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‘Tora Bora’ connects with Kuwaiti sensibility

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Boks run riot as royal buzz hits World Cup

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R.E.M ‘call it a day’ after 31 years, many hits

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Kuwait fully backs Palestinian UN bid NEW YORK: Kuwaiti Prime Minister HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al Sabah (left) exchanges greetings with Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday. — AFP (See Page 9)

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Years

FRIDAY, SeptembeR 23, 2011

Thinking ahead, thinking big

By Roland Singer-Kingsmith

S

o you think you want to start a new business in Kuwait? You will have considered, of course, the two months of property rental receipts you need to apply for a commercial license, the six-month delay while your application is processed at the Ministry of Commerce and the Fire Department’s obligation to verify that the coffee machine won’t burn the place down.

It was not long ago that Haytham Al-Hawaj, one of the founders of the independent ‘Think’ cafe and restaurant, was faced with such a bureaucratic quagmire. Furthermore, little had he anticipated the continuing ministerial checks, strict limitations on hiring employees and a first year balance sheet showing eight months of losses. Even the memory of applying for a Baladiya (Municipality) certificate makes him cringe.

However, despite such adverse conditions, he and three friends - Bahaa Al-Hawaj, Adnan Akbar and Ahmad Baqr managed to set up the impressively stylish cafe-cum-business-center ‘Think’ in Sharq in 2009. Their intention was to create a space for Kuwait’s sharp and upcoming entrepreneurs that promotes professionalism and productivity in a calm and relaxing cafe environment. On seeing the well-stocked library, glistening Mac computers and excellent mixed berries cheesecake, it’s clear that enormous amounts of research have gone into deftly balancing such a space between work and play. In aiming to improve the facilities on offer for rookie entrepreneurs, Al-Hawaj et al have proved their own value as businessmen.

Keeping the Faith Al-Hawaj feels that the initial stages of starting a business in Kuwait are so tough that many simply give up. He says that he admires the persistence of independent businessmen in Kuwait but strongly advises any newcomers to the scene to “keep trying and have faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel”. However, having only given up his full-time job at the Ministry of Health in May this year, he is evidence that even the most

successful start-up businesses will go through periods of darkness.

Although, when he started, Al-Hawaj admits that he “knew nothing about coffee”. He had already learned the hard way that opening a business is not an easy ride. Aside from the nightmarish mountains of paperwork, he was forced to hold meetings in either relentlessly noisy cafes or extortionately expensive hotel conference rooms.

Needless to say, neither his clients nor bank manager were particularly impressed.

To remedy this particular problem, ‘Think’ offers its piece de resistance - a stand-alone glass meeting room on the same floor as the cafe.

Within an hour of my arrival a group of young and confident professionals, dressed in polo shirts and jeans, take up place inside, pull out laptops and start discussing progress reports on the screen. Sipping black Americanos in the quiet privacy of an affordable space is worlds away from Al-Hawaj’s experiences of building his first company.

Growing Trend “‘Think’ is the product of a growing trend,” says Al-Hawaj, “of people who want to feel as though they are worth something.” He cites the increasing number of start-up cupcake bakeries, which are being run out of family kitchens and delivered in brothers’ cars, as an example of a new breed of motivated young Kuwaitis doing more than their brief stint of government employment each day. Taking advantage of the current cupcake fad, these young entrepreneurs impress Al-Hawaj with their energy and opportunism.

By comparison, he repeatedly mentions the wasted value that a five-hour working day and a large salary represents, lamenting the lack of incentive a government job can bring. “You need a system of rewards or punishments to make people work. In Kuwait, we have neither.” Asked whether or not the welfare state makes Kuwaitis lazy he replied, “I could not say that. But it does create vast economical inefficiencies.”

For those interested in taking advantage of the domestic economy’s lack of competition, large capital potential and the public’s purchasing power, then Kuwait provides “a more fertile market than the US for small to medium-sized businesses”, according to Al-Hawaj. He continued more generally, “In an ideal world, where everyone took the initiative and created economic value just by getting off the sofa, Kuwait would have a 50/50 economic split between the public and private sectors.”

Maximizing Productivity ‘Think’ was not his first, nor will it be his last, business venture. Al-Hawaj helped Adnan Akbar and Ahmad Baqr to develop an online booking system to reserve football pitches in Kuwait City.

The idea came from when he would go to play football with his friends and be forced to pay upwards of KD 45 per hour, which often included a little something for the doorman. In his opinion, this was a lose-lose situation for both the owner and the customer.

Just two years since its inception, goalcourts.com has accumulated thousands of users and 38 pitches - essentially creating a formal economy in place of an unofficial souk.

Owners can gather information about who is using their pitches, how often and for how long, while customers get the most competitive prices.

The three partners spotted an inefficient leak in the system and plugged it, thereby providing both football fans and pitch owners with a winwin alternative.

Al-Hawaj is driven by maximizing productivity and ironing out systemic inefficiencies. He dreams of a Kuwait that supports a growing domestic economy fueled by small to medium sized business owners who value themselves as hardworking entrepreneurs. These men and women are the future of Kuwait for Al-Hawaj, who fears the country’s 95 percent GDP dependency on exhaustible oil reserves. The time is ripe to think big.

Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

local Spotlight

No one listens to them By muna al-fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

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he heart-wrenching stories about runaway maids and workers no longer interests the average reader any more. It is one of the unfortunate situations that one has to deal with. Somehow, I feel it is not exclusive to Kuwait. Other countries that benefit from domestic workers’ services do not guarantee their protection as well. I know that the Arab and Asian countries have a notorious record in terms of domestic workers’ abuse.

The reasons are simple. First, the lack of transparent laws offers no security. Advanced democracies have formulated laws and regulations that govern the lives of its residents or expatriates. When a country’s laws have no regard for its own people, expatriates can only expect to

receive preferential treatment. If they happen to be domestic workers, they are abused in every possible manner. Even if the domestic worker runs away, the law doesn’t investigate the reasons. The escapee could be lucky if no absconding cases are filed against them.

Why would any maid run away from a sponsor after taking the trouble of relocating to another country in search of better prospects? The answer is that their hopes are crushed when subject to inhuman torture and no payment is received for services performed. They are faced with no choice but head to the nearest escape route!

Despite the issue being so common in Arab countries, their voices are muffled. No one wants to dry their dirty laundry in public. I think every abused worker should find a way to let their experiences be known and resort to legal channels to receive rightful compensation. I believe Kuwait should pass some real laws with teeth to protect migrant workers’ rights. As human beings, we have failed to prevent the powerful from destroying our country.

Probably we should turn our attention to those that are less fortunate.

Off the record

Recession? Pay your fair share

Kaffeeklatsch

Keeping up with the Joneses

By Shakir Reshamwala

By Sajeev K Peter

sajeev@kuwaittimes.net

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was patiently sitting in a barber’s chair waiting for the barber to start working on my hair. The barber, who knows me for a couple of years as a regular customer, eventually began his job. As he sprayed water on my hair and started massaging my hair, he asked me, “What do you think sir, will there be another recession?” The question really caught me unaware. I don’t know what prompted him to ask the question. May be my thinning hair might have reminded him of the all-invasive nature of recession.

I tried answering him, giving some theories and explanations floated by experts in the field. I told him it is a global problem. Neither I nor he can do anything about it. I could make out from that cynical look on his face that he was not convinced by my answer. But the barber set my thought process rolling. It looks like the whole world is obsessed with recession today.

From economic experts to star-gazers, from street vendors to taxi drivers, the world wants to know whether there will be a recession or not.

I must admit that this is getting curious! Some people told me they sought the help of a crystal ball to know if they have to pull money out of the stock market now while a few approached fortunetellers to know whether a recession will hurt their marital bliss. Even the anti-recession campaigners will admit that recession has become the most popular word after ‘perestroika’ and ‘glasnost’ considering its wide-ranging implications and applications.

I’m not talking about the British workers who turned to antidepressants after recession took its toll, nor the ‘recessionphobia’ that sweeps the American households today. It’s neither about the dips and peaks at the Kuwait Stock Exchange nor about the inflation blues that haunt Kuwait retailers. Its implications go beyond mere economic, social or political connotations. Expressions like ‘recession of the brain’ referring to shortterm memory loss and ‘recession of the mind’ meaning total inability of the mind to objectively assess a situation, have become quite popular today.

‘Are you in a recession?’ is a very common salutation among peers in our universities. How to build a recession-proof mind is a growing concern among medical professionals today. While technology has taken some pre-emptive measures such as ‘Recession Apps’ for the iPhone, iPod Touch and Android phones, recession-weary farmers are still left in the lurch. They plead their case by showing off those miniscule potatoes and pumpkins as examples of all-pervading recession.

This inexorable situation may probably prompt us to take a stoic position. If recession becomes a reality, pay your fair share and join the party!

shakir@kuwaittimes.net

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onspicuous consumption is the buzzword here.

Everyone is trying to outdo the other. From neighbouring families to neighbouring states, there’s a mad rush to be one-up. Cars are getting flashier, villas grander and skyscrapers taller. The Gulf states also have the highest per capita consumption of water. Nearly 70 percent of power production is used to keep air conditioners humming. Petrol is cheaper than water, and the streets are chockablock with hulking, gas-guzzling SUVs. People and nations are neck deep in debt in this game of one-upmanship. But the frenzy continues unabated.

In Kuwait, there are monuments to excess everywhere.

Youths cruise ‘Love Street’ in the zaniest cars with nary a fils in their pockets. Mounds of leftover food fill garbage bins while housemaids go hungry. Everything under the sun is bought on credit. Everyone seems to be consumed in the insatiable fire of wants and desires.

The corruption scandal gripping Kuwait is only an extension of this rampant consumption scourge.

Frugality and thriftiness were once a virtue, but are now dirty words. People these days are used to living beyond their means, propped up by easy credit. Little do they realize that this mindless consumption will come to haunt them later. One default on a loan or the loss of a job will be enough to sink the rickety boat. The facade held by fraying threads of credit will snap, revealing the rotten state of affairs behind.

The legions of people in Kuwait facing travel bans because of indebtedness are witness to this malady.

These desperate people want the state to write off their loans, thereby rewarding their excesses. They portray false indignation and claim they are demanding their rightful share of the state’s riches, while in reality, they are holding out begging bowls, self dignity in tatters.

It’s time we wake up and smell the arabica. Prudence used to be among the traits of the hardy desert people, but once this barren land was transformed into an “oasis”, everything was forgotten. The people of the desert know a mirage when they see one, but this time round, the gooey jets of crude have clouded their vision.

Satire Wire

How is poverty defined?

By Sawsan Kazak

sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

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t is usually difficult for a country to agree what should be considered poverty level. Recently India did just that when they decided that ‘poverty’ begins under 50 cents a day. India’s economic planning body said that any villager earning 50 cents (25 rupees) a day is not poor and should not qualify for government assistance. Those living in the city were considered poor if they earned lower than 32 rupees a day.

According to the Planning Commission’s calculations, those earning 25 rupees a day or more should be more than able to provide food, education and health services for themselves. A calculation I find very hard to believe.

We keep hearing of India’s insane inflation rates brought on by the rapidly growing economy. These calculations don’t seem to take the double-digit inflation into consideration.

This computation is below the already conservative World Bank figure of $1.25 a day. It is unfathomable that a person could eat, study and stay healthy while earning 50 cents a day, no matter where they live. The figures given

by India’s Planning Commission are not realistic as we all know that things that seem possible in theory do not always work out in real life. These calculations seem to believe that people eat the same thing every day, and never get sick. Even with that, it seems to be impossible to live a comfortable and healthy life with such meager salaries.

Unfortunately, the new ridiculously low benchmark to determine poverty line has already been approved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s office. It is estimated that around 37 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population live below the poverty line and are being offered help, but clearly it’s not enough.

How do you define poverty line? Who should decide what is considered eligible for help or not? Putting a cutoff at a certain number is certainly not the way. Is simply surviving by the skin of your teeth enough or should there be some aspects guaranteed? These questions do not have simple answers and are different depending on the country. But 50 cents a day is definitely not the right step in eliminating poverty. Just labeling it ‘above poverty level’ does nothing for those living its consequences.

KUWAIT: An “entrepreneur” is pictured counting the baksheesh collected from shoppers after helping them load groceries into their cars. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

@ your service

By Sawsan Kazak

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Having a personal assistant is no longer reserved just for celebrities or people with trust funds.

ou drive all the way to the mall on a Friday night, finally find parking, only to realize you have forgotten your wallet at home. Now you have to drive all the way back home to get your wallet; how inconvenient. If only you had a personal assistant that could organize for someone to bring your wallet to you while you continue to shop. Having a personal assistant is no longer reserved just for celebrities or people with trust funds. Companies such as Kuwait Concierge allow ordinary people to have the luxury and convenience of around-the-clock service.

“I will try to provide anything you want as long as its legal, ethical and possible,” says Jassim Jassim, Vice President, CEO and cofounder of Kuwait Concierge, who sees a real need for these services in the Kuwait market. With a history in executive banking, Jassim saw early on the prospects of concierge services for the average person, “Many people believe that concierge services are strictly for VIPs. These services are for people who need them, and who needs these services? People who need their car registrations renewed, cars detailed, any kind of government paperwork finished, reminders or just having something driven to them,” explains Jassim. “Nobody likes to run these errands. But the VIP of a bank, for instance, already has about 10 people who could do these services for him,” he explained. In essence, it’s not the ‘big guys’ but rather the average person that needs a little bit of assistance in their daily life, says Jassim. He admits that the concept of concierge services has been in existence for a while now, but the new method is enhanced, more personal and practical on a daily basis.

Personal experience “I use the service in both my personal and professional life,” says Ibrahim Al-Saeed, a Kuwait Concierge customer. A customer for only two months now, Al-Saeed is very impressed with the amount of services the company provides him and the quality with which it is provided, “I don’t do any more government paperwork myself, Kuwait Concierge does it all for me,” says Al-Saeed. “I’m really impressed with the fact that the people I deal with are very knowledgeable about the services I require; they are very well-informed about the culture and our society,” Al-Saeed said.

Al-Saeed calls the company’s call center about three times a week for various services and requests, but mostly for travel-related issues, “I travel a lot and being a member has really helped me in this aspect. The office books my airline tickets and delivers them to my house, they also do my boarding and take my bags to the airport and provide me with a limousine service to drive me on the day of my flight. This has really been beneficial for me,” says AlSaeed. Until now there hasn’t been any request Al-Saeed has made that Kuwait Concierge wasn’t able to deliver.

Understanding the culture Jassim believes that Kuwait Concierge fills a special niche as it appreciates and caters to the requirements of people in Kuwait, “We understand what this culture is all about and we gear our services to this society. We know what this culture needs and requires assistance with,” says Jassim.

A perfect example of specific cultural need fulfillment was during the last Eid here in Kuwait, “I am a banker, so I know what happens to banks before and during Eid,” he said. So, a couple of days prior to Eid Kuwait Concierge stocked up on Eid money, meaning crisp one, five and ten Kuwait dinar bills, “We then proceeded to call our members and asked them if they would like us to deliver a certain amount to their homes. This way, they didn’t have to go to the bank and wait in long line. Most of our members asked for this service,” he said.

The company is also sensitive to cultural desires. For instance, if a person has a wedding to go to and needed his car to be detailed, they could send someone to his location, which is probably a diwaniya and get the car serviced before the wedding.

Kuwait Concierge also tries to modernize old Kuwaiti habits, “Have you ever bought a sheep or any other animal by K-net?” asks Jassim . “One of our clients just had a newborn son and wanted to buy three sheep to offer as sacrifice, as is customary in this culture.

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Our mandoub (representative) went to the location and bought the sheep. Our client then requested that we take care of slaughtering.

We did and delivered them to his home; he paid everything by K-net as we had already covered his cost in cash,” says Jassim .

There is a new trend of small businesses opening in Kuwait by young people who are mostly students, “We saw this as a perfect opportunity to help out. We offer special plans for small businesses to help them flourish,” says Jassim. He gives the example of a young entrepreneur who has a small homemade cupcake business, “She is a student and can’t always take down the orders. We provide a service that can take down the orders for her and if she needs help delivering the cupcakes, we can also help in that,” explained Jassim.

Sometimes, the demands are physically impossible and they are unable to comply. One such example was the amnesty period in Kuwait before the start of Ramadan. The en masse departure of domestic help caused a drain in the domestic support industry such as maids, drivers, cooks and so on, “We received many requests for this kind of help right before Ramadan. Unfortunately, we were unable to satisfy the high demand, but our members understood the situation we were in,” Jassim said.

This concept would lead people to assume there would be abuse and overuse of the services. But Jassim was surprised to observe the exact opposite phenomenon, “Some of our clients feel embarrassed to ask for what they want after a few calls, even if it is unlimited or free of charge. Some people call a few times and then don’t call back.

When we ask them why they stopped calling they say they are too shy to call every time, they feel as they are a bother to us. But we explain to them that this is their right, and that they are inevitably helping us become better at what we do by allowing us to practice,” Jassim explains.

In times of need Most people could instantaneously think up errands they wish they could pass on to someone else, especially when caught in a

Local FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

sticky situation, “One of our clients went all the way to Wafra to play football with some friends and discovered that he forgot his running shoes at home. Unwilling to drive back for a pair of shoes, he called us. We were able to get his shoes from his home and deliver them to him,” recalled Jassim.

There are some situations that are actual needs, such as when you lose your wallet and need to cancel your credit and debit cards, “It happened to me once when I was in Barcelona with my wife. Her entire purse got stolen. Kuwait Concierge would have all the information to automatically cancel all the cards and reissue new ones, and then have them delivered to our location,” says Jassim. ”When all your stuff gets stolen or is lost, where will you be able to get the numbers of the banks to cancel your accounts in time?

You need someone who has it on reference and is on-call for this kind of thing.”

It’s never a silly request Jassim says that there is no set pattern of services people request here in Kuwait and that some people are quite specific or creative with their requests, “There are no silly requests here, we take every call seriously and try our best to help,” says Jassim.

“One man called and told us that his ‘misbah’ (prayer beads) was about to break. He explained that the string was about to come apart and he was worried that it would be lost made my order and they located the nearest McDonald’s to my house, placed an order and sent a messenger to deliver it to my house.

Within 15 minutes he was knocking on my door to deliver.”

Jassim takes pride in the fact that the system is smart, “Anyone can deliver an item to your home, but the fact that it is speedy and concise is what is different,” he explains.

Other helpful services offered are reminders, birthdays, anniversaries and other special dates, “I once forgot my wedding anniversary and that was a serious offence. I wish I had a personal assistant to remind me of that,” said Jassim jokingly.

Jassim Jassim seen addressing his staff during a training session. forever,” says Jassim. Kuwait Concierge quickly dispatched a messenger to the gentleman’s location and within a half hour he was at his door. The messenger proceeded to take it to the market and got it re-stringed, and returned it to the client. The string change cost half a KD and nothing else. “Was this silly or strange?” asks Jassim, “I personally don’t think so, this is our culture. This was important to this man and we are glad we could assist,” Jassim said.

He then eagerly narrates another story from the company’s archives, “We once had a man call us and tell us his pen doesn’t work.

We proceeded to ask him what kind of pen it was to which he responded it was a Cartier.

We sent one of our messengers to check if the refill was available and then delivered the refilled pen with an extra cartridge to our member. These requests might seem strange but this is our culture and this is what you would expect your personal assistant to take care of; that’s what we are,” says Jassim.

The company also caters to personal preference when it comes to the call center and their clients, offering tailored service to their

customers. Some people prefer certain languages, dialects or even certain people, “We have a member who wants to be greeted in a certain language and by a certain gender. As soon as you call the system, your information will pop up automatically. It allows us to provide this client with his request,” explains Jassim.

The everyday Personal assistance isn’t only useful on special occasions or freak accidents; they usually take care of the day to day annoyances.

The fleet of assistants receive requests to make restaurant reservations, book plane tickets and hotels, provide taxis to the airport, deliver groceries, pick up the children from school, and even home deliver items that are usually not deliverable.

A customer of the company himself, Jassim recalled an incident not too long ago where the concierge services came in handy, “The other day, I woke up early on a Friday morning and had a rare craving for McDonald’s breakfast. I contacted the call center and they automatically accessed the online menu. I

How the system works Upon registration the company collects all the information they would need to assist you. On file Kuwait Concierge would have home and work, diwaniyas and chalets addresses and any other locations you frequent as well as important dates like birthdays, anniversaries and registrations. “It’s very helpful for someone to call you and say your wedding anniversary is in a few days, or your child’s birthday is tomorrow,” says Jassim.

Having assessed and helped create a few call centers and VIP programs while an executive banker, Jassim‘s strength lies in automated systems. He says he has invested his years of knowledge into the creation of a unique organization. Now the company counts over 150 customers, “Call center is the first contact for members; they call in and make their requests. Then there is the operations department that make the requests possible either by coordinating with other companies or by dispatching someone from our third department which are very skilled messengers,” explains Jassim.

“If we get a call at the call center for a flower delivery to a certain hospital room, the operations department checks if any nearby flower shops deliver and they place an order.

If not, our messengers are sent to the location to pick up the flowers and then deliver them

to the room,” explains Jassim. The call center is open 24/7 all year long. In majority the customers are mostly Kuwaitis, in addition to American, British, Lebanese, Egyptians and Jordanians who use the service. He said, “We don’t target nationalities, we are only targeting people we know need these kinds of services in their life.”

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Years

FRIDAY, SeptembeR 23, 2011

By Lisa Conrad

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inners make time,” says 25-year-old Ayman Nassar, the founder of a brand-new running group in Kuwait, Q8 Foot Soldiers. His inspiration came when he noticed how much more motivated people were when they exercised together, so he decided to create his very own, free, running group. The group includes both complete amateurs and seasoned runners training for the half marathon, each free to set their own goals within a group environment.

Nassar chose to form the group for practical reasons as well, as getting a membership at a gym in Kuwait can be very costly. He wanted to encourage people to take part in an exercise that was not only cost free, but one that could also be practiced anywhere in the world.

“You don’t need money to run, you just need some good shoes and a good track,” said Nassar.

The group does warm-ups and cool-downs together, with each runner running, jogging or even walking at the pace most comfortable for them. Pets are also welcome to join.

However, Nassar also wanted to break down some boundaries that could be discouraging to

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potential runners. One of these was safety, which played a large part of his inspiration to start the group; “There was a story a while ago of a female jogger who was attacked, and raped, by three men who had been following her. Running in a group is much safer, and I think the group dynamic will encourage women in Kuwait to take part.”

‘You don’t need money to run, you just need some good shoes and a good track’ With cost, health benefits and safety covered, the only thing left to do is start. Beginning to run for health and sport, however, can be an intimidating endeavor, especially for those of us who keep our exercise confined to switching between TV channels (albeit enthusiastically).

Nassar, however, hasn’t always been a fitness enthusiast, “I wasn’t enthusiastic about sports at all; I used to despise sports day at school. I used to be chubby and out of shape, but my uncle encouraged me to start running for health.” The result has been impressive, as Nassar now runs

able to them. Ayman’s concept has pretty much eradicated the barriers/excuses we make, so why not get started? For more details on dates and times, contact: lordaymz@mybloogle.com.

As Ayman said, the only cost of taking part and improving your health, is time.

performance out of the blue

By Sunil Cherian

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18 kilometers a week. “It’s encouraging seeing your fitness increase, your overall health change and your abilities improve. Once it starts you just want to keep improving.”

Nassar has 17 members so far, and anyone is welcome to join.

Amateurs and even those with minor injuries have joined and started at a pace most comfort-

avelikkara Satheesh Chandran, a wellknown Indian violinist from Salmiya, received an alarming call one night.

The man on the other end introduced himself as a Kuwaiti and asked the somewhat-nervous violinist if he could book a one-day pro-

gram. “The violin performance will be for about 10 to 15 minutes,” the middle-aged voice said. “But you should make yourself free for the whole day. I don’t know what time of the day I’ll need you.”

Satheesh enquired, as usual, on the whereabouts of the program and explained that he would attend with his accompanying musi-

Mavelikkara Satheesh Chandran (right) on the violin accompanies a visiting Indian musician during a classical music program in Kuwait in this file photo.

cians, two percussionists and a string instrumentalist. “No, no,” said the Kuwaiti, “I just want you, alone. And how much do you charge?” Somewhat suspiciously, Satheesh demanded KD 100 anticipating the cancellation of the solo 15-minute performance.

“That’s fine,” the voice said. “The deal is done.”

In Kuwait, Satheesh would tutor Kuwaiti students on the violin. Through one of his aspiring violinists, Satheesh and his team performed to an applauding Kuwaiti wedding crowd at the JW Marriot. Recalling this most recent booking, Satheesh found himself thinking, “This Kuwaiti seems odd,” but decided to keep his word nonetheless.

On the day of the performance, when Satheesh reached the Kuwaiti’s villa, he was ushered into the kitchen. “Hide in here,” the man, in his late 40s, said. Instructing Satheesh to “Walk in playing when I tell you to,” the man disappeared.

Satheesh intuitively knew of an imminent surprise, and waited, like the legendary Indian musician Tansen who made the raindrops fall after his incessant recital.

Shortly after, the man reappeared and gestured for Satheesh to follow him. There in the sprawling living room was the man’s beautiful wife who almost jumped up in surprise, uttering “Violin!” as Satheesh entered the room, playing. “Today is our wedding anniversary,” the man explained, “and I wanted to give my wife a surprise.”

Satheesh telephoned his wife Radhika, herself a musician, who currently runs the couple’s music institute in India. He related to her, in detail, this pleasant out-of-the-blue surprise. For Radhika, this was but one of many noteworthy performances that characterized the thirty-four year career of her renowned husband, a passionate violinist.

Among them were innumerable violin performances both in Kuwait and in India. His violin ‘kacheri’ in desert tents and diwaniyas, campfire-side performance on the beach for Kuwaiti youth, a four-hour performance with a visiting vocalist who was enraptured with the music and the ambience and stage performances where South Indian Carnatic notes merged with the ‘duff’ and ‘oud’ of Arabia.

Among the Indian expats in Kuwait City, violin is synonymous with Satheesh.

Now, his twelve-year life in Kuwait is drawing to a close. Satheesh is returning to his wife and two boys in India. They plan to run the couple’s music institute, an endeavor, one may expect, that will feature fewer surprises.

Drive Now. Talk Later.

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Local

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 , 2011

Kuwaiti director Waleed Al-Awadhi is seen with young Kuwaiti students at a workshop at Bayt Lothan. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By Nawara Fattahova

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cclaimed Kuwaiti director Waleed Al-Awadhi, who directed and produced his successful venture ‘Tora Bora’, held a workshop for young Kuwaiti students at Bayt Lothan earlier this week. Organized by the Loyac Academy for Performing Arts (LAPA), the students also met with some actors. ‘Tora Bora’ was a resounding success in the Kuwaiti theaters. After being screened for more than three weeks, tickets are completely sold out. This sleeper hit impressed Al-Awadhi and encouraged him to do more, especially being the first feature film.

The 106 minute long thriller was shot in Morocco’s hilly areas, “It took me almost three years to finish ‘Tora Bora’ after beginning work in 2008. I always aimed to do a long feature film as after completing a short feature movie ‘Al-Sidra’. Had ‘Tora Bora’ failed to make a mark, I would have been disappointed. I have been working in this field for more than 14 years,” stated Al-Awadhi.

Riding on the back of the movies success, he now plans to launch a tele-series on the movie, “the ‘Tora Bora’ project will be converted into a soap opera that contains 11 episodes or less. It will pick up from the movie’s climax. This movie was first screened in May, and the Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) obtained copyrights of ‘Tora Bora’ for the Middle East. I’m glad it did well,” he added.

The movie revolves around a Kuwaiti father and mother who embark on a trip to Afghanistan in search of their missing son. In a perilous journey from Pakistan to Afghanistan, they learn that their son Ahmad has been recruited by the Taleban. Their older son Tariq follows his parents to join them in their search. During the course of the movie, the mother perishes in Afghanistan. They finally succeed in uniting with Ahmad.

The movie’s casting has played a key role in its success, “When I convinced popular Kuwaiti star Saad Al-Faraj to play the main role in the movie, it appeared easier to rope in the other actors like Asmahan Tawfeeq, Khalid Ameen, Abdullah Al-Tararwa and others,” Al-Awadhi added.

An engineer by profession, Al-Awadhi’s passion for directing led him to the United States, “In the United States I learnt the two basics - to be a good director and producer. First, you should have a passion for what you do and love it. It is important to respect time. Every second counts. For instance, when I had to shoot with more than 600 actors in the mountains, my timing was precise,” he pointed out.

“Excuses are not allowed in our profession. If somebody makes a mistake he will be fired. This differentiates professionals from amateurs. It is only then that you can build a career in the correct manner. I followed these rules when I arrived in Los Angeles in 1993 to study the film industry. I had to find my way as there are hundreds of Americans who look for a chance in Hollywood,” highlighted Al-Awadhi. They also distributed 40 tickets to attend ‘Tora Bora.’

Al-Awadhi is backdropped by a poster of his acclaimed film ‘Tora Bora’.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

NEW YORK: Representative of HH the Amir of Kuwait and Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa (left) and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on the sidelines of the 66th United Nations General Assembly. Both meetings were attended by members of the Kuwaiti delegation accompanying the premier. — KUNA

Kuwait fully backs Palestinian UN bid PM blasts UN over failed Mideast policies UNITED NATIONS: Representative of HH the Kuwaiti Amir, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah reiterated yesterday his country’s full support for Palestinian UN membership. Addressing the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister said: “We reaffirm our full support for Palestinian National Authority (PNA) demands and efforts for full UN membership as an independent and sovereign state.”

Sheikh Nasser urged the international community to put more pressure on Israel to enable the Palestinian people to obtain their self-determination and to have their own independent state on their territories with East Jerusalem as its capital, to end its occupation of all occupied Arab territories, including Syria’s Golan Heights, and to end its violation of Lebanese sovereignty. He even blasted the UN for having failed for over six decades to find a solution to the Palestinian issue or to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab territories.

He lamented that the Palestinian economic and social conditions have been getting worse for years now, while Israel is building more settlements, usurping Palestinian lands, stealing water, restricting areas and arresting Palestinians. However, he regretted, the international community is standing idle, making no response to Israeli practices and policies, which breach the international law and international legitimacy resolutions.

Sheikh Nasser stressed the significant role played by the United Nations over the last six decades in response to many events and developments that had direct effects on international peace and security. “The UN, the most legitimate, reliable and independent multilateral mechanism, has managed to be a safe resort to its member states for the sake of finding collective and uniform solutions to problems and crises,” he said.

There is no doubt that a country cannot act solely to fight risks and perils such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, climate change, epidemics and organized crime, he believed. “The role of the UN has even become more impressive over recent years, especially in the fight against man-made disasters, the last of which was hunger in the Horn of Africa,” HH Sheikh Nasser said.

However, Sheikh Nasser called for upgrading the performance of the international organization involving its General Assembly, Security Council,

NEW YORK: Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah addresses the 66th General Assembly at the United Nations yesterday. — AFP Economic and Social Council. In this context, all its nuclear program, and positive cooperation for the UN member states are required to support the resolving the dispute over the UAE’s three occuUN, to commit to its resolutions, to provide neces- pied islands as per international law principles sary financial resources duly and unconditionally, and rules. he urged. On the Middle East, he said, the current He recalled that Kuwait had celebrated this events in the Middle East region are so worrisome year the 50th anniversary of its independence that regional security and stability are in jeopardy. and 20th anniversary of liberation from the Iraqi “The use of force and violence, which claimed the occupation. “This liberation is really one of the lives of thousands of people, has to come to a halt, major achievements made by the UN in its effort and the legitimate demands of the people should to deter the aggression and wipe out its afterbe fulfilled, serious and swift political, economic shocks on the basis of the principles of the (UN) and social reforms be carried out,” he requested.

Charter and international legitimacy resolutions, On Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser said his country is “ he boasted. He added that Kuwait will also celekeen to bolster and develop its relations with its brate in November the 50th anniversary of issuneighbors on firm foundations based on mutual ing its resolution, which consecrated democracy respect and common interests. In this context, he in the country. said, Kuwait urges Iran to take serious and gen“These are all historical occasions of a tiny uine steps for confidence-building, chiefly com- peace-loving country that believes in the princimitment to international legitimacy resolutions, ples and goals of the UN charter and international cooperation with the International Atomic Energy law, and establishes its relations on the basis of Agency (IAEA) to dispel fears and worries about the principles of respect of sovereignty and inde-

pendence, non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs and resolution of all disputes by peaceful means,” he noted.

Kuwait is also eager to forget its painful memories by means of establishing close relations with Iraq on the basis of cooperation, mutual respect and good neighborliness, he said, wishing Iraq more stability and development. In this context, he reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to providing all types of help to Iraq so that it could meet its remaining international obligations enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and restore its regional and international role.

On UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Sheikh Nasser welcomed UN reports on MDGs, hailing achievements in the field of reducing the number of patients of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. “However, more work still needs to be done, given the fact that achievements are so unbalanced and mixed that they differ from one country to another,” he said. “There are also indications showing that some countries are unable to reach MDGs by 2015 for several reasons, mainly the global financial crisis, which affected most countries, whether they are big or small, rich or poor,” he noted.

“Consequently, the international community is required to restructure world financial institutions with a view to improving and boosting their capabilities so that they could work so efficiently and effectively,” Sheikh Nasser urged. “Today’s world is now in dire need of a just, balanced and fair world trade system that can bridge the stupendous gap between countries, achieve mutual benefit and help in the merging of poor economies into the global economic system,” he said.

Furthermore, rich countries ought to raise their official development aid up to 70 percent, which the internationally determined ratio, he said. In this context, Kuwait spares no effort to providing emergency humanitarian aid to world countries that are affected by natural disasters, and to responding to UN calls for alleviating the sufferings of affected peoples, HH the Kuwaiti premier boasted. Out of profound belief in the significance of the UN role in the humanitarian work field, Kuwait has boosted its voluntary contributions to a number of international organizations and agencies, he said. — KUNA

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

A man with a plan If Abbas’ gamble pays off it might just be the well timed move needed to usher in a whole new style of peace process diplomacy

NEW YORK: US President Barack Obama meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday during a bilateral meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. — AFP

By Roland Singer-Kingsmith NEW YORK: Today Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, is expected to formally submit his country’s bid for statehood to the United Nations.

A successful bid would see the creation of a sovereign Palestinian nation based on its 1967 borders i.e. before the settlement of Israelis en masse in the West Bank. Abbas’s timely play to the UN might finally signal an end to the Sisyphean struggle for self determination that has ravaged Palestine for a hundred years. And as if that wasn’t enough, according to a new PRS poll, he’s got 83 percent of Palestinians on his side.

The unusual energy surrounding this particular move by Abbas is a far cry from the miserable pessimism that hangs low over most Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Even the hope espoused in Obama’s evocative speech in Cairo did not result in any more than a ripple of reopened talks before they collapsed. However, despite such a buzz this year, Abbas’s chances of success are slim. It is most likely that Abbas will be thwarted by an American veto at the Security Council if the bid even makes it past the General Assembly. But then that’s not the point.

Last time Israel and Palestine sat down together at the negotiating table the Middle East looked as it had looked for thirty years. Strongmen ruled unchecked, state security services brutalized innocent people and the sense of public welfare was nowhere to be seen. It was even the ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak who led the most recent set of talks between the two sides. Now, in 2011, Mahmoud Abbas is taking the Palestinian cause to the forefront of the international scene at a time when the whole world is watching a new political dynamic rise of the Arab Spring. Knowing that the bid will fail is immaterial. By situating the Palestinian cause in

the midst of other Arab national movements Abbas has turned the Palestinian UN bid into a PR coup d’etat of epic proportions.

Above all else he has America in a bind. Obama’s administration has clearly aligned itself with the ideologies of the Arab Spring revolutionaries while simultaneously ignoring the demands of the Palestinians. They have quite literally been caught with their trousers down. On the one hand we have an honest rhetoric that supports, I believe, the White House’s real desire to see social and economic improvement in the Middle East. On the other hand we have traditional bipartisan support for Israel and its security that stifles any meaningful progress in Palestine. Until now, the fraudulence of American foreign policy in the Middle East has been hidden in the small print of Camp David Accords and Oslo agreements. With Abbas’s bid to the United Nations it will be played out on widescreen TVs all over the world.

But this is not just a matter of exposing hypocrisy.

According to Eugene Rogan, Director of the Middle East Centre at Oxford University: ‘It is too easy to see it like that.

What I see emerging is a trend in which domestic politics are getting a stranglehold on the President’s real intentions.’

There is no doubt that the growing links between the Republican Party and the Israeli government are extremely worrying for the Democrats and Obama must be careful not to lose the House. Benjamin Netanyahu speech to Congress earlier this year, which attacked Obama long term peace proposals, was interrupted by nearly three dozen standing ovations.

More recently, in an extraordinary vote this week, Bob Turner, a republican candidate, took the ninth congressional district in New York where Democrats have a 3-1 registered voting edge.

Although these considerations drastically bind the US to protect certain vested interests, America’s continuing impotence to act might just be Palestine’s key to success in the long term.

With the overbearing influence of America removed from Arab-Israeli negotiations, we may see the field open up for input from alternative sources. Rogan says that: ‘The bid for statehood is breaking the American monopoly on the peace process. In a best case scenario we shall see heavyweight support from elsewhere bringing a new dynamism to resolving the conflict, which will dramatically shift the traditional balance of power. Israel completely refused to stop settlement building on Palestinian land or respect the 1967 borders under US-lead directives for peace, but they couldn’t do that with Russia or China’. The implication is that, with UN mediation, a new set of talks could see both parties with hugely reduced leverage over the peace brokers and therefore stricter conditions on a timetable for change.

