2nd Jan

RI PT IO N BS C SU THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF

24 PAGES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2010

MOHARRAM 16,1431 AH

North Korea calls for end to hostile relations with US

Jealous ex-lover’s spree fires Finland gun debate

Brooks leads Rockets to win over Mavericks

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70 killed in Pak volleyball blast Bomber blows himself up in SUV in middle of field

DUBAI: An Emirati man walks past Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, yesterday. — AFP

Dubai to open tallest building DUBAI: Once-bustling Dubai will open the world’s tallest skyscraper on Monday, boasting new limits in design and construction, hopeful of polishing an image tarnished by the debt woes afflicting the Gulf emirate. Emaar, the giant property firm part-owned by the government and which developed the needle-shaped concrete, steel and glass structure, has declined to reveal Burj Dubai’s exact height.

Apparently wanting to maintain the suspense, the company will say only that the tower exceeds 800 m, putting it far higher than Taiwan’s Taipei 101 tower (508 m).

Bill Baker, a structural and civil engineer and partner in Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), which designed the tower, said Burj Dubai has set a new benchmark. “We thought that it would be slightly taller than the existing tallest tower of Taipei 101. (Emaar) kept on asking us to go higher but we didn’t know how high we could go,” he said. “We were able to tune the building like we tune a music instrument. As we went higher and higher and higher, we discovered that by doing that process... we were able to reach heights much higher than we ever thought we could. We learned quite a bit from Burj Dubai. I would think we could easily do a one kilometre (tower). We are optimistic about the ability to go even higher.”

The 160-floor tower, containing 330,000 cu m of concrete and 31,400 tonnes of steel, can be seen from as far as 95 km away.

Continued on Page 19

ISLAMABAD: A suicide bomber in a vehicle blew himself up at a volleyball game in northwest Pakistan yesterday, and a television station said more than 70 people were killed. The station, Express 24/7, said 65 people were wounded and more than 20 houses destroyed. The attack took place in a village that opposes Al-Qaeda-backed Taleban insurgents, officials said.

They said the bomber struck as young men played volleyball in front of a crowd of spectators, including elderly residents and children, near the town of Lakki Marwat.

Local police chief Ayub Khan said the bomber blew himself up in an SUV in the middle of the field and there was believed to be a second vehicle which fled the scene.

“One was blown up here while the second fled to an unknown location. We believe it may be used to attack some other place,” he told Reuters by telephone.

Khan said that women and children were pulled from the rubble of a nearby house that collapsed in the blast, and said that the remote area was struggling to cope with the scale of the attack. He blamed the bomb on Islamist extremists who were the target of a military operation in Bannu district last year. In addition, a group of local tribal elders were holding a meeting at a mosque nearby.

The mosque was damaged and some people there died, he said.

An attack on a sporting event is highly unusual, although militants have started bombing crowded areas Continued on Page 19

WASHINGTON: A close-up image of the back of the US one dollar bill is seen in this Sept 16, 2009 file photo. — AFP

the US Federal Reserve had to come to the rescue of the faltering single European currency in Sept 2000 as part of a coordinated market intervention by major central banks.

The greenback also faced the same misfortune against other key currencies.

While it was roughly stable against the British pound, it has lost nearly 10 percent against the yen and a hefty 35 percent against the Swiss franc in the past decade. The trade-weighted US dollar index, a measure of the value of the US dollar relative to other world Continued on Page 19

IOC suspends Kuwait sports KUWAIT: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday officially suspended Kuwait’s sports activities for violating international regulations, but a senior Kuwaiti official affirmed that the IOC suspension is tentative and will be scrapped once amendments of the local Sports Law are finalized. “The Public Authority of Youth and Sport (PAYS) yesterday received a letter from the International Olympic Committee, in which it informs PAYS of suspending activities of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee,” PAYS Chairman Faisal Al-Jazzaf said.

He said that the letter clarified that the suspension is “temporary” and would be

lifted as soon as Kuwaiti sports laws are amended and dovetailed with the Olympic Charter. Kuwait has signed a number of agreements with the IOC in order to solve the problem, such as the session held by the National Assembly on Wednesday, he noted.

According to Al-Jazzaf, a letter was sent by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi to IOC Chairman Jacque Rogge late Thursday with the Assembly’s amendments.

But Al-Jazzaf didn’t know if Rogge read the letter or not.

He said PAYS has called for a meeting on Monday to discuss the situation.

Continued on Page 19

11 Houthis killed in Yemen clashes Saleh appeals to rebels, Qaeda

HEBRON: An Israeli Jewish settler (right) argues with a Palestinian man on a hilltop next to the Jewish settlement of Givat Harsina near this West Bank city yesterday. A group of Jewish settlers scuffled with Palestinians that were marking the Fatah movement’s anniversary by plantings olive trees near the settlement. — AP

Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause TEHRAN: Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said yesterday that he was ready to sacrifice his life in his campaign for reform after the disputed June re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “I am not unwilling to become a martyr like those who made that sacrifice after the election for their rightful national and religious demands,” Mousavi said in his first statement on his Kaleme.org website since deadly clashes on Sunday. “My blood is no

redder than theirs,” he added.

Mousavi’s nephew, Ali, was among at least eight people who died during Sunday’s opposition protests during Shiite rituals for Ashoura. The opposition head’s website carried a call from “political prisoners” in Tehran’s Evin jail for the public to hold a memorial on Sunday to mourn those who died during the protests. He called on Ahmadinejad’s government to halt its crackdown against his supporters, which saw hundreds of people

arrested during last Sunday’s demonstrations.

The former prime minister urged the government “to take responsibility for the problems it has created in the country... release political prisoners... and recognise people’s right to lawful assembly.”

He rejected demands from hardliners for him to renounce his accusations of fraud in the June election in which he was Ahmadinejad’s main challenger.

Continued on Page 19

Dollar loses luster Judge tosses Blackwater case in turbulent decade Iraq outraged, vows to prosecute ‘criminals’ WASHINGTON: The US dollar lost much of its luster over the past decade as its status as a global reserve currency was challenged and its value against most key currencies saw erosion. On the foreign exchange market, the euro was virtually at parity with the dollar on Dec 31, 1999, but a decade later the greenback has fallen by 30 percent against the single European currency.

The euro, launched on Jan 1, 1999, ended in New York trading at $1.4323 on Thursday, the last trading day of the year. The dollar’s rapid fall against the euro is ironic as

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Tight security, peace calls as world welcomes year 2010

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WASHINGTON: In a rebuke to government prosecutors, a federal judge on Thursday dismissed criminal charges against five Blackwater security guards accused of fatally shooting 14 people in Baghdad in Sept 2007.

Judge Ricardo Urbina said prosecutors violated the defendants’ rights by using incriminating statements they had made under immunity during a State Department probe to build their case. But Iraq expressed astonishment yesterday over the dropping of charges. The decision also sparked outrage among Iraqis and Baghdad’s gover nment spokesman vowed that it would “act forcefully and decisively to prosecute the Blackwater criminals”.

C o n t i n u e d o n Pa g e 1 9

BAGHDAD: In this Sept 25, 2007 file photo, an Iraqi traffic policeman inspects a car destroyed by a Blackwater security detail in Al-Nisour Square. — AP

SANAA: Yemeni forces clashed with Shiite rebels, killing 11 in a country where Washington and Riyadh fear Al-Qaeda may be gaining a stronger foothold, and Yemen’s president reiterated a call to rebels to end the violence.

“Eleven terrorists were killed and others were wounded in widespread combing operations and strikes by military and security units on Thursday against gatherings of Houthi terrorists in a number of areas,” a government source told Reuters yesterday.

The 26 September news website, quoting an unnamed source, said Yemeni forces had destroyed a “terrorist den” in the northern Saada region on Thursday. Rebels from the minority Shiite Zaidi sect in northern Yemen rebelled against the government in 2004, complaining of social, economic and religious marginalisation. The conflict, which has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands, drew in neighbouring Saudi Arabia in November when

rebels staged a cross-border incursion into the world’s biggest oil exporter.

Yemen, also facing separatist sentiment in the south, was thrown into focus when Al-Qaeda’s regional wing said it was behind an attempt to bomb a US passenger plane on Christmas Day. The bomb attempt, by a Nigerian who said he had received training and equipment in Yemen, was a reminder of US and Saudi fears that Al-Qaeda will exploit instability in the poor Arab country to turn Yemen into a launchpad for more attacks.

Thursday’s strikes destroyed a group of rebel vehicles near the town of Saada, and flames were seen rising from the area, the website said. A car carrying ammunition was destroyed.

The government source said several of the rebels were killed by sniper fire and others died when a bomb exploded prematurely. Rebels said a child was also killed in a Saudi airstrike.

Continued on Page 19

Afghans wash hands off CIA ‘black ops’ Big blow for US spy agency KABUL: Afghan authorities were distancing themselves yesterday from investigations into a suicide bomb attack that killed seven CIA agents, the US spy agency’s biggest single loss of life in almost 30 years. As questions swirled about how the attacker managed to penetrate security at the base in Khost province near the Pakistani border, the Afghan defence ministry again denied reports that any ministry personnel were involved. The government had no comment and a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said there would be no official involvement in any investigation.

The CIA agents were killed on Wednesday when a suicide bomber breached the forward operating base (FOB) Camp Chapman and detonated an explosives-filled vest in a basement gymnasium. Seven CIA employees died and another six were injured, with their lives saved by US military doctors and nurses, CIA director Leon Panetta said.

The Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack. Zahir Azimi, defence ministry

spokesman, again denied reports that the bomber was an Afghan army officer or posed as one. “This is the Taleban talking and nothing the Taleban says should be believed,” he said.

The CIA uses FOBs to collect intelligence and conduct direct drone attacks along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, said a Western diplomat, who referred to the activities as “CIA black ops”.

“It should come as no surprise that the Afghan government wants nothing to do with this,” he said, on condition of anonymity. “Karzai is not interested in the security of these places. He has zero control over the FOBs that are located along the border.

As far as the Afghan state is concerned it’s a black hole and whatever happens is the CIA’s lookout.”

A Western military official, who also asked not to be named, said the CIA “is on its own” in conducting operations on the US FOBs dotted around Afghanistan. “There’s not a great deal of visibility for what they do except at the Continued on Page 19

NATIONAL

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

More than 45,000 people exposed to health risks

Um Al-Haiman pollution stirs interpellation threats CAIRO: Sheikha Fareeha in a group picture with the staff of the children’s cancer hospital and other Egyptian officials. —Photos by KUNA

CAIRO: Sheikha Fareeha exchanges a chat with children at the cancer hospital in Cairo.

Sheikha Fareeha visits Egypt cancer hospital CAIRO: Chairwoman of Kuwait’s Supreme Committee of the Ideal Mother Award Sheikha Fareeha Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah recently visited the Egyptian Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357 as part of her ongoing tour of Egypt.

She hailed the hospital’s tangible scientific development and progress, voicing her committee’s keenness on benefiting from Egypt’s child cancer treatment experience.

She spoke highly of Egypt’s First Lady Suzanne Mubarak’s great humanitarian support for the hospital with the purpose of providing medical treatment to children suffering

from cancer.

She urged all Arab and Muslim philanthropists to extend out material and moral help to this great humanitarian medical project in order to ensure its continuity.

For his part, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Cairo Rasheed Al-Hamad said several Kuwaiti dignitaries had visited the hospital in order to alleviate the pains of sick children.

He hailed Egypt’s keenness on developing the hospital by equipping it with sophisticated medical appliances so as to ensure high-quality medical services. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A group of lawmakers have vowed to submit an interpellation motion ular committee tasked with following up the pollution problems in Um Al-Haiman against the premier if the government fails to tackle the pollution problem in Um in the presence of MPs Khalid Al-Tahous, Mohammad Al-Huwailah, and Saadoun Al-Haiman, saying that the Cabinet should take immediate measures to end the Al-Hammad. The meeting discussed the Cabinet’s arrangements and intended ordeal of residents. This came during a meeting that was recently held by the pop- measures to rid the residential suburb from air pollution.

On that note, the three lawmakers vowed to submit an interpellation motion against HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah should they detect a lack of seriousness from the Cabinet to end the pollution crisis in Um Al-Haiman, said head of the committee Ahmad Al-Shuraian.

According to Al-Qabas, AlShuraian further indicated that the MPs will meet with the State Minister of Development and Housing Affairs, Sheikh Ahmad AlFahad Al-Sabah, who has been designated by the Cabinet to follow up this issue, in order to address the main demands of residents and to find proper and practical solutions.

The three lawmakers said that the outcome of the intended meeting would have a direct impact on the decision to go ahead with the interpellation motion.

A large number of Um AlHaiman residents demand that the government should either shift the location of several industrial facilities and oil installations in the area or provide substitute residences for them. They claim that air pollution that has been caused by industrial pollution has claimed many lives and inflected cancer on certain citizens. However claims made by the KUWAIT: File photo of smoke coming out of the Doha Power Station. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat citizens have not been supported with scientific evidence.

As for the nature of MPs’ demands, Al-Shuraian explained that they call for an immediate shut down of 25 factories located in the western part of Shuaiba, instead of KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Civil Service Mohammad Al-Sabah, and attended by from 65 to 70, Al-Zaben said. the Cabinet’s plans to close only six Furthermore, the commission has Commission (CSC) has authorized a new several Cabinet ministers. industrial facilities, followed by 19 The agency is chiefly intended to agreed to requests by some State agenhealth agency that would specialize in others after three months. administrative affairs, including medical divide management and health control cies, including Kuwait News Agency Furthermore, Al-Shuraian said treatment abroad, pharmaceutical surveil- into two separate bodies; one specializes (KUNA), Kuwait Ports Authority, General that test reports have proven that lance and licenses for new private clinics in preventive and curative services, while Secretariat of Awqaf, General Secretariat the atmosphere of the area contains Private Universities, General the second specializes in administrative of and hospitals. high percentages of pollution which Directorate of Civil Aviation, Zakat The new health agency, which has and technical affairs, he said. is endangering the lives of 45,000 “The new agency would contribute to House, Public Authority for Youth and been approved in compliance with a Um Al-Haiman residents. He called on the inspection teams to continue request by the Ministry of Health, will be reducing the burden on the Ministry of Sports, and other establishments, for their operations at all the factories affiliated to the minister of health, CSC Health, and will even allow health officials amending their regulatory structures, Allocated at the western side of Chairman Abdelaziz Al-Zaben said, follow- to be able to further revamp health ser- Zeben noted.

Shuaiba, claiming at the same time The official pointed out the CSC will vices in the country,” the official added. ing a CSC meeting. that 99 of them are still yet to be The CSC has also consented to the reconvene later to discuss the World Bank The meeting was presided over by inspected. Though he was skeptical Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister ministry’s requests bearing on doctors’ report containing a survey of pays and for the Cabinet to find a proper soluand CSC’s Acting Chairman Sheikh Dr. promotion and retirement age extensions salaries in Kuwait. —KUNA tion to the problem, Al-Shuraian said that the best solution would be to relocate all residents of the area to another location, and to compensate them for the damage they sustained during nine years of exposure to pollution.

Kuwait to set up new health agency

MoH prepared for H1N1 wave this month

GCC secretary general praises Kuwait summit BEIRUT: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdel Rahman Al-Attiyah, has praised the great achievements made by the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 30th summit hosted by Kuwait on Dec 14 and 15.

Al-Attiyah, currently on an official visit to Lebanon, promoted the approach of moderation in the region. He also expressed the need to resolve disputes among regional states with dialogue and urged cooperation to combat terrorism and piracy. He praised the GCC states for their successful fight of these two perils.

The GCC Secretary General also praised the six member states of the council for their accomplishments in the sectors of education, development, economy, social services and military. He said their plans aim to realize prosperity and stability for the people of the member states. He dubbed the recent summit “the summit of qualitative

achievements.”

Elaborating, Al-Attiyah said that among the latest achievements by the GCC were the financial allocations for designing a joint GCC railway. The plans are in line with the initiative by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah made seven years ago, he explained. He noted that this project “had been a dream for the people of the GCC states and has turned into a reality” The GCC has also adopted plans to establish a common monetary council expected to start functioning within the coming few months.

Al-Attiyah re-affirmed an “absolute” support for member state Saudi Arabia in the recent cross-border attacks by armed Houthi dissidents from neighboring Yemen. He Condemned the rebels violation of the Saudi border and said, “any infringement on Saudi security is tantamount to a breach

of the collective security of the council states.”

Moreover, Al-Attiyah stressed the necessity of maintaining unity, stability and security in Yemen. He noted that “national dialogue constitutes the sole means of resolving the Yemeni crisis.”

Rebels of the Houthi Shiite sect have been engaged in a bitter fight Against Yemini government troops for months.

The GCC chief praised the major role played by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and HH the Amir of Kuwait, for realizing peace among warring Arab states.

As to his assessment of the conditions in Lebanon, Al-Attiyah said the GCC states consider President Michel Suleiman “a character of reconciliation” for the nation. He added the president’s policy of moderation is the best for uniting Lebanon and enhancing the country’s foreign policy.

Abdel Rahman Al-Attiyah Al-Attiyah, during a meeting with President Suleiman late on Tuesday, conveyed satisfaction at the level of distinctive and growing ties between the council states and Lebanon. He noted that these ties have been characterized by understanding, mutual respect and a serious approach for the realization of the aspirations of the GCC and Lebanese people. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health Deputy Assistant for Assisted Medicine Affairs, Dr. Qais Al-Duwairi, announced that the regression of the H1N1 virus infection was expected in light of recent procedures to reduce infection rates. He assured that coordinating procedures with the World Health Organization (WHO) will continue to be carried out, reported Al-Watan.

Al-Duwairi also indicated that they, as well as other countries in the region, took the recommendations of the WHO and no longer announce the number of infections on a weekly basis.

This is due to the decrease in number of infected people, which currently does not exceed 10 cases each week, he explained.

He indicated that weekly reports of the numbers of infected are still sent to the WHO. Furthermore, Al-Duwairi assured that the Ministry of Health will continue their preventive methods against the spread of infection. He said that the Ministry is planning to receive 600 thousand more vaccines in anticipation of the third wave of infection expected to hit the country in January.

KUWAIT: Director General of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD), Maj General Jassim Al-Mansouri received a delegation from the Kuwait International Bank. Al-Mansouri expressed gratitude toward the bank for hosting a second symposium in association with the KFSD last week. He said that the bank’s initiative reflects its officials’ awareness and interest in serving the society. Maj Gen Al-Mansouri presented the delegation with a memento on the occasion. —KUNA

Asian duo held for selling alcohol KUWAIT: Farwaniya police arrested two Asian men for selling alcohol in Jleeb AlShuyoukh. They were found with 200 bottles of homemade liquor in their possession.

Additionally, the police arrested two Asian prostitutes and their Egyptian employer at a brothel in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. They were referred to the proper authorities.

Hospital evacuated Firefighters saved a number of patients and nurses at a thoracic hospital from a fire that broke out in a nearby building used to store lumber.

Firefighters from four separate brigades put out the flames while rescue teams worked to

evacuate the patients and medical staff from the hospital. One firefighter sustained cut wounds. No other injuries were reported.

Man stabbed A drinking session between two men in Al-Oyoun ended unfortunately when one stabbed the other for refusing to fill his empty glass with alcohol. The incident was first reported when an emergency call was made informing authorities about a man found bleeding on the street. After he was admitted to the hospital the man told officials about the story and gave them a description of his acquaintance.

Police were able to apprehend the assailant a few hours later.

Pharmacy thieves A janitor at a maternal hospital and two accomplices were arrested on charges of stealing medication from the hospital’s pharmacy and selling them illegally. Police made the arrests after discovering one of the criminals selling the medications.

When questioned, he confessed to the crime and informed police about his two associates. They were all referred to authorities.

Infant abandoned Two officers from Al-Jahra police department found a newborn baby girl abandoned at a location in Al-Nuhdha. The offi-

cers brought the baby to a nearby hospital where it was discovered that her temperature had already reached 41 degrees Celsius. Doctors stabilized the baby’s condition and a case has been opened to search for the baby’s parents.

Fugitives arrested Two 40-year-old citizens were arrested in the Farwaniya Governorate after police inspected their IDs and discovered the two men were wanted for previous drug-related crimes. One of the men were wanted for evading a 2 month prison sentence. A shotgun and 39 bullets were found inside their vehicle during the search. They were referred to the proper authorities.

Saturday, Junuary 2, 2010

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Students react to 2010

By Rawan Khalid KUWAIT: The year 2009 is over and 2010 has begun.

Students from different universities in Kuwait shared their views with Kuwait Times on the last year and their hopes for 2010. Tina Al-A, 23-yearsold and finishing her last year at the Arab Open University in Business Administration said, “I would like to finish this year peacefully, graduate and most

importantly, find a job in my field with a good company. In addition to that I hope this year to travel more and more.”

Sara M, 19-years-old and in her second year in the Faculty of Arts in Kuwait University said, “this is my last year in college and I want to graduate with a very good grade. I want to make my father proud when he attends my graduation party. But, the most important thing and a big issue for all students here at Kuwait

University; I want the new site of Kuwait University in AlShededah to have bigger parking.”

Suad Ahmed, 20-years-old and in the Accounting Department of American University in Kuwait said, “I lost my father in 2009 so it was a very bad year for me. This is my last term at the university and it is a very hard one.

Accounting is not easy. I hope to finish this year quickly.”

Ahmed Mostafa, a 22-years

old Business Administration student at Arab Open University said, “This is my first year at the University and I think it was a very good year for me because they accepted me to the University. I hope 2010 is the same. Also, I work in a company, so I hope they raise my salary this year.”

Lulu Alaa, 18-years-old and a student in the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait said, “it is the first year for me at university, and I

actually really like university life. Making new friends and experiencing new life, not wearing a uniform like I had to in high school makes me feel happy and relaxed. That’s why I felt 2009 was a happy year for me; because I graduated from high school and entered university. Moving from level to level, it’s a great thing, but there is something I hope they can do in the year 2010. Stop separating classes between girls and boys.”

Best New Year’s Busy New Year Eve at airport message to public

KUWAIT: Shoppers walk by a window display of a women’s garments shop in Salmiya on Thursday. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Fire Authority announces first-ever women sergeant training course KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Fire Authority announced, for the first time in Kuwait’s history, it will begin accepting applications for the Women’s Fire Sergeant Training Course in June 2010.

General Manager of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate, Major General Jassim Al-Mansouri, told reporters that the course will be one year long and will accept 20 candidates. He spoke at an award ceremony at the Jahra Fire Department in honor of a number of retired officers on Wednesday evening. Al-Mansouri explained that the application procedure will be issued across public media outlets in June next year.

The newly-graduated female fire sergeants will be in charge of inspecting local shops of female interest, in accordance to religious and social values, he added. In his keynote speech he praised the efforts of the retired firemen who he said put their lives on the line in service to the country and its people. He mentioned that the new department leaders, those who will fill the vacant 191 positions left by the retired officers, will be revealed next week according to Ministerial decree. The official also hailed the efforts and courage of firemen during the catastrophic Jahra tent fire which killed and injured dozens last August. —KUNA

Kuwaiti activists take part in Gaza humanitarian activities DAMASCUS: Hamad Al-Shatti, a Kuwaiti activist, and his sister Haia Al-Shatti, joined the Lifeline 3 convoy which delivers humanitarian aid to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip. They said they left Kuwait a couple of days ago to join the humanitarian convoy heading to Istanbul, Syria and then Jordan in order to help the besieged Gazans.

They expressed happiness at being part of Lifeline 3, noting that they registered for it through the internet. Al-Shatti said the Egyptian side of the organizing group provided guarantees for a safe entry for all its members of the convoy to the Palestinian enclave.

The convoy came from Jordan’s Aqaba Port to Damascus, before changing its route to Lattakia Port, and then to Areesh Port before reaching the Gaza Strip. The convoy, led by British MP George

Galloway, returned to Syria after Egyptian authorities asked them to enter Gaza via the Egypt’s Areesh Port on the Mediterranean Sea. Involving 250 trucks and vehicles carrying European, Turkish and Arab humanitarian aid, the convoy set off from London on Dec 6, and were expected to arrive in Gaza on Dec 27.

Israel maintains a strict blockade of Gaza, which tightened in 2007 when Hamas took over the strip. The blockade virtually bans all imports, allowing in only humanitarian basics. Egypt’s border is open occasionally but allows for the transport of people, not goods.

Much of what Gazans need is supplied through illegal tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border.

Israel claims this is also a supply route for weapons. —KUNA

KUWAIT: No New Year’s well-wishing address to the Kuwaiti people will supplant in its poignancy and efficacy the speech recently delivered

by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, said House Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, in remarks he made Thursday to reporters. Asked if he had a personal message he wished to be conveyed to the public on the occasion of the advent of the new year, the Speaker said he aspired to see the country working to instill stability and national unity in accordance to the call made by HH the Amir regarding what is best for the nation. Responding to a question on whether or not there was a request by MPs to set aside a special parliamentary session next January 7 to deal with the civil rights of illegal residents in Kuwait (known locally as the Bedoun) - Al-Kharafi said the date has been determined to be Jan 12 not 7, adding it did not matter when the session will take place as much as what will transpire in it.

He cautioned against those MPs attending the session using inflammatory language or ideas meant to appease the public rather than offer realistic and permanent solution of the problem of the Bedoun.

Meanwhile, commenting Thursday on the recently delivered momentous speech by His Highness the Amir, the undersecretary of the ministry of Information Sheikh Faisal Al-Malek said that it imbued a formidable call for national unity. In a statement to the press he affirmed that the speech resonated deeply with the concerns of the public which seeks to see the road toward more democracy unhampered by unnecessary obstacles.

He added that the content of the speech “may be construed as a road map for all of us to follow in creating healthy relationships with one another and in presenting to the world a positive image of Kuwaiti democracy and freedom of speech.” The speech, he further noted, pointed to some gaps in the practice of the legislative or democratic process while underscoring the imperative to abide by the spirit and letter of the Kuwaiti Constitution.

Meanwhile, leading Kuwaiti sports celebrities said Thursday the address to the nation delivered by the Amir charted a road map for protecting the national unity. “We are in bad need of such momentous speech to nip in the bud any possible sedition,” Chairman of Kuwait Federation of Tennis Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said. Sheikh Ahmad called on all Kuwaiti citizens and officials to put into force the resonant guidelines specified by HH the Amir in order to promote amity and tolerance among all members of the society. “HH the Amir’s visionary leadership featured prominently in his call for sticking to the norms and values of Kuwait’s democracy in order to foil the recent irresponsible practices,” Sheikh Ahmad pointed out. He called on all sportspeople to help youths foster the sense of a community embracing all classes in the light of HH the Amir’s instructions. —- KUNA

KUWAIT: While the whole world celebrated the beginning of the New Year people in Kuwait were left questioning the legitimacy of celebrating the occasion.

Hotels and restaurants were informed by the government, with strict instruction, not to hold or host any sort of New Year festivities, reported Al Watan. Kuwait International Airport experienced an increased activity from citizens and residents hoping to celebrate the holiday vacationing abroad. Statistics indicated that Kuwait Airways

flights had the majority of outbound flights on the last day of the year and Dubai was the most desired destination.

Two additional flights carrying 212 passengers had to be arranged to accommodate the number of passengers. Other popular Kuwait Airways destinations included Damascus, Beirut and Cairo.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation indicated that all procedures went smoothly after preparations were made to cope with the high demand of the holiday.

80 Filipino workers return home on New Year’s day MANILA: A total of 80 overseas Filipino workers were repatriated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). They arrived from Kuwait and Jordan on New Year’s Day after immigration authorities in both countries there allowed them to fly home.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said all the repatriated workers will have arrived yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from several different flights.

Thirty of the arriving Filipinos are among 157 runaways who sought shelter with the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. Dimzon said the remaining 127 were still completing immigration pre-departure procedures but had been booked for flights out of the country.

“Under Jordanian and Kuwaiti immigration laws, migrant workers can leave only if they have obtained clearance from their employers,” she was quoted as

saying to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “Negotiations involving runaway workers often take several months. Once the workers are cleared, OWWA books the workers with an airline immediately.”

She added that OWWA also provides inland transport fares to the workers for their journey back to their provinces. OFW group, Migrante-Middle East, said more than 300 Filipinos remain stranded in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Migrante-Mideast regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona, who is based in Riyadh, said in a statement sent by e-mail that the OFWs were homesick and wished to be with their families during the holidays.

He said 265 laborers, mostly runaways, are staying in a safe house reportedly managed by the Philippine consulate in Jeddah but that living conditions there were

poor.

“They complained about a lack of food, water and medicines.

Some became sick due to cold weather,” Monterona said, quoting one of the Filipinos in the safe house. The safe house occupant also relayed that the accommodations are for men and women, as well as those with children. The person also went on to say that two pregnant Filipinos had given birth there.

Monterona said the information he received from the Migrante chapter in Jeddah informed him that some of the workers would be turned over to Saudi immigration authorities, who would then deport them.

Aside from the 265 in Jeddah, Monterona said there are 89 distressed workers seeking shelter at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, who were also unable to return home in time for the holidays.

‘Smart Kids’ festival commences KUWAIT: The Kuwait Scientific Club launched its fifth cultural festival “Smart Kids” at the theater of the club late Thursday, attracting a large number of participants.

Delivering a lecture entitled “How to Develop Your Thinking”, Dr Khalid AlMehndai talked about the way of thinking, critical thinking, and critical education targeting mental development. He stressed the significance of methods of developing the skills of creative education and creative thoughts, elaborating on the characteristics of creative people. But, he listed creative thinking obstacles and barriers as parents’ low educational levels, familial reluctance to cooperate with school and parental failure to organize kids’ time for learning and studying on the one hand and entertainment on the other hand.—KUNA

KUWAIT: KFAS officials receiving the prize.

KFAS awarded best documentary prize KUWAIT: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) was awarded the prize for best documentary at the Marbella International Film Festival in the Spanish Costa Del Sol, it was announced here on Thursday.

The awarded film portrays a detailed scientific portrayal of the rust of metals in the physical and chemical state, backed by threedimensional photography of the occurrence,

KFAS said in a statement. The documentary, in both the English and Arabic languages, was made to help limit industry losses related to hot and humid climates like those found in Kuwait and the Gulf region, amid acidenveloped mediums found particularly in the oil industry. The Kuwaiti non-profit privately-owned organization said that the award is the first for Kuwait for scientific documentaries on the international scale, which illus-

trates the high level scientifically-motivated documentaries, have aspired to in the country. KFAS added that the documentary was entirely locally produced, by the efforts of director Jaafar Dashti and supervised by the Head of its Cultural Scientific Department Dr. Jassim Beshara, along with the material which was prepared and compiled by Dr. Abdulhamid Al-Hashim assisted by Dr. Beshara. — KUNA

Tunisian official hails Kuwait’s cultural role

KUWAIT: A fire occurred in a garage in the Shuwaikh industrial area. Firemen from Showaikh and Shohada responded to the emergency and controlled the blaze within 30 minutes. Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped in a bathroom and another who suffered from smoke inhalation.

—Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

DOUZ, Tunisia: Director of the 42nd International Festival of the Sahara ElTaher Bin Oun yesterday commended Kuwait’s role in promoting culture throughout the Arab world.

Bin Oun, who is also mayor of the southern Tunisian oasis of Douz, told KUNA at the conclusion of the festival that Kuwait’s role was truly manifested in the event, as all local officials here valued Kuwait’s rich contributions in it, especially the ones by Khaled AlKhalfan, Advisor to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information and Heritage Researcher Amal Abdullah, who both partook in the international symposium of Tunisian President Zine ElAbidine Ben Ali’s university chair for dialogue among civilizations and religions.

He also spoke highly of the poetic contribution made by Kuwaiti poet Rija Al-Qahtani.

At the conclusion of the

four-day festival, Al-Khalfan gifted both Bin Oun and supervisor of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali’s university chair for dialogue among civilizations and religions Dr. Hussein Fantar with commemorative plaques in recognition of their efforts in buttressing cultural relations between Kuwait and Tunisia Celebrating the Saharan diversity, the festival was first called the Camel festival when it began in 1910 during French colonial era.

In 1967 it took on its modern identity according to the will of Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s first president, to become the country’s oldest and best-known festival.

Since then, every year at the end of December, thousands of people, mostly from all over the Maghreb and other Arab countries, flock to Douz oasis where palm trees outnumber the 12,000 residents by 25 to one. —- KUNA

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INTERNATIONAL

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Iraq civilian death toll down to 4,500 in 2009 BAGHDAD: The number of Iraqi civilians killed in violence fell by half in 2009 to about 4,500 but improvements in security have slowed and large-scale attacks took a major toll last year, a study has found.

Human rights group Iraq Body Count (IBC) put the 2009 civilian death toll in Iraq up to Dec. 16 at 4,497, the lowest since the 2003 invasion and less than half the 2008 toll of 9,226. Unlike 2008, the decline in violent deaths seemed to stagnate in 2009 — the first half and the second

half of the year had roughly similar figures, the group said in a report released on Friday.

US and Iraqi officials have hailed the dramatic drop in violence from the height of sectarian killing in 2006 and 2007.

According to US military figures, violence peaked in late 2006 and early 2007 with up to about 1,700 attacks a week.

That was a far cry from late summer 2009, when about 200 attacks a week were recorded.

Still, the report noted troubling trends, such as a rise during 2009 in the toll from large-scale bombings, killing more than 50 civilians each. In 2008, 534 people were killed in nine such attacks compared with 750 in eight attacks in 2009. “Iraq is clearly suffering more daily violence from terrorism and instability than any other country, considerably more violence even than Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said John Sloboda, the group’s co-founder and spokesman.

He said that, despite Iraqi author-

ities’ inability to stop a constant drumbeat of violence, there was “complacency among Western politicians and Western commentators who kind of imply that Iraq is solved”.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has staked his reputation on turning around Iraq’s security situation, is struggling to contain recriminations arising from a series of coordinated attacks targeting government facilities, the latest of which killed up to 112 people in December.

Attacks continued outside the capital, too. In Ramadi, the capital of the western province of Anbar, at least 25 people were killed on Wednesday in what appeared to be an attempt to assassinate the provincial governor.

The attacks add fuel to Iraqis’ fears that violence will increase again before national elections on March 7 and beyond as US troops prepare to halt combat operations by next autumn and withdraw entirely by the end of 2011. The US administration is

increasingly looking towards the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan as it prepares to cut its troop numbers in Iraq to 50,000 by the end of August from about 115,000 now.

IBC, whose figures are based on cross-checked media accounts, and reports from hospitals, morgues and civil society groups, puts the overall civilian death toll since the 2003 invasion at between 94,939 and 103,588.

Its numbers are considerably higher than those provided by the Iraqi government. On Thursday, the

Health Ministry said 306 civilians were killed in December, bringing the total of civilians killed by violence in 2009 to 2,773.

