18 Aug

ON IP TI SC R SU B

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

03:43 03:53 05:18 11:52 15:27 18:26 19:48 150 FILS

Emsak: Fajer: Shoruk: Dohr: Asr: Maghreb: Eshaa:

www.kuwaittimes.net

RAMADAN 18, 1432 AH

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India faces risk of its ‘Arab Spring’

Gunners edge Udinese in Champions League playoff

US biggest worry: ‘Lone wolf’ attack

Tribunal publishes Hariri indictment

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MPs want govt to freeze Syria loans 4 dead; Syria makes sweeping arrests Ramadan Kareem

Educate the kids

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hildren (who have not reached puberty) are not commanded to fast. However, their parents or guardians are strongly recommended to encourage them to fast a few days so that they get used to it and they grow up knowing of the worship of fasting as they would know that of praying. In fact this was the practice of the first women of Islam who were living around the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam.

An example of that is Ar-Rubayya’ bint Mu’awiyyah who reported that: “The Messenger of Allah sent a man on the morning of the day of ‘Ashurah, to the residences of the Ansar, saying: ‘Whoever has spent the morning fasting is to complete his fast. Whoever has not spent this morning fasting should voluntarily fast for the remainder of the day.’

We fasted after that announcement, as did our young children. We would go to the mosque and make toys stuffed with cotton for them to play with.

If one of them started crying due to hunger, we would give him a toy to play with until it was time to eat.” Dear brothers and sisters, remember that among the seven that Allah will shade under His shade on the Day of Judgment is a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah. Therefore let your children be one of these.

There are many ways to educate your children about Ramadan. The best and most important way is to set the good example by fasting properly and behaving according to the Prophetic teachings. This is what your children will take from you first. When you are fulfilling this you can very easily teach them what you want, and they will accept it and practise it easily as well. Here are few tips that you can use with your children.

No doubt you can think of others as well: - Depending on their age encourage them to fast a number of days upto every other day or more for those who are almost at the age of puberty. For those who are still young let them fast a day or two and praise them in front of friends and relatives for their achivement. -Let your children go with their father to the Masjid for Maghrib prayer and break the fast with the larger Muslim community to make them feel the greatness of fasting and the unity of Muslims in worshipping Allah.

-If your children cannot fast let them eat with you at the time of Maghrib and teach them that you are breaking the fast even if they ate before. - Teach your children the supplication of breaking the fast. - Take your children to the Taraweeh prayer so that they get used to it and know about it from their early age.

They may sit or stay in the back of the prayer room if they get tired. - Teach them to give charity. Do it in front of them and tell them you are doing it because the reward increases in Ramadan. - Teach them to recite Quran regularly and inform them that the Prophet (S) used to do that in Ramadan.

- Correct them if they behave wrongly or say unacceptable words and remind them that they are fasting or they are in Ramadan and this may alter their reward. - Wake them up for Suhoor (even if they don’t fast) and Fajr prayer. - Teach them to feed the fasting people for iftaar, and tell them about the reward for that.

- Dress them in the best clothes, give them baths and take them with you to the Eid Prayer. -Teach them that this is our feast and celebration and that Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and other holidays are not ours. Stress the distinction. And remember that the Prophet salla allahu alaihi wa sallam said: “For one who is given the responsibility of the bringing up of daughters and treats them well, they will be a shield for him from Hell.” — www.zawaj.com

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (center) watches dama game during his visit at the Diwaniya of the Elderly on Tuesday. — KUNA (See Page 2)

15 Max 45º Min 33º Low Tide 08:35 & 20:52 High Tide 02:20 & 14:27

KUWAIT: Five Kuwaiti MPs yesterday submitted a draft bill demanding that the government suspend all cooperation agreements and loans with Syria over its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Spokesman for the opposition Popular Action bloc, MP Mussallam Al-Barrak, said the bill calls for ending all forms of cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding between Kuwait and Syria. The bill, which must be passed by parliament and accepted by government to be effective, also calls for severing relations with Damascus and to stop offering loans to Syria directly or indirectly.

Barrak said he will start next month collecting signatures of other MPs to hold an emergency parliamentary session to pass the bill. Kuwait’s parliament is currently in summer recess until late October. In May, half of Kuwait’s 50-member parliament signed a statement urging the government of the Gulf state to sever ties with Damascus and expel its ambassador. Kuwait last week recalled its ambassador from Syria for “consultations” but has so far resisted public pressure to expel the Syrian envoy.

Syrian security forces yesterday killed at least four people and made sweeping arrests, activists said, as Western states sought a special session of the UN human rights body on Syria’s crackdown on dissent. The central committee of the ruling Baath party, in power since 1963, meanwhile, met for the first time since protests against President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime erupted in midMarch, pro-government daily Al-Watan said.

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MPs meet over KU admissions Probe uncovers violations in KOC-Shell deal

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The National Assembly is due to hold an emergency session today to debate the problem of thousands of Kuwaiti students who did not get admissions at Kuwait University amid fears that the session may not be held. The session was requested by 33 MPs as the National Assembly is currently in summer recess that continues until late October. Several MPs who signed the request have expressed fear that the session may not be held due to a lack of quorum.

MPs are expected to pass a number of laws and recommendations to ensure that students who were denied admission will be admitted either in Kuwait or abroad and that the problem will not happen in the future. In the meantime, speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi yesterday called after talks with head of Iraq’s Islamic

Council Ammar Al-Hakeem for staying away from “irresponsible” statements issued from Iraqi and Kuwaiti sides.

Khorafi said he discussed with Hakeem topics of mutual interest and there was a full agreement that all should refrain from irresponsible statements and to tackle issues between the two countries within the framework of the joint commission. Asked about threats against Kuwait issued by Iraqi MPs, Khorafi said that those threats, like those issued by Kuwaiti MPs, only represent the personal views of those MPs. But he added that he is disturbed by statements issued by leading officials in both countries. Khorafi said that “we will not accept interference in Kuwait’s policy and at the same time will take every care not to harm Iraq because that will also involve harming Kuwait”.

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World population to hit 7 bn PARIS: The world population will reach seven billion later this year, with increases in the number of people in Africa off-setting birth rate drops elsewhere, according to a new French study published yesterday. Looking much further ahead, the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) predicts a continuing rise in the overall population figures until the total stabilizes somewhere between 9-10 billion worldwide by the end of the century.

From six billion people, the figure estimated in 1999, the gap between the global birth and death rates has swiftly brought the total figure towards the next billion

in just 12 years. INED expects it to take a further 14 years to reach eight billion people before the figures start stabilizing, according to the study which pulls together research carried out by the United Nations, the World Bank and several major national institutes.

In historical terms the growth in the global population has been soaring since the 19th century. “It has increased seven-fold over the last two hundred years, topping seven billion in 2011, and is expected to reach nine or 10 billion by the end of the 21st century,” the report said.

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ZAWIYAH: Libyan rebels drive their vehicle from the frontline in Zawiyah, a vital oil port just west of Tripoli that links the capital with Tunisia. — AFP

Libyan rebels see imminent victory ZAWIYAH: Libyan rebels launched an assault on Zawiyah’s oil refinery yesterday to drive the last of the forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi out of the city west of Tripoli and tighten their noose around the capital. After 41 years of supreme power, 69-year-old Gaddafi seems isolated. Rebel forces are closing in from the west, south and east cutting off his Tripoli stronghold on the Mediterranean shore. Gaddafi’s actual whereabouts are not known.

In Zawiyah, which controls the western highway linking Tripoli to Tunisia, Gaddafi forces were holding the refinery and harassing rebels in the city with shelling and sniper fire. “There are some snipers inside the refinery facility. We control the gates of the refinery.

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in the

news Iraqi sues leaders

Imam charged

DIWANIYAH: An Iraqi man is suing the country’s leaders to demand his fair share of the Arab state’s oil wealth, a judicial spokesman said yesterday. Hussein Abdul Kadhim’s court case is scheduled for August 29 in the provincial court of Diwaniyah in southern Iraq, said the province’s appeals court spokesman Jihad Tuama. “I filed a case against the three presidencies of Iraq, demanding my rights as a citizen, which are guaranteed by the constitution,” Kadhim, a 46-year-old unemployed playwright said. Kadhim, a married father of six daughters, was referring to President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and parliament speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi. Article 111 of the Iraqi constitution states: “Oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates.”

TORONTO: Police have charged an imam at a Toronto mosque with 13 counts of sexual assault and say there may be more victims in other countries. Det Karen Armstrong said yesterday Mohammad Masroor, 48, abused his position of authority when he taught the Quran to students at the Baitul Mukarram Islamic Society and in private homes in Toronto since arriving in Canada in 2008. Armstrong says Masroor also worked and lived in France, Germany, Bangladesh, Hungary, Singapore, Sri Lanka and most recently in Florida and Michigan in the United States. Armstrong says they are appealing to the public to assist in finding other victims. She says the charges involve five victims both male and female and that the investigation is ongoing.

‘Bag-carrying’ US envoy

Gary Locke

SEATTLE: A photo of the new US ambassador to China carrying his own backpack and ordering his own coffee at an airport has charmed Chinese citizens not used to such frugality from their officials.

ZhaoHui Tang, a businessman from Bellevue, Washington state, snapped the photo Friday on his iPhone when he spotted Gary Locke wearing a backpack at the counter of an airport Starbucks. Locke is the first Chinese-American ambassador to China and a former governor of Washington State. Tang uploaded the photo to the Chinese social media network Sina Weibo because he thought it was cool to run into the new ambassador

at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

He didn’t expect it to generate 40,000 reposts and thousands of comments.

“This is something unbelievable in China,” said Tang, a Chinese-American citizen.

“Even for low-ranking officials, we don’t do things for ourselves. Someone goes to buy the coffee for them. Someone carries their bags for them.” Locke tried to use a coupon or voucher for the coffee, but the barista rejected it, Tang said. The ambassador then paid with a credit card, he said. Tang, chief executive of an Internet advertising firm called adSage, was flying from Seattle to California’s Silicon Valley.

Locke was leaving for China from the next gate over.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

local

Amir visits local societies on occasion of Ramadan KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and deputy head of the National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited the Diwaniya (social gathering place) of the elderly on Tuesday evening. Sheikh Sabah and the elderly exchanged greetings on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, and recalled the past events in Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah also visited Kuwait Blind Society headquarters and was received by Chairman of Board Fayez Lafi Al-Azmi and board members.

Sheikh Sabah greeted members of the society on Ramadan and asserted his support and care for the members. His Highness the Amir also appreciated the “vital role” of the blind in the service of their society.

Al-Azmi welcomed Sheikh Sabah and said the visit would positively reflect on members of the society.

Poet Saif Khuleifan Al-Mutairi then recited a poem for the Amir. Sheikh Sabah, meanwhile, visited Kuwait Disabled Sport Club and was received by Chairman of Board and Director General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sport (PAYS) Faisal Al-Jazzaf, Club chairman Mahdi Al-Azmi and board members.

His Highness the Amir praised achievements of the club members at the regional and international competitions.

Club Chairman Al-Azmi welcomed the Amir and said the visit would encourage the club members to

boost achievements. Sheikh Sabah honored the athletes who would compete in the 2012 paralympic games. Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah and his delegation visited the society of the deaf, where he was received by board chairman Mansour Abdullah Al-Harbi.

Sheikh Sabah commended the role of society members to serving their society, and honored the members who achieved advanced position in the international athletics championship. Al-Harbi thanked the Amir for his visit. His Highness the Amir then visited the Diwaniya of traditional poets and was received by its head Sheikh Ahmad Jaber AlAhmad Al-Sabah. Sheikh Sabah was also accompanied by deputy minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Premier, Minister of Justice and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammad Al-Afasi, Director of His Highness the Amir’s office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Acting Amiri Diwan Undersecretary and head of Amiri Protocols Sheik h Khaled Abdullah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of His Highness the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheik h Mubarak Faisal Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad Ali Al-K andari, Advisor Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Mazroui, Sheikh Majed Jaber Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Duaij Fahad Salman Al-Sabah and Sheikh Talal Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. — KUNA

Fasting is very healthy KUWAIT: The physical performance of the human body enhances for a person who fasts from day to dusk and that due to elements that include coping with the physical exertion during the fasting hours, as well as benefits of fasting to the circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems, in addition to the heart, according to health specialist. “World Health Organization studies prove that physical activities during fasting hours help protect the body from fat deposition, as well as enhance the circulatory system, strengthen the muscles and achieving peace of mind”, said Dr Amal Jamaal from the health reinforcement department at the Ministry of Health.

Dr Jamaal further indicated in her statements to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that mobility during fasting hours helps increase glucose production in the liver, which is necessary for the moving muscles that eventually turn to burning fat when the glucose is all consumed. — KUNA

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

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Qatar Airways hosts annual ghabqa KUWAIT: Qatar Airways held their annual ghabqa at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya on Tuesday evening. The special atmosphere of the event, designed to reflect the traditional feel of the holy month of Ramadan, was greatly enjoyed by all the guests. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Fish Fingers with Quaker Oats

For the Fish: • 1/2 kilogram of fish fillet • 4 tablespoons of flour • 1/2 tablespoon of cumin • 1/2 tablespoon of dried coriander • Salt and pepper • 1 cup of Quaker Oats spiced with cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, garlic powder and chilli • Oil for frying.

For the Sauce: • 1 cup of milk • 1 tablespoon of Quaker Oats • 1 tablespoon of flour • 1 tablespoon of butter • Pinch of nutmeg • Pinch of salt • Fresh parsley

• 1/2 cup of cheese (optional).

Preparing Fish: 1. Cut fish fillet into strips (2 inches wide) 2. Mix flour, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper with enough water to form a smooth batter.

3. Dip fish slices into the batter, and leave it for one hour.

4. Take the pieces out and coat them with spiced Quaker Oats, then fry them.

Preparing the Sauce: 1. Combine all ingredients while the milk is cold.

2. Mix will, and let it boil, until it’s slightly thick.

3. Add cheese and stir until it’s fully melted.

You can serve it with baked potatoes or steamed vegetables

Rose ice cream with caramelized rose petal

For Ice cream Ingredients: • Fresh milk • Fresh cream • Sugar • Stabilizer • Egg yolk •Rose water •Rose syrup

1 Ltr. 300grs 250grs 07grs 170grs 100grs 500grs

For garnish - Dry baby rose petal

03grs

Procedures: 1. Boil the ice cream ingredients 2. Add the rose syrup 3. Leave to cool and transfer the whole mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze -18 degree 4. Ready to serve, garnish with dry baby rose petal

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

LOCAL

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Ignorance is the problem

Root cause of our problem

By Abdellatif Al-Duaij he fact that economists dominate the special panel formed to study economic developments in the country, is a great indicator that Kuwait is bracing for an imminent financial crisis. While this prediction is probably going to turn out to be true in the end, the question remains - what about the root cause of the problem?

Is Kuwait suffering from diminishing Gross National Product (GNP)?

Kuwait can increase oil production, and make use of increasing oil prices that will not reduce soon. Our fiscal status is positive which ensures flow of income in cases of emergency.

In other words, we are 100 percent safe as far as our economy is concerned, and the fact of the matter is that we suffer from social issues.

The main problem we face is that oil is the only raw material our countr y produces.

Citizens depend primarily on the state to provide requirements without necessarily making productive efforts. What is even worse is the increasing fertility rate that Kuwaiti society faces.

Having many mouths to feed is not problematic, if citizens contribute towards boosting the state’s economy rather than proving to be burdensome. Citizens cannot be blamed for this situation, especially when the Supreme Council of Development and Planning encourages high birth rates among citizens to achieve demographical balance, at a time when the Parliament has been granting pension to retirees.

Citizens live in a bubble where their lack of productivity is accepted as a norm. At the same time, more citizens are born and the government would be forced to pay for all its needs.

Unless they are appointed as managers or heads of departments, citizens usually feel insulted when they are made ‘workers.’ Even if they are appointed as managers, not all citizens contribute constructively to build the nation.

Our main problem is socio-political. Just like the economic committee, we need a committee of politicians and sociologists to tackle the sloth that is destroying the Kuwaiti society.

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

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he root cause of all of our miseries, struggles and conflicts over ethnic, t r i b a l, or re l i gi ous i s s ue s c a n b e summed up in a single word: Ignorance. The fact that ignorance remains in our societies in an era of human history in which almost every individual can have access to knowledge through multiple sources, is an unforgivable sin. The best way to eliminate ignorance from our society is through formal education.

The failure in providing higher education opportunities to all high school graduates this year - let alone for years to come - is a true testament of our failure - or perhaps our unwillingness - to eliminate ignorance from our society.

This year, Kuwait celebrates the 100th anniversary for the establishment of the AlMub a r a k i ya s c hool, t he f i r s t s c hool i n Kuwait’s history which was opened with the prime goal of eliminating ignorance from our society. Ten decades later, we find out that the formal education system has failed in instilling the true sense of patriotism within our children, as we remain uniformed with all components of the Kuwaiti society.

How come after a century of formal education and tens of billions dollars spent on education, we find ourselves in this situation? Ignorance of the situation of education, the demographical growth and university outcomes are aspects that sure helped lead to this kind of situation. But if we failed to understand af ter all these years and efforts that ignorance is our true enemy, when are we going to realize it?

It’s hard to understand how the government spends more than a billion dollars from public funds to build a new university in Shaddadiya with a projected capacity of 30,000, when they can easily provide capacity for 60,000 more students just by adopting coeducation at the Kuwait University. The coeducation ban cannot last because it defies logic and human instinct. People are meant to socialize and live with each other; segregation is an abnormality. One last note: I’m hoping that a state department is planning to hold a celebration for the centennial anniversary of the Mubarakiya School, which falls in December 2011.— Al-Qabas

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kuwait digest

Hayef vs Interior Ministry

By Dr Mubarak Al-Therwa felt disturbed upon hearing news about MP Mohammad Hayef advocating for the execution of the Syrian ambassador. Not only is the call pertaining with a very serious crime, but I also know as a fact that Salafi activists - which Hayef represent - strongly condemn the use of violence and extremism in religion.

Therefore, I made sure to listen personally to the words Hayef said in order to see whether he really called for killing the ambassador or that his statement was misinterpreted. After reviewing his statements I found out that Hayef’s call was indeed misinterpreted. In a clarification he made the following day, Hayef argued that he asked to consult religious scholars on the probability of sentencing someone who allows the murder of innocent people, and that if the scholars approved this probability, then the sentencing can only be made through the judiciary system. This is exactly what I found when I heard his original statement.

Despite the fact that Hayef’s statement was unfortunate and came at the wrong time when sectarianism is thriving in the region, condemnations made through the media to his statements were similarly unfortunate when they were based on misinterpretations and speculations of Hayef’s intentions. It’s one thing to point out where the MP has committed a negative act, and it’s a

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total different thing when the lawmaker is slammed for an opinion that people think he might endorse because of the statement he made. Think about what can happen to the integrity of parliament members if we are going to assess their stances based on speculations through analyzing their statements.

That being said, it’s important to note that the Ministry of Interior did the right thing when they filed a case against MP Mohammad Hayef. Although he didn’t directly call for the ambassador’s execution, the controversy behind his statement could lead to unfortunate results especially if they were taken out of proportion by extremists. The ministry’s decision is important to tackle potential extremist behavior, in addition to curbing sectarian tension that could escalate from the controversy.

Figures like parliament members and religious scholars must take care of the statements they make and assure to stay away from stances that would advocate killing, and that to avoid misinterpretation that could lead to catastrophic results. We appreciate Hayef’s passion towards good causes, as long as they remain within the right frame. We also appreciate the Ministry of Interior’s decision to close the malicious door that was opened by Hayef’s statement. — Al Rai

kuwait digest

Achieving a bedoon-less Kuwait

kuwait digest

Corruption in Kuwait

By Dr Wael Al-Hasawi

visited my friend Saleh Al-Fadhalah, the chairman of the state’s central apparatus, at his diwaniya on the occasion of the holy month to discuss solutions to the stateless residents issue. The discussion concentrated on the various steps upon which naturalization would be awarded.

One of the guests at the diwaniya asked Al-Fadhalah about the fate of stateless residents who don’t meet the necessary conditions to obtain citizenship. Al-Fadhalah said that the apparatus is currently focusing on determining residents entitled for naturalization, after which steps will be taken to find solutions for stateless residents who fail to obtain the Kuwaiti citizenship.

Local daily Al-Watan published a recent report quoting sources within parliament as indicating that only thirty thousand out of the 106 thousand stateless residents in Kuwait meet the conditions for naturalization based on the apparatus’ recommendations. If the information is true, then this solution would solve a large part of the persisting problem of residents commonly known as ‘bedoons’ (meaning ‘without’ in Arabic). At least we can say, after the recommendations are adopted, that those who deserve to be naturalized have obtained the Kuwaiti nationality.

But the questions still remain in regard to bedoon residents who don’t meet the conditions for naturalization. What will their fate be? Could it involve deportation or other such procedures?

In my opinion, the best way to solve this problem is by demanding that non-naturali ze d re s i d e n t s a n n o u n ce t h e i r o r i gi n a l nationalities in order to obtain the full rights that the expatriate residents of Kuwait have.

Otherwise, they can be provided with longterm residencies and be entitled to the rights of expatriates, sans labor sponsorship.

This can help put an end to the decadeslong problem and achieve a Kuwait without residents being grouped together based on their lack of nationality. — Al-Rai

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By Thaar Al-Rashidi f you wanted to know the magnitude of the levels of corruption in Kuwait, all you have to do is look around you at the traffic congestion in the streets that chokes the entrance and exit of the capital and leads to traffic jams at all roundabouts and ring roads from First to Sixth.

The real reason is corruption. This is one of several indications that corruption is spread in government organizations. I don’t mean the corruption of giving driving licenses to many Asian expats, large numbers of whom have obtained driving licenses which they have no right to. What I mean is the corruption that leads to lack of supervision and poor planning in all road expansion-related projects. The first example that springs to mind is the project to expand the First Ring Road, which was supposed to be completed one year ago; when this didn’t happen, however, the government failed to hold anyone responsible or even issue an apology to road-users and offered no justification for the delay.

The government whose work cannot be seen on the ground is one that does not deserve to be in power because it has proved it is untrustworthy.

The National Assembly Council is supposed to hold the government to account, but this government, according to MP Musallam AlBarrak, is a dead government. Strangely, despite being dead, however, it has managed to kidnap three quarters of the National Assembly Council and put them in its pockets before going back to sleep, avoiding the work on all the important projects.

PS: By mistake, I listened recently to a weekly radio program featuring discussion of the development plan. Anyone listening to the program would believe that we’re competing with New York or Tokyo in technology and would beat them 10-0 in our results.

The truth is that, regardless of government claims and even if they broadcast 1,000 radio and TV programs, only one percent of the development plan projects will be achieved.

Do you know now where the KD 37 billion has gone and will go?! — Al-Anbaa

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

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Taxes, fees may be levied to introduce economic reform ‘Decisions don’t have to be popular all the time’ KUWAIT: A high-profile special economic panel formed to study the local economy’s situation announced that the focus will primarily be laid on the state’s budget, and measures to tackle structural imbalance that was created due to overspending. This is mainly in terms of wages that account for nearly KD 10 billion every year.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday at Al-Seif Palace visiting Leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar Al-Hakim and his accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and Jahra Governor Sheikh Mubarak Al-Humood AlJaber Al-Sabah. —KUNA

Kuwait, KSA to discuss border crossing point

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: Senior Kuwaiti and Saudi security officials will be meeting after Eid Al-Fitr to discuss steps to open a third border crossing post between the two countries.

The officials will hold a series of meetings in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to discuss the project, as well as paying field visits to the location chosen for the crossing in AlHamatiyat, which it is hoped will further expedite travel for the citizens of both countries.

An insider working on the project said that studies on the new border crossing point should be completed by next year before being submitted to the two countries’ interior ministers for approval, after which work can start on the construction.

In other news, local Islamist activist Nabil Al-Awadhi has accused the recently recalled Syrian Ambassador to Kuwait of being behind the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic

Affairs’ (MAIA) suspension of some imams at Kuwaiti mosques for mentioning current carnage in Syria in their sermons.

In a current affairs programme broadcast on Saudi-owned satellite TV channel MBC, Al-Awadhi claimed that the former ambassador had intervened in Kuwaiti domestic politics, accusing the MAIA of giving in to pressure from him. In a novel interpretation of regional events, meanwhile, Al-Awadhi also suggested during the programme that homosexuals and ‘emo’s,’ or fans of the ‘emotional hardcore’ genre of rock music, from the region are the greatest danger to regional society, referring to the two groups as those “for whom the bell tolls.” Al-Awadhi said that he holds the media responsible for this subversive and previously unknown phenomenon, accusing local media of marketing homosexuality and the ‘emo’ culture in programmes broadcast both before and during Ramadan, although he did not name the programmes in question.

Emergency landing at KIA

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A European airline’s flight en route to Germany made an emergency landing at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) early yesterday morning, with no casualties reported.

A Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) insider revealed that the airport control tower was notified by the plane’s pilot at around dawn yesterday that he needed to make an

emergency landing after the plane developed a minor technical problem.

Permission to land was granted, with all the airport’s emergency personnel, as well as the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh fire brigade, put on standby, whilst ten ambulances were sent to the scene in case of any injuries.

In the event, the plane landed without any problems and the problem was repaired before the interrupted flight was resumed.

The initiative to form the committee was triggered by concerns of an impending global recession that would see a drop in demand for oil - the state’s only source of income. The necessity to contain the situation locally gains more traction, in light of the general practice where MPs usually pass laws that exhaust the state’s budget so as to maintain popularity among voters.

“We need to implement decisions that don’t necessarily have to be popular all the time,” said an economist who preferred to remain anonymous. “A political battle can begin as a result. However, such decisions are necessary because these relate to increasing the state’s income so that they can cope with increasing expenditure,” he added.

In the meantime, officials have made decisions that may not result in large monetary gains for citizens, quite unlike the lifestyle they are used to leading for years. It won’t be an easy task, “People won’t forfeit a pay raise received, and the state will not be able to take that away. Those who obtain financial allowances feel that it is their right to receive and enjoy subsidization of goods. They are not ready to forgo those benefits. They will keep asking for more,” officials explain.

Explaining the nature of decisions taken to make economic reforms, the economist said that income taxes and fees will leave people

with less disposable income, “The country needs to counter overspending by diversifying sources of income,” the officials indicates, adding that provisions like imposing an income tax “would help reorganize the wealth distribution process and make citizens more engaged in the decision making process. Taxpayers have the right to take part in decision-making in advanced democracies,” he added. Moreover, the official argued that increasing electricity and water fees will result in inculcating the practice of conservation among consumers. “Hundreds and millions [of dinars] are being paid annually to subsidize electricity, which makes consumers less concerned about the necessity to limit consumption,” he argues, adding that Kuwaiti citizens pay the lowest fees among other Gulf Cooperation Council countries for electricity, despite featuring among the top consumers worldwide.

The special committee will discuss international and GCC recommendations concerning the imposition of value added tax, and enforce an income tax draft law which is already in place.

Meanwhile, another committee member who is active in the local private sector said that private firms will not object to a taxation system in principle, but still believes that the operational structure must be improved.

“Companies wouldn’t be able to afford taxes when they are already going through financial woes that have been persisting for years,” he argued, reported Al-Qabas.

The newly formed committee which comprises top economists and experts from the government and private sectors were asked to find measures to rectify the ‘structural anomalies’ in Kuwaiti economy by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah when he chaired their first meeting on Monday.

On Tuesday, many MPs reacted to the committee’s first meeting, including Yousuf Al-Zalzalah, Adnan Al-Mutawa, and Maasouma Al-Mubarak. They praised HH the Amir’s high level of concern on the subject.

Meanwhile, MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei warned that the Kuwaiti economy is on the verge of a collapse, as he pointed out that citizens lost an estimated total of KD 30 billion in the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), reported Al-Rai. On the other hand, MP Saleh Ashour argued that Kuwait can survive an economic crisis if oil revenues can help the country avoid a liquidity crisis. But member of the parliament’s financial committee Abdurrahman Al-Anjari reiterated that low oil prices can have a ‘catastrophic impact’ on the Kuwaiti economy.

National unity vital, says Sheikh Salman

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The newly appointed Ministry of Information Undersecretary on Tuesday evening thanked His Highness the Amir Sheik h Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheik h Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlSabah and HH the Prime M inister Sheik h Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah for their confidence in him in appointing him to the post.

Sheik h Salman Sabah AlSalem Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah, said that he would seek his colleagues’ cooperation in ensuring the success of his new mission.

Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah

Speak ing at the Kuwait Shooting Sports Club’s annual Ghabqa, Sheikh Salman urged the media to comply with the instructions of HH the Amir in order to teach the public the impor tance of maintaining Kuwaiti customs and to avoid conspicuous consumption and avarice, especially given the looming global economic slump which will affect Kuwait as well as other nations worldwide. The media should cooperate with the governing authorities in stressing the message of the need to rationalize consumption levels and protect Kuwait’s interests now and in the future,

the undersecretary stressed.

Asked about the importance of national unity, Sheikh Salman said, “National unity is Kuwait, is our destiny; it is the foundation of stability.”

He continued, “Our society is a coherent one with a wise leadership that is keen on pursuing Kuwaiti people’s interests,” going on to laud the great example of national unit y shown by Kuwaitis during the harsh times of the 1990-91 occupation and liberation, which he said all the country’s people should keep in the forefront of their minds when carrying out their duties.

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LOCAL

Online banking still not widespread in Kuwait

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: At the beginning of every month, Indian housemaid Niti gives her sponsor half her salary and asks her to wire it to her family in India. Before, the task would have necessitated a short drive to the mall housing the nearest money transfer office, followed by a wait in line of approximately 15 minutes to be served. Her employer, deciding to use the luxury of technology at her fingertips a few months ago, asked Niti to obtain the bank account details of her brother who lives back home in India. Now at the beginning of every month, Niti hands her employer the money she wants to transfer. Using her iPhone, the employer, Hadeel, wires the money direct to Niti’s brother’s account, and he confirms with a text message when he receives it.

Hadeel is thankful for her bank’s initiative to make its services more accessible, but says the process of adding Niti’s brother to her list of beneficiaries online was a hassle. The bank’s security procedure was like jumping through rings of fire, she protests. “Since it’s an international transfer, my bank required that I get the IBAN (International Banking Account Number), as well as the home address of the beneficiary, the right spelling of the name, phone number with which they have registered their bank account with, and other information that make the idea sound too daunting,” she explains.

After she successfully added Niti’s brother The Kuwaiti team (top) and above with children with special needs. — KUNA

Kuwaitis fly the flag in Poland KUWAIT: Kuwaiti hot air balloon enthusiasts on Monday participated in a balloon festival over the city of Elk, Poland, flying a balloon decorated with the Kuwaiti flag. The Kuwaiti participation in the event came about both as a way of marking Poland’s celebrations of its resistance during the 1920 Soviet invasion and of thanking Poland for its part in helping in

the 1991 liberation of Kuwait.

The event, sponsored by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information, is one of a series of similar events in nations that supported Kuwait during the invasion, occupation and liberation of the country.

During their visit, the Kuwaiti team also visited an orphanage and home for children with special needs.

MEW introduces power conservation measures KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) plans to implement three power-saving projects in the new Sabah Al-Ahmad residential area. Relevant tenders have already been submitted to the Central Tenders Committee (CTC). The announcement was made by Minister Salem Al-Othaina, who said ten main transformers will be installed part of the state’s development plan.

“The three projects are part of power saving measures mentioned in the development plan, and for which KD 120 million has been allocated, to ensure high voltage power distribution,” said AlOthaina, who also serves as the state’s Minister of Communications and Acting Minister of Information. Meanwhile, Al-

Othaina announced that the MEW is currently working on a similar power saving project at the newly constructed Khairan residential area, which includes building three main power distribution grids, and installing underground cables, reported Al-Qabas.

The Ministry of Public Works has reportedly completed all construction and infrastructure- related work at Khairan; a project that costs KD 600 million, built over an approximate two and a half year period, reported Al-Jarida. The Director of the MPW’s Mega Projects Department Ghaleb Safwat said that the project provides 1,300 housing units to citizens. It will be transferred to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare shortly.

Enjoy fresh produce this Ramadan at Alforda KUWAIT: With the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, many residents will be entertaining family and friends for Iftar, and the best source for their produce is the Alforda Central Fruits and Vegetables market. Just a quick drive along the 5th, 6th or 7th Ring Road and left (from Jahra) or right (from Kuwait City) onto Road 604, at Sulaibiya, the Alforda Market can supply all Ramadan produce needs with fresh, quality fruits and vegetables at excellent prices and at any quantity.

Alforda offers 300 thousand square meters of air-conditioned market space, filled with the freshest local and international produce, sold wholesale to the public at the best prices. The market includes a unique cooling system for trucks, which plug straight into the market’s power system, to ensure ongoing coolness, and produce which is being processed can be stored in over 15 thousand square meters of chilled warehouses.

Whilst produce comes from farms all over the world, strong emphasis is placed on the produce of the local farmers of Kuwait, who can track their sales directly on the market’s advanced IT system. A modern auction centre is

one of the many convenient aspects of this unique market and both individual buyers and brokers are accommodated.

“It is our privilege to offer this facility to Kuwaiti families during the most unique time of the year. We have tried to make this space equally welcoming to our suppliers, our workers and our buyers. Amongst the convenience factors are several banks, a coffee shop, and work will soon commence on the in-house supermarket,” says Ali AlRqobah, General Manager of Al-Wafir, who pioneered the concept now tangibly seen at Alforda.

“We are proud to bring this unequalled level of freshness to our own Kuwaiti public. Our GCC neighbors are taking note of the model and we have also attracted the attention of our partners in Europe. But the best visitors we have are the Kuwaiti and expat families who want to take advantage of this sparkling new market, and drive out over a weekend to shop for the finest and freshest fruit and vegetables in the wonderful cool surroundings of Alforda. Spending time at Alforda is a pleasure in itself, and driving home with such fresh produce is a wonderful way to end your day.”

to her beneficiary list, transferring money became a breeze. Online banking is not new in Kuwait, having existed for years. What pushed Hadeel to adopt this method of online banking now, however, was her bank’s introduction of its latest service, an iPhone application from which she can access her account and make transactions. “I was able to transfer on my computer for a long time.

That’s how I pay my phone bills and car lease. But transferring on the phone is a luxury; it is complete bliss for me when I compare it to physically going to the money transfer company,” she says.

For Lydia, a European expatriate working in Kuwait, wiring money back home to her family does not just save time and effort, but also money. “Transferring money to Europe through a transfer company cost me a big fee, almost one tenth of the total mount I’m wiring,” she says. Taking the advice of a friend, Lydia began conducting her online transfers via the internet through her bank’s website. Unlike Hadeel’s off-putting experience, her bank’s security procedures were clear and straightforward. She now wires money monthly without worrying about paying transfer fees.

Despite the ease and effortlessness of this process, however, online banking is not as popular an option as the conventional method of money transfer. For many of the expatriates who wire money to their families, a bank account is a luxury they don’t enjoy.

To others, accessing the latest tech gadgetry

is not an option, therefore not something they enjoy doing. Mariella, a Filipino salesperson at a department store, currently transfers approximately 40 percent of her salary to the Philippines every month. Her choice of transfer method is via a money transfer company. The company, established globally, is one with a good reputation in her hometown in the Philippines.

“I trust the company, I’ve been using it for a long time,” she explains. Mariella is among thousands of Filipino expatriates who wire money to their families from abroad. Since they’re covering the living expenses of their family back home, Mariella explains, it’s vital that the money transfer company used is reliable and efficient. The fees that the company charges are ver y reasonable, she believes. “When you transfer money to a different currency, you lose a small fraction. It’s not too much,” she says.

Baris, a Turkish expatriate who’s been working in Kuwait for 20 years, says that the conventional money transfer method is easier not just for him, but for his family. “To claim the money you need an ID and the number of the receipt for the transfer. It’s a very easy way to claim your money. I send my money to my mother and older sisters, all of whom have low-wage jobs. If I tell them that I want to send the money to their bank account I’m confusing them,” he jokes, adding, “They go to the money transfer office and receive their money in cash. It works for them so it works for me.”

300 to be charged over deportation center riot KUWAIT: Three hundred of the detainees at the Talha deportation centre are facing charges after last weekend’s rioting, with their cases set to be referred to the Public Prosecution Service for further action, according to an insider, who added that this may further delay their deportation.

