripled during that period. —AP

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Indian PM urges activist to end fast Hazare’s strike triggers large rallies nationwide WAGAH: Pakistani prisoners wave towards media persons before crossing over to their country after their release from different Indian prisons at the joint India-Pakistan check post at Wagah, some 40 kilometers (24 miles) west of Amritsar, India yesterday. India released seven Pakistani prisoners in the day. —AP

Pakistani police deny kidnapped American freed LAHORE: A Pakistani police chief denied yesterday that a kidnapped development expert had been safely recovered, only hours after saying that officers had freed the American in an early morning operation. The US also said it had no information indicating Warren Weinstein, 70, had been freed. Weinstein was kidnapped almost two weeks ago from the eastern city of Lahore. Lahore police chief Malik Ahmed Raza Tahir initially said police traced Weinstein to the city of Khushab, 125 miles (200 kilometers) northwest of Lahore, and freed him early yesterday. Tahir backtracked several hours later and said in a statement that Weinstein had not been recovered.

The US Embassy in Islamabad said on Twitter that “we have no information that would confirm recovery of Warren Weinstein, but we are hoping for a positive outcome.” Weinstein was abducted before dawn on August 13 after gunmen tricked his guards and broke into his home. He is the country director in Pakistan for J E Austin Associates, a US -based firm that advises a range of Pakistani business and government sectors.

Police have arrested three people suspected of belonging to the gang that kidnapped Weinstei n, Tahir, the police chief, said Wednesday. Their arrests were made after officers tracked cell phone numbers, he said. Police have also released a black-and-white sketch of a possible suspect in the kidnapping. It’s unclear if the young man is one of the three people who have been arrested. Kidnappings are common in Pakistan, and foreigners are occasional targets. Criminal gangs are suspected in most ab ductions, but militants are also believed to use the tactic to raise money through ransoms.

Weinstein, who has a home in Rockville, Maryland, worked in Pakistan for several years and spoke Urdu.

J E Austin Associates has stressed Weinstein’s commitment to Pakistan’s economic development and said he worked with a wide range of Pakistani government agencies, including the Pakistan Furniture Development Com pany and the Pakistan Dairy Development Company. The company has also said Weinstein is in poor health and provided a detailed list of medications, many of them for heart problems. It implored the kidnappers to give their victim medicine. —AP

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday urged the anti-corruption activist whose hunger strike has rocked the government to end his 10-day fast, leading parliament in a united appeal.

Singh said his government had heard Anna Hazare’s message and was determined to tackle the graft that many Indians complain is endemic among officials handling every issue from driving licences to construction deals.

Hazare’s hunger strike has triggered large rallies among supporters across the country, as a civil movement backed by many middle-class urban voters has mushroomed around his cause. With his health a growing concern, Hazare has posed a thorny dilemma for Singh, who saluted the activist’s commitment while urging him to end his protest. “He has become the embodiment of our people’s disgust and concern about tackling corruption,” Singh said of the 74-yearold Hazare, whose public fast in central New Delhi has drawn tens of thousands of cheering supporters.

“He has made his point and it has been registered with us,” Singh said in a televised address to parliament. “I respect his idealism. I respect him as an individual... I applaud him.” Singh’s comments contrasted with his stance last week, when he said the path the activist had chosen was “totally misconceived” and risked “grave consequences for our parliamentary democracy”. Saying yesterday that Hazare’s life was “too precious” to waste, Singh urged him to start eating again-a call supported in a rare show of parliamentary unity by the leader of the opposition and the speaker.

Hazare says he will abstain from food until the government agrees to withdraw an anti-corruption bill currently before parliament and replace it with a more stringent version drafted by himself and other civil society leaders. He responded to Singh’s appeal by thanking him for his compliments but refusing to back down on his demands.”You are worried about my health?” he said in a speech aimed at the prime minister. “It’s taken you 10 days. I have been talking about this for six months, now you are worried.”

Looking energetic and alert despite only drinking water since August 16, Hazare said he had lost around 6.5 kilos (14 pounds) but was still feeling well. The government argues that adopting Hazare’s bill would undermine the parlia-

NEW DELHI: Supporters of Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare shout slogans during a rally at Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi yesterday.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday heaped praise on the anti-corruption activist whose hunger strike has rocked the government. —AFP ment’s authority, but Singh yesterday said it could be discussed by lawmakers.

“Perhaps we could have a debate in this house on all the bills that are in the public domain and have a discussion on what are the weak points,” Singh suggested, raising the possibility for the first time.

Many Hazare supporters attending his fast said he should not give in. “He should keep going. This country is dying from corruption,” said Dinesh Jain, a health technician. Singh’s direct and emotional appeal came as talks between Hazare’s aides and the government appeared deadlocked. A meeting late Wednesday ended in recrimination, with a senior Hazare aide saying the government had reneged on previous assurances and that negotiations were “back to square one”.

“It appears that there are some strong elements in the government who want to nullify the entire dialogue process,”

Arvind Kejriwal, a senior leader of Hazare’s campaign, said. Hazare is staging his protest in a large open-air venue in Delhi where huge, flag-waving crowds have gathered each day to support his campaign amid chants, live music and rousing speeches. Indian authorities at first took a tough stance against the activist, arresting him in an aborted attempt to stop him holding his fast in public.

But the groundswell of support for Hazare, who associates his campaign with India’s independence struggle led

by Mahatma Gandhi, left the government looking out of touch with public opinion. Singh’s administration has also struggled under corruption allegations focused on a telecoms scandal that lost the treasury billions of dollars of revenue and contracts for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year. —AFP

Sri Lanka scraps emergency laws COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s president announced yesterday that he was scrapping draconian emergency laws imposed nearly 30 years ago to deal with the armed Tamil separatist movement. “I am satisfied that there is no need to have the state of emergency any more,” President Mahinda Rajapakse said in a speech to parliament.

The laws, which give security forces sweeping powers of arrest and detention, have been renewed on a monthly basiswith only brief breaks-ever since they were

first imposed 28 years ago.

The move comes as Sri Lanka faces growing pressure over its human rights record, particularly with reference to the Tamil conflict. Rajapakse’s announcement means the regulations will lapse at the end of August, but similarly tough powers remain available to authorities under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed the decision, but said it had come too long after the final military victo-

ry over the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009.

“For the past one year, we have been asking the government to end the state of emergency,” he said. The government decision comes ahead of next month’s United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva which is expected to discuss Sri Lank a’s performance on human rights. The United States has been leading international calls for a war crimes investigation into the island’s crushing of the rebels.

Sri Lanka has so far managed to stave off censure from UN bodies thanks to the support of strong allies China and Russia.

But Asian neighbours, including India, have been nudging Colombo in recent months to remove restrictions on civil liberties in a bid to deflect Western criticism.

Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, who spent three days in Colombo last week on an official visit, described Rajapakse’s announcement as a “bold and far sighted move”. —AFP

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Migrant kids in limbo as Beijing closes schools BEIJING: When Ying Dingfa isn’t working odd jobs as a plumber or repairman, he’s making sure his 10-year-old grandson gets to school on time since both of the boy’s parents work around the clock to earn a living. But the Beijing government’s decision to shut about 20 privately run schools for the children of migrant workers could leave more than 10,000 students without classrooms and force people like Ying, 53, and his grandson to return to their home province for a proper education.

“We’re making plans to move back to our hometown in Sichuan if our school shuts permanently,” said Ying. Ying and the boy’s parents are among tens of thousands

of construction laborers, waiters and other migrant workers who help make Beijing run but who are now scrambling to find schools just days ahead of the fall semester.

It is nearly impossible for the children to enter Beijing public schools because their families officially remain residents of their rural hometowns under China’s rigid “hukou” residency system - which turns tens of millions of migrants into second-class citizens and fuels discontent countrywide.

The city government says the poorquality schools on the outskirts of the capital were shut to give migrant children a better education, but parents, school officials and nonprofit groups say it will push

Rebels kill 2, wound 10 in south Thailand attacks YALA: Two people were shot dead, including a fiveyear-old girl, and 10 others wounded in a gun and bomb attack by suspected insurgents in a village in Thailand’s restive Muslim south yesterday, police said.

The attack took place during the night, when about 30 Muslim rebels burst into the homes of governmentbacked defense volunteers, killing a local administrative official and his daughter, police said.

Six others were shot and wounded in the attack in Yala, a predominantly Muslim province bordering Malaysia. The attack lasted about 40 minutes and four soldiers racing to the scene were injured when a bomb was detonated under their vehicle, about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) away. The attack bore the hallmarks of ethnic Malay Muslim separatists at the heart of seven years of violence in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces that has killed at least 4,600 people and wounded more than 9,000. Shootings and follow-up bombings targeting security forces are a simple, but effective, tactic used regularly by militants thought to be behind most of the unrest, for which no credible group has claimed responsibility.

The region, where Buddhists are minority and Thai is spoken as a second language, was an independent sultanate until annexed by Thailand in 1909 as part of a treaty with Britain. Separatist tensions have simmered ever since. —Reuters

migrants out of the city, and they allege the move is aimed at making way for housing developments. “Closing inadequate schools is a good thing if the government plans to provide assistance to these families first,” said Zhang Zhiqiang, founder of aid group Migrant Workers’ Friend. “But what they are doing is unacceptable because these families are left to fend for themselves.”

The Beijing government has pulled down or sent orders to shut down the 20 migrant schools since June, citing poor hygiene or unsafe conditions. Still, Beijing education officials say they are confident displaced students will have a new class-

room to go to once the school year starts Sept. 1, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The government has built five new schools further from the city for migrant students. However, they are too far away for many of the families and will not be able to accomodate all of the students who are losing their schools.

Calls to the Beijing Education Work Committee propaganda department rang unanswered. The Dongba Experimental School in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, where Ying’s grandson is one of 300 students, has received multiple warnings from the government that it will be demolished later this week if it doesn’t close. —AP

Japan faces costly radiation cleanup Some residents attempt on cleanup efforts TOKYO: Nearly six months after the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years at the Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan faces the task of cleaning up a sprawling area of radioactivity that could cost tens of billions of dollars, and thousands may not be able to return home for years, if ever. Fuel core meltdowns at the facility in March, triggered by a huge earthquake and tsunami, released radioactive material into the air which mixed with rain and snow and covered dozens of towns as well as farmland and woods, mainly along the northeast coast of Honshu.

Tokyo has been slow to provide a plan for rehabilitation, leading some residents near the plant exposed to high levels of radioactive caesium in homes and food, have started their own cleanup instead of waiting for the government to act. “I was worried about the radiation exposure impact on children and felt that I had to

yards, wash walls and windows and bury or store the radioactive waste in the corners of properties in an effort to reduce radiation levels in the air. “We are trying to bring the levels down for families who want to but can’t evacuate, since they might feel slightly better,” he said. The government is set to announce cleanup

Five S Koreans indicted over alleged espionage SEOUL: Five South Koreans, including a former parliamentary aide, have been indicted for allegedly spying for North Korea, prosecutors said yesterday. The five civilians passed military secrets and other sensitive information to North Korea beginning in the early 1990s, Seoul prosecutors said in a statement.

Information funneled to North Korea included satellite photos of military bases in South Korea, US military field manuals and information on South Korean politicians, the prosecutors said.

The five allegedly violated South Korea’s National Security Law, whose maximum penalty is capital punishment, according to the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office. The two Koreas are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. South Korea’s new Prosecutor-General said in his inaugural speech earlier this month that he would wage a war against “pro-North Korean forces.” The investigation into the alleged spy ring had begun before he took office. One of the five indicted had been an aide to a South Korean parliamentary speaker, according to the prosecutors. They declined to identify whom he had served. —AP

MIYAGI: Thailand’s fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra offers flowers for the victims of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami at a memorial placed along the tsunami-hit coast in Natori, Miyagi prefecture yesterday. —AFP do something to reduce the radiation levels,” said Hideaki Takita, a 37-year-old resident of Koriyama city, about 60 km west of the plant, who has been cleaning houses.

Takita and other volunteers use their weekends to scrape off layers of dirt in

guidelines this week that will include goals on cutting the radiation air dose rate in residential areas by half in two years, media reports said.

Still, the tasks Japan faces are daunting. The accident at the Fukushima plant, about 240 km (150 miles) northeast of

Tokyo, is likely to have released about 15 percent of the radiation that went into the air in the 1986 Chernobyl accident, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said. But that is still more than seven times the amount of radiation produced by Three Mile Island accident in the United States in 1979, and includes caesium 137, which has a half life of 30 years. “The technology for decommissioning and cleaning up plants has been studied for a while, but we hardly have any experience in decontaminating materials that were released into the environment,” said Tetsuo Iguchi, a Nagoya University professor.

“Fukushima is mountainous and such large-scale and highly concentrated contamination has not taken place on earth before in an area like this. How things will go is unpredictable.” The area in need of cleanup could be 1,000 to 4,000 square km, about 0.3 to 1 percent of Japan’s total land area, and cost several trillion to more than 10 trillion yen ($130 billion), double what it took to build six nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi plant, some experts say. The government has banned people from entering an area in a 20 km radius surrounding the crippled plant and some 80,000 people have evacuated. Residents are calling on Tokyo Electric Power Co , the plant operator, to clean up the area, but the firm is still struggling to bring the reactors under control.

Another major headache is where to store the radioactive waste like dirt and water generated from cleanup work.

Currently, as with Takita’s efforts, the waste is stored within the property where the cleanup took place. Some schools have a heap of radioactive dirt in the corner of their playgrounds, covered with plastic sheets, and residents bury sacks of contaminated waste in their yards. —Reuters

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SAN FRANCISCO: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds the new iPhone 4 during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. Apple Inc said Jobs is resigning as CEO, effective immediately. — AP

Apple CEO Jobs resigns Jobs move cracks door open for Apple rival SEOUL: The resignation of Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs has opened the door for rival Samsung Electronics at a crucial time in the battle for smartphone supremacy in salesrooms and courtrooms around the world. Jobs passed the reins to his right-hand man Tim Cook on Wednesday, saying he could no longer fulfill his duties, raising fears the health of the Silicon Valley icon had worsened.

While Apple and analysts highlighted Cook’s experience, as well as Jobs’ new role as chairman and the company’s extensive management bench, his departure will cause ripples across the Pacific at South Korea’s Samsung. More than any other firm, Samsung’s fortunes are tied to Apple, both as a competitor and supplier of components. The companies are fierce rivals, with Samsung’s Galaxy range of smartphones and tablet computers running on Google’s Android operating system seen as the main competitor to Apple’s game-changing iPhones and iPads.

“Even before Steve Jobs’ (resignation), Samsung was getting more and more optimistic that they can actually take on Apple in the smartphone arena,” said Mark Newman, a former director of strategy at Samsung, where he worked for six years. “The game is really now Samsung’s to lose ... They are picking up market

share because of the change in dynamics in the smartphone industry,” added Newman, now a senior analyst for global memory and consumer electronics at Sanford C. Bernstein.

BOOMING MARKET The Korean giant has taken big strides and is backing itself to unseat Apple. Samsung this week unveiled four new cheaper smartphones targeting fast-growing emerging markets-again setting it on a collision course with Apple, which sources say is readying a cheaper, 8 gigabyte iPhone. When Samsung group executives asked Hong Won-pyo, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile division, at their weekly meeting on Wednesday if Samsung could overtake Apple in the smartphone market any time soon, he told them he was confident, according to a person at the meeting. Hong was speaking just hours before Jobs made his announcement to quit as CEO. Apple and Samsung are now scrapping for top spot in the smartphone market, having overtaken the market leader for the past decade, Finland’s Nokia, in the second quarter.

Samsung’s smartphone sales soared more than 500 percent in the second quarter, easily eclipsing Apple’s 142 percent growth, though Apple sold about 1 million more units. Nokia sales fell

30 percent. News of Jobs’ move helped Samsung shares rise 2.4 percent in Seoul yesterday. The broader Korean market was up 0.6 percent. “Investors were concerned that Apple would encroach into Android’s turf, but Jobs’ exit offers opportunities for Samsung to expand its smartphone market share at a time when Nokia is struggling,” said Jeon Nam-joong, a fund manager at Consus Asset Management, which owns shares in Samsung.

Samsung has already stormed past its Asian rivals. Its market value of around $110 billion is comfortably more than Sony, Toshiba and Panasonic combined. However, Samsung is still less than half Apple’s size, which at close to $350 billion has it competing with Exxon Mobil for the world’s most valuable company. Both Samsung and Apple will face increasingly stiff competition from upstart rivals in China and Taiwan, however. Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp, China’s top two telecommunications equipment makers, are stealing a march both in traditional network gear and, increasingly, high-end phones. Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC is another that is making headway and could benefit from any erosion of Apple’s dominance.

SOFTWARE PUSH Samsung still trails Apple badly in tablet

sales. Apple racked up 14 million iPad sales in the first half, versus analysts’ sales estimates of about 7.5 million Samsung tablet products for all of 2011. Some expect that dominance to fade against rivals such as Samsung and LG Electronics.

“Apple’s earnings will peak out with smartphones and tablets,” said Jung Kyun-sik, a fund manager at Eugene Asset Management in Seoul, who argued the company didn’t have great products to take on the baton from the iPhone and iPad. “Samsung and LG have been in the mobile hardware manufacturing industry over a decade and they’ll lead the pack once Apple peaks out.”

Samsung may also move more aggressively in closing the gap in software, one of its weakest links. Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee recently asked the firm’s top managers to come up with various measures including M&A to raise its software prowess, according to South Korean media. Lee, Korea’s wealthiest man, is the second generation to run the sprawling Samsung empire which dominates the Korean corporate landscape. Like Jobs, Lee is seen as something of a visionary with an obsession for perfection. He once had a pile of substandard mobile phones piled up and burned in front of his employees to improve quality. — Reuters

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German consumer confidence weaker FRANKFURT: German consumer sentiment has been hit by the trans-Atlantic debt crisis and fears of a new recession, falling to its lowest level since late last year, the GfK research institute said yesterday. GfK said its index of household confidence for September came in at 5.2 points, the lowest figure since November 2010. That was the sixth consecutive decrease and was in line with an average analyst forecasts compiled by Dow Jones Newswires and recent other data all showing the Germany economy, Europe’s biggest, beginning to slow. GfK also revised down its August reading to 5.3 points from the initial 5.4 points.

“The worsening of the international debt crisis and rising fears of a return to recession for the global economy have clearly left their mark on the economic optimism of Germans,” the statement said. GfK noted however that shoppers’ willingness to buy has improved once again, even though they think the economy and their own incomes will worsen in the coming months. Economy Minister Philipp Roesler noted the dip in consumer confidence but insisted that it remained “robust.” He added in a statement that “household confidence will remain a pillar of growth in the second half” of the year.

Berenberg Bank senior economist Christian Schulz was modestly upbeat about the latest data as well, noting that as the GfK index remained above 5.0 points it was still doing better than in any of the three previous years. “Consumer confidence is one of the less reliable leading indicators of growth in Germany but the fact that it is decreasing at a moderate pace, and that purchasing intentions remain firm, gives reassurance that a buyers’ strike is not on the cards,” Schulz said. GfK also publishes subindices which refer to the current month and its economic expectations index plunged to 13.4 points from 44.6 points

in July. Personal income expectations were moderately lower. The consumer outlook was confirmed moreover on Wednesday by the business sentiment index released by the Ifo institute, GfK said. The Ifo index hit a 14-month low in August following its sharpest drop since 2008, a clear sign that Europe’s biggest economy is faltering. Data released by the federal statistics office has shown that the economy grew by just 0.1 percent in the second quarter of 2011, well below the first-quarter figure of 1.3 percent. The central bank and government officials nonetheless expect growth overall of around 3.0 percent this year.—AFP

Greek austerity woes to feature in creditor talks ATHENS: Greece’s troubles in enforcing a tight austerity plan in return for EU-IMF bailout loans will be discussed in talks with the country’s creditors next week, the Greek finance minister said yesterday. “It is evident that we will be discussing the macroeconomic data of the first eight months of 2011 and the country’s fiscal record will clearly be evaluated on the basis of this data,” Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in a statement. Venizelos was reacting to Greek media reports yesterday claiming that Athens was seeking to “renegotiate” the timetable and goals of Greece’s arduous recovery plan that has plunged the country into recession.

EU and International Monetary Fund experts are currently conducting a regular audit of Greece’s finances to determine whether it will receive next month a sixth tranche of funds under its May 2010 bailout accord.

Venizelos has pledged to speed up fiscal efforts by the end of the year. But a worse-than-calculated contraction in the economy, along with difficulties faced by Greek tax authorities to secure cash, have bedeviled the government’s drive to trim the runaway public deficit.

The finance ministry this week released figures showing that among Greece’s 34 leading tax district offices, most staffers had completed less than one audit of state debtors in June while there are over 360,000 pending cases nationwide. Six months into the year, the public deficit has risen to 14.69 billion euros ($21 billion) according to the finance ministry. Under the May 2010 deal with the European Union and the IMF which gave Greece a 110-billion-euro ($159-billion) lifeline, the deficit cannot be higher than 16.68 billion euros or 7.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product for all 2011.—AFP

Britain’s Tesco plans ‘dim sum’ bond issue HONG KONG: Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco is planning its first offshore yuan-denominated bond issue in Hong Kong, a report said yesterday, seeking to raise over US$100 million. The world’s third largest supermarket group by sales is the latest to join a slew of foreign firms that are aiming to tap the so-called “dim sum bond market” as China tries to turn the yuan into an international currency.

Tesco will use the net proceeds from the 725 million yuan (US$113 million) three-year offering for general corporate purposes, according to Dow Jones Newswires, citing a draft prospectus of the Hong Kong issue. The report said the hypermarket chain’s yuan bond issue was part of a £15 billion (US$25 billion) eurobond program. It has hired HSBC and Standard Chartered as joint bookrunners for the issue in the Asian financial hub.

Tesco officials in Shanghai could not immediately be reached for comment. The bid signals the rising interest in yuan funding among foreign firms, after US fast-food giant McDonald’s raised US$30 million from its bond issue in Hong Kong last year. It is reportedly planning a second offering. — AFP

TOYKO: People look at an electric stock price display of a securities firm in Tokyo yesterday. — AP

Stocks rise, gold tumbles Investors remain jittery over eurozone debt crisis LONDON: World stocks edged up yesterday while gold fell sharply as investors were optimistic the Federal Reserve would signal at a gathering this week that it is committed to supporting the US economy if necessary. Fed chief Ben Bernanke is due to address central bankers at an annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming yesterday. His speech last year laid the groundwork for the Fed’s $600 billion bond-buying program to revive a sputtering US economy. While many doubt Bernanke will immediately commit to conducting a third round of quantitative easing, investors generally expect him to stress that the central bank stands ready to act if necessary. “Everyone is waiting to see what comes of the Wyoming meeting. I would be uncomfortable being aggressively short going into the weekend.

And corporate results don’t look too bad,” said Andy Lynch, fund manager at Schroders. The MSCI world equity index

rose 0.3 percent. The benchmark index is on track to post its first weekly gain in five weeks, having hit an 11-month low earlier this month.

European stocks added 0.4 percent while emerging stocks were steady on the day. French bank Credit Agricole and Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank both rose after reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings, and the STOXX Europe 600 banking index was up 2.1 percent. US stock futures were up 0.1 percent, pointing to a slightly firmer open on Wall Street. Technology shares will be in the spotlight after Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive of Apple.

Apple shares fell more than 4 percent in Frankfurt after a 7 percent tumble in after-hours trade on Wall Street.

London Brent crude oil rose 0.5 percent to $110.70. Bund futures fell 33 ticks, but investors remained jittery about the eurozone debt crisis. Greek two-year bond yields rose to 44.77 per-

cent, after surging more than 400 basis points on Wednesday on uncertainty over implementation of a second rescue package. Greece agreed last week to provide cash collateral for triple-A rated Finland’s loans in a bilateral deal that sparked requests for similar treatment from Austria, the Netherlands and Slovakia. This prompted rating agency Moody’s to warn that Greece’s bailout payments could be delayed. “Greece is missing, in the first seven months of the year, its deficit-reduction targets as the recession reduces the tax receipts for the government,” said ING rate strategist Alessandro Giansanti. “In this environment, the odds of a full default event for the Greek bonds have substantially increased.” The dollar dipped 0.1 percent against a basket of major currencies. Any more money printing by the Fed would pressure the dollar, potentially triggering a spike in commodity prices as it did last year.— Reuters

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Aabar sticks out for the wrong reasons DUBAI: Aabar Investments is sticking out for all the wrong reasons on the Abu Dhabi financial scene. The state-owned investment fund has carried on spending even after the emirate has ordered similar funds to cut back. But Aabar’s run of bad fortune, with big loss-making bets on commodities trader Glencore and Malaysian bank RHB Capital underwater, highlight the fund’s lack of a focused strategy.

Carmakers, commodities traders, space travel, and banks don’t have much in common. That hasn’t stopped Aabar, a subsidiary of the International Petroleum Investment Company, from accumulating sizeable interests in these sectors.

While Aabar has its own management, it is effectively controlled by IPIC chairman

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Aabar’s portfolio is a far cry from IPIC’s mandate to invest in the international energy sector. But past success with some opportunistic bets has kept Aabar and its parent in a favorable light. IPIC pumped 5 billion pounds into British bank Barclays in the crisis, on which it made rapid capital gain of over 60 percent. And the value of Aabar’s 9 percent stake in carmaker Daimler, picked up for 1.95 billion euros in 2009, has risen by almost 80 percent, comfortably ahead of the stock market.

But Aabar’s more recent purchases show that its luck in venturing off piste has ended. The group’s $1 billion investment into initial public offering of Glencore earlier this year is down 25 per-

Global sentiment lifts Gulf markets DUBAI: Oman’s bluechip stocks surged yesterday as volumes peaked and funds returned to the battered market, while most Gulf markets closed higher with investors optimistic that US Federal Reserve Chairman will announce new measures today to help the US economy. Oil services firm Renaissance Services surged 5.3 percent, accounting for the highest trading volumes in Oman.

The stock plummeted to a 2009-low last week after it discovered financial fraud at unit Topaz and reported a 77-percent drop in first-half net profit. Investors shifted focus to company fundamentals and bought battered stocks on cheap valuations. The benchmark index slumped to its lowest level in two-years on Aug. 11 amid a regional downtrend on fears the global economy is retreating into a recession. “There is a strong come-back from local pension funds and also foreigners,” said Adel Nasr, United Securities brokerage manager.

“Lots of asset managers are accumulating (stocks) after the drop we had last week. The upward trend was accelerated by global markets’ sentiment. “If you rule out Renaissance, Q2 was all good results-now we are seeing this reflected in the market.” Heavyweight Bank Muscat gained 0.6 percent and telecoms operator Nawras rose 0.5 percent. Small-cap stocks also strong gains. Muscat’s benchmark rose 1.2 percent, up for a second day, with trading volumes the highest since April 14.

The market took support from gains in global markets. World stocks, measured by the MSCI world equity index rose 0.3 percent. Investors are waiting to see if Bernanke will indicate the Fed is ready to offer more stimulus to the world’s largest economy when he addresses central bankers at an annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming yesterday. “There is a positive sentiment prevailing in global markets prior to meeting- with high expectation of some drastic measures,” said UAE-based Rami Sidani, Schroders Middle East head of investment. “We’re seeing a rally in global financial markets over the past four days. This is being reflected in our markets so there’s some positive sentiment as a spillover.”

Dubai’s retail-driven stocks rose, with Emaar Properties advancing 0.7 percent, Dubai Financial Market gaining 2.7 percent and Arabtec up 1.5 percent. The benchmark index closed 0.5 percent higher, cutting short two-days of losses. DP World gave back early-session gains spurred by upbeat first-half results and ended 1.9 percent lower. It’s profit increased by four-fold to $705 million compared with $177 million in the same period in 2010. Abu Dhabi banks helped lift the index to its fourth-straight gain. It ended 0.3 percent higher. National Bank of Abu Dhabi rose 0.5 percent, First Gulf Bank gained 1.6 percent and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank climbed 0.3 percent.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s index closed 0.8 percent higher at 8,171 points, up in three of last seven sessions. “Market is trading on 8,050 points, which is a major support and breaking it down will be very risky and mean market reversal,” said Omnia Ashawmy, head of research at Qatar Securities. “Use any rebound near 8,250-8,350 levels as a selling opportunity.”

Industries Qatar was the strongest support for the index, rising 0.5 percent. Commercial Bank of Qatar jumped 3 percent and financial firm Masraf Al Rayan gained 1.4 percent. — Reuters

cent. Embarrassingly, Aabar took a jumbo allocation as a cornerstone investor.

And Aabar is also expected to writedown the value of its $1.9 billion punt on RHB Capital agreed in June. The Malaysian bank’s shares already sell for 21 percent less in the open market.

The only other high profile international deal by the emirate in the last six months was IPIC’s buyout of the shares in Spanish oil group Cepsa that it didn’t already own. By contrast, Aabar appears to have side-stepped pressure to curtail its ambitions. It hasn’t been hit by the management shake-up seen at the emirate’s other strategic entities.

Aabar’s newer investments may yet blossom. But so long as the fund lacks a clear strategy, its activities look increas-

ingly odd. The flip side is that companies struggling to raise capital in their local markets can take comfort that Aabar is still spending.

Abu Dhabi fund Aabar Investments is considering a write-down of its $1.9 billion purchase of a 25-percent stake in Malaysia’s RHB Capital, a source said, after the deal’s rich pricing helped scupper long-awaited consolidation in Malaysia’s banking sector. Aabar agreed to pay 10.80 ringgit per share in June for Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank’s stake in RHB, valuing Malaysia’s fifth largest lender at around $7.2 billion, or 2.25 times its book value. RHB shares are now trading at 8.54 ringgit per share. In May, Aabar invested $1 billion into the initial public offering of Glencore.—Reuters

UAE FX forwards near 15-mth low Forwards imply stronger dirham DUBAI: Expensive dollar funding kept United Arab Emirates one-year currency forwards near a 15-month low yesterday, implying a stronger currency, while UAE interbank benchmark rates stayed at seven-year lows. One-year dirham forwards were quoted at -22/-12 points yesterday, after they dipped to the low of -30 points bid on Tuesday as local banks rushed to the forex swap market to get dollars, dealers said. “There is no dollar liquidity in the market. Lending through the interbank market has become very expensive,” said Lyndon Loos, head of forex trading for Middle East and North Africa at Standard Chartered in Dubai. “They (banks) are looking through other avenues to generate cheap dollar funding. The most used channel is the FX swap market,” he said.