About 3,700 foreign soldiers have been killed in combat in Iraq since the war began, according to www.icasualties.org, which tracks casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That toll has fallen sharply, too, especially as remaining US soldiers spend more time confined to their bases and Iraqi forces take the lead on security. — Reuters

December 1st month without US combat death

Petraeus hails progress as US transforms command BAGHDAD: A top US general hailed progress in Iraq yesterday while American forces underwent a transformation, with their command renamed to reflect the fact that no other countries have troops here. Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I), the name of the command of the coalition that invaded Iraq in 2003, was changed to United States Forces-Iraq (USF-I) in a ceremony attended by senior generals and Iraqi ministers at Al-Faw Palace at US Camp Victory on Baghdad’s outskirts.

“Since I left in September 2008, I have noted progress each time (I returned),” General David Petraeus, the current US regional military commander and former top general in Iraq, told reporters. “That is not to say there have not been considerable challenges, there have not been periodic horrific attacks, and that there have not been innumerable obstacles. “But there has been sustained progress, and that progress has been maintained even after US forces moved out of the cities, and progress continues even as US forces have drawn down.”

The 400-odd people who attended the ceremony, among whom were Defence Minister Abdel Obeidi and Iraqi army chief Lieutenant General Ali Ghaidan Majeed, saw General Ray Odierno, the top US com-

mander in Iraq, roll up the MNF-I flag and unfurl a new one for USF-I. After the departure of British, Romanian and Australian troops in July, the remaining 110,000-odd US troops are now the only force in MNF-I, spurring the decision to change the command’s name.

At the start of the 2003 invasion, the socalled “coalition of the willing” included nearly 40 countries aside from the United States, including Britain, Australia and Poland. It drew criticism, however, because many of the countries contributed only a handful of troops, with several pulling out or dramatically reducing their military commitments shortly after the invasion. As part of a security deal signed by Baghdad and Washington in Nov 2008, US troops with-

drew from Iraq’s cities at the end of June and must leave the country entirely by the end of 2011.

Also, December was the first month since the US-led invasion of Iraq nearly seven years ago in which no US forces died in combat in the country. Odierno called it a significant milestone and said it speaks to how the violence in Iraq has diminished.

Odierno is the commanding general in Iraq.

There were three US troops who died in December as a result of non-combat related incidents. According to an AP count, 149 US troops died in Iraq in 2009. That includes combat-related deaths and those not related to fighting. That’s the lowest number of US deaths for a year since the Iraq war began in 2003. — Agencies

Shebab to send fighters to Yemen

TEL AVIV: Israeli magician Hezi Dean, 29, leaves an eight-tonne ice cube at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday. Dean beat a new record after staying in the ice block for 64 hours wearing a tee-shirt and jeans. —AFP

Icy reception to New Year TEL AVIV: An Israeli illusionist gave an icy reception to the New Year, emerging at midnight from 66 hours in an 8-tonne block of ice, breaking the record of American magician David Blaine.

Hezi Dean, 29, had himself sealed into a specially constructed transparent ice cube in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, where

he apparently stayed for nearly three days wearing just jeans and a thin T-shirt.

At the stroke of the New Year, assistants cut open the ice block and removed a weak-looking Dean, taking him straight to a waiting ambulance, according to an AFP photographer.

His condition was not immediately clear. Some 200 onlook-

ers celebrated the arrival of the new decade with Dean, many of the them carrying signs-from the encouraging “Hezi the great,” to the more practical “Don’t die Hezi Dean.” Dean had been attempting to break the record of David Blaine, who spent 63 hours in a similar ice cube in New York’s Times Square in 2000.— AFP

MOGADISHU: Somalia’s hardline Shebab insurgents yesterday said they will send fighters to Yemen, where government forces are battling Al-Qaeda suspects, to help fight “the enemy of Allah”.

“We tell our Muslim brothers in Yemen that we will cross the water between us and reach your place to assist you fight the enemy of Allah,” said Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansour, a top official of the AlQaeda-inspired militants.

“Today you see what is happening in Yemen, the enemy of Allah is destroying your Muslim brothers,” he said in northern Mogadishu where he displayed hundreds of newly-trained young fighters.

“I call upon the young men in Arab lands to join the fight there.” Yemeni forces last month launched raids on suspected Al-Qaeda targets in the centre of the country and the Sanaa region, killing more than 60 Islamist militants. Several rebels were also wounded in clashes this week. The Shebab control a large swathe of south and central Somalia and have wrested control of much of the capital Mogadishu where they have relentlessly attacked government and African Union forces. — AFP

MOGADISHU: Hard-line Al Shabab fighters conduct military exercise in northern Mogadishu’s Suqaholaha neighborhood yesterday. The group’s senior official said the young fighters have recently completed training to join what they said to be a global war against the enemy of Allah. — AP

ARBIL: The Citadel is lit up as fireworks exploded over the historical building in the center of the northern city of Arbil, 320 km from Baghdad yesterday, as Iraqi Kurds bring in the New Year. Families gathered to watch the fire work display. —AFP

Briton in kidnap ordeal to fly home LONDON: A Briton freed earlier this week after being kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 is expected to fly home soon, officials said.

Peter Moore, a computer expert, was released unharmed Wednesday after a two-and-a-half year ordeal in which all four of his bodyguards, also Britons, are thought to have been killed.

“It is likely that Peter Moore will return home today,” a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office in London said.

There were no further details and it was thought his family had requested

Ultra-Orthodox Jews make rare visit to Gaza GAZA CITY: A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews were preparing Friday to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath in Gaza, in an unlikely show of support for Palestinians in the Hamas-run coastal territory.

Bearded and wearing black hats and coats, the four members of a tiny Jewish group vehemently opposed to Israel’s existence were a rare sight in the povertystricken Palestinian territory.

Members of the Neturei Karta group have expressed support for the Iranian regime and for others who oppose the Jewish state, which they believe was established in violation of Jewish law.

They made a similar visit to Gaza earlier this year.

“It’s crucial that the people of Gaza understand the terrible tragedy here is not in the name of Judaism,” said one of the men, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of New York City, as the four prepared to observe the Sabbath at a Gaza City hotel.

Gaza is still recovering from Israel’s devastating military offensive a year ago, which was aimed at halting rocket fire from the territory. Thirteen Israelis and almost 1,400 Gazans were killed in the three-week war. The four men are American and Canadian citizens. Israel bans its citizens from visiting the blockaded territory. Weiss and his comrades entered Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt.

Neturei Karta, Aramaic for “Guardians of the City,” was founded seven decades ago in Jerusalem by Jews who opposed the drive to establish the state of Israel, believing only the Messiah could do that.

Considered marginal even among ultra-Orthodox Jews, the group’s size is estimated at between a few hundred to a few thousand people.—- AP

privacy.

Meanwhile, relatives of Moore and others caught up in the hostage ordeal have spoken of their anger at the British government over its handling of the situation.

The bodies of three bodyguards-Alec MacLachlan, 30, Jason Swindlehurst, 38, and Jason Creswell, 39 — were given to British officials last year. A fourth, Alan McMenemy, is also believed to have died.

McMenemy’s father Dennis accused the Foreign Office of “deceit, lies and cover-up” while Avril Sweeney, Peter

Moore’s mother, said the government had “never told the truth”, the Guardian reported.

The paper reported Thursday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard led the kidnap operation and took the five to Iran within a day of their abduction. There is speculation, denied by Britain, that a deal was done to secure their release after it emerged the leader of the group which took Moore from a government building in Baghdad was being transferred from US to Iraqi custody.

Britain and Iran have also played down reports of a link to Iran. — AFP

Leading Egyptian clerics back Gaza tunnel barrier CAIRO: A council of leading Muslim clerics has supported the Egyptian government’s construction of an underground barrier along the border with Gaza to impede tunnelling by smugglers, a report said yesterday.

The Islamic Research Council of Al-Azhar University, Sunni Islam’s highest seat of learning, said that the tunnels were used to smuggle drugs and threatened Egypt’s security, the AlMasri Al-Yawm newspaper reported.

“It is one of Egypt’s legitimate rights to place a barrier that prevents the harm from the tunnels under Rafah, which are used to smuggle drugs and other (contraband) that threaten Egypt’s stability,” the paper quoted the clerics as saying.

“Those who oppose building this wall are violating the commands of Islamic law,” they added, after a meeting attended by Egypt’s top cleric Sheikh Mohammed Said Tantawi, who is a government appointee.

Construction of the underground barrier has drawn angry condemnation from the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip, which relies on the tunnels for food and fuel, as well as the weapons and other contraband the barrier is designed to stop.

Israel has sealed the territory off to all but very limited supplies of basic goods ever since the Islamist group seized control in 2007, ousting forces to Western-backed Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.— AFP

TEL AVIV: Israelis cheer for the New Year’s Eve celebration, in central Tel Aviv, late Thursday. — AP

Saturday, January 2, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

5

North Korea calls for end to hostile relations with US SEOUL: North Korea yesterday called for an end to hostile relations with the United States, vowing to work towards a nuclear-free peninsula seven months after its last atomic test angered the world community. The call was made in a policy-setting New Year joint editorial of the communist country’s state newspapers. North Korean people must learn and memorize the editorial, which is seen as ideological guidance for the year ahead.

“The fundamental task for ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia is to put an end to the hostile relationship between the DPRK (North Korea) and the USA,” the editorial said.

“It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to establish a lasting peace system on the Korean Peninsula and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negoti-

ations,” the editorial said, according to Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea left six-party nuclear disarmament talks in April last year in protest at international censure over its launch of a long-range rocket. In May, it staged its second nuclear test since 2006.

US envoy Stephen Bosworth visited the communist nation last month and reached a “common understanding” on the need to resume the talks, which group the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the United States. However, no date has been fixed.

In Washington, a State Department official said North Korea should demonstrate its good faith by returning to the six-party talks.

“Actions speak louder than words,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “A good step forward would be to return to six party talks.”

South Korea’s unification ministry said this year’s editorial is distinctive in emphasizing “dialogue and negotiations” as last year’s editorial reaffirmed its commitment to denuclearization and peace without mentioning dialogue.

Analysts also said it indicated progress.

“This means that North Korea’s ordinary people will start being educated about Pyongyang’s push for an end to enmity with the US,” Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Dongguk Univerity said.

Another professor, Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies, said the editorial indicates that Pyongyang will actively pursue dialogue this year, focusing on the conclusion of a peace treaty and nuclear disarmament.

The Korean peninsula remains technically in a

state of war because the 1950-53 conflict between North and South ended with an armistice and not a peace treaty.

The New Year’s editorial “means the North will not call for an end to US hostility as a pre-condition for giving up its nuclear weapons but it will push for both goals-an end to hostile relations and denuclearisationat the same time,” Yang said.

The editorial also put great emphasis on what it called bringing about “a radical turn in the people’s standard of living” in impoverished North Korea.

This would be achieved by quicker development of light industry and agriculture, KCNA said.

“Our building of the country into an economic giant is aimed, to all intents and purposes, at radically improving the people’s standard of living,” the editorial quoted North Korea’s all-powerful leader Kim

Jong-Il as saying.

Professor Kim Yong-Hyun said the North was now whipping up its people to increase production after the country last month carried out a surprise currency revaluation aimed at reasserting government control of the economy.

The editorial warned neighboring South Korea against “committing acts that may aggravate the confrontation and tension, and take the road of respecting the inter-Korean declarations, promoting north-south dialogue and improving the relations between both sides.”

“The focus on the standard of living shows that the regime is trying to solicit legitimacy for its power succession from the people,” Jang Yong-Suk, a researcher at the private Institute for Peace Affairs told the South’s Yonhap news agency. —- AFP

Bodies moved to an undisclosed location

US missile kills 3 militants in Pakistan tribal region MIR ALI, Pakistan: A suspected US missile struck a car carrying alleged militants in a northwestern Pakistan tribal region yesterday, killing three men in the second such attack in less than a day, intelligence officials said. The strikes are part of the US campaign to rid Pakistan of a creeping militant movement Washington believes is threatening the war effort in neighboring Afghanistan.

MANILA: Children play along a river near the famous Cagsawa ruins, before a backdrop of the Mayon volcano in Legazpi City, the Philippines’ Albay province, yesterday. Philippine volcanologists said they may lower the alert level of the volcano in the coming days amid signs it was beginning to calm down three weeks after it began spewing ash and lava. — AFP

The one yesterday happened near Mir Ali, a major town in the region, two intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. Shortly after yesterday’s attack, Taliban arrived at the scene of the attack in the village of Ghundi and moved the bodies to an undisclosed location, the officials said.

The United States has fired scores of missiles from unmanned drones into Pakistan’s tribal regions since 2008 in a campaign primarily targeting Al-Qaida. US officials rarely discuss the strikes, and Pakistan publicly condemns them, though it is widely believed to aid them secretly. Pakistan is in the midst of an army offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan, an operation which has spawned a wave of revenge attacks across the country that has killed more than 500 people since October.

At least 11 UN workers have been killed in Pakistan over the past year, and the organization had already reduced its activities in the country’s volatile northwest in response to the deteriorating conditions before Thursday’s announcement of a partial pullout.

UN security managers are seeking a reduction of up to 30 percent in the UN’s international staff working inside Pakistan, a UN official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because security details and negotiations are confidential. However, the actual number is likely to be lower and will depend on negotiations

The rising insecurity inside Pakistan, meanwhile, is prompting the United Nations to relocate about a quarter of its international staff in the country, officials confirmed Thursday. Both missile strikes occurred in North Waziristan, a lawless tribal region along the Afghan border which is home to several militant groups that tend to focus on attacking US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

with the various UN agency heads who oversee those workers, the official said. The UN employs about 250 international and 2,500 national staff in Pakistan.

The official said an undetermined number of national staff will likely be moved out of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province along the border with Afghanistan, and from the western province of Baluchistan. The U.N. scaled back its operations in Baluchistan in July after a threat by separatists who kidnapped an American aid worker. In Islamabad, spokeswoman Ishrat Rizvi said around 20 percent of the U.N.’s expatriate workers will either leave Pakistan for six months or be relocated to safer areas within the country. She declined to give specifics on what projects or employees would be affected. The U.N. began reviewing its operations after an October attack on the World Food Program office in Islamabad killed five people. The goal was to see how it could operate more effectively and safely in Pakistan without disrupting its relief and development aid.

U.N. operations in Pakistan since early 2009 have grown to some $1 billion for the nation’s “sustainable development” needs, officials said. Since spring they have also handed out some $475 million in emergency humanitarian aid in northern Pakistan.

Also yesterday, Karachi, the country’s largest city, came to a virtual standstill after religious and political leaders called for a general strike to protest a bombing that killed 44 people and subsequent riots. The city’s

major markets, stores and business centers were closed, along with financial institutions that had already planned to shut because of New Year’s Day. Public transportation was halted and gas stations were shut down. Monday’s bombing occurred in the midst of a procession of minority Shiite Muslims during the Islamic holy month of Muharram. Afterward, angry protesters went on a rampage, setting fires to about 2,000 stores that took three days to completely put out.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, on a visit to Karachi, said investigators were still determining whether the attack was a suicide bombing.

He also questioned the claim of a purported Taleban spokesman, Asmatullah Shaheen, that the militant group was behind the attack. Local news reports on Friday quoted a more prominent Taliban spokesman, Azam Tariq, as denying that the Pakistani Taliban’s central leadership had approved the attack, though he did not rule out the possibility that Shaheen’s group had carried it out without approval.

In the northwest, a roadside bomb exploded near a car in the Bajur tribal region, killing an anti-Taleban tribal elder and five of his family members, said Nasib Shah, a local government official. Bajur was the focus of a 2008-09 army offensive but still suffers some militant violence. Tribal leaders who support the government against the Taliban are frequent targets of attacks. — AP

Mayon volcano alert may China nabs 5,400 for online porn in 2009 be lowered: Philippines MANILA: Philippine volcanologists yesterday said they may lower the alert level around the Mayon volcano in the coming days amid signs it appeared to be in a lull, three weeks after it began spewing ash and lava.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said no ash explosion was observed over the past 24 hours, and rumblings have lessened significantly.

If no significant events should occur during the next few days, the agency said it will “consider the possibility of lowering the alert level.”

Around 50,000 people living in an 8km radius danger zone around Mayon were evacuated after the institute raised the alert level to four on a scale of five on December 20, meaning a major eruption could be imminent.

It first began rumbling days earlier, oozing lava and sending plumes of ash into the air.

The eerie spectacle saw the 2,460-metre volcano’s peak glowing with crimson lava at night, and forced tens of thousands of evacuees to spend Christmas at packed evacuation centres.

Albay provincial governor Joey Salceda expressed relief at the news, and stressed that the worst appears to be over.

“It really looks like ‘Mayon drops dead’,” Salceda told reporters. “And it seems God answered my prayers and saw the collective preparations of a united people.”

Once the alert level is lowered, he said officials would begin returning families, who had been staying in public schools converted into temporary shelters, to their homes.

However, he said over 2,000 families living in villages nearest the volcano would be advised to remain.

Mayon, which is about 330 km southeast of Manila, has erupted 48 times in recorded history.

In 1814, more than 1,200 people were killed when lava flows buried the town of Cagsawa.

It last erupted for two months in 2006, although no one was directly killed. A powerful typhoon however dislodged tons of debris from Mayon’s slopes three months later, burying entire towns and killing over 1,000 people. — AFP

MANILA: A time exposure photo created using sparklers shows children celebrating on New Year’s eve in Manila on Thursday. Revelers worldwide met the New Year with spectacular fireworks displays and joyful parties against a backdrop of tightened security. — AFP

BEIJING: Chinese authorities caught nearly 5,400 suspects last year in a crackdown on online pornography and have vowed to strengthen Internet policing.

Beijing’s pervasive policing of cyberspace and attempts to block the Internet are already among the world’s most stringent.

In a statement late Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security said the “purification of the Internet” and fighting of online crime are closely tied to the country’s stability.

“Lewd and pornographic content

seriously pollutes the online environment, depraves social morals and poisons the physical and psychological health of the masses of young people,” the statement said. “It must be firmly controlled.”

The ministry said nearly 9,000 pornographic Web sites have been deleted from the Internet and 5,394 suspects captured in 2009, although it did not say how many of them were formally arrested or charged.

It said future efforts would focus on China-based operators of overseasregistered Web sites and companies

Philippine politician dies after gun attack BUTUAN, Philippines: An opposition politician in the southern Philippines who was attacked in an upsurge of violence ahead of May 2010 elections died of his gunshot wound yesterday, police and colleagues said.

Councillor Wilbert Suanco Origenes was rushed to hospital in the province of Surigao del Norte on Mindanao island in critical condition after a gunman broke into his home and shot him in front of his family Tuesday.

He died from “complications arising from his injury,” police said.

“We are saddened by Origenes death. We hope justice be served,” said Alfonso Casurra, the local district chairman of the opposition Nacionalista Party, under whose umbrella Origenes was to run for vice mayor of the town of Taganaan.

The NP’s leader, multimillionaire property developer and Senator Manny Villar, is to run for president in the May 2010 election.

Casurra said the attack on the 49-year-old Origenes may have been politically motivat-

ed, noting that it came just two days after another party member was killed.

On Monday a local NP politician was killed and six other people wounded when hooded gunmen opened fire on a convoy of about 50 people, most of them party candidates and their supporters, in the northern province of Ilocos Norte.

Police said they were investigating whether the attacks were linked, and have set up a task force to go after the assailants.

Political killings are common in this Southeast Asian nation of 92 million people, where influential clans and families are known to employ private armies to hold on to power.

The worst such incident occurred in November, when 57 people were massacred in the southern province of Maguindanao.

A son of the then-governor of Maguindanao has been charged over the killings, which authorities say he organized to prevent a rival challenging him for a provincial post in next year’s elections.— AFP

that provide Internet services, or register domain names or rent virtual space to sites with pornographic content.

The ministry also offered rewards to members of the public who provide useful information in policing efforts.

The communist government says the main targets of its Web censorship are pornography, gambling and other sites deemed harmful to society.

Critics, however, say that often acts as cover for detecting and blocking sensitive political content. Its restrictions of the Internet are often referred to as

the “Great Firewall of China.”

Many foreign sites have been blocked by China’s Internet authorities, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and a host of other media and news Web sites.

Last year, China backed down from a requirement for new computers to be loaded with a controversial Internet-filtering software known as Green Dam Youth escort after a major outcry from Chinese citizens and computer companies. That software had been introduced as a filter against porn. — AP

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INTERNATIONAL

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Airport pat-downs often ineffective security stop CHICAGO: With all the screening technology at US airports, the last line of defense is still the human hand: the pat-down search.

But aviation experts say the patdown is often ineffective, in part because of government rules covering where screeners can put their hands and how frequently they can frisk passengers. As a result, even if the man accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound US jetliner on Christmas Day got an airport patdown, it probably wouldn’t have found the explosives authorities say were hidden in his crotch.

“To have people hold up their arms and just pat them — like I’m

really going to carry a bomb there,” said industry analyst Michael Boyd, arguing that pat-downs were often of little value. “You know where you’re going to put it, and no one’s going to go there.” Most travelers at US airports never get a pat-down when they pass through security. A metal detector must be set off first and then screeners would need to find out what triggered the alarm. That often amounts to screeners just lightly tapping on a passenger’s arms, legs and clothes. But even if they go ahead with a pat-down, it likely would not turn up something nonmetallic, small and well-hidden.

Unlike the frisking of suspects con-

ducted by police — which involves officers running their hands firmly up and down the body, including sensitive areas like the groin, buttocks and breasts — the pat-downs at airports usually involve, well, patting down.

A flood of complaints by women prompted the Transportation Security Administration in 2004 to list ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ on pat-downs, including barring screeners from touching female passengers between their breasts. The TSA hasn’t publicly released that list.

But a report by the Government Accountability Office, which said federal investigators were able to smug-

gle liquid explosives and detonators past security at US airports, appeared to prompt some changes last year in pat-down policies.

In one instance cited in the report, an investigator placed coins in his pockets to ensure he’d receive a secondary screening. But after a pat-down and use of a hand-held metal detector, the screener didn’t catch the prohibited items the investigator brought through a checkpoint.

The TSA last year decided to permit what it describes as “enhanced pat-downs” that include breast and groin searches. But these could be done only under limited circum-

stances and only after the use of metal detectors, less invasive patdowns and all other tools had been exhausted.

Still, even in those cases, screeners must use the back of their hands when touching the groin area and breasts, according to the TSA. “This new procedure will affect a very small percentage of travelers, but it is a critical element in ensuring the safety of the flying public,” the agency said in a statement on its Web site.

Since the Dec. 25 incident, some have been calling for more pat-downs at airports. But sensitivities on all sides mean any push for more fre-

quent, thorough pat-downs would likely meet fierce resistance.

“People just wouldn’t stand for it.

You wouldn’t. I wouldn’t,” said Gerry Berry, a Florida-based airport security expert.

Fearful of lawsuits or allegations of molestation, many screeners at airports would be the most resistant of all, said Boyd. “You’ll have people yelling, ‘He grabbed me! He groped me!”’ he said. “You don’t want that job.” TSA spokesman Greg Soule declined to discuss the agency’s patdown rules or any directives to airports, including whether the agency has ordered stepped-up pat-downs at US airports since last week.

“Pat-downs are one layer of security in a multifaceted security system,” he said.

The TSA, he added, was aware of concerns surrounding pat-downs.

“I would say that security is TSA’s No. 1 priority while balancing the privacy of all passengers,” he said. It’s possible that pat-downs may become more frequent in airports as the use of full-body scanning machines expands.

The high-tech machines are in use at a handful of airports; the TSA just bought 150 and plans to buy 300 more. But passengers can opt for a physical pat-down instead of being scanned.— AP

World leaders needed to cooperate urgently

Al-Qaeda threat looms into new decade: Brown

LONDON: A man and his dog are seen walking in the heavy snow at Wardley, Tyne And Wear, north east England as the severe weather continues across England yesterday.— AP

LONDON: The failed Detroit plane bombing showed that terrorism remains a “very real” global threat as the world enters a new decade eight years after 9/11, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned yesterday. World leaders needed to cooperate “urgently” to tighten security at airports and on aircraft following the December 25 attack in which a 23-year-old Nigerian nearly downed a US jet as it prepared to land, he said. Brown added that Britain had ordered a review of airport security arrangements and promised action “as quickly as possible”.

“Enemies of democracy and freedom- refused a visa in May 2009.

“The new decade is starting as the last “But in light of the Detroit incident we began-with Al-Qaeda creating a climate of now trying to mastermind death and fear,” he wrote, saying the failed bombing destruction from Yemen as well as other all urgently need to work together on how had “exposed an evolving terrorist threat” better-known homes of international terror we might further tighten these arrangeand highlighted “a major new base for ter- such as Pakistan and Afghanistan-are con- ments,” he said.

“That is why on Monday I ordered immecealing explosives in ways which are more rorism.” diate reviews into existing measures-includ“The failed attack in Detroit on difficult to detect,” said Brown.

“Al Qaeda and their associates continue ing for transit passengers-and asked for Christmas Day reminds us of a deeper reality: that almost 10 years after September in their ambition to indoctrinate thousands ways we can urgently tighten procedures.

“I will be receiving the preliminary find11th international terrorism is still a very of young people around the world with a deadly desire to kill and maim,” he wrote in ings in the next few days and we will act on real threat,” he added.

The Detroit attack, which has led to a an article on his Downing Street office’s them as quickly as possible.”

He stressed that Britain cannot rely only major review of security procedures and the website.

And he said: “Our response in security, on a “fortress Britain strategy” but must coordination of airline and other watch-lists, had thrown the spotlight onto the threat intelligence, policing and military action, is take the fight to where extremists are posed by militants based in Yemen, he said. not just an act of choice but an act of neces- based, “in Afghanistan, Pakistan and all around the world.”

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is believed sity.”

“The Detroit plot thankfully failed. But it Brown said Britain has “one of the to have been trained in Yemen before embarking on the failed bombing, with toughest borders in the world,” and had has been another wake-up call for the ongoexplosives concealed in his underwear screened 135 million passengers in and out ing battles we must wage not just for secuwhich remained undetected as he passed of the country against watchlists-including rity against terror but for the hearts and the Detroit attempted bomber, who was minds of a generation.” — AFP through Nigerian and Dutch airports.

Irish freeze-up causes travel disruption DUBLIN: Freezing temperatures and snow in parts of Ireland yesterday caused severe disruption to air, road and rail transport, the emergency services said.

Dublin airport was closed for a period following “heavy snow” and many flights were delayed or cancelled.

“Severe weather conditions have disrupted the flight sched-

ule,” the Dublin airport authority said, adding this had caused the “cancellation and diversion of a number of flights.”

In Dublin, the city’s state bus company said that “due to extreme weather conditions” no services were operating.

There was also disruption of provincial bus and rail services as a result of the sub-zero temperatures. Irish police and the

Automobile Association advised motorists not to take unnecessary journeys in 12 of the country’s 26 counties as a result of “extremely poor driving conditions”.

The country’s meteorological services said there was widespread ice on untreated roads and they forecast that snow showers on the east coast would die out later though there

Nigerian VP hopes for safe return of president

would be further snow in the north and northwest.

It expects more snow in the north and west last night and a severe frost with temperatures down as low as -9 degrees Celsius.

Saturday will be another bitterly cold day, with frost, ice and fog persisting and more snow. The freeze-up is expected to continue into next week.— AFP

Shooting spree prompts new gun debate

VATICAN: Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful from his pope mobile on his way to visit the nativity in St Peter’s Square after celebrating the Vespers and Te Deum prayer in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican yesterday. —- AFP

Pope calls for respect, peace at start of 2010 VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI called for the respect of all people without discrimination and the protection of children from war and violence during a Mass yesterday marking the start of the new year. The pontiff, also marking the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace, said peace begins by recognizing that men are brothers, not rivals or enemies. “Peace begins with a look of respect that recognizes in another man’s face a person, regardless of the color of his skin, nationality, language or religion,” he said during the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The value of respect for all should be taught from an early age, Benedict said. Noting that classes containing children of

different backgrounds are common, he said that “their faces are a prophecy of the kind of humanity we are called upon to create: a family of families and peoples.” The 82-year-old pope put children, especially those hurt by conflict or forced to leave their homes, at the heart of his call for peace.

He said they make it evident that men are brothers because “despite differences, they cry and laugh the same way, have the same needs, communicate spontaneously, play together.” The painful images of children at the mercy of war and violence, their faces “disfigured by pain and desperation,” are a silent appeal for peace, Benedict said.

“Faced with their defenseless condition, all the false jus-

tifications for war and violence collapse,” the pope said. “We simply must convert to a project of peace, laying down arms of all kinds and committing all together to building a world more worthy of man.” The pope celebrated the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica a week after he was knocked down by a woman on Christmas Eve. He was unhurt in the fall and has kept up his busy holiday schedule. The Vatican said the woman was mentally unstable and identified her as 25-yearold Susanna Maiolo, a SwissItalian national. She remains in a clinic for treatment. In his homily, Benedict also renewed his call to protect the environment, saying that the degradation of man leads to the degradation of the planet.— AFP

HELSINKI: Finland was in mourning yesterday after a jealous ex-lover shot dead his former girlfriend and four of her work colleagues in the latest armed rampage which has reignited debate on the country’s gun controls.

Ibrahim Shkupolli ended his killing spree on Thursday by turning his weapon on himself, bringing the overall toll from the tragedy in the normally sleepy Helsinki suburb of Espoo to six.

As relatives of the victims tried to come to terms with their loss, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen acknowledged it raised new questions about firearms laws.

“The incident draws attention to the large amount of handguns in our country,” Vanhanen said in a statement.

“Broad-based cooperation within our society is necessary to avoid such tragedies in the future.”

Finland, one of western Europe’s most sparsely populated countries with a long tradition of hunting, has one of the largest per capita gun ownerships in the world.

But debate about the level of gun ownership has become a hot political topic in the wake of two shootings at schools in 2007 and 2008 which left a total of 18 pupils and staff dead as well as the two shooters.

A new firearms law, intended to tighten up licensing requirements, is due to be put before parliament in the spring.

Investigators said that the gun used by Shkupolli, 43, was not licenced.

The 43-year-old was fined by the Helsinki District Court in 2007 for firearm violation for illegal possession of a 9 mm handgun and ammunition.

The Espoo District Court had also fined Shkupolli for illegal possession of a 7.65 calibre handgun and ammunition in 2003. —- AFP

HAWAII: President Barack Obama, center, walks out with his security detail after going to the movies in Kaneohe, Hawaii on Thursday. The Obamas are in Hawaii for the holidays. — AP

Obama begins new year with eye on intelligence HONOLULU: President Barack Obama is reviewing reports from homeland security officials as his administration tries to determine what US policy and personnel failures preceded the attempted bombing of a jetliner bound from Amsterdam to Detroit. Intelligence officials, meanwhile, prepared for what was shaping up to be uncomfortable hearings before Congress about miscommunication among anti-terror agencies and sweeping changes expected under Obama’s watch.

Democrats joined a chorus led by Obama in declaring the government’s intelligence procedures in need of repair. Among them, Democratic Rep. Jane Harman said that when the government gets tipped to trouble as it did before a 23-year-old Nigerian man boarded the Northwest Airlines jet with explosives, “someone’s hair should be on fire.” One senior administration official told reporters traveling with the vacationing president: “The failure to share that information is not going to be tolerated.” The official, like others involved in the reviews, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence discussions.

The Senate Intelligence Committee announced Jan. 21 hearings as part of an investigation to begin sooner. “We will be following the intelligence down the rabbit hole to see where the breakdown occurred and how to prevent this failure in the future,” said Sen. Kit Bond, top Republican on the committee. “Somebody screwed up big time.” Few questioned that judgment, even if some Democrats rendered it in more measured tones. Obama received a preliminary assessment ahead of meetings he will hold in Washington next week on fixing the failures of US anti-terrorism policy. Administration officials said the system to protect America’s skies from terrorists was deeply flawed and, even then, the government failed to follow its own directives.

Obama spoke separately with counterterrorism adviser John Brennan and Homeland Security

Secretary Janet Napolitano, who announced she was dispatching senior department officials to international airports to review their security procedures.

Despite billions of dollars spent to sharpen America’s eye on dangerous malcontents abroad and at home, the creation of an intelligence-information overseer and countless declarations of intentions to cooperate, it was already clear that the country’s national security fiefdoms were still not operating in harmony before the attempted bombing Dec. 25.

The preliminary assessment is part of a continuing, urgent examination that officials said Thursday is highlighting signals that should not have been missed. One likely outcome, they said, was new requirements within the government to review a suspicious person’s visa status. Officials are tracing a communications breakdown that would have had grave consequences except for the attacker’s fumbling failure to detonate an explosion and the quick response of others on the flight. Now Obama, like George W. Bush before him, is struggling to get America’s disparate intelligence and security agencies on the same page.

In the heat of hindsight, even Obama and some fellow Democrats are excoriating a system they thought was on the mend in the years after the 2001 terrorist attacks. “The president was direct in his assessment that intelligence failures were a contributing factor in the escalation of this threat,” Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair wrote to employees. “This is a tough message for us to receive. But we have received it, and now we must move forward and respond as a team.” An anxious father’s pointed warning that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, accused of trying to destroy the Northwest plane, had drifted into extremism in Yemen, an al-Qaida hotbed, was only partially digested by the US security apparatus and not linked with a visa history showing the young man could fly to the US. — AP

ABUJA: Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday he was hopeful that President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is in hospital in Saudi Arabia, would return soon and continue to govern Africa’s most populous nation.

Yar’Adua has been absent for more than a month and Jonathan has been presiding over cabinet meetings. But executive powers have not officially been transferred, leading to questions over the legality of government decisions.

Political analysts, senior lawyers and a former US envoy have warned Nigeria is on the brink of a constitutional crisis.

The Bar Association has brought legal action to try to compel Yar’Adua to temporarily hand over power.

But in a wide-ranging New Year’s Day address to the nation, Jonathan said “the ship of state continues to sail” and that “the nation remains united and driven by a common purpose”.

“Although Mr President has been away from us for sometime on account of a medical condition, he has maintained sustained interest and optimism (in state affairs),” Jonathan said.

“We are hopeful Mr President would return to us before long to continue his good works, with renewed vigour and vitality.”

Lawyers and members of the opposition who have challenged Yar’Adua’s failure to formally transfer powers say affairs of state are already being affected.

A new chief justice was sworn in on Wednesday in Yar’Adua’s absence, leading legal experts to question the legality of the ceremony. The top judge is a key position because he would in turn swear in a new president, legal experts say.

Militants in the restive Niger Delta last month attacked a major oil pipeline, saying Yar’Adua’s absence was slowing peace talks, while clashes between the security forces and an Islamic sect in the northern city of Bauchi on Monday underscored the country’s volatility as it approaches 2011 elections.

“This year represents a watershed in our efforts to conduct peaceful and credible elections and the consolidation of our democracy,” Jonathan said.— Reuters

BUSINESS

Saturday, Junuary 2, 2010

7

Market suffered slings and arrows of tumultuous year NEW YORK: Wall Street suffered the slings and arrows of one of the most tumultuous years in stock market history in 2009, but managed a stunning recovery that eclipsed a weak finish.

Wall Street stocks stumbled Thursday amid thin volumes as many traders were away from their desks ahead of the New Year holiday yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.19 percent to 10,428.05. The technology-rich Nasdaq composite shed 0.97 percent at 2,269.15 and the broad-market Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 1.00 percent at 1,115.10.