The protesters, some of whom have been at the facility for years, were demanding that they either be deported, as they are supposed to be, or be given new residential visas to allow them to stay in the country. A total of 800 inmates, some of whom have been awaiting deportation for years, are held at the facility, with food and accommodation costs for each costing the government between KD 40,000 and KD 45,000 per year, the insider revealed. Authorities at the centre are hopeful that a court will convene especially to hear the deportees’ cases so that they can be processed and deported as quickly as possible.

Hunt on for rapists Two men abducted a Filipina woman as she was walking down Al-Ghous Street near Mubarak Al-

Kabeer before driving her to a deserted area and raping her, abandoning her at the scene after they were done. The woman managed to make her way to a police station and was taken to hospital.

Police are hunting for the rapists.

Kidnapper caught Police in Ahmadi have arrested an Afghan man who abducted a Nepalese woman whilst she was walking down a local street last month and held her prisoner in the annex of a house in Fintas. He is currently in custody awaiting trial.

Travel agency con A Kuwaiti man was conned by fraudsters who set up a phony online travel agency, which supposedly offered overseas accommodation at competitive prices but in reality did not provide anything.

The man was delighted to discover the agency prior to a trip to Saudi Arabia with his wife, paying - or so he believed - for reservations at a top hotel there, with the ‘bookings slips’ delivered to his door. When he and his wife arrived at the hotel in question,

however, they discovered that the hotel had no reservations in their name and had never heard of the travel agency. When he attempted to call the agency on the number given to rectify the problem and received no response, he quickly concluded that he had been conned. He has opened a case against the agency.

Beggars busted Police in Hawally arrested 11 beggars - nine women and two men - in a crackdown on begging in markets and malls in the area.

Police across the country have been conducting similar operations with levels of begging increasing during Ramadan. All those apprehended, who were a mixture of Bedoon (stateless) and various Arab nationalities, were referred to the relevant authorities for further action, with most to be deported.

Runaway maids arrested Hawally police arrested 12 runaway former maids who had previously fled abusive employers in a large-scale operation in the area. The women were arrested on the instructions of Ministry of

Interior Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs Major General Mahmoud Al-Doussari.

Those of the former maids whose residency permits have expired will be deported once the necessary procedures are completed.

Sugar high Police with specially trained sniffer dogs were quickly at the scene after receiving a report from customs officials of the arrival of a package containing ‘drugs.’ The dogs’ reaction quickly told their handlers that no drugs were present, however, with the package subsequently turning out to be filled with white sugar.

Drunk driver A 22-year-old Kuwaiti driver was taken into custody by police after they stopped him for speeding only to quickly realize that he was drunk.

Lovers’ tiff A Kuwaiti woman told police that her boyfriend had stolen her passport and ID card from her car following an argument between them. A hunt is underway for the man. — Al-Watan

Bureau de change van thief caught

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Police in Ahmadi have apprehended the thief responsible for stealing KD 67,000 from a security van used to transport the takings from a local chain of bureau de change outlets, only 72 hours after the crime was committed.

After discovering that the van windows had not been smashed and the locks were undamaged, detectives surmised that the theft was an ‘inside job,’ with the thief or thieves using a key to open the van doors whilst the driver and co-driver were away eating their Iftar meal. Since the driver and co-driver did not name any specific individuals as being possibly connected to the case, detectives questioned 162 people suspects, eventually narrowing this down to 17 individuals. Amongst these was one who was a friend of the driver who eventually admitted that he had committed the crime using a copy of the original key to the van to open it before stealing the money, which he had hidden at his father’s home without his father’s knowledge. He later led detectives to the money, and he and the driver are now in custody awaiting trial.

Royal member attacked Sabah Al-Salem police arrested two

military personnel in connection with physically assaulting and stabbing a member of the ruling family. The three men were involved in a spat over priority to the right in Sabhan two days ago.

Sabah Al-Salem police arrested the two military men who intercepted the royal’s car near Sabhan bridge. The two soldiers allegedly alighted from their vehicle and assaulted and stabbed him with a sharp object.

Several injured in accidents In a car accident that took place along Jabriya road toward Boubyan bridge, a 37-year-old citizen suffered from multiple injuries and internal bleeding. He was admitted to Jahra hospital. In another car accident that took place along Damascus Street between Qurtuba and Al-Surra, a 22year-old citizen fractured his left leg and a 21-year-old citizen suffered from chest pain.

Both were admitted to the nearest Amiri hospital. Also, a car accident took place along the traffic junction of Jahra hospital. A 30-year-old bedoun fractured his ribs and suffered several injuries. A 29-year-old woman suffered from spinal injury, and a 30-year-old Saudi national fractured his right leg.

All the victims were admitted to Jahra hospital.

Imam questioned KUWAIT: A number of detainees at the deportation center, including a former imam who has been at the facility for years pending deportation, have been undergoing questioning on suspicion of involvement in last weekend’s protest by eight fellow inmates.

The eight detainees reportedly caused uproar at the center when they attacked guards, refused to comply with orders and went so far as to threaten to hang themselves using bedsheets as nooses, in frustration at

their current situation after being kept in custody for years awaiting deportation over various ‘offences,’ including unpaid debts and travel bans against them.

In a phone interview with local daily AlQabas, inmates said that prison staff had launched a massive clampdown since the weekend protests, including cell inspections and separating cellmates of some nationalities, in an attempt to prevent similar events in the future. — Al-Qabas

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

Turkey to Israel: No closer ties without apology

Biden lands in China under cloud of debt Page 12

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Hariri indictment published Son urges Hezbollah to turn in UN indictees THE HAGUE: The UN-backed cour t probing the 2005 murder of Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafiq Hariri said yesterday it had enough evidence to try four Hezbollah members, as it published the full indictment. “The pre-trial judge has ordered that his decision confirming the indictment related to the 14 February 2005 attack, as well as the indictment itself, be made public,” the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said.

The judge found “the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence on a prima facie basis to proceed to trial,” the Hag u e - b a s e d t r i b u nal added in a statement, welcomed by the court’s chief prosecutor Daniel A Bellemare.

Judge Daniel Fransen last month ordered confidentiality around the n ames a n d c h a rge s ag ainst Sal im Ayyash, 47, Mustafa Badreddine, 50, Hussein Anaissi, 37 and Assad Sabra, 34, be partially dropped. Ayyash and Badreddine face charges of “committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device” and homicide, while Anaissi and Sabra faced charges of conspiring to commit the same acts in the massive bomb blast that killed Hariri and 22 others.

Fo rm e r Le b a n e s e p remier Saad Hariri urged Hezbollah yesterday to turn over the four indicted in the murder of his father. “I hope ... Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will make a historic decision ... and announce his fu l l co op e r a t i on wit h t he Sp ecial Tribunal for Lebanon to ensure those accused of the murder are handed over for a fair trial,” Hariri said in a statement released shortly after the co u r t u n s e a le d i t s indic t ment .

“Hezbollah must announce that it has severed all ties with those accused.”

Tribunal prosecutor Bellemare welcomed the tribunal’s order to unseal the indictment, saying he will push ahead with preparations for the trial.

“This order will finally inform the pub-

lic and the victims about the facts alleged in the indictment regarding the commission of the crime that led to c h a rgi n g t h e fo u r a cc u s e d,” Bellemare said in a separate state ment. More than 20,000 pages of evidence were filed with the indictment which Bellemare’s office claimed “corroborates the following factual allegations and charges included in the indictment.”

The prosecutor accused Badreddine of “being the overall controller of the attack,” said a summary of the indictment. “Ayyash coordinated the assassination team that was responsible for t he p hysic al per petr ation of th e attack,” the summary added. “Anaissi and Sabra, in addition to being conspirators, prepared and delivered a false claim of responsibility video, which sought to blame the wrong people,” it said. It claimed an assassination team “consisting of Ayyash and others positioned themselves in several locations where they were able to track and observe Hariri’s convoy,” on Feb 14, 2005. It also gives a timeline of Hariri’s movements up until 12:55 local time, when a “male suicide bomber detonated a large quantity of explosives concealed in the cargo area of a... van, killing Hariri and 21 other victims and injuring 231”.

Apart from Ayyash’s role, the prosecution alleged Anaissi and Sabra called two international news agencies shortly after the attack and told them they could find a video tape placed in a Beirut square, with the false information. The tribunal itself stressed the prosecution’s findings “does not imply that the individuals are guilty, but merel y es tablish es th at th ere is enough material for them to be tried.”

“The prosecution will have to prove at t rial t hat th e accused are guilt y ‘beyond reasonable doubt,” the tribunal said. —AFP

Blasts kill 8 Turkish soldiers, PKK blamed ISTANBUL: Kurdish rebels killed eight Turkish soldiers and a village guard yesterday in an ambush in the southeast of the country, Turkey’s prime minister said, adding that “final words have failed”. “We are in a situation where final words have failed,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. The attack took place in the Cukurca region of Hakkari province, close to the border with Iraq. Eleven others were injured, he added. Village guards are locals armed by the state to help the Turkish army

in its campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Local sources said two mine explosions in different spots caused the incident, adding that an operation was launched against the rebels immediately after the attack. The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack. “Our forces have carried out an ambush against the Turkish army ... on the border,” Doldar Hammo, a spokesman for the rebels which have bases in northern Iraq, told AFP. “Several Turkish soldiers were killed in the clashes, which have

been continuing for two hours until now,” he said, without giving other details. “Our patience for Ramadan is over now,” Erdogan said, signalling tougher measures against the PKK after the end of the Muslim holy month around August 30, without elaborating.

According to the Turkish press they would include sending special police and army units to the combat zones along the border with Iraq.

Asked to confirm, Erdogan said: “You’ll see if that happens,” implying that Turkey ’s measures will be seen only after they are implemented.

Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz hinted that Turkey ’s retaliation against the rebels would be strong. “They are testing our patience... We’ll retaliate in kind,” Yilmaz said in televised remarks.

President Abdullah Gul said “the terrorist organisation is deliberately resorting to such provocations and ambushes, especially during Ramadan”. On June 16, the PKK killed 13 soldiers in another southeastern province, Diyarbakir. The conflict with the PKK, blacklisted as a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States as well as Turkey, has claimed more than 45,000 lives since it began in 1984. —AFP

SIDON, Lebanon: Billboards show assassinated Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on the highway in this southern port city yesterday. —AFP

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Rape another risk for Somali drought refugees DOLO ADO, Ethiopia: Sixteen-year-old Rukiyah Abdukadir was collecting firewood outside a refugee camp in Ethiopia when she was raped, her attack underlining the risks facing the thousands of people fleeing drought. The young Somali, whose family was forced to leave their home when their crop failed, says a man asked to use her axe. When she refused, he attacked. “I fell down, then he grabbed my neck and he used my body,” she told AFP. “There’s not enough safety in the camp,” she said, sitting in a bamboo hut in the complex in southern Ethiopia’s dustblown Kobe.

The severe drought has forced tens of thousands of Somalis to flee to camps in Ethiopia and Kenya to survive. But life is still tough, with food supplies and shelter often inadequate and relief groups overwhelmed by the huge influx of desperate people. Abdukadir says life is better in the camps than in Somalia, but she wishes her new

home was more secure. About 78,000 Somalis have fled this year alone to Ethiopia to escape the drought ravaging the Horn of Africa, hitting Somalia the hardest with famine declared in several southern regions.

Incidents of sexual violence are relatively low, but aid workers warn the situation could worsen.

“I just think the camps will become more violent as time goes on,” said Jo Hegenauer, the emergency coordinator for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The United Nations has recorded 87 incidents of sexual violence in the camps but UN statistician Susanne Butscher admits data collection is imprecise since not all women report abuse or rape.

UNHCR spokeswoman Laura Padoan said that incidents of rape, though isolated, are worrying. She said two cases have been confirmed recently in a newly opened camp. One case involved a young man raping a child. “Obviously

this is very disturbing behaviour,” she said. “(But) I don’t think there’s an endemic risk,” she added, noting that there were fewer men in the camps than women and children.

The majority of refugees in Ethiopia’s camps are children, who account for 87 percent of the population. Fewer than 10 percent of the refugees are men. But overcrowding and idleness can breed violence, Hegenauer said. “Camp life is not real life,” he said. “It is a really frustrating existence and that spawns all sorts of frustration and violence.” The refugees live in tightly packed settlements, particularly in the transit camps, one of which hosts 8,000 refugees in a space designed to hold 1,500. Poor sanitation, lack of clean water and a recent measles outbreak have worsened the already harsh living conditions.

A training ground for Somali transitional government troops not too far from Helaweyn, Ethiopia’s newest refugee camp, is another

source of insecurity. One aid worker said the presence of the troops “may possibly undermine the humanitarian nature of the camps”. A UN official also expressed fear about the risk of rape in camps in neighbouring Kenya. “Hopes of finding a safe haven are often overshadowed by new dangers and hardships, including the risk of rape,” said Margot Wallstrom, the UN representative on sexual violence. She urged humanitarian actors to offer protection to women in the camps and support rape victims.

Abdul Abrahaman, who also fled Somalia, said that after Abdukadir’s attack, the women in the camp were too frightened to search for wood. “ The boys are looking for firewood because the women are afraid,” he said.

Abdukadir said she has no plans to return to Somalia and, despite her assault, was better off in the refugee camp. “I’d like to stay here for life,” she said. — AFP

Turkey to Israel: No ties without apology OIC meets on Somalia

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) welcomes his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi to start their talks yesterday. — AFP

Iran, Russia claim ‘first step’ to breakthrough MOSCOW: Russia and Iran yesterday said a new Russian plan had a real chance of solving the standoff over the Iranian nuclear drive, despite the failure of past initiatives to end a decade of deadlock.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi in Moscow to discuss the details of a “step-by-step” plan that rewards Tehran for greater transparency with a gradual easing of UN sanctions.

Salehi described the plan as a “first step” towards solving the crisis while Lavrov expressed the hope it would accelerate progress to a solution which has come to a virtual halt in recent months.

The rare visit to Moscow by Iran’s top diplomat came a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and gave his blessing to the new approach. “The Russian proposal has good elements. It is very important,” Salehi told reporters after talks with Lavrov. “We will study all the details of this proposal. It is positive,” he said, adding it would now be analysed by “experts” in Tehran. “If one is starting on a long journey, one has to take the first step,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

Lavrov said he hoped the proposal would give a push towards reviving currently frozen talks between Iran and world powers in solving the crisis. “We expect that these topics (set out in the steps plan) will help us to move to an active phase of further work to ultimately solve this question,” Lavrov said. “I expect that this will allow us to move forward quicker than was the case until now and we can revive negotiations.”

The Russian foreign minister first presented Russia’s new proposal during a July meeting in Washington with US President Barack Obama. Crucially, Lavrov said that the Russian plan was “completely accepted” by the five other world powers involved in the attempts to find a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear drive. A Russian foreign ministry

source told the Kommersant business daily that while the idea has been supported by Western powers US officials in private would much prefer putting additional pressure through stronger sanctions.

World powers fear that Iran wants to develop a nuclear bomb under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program and have for years sought to persuade Iran to renounce the key process of uranium enrichment as proof of its goodwill. Iran has insisted it has every right to uranium enrichment - which can be used to make the warhead of an atomic bomb - while emphasising that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful. Arguing that the standoff needed to be solved through compromise, Lavrov said the aim of the Russian plan was to do “everything so that any doubts about the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program are lifted”.

Iran’s interest in the plan appears to mark an improvement in Tehran-Moscow relations which hit a post-Soviet low last year when Ahmadinejad warned that Russia risked becoming a “historic enemy” of the country. Ahmadinejad has been infuriated by Russia’s refusal to fulfill a contract to deliver air defence weapons and President Dmitr y Medvedev’s tougher line against the Iranian nuclear drive, which pleased Washington.

A bilateral meeting between the two presidents on the sidelines of a summit in the Kazakh capital Astana earlier this year now appears to have warmed the atmosphere. However there have been numerous initiatives aimed at ending the standoff since the revelation of secret nuclear sites in Iran by an exiled opposition group first sparked the crisis in 2002.

Iran showed little interest in a 2008 offer drawn up by the EU that would have provided extensive Western help for its nuclear program while claims a BrazilianTurkish initiative had solved the crisis in 2010 proved premature. — AFP

NABLUS: Palestinian Muslim men read from the Holy Quran during the holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in this West Bank city. — AP

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s prime minister said yesterday his country would never back down on demands for an apology from Israel over its 2010 commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turkish activists. “As long as Israel does not apologise, pay compensation and remove the embargo over Gaza, it is impossible to heal relations between Turkey and Israel,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. “It is out of the question to step back from our determination on this issue,” Erdogan said, as he left an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Somalia’s drought.

Both Turkey and the families of victims would take new steps on the issue, Erdogan said. “A new process will start,” he said, without elaborating. According to Israeli media reports yesterday, Israel has rejected a US request to apologise to Turkey over the raid on the Mavi Marmara, the flagship of a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s naval embargo on the Gaza Strip. The botched operation left nine Turkish nationals dead and sparked a diplomatic crisis with Ankara, which immediately recalled its ambassador. A United Nations report into the flotilla affair, whose publication has been postponed at least twice this year to allow time for the two sides to reconcile their differences, is due to be released on Aug 20.

Representatives from member countries of the OIC had convened in an emergency meeting in Istanbul yesterday on the drought and famine ravaging the Horn of Africa. The organisation, which groups 57 Muslim countries and is currently chaired by a Turk, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, is discussing how to boost aid to the countries worst affected. “There is a fire in Somalia and what’s urgent is to extinguish that fire,” Erdogan said in opening remarks, inviting Muslim countries as well as strong economies of the world to extend a helping hand to the people of Somalia. “This is a test

ISTANBUL: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (left), Somalia’s President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed (center) and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend a meeting gathering OIC representatives to discuss the drought and famine ravaging the Horn of Africa yesterday. — AFP not only for Somalia but for humanity,” he added.

Turkey has thus far collected $150 million and this will reach $200 million by the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Erdogan said.

‘While many countries are hesitating to take action out of security concerns, Turkey is one of few countries aiding directly on the ground,’ he said. Yesterday, Turkey sent a cargo plane carrying a field hospital and 30 tonnes of aid to Somalia. President Abdullah Gul met his counterpart from Somalia, Sharif Ahmed, on the sidelines of the OIC meeting, called at Turkey’s request to draw attention to the

Analysts welcome Jordan reform plans AMMAN: Jordan has taken a “positive step” in drawing up plans to reform its constitution, analysts said as opposition leaders said the move was insufficient to effect political change. The proposals, including the creation of a constitutional court, come as Jordan has been beset for months by growing popular demands for political, economic and social reform, after Arab uprisings overthrew leaders in Tunisia and Egypt and shook other regional states.

“It’s a positive step in the right direction,” Mohammad Masri, researcher at the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies, told AFP. “The constitution has been burdened with many amendments since the 1950s that have created imbalance between the different powers in Jordan,” he added.

Masri said that the “suggested amendments are likely to re-establish balance and enhance separation of powers. “The regime has realised that things in Jordan cannot continue the way they were before Arab revolts.” Political analyst and columnist Oreib Rintawi agreed. “The proposals create the right balance, boost the role of parliament, stop government encroachment and protect the judiciary,” said Rintawi, who heads the Al-Quds Centre for Political Studies.

King Abdullah II announced recommendations made by the Royal Committee on Constitutional Review, which he named in April, including the creation of an independent commission to oversee elections and lowering the age of candidates for parliament from 35 to 25. Under the proposals, governments can no longer issue temporary laws except in times of war and natural catastrophe and in cases of financial expenditure that cannot be postponed.

In addition the jurisdiction of the military state security court, accused by activists of being illegal, should be limited to cases of high treason, espionage and terrorism. “The outcome of the committee’s work establishes the foundation for constitutional reform, which is a must for achieving comprehensive democratic reforms, empowering peo-

ple and strengthening the state,” senate president Taher Masri, a former prime minister who is now a member of the committee, told reporters on Tuesday.

But the powerful opposition Islamists say the proposals, which did not meet one of their key demands to elect a prime minister, are not enough. “They have failed to meet the requirements of the current local and regional situation. They did not live up to people’s expectations,” said Zaki Bani Rsheid, head of the political office of the Islamic Action Front (IAF). “We need more amendments to empower the people. We need to have parliamentary governments in line with fair elections,” Bani Rsheid told AFP. Mu’ath Khawaldeh, a spokesman for the Youth and Popular Reform Movements, welcomed the constitutional suggestions, but said they have “ignored major popular demands”. “We have been protesting for months, demanding much-needed reforms which are essential for the future, but we saw nothing of our demands in the proposals,” he said. Inspired by their peers in Egypt and Tunisia, young Jordanians, who represent 70 percent of the population of more than six million, have joined the Islamists and other groups in demanding economic and political reform, including a new electoral law and an elected prime minister.

The IAF has demanded the king appoint the leader of a parliamentary majority as prime minister. But researcher Mohammad Masri said “this does not need a constitutional provision”. “The king appoints prime ministers, and parliament has the right not to grant a vote of confidence. So there is balance between powers,” said Masri.

For Mohammad Momani, a political science professor at the Yarmuk University, “the proposals cannot meet each and every demand in Jordan”. “Rejecting them because they did not meet cer tain demands for certain groups is an unconstructive and nihilistic attitude,” said Momani. “The proposals create the foundation for an active parliamentary life.” — AFP

tragedy in Somalia. Erdogan is due to leave for the Somali capital Mogadishu today evening, with his wife and daughter, as well as Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and three other cabinet members and deputies from his ruling party, also accompanied by their families. They are to oversee tomorrow the distribution of Turkish aid in refugee camps. Turkey has already sent three planes carrying dozens of tonnes of food and medical supplies for Somalis during Ramadan. Turkish television channels have been screening footage of the catastrophe unfolding in Africa to help drum up aid. — AFP

Egyptians at odds over Mubarak trial CAIRO: Egyptians, who were glued to their television screens for the two first sessions of ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s trial, have been divided by the judge’s decision to remove the cameras. The public trial of Mubarak, accused of corruption and the murder of hundreds of demonstrators, was one of the key demands of the popular protest movement which toppled the veteran leader on Feb 11. To the fascination of Egyptian and world television audiences, Mubarak has appeared in court bound to a stretcher and caged, often shielded from the cameras by his two sons and co-defendants on graft charges, Gamal and Alaa.

But judge Ahmed Refaat put a halt to live broadcasts of the hearings after the unruly, publicity-seeking performance of lawyers representing victims’ families at the last hearing on Monday. “The presence of cameras in the courtroom can affect the environment of the proceedings,” Deputy Justice Minister Mohammed Manie said on public television, stressing the decision was taken by the judge alone. He also said it was essential to protect witnesses. “It’s a good decision, guaranteeing calm in the courtroom,” agreed lawyer Gamal Eid, who represents 16 families. He added that while he was in favour of keeping testimony off-camera to make witnesses less susceptible to outside pressure, he would prefer the rest of the trial to be broadcast at a later date.

But not all parties agreed with the judge’s decision. “A public trial was one of our key demands. They stopped the broadcasts just as we started to get to the heart of the matter,” said Tareq al-Kholi, spokesman of the April 6 youth movement, a motor of the antiMubarak protests. “We call on the judge to reverse his decision,” Kholi said. Former judge Mahmud Al-Khodeiri agreed. “It is a special case and transparency is of the essence. Without it, we open the door to rumours and distrust. Media coverage is not enough,” he said. Legal experts, meanwhile, have expressed concern over the fast pace of the proceedings given the complexity of the trial. — AFP

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Shark kills Briton in Seychelles VICTORIA: A shark savaged a British tourist as his newly-wed wife watched from the beach in the Seychelles, the second holidaymaker to die in such an attack this month, police said yesterday. The tourist was hauled onto a boat and taken to shore following the attack but died from blood loss after the shark ripped off his arm and tore into his leg, police said. “Ian Redmond, a 30-year old British man, was on honeymoon with his wife when he was attacked by a shark while diving at Anse Lazio,” a police statement said. “The shark tore off his arm and bit a part of his left leg,” it added.

His wife was on the beach - a famous beauty spot hailed for its white sand on the archipelago’s Praslin island - and watched helplessly as her husband was mauled by the shark. “Two people who were on a boat not far from the attack tried to rescue him,” the statement added. “Ian Redmond did not survive his injuries because he had lost too much blood.” The attack hap-

pened on Tuesday afternoon in the same area where a shark attacked and killed a 36-year-old French diver earlier this month. The newly-wed couple were from Lancashire in northwest England.

The Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority issued a swimming ban at the Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette beaches, while surveillance patrols launched a hunt for the killer shark.

“Fishermen will be undertaking continuous patrols, research and fishing activities in order to capture the shark,” the maritime authority said in a statement.

It said it would also reinforce a ban of “dumping of waste from yachts and other boats, which have been reported in some of these areas”, which some fear could have attracted sharks.

Shark attacks are rare in Seychelles, with the last reported fatal attack before the recent killings in 1963, according to the government. The 115-island Indian Ocean archipelago is a popular top-end tourist destination, with some villa

accommodation costing as much as Ä10,000 per night. Britain’s Prince William and his bride Catherine celebrated their honeymoon in the archipelago in May. British officials said they were comforting the distraught widow.

“The British High Commissioner and the vice-consul flew out on Tuesday to support his wife,” a British High Commission spokeswoman said.

Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated travel warnings following the deadly attack, highlighting the swimming ban.

“You should avoid swimming at these designated locations until further notice,” the warning read. Last year, 79 people were killed worldwide by sharks, the highest in a decade, representing a 25-percent increase compared to 2009, according to researchers in Florida. Thirtysix of them were killed in the United States, 14 in Australia, eight in South Africa and six each in Vietnam and Egypt, according to the figures released earlier this year. — AFP

LUANDA: (From left) Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, South African President Jacob Zuma, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Mozambique’s Tomaz Salomao and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba listen to the Angolan national anthem during the opening ceremony of the 31st SADC summit yesterday. — AFP

Medvedev, Putin go fishing Southern Africa leaders MOSCOW: Russia’s President Dmitr y Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have put on a new show of unity by going fishing and diving amid the excruciating uncertainty over who will run in the elections. The country’s two most powerful men - both potential candidates in the March presidential elections - made a holiday trip to the southern Astrakhan region fishing and power boating on the Volga River on Tuesday, the Kremlin said. The two “got to know the habitat of the river and took a few photographs using special photo equipment”, Kremlin said.

National television said yesterday that Putin managed to catch a small perch, while Medvedev got a pike. The two men also donned wetsuits to go diving and went boating, with television footage showing the two leaders each steering a small power boat in what appeared to be a friendly competition. Contacted by AFP, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware who finished first because he was not present during the two men’s private get- together. The carefully choreographed footage of the two leaders both grinning broadly appeared aimed at removing suggestions of a brewing political rivalry.

The ruling duo’s latest photoop comes after Putin stole the show last week as he pulled two ancient urns while scuba diving at an ancient Greek Black Sea site.

The Russian media had a field day with Putin’s latest stunt, quipping that the all-powerful prime minister put Russian archeologists, who spend years to make such discov-

open talks amid crises Silence on Zimbabwe, Madagascar

ASTRAKHAN, Russia: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fish on holiday on the Volga River. — AFP eries, to shame. With just seven months left before the March elections, neither Medvedev, 45, nor Putin, 58, have announced their candidacy amid warnings from businesses that the uncertainty was hurting the investment climate.

In the absence of a firm announcement the two men’s antics are increasingly raising eyebrows and even Kremlin-friendly commentators say the ruling duo’s indecision is becoming dangerous. “Up to this day, in August 2011, the country does not have an answer to a simple question about its nearest future,” said analyst Gleb Pavlovsky. He said he believed the announcement on who will run in the polls should be expected no later than September, even if some may

want to delay the decision until December when Russians are set to elect a new parliament.

Former spy Putin finished his two terms as president in 2008 and named Medvedev as his hand-picked successor while retaining a dominant role in Russian politics that soon saw him become prime minister. Analysts immediately suggested that Medvedev - a lawyer by training and Putin’s former chief of staff was just a placeholder for Putin who would not run for a second term.

Medvedev has admitted to liking his job and recently noted that every president would like to run for a second term. Most observers agree that the final decision of which of the two will run next year rests with Putin. — AFP

LUANDA: Southern African leaders opened a summit in Angola yesterday, but were largely silent on growing unrest in the region and ongoing leadership battles in Zimbabwe and Madagascar. The two-day summit of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) comes on the heels of recent crackdowns on anti-government protests in Malawi and Swaziland, which join the other crises on the list of regional leaders’ headaches. The SADC is under pressure to show its commitment to democracy in the region at the meeting in the Angolan capital, Luanda, but yesterday’s opening ceremony made no direct references to the spreading political turmoil.

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said in a written welcome message that the summit would allow regional leaders to “harmonise our positions regarding key current affairs issues that may affect the peace and stability necessar y to ensure sustainable development and the consolidation of democracy.” But

dos Santos, the SADC’s incoming chair, did not mention what a group of southern African civil society leaders described last week as the region’s growing list of “problem cases”. Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, the organisation’s outgoing chair, said “progress” had been made by SADC mediation teams trying to resolve the protracted standoffs in Zimbabwe and Madagascar, but did not elaborate except to say that “all these issues were dealt with” at an SADC meeting in June. The SADC has been criticised for dragging its feet in the Zimbabwe and Madagascar crises, which its mediators have so far failed to definitively resolve.

In Zimbabwe, long-time President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are deadlocked over when to hold new elections.

The two leaders share power in a tense “unity government” formed to halt the country ’s economic and political tailspin after a bloody and contested election in 2008. Mugabe

insists new polls go ahead this year, with or without the new constitution agreed to in the power-sharing deal.

Tsvangirai wants reforms to be implemented first.

Madagascar was suspended from the SADC in March 2009 after elected president Marc Ravalomanana was ousted by Andr y Rajoelina, then mayor of the capital Antananarivo.

Regional mediators have yet to find a solution to the impasse, and there was no chair for Madagascar at the summit ’s opening ceremony. In Malawi, 19 people were killed last month when security forces used live ammunition to put down demonstrations against President Bingu wa Mutharika, accused of becoming increasingly autocratic amid an economic downward spiral.

After the deadly unrest, the SADC sent an obser ver mission to the country that is expected to report back to the summit. Swaziland’s King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, also faces growing antigovernment sentiment. — AFP

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US moral authority undercut by war on terror WASHINGTON: The 9/11 attacks prompted an outpouring of international sympathy and support for the United States, but Washington’s subsequent “war on terror” undercut the superpower’s moral authority. Ten years later, analysts say, America has not fully recovered its standing as a steadfast defender of liberty and fierce protector of the rule of law, handing Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda at least a partial victory. Critics accused president George W. Bush of riding roughshod over civil liberties, signing off on torture, extraordinary rendition and warrantless surveillance as he waged his “war on terror” no matter what the cost.

Sweeping into office in January 2009 on a message of hope and change, President Barack Obama was supposed to be the leader to boldly restore those liberties, but he is now being tarred with the same brush as

his predecessor. “Although the Obama administration abandoned the Bush administration’s global war terminology, it has largely adopted (the latter’s) global war legal framework,” Hina Shamsi of the American Civil Liberties Union told AFP. With indefinite detentions, military trials and targeted killings of terror suspects, the Obama team has “actually entrenched the global war framework,” Shamsi said. On a false premise of searching for nuclear weapons which US officials said at the time could end up in terrorist hands - the Bush administration infuriated much of the world when it led the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It also drew fire for labelling suspects in the “war on terror” as “unlawful” combatants who were not allowed the full protections of the Third Geneva Convention.

Under the term “extraordinary rendition,” it abducted suspects and secretly

transferred them to overseas prisons where many languished for years suffering suspected torture without charge or trial.

The US militar y prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - which Obama promised but failed to close became a symbol of those excesses.

But allies were also furious over the treatment of suspects held in Afghanistan and in a network of secret prisons worldwide operated by the Central Intelligence Agency. US forces have carried out and still carry out “targeted killings,” or what critics call extrajudicial executions, hunting down and killing suspects using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Shamsi said the Obama administration’s “commitment to dismantling Guantanamo has been undermined by its assertion of authority to detain people indefinitely without charge or trial at Guantanamo and in Afghanistan.”

And while the Obama team can make a case, she said, for drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal border areas, which Afghan militants use as a rear base, it has less of a case in Yemen and Somalia, where America is not at war.

After initially seeking to try suspects in civilian courts, the Obama administration has again resorted to military tribunals, albeit with reforms in place and only because its hand was forced

by Republican opposition.

There is recognition that Obama, who ordered the Navy SEAL raid in May that killed bin Laden, has tried to right the ship. Shamsi praised the Obama administration for having categorically prohibited torture and outlawed secret detention sites. And Wendy Chamberlin, a former US ambassador to Pakistan, said that while Obama had dashed some expectations, particularly with the failure to close Guantanamo, America’s standing

was now much higher than under Bush.

Bush’s policies “hurt us enormously,” Chamberlin, now president of the Middle East Institute, told AFP. “All over the world, including Europe, including our allies, (people) lost confidence in our moral leadership.” Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress think tank, agreed that the United States squandered the goodwill it had after Sept 11 and said things have improved only marginally under Obama. “After a brief period of empathy from the rest of the world in the aftermath of the attacks, we saw a sharp downward spiral with the start of the Iraq war,” Katulis told AFP. “The simple fact of the matter is that we didn’t end up doing a lot of the things we said we would do (under Obama), whether it was closing Guantanamo Bay or advancing the Middle East peace process.” — AFP

Obama: ‘Lone wolf’ terror attack biggest US worry On bus tour, prez shifts blame to Reps

PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia police homicide commander Capt James Clark speaks after a media availability. — AP

Man shot dead after Facebook allegations PHILADELPHIA: London Eley and Timothy Bynum insist they were just blowing off steam when they posted a Facebook exchange about a plot to kill the father of Eley’s baby. But target Corey White’s family saw the posts this spring and called police. A Philadelphia judge on Monday upheld felony charges against the pair, who’ve been detained since their June arrest. Hours later, the 22-year-old White was gunned down on a southwest Philadelphia street.

“I get the speculative connection to my client,” said defense lawyer Gerald Stein, who represents Eley. “The hearing being yesterday and then, boom, the guy’s dead a couple of hours later?” He believes it’s mere coincidence - but is nevertheless glad his client was still in custody Monday night when White was killed. Police said they have several leads in the precision hit on White, not all of them related to the Facebook plot.

Detectives in nearby Upper Darby had been looking to talk to White about a July 18 slaying outside a nightclub. They have a warrant for the suspected gunman, but heard talk that White was the getaway driver and wanted to question him, Superintendent Michael Chitwood said Tuesday. Police believe the man who shot White had carjacked two moviegoers in Upper Darby at 7:30 p.m., then

driven the car to White’s neighborhood nearby. One or two men in the car briefly argued with White before the gunman stepped outside and shot him once in the chest. The stolen car was found torched four hours later.

“It could be the Facebook caper that the girlfriend (allegedly arranged) ... or it could be in retaliation for this homicide,” Chitwood told AP. Eley, who turned 20 last month, was fighting with White this spring about custody of their baby, among other things. The baby was staying with White’s family, Stein said. “That was part of the underlying contention,” the attorney said. After a heated argument in May, police say, Eley wrote on her Facebook page: “I will pay somebody a stack to kill my baby father.”

The 18-year-old Bynum, of nearby Darby, answered the call, police alleged.

“Say no more ... what he look like ... where he be at ... need that stack 1st,” Bynum allegedly wrote. A “stack” is slang for $1,000. Stein has argued that his client was merely venting about her ex-boyfriend and had no intention of following through.

But he acknowledges that such rants can have serious consequences when they’re posted online. “Unfortunately, it sort of magnifies the anger,” Stein said.

Prosecutors do not believe Eley was joking about the hit. — AP

Brazil president may not seek re-election SAO PAULO: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has not yet decided whether she or her enormously popular predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will be their party’s candidate in the next election in 2014, a top minister said in an interview published yesterday.

Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo said Rousseff, who took office on Jan. 1, was the likely candidate “if she has the desire to run.” But he said she would first need to discuss the matter with Lula. “I don’t see that question being resolved without a conversation between the two of them. It’s very early still,” Bernardo said in an interview published on the website of newspaper Folha de S.Paulo.

The comments by Bernardo, who is very close to both leaders, come as the president struggles to deal with a political crisis in Congress and an economy that is showing clear signs of a slowdown after the boom of recent years.