Helen Twist, Program Coordinator at Chatham House, believes that this role might fall to the European Union instead.

The EU have yet to come out and pledge their allegiance yet, but Twist thinks that: ‘EU support is essential to counter balance American opposition - the position adopted by France, Germany and the United Kingdom will be particularly critical in the credibility of the outcome.’ When asked particularly why these countries may have an incentive to solve the crisis, she replies that, under the increasing scrutiny of foreign policy that the bid will bring, European leaders will have to explain their involvement more clearly to their voters: ‘Continuing to give aid to an unobtainable goal will become harder to justify to domestic constituents if another effort for progress fails.’ In the face of a failure to accede to the UN, many look on with fresh waves of pessimism that Israel and Palestine have reached yet another impasse. There is a chance that after the General Debate is over the status quo might stagnate and the old icy relations are continued, but if Abbas’ gamble pays off it might just be the well timed move needed to usher in a whole new style of peace process diplomacy.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Syria violence hits security forces

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RAMALLAH: Palestinians burn manipulated pictures of US President Barack Obama during an anti US demonstration yesterday. — AP

Mideast negotiations remain elusive UNITED NATIONS: The US and European powers were pressuring for resumed Mideast negotiations yesterday as part of an intensive international effort to curb a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations, expected the following day.

But there was no indication that either side was prepared to narrow the gaps that have prevented talks from going forward for the past year. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue, said there was no talk about a settlement construction freeze. And there was no indication the Palestinians were willing to drop their demand that Israel first stop building on lands they want for a future state or base talks on lines Israel held before capturing those lands in 1967. On Wednesday, Palestinian officials brushed aside a promised US veto and pressure to abandon their bid for UN membership, saying they were determined to take their case to the Security Council and realize a goal unfulfilled by decades of negotiations. Senior aides to President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinians would not accept political delays in their membership bid, but acknowledged that

final UN action might not be taken for months or even longer.

The issue was dominating the annual meeting ministerial meeting of the world body as the diplomatic world swirled with speculation about what deals might be in the works. The United States, insisting that Palestinian statehood depends first of peace with Israel, has vowed to veto the Palestinian measure should it win the needed nine of 15 Security Council votes. Teams of envoys from the United States, the European Union and France were engaged in frenzied, lastminute efforts to persuade Abbas to return to the negotiating table and make do with something less than full UN membership. The US and Israel were also pressuring council members to either vote against the plan or abstain when it comes up for a vote. The Israeli prime minister, meanwhile, was scheduled to sit down with the leader of Security Council member Portugal later yesterday as part of a intensive international effort to stymie the Palestinian plan to ask the Council today to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.

A meeting with the leader of Gabon has been canceled at least twice since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the UN on Wednesday. Israeli officials have cited “scheduling issues” for the cancellations. Obama and Abbas met for more than 45 minutes Wednesday evening. The White House wouldn’t say whether Obama directly asked the Palestinian leader to abandon his plans to pursue full UN membership, saying only that he reiterated his opposition to the statehood bid and the US intention to issue a veto. So far there was no indication that Abbas was ready for compromise despite intense pressure, but his aides said they were not setting deadlines for the Security Council to consider the application. And they left the door open for a Plan-B request to the General Assembly for an upgrade of their current status as a permanent observer to a nonmember observer state. That option is seen as the lesser of two evils by the US and others seeking to steer them clear from the Security Council for now.

“This is an option that is open to us ... starting tomorrow, if we chose to do so, but President

Abbas does not want anybody to suspect a lack of seriousness if we address the two councils at the same time,” Palestinian negotiator and senior Abbas adviser Nabeel Shaath told reporters. “So he will give some time to the Security Council to consider first our full membership request before heading to the General Assembly.” “We do not have a time limit,” said Shaath. Nevertheless, he said, “This is a moment of truth.”

Saeb Erekat, another senior aide, echoed that sentiment, saying the pursuit of UN membership would not be slowed: “We will not allow any political maneuvering on this issue,” he said That persistence has put the Palestinians on a collision course with the United States and Israel. A frustrated President Barack Obama told world leaders during his Wednesday UN speech that “there are no shortcuts” to peace. A year ago, Obama made a case for Palestinian statehood. But in his speech he did not mention key issues such as an end to the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank or Palestinian demands that borders be drawn largely according to those that existed before the 1967 Mideast War.—AP

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INTERNATIONAL FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Violence hits security Syrian TV says 5 policemen killed

BANI WALID: Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters arrive at the frontline yesterday. — AFP

Libya rulers say Gaddafi running out of options SIRTE: Libya’s interim rulers said yesterday they had further consolidated their control over Sahara desert towns that had been among Muammar Gaddafi’s last strongholds, and said Gaddafi himself was running out of places to hide. But a spokesman for the fugitive Libyan leader told Reuters that forces with the new government had killed over a hundred people while trying to capture Gaddafi’s birthplace of Sirte, though there was no independent confirmation of this.

Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC), the country’s de facto government after Gaddafi was swept from the capital last month, is anxious to show that it is establishing military control over the country and can govern Libya effectively.

Progress has been slow in seizing the towns of Sirte and Bani Walid, with military ineptitude hampering the advance.

Reuters saw one fighter blow his own head off and kill a comrade while handling a rocket propelled grenade. If the NTC is unable to swiftly assert its control over the country and its own forces, it could embarrass Western leaders, especially France’s Nicolas Sarkozy and Britain’s David Cameron, who took a gamble by backing the anti-Gaddafi leadership.

“Our revolutionaries are controlling 100 percent of Sabha city, although there are some pockets of resistance by snipers,” NTC military spokesman Ahmed Bani told reporters in the capital, Tripoli. “This resistance is hopeless ... They know very well that at the end of the day they will show the white flag or they will die. They are fighting for themselves, not for the tyrant,” he said, referring to Gaddafi. Until now some parts of Sabha, the traditional base for Gaddafi’s own tribe about 800 km (500 miles) south of Tripoli, had been occupied by fighters loyal to him.

The council says its forces have now also taken control of Jufra, to the north-east of Sabha, and the nearby oasis towns of Sokna, Waddan, and Houn. The NTC official said the manhunt for Gaddafi, in hiding for weeks though he occasionally issues defiant audio messages, was drawing closer to its target. “There is no whole tribe or city on Gaddafi’s side,” said Bani. “I’m asking everyone in the south who has any news about the tyrant or his loyalists ... to notify the legal bodies about them.” “We are doing our best looking for the tyrant.

There is some news here and there that he ran away from Sabha to another place but it cannot be confirmed.”

CLAIM OF CIVILIAN DEATHS Despite support from NATO warplanes, government forces have struggled to capture Sirte, the biggest of the towns still outside their control. Gaddafi’s spokesman told Reuters yesterday that NATO air strikes and interim government forces’ shelling of Sirte were killing civilians. “Between yesterday and this morning, 151 civilians were killed inside their homes as the Grad rockets and other explosives fell upon their heads,” Moussa Ibrahim said in a satellite phone call to Reuters from an undisclosed location.

His claims could not immediately be verified as journalists are unable to reach the city. NATO comment was not immediately available. But the account of casualties from Ibrahim, whose family is from Sirte, underlined the thorny problem the new government faces in taking Sirte, a city where there are still large numbers of civilians, including many whose sympathies lie with Gaddafi. On the eastern side of Sirte, NTC forces came under heavy artillery attack more than 50 km (30 miles) outside the city. One fighter said Gaddafi artillery batteries appeared to have found the range of the NTC tanks, and were targeting them. — Reuters

DAMASCUS: Syria said yesterday that “terrorists” had killed five members of the security forces in the restive Daraa province while pro-democracy activists said five civilians were killed in Homs, another hub of protest against President Bashar al-Assad. Activists also said the authorities had blocked mobile phone signals and the Internet in parts of Damascus province, at Saqba, Jisrin, Kafar Batna, Hamurie h and Ain Tarma, and arrested 45 people nationwide during the day. Organisers of the protests against the Assad regime have used their Facebook page, “The Syrian revolution 2011,” to rally support for their cause.

The activists said the move against communications coincided with a call by militants for a Friday demonstration under the banner “Unity of the Opposition” to overthrow the regime, which they termed “a national duty.”

They also voiced support for the opposition Syrian National Council set up in August in Turkey at the initiative of Syrian Islamists. Last week the names of only half of its 140 members were revealed for security reasons.

Friday, the main Muslim day of prayer, has seen weekly protests against the regime, with thousands of demonstrators surging onto streets to be met with a harsh crackdo wn by security forces.

Yesterday, the official news agency SANA said: “Five members of the security forces have been killed and 17 wounded in an ambush mounted by some armed terrorist groups on the road from Tiba.” The area is in the southern Daraa province which was one of the main springboards of opposition to the authorities when protests began on March 15.

A customs official was also killed by “armed m en” and two members of the security forces were wounded in Qseir south of Homs, SANA said. Damascus does not accept there is popular opposition to the authorities, saying instead that “armed gangs” and “terrorists” are trying to sow chaos in the country.

Activists, meanwhile, reported more bloodshed among civilians. The Local Coordination Committees (LCC) said three civilians had been killed in Homs,

while in Daeel, in Daraa province, security forces shot at students, wounding some and arresting others.

It said the students were aged under 15 and that tanks had been stationed outside the Daeel public high school. The LCC, which has activists on the ground across Syria, is one of the

forcements arrived in the towns of Jezah and Tayebeh, the LCC said, and security forces had deployed in Nabu area in suburban Damascus. According to another LCC report, security agents, troops and pro-regime militia in Homs had spread “a climate of terror” since late on Monday “searching houses

HOMS: An image grab from footage made available on YouTube yesterday shows what is described by anti-regime activists as the torture by Syrian government forces of a “martyr” named Louai Al-Amer in Al-Hula in the Syrian flashpoint province. — AP active members of the Syrian National Council-one of several opposition coalitions that has emerged since March to rally against the regime.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that hidden gunmen had opened fire and killed a civilian in Homs. It was not clear whether this was a separate killing. It also reported the arrest yesterday across the country of 57 people, including five pupils.

According to the Observatory 70,000 people have been detained since midMarch, with 15,000 still behind bars.

In Daraa province, security rein-

street by street, kidnapping many young people and taking them to a stadium that they had transforme d into a prison.” Western governments have sought to increase pressure on Assad, and on Wednesday US President Barack Obama called on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Syria.

In Geneva, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the death toll from the regime’s bloody crackdown on protesters since March had risen to more than 2,700 people. — AFP

UAE to hold limited polls DUBAI: Voters chosen by the traditional rulers of the United Arab Emirates will cast their ballots tomorrow in the secondever polls to elect half the members of the toothless Federal National Council (FNC).

Some 129,000 emirati citizens are expected to elect 20 representatives out of 450 candidates, including some 85 women, across the Gulf state whose leadership has promised a gradual political participation.

The size of the electoral college has significantly been enlarged after it included only 6,600 voters in 2006, the firstever elections since the FNC was formed in 1972, a year after independence from Britain.

Running in the FNC polls is not open to all UAE citizens as candidates should come from within the lists of eligible voters named by the respective ruler of each of the seven emirates of the UAE. Those rulers will also name the other half of

FNC members. The leadership of the country that groups seven sheikhdoms, notably Dubai and oil-rich Abu Dhabi, has urged voters to take part in the elections to achieve wider participation.

“On this important national occasion, I call upon my sons and daughters, the members of electoral bodies, to participate actively in the elections so that we can achieve real participation,” said President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed AlNahayan who is also the ruler of wealthy Abu Dhabi.

“We have to walk with a clear vision to empower the Federal National Council. The upcoming elections... are the perfect opportunity to take a major step towards this goal,” he said. UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, who is also the ruler of the bustling emirate of Dubai, described the polls as a “new chapter in the success story” of the country. — AFP

International FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Muslim women defy French ban of veil Sarkozy claims veil imprisons women

BAGHDAD: Iraqi girls fill containers of water from a public water hose on open ground yesterday. The neighborhood has no municipal water supply. — AP

Islamic center near ground zero opens NEW YORK: The developer of an Islamic cultural center that opened Wednesday evening near the site of the terrorist attacks that leveled the World Trade Center says the biggest error on the project was not involving the families of 9/11 victims from the start. People crowded into the center, where a small orchestra played traditional Middle Eastern instruments and a photo exhibit of New York children of different ethnicities lined the walls. The enthusiasm at the opening belied its troubled beginnings.

“We made incredible mistakes,” Sharif El-Gamal told The Associated Press in an earlier interview at his Manhattan office. The building at 51 Park Place, two blocks from the World Trade Center site, includes a Muslim prayer space that has been open for two years. El-Gamal said the overall center is modeled after the Jewish Community Center on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where he lives. “I wanted my daughter to learn how to swim, so I took her to the JCC,” said the Brooklyn-born Muslim. “And when I walked in, I said, ‘Wow. This is great.’”

The project has drawn criticism from opponents who say they don’t want a mosque near the site of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks. The center is open to all faiths and will include a 9/11 memorial, El-Gamal said. He called opposition to the center - which prompted one of the most virulent national discussions about Islam and freedom of speech and religion since Sept. 11 - part of a “campaign against Muslims.” Last year, street clashes in view of the trade center site pitted supporters against opponents of the center.

When the center was first envisioned several years ago, activist Daisy Khan and her husband, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, played a major, vocal role. But they soon left the project because of differences with the developer. El-Gamal, 38, confirmed Wednesday that they parted ways because “we had a different vision.” He declined to elaborate. The couple said they had discussed plans for Park51, as the center is known, with relatives of 9/11 victims, first responders and others, including the possibility that it could become a multifaith center focusing on religious conflict. But El-Gamal wishes victims’ families had been involved earlier - before the center became a point of contention.

“The biggest mistake we made was not to include 9/11 families,” El-Gamal said, noting that the center’s advisory board now includes at least one 9/11 family member. At first, “we didn’t understand that we had a responsibility to discuss our private project with family members that lost loved ones,” he said, and they did not “really connect” with community leaders and activists. —AP

PARIS: Kenza Drider’s posters for the French presidential race are ready to go, months before the official campaign begins. There she is, the “freedom candidate,” pictured standing in front of a line of police - a forbidden veil hiding her face.

Drider declared her longshot candidacy yesterday, the same day that a French court fined two women who refuse to remove their veils. All three are among a group of women mounting an attack on the law that has banned the garments from the streets of France since April, and prompted similar moves in other European countries. They are bent on proving that the ban contravenes fundamental rights and that women who hide their faces stand for freedom, not submission.

“When a woman wants to maintain her freedom, she must be bold,” Drider told The Associated Press in an interview.

President Nicolas Sarkozy strongly disagrees, and says the veil imprisons women.

Polls show that most French people support the ban, which authorities estimate affects fewer than 2,000 women who wore the veil before the ban. Drider declared her candidacy yesterday in Meaux, the city east of Paris run by top conservative lawmaker and Sarkozy ally Jean-Francois Cope, who championed the ban. “I have the ambition today to serve all women who are the object of stigmatization or social, economic or political discrimination,” she said. “It is important that we show that we are here, we are French citizens and that we, as well, can bring solutions to French citizens.”

Two other women arrested wearing veils in Meaux - while trying to deliver a birthday cake to Cope - were fined in court yesterday, one €120, the other €80.

They want to push their case to the European Court of Human Rights. “We cannot accept that women be punished because they are openly practicing their religious convictions. We are demanding the application of European rights,” said one of those convicted, Hind Ahmas. With Islam the second religion in France and numbers of faithful growing, there are wor-

MEAUX: Kenza Drider, 32 (center) addresses reporters after announcing that she will be candidate for the 2012 French presidential elections yesterday. — AP ries that veiled Muslim women could compromise the nation’s secular foundations and undermine gender equality and women’s dignity. There are also concerns that practices like wearing full veils could open the door to a radical form of Islam.

Lawmakers banned Muslim headscarves in classrooms in 2004. Few Muslim women in France cover their faces. Most who veil themselves wear the “niqab,” a filmy cloth attached to the headscarf that covers all but the eyes. The law also affects the burqa, with just a mesh covering over the eyes, worn largely in Afghanistan. Belgium passed a similar face veil ban that took effect in July, and the Netherlands announced Friday it has drawn up legislation to outlaw Muslim face veils. A draft law has been approved in Italy.

In France, the veil ban was also seen as a political maneuver by the unpopular Sarkozy’s conservative UMP party, which Cope chairs, to entice deeply conservative and far-right voters. Flouting the French measure outlawing face veils in all public

places can lead to a fine of €150 and, in some cases, citizenship classes. However, thus far there have been few legal consequences. According to the Interior Ministry, 146 women have been given citations by police but only a handful have reportedly been forced to take the next step - appear before a judge for a possible fine. The Justice Ministry says figures are not yet available. “I tried to understand this law and what I understood is that this is a law which puts us under house arrest,” Drider said, referring to women who choose to stay home rather than remove their face veils, or risk arrest. What the law has done, she says, is give citizens the right to insult veiled women. Drider and others say that many women who refuse to remove their veils become shut-ins rather than go outside and risk a citation, or insults. One woman in a long black robe was seen recently in a chic Paris neighborhood wearing a surgical mask on her face - one of several tricks developed to get around the ban. —AP

Cyprus slams Turkish ‘provocations’ UNITED NATIONS: Cyprus President Demetris Christofias yesterday denounced what he called Turkish provocations over exploration for hydrocarbon deposits off the divided eastern Mediterranean island’s coast. “Unfortunately, the effort of the Republic of Cyprus to exercise its sovereign right for exploitation of its marine wealth is met by threats of Turkey against Cyprus,” he said in comments prepared for delivery to the UN General Assembly. “Turkish naval manoeuvres in the region of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, where exploration is being carried out, are provocative and a real danger for further complications in the region,” he said in the text of a speech obtained by AFP. “At the same time, Turkey continues its illegal actions by concluding an ‘agreement’ with the illegal regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, to pursue exploration within the Republic of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.” Regional tensions are rising as the Cyprus government, recognized internationally but not by Turkey, has made a deal with US energy firm Noble, which has started exploratory drilling for gas off the south coast. Turkey on Monday threatened to start its own oil and gas exploration with military escort in retaliation.

On Wednesday, Turkey signed an accord with the selfdeclared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to explore oil

and gas in the eastern Mediterranean in response to the Greek Cypriot decision. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu signed the agreement.

“I wish, from this esteemed podium, to condemn this illegal act which constitutes a provocation, not only for the Republic of Cyprus but also for the entire international community,” Christofias said.

His remarks to the General Assembly said the exploration effort within Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone was conducted under international law. “We anticipate that this effort will contribute to the discovery of new energy sources, particularly for Europe, and of course for the shared benefit of our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike,” he said. The Republic of Cyprus became a full member of the European Union in 2004. Turkey has threatened to freeze its ties with the European Union, which it wants to join, if Cyprus takes the rotating presidency of the bloc as scheduled next year.

“We believe that the possible discovery and extraction of hydrocarbons shall constitute yet another motive for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to expedite a just, functional and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, so that both communities can enjoy the natural wealth of our country in conditions of peace, security and prosperity,” Christofias said. —AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Somali rebels force starving thousands back to famine zone

MOGADISHU: Severely malnourished child from southern Somalia seen in a makeshift shelter in a refugee camp. — AP

MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked rebels said yesterday they were moving over 12,000 starving families back into famine zones they had fled, where the UN has warned they will die without help. Draconian aid restrictions imposed by the extremist Shebab are blamed for turning harsh drought across the Horn of Africa into famine in the areas they control, with 750,000 people at risk of death in coming months, the United Nations has said. “The mujahedeen fighters, in their bid to help people displaced by drought, started working on plans to send them back home where they will be assisted, God willing,” said Sheik Mahad Abu-Safiya, a senior Shebab official. The families, estimated to number at least 50,000 people, were “taken back to their homes with packages to feed them for three months,” he added.

Witnesses said the packages included rice, maize and cooking oil. However, the

Shebab have refused most international assistance, and blocked people fleeing drought and famine in the Bay and Bakool regions from travelling in search of aid to Mogadishu, where relief efforts are centered. Crowded trucks began moving people late Wednesday from camps in and around the Shebab-held town of Baidoa back to their original villages, up to 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the town, officials and witnesses said. “The process has started and we have moved the first of the 12,000 displaced families to their original locations,” Mohamed Walid, another Shebab official, told reporters.

“Most of the displaced people were moved from a big camp at Baidoa airport, they were taken on long trucks,” said witness Osmail Mohamed. “I have seen people returning onboard trucks with food distributed to them by the Shebab,” said Abdulahi Derow, who said the food they

were given was “enough for a month.”

Local aid workers said the Shebab had ordered them to help move people back to the villages they had fled from. “The Shebab group started sending people back to their homes, and gave them some food,” said one Somali aid worker said, asking not to be named. “But people are still in need of help.”

Shebab fighters last month pulled out of positions in the war-torn capital Mogadishu where they were battling the weak Western-backed government, but they still control swathes of south and central Somalia. The United Nations has declared six regions in south Somalia famine zones, the majority in Shebabcontrolled areas. Drought, high food prices and fighting in Somalia have increased the number of those in need of humanitarian assistance across the Horn of Africa to 13.3 million, according to the UN.—AFP

Fighting spreads in Yemen capital 10 killed in tribal battles SANAA: Deadly clashes spread across Yemen’s capital yesterday as tribesmen joined battles between rival military units, raising fears among frightened residents of a descent into civil war. Soaring tensions between troops loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his opponents torpedoed efforts on Wednesday by international mediators to promote a Gulf-initiated deal aimed at ending the political i mpasse that has gripped the country for months.At least 10 people were killed in separate battles that rocked the capital yesterday.

Four civilians died when they were caught in the crossfire of fighting that erupted between Republican Guard troops commanded by Saleh’s son Ahmed and dissidents loyal to General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, witnesses and medics said. Nine people were also wounded when a mortar round slammed into Sanaa’s Change Square and several tents put up by protesters caught fire, witnesses said. The defence ministry website, 26sep.net, reported that 15 soldiers were killed

when Ahmar’s troops attacked their camp. Fighting which had been concentrated since Sunday in the city centre and Change Square spread yesterday to the Al-Hasaba district, where gunmen loyal to powerful dissident tribal chief Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar traded fire with followers of Saghir bin Aziz, a tribesman loyal to Saleh, witnesses said.Four people were killed and six were wounded in shelling that targeted Bin Aziz’s home, according to 26sep.net.

The office of Sadiq’s brother Sheikh Hemyar al-Ahmar, whose loyalists also joined in the fighting, announced two guards dead and five wounded in counter shelling. Tribal sources said that Ah mar’s forces hit Bin Aziz’s home with “13 shells,” adding that the fate of the man who belongs to Yemen’s most influential tribe the Bakil, and who is an MP as well as a Republican Guards officer, “is unknown.” Witnesses said shells were fired from the interior ministry building at the homes of two Ahmar brothers, Hemyar and Hussein.

SANAA: A defecting Yemeni soldier takes position behind sandbags during clashes yesterday. — AFP

Yesterday’s deaths bring the toll since Sunday to 95. Medics said hundreds more had been wounded, adding that most of the casualties were civilians. “I can no longer open my store for fear of stray bullets, whether from the opposition or government forces. Every day there are many casualties due to the stray bullets,” said Mohammed al-Jabiri, 25, owner of a mobile phone shop. “The city is empty. Schools, banks and businesses are shut as the ghost of war looms over Sanaa,” one resident told AFP. Another, who has been holed up in his home for days, said life had become unbearable. “My children haven’t slept in a week. They have nightmares every night from the shooting and the explosions,” said Amin al-Faqih, 42, a father of three.

“My children beg me every day to take them to a place far far away from here, away from the nightly explosions and gunfire.”

Commuters said government forces have closed all entrances to the capital, with no cars allowed in or out.

The soaring violence has raised longstanding fears that Yemen, which faces a Shiite rebellion in the north and the growing influence of AlQaeda in the south in addition to a southern separatist movement, is heading for full-blown civil war. UN envoy Jamal Benomar told AFP late Wednesday that the deteriorating security situation, and the reluctance of both sides to reach a political resolution, raises “the risk of civil war breaking out.”Benomar arrived on Tuesday in Yemen where he and Gulf Cooperation Council chief Abdullatif al-Zayani have been working to broker a peace deal between the warring parties.—AFP

LONDON: Copies of the book “Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography” are pictured in a store yesterday. — AFP

Assange furious over autobiography LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange condemned an unauthorized autobiography as it hit the shelves in Britain yesterday, after he failed to prevent the publisher printing an unfinished manuscript. “Julian Assange: The Unauthorized Autobiography” contains the Australian former computer hacker’s first direct comments on the allegations of rape which have left him fighting extradition from Britain to Sweden.

British publisher Canongate said the book was a first draft delivered to them in March 2011. They admitted Assange had tried to stop its publication, but said they were proud to publish the “passionate, provocative and opinionated” book.

But in a lengthy statement issued late Wednesday, Assange condemned the move and said Canongate had acted in breach of contract and of personal assurances from the publisher that it would not publish.”This book was meant to be about my life’s struggle for justice through access to knowledge. It has turned into something else,” the 40year-old said. “The events surrounding its unauthorized publication by Canongate are not about freedom of

information. They are about old-fashioned opportunism and duplicity-screwing people over to make a buck.”

Although Assange accepted that the book was based on conversations he had with ghost writer Andrew O’Hagan, he said it was a “entirely uncorrected or fact-checked by me” and said O’Hagan had not seen the final edit. Assange agreed to publish his life’s story in December 2010 after being released on bail in Britain following his arrest on a European warrant over the allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women in Sweden. He tried to cancel the deal in June, but Canongate, a small Scottish firm that beat larger rivals to sign the original deal, said: “He had already signed his advance over to his lawyers to settle his legal bills.

“We have decided to honor that contract and to publish. Once the advance has been earned out, we will continue to honor the contract and pay Julian royalties.” Assange said he was currently in a dispute with his lawyers over fees, adding that he was so short of cash he could not afford to block publication of the autobiography through the British courts. — AFP

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Georgia executes Davis, supporters claim injustice Victim’s family satisfied with verdict JACKSON: The US state of Georgia executed convicted murderer Troy Davis on Wednesday in a case that drew international attention because of claims by his advocates that he may have been innocent. Davis, convicted of the 1989 killing of a police officer, was put to death by lethal injection at 11.08 local time/0308 GMT Thursday at a prison in central Georgia after the US Supreme Court declined to hear a final appeal, a prison official said. The case has attracted international attention and an online protest that has accumulated nearly a million signatures because of doubts expressed in some quarters over whether he killed police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989.

MacPhail was shot and killed outside a Burger King restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, as he went to the aide of a homeless man who was being beaten.

MacPhail’s family say Davis is guilty and called for his execution. Outside Georgia Diagnostic and Classification prison earlier, hundreds of protesters chanted “I am Troy Davis” and other slogans and a cheer briefly went up when it was reported that the execution had been delayed. But the crowd dwindled as the evening wore on and those who remained greeted news from the Supreme Court with silence, prayers and tears.

“This is a tragic moment. We were hoping for a different result but we are determined to fight,” said Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. “People are watching this particular execution in a way that’s unprecedented and I think it’s causing people to take a hard look at our criminal justice system,” said Warnock, whose church was once led by slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King. A majority of Americans support the death penalty and most executions attract little national attention but the Davis case prompted a rash of protests as well as

expressions of concern from Europe.

France and the Council of Europe this week urged U.S. authorities to stay the execution.

One sentence order Since Davis’s conviction, seven of nine witnesses have changed or recanted their testimony, some have said they

it cast “minimal doubt” on the conviction. Once a death warrant was signed, Davis’s best hope of avoiding execution had rested with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles but on Tuesday it denied him clemency following a oneday hearing. On Wednesday, his lawyers went through a series of maneuverers in an attempt to stay the execution finally

JACKSON: Anti-death penalty protester is helped off the ground after hearing about a delay of the execution by the US Supreme Court for Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis. — AP were coerced by police to testify against him and some say another man committed the crime. No physical evidence linked Davis to the killing. “Our hearts go out to them (MacPhail’s family). We have nothing but sympathy and prayers for them but they are not getting justice if the wrong person is paying for what happened to their son, their brother,” civil rights leader Al Sharpton told reporters at the prison.

The Supreme Court took the rare step in 2009 of allowing the defense to present its case to an evidentiary hearing but a federal judge in Savannah said

reaching the Supreme Court. It took the court more than four hours to issue its one-sentence order, an unusually long time in such cases.

Brian Kammer, a lawyer for Davis, said in seeking a stay from the Supreme Court that newly available evidence revealed false, misleading and inaccurate information was presented at the trial, “rendering the convictions and death sentence fundamentally unreliable.” A handful of supporters of capital punishment in the case also protested separately from Davis’ supporters. — Reuters

Sarkozy’s best man charged in probe PARIS: Fresh sleaze claims hit French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s re-election hopes yesterday when the best man at his wedding was charged with graft by judges probing alleged kickbacks on an arms deal. Just seven months before the French leader is to go to the country to seek another five-year mandate, Nicolas Bazire became the latest in a string of close allies to be confronted by a criminal investigation. Allegations that a 1995 presidential campaign by Sarkozy’s mentor Edouard Balladur was funded through a Pakistani submarine contract follow claims members of the president’s party received brown envelopes from an heiress.

Sarkozy’s camp could also find itself implicated in allegations that a rival centre-right group supporting his predecessor as French leader Jacques Chirac received suitcases of cash from African leaders. Bazire, a businessman and former government official who was best man at Sarkozy’s wedding to supermodel Carla Bruni in February 2008, was detained on Wednesday and questioned overnight before being charged. Bazire’s lawyer, Jean-Yves Lienard, said that during questioning and prior to his release on bail his client affirmed his “total lack of involvement” in the matter and branded witness claims to the contrary “fantasist”.

Another Sarkozy ally, Thierry Gaubert, was charged on Wednesday as part of the probe into the Pakistani deal.

Both men are now subject to judicial probes into “misuse of public funds” and could face trial, judicial sources said.

Prosecutors suspect middlemen paid huge kickbacks on the Pakistani contract to former prime minister Balladur’s 1995 presidential campaign, for which the then budget minister Sarkozy served as chief spokesman. Bazire, 54, was Balladur’s one time chief of staff and campaign manager. Gaubert worked for Sarkozy when he was mayor of the Paris suburb of Neuilly and was his communications adviser as minister.

Witnesses have told investigators Bazire had a large safe stuffed with cash during the 1995 campaign. He is now a member of the board of luxury goods giant LVMH, whose shares dropped 6.1 percent yesterday in a falling market. Controversy over the arms contract erupted when investigators began probing whether a 2002 bomb attack in Karachi that killed 11 French engineers working on the project was a revenge attack for promised bribes not paid. Balladur’s presidential bid was defeated by Chirac, who, on coming to office, cancelled payments to middlemen on the contract, allegedly angering Pakistani intelligence officers who stood to profit from the deal.

Investigators and relatives of the French dead suspect Pakistanis staged the bomb attack-officially blamed on Al-Qaeda-in revenge. Sarkozy has dismissed claims that Balladur’s campaign took kickbacks on the deal. — AFP

New riots, worries in Zambian vote LUSAKA: Riots erupted yesterday in two Zambian mining towns over the slow pace of results from this week’s polls, as European Union observers accused the ruling party of abusing state resources in the campaign. The tense election pits probusiness President Rupiah Banda against fiery nationalist Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front-archrivals whose last faceoff in 2008 saw Banda win by a margin of just two percentage points. Two days after the election, 85 of the country’s 150 constituencies had reported results, giving Sata 43 percent of the vote to Banda’s 36 percent. The gap between them has narrowed as results trickle in from rural areas, where Banda enjoys greater support thanks to his government’s spending on hospitals, schools, roads and electricity projects.

Election officials had initially promised to release final results within 48 hours of the balloting. Anger at delays in the tallying boiled over yesterday in the Copperbelt mining towns of Kitwe and Ndola, where Sata’s supporters accused of authorities of withholding results that favored their candidate.

Police used teargas to break up a demonstration in the poor neighborhood of Chimwemwe, on the outskirts of Kitwe, after a mob burned down a market the night before, residents told AFP. Police confirmed the unrest but said they would not be able to issue a full report until conducting an investigation.

“We are trying to handle the situation, we have riots in Kitwe and Ndola and we are trying to quell the situation,” Martin Malama, head of police for the province, told AFP. Riots erupted in slums around Lusaka during the balloting Tuesday, and

in the mining town of Solwezi on Wednesday, with Sata supporters fearing fraud in the vote.

Observers say they have not found any evidence to back up the fraud claims and insist that the violence has not jeopardised the result of the elections. But EU monitors accused the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy-which has been in power for 20 years-of abusing state media, vehicles and other resources its campaign. “The use of state resources for campaign purposes has... at times been overt, particularly in the use of public television, radio and newspapers,” chief EU observer Maria Muniz De Urquiza told journalists.

Muniz, whose observers have been on the ground in Zambia since August 12, sharply criticized the MMD for abusing the advantages of incumbency, including by handing out maize from a publicly-funded food relief programme at campaign stops. “Unequal access to funding was evident throughout the campaign period and there was not a level playing field for the campaign, with the advantages of incumbency exploited by the MMD,” she said. “Use of government vehicles by the (ruling) MMD campaign has also been widely reported from the field and the publicly funded relief maize prograe was also frequently observed being used by the MMD in support of its campaign.” Sata’s core constituency is among youths and the urban poor, whose frustrations he has tapped by criticizing the government for failing to spread the wealth to ordinary Zambians despite impressive economic growth of 7.6 percent last year. — AFP

UNITED NATIONS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks during a high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security at the 66th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters yesterday. — AP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Reno crash won’t end Kansas family reunion RENO: For the Elvins, the National Air Race Championships had become a mini-family reunion, an annual pilgrimage to Reno from their home base in the Kansas City area, Tennessee, Atlanta and other various places where the extended family had scattered across the country. Last week, Cherie Elvin, the 71-year-old matriarch of the family with deep roots in aviation, was among the 11 killed in the horrible crash at Reno-Stead Airport. Her husband, Chuck Elvin, 73, two adult sons and one of their wives all suffered what were originally considered lifethreatening injuries and were among 70 hospitalized.

But on Wednesday, the two sons and other family members gathered at a Reno hospital to assure reporters their brood is getting better and more importantly, that Cherie Elvin died doing what she loved best. “There wasn’t any other place she’d rather be,” said Jim Elvin, 41, a third son from Atlanta who was not hurt in the accident. He was standing on Wednesday alongside brother Brian Elvin, 49, a pilot who lost part of his right leg in the accident but already was out of a wheel chair and using a walker.

“We want everyone to understand, as tragic as what happened to her, she was where she wanted to be with her family. She was enjoying those races,” he said. Allen Martin Elvin, a cousin, added: “Cherie would not want this accident, as tragic as it is, to be the reason the air races are canceled.” “She loved it and we believe she would want all of us to continue to love it,” said Allen Martin Elvin, who goes by the name Allen Martin in his work as a CBS news anchorman in San Francisco and was serving as family spokesman during a half hour news conference on Wednesday at Renown Regional Medical Center.

“As a family, the Elvins have been attending them for more than 16 years. It was more than just an event. It was a chance for a little mini-family reunion which actually then became a tradition.” Chuck Elvin, a retired TWA pilot living with his wife in Lenexa, Kan., remained in critical condition but was talking on Wednesday and showing signs of the “Elvin sense of humor,” Allen Elvin said.

Bill Elvin, 41, Overland Park, Kan., and Brian Elvin were listed in fair condition and Brian’s wife Linda Elvin, 45, in serious condition at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center across town. It was Jim, Bill and Brian’s brother John, the second Elvin son who was an aeronautical engineer, who first started dragging other family members to the air races in Reno about 16 years ago, they said. “After that, the Elvins planned for it every single year,” Allen Martin Elvin said. — AP

Berlusconi avoids parliament shame Italy’s premier survives test with arrest vote ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi avoided a potentially embarrassing defeat in parliament yesterday when deputies voted against allowing the arrest of a former aide to Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti on corruption charges. Naples magistrates had sought to lift the parliamentary immunity of Marco Milanese, until recently one of Tremonti’s closest aides, who has been accused of corruption and influencepeddling.

A move to allow his immunity to be lifted would not have had any direct effect on the government but it would have been a severe embarrassment and increased uncertainty surrounding the fractious centre-right coalition. The vote came on the same day that Milan magistrates filed a request to charge Berlusconi for leaking transcripts potentially damaging to a political rival to Il Giornale, a newspaper owned by his brother.

With Tremonti absent from the chamber because he had left for a finance ministers’ meeting in Washington, deputies voted in a secret ballot by 312 against 305 to prevent the arrest, a narrower margin than in recent confidence motions. Already battling a widening prostitution scandal and facing growing criticism over his government’s handling of a financial crisis that now threatens the entire euro zone, Berlusconi has dismissed speculation that he will resign. Speaking after the vote in parliament, Berlusconi dismissed speculation that he may quit before his term ends in 2013, telling reporters: “We’re going ahead, we are working

well”. But in a sign of the government’s disarray, he expressed bitterness over Tremonti’s absence from the vote.

Asked whether he was disappointed that his finance chief was not in the chamber, he replied simply: “Other questions?” A parliamentary source present at a meeting on the sidelines of the vote told Reuters, Berlusconi described Tremonti’s absence as

of Italy’s main banking federation ABI weighed in, calling on the government to step up promised economic reforms and infrastructure investments. “We must give a clear signal to the markets that we have understood the gravity of the situation and that we are in a position to face up to it,” ABI President Giuseppe Mussari told Italian radio.