But compared with 12 months ago, the blue-chip Dow was up 18.82 percent, its steepest annual gain since 2003. The Nasdaq gained a whopping 43.89 percent over the year and the S&P 500 index was up 23.45 percent.

Still, the blue-chip Dow remains down 26 percent from its 2007 highs and is still struggling around the 10,000 level first reached in 1999.

The story is similar for the S&P 500 index, up 23.45 percent for 2009, but still hovering near 1999 levels and 29 percent below record highs in October 2007.

The Nasdaq has failed to even come close to the boom days that pushed the index above 5,000 in March 2000, but closed 2009 with a

blistering rise of 43.89 percent.

Though the market ended the year with solid gains, that hardly tells the story of a dramatic nearmeltdown for the main indexes followed by a rebound that capped the final year of a “lost decade” for stocks. The market opened 2009 sinking fast as the financial crisis deepened with the September 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers. In 2008, the Dow lost 33.84 percent, the steepest drop since 1931, while the S&P slid 38.49 percent. The Nasdaq tumbled 40.54 percent in 2008, the biggest loss year since its creation in 1971.

It was a Depression-like scenario, with the broad market plunging more than 60 percent from October 2007 to March 2009 — farther and faster than in 1929.

But by the spring, some began to sense a recovery in the economy, and Wall Street regained confidence, setting up one of the biggest market rallies in history over the ensuing months. Ed Yardeni, at Yardeni Research, said the market appeared to turn when the S&P index slid to the ominous number of 666.

“When the S&P 500 bounced off 666 on March 6, I felt like Professor Robert Langdon in the ‘Da Vinci Code,’” he said. “That devilish number had to be the low. I also realized if that was the low, then I

Forecast for global economy in 2010 cautiously optimistic BERLIN: A number of German economists predicted yesterday that the outlook for the German and the world economy for the upcoming year will improve slightly while some of the constraints of last year’s economic woes might still linger for some time in 2010. In a report by heads of a number of economic institutes in Germany, showcased by the TV station ARD, economist Rheinhardt Schlicker advises authorities to keep a tight rein on the money supply and on the trajectory of interest rates as apt measures to keep the current economic climate on keel through the new year. Sound and wise economic policies among the world’s major economic forces that take cues from the pitfalls of the past should smoothly translate into a revival of the world economic picture in 2010, said Schlicker. He counseled those in charge of economies to pay extra heed to signs that might indicate future economic difficulties, among these being statistics on unemployment, corporate profits, performance of the stock market, the range and level of exports, and the position of the major currencies, notably the euro and the dollar. The German economists, the report indicates, have estimated that the deficit in their country’s budget will top 100 billion euro for the current fiscal year, which is a 60 percent jump from the last time they came up with an estimate. The jump is attributable to the impact of last year’s global economic downturn which spurred the government to instigate costly economy-reviving measures such as lowering taxes on corporations and individuals, reasoned the economists. —KUNA

Russia to impose tariffs on oil export to Belarus MOSCOW: Russia will impose customs tariffs on oil supplied to Belarus, Russia’s government said early yesterday as Minsk denounced “unprecedented pressure” on its delegation due to hold talks in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported.

“Talks were held from December 10 to 31 practically daily, but unfortunately we did not reach an agreement,” the government press service was quoted as saying. Belarus was informed of Russia’s decision to impose tariffs starting January 1, the press service said, assuring that Russia was ready to get rid of tariffs as soon as requisite documents were signed.

Meanwhile, the Belarusian delega-

tion was called back to Minsk as “Russia’s offers practically torpedoed the customs bloc set up by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan” due to be launched July 1, a source in Minsk told Interfax. “During talks the Belarusian delegation came up against unprecedented pressure, so Belarus was forced to call off its delegation but handed over to Russia the documents necessary to continue talks,” the source added.

A bitter dispute between Russia and Belarus two years ago in which Minsk angered Moscow by imposing a large customs duty on oil transits led to a three-day cut in Russian oil supplies to the European Union. —AFP

Wall Street ends recovery year on weak note

NEW YORK: A janitor sweeps the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange after trading ended December 31, 2009 in New York. Wall Street stocks slumped at the close of a turbulent year Thursday after positive jobs data sparked concerns that interest rates may rise sooner than anticipated. —AFP

was too bearish. So I started to focus on what could go right, and became increasingly convinced that the bull market was legit, while the bears growled that it was a sucker’s rally.”

The question for many investors now is whether this snapback was a “bear market rally” or the beginning of a new bull run that carries the market to new highs.

“Investors are nervous but optimistic heading into the new year,” said Michael Hartnett, chief global equity strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research.

Some argue the massive bounce since March was simply a new wave of speculation fueled by easy credit from the Federal Reserve, which has kept interest rates near zero since December 2008 and pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into the financial system.

“It is one thing to have the Fed pump liquidity into the system but it is quite another for the liquidity to be re-leveraged into credit and recycled into the economy,” said David Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist at Gluskin Sheff & Associates.

“There is obviously a close connection between money turnover and the stock market (but) if we don’t see the banks begin to extend credit in 2010, it is hard to see the

2009 bounce from oversold lows as being sustained in the coming year.”

Milton Ezrati, economist and market strategist at investment firm Lord Abbett, said the stock market is still licking its wounds as optimism rebounds. “It has been a humbling and sobering experience, to say the least,” he said. “But for all the caution taught by the events of 2008-2009, signs of recovery have become unmistakable, and, as expected, the market has moved up in anticipation of the economic improvement likely in 2010.”

Peter Buchanan, economist at CIBC World Markets, said 2009 “will be remembered more for what didn’t happen, than what did.”

Buchanan said the year opened “with talk of financial and economic Armageddon,” but that a recovery came with surprising speed.

“Few developments have been more striking than the turnaround in equity markets,” he said.

For Fred Dickson at DA Davidson & Co, the outlook for the stock market in 2010 is “positive but subdued.” “We expect the economy to continue to show slow incremental improvement through the year, but we believe the process will try the patience of investors, politicians and most Americans.” — AFP

Official PMI hits 20-month high in December

China factories boom in Dec, demand lifts Korea exports BEIJING/SEOUL: China’s economic growth looks set to accelerate into the new year, with booming factories driving a December manufacturing survey to a 20-month high while South Korea’s exports to the country surged on strong demand.The survey released yesterday also The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) jumped to 56.6 in December from 55.2 in the previous month, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said.

It was the 10th consecutive month of expansion and the biggest monthly rise since March, reflecting that Chinese manufacturers, far from plateaing after a recovery, have actually gathered momentum heading into 2010.

“We expect China’s strong economic growth momentum to continue in 2010, with the major source of growth coming from a broad-based improvement in private consumption, and further strengthening in private housing investment, and a solid recovery in exports,” Jing Ulrich, chairman of China equities at J P Morgan in Hong Kong, said in a research note.

Chinese demand has given a welcome boost to economies of many neighbouring Asian countries over the last year as the region’s traditional Western markets remain weak.

South Korea, Asia’s fourthlargest economy, said yesterday that its exports to China between Dec. 1 to 20 were up 74.4 percent to $54.23 billion, while exports to

the United States in the same period grew only 8.7 percent to $19.04 billion. Overall Korean trade figures for December rose much faster than expected from a year earlier, indicating world trade was recovering quickly from the financial crisis and paving the way for an interest rate increase in Korea soon.

Exports during the final month of 2009 grew 33.7 percent from a year earlier to $36.24 billion, blowing away the median expectation for 25 percent growth.

Imports gained 24.0 percent over a year earlier to $32.94 billion.

South Korea, home to global suppliers of ships, cars and electronics gadgets, is the first major exporting economy in the region to release monthly foreign trade figures and is an early indication of trends in North Asian trade.

“The export figures indicated an economic recovery is spreading to developed countries from emerging markets. The overseas momentum will boost Korea’s overall growth, of course, including domestic demand,” said Song Jae-hyeok, an economist at SK Securities in Seoul.

“That will confirm views of an interest rate rise in the first quarter, probably in February.”

The Bank of Korea indicated on Thursday that rates will rise in 2010 at an appropriate pace. By contrast, China’s central bank said this week that monetary policy will remain loose, though flexibility will increase, a reference to slightly tighter controls on bank lending.

Indeed, a slower expansion of new export orders for the second straight month in December supported the cause of officials who have been extremely cautious in winding down pro-growth policies. “The fall in the indicator for new export orders warrants attention, as it shows we must avoid undue optimism about the improvement in the international marketplace,” said Zhang Liqun, a researcher at the State Council’s Development Research Centre who comments on the PMI for the logistics federation in Beijing.

China’s economy is expected by some analysts to grow more than 9 percent in 2010, increasing worries among some economists that deflation experienced through most of 2009 will quickly flip to inflation.

However, the State Council Development Research Centre, a leading national think tank, said

showed the rapid pace of activity pushed up prices of inputs such as labor, raw materials and capital to a 17-month high in China, potentially complicating efforts of officials who want to maintain growth-friendly policies without driving inflation expectations.

BEIJING: People ski during the New Year’s Day holiday at a ski village in Beijing yesterday. China is expected to grow by about 9.5 percent in 2010, state media quoted a government think tank as saying on December 31, 2009, exceeding forecasts made by outside experts for the new year. — AFP in a report on Friday that China’s gross domestic product would expand by 9.5 percent in 2010, thanks to robust real estate investment and mild inflation.

China’s economy shot back to nearly double-digit growth in

2009 after nearly standing still at the end of 2008, giving a lift to Asia and countries such as Australia which have been able to feed its voracious appetite for commodities.

The country’s 4 trillion yuan

stimulus package, complemented by a record surge in bank lending, propelled the economy to 8.9 percent year-on-year growth in the third quarter of 2009 and put it on track for even faster expansion this year.— Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

.2830000 .2930000 .4530000 .4640000 .4080000 .4160000 .2730000 .2820000 .2700000 .2780000 .2530000 .2610000 .0045000 .0075000 .0020000 .0035000 .0777740 .0785560 .7577310 .7653460 .4020000 .4180000 .0750000 .0790000 .7428230 .7502880 .0045000 .0072000 .0500000 .0570000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2865000 .2886000 .4551710 .4583860 .4103960 .4132940 .2757300 .2776830 .2724910 .2744210 .0551500 .0555400 .0397110 .0399930 .2552150 .25570180 .0369400 .0372020 .2036980 .2051400 .0031080 .0031300 .0061940 .0062380 .0025130 .0025310 .0034210 .0034450 .0041970 .0042270 .0780420 .0785400 .7603350 .7651840 .4051910 .4080610 .0764390 .0769270 .7445310 .7492800 .0062280 .0062720 TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2886000 .4583860 .2776830 .0769270

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 287.800 Euro 413.600 Sterling Pound 458.800

Canadian dollar Turkish lire Swiss Franc Australian dollar US Dollar Buying

279.420 190.620 278.610 256.010 285.000 ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen 3.140 Indian Rupees 6.155 Pakistani Rupees 3.414 Srilankan Rupees 2.513 Nepali Rupees 3.865 Singapore Dollar 205.400 Hongkong Dollar 37.140 Bangladesh Taka 4.164 Philippine Peso 6.190 Thai Baht 8.647 Irani Riyal - Transfer 0.301 Irani Riyal - Cash 0.292 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 54.500 Egyptian Pound 52.413 Yemen Riyal 1.394 Tunisian Dinar 218.530 Jordanian Dinar 406.610 Lebanese Lira 194.500 Syrian Lier 6.336 Morocco Dirham 37.090 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 76.790 Qatari Riyal 79.110 Omani Riyal 748.020 Bahraini Dinar 764.710 UAE Dirham 78.420 GOLD 20 Gram 216.000 10 Gram 110.000 5 Gram 57.000

Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal 10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL CASH 260.500 765.200 4.490 278.300 694.300 15.800 56.600 54.170 417.000

37.660 6.155

407.300 0.193 86.350 3.870 208.200 747.260 3.430 6.200 79.150 76.830 205.990 41.210 2.513 462.500 279.800 8.850 78.510 287.700

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Egyptian pound Euro Cash

37.810 6.490 0.034 0.291 0.254 3.230 408.460 0.194 86.350 39.100 4.240 209.700 2.183 50.600 747.440 3.480 6.430 79.580 76.830 205.990 41.210 2.764 464.500 40.600 281.300 6.400 9.030 222.000 78.510 288.100 1.480 GOLD 1,182.660 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 462.500 287.700

SELL DRAFT 259.000 765.200 4.168 276.800

52.429 415.500

Selling Rate US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees

284.800 274.810 475.510 429.290 281.470 719.870 759.995 78.015 78.655 76.450 404.430 52.475 6.125

Pakistani Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

3.445 2.490 4.160 6.085 3.165 8.550 5.520 3.640

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 287.350 3.435 6.185 2.525 4.165 6.235 78.300 76.780 764.300 52.305 467.100 0.0000306 1.550 409.100 5.750 420.200 283.600

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer rate 287.400 415.500 458.000 3.140 6.165 52.400 2.513 4.155 6.190 3.420 764.100 78.300 76.800

8

BUSINESS

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Cautious hope for battered Pakistan markets in 2010 KARACHI: Pakistan share prices gained more than 60 percent in 2009 after an abysmal 2008 which saw the once-promising market battered by political turmoil, militancy and the global recession.

Despite a shaky start to 2009 with deadly bombings by Taliban insurgents and bruising military operations against extremists, analysts say that 2010 may see the bourse scrambling further into recovery. The benchmark KSE-100 index finished 2008 at 5,865.01, a 58 percent drop on 2007, when Pakistan was named one of the most promising emerging markets.

The index-which has about 650

listed companies-closed on New Year’s Eve 2009 at 9,386.92, and dealers are hoping for another jump in 2010. “We expect Pakistan’s equity market to cross 11,500 points in 2010, thereby providing 22 percent estimated gains,” said Mohammad Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities brokerage firm.

“We estimate better returns later next year since political issues, security concerns, capital gain uncertainty and power shortages would partially be settled,” he added.

In February, the market suffered its worst loss in two-and-a-half years after the Supreme Court disqualified

the main opposition leader from contesting elections, but political meltdown was averted and the bourse rallied. And although attacks by the Taleban killed a record number of people in Pakistan in 2009 — 1,200 deaths, up 30 percent on 2008, according to an AFP tally-most of the violence has struck the troubled northwest.

The financial hub of Karachi has been largely spared the bloodshed, although Monday’s bombing of a Shiite religious procession killing 43 people in the city of 14 million people raised fears that it was again in the militant’s sights. A report by Topline

Securities says 92 percent of attacks in 2009 occurred in North West Frontier Province and southwestern Baluchistan.

“The two provinces have only 20 percent of (Pakistan’s) population with hardly any role in the overall economy, whereas major industries and business activities occur in central Punjab and southern Sindh province,” it said. The military also launched a number of offensives against Taliban strongholds across the northwest in 2009 and are claiming success-although at a great financial cost to the nation, experts say.

“Every year Pakistan loses eight

to nine billion dollars on the war on terror,” said Ashfaq Hasan Khan, a former government economic adviser, lamenting a lack of support from Western partners including the United States.

“Pakistan pays that much money on the war on terror every year and in return we just receive good words but no tangible money,” he told AFP. Islamist violence aside, the global recession, power shortages and soaring inflation have hit Pakistan hard.

Islamabad approached the IMF in 2008 for a rescue package and the Fund’s executive board last month approved the release of $1.2 billion

more under a $11.35 billion loan program to the cash-starved nation.

“The vulnerability of Pakistan’s balance of payment has decreased because of its program with the IMF,” Khan said. But he warned the government must concentrate not only on the battle against militancy, but also boosting the flagging economy.

In September 2008, inflation hit a 30-year high and although it has since recovered, other indicators remain worrisome.

Pakistan recorded two percent GDP growth last fiscal year, which ended on June 30, the worst-recorded economic growth since the financial

year 1997-98.

The nation has also been battered by a manufacturing slump with exports down 2.6 percent in the last fiscal year. Foreign investment in nuclear-armed Pakistan declined by 42.7 percent, a state economic survey said. Electricity, gas and petrol prices have doubled in the last two years, while the country also faces a crippling energy crisis, producing only 80 percent of its power needs, causing debilitating blackouts and suffocating industry.

“Real GDP growth will remain at a very low level in the range of 2.5 and 3.5 percent,” Khan said. —AFP

Confidence not yet completely restored

World stocks rebound in 2009 but 2010 uncertain PARIS: After a dismal 2008, world stock markets recorded a spectacular rebound in 2009 even though the economy was in crisis, but confidence had not been completely restored and there were fears for 2010.

In Frankfurt, the market ended the year 23 percent higher and in Paris

it closed 22.32 percent up. London registered a 22.07 percent gain for the year and the Dow Jones, the star index of the New York Stock Exchange, showed an annual jump of 18.82 percent over the course of the year.

In Asia, the rebound was even more spectacular.

Shanghai gained 80 percent over the year and Hong Kong 52 percent. In Tokyo, the leading Nikkei index grew by 19.04 percent over 2009.

“We avoided catastrophe,” said Gregori Volokhine, an analyst from the Meeschaert investment group in New York.

“The markets were saved from a deep depression by the massive intervention of government and central banks, who injected liquidity into a financial system in agony,” he said.

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Marc Pado, also in New York, warned that this did not mean the markets had fully recovered confidence. “We cannot say confidence is back. We saw some investors cashing out from equities to invest in bond markets,” he said.

“Worries about the collapse of the financial system are over.

There is a kind of relief in the market now but I cannot say it is confidence.”

The markets were etched with extreme pessimism from January to March with most BEIJING: Investors look at the stock price monitor at a private securities company Thursday on the last day of falling to historic lows by spring.

Investors, thrown by the this year’s trading. —AP September 2008 collapse of US banking giant Lehman Brothers, feared the nationalization of financial institutions that had received massive state aid to overcome the crisis.

Money markets later rallied to an unexpected rise, thanks mainly to convincing results of the economic stimulus plans put in place by various governments and encouraging business perIt sold 67,500 vehicles last compact hatchback Chevrolet NEW DELHI: For GM India said. formances.

In China, where General year, up 9.5 percent from the Beat, its latest entry in India, chief Karl Slym, the expansion Late in the year however, of the US auto giant’s 12-year Motors entered in 1996, the previous year. Analysts see the where small cars make up 80 panic gripped the markets again alliance with its Chinese part- Detroit-based company is the 50:50 tie-up in which SAIC is percent of the market. when the possibility of bankLately, GM’s sales volumes ner SAIC Motor to tap India’s second largest automaker, investing cash and GM is supruptcy was raised in Dubai in burgeoning vehicle market is helped by its partnership with plying its Indian plants and in India have been picking up November. But by the end of China’s biggest carmaker, sales network as giving GM with the company clocking a 60 win-win for both sides.

2009, most money markets The two companies Shanghai Automotive Industry more resources to grab a bigger percent year-on-year increase ended the year by recovering a in sales in November-a monthly announced in December a joint Corp, or SAIC. GM, which is share of the Indian market. large part of their 2008 losses It also gives the Chinese record. venture with an initial focus on undergoing a drastic restructurand some, like London, had “GM has really reached a selling mini-commercial vehi- ing after being bailed out by the carmaker its first foothold in even regained the level reached cles and inexpensive, entry- US government, is expected to India, furthering its aspirations point now where we’re at a tipbefore Lehman Brothers failed. level cars in India that will later post sales in China of 1.4 mil- of being an international player. ping point in India and the SAIC In Europe, the Lisbon stock India, with its nearly 1.2 billion tie-up will help continue this embrace other Asian emerging lion vehicles this year. exchange rose 34 percent over But in India, Asia’s third- population, is one of the world’s growth,” Slym said. Recently, markets. “Our first business the year, in Brussels it was up new joint venture move will be in India but it largest car market after China last remaining big-growth mar- the 31 percent. Madrid gained 30 won’t be the last-we will be and Japan, where Japanese- kets for global automakers like announced an investment of percent, Amsterdam 36.34 perspreading to other areas in owned Maruti Suzuki holds a GM, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and $650 million for the first phase cent, Milan 19.47 percent and Asia. We’ve made a commit- commanding leadership posi- Honda as they grapple with a of its operations in India on top the Swiss market more than 18 ment to expand in emerging tion, GM has been slower out of wrenching slump in developed of the $1 billion GM has already percent. invested since it entered the markets. markets,” Slym told AFP in an the starting blocks.

It was a similar situation in Indian car sales are expected country. The production capacThe US auto company, interview. “There is a big benethe Gulf where all the markets fit to SAIC to be able to spread which started selling its to cross two million units next ity of GM stands now at around registered gains over the year.

60,000 units a year. It expects its business outside of China. Chevrolet marque in India only year.

In South America, the Sao At next week’s Auto Expo in that to rise to 250,000 units by There is also a big benefit for us in 2003, is the fifth-largest carPaulo stockmarket grew 82 perNew Delhi, GM will unveil its 2012. to partner with them,” Slym maker in the country. cent for the year.

Under the joint venture, GM But despite improvements in and SAIC will roll out small cars the stock markets, most of the from GM’s Chinese product world’s economies remained offerings along with offerings limp: growth was generally negfrom GM’s existing plants in ative, except in emerging counIndia. Crucially for GM, Slym tries such as India, Brazil and notes, the tie-up will also allow China. the US company to sell in India Unemployment had explodfor the first time its low-cost ed, reaching a historic high of 10 micro minivans and buses that percent in the United States and GM makes now with its 18 percent in Spain. 2010 will be Chinese partners. a “test year” for the markets, India’s commercial vehicle analysts said. market is already the world’s “Investors want to see if the fourth-largest and the light comfinancial system can again funcmercial market is an increasingtion on its own without help,” ly important segment as India’s Volokhine said. Larry Hatheway cities expand on the back of a and Kenny Liew from Swiss fast-growing economy. “Heavy Bank UBS predicted the martrucks won’t be able to go into kets would next year see less the cities because of restricsignificant gains than in 2009. tions, you will need smaller light The analysts said the caucommercial vehicles (LCVs) tious outlook hinged on ecoand I expect this market to increase hugely,” Slym said. nomic uncertainties: the dollarBut the partnership will face euro relationship, possible price AHMEDABAD: General Motors India vice president of corporate affairs, P big competition from local for raw materials, quesBalendran (left), and General Motors India president and managing director Karl Indian producers such as hikes tions over interest rates and the Slym (right) posing with the LPG Model of the Chevrolet Spark during its launch Mahindra and Mahindra and explosion of US and European Tata Motors. —AFP in Ahmedabad. —AFP deficits. —AFP

GM India chief says China deal start of Asia thrust

DTEROIT: The 50-mile-per gallon 2010 Toyota Prius is introduced during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show in this file photo in Detroit, Michigan. Toyota is facing a potential safety issue with its highest profile vehicle, the Prius, the latest in a plague of quality problems that forced it to recall four million vehicles in 2009. —AFP

Toyota’s hybrid Prius faces US probe over brakes DETROIT: Toyota is facing a potential safety issue with its highest profile vehicle, the Prius, the latest in a plague of quality problems that forced it to recall four million vehicles in 2009.

A growing number of owners allege that the brakes on the third-generation, 2010 Toyota Prius can malfunction unexpectedly, with at least 20 complaints filed so far with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Japanese automaker said it has launched its own investigation.

Robert Becker, 39, is one of those filing among at least 20 who have already submitted their concerns to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation.

He says he was heading to work on the west side of Manhattan, coming up to an intersection and squeezing the brakes of his 2010 Prius to slow down. But when the car hit a pothole, Becker suddenly had the “sensation of losing control,” as the brakes released, forcing him to slam down on the pedal.

“It scared the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure I could stop in time,” he said, adding the problem has repeated itself a number of times since then.

Becker is not alone, as NHTSA’s defects office reveals. One complaint on file quotes an owner: “Initially, I convinced myself I must have been letting up on the brake when I hit the bump, but when this same thing happened three days ago on slippery, icy roads, I knew for 100 percent certain I had not let up on the brake.”

The Prius brake problem has become a hot topic on numerous websites, but federal investigators are so far declining to comment, although the file is open to the public.

Toyota admits it is aware of what a spokesman called “the behavior people are reporting.”

“We’re investigating those complaints as quickly as possible,” spokesman Mike Michels added.

Exactly what is happening is unclear. Like the vehicle’s gasoline-electric powertrain, the brakes are also a hybrid technology. During light to moderate braking, the car is slowed by a regenerative system that turns the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity, which is then stored in a battery. For more aggressive stops, the Prius also has a conventional hydraulic brake system.

Some speculation focuses on the regenerative system, and whether a sharp jolt to the vehicle

could inadvertently trick vehicle sensors and controls into releasing the brakes.

But Michels cautioned Toyota will have to look at a variety of things. “Rather than throwing out theories, the important thing is to do a scientific analysis. When we have an answer, we will provide it to owners as soon as possible,” he said.

The Prius problem is one of the last things Toyota needs right now. Just 12 months ago the automaker was basking in headlines reporting that it had finally beaten arch-rival General Motors to become the world’s best-selling automaker. But by March, things didn’t look so good. Battered by the recession in the US, its key market, the maker reported its first annual loss in a half century.

In August, a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family were killed in a fiery crash when their Lexus went out of control.

Two months later, Toyota announced it would recall 3.8 million vehicles, blaming the problem on floor mats that could come loose and jam the accelerator pedal.

Another recall impacted 110,000 Tundra pickups which, according to NHTSA, are prone to “excessive corrosion” so severe their brakes could fail.

In all, Toyota will have recalled around four million cars, trucks and crossovers, in the United States, during 2009. That’s about four times more than in previous years.

And it means Toyota will have recalled more vehicles than any other auto manufacturer for the first time ever. It is looking like 2010 could also be a difficult year. Another probe was recently opened by the government into complaints that 2006 versions of Toyota’s Corolla and Matrix models may be prone to unexpected stalling, sometimes at highway speeds.

Although Prius sales will only account for about 100,000 units this year, less than seven percent of Toyota’s US total, it has been positioned as the company’s halo vehicle due to its environmentallyfriendly hybrid technology.

But analyst Stephanie Brinley, of AutoPacific, Inc., warned that if it is suddenly seen as dangerous, the damage to Toyota could be huge.

Early customers may be more willing to accept problems with new technology, she added, but for “late adopters, who care more about mileage and less about technology, this could be a red flag.” —AFP

Allianz predicts good year for Germany in ’10 BERLIN: Germany’s insurance giant Allianz foresees a massive recovery for the country’s economy this year, with growth exceeding official forecasts and unemployment rising only marginally, a report said yesterday.

The daily Bild quoted the group’s chief economist Michael Heise as saying that growth would reach 2.8 percent, comfortably above the German central bank’s prediction of 1.6 percent and the strongest since 2006. Heise said the good performance would be spurred by a boom in exports, stable domestic consumption, government recovery programs and tax cuts recently agreed by the ruling centre-right coalition. He also forecast that 2010 would not see the widely feared mass lay-offs in industry, and unemployment would stay well below the symbolic four million level.

While many analysts have said this mark would be topped, with the Bundesbank predicting 4.2 million jobless by 2011, Heise said they would not exceed 3.67 million, some 240,000 more than at present.

“If, as is probable, the economy continues on the same path as in the past few months, it will have got over its crisis by the end of 2011, which is faster than thought,” he said. —AFP

India’s exports grew by 18.2% NEW DELHI: The total quantum of Indian exports showed an impressive growth of 18.2 percent in November, after falling for 13 months in a row, said an official statement issued by India’s Commerce Ministry yesterday.

According to it, the country’s total exports reached $13.19 billion, as compared to $11.16 billion in the previous November. Exports had declined owing to decreased demand for Indian products worldwide in the wake of global recession.

During April-November 2009, merchandise consignments dropped by 22.3 percent to $104.24 billion compared to $134.2 billion in the same period of 2008-09, said the data contained in the statement. Reacting to the impressive growth, A Sakthivel, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), said in a statement that this was “a clear indication of the adaptability of exporters” to the circumstances that prevailed during the past one year. —KUNA

TECHNOLOGY

Saturday, January 2, 2010

9

Apple blocking Dalai Lama, Kadeer, iPhone apps: Report WASHINGTON: Bowing to Chinese law, Apple is reportedly blocking iPhone users in China from downloading applications about two figures Beijing considers “separatists”: the Dalai Lama and exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer.

IDG News Service said at least five iPhone software programs related to the Tibetan spiritual leader are unavailable in Apple’s China App Store along with one related to Kadeer.

IDG, publisher of Macworld, Computerworld, PC World and other magazines, said the move would make Apple the latest US technology giant to censor its services in China. Asked for comment on Thursday by AFP, Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, repeated a statement she made to IDG. “We continue to comply with local laws,” Muller said. “Not all apps are available in every country.”

China regularly blocks access to websites deemed sensitive and a number of US companies, including

Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Yahoo!, have been hauled before the US Congress in recent years and accused of complicity in building what has been called the “Great Firewall of China.”

US technology firms contend they must comply with China’s laws in order to operate there. China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking to establish an independent Tibet and photos of the exiled leader have been banned in Tibet for years.

The US-based Kadeer has been branded a “criminal” by Chinese authorities who have blamed her for bloody riots in the Xinjiang capital Urumqi pitting mainly Muslim minority Uighurs against members of China’s dominant Han group.

IDG said the paid and free iPhone applications which are unavailable in China provide inspirational quotes from the Dalai Lama or information about Nobel peace prize winners. The Dalai Lama is the 1989 Nobel peace laureate. IDG said tests performed on four out of five iPhones at the Apple Store in

Beijing did not return any results for the term “Dalai.” It said one did display the Dalai Lama applications but it was unclear why.

Test searches for a Kadeer application called “10 Conditions” did not return any results, it said.

IDG said Apple lets software developers choose the countries where their products appear but it was unlikely the Kadeer and Dalai Lama program developers had decided to make their products unavailable in China.

“It’s of course very likely that it’s Apple, not the developers, that are preventing certain apps from appearing,” an unidentified Chinabased app developer told IDG. James Sugrue, designer of the Dalai Quotes app, told IDG he “wasn’t informed” by Apple that his program was unavailable in China.

“Apple reserve the right to do this sort of thing, and while from a censorship point of view I disagree with this, I can understand why they did,” Sugrue said.

In August last year, access to

BEIJING: A salesman sits behind a display showing real Apple iPhones in a counter in Beijing.

Apple appears to be blocking iPhone applications related to the Dalai Lama and the exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer from its China App Store, IDG News Service reported. —AFP

iTunes was temporarily blocked for users in China after a pro-Tibet album became a hit on Apple’s online music store.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday said it had asked Apple about the reported blocking of Dalai Lama iPhone applications. “In the spirit of transparency, the company should release a complete list of the censored applications-if indeed censorship is going on-and the criteria used to make the selections,” RSF said in a statement.

“If Apple has agreed to remove products from the App Store under pressure from the authorities, the American company would join the club of those complicit in censorship of information in China,” the France-based group said.

“This would be a big disappointment on the part of a company known for its creative spirit,” the media rights group added.

Chinese telecom carrier China Unicom began selling the iPhone in China two months ago. —AFP

Big Show receives serious attention

Renewables turn to green energy

PANAJI: Indian transgender Kalki poses in Goa. It’s worked for thousands of singletons the world over and now India’s transsexuals are hoping Internet dating can help their marginalized community find love. —AFP

India’s transsexuals try Internet dating NEW DELHI: It’s worked for thousands of singletons the world over and now India’s transsexuals are hoping Internet dating can help their marginalized community find love.

A new site offers to help people born as men but living as women find husbands in a country where marriage remains the bedrock of society and gender and sexuality are still conservatively defined.

“Many men are attracted to transgender women, but when it comes to commitment they don’t want to do it,” the founder of the website, Kalki, who uses one name, explained to AFP. “The types of grooms that our girls are looking for are men who would respect them as an equal human being, who would treat them with dignity and would introduce them to friends and family as a girlfriend or wife.”

Transgenders and eunuchsmen who have been castratedlive on the extreme fringes of Indian society, often resorting to prostitution, begging or menial jobs that leave them mired in poverty.

Their numbers are difficult to estimate. Kalki says there are about 20,000 in her adopted state of Tamil Nadu, the most socially progressive area in the country with a total population of about 60 million. “Because of the discrimination in India, 95 percent of transgenders live below the poverty line,” says Kalki, who decided to start www.thirunangai.net after two of her transssexual friends were rejected by regular dating sites.

Poorly educated, often abused and tarred by the social stigma of their blurred gender, it is unsurprising that many in the community struggle to find the love and steady relationship they crave.

“We feel love and passion

like anyone else and we want to have a family and a husband, even though we can’t bear children. We’d like to adopt children,” says Kalki.

The site, available in English and Tamil, features six women, most of whom have had full sex change operations and are looking for “ordinary” men for a long-term relationship and even marriage.

One of them is Sowmiya, a 23-year-old former sex worker who ran away from home aged 15 and is now a campaigner at Kalki’s Sahodari Foundation, a non-government organisation that fights for the rights of transgenders.

“I put my profile on the site because I want to get married to a nice man and I want a baby,” she told AFP from her home in Chennai. “I don’t mind if he is not too educated, but he must be faithful to me and have a kind character.”

She said she had received responses already “but I haven’t accepted as the respondents were older, far older, than what I am looking for.”

Another lonely heart, Deepika, writes on her profile that she is looking for a man with a decent job, a modern outlook and a good dress sense.

“Preferred age group 25-30, with a moustache,” says the profile.

Kalki says she had about 200 responses from men in India, Europe, the United States and Middle East, including doctors, engineers, journalists, scientists, teachers and businessmen.

She has high hopes of selecting someone suitable for the women after a “very serious” screening process. “Out of the six girls, if one person gets married I’ll be totally happy,” she adds. “The first wedding may be on Valentines Day or on Women’s Day on March 8 next year.” —AFP

With record crude prices fading into the background, 2009 marked the year when green energy moved beyond being a promising technology for a cleaner environment in the Philippines. After decades of neglect because of high production costs and limited markets, the development of biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, ocean and wind power—or what the Department of Energy called the Big Show—received serious attention.

What gave a boost to the once empty green promise was the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

The law was passed amid record crude prices, which sent local electricity and pump prices shooting for the stars.

The landmark legislation gave investors reason to take a second look into the most expensive investment to date in the power industry.

Compared with conventional fossil fuel-based power plants, renewable energy sources remain more expensive on a per megawatt basis to put up. Furthermore, it takes years of studies to find feasible areas for the development of such projects.

One incentive under the law is the feed-in tariff, which calls for a pegged price of electricity sourced from renewable energy sources for 12 years.

The law also gives priority to the purchase of, as well as transmission and payment of such sources in the power grid.

The law also requires electricity suppliers to source a certain amount of their energy supply from renewable resources.

Such incentives provided enough leverage for investors to look into this new business, judging by the more than 80 exploration and development contracts signed so far.

“Renewable energy is the

wave of the future . . . We develop economic growth without increasing our level of carbon emissions,” said Jose Leviste, chairman of Constellation Energy Corp, a new player in the power generation sector.

Today, upstart companies like Constellation scour areas across the country to put up energy projects in an industry that once was the preserve of government and large independent power producers.

