Kuwait Times
January 8, 2010
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NO: 14603
INSIDE
Diving from reality to fantasy PAGES 6 & 7
Egyptians riot after 7 killed in church attack. PAGE 4511
KUWAIT: Deputy Speaker of the House MP Abdullah Al-Roumi (top right) is reacting to a comment during the Parliament session yesterday while First Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (down left) looks on. — Photo by Yaaser Al-Zayyat
Bedoons in predicament Vampires rule Peopleʼs Choice Awards
No end seen to stateless conundrum By Ahmad Saeid
Page 54
Clippers get rare win over Lakers PAGE 60
KUWAIT: While discussion on the bedoon’s civil rights draft law in the National Assembly was postponed yesterday due to lack of quorum (for the second time in a row) nearly 100,000 bedoons (stateless persons) continue to fight a ‘paper war’ in a bid to reflect their physical existence on legal dossiers. Some bedoons think that the government and the National Assembly have been deferring this issue for decades now, and that this ‘intentional’ policy has pushed some toward facing perpetual hardship. While many bedoons continue to face the ‘regular’ difficulties that accompany statelessness, others face a unique situation - they are neither considered to be stateless nor citizens of any country in the world! The problems of this segment of people begin with being stateless or not belonging to any country. Khalifa Al-Utaibi, Spokesman of the Gathering of Kuwaiti Bedoons, said
the Kuwaiti government had founded the Executive Committee for Illegal Residents (ECIR) to naturalize the stateless. This was done so that the government could later claim that they are not stateless but ‘illegal residents’ who conceal their true nationality. “We have to seek the committee’s approval to do any paper work,” AlUtaibi said. “And when we go there, they give us an approval letter stating the citizenship they have conferred on us. In order to receive the approval, you have to sign a pledge stating that you are a holder of a particular nationality. Otherwise they will not allow it,” he said. Al-Utaibi adds that he had once approached the ECIR to seek approval. He was told that he was of a Saudi origin. “I told them okay, I agree. I’ll be proud to admit that I am Saudi. Where is my Saudi passport? Can you please give it to me so I can at least obtain a birth certificate for my daughter? They told me “that’s
your job to find out, not ours.” These are the kind of procedures they impose on us,” he laments. According to Al-Utaibi, Kuwaiti government has been imposing pressure on the stateless people since 1986. “We face such restrictions every day,” Al-Utaibi said. “We have to struggle to register marriages, register the birth of a child, issue a death certificate. Any kind of interaction where paperwork is involved is a painful experience for us,” he explains. Al-Utaibi took the point further arguing that the only way bedoons can contract marriages is through the help of court orders. The groom files a suit claiming to have had illegal relations with the bride. The judge then issues an order legalizing their marriage contract. Supporters of these measures argue that they are rewarding. A large number of bedoons have ‘adjusted’ to their situations and ‘recovered’ their original passports.
The consequences of these restrictions are showing up in far more complicated, inhumane situations. As one of the aftereffects of this policy, a group of people have now been rendered non-bedoon. They are not citizens of any other country in the world. There are no definitions to describe them; they are simply ‘nameless.’ They are widely referred to as ‘stateless of stateless’ or bedoon of bedoon and face dead ends. In addition, they face the misfortune of having to ‘come up’ with a passport in order to survive. Abu Abdallah, a father of six children in his forties, is a former bedoon. Owing to a number of complications, including difficulties related to issuing birth certificates for his two youngest daughters, he had to buy a Syrian passport from a company that had placed an advertisement in local newspapers in 2001. He said that he paid KD 6,000 for the passport, which he then submitted to the Continued on Page 9
LOCAL
Page 2 FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT
The ‘white’ photograph
By Muna Al-Fuzai
D
o you of ten take photographs of yourself? I never gave it much thought until recently, when many people asked me to take a new photograph. I was quite indecisive about choosing which studio to approach. I finally decided to go the one that was popular among many Kuwaitis. I learned that this place was usually busy and was curious to know why. I thought that the place would provide efficient, good quality work. I later found out that was not the reason! I went to the said studio in the evening. I entered the rather small, old, furnished shop and was given a token with the numeral eight written on it. I asked the receptionist if I would have to wait for a long time. She denied and said that I will have to wait for half an hour more. I could see young Kuwaiti women, newly married couples or families with small babies flock to this place. Before they left, they reminded the photographer of their preferences; to ‘make it white.’ I wondered what that meant. I inquired about this with a woman who was in charge. She told me that some customers requested for their skin tone to be digitally enhanced in order to appear lighter.
Why? Does a ghost-like pale skin boost their self-image? Why do people want to fool others or themselves? I really don’t understand how a lighter skin tone changes one’s personality. Maybe it’s because I believe we should be proud of the skin color we’re born with. I think such requests are trivial. How does it matter at all? It is disappointing to note that young
The more you attempt to mask your skin color, the phonier you appear. educated women who looked very pretty otherwise were making such requests. I’m sure they would not look prettier if they were differently ‘colored.’ Such preconceived notions are the constructs of false media propaganda. Such assumptions have no truth to them. Your skin color will never make you a better person. The more you attempt to mask it, the phonier you appear. I had my photographs taken and I am happy with the way I appear. m u n a @ ku w a i t t i m e s . n e t
Friday, January 8, 2010 IN MY VIEW
Sultry winters give the chills By Sajeev K Peter
I
t was the wee hours of Christmas eve and I was still lost in the midst of that continuing quest to escape the drudgery of daily life, when from nowhere came that longing for ‘A Winter’s Tale.’ Time enters and announces twelve years have rolled by. I zoom in and out. A lot of changes! The skyline is different, the roads are full of SUVs, the malls multiply, and satellite dishes adorn the rooftops. But sadly enough, winter is withering away in Kuwait. I remember all the winters I saw in Kuwait. Come November, the warm cozy pullovers, the wool neck warmers, thermals, mittens, long socks and ear muffs, all would compete to keep people warm. But 2010 walked in warm and bright. There are no more winter rains or chilly days in Kuwait. One wouldn’t imagine a January night so sultry and hot with mercury rising above 20 degrees Celsius. Rapid climate change and its effects have started playing truant with Kuwait’s weather. It is real and alarmingly real. Talking about the winter days in Kuwait, a housewife and a grandmother of four recalls with a tinge of nostalgia, “In the seventies, winter was a treat. We did not have central heating units in the houses. We used the stove to keep us warm. It used to be so cold, all my children would sleep together to fight the chill.” A friend of mine asked me to go to the desert to feel the chill of winter. Temperatures in our neighborhoods are rising every year
By Abdullah Al-Qattan
KUWAIT: An image of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium that is expected to open soon. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
DIGEST
T
The American instrument
he American Administration has installed its latest instrument of desecration- a scanning machine set up at airports, wrote Mohammad Al-Shaibani in his column which appeared in Al-Qabas. He feels that during the past nine years, several other mechanisms have been put in place to enforce strict security measures at airports. In addition, the United States has unleashed several health concerns over the years with diseases like the Anthrax, Mad Cow, Bird Flu, and most recently, the Swine Flu. While some of its intentions have been realized, American arrogance has not been fully satisfied, he wrote. The US will continue to place more restrictions and release more life threatening diseases. Whoever fails to toe the line, will have to face CIA agents, better known as ‘Qaeda’ militants’ operations, the author feels. The case of Nigerian Omar Abdulmuttalib demonstrates how Muslims can fulfill ‘jihadist dreams.’ This ‘wish’ was found to be criminal. The author wrote that despite the fact that the world has previously been influenced by the Persians, Greeks, and even Muslims, not to mention the imperialist practices of the British, the Soviet Union and the United States. This is before United States turned into the only super power. ‘Omar Abdulmuttalib, the CIA, I mean, Qaeda member, was arrested right before he detonated the explosives inside the plane.
How could that happen? It happened because the US administration realized that Americans and all of humanity have become aware of terrorism-related acts. Muslim extremists were previously blamed. Now, it is clear that US intelligence agencies have carried it out so that the blame falls on Muslims,’ he wrote. He goes on to write, ‘I fail to understand why the lives of innocent people are being risked as part of their plans to accuse the Muslim World. I believe that it is only following the September 11 attacks and the controversies surrounding it, that they have begun to realize the amount of bickering that triggers these attacks. More fingers are being pointed directly at their own secret intelligence services for plotting criminal schemes and killing innocent people.’ On September 11, the US air space openly invited the CIA aka Al-Qaeda to carry out their attacks, leaving no evidence but some of which that place the blame on Muslims, so that the American scheme commences in our countries. Al-Shaibani feels that the situation will not change until the United States’ reign ends. While highlighting the triviality of Omar Abdulmuttalib incident, Al-Shaibani expressed concern over the some countries’ loss of honor. Furthermore, he warned that the United States has taken control over Pakistan and Afghanistan, thereby paving the way into Yemen.
sajeev@kuwaittimes.net
Finding the best solutions
IN MY VIEW
I
because of the increasing number of motor vehicles on roads and the mushrooming concrete jungles around us. The reasoning may be true or untrue. Meteorologists may find it hard to explain away the reasons why the mercury is rising ‘radically.’ Sad but true, there is no more winter here. It is a warm forward march. Scientists have spent decades to figure out what causes global warming. They have looked at the natural cycles and events that are known to influence climate. One of the first things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2. But then, who wants to miss the winters? Clad in a full woolen overcoat and boots, a schoolgirl Salima quips, “Well, I got these for this winter, if I don’t wear it now, when will I?” “Climate disruptions will affect more people than does war in the coming years. So why not enjoy my winter special -a double shot of hot chocolate and french-fries to watch ‘Avatar’ in 360 cinema which offers a cool feel,” smiles Rajee. If winter comes, can spring be far behind?
t seems that in the last half of this year, Kuwait has shown a vast and noticeable interest in the environment - or at least what’s left of it. Mass media campaigns with huge amounts of money spent on them can actually make a big difference if spent wisely. Nevertheless, we are grateful for this effort which - God willing - will take a turn for the best in the near future. Now, if we look at some statistics, we will notice that Kuwait has about a million adult citizens who drive this year. Also, if we count the number of cars on the streets that Kuwaitis own, we will find that every citizen has about 1.3 cars. This means that some citizens out there have two or three cars at home which are maintained by paid drivers who do extra chores around the house. A relatively new statistic shows that for every Kuwaiti citizen, there are at least two expats. This leaves us with triple the amount of cars in Kuwait that contribute toward air pollution. So in Kuwait’s case, cars are the largest contributors to environmental pollution. Kuwait, often defined as a ‘tiny, oil-rich state,’ is more dependent on cars than almost any other country in the region. This is because of Kuwait’s climatic instability and because of the simple fact that we look at cars as a measurement of social status than just a simple means of transporta-
tion. It is a fact that we live this way because we adapted to this lifestyle a long time ago. During this period of transformation, though, we neglected the fact that we don’t live in a perfect world and that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In our case, the action is the incredible amount of cars used in this country that use gas and the reaction is their emission. If you burn one gallon of our proudly manufactured gasoline, 8.2 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) will come out of your tail pipe. This is the crux of the problem. It looks as though we are facing the rather simple dilemma of co-ordinating the number of cars on the street. The logical solution it to cut back the number of cars which will in turn produce less CO2. Perhaps you are asking yourself, does such a solution exist? The municipality is considering building a public metro system that will reduce the amount of traffic and our pollution problem. However, the municipality conducted a survey to determine how the population of Kuwait would react to such a solution and were shocked at the negative results. Apparently Kuwait’s problem isn’t the huge number of cars on the streets, the amount of CO2 in the air or the traffic jams that take forever to clear out. The real problem Kuwait faces is how to convince people like you and me to believe that public transportation isn’t such a bad thing.
What would it take to drive home the point that public transportation isn’t such a bad thing?
LOCAL
Friday, January 8, 2010
IN MY VIEW
No democracy without freedom of expression
By Abdulla Alnouri
K
uwait seems to be experiencing a potential democratic turning point. Freedom of expression has been on the forefront of the news these past several weeks with the banning of Egyptian activist Nasser Abu Zaid from the country, the closing of the Al-Sour TV channel and an Amiri address to the nation regarding the importance of political and media responsibility not to instigate sectarianism. Even after the speech, further challenges to the freedom of expression have been made. Some MPs urged police forces to closely monitor New Year’s Eve celebrations while other Government officials threatened to censor independent internet blogs (although just how they plan to do this and for what reason exactly is still a bit murky). How exciting! Not to make light of the situation, but this is an aspect of democracy that obviously needs more defining in Kuwait. When should a citizen’s right of expression be stopped in the name of national security? At least, no one here has taken the idea of throwing out freedom of expression seriously as a ‘foreign’ idea. Instead, it seems as though lawmakers are re-negotiating where these lines in the sand should be drawn and are proposing amendments to the audio visual law. Kuwait has a good reputation for protecting its freedom of expression. Individually, it is protected in Article 36 of Kuwait’s Constitution. Institutionally, Kuwait this past year ranked near the top third of Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index of 2009. This was the country’s highest position in the past eight years and the highest for the Middle East region. The question now
HalluciNations
Without free political discourse to create, change, or evolve public opinion, democracy is useless. It becomes a mouthpiece for those only interested in keeping power for themselves and is characterized by individuals pandering to constituents instead of national causes.
opinion, democracy is useless. It becomes a mouthpiece for those only interested in keeping power for themselves and is characterized by individuals pandering to constituents instead of national causes. A ‘dead’ democracy should be considered just as much a threat to national security as one that is too lively. Proponents of expression should point out the importance of having a
Governmental authority that protects an individual’s right in order to avoid situations like the one we had this summer when a journalist was attacked and no suspect was ever caught. Also, a healthy level of freedom from moral police is necessary if we are ever to further develop the ideas necessary to lead this country into the next decade. Restricting how people think does not promote ‘home grown’ initiatives; it just limits the scope of the conversation we need to have to face future challenges. As for the Al-Juwaihel situation, I have no opinion on whether he should be prosecuted against or not. Ultimately, it is a court decision. The law needs to intervene and determine if what he said on air was quantitatively harmful to Kuwaiti society or just hateful slander. Also, the law should determine if there are people involved in the case with an interest in making ‘a mountain out a molehill’ for their own political ends and if this threatens the security of Kuwait. Kuwait will truly have accomplished something great when it can experience a plurality of opinions without feeling as though its national security is threatened. Maybe it is naive to think that Kuwait will get there soon but I think it is possible. Kuwait is already diverse and educated enough. We have the opinions here already; it’s just a matter of giving them an arena where the best thoughts can prevail. The best defense for national security is to create a firm and well-established national identity so that when the country is faced with moments of sectarianism, be they racist opinions or violent, a confident public solidarity remains. abdullaalnouri@kuwaittimes.net
Why the climate carelessness?
By Ahmad Saeid
T
is will this right be trimmed in the name of national security, or will it be given the opportunity to grow? Those who are strong advocates of the freedom of expression should really take advantage of the opportunity the current situation provides. Without this most fundamental liberty, democracy itself will no doubt become a soulless thing. Without free political discourse to create, change, or evolve public
here appears to be an element of truth in the joke which says that weather is playing truant with the western hemisphere for failing to reach a resolution on the global warming issue at the Copenhagen climate summit. The snow storms that have paralyzed parts of Europe, especially England in the last few days, is a good example of how costly it could be to continue ignoring the climate change. How many more storms do we need to face in order to understand the magnitude of the threat? I simply cannot understand the reasons behind such apathy! I mean, we are talking about scientific facts here. The climate is changing. The change is affecting the lives of people all over the world. Most importantly, the oil resources are fast depleting and its prices are climbing up every year. We will eventually start using renewable energy. So what causes this carelessness? How can it be explained? First, we could assume that world powers like USA, Russia and China have been struggling for so long to lay hands on oil producing countries, to give up so easily. All of these powers know for sure, that while any of them will be busy trying to rebuild its infrastructure to adapt to a new renewable energy, others would be already economically dominating its
sphere of influence, and it will be too late to regain it, and eventually the dominators will get the new energy as a bonus. The situation is like two men who fight with knives; one clenches tightly onto the other man’s wrist, and no one wants to reach for the gun on the ground because they both know by the time anyone could have it, he will be already succumbed to stab wounds. Europe, of course, is no angel.
How many more storms do we need to face in order to understand the magnitude of the threat? Although it wants to find an alternative means of energy to end Russia’s influence over its economy, it’s not willing to pay the price alone. So, this would be the first possible explanation. The second could be that the theory suggested above is a product of my imagination, no such power struggle exists whatsoever. In this case, the reason why no concrete action is being taken to tackle climate change is because the ‘elite’ leaders (who control the oil industry and
hence the international economy) believe that the world is an overcrowded place. They know that global warming will wipe out a large portion of humanity, either by drowning or starvation. They assume that the remaining resources available will be enough to sustain their lives. They simply don’t care, as long as they are cash-rich. Think about it. No matter how expensive bread becomes, ‘they’ will always be able to buy it. It’s the poor people who will starve to death. We already have one billion hungry people in the world, and no one seems to care. The process has already been set in motion. Thirdly, all of the above could be complete nonsense, and I would be totally hallucinating, and the only reason why no action is being taken is simply because everyone feels comfortable with the way things are in place right now. Nations are not exerting enough pressure on their leaders to take any steps in this regard. Finally, it could also be all of the above! Either way, I think humanity should take climate change more seriously. We in the Gulf region for instance, should prepare ourselves for the post-oil era. If we wait until oil is replaced by another source of energy, we will be lagging far behind. We need to start channelizing solar and wind power and prepare infrastructure in such a manner that it can be exported to the rest of the world. This is a much better proposition than spending billions on brag-worthy skyscrapers. saeid@kuwaittimes.net
Page 3 SATIRE WIRE
Forgive and forget By Sawsan Kazak
T
he National Assembly in Kuwait approved a law on Wednesday that called for two billion dinars of interest on Kuwaiti citizen’s debt to be written off by the Government. This generous decision seems like a step in the right direction to help those who are overcome with debt. We could only hope that more companies or Governmental entities would take this high road and implement the ‘forgive and forget’ method. This kind act may cause a trickle-down effect and inspire others to overlook outstanding debts. Maybe my phone company can forgive my overdue charges for this month and not cut my line, holding my social life hostage until I pay (something they do every month). Maybe my bank can pardon my credit card balance; they can wipe the slate clean and allow me to get that purse I’ve been eyeing at the mall. Maybe with all this generosity going around, my car payments will be waived and my vehicle will be a ‘gift’. Maybe my friend will absolve the outstanding loan that I owe her and not ask me to pay it back. However, before we get ahead of ourselves dreaming of the Utopia that may be, it’s important to note that the Government of Kuwait stated it would reject the law due to ‘technical, constitutional and procedural shortcomings’ which would make it difficult to implement. The forgive-and-forget method would not actually cure the problem - it would just temporarily cure the symptoms. The overwhelming problems of debt and interest would reappear in no time. I guess if I too was forgiven of all the above, I would find myself in the same state of debt within a few months. I would shop more, talk on the phone more, borrow more money and probably get a better car. My new found state of ‘debtlessness’ would be lost very quickly. The old saying stands true: ‘Easy come, easy go’. Perhaps forgiving and forgetting is not the right path when it comes to solving every problem. LETTER TO SAWSAN Dear Sawsan, This is with reference to your article that appeared in the Kuwait Times on Nov 27. You are very lucky to experience a pleasant check-in on that day, but you did not mention what flight it was on. Here is the ordeal I experienced with a popular airlines here. My wife was one of the unlucky passengers who happened to travel on Nov 25 to Trivandrum. We reached the airport three hours prior to departure, as her flight was scheduled at 9 pm. We were surprised to see the long queue outside the check-in counter. It took her almost two hours for her turn to come as passenger traffic was not being cleared, except for those who used ‘wasta’. We stood in queue till 8 pm. I left my wife there and went to the supervisor, and requested him to speed up the checkin process. However, he apologized and said that he couldn’t do anything because of a shortage in staff at the checkin counter. After some time, I approached a staff-member and requested his help as time was running out and the flight was expected to leave soon. He considered my request and asked me to bring the baggage. I thanked him, ran to my wife who was still waiting and pulled out the suitcases from the trolley. I then took them to another check-in counter, all the while ignoring the passengers’ ire. She managed to board the flight on time. We learnt that the flight was delayed by an hour-and-a-half. When she reached Trivandrum, she found that one baggage was missing and had to spend another two hours to lodge a complaint to reclaim the missing piece. Its status to this date is ‘Under trace.’ It has not been found ever since. This is not the first time that we have faced such bad treatment with this airlines. It always happens during summer and public holidays. I wonder how you could travel without any hassles that day. Regards, Jacob John
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LOCAL
Friday, January 8, 2010
KUWAIT: Illustrative photos show how the Al-Mutawa schooling began.
Al-Mutawa:
The legacy of learning
Becoming an Al-Mutawa was a family job; it was their duty to raise children in an inspirational environment and teach them about society, religion and life. By Abdullah Al-Qattan long time ago, before oil was found in Kuwait, people had a genuine interest in education. Islam obliged our pursuit of knowledge in three main forms: Literacy, so that people could read the Holy Quran; simple math so that people could know how much money they made; and craft which took more practice than studies. Now, both math and craftsmanship were easy to obtain because a person had a lifetime to master those disciplines. Addressing the needs of reading and writing, however, was more difficult because people only had until a certain age to join a Mutawa, who was usually an Imam in a mosque. They would provide literacy only to the young people of a neighborhood.
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Family bequest Becoming an Al-Mutawa was a family job. It was the family’s duty to raise children in an inspirational environment and teach them about society, religion and life. Eventually becoming an Al-Mutawa developed into a profession to teach people how to read and write for everyday use. Many famous families took it upon themselves to adopt the profession as a permanent job owing to the good income it provided. Two families, the Adsani and the Boodai, were well known for their educational commitment and were referred to as ketateeb (writers). Mutawas would rent out houses if they were not in charge of a mosque that could be utilized for their teaching sessions. Many women educators would use their own houses to teach female students. Some of the most famous female ketateeb were Fatma AlMisbah, Lulua Al-Banai and Aisha Al-Omar. They would teach all over
Kuwait, in such places as the Sharqiya (Eastern) neighborhood, Salhiya and Qibla. Ketateeb’s commitment The ketateeb would accept simple sums of money from a student for their work. Dekhala was the fee for a single session, Khamsiyah was the fee for every other Thursday and the Al-Jeza would be paid when a pupil finished part of the Holy Quran. The Khatma would be the fee for helping a student complete the entire Holy Quran. The payment method wasn’t always monetary and was often an offer of whatever goods the family had at the time. It was known that most of the ketateeb would accept payments of rice and dates so that they could sell them later on. The ketateeb would teach by reading a verse of the Quran while the student repeated after them. Students would be asked to bring in a piece of wood, called a beshakhtah that they could write on. The piece of wood was prepared by the student’s parent and covered with an oily mud so that it could be rinsed and used again. To provide extracurricular knowledge, the ketateeb would send his students to help merchants with their bills and provide them with books regarding a particular profession. This would allow pupils an opportunity to pay for their education while working and learning a craft. Education in Kuwait had somewhat of a humble beginning. Eventually people lifted Kuwait’s education to the next level and began building facilities such as the Mubarakiya and Ahmadiya schools. Now, a countless number of schools remind of Kuwait’s earliest known academic traditions and help it live on.
Friday, January 8, 2010
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Friday, January 8, 2010
By Sahar Moussa
man whose love for adventure and quest for the unknown led him to pursue scuba diving, a hobby that soon became his profession. He has now effectively channelized his skills for a noble cause -becoming the first scuba diving instructor in Kuwait and the Middle East to teach the physically challenged and the speech, hearing impaired. The Kuwait Times caught up with him for an interview.
A
Q: Please introduce yourself? A: My name is Abdul Qader Idrees and I have been a specialist instructor diver at PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) since 1994. I am also an underwater photographer, private trainer for the physically challenged and the speech, hearing impaired. I’m also a specialist diver and instructor at CMAS (Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques ) also known as ‘The World Underwater Federation.’
Q: When did you take up diving and why did A:
you choose this hobby? I took up diving in 1992 because I like to explore the unknown, and diving is one of the hobbies that allow you to enjoy the marvelous secrets of the sea, especially if you are an underwater photographer. You are also able to capture the beauty of the underworld sea.
Q: What are your diving specialties? A: I have specialized in twenty five categories - a few of my roles have been as an underwater navigator, underwater photographer, deep diver, night diver, equipment specialist, wreck diver, search and recovery diver.
Q: What steps and courses should a beginner A:
take? First of all, a new diver need not be an expert at swimming but should at least know how to swim. Secondly, they should be physically fit and be willing to learn. This allows us to set a schedule according to the price package we fix. The instructor and the learner should form a bond. For the ‘open water’ level there are five phases and it’s a must to pass that level flawlessly.
LOCAL
Friday, January 8, 2010
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Otherwise, we don’t move on to the second level. Every person’s learning skill varies from one to another - a person might finish a course in four days while the other might take a week to do the same. The first level consists of five courses, these have been tailor-made, there are lessons to wear equipment and how to remove it in a pool or lake. In the beginning, courses are given theoretically then we apply it. It is very important to teach how the mask is worn and taken off, snorkeling, scuba and scuba diving gear. It’s very important to teach beginners how to deal with emergency situations and how to save your partner if anything wrong happens. These are the first steps. After completing the first level, the individual will be ready to take up the second level which involves an expedition into the sea. To pass this level, he is required to undergo at least two days of training which will consist of four attempts.
Q: Is it true that the diver should not embark A:
on a solo expedition? A diver should never venture out alone. There must always be a partner diver with him. We call him ‘the body system’ for emergency and safety reasons. Besides, the diver cannot enjoy the underwater view alone there must be someone to share it with.
Q: When did you start training the physicallyA:
challenged people? Do you use different techniques with them? I have been training the physicallychallenged since 1995. I was the first trainer in Kuwait and the Middle East. Not many supported me and I was mocked at for doing so. Kuwait Times was the first newspaper to bring up the topic and
with what I know best, which is diving.
Q: Is there an age limit for scuba diving? A: The ages differ from a scuba union to other,
Q: Do you think scuba diving is an expensive A:
but the minimum age limit is 12 years.
Q: What factors hinder a person from pursuing the activity?
hobby? Well yes, it’s expensive. This is mainly because the equipment used are expensive and it varies between KD 350 to KD 7,000 according to its name and brand and usage. We ask students to buy equipment because that are suitable for the body and face, especially the mask, fins and snorkels.
Q: Is it necessary to wear suit all the time? A: I always advise my students to wear it for safety reasons. This is because when you are underwater they are prone to injuries from hard, sharp precipices, so why take chances? Besides, wearing the diving suit is more professional and verifies your identity as a diver.
Q: What is the feeling like, exploring A:
underwater? I feel like a bird in flight, a very liberated feeling.
Q: How do you convince people to try this A:
out? I ask them to just go ahead and do it, there’s nothing to lose. I believe that those people that are healthy and in good shape don’t use this to their advantage - discover life and have fun. They don’t appreciate what God has gifted them with .
Q: How many students you have taught? A: I have taught 130 divers belonging to encouraged me. The physically-challenged need more attention and time because people with special needs already feel that they don’t fit in well with the society. So our goal is to integrate them back into society. Our duty is to give them confidence and show them that they can be effective elements and a part of society. As an individual, I felt that it’s my duty to help
A:
Before proceeding with any scuba diving lesson, we ask the person to bring us a medical report from his doctor which proves that he is in good shape. He has to sign an undertaking according to which he or she accepts complete responsibility. One of the other cases is pregnancy or those with sensitive ears.
different nationalities. They all apply the same program without discrimination.
Q: What lessons can you take from diving? A: Diving teaches you to be an adventurer and an explorer that gives you selfconfidence.
sahar@kuwaittimes.net
LOCAL
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Friday, January 8, 2010
KUWAIT: (Left) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah presents a memento to one of the honored guests during the inaugural ceremony of the festival on Wednesday. (Right) A group picture of the invitees. —Photos by KUNA
‘Culture stands up to social maladies’ KUWAIT: Culture, now more than ever, plays a crucial role in standing up to social maladies and threats, said Minister of Information and Minister of Oil Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah AlSabah. The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the 16th Qurain Cultural Festival, held under the auspices of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah. The event was held on Wednesday night. “Unfortunately, our societies are facing one challenge after the next, and the common denominator (for these challenges) is the threat of discord, extremism, and discrimination in all its forms, despite the social commonalities of language, religion, common fate, and the hope for a bright future,” the
16th Qurain Cultural Festival opens minister said. He underscored the great responsibility that intellectuals had to bear in tackling these challenges. “Culture cannot come in parallel with development, unless it stands up to the challenges and maladies that are standing in the way of development, and unless it comes close to the issues of our society and nation.” Sheikh Ahmad stressed that realizing noble goals required constant review of the means to get there, especially when it came to cultural activity, which in itself faced great challenges in a world of constant change in the technology and economic systems that affected social and cultural traditions. The minister lauded the Qurain
Cultural Festival for developing its program year after year, noting the addition of the “festival guest of honor” to this year’s activities. He welcomed the delegation of the UAE, headed by its Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development Abdulrahman Al-Owais, saying that the delegation’s participation in this year’s festival made it “a double festivity. Sheikh Ahmad further said that this annual festival was “an opportunity to view examples of the creative works of our Kuwaiti sons and daughters in all fields, alongside the activities held by our Arab brothers and sisters, and by our friends.” The Qurain Cultural Festival remains a venue for
recognizing creativity and innovative people, which is something towards which Kuwait accords great interest, he added, congratulating the 11 actors, artists, and intellectuals who won the 2009 State Award. Al-Owais said in his speech that culture was the basis for the development of any society, adding that the UAE considered this a strategic option for the construction of its “development infrastructure” and an important element of civilization. He added that his country held a prominent position in the cultural world because it believed - according to a clear vision - that being in the lead required an intellectual, young, and innovative society that was able
Gulf states warned of possible Qaeda attacks Intelligence urges security measures for oil and gas tankers KUWAIT: Western intelligence has warned energy-rich Gulf states that Al-Qaeda is on the verge of launching attacks mainly on ships after regrouping in the past few months, the AlQabas daily reported yesterday. Citing unnamed Kuwaiti security sources, the daily said that Al-Qaeda has trained operatives in the region to carry out attacks on war, commercial and passenger vessels in the Gulf and Arabian Sea. Western intelligence has urged Gulf states to boost security measures to provide protection for ships, especially oil and gas tankers, the Kuwaiti security sources said. The Al-Qaeda network has been able to regroup over the past few months, taking advantage of deteriorating security in Somalia and Yemen, and has successfully established command and control bases in the two countries, the sources said.
They added that Qaeda operatives in Somalia have in recent weeks captured advanced weapons from government forces and transferred them to their counterparts in Yemen. Western intelligence also provided Gulf states with names and locations of new Al-Qaeda command posts in Somalia and names of field commanders and members in Gulf states most of whom unknown previously, they added. Yemeni security forces on Wednesday captured Mohammad Al-Hanq, a key Al-Qaeda leader, and two other militants believed behind threats against Western interests. The arrest came as Yemen’s authorities said Al-Qaeda jihadists were being choked countrywide and forced into “holes.” Yemeni forces have fought bloody battles with AlQaeda militants in the past few weeks. —AFP
Yemeni diplomat questions Al-Humaidi’s infiltration KUWAIT: The Yemeni Ambassador to Kuwait, Khalid Al-Sheikh, recently criticized the statements made by the British Prime Minister, in which he accused his country to be “failing”, and added that Yemen is capable of maintaining security and enforcing order against outlaws. The ambassador further addressed the criticism made against his country over the fight against terror, and stated that the West are “living with a nightmare called Al-Qaeda”. Al-Sheikh explained that they are required to battle Al-Qaeda’s threats and the ‘Houthi’ rebels despite their limited capabilities, and expected to eliminate them without higher assistance. Al-Sheikh spoke in light of Al-Humaidi AlShammeri’s escape from Yemen via a boat, and said that his country cannot be blamed, considering the problems and conflicts with rebels. He raised questions about the manner in which Al-Humaidi managed to access Kuwaiti’s territorial waters and enter the main land without being arrested. Al-Sheikh expressed his faith in the ability of the Kuwaiti judiciary system and added that his country is awaiting investigation results and will not take action until then, reported Al-Watan.
to create an ambitious future. However, the minister said that this came hand-in-hand with the protection of national identity and further instilling patriotism. Al-Owais lauded the Qurain Cultural Festival for becoming “a shining beacon in the Gulf, and in the arena of human creativity through its program of Arab and international activities.” He thanked the festival’s organizers for selecting the UAE as guest of honor this year, saying that this reflected the strong cultural ties between the two countries. The UAE will be participating in the first week of the festival, which will extend for three weeks. The guest country will be holding an operetta, a formative art exhibition, poetry recitations, and lectures in different public venues, including theaters and malls. —KUNA
in the news Strategic committee formed for KU KUWAIT: Kuwait University Rector Dr Abdullah AlFuhaid issued a decision Wednesday to form a strategic planning committee for the university. Al-Fuhaid said in a press release that the committee would study plans for a university development scheme from 2005 up to 2025. The most significant goal of the integration plan is to commence procedures for a new university campus in Shadadiya, which would hold a larger student capacity of around 40,000 students, he added. Other aspects of development would also be carried out by the committee, he concluded.
KFAED contributes to Egypt’s growth CAIRO: Kuwait’s Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) is amongst 11 other contributors to development plans in Egypt, said an Egyptian official on Wednesday. Egyptian Minister of Global Cooperation Fayza Abu-Naga said in a report she submitted to the Cabinet that among those countries and organizations is KFAED. The report, she said, includes several recommendations to develop cooperation with other international parties and groups contributing to integration in Egypt. Egypt’s Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif affirmed that the Ministry proved to be very successful in its mission to solidify development cooperation between Egypt and the rest of the world.
Two dairy product stores shut down KUWAIT: Ahmadi Municipality Manager, Fahad AlFahad announced that a recent inspection campaign of various food stuff outlets in Ahmadi led to the closing down of two dairy product stores in Mangaf and Abu Halifa where stocks of inedible milk, butter and cream were found.
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Friday, January 8, 2010
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Bedoon session fails to approve civil rights bill By B Izzak KUWAIT: Supporters and opponents of a draft law calling to grant around 100,000 bedoons, or stateless Arabs, civil and social rights, clashed over the concept yesterday with some warning that the bill breached the constitution. Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi was forced to adjourn the session for a lack of quorum as only 22 MPs were present when he wanted to vote to extend the session until the bill was fully debated. The Government also opposed the bill, saying it will present its visions on ways to resolve the bedoon problem to a special parliamentary panel shortly. At the end of the session, it was agreed that the committee headed by MP Hassan Jowhar would study any amendments with the aim to reach a consensus between MPs themselves and between the Assembly and the Government. The bill stipulates full civil rights for bedoons including free education and health service, issuance of civil IDs and driver’s licenses and also attestation of marriage certificates and
Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi forced to adjourn Assembly for lack of quorum issuing of death certificates. The bill also stipulates to allow bedoons to seek jobs in both the private and government sectors. But several MPs opposed the bill with MP Abdullah Al-Roumi accusing supporters of the bill of trying to make election gains in their electoral districts. MP Ahmad AlSaadoun called on the Government to find a lasting solution to the bedoons’ problem over the next five years, with the first year for collecting the necessary data and the rest for working out necessary solutions in accordance with Kuwaiti law. He said that based on a reply by the interior minister, the number of bedoons was 212,000 before the Iraqi invasion of 1990 and the number dwindled to 122,000 after the liberation of the country in early 1991. Saadoun blamed the government for creating the bedoons’ problem because it did not take the proper measures from the very beginning as it included them among Kuwaitis in
KUWAIT: One of the MPs raises a point at the Assembly session yesterday.
the population censuses until mid 1980s. Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber AlKhaled Al-Sabah warned against politicizing the issue of bedoons, stressing that resolving the issue required passing a law that does not breach the constitution. State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan said the bill breached the constitution especially with regards to the right to free education in all stages and the right for a job. He said that certain sentences in the bill’s explanatory note amounted to calling to grant bedoons Kuwaiti citizenship. MP Askar Al-Enezi criticized the Government’s bedoons committee which calls them as illegal residents and claims that many of them hold nationality of third countries. He said that oppressive policies have forced many bedoons to leave the country for good in search for a humanitarian treatment. The session was held after the Assembly failed to meet on two previous occasions for a lack of quorum.
Bedoons in predicament Continued from Page 1
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed an agreement yesterday to provide the first loan to Laos, at value of KD 7.53 million (about USD 25 million), to assist it in funding an electricity project.
KFAED provides $25m loan to Laos KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed an agreement yesterday on providing the first loan to Laos, at value of KD 7.53 million (about USD 25 million), to assist it in funding an electricity project. KFAED and Laos also signed another agreement on the execution of the project. The first agreement was signed by KFAED Deputy Director General Hisham Al-Wugayan and Laos’s Finance Minister Somdy Douangdy with the attendance of Kuwait’s Ambassador to Thailand and Non-Resident Ambassador to Laos Hafeeth Al-Ajmi, KFAED Southeast Asia regional Director Waleed AlBahar, and Advisor at Kuwait Embassy in Thailand Ayada Al-Saeedi. Meanwhile, the second agreement was signed by general director of Laos Electricity Company with the attendance of Laos’s Energy and Mining Minister. In remarks to KUNA, Al-Wugayan said yesterday that the loan agreement was one of the results of the visit of His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-
Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to Laos in 2008, adding that the agreement would strengthen relations between the two countries in all fields. The project aims to provide electricity to about 70 percent of the population of Laos’s Northern provinces, in addition to providing electricity for small and medium industries until 2020. It also aims to enable the transfer and export of electricity to neighboring countries. The project involves the establishment of an electricity line links to power plants, the construction of a new electricity transfer station and electricity networks, the expansion of two electricity transfer station, and the provision of counseling and support. The project’s total cost, including taxes and fees, is about KD 9.44 million (USD 21.39). KFAED’s loan provides around 77.8 percent of the total cost of the project and would be paid back in 24 years. In 2008, KFAED agreed to provide technical support, at cost of KD 100,000 that involved conducting technical and economic feasibility studies on a project to develop one of Laos’s irrigation facilities. — KUNA
ECIR. After doing so, he was able to obtain residence permits for himself and family members. He also obtained other forms of identification and a driving license. “The problem began when my passport expired in 2007,” he said. “I went to the Syrian embassy to renew it and they said that they need to consult the Syrian ministry of interior before issuing a new passport to me. After some time, embassy officials told me that the Syrian government does not have any record of our details, and that it does not consider us to be citizens of Syria at all. They took our passports and gave me a paper stating that we are not Syrian citizens,” he added. Abu Abdallah’ s life has since, turned tragic. He is unable to obtain a residence permit because he doesn’t have a passport. He can’t also go back into living like a stateless individual. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I went back to the ECIR so that I could receive an identification card. They told me that they can’t process any documents any more. I was asked to go to the Ministry of Interior. I went there with a group of people who faced similar
circumstances. They could offer no assistance and we were told that our situation needs to be resolved politically.” He explained that due to their situation, his family or he cannot receive medical care at government hospitals. His sons don’t possess any kind of identification card and are vulnerable to police arrests any time. He added that this situation has also inflicted psychological damage on his children. “My 19-year-old daughter has been engaged for almost a year now. She can’t get married because she doesn’t have any legal documents whatsoever.” Adel is another individual who has been trapped in a similar situation. Apparently, the secretary of the ECIR informed him that his file had been ‘closed’ and that he should submit his ‘original passport’ in order to be able to process any paper work related to the government. “I searched for the cheapest passport available,” he said. “The Somali passport could be bought for KD 150 then,” he added. He explained that it wasn’t too difficult to buy one. “The advertisements placed by passport selling agencies were common in many newspapers back then. Several notices were placed inside the ECIR premises
crimes By Hanan Al-Saadoun Drug abuse KUWAIT: A 35-year-old citizen was arrested while taking drugs at a walking path near Kuwait Zoo. A police patrol that was performing its daily rounds spotted the man. He was arrested and later admitted to the hospital. Boy injured A 12-year-old Egyptian boy sustained a fracture to his right thigh after falling off his bicycle in Salmiya. He was admitted to Al-Razi hospital. Smoke inhalation A 40-year-old female citizen suffered from smoke inhalation after being trapped in a burning apartment in Sabah Al-Salem. Firemen rushed to the scene and doused the flames. Paramedical staff administered first aid treatment woman on the site. Hit-and-run case A 28-year-old Bangladeshi fractured both his limbs after being run over by a speeding vehicle in Hasawi.