Forwards now imply traders’ bets that the dirham will firm by 0.1 percent against its 3.6725 peg to the dollar over a oneyear period. “People have been selling their local currencies to buy dollars, the expensive dollar funding gets reflected through the swaps,” a trader at a UAE bank said.

“It is the demand for dollars, because Europe has a bit of a meltdown, a bit of a credit crunch... It’s all drying up, the local banks just don’t lend dollars or euros to each other.” Saudi Arabia’s one-year forwards, among the most liquid in the Gulf, held around -48/-40 points yesterday, after touching seven-month lows of -62 points on Tuesday. Global markets have been in turmoil for the past month, weighing another possible US recession and the impact of the euro zone debt crisis on the world economy. The dollar held steady against the yen yesterday, clinging to gains made the previous day on shortcovering as investors fretted that the US Federal Reserve may not signal new stimulus for the economy this week.

The UAE, which pegs its currency to the US dollar like most Gulf Arab states except for Kuwait, said in August it would keep its peg to the greenback even after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the

DUBAI: Emirati officials prepare for the opening of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building during the official opening ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building’s architect, Adrian Smith, said he doesn’t know of any buildings that have gone through a structural retrofit for the purpose of withstanding a major attack like 9/11 attacks a decade ago on New York’s World Trade Center. — AP world’s biggest economy. Gulf states are bank offered rate was set at 1.473 percent also major investors in US Treasuries. UAE at yesterday’s fixing for the eleventh conbenchmark interbank offered rates have secutive day, the lowest level since June stabilized over the past few days as liquid- 2004. The rate remains however well ity in the market stayed high, traders said. above the Saudi benchmark of 0.600 perThe benchmark UAE three-month inter- cent .—Reuters

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China’s telecom patent boom heralds new era ZTE No 2 patent filer in 2010, globally; Huawei No 4

SEOUL: South Korean female farmers carry a traditional coffin representing the death of the free trade agreement, or FTA, during a rally against an FTA between South Korea and the US in Seoul yesterday. South Korea will expand its financial support for the agricultural and fishing sectors to minimize possible losses from a massive influx of outside products under free trade deals signed with many other countries, the finance ministry said Friday. The letters read “FTA between South Korea and the US.”— AP

S Korea’s reckless consumers edge towards debt precipice Credit card issuance now almost 5 per adult SEOUL: If thrift is an Asian virtue, then it is one that South Koreans are notably lacking: each adult has almost five credit cards on average and the household debt burden exceeds that of the United States before the subprime crisis. With the growing risk of a global double-dip recession hitting exports from Asia’s fourth largest economy, consumer spending has been key to economic growth.

But household borrowing has propped up that spending. With debt far above levels that triggered a credit card crisis eight years ago, it is now perhaps the biggest risk that Korea faces and one that the government is loath to tackle ahead of elections next year. Alongside the mainstream banks, there has been robust growth from kerb market lenders. One even advertises that it will transfer funds after an 11-second procedure on a smartphone.

Official data shows that loans from these secondary lenders grew almost 10 percent in 2010 to 7.5 trillion won ($6.9 billion) as they tapped into insatiable demand from students, housewives and office workers. Household debt “is really serious and getting more so day by day,” said Hong Hee-deok, a lawmaker with the opposition Democratic Labor Party.

“Many people now have to borrow more to pay interest, and those who can’t see their debt principle snowballing each day. If not dealt with quickly, I think this could cause troubles that may lead to another sovereign crisis,” he said. Private economists are not that worried. True, any talk of the high consumer indebtedness is a blast from the past for those familiar with the 2003 credit card crisis in which millions defaulted and the central bank was compelled to inject funds into a tense bond market. But it is premature to anticipate a 2003-like endgame, said Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian Economics Research at HSBC in Hong Kong. “Should household debt growth remain high for a long time, this would inevitably raise risks for financial stability. But, for the time being, this is not on the horizon.”

INFLATED CONCERNS? Korean household debt reached 155 percent of disposable income in 2010, exceeding the 138 percent recorded in the United States

at the outset of the subprime crisis, said Erik Lueth, an economist at Royal Bank of Scotland in Hong Kong. For some Koreans, the debt burden has already become unsustainable. Kim, a shoe polisher working in central Seoul who declined to give his first name, said credit troubles contributed to the failure of his marriage and he was struggling to pay off his debts. “One of my customers from Chohung Bank one day told me I can get a card easily and indeed came back later with a gold card issued for me. It was all because of the card that my life has collapsed thereafter,” said Kim. South Korea has been bitten by debt before. In 1997, heavy company borrowing triggered a near sovereign insolvency, but companies have cut debts close to 100 percent of equity from 425 percent at that time.

The government also has strong finances.

Concerns that another global recession will hit exporters hard may also be overblown. Exports to the most vulnerable economies, the United States and Europe, have fallen to 25 percent of the total from nearly 40 percent in 1997 as Korean companies have tapped into fast-growing markets like China. That leaves household debt as the biggest risk and, so far, government action has been muted. It says the bulk of household debts are owed by rich people and relatively well covered with collateral, and points out that loans from banks or conventional financial institutions are relatively sound, with delinquency ratios staying below 1 percent for banks and below 2 percent for credit card loans. In June, it asked lenders to cap overall lending growth below the nominal economic growth rate of around 7-8 percent annually, in addition to an earlier policy of limiting lending growth to below deposit growth.

“The measures were not aimed at reducing the total amount of loans, but I think they were the best option available to the government to curb debt growth while minimizing the impact on economic growth,” said Lee Sang-jae, chief economist at Hyundai Securities in Seoul.

Indeed, the heavy debt servicing burden at households has become the single biggest factor affecting economic and financial policymaking in South Korea. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: China’s telecom giants are building up a war-chest of patents to help give them an edge in the legal battles raging between the world’s smartphone makers, aided by Beijing’s push to transform the country from workshop to innovator.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp, China’s top two telecommunications equipment makers, are stealing a march on rivals both in traditional network gear and, increasingly, high-end phones.

ZTE was the second highest filer of international patent applications in the world last year according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, making 1,863 different filings. Huawei was the fourth most active filer with 1,528 applications, having been in the top spot in 2009. Patent filings are soaring across most sectors in Chinalast year there were 313,854 patents registered in the country according to the Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index, a 12 percent rise from 2009.

China was the third highest filer of patents in 2010, just behind the US, which registered 326,945 and Japan with 337,497.

Japan has been the leading patent filer in the world for the past decade but its lead is narrowing, with its filings volume down 12 percent since 2006. China is up 83 percent.

The China telecom space in particular is seeing a lot of action as the likes of ZTE and Huawei, along with Taiwan’s HTC move from being contract manufacturers for big foreign firms to making smart phones and tablets under their own brands.

“A lot of know-how flows through the contract manufacturer. The next logical step for these contract manufacturers is to climb up the value chain,” said Elliot Papageorgiou a partner at intellectual property law firm Rouse in Shanghai. And as they move up the value chain, they use patents to protect some of the knowledge and ideas they’ve picked up as contract manufacturers in order to give them room to maneuver in the increasingly competitive market. “The more this market matures the more you are searching for the margins and China is now probably the biggest mobile phone market in the world,” said Papageorgiou.

IP LAWYERS IN DEMAND The flow of China filings means big business for patent lawyers in a country where trying to enforce intellectual property (IP) rights was seen by many companies as a largely pointless exercise until recently. “In the last year and especially this year, demand for IP work is growing very fast,” said Anthony Chen, a patent lawyer for Jones Day in Shanghai. Douglas Clark, a barrister specializing in intellectual property cases who has worked in China since 1993 says the size of the industry has surged in recent years.

“The last 10 years have seen a huge growth in the number of IP lawyers employed in firms and in-house,” he said.

“At the very top level for partners there’s very strong competition for talent and strong salaries.” He estimates an IP partner in an international law firm in China can now expect to earn around $1 million to $2 million depending on how well their firm

does that year. Partners in some Chinese firms are likely to earn even more.

COURTROOM BATTLES The surge in the size of patent portfolios is causing a corresponding rise in litigation.

ZTE filed a lawsuit in China in April saying Huawei infringed on its fourth generation technology. The move came a day after Huawei sued ZTE in several European countries saying its rival had infringed on a series of its patents.

“Huawei and ZTE have sued each other in Europe and now are taking action in China because they both made good progress in selling their mobile communication products and now they’re using patents as a competition tool,” said Jones Day’s Chen.

These lawsuits are hardly surprising given that their foreign counterparts such as Apple , Google and Samsung are all trying to use an armory of patents to stifle competition in the global smartphone industry.

Google Inc’s biggest deal ever, the agreement to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc this month for $12.5 billion, is an attempt to buy insurance against increasingly aggressive legal attacks from rivals such as Apple Inc. So far though the likes of Apple and Samsung have stayed out of legal battles in China, wary of finding themselves at the wrong-end of a court order in a country they rely on for their manufacturing. But for Chinese firms being sued in Europe or the United States, many are now using their home turf for retaliation. ZTE has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ericsson China unit after the Swedish telecoms giant filed patent lawsuits against ZTE in Britain, Italy and Germany. “I expect more and more Chinese firms that may have ‘lost face’ by finding themselves as losing defendants in foreign jurisdictions to strengthen their position in China and take retaliatory action,” said Rouse’s Papageorgiou.

CHINA’S INNOVATION PUSH The influx of patents not only underscores China’s growing strength in the telecom sector, it also reveals a change afoot in the country’s attitude toward intellectual property. While the change is hardly airtight, China is moving more toward recognizing ideas and their origins, rather than copying and proliferating. Intellectual property civil litigation cases filed in China rose by 37 percent to 41,718 last year according to the country’s Supreme People’s Court.

This is driven in part by China’s plan to become a high-tech power house, with a target for 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product to come from research and development by 2020. It’s trying to reach this goal by subsidizing the cost of patents for Chinese companies and stricter enforcement of intellectual property rights. “While traditionally in China you are supposed to share knowledge, the government is also aware that if you don’t protect IP rights you don’t attract investors and the nation can’t develop the high-tech industries it wants,” said Isabella Liu, a partner at Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong.—Reuters

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Philippine Airlines to cut 2,600 jobs amid losses MANILA: National carrier Philippine Airlines said yesterday it has sent termination notices to about 2,600 workers as it starts outsourcing jobs such as catering amid losses. PAL President Jaime Bautista said workers from the airline’s catering, airport services and call center units will be terminated by Sept 30 but can be employed by the companies it has contracted to provide those services. The layoffs will cut the airline’s staff to 5,000 and are part of PAL’s survival plan launched in 2010 after it lost $312 million in the previous two years.

Bautista said 400 workers have so far signified willingness to accept jobs with the contractors. But a union for airline employees has rejected the plan and said it will exhaust all remedies, including seeking a court resolution. The government has backed the restructuring.

Bautista said the outsourcing “is a painful but necessary decision to ensure PAL’s viability and long term survival.” A severance package for the 2,600 workers will cost PAL about 2.5 billion pesos ($58.8 million).

The airline posted a $72.5 million

profit in 2010 but is back in the red with $10.5 million in losses for the first quarter of this fiscal year. It blamed volatile fuel prices, a blacklist by the European Union against Philippine carriers, and the devastating tsunami in Japan.

Bautista said outsourcing will save PAL $10 million to $15 million a year, bring profit, and allow PAL to focus on its main business. He said PAL is one of only a few airlines in Asia still operating its own catering and ground handling units.

Contingency measures are in place amid threats of a possible strike by union members, he said, but refused to divulge details. The airline, with a fleet of 36 jets, is still working on its longer term fleet renewal plans. Bautista said PAL will take deliveries of two Boeing 777-300ER and four Airbus 320 next year and another two 777-300ER jets in 2013. Budget airline Cebu Pacific said yesterday it is now the largest Philippine carrier in terms of passengers flown and seat capacity. Bautista said Cebu Pacific has flown more passengers but PAL has more seats.—AP

Switzerland, UK ink deal on tax evasion GENEVA: Swiss banks will have to pay 500 million Swiss francs ($630 million; 385 million pounds) to Britain as part of an agreement to end tax evasion, the Swiss government says. Britain’s treasury described the deal struck by senior officials in Zurich on Wednesday as “historic.” “The agreement will resolve the long-standing abuse of Swiss banking secrecy by those who seek to conceal the proceeds of tax evasion and is expected to secure billions of pounds of unpaid tax for the UK exchequer from 2013,” the treasury said in a statement. The deal is the latest in a series struck by Switzerland in a bid to shed its image as a haven for tax cheats.

The country inked a similar agreement with Germany earlier this month, though the sums involved there were much higher as Switzerland has long been a favored destination for tax evaders from its northern neighbor. The Swiss Bankers Association welcomed the deal, noting that Britain had agreed to accept an anonymous withholding tax in place of automatic information exchange on bank clients, something that Swiss financial institutions have fiercely objected to. Under the deal, Switzerland will levy a withholding tax of between 27 percent and 48 percent on the Swiss accounts of British taxpayers.

British authorities will also be able to request information on up to 500 individuals a year whom they suspected of trying to hide assets in Swiss bank accounts. To legalize money already in Swiss banks, British clients will have the option of making an anonymous one-off payment for taxes owed in the past, or declaring their assets to British authorities. “The world has changed for tax evaders,” said Dave Hartnett, the senior British tax official who negotiated the deal for Britain. “A few years ago, nobody would have anticipated that we would conclude an agreement with Switzerland to tackle tax evasion.”

For decades Switzerland insisted that its distinction between tax evasion and tax fraud meant it couldn’t help other countries investigate suspected tax evaders. But in 2009 it caved in to demands for greater cooperation after being put on a tax haven ‘gray list’ by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Swiss government said the agreement with Britain would likely come into force in 2013, unless Swiss law voters block it in a referendum.—AP

Brent oil rises above $110 Markets awaiting Bernanke speech LONDON: Brent crude oil edged above $110 a barrel yesterday, supported by a drop in US inventories and investor hopes that the Federal Reserve may announce stimulus measures for the US economy yesterday. Fed chief Ben Bernanke is due to address central bankers at an annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming today. His speech last year laid the groundwork for the Fed’s $600 billion bond-buying program to revive the US economy.

“The market is building up toward the Jackson Hole speech, and has found support from the draw in crude inventories this week and the durable goods orders in the US,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy at BNP Paribas. At 1011 GMT, Brent crude was up 21 cents at $110.36 a barrel, paring an earlier gain. US crude rose 17 cents to $85.33. Brent has gained 17 percent this year. Wednesday’s report from the US government’s Energy Information Administration showed a surprise drop in crude stockpiles. US durable goods orders jumped 4 percent in July, double expectations.

The prospect for a further rally in Brent looks limited according to technical analysts at Barclays Capital, who said in a report they expected selling interest to emerge near $111.75 a barrel. In other markets, gold fell further, extending the previous day’s slide, and the dollar was little changed against a basket of currencies.

European equities edged higher. In the Bahamas, energy companies planned to shut more than 28 million barrels of oil storage capacity ahead of Hurricane Irene, while US refineries

KUALA LUMPUR: A worker refuels a vehicle with natural gas for vehicles (NGV) at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian state energy firm Petronas said it will embark on a 15 billion ringgit ($5 billion) project to develop natural gas fields in the South China Sea off the country’s eastern coast. — AFP

were preparing for the storm.

NO QE3?

Not all were confident that Bernanke will use his speech to talk about further stimulus. “During last year’s speech, Bernanke prepared the markets for ‘QE2,’ but we do not think he will unveil anything of the kind this time around,” said Edward Meir, analyst at MF Global, in a report. “The Fed’s ability to maneuver at this stage is rather limited and Bernanke knows it, especially after the previous ease yielded mixed results.” As well as the economic outlook, oil investors remain focused on supply-side developments

in North Africa and the Middle East.

European Union governments are likely to adopt an embargo against imports of Syrian oil by the end of next week as they move to ratchet up pressure on President Bashar Al-Assad, EU diplomats said on Wednesday. With Libyan rebels hailing the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, the oil industry is weighing the implications of a restart of Libyan supplies, which have slowed to a trickle during the conflict.

Libya pumped 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) before the war, almost 2 percent of world supply. Syria is a much smaller producer with exports of a mere 150,000 bpd.—Reuters

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India’s central bank warns over inflation MUMBAI: India’s central bank yesterday warned of a rocky road for the country’s economy in the months ahead due to high inflation, predicting a slowdown in growth amid increasing global uncertainty. “The Indian economy needs to brace up for a difficult year from a macro-economic perspective,” the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its annual report.

The main concern for India’s growth story was inflation, which the bank said was likely to stay high but fall to about seven percent by March next year,

despite a recent weakening of global commodity and oil prices. Inflation was running at 9.22 percent in July, according to official government data. “Growth prospects for the (fiscal) year 2011-12 seem subdued compared to the previous year,” the RBI said in the 190-page document, predicting growth to be about 8.0 percent. India’s government forecasts growth of around 8.5 percent but economists have lowered their estimates to between 7.0 and 8.0 percent.

The RBI has raised rates 11 times in 18 months-the longest stretch of monetary

tightening in a decade-to tame inflation, which is the fastest among major world economies. Growth has slowed under the brunt of the hikes, as borrowing costs have surged for everything from consumer appliances to cars and plant equipment.

The RBI said global uncertainties have increased after the recent sovereign debt downgrade of the United States and warned that it would place a downward bias on growth projections.

The bank’s monetary policy stance of tightening has been centered around

inflation and global commodity prices like steel, rubber and plastics. Despite fresh global uncertainties, commodity prices remain far above the previous year’s level, the bank said in the report, adding that India will need to raise fuel prices again if global oil prices stay at current levels. Global oil prices have been volatile since civil unrest spread across the Middle East and North Africa.

India imports about 80 percent of its crude oil and has been seeking new fuel sources as the country’s economy grows.— AFP

China’s AgBank H1 net profit up 45.4% SHANGHAI: Agricultural Bank of China said yesterday its firsthalf net profit soared 45.4 percent from a year earlier on the back of higher income from lending, fees and commissions.

AgBank, China’s largest rural bank by assets, said net profit rose to 66.68 billion yuan ($10.43 billion) in the six-month period, from 45.86 billion yuan last year, according to a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a net profit of 67.52 billion yuan.

The bank, which last year raised more than $22 billion in one of the world’s largest-ever initial public offerings, said net interest income rose nearly 30 percent to 144.73 billion yuan following a series of government rate hikes. Net fee and commission income soared 65.4 percent to 37.14 billion yuan, it added. AgBank president Zhang Yun said the lender improved its “credit management” in areas such as “government financing vehicles, real estate and industries with high energy consumption, high pollution or overcapacity”. As a result, its balance of non-performing loans fell by 10.36 billion yuan to 90.05 billion yuan during the six-month period.

There has been growing concern about the exposure of Chinese banks to debt-laden local governments, which borrowed heavily through financing vehicles to fund infrastructure projects after the global financial crisis. Yun said 90 percent of local government loans were “basically” covered by the bank’s cash flow and the risks were “controllable”. AgBank claimed the title of the world’s largest IPO last August after raising $22.1 billion dollars in a dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai. US auto giant GM took the lender’s place with a $23.7 billion listing in November. Hong Kong-listed shares in AgBank closed up 0.27 percent at HK$3.83 (49 cents) in a strong market.—AFP

Dubai ruler appoints new board for DIFC DUBAI: Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum appointed his son as chairman of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the emirate’s offshore financial district, by decree on Wednesday. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, 27, will chair the Supreme Council of the DIFC, which since 2004 has been a financial free zone for 800 firms, including 18 of the top 25 global banks, global asset managers, insurers and law firms.

Sheikh Mohammed also appointed a new board for the DIFC, which includes chief executive of Mashreq Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair as deputy chairman. The changes follow on from other senior level reshuffles at top government entities in the emirate which is keen to restore its international credibility after a 2009 debt crisis and painful property slump. In late June, Dubai’s ruler named his uncle and close adviser Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum as chairman of Emirates NBD , the UAE’s largest bank by assets, replacing Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, a prominent Dubai business and political figure.

Sheikh Ahmed also took charge of debt-laden conglomerate Dubai World as chairman in December. Other DIFC board members are comprised of well-known Dubai names, including Isa Kazem, Hussain Mohammed al Qemzi, Abdul Fattah Al Saeed Mansoor Sharaf, Abdullah Mohammed Saeed Ghobash, and David Alden. — Reuters

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao talks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy (unseen) during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People yesterday. — AP

Beijing ‘concerned’ about euro, Europe Hu urges Europe will protect China investments BEIJING: China hopes that Europe will take steps to protect China’s investments there, Chinese President Hu Jintao told the French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday, nonetheless voicing confidence in the euro and vowing to keep investing in it. Sarkozy, making a brief visit to Beijing, in turn pressed Hu for China’s support for his G20 agenda.

“China is concerned about the impact of the euro debt crisis, hopes that the European economy can maintain stability, and hopes that the countries concerned can achieve success in their financial reforms,” Hu told Sarkozy, according to Chinese television news.

“China has confidence in the European economy and the euro, and we are sure that Europe has the wisdom and ability to surmount its current hardships and maintain economic stability and growth,” said Hu. “China will continue making Europe one of its principle investment markets, and we hope that Europe will take measures to ensure the

security of Chinese investments there.”

With about a quarter of China’s record foreign currency reserves of more than $3 trillion held in euro assets, Beijing has been unsettled by the threat to the euro, even as Chinese leaders have said they believe Europe can surmount its woes.

Along with Germany, France has resisted calls from other countries in the euro zone to expand the zone’s 440 billion euro bailout fund and introduce joint issuance of bonds by countries in the bloc as ways to address the crisis.

Sarkozy came to Beijing with his own agenda of seeking China’s renewed support for France’s plans for the G20 summit of major developed and developing economies that it will host in October.

He appeared to get what he came for.

“The G20 summit must be conclusive, must be decisive, and must take part in the revival of global growth. It’s a major task and China plays an essential role,” Sarkozy told Hu.

Discussing the G20 agenda, Hu said uncertainties and destabilizing factors affecting the world’s economic recovery are on the rise, and the global economy faces “grim” challenges. China agrees about the core issues for the G20 summit in France, Hu told Sarkozy, according to the television report. France will chair a meeting of G7 finance ministers in Marseille on Sept. 9-10 to discuss the global economy, followed by a gathering of G20 finance ministers in Paris in October.

Sarkozy has said Chinese backing is essential for France’s G20 goals, which include a roadmap for tackling economic imbalances and measures to reduce market speculation and commodity price volatility. Sarkozy stopped briefly in Beijing on his way to France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia. The French Finance Minister Francois Baroin, travelling with Sarkozy, is due to remain in China yesterday to discuss the G20 agenda.— Reuters

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Libya fallout on oil ‘unpredictable’ Tripoli faces barriers to revive crude production Petroleum industry experts warned that it could take more than a year for Libya to pump oil at pre-war levels, dampening the prospects for sharply cheaper gasoline prices in the near future.

Libya faces considerable barriers to reviving oil production, including the state of its oil infrastructure and continuing political tension.

A view of the sprawling oil processing facility at Marsa Al Buraygab, located about 200 kilometers southwest of Benghazi, February 28, 2011. — MCT

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lobal oil prices were roiled by news of the rebel advance into the Libyan capital of Tripoli and the prospect that oil would be flowing from that country again.

But petroleum industry experts warned that it could take more than a year for Libya to pump oil at pre-war levels, dampening the prospects for sharply cheaper gasoline prices in the near future. Prices at the pump could fall in the near future, but that would largely be due to the weak economy and the end of the summer driving season, not a fast rebound of Libyan exports, said David Kirsch, director of market intelligence at PFC Energy, a consulting firm.

Libya faces considerable barriers to reviving oil production, including the state of its oil infrastructure and continuing political tension. Few regional and industry analysts expect them to be swiftly overcome.

“The most likely medium-term trajectory for Libya entails a thin layer of governance,” wrote Cliff Kupchan, a director at the political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group.

“Libya will likely be somewhere between a functioning and a failed state.”

Brent crude, which is used to price many international oil varieties, fell as much as $3.47, or 3.2 percent, to $105.15 a barrel before closing on Monday at $108.36 a barrel, 26 cents less than the previous day of trading on the ICE Futures Exchange in London. Crude oil futures also fell during trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but by the end of the day they

were up $1.86, to $84.12 a barrel.

Crude oil prices rocketed in midFebruary when violence shook Libya, the first major oil-producing country gripped by the Arab Spring political upheavals.

Libya produced about 1.8 million barrels a day before the civil war and shipped out nearly all of it, accounting for about 2 percent of world oil production. Predictions for the resurgence of Libyan oil production vary widely, in part because independent analysts have stayed out of the country during the fighting. Libya’s former top oil official, Shokri Ghanem, told Reuters in London that it might take up to 18 months to reach pre-war production levels. Others, including the oil industry consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, predicted in a report last month that it might take three years.

As a result, Libya will hardly make a dent in gasoline prices any time soon, analysts said. In the US, gas prices dropped 2 cents a gallon over the last week, to $3.58, according to a weekly survey of prices released on Monday by the Energy Department. A year ago, the average price for a gallon of gasoline nationally was just $2.70.

Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service in New Jersey, said that many traders in the oil market were “jumping the gun” by guessing that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s overthrow would lead immediately to a bump in the global oil supply.

“The reality is that you need utilities and everything that comes with a workable

government to get things reinstated,” Kloza said. “You don’t have a national oil company there anymore. You need pipes and ports restored. You need oil companies partnering with Libyan entities to come back, and they need to know it’ll be safe.”

Analysts said that based on reports they had received from Libya, they believed some damage had occurred to pipelines and possibly refineries, though the extent of the damage remained unknown.

But the biggest risks to restoring oil production stem from the challenges the National Transitional Council, made up of anti-Gaddafi factions, faces in establishing a

united government. The council’s diverse members — hard-line Islamists, monarchists, tribal leaders — put aside their differences to battle Gaddafi. But analysts worry that without a common enemy, the council might fall victim to factionalism and, as a result, fail to govern.

“Each will have a different view of the future of the Libyan state, and different preferences of how the oil sector should be structured and administered,” Kirsch said.

“They will need to get agreement on those structural issues, and that could take you well through the end of next year and into 2013.” — MCT

A rebel fighter guards the oil refinery in Ras Lanuf, Libya. (File photo)

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Israeli-Arab crisis approaching

By George Friedman

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n September, the UN General Assembly will vote on whether to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state with full rights in the United Nations. In many ways, this would appear to be a reasonable and logical step.

Whatever the Palestinians once were, they are clearly a nation in the simplest and most important sense - namely, they think of themselves as a nation. Nations are created by historical circumstances, and those circumstances have given rise to a Palestinian nation. Under the principle of the United Nations and the theory of the right to national self-determination, which is the moral foundation of the modern theory of nationalism, a nation has a right to a state, and that state has a place in the family of nations.

In this sense, the UN vote will be unexceptional.

However, when the United Nations votes on Palestinian statehood, it will intersect with other realities and other historical processes. First, it is one thing to declare a Palestinian state; it is quite another thing to create one. The Palestinians are deeply divided between two views of what the Palestinian nation ought to be, a division not easily overcome. Second, this vote will come at a time when two of Israel’s neighbors are coping with their own internal issues.

Syria is in chaos, with an extended and significant resistance against the regime having emerged. Meanwhile, Egypt is struggling with internal tension over the fall of President Hosni Mubarak and the future of the military junta that replaced him. Add to this the US withdrawal from Iraq and the potential rise of Iranian power, and the potential recognition of a Palestinian state - while perfectly logical in an abstract sense - becomes an event that can force a regional crisis in the midst of ongoing regional crises. It thus is a vote that could have significant consequences.

The Palestinian Divide Let’s begin with the issue not of the right of a nation to have a state but of the nature of a Palestinian state under current circumstances. The Palestinians are split into two major factions. The first, Fatah, dominates the West Bank. Fatah derives its ideology from the older, secular Pan-Arab movement. Historically, Fatah saw the Palestinians as a state within the Arab nation. The second, Hamas, dominates Gaza. Unlike Fatah, it sees the Palestinians as forming part of a broader Islamist uprising, one in which Hamas is the dominant Islamist force of the Palestinian people.

The Pan-Arab rising is moribund. Where it once threatened the existence of Muslim states, like the Arab monarchies, it is now itself threatened.

Mubarak, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi all represented the old Pan-Arab vision. A much better way to understand the “Arab Spring” is that it represented the decay of such regimes that were vibrant when they came to power in the late 1960s and early 1970s but have fallen into ideological meaninglessness. Fatah is part of this grouping, and while it still speaks for Palestinian nationalism as a secular movement, beyond that it is isolated from broader trends in the region.

It is both at odds with rising religiosity and simultaneously mistrusted by the monarchies it tried to overthrow. Yet it controls the Palestinian proto-state, the Palestinian National Authority, and thus will be claiming a UN vote on Palestinian statehood. Hamas, on the other hand, is very much representative of current trends in the Islamic world and holds significant popular support, yet it is not clear that it holds a majority position in the Palestinian nation.

All nations have ideological divisions, but the Palestinians are divided over the fundamental question of the Palestinian nation’s identity. Fatah sees itself as part of a secular Arab world that is on the defensive. Hamas envisions the Palestinian nation as an Islamic state forming in the context of a region-wide Islamist rising. Neither is in a position to speak authoritatively for the Palestinian people,

and the things that divide them cut to the heart of the nation. As important, each has a different view of its future relations with Israel. Fatah has accepted, in practice, the idea of Israel’s permanence as a state and the need of the Palestinians to accommodate themselves to the reality. Hamas has rejected it. The UN decision raises the stakes in this debate within the Palestinian nation that could lead to intense conflict. As vicious as the battle between Hamas and Fatah has been, an uneasy truce has existed over recent years. Now, there could emerge an internationally legitimized state, and control of that state will matter more than ever before.