The downstream petroleum sector likewise turned greener in 2009 with the doubling of the biodiesel blend in diesel products—from B1 to B2.

Oil companies were also mandated to blend 5-percent ethanol in their gasoline products. By 2010, this blend will be raised to 10 percent.

The Biofuels Act of 2006 was crafted in line with government efforts to cut oil imports as well as to promote cleaner sources of fuel. Under the law, the biofuels to be blended with petroleum products should be indigenous crops.

“To me there is no other way but renewables. There is no other way. You have to substitute the fossil fuel with what is locally available. The technology is there. Can you imagine cassava becoming gasoline?

What more can you ask? You will be empowering farmers and you will utilize three million unutilized farms,” Fernando Martinez, Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) chairman, said.

At present, local production of biodiesel is enough to meet demand from oil companies. Local ethanol supply is beginning to pick up with the entry of a number of producers. By 2011, industry officials estimate that the country will have enough local ethanol production to displace imports. —MCT

Micro Four-Thirds (m4/3) is a new interchangeable lens digital camera format based on the Four-Thirds digital SLR format. It uses live view only, allowing cameras and lenses to be much smaller. —MCT

Go green with old, unused computers Yumans who would like another green option for their old computers will soon have that chance with a new recycling program through Goodwill. Goodwill of Central Arizona and Dell have expanded the ReConnect program, where residents can recycle any brand of unwanted computer and computer accessories at no cost.

Revenue from the program will support job training programs at Goodwill as well as workforce development, placement services and other community-based programs for people with barriers to employment, according to a news release from Goodwill.

Sara Turley, public relations specialist with Goodwill of Central Arizona, said the

two Goodwill locations in Yuma — 1095 S. 4th Avenue and 501 Catalina Drive-will serve as drop-off points.

“Goodwill is a leader in the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ model,” said Jim Teter, president and CEO for Goodwill of Central Arizona. “The ReConnect partnership with Dell emphasizes the importance of extending the life cycle of their unwanted electronics through environmentally responsible computer disposal, while helping create thousands of jobs and revenue for job training opportunities.”

According to the release, residents who drop off their computer equipment at the Goodwill locations will receive a tax receipt,

regardless of the brand or condition of the equipment. In addition, consumers are responsible for removing all personal data prior to donating.

Donated equipment that meets the ReConnect criteria will be resold. Devices needing repair will either be refurbished or broken down into parts to be recycled by Dell partners, according to the release.

The first ReConnect program began in Austin, Texas, in 2004, according to the release. To date, ReConnect has diverted more than 96 million pounds of e-waste from landfills and created more than 250 green jobs with Goodwill managing responsible computer disassembly and disposal. —MCT

A decade of digital advances DOHA: In the fast-changing world of technology, one electronic component has been the star of what is being called the digital decade: memory.

Back in 2000 it was expensive. This meant powerful computers and electronics were costly, just toys for the rich or tech-crazy. But as the cost of

memory has come down, a new world of consumer electronics has become possible.

The ipod-first launched in 2001 — made use of a tiny hard

PARIS: The screen of a computer featuring the home page of Internet giant Google’s website. Two consumer groups urged the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block Internet search and advertising giant Google’s proposed purchase of mobile advertising company AdMob. In a joint letter, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) asked the FTC to oppose Google’s acquisition of AdMob on anti-trust grounds and said the deal also raises privacy concerns. —AFP

drive. It put hundreds of songs into the palm of one’s hand. Its popularity made it a hit and the device fast became a design icon.

“If we look at the 1990s where technology and software was all about empowering business, with the likes of Oracle and Microsoft, I think that the last decade that we have had has all been about empowering the individual-particularly in the last couple of years. The emergence of mobile technology”, Mark Casey, a Londonbased technology expert, says.

Simple telephone handsets have fast incorporated musicplayers, video gaming, cameras and satellite positioning technology. In the developing world the advantage of a wire-free mobile network and the falling cost the mobile phone have seen sales rocket.

African advances About 350 million Africans now have mobile phones and their uses continue to expand, even allowing Ugandan farmers to check the prices at market before they harvest their crops “People are hungry for mar-

ket information. People are hungry to network and stay in touch with relatives in far-off places. People are hungry for selling or buying things as simple as it can be and there is no simpler way than just sending a code to your telecom operator for anything that you want” John Kibuuka, the owner of an Internet Cafe in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, says.

Along with more powerful devices-a leap in connection speeds, the internet has fast become a place where we work, play, communicate and interact.

It started with weblogs or blogs-but soon video-sharing sites like Youtube gained popularity. Whether used to share family moments-or circumvent government censorship-the internet has fast become a potent force.

So what will the decade ahead likely bring? Pundits are predicting the continuing convergence of multimedia-songs, films, photo, maps and more — and the opportunity to buy or sell-all on one handset.

Challenge ahead Breakthroughs in micro-

scopic technology-or nanotechnology-make concepts like morphing handsets a possibility, allowing phones to change shape, colour and look to suit the owner.

Those handsets, connected to wireless networks, will allow the owners to remotely control everything from their banking to the heating in their so-called “smart” homes.

Advanced high-speed networks will allow “cloud” systems-where all files and programs are stored and accessed from a remote server on the network, rather than one’s own computer-making computers lighter and cheaper.

And it is this question of affordability that will open up all these technological developments to the developing world. A quarter of the world’s mobile users are already in China-and many millions more expected to sign on in the coming years.

For any new technology to make it on a global level it will have to cross cultural and cost barriers. That is the challenge for the decade ahead. —MCT

HEALTH & SCIENCE

10

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Norway finds solution to killer superbug OSLO: Aker University Hospital is a dingy place to heal. The floors are streaked and scratched. A light layer of dust coats the blood pressure monitors. A faint stench of urine and bleach wafts from a pile of soiled bed sheets dropped in a corner. Look closer, however, at a microscopic level, and this place is pristine.

There is no sign of a dangerous and contagious staph infection that killed tens of thousands of patients in the most sophisticated hospitals of Europe, North America and Asia this year, soaring virtually unchecked.

The reason: Norwegians stopped taking so many drugs. Twenty-five years ago, Norwegians were also losing their lives to this bacteria. But Norway’s public health system fought back with an aggressive program that made it the most infectionfree country in the world. A key part of that program was cutting back severely on the use of antibiotics.

Now a spate of new studies from around the world prove that Norway’s model can be replicated with extraordinary success, and public health experts are saying these deaths — 19,000 in the US each year alone, more than from AIDS — are unnecessary.

“It’s a very sad situation that in some places so many are dying from this, because we have shown here in Norway that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be controlled, and with not too much effort,” said Jan Hendrik-Binder, Oslo’s MRSA medical adviser. “But you have to take it seriously, you have to give it attention, and you must not give up.” The World Health Organization says antibiotic resistance is one of the leading public health threats on the planet. A sixmonth investigation by The Associated Press found overuse and misuse of medicines has led to mutations in once curable diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, making

Once curable diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria are rapidly mutating into aggressive strains that resist drugs. The reason: The misuse of the very drugs that were supposed to save us has built up drug resistance worldwide. them harder and in some cases impossible to treat.

Now, in Norway’s simple solution, there’s a glimmer of hope.

Antibiotics Dr. John Birger Haug shuffles down Aker’s scuffed corridors, patting the pocket of his baggy white scrubs. “My bible,” the infectious disease specialist says, pulling out a little red Antibiotic Guide that details this country’s impressive MRSA solution.

It’s what’s missing from this book — an array of antibiotics — that makes it so remarkable. “There are times I must show these golden rules to our doctors and tell them they cannot prescribe something, but our patients do not suffer more and our nation, as a result, is mostly infection free,” he says. Norway’s model is surprisingly straightforward. — Norwegian doctors prescribe fewer antibiotics than any other country, so people do not have a chance to develop resistance to them. ● Patients with MRSA are isolated and medical staff who test positive stay at home. ● Doctors track each case of MRSA by its individual strain, interviewing patients about where they’ve been and who they’ve been with, testing anyone who has been in contact with them.

Haug unlocks the dispensary, a small room lined with boxes of pills, bottles of syrups and tubes of ointment. What’s here? Medicines considered obsolete in many developed

Patients suffering from malaria being treated at the hospital in Pailin, Cambodia. This spot on the Thai-Cambodian border is home to a form of malaria that keeps rendering one powerful drug after another useless. This time, scientists have confirmed the first signs of resistance to the only affordable treatment left in the global medicine cabinet for malaria: Artemisinin. —AP countries. What’s not? Some of the newest, most expensive antibiotics, which aren’t even registered for use in Norway, “because if we have them here, doctors will use them,” he says.

He points to an antibiotic. “If I treated someone with an infection in Spain with this penicillin I would probably be thrown in jail,” he says, “and rightly so because it’s useless

there.” Norwegians are sanguine about their coughs and colds, toughing it out through low-grade infections. “We don’t throw antibiotics at every person with a fever. We tell them to hang on, wait and see, and we give them a Tylenol to feel better,” says Haug. Convenience stores in downtown Oslo are stocked with an amazing and colorful array — 42 different brands at one downtown 7-

Eleven — of soothing, but non-medicated, lozenges, sprays and tablets.

All workers are paid on days they, or their children, stay home sick. And drug makers aren’t allowed to advertise, reducing patient demands for prescription drugs.

In fact, most marketing here sends the opposite message: “Penicillin is not a cough medicine,” says the tissue packet on the desk of

Norway’s MRSA control director, Dr. Petter Elstrom.

He recognizes his country is “unique in the world and best in the world” when it comes to MRSA. Less than 1 percent of health care providers are positive carriers of MRSA staph.

But Elstrom worries about the bacteria slipping in through other countries. Last year almost every diagnosed case in Norway came from someone who had been abroad.

“So far we’ve managed to contain it, but if we lose this, it will be a huge problem,” he said. “To be very depressing about it, we might in some years be in a situation where MRSA is so endemic that we have to stop doing advanced surgeries, things like organ transplants, if we can’t prevent infections. In the worst case scenario we are back to 1913, before we had antibiotics.”

Forty years ago, a new spectrum of antibiotics enchanted public health officials, quickly quelling one infection after another. In wealthier countries that could afford them, patients and providers came to depend on antibiotics. Trouble was, the more antibiotics are consumed, the more resistant bacteria develop.

Norway responded swiftly to initial MRSA outbreaks in the 1980s by cutting antibiotic use. Thus while they got ahead of the infection, the rest of the world fell behind. In Norway, MRSA has accounted for less than 1 percent of staph infections for years. That compares to 80 percent in Japan, the world leader in

Obesity major health problem around world

in the news

Mayo Clinic diet book unveils healthy weight loss program

SYDNEY: This file picture shows a healthy Tasmanian devil joey displayed as part of an intensive conservation program, because of the spread of an infectious facial tumor which gradually disfigures the animal’s face to the point it is unable to eat, at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. —AFP

Australian breakthrough may save Tasmanian devils SYDNEY: Australian researchers have cracked the genetic origin of the deadly cancer that is threatening to wipe out Tasmanian devils, raising hopes yesterday that the animal’s future is safe. Australian National University scientists said they have unlocked the genetic “fingerprint” of the contagious cancer which starves the dark, furry marsupial to death by disfiguring its face so badly it cannot eat.

“It’s a uniquely horrible cancer, and it is critical to know about it at the genetic level,” Professor Jenny Graves said. “It has wiped out around 60 percent of the world’s devils and is likely to lead to their extinction in the wild within 30 to 50 years.”

The scientists made the discovery

by comparing the genes active in both healthy and sick Tasmanian devils, an animal now found only on the southern Australian island from which it derives its name.

They found that the origin of the cancer was a tumour of a type of cell that normally wraps itself around nerves to insulate them. The development offers hope that the disease, which causes a painful death, can be more easily identified at earlier stages.

“We realised the tumor profile was fairly unusual and included genes that made some strange proteins,” Graves said. “The good news is that one of the active proteins is easy to detect and it will give us the chance to diagnose the cancer early, which is important for setting up cancer-free ‘insur-

ance populations’.

“It also allows us to study the way the cancer changes over a long period, which potentially offers new insights for all cancer research.”

The finding reveals that the tumour arose from one cell in one animal probably less than 20 years ago but has been spread throughout the Tasmanian devil population by biting.

Since it was first reported in 1996, the cancer has spread quickly through the wild population of the Tasmanian devil, the world’s largest surviving marsupial carnivore.

The animal, named by early European settlers for its spinechilling screeches, dark appearance and reputed bad temper, is now endangered. —AFP

NEW YORK: Confused by the myriad of diet books that promise to help you melt away those excess pounds to produce the body of a supermodel?

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have produced a weight-loss program based on clinical research and experience that they say will help people lose weight and keep it off permanently. Dr Donald Hensrud, a diet expert at the clinic and a co-author of “The Mayo Clinic Diet” spoke to Reuters about why the program is so effective, the research it is based on and what makes it different from all the other diet books.

Q: Why has the Mayo Clinic decided to publish a diet book?

A: For a number of reasons.

The first and most obvious one is that weight and obesity has become more of a problem in this country and around the world over the past decades.

So, there is a need.

Secondly, many other people have been promoting socalled Mayo Clinic diets over the years but there has never been a Mayo Clinic diet book before.

Thirdly, we think the timing is good right now. There is a lot of scientific evidence for the things we have put in the book based on research and evidence that we have accumulated here ... We think we have a program that is effective, healthy, enjoyable and sustainable long-term.

Q: What is it about your diet that sets it apart from the numerous other diet books?

A: There are some unique features about the Mayo Clinic diet. It is more than a diet. It is a lifestyle change program. It is divided up into two phases.

The ‘lose it’ phase lasts two weeks and we think this is the healthiest way to lose weight quickly ... That transitions into the ‘live it’ phase. Once people see what they are capable of doing they change those habits into a long-term lifestyle change. Another unique feature is the Mayo Clinic healthy weight eating pyramid based on energy density.

Q: Why do people have such

MRSA; 44 percent in Israel; and 38 percent in Greece.

In the US, cases have soared and MRSA cost $6 billion last year.

Rates have gone up from 2 percent in 1974 to 63 percent in 2004. And in the United Kingdom, they rose from about 2 percent in the early 1990s to about 45 percent, although an aggressive control program is now starting to work.

About 1 percent of people in developed countries carry MRSA on their skin. Usually harmless, the bacteria can be deadly when they enter a body, often through a scratch.

MRSA spreads rapidly in hospitals where sick people are more vulnerable, but there have been outbreaks in prisons, gyms, even on beaches.

When dormant, the bacteria are easily detected by a quick nasal swab and destroyed by antibiotics. Dr. John Jernigan at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they incorporate some of Norway’s solutions in varying degrees, and his agency “requires hospitals to move the needle, to show improvement, and if they don’t show improvement they need to do more.” And if they don’t?

“Nobody is accountable to our recommendations,” he said, “but I assume hospitals and institutions are interested in doing the right thing.”

Dr. Barry Farr, a retired epidemiologist who watched a successful MRSA control program launched 30 years ago at the University of Virginia’s hospitals, blamed the CDC for clinging to past beliefs that hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of infections like MRSA. He says it’s time to add screening and isolation methods to their controls.

The CDC needs to “eat a little crow and say, ‘Yeah, it does work,”‘ he said. “There’s example after example. We don’t need another study. We need somebody to just do the right thing.” —AP

a hard time losing weight?

A: It starts with the approach and we try to address that. This is one of the biggest paradoxes I know-eat right, exercise more. It sounds so simple but yet it is such a complex statement ... The mind set that goes along with this is negative and restrictive and therefore it is going to be temporary and it is not enjoyable.

So what we do is to try to help people have realistic goals and to change their attitudes so this doesn’t have to be deprivation.

Q: How big a component is exercise in your program?

A: It is a big component, as it should be. That seemingly simple equation gets down to calories in versus calories burned. And energy expenditure, exercise, is very important ... Exercise is the most important way to burn calories.

Q: Is the program applicable for children and adults? A: In the ‘lose it’ phase it is based on sudden changes and habits but there isn’t anything in there that is unhealthy or unsafe-eating breakfast, eating more vegetables and fruit. ... What we are trying to do is take all the knowledge and the clinical experience and put it all together in one package that people can use to come up with a program for them that is effective, safe, healthy, enjoyable and sustainable.

Q: Is the book effective for someone who wants to lose 20 pounds (9 kilos) or 200 pounds (90 kilos)?

A: Yes. It is. The principles of it apply to everyone.

Admittedly, and this is in the medical literature, the greater the starting weight, people can lose more weight initially but it is a longer way to go. So, the greater the starting weight the more challenging it is to lose it and keep it off.

Q: What advice would you give to people who want to lose weight but don’t know how to get started, who find it just so daunting?

A: That is exactly what we are trying to do with the book. I’d say pick up the book and read the first few chapters. —Reuters

Effects of diet on diabetes risk NEW YORK: Diets heavy in meat and fat seem to raise the risk of diabetes, though the effects of this and other diet patterns may vary by ethnicity and sex, a new study finds. The study, reported in the journal Diabetes Care, focused on white Americans, as well as Japanese Americans and Native Hawaiians-two groups that have relatively high risks of diabetes.

Smoking, drinking up risks of gut, throat cancers NEW YORK: A new study confirms that smoking raises a person’s risks of the major forms of esophageal and stomach cancers, while drinking has more narrow effects. In a study that followed more than 120,000 Dutch adults for 16 years, researchers found that smoking increased the risk of the two main forms of stomach cancer, as well as the two forms of esophageal cancer-by anywhere from 60 percent to 263 percent versus non-smokers.

Do sugary drinks really fuel weight gain?

NEW YORK: Studies reporting a link between sugarsweetened beverages and weight gain have garnered a lot of attention but actually research on the issue has yielded mixed results, researchers note in a new report. “The purported link between soft drinks and other beverages and obesity risk is unclear and complicated, especially in youth,” Dr Mark A Pereira, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and an author on the report, told Reuters Health.

Early menstruation linked to heart disease risk NEW YORK: Women who started having menstrual periods before the age of 12 may have a higher risk of developing or dying of heart disease than other women, a new study suggests. British researchers found that among nearly 16,000 middle-aged and older women followed for more than a decade, those who’d started menstruating before age 12 were 23 percent more likely to develop heart disease and 28 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular causes like heart attack or stroke.

FDA to study safety of drugs taken during pregnancy WASHINGTON: US health officials plan to study the safety of medications taken during pregnancy with an eye toward using the data in future regulations and medical practice, the US Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday. Citing a lack of clinical trials to determine how medications affect mothers and unborn children, the FDA said it will collaborate with other researchers in the new study, called the Medication Exposure in Pregnancy Risk Evaluation Program.

Menus spur diners to trim calories NEW YORK: Restaurant menus that include calorie information do seem to encourage diners to exercise some restraint, a new study suggests. What’s more, researchers found, menus that give added informationnamely, the number of calories the average adult should get in a day-could prove even more effective at curbing appetites.

US issues standards to spur e-health records WASHINGTON: US health officials released standards for electronic medical records on Wednesday, seeking to spur the technology in hopes of cutting health costs and reducing medical errors. Congress required the standards, partly as a condition of about $19 billion in February’s economic stimulus bill that is aimed at encouraging doctors and hospitals to convert paper records into digital files. —Reuters

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

‘woman of the year’

DeGeneres named as llen DeGeneres has been named Woman Of The Year by charity PETA. The US TV host was awarded the title by People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for her work in raising awareness of their campaigns promoting a lifestyle which is friendly to nature.

Tim Gunn, who appears on fashion program ‘Project Runway’ in the US, was named Man Of The Year. PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk said: “Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favor of compassionate acts. “Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits, all because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voice-

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less.” Ellen, who fronts a self titled show, said she was delighted by the honor. She tweeted: “I’m honored PETA named me ‘Person of The Year’. I thank them for protecting animals every single day. Amazing.”

PETA said it gave its accolade to Ellen for being vegan and championing the meat and dairy-free lifestyle by inviting experts like Jonathan Safran Foer and Dr. Neal Barnard on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’. Tim’s contributions include narrating the charity’s ‘Fashion Victims’ video, about extreme practices in the fur and reptile skin trade and for being creative director at furfree fashion chain Liz Claiborne. Both stars will be awarded plaques and a letter of appreciation.

Jonas bought glass slippers for wife evin Jonas bought his new wife glass slippers to wear at their wedding so she could feel like Cinderella. The Jonas Brothers singer wed Danielle Deleasa in a romantic ceremony on December 19 and he was determined to give the nuptials a fairytale feel. He told People magazine: “I knew that my princess needed her glass slippers and her castle. I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.” The couple - who had been dating for two years - held their wedding breakfast in a heated marquee decorated with an enchanted forest and icicleshaped crystal decorations. Danielle added: “I always wanted my wedding to have that princess feel. I couldn’t have imagined this.” The wedding went ahead despite a blizzard threatening to ruin the nuptials, and was attended by 400 family members and friends, including Demi Lovato, who starred with The Jonas Brothers in ‘Camp Rock’. Danielle - who was led down the aisle by her father, Thomas Deleasa - also wore a silk-andcrystal flower in her hair because she was wearing one when she met Kevin in the Bahamas in 2007. Kevin’s brothers, Joe, 20, and Nick, 17, served as his best men, while the bride and groom recited traditional vows and exchanged Jacob and Co wedding rings they’d designed for one another.

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elly Jones spent 2009 listening to his Paolo Nutini album. The Stereophonics frontman has revealed the 22-year-old Scottish star’s second LP ‘Sunny Side Up’ was his favourite record of the past 12 months and he regularly played it at his home.

He said: “In a world of auto-tuned singles ‘Pencil Full of Lead’ is summer.

Paolo is a great singer, with Sam Cooke and Otis Reading influences. A great album to have on around the house.”

While he believes the ‘New Shoes’ hitmaker created the best album of the year, Kelly struggled to convince his bandmates their latest LP ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was any good after deciding to write the tracks alone with the help of a producer. He explained: “In many ways it was an uncomfortable process. People had to sit back and listen rather than say, ‘Let’s get on with it.’ “

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Cowell to create a cartoon series imon Cowell wants to create a cartoon series. The music mogul - who earned an estimated $75 million last year - is a big fan of animated show ‘The Simpsons’ but admits he is jealous of its worldwide success. He said: “Their appeal is broad and it makes a lot of money. You kind of hate them for making so much money. It makes me physically sick knowing how much money they have made over the years.

“Maybe I should start a cartoon one day.” Simon, 50, has previously made cameo appearances on the show - but admits he only took part to preserve his youth. He explained on TV show ‘The Simpsons: Celebrity Friends’: “It’s the best thing to get the call. You last forever and are young forever on that show, so I love it. “The only reason for doing it is to look good and stay young forever.” The ‘American Idol’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star recently signed up to make another appearance on the cartoon, despite admitting his last appearance didn’t go well. He said: “They obviously hated me as I had to do it over and over again. “I could actually feel the rolling of eyeballs. It was like, ‘After take 57 Simon could we have a little bit more reality?’ It was painful.”

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Diddy’s clothing line sues over NYC store scaffold he company behind Sean “Diddy” Combs’ clothing line says it has a looming problem at its flagship New York City storea scaffold that has been hanging over the shop for more than three years. The company behind the rap impresario’s Sean John label sued its Manhattan landlord on Wednesday. The company, Christian Casey LLC, says the scaffold obscures the Fifth Avenue store’s window displays, discouraging shoppers and cutting revenue in half. The company wants at least $2.5 million in damages from its landlord and freedom from its more than $660,000-a-year lease.

A Delaware corporate services firm listed as an agent for landlord 475 Fifth 09 LLC declined to take a telephone message from The Associated Press on Thursday. The clothing company’s lawyer hasn’t returned a telephone call.

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Tatum to make a documentary hanning Tatum wants to make a documentary where he propositions women. The ‘Fighting’ actor - who married long-term girlfriend Jenna Dewan earlier this year - is interested to see if his fame has an impact on how attractive he is to the opposite sex. He said: “I want to do a documentary where I go and find people and say, ‘Oh have you seen my movies? Do you want to have sex?’

And see how many people I could get to say yes. Just to see what fame would do, would it make you more available for sex.” The former model insists he doesn’t care about being praised for his appearance - labelling ‘Most Beautiful’ polls “unbelievable bulls**t” and says his friends regularly mock his hunk status. He added: “It’s weird because all my friends make fun of me. It’s not like I wake up every day like, ‘Oh my, look at that.’ “

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ihanna has made several New Year’s resolutions that she intends to keep. The ‘Russian Roulette’ singer - who had a difficult 2009 after being assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown in February - plans to get rid of as many of her bad habits as possible next year. She said: “I want to stop shopping, being late, start waking up early, stuff like that.”

Although her career is going from strength-to-strength, the 21-yearold star has vowed not to let her work get in the way of spending time with her loved ones. She added: “I’d like to see my mum and grandparents more. I don’t have a lot of girlfriends, but the one I do have is around me all the time.”

Career-wise, the ‘Umbrella’ hitmaker also has a number of achievements she would like to accomplish in the coming decade.

She explained: “I want to learn the drums and I want to work with Depeche Mode so bad.”

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Applegate’s swearing struggle hristina Applegate had to work hard to stay on script and stop herself swearing while making her latest children’s film. Christina Applegate struggles not to swear. The US actress - who battled breast cancer in 2008 - said she had to make sure she never went off script at any point during voicing a character in ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel’ where she plays a member of the Chipettes, a singing group which gives the titular chipmunk gang serious competition. She said: “We’re strictly PG all the way.

When I improvise, foul things often come out of my mouth that aren’t on the page. “So I really stuck to the script or there would have been some inappropriate words from my chipmunk. It was good to do something that was very wholesome. “I don’t have any children, but I’m happy that I didn’t have to say anything disgusting in ‘The Squeakquel’ that would shock kids.”

Christina, 38, also said mastering the high-pitched voice of her character took a surprising approach to get the right sound. She explained to Parade.com: “You have to talk really slow like you just kind of had woken up from a nap. It’s really funny because it’s as far away as you can get from that chipmunk sound.

Then, you hear it sped up and it’s perfect.”

— Bang Showbiz

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Heidi Range’s best New Year’s Eve was spent in Dubai he Sugababes singer loved getting the opportunity to have a holiday with her long-term boyfriend, TV presenter Dave Berry, because one of them is usually working over the festive period. She said: “One of my most memorable was about four years ago when we went to Dubai. “We stayed out in the desert at a resort called Bab Al Shams, which is really isolated. Every night they’d make a big fire and pt all these blankets out, and you’d sit with a

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drink chatting to all the different people staying there. “On New Year’s Eve they did a big banquet where they had belly dancers and performers, then, at midnight a fireworks display, which was just stunning.” Last year, the pair decided to not even leave their London home - which overlooks the River Thames - but insist they still enjoyed welcoming in the New Year. Heidi added: “We decided to stay in and watch the fireworks, which were just amazing.”

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

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Music & Movies

The 4th Annual Gridlock New Year’s Eve Bash Pamela Anderson performs at The 4th Annual Gridlock New Year’s Eve Bash on Thursday at the Paramount Pictures Studio in Los Angeles.

—AP photos

Adam Lambert performs at The 4th Annual Gridlock New Year’s Eve Bash.

Latino beat sweeps Ethiopian capital t’s a far cry from Ethiopia’s traditional Eskista shoulder shake dance, but Salsa is sweeping Addis Ababa with aficionados twirling and spinning their way across the city’s dance floors each night. From just one Salsa school five years ago, started by a USeducated Ethiopian entrepreneur, some 10 more have sprouted in this city of five million people. At a packed club, businessman Daniel Nigussie, jauntily clad in a white satin shirt and fedora, is getting ready to show off his latest moves with dancer partner Seble Asrat.

The venue is full to capacity and music blares from the speakers; rivals limber up as the clock ticks down to the start of the competition. “I came here to win and I’m prepared for it,” said Nigussie, who spends his days running a computer import company.

With their elaborate steps and twirls, Nigussie and Asrat’s performance delights their fans. Like them, they have all recently taken up the dance which groups several different types of Afro-Cuban dances and music.

In addition to the new dance schools, a number of clubs have also started Salsa nights to cater to the growing number of enthusiasts, while training sessions attract at least 5O salseros each night. Nigussie started learning Salsa a year ago and says his dance skills are getting better every day. “It’s the synergy, the intimacy that you enjoy more than anything else.

It’s also fun and entertaining for those watching” he explained to AFP. “It’s not easy at all, you need to be on the same wavelength with your partner at all times.”

Asrat, glamorously dressed in a skimpy black-andwhite dress and high heels, is equally keen. “It was all by accident. I was invited to a party three years ago and found Latino music being danced to by most of my friends,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ve never looked back ever since. I’ve taken courses and I’m now competing.” Salsa could not be more different from the traditional national dance of Eskista performed to a drum beat and in which dancers gyrate and turn in sharp twists from the waist up. But the differences have failed to deter Salsa’s popularity.

“They (styles) are at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Salsa is all about the movement from the waist down,” said Mekonnen Bizuwork, who has taught Latin dance for the past four years. The 24year-old takes pride in his skills, and points that merengue, cha-cha-cha, bachata and the Caribbean zouk routine are among his specialties. “At first every newcomer finds it difficult to adjust, but ends up addicted in a short period of time,” he said.

Feseha Girmay, the organizer of the inaugural competition- “Addis Salsa Clash”-said the event was so popular he was now unsure how many more to hold next year. “There’s so much excitement. It has put me in a dilemma on whether to organise the event twice a year when I initially thought once was enough,” he said. The trend also reflects a steady growth in Ethiopia’s middle class population and change of attitude towards the West since 1991, when a secretive and anti-US Communist dictatorship was overthrown by the present government.

From MTV to “Channel O” to “American Idol” and “Britain’s Got Talent”, Ethiopians now have access to entertainment shows via cable and free satellite channels-luxuries that were once banned by the old regime. Feseha is even considering a television version that would attract participants from across the country. “I’ve been very encouraged by the enthusiasm from participants. I’m constantly asked about the possibility of hosting more competitions,” he said. “I think a television show would make everyone happy.” For Nigussie and Asrat, who eventually lost in a unanimous decision by a panel of three judges, the experience was what mattered most. “I wasn’t here to become a star. I came here to enjoy myself... and I really did,” Nigussie added. — AFP

Tennessee Williams’ Teardrop Diamond he Loss of a Teardrop Diamond” was made from a screenplay written by Tennessee Williams in 1957.

Unfortunately, the film does little to suggest the script’s neglect over decades was unwarranted. When Williams wrote “Teardrop Diamond,” his play “Streetcar Named Desire” had already been into a film.

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” would make its big screen debut in 1958, and “Suddenly, Last Summer” the year after.

“Teardrop Diamond” is also unique among Williams’ works in being written purely as a film.

Elia Kazan, so often Williams’ collaborator, supposedly passed on making the film. It sat dormant ever since, though it was published in a collection in the 1980s. It’s difficult to know if the failings of “Teardrop Diamond” are due to the material or the long-delayed, worshipful production. At any rate, actress Jodie Markell, making her feature film directorial debut, has apparently stayed very close to the script. Set in Memphis in the 1920s, the film stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Fisher Willow, a

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Review

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In this film publicity image released by Paladin Pictures, Bryce Dallas Howard is shown in a scene from, ‘The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond.’

—AP Sorbonne-educated heiress who has been summoned back from Europe by her great aunt (a barely utilized Ann-Margret) in Memphis to attend debutante balls. She convinces the son of her father’s caretaker, Jimmy Dobyne (Chris Evans), to escort her

through these high society parties.

Willow is a classic Williams heroine: sexual, melodramatic, unbalanced and headed for disaster. Our first glimpse of her is her boozily swaying alone on a blues bar dance floor, clutching a bottle of liquor. She storms

schoolteacher (Christian Friedel as an in-the-flesh young man, Ernst Jacobi providing his voice-over narration as an old man) recalls the strange happenings that begin in summer 1913. Some evildoer sets a wire that trips the horse of the town doctor (Rainer Bock), who is gravely injured. A farmer’s wife mysteriously falls to her death. A cabbage field is ravaged, a building is torched, children vanish and are found bound, beaten or mutilated.

While the townsfolk fret over these crimes and misdemeanors, they continue living lives that emphasize cruelty over compassion. The one light of hope is the pure and taintless love that grows between the teacher and a young nanny (Leonie Benesch). The faces of the townsfolk are striking, particularly the children’s. Haneke’s casting crew met with about 7,000 children, choosing faces that look as though they could be staring out of grainy photos from the era. The adults in the town are nameless, Haneke identifying them only by their trade or position: the Baron and Baroness (Ulrich Tukur and Ursina Lardi), the Pastor (Burghart Klaussner), the Midwife (Susanne Lothar) and the Farmer (Branko

Samarovski).

Only the young daughters and sons have names, children reared in severe, even tyrannical devotion to puritan preaching that their lustful, abusive parents fail to follow; children who will emerge from this incubator of malevolence as the generation unleashing the atrocities of Nazi Germany. These children already may have put that inhumanity into practice.

The film hints that the young ones could be responsible for the town’s terrible misdeeds, though Haneke never says for sure as he’s not the sort of storyteller to make things easy on his audience by spelling out who’s to blame.

Our own times are tough, and “The White Ribbon” is anything but slaphappy Hollywood escapism. It’s an eminently worthwhile journey if you’re up for the challenge, though. And hey, a story this solemn, this depressing just might remind you that no matter how hard things are now, it could be worse. “The White Ribbon,” a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated R for some disturbing content involving violence and sexuality. Running time: 144 minutes. Four stars out of four. — AP

Spider-Man joins Disney as Marvel acquisition approved hareholders of Marvel Entertainment Inc., home to the X-Men, Iron Man, Spider-Man and other characters, approved the company’s acquisition by The Walt Disney Co on Thursday. Marvel, in a statement, said shareholders approved the 4.3-billion-dollar deal announced in August under which the comic book giant and its stable of action heroes will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Disney.

The acquisition is Disney’s biggest since its purchase of animation house Pixar three years ago.

Besides Spider-Man, Iron Man and the XMen, Marvel’s cast of over 5,000 characters includes Captain America, the Fantastic Four and Thor. Marvel is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1939 as comic book publisher Timely Comics. Besides comics, Marvel characters also feature in movies, animated features, videogames and toys such as action figures. — AFP

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In this Nov 11, 2004 file photo, a man looks at an advertisement of the Spiderman movie in Copenhagen, Denmark.

—AP

Van Morrison denies baby report Van Morrison

ple scene construction. Howard, working just as earnestly as Markell, is easily the brightest thing in the film. If she knows “Teardrop Diamond” is mediocre, she doesn’t show it. She gives everything to the part, imbuing Willow with an exciting mix of desperation, arrogance and sensitivity. Too bad she spends so much time whining about a boy.

“Teardrop Diamond” very likely would have worked better as a play. It also probably needed a few revisions, even in 1957.

Though it’s dated, the larger issue has to do with those timeless problems of plot and character. The best thing “Teardrop Diamond” does, with its familiar Williams archetypes and his trademark Southern Gothic, is make you feel like renting some of the playwright’s more substantial work, where desperation, alcohol and love mixed more dreamily and more heartbreakingly.