The 65-year-old Lula, who governed from 2003 to 2010, was forbidden by law from running for a third consecutive term. He plucked Rousseff from relative obscurity to be his successor, raising expectations among some Brazilians from the very beginning that she might step aside for him to run again.

A government official told Reuters

last week that Rousseff has often floated the idea of not running again in private conversations, although the assumption in the presidential palace remains that she will. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Lula enjoys a near-mythical reputation among many Brazilians who credit the former labor leader with lifting millions from poverty during his two-term presidency. He left office with approval ratings of about 80 percent.

Rousseff, 63, remains popular but has struggled to emulate Lula’s charisma or connection with Brazil’s working classes. Lula has kept a high public profile since leaving the presidency and earlier this year returned to the political stage in Brasilia to soothe concerns of disgruntled members of the ruling coalition. He remains a valued source of political advice and support for Rousseff, but raising the possibility of his return risks making her look like somewhat of a lame duck barely seven months into her four-year term.

Lula has sent mixed signals about his future intentions. Though he has recently stated emphatically that Rousseff will be his party’s candidate in 2014, he said before leaving office in December that he could not rule out being president again. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that a “lone wolf” terror attack in the US is more likely than a major coordinated effort like the Sept. 11 attacks nearly a decade ago. With the nation preparing to observe the 10th anniversary of hijacked airliners crashing in New York and Washington and in the Pennsylvania countryside, Obama said the government is in a state of heightened awareness. “The biggest concern we have right now is not the launching of a major terrorist operation, although that risk is always there,” the president said in an interview with CNN. “The risk that we’re especially concerned over right now is the lone wolf terrorist, somebody with a single weapon being able to carry out wide-scale massacres of the sort that we saw in Norway recently,” he said. “You know, when you’ve got one person who is deranged or driven by a hateful ideology, they can do a lot of damage, and it’s a lot harder to trace those lone wolf operators.”

In Norway, Anders Behring Breivik, 32, was charged with killing 69 people last month at a youth camp. A lawyer for Breivik says his client believes the massacre was necessary to save Norway and Europe from Muslims and punish politicians who have embraced multiculturalism. In recent years the US has endured terrorlinked attacks that authorities believe were carried out by a single person. In Nov 2009, 13 people were killed at Fort Hood, Texas, in a shooting that led to charges against an Army psychiatrist who authorities allege had become an Islamist extremist. A botched car bomb in New York’s Times Square in 2010 and a Dec 25, 2009, attempt to bring down a USbound jetliner with a bomb also were tied by authorities to one person in each instance.

In the CNN interview, Obama said the government continues to monitor and gather information about potential terror plots even though Al-Qaeda’s capabilities have been degraded. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALs during a raid in Pakistan last May. Asked if Americans do not have to worry about a nuclear or radiological attack or some other “spectacular” event, Obama said: “Look, as president of the United States, I worry about all of it. But I think the most likely scenario that we have to guard against right now ends up being more of a lone wolf operation than a large, well-coordinated terrorist attack. We still have to stay on top of it, though, and we’re never letting our guard down. That’s part of our job.”

Obama also sought on Tuesday to turn voter anger over the economy toward Republicans in the US Congress as he courted rural Americans in a campaign-style bus tour through a key election state. Obama announced steps - including a $350 million plan for rural businesses - to boost hiring in

farm communities, his latest effort to fight an unemployment rate stuck at over 9 percent despite earlier White House job initiatives. The Democratic president portrayed Republicans as blocking measures that could help mend the economy.

“We could do even more if Congress is willing to get in the game,” he said, referring to job-creation measures he is pushing for in free trade, payroll taxes and road construction. “The only thing that is holding us back is our politics.

The only thing that is preventing us from passing the bills I just mentioned is the refusal of a faction in Congress to put country ahead of party, and that has to stop,” Obama said. “Our

sive farmlands. The slow-rolling journey exposed the president to voters who, polls suggest, are furious about the Washington impasse that prompted a US credit rating downgrade by Standard & Poor’s.

Although he was challenged by Tea Party supporters on Monday, the crowds Obama has faced so far have been mainly friendly. Many have urged him to take a tougher line against the Republicans and push forward policies to help the economy. Obama acknowledged on Tuesday the government had a limited role to play in the economy, and in some cases did things that were “boneheaded,” but stressed there were steps Washington could take to

PEOSTA, Iowa: US President Barack Obama speaks during a Rural Economic Forum Tuesday at Northeast Iowa Community College during his three-day economic bus tour. — AP economy can’t afford it.” As he spoke, Texas Governor Rick Perry was a few miles to the north in Dubuque, Iowa, campaigning for the Republican nomination to run against Obama next year. Together with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Perry has emerged as one of the leading candidates to challenge Obama in 2012. Obama’s re-election, seen by commentators as highly probable several months ago, now faces a tougher climb because of the persistently high US unemployment rate despite his big spending and stimulus programs.

Public approval of Congress has also sunk to record lows in recent polls. The president is taking every chance to distance himself from anger about political gridlock in Washington, where Republicans and Democrats fought bitterly about raising the debt ceiling and narrowly averted default this month.

Obama began his three-day road trip in Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois - states he won in the 2008 election - on Monday to press his case for the need to stoke job creation nationwide.

He has since traveled more than 500 km through back roads of the rural Midwest on a $1.1 million, jet-black bus with blacked-out windows and flashing police lights that stood out sharply against bucolic towns and expan-

help businesses regain confidence and momentum. “The prime driver of economic growth and jobs is going to be our people and the private sector and our businesses. But you know what? Government can help.

Government can make a difference,” he said.

Obama intends to put forward a specific plan for economic growth when Congress returns from recess in September. But his options may be limited by a divided Congress, where Republicans control the House of Representatives and oppose any significant spending measures to stimulate growth.

Democrats control the Senate. He spent much of Tuesday at a rural economic forum in Iowa where he unveiled $350 million in funding for small businesses over 5 years - not the big plan to be presented to Congress.

After taking part in brainstorming sessions with farmers, small business owners and local officials, Obama said he was glad to discuss policy options in a venue where “I had no idea who was Democrat, who was Republican, who was independent”.

“In Washington, you’d think that the only two ways of thinking about our problems is either government is terrible and it has to be basically eliminated, or government is the answer to every problem,” he said. — Agencies

Report on maid’s exam riles Strauss-Kahn team NEW YORK: Lawyers for former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique StraussKahn fought back Tuesday after a media report said a medical examination listed “assault” and “rape” as the causes of injuries to a hotel housekeeper who accuses him of sexual assault. The exam, conducted at a hospital shortly after maid Nafissatou Diallo’s encounter with Strauss-Kahn at a luxurious Manhattan hotel in May, found part of her genitals was reddened and she reported shoulder pain, according to the French newspaper L’Express. The newspaper published an account of her hospital record online Tuesday, accompanying an interview with her lawyer.

In tears, Diallo told a doctor she’d been pushed to the floor and forced to perform oral sex by a guest at the Sofitel hotel, where she worked, according to the newspaper. Tests later found a ligament in her shoulder had been damaged, her lawyer has said. “Cause of injuries: Assault. Rape,” the medical report reads, according to L’Express. The account echoes allegations in the criminal case against Strauss-Kahn and in Diallo’s lawsuit against him.

Strauss-Kahn, a former French presidential candidate, denies the allegations, and his lawyers have said anything that happened between the two wasn’t forced. They said Tuesday that it’s “misleading and deceitful” to

portray the account of Diallo’s hospital exam as bolstering the charges against him. “The hospital report is based almost exclusively on the word of the complaining witness, who has been proven, time and again, not to be credible,” and it doesn’t establish a forceful encounter, attorneys Benjamin Brafman and William W Taylor said in a statement. The doctor’s findings are “common conditions consistent with many possible causes other than a sexual assault,” they said.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Diallo’s lawyer, Kenneth Thompson, wasn’t in his office Tuesday but said by email that it’s “utter nonsense” to suggest that StraussKahn’s encounter with his client was consensual. “The truth will come out at trial, and we look forward to that trial,” Thompson said.

Strauss-Kahn, who’s 62 and married, was charged with attempted rape and other crimes after Diallo, 32, told authorities he had attacked her on May 14 after she arrived to clean his suite, thinking it was empty.

But the criminal case hit a roadblock last month after prosecutors said the maid had lied to them about her background and her actions right after the time she claimed she was attacked, raising doubts about her believability. Diallo, in television and magazine interviews last month, said she’s telling the truth about being attacked by Strauss-Kahn.

Diallo also told prosecutors a false story of having been gang-raped in her native Guinea, an impoverished West African nation. She says now she was raped but not in the manner she described on an asylum application.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office says it’s still investigating and hasn’t decided whether to press ahead with the Strauss-Kahn case. In the meantime, Diallo decided to press her claims in another forum by suing StraussKahn last week. She’s seeking unspecified damages in the civil case. — AP

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China speeds past India’s slow train to Himalayas KATRA, India: India’s struggle to build a railway to troubled Kashmir has become a symbol of the infrastructure gap with neighbouring China, whose speed in building road and rail links is giving it a strategic edge on the mountainous frontier. Nearly quarter of a century after work began on the project aimed at integrating the revolt-torn territory and bolstering the supply route for troops deployed there, barely a quarter of the 345-km Kashmir track has been laid.

Tunnels collapsed, funds dried up and, faced with the challenge of laying tracks over the 3,352 m Pir Panjal range, railway officials and geologists bickered over the route, with some saying it was just too risky. The proposed train, which will run not far from the heavily militarised border with Pakistan, has also faced threats from militants fighting Indian rule in the disputed region, with engineers kidnapped in the early days of the project.

China’s rail system has been plagued by scandal.

A bullet train crash in July killed 40 people and triggered a freeze on new rail project approvals, but the countr y managed to build the 1,140-km Qinghai-Tibet line, which crosses permanently frozen ground and climbs to more than 5,000 m above sea level, in five years flat. It has also built bitumen roads throughout its side of the frontier, making it easier for Chinese troops to move around - and mass there, if confrontation ever escalates.

Indians have long fretted about the economic advantages that China gains from its infrastructure expertise. But the tale of India’s hardships in building the railway line also shows how China’s mastery of infrastructure could matter in the territorial disputes that still dog relations. Both train networks,

China’s running far to the north and India’s hundreds of miles away in the southern reaches of the Himalayas, reflect the desire to tighten political and economic links with their two restive regions - the Tibet Autonomous region in China’s case and Kashmir for India. But they would also form a key element of military plans to move men and armour in the forbidding region in a time of conflict.

Should India-China relations ever deteriorate to the verge of military confrontation and if riots in Tibet erupt, the People’s Liberation Army’s mountain brigades can rapidly deploy to the region.

Railway and road construction have been China’s Himalayan strategy for decades. “China outstrips India in at least three respects: the ability to execute large and complex projects; rapid implementation; and - importantly - the foresight to embark upon these projects for economic and strategic purposes,” said Shashank Joshi, at London’s Royal United Services Institute, who has written extensively on India-China ties.

He also said China was also more proficient at concealing its failures because of its closed political system and excellent information management. On the other hand, India hasn’t yet determined its priorities in the region, which shares borders with both Pakistan and China. “India has to decide what it wants to be. If integrating Kashmir is a top national priority, then the project should have moved on a war footing long ago,” said one visibly exasperated military commander in Kashmir.

Here in the lower stretch of the line, workers are struggling to build tunnels through soft mountains to bring the track from the railhead in Udhampur, 25 km away. Of the seven they built over the past

four years, one has collapsed and the other is seeping water. Now engineers have gone back to the drawing board to figure out an alternative route.

“That is the way the project has been undertaken.

You tunnel and then you find it is not holding. You then try and skirt around it like a bypass surgery,” said Chehat Ram, chief administrative officer of Northern Railway.

This is only the first of the tough stretches of the network that will run through some of the world’s most spectacular mountains and gorges, offering an alternative to the single highway that connects Kashmir and is vulnerable to bad weather. Bigger challenges lie further down the track, including building the world’s tallest single-span bridge over the river Chenab at an elevation of 387 m, higher than the Eiffel Tower at 324 m. Across the valley floor are signs of the struggle to build a network that even the country’s former British rulers gave up on after briefly considering it in 1898 because of the forbidding and often uninhabitable terrain.

A tunnel built into a cliff edge has been abandoned near Tikri in the lower section, at another place work has been stopped after workers found that the section in the hills they had blasted and drilled through had become waterlogged. The train station built at Katra in anticipation of the line is looking worn out, with paint peeling off and moss growing on the building, two years after it was completed. Local herdsmen leave their ponies to graze in the grounds around the eerily empty building. “People have lost their land, there are no jobs and there is no train,” said Lal Chand, a herdsman.

The deadline for completion of the project was Aug 2007, but it has been pushed back to 2017, and

even that is seen as an optimistic assessment. Cost estimates have jumped, from 45.5 billion rupees ($1.0 billion) in 2002 to 195.6 billion today. China, meanwhile, began work last year to build a rail spur that will connect the Tibetan capital of Lhasa with Shigatse, the monastery town that is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-most powerful figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Joshi said China was in a position to bring far greater resources to public sector investment than India. For instance, Indian investment in railways in 2010 was about $9-10 billion. In China, it was $118 billion. “If the Chinese had to build the Kashmir track, they’d do it faster and better than the Indians - but it might still fail, and they’d plough much more into it.

For the hard-hatted men tasked with building the railway line, comparisons with China don’t sit easily. “ These mountains are full of surprises.

Normally you would survey one to two kilometres and then, based on the results, extrapolate the geological pattern for the rest of the stretch, but here it changes every 50 metres,” said chief engineer L Prakash. Most of the line runs either through tunnels totalling 109 km, the longest of which is 11.4 km, or across more than 780 bridges, many of which span deep gorges.

“The comparison with the Tibet railway is overstated. The Tibet line is largely flat, only 10 percent passes through mountainous terrain and the rest is through plateau,” said Northern Railway’s Ram. “It is not to belittle the challenges they faced. To build a network at that altitude and with those kind of weather conditions is creditable. But the comparison doesn’t stand. They had to do a lot less tunnelling, far fewer bridges.” — Reuters

India premier slams anti-graft activist Protests swell as Hazare fasts

BADIN, Pakistan: Residents wade through floodwaters following heavy monsoon rains in this flood-hit district yesterday. — AFP

Pak floods make 60,000 homeless KARACHI: Devastating rains have triggered floods in southern Pakistan, affecting at least 700,000 people and forcing 60,000 from their homes, officials said yesterday.

Villages have been flooded and crops destroyed in Pakistan’s bread basket of Sindh province, one of the worst-hit areas in the unprecedented floods of 2010 that affected 21 million people and caused losses of $10 billion. “At least 700,000 people have been affected by the floods caused by the recent rains in the six districts of Sindh province,” Sajjad Haider Shah, an official in the provincial disaster management authority, told AFP. “Some 60,000 people have been rendered homeless, who have migrated to safer areas,” Shah said, adding that 30 people had been killed in the past week. Another senior government official confirmed the number of people affected.

Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told reporters overnight that one million people had been affected, but provided no details. Tens of thousands of people are still living in emergency camps after last year’s floods and British charity Oxfam has accused Pakistan of failing to invest in prevention measures, making it vulnerable to further disaster. The army and navy are using helicopters and boats to rescue people who are trapped by the fresh floodwaters, said Kazim Jatoi, the chief administrator in Badin district. “The soldiers of the army and navy are relentlessly shifting peo-

ple from the dangerous places to the safer areas,” Jatoi said.

Pakistan’s weak civilian government came under enormous criticism last year from victims of the floods who said ministers did little to help. The army has also been working to rehabilitate itself after facing an unprecedented backlash over the covert American raid that killed Osama bin Laden on the doorstep of its top military academy on May 2. Pakistan’s largest charity, the Edhi Foundation, called for a comprehensive relief effort Wednesday to help those at risk. “We are providing food and necessary items to the people to survive, but that is not much and more people and organisations will have to intervene in the situation,” Edhi Foundation’s Anwer Kazmi told AFP. Jatoi said makeshift relief camps had been set up in 150 school buildings, but said there was an urgent need for tents and food. “We are trying to provide every family a shelter, which requires a large number of tents.” Shah, the disaster management authority official, said crops had been destroyed and houses flooded. “Badin is the most affected district, where more than half the total people have been displaced,” he said. Rains have also caused havoc in the districts of Tando Mohammad Khan, Mirpurkhas, Thar, Umerkot and Tando Allahyar. The meteorological office has forecast more rain in coming days. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier Manmohan Singh yesterday slammed a fast to the death by anticorruption activist Anna Hazare which has sparked nationwide protests and a high-stakes standoff with the government. As fresh proHazare demonstrations swept cities across India, thousands of supporters of the 74-yearold campaigner gathered outside Delhi’s Tihar jail where he was taken after his arrest Tuesday morning. Hazare was detained as he prepared to begin an indefinite hunger strike to protest against what he sees as a watered-down anticorruption law recently introduced in parliament. Leaders of his campaign said he had begun fasting in jail.

The crisis has piled pressure on Singh’s government at a time of public outrage over a succession of high-profile scandals involving some senior ministers. In the face of mounting street protests, orders were given for Hazare’s release on Tuesday evening, but he refused to leave without a guarantee that he could proceed with his planned hunger strike in one of Delhi’s public parks. “He will continue to sit in the jail unless he is allowed to fast unconditionally,” Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer backing Hazare, told reporters. “We are ready for any discussion with the government, but before that it is not possible,” Bhushan said.

Meanwhile thousands of protestors rallied at the India Gate monument in central Delhi after Hazare issued a call from jail for a mass demonstration. “We have to defeat corruption to stop it from eating up the system,” said one elderly protestor, Govind Kumar. The prime minister earlier told parliament that Hazare’s arrest was justified by his refusal to accept police restrictions limiting his planned fast to three days. “The path (Hazare) has chosen ... is totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for our parliamentary democracy,” Singh said as he was repeatedly interrupted by cries of “shame” from opposition benches.

Singh said using a public fast to try to shape the anti-corruption law constituted a direct challenge to parliament’s authority. “The question is who drafts the law and who makes the

NEW DELHI: Indian yoga guru Swami Baba Ramdev waves the Indian national flag while cheered by supporters of Indian social activist Anna Hazare as they gather outside Tihar Jail where Hazare is held. — AFP law,” Singh told a packed lower house, adding that legislation was the “sole prerogative” of lawmakers. With corruption the focus of so much public discontent in India, Hazare has emerged as a prominent national figure through his campaign to strengthen the antigraft bill. Following a 98-hour hunger strike in April, he was allowed to help draft the legislation but he rejected the final version as too weak.

Around 4,000 supporters protested outside Tihar jail yesterday, waving national flags and chanting slogans for a “corruption-free India”. “ The second freedom struggle has begun,” Hazare said in a pre-recorded statement before his arrest that clearly referenced the civil disobedience campaign of his hero, independence icon Mahatma Gandhi. “Time has come, my countrymen, when there should be no place left

Sydney schoolgirl relieved at arrest

China denies Pakistan gave it copter access BEIJING: China has rejected media reports that Pakistan gave it access to a radar-evading helicopter that crashed during the US mission to kill Osama bin Laden, calling them “preposterous”. The international business newspaper Financial Times reported Sunday that Pakistan allowed Chinese military engineers to photograph and take samples of the stealth chopper before giving it back to the US. In its first public response, China’s Defense Ministry said in a one-line statement late Tuesday, “This report is baseless and preposterous.”

The US suspects that Pakistan shared the technology with China in retaliation for its May 2 raid that killed bin Laden on Pakistani soil, humiliating Islamabad. A Pakistani official has denied the charge, saying Pakistan was aware the US had bin Laden’s compound and the helicopter wreckage under round-theclock surveillance after the raid, so it would know whether foreign technical experts had examined it.

The helicopter was one of two modified Black Hawks that defense experts said evidently used radar-evading technology plus noise and heat suppression devices to slip across the Afghan-Pakistan border, avoid detection by Pakistani air defenses and deliver

two dozen Navy SEALs into the hiding place of the Al-Qaeda leader. One of the choppers crash-landed during the mission. Before leaving with bin Laden’s corpse, commandos blew up the main body of the chopper, apparently to keep its stealth components secret.

Photos of the wreckage with the tail still visible flashed around the world, drawing immediate chatter among defense experts who noticed it appeared to have previously undisclosed technology. The relationship between the US and Pakistan took a nose dive after the bin Laden raid, which prompted celebrations in the US but anger and embarrassment in Islamabad. Ties were already strained despite billions of dollars in American aid over the last decade because of Pakistan’s reluctance to target Taleban militants on its territory who stage cross-border attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan.

In contrast to the fickle Washington relations, Pakistan calls its relationship with China an “all-weather friendship.” China provides Pakistan with aid and investment, while Pakistan offers Beijing diplomatic backing, including among Islamic nations who might otherwise criticize China’s handling of its Muslim Uighur minority. —AP

in jails in India,” said the activist, who wears a Gandhi-style white cap and spectacles.

Many observers believe the crackdown on Hazare reflects concern that he may become a figurehead for a broader protest movement against Singh’s government, which is also grappling with an economic slowdown and high inflation. Large pro-Hazare demonstrations were held across India yesterday, from Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast to the major cities of Mumbai and Chennai in the south. Responding to Singh’s speech in parliament, opposition leader Arun Jaitley warned of mass unrest and likened the tactics used against Hazare to those employed by India’s former colonial rulers against Gandhi. “Do you even recollect the British regime when these kinds of restrictions were imposed on freedom fighters and Gandhiji?” Jaitley asked. — AFP

(Top) Madeleine Pulver talks with reporters after backing out of the family garage in Sydney yesterday. (Above) Paul Douglas Peters (left) is escorted from the Federal Courthouse in Louisville, Kentucky, after he was arraigned in connection with the bomb hoax in Australia Tuesday. — AP

SYDNEY: An Australian schoolgirl who spent 10 hours with what she thought was a bomb chained around her neck said yesterday she was “very relieved” a man had been arrested over the bizarre incident. Madeleine Pulver, 18, became a global news story two weeks ago when a masked man entered her luxury Sydney harbourside home, strapped a suspected collar bomb around her neck and left, telling her to count to 200. She said yesterday she was “glad it is all over” after Australian police and the United States FBI arrested a businessman in Kentucky in connection with the case. “It’s all very surreal,” Pulver told reporters who have been camped outside her door since the August 3 incident, adding she was “very relieved”.

Australian citizen Paul “Doug” Peters, 50, was arrested by an FBI SWAT team on Monday and appeared in a US court on Tuesday.

Police, who will apply to have him extradited to Australia, will allege that he broke into Pulver’s home and fastened the fake bomb around her throat. Explosives experts worked for 10 hours to remove the black box, which had a USB storage device and a cord attached, but later found the device to have been part of an elaborate hoax.

Authorities are still working to pinpoint a motive, with the Pulver family mystified as to how they became embroiled in the dramatic saga which gripped the nation. “This has been a baffling and frightening experience,” said Madeleine’s father Bill Pulver, a businessman. He said his daughter, who is studying for her final school exams, was “a bright, happy young woman who, for reasons we still don’t understand, has had her life turned upside down going through this dreadful experience”.

Australian newspapers have given the story extensive coverage, reporting that Peters is a father-of-three who has previously worked in Malaysia, and grew up in Hong Kong where his father worked as a pilot. Peters, who attended The Scots College in Sydney’s exclusive Bellevue Hill, was arrested at his ex-wife’s home in La Grange, some 50 km from Louisville, Kentucky. He appeared in the US District Court in Louisville on Tuesday, with his legs and wrists shackled. —AP

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Cambodian maids speak of abuse in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Hok Pov had never been beaten and never known hunger until she came to work in Malaysia in April. In the six weeks that she worked as a maid for a Malaysian family, she says she lost 10 kg while toiling 20 hours a day with little to eat. Often she was slapped and punched by her employer, she says. “I was so hungry that I even ate chicken bones,” a sobbing Hok Pov, 31, told AP at the office of Malaysian rights’ group Tenaganita that rescued her in June with the help of police.

“There was always lot of work to do and I had to suffer beatings. Once I was slapped so hard that my tooth fell off. Who can bear this?” Hok Pov said in her first media interview.

She is among 41 Cambodian maids rescued this year by the group, highlighting the frequent abuse and exploitation of foreign domestic workers due to inadequate laws in this wealthy Southeast Asian nation. Concerns of abuse of Cambodian maids came under the public spotlight after a Cambodian maid was found dead last month outside the home where she worked, while another was rescued by Malaysian police after she was allegedly abused and had her head shaved bald by her employer.

According to the embassies of Indonesia and Cambodia - which have supplied the bulk of more than 230,000 foreign maids in Malaysia about 2,000 women come forward every year with complaints of abuse.

Although that’s a tiny fraction of the total number, rights groups say every instance of abuse shows Malaysia in poor light and emphasizes the government’s uncaring attitude to the problem.

Malaysia’s rising prosperity has meant that fewer locals want to do menial, low-paying jobs. The gap has been filled by foreigners, mostly Indonesians who can be seen on construction sites, palm plantations and in homes as maids. But a string of high-profile abuse cases, including deaths, led Indonesia to ban its women in 2009 from working in Malaysia. The number of foreign maids fell from 280,000 three years ago to about 230,000 today. Some 50,000 of them are Cambodians, of which 30,000 came this year alone.

The government says it condemns abuse of maid but has not done anything to review the laws to protect them. Malaysian immigration officials in charge of foreign domestic workers couldn’t be reached for comment on the issue, despite

repeated attempts to contact them.

Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez said yesterday that maids who come from poor countries are all vulnera-

days off in a week.

“Instead of addressing the root problem of putting an end to abuse, the government is turning to other

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia: In this photo taken on Tuesday, Cambodian maid Hok Pov, 31, cries as she speaks during an interview. —AP ble to abuse, except for Filipinos who are better protected by their government. She said abuse is institutionalized here as maids aren’t allowed to retain their passports and get no

poor countries vulnerable to abuse to source for maids,” she said.

Tenaganita is urging Cambodia also to stop sending maids to Malaysia until the government puts in place

tougher laws, or at least an agreement that protects the maids from abusive employers. Indonesia has negotiated such an agreement and is expected to lift the ban on its maids soon.

Hok Pov, who said her hair was cut short like a boy’s, was promised a monthly salary of 650 ringgit ($218) - double her wage as a factory worker in Cambodia. She has not received any money from her employer. “I just want my salary and get out of here. I don’t ever want to come to Malaysia again,” said Hok Pov, who is married and has an 8year-old son. “They are rich, educated and religious people but why don’t they have any compassion for the poor like me? I have no one to turn to. Every night I cried myself to sleep. It was one and a half months in hell,” she said.

Tenaganita official Liva Sreedhana said it was difficult to file criminal charges against Hok Pov’s employer as she has no physical injury or scars to show, and only has her words. The group is now negotiating with the employer, who is refusing to give Hok Pov any money and is dodging meetings. Men Chaveasna, who also lives in Tenaganita’s shelter with Hok Pov,

completed her 2-year work contract last August but never got her wages.

Her Malaysian employer bought her a flight home and ditched her at the airport.

Chaveasna, 30, who came to Malaysia to work to support her farmer parents, won a case in the labor court this year to demand wages totaling 7,700 ringgit ($2,580) owed to her. But her employer appealed to the high court and the case is pending. “It is better not to work in Malaysia because we may not get paid,” she said. “There are many new factories in Cambodia and I can find jobs back home.”

Cambodian Ambassador Norodom Arunrasmy told the AP yesterday that Malaysia is the only country that recruits Cambodian maids, giving the poor a lifeline. She said the Cambodian government was in the process of drafting a new law to protect its maids, including screening the employer to ensure the girls would be properly housed and not overworked. “To ban or not to ban would be up to the high decision of my government ... but they (the government) also know that our people need work and jobs in order to survive,” Arunrasmy said in an email. —AP

Biden lands in China under cloud of debt State media press US on finances BEIJING: US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in China yesterday to try to revive his country’s image after a historic debt downgrade and build a rapport with the man expected to be the Asian power’s next leader. Biden flew into Beijing, where he will meet top Chinese leaders including his counterpart Xi Jinping, who is expected to be named as successor to President Hu Jintao next year and remains virtually unknown in US policy circles. During his five-day visit, the 68-year-old will stress the strengths of the US economy, just weeks after Washington came close to default, prompting a storm of criticism in China - the largest foreign holder of US debt.

Biden will focus on building a working relationship with Xi, but his trip risks being overshadowed

by China’s concerns about the safety of its US investments, particularly after a US credit downgrade.

The People’s Daily, mouthpiece of China’s Communist Party, published a front-page comment piece

foreign edition.

China is the largest holder of US debt with around $1.17 trillion in US Treasuries by the end of June, and its state-run media has run a series of scathing commentaries over the crisis, calling the United States irresponsible. Yesterday, the official Xinhua news agency said it

left a “ticking time bomb”.

Ahead of his arrival, Biden used an interview with one of China’s most prominent financial magazines to put up a robust defence of his country’s economy. “I’ve been in public service for a long time 38 years, in fact. During that time, many people have said, as some

BEIJING: US Vice President Joseph Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden arrive at the Capital International Airport yesterday. —AP ahead of his arrival yesterday urging Biden to “put forward concrete measures” to address Beijing’s worries. “China, as the biggest foreign creditor of the United States and the largest foreign holder of dollar assets, is naturally more concerned about US policies than others,” said the article, printed in the paper’s

expected Biden to “assure Chinese leaders of Washington’s capacity, will and commitment to tackle its fiscal and economic challenges”.

But Xinhua warned that the Aug 2 debt deal was insufficient to resolve what it called the “runaway debt problem” in the world’s largest economy’s, saying it had

are saying now, that the US is in decline. They were wrong then, and they’re wrong now,” he told Caijing magazine. “(The US government) is deeply committed to maintaining the fundamentals of the US economy that ensure the safety, liquidity, and value of US Treasury obligations for all of its

investors.”

Lael Brainard, undersecretary of the Treasury for international affairs, said Monday the numbertwo US leader would tell China it should focus on its own economic reforms. Brainard said that Biden would suggest Beijing let its currency appreciate and shift from a reliance on exports to an economy based on consumption. Biden’s trip also comes amid concern in the United States about China’s human rights record, with calls for the vice president to visit Liu Xia, the wife of jailed dissident writer Liu Xiaobo.

Activist groups say she has been under house arrest since the end of last year, when Liu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize - a claim denied by Beijing. The New York-based Human Rights Watch has also said Biden should press publicly about the treatment of critics including missing rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and Chen Guangcheng, who exposed abuses in China’s one-child policy. As part of the trip, Xi will take Biden to the southwestern city of Chengdu, just 300 km from Daofu county where a monk set himself on fire and died in an apparent protest Monday, sparking a crackdown.

In Chengdu, the two vice presidents will dine at an informal restaurant and Biden will deliver a speech, according to Tony Blinken, the vice president’s national security adviser. The state-run Global Times newspaper reported yesterday that the boomtown has already attracted investment from 189 of the Fortune 500 firms. At the end of his China visit, Biden heads to Mongolia and close US ally Japan. —AFP

N Korea threatens to bolster nuke arsenal SEOUL: North Korea threatened yesterday to bolster its nuclear arsenal in response to annual US-South Korean military drills that Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for invasion. The North’s warning came on the second day of computer-simulated war games that the United States and South Korea call Ulchi Freedom Guardian.

The allies say the 11-day drills are purely defensive, but North Korea says the training is ex tremely provocative and undermines recent attempts to promote peace on the Korean peninsula.

Last month, diplomats from the United States and the two Koreas held tentative talks on restarting long-dormant negotiations aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid and other concessions. “The US

is staging exercises for a war of aggression against its dialogue p ar t ner, w hil e puttin g up a

that (North Korea) should put spurs to bolstering its nuclear deterrent for self-defense both

SEOUL: South Korean military biochemical warfare soldiers talk during an anti-terror drill, part of a joint US-South Korean exercise, at a railway station yesterday. —AFP signb o ard o f dialogue,” an unident ified Nor th Korean Foreign M inistr y spokesman said yesterday. “It is self-evident

in quality and quantity to cope with this situation,” he said in a statemen t c ar r ied by th e North’s official Korean Central

News Agency.

The statement didn’t elaborate on how the North would strengthen its nuclear arsenal.

The country has issued similar threats in the past when the United States and South Korea have conducted military drills.

North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium for at least a half- dozen weapons and revealed last November that it has a uranium enrichment facility that could give it another way to make atomic bombs.

Tension on the Korean peninsula spiked last year after the North’s alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship and its deadly bombardment of a South Korean border island. A total of 50 South Koreans died.

The Korean peninsula remains technically in a state of war after the 1950s Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. —AP

HONG KONG: China’s Vice Premier Li Keqiang is served by attendants during a welcoming dinner at a hotel yesterday. —AP

Hong Kong ‘irreplaceable’ for China: Vice premier HONG KONG: Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday that Hong Kong plays an “irreplaceable role” in China’s rapid economic growth, and will be key to making the yuan an international currency. Li, the expected successor to Premier Wen Jiabao as head of China’s day-to-day administration, announced a series of measures to boost economic integration with the former British colony, which returned to China in 1997. Those steps include making it easier for Hong Kong firms to do business in the mainland, and boosting the city’s status as a hub for Beijing’s ambitious goal to turn the yuan into a global currency rivalling the US dollar.

He also said overseas investors would be allowed to buy mainland securities using yuan, starting with an initial 20 billion yuan ($3.13 billion) investment, but gave no timeline for the scheme. “Hong Kong’s destiny and prosperity link closely with those of the motherland,” Li told an economic forum in the semiautonomous territory. The premier-in-waiting added it was key that Hong Kong “continues to bring out the unique advantage it has developed over the years and play its irreplaceable role in (China’s) reform, opening-up and modernisation drive”.

Li arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday on a threeday visit as he looks to showcase himself ahead of an expected leadership reshuffle in Beijing next year. He presided over a signing ceremony yesterday to launch Beijing’s third, and so far biggest, sovereign bond issue in Hong Kong with plans to raise 20 billion yuan. Earlier bond

sales saw Beijing raise six billion yuan and eight billion yuan, respectively.

US fast food giant McDonald’s, heavy equipment maker Caterpillar and the World Bank have also launched yuan-denominated bond offerings in Hong Kong. “We will gradually increase the size of issuance and work for the development and improvement of the (yuan) bond market in Hong Kong,” Li said. So-called dim sum bonds worth about 70 billion yuan were issued in Hong Kong during the first seven months of the year, 95 percent more than the total for all of 2010, the city’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang told the forum.

“Hong Kong is blessed to enjoy the advantages of ‘one country, two systems’,” said Tsang, referring to the model of autonomy under which Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule.

Speaking at the forum, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China, warned that the US and eurozone debt woes meant the global financial crisis was “still unfolding” with a “far from steady” recovery. China, the world’s number two economy, grew at a slower pace at 9.5 percent in the second quarter year-on-year.

Li meanwhile said China’s government would “exert its utmost to do everything that contributes to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong”. His comments come as Hong Kong authorities face rising public anger over soaring property prices, while activists call on Beijing to speed up promised political reforms, including direct elections for the territory’s leader. —AFP

Ex-president testifies against Tymoshenko KIEV: Ukraine’s former president Viktor the case and brushed aside suggestions Yushchenko gave dramatic testimony yes- that it was a part of a broader political terday against his one-time premier and fel- vendetta.

Tymoshenko could avoid jail but still be low Orange Revolution leader Yulia Tymoshenko in her controversial abuse of prevented from re-joining politics should power trial. Yushchenko was met by cries of she be found guilty and then pardoned by Yanukovych - an option feared “Shame!” from Tymoshenko’s by some of her supporters. supporters as he entered the Yushchenko was a close ally of court room to give evidence Tymoshenko and the two jointthat could help put his former ly spearheaded pro-democracy friend behind bars for up to a rallies in 2004 that prevented decade.

Yanukovych from seizing power The former prime minister is in fraudulent elections. But the accused of overstepping her two had a profound falling out authority when signing a 2009 while serving together in govdeal with Russia that raised the ernment and Yushchenko has price Ukraine had to pay for its been called on to testify as a gas. The trial has seen Ukraine witness for the prosecution. He come under intense criticism from the EU nations just as the Viktor Yushchenko arrived accompanied by a bodyguard and soon began two sides enter talks on a closer commercial union that could see Kiev slip recalling in a calm voice the details of a confurther away from Moscow’s influence. flict that led to a temporary halt in gas supYushchenko’s successor and Tymoshenko’s plies to Europe and led to an accusation of main rival Viktor Yanukovych has said that energy being used as a weapon by the as president he has no right to intervene in Kremlin. —AFP

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani children attend a religious class in a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in Islamabad yesterday. — AP

MPs meet over KU admissions Continued from Page 1 Meanwhile, MP Mukhled Al-Azemi said yesterday that the government has submitted key amendments to the law governing those dealing with foodstuff not good for human consumption. The amendments call for a prison term from two to six years and a fine ranging between KD20,000 and

60,000 for all those who sell such food products.