Italy, whose credit rating was cut by

ROME: Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi (left) talks to Reforms Minister and Northern League Party leader Umberto Bossi at the Lower Chamber of Deputies yesterday. — AP “immoral”. Yesterday’s vote came as Standard and Poor’s this week, is now Italy came under renewed market pres- firmly at the centre of the euro zone sure with risk premiums on its bonds ris- debt crisis, its borrowing costs close to ing sharply amid growing doubts over levels which prompted the European the stability of the government and its Central Bank to move to prop up its handling of the financial crisis. The head bonds last month. — Reuters

Republicans stepping up criticism ahead of debate WASHINGTON: The Republicans seeking the presidency have spent months pitching glossy versions of themselves to voters, but they now find their rivals highlighting the unspoken caveats in their records. Ahead of Thursday afternoon’s candidate forum and an evening debate in swing-state Florida, their advisers telegraphed the criticism each campaign was likely to use. As most of the candidates plan a two-day trip to the hard-fought swing state, they are ramping up their rhetoric against each other.

For instance: Texas added jobs during the economic recession under Gov. Rick Perry’s leadership. But unemployment went up last month and is at the highest level since 1987, rival Mitt Romney noted. Romney filled in Massachusetts’ $3 billion budget hole without raising taxes as governor. Yet the state trailed 46 others in job creation, Perry shot back. Don’t expect subtlety or free passes on details.

“There are a lot of questions I’d like to have answered,” Romney said of Perry during a Wednesday event in Miami. Perry’s campaign didn’t address Romney’s questions. Instead, chief spokesman Ray Sullivan swiped at a

rival who “seems to forget he’s a Republican.” “Being 47th in job creation and killing 18,000 jobs with RomneyCare is not a record to brag about,” Sullivan said, hitting Romney on a health overhaul conservatives loathe. “Under Gov. Perry, Texas added more private-sector jobs in the past

CAPITOL HILL: In this file photo, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California is pictured. —AP

two months than Massachusetts did in four years under Mitt Romney.”

With Romney and Perry elbowing each other for front-runner status - and tea party darling Michele Bachmann trying to wedge herself into the top tier - the presidential contenders scheduled a forum on their faith and a head-tohead debate for Thursday.

They will also make appearances at a conservative conference today and some will visit a nonbinding test vote of the party faithful on Saturday. A poll released early yesterday indicates Florida Republicans slightly prefer Perry over Romney in their party’s battle to find a nominee to face President Barack Obama next year.

Perry was favored by 28 percent of the 374 registered Republican voters, compared with 22 percent who want Romney as their nominee. The random telephone survey, conducted Sept. 1419 by Quinnipiac University, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.1 percentage points. With five months remaining until the first nominating contests, time is running short for some of the candidates trying to break free of the pack. Their camps descended on senior citizen-rich Florida this week,

ready with lines sharpened for fellow Republicans more than for their oncefavorite target, Obama. “I’ve forgotten more about Israel than Rick Perry knows about Israel,” former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum told reporters in Washington, trying to rap his rival’s foreign policy speech.

An independent pro-Bachmann group was ready to start airing ads in Iowa aimed at Perry. “The question is about Rick Perry’s character,” the Keep Conservatives United ad states in the 30-second commercial to air on Fox News Channel in Cedar Rapids. The ad follows Bachmann’s criticism of Perry’s record in Texas and echoes conservatives’ criticism of vaccines he mandated. And Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a favorite of the party’s libertarian wing, renewed his criticism of Perry as a typical politician.

“He knows what people are thinking about, that’s how politicians operate,” Paul told reporters Wednesday before heading to Florida. Also set to join that debate: Georgia businessman Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. — AP

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China steps up condemnation of US over Taiwan arms sales Tension lingers but confrontation unlikely

TOKYO: The rear section of a taxi is crushed by a fallen tree as powerful Typhoon Roke barreled across central Japan with heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 100 mph. — AP

Typhoon passes Japan tsunami zone TOKYO: A powerful typhoon that left at least 13 people dead or missing, paralyzed commuter trains and dumped rain on tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan was headed to the major northern island of Hokkaido yesterday. Typhoon Roke caused no immediate problems other than broken security cameras at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which had been in its path overnight. The plant had been sent into meltdown by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and efforts are still under way to bring the reactors under control. Hiroki Kawamata, spokesman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., said several cameras set up to monitor the plant were damaged, but that there had been no further leaks of radioactive water or material into the environment.

“We are seeing no problems so far,” he said. The storm passed just west of the plant on its way north late Wednesday. The typhoon brought new misery to the northeastern region, dumping up to 17 inches (42 centimeters) of rain in some areas. Two people were rescued after they were found buried in a landslide in northern Iwate prefecture early yesterday, and one remained unconscious, Kyodo News agency reported.

Hundreds of tsunami survivors in government shelters in the Miyagi state town of Onagawa were forced to evacuate for fear of flooding. More than 200,000 households in central Japan were without electricity late Wednesday.

Police and local media reported 13 people dead or missing in southern and central regions, many of them believed swept away by rivers swollen with rains. As of early yesterday, the typhoon had reached Hokkaido, weakening overnight to sustained winds of up to 78 mph (126 kph). There were no immediate reports of damage on Hokkaido. The typhoon made landfall Wednesday afternoon near the city of Hamamatsu, about 125 miles (200 kilometers) west of Tokyo.

Overnight in Tokyo, where many rush hour commuter trains were suspended for hours, thousands of commuters got stuck at stations across the sprawling city and stood in long lines for buses and cabs. — AP

BEIJING: China stepped up its condemnation of the United States yesterday for selling arms to Taiwan saying they could disrupt military exchanges, a warning that is likely to unsettle, but not derail, ties with Washington.

Arms sales are one of several irritants in the Sino-US relationship which include Washington’s decision to challenge Chinese duties on US poultry products and US pressure on China to loosen controls on its currency. China’s Foreign Ministry has already lambasted the Obama administration for telling Congress that it plans a $5.3 billion upgrade of Taiwan’s F-16 fighter fleet, and Beijing warned that the step would damage Sino-American military and security links.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland eventually, and by force if necessary. “The Chinese military expresses its utmost indignation and strong condemnation of this action that gravely interferes in China’s domestic affairs and damages China’s sovereignty and national security interests,” a Ministry of Defense spokesman, Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng, said on the ministry’s website (www.mod.gov.cn). The US offer-which includes sales of advanced air-to-air missiles, laser- and GPS-guided bombs and radars- would “create serious obstacles to the development of ordinary exchanges between our two militaries”, said Geng.

China opposes US arms sales to Taiwan on the grounds they sabotage Beijing’s plans for reunification.

Washington says it wants Beijing and Taipei to determine their future peacefully, and that it is obliged by law to help the island defend itself. Chinese authorities were probably still weighing just how to punish the United States and would be closely watching domestic opinion, said Sun Zhe, a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing who specializes in US policy. “This could be a spiraling response that can be adjusted up or down,” Sun said.

“When it comes to arms sales to Taiwan, the (Chinese) public is strongly against and the central government will have to take into account public opinion or risk being criticized as too weak.” China’s official Xinhua news agency said arms sales risked damaging the detente between China and Taiwan which has developed over the last few years, especially following the election of a more proChina president in Taiwan in 2008. “Military confrontation is not an effective or correct way to balance cross-Strait relations,” it said in a commentary. Taiwan said the upgrade of the F-16s would contribute to regional peace by improving its defense capability in the face of what it called a continued threat from China.

Seeking a steadier path But despite Beijing’s anger, tensions appear unlikely to match those of last year, when Chinese outrage over an earlier US arms offer to Taiwan added to several disputes

that roiled relations with Washington for many months.

This year both sides have sought to keep relations on a steadier path ahead of 2012, when US President Barack Obama faces re-election and China’s Communist Party undergoes a leadership handover.

Obama, who chose the upgrade rather than offer new planes, and Chinese President Hu Jintao will have chances

CHIAYI: In this file photo, a Taiwanese air force pilot enters his F-16 fighter jet during exercises at the Chiayi Air Base. —AP to meet in coming months at regional summits and the G20 meeting in France, which is likely to discourage lingering tension. Asked whether last year’s threat to sanction US companies involved in weapons sales to Taiwan still applied, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei did not give a direct answer. “Whoever engages or participates in activities or actions that harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will certainly encounter the resolute opposition of the Chinese people,” he told a news briefing. — Reuters

SE Asia risks China’s ire to discuss dispute

MANILA: A homeless couple eats meal outside a closed stall selling cooked food yesterday. — AP

MANILA: Southeast Asian maritime experts were close to endorsing a Philippine plan for settling a longstanding dispute over potentially oilrich islands in the South China Sea that are claimed by six countries including China. The experts gathered in Manila yesterday for a two-day discussion of the plan, which is seen an attempt by the Philippines to present a unified regional policy in confronting China. Beijing claims all the islands while the other countries claim them in part in a constantly bubbling dispute that has often led to regional tensions.

The meeting was limited to maritime and legal experts from the 10member Association of Southeast

Asian Nations. China has reportedly prote s t e d a g a i n s t t h e m e e t i n g because it prefers bilateral negotiations with each claimant country. A draft of the final statement to be issued after the meeting ends Friday indicated all the participants were inclined to support Manila’s proposals.

The statement, obtained by The Associated Press, describes the proposal as “consistent with international law,” and urges claimants to “explore the possibility” of delineating the disputed areas for joint projects. A Philippine diplomat said that if ASEAN can forge a common stand, the bloc would then try to get China’s concurrence. The proposal will make little

headway unless China accepts it, but that seems to be a tough ask given that Beijing has refused to consider claims by other countries. China has already questioned why ASEAN should deal with the disputes as a group when the majority of its members are not claimants, another diplomat told the AP. The two diplomats said Beijing had also protested against the ASEAN maritime experts’ meeting.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

Only four ASEAN countries - Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam - lay claims to the region believed to be rich in oil. The other claimant besides China is its rival Taiwan. — AP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

US votes limits on Pakistan aid

SIKKIM: School children wait for their turn to be air-lifted in Chungthang, one of the worst quake-hit areas yesterday. — AP

India quake toll hits 106 MANGAN: Rescuers yesterday finally reached some of the villages in India’s remote northeast that were cut off by a powerful earthquake in the Himalayan region last weekend, as the death toll in the disaster climbed past 100. Rescue efforts following Sunday’s magnitude-6.9 quake, which also struck parts of Tibet and Nepal, were slow-going because heavy rains kept helicopters grounded and mudslides triggered by the disaster blocked roads leading into remote, mountainous terrain. As the weather improved yesterday, with no rain, helicopters were able to ferry relief workers to some inaccessible areas for the first time, said R Sahu, an Indian air force spokesman.

Other workers moved forward on the ground, using heavy machinery and dynamite to clear roads. Sahu said nine villages with a combined population of nearly 1,000 were still cut off, but that aircraft had been able to drop rice and other supplies to stranded residents. India’s Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram yesterday visited some of the hardest hit areas and said the army assured him that by today at the latest they would be able to access the nine villages by road.

Two injured people from Chungthang, one of the worst-hit villages, were taken by helicopter to a hospital, Sahu said. Nearly 200 homes were damaged in Chungthang, which has a population of nearly 2,000 people. Fearing aftershocks, most residents,

especially women and children, have been spending the nights in a Sikh shrine that also provides them with food. Police said seven bodies were found in the Mangan area close to the epicenter of the quake.

The army yesterday evacuated 70 foreign tourists from the quake-hit areas, according to TimesNow television news channel. The state’s more than 200 Buddhist monasteries and Himalayan vistas draw about 20,000 foreign tourists per year.

The 106 confirmed deaths from the quake were spread across a wide swath of the sparsely populated Himalayan region, with officials reporting 75 dead in the worsthit state of Sikkim, 12 in West Bengal, six in Bihar, six in the neighboring Nepal and another seven in the Chinese region of Tibet. Word on casualties and damage from the cutoff villages has been slow to come by, and the toll was expected to rise.

On Wednesday, officials finally made their way to a remote hydroelectric project in the region where they confirmed that 17 people had been killed in quake-triggered landslides and another person was missing. Sikkim’s chief minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, told reporters Wednesday that according to initial estimates, the earthquake had caused losses and damage worth 1 trillion rupees ($22 billion). The region has been hit by major earthquakes in the past, including in 1950 and 1897. — AP

HYDERABAD: Pakistani displaced mother gives water to her ailing child living in a makeshift tent after fleeing her home yesterday. In Pakistan’s Sindh province alone, the floods have killed over 220 people, damaged or destroyed some 665,000 homes and displaced more than 1.8 million people, according to the United Nations. Neighboring Baluchistan province has also been affected. — AP

WASHINGTON: A US Senate committee voted on Wednesday to make economic and security aid to Pakistan conditional on its cooperation in fighting militants such as the Haqqani network, which Washington blames for last week’s attack on the US embassy in Kabul. The Senate Appropriations Committee decision reflected lawmakers’ anger at Islamabad over militants who operate out of Pakistan and battle US troops in Afghanistan.

Washington has pressed Pakistan to go after the Haqqani network, which it believes enjoys sanctuaries in Pakistan’s unruly ethnic Pashtun tribal region on the Afghan border. The Senate committee did not specify any amount for economic aid to Pakistan for fiscal 2012, leaving it up to the Obama administration to set the level and notify Congressor provide nothing at all. “If the administration wants to provide zero, that’d be OK with us,” said Republican Senator Mark Kirk, one of the more vocal critics of Pakistan on the panel.

The committee did approve $1 billion for the Pakistan Counter-insurgency Capability Fund, which was created in 2009 to help Pakistan’s military develop counter-insurgency capabilities to fight Islamist militants within its borders. But the committee voted to make this aid, as well as any economic

aid that is provided, conditional on Pakistan’s cooperating with Washington against several militant groups. In addition to the Haqqani network, these groups include Al-Qaeda and the Quetta Shura-the remains of the Afghan Taleban government overthrown and driven into Pakistan by the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan. They also include Lashkare-Taiba, a Punjab-based group blamed for attacks on Mumbai, India, in November 2008.

The restrictions were part of a foreign aid bill that the committee approved and sent to the Senate floor. It will have to be reconciled with the House of Representatives, where lawmakers in one subcommittee have voted similar restrictions. Pakistan also gets US military aid via the Pentagon budget. But Washington is already withholding $800 million of that aid this year as ties have come under mounting strain. Many lawmakers have been calling for aid to Pakistan to be reduced since US special forces found and killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin laden in a Pakistan military town on May 2. Washington has allocated about $20 billion for Pakistan over the last decade. In fiscal 2010, Congress approved $1.7 billion for economic aid for Pakistan, and $2.7 billion in security aid, the Congressional Research Service says. — Reuters

truck hits bomb in Pakistan, 5 dead Militant detained KHAR: A government official says a pickup truck hit a roadside bomb in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, killing at least five people.

Adalat Khan says several other people were wounded in the bombing. The incident occurred yesterday in the Chamarkand area of the Bajur tribal region. Khan is a local administrator in the area. The Pakistani army has carried out several operations in Bajur in an attempt to defeat Pakistani Taleban fighters holed up in the area.

FBI Director Robert Mueller visited Pakistan Wednesday as tensions between the two countries spike over US. demands that Islamabad crack down on Afghan militants it alleges find shelter on Pakistani soil.

A Pakistani government statement said that Mueller met with Interior Minister Rehman Malik in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad for talks on how to bolster counterterrorism cooperation. US officials declined to discuss the visit, which comes one day after both countries agreed to limit the number of American troops in Pakistan.

Uneasy relations between the United States and Pakistan further soured this year, particularly after US marines killed Osama bin Laden May 2 in Pakistan without coordinating the attack with officials there first. Islamabad has also expressed anger with American drone strikes into the country, which have killed wanted militants as well as civilians. Pakistani leaders see the US military actions inside Pakistan as violations of its sovereignty. But US leaders say that unless Pakistan goes after insurgents within its own borders who are attacking and killing American troops, the US will act on its own. US officials have accused Islamabad of maintaining links with the Haqqani network, a band of Islamist fighters that Washington says are behind attacks in Afghanistan, including last week’s attack on the US embassy in Kabul.

Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said this week that there is a

“proxy connection” between Pakistani intelligence services and the Haqqanis, which are believed to have bases in the Pakistani tribal region of North Waziristan. Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told her Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, that the Taleban-affiliated militants must be dealt with, according to US officials, who spoke about the private meeting on condition of anonymity. Ten years on, since the start of the US-led war in Afghanistan, the country is still reeling from instability and violence. Washington is urging Pakistan take on the Haqqanis, but Pakistan’s army has yet to launch any offensive in North Waziristan.

This has led to speculation that Islamabad is seeking to protect the Haqqani network because it views the group as a potential ally in neighboring Afghanistan after the United States withdraws. Pakistan has a history of using militants as proxies in Afghanistan and India, but over the past five years has found itself a staging ground for suicide attacks and violence from extremists, some of whom the country once aided.

Earlier Wednesday, suspected militants opened fire on an army helicopter flying in northwest Pakistan, wounding a regional commander inside the aircraft. The chopper was flying over the Dir region near the Afghan border when it was attacked, said army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas. He said Maj Gen Javed Iqbal was shot in the leg during the incident, but that the chopper was able to keep flying.

Iqbal is the commanding officer in Pakistan’s northern Swat Valley, which the army wrestled from Taleban hands in 2009. Elsewhere in Pakistan, mourners gathered Wednesday around the caskets of Shiite Muslim pilgrims killed while traveling by bus through the country’s southwest on their way to Iran. Some 26 people were killed in Tuesday’s attack, officials and survivors said. —Agencies

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Stocks nosedive amid fears of new global recession

US Fed does the twist

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PARIS: A trader reacts in front of her screen in a business bank in Paris yesterday. France’s CAC-40 was down a hefty 5.4 percent at 5,186. BNP Paribas was hit hardest, with its stock falling around 4 percent. — AP

Kuwait budget surplus widens to $20 billion Revenue at KD7.1 bn vs spending of KD1.5 bn KUWAIT: Kuwait’s budget surplus in the first three months of its 2011-12 fiscal year reached 5.6 billion dinars ($20.3 billion), larger than a year ago on higher than expected oil revenue and lower spending, finance ministry data showed yesterday.

The surplus accounted for 15.2 percent of the OPEC member’s gross domestic product, according to Reuters calculations. It stood at 3.2 billion dinars in the sam e period a year ago and at 4.2 billion in April-May. Revenue of the world’s sixth-largest oil exporter was 7.1 billion dinars in April-June, while spend-

ing came at 1.5 billion dinars, below a projected 4.8 billion, the data showed. Oil revenue reached 6.8 billion dinars in April-June, accounting for 96 percent of the total. The 2011-12 budget is based on an oil price of $60 per barrel.

Brent crude prices have been floating between $98 and $127 per barrel since the fiscal year started in April. Yesterday, oil prices fell over $3 per barrel with US futures touching $82.75 per barrel as a combination of signals heightened worries about global economic growth. Since 2004, Kuwait’s

budget spending has tripled to a record 19.4 billion dinars planned for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which started in April, with expenditure on wages rising almost as fast. Revenue was set at 13.4 billion dinars in the 2011-12 budget, approved by parliament in June, bringing the projected deficit to 5.99 billion, or 16.2 percent of gross domestic product, according to Reuters calculations.

However, the 2011-12 revenue estimate is very conservative given this year’s surge in the price of oil. Last month, Kuwait’s ruler said the misuse of budget surplus,

including unproductive spending, has led to structural imbalances in the Gulf Arab economy.

The Gulf Arab country of 3.6 million people has no plans to boost budget spending in the next fiscal year, nor does it expect budget cuts in coming months, its finance minister said this month. A Reuters poll in June forecast Kuwait’s economy would grow 4.4 percent in 2011 and generate a fiscal surplus of 20.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2011-12, the largest among Gulf Arab oil exporters. — Reuters

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Binladin’s CPC unit eyeing IPO DUBAI: Construction Products Holding Co (CPC), Saudi Arabia’s largest manufacturer of building materials and a unit of Binladin Group, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) and will soon mandate banks for the potential share sale, sources said.

Pitching meetings have taken place in the kingdom and the company is due to appoint a financial adviser for the offering, as well as lead managers and bookrunners, by the middle of next month, according to two bankers with knowledge of the matter.

About 30 percent of the company has been earmarked for public sale, one of the sources said, with a potential IPO taking place on the Saudi bourse Tadawul in either 2012 or 2013. The value of the IPO will be determined by a bookbuilding process, the source added, although its large size will likely require “two, possibly three banks” to underwrite it.

The underwriting banks will be appointed closer to the time, although they are likely to be the same institutions that are mandated to advisory and lead manager roles, the source said.

The sources declined to be identified as the talks have not yet been made public. Saudi law requires IPOs to be underwritten before their launch. The pipeline of companies looking to list on the Tadawul exchange is said to be sizeable but unfavourable market conditions have meant that the number of IPOs launching has been limited. Hail Cement Co, the third public offering of 2011 in the kingdom, is due to complete on Monday. Hail is looking to raise 489.5 million riyals ($130.5 million) in a 50 percent offering through local investment bank GIB Capital.

Equity markets are a popular source of funding for Saudi companies, given the nascent bond markets and a slowdown in bank lending in the kingdom, and this is likely to draw a number of large private companies to list as they look to fund expansion plans, bankers say. “The equity market is huge and companies want to enter it,” one of the bankers said. “We are now seeing companies that the public have long waited to list begin ning their preparations, including the likes of CPC.” CPC provides up to 80 percent of the building materials required for construction projects in Saudi Arabia and has more than 30 manufacturing facilities across the kingdom.

Last month, Standard Chartered said its private equity arm had brought a minority stake in CPC for $75 million, its first investment in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has said it will spend $400 billion in the five years to 2013 to improve its infrastructure.

Binladin Group is one of the largest construction firms in Saudi Arabia and was appointed last month to construct the 75 billion riyal ($20 billion) Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, which is slated to be the world’s tallest building. CPC was not available for comment outside business hours in Saudi Arabia, which is closed for the weekend.—Reuters

Abu Dhabi new industrial zone lures Asia investors Project expected to contribute up to 15 pct of non-oil GDP ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s mammoth new industrial zone is wooing investors from Asia to set up shop and help the emirate diversify its economy away from oil, its top official said. Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) at Taweelah, midway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, spans an area of 421 square km (twothirds the size of Singapore), and is the largest industrial area in the United Arab Emirates.

The $7.2 billion phase one development is set to be operational before the end of 2012, with other phases to follow amid plans to create industrial clusters around a new port.

In the meantime, top management has been busy marketing the project in Asia, and lining up collaborations with Asian banks to make future investments easier. Earlier this year, Kizad held roadshows, launching in three Asian economic giants-India, China and South Korea, as well as in Germany.

“The response was positive and this is also about attracting foreign direct investment,” said Khaled Salmeen, executive vice president, industrial zones at

Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), which owns Kizad.

He added that Kizad plans to open offices in these countries, starting soon with India. The company has so far signed agreements with Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Citibank, HSBC, and India’s Bank of Baroda. “There is a need for industry to contribute to the non-oil GDP, we are confident Kizad will contribute up to 15 percent of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP by 2030,” Salmeen said. Emirates Aluminum (Emal) is the first and anchor tenant. Some 30 companies have signed agreements to set up base at Kizad and nearly 100 more are awaiting approvals. The agreements with private and government firms relate to projects in aluminum, steel, glass and logistics, he said.

Oil-rich Abu Dhabi is investing billions of dollars in industry, tourism, infrastructure and real estate to diversify its economy away from oil. Manufacturing accounted for 5.5 percent (in nominal terms) of the emirate’s GDP in 2010, according to latest figures. With about 60 to 80 percent of goods manufactured

in the industrial zone to be exported, investors can also seek finance from export credit agencies (ECAs), that are lending long-term at low rates, he said.

Kizad, which is fully funded by the government, is targeting eight industry clusters: aluminum, steel, engineered metal products, petrochemical’s and chemicals, pharmaceuticals and healthcare equipment, food, paper, printing and packaging.

The completion of the zone’s first phase at end-2012 will coincide with the close of the first phase of the Khalifa port’s infrastructure with an initial capacity to handle two million TEUs of container traffic and 12 million tones of general cargo annually. By 2030, the port’s capacity is planned to grow to 15 million TEUs and 35 million tons of general cargo. Industrial City of Abu Dhabi and Mussafah, the older industrial hubs of Abu Dhabi will remain independent and continue with plans of developing industry. In neighboring Dubai, the Jebel Ali free zone has been well-established for over two decades, contributing some 25 percent to the emirate’s GDP.— Reuters

Mobily seeks 10 billion riyal loan refinancing LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s second-largest mobile phone company, Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), is seeking a 10 billion Saudi Arabian riyal ($2.7 billion) loan refinancing from international banks, banking sources said. The deal would be Mobily’s largest syndicated loan since June 2007, when it signed a 10.78 billion riyal Shari’ah-compliant debt financing. Proceeds from the new 10 billion riyal loan will go towards refinancing several transactions, with the

majority of the financing carrying a fiveyear maturity. Samba Financial Group is advising, with bank approvals expected by the end of October, a Middle Eastern banker said. Mobily will accept US dollars from potential European lenders, but is not wholly dependent on international participation. “There is plenty of liquidity in Saudi Arabia,” a European banker said. Pricing has not yet been determined, but European lenders’ dollar funding and liq-

uidity concerns, plus downgrades to French banks’ credit ratings, means some Middle Eastern borrowers may have to consider higher margins. “Generally, borrowers will have to look at pricing and they are not so enamored with the idea,” another European banker said.

The impact on Middle Eastern borrowers however has not been severe so far, with strong investment grade and relationships expected to shield prominent borrow-

ers from sharp margin increases, the second European banker added. Mobily last tapped the market for a 1.2 billion riyal Murabaha facility to expand and upgrade its network in December 2010. Samba Financial Group, National Commercial Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi British Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi provided that financing, which will run for 12 months and has a six-month extension option. Mobily was not immediately available for comment.— Reuters

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New ‘Silk Road’ eyed for Afghanistan UNITED NATIONS: Afghanistan, its neighbors and supporters are launching a drive to boost prosperity and peace by linking the country with markets across South and Central Asia, US officials said Wednesday. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will host talks in New York Thursday on what amounts to plans for a “New Silk Road,” they said.

Like the ancient Silk Road, Afghanistan would be at the heart of lucrative trade routes between Asia and the West, but it would involve modern highways, rail links and energy pipelines, senior US administration officials told reporters. They said the New York talks-which will draw officials from Afghanistan’s neighbors and near-neighbors, including China-will pave

the way for meetings in Istanbul on November 2 and in Bonn, Germany, on December 5.

The meetings are designed to promote the “idea that a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan will only really be able to exist inside a secure, stable and prosperous region,” a senior US official told reporters. “It’s part of a wider effort to help to build up the Afghan private sector, to help create sustainable economic development in Afghanistan, to create this economic integration between South and Central Asia,” a second US official said.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the high-level officials attending the meeting, said the “New Silk Road” builds on projects that are already underway in the region. One of them includes the

Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, which was launched in June this year to reduce the costs and delays in transporting goods between the two often tense neighbors. The second official said the Afghans and Pakistanis have agreed to try to extend the arrangement to central Asia. “We also hope it could be extended to India as well,” the official said.

The officials did not say how the longstanding tension between Pakistan and India would affect the plans, but noted that the Indian and Pakistani commerce secretaries have been engaged for months in trying to increase cross-border trade. “The ultimate goal is to reduce trade and other barriers so that products from Afghanistan or from any of the Central Asian countries could transit through Pakistan and into India,

Bangladesh or even beyond,” he said.

“This is really a truly transformative vision because... India is going to be such an important economic actor for the region,” he said. The New Silk Road project also calls for building on progress to extend energy pipelines across Central Asia. The second official recalled progress the governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have made in building the TAPI pipeline to bring natural gas from Turkmenistan fields to India’s energy markets. “It would bring important transit revenues for Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said. He also cited the example of Uzbekistan, which he said has been “very helpful” working with the Asian Development Bank and others to develop the rail link from its own border to Mazar iSharif, in Afghanistan.— AFP

Qatar in talks over possible BNP stake French banks have ‘tremendous need for capital’

SEOUL: A depositor looks into the head office of Tomato Savings Bank through the closed door as depositors in a long queue receive numbers for provisional payments in Seongnam, west of Seoul, South Korea yesterday. — AP

South Koreans besiege stricken savings banks SEONGNAM: Hundreds of worried customers queued overnight to withdraw their money from seven South Korean savings banks which had been suspended from operations due to concerns about their financial strength. South of the capital Seoul, a crowd more than 800 people, mostly in their 60s and 70s, gathered outside one of the banks suspended by South Korean authorities on Sunday. yesterday was the first day depositors could withdraw their funds. “I arrived here late last night, though I could barely stand due to osteoporosis,” 72-year old grandmother Park Geum-Rae told Reuters as she queued for he money at Tomato Savings Bank. “I lost my 5-year-old grandson in the hustle and bustle... but fortunately, I found him sleeping under the roof of ticket office at the parking lot behind the bank.” Tomato, along with the six other small savings banks, had attracted customers by paying higher interest than mainstream banks.

But the banks are heavily exposed to loans made to the country’s ailing construction sector and suffer from a lack of capital, leading regulators to temporarily shut them down.

Concerns about the security of deposits spread to other small banks, although the

pace of withdrawals had started to slow by the time depositors could get their hands on their money in the seven suspended banks. A combined 40.8 billion Korean won ($35.5 million) in deposits had been withdrawn from 91 savings banks as of noon yesterday, according to South Korea’s financial regulator.

Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said after the suspension that the problems in the sector did not represent any systemic risk to the financial system. The seven suspended banks account for 0.8 percent of South Korea’s deposits, S&P said. Customers are eligible to recover provisional deposits of up to 20 million Korean won ($17,393) each until November. Big lenders such as Kookmin Bank are to help provide money for customers at closed savings banks. The crisis has however claimed the job of one of President Lee Myung-bak’s aides and caused ripples through the ruling Grand National Party which faces parliamentary and presidential elections in 2012. “I don’t know what the government is doing about this issue, why are we suffering this pain? I think the government has to be changed next year,” said Im Dae-ok, a 65-year old retired man who was queuing for his money.—Reuters

DOHA: The Gulf state of Qatar is in talks with BNP Paribas on taking a possible stake in France’s biggest listed bank, a source close to the deal based in Qatar said on Wednesday.

Resource-rich Qatar has also been holding similar talks with other French banks, which have seen their share prices halved over the summer on fears they are undercapitalised and overleveraged in the face of the eurozone debt crisis.

“They (Qatar) have been talking to banks across France, given the tremendous need for capital,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A Mideast investment in French banks would have echoes of the peak of the financial crisis in 2008, when Qatar and Abu Dhabi bought stakes in British bank Barclays as part of a capital increase that helped the lender stay independent while rivals Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds ended up being part-nationalised.

A spokeswoman for BNP Paribas declined to comment. Market talk earlier on Wednesday about a possible Qatar investment boosted BNP’s shares, before they closed down 1.9 percent, giving the bank a market value of 29.54 billion euros ($40.4 billion). A spokeswoman for Societe Generale also declined to comment while spokeswomen for Credit Agricole and Natixis were unavailable for comment. An investment from Qatar would be positive news for French banks after months of intense selling pressure forced BNP and SocGen to announce tens of billions of euros in asset sales to free up capital.

Investors and analysts have been increasingly speculating that the French government may be forced to step in to stop the rot, which has been exacerbated by fears that a sharp ramp-up in US dollar money-market funding may spill over into a broader European bank liquidity crunch. Although a parade of politicians, government officials and banking regulators have insisted for months that French banks are solid and have no need for fresh capital, several banking sources said they had heard private rumblings that a state injection of preference shares-interest-bearing instruments halfway between debt and equity-was being discussed, though how concretely was unclear.

“This would allow the state to put its finger

in without the full cost (of core equity),” a Paris banking source said, though he added that such a move might not be enough to reassure the market and could put France’s “AAA” credit rating at risk. “The state is conscious of the difficulty of taking action right now,” the source said. “Intervening could affect its ‘AAA’ rating, and on top of that taking action unilaterally would send a terrible signal after saying so often that there is no problem.” The French finance ministry was unavailable for comment.

Separately, BNP’s chief executive told French daily Les Echos the bank would be able to meet tougher capital rules under Basel III on its own steam rather than by raising additional funds. Baudouin Prot, who is expected to retire as CEO later this year, also said that concern about an Italian sovereign debt default was unfounded and that the bank was fully equipped to handle a default from debt-wracked Greece. Shares of BNP and other French banks have dived over the past three months on fears they are undercapitalised, overleveraged and ill-equipped to face the unfolding eurozone debt drama. “(Meeting Basel III) will be achieved via a double effort of setting aside profits and shrinking the size of our balance sheet, rather than via a capital increase,” Prot said in an interview posted on Les Echos’ website Wednesday evening. BNP shares earlier closed down 1.9 percent after traders cited market talk that French banks including Societe Generale and Credit Agricole would raise capital to shore up their balance sheets.

A BNP spokeswoman said the bank did not need to be recapitalized, reiterating a previous statement by Chairman Michel Pebereau.

BNP is seeing loan growth and is operating without problems aside from a sharp slide in its shares, Prot said, who cited 6 percent credit growth in France at end-August without giving further details. “(BNP) is operating entirely normally,” said Prot. BNP’s shares have slumped 55 percent since the end of June. The bank, among the biggest in Europe, holds substantial exposures to eurozone sovereign debt. At end-June 2011 it held 4 billion euros ($5.5 billion) of Greek debt and 20.8 billion euros of Italian debt in its loan book.

“Where Greece is concerned, we can withstand any outcome,” Prot said. —Reuters

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China manufacturing activity contracts SHANGHAI: Manufacturing activity in China contracted for the third straight month in September, early data released yesterday showed, as turbulence in the United States and Europe hurt demand for exports. The HSBC preliminary purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to a two-month low of 49.4 in September from a final reading of 49.9 in August, the British banking giant said in a statement. A reading above 50 indicates the

sector is expanding, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction. The gauge stood at 49.3 in July, which was the lowest level in 28 months and the first contraction in a year. New export orders contracted at a faster pace in September than August, the statement said, amid deepening economic woes in the United States and Europe-key buyers of Chinese-made products. But despite the deterioration in the manu-

facturing sector, which employs millions of people and is a major driver of growth, HSBC chief economist Qu Hongbin said concerns of a hard landing in China were “unwarranted”.

“Resilient domestic demand is sufficient to support around 8.5-9 percent growth in the coming quarters,” Qu said in the statement. China’s economy expanded 9.5 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of this year, slower

than the 9.7 percent posted in the first quarter and 9.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. The PMI figures also showed input prices, a measure of the cost of raw materials, rose at a faster pace this month, complicating Beijing’s efforts to rein in inflation in the world’s second-largest economy.

The September reading is subject to revision when the bank publishes its final figures on September 30.— AFP

Economy worries drive FTSE down 4.7 percent Banks weaken on Fed’s grim assessment LONDON: Britain’s top share index was left nursing a 4.7 percent drop yesterday with commodity stocks bearing the brunt of a broad-based sell-off after the US Federal Reserve’s grim assessment of the economy. Kazakhmys, down 10.8 percent, led specialty miners lower, while BG Group and BP, both 5.8 percent weaker, were worst off among integrated oils, as metal and crude prices tumbled. Investors focused on fears about future demand as the Fed’s gloomy statement was compounded by data showing more evidence of a slowdown in top commodity consumer China.

HSBC’s China Flash PMI survey showed factory output fell for a third consecutive month in September, pointing to a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy. The data suggested that China, the engine room of global growth in recent years, may not be able to provide much of a counterweight to flagging US and European growth. The Fed commented on “significant downside risks” to the outlook as it unveiled fresh economic stimulus measures which will see it buy more long-term Treasury securities in an effort to lower borrowing rates.

Wall Street looked set for a lower opening yesterday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 all down just over 2 percent. The FTSE 100 was down 246.67 points, or 4.7 percent, at 5,041.74 by 1141 GMT, having dropped 1.4 percent on Wednesday. There were no blue-chip gainers.

While traders worried that the Fed’s latest plan will have little effect on lending, they did deem the market reaction to be overdone. “We have already seen some sizeable sell-offs this month and any weakness below the 5,100 level h as proved short-lived,” David Jones, chief market strategist at IG Index, said. “There is the potential for another U-turn after this early weakness if the bargain hunters are tempted out yet again.”

Ed Woolfitt, head of trading at Galvan Research, said: “We’ve been trying to get through the 5,400 level. We’ve had a couple of attempts and failed. And that makes the market vulnerable anyway.” “This is a key time-if we can find support in this region; the drops in recent trading haven’t been quite down to the 5,000, so there’s a channel there.” British banks fell in London, tracking big falls by their US peers which suffered after Moody’s downgraded the credit ratings of Bank of America , Citigroup and Wells Fargo saying the government was less likely to provide support for troubled lenders.

Insurers were weak too, led by Prudential down 7.5 percent, with the sector having been one of the hardest-hit in New York as traders said the latest stimulus package could threaten the earnings of some of the country’s largest insurers for years to come. “Insurers are heavily exposed to US bond markets, so this “twist” by the Fed could have a negative impact on sector earnings,” Mic Mills, head of electronic trading at ETX Capital, said. Investec Securities also cut target prices for UK insurers, including Prudential, to reflect the recent equity market correction, though it said the changes were generally modest.—Reuters

FRANKFURT: Traders watch screens at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany yesterday, when the stock index DAX lost about four percent. — AP

KDDI to sell iPhone 5 TOKYO: KDDI Corp, Japan’s secondlargest mobile carrier by subscribers, has snagged the rights to sell Apple’s iPhone 5, a report said yesterday, in a blow to its rival Softbank.