Passersby admitted him to the Farwaniya hospital. Burn injury A 47-year-old Lebanese sustained first degree burns. His vehicle had caught fire along the Second Ring Road and he tried to put out the flames by himself before firemen were informed. He was admitted to the Amiri hospital. Freak accident A 27-year-old Egyptian fractured his right leg after he slipped and fell on the wet floor of a car wash facility he worked in at Shuwaikh industrial area. He was admitted to Al-Razi hospital.
itself,” he claimed. Adel said that after he submitted the Somali passport to the ECIR, before a civil ID with a valid Kuwaiti residency as a Somali citizen was issued to him, a government official in Somalia declared that the passports issued in Kuwait were illegal. The Somali government had taken measures to change passports to prevent forgery. “It was then that I stopped. But now I’m registered with the ECIR as a Somali citizen. It’s not only me, all my brothers and sister, and their sons and daughters face the same situation,” he said. He argued that the ploy was part of the ECIR’s strategy to trap bedoons. This is because as soon as anyone buys a passport the nationality is applied on all the relatives in government records. Abu Ghazi, another bedoon, says that had he known he would have had to face such a situation, he would’ve left Kuwait a long time ago. “Why didn’t they tell us that they don’t want us, back in the ‘60s? We would’ve managed to fit into another country in the region while it was possible. Why did they wait for forty years to tell us that they don’t want us?” he questioned.
MoH and KU to work on breast surgery research KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health announced a partnership with Kuwait University on Wednesday, on researching treatments for diseases of the breast. The move will include a conference next Saturday which will be attended by 150 visiting surgeons from Australia, Britain, France, Italy, Egypt and Saudi Arabia who will display the latest medical studies on the matter, MoH General Surgery and Breast Surgery Consultant Merfat AlSaleh told reporters. Al-Saleh indicated a rise in the number of sufferers of breast cancer in Kuwait which is in the verge of a one in every seven ratio. The conference will also look into early discovery of malignant tumors, which is an extremely important factor in treatment, she added. — KUNA
INTERNATIONAL
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Dubai downturn sends ripples throughout Arab world AMMAN: Mahmoud Tamimi’s friends call it the “Dubai syndrome” , the insatiable longing for a city he loves but was forced to leave. Back in Dubai, the 31year-old had a good job, nice apartment and a $3,700 monthly salary, dozens of times what he’d ever made before. Then, early last year, the Jordanian of Palestinian origin was laid off as Dubai’s economy plunged. With his residency permit tied to his job, he couldn’t stay. He now squeezes into a two-bedroom apartment with his wife, daughter and seven other family members in a poor neighborhood of Jordan’s capital, vainly looking for work. Dubai’s downfall is not only hurting the city-state and the financiers who bet big on its promises. Even before Dubai’s financial crisis, the sheikdom’s growing economic woes had begun rippling out across the Arab world, forcing workers like Tamimi back to their home countries, where jobs are scarce and wages often rock bottom. That is eating away at the money many Middle East families depend on, sent home from relatives who work in Persian Gulf countries and emirates such as Dubai. It is bad news for the Arab world, where chronic economic stagnation, high unemployment and low-paying jobs have long caused frustration among workers, especially the young. Overall, the amount of money shipped back home by workers abroad, called remittances, fell by more than 7 percent in 2009 across the Mideast and Arab north Africa, the World Bank estimates. That is the first drop in a decade. In some countries the impact is worse: Worker remittances into Egypt have already plunged nearly a quarter over the past year, the International Monetary Fund said in October. Arab workers go to many places for jobs, including Europe. But the oil-rich Gulf has long been the bedrock of Mideast remittances, with Dubai recently its most turbocharged engine. Dubai built itself into a booming trade and tourism hub on the backs of foreign workers like Tamimi, whose family originally hails from the West Bank town of Hebron. Only about one in 10 of Dubai’s roughly 1.5 million residents is a citizen. Expatriate Arabs are not the only foreigners hurt by Dubai’s downfall. Lowpaid Indians and other South Asians provide much of the hard labor to raise skyscrapers including the world’s tallest, the Burj Khalifa, which opened this week. Filipinos fill many of the service jobs. But in per-capita dollar terms, it is the Arab world that’s being hit hardest. Overall, worker wages from the Gulf , including Dubai and other places like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait , account for a whopping 15 to 20 percent of the economy in countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt that are considerably poorer than the oil-fueled monarchies of the Gulf, said Nasser Saidi, a former Lebanese government minister who is now the chief economist at the Dubai International Financial Center, a state-run banking hub.
The sheikdom’s growing economic woes begun rippling out across the Arab world, forcing workers back to their home countries, where jobs are scarce and wages often rock bottom.
DUBAI: This Oct 27, 2009 photo shows people relaxing at the Marina Walk in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s economic woes are rippling out across the Arab world, forcing workers back home. — AP Under-the-table and other “unofficial” transfers of wealth outside the banking system mean the effect on local economies could be twice as high, he said. All that means the recent decline in remittances , combined with a drop in trade and tourism also caused by the economic crisis , could leave many of the Arab world’s poorer countries slower to recover than other parts of the world as the global economy pulls out of the crisis, the IMF said recently. Even foreign Arab workers who remain in Dubai “are going to get less money than before” to send home, said Dilip Ratha, an economist at the World Bank. Dubai’s latest debt problems will almost certainly make things even
worse. That has worried some who say high unemployment and low pay are already a core cause of hopelessness, and sometimes extremism, in the Mideast. “Peace is not just the absence of conflict. It is the presence of opportunity and cooperation, and a sense of justice and fairness and movement,” former President Bill Clinton told students in Dubai late last year, drawing a link between suicide bombing and a lack of opportunity in some parts of the Muslim world. For Arabs from Casablanca to Baghdad, Dubai before its downturn was an antidote to that hopelessness: A rare exception to the scraggly, overcrowded cities that sprawl through much of the
Arab world, a beacon of prosperity, offering a better and more liberal life. In some cases, the fast-growing sheikdom promised an escape from poverty, violence or other societally imposed straitjackets. For others, it was simply a place to yearn for and take risks in , an aspirational oasis, an Arab city to be proud of , just as young Americans try to make it big in New York or Hollywood. The city also had a frantic pace and sky-high rents. But for many Arab workers, the perks outweighed that. “We were in tears when we left,” Tamimi said during a recent interview at home in Amman. Outside the small, crowded apartment, vendors thrust rickety wooden carts
DUBAI: This Sept 3, 2009 photo shows messages written into the dust sitting on a car that has not been moved for some time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai’s economic woes are rippling out across the Arab world, forcing workers back to their home countries, where jobs are scarce and wages often rock bottom. — AP
through jammed alleyways, their shouts competing with a nearby mosque’s call to prayer , a stark contrast to Dubai’s wide freeways. “We just couldn’t look back, because there was nothing we’d be able to do to stay,” he said. Tamimi’s well-paying blue-collar job coordinating construction projects for a building firm was washed away when the global financial crisis swamped Dubai, battering the boomtown’s real estate, trade, tourism and financial industries all at once. Within weeks, plans for more spectacular , even ridiculous , manmade islands and soaring skyscrapers went out the window. Property prices and dealmaking plunged. Layoffs soon followed. Swiss bank UBS predicts the city’s largely foreign population will have shrunk by 8 percent last year as workers from the Mideast, Europe and Asia lose jobs and leave. Saud Masud, the analyst who made that prediction, said that works out to some 120,000 fewer people in the city. Egyptian bank EFG Hermes has estimated the population could plunge by more than double that amount. Now the city-state is asking lenders to renegotiate the terms of a chunk of the at least $80 billion its state-backed companies owe. As Arabs like Tamimi return to their impoverished homelands, they hit the reality that has long dominated the Middle East, chronic underemployment, low salaries and few prospects. Arab economies like Egypt’s and Jordan’s, like much of the developing world, have grown in recent years, helped by a boom in global trade and reforms that loosened government controls on business. Yet the growth has not yet been enough to wipe out the poverty endemic in many Arab countries or conquer high levels of unemployment. Thus the need for workers to still go elsewhere for work. Foreign workers who once counted on Dubai as a source of jobs have found few other alternatives. Other Gulf sheikdoms with more oil and gas , like Qatar or the Emirates capital Abu Dhabi , have continued hiring. For now, though, no city in the region is able to generate the vast amount of jobs that Dubai did before the crash. There is another factor at play, too. Dubai, though Muslim, is a more liberal place than the rest of the Gulf , with thumping nightclubs, glitzy malls and look-the-other way authorities. Other countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are far more conservative, and impose much harsher restrictions on the lives of workers and their families. Ramzi, a 28-year-old Lebanese who refused to give his full name to safeguard his job prospects, said he has found work in Saudi Arabia but is holding off to find something in Dubai , where he worked until losing a job working in a shopping mall nine months ago. For most workers though, the choice comes down to money. — AP
INTERNATIONAL
Friday, January 8, 2010
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New rocket defense as Egypt stepped up efforts to end smuggling tunnels
Gaza militants fire 10 mortar shells, Israel shuts crossing GAZA CITY: Gaza militants fired at least 10 mortar shells at Israel yesterday, a day after Israel announced it successfully tested a high-tech shield against future mortar and rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory. Once installed later this year, the Iron Dome system could deprive Hamas of an important means of threatening Israel.
RAFAH: Palestinian supporters of Hamas throw stones at Egyptian border police, not seen, during a rally protesting the delay of an international aid convoy from Egypt, in Rafah southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday. — AP
Briton, 5 Germans kidnapped in Yemen still alive, says official SANAA: Five Germans, including three children, and a British national who have been held by kidnappers in Yemen for the past six months are still alive, a top official said yesterday. “We have confirmed information that they are still alive. They are five Germans and a British national,” deputy prime minister for defence and security affairs, Rashad al-Aleemi, told a press conference. “The three possible places they could be in are (the provinces of) Maarib, Al-Jouf and Saada,” he said. “Available information confirm that there is coordination between the (northern Shiite rebels) Huthis and the Al-Qaeda in this matter,” he said. “It is believed that the three children, who were shown in a recent video, are alive in Maarib, while the elders are being used by the Huthis (to provide) medical treatment,” Aleemi said. The three children had resurfaced in a new video two weeks ago but the tape featured no sign of their parents. All were kidnapped in June. At the time, Germany said it had no evidence that Al-Qaeda was behind the kidnapping. German officials who requested anonymity had confirmed a report in the daily Bild saying the images, apparently recorded recently by the abductors indicated at
least that the three children aged one, three and five were still alive. The German government now has a copy of the video, Bild said in December. “The children seemed exhausted,” a highranking German official was quoted by the newspaper as saying. “The crisis squad (in the ministry) is doing all it can to bring the kidnapping to a happy end as quickly as possible,” a foreign ministry
statement in Berlin said yesterday. The family of five and the Briton were abducted in northern Yemen along with two German Bible students and a South Korean who were shot dead soon after. The announcement comes as government forces chase AlQaeda cells after the network’s franchise in the impoverished country claimed responsibility for the botched Christmas Day attack on a US airliner. — AFP
Iran foreign minister in Iraq over border dispute BAGHDAD: The Iranian foreign minister visited Iraq yesterday to try and resolve rising tensions over the border between the two countries, officials said. Iranian troops have been stationed near Iraq’s al-Fakkah oil field along the two countries’ disputed border since Dec 17. Iraqis in several cities have held demonstrations demanding their government take action. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the two countries will begin three weeks of bilateral meetings aimed at resolving the dispute. “We have agreed to normalize the border situation between the two countries and return to the situation as it was before,” Zebari told a joint news conference with Manouchehr Mottaki, his Iranian counterpart. Zebari said Mottaki’s visit was an “indication that there is an honest desire to find solutions to the border dispute.” Mottaki said the Iranian leadership was “willing and determined to solve the border dispute.” Neither minister gave details on the makeup of the committees or how the standoff was likely to be resolved. Mottaki later met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. Both countries are majority Shiite and have been eager to play down potential problems, especially over their 870mile (1,400-kilometer) border. — AP
The Islamic militants have fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israeli border communities over the years, causing relatively few casualties but sowing fear among hundreds of thousands of civilians in their range. Israel’s announcement of the new rocket defense came as Egypt stepped up efforts to cut off hundreds of smuggling tunnels by building an underground steel wall along its border with Gaza. The tunnels help keep Hamas in power by bypassing a border blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt. On Wednesday, hundreds of stone-throwing Hamas loyalists clashed with Egyptian troops at the border. The two sides briefly exchanged fire, leaving an Egyptian guard dead and seven Gazans wounded, three of them seriously. Egypt sent a stern message to Hamas. “Egypt warns that its patience has limits,” said Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki. “Any other attempt to provoke the Egyptian security will have its consequences.” The underground wall and Israel’s missile shield could limit Hamas’ options in the future and pressure the militants to moderate, something it has refrained to do thus far. Hamas is engaged in indirect negotiations with Israel on a prisoner swap and with its Western-backed Palestinian rivals on a power-sharing deal. Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, seizing the territory from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Ahmed Yousef, a Hamas official, shrugged off the latest developments. “Hamas is not a state. It is a political resistance movement, and therefore it can adjust to any new circumstance,” he said, without elaborating. Yesterday, Hamas-allied militants fired at least 10 mortar shells toward Israel, causing no injuries or damage. The militants said the mortar fire came in response to an Israeli air strike that killed a Gaza gunman and wounded several others earlier this week. Three of yesterday’s mortars fell inside the Kerem Shalom crossing, the main conduit for goods to reach Gaza. Israel shut down the crossing in response to the mortar fire. — AP
QENA: Egyptian relatives of the injured and soldiers are seen outside Nag Hamadi hospital in Qena province, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the famous ancient ruins of Luxor yesterday. — AP
Egyptians riot after 7 killed in church attack CAIRO: Thousands clashed with police during a funeral procession yesterday for the seven people killed in an attack on churchgoers leaving a midnight Mass for Coptic Christians, security officials said. The protesters pelted cars with stones. Earlier, they smashed ambulances at the hospital in frustration over delays in turning over the bodies for burial. A security official says police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. The official and witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The riots follow an attack the previous night, in which three gunmen in a car sprayed automatic gunfire into a crowd leaving a church in the town of Nag Hamadi, about 40 miles from the ancient ruins of Luxor. The lead attacker was identified as a Muslim. Christians, mostly Coptics, account for about 10 percent of Egypt’s predominantly Muslim population. They generally live in peace with the Muslim majority although clashes and tensions in the south do occur, mostly over land or church construction disputes. In recent years, the clashes have begun seeping into the capital. Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the attack was suspected as retaliation for the November rape of a Muslim girl by a Christian man in the same town. Security was tight in the town as police deployed in search for the suspects. The release of bodies may have been delayed because of fear the funerals would turn into a flashpoint for more violence. The funeral procession took place later and was attended by local officials. Security officials said some 5,000 protesters shouted: “Long live the Cross,” and “No to persecution.” The protesters also stoned police cars, and scuffled with security. Shops shut their doors in the town to avoid the violence. The Bishop of the Nag Hamadi Diocese said the dead were mostly young male teens. As Islamic conservatism gains ground,
Christians have increasingly complained about discrimination by the Muslim majority. Coptic Christians are limited in where they can build churches and must obtain government approval before expanding existing facilities. The government insists Christians enjoy the same rights as Muslims. Vendetta killing is also common among southern Egyptians, and is usually over land or family disputes. The head of provincial security, Mahmoud Gohar, told reporters that security agents have identified the lead attacker, an alleged known criminal, and his location has been determined. No arrests have been made yet. Gohar said security was beefed up in the town and neighboring villages, and checkpoints were erected in the area as tensions ran high among the town’s Christian population. Gohar said an angry crowd from a nearby church smashed two police cars shortly after the attack. Gohar said the attack happened in the main street about 200 meters (yards) from the church. He said nine people were injured in the attack, including three who were in critical condition. Bishop Kirollos of the Nag Hamadi Diocese told The Associated Press six male churchgoers and one security guard were killed. He said he had left St. John’s church just minutes before the attack and headed to his residence 600 yards away. He said he saw five bodies lying on the ground from his vantage point. “I heard the mayhem, lots of machine gun shots,” he said in a telephone interview. The bishop said he was concerned about violence on the eve of Coptic Christmas, which falls yesterday, because of previous threats following the rape of the 12-year-old girl in November. He got a message on his mobile phone saying: “It is your turn.” “My faithful were also receiving threats in the streets, some shouting at them: ‘We will not let you have festivities,”’ he said. — AP
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Friday, January 8, 2010
PM calls plot ‘storm in a tea cup’
Brown putsch peters out, but UK’s Labor damaged LONDON: An attempt to oust British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ran out of steam yesterday after two excabinet plotters failed to win public support from ministers, but analysts said Brown’s authority had been shaken. Brown called the challenge to his leadership “a storm in a tea cup”, saying he had the full support of his cabinet. Only months
before an election which ruling Labor is tipped to lose, Wednesday’s plot could not have come at a worse time for Brown, especially as his poor opinion poll ratings have been showing signs of improvement recently. Labor ‘s popularity has been hit by a deep recession, an increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan and a scandal over politicians’ expenses.
LONDON: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is pictured during a visit to a London Fire brigade centre in Clapham, in London, on Wednesday. — AFP
But analysts say the opposition Conservatives have failed to build up a big enough poll lead to guarantee a parliamentary majority in the election, expected to be held in early May. Having seen off a second coup attempt in little over six months, Brown’s position now looks secure at least until the election, which is expected to end 13 years of Labor rule. “It will have diminished his authority to the wider public, but within the Labor party it may well strengthen his position in the run-up the election because the attack seems so ill-judged,” said Justin Fisher, professor of political science at Brunel University. Sources said many Labor politicians were “fire and brimstone angry” over the call from ex-defense minister Geoff Hoon and exhealth minister Patricia Hewitt for a secret ballot on Brown’s future, fearing it might undermine the party’s pre-election campaign. “This move has misjudged the mood here,” one aide to Brown told Reuters. Brown told a local radio phone-in show that he was unfazed by the plot and getting on with doing his job. “This is a bit of a storm in a tea cup,” he said. “We are actually dealing with real storms at the moment.” Britain has suffered unusually cold weather this week, heavy snow and ice severely restricting air, rail and road travel and forcing thousands of schools and businesses to close. A senior minister, linked to Wednesday’s plot by some British media, dismissed any suggestion that there had been any cabinet involvement. “No member of government was involved in yesterday ‘s letter, we’re all determined to win the election under Gordon’s leadership for the good of the country,” foreign minister David Miliband, often mentioned as a contender in any leadership challenge, told Sky News. Hoon admitted late on Wednesday that the plot had failed. Ousting a Labor leader is a lengthy and complex process under the party rules, making a successful coup extremely difficult. A poll in the Sun newspaper suggested removing Brown would not change voting intentions, putting Labor nine points behind David Cameron’s centre-right Conservatives. That lead would make the Conservatives the largest party but could leave them short of an absolute majority. “We cannot go on like this, we’ve got to have an election and a change of government,” Cameron said. But, the drama in parliament on Wednesday appeared to pass many potential voters by. “I’m working outside today. It’s too cold and I couldn’t care less about the government,” said 27-year-old electrician Dave Jones, working in south London. Investors, looking for strong leadership following the longest recession on record and reassurance over Britain’s sizeable budget deficit, were also unimpressed. “At a time when the pound and gilt market are already feeling the jitters over the fiscal outlook, an additional bout of political uncertainty is hardly well-timed,” said Jonathan Loynes, an economist at Capital Economics.— Reuters
Ugandan president urges softening of anti-gay bill KAMPALA: A provision that would impose the death penalty for some gays is likely to be removed from the proposed legislation following opposition from Uganda’s president, the country’s ethics minister said yesterday. President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act would face life imprisonment and it is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not. Gay rights activists say the bill promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the conservative East African country. Protests already have been held in
London, New York and Washington. “The death penalty is likely to be removed,” said James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda’s minister of state for ethics and integrity. “The president doesn’t believe in killing gays. I also don’t believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit.” Ruling party spokeswoman Mary Karoro Okurut said she also agrees with the president that some punishments in the bill should be dropped. But she said she will still push for a modified version of the bill when it comes to parliament in late February or early March. “Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay,” she said. “(Homosexuality) is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities.” Frank Mugisha, leader of Sex Minorities Uganda, said the
gay-rights group will campaign for and support President Yoweri Museveni in the 2011 polls because of his opposition to the bill’s harsher provisions. “If one scratches your back you also scratch his back,” Mugisha said. “Museveni’s action shows that he is a true democrat. As a head of state he is doing the right thing of protecting all interests of its citizens including those of the minorities.” The group said it has received a growing number of complaints of harassment from gays and lesbians across the country since the legislation was first proposed. Julian Peppe, the group’s program coordinator, said she was chased by a crowd of angry people while trying to leave a supermarket on Christmas Eve in the capital. “I can no longer move out of my house due to fear of being beaten up by people,” Peppe said. — AP
NAIROBI: Richard Poole, director of IRC humanitarian aid programs across Southern Sudan, displays a report during a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday. — AP
Aid groups: Southern Sudan may return to war NAIROBI: Sudan’s volatile southern region could collapse into chaos again if the international community does not do more to strengthen the 2005 peace deal that ended more than 20 years of civil war, a group of aid agencies warned yesterday. The first multiparty elections in more than two decades are set for April, and the groups said in a report released yesterday that a referendum on independence for the south in January 2011 also could re-ignite the war that killed 2 million people. The 10 aid agencies, including Oxfam International, Save the Children and World Vision, also worry about disputes between the south and north over oil. “It is not yet too late to avert disaster, but the next 12 months are crossroads for Africa’s largest country,” said Maya Mailer, a co-author of the report and policy adviser for Oxfam. “Last year saw a surge in violence in southern Sudan. This could escalate even further and become one of the biggest emergencies in Africa in 2010.” The report, entitled “Rescuing the Peace in Southern Sudan,” said some 2,500 people were killed and 350,000 others were displaced in 2009 due to a major upsurge in violence. It warned that “a return to conflict would have devastating consequences that extend far beyond Southern Sudan.” Sudan is holding its first parliamentary and presidential elections in all regions of the war-torn country next April. The elections are a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of north-south civil war. The 2005 peace deal created a transitional national unity government, but mistrust between Sudan’s former north-south rivals runs deep. The elections are also expected to pave the way for the 2011 referendum in which the oil-rich south will chose whether to become independent from the north, another critical point of the
peace deal. As part of the peace deal, the two parties agreed to work toward unity. But southerners, increasingly frustrated at the lack of peace dividends, have openly favored independence. Many northerners fear the secession of the oil-rich south would deprive their government of the much prized oil revenues. The agencies yesterday urged the international community to help mediate between the parties before the elections and referendum are held. They’ve also urged the U.N. peacekeepers in the region to protect civilians from armed groups, and to offer more support to the southern Sudan government to build its security forces. The British government said Wednesday it would give humanitarian agencies in Sudan $86 million ahead of the elections. Britain’s Foreign Office Minister Glenys Kinnock warned that the political and humanitarian situation in south Sudan is still fragile and that millions still do not have access to clean drinking water, medicine or education. The aid agency report, released in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, said less than half the estimated 8 million people in the south have access to clean water while maternal mortality rates are among the worst in the world. It said the entire region, about the size of France , has less than 30 miles (50 kilometers) of tarmac road. During heavy rains many areas are cut off for months at a time, making the delivery of humanitarian aid almost impossible. One in seven children die before their fifth birthday. “After five years of peace, southern Sudan remains one of the poorest regions on earth,” said Francisco Roque, country director of Save the Children in South Sudan. “People hoped the peace would bring economic benefits and development, but this has happened far too slowly and in some areas not at all.”— AP
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Friday, January 8, 2010
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No firings over the December security debacle expected
Obama releasing details of airline terror foul-ups
TEGUCIGALPA: Honduras’ interim President Roberto Micheletti speaks at the graduation ceremony for students in an alternative public education program in Tegucigalpa, Tuesday. —AP
Honduras prosecutor seeks charges against military TEGUCIGALPA: The chief prosecutor asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to issue arrest warrants charging Honduras’ military commanders with abuse of power for sending President Manuel Zelaya out of the country in his June 28 ouster. The court will have three days to decide whether to grant the request from prosecutor Luis Alberto Rubi. It would be the first legal action taken against the armed forces since soldiers rousted Zelaya out of his home at gunpoint and forced him aboard a flight to Costa Rica. The measure could be largely cosmetic. The high court has repeatedly ruled or advised against reinstating Zelaya as president. It has also said he faces charges of treason and abuse of power, in large part for disobeying court orders to drop a plan to hold a referendum on changing the constitution. Moreover, President-elect Porfirio Lobo, who won the Nov. 29 election to succeed Zelaya, has said he supports granting amnesty both to Zelaya and to all of those involved in the coup. Zelaya’s critics say he was removed because of his defiance of the court orders against the constitutional referendum. Zelaya says he was ousted because he was trying to bring more equality to this poor Central American nation. If the Supreme Court agreed to charge the military officers, their case would be heard by one of the court’s 15 magistrates. Those named by the prosecutor include the head of the armed forces, Gen. Romeo Vasquez, and five other top-
ranking military officers, including air force chief Gen. Javier Prince and navy commander Gen. Juan Pablo Rodriguez. The charge carries possible prison terms of three to four years. “We have not received any legal notification, but we are prepared to defend ourselves in court,” Rodriguez told The Associated Press. Zelaya took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy since sneaking back into Honduras on Sept 21. Also Wednesday, interim President Roberto Micheletti responded harshly to US suggestions that he resign before Lobo takes office Jan 27. Micheletti has been serving as president since Zelaya was deposed. “The US wants me to withdraw on Jan 15. Washington should respect the sovereign decisions of our people,” Micheletti said, calling Washington’s diplomacy erratic. US State Department diplomat Craig Kelly is in Honduras attempting to reunite leaders in the bitterly divided Central American nation. In a statement, the US Embassy said Kelly’s visit was aimed at “re-establishing the democratic and constitutional order in Honduras and promoting national reconciliation ... and the rapid formation of a national unity government and the establishment of a truth commission” to investigate responsibilities in the June 28 coup. “Kelly stressed the United States’ concern about the deterioration of (Honduras’) economic situation and the importance of normalizing relations with the international community,” the embassy added. — AP
WASHINGTON: During his flight overseas, Security officials had flagged the name of the Christmas Day airline bombing suspect for extra security screening once he landed in Detroit, US officials said yesterday as they prepared to release the clearest look yet at government missteps in the near-catastrophe. The White House yesterday planned to
make public a declassified account of how a suspected terrorist slipped through post-Sept. 11 security to board the plane with an explosive. President Barack Obama was to address the nation about the findings and recommendations. Obama was also to reveal new steps intended to thwart terrorist attacks, as he promised earlier in the week.
No firings over the December security debacle are expected , for now, at least. In an interview published yesterday by USA Today, national security adviser Gen. James Jones said people who read the report will feel “a certain shock.” Elaborating, Jones said, “The man on the street ... will be surprised that these correlations weren’t made” between clues pointing toward a threat from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Even though the 23-year-old Nigerian man was in a database of possible terrorists, he allegedly managed to fly from Nigeria through Amsterdam to Detroit with an explosive concealed on his body. Homeland Security officials say they had flagged Abdulmutallab as someone who should go through additional security screening upon landing. In a statement early yesterday, the department said the alleged bomber’s potential ties to extremists came up in a routine check of passengers en route to the US from overseas. Customs and Border Protection officials screen passengers against terrorist watch lists before international flights leave for the US , then check names against a different database while the flight is in the air. It was during this second check that officials caught information Abdulmutallab’s father had provided to the US embassy in Nigeria a month earlier, warning the US that his son had drifted into extremism in the alQaida hotbed of Yemen. Even if Customs and Border Protection officers gave Abdulmutallab extra scrutiny when he landed in Detroit, there was no guarantee that the information provided by his father would have been enough for an officer to decide he should not be allowed in the country. For an administration rocked by the breach of security, yesterday was meant to be a pivot point from an incident that has dominated attention since Christmas. “In many ways, this will be the close of this part of the investigation,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday. For nearly the last two weeks, Obama and his team have spent an enormous amount of time responding to the near-disaster. The White House is eager to start moving public attention back to its efforts to expand health care and boost the economy, while careful to say Obama will be monitoring security improvements. Abdulmutallab was indicted Wednesday on charges of attempted murder and other crimes in the airline incident. Even with whatever details and improvements are revealed yesterday, questions will remain. Senate committees plan hearings later this month. — AP
WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama pauses in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday during a ceremony honoring teachers who received awards for excellence. — AP
Church says four Mexican priests broke celibacy vows
Mexican president says crime now third priority
PUEBLA: Four Roman Catholic priests in central Mexico have resigned after they were caught breaking their celibacy vows, church officials said Wednesday. The priests will no longer be allowed to celebrate Mass or perform sacraments, the Rev Eugenio Lira, spokesman for the archdiocese in the central state of Puebla, announced in a statement. The clerics were either caught in a romantic relationship or discovered to have fathered children, Lira said. He did not identify the priests or provide details of their alleged indiscretions. In the traditionally conservative state of Puebla , known for its high concentration of Catholic churches, reaction to the priests’ resignations was mixed. Alfredo Miranda, rector of the Catholic Popular Autonomous University of Puebla State, said he supported the priests’ separation from the church.
David Fernandez, rector of the Jesuit Iberoamerican University’s Puebla campus, said the church needs to modernize its practices and rethink its celibacy requirements. He said the celibacy rule came from church leaders, not the Gospel. “It is a human law that can end at some point,” he said. Although celibacy is a tradition dating to the Roman Catholic Church’s earliest days, it was not mandatory until the 11th century. Several years ago, church officials in Puebla were criticized for allegedly protecting the Rev. Nicolas Aguilar, a priest accused of molesting dozens of boys in Mexico and the US The Vatican revoked Aguilar’s priesthood last year. He has been charged in California with 19 felony counts of committing lewd acts on a child in 1988 after he worked as a priest there for nine months. He remains at large.— AP
MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday that jobs and reducing poverty will be his top two priorities in 2010, while the fight against drug cartels that dominated the first half of his presidency placed third. In a televised speech, the conservative president promised historic levels of investment in roads, seaports and airports to create jobs as Mexico emerges from a deep economic recession. “Creating jobs, that is the most important thing for a family to get ahead in life,” said Calderon, whose election campaign cast him as “the jobs president,” only to see the drug war overshadow that slogan. Calderon has sent more than 45,000 soldiers into drug-hotspots in recent years to fight powerful cartels. Violence related to the war on gangs has cost more than 15,000 lives since he took office in late 2006. But in Wednesday’s speech, Calderon listed “creating jobs” and “fighting extreme poverty” as the first and second objectives for 2010. The apparent change in emphasis reflects figures that show nationwide unemployment topping 5 percent in November. But that number may be an underestimate, since most of Mexico has no unemployment insurance system and unemployed people usually seek to eke out a living as street vendors or in other occupations in the informal sector. Calderon repeated at least five times during the speech that “2010 will be the year of economic recovery.” The country’s economy grew 2.9 percent in the third quarter over the previous one, but officials estimate Mexico’s GDP will fall about 7 percent in 2009. The country’s Treasury Department says it expects the economy will grow by around 3 percent in 2010. Calderon said he will fight poverty by “spending more money to build schools, hospitals,” as well as on cash-support programs for poor families. — AP
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Three policemen wounded by blasts
Bombs greet Thai PM on visit to troubled south YALA: Suspected separatist militants detonated two bombs in Thailand’s troubled south yesterday, killing one person, as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the Muslim-majority region, officials said. The first blast was just 100 metres (yards) from where Abhisit was later due to open a road in the town of Yala, and slightly wounded three policemen who were part of the security team for the trip, police and the military said. The second, also in Yala but about two kilometres (one and half miles) away, was a more powerful bomb blast that killed a civilian defense volunteer and left a large crater, the army said.
NARATHIWAT: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva greets a villager during a visit to a government-run project in the Rosok district of Thailand’s restive southern province of Narathiwat yesterday. — AFP
China tainted milk kept secret for months BEIJING: Chinese authorities kept concerns about the safety of a Shanghai dairy’s products secret for nearly a year before announcing last week that the company had been shut for manufacturing contaminated milk, an official said yesterday. The delay in notifying the public about the tainted products raises questions about the effectiveness of China’s efforts to restore confidence in its food industry after several safety scandals in recent years — including one involving contaminated milk, that exposed serious flaws in monitoring the nation’s food supply. Food safety authorities in Shanghai found contamination in Shanghai Panda Dairy Co. Ltd.’s products last February and started investigations immediately, an official from a district prosecutor’s office said. Chinese authorities said the dairy was one of 22 that produced tainted milk in 2008. They detained three executives in April, but Shanghai’s food safety bureau first told the public of the problem only last week when it shut the dairy. The bureau said the dairy was selling milk powder and condensed milk tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which can cause kidney stones and kidney
failure. The same chemical had been introduced into infant formula and other milk products in 2008 in one of the country’s worst food safety crises. At least six children died and more than 300,000 were sickened after drinking the adulterated milk. The scandal exposed the widespread practice of adding melamine, normally used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizer, to watereddown milk to fool inspectors testing for protein and increase profits. “The three executives have been detained since last April but the case, of course, was not allowed to be publicized at the time,” said Shen Weiping, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office in Shanghai’s Fengxian district, where the dairy company is located. “This is because the case was under investigation.” Food safety authorities have not said if anyone has been sickened by consuming tainted milk products produced by Shanghai Panda. Calls to the company rang unanswered yesterday and its Web site was shut down. An apparent cover-up by companies involved and safety officials of the 2008 scandal significantly stoked public fury. Many Chinese suspected that because of high-level pressure for the Beijing Olympics to go smoothly that
year, some people who were aware of the crisis may have been afraid to speak out. China enacted a food safety law early last year promising tougher penalties for makers of tainted products that also says authorities should immediately inform the public when food products have been found unsafe for consumption. Shanghai Panda was one of the dairies named by China’s product safety authority in the 2008 scandal. Tests at the time showed its products had among the highest levels of melamine and the company suspended operations amid investigations. It was allowed to resume production after it pledged to improve safety standards. Last week, however, Shanghai authorities said eight batches of contaminated milk powder and condensed milk produced by the company had been found to contain unacceptably high levels of melamine and would be destroyed. Yan Fengmin, deputy director of inspection in the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told the official China Daily newspaper that both the agency and the Shanghai government were informed immediately after the case was found and that all harmful products were seized. — AFP
“His body was totally torn apart,” southern army commander Major General Wichet Visaijorn told reporters. “The militants staged this violent attack to draw attention.” Police said they had defused a third bomb. More than 4,100 people have died during a six-year anti-government insurgency across the south, led by a shadowy mix of Islamist and separatist militants who never publicly state their goals. Speaking to members of governmentbacked civilian militias in Yala, Abhisit said that the government would this year freeze the number of troops in the region, currently at 60,000 troops, and start to cut forces within two years. “If we want to restore peace that cannot be achieved by deploying enormous forces from outside the region. At least this year the government will freeze forces and by 2012 troops will start to reduce,” he said. He also promised a 20billion-baht (60 million dollar) stimulus package for the region to help double the average annual income to 120,000 baht (3,636 dollars) within five years. But he urged the militia members, known as rangers, to work with local people and avoid rights abuses because militants could use them as a pretext for more attacks. Militias and security forces in the region have been accused of widespread abuses by rights groups. Thai army chief Anupong Paojinda said that there were an estimated 10,000 militants active in the region. In other violence in the south, gunmen on motorcycles Wednesday shot dead a Buddhist man who ran the local meteorology department in a district of Pattani, police said. A 25year-old Islamic militant was shot and killed the same day in Narathiwat provincial town after he clashed with a security team that was clearing the area ahead of Abhisit’s visit. Thai authorities have mobilized more than 2,000 security forces plus eight helicopters to protect Abhisit and senior ministers as they open roads, give gifts to children and visit a model village during the trip. — AFP
Friday, January 8, 2010
S Korea reports outbreak of foot and mouth disease SEOUL: South Korea reported its first outbreak of footand-mouth disease in eight years yesterday, prompting quarantine officials to slaughter animals to stop its spread, officials said. Six dairy cows at a farm in Pocheon, about 30 miles (45 kilometers) north of Seoul, tested positive, Agriculture Ministry official Lee Chang-buhm told reporters. Later yesterday, quarantine workers began slaughtering all of the 185 dairy cows at the farm to stem the spread of the disease, according to another ministry official, Kim Dae-gyun. Lee said quarantine workers plan to slaughter 1,500 pigs, 346 dairy cows and several dozens of deer and goats within a 500-yard (500-meter) radius of the site of the outbreak. The government imposed restrictions on the movement of the animals and disinfected the area within six-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the outbreak site, Lee added. Foot-and-mouth disease is often fatal for clovenhoofed animals including cows, sheep, pigs and goats, causing blisters on the mouth and feet. It does not affect humans. Authorities act quickly to stop its spread because outbreaks often prompt governments to ban meat imports from the affected country. The disease last hit South Korea in 2002 when some 160,000 pigs either died of the disease or were slaughtered to prevent its spread. — AP
Third of towns could see poll clashes: Philippines MANILA: Security forces have identified nearly a third of all Philippine cities and towns as in danger of erupting in violence during elections in May, officials said yesterday. The Philippines has a history of heated, bloody elections that also are often marred by fraud. An area is classified as an election hotspot if there is presence of rebels or armed groups, a history of political violence or proliferation of loose guns. National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa said 558 of the country’s of 1,634 cities and municipalities have been identified as areas of concern and will get added attention from security forces ahead of the national and local polls, which include a vote for president. “We in fact will be watching for massive buying or transfer of illegal firearms in those areas before the elections,” Verzosa said. “We will infuse additional men and logistics in those areas to conduct more checkpoints, search for illegal weapons and target wanted persons.” Verzosa said 118 of the hotspots are
within a predominantly Muslim autonomous region in the south where Muslim rebels, militants and various armed groups operate. Elections Commission Chairman Jose Melo asked the police and military to put extra effort into gathering evidence against political warlords who maintain their own private armies so that they can be charged and disqualified from the vote. The private armies were thrust into the spotlight in November when 57 people in an election convoy, including 30 journalists, were massacred, allegedly by members of a rival clan. The carnage sparked international outrage, prompting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to briefly impose martial law to crack down on the clan and its army. She also ordered all private armies disbanded. Armed Forces chief General Victor S. Ibrado said in some cases the private armies were stronger than the police force in the area, so the military will be supporting the police in the campaign to dismantle them. — AP
MANILA: Relatives of victims of sea tragedies offer prayers during a mass at Manila’s North Harbor, Philippines yesterday. The group offered prayers for justice to all victims of ships sinking as twin sea tragedies struck the country just before the year end. — AP
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Friday, January 8, 2010
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Al-Qaeda says CIA attack ‘revenge’ for drone killings KABUL: Al-Qaeda hailed the suicide bombing that killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan as “revenge” for the deaths of top militants in US drone strikes in Pakistan, Islamist websites said yesterday. A Jordanian doctor said to have been a triple agent blew himself up at a US military base in Khost near the Pakistani border on December 30, the deadliest attack against the CIA since 1983. The Afghan Taleban claimed responsibility a day later. A Pakistani Taleban commander subsequently claimed his faction carried out the attack to avenge the drone attacks that killed its founder, Baitullah Mehsud, last August. The head of Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu alYazid, said the bomber wrote in his will that the attack was revenge for “our righteous martyrs” and named several top militants killed in drone attacks in Pakistan. Yazid described bomber Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi’s mission as an “epic breakthrough” in penetrating both American and Jordanian
Afghan Taleban claimed responsibility for killings
PARWAN: US soldiers from the 410th Military Police Company walk during a patrol at Jabalussaraj in Parwan province yesterday. — AFP intelligence, said Islamist websites. The slain militant masterminds named in the message included Mehsud, who was blamed for a wave of deadly attacks, notably the December 2007 killing of
US complains of Pakistan harassment at checkpoints ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy in Pakistan complained Thursday that its diplomats are being harassed and detained at checkpoints as they travel to development projects, illustrating heightened tensions between the allies as America expands its presence here. The rare public protest reflects the rising frustration among US officials over alleged Pakistani efforts to stymie Washington’s moves to add hundreds more staff and more space to its embassy in Islamabad. US officials say they need more room and people to help disburse a $7.5 billion humanitarian aid package to Pakistan, whose cooperation Washington needs to fight Al-Qaedaallied militants along the Pakistan-Afghan border. But suspicion of US motives abounds among Pakistanis: Many believe the US is simply flooding the country with more spies whose ultimate aim is destabilizing Pakistan and taking over its nuclear program. In recent weeks, American diplomats have faced lengthy delays in receiving approvals for visas and visa extensions. Some also have been stopped at checkpoints by police who have in a couple of cases temporarily confiscated their vehicles. Some of the incidents have been publicized in the Pakistani press.