Also, a parliamentary committee probing an oil contract between Kuwait Oil Co (KOC) and Shell said yesterday it has found major violations in some oil contracts and called on the Audit Bureau to examine the contract.

Rapporteur of the committee MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said after a

meeting with Audit Bureau officials that there is some ambiguity with the Shell contract especially in the awarding process and KOC payment process.

She said that last year, KOC paid $31.6 million without exactly showing why and this fiscal year it paid $40 million without receipts. Mubarak said the committee will hold a key meeting next Tuesday with officials from KOC.

World population to hit 7 bn Continued from Page 1 Just seven countries now account for half the world’s population, and therefore their demographic shifts have a major effect. China tops the list with over 1.33 billion people, with another 1.17 billion in India. The other five countries, in order, are the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Nigeria.

INED estimates that between now and 2050 India will

become the most populous nation, with Beijing’s onechild policy moderating the Chinese numbers. While the overall numbers continue to grow, the rate of increase is already dropping, according to INED, standing at 1.1 percent this year from two percent 50 years ago. This is due to the total fertility rate per women dropping to 2.5 children, half of the figure recorded in 1950. However regional differences are great, with an average of 4.7 children per woman in Africa compared with just 1.6 in Europe. — AFP

Libyan rebels see imminent victory Continued from Page 1 We will be launching an operation to try to take control of it shortly,” said rebel fighter Abdulkarim Kashaba.

Aided by NATO’s fighter-bombers, assault helicopters and naval blockade, the rebels have transformed the battle in the last few days after many weeks of stalemate.

A rebel spokesman from the rebelheld city of Misrata to the east of Tripoli said rebels had found the buried bodies of civilians slaughtered by Gaddafi forces. “We discovered a mass grave containing 150 bodies in Tawargha.

These are the corpses of civilians kidnapped from Misrata by Gaddafi’s loyalists,” he said. Rebels found a video “showing kidnappers cutting the throats of people”, he said. The spokesman said rebel forces were now outside a place called Hisha about 100 km west of Misrata on the road to Tripoli. “They are now on the coastal road,” he said.

Zawiyah’s refinery is one of the few sources of fuel for Gaddafi’s troops and people of Tripoli. A rebel commander said the pipeline linking it with Tripoli was severed on Tuesday. Gaddafi’s green flags were still flying from a refin-

ery building and an electrical pylon. The rest of the city now flies the red, black and green flag of the rebels. Streets were largely deserted apart from clusters of fighters and shops were shuttered. Medical workers said three people were killed and 35 injured on Tuesday, mostly civilians.

Libya’s rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) have denied holding secret talks with Gaddafi to end the war.

But suspicions persist that some form of end-game negotiation may be going on. The NTC, however, sticks to its insistence Gaddafi must step down and leave Libya, saying talks ignoring this basic demand would be “unthinkable”.

In Washington, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Tuesday said “the sense is that Gaddafi’s days are numbered”.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told Libyan reporters: “They have been saying this for six months and we are still here.”

The rebels were pushing further yesterday to isolate Tripoli in what their leaders say is a decisive phase in a sixmonth civil war against Gaddafi they predict will end within weeks.

Anticipating that eventual victory, they also announced plans to turn over power to an elected assembly within eight

months of Gaddafi’s ouster and the drafting of a new constitution. Further turning the screws on the regime, they moved toward a western town that links the capital and Sirte-Gaddafi’s hometown and a stronghold for his military.

“The scouting teams of the revolutionaries reached the outskirts of AlHeisha after expelling Gaddafi forces,” the rebel military command said yesterday. Al-Heisha lies roughly 70 kilometers south of Misrata and 250 kilometers from Tripoli, near two key crossroads that link loyalist-held territory in the west with that in the oil-rich Sirte basin.

It was the latest in a series of operations to cut off the capital, which the rebels hope will force defections from the regime and spark a Tripoli uprising against the nearly 42-year-old regime.

Mansur Saif Al-Nasr, the National Transitional Council (NTC) envoy to Paris, said on Tuesday that the rebels also had full control of Zawiyah, a vital oil port just west of Tripoli that links the capital with Tunisia. “We are entering a decisive phase. We hope to celebrate the final victory at the same time as the end of (Muslim holy month of ) Ramadan” at the end of August, he said. — Agencies

MPs want govt to freeze Syria loans Continued from Page 1 A key demand of the opposition movement has been the removal of Article 8 of the constitution which stipulates that the Baath party is the sole “leader of state and society.” But in defiance of growing international condemnation, hundreds of Syrian security services raided homes in the Mediterranean port city of Latakia yesterday, activists said.

The Britain-based-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 700 members of the security services took part in operations in the city’s southern district of Ramel, arresting people on lists. “Heavy gunfire continued in most opposition neighborhoods” overnight, the Britain-based group said. In a village in Idlib province near the border with Turkey, security forces shot dead a man standing on his balcony, it said.

In Homs, a sniper shot dead a civilian in its Armenian neighborhood, while security forces conducting raids in the city of central Syria shot dead two men and wounded three others, the Observatory said. It said security forces in Damascus carried out dawn raids in Rukn Eddin district, where electricity was cut off, and arrested dozens of activists. Dozens more were detained overnight on the outskirts of the capital.

Meanwhile, the Tunisian government has recalled its ambassador in Syria for “consultations”, the foreign ministry announced yesterday. “Given the dangerous situation in Syria, the Tunisian government has decided to recall its ambassador in Damascus for consultations,” the official TAP news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

European countries, the United States and Kuwait are to ask the United Nations top human rights body to hold a special session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria, diplomats in Geneva said. The United Nations announced yesterday

that it has withdrawn non-essential staff from the country. “We have pulled more than 20 personnel out of Syria,” said the office of UN Lebanon representative Michael Williams.

Today, the world body’s Security Council is due to hold a special session on Syria, with the participation of the UN’s Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay. Rights groups say the crackdown has killed 1,827 civilians since mid-March, while 416 security forces have also died in what the authorities have termed a campaign against terrorists and armed gangs. On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague stepped up the pressure and warned that Assad was “fast losing the last shreds of his legitimacy.”

And US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Arab heavyweight Saudi Arabia and Syria’s neighbor Turkey to press Assad to step down. Switzerland yesterday widened its sanctions against the Assad regime, adding 12 individuals to a list of key players under financial embargo and travel restriction. But the head of Russia’s arms export agency said Moscow was continuing to supply weapons to its traditional ally Damascus. “While no sanctions are announced, while there are no orders or directions from the government, we are obliged to fulfill our contractual obligations, which we are now doing,” Rosoboronexport chief Anatoly Isaikin said.

Since Sunday, more than 30 civilians have been killed in Latakia in a military offensive during which gunboats went into action for the first time since the start of pro-democracy revolts in midMarch, according to activists. The official news agency SANA has denied any maritime operation and on Tuesday quoted a military official saying security forces were “hunting armed men” in Latakia districts “who opened fire on residents.” The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees reported that more than half of the 10,000 refugees of Ramel camp in southern Latakia had fled under fire from Latakia districts. — Agencies

Post-9/11, US economy pays steep price WASHINGTON: Osama bin Laden failed in his lifetime to achieve his goal of “bleeding America to bankruptcy,” but 10 years after 9/11 the United States is still paying a steep economic price. The avalanche of spending on military and counter-terrorism operations that followed the September 11 assault-estimated at up to $4 trillion in foreign wars-combined with sweeping tax cuts under president George W Bush, helped spawn the deficit crisis now roiling the country.

In the name of the “war on terror,” Bush launched the US military into Afghanistan in October 2001 and then into Iraq in March 2003, swelling the Pentagon’s already significant budget.

Fueled by war expenses and its response to the financial crisis, Washington’s spending has more than doubled over the past decade, while revenues to pay the bills only grew 10 percent, leading the government to borrow to finance its war on terror.

‘Bleeding America to bankruptcy’-Fast-forward to 2011 and Washington politics has deadlocked over how to deal with the soaring debt, bringing the country to the brink of default and costing its triple-A credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. The US debt has soared from $6.4 trillion in March 2003 to more than $14 trillion today. In comparison, the Al-Qaeda attacks on

Washington and New York cost between $400,000 and $500,000 to execute, according to the US government’s 9/11 Commission Report.

Bin Laden boasted in an October 2004 video that Arab and Afghan mujahedeen fighters “bled Russia for 10 years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat” from Afghanistan in the 1980s. “We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to bankruptcy,” he said. The short-term economic costs of bin Laden’s attacks in New York alone were around $100 billion in lost jobs, lost taxes, destroyed infrastructure and cleanup, according to figures compiled by the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security.

Replacing the destroyed World Trade Center has a $3 billion - $4.5 billion price tag, while it cost $1 billion to fix damage caused to the Pentagon building, the institute estimates. The greatest expense, however, came not from the destruction wrought on 9/11, but from the policy decisions made in response to the attacks. The Pentagon’s budget grew from 16 percent of federal spending to 20 percent as Congress financed the costly foreign missions begun by Bush and continued by President Barack Obama. — AFP

14

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

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Issues

Recession threat on the rise in US

By Paul Handley

he threat of a new recession is rising in the United States, economists say, as they slash their growth forecasts for the second half of the year. Slowing global expansion, the plunge in US stock markets after Standard & Poor’s cut the country’s credit rating, and political pressure on the government to cut spending rather than stimulate growth are all putting the brakes on the world’s largest economy, they say. Mostly negative data-though with a few bright spots-has reinforced feelings that the recovery from the 2008-2009 recession is in trouble.

And the Federal Reserve’s own warning last week of increased “downside risks” to growth in the second half has added to the gloomy picture. Mark Zandi, the top economist for Moody’s Analytics, said Monday they had cut their growth outlook for the second half to 2.0 percent, from a 3.5 percent forecast just last month. “The near-term economic outlook is significantly weaker than it was just a month ago,” he said in a new report.

“The odds of a renewed recession over the next 12 months are one in three, and rising with each 100-point drop in the Dow.” Goldman Sachs said the economy appeared to be moving at less than “stall speed” after, at best, a mere 0.8 percent growth in the first half. “With growth clearly below trend, the unemployment rate has crept up slightly, suggesting the possibility of a self-reinforcing deterioration in the economy,” Goldman said-also predicting a 33 percent chance for a recession. A raft of poor economics statistics-on second quarter growth, layoffs and job creation, industrial production, consumer spending, and consumer and business sentiment-underpin the lower projections.

On Friday, a University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment at its lowest level since May 1980.

And on Monday, the Fed’s New York manufacturing survey for August also took a sharp downward turn. The Fed gave no sense of optimism last week when it announced it would keep interest rates at ultra-low levels for two more years because of the weak economy.

After a one-day meeting, the US central bank’s policy board forecast growth at a “somewhat slower pace” over the coming quarters than it had estimated in June.

“Downside risks to the economic outlook have increased,” it added.

Also darkening the picture is the context, points out Goldman: the ongoing debt troubles in Europe, that are beginning to affect US financial institutions, and the expectation that Republicans will force more fiscal tightening domestically in the wake of the August 2 debt ceiling deal. One key will be whether the government can push through any short-term stimulus measures, such as extending unemployment benefits or the payroll tax cut about to expire at year-end. But S&P’s downgrade “has if anything increased the likelihood of fiscal restraint,” Goldman said.

The Fed hinted it was reviewing its tools to support growth, but nothing concrete has emerged and economists are skeptical it could add much of a short-term charge. Aside from Europe, two other variables are important-first, the direction of unemployment, which if it worsens will slow consumer spending; and secondly, the markets. Zandi says that if stock markets continue to fall, it will drag down wealth, confidence and spending.

“Since equity prices peaked in late April, well over $3 trillion in wealth has evaporated. Since every $1 decline in stock wealth is estimated to reduce consumer spending by three cents, the loss to date means spending will take a $100 billion hit over the coming year,” he said.

Not all are as pessimistic. Jeffrey Rosen at Briefing.com has grabbed onto positive retail sales data for July released last week as a rosier sign for the rest of the year. With falling prices for fuel and food commodities, he said, inflation will ease and consumer spending will get a boost in coming months, Rosen predicted.

Briefing, an economics consultancy, boosted its forecast for the third quarter to 2.2 percent from 2.0 percent. But Rosen warned that the US will find it hard to get growth back to more than 2.4 percent until consumers cut more of their debt-a process which he said could take another decade or more.— AFP

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All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Motorola acquisition a huge gamble for Google

By Chris Lefkow ess than six months after taking over as chief executive, Google co-founder Larry Page has placed the Internet giant’s most audacious wager yet. The $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility dwarfs Google’s previous purchases and thrusts a company that has made its fortune in Internet search and advertising into an entirely new arena-hardware. The Illinois-based Motorola Mobility makes mobile phones, tablet computers and TV set-top boxes-areas where the Silicon Valley-based Google has no experience other than writing the software to power the devices.

Integrating an 80-year-old company with 19,000 employees and manufacturing plants around the world will pose a serious challenge and technology analysts are divided on whether Google can carry it off. Whether it does or not, analysts are unanimous in saying that the bold move by the 38-year-old Page, who replaced Eric Schmidt as Google’s chief executive in April, has changed the landscape of the booming mobile industry.

“The repercussions are huge,” Gartner research director Michael Gartenberg said. “It shows that it’s so hard to look at this market beyond the short term because we’ve seen so many twists and changes. “Palm went from irrelevant to being bought by Hewlett-Packard, Nokia was on the ropes and suddenly you have a new CEO and a very close relationship with Microsoft.” Gartenberg said the Motorola Mobility purchase gives Google the “opportunity to pursue their pure vision of Android,” the mobile operating system it currently licenses to handset manufacturers around the world.

“It shows they understand the importance of vertical integration, end-to-end hardware and software,” Gartenberg said. “A lesson that Apple, RIM (Blackberry maker Research In Motion) and HP have already learned.”

Google has the resources to “shake up everyone else’s business model if they so choose,” he said. “Google can now undercut everyone if they choose in terms of premium handset pricing, go to the carriers with a different set of terms.” Former Wall Street analyst Henry Blodget, editor-inchief of the Business Insider website, was among those expressing doubt about the wisdom of the deal.

He noted that it gives Google a much-needed portfolio of patents to protect Android from lawsuits but said it will be a “colossal disaster” unless Google “quickly sells off

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Motorola’s hardware businesses.” “Google is a massive global software company with huge profit margins, genius engineers, extraordinarily high pay scales and a nearmonopoly on the most amazing advertising business the world has ever seen,” Blodget wrote. “Motorola is a hasbeen, low-margin, global hardware-manufacturing business that operates at break-even.”

According to Blodget, “mergers of this size rarely work well (or smoothly), even when managed by companies that are very experienced at making huge acquisitions (which Google isn’t).” Google’s largest previous purchases were online advertising firm DoubleClick for $3.1 billion and YouTube for $1.65 billion. “Google has no idea how to run a global hardware manufacturing business,” Blodget

continued. “The global hardware manufacturing business is so brutally tough that even companies that know how to run global hardware manufacturing businesses don’t do it very well-Exhibit A: Motorola.”

As for Wall Street, investors also appeared to be initially skeptical of the Motorola Mobility acquisition. Google shares lost 1.16 percent in New York on Monday and shed another 3.27 percent on Tuesday to close at $539.00.

Standard & Poors, meanwhile, downgraded its opinion of Google shares on Tuesday to “sell” from “buy” saying the Motorola Mobility purchase poses a “risk to the company and stock.” S&P said the acquisition could “negatively impact Google’s growth, margins and balance sheet,” and cut its 12-month target price to $500 from $700.— AFP

For good karma, liberate animals from your diet

By Patti Tillotson arlier this month, a group of Buddhists in Massachusetts rescued more than 500 lobsters who were destined for the dinner table and released them into the Atlantic Ocean. This action was done in honor of Wheel-Turning Day, the anniversary of the Buddha’s first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. Any merit gained by performing good deeds on this day is multiplied.

Many of us will never have an opportunity to liberate hundreds of lobsters. But regardless of our faith, we can all make a real and practical difference in animals’ lives and our own - at least three times a day by liberating animals from our diets. We can begin at breakfast. The great religions of the world have always viewed animals as a special part of creation, but this is often forgotten when we sit down to eat. The Quran, for example, preaches kindness toward animals, stating that Allah loves all living beings and that they must be treated with compassion. According to the Quran, “There is not an animal on Earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you.”

Pope Benedict XVI stated in an interview that the question of animal treatment is a crucial one for the faithful.

Animals “are given into our care,” he said, adding that “we

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cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God’s creatures.” Buddhism also asks us to consider all sentient beings, reminding us that animals value their lives as we do and are no less capable of suffering. Explained one of the Massachusetts lobster liberators, “You’re supposed to view them equally. Their happiness is as important as your happiness, their suffering is as important as your suffering.”

Yet we seem to have a blind spot regarding the suffering of animals who are killed for our plates. In today’s industrialized meat, fishing and dairy industries, chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they’re still conscious and able to feel pain. Fish are suffocated or cut open while they are still alive on the decks of fishing boats. Terrified calves are taken away from their mothers within hours of birth to be confined to veal crates. Lobsters are boiled alive. If left alone, lobsters can live to be more than 100 years old. They recognize individual lobsters, remember past acquaintances and have elaborate courtship rituals. Some help guide young lobsters across the ocean floor by holding claws in a line that can stretch for many yards. Dr. Robert Elwood, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences at The Queen’s University in Belfast, says that lobsters and other crustaceans possess “high cognitive ability and sentience” and can feel both pain and stress, as all animals do. —MCT

China allows currency to rise as inflation persists

By Joan Feng hina has allowed its currency to hit a series of record highs against the dollar over the past week in a move analysts say may signal a new strategy to combat the growing threat of inflation. Beijing is anxious about the potential for social unrest as living costs rise, and about slowing in the Chinese economy at a time of renewed global financial peril. And with other macroeconomic tools threatening to stymie domestic growth, a climb in the value of the yuan-which would make dollardenominated imports like oil cheapermight help to keep a lid on prices. It would also have the added benefit of easing tensions with the US, where lawmakers complain the strong currency gives Chinese exporters an unfair advantage. In the run-up to a high-profile visit

by US Vice President Joe Biden, Beijing has allowed the yuan to strengthen to record levels.

China allows the yuan to move 0.5 percent on either side of a dollar trading midpoint set by the central bank each day. But last week the unit rose 0.8 percent against the greenback, and on Tuesday, the central bank set the currency’s central parity rate against the dollar at a fresh high of 6.3925. “While inflation remains the key issue amongst the highest levels of government in China, we will likely see appreciation of the CNY (Chinese yuan) persist,” said HSBC in a recent repor t. The central bank has repeatedly stated it would allow more yuan “flexibility”, most recently in its

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quarterly report last week.

The China Securities Journal this week called for a broadening of the yuan’s trading band against the dollar, saying a reduced reliance on US and European markets had lessened the

risen steadily against the dollar since mid-2010, when Beijing relaxed a de-facto peg to the US currency, imposed in 2008 to protect its exporters during the global financial crisis.

But it remains a source of friction with

HONG KONG: Floor traders stand as China’s Vice Premier Li Keqiang (unseen) tours the Hong Kong Stock Exchange yesterday. — AP potential impact of a more flexible yuan on exporters. “The time is now ripe to widen the yuan’s trading band against the US dollar in the foreign exchange market,” said the newspaper, which is run by the official Xinhua news agency, in a front-page editorial. The yuan has

the United States, which along with other countries claims that the currency is still undervalued. On several occasions in the past, Beijing has allowed the value of the unit to rise ahead of bilateral meetings with the US, but analysts say Biden’s visit this week is not the main

motivation for recent rises. “Higher-thanexpected inflation... together with less willingness to accumulate more foreign exchange reserves-given the structural weakness in the US dollar-are likely behind the recent rapid pace of yuan appreciation,” said Chang Jian, an economist at Barclays Capital.

Zhang Ming, an economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the recent turmoil in global markets presented China with an opportunity to allow freer trading of the yuan and promote its status as an international currency. The US debt crisis “is forcing us to reconsider the traditional model of the Chinese government keeping the yuan’s exchange rate stable by accumulating foreign exchange reserves,” he said.

China buys US dollars as capital flows into the country, mainly through its widening trade surplus, which expanded to $31.48 billion in July. That policy limits yuan gains and has caused China to accumulate the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves at $3.3 trillion. Chang Jian, an economist at Barclays Capital, said China appeared less willing to accumulate more foreign exchange reserves given the weakness of the US dollar, which makes up the majority of the reserves. She expects the yuan to rise to 6.30 to 6.25 to $1.0 by year end. “With the safety of the $3.3 trillion reserves at stake and mounting political pressures for reserve management, there has been a stronger case to be made in Beijing for reducing intervention and reserve accumulation, and allowing for more flexibility,” she said.— AFP

15

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

analysis

As Libya showdown looms, postwar worries build

By Peter Apps ripoli might be cut off and Libya’s war moving to its endgame, but even if Muammar Gaddafi avoids a bloody finish his departure could usher in a new period of instability and uncertainty. Libya’s rebels said on Tuesday they had completed moves to cut off roads to the capital after rapid advances in the west. The defection of a senior Gaddafi security official further reinforced the image of crumbling central authority. But analysts, oil companies and Western governments worry that the opposition, too, remains riven by internal division that could prompt new fighting, jeopardizing both post-war recovery and the resumption of oil exports. While sources say members of the opposition and government have held secret meetings in Tunisia that also involve a UN envoy, many doubt Gaddafi and his sons would cede power even with a guarantee of immunity from international prosecution.

Even his death might not end his family’s influence. “Gaddafi will have plenty of tricks up his sleeves until his very last breath,” said Hayat Alvi, lecturer in Middle Eastern politics at the US Naval War College. “He will have instructed his sons and circle of loyalistsespecially those remaining in the security services-to plant as many obstacles in the rebels’ and transitional government’s paths as possible, even in his absence.”

The rebels and NATO may hope an uprising or coup in Tripoli would let them enter the city without the kind of street battle that would challenge the skills of both rebels and Western air forces. But not everyone believes such an outcome is likely. “Unrest in Tripoli remains limited to small scale bouts of localized unrest and shortages during Ramadan caused by the opposition’s militias could fuel resentment against them rather than the regime,” said Henry Smith, Libya analyst for risk consultancy Control Risks.

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WESTERN PESSIMISM Having initially hoped a flurry of NATO air

strikes would be enough to oust Gaddafi, the mood in many Western capitals darkened the point of outright pessimism as the war dragged on. Recent rebel military success might make it easier for NATO states to extend their military campaign when they next meet on Aug 31, but longer term wor-

worst, they fear a collapse into a new and more complex civil war. At the very least, bureaucratic and political infighting could make a return to prewar business impossible.

“The place will not necessarily become more peaceful if Gaddafi goes,” said one

ZAWIYA: A Libyan rebel prays with his weapons in the town of Zawiya, roughly 50 km west of Tripoli, Libya. — AP ries are already building. The killing last month of Abdel Fattah Younes, military chief for the National Transitional Council (NTC), by rival rebels further strengthened views of Gaddafi’s opponents in the east as divided among themselves.

Rebels in the west-who have made most of the recent military gains-have also openly voiced dissatisfaction with the lack of progress made by the Benghazi-based eastern bloc. Oil firms in particular worry that even a relatively easy end to the war could simply set the stage for more chaos. At

Western risk consultant advising several major firms on Libya investments. “You will have ex- Gaddafi people, the NTC and expats from the trading families returning,” he said. “And they will be at each other’s throats.” A July report from oil specialists Wood Mackenzie estimated that even after a possible overthrow of Gaddafi it could take around 36 months for Libya to resume full oil production of 1.6 million barrels per day, roughly 2 percent of global output.

Even with the swift lifting of international sanctions, many oil firms look likely to hang

IRAQ COMPARISONS “Even if Gaddafi does go it will be far from a smooth transition,” said one oil executive and security specialist. “Remove a dictator and destroy his security apparatus and you are left with a scenario remarkably like Iraq, and look how long that has taken.”

Saddam Hussein was overthrown more than eight years ago, but the countr y remains very troubled. Western governments too also seem reluctant to plunge deeper into greater involvement in a postGaddafi Libya. Sources with knowledge of post-war planning say some has taken place, but it is largely limited to a relatively few civilian officials. With Western powers exhausted by Iraq and Afghanistan and now dealing with economic crisis and perhaps even a rising risk of civil unrest at home, few believe they have the appetite for large peacekeeping missions that could last years. While Libya does not have the same Sunni-Shiite sectarian division that rendered post-Saddam Iraq such a tinderbox, it does have complex tribal divisions that could fuel conflict. Some suspect that even after a Gaddafi departure it could remain effectively somewhat divided into east and west along ancient provincial boundaries. But physical conflict and further damage to oil facilities is not the only worry for oil firms who spent years courting Gaddafi to gain access to the country. In the potentially febrile atmosphere of postwar Libya, they fear massive renegotiation of contracts and the digging up of old secrets. “The biggest threat to oil firms is that the new regime will inevitably try to investigate who paid what to secure contracts with Gaddafi,” said the anonymous political risk consultant. “ The firms will either have to pay again or face the risk of information being disclosed publicly and potentially ending up in courts in Europe and the US”— Reuters

Ten years on, Qaeda wounded but not slain

By Michel Moutot en years after the 9/11 attacks triggered a massive operation against AlQaeda, the group is battered and its historic leader is dead but offshoots in Yemen and North Africa remain a potent threat. Some officials and experts were quick to hail the killing of the terror network’s iconic supremo Osama bin Laden in May as the beginning of the end for AlQaeda but others warned it was too early to claim victory. “Core Al-Qaeda is in the ropes.

They are at a weaker point than they have ever been,” said Michael Leiter, former head of the US National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC). “ We’re within reach of strategically defeating Al-Qaeda,” US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last month told reporters travelling with him to Afghanistan, where the

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group developed in the late 1980s. Bin Laden’s death ended one of the most highprofile manhunts in history and struck at the heart of a group which relentless and deadly US drone raids against its Pakistani hideouts had already put on the back foot.

Bin Laden was replaced by his long-time lieutenant and ideologue Ayman AlZawahiri.

In a string of Internet messages, the Egyptian has insisted Al-Qaeda was undeterred and issued fresh calls for global jihad (holy war), but experts note that he lacks the aura and charisma of his Saudi predecessor. French Al-Qaeda expert Jean-Pierre Filiu argued that the succession at the helm of the terror network had not been a smooth affair. “ The Yemeni branch, AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has formally declared its allegiance, but the Iraqi branch and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic

Maghreb only welcomed his appointment through their spokespersons,” he said.

“This is evidence that very serious tensions remain within the jihadi movement, pitting notably the Egyptians and possibly the Yemenis against the Iraqis and the North Africans,” Filiu explained. While Al-Qaeda Central’s control over its so-called franchises in the rest of the world appears on the wane, some of these regional offshoots, which had previously proclaimed their allegiance to bin Laden, are fully operational. In Yemen, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is on the offensive and has taken advantage of the anarchy prevailing in the country to make territorial gains and create sanctuaries.

“Yemen is a vast territory where local tribes have widely coalesced with jihadists,” said Dominique Thomas, an exper t on Islamism at Paris’s School for Advanced

Studies in the Social Sciences. “It’s fertile ground for them, they can train and prepare foreign operations from there,” he said.

“They are expanding. Their leaders are in safe places and the only threat would be a US drone attack.”

In Africa’s vast Sahel expanse, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is operating under very limited pressure from regional states that have measly firepower and are poorly coordinated. I ts fighters hold foreign hostages, who are sporadically released for huge ransoms, and launch attacks against local forces but they have not yet been able to operate beyond their desert haven. The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella for several insurgents groups that is affiliated to AlQaeda, has suffered several setbacks but it showed it was still a tangible threat when attacks in more than a dozen cities killed 74 people nationwide on August 15. — AFP

Syrian offensive risks backfiring on Assad

By William Maclean and Khaled Yacoub Oweis surprisingly agile and fast-moving Ramadan offensive by the Syrian army has curbed the size of some street protests, but at the cost of stoking popular outrage and further testing President Bashar Al-Assad’s strained authority. Under a broadening assault, civilian demonstrations in several cities calling for Assad to quit have tended to grow smaller, but at the same time more numerous, scattering from main squares into alleyways and suburbs, as well as nearby towns hitherto unaffected by unrest, activists and analysts say.

Doubts persist about the capacity of the army constantly to deploy enough troops to several centers simultaneously, after attacks in quick succession this month in the central city of Hama, the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, the southern city of Deraa and the ancient port city of Latakia. And there are questions about Assad’s ability to persuade key players like Turkey that his attacks on majority Sunni Muslim areas in Syria can persist without unacceptable levels of unrest in the strategically sensitive region.

An unprecedented broadside of criticism fired at Damascus by Arab heavyweight Saudi Arabia was echoed by disapproving comments from Jordan and Gulf States Kuwait and Bahrain. “The government still hopes that through continuous intimidation it can in the end stop the demonstrations. But these loyal troops cannot move indefinitely all over the country,” Nikolaos van Dam, a Dutch scholar of Syrian politics and a former senior foreign ministry official, told Reuters.

“The danger is that at a certain moment, if not already, within the armed forces there will be an increasingly large number of people who will start asking themselves whether they really want to accept this,” the ex-diplomat said, adding: “People are getting more and more and more angry. These YouTube videos (of killings) are fuelling further demonstrations.” Shashank Joshi, an Associate Fellow at Britain’s Royal United Services Institute, said loyalist units of the army that had been used to spearhead the repression had been extremely efficient at staging attacks on Hama and parts of the east.

“But they would not be able to succeed in containing anything significant, on the level of a Hama or a Deraa, if it occurred in Aleppo or central Damascus. They just don’t seem to have the numbers for that.”

An analyst at UK-based Exclusive Analysis

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said the armed forces’ onslaught had proved to be extremely well organized, given the limited number of troops available to Assad, but exhaustion would be a factor.

“Eventually they’ll burn out and won’t be able to contain the uprising,” said the analyst, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation.

ASSAD POSITION “GETTING WORSE” “Assad’s position is getting steadily worse. The bottom line is that when the tanks leave a given location, protests resume. All this force is being reduced to a game of ‘whack the mole’,” he said, referring to a game where targets reappear after being hit. There are no reliable reports about the exact deployments of Syria’s armed forces in the crackdown, which was

country of 23 million with a 75 percent Sunni majority for four decades.

The vast majority of the largely conscript army, mostly Sunni, is not directly involved in the repression. Diplomatic pressure is mounting on Assad to end his onslaught or endure more painful isolation.

A big attack on the second city of Aleppo near the Turkish border could provoke a potentially decisive reaction from Syria’s powerful neighbor. “It’s not just a question of how much can they simultaneously repress,” said RUSI’s Joshi. “It’s a question of how much can they get away with, without inducing Turkish support for some form of diplomatic action.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday to halt operations now or face unspecified conse-

DEIR AL-ZOR: Syrian soldiers sitting atop a tank reading in Arabic “The soldiers of Assad” leave the eastern city of Deir AL-Zor following a 10-day military operation. — AFP stepped up on Aug. 1 at the start of the Muslim Ramadan fast, when nightly prayers became the occasion for more protests against Baathist party rule. Most foreign media are barred.

Most assaults appear to be led by the mainly Alawite divisions commanded by Assad’s brother Maher, including the Republican Guard and the Fourth Armoured Division. Each of these units has about 10,000 men and often acts in liaison with secret police and pro-Assad Alawite militia called Shabbiha. The Assads are from the Alawite minority sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and have ruled over this

quences. Joshi said Turkey’s concerns included a worry that an attack on Aleppo could swell a flow of refugees north across the border. Yasser Saad, a dissident Syrian political commentator, said Turkey was also concerned about the fate of Sunni co-religionists in Latakia. Tighter international isolation might raise questions about the degree of loyalty Assad can count on in the army command, made up principally of minority Alawites.

Samir Aita, Editor in Chief of the Arab Edition of Le Monde Diplomatique, told Reuters that the army was central to the calculations of all players. “Everyone is wait-

Focus

back from sending in teams to restart old projects or from investigating new ones.

ing for the moment when the army wakes up and says ‘we cannot go on with this nonsensical oppression’ and will oppose the regime and gather the different political forces to go towards a political solution,” said Aita, a Syrian. Eventually firsthand accounts of the killings carried out by government security forces would trickle through to the military rank and file, he said. In a now-familiar pattern, tanks and armored vehicles deploy around dissident neighborhoods of cities and vital services are cut before security forces began raids, arrests and bombardment, residents say.

Human rights campaigners say schools are used to house detainees, after the arrest of thousands since the revolt began in March.

Others are in prisons run by the secret police and by army units. Washington has put the death toll at 2,000.

SOLDIERS “WILL FIND OUT” TRUTH “The army soldiers and officers have (had) no contact with their family for almost four months. So they are kept without knowledge of the situation,” Aita said.

“This is not sustainable for ever. At some point they will have to go and see their families they will know the truth about what has happened.” What the protesters have not done, analysts say, is to take up arms in any organized way, thereby depriving the government of the scope to make credible claims about rebel assaults. The latest assault on Deir Al-Zor did not trigger a big armed response. Tribes in the area had been determined to confront it, according to a video of what was described as a meeting of tribal leaders on YouTube.

But it appeared there was a decision in the end not to resist in any organized sense. The government blames what it calls armed terrorist groups for most killings in the five-month-old revolt, saying more than 500 soldiers and security personnel have died. On Aug 8, Assad replaced defense minister Ali Habib with his chief of staff, General Daoud Rajha, triggering speculation about possible rifts in the military high command.

But Andrew Terrill, Research Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Army War College, said there was little hard evidence as yet of a split in the military or a possible mutiny. “People in the opposition are hoping that either the army will stand aside or that the Sunni elements of the army will change sides. But as much as we all want that to happen, I haven’t seen a lot of indications that that is occurring.” The position of defence minister is mostly ceremonial in Syria. — Reuters

India faces risk of its Arab Spring

By Paul de Bendern n anti-corruption movement led by a feisty 74year-old social activist is snowballing into one of the biggest challenges in decades for the ruling Congress party and if not contained risks sparking India’s own version of an Arab Spring revolt.

While no one is expecting an Egypt-like overthrow in the world’s biggest democracy, a galvanized and frustrated middle class and the mushrooming of social networking sites combined with an aggressive private media may be transforming India’s political landscape.

Anna Hazare has quickly become a 21st century Mahatma Gandhi inspiration for millions of Indians fed up with rampant corruption, red tape and inadequate services provided by the state despite the country posting near-double digit economic growth for almost a decade. “Democracy means no voice, however small, must go unheard. The anti-corruption sentiment is not a whisper-it’s a scream. Grave error to ignore it,” Anand Mahindra, one of India’s leading businessmen and managing director of conglomerate Mahindra Group, wrote on Twitter.

Hazare’s arrest on Tuesday, only hours ahead of a planned fast until death against graft was the last straw and sparked spontaneous protest across the country of 1.2 billion people.

The young and old, rich and poor, without apparent political affiliations, took to the streets in a rare voice of solidarity-a potential lethal cocktail for any party in power in India. Politicians are increasingly being judged on governance rather than old caste and regional ties - as has already happened in states like Bihar - and the new social shift will push national parties to be more responsive to voters’ needs. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress party of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty and the police stood isolated over the decision to arrest a man for planning a peaceful fast.

The Congress has for the past year reeled from mounting corruption scandals, including allegations of millions of dollars in kickbacks in the sale of mobile phone licences in what is emerging as India’s biggest-ever graft. A former telecoms minister, top corporate executives and senior Congress party officials are in jail awaiting trial. Indians have routinely voted out governments and in that sense the antigraft movement is different from those sweeping the Middle East. The next election is due in 2014 and an opinion poll last week by India Today showed that if elections were held today, Congress would just about lose out to the main opposition party.

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WAKE-UP CALL In a passionate speech in parliament, 58-year-old opposition leader Arun Jaitley said protests witnessed over the past 24 hours, reaching even the remotest villages, were something he had not seen in his lifetime and must be a “wake-up call” for politicians to put their house in order. Students, lawyers, teachers, and business executives have taken to social networks like Twitter and Facebook to spread the message and vent frustration against corruption.