Threatening the market dominance enjoyed by Softbank as Apple’s only partner in Japan, the US computer giant and KDDI have already agreed on a sales deal for the highly-anticipated phone, the Nikkei business newspaper reported in its

online edition, citing unnamed sources. But KDDI will need a few months to prepare for the roll-out of iPhone 5 and will not be ready in October when Apple is expected to launch the new model around the world-including in Japan through Softbank, the report said.

A KDDI spokesman declined to comment on the report. Softbank, Japan’s third-largest mobile carrier by subscribers, has so far enjoyed a

monopoly on the hugely popular iPhone and iPad as Apple’s only carrier in Japan. The Nikkei report sent Softbank shares plunging 12.29 percent to 2,282 yen, while KDDI closed down 0.79 percent at 624,000 after giving up earlier gains. Apple ended its exclusive alliance with AT&T in the United States in February when it allowed iPhones synched to Verizon’s network to hit the market.— AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

UBS trader ‘sorry’ for massive losses LONDON: Kweku Adoboli, the equities trader accused in a $2.3 billion fraud at Swiss bank UBS, is “sorry” and “appalled” at the losses, his lawyer said yesterday, as he was remanded in custody for another month.

Defense lawyer Patrick Gibbs told City of London Magistrates’ Court that Adoboli, 31, “is sorry beyond words for what has happened”. “He went to UBS and told them what he had done, and stands now appalled at the scale of the consequences of his disastrous miscalculations,” he said.

Adoboli, smartly dressed in a dark grey suit and dark blue tie, bowed to the court with his hands over his heart as he entered the courtroom and nodded sombrely to people sitting in the public

gallery. Prosecutors said he had been charged with a new count of fraud to add to the existing charge of fraud and and two charges of false accounting.

One of the fraud charges refers to a sum of at least $1.5 billion, but prosecutor David Levy said the Crown Prosecution Service believes the total sum involved was probably $2.3 billion (1.7 billion euros).

Adoboli’s lawyer did not request bail and none was granted. He was remanded in custody until October 20. He has not entered a plea but is not required to at this stage in the court proceedings.

Adoboli worked for UBS’s global synthetic equities division in the City of London financial district.

He bought and sold exchange traded funds,

which track different types of stocks or commodities such as precious metals.

He was arrested at UBS’s London offices in the early hours of September 15. Within hours, the bank announced it had lost $2 billion through unauthorized trading, but it later raised the estimated losses to $2.3 billion.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that British regulators were examining multiple cases of possible improper or unauthorized trading at banks in London.

The report, quoting sources familiar with the matter, said the Financial Services Authority watchdog was building cases against individuals suspected of engaging in improper trad ing. — AFP

Fed does the twist $400bn plan to boost economy WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve said it will shuffle $400 billion of its portfolio to try to drive down long-term interest rates and get the economy going. But economists doubted it would do much good, the stock market sold off, and the Fed itself was unusually divided over the strategy. Lowering interest rates makes it cheaper for people and companies to borrow money and spend it throughout the economy, which has slowed sharply more than two years after the Great Recession. Consumer spending makes up most of the nation’s economic activity.

But rates are already at historic lows.

Americans, still feeling insecure about the future, might not be willing to take on more debt, even at lower rates.

Others see no reason to jump into the housing market when prices are still falling. Others can’t get credit. “Frankly, I don’t see it having any meaningful impact on the economy,” said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist with the Economic Outlook Group. “What the Fed did today was a distraction.”

Yields on US government debt were already among the lowest on record, and investors drove them down further after the Fed announcement. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, an indicator for mortgages and other long-term loans, closed at 1.86 percent, down from 1.93 percent the day before and the lowest since at least 1962. Along with the strategy statement, the Fed gave a stormy overview of the economy - slow growth, high unemployment and a slumping housing market. The Fed has already said it will keep short-term interest rates super-low into 2013, a sign that the central bank was not optimistic about the next two years.

Three members of the Federal Open Market Committee, the policymaking arm of the Fed, dissented. There are 10 members in all, including Chairman Ben Bernanke, and usually no more than two dissent. The three have said the Fed’s policies may be raising the risk of inflation. The stock market fell quickly after the Fed announcement, which came just before 2:30 p.m. The Dow Jones industrial average, which was down about 20 points before the statement, finished the day down 283 points, or 2.5 percent.

“It’s being viewed as perhaps an admission that this is a longer-term issue that the US economy is facing and not

one that’s going to be solved over a couple of years,” said Oliver Pursche, president of Gary Goldberg Financial Services.

The Dow closed at 11,124. It had appeared headed for 13,000 earlier this year, but investors grew worried this summer that a new recession is coming, and stocks have been extremely volatile since late July. Wall Street had expected

omy from getting worse. The Fed’s total portfolio is $2.9 trillion, almost all of it in Treasury securities and mortgagebacked securities.

In general, major loans throughout the economy, like mortgages, track those long-term Treasury securities.

Already, the national average interest rate for the most popular type of mort-

CHICAGO: A trader in the ten-year Treasury Note wipes his brow as he waits for a statement from the Fed in Chicago, Illinois. — AFP the Fed move for weeks, and had come to call it Operation Twist. In 1961, the Fed tried something similar and named it Operation Nudge, the idea being to nudge long-term interest rates lower.

Chubby Checker’s dance craze was sweeping the nation in the era of “American Bandstand,” and the name Operation Twist stuck instead.

Economists still argue about whether it worked, but most say it didn’t help much.

This time, the Fed will sell $400 billion from its holdings of short-term US government debt - Treasury bills and notes that mature in three years or sooner. It will use that money to buy Treasury notes and bonds with maturities of six to 30 years. The Fed said the shift would be complete by June. By comparison, the Fed spent about $2 trillion on two rounds of bond-buying designed to lower long-term interest rates. Economists generally agree that the Fed succeeded in driving rates down and kept the econ-

gage, the 30-year fixed, is 4.09 percent, the lowest in six decades. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the Fed announcement could send it below 4 percent. Frank Sorrentino, CEO of North Jersey Community Bank in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, said he didn’t think the Fed decision would encourage anyone to buy a house or take out a car loan.

“I don’t think Operation Twist really does a whole lot, at least not on Main Street,” he said. By lowering long-term interest rates slightly, Operation Twist will probably further pinch the budget for retirees and other savers who rely on interest income. Savers have been hammered by super-low rates the past three years. The Fed appears to be the only US institution with a realistic chance of doing much to help the economy.

President Barack Obama has proposed a $447 billion package of tax cuts and public spending, but it is far from clear that the program can pass the Republicancontrolled House. —AP

Ireland enjoys recovery amid eurozone gloom DUBLIN: Ireland’s bailed-out economy grew by 1.6 percent in the second quarter, official data showed yesterday, as Dublin outpaces other rescued eurozone countries with solid recovery following a property and debt crisis.

Irish gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed from an upwardly-revised expansion of 1.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011 but has nevertheless managed to grow for two consecutive quarters for the first time in nearly five years. The Central Statistics Office had originally estimated GDP growth of 1.3 percent in the first quarter, or between January and March. Expansion in the second quarter, or April-June period, was fuelled by strong exports growth.

The data points to a much stronger recovery for Ireland compared with fellow eurozone nations, including Greece and Portugal-the two other countries along with Ireland that are being supported by EU-IMF debt rescue packages. “Irish second quarter GDP figures revealed that the economy expanded strongly in the first half of 2011 and add to evidence that Ireland is in a much better position than Greece and Portugal,” said Ben May, European economist at Capital Economics consultancy. “But given the weak outlook for the global economy, its problems are far from over.”

The Irish GDP figures include output generated by both domestic and foreign companies based in Ireland.

Excluding the foreign contribution, Ireland’s gross national product (GNP) grew by 1.1 percent in the second quarter, or between April and June. This compared with a 3.0percent contraction in the first quarter, although the January-March GNP data was better than the original official forecast of minus 4.3 percent. GNP is regarded by the government as a more accurate barometer of the country’s economic performance as it strips out substantial profits earned by multi-national companies in Ireland which are then taken out of the country.

Foreign companies backed by the government’s Industrial Development Authority employ 139,000 Irish people and account for more than 75 percent of total Irish exports of goods and services. The number of new companies setting up industries in Ireland rose by a fifth to 47 last year, while multi-nationals with operations in the country include Citigroup, Dell, Facebook, GlaxoSmithKline, Google, Intel and Microsoft. Foreign companies are attracted to Ireland by its 12.5-percent rate of corporation tax, one of the lowest in Europe.

Ireland’s once-proud ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy, famed for its double-digit growth for a decade from the mid-1990s, has contracted sharply in recent years, hit by a domestic property market meltdown and soaring unemployment.

Crippled by massive debts, the IMF and European Union last November mounted a rescue for Ireland worth 85 billion euros. Since then, fellow debt-laden eurozone nation Portugal has also been forced to seek an EU-IMF bailout, while Greece’s rescue has been deemed insufficient. In order to secure its own recovery, Ireland in March ordered a drastic overhaul of the its stricken banking sector, as the cost of rescuing its lenders was forecast to top 70 billion euros. — AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Merkel, Pope discuss financial crisis, Europe BERLIN: Pope Benedict XVI and Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the turmoil on the financial markets, Germany’s leader said yesterday after meeting the pontiff on his first state trip to his native country. In a brief statement after the talks, Merkel said: “We talked about the financial markets, about the fact that politicians need the power to lead for the people rather than be led, which is a very, very difficult task in the current period of globalization.”

Merkel’s comments came on another day of turbulence on the markets, with

stocks and the euro plunging amid concerns over the global economy.

“Obviously, the topic of Europe, which interests the pope, was also discussed. I made very clear that European unity is indispensable for us Germans, that for us it means prosperity, democracy and freedom,” she added. In reply, the pope welcomed the “solidarity” of Germany in the European debt crisis, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters after the 20-minute meeting.

Merkel has come under fire both at home and abroad for what critics say is a

hesitant response to the debt crisis, amid a row in the country over German contributions to the rescue fund for Greece and the debt-wracked eurozone.

The chancellor, the daughter of a Protestant pastor, said she was “delighted” to welcome the pope. Merkel greeted the pope dressed in black and supported by a rare public appearance from her publicity-shy husband, scientist Joachim Sauer. Benedict was due to make a landmark speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament-his first address to a national legislature-later, with several

dozen leftist deputies threatening to boycott the event. Organizers also expect an eclectic group of around 20,000 to protest against the visit, demonstrating against a range of issues from the Vatican’s views on gay rights to the sexual abuse scandal that erupted last year in Germany. On the plane from Rome to Berlin, the pope said he could understand those who protested against him, saying it was “normal in a free society marked by strong secularism.” “One can’t object” to such protests, he added. “I respect those who speak out.”—AFP

Italy banking association plays down downgrades Italy lowers growth forecasts for 2011, 2012 MILAN: Italy’s Banking Association yesterday played down Standard and Poor’s decision to downgrade the credit ratings for seven of the country’s banks, denying the move would have “serious consequences.” “We consider that these seven banks had relatively high ratings and thus this downgrading will not have serious consequences,” the association’s head Giuseppe Mussari told Italian radio.

On Wednesday, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the long-term ratings of Mediobanca, Findomestic, Intesa Sanpaolo and their units Banca Imi, Cassa Risparmio Bologna and Biis were downgraded to A from A+. Their shortterm ratings remain unchanged at A-1.

Unicredit, Italy’s biggest bank, escaped a ratings downgrade for the moment but was put on negative outlook. The country’s banks hold a large quantity of Italian bonds and have seen their stocks pummeled over the past few months as investor fears over Italy’s economic stability and vast debt sent shock waves through the markets.

Mussari said that Italy must now “give the markets a clear sign that we have understood the seriousness of the situation and are in a position to face it.” Italy must escape “the logic of austerity plans and urgency, and begin to think seriously about growth,” he added.

Despite passing an austerity package of 54.2 billion euros ($73.0 billion) to balance the budget by 2013, Italy has not been able to reassure investors, who balk at the country’s vast debt-about 120 percent of gross domestic product. As well as downgrading the

banks, Standard & Poor’s ratings agency lowered Italy’s credit rating level on Tuesday on the grounds that a weak coalition was trying to govern an economy with weak growth prospects.

The Italian government lowered its growth forecast sharply yesterday, while insisting that the austerity plan adopted last week is sufficient to balance the country’s budget by 2013 as planned. Italy now forecasts a 0.7 percent growth in 2011, 0.6 percent in 2012 and 0.9 percent in 2013, compared to previous forecasts in April of 1.1 percent, 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, the finance ministry said. Despite “weaker growth,” the “austerity plan is amply sufficient to balance the budget in 2013,” it said, contradicting claims by many experts that more measures will be necessary if the government’s target is to be reached.

The figures are still more positive than the forecasts announced on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund, which put growth in 2011 at 0.6 percent and 2012 at 0.3 percent. Despite passing a 54.2 billion euros austerity plan aimed at balancing the budget by 2013, Italy has not been able to reassure skittish investors, who balk at the country’s vast debt-around 120 of the Gross Domestic Product. Standard & Poor’s ratings agency lowered Italy’s credit rating level on Tuesday on the grounds that a weak coalition was trying to govern an economy with weak growth prospects-increasing fears that the third largest economy in the eurozone may be next to succumb to the economic crisis.— Agencies

Moody’s cuts Citi, BofA and Wells Fargo ratings NEW YORK: Three of the nation’s top banks are likely to start paying more to borrow money. Moody’s Investors Service on Wednesday lowered its debt ratings for Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup. The ratings agency said it has become less likely that the US government would step in and prevent the three lenders from failing in a crisis. “The probability of government support for the banks is less now than during the financial crisis,” said David Fanger, senior vice president at Moody’s.

The downgrades were widely expected after the ratings agency placed the three banks on review in June. The cuts also stem partly from new laws taking effect under the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform Act. The new law ended the possibility of the government bailing out a large financial firm and created a process

that would allow a financially troubled bank to fail and liquidate its assets. Bank of America Corp was hit worst. Moody’s downgraded its key long-term debt ratings two notches, to Baa1 from A2. Wells Fargo & Co.’s long-term debt rating fell one notch to A2 from A1, while Citigroup Inc.’s rating remained the same at A3. Moody’s did downgrade Citi’s short-term debt. Bank of America’s ratings are the lowest among the three. All of the banks are rated investment grade. A downgrade is a warning to buyers of debt that the chance that they won’t get their money back has increased, however slightly. Downgrades usually lead to higher borrowing costs for the issuer because investors want more interest if they’re taking a bigger risk. Long-term debt includes bonds that come due in more than one year.—AP

ATHENS: Students and teachers protest in front of the Greek parliament yesterday. —AFP

Greece sharpens austerity Cabinet agrees pension cuts, layoffs, new taxes ATHENS: Greece adopted yet more austerity measures on Wednesday to secure a bailout installment crucial to avoid running out of money next month, as the IMF warned that Europe’s sovereign debt crisis risks tearing a giant hole in banks’ capital. The Greek cabinet agreed to cut high pensions by 20 percent, put 30,000 civil servants in a “labor reserve” on a road to redundancy, lower the income threshold for paying tax and extend a real estate tax, a government spokesman said. “The measures taken today allow us to comply with the bailout plan through 2014,” the spokesman, Ilias Mossialos, said.

The new package is designed to ensure Greece gets an 8 billion euro rescue loan vital to pay state salaries and bills in October. Senior European Union and International Monetary Fund officials are to arrive in Athens early next week to review progress, Mossialos said. Greece is on the front line of the euro zone debt crisis that has engulfed Ireland and Portugal and now threatens Italy, Spain and some of Europe’s biggest banks, risking plunging the West back into recession.

BANK EXPOSURE The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said the crisis had increased European banks’ exposure by 300 billion euros, and they need to recapitalize to ensure they can weather potential losses. “Risks are elevated and time is running out to tackle vulnerabilities that threaten the global financial system and the ongoing economic recovery,” the IMF said in its Global Financial Stability Report. Officials said European governments are now looking seriously at ways to shore up banks’ capital after ini-

tially rejecting an IMF call last month for urgent action, and signs of progress began emerging late on Wednesday.

Qatar is in talks with BNP Paribas on investing in France’s biggest listed bank, and the Gulf state has held similar talks with other French banks, a source close to the deal in Qatar said.

Several banking sources also said they had heard private rumblings that France was discussing an injection of preference shares, a departure from its earlier position that its banks were well capitalized. In Washington, South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said an IMF official told a meeting of developing nations that a solution to the euro crisis was “coming in the next few days.”

Fears of another credit crunch or recession due to Europe’s inability to overcome the debt crisis are expected to dominate the IMF/World Bank and Group of 20 meetings of finance chiefs that formally begin on Thursday in Washington.

A senior US Treasury official, briefing reporters before those talks, said European sovereign and banking stress posed the most serious threat to the global economy. “The challenge they have before them is pretty clear. It is to be able to unequivocally ensure that sovereigns with sound fiscal plans have access to affordable financing. It is to unequivocally assure that European banks have the requisite liquidity and are sufficiently capitalized,” the official said.

Canada’s finance minister, Jim Flaherty, added his voice, calling on Europe to make absolutely clear its firm commitment to Greece and monetary union and to provide resourcesas much as 1 trillion euros-to backstop banks and nations . — Reuters

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Lehman’s collapse, a second chance Dillian’s high-pressure job turns into a voodoo doll

T

hree years ago, global markets were plunged into chaos when Lehman Brothers collapsed at the height of the financial crisis. Jared Dillian, an ex-trader at the firm, is just happy to have gotten out alive-literally.

Dillian’s seven years as a Wall Street trader came to an end when the 158-year-old firm was dramatically pushed into bankruptcy Sept 15, 2008. He’ll mark the anniversary as a rare second chance in life after the high-pressure job turned him into a sort of voodoo doll on which the financial industry’s wounds were visible.

As Lehman Brothers was heading toward implosion, the traders who sat near Dillian began noticing strange routines he had added to the end of each day. Instead of heading out to the bar after the markets closed, Dillian would stay for 30 minutes, manually logging out each of his three computers in the same order. After making it down the elevator, he would frequently race back up to make sure he had not missed a step. With each passing day, Dillian’s anxiety grew-and with it the number of obsessive compulsive rituals his mind created-as Lehman’s troubles appeared to spiral out of control, an experience he documents in his book, “Street Freak,” released this week.

“The whole purpose of an anxiety disorder is to distract your mind from thinking about a problem you should be thinking about,” Dillian said recently. “In my case, that problem was Lehman.” There have been other books written about Lehman. But this one has Wall Street buzzing: It lays out the personal experience of a trader battling bipolar disorder while the financial system breaks down around him.

From the start, Dillian was always a bit of an unlikely fit for Wall Street. Unlike the Ivy League-educated recruits that Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley tended to favor, Dillian had received his MBA at night from the University of San Francisco while serving during the day in the Coast Guard.

Lehman Brothers, though, had a reputation for taking scrappy fighters like Dillian and harnessing their raw energy. Even its thenchief executive, Richard Fuld, was nicknamed “the gorilla” for his intimidating presence. At one of his first interviews with Lehman, Dillian said: “Nobody is willing to put in the hours that I will put in. I am insane.”

Dillian learned that what Lehman liked was the aggression that came naturally to him.

When he lost one big trade, he slammed his phone handset down so hard it shattered. He quickly was offered two different promotions.

Richard Gatward, who sat 20 feet away from Dillian, said his co-worker’s brilliance, as well as his tempestuousness, was obvious.

“The trading floor is kind of a rambunctious place, but sometimes the floor would just stop when Jared was screaming his head off at someone or something,” Gatward said.

Before long, Dillian found himself at the heart of Wall Street’s steaming money machine after being elevated to Lehman’s head trader of exchange-traded funds. The investments, known as ETFs, are a sophisticated type of financial instrument that allows a whole basket of stocks to be traded simultaneously. He was put in front of three computers with five screens and given responsibility for tens of millions of dollars each day. At the end of the year, he would be handed a slip of paper with his performance bonus: One year

it was $650,000, the next, $675,000.

During those boom years in the middle of the last decade, Lehman and other investment banks were channeling billions of dollars into subprime mortgages and then turning those mortgages into sophisticated finan-

cial instruments that were sold to oftenunwitting investors.

It created billions in profits, but it also put an increasing strain on the entire financial system, as well as the traders doing the work.

Dillian would become ecstatic when he man-

Dillian’s seven years as a Wall Street trader came to an end when the 158-year-old firm was dramatically pushed into bankruptcy on Sept 15, 2008. He’ll mark the anniversary as a rare second chance in life after the high-pressure job turned him into a sort of voodoo doll on which the financial industry’s wounds were visible.

Jared Dillian left New York and Wall Street after the economic collapse in 2008, when he became depressed. He moved to the South, started his own financial services business, and is making a comeback. — MCT

aged to beat another trader and then fall into fury when trades went against him.

Gatward said Dillian was not the only one to buckle under the pressure. “You’re literally going in and getting beaten up every day,” Gatward said. For Dillian, though, it was more serious than cold sweats and anxiety-even in the seemingly best of economic times. He became paranoid that regulators were coming after him. He refused to answer the phone and would break into uncontrollable sobs at his desk. At one point, he tried to commit suicide but could only find half a bottle of Tylenol PM to swallow.

Dillian retells one story when he was at his desk in 2006, ready to trade, but after making a big purchase, his hands froze as its value began plummeting. “I just watched it go lower and lower and lower, and I couldn’t do anything-and I never did,” Dillian said.

He looked up the number of a psychiatrist, called for an emergency appointment and walked out the door with his trade still open.

The psychiatrist immediately put him in a locked ward, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

With the diagnosis in hand, he saw the signs of the disease everywhere in his past. In the Coast Guard and later at Lehman, he would work days at a time with little sleep and frequent emotional swings. It’s just that on Wall Street, his mental distress blended in.

“People were sure I was absolutely nuts in the Coast Guard, and then I get here and that kind of behavior is not only OK, it is encouraged,” Dillian said, sitting in a New York coffee shop.

He took the first steps of recovery while in the hospital for three weeks. On a whim, he attended a writing workshop with the other inpatients and found he had a natural talent.

The volunteer teacher of the workshop, novelist Siri Hustvedt, said she was struck by his writing’s mix of “edginess and confidence,” and asked him if he had ever considered becoming a writer.

When he finally returned to his job a month later, his colleagues were welcoming and warm, and he developed a sideline in penning long notes about the market’s behavior.

But he also got pulled back into Wall Street’s toxic grind just as the mortgage meltdown in early 2008 triggered the financial crisis. The pressure didn’t bring back his bipolar disorder — lithium had taken care of that. But his obsessive compulsive disorder picked up.

Each morning when he left his house he would spend an hour making sure all the windows were closed and appliances turned off, locking the deadbolt five, then six times.

These mental tics only came to an end once Lehman declared bankruptcy, and he was free of the trading floor. Last year, two years after Lehman’s collapse, he and his wife left New York for a home near the beach in South Carolina. It was only once he was gone that he saw the strain city life had put on him. Being back in New York during the recent market swings, he was reminded of the days when Lehman was teetering on the edge and he would come down from the trading floor to find the world in one piece. “I’d walk outside and the tourists were all happy, and there were cabs and street vendors, and it seemed like these people just didn’t get it, that the world is coming to an end,” he said. With his new perspective, though, he can see that he was the one who didn’t get it: “The point is that the world really doesn’t come to an end.”— MCT

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opinion

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

On a collision course with Arab opinion There will be consequences, because Palestine matters and Arab opinions matter. And in the context of the Arab Spring, they matter more than ever

By Dr James J Zogby

macy” in the process.

I

Public Opinion In the midst of the dramatic upheavals that are rocking the Arab World, however, all bets are off. Now Arab public opinion matters to their leaders, and it should matter to us, as well.

President Obama recognized this new reality, when in his remarks to AIPAC last May he cautioned that “a new generation of Arabs is reshaping the region. A just and lasting peace can no longer be forged with one or two Arab

t took mass demonstrations followed by the takeover of their embassy in Egypt for some in Israel to wake up to the fact that the Palestinian issue remains a flash point for Arab public opinion. The US Congress and policymakers in Washington, on the other hand, appear to remain oblivious to this rather obvious reality.

Reflecting this “new” awareness in Israel, an article in the Washington Post (“Israel faces a new consideration: The Egyptian public”), discusses the debate these developments have provoked within Israel. The article cites comments by Elie Podeh, described as “an expert on Egypt and its relations with Israel” at Hebrew University, calling for a “substantive peace initiative” to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians. Podeh is further quoted saying, “if we want to somehow soften the criticism in the Arab World, and specifically in Egypt, we should adopt a different policy. Sometimes we don’t understand the depth of their commitment to the Palestinian issue”.

The importance of Palestine to Arabs is not exactly news. Our public opinion polls across the Middle East have consistently demonstrated the central role this issue plays in shaping the Arab world view. And it has long been known (though not always acted upon) by US policymakers. It was, for example, acknowledged twenty years ago by then Secretary of State James Baker when he challenged a Congressional committee to understand the important role played by the Palestinian issue for Arabs. Then shortly after the end of the first Gulf War, General Norman Schwarzkopf again reminded Americans of this fact when he noted that “the most important factor to stability and peace in the Middle East is the resolution of the Palestinian question...this is the major impediment to peace”.

And more recently, General David Petraeus caused some discomfort in Congress when he further developed Schwarzkopf ‘s views, observing that the Israeli-Palestinian “conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of US favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of US partnerships with governments and peoples...and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, AlQaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support”.

So the importance of Palestine is known. But what is shocking is the degree to which politics in Washington still fails to fully grasp and/or act on this point. For decades the Congress and successive Administrations have behaved as if they could pursue a blindly one-sided pro-Israel policy and still successfully win support in the Arab World, ignoring the region’s strong sensitivity to the Palestine issue. To some degree, they got away with it. Arab public opinion became embittered turning against the US over our ignoring Palestinian rights. But the fallout was contained, for a time, by “moderate” Arab leaders, who, as General Patraeus noted, “lost legiti-

Palestinian land to personally deliver this threat to the PA. And last week Congressional leadership sent a letter to EU allies urging them to vote against the Palestinian resolution.

Looming Disaster All of this points to a looming and most unnecessary disaster. With our most recent polling across the Arab World showing US standing at an all-time low, we can ill afford to be so deliberately and aggressively flaunting Arab sensibilities, especially when we know bet-

region.

With that in mind, even at this late date, the Administration could make a sharp strategic pivot from opposition to constructive engagement with the Palestinians to help craft a resolution that would give them what they need while laying out the parameters for meaningful negotiations to occur. At the same time instead of fueling their angst, we could help talk the Israelis and their supporters down from their panic making it clear that the recognition of the Palestinian right to a state in no way preempts

In this Nov 13, 1974 file photo, late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat speaks at the United Nations. The Palestinians will be able to make a strong case when they ask the UN next week to recognize an independent Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the lands Israel occupied in 1967. - AP leaders. Going forward, millions of Arab citizens have to see that peace is possible for that peace to be sustained”.

With this as a backdrop, I worry that both Congress and the Administration are on a dangerous collision course with Arab public opinion. This week the Palestinians will bring their just demand for recognition to the United Nations for a vote. The Obama Administration has not only gone on record saying that they will veto a resolution in the Security Council and vote “no” in the General Assembly. They have also expended vast amounts of political capital pressing the Palestinians and Arab states not to intro duce the measure and urging the Europeans to join us in opposing the effort.

For their part, Congress has made it clear that should the Palestinians go forward with their plans, US assistance to the Palestinian Authority should be terminated. Not satisfied with passing resolutions to this effect, one-fifth of the Congress traveled to Israel and the Occupied

ter. Trying to pull Israel’s “chestnuts out of the fire” is one thing; but getting our fingers burned in the process, is something else. The stakes are too high for such self-inflicted wounds.

Those wise to Washington’s ways, will feign impotence, claiming that domestic politics (meaning Congress’ fear of AIPAC’s revenge), will inhibit the Administration from acting differently in order to protect our interests. They will point to the brazenness of Netanyahu’s display of dominance over Congress and the White House last May, and ask “what else can the Administration do?”

For starts, we could begin by recognizing that not only do the US and Israel face domestic political pressures, Arabs do too. After two decades of failed negotiations, during which time settlements in the West Bank doubled, Palestinians need a moral boost. And after decades of anger at the failure of the US to take seriously Arab concerns with Palestine, our actions are being closely scrutinized across the

the need to negotiate the implementation of that right.

There are no guarantees this will work, but such an approach would enhance our standing, strengthened our diplomacy, and give us a much needed boost instead of a humiliating loss we can ill afford. Alas, this change in direction is not likely to occur. And so, in all probability later this month, the US will vote “no” on a resolution to recognize a Palestinian state; Israel will seek retribution against the “uppity” Palestinians by adding new settlements and placing new pressures on the occupied lands; Congress will then call for a suspension of aid; and the Arab World will be enraged.

There will be consequences, because Palestine matters and Arab opinions matter.

And in the context of the Arab Spring, they matter more than ever.

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

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www.kuwaittimes.net

US socialite Paris Hilton poses with one of her creations during a press conference in Istanbul, yesterday . Hilton is in Istanbul for the launch of her new shoe line with partner Antebi Footwear. — AFP

Te c h n o l o g y FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Picture this now

Photo communities online share their best shots

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hether in the city, out in a field or just down a hallway, hobby photographers go the distance for that special shot. And nowadays, thanks to image hosting websites, they can display their work for the whole world to see. There’s a whole range of options, from easy-to-use online storage spaces to active communities, ensuring every hobbyist will find something to suit them. On the sites, photos are traded, viewed, remarked upon and contemplated. Some are devoted to swaps between friends, family or co-workers. Of course, this all happened before the internet, but it’s much easier now. “The internet gives us the option to trade much more intensively,” says Tobias Arns of Bitkom, an IT industry association, explaining the fascination of photos online.

At portals like Zoomr or Webshots, hobbyists can meet up, not just to exchange photos, but to really talk about photography. “Sites like this are the ideal starting point if I need technical tips or feedback for pictures,” says Arns. For example, people can discuss every aspect of posted photos: which camera was used, which lens and what level of lighting. Any of those discussions might lead to tips that could improve the shot next time.

Other portals, like Yahoo’s Flickr or Google’s Picasa, are much less active communities, and more about providing a space for easy posting and viewing of pictures. “Of course, I can just upload my wed-

ding or vacation pictures to Facebook,” says Christoph Prevezanos, who has written a book of tips about Picasa. “The advantage of Flickr and Picasa is that I can show the pictures to people who aren’t members.” People are invited to view the images with an email link, which can also be shared via social networks.

Ease of use is another advantage of the two sites.

“Picasa, especially, is very intuitively designed,” says Prevezanos. “Absolute laymen have no problems here.” Both allow people to upload pictures into a folder system, labeled with identifying keywords.

That makes an overview easier and, in case of data loss on one’s personal computer, can serve as a backup, although Prevezanos notes that has certain drawbacks: “I would never upload my 12 megabytes of original pictures onto the net. It takes much too long and it’s absolutely superfluous to have it on the internet.”

If you need more space, most photo communities sell extra storage room. “It can be worth it in cases of real intense usage,” notes Arns. “But most people should be OK with the free version.” But there’s one rule for every shutterbug: don’t publish every picture you take. That’s because there could be legal problems with certain photos.

“It’s especially difficult when it comes to pictures of people,” warns Julian Hoeppner, a German lawyer who belongs to a working group on information

law. “That’s because every person has a right to his own image, which is violated by unapproved publishing.” Of course, this isn’t usually an issue with pictures of friends and family. But still, one should ask permission. There are also more issues with pictures of buildings or works of art than would appear at first glance, notes Hoeppner. “The interior architecture of a football stadium or a train station could be copyright protected.” The same could apply, for example, to night shots of the illuminated Eiffel Tower in Paris. But Hoeppner says people also shouldn’t be too cautious: “Usually, these unintentional violations aren’t pursued.”

The best legal protection is to rule out any commercial use of the image. Many photo portals are helpful in that respect, allowing users to set various degrees of access to images. Most of the communities still remind users of legal obligations at every step, but that’s usually “what they have to do to keep the site running,” says Hoeppner. But users need to be clear of one thing before jumping into the photo portals: what goes online, stays online.

Yes, the uploaded pictures can be protected with a password, making them exclusively accessible for invited guests. But 100-per-cent protection is never possible, notes Prevezanos. “A picture that can harm me or someone else should not go online.” —dpa

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Relationship

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Reuniting with a

first love after decades

‘We end each other’s sentences’

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t was the day Phil Aker peeked over his fence in Arizona and saw five sisters moving in next door. His eyes landed on the oldest, a 12-year-old redhead named Jeanine Fetterly. “She’s cute,” he told his younger brother. “I’ll take her.” Before long, they were inseparable. They’d meet in the alley between their houses. They’d sneak out in the dead of night to go skinny dipping. Fetterly and Aker dated for three years until Fetterly ended the relationship. She thought he wasn’t romantic enough.

Weeks later, she met the guy who would become her husband. Aker moved on, too. They each had children. And grandchildren. Eventually, they both divorced. But they always thought of each other.

Fetterly often flipped through diaries from her schoolgirl days, marveling at how Aker was on almost every page. Seven years ago, Aker, who lives in Los Angeles, was coming to the San Francisco Bay area for a conference. So he tracked her down and they had dinner. Save for a brief encounter two years before, Fetterly and Aker hadn’t seen each other for 35 years. Yet the sparks flew.

And they’ve been together ever since.

“We find that all the things we loved about each other when we were young are still things we love and admire in each other now,” says Fetterly, now 71 and living in Oakland, Calif. “I think when you have an extraordinarily close relationship very young, you bond in a way you never can with someone you meet later in life.”

They say you never forget your first love. For many, the experience was so powerful, so pure, that reuniting, or attempting to reunite, feels natural. With an evershrinking dating pool (or maybe it just seems that way, particularly for older singles, looking back for love makes sense. People ask themselves, “I wonder what he is up to?” “Will she remember me?” Whether it is a mutual friend, a school reunion or fate that brings them back together, couples have inspiring stories to tell about ending up with the one who got away.

Fetterly and Aker don’t have a perfect relationship, Fetterly says. But she loves that she doesn’t have to prove anything to Aker. “He still looks at me like that 13year-old trying to get to sneak out on an adventure,” she says. Not every reunion is an instant fairy tale. The

Jacqueline Rossman Hensel, 73, (left) and Jerry Hensel, 74, are silhouetted in a portrait at their home in Fremont, California. — MCT

Jacqueline Rossman Hensel, 73, (left) and Jerry Hensel, 74, share a moment at their home. — MCT

past is a good place to look for love as long as you remember that caution, friendliness and nostalgia are your best tools when approaching an old flame, says Pepper Schwartz, a relationship expert with Perfectmatch.com. “Even if they’re single, don’t assume you know what’s going on in their life, or that their memories are the same as yours,” she says. “Maybe you forgot that there was a nasty breakup.”

Keep expectations in check. Remember that you haven’t had contact in years, if not decades, and that a person’s values and challenges can shift, she adds. Take it slow. “Obviously, if both people feel the same way and walk off into the sunset, that’s great,” Schwartz says.

“I just wouldn’t be engraving the wedding invitations too soon.”

Childhood sweethearts Patricia and Louis Jackson of Richmond, Calif., tied the knot. But it wasn’t until their third time around, in 1996. The first time was grade school. It was 1954, and they lived in the same San Francisco housing project. Patricia’s family owned a drycleaning business, and Louis was always around. They played together. They shared ice cream cones. Years later, both families would relocate to Menlo Park, California, - Patricia’s moved a few years before Louis’ but they’d since lost touch. So, when the two met again as teenagers, dated, fell in love and went to the prom, neither had any idea they were with that child from the third grade.

“It just didn’t register until years later that she was that little girl,” says Louis, now 65. Louis left for the Vietnam War in 1963, and the two went their separate ways. They married. Had children. By 1989, they were both divorced and single. Nelson Mandela was speaking in San Francisco that year, and Patricia came from her home in Sacramento for the speech. She missed her exit on BART and wound up in Union City, where she ran into Louis’ sisters. She’d thought of him often and saw the mishap as a sign. “Have your brother call me,” she said, handing them her number.

He did, and the rest is history. They’ve been together for 18 years without an argument. “It seems like I finally won,” Louis says. “I had a lot of competition in the ‘60s.

She is really pretty. But I don’t have to sit by and watch her walk away this time.” Jacqueline Rossman Hensel and Jerry Hensel of Fremont, Calif., walked away from each other in 1954 after a broken teenage engagement.

Hensel called it off before he joined the Air Force. All Rossman Hensel had to remember him by was the silver anklet he had given her. She carried it in a cellophane envelope in her wallet for 49 years, along with a photo of him in his basic training uniform. Unbeknown to her, Hensel never forgot her, either. “She was my first true love,” says Hensel, now 74.

In 2002, Hensel, who had been married for nearly 50 years and subsequently divorced, asked his high school class president, who was organizing a reunion, to track Rossman down for him. She did. Eventually, Hensel called up Rossman Hensel on Valentine’s Day, asking her to his 50th reunion. He didn’t know if she was single or married. But he took a chance. “I figured what the heck,” he says. “It was meant to be.”