On Wednesday, two Pakistani employees of a US consulate and their police escort were detained while traveling in Baluchistan province in the country’s southwest to prepare for a visit involving a development project, the embassy statement said. It called upon Pakistani officials “to cease these contrived incidents involving US mission vehicles and personnel.” The statement also quoted US Ambassador Anne Patterson as pushing Pakistan to implement an agreement to identify diplomatic vehicles in a safe manner. The agreement lets those vehicles carry normal Pakistani license plates on the outside, so as not to be identified as US vehicles and be easily targeted by militants, while carrying special diplomatic plates inside to show police at checkpoints, embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire said. “There was an agreement on that,” Snelsire said. “We’re waiting for the agreement to be implemented.” The Pakistani Foreign Ministry’s spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Snelsire said US Embassy employees were still experiencing delays in visa approvals, despite appeals to Pakistani authorities. — AFP
former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Also named was Abu Saleh al-Somali, described as part of Al-Qaeda’s core leadership and responsible for plotting attacks in Europe and the
United States. He was killed in a drone strike near the Afghan border last month. US media described the US base in Khost as a key “antiterror” facility that oversaw the drone strikes targeting
Al-Qaeda and Taleban on the Pakistani border and as a centre for recruiting and debriefing informants. Balawi blew himself up at Forward Operating Base Chapman during a meeting with the CIA, killing seven agents and his Jordanian handler, who was a senior intelligence officer and member of the royal family. Jihadist websites have said Balawi was a triple agent who duped Western intelligence services for months before turning on his handlers. The Jordanian intelligence services, believing the bomber to be their double agent, reportedly took him to eastern Afghanistan with the mission of finding Al-Qaeda number two Ayman alZawahiri. The Al-Qaeda statement surfaced after another round of US strikes killed 13 militants, including four foreigners, in North Waziristan on Wednesday. Washington has made Pakistan a front line in the war on Al-Qaeda and the eight-year conflict against the Taleban in Afghanistan, pinning success on
dismantling militant sanctuaries along the porous border. US Senator John McCain, visiting Afghanistan yesterday, praised the drone attacks for knocking “AlQaeda and other extremist groups off balance”. “I think it should continue. I think it’s an important tool in our overall strategy and we can claim measurable success in carrying out those operations,” he told reporters. Strikes by unmanned US spy planes have soared since President Barack Obama took office. They have killed more than 650 people since August 2008, inflamed anti-Americanism and prompted extremists to vow revenge. “Drone attacks are radicalising other people who may not have supported the Taleban,” Rahimullah Yusufzai, a tribal affairs expert, told AFP. “Maybe local militants (targeted by drones) are not a big threat to America but in the future they could become a threat as they could see America as their big enemy,” he added. — AFP
Two rebels killed to end 20-hour Kashmir gunbattle SRINAGAR: Government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir ended a 20-hour gunbattle with suspected rebels yesterday, shooting and killing the two attackers who paralyzed the region’s main city. The attack was the first prolonged gunfight in Srinagar since 2006 and raised concerns about a possible spike in violence in the tense region after years of declining attacks. The heavily militarized territory is claimed in its entirety by India and neighboring Pakistan — both nuclear armed nations, and the dispute has sparked two wars between the rival countries. The attackers entered a crowded shopping area in Srinagar on Wednesday afternoon and hurled hand grenades and opened fire at a group of soldiers, killing one police officer and one bystander, according to top police official Farooq Ahmed. The assailants then took refuge in a hotel, where they held off troops throughout the night. Early yesterday, government forces fought their way into the hotel, killing the men, said Ahmed. Government soldiers were searching the area for any leftover explosives and any other suspicious items, Ahmed said. The fighting wounded 10, including four soldiers, he said. One portion of the hotel, which is located in the usually crowded Lal Chowk area in the heart of the city, caught fire during the prolonged gunbattle. Fire engines were trying to douse the flames. Dozens of armored
SRINAGAR: Indian paramilitary soldiers are seen near the site of a gun battle in Srinagar, India yesterday. Government forces in Indiancontrolled Kashmir yesterday ended a more than 20-hour-long gun battle with suspected rebels by killing the two attackers, police said. — AP vehicles swarmed the business district, which was closed to the public after the attack. The wounded civilians, who were hospitalized with bullet and shrapnel wounds, included a
cameraman from a television news channel, said police officer Sajad Ahmed. Jamiatul-Mujahedeen, one of the rebel groups active in the area, claimed responsibility for the attack in a fax sent to
the Press Trust of India news agency. “The attack is in response to India’s propaganda that the armed struggle has weakened in Kashmir,” the statement said. — AP
Suicide bomb in eastern Afghanistan kills 8 KABUL: A suicide bomber wearing an explosives-filled vest yesterday killed eight people and wounded 24 others while targeting a private security convoy in an eastern Afghan town, an official said. “This was a suicide attack. So far we know that eight people are dead, but that figure could change,” said Rohullah Samon, a spokesman for the governor of Paktia province. The attack happened in Gardez, the provincial capital, at 4:30 pm outside a branch of the Kabul Bank when the suicide bomber approached on foot. “The head of a security company... was moving with his convoy when he was attacked by a suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest,” Samon said. He said the dead included the security company manager, two of his guards, two butchers and two young
girls. “All were killed on the spot,” he said, adding that 24 other civilians were wounded. Suicide attacks are a hallmark of the Taliban, who are waging an increasingly virulent insurgency aimed at toppling the Afghan government in Kabul and destabilizing the rest of the impoverished country. NATO and the United States have deployed 113,000 in Afghanistan to fight the militants, who are concentrated in the south and east of the country, but are spreading their footprint further north and west. Another 40,000 troops are due to arrive in the country this year, and the Taliban have vowed to match the international surge with one of their own. In recent weeks, attacks have escalated, with civilians bearing the greatest burden of Taliban tactics, which also include remote-controlled bombs. — AFP
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Delay in payment could stall Dubai Metro work Govt says committed to payments TOKYO: A consortium of four J apanese companies and one Turkish company w ill suspend construction of the Dubai Metro due to a delay in payment from the Dubai government, the Nikkei business daily reported. The consortium, headed by general contractor The consortium decided to halt work and focus on talks with the Dubai government to secure back payments, the Nikkei said. A spokesman for Obayashi said the company was in talks with the government on additional costs due to design changes. “The pace of construction has been slowed down. But we have not suspended the work,” the official said. But Dubai authorities said the project was on track and they were committed to meeting financial obligations on the project. “The authority confirms its contractual commitment to the financial payments in
Obayashi Corp, has received about 490 billion yen ($5.3 billion) w orth of orders to build the metro from Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority, but the actual construction costs are expected to be double that, the Nikkei said.
accordance with the progress of the work on the project,” the statement said. Dubai sent shockwaves through global financial markets in November when it said it would request a standstill on billions of dollars of debts linked to the state-held holding firm Dubai World and its property units Limitless and Nakheel. Wealthier neighbor Abu Dhabi has bailed Dubai out to the tune of $25 billion in the past year. The other Japanese consortium members are general contractor Kajima Corp, Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi Insaat Ve Sanati AS, Japan’s Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries Ltd and trading house Mitsubishi Corp. The five companies initially won the deal to build the railways, stations and supply trains and other facilities for 400 billion yen in 2005 but the costs have since ballooned, the official said. The Nikkei said the consortium’s accounts receivables as of the end of October topped $5.2 billion, but the official denied the figure. The full completion of the rail system was originally scheduled for this spring but is now expected to be delayed until the end of the year, the business paper said. — Reuters
US new jobless claims rise less than expected A gauge of underlying trends lowest in nearly 16 months
LAS VEGAS: A worker installs carpet at the Kodak booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The showroom floor opened yesterday. The Institute for Supply Management, a private trade group, said its service index rose to 50.1 in December from 48.7 in November. —AP
Dubai projects 16.9% budget deficit in 2010 DUBAI: The government of the financially troubled Dubai announced yesterday a projected 2010 budget deficit its of six billion dirhams ($1.63 billion /1.13 billion euros), or 16.9 percent of expenditure. Income is projected at 29.4 billion dirhams ($8.01 billion), a 12 percent drop from 9.1 billion, the head of the department of finance, Abdulrahman AlSaleh, said in a statement carried by WAM state news agency. Spending is projected at 35.4 billion dirhams ($9.63 billion), down 6.5 percent from last year’s 10.3 billion. Saleh said 30 percent of spending, or 1.9 billion dollars, has been earmarked for investment expenditure “to upgrade and complete infrastructure projects.” In past years, Dubai has channeled large sums of money into building a modern infrastructure, including a metro link and numerous wide highways. Saleh said the deficit
represents just two percent of the gross domestic product of the emirate, whose economy had been hit badly by the global financial crisis, which crippled its once-booming and vital real estate sector. Dubai also narrowly escaped a debt catastrophe last month. Its major state-owned Dubai World nearly defaulted on some of its debt, but was rescued by a last-minute lifeline of $10 billion from neighboring Abu Dhabi. Dubai’s debt, mostly owed by its state firms, is around $100 billion. Despite the crisis, Dubai inaugurated this week the world’s tallest tower which rose 828 metres (2,717 feet). Known since construction began as Burj Dubai, the tower was renamed as Burj Khalifa, after the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed AlNahayan, who is also the ruler of oil-rich Abu Dhabi. — AFP
WASHINGTON: The number of US workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose less than expected last week and a measure of underlying trends hit a nearly 16month low, underscoring the improving labor market tone. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose only 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 434,000 in the week ended Jan. 2, the Labor Department said yesterday, after declining for two consecutive weeks. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast claims rising to 447,000 from a previously reported 432,000. US stock index futures held losses after data, while Treasury debt prices hovered at lower levels. Investors were also eyeing reports on December sales from US retailers. Early reports from retailers yesterday, including Sears Holdings Corp and Costco Wholesale Corp showed sales rose during the holiday shopping season. The labor market has shown strong signs of healing, with the pace of layoffs slowing sharply in the past months as the economy resumed growth following its worst recession in 70 years. That declining trend in job losses is expected to be underscored by the December employment report due today. Analysts polled by Reuters forecast nonfarm payrolls falling 8,000 last month after declining 11,000 in November. However, the unemployment is expected to edge up to 10.1 percent in December from 10 percent the prior month. The state of the labor market is viewed as among the key factors that will determine the timing of the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate increase since it cut key overnight lending rates to near zero in December 2008. The central bank has vowed to keep them low for an extended period. The four-week moving average for new claims dropped 10,250 to 450,250 last week, the lowest since mid-September 2008 and the 18th straight weekly decline. The four-week moving average is viewed as a better measure of underlying trends as it levels out week-to-week volatility. The four week average is pushing into the 450,000 territory associated with labor market stability.—Reuters
DUBAI: As the people stand in a queue to take the elevators for the observation deck, a man points to the model of the Burj at the souvenir shop of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building in Dubai yesterday.—AP
Sale of Zain’s stake to take longer time KUWAIT: The sale of a 46-percent stake of Kuwait’s telecom giant Zain to an IndianMalaysian consortium is not dead but the process will take longer, National Investments Co said yesterday. The company, which has been negotiating the deal on behalf of major private investors including Al-Kharafi group, the largest private investor in Zain, said in a statement on the Kuwaiti bourse website that the delay is due to economic developments. The investors had said the deal was to be completed within four months when they first officially announced it on Sept 8. “Due to the recent economic and financial developments in the region, the sale is expected to take longer than originally planned, but it is still ongoing,” the statement said. Kharafi group has said that a consortium consisting of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Vavasi Group from India and Malaysia’s Al Bukhary Group, was interested to buy the stake. Doubts over the sale grew as the stateowned BSNL and MTNL have remained noncommittal to the deal, at times saying it was too expensive. The price initially agreed was two dinars ($7) per share. When the deal was announced, Zain shares traded at around 1.5 dinars ($5.2) while yesterday it was trading at one dinar ($3.5). Zain, one of three mobile operators in Kuwait, is the largest company on the Kuwaiti bourse with a capitalization of $14.8 billion. It operates in 23 countries and has over 70 million clients. —AFP
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Potential bidders circle Saab as deadline looms Spyker CEO sees ‘definite’ new bid STOCKHOLM/AMSTERDAM: Bidders in Sweden and closure. Two anonymous Swedish groups are likely to the Netherlands made last-ditch efforts yesterday to enter last-minute bids proposing management buy-outs buy General Motors-owned Saab, as the deadline for its of Saab, a Swedish business daily reported, quoting a sale loomed threatening the Swedish car brand with Swedish official. Separately Dutch luxury carmaker Koenigsegg, which retracted its bid about 23 percent of Spyker shares and Spyker said it was preparing an late last year, was not one of the wants to create an advanced technology industry centre in Abu improved bid. Asked whether Spyker groups. U.S. auto maker GM has set a Dhabi. will put in a bid for Saab yesterday, Analysts, however, remain cynical Chief Executive Victor Muller said: deadline of 2200 GMT yesterday for the sale of Saab, according Spyker, about how Spyker, which has never “definitely”. “We are confident that we will put which on Monday said it would submit made a profit, is going to finance the offer. Sweden’s IF Metall union said in in an acceptable bid,” Muller told a final bid for Saab assets before then. Earlier, Swedish daily Dagens a statement there was “every chance” Reuters. He did not indicate when he expected to hear back from GM. Industri said the deadline was 1600 of a positive outcome for Saab and it Dagens Industri newspaper quoted GMT. Spyker has already revised its expected a solid bid to materialize Joran Hagglund, Sweden’s state offer for the ailing Swedish carmaker during the course of the day. Nevertheless the prospects of a secretary for industry, as saying the several times to address GM’s bids are likely to meet today’s concerns about the source of its rescue sale looked bleak after GM’s chief executive, Ed Whitacre, said on deadline, though neither group had financing for the deal. Muller said last month if his offer Wednesday it was proceeding with the been able to show it had the financial were to succeed Saab and Spyker winding down of its Swedish unit as backing necessary for a purchase. “We have had contacts with several would operate as sister companies. planned because no buyer had proved different groups since the 18th of Spyker would benefit from Saab’s it could finance a purchase. A Swedish December, among them three from technical resources and its distribution source familiar with the matter also Sweden,” Hagglund told the paper. “I network, while Spyker would bring said there were Swedish parties interested in Saab. He added that a should think that at least two of them entrepreneurial skills to Saab. “The synergies are very, very meeting of Saab board members would will submit bids to General Motors take place today, instead of yesterday, clear,” Muller said. during Thursday.” Also, the acquisition could meet the as originally planned. “The problem is that none of them “I know that Swedish parties are can show that they have financing in ambitions of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala place,” he said, adding that Development Company, which owns involved,” he said. — Reuters
UniCredit prices rights issue at 29% discount MILAN: Italy’s biggest bank UniCredit SpA priced its 4 billion euro ($5.8 billion) rights issue yesterday at 1.589 euros a share, a 29 percent discount, in a move to shore up lagging capital ratios. UniCredit, the Italian bank most pummeled by the credit crunch, is carrying out its second capital increase in a year, the latest in a raft of crisishit lenders raising capital. UniCredit will issue three ordinary shares for every 20 ordinary and/or saving shares held, it said in a statement after a board meeting set details for the capital increase. The capital increase will run from Jan. 11 to 29 in Italy and Germany and from Jan. 14 to 29 in Poland. UniCredit, the biggest bank in eastern and central Europe, has said the capital increase will boost its Core Tier 1 ratio, a standard of capital held against risky assets, to 8.39 percent. The figure was 7.55 percent at the end of September, at the low end among European banks. “The risk/reward ratio for UniCredit is definitely more positive now. It’s a huge difference from a year ago,” said Santander analyst Carlos Garcia. He cited the capital increase as well as improvements in the economies of eastern
and central Europe and in structured bond holdings. The discount of about 29 percent to the theoretical ex-rights market price, or TERP, is in line with the roughly 27 percent discount given by French banks Societe Generale and BNP Paribas when they raised capital to pay back state support last autumn. Dutch lender ING Group NV priced its 7.5 billion euro rights issue at a 37.3 percent discount in November. The Cariverona foundation, UniCredit’s
biggest voting shareholder at 5.7 percent, said it would decide in a board meeting next week on whether to subscribe to the increase. The Verona foundation did not subscribe to UniCredit’s 3 billion euro capital increase last year. UniCredit said some shareholders had already signalled they would subscribe. A source close to the issue said: “All the major shareholders are likely to take part.” The CRT foundation, a 3.1 percent shareholder,
said in late December it would subscribe up to 170 million euros of the issue if other major stockholders made similar commitments. A CRT spokesman said the foundation would make its decision in line with the issue timetable. Its board meets on Monday. UniCredit shares rose after the statement but then gave up gains to stand up 0.54 percent at 2.3475 euros at 1238 GMT. The DJ Stoxx European banks index was little changed. — Reuters
NEW DELHI: Indian motorcycle enthusiasts look at the Harley Davidson ‘Fat Boy’ and ‘Night Rod’ special motorcycles on display at the 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi yesterday. Global car manufacturers eyeing the explosive growth of the Indian market unveiled new compact models at the Delhi auto show. — AFP
BERLIN: A woman walks past a shop window displaying a ‘Sale’ sign at a shopping mall in Berlin yesterday. Many shops are offering cuts in prices after the Christmas season to entice shoppers to spend more money. — AFP
Sears expects full-year profit above year ago HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois: Sears Holdings Corp expects its fourth-quarter and fiscal year adjusted profit to come in sharply above last year’s results on strength at its Kmart chain — a sign fortunes may be improving for the long-struggling retailer. The news sent its shares up in premarket trading yesterday. Sears and its discount sister Kmart, both led by financier Edward Lampert, have seen shoppers flee to larger rivals with more prestige and more products at better prices. But late last year, glimmers of resilience began to emerge. Yesterday, Sears predicted a profit between $1.61 and $2.29 for the year that ends in a little more than three weeks. That excludes the impact of store closings, impairment and restructuring charges and mark-to-market gains and losses on hedge transactions made by Sears Canada. Last year Sears reported earnings of $1.55 per share. For the fourth quarter ending
Jan. 30, Sears anticipates an adjusted profit in a range of $3.36 to $4.06 per share. That’s sharply above the $2.65 per share analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect. Those estimates generally exclude one-time items. Meanwhile, the retailer said Kmart continued to show signs of life during the critical holiday season, helping Sears Holdings post a slight increase in a key sales figure for December. The merchant, based in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, reported a 0.4 percent rise in sales at stores open at least a year for the period ended Jan. 2. It was largely helped by a 5.3 percent increase in sales at Kmart stores open at least a year, where shoppers snapped up toys, home goods and clothing at the discount chain. Sears typically doesn’t release monthly sales results. Sales at stores open at least a year are a key indicator of retailer performance since they measure growth at existing ones. — AP
British car sales up 39% in December LONDON: New car sales in Britain jumped 38.9 percent in December, helped by a government-backed scheme subsidizing the cost of buying vehicles, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said yesterday. The number of new cars sold jumped to 150,936 last month compared with the level in December 2008, SMMT said in a statement. They had soared by almost 58 percent in November as the global car industry recovers following the severe economic downturn. SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said that British sales were boosted in December by the so-called Scrappage Incentive Scheme and by consumers looking to avoid this month’s increase in VAT, or tax levied on purchased goods. The scrappage scheme, which allows car-owners to trade in a 10-year-old vehicle for a 2,000-pound (2,218,000-euro, $3,189,000) discount on a new car, helped to realize almost two million registrations in 2009. “The 2009 market of 1,994,999 new car registrations was significantly above early expectations and reflects the positive impact of the scheme, due to end in February,” said Everitt. The SMMT boss added that 2010 would be “another tough year” for the British motor industry, “with new car registrations expected to be below 2009 levels and only limited recovery in the van and heavy commercial vehicle markets”. — AFP
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MENA feeling pinch of global recession KUWAIT: Though at different levels, the world economic crisis has negatively affected economies around the globe. Some countries showed resilience to the problem, while others fell into deep recessions. As the year 2008 carried robust growth, coupled with unprecedented strength in demand, resulting in price surges that put inflationary pressure on most of the world economies, the year ended with severe dips in financial markets triggered by the American subprime crisis. In 2009, the world economy was confirmed to enter into the deepest recession since the Second World War. Declining growth, if at all, credit constrains, diminishing demand and job losses are the most apparent problems associated with the world recession in 2009. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is feeling the impact of the world recession as well. The year 2009 came with unfavorable circumstances for this region, which was once at odds from the international economy. Again, the effect of the crisis differed from a country to another, depending on its economic conditions. Economies that are oil based were strongly hit in their current accounts, as their trade balances depended on oil exports. The main problem is with the oil prices peaking over $140 per barrel, many of these economies built their future budgetary spending in the coming years assuming the sustainability of such elevated worth per barrel. These countries had to rearrange their expansionary budgets to match with plummeting energy prices. Other countries, where services receipts are the main sources of national income, have been hardly
GLOBAL INVESTMENT HOUSE REPORT hit by the current stagnation of the world economy and are awaiting for any signs of recovery. However, few countries showed real resilience to the recession and have managed to optimize the current situation to get least affected by the world turmoil. UAE contraction The UAE’s economy grew by 7.4% in 2008, in real terms, compared to 6.0% a year before. The UAE financial markets were hardly hit aftermath the world financial turmoil. On the 25th of November 2009, the Dubai government shocked the world economies by announcing that it was seeking a six-month moratorium on debt payments by flagship conglomerate Dubai World. Kuwait has outbound FDI Kuwait has the largest FDI outflows and the lowest FDI inflows in the MENA region. In 2008, FDI outflows reached $5,521mn, while FDI inflows were minimal amounting to $56mn, as reported by UN’s World Investment Report 2009. Qatar’s inflation Among the GCC countries, Qatar’s inflation was the highest in 2008, reaching 15.2%, primarily resulting from the rent and food prices. The inflation dropped drastically to negative 7.4% in the third quarter of 2009, with the ease of both the international food prices and the local rent cost, which dropped severely with the current oversupply in the Qatari real estate sector.
Dubai’s debt trouble to weigh on banks’ Q4 DUBAI: Banks in the United Arab Emirates face another gloomy quarter as Dubai’s debt problems and an anticipated rise in provisions against bad loans threaten to depress earnings. “It has been a dramatic final quarter of the year for the UAE, and particularly for the banking sector,” said analysts at Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes. Dubai rocked global markets in November when the emirate said it would seek a standstill on billions of dollars of debt related to state-controlled holding Dubai World and two property units. Analysts are concerned that banks in the emirates, particularly those based in Dubai, will suffer the brunt of the emirate’s debt woes and its slumping real estate sector in the form of fresh writedowns. At the same time, credit costs are likely to rise and the economic slowdown will affect business for the banks. “In addition to the direct impact of any potential debt shortfall, we believe there is likely to be a secondary impact on banks from deterioration in business and consumer confidence,” EFG Hermes said. Some of the UAE’s largest banks posted strong top-line growth figures in the previous quarter, but provisions related to financial trouble at two Saudi conglomerates damped profits. The Saudi companies’ trouble, combined with the uncertainty surrounding Dubai World’s debt position, is likely to weigh on most Dubai-based banks, as well as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), analysts said. “Lending activities are likely to be soft in the fourth quarter as well, notably in the Dubai banks, since Abu Dhabi banks will continue to benefit from government spending and support as seen in the third quarter,” said Janany Vamadeva, banking analyst at Al Futtaim HC Securities. “Even when economic conditions improve, liquidity is likely to limit lending activities in Dubai as capital markets will remain switched off for some time,” Vamadeva said. ADCB is expected to post a fourth-quarter loss of 88 million dirhams, according to Shuaa Capital, on higher loan provisions. —Reuters
Egypt growing The Egyptian economy, thanks for the reforms adopted since 2004, proved resilience amid the world financial crisis.
Though the IMF projected, in its World Economic Outlook that was issued in April 2009, a real GDP growth for Egypt of 3.56% in 2008/09, the country has
recorded an actual 4.7%. Jordan public debt Jordan public debt reached as high as $13bn and accordingly,
the Jordanian government decided to support the economic activity through adopting an expansionary monetary policy. In late 2008, the Central Bank of Jordan reduced the key policy interest rate by 50bps and reduced the required reserve ratio from 10% to 9%.
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Arabtec, Aabar lift UAE stocks DUBAI: Arabtec and Aabar Investments surged ahead of after-hours board meetings yesterday, lifting the Dubai and Abu Dhabi indexes. Arabtec and Aabar climbed 6.3 and 5.2 percent respectively. There were market rumors in late December regarding a possible investment
by Aabar in the Dubai-based construction firm, but both firms have denied there has been a deal. “Some buyers are expecting something significant out of Arabtec’s meeting and are positioning themselves accordingly,” said Julian Bruce,
MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS EFG-Hermes director of institutional equity sales. Other Middle East markets also advanced as rising oil prices and steady global equities boosted sentiment. “Optimism is
prevailing at the start of the year on regional and global exchanges, while high oil prices are positive for the Gulf,” said Rami Sidani, Schroders Middle East head of investment.
Oil is down 0.6 percent at $82.68 a barrel at 1132 GMT, retreating from a 14-month intraday high. MSCI’s all-country equity benchmark was down 1 percent at 1138 GMT, having touched a 15-month high intraday. Dubai investors were equally unmoved by reports from Japan that contractors had stopped work on the Dubai Metro because they had not been paid. “The market was already aware Japanese companies were owed money, but we need more clarity on how much is outstanding,” said Ali Khan, managing director at Arqaam Capital. Dubai’s index climbed 1 percent, its fourth gain in five. Beside Arabtec, there was little stock movement and EFG’s Bruce said UAE markets lacked drivers to entice investors. “We’re still seeking clarity on Dubai World’s debts and Saad and Algosaibi’s debts are still in the background, so I think people will wait for Q4 results before considering their strategy,” added Bruce. DP World rose for a second day since the ports operator said it would dual list on the London Stock Exchange. Kuwait’s banks shrugged off the country’s parliament passing a bailout package for its citizens in a move that could hit corporate revenues. On Wednesday, Kuwait’s parliament defied the government to pass a bailout
package for its indebted individuals, despite the finance minister warning it would threaten the country’s banking sector. The bill is likely to be vetoed, however, and bank stocks were positive. “The market is getting used to a background of political disquiet,” said a Kuwait-based analyst who asked not to be identified. Bank Muscat rose 5 percent, lifting Oman’s index to an 11-week closing high following an upbeat HSBC report on the lender. “It’s the strongest bank (in Oman) and at these levels I’m definitely a buyer for the medium- to long-term,” said Sayed Quadry, vice-president of business development at Amwal Investment in Muscat. HIGHLIGHTS DUBAI The index rose 1 percent to 1,837 points. ABU DHABI The benchmark climbed 0.3 percent to 2,776 points. OMAN The index rose 1.2 percent to 6,565 points. KUWAIT The benchmark climbed 0.6 percent to 7,012 points. QATAR The measure rose 0.1 percent to 7,037 points. EGYPT The index rose 0.3 percent to 6,437 points. BAHRAIN The index climbed 0.2 percent to 1,451 points. — Reuters
GULF PRODUCTS
Diesel slips on swelling stocks SINGAPORE: Middle East diesel prices eased this week, shedding gains from the late year-end rally in 2009, as bulging global inventories continue to weigh on the market. Benchmark prices in the region were pegged at around 15 cents, down 35 cents from midDecember, traders said. “I think there was a bit of optimism that Iran would be looking to stockpile through March, following their purchase from Hin Leong last month,” an Asia-based trader said. “But they seem to have gone quiet, and there has been no indication they are on the market to buy large volumes.” Iran bought about 2 million barrels of gas oil (diesel) from Singapore trader Hin Leong for December delivery. Iran resumed diesel imports in September as it prepared to meet winter heating demand. The Islamic Republic has been buying about 400,000-600,000 barrels each month since September, traders said. Fuel oil prices firmed this week as regional supplies tightened due to strong domestic requirements over the winter period and thinner Western arbitrage supplies into Asia. Fuel oil’s prompt February crack was valued at a discount of $3 a barrel to benchmark Dubai crude, versus the minus $2-$3 range seen towards the end of December. “The market is still relatively strong; supply sources in the Middle East are tight now because of the winter,” a trader said. “The arbitrage flows into Asia are also lower than the last few months, so all that is going to play in keeping the market supported.” — Reuters
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US retailers posting Dec gains NEW YORK: US retailers including Sears Holdings Corp and Costco Wholesale Corp posted higher sales for December as cautious consumers did their holiday shopping with an eye for bargains. Investors were eagerly awaiting the latest data, which will give the most detailed picture yet of the critical holiday shopping season. The figures point to the strength of consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity, heading into 2010. Wall Street expectations for a strong sales month rose in the past week and by Wednesday, analysts were expecting a 2 percent increase, according to Thomson Reuters Data. That would be the best showing since a 3.4 percent gain in April 2008. The increase is an improvement from the 3.6 percent decline seen in
Limited Brands raises quarterly EPS view December 2008, when the financial crisis slammed the brakes on consumer spending, forcing retailers to offer steep discounts and leading to the toughest holiday shopping season in decades. In the year since, retailers have tightly managed their inventories, making them less vulnerable to markdowns and protecting profit margins. Costco, the largest US warehouse club operator, posted a better-thanexpected 9 percent rise in December sales at stores open at least a year, helped by an increase in gasoline prices and stronger foreign currencies. Analysts were expecting a 7.9 percent rise,
according to Thomson Reuters data. Sears posted a 0.4 percent increase in December same-store sales, driven by a 5.3 percent rise at its Kmart stores. Analysts were expecting same-store sales increases across the board, according to Thomson Reuters, except for the teen sector, where results have been mixed. Skate and snowboarding-inspired retailer Zumiez Inc posted a surprise 0.3 percent increase in December sales and raised its quarterly earnings outlook late on Wednesday, sending its shares up 13 percent after hours. Analysts had forecast a 6.4 percent decline. The company cited better-than-
planned sales and margins. Urban Outfitters Inc reported a 5 percent rise in same-store sales for the combined November/December period, with increases of 10 percent at its Anthropologie chain, 8 percent at Free People and 1 percent at its namesake stores. Teen retailer Hot Topic Inc reported a deeper-than-expected 10.9 percent decline in same-store sales for December and lowered its quarterly earnings outlook as a result. “Traffic to Hot Topic stores was slow as there were more visually appealing promotions elsewhere in the mall on items in line with prevalent fashion
trends,” Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi said, citing plaid, straight-leg denim, and military styles. Limited Brands Inc reported a 2 percent decline in December same-store sales, deeper than the 1.5 percent fall that analysts expected. But the operator of the Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works chains raised its quarterly earnings-per-share outlook to a range of 92 cents to 97 cents, up from its prior forecast of 71 cents to 86 cents. The company said its sales and merchandise margins were above expectations. Overall, the International Council of Shopping Centers had forecast a same-store sales increase of about 2 percent for December, while the National Retail Federation expects holiday sales for November-December to decline 1 percent. — Reuters
British house prices rise 1.1% in 2009: Survey
PARIS: People look for clothes yesterday in a store in Paris, on the day of the official start of the winter sales in France. — AFP
German industrial orders return to modest growth BERLIN: German industrial orders returned to weak growth in November as increasing domestic demand in Europe’s biggest economy balanced out a dip in foreign orders, official data showed yesterday. Still, the improvement was below expectations — and new figures also showed a larger-than-expected decline in retail sales in November, underlining the risk to spending in Germany as unemployment increases. Industrial orders were up 0.2 percent on the month in November, the Economy Ministry said. That followed a 1.9 percent decline in October, which was the first drop in eight months. Domestic orders were up 1.4 percent in November, while foreign orders fell by 1 percent — a decline caused by a 3.2 percent drop in business from outside the euro-zone. Euro-zone orders were up 2 percent. “The recovery process has lost dynamism at present,” an Economy Ministry statement said. It said that a downward trend in car orders both at home and abroad was a major factor — although the general trend in manufacturing still appears to be upward. Orders in the auto sector were down for the third straight month. A German government car-scrapping bonus plan expired in September after giving sales of new cars a boost for much of 2009. Other
countries had similar “cash-for-clunkers” schemes. Economists had expected a 1.5 percent rise in industrial orders for November. But the slowing growth “does not mean an abrupt end of the recovery in manufacturing,” said Alexander Koch, an economist at UniCredit in Munich. “Further respectable improvements in (foreign) demand can be expected in the coming months,” he said. Germany went into recession in 2008 as demand for its exports dried up amid the global economic crisis, but the economy returned to modest growth in last year’s second quarter. However, gross domestic product is still believed to have declined by about 5 percent in 2009, and unemployment is expected keep rising this year. Official GDP figures are due next week. Yesterday, the Federal Statistical Office said that retail sales in November — excluding car sales — were down 1.1 percent on the month in seasonally adjusted terms. That was worse than economists’ prediction of a 0.3 percent drop. Sales were down 2.8 percent on the year in November. The statistical office said sales were down 1.8 percent on the year in last year’s first 11 months. Based on that, it estimated that the decline for the full year would come in between 1.9 and 2.1 percent. — AP
LONDON: British house prices gained ground in 2009, a survey from home-loans provider Halifax showed yesterday, in the latest sign of an improving economic climate in recession-hit Britain. Prices increased by 1.1 percent in December 2009, compared with the same month of the previous year, Halifax said in a statement. The average home price rose 1.0 percent in December from November, climbing for the sixth month in a row, added the lender, which is part of the state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group. “Prices in December were 1.1 percent higher on an annual basis, marking the first (annual) rise since March 2008,” Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis said in the statement. “House prices have risen by 9.4 percent since reaching a low in April 2009,” he added. Meanwhile, with Britain stuck in a record recession, the Bank of England yesterday held its key interest rate at 0.50 percent-the lowest level in history-helping keep down interest repayments on mortgages. Ellis cited low interest rates-which were slashed to the current level last March-and a modest improvement in the labor market.
“The significant cut in interest rates following the worldwide financial upheaval in the autumn of 2008 has markedly reduced the burden of servicing a mortgage for many households. This has helped to stimulate housing demand.” He added: “The recent improvement in the labor market, highlighted by increasing numbers of people in employment in both September and October, has also supported housing demand.” However, Halifax also warned that the property market would struggle in 2010. “The prospects for the market this year will depend on how the UK economy evolves and whether there is a significant increase in the supply of properties for sale,” Ellis said. “Overall, our current view is that house prices will be flat during 2010,” he added. The home-loans provider also revealed that the average cost of a British home stood at 169,042 pounds ($268,934, 187,628 euros) in December 2009. Last week, another major home-loans provider, Nationwide, said in a separate survey that British house prices had increased by a much larger 5.9 percent in 2009. — AFP
HEFEI: Chinese stock investors monitor their share prices at a security firm in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province yesterday. China said it would soon launch a stock index covering 500 firms listed in the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan to enhance financial cooperation in the Greater China region. — AFP
BUSINESS
Friday, January 8, 2010
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College of Charleston economist Frank Hefner is seeking the right word to describe the outlook for 2010.
ILLINOIS: Youth Job Center counselor Pamela Kaul (left) assists Ariel Ausmer, 17, a junior, with job leads at the Youth Job Center at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois. — MCT
US economic picture a bit fuzzy he best would be some sort of combination of optimistic, pessimistic and uncertain, he told the Columbia Rotary Club on Monday. Why the confusion? Here’s what Hefner told the gathering, which included S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster as well as Columbia city and judicial leaders: Regulation muddies the future. With so many new programs from Capitol Hill and the White House trying to stimulate the economy, rules on everything from estate taxes to jobs credits seem to be moving targets. “Tell me how you’re going to make a five-year business plan. Good luck,” Hefner said. And healthcare reform adds to the uncertainty for companies that might rehire workers because they don’t want to hit employment targets that could trigger certain requirements, he said. Some polls have suggested people are optimistic about the economy this year. But do they really think the economy is turning around? More likely, they are hopeful things won’t get worse, Hefner suggested. “They are saying, ‘Thank goodness we survived last year,’ he said. “I don’t think this will translate into people buying
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new cars and new houses.” Not very stimulated “We cannot rely on government stimulus for sustained growth,” Hefner said. One reason: The government is borrowing money to pay for stimulus, and, like any loan, it has to be paid back.
Regulation could muddle future; no quick recovery seen homes since construction outpaced population growth. And factories that slowed production now have capacity to ramp up without expanding. The slow, jobless recovery could mimic
Japan in the 1990s, when that nation lost 10 years of economic growth, he said. “That possibility is growing.” What could be a sign things are getting better. Watch for immigrants, Hefner
suggested. They came into the country over the past couple of decades because work was plentiful. Now they’re leaving. “That’s not a good indication of things,” he said. — MCT
And whose a key lender? China. Who needs to get into the game? Banks couldn’t get money as the economy neared disaster two years ago when credit markets froze, Hefner said. Now, aided with federal bailout loans, “Banks are flush with cash but are doing nothing with it,” Hefner said. Shy after making bad loans that helped deflate the economy, banks need to take calculated risks now and hand out more loans to jump-start businesses, he said. A slow, slow recovery There is no quick turnaround. The nation will need years to return to pre-recession job and investment levels-based on even the most biggest growth spurts ever seen, Hefner said. And growth will come with little investment from businesses. Consider: There are plenty of
BARSTOW: A Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp freight train makes its way through the freight yard in Barstow, California. — MCT
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CAREER
Friday, January 8, 2010
Dress appropriately for interviews W
hat do I wear to the interview? It’s a question millions of people agonize over on some level while looking for a job. The bad news is that there are few cut-and-dried answers. As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste, and each interviewer has his unique sense of what’s appropriate interview attire. The good news? Deciding what to wear isn’t as difficult as you might think. Dress one or two levels up “The rule of thumb is that you dress one or two levels higher than the job that you’re going for,” explains Kate Wendleton, president and founder of the Five O’Clock Club, a national career counseling and outplacement firm. “If you were going for a job as a mechanic, you wouldn’t go in there in dirty overalls, even though that’s how you would dress for that kind of work. You would still go in there and show respect. You would go in with an open-collar shirt, clean pants and maybe a jacket.” As Wendleton puts it, by dressing a notch or two above what’s standard apparel for the position you’re interviewing for, “you’re definitely showing that you care about this job, and that you know the game.”
severe labor shortage, they’d get hired.” She says that young, freshly minted grads often make the mistake these days of going too casual, perhaps confusing what once was with what now is. “These days, people are not desperate for you,” she points out. “Recent grads tend to dress like they’re students at interviews. Nobody forgives that. Not Caution is the better in this market.” part of valor Use your judgment When it’s time to get Is a suit always a must in dressed for the interview, remember: It’s not so much an interview? Absolutely that you’re trying to get the not. Michael Smith, who job with what you wear, it’s recently searched for a job more a matter of not taking in the Chicago area, went yourself out of contention on an interview in the with your presentation, midst of a bitter cold snap Wendleton says. in that region. “So instead “Interviewers can decide in of wearing a suit, I wore 10 seconds that they don’t black slacks and a sweater,” want you,” she adds. “It says Smith. “The sweater will take them longer to was large and cable-knit but decide they do want you.” very nice and high quality. Chances are good that by The interviewer actually dressing on the said to me that it was nice conservative side, you to see something other won’t unintentionally than a suit walk through his disqualify yourself. But door. And a week later, I got trying to demonstrate how the job.” So be sure to learn about hip you are with your industry’s fashion exposed lower back tattoos an or laid-back Juicy Couture culture; some are obviously more casual than others. outfit could backfire. It’s also usually fine to inquire about the dress This isn?t 1999 Once upon a time during code while setting up the the dotcom heyday, interview. An Armani coat recounts Wendelton, and tie or your nice Ann “people would come in with Taylor outfit may not be nose rings and sandals, and required if you discover the because there really was a dress code is casual.