“These protests are part of a global phenomenon, thanks to technology and a more proactive media,” said N Bhaskara Rao, social researcher and chairman of independent think-tank Centre for Media Studies.

Most people do not expect India to follow the example of North Africa and the Middle East. But one of five Indians go hungry and almost half the vast population is poor-causes for potential unrest.

India has been governed for most of the time since Independence in 1947 by the same family dynasty. For decades Indians united under these leaders but this year has seen a seismic gap emerging between the old guard and a vibrant and younger population. “This has the ingredients of being India’s own non-violent Arab uprising,” said Savio Shetty, a stock market analyst in India’s financial hub Mumbai. “But the dish needs to be cooked and looked after! Tahrir square was a rebellion against the government itself ... of a 40-year tyrannical rule ... things are quite different here.” Singh remained defiant in parliament over the arrest of Hazare, maintaining that anti-graft laws should be discussed and passed in parliament and not by activists in the streets.

“When people exhaust their capacity for tolerance, then you should take it that it is a beginning of some kind of revolution. Now it has gone above people’s tolerance level,” Hazare said in a recent interview in his home village. India ranked 87 in Transparency International’s index on corruption in 2010, behind rival China and polls show corruption vies with the high cost of living as the number one voter issue.

What is also apparent is that the anti-corruption protests have shown the limited influence of opposition parties, largely sidelined. They will need to reform to win over an increasingly disenfranchised population.

NEW POWER-MIDDLE CLASS The bulk of India’s political activism has been those aligned to political parties or paid to protest on their behalf. But in recent years a growing and more prosperous middle class has given up its traditional distaste for politics and is seeking ways to exert greater influence. “The new corporate middle class has little patience with the politics of dignity and identity that are—for better or worse—central to Indian politics,” wrote Vinay Sitapati in the Indian Express newspaper.

Almost half of India’s 1.2 billion population are farmers, many live on government subsidies and are reluctant to challenge local and national governments over endemic graft. But with costs of living rising fast and daily news reports of state officials with meager salaries caught with bags of cash and kilograms of gold, or registered as owners of multi-million-dollar homes, patience seems to have been snapped. “Now citizens want to play a more participatory role in governance,” said Rao. “This will bring in a sea change in Indian politics.”— Reuters

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Bekele to defend title RALEIGH: Ethiopian Olympic and world champion Kenenisa Bekele will defend his 10,000 metres world title later this month despite not having raced since early 2010, his manager said on Tuesday.

“He is going to Daegu and (will) run. He is training well,” Jos Hermens told Reuters in a telephone interview. Bekele, 29, has never lost a 10,000 race on the track but his lack of competitive action means he will be under added pressure at the Aug. 27-Sept. 4 worlds in Daegu, South Korea . His 12 victories at the distance since 2003 include two Olympic and four world titles along with two world records. If Bekele wins in Daegu, he would become the first runner at any distance to win five consecutive outdoor world titles. Only pole vaulter Sergei Bubka has more, claiming six in a row competing for the Soviet Union and Ukraine in the 1980s and ‘90s. Bekele ruptured a muscle in his right calf in February 2010 and has not raced since because of a variety of problems. His last race was in January of last year. “He is quite fit but it is difficult to say what will happen, even for me, because he has not raced,” said Hermens, a former world class runner. — Reuters

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Tuesday. Boston 3, Tampa Bay 1 (first game); Tampa Bay 6, Boston 2 (second game); Detroit 7, Minnesota 1; Washington 6, Cincinnati 4; Arizona 3, Philadelphia 2; Pittsburgh 5, St Louis 4 (11 innings); Atlanta 2, San Francisco 1 (11 innings); Houston 6, Chicago Cubs 5; Milwaukee 2, La Dodgers 1; NY Yankees 9, Kansas City 7; Florida 6, Colorado 5; Texas 7, LA Angels 3; Oakland 8, Baltimore 4; San Diego 6, NY Mets 1; Toronto 13, Seattle 7; Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland 7 (14 innings).

American League Eastern Division W L PCT NY Yankees 74 46 .617 Boston 74 47 .612 Tampa Bay 65 56 .537 Toronto 62 60 .508 Baltimore 47 73 .392 Central Division Detroit 65 57 .533 Cleveland 60 58 .508 Chicago White Sox61 60 .504 Minnesota 53 68 .438 Kansas City 50 73 .407 Western Division Texas 71 52 .577 LA Angels 65 58 .528 Oakland 54 68 .443 Seattle 53 68 .438 National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 78 42 .650 Atlanta 72 51 .585 NY Mets 59 63 .484 Washington 58 62 .483 Florida 57 65 .467 Central Division Milwaukee 72 51 .585 St Louis 65 58 .528 Cincinnati 59 63 .484 Pittsburgh 58 63 .479 Chicago Cubs 54 69 .439 Houston 39 84 .317 Western Division Arizona 69 53 .566 San Francisco 66 57 .537 Colorado 57 67 .460 LA Dodgers 55 66 .455 San Diego 55 69 .444

GB .5 9.5 13 27 3 3.5 11.5 15.5 6 16.5 17 7.5 20 20 22 7 12.5 13 18 33 3.5 13 13.5 15

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

sp orts

Offer for Eto’o too good

FA Cup on Facebook LONDON: An FA Cup qualifying round tie that would normally attract a crowd of about 90 people could boast a potential global audience of 700 million after an agreement was reached to broadcast Friday’s match on the social networking site Facebook.

The extra-preliminary round fixture between Ascot United and Wembley will become the first match ever to be broadcast live on the site after a deal was struck between the Football Association and the competition’s new main sponsors Budweiser.

Budweiser’s marketing director Iain Newell said the company, who earlier this year signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the FA worth 24 million pounds ($39.4 million),

were intent on taking soccer’s oldest competition back to global preeminence, and at the same time, take it back to the fans.

“The FA Cup started 140 years ago this year and what better way to do demonstrate our commitment than by broadcasting the very first kick to a global audience via Facebook,” Newell told Reuters.

“This is the first time any match has been broadcast live on the social network which is great news for fans and clubs alike.” The clubs, who play in suburban leagues at the lower end of the English soccer pyramid, will both be paid nominal broadcast fees for the match at the ground situated within the boundaries of the Ascot Racecourse and has a capacity of around 1,500. —Reuters

MILAN: Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is hoping to sell standout striker Samuel Eto’o to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala because the offer is just too good to turn down, and it coincides with new financial fair play standards being introduced by UEFA. Anzhi is reportedly prepared to pay Inter between €20 and €30 million ($29 and $43 million) for the 30-year-old Eto’o and give the Cameroon international a three-year contract worth €20 million ($29 million) net per season.

“When an offer like that comes around, it’s difficult to match or refuse,” Moratti told Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport. Anzhi officials were in Milan for meetings with Eto’o’s agent and Inter on Wednesday, the Gazzetta and the ANSA news agency reported. Eto’o will reportedly undergo medical exams for Anzhi in Rome some time over the next few days, after which the deal will be completed.

Moratti added that UEFA’s new financial rules have forced clubs to evaluate their budgets and spending more closely. This season’s club accounts are the first ones that formally have to be given to UEFA for inspection by June, 2013. —Reuters

Overbay lifts D’backs PHILADELPHIA: Lyle Overbay lined a two-RBI double off Roy Halladay in the ninth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Overbay knocked in all three runs as Arizona won its seventh straight game.

Halladay (15-5) had retired 12 straight batters into the ninth. Halladay, trying to become the NL’s first 16-game winner, allowed consecutive singles to open the inning. Overbay hit a one-out double to right that helped Arizona win the opener of the three-game series between NL division leaders.

Halladay equaled a career high with 14 strikeouts and tossed his seventh complete game. Bryan Shaw (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth and J.J. Putz worked the ninth for his 30th save. Putz fanned Jimmy Rollins with the tying run on second. Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer off Arizona starter Josh Collmenter in the fifth.

Braves 2, Giants 1 At Atlanta, rookie Randall Delgado allowed no hits through six innings in his second big-league start as Atlanta pulled out another last at-bat win on Martin Prado’s two-out single in the 11th.

Delgado was the star early on, allowing his lone hit on Cody Ross’ leadoff homer in the seventh. Prado came through at the end, driving in Brooks Conrad from third with an opposite-field single to right off Javier Lopez (5-2).

Conrad had reached on a ground-rule double while pinch-hitting.

Arodys Vizcaino (1-0) picked up his first big league win with two scoreless innings. The Braves won for the second straight night in their final at-bat and lead the NL with 22 of those victories.

Brewers 2, Dodgers 1 At Milwaukee, Mark Kotsay hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth inning as Milwaukee beat Los Angeles to take its biggest lead in the NL Central this late in a season.

The Brewers have won 18 of 20 and are seven games ahead of second place St. Louis. After a pitching duel between Yovani Gallardo and Chad Billingsley, the Dodgers bullpen imploded in the ninth.

Hong-Chih Kuo (0-2) issued a leadoff

walk to Prince Fielder, then left for Mike MacDougal. Casey McGehee singled on MacDougal’s first pitch to put men on first and second and Yuniesky Betancourt walked on four pitches. Kotsay followed with a single.

Milwaukee is a major league-best 46-

but allowed just three runs, two coming in the first. The left-hander struck out three and walked none. The Mets lost for the 11th time in 14 games at Petco Park.

Pirates 5, Cardinals 4 At Pittsburgh, Garrett Jones homered

PHILADELPHIA: Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins (right) reaches for a wide throw from the plate as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gerardo Parra (8) steals second during the fifth inning. —AP 15 at home and has a bigger lead in the to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning division than the 1982 Brewers did on and lift Pittsburgh over St. Louis. Jones their way to winning the AL East and the connected on a 2-2 pitch from Arthur Rhodes (3-4) for his 14th home run. It American League pennant. was Jones’ second career game-ending homer.

Padres 6, Mets 1 Center fielder Andrew McCutchen At San Diego, rookie Cory Luebke pitched six strong innings and combined prevented St. Louis from going ahead in with three relievers on a four-hitter for the top of the 11th when he made a runthe Padres. Luebke (5-6) allowed one run ning backhanded inning-ending catch to and three hits, struck out five and walked rob Albert Pujols of extra bases and keep three. Chad Qualls, Luke Gregerson and Rafael Furcal from scoring from first base.

Chris Resop (4-4) pitched two scoreErik Hamren each got three outs to comless innings for the win. Pittsburgh levplete the four-hitter.

Nick Hundley had three hits, including eled the game in the ninth when Neil two triples, for San Diego, which rapped Walker homered on the first pitch from out 15 hits to reach double figures for closer Fernando Salas. the second straight game. Orlando Astros 6, Cubs 5 Hudson drove in two runs and Cameron At Houston, pinch hitter Brian Maybin hit his eighth homer, a leadoff Bogusevic hit a grand slam in the ninth drive in the seventh.

New York starter Jonathon Niese (11- inning to end a seven-game losing streak 10) surrendered 10 hits over six innings, for the Astros.

J.B. Shuck singled with one out in the ninth off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol (2-4) before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Clint Barmes singled and Matt Downs drew a walk to load the bases and bring up Bogusevic.

Houston reliever Aneury Rodriguez (14) struck out one in 2-3 innings for the win. Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless eighth before Marmol blew his eighth save.

Tyler Colvin hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Aramis Ramirez added a solo shot in the eighth as the Cubs built a 5-2 lead.

Marlins 6, Rockies 5 At Denver, Anibal Sanchez tossed eight strong innings to win his first game in more than two months, helping Florida hold on to beat Colorado.

Mike Stanton homered, Bryan Petersen had two triples, and Leo Nunez earned his 33rd save for the Marlins, who had to sweat out another ninth-inning rally by Colorado. A night after he hit a walk-off three-run homer, Jason Giambi hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Nunez with two outs in the ninth. Ty Wigginton followed with a single before Dexter Fowler popped out to end the game.

Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith also homered for the Rockies.

Sanchez (7-6) was sharp in earning his first victory since beating Arizona on June 10.

Nationals 6, Reds 4 At Washington, Chien-Ming Wang won back-to-back starts for the first time in three years and Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman homered to lift Washington over Cincinnati. Wang (2-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, his longest outing since a stint of 7 1-3 innings on June 10, 2008, that began his previous consecutive wins run.

Morse homered into the right-field seats in the third inning for his 21st shot this season. He also hit a run-scoring double in the first. Zimmerman led off the fifth with his seventh home run. Ian Desmond singled in two runs in Washington’s three-run first. Cincinnati’s Mike Leake (10-8) allowed six runs - five earned - and five hits in six innings. His streak of five straight quality starts was snapped. —AP

Red Sox split with Rays, fall behind NY Yankees Ernie Els plays a shot in this file photo

Playoff pressure for Els GREENSBORO: Ernie Els enters the “last-chance saloon” at this week’s Wyndham Championship where he hopes to reignite his game and qualify for the PGA Tour’s lucrative end-of-season finale.

The three-times major champion is one spot shy of securing a place among the top 125 qualifiers and this week’s event is the final opportunity before the FedExCup playoffs begin at the Aug. 25-28 Barclays Classic in New Jersey. Els had initially not planned to compete at Sedgefield Country Club but changed his schedule after missing the cut at last week’s PGA Championship, the year’s final major.

“This really is last-chance saloon,” the South African former world number one said on his official website (http://www.ernieels.com/).

“The simple fact is if I play well, I’m in (the playoffs) and if I play poorly, I’m more than likely not. This is traditionally a pretty low-scoring week and I need to find a way to get something going. “The PGA Championship was going to be my last FedEx Cup qualifying event, but I really don’t want to miss out on those big events and a chance to tee it up in the Tour Championship.”

The leading 125 players in the FedExCup standings after this week qualify for the four-event playoffs, which whittles down the field each week toward a climax at the Sept 22-25 Tour Championship in Atlanta where only the top 30 compete. Els lies a precarious 126th in the rankings after a frustrating PGA Tour season. All too often let down by his putting, he has not recorded a single top-10 in 16 starts and has missed five cuts in his last eight events. “I’ve had a pretty tough year,” he said. “I’m putting a lot of work into my game. I need to basically find a way of letting it happen, and I’m waiting for that week for it to happen.” — Reuters

BOSTON: The Boston Red Sox fell half a game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East division race after splitting a double-header against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, winning the day game 3-1 but losing the nightcap 6-2. Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury hit a threerun homer, and Jon Lester struck out eight batters in the opener. Lester (12-6) outdueled fellow All-Star James Shields, who pitched nearly as well and deeper into the game but received little offensive support.

Shields (11-10) retired the last 15 batters he faced and struck out six. He only allowed three hits but still took the loss. Ellsbury has 21 homers this season; more than he hit over his first three seasons combined.

In the second game, Tampa Bay rookie Desmond Jennings hit a homer and Jeff Niemann struck out 10 as the Rays won despite the Red Sox turning their first triple play in 17 years. Niemann (8-4) pitched his first complete game of the season and won his seventh straight decision.

White Sox 8, Indians 7 In Chicago, Juan Pierre’s game-ending single in the 14th inning capped a five-hour marathon for Chicago, which edged Cleveland.

Gordon Beckham doubled off of Chad Durbin (2-2) with one out in the final inning, advancing to third on Brent Morel’s infield single. David Huff reliever Durbin to

face Pierre, who singled to left to win it.

White Sox reliever Jason Frasor (3-2) worked the top of the inning to earn the victory. Chicago remained 3-1/2 games behind the American League Central-leading Detroit. The loss drops the second-place Indians three games back.

Tigers 7, Twins 1 In Detroit, Justin Verlander allowed just one run in 7 23 innings to become baseball’s first 18-game winner, leading Detroit to a comfortable win over Minnesota.

Verlander (18-5) labored through a 29-pitch first inning but settled down after that, striking out eight to surpass 200 this year. He walked only one and lowered his season ERA to 2.31. Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs for the Tigers, and Ramon Santiago hit a solo homer in the sixth.

Twins starter Nick Blackburn (7-10) allowed five runs in 4 2-3 innings.

Rangers 7, Angels 3 In Anaheim, Texas opened up a six-game lead - its biggest in the AL West all season - over Los Angeles.

Michael Young had three of the Rangers’ 17 hits and drove in three runs, Josh Hamilton homered among three hits before leaving with back spasms and Mitch Moreland had a two-run single amidst three hits. Texas starter Derek Holland (11-4) fell jut one out shy of his fifth complete game as the Rangers further built their buffer over the Angels, who had trailed by a manageable 1-1/2 game just a week ago. Los Angeles rookie Tyler Chatwood (6-9) couldn’t get out of the third, yielding five runs while dropping to 1-5 over his past eight starts.

Blue Jays 13, Mariners 7 In Seattle, Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 35th home run of the season as Toronto rallied twice to down Seattle. The Blue Jays appeared on the way to an easy victory with a six-run first inning, highlighted by Colby Rasmus’ three-run double. But by the third inning, the Mariners had tied it.

The Jays broke away again with a four-run fifth.

Rasmus and Aaron Hill each drove in four runs. Blue Jays reliever Luis Perez (2-2), who took over in the fourth, earned the victory. He matched his career high with four innings, allowing one run. Seattle’s Jason Vargas (7-11) pitched four-plus innings and took the loss.

Yankees 9, Royals 7 In Kansas City, Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer into the Kauffman Stadium fountains to hep New York down Kansas City. Russell Martin and Derek Jeter each drove in a pair of runs for the Yankees. New York starting pitcher Ivan Nova (12-4) struggled almost as much as Royals starter Danny Duffy (3-7), allowing five runs through three innings, but he settled down to retire the side in order the next two innings, and survived long enough to notch his eighth straight win; the most by a Yankees rookie for 31 years.

Athletics 8, Orioles 4 In Oakland, Josh Willingham hit a home run and had two hits in Oakland’s win over Baltimore. Coco Crisp drove in two runs, Cliff Pennington had three hits, and Jemile Weeks had two and both drove in runs for the A’s, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Oakland starter Guillermo Moscoso (6-6) allowed two earned runs, and walked only one to take the win.

Baltimore’s Brian Matusz (1-5) went 6 2-3 innings in his first start since June 30, giving up six runs in losing his fifth straight decision. —AP

BOSTON: Tampa Bay Rays’ Evan Longoria slides into home to score on BJ Upton’s single against the Boston RedSox during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a day-night doubleheader. —AP

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

S P ORT S

Rankings add edge to England series LONDON: England head to the Oval for the final test of the summer against India today as the world’s top side courtesy of a rankings system which is now widely accepted but not generally understood.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings are the brainchild of former Wisden almanac editor Matthew Engel. “Test cricket crucially depends on context,” Engel wrote in the 1995 edition. “It needs a five-test series (six is too long) for the personalities to emerge and the battle to capture the public imagination. These half-hearted one-off tests rarely work.”

Engel’s proposal, which was adopted by the ICC, awarded points on the basis of home and away series between each of the test-playing nations.

It was replaced in 2003 by the pres-

ent system designed and introduced

by English actuary, scorer and cricket statistician David Kendix.

“What you had, unfortunately, was a situation some years ago when South Africa were top of the table and yet it was clear intuitively to anyone following the game that Australia was the number one team,” Kendix told Reuters this week.

“Indeed, Australia had just beaten South Africa comprehensively home and away. This was clearly not sustainable,” he added in a telephone interview.

“And the reason you had that situation was that South Africa at that point had just beaten Bangladesh and Zimbabwe home and away, whereas Australia had not recently played them at all.

“So you basically had four series

victories for South Africa which counted for just as much as victories over the likes of England, India or Pakistan.

“Since Australia happened not to have the played the two weakest teams at the time, their series points were only enough for second place in the rankings.

“At that point it became difficult to believe it was a fair reflection of the relative strength of the teams.

“Matthew’s advocacy of test rankings was great and I have huge admiration for him as he started the process.

“He had the great idea of trying to establish a league table that gives that context to test cricket and I said to him soon after my system was adopted by the ICC, how many prototypes of anything ends up being the final version?

“He had the idea of having a rank-

ing system, the ICC recognised that this was something they ought to make official, but they also realised that to be accepted, it needed to give sensible results all the time.”

Kendix’s system awards points for individual matches in a series as well as a bonus for the series winners. The model is based on results over the previous three to four years, weighted to give greater relevance to more recent results.

“That reflects the reality that in a test series people are looking to win each match and they are also looking to win the series,” he said.

“I wanted a points mechanism that reflected the aims of the competing teams and what they are actually trying to achieve.

“They are trying to win the match and win the series and therefore it

seemed appropriate that the points system reflected those twin goals.”

The nex t step in the process depends on the current ratings of the two sides. “If you are playing a team that have a similar rating to you then they are by definition around the similar strength and therefore the points you get for beating them will be roughly the same as the points they get for beating you,” Kendix said.

“But if you are playing a team that has a rating considerably higher than yours, you get more for beating them than they would get for beating you.

“The reason this is important is because, unlike a lot of other leagues in many other sports where everyone plays everyone else over a fixed period, there is a lot of inequality in the test fixture list. —Reuters

England seek India whitewash at Oval

LONDON: Serbia’s Marko Keselj (second right) passes the ball past China’s Shulong Yu (centre) and Jianlian Yi during a test event at the Basketball arena at the Olympic Park. —AP

O’Driscoll back for Ireland DUBLIN: Brian O’Driscoll will return to captain a powerful-looking Ireland in their World Cup warm-up match against France in Dublin this weekend, it was confirmed yesterday.

The legendary 32-year-old Leinster star will resume his partnership with Gordon D’Arcy in the centre as Ireland attempt to bounce back from their 19-12 loss to the French in Bordeaux last weekend.

O’Driscoll had missed that match as well as Ireland’s previous warm-up match against Scotland as he comes back from neck and shoulder injuries. “It’s great to be back, it’s always difficult sitting out any Test matches,” O’Driscoll admitted.

“It’s a double-edged sword I suppose, the team can be going well and not missing you, but when it’s not winning, you feel you can give them a dig out. “I never like missing out though.”

O’Driscoll said Ireland were determined to stop the rot after consecutive defeats to Scotland and Ireland but stressed more emphasis was being placed on performance with the World Cup less than a month away.

“There is certainly an onus on trying to win this game, definitely,” he said.

“We’ll try and get that performance to take care of the result. It’s about making sure we have the right mentality so the intensity and physicality has to be there.

“We’ll treat it as anything but a friendly match, we’ll try and stamp our authority on the game early on and play the brand of rugby we hope to play at the World Cup. “It’s important to get a result, but it’s not the be all and end all. It’s about getting game time and getting up to speed.

“If we didn’t win a warm-up game, it’s not ideal but it’s not the World Cup, the World Cup is in three weeks’ time. Ireland coach Declan Kidney has restored fly-half Jonathan Sexton and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary at half-back ater both players sat out the defeat to France last weekend.

Andrew Trimble has retained his place on the right wing with Keith Earls filling in on the opposite flank. Kidney has meanwhile handed a first start to Munster full-back Felix Jones, who steps up in the absence of Rob Kearney, who is nursing a sore groin. —AFP

LONDON: England will look to cement their place as the world’s number one Test side by completing a whitewash of India when the fourth and final match of their series starts at The Oval here today.

India arrived atop the ICC’s Test Championship table but progressively larger defeats, by 196 runs at Lord’s, 319 runs at Trent Bridge and a massive innings and 242 runs at Edgbaston, have left them 3-0 down.

Injuries and a lack of preparation time in English conditions have played their part, with India’s much-vaunted top order having failed to fire in this campaignEngland opener Alastair Cook’s Test best 294 at Edgbaston was a larger score than the tourists have managed in any innings this series.

But now their fans must hope a match at The Oval, where 40 years ago India secured a victory that saw them win their first series in England, will see the tourists restore some pride.

England, however, want to finish with a flourish as they begin their quest to be regarded as one of the best sides of all time.

For those such as Kevin Pietersen, a member of the side that lost the Ashes 5-0 in Australia in 2006/07, the memory of that humiliating defeat remains a powerful incentive.

“I played against the Australia team in 2006/07 and I promise that every day we were not looking forward to it because we were going to get dealt with,” former England captain Pietersen recalled.

LONDON: India’s Sachin Tendulkar (left) and coach Duncan Fletcher inspect the wicket during a practice session at The Oval cricket ground. —AP “That is what I hope we can do to opposition, but it is going to be tough,” the South Africa-born batsman added.

“Potentially, yes, opposition will be fearful of us.” England head into the series final with strike bowler James Anderson, who is struggling with a thigh problem, an injury doubt.

The likes of fellow seamers

All Blacks face selection dilemma as World Cup deadline approaches

Bitter experience serves Rougerie well on comeback DUBLIN: Veteran France centre Aurelien Rougerie makes his return to competitive action after a long injury lay-off here on Saturday in the World Cup warm-up match with Ireland.

The 30-year-old, who has been capped 63 times and will be competing in his third World Cup, says his recovery process was made easier by previous long absences through injury.

He will undergo a stringent test against the Irish which will give the Clermont captain a good idea of how well he has recovered after breaking an ankle in the final match of the Top 14 regular season in May. France coach Marc Lievremont handed the winger-turned-centre a vote of confidence by including him in the World Cup squad, although his knowledge of how to cope with the ennui of long-term injury has also helped.

“I have had the luck, if you can call it that, of already suffering serious longterm injuries,” said Rougerie, whose career nearly came to a premature end in 2002 when he suffered a serious larynx injury after being deliberately struck

by English hooker Phil Greening in a club match with Wasps. “ Therefore I knew what it took to come back.” Rougerie, whose dentist father Jacques won one cap for France at prop, is not exaggerating as his Six Nations campaign last year came to an early end after just five minutes of their opening match against Scotland with a shoulder injury, 12 months after he suffered a similar injury.

“Those are experiences which have served me well with this latest injury,” said the floppy-haired blond pin-up. “ There are the highs and the lows,

moments where you have to be patient, others where one is bursting with impatience and those where you need to know how to reason with yourself.

“Experience has played an important role.” Nevertheless Rougerie, who was an integral part of the France team that won the 2002 Six Nations Grand Slam and reached the 2003 World Cup semifinals, accepts his level of match fitness will not be the same as his team-mates on Saturday in the second of their matches with the Irish, who they beat 19-12 in Bordeaux last Saturday.

“I do risk being a little bit below the level of my team-mates in terms of both physical fitness and stamina,” said Rougerie.

“We will see at the end of the match how I feel,” added the man who entered Clermont folklore last year when he captained them to their first ever national title.

Lievremont couldn’t refrain from having a dig at the media and former players who had questioned why he had taken a risk on Rougerie and not included cover for him in the squad - though it could prove to be a pyrrhic victory if Rougerie suffers a reaction against the Irish.

“If we are to address the issue of our injured players, then we (the French coaching staff ) have for the most part won our bet. “I feel for those people who called us crazy.”

Rougerie, though, takes no pleasure in proving anyone wrong, only that he anticipates a tough clash with the combative Irish, who are desperate to gain their first win in their warm-up matches following the defeat to France and an earlier 10-6 loss to Scotland. —AFP

Steven Finn and Graham Onions are waiting in the wings and, when called upon, the likes of ‘reserve’ quick Tim Bresnan have proved much more than stand-ins this series. “(Anderson) would be a huge loss, like any of the seamers,” said England off-spinner Graeme Swann.

“But we thought that with (Chris) Tremlett when he couldn’t

play at Trent Bridge, and up stepped Bressie (Bresnan) — and he’s been unbelievable in the two games he’s played.”

This will be England’s last Test until 2012 and, even if they win at The Oval, South Africa could leapfrog them into top spot if they achieve decisive series wins against Australia and Sri Lanka in the interim.

“We want to do ourselves justice in the last game-we did that very well in the Ashes (where England completed a 3-1 series win earlier this year),” explained Swann.

“Having retained them we gave our best performance of the series in Sydney in the last game and we are looking to emulate that here. It wouldn’t be much of a team if we just fell to pieces and threw it all away.” India have injury concerns over seamer Praveen Kumar (finger), one of their few successes on this tour, and will be desperate for him to be fit.

The Oval Test could be the last in England for 38-year-old batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, the two highest runscorers in Test history.

Tendulkar is still a tantalising century away from becoming the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds.

Now India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his side’s top scorer in both their innings at Edgbaston, wants the team to start afresh.

“We need to forget the last three games, we must treat the final match as a one-Test series and not carry the burden of the last three Tests.” —AFP

Aurelien Rougerie

PORT ELIZABETH: New Zealand face some difficult selection issues ahead of the World Cup with two key areas yet to be resolved less than a week before the All Blacks name their final 30-man squad.

Next Tuesday, the All Blacks will reveal the squad they hope can lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a first time since 1987 and Saturday’s TriNations test against South Africa represents the last chance for several fringe players to impress.

“Everyone in our squad is in contention, but we can only pick 30 and some areas are difficult in terms of selection, particularly the back three and the loose forwards,” assistant coach Steve Hansen told reporters yesterday.

New Zealand have started the season well with wins over Fiji, South Africa and Australia but now face a dilemma over which six players will fill the winger and full back positions for the hosts at the Sept. 9-Oct. 23 tournament.

“All our back three have come into excellent form at the same time but you can’t fit nine into six, so three guys are going to have to miss out, which is tremendously sad,” Hansen added at the Port Elizabeth news conference.

“There are some dead-set certainties and we all know who they are, but for the others, we have to get the mix right, players that will suit the tournament. “The loose forwards fall into that area and the back three, but it’s not a bad problem to have.”

The All Blacks forward coach did, however, give hope to the players who do not make the initial 30-man squad, saying there could still be chances for them to play in the World Cup. “I just hope that once they are over the initial disappointment they will keep working

hard because there will be opportunities once the World Cup starts due to injuries,” the former Wales coach added.

New Zealand have left seven frontline players behind for the South Africa leg of the Tri-Nations but Hansen said the current squad had easily adapted to the absence of senior figures such as regular captain Richie McCaw and flyhalf Dan Carter.

“There are a lot of senior guys that are here and it’s been an easy transformation thanks to the leadership of guys like Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore,” Hansen said.

“It’s been a great week so far and they’ve prepared as well as any team has over the last year. If we continue in that vein, then we’ll be in good shape.”

South Africa started the Tri-Nations with a 39-20 loss in Australia and a 40-7 thrashing in New Zealand, and despite fielding a stronger side in a 14-9 defeat to the Wallabies last week, Hansen believes the Springboks are improving.

“I don’t think you can take into account the first two tests because that wasn’t this team playing,” he added. “They decided to rest these guys, rightfully after such a bruising Super rugby competition, and although they looked short of a gallop last week, they’re progressing well.

“They have run their own course and good on them. The World Cup is the most important thing this year and they decided early on that the Tri-Nations was not for them. “They’re now seeing if certain guys can fit in around their more senior players.

South Africa are one of the best teams in the world and they will contend in the final stages of the World Cup. “If they have a bit of luck and play well, then they could go all the way.” —Reuters

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sp orts

Asian football stars reluctant to return home

DOHA: In this Jan. 29, 2011 file photo, Australia’s Harry Kewell (right) and Japan’s Keisuke Honda fight for the ball during the AFC Asian Cup final soccer match. —AP

Talks fail to halt Spanish players’ strike MADRID: Talks between the Spanish football league (LFP) and the Spanish players’ union (AFE) yesterday failed to avert the strike action called for this weekend. “We haven’t reached any kind of agreement,” LFP president Jose Luis Astiazaran told reporters after the first meeting between the two sides since the strike was invoked last week.

“The AFE have dug their heels in.

There are important differences but we will have to continue moving forward.”

The AFE have called strike action for the first two weekends of Spain’s top two divisions, which are scheduled to kick off on Saturday, demanding greater protection for players’ wages at clubs who have gone into financial administration.

Astiazaran continued: “We are in agreement on 80 percent of the ques-

tions and it’s a shame that for 20 percent we have found ourselves in this situation. “We have achieved much recently... however, it is impossible for the first round of matches not to be affected by the strike.”

Representing the AFE, Luis Gil said: “We will continue working this afternoon and tomorrow and we will meet again on Friday.

“The league doesn’t want to bridge the gap. The biggest problem is that the players want guarantees they are going to get paid because there are more than 200 who are owed money.

“At present the AFE are not considering extending the strike action beyond the second round of matches. We want the law applied that clubs who do not pay should be relegated.”—Reuters

FBI examines US soccer boss’ financial records WASHINGTON: The FBI is examining documents charting more than $500,000 in payments made by a Caribbean soccer group to a top US official of the sport that has been shaken internationally by corruption allegations.

According to a US law enforcement officer, a New York-based FBI squad assigned to investigate “Eurasian organized crime” is examining evidence related to payments made to Chuck Blazer, US member of the executive committee of FIFA, the Zurichbased governing body of soccer.

Blazer is also general secretary of CONCACAF, the sport’s governing body in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

He has recently sparked controversy by accusing two other top international soccer officials of corruption. The US law enforcement official would not describe the time frame or extent of the FBI inquiry.

But the official said the probe related to documents whose existence was initially reported by the Independent newspaper of London last weekend and on the www.transparencyinsport.org website by British journalist Andrew Jennings, who specializes in investigating alleged corruption in international sports.

In an e -mail to Reuters, Blazer denounced Jennings’ story as “replete with errors” and said the journalist had a “clear agenda.”

But Blazer did not deny receiving three offshore payments, totalling more than $500,000. Instead, Blazer insisted that “all of my transactions have been conducted legally.”

According to the documents, reviewed

by Reuters, three payments were made to offshore accounts maintained by Blazer over the last 15 years.

In a letter dated Jan. 29, 1996, Jack Warner, president of the Caribbean Football Union, and until recently president of CONCACAF and vice president of FIFA, instructs the vice president of a bank to wire transfer $57,750 to an account at Barclays Bank in the Cayman Islands maintained by a company called Sportvertising Ltd. The letter says that if any problems arise with the transfer, the bank should contact Blazer at CONCACAF’s New York office.

A 1990 document, signed by both Blazer and Warner and reviewed by Reuters, identifies Blazer as “President” of Sportvertising Inc. The document, headed “retainer agreement”, describes how CONCACAF, via the company, employed Blazer as its general secretary, paying his company both monthly fees and “a 10% override feel on all sponsorships and TV rights fees from all sources received by CONCACAF or for CONCACAF programs/tournaments”, excluding “sponsorships arranged at the local level on tournaments and events.”

Also examined by Reuters are records documenting a $205,000 payment to Sportvertising Inc., dated September 2010.

The records includes a notation indicating the payment was on behalf of the

Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

A third set of documents also in the FBI’s possession relates to a purported $250,000 payment by the Caribbean Football Union to Blazer earlier this year. A letter to a bank supervisor dated March 31, 2011, signed by Warner, authorizes the bank to issue a draft worth $250,000 to “CHUCK BLAZE” and to debit the Caribbean Football Union’s account accordingly. A second document purports to be a copy of a $250,000 canceled check made out to Chuck Blazer.

In e-mails to Reuters, Blazer said he had not been contacted by the FBI or notified by them of any investigation. He said two most recent payments to his company’s Caymans accounts were in his view meant to be repayments to him by Warner of “a significant amount of money” that Blazer says he loaned to Warner in 2004.

Blazer said that as soon as he saw the most recent payment in the form of a check from the Caribbean Football Union- he “immediately objected”.

“In the past few weeks I have learned that Mr. Warner treated the CFU accounts as his personal accounts and co-mingled a variety of funds in those accounts,” Blazer said. He said he was now “working with the current CFU administration to bring in forensic accountants to attempt to untangle this mess.”

“My financial affairs have been structured legally and with advice of counsel - a standard practice for individuals of my age,” he said.

He also said Warner, once his close ally in tense and tangled internal FIFA politicking, now is “attempting to attack me for having disclosed his unlawful conduct.”

Warner did not respond to a query emailed to the Trinidad-based office of the Caribbean Football Union. Earlier this year, shortly before FIFA’s governing body was scheduled to hold a vote on whether to reelect the organization’s president, Sepp Blatter, Blazer publicly denounced Warner, a long-time ally, for his alleged involvement in a plot to hand cash bribes to Caribbean soccer officials in return for their votes to support a bid by Qatari soccer official Mohammed bin Hammam to replace Blatter as FIFA chief.

In the wake of Blazer ’s allegations, Hammam was investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee on the bribery charges, found guilty of corruption, and banned for life from the game. Hammam is appealing against the FIFA life ban.