It was. She picked him up at the San Jose airport, and they spent nine blissful days together. “The first day, we hit it off just like no time had passed,” Hensel says. “There was always that connection between us.”

Rossman Hensel, who had been widowed for 18 years when she got the call, says the only thing that’s different about her first love is his curly locks. They’re gone. Otherwise, he’s the same boy she fell in love with nearly 49 years ago. “We play all the time,” says Rossman Hensel, now 73. “We end each other’s sentences.” — MCT

Fo o d FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 , 2011

Paneer

A true vegetarian delight P

aneer is a type of soft, crumbly cheese native to India, although it is used in some parts of the Middle East as well. It is one of the most common cheeses used in Indian cuisine, and it has a simple, fresh, versatile flavor which makes it highly useful in an assortment of recipes. The cheese is traditionally made with cow’s milk, and it is readily available in many Indian markets. It is also very easy to make paneer at home. The cheese is considered to

be an acid set cheese, which means that the cheese is curdled and set with the assistance of an acid such as lemon or lime juice, rather than rennet and bacteria, as is the case with most cheeses. Paneer is also considered to be a fresh cheese, and it is never aged. In addition, since paneer has no rennet, it is safe for vegetarians to eat.

Since it is made with whole milk, it is also very high in protein, making it a sound addition to a vegetarian diet.

CHILLI PANEER

PANEER KOFTA

Ingredients: 350 gms Paneer 2 tsp Salt 1 Egg 1/2 cup Corn Flour 1 tsp Ginger-Garlic Paste 2 cups Coarsely Chopped Onions 2 tbsp Sliced Green Chillies 1 tbsp Soya Sauce 2 tbsp Vinegar 1/4 tsp Ajinomoto Oil for frying Little Water

Ingredients: For Koftas: 200 gms Cottage Cheese (Paneer) 2 Potato (Aloo) 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder (Lal Mirchi) 1/4 tsp Garam Masala 2 tblsp Cornflour Oil for frying

How to make chilly paneer: * Cut the paneer into cubes. * Mix together the cottage cheese, 1 tsp salt, egg, corn flour, garlic, ginger and water to just coat the paneer pieces with the mixture. * Heat oil in a pan and fry the paneer pieces coated with mixture till golden in color. * Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a wok and stir fry the onions in it over high heat for half a

minute. * Add the green chillies, salt, soya sauce, vinegar, ajinomoto and the fried paneer cubes. * Mix well, and garnish the chilli paneer with finely cut spring onions and coriander.

For Gravy 4 Onion (Pyaj) 4 Tomato (Tamatar) Coriander Leaves (Dhania Patta) 1/2 cup Curd (Dahi) 1/2 cup Cashewnut (Kaju) Powder 1/2 tsp Cumin Seed (Jeera) 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder (Lal Mirchi) 1/4 tsp Turmeric (Haldi) 1/4 tsp Garam Masala 1 Bay Leaf (Tej Patta) 2 tblsp Clarified Butter (Ghee) How to make Paneer Kofta: * Boil potatoes and peel them. * Grate paneer and potatoes.

PANEER PAKORA

PALAK PANEER

Ingredients: 250 gms Paneer 1 cup Chickpea Flour (Besan) 2 tsp Oil 1 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Red chili powder 1-2 Chopped Green Chillies (Jalapeno) 1/2 cup Water

Ingredients: 500gms Fresh Palak (Saag) 100gms Paneer 2 Onions grated Ginger, Garlic paste 5-6 tbsp oil 1 tsp pure ghee Garam masala to taste Red chili powder to taste 1 tsp cumin powder Salt To Taste

How to make Paneer Pakora: * Mix first set of ingredients well. * Beat in a blender for 4-5 minutes to incorporate air (this will make the batter fluffier). * Let batter rest 1/2 hour in a warm place * Cut the paneer into thick cubes. * Sprinkle little salt, chili powder on the cubes * Deep fry in oil that is heated to 375º. * Drain on paper towels and serve immediately. * Serve the paneer pakora with coriander or mint chutney

How to make Sag (Palak) Paneer: * Clean and wash palak (spinach) nicely. * Boil the spinach in water and cool it. * Now mash it in a mixer. * Heat oil in a kadai. Add ginger-garlic paste and stir-fry for a minute. * Now add onions and fry till golden brown. * Add all spices except red chili powder. * Now add the spinach (palak) and little water if needed and cook for 4-5 minutes. * Cut paneer into pieces (Paneer can be fried to golden brown in a separate pan or can be used as it is).

* Add salt, red chili powder, garam masala, cornflour and mix well. * Make round balls of this mixture. * Now heat oil in a pan. * Fry balls in the oil till brown in color. * Grind onion and tomatoes together. * Chop coriander leaves very finely. * Heat oil in a pan. * Add cumin seed and bay leaf. * Add onion, tomato paste and brown it, stirring continuously. * When it leaves oil add curd, cashew nut powder, salt, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala. * Stir it continuously for a minute. * Then add 2 cup of water. * Put on the lid and simmer for 5 minutes. * While serving reheat the gravy and then add koftas to it. * Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves.

* Add Paneer pieces to the gravy and cook until done. * Take out in a bowl. * Just before serving, heat pure ghee in a small pan. * Hold the pan over bowl, add chili powder and immediately pour on the indian palak paneer. * Caution: Don’t allow chili powder to burn.

Fo o d FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 , 2011

Flat bread lovers unite!

Parathas stuffed with vegetables and cheese

water and make a semi-soft dough.

For the stuffing

P

arathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread) are for when you want to spoil yourself! Crispy and flaky, they go well with most Indian dishes be it a gravied curry or a dry stir-fry. The number of steps can be deceptive and lead you to think that parathas are time-consuming to make. On the contrary, making a single paratha from start to finish, takes hardly any time! Remember, with Parathas, the flakier and more layered they are, the better.

How crisp you make them is up to your taste though.

Ingredients For the dough 1 cup plain flour (maida) 1 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) 1 tbsp ghee 3/4 tsp salt To be ground into a paste (for the stuffing) 3 green chillies 2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania) 25 mm. piece ginger (adrak) For the stuffing 3 carrots, finely chopped 1 small cauliflower, finely chopped 2 potatoes, finely chopped 3/4 cup green peas 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 4 tbsp grated processed cheese 2 green chillies, chopped 2 tbsp chopped coriander (dhania) 2 tbsp ghee salt to taste For cooking ghee Method For the dough 1. Sieve the flours with the salt.

2. Add the ghee and mix well. Add enough

www.indianfood.about.com 1. Heat the ghee and fry the cumin seeds until they begin to crackle.

2. Add the chopped vegetables, green peas, paste and 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and cook on a slow flame until the vegetables become soft.

3. Alternatively, cook in a pressure cooker without adding any water.

4. Mash the vegetables slightly, add the cheese, green chillies, coriander and salt and mix well.

Methi Aloo Paratha

How to prepare 1. Knead the dough and divide into 20 portions.

2. Roll out each portion of the dough into a small thin round with the help of flour.

3. Spread a little filling on one round, cover with the other round and press well.

4. Cook on a hot tawa (griddle) on both sides using a little ghee until pink spots come on top.

5. Repeat for the remaining rounds and stuffing.

6. Serve hot.

Paneer Tamatar Paratha Ingredients For the dough 1 tsp oil salt to taste 1 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta)

P

aneer tamatar paratha, is an interesting variation of the paneer paratha with the zest and tang of tomatoes. Minimum oil has been used to knead the dough and cook to parathas, making it weight-watchers delight.

Ingredients For The Chapatis 1 cup whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) 1/2 cup plain flour (maida) 1 tsp oil salt to taste 3 1/4 tsp oil for kneading and cooking whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) for rolling

To Be Mixed Into A Stuffing 1/2 cup grated low-fat paneer 2 tbsp mozzarella cheese 2 tbsp yellow capsicum 1 green chilli chopped 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes without the pulp salt to taste Method For the chapatis 1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and knead into a semi-soft dough using enough water. Keep aside for 10 minutes and knead using 1/4 tsp oil till smooth.

2. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll out each portion into thin rounds of 150mm (6”) diameter using a little flour for rolling.

3. Cook lightly on both sides on a tawa and keep aside.

How to prepare 1. Divide the stuffing into 6 equal portions and keep aside.

2. Place a chapati on a flat surface, spread 1 portion of the stuffing evenly over it and place another chapati on top and press well so that they stick.

3. Heat a tava and cook the paratha on both sides using 1/2 tsp of oil till it turns crisp and golden brown in colour.

4. Repeat with the remaining chapatis and stuffing to make 5 more parathas. Serve hot.

For the methi aloo stuffing 1 cup boiled and mashed potatoes 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) 2 tsp ginger-green chilli paste 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi) 1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder 2 tsp chaat masala 2 tbsp oil salt to taste 1 cup finely chopped fenugreek (methi) leaves Other ingredients oil for cooking whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) for rolling For the dough 1. Combine all the ingredients and knead into a soft, smooth dough using enough water.

2. Divide the dough into 5 equal portions.

Keep aside.

For the methi aloo stuffing

1. Heat the oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the fenugreek leaves and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Add the ginger-green chilli paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chaat masala and salt and mix well.

3. Add the potatoes and sautÈ for another 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Cool completely and divide the stuffing into 5 equal portions.

How to prepare 1. Roll out one portion of the dough into a circle of 75 mm. (3”) diameter using whole wheat flour for rolling.

2. Place one portion of the methi alu stuffing in the centre of the circle.

3. Bring together all the sides in the centre and seal tightly.

4. Roll out again into a circle of 150 mm.

(6”) in diameter, using whole wheat flour for dusting.

5. Cook on a hot tava (griddle), using a little oil, until both sides are golden brown.

6. Repeat with the remaining dough and stuffing to make 4 more parathas.

— www.food.sulekha.com

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 : When a village in Kenya is overrun with mosquitoes, THE MUBDIAYN -- specialists in unconventional thinking -- figure out a solution. First, The 99 evacuate the

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

village … and now …

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Top things to do in

Australia & New Zealand

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hen it comes to enjoying the great outdoors, Australia and New Zealand are among the world’s premier destinations. So, why not throw on a pair of your favorite hiking boots for the trek of a lifetime? Viator globetrotters tackled the Blue Mountains, climbed through the Waitomo Caves, and hovered in helicopters over the pinnacles of New Zealand. After all that, travelers enjoyed luxurious dinners on antique tram cars and sightseeing through Sydney.

25. Brisbane River Dinner Cruise, Brisbane, Australia Indulge your taste buds as you glide along the Brisbane River on this elegant cruise. Relax and allow the dazzling city lights to bring romance to your evening.

24. Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter, Sydney, Australia Soar through the skies on an exhilarating helicopter ride with magnificent views over the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Sydney’s gorgeous skyline.

23. Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise, Milford, New Zealand Cruise the full length of this spectacular ord to the Tasman Sea and explore the waterfalls, rain forest and shoreline of Milford Sound on foot or kayak with your onboard nature guide.

22. Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns, Cairns, Australia Immerse yourself in the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef as you snorkel or scuba dive amongst tropical fish and marine life. Then, sit back and enjoy a typical Aussie barbecue lunch.

21. Green Island Day Trip from Cairns, Cairns, Australia Green Island’s Marine National Park offers lush emerald rain forest, coral reefs and white sandy beaches to admire from a glass bottom boat, semi-submarine, or through snorkel and scuba excursions.

20. Phillip Island Penguin Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Get up close to koalas, see chocolates being made, taste local wines and cheeses, then watch the enchanting fairy penguins waddle up the beach at dusk to their burrows in the sand dunes.

19. Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef

Helicopter Tour and Cruise, Cairns, Australia Take the scenic railway around Horseshoe Bend, Stoney Creek and Barron Falls, ride the skyrail over lush rain forest canopy and enjoy helicopter vistas of the Great Barrier Reef before diving in!

18. Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns, Cairns, Australia Relax and admire the beautiful scenery of the rain forest as you travel over Stoney Creek Bridge into Kuranda, to explore heritage markets or have a wildlife encounter with butterflies and koalas.

17. Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise, Sydney, Australia Enjoy the 360-degree viewing deck for star gazing and luxurious dining on your evening cruise, through the magnificently lit icons of Sydney Harbour. Departs Circular Quay or King Street Wharf.

16. Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise, Sydney, Australia Stunnning views of Sydney Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise are unforgettable at any time of year. First class service, champagne, canapés and a fabulous dinner with wine completes the experience.

15. Swan Valley Wine Cruise from Perth, Perth, Australia Cruise the Swan River tasting complimentary West Australian wines, then sample more premium wines at the lovely Sandalford Estate, along with a three-course lunch at Waters Edge Winery.

14. Gordon River Cruise from Strahan, Tasmania, Australia Journey deep into a land lost in time, sampling fine Tassie wine as you glide in comfort on the Gordon River, passing through spectacular Hell’s Gate, riverside rain forests and Heritage Area.

13. Sydney Tower 360 Bar and Dining, Sydney, Australia Dine in style on Modern Australian cuisine with a refined French influence for a unique evening in extravagantly stylish decor with a revolving floor for breathtaking panoramic views of Sydney.

12. Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour, Sydney, Australia Jump aboard this open top bus, enjoying the blue skies, sunshine, and great views of Sydney’s beautiful harbour, iconic buildings, ocean and impressive skyscrapers.

11. Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Encounter koalas in their natural habitat, see wallabies, kangaroos, and fur seals on the rugged coastline and finally the Penguin Parade across the sand at dusk.

10. Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Day Trip from Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Take a magical boat ride through Waitomo Caves and glowworm grotto. Also visit a sheep farm, thermal reserve, and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

9. Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Step through the wine cellar doors of three of Yarra Valley’s famous wineries. And at Domaine Chandon, take a private tour then enjoy sparkling wine and a tasting platter.

8. Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Day Tour from Sydney, Sydney, Australia Enjoy scenic views of the Blue Mountains, visit the Three Sisters at Echo Point, discover Aboriginal Dreamtime legends, stroll on the boardwalk through rain forest and see the unique bush wildlife.

7. Heli Hiking Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand Learn about glaciers and revel in panoramic views as you hover over the Franz Josef Glacier. Land high up between the icefalls to explore ice caves and pinnacles on a two-hour guided tour.

6. Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia Experience spectacular views along the Great Ocean Road and the iconic rock formations of Shipwreck Coast including the Twelve Apostles. See koalas in their natural habitat at Kennett River, and stroll along Maits Rest panoramic rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges. 5. Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise, Melbourne, Australia Watch the city light up on your romantic gourmet dinner cruise along the Yarra River and enjoy a luxurious movable feast.4. Sydney Sightseeing Pass: See Sydney and Attractions, Sydney, Australia (www.travelblog.viator.com)

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Goa: The coolest place

in India Down the corridors of time Goa has been different things to different people. To the Portuguese conquerors it was ‘Golden Goa’, the El Dorado, the ‘Rome of the East’. Such was its beauty and grandeur, that a traveler was moved to remark: ‘Whoever has seen Goa, need not visit Lisboa’-Lisbon, which was then the grand epicenter of the Portuguese dominions.

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ow our road takes us to the magnificent kingdom of Goa...The people of this kingdom are strong, prudent and very hardworking... The kingdom of Goa is the most important in India...It is civilized, having famous orchards and water. It is the coolest place in India and it is the most plentiful in foodstuffs. ‘The white people make a practice of going to the kingdom of Goa to enjoy the shade and the groves of trees and to savor the sweet betel.’

These revealing remarks on Goa come not from the hippies or ‘flower power’ generation of the sixties and early seventies who thronged the beaches of Anjuna, Vagator and Arambol in search of salvation and ‘peace’. These remarks were made over five centuries ago by the Portuguese Ambassador to China who visited Goa around the year 1511. They serve as a vivid precursor to the generations that followed in our times to the fabled land of Goa. In those tumultuous and rebellious times in the sixties, it was then not the ‘sweet betel’ that was the prime attraction but a different kind of ‘weed’. But Goa, since those days of the angry generation, has moved on to attract a multitudinous, peaceful and cosmopolitan school of visitors from all around the globe.

Down the corridors of time Goa has been different things to different people. To the Portuguese conquerors it was ‘Golden Goa’, the El Dorado, the ‘Rome of the East’. Such was its

beauty and grandeur, that a traveller was moved to remark: ‘Whoever has seen Goa, need not visit Lisboa’-Lisbon, which was then the grand epicenter of the Portuguese dominions.

Some decades later, the early 17th century French traveller Francois Pyrard wrote: ‘Whoever has been in Goa may say that he has seen the choicest rarities of India, for it is the most famous and celebrated city, on account of its commercial intercourse with people of all nationalities of the East who bring there the products of their respective countries, articles of merchandize, necessaries of life and other commodities in great abundance because every year more than a thousand ships touch there laden with cargo.’

Pyrard continued with near prophetic veracity: ‘...as for the multitude of people, it is a marvel to see the number which come and go every day by sea and land on business of every kind...One would say that a fair was being held every day for the sale of all sorts of merchandise.’

While the contemporary traveller may not come to modern, thriving Goa ‘for the sale of all sorts of merchandise’, the ‘fair’ is still very much on. The traveler is here to find something different: a balm on the busy mind, to enjoy days of freedom on Goa’s magnificent beaches, to parasail or swim with the tide of fellow visitors from all around the globe, to savor its unique cuisine and imbibe its spirits, to take a long and invigorating trek in its unexplored interiors, to marvel at its majestic temples and churches, in short, to be

at one with the most friendly people in the country.

In the sixties and seventies, it was, as we have remarked, a haven for the hippies. Since then Goa has moved on to fullfledged Statehood, its own Council of Ministers, a magnificent new Assembly complex, its citizens among the most literate in the country with a per capita income the highest in the land.. At the hub of this prosperity, is the Tourism industry. At the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), we take a humble bow in acknowledgement, in some small measure, of putting Goa on the tourist map of our country.

But we also acknowledge that Goa does not require a massive sales drive.

Goa is a multifaceted jewel in the crown of India. It is a frame of mind and body, spirit and soul.

Goa is an unfading memory. It is joy and nirvana. Goa is India’s smallest State—-with the largest heart. (www.goa-tourism.com)

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Books

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

A beginner’s I n the last year, e-books have started taking off in a big way. E-books have been around for a long time, of course, but a few events in the last year suggest that they’re really starting to get traction as a viable alternative to paper-based reading. One is the success of e-books like Leo Babauta’s Zen to Done. Another is the emergence of e-book-only publishing concerns and widespread self-publishing made possible by the availability of cheap tools and widespread Internet access. The third is the release of viable e-book readers, especially the Kindle.

Another sign of the success of e-books, though, is not such a happy one: the huge glut of poorly written, scammy, second- and third-rate e-books that has suddenly started flooding the market. As with music and video, the Internet has made publishing and distributing books easy and next to free, and it can be hard to find anything worth reading.

Still, there’s some gems out there if you know where to look. For those of you who are just discovering e-books, or are ready to take another look, I offer this basic guide to finding and reading e-books, with a few tips and tricks thrown in.

E-book formats There are dozens of different formats out there, all intended for different devices and platforms. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular ones: PDF: Adobe’s Portable Document Format is the leading format for e-books, since it can perfectly simulate the appearance of the printed page.

LIT: Microsoft’s LIT format is used by Microsoft Reader, available for Windowsbased PCs and mobile devices. LIT files look nice, but are often copy-protected and have limited functionality.

MOBI: A portable document format created by Mobipocket (which runs on Windows PCs and just about every kind of smartphone or PDA), MOBI picked up steam recently when it was adopted, albeit in a slightly modified form, by the Kindle.

Plain Text (txt) and HTML: Standard file types that can be used by just about every device known. TXT files lack any formatting.

How to find e-books There are thousands, maybe millions, of sites offering e-books on the Internet, but here are a few good ones: Amazon: Of course Amazon has e-books, with just about any recent mainstream book for sale. Your favorite online retailer probably carries e-books, too.

Project Gutenberg: Millions of free, public domain books, generally available in text and HTML formats. Includes just about any classic book you can think of from before 1923, and a few more recent books.

Wowio: Beautifully formatted books, including some fairly recent mainstream books, all free.

The Internet Archive: The Internet Archive is scanning books in libraries around the world and making them available for free in a range of formats, including searchable PDFs of the original page images. They have about half-a-million texts so far, and counting.

Baen Free Library: A pioneer in the e-book field, Baen makes selected titles from it’s line of science fiction and fantasy books available for free download. Lots of good stuff for SF fans!

Free-eBooks.net: A huge directory of free e-books, most of which are self-published. You’ll have to do some digging to find quality stuff here, but there are plenty of good books to be found with some patience.

Web Warrior Tools: Founded by two of the stars of the personal productivity blogosphere, Leo Babauta of Zen Habits and Glen Stansberry of LifeDev, Web Warrior Tools offers a collection of books devoted to topics like better email, podcasting, and other Lifehack-y subjects.

guide to e-books Memoware: Memoware includes tens of thousands of public domain books, formatted for a wide range of portable devices. They also have a premium bookstore where more current, mainstream books can be bought.

Fictionwise: A huge e-book bookstore, specializing in SF, with titles formatted for a range of devices. Check out their always-changing selection of free e-books drawn from their collection.

How to read e-books Nobody has figured out a way to read that adequately replaces the way we read traditional paper books, but that isn’t always important - and some solutions come pretty close! There are a number of ways to read e-books: On your computer screen: This is probably the least preferred way to read ebooks. But it’s fine for short pieces - you read on the Internet at your computer, right? It’s also fine for quickly looking at reference material like an encyclopedia or computer manual.

PDA/smartphone/iPhone: I’ve read dozens of books on my old Palm IIIe, when I lived in New York and took the subway a lot. iPhones are supposed to be particularly nice to read on. Most PDAs and smartphones come with some kind of pre-installed e-book reader, or you can easily download Mobipocket, Microsoft Reader, or a range of other programs depending on your device’s operating system.

Dedicated devices: New devices with “electronic ink” technology come very close to reproducing the appearance of printed text on paper pages (although the background is closer to “pulp fiction gray” than “first edition white”). There are several devices on the market, but the leaders are: The Kindle: With built-in wireless Internet to download books on the fly and the support of Amazon’s extensive inventory of e-books, the Kindle was a surprise hit - especially considering how ugly it is!

The Sony eReader: Better looking than the Kindle, but lacking the wireless Internet. Both devices use basically the same screen and cost about the same.

Because the e-ink technology used in the screen only uses electricity to change the screen (e.g. to turn pages), battery life on both devices is quite high - unless you use the built-in mp3 player or the Kindle’s wireless Internet services.

Paper: I often print out longer works that I don’t want to read on a screen, especially if it’s likely I’ll be holding onto and re-reading it. Save paper by using your printer’s “multiple pages per sheet” function and printing on both sides; I also keep a ream of paper with pre-drilled holes handy so I can stick printed out books straight into a binder.

E-books can be quite practical - there’s a universe of great literature, history, science, how-to, and reference material available at a moment’s notice, often for free. What could be wrong with that?

— www.lifehack.org

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Books

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

The Help

By Kathryn Stockett

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e prepared to meet three unforgettable women: Twenty-twoyear-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone. Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken. Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come

Smokin’ Seventeen together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why?

Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

By Stieg Larsson

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n international publishing sensation, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel.

Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

By Janet Evanovich

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ead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list. Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-onagain boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie. With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men,

and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

Water for Elephants

By Sara Gruen

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onagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus.

It’s the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. There he meets the freaks, grifters, and misfits that populate this world. He introduces us to Marlena, beautiful star of the equestrian act; to August, her charismatic but twisted husband (and the circus’s animal trainer); and to Rosie, the seemingly untrainable elephant Jacob cares for. Beautifully written, with a luminous sense of time and place, Water for Elephants tells of love in a world in which love’s a luxury few can afford.

. .

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Years

Beauty FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

How safe is that Botox jab?

Can injecting this lethal toxin into our wrinkles really be harmless?

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ings to communicate with muscles, telling them to move. When purified and injected in tiny quantities it can control muscle spasms, prevent excessive blinking or loosen facial muscles.

What is it?

Botox is the trade name of a purified form of botulinum toxin. It’s one of the most lethal substances known to man - 100,000 times more toxic than sarin.

Terrorist organisations such as al-Qaeda have looked into using it. It blocks a chemical that allows nerve end-

How does it iron out wrinkles?

Botox works on wrinkles that develop where muscles contract frequently. It doesn’t correct lines caused by the sun or sagging skin caused by age. Temporarily paralysing facial muscles and preventing expressive contractions makes the area look less wrinkled. The areas where Botox works best are in the upper third of the face - frown lines, forehead creases and crow’s feet.

The effects last between three and six months, depending on the individual.

Botox was first used by doctors in the 1970s to treat children’s squints, and the British dermatologist Dr Nick

ince it was first licensed in 1994, Botox use has grown exponentially. The latest annual figures suggest that there were 472,000 injectable treatments carried out in the UK, a rise of 105 per cent in one year. Users are less than discerning about who administers the procedure visting cosmetic doctors, dentists, beauticians, some bloke their mate knows there are even do-it-yourself Botox kits available on the internet. Now that it is so widely available, it must be safe and easy to use, right?

Lowe did rigorous studies on its possible applications for frown lines in the late 1980s.

How safe is it?

Regulators have concerns about using Botox for cosmetic purposes.

Until the toxin was licensed for cosmetic use in the UK, four years ago, doctors who gave injections for anything other than a medical condition were responsible for any adverse effects.

In 2008, the regulating body for medicines in the United States conducted a review on the safety of botulinum toxin products, after campaigners claimed that 16 deaths were connected with their use. It was concluded that tighter prescribing rules were needed. The manufacturer accepts that effects could spread beyond the injection site, causing botulism.

Is it really true that it can leak to your brain?

One of the main sources of concern in the United States is recent research that casts doubt on initial confidence that Botox cannot reach the brain. In 2008, Italian researchers reported that botulinum toxin injected into the faces of mice had travelled to the brain stems three days later. The potential consequences for nerve signalling and breathing are enormous.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has pointed out that if something happens in mice it does not follow that it will be repeated, or be harmful, in humans. The manufacturer of Botox, Allergan, says that other published studies contradict the findings of the Italian researchers.

Why do some users have wonky faces?

Allergic reactions to Botox are rare. Any unpleasant side-effects that arise - facial paralysis, lop-sided lips, droopy eyelids, swelling, rashes and sores - are likely to be the result of the toxin having been injected incorrectly. About 40 per cent of those receiving Botox do not have it administered correctly, often thanks to under-qualified practitioners. Nick Lowe, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, says: “If it’s done badly, you can get problems such as asymmetry of the face that can last some time.”

Many dermatologists say the advantage of Botox over some permanent cosmetic fillers is its temporary effect. Injected muscles can become weak, which can result in droopy eyelids or drooling from the corner of the mouth. Such effects correct themselves as the Botox wears off.

Are there long-term side-effects?

There are worries that the effects of Botox may be longer-term than people think. In 2006, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons was presented with evidence that indicated that Botox therapy may be addictive - it was found that 40 per cent of users expressed a compulsive desire for more treatments. Dr David S. Becker, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, has presented evidence to suggest that prolonged Botox use encourages the formation of new wrinkles alongside the injection site, as nearby muscles overcompensate for the lack of movement in their neighbours.

The pain factor Botox is injected into the muscles and treatment takes 10 to 15 minutes. There is no anaesthetic.

Because the needle is very fine, most people report only minor pain. There may be bruising. A treatment for one area of your face can cost anything between £125 and £700 - depending on the qualifications, and reputation, of the person you are consulting. (www.timesonline.co.uk)

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Years

Beauty FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

20 Great uses for tea tree oil

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n 2006, the world consumed more than 3.5 billion gallons of oil per day. A lot of that oil has caused environmental damage and conflicts between nations.

But there is one type of oil that’s green, sustainable, healthy, and-as far as I know-has never been the rationale behind a major military intervention: tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil, explains the UWA Tea Tree Oil Research Group, is the essential oil steam distilled from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia (unique to Australia and native to Northern New South Wales). Tea tree oil is usually clear to very pale golden in color and it exudes a fresh, camphor-like scent.

Kathi Keville of HowStuffWorks.com says this oil is often called a “medicine cabinet in a bottle” and is “effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses and stimulates the immune system.” Here are 20 ways to use this magical formula for health and for the home.

But first, two important notes, courtesy of Sheila Shaigany: ● Make sure it comes in a dark glass bottle with a dropper. This will prevent light from shining in and reducing the oil’s potency. ● Do NOT ingest it orally.

20 Great Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil For Health 1. Use a dab to treat acne.

2. An anti-fungal for treating Athlete’s Foot, eczema, various yeast infections, etc.

3. An antiseptic to be used on cuts and burns.

4. An anti-viral: it may lessen the symptoms of colds and flu. Try using a few drops in the bath.

5. Add to a vaporizer to loosen chest congestion.

6. Add a small amount to shampoo to destroy head lice.

7. A small amount added to your bath can help with persistent body odor.

8. Treating sinus infection.

9. For dandruff and dry scalp.

10. In the form of aromatherapy, tea tree oil is used to treat colds, persistent coughs, acne, toothaches, and sunburn.

For Cleaning 11. To create an all-purpose cleaner, combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.

12. Another version would be 14 ounces of water with 1 ounce of Murphy’s oil soap and 10 drops of tea tree oil.

13. Mix the above solution with kosher salt to scrub bathtub and bathroom tiles.

14. Add a few drops to dishwasher dispenser, then fill with a green dishwashing soap.

15. A few drops added to each load of laundry leave your clothes smelling cleaner.

16. Control mold with a tea tree oil/water spray.

17. Remove mustiness with that same tea tree oil/water spray.

18. To keep germs at bay, spray it on high chairs, car seats, and other high traffic spots.

19. 15 drops in a quart of water can be an effective insect repellent.

20. Be sure to take some with you when hiking and camping to put directly on insect bites or blisters. ● Editor’s Note: This article does not replace medical advise. (www.care2.com)

Tips for eating to look younger Avocado and Other Good Fats

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vocado has a lot of things going for it not the least of which is its fat content. You’ll notice that as you age those with little flesh on the body, especially in the face, begin to age faster. A little flesh keeps us looking younger. Bathe yourself in good fats like olive oil and avocado. If you’re concerned with cutting the fat, focus on the bad fats like lard and excessive amounts of butter.

Water-Based Fruits and Vegetables Hydration is a big part of looking young because it helps that skin retain moisture. When the skin is dehydrated it lays flatter on the body and wrinkles begin to show. This means not only drinking loads of water, but also making sure that you’re loading up on water heavy fruits and vegetables. Some really good choices include watermelon, cucumber, and citrus fruits.

Guava Guava is great for your skin because it’s loaded with vitamin C. According to the Dr. Oz Show, it has 4 times as much as citrus fruits. Vitamin C serves as the body’s natural Botox, keeping your skin cells full and wrinkle-free.

Oysters Depending on type and variety oyster, they provide 16 to 182 mg of zinc per 100g serving, according to Healthalicious.

This accounts for 110 to 1200 percent of the RDA for zinc. Zinc serves to repair damage done to skin cells.

So if you spent too much time out in the sun as a child and caused prob-

lems for your skin, zinc can prepare it.

Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes have betacarotene, which is known to balance your skin’s pH, helps combat dryness, and promotes cell turnover, all resulting in smoother skin. Combining good fats like coconut or olive oil with beta-caratene makes it even more effective. (www.care2.com)

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health FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Multivitamins: To take or not to take Multivitamins are used to provide vitamins that are not taken in through the diet

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in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any multivitamin product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.

Take your multivitamin with a full glass of water. The chewable tablet must be chewed or allowed to dissolve in your mouth before swallowing. Measure the liquid form of multivitamins using a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Liquid multivitamins may sometimes be mixed with water, fruit juice, or infant formula (but not milk or other dairy products). Follow the directions on the medicine label.

It is important to take multivitamins regularly to get the most benefit.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the liquid medicine from freezing.

Store multivitamins in their original container. Storing multivitamins in a glass container can ruin the medication.

ultivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in foods and other natural sources. Multivitamins are used to provide vitamins that are not taken in through the diet.

Multivitamins are also used to treat vitamin deficiencies (lack of vitamins) caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, and many other conditions. Multivitamins may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about multivitamins?

Never take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any multivitamin product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals contained in a multivitamin may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much.

Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.

Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking multivitamins?

Many vitamins can cause serious or lifethreatening side effects if taken in large doses.

Do not take more of this medication than directed on the label or prescribed by your doctor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals contained in a multivitamin may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much.

Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.

If you have any medical conditions, ask your doctor before taking a multivitamin. If you have certain conditions, you may need a certain vitamin formulation or special tests while

taking a multivitamin.

Do not take multivitamins without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins and minerals can harm an unborn baby if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women.

Multivitamins can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take multivitamins?

Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.

Never take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken

What should I avoid while taking multivitamins?

Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Avoid the regular use of salt substitutes in your diet if your multivitamin contains potassium. If you are on a low-salt diet, ask your doctor before taking a vitamin or mineral supplement.

Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin. Multivitamins side effects Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

When taken as directed, multivitamins are not expected to cause serious side effects. Less serious side effects may include: ( www.drugs.com )

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health FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Surprising heart attack triggers Here are some ways to protect yourself from heart attack triggers

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eart attacks often come without warning, and although it’s well documented that they’re caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on arterial walls), there are certain triggers that can set off a heart attack in people who are at risk.

Researchers published a study in The Lancet ranking various heart attack triggers according to their prevalence in people who are already at risk for cardiac problems . Here’s a list of some of their more surprising findings, and some ways to protect yourself from heart attack triggers: #1: Traffic Exposure Commuters beware: Traffic exposure triggers about 8 percent of heart attacks among those who are vulnerable, according to the study, and it can affect you if you’re a driver, a passenger, or even a bicyclist riding along the road. Previous research on the link betw een traffic and heart attacks has been inconclusive as to whether it’s traffic-related pollution, the stress of being in traffic, or some combination of the two that causes heart attacks. But the clear message is that getting stuck in rush-hour jams isn’t good for anybody. Save your ticker and ask your boss if you can work from home one day a week. Telecommuters are healthier, past studies have shown, and they even work longer hours while still maintaining a better

work-life balance than their colleagues in cubicles. #2: Physical Exertion Second on the list of heart attack triggers was physical exertion, accounting for just over 6 percent of cases. But they weren’t talking about the good kind of exertion that comes from exercise. The study authors noted that people who are sedentary most of the time, and th en suddenly engage in heavy-duty physical activity, are most at risk.

The best protection against this is at least 150 minutes per week of regular exercise.

But if you’re already sedentary and need to, say, shovel out four feet of snow from a recent storm, be sure to warm up first, and delay the strenuous activity till later in the morning. Strenuous exercise first thing in the morning is a shock to your s ystem and can up the risk of a heart attack. #3: Alcohol and Coffee These drinks, whether to get you going or calm you down, each contribute 5 percent to total risk of triggering a heart attack.

Heavy alcohol intake is the primary villain, although doctors aren’t sure how it triggers heart attacks. A few theories are that too much alcohol can increase inflammation and interfere with your body’s ability to dissolve blood clots. But keep in mind that one

glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage per day can help prevent heart disease because of the beneficial polyphenols in wine and beer. Coffee, on the other hand, seems to work in exactly the opposite way.

Most studies linking coffee to heart disease have found that people who drink it less frequently are more prone to heart attacks than people who drink a lot of coffee. So if you drink less than one cup of coffee per day, consider switching to tea to get your caffeine boost. #4: Air Pollution Smog, vehicle exhaust, and all those tiny particulates emitted by burning woodstoves all combine to form a potent, but silent, killer. Air pollution triggers 4.75 percent of heart attacks among those vulnerable, and even though it’s one of the lowest percentages, the authors considered it most concerning because no one can avoid air pollution. For that reason, experts in a new field of medicine called environmental cardiology agree that preventing heart attacks in other ways is more effective than trying to cope on the individual level with air pollution.

Minimize stress, treat migraines if you have them, don’t eat red meat and salt, and do eat a Mediterranean diet. You’ll protect yourself against air pollution and all the other heart attack triggers included in the study.

#5: Feeling Happy and Feeling Mad Strong emotions seem to trigger a heart attack even if they’re good ones. Anger and negative emotions contribute more to your risk-almost 7 percent-than positive emotions, which contribute just 2.5 percent.

“Both intense positive and intense negative emotions can cause stress to the body,” says Jeffrey Rossman, PhD, director of Life Management at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts, and a Rodale.com advisor.

All strong emotions increase adrenaline output, heart rate, and the stickiness of red blood cells, which combined can trigger heart attack. But there’s a reason you should still try to embrace more positive emotions to ward off heart attacks.

“Positive emotions generally result in more balanced heart rhythms than negative emotions, and disrupted heart rhythms are a contributing factor in some heart attacks,” Rossman says.

Furthermore, he adds, “Because we tend to resist negative emotions, they produce more muscle tension than positive emotions, including tension in the muscles in the periphery of blood vessels. This blood vessel constriction also makes negative emotions more likely than positive emotions to contribute to heart attacks.” (www.care2.com)

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Arts FRIDAY, septembeR 23, 2011

Ford Madox Brown: Pre-Raphaelite pioneer and working-class hero

Work, 1852-63, oil on canvas, by Ford Madox Brown. —Guardian

H

ear the words “Ford Madox Brown” and “Manchester” in the same sentence, and you think automatically of the Town Hall murals, that 12-part picture book of the city’s history which Brown was commissioned to paint on the interior walls of Alfred Waterhouse’s neo-gothic civic palace in 1878. Here, in bold outlines and strong colors, looped around the magnificent Great Hall, you can trace the moment the Dan es were expelled from the city in 920, or the day in 1761 the Duke of Bridgewater opened his eponymous canal, allowing coal from his mines to be delivered straight to the heart of “Cottonopolis”.