Whoever controls the state defines what the Palestinians are, and it becomes increasingly difficult to suspend the argument for a temporary truce. Rather than settling anything, or putting Israel on the defensive, the vote will compel a Palestinian crisis.

Fatah has an advantage in any vote on Palestinian statehood: It enjoys far more international support than Hamas does. Europeans and Americans see it as friendly to their interests and

counter the tired but real power of Fatah. Symbolic flotillas from Turkey are comforting, but Hamas needs an end to Egyptian hostility to Hamas more than anything.

Egypt’s Role and Fatah on the Defensive Egypt is the power that geographically isolates Hamas through its treaty with Israel and with its still-functional blockade on Gaza. More than anyone, Hamas needs genuine regime change in Egypt. The new regime it needs is not a liberal democracy but one in which Islamist forces supportive of Hamas, namely the Muslim Brotherhood, come to power.

At the moment, that is not likely. Egypt’s military has retained a remarkable degree of control, its opposition groups are divided between secular and religious elements, and the religious elements are further divided among themselves - as well as penetrated by an Egyptian security apparatus that has made war on them for years. As it stands, Egypt is not likely to evolve in a direction favorable to Hamas. Therefore, Hamas needs to redefine the

GAZA: A masked Palestinian militant from the Popular Resistance Committees holds up his gun during a news conference in Gaza City. — AP less hostile to Israel. The Saudis and others may distrust Fatah from past conflicts, but in the end they fear radical Islamists and Iran and so require American support at a time when the Americans have tired of playing in what some Americans call the “sandbox.” However reluctantly, while aiding Hamas, the Saudis are more comfortable with Fatah.

And of course, the embattled Arab regimes, whatever tactical shifts there may have been, spring from the same soil as Fatah. While Fatah is the preferred Palestinian partner for many, Hamas can also use that reality to portray Fatah as colluding with Israel against the Palestinian people during a confrontation. For its part, Hamas has the support of Islamists in the region, including Shiite Iranians, but that is an explosive mix to base a strategy on. Hamas must break its isolation if it is to

political situation in Egypt to convert a powerful enemy into a powerful friend.

Though it is not easy for a small movement to redefine a large nation, in this case, it could perhaps happen. There is a broad sense of unhappiness in Egypt over Egypt’s treaty with Israel, an issue that comes to the fore when Israel and the Palestinians are fighting. As in other Arab countries, passions surge in Egypt when the Palestinians are fighting the Israelis. Under Mubarak, these passions were readily contained in Egypt. Now the Egyptian regime unquestionably is vulnerable, and proPalestinian feelings cut across most, if not all, opposition groups. It is a singular, unifying force that might suffice to break the military’s power, or at least to force the military to shift its Israeli policy.

Hamas in conflict with Israel as the United Nations votes for a Palestinian state also places

Fatah on the political defensive among the Palestinians. Fatah cooperation with Israel while Gaza is at war would undermine Fatah, possibly pushing Fatah to align with Hamas. Having the U.N. vote take place while Gaza is at war, a vote possibly accompanied by General Assembly condemnation of Israel, could redefine the region.

Last week’s attack on the Eilat road should be understood in this context. Some are hypothesizing that new Islamist groups forming in the Sinai or Palestinian groups in Gaza operating outside Hamas’ control carried out the attack. But while such organizations might formally be separate from Hamas, I find it difficult to believe that Hamas, with an excellent intelligence service inside Gaza and among the Islamist groups in the Sinai, would not at least have known these groups’ broad intentions and would not have been in a position to stop them.

Just as Fatah created Black September in the 1970s, a group that appeared separate from Fatah but was in fact covertly part of it, the strategy of creating new organizations to take the blame for conflicts is an old tactic both for the Palestinians and throughout the world. Hamas’ ideal attack would offer it plausible deniability - allowing it to argue it did not even know an attack was imminent, much less carry it out - and trigger an Israeli attack on Gaza. Such a scenario casts Israel as the aggressor and Hamas as the victim, permitting Hamas to frame the war to maximum effect in Egypt and among the Palestinians, as well as in the wider Islamic world and in Europe.

Regional Implications The matter goes beyond Hamas. The Syrian regime is currently fighting for its life against its majority Sunni population. It has survived thus far, but it needs to redefine the conflict. The Iranians and Hezbollah are among those most concerned with the fall of the Syrian regime. Syria has been Iran’s one significant ally, one strategically positioned to enhance Iranian influence in the Levant.

Its fall would be a strategic setback for Iran at a time when Tehran is looking to enhance its position with the US withdrawal from Iraq. Iran, which sees the uprising as engineered by its enemies the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - understandably wants al Assad to survive.

Meanwhile, the fall of Syria would leave Hezbollah - which is highly dependent on the current Syrian regime and is in large part an extension of Syrian policy in Lebanon - wholly dependent on Iran. And Iran without its Syrian ally is very far away from Hezbollah. Like Tehran, Hezbollah thus also wants al Assad to survive. Hezbollah joining Hamas in a confrontation with Israel would take the focus off the al Assad regime and portray his opponents as undermining resistance to Israel.

Joining a war with Israel also would make it easier for Hezbollah to weather the fall of Al Assad should his opponents prevail. It would help Hezbollah create a moral foundation for itself independent of Syria. Hezbollah’s ability to force a draw with Israel in 2006 constituted a victory for the radical Islamist group that increased its credibility dramatically. The 2006 military confrontation was also a victory for Damascus, as it showed the Islamic world that Syria was the only nation-state supporting effective resistance to Israel. It also showed Israel and the United States that Syria alone could control Hezbollah and that forcing Syria out of Lebanon was a strategic error on the part of Israel and the United States.

Faced with this dynamic, it will be difficult for Fatah to maintain its relationship with Israel.

Indeed, Fatah could be forced to initiate an intifada, something it would greatly prefer to avoid, as this would undermine what economic development the West Bank has experienced. Israel therefore conceivably could face conflict in Gaza, a conflict along the Lebanese border and a rising in the West Bank, something it clearly knows. In a rare move, Israel announced plans to call up reserves in September. Though preannouncements of such things are not common, Israel wants to signal resolution.— Stratfor

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011 www.kuwaittimes.net

Zoe Saldana ( left) star of the film "Colombiana," and her fiance Keith Britton pose together at a special screening of the film, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, in West Hollywood, Calif. The film will be released in theaters today. — AP (See Page 49)

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FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

Gaming on the go Do you want a handheld or a smartphone?

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an a mobile phone replace a portable gaming device? Both have pros and cons for gaming, meaning consumers have to decide where they’re planning to play, how much money they’d like to invest and what depth of play they’d like. Still, the lines between the two platforms are ever blurring, a big difference from the days when the two were distinct devices. Then, casual gamers goofed off on their smartphones here and there while the true gamers needed a mobile console.

“There’s still this distinction, but the borders are more in flux,” explains Andreas Leisdon of the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software. “Even staunch PC and console gamers use smartphones for playing.” On top of that, smartphones are good for a lot that, until now, had nothing - or next to nothing - to do with interactive entertainment, giving it inroads into the world of gaming.

“Smartphone gaming is great for letting you fill the gaps in your day, like when you’re sitting in the subway or have a few minutes at the supermarket checkout,” says Markus Schwerdtel of the German computer magazine Gamestar. But, as has always been the case, handheld games are usually more complex and demand more playing depth, and tend to need more time if they’re to be played properly.

Handheld consoles also win by a nose when it comes to graphics, at least in most cases. True, Sony’s next generation of handheld, the Playstation Vita, expected to go on sale by the end of the year, won’t have HD resolution. “But it should come close to the graphics possibilities of a Playstation 3,” explains Marco Haentsch of German computer magazine, Computerbild Spiele.

The consoles need to stay a step ahead of the smartphones, graphically, the way Nintendo has done with its mobile console 3DS. On the other

tional handheld console, you always need to have another device with you and that can be a nuisance for a lot of consumers.” Plus, games for smart-

cost a lot more than a mobile console.

At the same time, the apps tend to cost less than 1 euro (1.44 dollars).

Many of them are free. Download sta-

hand, the first smartphones with 3D images on their displays came out this year. And smartphones have one other advantage. “People already own them and always have them nearby,” says Haentsch. “If you have an addi-

phones can be downloaded quickly and easily. Handheld games - aside from the new PSP Go - require gamers to go to the store or order them online.

Of course, smartphones usually

tistics are impressive. “About 13 million apps were purchased in Germany alone last year,” says Leisdon. Those kinds of prices mean people are more likely to grab an app than a handheld game. Those cost, on average, 25

euros.

But there are limits to what you can do with smartphones vis a vis games.

“The working memory isn’t sufficient for complicated games like Grand Theft Auto,” says Haentsch. “The iPad, which actually has a screen ideal for this kind of game, is overwhelmed when asked to display big, detailed, 3D worlds.”

Directing play is also a problem on smartphones, especially when it comes to adventures or sports games with complex gameplay, or where console games have been refigured for the smartphone. “Designers usually limit themselves to just transferring known concepts, without matching them up to the abilities of the smartphone,” says Schwerdtel. “A virtual joypad doesn’t usually function so well on a touchscreen since it’s too cumbersome and inexact.”

On the other hand, smartphones are great for dexterity, jump-n-run, design or strategy games. But not all the best-known series have been released for smartphones. Thus, Nintendo only offers handheld versions of its bestselling series Super Mario and Zelda. Epic games like Metal Gear Solid are only, for now, available on mobile consoles. There have been attempts to combine a smartphone and mobile console into one device. With the Xperia Play, Sony recently presented the world with an Android mobile that included a pullout gamepad for apps and classic Playstation 1 games.

“But, in general, there are not so many games that the device supports,” says Markus Schwerdtel. “The release of the beloved PC game Minecraft could provide a push.” But as a pure gaming device, the Xperia Play is much too expensive when compared with the PSP, which costs less than half what the Play costs. —dpa

Password manager boosts security

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urfing online takes some memory skills. Whether you want to check your emails, visit with your Facebook friends, look at your bank account online or play an Orc in World of Warcraft, you need to remember your password to get there. Each service requires its own password. That has prompted many to come up with a single password for a multitude of services. While simple, that approach isn’t particularly safe. Which is where password managers come in. When used properly they can ease your worries and help you with your bad memory.

But users need to take time before they decide to which service to give the keys to their entire digital life.

Managers work by putting your data in a kind of digital safe, which the user can open with a single password.

There’s a multitude of services around to help jog your memory. “Which service is practical depends upon your individual needs,” says Marit Hansen, a data protection agent with the Independent Data Security Centre of the German state of SchleswigHolstein. Free products are not necessarily any worse than bought ones.

Some programs only work on an individual computer. Others exist on USB sticks, so users have the access codes at the ready anywhere.

Browsers also offer some memory assistance by routinely asking whether

input data should be remembered.

Firefox relies on a master password: without it the browser saves data in an unencrypted form. Some services put the key to your digital codes into the cloud, i.e. on their servers. That’s handy, because it means you can access them from any internet-capable computer.

But recent events have shown that a lot of these cloud services are not adequately protected from hacking attacks, warns Hansen.

Whichever service for which you opt, the key is the encryption. And no level of encryption will help you if thieves can guess the code or crack it by applying enough computing power.

That means if you save all the codes to

your various digital needs in one place you must come up with a secure password. That means at least eig ht preferably 12 - characters with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters.

Common words are taboo.

But all password managers have one weak point. They notify attackers when they’ve incorrectly guessed a master password, simply because they do not then allow access to private data. That leaves the hacker free to attempt the hack with other word and letter combinations. This is why Germany’s Fraunho fer Institute for Secure Information Technology recommends its MobileSitter, which always gives up passwords when anyone

inputs a master password, either real or false. The trick is that the passwords are only accurate if the master password is the right one. The rest are just a diversion.

“Our system lets you come in and find passwords with any master password,” says computer scientist Ruben Wolf. “But you don’t know whether they’re real of fake passwords.” But whichever system for which you opt, Hansen recommends some basic security steps. Keep an eye on the news so you’re aware of security gaps or updates. And make a backup of your encrypted password data and save it on an external medium, like a USB stick.

Then save that somewhere safe. —dpa

Relationships FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

All is fair in love and war Stress of separation takes its toll on military families

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ussell and Erin Miller met while deployed in Iraq in 2005 and discovered a shared passion for Dungeons and Dragons. Their interest in the popular role-playing game led to their marriage and settling down in Rice, 45 miles southeast of Dallas. The husband and wife, both in the Texas Army National Guard, now have new roles: Erin, 28, as a soldier deployed to Afghanistan; Russell, 30, as a stay-at-home dad with 2year-old daughter Abby. How their marriage fares during Erin’s 12-month deployment is a question of keen personal interest to the Millers -as well as a matter of urgent national security.

Two wars and multiple deployments have caused enormous strains within the ranks, contributing to a rising military divorce rate that is outpacing the civilian divorce rate, as well as a sharp increase in mental health problems. While e-mail and video chats have made it easier for couples to stay in touch, the dangers of war can wear down the feelings of intimacy and togetherness that keep marital bonds strong. “It’s all on you,” said Russell. “You have to make so many decisions, and you don’t get to bounce ideas off each other. And even when you do talk, you lose a lot of personal connection in the conversation.”

In response to the strain on families, the Pentagon has increased spending to a record $9 billion on family support programs, including more for child-care services and family counseling. “Military families are stressed - really, really, really stressed,” said Dr. Benjamin Karney, a professor of social psychology at UCLA who has studied military marriages for the RAND Corp, a California think tank that often does studies for the military.

For citizen soldiers like the Millers, the needs are greater than ever. Since the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 787,000 Guard members and reservists have been called to active duty, the most since World War II. A half-million have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan - and 200,000 have served multiple tours.

Nearly 100,000 Guard members and reservists are currently serving on active duty. Members of the nation’s reserve component leave behind careers and families. Their spouses and children do not have a built-in support structure, as full-time active duty service members who live on military installations do. But outside the military community, few Americans realize the sacrifices made by these families.

More than 50 percent of military personnel are married, and 70 percent have children. The divorce rate for active-duty military personnel has risen from 2.6 percent in 2001 to 3.6 percent in 2009, when there were an estimated 50,000 military divorces, the Pentagon reported. That’s slightly higher than the civilian divorce rate of 3.4 percent. The Pentagon’s divorce records don’t tell the whole story because they leave out the National Guard and reservists. The overall percentage of Guard members and reservists who are married has decreased from 53 percent in 2001 to 48 percent in 2008,

Sergeant Russell Miller hugs his daughter, Abby Miller, 22 months, before preparing her lunch at their home in Rice, Texas. — MCT according to other military records.

The Pentagon also doesn’t account for soldiers who get divorced a year or two after leaving the military, Karney said.

And divorce rates aren’t the only indicator that marriages are in trouble. It’s not unusual for estranged couples in the military to remain married to continue receiving higher housing payments. In addition, a civilian spouse who divorces a service member loses his or her military health coverage. Meanwhile, combat veterans are at an increased risk of marital problems, according to studies. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased almost sixfold from 2003 to 2008, according to the Defense Department’s Medical Surveillance report issued in November.

Couples dealing with post-combat stress go through a period of trying to make their relationships work. “And this will serve to depress divorce in the short term. The problem is that families might not be able to sustain this (work on their relationship) over the long term,” Karney said. His research found that military women have the harder time staying married. Divorce rates are two to three times higher for female service members than for men. The highest divorce rate occurs with military women married to civilian men.

One possible reason is that there are fewer role models for stay-at-home dads.

“There are very few movies about the loyal, stay-at-home husband of a female soldier,” Karney said. “The support available in the military to the stay-at-home spouse is geared toward women.” Russell Miller, a sergeant with 10 years in the Guard, is used to playing the role of the loyal, stay-at-home husband. After Abby was born, Erin went back to work full

time as a paralegal for the Guard. Russell quit his telecom job installing fiber optic cables to stay home with Abby. He also took online courses to complete a bachelor’s degree in history. “It’s been the greatest time of my life ... watching Abby grow up and bonding with her,” Russell said.

At times, he’s felt like the odd man out. During one of the Guard’s Yellow Ribbon events for spouses of deploying soldiers this summer, Russell met only one other stay-at-home dad. That man’s wife also was headed to Afghanistan, but not with Erin’s group. Erin, a staff sergeant and an eight-year veteran of the Guard, is assigned to the headquarters company of the 176th Engineer Brigade.

The brigade held its farewell ceremony at TCU before deploying in July.

Before the ceremony, Erin and Russell watched as their petite, sandy-haired Abby scampered around the tiled walkway encircling the arena. Erin wore her camouflage combat uniform. Russell leaned against a wall in his brown cowboy boots, faded jeans and a red T-shirt inscribed w ith the words “Proud Army Family,” issued by the 176th’s family readiness group. Erin tried not to think about her impending departure.

“Otherwise, you have a meltdown,” she said. She did not want to cry in front of Abby. “She’s not going to understand if I cry.”

Abby bounced up and down in her new cherry-red cowboy boots, staring at them with delight. “We went to three or four stores looking for just the ri ght boots,” Erin said. Abby took off down the hallway, and Russell chased after. When they returned, Abby held a book she’d been given at a table staffed by the family readiness group. It was a new version

of “Over There” for preschool children of deployed parents. “Oh, they finally have the Mommy version!” Erin said. “We have the Daddy version.”

The next morning, several buses waited at a hotel to take Erin and her fellow soldiers to the airport. Erin’s unit was scheduled to fly to Wisconsin for eight weeks of training before heading to Afghanistan. Standing near the entrance, her eyes welling up, Erin held Abby tightly and buried her face in her daughter’s hair. At last, she gave Abby back to her husband, turned and quickly walked toward the buses, wiping away tears.

“Mama, mama,” said Abby, reaching out toward Erin. In her other hand, she clutched a baby bottle. “Mama going bye-bye,” said Russell, his voice thick with emotion as he softly bounced her in his arms. Russell and Abby made the fivehour drive back to Santa Fe, Texas, a small town near Galveston where he grew up and his parents still live. He and Abby have lived with his parents since then. Russell visited Erin briefly in Wisconsin before she left for Afghanistan.

He also attends training one weekend a month with his Army National Guard unit in Waxahachie. When he’s away, his parents take care of Abby.

Even with good support at home, the first four months of Erin’s deployment weren’t easy for Russell. He became moody and depressed. The problem started after he tried to quit smoking. He took a prescription for Wellbutrin, an antidepressant also used to quit smoking. He began to feel intense anxiety and paranoia. “I thought I was having a hard time with Erin’s deployment,” he said. He became preoccupied with negative thoughts, worrying about Erin getting hurt or if she was going to divorce him.—MCT

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Everyday cooking

By Sawsan Kazak

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amadan is winding down and for most people, the amount of food consumed in this month rivals the amount consumed for half the year.

This also means that we end up eating a large number of meats. For the last week, why not make a conscious decision to eat more vegetarian dishes.

The following recipes are easy, delicious and most importantly, vegetarian.

Send your suggestions to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

Bruschetta with tomato and basil 6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 baguette French bread or similar Italian bread 1/4 cup olive oil 1 Prepare the tomatoes first. Parboil the tomatoes for one minute in boiling water that has just been removed from the burner. Drain.

Using a sharp small knife, remove the skins of the tomatoes. (If the tomatoes are too hot, you can protect your finger tips by rubbing them with an ice cube between tomatoes.) Once the tomatoes are peeled, cut them in halves or quarters and remove the seeds and juice from their centers. Also cut out and discard the stem area. Why use plum tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes? The skins are much thicker and there are fewer seeds and less juice.

2 Make sure there is a top rack in place in your oven. Turn on the oven to 450ยบ F to preheat.

3 While the oven is heating, chop up the tomatoes finely. Put tomatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, vinegar in a bowl and mix.

Add the chopped basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4 Slice the baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil using a pastry brush. Place on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. You will want to toast them in the top rack in your oven, so you may need to do these in batches depending on the size of your oven. Once the oven has reached 450ยบ F, place a tray of bread slices in the oven on the top rack. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.

Alternatively, you can toast the bread without coating it in olive oil first. Toast on a grid-

dle for 1 minute on each side. Take a sharp knife and score each slice 3 times. Rub some garlic in the slices and drizzle half a teaspoon of olive oil on each slice. This is the more traditional method of making bruschetta.

5 Align the bread on a serving platter, olive

oil side up. Either place the tomato topping in a bowl separately with a spoon for people to serve themselves over the bread, or place some topping on each slice of bread and serve. If you top each slice with the tomatoes, do it right before serving or the bread may get soggy.

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Wild-mushroom pasta 2/3 oz dried morel or porcini mushrooms 1 3/4 cups boiling-hot water 5 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 lb fresh cremini mushrooms 3/4 lb mixed fresh wild mushrooms 1 large garlic clove, minced 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 lb dried pasta of choice 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

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Fresh herb frittata 30 g unsalted butter, or more if needed 30 g minced chives or onions 400 g fresh herbs and greens 12 large eggs 100 ml whole or low-fat milk 15 g unbleached all-purpose flour 30 grams grated cheese Freshly ground black pepper

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horoughly butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch/20-cm nonstick skillet. If 2 tablespoons/30 g are not sufficient, use more butter. Place the pan over low heat; when the butter becomes warm, add the chives or onions. Heat gently, just until they give off a little fragrance.

Add the herbs and greens and, if necessary, a little more butter. Stir so that all the flavors mingle. While the greens are heating, beat the eggs, milk, flour, cheese, and

oak dried mushrooms in boiling-hot water in a bowl until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain in a paper-towellined sieve set over a bowl and reserve soaking liquid, then rinse soaked mushrooms. Pat dry and finely chop.

Heat 3 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté fresh mushrooms with garlic, salt, and pepper, stirring occasionally, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated and mushrooms are browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in chopped soaked mushrooms and reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 5 minutes. Ladle out and reserve 1/4 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta in a colander, then add it to mushrooms in skillet. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook over moderately high heat, tossing and adding some pasta-cooking liquid if necessary to lightly coat, 1 minute. Add chives, parsley, lemon zest, and juice, then toss well. Serve immediately with cheese and pepper to taste.

a little pepper into a large bowl. Add the egg mixture to the greens and stir with a fork, taking care to avoid scraping the fork along the bottom of the pan. While working with the fork in one hand, shake the pan continuously to prevent the frittata from sticking.

Once the frittata has a rather firm skin on the bottom, slide it out of the pan and onto a plate. Invert the frittata back into the pan so that the less-cooked side of the frittata is now face-down in the pan.

Return to the heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, shaking the pan continuously to prevent sticking. The frittata is done when the bottom is firm and light chestnut-brown.

Slide the frittata onto a dish for serving. If you plan to cool the frittata, cover it with a clean cloth or paper towels. Cut into wedges before serving.

Rocky road crunch bars 125g soft unsalted butter 300g best-quality dark chocolate 3 tbsp golden syrup 200g rich tea biscuits 100g mini marshmallows 2 tsp icing sugar, to dust

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Vegetable fried rice 1 lb steamed rice, cooled 2 eggs 1/4 yellow onion 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1/4 tsp. white pepper 1 lb mixed stir-fry vegetables

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ut all vegetables into small pieces and steam 5 minutes. Heat oil in wok. Beat the eggs and set aside. Cook onions in wok first.

Add eggs and cook until firm. Add rice. Keep stirring until eggs and rice are well mixed. Add soy sauce, pepper and vegetables. Stir until rice is light brown.

eat the butter, chocolate and golden syrup in a heavy-based saucepan over a gentle heat. Remove from the heat, scoop out about 125ml/41/2fl oz of the melted mixture and set aside in a bowl.

Place the biscuits into a plastic freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin until some have turned to crumbs but there are still pieces of biscuit remaining. Fold the biscuit pieces and crumbs into the melted chocolate mixture in the saucepan, then add the marshmallows. Tip the mixture into a 24cm/9in square baking tin and smooth the top with a wet spatula. Pour over the reserved 125ml/41/2fl oz of the melted chocolate mixture and smooth the top with a wet spatula. Refrigerate for about two hours or overnight. To serve, cut into 24 fingers and dust with icing sugar.

THEY ARE THE 99!

99 Mystical Noor Stones carry all that is left of the wisdom and knowledge of the lost civilization of Baghdad. But the Noor Stones lie scattered across the globe - now little more than a legend.

One man has made it his life’s mission to seek out what was lost. His name is Dr. Ramzi Razem and he has searched fruitlessly for the Noor Stones all his life. Now, his luck is about to change the first of the stones have been rediscovered and with them a special type of human who can unlock the gem’s mystical power. Ramzi brings these gem - bearers together to form a new force for good in the world. A force known as ... the 99!

THE STORY SO FAR : A 99 team -- Hadya, Jaleel, and Samda -- travels to Iceland to rescue a team of scientists, trapped by a recently active volcano. But just as they’re making their escape, the volcano erupts!

The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2011, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.the99.org

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Tr a v e l FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

Top Family Vacation Spots Grab the kids for off-the-charts fun

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t used to be difficult to find a vacation destination that would please the entire family. These days, family-friendly resorts provide a multitude of options, so that folks can entertain their tots, relax with their spouses, and enjoy the fabulous North American outdoors-all from the creative comforts of man-made African safaris, lost continents and even a Wild West dude ranch. Competing for your attention , modern family resorts have upped the ante in entertainment: swimming with dolphins, circus clown training and even sleeping in trees are real-life resort activities.

get away from it all, the Hilton Waikoloa Village promises endless activity and unprecedented luxury.

Parents hoping to find a child-friendly haven can sign their tykes up for Camp Menehune. This day and night camp allows kids to feed koi and swans, hunt for treasure, and explore tidepools Tropical gardens, saltwater lagoons and 2 golf courses are tempting, but the resort’s most popular retreat is Dolphin Quest, providing guests with a variety of interactive dolphin programs.

The many activities include Dolphin Training

experience the live entertainment and whimsy the Circus has to offer. The resort lies on 70 acres of land, and with 3,800 rooms, it’s the fifth largest resort-casino in Vegas.

“Ooh’s” and “ahh’s” fill the air every half hour at Circus Circus, as performers engage in airborne stunts on the resort’s center stage. Surrounding the stage is Midway, an enormous carnival filled with over 200 arcade games, carnival games and wandering clowns.

Possibly the world’s biggest funhouse, the excitement continues at the indoor theme park

Atlantis Resort and Casino Paradise Island, Bahamas Discover a lost civilization this vacation, and let your family act as the explorers! The $850-million Atlantis Resort recreates the infamous lost continent, filled with adventure and intri gue. This mecca of family fun features over 20,000 guest rooms, 38 restaurants and countless activities, including 11 exhibit lagoons and over 50,000 animals such as sharks, lionfish and stingrays.

Water enthusiasts can visit miles of beaches, take a dip in one of 11 pool areas, or play on 7 different water slides. Leave your fears at home, though & the Mayan Temple’s Leap of Faith slide features a 60 -foot drop into an acrylic tunnel submerged in a sharkinfested lagoon.

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort Snowbird, Utah If the sight of snow gets your family excited, grab a pair of skis and head to Snowbird for a wonderful, wintry vacation. The resort rests in Little Cottonwood Canyon, which offers 3,240 feet and 5,000 acres of mountain to explore, and whose proximity to the Great Salt Lake ensures over 500 inches of snow falls annually.

Thirty years after being founded, the resort now features 10 lifts, 85 runs and an uphill capacity of 16,000 people. Beginner skiers, from ages 3 to adult, can learn skiing and snowboarding at the Snowbird Mountain School. Love the outdoors but not a fan of the slopes? The resort offers ice skating, snow tubing, snowshoe tours and luge sleds. Parents can unwind with a stone ma ssage or herbal wrap at the luxurious Cliff Spa, or hit Snowbird’s shops, selling everything from ski clothes and boots to Chinese silk rugs.

Tanque Verde Ranch Tuscon, Arizona City slickers and country folk alike will enjoy their stay at the Tanque Verde Ranch, a family resort aiming to lasso the cowboy outta everyone. Literally meaning “Green Pool,” the 640-acre Tanque Verde Ranch is a serene oasis nest led into the Sonoran Desert and adjacent to Saguaro National Park. With over 120 horses, it’s no surprise that this dude ranch offers ample riding opportunities. Specialty rides such as the Breakfast Ride (to a meal at the Old Homestead), 6-hour-long Day Rides and Picnic Rides with lunch in Cottonwood Grove are all available.

Newcomers can take riding lessons at a variety of levels.

Naturalist guides offer hikes through the desert wilds, exploring canyons, cacti and even secret waterfalls. The popular Kids Program offers little cowpokes (ages 4 - 11) the chance to “ride ‘em cowboy!”

Children are divided into 2 age groups-the Buckaroos and Wrangler Kids-and treated to riding lessons, tennis, swimming and arts and crafts.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Waikoloa, Hawaii If your family is looking for an island excursion to

Adventures, a Dolphin Family Program and a Dolphin Twilight Camp for kids. At Waikoloa’s 4-acre lagoon, water lovers can schedule kayak trips, snorkel sails and seasonal whale-watch sails. After dark, attend the Legends of the Pacific Luau to experience traditional island dancing a nd music, as well as a buffet dinner.

Kingsmill Resort Williamsburg, Virginia Stretching over 3,000 acres of Virginia wilderness, Kingsmill Resort boasts its own long list of recreational activities as well as close proximity to the fun found in nearby Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.

Active families can enjoy the resort’s 3 18-hole golf courses, 15 tennis courts and Sports Club featuring indoor a nd outdoor pools, exercise classes, personal trainers and a billiards and game room.

Stop by the concierge desk for special Junior Guest Registration: children receive a Kids Fun Pack introducing them to the resort. Kids Camp is the perfect opportunity for 5-12 year olds to play tennis and golf, swim, fish, have theme days and make arts and crafts. Don’t forget to sign little ones up for Kids Night Out, a pizza and game party that allows for a parents’ romantic date night at 1 of the resort’s 6 signature restaurants.

Circus Circus Las Vegas, Nevada The biggest permanent big top in the world can be found rising in all its colorful glory here in Las Vegas. At Circus Circus, over 3.5 million people per year stop by to

Adventuredome, home to over 20 rides, miniature golf and laser tag.

Out ‘n’ About Treesort Takilma, Oregon Something extraordinary is afoot in the woods of Oregon. Strung high above the earth, nestled into treetops and branches, is 1 of the world’s most unique resorts: Treesort. This high-in-the-sky treehouse-resort proves that trees aren’t just for the birds.