Last week, FIFA said it opened ethics proceedings against 16 Caribbean soccer federation officials related to the special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union in May. Warner, a FIFA vice president and longest-serving member of the world soccer groups executive committee, was suspended by FIFA pending an inquiry into Blazer’s bribery allegations. In June, he resigned from all his positions in international soccer. FIFA dropped the investigation into Warner. —Reuters

SEOUL: Park Ji-sung and Harry Kewell are playing it cool about returning to their home country’s football leagues, illustrating the reluctance among many Asian football exports to make the journey home.

Park has virtually ruled out a swansong season in the Korean league, while Kewell is dragging his feet over a possible return to Australia. Hidetoshi Nakata never returned to play club football in Japan after his successful career in Europe.

Park, 30, has signed a new two-year contract with English champion Manchester United and has spoken of his desire to end his playing days in Europe.

He has never played in the K-League and is not enthusiastic about the prospect. “Maybe it’s possible but I want to play more in Europe as much as I can,” he told Associated Press before his latest contract extension. Instead of wanting to head home, he urges talented South Koreans to join him in Europe.

The debate about whether star players should return to help their national leagues is loudest in Australia, where clubs are eager to sign Kewell and national team captain Lucas Neill, both of whom were released from Galatasaray.

Neill, 33, has been linked with a move to the United Arab Emirates while Kewell, perhaps the nation’s biggest star, has been at the center of a ‘will he-won’t he?’ transfer saga all summer over whether the former Leeds and Liverpool star will return home.

Kewell, 32, is regarded as a figure who can bring some much needed publicity and glamor to a league that is struggling with falling attendances. Like Park, he never played in the local league, instead heading to England as a teenager. Football Federation Australia, which runs the A-League, has reportedly offered financial inducements for Kewell to join Melbourne Victory but protracted negotiations have tested the patience of fans.

The status of being a high-profile European-based player can be a doubleedged sword when contemplating a move to the A-League. The debate intensified in early August when veteran Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer expressed doubts about such a move.

“I have seen too many players go back home and it has not worked out,” the 38-yearold Fulham goalkeeper told Australia’s Football + magazine. “You are up there to be shot down very, very quickly...I don’t want to give anyone the opportunity to do that to me.” Brendan Schwab, chief executive of the Australian Professional Footballers’ Association, had some sympathy for that position.

“The fans have been very quick to criticize some of the returning Socceroos if their performances have not lived up to expectation,” Schwab said. “Players are well aware that the scrutiny they would be under would be very high, probably higher than it would be in Europe as they would be seen as central figures in the promotion and marketing.

“It is something that players need to weigh up before coming back. Some have been very successful, others have had unfortunate circumstances but all have come back with the right attitude of wanting to put something

back into the game.”

In South Korea and Japan, the separation of powers between federations and leagues means the national bodies can not directly pay players to woo them home.

“It is nothing to do with the K-League whether overseas players return to play here,” Kwon Sung-jin, deputy general manager of the K-League said. “It is wrong to say that Korean players in Europe should play in the KLeague before they retire. We welcome any

who did return after successful stints in Europe did so to get consistent playing time and boost his World Cup selection chances, rather than as a vote of confidence in the JLeague.

There is still significant support across Asia in having players move to Europe to improve their game and boost the profile of the sport, although that have been calls in Australia to reduce the number of exports.

“There is a view, a misinformed view, that

LONDON: In this May 28, 2011 file photo, Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung (left) and Barcelona’s Eric Abidal vie for the ball during their Champions League final soccer match. Park Ji-sung and Harry Kewell are playing it cool about returning to their home country’s football leagues, illustrating the reluctance among many Asian football exports to make the journey home.—AP talented player to the league but their career choices are their business entirely.”

Lee Young-pyo went to Europe at the same time as Park and, at the age of 34, is currently a free agent after two years with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Despite offers, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Borrusia Dortmund defender has no interest in returning to the KLeague. It is similar in Japan. Nakata, the country’s most successful export, left the JLeague in 1998 to move to Italy before ending his club career in the English Premier League.

He retired in 2006 at the age of 29 and despite the occasional speculation, has never hinted at a return.

Even a player such as Shunsuke Nakamura

fewer players should go overseas.” said Schwab. “We need as many players as possible going overseas to increase the talent pool. At this stage, the A-League is a small league and we need access to the international labor market.

“One of the driving forces behind its creation was that it would be a better development league to prepare the best players to go to the best leagues, be a competitive standalone career opportunity for players and give an opportunity for our best players to return towards the end of their careers, improve the quality of the league, assist in the education of young players and help market and promote that league.”—AP

Car of Chelsea player’s missing father found LAGOS: The family of Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel said yesterday that they’ve recovered the car of the football player’s kidnapped father, as police investigating his abduction promised to make a “breakthrough” in the case.

Mikel’s brother Tony Obi told The Associated Press that Michael Obi’s car was found in Jos in central Nigeria, where kidnappings remain rare but religious and ethnic violence routinely flares. Obi declined to offer any details about how the family knew where to find the car.

Mikel’s family reported his father missing when he failed to make it home after leaving the office of his transportation company Friday in Jos. Mikel made a televised appeal for his father’s release Monday after news of the kidnapping became public. Meanwhile, Plateau state police commissioner Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni told the AP that he expected his officers and the family to resolve the abduction soon. “I’m very hopeful that we’ll make progress; we’ll make a breakthrough at the end of the day,” Ayeni said Wednesday. “It’s still premature for me to tell you now. The details are unavailable now.”

He added that officers are “working hard to ensure that he is found alive, hale and hearty.”

Nigeria, an oil-rich country of 150 million people, is almost evenly split between Muslims in the north and the predominantly Christian south. Plateau state, in Nigeria’s fertile central belt, has seen thousands die in recent years in religious and ethnic violence rooted largely in political and economic issues.

Mikel’s family, from the Igbo tribe, is in the minority in the area. However, Mikel said Monday that the kidnapping shocked him because his family never had any problems there before.

Kidnappings in Plateau state are a rarity when compared to Nigeria’s oil-rich southern delta, where militants and criminal gangs often kidnap foreigners for ransom. Middle class Nigerian families also increasingly find themselves targeted in the country’s East as well.

Mikel has played with Chelsea since 2006. He previously played for Nigerian Premier League club Plateau United and Norwegian club Lyn. Associated Press writer Ahmed Saka in Jos, Nigeria contributed to this report.—AP

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi from Argentina

Kolkata prepares for Messi mania KOLKATA: The anticipated announcement of Lionel Messi in an Argentina squad to play Venezuela in an international friendly here next month is expected to unleash what locals are calling Messi mania.

More than 15,000 tickets have already been sold online for the FIFA-sanctioned Sept. 2 match at the 100,000-capacity Salt Lake Stadium, but organizers are predicting a surge of sales in coming days when the squads are announced.

Football frenzies have struck in Kolkata before, most notably when Brazilian great Pele turned out for the U.S. club Cosmos in a friendly against local club Mohan Bagan in 1977 and when German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn played for Bayern Munich against Bagan in 2008.

Local football administrator Utpal Ganguly says this game is more important than those featuring Pele and Kahn.

“Messi and Carlos Tevez are in the prime of their careers whereas Pele and Kahn played here during their twilight years,” Ganguly said. “I’m sure the crowd response will pick up once the list of players is announced.”

But some like 63-year-old football fan Binay Mukherjee are not sure whether the big names will play here. “It would be great to watch Messi and Tevez, but a doubt has cropped up among fans here on whether they will be released by their respective clubs,” Mukherjee said.

Another worry is the steep prices of tickets. Suvadeep Ghosh, an 18-year-old engineering student, says young people may not be able to afford the tickets.

“It would be a great experience for me to see Messi and Tevez. But I am not sure whether my desire would be fulfilled as the cost of tickets is pretty high,” Ghosh said.

The minimum cost of tickets is 500 rupees ($11) for registered football players of the city and 1,200 rupees ($27) for others. The match comes at a time when national body All India Football Federation is hoping to give an impetus to the world’s most popular game in a country of 1.2 billion where cricket reigns.

Last year, the AIFF signed a 15-year, $140-million deal commercial deal with IMG-Reliance, which will market football in India at all levels.—AP

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S P ORT S

Triathlete Groff gets to realize Olympic dream

Roger Federer of Switzerland

Federer feels nerves as US Open tuneup gets serious CINCINNATI: Roger Federer feels a healthy sense of nerves as the defending champion heads into the Cincinnati Masters with hopes of improving upon a poor opening showing last week in the pre-US Open campaign. Four days after losing to JoWilfried Tsonga in the Montreal third round, Federer said Monday that if he didn’t feel some tension before the last major event before the August 29 start of the major, something would be wrong.

“I think the defending champion should always feel a bit of pressure,” said the third seed. “There are a lot points you’re trying to defend. You don’t want to lose in the first round kind of thing. It obviously goes with the business. But I’m happy I feel that. If I would feel a ‘Who cares, let’s see how it goes kind of attitude,’ I think that would be completely wrong. Federer said that he was “in the right place” as play started in Cincinnati: “I’m excited, nervous of what’s to come this week. That’s kind of how I feel before every tournament.”

While he won’t be broadcasting any insecurities to outsiders, the 30-year-old would certainly agree that he could use another major title after winning the last of his Grand Slam honors with a fourth Australian Open trophy in January 2010. A four-time champion at the Ohio event, where he has won the last two editions the Swiss player is only concentrating on his first challenge as he meets Juan Del Potro in the opening round. The South American, ranked 19th, lost his first six meetings with Federer before turning the tables in dramatic fashion with the 2009 US Open title, where he beat the favorite in five sets.

Del Potro then took a victory at the

year-end final before injuring his right wrist at the 2010 Australian Open and missing much of last season. He booked an early Cincinnati victory over Andreas Seppi 4-1, retired, as the new dual ATP-WTA tournament made an early Sunday start. “It’s the past,” Federer said of his two losses to the former top-five player, “He’s gone through a rough patch. He hasn’t played at all, almost, after that London match, so ... he’s probably got what, 15 matches since? I’ve played like 80, I would just assume.” “It’s been different roads, but here we are. In the first round it’s obviously unusual to play such a good player, but we’re going to try to be as ready as we can be.”

The event will be another test for current ATP dominator Novak Djokovic, who won his ninth title of the season at the weekend in Montreal over Mardy Fish. The Serb world No 1 has become the first man on the ATP to win five Masters 1000 titles in the same season and owns victories in 53 of his 54 matches this season. There seems to be no room for doubt in the game of Djokovic, whose only loss this season came in a Roland Garros semi-final against Federer.

“It’s about having a positive attitude on the court every day, waking up every day wanting to improve, wanting to win, being determined, being professional,” Djokovic said. “It’s that desire and motivation that keeps me going. “Every match I play, I try to win, regardless which match is it, or whoever is across the net. I’m sure that there are going to be bad days. Now I’m playing the best tennis of my life. This year by far has been the best in my career.—MCT

NEW YORK: US triathlete Sarah Groff realized her dream of qualifying for the US Olympic Triathlon Team for the first time by placing seventh at the International Triathlon Union World Championship Series event in London last weekend. The spot on the team capped a tremendous season for Groff, who battled back from a fractured sacrum - a triangleshaped bone made up of five fused vertebrae in the lower back - suffered March 19, 2010.

Groff spoke with members of the media to kick off the US Olympic Committee’s 12 for ‘12 Teleconference Series, which will feature a different US athlete every month leading up to the Games. What made you decide to become a triathlete initially? I decided to become a triathlete after being a swimmer and runner for a number of years. I swam in college, although it was a very hard decision for me to choose between swimming and running and after I graduated, I still felt as though I had unfulfilled athletic potential. I participated in a few amateur triathlons throughout college and was pretty good at them and decided that I would like to take the risk and see how far I could take the sport upon graduation.

Can you describe a typical day of training for a triathlete? When you race three sports there really isn’t a typical day of training. We tend to wake up pretty early and do a swim session first thing and do about 5,000 meters.

By midday we’ll do a bike workout and in the evening we’ll do a run. Honestly, it’s highly variable; we can do two hours a day or six. We train every day and really try and find a balance in the different disciplines and get the right amount of work and recovery in.

How did you celebrate qualifying? I celebrated with my training squad, my coach and my boyfriend. Actually, I lost a completely unrelated bet a couple of months ago and was forced to go to dinner in a Wonder Woman costume. That wasn’t part of the initial planning, but I honor my bets and there are some good photographs to prove it.

How did the sacral fracture occur? I initially fractured my sacrum in March of last year when I was commuting by bike to a run workout and had a little bit of a crash, and it shouldn’t have been a big deal, but crashing is part of the sport. Normally you expect to do it in a race or in a higher-pressure situation.

How did it affect your training? I basically trained and raced with the fracture thinking that it would heal but found out in the end of November that I had re-fractured it and missed a lot of early season training in December, January and February.

Do you believe you still would have qualified for London without the injury? Months ago my brother, who watched me plug away at the sport for awhile, told me that the injury

Sarah Groff was actually going to make me a better athlete. He was absolutely right. Coming back, I didn’t have much margin for error, I had to do everything right. I had to do all the rehab right, I had to basically learn how to run again from scratch. It took a lot of patience and hard work, and that focus is paying off in the results this year.

In gearing up for the Olympics do you even pay attention to the riots in Tottenham and London or just block it out? When I was there, there were some riots, but we didn’t feel threatened at all. I definitely feel that the

Olympic organizers will do everything possible to ensure our safety. Let’s just hope that everything gets resolved in Tottenham as soon as possible.

What would it mean to you to win an Olympic medal? I think that representing the U.S. alone at the Olympics will be amazing, and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that. As for a medal, that’s a totally different dream, but the thought of trying to chase a medal next year is definitely there and I’m going to do everything that I can to be in that position. —MCT

Wenger risks UEFA wrath LONDON: Arsene Wenger could be in trouble with UEFA after repeatedly communicating with the Arsenal bench during his side’s 1-0 win over Udinese in the Champions League play-off first leg.

Wenger was forced to watch the match from the Emirates Stadium stands as the Gunners boss served a touchline ban for abusing Swiss referee Massimo Busacca in the after-

contravening the rules and he withdrew from communication.

After the match, Wenger did not attend the usual press conference, so he couldn’t be asked for his version of events, but it is possible he will get a slap on the wrists from UEFA for going a little too far with his communications.

That would be one more problem for Wenger at the start of a sea-

Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger math of last season’s stormy Champions League defeat at Barcelona.

After Arsenal officials consulted UEFA on Monday, Wenger believed he was still free to communicate with assistant Pat Rice by passing messages to first-team coach Boro Primorac, who was seated next to the Frenchman and then phoned the information down to the bench.

The trio did exactly that throughout the first half but television pictures showed the rather blatant nature of the plan and UEFA, keen not to be embarrassed, warned Wenger at the break that he was

son already riddled with difficulties for the north London club.

Wenger’s side will go to Italy for the second leg next Wednesday with only a slender advantage, secured thanks to Theo Walcott’s fourth minute volley on Tuesday, as they try to secure a place in the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.

The Gunners had to ride their luck to earn even that lead as Udinese created a host of chances, only to lose composure at the crucial moments. With better finishing from the Italians it could have been an extremely bleak start to the post-

Cesc Fabregas era.

The former Arsenal captain’s ability to retain possession and launch attacks was sorely missed 24 hours after the completion of his move to Barcelona.

As ever, Walcott offered moments of inspiration and exasperation as he scored and then missed two good chances to increase Arsenal’s lead.

Walcott will be expected to shoulder more of the attacking burden now Fabregas is gone however and he challenged Wenger to play him up front rather than on the wing.

“We’ve just got to carry on,” he said. “It’s time to move on. Cesc was a great player for the club but he’s gone. “We still have some very talented players in the squad here and we believe we can achieve something this year.

“It was nice to get the goal. I want to get more goals this season.

Hopefully the boss will play me up front now. I could have had a couple more but the keeper made some spectacular saves.”

Walcott remains confident Arsenal can finish the job next week and avoid the embarrassment of being consigned to a season in the Europa League.

“We’re in a great position but it’s far from over. We’re happy with the result but we didn’t finish it off,” he said. “That’s two clean sheets in a row now, and we’re capable of winning over there.”

Meanwhile, Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin took encouragement from the way his side troubled Arsenal even though the Serie A side have lost key players including Chile winger Alexis Sanchez.

“We shouldn’t feel satisfied with the per formance because what counts is results, but it is good to have just a small defeat,” Guidolin said.

“Everyone is talking about the players Arsenal have sold but no one is taking into consideration the players we have sold. “It hasn’t been easy for us and playing against a great team like Arsenal we could have lost by several goals. “We were a bit shy at the beginning and started slowly but got more aggressive as the game went on.” —AFP

Preview

Hearts hope to catch Spurs PARIS: Hearts are one of Scotland’s most historic clubs but have had few reasons to celebrate anything in recent times so they will be hoping for a muchneeded boost today when they host English Premier League giants Spurs in a Europa League play-off first leg clash.

The prize for the winners of the two-legged 32 matches will be a place in the group stages and Hearts are sorely in need of a good news story following a turbulent start to the season both on and off the pitch. Unpredictable Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov has already sacked one manager in the shape of the popular Jim Jefferies - who guided them to the 1998 Scottish Cup trophy in his first spell - and replaced him with Portuguese Sergio Paulo because he wanted a coach who knew how to win in Europe.

Paulo’s coaching career, like his playing one, is patchy at best but the 43-year-old at least takes the four-time champions - whose last trophy was the 2006 Scottish Cup - into the tough assignment on the back of their first league win since March, a 3-0 victory over hapless Aberdeen.

Paulo for his part is not concerned by the fact Spurs are the hot favourites and are keen on showing their place in the last eight of last season’s Champions League was the precursor of great achievements on the continental stage.

“I am not worried,” Paulo told the club’s website.

“Our players know that they are facing a very good team, but if our effort is good and our focus is good then there is no reason why we can’t win.” Hearts at least have the advantage that they are already well into their season whilst Spurs have yet to kick a ball in anger. Their opening Premier League match with Everton was postponed because of the fallout from the riots that took place near their ground over a week ago — following the fatal shooting by police of a local man - and which led to several days of unrest in the capital and other English cities.

However, Spurs insist that they are totally focused and Welsh star Gareth Bale says that they have also learnt from last season’s Champions League play-off against Swiss side Young Boys which almost saw them go out after they conceded three goals early in the first leg before recovering to score two away goals - and won the second leg 4-0.

“You learn from experiences like that and they stand you in good stead,” he told his club website.

“We know what to expect from Hearts, we know they will probably comne at us from the start, but we will also be raring to go.

“They’ll be just as determined to qualify and we’ll need to start well.” Scottish football fans nerves will be jangling as both their Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers are also in action - they have no-one in the Champions League after Rangers crashed out in the qualifying round - against Swiss side Sion and Maribor of Slovenia respectively.

They will want to pull off good results in the first leg and ease the possibility of a new historic low for Scottish football as if all three go out it will leave Scotland without a representative in the group stages of both European competitions.

Like the Glasgow duo the two Roman clubs also make their first appearance in this season’s competition but both Lazio and AS Roma appear to have simple tasks against Macedonian side Rabotnicki and Slovakian outfit Slovan Bratislava respectively.

Other standout ties include last season’s Turkish league runners-up Trabzonspor against Athletic Bilbao of Spain, and Hanover, fourth in last season’s Bundesliga, against two-time UEFA Cup winners Sevilla. Another Spanish side Atletico Madrid could also face a tough examination as they host Portuguese outfit Vitoria Guimaraes in what will be Atletico’s first competitive match since selling star Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero to Manchester City. —AFP

Briton dies after kickboxing bout SYDNEY: An experienced Thai kickboxing champion from Britain has died in Sydney after sustaining a head injury in a weekend bout, one of the sport’s leading figures said yesterday.

Mark Fowler, who held British citizenship and was the World Boxing Council Muay Thai Lightweight champion for New South Wales, collapsed after a match on Saturday night and failed to regain consciousness. He died on Monday afternoon.

“In the ring he was a force to be reckoned with,” WBC Muay Thai Asia Pacific President Pamorn Martdee said. “A champion in every sense of the word, a keen sportsman always with a smile, you could just tell he was passionate about Muay Thai and life.”

It is understood that Fowler, 35, who lived in Sydney, fought five rounds against his opponent before being knocked down.

New South Wales Sports Minister Graham Annesley has ordered an

inquiry into the death, which occurred after a NSW World Muay Thai Council event, and will be investigated by the coroner.

“I have also instructed the Office of Communities to implement any additional precautions considered necessar y to ensure all similar upcoming events fully comply with current legislation and safety requirements,” he said. Muay Thai is a martial art in which fighters use their fists, feet, knees and elbows.

—AFP

Kolkata prepares for Messi mania

England seek India whitewash at Oval

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

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Asian football stars reluctant to return homePage 18

ENSCHEDE: Luuk de Jong of FC Twente (left) vies with Luisao of Benfica (right) during their Champions League play-off first leg soccer match at the Grolsch Veste stadium. —AP

Arsenal hopes in balance, Benfica held Champions League playoffs ZURICH: Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for the 14th time in a row were in the balance after a 1-0 win at home to Udinese in the first leg of the playoffs on Tuesday.

The English Premier League side were unable to add to Theo Walcott’s fourth minute goal, leaving them with a tricky task in next week’s return in Italy.

Benfica, the only former European champions in action, drew 2-2 at Twente Enschede while Olympique Lyon, hoping to qualify for the 12th time in succession, conceded an early goal before beating Russian visitors Rubin Kazan 3-1.

Viktoria Plzen have a great chance of qualifying for the first time after a 3-1 win at FC Copenhagen while Austrian title holders Sturm Graz held Belarus champions BATE Borisov 1-1 away.

Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger banished from the touchline and captain Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri also suspended, got the perfect start against opponents playing their first competitive game of the season.

Bacary Sagna released Aaron Ramsey on the right and his pinpoint cross was met first time by Walcott. Wenger gave instructions by mobile phone from the directors’ box but was ordered to stop at halftime by UEFA officials, Arsenal said.

Udinese, who sold key players Alexis Sanchez and Gokhan Inler in the close season, could have collapsed but instead hauled themselves back into the match and in the end deserved a draw.

Captain Antonio Di Natale went close twice, hitting the bar with a free kick in the first half and also clipping a post with a shot in the second. Colombian Pablo Armero should

have scored after a 60-metre run on goal ended with him firing straight at Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal could also have had a bigger cushion for the second leg but Samir Handanovic made an outstanding save low to his left to deny Walcott from close range in the dying minutes. “The most important thing was the clean sheet,” Walcott said on Sky Sports. “They are a very strong team and we will find it difficult over there but I believe, if we play the same kind of football, we can get a result.”

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin told reporters: “I am disappointed we did not score and conceded a goal.

“But I think the tie is still very open and is there for the winning next week. However, I am disappointed that we had seven eight or nine chances and did not score.”

Benfica, who despite winning the old

European Cup twice and finishing runners-up five times have made only a modest six Champions League appearances, were denied an away win when Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz scored an 80th minute goal for Twente.

The Dutch side had taken a sixth-minute lead through Luuk de Jong before Oscar Cardozo, with a curling shot, and Nolito put the Portuguese 2-1 ahead at halftime.

Rubin Kazan took a third-minute lead at Lyon through Vladimir Dyadyun but the French replied within seven minutes through Bafetimbi Gomis and a Solomon Kverkvelia own goal put them ahead five minutes before the break.

Jimmy Briand added another midway through the second half. Solvi Ottesen scored at both ends as Copenhagen, who reached the last 16 last season, were stunned by the Czech champions. He turned the ball into his own

Serena sees off Lucie MASON: Former world number one Serena Williams continued her return to form with a convincing 6-3 7-6 victory over Czech Lucie Hradecka in the first round of the Cincinnati Open Tuesday but showed signs of fatigue in her second set.

Williams, who clinched the Toronto Cup on Sunday, is looking for her third tournament win since coming back from an 11-month injury layoff in June. The American will next face the woman she beat in Sunday’s final-Australian Samantha Stosur-in the second round. Tenthseeded Stosur brushed aside Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-3 6-1 in her opening match.

Williams looked in good form in the first set as she pounded her serve against the 49thranked Hradecka, who came into this week on a six-match losing streak.

However the American, who was 5-1 up in the second, struggled to finish off her opponent and showed some signs of tiredness before sealing victory in the tie-break.

“I was definitely up, I didn’t close it out and she started playing differently and better and

running a lot,” Williams said after recording her 12th consecutive win. I was just struggling at that point.

“I haven’t played in almost a year, and even the year before I didn’t play that much. But I would rather have that than fresh legs from not winning.”

With the US Open just a fortnight away, Williams said she was wary of pushing herself too hard before the last grand slam event of the season. “I’m going to have to figure that out,” she added. I definitely don’t want to overdo it. My main goal right now is obviously to do well.

“Nothing against Cincinnati or Toronto or the Stanfords that I played, but this is all preparation.

Everyone is preparing for the US Open, so I have to be smart and make sure it’s not too much,” Williams said. World number seven Maria Sharapova had little trouble defeating Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-1 6-3 in her second round match. “I had a few ups and downs in the second set but I finished it well. I thought I played aggressively and felt better than I did last week.” World number five Li Na of China won her

net to give Plzen the lead in the 52nd minute and Vaclav Pilar fired home the second seven minutes later.

Ottesen made amends by heading home for the Danes in the 69th minute but Martin Fillo curled in a superb third for Plzen 10 minutes later.

Sturm Graz, who last qualified in 2000/01, went ahead when Manuel Weber provided a clinical finish to a counter-attack in the 12th minute. They should have scored again before halftime when Milan Dudic, unmarked and four metres from goal, failed to connect with Andreas Hoelzl’s free kick.

The hosts, who had much more possession, levelled with a Marko Simic header just before the hour. Five more playoff matches are scheduled for Wednesday, including four-times European champions Bayern Munich against FC Zurich, with the second legs to be played

Federer dispatches Del Potro

MASON: Serena Williams returns a serve against Lucie Hradecka, from the Czech Republic, during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament. —AP second round match against Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-4 while eighth seed Marion Bartoli of France beat Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-1 6-2.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeated South African Chanelle Scheepers 7-6 6-3 although it was hardly a classic performance from the Czech who said she had “felt confused” with her game. —Reuters

MASON: World number three Roger Federer cast aside bad memories to defeat Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open Tuesday.

Del Potro had upset Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open final before injuries set back his career but the Swiss looked at is comfortable best in the first set.

It was a much closer encounter in the second set which was played to serve until the Swiss broke to go 6-5 up.

Federer had missed out on six break points prior to winning that game. He then held serve to go through to face American James Blake.

“I expected a tough match with Juan Martin for obvious reasons, and it went better than I thought,” said a relaxed Federer. “I thought I played a wonderful first set and a very good second set, too.

That was obviously enough tonight.

“I don’t think I really allowed Juan Martin to be able to play the game he usually plays. “It’s quick conditions, so you’re never going to maybe find the

rhythm like you would on a slower court.

“But I was able to mix it up well, I served well, and did all the right things tonight.” Del Potro’s chances of repeating his success of 2009 in New York this year look slim but he was pleased that his many physical problems, including a bad wrist injury, seem to be behind him.

“I’m much better than I expected to be at this stage. I don’t have any pain, no dangerous pain. My wrist is OK and I can play on every surface,” said the Argentine. “It is not easy for me but I’m close to what is my favourite tournament and I will be ready for a fight in New York.”

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga looked back to full fitness while Czechs Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek came through their first tests. Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsonga defeated Croat Marin Cilic 6-3 6-4 in the opening round, dropping just six points on serve and hitting nine aces. —Reuters

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Financial mergers hard to crack in overbanked Gulf Page 23

Malaysia seen holding rates as growth slows

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KSE stocks lose gains Page 24

KAMCO posts KD 0.44m net profit in H1 FY11 Page 22

LISBON: A broker stretches while working in a trading room of a Portuguese bank during a Portuguese short-term debt auction in Lisbon yesterday. Portugal has raised euro 1.16 billion ($1.67 billion) in a shortterm debt auction amid continuing market jitters over the euro-zone’s sovereign debt crisis. —AP

Obama readying plan to boost jobs Proposals on deficit-cutting exceed $1.5 trillion target WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will announce a double-barrelled economic package that aims to boost hiring and find budget savings that surpass the $1.5 trillion goal of a congressional deficit-cutting committee.

His ideas will be outlined in a major speech immediately after the Sept. 5 Labor Day holiday, White House officials said. While no final decisions have been made, it is likely the jobs proposals will include tax

cuts for businesses that hire new employees, tax cuts for the middle class, and support for sectors of the economy that are falling behind, the officials said.

The measures are also expected to include investments in infrastructure beyond the construction projects the president has been repeatedly calling for as well as some assistance for the long-term unemployed. The White House also suggested that Obama would push the congressional “super

committee”-set up this month to find more budget savings under the debt ceiling deal-to go beyond their $1.5 trillion target.

He plans to call again for a “balanced approach” to reducing the deficit, with revenue increases alongside spending cuts, the officials said, also suggesting job measures may be included to offset painful cuts. The super committee is due to unveil a compromise package on Nov. 23 that must be agreed by Congress by Dec.

23. Obama’s job approval ratings have slid over the past month after the debt ceiling talks pushed the United States to the brink of default, prompting a Standard & Poor’s ratings downgrade and a stock market slide.

US economic output figures were also revised lower for the start of 2011, showing a highly fragile recovery under Obama’s watch despite his big stimulus programs, including an auto industry bailout. The Democratic

Euro shares plunge as meeting disappoints LONDON: Financial services stocks bore the brunt of selling as the FTSEurofirst fell yesterday in response to proposals set out

by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed at tackling the euro zone debt crisis.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.5 percent at 964.80 points. “The meeting was a significant disappointment in terms of resolving the European sovereign debt crisis,” Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC Markets, said.

“It felt like two parties protecting their own interests or underestimating the severity of the situation, rather than addressing the broader problem conclusively.”

Deutsche Boerse, London Stock Exchange Group and NYSE Euronext shares traded in Paris fell up to 6 percent as Sarkozy and Merkel unveiled a plan to tax financial transactions. UBS analysts said the tax-often known as a Tobin tax after economist James Tobin who first suggested the measure in the early 1970scould have significant consequences for volumes, citing the example of Sweden in the 1990s where such a tax resulted in an 85 percent fall in volumes. “Assuming that the proposed tax would be based on the existing EC proposal, ie a tax of 10bps for shares and bonds and 1bps on notional of derivatives, (this) would increase trading costs by 10 to 20 fold,” UBS said.

Analysts said the UK, with its huge financial services sector, would be worst hit and the most unlikely to back the proposal. London-listed interdealer broker ICAP fell 4.0 percent on concerns the tax would hit its earnings and spread-betting

firm IG Group shed 5.0 percent.

Natixis strategists said the tax in Sweden led to almost half of equity trades move to London by 1990 and was abandoned a year later as the loss in terms of business almost offset the gains.

Ireland, a major centre for funds administration in Europe, said it would insist that any such tax apply to the entire European Union rather than just euro-zone members.

France and Germany also unveiled a plan for closer euro-zone integration, but stopped short of raising the size of the region’s rescue fund, rejecting for now the idea of a common euro-zone bond and doing little to quell the rising worry over the growth outlook.

“I think the broad thrust of what they came up with is fiscally contractionary, which is driving quite a bit of the move in stocks,” Cormac Leech, banks analyst at Canaccord Genuity said, citing the call for fiscally-adjusted balanced budgets for euro zone members as the region struggles to maintain growth.

In a sign the Bank of England sees the economic outlook worsening, its minutes showed two policymakers had backed down from their argument to raise interest rates, while others considered another round of quantitative easing.

Around Europe, the UK’s FTSE 100 index was down 0.8 percent, Germany’s DAX index was down 1.1 percent and France’s CAC 40 eased 0.1 percent.

Recent volatile markets and the lack of visibility on the economic outlook have resulted in investors heavily punishing companies that report poor earnings or a weak outlook. —Reuters

president is widely seen to have few tools left to bolster the US economy and tackle unemployment levels which remain stuck above 9 percent.

Republicans in Congress-and on the campaign trail-are resisting any big new spending or stimulus measures from the White House. Jobs and the economy will be pivotal in the 2012 election in which Obama is seeking re-election.

Yesterday, the president was wrapping up a three-day bus tour

through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois in which he has been repeating welltread proposals to boost hiring, including free trade legislation, payroll tax cuts and highway repair work.

Obama said on Monday that he would put forward an economic growth plan to address jobs and the deficit when Congress returns from its summer recess. But at the time, he disclosed no details of what the package might contain. —Reuters

Bahrain Q1 GDP drops 1.4% q/q as unrest bites

A “one Swiss franc” coin is seen on top of a 50-Euro note on this picture taken yesterday. The Swiss central bank stepped into the market injecting 80 billion francs ($101 billion, 89 billion euros) in liquidity, but failed to stem the currency’s rise against the euro and the dollar. —AFP

DUBAI: Bahrain’s economy shrank by 1.4 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of 2011 as unrest hit businesses in the tourism sector, its first quarterly contraction since the global financial crisis in late 2008, data showed.

The small non-OPEC oil exporter saw its real gross domestic product growing by a sharply revised 0.2 percent in the final three months of 2010 compared with the previous quarter, the data from the Central Informatics Organization showed.

On an annual basis, GDP growth of the Arab island kingdom, at some $14 billion the smallest economy in the Gulf, slowed to 1.8 percent in the first quarter from a revised 3.7 percent in October-December 2010, the data also showed.

“I guess it could have been worse.

Down 1.4 percent does not look too bad given the backdrop and given some of the horror stories about what was happening in Bahrain,” said Daniel Kaye, senior economist at National Bank of Kuwait.

The island kingdom, a financial hub where nearly $9 billion in mutual funds is parked, had been rocked in February and March by its worst public unrest since the 1990s.

Around 30 people died in a month of unrest which brought in Saudi troops, closed banks and shops and triggered capital flight. At the time, NCB Capital estimated economic losses at $1 billion, which makes up 17 percent of the first quarter GDP. Analysts polled by Reuters in June slashed their 2011 growth forecasts to

2.7 percent from 3.4 percent expected in March . Some said yesterday the first quarter GDP reading was in line with expectations.

“A lot of analysts have already downgraded Bahrain. This (first quarter data) seems to be consistent with that,” said Giyas Gokkent, head of research at National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

“We were expecting adverse impact on the financial sector. If you look at the financial sector in nominal terms it was flat year-on-year and in real terms there was actually some growth, which is surprising,” he said.

In July, Central Bank Governor Rasheed al-Maraj expected the economy to expand by 3 percent this year, less than 4.5 percent seen by the finance ministry in March.

Bahrain’s financial sector, which accounts for around 22 percent of the GDP, has been only slowly picking up from the global financial crisis and a regional property crash. It grew 1.3 percent year-on-year in real terms in January-March. Hotels were the most heavily hit by the uprising against the Sunni-led government, showing a 30.3 percent output slump, while restaurants lost 4.6 percent from a year ago.

The real estate sector, which has yet to return to levels seen before the global crisis, was down 2.4 percent in the first quarter. Transport and communication and government services were the main GDP drivers, analysts said, growing at a 12.0 percent and 4.8 percent annual clip, respectively. —Reuters

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BUSINESS

KAMCO posts KD 0.44m net profit in H1 FY11 Firm records a total revenue of KD 6.06 million KUWAIT: KIPCO Asset Management Company KSC (KAMCO) yesterday reported its financial results for the first half ended 30th June 2011. During the first six months, the company recorded a net profit of KD 0.44 million with earnings-per-share (EPS) of 1.86 fils.

In the first half, KAMCO recorded a total revenue of KD 6.06 million. Total shareholders’ equity reached KD 87.55 million while total assets reached KD 154.08 million by the end of the second quarter. Assets under management reached KD 2.16 billion.

On this occasion, KAMCO Managing Director and CEO Sadoun Abdullah Ali said, “In spite of the difficulties faced in the financial and investment sectors in Kuwait, we were able to maintain our positive track record in the Company ’s performance which is conveyed through our achieved profits since our establishment in 1998.

Moreover, KAMCO is one of the listed companies that did not record any quarterly or yearly losses for the past 13 years in the investment sector. We at KAMCO are keen to sustain our chain of continuous achievements in

Lastly, on behalf of KAMCO’s board and top management, I would like to pay gratitude to our shareholders, clients as well as our employees for their constant support, as we hopefully look forward to more positive results in

order to magnify our financial status and to preserve financial stability and balanced performance in the Company. We also continue to follow our conservative strategy in all our investment activities to accomplish positive

KAMCO Managing Director and CEO Sadoun Abdullah Ali the near future.”