Look closely at the murals, though, and you’ll see they have none of the grand swagger usually associated with Victorian public art. The Danes are keystone cops, tripping over each other as they quit the city, whil e the duke - a confirmed teetotaller - looks suspiciously excited and flushed.

Surprisingly perhaps, these sly subversions are not the work of a young man. Brown was 72 when the paintings were finally finished in 1893 and they represent the summation of a five-decade career. Moreover, as this Autumn’s Ford Madox Brown: PreRaphaelite Pioneer at Manchester Art Gallery reveals, such inspired mischievousnes s had been wound into Brown’s work

from the beginning. Starting with his first apprentice pieces in the late 1830s, he had been testing and tweaking the rules of established art practice in a way that frequently piqued his critics and still gives his admirers much to ponder today.

Brown’s work has none of the hyper-loveliness of the pre-Raphaelites with whom his name is so often bracketed, even though he was never a formal member of the Brotherhood, that group of seven excitable young men who made a pact in 1848 to revolutionize English art by returning it to the purity of the 14th century. While Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and William Holman Hunt rendered their historical, literary and mythological subjects with a metaphorical high varnish, Brown welcomed in the mess of every day. In his paintings hard noon light casts unflattering shadows on his sitters, who grimace and squint in protest. Colors clash, as they are apt to do in real life, while the children Brown loved to paint have the look of pudgy potatoes. Even his women are less than perfect. While technically Emma Hill, Brown’s second wife and favorite model, was a working-class “stunner” chased from his studio into h is bed, she departs from the bruised sensuality of Lizzie Siddal or Jane Morris in important ways.

Instead of the rivers of hair and beestung

lips there is a neat coif and an oddly shortened upper lip, which makes Mrs Brown look less like a medieval temptress and more like an amiable rodent.

All this strangeness comes together in Brown’s painting of 1851-9, Pretty BaaLambs. Ostensibly a picture of a wom an in 18th-century dress holding a baby and petting some sheep, it is impossible to know quite what to make of it. The antique costume might suggest rococo pastoralism, something after Gainsborough perhaps. But Brown has added a sharp dose of the here and now. The painting was made entirely en plein air, all the better to capture the effects of a fierce midsummer sun. The woman’s face is bright red, an English rose flaring unflatteringly in the heat, while the baby’s sheeny arms look like over-stuffed sausages.

Contemporaries were scarcely impressed “a facetious experiment upon public intelligence” suggested one - and even now it is hard to decide whether it is, or is not, absolutely horrid.

The main reason that Brown never joined the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was that he was already embarked on a si milar project.

He was born in 1821, which made him a good seven years older than Rossetti, Hunt and Millais (Rossetti, indeed, had first made contact by asking whether Brown might

take him on as a pupil). Brown’s training had been different too. While the others had mostly come through the Royal Academy Schools, Calais-born Brown had attended the academies of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, where he had absorbed the realism and fine detail of the early Flemish and Dutch painters. His admiration for the sincerity and truthfulness of art made before the high Renaissance was further boosted by a trip to Italy in 1845, where he was able to see the great altarpieces and fresco cycles of Giotto and Fra Angelico at first hand.

The subjects that Brown chose to paint were particular to him too. While the other pre-Raph aelites often lost themselves in a dreamscape of the distant or mythologized past, Brown’s work was just as likely to crackle with the dilemmas of the present. In 1852 he started on his masterpiece, Work, a sprawling multi-figured composition which went someway to meeting Baudelaire’s urgent demand that artists should take as their subject “the heroism of modern life”.

The scene is Heath Street in Hampstea d, where navvies are digging up the road.

Around and beyond them cluster sightseers and passers-by drawn from every level of society: a do-gooding lady with pamphlets, a man selling chickweed, some itinerant farm laborers, a scraggy little girl in charge

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Arts FRIDAY, septembeR 23, 2011

of her younger siblings and, standing to the side, two middle-class men whom a contemporary viewer would easily spot as Thomas Carlyle and the Christian Socialist reformer, the Rev FD Maurice. The detail is inexhaustible and the purpose multiple. On one level the painting serves as a reminder that this newly urbanized society depends on a

Although he shares some stylistic traits with the preRaphaelite Brotherhood, the artist preferred the mess of everyday life to the lofty mythological subjects of Rossetti and Burne-Jones variety of labor that would have been unthinkable even 50 years earlier. But in its careful delineation of individual characters, the painting also suggests that every man and woman, of whatever social class, needs work as a kind of soul medicine. Or, to quote Carlyle, one of the “brainworkers” in the picture, “In Idleness alone is there perpetual despair.”

It wasn’t just the subject of Work that was new. The painting dispenses with visual hierarchies, so that on firs t viewing it is not clear which are the most important figures.

Incidents spread over the picture without ever quite coming into focus, which makes the eye skitter frantically over the picture plane. Each subsequent viewing reveals new clusters of characters, all absorbed in their own mini-dramas. Brown, wedded to the pleasures of narrative, wrote detailed back stories for each of his people: the pot boy, he

Ford Madox Brown: The Last of England.

Brown Ford Madox The Pretty Baa La. e xplained, may well be wishing that leafleting do-gooder would listen to his opinion for a change, while the girl turned thuggish child-minder is coping with an alcoholic father who will soon be up before the bench. In contrast to one of those big crowd scenes painted by William Powell Frith, the figures here push beyond their symbolic envelopes to become fully imagined men and women.

The painting was rema rkable too in the degree to which it was painted out of doors: Brown rigged up a trolley and wheeled the canvas every day into position. In this commitment to catching the exact play of summer light on a leafy street he anticipated the Impressionists by several decades.

Meanwhile, the figures, modeled by friends, acquaintances and

amenable members of the working class, were done in the studio where Bro wn agonized for weeks over such details as the potboy’s fancy waistcoat. Even his preRaphaelite associates, known for taking pains, worried that Brown’s “excessive elaboration” meant that Work would never be done.

Painting en plein air, though, was not always possible. Brown’s other great masterpiece, The Last of England, was conjured from his imagination or, as he put it, painted “as it would appe ar”. The work concerns a young, shabby, middle-class couple setting out for a new life in Australia. The name of the boat - Eldorado - suggests that they are part of the southern hemisphere’s shortlived gold rush of the 1850s. Their faces are blank and baffled by the scale of the step they are taking while their bodies radiate the pinched exhaustion of people who have no choice. The woman is based on Emm a.

The man is Brown himself, known in his youth as handsome, but here modeling the kind of sullen impotence you might see on a clever young man who has come down in the world. As ever, Brown lightens the whole effect with sly touches of humor: where you might expect to see lifebelts he has hung a row of scurvy-beating cabbages.

Underpinning these two great paintings lay Brown’s abiding interest in the under dog. Unlike his friend William Morris, he was never a systematic socialist, opting instead to make a series of pragmatic and personal interventions in the lives of the poor. He taught art at the Working’s Mens’ College and, later, set up the Labor Bureau in Manchester. In the same way, his art is one of engaged observation rather than noisy propaganda. Perhaps this was because, unlike the independently we althy Morris, Brown understood poverty to be a complex, nuanced business. While never actually starving, he spent at least two decades of his working life harried by a lack of cash. The Last of England sold for less than it should, and Brown’s hyper-sensitivity also meant that he tended to crash up against the institutions and people who would have done him most good. On one occasion, when John Ruskin, th at great champion of the pre-

Raphaelites, asked him why his recent An English Autumn Afternoon featured such an “ugly” view of Hampstead’s rooftops, Brown flashed back sulkily “because it lay out of a back window”.

A difficult family life - his first wife died young, his second wife was an alcoholic, and he also lost his two beloved sons - hardly helped Brown to live in the strong sunshine that he so often chose to paint. That did not mean, though, that he plunged into sourness. Some of his most successful drawings and paintings are of children, whom he managed to capture without resorting to Millais’s later kitsch (it is impossible to think of Brown making a painting like Bubbles). In his sketches of his own babies he shows them not as cherubs, but as snuffling young animals. Later, while living in Manch ester and working on the Town Hall murals, he painted Madeline Scott, daughter of CP Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian, sitting proudly astride her tricycle - the first time that such a contraption had ever been wheeled into a portrait painting.

As this suggests, Brown found Britain’s premier industrial city to be a conducive place to spend the last decade or his working life. Although he had no pr ior relationship with Manchester, its brisk, nonconformist atmosphere suited him particularly well. While reviewing the city’s history to find subjects for his murals, he found an abundance of moments that chimed with his own subtle understanding of the human condition. The Trial of Wycliffe, AD 1377, for instance, suggests a profound sympathy with proto-Protestant Wycliffe’s project of democratizing an cient mysteries.

Meanwhile in John Kay, Inventor of the Fly Shuttle, AD 1753, Brown shows us Kay fleeing from furious machine breakers, a wry reminder that what one man deems to be “progress” can also mean a downward tumble for countless others. —Guardian

Comics

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

To Yester

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS

1. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand.

4. An unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument.

10. An orange-brown antelope of southeast Africa.

13. A graphical record of electric currents associated with muscle contractions.

14. Someone who is so ardently devoted to something that it resembles an addiction.

15. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limitedyearly sum toward your retirement.

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

17. A full supply.

18. An audiotape recording of sound.

19. An Indian tree of the family Combretaceae that is a source of timber and gum.

21. A master's degree in business.

23. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

27. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

31. A poem consisting of3 stanzas and an envoy.

35. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

36. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

37. Monotypic genus of palms of Australasia.

41. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

42. Not only so, but.

44. Relatively deep or strong.

45. A light touch or stroke.

48. (electronics) Of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input.

52. Deciduous round-headed Asiatic tree widely grown in mild climates as an ornamental for its heart-shaped leaves and fragrant yellow-green flowers followed by hanging clusters of fleshy orange-red berries.

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

59. An associate degree in applied science.

60. The use of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images.

61. Capital of Armenia.

63. An acute inflammatory disease occurring in the intestines of premature infants.

64. Surface layer of ground containing a matt of grass and grass roots.

65. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

66. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

DOWN 1. English economist noted for his studies of international trade and finance (born in 1907).

2. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

3. A city in northern India.

4. Thin fibrous bark of the paper mulberry and Pipturus albidus.

5. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood.

6. Swelling from excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissue.

7. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the fantastic adventures he had in his voyages.

8. Of or relating to a seizure or convulsion.

9. An infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid.

10. Scottish sea captain who was hired to protect British shipping in the Indian Ocean and then was accused of piracy and hanged (1645-1701).

11. Toward the mouth or oral region.

12. A Chadic language spoken southof Lake Chad.

20. Large lipoproteins rich in triglycerides.

22. A set of questions or exercises evaluating skill or knowledge.

24. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

25. A Russian river.

26. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

28. (computer science) A data transmission rate (bits/second) for modems.

29. God of love and erotic desire.

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

32. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

33. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

34. (prefix) Within.

38. Wood of a yew.

39. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

40. The great hall in ancient Persian palaces.

43. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

46. A heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element.

47. A very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses.

49. Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68).

50. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

51. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the saleof petroleum.

53. A loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral.

54. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

55. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

57. A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch.

58. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the genus Iva with small greenish flowers.

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

Yesterday’s Solution

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Visitors look at the work ‘Super China!’ (2009) by Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul on September 14, 2011 at the Zentrum fuer Kunst und Medientechnologie (Center for Art and Media, ZKM) in Karlsruhe, southern Germany. The painting is part of the exhibition ‘The Global Contemporary. Art Worlds after 1989’. — AFP

C

leaning the bathroom can be daunting, even if you’re armed with traditional cleaners laden with bleach and strong but perhaps environmentally unfriendly ingredients. But what if you want to go green and still get the toilet bowl, sink and tile to sparkle?

Start by stocking up on white vinegar and baking soda. These two staples of the kitchen can help keep your bathroom clean in a way that’s safe for the environment. A little bit of chemistry helps explain why. “Vinegar, because of its acidity, can be good for (cleaning) hard water and soap scum,” said Rebecca Sutton, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, a public interest group devoted to protecting health and the environment.

Baking soda, on the other hand, is alkaline, said Annie B. Bond, author of books on green living, incl uding “Home Enlightenment” (Rodale, 2008). Mix the baking soda it with some water and make a paste, and it can be used as a scrub. And don’t forget the soap - a mild castile soap made from olive or vegetable oils. Just as the move toward green in general is growing, so is the interest in green cleaning products, said Urvashi Rangan, director of the consumer safety group for Consumer Reports. The number of products on the market has grown.

“Within what we have looked at, anecdotally speaking, we have seen some green cleaners start to perform better and better,” she said.

What makes a cleaner green? “In my book, green has to be both good for health and the environment,” Bond said. Many conventional cleaners can damage both, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA advises consumers to be alert for “signal words” on labels. Among them: danger-poison, corrosive, severely irritating, highly flammable, highly combustible or strong sensitizer.

It recommends products that are biodegradable and solvent-free, have a bio base, such as pine or citrus, and are low in volatile organic compounds. However, labels aren’t always a great source of information about what’s in a cleaner; companies aren’t required to list all the ingredients, although some do. Sutton cautioned consumers to be alert for “greenwashing,” in which a company promotes the one green aspect of the product but doesn’t give the full picture of other ingredients.

“A lot of folks, because of the quandary, are moving toward homemade cleaners - vinegar,

baking soda, a lot of recipes you can find out on line,” Sutton said. The effective ness of these cleaners largely depends on the size or depth of the job. Rangan said some homemade bathroom-cleaning products are “better suited for people who are not leaving the hard cleaning jobs until the last moment.” Also, she said, vinegar is “not going to kill some of the bacteria you want to kill if, say, you had someone sick in the house.” Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide might better serve that purpose, and “soap gets you a long way,” Rangan said. “Stronger isn’t necessarily better, and sterilization and disinfection isn’t always the goal,” she said. “Know when you’ve got an issue going on.” Some solutions for typical bathroom trouble spots: The bathtub Vinegar will help get rid of the soap scum. If you need to scour, try a paste of baking soda and water.

The sink You can brighten the sink and “ get the white back” by pouring in vinegar and leaving it there for a while, Bond said. Also, try the soft scrub made from baking soda and water. “It’s not a matter of elbow grease. It’s a matter of letting it set for a period of time,” she said.

File photo shows Wendy Brooks as she cleans her windows with white vinegar and newspapers at her home in Phoenix.—AP

The drain “To de-grease and sweeten sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinse with ho t water,” Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices website says. “You might have to repeat the procedure more than once or leave the baking soda and vinegar to ‘cook’ overnight.”

The toilet “The toilet bowl is difficult, even under the best of circumstances,” Bond said. “Go to a health food store and get a really good bathroom toilet product.” For those who want to try a homemade product, Consumer Reports suggests pouring a cup of borax into the toilet and letting it set overnight. “In the morning, scrub and flush,” it said. “For an extra strength cleaner, add 1/4 cup vinegar to the borax.”

The floor Clean with diluted vinegar and then do a water rinse afterward, Sutton said. For those who don’t want to make their own cleaning products or buy a green one, there are other ways to get greener. “If you’ve bought your old conventional cleaners, try using a little less of them,” Rangan said. That could mean diluting a window cleaner or targeting your cleaning as much as possible. If there’s a spot of black mold in the bathroom, for example, go after that without bleaching the whole wall. And, she said, “you don’t need an antibacterial product.”

Sutton said consumers should also look for products that are fragrance-free, and avoid air fresheners. “It’s not killing or destroying odor, it’s covering up odor that floods your nose,” she said. There’s still a lot of educating left to do about green cleaning, Sutton said. “It takes a little knowhow, and when you get the knowhow, you’re set for life,” Bond said. — AP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Review

Butler’s performance highlights ‘Preacher’ G

erard Butler gives it his all as the title character in “Machine Gun Preacher,” a drama based on the true story of biker-turned-humanitarian Sam Childers. It’s a performance that’s gruff and defiant, volatile and raging and even tender at times - the kind of role Mel Gibson might have played 20 years ago. Childers lived a life of drugs and crime until he found Jesus, then traveled to Sudan to build an orphanage for the youngest victims of the ravaged African nation’s civil war.

But even though director Marc Forster’s film is rooted in actual events, it’s hard to shake the uncomfortable sensation of watching yet another story that glorifies the white savior. Aside from Souleymane Sy Savane as a rebel soldier named Deng who serves as Sam’s friend, guide and much-needed calming influence, the black characters who prompt Sam to sacrifice everything and put himself in danger feel more like ideas than fleshed-out humans.

Forster clearly means well in bringing such an inspiring story to the screen, and he does depict this place vividly both its natural beauty and its brutality.

As he proved with his breakout film “Monster’s Ball,” he’s not one to shy away from showing the uglier elements of human nature. Actually, some of the scenes at the start of the film, when Sam is hitting his lowest point, are just as startling as those that occur later on.

But Forster makes some awkward tonal shifts between the violence in Africa

In this film image released by Relativity Media, Gerard Butler portrays Sam Childers, the impassioned founder of Angels of East Africa rescue organization in a scene from ‘Machine Gun Preacher.’ —AP

and the increasing instability at home in rural Pennsylvania, where Sam’s exstripper wife, Lynn (Michelle Monaghan), and their daughter, Paige (Madeline Carroll), are waiting for him.

Michael Shannon offers some intriguing moments, as always, as Sam’s former running buddy, but ultimately doesn’t get enough to do.

He and Sam both undergo a transformation from shooting up in a bikerbar bathroom to shouting their love of

The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes store

the Lord that feels too swift, too painless. You wonder whether Sam misses his wild days, whether he struggles to stay clean.

Then again, as he becomes more driven to raise more money and save more children - and as he becomes disillusioned by the indifference of those around him back home - it’s clear he’s simply traded one addiction for another. By the end “Machine Gun Preacher” comes full-circle, depicting Sam as

being just as screwed-up as he was at the beginning, albeit with a higher calling that’s hard to argue with. That feels a bit too tidy, too. The real-life Sam Childers, who’s still working in Sudan, is probably more complicated than this.

“Machine Gun Preacher,” a Relativity Media release, is rated R for violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality. Running time: 123 minutes.

Two stars out of four. — AP

Universal sets up yet another ‘Scarface’ S

Coldplay performs a free open air concert in downtown Toronto hosted by the TV station Much Music on Wednesday. —AP

Top Songs: 1. “Moves Like Jagger (Studio Recording from ‘The Voice’ Performance) (feat.

Christina Aguilera),” Maroon 5 2. “Someone Like You,” ADELE 3. “Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster the People 4. “Stereo Hearts (feat. Adam Levine),” Gym Class Heroes 5. “Paradise,” Coldplay 6. “You Make Me Feel...(feat. Sabi),” Cobra Starship 7. Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock),” LMFAO 8. “Cheers (Drink to That),” Rihanna 9. “You and I,” Lady GaGa

10. “Without You (feat. Usher),” Usher, David Guetta

Top Albums: 1.“Own the Night,” Lady Antebellum 2.“21,” ADELE 3. “Tha Carter IV,” Lil Wayne 4. “Mylo Xyloto,” Coldplay 5. “1,” The Beatles 6. “Staind,” Staind 7. “Halfway to Heaven,” Brantley Gilbert 8. “Watch the Throne,” Kanye West, Jay-Z 9. “Something Like This,” Ben Rector 10. “Torches,” Foster the People —AP

ay hello to my little friend-again. Universal Pictures is planing a new iteration of “Scarface,” TheWrap has confirmed. An individual close to the studio said that the new version of the movie is not a remake or a sequel to either the now-classic-and spectacularly violent — 1983 film starring Al Pacino and directed by Brian De Palma or the Howard Hawks’ 1932 take on the gangster story.

Universal’s former chairman, Marc Shmuger, is producing along with Martin Bregman, who produced the 1983 “Scarface.” The studio has been spending time with the ultra-violent film lately. In August, it held a limited release of the 1983 movie to help hype release of the Blu-ray version of the movie. The 1983 “Scarface,” in which Pacino plays a Cuban refugee who becomes a drug kingpin, has become iconic.

It’ll be interesting to see how Universal negotiates the tricky business of bringing the story backand what ethnicity the main character will be. In 1932, he was the Italian Antonio “Tony” Comonte.

In 1983 three years after Cuban dictator Fidel Castro allowed some 100,000 prisoners and mental patients to leave the nation in what was known as the Mariel Boatlift-Comonte became Tony Montana. Shmuger, who recently opened the production company Worldwide Produce, did not return a message for comment Wednesday.

Deadline first reported the news. —Reuters

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

R.E.M R

‘call it a day’ after 31 years, many hits

.E.M, once dubbed “America’s Best Rock & Roll Band,” said on Wednesday they had decided to “call it a day” after more than 30 years of generating hits and selling millions of records. Key members of the band, whose hits include “The One I Love” and “Losing My Religion,” addressed fans in a posting on their website, thanking them for their loyalty and saying they have astonished even themselves with their accomplishments.

“To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. “We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening,” the band said in its posting.

R.E.M was originally comprised of singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bass player Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry, who suffered a brain aneurysm during the band’s 1995 “Monster” tour and subsequently left the group. But even without Berry, the band continued to make records and tour. Overall, R.E.M. have released 15 albums since break-

ing through the ranks of rock acts in the early 1980s when they became a sensation on the US college circuit singing their hit “Radio Free

Europe.” Their debut album, 1983’s “Murmur,” helped them build a cult following among America’s youth, and they crossed

(From left) File photo shows R.E.M. band members, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe and Peter Buck wave as they leave the stage, at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park in London. —AP

Jagger takes a risk with SuperHeavy

M

ick Jagger and Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart acknowledge that they took a gamble when they decided to form their all-star band, SuperHeavy. They had no idea if all the group’s members, which include soulful singer-songwriter Joss Stone, Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and reggae singer Damian Marley, would even have chemistry.

“We were just making music and if we didn’t like it, we wouldn’t use it,” Stewart said. “We just did it because we wanted to do an experiment, and that got developed and more and more developed until in the end, this record appeared.” The result is a 12-track, self-titled album with a sound the group’s members say cannot be placed into any specific genre. Jagger’s legend was formed with the Rolling Stones and other successful musical collaborations, but he says none of that can be compared to his experience with SuperHeavy.

“Every time you get into a room even with the same people, it is different because people come up with different things. It was a really interesting collaboration. To be honest it was easy. It was really easy because we got things straight away. You are very soon encouraged,” he said. Jagger, Stewart, Stone and Rahman recently sat down for an interview with The Associated Press, where they discussed everything from writing together to egos and joked about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

AP: What were you looking for in picking members of this group?

Jagger: One thing serious that we did think about, we didn’t want people with loads of entourages and that would have too big of egos. ... It is very quickly how human beings sort of adjust to each other’s temperaments and creativity. It is just like being in a cocktail party with a group of people. Either the cocktail par-

over to mainstream success with 1987 hit single, “The One I Love” off the album “Document.” In December of 1987, Rolling Stone magazine put the band on its cover and dubbed it “America’s Best Rock & Roll Band,” and after that came years of successive hits.

“A wise man once said-’the skill in attending a party is knowing when it’s time to leave.’ We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we’re going to walk away from it,” Stipe said in the statement. Bassist Mills said that while making “Collapse Into Now” and on their recent tour to support the album, the band mates began asking themselves what would come next. They felt that the songs from that record drew “a natural line” between their work as a group and their future as individual artists. “We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this-there’s no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off.

We’ve made this decision together, amicably and with each other’s best interests at heart.

The time just feels right,” Mills said. —Reuters

Bennett apologizes for 9/11 comments

S

SuperHeavy members A.R. Rahman, Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart, left to right, attend the release party for their new CD, ‘SuperHeavy’, in New York, Wednesday. — AP ty is going to go well or it doesn’t. It depends on the vibe.

Rahman: I don’t know why they called me, first of all. I thought maybe they wanted my piano playing or my keyboard, or a string arrangement.

AP: Musically, you were all pushed, working outside of your usual genres. Mick, you rapped? Jagger: I was just copying Damian. I do a little bit. I went toasting, we call it, but it is the same thing (as rap). Damian was doing this really good toasting, West Indian rapping, so I thought, “I could do that. It can’t be that difficult.” It actually was quite difficult.

With a bit of practice, it is all right. It is a laugh.

Stone: It is funny. Sometimes listening to Damian talk would give me a melody. ...

It helped when I couldn’t come up with anything, I would just listen to Damian and have a little chat in the corner.

AP: What was that first recording session like, getting all of these people together with different sounds from different backgrounds?

Jagger: The night before I said to Dave ... “Is this really stupid?” We always have songs going into projects. We make up songs when we are there. That is great, but we always have songs finished going in. I said, “We are going into this thing we have talked about for the last three months or whatever, and we don’t have any finished songs.” Dave said, “I know. It is really worrying.” But then Dave created this whole raison d’etre why we didn’t have songs. The raison d’etre for why we didn’t have songs was because if we had songs ... people would feel that it wasn’t their project as much. People wouldn’t participate and give as much, which is true. So we were all thrown in the deep end.” —AP

inger Tony Bennett apologized on Wednesday for controversial comments he made in a radio interview that suggested the United States bore blame for provoking the Sept 11 attacks.

“There is simply no excuse for terrorism and the murder of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the 9/11 attacks on our country,” Bennett, 85, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The legendary “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” singer cited his service as a US soldier in World War II, and said experiences such as fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and marching with Martin Luther King Jr have made him Tony Bennett “a life-long humanist and pacifist.” “I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country, my hope for humanity and my desire for peace throughout the world,” he said.

Bennett commented on the Sept 11, 2001, attacks during an appearance on shock jock Howard Stern’s radio program, where the two discussed the planes flown into New York’s World Trade Center by members of al Qaeda. “They flew the plane in but we caused it,” Bennett said on the show. “Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.” Bennett’s remarks caused a furor in the United States just as he launches his new album “Duets II,” which features a track he recorded with the late Amy Winehouse, and songs with Lady Gaga and Aretha Franklin.—Reuters

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Lifestyle

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

1940s classics inspire

Fendi’s Lagerfeld in Milan F

endi’s models emerged into a black hangar at Milan Fashion Week yesterday dressed like characters from an Italian neo-realist film with black and white stripes, knee-length skirts and aprons. The 1940s-at least for Fendi director Karl Lagerfeld-are back. The spring-summer 2012 show started with the whirring of a film reel and the primlydressed models began sashaying past to the sounds of film classics, their hair swept back in big manes and wearing giant tinted glasses. The designs featured plenty of apron, smocks and tunic style dresses with hints of embroidery and see-through fabric. The colors were very mutedmostly black and white with some beige, pastel pink and khaki thrown in.

But the cuts were wild-including asymmetrical skirts, cut-out shoulders, big frilly aprons and knitted jumpers with see-through backs.

The array of handbags ranged from a humble purse to a giant rock-encrusted bag and even a sparkling green-and-gold number. One of the strong points of the collection was a perforated suede-hooded jacket, but the design that drew the most “aaahs” from the crowd was a peacock feather dress that was certainly attention-grabbing, if perhaps impractical.

The German-born Lagerfeld, 78, who has his own fashion label and is also the creative director at Chanel, emerged after the show in his trademark sunglasses, ponytail hair and black leather gloves to a standing ovation.

Founded in 1925 in Rome, Fendi is now owned by French luxury giant LVMH. The Max Mara show had a feel that was both retro and futuristic-harking back to the ever popular 1950s with pastel turquoise, beige and mint-green dresses, as well as experimenting with mixed fabrics. Max Mara defined the collection as: “Pure and linear, athletic and minimalist, tailored and crafted. It designs a new futurist silhouette.” The fashion house said the tones that dominated the show — sky blue, sand beige and cloud white — were inspired by “the colors of the desert.”—AFP

Models display creations as part of Fendi Spring-Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection yesterday during the Milan’s women fashion week. —AFP

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Lifestyle

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Study shows top spenders curbing luxury expenses

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he top tier of luxury consumers curbed their spending on high-end clothes, accessories and jewelry in the first half of 2011, while regular consumers picked up the slack for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, a study

by American Express’ consulting unit said yesterday. Sujata Bathia of American Express Business Insights told journalists at a news conference in Paris that the slowdown in spending by fashion enthusiasts - defined as the top 5 percent of spenders on luxury goods - was seen across the globe. In France, one of the

world’s key markets for luxury, spending by that group was down 10 percent in the first half, compared with a year earlier. The other 95 percent of consumers made up some of the slack, with their spending on luxury goods increasing by 13 percent in the first half of the year, according to the report.

French fashion fans have been the motors driving luxury consumption since the 2008 economic downturn, and even with their 2011 drop in spending, they still account for 61 percent of all spending in the sector. And even with the cut, they are

still spending at a higher level than before the crisis, the report said. This year, the group has shifted its spending more to electronics, dining and luxury hotels.

Asked what had sparked fashion enthusiasts’ newfound restraint on luxury purchases, Bathia attributed it to “fashion fatigue, or maybe the sexiness of the new iPad.” She added that it was “too soon to see if it’s a lasting trend.” Bathia, Business Insights’ vice president for Europe and Asia, said the study was carried out in the US, UK, France, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.—AP

Models display creations as part of Max Mara Spring-Summer 2012 ready-towear collection yesterday during the Milan’s women fashion week. —AFP

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Lifestyle

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Young women, members of the ‘Forcadas’ Group in Benavente, try to stop and hold a calf in their hometown bullfighting arena. — AFP photos

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eventeen-year-old Susana Frieza is making waves in Portugal as the founder of the only female group of “forcados”, or bullfighters who aim to subdue their adversary with bare hands. “You are always scared but you learn to control fear and then it becomes easy,” said Frieza, a native of Benavente-a little town in the centre of the country, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Lisbon. “Nothing can compare to the rush one feels in the initial seconds when one is facing the bull and it charges,” said the teenager, whose pluck and skill have won her both plaudits and fans.

Portuguese bullfighting is different and far less gory than the Spanish version where the bull is stabbed to death if the matador manages to win the contest. In traditional Portuguese bull fights, eight men “forcados” challenge the bull directly with their bare hands without any protection of weapons.

The bull’s horns are covered in leather to prevent any injury. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a “pega de cara”, or a face catch. He secures the head and the rest of the team then ring the beast and try to subdue it. The sport is practices by amateur associations.

Frieza, whose father and elder brother are “forcados”, tamed her first bull at the age of 12 when she was taken to a local fair by her brother Luis. “A little contest had been organized with a neighboring village when it was decided to put the little girl to the test in front of the bull. And she won!” said her 23year-old brother, laughing. In 2008, Frieza set

up an all-girl “forcados” team in Benavente “just to try it out.” Although the girls tackle smaller bulls weighing between 200 and 300 kilograms (440 to 660 pounds), against 500 kilograms or more tackled by male counterparts, their reputation has been spreading to other parts of the country.

Frieza has been adding feathers in the cap since her successful debut at the inter-village contest. At 15 she subdued a bull weighing about 420 kilograms, her mother Rosalia said, adding proudly: “She shut the mouths of those who were sniggering,” when she entered the ring. “I felt so big that I felt like I was bursting out of my clothes,” said Frieza, remembering the event. But the going has not been hunky-dory all the way. In July, she bust her nose when she was kicked twice by a calf. “But the more blows you take, the more you want to surmount them,” she said, undaunted.

For Clara Pedro, a Lisbon resident taking part in her first corrida in Benavente, Susana is a heroine of sorts, being a “woman of courage and great inspiration for others”.

Pedro’s first foray on Saturday did not go swimmingly well. She was hit in the knee by a 200-kilogram calf and had to be taken to hospital in tears. But Frieza, undeterred, had a second go with her team of several dozen amateurs. And for Pedro her tears are forgotten. “What adrenaline! It’s better than I thought it would be!” she said.—AFP

Young women, members of the ‘Forcadas’ Group in Benavente, help each other put on cloths that serve as protection, before participating in a bullfighting competition.

Stars

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are just where you are supposed to be at this time in your life. You have a lot of energy to pour into practical and career decisions. Careful, if you go too fast you could appear too commanding and assertive. Take time to enjoy where you are right now. It will be easy to organize your thoughts. Communication of all kinds is encouraged. This is the perfect time to take risks and dare to be a little unconventional. You will prosper through new insights, inventions and an independent point of view.

Put your mind to work and take care of your responsibilities—mental discipline should become easier to handle. Problems and obstacles that have been disturbing in the past find easy explanations. Tonight is for fun and personal pleasure.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You make your way now by using practical vision and common sense. This time could be some kind of high-water mark for your career. You will have recognition for your works. At the same time, a change of direction may be in order—perhaps toward more inwardness.

There is a surge of independence, a need for freedom and an interest in trying new and different things. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. Your analytical abilities are at a high point.

A friend that has been on a long vacation may want to visit today. There is an opportunity to catch each other up on mutual happenings, new ideas, concepts, etc. This evening you might want to just sit down with your feet propped up and think about your vacation goals.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your career may be at a rather delicate point and under a lot of pressure. It could be hard to find solutions or make the right decisions as to how to proceed. The whole process could be a bit sluggish.

You may have to be patient. This is not a hard task for you, but while you are biding your time you might consider getting rid of what does not serve your purpose—clear away or give away the old. There are positive results for the long term, as far as financial stability is concerned. Changes can be rewarding and, after checking your information, a new investment idea may bring substantial rewards. This could be a lucky day. It is important to keep your perspective where a disappointed relative or friend is concerned. Love is possible this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Fate sends opportunity your way if you listen to your instincts and give your natural sense of curiosity a free rein. Travel and education can help uncover some of the answers that will give you the power or advantage you seek. Mass communications can be financially rewarding in some way— think about advertising, broadcasting, publishing, etc. Decisive action is the main order of business now. A major focus for you now is how you respond to change and maintain independence. An important factor in this is a relationship where you have a significant emotional stake. A change of residence may be in order to take advantage of sudden new career opportunities.

Family ties may need your tender love and care.

Leo (July 23-August 22) High-level differences of opinion represent an important area of change in your life now. A whole new perspective is available to you at this time. You know just how to apply new changes to your way of living and may even look forward to the variety and challenges that come now. You are called on to make use of your natural abilities and common sense. There is a need to be respected and it may be because of an emotionally charged issue in your life. Your patience is rewarded today. There is much energy and drive, perfect for starting something or taking care of business. Some group sports can be enjoyed after work. There is nothing like hanging out with good friends and being included. You and your friends complement each other.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Legal controversy is best avoided now, if possible. It is far better to settle out of court than to fight to the end. Educational plans need changing as well: you may want to further your education so as to move higher in your profession. Anything connected with publishing, advertising or broadcasting requires reexamination; a change of plans or perspective gives you the upper hand. Getting your point across to others—and understanding what people mean when they communicate—can be difficult if you work with different cultures. This could weaken your purpose. Do not hesitate to ask a person to explain himself or herself in another way or check his or her understanding of your words. A lack of information can slow anyone’s progress.

COUNTRY CODES Libra (September 23-October 22) You are at your best with regard to practical matters and work-related affairs. Events may line up in your favor and push you over the top to new heights. A promotion or recognition for past accomplishments is in the near future. Now is a time during which you could accomplish a lot through sheer discipline—control of your energy and drive.

You may find yourself working through any emotional pockets and working with your feelings—a very strong time. Trust in yourself but do not push yourself too hard; take time to meditate, laugh and nourish your body and soul. You feel intuitive and psychic. You may dive into the love and laughter of family this evening; perhaps you can cook something special for the evening meal.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Today, material things have a great deal of importance for you—perhaps a dedicated search is in order for a very special item. You may feel that now is the time to create a place for family and home, not necessarily to own possessions. Your love of family and home and lack of interest in external affairs, be they friend- or work-related, needs to be noted and kept in balance. Your ideas and images about the traditional, history in general, and the environment around you make it easy for you to work with and teach others. You understand and perform well with young people this evening—you know just what it takes to create a supportive environment and you teach through example. You tell stories with consummate skill and others love to listen to you.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You learn things that may shake your confidence and alter your world view. While such experiences can be unsettling, they are ultimately beneficial. Travel and education play a part in this—they tend not to turn out as expected—but that’s not necessarily all bad. It may be hard to organize today. The secret to getting through the questionable times is to go-withthe-flow of events—do not force things. Be patient—the chaos will blow itself out soon. You find yourself other-oriented just now, with many thoughts and ideas for partnership, rather than doing things alone. Friends may find you less self-centered than usual. This marks a time when you could easily become carried away or even deluded with respect to your own goals and ambitions.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You appear perhaps more charming and refined than usual.

Now is a good time to plan ahead with a special date, apply for a job—or otherwise make yourself known. There is a feeling that anything is possible if you set your sights high enough. There is optimism, faith and a tendency to take chances at the deepest emotional levels. Exploring how you feel about the important things for you and your life development will help you make decisions that will cull through what is non-essential for you at this time. Financial savvy and a practical turn of the mind are qualities that take on a great deal of importance in your life this afternoon. You have that wheeler-dealer type of attitude, with a knack for knowing how to put people, ideas and things together profitably.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You work well with those in authority who are independent and original. If you are not running a business yourself, you will probably be the one that makes the business in which you are involved run smoothly. Your organizational skills will find you coming to the aid of many an unorganized person in your lifetime. This is one of those days when your business expertise stands out and becomes very important. You feel a love of order and law—an appreciation for responsibilities and duty—no obstacles, just opportunities. You may be thinking that anything is possible.

There is optimism, faith and a tendency to take chances. You may want to check out an investment or find some other way to improve your finances.

This evening you will repay a friend for a favor.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Failure to resolve issues can aggravate a relationship just now.