Ten fashion blunders what not to wear to the Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion. But it might surprise you to learn that those extremes have, over the last couple of years, begun to move closer to the middle ground. Nowadays, if you were to ask 100 people their opinion about what to wear to an interview, the majority would answer, “Dress on the conservative side.” With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to avoid fashion blunders. Anna Soo Wildermuth, an image consultant and past president of the Association of Image Consultants International, says, “Clothes should be a part of who you are and should not be noticed.” She cites 10 dressing faux pas to avoid when interview time comes around: ● Wild Nail Polish: This tip is for women or men. Extremely long or uncut nails are a real turnoff, too. Your nails should be groomed and neat. ● Jewelry That Jangles: Don’t wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And “But it’s never fine to go in with a collarless shirt,” warns Wendleton. And for men, she suggests putting on a jacket, even when not wearing a tie. You might not want
no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed. ● Open-Toed or Backless Shoes: And mules are a definite no-no. Out-of-date shoes should be thrown out or kept for other occasions. ● Bare Legs:Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather. Stockings can be in neutral colors or a fashion color to match your shoes. ● Out-of-Date Suits: These have lapels that are too wide (three inches or more) or too narrow (one inch or less). A good tailor can alter lapels. The style for men’s jackets is full-body and looser rather than fitted or tight. ● Short Skirts: Hemlines should not be more than three inches above the knee. Don’t wear capri pants or leggings to the interview. ● Leather Jackets for Men or Women: Even leather blazers are not good for interviewing purposes. They look like outerwear. ● Turtlenecks for Men:A tie is preferable, at least in the first goround. At the very least, wear a collared shirt. ● Printed or Trendy Handbags: Purses should be conservative and inconspicuous.
to be too true to yourself There are those who say it’s pointless to dress for an interview in a way that you wouldn’t once you’re on the job. Why
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Red Briefcases: Briefcases, purses and shoes should all be conservative in color and in good condition. Conservative colors in various shades of blue and gray are best. Wearing black to the interview could be viewed as too serious. If you do wear black, make sure that there is another color near your face to soften the look. Brown is still considered questionable as a business color and probably should be avoided. Change your outfit’s look for a second interview by wearing a different color blouse, shirt, scarf or tie. An interview is not the place to make a fashion statement, though those in the art fields and the very famous can be more adventurous. Everyone else should opt for a conservative look. “More and more companies are returning to traditional professional dress,” says Wildermuth. Whatever you wear should accent the fact that you’re a professional who’s ready to get to work at a new job. Let common sense guide you, and it should be easy to avoid fashion blunders that could damage your chances of getting to the next level in the process. In this market, it is essential that you look good and your appearance is right for the job.
misrepresent yourself to a future employer or try to be someone you’re not? “If you want to have eight earrings and have your tongue pierced, that’s fine,” says Wendleton.
“But you’re showing you don’t know how to play the game. If it’s so important to you, go ahead and dress like you normally do, but realize that you may not get the job.”
TECHNOLOGY
Friday, Januar 8, 2010
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Retailers reach customers through social media sites By Andrea K Walker
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hen Walmart wanted to get the word out that it had received a huge shipment of the most sought-after toy just in time for the year-end shopping season, the retailer turned to its more than 400,000 Facebook friends first. Through teaser messages on its Facebook page, followers were asked to guess the mystery product that would soon be stocked on shelves. When Walmart revealed that the toy was the robotic hamster Zhu Zhu pets, it posted up-to-date messages and videos on when the toy would reach stores. Retailers, once timid users of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter, have become more engaged in the past year as the sites gain popularity among consumers. “I think retailers dipped their toe in the water” in 2008 “and saw some success and now they’re going crazy with it,” said Ryan Goff, vice president and word of mouth/social media strategy director for MGH, an Owings Mills, Maryland, advertising firm. Jennifer Rosen, a 31-year-old attorney from Pikesville, Maryland, uses social media to follow boutiques such as Wee Chic children’s store at Green Spring Station, Md, Radcliffe Jewelers and La Papillon spa in Timonium, Md. Rosen, who has a 16-month-old daughter, has asked the owner of Wee Chic to put outfits on hold that she has seen posted on the store’s Facebook page. She’ll then take them home for her daughter to try on. Rosen has little oral communication with the owner. “It’s convenient for me because I’m a working parent and I can get shopping done while she is sleeping,” Rosen said. “It really has made shopping so much easier.” Retailers are using social media to pitch sales, get feedback and create more intimate relationships with their customers. Such usage was more pronounced during the holiday season, but has
become a permanent element of marketing and customer service strategies. “Retailers go the way of their consumers and consumers are using social media more,” said Mike Gatti of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a division of the National Retail Federation. “It’s really allowing them to create a two-way street of communication with consumers and build a better relationship with them.” Gatti’s group doesn’t track how many retailers use social media but said that just about every major retailer has a presence. Along with Facebook, Walmart uses Twitter to promote bargains. It has relationships with bloggers who write about the retailer’s deals, and posts its own “how-to” videos on YouTube. Its Facebook page even had a spot where consumers could organize their holiday shopping lists. Best Buy has created a Twitter page called Twelpforce where consumers can get tech advice, make complaints and get ideas on what products to buy. Kodak’s Facebook page allows customers to create albums and share pictures. Target promotes daily deals on Twitter and Facebook and has a dedicated page on YouTube. “It’s a national trend that more and more people are going online and using these forums,” said Sarah Boehle, a Target spokeswoman. “Our guests are online and they expect us to be online. We use it as a way to engage with our shoppers.” Amanda Kashner, 29, says it’s convenient to look for deals on Facebook because she uses the site daily to chat with friends. She’s more apt to shop if there is a sale, and interacting with retailers via Facebook makes her feel in tune with them. “You can always send them a message on their wall and most of the time they’ll respond,” said the medical billing consultant. Promotions sent by mobile phone are also becoming popular, Gatti said. Some retailers are testing applications in which they
Bridget Quinn Stickline checks a Twitter message on her phone at her shop, Wee Chic - a baby boutique, at Greenspring Station in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec 23, 2009. Stickline uses social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to promote her store. – MCT use global positioning systems to tell when a customer is in one of their stores and immediately send a coupon. On the social media site groupon.com, retailers offer daily specials, but only honor them if a certain amount of people sign up. Consumers aren’t just using social media to find out about the latest bargains. They’re reading product reviews and even networking on other topics. Most consumers turning to social media during the holiday season wanted to find out what other shoppers thought about products, according to a survey by comScore, a Virginia company that tracks e-commerce usage and sales. About 28 percent of shoppers used social media sites to help with gift choices, according
to the survey, which looked at one week in December. The Facebook page for Wee Chic has become a networking tool for moms. Friends of the store give each other advice on everything from soothing a crying baby to finding a good pediatrician. If a mother comes in with a question that owner Bridget Quinn Stickline can’t answer, she’ll put a query on Facebook. Stickline turned to Facebook before she opened the business, asking people what they wanted in a children’s store. The store’s site now has 324 friends, and she often offers deals to them before the public. “We give our Facebook group preferential treatment,” she said. “You’re in the inner circle; you just have to tell us
Google smartphone takes on Apple
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aking direct aim at Apple’s iPhone, Google on Tuesday introduced its most advanced phone to date - the Nexus One - and opened an online store to sell it directly to consumers. The phone, available at http://www.google.com/phone, costs $179 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile. Similar offers will be available from Verizon Wireless and British carrier Vodafone this year. You can buy the phone without a contract for $529. The Nexus One runs an updated version of Google’s Android operating system. Built by HTC from Google’s direct specifications, it has a touch-screen and a fast processor. It includes a 5megapixel camera for video and photos, a Global Positioning System, and stereo Bluetooth connection for headphones. Among gee-whiz features: speech
dictation, which lets you speak to compose email messages, Tweets and Facebook posts without typing. Google has lagged Apple in the mobile market. It has tried to be a major player with Android, which it offers free to manufacturers and wireless carriers. Some 20 Android phones are available, but few, with the exception of the Verizon Droid by Motorola, have been big sellers. The Nexus One could change that, says Charles Golvin, an analyst at Forrester Research: “It’s the best Android to date.” Apple has sold nearly 30 million phones in 100 countries. Its US carrier is AT&T. On Tuesday, it said iPhone and iPod Touch owners have downloaded 3 billion applications since it launched the App Store, a marketplace for 100,000 applications that do everything from play
games to translate words. There are around 10,000 apps for Android phones. The message to consumers is that Nexus One is the flagship Google phone, and the others aren’t as good, says Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Interpret. “If I was a Droid customer who just bought the phone a month ago, I might not feel so good,” he says. Google “made it clear that not all Android phones are created equal.” Google’s Andy Rubin, who oversees Android, says with its own store, Google could potentially lower wireless plan costs, since it “won’t have the built-in costs” of heavy advertising. Golvin predicts Nexus One will result in sales of “a couple million” phones this year and bigger market share. But Google must push into more countries, and “that’s going to take awhile.” — MCT
who you are.” Sears has created its own social media site called mysears, which has more than a quarter million followers. Consumers can find out about deals and chat with others about products. The retailer and its sister company Kmart also use Facebook, Twitter, myspace and YouTube. Mobile applications included a gift finder during the holiday season. Kmartdesign.com has documentary-style videos that teach consumers how to decorate the perfect Christmas tree or create a welcoming guest room. “I would go so far as to say that social media is definitely connecting more people to sales,” said Tom Aiello, a spokesman for Kmart and Sears. “It used to be
that we had to have our message pass through some sort of media. Social media allows us to talk directly to our customers.” Bare Necessities, an undergarment store in Green Spring Station, has been using social media for about a year and has 800 followers on Facebook. “It’s just more specialized,” said co-owner Lynn Fram. “Print advertising goes to a lot of people and everybody is reading the same thing and no one feels special. It makes you feel special when you’re getting it on your own computer.” Marketing experts say social media should be part of a comprehensive strategy to promote retail businesses. — MCT
BEAUTY
Page 24
Friday, January 8, 2010
Look years younger in minutes ow whether you are just beginning to notice your first few lines or you are experiencing more advance signs of aging you can painlessly and safely achieve a healthier, youthful, wrinkle free beauty in minutes with these simple professional techniques used by the world’s top makeup artists. Lift a Sagging Jaw line - After applying your foundation apply a very thin line of highlighter from ear to ear along the top of your jawbone. Blend thoroughly. Next apply a thin line of contour cream or shadow on the bottom and the underneath area of your jawbone. Blend thoroughly. Make Wrinkles & Lines Disappear Before applying foundation use a Q- Tip or very thin makeup brush to apply a professional line filler product or
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highlighter inside the creases of your lines and wrinkles. Using the thin end of your makeup sponge or a clean Q-Tip gently blend. Perform An Instance Face Lift - A well groomed medium width brow with a strong arch will visual lift your face instantly. To create a well groomed brow with a strong arch pluck clean the area underneath the brow bone and shape the brow with widest part of the brow at the inner corner of your eye and the brow getting thinner has it goes out toward your temple. The highest part of the arch should be just above the outer edge of your pupil. Create Fuller Younger Lips - After covering the lip area with foundation and your lips with a lip cream or balm take a lip liner the same shade or a shade slightly
lighter than your lipstick and line just outside your lips natural lip line . Apply your lipstick with a lip brush blending lipstick to lip liner. Place a dab of pale light color lip gloss in the center of your top and bottom lips. Give Your Eyes A Quick Lift - Applying eyeliner has close to lashes as possible line eyes from where the inner corner (tear duct) of your eyes end to slightly pass the outer corner of your eyes. Has you get to the outer corner of your eye slightly tilt line upward to create a slight slant. This technique works whether you line just your upper lids or both your upper and bottom lids. Curl your lash with an eyelash curler before applying mascara. — www.ambafrance-do.org
How to make eye shadow last all day T he eternal quest of women to make their eye shadow last all day has been a hot marketing topic for a while. Every makeup manufacturer claims to have the formula that will last all day. All of these make-up manufacturers are wrong. The secret to making eye shadow last all day is not in the formula of the eye shadow. The secret is in the application process. To truly get your eye shadow to last all day, follow these steps. Step 1: Apply a cream concealer to each eye lid. Use your finger tip for easy application. For your eye shadow to last all day it needs a base that it can hold on to. Step 2: Load the eye shadow on to the eye shadow make-up sponge. You will want to load the make-up sponge with plenty of eye shadow. This will be the main layer of eye shadow that will
Rosemary honey hair conditioner he extremes of heat and cold we endure throughout winter can make even the greatest of hair look and feel like straw. This nourishing conditioner blends honey for shine; olive oil for moisture and essential oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.
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1/2 cup Honey 1/4 cup warmed Olive oil (2T for normal to oily hair) 4 drops of essential oil of Rosemary 1 tsp. Xanthum gum (available in health food stores) Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a tight fitting stopper or lid. Apply a small amount at a time to slightly dampened hair. Massage scalp and work mixture through hair until completely coated. Cover hair with a warm towel (towel can be heated in a microwave or dryer) or shower cap; leave on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove towel or shower cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way. — www.allnaturalbeauty.us
last all day. Step 3: Sweep the eye shadow over the eye lid using the make-up sponge. Fill the desired areas of the eye lid with the eye shadow. Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for all desired colors of eye shadow for your look. Step 5: Create contour on your eye. Choose an eye shadow shade that is a little bit darker then the other colors that you have used. With an eye shadow brush sweep this color into the eye crease. Repeat with other eye. Step 6: Use your blush to set your eye shadow, so that it will last all day. With your blush brush sweep a light layer of your blush over your eye shadow to keep it in place all day. — ehow
BEAUTY
Detox: Does it really improve your skin?
Friday, January 8, 2010
Page 25
here are as many detox methods as weight loss diets and some of them can be quite expensive! But we don’t need to spend a lot of money on detox, it’s something we can do ourselves if we know how.
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he answer is yes, especially if you have problem skin. The skin is one of the body’s main organs and can eliminate around 10% of all waste from the body. It does this mainly through sweating, we loose moisture through the skin 24/7 even though we’re not aware of it. It’s a natural process and of course your facial skin is included in this. So what is detoxification (detox)? To put it very simply it’s “getting the garbage (toxins) out of your body without putting any more in”. Toxins can be heavy metals, pesticides, too much vitamin A or chemical residues from the polluted air we breathe or the junk food we eat, which contains sugar salt, artificial colors and flavors. All these are stored mainly in the fatty tissues of the body and can play havoc with your health if they build up to excess or if you have a sensitivity. If you suffer with acne, or if your skin is dull, rough or blotchy, a detox could be exactly what you need. Other symptoms of toxic overload can be lethargy and frequent headaches or simply feeling below par. Detoxing will not only help your skin but the other major elimination organ, the liver. In fact your whole system will benefit! There are as many detox methods as weight loss diets and some of them can be quite expensive! But we don’t need to spend a lot of money on detox, it’s something we can do ourselves if we know how. So to that end, I’ll give you a really simple (& cheap!) detox that you can try.
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Detox a la Wendy! We are aiming here to rid the body of garbage therefore it’s important to make the diet as light and healthy as possible but to have something you can live with for at least 2 weeks. It’s no good going on a herbal tea and brown rice diet if you can only do it for two days! So, to give you some ideas, substitute fish for meat, cut out alcohol, substitute herbal tea for coffee and tea, Cut out rich sauces and all fatty foods, eliminate salt and cut out all foods made with white flour. Yes it sounds painful but put your imagination to work, there are a lot of healthy foods you can substitute with. Keep up the vegies, try serving them sprinkled with herbs or baking them in a quiche without pastry. Try pumpkin seeds as a snack, they’re lovely sprinkled over cereal. Go to a health food shop or even the health section of your supermarket and do some research. If you have digestive problems, a good detox for you may be cutting out all dairy and wheat products. Try soy milk or rice milk and breads made out of other flours such as rye, rice and soy flours. Always take in some form of fiber to help elimination. Psyllium is great as it does not cause any food allergies. Start with just one teaspoon and if that causes no bloating or discomfort, increase it gradually. Think water. It can be spring water, bottled water, filtered or rain water. If your domestic supply is ok, tap water is fine too. Herbal teas are great but read the label, some of them can be quite potent! Fruit and vegetable juices are fantastic but have them instead of a meal, not as an extra. Some of them are
quite high in kilojoules. Some people take supplements when they are detoxing, others don’t. I like to take a herb called “milk thistle”. It helps the liver to cleanse and heal. Rapid detoxification can make you feel quite sick and can happen if you jump too quickly into
detox from a bad diet loaded with fat sugar and chemical colors and flavors. Try to eliminate the bad foods first and go onto a healthier diet before attempting detox. However if you get mild headaches or experience drowsiness, try to stick with it. It’s a sign that you body is eliminating those toxins. Skin brushing (or dry brushing) can aid the detox process, use a loofah or natural bristle brush and starting from the hands brush the skin gently. Always start from the extremities and work towards the heart or centre of your body. Skin brushing will aid your circulation, remove dead skin cells and make you feel rejuvenated. Exercise will also help. Exercising will make the body sweat, speeding up the elimination of toxic wastes. No need to run a marathon, do what you enjoy but do it regularly. You may find your skin will get worse before it gets better, but soon you’ll see a clearer more radiant complexion. Acne will improve, your eyes will look clearer and, as a bonus, you may find your appetite decreases and sugar cravings diminish. Pregnant women should consult their doctor before attempting detox. Young children or sick people should not radically alter their diet in any way. Seek medical advice first. Just as a thought. It’s better to be on a healthy diet most of the time than be on a bad diet and detoxing regularly. It’s what we do every day that counts the most. Try to use this detox time to rethink your eating habits and lifestyle choices. — www.ambafrance-do.org
HEALTH
Page 26
Friday, January 8, 2010
Acid Reflux: Causes, t is a disease that should not be ignored or self-treated. Therefore, getting the right acid reflux information is important.
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What Is Acid Reflux Syndrome? Acid reflux syndrome is also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). It is a disease that should not be ignored or selftreated. Therefore, getting the right acid reflux information is important. Acid reflux happens when acid and other materials in the stomach back flow or reflux into the esophagus. (The esophagus is the 10 inch long tube linking the throat and the stomach). In most cases, the reflux or back flow of the materials from the stomach remains in the lower part of the esophagus, resulting in heartburn and nausea. Such action is not only painful to the sufferer but also can cause damage to the esphagus. In some cases, the reflux or back flow of the materials can back up all the way into the mouth. In such cases, the acid will cause a burning sensation in the throat. Sometimes, the sufferer can even find fragments of undigested food in the reflux material. This can be quite disgusting. Complications Of Acid Reflux Syndrome Many of us may experience minor acid reflux, especially after a heavy meal. Most of us choose to ignore it. It is okay to ignore your acid reflux syndrome if it happens once in a blue moon. But if the symptoms persist, it is vital that you should take some immediate treatment before it develops into other complications. Acid reflux syndrome, if untreated, may develop into complications such as erosive esophagitis, esophageal stricture ( a narrowing or obstruction of the esophagus), ulceration or Barrett’s esophagus. Eventually, acid reflux may lead to esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus is the most serious complication of chronic acid reflux syndrome . It is a premalignant condition where there is a change in the membrane cells of the esophagus. In this change, the lining of the esophagus changes to something similar to the lining of the intestine. This is actually the body’s natural way to protect the esophagus from the excessive exposure to acid. The development of Barrett’s esophagus may improve the heartburn feeling. However, it increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 30 times! Who Can Suffer From Acid Reflux Syndrome? Acid reflux syndrome can happen to anyone regardless of his/her age or sex etc. However, it is most likely to affect people who are suffering from obesity, hiatal hernia, recurring vomiting, or scleroderma (hardening of skin and connective tissue). For women, acid reflux has also been reported to take place more frequently during pregnancy.
The Ins And Outs Of Acid Reflux Causes The original acid reflux cause is still unconfirmed by the doctors. However, there are a few possible contributing causes of acid reflux disease. They include: • • • •
Defective lower esophageal sphincter Hiatal Hernia Pregnancy Peptic ulcers and insufficient digestive enzymes • Asthma • Lifestyle Causes Defective Lower Esophageal Sphincter The most common acid reflux cause is an esophageal sphincter that does not function properly. The esophageal sphincter is a tough rim of muscle that surrounds the lower end of the esophagus. When food is eaten, the
Lifestyle causes are usually preventable. For example, a person experiencing acid reflux symptoms after eating a large meal can prevent acid reflux by cutting down portion sizes. Keeping a food diary and learning to avoid foods that are potential acid reflux causes can also help to mitigate the problems associated with acid reflux. Staying away from caffeine, alcohol and smoking is also a way for some addicts.
sphincter contracts strongly to push the food into the stomach, thus preventing stomach contents from backing up into the throat and mouth. If the sphincter is not strong enough to force the food into the stomach, or when the sphincter does not push and simply relaxes, the acidic contents from the stomach can back up into the esophagus causing painful heartburn, burning in the throat, and an acidic taste in the mouth. Hiatal Hernia Hiatal hernia is another possible acid reflux cause because it can impair the lower esophageal sphincter function. Hiatal hernia is a condition where the upper part of the stomach moves up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm (the muscle that separate the stomach from the chest). Hiatal hernia is usually caused by severe coughing, vomiting, straining or sudden physical exertion. Obesity or pregnancy may also increase the chance of hiatal hernia. However, recent studies shows that people with hiatal hernia may not have acid reflux disease but those who have both hiatal hernia and acid reflux disease usually experience a more severe symptoms. Pregnancy Some pregnant women may experience acid reflux in their last few months of pregnancy. This is because the growing baby presses on the stomach, which can cause back up of stomach contents into the esophagus. Medication such as antacids will not relief acid reflux caused by pregnancy. The best solution is to eat less for every meal but eat more meals. The good news is, once the baby is born,
such acid reflux condition will disappear. Peptic ulcers and insufficient digestive enzymes Peptic ulcers and an insufficiency of digestive enzymes in the stomach can also be the cause of acid reflux. This is because such conditions may slow down the digestion process in the stomach, resulting in a build up of stomach acids that back up into the esophagus. Asthma Does asthma cause acid reflux, or it’s acid reflux that causes asthma? Till now, no one has a definite answer to the exact relationship between acid reflux and asthma. For those who believe asthma can cause acid reflux, the reasoning is because the coughing and sneezing related to asthmatic attacks can cause changes in the chest and trigger acid flux. It is also possible that certain asthmatic drugs (taken to dilate the airways) may relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a major cause of acid reflux. For those who argue that acid reflux can worsen asthma, the argument is that the acid leaking from the lower esophagus stimulates the nerves running along the neck into the chest, causing bronchial constriction and difficulty in breathing. Lifestyle Causes There are other lifestyle factors that can contribute to causes of acid reflux disease. Some of these factors that directly contribute to acid reflux symptoms are smoking, overeating, stress and a diet that is high in salt and fatty foods.
Common Acid Reflux Symptoms Most of the acid reflux symptoms are related to the cause of acid reflux, which is the back up of acid and other materials from the stomach into the esophagus. While the signs or symptoms of acid reflux disease may be unpleasant, it should be noted that these acid reflux symptoms may not happen everyday or after every meal. It’s possible that the the acid reflux disease symptoms may disappear for a few weeks and then come back again. The signs or symptoms of acid reflux includes: • Heartburn / Chest Pain • Sore Throat • Regurgitation • Nausea • Dysphagia Or Odynophagia • Problems Breathing • Oral Symptoms • Barrett’s Esophagus Chest Pain And Heartburn The most common sign or symptom of acid reflux disease is chest pain and heartburn. Acid reflux and chest pain is one of the most common association. It is an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest. This feeling may last for a few hours and become worse if the person lies down after a meal. The burning sensation can also move up into the throat area, together with a sour taste in the mouth, as if the food in the stomach has come back to the throat. It should be noted that many people mistaken the early symptoms of a heart attack as heartburn and this can be very dangerous. As such, it is important for you to learn to differentiate between heartburn and heart attack. Sore throat Sore throat is another very common sign or symptom of the acid reflux disease. If acid reflux and sore throat happen simultaneously, it is an indication that you should seek
Friday, January 8, 2010
HEALTH
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cures and prevention professional advice. Regurgitation Regurgitation is the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth. It is another common acid reflux disease symptom. It happens when the stomach acid and contents back all the way into the throat and mouth. The sufferer usually experience a bitter taste and a painful, burning sensation in the throat. Some sufferers may even experience small pieces of food coming back up into the mouth. Nausea Nausea is a less common sign or symptom of acid reflux disease. Acid reflux is often suspected when there is no other obvious cause for nausea. Dysphagia Or Odynophagia Dysphagia is a condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful. The sufferer usually feel that the food is “stuck” somewhere in the esophagus. Odynophagia refers to severe pain on swallowing due to a disorder of the oesophagus. The pain can be so strong that the sufferer may become afraid of eating. Dysphagia and odynophagia are symptoms of chronic acid reflux, usually occur after the reflux has been going on for a long time. The cause of such symptoms is due to damage of the esophagus as a result of long term acid reflux disease. Problems Breathing This happens when material in the esophagus get sucked or aspirated into the lungs. This can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and pneumonia. Oral Symptoms Acid refluxed from the stomach into the mouth can irritate the gums, cause tooth decay and create an unpleasant taste and the feeling of excessive saliva in the mouth. Barrett’s Esophagus Last but not least, repeated acid reflux occurrence can cause physical changes to the lining of the esophagus. These changes are known as Barrett’s Esophagus. About 10% of Barrett’s Esophagus cases will develop into esophagus cancer. People suffering from Barrett’s Esophagus should undergo regular examinations and should receive continual and aggressive acid reflux treatment. Acid Reflux Diet Food: Reduce Foods that Cause Acid Reflux A proper acid reflux diet is important because by now, you may have realized from your experience that certain acid reflux food may trigger the symptoms in you. As such, the first thing to do to prevent acid reflux is to reduce or even avoid foods that cause acid reflux. The foods that cause acid reflux may vary from person to person. Thus, finding the ideal acid reflux disease diet is a tedious but necessary thing to do. To help to to speed up for planning for an acid reflux diet food list for you, we’ve prepared a list of common foods that cause acid reflux: • High fat foods (such as fried foods, high fat meats and high fat dairy products). • Sodas. (A friend of mine drinks sodas for every meal and antacids is a common medicine in his bag!) • Acidic fruits such as citrus fruits (i.e. lemons, grapefruits and oranges) as well as the juices made from them. • High acid vegetables like tomatoes and raw onions.
• Garlic (weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle). • Beverages such as coffee (including decaffeinated coffee), tea and most other caffeinated beverages. • Alcoholic beverages (weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle). • Chocolate (weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle). • Peppermint and spear mint (weaken the lower esophageal sphincter muscle). • Chilli peppers and pepper (may irritate a damaged esophageal lining). A proper acid reflux recipe It may be disappointing to see such a huge list. But not to worry, there are still many food to eat for acid reflux. Some of these foods include lean meats, fruits like apples and bananas, and vegetables like carrots, peas, green beans and baked potatoes. Most grains are also acceptable, including whole wheat bread, white bread and both brown and white rice. Sometimes it isn’t the food but the quantity Without eating foods that cause acid reflux, sometimes, acid reflux can still happen. A good acid reflux diet is not just about knowing what food to avoid for acid reflux disease, or the right food to eat for acid reflux, but also how much to eat for every meal. Acid reflux can happen after a heavy meal. Thus, a good acid reflux food plan is to eat less for each meal and have more meals instead. An Overview Of Options Available For Acid Reflux Treatment Acid reflux treatment may vary from person to person, depending on the seriousness of the disease and the individuals’ body condition. Unfortunately, there isn’t one acid reflux cure for all. Acid reflux disease treatments can be classified into 5 main categories: Lifestyle changes as acid reflux cure In most acid reflux diseases, adopting lifestyle changes as a natural cure for acid reflux may be enough to control the pain and discomfort of acid reflux. The first step in treating acid reflux disease in to avoid food that cause acid reflux. Other lifestyle changes include avoiding overeating, alcohol, coffee and smoking. An overweight person may lose the excess pounds as a part of the acid reflux treatment plan. Since acid reflux symptoms can be worsen at night due to the lying position, elevating the upper body by about eight inches while sleeping can give you a better sleep at night. Alternatively, you may consider using an acid reflux pillow. Over-the-counter acid reflux medicine When lifestyle changes are not enough, you may have to resort to over-the-counter acid reflux medicine. The most common overthe-counter acid reflux medicines are antacids and H2 blockers. Antacids relies on the principle of reducing the amount of acid in the stomach whereas H2 blocker inhibit the secretion of acid in the stomach. When the acidity in the stomach is reduced, the occurrence of acid reflux reduces too. However, there are some harmful side effects that one should take note. Prescribed acid reflux medication In other severe cases, a prescription acid reflux medication might be necessary. If medication is needed for acid reflux treatment, it is likely that the acid reflux medication will have to be taken regularly and continued indefinitely. These medications include prescribed version of H2 blocker and proton pump inhibitors.
Natural cure for acid reflux The best natural remedy for acid reflux is actually lifestyle changes as discussed above. Other natural cure may include herbal remedies for acid reflux such as herbal tea, cinnamon, pineapples, grapefruit and chicory root tea. Some people use homeopathic cure such as acid reflux and vinegar. One should always proceed with caution when using alternative acid reflux medicine. Acid reflux surgery For those who do not wish to rely on medication indefinitely, or the medication is simply ineffective, the last option is acid reflux
surgery. There is a surgical operation that can be conducted to strengthen the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach, thus preventing acid reflux from happening. The surgery is conducted through laparoscopy and such surgery has good track record of successful cases. Fundamentally, finding the right cure for your acid reflux is a about knowing your symptoms and how they come together in your body and affect your system. When finding the right acid reflux treatment, you should always consider the long term effect. Never go for the short term relief and forget about the logn term implication. — www.acidrefluxcure.net
PETS
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Dixie sits at the feet of owner Army Sgt. Timothy Adam Jordan after being reunited after more than a year, September 12, 2009, at the Aledo, Texas home of Barbara Lawrence, who has been caring for the dogs of Sgt. Jordan, who returned from Iraq.
Foster pet program eases load on military family S
hortly after Thomasa Jordan’s husband was deployed to Iraq in June 2008, life for the young military wife became increasingly difficult. She had a 5-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. Pregnancy-related medical issues left her sick and tired, and to make matters worse, she was feuding with the family next door to her at Fort Hood. So, Jordan said, she decided to leave Killeen, Texas, and stay with her brother in Virginia until her husband returned home. Only there was no room for the family’s beloved German shepherds, Logan and Dixie. “I couldn’t bring the dogs because the apartment I was going to didn’t have a back yard,” said Jordan, 24. “I started looking through the phone book and went through 32 hours of searching. I called shelters, German shepherd rescue agencies, anywhere I could think of where they wouldn’t get put down. “Everything was full or they wouldn’t take them because of their age.” Then, Jordan said, someone told her about an organization that fosters pets for military families, called Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet. She anxiously dialed the number. A WAY TO GIVE BACK Barbara Lawrence, 53, a
doctor of internal medicine and an animal lover, lives on 3 acres near Aledo, Texas. Since the Gulf War, she has been supporting America’s troops by writing them letters and sending care packages. One day last year, she said, she was browsing a Web site and saw a link to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet. That March, she applied to become a foster pet parent, specifying that she was willing to take a large dog. “After the initial excitement of the invasion wore off and people turned back to their own lives, it didn’t change the fact that people were making huge sacrifices and giving up things, such as their pets, to fulfill their obligations,” Lawrence explained. “I saw it not only as something I could give to a service person but to the family at home.” Seven months later, Lawrence received a call from Guardian Angels asking whether she would be willing to foster two big dogs. “At that time, they had these clients the Jordans with two adult German shepherds and they were trying to place them,” she said. “The Jordans had tried hard to find a place for them and hadn’t had any luck and were resigned to giving up their pets.” A short time later, Lawrence and Thomasa Jordan spoke by phone. Lawrence said she was
eager to take Logan and Dixie but was concerned how they would get along with her new puppy, Dolly. Jordan offered to make the 2 hour drive from Killeen to Aledo to see how the dogs interacted. “She was nine months pregnant and ready to deliver at any time,” Lawrence said. “I had visions of her going into labor on I-35, so I drove to Fort Hood and met her and brought Dolly.” The dogs got along fine. Later that day, Lawrence started back to Aledo with Dolly, Logan and Dixie. “I was so excited,” Jordan said. “My husband called and I got to tell him that I had found someone to take both dogs together and that he was going to be able to see them again. He said it was a godsend.” Five days later, Jordan gave birth to their second daughter. STAYING IN TOUCH Shortly after she was released from the hospital, Jordan and her daughters, Savannah and Shyanne, went back to Jordan’s hometown of Hampton Roads, Va. They moved in with her brother and his family, who helped care for her and the girls. Lawrence, meanwhile, routinely e-mailed Jordan pictures of Dixie and Logan, which she forwarded to her husband in Iraq.
Lawrence said the arrangement wasn’t without challenges. Dixie wasn’t well socialized, and both dogs chased her neighbor’s horses, so they had to be moved, she said. But the rewards were great. Lawrence said it filled her heart to see the German shepherds running across the field, playing together. Logan loved the water, and both dogs were affectionate and got along well with Dolly. Best of all, Lawrence said, she felt good knowing she was able to help a young military mother. “It was obvious that she wasn’t going to be able to handle a 5-year-old, a newborn and two large dogs,” Lawrence said. “I think it is just as important to help the family at home as to support those who are abroad.”
Husband comes home At the end of July, after a 14month deployment, Army Sgt. Adam Jordan, 28, returned home safely. Lawrence, realizing he needed some down time, offered to keep Dixie and Logan a bit longer so that Adam Jordan could get to know his new daughter and the family could take a vacation together. “I said, ‘Take your time,’” she recalled. On Sept. 12, the Jordans, ready to make their family completely again, drove to Aledo to pick up Logan and Dixie.
It was a heartwarming reunion. “They were extremely happy to see us,” Thomasa Jordan said. “It was like no time had passed.” Lawrence said the dogs, especially Dixie, stayed close to Adam Jordan. “It was obvious that Dixie had a strong bond with Adam,” Lawrence said. “She was a different dog. She strikes me as the type of dog who bonds only with one person. She was ecstatic to see him and would not leave his side.” Even though she had bonded with the dogs for 11 months, Lawrence said she felt joy, not sadness, when they left. “It wasn’t hard to let them go, because I could see how happy their family was to have them back,” said Lawrence, who is now retired. Adam Jordan said he is grateful to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet and especially to Lawrence. “Those are our babies,” he said. “We don’t love them as much as our kids, but they are definitely part of the family. They mean a lot to us. ... I’m very happy we are all back together again.” He said Lawrence insisted on paying for the dogs’ food and vet bills while he was in Iraq. When he met her, he told her he wanted to repay her. She wouldn’t hear of it. “She said I had done enough,” Adam Jordan said. — MCT
Family makes point to have one meal a day together
Friday, January 8, 2010
RELATIONSHIPS
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Dawn McMullan, of Dallas, Texas, has challenged her family to eat one meal each day together and has been blogging online about the experience. awn McMullan juggles the family schedule around league sports for her 9-year-old, rock-climbing for her 12year-old, her husband’s bank job, her work as a freelance writer, and church, school, social and volunteer activities. When Noah’s rock-climbing coach suggested extending practices to 7:30 p.m., she reached her breaking point. She responded with a family challenge: Commit to eating at least one meal together every day over the next year. McMullan, who lives in East Dallas, writes about her family’s commitment on a Web blog www.bringingdinnerback.com and hopes to inspire others to come back to the table. At Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, the Rev. Leonard O. Leach is on a similar mission. He wants families to eat together more frequently and he stresses that the electronics be turned off. He thinks it will be tough, but says it’s imperative for parents who want to raise healthy, happy, confident children. Studies by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse have consistently found that teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week) are less likely to smoke, do drugs and drink, and are more likely to have better grades, go to religious services and have good relationships with their parents. Eliminating the dinner distractions makes a difference, according to the center’s survey released this fall. The survey found that teens who have fewer than three family dinners a week are twice as likely to use tobacco or marijuana, and more than 1/2 times likelier to use alcohol. The results are worse among teens who have infrequent family dinners and when people at the table use cellphones,
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BlackBerries, laptops or Game Boys. Those teens are three times likelier to smoke pot and tobacco, and 2 times likelier to use alcohol. That’s just what Leach has been preaching to the 800 families in his congregation. At a recent family life conference, he called on participants to have dinner together at least three times a week, without distractions. Fifty families accepted the challenge. Putting aside the distractions is key, said LaDawn Fletcher, a mother of three girls, ages 2, 4 and 6, who lives in Heath, near Lake Ray Hubbard. A member of Mount Hebron, she said her family was already eating together at least three times a week. Her husband, Cedric, commutes to their restaurant in Tyler, so they have breakfast together more than they have dinner. “Our rule is if we’re all here and dinner is ready, we all sit down to eat together. I think the only conscious decision we made was no TV,” Fletcher said. She points out that anything that interferes with direct discussions with your children is a distraction scheduling too many kids’ activities, playing DVDs in the car, or even cellphones. “I got an iPhone in June. Oh, it is so addictive,” Fletcher said. “My 6-year-old walked up to me and said, ‘I don’t like that phone. I like your old one better.’ I asked her, ‘Why would you say that?’ ‘Because you’re always on that phone.’” Leach said he witnessed the power of bonding over meals when he taught music in the late 1970s at Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts. “You could tell the students that were really bonding (in the lunchroom). They were the students who said, ‘Hey, this is my posse, this is my group, these are the ones
I’m running with.’ And a significant part of that was that they were eating together.” When students were in a production, they were at school all day for classes and rehearsals. “Their time at school is in someone else’s care,” Leach said. “And we wonder why our children seem to listen to their voices rather than the voices of their parents.” He said parents need to use mealtime to talk to children about school and friends, to explain and re-interpret events, and to share family history and values. Dinner together was a challenge when he was growing up in Tulsa and as an adult raising two daughters with his wife, Sharon. “As a boy, our family meal was at dinnertime on Sunday and every once in a while we would have a meal during the week,” he said. “On Sunday, we would learn so much around the table. My mother and her friends and my aunts and uncles gave us an understanding about who we were, our family, our church, our community. It was a tremendous part in our being confident and having a sense of protection.” But his mother raised four kids on her own and was very involved in the church, which interfered with family dinner time during the week. “The church can be just as much a culprit,” Leach acknowledged. He and his wife faced similar challenges with dual work schedules and even apathy. “I feel a real urgency about convincing families that this little thing that we have ignored is like a treasure in a field,” he said. “If we would take care of God’s first corporate entity, the family, we could really make a difference in what’s going on in our community.” Dinner together every day for McMullan’s family started on Nov. 1, with McMullan blogging about the experience.