Fourteen treehouses comprise Treesort, and sleep 2 8 people.

Getting to your room is half the adventure-guests climb stairs, ladders, even a 90-foot-long suspension bridge. Once there, the wonder begins. At the Swiss Family Complex, a swinging bridge separates child and adult units, and a fire pole and rope swings provide kids with ground access. Luxury lovers will enjoy the Tree Room Schoolhouse Suite, which sleeps 4 and has a bathroom, kitchenette, master bedroom, sitting area and loft.

Guests allow fantasy to become reality at the Treehouse Institute, which teaches techniques in treehouse building. A selfdescribed summer camp for families, Treesort also features horseback riding, rafting, ropes courses, pools and arts and crafts classes. Tree climbers face the challenge of scaling Treesort’s 51-foot ropeclimbing tree a nd discov-

ering a treetop pool made of river rocks.

Club Med Ixtapa Ixtapa, Mexico Take your family South of the Border for some Club Med-style family fun. The charming Club Med Ixtapa Village quickly woos kids and parents with its seemingly endless roster of activities for all ages.

Situated on 37 acres along Mexico’s western coast, Ixtapa plays host to over 20,000 visitors a year, 60% of whom are under a ge 11!

A variety of clubs are designed to entertain children throughout the day. Divided by age groups, Baby Club, Petit Club and Mini Club keep kids ages 4 months - 13 years busy with outdoor activities, shows and crafts. Even mealtime is a child’s fantasy - Ixtapa features a kids-only dining area. While the kids are away, the parents will play! Ixtapa offers adult activities including tennis, scuba, archery, kayaking, water polo, volleyball and picnics. Families venturing off the resort property can visit Ixtapa Island or take sunset cruises, fishing trips and even excursions into the Mexican fishing village of Zihuatenejo.

La Costa Resort and Spa Carlsbad, California Most commonly associated with its 2 PGA Championship golf courses and a world-class spa, La Costa Resort now earns itself a new reputation : Family Resort.

Tucked among the resort’s rolling greens, Jim McLean Golf School, and 21 tennis courts is a world of activities designed for little ones on retreat. At Camp La Costa, children experience the resort’s magnificent facilities in a kid-friendly environment while parents pursue their own activities without worry. Kids ages 5 - 12 spend the day at the camp, where they engage in tennis, croquet, h iking, swimming, nature walks, crafts and ping-pong. While the kids are making friends and having fun, parents indulge in the bodyand soul-soothing luxury that defines La Costa.

Whether taking yoga at health guru Deepak Chopra’s Chopra Center or soaking away worries in Spa La Costa’s Roman pools, adults relish the relaxing treatments. As darkness falls, parents can opt to spend a romantic evening toget her while sending their children off to Night Camp, which includes dinner, story hour and a scavenger hunt.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Orlando, Florida At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, families experience the thrills of an African safari without ever leaving their lodging. If a trip to the Serengeti is out of your price range, a visit to this wild lodge will more than suffice.

Guests initially greet the 33-acre property through the lobby’s awe-inspiring 65-foot window. Strolling throughout the property’s savannahs are over 200 animals representing more than 100 different species, including antelopes and gazelles. Many suites and rooms overlook the resort’s savannahs, and balconies afford families an opportunity to come face to face with a giraffe. Rooms are decorated with a traditional African ambience: earth-tone walls, handcrafted furniture, tapestries and mosquito nets abound, but true historical value can be found in the 4,000 native handcrafts placed throughout the lodge. Featured within the lodge are 380 museum-quality works of art including authentic Kinta cloths, woodcarvings and a 16-foot, 240-lb. Nigerian ceremonial mask. When it’s time to dine, experience the tastes of Africa at one of the resort’s 2 inspired restaurants, Jiko or Boma, which feature wood-burning ovens and thatched roofs. (www.travelchannel.com)

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Years

Tr a v e l FRIDAY, August 26, 2011

Biggest malls of the world T

hese days, most of us are heading to malls to shop for the festive, aka gifting, season.

With new malls popping up in every corner of this planet, they have become an inevitable destination for serious shoppers, window shoppers as well as tourists. These mammoth architectural wonders are more than just shopping destinations and spread out with the best entertainment and recreational opportunities too. As I compiled the list of top 10 biggest malls for 2010, it dawned upon me that four of them are located in the China, the nation which is racing to become the world’s largest luxury goods market.

Topping the list is South China Mall from China of course. Though it has opened up in 2005 and boasts of 6.46 million sq ft. of gross leasable area, most of its retail space is still reported to be vacant. This mall has seven zones modeled on international cities, nations and regions, including Amsterdam,

Paris, Rome, Venice, Egypt, the Caribbean, and California.

Golden Resources Mall - China This second largest mall in the world, is also known as ‘Great Mall of China’. With 6 million sq ft. of gross leasable area, it houses 230 escalators, a skating rink, over 1,000 shops and a huge space for restaurants.

The Dubai Mall - Dubai This marvel of Middle East is touted to be the largest on the basis of total area (12.1 million sq ft.).

However only 6 million sq ft. of it is gross leasable area. With a skating rink, water world and gold souk under its roof, it set record way back in 2008 by opening up with 600 retailers.

West Edmonton Mall - Canada Located in Canada, this former world’s largest mall is the largest in North America. It retained the title of the world’s largest for two

decades from 1981 till 2004 with gross leasable area of 3.77 million sq ft.

Istanbul Cevahir - Turkey It is reported that this mall is the largest shopping centre in Europe.

Located in Istanbul, Turkey, it brings 343 shops, about 50 restaurants, 12 cinemas, including a private theatre, a bowling hall, a small roller coaster and a glass roof with the second biggest clock in the world under its roof. It claims the 5th spot with 3.47 million sq ft of gross leasable area.

However we have also reported about another mall, Westfield Mall, London, claiming to be Europe’s largest.

Berjaya Times Square - Malaysia This twin tower complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia houses a shopping centre and two five star hotels.

The 48-storeyed bulding stands tall at 666 ft and includes Asia’s largest indoor theme park, Cosmo’s World and Malaysia’s first-ever IMAX 2D &

3D theatre. It is listed with gross leasable area of 3.44 million sq ft.

top ten list with a gross leasable area of 3.0 million sq ft.

Beijing Mall - China Not only has this mall made it to the world’s top 10 largest mall, but it also holds a slot in the top 10 luxurious malls of Beijing with a gross leasable area of 3.4 million sq ft.

King of Prussia Mall - USA Last on the list is the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia, USA which opened in 1963, almost five decades back when Malls were only meant for the most well-heeled. It is a popular Philadelphia tourist attraction and tourists comprise 20 per cent of the mall’s shoppers. It has a gross leasable area of 2.79 million sq ft. (www.luxurylaunches.com)

Eastwood Mall - USA Located in Ohia, Eastwood Mall is one of the largest and most diverse shopping centre which opened up more than four decades ago. Including a 6,300-seater stadium, exposition centre, hotels and theatres, the total complex is one of the largest in the United States.

Eastwood Mall Complex has a gross leasable area of 3.2 million sq ft.

Grandview Mall - China With an ice skating rink, an amusement park, a five-star cinema, fashion stores and beautiful musical fountains, the Grandview Mall in Guangzhou, China, made it to the

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Books

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

The Language of Flowers

Hot new releases

By Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Murder by Mocha

By Cleo Coyle

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he national bestselling author of Roast Mortem serves readers a fresh Coffeehouse mystery.

Clare’s Village Blend coffee beans are being used to create a new java love potion: a “Mocha Magic Coffee,” billed as an aphrodisiac. The product, expected to

rake in millions, will be sold exclusively on Aphrodite’s Village, one of the most popular online communities for women.

But at its launch, one of the website’s editors is murdered. Clare is convinced a bitter killer wants the secret formula. Can she catch who’s gone loco for mocha?

tion to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything fo r a second chance at happiness.

By Laura Lippman

The Most Dangerous Thing

mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connec-

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ome secrets can’t be kept. Years ago, they were all the best of friends.

But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past-and the terrible lie they all shared. But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years. And then the revelations start. Could their long-ago lie be the reason for their troubles today? Each one of these old friends has to wonder if their secret has been discovered-and if someone within the circle is out to destroy them.

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Books

Girls in White Dresses

By Julie Otsuka

The Buddha in the Attic

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

By Jennifer Close

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ulie Otsuka’s long awaited follow-up to When the Emperor Was Divine (“To watch Emperor catching on with teachers and students in vast numbers is to grasp what must have happened at the outset for novels like Lord of the Flies and To Kill a Mockingbird” -The New York Times) is a tour de force of economy and precision, a novel that tells the story of a group of young women brought over from Japan to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.

In eight incantatory sections, The Buddha in the Attic traces their extraordinary lives, from their arduous journey by boat, where they exchange photographs of their husbands, imagining uncertain futures in an unknown land; to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; to their backbreaking work picking fruit in the fields and scrubbing the floors of white women; to their struggles to master a new language and a new culture; to their experiences in childbirth, and then as mothers, raising children who will ultimately reject their heritage and their history; to the deracinating arrival of war.

Ghost in the Wires

By Kevin Mitnick , William L. Simon

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evin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world’s biggest companies-and however fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks.

He spent years skipping through cyberspace, always three steps ahead and labeled unstoppable. But for Kevin, hacking wasn’t just about technological feats-it was an old fashioned confidence game that required guile and deception to trick the unwitting out of valuable information.

Driven by a powerful urge to accomplish the impossible, Mitnick bypassed security systems and blazed into major organizations including Motorola, Sun Microsystems, and Pacific Bell. But as the FBI’s net began to tighten, Kevin went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated cat and mouse game that led through false identities, a host of cities, plenty of close shaves, and an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escape, and a portrait of a visionary whose creativity, skills, and persistence forced the authorities to rethink th e way they pursued him, inspiring ripples that brought permanent changes in the way people and companies protect their most sensitive information.

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ickedly hilarious and utterly recognizable, Girls in White Dresses tells the story of three women grappling with heartbreak and career change, family pressure and new love-all while suffering through an endless round of weddings and bridal showers. Isabella, Mary, and Lauren feel like everyone they know is getting married. On Sunday after Sunday, at bridal shower after bridal shower, they coo over toasters, collect ribbons and wrapping paper, eat minuscule sandwiches and doll-sized cakes. They wear pastel dresses and drink champagne by the case, but amid the celebration these women have their own lives to contend with: Isabella is working at a mailing-list company, dizzy with the mixed signals of a boss who claims she’s on a diet but has Isabella file all morning if she forgets to bring her a chocolate muffin. Mary thinks she might cry with happiness when she finally meets a nice guy who loves his mother, only to realize he’ll never love Mary quite as much. And Lauren, a waitress at a Midtown bar, swears up and down she won’t fall for the sleazy bartender-a promise that his dirty blond curls and perfect vodka sodas make hard to keep. With a wry sense of humor, Jennifer Close brings us through those thrilling, bewildering, what-on-earth-am-Igoing-to-do-with-my-life years of early adulthood. These are the years when everyone else seems to have a plan, a great job, and an appropriate boyfriend, while Isabella has a blind date with a gay man, Mary has a crush on her boss, and Lauren has a goldfish named Willard. Through boozy family holidays and disastrous ski vacations, relationships lost to politics and relationships found in pet stores, Girls in White Dresses pulls us deep inside the circle of these friends, perfectly capturing the wild frustrations and soaring joys of modern life.

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Beauty FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

2011’s 6 Coolest

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hat do pastels, metallic grays, and sleek nudes have in common?

They’re all part of the gorgeous and utterly fresh 2011 nail polish trends. Shades typically lighten up each spring, but instead of going sheer, this year’s crop of pastels stays rich and creamy—think smooth purples, bright blues, and yummy peach-tinged pinks.

Plus, the nude lacquers spotted at a plethora of spring shows (like Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, and Yigal Azrouel) are having their moment, and those looking for punched up hits of color won’t be disappointed either: Bright, bold lacquers are making an appearance, and some optically intriguing shades of gun metal are popping up, too. So, get ready to totally transform your digits in 2011 with our ultimate guide to spring nail polishes-talk about a cheap thrill!

1-Back to Nature Nudes -Nude-as-naked nails look refreshingly demure, yet provocative. Make sure your polish comes in a highgloss formula so you don’t end up looking like you have mannequin hands.

Nail Polish Trends

2- The Blues Clues-Whether it’s Robin’s Egg or Tiffany’s Box, this pale blue shade has got “Spring” written all over it.

3- Peachy-Keen Pink-Need a polish that’ll make your tan shine? This is it, ladies 4-Lovely in Lavender-Purple nails are our secret weapon. Dusty purples, saturated lavenders, and shiny heliotropes look great with most skin tones.

5-Gun-Metal Grays-Don’t forget about those metallics! Give your digits the full metal treatment with pearlescent polishes. The future is now!

6-The Can’t-Miss Topcoats-Give your polish an extra edge with a striking top coat that cracks over your color; one that adds a slick, holographic shimmer; or one that adds a gilded layer of nude shimmer (www.refinery29.com)

Tea Bags for

Tired Eyes

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ea bags placed over tired eyes to remove puffiness, dark circles and eyestrain is a trusted home remedy. According to Discovery Health, teabags are one effective method of soothing the eyes and creating a more refreshed appearance. Tea contains tannins, antioxidants and sometimes caffeine—all of which can be beneficial to the delicate skin around the eyes.

Caution Be sure to visit your doctor if one eye swells up more than the other, if you notice hives or a rash or if your eyes will not close completely. These are signs of a more serious condition, like allergies or an infection. This home remedy should not be used in place of care from your health provider.

Black and Green Teas For soothing fatigued eyes, most teas are effective; but black tea, green tea and herbal tea have different benefits. Both black and green teas contain tannins, which act as a natural astringent, constricting blood vessels and pulling skin taut.

Herbal Vs caffeinated The caffeine in some teas helps to tighten the skin around the eyes and diminish overall puffiness. Caffeine may diminish dark circles under eyes. Herbal teas—primarily chamomile tea—are helpful for soothing redness, as well as reducing swelling and inflammation, though herbal teas may not tighten the skin as well as tea containing caffeine.

Causes of dark circles According to the Mayo Clinic, fatigue is not the only reason for tired eyes with dark circles.

Sometimes dark circles are just shadows caused by puffy eyelids or one of the signs of aging. However, dark circles can also be an indication of congestion or another condition.

Lifestyle and heredity Lifestyle factors like drinking alcohol or smoking can contribute to dark circles under eyes.

Stress, too much time at the computer or a long drive can tire the eyes. Overexposure to the sun can prompt skin to produce more melanin, therefore contributing to the appearance of under-eye dark circles. In addition, the Mayo Clinic states that there is often a hereditary component to chronic dark circles.

How to use tea for soothing the e yes Steep two tea bags in boiling water for about three minutes; this helps release the beneficial antioxidants and tannins from the tea. Allow the tea bags to cool. It can be helpful to refrigerate them for about ten minutes. Lie down and close your eyes. Place a tea bag over each eye and rest for 10 to 15 minutes. You should find your eyes looking brighter and more refreshed following the remedy. (www.lives trong.com)

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Years

Beauty FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Everything you need to know about:

Mascara Avoid clumps, and length and get that flawless look with a few simple steps

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ave you noticed that big glob of mascara that sits at the end of the wand when you pull it out of the tube? If it’s on the brush, it will end up on your lashes. If you want a flawless application, remove it with a tissue before you begin applying.

To banish clumps and separate lashes While the mascara is still wet, lay a clean lash comb on the lashes and quickly pull it through. This will grab every clump while separating your lashes and extending their length. The Tweezerman Lash comb is great.

A clean spoolie brush is another option that will work nearly as well (I did say nearly). The Jane Iredale Spoolie is fantastic. Don’t have a lash comb or a spoolie brush, then wait until one of your mascaras run out. Clean the wand with some soap and water and when it dries you’ll have your own spoolie!

And, how very green of you to recycle.

To add extra length After you have applied all your coats of mascara, and let them dry completely, reload the wand and blink into the brush. The ends of your lashes will grab a few extra coats and grow to gorgeous lengths.

Beware: If you wear glasses that sit close to your face, your endless lashes might just be hitting them all day...proceed accordingly....

To prevent mascara smearing/running This can happen for two reasons (even with waterproof formulas) and in both cases, your eye creams and/or concealers are the culprits.

1. Very often mascara runs because it slides into concealers and/or eye creams.

Prevent this by sealing them. Dusting a healthy layer of translucent powder under and over the eyes will do the trick. I like the Cover FX Setting Powder, the finely blasted mica will hold the concealer (or cream) in place without looking cakey or settling into lines and creases.

Trust Me: When I tell

you it won’t look cakey or settle. The Cover FX Setting Powder has no talc in it. Talc public enemy number one when it comes to caking into creases.

2. If you get eye or face creams on the lashes, the mascara will not be able to adhere fully. The emolliency of the cream ensures that it will only be a matter of time before the mascara finds its way onto your skin. It is much easier to get creams onto your lashes than you might think...so be careful.

To prevent specks on the upper lid If you apply your mascara correctly, the lashes may well be long enough to touch your upper lid when you are done. So, to keep from having to redo your eye shadow, keep the lids half closed for about thirty seconds. Once the mascara is dry, be as wide eyed as you wish and there won’t be an issue.

Still getting the specks...a touch of moisturizer on a cotton swab will pull it away with minimal damage to your eye shadow.

To make lashes even fatter After your first (and maybe second) coat of mascara, use an eye shadow brush to dust the lashes with a light coat of translucent powder.

The mascara will grab the powder, intensifying the thickening effect. Proceed with caution, too much powder will make you look like

you just globbed the mascara on. The Cover FX Setting Powder is perfect for this as well.

To intensify your eye color Use black on the upper lashes (or brown if you are very fair) for the lushness and length but on the lower lashes, use a shade complimentary to your eye color to make those babies’s pop. DiorShow Plum is a perfectly subtle purple/plum shade that will add extra pop to ANY eye color. Want even more pop, use the plum on the top lashes as well.

To whiten your eye whites Blue mascara will brighten the whites of your eyes and add life to your whole face!

Benefit BADgal Blue Mascara is exactly what you need to do the trick. Added bonus, the hue of blue (much like the plum) will enhance nearly every eye color.

Customize your mascara To get your desired effect, choose the right formula. If you want longer and more defined lashes, choose a one that is formulated for that. If you want them thicker, choose thickening. And remember, if you use a waterproof formula last (over the other layers), you will make all the layers waterproof. The big bonus in this step is the full benefit of waterproof mascara without the aggravation of removal.

Because the waterproof formula is not directly on the lashes, it will be easy to remove.

Viola! Now you know all of my secrets to having the most devastating lashes in the room. Get out there and be beautiful! (www.runningwithheels.com)

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Years

Health FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Coach potato fitness

N

ow that Spring is here, I highly advise taking workouts from the indoors to the outdoors, but if you just can’t bear the thought of missing an episode of American Idol, here are some quick and easy exercises you can do from the comfort of your living room.

- Couch-Tricep Dips: Get in a sitting position in front of your couch and put your hands on the edge of the couch. Move your butt out a bit so your pelvis is hanging out in the air. Slowly use your arms to lower your body to the floor and slowly bring your butt back up. When you do this, your legs should

be at a 90-degree angle (in the start position your body will look like a human chair). You should feel the burn in your arms. Do two sets of 15, giving yourself a rest in between each set.

Keep reading to learn some more TV-friendly exercises!

- Side-Couch Crunches: To work your obliques, lie on the couch on your left side (you’ll need to use a mat on the floor if your couch isn’t firm enough). Put your right hand behind your head and point your elbow to the ceiling. You can also rest your left arm across your waist. Contract your side oblique

muscles and lift your shoulder off the couch attempting to bring your rib cage to your hip.

Hold this position and lower slowly. Repeat 10 times and switch sides.

- Floor-Scissor Kicks: Lie on the floor with both hands under your head and your low back pressed into the floor (yep, you have to use your abs to do this!). Raise both legs to a 90-degree angle. Slowly lower your left leg down until it almost touches the floor and then slowly bring it back up to meet your right leg. Repeat with your right leg. After 10 repetitions with each leg, try doing both legs at once - you’ll really feel it in your abs! If your

How to get perfect abs M

ost everyone, male and female, wants to have sculpted, washboard abdominals. Having super sexy, sculpted abs means you look good in your swimsuit and trunks or look especially hot in a dress or dress shirt. But having strong abdominals is about more than just looking good. It’s also about having a strong core that helps with your posture and everyday life. Follow these steps to get washboard abs 1- Consult your physician before you start any workout program.

2- Begin by changing your diet. Getting sculpted, sexy abs is first and foremost about having low body fat which is going to be achieved by changing your diet. Cut out the processed foods and eat six to eight small meals throughout the day to rev up your metabolism.

3- Eat more waist-slimming foods. Beans, berries and other foods that are high in fiber have been shown to be the best in getting rid of that belly fat and help you get the sexy stomach you’re looking for.

4- Get creative with the cardio. To get your body fat down do a high intensity cardio workout for 30 to 45 minutes a day, six days a week. Try interval training since it burns more calories then traditional cardio. 5Create an ab routine that you like and can live with. Exercise.About.com has a list of the ten best abdominal workouts. Any combination of these a few times a week will get you the sculpted, sexy abs you’re looking for.

6- Change your ab workout every six to eight weeks. Your body adjusts to workouts and they become less effective. (eHow.com)

low back pops off the floor, you have lowered your leg too far.

- Quadruped: To give your booty and abs a nice workout, get on all fours in front of your couch. Bring your left knee as close to your chin as possible (curl your neck into meet it), then slowly extend your leg out but don’t let your belly sag to the ground. Hold your leg in the extended position for a few seconds really engaging your glutes. Keep repeating for 20 reps, then switch legs. Do two sets of 20 repetitions on each leg. When you are finished, get in a child’s pose to allow your body to rest for a few minutes. (www.fitsugar.com)

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Years

Health FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Ten ways to live longer

W

oody Allen once said, “I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work...I want to achieve it through not dying.”

Much to humanity’s collective dismay, there is no way to defy death. But you can try.

Many people think they know what’s good for them. Who wouldn’t like to think that being rich, sleeping with supermodels and eating caviar every day would increase their longevity. After all, Hugh Hefner looks pretty good for a man of 78. But this is more wishful thinking than practical science.

If you really want to live longer, then you can start with your attitude. Your way of thinking can not only impact the quality of your life, but also how long you actually live. In 2002, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 percent compared with those who leaned more towards pessimism.

“The exact mechanism of how personality acts as a risk factor for early death or poorer health is unclear,” says Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, the main investigator in the study. Most likely, it has to do with the fact that pessimists have an increased chance for future problems with their physical health, career achievements and emotional stress—particularly depression. “Yet another possibility could be more directly biological, like changes in the immune system,” Maruta adds.

Besides optimism, are there other personality traits that can help us live longer, healthier lives?

According to Dr. Howard Friedman, a psychologist at the University of California at Riverside, conscientiousness is related to mortality in a significant way. The Terman Life-Cycle Study, which ran from

1921 to 1991, examined an array of factors like personality, habits, social relations, education, physical activities and cause of death.

“Those low on adult conscientiousness died sooner,” Friedman concluded. Conscientiousness does not mean looking both ways before crossing the street; it means looking both ways when the light turns green so you don’t accidentally run down some slow-moving pedestrian. Beyond that, a conscientious person’s long-living qualities probably have to do with the fact that they are predisposed to constructively reacting to emotional and social situations, and are more likely to create work and living environments that promote good health.

Besides looking at the world through rosier-colored glasses, there are also more traditional practices that the aspiring centenarian can take.

People should stop smoking, eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. While these may sound “nannyish,” they are factors that cannot be overlooked. This might not sound like much fun, but it’s a lot more fun than dying.

Research shows that obesity, for example, contributes to a slew of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and various cancers. So powerful are certain lifestyle choices that recommended diets along with maintenance of physical activity and appropriate body mass can, over time, reduce the incidence of cancer by 30 percent to 40 percent, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Animal lovers will be happy to know that having a pet can add years to your life, as well. One of the first studies in this arena, which appeared in

“Public Health Reports” in 1980, showed that the survival rates of heart attack victims who had a pet were 28 percent higher than those of patients who didn’t have an animal companion. “The health effects seem to be very real and by no means mystical,” says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University.

“Contact with companion animals triggers a relaxation response,” he says.

Rebecca Johnson, a professor of gerontological nursing at the University of Missouri at Columbia, showed that interaction with pets does, in fact, reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The ability of companion pets to reduce our overall stress level probably accounts for most of their life-extending qualities. “For many people, pets also provide a reason to get moving,” adds Johnson. How many people, after all, would actually get any exercise if it weren’t for their overenthusiastic dog?

To many people, quality of life is equally as important as life span. It is a good thing, then, that many of the things that can improve your longevity can also improve your quality of life. (www.msnbc.msn.com)

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Arts

Years

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Nightmarish images of mysterious moggies and obscure rituals draw us deep into the wild woods of the human psyche

Focus on: Mathilde Rosier W

ith moonlit locations and a cast of characters including Anubis, birdmen and fauns, Mathilde Rosier’s theatrical works always set the scene for some long-forgotten rite. In her installations, the animals and birds that peer from real twisted branches are cardboard cutouts. Costumes hang alongside movable, painted scenery, while bed canopies double as curtained stages.

Wispy watercolours might conjure dancers in catsuits, satyrs or women in 18th-century ball gowns, and the masked flesh-and-blood people in her performances move like Egyptian hieroglyphs brought magically to life.

Born in 1973 and currently based between Berlin and Bourgogne, Rosier studied under French art legends Christian Boltanski and Jean Marc Bustamante at Beaux Arts in the late 1990s. Now enjoying her London solo debut, she’s shown all over Europe in the past decade, honing a distinct body of work that spins together three connected strands: rituals, psychology and archaeology. She makes a link between the discoveries of Egyptian tombs, digging down into the earth to unlock the secrets of the past, and Freud’s concurrent excavations of the human psyche. Meanwhile, rituals, with their symbolic acting-out of life’s ordeals, become the ancients’ answer to sessions on the couch.

Rosier filters all this into mysterious works that, at their best, have the unsettling pang of a half-remembered dream. Le Bonheur dans le Crime, the centrepiece of her

current show, is a place of sleep: a bed hung with vivid red curtains that frame a painted backdrop where, in a twist on the famous nightmare in Freud’s wolf man case, large moggies stare down in their alien way from trees. While the original shrink focused on childhood trauma, the rift Rosier addresses is man’s lost bond with nature. For as the unreadable cat’s eyes remind us, we might want to make contact with their feral world, but ultimately can’t.

Nonetheless, humans are always trying to pair up with animals in her work, whether they’re literally putting on creature costumes or painted climbing into them. If these men and women never quite transcend the role play, closer to Bottom perhaps than Pan, Rosier’s fantastical images and obscure rituals are still an invitation to move beyond appearances and take a brief, imaginative leap into wild woods within. Why we like her: Rosier’s films typically capture lonely figures lost against foreboding landscapes.

Morgenrock, from 2009, is especially poignant, with its ballet dancer and harpist who give an elegant, solitary performance beneath the shadows of looming trees.

Clever puss: Rosier is a confirmed cat-lover and her feline friends have featured in her work. Her early film One Cat Set Free follows the ramblings of a black and white puss trotting through a vast forest, with its tail erect, briefly liberated from the bounds of domestic life.

Where can I see her? At Camden Arts Centre, London until 25 September. —Guardian

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ARTS

Years

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

The people’s painters:

What makes a work of art popular?

M

onet, Van Gogh, and Klimt are the favorite artists among virtual art collectors. But before you turn your nose up at these obvious choices, let’s consider their mass appeal.

What makes a painting popular? As I write, the social media-style art site Artfinder lists the top five works collected by its users as follows: 1. Claude Monet, Impression: Sunrise 2. Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night 3. Gustav Klimt, The Kiss 4. Gustave Caillebotte, The Parquet Planers 5. Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave It’s interesting that popularity in this case depends on what people add to their online collection. I have always believed that artistic taste varies wildly between works we might find challenging and stimulating in a gallery, and those we’d love to own. Putting a work of art in your digital collection is not quite the same as buying the actual painting - but it means you want to have it around, at least on screen.

Collecting a work of art, even virtually, means you can live with it.

So it is not surprising that the Artfinder top five may strike some as conservative.

Or a little bit obvious. After all, the only surprising name here is Gustave Caillebotte, whose enigmatic, arguably homoerotic

image of working men is a fascinating treasure of the Musée d’Orsay.

But popularity always is obvious. And it is healthy. On the whole, the world’s favourite works of art are the world’s best works of art. Monet deserves his number one slot. He is an artist you don’t find a lot of cooler-than-thou art theory books being written about - because he is popular. But there are few experiences in art as rapturous as losing yourself in a Monet. What is retardataire about the sensory and psychological journeys into which his paintings lure the beholder?

Van Gogh, the visionary, and Klimt, the hedonist, are two more artists whose popularity is heartening. It is a great posthumous gift to Van Gogh to be loved by so many when he was so lonely in life. And Klimt, however many snobs try to do him down, is a mystic priest of love.

Japanese art was loved by Van Gogh and his contemporaries, so Hokusai confirms that the mood here is early modernist.

Perhaps what it reveals is that the most popular art, that hits most people most deeply, is the art of the early modernist era from the 1860s to the 1900s, when new visions changed painting forever while still drawing on its long global history. It was a golden moment. —Guardian

Gustave Caillebotte, The Parquet Planers

Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night

Comics

C R O S S W O R D

4 2 1

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

To Yester

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS

1. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

5. Any of numerous low-growing cushion-forming plants of the genus Draba having rosette-forming leaves and terminal racemes of small flowers with scapose or leafy stems.

10. An associate degree in applied science.

13. Panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest.

14. The capital and chief port and largest city of Senegal.

15. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

16. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

17. Excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm.

18. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

19. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

21. Having hair on the cheeks and chin.

23. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube.

25. An association of countries in the western hemisphere.

28. 100 agorot equal 1 shekel.