“The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond,” a Paladin release, has some sexuality and drug content. Running time: 102 minutes. One and a half stars out of four. —AP

The White Ribbon is grim but gorgeous M

ichael Haneke’s “The White Ribbon” is a masterpiece, but a demanding one. The Austrian writer-director has crafted a gorgeously gloomy parable exploring the origins of hatred, malice and communal barbarity, the sort of madness of the masses that would explode in Germany a generation later. “The White Ribbon” makes squeamish voyeurs of viewers as they watch a small German town come unhinged amid unexplained violence and tragedy as World War I approaches. The words dour and “disturbing characterize Haneke’s films, which include “The Piano Teacher,” “Hidden,” “Time of the Wolf” and “Funny Games,” which he remade in an English-language version with Naomi Watts and Tim Roth two years ago.

“The White Ribbon” is grim even by Haneke’s standards, a meticulously composed production whose exquisite black-and-white images by cinematographer Christian Berger help create the illusion of a window in time looking back to the early 20th century. Winner of the top prize, the Palme d’Or, at last May’s Cannes Film Festival, “The White Ribbon” moves with stately melancholy as the local

inger Van Morrison on Thursday denied that he had fathered a child with his manager, saying a widely reported statement that appeared on his website three days ago was the result of a hacking attack. Irish state broadcaster RTE published a statement signed by the publicity-shy blues and R&B singersongwriter that says a birth announcement on his website on Monday was “completely and utterly without foundation.” A statement saying that “Gigi and Van Morrison are very proud to announce the birth of their first born son, George Ivan Morrison III,” was also distributed to the media by the Belfast-born singer’s Los Angeles-based publicist, Phil Lobel.

Lobel described Gigi Lee to Reuters on Monday as Morrison’s manager and “mother of his child.” Morrison, 64, was reported on Thursday as telling a friend he did not even know the name. Lobel

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through the debutante balls, declaring “propriety is a waste of time” and that Memphis society “bores me to blazes.” She’s something of an outcast because her father is a villain in Memphis, having years earlier killed two men in an accident at a levee. Willow soon begins to fall for Dobyne even though he couldn’t be more boring. He’s nearly mute for the first half of the film. Evans seems content to get by on his chiseled looks — they’re at least enough for Dobyne to win attention from Willow and an old flame (Jessica Collins). Most of the film takes place at one eventful party where Willow loses a $5,000 teardrop diamond earring.

Whether she’ll find it is about the sum of the drama. Willow’s larger battle is to keep herself together and win Dobyne. (Ellen Burstyn also plays a small part as a dying Southern belle.) Markell succeeds in some respects in capturing a mood of ‘20s class friction. One can feel the sweaty Mississippi summer night in “Teardrop Diamond.” But she doesn’t show any sense of pace or sim-

said in a statement on Thursday that his office had “passed along information from the official website of Van Morrison, which we are now told had been hacked.

All those with Van Morrison regret any confusion this may have caused.”

Morrison said he had asked his management to investigate the hacking attack, adding that it was the second in three months. Earlier on Thursday, John Saunders, a friend and Dublin-based executive at public relations agency Fleishman-Hillard, said Van Morrison had told him that he did not know Gigi.

“He has said to me on the phone today, he has said it’s not true,” Saunders told Reuters in Dublin. “He has never heard of this person Gigi, the name means nothing to him.”

Gigi Lee is listed as the executive producer of Morrison’s 2009 “ ‘Astral Weeks’ Live at the Hollywood Bowl” concert DVD. The LA Weekly described

Lee as being backstage during its May 2009 interview with Morrison, and the British Sunday Times quoted her in a September 2009 story about a forthcoming documentary on Morrison. Morrison said in his statement that he was “very happily married to Michelle Morrison with whom I have two wonderful children.” Asked why Morrison had waited several days to deny the baby story, Saunders said that the singer was not good at handling his public relations.

“Van is a mystery man in many ways, his fans will testify to that,” Saunders told RTE. Morrison, whose 45-year career spans soul, blues, jazz, R&B and country, also has an adult daughter, singer-songwriter Shana Morrison, from his first marriage. Famed for such tunes as “Gloria” and “Brown Eyed Girl,” he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 but declined to attend the ceremony. — Reuters

In this film publicity image released by Sony Pictures Classics, Leonard Proxauf is shown in a scene from, ‘The White Ribbon.’—AP

Tim Allen goes ‘Crazy’ directing 1st feature film im Allen is one of America’s favorite comics. He’s the guy who parlayed years of standup into the toprated “Home Improvement” sitcom and “The Santa Clause” and “Galaxy Quest” films. So why does the 56year-old funnyman turn all serious when asked about his latest project? Maybe it has something to do with his level of involvement. Allen makes his directorial debut in the comedy “Crazy on the Outside,” which opens Jan 8. He also stars in the movie. “I’ve got a lot on the line here. I financed this thing-private financing,” Allen said.

“I used Kevin Costner’s model. He helped me through this-on how to direct it, how to put it out.” Besides Costner, Allen also consulted with director Barry Sonnenfeld and read books on directing written by Francis Ford Coppola, an Allen favorite.

Not only did he seek out advice from industry pals about working behind the camera, Allen also persuaded friends to get in front of it. Sigourney Weaver, who worked alongside Allen on “Galaxy Quest,” and Allen’s “Wild Hogs” co-star Ray Liotta have prominent roles in “Crazy,” which also features Kelsey Grammer and Julie Bowen. Liotta said the “Crazy” set was “loose and fun.”

“He surrounded himself with great people,” Liotta said.

“If he called me again, I would definitely do it.” The movie opens with Allen’s character being released from prison and follows him as he deals with life post-incarceration. Weaver plays his sister, Liotta his former partner in crime, Bowen his ex-flame and Grammer her fiance.

Allen is pleased with the finished product, calling it “a great romance” and “a very high-end comedy.” “I really worked hard to make it special,” he said. Allen also worked hard to promote it. He traveled to eight cities over 10 days earlier this month, doing his standup act before screening “Crazy on the Outside.” It was a unique twofer. After all, how many directors do standup?

The last stop on the tour was at a movie theater in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, not far from Allen’s boyhood home. There, he had the audience-including family members-in stitches, riffing on everything from President Barack Obama and Congress to bodily functions and superheroes. The idea was to generate buzz by showing the film ahead of its release to comedy fans

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In this Dec 10, 2009 file photo, actor/comedian Tim Allen is interviewed at the Palladium 12 Theatre in Birmingham, Mich.—AP in select cities, but Allen found his plan may have backfired a bit. “I’m almost hurting my movie,” he said in an interview ahead of the Birmingham event. “In Minneapolis, I was so funny.

I tried to explain to them, ‘The movie’s funny, but it ain’t this funny.’ Light comedy is a different laugh.” “The movie’s a movie,” he said. “It doesn’t start out with a pie in the face.” 2010 is shaping up to be a big year for Allen.

Three days after his film opens, “Home Improvement” begins a regular rotation on the cable network TV Land.

And several months later, he’ll begin promoting the release of the third installment in the animated “Toy Story” series, which is set to open June 18.

Allen says “Toy Story 3” is “a wonderful story” with a script that’s “stronger and more interesting and more powerful than the other two.” But that’s about as far as he’ll go in discussing the film, the first “Toy Story” flick in a decade. “I can’t say anything. I could tell you everything right here and wreck the movie,” said Allen, who is the voice of Buzz Lightyear. —AP

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Lifestyle

Grand past but uncertain future for Malaysia’s Carcosa he future is uncertain for Malaysia’s Carcosa Seri Negara, the 111-year old grande dame of colonial Malaya. Once home to the country’s former British rulers and now an exclusive hotel, it is up for redevelopment. The centre of colonial social life in the early 20th century the hotel-which is an amalgamation of two stately bungalows, the Carcosa and the Seri Negara-will close its doors on December 31. Its many admirers are concerned over the fate of the national landmark, which in its heyday was a symbol of colonial power and a location where the nation’s history was made. “We were told by the government it is giving a tender to a company that is interested in redeveloping this site so we don’t know what it’s going to be,” says hotel manager Caroline Filtzinger.

Run by the GHM group of luxury hotels since 2004, the management was informed of the government’s decision in October by the Economic Planning Unit, which handles the property. Despite enquiries made by AFP to officials in several departments within the EPU, no one was able to shed light on plans for the Carcosa.

Filtzinger admits the place is in need of a facelift but patrons keep coming back regardless, for functions and the trademark sumptuous afternoon tea on the veranda. “It’s also the premier wedding location in the country and everybody wants to get married in this historic location, on the lawns, it is really sad to see it closing down.” She says the hotel’s main business has been hosting events rather than filling its 13 guestrooms-elegant but somewhat faded suites ranging in price from 1,100-3,500 ringgit (325-1,030 dollars) a night.

Carcosa Seri Negara occupies 40 acres (16.19

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hectares) with the land around the Carcosa plunging straight into the jungle before opening onto the Lake Gardens parklands below. Construction of the Carcosa began in 1896 by the first Resident-General, or chief British adviser to the then Federated Malay States, Sir Frank Swettenham, who named his new home after a fictional city.

The total cost including the building of numerous winding roads and outbuildings came to 67,300 Straits dollars-worth about 13.9 million dollars in today’s money. Completed in 1898, the half-timbered house was built in High Victorian style, with ornamental designs incorporating a Elizabethan gable and an ornamental “medieval parapet” adorning several of its sides. Inside, the entrance hall is large and airy, opening up to the roof with timber buttresses giving it a church-like feel, the larger windows sporting Anglo-Saxon cross lattices, topped off with lancet arches from the Regency period.

After Swettenham, Carcosa was occupied by the country’s top British civil servants and in 1913 the government built the King’s House on the property, as a guesthouse for the Governor of the Straits Settlements who resided in Singapore. During the second world war, the Japanese military used the two buildings as an officer’s mess, and upon liberation it was taken over by the British military.

By 1946, Carcosa reverted to its original use and was the scene where on January 21, 1948, representatives of the Malay Sultans and the British government created the Federation of Malaya, giving the country limited autonomy. The Communist insurgency that began in June that year saw the grounds encircled by barbed wire but by 1956, with the communist threat on the wane and a push towards inde-

Picture taken on December 20, 2009 shows Carcosa Seri Negara, a hallmark of Malaysia’s national heritage.—AFP pendence, the building’s future was in question.

However, on September 12, 1956, Malaya’s Chief Minister and Malaysia’s first premier Tunku Abdul Rahman presented the deeds of Carcosa to the British government as a gift. On the lawns of the King’s House on August 5, 1957, just before independence was declared, the Malay Sultans along with Malaya’s last colonial administrator Sir Donald

MacGillivray signed into creation the new nation.

King’s House was later returned to Malaysia and renamed “Seri Negara” or “Beautiful Country.”

Carcosa however was occupied by a succession of British high commissioners, and an invitation for dinner or to a tea party in the grounds was the height of social ambition. Malaysian veteran educationist Rasammah Bhupalan remembers elegant evenings in

the early 1960s when Viscount Anthony Head and his wife Dorothea resided there. “There were many functions at the Carcosa, formal and informal and you would feel at once in awe of the stately events held in what was also a home,” she said.

“Lady Head loved birds and I remember having tea with her at the Carcosa and these large number of birds chirping and keeping us company.” However, the pleasant days at the Carcosa ended as relations between Malaysia and Britain soured once Mahathir Mohamad became prime minister in 1981. Shahrir Abdul Samad, a cabinet minister at the height of the anti-British fervour that infected trade and diplomacy, said the idea of handing over the Carcosa was conceived at this point. “The British high commissioner came to see me to ask what would be the way forward to resolve the worsening situation,” he told AFP. “I told him that as he had been complaining about the costs of managing Carcosa for so long, why not consider returning it to Malaysia as a gesture of goodwill.”

“In May 1984, Mahathir announced the British were returning Carcosa but it was done in a gradual manner sometime in early 1987.” Shahrir said the cabinet then decided to convert the buildings into a hotel for visiting dignitaries, and the first official guest was Queen Elizabeth II who was attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

While plans for the hotel and the two buildings are still unclear, many hope the buildings will be preserved. “We should not get rid of Carcosa or demolish those historic buildings as it is a part of our history,” said Shahrir, who left the cabinet earlier this year. “It is still very much an important part of the Malaysian story.”— AFP

Ten deaths that marked 2009 HELEN SUZMAN (died January 1, aged 91) Suzman was for decades the lone voice of white dissent in South Africa’s parliament against apartheid rule. She served in parliament between 1953 and 1989 and was the first lawmaker to visit African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela in jail. After Mandela became the first post-apartheid president in 1994, she was also critical of the new government’s record on fighting AIDS, crime and unemployment.

Fireworks light up the skies of downtown Beirut to make New Year’s Day yesterday.

People around the world celebrated the end of the first decade in the 21st century.

—AFP

Rio beach party ushers in New Year, water games in Uruguay housands of people crammed Copacabana beach Thursday to celebrate the New Year with a massive fireworks display and a night of music and revelry. Further south in Montevideo, pedestrians were pelted with water balloons in Uruguay’s traditional end-of-year bash. A break in the weather after six days of rain opened the human floodgates in Rio’s most famous beach, with authorities expecting up to two million locals and tourists at 13 free outdoor musical events.

Some 600,000 tourists are expected to turn up on the sandy stretch, ranging from low budget travelers sleeping in vans near the beach to jet setters paying up to 32,500 dollars for a five-night stay in a luxury hotel. Offshore, 15 barges loaded with 16 tons of fireworks were preparing to light up Rio’s Guanabara Bay and the

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‘Sushi,’ portrayed by female impersonator Gary Marion, dangles high above New Year’s Eve revelers in a giant reproduction of a woman’s high heel at the Bourbon Street Pub late Thursday, December 31, 2009 in Key West, Florida. The Red Shoe Drop has become a Key West tradition to herald the arrival of the new year, answering New York’s Times Square ball drop. — AFP

famous Pao de Azucar, or Sugarloaf Mountain, enclosing it.

The fireworks display is designed by France’s Grupo F, which lit up the Eiffel Tower at the start of the new millennium in 2000. To prevent unrest and tackle crime, nearly 1,500 military police have been deployed throughout Copacabana, equipped with Israeli-made night-vision goggles. Meanwhile, in the Uruguayan capital, office workers and tourists were all heads up and dodging water balloons chucked at them from high rises, as Montevideo residents celebrated the end of year in the warm, summer temperatures of the southern hemisphere. “Is it always like this, always the same? That’s great. Happy New Year,” a young Brazilian tourist named Marcia said after she and her husband were doused with a traditional “Uruguayan shower.”—AFP

Family global treks a real-world education hen Carla Fisher and her husband announced plans to travel the globe with their adolescent daughters for a year, some friends called them crazy. Seven years later, with wonderful memories and a book documenting their world trek, the Fishers now seem like global trailblazers.

Despite a recession that may have limited the number of US students traveling abroad in exchange programs, some parents are going out of their way to make sure their children have extended international experiences. “It’s really encouraging to hear that there are a lot of other people who want to educate their kids in that manner,” said Fisher, an environmental biologist in suburban Houston.

Some parents are trying to raise enlightened “world citizens,” young Americans who aren’t caught up in the race to acquire more stuff. Others want to give their children the skills they’ll need to compete globally. “You always want your kids to be ahead of the crowd,” said Christopher Holtby, who works in Dallas and commutes to Mexico where his family moved temporarily in August so their three sons could become bilingual. Tuition for their private school in Mexico is $200 a

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month, per child-a fraction of what it would cost them in the states.

“This is a global world,” Holtby said. “My wife and I understand that if we can give our kids some exposure they’ll have more options.” No one knows exactly how many American families are choosing the global education path-about 2,000 US secondary school students studied abroad in exchange programs last year, according to the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.

But global education consultants say a growing number of parents are traveling for a year or more with their children, in part because technology makes it easy for them to work from anywhere. “There is a tremendous amount of interest in spending time abroad at all stages of life and increasingly, as a family with children,” said Maya Frost, author of a book encouraging families to travel with their children as a way of giving them a truly international education. She knows American families in every corner of the globe who have made that choice. She and her husband left their Portland, Oregon, suburb for adventures in Mexico and Argentina with their four teenage daughters in 2005.

“The old model of the expatriate familycorporate transfers and diplomats-is still an option, but the new global families are more likely to be moving abroad independently and creating their own work for themselves,” said Frost. Some families who opt for nomadic education are former Peace Corps volunteers, children of immigrants, have adopted a child from overseas or simply suffer from wanderlust. Computers enable them to continue working while they’re traveling, and home schooling makes it easier to pluck children out of traditional schools for some real-world learning.

“There’s so much more to education than school,” said Tessa Hill, who recently returned to her Houston-area home, after driving her family across North America, Central America and Europe in a motor home for 13 months. “World travel is an education in people, cultures, in language, in travel skills, street smarts and in how lucky we are to live in the United States.” When Hill and her husband began considering extended global travel, their middle child, Charles, 13, was skeptical. “My first reaction was ‘well, are we really going to do this?” Charles said.

“But it did sound like great fun.” Charles said

missing his buddies was the hardest part. He stayed in touch via e-mail and made some new friends along the way, playing soccer with kids in France and learning about rugby from youths in Ireland.

The tasty and varied cuisine of other lands was another unexpected joy the seventh-grader extols. “I’d definitely recommend this to other kids,” Charles said. “It was such a great opportunity to see different countries and learn geography a different way.” To make re-entry smoother, most school officials prefer that families work out an educational plan before they leave town.

Sometimes tests are given to determine grade-level placement or subject mastery upon return. “It sounds cliche, but it really opens up your mind and your eyes to the world,” said Robbin Goodman, 17, a senior at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin who spent his junior year skateboarding across Beijing, China, when he wasn’t studying Chinese history and other core subjects. Had he not already taken a school-sponsored spring break trip with his mom to China in 2007, Robbin said he probably would not have been able to convince his parents to let him go alone for a year. —AP

JADE GOODY (died March 22, aged 27) The former dental nurse from London rose to fame on the “Big Brother” reality television show in Britain, fascinating audiences with her ordinariness and lack of general knowledge.

Goody was shamed after subjecting Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty to a racist insult on the show, almost provoking a diplomatic incident. She was taking part in a remake show in India in a bid to clean up her image when told she had cervical cancer. Goody opened up her dying days to the media to earn money for her children, earning new respect.

Crowds lined the street for her funeral.

FEROZ KHAN (died April 27, aged 69) The Bollywood actor was dubbed “the Clint Eastwood of the East”. Khan, whose father was of Afghan origin and mother Iranian, played up the cowboy tough guy image in more than 50 films. He even died from cancer at his Faroz Khan Ranch in Bangalore. Khan found fame in “Oonche Log” (High Society) and the musical “Arzoo” (Wish), both in 1965. But it was with the 1980 Hindi/Urdu gangster film “Qurbani” (Sacrifice) that he scored his biggest hit as an actor, producer and director.

MILLVINA DEAN (died May 31, aged 97) Millvina Dean was only nine weeks old when she was bundled up in a sack after the Titanic hit an iceberg and carried to safety just before it sank in the Atlantic on April 14, 1912. Though her mother and brother survived, her father was killed and the family never made it to Kansas to open a tobacco store.

Dean never married and never had children, but in her 70s became an international star as a Titanic survivor. When she died she was the last person to have been on the ill-fated liner.

MICHAEL JACKSON (died June 25, aged 50) A brilliant but bizarre pop singer and dancer, Jackson was beaten by his father as a child. It left mental scars but also inspired him to work such as “Thriller”, the world’s best-selling album with more than 70 million copies sold. He became “The King of Pop”. But his erratic behavior and use of plastic surgery attracted growing attention. Jackson had lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on child molestation charges. He had been preparing for a series of comeback shows when he suffered an apparent cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. Coroners ruled Jackson’s death a homicide highlighting the excess use of a powerful sedative propofol.

KIM DAE-JUNG (died August 18, aged 85) As a democracy campaigner against successive US-backed South Korean military governments, Kim survived assassination attempts and was at one point sentenced to death. But he won the presidency, and served from 1998 to 2003, winning the Nobel Prize in 2000 for his policy of trying to seek peace with Communist North Korea. He left office under a cloud over corruption allegations involving his government and the attempts to woo the North.

EDWARD KENNEDY (died August 26, aged 77) Once seen as the political heir to his assassinated brothers John F and Robert, Edward Kennedy’s hopes of getting a chance to win the White House were killed off in 1969 when a car he was driving went off a bridge after a late-night party and a young woman who was with him drowned. Ted Kennedy still had a long and distinguished career as a Democratic senator, notably campaigning for labor legislation and against South Africa’s apartheid regime. He became known as “The Lion” of the Democratic party. He died of a brain tumor at his home in Massachusetts.

MAREK EDELMAN (died October 2, aged about 90) Edelman was the last commander of the doomed 1943 Warsaw Jewish ghetto uprising against the Nazis. In April 1943, the Nazis began liquidating the Warsaw Ghetto where just 60,000 Jews remained after the vast majority had been sent to their deaths at the Treblinka concentration camp. The Jewish groups in the Ghetto launched a valiant but doomed attack on the Nazis. Against all odds, the insurrection lasted three weeks.

CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS (died October 30, aged 100) A French anthropologist who helped shape Western thinking about human civilization, LeviStrauss trained as a philosopher and shot to prominence with his 1955 book “Tristes Tropiques” (A World on the Wane), a haunting account of travels and studies in the Amazon basin. He was a leading proponent of structuralism, which sought to uncover the hidden, unconscious or primitive patterns of thought believed to determine the outer reality of human culture and relationships.

GRAND AYATOLLAH HOSSEIN ALI MONTAZERI (died December 19, aged 87) The top Iranian dissident cleric was a fierce critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Once designated as the successor to the founder of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Montazeri came out in bold support of the Iranian opposition when it rejected the reelection of Ahmadinejad in June. Iranian police clashed with mourners, making arrests and injuring some after Tehran warned of a crackdown.—AFP

Saturday, January 2, 2010

WHAT始S ON IN KUWAIT

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SPECTRUM

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 857

Aries (March 21-April 19) You could be in the limelight, especially with superiors or in relation to your work. You may find that you enjoy your job and the responsibility that it involves. Challenges can be very rewarding in many ways. The way you instruct others shows a great deal of involvement and interest in each student or person that you encounter. Today you will be able to tackle tasks that require real discipline. Research may be in order this afternoon and you can become quite enthralled with the new products that can help you without ever leaving the comfort of the building. Lots of singers were born on this day and you may find the music on the radio quite delightful on your ride home.

It also may occur to you that this calm attitude can be contagious.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Alternative health care is a consideration this year and you may want to consult with a Naturopathic Doctor to get the healthiest options. Rather than trying to be adaptable to circumstances you are determined to rearrange or move things around to fit the most positive outcome. You can have a personal and positive influence on others. Other people are attracted to you naturally and because of the distractions, you may have to work a little harder than most to stay organized. Network whenever possible. Conversations involving themes of trust, responsibility and commitment can be enjoyed this evening. Love, romance and pleasurable activities are definitely accented at this time. Flowers in your home will be cheerful this evening.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs.

5. A number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge.

8. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

11. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its mother and raised by hand.

12. Animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes.

13. A close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities.

14. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

15. Sexually transmitted urethritis (usually caused by chlamydia).

17. Lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part.

19. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

20. A public promotion of some product or service.

23. An informal term for a father.

26. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

28. A defensive missile designed to shoot down incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles.

29. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

31. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

33. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

36. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

40. The content of cognition.

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

43. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

46. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

47. A narrow elongated opening or fissure between two symmetrical parts.

48. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

49. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

50. An official language of the Republic of South Africa.

51. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

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

DOWN 1. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

2. Remove with or as if with a ladle.

3. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

4. A Mid-Atlantic state.

5. A prosthesis that replaces a missing leg.

6. Largest known toad species.

7. 1/10 gram.

8. The month following March and preceding May. 9. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

10. Wearing or provided with clothing.

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

18. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

21. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

22. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

24. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

25. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

27. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

30. Extremely pleasing.

32. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

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

35. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

37. An elaborate song for solo voice.

38. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

39. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

41. Fallow deer.

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

45. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You have what it takes to meet your financial responsibilities now. The only problem is that you may not know it. Money is a symbol of success; among other things. We want what money can buy, not necessarily the money itself. Logan Pearsall Smith once said, “There are two things to aim at in life; first, to get what you want and after that, to enjoy it.” Only the wisest of humankind achieve the second. Make it a point to loosen the pressures that you put upon yourself today. Pretend you have all the money you need and play the game of what would I do if . . . Join in with a loved one to co-create a beautiful meal tonight. Add a fun dessert with your favorite hot drink later in the evening. Relax—You will make this a good day.

Non Sequitur Cancer (June 21-July 22) There is a more influential quality to your life style now—taking on a leadership role means more to you now than in the past.

Responsibilities in the work place are as usual. You, however, may have designs on a more prestigious job and will go about your day finding ways to accommodate those that can help you achieve your desires. There is no need for foul play here—just a sharp mind into a little business expertise. After much concentration and attention to work, you will be able to enjoy the afternoon for yourself.

You might decide to work toward getting a head start on your taxes—a little at a time. You will be pleased, as things will come together much faster during the tax season. Make every effort to create a good balance for yourself this year.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You enjoy organizing and supervising fast moving projects with cooperative, inspired people. If you are trying to complete a project by the clock, there could be some sharp words. Avoid arguments and possible hard feelings—it will just slow your work. Your feelings may move in the opposite direction of another. Caution with extravagant spending this afternoon. There may be a few things you have been saving your money for but there could also be some information you do not yet know. You may join a group of friends in some fun activity this afternoon. Perhaps you will be involved in sports or some group get-together.

Whatever the case you will enjoy the shared interest. This evening is a good time to grab some to-go food and a recorded movie; relax.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is a time in which it would be easy to make bad choices. You tend to see difficult situations as you wish rather than as they truly are.

This can be uplifting, or it might just put your head in the clouds. Difficulties, blocks and all manner of hot spots are discovered and worked through. You have the knowledge and the determination to accomplish positive results.

People could learn from the way you can turn a difficult situation into a positive outcome. Finish every day and be done with it. Some frustrations may appear, but do your best to create a positive change and then move forward. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings this evening, and they are all positive. Marriage, friends and children are in this arena.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Libra (September 23-October 22) The new broom sweeps clean; old patterns of organization and power are ripe for an innovative approach. It could be your turn to help in decision-making responsibilities. Be clear about your intentions and your expectations and you will see all sorts of conflicts disappear. Activities are becoming fast-paced now—there is just no time to stay in a problem for long. Use your passion to benefit your best interest and in order to gain a sense of strength and balance. Your love relationship has undergone some positive changes and will continue to gain in positive strength as long as you remain honest and up front with how you feel. Make sure your reality matches your income. It could be time to reassess your budget. You will see positive results this year.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Stop wondering around and get down to business today—particularly mentally. Know where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. Taking responsibility for errors of the past and the ways you contribute to your own undoing are very important issues at this time. Dodging them may be the easier thing to do, but that only puts off a day of reckoning. A world of people out there will help you achieve your goals—listen. You can show a great deal of compassion to the needs of another this afternoon and you are in a good position to help people, particularly with a give-and-take attitude. You will find opportunities to help or advise others now. Later today, you will find involvement with neighbors and relatives are festive.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) The way you handle stress will show in the work you do today. Pace yourself and be sure to take your allocated work breaks.

Peace of mind is precious. In order to think clearly and be at top speed, you must make sure all avenues of your life are in balance. This afternoon you will find your concentration more in focus and the duties of business can be accomplished more quickly. You may have a strong need to be respected on the home front. Your power may depend more on how you relate to what is important to you, as well as what you expect from each member of the household. Clear communication will show others where to tread—boundaries perhaps. Enjoy the company of young people without putting too many expectations on them—patience.

Yesterday’s solution

Yester

Yesterday’s solution

To

00965 00974 009712 009714 009717 009716 00968 009626 00973 009661 009662 00202 00203 009611 0096311 0096321

Tunisia Rabat Washington New York Paris London Madrid Zurich Geneva Monaco Rome Bangkok Hong Kong Pakistan Taiwan Bonn

0021610 002127 001212 001718 00331 004471 00341 00411 004122 0033 00396 00662 00852 0092 00886 0049228

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your attitude is positive this morning and any frustrations at this time will not last long. In learning how to eliminate the stress in your life, you create better health practices and set examples for others. Listen carefully at work today—someone may be coloring their story and you may have to dig under to understand the whole truth. The afternoon offers encouragement and guidance for unexpected events. Financial ties to other people are highlighted—money matters and investments are a focus this afternoon—the news is good! Faith, optimism and a yearning to explore all kinds of new horizons are some of the focal points in your life at this time. This evening you may want to set some new exercise standards.

Perhaps a friend will join you.

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Kuwait Qatar Abu Dhabi Dubai Raas Al Khayma Al-Shareqa Muscat Jordan Bahrain Riyadh Makkah - Jeddah Cairo Alexandria Beirut Damascus Allepo

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Vagueness is not usually a problem for you, unless you are not sure of how to give answers to people that only want to gossip. Gossip could become a part of your day, if you let it. Your intuition comes into play this afternoon—you intuitively know the right things to say when others would be at a loss for words. Of course, some of your professional expertise comes from the experiences you have had. You will find yourself building communication bridges between the work force and higher ups. Your business finesse will keep you strong in the world of deals and propositions. Neighbors or brothers and sisters will likely bring all kinds of good experiences your way. There are opportunities to make plans for some sort of reunion.

Word Sleuth solution

Pisces (February 19-March 20) This is a time during which you could accomplish a lot through sheer discipline—control of your passion. You will prosper by staying focused on your own goals. Don’t be afraid to project your image, particularly when you see that you can add some real perspective to your professional purpose. You can make some wise decisions today that will increase your finances. A separate issue may come up regarding a joint venture. This will need a bank review so that both of you come out equally well. You may have a valid point when it comes to a discussion today but now is not the time to try to prove your point. Be careful of what you discuss in a group setting. Big ears are connected to a big mouth as well. Relax this evening.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

17 ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available, new building, single working lady at old Riggae. Contact: 97836756, 66720438. (C 20119) 2-1-2010 Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near German clinic from nonsmoking, God fearing bachelors with an executive Christian Keralite bachelor, C-AC 2 bedroom new bldg reasonable rent. Contact: 94942964. (C 20115) 31-12-2009 Sharing accommodation available for a couple or working ladies with Keralite family, two bedroom and two bath flat, near Swaad restaurant, Abbassiya. Contact: 97949378, 97524093.

(C 20110) 30-12-2009 Furnished one bedroom flat in new building in Salmiya/ Apollo clinic from March 2010, rent including electricity KD 190, furniture extra. Call 67070578. 8am 1pm (C 20103) Accommodation available

for only single bachelor, share with one bachelor, in a big room, kitchen, bath, for Muslim, non smoking, Pak or Indian, in Salmiya near fire station 4th Ring Road. Contact: 99316567.

(C 20100) 29-12-2009 Sharing accommodation available. Kerala family (couples) 2 bedroom 2 bathroom flat from Jan 1st. Tel: 97904162. (C 20097) Sharing accommodation available in Salmiya behind Sakina book shop, next to Senior Indian Community School with south Indian Christian family looking for Indian decent bachelor or couple or family from 31st December.

Contact: 97340796. (C 20095) 28-12-2009 Furnished room with attached bath available for rent from 1st Jan. 2010.

Next to main street Farwaniya, couples working ladies and executive bachelor can call. 66509289, 24748837, 24969853.

(C 20091) Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian

Christian family in Abbassiya opposite German clinic C-AC 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, interested person contact immediately. Tel: 99295934. (C 20090) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya behind Oman Exchange opp to Lovely store for a single person Keralite (nonsmoking) preferred, reasonable rent.

Contact: 24334859, 99185377.

27-12-2009

FOR SALE Household furniture sofas, cupboards, tables chairs, dishwasher, TV, miscellaneous. Qurtoba - 99786814.

(C 20118) 2-1-2010 Pajero 4x4, V3000, model 92, color golden + brown, full option, interior and exterior, engine transmission, AC front and rear all in excellent condition, one year registration, monthly installment KD 49, balance to KFH KD 980, for details 99322585. (C 20113) IBM Lenovo desktop PC,

Dual Core, RAM 1 GB, HD 200 GB, DVD writer, fax modem, Lan card, 17” LCD monitor Lenovo, in excellent condition, price 90 KD, call 99322585. (C 20114) 31-122009 Toyota Prado, model 2007 VX 4 cylinder, color violet, good condition, price KD 5,990 only. Tel: 66974049.

30-12-2009 Toyota Corolla 1.8, model 2007, white, done mileage 47,000 km, excellent condition, price KD 3,050/- cash.

Contact: 66211779.

(C 20104) Galant 2001, lady driven, excellent condition, only km 102,000 done, cash KD 1,000. Contact: 97119879.

(C 20106) Subaru Impereza 2007, 4WD, GPS manual drive, DVD player, red metallic, sunroof, service book excellent condition, price 3400 KD. Contact: 60012596.

(C 20101) Pentium 4, Intel, 40GB HDD, 256 MB Ram, CD Rom, 56K modem, sound card, speakers, 17” CRT monitor, ready for internet KD 40, P4, Intel Celeron 1.7

SITUATION WANTED Accountant with 10 years experience in Kuwait, well versant in Arabic and English, seeking a part time job.

Call: 67706575. (C 20107) 29-12-2009

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Suresan P.P, holder Indian Passport No: E5850179, hereby change my name to Suresh P.P. (C 20109) I, son of Mr Antonio Rocha, and Mrs Rita Barretto, like to change my name from Ligorio Rocha to Leslie Rocha. My Passport No: H2005893. (C 20111) 30-12-2009

First name: Pillai Rajan, converted to Muslim, now new name: Abdul Rasheed, Indian Passport No: A9870464. (C 20108) 29-12-2009 I, Sumitra Boby, holder of PP No: F4123443, married

SITUATION VACANT

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) 2-10-2010 Required house cook (male) good experience all kinds of food, continental, good salary. Contact: 66519719, 23901053.

MATRIMONIAL Alliances are invited for Ezhawa girl 26, 5ʼ4”, post graduate and employed in Kuwait.

Contact: osukrith@kockw.com (C 20116) 31-12-2009

alite RC girl 31 year Changanachery Diocese, MCA - Project leader, Infosys Bangalore. Email: josephkarivelil@yahoo.co.in (C 20096) 28-12-2009

age 30 years well settled in Kuwait, need only Indian boy well settled in Kuwait age not less than 35 years, girl has all facilities.