Her blog combines several of her passions: family, food, writing and the desire to help the needy in Africa. McMullan, who is on the board of Refugee Services of Texas, visited Rwanda over a year ago and felt changed by the experience but didn’t know what to do about it. At the same time, her freelance work started to dry up because of the bad economy. “I was lost for the first time in my life,” she said. A creativity coach suggested she start a blog, but what would she write about? “An endless blog about our life didn’t sound all that interesting,” she said. Then two things happened this fall. She saw the movie “Julie & Julia,” in which a woman blogs about her quest to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” And, Noah’s coach suggested a later practice time, sparking McMullan’s focus on mealtime. That’s when her dinner/Africa/soul mission came together. The family dinner pledge is for 53 weeks 53 because that’s the number of countries in Africa, and McMullan highlights a country a week on her blog. She also plans to incorporate some African foods into special meals. McMullan doesn’t have a target audience, but she hopes to inspire others. McMullan’s husband, Clyde Thompson, thought the challenge would be easy. “I didn’t realize that we didn’t eat together every night,” he said. But on a few occasions, they’ve had to get up early for breakfast. One night, they ate at 9:30. They haven’t missed a day. There are new rules; Noah isn’t allowed to text at the table. And there are old rituals; younger brother Sawyer climbs onto his dad’s lap at the end of the meal, while the conversation continues. — MCT
FOOD
Everyday cooking
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Friday, January 8, 2010
By Sawsan Kazak egetarians look away, I am going to talk about meat. There is nothing more meaty than meatloaf. Ground beef, mix with a few ingredients, shaped into a loaf of bread and baked in the oven. There is something about this recipe that bring out the meatiness of the beef. Meatloaf is a great meal to have in the winter as it will fill you up and keep you that way for a while. And nothing is more satisfying than having a meatloaf sandwich the next day. But having the same old meatloaf can get boring. The following variations will keep you excited about this classic meal.
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Send suggestions to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net
Meatloaf sandwich 1 slice meatloaf 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided 2 slices sourdough bread or white bread 1 teaspoon grainy mustard, to taste 1 teaspoon ketchup, to taste 1 slice monterey jack cheese Spread 1 slice of bread with mustard. Spread the other slice of bread with ketchup. Brown meat loaf slice on both sides in 1 teaspoon of olive oil in skillet or on griddle until heated through. Put browned meatloaf slice on the mustardsmeared bread. Put a slice of cheese on top of the meat loaf. Cover with the ketchupsmeared bread. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in skillet or on griddle. Grill the sandwich over medium heat on both sides, until golden.
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For more flavor and a juicier meatloaf, add about 1/4 cup of tomato juice, or broth for each pound of meat.
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Bake in muffin tins or mini-loaf pans for individual servings.
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Use leftovers sliced in sandwiches or crumbled in sauces or chili.
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Replace some of the liquid in the recipe with more flavorful liquids. Add a cup of grated or shredded cheese to the meatloaf and top with more cheese about 10 minutes before it’s done.
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Make the finished meatloaf extra fancy by frosting with mashed potatoes and topping with cheese; return to the oven and cook until the cheese is melted. — About
FOOD
Friday, January 8, 2010
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Brown sugar meatloaf 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 3/4 cup milk 2 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs reheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 5x9 inch P loaf pan. Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar. In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices are clear.
Corn stuffed meatloaf
Beefy mushroom meatloaf
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Stuffing Mixture: 1 1/2 cups whole kernel corn, canned or frozen, thawed 1 cup soft bread crumbs 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes 1 egg, slightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces mushrooms, chopped 2 teaspoons butter 2 pounds lean ground beef 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped onion 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) mushroom soup 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs 2/3 cup quick cooking rolled oats 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/4 teaspoon pepper aute mushrooms in butter over medium-low heat until browned and tender. In a large bowl, S combine mushrooms and remaining ingredients,
ombine ground beef, salt, pepper, and chili powder. On a large piece of wax C paper or foil, form beef mixture into a 10- x
mixing lightly until thoroughly blended. Spray a 7x11-inch or 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Fashion a rack with a piece of foil and place in the baking dish (this will keep the meat loaf out of the drippings). Place the meat mixture on the “rack” dish and pat into a loaf shape. Bake at 350º for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
12-inch rectangle. Mix stuffing ingredients. Top meat with stuffing mixture to within 3/4-inch of edges and roll up like a jelly roll. Seal ends to keep corn mixture in. Place roll in a baking dish (with sides). Bake meatloaf at 350º for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
French onion meatloaf 2 pounds lean ground beef 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 can condensed French onion soup, undiluted 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes ketchup or barbecue sauce, optional ombine all ingredients in a bowl; pack into a C meatloaf pan or large (9x5x3-inch) loaf pan. Bake at 350∞ for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Spread top with a little barbecue sauce or ketchup about 5 or 10 minutes before done. Let rest a few minutes before slicing.
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TRAVEL
The baroque Santa Prisca Church is the centerpice of Taxco, Mexico, known as “Taxco de Alarcon,” Mexico’s silver capital.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Taxco, Mexico, known as “Taxco de Alarcon,” Mexico’s silver capital is a colonial town between Mexico City and Acapulco in the state of Geurrero and has a statue of Jesus called “Cristo” overlooking the city.
Mexico’s Taxco: A jewel of a town A
Taxco, Mexico, known as “Taxco de Alarcon,” Mexico’s silver capital is a colonial town between Mexico City and Acapulco in the state of Geurrero.
fter attending a glorious wedding in Mexico City recently, my husband and I decided to hang out for a few days. A little road trip seemed in order, and a friend of the bride and groom had the perfect destination: Taxco, Mexico’s capital of silver artistry. He offered to drive us to this magical town in the mountains of Guerrero state, about100 miles southwest of Mexico City. Taxco enchanted us with its gorgeous, winding cobblestone streets, terra cottaroofed houses stacked up hills and baroque Santa Prisca Church at the zocalo (square). It was almost too pretty to shop for jewelry. Almost. My husband, Tribune Newspapers staff photographer Phil Velasquez, and I could not resist trying to capture Taxco’s multiple charms with our cameras. We met and photographed a charming silver vendor, Miguel Porcayo Aguilar, who urged us to “get my dimples” into the frame. We lunched at a rooftop restaurant (four flights up) overlooking the zocalo, which was filled with people of all ages enjoying the day. It felt as if we were starring in our own movie; the weather was perfect (70), the sky a deep cobalt, and a gentle breeze caressed our faces. We left with bags full of silver earrings, bracelets and necklaces but the real gem was Taxco itself. —MCT
TRAVEL
Friday, January 8, 2010
Page 35
The new Trump International Tower in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, is the latest new build in the famed hotel area of Oahu.
The Donald goes Hawaiian with Waikiki hotel
W
hen you hear the name Donald Trump, you think New York. Maybe Atlantic City. But not Hawaii. Yet, there was that name sprouting among the urban canyons of Waikiki. The Trump International Hotel & Tower at Waikiki is the newest—and perhaps for a time, last—major addition to the famed Oahu skyline. A sparkling new addition to Waikiki for those who see the skyscraper rimmed beachfront as America’s answer to Copacabana Beach in Rio. Rising out of a lot between Saratoga Road and Beach Walk, the building is restrained by Trump’s standards but still drips with the ego-driven desire to stamp his name on everything. The building. The stationery. Even the neat little ribbon tied around a roll of toilet paper. With its blue plate-like glass “tropical deco” exterior, the Trump looks like an architectural refugee from Miami Beach. The hotel opened in mid-November. During my too quick one-night stay in early December, I found a lot to like and a few disappointments. The 38-story Trump has been coming for some time—I know because my last two stays in Waikiki I have had to put up with the pile drivers and trucks putting up “the Donald’s” entry into Waikiki. Like Donald Trump himself, the hotel has attracted a share of ups and downs, praise and controversy in recent years. The initial offering of condo units set a record of $700 million in pre-sales in 2006, near the height of the real estate boom. But with the housing and stock market plunge, there have been claims by some buyers that the developer, Iron Gate Capital Partners of Los Angeles, overstated the level of Trump’s involvement. Iron Gate
The view from the open air lobby bar of the new Trump International Hotel & Tower in Waikiki looks out on the green sweep of Fort DeRussy Park.—MCT photos
A couple relaxes in the eighth floor infinity pool of the new Trump International Hotel & Tower in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.
officials told the Associated Press recently that the allegations were a case of “buyer’s remorse” from a small number of clients who wish they hadn’t bought at the top of the market. We’ll leave the legal wrangling to the lawyers. Let’s look at the hotel. Now that it’s completed, I find it a fresh, interesting entry into the tired world of Waikiki hotels. I still love the venerable Moana Surfrider and Royal Hawaiian (despite an ill-advised interior redo). The Halekulani is luxurious, though it lost its soul in a 1980s makeover. Beyond those three, Waikiki is a collection of mostly aging, unimaginative and oversized skyscrapers or boxy hotels that could be in any sun and fun resort in the world. Little indicates the Hawaiian sense of place beyond gift shops stocked with surf industry t-shirts and girls jogging shorts that spell out HAWAII across their barely concealed backsides. The Trump’s interior is where the designers have tried to go a little local. The rooms have some
Fort DeRussy Beach Park and the grassy Ainahau Triangle. The sweep of green lawns and tree tops stretching to the hotels and office buildings across the way give a breathing space rare in Waikiki. If you can’t get a west facing room, enjoy the view from the beautiful six floor open air lounge. My room was spacious with a kitchenette area (microwave) and a big bathroom-—rare in Waikiki—with a deep Japanese style soaking tub and a separate flat floor tile shower. Water pressure left something to be desired. Other rooms were smaller and the TV was set oddly atop a bureau. I had opted for a room on the $199 “Grand Opening” special, which was available only for rooms on the lower floors that looked out on the neighboring Embassy Suites hotel across Beach Walk. Prints of tropical flowers and retro-romantic (pretty girls with raven hair) hinted that the room was somewhere in the Pacific Ocean between the Tropic of
nice Hawaiian touches—dark wood desks, and lamps with brown fabric shades. Dominating the room is the seemingly ubiquitous massive flat screen television. Design elements include tapa textiles, lots of marble and granite, set off by lovely koa wood elements. Each room has a balcony, which unfortunately have used glass screens to give the illusion of privacy, yet cut down the trade winds that are one of Hawaii’s most wonderful (and natural) free hotel amenities. The bad news about the location is that while the Trump boasts it is a five-star hotel, it’s one missing that key ingredient for Hawaii: a beachfront. The hotel is across the road from the Halekulani and visitors must take a path between buildings to get to the sand. Once there, they arrive at what’s not one of the better of Waikiki’s sand strips. The good news is that the hotel is not surrounded by other hotels on all sides. The west facing side is built across the street from
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The room came with free wi-fi. Glad hoteliers are finally catching on that charging $20 a day for something you can get free in a coffee shop across the street isn’t a good selling point. The hotel features the Spa at Trump, which I had neither the time, money or on this trip, inclination to check out. But a colleague who used the smallish exercise room said it was nice to have a lot of fresh, new equipment at a hotel workout center. I’m a bit split on my opinion of the pool. It seems more of a design emblem to be looked at than used — a long rectangle of blue that faces out over the street with views of other hotels and the park. Still, sitting with the one you love (or love the one you are sitting with) in the corner six floors above the city is a pretty romantic idea. Just don’t expect to get in a lot of water play with the kids. My favorite spot was the open air lounge and bar. I’m used to hotel prices—yes, a hamburger is going to cost you a fraction at Kua
Aina or one of the other city stands, but the $22 10 oz. hamburger was excellently cooked well done to my request and came with a warm, soft fresh bun. I’ve had a lot of bad, over-priced resort hamburgers. Trump’s was overpriced, but a memorable little feast. A California roll was exceedingly fresh and had a nice crack to the seaweed wrap beneath the cover of rice and sesame nuts. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like skyscraper hotels in Hawaii and I don’t like development in general. I loathe the Hyatt Regency, the overblown twin towers on Kalakaua Avenue. I didn’t care much for the redecoration of the Royal Hawaiian hotel last year. I’m saddened that the sweet little Hawaiiana Hotel on Beach Walk is going out of business, though the low-slung beauty of a quieter, smaller age in Waikiki can still be found at the Breakers Hotel next door. By all rights I should dislike the Trump—for its egomaniacal name, its size and its beautiful but geographically misplaced architecture. A fresh postmodernist design reflecting Polynesian heritage would be a welcome addition to the businessas-usual corporate look of construction that has blighted Waikiki. But that said, the building at least has a design flourish missing in much of the area. It has a staff that seems to have been chosen for amiability, a beautiful view of Ft DeRussy Park. It helps that there is little competition. Not much fresh and interesting has sprouted in the past decade or two in Waikiki. So I grudgingly welcome the Trump. Unlike its namesake, it tries to be classy and restrained. —MCT
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Up close & personal f course At Work features many of Annie Leibovitz’s famous photographs. But for the first time, you’ll also hear the stories behind those images - who, how, where, and why whether it’s the Stones on tour or the Queen at Buckingham Palace, a surgeon in Kosovo or Baryshnikov on Cumberland Island. For example: In case it wasn’t enough to photograph Nixon’s resignation, Leibovitz covered the story alongside Hunter S. Thompson. And while you may know that many of her celebrity portraits were shot for American Express campaigns, you probably
O
wouldn’t have guessed that Amex only gave her a credit card after she left an envelope with thousands of dollars in cash at a pay phone during one of those shoots. “I’d always wanted to do a small, pamphletsized book on the making of a photograph,” Leibovitz reflected. “What was supposed to be a 40page book turned into a 240-page book, At Work.” Booklist confirms, “As [Leibovitz] reflects with humility and gratitude on all that she has observed, and shares what she has learned as an artist and a human being, her photographs, so lusciously reproduced, take on new dimension.”
Q: After so many books of photographs, is it daunting to publish one that relies as much on prose? A: Was it daunting? The reality is I have a whole new respect for the printed word. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had been talking about the way I’d taken some of these pictures over the years, and I thought it made complete sense. When I read the first drafts, it was frustrating to realize that I wasn’t coming across clearly enough. It was an extraordinary exercise in getting things out of my head and onto the page, trying to say what I mean and what I care about. Q: How did the idea come about? A: I’d always wanted to do a small, pamphletsized book on the making of a photograph. I even entertained the idea that I was going to talk about ten photographs extensively, not necessarily famous photographs, but how they were made. When I signed this four-book contract with Random House, I asked that one of the books could be this 40-page pamphlet. Then, last year, when I sat down after A Photographer’s Life, which is of course a huge book, what came out of my mouth during my talks and interviews with Sharon Delano[the editor] was much different than I’d imagined. The 40-page book turned into a 240-page book, At Work. And then the Queen episode happened. I was in Europe when that story broke. I remember calling Sharon and saying, “You know, let’s just answer every single question. Let’s take every picture that people have questions about...” Although it didn’t quite work out that way, either. Basically, through a kind of chronological discussion about the pictures, you see how they’re made and the thoughts behind them: what it takes to take the pictures. There’s no smoke and mirrors. Hopefully, that’s what’s distilled, that it’s nothing but work; it’s about learning how to see. The book is directed at young photographers, people interested in photography. Q: I wouldn’t call myself a photographer, but I was interested enough in the technical details, too. A: Through a set of five interviews, Sharon helped me with the introduction to A Photographer’s Life. It was the first time
on the book, I changed how I worked with digital. I wanted to explain that a bit. So that’s in there, and I’m sure by the time the book comes out it’ll be changed again. Q: What changed for you, specifically? A: Digitally, now I’m almost back to the way I was shooting film. The cameras are pretty fantastic. They have big screens on the back; it’s like looking at a Polaroid as you shoot. And I’m not tethered to anything. At the end of the shoot, I go back to my studio and office, and I download the work. It’s really in the processing - it’s fun afterwards, like it used to be. Whereas when digital started, you had all these rooms filled with machines. You needed six technicians. I didn’t quite understand. It was like going into surgery or something. Frightening. I said, “Oh, my god. It takes all this to shoot a digital picture?” Then, as you learn about it, you learn what you don’t need until you’re almost back where you started, which is really exciting.
that I thought I sounded something like myself, the first time I broke through that barrier. But Sharon doesn’t know anything technical about taking a picture. When we sat down to do At Work, she kept thinking there would have to be a lot of technical detail in the book. Quite honestly, it’s just the opposite. I wanted to emphasize that the technical aspect is important, but what’s really important is learning to see. How you look and how you feel. I started to
say to Sharon, “Take anything I say that’s technical and throw it in the back of the book.” We ended up making a section called Equipment.It’s funny to me because it just has stuff like, “I hate using tripods.” That’s the equipment section. In fact, I was surprised there was so much technical information. I think that’s because as we were making the book, the whole digital revolution sort of happened for me. I’m a little slow. But, literally, while we worked
Q: About the photograph of Schwarzenegger on his horse, you write, “I’m reluctant to have form impose the meaning on a picture.” From where, then, should the meaning arise? A: The picture of Arnold on the horse always bothered me. I didn’t feel like it went to the next place, wherever that next place is. You were looking at his form, and at the horse’s form; his legs, his shape. I also found that with my series on athletes, which I didn’t think was very successful. It was pretty and entertaining, but I didn’t feel like it was telling you a story or taking you to a different place. I hear your question. You’re saying, “What is meaning in a picture?” There’s another chapter we can write now, the follow-up. Meaning - for me, it’s almost like you don’t want to look at a picture and just notice what kind of lens you’re using. You want to forget that it’s photography. But that’s the great thing about photography: it can have all kinds of meanings. Some are successful and some aren’t. It’s like a Dylan song; everyone brings their own meaning to it. Q: After looking at your portraits for a couple weeks, I ran across a quote by Richard Avedon in the back of On Photography, Susan Sontag’s book. “The photographs
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with Annie Leibovitz have a reality for me that the people [my subjects] don’t. It’s through the photographs that I know them. Maybe it’s in the nature of being a photographer. I’m never really implicated. I don’t have to have any real knowledge. It’s all a question of recognitions.” A: There are several ideas in that passage. Q: It was the idea of recognitions that struck me. You may be working on an advertising shoot, with more time and resources, but it’s not as if you’re necessarily a long-time associate of the subject. And yet, one way or another, your job is to bring out that subject. A: Yes and no. I argue a lot about this, about the reality of getting to the heart of the matter. There’s only one place I’ve ever gotten to the heart of the matter, and that’s with my family and my very close friends. There were assignments in the days of Life magazine where people did get to spend time - the photographers did get to know the subjects. These days, I don’t think that is true. We really are taking a portrait as an essence. It depends so much on what the subject wants to give. You can help direct somewhat, but it’s ultimately just a moment where two people are collaborating. Usually, for assignment work, especially if it is a well-known person, you both know why you’re there, and you’re doing it together. It is kind of a presentation. You’re constantly thinking, Gee, it would be nice to see a little more.But sometimes the surface is fine. I’ve found the surface of a lot of people to be enough. When you’re working with well-known subjects, they learn to project. Sometimes that gets in the way because you’re getting something that people see a lot; you wish you could see something else. But sometimes seeing what everyone else sees is interesting, too. To me, it’s all interesting. I don’t know what it’s like for you as a viewer. Q: The photograph is going to express something, regardless. You might have limited control over what it says, but that can be okay. It struck me that the Avedon quote can just as easily apply to interviews. A: And that’s what I say at the beginning of the book. I was always afraid of saying “no” to an assigment because sometimes the work that you imagine won’t be exciting turns out to be a little gem. Likewise, what was supposed to be exciting sometimes isn’t. It’s all so different, every time you go. You can’t totally control the situation. You hope that you’re prepared. When you’re there and something is going on, or you’ve helped direct something meaningful, you hope that you’re a good enough photographer to take that picture. Q: That reminds me of one of my favorite pictures in A Photographer’s Life: the diver above a river in Sarajevo. You shot that during the war, right? A: Right. Q: There’s so much going on in that picture. I left the book open to that page for a month, and I kept finding new details. How did you end up taking that picture? Did you purposely go to photograph a scene of that sort? Do people dive at that spot every day? A: No, no, no. It was spring, and it was hot. It was a beautiful day. It was the whole dichotomy of Sarajevo, people living in this fish bowl, surrounded by snipers - they used shipping containers to block certain parts of streets so they could walk across.
And then here, in that picture, it would be hard to believe that a war was going on. The spirit of these people... They didn’t have running water, but they dressed every day and made themselves look presentable as if they had someplace to go. They went about their lives. They didn’t want to give in to what was really going on. They kept their heads held high. This was one of those moments when they just said, “We’re going swimming.” Was it dangerous? Yes. It wasn’t quite at a place in the river where people could be knocked off easily, but it was still dangerous. They just said, “We’re going to do this.” It’s such a strange picture to me. Q: There’s a photo in At Work of Obama in front of a curtain. A: He’s heading out to speak. He’s behind a curtain, about ready to go out and speak at a rally. Q: Are there images that resonated with you from the experience of traveling with Obama’s team during the primaries? I would imagine that following the campaign trail must have been a colorful experience. A: Absolutely. And it certainly was the longest-running show I’d ever seen. I was glad to go out on the road and see and hear him. I worked with him a couple other times, he and his wife, so it was nice to get out on the road and know that you were on this historic campaign. I was just glad to be there. Were the pictures extraordinary? No. I do like the idea that my work continues over thirty-five or forty years, with a sense of history. The photo of Obama was meant to be optimistic. It was added at the last minute. It was meant to show that I’m still a working photographer. Here we are, doing it. It’s 2008, and here we are. Kind of a time marker. I really think about my pictures that way. I think it’s in the “10 Most-Asked Questions” [a chapter at the end of At Work], where I talk about the idea of covering my lifetime in some capacity. I can’t be at everything I wish I could, but the Obama picture was put in there to mark time. Here we are. Where are we going next? He’s an elusive person to photograph. I think I even talk in that section about how I became sort of transfixed with his grace and his elegance, the way he can move. He ran in spurts. Q: Was Keith Richards conscious in the picture that you took of him sprawled on the floor of the photo set? A: No. We were doing a cover for Rolling Stone, and he was taking a little break. I’ve said this before, but I have very few pictures of Keith standing, actually. Q: What did your parents think about your early assignments and the excesses of that scene? Did they know much about your lifestyle? A: They didn’t quite understand. Look, neither did I. It sort of took me by surprise. I was pretty naÔve. I went on that tour thinking I would take tennis lessons every day. I had been working for Rolling Stone for five years; I was the last person to figure anything out. You went on a tour and you did everything you do on a tour. Up until that time, I thought that you should blend in with whatever’s going on in order to get the best picture. And I think I say this in the book, that it was a mistake to pick that situation to blend into. It took a while to get off the tour. I guess it was a rite of passage, and I was lucky enough to get through it. When I wrote about it this time, I tried to
emphasize the drugs less and focus more on the relentlessness of going from city to city every night, and the loneliness, how hard it was to be that physical and to keep going. There’s a passage in the book about Mick seeming like he was off the floor, floating to the ceiling. It was some kind of magic, which had nothing to do with drugs; it was more about being on the road for an extended period of time. You’re sort of like a balloon out in the air, being blown. The tour was its own kind of world, and it was fascinating. Q: Many of the photos in At Work are very much of a time. Tom Wolfe and Hunter Thompson, for example. A: That whole section is about working with writers. It was about Hunter and about Tom, and what it was like to be a young photographer on the road with these people, what I learned from them. That’s one the most interesting sections to me. Q: It might have been the section on Truman Capote, where you say that the two of you could be covering a story in totally different ways, but the photographs and text could wind up working together. A: I could have said that even stronger. I didn’t, I guess because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I really believe that the photographer can tell an opposite story from the writer. You’re going to get a more informed story in the long run. When I started working, most photographers still felt, if they went out with a writer, the writer was more important and they were meant to illustrate what the writer did. At a certain point, I stopped going out with writers. I had my own agenda, and I didn’t feel it was necessary. I do like to confer with writers and talk to them about what they’re doing. There’s a lot of good information to be shared. But it’s hard, even for a subject, with the writer and photographer there at the same time. And usually the photographer gets the short end of the stick. Getting words out of the subject takes a long time. There’s a thought that taking the picture should be a snap. Did you take the picture? Okay. In that era, most of the writers, let’s say at Rolling Stone, came from newspapers, so they did have that mentality. And when I was young, it was great to be there with Ben Fong Torres while he interviewed Ray Charles or Grace Slick; I wanted to work around Ben, and that was interesting. Then you start to learn that if you want something more... Q: Did that experience help break down the mystique of the subjects? I’d imagine that there should be some degree of comfort between you and your subject. A: Or not. Q: Do you find that sometimes you wind up with a better photograph when you don’t have a comfortable relationship? A: No. On the contrary, it’s still the responsibility of the photographer to get the picture. But it’s like when you meet anyone: you’re not always going to like them, and they’re not always going to like you. Starting at a very young age, doing this, it was like high school: you want everyone to like you. At a certain point, you’ve grown up and people aren’t liking you as much, or you’re not as cute as you used to be when you were younger - you have to get a new shtick. I grew up in my work, so I had to learn how to make those things work. But there’s no set rule. I do find that as I get older not all these
sessions have to take so long. People’s attention spans are limited. I’d rather stop and come back another day than try to make something work that just isn’t going to in that moment. There’s urgency in the sense that there’s a limited amount of time when the subject is going to feel like they want to do it. After a while, they’re going to feel like they’ve failed, and then they don’t want to do it. I try to make it quicker now. But I do still reserve the right for that to change, to spend longer. I also say in the book that the times I’ve spent longer on the work, it’s yielded the most interesting set of photographs: the Mark MorrisBaryshnikov pictures, the White Oak dance group down in Florida where I spent three weeks, and the Rolling Stones tour; you are going to get something extraordinary because you’ve been there longer. I know I’m contradicting myself all the time. Q: What’s the longest you typically go without a camera in your hand or in your bag? A: I always have a camera nearby. I don’t necessarily pick it up. It’s very frustrating with my children. I see millions of wonderful photographs zoom by when I’m looking at my children, and I don’t pick that thing up. Since Photographer’s Life, I’m definitely in a bit of a holding pattern with photographing my children. I’m just enjoying them. But there’s always a camera within reach. Q: In At Work, you mention that you started school as a painting major. Do you remember pictures that captivated you even before you’d conceived of a career in photography? A: I don’t think I was thinking about photographs before I bought that camera in Japan during the break between the first and second year of school. For a lack of anything to do, I was using the base’s hobby shop, the darkroom, starting to take pictures. I liked it right away. I felt filled up right away. I was seeing the world. I was the middle child among six kids. My parents were exhausted. Now I had a friend. It was less lonely. You could look at something and carry that image with you. When I look back, I can see the specific images; some of those very early images are still very important to me. In Photographer’s Life, I felt so lucky in a grieving moment to have those images, to take me through grief. Photography has been such a powerful life for me. Now, with my kids, maybe it’s meant to be that I don’t pick up my camera and I’m more in life, but I can still hear my brain go, Click. I see them and I go, What a moment! They move so fast. But I have to negotiate if I want to trade off being there for taking pictures. I can’t chew gum and walk at the same time. It’s hard. I remember when I used to stand in front of the stages, those early days at Rolling Stone, I wouldn’t hear the music. I’d be concentrating so hard on taking the picture, I didn’t hear the songs. It is a negotiation, and I consciously have worked to build a life because I don’t want that to pass me by. But anyone who is going to do anything well, it takes an obsession, a drive. The Dorothea Lange story says it best, the last chapter in At Work. She was exhausted, she was tired, she was on her way home. She drove by a sign that said, “Pea-pickers Camp.” She drove twenty more miles, and then she turned around and went back, and she found the photograph of her lifetime and of her career. You just never know. That’s the way it is.
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Sudoku for Kids
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Solution
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CHILDREN
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OPINION
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Friday, January 8, 2010
The Christmas Day airliner No system can operate without process. At the same time, no process can replace authority, motivation and, ultimately, common sense. By George Friedman
first is preventing the creation of a jihadist regime in any part of the Muslim world. As we saw when the Taleban provided Al-Qaeda with sanctuary, access to a state apparatus increases the level of threat to the United States and other countries; displacing the Taleban government reduced the level of threat. The second goal is preventing terrorists from accessing weapons of mass destruction that, while they might not threaten the survival of a country, would certainly raise the pain level to an unacceptable point. In other words, the United States and other countries should focus on reducing the level of terrorist capabilities, not on trying to eliminate the terrorist threat as a whole. To a great extent, this is the American strategy. The United States has created a system for screening airline passengers. No one expects it to block a serious attempt to commit terrorism on an airliner, nor does this effort have any effect on other forms of terrorism. Instead, it is there to reassure the public that something is being done, to catch some careless attackers and to deter others. But in general, it is a system whose inconvenience is meant to reassure.
A
s is well known, a Nigerian national named Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to destroy a passenger aircraft traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit on Dec 25, 2009. Metal detectors cannot pinpoint the chemical in the device he sought to detonate, PETN. The PETN was strapped to his groin. Since a detonator could have been detected, the attacker chose - or had chosen for him - a syringe filled with acid for use as an improvised alternative means to initiate the detonation. In the event, the device failed to detonate, but it did cause a fire in a highly sensitive area of the attacker’s body. An alert passenger put out the fire. The plane landed safely. It later emerged that the attacker’s father, a prominent banker in Nigeria, had gone to the US Embassy in Nigeria to warn embassy officials of his concerns that his son might be involved with jihadists. The incident drove home a number of points. First, while Al-Qaeda prime - the organization that had planned and executed 9/11 - might be in shambles, other groups in other countries using the Al-Qaeda brand name and following Al-Qaeda prime’s ideology remain operational and capable of mounting attacks. Second, like other recent attacks, this attack was relatively feeble: It involved a single aircraft, and the explosive device was not well-conceived. Third, it remained and still remains possible for a terrorist to bring explosives on board an aircraft. Fourth, intelligence available in Nigeria, London and elsewhere had not moved through the system with sufficient speed to block the terrorist from boarding the flight.
An Enduring Threat From this three things emerge. First, although the capabilities of jihadist terrorists have declined, their organizations remain functional, and there is no guarantee that these organizations won’t increase in sophistication and effectiveness. Second, the militants remain focused on the global air transport system. Third, the defensive mechanisms devised since 2001 remain ineffective to some degree. The purpose of terrorism in its purest form is to create a sense of insecurity among a public. It succeeds when fear moves a system to the point where it can no longer function. This magnifies the strength of the terrorist by causing the public to see the failure of the system as the result of the power of the terrorist. Terror networks are necessarily sparse. The greater the number of persons involved, the more likely a security breach becomes. Thus, there are necessarily few people in a terror network. An ideal terror network is global, able to strike anywhere and in multiple places at once. The extent of the terror network is unknown, partly because of its security systems and partly because it is so sparse that finding a terrorist is like finding a needle in a haystack. It is the fact that the size and intentions of the terror network are unknown that generates the sense of terror and empowers the terrorist. The global aspect is also important. That attacks can originate in many places and that attackers can belong to many ethnic groups
increases the desired sense of insecurity. All Muslims are not members of Al-Qaeda, but all members of Al-Qaeda are Muslims, and any Muslim might be a member of Al-Qaeda. This logic is beneficial to radical Islamists, who want to increase the sense of confrontation between Islam and the rest of the world. This not only increases the sense of insecurity and vulnerability in the rest of the world, it also increases hostility toward Muslims, strengthening Al-Qaeda’s argument to Muslims that they are in an unavoidable state of war with the rest of the world. Equally important is the transmission of the idea that if Al-Qaeda is destroyed in one place, it will spring up elsewhere. This terror attack made another point, intended or not. US President Barack Obama recently decided to increase forces in Afghanistan. A large part of his reasoning was that Afghanistan was the origin of 9/11, and the Taleban hosted Al-Qaeda. Therefore, he reasoned the United States should focus its military operations in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, since that was the origin of Al-Qaeda. But the Christmas Day terror attempt originated in Yemen, a place where the United States has been fighting a covert war with limited military resources. It therefore raises the question of why Obama is focusing on Afghanistan when the threat from Al-Qaeda spinoffs can originate anywhere. From the terrorist perspective, the Yemen attack was a low-cost, low-risk operation. If it succeeded in bringing down a US airliner over Detroit, the psychological impact would be
massive. If it failed to do so, it would certainly increase a sense of anxiety, cause the US and other governments to institute new and expensive security measures, and potentially force the United States into expensive deployments of forces insufficient to dominate a given country but sufficient to generate an insurgency. If just some of these things happened, the attack would have been well worth the effort. The Strategic Challenge The West’s problem can be identified this way: There is no strategic solution to low-level terrorism, ie, terrorism carried out by a sparse, global network at unpredictable times and places. Strategy involves identifying and destroying the center of gravity of an enemy force. By nature, jihadist terrorism fails to present a single center of gravity, or a strong point or enabler that if destroyed would destroy the organization. There is no organization properly understood, and the destruction of one organization does not preclude the generation of another organization. There are two possible solutions. The first is to accept that Islamist terrorism cannot be defeated permanently but can be kept below a certain threshold. As it operates now, it can inflict occasional painful blows on the United States and other countries - including Muslim countries - but it cannot threaten the survival of the nation (though it might force regime change in some Muslim countries). In this strategy, there are two goals. The
The Challenge of Identifying Potential Terrorists To the extent to which there is a center of gravity to the problem, it is in identifying potential terrorists. In both the Fort Hood attack and the Detroit incident, information was in the system that could have allowed authorities to identify and stop the attackers, but in both cases, this information didn’t flow to the places where action could have been taken. There is thus a chasm between the acquisition of information and the person who has the authority to do something about it. The system “knew” about both attackers, but systems don’t actually think or know anything. The person with authority to stop a Nigerian from boarding the plane or who could relieve the Fort Hood killer from duty lacked one or more of the following: intelligence, real authority and motivation. The information gathered in Nigeria had to be widely distributed to be useful. It was unknown where Abdulmutallab was going to go or what he was going to do. The number of people who needed to know about him was enormous, from British security to Amsterdam ticket agents checking passports. Without distributing the intelligence widely, it became useless. A net can’t have holes that are too big, and the failure to distribute intelligence to all points creates holes. Of course, the number of pieces of intelligence that come into US intelligence collection is enormous. How does the person interviewing the father know whether the father has other reasons to put his son on a list? Novels have been written about fatherson relations. The collector must decide whether the report is both reliable and significant, and the vast majority of information coming into the system is neither. The intelligence community has been searching for a deus ex machina in the form of computers able not only to distribute intelligence to the necessary places but also to distinguish reliable from unreliable, significant from insignificant. Forgetting the interagency rivalries and the tendency to give contracts to corporate behemoths with last-generation technology, no
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attack and the intel process matter how widely and efficiently intelligence is distributed, at each step in the process someone must be given real authority to make decisions. When Janet Napolitano or George Tenet say that the system worked after an incident, they mean not that the outcome was satisfactory, but that the process operated as the process was intended to operate. Of course, being faithful to a process is not the same as being successful, but the US intelligence community’s obsession with process frequently elevates process above success. Certainly, process is needed to operate a vast system, but process also is being used to deny people authority to do what is necessary outside the process, or, just as bad, it allows people to evade responsibility by adhering to the process. Not only does the process relieve individuals in the system from real authority; it also strips them of motivation. In a system driven by process, the individual motivated to abort the process and improvise is weeded out early. There is no room for “cowboys”, the intelligence community term for people who hope to be successful at the mission rather than faithful to the process. Obviously, we are overstating matters somewhat, but not by as much as one might think. Within the US intelligence and security process, one daily sees good people struggling to do their jobs in the face of processes that can’t possibly anticipate all circumstances. The distribution of intelligence to the people who need to see it is, of course, indispensable, along with whatever other decision supports can be contrived. But, in the end, unless individuals are expected and motivated to make good decisions, the process is merely the preface to failure. No system can operate without process. At the same time, no process can replace authority, motivation and, ultimately, common sense. The fear of violating procedures cripples Western efforts to shut down low-level terrorism. But the procedures are themselves flawed. A process that says that in a war against radical Islamists, an elderly visitor from Iceland is as big of a potential threat as a twentysomething from Yemen might satisfy
Yemenis walk through a market in Sanaa on Jan 4, 2010. — AFP some ideological imperative, but it violates the principle of common sense and blocks the authority and the motivation to act decisively. It is significant that this is one of the things the Obama administration has changed in response to the attempted bombing. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Jan 4 that anyone traveling from or through nations regarded as state sponsors of terrorism as well as “other countries of interest” will be required to go through enhanced screening. The TSA said those techniques would include full-body pat downs, carry-on luggage
searches, full-body scanning and explosive detection technology. The US State Department lists Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism. The other countries whose passengers will face enhanced screening include Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen. A rational system of profiling thus appears to be developing. In all likelihood, no system can eliminate events such as what happened on Christmas, and in all likelihood, the republic would survive an intermittent pattern of such events - even
successful ones. Focusing on the strategic level makes sense. But given the level of effort and cost involved in terrorist protection throughout the world, successful systems for distributing intelligence and helping identify potentially significant threats are long overdue. The US government has been tackling this since 2001, and it still isn’t working. But, in the end, creating a process that precludes initiative by penalizing those who do not follow procedures under all circumstances and intimidating those responsible for making quick decisions from risking a mistake is bound to fail. — Stratfor
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SPOTLIGHT
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
SPOTLIGHT
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How to photograph street markets Tips and trick to make your pictures look professional Weather and time A market always looks colorful and inviting so, even if it’s raining, go along. Brollies are good photo material, as are wet dripping stall canopies, drenched shoppers, flasks of tea. Dress for ease of access to cameras and lenses and to keep your equipment protected. You will dry out, they might not. Also, it seems very obvious but it is crucial to make sure the market is on the day you want to visit. And go early - you can make contacts with traders and it shows that you are serious about shooting. Equipment Take two camera bodies if you have them and three lenses, ideally: wide (20-35mm), portrait/macro (60-85mm) and long (80200mm). I would try keep two on the go and a lens in my coat pocket or a bum-bag. Working with ease and speed is what’s needed. Action happens quickly at a market and often the main drag between the stalls is busy and cramped. A wide lens can capture a lot with unexpected surprises. Compliments Pay a compliment. If someone has a fantastic hat or a lovely display of exotic fruits, tell them so. Then tell them that you would love to take their photograph. It can go such along way to make someone more comfortable or willing to be snapped. Keep shooting Digital means you can afford to be snap-
happy, so take plenty of photos especially of portraits. People relax after the first shot, so quickly take some more. If you do want your subject to look directly at you ask them to keep their face where you want it but allow their eyes to look slightly to the left or right. Then when you are ready ask them to look back to you. The eyes will have a freshness that will make for a better shot. Language Written word problems can arise if shooting abroad. Some books need worldwide publication and therefore foreign writing is best to be avoided. You can remedy this sometimes by turning a price tag to the side or removing completely (check with a trader). Spoken language barriers are easily overcome: communication comes from smiles, body language, tactile gestures and warmth. Take a friend Sometimes markets can be quite hardcore, overwhelming and rather daunting. It can give you confidence to have a friendly face not too far away. Also, they can pretend to model for you while you are actually sneakily photographing someone else behind or next to them. This works equally well with a wide lens shooting close up or a long lens, sniper style. Gain trust Be a bit pushy and have confidence. Chat with the stallholders about their produce -
show interest in them. Ask them for tips on what makes a good trader and if you can stand next to them and shoot looking outwards. Don’t offend the customers though - you are working hard to build up trust. Show gratitude Show the subjects the photographs you have taken and offer to send them a copy. It’s so easy now with digital and you never know when you might go back. People really appreciate this and you might get handed a freebie: I was handed a gigantic bouquet of celery on a shoot in an Italian market. Be Ready Don’t pack your equipment away until you have left the market completely. We got access onto Bagel Bobs’ rooftop at the very last moment and you just never know what you might see. Markets at the beginning of the day and end of day are fascinating and equally as interesting as at the height of trading. Tired faces, exhausted shoppers, messy streets, leftovers, bargain shouts from loud-mouth traders. Remember that the small, incidental details all add up to create the atmosphere of the place. Know when to stop If anyone objects to having their photograph taken immediately stop. They will have more friends there than you will and you want to get home in one piece.