32. A member of a Caddo people formerly living in north central Texas.

35. Very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold.

36. An oily colorless liquid obtained by the condensation of two molecules of acetaldehyde.

39. Animal food for browsing or grazing.

41. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan and neighboring areas.

45. No longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life.

48. The most widely spoken Bantu languages.

50. A prosthesis that replaces a missing leg.

53. Imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy.

54. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion.

56. A small cake leavened with yeast.

57. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

58. 40th President of the United States (1911- ).

60. A member of a Mayan people of southwestern Guatemala.

61. A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland.

62. A university town in east central Illinois adjoining Champaign.

63. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

2. An Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan.

3. The sixth month of the civil year.

4. Antipsychotic drug (trade name Moban) used in the treatment of schizophrenia.

5. A doctor's degree in dental surgery.

6. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

7. Jordan's port.

8. Having the head uncovered.

9. A large fleet.

10. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

11. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

12. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

20. Of or like a cecum.

22. A motley assortment of things.

24. The 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

26. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning.

27. An honorary degree in science.

29. Any thick messy substance.

30. A nucleic acid that transmits genetic information from DNA to the cytoplasm.

31. A port in southwestern Scotland.

33. A populous province in northeastern China.

34. (Scotland) A slope or hillside.

37. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

38. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

40. United States abolitionist (1786-1865).

42. Naturally having skin of a dark color.

43. (law) The seat for judges in a courtroom.

44. (Babylonian) God of fire.

46. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

47. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

49. A facial expression of contempt or scorn.

51. A unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns.

52. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

55. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

59. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

Yesterday’s Solution

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Years

Lifestyle

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Kardashian wedding in new People

Paul Bertolli, founder and curemaster of Fra’ Mani Handcrafted Salumi, saws up the carcass of a sow at his gourmet sausage factory in Berkeley. —AP photos

Restaurant pioneer

turns 40, spawns many careers I

In this cover image released by People magazine, TV personality Kim Kardashian is shown in her wedding gown on the Sept. 5, 2011 issue of People. — AP

K

ris Humphries has officially caught up with Kim Kardashian. The basketball pro and the reality star are husband and wife. Kardashian, 30, and Humphries, 26, tied the knot Saturday night in the exclusive Montecito area near Santa Barbara, Calif, Kardashian publicist Jill Fritzo told People magazine and E! The ceremony will be televised as a two-part special on E! in October. It is the first marriage for Humphries, who last played for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, and the second for Kardashian, star of E!’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

She was married to music producer Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2004.

People and E! reported Kardashian wore an ivory gown designed by Vera Wang. Her stepfather, Bruce Jenner, walked her down the aisle in front of 440 guests, including Demi Lovato, Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria, Sugar Ray Leonard, Alan Thicke and Lindsay Lohan.

Kardashian’s gown had a tulle skirt, basque waist and Chantilly lace, and was matched with a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, the media outlets reported. The bride planned to wear

two other Wang dresses before the night and the party were over.

Her sisters and TV co-stars Kourtney Kardashian, 32, and Khloe Kardashian, 27, served as co-maids of honor. The groom wore a white peak lapel tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants and, a white shirt and a white bow tie, all designed by Ermenegildo Zegna.

Kardashian and Humphries began dating late last year and announced their engagement in May. He proposed on bended knee with a 20.5carat ring by spelling out “Will you marry me?” in rose petals. Since the couple’s engagement, the pending nuptials have provided constant fodder for the media and the Kardashians, who posted updates about the wedding on their blogs and websites.

The waves of hype that preceded the ceremony didn’t seem to faze the bride. Earlier this week, Kardashian said she was “totally calm” about the much-hyped ceremony. “I think that freak-out moment kind of already passed,” she said at a party Wednesday to launch her new clothing line at Sears. —AP

f the restaurant world had farm teams, Chez Panisse is where the talent scouts would hang out. The Berkeley restaurant, cofounded by food activist Alice Waters 40 years ago, is famous as a pioneer of serving fresh, local food in season. But in culinary circles it may be just as well known as the training ground for a number of leading lights of the food revolution. To name just a handful: Jeremiah Tower, founder of the former Stars restaurant in San Francisco and one of the originators socalled California cuisine; Paul Bertolli, who served as head chef from 1982 to 1992 and went on to become head chef of Oliveto, an Italian restaurant in Oakland, before opening the gourmet salumi company Fra’ Mani; and Russell Moore, co-owner of Oakland’s Camino restaurant.

Add to that Dan Barber of the Blue Hill restaurants in New York, Suzanne Goin of Lucques restaurant in Los Angeles and Steve Sullivan, cofounder of the Acme Bread Company.

What made Chez Panisse such a talent incubator? “Part of Alice’s genius I think is to see a spark of something in people and to figure out if that spark relates to a little fire that she’d like to have going in the restaurant for a while,” says Sullivan, who started at Chez Panisse as an 18-year-old busboy and went on to become the restaurant’s baker before founding Acme, which still supplies Chez Panisse. Waters herself thinks it may be due to the restaurant’s “philosophy of food,” sourcing food at its freshest and teaching cooks to prepare food simply and use the tastiest ingredients.

The culture of Chez Panisse also plays a factor. Chefs are challenged by daily menu changes and must decide what they will

serve based on what is in the market and looks good. The restaurant also ignores conventional kitchen hierarchy - chefs do as much grunt work and prep as everyone else in the kitchen.”It tapped into a kind of creativity,” Waters says. “You’re never taking anything for granted.” Waters has always served as executive chef, though these days she devotes much of her time to running the Chez Panisse Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds the Edible Schoolyard, a kitchen and garden program integrated into the academic curriculum of an urban middle school.

A number of the festivities for the 40th anniversary - the official birthday is Aug 28 - center on fundraising activities for the foundation, which is relaunching as The Edible Schoolyard Project.

The program, which began in Berkeley, has a number of affiliates elsewhere and the expanded

goal is to build a national curriculum for food education. The guest list for the anniversary weekend includes such food luminaries as author Michael Pollan (“The Omnivore’s Dilemma”) and Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food. Also attending is musician David Byrne, writer and editor Ruth Reichl, and actor and Edible Schoolyard ambassador Jake Gyllenhaal.

In a world where restaurants open and close in the blink of a season, 40 years is a milestone, one Bertolli credits to “unrelenting commitment to singular purpose simple, pure food.”Thinking of the anniversary, Waters was feeling “incredibly sentimental and overwhelmed.

I guess excited, too, at the possibility of just jumping up on the table and trying to really gather this unstoppable movement together.” —AP

This undated photo courtesy of Chez Panisse shows the exterior of Chez Panisse in Berkeley.

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Lifestyle

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Lady Gaga more

powerful than Oprah

L

ady Gaga has been named the most powerful female celebrity in the world by Forbes. The ‘Hair’ singer has beat Oprah Winfrey to a higher position on the annual World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list compiled by the business and finance analysts, but could only reach number 11 in the total list. Oprah Winfrey Network owner and former chat show host Oprah is placed at number 14, dropping from third place in 2010. No showbiz stars made the top ten of the list, which is comprised of politicians and businesswomen including German Chancellor Angela Merkel at number one and other entrants US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chief Operating officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg and Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Gaga topped a celebrity-only version of the list earlier this year, with Forbes giving the reason as “not just because of her $90 million in earnings, but also because of her 32 million Facebook fans and 10 million twitter followers”. Other notable figures on the list include Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at number 49, supermodel and environmentalist Giselle Bundchen, who is placed at number 60, and Editor-in Chief of Vogue magazine Anna Wintour, at number 69.

Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women top ten: 1. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor 2. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State 3. Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil 4. Indra Nooyi, Chief Executive, PepsiCo 5. Sheryl Sandberg COO, Facebook 6. Melinda Gates, Cofounder, Cochair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 7. Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress Party 8. Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States 9. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund 10. Irene Rosenfeld, CEO, Kraft Foods

Goldberg

adopts thrown kitten

W

hoopi Goldberg has adopted a kitten that was thrown from a moving car. The Oscar-winning actress was moved by the plight of the unfortunate feline who was rescued last month after being tossed out of a vehicle driving down Verrazano Bridge in New York City. The frightened animal was found wedged by a barrier on the busy road bridge and was taken to the New York Animal Care & Control centre. After spending two months at the centre, the cat - a Russian blue breed - was allowed to be taken home by Whoopi. Writing on her Facebook page, she revealed: “I adopted him and I was finally able to take him home.” Although the pussy had initial been named Verrazano after the bridge where he was found, the ‘Sister

A

Act’ star has revealed she has decided to call her new pet “Vinny”. Following the huge media coverage of Vinny’s plight 140 adoption applications were made by animal lovers in ‘The Big Apple’ but the 55-year-old actress was chosen to be his owner.

Queen Latifah inspired by mother Q

Baldwin moves in with girlfriend

ueen Latifah’s style is inspired by her mother.

The 41-year-old singer and actress - who was born and raised in New Jersey - loves her mom Rita’s style and also believes model Iman always looks “beautiful”. She said: “My fashion sense? Number one, my mom she’s always super stylish, always has been. “And then I would say Iman, I just think she’s gorgeous. She’s also a great entrepreneur and she has a great sense of style, and she has longevity, and you know that’s what I would like to have for sure.” The ‘Chicago’ star also has her own range of clothes on the Home Shopping Network, and she believes the collection is for women who are looking for something “very wearable”. She added to People: “I mean these are things that are really beautiful, but they’re very wearable. We’re really trying to make sure that they have the best fabrics possible, that it feels good on the body. I’m a Pisces, I’m sensitive; I like things to feel good on my skin.”

lec Baldwin is moving in with his yoga instructor girlfriend. The ‘30 Rock’ star has sold his apartment in Manhattan, New York, to move into a new home in the city’s SoHo district with his lover Hilaria Thomas, and friends reckon they could soon tie the knot. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “He’s really in love.

He’s even met her parents. He sees marriage in the near future.” Alec - who, at 53, is 26 years Hilaria’s senior - were spotted wearing what appear to be promise rings at a charity softball game last weekend, and when asked if she sees marriage in their future, Hilaria was overhead saying: “Let’s see how it goes.” Alec was previously married to actress Kim Basinger from 1993 to 2001. They have a 15-year-old daughter Ireland together. Alec has been dating Hilaria since May this year, and it seems the actor had a change of heart about dating younger women. Last year, he said: “What’s worse than waking up with a 25-year-old woman, you know what I mean? You want to go shoot yourself because you have nothing to say to her.

Seriously.” It is also rumored Alec is to enrol in a master’s program in politics and government in 2012, and that he one day has ambitions to run for the post of Mayor of New York.

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Years

Lifestyle

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Carrey to marry Stone T

he 49-year-old actor has filmed a video blog in which he confesses he has a huge crush on ‘The Amazing Spider Man’ actress who is 27 years younger than him. In the comic video posted on his official website, he says: “Emma, I think you’re all the way beautiful. Not just pretty, but smart and kind-hearted.

And if I were a lot younger, I would marry you. We would have chubby little freckle-faced kids. “We’d laugh all day long, go camping and play Yahtzee. Tell ghost stories by the fire.” Jim - who split from former Playboy model Jenny McCarthy after five years together in April 2010 - acknowledged the age gap in the video, and jokingly admitted a relationship between the pair would be inappropriate. He added: “And every day, for the rest of your life, you would thank God that I was the appropriate age for you.

But I’m not. I’m 49. “I have lines on my face, sometimes a little gray in my beard, and it takes me a little bit longer to pee than it used to.” He signs off the video by wishing Emma - who is rumored to be dating her ‘Spider Man’ co-star Andrew Garfield - the best with her career. She said: “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how I felt. I think you’re very special and I wish you continued success and artistic fulfillment. But most of all, I wish you love and contentment.”

Watson

moves boyfriend to dad’s house

E

mma Watson has moved her new boyfriend into her dad’s house.

The ‘Harry Potter’ star is reportedly living with her new beau, actor Johnny Simmons - who she has been dating since they met on the set of new movie ‘The Perks of Being A Wallflower’ earlier this year - in the swanky attic rooms of her father’s £2 million home in north London. A source explained: “Things are getting pretty serious between Emma and Johnny so she wanted to take him back to London to meet her

parents.”They’ve been having a brilliant time together. Emma knows the city like the back of her hand so is a great person to show him around.” While staying with the 21-year-old screen beauty’s parents, the pair have taken in a number of London sights, making trips to Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. The source added to The Sun newspaper: “They’ve done loads of tourist spots but she has also been taking him to a few flea markets and some great local pubs.”They’ve been taking bikes or eco-

cars to every tourist trap in the capital, including the London Eye, Big Ben and St Paul’s Cathedral.” After the couple were spotted smooching in Los Angeles earlier this month, Emma - who previously dated British singer George Craig was said to have looked “utterly besotted” with her new man. An onlooker explained at the time: “They were all over each other, kissing and hugging. It was very sweet to see. She looked utterly besotted. They’re obviously headover-heels in love.”

Lavigne to show

at New York Fashion Week

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vril Lavigne says she’s “super honored” to show at New York Fashion Week. The ‘Girlfriend’ singer will showcase the latest collection for her Abbey Dawn clothing range at the prestigious event next month and she says it’s a dream come true. She said: “I’ve done a fashion show there before and it’s, like, kind of a really big deal. I’m on tour in Europe but I made sure I can do it. I have two hours to do it, then I leave. I fly for like 24 hours but it’s really important and I’m super honored.” Avril first launched the line three years ago and says only now does she finally feel it’s complete. She told People: “Heels, footwear. And now I have men’s stuff

so it feels complete. It’s my brand, it’s my baby. It’s the first time it’s a full collection of everything, outside of clothing. There are so many different categories.”

Earlier this year, Avril said her fashion tastes have grown more sophisticated over time. The ‘What The Hell’ hitmaker used to be famed for her rock chick look but has now started to wear dresses and heels as her style has matured over the years. The 26-year-old star said: “When I was younger, I dressed skater and had that whole thing going on. But as I grew up, I eventually started wearing heels and dresses. Over time, fashion choices change. Now that I’m older and have a fashion line, I’m more into fashion.”

Theron wants to have a baby

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he 36-year-old actress is keen to start a family and doesn’t want to wait any longer to become a mother. Charlize - who is currently single after separating from actor Ryan Reynolds in August after a brief two-month romance - told Germany’s In Touch magazine: “I want a baby. If it would happen tomorrow I would still be very happy about it.” Charlize is also open to the idea of adopting a child and thinks she good provide a wonderful home to a disadvantaged youngster. When asked if she would consider adoption, she said: “Why not? I’m open to everything in life.” The Oscar winner also praised her own mother Gerda - who shot Charlize’s abusive father Charlie when he was 21 in an act of self-defense - for the way she raised her and the values she instilled in her. She said: “My mum raised me never to be a victim and to take responsibility for my actions.”

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

China bans songs by Lady Gaga, Backstreet Boys

In this photo provided by CBS, “Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher, left, pokes fun at host David Letterman by wearing a helmet and bullet proof vest labeled “Not Dave,” on the set of the “Late Show with David Letterman,” Wednesday. — AP

Kutcher

File photo shows US pop diva Lady Gaga waving as she arrives for a visit to the central Taichung government offices during a five-day promotion tour of the island for her new album “Born This Way”. —AFP

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hina has banned 100 songs from being featured on websites, barring artists ranging from Lady Gaga to the Backstreet Boys apparently for being out of tune with the country’s cultural authorities. The ministry of culture said it aimed to regulate the “order” of the Internet music market, adding songs that “harm the security of state culture must be cleaned up and regulated under the law”.

The notice, issued on August 19 and posted on the ministry’s website, included American singer Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory”, “Hair”, “Marry the Night” and “Bloody Mary”. It did not explain why the songs were banned but China routinely censors anything it considers politically sensitive or offensive. Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” ends with the line “Oh, libertad, mi amor (Oh, freedom, my love)”, while “Hair” includes the lyrics “This is my prayer/ That I’ll die living just as free as my hair”. Teng Jimeng, a professor of American studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said that sex, politics or religion could put a song on the black list but even songs about “youthful independence” may run afoul of censors.

“Sexuality should be avoided, and politics,” he said.

But he saw the move as part of a broader tightening of controls over culture given the revolts in the Arab world, which have worried Beijing. “It’s part of a cyclical chill in terms of cultural control,” he said. Boy band The Backstreet Boys, American R&B singer Beyonce, Canada’s Simple Plan and British pop group Take That all had songs on the list-the third to be issued by China’s government. Asian artists with songs banned included Taiwan’s Chang Hui-mei, who previously drew Beijing’s ire after singing the Taiwan anthem at the inauguration of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian in 2000. China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, temporarily banned her from mainland performances and pulled her product advertisements. Songs placed on previous blacklists include Avril Lavigne’s “What the Hell” and the Rolling Stones’ version of “It’s All Over Now” which dates to the 1960s. Since 2010, China has required all songs posted on music websites to receive prior approval, in a move the government said was aimed at controlling content and rampant piracy. Pirated music in China is said to account for as much as 99 percent of all downloads, according to industry estimates. —AFP

teases Letterman about fatwa

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ike David Letterman, Ashton Kutcher isn’t afraid of a little fatwa humor.

Kutcher taped an appearance for Letterman’s talk show Wednesday, and the actor came on stage wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest printed with the phrase, “Not Dave.” Last week, a contribu-

tor to a jihadist website posted a threat of violence against Letterman because the comedian had made fun of al-Qaida leaders on a previous show. Letterman, back from vacation Monday, played the threat for monologue laughs. During Wednesday’s taping, Letterman asked

Kutcher if his bowtie was bullet-proof.

The actor replied that “you can’t be too careful” sitting next to a guy facing a threat. Kutcher joined CBS’ “Two and a Half Men” after Charlie Sheen was fired.

He and Letterman predicted success for the revamped sitcom. — AP

Korean nationalism put to song in lavish ‘Hero’

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on-Korean-speaking theatergoers attending Lincoln Center’s production of “Hero: The Musical” might find themselves occasionally skipping some of the English supertitles projected high above the stage to devote more visual attention to the exorbitant onstage attractions in this lavish, $6 million production.

It would be understandable considering the elaborate set and ornate costumes that adorn the sweeping, historical tribute to Korean nationalism - a somber, grueling epic that is as ambitious as it is long. “Hero” tells the story of An Chunggun (played by Sung Hwa Chung), a leader of Korea’s armed resistance against Japanese rule in the early 1900s. An was executed for the assassination of Ito Hirobumi (Sung Gee Kim), the Japanese administer of power in Korea.

The musical was commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of An’s death and was widely acclaimed in Korea before making its American debut Tuesday at Lincoln Center’s David H Koch Theater. It’s mostly grim, reflective score - with music by Sang Joon Oh and book and lyrics by A Reum Han - includes more than 30 numbers that are presented and orchestrated in a style similar to a typical American musical. Many of the songs are somewhat staid ballads about patriotism and sacrifice, generally lacking the kind of tunefulness that sends audiences away humming.

But “Hero” seems to hang its hat on the scale of its production as much as anything else. The spectacle runs nearly three hours, including one intermission, and boasts dozens of performers in brilliant, traditional attire, as well as a movable, layered set featuring bold splashes of color and transparencies.

The costumes are consistently appealing, from the radiant kimonos of fan-waving Geishas to the stunning regalia of sword-wielding soldiers. —AP

In this theater image released by Richard Kornberg & Associates, the cast of the Korean musical, “Hero: The Musical,” performs in New York. — AP

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Review

‘Colombiana’ knows how silly it is A

brawny B-action picture with a gorgeous, graceful woman wreaking havoc at its center: Yup, “Colombiana” is a Luc Besson movie. The director of “La Femme Nikita” and “The Fifth Element” serves as co-writer and producer here, but this is very much a spin-off of his brand, a continuation of the kind of stereotype- and gravity- defying characters he’s made his name on.

“Colombiana” feels more hammy and muscular, though - but knowingly so, and that’s what makes it solid, late-summer escapist fun.

Zoe Saldana stars as Cataleya, who saw her parents killed in front of her when she was just a 9-year-old schoolgirl living in the slums of Bogota. Played as a child by the intense Amandla Stenberg in her film debut, she escapes by performing a dizzying series of parkour moves across rooftops and through windows before making her way to the US Embassy to vomit up the microchip her father entrusted with her.

No, the film from French director Olivier Megaton (“Transporter 3”) is not subtle. As the production notes so helpfully inform us, Megaton “takes his name from his birthday: The 6th of August 1965 is the 20th anniversary of the dropping of the Hiroshima A-bomb.” But certainly you weren’t looking for that, now,

were you? Anyway, 15 years later, with the help of her Uncle Emilio (Cliff Curtis), Cataleya has become a highly efficient professional assassin, but she still seeks revenge against the drug kingpin (Beto Benites) and his right-hand man (Jordi Molla) who are responsible for her parents’ deaths.

The mark she leaves on her victims’ bodies - a drawing of the orchid she’s named for - is a message for her childhood enemies but it also sparks the curiosity of the FBI agent who thinks

In this film image released by Columbia Pictures, Zoe Saldana portrays Cataleya in a scene from “Colombiana.” — AP

Will Smith, Jada Pinkett, all smiles in public

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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett

he’s tracking a serial killer. (Lennie James serves as the film’s lone source of dignity and calm in the role.) Over-the-top bad guys spew generically menacing lines and hot women parade around in bikinis and lingerie. The catlike Saldana herself kicks butt in little more than tank tops and short-shorts, and prowls around during a thrilling jail hit in the kind of skin-tight body suit she might have worn to do motion-capture work for “Avatar.” Her character also likes to suck lollipops while she’s cleaning out her

ne day after a magazine claimed that their marriage was in trouble, Hollywood super couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith appeared together in public on Wednesday, smiling broadly for cameras and fans. Their brief walk down a sidewalk outside a restaurant in the wealthy enclave of Malibu followed a story published online on Tuesday by In Touch Weekly magazine saying the pair, who have two superstar children, were headed for a separation.

That story was attributed to an unnamed “insider” and was followed by a public denial in a statement issued on behalf of the Smiths.

“Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact,” the pair said in the joint statement.

But the rumors persisted on Wednesday with singer Marc Anthony, who co-stars with Jada Pinkett Smith on TV show “Hawthorne” and who recently split up with singer Jennifer Lopez, surfacing in reports as a possible suitor to his TV co-star. In Malibu, Will Smith was asked by a reporter for celebrity news website TMZ.com to comment on the “ridiculous rumors” in the media, and Smith answered, “you just did.”—Reuters

guns; again, subtle.

The action, meanwhile, is totally preposterous, but that’s what you pay your money to see. Cataleya seems to be both omniscient and omnipresent, capable of arming or disarming any device, adept at crawling through or climbing over any obstacle in her path without ever smudging her sexy eyeliner. In fact, there’s only one scene where she seems to be in any real danger: a visceral, bruising sequence of hand-to-hand combat featuring towels and toothbrushes reminiscent of the third “Bourne” movie.

For the most part, it’s all big and silly, but at least it’s enjoyably staged and crafted. But Saldana also manages to earn our sympathy, as the script (which Besson wrote with frequent collaborator Robert Mark Kamen) allows her to convey a surprising amount of emotion and inner conflict. Cataleya’s purely physical relationship with a hunky artist named Danny (Michael Vartan) forces her to confront the loneliness she’s long suppressed. But then it’s time for her to take her clothes off again.

“Colombiana,” a TriStar Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, intense sequences of action, sexuality and brief strong language.

Running time: 108 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. — AP

O’Neal takes plea on

drug charge, gets rehab R edmond O’Neal, the troubled son of the late Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O’Neal, pleaded no contest to drug and weapons charges on Wednesday and was ordered to spend a year in a live-in rehabilitation program. O’Neal, 26, was arrested in Los Angeles earlier this month after police found heroin and marijuana in his car following a routine traffic stop for running a red light.

After his arrest, police searched O’Neal’s home and discovered a handgun, which he is not allowed to possess because he is still on probation for a 2009 drug conviction. Back

Recording artist Rod Stewart performs during the launch of his two-year residency “Rod Stewart: The Hits.” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace August 24, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. —AFP

Redmond O’Neal appears at the courthouse in Malibu, Calif. — AP

then, he was ordered to spend one year in a drug treatment program and given three years probation. On Wednesday, O’Neal entered pleas of no contest to one count of possessing heroin and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the year in rehab, a judge also sentenced him to five years probation. It was the latest trouble for O’Neal, who has battled drug dependency in the past and who saw his mother die after a long, public battle with cancer in 2009.—Reuters

Lifestyle FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Stars in stripes T

Lush knit camisole dress from Nordstrom.com. —MCT photos

he recent 2011 Teen Choice Awards show was a blur of celebs such as Taylor Swift, Rachel Bilson, Lea Michele and Emma Stone, all wearing hot white dresses. It could have been the warm weather or just a fashion coincidence, but white maxis, minis and gowns were everywhere.

Breaking away from the snow white pack was “Vampire Diaries” star Nina Dobrev. The CW’s high school vampire show won Choice fantasy/sci-fi series, and Dobrev and costar Ian Somerhalder (who plays bad boy Damon and is her real-life boyfriend) took home surfboards for Choice actors.

Dobrev kept her look playful and sexy in a nautically inspired D&G gingham blue-and-white striped dress, mini white clutch, also by D&G, and blue satin pumps,

by Ferragamo. Her high ponytail and bright blue studs added to the flirty, young look.

Get Dobrev’s nautical look in a navy-and-white striped dress, such as the Seashore stripes dress with a bow from Forever21.com for $22.80, the Lush knit camisole dress from

Navy satin pumps from Kelly & Katie Daffodil peep-toe pump from DSW.com .

Dillard’s sterling collection ball and cat’s eye stud earring set.

Nordstrom.com for $44 or, for a look you can make casual or dressy, the navystripe curve-seam dress with short sleeves from Topshop.com for $60.

Give your new look some height with a pair of navy satin pumps, such as the Bouquets Dalia navy pumps for $51.35 at Zappos.com, or try the Kelly & Katie Daffodil peeptoe pump from DSW.com for $39.95.

For the perfect day-to-night accessories, snag any neutral-colored clutch you might already own and a pair of blue stud earrings for a pop of color.

Some choices: The glimmer dome post earrings from UrbanOutfitters.com for $14, the metallic blue skull studs by Rachel Roy for $20 or Dillard’s sterling collection ball and cat’s eye stud earring set for $21. —MCT

Navy-stripe curve-seam dress with short sleeves from Topshop.com.

For day-to-night nautically inspired accessories a Metallic blue skull studs by Rachel Roy.

Bangladesh animal activist saves dogs from brutal culls D

ozens of dogs had been beaten to death and tossed into the back of the Dhaka city garbage truck by the time Rubaiya Ahmad got home and realised her beloved pet Kastanka was among them. Rubaiya’s puppy had been registered, vaccinated and was wearing a collar but she was still swept up by the Dhaka City Corporation team during one of their routine anti-rabies culling drives, which kill up to 20,000 dogs a year.

“The dogs were heaped on the garbage truck, their necks and legs were broken and they were bleeding from their mouths. It was the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen-I threw up,” Rubaiya said, describing the 2009 incident. “I took Kastanka’s body out of the truck, buried her and then pledged that I would stop this brutal dog culling once and for all,” she told AFP in her oneroom apartment which she shares with three dogs and six cats.

Rubaiya set up Obhoyaronnyo (Sanctuary) and launched a campaign to convince authorities in Dhaka-a fastgrowing megacity of 13 million-that culling is not the best way to deal with their 150,000-strong stray dog population. Two years on and the 35-year-old University of Texas graduate has achieved more than she ever imagined.

In 2011, for the first time ever, Dhaka has not launched a mass dog cull.

Usually, every year in July the Dhaka City Corporation starts its culling drive in a bid to stamp out rabies, which official figures say kills more than 2,000 people a year in Bangladesh. Teams of people,

armed with iron tongs, sticks and lethal injections, are sent out to capture and kill any dog found roaming the streets.

Most often, activists say, the dogs are simply beaten to death.

But, thanks to Obhoyaronnyo’s campaign, the city is now looking for new ways to manage the street dog population, said Brigadier General Nasiruddin Ahmed, head of health services at the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC). “We have stopped culling except some emergency cases, such as when rabid dogs attack schoolkids,” he told AFP. Azmat Ali, chief veterinary officer at the city corporation, has led dog culling

squads for years-and was in charge of the raid that killed Rubaiya’s puppy Kastanka-but now, he said, he’s realised culls don’t work. “Mass dog culling is counter-productive. It does not contain the dog population or control rabies-it only aggravated the situation,” he said.

“We killed dogs by the thousands. But immediately after a cull, the streets fill up again with new dogs, many of whom are rabid, coming from Dhaka’s suburbs,” he said. Sterilisation and vaccinations are better ways of managing the city’s dog problem, Ali said.

“The way we culled dogs was inhumane. Dogs have been the friends of

Rubaiya Ahmad playing with her dog at her apartment, which she shares with three dogs and six cats, in Dhaka. — AFP

humans for thousands of years, yet we were killing them,” he said. Next month, Obhoyaronnyo and Bangladesh’s Health Department will send six Bangladeshi vets to the Indian city of Jaipur to learn how sterilisation can work to control the stray dog population in a city.

The training is being funded by USbased pet rights group Humane Society International, which is also bankrolling the initial cost of launching Bangladesh’s new dog sterilisation programme.

“Once we have the trained vets and the necessary infrastructure in place for sterilisation and vaccination of street dogs, we’ll even stop the emergency cullings,” said Ahmed. It is a swift victory for Rubaiya, who only returned to Bangladesh in 2006 after spending a decade in the United States. The moment she was back in Dhaka, she fell in love with street dogs and turned her tiny Dhaka apartment into a mini-sanctuary. “Nowhere in the world are dogs treated so badly as in Bangladesh,” she said. Many religious citizens in this Muslim-majority nation-including Rubaiya’s parents, who initially didn’t understand her animal rights work-consider dogs “unclean,” and do not care how they are treated, she said.”This attitude gave the authorities a licence to kill dogs. We have struggled to drive home the message that Islam as a religion does not prescribe brutal treatment of dogs,” she said. Obhoyaronnyo works primarily with city authorities, but has also turned to social media such as Twitter and Facebook to organise protests. —AFP

Stars

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Aries (March 21-April 19) You could find that you are appreciated for your hard work.