Email:

mahboob-khan49@yahoo.com

Indian Sunni Muslim girl

(C 20092) 27-12-2009

Seeking alliance for Marthomite boy, 27/ MBA, working in Kuwait from girls working in Kuwait. Contact: ariangal@gmail.com (C 20105) 29-12-2009 Proposal invited for a Ker-

No: 14597

Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Saturday 2/1/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 0263 Beirut K.L.M. 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Jazeera 0189 Dubai Jet A/W 574 Cochin Wataniya Airways 2103 Beirut Kalitta 537 Sharjah Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa D.H.L. 370 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1172 Istanbul Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 0305 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0267 Beirut Qatari 0138 Doha Jazeera 0637 Aleppo Jazeera 0503 Luxor Jazeera 0527 Alexandria Kuwait 416 Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Jazeera 0529 Assiut British 0157 London Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 0607 Mumbai Kalitta 533 Al Fujairah Falcon 201 Bahrain Jazeera 0161 Dubai Kuwait 302 Mumbai Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 362 Colombo Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 332 Trivandrum Emirates 855 Dubai Qatari 0132 Doha Arabia 0121 Sharjah Etihad 0301 Abu Dhabi Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1121 Bahrain Jazeera 0447 Doha Kuwait 204 Lahore Jazeera 0165 Dubai Jazeera 0425 Dubai/Bahra1n Jazeera 0439 Tehran Jazeera 0113 Abu Dhabi Wataniya Airways 1021 Dubai Middle East 404 Beirut Egypt Air 610 Cairo Mahan Air 5066 Mashad Jazeera 0171 Dubai Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 2301 Damascus Jazeera 0551 Assiut Kuwait 786 Jeddah Egypt Air 621 Assiut Nas Air 745 Jeddah Jazeera 0525 Alexandria Jazeera 0257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 2001 Cairo Saudi Arabian A/L 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Jazeera 0457 Damascus Qatari 0134 Doha Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 774 Riyadh Royal Jordanian 800 Amman

Time 00:05 00:10 00:15 00:40 00:50 01:00 01:05 01:45 02:15 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:10 03:25 05:05 05:35 06:10 06:25 06:30 06:40 06:45 06:55 07:00 07:00 07:45 07:55 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:30 09:00 09:05 09:35 10:45 10:45 11:00 11:05 11:05 11:10 11:15 11:20 11:20 11:55 12:55 12:55 13:05 13:25 13:35 13:50 13:55 13:55 14:00 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 15:00 15:10 15:25 15:40

Global Jazeera Mihin Lanka Iran Aseman Global Bahrain Air Kuwait Emirates Gulf Air Etihad Saudi Arabian A/L Jazeera Jazeera Arabia Thai Wataniya Airways Kuwait Jazeera Sri Lankan United A/L Jazeera Wataniya Airways D.H.L. Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Global Kuwait Jazeera Iran Air Kuwait Syrian Arab A/L Kuwait Kuwait Singapore A/L Kuwait Jet A/W Indian Wataniya Airways Oman Air Egypt Air Jazeera Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Gulf Air Middle East Qatari Emirates K.L.M. Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Egypt Air India Express Lufthansa Ariana Bangladesh Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways

098 0173 403 6791 061 344 118 857 215 0303 510 0493 0239 0125 519 2101 548 0515 227 982 0427 2003 473 1025 542 674 093 174 0177 607 614 341 104 582 458 618 572 993 1201 0647 618 0459 788 0343 0433 217 402 0136 859 0445 502 0449 0429 0117 0185 612 605 395 636 405 043 2201 1029 1129

Baghdad Dubai Colombo/Dubai Mashad Baghdad/Najaf Bahrain New York Dubai Bahrain Abu Dhabi Riyadh Jeddah Amman Sharjah Bangkok Beirut Luxor/Sharm El Sheikh Hurghada Colombo/Dubai Washington DC Dulles Dubai/Bahrain Cairo Baghdad Dubai Cairo Dubai Kandahar/Muscat Geneva/Frankfurt Dubai Mashad Bahrain Damascus London Amman Singapore/Abu Dhabi Doha Mumbai Chennai/Mumbai Jeddah Muscat Alexandria Damascus Jeddah Sanaa/Bahrain Mashad Bahrain Beirut Doha Dubai Amsterdam Beirut Doha Dubai/Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Cairo Luxor Kozhikode/Cochin Frankfurt Kabul/Dubai Dhaka Amman Dubai Bahrain

16:00 16:05 16:40 16:45 16:50 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:05 18:15 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:20 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:45 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:55 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:25 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:45 23:55

Departure Flights on Saturday 02/01/2010 Airlines Flt Route Egypt Air 607 Luxor Jazeera 0528 Assiut Shaheen A/L 442 Lahore United A/L 981 Washington DC Dulles Indian 576 Goa/Chennai Jazeera 0160 Dubai Pakistan 216 Karachi Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt K.L.M. 0447 Amsterdam Jet A/W 573 Cochin Kuwait 203 Lahore Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa Kuwait 283 Dhaka D.H.L. 371 Bahrain Turkish A/L 1173 Istanbul Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 0306 Abu Dhabi Kalitta 537 Kandahar Qatari 0139 Doha Jazeera 0162 Dubai Jazeera 0164 Dubai Wataniya Airways 1020 Dubai Jazeera 0524 Alexandria Jazeera 0438 Tehran Wataniya Airways 2000 Cairo Jazeera 0112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 0446 Doha Jazeera 0550 Assiut Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 1120 Bahrain Jazeera 0422 Bahrain/Dubai Global 094 Muscat/Kandahar Global 099 Baghdad Wataniya Airways 2300 Damascus Kuwait 785 Jeddah Jazeera 0256 Beirut British 0156 London Kuwait 671 Dubai Kuwait 551 Damascus Jazeera 0456 Damascus Arabia 0122 Sharjah Kuwait 10!

London/New York Emirates 856 Dubai Kuwait 547 Luxor/Sharm El Sheikh Qatari 0133 Doha Etihad 0302 Abu Dhabi Kalitta 533 Kandahar Wataniya Airways 2002 Cairo Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris Jazeera 0426 Bahrain/Dubai Jazeera 0172 Dubai Global 062 Baghdad Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 0514 Hurghada Kuwait 773 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 2100 Beirut Jazeera 0492 Jeddah Jazeera 0238 Amman Middle East 405 Beirut Jazeera 0342 Sanaa Egypt Air 611 Cairo Mahan Air 5065 Mashad

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

Time 00:01 00:05 00:15 00:40 00:50 00:55 01:10 01:70 01:25 01:40 02:20 02:30 02:55 03:15 03:15 03:50 04:10 05:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:00 07:20 07:25 07:30 07:35 07:40 07:45 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:00 08:10 08:20 08:35 08:55 09:00 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:35 09:40 09:55 10:00 10:20 11:00 11:30 11:40 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:05 12:05 12:15 12:25 12:55 13:50 13:55 14:15

Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Egypt Air Nas Air Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Saudi Arabian A/L Kuwait Kuwait Royal Jordanian Qatari Kuwait Jazeera Bahrain Air Mihin Lanka Iran Aseman Gulf Air Etihad Emirates Arabia Jazeera Wataniya Airways Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Wataniya Airways Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Thai Wataniya Airways Sri Lankan Wataniya Airways Jazeera Iran Air Syrian Arab A/L Kuwait Wataniya Airways Jet A/W Oman Air Jazeera Egypt Air Singapore A/L Gulf Air D.H.L. Kuwait Middle East Falcon Qatari Kuwait Emirates K.L.M. Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Egypt Air Jazeera Kuwait

1024 673 561 622 146 0176 1200 0432 0458 787 505 501 613 801 0135 617 0182 345 404 6792 216 0304 858 0126 0262 511 543 0184 0116 2200 285 0448 0428 520 2102 228 1028 0512 604 342 331 1128 571 0648 0240 619 459 218 171 675 403 102 0137 301 860 0445 205 0480 0272 0526 0534 613 0502 411

Dubai Dubai Amman Assiut Jeddah Dubai Jeddah Mashad Damascus Jeddah Jeddah Beirut Bahrain Amman Doha Doha Dubai Bahrain Dubai/Colombo Mashad Bahrain Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Beirut Riyadh Cairo Dubai Abu Dhabi Amman Chittagong Doha Bahrain/Dubai Bangkok Beirut Dubai/Colombo Dubai Sharm El She1kh Isfahan Damascus Trivandrum Bahrain Mumbai Muscat Amman Alexandria Abu Dhabi/Singapore Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Beirut Bahrain Doha Mumbai Dubai Bahrain/Amsterdam Islamabad Sabiha Latakia Alexandria Aswan Cairo Luxor Bangkok/Manila

14:25 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:20 15:30 15:50 16:00 16:10 16:20 16:25 16:30 16:35 16:55 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:55 18:00 18:10 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:05 19:15 19:30 19:50 20:2O 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:10 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:20 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:50 22:55 22:55 23:00 23:15 23:25 23:40 23:45 23:50 23:55

TV PROGRAMS

18

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Orbit Listings / Show Listings AMERICA PLUS 00:00 Burn Notice 01:00 Private Practice 02:00 Grey’s Anatomy 03:00 ER 04:00 Gilmore Girls 05:00 One Tree Hill 06:00 GMA Recorded 08:00 GMA Health 08:30 What’s the Buzz 09:00 Private Practice 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy 11:00 *24* 12:00 One Tree Hill 13:00 Gilmore Girls 14:00 *24* 15:00 Inside the Actors Studio 16:00 GMA Live 17:00 GMA Health 17:30 What’s the Buzz 18:00 The Closer 19:00 Gilmore Girls 20:00 Law & Order 21:00 Private Practice 22:00 Grey’s Anatomy 23:00 Nip/Tuck ANIMAL PLANET 00:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 01:45 Surviving the Drought 02:40 Untamed & Uncut 03:35 Night 04:00 Night 04:30 Animal Cops Phoenix 05:25 Animal Cops Phoenix 06:20 Lemur Street 06:45 Monkey Business 07:10 Surviving the Drought 08:00 Wildlife SOS 08:25 Pet Rescue 08:50 Crocodile Hunter 09:45 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:10 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:40 E-Vets: The Interns 11:05 Animal Precinct 11:55 Animal Cops South Africa 12:50 The Crocodile Hunter Diaries 13:45 Wildlife SOS 14:10 Pet Rescue 14:40 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 15:35 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 16:30 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 17:25 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 18:20 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 19:15 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 20:10 The Most Extreme 21:10 After the Attack 22:05 Untamed & Uncut 23:00 Untamed & Uncut 23:55 I Was Bitten BBC ENTERTAINMENT 00:30 Canterbury Tales 01:20 A Year At Kew 01:50 A Year At Kew 02:20 Blizzard - Race To The Pole 03:20 Rough Diamond Sd 04:10 Canterbury Tales 05:00 A Year At Kew 05:30 A Year At Kew 06:00 Cash In The Attic 06:35 Bargain Hunt 07:20 Tweenies 07:40 Little Robots 07:50 Teletubbies 08:15 The Roly Mo Show 08:30 Tikkabilla 09:00 Tweenies 09:20 Little Robots 09:30 Teletubbies 09:55 The Roly Mo Show 10:10 Tikkabilla 10:40 Tweenies 11:00 Cash In The Attic 11:30 Cash In The Attic 12:00 Eastenders 12:30 Eastenders 13:00 Eastenders 13:30 Eastenders 14:00 Antiques Roadshow 14:50 Antiques Roadshow 15:40 Bargain Hunt 16:25 Bargain Hunt 17:10 Cash In The Attic 17:40 Cash In The Attic 18:10 Model Gardens 18:30 The Weakest Link 19:15 Holby City 20:15 Holby City 21:15 Canterbury Tales 22:05 Lead Balloon 22:35 Lead Balloon 23:05 Lead Balloon 23:35 Lead Balloon BBC LIFESTYLE 00:20 It’s Not Easy Being Green 02:00 Living In The Sun 08:00 Daily Cooks Challenge 13:30 Come Dine With Me 16:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares 16:50 Come Dine With Me 19:20 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares - Revisits 20:10 Come Dine With Me 22:10 Come Dine With Me 22:40 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares 23:30 Come Dine With Me 23:55 Come Dine With Me CINEMA CITY 01:00 Love in the Time of Money 18 03:00 Last Orders - PG15 05:00 Love in the Time of Money 18 07:00 El Cortez - PG15 09:00 Dr. Dolittle 4: A Tinsel Town Tail - FAM 11:00 All In - PG 13:00 Nine to Five - PG 15:00 Dr. Dolittle 4: A Tinsel Town Tail - FAM 17:00 P.C.U. - PG15 19:00 Mouth to Mouth - PG15 21:00 White Lightnin’ - 18 23:00 Born to Defense - PG15

20:00 Summer Dew Tour 2009 8 21:00 X Games 15 2009 22:00 Asian X Games 2009 Men/ Women Sport Climbing 22:30 Asian X Games 2009 BMX Vert 23:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 23:30 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009

DISCOVERY CHANNEL 00:00 Destroyed in Seconds 00:30 Destroyed in Seconds 01:00 Miami Ink 02:00 Overhaulin 02:55 American Chopper 03:50 Rides 04:45 Mythbusters 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Ultimate Survival 07:00 Smash Lab 07:55 Brainiac 08:50 Mythbusters 09:45 How It’s Made 10:10 Overhaulin 11:05 Biker Build-Off 12:00 Fifth Gear 12:30 Fifth Gear 12:55 American Chopper 13:50 Street Customs Berlin 14:45 Mega Engineering 15:40 Extreme Engineering 16:35 X-Machines 17:30 How It’s Made 18:00 Eyewitness 18:30 Eyewitness 19:00 Tornado Rampage 20:00 Raging Nature 21:00 Ultimate Survival 22:00 Deadliest Catch 23:00 American Loggers DISCOVERY SCIENCE 00:15 Weird Connections 00:40 Extreme Engineering 01:30 Man Made Marvels: China’s National Theatre 02:20 Nextworld 03:10 Weird Connections 03:35 Weird Connections 04:00 Beyond Tomorrow 04:50 Ten Ways 05:45 How Stuff’s Made 06:10 Green Wheels 06:40 One Step Beyond 07:10 Man Made Marvels: China’s National Theatre 08:00 Thunder Races 09:00 Robotica 10:00 Science of the Movies 10:55 Kings of Construction 11:50 Kings of Construction 12:45 Kings of Construction 13:40 Kings of Construction 14:35 Kings of Construction 15:30 Kings of Construction 16:25 Cool Stuff & How it Works 16:55 Weird Connections 17:20 Weird Connections 17:50 Mighty Ships 18:45 Cell Phone Revolution 19:40 How It’s Made 20:05 How It’s Made 20:30 Robocar 21:20 Nextworld 22:10 Science of the Movies 23:00 Mythbusters 23:50 Mythbusters E! ENTERTAINMENT 00:15 Streets Of Hollywood 00:40 Ths 01:30 25 Most Stylish 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 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions 11:05 Reality Hell 11:30 Reality Hell 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Behind The Scenes 13:15 Behind The Scenes 13:40 Perfect Catch 14:30 Perfect Catch 15:25 15 Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies 17:10 Behind The Scenes 17:35 Behind The Scenes 18:00 E! Investigates 18:50 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 19:15 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 19:40 Ths 20:30 Ths 21:20 Leave It To Lamas 21:45 Leave It To Lamas 22:10 E!es 23:00 Perfect Catch 23:50 Perfect Catch EXTREME SPORTS 00:00 Strikeforce 01:00 AST Winter Dew Tour 02:00 Rebel Events 2009: Asthetiker 02:30 Rebel Events 2009 03:00 Strikeforce 04:00 AST Winter Dew Tour 05:00 Ride Guide Snow 2007 05:30 Ride Guide Snow 2007 06:00 Sacred Ride 06:30 Sacred Ride 07:00 AST Winter Dew Tour 08:00 I-Ex Season 2 08:30 I-Ex Season 2 09:00 I-Ex Season 2 09:30 I-Ex Season 2 10:00 X Games 15 2009 11:00 FIM World Supermoto 2008 12:00 I-Ex Season 2 12:30 I-Ex Season 2 13:00 Asian X Games 2009 Men/ Women Sport Climbing 13:30 Asian X Games 2009 BMX Vert 14:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 14:30 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 15:00 X Games 15 2009 16:00 Summer Dew Tour 2009 8 17:00 I-Ex Season 2 17:30 I-Ex Season 2 18:00 Asian X Games 2009 Men/ Women Sport Climbing 18:30 Asian X Games 2009 BMX Vert 19:00 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009 19:30 FIM World Motorcross MX3 Championships 2009

NAT GEO ADVENTURE 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 Somewhere In China 02:30 Destination Extreme 03:00 Madventures 03:30 Surfer’s Journal 04:00 Bondi Rescue 04:30 Destination Extreme 05:00 Madventures 05:30 By Any Means 06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 Somewhere In China 08:30 Destination Extreme 09:00 Madventures 09:30 Surfer’s Journal 10:00 Word Travels:the Truth Behind 10:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 11:00 Pressure Cook 11:30 Lonely Planet 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 Lonely Planet 14:30 Lonely Planet 15:30 Destination Extreme 16:00 Word Travels:the Truth Behind 16:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 17:00 Pressure Cook 17:30 Lonely Planet 18:30 Lonely Planet 19:30 Lonely Planet 20:30 Lonely Planet 21:30 Destination Extreme 22:00 Word Travels:the Truth Behind 22:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 23:00 Pressure Cook 23:30 Lonely Planet NAT GEO WILD 00:00 Kalahari 01:00 In The Womb 03:00 Hippos: Africa’s River Beast 04:00 Built For The Kill 05:00 Animal Autopsy 06:00 Kalahari 07:00 In The Womb 09:00 Hippos: Africa’s River Beast 10:00 Built For The Kill 11:00 When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs 12:00 Killer Leopards 13:00 Wild Russia 14:00 Animals Of Brazil 14:30 Vultures On The Verge 15:00 Animal Extractors 16:00 Animal Autopsy 17:00 When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs 18:00 Killer Leopards 19:00 Wild Russia 20:00 Animals Of Brazil 20:30 Vultures On The Verge 21:00 Animal Extractors 22:00 Animal Autopsy 23:00 When Crocs Ate Dinosaurs PLAYHOUSE DISNEY 08:00 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 08:25 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 08:50 Lazytown 09:15 Lazytown 09:40 Special Agent Oso 10:10 Special Agent Oso 10:30 Imagination Movers 11:05 Handy Manny 11:30 Handy Manny 11:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:15 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:40 Chuggington 12:50 Chuggington 13:05 Chuggington 13:15 Chuggington 13:55 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 14:20 Lazytown 14:45 Special Agent Oso 15:10 Special Agent Oso 15:35 Imagination Movers 16:00 Imagination Movers 16:25 Handy Manny 16:50 Handy Manny 17:15 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:40 Chuggington 17:55 Chuggington 18:05 My Friends Tigger and Pooh 18:30 Lazytown 18:55 Special Agent Oso 19:20 Imagination Movers 19:45 Handy Manny 20:10 CHUGGINGTONMY FRIENDS TIGGER AND POOH 20:25 Little Einsteins 20:50 Special Agent Oso 21:00 End Of Programming SHOW COMEDY 00:00 Gavin And Stacey Christmas Special 01:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Live At Gotham 03:00 Home Improvement 03:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 04:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 04:30 The Colbert Report 05:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 05:30 Will And Grace 06:00 My Wife And Kids 06:30 Home Improvement 07:00 Fresh Prince Of Bel Air 07:30 Three Sisters 08:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 08:30 8 Simple Rules...

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

NEWS

Judge tosses Blackwater case C o n t i n u e d f ro m Pa g e 1 “The government used the defendants’ compelled statements to guide its charging decisions, to formulate its theory of the case, to develop investigatory leads, and ultimately to obtain the indictment in the case,” Urbina ruled. “In short, the government had utterly failed to prove that it made no impermissible use of the defendants’ statements, or that such use was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The security guards had been “compelled” to provide the incriminating evidence during a Justice Department probe, the cour t said, but the US Constitution bars the prosecutors from using “statements compelled under threat of a job loss” in any subsequent criminal prosecution. The case was among the most sensational that sought to hold Blackwater employees accountable for what was seen as a culture of lawlessness and a lack of accountability as it carried out its duties in Iraq.

The five guards, who had been part of a convoy of armored vehicles, had been charged with killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians and wounding 18 others during an unprovoked attack at a busy Baghdad traffic circle using gunfire and grenades. The men had faced firearms charges, and up to 10 years in jail on each of 14 manslaughter counts.

US prosecutors had alleged that the guards “specifically intended to kill or seriously injure Iraqi civilians”, and according to court documents alleged that one of the guards told another that he wanted to kill Iraqis as “payback for 9/11”, bragging about the number of Iraqis he had shot. Urbina explained in his opinion that federal prosecutors were offered an opportunity during a three-week hearing that began in midOct 2009 to prove that they had not made use of the defendants’ statements in building their case and were unable to do so.

“The explanations offered by the prosecutors and investigators in an attempt to justify their actions... were all too often contradictory, unbelievable and lacking in credibility,” Urbina wrote. He added: “The court must dismiss the indictments against all of the

defendants.” Urbina added that in “reckless violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights,” investigators, prosecutors and government witnesses inappropriately relied on statements that guards were compelled to make in debriefings by the State Department shortly after the shootings. The State Department hired the guards to protect its officials.

The five defendants were security guards employed by Blackwater Worldwide, which since has been renamed a Xe Corporation. Attorneys for the guards have said they did not fire their weapons with criminal intent but thought they were under attack.

But critics repeatedly have accused the company of a Rambo-style “shoot first, ask questions later” approach when carrying out security duties in Iraq. A State Department review panel in 2007 concluded that there had been insufficient US government oversight of private security firms hired in Iraq to protect diplomats and to guard facilities.

The panel found that as a result there was an “undermined confidence” in those contractors, both among Iraqis and US military commanders.

“I was astonished by this decision,” Iraqi Human Rights Minister Wejdan Mikhail told AFP. “There was so much work done to prosecute these people and to take this case into court and I don’t understand why the judge took this decision. One of them has said what happened in Nisur Square, how they killed innocent Iraqi people that were just in their cars without any weapons. I am very astonished and I am waiting for the US embassy to give me the judge’s decision (in full),” the Iraqi human rights minister said. “What happened was very bad, because so many innocent Iraqi people - young, students - were shot by someone who liked to shoot unarmed people.” Mikhail added that she had requested a meeting with US embassy officials in Baghdad. The embassy did not immediately confirm that the meeting would take place or, if it did, who it would involve.

The judge’s decision was welcomed, however, by the company’s chief executive Joseph Yorio, who said: “The company supports the judge’s decision to

dismiss the charges.” “From the beginning, Xe has stood behind the hundreds of brave men who put themselves in harm’s way to protect American diplomats working in Baghdad and other combat zones in Iraq.”

Gover nment spokesman Ali AlDabbagh said Iraq would “act forcefully and decisively to prosecute the Blackwater criminals.” He added that an Iraqi investigation had shown that the five guards were unquestionably responsible for the deaths of the civilians. According to Iraq, 17 civilians were killed in the shooting, but the guards were charged with 14 deaths.

Foreign security teams in Iraq long operated in a legal grey area, but under a militar y accord signed with Washington last November, Baghdad won a concession to lift the immunity to prosecution previously extended to US security contractors.

Ordinary Iraqis expressed anger at Urbina’s decision to dismiss the charges. “Dropping the charges against those guards disrespects the lives of the innocents who were killed,” said Abu Uday, a university professor who did not want to give his given name.

“The rights of the families of the victims must be guaranteed, those who lost their sons because of the rashness of guards who tried to show off their abilities with no respect for people’s lives.”

The top US commander in Iraq General Ray Odierno said he feared a backlash against private security firms working here. “We all know that it was not US soldiers, sailors or marines who did this, it was a private security company,” Odierno told a press conference.

“What I worry about is there will be backlash against private security companies that continue to operate (in Iraq). I wouldn’t like to see that.”

Blackwater ended its operations in Iraq in May, af ter the US State Department refused to renew annual contracts for the company.

Headquar tered in Nor th Carolina, Blackwater was one of the largest security firms operating in Iraq with about 1,000 staff, and had been employed to protect US government personnel since the 2003 invasion. — Agencies

Afghans wash hands off CIA ‘black ops’ Continued from Page 1 State Department,” the official said.

CIA operations were part of the “overall plan” for eradicating the Taleban and developing the country, he said, but were not part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) or US military operations.

The New York Times said CIA officers at the base recently had begun an aggressive campaign against a militant group run

by Sirajuddin Haqqani. Citing current and former intelligence officials, it said early indications were that the bomber was brought onto the base as a possible informer and might not have been subjected to rigorous screening. Afghan political analyst Waheed Mujda said it was the focus on the Haqqani network, which is close to Al-Qaeda and the Taleban, that prompted the attack. “The CIA wanted information on the Haqqani group, so they sent a very clear message - a very successful, planned attack aimed at destroying the nucleus of the CIA operations, and the perpetrator was a Haqqani operative,” he said.

The CIA lowered the flag to half-mast at its tightly guarded headquarters in the Washington suburbs, but did not release the names of the casualties, who died cloaked in the same anonymity in which they lived. “Your triumphs and even your names may be unknown to your fellow

Americans, but your service is deeply appreciated,” President Barack Obama wrote in a letter to CIA employees. Obama said that since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, “the CIA has been tested as never before”. He said stars would be added in their name to the 90 already on the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters honoring spies who have fallen in the line of duty.

“This attack is something that will never be forgotten in Langley, Virginia,” said Jack Rice, a former CIA officer in Afghanistan and talk-show host. “The impact can be huge, not just in terms of the capabilities of these particular people, but in the relationships that they themselves have built,” he said. “You can’t simply go pick up five or 10 more of these guys.

They may be the best guys in the world at what they do and they’re gone,” he said.

Rice said it was possible that the base let its guard down in searching the bomber, who may have been coveted as an informant.

Thomas M Sanderson, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has studied terrorist groups for the US intelligence community, said the attack could alter the mindset of operatives on the ground. “It’s highly problematic because it just makes everyone there be very suspicious of every Afghan who comes their way. Trust is going to take a hit,” Sanderson said.

Harold E Brown Jr of Virginia was among the dead, according to his father, Harold E Brown Sr. The elder Brown said his 37-year-old son, who grew up in Massachusetts, served in the Army and worked for the State Department. He is survived by a wife and three children ages 12, 10 and 2.

The attack comes as the United States increasingly relies on the CIA and other covert forces to pursue strategic goals.

Intelligence operatives are seen as crucial in laying out the groundwork as Obama and NATO allies send in another 36,800 troops as part of a surge expected to last until late 2010. Suspected Taleban, meanwhile, have kidnapped two French journalists working for France’s public television broadcaster and three Afghan companions. Gunmen snatched the group as they were travelling around 60 km from Kabul on Wednesday, a French journalist working with them told AFP. Britain’s ministry of defence said a British soldier died on Thursday of injuries from a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan, taking the British toll for 2009 to 108. ISAF said an American soldier died of non-battle related injuries in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday. The deaths bring to 507 the total number of foreign troops to have died in Afghanistan in 2009, according to an AFP tally based on that from independent icasualties.org website. — Agencies

Tight security, calls for peace as 2010 welcomed VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI issued a New Year’s Day call for tolerance after massive celebrations worldwide ushered in a fresh decade under heavy security and amid warnings of more extremist plots. The pope’s comments came after New Yorkers partied while being protected by rooftop snipers in Times Square following the Christmas Day attempt by a Nigerian suspect to blow up a US airliner bound for Detroit. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the failed plane bombing showed that terrorism remained a “very real” global threat as the world enters a new ,decade eight years after 9/11.

In his traditional New Year’s Day mass yesterday, Benedict called for respect and tolerance.

“Respect others, regardless of their skin colour, nationality, language, religion,” the pope said. He also spoke against war and violence, deploring that too often the faces of children were “sunken by hunger and illness, disfigured by pain and hopelessness”. Before such defenceless humans, “all the false justifications for war and violence fall down”.

For the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the past decade had been a “terrible and gruelling 10 years in all kinds of ways.” But the leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans added that people should not give up on the

Continued from Page 1 currencies, has lost 11 percent in the past 10 years. One of the biggest falls, by 37 percent, was against the Canadian dollar, the currency of the top US trading partner.

Despite the bearish performance, the dollar remains the benchmark of the exchange market. According to recent figures from the Bank for International Settlements, which serves as a bank for central banks, the share of transactions involving the dollar fell slightly to 88 percent in 2007 from 91 percent in 2001.

The dollar also is less a benchmark in official reserves than it was 10 years ago.

On Dec 31, 1999, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the share of dollar-based assets held by governments, excluding the United States and China, was 74.9 percent. However, on Sept 30, 2009, it dipped to 70.2 percent. The dropping dollar share was offset mostly by the euro, which some skeptics had doubted could rise to the chal-

lenge as a common European currency at its launch. “The euro is already beginning to challenge the US dollar’s status as the world’s primary reserve currency and it is an understatement to say that over the past 10 years, the euro has come a long way,” said Kathy Lien, director of currency research at Global Forex Trading.

In 1999, it was inconceivable to ask the head of the IMF whether the dollar’s status was being threatened. Today, he talks about it himself. “I expect the dollar to remain the principal reserve currency for some time,” IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in a speech in November in Beijing. Ten years ago, the then-Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan raised in Congress the possibility of a monetary union involving “dollarized” countries.

The greenback was once common in everyday life in Argentina, which was seriously considering ditching the peso, as well as in Bolivia, Russia and the Philippines. Today, the South American trade bloc Mercosur, led by Brazil and

Argentina, has abandoned the dollar in favor of local currencies for their trade, and Moscow sees the future of the ruble as a reserve currency.

Some countries whose currencies are pegged to the US dollar, including the Gulf nations and Hong Kong, also faced strain as the greenback depreciated.

Kuwait broke ranks with fellow Gulf states in 2007 and dropped the peg to help fight then-soaring inflation. In 1996, the Federal Reserve found “over 60 percent” of US coins and dollar notes abroad but the share dropped to “approximately 50 percent” in 2007.

At the start of the decade, any proposal to quote oil in a currency other than the dollar would have been seen as farfetched. Today, the Arab oil-rich states are reportedly toying with the idea, with China, Russia, Japan and France. In 1999, the debate on the international monetary system after the Asian financial turmoil focused on remedies to check currency instability. Today, the issue of a post-dollar scenario is being discussed. — AFP

“hope for change” or “shrug our shoulders and lower our expectations”.

In the world’s major cities, millions turned out for parties to bid farewell to a decade that saw the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, the launch of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a disastrous economic crisis. But security was tight across the globe after the airliner bomb plot. Thousands of police officers deployed in New York, backed by surveillance cameras, rooftop snipers and devices able to detect radiation or biological agents.

Partygoers in Times Square were not allowed to carry backpacks or alcohol. On Wednesday, police had ordered the brief evacuation of Times Square and investigated what they said was a suspicious van - which later proved to be harmless. “We assume here that New York is the number one terrorist target in America,” city police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The British prime minister, in an article on his Downing Street office’s website, spoke of extremist threats. “The new decade is starting as the last began - with Al-Qaeda creating a climate of fear,” Brown wrote, saying the failed bombing had “exposed an evolving terrorist threat”. “The failed attack in Detroit on Christmas Day reminds us of a deeper reality: that almost 10 years after September 11th inter-

national terrorism is still a very real threat.”

The New Year, of course, had its lighter moments as well. Russians used to stern-faced messages from their leaders were treated to a surprise cartoon on state television caricaturing President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Television cartoons of Russian leaders have been a virtual taboo over the last half decade.

Celebrations at iconic European sites, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the London Eye across from Big Ben, saw tens of thousands of revelers joyously welcome the New Year. Spain had an extra reason to party, with the country taking over the EU presidency for six months at midnight. “This is the best street party in the world. Now I am going to work on my first hangover of 2010,” said Gerry Shalloe, a 32-year-old English teacher from Ireland who lives in Madrid.

Auckland, New Zealand, was the first major city to see in the New Year with a burst of fireworks, and in Australia about 1.5 million people watched a pyrotechnic display from the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. There were also hopeful messages, with South African President Jacob Zuma using his New Year comments to rally for unity for the 2010 football World Cup the first ever to be held in Africa. — AFP

Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause Continued from Page 1 “I clearly and explicitly say that the order to execute, kill or jail (former parliament speaker and pro-reform presidential candidate Mehdi) Karroubi, Mousavi and people like us will not solve anything. Supposedly you calmed things down through your arrests, violence, threats and closure of newspapers and other media. What appreciation does that show for the change in public opinion about the Islamic republic?”

Mousavi rejected charges by Ahmadinejad and other officials that he and his supporters were “lackeys” of Iran’s Western foes. “We are neither Americans nor Britons. We have sent no congratulations cards to the leaders of major powers,” he said, in mocking allusion to a card the Iranian president sent to Barack Obama on his election as US president in 2008.

“We are loyal to the constitution,” he added, dismissing accusations by hardliners that the opposition’s protests against Ahmadinejad’s re-election have turned into a campaign to topple the Islamic regime.

“We want an honest and compassionate government that considers diversity of opinion and the popular vote to be opportunities, not threats. We consider invasion of people’s privacy, interrogations, ransackings, newspaper

closures and restrictions on what is published to be violations of the constitution.” Mousavi proposed that to resolve the crisis “the government announce it will be directly accountable before the nation, parliament and the judiciary and not demand unconditional support regardless of its shortcomings or weaknesses.”

Mousavi also denounced hardliners who he said preached violence from state-funded podiums in the name of Islam, a reference to cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda who called supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s opponents “cows and goats”. “Encouraging the killing of people ... is a tragedy carried out by specific individuals and the state TV,” Mousavi said, adding that efforts to silence the opposition “through arrests, violence and threats,” would not succeed. Iran, Mousavi said, was in a “serious crisis” but killing protesters will only make the opposition stronger. He cited the founder of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s words: “Kill us, we will become stronger.”

The fourth candidate in the June election former Revolutionary Guards chief Mohsen Rezai - hailed Mousavi’s comments as a basis for a compromise between the opposition and regime hardliners, and wrote to Khamenei asking him to intervene to broker a solution.

“Mr Mir Hossein’s retreat from rejection of Mr Ahmadinejad’s government and his constructive proposal that parliament and the judiciary act based on their legal duty to make the government accountable... was late but can be a new start to unite the protesters with the rest,” the ISNA news agency quoted Rezai as saying in the letter. “A message from you or advice through a speech can strengthen... the new movement which has started for unity and forgiveness,” Rezai said.

But hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami slammed Mousavi’s statement as a new provocation. “There is no crisis in the country and you are creating a crisis. Stop it!” the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying. Hardline cleric Ahmad Janati criticised the pace at which opposition supporters detained during Sunday’s protests were being put on trial.

“The judiciary must allocate more judges to this - revolutionary judges, not weak ones,” he said.

But Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said the first trials would open soon. “Investigations are rapidly being carried out regarding defendants who committed offences on this day and soon some of these cases will be sent to court with their indictments,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. — Agencies

Dubai to open tallest building Continued from Page 1 Burj Dubai contains 57 lifts, which will whisk people to 1,044 apartments and 49 floors of office space, as well as a hotel bearing the Giorgio Armani logo. A spiralling Y-shaped design by SOM architect Adrian Smith was used to support the structural core of the tower, which narrows as it ascends. Higher up it becomes a steel structure topped with a huge spire. To reach the final stages, concrete was propelled to a height of 605 m - a world record.

George Efstathiou, managing partner of SOM and the main project manager, said the tripod Y shape provides a stable base. “We took that basic... plan and used references to Islamic geometries and pointed arches... as we go vertical with that shape we stepped it back in order to mitigate the wind issue,” he told AFP. “The building is very quiet. There are many storms that you wouldn’t notice at all. This building is a lot quieter than a lot of the other supertalls that came before, even if they are shorter buildings.”