Impatience may prevail but grit your teeth and forge ahead. You will be pleased at the results of your effort towards understanding someone that is difficult. There may be a need to see both sides of an issue and strike a fair balance. As with the original Sherlock Holmes, you are able to ferret out all kinds of information in order to find an answer. You have a shrewd and penetrating mind with great psychological instincts and are able to get at the causes beneath the surface of problems easily. Your intuition is strong, as well as your luck. Most of your concentration this evening is on family affairs.

You could be planning a vacation now—the middle of next month is best.

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, septembeR 23, 2011

Announcements DYINA seeks new members The new association, DREAMS OF YOUTH INDIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION has been formed for the general welfare of the “DYINA” members who we wish are in Kuwait, India and elsewhere in the world. On this occasion DYINA welcomes all Malayalees in Kuwait, especially whoever staying in company camp / hostels (ladies conveners available for the convenient for the ladies) . For more information contact. Poulose Thekkedeth -66790870; Paul Joseph- 97200915; Babu Thomas - 99240368; Shaji - 55042540; Jose Payappilly - 99809603; Reason -97286904

KALA Onam celebration

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ala (Art) Kuwait celebrated Onam, the festival of Kerala and Eid ul-Fitr together on Friday, September 9, 2011 at Indian Community School, Khaithan. Chief guest Indian Ambassador Satish C Metha inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp. Kala (art) Kuwait President Samkutty Thomas presided over the function and general secretary Jaison Joseph welcomed the gathering. King Mahabali stressed the importance of secularism and unity among people. A day-long program such as traditional dances and cultural programs such as chendamelam, Mohiniyattam, Thiruvathira, cinematic dance, contemporary and variety of cultural activities was staged by Anusha, Saritha Rajan, kids from Knanaya Cultural Center.

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 Bhatt97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq : Rekha Sachu65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty- 67712409.

Leisure activities Kuwait Zoo The Kuwait Zoo is located in Omariya on the Airport Road. It is open everyday except on Saturdays. The timings during winter are 8am to 8pm. For more information contact: 24733389.

is open from Saturdays to Thursdays from 9am to 10.30pm and on Fridays from 2pm to 10.30pm. For more information contact: 22240025 or visit their website at: www.tsck.org.kw.

Art galleries and artifacts

Amusements Parks Aqua Park Aqua Park is open from 10am-10pm everyday. For information contact: 22431960/1/3 or visit: www.aquaparkkuwait.com.

Entertainment City Entertainment City is open from Sunday to Wednesday from 3pm to 11pm during winter. It is also open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 10pm. For more information contact: 24879455.

The Scientific Centre Scientific Centre is located on the Gulf road in Salmiya. It

a)Sultan Art Gallery The Sultan art gallery is located on Street no: 105, building no: 168, Subhan, Kuwait city. b)Boshehri Gallery Boshehri Gallery is located on the Al-Mobarak street, Salmiya, Kuwait. For more information on their collection please contact: 25714883/25724883. c)Tariq Rajab Museum This museum is open from Saturdays to Thursdays at 9am to 12pm and 4pm to 7pm. On Fridays it is open from 9am to 12pm. For more information on their location etc contact: 25317358 or visit their website: www.trmkt.com.

Free Arabic courses provided by IPC

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ake the opportunity to learn and improve your Arabic skills. The women section of Islam Presentation Committee will be conducting FREE Arabic Language Course in Basic & Advance Level for non-Arab LADIES commencing on September 30, 2011. Islamic subjects and

Indian music album wants talents A Malayalam musical album that has song writers from Jnanpith award winner ONV to the popular Rafeeq Ahmad and singers from Hariharan to Sreya Ghoshal, produced by Ragasuthra Music Company and orchestrated by Viswajith plans its launch soon. The 8 songs in the album use lots of Indian languages in part and the music also is pan Indian. As part of the launch the songs are being visualized. A few songs will be shot in Kuwait since the songs represent the life of Indian expats in Kuwait. Ragasuthra is looking for real talents for their gulf based production of music videos. Talents/Actors: M/F - Age: 14 - 26; -Family combination: M/F Age: 28 - 45; -Supporting character: M/F - Age 10 - 60; Assistant Director: M/F; -Associate Director: M/F; -Assistants: M/F; Training will be given for selected candidates. Serious applicants may send their bio data with recent photographs to ragasuthra@gmail.com

Quran classes are also offered in different languages.

Classes are offered only once a week. Register now! For more information: Rawdah-22512257-97290278; Salmiya25733263-97533263; Khaitan-24730137-99285459; Mangaf-23723002; Jahra-24558830-67720696.

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 of Parliament from Pathanamthitta Loksabha Constituency, Anto Antony and other prominent dignitaries from Kerala and Kuwai t. All residents of Pathanamthitta District and persons of Pathanamthitta District origin are hereby invited to attend this function and friends and families.

Arpan Onam Arpan Kuwait will celebrate Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, today September 23 at the Indian Community School, Salmiya (Senior Girls) from 10 am onwards. Various cultural programs have been scheduled to make the celebration a success.

Traditional attractions like athappookkalam, mohiniyattom, kaikottikali, folk songs, dance and songs and skits will be presented by Arpan members. A program committee headed by K Mahadevan is overseeing the preparations. The celebration will come to an end with a sumptuous ‘Onasadya.’

NAFO Onam celebration NAFO Kuwait to celebrate Onam on September 30, 2011 at the Indian Community School (Senior for Girls) auditorium Salmiya. Cultural activities such as dance,skit, nadan pattukal, vallapattukal etc will be held which will be followed by the traditional onasadhya. All NAFO members are requested to make this program a grand success by participating in various activities.

Please register your name at Contacts@nafoglobal.com.said the convener of the program Rajasekaran Nair. For details please contact Nandakumar 99559416, Udayakumar 66464577 or Rajasekharan Nair 97824780.

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W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, septembeR 23, 2011

Embassy ‘Most Beautiful Egyptian Child’ Contest begins

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he ‘Bawabat Al-Masreyeen’ (Egyptians Gate) blog in Kuwait launched a course in operating the photoshop program which deals with editing pictures and prepare designs. A contest for the picture of the most beautiful child among Egyptian community children in Kuwait began yesterday and will continue until Wednesday, September 28, and results will be announced on Saturday, October 15. It is worth mentioning that the gate began dealing with the community’s problems two weeks ago, as it presents them to concerned officials, and the most important problem is that of Egypt Air so far. The gate met with the Director of Egypt Air in Kuwait to find a quick solution for the problem. http://www.facebook.com/egykwt

Youth India delivers 16 tons of food to Somalia

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outh India delivered 16 tons of food stuff collected for the victims of the famine and drought in Somalia. The items which consisted of 10 tons of White Flour, 5 tons of Sugar and 1 ton of Oil, as part of the second phase, were received by the officials of International Islamic Charitable Organization. Youth India had earlier handed over 2.5 tons of Foodstuff and 57 boxes of dress to IICO. The goods were packed and sent to the IICO warehouse by Youth India members and associates. The collection drive will continue till 30th September, informed Youth India officials. Collection of dress have been stopped. The price of a kit containing 10 Kilos of White Flour, 5 Kg Sugar and 1 litre of Oil is KD 3. Those who wish to participate in this noble venture may please get in touch with us at 9959 1966 or 97649639.

Creative discussion Steve Sabella will give a follow-up discussion to discuss his life and work. The talk includes a screening of a 10-minute documentary film among other videos, and will deal with the idea of constructed identities, imagined cities and hyper-realities on September 28th and September 29th between 7pm9pm at Life Center (Industrial Shuwaikh, Block 2, Street 28, Top floor).

‘Mother’s Day’ Theater Xavier-Manuel productions presents a super hit theater of this season from Goa titled “Mother’s Day.” It will be a Konkani drama dedicated to all mothers with loads of comedy, solos,

duets, trios, etc. and all new songs! The event is on September 30th at 3:30pm at Kuwait Medical Association Hall (Beside Blood Bank, near Mubarak Hospital, Jabriya).

Indian cultural program Employees of Kharafi National will hold this year’s Indian Cultural Program in connection with Onam on September 22 and September 30 at Kharafi National Sulaibiya camp. The programs include many sport and games events like volleyball and tug-of-war competitions followed by a variety of cultural programs by camp members and well known artists in Kuwait.

The finals of the volleyball tournament and tug-of-war will be held on September 22.

Study in Canada Fair 2011

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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rganized by the Embassy of Canada, the sixth annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) will be visiting Kuwait from Oct 1 to 4, 2011. Representatives of 20 leading Canadian universities and colleges will be available to meet students, parents, teachers and guidance counsellors to present the advantages of studying in Canada. On Sunday, Oct 2, 2011 a Study in Canada exhibition will be held at the Marina Hotel, Salmiya from 6-9:00 pm for potential students and their parents to attend. The Canadian institutions will also be visiting local schools to speak to interested students about opportunities to study in Canada.

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. nnnnnnn

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 nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca.

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 Cana dian 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/IMM5 257E.PDF. A guide explaining the process can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/5256E.P DF.

TV Listings FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

03:30 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

Monster Bug Wars Killer Jellyfish Animal Cops Houston Dogs 101 Meerkat Manor The Really Wild Show Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife Breed All About It My Cat From Hell Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip Meerkat Manor Wildlife SOS Animal ER Animal Cops Houston Animal Precinct RSPCA: On The Frontline The Really Wild Show Crocodile Hunter Must Love Cats Breed All About It Gorilla School Crocodile Hunter Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Into The Dragon’s Lair Big Five Challenge In Search Of The Giant Anaconda Planet Earth

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 08:15 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:30 09:35 0 9:40 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 21:15 21:45 22:40 23:30

Eastenders Doctors My Family Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Spot’s Musical Adventures Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Jackanory Junior Poetry Pie Poetry Pie Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Jackanory Junior Poetry Pie Poetry Pie My Family The Weakest Link Lark Rise To Candleford Doctors Eastenders Casualty My Family Lark Rise To Candleford The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Lark Rise To Candleford The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Ray Mears: Wild Food My Family

03:45 The Naked Chef 04:40 Daily Cooks Challenge 06:10 The Naked Chef 06:35 The Naked Chef 07:00 Daily Cooks Challenge 07:30 Sweet Baby James 07:55 Daily Cooks Challenge 09:50 What Not To Wear 10:40 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 11:30 What Not To Wear 12:20 Antiques Roadshow 13:15 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 13:40 Holmes On Homes 14:30 What Not To Wear 15:20 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 17:05 Antiques Roadshow 18:00 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 18:25 Holmes On Homes 19:15 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 20:10 Cash In The Attic 20:55 Antiques Roadshow 21:45 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 22:10 Holmes On Homes 23:25 Masterchef Australia

Star trek on oSn aCtIon HD

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 08:00 08:30 08:45 09:00 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 14:30 15:00 15:30 15:45 16:00 17:30 17:45 18:00

Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today GMT With George Alagiah GMT With George Alagiah BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today Impact With Mishal Husain World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News

18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

03:00 The Powerpuff Girls 03:15 Chowder 03:40 The Secret Saturdays 04:05 Samurai Jack 04:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:55 Best Ed 05:20 Skunk Fu! 05:45 Cramp Twins 06:10 Eliot Kid 06:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 07:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 07:25 Cow & Chicken 07:50 Angelo Rules 08:05 Cartoon Network Dance Club 08:20 Adventure Time 08:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:10 Generator Rex 09:35 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:00 The Powerpuff Girls 10:20 Robotboy 10:35 Hero 108 11:00 Ben 10 11:25 Chowder 11:50 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 12:15 Camp Lazlo 12:40 George Of The Jungle 13:05 Foster’s Home For Imaginary

Friends 13:30 Codename: Kids Next Door 13:50 Ben 10 14:15 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:40 Squirrel Boy 15:05 Eliot Kid 15:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 15:55 Cow & Chicken 16:25 Chop Socky Chooks 16:50 Skunk Fu! 17:15 Chowder 17:40 Best Ed 18:05 Hero 108 18:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 18:55 Generator Rex 19:20 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 19:45 Adventure Time 20:10 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 20:35 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:00 Cow & Chicken 21:25 Ed, Edd n Eddy 21:45 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:00 Adventure Time 22:25 Hero 108 22:50 Ben 10 23:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:35 Chowder

00:05 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 07:55

Weird Or What?

Mighty Ships Prototype This Bang Goes The Theory Junkyard Mega-Wars How Does That Work?

Mighty Ships One Step Beyond Ecopolis Junkyard Mega-Wars How The Universe Works

08:50 09:40 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Gadget Show Brainiac Weird Connections Brainiac Cosmic Collisions Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show The Tech Show 2012 Apocalypse Junkyard Mega-Wars The Gadget Show The Tech Show 2012 Apocalypse The Gadget Show

03:25 03:55 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 Story 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45 Story

Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear How Stuff’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Mythbusters Weird Or What?

Ultimate Survival Miami Ink Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Mythbusters Deadliest Catch: The Phil Harris Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings How Stuff’s Made Cash Cab Us Miami Swat Get Out Alive Kidnap And Rescue Deadliest Catch: The Phil Harris

03:00 Weird Connections 03:25 Da Vinci’s Machines 04:15 How Stuff’s Made 04:45 Man Made Marvels: Highest Railway in...

05:40 One Step Beyond 06:10 Engineered 07:00 Da Vinci’s Machines 07:55 Mission Critical: Hubble 08:50 The Gadget Show 09:15 The Gadget Show 09:40 How Stuff Works 14:55 How Stuff Works 15:45 Weird Connections 16:10 Da Vinci’s Machines 17:00 Tank on the Moon 17:50 Sci-Fi Science 18:15 The Gadget Show 18:40 Prototype This 19:30 Bang Goes the Theory 19:55 Bang Goes the Theory 20:20 Smash Lab 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 The Gadget Show 22:00 Prototype This 22:50 Bang Goes the Theory 23:15 Bang Goes the Theory 23:40 The Gadget Show

03:15 03:35 04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 09:50 10:10

Emperor’s New School Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School Suite Life On Deck Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Sonny With A Chance The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody

10:35 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:20 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:25 17 :50 18:15 18:45 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:35

Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up Jake & Blake Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas Los Angeles

03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 25 Hottest Hollywood Cougar Tales 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Khloe And Lamar 09:45 Khloe And Lamar 10:15 25 Most Sensational Hollywood Meltdowns 12:05 E! News 13:05 Fashion Police 13:35 Extreme Close-Up 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Holly’s World 17:25 Holly’s World 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Khloe And Lamar 21:55 Khloe And Lamar 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

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

I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Black Museum The Haunted Mystery ER Undercover Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Ghost Lab FBI Files True Crime With Aphrodite Jones FBI Case Files Mystery ER Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Ghost Lab FBI Files Forensic Detectives Undercover Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Jones FBI Case Files True Crime With Aphrodite Jones True Crime Scene Dr G: Medical Examiner

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00

Endurance Traveller Departures Departures Meet The Amish Wild Rides Wild Rides Destination Extreme Destination Extreme Endurance Traveller Departures

TV Listings FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30

Departures Meet The Amish David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Travel Madness City Chase Rome Adventure Wanted Ultimate Traveller Meet The Natives: USA David Rocco’s Dolce Vita Bondi Rescue

04:00 06:00 08:15 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Orphan-18 Star Trek-PG15 The Lost Future-PG15 Virtuality-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 The Lost Future-PG15 Bangkok Adrenaline-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 The Gene Generation-18 Jennifer’s Body-18

03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

5 Dollars A Day-PG15 Mee Shee-PG It’s A Wonderful Afterlife-PG15 5 Dollars A Day-PG15 Charlie & Boots-PG15 Who Is Clark Rockefeller-PG Echelon Conspiracy-PG15 The Flyboys-PG15 The Open Road-PG15 Jonah Hex-PG15 Kisses-18

03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30

Just Shoot Me Just Shoot Me Two And A Half Men The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Will And Grace Coach The Drew Carey Show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Two And A Half Men Just Shoot Me Will And Grace The Simpsons Parks And Recreation Coach The Drew Carey Show The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Two And A Half Men Just Shoot Me Wil l And Grace Coach The Simpsons Parks And Recreation The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report The Drew Carey Show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Just Shoot Me Just Shoot Me Outsourced Community The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report State Of The Union Rita Rocks The Ricky Gervais S how Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Warehouse 13 Boston Public Good Morning America The Event Emmerdale Coronation Street Eat Yourself Sexy Huey’s Cooking Adventure The Martha Stewart Show The View Supernatural Warehouse 13 Live Good Morning America Boston Public The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Look-A-Like Bones White Collar Inside The Actor’s Studio Burn Notice The View

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00

Warehouse 13 Terriers Terriers Downton Abbey Hot In Cleveland

07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Coronation Street Huge Covert Affairs Warehouse 13 Supernatural Hot In Cleveland Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Huge Downton Abbey Hot In Cleveland Hot In Cleveland The Ellen DeGeneres Show Huge Bones White Collar Inside The Actor’s Studio Burn Notice The Gates

03:30 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:45 14:30 16:30 19:00 21:30 18 23:00

Triangle-18 From Within-PG15 Dick Tracy-PG15 The Snow Walker-PG15 Deceit-PG15 The Order-PG15 The Snow Walker-PG15 Alatriste-PG15 Bad Boys II-PG15 The Butterfly Effect 3: RevelationsNeowolf-18

04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Nativity!-PG Mafia!-PG15 500 Days Of Summer-PG15 Hanging Up-PG15 Love Happens-PG15 Ball & Chain-PG15 Furry Vengeance-PG15 Wake-PG15 50 First Dates-PG15 Road Trip: Beer Pong-18

03:00 04:45 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:45 18:45 21:00 22:45

Cry Baby-PG15 Paradise-PG15 Not One Less-PG Everybody’s Fine-PG15 Where The Wild Things Are-PG Maneater: Part I-PG15 Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM Teen Knight-PG15 Riding In Cars With Boys-PG15 Punch-Drunk Love-18 Thunderheart-18

03:00 Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel-PG15 04:30 Another Year-PG15 07:00 Hurricane Season-PG15 09:00 The Ramen Girl-PG15 11:00 America’s Sweethearts-PG15 12:45 The Lovely Bones-PG15 15:00 Too Big To Fail-PG15 17:00 The Ramen Girl-PG15 19:00 The Messenger-18 21:00 Jonah Hex-PG15 23:00 Harry Brown-18

03:00 Shorts-PG 05:00 Toy Story 3-FAM 07:00 My Fair Madeline-FAM 10:00 Garfield-PG 12:00 Monsters vs. Aliens-PG 14:00 Lego: The Adventures Of Clutch Powers-FAM 16:00 The Enchanted Mountain-PG 18:00 Leave It To Beaver-PG 20:00 Garfield-PG 22:00 Lego: The Adventures Of Clutch Powers-FAM

00:30 Lower Learning-PG15 02:15 Alice In Wonderland-PG 04:00 Saved!-PG15

05:45 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 PG15

Another Year-PG15 Mama I Want To Sing-PG 9-PG Alice In Wonderland-PG Mama I Want To Sing-PG 9-PG Tooth Fairy-PG Tangled-FAM The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee-

07:00 10:30 12:30 14:30 15:30 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

Twenty20 Cricket WWE SmackDown NRL Premiership Trans World Sport Live European PGA Tour Le Mans Series The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 WWE NXT Trans World Sport Powerboats UIM Class One European PGA Tour

07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:00 15:00 17:00 17:30 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 23:30

Rugby World Cup Classics Mobil 1 The Grid Trans World Sport Golfing World European Tour Weekly World Hockey Beach Volley Ball AFL Highlights Rugby World Cup Classics NRL Premiership Scottish League Cup Beach Volley Ball Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial AFL Highlights Golfing World SPL Highlights Live Premier League Snooker Futbol Mundial

04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 12:30 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 23:30

Rugby World Cup Classics FEI Equestrian World Spirit of Yachting PGA European Tour Highlights Golfing World Rugby Union Scottish Premier League Total Rugby Trans World Sport World Hockey Golfing World Euro Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour Spirit of Yachting Total Rugby Rugby World Cup Classics NRL Full Time Live RFL Championship PGA European Tour

03:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

UFC 134 UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown WWE Bottomline Powerboats F1 Highlights Mobil 1 The Grid Modern Pentaholn WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottomline V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship Modern Pentaholn Modern Pentaholn WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 134

03:00 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 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00

Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Patton 360 Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Patton 360 Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Ax Men Sliced Sliced Deep Wreck Mysteries

03:20 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

04:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

05:10 Homes With Style 05:35 Area 06:05 Clean House 07:00 Big Boutique 07:30 Big Boutique 08:00 Videofashion News 08:30 Videofashion News 09:00 Fashion Avenue 09:25 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 Videofashion News 14:15 Videofashion News 14:45 How Do I Look?

15:40 Ruby 16:35 Jerseylicious 17:30 Ruby 18:25 How Do I Look?

19:25 Big Boutique 19:50 Fashion Avenue 20:20 Clean House 21:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

22:10 Big Rich Texas 23:05 Jerseylicious

The Open ROad On OSn CIneMa

07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00

Globe Trekker Rivers of the World Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma Planet Food Dream Destinations

11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:00

Dream Destinations Globe Trekker Flavours of Chile Flavours of Chile Rivers of the World How To Holiday Greener Essential Globe Trekker Dream Destinations Dream Destinations Flavours of Chile Flavours of Chile Globe Trekker The Blue Continent World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides Glutton For Punishment Chef Abroad Globe Trekker

07:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Aerobic VH1 Hits Music For The Masses Top 10 Music For The Masses VH1 Pop Chart VH1 Hits 90’s Revolution VH1 Superchart Guess The Year Music For The Masses Then And Now Wild 80’s Guess The Year

03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00 05:20 05:45 06:05 06:30 07:00 07:25 07:45 08:10 08:35 09:00 09:25 09:35 10:00 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:25 13:15 14:05 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:45 21:35 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40

Looney Tunes The Flintstones Top Cat The Jetsons Popeye Classics The Perils of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids Hong Kong Phooey Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy & Dripple Looney Tunes The Addams Family Top Cat The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry The Flintstones Wacky Races Puppy In My Pocket The New Scooby Doo Movies Duck Dodgers Duck Dodgers Wacky Races Dexter’s Laboratory The Garfield Show Looney Tunes Top Cat Top Cat Pink Panther and Pals Pink Panther and Pals Popeye King Arthur’s Disasters King Arthur’s Disasters The Flintstones The Flintstones New Yogi Bear Show Tom & Jerry Dastardly And Muttley Johnny Bravo The Scooby Doo Show The Scooby Doo Show Puppy In My Pocket The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 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 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 India

The Crusades Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Modern Marvels Deep Wreck Mysteries The Crusades Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Modern Marvels Deep Wreck Mysteries The Crusades Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Ax Men Modern Marvels Deep Wreck Mysteries The Crusades Ice Road Truckers Barbarians Modern Marvels Warrior Empire: The Mughals Of

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Years

Information

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 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 RJA JZR THY JZR ETH UAE DHX ETD MSR FDB GFA QTR THY KAC JZR JZR JZR BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA MEA RBG JZR JZR IYE MSR JZR KAC KAC MSR UAL RJA FDB OMA QTR BBC KAC KAC KAC VTF JZR QTR JZR JZR MLR ETD UAE SYR GFA SVA RBG JZR ABY

Flt 642 267 772 189 620 853 370 305 614 67 211 138 770 544 241 503 555 157 416 541 206 284 302 53 332 678 352 362 855 132 125 619 301 213 404 3555 165 121 825 623 561 618 672 610 982 640 57 645 140 43 546 552 788 133 257 134 201 535 403 303 857 341 215 510 3557 239 12 7

Arrival Flights on Friday 23/9/2011 Route AMMAN BEIRUT ISTANBUL DUBAI ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA ISTANBUL CAIRO AMMAN LUXOR ALEXANDRIA LONDON JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR CAIRO ISLAMABAD DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT/DUBAI COCHIN COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH LAR ABU DHABI BAHRAIN BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BAHRAIN SANAA SOHAG SOHAG DOHA DUBAI CAIRO WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN DUBAI MUSCAT DOHA DHAKA ALEXANDRIA DAMASCUS JEDDAH SHARJAH BEIRUT DOHA DAMASCUS CAIRO COLOMBO/DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI DAMASCUS BAHRAIN RIYADH SOHAG AMMAN SHARJAH

Time 0:05 0:35 1:15 1:25 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 4:10 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 11:05 11:10 11:15 12:05 12:10 12:25 12:55 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:50 14:00 14:15 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:50 15:00 15:10 15:15 15:45 15:50 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:00 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:35 17:40

FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC AIC JAI KAC FDB JZR OMA VOS MEA KAC SV A DHX GFA FCX QTR UAL UAE JZR JZR MSR DLH SAI JZR KLM JZR

63 227 177 166 502 542 213 744 614 102 674 774 975 572 562 61 787 647 81 402 786 506 372 217 304 136 981 859 135 185 612 636 441 539 447 481

Airlines Flt 540 320 AXB 390 DLH 637 AIC 982 PIA 206 THY 773 ETH 621 UAE 854 FDB 68 DHX 371 ETD 306 MSR 615 QTR 139 THY 771 JZR 560 JZR 164 RJA 643 GFA 212 KAC 545 JZR 120 BAW 156 FDB 54 JZR 534 KAC 177 KAC 787 KAC 671 JZR 256 KAC 551 KAC 617 UAE 856

DUBAI COLOMBO/DUBAI DUBAI PARIS/ROME BEIRUT CAIRO DEIREZZOR/ALEPPO DAMMAM BAHRAIN NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH CHENNAI/GOA MUMBAI AMMAN DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN BAHRAIN RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT LAHORE CAIRO AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN SABIHA Departure Flights on Friday 23/9/2011 Route 0:20 MANGALORE/KOZHIKODE FRANKFURT AHMEDABAD/CHENNAI LAHORE ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA ISTANBUL SOHAG DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN LONDON DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT/GENEVA JEDDAH DUBAI BEIRUT DAMASCUS DOHA DUBAI

17:55 18:00 18:00 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:05 19:15 19:20 19:25 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

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ABY QTR KAC ETD GFA IRA JZR RBG MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC IYE MSR JZR MSR RJA FDB UAL KAC OMA KAC KAC BBC JZR KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR VTF ETD MLR QTR SYR UAE GFA RBG ABY JZR SVA FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC JAI FDB JZR KAC KAC OMA MEA SVA DHX GFA KAC QTR KAC KAC FCX JZR JZR UAE UAL KAC MSR SAI

126 133 117 302 214 618 200 3558 405 541 212 238 103 501 825 624 176 611 641 58 982 561 646 785 673 44 480 773 141 613 743 786 538 133 304 404 135 342 858 216 3556 128 184 511 64 228 134 283 361 571 62 528 343 351 648 403 507 373 218 381 137 301 205 102 502 554 860 981 411 613 442

SHARJAH DOHA NEW YORK ABU DHABI BAHRAIN LAR DAMASCUS SOHAG BEIRUT CAIRO DEIREZZOR/ALEPPO AMMAN LONDON BEIRUT DOHA/SANAA SOHAG DUBAI CAIRO AMMAN DUBAI BAHRAIN AMMAN MUSCAT JEDDAH DUBAI DHAKA SABIHA RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN DAMMAM RIYADH CAIRO SHARJAH ABU DHABI DUBAI/COLOMBO DOHA DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH DUBAI RIYAD H DUBAI DUBAI/COLOMBO BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO 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 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:20 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:05 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:05 13:10 13:40 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:45 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:55 16:00 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:25 16:35 16:40 17:00 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:10 20:00 20:20 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, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Accommodation available in Abbassiya two bedroom furnished flat, bachelor accommodation KD 35, from Oct 1st. Contact: 99162583.

(C 3641) 22-9-2011 Sharing accommodation in Mahboula near McDonald in sea side, 2 bedroom flat, 2 bathroom central A/C, looking for executive bachelor or couple. Contact: 66216713.

(C 3631) Room for rent in Farwaniya for small family or working ladies, available starting 0110-2011 with small Indian family. Call: 99051353, 97823565.

(C 3633) One room available in two bedroom flat behind Crowne Plaza near Dar Al-Quran, for Pakistani and Indian bachelor. Please contact: 50129393 / 66490857.

(C 3634) 19-09-2011

Passport No. E2157210 issued at Kuwait, hereby change my name as Joy Davis. (C 3642) 22-9-2011 I have change my surname from my old surname Mithu Habibullah Ismail to my new Surname Mitha Habibullah Ismail. I am holding Indian Passport No. Z026492 (C 3636) 20-9-2011 I, VADAKKE VEEDU DAMODARAN VINODAN holding Indian Passport No: Z1846634 has changed my name to VADAKKE VEEDU DAMODARAN VINOD as on 19-9-2011. (C 3632) 19-9-2011

FOR SALE Brand new Nissan Altima 2011 for sale, will offer good discount, car still in showroom. Contact: 66947732. (C 3635) 20-9-2011

SITUATION VACANT CHANGE OF NAME I, Kannanaikkel Devassy Joy, holder of Indian

A Kuwaiti family wants an Indian driver. Tel: 97949776.

(C 3638) 21-9-2011

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(C 3637) 20-9-2011

LOST Policy No. 633001847 for Mehmood Ul Hassan Chohan issued by State Life Insurance has been lost, if anybody found please contact: 22452208-9. (C 3643) 22-9-2011

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

D’backs roll over Pirates PHOENIX: Miguel Montero had a two-run homer among his three hits as the Arizona Diamondbacks jumped on the Pittsburgh Pirates early in an 8-5 win Wednesday that cut their magic number for clinching the National League West to two.

A day after stranding 11 runners in a loss to Pittsburgh, the Diamondbacks put pressure on the Pirates from the start, setting a team record with four stolen bases while scoring three runs off Russ Ohlendorf (1-3) in the first inning.

Arizona added five more runs in the third inning with two-run hits by Aaron Hill and Ryan Roberts, giving Wade Miley (4-2) more than enough run support. Derrek Lee homered and drove in two runs, and Ryan Ludwick added a solo shot for Pittsburgh, which has lost 10 of 14.

Cardinals 6, Mets 5 At St. Louis, David Freese drove in five runs with a triple and a three-run homer as St. Louis beat New York. The Cardinals have won four straight and 12 of 14 to move within 1 1/2 games of Atlanta in the National League wildcard race. St. Louis, a season-high 17 over .500 (86-69), has seven games left and will go for a sweep of the Mets on Thursday. The Mets fell to 73-82, ensuring the third straight losing season for the big-spending ballclub that has been plagued by injuries and off-field financial woes.

Marlins 4, Braves 0 At Miami, Javier Vazquez allowed only two hits in seven innings Wednesday against his former team as Florida played the spoiler’s role by beating Atlanta.

The Braves, who lost for the 13th time in their past 20 games, saw their lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL wild-card race fall to 1 1/2 games. The Cardinals were 101/2 games back on Aug. 25.

For the third start in a row, Vazquez (12-11) did not allow a run. He extended his streak of scoreless innings to 25, a Marlins record for a starter.

Leo Nunez walked two in the ninth before retiring Heyward to complete a two-hitter. It was the ninth time the Braves have been shut out.

Cubs 7, Brewers 1 At Chicago, Matt Garza pitched a six-hitter and Marlon Byrd hit a three-run homer as Chicago prolonged Milwaukee’s drive to clinch the NL Central, beating the Brewers in the final game at Wrigley Field this season.

The Brewers’ magic number for winning the division title and closing out St. Louis remained at three. The Cardinals played the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Garza (9-10) allowed just an unearned run and struck out 10. DJ LeMahieu broke a 1-1 tie with two-out, two-run double in the fifth off Randy Wolfe (13-10).

Reds 2, Astros 0 At Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo pitched a six-hitter as Cincinnati wrapped up its home schedule with a win over Houston. Miguel Cairo homered as Cincinnati finished 4239 at Great American Ball Park. The Reds drew 2,213,498 this season, an increase of 152,948 over last year’s attendance when they won the NL Central. The game took only 2 hours, 12 minutes, the fastest of the season for the Reds.

Arroyo (9-12) walked none and struck out two. He needed just 91 pitches in his fourth career shutout and first since beating Washington on Aug. 13, 2009. Wandy Rodriguez (11-11) took the loss.

Padres 4, Rockies 0 At Denver, rookie Anthony Bass pitched five solid innings to help San Diego complete a rare three-game sweep of Colorado with a win in the last game of the season at Coors Field.

Bass (2-0) cruised through this game, allowing just two hits and throwing an economical 52 pitches before leaving after a leadoff walk in the sixth. Both of his major league wins have now come at Colorado.

Anthony Rizzo and Andy Parrino had RBI singles for the Padres, who earned their first sweep of three or more games in Denver since April 2001.

Heath Bell was summoned in the ninth with runners on first and third and one out. He struck out pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton and Seth Smith to earn his 41st save in 46 chances. —AP

OAKLAND: Athletics Brandon Allen (left) slides to score past Texas Rangers catcher Mike Napoli (25) in the fifth inning of a baseball game. —AP

Yankees grab AL East crown NEW YORK: Jorge Posada came off the bench and helped the Yankees to yet another first-place finish with a go-ahead single in the eighth inning as New York swept the Tampa Bay Rays by identical 4-2 scores in a day-night doubleheader Wednesday to win the American League East.

Accomplishing most of their regular-season goals with a week to spare, the Yankees earned their 16th playoff berth in 17 seasons by winning the day game behind Robinson Cano’s tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth.

For the Rays, it was a damaging day as they missed a chance to move up on Boston in the AL wild-card race. The Red Sox lost to Baltimore 6-4, but still extended their lead over Tampa Bay to 2 1/2 games. The Los Angeles Angels also are 2 1/2 games behind.

Orioles 6, Red Sox 4 At Boston, the Red Sox blew another late lead and lost for the 14th time in 18 games, booed by fans at Fenway Park after Vladimir Guerrero and Baltimore rallied.

Despite the loss Boston’s lead over Tampa Bay for the AL wild-card spot increased to 2 1/2 games. The Rays were swept by the New York Yankees in a day-night doubleheader.

Ace Josh Beckett took the mound, hoping to put some distance between Boston and the Rays. Beckett (13-6) allowed just one hit through five innings as the Red Sox built a 4-1 lead. But Beckett allowed a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh on Mark Reynolds’ second homer that leveled the game.

Mariners 5, Twins 4 At Minneapolis, Ichiro Suzuki stopped Kevin Slowey’s nohitter with a two-out infield single in the sixth inning and added an RBI double in the seventh, spurring Seattle to a victory in Minnesota, the 11th straight defeat for the Twins.

This is the third-longest losing streak in Minnesota’s 51-season history, behind a 14-game skid in 1982 and 13 in a row in 1961, the first year here after the franchise moved from Washington. The Twins (59-95) need two more wins to top their worst finish in Minnesota, 60-102 in 1982.

Brandon League, who escaped a ninth-inning, no-out, bases-loaded situation to preserve the win the night before, gave up a two-out RBI single to Trevor Plouffe before retiring Brian Dinkelman on a roller in front of the plate with two runners on.

White Sox 8, Indians 4 At Cleveland, Mark Buehrle bounced back from a poor outing and pitched six effective innings to lead Chicago past Cleveland.

Buehrle (12-9) gave up two runs and four hits. He had gone 0-3 with an 11.74 ERA in three previous September starts, allowing 33 hits in only 15 1-3 innings.

Buehrle’s skid included a career-worst 15 hits in 6 1-3

innings in a 7-2 loss to Kansas City last Thursday. The left-hander left that start after being hit in the left arm by a line drive off the bat of Alcides Escobar.

Alejandro De Aza hit a tiebreaking, two-run single off Ubaldo Jimenez (4-3) in a three-run seventh. Chicago added four runs on three homers off reliever Chad Durbin in the eighth.

Angels 7, Blue Jays 2 At Toronto, Dan Haren’s outing ended after he was hit by a line drive on the final out of the eighth inning, and Peter Bourjos and Vernon Wells homered as Los Angeles beat Toronto.

Haren (16-9) was struck on the inside of the left wrist, his non-throwing arm, by Eric Thames’ liner. The ball caromed to Maicer Izturis at second base, who threw to first for the third out as Haren fell to the ground in pain. He was able to walk off but headed straight down the tunnel to the clubhouse.

The Angels pulled within 2 1/2 games of the AL wild cardleading Boston Red Sox, who lost to Baltimore moments after Los Angeles wrapped up its win.

Tigers 6, Royals 3 At Kansas City, Missouri, Miguel Cabrera drove in the goahead run in the eighth inning and Don Kelly added a two-run homer as Detroit beat Kansas City.

Victor Martinez added three RBIs for Detroit. Doug Fister (10-13) yielded two hits over three shutout innings of relief, and Jose Valverde pitched the ninth to remain perfect in 47 save chances.

The Tigers trailed 3-2 in the seventh when Martinez delivered a two-out RBI single off Royals reliever Aaron Crow. The game remained tied until the eighth, when reliever Kelvin Herrera (0-1) made his big league debut and promptly plunked Ryan Raburn, the first Detroit batter he faced.

Cabrera came through with his double moments later to give the Tigers the lead, and Kelly added his two-run homer with two outs in the inning to give their bullpen some breathing room.

Rangers 3, Athletics 2 At Oakland, California, Ian Kinsler hit a game-leveling home run to lead off the eighth inning and Josh Hamilton followed with another homer two batters later to lift Texas to a win over Oakland and reduce its magic number to clinch the AL West to three. Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli added two hits apiece for Texas, which won its 90th game to match its win total of 2010.