You are able to rise above any problems that have been difficult to end. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be sought after as just the person for a specific project. Your management abilities are in high gear. You seem motivated and driven in new and unexpected directions. You could receive unexpected backing and, in general, your efforts are successful for reaching new heights of originality. The light in your eyes reveals the brightness of your mind to everyone who comes to know you. You may find yourself oriented more to family and home this evening. Neighbors may also pop in for a while this evening, perhaps to help you plan a block party.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Good fortune and plain old luck surround you today. It is easy for you to make correct decisions, find the right path and move forward where career is concerned. Life’s problems seem manageable and easy to solve. This is a time to take risks and dare to be a little individualistic. You will prosper through new insights, inventions and an independent point of view. Career moves may depend upon your cutting through some of the trivia and really taking care of business, getting down to your most practical. Ridding yourself of the things that are nonessential may be a key move.

Your professional reputation is elevated today. Soon, you will be able to take some time out for yourself—perhaps to travel, write or plan continued education.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You appear more charming and sophisticated than usual today. Now is a good time to put your plans into effect—make that date, apply for the job, or otherwise make yourself known. Your analytical powers always manage to get at whatever motivation is beyond an apparent behavior. You have great insight into what motivates the public, crowds and the mind in general. You can work within the sensitive and vulnerable psychological areas without batting an eye and would be good at instructing others. You could be very resourceful when it comes to advertising ideas. Some volunteer work with emergency care is of interest to you and this is where you may find yourself this afternoon. A special time with loved ones is enjoyed this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You will be pleased at the outcome of a dispute this morning.

Your debating techniques have improved. With intelligent statistics and facts, you will see positive results. Compromise, flexibility and negotiations may also be in order—you might want to try to cut a path that includes all three.

After work this afternoon you may opt for some form of water therapy. This is a good way to rid you of the stress of the day and clear the mind. Your day will be unusually productive and your progress will be recognized as a positive to the company for which you work. This evening some sort of civic function may be enjoyed. Work on a balance between work and play. A creative, powerful person catches your attention this evening—you observe and learn.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You may find yourself very appreciative of your career and practical skills. You might enjoy solving puzzles and problems and finding solutions. A renewed appreciation for your work may be apparent to your superiors—in fact, to everybody. During the lunch break you may get into a sparring competition about trivia questions. You love to study and question and are always inquiring and searching, using your mind for research. You enjoy communication in all its forms—spoken, written, via computers, etc. You enjoy teaching others and may be asked to use your skills to help a young person—tutoring. Before you embark upon this tutoring, enjoy a fun activity between you and this young person. This helps to build trust and confidence.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A generally busy but non-challenging workday will give you an opportunity to create some plans for after the workday has ended. This may mean an impromptu function that you and your co-workers can use as a way to release some energy. You attract good, gentle and loving people with regard to friends. This can be an enjoyable time to share and visit and plan for future events. There is talk of vacationing and perhaps pictures of past adventures. You could decide to vacation with a group this year, perhaps too far away places. Always on the go, you are a skilled diplomat, negotiator or representative. Investments may prove to be a good topic of discussion this afternoon. A good, brisk walk after the evening meal is refreshing and fun.

COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) You are an in-fighter, with animal-like instincts when it comes to big business—you are always where the action is most intense. Breakups in a business partnership may be to your advantage—do not burn your bridges behind you; no enemies please. Your penetrating mind gets through to the bottom line every time and you are not afraid to tell it as it is. Exciting to be near, you can be an entrepreneur; the big wheel.

You could, however, become a bit restless as changes in the workplace are evident. You work very hard, with a gritty resolve to accomplish much. It takes a lot to overload your willingness to take charge and help. You put forth a lot of effort, in regard to your career. When you go home, leave your drive and ambitions for work, at work. Relax!

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Your tendency to compromise and settle for less than you dreamed can be a problem. You may choose the path of least resistance just now—willing to bypass some of the things you always wanted in favor of expediency. Career moves must be given special attention.

Tension results when you ignore your own needs to take a course of action, job, career or whatever that can never satisfy. Worse, you may find yourself in a job that is compromising. Stop now to regroup and make new plans. Look at any difficult situation in the workplace as temporary and begin to look for the job that will fit you better. A love relationship, perhaps new, is blossoming. If you have been together a long time; you will find newness about your relationship is sweet.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Being successful in life is easy—you have a built-in sense of how to approach and unravel even the most difficult problems. Knowing what to do with the money you earn is a whole different story. Consider taking a class or teaching a class in financial awareness at a Junior College near you. You can pull in some extra money for that hobby of yours and do a good deed while you are at it! Why not sign up for a creative writing class as well— it will help you to put your thoughts into words. One of the biggest topics of conversation with your friends is often technically oriented or a bit unusual from the usual flow of conversation. You are unconventional and drawn to whatever is different. You may find yourself involved in helping strangers this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Perhaps there is a sense of challenge or blockage just now.

Some sort of temporary obstacle may appear. Remember, a blockage is temporary so bide your time—do not give in to frustration. Your sense of confidence will take hold and build and pay off for you, particularly as you begin to look forward. The hard work you are putting forth now, with planning and setting aside some earnings, should benefit you quite handsomely in the future. You should have some wonderfully successful times ahead. There is a certain change of direction—away from the material and glitter, toward inner needs and security. There are opportunities for building good friendships now. Enjoy them. More demanding times will be further on down the road.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) This is a good day and much can be accomplished. Good eyehand coordination and a sustained effort make almost any task run well. You may feel like getting out and exercising at noon. Emotions are very present but within control. Discovering new values that represent some sort of a break with the tried and true comes naturally now. A change in financial status is possible and can lead in unexpected directions. New spending patterns will develop, perhaps focused on high-tech interests.

There are opportunities to visit with friends this afternoon and you could find yourself showing off or listening to others show off their vacation pictures or telling of a summer adventure. You enjoy and work toward a positive and prosperous life.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) This is kind of an oddball day where everyone seems to be going in his or her own direction. Stay to your own responsibilities and you will find most difficulties smoothing out quite nicely. Becoming involved in some of the problems that do not pertain to you today may be a mistake. It may be important that you listen and in many cases, people just need encouragement to solve their own problems. You work very hard in your own profession and have a gritty resolve to accomplish much. Today is a successful day. This evening you will enjoy the company of children or young people as well as your own home surroundings. A party or some type of celebration is in order with these young people. There is harmony and happy voices are there.

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African Republic 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062 Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677 Somalia 00252 South Africa 0027 South Korea 0082 Spain 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Sudan 00249 Suriname 00597 Swaziland 00268 Sweden 0046 Switzerland 0041 Syria 00963 Taiwan 00886 Tanzania 00255 Thailand 0066 Toga 00228 Tonga 00676 Tokelau 00690 Trinidad 001868 Tunisia 00216 Turkey 0090 Tuvalu 00688 Uganda 00256 Ukraine 00380 United Arab Emirates00976

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W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Shah Abdul Karim Sritty Parishad holds Iftar

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n Iftar reception and coronation ceremony followed by a lively discussion on the importance of the holy Month of Ramadan was held Thursday the l8th August 2011 under management of Shah Abdul Karim Sritty Parishad. A large number of Bangladeshi attended the events.

Announcements Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas. For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swa rna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq : Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty- 67712409.

Pathanamthitta Onam The executive committee of Pathanamthitta District Association has decided to hold 2011 Onam Festival celebrations on Friday October 28, 2011 with a grand public function attended by Member o f Parliament from Pathanamthitta Loksabha Constituency, Anto Antony and other prominent dignitaries from Kerala and Kuwait. All residents of Pathanamthitta District and persons of Pathanamthitta District origin are hereby invited to attend this function and friends and families.

Art salon Bouhshari Art Gallery Exhibition runs through 15 September. Daily working hours: 10am - 1pm and 5 9pm, except on Fri day and on Thursday evening.

India medical tourism destination event

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he Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), along with Trident Exhibition Pvt. Ltd., and supported by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Commerce, and Government of India, is organizing an event entitled “India-Medical Tourism Destination 2011”. The event will run from 14th 15th September 2011 at the Kuwait International Fair (KIF) Ground, Mishref, Kuwait. The objective of the event would be to highlight the benefits of medical tourism and to emphasize India’s role in providing affordable and quality healthcare to the Kuwaiti people.

Healthcare is an essential needs.

However, quality healthcare facilities are not available everywhere.

And if at all available, the cost is exorbitantly high in most parts of the world. With a large pool of highly trained doctors and affordable treatment cost, the Indian

healthcare sector aims to replicate the success of the Indian software sector. Over the past few years, the medical tourism story has changed dramatically in India. Private enterprises including corporate hospitals, chemists, freelance agents are all working in tandem to build a thriving ecosystem that educates, facilitates and ferries medical tourists from across the world. In the year 2010, this system brought around 600,000 patients from over 30 countries around the globe, mainly from USA, Canada, UK, Russia, the Middle East and Africa to India who spent Rs.4,500 crores (US$1 billion) in treatments. Advantages for medical tourists in India include reduced costs, availability of the latest medical technologies and growing compliance of international quality standards and absence of language barriers.

The most popular treatments sought in India by medical tourists

are transplant surgeries (liver, kidney, heart) cardiac bypass surgery, eye surgery, orthopedic surgery and spinal surgery. India is known in particular for heart surgery, hip and knee resurfacing and other areas of advanced medicine and alternative medicines. As per the latest report, over 10,000 Kuwaiti nationals went to India in 2010 for treatments related to cardiac, spinal, cosmetic and various other surgeries.

An advance team lead by Dr. Narottam Puri, Advisor - Health Services, FICCI and Chairman, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, visited Kuwait from 10 - 12 July 2011 for holding preliminary discussions on the event. They called on Mr. Vidhu P. Nair, Charge d’ Affaires of the Indian Embassy who promised to extend all assistance for the successful conduct of the event.

Youth India assists Somalis Shah Abdul Karim Sritty Parishad holds Iftar

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n Iftar reception and coronation ceremony followed by a lively discussion on the importance of the holy Month of Ramadan was held Thursday the l8th August 2011 under management of Shah Abdul Karim Sritty Parishad. A large number of Bangladeshi attended the events.

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o help the Somali people who are going through hardships due to the famine and poverty, Youth India has decided to collect food and clothes from Kuwait. The collection is being carried out in co-ordination with International Islamic Charitable Organization based in Kuwait. Rice, Oil,

tin food and any food that has at least 3 months expiry date can be donated.

The food and clothes will be collected at Abbasiya Pravasi Auditorium and Fahaheel Darussalam every day between 5pm and 9pm. The last date for donation is August 27. Those who wish to donate clothes are kindly requested

to donate only usable clothes that have been washed and ironed. For more info, contact 99665915, 66617579, 97649639, 99591966.

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W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211.

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Buildup Developers Iftar & Dua Mahfil

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n Iftar mahfil in honor of Board of director and share holders of ‘Buildup Developers Ltd (Bangladesh)’ was held recently in Kuwait City. The program was held in the Gulshan Hotel and was presided by Nurul Afsar Bhuiyan executive member of Buildup.

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail:info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone:22971170.

The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk ■■■■■■■

Konkani musical show

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omedian Philip, the 1st NRI Goan comedian, is all set to entertain you with a Konkani music show titled “Ani, Anik Zaiem?” to be presented by the United Friends Club on September 9 at 4pm at the AIS (American International School) Auditorium, Maidan-Hawalli. This is Kuwait-based comedian Philip’s third musical show after the overwhelming success of staging “Tum Vhoir Aum Sokol” and “Hem Kazar Koslem” in Kuwait and overseas.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, AlMutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca.

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.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form.

All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed.

To ensure that the most recent version of the Temporary Resident Visa application form is being utilized, applicants should refer to the CIC website. As of January 15, 2011, forms are to be filled in electronically.

The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

The forms are available on the internet at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5257E. PDF. A guide explaining the process can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/5256E.PDF.

TV Listings FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

00:45 01:40 02:35 04:25 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:40 09:10 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:20 12:50 13:45 14:40 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 18:45 19:15 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Untamed And Uncut Big Five Challenge Seven Deadly Strikes Animal Cops Houston Bad Dog Meerkat Manor The Really Wild Show Crocodile Hunter Breed All About It Must Love Cats Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip Meerkat Manor Wildlife SOS E-Vets: The Interns Animal Cops Houston Animal Precinct RS PCA: On The Frontline The Really Wild Show Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous Cats Of Claw Hill Breed All About It Gorilla School Crocodile Hunter Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Last Chance Highway Whale Wars Maneaters Planet Earth

00:00 00:30 01:15 02:10 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:50 05:05 05:25 05:40 05:50 06:10 06:25 06:45 07:00 07:20 07:35 07:55 08:10 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:30 09:40 10:40 11:25 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:10 15:40 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:15 19:10 20:00 20:45 21:20 22:05 23:00 23:30

My Family The Weakest Link Casualty Paradox Eastenders Doctors My Family Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm The Adventures Of Spot Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm The Adventures Of Spot Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm The Adventures Of Spot My Family The Weakest Link Ray Mears’ Wild Foods Doctors Eastenders Casualty My Family Ray Mears’ Wild Foods The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Ray Mears’ Wild Foods The Weakest Link Doctors Robin Hood Paradox After You’ve Gone Gavin & Stacey

00:15 The Naked Chef 00:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 01:05 What Not To Wear 02:00 Masterchef Australia 02:45 The Naked Chef 03:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 04:05 Daily Cooks Challenge 05:25 Masterchef Australia 06:15 The Naked Chef 06:40 Daily Cooks Challenge 10:25 What Not To Wear 11:15 Rhodes Across China 12:00 Cash In The Attic 12:45 Antiques Roadshow 13:35 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 14:00 Holmes On Homes 14:45 What Not To Wear 15:40 Rhodes Across China 16:25 Cash In The Attic 17:05 Antiques Roadshow

THE SUM OF ALL FEARS ON OSN ACTION HD

00:00 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 07:45 08:30 08:45 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 13:45 14:00 15:00

BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News America Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Peschardt’s Business People BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Peschardt’s Business People BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today GMT With George Alagiah BBC World News

15:30 15:45 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 17:45 18:00 19:00 19:30 19:40 20:00

World Business Report Sport Today Impact Our World Impact World Business Report Sport Today World Have Your Say The Hub With Nik Gowing BBC World News Weekend World The Hub With Nik Gowing

00:05 00:15 00:40 01:10 01:30 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:20 03:40 04:10 04:35 05:00 05:30 05:50 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:10 08:20 08:30 08:45 08:55

Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Jungle Junction Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Timmy Time Handy Manny Jake And The Neverland Pirates Jake And The Neverland Pirates The Hive

09:10 09:25 09:50 11:05 11:20 11:45 12:00 12:25 12:40 13:05 13:15 13:25 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:20 15:30 15:40 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:00 17:10 17:30 17:55 18:25 18:50 19:03 19:05 19:25 19:50 20:00 20:10 21:20 21:35 21:50 22:15 22:25 22:40 22:55 23:20 23:35 23:50

Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Little Mermaid Jungle Junction Imagination Movers Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake And The Neverland Pirates Lazytown The Hive Special Agent Oso The Little Mermaid The Little Mermaid The Little Mermaid Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Handy Manny The Hive Jake And The Neverl and Pirates Imagination Movers Lazytown Jungle Junction The Hive Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake And The Neverland Pirates Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Animated Stories Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake And The Neverland Pirates Jake And The Neverland Pirates The Little Mermaid Jake And The Neverlan d Pirates Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Timmy Time Handy Manny Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction

00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 03:55 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 12:45 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00

Dirty Jobs Miami Ink Ultimate Survival Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How Does It Work Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Street Customs 2008 How Does It Work Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Battle Machine Bros Sons Of Guns Sons Of Guns Ultimate Survival Miami Ink Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Mythbusters Deadliest Catch Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings How Does It Work Cash Cab (US) American Chopper: Senior vs

00:05 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 07:55 08:50 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:40

Smash Lab Extreme Engineering Prototype This Bang Goes The Theory Da Vinci’s Machines How Does That Work?

Extreme Engineering One Step Beyond Ecopolis Da Vinci’s Machines How The Universe Works The Gadget Show Weird Connections Da Vinci’s Machines Nasa’s Greatest Missions Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show The Tech Show Power ing The Future Smash Lab The Gadget Show The Tech Show The Tech Show Powering The Future The Gadget Show

00:15 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:25 04:15 05:00 05:50 06:35 07:25 08:15 09:00 09:20 09:45 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:35 12:00 12:10 12:20 12:30 12:40 12:50 13:10 13:35 13:50 14:15 14:35 1 5:00 15:25 15:45 16:10 16:30 16:55 17:20 17:50

Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Replacements Emperor’s New School Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Splits Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Splits Jungle Junction Splits The Hive Handy Manny Splits Jake & The Neverland Pirates Splits Sonny With A Chance The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Phineas And Ferb Splits Shake It Up Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Hannah Montana

18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:45 22:10

Suite Life On Deck Fish Hooks Shake It Up Jake & Blake Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Fish Hooks Hannah Montana Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck

06:00 American Dragon 06:20 Kick Buttowski 06:40 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 07:05 Phineas & Ferb 07:30 Kid Vs Kat 07:50 Pair Of Kings 08:15 I’m In The Band 08:40 Kick Buttowski 09:00 Zeke & Luther 09:50 I’m In The Band 10:15 The Super Hero Squad Show 10:40 Suite Life On Deck 11:30 Pair Of Kings 11:55 Phineas & Ferb 12:45 I’m In The Band 13:10 Kid Vs Kat 13:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:30 Pokemon Movie: Arceus And The Jewel Of Life (Cema) 16:00 I’m In The Band 16:25 Suite Life On Deck 16:50 Zeke & Luther 17:15 Zeke & Luther 17:40 Phineas & Ferb 18:05 Phineas & Ferb 18:30 Escape From Scorpion Island 18:55 Kick Buttowski 19:20 American Dragon 19:45 Aaron Stone 20:15 Kid Vs Kat 20:40 I’m In The Band 21:05 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 21:30 Zeke & Luther 21:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 22:15 The Super Hero Squad Show

00:25 00:55 01:25 02:20 03:15 04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:15 10:15 12:05 13:05 16:55 17:55 18:55 20:55 21:25 22:25 23:25 23:55

Kendra Extreme Close-Up E!es THS 25 Most Stylish Sexiest Extreme Hollywood E!es Behind The Scenes E! News The Dance Scene THS E! News THS E!es E! News THS Chelsea Lately Chelsea’s Big Interview Special E! News Chelsea Lately Kourtney And Kim Take New York

00:15 00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:50 05:40 06:30 08:00 08:25 09:15 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:45 12:35 13:25 14:15 15:05 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:15 19:40

Final Fu Mantracker World Combat League Final Fu Wrestling With Reality FIM World Motocross MX3 2011 Mantracker World Combat League Ride Guide Mountainbike 2007 X Games Heroes Summer Dew Tour 2010 Summer Dew Tour 2010 Ticket To Ride 2009/2010 Ticket To Ride 2009/2010 Winter Dew Tour 10/11 Alpine Adventurer Alpine Adventurer S hark Park World Combat League X Games 15 2009 Tread BMX Tread BMX X Games Heroes Summer Dew Tour 2010 Summer Dew Tour 2010 Ticket To Ride 2009/2010 Ticket To Ride 2009/2010 Alpine Adventurer

TV Listings FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

Alpine Adventurer Winter Dew Tour 10/11 World Combat League Eddie Jordan’s Bad Boy Racers M1 Selection 2010

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:50 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Haunted Psychic Witness True Crime With Aphrodite Jones True Crime Scene Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters The Haunted Mystery ER Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER FBI Case Files FBI Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Extreme Forensics Mystery ER Street Patrol Real Eme rgency Calls FBI Case Files FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Extreme Forensics Nightmare Next Door Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 05:50 06:35 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:25 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:05 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:35 17:00 17:25

Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam Good Eats - Special Grill It! With Bobby Flay Barefoot Contessa Unwrapped Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam Good Eats - Special Unwrapped Ten Dollar Dinners Paula’s Best Dishes Paula’s Party Barefoot Contessa Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Everyday Italian Good Deal With Dave Lieberman Ten Dollar Dinners Paula’s Best Dishes Barefoot Contessa Aarti Party Boy Meets Grill Unwrapped Paula’s Party Everyday Italian Paula’s Best Dishes Good Deal With Dave Lieberman World Cafe Asia Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam Good Eats - Special Unwrapped Boy Meets Grill Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Barefoot Contessa Paula’s Best Dishes

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:15 12:15 14:00 16:15 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Thirteenth Floor-18 Battlestar Galactica: The Plan-18 The Descent 2-18 The Stepfather-PG15 The Sum Of All Fears-PG15 Unbreakable-PG15 The Alphabet Killer-PG15 The Sum Of All Fears-PG15 Star Runners-PG15 The Alphabet Killer-PG15 Blood And Bone-18 The General’s Daughter-18

01:00 03:15 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:30 15:45 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:30

Flash Of Genius-PG15 The Brothers Bloom-PG15 Stuart Little 2-FAM Attack On Leningrad-PG15 Planet 51-PG The Karate Kid-PG Sherlock Holmes-PG15 MacHEADS-PG15 Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 The Last Station-PG15 Shutter Island-18 The Greatest-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 02:00 State Of The Union 02:30 Rita Rocks 03:00 Just Shoot Me 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Will And Grace 06:00 Coach 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Just Shoot Me 09:00 Will And Grace 09:30 Community 10:00 Happy Endings 10:30 Coach 11:00 The Drew Carey Show 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Just Shoot Me 13:30 Will And Grace 14:00 Coach 14:30 Community 15:00 Happy Endings 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Mad Love 18:30 The Office 19:00 Rita Rocks 19:30 Modern Family 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 Rita Rocks 23:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine

00:00 White Collar 02:00 Burn Notice 03:00 Bones

04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

Strong Medicine Good Morning America The Event Emmerdale Look-A-Like Burn Notice The Martha Stewart Show The View White Collar Bones Live Good Morning America Strong Medicine The Ellen DeGeneres Show One Tree Hill American Idol What’s Good For You American Idol Burn Notice Psych

00:00 01:00 02:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00

The Cape Burn Notice White Collar Bones The Gates The Cape Hot In Cleveland Look-A-Like Huge Burn Notice White Collar Hot In Cleveland Look-A-Like The Ellen DeGeneres Show Huge The Cape Hot In Cleveland Look-A-Like The Ellen DeGeneres Show

01:00 03:00 04:45 07:00

Tracker-PG15 Legion-18 Bugsy-18 Set It Off-18

09:00 Star Trek: Generations-PG 11:00 Collateral-18 13:00 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 15:00 Star Trek: Generations-PG 17:00 The Fast And The Furious-PG15 19:00 Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time-PG15 21:00 The Final-18 23:00 Wilderness-PG15

00:00 The Longshots-PG15 02:00 Fools Rush In-PG15 04:00 Monsters vs. Aliens-PG 06:00 Revenge Of The Bridesmaids-PG15 08:00 Ace Ventura : Pet Detective Jr. 10:00 Old Dogs-PG 12:00 Garfield-PG 14:00 The Cable Guy-PG15 16:00 The Longshots-PG15 18:00 The Prince And Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon-PG15 20:00 Two Can Play That Game-PG15 22:00 Away We Go-PG15

01:30 04:00 06:45 09:00 11:00 12:45 14:30 16:30 18:45 20:30 23:15

The Class-PG15 Forrest Gump-PG15 Blues Brothers 2000-PG15 The Dust Factory-PG15 Astro Boy-FAM Glitter-PG15 Preacher’s Kid-PG Ghost-PG15 The Public Eye-PG15 Almost Famous-PG15 Legends Of The Fall-18

01:00 Flash Of Genius-PG15 03:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 04:45 Flying By-PG15 06:45 Iron Man 2-PG15

LEGION ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

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Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM The Fighting Temptations-PG15 Chasing Papi-PG Valentine’s Day-PG15 Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM Our Family Wedding-PG15

01:00 Dr. Dolittle 2-PG 03:00 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 05:00 The Country Bears-PG 07:00 Barbie: A Fairy Secret-FAM 09:00 The Turandot-PG15 11:00 Queen Of The Swallows-PG15 13:00 Yogi Bear & The Magical Flight Of The Spruce Goose-PG 15:00 Little Match Girl-PG 17:00 Queen Of The Swallows-PG15 19:00 The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle-FAM 21:00 Yogi Bear & The Magical Flight Of The Spruce Goose-PG 23:00 Little Match Girl-PG

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Greenberg-18 Made In Dagenham-PG15 A Dance For Bethany-PG15 Gasland-PG15 My Bollywood Bride-PG15 Oceans - Into The Deep-PG A Dance For Bethany-PG15 Phoebe In Wonderland-PG My Bollywood Bride-PG15 Tooth Fairy-PG The Other Guys-PG15 The Dry Land-18

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FIVB Beach Volley Ball International Rugby Union Total Rugby AFL Highlights Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Rugby World Cup Classics European PGA Tour Rugby World Cup Classics Live NRL Premiership ICC Cricket World NRL Premiership AFL Premiership Live Currie Cup Rugby Union Total Rugby

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Rugby World Cup Classics Premier League Snooker World Hockey European Tour Weekly Golfing World Total Rugby Trans World Sport NRL Full Time ICC Cricket World AFL Premiership Trans World Sport Total Rugby European Tour Weekly Golfing World live European PGA Tour Futbol Mundial Rugby World Cup Classics

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WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter Speedway WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection V8 Supercars Championship Mass Participation WWE NXT Live NRL Premiership Speedway V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Extra UFC 134 Countdown WWE SmackDown WWE Bottomline UFC

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Meet The Natives: USA David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Bondi Rescue Travel Madness City Chase Marrakech Perilous Journeys

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Ultimate Traveller Meet The Natives: USA David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Bondi Rescue Travel Madness City Chase Marrakech Perilous Journeys Ultimate Traveller Meet The Natives: USA Graham’s World Graham’s World The Ride: Alaska to Patagonia Graham’s World Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled The Frankincense Trail Somewhere In China Departures Graham’s World The Ride: Alaska to Patagonia Graham’s World Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled The Frankincense Trail Somewhere In China

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30

Safari Stopovers The Blue Continent World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides Glutton For Punishment Chef Abroad Globe Trekker Safari Stopovers Dream Destinations Globe Trekker Rivers Of The World World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides Planet Food First Class Italy Globe Trekker Flavours Of South Africa Rivers Of The World The Blue Continent Globe Trekker Cruise Today Dream Destinations Flavours Of Scotland Globe Trekker Essential Ice

00:00 Jerseylicious 01:00 Fashion Avenue 01:55 Big Boutique 02:25 How Do I Look?

03:20 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

05:10 Homes With Style 05:35 Area 06:05 Clean House 07:00 Big Boutique 08:00 Homes With Style 09:00 Fashion Avenue 09:55 How Do I Look?

10:50 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

11:50 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

12:50 Clean House 13:45 Clean House Comes Clean 14:15 Mel B: It’s A Scary World 14:45 Jerseylicious 15:40 Ruby 16:35 Giuliana & Bill 17:30 Top 10 18:25 Giuliana & Bill 19:25 Big Boutique 19:50 Fashion Avenue 20:20 Clean House Comes Clean 21:15 Glam Fairy 22:10 Clean House

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Life After People Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Sliced Deep Wreck Mysteries Life After People Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Sliced Deep Wreck Mysteries Life After People Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Sliced Deep Wreck Mysteries Life After People Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Egypt: Land Of The Gods

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Information

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines

Flt

Arrival Flights on Friday 26/8/2011 Route

Time

RJA JZR MEA THY ETH UAE DHX ETD MSR FDB GFA QTR THY BBC KAC JZR JZR JZR BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA MEA JZR JZR IYE MSR JZR KAC RBG MSR UAL RJA FDB OMA QTR KAC KAC JZR QTR JZR JZR MLR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR ABY FDB ALK JZR

642 267 406 772 620 853 370 305 614 67 211 138 770 8 544 241 503 555 157 416 541 206 284 302 332 53 678 352 362 855 132 125 619 301 213 404 165 121 825 623 509 618 3553 610 982 640 57 645 140 546 788 257 134 201 535 403 303 857 215 510 239 127 63 227 177

AMMAN BEIRUT BEIRUT ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ISTANBUL SYLHET CAIRO AMMAN LUXOR ALEXANDRIA LONDON JAKARTA / KUALA LUMPUR CAIRO ISLAMABAD DHAKA MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI MUSCAT / DUBAI COCHIN COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH LAR ABU DHABI BAHRAIN BEIRUT DUBAI BAHRAIN SANAA SOHAG LUXOR DOHA ALEXANDRIA / SOHAG CA IRO WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN DUBAI MUSCAT DOHA ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH BEIRUT DOHA DAMASCUS CAIRO COLOMBO / DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH AMMAN SHARJAH DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI DUBAI

0:05 0:35 1:00 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 4:10 4:15 4:40 4:55 5:15 6:10 6:30 6:35 7:10 7:15 7:40 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:20 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:20 9:30 9:35 10:55 11:10 11:15 12:05 12:10 12:30 12:55 12:55 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:50 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:50 15:10 15:15 15:45 15:50 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:00

KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC BBC KAC KAC KAC AIC JAI KAC JZR FDB OMA MEA VOS KAC SVA DHX GFA FCX QTR UAL UAE JZR JZR MSR DLH SAI JZR KLM JZR

166 502 542 213 774 43 744 102 674 975 572 562 787 61 647 402 81 786 506 372 217 304 136 981 859 135 185 612 636 441 539 447 481

Airlines JZR AXB DLH BBC AIC PIA MEA THY ETH UAE FDB ETD MSR QTR THY BBC JZR JZR RJA GFA KAC VOS JZR BAW FDB JZR KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC UAE

Flt 540 390 637 44 982 206 407 773 620 854 68 306 615 139 771 8 508 164 643 212 545 94 120 156 54 534 177 117 256 787 617 856

PARIS / ROME BEIRUT CAIRO DEIREZZOR / ALEPPO RIYADH DHAKA DAMMAM NEW YORK / LONDON DUBAI CHENNAI / GOA MUMBAI AMMAN RIYADH DUBAI MUSCAT BEIRUT BAGHDAD JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN BAHRAIN RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT LAHORE CAIRO AMSTERDAM / BAHRAIN SABIHA Departure Flights on Friday 26/8/2011 Route CAIRO MANGALORE / KOZHIKODE FRANKFURT DHAKA AHMEDABAD / CHENNAI LAHORE BEIRUT ISTANBUL BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA ISTANBUL SYLHET LUXOR DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI / KANDAHAR BAHRAIN LONDON DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT / GENEVA NEW YORK BEIRUT JEDDAH DOHA DUBAI

18:40 18:45 18:50 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:50 20:00 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:20 20:35 21:00 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:30 23:35 23:50

Time 0:20 0:25 0:40 1:00 1:05 1:10 2:00 2:15 2:30 3:45 3:50 4:05 4:05 5:00 5:10 5:15 5:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:40 8:00 8:20 8:25 8:40 8:50 8:55 9:05 9:10 9:2 5 9:35 9:40

ABY QTR ETD GFA IRA JZR MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC IYE MSR RBG JZR MSR RJA FDB UAL KAC OMA KAC KAC KAC JZR QTR KAC JZR JZR ETD MLR QTR UAE GFA ABY JZR SVA FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC BBC JAI FDB JZR KAC KAC OMA MEA SVA DHX GFA KAC QTR KAC KAC FCX JZR JZR UAE UAL KAC MSR SAI

126 133 302 214 618 200 405 541 212 238 103 501 825 624 3554 176 611 641 58 982 561 646 785 673 773 480 141 743 786 538 304 404 135 858 216 128 184 511 64 228 134 283 361 44 571 62 528 343 351 648 403 507 373 218 381 137 301 205 102 502 554 860 981 411 613 442

SHARJAH DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN LAR DAMASCUS BEIRUT CAIRO DEIREZZOR / ALEPPO AMMAN LONDON BEIRUT DOHA / SANAA SOHAG ALEXANDRIA DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN DUBAI BAHRAIN AMMAN MUSCAT JEDDAH DUBAI RIYADH SABIHA DOHA DAMMAM RIYADH CAIRO ABU DHABI DUBAI / COLOMBO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI / COLOMBO BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO DHAK A MUMBAI DUBAI ASSIUT CHENNAI COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT JEDDAH BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DELHI DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD DUBAI LUXOR ALEXANDRIA DUBAI WASHINGTON DC DULLES BANGKOK / MANILA CAIRO LAHORE

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

9:50 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:20 11:55 12:00 12:05 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:05 13:10 13:35 13:40 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14 :45 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:50 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:35 16:40 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:10 20:00 20:20 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:59

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

“There are advantages to being elected President.