Construction, which began in 2004, is estimated to have cost one billion dollars. It was carried out by South Korea’s Samsung Engineering & Construction, Belgium’s BESIX group and the United Arab Emirates’ Arabtec. The skyscraper is the centrepiece of a $20-billion new shopping district, Downtown Burj Dubai, which includes 30,000 apartments and the Dubai Mall, which says its space for 1,200 shops makes it the world’s largest indoor shopping centre.

Ahead of Monday’s grand opening, estate agents said there has been a considerable rise in demand for the tower’s residential units, which were sold by the developer several years ago.

Property prices in Dubai have plunged more than 50 percent over the past year, but brokers told AFP that the drop in the tower’s prices has been less precipitous. “I bought a one-bedroom apartment on the 80th floor for three million dollars in 2008. With the slide in prices, my loss will be huge, at least theoretically,” one Palestinian businessman told AFP. One square foot in the commercial area of the tower fetched

$4,500 to $5,500 at the height of the property boom in 2008, before the global recession hit.

Some believe Burj Dubai will be the last of the giant projects that have brought global fame to Dubai, such as the three-kilometre-long Palm Jumeirah artificial island developed by the troubled Nakheel company. Other towers that have been announced but now look doubtful include the 1,000-m Nakheel Tower, Kuwait’s Silk City tower slated to be more than 1,000 m tall, and the 1,600-m Jeddah tower by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

Efstathiou says he believes it will be 10 years before Burj Dubai’s record is broken.

“When Burj Dubai was conceived, it was a totally different time and the biggest driving force for these tall towers are the economics,” he said. “If you can tell me when the economy is going to turn around, I would have a better idea about when the next building will occur. But we know that if a building started its designs today it wouldn’t be done before at least seven to 10 years.”— AFP

70 killed in Pak volleyball blast Continued from Page 1

Dollar loses luster in turbulent decade

19

such as markets to inflict mass killings and spread fear and chaos.

Officials said people in the village had formed an armed anti-Taleban militia, a phenomenon that started in Pakistan last year. Despite major military offensives against their strongholds along the Afghan border, the Taleban have killed hundreds of people in bombings since October, challenging pro-American President Asif Ali Zardari, who already faces political heat because corruption charges against his aides could be revived..

Khalid Israr, a senior regional official who spoke by telephone from a hospital treating blast victims, said people recalled seeing the bomber drive a vehicle on to the playing field just before the explosion. Ramzan Bittani, a 33-year-old driver, told AFP by telephone from a local hospital that he had left the match to take a call. “As I was listening, I saw a huge blue and white spark followed by an earpiercing blast. When I was able to figure out what had happened, I saw bodies and

smoke all around. My hand was fractured,” he said.

Anwer Khan, 18, a student, said that he had just stepped out of his house and he saw a black pick-up speeding up towards the spectators. “A giant flame leaped towards the sky. There was bright light everywhere, just like a flash, and then a very huge blast shook everything.

Two pellets hit my forehead and blood started flowing,” Khan said.

The bombing occurred on a day of strikes in the southern city of Karachi to denounce violence in Pakistan, an ally Washington needs to help stabilise Afghanistan. Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi nearly shut down in a strike called by religious and political leaders after a suicide bomber killed 43 people at a Shiite procession on Monday. The Taleban claimed responsibility and threatened more violence. In a sign of growing anxiety over security, the United Nations will withdraw some of its staff from Pakistan because of safety concerns, a UN spokeswoman said on Thursday.

On a visit to Karachi yesterday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said mil-

itant groups were harming Pakistan.

“They are hired assassins. They are enemies of Pakistan. They are enemies of Islam,” he told reporters. While many Pakistanis object to the violence, they are also frustrated with Zardari’s inability to stabilise the nuclear power. Karachi’s streets were nearly empty yesterday. The stock exchange,, which normally operates on the first day of the year, was closed.. Security forces carried out patrols. But residents were taking no chances. “We are already losing business and can‘t take the risk of going out today and opening our shops,” said Saleem Ahmed, who sells electronics at one of the city’s markets.

Yesterday in North Waziristan district, missiles fired from a US drone air craft killed three suspected militants 15 km east of Miranshah, the main district town close to the Afghan border. “A US drone fired two missiles, targeting a vehicle and killing three militants,” a senior security official in the area told AFP. A separate, earlier US drone attack killed four militants in Machikhel village, about 25 km east of Miranshah. — Agencies

11 Houthis killed in Yemen clashes Continued from Page 1

IOC suspends Kuwait sports Continued from Page 1 The parliament approved on Wednesday the amendments of the law in its first reading, with 40 votes for and 12 votes against. The second reading’s vote was postponed until a special session is held by the Assembly. Afasi urged lawmakers and other relevant authorities to work together towards approving the draft bill in accordance with IOC standards and the rules of the international federation.

Afasi highlighted the deterioration of sports activities over the past three years, saying that Kuwaiti sports previously garnered achievements on regional and international levels, but have now seriously deteriorated, mainly because the youth are being discouraged with the unhealthy atmosphere in the local sports sector .

The minister stressed that Kuwait should fully comply with international sports regulations since it joined the IOC in 1965. He said

the IOC has already warned Kuwait several times. He also underlined efforts exerted by the government to determine the reasons for suspending Kuwait’s membership. Afasi indicated that the amendments which were passed by the Assembly in the first reading satisfy the IOC’s standards, adding that the Kuwaiti sports sector is now at a crossroads. He called on the Assembly to join hands with the government by passing this bill. — Agencies

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a New Year message published in a government newspaper, called on northern rebels and southern separatists to abandon violence and urged anyone tempted by Al-Qaeda to reconsider. “The time has come to lay down your weapons, to steer clear of the violence and the terror and evil acts so as to save your souls and be good citizens in your society,” Saleh wrote in Al-Thawra. He also called again on northern rebels to accept a ceasefire, release prisoners, return stolen civilian and military materials and agree to stop attacks on Saudi territory. “If these elements accept the call for peace, the state will extend its hand for

peace,” Saleh said.

Addressing those in the troubled south who aspire to secession, Saleh called on them to “be reasonable and renounce violence and the propagation of a culture of hate”. He also wrote that there was no question of “sacrificing unity (between north and south in 1990), which is a subject of both pride and a binding element for all Yemenis.” Finally, the president called for talks with the country’s legal opposition, urging it to choose “entente and turn its back on disputes”.

The northern rebels, who often report attacks

by Yemeni and Saudi warplanes, said in an emailed statement they had repulsed several advances by Saudi troops on their positions near the Yemen-Saudi border, killing an unspecified

number of soldiers and blowing up a Saudi tank and an armoured vehicle. “The Saudi army tried for a second time to infiltrate into a northwest village without firecover, and they were detected and repelled,” the rebels said.

They said rebels had also attacked 10 Saudi soldiers in a mountainous area near the border, killing some while others fled, and that Saudis had pounded rebel positions with rockets. Saudi Defence Ministry spokesman Ibrahim Al-Malek said he doubted the rebel claim: “If it was true, we would have issued a statement about it. That is why I highly doubt it is true.” Riyadh is an ally of Yemen but denies giving it military aid, saying it only defends its own territory against the rebels. — Agencies

20

SPORTS

Saturday, January 2, 2010

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Thursday: Montreal 5, Florida 4; Ottawa 3, NY Islanders 2 (So); Detroit 4, Colorado 2; Nashville 2, Columbus 1 (OT); San Jose 3, Phoenix 2 (So); Vancouver 4, St. Louis 3 (OT); Los Angeles 5, Minnesota 2; Dallas 5, Anaheim 3; NY Rangers 2, Carolina 1; Chicago 5, New Jersey 1; Calgary 2, Edmonton 1. (OT Denotes Overtime Win, So Denotes Shootout Win) Eastern Conference Atlantic Division

New Jersey Pittsburgh NY Rangers Philadelphia NY Islanders Buffalo Boston Ottawa Montreal Toronto Washington Atlanta Tampa Bay Florida Carolina

W L OTL GF 28 10 1 113 26 14 1 130 19 17 4 107 19 18 2 112 16 18 8 101 Northeast Division 24 11 4 107 20 12 7 103 21 16 4 115 21 19 3 114 14 18 9 114 Southeast Division 24 10 6 144 18 17 4 124 15 15 10 100 16 18 7 117 10 23 7 100

GA 86 107 113 109 129

PTS 57 53 42 40 40

90 94 121 119 142

52 47 46 45 37

114 125 120 133 145

54 40 40 39 27

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 27 10 3 126 85 57 Nashville 24 14 3 118 118 51 Detroit 20 14 6 104 103 46 St. Louis 17 17 6 105 115 40 Columbus 15 18 9 110 140 39 Northwest Division Colorado 23 13 6 125 122 52 Calgary 23 12 5 111 97 51 Vancouver 24 16 1 129 102 49 Minnesota 20 18 3 108 119 43 Edmonton 16 21 4 114 134 36 Pacific Division San Jose 26 8 7 138 105 59 Phoenix 25 13 4 110 95 54 Los Angeles 23 15 3 122 119 49 Dallas 18 11 11 121 124 47 Anaheim 16 17 7 112 129 39 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Kuwaiti cricketers in action

ALBERTA: Edmonton Oilers’ Andrew Cogliano (left) watches Calgary Flames goalie Curtis McElhinney make a glove save on his shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Calgary on Thursday, Dec 31, 2009. — AP

Blackhawks overpower Devils 5-1

KUWAIT: Today will be a glorious day for the Kuwaiti National Cricketers as they meet KOC Combined XI at Ahmadi Grounds at 1 pm. Under the expert guidance of skipper Taher Bastaki, well assisted by Mahmood Bastaki and Kuwaitis par excellence wicket keeper Mahmud Abdulla who has already trained 2 standby wicket keepers. The Kuwaitis urged cricket enthusiasts to come forward and cheer up Kuwaiti cricketers and be part of the action when the match at KOC grounds.

The role of Kuwaiti supporters is crucial as we strive to make the Kuwaiti Nationals Cricket Team one of the most successful team formed this year. We have spent great deal of time mak-

ing sure about the performance of each player however none of these would be possible without the great assistance by experienced Kuwaiti players namely Taher, Mahmood Bastaki, Mahmud Abdulta, Tariq Beidas and Tareq Razooki.

Experienced Kuwaiti players and newcomers are encouraged to participate in the game as well. The Kuwaitis have proved their ability in both departments and have been highly applauded by the spectators in the GCC Cup held recently and this friendly comes in preparation for the next GCC Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2010 and the format of this Cup is for nationals to represent their respective countries.

Senators rule over Islanders CHICAGO: Chicago goalie Cristobal Huet stopped 26 shots to help the Blackhawks to 5-1 over the New Jersey Devils in a clash of two NHL divisional leaders on Thursday. Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, while Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Andrew Ladd and John Madden also scored for Chicago, which maintained a six-point buffer atop the Central Division. Huet came within 93 seconds of a shutout, with Jamie Langenbrunner scoring a late consolation for New Jersey. The Devils remain in top place in the Eastern Conference.

Sharks 3, Coyotes 2, SO In Glendale, Arizona, San Jose notched its seventh straight win and remained outright leader in the Western Conference with a shootout victory over Phoenix. Ryan Clowe scored the lone shootout goal for the Sharks, which got goals in regulation from Dan Boyle - his 100th NHL goal and Kent Huskins.

Phoenix had its franchise-record 10game winning streak snapped despite goals from Scottie Upshall and Taylor Pyatt. A win would have moved the Coyotes within two points of the Sharks in the Pacific Division, but the gap was opened to five.

Red Wings 4, Avalanche 2 In Detroit, Ville Leino put Detroit ahead to stay with four minutes left in a

narrow win over Colorado. Darren Helm scored two short-handed goals and Pavel Datsyuk also scored for Detroit. Brandon Yip netted both Colorado goals.

Kings 5, Wild 2 In St Paul, Minnesota, Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing skid by beating Minnesota. Alexander Frolov scored twice and Michal Handzus added a goal and an assist. Brad Richardson and Ryan Smyth also scored for the Kings.

Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan netted for the Wild.

Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist, and Mikael Samuelsson also scored for the Canucks. St Louis’ Andy McDonald had a goal and an assist.

Flames 2, Oilers 1 In Calgary, Alberta, Curtis Glencross tipped in a point shot by Mark Giordano during a third-period power play to lead Calgary over Edmonton. Craig Conroy also scored for the Flames, who have won three straight after a poor start to December. Shawn Horcoff scored the lone goal for the Oilers.

Predators 2, Blue Jackets 1, OT In Columbus, Ohio, David Legwand scored 28 seconds into overtime to give Nashville victory over Columbus. Joel Ward, who also assisted on Andreas Thuresson’s tying goal in the third period, stole the puck and tapped a pass backward to Legwand in the low slot for his ninth of the season. The Predators are 22-2-1 against the Blue Jackets over the past four years. Columbus’ goal came from Raffi Torres in the first period.

Stars 5, Ducks 3 In Dallas, Loui Eriksson scored three goals for his second career hat trick as Dallas downed Anahaim for rare consecutive wins. Eriksson had a chance for a fourth goal with 8 minutes left, but his shot on a short-handed breakaway glanced off a post. Brad Richards had a power-play goal and two assists, and Stephane Robidas added a goal for the Stars who notched successive wins for the first time in five weeks. For the Ducks, Saku Koivu scored twice, and Mike Brown added a goal.

Canucks 4, Blues 3, OT In St Louis, Christian Ehrhoff scored a power-play goal 2:24 into overtime, and Vancouver rallied from three goals down to beat St Louis. Daniel and

Senators 3, Islanders 2, SO In Ottawa, Ryan Shannon scored the decisive shootout goal to lift Ottawa over New York. Shannon delivered Ottawa’s third straight shootout tally

after Alex Kovalev and Mike Fisher also beat Dwayne Roloson with the Senators’ first two shots. Senators goalie Pascal Leclaire stopped John Tavares on the Islanders’ final attempt after Frans Nielsen and Rob Schremp had scored. Chris Kelly and Peter Regin got second-period goals for Ottawa.

Canadiens 5, Panthers 4 In Sunrise, Florida, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Benoit Pouliot scored early in the third period to lift Montreal over Florida. The Canadiens, who haven’t played at home since Dec. 17, won six of seven on their long road trip.

Bergeron and Pouliot’s goals put Montreal up 5-3. Radek Dvorak brought Florida within 5-4 but they could not find an equalizer.

Rangers 2, Hurricanes 1 In Raleigh, North Carolina, Brandon Dubinsky’s goal at 11:49 of the third off an assist from Marian Gaborik gave New York the victory over struggling Carolina. Gaborik, who has 26 goals this season, is the fourth NHL player to reach 50 points this season. He assisted on both goals. Erik Christensen added a goal and an assist for his first two points of the season. The Rangers outshot the Hurricanes 35-18. Carolina has won just once in 11 games when tied after two periods. — AP

Under-pressure South Africa set to change CAPE TOWN: South Africa are set to make at least one change in their team as they go into a crucial third Test against England, starting tomorrow.

“We’re all under pressure,” admitted South African coach Mickey Arthur, who said ‘tough decisions’ would have to be made about the composition of the side following their crushing innings and 98 runs defeat in the second Test in Durban. “We’re 10 down in the series and we’ve got to take 20 wickets and win this Test match,” said Arthur.

He said: “There may be one change, there may be two.”

Asked whether veteran fast bowler Makhaya Ntini faced the axe, Arthur said Ntini had not been at his best in Durban, but cautioned that did not necessarily mean the only black African in the squad would be dropped. But he also said that if Ntini won a reprieve it would not be simply because of his status as a standard-bearer for racial transfor-

mation. “He’s an icon cricketer and you tend to give icon players a longer run because they deserve it.” England, meanwhile, are concerned about the fitness of batsman Paul Collingwood, who suffered a dislocated left index finger during fielding practice in Durban.

Coach Andy Flower said Collingwood had made good progress, which included batting in the nets. “I was pleasantly surprised because we hadn’t factored in him batting today,” said Flower. “But he’s still doubtful.

He didn’t face the quicker bowlers and he didn’t do any robust fielding practice.” Flower said a decision would be made after Collingwood was exposed to more rigorous practice on Saturday. He said the final decision would be taken by team management. “He’s desperate to play, which means we can’t just leave the decision up to him.”

If Collingwood does not play, the tour selectors will have to

choose between Hampshire’s Michael Carberry, who was added to the squad as cover for Collingwood on Wednesday, or all-rounder Luke Wright. Flower said he expected the Newlands Test would be tough, citing South Africa’s record of 14 wins in their last 18 Tests at the ground, including three out of three against England. “They’re a very good side and it is still a huge challenge for us,” he said.

“They’ll come hard at us but we’ll come hard at them too.’

Flower said he did not believe there was a parallel between the current series and the Ashes series against Australia last year, when England went from a win in the second Test to an innings defeat in the fourth Test at Headingley in Leeds. “I think in that Test there was an anxiety to wrap up the series quickly. I don’t feel there’s any anxiety from this team. We have probably learnt from that experience.” — AFP

No charges against Mike Tyson in airport scuffle GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN: Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer soars from the hill in front of Garmisch during the training jump of the second station of the four hills ski jumping tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany yesterday.

Schlierenzauer won the event. — AP

Schlierenzauer takes 2nd leg of Four Hills GARMISCH-PARTENIRCHEN: Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer, the defending World Cup champion, won the second leg of the Four Hills ski jump event yesterday.

Following a poor showing last Tuesday at Oberstdorf, where he could only place ninth, Schlierenzauer made no mistake this time as he leapt 136.5 and 137.5m for a total of 277.7 points. That was enough to see off compatriot Wolfgang Loitzl, who twice jumped 135m for 272.5 points, while Swiss rival Simon Ammann was third after

jumping 132 and 143.5m - a venue record for 272.4 points.

Austrian Andreas Kofler, who won at Oberstdorf, came in fourth with leaps of 136 and 137 m for 271.9 points. “The New Year has started off well - that was really a perfect day,” said Schlierenzauer, who put his off-day at Oberstdorf down to a stomach upset. Finnish five-time overall winner Janne Ahonen, second at Oberstdorf on his comeback from retirement, could only manage sixth this time after jumps of 129.5

and 137m gave him 259.2 points.

After the two races Kofler leads the way with a 20-point advantage over Loitzl with Ahonen third five points further back. After adding 2.5m to Schlierenzauer’s previous venue record of two years ago Ammann is fourth, just three points adrift of Ahonen and three ahead of Schlierenzauer.

Ammann leads the overall World Cup standings after eight of 24 events with 529 points, with Schlierenzauer second on 511 ahead of Kofler on 426.

The mainly German crowd of 25,000 had little to cheer regarding the home contingent - coached ironically by an Austrian in Werner Schuster - as Pascal Bodmer was their top finisher in 16th spot while vice world champion Martin Schmitt could only come in 25th. Schuster complained that Schmitt and co are “currently jumping well below their potential.” The next leg comes Sunday at Innsbruck with the final leg also in Austria, at Bischofshofen on January 6.— AFP

LOS ANGELES: Mike Tyson and the photographer who provoked the former heavyweight world champion’s ire at Los Angeles International airport last month won’t face charges over their scuffle, prosecutors said Thursday. City attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge Tyson or photographer Tony Echeverria. Both men were arrested on November 11 after an altercation in which each said the other hit him. Echeverria said a blow by Tyson - the once feared heavyweight world champ - knocked him to the ground, and he was treated for a cut to the forehead.

Tyson was traveling with his family when he was mobbed by photographers.

His attorney Shawn Champion Holley said at the time that Tyson was protecting his infant daughter after Echeverria collided with her stroller. She welcomed the decision not to charge the former fighter. “The city attorney’s decision today is a small victory for those who continue to be harassed, annoyed and even stalked by the paparazzi,” Chapman Holley said. Authorities in Arizona said after Tyson’s arrest that they were watching the case to see if the former boxer should be sent to jail for violating terms of his probation in a

2007 drug case in which Tyson pleaded guilty to cocaine possession.

The airport incident came after a difficult year for Tyson, who suffered personal tragedy in May when his four-year-old daughter died after accidentally strangling herself with a loose cord on a treadmill. Tyson exploded on the boxing scene in the mid-1980s, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986 at the age of 20. Considered unbeatable for the rest of the decade, Tyson’s career went off the rails when he suffered a shock upset to James “Buster” Douglas in 1990.

In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping a beauty queen at a pageant in Indianapolis, Indiana. He served three years of a six-year sentence and was released in 1995 - and has always denied raping the woman. “Iron Mike” reclaimed the heavyweight throne but lost to Evander Holyfield in 1996 and notoriously bit Holyfield’s ears twice in a 1997 rematch, adding banishment to his ridicule. Tyson was jailed again in 1999 for assaulting two people following a traffic accident. Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and retired after losses to Britain’s Danny Williams in 2004 and American Kevin McBride in 2005. — AFP

SPORTS

Saturday, January 2, 2010

21

Playoff berths on line in final week of season LOS ANGELES: Amid the scramble for NFL playoff spots and postseason position tomorrow, the Jets and Ravens know just what they have to do: win and they’re in. The final week of the regular season is simple for them, but not so simple for five other teams chasing two AFC wild card berths - including reigning Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh. The Steelers, along with Denver, Houston, Miami and Jacksonville would need a little - or in some cases a lot - of help from their rivals to keep their campaigns going.

Meanwhile in the NFC, all the playoff tickets have been booked, but teams are still battling for division bragging rights and, for one team, a coveted first-round bye. Dallas host Philadelphia in a battle to decide the NFC East division title and perhaps a bye. “I look at the Philadelphia contest as a playoff game,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “It’s so meaningful to us.” The teams met on the final day last year, too, when Philadelphia triumphed 44-6 to claim a playoff berth and Dallas seeing their season end.

If the Eagles win, they clinch the second seed behind New Orleans in the NFC and get a week to rest before beginning the postseason. The Cowboys’ shot at the bye will be gone if the Vikings win earlier in the day, but if Minnesota lose to the New York Giants, the Cowboys can get the bye with a win and loss by Arizona to Green Bay. If neither Philly nor Dallas claim the second seed, the teams could meet in the first-round.

“Playing for the division title is what’s going to make this a great game,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “Both teams have something at stake.

That’s why we do this thing, as coaches and players, for opportunities like this. Everybody will be fired up for it.”

The Jets, helmed by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and first-year coach Rex Ryan, have a chance to clinch a playoff berth when they host playoff-bound Cincinnati in the the final regular-season game at Giants Stadium. After a discouraging 10-7 home loss to Atlanta on December 20, Ryan thought the Jets were “obviously” out of the postseason running.

But the Jets took charge of their playoff destiny with 29-15 victory over previously unbeaten Indianapolis last week.

“Every team wants to be in the situation where you control your own destiny. But to have the opportunity to actually play

the last game of the season, the last regular-season game, with everything riding on it in front of your fans, I think most teams would take that, sign up for that opportunity,” Ryan said. “If we win the game, we’re the fifth seed. If we don’t, we’re out. That’s the math that I can figure out.”

There’s no algebra needed for Baltimore, who can secure a playoff berth with a victory over the Raiders in Oakland but will be eliminated with a loss. “We’ve got an opportunity to get in the tournament,” coach John Harbaugh said. “To me, that’s motivation enough.

I’m sure our guys will be ready.” Pittsburgh, who won a record sixth Super Bowl title last season, could see any shot at defending that crown end Sunday when they close the regular season at Miami.

After a shocking five-game skid, the Steelers have revived with back-to-back victories, but their chances depend not only on a victory but also on the results for Baltimore, Houston, the Jets and Denver.

“This is our bed. We’re going to lay in it,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’re not going to cry over spilled milk. If there’s any level of disappointment in terms of how this thing unfolds, it’s going to be on us.”

Miami has a miniscule chance to advance, needing to win and have Jacksonville, Baltimore, Houston and the Jets lose. Houston take on playoff-bound New England, who could rest key players including quarterback Tom Brady part of the game to avoid injuries. Jacksonville, losers of three straight, try to keep their slim hopes alive when they visit Cleveland. Like the Jaguars, Denver once appeared playoff bound. But since a 6-0 start they have lost seven of nine and need a win over Kansas City as well as plenty of help to get through.

The Colts, who created a furor when they pulled their stars last week and saw their chance at an unbeaten season end, will likely rest quarterback Peyton Manning and others again when they finish up the season in Buffalo. New Orleans, who started the season with 13 straight wins, now find themselves trying to avoid a third straight defeat and gain momentum going into the playoffs when they visit Carolina.

In other games, Tampa Bay host Atlanta, Detroit host Chicago, St Louis host San Francisco, Seattle host Tennessee and playoff-bound San Diego host lowly Washington. — AFP

CALIFORNIA: Travis Pastrana jumps off the Pine Street Pier onto a barge anchored in the harbor in Long Beach, Calif on Thursday, Dec 31, 2009. Pastrana set a new world record for the longest jump in a rally car. — AP

National scout Nix promoted by Bills Denver’s Stokley fined for swipe at game official NEW YORK: Three days before ending their season, the struggling Buffalo Bills promoted Russ Brandon to chief executive and appointed national scout Buddy Nix as general manager on Thursday.

Brandon had served as chief operating officer and general manager for the last two years while Nix returned to the Bills as national scout on Jan. 26 after a brief retirement. Team owner Ralph Wilson announced the restructuring of his front office as the Bills prepared to host the high-flying Indianapolis Colts (14-1) on Sunday.

“This is someone that we needed for a long, long time,” Wilson told the team’s official website of Nix’s appointment.

“Something that fans as well as everyone in the area and myself have wanted, and that’s a GM of football. We really needed somebody that knew

all the aspects of the game.”

The Bills, who will miss the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season, prop up the American Football Conference East standings with a win-loss record of 5-10.

Nix, a veteran of 16 years in the NFL including eight in Buffalo, decided to re-join the Bills in January after a short break from football following the 2008 draft. “It’s been kind of a whirlwind the last six or seven days,” Nix, 70, said.

“It’s not what I had in mind when I came back in January but the more time I’ve had to think about it, the more excited I’ve gotten about it. “I don’t think I ever intended to stay out of scouting. I wanted to back off and look at everything, but deep down I never intended to get out and stay out.” Long regarded as one of the beat evaluators of talent in the league, Nix served as

assistant general manager of the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2008.

In another development, the National Football League has fined Denver receiver Brandon Stokley 25,000 dollars for making contact with an official that led to his being tossed from last week’s game in Philadelphia. Stokley said he would appeal the fine.

The 11-year veteran was upset over the lack of an ass interference call on a thirddown play in the first quarter against the Eagles when his route was disrupted by a defender. Seeing no penalty flag, he sprinted down the field and shouted at official Todd Prukop, who pointed for him to go to his sideline.

As Stokley moved to leave the field, he turned and waved his right arm in disgust, accidentally slapping Prokop’s hand. — Agencies

All eyes on Belgian comeback queens BRISBANE: All eyes will be on Belgian comeback queens Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters when the second Brisbane International tennis tournament begins tomorrow. Former world number one Henin is using the Brisbane tournament to launch her return to professional tennis, while Clijsters will be out to maintain the momentum of her 2009 comeback, which breathed new life into the women’s professional tour thanks to her win at the US Open in August. With the tournament also featuring Serbia’s glamorous Ana Ivanovic and Russian Nadia Petrova, the women have garnered almost all the attention despite the presence in the men’s draw of players such as Andy Roddick and Gael Monfils.

The 27-year-old Henin sent an ominous warning to her rivals when she arrived in Brisbane this week claiming she would become a better player than when she retired in May 2008. The Belgian spent a total of 117 weeks at number one and claimed 41 singles titles, including seven Grand Slams. She announced her comeback in September, soon after her compatriot and fierce rival Clijsters won the US Open, and said this week she would return to the tour a more relaxed player.

“I believe I can be a better player,” Henin said. “I believe I can use my experience more than in the past.

“When you are (playing at) 200 percent you have no time to realize it. “You are too involved all the time, and all this time off helped me to realize everything I achieved. “What I can say is I know myself much better and

that’s the most important thing.”

Clijsters’ manager said the world number 18’s priority in Brisbane was introducing daughter Jada to a koala. Another former world number one, Ivanovic, will be hoping the tournament marks her return to the top flight after a loss of form and a run of injuries saw her ranking fall to 22.

Ivanovic, already a crowd favorite in Australia because of the country’s large Serbian community, has endeared herself to locals even further thanks to her relationship with Queensland golfer Adam Scott, with newspapers renaming her “Aussie Ana”.

“It wasn’t an easy year but I learned a lot,” the Serb said of her poor 2009. “I just want to focus on the big picture now and get lots of matches in.... I just want competition-I really missed it. “I want to go in without expectations but I know if I perform well I can reach the final.” Clijsters looks likely to be named top seed for the tournament, ahead of Petrova, Ivanovic and Slovak Daniela Hantuchova.

The men’s draw is headed by Roddick, Monfils, and Czech duo Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych. The tournament also features Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who was given the allclear from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to play in Australia following a threemonth ban for cocaine use. The CAS accepted Gasquet’s argument that the small traces of the drug in his system were the result of kissing a girl in a Miami nightclub, rejecting an appeal for a harsher sentence by the International Tennis Federation. — AFP

NFL results/standings LOS ANGELES: Standings in the National Football League going into Sunday’s final regular-season games: AFC East W L T PCT PF PA y-New England 10 5 0 .667 400 251 N.Y. Jets 8 7 0 .533 311 236 NFC East Miami 7 8 0 .467 336 360 x-Philadelphia 11 4 0 .733 429 313 Buffalo 5 10 0 .333 228 319 x-Dallas 10 5 0 .667 337 250 AFC North N.Y. Giants 8 7 0 .533 395 383 y-Cincinnati 10 5 0 .667 305 254 Washington 4 11 0 .267 246 313 Baltimore 8 7 0 .533 370 248 NFC North Pittsburgh 8 7 0 .533 338 300 y-Minnesota 11 4 0 .733 426 305 Cleveland 4 11 0 .267 222 358 x-Green Bay 10 5 0 .667 428 290 AFC South Chicago 6 9 0 .400 290 352 yz•-Indianapolis14 1 0 .933 409 277 Detroit 2 13 0 .133 239 457 Houston 8 7 0 .533 354 306 Jacksonville 7 8 0 .467 273 357 NFC South Tennessee 7 8 0 .467 337 389 yz-New Orleans13 2 0 .867 500 318 AFC West Atlanta 8 7 0 .533 343 315 yz-San Diego 12 3 0 .800 431 300 Carolina 7 8 0 .467 292 298 Denver 8 7 0 .533 302 280 Tampa Bay 3 12 0 .200 234 380 Oakland 5 10 0 .333 184 358 NFC West Kansas City 3 12 0 .200 250 400 y-Arizona 10 5 0 .667 368 292 x-clinched playoff berth San Francisco 7 8 0 .467 302 275 y-denotes division winner Seattle 5 10 0 .333 267 373 z-denotes first-round bye St. Louis 1 14 0 .067 169 408 • clinched homefield advantage

Oudin unafraid of Hopman rivals PERTH: They’ll be the tournament’s odd couple on the court but emerging US youngster Melanie Oudin believes she and teammate John Isner can be a threat in the mixed teams Hopman Cup, starting yesterday.

The Americans are seeded seventh in the unique eight-nation event, but Oudin showed at last year’s US Open and Wimbledon that she was more than capable of springing a surprise.

Oudin reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, defeating Jelena Jankovic in the process, and then went one better at the US Open, reaching the quarter finals, with Hopman Cup rival Elena Dementieva and former world No 1 Maria Sharapova among her scalps.

Speaking here yesterday, the 18-year-old Oudin said she didn’t fear any of her Hopman cup rivals.

“I pulled it off at the US Open and maybe we can pull it off here,” she said. “Everyone in the draw is tough but I think doing well at Wimbledon and the US Open this past year really helps my confidence.

“Going into (tournaments) now I won’t be afraid who I play in the first round or within the draw.”

Oudin, ranked 48th in the world, and Isner open

their Hopman Cup campaign against Spaniards Tommy Robredo and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez tomorrow. Playing the seasoned Martinez Sanchez will be a new experience for Oudin. “I’ve never played her before but I know she’s a lefty and I know she’s got a strong serve and is really good at doubles and she is going to be coming into the net against me a lot,” she said. “It should be a good match.” The Americans then face top seeds and home side Australia on Tuesday, which will pit Oudin against world No 13 Samantha Stosur.

Oudin and Isner will make an interesting pairing in the often deciding mixed doubles rubbers here, with Isner standing 206cm and Oudin just 168cm. “Fifteen inches is quite a big difference and I think it’s going to be pretty funny when we play mixed doubles,” Oudin said. “I’ve played (mixed doubles) only a few times but I’ve had a really good time when I’ve played so I’m looking forward to it and it should be fun.” Oudin said she had taken great confidence out of her results in 2009 and was looking forward to continuing to rise up the rankings this year. — AFP

Hewitt targets fresh start at Hopman Cup

BRISBANE: Belgium tennis player Kim Clijsters interacts with a young boy while on a visit to the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on December 31, 2009. Clijsters is in Australia to compete in the Brisbane International tennis event to be held in the eastern Australian city January 3-10. — AFP

PERTH: Lleyton Hewitt says he is injury-free and ready to continue his move up the rankings as he prepares to play for Australia at the Hopman Cup beginning yesterday. “I’ve been doing the hard yards on and off the practice court,” Hewitt said. “I feel as fit as I’ve ever been and I feel as strong as I’ve ever been and I’m hitting the ball well at the moment.” The 28-year-old Hewitt’s ranking slumped to 108 in February following hip surgery but the Australian has since improved to No 22, with a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon and an ATP title win at Houston. “If the body holds up then there’s no reason why I can’t give all these guys a run,” Hewitt added.

Hewitt, winner of the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon title, said he would need luck to fall his way if he is to win the Australian Open beginning Jan 18.

The closest he came was in 2005 when he lost to Marat Safin in the final at Melbourne Park. “A lot depends on the draw,” Hewitt said. “At least I’ll be seeded and

hopefully get a smooth passage through. If I can get through the first week and put myself in a (good) position in the second week there’s no reason why I can’t do some serious damage.”

Hewitt will partner Sam Stosur at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event, with top-seeded Australia taking on Romania’s Sorana Cirstea and Victor Hanescu in the first group match today. Host country Australia has only won the Hopman Cup once, in 1999. The United States, represented by US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin and John Isner, will play its first match tomorrow against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Tommy Robredo of Spain. The US has won the event five times and been runner-up on four occasions. Andy Murray and 15-year-old Laura Robson are representing Britain.

Australia and Britain could only meet in the final as the countries are playing in opposite groups. The winner of each group plays in the final on Jan 9. — AP

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Saturday, Junuary 2, 2010

Sainz, Al-Attiyah puts 2009 woes behind ahead of Dakar Rally

BUENOS AIRES: Spanish ace Carlos Sainz and Qatari teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah said yesterday they had put last year’s woes behind them as they embarked on another Dakar Rally campaign in Argentina. Now racing for Volkswagen after his switch from BMW, the 39-year-old Al-Attiyah raced for the latter in last year’s edition along with Swedish female co-driver Tina Thorner and

had joined the leading pack when he was disqualified after missing a series of stage six checkpoints.