Established in 1998 with the mission to significantly alter the local and regional investment landscape, KAMCO is a premier investment company based in Kuwait. A subsidiary of United Gulf Bank (UGB) - the investment bank-

results.

We would also like to assure that KAMCO’s team resumes to improve its working methods in order to offer the best investment services to the Company’s clients to keep up with the fastgrowing changes in this sector.

ing subsidiary of Kuwait Projects (Holding) Company (KIPCO) KAMCO was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in 2003.

After more than twelve years of conducting business in Kuwait’s dynamic investment industry, KAMCO has successfully established a robust reputation for solidity, characterized by its prudent, conservative investment philosophy which has consistently commanded the goodwill of a wide patron-base.

KAMCO’s Asset Management Division specializes in customized portfolio management, access to IPOs, and local and international fund management.

The Investment Advisory and Research Division tracks the latest directions and trends across regional and local economies as well as equity markets and offers a range of customized services that focus on maximizing returns, mitigating risks, and maintaining capital appreciation for individual and institutional clients.

The Company’s Financial Services and Investment Division offers a full range of advisory services on mergers and acquisitions, underwriting, private placements, debt issuance and restructuring, and private equity management.

Strategic Marketing to launch ‘HomeStyle Show 2011’ in UAE ABU DHABI: Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, capital’s economy witnessed a 15.9 per cent one of the leading exhibition and conference growth, along with record gains of AED 85 billion organizers in the United Arab Emirates, has in 2010, which saw Abu Dhabi’s GDP at current announced the launch of ‘HomeStyle Show 2011’, prices growing to AED 620.2 billion, up 15.9 per the first-of-its-kind interiors and lifestyle exhibi- cent from AED 546.5 billion.

“The UAE’s interior design industry is growing tion in the UAE capital, which will be held from by leaps and bounds due to the November 24 to November 26, 2011 continuous influx of construction at the Abu Dhabi National and infrastructure projects and the Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC). The accompanying demand for more exciting three-day event aims to interior design ser vices,” said leverage the expected 14,000 new Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, Strategic residential units to be delivered in Marketing and Exhibitions. “Looking Abu Dhabi during the second half of to position ourselves across this rap2011. These statistics, which come idly developing segment, we are from a recent Jones Lang LaSalle proud to announce the launch of report, bode well for owners of these ‘HomeStyle Show 2011,’ a pioneernew units, who will find ‘HomeStyle ing event that will not only highShow’ as a strategic one-stop-shop light what’s hot and what’s new in venue for their interior and home home interior design but will also furnishing needs.

‘HomeStyle Show 2011’ is being Dawood Al-Shezawi give visitors a firsthand look at the latest products in home decorating.” held in line with the UAE’s 2014 A recent report from ProLeads, a leading UAEInternational Green Building Compliance Program, setting out to be a venue to discuss and develop based research firm, shows that the total value of effective ways to meet energy efficient require- interior design contracting projects from 2009 to ments and standards set by the government. The 2010 in the GCC reached over $22 billion with the exhibition will feature a wide variety of products UAE accounting for two-thirds of the total value of and services from over 100 exhibitors coming from all projects. From a global perspective, interior 15 countries. During the event, visitors will be able design makes up between 15 to 20 per cent of the to see live and interactive demonstrations at a des- total project value of contracts. With over $186 ignated space called the ‘Inspiration Area.’ Further, billion of hotel projects under construction worldthe exhibition complements a Statistics Centre wide or planned to begin in the next two years, Abu Dhabi (SCAD) report revealing that the UAE UAE projects equate to 41 per cent of this total

figure. The report further shows that the UAE’s total spending for the interior design industry is expected to reach $22.5 billion in 2011. Confident of the favorable market conditions, the organizers are positive of the response for the ‘HomeStyle Show 2011’.

“These are quite exciting times for Abu Dhabi as it strategically positions itself as an emerging growth hub. It also marks the perfect time to launch ‘HomeStyle Show,’ which is being packaged as a first-of-its-kind exhibition for the interior design segment. We have prepared a strategic program of activities and events that will surely give visitors an idea of what they will need in designing or redecorating their homes while our exhibitors will be afforded the opportunity of meeting new contacts and create key opportunities,” concluded Al Shezawi.

Exhibitors of ‘HomeStyle Show’ are posed to gain a six-point advantage in joining the event, which includes the opportunity to sell their respective products and offered services; network with visitors face to face; source new distributors; market products and services to visitors from across the globe under one roof; explore new markets; gain immense media exposure and enhance the exhibitors brand or image.

Exhibitors will be showcasing the latest in architectural & design ser vices; home furniture; kitchen & bathroom accessories and landscaping & outdoor living to a target audience comprising consumers, home owners, leading contractors, and developers.

New Ford Explorer balances on-road handling with 4WD terrain management system KUWAIT: The Ford Explorer has been reinvented from the ground up to provide drivers with significantly improved on-road driving dynamics, new four-wheel-drive (4WD) capabilities and an intuitiveto- operate terrain management system.

“Explorer customers asked us to improve the on-road driving experience,” said Jim Holland, chief nameplate engineer. “Yet they want the ‘any road, anytime, anywhere, in all weather’ confidence and capability Explorer always has delivered. With its unique and intuitively operated terrain management system, the 4WD model offers easily accessed, selectable modes for maximum traction and control in a variety of offthe-beaten-track situations.”

mise steering behavior to boost driver confidence across a wide variety of driving conditions.

EPAS - in addition to saving weight and helping increase fuel economy because of reduced parasitic drag on the engine - also enables optional active park assist functionality.

Intelligent system The new Ford Explorer democratises 4WD technology - what used to be limited to luxury SUVs is now with the new Explorer without a dent on the budget. M odels equipped with intelligent 4WD with terrain management use technology to provide the driver with security and confidence in a variety of climate and surface conditions.

Terrain management gives the driver choice settings including normal, mud and ruts, sand and snow.

I ntelligent 4WD with terrain management also includes H ill Descent Control. This stability control system feature is intended to control vehicle speed and acceleration during low-speed descents off the beaten path, or low-grip onroad situations.

Explorer road dynamics The Explorer shift to a unibody platform has enabled significantly improved on-road dynamics. Fully independent front and rear suspension, EPAS, a robust front stabiliser bar, and careful suspension development and tuning provide confidence-building vehicle behavior and handling characteristics.

I n front, Explorer features a shor t- and long-arm suspension configuration, with progressive springs designed to give a smooth ride across a variety of road surfaces and load conditions. Unique dampers are specified to enhance dynamic driving and handling, without wallow or jounce. A 32-millimeter front stabiliser bar helps keep Explorer stable in cornering situations.

In low-speed parking maneuvers, the EPAS system adds boost for easy negotiation of tight spots, with a segment- competitive turning radius. Power assist is reduced at speed to provide increased communicative steering feedback. Variable assistance allows Explorer to opti-

Class III towing Explorer V6 models can be equipped to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Trailer brake control wiring is included, in addition to trailer sway control - a feature borrowed from the Ford F-150. Trailer sway senses side-to-side trailer movement and uses stabilisation controls to keep the vehicle/trailer combination in confident control. A rear view camera with zoom feature helps the Explorer driver to line up perfectly for every trailer hookup.

Explorer continues the tradition of capability, with enhanced accessibility of 4WD empowerment and towing strength while taking onroad dynamics to a new level.

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

.2700000 .4410000 .3880000 .3450000 .2740000 .2810000 .0040000 .0020000 .0738330 .7193300 .3810000 .0700000 .7051700 .0040000 .0430000

.2760000 .4540000 .3970000 .3580000 .2860000 .2930000 .0072500 .0035000 .0745750 .7265590 .4010000 .0760000 .7122580 .0072000 .0530000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2716000 .2737000 .4438890 .4473220 .3906560 .3936760 .3478260 .3505150 .2760300 .2781650 .0524440 .0528500 .0421870 .0425130 .2835100 .2857020 .0348530 .0351220 .2256380 .2273820 .0035360 .0035630 .0000000 .0060820 .0000000 .0025000 .0000000 .0031710 .0000000 .0036790 .0740710 .0745470 .0739750 .7262840 .0000000 .3871290 .0724460 .0730060 .7057300 .7111860 .0000000 .0065010

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

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.585 6.012 3.144 2.478 3.772 227.120 35.044 3.645

Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

6.421 9.142 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 72.829 75.041 709.370 725.390 74.367

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 47.150 45.700 1.250 201.480 385.670 183.200 5.896 35.226

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 273.000 Euro 394.490 Sterling Pound 450.310 Canadian dollar 280.000 Turkish lire 153.980 Swiss Franc 349.330 Australian dollar 286.380 US Dollar Buying 271.800

Sterling Pound US Dollar

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

SELL CASH 290.000 725.690 3.830 281.400 536.000 36.300 53.200 167.800 46.500 397.500 35.710 6.280

SELL DRAFT 288.500 725.690 3.647 279.900

226.500 45.746 396.000 35.560 6.025

0.033 0.240 0.237 3.650 387.530 0.185 94.680 47.100 4.200 232.200 1.850 50.900 708.730 3.260 6.610 75.490 72.850 226.540 40.960 2.625 452.500 43.200 348.600 5.600 9.500 198.263 74.400 273.200 1.210

0.033

385.650 0.184 94.680 3.780 230.700

347.100 5.600 9.320 74.300 272.800

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 450.500 272.800

Selling Rate 272.750 279.310 446.905 394.500 350.040 723.150 74.235 74.865 72.695 383.925 45.776 2.479 6.038

3.154 3.650 6.425 669.019 3.645 9.230 5.743 3.860 90.599

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 Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 272.800 3.160 6.030 2.495 3.655 6.470 74.375 72.950 725.300 45.700 454.100 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 387.600 5.750 396.900 284.200

Al Mulla Exchange

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees

Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 708.550 3.170 6.435 75.060 72.850 226.540 40.960 2.482 450.500

GOLD 1,830.460

10 Tola

GOLD 323.000 163.000 84.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

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

Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar 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 (Per 1000) 272.250 395.900 448.500 279.900 3.575 6.023 45.690 2.479 3.650 6.435 3.150 725.600 74.250 72.775

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Privatization update

by Kuwait Airways KUWAIT: In advance of the 25 August deadline, the Privatization Committee of Kuwait Airways (PrivComm) and its advisers are following up with all parties who have made contact regarding the Expressions of Interest phase (EOI) of the privatization program.

PrivComm’s foremost commitment is to ensure the best outcome for the people and the economy of Kuwait as well as the employees of the business.

It is working in close collaboration with its consortium of advisors to manage and monitor the process and continues to invite interested parties who wish to receive a copy of the EOI package, highlighting the opportunity, transaction process and application form, to register at the following website: www.kacprivatisation.com. The deadline for submission of all EOIs is August 25, 2011 at 5:00PM (Kuwait time).

WILLINGBORO: Various prescription drugs on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions, are displayed in Willingboro, N.J. Companies paid higher prices for tobacco, pickup trucks and pharmaceuticals in July, driving underlying wholesale inflation up by the most in six months. —AP

Pricey tobacco pushes up US core inflation WASHINGTON: US core producer prices rose at their fastest pace in six months in July, pushed up by higher tobacco and light truck costs, but weak domestic demand was seen keeping inflation under control. The Labor Department said yesterday its seasonally adjusted index for prices paid at the farm and factory gate, excluding food and energy, rose 0.4 percent-the largest increase since January-after rising 0.3 percent in June.

That compared with economists’ expectations for a 0.2 percent rise.

Overall prices received by producers rose 0.2 percent, above economists’ expectations for a 0.1 percent gain, after falling 0.4 percent in June. “Nobody is going to get too excited about inflation risks at this point,” said Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC World Markets in Toronto.

US financial markets were little moved by the data. The Federal Reserve last week promised to keep interest rates near zero for the next two years to stimulate growth, saying the outlook for infla-

tion over the medium-term was subdued.

A spike in food and energy prices pushed up inflation early this year, but weak economic growth and high unemployment kept underlying price pressures contained. In the 12 months to July, core producer prices increased 2.5 percent, the largest rise since June 2009.

Tobacco accounted for almost a quarter of the rise in the monthly core PPI rate, with light motor trucks and pharmaceuticals also making significant contributions.

Light truck prices increased 1 percent, while tobacco surged 2.8 percent, the largest increase since March 2009.

Overall producer prices were bumped up by food costs, which rose 0.6 percent as potatoes recorded their biggest increase in almost a year. Gasoline prices, however, fell 2.8 percent.

In the 12 months to July, producer prices rose 7.2 percent after increasing 7.0 percent the prior month. The rise was above economists’ expectations for a 7.0 percent advance. — Reuters

Two Iran fuel oil parcels offered at high premiums SINGAPORE: At least two spot fuel oil cargoes from Iran, totaling about 120,000 tons for August-September loading, have been offered to a tightlysupplied market, mainly due to wellbelow average volumes from the country for two consecutive months, traders said yesterday.

The National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) offered two 60,0000-tonne cargoes, of low-water 380-centistoke (cst) specification, for loading in end-August and firsthalf September from its Bandar Abbas refinery. The cargoes were offered at premiums of $15.00-$16.00 a ton to Middle East spot 180-cst quotes on a cost-andfreight (C&F) basis.

“These cargoes are available because they are not from the Bandar Mahshahr plant that had its spot exports kept at home due to the natural gas problem,” a Singapore-based Asian trader said.

“But at the levels that the Iranians are looking at, there is no way that these cargoes would find their way East. But, given how limited on-spec cargoes are in the Middle East, I’m sure there would be players from there who will be paying up.” Iranian arrivals into East Asia have fallen to less than 300,000 tons for August and September, down from a monthly average of 550,000-600,000 tons this year and well below June’s record-high volumes of more than 1 million tons.

The Iranian volumes, which had kept the under-supplied East Asian market balanced in terms of both quantity and quality over the past three months, are typically made up the Bandar Abbas cargoes and higher-quality straight-run 280-cst lots from Bandar Mahshahr, and delivered by Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).

Traders said these fresh Iranian offers are not expected to ease the tightness in Asia, as the high offer levels and their small lot size do not offer the economies of scale to move them east. “To make the

economies of scale work, the cargoes would have to be delivered here by VLCC, but it would take too long to fill up, as the cargoes are only available once every two weeks,” another trader said.

The Bandar Mahshahr cargoes, which are used mainly as refinery feedstock, are also sold to term lifters in East Asia, that have included oil major Shell, China’s Tianbao and Singapore’s Kuo Oil. These exports are the ones that have been cut, due to disruptions to Iran’s domestic gas supplies at the giant South Pars field, which are expected to be resolved by early October.

The shortage of low-density Iranian cargoes created a vacuum, amid a strong-demand environment in both the Middle East and East Asia, forcing players to scramble for alternatives and driving premiums up.

Part of the shortage was met by higher exports from Kuwait, which sold three prompt 380-cst cargoes of 80,000 tonnes each, due to an outage at a secondary unit, at year-high premiums.

The latest parcel, for Aug. 21-22 loading, was sold to oil major Shell at a premium of $21.00-$23.00 a ton to Middle East spot quotes, FOB, down from a premium of $23.00-$25.00 for the previous tender.

The shortage of on-specification cargoes have also drawn offers of rare lowviscosity light cycle oil (LCO) cutters, for end-August to early-September lifting, from the Samref refinery in Yanbu, jointly operated by Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil.

The high premium levels have kept the Middle East-origin cargoes in the region, depriving an already-tight East Asia market of supplies.

Below-average volumes of 650,000700,000 tons of fuel oil from the Middle East arrived East Asia for this month, down from the monthly average of 1.001.05 million tons this year, Reuters data showed. — Reuters

Financial mergers hard to crack in overbanked Gulf Bahrain Islamic, Al-Salam latest lenders to eye tie-up DUBAI: The planned merger of two Bahraini banks, intended to create the largest Islamic lender in the Gulf Arab kingdom, could pave the way for more consolidation in a regional industry frozen in its tracks by unrealistic valuations and ownership limits. The proposed tie-up between Bahrain Islamic Bank and smaller rival Al Salam Bank to create a $4.5 billion entity, unveiled this month, is a litmus test for the region after the last attempted merger, between two Qatari banks, failed. The two Bahraini lenders said late on Tuesday that they had received approval from the central bank for their planned merger and have hired KPMG Fakhro as advisor.

If successful, the merger would be a first for two Gulf-based Islamic banks but bankers say that its greater significance could lie in helping break down psychological blocks to dealmaking in the region. “ The Bahrain merger would probably lower the barriers and get people thinking about the need to consolidate,” said Sameer Abdi, M&A and financial services partner at Ernst & Young in Doha. “If that

goes ahead, there’s a possibility we could even see one or two mergers by the end of the year.”

There have long been calls for consolidation in the Gulf Arab banking sector-lenders, particularly Islamic ones, need to build scale and profitability. But strict ownership restrictions, stark valuation disparities and an unwillingness to lose control hamper bankers’ ability to execute any deals.

“A lot of these banking mergers in the region makes sense on paper but reality is often harsh when you try to get the deals done,” said a Dubai-based banker advising on financial deals, who asked not to be identified. “People have put on a mental block against bank mergers and as a firm, we have stopped pitching these ideas unless we see some clear light at the end of the tunnel.”

Markets such as the United Arab Emirates are significantly overbanked with 51 financial institutions — 23 local and 28 foreign lenders-in a country of five million people. The tiny Gulf state of Qatar has 18 banks despite the largest

player having a more than 20 percent market share.

Adding to woes of smaller local players, foreign banks have beefed up their presence in the region and taken away lucrative investment banking business.

Abdi said Islamic banks in particular are struggling for growth and will need to create larger institutions in order to compete with conventional banks.

The UAE’s last successful bank merger was the 2007 union of National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank to form Emirates NBD. Qatar’s Al Khaliji Commercial Bank and International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) called off a planned merger in June after failing to reach an agreement on terms.

“Politics and economics have held up consolidation in the sector,” said Waleed El-Amir, Middle East North Africa (MENA) investment banking head at Bank of AmericaMerrill Lynch.

“National ownership rules in certain Gulf countries restrict foreign ownership to 49 percent or below, making it difficult for foreign

acquirers to seek control.”

UAE’s Noor Islamic Bank, which once predicted it would expand through aggressive acquisitions, has changed its model since the financial crisis and political turmoil hit the region.

“The market for M&A is very difficult in this region right now,” said Hussein al Qemzi, Noor’s chief executive. “People are just not interested in M&A.” Bankers also blame a lack of transparency related to the quality of corporate assets for the drop-off in activity. “What you see is not necessarily what you get,” said BofA Merrill’s El-Amir. Total value of completed deals in the Middle East stood at $14.18 billion in the first half, a 65 percent slump versus the year-ago period, according to Thomson Reuters data. No bank mergers have been completed in the last two years in the region.

“These (banking) mergers have to happen in multiple jurisdictions to have a lasting impact on the industry,” said an Islamic banker, adding that the Bahraini deal would be good first step. — Reuters

Mideast gas oil and fuel oil markets tight KHOBAR: The Middle East naphtha market held firm this week on the back of strong petrochemical margins and tenders from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, while gasoline demand was weak, traders said. “Naphtha has firmed up with regional premiums at around mid-teens versus low teens last week,” said one trader.

State-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) offered 50,000 tons of full-range spot naphtha for Sept. 10-20 loading in a tender due to be awarded today, traders said yesterday. The offer comes amid strong demand for heavy grades and full-range naphtha due to tight supplies and firm demand from aromatics makers. In the UAE, stateowned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) offered 50,000 tons of spot paraffinic naphtha for Sept. 24-25 loading by a tender which closes yesterday.

Sentiment is stronger than it was from mid-May to mid-July when sellers were mainly focusing on lower demand from Taiwan after Formosa shut its No. 1 cracker following a pipeline fire on May 12. The cracker remains offline.

In early July, ADNOC sold 125,000 tons of naphtha for the first half of August at premiums of about $12.00 a ton on a freeon-board (FOB) basis.

Traders said gasoline demand was depressed in the Gulf on a lack of buying but premiums were holding due to a tight gasoline market in Asia. One trader pegged

premiums at $100 a ton above spot Middle East benchmark naphtha for 95 RON gasoline while another trader said premiums for the grade were around $30-$40 a ton above Mediterranean spot quotes.

The fuel oil market remained tight this week due to Iran using fuel oil that it usually exports in its own power plants as maintenance at Iran’s South Pars gas field limits alternative fuel supply.

At least two spot fuel oil cargoes from Iran, totalling about 120,000 tons for August-September loading, have been offered to a market that has been tight mainly due to well below average export volumes from the country for the last two months, traders said.

One trader pegged Fujairah premiums for 180 centistoke (cst) fuel oil at $20 a ton above Middle East spot quotes. In the gas oil market, a trader pegged premiums for low-sulfur gas oil, known as 500 ppm, at $3.30 a barrel, while 0.5 percent gas oil premiums were around +60 cents a barrel.

UAE fuel retailer Emarat has bought 30,000 tons of gas oil from Emirates National Oil Co (ENOC), the trader added.

The tender was to help meet Emarat’s higher summer demand and Emarat bought the cargo at around $4 a barrel to Middle East spot quotes on a cost-and-freight (CIF) basis. “The middle distillates market continues to be tight on (low) availability,” a second trader said. — Reuters

UAE builder Arabtec wins $76.2m deal from Nakheel DUBAI: Dubai builder Arabtec has won a 280 million dirham ($76.2 million) contract from developer Nakheel, Dubai World’s property arm, to build a residential project in the emirate, it said yesterday.

The largest builder in the United Arab Emirates by market value will take 22 months to complete the 523 unit project at Jumeirah Village Circle, which will consist of villas and townhouses, it said in a statement on Dubai’s bourse website. Arabtec is looking to eventually more-than-dou-

ble its workforce to 25,000 in Saudi Arabia as it continues to shift its focus to other markets following a real estate collapse in Dubai, it said in June. The builder also expects to maintain its current backlog of projects worth around 15 billion dirhams in all of its markets by the end of the year. Developer Nakheel will issue a $1.63 billion Islamic bond to trade creditors by August 25, as part of a $10.9 billion restructuring process, its chairman was reported as saying earlier this month. — Reuters

OFFICE DEPOT - BUILDING CLASSROOMS OF THE FUTURE Office Depot, celebrating 25 years as a leading global provider of office supplies and services, announces its participation at the prime educational technology event, Kuwait Education 2011, which will be held from 18 - 20th October 2011 at the Movenpick Free Trade Zone Convention Center.

Kuwait Edutech 2011 organized under the patronage of Mr. Ahmad AlMulaifi, Kuwait Minister of Education and Higher Education, MOE, and Conference Chairman, Dr. Khaled Al Rasheed, Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Information, MOE, will promote latest trends, innovations and technological advancements in education field, and addresses the challenges in achieving sustainable school buildings and creating innovative learning environment (www.q8-edu.com) Kuwait Edutech 2011 will allow office Depot to engage directly with key decision makers in the educational world to explore business opportunities relating to a wide variety of a school renovation and construction projects in Kuwait.

These projects, being run by the Ministry of Education in Kuwait, include the ‘Smart Classrooms Project’ and ‘New Schools for Children with Special Needs’.

Kuwait Edutech 2011 is a great

opportunity for Office Depot to showcase its commitment to assist the Ministry of Education in their drive to deliver educational excellence by improving the innovation, sustainability and performance of their schools. Office Depot is committed to the delivery of quality design services, technology, furniture and school supplies which provide students with world class learning environments.

Office Depot provides variety of educational products and services to customers in more countries than any other supplies company in the world. Office Depot focuses on creating a real business solution for every customer, significantly reducing the costs of running an educational establishment. The brand is also the multi-sourcing of office and educational products, computer supplies, business machines, related supplies, and office and classroom furniture.

In Kuwait, Office Depot - The Avenues and Office Depot - Shuwaikh, stock a wide range of quality office and educational supplies to equip classrooms and home study areas for students of all ages. Schools and universities that require larger orders can browse products and order using the Business Solutions catalogue.

WARSAW: A woman walks on a platform at an unusually quiet train station in Warsaw yesterday. Workers with Poland’s regional railway service waged a 24-hour strike to demand higher wages, leaving tens of thousands of commuters scrambling to find other means of travel. — AP

EU integration yes, but not for here and now BRUSSELS: French and German calls for a new economic “government” for the euro-zone may have left markets underwhelmed, but there is no mistaking the direction of ever-closer integration, analysts said yesterday.

Nonetheless, deep-seated doubts remain as to how much impact Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy’s latest initiative will have on the debt crisis that eurozone currently faces.

The markets were disappointed at their failure to back eurobonds-joint bonds that would reduce borrowing rates for weaker states as they would be guaranteed by the entire eurozone. Likewise, Merkel and Sarkozy’s refusal to increase the firepower of the 440-billion-euro European Financial Stability Facility, the rescue fund already in play for bailouts of Ireland, Portugal and now the second Greek emergency package agreed at a July 21 emergency eurozone summit.

But their call to schedule bi-annual eurozone-only summits under the chairmanship of current EU president Herman Van Rompuy institutionalises the two-speed European Union that has been a reality since the euro was created in 1999.

“It’s not eye-poppingly original, because it institutionalises an existing practice,” said Christian Parisot, an economist with French investment managers Aurel, referring to three such emergency summits since the financial crisis first broke late2008. “But you can still say it is an extra step towards greater cross-border coordination of economic policy,” he underlined.

“Making this set-up formal will give it more weight, more visibility,” added European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly.

Not one without questions, including the evolving role of the Eurogroup of finance ministers from the currency area, which presently meets on a monthly basis throughout the political season and which is chaired by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker. Sarkozy and Juncker have had a chequered relationship since recession first bit, and it was unclear what the French president and Merkel meant in their letter to Van Rompuy when they called for a “reinforced Eurogroup,” without giving any details.

Bruegel Institute analyst Jean Pisani-Ferry, a seasoned EUwatcher, told AFP that the big questions of economic reform “are invariably subjects on which heads of state and government must decide.”

While Juncker carries that title, his counterparts in the existing Eurogroup do not-and Pisani-Ferry says the move to install Van Rompuy is therefore a snub. “Van Rompuy has already put the economy at the forefront of his agenda as head of the European Council,” he said. “Putting him at the head of the eurozone means he will have to be given the space to do his job.”

Even broadly favourable observers were inclined to dismiss his potential impact, much like when Van Rompuy first came into office. “He will remain a prisoner of the indecision and incapacity of the big states and their leaders,” said an editorial in Belgian daily Le Soir, which said “radical measures [are] required to get the eurozone out of this storm.”— AFP

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KSE stocks lose gains GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) declined during yesterday’s session as heavy weighted stocks pulled the market. Selling pressure on some of those heavyweights pulled the companies stocks to close in the red zone, pulling their sectoral indices with them to lower levels. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) saw very heavy trading during the day topping both volume and value lists. The bank saw 20.57mn shares changing hands at an aggregate value of KD21.08mn, accounting for over 70 percent of the traded value for the day.

Global General Index (GGI) declined ending yesterday’s session down by 0.26 percent, at 177.53 point. Market Capitalization was down for the day, reaching KD29.05bn. Also showing a negative note, KSE Price Index closed at 5,832.60 point, shedding 13.80 points (0.24 percent) from its previous close.

Market breadth During the session, 80 companies were traded. Market breadth was marginally skewed towards decliners as 27 equities retreated versus 25 that advanced. Trading activity was mixed during the session. Total volume traded was down by 18.74 percent with 90.72mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD29.46mn (129.27 percent higher compared to Tuesday’s session). The value was up during the day due to heavy trading on banks blue chip stocks. The Services sector was the volume leader, accounting for 32.49 percent of total shares traded. On the other hand, the Banking sector was the value leader, with 79.11 percent of total traded value.

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) as previously mentioned was the most active in terms of value traded during Yesterday’s session, with KD21.08mn worth of shares exchanged. The scrip closed down by 1.92 percent at KWD1.020. Kuwait Finance House (KFH) followed with KD1.27mn worth

of shares traded. However, KFH stock ended the day with a 1.12 percent increase at KD0.900.

In terms of top gainers, Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 13.16 percent and closing at KD0.0215. The scrip was followed by Global Investment House (Global) stock which was the second top gainer for

declining index for the day. The index shed 0.53 percent from its value pulled down by heavyweight National Bank of Kuwait (NBK).

Burgan Bank also finished the day being among the decliners with a daily decrease of 2.15 percent. The scrip closed at KD0.455. The Services sector was also down by 0.28 percent after heavyweight, Wataniya Telecom

which was the top gainer in the sector for the day. The scrip added 3.03 percent to end the day at KD0.102.

Furthermore, petrochemicals companies Qurain Petrochemical Company and Boubyan Petrochemical Company added 1.92 percent and 1.85 percent, to their share prices and closed at KD0.212 and KD0.550, respectively.

Brent oil rises to $110, US gasoline supports LONDON: Brent crude rose yesterday to $110 a barrel after an industry report showed a larger-than-expected decline in US gasoline supplies and upbeat economic data trumped concerns over the euro zone debt crisis.

US gasoline stocks fell 5.4 million barrels, more than forecast, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said on Tuesday.

Better-than-expected US industrial production figures also helped bolster sentiment.

Brent crude for October rose $1.18 to $110.31 by 1015 GMT. It fell to $98.74 on Aug. 9, the lowest since February, on concern about economic slowdown. US crude was up 95 cents at $87.60.

“Oil has steadily, if not slowly, recovered from its risk aversion mode plunge that also took down equity markets,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy at BNP Paribas.

“Increasingly, oil will look again at its own drivers. As such this morning, the market is likely reassured that we are not accumulating gasoline inventories in the US, given the steep draws reported yesterday evening by the API. “We will be looking to see if that number is confirmed in the EIA release this afternoon.”

The US government’s Energy Information Administration releases its supply report at 1430 GMT. Crude inventories will also be a focus, after the API said they rose by 1.75 million barrels.

A meeting between the French and German leaders on Tuesday did not calm investor concern about Europe’s sovereign debt problems. Some analysts said the worries could again prove a drag on oil prices.

European stocks slipped following on from losses in Asia, while the euro fell against the dollar. Gold, attractive to some investors as a safe haven, held steady near a record high.

Barclays Capital technical analysts said the near-term Brent outlook was bullish with the contract trading above the 200-day moving average, while US oil was set to push towards $90 where it expected selling interest to cap the rally. Concerns about the European debt crisis have weighed on oil markets in recent weeks, adding to worries about weak US economic data that could hit fuel demand.

The euro zone economy slowed sharply in the second quarter, hobbled by sluggish growth in Germany and stagnation in France, raising fears of a longer-term dip.

Oil has gained support this year from the conflict in Libya which has shut down fields that once pumped 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd). The loss has bolstered Brent in particular as most of Libya’s oil was priced against it. Much of Libya’s output could be restored within months if peace can be established, analysts say. Rebels fighting to topple Muammar Gaddafi denied reports of secret talks with the Libyan leader on Tuesday. — Reuters

Oman Air seeks compensation the second day in a row. Global ended the day with an addition of 11.90 percent to reach KD0.0235. On the other hand National International Company (Holding) shed by a noticeable 35.29 percent and closed at KD0.0275, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors Market indices skewed towards advancing sectors during the session as four went up, 3 went down while the Insurance sector index remained flat for the second day in a row.

Global Banking sector was the top

ended the day down by 2.02 percent at KD1.940.

On the other hand, Global Real Estate Index was the top gainer for the day, producing 0.38 percent in gains. Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company’s stock reported a 13.16 percent improvement to end the day as the top gainer as previously mentioned. United Real Estate Company continued its upward trend reporting a 5.95 percent increase and closing at KD0.089.

Industrial stocks followed, adding 0.33 percent in sector gains backed

by United Industries Company

Oil News Kuwaiti crude oil increased $0.51 to reach $103.14 per barrel (pb) on Tuesday, compared to $102.63 per barrel on Monday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) yesterday. The increase in oil prices came after a report on US retails which showed a hike in sales during last month, hitting a record high in the past four months. The drop in the US dollar against major currencies was also a factor in the increase of yesterday’s trading of oil prices.

MUSCAT: Oman Air, the flagship carrier of the Gulf Arab state and which is facing another year of losses, is seeking compensation from Boeing for delays in delivering its 787 Dreamliner, its chief executive said yesterday.

The Gulf carrier, which said it was expecting its first 787 plane next year, ordered six aircraft through Kuwait-based leasing firm ALAFCO, CEO Peter Hill said in an interview with Reuters.

“These aircraft are not (now) due for delivery until the beginning of 2015,” he said. “Any compensation payable by Boeing for late deliveries would initially go through the leasing company, and then in some shape or form come back to the operating company, which is us. But we will expect significant compensation.” Boeing, the world’s second-largest planemaker, is about three years behind schedule in delivering the first 787, largely because of snags in the unusually complex global supply chain.

“I’m sure there are a lot more compensation claims from airlines who are ahead of us in the queue,” he said, adding it had no immediate plans to cancel any orders with Boeing.

The government-owned Gulf carrier, which has 25 aircraft and flies to 40 destinations, faced protests from around 200 staff in March, who demanded higher salaries. Hill said further losses can be expected this year.— Reuters

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Europe shouldn’t dally on Syrian oil boycott DUBAI: Europe should boycott Syrian oil. The United States has called for the biggest buyers of the country’s oil and gas to impose sanctions in an effort to further isolate the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and cut off a key source of funding behind the brutal crackdown on protesters. Economic penalties are never perfect but, in this case, at least markets won’t miss the supply.

Syria is not a big oil exporter. It produced 385,000 barrels of oil per day last year, or 0.5 percent of the world’s output, and exports just a third of that amount. That is still meaningful when measured against OPEC spare production capacity, which is estimated at 3.3

million barrels per day by the International Energy Agency-low by historical standards. But it is much less significant than Libya, which has already been slapped with sanctions.

What’s more, oil prices have eased somewhat amid concerns about the global economic slowdown. In August alone, the price of a barrel of Brent crude has fallen from a peak of $117 at the start of the month to $109 per barrel on Aug. 17. Weak economic data from Europe means demand is softening. Boycotting Syrian oil would threaten export revenues which were worth around $3.5 billion in 2009 — funds that many Syrians do not believe they

BREAKING VIEWS benefit from anyway. However, activists caution that the ban, at least initially, should not extend to imports of gasoline products, which are required for heating fuel. Imposing sanctions on exports but not imports would also accelerate the depletion of Syria’s foreign currency reserves, which the International Monetary Fund estimated in April were worth around $17 billion, but may have shrunk since.

There are risks. The effect of a boycott could be blunted if Iran, with decades of experience circumventing

sanctions, helps Syria to do the same. A cheap loan or handout to Damascus from Tehran would be the easiest way around the sanctions: Iran is forecast to have foreign currency reserves worth $123 billion in 2011. But Iran is struggling with its own complex political and economic issues which may affect its ability to offer assistance.

No boycott is ever water-tight. But even if Syria can find a way around sanctions, they remain the best economic tool the West has to try to weaken the Syrian regime.

The United States on Aug. 12 called for a boycott of Syrian oil and reiterated its assertion that President Bashar Al-

Assad has “lost legitimacy”. “We urge those countries still buying Syrian oil and gas, those countries still sending Assad weapons, those countries whose political and economic support give him comfort in his brutality, to get on the right side of history,” US secretary of state Hilary Clinton told reporters.

The US has extended sanctions against Assad and his inner circle, adding Syria’s largest commercial bank and mobile phone operator to a blacklist.

Human rights activists say more than 1,700 civilians have been killed during anti-government protests since March.

The UN Security Council is due to meet and discuss Syria on Aug 18. —Reuters

Franco-German euro-zone Plans fail to lift confidence Euro falls, stocks dip after Sarkozy-Merkel proposals BERLIN: New Franco-German moves to boost fiscal convergence in the eurozone got a lukewarm response from several other member states and failed to convince markets that the bloc’s debt crisis was any closer to being resolved.

Traditional German ally Austria criticized plans announced by Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday to move towards an “economic government” in which single currency members are asked to give up sovereignty over economic policy.

And Ireland reacted coolly to plans by Berlin and Paris to press ahead with a harmonization of their corporate tax rates in hopes that other euro members follow suit. A separate proposal, to write German-style “debt brake” rules into national constitutions across the 17nation currency bloc by mid-2012, was widely seen as too ambitious given that Sarkozy himself has struggled to secure a parliamentary majority at home for such a plan. Finland’s finance minister questioned whether such a rule would work in practice and said she was “not too excited” about playing with her country’s constitution. “ The expectations in the markets always seem to be several steps beyond what the political leaders can deliver and there is clearly disappointment,” said Mark Wall, an economist at Deutsche Bank. “A lot of what was announced by Merkel and Sarkozy is a rehash of previous proposals, with a new twist.” Some of the steps unveiled at a news conference in Paris would have seemed almost revolutionary a year ago.