The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret.”

I Located in Columbus, Ga., the Lunch Box Museum has more than 3,500 lunchboxes on display.

I The human body was the first “ruler.” An “inch” was the width of a thumb; a “hand” was five fingers wide; a “foot” was the length of a foot.

— President Ronald Reagan, brainyquote.com

— World Almanac for Kids

Pack a safe lunch New study finds packed lunches aren’t stored at safe temperatures

BY MICHAELLE BOND McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

It’s almost time to go back to school!

That means your parents will probably drag you from store to store buying supplies so you’re ready for your first day. You may be sad that the fun times you had this summer are ending.

But a few cool, inexpensive back-to-school items can help make going back to the classroom fun.

PERSISTENT ALARM

EXTREME GLUING

If you find yourself regularly snoozing your way through multiple alarms in the morning, Clocky might be able to help. Clocky is an alarm clock with wheels that works hard to get you out of bed.

If you hit the snooze button more than once, Clocky will start beeping and roll away from you. It can handle drops from nightstands forcing you to chase it to stop its noise. By then, it’s done its job of getting you up. Clocky is $39 at nandahome.com and comes in a variety of colors.

Glue sticks often appear on backto-school supply lists, however, liquid glue is often considered stronger and better for different surfaces. But now Elmer’s claims to have improved the stick with the X-Treme School Glue Stick. The new extra strength glue stick works on many surfaces, like wood, fabric and some metals. Find it at Kmart for $2.49 each.

ERASABLE COLORED PENCILS Coloring mistakes don’t have to ruin your picture or homework assignment anymore. With Crayola’s Erasable Colored Pencils, you can color freely without worrying about messing up. The pencils range from $4 to $8 at Office Depot.

GAMER’S CALCULATOR If you love playing video games and find it hard to put the controller down, you’ll love the Cool Gamer Calculator. This calculator is shaped like a video game controller and makes math fun. Your thumbs already are used to your controller, so they will quickly recognize the feel of your new calculator. You’ll easily be able to do basic math equations. The calculator is $14 at perpetualkid.com.

LUNCHBOXES You probably don’t have total control over what your parents pack in your lunch. So choosing your lunchbox is a chance for you to have a say in what you bring to the cafeteria. Lunchboxes.com offers many ways you can show off your personality. You can get lunchboxes with your favorite NFL teams and characters, like Captain America and Hello Kitty. Some lunchboxes don’t even look like lunchboxes, like the plaid bag, far right, which looks more like a purse. The website even has custom lunchboxes. You can use your own artwork or photo to decorate a lunchbox that is special to you and that stands out from everyone else’s. The lunchboxes cost about $15 on average at Lunchboxes.com.

FUN USB DRIVES The Animal Series USB drives by EMTEC in the shape of plastic animals are not only cute, but they can also carry homework files and photos on a handy keychain. You can

choose your favorite animal from three categories. The “Zoo” set includes a brown bear, a panther, a mouse and a panda. A dolphin, a penguin, a clownfish and a sea turtle make up the “Aquarium” set.

And you can pick from a pig, a

cow, a chicken and a bunny in the “Farm” set. These USB drives are under $20 at emtecelectronics.com.

Next time you bring lunch to school, you might want to add some extra ice packs to your lunch bag or make sure it gets refrigerated. A new study found that most of the lunches kids bring to school and day care are being stored at unsafe temperatures. This can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning.

The study is in the science journal Pediatrics.

Researchers in Texas tested lunches with perishable items at nine preschool child care centers.

They used a heat-sensing gun to measure the temperatures of sandwiches, yogurts and other items. The results were surprising: More than 90 percent of perishable items tested were measured at unsafe temperatures before lunchtime.

While only about half of the lunches tested had ice packs, many lunches with multiple ice packs were not cool enough, either.

The average temperature of the tested foods was around 62 degrees Fahrenheit. That temperature falls in the range considered to be the “danger zone” — between 40 degrees and 140 degrees — when harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning is more likely to grow. “This study should be an eye-opener for the public,” Fawaz Almansour, the study’s lead author, told Health.com.

KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY It’s especially important for kids’ lunches to be stored properly because young children are more likely to be affected by harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli.

“Kids’ immune systems have not adapted to these diseases,” Almansour said.

Schools and day care centers can help keep lunches safe by storing perishable foods in a refrigerator kept at under 40 degrees. Lunch items that should be refrigerated include meats, milk, and sliced fruits and vegetables; hot items, like soup, should be kept above 140 degrees.

When a refrigerator isn’t available, there are other tips kids, parents and teachers can follow to make sure packed lunches are good enough to eat: I Choose insulated lunch bags to help maintain temperature.

I Use extra ice packs in the lunch bag to keep temperatures down. It also helps to freeze waters, juices and even yogurts overnight before packing.

I The United States Department of Agriculture provides a list of foods that don’t need refrigeration. These include whole or dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, jelly, pickles, bread, crackers, and canned meat and fish.

I Throw out perishable food that has been kept in the “danger zone” for longer than two hours. — Kelli Plasket I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y C H R I S WA R E / M C T

© 2011 Time Inc. All Rights Reserved. TIME FOR KIDS and Timeforkids.com are registered trademarks of Time Inc.

Whatta melon pop!

Don’t be fooled by these frozen treats! Made from sorbet blended with mini chocolate chips, they’re a great cool down dessert on a hot day.

INGREDIENTS I 1 cup strawberry sorbet I 2 teaspoons mini chocolate chips I 3 tablespoons water I 1/2 cup lemon sorbet I 2 drops green food coloring I Popsicle sticks

small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup lemon sorbet, 2 drops green food coloring and 1 tablespoon 1. To make a batch, mash water. together 1 cup strawberry sor4. Spoon a layer into each bet, 2 teaspoons mini chocolate mold and insert a popsicle chips and 2 tablespoons water stick.

Freeze the pops for at in a small bowl. least four hours.

2. Put the the mixture into Tip: Here’s an easy way to wedge-shaped popsicle molds fill the molds: Mix these ingre(we used six 2-ounce molds), dients in a Ziploc bag, snip a filling each about 2/3 full. corner of the bag, then pipe in 3. Spoon a thin, even layer the mixture. of lemon sorbet on top. In a — Disney FamilyFun magazine

I Wedge-shaped popsicle molds

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F D I S N E Y FA M I LY F U N M A G A Z I N E

ACCOMMODATION One room available in two bedroom flat in Farwaniya behind Crowne Plaza in front of Dar Al-Quran. Please call: 50129393.

(C 3589) 25-8-2011 Accommodation available in 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom, C-A/C apartment for a decent couple, executive bachelor or working lady in Mahboula close to Gulf Road.

Contact: 66216713.

23-8-2011 Sharing accommodation available near Salmiya garden for 2 spinsters / 2 bachelors or family without children. Rent KD 100. New building with separate bath & C-A/C. Please call on 97202795 / 25654182.

(C 3588) 23-8-2011 Sharing accommodation available from September 1, Abbassiya, near Neethi Store building, full furnished 2 bedroom flat, share with keralite family. Looking for executive single bachelor or couples only for South Indians.

Contact: 66788568 or afternoon 66944127. (C 3586) 22-8-2011 One big room attach bath available for decent bachelor or couple, 2 BR C/AC flat in Fintas, near London hospital and close to Fahaheel Highway. Contact 60020168.

(C 3580) 21-8-2011 Sharing accommodation available at Khaitan in a studio flat for a single bachelor with a Mangalorean R/C bachelor near to bus stop. Contact: 66036893.

FOR SALE Toyota Camry model 2001, 4-cylinder, very good condition. Tel: 60035758.

(C 3581) 21-8-2011

MATRIMONIAL Proposals are invited for a born again girl, 5.3”, 29 yrs, working as an Admin Professional with a reputed company in Kuwait. Email: lyndakuruvilla@gmail.com (C 3585) 22-8-2011

CHANGE OF NAME A Kuwaiti family looks to hire a driver, 35 years older, Christian, good behavior.

Contact: 99199020.

(C 3590) 25-8-2011

SITUATION WANTED

Engineer with 4 years experience as Data Analyst / operation support (Telecom / Retail).

Good working knowledge in Oracle, Unix and MS Office.

Contact: 65794224. (C 3583) MBA (Finance) with bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 2 years experience in Kuwait looking for further experience in Finance. Contact: 67731590.

(C 3584) 22-8-2011

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Red Sox back on top ARLINGTON: The Boston Red Sox returned to the top of the American League East standings in emphatic style Wednesday by crushing the West division-leading Texas Rangers 13-2.

David Ortiz had an RBI single on the first pitch he saw in 10 days and scored twice in his return from bursitis in his right heel.

Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez hit two-run homers in consecutive innings for the Red Sox. Crawford matched a career high with his five RBIs. Boston starter Josh Beckett (11-5) allowed one run over six innings.

pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the win. Frank Francisco worked the ninth for a save. Louis Coleman (1-3) took the loss for the Royals.

Mariners 9, Indians 2 In Cleveland, Felix Hernandez struck out 10 batters to steer Seattle past Cleveland. Hernandez (12-11) allowed two runs in six innings as the last-place Mariners took three of four from the fading-fast Indians.

Cleveland dropped below .500 for the first time since April 3, and is 6-

Rays 3, Tigers 2 In St. Petersburg, Elliot Johnson got the game-ending hit on a fielder’s choice in the 10th inning, giving Tampa Bay victory over Detroit.

Evan Longoria opened the 10th with an infield single off Rangers reliever Duane Below (0-2), but was forced out at second on Ben Zobrist’s grounder. After a second out, Casey Kotchman was hit by a pitch and Sean Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Johnson then hit a grounder to third baseman Brandon Inge, who elected to throw to second rather than home, but second baseman Ramon Santiago was late getting to the bag. Rays reliever Joel Peralta (3-4) pitched a perfect 10th to take the win. Longoria earlier hit a solo homer for the Rays, who won for the first time against Detroit this season after five losses.

Athletics 6, Yankees 4 In New York, Coco Crisp homered twice and drove in five runs, including a three-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted Oakland over New York. Crisp and No. 9 batter Scott Sizemore both went 4 for 4. Sizemore got the tying double off C.C. Sabathia in the eighth as the Athletics claimed a series win at Yankee Stadium, ending a woeful run of 10 consecutive series defeats by the pinstripes.

Angels 8, White Sox 0 In Anaheim, Jered Weaver pitched seven scoreless innings in his first start since signing an $85 million contract extension, directing Los Angeles win over Chicago. Erick Aybar drove in three runs, Torii Hunter homered and Jeff Mathis had a two-run double for the Angels, who have won six straight to move within 2-1/2 games of Texas as the AL West rivals prepared for a weekend series at Rangers Ballpark. White Sox starter Zach Stewart (1-3) allowed seven runs while pitching into the seventh inning.

Blue Jays 4, Royals 3 In Toronto, Brett Lawrie hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and Toronto held on to edge Kansas City.Lawrie broke a 3-3 tie with a leadoff blast over left field. The rookie third baseman also hit an RBI triple in the fourth. Toronto’s Jose Bautista added his major leagueleading 37th homer of the season. Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch (5-3)

ARLINGTON: Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz (34) sprints toward first as Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli (right) watches Ortiz’s run-scoring single in the first inning. —AP 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Detroit. Wily Mo Pena hit a tworun homer in the fourth inning and his two-run double in the fifth knocked out Indians starter Josh Tomlin (12-7), who didn’t get through the fifth for the first time in 37 career starts.

Orioles 6, Twins 1 In Minneapolis, Mark Reynolds homered to start a five-run fifth inning that powered Detroit past Minnesota. In his first start in 11 days, Jeremy Guthrie (6-16) pitched seven strong innings despite shoulder soreness, striking out five. Baltimore won a third straight for the first time since early June 6-10. Kevin Slowey (0-2) allowed five earned runs in 4 2-3 innings for the Twins, who have lost six of seven. —AP

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results on Wednesday.

Seattle 9, Cleveland 2; Pittsburgh 2, Milwaukee 0; NY Mets 7, Philadelphia 4; LA Dodgers 9, St. Louis 4; Colorado 7, Houston 6 (10 innings); Florida 6, Cincinnati 5; San Francisco 2, San Diego 1; Oakland 6, NY Yankees 4 (10 Innings); Arizona 4, Washington 2; Toronto 4, Kansas City 3; Tampa Bay 3, Detroit 2 (10 innings); Cincinnati 3, Florida 2; Chicago Cubs 3, Atlanta 2; Boston 13, Texas 2; Baltimore 6, Minnesota 1; LA Angels 8, Chicago White Sox 0.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT Boston 79 50 .612 NY Yankees 77 50 .606 Tampa Bay 70 58 .547 Toronto 66 63 .512 Baltimore 50 77 .394 Central Division Detroit 70 59 .543 Cleveland 63 64 .496 Chicago White Sox 63 65 Minnesota 55 74 .426 Kansas City 53 77 .408 Western Division Texas 74 57 .565 LA Angels 71 59 .546 Oakland 59 70 .457 Seattle 56 73 .434 National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 83 45 .648 Atlanta 78 53 .595 Washington 62 66 .484 NY Mets 61 68 .473 Florida 58 72 .446 Central Division Milwaukee 78 54 .591 St. Louis 67 63 .515 Cincinnati 64 66 .492 Pittsburgh 61 68 .473 Chicago Cubs 57 73 .438 Houston 42 88 .323 Western Division Arizona 71 59 .546 San Francisco 69 61 .531 Colorado 63 68 .481 LA Dodgers 60 69 .465 San Diego 60 71 .458

GB 1 8.5 13 28 6 .492 6.5 15 17.5 2.5 14 17

6.5 21 22.5 26 10 13 15.5 20 35 2 8.5 10.5 11.5

Mets beat Phillies to avoid sweep PHILADELPHIA: The New York Mets snapped a five-game losing skid and avoided a series sweep with a 7-4 win over the National League-leading Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

New York starter Mike Pelfrey (7-10) allowed three is six innings, while Nick Evans and David Wright both homered for the Mets.

Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (7-6) gave up two earned runs in four innings filling in for Cole Hamels, but the Mets scored four unearned runs in the first with the help of a fielding error.

Chicago’s three-run rally in the second inning.

He also walked and was hit by a pitch. Aramis Ramirez added a single and two walks, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Cubs starter Randy Wells (5-4) held the Braves to two hits over 6 2-3 innings, striking out six.

Carlos Marmol got the last three outs and joined Lee Smith as the only Cubs relievers to post consecutive 30-save seasons.

Atlanta starter Derek Lowe (8-12) allowed two earned runs over seven innings, matching his longest outing of the season. He threw a season-high 119 pitches.

Pirates 2, Brewers 0 In Pittsburgh, Jason Grilli won his first game in nearly two years as Pittsburgh shut down Milwaukee. Pirates starter Aaron Thompson pitched 4 1-3 innings scoreless in his major league debut, and Grilli (1-0) followed with 2 2-3 innings. It was Pittsburgh’s 10th shutout of the season and the 11th time the Brewers have been blanked.

D’backs 4, Nationals 2 In Washington, Arizona’s Daniel Hudson fell one out short of his first career shutout, steering the Diamondbacks past Washington.

Hudson (13-9) allowed struck out six, walked none, had a run of 13 consecutive batters retired and threw 102 pitches. He had the Nationals blanked through 8 2-3 innings before giving up back-to-back homers.

Washington starter Livan Hernandez (7-12) allowed four runs over 7-13 innings.

Cubs 3, Braves 2 In Chicago, the hosts ended Atlanta’s sixgame winning streak, costing the Braves a chance to make up ground on Philadelphia.

Alfonso Soriano’s two-run homer fueled

Giants 2, Padres 1 In San Francisco, Carlos Beltran hit his first home run since being traded to San

Francisco, helping the Giants edge San Diego.

Beltran, who had been out with a wrist injury, returned to the starting lineup and homered off Tim Stauffer (8-10) in the fourth inning for his first ever long shot at AT&T Park.

Giants sarter Tim Lincecum (12-10) struck out seven in eight innings. He gave up one run, and also hit the go-ahead RBI single.

Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

Dodgers 9, Cardinals 4 In St. Louis, Los Angeles completed its first road series sweep of the season, downing St. Louis. Juan Rivera homered and drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who notched their first three-game sweep in St. Louis since 1993.

Los Angeles starter Hiroki Kuroda (10-14) worked seven solid innings, allowing three runs and a walk.

A.J. Ellis hit his first career homer off Jaime Garcia (10-7) to give the Dodgers a two-day total of six homers. Matt Kemp had two singles and two RBIs and James Loney had three hits with two doubles and an RBI. Eight straight Dodgers reached safely to start a six-run third that matched their season best and put them up 6-1.

Marlins 6, Reds 5 In Miami, Omar Infante hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning to edge Florida past Cincinnati in the first game of a double header which was prompted by the imminent threat of a hurricane.

It was decided to move Friday’s scheduled game forward due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene in Florida.

Emilio Bonifacio tripled over the head of the center fielder with one out in the eighth off Jose Arrendondo (3-4). Bonifacio’s headfirst slide beat the throw at third. Infante followed with a single to left scoring Bonifacio to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead. Greg Dobbs added a two-run double in the inning.

Logan Morrison and Jose Lopez homered for the Marlins, who snapped a six-game losing streak. Ryan Webb (2-4) picked up the win by striking out the only batter he faced while Steve Cishek got the final two outs for the save. Reds slugger Joey Votto homered in both the day and night games. He went 5 for 7 with four RBIs over the two games and pushed his games hitting streak into double figures. Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo (810) pitched eight scoreless innings in the nightcap. Closer Francisco Cordero gave up two runs but still took the save. — AP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Bolt looking to amuse fans DAEGU: Usain Bolt promises more antics and more amusement when the always entertaining sprinter takes the track at the world championships. As for more records, well, even the Jamaican sensation thinks that might be a bit of a stretch.

Bolt isn’t anywhere near his record-setting form of 2009, when he shattered his own marks in the 100 and 200 meters. Calling this his “comeback season,” Bolt downplayed expectations at a Jamaicanthemed event yesterday. He’s contending with nagging injuries, which have hampered his training.

Tip-top shape or not, Bolt has a clear path in the 100, especially with Asafa Powell withdrawing because of a lingering groin injury and American rival Tyson Gay already sidelined due to a surgically repaired hip.

Once again, Bolt’s only real competition may be against the clock, even if he doesn’t think he can lower his time of 9.58 seconds set at the worlds in Berlin two years ago. “I don’t think I’m in 9.5 shape,” Bolt conceded. “But I definitely think I will be able to run fast.” When hasn’t he?

It’s all part of his plan to become a “legend” in the sprint game.

Defend his title in Daegu, claim another next year at the London Olympics, and his place among the track greats will be etched.

“A lot of people have their own goals. My goal is to become a legend,” the 25-year-old Bolt said. “I’m working on it.” Bolt certainly knows how to make a grand entrance. He was the guest of honor at a gettogether yesterday, strolling in with reggae music blaring in the background. He did a little shuffle before

lounging on a couch set in the center of an auditorium to answer questions from a moderator.

“I’ve been working hard in training to get everything right for this one moment,” said Bolt, who donned a hat with his initials “UB” interlocked. “I think I’m ready. I’m focused and going to take every-

“Asafa’s out? That’s the first I heard of it,” Bolt said. Now, Bolt’s top challenger just may be Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, whose best time came this season at 9.85 seconds. Bolt’s top mark this year is 9.86.

In a promotional appearance earlier in the day across town, Gay

season early in 2010. He’s still attempting to round into the form that led to a sensational showing in Berlin, when he not only broke his world record in the 100 but also his mark in the 200 (19.19) as well.

“I think people expect a lot from me,” Bolt said. “Personally, I’m just focused on winning. The pressure is

DAEGU: Jamaica’s world record holder and Olympic and world champion in the men’s 100 and 200 meters, Usain Bolt, performs his trademark stance after speaking on stage in a news conference at a cultural center. —AP body seriously.”

But it’s a watered-down field with all the injuries and no-shows because of doping issues. Powell had the best time in the world this season and was going to provide the biggest threat before suddenly pulling out, a move that even caught Bolt by surprise.

SA picks Pistorius for All Africa Games JOHANNESBURG: South Africa picked double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius in its team for the All Africa Games yesterday, giving him another chance to prove himself against able-bodied athletes ahead of next year’s Olympics. Pistorius will make history in Daegu, South Korea as the first amputee athlete to compete at a world championships and will then travel straight to the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, which run Sept. 3-18. The 24-year-old Pistorius clocked a personal-best 45.07 in the 400 meters last month to force his way into South Africa’s team for the worlds, but still needs to qualify for the London Games to fulfill his ambition of competing at the Olympics.

South Africa also included swimmers Roland Schoeman and Cameron van der Burgh in a group of more than 200 athletes in 18 sports for the African games. Multiple paralympic champion Natalie du Toit was in the para-swimming team. Women’s 800-meter champion Caster Semenya, who will defend her title in Daegu, was not in the team but junior long jump world champion Luvo Manyonga and Commonwealth javelin champion Sunette Viljoen were picked.

The 20-year-old Semenya was withdrawn because of her participation at the worlds, a South Africa team statement said later yesterday, explaining she had “international athletics commitments which clash with the Games.” The world championships start Saturday and conclude Sept. 4, making it difficult for athletes to also compete at the All Africa Games. South Africa’s participation in the men’s football event in Maputo is in doubt after some of the country’s Premier Soccer League clubs refused to release their players for the Games.

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said the national football association had until the end of yesterday to submit names of the players “or face expulsion from Team South Africa for the All Africa Games 2011.” —AP

picked Bolt to win the 100. That’s hardly going out on a limb. Still, Bolt appreciated the nod.

“I guess he knows what he’s talking about,” Bolt said. “At the championships, I’m much more focused. I really want it really bad.” Bolt has been contending with back issues, which forced him to shut down his

always there. Even before I won my first gold medal, it was always there.”

His way of coping with the stress is by clowning around. Like recordsetting performances, his antics are almost expected at big meets.

“That’s just who I am. I like to have fun, like to make people

laugh,” Bolt said. “The fans like seeing me being me and trying to enjoy the championships as much as possible.”

But, for once, Bolt was rattled. So calm and cool on the track, he didn’t know how to answer a question lobbed at him. Someone asked about his longtime girlfriend and when he was going to marry her.

He squirmed and sank into the couch before quickly recovering.

“Presently, I don’t want to talk about personal life,” he said as he tried to stifle a laugh. “It’s all about business at this championships.

Let’s keep it business.”

Sitting in the back of the packed auditorium was former Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, intently listening to Bolt’s every word. Greene said this kind of personality, this kind of talent, was exactly what track needed.

“Anytime you can get the interest built up like this and have people come out and talk good things about the sport, it’s great,” Greene said. “He’s very important. He’s making a name for (track) right now. That’s a good thing.”

Even as he dominates on the track, Bolt is already planning his next line of work - football. If the Manchester United wanted him on the field for his speed, he would definitely go to the English Premier League.

But that’s for a later time, maybe when he’s 28 and contemplating retirement, he said. Until then, Bolt’s interested in only one thing: making his name stand out above track’s greatest stars. “A lot of people have said that I’m a legend,” Bolt said. “I don’t look at it like that. But I’m working on it.” —AP

Gay already thinking of London Olympics DAEGU: Tyson Gay posed for pictures as he promoted a bright orange shoe he can’t even run in. The American record holder in the 100 showed up for world championships only as a spectator, his surgically repaired hip keeping him on the sideline.

Really, though, his focus was anywhere but here. He’s already thinking a year ahead to the 2012 London Olympics, hoping he will be ready to take on Usain Bolt & Co. Gay is one of the fastest men on the planet, but his rehab has been tediously slow from hip surgery last month. His right hamstring is so weak that he can barely lift one pound (kilogram) and he still walks with a slight limp. These days, Gay trumpets his biggest accomplishment as being able to walk backward in a swimming pool. That’s a long way from competing at Bolt’s level again, especially since Gay won’t be cleared to run again until November. He has a lot of training to make up with the Olympics looming. Still, Gay insisted the hip has never felt better. He’s been in pain for so long, compensating any way he could just to compete, that’s it’s a big relief to be rid of the ache.

However, the question hovers: Can he be the Tyson Gay of old - the version who once ran 9.69 seconds in 2009? “I want to be the Tyson Gay of new,” he said after a news conference Thursday for his sponsor, Adidas. “It’s

been a long time since I ran (that fast) - a real long time. I want to run faster than that, want to break my time.”

Even as he recovers, he’s already scheming big. Gay plans to compete in both the 100 and 200 in London. “Now that would be the Tyson Gay of old,” he said. “I’ll give it a good go.” Reduced to watching Bolt from the sideline will be difficult for Gay. The last

time these two sprint titans competed in the 100 at the worlds, Bolt finished in an all-time best mark of 9.58 seconds. Gay finished a distant second at 9.71, which was an American record.

“On paper, it looked like a complete blowout,” said the 29-year-old Gay, who would lower his mark to 9.69 later that season in Shanghai. “But I was happy.” —AP

DAEGU: A woman poses with the mascot outside the stadium in Daegu, South Korea. The World Athletics Championships run Aug. 27 through Sept. 4, 2011. —AP

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Djokovic, other stars face questions at US Open NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic sat in his sideline chair and winced while his right shoulder was massaged and manipulated by a trainer.

Moments later, the top-ranked Djokovic resumed hitting slowerthan-usual serves, slapping weak forehands into the net and falling further behind against Andy Murray.

On the US television broadcast, former No. 1 Jim Courier was asked by another announcer whether seeing Djokovic struggle so much changed his view that the Serb should be seen as the favorite to win the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, which starts Monday.

“Not even remotely,” Courier replied. “Not a scratch on the surface.” Yes, given how great - nearly perfect, actually - Djokovic’s 2011 has been so far, plenty of people still figure he’s the man to beat at the US Open. Even with that tired and bothersome shoulder that eventually led him to quit during the final of the Cincinnati Masters last weekend.

That went into the books as only Djokovic’s second loss in 59 matches

during a marvelous season that featured a 41-match winning streak and nine titles, including Wimbledon and the Australian Open. “I mean, it’s kind of expected. I’ve played so many matches this year. I mean, I’ve been winning, you know, a lot and reaching the final stages of each event,” Djokovic said. “Considering the schedule that is very busy in tennis, it’s kind of normal to expect that at some stage you are exhausted.”

Considering all the ailments and assorted other issues that have hampered so many top tennis players lately, it probably would be appropriate if Djokovic is somewhat less than 100 percent fit. Even if his assessment was: “I am confident that I can recover and be ready.”

Run down a list of the sport’s stars a day before Thursday’s draw in New York, and most have been bothered by something: Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, has blisters on his left foot and tender fingers that he burned by touching a hot ceramic plate at a restaurant, of all things.

Aside from that, there is his 0-5 record

against Djokovic this year, all in finals, and upset losses at Montreal and Cincinnati. “Sometimes you are playing well; sometimes you are playing worse,” Nadal said. “I am playing a little bit worse now than well.”

Roger Federer, who counts five US Open titles among his record 16 Grand Slam trophies, also exited relatively early at those two key hardcourt tuneup tournaments. Now he is facing the real possibility of ending his streak of winning at least one major championship eight years in a row. He also turned 30 on Aug. 8, and the last man to win a Grand Slam title after that milestone birthday was Andre Agassi at the 2003 Australian Open. Serena Williams cited swelling in her right big toe while pulling out of the Cincinnati hard-court tournament, a far-less-worrisome problem than Djokovic’s. Williams - who leads active women with 13 Grand Slam singles titles, including three in New York - is a popular pick in the women’s field, even though she’s seeded only 28th after missing nearly a full year with a series of health

scares. The top-seeded woman, Caroline Wozniacki, is apparently healthy, but she is dealing with inconsistent play, losing her first two summer hard-court matches, including one against 19-year-old Christina McHale of New Jersey.