Sainz also had his troubles and had to quit after an accident in the 12th stage when he had built up a handsome lead. The Spaniard says that is all now mentally behind him. “I’ve swiftly turned the page.

As soon as the race ended I was already

thinking of the next one,” he told reporters as he and Al-Attiyah prepared to head off on their 9,000 kilometer adventure across Argentina and Chile. The Qatari was in ebullient mood. “I am here to win. Volkswagen has everything I need to do it,” he smiled.

Al-Attiyah scored his first World Rally Championship point in Argentina last year so he feels the terrain suits him.

Volkswagen are spoilt for choice when it comes to experienced drivers as no less than Giniel de Villiers, last year’s winner, is also on the team, as is US driver Mark Miller. “Volkswagen’s other drivers are all very strong,” said the South African. “And then there’s those from BMW, the Hummer and also the Mitsubishi racers. It’ll be a tough race,” he forecast. Volkswagen

Motorsport director Kris Nissen said the team were hoping for great things once again given that “the car is even better than last year.”

Yesterday’s opening stage was a 317km ride from Buenos Aires to Colon. The race is being held in South America for the second straight year. The 2008 edition was cancelled amid security concerns after the mur-

der of four French tourists in December 2007 in Mauritania, where the rally was to spend several days. After a relatively smooth opening trio of stages the race will head into terrain in Chile which is the most unforgiving anywhere on the planet, not least the bone-dry Atacama desert, a lifeless, ultra-arid zone which is said to be 50 times drier than Death Valley.—AFP

Ferguson delighted with Utd sweet birds of youth

Lowly Leeds chases FA Cup upset at Man Utd

MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson enters a new year and new decade as manager of Manchester United confident the future of the club is in safe hands. A new generation of young stars have been given their opportunities in the first half of the current campaign and Ferguson has promised he will retain his policy of using a relatively inexperienced side for the first leg of United’s eagerly-anticipated League Cup semifinal with Manchester City next week. Ferguson is confident the current crop of emerging talent is on a par with any in his 23 years in charge at Old Trafford, an impressive claim given the quality of young players associated with his club. “I think the young players are doing well here,” Ferguson insisted.

“Their progress has been good and they are getting their opportunities,” said Ferguson, citing Wednesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Wigan - a result that left the champions just two points behind English Premier League leaders Chelsea - as evidence. “Danny Welbeck came on in our game against Wigan, Rafael was outstanding in that game and showed fantastic energy and desire to do well. “(Federico) Macheda is unfortunately injured but we all know the qualities he has and (Gabriel) Obertan has joined the club and has fantastic potential, he is only 20 years of age.

“In the main, if they stay clear of injuries, they will be top players. “It has always been that way here. We have always tried to bring on young players and I think we’re good at it,” added Ferguson ahead of United’s FA Cup third round tie at home to fallen giants Leeds. The recent performances of young right-back Rafael have been particularly eye-catching and with his twin brother Fabio, Ferguson predicts a day in the near future when United have two Brazilians in the full-back positions.

“That’s a definite possibility, yes,” said Ferguson. “We’ve always thought highly of Rafael, and his brother. “Fabio is just coming back from injury and he will come in for the games now. I think the two of them are equally good, you couldn’t separate the two of them. You couldn’t separate the two of them in terms of their looks - it’s impossible to tell the difference unless they’re wearing numbers! “But they are Brazilians and I don’t think you need to give Brazilians any targets. They’re always shooting for the moon.”

As for Ferguson himself, the United manager - who turned 68 on the final day of 2009 - shows no signs of losing his own vitality or enthusiasm for one of the most high-profile jobs in sport.

And, in keeping with his policy since he announced his ‘retirement’ in 2002 only to change his mind, he is making no predictions about how long he will remain in charge. “I hope my health is okay, that’s for sure,” said Ferguson when asked if he saw himself still at the helm in five or six years. “Whether I’m managing (then), who can be sure? You never can be sure.”— AFP

LONDON: With 9,000 Leeds fans headed for Old Trafford, tomorrow’s FA Cup third round game against record 11-time winner Manchester United will be a throwback to some of the great showdowns between the two teams. These days, however, Leeds is 43 places behind United down in the third tier of English football’s pyramid and a victory will be considered a major upset. Back in the 1960s, Man United vs Leeds would mean a meeting of the Charlton brothers - United’s Bobby and Leeds’ Jack. It pitted United’s George Best and Dennis Law against Leeds’ Billy Bremner and John Giles.

Moving on to the early ‘90s, when Leeds last won the league title, it was United’s Mark Hughes against Leeds’ Lee Chapman. And 10 years ago when Leeds was riding high at the top of the Premier League at the halfway stage, it was Dwight Yorke and David Beckham against Rio Ferdinand and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

That was when Leeds had a team capable of competing for the big titles - also reaching the semifinal of the Champions League in 2001.

Soon after that the team ran into serious financial trouble and dropped two divisions while Man United added to its huge total of titles.

United manager Alex Ferguson says his team still has to be wary of a Leeds side which tops the League One standings by eight points. But the Scot, who turned 68 on New Year’s Eve, has strong memories of United-Leeds confrontations. “I don’t need to spell out what Leeds games have meant to us over the years. I used to enjoy them. They were fantastic, feisty occasions every time we met and we always had to perform,” he said.

“There was a tinge of hostility but we would tell the players to behave themselves properly because we didn’t want to add to any (fan) problems that might be occurring off the pitch. When we used to play Leeds in the league, the two teams were very competitive but it’s a different situation now, and we just have to make sure we play our normal game tomorrow.” With his team two points behind Chelsea in the Premier League and an eye-catching League Cup semifinal against Manchester City to follow on Wednesday, Ferguson is likely to rest some of his regular starters, such as Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.

Hoping to make an impact, Leeds is likely to field its strongest available side, including striker Jermaine Beckford who has banged in 19 league and cup goals this season to go with the 46 in 84 appearances in the previous two. Leeds manager Simon Grayson said yesterday the game will give his players the chance to make an impact in an already impressive season. “It’s a game everyone is looking forward to. We sold 9,000 tickets and could have taken 20,000,” he said. “It’s a great rivalry that dates back through the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s when the two teams were competing with each other on a regular basis. The fact that this is the first time we have met in over five years makes it more appealing to supporters.”

During the 1970s and ‘80s, fans of the two clubs clashed frequently and Grayson called on supporters not to spoil the occasions by looking for trouble. “There is a rivalry and hopefully the banter is to do with football related incidents and nothing is brought up about the past from both sets of supporters. There’s been major incidents that have affected both clubs over the years but hopefully people will concentrate on the present and not what’s happened in the past.”

Tomorrow’s game is one of few top matchups in the last 64 of football’s oldest and most prestigious competition with only three meetings of Premier League rivals. Arsenal, which is one behind Man United’s record 11 FA Cup triumphs, goes to West Ham. Aston Villa, which has won the trophy seven times but not since 1957, hosts a Blackburn side which has six cup triumphs but none since 1928. Wigan and Hull also meet but neither has even reached the final. Chelsea starts its defense with a home game against Watford, from the second tier League Championship. With Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and Jon Obi Mikel among those headed for the African Cup of Nations, manager Carlo Ancelotti has a restricted choice of players to choose from but could still rest some of his regulars. Seven-time cup winner Liverpool visits another Championship club, Reading, which has won only once at home in 12 league starts and manager Rafa Benitez may consider resting striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard to keep them fully fit for Premier League games. — AP

Japan ‘more serious’ about WCup dream TOKYO: Japan’s national football coach Takeshi Okada says a growing number of his players share his ambitious goal of a semi-final spot in this year’s World Cup. “Honestly, I am surprised myself,” he told reporters when asked if the number of his players, who are “seriously” aiming for a top-four finish in South Africa, had risen.

“The players have ups and downs and they can flinch when they hit the wall... So I can’t say how many on a constant basis,” Okada said in the interview embargoed for release on New Year’s Day. “But I have a feeling that the number was just a few this time last year and has since exceeded 10 and then 15,” he said. His target has been snubbed as unrealistic because Japan have not won a World Cup match on foreign soil since Okada guided them to their finals debut at France 1998 in his first stint as national coach.

They came home after three straight losses at the group stage. Securing just one point at the group stage in South Africa is widely seen as a tall order for Japan, who are pitted against the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark-all of them ranked above the three-time Asian champions.

Japan’s best World Cup result was a last-round spot in the 2002 tournament, which they co-hosted with South Korea, who finished fourth. At Germany 2006, Japan bowed out after losing to Brazil and Australia and drawing with Croatia.

Okada, who took over from Bosnian Ivica Osim in late 2007, said he had been asked in an interview with football’s governing body FIFA about the source of his confidence. “It is not only me but also my players and staff who feel that we can make it.” The bespectacled 53-year-old said that a tour of the Netherlands last September had boosted his “Blue Samurai” squad. During the tour, Japan came out fighting in their first-ever encounter with world number-three the Netherlands but eventually lost 3-0. They also battled from behind to beat the highly physical Ghana 4-3. “That tour has made clear to us what we need to do to survive the battles,” Okada said.

Japan’s squad features a midfield led by Shunsuke Nakamura, who has struggled to earn playing time at Espanyol after moving from Celtic last June. Their firepower is expected to be fuelled by 21-year-old Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto, who made his international debut in October, and goal machine Keisuke Honda, who began to score for Japan last year. Okada said Japan needed to improve in three areas to be reckoned with on the world stage. “To outrun our opponents. To outdo them in one-on-one battles for the ball. To raise the accuracy of our skills, especially kicks,” he said. —AFP

McCarthy ready to quit Rovers as WCup looms

BUENOS AIRES: Aerial view of the parc ferme of the Dakar 2010 in Buenos Aires on December 31, 2009. The Dakar 2010 started in Buenos Aires yesterday. (Inset) Volkswagen’s drivers (left- right) Giniel De Villiers, Carlos Sainz, Mark Miller and Nasser Al-Attiyah pose to the press at the Dakar’s technical scrutineering in Buenos Aires.—AFP

LONDON: South Africa star Benni McCarthy is ready to leave Blackburn Rovers during the January transfer window to boost his chances of representing his country on home soil at the 2010 World Cup finals. The 32-year-old forward, who joined the English Premier League side from Portuguese club Porto for 2.5 million pounds in July 2006, feels he is becoming a peripheral figure at Ewood Park under manager Sam Allardyce.

“I’d like to stay in England. This is a great league,” McCarthy told Thursday’s Lancashire Telegraph. “I’m just unhappy with my situation and need to feel wanted again. I’m not getting any younger but I know I can still make an impact.

“This is a very big year for me. To come from South Africa and have the chance to play for my country in the World Cup is massive. “I can’t risk that by playing the odd game here and there for Blackburn. I need to play and I hope they will allow me to fulfill that dream. “They got me for next to nothing and they’ve had a good return with more than 50 goals in about 130 games.

“Hopefully they won’t ask an unreasonable fee and let me go when the window opens,” McCarthy added. —AFP

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

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Celtic facing ‘a must win’ clash with red hot rivals GLASGOW: Celtic host a Rangers team in redhot form when the sides meet in this season’s second Old Firm derby at Parkhead tomorrow in a game Tony Mowbray’s side can’t afford to lose.

A win for Rangers would see them open a ten point lead over their rivals at the top of the Scottish Premier League, albeit Celtic have played a game less, as the season reaches the half-way stage. Walter Smith’s side are in a rich vein of form at the moment having scored 26 times as they ended December with six straight wins in the league, including the midweek 7-1 mauling of Dundee United.

Mowbray, who succeeded Gordon Strachan in the summer, came off the worst the last time the sides met at Ibrox in October when Celtic lost 2-1. But the Celtic manager insists he will be concentrating on enjoying his first derby in charge at Parkhead rather than worrying about the form of Rangers. “I have confidence in this team. I don’t look at this game and sit and think about what Rangers can do,” Mowbray said. “We will set the team up as positively as we can and try to give Rangers as many problems as possible.

“The derbies are always exceptional occasions with great atmospheres. “There is expectation and anticipation, but hopefully the team has a great confidence from the way we’ve been playing. “We’ve been creating a lot of chances in recent weeks and we can also take positives from the first derby.” The Celtic manager will be without injured pair Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown but Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno has resumed training and South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yueng could make his debut.

Despite his side’s fantastic form of late Smith has his own worries going into the game.

Scotland striker Kenny Miller is suspended after his appeal against his sending off for violent conduct in the win over Dundee United was rejected while Pedro Mendes and Kevin Thomson are out injured. Nacho Novo and Sasa Papac are suffering from a sickness bug, Madjid Bougherra is off to the African Nations Cup with Algeria and Smith says his squad is severely depleted.

“We’re down to the bare minimum of players at the present moment,” Smith said.

“We only have 16 players available for tomrrow. “While we’ve doing well recently we’re still aware of the fact that we could have one or two problems going into tomorrow’s game if the bug that seems to be going around the place spreads to anyone else.” Miller’s strike partner Kris Boyd has never started at Parkhead since Smith returned to Rangers in January 2007.

However with 19 goals for the season, including five against Dundee United which took him past Henrik Larsson as the all-time top scorer in the SPL, the goal-machine looks odds on to get a slot up front.

And team-mate Steven Whittaker has backed him to continue his scoring streak and break his duck at Parkhead. “There has always been a bit of criticism towards Kris that he doesn’t score against the bigger teams, but as far as I can see Hibs and Dundee United had aspirations of challenging the Old Firm this season, and he has done okay against them these past two games,” said Whittaker. “As far as scoring against Celtic tomorrow, I think Kris looks as though he is going to score every time he is in the box right now. “His record is absolutely sensational and there is no doubt that he is full of confidence going into tomorrow’s game.” —AFP

Scottish Premier League Preview

SAN JOAN DESPI: FC Barcelona’s Gerard Pique (left) runs during the first training session after winning the Club World Cup, in San Joan Despi, Spain. —AP

extras Everton suspend Jo LONDON: Everton have suspended on-loan Brazilian forward Jo for returning to his homeland without permission, manager David Moyes said yesterday. Jo, who is on a seasonlong loan from Manchester City, was already sidelined with a knee injury and has not played since Dec 12. “Jo went back to Brazil without permission from the football club. He is now back but is suspended at the present time,” Moyes told Sky Sports News. “I am disappointed. We like Jo, he has been a really good lad and we have enjoyed having him. But there has to be discipline at all football clubs.

He left over a busy period when we were short of players. I found it very difficult so he is suspended from the club.” Jo joined City from CSKA Moscow for 18 million pounds ($28.62 million) in July 2007. The tricky but lightweight forward has struggled this season, failing to score in the Premier League and mustering just two goals in cup competitions.

Nigeria to decide on Martins DURBAN: Nigeria will decide on the fitness of striker Obafemi Martins by the end of today before finalizing their squad for the African Nations Cup finals, the Nigerian Football Federation said. Martins was being examined by Nigerian medical staff in Durban to determine the extent of his recovery after surgery on a shin injury picked up in

November while playing for his German club VfL Wolfsburg. If he was not considered fit to make the 23-man squad, he would be replaced

by Chinedu Obasi of German club Hoffenheim, Nigerian press reports said.

World Cup finalists Nigeria face Benin, Mozambique and defending champions Egypt in Group C in the tournament in Angola, which starts tomorrow.

CSKA Moscow signs VVV Venlo’s Honda TOKYO: CSKA Moscow have acquired Japan international Keisuke Honda from VVV Venlo, as the Russian giants look to boost their squad ahead of the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, reports said yesterday. The 23-year-old midfielder signed an estimated nine-million-euro (12.9-million-dollar), fouryear contract, Jiji Press and other news media said. In a posting on his web site, Honda said Thursday: “I would not go if there was even one percent of doubt inside me.” Known as a deadball specialist with a tough physical presence, Honda has scored 24 goals in 67 games for Venlo since joining the Dutch outfit in January 2008, following four seasons with J-League side Nagoya Grampus. He has also scored three goals in 10 games for Japan since making his international debut in June 2008 during World Cup qualifying. Dutch giants PSV and Ajax were seen as among the most likely buyers of the Japanese star, who had also previously suggested Liverpool was interested in him.

High-flying Barca hope for more joy in 2010 MADRID: After a memorable 2009 in which they won a record six trophies, league leaders Barcelona hope for more success in 2010 and aim to start on the right note with a home win over Villareal today. Champions Barca lead the table by two points from Real Madrid after going the first 15 league games unbeaten and should be full of confidence after winning the World Club Championship before the Christmas break. “We don’t know how things will go in 2010 but with the coach (Pep Guardiola) we’ve got there is no way we are going to relax,” said Brazilian defender Dani Alves. “We are hoping to start the year well, like we finished this one.”

In 2009 Barca won a league, Kings Cup and Champions League treble before lifting the European Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and World Club Championship, so topping that in 2010 will take some doing. Villarreal made the worst start in their history but have recovered to climb to ninth under Ernesto Valverde. The

club’s away form has been their main problem with just one away win all season and the odds are stacked against them at Camp Nou where Barca have not dropped a single point in the league.

Real didn’t collect a single trophy last year and the pressure is on for coach Manuel Pellegrini to change that in 2010.

Pellegrini has kept Real within striking distance of Barca and his side begin with a

and the Champions League is difficult but we have the potential.” Sevilla may have beaten Real this season but they have fallen out of the title race and lie seven points behind Real going into today’s match at Atletico Madrid. Sevilla can’t afford to lose further ground while Atletico are in much worse shape lying just two points above the relegation zone.

“The Christmas break was good for us to

Spanish league Preview trip to Osasuna tomorrow. Real must do without key Portuguese defender Pepe until the end of the season due to injury although the club have resisted the temptation to bring in a replacement. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa believes Real’s Galacticos’ are starting to gel and are capable of a league and Champions League double come May. “We have stepped up our game, we are scoring a lot and our defense is strong,” said Arbeloa. “Winning La Liga

forget about the past few months, which weren’t good at all,” said Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia. “It was good for us to regain our strength and begin to think positively.”

Valencia lie a point behind Sevilla in fourth and begin with a home match against Espanyol at the Mestalla Stadium.

Over the Christmas break there was renewed talk of Valencia striker David Villa’s future but for now he continues in Valencia’s colours and leads the goal-

City’s Mancini aims to translate Cup success MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is hoping the cup glory he enjoyed in Italy can be transferred to his new club ahead of their FA Cup third round tie with Middlesbrough today. Mancini, who has won both of his first two Premier League games in charge at Eastlands after replacing Mark Hughes as manager a fortnight ago, is under no illusions as to how tough this weekend’s encounter at the Riverside will be. However, Mancini has an impressive record when it comes to cup competitions in his homeland, winning the Coppa Italia six times as a player as well as winning the trophy when manager of Lazio and Fiorentina and twice when in charge of Inter Milan.

He was the winning manager for three consecutive years between the 2003/04 and 2005/06 seasons and hopes he can bring the experience he learnt in Italy with him to big-spenders City, bankrolled by Abu Dhabi-based billionaire, Sheikh Mansour, who have not won a major trophy since 1976. “We are excited by the FA Cup,” said Mancini. “I know that in England it is a very important competition. “In Italy, the cup is perhaps not taken so seriously until teams reach the semi-final stages

but here it is different.

“I won the Coppa Italia six times as a player and four times as a manager with three different clubs and it would be great to think I could do that at City too.

“But to have a chance to achieve that we have to win at Middlesbrough.” City have some serious injury issues at present and will be missing the likes of Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge, Nedum Onouha, Roque Santa Cruz and Stephen Ireland when they travel to the Riverside. Meanwhile, Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast) and Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo) will also be absent as they are representing their countries at the African Nations Cup. It is a far from ideal introduction to the FA Cup for Mancini but he is refusing to be daunted by the length of his injury-list. “We do not have a very big squad but we do have some young players who have been training with the first team and one or two might have to play,” he said. “We will play our strongest side possible,” insisted Mancini, even though a top four finish in the Premier League would appear to be the club’s main goal this season.

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan admits his biggest concern is being able to find 11 fit players as his

scoring charts with 12 goals. Real Mallorca have been the surprise package of the season with their perfect home record of seven wins firing them up to fifth, two points behind Valencia. Athletic Bilbao are the next visitors to Mallorca’s fortress Ono Stadium tomorrow.

Down at the bottom Xerez prop up the table, as they have done for most of the season, and will hope to start their survival bid with a win at Almeria tomorrow.

Almeria axed Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez after the club slumped into the relegation battle and new boss Juan Manuel Lillo has the task of keeping Almeria in the top-flight. Real Zaragoza are another side in trouble languishing second from bottom and have a tough game at home to sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna tomorrow. Zaragoza lost patience with coach Marcelino but replacement Jose Aurelio Gay has also found the going tough and they were routed 6-0 by Real Madrid in their last league outing. —AFP

Chelsea boss expects ‘step up’ in Cup class

MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s new manager Roberto Mancini (left) is seen with assistant manager Brian Kidd during their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke at The City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday Dec 26, 2009. —AP side bids to bridge the huge financial gap between themselves and their cash-rich visitors. City have won just once in their last 20 trips to Teesside spanning 32 years, which includes an 8-1 humiliation at the Riverside a little over 18 months ago. But the clubs have been on opposite trajectories since, with Middlesbrough languishing in mid-table in the second-

tier Championship after losing their 11-year status as a Premier League club following relegation in May, a demotion that left a 30 million pounds hole in their budget.

Middlesbrough have won just two of the 52-year-old Strachan’s 10 games in charge and are well off the pace in their bid to go straight back up. An injury

crisis among his forwards leaves Strachan unable to call on a recognized striker against City, unless he is able to persuade Marcus Bent to return for a second loan spell from Birmingham City in time for today’s tie.

“This is a huge game which we want to win because winning makes you feel better,” Strachan said.

“My priority now is to find

11 fit players who can look like a team because at this moment in time we officially have no strikers at the club.”

Teenage forward Jonathan Franks, 19, is likely to start his first home game for Middlesbrough, with Leroy Lita suspended, Jeremie Aliadiere injured and Dave Kitson having returned to Stoke City following a loan period. —AFP

LONDON: Chelsea manager Carlo Ancellotti will have his first taste of FA Cup football this weekend and the Italian is already aware it has a markedly different flavor in England compared to his homeland. There, domestic knockout competitions are all but ignored, with even clubs like AC Milan and Juventus, who have both had spells with Ancelotti at the helm, going through the motions in front of sparse crowds.

Many believe the FA Cup no longer has the place in English hearts it once enjoyed but, nonetheless, Ancelotti knows the famous trophy remains worth fighting for, as Chelsea proved last season when they came back from behind to beat Everton in the final.

“It is a very important competition in England,” Ancelotti said.

“In Italy, the Italian Cup is not so important. “We want to do our best and it is one of our objectives, our aim, to win it. Last year we won it. We want to do the best again this year.” Championship side Watford are the visitors to Stamford Bridge for a third round clash tomorrow and Ancelotti will

not need reminding that a stumble at this hurdle precipitated former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari’s exit almost a year ago.

Chelsea were held at home by Southend United, a third tier, League One, team and although the replay was negotiated successfully the Brazilian was dismissed in February, just a month later. With Chelsea guaranteed to be leading the Premier League table going in to the New Year few are predicting a similar fate for Ancelotti, but the Italian confirmed he had not fallen into the trap of treating the fixture as a training match for the league tests that follow.

“I want to put out my best team,” he said, although African Nations Cup commitments will force him to make do without Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien. The latter is also injured at the moment and remains in London but Ancelotti predicted he would soon be able to join the Ghana squad in Angola and insisted he was confident all of his African contingent would return unscathed. —AFP

Today’s matches on TV (local timings) Spanish League Valencia v Espanyol ........................................... 17:00 Aljazeera Sport +2 Barcelona v Villarreal ......................................... 19:00 Aljazeera Sport +2 Atletico de Madrid v Sevilla .............................. 21:00 Aljazeera Sport +2

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FA Cup out to prove its worth again LONDON: How much the FA Cup still matters is a much discussed topic of conversation among English football fans. It is a subject brought into even sharper focus at this time of year when the world’s oldest senior knockout football tournament reaches the third round stage, the point when teams from England’s top two divisions enter the event.

Conventional wisdom has it that the FA Cup has now lost much of its luster. The advent of the Champions League concentrates the minds of sides at the top of the English Premier League, whose domestic focus is on winning the league title or at least finishing in the top four to guarantee themselves a place in European club football’s elite competition.

Meanwhile teams near the bottom of the Premier League are so concerned about being relegated from

the lucrative top flight, they will often rest their best players from Cup ties in a bid to keep them fit for league matches instead. And yet despite these changes in attitude the so-called ‘Big Four’ of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have, with the exception of Portsmouth’s 2008 triumph, monopolized the FA Cup between them since 1996.

Tomorrow’s tie between record 11-times winners Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford promises to be a good guide to the FA Cup’s current standing. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has often fielded under-strength teams in the FA Cup in recent years. Following their 5-0 thrashing of Wigan on Wednesday, the English champions are now just two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea as they chase an unprecedented fourth successive

NBA

title.

There is also the matter of their upcoming Champions League tie against Italian giants AC Milan. Last season, Ferguson fielded a near reserve side in the FA Cup semi-finals and paid the price when United were beaten by Everton. But the intriguing, or depressing depending on your point of view is that Leeds, who beat United in a grueling 1970 FA Cup semi-final that featured two goalless draws before a solitary goal from late Scotland great Billy Bremner settled the tie, might not be at fullstrength either.

Fallen giants Leeds are eight points clear at the top of League One, English football’s third tier, and manager Simon Grayson, speaking after the draw, said: “It’s the league that counts...Promotion is the priority here and everybody knows that.” Current

holders Chelsea face Watford in a repeat of the other 1970 semi-final. Arsenal face West Ham tomorrow, reviving memories of the 1980 final when the Hammers became the last team from outside the top flight to win the FA Cup. The Gunners make the trip across London with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisting he is ready to sacrifice the club’s FA Cup hopes to keep their Premier League title challenge on course.

Wenger, whose side are just four points off top spot, has won the FA Cup four times in his 13 years with Arsenal. But the Frenchman said: “The Premier League is always more important than the FA Cup. The Premier League is so hard that you want to take care of your position.”

But for Liverpool, away to second division Championship side Reading today, the FA Cup offers

a last chance to salvage some silverware from what has already been a disappointing season that has seen the Merseysiders fail to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. “It’s always been important but you know that when you’re out of the Champions League, the people think about silverware and the FA Cup is very, very important for us,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

Meanwhile neutral fans seeking a Cup upset could do worse than turn their attention towards the south coast where cash-strapped Portsmouth are at home to Championship team Coventry, the 1987 FA Cup winners. Portsmouth are four points adrift at the foot of the Premier League table and yesterday the south coast club announced they would be late paying their players’ wages for the third time this season. — AFP

Spurs close out year by crushing Heat

Rockets hang on to edge Mavericks HOUSTON: The Houston Rockets clung on for a 97-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, preventing their Texas rivals from opening a gap atop the NBA’s Southwest Division. Shane Battier’s 3-pointer put Houston ahead with 2: 11 remaining, and Aaron Brooks, who lead the Rockets with 30 points, sank his own long shot to give the hosts a sixpoint lead with 1:35 to go. Dallas’ Jason Kidd missed a potential tying shot from behind the arc in the final second.

Houston moved within 2-1/2 games of Southwest-leading Dallas. Jason Terry led a strong bench performance by the Mavericks with 20 points.

Thunder 87, Jazz 86 In Oklahoma City, Nick Collison hit the tying and go-ahead free throws with 4.5 seconds left as Oklahoma City pipped Utah. After hitting only one of his previous four foul shots, Collison made both to give the franchise - formerly in Seattle its first five-game winning streak in more than four years. Kevin Durant scored 31 points to tie a franchise record for consecutive 30-point games. Ronnie Price missed a 3-pointer at the final buzzer for Utah, which had snatched the lead on a late surge led by Deron Williams. Carlos Boozer scored 17 points for the Jazz.

Spurs 108, Heat 78 In San Antonio, the hosts thumped Miami, recording their first win in a

month over a team with a winning record. Tim Duncan had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili added 18 points for the Spurs, whose other wins in a run of ten victories from 12 have come against struggling opponents. Miami was dealt its most humiliating loss this season. Michael Beasley scored 26.

NBA results/standings WASHINGTON: Results and standings after Thursday’s National Basketball Association games: Chicago 98, Detroit 87; Houston 97, Dallas 94; San Antonio 108, Miami 78; Oklahoma City 87, Utah 86; LA Clippers 104, Philadelphia 88.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Boston 23 8 .742 Toronto 16 17 .485 8 NY Knicks 12 20 .375 11.5 Philadelphia 9 23 .281 14.5 New Jersey 3 29 .094 20.5 Central Division Cleveland 26 8 .765 Chicago 13 17 .433 11 Milwaukee 12 18 .400 12 Detroit 11 21 .344 14 Indiana 9 22 .290 15.5 Southeast Division Orlando 23 8 .742 Atlanta 21 10 .677 2 Miami 16 14 .533 6.5 Charlotte 12 18 .400 10.5 Washington 10 20 .333 12.5 Western Conference Northw est Division Denver 20 12 .625 Portland 21 13 .618 Oklahoma City 18 14 .563 2 Utah 18 14 .563 2 Minnesota 7 26 .212 13.5 Pacific Division LA Lakers 25 6 .806 Phoenix 21 12 .636 5 Sacramento 14 17 .452 11 LA Clippers 14 18 .438 11.5 Golden State 9 22 .290 16 Southw est Division Dallas 22 10 .688 San Antonio 19 11 .633 2 Houston 20 13 .606 2.5 Memphis 15 16 .484 6.5 New Orleans 14 16 .467 7

Bulls 98, Pistons 87 In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chicago inflicted Detroit’s ninth straight loss.

Derrick Rose scored 22 points, and Joakim Noah added 15 points and 21 rebounds for the Bulls, who won their first road game in six weeks. The slumping Pistons are 10 games under .500 for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 22 points, despite twisting an ankle in the first half.

Clippers 104, 76ers 88 In Los Angeles, the hosts had a comfortable win over Philadelphia in the final NBA game of the decade. Chris Kaman had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles, which was without coach Mike Dunleavy, who aggravated a herniated disc in his back while at home getting ready. All the Clippers’ starters scored in double figures, with Baron Davis contributing 20 points and seven assists.

Lou Williams led Philadelphia with 19 points. — AP

Wenger giving up FA Cup hopes to boost title bid LONDON: Arsene Wenger admits he is ready to sacrifice Arsenal’s FA Cup hopes to keep their Premier League title challenge on track. Wenger’s side make the short trip across London to face West Ham in the third round of the Cup tomorrow in a derby clash that would usually be treated with the utmost respect by Arsenal’s manager.

Wenger has won the Cup four times during his 13 years in north London and the club’s last major silverware came in the competition back in 2005.

Yet the French coach has no intention of letting fond memories of the tournament distract him from keeping his players fresh for Wednesday’s crucial home league game against Bolton.

Arsenal are firmly back in the title race after their 4-1 win at Portsmouth in midweek and a victory over the managerless Trotters would close the gap on leaders Chelsea to just one point.

With that in mind, Wenger is prioritizing the league and plans to send out an under-strength side at Upton Park even if this means his team being eliminated at the first hurdle. Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Denilson are all sidelined through injury, but Wenger will also rest several other players as the likes of Mikael Silvestre and Lukasz Fabianski get rare outings. “I will have to rest some players, that is for sure,” Wenger said. “We want to win, but we want to protect our home games against Bolton and Everton as well, to keep the momentum going.

“The Premier League is always more important than the FA Cup. The Premier League is so hard that you want to take care of your position. “At the moment we have to keep our spirit and our attitude, then we have a chance. “A season is judged on the overall achievement and people look to who has won the trophies but I also look at how we have done and how

consistently we have played.”

Although Wenger will shuffle his starting line-up, he insists he has enough respect for the Cup not to send out the kind of youthful team that he regularly employs in the League Cup. “For us, the League Cup is exclusively for young players and the FA Cup is one to win,” he added. “But we have worked for that policy and it is not a coincidence. There is four or five years of hard work and patience behind that. “We have so many players that we have a hard time finding them a chance to play.” Like Wenger, West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is more concerned by his side’s league position than aiming for success in the Cup and, with a long battle against relegation looming, the Italian could also rest key players.

Only goal difference is keeping the Hammers out of the relegation zone after Monday’s defeat at Tottenham and Zola knows his team need to show more of the battling qualities that helped them fight back from two goals down to draw with Arsenal earlier this season. Zola could hand young striker Frank Nouble a first start in place of suspended Mexican striker Guillermo Franco, while he is unlikely to risk Scott Parker if the midfielder - who is strongly-rumoured to be moving on in the January transfer window - is still struggling with the hamstring problem that forced him off against Tottenham.

Hammers midfielder Valon Behrami knows playing Arsenal at such a difficult time for his club is hardly ideal, but the Swiss star hopes a good result can spark a more profitable second half of the season. “We are struggling in the Premier League.

We have a lot of injuries and at this moment in time it is not a great game for us,” he said. “It’s very nice to play in the FA Cup, because it’s a different atmosphere, but it’s a tough game. It is not a very kind draw.” — AFP

Liverpool’s Benitez values FA Cup like never before

HOUSTON: Houston Rockets’ Aaron Brooks (center) goes to the basket between Dallas Mavericks defenders Dirk Nowitzki (41) and Shawn Marion (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Dec 31, 2009, in Houston. The Rockets won 97-94. — AP

LIVERPOOL: Rafa Benitez insists the FA Cup is more important than ever to Liverpool as they battle to avoid a fourth successive season without a major trophy.

Having fallen way off the pace in the race for the Premier League as well as being eliminated from the Champions League, the FA Cup represents one of Liverpool’s last hopes of bringing silverware to Anfield this term.

They face a tricky third round date away to Reading, who are struggling in the second-tier of English football today. Benitez, who has often used the competition to give fringe players a chance to stake a claim, insists he does not intend to make wholesale changes for the tie.

“It’s always been important but you know that when you’re out of the Champions League, the people think about silverware and the FA Cup is very, very important for us,” said Benitez. “We want to progress, we want to go as far as we can,” the Spaniard added.

“We’ll have to analyze and consider what to do and we still have another training session. We’ll see how the players are but maybe we won’t change too many. “We know we’re playing against Tottenham eight days later, so we’ll have time. We can put a strong team out.

“Always in the FA Cup it’s really important to do things right. Everyone wants to win and it’s a massive competition, so we have to be ready.” Although Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Community Shield in August 2006, the Merseyside club has not won a major piece of silverware since Benitez steered it to its seventh and last FA Cup triumph in May 2006.

Liverpool will definitely be without right-back Glen Johnson this weekend. Having torn a ligament in his right knee during Tuesday’s 1-0 league win at Aston Villa, Johnson will be out for at least a month. The England international will see another specialist before a timescale is put on his recovery. “Johnson has a problem, so he’ll see a specialist and then we’ll talk but we know he’ll be out for at least one month,” added Benitez. “But we are waiting for another opinion and then we’ll know how long.”

Meanwhile, Benitez is not ruling out the possibility of players both entering and exiting Anfield during the January transfer window. —AFP