The Rangers maintained their five-game leading over the Angels in the West with seven to go. They can clinch their second straight division title as early as Friday in Arlington when they host Seattle in the beginning of a three-game series. — AP

Sports FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

NFL memo warns teams on faking injuries

DENMARK: Bradley Wiggins of Britain rides during the elite men time in Copenhagen. — AP

Olympics? Been there, done that, says Wiggins BALLERUP: Three-times Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins, having finished third overall in the Vuelta and won silver in the road world championships time trial, will target the Tour de France next year even if it hampers his chances at the London Games. The Briton, who pulled out of the Tour de France with a broken collarbone last July, has stressed again that he has unfinished business with the world’s greatest stage race.Team Sky rider Wiggins sat down with a couple of reporters at his Team GB hotel in Ballerup, Denmark, to reflect on a dramatic 2011 season and look ahead to 2012.

Question: You said you would decide in the Winter what you were going to do in 2012. What is going to help you decide?

Answer: We’ve got a good chance to win the gold medal in the team pursuit but obviously I want to do the Tour next year.

And I want to try and win the Tour so if I try and win the Tour it’s going to jeopardise slightly winning gold in the time trial.

(German) Tony Martin is the clear favourite and he is going to ride through the Tour with one ambition-win an Olympic gold.

I’m not able to do that because I’m going for GC (general classification) in the Tour. I’ve certainly got a chance to get a medal in London in the time trial but we’ve also got a strong chance of winning gold in the team pursuit.

So for sure it’s 100 percent the Tour, no doubt about it, and everything training towards the Tour but then obviously it’s deciding what I’ll do after the Tour-whether I go straight to the time trial and do the team pursuit or I just leave the time trial and aim for the team pursuit.

That’s something we’ve got to sort out in the next few weeks, we have to make a decision either way. I think there’s an option to do both or dropping the time trial and doing the team pursuit. I think after yesterday and having done and finishing the Vuelta third and coming here and finishing second it’s doable. I can get a medal and compete in the Tour but in terms of winning the Tour then coming and winning the Olympics time trial is very, very difficult with the level Tony is at... It wasn’t like he beat me (on Wednesday) by 20 seconds but by a minute 15.

Q: How much did it take you power wise on Wednesday coming off a grand Tour?

A: On this occasion it did not take a lot. I had my best ever performance yesterday on a time trial over one hour. The Vuelta wasn’t the main goal so it’s not like I prepared for the Vuelta like it was the Tour and everything had come perfect.

I came onto the Vuelta under-prepared and I came through the Vuelta and just got better and better so it’s not quite the same circumstances next year, when I’ll be in the peak of my attention at the start of the Tour.

So it’s slightly different in that sense because obviously I did not ride my bike through much of July but it still gives me information nonetheless. I’ve got too many options and that’s the problem. This year I’ve done pretty much everything from (the Tour of) Qatar, to team pursuit World Cup in Manchester, to Three Days of De Panne, Dauphine, Tour de France, Vuelta, world championships time trial. I’ll do Lombardy and ParisTours, I’ve done pretty much everything this year and competed well in everything so I’ve got so many options. —Reuters

NEW YORK: The NFL sent a memo Wednesday to all 32 teams warning of fines, suspensions and loss of draft picks if the league determines players faked injuries during a game.

Yet several players admit its an accepted practice, and some coaches hinted they are not above condoning phony injuries if it provides a competitive edge.

“I’ve been places where it has been (taught),” said Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the players’ union executive committee. “They have a name for it and I’ve been places where it’s been pre-called. I’ve been places where it’s one player who has been designated. Maybe I’m getting everyone in trouble, but I’m just being honest.”

In the memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL reminded teams of league policy that calls on coaches to discourage the practice.

There is no specific rule on the topic.

Nonetheless, two days after there was speculation the Giants’ Deon Grant faked an injury against the Rams during Monday night’s game, the NFL is warning of disciplinary action.

“It’s always been in the game,” Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed said. “It’s all tactical stuff you need to use.

Whatever it takes. ... If you’re tired, you’re tired. You get a break however you can.”

Added 49ers running back Frank Gore: “Hey, I feel if it helps, do it. I’m bound to do it. Whatever it takes to win ...”

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Tuesday the team notified the league office that it suspected the Giants were feigning injuries in St. Louis’ 28-16 loss.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford said it was obvious the Giants were just buying time with St. Louis running a no-huddle offense.

“They couldn’t get subbed, they couldn’t line up,” Bradford said.

“Someone said, ‘Someone go down, someone go down,’ so someone just went down and grabbed a cramp.”

Grant was adamant about not having faked anything.

“I could see if I was walking and fell,” he said Wednesday, speaking passionately and barely taking a breath. “When you see after I made that tackle and bang my knee on that play, you see me bending my knee as I am walking. ...

(Teammate Justin) Tuck is walking behind me and saying ‘D don’t run off the field. Just go down.’ As I am walking, they line up, and knowing that I can’t get back in my position because of the knee injury, I went down.”

Had Grant attempted to get off the field, it could have left the Giants a defender short when the ball was snapped. Of course, New York also could have called a timeout, a course of action teams might need to use in the future.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was coy about the tactic when asked if he ever instructed a defense to do it. “I can’t say I have,” Shanahan said before pausing. “But I won’t say I haven’t, either.” Then he smiled. “It happens all the time, and warnings will come out,” he added, “and it’s happened again.”

EAST RUTHERFORD: New York Giants defensive back Deon Grant is helped up by trainers during the first quarter of an NFL football game. — AP The memo from the league said: “Going forward, be advised that should the league office determine that there is reasonable cause, all those suspected of being involved in faking injuries will be summoned promptly to this office ... to discuss the matter. Those found to be violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action for conduct detrimental to the game.”

The league’s competition committee often has discussed this issue but has been reluctant to propose a rule that could force game officials to make judgments on injuries.

“We have been fortunate that teams and players have consistently complied with the spirit of the rule over the years and this has not been an issue for the NFL,” the memo said. “We are determined to take all necessary steps to ensure that it does not become an issue.” For the most part, such delay tac-

tics have been considered gamesmanship, similar to a hockey goalie suddenly needing equipment repairs when his team is getting besieged. Or untouched soccer players writhing on the ground in pain to get a stoppage - and to slow momentum built by the other side.

“As an offensive player, you always think guys are faking in that situation,” Eagles guard Kyle DeVan said. “But you don’t know for sure. You don’t know when guys are going to cramp up, so you have to be careful. The most important thing is players’ health. You would hope guys don’t do it, but it’s going to happen.” It might be planned, too.

While calling it “real bush league” no pun intended - Dolphins running back Reggie Bush said a coach “just designates a guy who fakes an injury. It’s usually not a captain of the team. It’s a guy who’s expendable.” The NFL’s disciplinarians will be watching for that.—AP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Champions League T20 faces crucial test in India NEW DELHI: The third edition of the Champions League Twenty20 gets under way in Bangalore today with the tournament struggling to carve a niche for itself and experts blaming the short format of the game for increased injuries.

The 19-day tournament, featuring top domestic Twenty20 teams from around the world, comes immediately after India’s disastrous tour of England, adding to the challenge for organizers hoping to popularize the tournament.

Organizers were left looking for a lastminute replacement for title sponsorship as India went from the high of a World Cup victory to the low of an England tour on which it failed to win a single game. In between, India organized the six-week IPL that has been blamed for fatigue and injury to its players.

“The amount of cricket India are playing, they just cannot survive,” West Indian great Michael Holding wrote in a column in The Asian Age newspaper this week, adding his opinion that players had their

priorities wrong. “Look at Harbhajan Singh, he was not fit to play the test and ODI series against England, but is fit this week to play club cricket and I would suggest that his return to full fitness was not a recent occurrence.”

Last month, former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said the Indian cricket board had “got carried away with their IPL.” “Some of (the India players) even delayed surgery after the World Cup not wanting to miss the cash-rich IPL, and after arriving in England half-fit broke down half way through the England tour,” Ranatunga said. Though Harbhajan will be seen in action in the Sept.23-Oct.9 tournament, his Mumbai Indians teammates Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel, among nine to suffer injuries during the England tour, are not fit. Because of the spate of injuries, the Mumbai team has been given special permission to field five foreign players whereas the others are allowed four each.

Anticipating that the Champions

League may not match the popularity of the IPL, title sponsor Bharti-Airtel eased itself out of a five-year deal worth $40 million and fellow telecom giant Vodafone stepped in last month. Broadcasters ESPNStar though are buoyant and are expected to earn over $20 million in ad revenue.

“The long schedule of the Indian cricket team or its debacle in England has not affected the CLT20 advertisement sales,” ESPN executive vice president Sanjay Kailash was quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

As for the composition of teams, the cash-rich IPL teams have managed to lure players who qualified for more than one team in the 10-team Champions League organized jointly by the Indian, Australian and South African cricket boards.

So, Australians Brett Lee and Brad Haddin are playing for Kolkata Knight Riders rather than for New South Wales, West Indian allrounder Kieron Pollard is turning out for Mumbai Indians instead of South Australia or Somerset, while Sri

Lanka’s Suraj Randiv is in the Chennai Super Kings squad rather than of Ruhuna, which played in the qualifiers.

The tournament begins with a league format with the top two teams from each group going through to the semifinals.

Kolkata qualified from the pre-tournament competition in Hyderabad to join three other Indian teams - defending champion Chennai, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai - in the main tournament.

Australian teams NSW and South Australia, and South Africa’s Cape Cobras and Warriors have got direct entries while the West Indian outfit of Trinidad and Tobago and England’s Somerset made it through the qualifiers to complete the lineup. Kolkata was to host three preliminary games but heavy monsoon rains forced an abandonment of the venue with matches shifted to Bangalore and Hyderabad. Chennai will host the final.

Chennai, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is the defending champion while NSW is the other past winner.—AP

Vettel: No pressure to clinch title in Singapore

NEW DELHI: In this Dec. 3, 2006, file photo, former Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (left) and his Bollywood actor son Saif Ali Khan look on during an event in New Delhi. —AP

Former India captain Pataudi dies aged 70 NEW DELHI: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most charismatic cricketers and a prolific batsman despite losing an eye, died yesterday aged 70 following a lung disease, his doctors said. The former national team captain, better known as the Nawab of Pataudi, was admitted to a New Delhi hospital earlier this month and appeared to be recovering before his condition deteriorated on Wednesday.

“He was suffering from interstitial lung disease which worsened rapidly in spite of the best treatment available,” hospital spokesman S. P. Byotra told the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Pataudi is survived by his actress wife Sharmila Tagore, two daughters and a son, Saif Ali Khan, who is a popular Bollywood actor. Pataudi played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975, scoring 2,793 runs at an average of 34.91 with six centuries, including an unbeaten 203 against England in New Delhi in 1964. An adventurous batsman, who was not afraid to loft the ball over the infield, played most of his career without his right eye, which he lost in a car accident in England in 1961. Pataudi became India’s captain at the age of 21 during a tour of the West Indies in 1962 when the then skipper Nari Contractor was injured after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith.

He led India in 40 of his 46 Tests, winning nine and securing the country’s first series win abroad in 1967 in New Zealand. Pataudi’s father, Iftikhar Ali Khan, represented both England and India in Test cricket.—AFP

SINGAPORE: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel is not feeling any pressure to clinch the Formula One title at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, and said yesterday he will attack the race with his normal aggressive style.

Vettel is almost guaranteed of successfully defending his title, and if he takes 13 more points than Fernando Alonso in Singapore, he will take the championship with five races still to go. Given his dominance this season - winning eight of the 13 races and missing the podium only once - he could well clinch back-to-back titles beneath the Marina Bay lights.

“Would, should, could,” Vettel said. “So far we have not won anything. “Our target coming into the season was to defend our title. We are in a very good situation, so there is no reason to change that. It does not matter when, it matters to us that it happens,” the German said. “I don’t feel any extra pressure trying to win the championship here. We just have to remind ourselves what our goal was coming into the season.”

Though he can afford to simply accumulate lower points rather than win races for the rest of the season, Vettel is intent on asserting himself on the track - he showed that in the previous race in Italy when he muscled his way past Alonso. “It would be wrong to drive with the handbrake pulled, thinking ‘I just have to finish,’” Vettel said. “If there is a chance and a gap, we have to go for it. If not, there is no reason to try something stupid.”

In last year’s Singapore GP, Vettel could not find a way past Alonso on the tight Marina Bay track, and the Ferrari driver hung on for victory.

Vettel has yet to win in Singapore, and said the race ranks as the most challenging of the season: the calendar’s only night race, a bumpy and tight street circuit that allows no margin for error, a race time that flirts with the two-hour maximum and the heat and humidity of the city state. And that is not to mention the rain, which always threatens but had yet to hit over the first three years of the event. Alonso’s chance of catching Vettel exists more in the realm of mathematics than reality, and when the Ferrari driver was asked Thursday if he had given up hope of challenging for the title, he simply answered “Yes.” “In general he has been the best driver, and the best team and the best package, so they deserve to be where they are,” Alonso said.

Still, the Spaniard believes Singapore represents a betterthan-usual chance for a Ferrari win and adding to the team’s solitary victory this season in Britain.

“Singapore is one of our best opportunities in the remain-

ing races because the characteristics of the circuit are similar to Monte Carlo, where we were quite competitive there,” Alonso said. “And we have the soft and the super soft tires, a combination that we like more. So it should be a good weekend for us, but victory is never easy, never close enough when we are fighting with Red Bull and McLaren.”—AP

SINGAPORE: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (left) is interviewed by a journalist after the press conference on the Marina Bay City Circuit. —AP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Boks run riot as royal buzz hits World Cup

Webb Simpson in action in this file photo

Simpson makes big leap as No. 1 seed at East Lake ATLANTA: Webb Simpson is the No. 1 seed when the Tour Championship gets under way at East Lake, giving him the best shot of the 30-man field to capture the $10 million bonus from the FedEx Cup. It’s enough to pinch himself to make sure he’s not dreaming. Only he’s already doing that.

Not many had reason to know much about Simpson a year ago. He didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in his second year on the PGA Tour. He didn’t make it beyond two stages of the FedEx Cup. He wasn’t even sure he would keep his card. “It’s just crazy what can happen in a year,” he said.

It started with the birth of his first child in February, and the golf has gone from good to great. Simpson picked up his first career win at Greensboro, and then won the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks later that set him up in the Tour Championship. His career earnings going into the year were $2.2 million.

A win this week at East Lake, combined with the FedEx Cup bonus, would be worth $11.44 million. With a reset in the points to give the entire field at the Tour Championship a shot at the biggest payoff in golf, the top five players control their fate. Simpson is followed in the standings by Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Matt Kuchar.

If any of them win the Tour Championship, they win the FedEx Cup. For a 26-year-old like Simpson, in only his third year, it’s hard not to keep the eyes on the fairways and greens of East Lake without being tempted to look at the carrot.

“We want to focus that much more on the golf course and the conditions that we’re going to face, because we feel like the more we can kind of get lost in the golf course and not think about where we’re going to end up in the FedEx Cup, the better we’ll play,” Simpson said, using the third person to include caddie Paul Tesori.

“It’s hard,” he said. “It’ll be in the back of our minds all week. But I think the better we can try to focus on winning this golf tournament, it’ll kind of take care of itself.” It’s like that for everyone - for Simpson at No. 1, all the way to Bo Van Pelt at No. 30. Geoff Ogilvy is at No. 24, and just happy to be here. He was on the cusp of being eliminated from the playoffs 16 days ago until he made a 20-foot par putt and a 6-foot birdie putt on the last two holes to narrowly advance to the third event, then finished alone in third place at Cog Hill - a two-way tie for third would not have been enough to get to Atlanta.

Yes, he still has a shot at $10 million. But it requires a little math, and Ogilvy didn’t have to work his way through the scenarios very long to realize anew that it’s a long shot at that. “Webb Simpson must finish 17th or worse, which is probably not going to happen, you wouldn’t think,” he said, reading from a chart. “Dustin Johnson has to finish sixth or worse. Justin and Luke have to finish fourth or worse, which isn’t going to happen because Luke doesn’t finish out of the top three anymore, does he?” That’s when he shifted to a prize that might be just as meaningful. “I’d love to win this golf tournament,” Ogilvy said. “That would be nice because people are forgetting this is one of the tour’s special golf tournaments - The Players Championship, the Tour Championship, the Tournament of Champions.” — AP

WELLINGTON: Bryan Habana finally claimed the South African record as their highest try scorer as the Springboks thrashed Namibia to all but qualify for the quarter-finals, while New Zealand experienced a rare burst of paparazzi activity with the arrival of British royalty.

Habana, who had not scored a try since June 2010, finally scored his 39th career try in the 22nd minute of the 87-0 rout at North Harbour Stadium and moved ahead of the retired Joost van der Westhuizen.

He was not able to get on the scoresheet again, however, as the world champions ran riot in the final 20 minutes to notch up 12 tries in total in the highest score so far in the seventh edition of the World Cup. “We are making progress. Tonight was a good run out,” South African captain John smit said. “Our first 40 we got sucked into a few bad habits. Probably a bit too loose too early.

“At half time we refocused and stuck to our guns and got into a bit more shape and got a bit more reward in the second half.”

While the tournament did not receive any official royal activity, the arrival of Zara Phillips, the Queen’s grand-daughter and wife of England rugby player Mike Tindall, created a tabloid buzz after her husband’s well-publicised night out in Queenstown last week.

Tindall, who was named in the England side to face Romania on Saturday, also faced the media for the first time since his now-infamous night out in Queenstown-featuring a “mystery blonde” and the “Mad Midget Weekender”.

British tabloid press had featured the evening out after a video from security cameras was leaked on the Internet.

Phillips arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday and local media reported that she managed to avoid the press camped out at Dunedin airport late on Thursday when she was whisked away by a car waiting on the tarmac.

Scotland sprung a surprise when they chose not to include World Cup captain Alastair Kellock in their team to play Argentina in their match, which is likely to decide who finishes second in Pool B. Coach Andy Robinson said that with prop Euan Murray, widely considered one of the best scrummagers in the world, unavailable for Sunday’s match because of his religious beliefs, the Scots needed a bigger lock behind tighthead prop Geoff Cross, hence the decision to name Jim Hamilton.

Hamilton’s inclusion required a more athletic lock, Richie Gray, to play the open game they wanted to use against the Pumas, Robinson said.

“To be fair to Alastair, as always, he’s taken it very well,” Robinson told reporters. “He’s an outstanding character. This is phase two of our operation in the World Cup and we’ve got two games to win.”

There were no such concerns for

Richie McCaw, who will become the first New Zealand player to win 100 test caps as he was named to lead what is arguably the strongest All Blacks side available against France on Saturday.

McCaw had been expected to achieve the milestone last week against Japan but was a late withdrawal from the game when he suffered a mild calf strain at training. Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu, meanwhile, appealed his three-match ban for a dangerous tackle in their match against South Africa last week. The hearing will be held on Saturday.

Waqaniburotu’s ban meant he would not be allowed to play again until after the quarter-finals, effectively ruling him out of the World Cup unless the Fijians went on an unlikely run to the last four.

Fiji play fellow Pacific islanders Samoa at Eden Park on Sunday and Wales in Hamilton on Oct. 2. They must win both to give themselves a chance of making the quarter-finals. —Reuters

AUCKLAND: South Africa’s Tendai Mtawarira is tackled by Namibia’s Chrysander Botha during their Rugby World Cup game at North Harbour Stadium. —AP

Europeans look to put a stop to Solheim Cup rot DUNSANY: The Solheim Cup has become rather lop-sided with the USA leading Europe 8-3 in the series and the visitors are seeking four wins in a row when the latest match gets underway at Killeen Castle here today.

But both sides went to great lengths to make the point that this match-up is evenly-balanced and several of the US players were desperate to claim the role of second best.

But the world rankings suggest otherwise. Seven US players are in the top 20 while Suzann Pettersen, albeit at No.2, is the lone European figure.

“I definitely think we are underdogs,” suggested US player Angela Stanford. “Their players know the course (Pettersen won the Irish Ladies’ Open at Killeen last month) and we’re going to have our work cut out to beat them.”

Juli Inkster, who becomes the oldest Solheim Cup player at the age of 51, was equally dismissive of the notion that the Americans were going to coast to victory.

“I think this is the strongest European side ever,” said the Californian who made her debut in the inaugural 1990 contest. “They may have have five rookies, but they are all playing well and are confident players. We’ve got to play like under-

dogs.” Pettersen, in her sixth Solheim, will be a leading figure for Alison Nicholas’s home team, and she was ready to play up her side’s chances. “We’ve lost the last few but they have all been really close,” the Norwegian pointed out.

“The US just seem to make a few more putts. But we know the course, the crowd will be behind us and if we can just get that little bit of luck then I know we can win.” Bad weather cold, strong wins and frequent heavy downpours - has plagued the practice days, and there are already contingency plans in place in case the tournament has to extend into Monday. Again, inclement conditions could favour the home side. “We could certainly do with some sun,” admitted US Captain Rosie Jones. “Both teams are very strong but the home side always has an advantage. The majority of fans will be on their side and that can generate huge momentum.”

Jones has three rookies - Stacey Lewis, the Kraft Nabisco Champion, and her two wild card selections, Vicky Hurst and Ryann O’Toole. The key US players will be world No.3 Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, who is unbeaten in singles, and Michelle Wie, who enjoyed a terrific Solheim debut with three-and-ahalf points from four matches in 2009. — AFP

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Barcelona rallies to draw 2-2 at Valencia

ITALY: Inter Milan new coach Claudio Ranieri (second from left) talks to his assistant Giuseppe Baresi during his first training session. — AP

Inter confirms hiring of Ranieri as coach MILAN: Veteran coach Claudio Ranieri signed a two-year contract at Inter Milan yesterday to become the fourth manager at the club since Jose Mourinho’s departure in 2010.

Gian Piero Gasperini was fired on Wednesday just five games into the season after the previous night’s humiliating 3-1 loss to newly promoted Novara left Inter with one point from three Serie A games.

Mourinho left for Real Madrid in 2010 after winning Serie A, the Italian Cup and the Champions League. Rafa Benitez struggled during the first half of last season and was replaced

by Leonardo, who then unexpectedly left for an executive position at Paris Saint-Germain in June - prompting Gasperini’s hiring.

The 59-year-old Ranieri has previously managed Chelsea, Juventus and, most recently, Roma. He had started this season working as a commentator for RAI, Italian state TV. “Gasperini wanted to bring his own ideas,” Ranieri told RAI late Wednesday. “He tried to go that route at all costs and it didn’t work. I’m going to try to get this squad back to playing like it knows how to, using all of its strength.

“Inter is a great squad. It had a false start and now it needs some enthusiasm.” Ranieri was to take training Thursday afternoon and be formally presented today ahead of tomorrow’s match at Bologna.

Ranieri took over Roma at a similar stage in 2009, after Luciano Spalletti resigned following two losses to open the season. Ranieri resigned from Roma in February after the squad lost four consecutive matches.

Gasperini was widely criticized for trying to impose a threeman defense on Inter, and for playing Wesley Sneijder out of his preferred position.

Inter’s struggles can also be assigned to the sudden departure of the squad’s top striker, Samuel Eto’o. The Cameroon international left for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala last month.

Newly signed forwards Diego Forlan and Mauro Zarate have yet to make an impact. The 59-year-old Ranieri has more of a traditional approach, which he has also displayed at Valencia and Atletico Madrid in Spain, as well as Fiorentina and Parma back in Italy.

“You know how I play. For me the players are more important,” Ranieri said. “You know that I don’t ever like to make promises, but I think these guys have a lot to give and we’ve got to show that.”

Inter began its Champions League campaign with a 1-0 home defeat by Turkish side Trabzonspor last week, and was beaten by AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup last month to leave Gasperini with one draw and four losses during his short reign.

Ranieri faces a busy schedule to start with: Three days after playing Bologna, Inter travels to Russia to face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, with a big match against Napoli at the San Siro the following weekend.

Inter opened the Serie A season with a 4-3 loss by Palermo, conceding four goals for the first time in a league match in more than seven years. Its only decent performance came in a 0-0 draw at home with Roma last weekend. —AP

VALENCIA: Cesc Fabregas scored for the fourth straight game to salvage a 2-2 draw for Barcelona at Valencia as the defending champions avoided defeat on a night when top rival Real Madrid was held 0-0 at Racing Santander.

Lionel Messi continued his prolific partnership with the former Arsenal player by setting him up for the 77thminute equalizer as the Catalans twice rallied from deficits.

While Barcelona salvaged a point, Madrid staggered to a lackluster result on the Cantabrian coast, marking the first time the Spanish powerhouse has played consecutive league games without a win since the arrival of coach Jose Mourinho. Madrid showed little improvement from its 1-0 loss to Levante on Sunday despite a revamped lineup, and failed to create a single clear scoring chance before halftime.

“At the end, the points are all that matters and we have let five points slip away from home. It is worrying, yes,” Mourinho said. “In the first half we didn’t play much. In the second half we did reach the opponents’ territory, but we didn’t have many chances to score.”

It was Barcelona’s third 2-2 draw in the last two weeks, but this time it came away with relief rather than disappointment at having a lead slip away.

“They had a great first part, we were better in the second, but we just lacked scoring that third goal,” Fabregas said. “I just want to help the team, that is the important thing. The truth is that right now we are not interested in Madrid.”

Valencia remained the overnight leader with 10 points, one better than Real Betis and Malaga, which beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 thanks to Santi Cazorla’s exquisite second-half free kick.

Bilbao has now lost three straight under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Barcelona has eight points while Madrid is left with seven. Atletico Madrid also has seven after Radamel Falcao continued his impressive start in Spain by scoring a brace to lead the club to a 4-0 victory over winless Sporting Gijon. Real Betis can go top with 12 points with a fourth straight win to start the season Thursday when Zaragoza visits the newly

SPAIN: Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas (background) duels for the ball with Valencia’s Victor Ruiz (left) during their La Liga soccer match. — AP promoted club.

With center back Gerard Pique missing, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola again started in a 3-4-3 formation, and the team again lacked stability in defense. Fullback Daniel Alves moved up to play as a winger in place of David Villa, as the former Valencia striker started on the bench in his return to the Mestalla stadium. Valencia broke through in the 12th when Roberto Soldado pressured Eric Abidal to deflect Jeremy Mathieu’s cross into goal, leaving goalkeeper Victor Valdes with no chance. Messi’s wizardry cued Barcelona’s response as the Argentina forward dribbled along the edge of area, drawing several Valencia players before sliding through to Pedro Hernandez to draw the visitors even for the first time.

But the lack of bodies in Barcelona’s backfield allowed Valencia to spring forward from the flanks and Abidal was caught flat-footed by another Mathieu pass, with the ball getting through to Pablo Hernandez alone inside the area to slot home for 2-1.

With Mathieu and Soldado threatening, Guardiola dropped Alves back to his normal role and reverted to a 4-4-2 after the restart. Soldado still had a couple of chances in front of goal but misfired

both times. Valencia’s physical play kept Messi and Fabregas in check, although Mascherano hit the crossbar with a longrange shot in the 69th.

But Messi finally broke free to set up Fabregas with his seventh assist of the season, and then nearly set up Villa who had come on as a substitute - for the winner, but Guaita made the save.

Valencia finished with 10 men after Jordi Alba was sent off in the dying minutes. In the Spanish capital, Atletico completely outplayed last-place Sporting with Falcao scoring twice in a nineminute span following an own-goal by Alberto Lora a header from Alvaro Dominguez.

The former FC Porto striker has five goals in two games to join Messi and Soldado as joint-leader. Cazorla and Ronaldo are next with four each.

“Without a doubt, we have signed a great striker that is going to be on the level of the great scorers in Spain like Messi and Ronaldo,” Atletico coach Gregorio Manzano said.

Elsewhere, Levante got its second straight with a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano. On Tuesday, Villarreal beat Mallorca 2-0 for its first win of the season. Sevilla drew 0-0 at Osasuna, and Real Sociedad edged Granada 1-0. — AP

Tearful Brazil forward Damiao limps off injured RIO DE JANEIRO: Leandro Damiao, Brazilian football’s most prolific scorer this season, limped off during a match on Wednesday and cried on the touchline as he contemplated missing Brazil’s upcoming friendlies.

“I don’t know if it has torn or what has happened,” the tearful Internacional forward told reporters at halftime during the 1-1 draw with Figueirense after going off clutching his right thigh. “I felt a sharp pain. I want to be back as soon as possible,” added Damiao.

The 22-year-old, who scored his first goal for Brazil this month in a 1-0 win friendly over Ghana, has scored 39 goals in all competitions this year.

Brazil host Argentina next week, a match in which both teams will field only home-based players, and play Costa Rica and Mexico early in October. A goalless draw against

arch-rivals Corinthians was enough to take Sao Paulo level on 45 points with Vasco da Gama at the top of the Brazilian championship, although Vasco have a game in hand against Atletico Goianiense yesterday. Corinthians, who fined former Inter Milan and Brazil striker Adriano after he was late for training on Monday, are a point behind in third place.

Adriano, who has been sidelined with injury, denied in a television interview that the club had threatened to fire him. Ronaldinho scored to give Flamengo a 1-1 draw at Atletico Mineiro, although his side stayed sixth with 38 points after completing their 10th league match without a win. The former Barcelona and AC Milan player scored with a deflected shot on the hour after Daniel Carvalho had opened the scoring for the Roosters directly from a free. —Reuters

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

EPL Preview

Manchester’s forgotten men make their mark LONDON: Manchester United’s Michael Owen and Manchester City’s Owen Hargreaves have made strong cases for inclusion in Saturday’s Premier League matches after reminding English football of their ability this week.

Little-used striker Owen bagged a brace in United’s 3-0 League Cup third round win at Leeds United on Tuesday and with Javier Hernandez likely to miss the tricky trip to Stoke City, the leaders m ay turn to the former England forward.

Hernandez was injured after a crunching tackle by Ashley Cole in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea which left champions United as the only Premier League team with a 100 percent record after five matches.

Dimitar Berbatov and the fitagain Danny Welbeck are other options to partner Wayne Rooney up front for Alex Ferguson but Owen is feeling back in the groove after a host of injuries.

“It’s nice to prove to yourself and everyone that you can still contribute, still play well. We’re coming into a good part of the season now, with the games com-

LONDON: Manchester City’s Owen Hargreaves celebrates after scoring against Birmingham during their English League Cup soccer match in this file photo. — AP ing thick and fast so hopefully the games will be shared round a bit,” the 31-year-old told Sky. Another man whose career has been blighted by injuries is Hargreaves, who left United at the end of last season after three years out.

He was surprisingly thrown a lifeline by rivals City and scored a stunning goal on his debut in an

injury-free 57 minutes in Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over League Cup holders Birmingham City. Despite their billions, City boss Roberto Mancini complained at the weekend that he did not have enough central midfielders following the 2-2 draw at Fulham which left his side two points behind United. Hargreaves could

fill the void at home to Everton on Saturday (1145) if Nigel de Jong is still injured. City let Craig Bellamy move to Liverpool after he became another forgotten man but the striker also put pressure on his manager in midweek after a goal and sparkling display in the 21 League Cup success at Brighton & Hove Albion.

With forward Andy Carroll struggling for form, the more mobile Bellamy could be an option for Kenny Dalglish at home to fading Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (1400) as eighth-placed Liverpool look to recover for last weekend’s dreadful performance in a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Captain Steven Gerrard also returned from injury at Brighton and the midfielder could replace Charlie Adam against Wolves.

“It was fantastic for everyone connected with the football club to see him back. I’m more pleased for Steven than anyone else. He’s worked very hard to get here,” Dalglish said. “We don’t know when Steven will be at full pelt but it certainly makes our squad a lot stronger.”—AP

German League Preview

Bayern hosts Leverkusen FRANKFURT: Bayern Munich hopes to have striker Mario Gomez back when it hosts coach Jupp Heynckes’ old team Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga tomorrow.

Gomez has scored eight goals in five games but missed Bayern’s last match because of a groin injury. He has resumed training and Heynckes believes Gomez will be fit to play.

“I think he will most probably be ready to play from the start tomorrow,” Heynckes said.

Leverkusen has not won in Munich since 1989, when Heynckes was also Bayern’s coach. Hamburger SV and Schalke both go into the weekend with interim coaches.

Hamburg fired Michael Oenning after falling to last place. Schalke’s coach Ralf Rangnick stepped down on Thursday because of burnout.

Bayern is off to a strong start. It lost the opener but won the next five, scoring 18 goals and conceding only one. It has a twopoint lead over Werder Bremen.

When he arrived, Heynckes said he would shore up Bayern’s leaky defense and so far the team has lived up to the promise.

At the same time, Bayern has been scoring almost at will, even though winger Arjen Robben has been out for four weeks with various injuries.

Robben is back in training and might even be ready to play tomorrow. “It looks very good but we’ll have to wait a few days to see,” Heynckes said. Leverkusen has been hit by a series of injuries and has three wins and two losses along with one draw under new

coach Robin Dutt. Dutt’s team is coming off a 4-1 home loss to Cologne.

“That was an accident. I think Leverkusen will present a different face in Munich,” said Heynckes, who spent two successful seasons in Leverkusen. “You can’t forget it in three months,” he said. Leverkusen has not won in Munich in 21 matches, with only five draws.

To compound Leverkusen’s problems, forward Andre Schuerrle and midfielder Michal Kadlec are suspended.

Leverkusen’s captain Simon Rolfes said

GERMANY: Schalke 04’s new interims coach Seppo Eichkorn (center) leads the first training session after head coach Ralf Rangnick resigned because of mental exhaustion. — AP

the home defeat against Cologne deeply affected the team. “You can’t put such a defeat behind you in a few hours. But I can promise our fans that we won’t play as we did against Cologne,” Rolfes said.

Schalke, with three wins and three defeats, hosts Freiburg in the first match after the surprise departure of Rangnick.

The club said Rangnick was suffering from burnout and the coach said he had no energy to carry on. “After a long and deep reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a break,” Rangnick said in a statement on the club website.

“It was extremely hard to reach this decision but my current energy level is not enough to be successful and to bring the team and the club forward.”

Assistant coach Seppo Eichkorn will be on the bench against Freiburg. Hamburg also will be guided by interim coach Rodolfo Cardoso when it kicks off the seventh round at Stuttgart. Hamburg has one draw and five losses and could find itself facing relegation for the first time.

Werder Bremen, back at the top after struggling last season, hosts Hertha Berlin on Sunday. Another team that escaped relegation, Borussia Moenchengladbach, is now third and plays at home on Saturday against Nuremberg. Fourth-place Hoffenheim is at Cologne on Sunday.

In other matches tomorrow, Mainz hosts defending champion Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg plays Kaiserslautern and Augsburg meets Hannover. — AP

Italian League Preview

Novara looks to continue surprise run at Atalanta ROME: Two of the more interesting stories in Serie A cross paths tomorrow when Novara visits fellow promoted club Atalanta.

Novara celebrated its home debut after a 55-year absence from the top division by beating 10-man Inter Milan 3-1 Tuesday - a result that led to the firing of coach Gian Piero Gasperini - while Atalanta would be on pace with the league leaders if not for a sixpoint penalty from a match-fixing and betting scandal.

Also this weekend, Claudio Ranieri will make his debut as Inter coach at Bologna, struggling title-holder AC Milan hosts Cesena and surprise leader Genoa is at Chievo Verona.

Novara was playing in the third division just three seasons ago and won a playoff with Padova in June to get back in Serie A. Having opened the season with one draw and a loss, expectations weren’t high before the game against Inter at the city’s 20,000-seat Silvio Piola Stadium.

That all changed when Novara forward Riccardo Meggiorini scored in the 38th minute by finishing off an impressive counterattack, and Marco Rigoni then added two late goals after Inter was reduced to 10 men.

“It’s still unbelievable. What happened (Tuesday) nobody can take away from us,” said Novara coach Attilio Tesser, who has remained with the club from the lower division. “But we’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and realize that we’re still a long way from our goal.” The goal for a small club like Novara is avoiding relegation and securing another season in Serie A. “Sunday’s game is of utmost importance, because it’s against a team that on paper at least should be one of our direct opponents (for avoiding relegation),” Tesser added.

Atalanta, however, is looking like it might do more than just attempt to stay out of the bottom three spots - largely because of a pair of Argentines.

Maxi Moralez scored twice in Atalanta’s season opener and German Denis has three goals in three matches. The pair have helped erase the scoring vacancy caused by the 31/2year ban for club captain Cristiano Doni for his role in the scandal.

Like Genoa, Juventus and Udinese, Atalanta has gained seven points - but the Bergamo squad is listed with just one due to its point penalty.

Both Atalanta and Novara lie in Milan’s near surroundings, with Novara located just 42 kilometers (26 miles) west of Milan. The geography made the win over Inter all the more special.

“I couldn’t even imagine a better return to Serie A,” Novara Mayor Andrea Ballare told Corriere della Sera. Giovanni Udovicich, who played 19 seasons with Novara between 1958 and 1976 - all in the second and third divisions, was also emotional. “The other night I felt repaid for all my suffering at not having reached Serie A,” Udovicich said.

Meanwhile, Inter and Milan will each be seeking their first league wins of the season this weekend. Inter lost all five of its matches under Gasperini, while Milan’s only victory this campaign came against Inter in the Italian Super Cup last month.

Milan’s defense in particular has been a worry, having given up eight goals in its last four matches in all competitions. Milan also has injury problems.—AP

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Former India captain Pataudi dies aged 70 Page 60

www.kuwaittimes.net

Barcelona rallies to draw at Valencia

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SPAIN: Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas celebrates after scoring against Valencia during their La Liga soccer match at Mestalla stadium. —AP