Then again, at least they’re all planning to play at Flushing Meadows. Kim Clijsters, whose three U.S. Open titles include 2009 and 2010, pulled out of the tournament because of a stomach muscle injury.

And 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt withdrew, too.

At the Cincinnati Masters - where No. 2-ranked Nadal and No. 3 Federer both lost in the quarterfinals, before Djokovic bowed out in the final - No. 4 Murray was asked whether all of that might bode well for his chances for a first Grand Slam title in New York.

“I’m sure come the start of the US Open next Monday, all of them will be fine,” Murray said. “I think each one of them will be playing great tennis, much better than they have played here.” —AP

Bartoli scrapes through at New Haven Open

RALEIGH: Alexandr Dolgopolv, of Ukraine, returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov, of Bulgaria, during the Winston-Salem Open tennis tournament. —AP

Roddick cruises into last eight RALEIGH: Fit-again Andy Roddick kept his US Open preparations on a smooth track by crushing Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-1 6-3 in the third round of the Winston-Salem Open on Wednesday.

The top-seeded American, whose buildup to the season’s final grand slam had been interrupted by an abdominal injury, showed no signs of rust as he eased to victory in just over an hour to book his place in the last eight.

Roddick, the 2003 US Open champi-

on, will next meet seventh-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco who hammered Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-0 6-3.

In other matches, fourth-seeded American John Isner powered past Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 6-2 while third seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine had to work hard for a 6-4 1-6 76 victory over 14th-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

“It took me a while to get used to how he was playing,” the big-serving Isner

told reporters. “From 4-4 in the tie-break, that’s when I really kicked up. I was kind of on my way from there.

‘I held serve comfortably today and that just puts so much pressure on my opponents. I’m very fortunate to have my serve.”

Ninth-seeded Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky pulled off the biggest surprise in the third round, upsetting fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-4 6-4. —Reuters

NEW HAVEN: Anabel Medina Garrigues overcame a knee injury to beat Elena Vesnina 6-2, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday in the second round of the New Haven Open, the final WTA tournament before the US Open.

The Spaniard, looking for her third tournament title this season, was in charge throughout the contest. But she failed to convert on three match points while up 6-5 and serving for the second set.

Vesnina hit a passing shot to save the third match point, and Medina Garrigues sat on the court and grabbed her right knee.

After a brief medical delay, Vesnina broke serve to force the tiebreaker. But Medina Garrigues said she was able to take advantage of a gusting wind, which was at her back at the end of the tiebreaker, and gut out the win. She said she might have retired from the match if she had lost the second set.

“I was thinking of that,” she said. “But I was lucky. I won the tiebreaker and I won the match.”

Medina Garrigues, whose titles this season both came on clay, is scheduled to play Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals, but said she planned to have her knee examined Wednesday night.

Marion Bartoli also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win over Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic.

The fourth-seeded Bartoli broke Zakopalova’s serve three times in the first set, but was broken three times in the second. She regained her form, cruising in the final set.

“I lost to Klara the last two times we played each other. So, it was great for me. It was great for my confidence,” Bartoli said.

“I’m starting to play a little better than I did in Toronto and Cincinnati. Everything is starting to click together, and that’s very good before the US Open starts. Bartoli will play qualifier Petra Cetkovska on quarterfinals. Later Wednesday, French Open champion Li Na faced Maria Kirilenko of Russia. —AP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Els goes from top to bottom without losing hope EDISON: Ernie Els sure didn’t look to be down in the dumps for someone who has tumbled so far in the FedEx Cup. It was only a year ago that the Big Easy was the No. 1 seed going into the PGA Tour’s version of the postseason.

He went to the top of the standings by winning a World Golf Championship in March, and stayed there for the next five months.

This year, he wasn’t even sure he would make it to The Barclays. Els was just outside the top 125 - the cutoff to make the FedEx Cup bonanza — and had to play last week in the Wyndham Championship to have any chance of making the playoffs. He tied for 30th and moved up to No. 118.

“It’s a little different,” Els said Wednesday. “But I think this is almost a better mentality. I feel I need to be aggressive and get up the bloody points list. Otherwise, I’m going home.

Last year I was the No. 1 seed, but I wasn’t quite playing as good as I was in March. This year, I feel like I have to

make a move. And I feel a little more comfortable with that.

“I had three good rounds last week, and I feel my game is coming along,” he said. “It’s a good feeling going in.” Els is among five players who have made it to the Tour Championship - and a shot at the $10 million bonus - each of the last four years. His chances of being in the top 30 are much more remote starting out at No. 118.

Even so, his optimism remains high, and there are a couple of reasons for that. One is Heath Slocum, the poster boy for opportunity in the playoffs.

Two years ago, Slocum barely got into the playoffs at No. 124, and then won The Barclays to secure a spot in the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake.

Another is Martin Laird. He faced elimination in the first tournament last year until he was the runner-up at The Barclays, moving him up to No. 3 in the standings. He wound up 11th in the final standings and picked up a $300,000 bonus.

The fifth year of the FedEx Cup playoffs gets under way late yesterday at Plainfield Country Club, the fourth course used for the opening event, one that ends with a 285-yard par 4 that should deliver plenty of excitement.

Along with a different course, there’s a different look to the 125-man field.

Tiger Woods, a two-time FedEx Cup champion and the No. 1 seed in three of the four years, failed to qualify for the first time when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship. The No. 1 seed is Nick Watney, whose two wins this year include a World Golf Championship at Doral.

“I feel like I’m in the best position I can be, and I’m very pleased with the year so far,” Watney said. “But we have a long way to go. I’m excited to see if I can hold up in these next four events.”

Phil Mickelson kept alive his streak as the only player to be among the top 10 seeds in every year of the FedEx Cup. He is at No. 6 this year, and he has listed winning the cup as one of his goals.

The change can be found more toward the bottom, where Els has plenty of company. Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, nearly missed the playoffs. He closed with a 68 last week to tie for 47th. He then had to wait some two hours to see if it would be enough to qualify for the postseason. He barely made it, finishing at No. 124. He studied accounting in college, so the Irishman knew how close he came to missing out. And yes, he already has done the math at The Barclays, figuring he needs to be in the top 30 at Plainfield to be among the top 100 players who move on to Boston next week. Much like Els, he sees only opportunity. “I’m of the opinion that I’m in a great position going into this, that I’m just like every other guy,” Harrington said. “In order to win the FedEx Cup, you’re going to have to win one of the first three events, and the last event. I’ve got nearly the same chance as anybody else of winning this outright. —AP

Preview

Arsenal’s tough start continues with United LONDON: Arsenal follows its most important match of the season with what could be its toughest match of the season - a visit to defending Premier League champion Manchester United. The Gunners improved on their poor start to the domestic campaign to qualify for the Champions League with Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Udinese, but Sunday’s game at Old Trafford will require yet another improvement in quality.

Criticism of Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger by fans and commentators started over the offseason with the sale of Cesc Fabregas and failure to strengthen the squad.

It intensified with a start to the season that featured a 0-0 draw with Newcastle, a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool and two red cards, but reaching the lucrative Champions League should have at least bought a little breathing space. “Some people questioned our mental strength, but if you look at the game that’s what we showed,” Arsenal captain Robin van Persie said. “Now it’s up to us to show that every three or four days. We have to do that over and over again, that’s just football.

“We can’t live off this night for the rest of the month or the rest of the year. Now I’m looking forward to Manchester United.” But Arsenal has lost seven and drawn one of its last eight visits to United, which is in form and shares the early season lead after Monday’s 3-0 dismantling of Tottenham. Co-leader Manchester City is at Tottenham in another of Sunday’s four games, while Saturday’s program includes Chelsea vs. Norwich and Liverpool vs. Bolton.

Arsenal’s poor start threatened to become truly calamitous when Antonio Di Natale’s first-half header pulled Udinese level on aggregate in the Champions League playoff. But Van Persie and Theo Walcott scored and Wojciech Szczesny saved a penalty to

take Arsenal through.

“We have been a little bit under pressure and for us not to play the Champions League and with the players who left, that pressure would’ve increased, understandably,” Wenger said. “Since the beginning of the season, I feel a very strong, determined attitude within the team.”

That attitude will be needed against United. Arsenal has regularly dominated the teams’ meetings in recent seasons before failing to take advantage of possession and opportunities against the older, more experienced United side. But with Paul Scholes retired and other players injured, United has relied on youth so far this season.

Striker Danny Welbeck, midfielder Tom Cleverley and defender Phil Jones all played against Spurs. The trio has an average age of 20 and could keep their places against the Gunners.

Arsenal will be without Samir Nasri after selling him to City, and the France midfielder could make his debut against Tottenham.

“It was a long negotiation and discussion between the two clubs,” Nasri said. “I was a little bit frustrated. I said to the manager I wanted to leave. I wanted to do the preseason with Manchester so I could know a little bit more about my teammates.

“It was frustrating but it is a new start and I am looking forward to doing it.” Nasri scored 15 goals last season, including four in three games against Tottenham. Spurs face losing their opening two matches for the first time since 2008, when Juande Ramos was fired as coach and replaced by current manager Harry Redknapp. Also Sunday, West Brom hosts Stoke and Fulham is at Newcastle. On Saturday, it’s Aston Villa vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn vs. Everton, Chelsea vs.

Norwich, Liverpool vs. Bolton, Swansea vs. Sunderland and Wigan vs. Queens Park Rangers. —AP

BRAZIL: A Brazil’s Internacional’ fan cheers prior to the Recopa Sudamericana second leg final soccer match against Argentina’s Independiente. Brazil’s Internacional won 4-3 on aggregate. — AP

Marseille seeks first win in French League at Lille PARIS: Marseille will be chasing its first win in the French league this season when it visits defending champion Lille on Sunday.

In the traditional curtain raiser, Marseille beat Lille 5-4 to win the Champions Trophy last month. But circumstances are different now. Marseille is doubting itself after having split the points in its first three league matches.

“I don’t know why we don’t manage to win,” Marseille center back Souleymane Diawara said. “But we can’t wait. We are working hard to try to rediscover

by Sunday the taste of victory.” Lille earned its first win of the season by beating Caen 2-1 last weekend.

“This victory was important,” Lille midfielder Rio Mavuba told French radio. “We didn’t have luck in our first two league matches. It’s good to boost our selfconfidence before hosting Marseille, which is the favorite for the title.”

Despite the departures this summer of key players like France defender Adil Rami, midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, Lille still

plays the elegant style of football that led the club to the league title last season.

Marseille forward Loic Remy is doubtful for the clash. He picked up a groin injury in the goalless draw with Saint-Etienne last weekend.

Lyon will be looking to put an end to Montpellier’s perfect record on Saturday despite the fatigue from a trip to Russia.

Lyon drew 1-1 with Rubin Kazan in the second leg of a Champions League playoff on Wednesday to qualify for the group stage of the lucrative European competition. Montpellier is the only team that won its first three matches. But Montpellier forward Souleymane Camara sought to downplay expectations.

“We’ve played only three rounds, there’s still a long way to go,” Camara told a news conference. “We shouldn’t think too much. We must keep it going.”

Coach Rene Girard has built the team around a core of veteran players like Romain Pitau, Cyril Jeunechamp and Geoffrey Dernis, who can help and guide youngsters coming out of the club’s youth academy. —AP

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011

Arsenal book Champions League berth UDINE: Arsenal will compete in the Champions League for the 14th consecutive season after their beleaguered side came from behind to record a brave 2-1 win at Udinese on Wednesday.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg of the play-off tie, Arsenal were menaced throughout by the threat of an elimination that would have been unthinkable in both sporting and financial terms.

In the 39th minute, Udinese’s irrepressible talisman Antonio di Natale guided a header inside the right-hand post that levelled the tie on aggregate and took the Italians to within a goal of the group phase.

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie equalised 10 minutes into the second half, but the hosts were handed a chance to re-establish their advantage shortly afterwards when referee Olegario Benquerenca awarded a penalty against Thomas Vermaelen for handball.

Wojciech Szczesny excelled himself in the face of Di Natale’s spot-kick, however, plunging to his right and somehow palming the ball over the crossbar despite the power and precision behind the Italian’s rising shot. The shock of spurning such an opportunity drew the hosts’ sting and Theo Walcott put Arsenal out of sight in the 69th minute by racing into the box and coolly beating goalkeeper Samir Handanovic at his near post.

“We showed that, under pressure, we can respond with football and remain calm and composed on the ball and play like we know how to play,” Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger told ITV. “There are many questions around our club. If we’d gone out tonight it would have been worse for the team to play in a serene way.

“It was important tonight. Not financially, as some people have said, but more because we want to play

at the top level.” On the day that Samir Nasri completed his move from Arsenal to Manchester City-and just nine days after Cesc Fabregas returned to Barcelona-it was a timely victory for Wenger, whose methods had been called into question with greater

ITALY: Udinese’s midfielder Giampiero Pinzi (left) and Arsenal’s midfielder Aaron Ramsey challenge for the ball during their Champions League qualifying playoff second leg soccer match. —AP zeal than ever before as his squad collapsed around him. His starting line-up contained five players aged 21 or under and two 19-year-old Champions League debutants in the shape of right-back Carl Jenkinson and holding midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong.

Frimpong was replaced by Tomas Rosicky at halftime but this remained a stirring performance by a young team scarred by the trauma of recent departures and bereft of Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner due to injury.

Amid stifling summer heat at Udine’s Stadio Friuli, Arsenal began the game with a poise that seemed at odds with both the importance of the occasion and the doubt that is supposed to have overcome their ranks.

But if the visitors’ start to the game was typical Arsenal, so was the failure to convert the chances that their slick football occasionally yielded, with Walcott the chief culprit in the 32nd minute.

After first Pablo Armero and then Di Natale had hit the woodwork for Udinese, Walcott could only find Handanovic’s gloves after being picked out 10 yards from goal by the impressive Gervinho.

Di Natale’s delicately lofted header, from Giampiero Pinzi’s dinked pass, suggested Walcott’s profligacy would indeed be punished.

Gervinho slipped past Mehdi Benatia to put the equaliser on a plate for van Persie, however, and Walcott’s confident finish 14 minutes later stole the wind from the hosts’ sails with the ruthlessness of a slashing dagger.

Their lead restored, Arsenal slipped back into trademark ball retention mode and had only a booking for Walcott that rules him out of their next match to rue as they eased into the familiar territory of the group stage.

“We have to accept that we were eliminated by a better team,” said Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin, whose side will now enter the Europa League. “We held our own against a great team and we’re going out with our heads high.” —AFP

Eto’o signs 3-year deal with Russia’s Anzhi MOSCOW: Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o arrived in Moscow yesterday after signing a three-year deal with Russia’s new big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala that will reportedly be the most valuable contract in football.

The ambitious club from war-torn Dagestan said the four-time African player of the year will wear number 99 for Anzhi after trading in his blue-andblack number nine jersey at Inter.

A beaming Eto’o said on landing in Moscow following a weeks-long transfer saga that decided on the switch because “I have won everything I possibly could have” in Europe.

“It was always important for me to be happy-and now I am happy,” Eto’o was quoted as saying by the online edition of the Sovietsky Sport daily.

“I came to Anzhi because it is a new project and they are starting from scratch. I am interested,” he said. The Cameroon international had earlier published a personal letter on the Inter Milan website thanking fans and coaches for “these two fantastic years that I’ve spent at Inter”. “We sincerely wish Samuel all the best of luck in achieving further success with his new club,” Inter said after agreeing a reported 21-million-euro ($30.3-million) transfer fee with Anzhi.

Eto’o’s move from the glitzy Italian city side to the club from the war-torn Caucasus region of Dagestan reportedly makes him the highest paid player in world football. Anzhi transfer negotiator German Tkachenko said the forward’s fee would be smaller than the 20 million euros ($29.6 million) a year previously reported by the press. The sport’s top stars such as Real Madrid’s Cristiano

ROME: Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o (right) arrives to undergo a medical exam at Villa Stuart clinic in Rome. Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala announced a deal with Inter Milan for Samuel Eto’o that could make the Cameroon striker the highest paid footballer in the world. —AP Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi are both reported to be on salaries of less than $20 million per year.

Eto’o was tempted to Russia by the club’s new billionaire owner Suleiman Kerimov-an oil and metals magnate whose wealth has already brought the Russian left winger Yuri Zhirkov from Chelsea and the veteran international Roberto Carlos from Brazil.

The tiny club was promoted to the top flight after a seven-year absence in 2009 and last year finished 11th in the 16-team league.

But Aznhi has soared to fourth this season and is in position to either qualify for the UEFA Champions League or possibly win the Russian title outright.

The club’s recent lavish spending practices stand out in what is one of Russia’s most impoverished and violent regions. The US-based Human Rights Watch organisation said Thursday that Dagestan’s poor human rights recorded deserved more attention from the world media than the signing of Eto’o.

“Other records in Dagestan-specifically its very poor human rights recordalso deserve the attention of the world’s media,” the group said in a statement.

Anzhi players live and train in Moscow for security reasons and only visit the Caspian Sea city for home matches. But the club’s manager said Eto’o’s transfer was good for both Anzhi and Russian football. — AFP

Bin Hammam appeals FIFA lifetime ban DUBAI: Former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam has appealed his lifetime ban from football for election bribery, saying yesterday his punishment was politically motivated.

Bin Hammam, also the suspended Asian Football Confederation president, wrote on his blog that he did not expect the FIFA Appeals Committee to overturn his ban but must go through that body as a protocol before taking his case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

“The panel from the Appeals Committee is decided by my opponent and in this case, as previously, the judge is the rival,” bin Hammam wrote. “Therefore I should not exaggerate my hope for a fair decision.”

Bin Hammam called FIFA’s ruling “deeply flawed” but said he had “grave doubts” about whether the FIFA’s Appeals Committee is sufficiently independent to ensure a fair decision. He expected the appeal to take about two months.

“I will not rest no matter what tactical delays, forgery or biasness are put against me,” Bin Hammam wrote. “I will continue my battle until I prove my innocence and that my suspension was a political decision and an absolute abuse of power to deprive me of my right to contest for FIFA presidency.” Last month, FIFA imposed the life ban on bin Hammam after finding him guilty of buying votes in his campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter as head of football’s world governing body. That came just months after he helped secure 2022 World Cup hosting rights for his home country Qatar.

The bribery scandal led to bin Hammam abandoning his campaign for the FIFA presidency and ultimately led to the veteran executive committee member becoming the most senior official convicted of corruption in the governing body’s 107-year history.

He has denied allegations he gave cash to Caribbean officials in exchange for their vote in his bid to become FIFA president. He said the allegations were made because he was a threat to Blatter’s re-election. FIFA is investigating 16 Caribbean officials for their part in allegedly accepting $40,000 payments. Bin Hammam said his appeal could broaden the probe, saying “I would not be surprised if another investigation will be opened.” — AP

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Spanish league back on, strike lifted MADRID: Stars of Spanish football such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to be back in league action this weekend after players called off a strike that delayed the start of Spain’s Liga for the first time in 27 years.

Negotiations dragged on into the early morning yesterday before the players’ association AFE said it had struck an agreement with the league to guarantee wages, meaning the football-addicted nation will get its weekend fix.

“The strike is officially suspended. The situation of the 200 players who had unpaid salaries has been resolved,” Luis Rubiales, president of the AFE, told a news conference alongside league president Jose Luis Astiazaran.

Global stars such as Barcelona’s Argentine ace Messi and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo can command massive transfer fees and salaries, but further down the ranks the AFE complains hundreds of players have been going unpaid.

“We wish to express the pride we feel in all the players for the unprecedented unity and solidarity they have shown at a time when many of their companions were having a really tough time,” the AFE said in a statement.

The AFE says 200 players in the top two divisions are owed a total of about 50 million euros ($72 million) in unpaid wages from cash-strapped clubs, some of which are in bankruptcy protection. The AFE was demanding a wage guarantee and an agreement that players be allowed to break their contracts if they are not paid for three consecutive months. AFE said the league had finally accepted that measure.

“The strike committee of the AFE and the Professional Football League reached an agreement that guarantees footballers’ salaries by various means,” the AFE said in a statement.

The league and the AFE agreed to set up a fund to guarantee unpaid wages but the officials declined to specify the total amount. “Today is not the day to talk about amounts,” said Astiazaran. “Suffice to say that through the fund... the payments due to the players who have not been paid will be guaranteed.” “This is a very important step for Spanish football, but it is only one turning point,” Rubiales said, pointing out that the Spanish parliament has yet to vote on a law that would relegate teams that fail to pay players’ wages.

Astiazaran said the missed Primera Liga matches would be replayed on January 22, with that day’s matches rescheduled to May 2. The missed second division matches will be played on October 26. Among the coming weekend’s fixtures, Barcelona are scheduled to play at home against Villarreal while Real Madrid play away at Zaragoza.

It was the first strike since 1984 in La Liga, now one of the most widely-followed football leagues in the world. The start of Italy’s top league Serie A this weekend is also facing a strike threat after players and club bosses failed to agree on a new collective bargaining deal.—AFP

Guardiola eyes more Barca history in Super Cup clash PARIS: Josep Guardiola can become the most decorated coach in Barcelona’s history when the reigning European champions take on FC Porto in today’s UEFA Super Cup showpiece in Monaco.

Guardiola, 40, has needed just three years in charge of the club he represented with such distinction as a player to equal Johann Cruyff’s record tally of 11 titles at the Camp Nou. It is a remarkable statistic, and such is the Catalans’ dominance of the European game right now that it would be a huge surprise if Guardiola was not celebrating title number 12 come Friday night at the Stade Louis II. Of course, Barca have already won silverware this season, beating Real Madrid 5-4 on aggregate after two pulsating legs to claim the Spanish Super Cup. The Spanish domestic season was due to begin last weekend until a strike by the players’ union put paid to the entire opening round of fixtures, but the intensity of their double-header with Jose Mourinho’s side helped the Catalans get into shape. They were in fine fettle on Monday, hammering Napoli 5-0 in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy at the Camp Nou. Now they head to the principality looking for a repeat of their Super Cup triumph in 2009, when Pedro scored the only goal of the game in extra-time to beat Shakhtar Donetsk.

Barca are also hoping to win the trophy for Spain for the third year running, after Atletico Madrid saw off Inter Milan 2-0 last year. However, while their attacking options appear stronger than ever after the signings of Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez, Guardiola’s decision not to bolster his defence may present a problem with Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique having been ruled out for the next three weeks. —AFP

LONDON: Everton’s Victor Anichebe vies for the ball against Sheffield United’s Matthew Lowton (right) during their English League Cup second round soccer match.—AP

Liverpool show class to sweep past Exeter LONDON: Liverpool cruised into the League Cup third round with a 3-1 win over minnows Exeter City, while fellow Premier League sides Everton, Blackburn and Bolton also avoided early exits on Wednesday.

Kenny Dalglish’s team were playing in the second round of the competition for the first time since 1999 following a rare failure to qualify for any European event.

But the seven-time League Cup winners were never in danger of crashing to a embarrassing defeat at St James’ Park as goals from Luiz Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll gave Dalglish his 200th win in all competitions over two spells as Liverpool boss.

“We won because we approached the game properly. The most pleasing thing was the attitude of the players,” Dalglish said.

Dalglish also confirmed Raul Meireles has damaged his collarbone and will be out for several weeks.

“I don’t know how serious it is, but it’ll be a few weeks,” he added.

Dalglish made eight changes but the Reds took the lead in the 23rd minute when Artur Krysiak could only tip Jordan Henderson’s cross to Suarez, who volleyed home despite Richard Duffy’s attempt to clear.

Rodriguez got the second goal when he converted a Suarez pass in the 55th minute and substitute Andy

Carroll scored from the edge of the area three minutes later.

Exeter grabbed a consolation goal in the 80th minute when Martin Skrtel tripped Daniel Nardiello and the striker picked himself up to score the resulting penalty.

Everton lifted some of the gloom around Goodison Park with a 3-1 win against League One side Sheffield United. David Moyes’ men made a miserable start to their Premier League campaign, losing 1-0 at home to QPR on Saturday just days after chairman Bill Kenwright admitted there is no money to spend on signings as the club’s bank has stopped providing fresh funds.

Another bad day looked likely when Richard Cresswell gave the Blades the lead in the 28th minute, but the United striker deflected Jack Rodwell’s shot into his own net three minutes later.

Victor Anichebe finished off Ross Barkley’s shot in the 37th minute and Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta struck with a curler five minutes later.

Blackburn eased a little of the pressure on boss Steve Kean with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park.

Kean was beginning to feel the heat after Rovers’ lost their opening two Premier League matches and he couldn’t afford a shock defeat against League One opposition.

Rovers scored three times in the first seven minutes as Spanish forward Ruben Rochina netted with two clincal strikes before David Goodwillie bagged his first goal following his move from Dundee United.

Turkey forward Tuncay Sanli scored on his debut as Bolton came from behind to beat League Two outfit Macclesfield 2-1.

There is a gap of 75 league places between the teams, but Macclesfield took the lead in the 11th minute when Tony Diagne’s through-ball sent Emile Sinclair clear to slot home.

Bolton equalised through Tuncay’s volley in the 56th minute and the Turk turned provider in the 73rd minute as his pass was buried by Martin Petrov.

Peterborough demolished Ipswich 7-1 on Saturday but Darren Ferguson’s side found it much harder against fellow Championship team Middlesbrough, who strolled to a 2-0 win at London Road.

Ten-man West Ham were booed off after the Championship side suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat against Aldershot in a delayed first round tie, with Danny Hylton scoring an 89th minute winner for Dean Holdsworth’s League Two team. Bristol City, also of the Championship, fared no better against League Two opposition as Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon won 1-0 at Ashton Gate in another first round match.—AFP

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Barca to face AC Milan

MONACO: Barcelona’s Argentinean forward Lionel Messi (left) poses with his trophy for football’s Best Player in Europe 2010/2011 flanked by UEFA President and French former football player Michel Platini yesterday after the draw for the UEFA 2011-2012 Champions League. — AP

United set Portuguese test • Messi named best Europe player MONACO: Titleholders Barcelona were pitted against seven-time winners AC Milan in the draw for the 2011/2012 Champions League group stages held here yesterday. Aside from Milan, knocked out in the last 16 last term, Pep Guardiola’s Spanish giants will also face FC Bate Borisov of Belarus and Viktoria Plzen in Group H. Milan and Barca clashed in the 1994 final, with the Italians then managed by Fabio Capello dishing out a 4-0 drubbing to their Spanish rivals in Athens.

Manchester United, making a record 17th appearance in the world’s top club competition, were the first of the 32 teams to be drawn out of UEFA’s ‘hat’ by Portuguese legend Luis Figo. Sir Alex Ferguson’s threetime winners face Benfica, the Portuguese double winners from the early 1960s, FC Basel and Romanian outfit FC Otelul Galati in Group C. United and Benfica met in the 1968 final, with the English footballing superpower prevailing for the first of their titles 4-1 on home turf at Wembley.

United chief executive David Gill commented: “We have had great matches against them (Benfica) and he (Sir Bobby Charlton) was reminiscing before the draw about that great match back in 1968. “We had some great games against them in 2000 so we are looking forward to going back to Portugal. I’m sure he’s (Ferguson’s) happy with that. We have a new Romanian team, congratulations to them for getting in the competition. We are looking forward to going there.”

Figo’s former club, nine-time kings of Europe Real Madrid, come up against old foes Lyon of France, Dutch heavyweights Ajax (drawn in Real’s group last term), and Dinamo Zagreb. Friday’s 32-team draw featured 11 previous winners and five newcomers, with among the debutants Ferguson’s ‘noisy neighbours’, Manchester City. Roberto Mancini’s expensively assembled side were handed a tricky assignment with four-time winners Bayern Munich, who had to come through the play-offs, keeping them company in Group A. Also on City’s radar are Italian group stage first timers Napoli and Villarreal.

City football administrator Brian Marwood reflected: “We really believe we can go into this competition and do well with the spirit that we have.”

Bayern Munich’s director of sport Christian Nerlinger said: “This is a demanding group, but Bayern are the favourites,” said Nerlinger, with the Champions League final on May 19 next year set to be hosted at Bayern’s Allianz Arena in Munich. “I would have prefered to have faced other teams, but we are pleased to accept the challenge. The team is up for it.”

Arsenal’s tricky start to the season with star players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leaving the Emirates Stadium for pastures new was eased by their defeat of Udinese in the play-offs. And the Gunners’ reward for securing their 14th Champions League campaign was a match-up against Didier Deschamps’ Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Olympiakos. “The first priority was to get there but I think we are quietly pleased with draw.

We have played some of our opponents before so we are looking forward to it,” Arsenal club secretary David Miles said.

Chelsea, the fourth representative from the Premier League and last season’s quarter-finalists, are in Group E with Valencia, Chelsea new recuit Juan Mata’s old club, Bayer Leverkusen and Genk. Chelsea communications director Steve Atkins remarked: “Every draw throws up challenges and this is no different, and I have spoken to Andre Villas-Boas and he certainly feels that too. “Valencia is a formidable team and a very difficult place to go with their support - Juan Mata will be returning there a little bit more quickly than he thought! “Bayer Leverkusen is also a difficult one and we will be delighted to meet up with Michael Ballack again, and Genk too are full of talent and should not be underestimated.”

Last season’s quarter-finalists and three-time champions Inter Milan

come up against Russian outfit CSKA Moscow, Lille and Trabzonspor, called up to replace Fenerbahce who were denied taking up their group stage ticket over a match-fixing probe, in Group B. Group G comprises another former winner of the competition in FC Porto, who face Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL Nicosia. The long road to the Munich final starts on September 13 with the opening salvoes of this season’s group stages The top two placed teams in each group advance to the first knockout round, with the third-placed teams dropping down to the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi won the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe award for the 2010-11 season. Messi beat his Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in a poll of journalists from across Europe. Argentina forward Messi scored 53 goals as he and Xavi led Barcelona to the Champions League and Spanish titles. A panel of 53 journalists drawn from each of UEFA’s member nations voted ahead of the draw for this season’s Champions League group stage. UEFA created the honor after “France Football” magazine combined its traditional European award with FIFA’s world player prize. Messi won that award in January when Xavi placed third. — Agencies