Have patience Wait for a shot to happen. Crouch down on the ground and see who walks along. Some photographs might need a splash of colour that a child’s anorak could bring. Or a dog cocking its leg. Who knows? But wait and see. Photography isn‘t simply about recording what’s out there, it’s also about making it happen. If you see a potential shot that needs something or someone in it, have the confidence to create it. Ask someone to sit on a secondhand sofa, or juggle oranges. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Perspective Change the viewpoint. Shoot from the ground or from a high vantage point. You might need a generic overview and a high shot could provide this. Try just setting the camera on auto and holding it low down or up high above your head as you walk behind or in front of customers. Click away. Perhaps try highspeed continuously for a while. You will be pleasantly surprised by the results. And finally ... Stop for a bacon sarnie (or whatever you fancy) and cup of tea in a cafe in the centre of the market. Not only will you need a break but its a good idea to step back a little, maybe assess your photographs and delete the really duff ones. Plus, it can lead to more shots inside a cafe. Local knowledge is invaluable and if you are trying to get access on to a rooftop or up to a window I would bet that a cafe owner is a good person to ask.—Guardian
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Friday, January 8, 2010 CROSSWORD 863
Word Sleuth Solution
Yesterday’s Solution
ACROSS 1. A member of the Shoshonean people of northeastern Arizona. 5. A state in northwestern North America. 7. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system. 11. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders. 12. A hard brittle blue-white multivalent metallic element. 13. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology. 14. (used as a combining form) Recent or new. 16. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 17. Spanish painter (born in Greece) remembered for his religious works characterized by elongated human forms and dramatic use of color (1541-1614). 19. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 21. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code. 22. The cry made by sheep. 23. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects. 25. United States swimmer who in 1926 became the first woman to swim the English Channel (1903- ). 27. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural). 28. Small tree of dry open parts of southern Africa having erect angled branches suggesting candelabra. 31. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 34. (computer science) A computer that is running software that allows users to leave messages and access information of general interest. 37. City in Sudan. 39. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922). 41. Large African antelope having a head with horns like an ox and a long tufted tail. 42. Set down according to a plan. 46. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots. 47. An inflammatory complication of leprosy that results in painful skin lesions on the arms and legs and face. 48. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its mother and raised by hand. 49. A loud harsh or strident noise. 50. A spacecraft that carries astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and back.
51. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa. 52. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event. DOWN 1. A special way of doing something. 2. A European river. 3. The cardinal number that is the sum of four and one. 4. A state in the Rocky Mountains. 5. (informal) Of the highest quality. 6. A village of huts for native Africans in southern Africa. 7. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months. 8. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 9. A small cake leavened with yeast. 10. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else. 15. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with gray furry ears and coat. 18. Of the appetites and passions of the body. 20. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group. 24. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion. 26. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number). 29. A Russian river. 30. A mouth or mouthlike opening. 32. English comedienne and mistress of Charles II (16501687). 33. Stems of beans and peas and potatoes and grasses collectively as used for thatching and bedding. 34. A state in the Rocky Mountains. 35. A seat for one person, with a support for the back. 36. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River. 38. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill. 39. A ductile gray metallic element of the lanthanide series. 40. An officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer. 41. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 43. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine. 44. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank. 45. A young woman making her debut into society.
Yesterday’s Solution
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Friday, January 8, 2010
COUNTRY CODES
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Aries (March 21-April 19) According to my reading of the astrological omens, it'll be a hair-on-fire kind of week for you -- and yet also a heart-inrepose kind of week. In other words, you have the potential to be fierce and relaxed, vigorously ambitious and sublimely poised. In fact, this might be one of those rare times when you can be both a justice-dispensing warrior and an enlightenment-seeking magician. Want to turn water into wine when the pressure's on? Find the pearl of great price in the heat of the battle? Feats like these are quite possible. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Can you pull off a mid-course correction while hurtling through the air across a chasm during a leap of faith? If anyone is capable of such a feat, you are. However, I'd prefer it if that wasn't necessary. I'd rather see you prepare a little better, like by procuring the help you'd need to create a safety net or sturdy bridge that will stretch across the chasm. Or by getting one of those jet packs to strap across your back and allow you to fly. Or by taking as much guesswork as possible out of the details about how you're going to get from the edge of one cliff to the edge on the other side. Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is one of those rare times when you can get abundant access to insider secrets, unauthorized information, taboo knowledge, and forbidden wisdom. Proceed carefully. As much as I'm an advocate of you getting to the whole truth and nothing but the truth, it's also my duty to remind you that it could be disruptive to find out all of the truth in one big swoop. You should ask yourself if you're fully prepared to change what needs to be changed once the previously hidden stuff emerges. If you're not, it might be better to wait until you are. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Which metropolitan areas in America have the most brainpower? Not the best sports teams or the richest businessmen or the most powerful politicians, but the smartest people? "The Daily Beast" did a study and declared that the top two were the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. Now it so happens that those are the two places where I've spent much of my adult life. It doesn't mean I'm brilliant, but it does suggest I have an instinct for knowing where the brilliant people congregate. And I'm quite sure that they have been a very good influence on me. My recommendation to you in 2010, Cancerian, is to cultivate this knack. Gravitate toward genius. Surround yourself with deep thinkers and innovative dreamers. Hang out in the vicinity of brainstorms. L e o ( J u l y 2 3 - Au g u s t 2 2 ) "The more you complain," says an old adage, "the longer God lets you live." If that's true, I hope you will be adding many years to your lifespan in the coming week. Would you like to live to the age of 100? There are many rich and colorful opportunities for you to lodge protests right now. You have cosmic permission to rouse a ruckus in the name of improving the way everything works. But try to concentrate on constructive criticism that really helps transform what's stuck. The Divine Wow is more likely to give credit for that approach than for mere narcissistic grousing. Vi rg o ( Au g u s t 2 3 - S e p t e m b e r 2 2 ) A reader calling herself Rebellioness collaborated with me to come up with five revolutionized approaches to the art of rebellion. I present them here for your use, as they identify the kinds of behavior that will be most nurturing for you to cultivate in the coming weeks. 1. Experimenting with uppity, mischievous optimism. 2. Invoking insurrectionary levels of wildly interesting generosity. 3. Indulging in an insolent refusal to be chronically fearful. 4. Pursuing a cheeky ambition to be as wide-awake as a dissident young messiah. 5. Bringing reckless levels of creative intelligence to all expressions of love.
Libra (September 23October 22) I want to tell you about Harj, a character in Douglas Coupland's novel Generation A. He's an enterprising young Sri Lankan man who sells "celebrity room tones" over the Internet. Each hour-long recording purports to convey the sound of the silence that pervades the homes of luminaries like Mick Jagger and Cameron Diaz when they're not there. I think that you Libras are now primed to learn from Harj's example. Like him, you have the power to capitalize on nothingness and absence and emptiness. Scorpio (October 23N o v e m b e r 2 1 ) A guy I know broke up with his girlfriend recently. He used a time-honored strategy: making it sound as if he wasn't worthy of her. "It's like you're a grandmaster at a chess tournament," he told her, "while I just got my first checkerboard and am still figuring out how to play checkers." He was implying that she was much more skillful than he was in the arts of relationship. I have a feeling that there's a situation like this in your world, Scorpio -- an alliance in which the two parties are at different levels of maturity. I'm not necessarily saying you should sever the connection. But you should at least acknowledge the gap and decide what to do about it.
Sagittarius (November 22D e c e m b e r 2 1 ) In a million years, I would never authorize you to unleash your naked greed and give it unconditional license to careen through the world gobbling and acquiring and appropriating. However, due to an odd blip in the astrological configurations, I am at liberty to give you permission to unleash your discerning, elegant greed and grant it a temporary dispensation to sample more than usual of anything that captivates your ravenous imagination.
Capricorn (December 22January 19) "You are what you love, not what loves you," says the character Charlie Kaufman in the film, Adaptation. (Kaufman is played by Nicolas Cage, who has three planets in Capricorn.) I urge you to work hard to make that perspective your own, Capricorn. Ideally, it will become a permanent addition to your philosophy of life. But please at least try to install it as your primary words to live by for the next three weeks. To do so will smooth out a distortion in your energy field, making it easier for people to love you. Aquarius (January 20- February 18) I suspect you have to go down into the underworld for a while. But you have a choice about how it will play out. You shouldn't wait for some random goblin to come along and pull you down into the miserable abyss. Instead, be proactive. Shop around for a more useful abyss -- a womb-like pit with halfdecent accommodations and a good learning environment -- and go there under your own power. That way you won't have to slog your way through musty fogs and creepy pests and slimy muck. You'll keep your suffering to a minimum and attract adventures that are more intriguing than demoralizing.
P i s c e s ( Fe b r u a r y 1 9 M a r c h 2 0 ) When my acupuncturist pushes a needle into my chest, my feet sometimes twitch involuntarily. A jab in my earlobe can cause my hand to leap off the table; when she pokes the bridge of my nose, my liver may throb. The lesson for me is that parts of the body are linked in ways that aren't obvious. I invite you to expand this principle as you use it to evaluate the interconnections between different areas of your life. How do your attitudes about love affect your ability to attract money? (And vice versa.) Are there any ways in which your capacity for happiness is affected by your political views? How do your judgments about other people impact your physical health? More than even you farseeing Pisceans imagine, everything's linked to everything.
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Holland (Netherlands) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Ibiza (Spain) Iceland India Indian Ocean Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait
0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965
Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Majorca Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Namibia Nepal Netherlands (Holland) Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Nigar Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Ireland (UK) North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts Saint Lucia Saint Pierre Saint Vincent Samoa US Samoa West San Marino Sao Tone Saudi Arabia Scotland (UK) Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Toga Tonga Tokelau Trinidad Tunisia Turkey Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay
00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389 00261 0034 00265 0060 00960 00223 00356 00692 00596 00222 00230 00269 0052 00691 00373 00377 00976 001664 00212 00258 0095 00264 00977 0031 00599 00687 0064 00505 00227 00234 00683 00672 0044 00850 0047 00968 0092 00680 00507 00675 00595 0051 0063 0048 00351 001787 00974 0040 007 00250 00290 001869 001758 00508 001784 00684 00685 00378 00239 00966 0044 00221 00284 00232 0065 00421 00386 00677 00252 0027 0082 0034 0094 00249 00597 00268 0046 0041 00963 00886 00255 0066 00228 00676 00690 001868 00216 0090 00688 00256 00380 00976 0044 00598
WHAT'S ON
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Embassy information EMBASSY OF GREECE The Embassy of Greece has the pleasure to announce that with a view to promote business interaction and commercial relations between Greece and Kuwait and to present further support for the Kuwaiti importers, it requests all Kuwaiti Companies dealing with or representing Greek Companies in Kuwait to contact this Embassy as soon as possible and to provide by fax or email the following information: (Name of the company, tel no, fax no, e-mail, type of business, name of the Greek companies/clients). The Embassy’s contacts are as follows: e-mail: gremb.kuw@mfa.gr; fax: 24817103, and tel no: 24817100, 24817101, 24817102.
Sree Padmanabhadasa Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma (2nd left), the Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore, and his son Marthanda Padmanabha Varma, who arrived in Kuwait yesterday visited the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday. Shaikha Prof Rasha Al-Sabah (left) received the visitors in her office. R C Suresh, Pothen and Muralee Krishnan accompanied him during the visit.
Announcements January 15 Konkani tiatr: Kala Mogui Kuwait is all set to presents. The most awaited show of the year 2009, now touring Gulf & the UK to entertain one & all with an award winning performance by every artiste in ‘Conny Enterprises’ Konkani Tiatr Mahanand Monis Vo Soitan? Written & Directed by History Creator of Konkani Stage Tony Dias. A true story of a serial killer that rocked Goa. Date: 15th January 2010 at 4.30 pm at Da’iya Fencing Club Hall ñ Kuwait. For reservation contact Raja Stores 22412970 or organizers: 99391452, 97439165, 24726524, 66512602, 99458159 or email: kalamogui@gmail.com Kalanjali Pongal Vizha 2010: Kalanjali Kuwait is planning to organize ‘Pongal Vizha’ on January 15, 2010 in American International School. Special program, similar to Paattukku Paatu (in Tamil), by World famous Bh Abdul Hameed will be conducted. Interested participants can send an email with their details to kalanjaliq8@gmail.com for selection process in Dec 2009 or contact 99816937 / 66457286. Mega event:Seva Darshan Kuwait will present a mega stage show ‘Bharath Darshan’ on Friday, January 15, 2010 from 9 am onwards at the Marina Hall, Jleeb Al-Shouyoukh. The mega event will showcase riveting dance and music programs featuring celebrated artists of the Idea Star Singer-fame Somadas, Jins, Prashobh and Superstar Global winner Roopa. They will be supported by the famous comedy duo Kottayam Nazir and Kalabhavan Prajod. The proceeds from the event will go to building a school project for the tribal children in the backward region of Kerala’s Marayoor
area. All are welcome to the mega event. KKMA children?s drawing contest:The grand final contest of KKMA-Tiffany drawing contest for children in Indian schools in Kuwait will be held on Friday, 15th January 2010. A press release from KKMA stated that a total number of 3000 entries were received during the first phase of the contest held in JuneOctober 2009. Children’s from 17 Indian schools in Kuwait participated in this contest. Of which 1000 finalists were selected and invited for an onthe-spot final contest held on January 15th 2010 at Kuwait Indian school in Jleeb (next to 6th ring road). A list of all finalists who are eligible for participating in the final contest is being sent to their respective schools and the participants are contacted by their given contact telephone or emails. The list is also published at KKMA website www.kkma.net The Association thanked all class teachers and the art/drawing teachers of your school for their kind support without which we could not have received such an immense response. Contest titled as ‘World Peace’ KKMA-Tiffany Drawing Contest is conducted to promote a culture of nonviolence and peace by raising awareness among young children about these concepts. The competition was open to all students of Indian Schools in Kuwait and divided in to four categories - Primary School (Class 1 to IV), Upper Primary School (Class V to VII), Secondary School (Class VIII to Class X), and Senior Secondary School (Class XI and Class XII). The Phase 1 of the contest was held early this year in which each of the entrants was requested to submit one piece of drawing which responds to the theme, “World Peace”. All entries
were then reviewed by a judging panel and 1000 semi-finalists were selected to advance to phase 2 final competitions which will be now held on 15th January 2009. Total of 60 winners, 15 students from each category will be then chosen and awarded with medals and gifts. MARCH 26 CRYcket 2010:the 13th annual crycket tournament is scheduled to be held on Friday, 26th March 2010 at the KOC Hockey Grounds, Ahmadi. This tournament is organized by FOCC (Friends of Cry Club). Friends of CRY Club (FOCC) is associated with CRY (Child Rights and You), India and its main objectives are to create awareness of the underprivileged Indian children, help restore their basic rights, strive to provide support in personal development of the Indian children in Kuwait and bring out the qualities of social commitment in them. FOCC has been organizing CRY awareness programmes for children through its two annual events CRYcket (Cricket match for children below 14 years organized annually since 1997) and CRY chess tournament (for children of all ages organized annually since 2005) - and ‘Brain Bang’ programme which is an ongoing biweekly Accelerated Learning activity. CRYcket will be played by 24 teams of children and about 500 spectators are expected for this special one-day event. The deadline to receive the registration forms is 18th March 2010, however registration may be close earlier if the available slots of 12 teams in each category are filled. A colourful souvenir will be released to mark the 13th year of FOCC’s activities in Kuwait. For details how to become a sponsor and/or to advertise in the Souvenir or to volunteer as a FOCC
EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India, Kuwait, has arranged the following free welfare services on a pilot basis: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: Opened at the Embassy premises (9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM; Sunday to Thursday), it offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues. These services would be provided by Kuwait Union of Domestic Labour Offices (KUDLO). These are in addition to the following existing welfare services provided by the Embassy: Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labour complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM; Sunday to Thursday); Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; Legal Advice Clinic: A Kuwaiti lawyer provides free legal advice to Indian workers (3 PM to 5 PM; Mondays and Thursdays); and Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker contracts (Visa No. 18) are accepted at the Embassy (9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday); Domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at, KUDLO [Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Mezzanine Floor, Office No. 9; (9 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM; Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday)]. EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES The Embassy of the Philippines wishes to inform the Filipino community in the State of Kuwait, that the recent supreme court decision to extend the registration of voters applies only in local registration in the Philippines under Republic Act no. 8189 and does not apply to overseas voters which is governed by Republic Act no. 9189, hence it has no impact on the plans and preparations on the conduct of overseas absentee voting. The overseas absentee voting for presidential elections will start on 10 April 2010 and will continue uninterrupted until 10 May 2010 daily at the Philippine Embassy. Registered overseas absentee voters are advised to schedule their days off in advance to avoid complications in their schedules. Qualified voters are encouraged to get out and vote. EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa’s working hours on Thursday, 24th December 2009 & Thursday, 31st December 2009 will be from 8 am to 10 am. Please note that the Embassy will be closed on Sunday, 3rd January 2010 on the occasion of the New Year. The Embassy will resume its normal working hours on Monday, 4th January 2010, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the working hours will be from 8 am to 16h00 & the Consular section operation hours will be from 8h30 to 12h30.
Friday, January 8, 2010
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Friday, January 8, 2010
FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
“IN CASE YOU ARE NOT TRAVELLING, YOUR PROPER CANCELLATION OF BOOKINGS WILL HELP OTHER PASSENGERS TO USE SEATS”. Arrival Flights on Friday 08/01/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut Tunis Air 327 Tunis/Dubai Jazeera 0109 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2011 Sharm El Sheikh Royal Jordanian 802 Amman Jet A/W 574 Cochin Wataniya Airways 2103 Beirut Kalitta 537 Sharjah Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Jazeera 0513 Sharm El Sheikh Kuwait 544 Cairo Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul D.H.L. 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 0138 Doha Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Air France 6770 Paris Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Kuwait 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Jazeera 0529 Assiut Jazeera 0481 Sabiha British 0157 London Kalitta 533 Al Fujairah Kuwait 206 Islamabad Kuwait 352 Cochin Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 362 Colombo Kuwait 676 Dubai Emirates 855 Dubai Kuwait 286 Chittagong Arabia 0121 Sharjah Qatari 0132 Doha Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Dubai/Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 619 Lar Middle East 404 Beirut Oman Air 0645 Muscat Yemenia 825 Sanaa Pakistan 239 Sialkot Egypt Air 610 Cairo Jazeera 0171 Dubai Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0255 Beirut Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Kuwait 552 Damascus Kuwait 744 Dammam Jazeera 0457 Damascus Qatari 0134 Doha Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 546 Alexandria Royal Jordanian 800 Amman Jazeera 0173 Dubai Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Saudi Arabian A/L 510 Riyadh Etihad 0303 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0239 Amman Arabia 0125 Sharjah Jazeera 0367 Deirezzor Wataniya Airways 2101 Beirut Jazeera 0497 Riyadh Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai United A/L 982 Washington DC Dulles
Time 00:05 00:10 00:15 00:15 00:35 00:40 00:50 01:00 01:05 01:25 01:30 02:15 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:30 04:35 05:35 06:10 06:25 06:30 06:35 06:40 07:00 07:40 07:40 07:45 07:55 08:20 08:20 08:30 08:35 08:55 09:00 09:35 10:45 10:45 11:00 11:05 11:10 11:20 11:20 11:50 11:55 12:15 12:35 12:50 12:55 13:05 13:25 13:35 13:50 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:35 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:10 15:30 15:40 16:05 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:05 18:15
Jazeera Wataniya Airways D.H.L. Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait KuWait Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Indian Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Jet A/W Wataniya Airways Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Gulf Air Kuwait Middle East Qatari Kuwait Emirates Jazeera Jazeera Global Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Egypt Air Shaheen Air Lufthansa Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Pakistan Wataniya Airways
0427 2003 473 1025 542 674 166 0177 614 774 575 102 562 618 572 1201 506 0459 0343 217 786 402 0136 502 859 0449 0429 081 0117 0185 612 606 441 636 2201 1029 215 1129
Dubai/Bahrain Cairo Baghdad Dubai Cairo Dubai Paris/Rome Dubai Bahrain Riyadh Chenmai/Goa New York/London Amman Doha Mumbai Jeddah Jeddah Damascus Sanaa/Bahrain Bahrain Jeddah Beirut Doha Beirut Dubai Doha Dubai/Bahrain Baghdad Abu Dhabi Dubai Cairo Luxor Lahore/Karachi Frankfurt Amman Dubai Karachi Bahrain
Departure Flights on Friday 08/01/2010 Airlines Flt Route Egypt Air 607 Luxor Jazeera 0528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode United A/L 981 Washington DC Dulles Jazeera 0160 Dubai Tunis Air 328 Tunis Indian 982 Ahmedabad/Chennai Pakistan 206 Lahore Bangladesh 044 Dhaka Jet A/W 573 Cochin Safi A/W 216 Kabul Kuwait 283 Dhaka D.H.L. 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa Kalitta 537 Kandahar Qatari 0139 Doha Jazeera 0162 Dubai Air France 6770 Dubai/Hong Kong Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Jazeera 0164 Dubai Royal Jordanian 803 Amman Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Jazeera 0254 Beirut Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain/Dubai Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 545 Alexandria Jazeera 0256 Beirut British 0156 London
18:15 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:30 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:20 21:35 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:05 23:30 23:40 23:45 23:55 23:55
Time 00:01 00:05 00:30 00:40 00:55 01:00 01:05 01:10 01:15 01:40 02:30 02:55 03:15 03:15 03:50 04:10 04:15 05:00 05:00 06:00 06:20 07:00 07:00 07:05 07:20 07:30 07:35 07:40 07:45 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:10 08:30 08:35 08:55
Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Arabia Emirates Kuwait Qatari Etihad Kuwait Kalitta Wataniya Airways Gulf Air Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Iran Air Middle East Oman Air Yemenia Pakistan Jazeera Egypt Air Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Kuwait Jazeera Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Global Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Srilankan Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Wataniya Airways Jet A/W Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Saudi Arabian A/L Gulf Air D.H.L. Kuwait Middle East Qatari Kuwait Emirates Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Jazeera Kuwait
671 551 0456 0122 856 117 0133 0302 173 533 2002 214 0426 743 541 0172 2100 0366 0238 103 618 405 0646 825 240 0342 611 1024 673 561 0496 0176 1200 0458 785 773 501 613 801 0135 617 0182 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 0184 0116 2200 082 0448 042$ 2102 228 1028 361 343 1128 571 331 0266 0606 507 218 171 675 403 0137 301 860 0636 0526 613 0502 411
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
Dubai Damascus Damascus Sharjah Dubai New York Doha Abu Dhabi Frankfurt/Geneva Kandahar Cairo Bahrain Bahrain/Dubai Dammam Cairo Dubai Beirut Deirezzor Amman London Lar Beirut Muscat Doha/Sanaa Sialkot Sanaa Cairo Dubai Dubai Amman Riyadh Dubai Jeddah Damascus Jeddah Riyadh Beirut Bahrain Amman Doha Doha Dubai Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Dubai Abu Dhabi Amman Baghdad Doha Bahrain/Dubai Beirut Dubai/Colombo Dubai Colombo Chennai Bahrain Mumbai Trivandrum Beirut Mumbai Jeddah Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Beirut Doha Mumbai Dubai Aleppo Alexandria Cairo Luxor Bangkok/Manila
09:00 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:20 10:20 11:00 11:30 11:40 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:45 16:10 16:10 16:20 16:25 16:30 16:35 16:55 17:55 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:50 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:30 20:20 20:50 21:00 21:10 21:25 21:30 21:50 21:55 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:35 22:45 23:10 23:20 23:25 23:45 23:50 23:55
CLASSIFIEDS
Friday, January 8, 2010
Page 49
5-1-2010
ACCOMMODATION Fully furnished sharing accommodation available for a Keralite Christian family at Abbassiya for 3-5 months. Contact: 99962214 & 66957146. (C 20140) Furnished accommodation from 1st February 2010 in Salmiya near garden for decent Muslim executive bachelors preferably Muslim Indian or Pakistani, in a very clean and peaceful environment. Rent KD 100. Contact: 66639581. (C 20141) 07-1-2010
Room available from 1st January in central A/C flat for Asian decent family/ couple, in old Khaitan near Water and Electricity department. Contact: 97468551. (C 20125) Sharing accommodation available with food for 2 Manglorean or Goan bachelors to share with a Goan family in Abbassiya. Mobile: 66269035. (C 20128) 4-1-2010
Room available at Maidan Hawally for Filipino only with TFC, near bus stop. Please contact 97277135
Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near 6th Ring Road one room semi furnished for bachelors or small family, stay with two bachelors, Indians only from 25th Dec, reasonable rent. Contact: 55682203 (C20083)
Sharing accommodation available for a Keralite bachelor with 2 bachelors in a flat in Abbassiya, near Classic Typing Center. Contact after 5 pm on 66439011. (C 20133)
Sharing accommodation available for a bachelor Indian, near Don Bosco School at Salmiya, rent KD 60 one room. Contact: 99493024, 25628932. (C 20123)
Room for rent, for Filipino only, pwede nang lipatan, old Riggae, bldg 25, near KPTC bus stop/ UAE Exchange. Contact: 66982714/ 66166021. (C 20134) 6-1-2010
Are you looking for good sharing apartment in a CAC, furnished 3BR/ 2 bath? It始s only for decent working females executive with an Indian family. Interested females can call on 65820916. (C 20122) 3-1-2010
Sharing accommodation available in Kuwait city from 1st Feb in CAC flat with Keralite bachelors for a decent person. Rent KD 42. Interested pls contact 99486009, 97517417 (C 20132)
Sharing accommodation available, new building, single working lady at old Riggae. Contact: 97836756, 66720438. (C 20119) 2-1-2010
FOR SALE Mitsubishi Gallant, 6 cylinder, silver color, 72,000 km, excellent condition, price KD 3,150. Contact: 66026259/ 55273700. (C 20138) Honda Accord 2007 model, honey gold, well maintained, (2.4 litres capacity, 25,000 km mileage). Single owner driven, owner leaving Kuwait. Price KD 4,000. Contact: 99300296. (C 20136) Laptop Siemens Core 2 Due, HD 120 GB, Ram 1 GB, DVD writer, Wifi, Bluetooth, Web cam + IBM Lenovo Desktop PC, Due Core with LCD monitor, for detail call: 99322585. (C 20139) Internet Card - Fast Telco for sale, original price is KD 55, required price is KD 25. Contact: 66451465. (C 20137) 7-1-2010 Motorbike, Ducati 7495, model 2006, mileage: 3000
km, very good condition, color black, price 2800 KD. Tel: 99983300. (C 20135) 6-1-2010 Mitsubishi Galant, model 2003, silver grey color, in very good condition & insured up to October 2010, engine overhauled in November 09 from M/S auto-1 (Ex Al Gannam), price fixed KD 1,200. Call: 66608427. (C 20131) 5-1-2010 Excellent condition. Used household furniture, electrical, electronic items for sale with or w/o apartment. Genuine buyers call 66159436. (C 20121) 3-1-2010 Household furniture sofas, cupboards, tables chairs, dishwasher, TV, miscellaneous. Qurtoba 99786814. (C 20118) 2-1-2010
my name as Reema Mogal Rahiman. (C 20130)
SITUATION VACANT Required live in maid for Keralite family. Please call 99509436. (C 20129) 5-1-2010
CHANGE OF NAME I, Rema Ullas holder of Indian Passport No. E5285163 hereby change
Wanted full time maid for Pakistani family in
Sawaber, for cooking, cleaning, should speak Hindi, having valid iqama. Tel: 22400207. (C 201127) 4-1-2010 Required a live-in nanny for a special needs child, knowledge of spoken and written English a necessity, nursing or educational background an asset highly competitive salary, please contact 99824597. (C 20117) 2-1-2010
PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly
5622444 5752222 5321171 5739999 5757700 5732223 5732223
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz
4555050 Ext 510 5644660 5646478 5311996 5731988 2620166 5651426
General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi Dr. Yousef Al-Omar Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem Dr. Kathem Maarafi Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae
4555050 Ext 123 4719312 3926920 5730465 5655528 4577781 5333501
Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 2641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 2639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 2616660
Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 5313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 2547272 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 2617700 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 5625030/60 Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar
3729596/3729581
Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 2635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 2613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe Dr. Verginia s.Marin Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly Dr. Salem soso
3729596/3729581 572-6666 ext 8321 2655539 5343406 5739272 2618787
General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 5717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 2610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 5327148 Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan
2639939 2666300 5728004
Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra Dr. Mobarak Aldoub Dr Nasser Behbehani
5355515 4726446 5654300/3
Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed Dr. Zahra Qabazard Dr. Sohail Qamar Dr. Snaa Maaroof Dr. Pradip Gujare Dr. Zacharias Mathew
5340300 5710444 2621099 5713514 3713100 4334282
(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada) 5655535 Dentists: Dr Anil Thomas Dr. Shamah Al-Matar Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan Dr. Bader Al-Ansari
3729596/3729581 2641071/2 2562226 2561444 2619557 2525888 5653755 5620111
Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali
Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr
5633324 5345875
5339330 5658888 5329924
Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees
5722291 2666288
Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 5330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 5722290 Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 4555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 5339667
Neurologists: Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan
2636464 5322030 2633135
Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555
Page 50
Friday, January 8, 2010
TV Listings Orbit /Showtime Channels 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
AMERICA PLUS True Blood Janice Dickinson Bachelor Cold Case The Closer Lost GMA Recorded GMA Health What’s the Buzz Cold Case The Closer *24* The Closer Cold Case *24* GMA Live GMA Health What’s the Buzz The Closer Lost The O.C. Private Practice Grey’s Anatomy True Blood
00:50 01:45 02:40 03:35 04:30 05:25 06:20 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:45 10:10 10:40 11:05 11:55 12:50 13:45 14:10 14:40 15:35 16:00 16:30 16:55 17:25 17:50 18:20 19:15 19:40 20:10 21:10 22:05 23:00 23:25 23:55
ANIMAL PLANET Animal Cops Phoenix Lions and Giants Untamed & Uncut Austin Stevens Adventures Animal Cops Phoenix Animal Cops Phoenix Lemur Street Monkey Business Aussie Animal Rescue Pet Passport Wildlife SOS Pet Rescue Animal Precinct All New Planet’s Funniest Animals All New Planet’s Funniest Animals RSPCA: On the Frontline Animal Cops Phoenix The Jeff Corwin Experience Wildlife SOS All New Planet’s Funniest Animals All New Planet’s Funniest Animals Lions and Giants Lemur Street Monkey Business Pet Rescue Pet Passport Wildlife SOS RSPCA: On the Frontline Animal Cops Phoenix Night Night Lions of Crocodile River Animal Cops Phoenix Untamed & Uncut Night Night Animal Cops Phoenix
00:30 00:55 01:20 01:50 02:50 03:20 03:50 04:20 04:50 05:15 06:35 07:20 07:40 08:00 08:20 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:20 09:40 10:00 10:25 10:30 11:15 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:45 16:15 17:15 18:00 18:30 19:00 Vyle 19:30 Vyle 20:00 21:00 21:45 22:15 23:45 00:05 00:30 01:00
BBC ENTERTAINMENT No Heroics No Heroics Little Britain Child Of Our Time 2006 A Year At Kew A Year At Kew Massive Fear Stress & Anger No Heroics Child Of Our Time 2006 Bargain Hunt Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Tommy Zoom Balamory Tweenies Fimbles Teletubbies Yoho Ahoy Bargain Hunt Child Of Our Time 2006 A Year At Kew A Year At Kew The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Antiques Roadshow The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders The Life And Times Of Vivienne The Life And Times Of Vivienne Antiques Roadshow The Weakest Link Doctors Blackjack 01: Murder Archive Rough Diamond Sd BBC LIFESTYLE Sweet Baby James Masterchef Goes Large Masterchef Goes Large
Stop-loss on Show Movies 1 01:25 01:50 02:15 03:15 03:45 04:10 04:40 05:10 05:35 05:55 06:20 07:20 08:00 08:50 09:10 09:35 10:00 10:45 11:30 12:20 13:05 13:55 14:40 15:25 15:55 16:25 16:50 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:45 20:15 20:40 00:00 00:30 01:00
Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Living In The Sun Indian Food Made Easy Sweet Baby James Masterchef Goes Large Masterchef Goes Large Cash In The Attic Usa Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Living In The Sun Colin And Justin’s Home Show Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic Usa Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Living In The Sun Antiques Roadshow What Not To Wear Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Gary Rhodes’ Local Food Heroes Daily Cooks Challenge Daily Cooks Challenge Cash In The Attic Usa Hidden Potential Antiques Roadshow What Not To Wear Living In The Sun Daily Cooks Challenge Daily Cooks Challenge Masterchef Goes Large DISCOVERY CHANNEL Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds Miami Ink
02:00 02:55 03:50 04:45 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:45 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:25 13:50 14:15 15:10 16:05 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00
Street Customs Huge Moves Rides Mythbusters How It’s Made Ultimate Survival Extreme Engineering Rides Street Customs How Do They Do It? Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Twist the Throttle How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Fifth Gear American Chopper Miami Ink Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Destroyed in Seconds Destroyed in Seconds Street Customs How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Twist the Throttle American Chopper Street Customs Berlin
00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:50 05:45 06:10
DISCOVERY SCIENCE Building the Biggest Primal Connections The Future of... Mission Implausible Beyond Tomorrow NASA’s Greatest Missions How Stuff’s Made Green Wheels
06:40 07:10 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:55 11:20 11:50 12:45 13:10 13:40 14:35 15:30 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:40 20:30 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 23:00 23:50
One Step Beyond Primal Connections The Kustomizer NASA’s Greatest Missions The Future of... How Stuff’s Made Stunt Junkies Primal Connections Green Wheels One Step Beyond NASA’s Greatest Missions The Future of... Mars: The Quest for Life How Stuff’s Made The Kustomizer Brainiac Building the Biggest Nextworld Weird Connections Weird Connections How It’s Made How It’s Made Mythbusters Nextworld Weird Connections
E! ENTERTAINMENT 00:15 Streets Of Hollywood 00:40 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Scandals 01:30 Extreme Hollywood 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 E!es 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 Ths 07:45 25 Most Stylish 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10
09:25 09:50 10:15 11:05 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:40 15:25 15:50 16:15 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:40 20:30 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:50
Keeping Up With The Kardashians Keeping Up With The Kardashians Ths Ths E! News The Daily 10 Perfect Catch 40 Smokin’ On Set Hookups Behind The Scenes Behind The Scenes E!es Leave It To Lamas Leave It To Lamas E! News The Daily 10 Streets Of Hollywood Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties Ths Ths Reality Hell Wildest Tv Show Moments E! News The Daily 10 Dr 90210 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties
01:10 02:50 04:50 06:30 08:20 10:05 12:15 13:55 15:45 17:50 20:15 22:00 23:35
MGM Love, Cheat & Steal Belly Of An Architect Exposed Youngblood The Black Stallion Returns The Pride And The Passion The Man Inside Marie: A True Story The Russians Are Coming F.I.S.T Hennessy Doc After the Fox
00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30
NAT GEO ADVENTURE Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Surfer’s Journal Surfer’s Journal Destination Extreme Madventures Surfer’s Journal Bondi Rescue Destination Extreme Madventures Kayaking In New Zealand Bondi Rescue Bondi Rescue Surfer’s Journal Surfer’s Journal Destination Extreme Madventures Surfer’s Journal Bondi Rescue Destination Extreme Madventures Don’t Tell My Mother... Lonely Planet Somewhere In China Destination Extreme Madventures Surfer’s Journal Bondi Rescue Destination Extreme Madventures Don’t Tell My Mother... Lonely Planet Somewhere In China Destination Extreme Madventures Surfer’s Journal Bondi Rescue Destination Extreme Madventures Don’t Tell My Mother...
00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00
NAT GEO WILD When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs Super Pride Rescue Ink Golden Baboons Insects From Hell Snake Wranglers Brady’s Wild Hour In The Land Of The Dragons When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs Super Pride Rescue Ink Golden Baboons Insects From Hell Snake Wranglers Animal Autopsy Kalahari Super Cat Triumph Of Life Swamp Troop Insects From Hell Snake Wranglers Animal Autopsy Kalahari Super Cat Triumph Of Life
08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15
PLAYHOUSE DISNEY Special Agent Oso Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Imagination Movers
Page 51
Friday, January 8, 2010 09:40 09:50 10:00 10:10 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:20 12:55 13:05 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:05 17:30 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:00 20:15 20:40 20:50 21:00
Chuggington Chuggington Chuggington Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Imagination Movers My Friends Tigger and Pooh Chuggington Chuggington Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jo Jo’s Circus Jo Jo’s Circus Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Happy Monster Band My Friends Tigger and Pooh Happy Monster Band Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Chuggington Imagination Movers Handy Manny Chuggington Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Handy Manny My Friends Tigger and Pooh End Of Programming
00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30
SHOW COMEDY Friends According To Jim The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Comedy Central Comedy Central Home Improvement The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne Will And Grace My Wife And Kids Home Improvement Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Three Sisters Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 8 Simple Rules... The Nanny Malcolm In The Middle Will And Grace My Wife And Kids How I Met Your Mother 8 Simple Rules... Three Sisters The Nanny Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne Home Improvement Malcolm In The Middle Friends According To Jim Three Sisters The Nanny Fresh Prince Of Bel Air 8 Simple Rules... Will And Grace My Wife And Kids How I Met Your Mother Reggie Perrin Friends According To Jim The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Live At Gotham South Park How I Met Your Mother
01:00 03:00 05:00 07:15 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:45 18:30 21:00 23:00
SHOW MOVIES 1 Stop-loss - 18 Conspiracy - 18 The Mist - PG 15 Wall-e - FAM Vantage Point - PG 15 Be Kind Rewind - PG 15 How About You - PG 15 Vantage Point - PG 15 Be Kind Rewind - PG 15 Mamma Mia - PG 15 Seven Pounds - PG Prom Night - PG 15
SHOW MOVIES 2 00:00 Into The Wild - PG 15 02:30 Stone Council - 18 04:15 Palermo Shooting - PG 15 06:15 Return To Rajapur - PG 15 08:15 Barrack Obama: The Man And His Journey - PG 10:00 Igor - PG 12:00 Brick Lane - PG 15 14:00 Center Stage 2: Turn It Up - PG 15 16:00 Igor - PG 18:00 Brick Lane - PG 15 20:00 Meet Bill - R 22:00 Boot Camp - 18 01:00 03:00 04:30 15
SHOW MOVIES ACTION City Of Men - PG 15 Sasquatch Hunters - PG 15 Resident Evil: Degeneration - PG
06:30 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:30
Godzilla - PG 15 Ghost Voyage - PG Walking Tall 3: Lone Justice - PG Smokey And The Bandit - PG Ghost Voyage - PG Walking Tall 3: Lone Justice - PG Universal Soldier: The Return - 18 Iron Man - PG 15 Clear Lake, Wi - 18
SHOW MOVIES COMEDY 00:30 The Birdcage - 18 02:30 Georgia Rule - PG 15 04:30 All Hat - PG 15 06:00 Parenthood - PG 15 08:00 Georgia Rule - PG 15 10:00 Mystic Pizza - PG 15 12:00 Hancock - PG 15 14:00 Big Daddy - PG 15 16:00 Mystic Pizza - PG 15 18:00 Hancock - PG 15 20:00 National Lampoon’s: Electric Apricot - PG 15 22:00 Jackass: The Movie - 18 SHOW MOVIES KIDS 00:30 Dragon Hunters - PG 15 02:00 The Jungle Book Iii : Mowgli’s Adventure - FAM 03:30 Phoebe In Wonderland - PG 06:00 My Neighbors: The Yamadas - FAM 08:00 Bolt - FAM 10:00 The Three Robbers - PG 11:30 Hey Arnold! The Movie - PG 13:00 Bedtime Stories - FAM 15:00 Patoruzito - FAM 16:30 The Jungle Book Iv : Hate And Love - FAM 18:00 Bedtime Stories - FAM 20:00 The Three Robbers - PG 21:30 Hey Arnold! The Movie - PG 23:00 Patoruzito - FAM 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
SHOW SERIES Criminal Minds Bones Demons Secret Diary Of A Call Girl Secret Diary Of A Call Girl Starter Wife Emmerdale Huey’s Cooking Adventure Criminal Minds Eureka Saving Grace 10 Years Younger (usa) 10 Years Younger (usa) Starter Wife Eureka Emmerdale Huey’s Cooking Adventure Bones Demons Saving Grace Criminal Minds Eureka Spooks Starter Wife Kathy Griffin C.s.i. Breaking Bad Saving Grace
SHOW SPORTS 1 00:30 AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qualifiers 02:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 03:30 Premier League World 04:00 Premier League 06:00 Premier League Classics 06:30 Barclays Premier League Classics 07:00 Premier League World 07:30 Brazilian League Highlights 08:00 Premier League 10:00 Goals Goals Goals 10:30 Premier League Classics 11:00 Premier League Classics 11:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 12:00 Premier League World 12:30 AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qualifiers 14:30 AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qualifiers 16:30 Premier League Classics 17:00 Premier League Classics 17:30 Brazilian League Highlights 18:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 18:30 Premier League 20:30 Goals Goals Goals 21:00 Premier League World 21:30 Live Barclays Premier League Arabic Preview 22:30 Futbol Mundial 23:00 Premier League SHOW SPORTS 2 00:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 01:30 Premier League World 02:00 PDC World Darts Championship 07:00 Futbol Mundial 07:30 Premier League World 08:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 09:00 Test Cricket Highlights 11:00 Weber Cup Bowling 12:00 PDC World Darts Championship 17:00 Weber Cup Bowling 18:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 19:00 World Hockey
19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00
Premier League Classics Premier League Classics Gillette World Sport Futbol Mundial Premier League Preview Show Test Cricket Highlights
SUPER COMEDY 00:30 The Jay Leno Show 01:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 02:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 03:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 03:30 Late Night Show With Jimmy Fallon 04:30 Jimmy Kimmel Live 05:30 The Jay Leno Show 06:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 07:00 Frasier 07:30 All Of Us 08:00 The Tonight Show With Conan O’ Brien 09:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live 11:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 11:30 Frasier 12:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 12:30 All Of Us 13:00 The Jay Leno Show 14:00 The Tonight Show With Conan O’ Brien 15:00 Late Night Show With Jimmy Fallon 16:00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live 19:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 19:30 Two And A Half Men 20:00 The Jay Leno Show 21:00 The Tonight Show With Conan O’
Brien 22:00 Late Night Show With Jimmy Fallon 23:00 HUNG 23:30 Jimmy Kimmel Live SUPER MOVIES Before the Rains - PG15 L.A. Blues - PG15 Heist - 18 Jumper - PG Australia - PG15 Monster in Law - PG Fred Claus - PG Fearless - PG Griffin and Phoenix - PG15 Frozen River - PG15 Children of Men - 18 In The Loop - PG15
01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00 00:55 02:50 04:35 05:00 05:30 07:25 08:00 09:40 Grimm 11:45 15:10 16:55 18:45 21:05 23:00 00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:55
TCM Tap (1989) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof The Screening Room The Screening Room Clash of the Titans The Screening Room Easter Parade Wonderful World of the Brothers Ben Hur Bachelor in Paradise Mrs. Soffel Anchors Aweigh Clash of the Titans Butterflies Are Free (1972)
THE HISTORY CHANNEL Mega Movers Siberian Apocalypse Secrets Of The Aegean Apocalypse Ax Men Warriors Cities Of The Underworld
Heist on SUPER Movies
05:50 06:40 07:30 08:20 09:10 10:00 10:55 11:50 12:40 13:30 14:20 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:55 23:50
Modern Marvels Mega Movers Siberian Apocalypse Secrets Of The Aegean Apocalypse Ax Men Warriors Cities Of The Underworld Modern Marvels Mega Movers Siberian Apocalypse Secrets Of The Aegean Apocalypse Ax Men Warriors Cities Of The Underworld Modern Marvels Mega Movers Siberian Apocalypse Secrets Of The Aegean Apocalypse Ax Men Conspiracy? Digging for the Truth Monsterquest
00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 03:00 03:50 04:40 05:30 06:20 06:45 07:10 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30
THE STYLE NETWORK Clean House - PG Peter Perfect - PG Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane - PG Running In Heels - PG How Do I Look? - PG Split Ends - PG Clean House - PG Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? - PG Glow - FAM Area - FAM How Do I Look? - PG Style Star - PG Style Her Famous - PG My Celebrity Home - PG Style Star - PG Dress My Nest - PG Peter Perfect - PG Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? - PG Ruby - PG Ruby - PG
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Underwood wants a simple wedding
Hilton ready
he ‘Cowboy Casanova’ singer - who had previously kept her year-long relationship with Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher largely under wraps announced her engagement just before Christmas and is already planning ahead for the big day. She said: “I want a groom, good food and an open bar.” Despite not yet deciding who will be designing her wedding dress, the country singer said she’d already thought about how she planned to look on the big day. She added to US TV show ‘Access Hollywood’: “I’m Southern. I like big hair and eyeliner. I want my wedding day to be me, so I’ll probably be rocking some big hair and some eyeliner.” Meanwhile, the 26-yearold star - who admitted she kept her relationship with Mike, 29, alive by constantly texting and running up huge phone bills - is also set to make her acting debut with a guest spot on ‘How I Met Your Mother’. She will star as pharmaceutical rep Tiffany, a love interest for Ted, played by Josh Radnor, in an episode set to air this March. Carrie isn’t the first star to play a character with romantic feelings for Ted, as Britney Spears played Abby, a bubbly secretary who had a crush on him in 2008.
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Brand and Perry to marry within months
Kardashian not using contraception hloe Kardashian has stopped using birth control. The reality TV star - who married basketball player Lamar Odom in September following a whirlwind romance - is no longer taking her contraceptive pill, but admits she’s not even sure if she’s ready to have a baby. She said: “I’m not rushing it, but I’m also not doing anything to prevent it. We both want to have children together and I think we’re in an ideal situation. We’re just happy together.” Khloe’s husband would love her to have a baby “tomorrow” and Lamar got excited on New Year’s Eve when she started to feel sick because he thought it could mean she was expecting. Discussing her potential family plans, the 25-year-old brunette beauty recently said: “Lamar wants to start having children tomorrow. He already has two beautiful children, Destiny and Lamar Jr., but he can’t wait for me to have kids and form this new family. I know how happy he would be, and I’d love to have kids. But ideally I want to wait at least until we’ve settled into our new house.” Khloe was present when her sister Kourtney gave birth to her first child, son Mason, in December.
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to marry aris Hilton wants to get married this year. The hotel heiress has revealed she can see herself tying the knot to boyfriend Doug Reinhardt over the next twelve months because their “amazing” relationship has curbed her partying ways. She said: “I wouldn’t rule out a wedding in 2010. With how amazing everything is going between us, I see a very bright and happy future. “He’s taught me how real love can feel. Doug’s taught me how to grow up and become more domestic, as in not going out as much as I used to.” Paris
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refused to have IVF
ennifer Lopez refused to have IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) when she was trying for a baby. The singer-and-actress was desperate to have children with husband Marc Anthony and although the couple were trying to get pregnant for a long time, Jennifer didn’t want to seek medical help. The 40-year-old beauty - who eventually gave birth to twins Max and Emme in February 2008 - told America’s Elle magazine: “When it comes to family and relationships, I’m quite traditional. Just because of the way I was raised. And I also believe in God and I have a
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lot of faith in that, so I just felt like you don’t mess with things like that. And I guess deep down I really felt like either this is not going to happen for me or it is. You know what I mean? And if it is, it will. And if it’s not, it’s not going to.” Jennifer - who married Marc in 2004 - recently revealed how she has to work hard at her marriage. The ‘Love Don’t Cost A Thing’ singer - who has been married twice before said: “What people don’t talk about, which is interesting to me, is how you have to put as much work into your relationships as you do into anything else.”
ussell Brand and Katy Perry are set to marry within months. The couple - who have been dating since September and got engaged over New Year have shocked friends by revealing their wedding plans are already well underway and have asked pals to keep dates free for the nuptials. Russell, 34, has reportedly already asked his manager, Nik Linnen, to be his best man and told him to start preparing a speech. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Russell caught everyone off guard with the engagement. They’ve decided they won’t be messing about and have already made plans for the big day.” Katy’s strictly religious father Keith Hudson has also given former his blessing to the couple’s wedding plans, saying he is “happy” with the news. Further details of Russell’s meticulously planned romantic proposal on New Year’s Eve in the Indian city of Jaipur - also known as the Pink City - have also been revealed. First the comedian prepared by taking Katy, 25, to one of the city’s ancient forts, where he bought her a £600 traditional Indian dress to wear, before they headed back to the luxurious Taj Rambagh palace hotel, where he had further surprises in store As source at the hotel explained: “He had organized a special dining experience. We set a table in a garden with candles everywhere. They arrived in a horse and carriage with a glass of champagne and we served them dinner. “At midnight they enjoyed fireworks while sitting on an elephant, which Mr. Brand specially requested. Then they were taken to the Mughal Garden which was decorated by flowers and candlelight. “Mr. Brand had given his butler the diamond ring to hide among the flowers. Miss Perry found it, he proposed, and she immediately said ‘Yes’. “After that they requested 45 minutes’ privacy. —Bang Showbiz
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Page 53
Music & Movies
Japanese conductor Ozawa has oesophageal cancer cclaimed Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa said yesterday he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and had cancelled his schedule for at least six months to undergo treatment. Ozawa, the 74-year-old musical director at the Vienna State Opera, said he was diagnosed with the illness in a medical check-up last month. He will cancel his engagementsstarting with a concert at the Vienna State Opera on January 15 — until at least June, but said he hoped to make a full recovery by August. “I really am sorry for the audience and also for Vienna,” Ozawa told a press conference in Tokyo. “Some people must have already left for Vienna, to
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cancelled, including with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in February and March, the Vienna Philharmonic in
listen to Figaro,” he said, referring to his cancelled engagement this month to perform “Les noces de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)”. Ozawa’s cancer was found in its early stage, his chief doctor Masato Okada said at the same news conference. “He will be hospitalized and undergo the treatment,” Okada said, adding that the type of treatment, including possible surgery, was still being decided. Ozawa pledged to return to work in time to conduct an orchestra in August at the month-long Saito Kinen classical music festival in the central Japanese city of Matsumoto, which he attends every summer. About 30 engagements are to be
In this Feb 3, 2005, file photo, Viennese State Opera music director Seiji Ozawa is seen at the traditional Opera Ball in Vienna, Austria.—AP May and the Berlin Philharmonic in June. Ozawa has also pulled out of conducting the farewell concert in
Baldwin, Streep on tap for SAG Awards
China jails Tibetan film-maker for six years Chinese court has jailed a Tibetan filmmaker for six years after he made a documentary in which ordinary Tibetans praised the Dalai Lama and complained about how their culture had been trampled upon, campaigners said. The film, “Leaving Fear Behind”, features a series of interviews with Tibetans who talk about how they still love their exiled spiritual leader and think the Beijing Olympics did little to improve their lives. Dhondup Wangchen and his monk friend, Golog Jigme, were detained shortly after finishing the film, but managed to smuggle tapes out of the country. Dhondup Wangchen’s sentencing took place on Dec 28 in Xining, Qinghai’s provincial capital, said a statement on a website (www.leavingfearbehind.com) promoting the film, which is also campaigning for his release. —Reuters
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In this film publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Meryl Streep, left, and Alec Baldwin are shown in a scene from ‘It’s Complicated’. —AP lec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Sandra Bullock and Jane Lynch will take the stage at the Screen Actors Guild Awards later this month. Executive producer Jeff Margolis says the stars will serve
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as presenters at the 16th annual ceremony. They are also nominees. The SAG Awards will be presented at the Shrine Exhibition Center in Los Angeles on Jan 23. The show will air live on TNT and TBS. —AP
Susan Boyle leads US album chart for sixth week S
usan Boyle racked up a sixth consecutive week at No 1 on the US pop album chart on Wednesday, but the Scottish singer faces a challenge for next week’s title from pop newcomer Ke$ha. Early prognostications from label sources suggest that both Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” and Ke$ha’s justreleased debut album, “Animal,” could each sell around 100,000 copies by week’s end on Jan 10. With Ke$ha’s very youthful audience going up against Boyle’s more-mature demographic, however, it’s a tough call on who may come out on top. After six weeks, Boyle’s album has
sold 3.1 million copies, becoming the No 2 album of 2009 behind Taylor Swift’s “Fearless,” with sales of 3.2 million. In the week ended Jan 3, “I Dreamed a Dream” sold 137,000 copies. Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” climbed four places to a new high of No 2 with 82,000. The 62-week old album had previously topped out at No 4 in March. Alicia Keys’ “The Element of Freedom” climbed one to No 3 with 80,000 in its third week, while Mary J. Blige’s “Stronger With Each Tear” dropped two to No 4 with 62,000 in its second. Swift’s “Fearless” held at No 5 with 60,000 copies in its 60th week.
Justin Bieber’s “My World” EP rose one to No 6 with 52,000, and the soundtrack to “Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel” soared 13 places to No 7 with 51,000, bolstered by the film’s hot performance at the box office. The Black Eyed Peas’ “The E.N.D.” jumped seven to No 8 with 47,000, Lady Gaga’s “The Fame Monster” EP rose three to No 9 with 44,000, and Owl City’s “Ocean Eyes” jumped four to No 10, also with 44,000. Overall album sales totaled 7.76 million units, down 55% compared to the sum last week, and down 9% compared to the comparable sales week of 2009. —Reuters
June for Ioan Holender, general manager of the Vienna State Opera, but said he still hoped to attend. “I believe my treatment won’t really need six months,” Ozawa said. “I will be there for the concert for Holender. If I cannot conduct, I will sit in the same box with him, for sure.” The maestro, who will also conclude his tenure at the Vienna State Opera in June, has suffered ailing health in recent years, most recently undergoing emergency surgery for a hernia last year. He has had a long international career, spending nearly three decades at the Boston Symphony Orchestra before moving to Vienna in 2002.—AFP
Polanski lawyers seek sentence in absentia ttorneys for Roman Polanski on Wednesday filed a motion requesting the director be sentenced in absentia to resolve his 1978 child sex case, court filings showed. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza scheduled a January 22 hearing to consider the request, which would allow Polanski to be sentenced without being present in court. Espinoza and Los Angeles prosecutors have repeatedly stated Polanski can only be sentenced if he returns to the United States in person. Polanski, 76, is under house arrest in Switzerland, where he has been held since his detention in September on an arrest warrant. The Oscar-winning film-maker fled the United States in 1978 before he was sentenced on charges of having sex with a 13year-old girl. A California appeals court last month rejected a bid by Polanski’s legal team to have the decades-old case dismissed on the grounds of judicial misconduct during the initial proceedings. Despite rejecting the Polanski appeal, the court at last month’s hearing called for “an urgent exploration” of the misconduct abuses alleged by the director’s Picture taken on lawyers. Espinoza stressed September 3, 2005 however that the appeal shows Franco-Polish court ruling was “a director Roman suggestion not a Polanski. —AFP directive,” and appeared irritated by suggestions from Polanski lawyer Chad Hummel that the appeal judgment had “changed” the proceedings. Deputy District Attorney David Walgren meanwhile said prosecutors had nothing to hide in the case, and noted Polanski could resolve proceedings by agreeing to return to the United States. “I would just say the people have never shied away from airing any allegations of this case at any time-but not at Mr Polanski’s convenience, while he stays in comfort in his Swiss chalet,” Walgren said.“If he wants expediency, he can waive extradition and come here. We feel that a fugitive does not get to dictate the judicial process.” Polanski is alleged to have given his victim champagne and drugs during a 1977 photo shoot at the Hollywood Hills home of actor friend Jack Nicholson before having sex with her despite her protests. The director was initially charged with six felony counts, including rape and sodomy. The charge was later reduced to unlawful sexual intercourse after a plea deal agreed in part to spare his victim the ordeal of a trial. Polanski later served 42 days at a secure unit undergoing psychiatric evaluation but fled the United States on the eve of his sentencing hearing amid fears that the trial judge planned to go back on a previously agreed plea deal. —AFP
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Awards
Vampires rule Peopleʼs he people have chosen vampires. “The Twilight Saga,” “True Blood” and “The Vampire Diaries” all sucked up trophies Wednesday at the 36th annual People’s Choice Awards. “Twilight” won four trophies, including favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for the dreamy trio of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, who also picked up the breakout male actor award. The undead HBO fable “True Blood” and the soapy supernatural CW series “The Vampire Diaries” were respectively selected as favorite TV obsession and favorite new TV drama. Other winners in categories spanning movies, TV and music included “Inglourious Basterds” as favorite independent movie and Lady Gaga as favorite pop and breakout music artist. Queen Latifah, who returned as host of the fanfavorite ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, kicked off the show at the Nokia Theatre with a jazzy namedropping number. Stars such as Hugh Jackman, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres were on hand to accept their awards selected by Internet votes. “One for each of Sandra Bullock’s toes,” joked 11-time People’s Choice Awards champion DeGeneres. Other TV winners included “American Idol” as favorite competition show, “Glee” as favorite new TV comedy, Steve Carell as favorite TV comedy actor, Alyson Hannigan as favorite TV comedy actress, “The Big Bang Theory” as favorite TV comedy, “House” as favorite TV drama, Hugh Laurie as favorite TV drama actor and “Supernatural” as favorite fantasy TV show. Winners in the movie categories included Bullock as favorite movie actress, Jackman as favorite action star, “The Proposal” as favorite comedy movie and “Up” for favorite family movie. Sacha Baron Cohen, appearing as himself and not as his alter-egos Borat or Bruno, presented Johnny Depp with a special award as favorite movie actor of the decade. “The only reason that any of us are up here is because of you,” Depp told the audience. Throughout the show, Latifah appeared in spoofs of “Twilight” and “Paranormal Activity,” which featured a cameo by Cloris Leachman clad in a sexy leather ensemble. The show also featured performances by Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as debut footage from “Clash of the Titans,” “Robin Hood” and “Survivor: Heroes vs Villains.”—AP
T Hugh Laurie, center, and the cast and crew of House accept the award for favorite TV drama and favorite TV drama actor.
Johnny Depp accepts the award for favorite movie actor of the decade.
Taylor Lautner accepts the award for favorite breakout movie actor.
George Lopez, right, presents Sandra Bullock with the award for favorite movie actress. —AP photos
From left, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ hold the award for favorite television comedy.
Ellen DeGeneres accepts the favorite talk show award.
Hugh Jackman poses with the award for favorite movie actor.
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Friday, January 8, 2010
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Awards
Choice Awards Jessica Alba, left, poses with the favorite web celeb Ashton Kutcher.
Cast of The Proposal, Sandra Bullock, second and Ryan Reynolds, left, accept the favorite comedy movie award.
Winners
Mariah Carey accepts the award for best R&B artist.
Keith Urban accepts the award for favorite male artist.
Steve Carell accepts the award for favorite TV comedy actor.
Jackie Chan, left, and Taraji P. Henson are seen at the People’s Choice Awards.
Taylor Swift accept the award for favorite female artist.
Alyson Hannigan holds the award for best comedy actress for her work on “How I Meet Your Mother”.
• Favorite Movie: “Twilight.” • Favorite On-Screen Team: “The Twilight Saga.” • Favorite Franchise: “The Twilight Saga.” • Favorite Breakout Movie Actor: Taylor Lautner. • Favorite Movie Actress: Sandra Bullock. • Favorite Comedy Movie: “The Proposal.” • Favorite Independent Movie: “Inglourious Basterds.” • Favorite Action Star: Hugh Jackman. • Favorite Comedic Star: Jim Carrey. • Favorite Breakout Movie Actress: Miley Cyrus. • Favorite Movie Actor: Johnny Depp. • Favorite Family Movie: “Up.” • Favorite TV Drama Actor: Hugh Laurie. • Favorite TV Drama: “House.” • Favorite TV Comedy: “The Big Bang Theory.” • Favorite TV Drama Actress: Katherine Heigl. • Favorite TV Comedy Actor: Steve Carell. • Favorite TV Comedy Actress: Alyson Hannigan. • Favorite TV Obsession: “True Blood.” • Favorite Talk Show: “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” • Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show: “Supernatural.” • Favorite Competition Show: “American Idol.” • Favorite Animal Show: “Dog Whisperer.” • Favorite New TV Drama: “The Vampire Diaries.” • Favorite New TV Comedy: “Glee.” • Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift. • Favorite Country Artist: Carrie Underwood. • Favorite Male Artist: Keith Urban. • Favorite Breakout Music Artist: Lady Gaga. • Favorite Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem. • Favorite Rock Band: Paramore. • Favorite Music Collaboration: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West. • Favorite R&B Artist: Mariah Carey. • Favorite Pop Artist: Lady Gaga. • Favorite Web Celeb: Ashton Kutcher. —AP
Carrie Underwood, winner of the favorite country artist award.
The cast of Glee accept the award for favorite new TV comedy.
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Lifestyle
Tracing the ‘Footprints of Destiny’ “There is only one value today, selfishness. The man on the street is your brother and the woman is your sister. We can help them, but we don’t. It is an unhappy situation. Instead of progressing, we are moving backward,” says Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma in an interview with Friday Times. By Sajeev K Peter thradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the present titular king of Travancore since 1991 and the head of the Travancore Royal Family, is a down-to-earth person. Simplicity is the hallmark of his character. Tenacity of purpose is the quality that drives him even at the age of 92. Maharaja Marthanda Varma arrived in Kuwait yesterday to attend the 133rd Mannam birthday celebrations being organized by NSS Kuwait. He will be honored during the celebration at the American International School, Maidan Hawally today. In an interview with the Friday Times, the maharaja spoke at length about how things have changed in India, especially Kerala, over the last seven decades. “When I was younger, I used to get a monthly magazine called ‘Men Only.’ I remember having read one article ‘My Country, Right or Wrong.’ Today, it has become myself right or wrong. That is a pity. Today, any kind of criticism or attempt to explain something is always taken as a pinprick,” he elaborates his argument. Marthanda Varma succeeded his elder brother Maharaja Sir Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma after his death. Named Heir Apparent (Elayarajah) at the age of two, as per the Travancore matrilineal law of succession, he joined the firm of Plymouth and Company at Bangalore in 1952, working there as a clerk and truck driver briefly to study the functioning of industries at a basic level.
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Footprints of Destiny When asked how he views social life in Kerala today in comparison with life during his early years, he said his recently published memoirs answer the question. Marthanda Varma’s memoirs ‘Travancore - The Footprints of Destiny’ was released by former President APJ Abdul Kalam at a function at Trivandrum on January 5. The book, a subtle blend of historiography and autobiography, covers the early history of Venad and Travancore. In the book, Marthanda Varma writes as a person who had witnessed from close quarters, the reign of his brother Sree Chithira Thirunal, the transition of power and the post-Independence era. When India became free, Travancore was a progressive and well-developed princely state and it stood ahead of the other princely states in the country. Major events in the state like the accession to the Indian Union, the Temple Entry Proclamation and landmark administrative decisions
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma maharaja that had a lasting impact on the course of future developments in the state are also mentioned in the book, supported by photographs of archival relevance. The book also takes us through the traditions, rituals and practices of the Travancore royals, who are known for their intense worshipful reverence for Lord Ananthapadmanabha. It is published by Konark Publishers, New Delhi. Marthanda Varma married the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Krishnan Gopinath Pandalai, MB, CM, FRCS, LRCP, late IMS, sometime Suptd. of the Government General Hospital, Madras, namely Shrimati Radha Devi and has a son, Anantha Padmanabhan and a daughter, Parvati Devi. He resides at Pattom Palace, Trivandrum.
Happiness Talking a bit philosophically about life, Marthanda Varma said, “the fundamental desire of every human being is to lead a happy life. It used to be ‘we must be happy’. Today it has become I must be happy. That means your vision is getting limited or contracted now. You don’t realize the fact that you are part of everything and not separate,” he said.
He cited the example of the euro-zone which has several different countries like Belgium, France, Italy, Germany etc under Europe. “In India, we are encouraging violence and trying to carve out more states. Everybody has to pay for that kind of obstinacy,” he quips. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Kashmiri or Keralite, he said quoting from a speech made by Dr Karan Singh recently, “A good function is never a good function unless it has two factors, Kashmir and Kerala.” The maharaja said India has so much to give to the world. Unfortunately we don’t do so. “Today, we are encouraging violence. We are encouraging people not to ask but to demand,” he said. Marthanda Varma said public sector institutions in Kerala have become virtually unusable due to lack of equipment and attention. “If you visit a general hospital, you can see people lying on the floor. One on bed, three on the floor,” he said. Talking about the rising number of road accidents, he said “In 2009, 45,000 people were killed due to road accidents in Kerala.” This alarming rise in road accidents is mainly caused by drunken driving.
Rs 45 crore worth of alcohol was sold in Kerala on Onam and Christmas days. “You feel unhappy at the situation, still you can’t do anything about it,” he said.
Value erosion “There is only one value today, selfishness. The man on the street is you brother and woman on the street is your sister. We are expected to help them, but we don’t. It is an unhappy situation. Instead of progressing, we are moving backward,” he comments. If you look at other countries, you see they are much more together. Why can’t we achieve unity? We have intelligence and we are educated, still we are unable to break the ice. India is a Greek name which means ‘sanatana dharma’, he said. “But India has its own original name ‘Bharat’. But I want to see that ‘Bharat’ becomes ‘Mahabharat,’” he said expressing his desire. Talking about the unsustainable development perspective, he said, “Today people are going mad about the skyscraper business. There is no land left for anything. The ground is fit only for building flats,” he said.Talking about the pathetic plight of Kerala as a consumer
state, he said nothing is produced in the state; no rice, no vegetables. Everything comes from the other three neighboring states. “If they don’t give us what will us do? There is no answer,” we quips. Marthanda Varma spoke about the world class roads in Kuwait when compared to the ‘rotten roads’ in Kerala. Recalling the roads that were existent during the maharaja reign, he said, “If you want to make a road, you level it with a layer of thick rubber, on top of it you put sand and roll it. On that road you can sit in a car and travel in and out of Travancore. Today, if you do the same thing, your experience will be painful,” he said. “We have the terrible example of a man who came from Malaysia committing suicide. It is unfortunate and remains as a stigma to us,” he mentioned the death of a Malaysian company official a few years ago. “You are here today because of yesterday. You won’t be there tomorrow if you are not here today. So, understand that everybody has a past. Our past is lovely and wonderful.” Take lessons from the past and move forward, he urges the new generation. sajeev@kuwaittimes.net
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Lifestyle
President as pitchman: larger-than-life President Barack Obama became a presidential pitchman Wednesday on a Times Square billboard that used his photo without permission. Outerwear company Weatherproof used a recent news photo of the president in front of the Great Wall in Badaling, China, for the advertisement, with the tagline “A Leader In Style.” The White House said Wednesday that it will ask Weatherproof to remove the billboard because the ad misleads by suggesting it was
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This photo released by AP Images and Weatherproof Garment Company shows President Obama wearing one of their coats while in China. —AP approved by Obama or the White House, which has a long-standing policy disapproving of the use of Obama’s name and likeness for commercial purposes. Obama stands alone in the image and is captured in a striking, rugged pose. Weatherproof president
Freddie Stollmack said he first saw the photo in a newspaper while Obama was on his trip to China in November. The coat looked familiar, so Stollmack got out a magnifying glass and found the brand’s logo. The photo was taken by Charles Dharapak of The Associated Press and the company purchased the right to use it from AP Images, the newsgathering organization’s commercial photo arm. The AP agreement with Weatherproof required the company to seek any necessary clearances, said Paul Colford, a spokesman for The AP. But Weatherproof did not seek permission from the White House, and Stollmack said he did not believe it was necessary to do so since the billboard does not say Obama endorses the product. “He didn’t come to us. It’s just a great looking jacket on a great looking president,” Stollmack said. The ad has potential to be effective with consumers because the president and first lady both carry considerable fashion credibility, said Dudley Blossom, chairman of the marketing department at fashion-focused Lim College in Manhattan. But it also risks passers-by getting so caught up with the image that they won’t notice the brand name, he said. Blossom said he can’t recall any previous president being used in this way to pitch a product. Weatherproof did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the White House request to remove the ad. Earlier Wednesday, Stollmack had said he wasn’t concerned about the president’s response and thought the White House should congratulate his company on making Obama look so good. —AP
Obama image used in ad
A couple waits to cross the street in front of a billboard ad featuring President Barack Obama wearing a Weatherproof brand jacket Wednesday, in Times Square in New York. —AP
First portrait of Princes Harry and William oung, handsome, regal, yet casual and relaxed. Sounds good. It is no surprise that Prince William and Prince Harry are very pleased with the first official oil portrait showing just the two of them. The artist has helped nature a bit, replenishing Williams’ already thinning hair, but used a realistic depiction of Harry’s nose, which was broken in a high school rugby match. The new painting of the youthful princes in full-dress military uniforms and assorted medals and sashes has been put on display at the National Portrait Gallery alongside other royal portraits, gallery spokesman Neil Evans said yesterday. The gallery commissioned the historic work, painted by London-based artist Nicky Philipps, after a series of sittings at her studio in the South Kensington neighborhood. “It will be on
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display for at least six months,” said Evans. A spokeswoman for the princes said they viewed the work before Christmas and were delighted with the way they are portrayed. The work
shows the princes having a casual moment outside the library at Clarence House, Prince Charles’ official residence, before reviewing the annual Trooping the Color festivities in 2008. They are
Artist Nicky Philipps stands with her work, ‘Prince William and Prince Harry: a new portrait by Nicky Philipps’ at the National Portrait gallery in central London, on January 6, 2010. —AFP
both depicted wearing the dress uniform of the Household Cavalry that they wore that day. Philipps said she chose the moment to capture “a behind-the-scenes glance at the human element of royal responsibility and to emphasize their brotherly relationship.” She said the princes-the sons of the late Princess Dianawere “very good company” during the repeated sittings. Philipps also said she was pleased with the profile of Harry and the depiction of his nose, which was broken during a rugby match when he was being schooled in Eton. Palace officials confirmed that Harry suffered the injury, which was never made public, when he was about 15. In the portrait, William-second in line to the British throne-is wearing the sash and star of the Order of the Garter and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal. —AP
Decor from NYʼs Tavern on the Green up for auction ans of New York’s Tavern on the Green, a lavish eatery popular with tourists that closed its doors deep in debt, can buy bits of its glitz and glitter as keepsakes next week at public auction. The well-known landmark and one of the few buildings located inside Central Park shut down on Jan 1, and its outgoing owners are selling its chandeliers, statues and other decor to help retire their bankruptcy debts. Tavern visitors, who once numbered in the hundreds of thousands a year, will likely recognize the wall murals, Tiffany stained glass, crystal chandeliers, etched mirrors
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Paintings and other items to be auctioned are seen during a preview of the Tavern on the Green Auction January 6, 2010 in New York City. —AFP
and life-size wild animal sculptures, all up for sale Jan 13-15. The outgoing owners, the LeRoy family, have said in court documents they are seeking $500,000 in sale proceeds. They are reported to be as much as $8 million in debt. But with no minimum price on any of the items, the potential sale total is uncertain, said Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey’s which is running the auction. Some items have special value, he said, pointing to a shiny baby grand piano at an auction preview on Wednesday. “John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Duke
Ellington all sat down and tickled the keys. That makes it more than just a nice piano,” Ettinger said. Other pieces are one of a kind, with little precedent to set their market value, he said, adding: “It’s breathtaking, no matter what your taste may be.” The Tavern was a wellknown landmark, amid brightly lit trees, oversize topiary stallions and ice sculpture in winter. But native New Yorkers tended not to patronize the Tavern, and it earned poor reviews of its food and prices. “You didn’t come here for the food. You didn’t come here for the service,” said Stuart
Laurence, a retired judge who lives nearby and visited the auction preview. “You came to see it,” he said, “and it fed a lot of tourists.” The flashy decor came courtesy of the late Warner LeRoy, the son of a producer of “The Wizard of Oz,” who took over the restaurant in 1976. He died in 2001, and his family took over. The LeRoy family lost a bid to renew their Tavern lease last year. A restaurateur who won the lease has plans to renovate and reopen in the spring but issues, such as who has rights to the Tavern on the Green name, are pending in court. —Reuters
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Friday, January 8, 2010
A Korean influence at PGA Tour opener KAPALUA: YE Yang referred to it as a miracle and he wasn’t talking about his PGA Championship victory over Tiger Woods. Instead, he was surprised to hear in May that Seoul Broadcasting System had signed up to sponsor the season-opening tournament at Kapalua, the first time a South Korean company had agreed to sponsor a PGA Tour event. “I have been wondering when a Korean company would be sponsoring a PGA event,” Yang said Wednesday through his interpreter. “I didn’t think it would be quite in the near future when I first landed on the PGA Tour. Miraculously this year, SBS has signed a 10-year deal to sponsor the opening event.” The timing could not have been better, with Yang becoming the first Asian-born man to win a major. Yang, a late bloomer from South Korea who didn’t take up golf until he was 19, had already qualified for the SBS Championship with a victory last March in the Honda Classic. He rrived on Maui as one of the biggest names in the winners-only field, at least as far as the sponsor and many of its clients are concerned. During a Monday night party, when amateurs get to pick a player for the pro-am, Yang’s name wasn’t available, already set aside for the chairman of SBS and his group. The 37-year-old Yang can barely get from the range to the putting green to the clubhouse without being stopped for autographs and pictures. For Yang, it feels like 2009 never ended, and for good reason. During a whirlwind finish to an unforgettable year, he went from the World Cup in China to southern California for the Chevron World Challenge, then a brief stop at his home in Dallas before going to South Korea to be honored. He spent five days in his homeland before returning to Dallas - and a round of golf with former President George W Bush - and then across the ocean to Maui. “I wouldn’t say I’m in the best shape,” Yang said. “I’m fairly rested and ready to go on with this new season. However, it feels like it’s a continued season.” It’s not the worst feeling, for sure. Yang made history on so many fronts at Hazeltine in August. As well as being the first Asian to win a major, he did the unthinkable in the final round by rallying from two shots behind to defeat Woods, who had never lost a major when leading on the last day. It was a boon for Asian golf and was part of a big year for South Korea. Beyong-Hun An won the US Amateur, earning exemptions to the first three majors of the year, while Chang-won Han won the first Asian Amateur title and earned an automatic invitation to the Masters in April. Even so, nothing was bigger than Yang taking down Woods - they call him “Tiger Killer” in Korea and hoisting his golf bag over his head to celebrate on the 18th green at Hazeltine. “He did it in style,” Geoff Ogilvy said. “He couldn’t do it any better than that, beating Tiger on the last day of a major. No one had managed to do it so far. Great to watch, cool character. Everyone on tour respects his game and was pretty excited that he is going to be around with us for a long time.” The same can’t be said for Woods, at least not at the moment. Even as the season gets under way yesterday in the warmth and beauty of Hawaii, optimism is checked by uncertainty about when Woods will return from a sex scandal that led him to take an indefinite break from golf. Phil Mickelson also is skipping the season opener for the ninth straight year, waiting until San Diego to make his debut. That leaves only 28 players in the field, matching the tournament record for the smallest field. For Yang, he is wistful about the absence of another player - KJ Choi, who failed to win a PGA Tour event last year for the first time since 2004. While Yang gets the attention as the first player from Asia to win a major, Choi blazed the trail. The year Yang won his first professional tournament, Choi was winning the first of his seven PGA Tour titles. “At that time, KJ was playing in a league of gods, you might say,” Yang said. “I was winning tournaments with Korean professionals, while KJ was playing against the world’s top-ranked players. K J inspired a lot of players, not just myself, that Koreans can also play in the PGA Tour.” Australia’s Ogilvy is the defending champion at Kapalua, a rare occasion when he is the only player in the field to have won on the Plantation Course. Only seven players are back for a second straight year at this tournament exclusively for last year’s PGA Tour winners. It all creates a sense of uncertainty about 2010. “This could be wide open,” Steve Stricker said. “I have a feeling Tiger will be back. He doesn’t need many events to get back to the top spot, whether it be in the FedEx Cup or money list or whatever. “I hope that he’s back sooner than later. But it does have that feel to start the season that it’s wide open.” — AP
Woods absence a ‘chance for some’
HAWAII: YE Yang of South Korea gestures while making a reading on the third green during the pro-am event of the SBS Championship golf tournament in Kapalua on Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010. — AP
KAPALUA: Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who defends his title in the US PGA Tour’s SBS Championship starting yesterday, says Tiger Woods’ indefinite break from golf is an opportunity for his rivals. “I think it’s an interesting time,” Ogilvy said. “Obviously, number one in the world might be up for realistic grabs this year, depending on how it all takes shape. “Phil (Mickelson) played fantastic at the end of last year. Phil’s years have always started unbelievably and have often petered out. Last year, he actually got better, which is good for him.” Ogilvy is the only player in the season-opening event who has won before at Kapalua. The field, which is limited to winners from the previous season, has only 28 players. Superstar Woods, who last played Kapalua in 2005, said in December he would take an indefinite break from the game to focus on trying to rebuild his family after revelations of his marital infidelity. Steve Stricker said he expected Woods would be back, and would come back strong. “I have a feeling Tiger will be back,” Stricker said. “He doesn’t need many events to get back to the top spot, whether it be in the FedEx Cup or money list or whatever. You never know. He could be out the whole year. I hope that he’s back sooner than later. But it does have that feel to start the season that it’s wide open.” Pat Perez, however, said Woods’ typical limited schedule meant his absence wouldn’t make that much difference, at least in the number of titles his rivals had in their sights. “He wins six times, he plays 15 (tournaments),” Perez said. “There’s what, 38 events? So there’s always a lot up for grabs. I hope the people can see there is more to the tour than just Tiger. “We know how great he is,” Perez added. “No one is questioning that. Maybe people will have a chance to say, ‘We are not watching Tiger all the time.’ We have to watch somebody else now while Tiger cleans up this mess. And there are some really good guys out there.” — AFP
Kuwait Open Rally Championship begins By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The third round of the Kuwait Open Rally championship will kick off today. The event will take place on the right side of the Salmi Road near the Jahra Equestrian Club. This rally is part of the International Rally 2010 that is scheduled on March this year. The rally will witness the return of the veteran rally driver, Ahmad Al-Dhafiri. Al-Dhafiri will compete with his son (the champion) Mishari Al-Dhafiri, who ranked first in the past two rounds, having the highest points in the
championship. The racing track is about 100 km long and it consists of 3 stages. The organizer of this championship is the Kuwait Motor Sports Club (KMSC). Motocross Motorsports fans will have the opportunity to attend the Motocross championship at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Track tomorrow. The registration for this championship is high as many young sports lovers are excited to race and compete on the new track. The new track has been rehabilitated to meet the
international standards. This participants are aiming to gain more points as a step to prepare for the next championship. For the first time, girls will participate in this championship. The female participants have gone through intensive trainings by specialized experts in the field, who provided them with the necessary skills for this race. The trainers also concentrated on teaching the participants the international rules in the regional and international championships in accordance with the international federation (FIM).
Friday, January 8, 2010
Spain crush Australia to ease into Hopman final
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Henin, Clijsters survive Stepanek, Monfils advance in men’s draw
US beat Romania in other group tie PERTH: Spain eased past Australia to book their place in the final of the Hopman Cup yesterday, dashing any hopes the hosts had of advancing with an emphatic 3-0 whitewash. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez trounced Sam Stosur 6-4 6-1 in the opening singles rubber before Tommy Robredo outplayed Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-4 to secure a third straight victory for the unbeaten Spaniards. The pair then teamed up to win the mixed doubles 63 3-6 10-7 to finish top of Group A without losing a match. Spain, winners of the mixed team event in 1990 and 2002, will take on the winners of the other round-robin group. With one match remaining apiece, Britain lead the race in Group B although Russia and Kazakhstan remain in contention. Australia had to win every set to reach the final but their slim hopes evaporated almost immediately when Martinez Sanchez won the first set against Stosur. The left-handed Spaniard, ranked a career-high 26, produced a clever mix of touch shots and angles and Stosur’s only glimmer of hope came when she held a break point to get back on level terms when trailing 5-4 in the opener. However, Martinez Sanchez saw out the set and then cruised through the second against a deflated Stosur to seal Spain’s place in another Hopman Cup final. PERFECT PREPARATION “It’s not easy to play like this at the beginning of the season but I think I did (so) much work in the off-season, I suffered, so now I have my game,” Martinez Sanchez told reporters. “I think this tournament is perfect preparation for me for the Australian Open.” Hewitt struggled badly on serve at the start of his match with Robredo and the Spaniard eased through the first set. Former world number one Hewitt, who had surgery on his right hip in 2008 but who has climbed back to a ranking of 22, had treatment on his lower back at the end of the first set. His movement did not seem impaired but Robredo maintained his concentration, breaking in the ninth game of the second set and serving out with ease to clinch victory. Robredo already owns one diamond encrusted ball-the trophy for the winners at the Hopman Cup-and the Spaniard said he was keen to double his collection. “Because Maria Jose’s playing that good I have to do my best because then we are very close to that diamond ball,” he said. In yesterday’s other Group A match, American Melanie Oudin beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-3, but an injury to Victor Hanescu meant the rest of the tie was cancelled with the US awarded a 3-0 victory. — Reuters
BRISBANE: Belgium’s Kim Clijsters returns a shot against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane yesterday. — AP
SYDNEY: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were forced to draw on their vast experience to avoid being eliminated from the Brisbane International yesterday. The two Belgians, both back on the professional circuit after retiring from the sport, scraped through their quarter-finals to remain on course for a possible showdown in tomorrow’s final. Henin advanced after downing Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-2 3-6 7-6 while Clijsters overcame a second-set wobble to beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1 0-6 64 in one of the major lead-up events before this month’s Australian Open. “That’s the kind of match that I need,” Henin, playing her first tournament in 20 months, told reporters. “I came here to play matches and that’s what I have done so I have no complaints.” Henin, a seven-times grand slam winner, appeared to be in cruise control when she steamed through the opening set in just 31 minutes but Czink took the second before forcing a tiebreak in the third. The 27-year-old will now play Ana Ivanovic in Friday’s semi-finals after the Serbian beat Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 7-6. “It’s exciting to be able to play so many good matches and now Ana, that is the kind of match that I love, it’s a great feeling,” Henin said. Clijsters, with her daughter Jada watching from the stands, said the experience of winning last year’s US Open helped her regain her composure after she completely lost her way in the second set. “When I lost that set 6-0 I said ‘forget about it’ and I just refocused,” Clijsters said. “She’s beaten a lot of good players in the past so coming out here I knew I was in for a tough match.” Clijsters will play Andrea Petkovic in the semi-finals after the German posted a comfortable 6-4 62 victory over Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova. “I am happy to play her, I am new on the tour, I want to see where I stand,” Petkovic said of her matchup with Clijsters. “I am not scared. If she kills me, she kills me, we will see.” In the men’s event, defending champion Radek Stepanek beat American Wayne Odesnik 7-6 6-1 to ease into the last four. The Czech will play Gael Monfils after the Frenchman ousted American James Blake 3-6 6-3 6-4. — Reuters
Peer defies noisy protests AUCKLAND: Israel’s Shahar Peer defied noisy protests for a third straight day to make the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic tournament yesterday. Peer was joined in the final four by third seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, and the Italians Francesca Schiavone and top seed Flavia Pennetta, who maintained her relentless march through the WTA event. Police arrested five protesters from a group of around 20 outside the Auckland tennis complex as they chanted protests against Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians during Peer’s quarter-final. But the 22-year-old shut out the distraction to triumph 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 in a see-sawing match against Russia’s Maria
Kirilenko and secure a final four spot against Wickmayer on Friday. The world number 30 had a shaky start to the third set, finding herself down 0-40 on serve in the opening game, but fought back before breaking the Russian in the next game. “I didn’t start the third set well and was still making a little too many mistakes, but I then got in my groove,” Peer said. “I was serving better and being more aggressive and coming into the court.” Wickmayer overcame 39-yearold Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm 6-2, 6-2, breaking her service five times on the way to victory. Pennetta then inflicted a ruthless 6-1, 6-2
drubbing on Slovak Dominika Cibulkova, an outcome the Italian world number 12 described as “unbelievable”. “I didn’t make many mistakes at all and I was very aggressive,” she said. “She’s always tough to play because she makes you play so many balls and it’s not easy to make a winner. Today, everything was perfect.” Pennetta has conceded just 13 games in her three matches so far in Auckland and will meet compatriot and number four seed Schiavone, who won against unseeded Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-3. Schiavone was always in control against Cornet, but needed eight match points to settle the contest. — AFP
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Clippers get rare win over Lakers NBA
Rondo shines as Celtics douse Heat in overtime
WASHINGTON: Results and standings after Wednesday’s National Basketball Association games: Atlanta 119, New Jersey 89; Cleveland 121, Washington 98; Toronto 108, Orlando 103; Boston 112, Miami 106 (OT); Golden State 107, Minnesota 101; New Orleans 97, Oklahoma City 92; San Antonio 112, Detroit 92; Phoenix 118, Houston 110; Utah 117, Memphis 94; LA Clippers 102, LA Lakers 91.
LOS ANGELES: The resurgent Clippers held off the Lakers to win 102-91 on Wednesday, snapping a ninegame losing streak in the NBA’s battle of Los Angeles. Baron Davis scored 25 points and Chris Kaman added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who beat the defending NBA champions for the first time since 2006-07. The Clippers have won five straight at home for the first time since a six-game winning streak in that same season. Kobe Bryant scored 33 points as the Lakers’ four-game winning streak ended. Suns 118, Rockets 110 In Phoenix, the hosts were 16 points up, then 16 points down, before coming back to down Houston. Steve Nash scored 26 points and had 12 assists and Amare Stoudemire added 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns. It was a furious game marked by a series of remarkable runs. It was the second time this season the Suns had rallied from a 16point deficit in back-to-back games. Aaron Brooks topped Houston with a career-high 34 points. Raptors 108, Magic 103 In Orlando, Florida, Toronto almost blew an 18point fourth quarter lead before holding on to beat Orlando, further slicing the Magic’s lead in the NBA Southeast Division. Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh had 18 points apiece as Toronto won for the seventh time in eight games, getting back to a squared 18-18 record. Toronto’s lead was trimeed to two with 43 seconds remaining, but J.J. Redick missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the score. Redick finished with 22 points for the Magic, who have lost three straight for the first time this season. Their lead in the Southeast was cut to just 1-1/2 games over Atlanta. Celtics 112, Heat 106, OT In Miami, Boston came from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game in a frantic finish to regulation, then beat Miami in overtime. Dwayne Wade had his best game of the season for the Heat and seemingly gave them victory with a steal and dunk with 0.6 seconds left. But Boston’s Rajon Rondo sank a buzzer-beating layup after catching Paul Pierce’s lob. Rondo scored 25 points, and
NBA results/standings
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct Boston 25 8 .758 Toronto 18 18 .500 New York 14 20 .412 Philadelphia 10 24 .294 New Jersey 3 32 .086
GB 8.5 11.5 15.5 23
Southeast Division Orlando 24 11 .686 Atlanta 22 12 .647 Miami 17 16 .515 Charlotte 15 18 .455 Washington 11 22 .333
1.5 6 8 12
Cleveland Milwaukee Chicago Detroit Indiana
LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010. — AP Ray Allen 22 points for Boston, which maintains a fractional advantage over Cleveland in the scrap over the Eastern Conference lead. Cavaliers 121, Wizards 98 In Cleveland, LeBron James piled up 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in just three quarters as Cleveland rolled to a comfortable win over Washington, absent troubled guard Gilbert Arenas. Shaquille O’Neal added 17 points in 17 minutes as the Cavs posted a season-high for points and won for the 13th time in 15 games. The Wizards played for the first time this season without Arenas, who was suspended indefinitely by the NBA a few hours before the game. He is being investigated by
police after bringing unloaded guns to Washington’s locker room. Antawn Jamison scored 26 points to lead the Wizards. Jazz 117, Grizzlies 94 In Salt Lake City, Utah overcame the absence of Deron Williams to beat Memphis. Williams sat out with a sprained right wrist. He warmed up prior to the game, but was only able to shoot with his left hand. CJ Miles scored a season-high 24 points and Carlos Boozer added 20 for the Jazz. Sam Young matched his careerhigh scoring 22 points for Memphis, which lost its first game in four. Spurs 112, Pistons 92 In San Antonio, Tony Parker and Roger Mason Jr.
keyed a decisive run early in the fourth quarter as San Antonio sent Detroit to its 11th consecutive loss. A missed free throw in the final quarter would have given Detroit the lead, but San Antonio went on a 35-15 run from then on to put the game away. Parker led San Antonio with 23 points, while the Pistons were led by Richard Hamilton’s 29 points. Hornets 97, Thunder 92 In Oklahoma City, New Orleans moved above .500 for the first time this season by beating Oklahoma City. David West scored 19 points and Chris Paul had 14 points and 13 assists as the Hornets improved their miserable road record with victory at an arena they called home for two
Central 28 14 14 11 11
Division 9 .757 18 .438 19 .424 23 .324 23 .324
11.5 12 15.5 15.5
Western Conference Southwest Division Dallas 24 11 .686 San Antonio 21 12 .636 Houston 20 16 .556 New Orleans 17 16 .515 Memphis 17 17 .500
2 4.5 6 6.5
Northwest Division Denver 22 13 .629 Portland 22 15 .595 Oklahoma City19 16 .543 Utah 19 16 .543 Minnesota 7 29 .194
1 3 3 15.5
Pacific 28 23 16 14 10
5.5 11.5 13.5 17.5
L.A. Lakers Phoenix L.A. Clippers Sacramento Golden State
seasons following Hurricane Katrina. Paul maneuvered into the lane and rolled in a layup with 11 seconds left to put New Orleans up 95-92. Russell Westbrook missed an offbalance 3-pointer that would’ve tied it in the closing seconds. Hawks 119, Nets 89 In Atlanta, the hosts had one of their best shooting nights of the season to end a four-game losing streak and beat struggling New Jersey. Jamal Crawford scored 29 points and Joe Johnson added 20 while sitting out the fourth quarter. The Hawks set a season high by making 13 3-pointers, including 10 in the first half. They made 57.3 percent of their shots from the field. The Nets
Division 7 .800 13 .639 18 .471 20 .412 24 .294
missed their first 11 shots and never led while falling to 1-17 in road games. They have lost 13 of their past 14 overall. Yi Jianlian led New Jersey with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Warriors 107, Timberwolves 100 In Minneapolis, Golden State snapped an eightgame road losing streaking by downing Minnesota. Monta Ellis had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Ellis, who entered the game leading the league in minutes played, found enough energy to tip in a missed 3-pointer with 1:05 to go that put the game out of reach. Corey Maggette had 28 points for the Warriors. Al Jefferson had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves, who have lost five in a row. — AP
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Sharks reclaim NHL lead SAN JOSE: The San Jose Sharks reclaimed a share of the NHL lead with a 2-1 overtime win over the St Louis Blues on Wednesday. Dany Heatley scored on a breakaway four minutes into overtime to give San Jose its ninth victory in 10 games, drawing level with Chicago on 63 points. Andy McDonald gave St. Louis the lead, but Patrick Marleau tied it on a power-play goal with 7:09 left in regulation. Sharks goalie and Evgeni Nabokov made 28 saves. The Blues lost their sixth straight and second since interim coach Davis Payne took over from the fired Andy Murray. Sabres 5, Lightning 3 In Buffalo, New York, Buffalo scored three times in just over two minutes at the start of the game to set up a win over Tampa Bay, boosting its lead in the NHL’s Northeast Division. Tyler Myers, Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur gave Buffalo its quickest ever start to a game at 3-0 after 2:11, and Ryan Miller made 36 saves in his 300th NHL game to hold off Tampa Bay’s comeback attempt. Drew Stafford and Jason Pominville also scored to help the Sabres win a fifth straight game, their longest winning streak for two seasons. The Lightning’s goals came from Martin St Louis, Victor Hedman and Vincent Lecavalier. Wild 4, Flames 1 Eric Belanger marked his 600th NHL game by scoring two goals to help the Minnesota Wild snap a fourgame losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the red-hot Calgary Flames on Wednesday. Flames center Olli Jokinen opened the scoring at 1.34 in the first period as the visitors appeared set to build on their five-game winning streak. However, Belanger equalized with a power-play goal four minutes later and Kyle Brodziak put the Wild ahead at 4:38 in the second period. Belanger struck again just under seven minutes later before Cal Clutterbuck completed the scoring with a wrist shot in the third. “Even with the result of the last two games I felt we played pretty good. We didn’t get the wins, but there were some positives,” Belanger told reporters. “You look at the standings and you don’t move up, but you’re doing some good things and you’re going to get rewarded sooner or later.” Calgary was trying to record a six-game winning streak for the first time since 2008 but could not score a second against Minnesota
Wild emerge from slump to dampen Flames hot streak Tom Brady wins the AP Comeback Player award
COLORADO: Sled hockey player Nikko Landeros, of Berthoud, Colo (right) takes part in a scrimmage with Tyler Carron in the Boulder Valley YMCA in Lafayette Colo. Three years ago, high school wrestlers Landeros and Carron lost their legs when they were hit by a car while changing a flat tire. It didn’t take long for Landeros to pick up sled hockey, and he’ll be competing in Vancouver in the Paralympics. Carron is on the junior national team. — AP goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who made 25 saves to help make up for conceding four goals in each of his last two starts. Miikka Kiprusoff, named to Finland’s Olympic team where he is expected to be backed up by Backstrom, made 31 saves and faced 35 shots for the Flames. The Flames had allowed just one goal in their last five contests before facing the Wild. Jokinen scored for the second straight night after ending a scoring drought that stretched back to early December. Despite the loss, Calgary retained a onepoint lead in the Northwest Division over the Colorado Avalanche, who also lost on Wednesday. Islanders 3, Avalanche 2 In Denver, Kyle Okposo scored on a 3-on-1 rush with 3:17 remaining as New York beat Colorado in the lone meeting between the teams this season. Rob Schremp and Jon Sim also scored for the Islanders. Chris Stewart and Matt Hendricks and scored for Colorado. Rangers 5, Stars 2 In New York, Sean Avery exacted revenge on Dallas a year after they dumped him,
scoring a goal and setting up three others for New York to match his career best with four points. Avery’s stay with the Stars lasted only 23 games into a four-year, $15.5 million contract that he signed before last season. He was suspended by the NHL in December after making crude comments about
his former girlfriends dating other players. He never again played for the Stars, who waived him in February. Marian Gaborik scored his NHL-leading 28th goal, and Ales Kotalik, Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan also scored for New York. Dallas got goals from Brad Richards and Jere Lehtinen.
Flyers 6, Maple Leafs 2 In Philadelphia, Danny Briere scored two goals to reach the 500-point plateau as Philadelphia routed Toronto in a fight-filled game. Danny Syvret, Dan Carcillo, Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Flyers. Nikolai Kulemin and Alexei Ponikarovsky netted for Toronto. — Agencies
NHL results/standings WASHINGTON: National Hockey League results and standings after Wednesday’s games: Buffalo 5, Tampa Bay 3; NY Rangers 5, Dallas 2; Philadelphia 6, Toronto 2; Minnesota 4, Calgary 1; NY Islanders 3, Colorado 2; San Jose 2, St Louis 1 (OT). Eastern Conference Western Conference Central Division Atlantic Division Chicago 43 30 10 3 63 141 91 43 25 15 3 53 122 122 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Nashville Detroit 42 21 15 6 48 109 108 New Jersey 41 30 10 1 61 122 89 42 17 18 7 41 109 123 Pittsburgh 44 27 16 1 55 138 118 St. Louis Columbus 44 15 20 9 39 115 150 N.Y. Rangers 43 21 17 5 47 116 119 Northwest Division N.Y. Islanders 44 18 18 8 44 110 136 43 25 13 5 55 118 103 Philadelphia 42 20 19 3 43 123 120 Calgary Colorado 44 24 14 6 54 130 127 Northeast Division Vancouver 43 26 16 1 53 139 106 Buffalo 42 27 11 4 58 117 96 Minnesota 44 21 20 3 45 116 129 Boston 42 22 13 7 51 111 99 Edmonton 43 16 22 5 37 119 143 Ottawa 43 22 17 4 48 123 129 Pacific Division Montreal 45 21 21 3 45 116 124 San Jose 44 28 9 7 63 146 113 Toronto 44 15 20 9 39 120 153 Phoenix 44 26 14 4 56 116 103 Southeast Division Los Angeles 43 25 15 3 53 130 122 Washington 42 25 11 6 56 149 118 Dallas 43 18 14 11 47 124 136 Atlanta 42 18 18 6 42 134 140 Anaheim 43 17 19 7 41 119 138 Tampa Bay 42 16 16 10 42 106 126 Florida 43 17 19 7 41 125 138 Note: Two points for a win, one point for Carolina 41 11 23 7 29 102 146 overtime loss.
NEW YORK: Tom Brady’s strong return from a left knee injury that sidelined him for virtually all of the 2008 season earned the New England Patriots quarterback The Associated Press 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year on Wednesday. One of the NFL’s biggest stars, Brady has gone from league’s Most Valuable Player in 2007, when he set several passing records, to sidelined to earning his second league award. “I played 15 straight years without ever missing a game, high school or college or professional, so every time you walk off the field you feel very blessed,” Brady said. “I think it was a great lesson, life experience, not only football experience, that I was able to have.” Brady received 19 votes from a panel of 50 US sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL, beating Tampa Bay running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who got 14. A three-time Super Bowl winner and a finalist for AP Player of the Decade, Brady led New England to a 10-6 record and the AFC East division title this season. He threw for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns. Most significantly, he got the Patriots back into the playoffs. “I think I love playing and I love being out there with my teammates and, practicing today,” he said. “It’s the greatest reward for any of this, for any of us, is to be a part of a team that’s successful, because we all have a lot of good fortune to be playing.” Coach Bill Belichick praised what Brady means to his team. “Well deserved,” Belichick said of the honor. “He’s had a tremendous year. Tom just brings so much to this team and our organization on and off the field: His preparation, his leadership, his performance, his unselfishness. All the things that he gives us are just top shelf, whether he did or didn’t play last year.” Brady is the second Patriot to win the award; linebacker Tedy Bruschi shared it with Carolina receiver Steve Smith in 2005. He is the fifth quarterback honored since the award began in 1998, including Chad Pennington, who won in 2006 and 2008. Also receiving votes were Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre, Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson and his teammate, quarterback Carson Palmer, and New Orleans defensive end Anthony Hargrove.— AP
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Nations Cup throws spotlight on Cabinda’s troubled past LUANDA: The Angolan enclave of Cabinda is expected to deploy heavy security at its Chiazi stadium, when the country hosts the 2010 edition of the African Nations Cup starting Sunday. Chelsea teammates Michael Essien and Didier Drogba will play the group stages there, one of four Cup venues in the country, but not all the security will be for the Premier League stars. Oil-rich Cabinda, separated from the rest of Angola by the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been embroiled in a long-running independence struggle but will host the seven Nations Cup matches this month. The conflict officially ended in a 2006 deal with the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC). FLEC however has made several media claims in recent months about attacks on the military
and foreign construction and oil workers based in the province. According to Agostinho Chicaia of Mapablanda, Cabinda’s only human rights organization, things have only gotten worse since the deal. “Cabinda continues to be unstable, there is no peace,” he told AFP, saying the fighting has eased, but human rights abuses and arrests on security charges were increasing. “The true peace is that which is born first in the hearts of people and in their consciences, and it’s a peace based on justice,” he said. “The (agreement) has done nothing for justice, so now there is only a heightened tension.” Mapablanda as well as US-based Human Rights Watch have documented abuses, including the case of Fernando Lelo, a former Voice of America journalist who last
year was sentenced to 12 years in prison for national security offences. Lelo spent two years behind bars but was later acquitted. “Cabinda is still living in a state of war today,” he said. “The fact that we present ourselves as defenders of human rights... we’ve been targeted for arbitrary detentions and persecutions.” Antonio Bento Bembe, the former FLEC leader who signed the peace deal that has now made him a government minister, disputes the claims of abuses. “What these people are saying is not true,” said Bento Bembe, a minister without portfolio in charge of human rights. “These people are just using Human Rights Watch to get publicity. “It would be good to recognize the efforts being made by the government, not only to speak
critically.” The one-time rebel bush fighter has also dismissed concerns that Cabinda was not a good location for the Nations Cup, which runs to January 31 with games also taking place in the capital Luanda, Benguela and Luango provinces. “Cabinda is safe and security there is guaranteed,” he said. “The Cup of Nations is an opportunity for Cabinda to receive visitors and it will bring money and investment to the province.” The minister denied tensions in the enclave, but the December arrests there of a French and an Angolan journalist doing a story about the tournament has restoked concerns. According to Human Rights Watch, the pair were detained because one took a photograph of the new Chinese-built football stadium, and they were taken to several military and police
garrisons where they were questioned and then released without charge five hours later. “The Africa Cup of Nations is an opportunity for Angola to showcase its progress after years of debilitating civil war,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “But by arbitrarily arresting and intimidating journalists, Angolan officials draw attention to how far the country still has to go.” The 20,000-seat Chiazi stadium will host Group B - Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo - in the tournament. The Nations Cup is seen as the starter to a 2010 African football feast whose main course comes in June with the World Cup in South Africa-the first time international football’s biggest competition has ever been held on the continent. —AFP
Egypt to battle past 5 WCup-bound teams LUANDA: Egypt will have to battle past five World Cup-bound teams if they are to win an unprecedented third successive African Nations Cup in Angola this month. Egypt, who have won the last two editions in 2006 and 2008 and a record six overall, will also be seeking to make up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Algeria beat them in a bruising playoff in November, and will use the Jan. 10-31 tournament in Angola to prepare their side for a tough assignment in South Africa in mid-year. For fellow World Cup finalists Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria success in the Nations Cup is a big priority. “We are a top football nation in Africa and have many players with experience at the top level from playing in Europe,” Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu told reporters at his team’s training camp in South Africa this week. Ghana captain Michel Essien, writing on his website (www.michaelessiengh.com), added: “The African Cup will be tough as usual and the World Cup even tougher but as a team we are confident in our own abilities and we will be fighting through all the stages.” The bulk of the players at the
African Nations Cup Preview tournament are drawn from European clubs, with many of the world’s top sides giving up key players for the month. European champions Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus join several English and French clubs who have to do without players at an important juncture in their domestic season, much to the frustration of their coaches. LOST PLAYERS Premier League leaders Chelsea have lost four players to the tournament as have relegationthreatened Portsmouth while French club Nice have eight of their squad at the tournament. “We pay a lot of money to players who are not with you for two months,” Portsmouth manager Avram Grant told a news conference last week. Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is expected to command a lot of attention although the goalscoring exploits of Inter Milan’s Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o will also be closely followed. The Ivorians and Cameroon are the tournament favourites, seeking to break the monopoly of success enjoyed by north African sides since Cameroon last won in 2002. Eto’o on Wednesday pledged to add to his record 16 goals scored in five previous tournaments. Angola have invested heavily in infrastructure for the 16-team tournament, building four new stadiums in the capital Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango. But they were only officially opened last week and have not yet been tested for game conditions. Confederation of African Football officials estimated the country had spent $1 billion on preparations for the tournament. —Reuters
KUWAIT: Australia’s striker Archie Thompson (center) advancing with the ball with Kuwait’s defender M Nada (right) and Fahad Awad (left) look on during the Asian Cup qualifying soccer match in Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Keifan, Kuwait City on Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010. The match ended a 2-2 draw. —AP
Australians fuming over Kuwait lasers Goalkeeper, midfielder targeted SYDNEY: Australian footballers have claimed Kuwaiti fans shone lasers into their eyes during their Asian Cup qualifier in Kuwait City, reports said yesterday. Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and midfielder Dario Vidosic complained that they were targeted by fans armed with a laser pointer during the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Galekovic claimed a light was shone into his eyes, while Vidosic told team officials he was distracted by a laser beam while attempting to take corner kicks, Australian Associated Press reported. Australian coach Pim Verbeek said he had mentioned the incidents to match officials pitchside during the first half. “It was the goalkeeper (and) also at the corner kicks-Dario Vidosic was taking the corner kicks and they were pushing a laser on his
face,” Verbeek told Fox Sports television after the game. “I mentioned it to the officials, but that’s okay. Things like this happen.” Verbeek was also highly critical of the state of the Al-Kuwait Sports Club Stadium pitch. The Dutchman declared the bumpy playing surface was one of the worst pitches he had encountered in international football and said he had complained to the match commissioner about its condition on the eve of the game. Reports said it was likely the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) would investigate the Australian team’s complaints. Australia need at least one point from their remaining home game against Indonesia in Brisbane in March to qualify for next January’s Asian Cup finals in Qatar. —AFP
Inter’s Vieira moving to Manchester City PARIS: Patrick Vieira confirmed yesterday he was leaving Inter Milan to join Manchester City in a bid to secure more first team action and gain a place in France’s World Cup squad. Vieira, whose career has been plagued by injuries, won the last of his 107 caps for France in a friendly against Nigeria in August but his last appearance in an official match was September 2007 in a Euro qualifier against Scotland. “I set myself an objective, I want to go to the World Cup,” the 33-year-old former France captain and midfielder told television channel Eurosport. “The important thing for me is to go to Manchester City and to show the coach (Roberto Mancini) I’m the same player than when he was in charge of Inter,” he added. “After a year in Turin and three and a half years in Milan, it’s over. To go to the World Cup I need playing time and I can’t reach my objective with Inter where I’m not a first choice player.” Vieira, who was a member of France’s victorious squads at the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship, won three Premier League titles and three FA cups in nine seasons with Arsenal before moving to Juventus in 2005 then Inter Milan the next year. —Reuters
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Mallorca told to get off their cloud MADRID: The superb run of form that has lifted humble Real Mallorca to fourth in La Liga faces a stiff test when Gregorio Manzano’s side travel to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid on Sunday (1800 GMT). The club’s institutional and financial problems suggested they might struggle to stay in the top flight this term but the wily Manzano has coaxed eight home wins in eight matches out of his players to put Mallorca in Champions League contention. However, the former Atletico Madrid coach, who led the Balearic Islanders to a King’s Cup triumph in 2003 in a previous stint at the club, has warned his squad against resting on their laurels. “We have to get
In-form Mallorca face test at second-placed Real down off this magnificent cloud and forget all this praise being flung at us from every side,” Manzano said on Mallorca’s website (www.rcdmallorca.es). “With the base of the squad from last season and the new arrivals we have formed a very good group,” he added. “We knew how to isolate ourselves from the institutional difficulties to focus on our work and the truth is that the squad deserves top marks.” Second-placed Real squandered a chance to climb above arch rivals Barcelona into top spot when they were held to a 0-0 draw at
mid-table Osasuna last weekend and were clearly missing the creativity of injured playmaker Kaka. The Brazilian has been sidelined with a nagging groin problem but returned to full training last week and should be available to coach Manuel Pellegrini on Sunday. Midfielder Lassana Diarra is suspended and Esteban Granero could be handed a rare place in the starting lineup, while Alvaro Arbeloa may switch to right back in the absence of Sergio Ramos, who is also out due to suspension. “I am working well and if I have the chance and the luck to play
I know I’ll be prepared,” Granero said at a news conference on Wednesday. WITHOUT IBRAHIMOVIC Undefeated leaders Barcelona, who were held 1-1 at home by Villarreal last weekend and have a two-point advantage over Real, will be without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic when they play at promoted Tenerife on Sunday (2000). Coach Pep Guardiola publicly admonished the Swede after the Villarreal match for failing to control his temper and picking up a yellow card and suspension thanks to a reckless lunge at defender Diego
Godin. Barca suffered a setback when they lost 2-1 at home to Sevilla in their King’s Cup last 16, first leg tie on Tuesday and they play the Andalusians again in La Liga the weekend after the Cup return leg at the Sanchez Pizjuan next Wednesday. Third-placed Valencia, six points behind Real, play at bottom club Xerez on Sunday (1600) and Sevilla, in fifth, host Racing Santander tomorrow (1900). Sevilla this week agreed a deal with Sampdoria to take defender Marius Stankevicius on loan until the end of the season and the 28-year-old Lithuania international could make his debut against Racing. — Reuters
Wenger predicts close title race LONDON: Even though his title bid has been stalled by snow and Arsenal has a tough schedule on the horizon, Arsene Wenger remains confident his team will win back the Premier League title in what could be the closest race for years. A heavy snowfall prevented Arsenal from possibly moving past second-place Manchester United and within a point of leader Chelsea on Wednesday when its game against Bolton was called off. Facing another home game against Everton tomorrow, Wenger predicts that none of the traditional contenders will build up a big lead in the second half of the season and that as little as 82 points could be enough to capture the title. In the last six seasons, the winner has finished with between 87 and 95. “I said a few months ago that 78 to 83 points would win the title and I stick by that,” Wenger said. “If you multiply the current (points totals) by two then you will not be far from that. Chelsea have played 20 games and have 45 points, we have played 19 games and have 41 points. If you multiply that by two it’s 82 points. The champions will be around there with 82, 83, 84 (points).” Wenger’s theory is backed up by the surprisingly high number of games the leading contenders have lost so far. At just after the halfway stage of the league campaign, the current top four - Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham - have lost a combined 17 games. That equals the total of games that the eventual top four - Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal - lost in the whole of last season. “Don’t forget we all have to play each other again. Nobody will run away with it and get 19 wins,” said Wenger, whose team has a scary run of consecutive league games near the end of the month - Aston Villa away, Manchester United at home, Chelsea away and Liverpool at home. “At the moment there are six or seven teams who could play in the top four and they will all play each other. That means everybody will drop points.” Having won 6-1 at Everton on the opening day of the season, Wenger should be confident of collecting another three points at home tomorrow - weather permitting. The heaviest snowfalls for three decades forced the postponement of the two League Cup semifinals - Blackburn-Aston Villa and Man City-Man United - as well as the Arsenal-Bolton Premier League game. More snow and freezing conditions threaten this weekend’s schedule. Although most of the playing surfaces are playable because of undersoil heating, the problems are outside the grounds with roads dangerous or even inaccessible because they are covered by snow and ice. Arsenal was close to letting the Bolton game go ahead and, with the snow relenting yesterday, is confident about the Everton game. Leader Chelsea goes to Hull, which is also confident the game will go ahead unless there is another major snowfall. Second-place United, which is two points behind, visits Birmingham, which is not reporting any major problems. Fourthplace Tottenham visits seventh-place Liverpool on Sunday and, although the northwest was badly hit by the snow, groundstaff are hoping that an extra day’s work on the areas surrounding Anfield will help them make sure the game is on. Likewise, Manchester City has until Monday to Saturday to clear the snow and ice away from Eastlands so that its match against Blackburn will go ahead. Tomorrow’s other games are Burnley-Stoke, Fulham-Portsmouth, Sunderland-Bolton and Wigan- Aston Villa. West Ham welcomes Wolves on Sunday. In the race for promotion from the League Championship, secondplace West Bromwich hosts third-place Nottingham Forest on Friday, with both clubs hoping to move closer to leader Newcastle, which visits Reading tomorrow and has a six-point lead. — AP
PARMA: Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara (left) talks with his player Felipe Melo, of Brazil, during the serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at Tardini Stadium on Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010. Juventus won 2-1. — AP
Juventus’ Ferrara needs to win battle of rookies ROME: Under pressure Juventus boss Ciro Ferrara is in desperate need of a victory against visiting AC Milan on Sunday (1945 GMT), in what promises to be an intriguing encounter against a side coached by fellow rookie Leonardo. Third-placed Juve’s laboured 2-1 win at Parma on Wednesday snapped a run of three defeats in all competitions but it did not end talk of Ferrara’s job being on the line. Indeed, speculation that Russia coach Guus Hiddink is being lined up as a replacement continues despite denials from the Turin club. Milan, in contrast, are in fine fettle after a 5-2 demolition of Genoa that keeps them eight points behind leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand, and one point ahead of Juve. Ferrara knows the grit his side displayed at Parma to grind out a result from another uninspired showing is unlikely to suffice this weekend. “We won and we’ll talk about my situation a little less for the next three days... until the next match,” Ferrara told reporters. “I know this world too well not to know what is in
store, but I’m not worried about it. My concern is to resolve the problems we have, game after game. “This determination might not be enough on Sunday, an improvement in our play is needed too.” The position of the two coaches has reversed since the start of the season, when Juve won their first four games and Leonardo looked to be the out-of-his-depth new boss as his side
Italian League Preview stuttered. Now he is the toast of the Italian sports media for turning Milan into an attractive team with a clear identity that are still in the running in the Champions League, while Juve bowed out at the group stage. Part of Ferrara’s problem is that he has struggled to find a formation that brings out the best in Brazilian duo Felipe Melo and Diego, who have been disappointing since joining the club in big-money, close-season deals.
Leonardo, on the other hand, has settled on a system of play with an attacking trident that suits the talents of his Brazilians, Alexandre Pato and a revived Ronaldinho. He has also shown his ability to adapt, successfully fielding David Beckham in an unusually advanced position against Genoa to cover for the injured Pato in the England winger’s first match since returning to Milan on loan from LA Galaxy. Pato is a doubt for Sunday’s game along with Clarence Seedorf after the Dutchman also missed the Genoa clash. Defender Martin Caceres will be suspended for Juventus because he was sent off at Parma and forward David Trezeguet looks set to miss out with an ankle problem. Inter will be able to gain ground on at least one of their title rivals by beating bottom side Siena at home tomorrow (1945). Forward Mario Balotelli will be suspended, defender Cristian Chivu is set for a long spell out after fracturing his skull during Inter’s 1-0 win at Chievo Verona on Wednesday and midfielder Patrick Vieira is poised to join Manchester City. — Reuters
www.kuwaittimes.com
Deportivo snatch two away goals at Valencia Giant killers Alcorcon narrowly beaten by Racing, Villarreal held 1-1
VALENCIA: Valencia’s Angel Dealbert heads the ball with Deportivo’s Ivan Sanchez ‘Riki’ during a Spanish Copa del Rey soccer match at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday Jan 6, 2010. —AP
MADRID: Andres Guardado and Pablo Alvarez netted potentially crucial away goals to give Deportivo Coruna a 2-1 win at La Liga rivals Valencia in their King’s Cup last-16 first leg on Wednesday. Unai Emery’s Valencia side had the better of the early chances at the Mestalla, Joaquin and Juan Mata both sending efforts flashing narrowly over the bar. Mexican international Guardado stole in front of defender Hedwiges Maduro two minutes after halftime to steer the ball past Miguel Angel Moya and Alvarez doubled the visitors’ lead with a fine run and finish in the 55th. Substitute David Silva pulled a goal back with a clever flick with 17 minutes left and Depor repelled some late Valencia pressure to maintain the advantage for next week’s second leg. Third-tier Alcorcon, who dumped Real Madrid out 4-1 on aggregate in the last round, were beaten 3-2 at home to La Liga side Racing Santander. Defender Christian Fernandez was in the right place to head Racing into the lead at Alcorcon’s tiny stadium to the south west of Madrid in the 31st minute. Second-half strikes from Alex Geijo and Jose Moraton either side of an Inigo Lopez goal gave the visitors an apparently
comfortable lead but Borja Gomez netted with two minutes left to keep Alcorcon’s slim hopes of causing a second-leg upset alive. BRIGHT START Villarreal were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling second division Celta Vigo in their first leg earlier on Wednesday. Celta’s bright start in driving rain at their Balaidos stadium belied their position of 18th out of 22 in the second-tier standings but they were rocked back by a Villarreal goal in the 12th minute. Cani sent Giuseppe Rossi clear and the Italian striker finished comfortably past goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez. Celta battled bravely against their more skilful opponents and were rewarded a minute before halftime when forward Arthuro Bernhardt headed a Roberto Trashorras free kick past Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez. Second division Recreativo Huelva host Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday, Getafe play at Malaga in Thursday’s only all topflight clash and Real Mallorca and Osasuna take on second division sides Rayo Vallecano and Hercules. Holders Barcelona slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by 2007 winners Sevilla in their first leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, Alvaro Negredo netting the winner from the penalty spot after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had cancelled out Diego Capel’s opener. —Reuters
Beckham shines as Milan rout Genoa MILAN: David Beckham marked his return to AC Milan with 76 effective minutes in a 5-2 rout of Genoa, helping the club rise to second in the Serie A on Wednesday. Loaned backed to Milan for a second straight year to stay fit for the World Cup, Beckham made up the right side of an attacking trio with Marco Borriello and Ronaldinho, and went close to scoring in the first half, but his longrange strike hit the side netting. Penalties from Ronaldinho and Klaas Jan Huntelaar, a brace by Borriello and an opportunist strike by Thiago Silva gave Milan the win, while Giuseppe Sculli and David Suazo scored for Genoa. Inter Milan remained top of the standings thanks to Mario Balotelli’s early goal in a 1-0 win over Chievo Verona. The young striker linked up with new signing Goran Pandev and midfielder Wesley Sneijder in the 12th minute to score past Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino. “I’m delighted with today’s performance,” Inter coach Jose Mourinho said. “This is the sort of team that can cause you problems, but after this performance I shall be smiling a lot. “We had players who showed their personality and character. Across the pitch we had players who did a fantastic job.” Inter led with 42 points, eight more than Milan. Juventus was third with 33 after beating Parma 2-1. Also, it was: Atalanta 0, Napoli 2; Bari 2, Udinese 0; Catania 1,
Bologna 0; Lazio 4, Livorno 1; Sampdoria 1, Palermo 1; and Siena 1, Fiorentina 5. Beckham made his mark in the third minute. He crossed to Borriello, but Genoa stopper Marco Amelia pushed away the striker’s close shot. In the 13th, Amelia rescued Genoa by stopping Ronaldinho’s weak penalty after Giuseppe Biava tripped Massimo Ambrosini. Genoa took the lead in the 25th. Rodrigo Palacio’s right cross was nodded by Sculli past Dida at the back post. Ronaldinho atoned for his earlier penalty miss in the 32nd by thumping the ball low past Amelia to draw Milan level after the goalkeeper brought down Ambrosini. Five minutes later Milan took the lead. Ambrosini’s free kick was cleared, Andrea Pirlo crossed the loose ball to Ronaldinho at the far post, but his header was cleared off the line and Silva
Italian League slotted in the rebound. Milan grabbed the third soon after halftime. Ronaldinho put Antonini clear behind Genoa’s defense and the defender cut the ball back for Borriello to score his fifth of the season. After Genoa failed to clear a corner, The former Genoa striker grabbed his second of the match when he acrobatically volleyed home Pirlo’s cross. In the 74th, Marco Rossi brought down Ronaldinho for the third penalty, and after
Beckham refused the chance to take the kick, substitute Huntelaar fired home Milan’s fifth goal. With 11 minutes remaining Suazo scored Genoa’s second. Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier thought he should have been awarded a penalty after being brought down in the area by defender Ivan Cordoba, but while he was protesting Inter attacked. Pandev slipped the ball to Sneijder, who put Balotelli clear. Sorrentino stopped the first shot but Balotelli struck home the rebound. In the 20th, fullback Maicon forced Sorrentino into a save with a powerful drive and only last-ditch tackles stopped Sneijder and Christian Chivu from shooting after they had broken through Chievo’s defense. Chivu was carried off in the second half following a clash of heads with Pellissier. The Romanian was rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull and will undergo an operation. After halftime, Chievo had the best chance but Elvis Abruscato sent his shot wide after Luciano had picked him out at the near post. Juventus finished its match with 10 men after defender Martin Caceres was sent off for a second yellow card. Hasan Salihamidzic scored for Juventus in the third minute, heading in Giorgio Chiellini’s flick on from a corner. But Nicola Amoruso equalized in the 25th when he rose above defender Nicola Legrottaglie to head past Juventus
MILAN: AC Milan’s David Beckham gestures during their Serie A soccer match against Genoa at the San Siro stadium on Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010. —AP goalkeeper Alex Manninger. In the 39th, Paolo Castellini scored an own-goal to give Juventus the win. “It was an important win for us,” Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara said. “I just wanted to help overcome the problems we were having. We can’t think about Inter or Milan, we have to think about ourselves.” Luca Toni made his return to Italian football after 21/2 years in Germany, but he played only
the last 10 minutes in AS Roma’s 2-2 draw with Cagliari. David Pizarro and Simone Perrotta scored for Roma in the second half, but Sergio Lopez and Daniele Conti scored in injury time to earn the point. “It is a shame because we controlled Cagliari for the entire match, except for the last eight minutes,” Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said. “We needed to concentrate right until the end.” —AP