Merkel bowed to longstanding French calls to institutionalize regular meetings of euro zone leaders and appoint a symbolic president, or

spokesman, for the bloc- steps that will widen the divide between euro “ins” and “outs” in the broader 27-nation European Union.

But in the midst of a crippling crisis that has threatened to engulf larger

ers also ruled out increasing the size of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), the 440 billion euro rescue mechanism that is too small to bail out a big country like Italy.

The euro fell against the dollar and

PARIS: A stock trader looks on his files of the French Stock Exchange, in Paris.

The leaders of Germany and France failed to restore confidence in the sagging morale of the euro-zone economy. — AP peripheral countries Spain and Italy and even core state France, the announcements were criticized by many as “too little too late”.

Merkel and Sarkozy made clear that joint euro zone bond issuance, the solution some investors believe is a magic bullet for solving the crisis, was not on their agenda. But Spain and Italy held out hope that plans for greater fiscal convergence had increased the chance of common bonds being considered in the future. The German and French lead-

stocks slipped on Wednesday amid concerns the crisis could continue to spread.

“I think the crisis in fact is likely to get worse before it gets better despite the announcements that we had yesterday,” Jacques Cailloux, chief European economist at RBS, told Reuters Insider television.

The lack of clear progress from the politicians is likely to pile more pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB), which agreed earlier this month to restart its bond-buying program by pur-

chasing Italian and Spanish debt on the open market. “The ECB is trapped here,” Cailloux said. “So I think we could end up having 150 to 200 billion euros of Spanish and Italian bonds on the ECB balance sheet in the next month and a half.”

One worry is that the Franco-German proposals re-open a number of contentious debates within the EU, further sapping investor confidence.

Merkel and Sarkoz y vowed on Tuesday to press ahead with long-stalled plans for a financial transactions tax. But the UK has long opposed this, and moving ahead without the City of London could end up hurting the financial sectors in Frankfurt and Paris. Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said he would insist that any such tax apply to all 27 members of the EU, not just the 17 that share the euro. The Free Democrats (FDP), junior members of Merkel’s centre-right coalition, echoed that view yesterday.

“We expect this plan to be realized in all 27 EU nations to ensure Germany is not put at risk as a financial centre compared to somewhere like London,” deputy FDP leader Christian Lindner told reporters in Berlin. Looming elections in key euro zone member states-Spain votes in November and France in the spring-could also complicate implementation of the proposals announced by Merkel and Sarkozy.

France’s Socialists have strongly opposed the government’s plans to introduce a balanced-budget rule in the constitution, threatening to turn it into a campaign issue.

Yesterday Francois Hollande, the leading Socialist candidate to challenge Sarkozy in next year’s vote, urged a national debate on the issue. — Reuters

Swiss franc up as CB holds off euro peg GENEVA: The Swiss franc was back in demand yesterday after the Swiss National Bank failed to peg the currency with the euro, as had been widely speculated upon in recent days.

Instead, the bank decided to inject more of the Swiss currency into the money markets in its latest attempt to stem the export-sapping appreciation of the currency. It said it would expanding the sight deposits of banks held at the central bank from 120 billion Swiss francs to 200 billion ($255 billion) these are deposits that are immediately accessible.

As part of its latest batch of measures, its third since August 3, the central bank said it will conduct foreign exchange swap transactions to ease the value of the franc and “will, if necessary, take further measures.”

But the markets seemed unconvinced by the moves. By mid-morning London time, the euro was trading around 1.2 percent lower on the day at 1.13 Swiss franc, while the dollar was 1.3 percent lower at 0.7859 franc.

Jane Foley, senior currency strategist at Rabobank International, said the mar-

kets were disappointed that the bank held off from “announcing more stringent tactics.”

Over recent days, the Swiss franc has fallen markedly on speculation that the Swiss franc would be pegged with the euro - under such a system, the central bank would use whatever it had to maintain the rate at which the peg was set.

Though, it failed to announce a peg, the central bank said it could take further action and that the franc’s current rate was “massively overvalued.” The Swiss franc has been buoyed of late by its status as a safe haven for investors to park their cash in times of financial turbulence. Last week, it almost struck parity against the euro for the first time since the single currency was introduced in 1999. Swiss exporters have been among the hardest hit by the franc’s rise, as the value of their sales abroad diminishes at home. That has put increasing pressure on the central bank to do more to ease the appreciation of the currency.

Economists have predicted a rise in unemployment and slower growth later this year. —AP

HAMBANTOTA: A Chinese worker walks through scaffolding at a terminal building under construction at the new international airport in the southern Sri Lankan district of Hambantota. When the 2004 Asian tsunami hit Sri Lanka, the sleepy fishing region of Hambantota was flattened and 3,000 people perished.

Now it is riding a massive wave of construction. — AFP

Jaguar concept car to be unveiled in Frankfurt NEW DELHI: India’s Tata Motors said yesterday it will unveil its new Jaguar C-X16 sports concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month as it looks to its British luxury vehicle unit to help drive profits.

More than 80 percent or $1.7 billion of Tata Motors’ $2.04 billion annual profit for the year to March 2011 came from its Jaguar Land Rover unit bought three years ago from Ford.

Tata Motors, India’s leading vehicle company, called the new Jaguar C-X16 production concept “a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars” that will aim to set new benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology. The sports coupe was designed by the same team headed by design director Ian Callum, who developed the Jaguar XJ luxury flagship sedan and others vehicles in its lineup. Callum said in the statement that the new vehicle would look “firmly to the future.” A concept vehicle is often made

by manufacturers to gauge customer reaction to a new design. In May, Jaguar announced it would build the C-X75 hybrid electric supercar it displayed at last year’s Paris auto show that will sell for up to $1.5 million.

Land Rover’s upmarket sports utility vehicles have been the more successful of the two upmarket British offerings since Tata Motors acquired the division.

But Tata is seeking to reinvigorate the appeal of Jaguar, whose allure was dented by some models in recent decades that were regarded by auto critics as lackluster. Tata Motors has invested $3 billion in Jaguar Land Rover to bring it out of losses, analysts say. Tata also makes the world’s cheapest car, the $2,500 Nano, whose sales have been hit by sluggish demand in India as surging interest rates and fuel prices have kept customers out of automobile showrooms. — AFP

STOCKHOLM: Swedish airline company SAS Chief Executive and CEO Rickard Gustafson presents the results for second quarter during a news conference in Stockholm yesterday. — AFP

Malaysia seen holding rates as growth slows KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economic growth slowed to 4 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, in line with expectations, while inflation in July came in slightly under forecast, giving the central bank room to hold rates at its next policy review in September.

Strong crude oil and palm oil prices supported the trade-reliant economy in the second quarter of 2011, but a slow recover y in manufacturing weighed on overall growth, central bank data showed.

Bank Negara, the first Asian central bank to lift borrowing costs in 2010, said the uncertain global environment weighed on the domestic economy, but Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said she was confident the country could achieve its targeted growth for 2011. “Right now based on our assessment, growth can achieve at least 5 percent,” she told reporters at a media briefing.

“However, if we have a situation where the US or Europe slips into recession or if there is any trigger factor that results in disruptions in the international financial markets, then we have to make a reassessment.” Economists said they expected the central bank to keep rates steady through the rest of the year because of the threat to growth.

“Given gathering headwinds from the West, volatility in the financial markets and manageable inflation risks, BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) might prefer to sit on their hands yet again in September and err on the side of caution by maintaining rates unchanged for the rest of the year,” said Radhika Rao at Forecast Pte. However, Zeti said she expects growth in the second half of 2011 to be better than the first half because of a lower base last year and accelerated spending from the country’s economic transformation program. The median forecast of a Reuters poll of economists had predicted the economy grew 4.0 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier. The poll also predicted that annual inflation in July was 3.5 percent, while the government reported on Wednesday a figure for last month of 3.4 percent.

GDP growth in the first quarter was a revised 4.9 percent year-on-year. While inflation has been ticking up in the Southeast Asian country, the central bank has been focusing on boosting growth and relying on a strengthening currency to cool inflation rather than just interest rate increases. The Malaysian ringgit has risen about 1.5 percent against the dollar since August 9.

Concerned about the European debt crisis and a possible double-dip recession in the United States, some economists have revised down their 2011 growth projections. The median forecast of 15 economists for Malaysia’s full-year GDP growth is 5.0 percent, in line with the recent official forecast.

Until recently, most economists were expecting a rate increase of at least 25 basis points in September as strong demand and high energy prices were keeping inflation elevated. However, economists now believe that the global financial markets turmoil will spill over to Malaysia’s domestic economy, forcing the central bank to keep its interest rates on hold despite high inflation.

Traditionally, growth has been a bigger factor than inflation for Malaysia’s central bank when deciding on interest rates. Malaysia’s GDP figures follow data on other Asian economies like China, Singapore and South Korea, which recently reported a slowdown in their growth.

However, regional peer Indonesia seems insulated from the global crisis. The country reported its second-quarter GDP at a robust 6.5 percent year-onyear as it saw strong exports and attracted hefty investment. The 3.4 percent inflation figure for July compares with June’s 3.5 percent, a 27-month-high reached because of increases in power tariffs and rising fuel prices.

Despite the moderation, Zeti said getting a handle on inflation remained a top priority. “Inflation will be monitored very closely,” she said. “As you know, if we have high inflation will undermine our prospects for future growth so this is being addressed on all fronts.” The central bank however said it maintained its forecast for inflation to average 2.5-3.5 percent for the year. — Reuters

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Markets shrug off disappointing euro-zone meet HONG KONG: The euro recovered from an early wobble in Asian trade yesterday as forex markets shrugged off a euro-zone meeting that failed to land a killer blow in the battle to restore debt confidence.

Shares were mixed, with local concerns largely trumping global uncertainties in Sydney and Seoul, while Tokyo kept its eyes on the main world news. Asia’s biggest bourse closed down 0.55 percent, or 50.17 points, at 9,057.26. Sydney added 1.32 percent, or 56.6 points, to 4,303.9 with confidence high on corporate earnings coming in mostly in line with expectations.

Seoul built on its thumping nearfive percent gains of Tuesday, up 0.68 percent, or 12.80 points, to 1,892.67.

Hong Kong closed 0.38 percent, or 76.95 points, higher, losing some of the gains it had made earlier in the day to finish the session at 20,289.03, while Shanghai ended 0.26 percent, or 6.91 points, lower at 2,601.26.

“Concerns about a slowdown in both Europe and in the United States continue to be at the core of investors’ minds,” Yutaka Miura, a senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Wall Street closed down overnight as the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended its three-day rally, dropping 76.97 points (0.67 percent) to finish at 11,405.93. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed late Tuesday to give the euro-zone bloc a “true economic government”, but experts said their pledges were not enough to

defuse the region’s debt crisis.

Speaking after the talks in Paris, the leaders said they would propose an EU-wide tax on financial transactions and seek to create a euro-zone governing body headed by European Union

TOKYO: A Tokyo Stock Exchange trader reacts during the afternoon trading in Tokyo yesterday. Asian stock markets were mixed yesterday as investors weighed weaker-than-expected economic growth in the 17 countries that use the euro against data showing that US manufacturing is on the upswing again. —AP president Herman van Rompuy. But the pair disappointed many by not backing the idea of issuing “eurobonds” to pool the debts of the 17 euro-zone members, and by insisting the bloc’s existing 440-billion-euro ($634 billion) bailout fund was “sufficient”.

Instead, the leaders said member states would be held to a tougher fis-

China lists measures to support HK economy HONG KONG: China’s vice premier announced measures to boost Hong Kong’s economy in a show of support for the Chinese territory’s government as it struggles with public discontent over surging property prices and growing inequality.

Among the steps outlined by Li Keqiang yesterday were measures to give Hong Kong companies expanded access to China’s markets and efforts to boost the city’s status as an international center for trading of China’s yuan currency. Li is expected to be China’s next premier and his first official trip to Hong Kong since he became a vice premier in 2008 is being closely watched in a city where discontent has grown over the government’s management of the economy.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with its own political system and currency. Supporters of local autonomy fear that Beijing is gradually tightening its grip on the running of the territory. “The central government will exert its utmost to do everything that contributes to prosperity and stability of Hong Kong,” Li said in a speech.

Hong Kong’s middle and working classes are feeling squeezed by surging property prices and inflation that rose to 5.6 percent in June. House prices have jumped over the past year, driven by low interest rates and an influx of investors from mainland China, leaving many people unable to buy or rent a place to live. Many are also feeling pinched because of higher prices for food and transport. Economic growth slowed in the second quarter as exports stagnated. After Li’s arrival on Tuesday, he met with Hong Kong’s leader, Donald Tsang. Li told Tsang the Hong Kong government should “work hard to defuse or reduce negative elements,” according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. The remark was likely a reference to protesters and activists that have dogged Tsang over a range of grievances, sending his popularity rating plunging.

Li’s visit is “mostly to boost confidence in Hong Kong and also to reassure the Hong Kong public about Beijing’s support for the economy,” said Willy Lam, a veteran China watcher and

cal standard and new cross-border controls put in place. Europe’s main bourses dropped at the start of trading yesterday.

Frankfurt’s DAX 30 index shed 1.41 percent to 5,910.50 points, London’s

adjunct professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Lam said it is “doubtful how big the benefit would be for Hong Kong” as Li did not spell out many details of the measures.

Britain handed back control of Hong Kong in 1997 to Beijing, which promised to administer it under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems.”

However, Lam said there have been growing signs of interference. Last month, the Beijing official responsible for Hong Kong criticized the city’s civil service for having a colonial era mindset. Meanwhile, the central government’s office in Hong Kong is becoming more proactive in supporting its preferred candidates in local elections, Lam said. “It’s obvious that with economic integration becoming more entrenched by the day, we have more difficulties in maintaining this One Country, Two System model,” said Lam. In his speech, Li said China would expand access for Hong Kong companies to the mainland’s service sector and help Hong Kong beef up its status as a financial center by encouraging mainland companies to list on the city’s stock exchange.

China gives Hong Kong companies preferential access to the mainland economy as a way to boost the territory’s economy and build support for rule from Beijing. Li said China will also continue to promote Hong Kong as a center for trading in yuan, China’s currency.

China is trying to expand the international use of the yuan, also known as the renminbi.

China will encourage the yuandenominated bond market in Hong Kong by allowing more financial institutions and companies to issue a larger amount of yuan bonds in Hong Kong, Li said. It will also launch an exchangetraded fund consisting of Hong Kong stocks, widen access for Hong Kong banks and encourage Hong Kong insurance companies to enter the China market. China also wants to step up Hong Kong’s participation in regional and international economic cooperation bodies such as the World Trade Organization, Li said. Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong companies will be also be encouraged to work together to explore international markets. — AP

FTSE 100 fell 0.78 percent to 5,315.81 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.58 percent to 3,212.23. “ This will inevitably raise the appeal of safehaven currencies like the Japanese yen and Swiss franc,” Kuroiwa said.

The Swiss unit eased in afternoon trade, moving to 1.1522 per euro from 1.1434 in New York and 0.7998 francs per dollar against 0.7935. The dollar

changed hands at 76.68 yen early yesterday against 76.75 yen in New York and 76.74 yen in Tokyo Tuesday.

“The French-German meeting did not provide any clear solutions, and this has incited more euro selling,” said Nobuyoshi Kuroiwa, senior deputy general manager at Hachijuni Bank’s forex team in Tokyo.

The single currency initially dipped to $1.4352 in early Tokyo trade, compared with $1.4406 in New York overnight, before rebounding to $1.4405 in the afternoon. The euro fetched 110.49 yen against 110.67 yen in New York late Tuesday and 110.41 yen in Tokyo the previous day.

Apart from the euro-zone summit, US investors were also disappointed by the news that Germany saw only 0.1 percent growth in the second quarter and the euro-zone’s output expanded a meager 0.2 percent. Analysts said governments were now in the worst of both worlds, trying to cut debt by slashing spending and raising taxes, a double squeeze that kills growth and further complicates efforts to stabilize public finances. After the close in Sydney, Britain-based brewer SABMiller launched a hostile takeover bid for Australian beer giant Foster’s worth around Aus$9.5 billion ($10.0 billion) after an initial approach was rejected in June.

SABMiller, the maker of beers Grolsch and Miller Lite, said its renewed offer was unchanged at Aus$4.90 per Foster’s share. The maker of Foster’s Lager had yet to respond to the hostile bid but in June said the offer “significantly undervalues” the

company. Gold closed at $1,791.00$1,792.00 an ounce in Hong Kong, up on its Tuesday close of $1,779.50$1,780.50. It had opened at $1,785.00$1,786.00. Oil was higher, but traders said sentiment was subdued after the disappointing euro-zone meeting.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for September delivery, was up 70 cents to $87.35 a barrel, while Brent North Sea crude for October rose 45 cents to $109.58.

In other markets: l Manila closed 0.68 percent, or 32.43 points, lower at 4,340.27. Toptraded “A” shares of Lepanto Consolidated Mining fell 4.0 percent to 1.44 pesos, while Energy Development ended 1.50 percent down to 5.91 pesos. Philippine Long Distance Telephone inched up 0.35 percent to 2,308 pesos. l Taiwan lost 0.73 percent, or 56.83 points, to 7,741.76. TSMC shed 0.3 percent at Tw$65.8 while Hon Hai was 0.13 percent lower to Tw$74.1. l Kuala Lumpur ended up 0.32 percent, or 4.83 points, at 1,503.07.

Shipping firm MISC climbed 1.7 percent at 7.10 ringgit while gaming giant Genting rose 1.7 percent to 3.62 while plantations giant IOI Corp slid 1.3 percent at 4.66 ringgit. l Singapore fell 0.15 percent, or 4.20 points, to close at 2,828.53. Singapore Airlines tumbled 0.81 percent to Sg$11.06 and property developer CapitaLand gained 0.79 percent to Sg$2.54. lJakarta was closed for a public holiday. — AFP

China appeals to US to focus on recovery Biden to get a few economic tips on arrival BEIJING: Chinese commentators are marking a visit by Vice President Joseph Biden by offering a struggling United States advice: Stop flooding your economy with cheap credit. The prescriptions awaiting Biden, who arrived yesterday in Beijing, range from cutting government budget deficits to fighting poverty. They were similar to the advice of Western analysts but unusually pointed for China where communist leaders say governments should stay out of each others’ affairs, and show the shifting fortunes of the two powers.

“The United States has entered a long period of decline,” wrote economist Xia Bin, who advises China’s Cabinet and central bank, on his blog. The main purpose of Biden’s mission is get a better bead on Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to take over as Communist Party chief next year and will visit Washington later this year. Biden is also expected to get an earful on Tibet and Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims and which Washington provides arms to. But Chinese worries about the US economy are the subtext for the five-day visit. Beijing’s biggest fear is a possible third round of bondbuying by the Federal Reserve, known as quantitative easing or QE. It is supposed to push down interest rates and boost investment by injecting money into the economy, but Beijing worries that it will boost prices of commodities traded in dollars, fuel inflation and erode the value of its $1.2 trillion in Treasury debt.

“The US should refrain from launching QE3 and tighten its monetary policy to raise the world’s confidence in the dollar,” the chairman of state-owned Bank of China, Xiao Gang, wrote yesterday in China Daily, an English-language newspaper aimed at foreign readers.

Beijing has repeatedly appealed to Washington to protect foreign investors and the dollar. It has avoided publicly making specific demands but this week’s commentaries in the entirely state-controlled press make clear what it wants to see.

“China has much at stake over US economic policy changes and a stable US dollar,” the official Xinhua News Agency said. Resolving economic problems in a “responsible manner” would improve US-Chinese relations, it said.

Other governments complain earlier

BEIJING: Chinese shoppers view furniture at an Ikea store in Beijing. Beset by inadequate health insurance and pensions, China’s consumers are well versed in the art of saving money and stand in stark contrast to their credit-loving US counterparts. — AFP Federal Reserve efforts to reduce interest rates prompted investors to move money to developing economies in search of higher returns, pushing up the value of their currencies and prices of their exports. China’s own government debt is low compared with those of the United States, Japan and European countries, even after a huge stimulus that helped it rebound quickly from the 2008 global crisis.

The press campaign also might help Beijing diffuse criticism it faces from some Chinese in comments posted on Internet sites questioning its decision to invest so much of its $3.2 trillion in foreign reserves in Treasury debt. Treasurys are seen as one of the lowestrisk assets but the debate in Washington over raising the government debt limit and downgrade of the US credit rating by Standard & Poor’s caused alarm in China. “By focusing concern on the failures of US policymaking, as China sees it, Chinese

officials are able to deflect attention from their own part in creating some of the global imbalances and the decision that lay entirely in their hands to invest so much in US Treasurys,” said Capital Economics analyst Mark Williams.

Beijing faces its own debt problem after it disclosed that local governments owe $1.6 trillion in bank loans that paid for public works and other expenses. But analysts say high economic growth means it should be easily manageable.

Bank of China’s Xiao and other commentators said Washington should focus on longerterm reforms to cut its budget and trade deficits, raise savings and create jobs. “They should set out to solve the poverty issue,” a researcher at Peking University ’s Development Research Institute, Xu Jianguo, wrote in the Global Times, published by the Communist Party flagship newspaper People’s Daily. —AP

Will Buffett-Schultz debt plans be shunned?

LOS ANGELES: Customers shop at Target Eagle Rock store in Los Angeles. Target Corp posted a 3.7 percent increase in second-quarter profit as the discounter’s push into groceries and incentives it offers credit cardholders helped to accelerate spending at its stores. —AP

NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES: Warren Buffett and Howard Schultz want to change the conversation about how to fix the United States’ economic woes.

But their solutions - more taxes on the rich and a boycott on political donations - risk falling on deaf ears among fellow business leaders. Few high-profile decision makers have publicly supported their pleas so far, and most in their target audiences decline to even discuss it, lest they get dragged into the debate.

That isn’t the case outside the corporate elite. More than 40,000 Twitter users shared billionaire investor Buffett’s oped column in Monday’s New York Times calling for the wealthy to shoulder a bigger tax burden.

CNBC’s largely corporate audience backed Starbucks Chief Executive Schultz’s call to fellow CEOs to stop sending political donations until Congress and the President come up

with a long-term plan for a “fair, bipartisan” deal to curb US debt, with 89 percent in favor in a poll.

But public outrage will not make their suggestions reality. That would require other tycoons and top executives to jump on board to tell the Republicans and the Democrats that they had also had enough of the rancor that brought the United States close to a debt default earlier this month and contributed to the loss of the nation’s triple-A debt rating.

“Getting Washington to do something about this, getting the GOP (Republican Party) to move off their ‘no new tax’ position, no funding of our deficit problem through raising tax revenue, I don’t see how that’s going to happen,” said Dal LaMagna, an entrepreneur and investor who has unsuccessfully run for national office. LaMagna has a history of outspokenness, but few are

joining him in debating this question.

While Schultz has managed to get NYSE Euronext Chief Executive Duncan Niederauer and Nasdaq OMX Group Chief Executive Rober t Greifeld to pledge their support for his proposal, it

Warren Buffett

tisn’t easy to find many others. Reuters contacted more than three dozen politicians, CEOs, investors and celebrities on Tuesday to get their views on the Buffett and Schultz positions and almost all of them either declined to comment or did not return calls.

Three of the few who did are John Allison, the former chairman and CEO of banking company BB&T, Cypress Semiconductor founder and CEO T J Rodgers and Eli Broad, the real estate magnate turned philanthropist. Allison said Schultz’s call for a boycott on donating is misplaced and that people should commit themselves to giving to candidates they actually support instead of donating to both sides as insurance. “I think it’s naive,” Allison said in an interview. “If businesses and executives stop donating, does that mean pensions and unions will stop too?”

He also disagrees with Buffett’s call to raise taxes on the wealthy. — Reuters

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Years

TECHNOLOGY

Auto-correct: Your silent partner in texting blunders SAN JOSE: June Webb recently texted a friend to say, “I like fried children.” Ernesto Hernandez texted his friend, “Is your sister busty?” Jed Rapp Goldstein very nearly called his co-workers “Visigoths” in a post to Twitter. The silent co-author of these blunders - as anyone who has ever typed on a tiny touch screen can attest - is a mobile phone’s auto-correct function. A technology designed to fix our sloppy typing, auto-correct software nonetheless can create garbled, mortifying or unintentionally hilarious messages that people often send before noticing they didn’t write quite what they intended. And because of the sheer volume of messages people send from their phones these days, auto-correct mistakes have become a pop culture phenomenon unto themselves.

“It just happens so often. Text culture is to send first, ask questions later,” said Goldstein, who works for an educational consulting business in Berkeley, Calif. Auto-correct software is what quickly substitutes the word “the” if you have accidentally typed “thw” on your phone’s touch screen, for example.

Typically, the software gives you the option of

keeping your funky spelling. You can also disable auto-correct. But most people do not, so when they quickly and inaccurately poke away at their touch screens, the software often pops in unwanted words. That’s how you might wind up texting your spouse that you’ll pick up the kids “on the rathole” instead of “on the way home,” for example.

That’s how scores of San Francisco Giants fans sent texts about the feats of “Juan urine” last fall, when they meant slugger Juan Uribe (now with the LA Dodgers).

The pervasive phenomenon has given rise to sites like Autocorrectfail.org, which corrals people’s most embarrassing and silly auto-correct malapropisms, some of which are so comical that firsttime visitors frequently gasp for air as they read.

Those who haven’t written any legitimately twisted texts recently and want to gin up fake ones to submit to Autocorrectfail.org can visit iFakeText.com. The site will generate a simulated screen shot of a text-message conversation that you can type in yourself. Laugh-out-loud-worthy auto-corrections didn’t happen as often when most texting was done on keypads with real but-

tons instead of on touch-screen keyboards, said Lex Friedman, a staff writer for San Franciscobased Macworld magazine who describes himself as “obsessed with auto-correct.”

“The complete lack of any kind of tactile feedback makes typing harder. I think that’s when auto-correct became a necessity,” he says. None of the companies behind the major mobile phone platforms - iPhone, Android or BlackBerry - would comment on the nuts and bolts of who programs their auto-correct software and how it works exactly. But Friedman estimates that the iPhone’s auto-correct, for example, contains a dictionary of 40,000 to 60,000 words. The software is designed to “learn” the words that a user types most often, he says. So if you type a particular name or slang word frequently, the phone will eventually stop trying to change it. Of course, it may take a while, as Simone Francese, of San Bruno, Calif, found with her iPhone. She would try to type “byeeee” and get “busses.” “I try to type how I talk, and I don’t go ‘bye,’ I go ‘byeeee,’ “ she said. Eventually the phone got it. To avoid sending potentially embarrassing or confusing auto-correction errors, experts advise

that mobile typists take the old-fashioned step of gasp! - checking their work. Goldstein actually caught the error in his Twitter post, going back to delete “Visigoths” and type “co-workers,” the word he really wanted. “Visigoths” and “co-workers” bear little resemblance, though some of their letters are adjacent on the keyboard. But it’s the kind of substitution that makes one wonder if a team of software programmers holed up in a loft somewhere were cackling madly as they planned some of the more confounding word swaps.

Some auto-correct substitutions are more transparent. Webb, a San Jose native now living near Tracy, Calif, slipped up when she attempted to convey her fondness for fried chicken, not children. And of course Hernandez, a 26-year-old San Francisco resident, didn’t see the error in his text until it was too late: He meant to ask his friend if his sister was busy, not busty. “That was kind of awkward,” he said. Hernandez said he tends to type pretty fast when he’s messaging his buddies.

“I’m more mindful when I’m writing to someone I work with, or my boss,” he says. “I might actually go back and proofread it before I send it.” — MCT

S Koreans sue Apple over iPhone user information 26,691 plaintiffs listed in the civil suit so far

PORTLAND: A Nissan Leaf is plugged into a charging station during the dedication of Electric Avenue on the Portland State University campus.— AP

Electric cars get a charge PORTLAND: Electric car drivers will get a charge out of a block-long stretch of a downtown Portland street, Oregon, that’s been dubbed “Electric Avenue,” and it may also help the automotive industry and others make important decisions as the use of electric cars evolves. Seven electric charging stations from six different manufacturers have been installed at Portland State University as part of a two-year study that will examine which chargers get the most use, who’s plugging in, and what they do while their car drinks up a charge. The charging stations were unveiled on Tuesday in a ceremony that, naturally, featured the 1980s Eddy Grant song “Electric Avenue.”

Drivers who rock down to Electric Avenue can charge up for free, as long as they pay standard street parking rates at the meter. With electric vehicles just beginning to prowl American streets, researchers and industry officials hope the Portland project will fill in important blanks about how those vehicles are being used now and will be used in the future. “The biggest unknown right now is driver behavior, and all the factors that go into what a driver is willing to do,” said Shad Balch, a spokesman for General Motors, which makes the electric Chevrolet Volt. “All of these things will help drive what we do next as far as creating a market for electric vehicles.”

A better understanding of driver habits will help engineers tailor the next-generation electric car to those needs, eliminating unneeded features and lowering the price, said Balch, who showed off a Volt plugged into one of the new Portland charging stations. Electric Avenue has one quick-charge station that can juice-up an electric vehicle in about 30 minutes. The other six stations are called level two chargers and can fill up most batteries in four to six hours. The machines will collect mechanical data, like when they ’re used and for how long.

Researchers also will survey users to collect other data, said George Beard, a Portland State instructor who is heavily involved in the project. Are they long-distance travellers pulling off of Interstate 5 for a quick

fill up, or professors going to work? When the car charges, do they stand around and wait, or do they stop by the coffee shop across the street?

“We stand to learn a lot about the charging behavior of people who are driving these vehicles,” Beard said. So far, there are only about 400 electric vehicles on the road in Oregon, according to state officials, but they project that the number will grow rapidly. In his State of the Union address this year, President Barack Obama called for 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. To serve them, charging stations are popping up across the country. Oregon and Washington are working on an initiative to install them along Interstate 5. By the end of the year, an electric vehicle should be able to travel the 580 miles from the southern border of Oregon all the way to Canada. Planners hope to eventually to extend the proposed West Coast Green Highway south to the Mexican border.

Electric vehicles will not put much strain on the power grid because charging stations don’t use much of it - about the same as two hair dryers - and because most charging will probably be done from home at night, when plants generate excess electricity, said Jim Piro, president and chief executive of Portland General Electric, the local power company. PGE is powering the charging stations with renewable energy.

The utility will study their impact on the power grid, said Charlie Allcock, the director of economic development. The gradual proliferation of plug-in vehicles, which accelerated with the release late last year of Chevy’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf, is finally allowing the type of research Portland plans. Other vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Honda and Mitsubishi plan to release their own plug-in models by the end of next year. “In the early stage of product development, we guessed at what the market would want,” said Alan Bates, vice president of marketing at Portland-based Shorepower Technologies, which has installed charging stations since 2007. “We’re now just finally seeing cars plug in.” —AP

UC Riverside researching fuel energy technology RIVERSIDE: Researcher Matthew Barth foresees a day when cars and trucks will have onboard computers telling drivers not only how to reach their destinations, but how to get there while burning as little fuel as possible. “The people that are going to benefit first of all, are fleet managers,” Barth said, going on to say that if research is successful, automakers would be able to promote the kind of technology under development in Riverside as a cost-savings for consumers. Three years or so may pass before that technology becomes commercially available. That’s at least as long as researchers at the Center for Environmental Research at UC Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering have to use a $1.2 million US Department of Energy grant to develop “eco-driving” technology.

The technology that Barth and other researchers are woring to develop is essentially a GPS system that would be able to receive real-time information to tell drivers the most efficient route from Point A to Point B. That route may not unnecessarily be the shortest, as the system’s algorithms would be designed to

account not only for distance but for factors such as traffic congestion and road grades. In early tests, the shortest and most fuel-efficient route is the same about 60 percent of the time, Barth said.

Barth and research co-leader Kanok Boriboonsomsin test their eco-driving prototype on a silver Nissan Altima that has been modified to carry a number of scientific instruments.

A sensitive GPS device, along with radar, lidar and camera, is affixed atop the Altima’s roof, and wires run through the vehicle’s interior to connect with computers stored in the trunk. During tests, the driver is able to view data on a dashboard touch screen that shows such information as how much emissions are being produced. Preliminary work has shown a 6 percent improvement in fuel economy, Barth said, but that result has been shown in experiments conducted with a small number of drivers. The research grant, Barth said, will enable researchers to expand the scale of their research to more drivers and more vehicles to determine whether a fleet manager would be able to achieve improvements in fuel economy. —MCT

SEOUL: A group of some 27,000 South Koreans is suing Apple for $26 million for what they claim are privacy violations from the collection of iPhone user location information. Each person in the suit is seeking 1 million won ($932) in damages, Kim Hyeongseok, one of their attorneys, said yesterday. He said they are targeting Apple Inc. and its South Korean unit to “protect privacy” rights. Apple spokesman Steve Park in Seoul declined to comment.

Apple has faced complaints and criticisms since it said in April that its iPhones were storing locations of nearby cellphone towers and Wi-Fi hot spots for up to a year. Such data can be used to create a rough map of the device owner’s movements. Apple also revealed that a software bug caused iPhones to continue to send anonymous location data to the company’s servers even when location services on the device were turned off. The company has said it will no longer store the data on phones for more than seven days, will encrypt the data and will stop backing up the files to user computers. It also has fixed the bug with a free software update.

Kim, the lawyer, took Apple to court earlier this year over iPhone

privacy and was awarded 1 million won. He said he expected the first hearing in the new case to take place in October or November. If the court in the southern city of Changwon rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the total award could come to about 27.6 billion won ($25.7 million).

Cupertino, California-based Apple - the most valuable company in the United States - earned $7.31 billion in its fiscal third quarter.

Jung Ogk-taek, an official at the Changwon District Court, said it was not clear how much time would be required to reach a verdict.

Kim said the decision to seek damages of only 1 million per person reflects that South Korean courts do not generally award amounts as high as their counterparts in the United States. He said 26,691 plaintiffs were listed in the civil suit filed yesterday. Another 921 are minors and lawyers need to obtain the consent of their parents before they can join, Kim said.

He expects that to take about two weeks. South Korea’s communications regulator earlier this month ordered Apple’s local operation to pay a 3 million won fine for what it said were violations of the country’s location information laws. — AP

SEOUL: A man passes by an Apple iPhone advertisement at downtown Seoul, South Korea. — AP

BART head defends cell service shut-off SAN FRANCISCO: The idea to cut wireless communications to quell a brewing protest - a tactic that has put San Francisco’s subway system in the middle of a global free speech debate - first came to the agency’s chief spokesman in the middle of the night. Bay Area Rapid Transit spokesman Linton Johnson said Tuesday that he was lying awake early Thursday when he was struck by the thought of shutting off power to the agency’s wireless networks. He sent an e-mail to BART police, who had asked employees for all ideas - “good or bad, constitutional or unconstitutional,” Johnson said. BART Police Deputy Chief Ben Fairow responded that he liked the idea, and interim general manager Sherwood Wakeman, formerly the agency’s top lawyer, signed off on the plan, Johnson said.

BART’s board of directors was told of the tactic before 5 p.m. Thursday when it was deployed, he said. The tactic is now at the center of a growing debate in the United States and around the world - over whether BART officials acted properly to ensure commuter safety or overreached and violated free speech rights when it became the first US governmental agency to shut off wireless service to disrupt protest. The action has been compared unfavorably to Hosni Mubarek’s attempt to shut down the Internet in Egypt before protesters forced him from office. On Tuesday, Johnson said he had no regrets and BART reserved the right to cut power again if faced with the same circumstances.

The agency kept the power on during a rowdy protest Monday that prompted the brief closure of four San Francisco stations during the evening commute. Johnson said that’s because “the information we had Monday didn’t meet the constitutional standards” to cut communications like it did last week. On Thursday, protest organizers posted instructions for the demonstration on websites and on Twitter, indicating more instructions would be issued electronically just before the demonstration was to start. The demonstration was planned after BART police shot and killed Charles Hill, a 45-year-old transient, on July 3.

BART police said he lunged at officers with a knife. On Monday, organizers simply called for protesters to gather on the Civic Center station platform at 5 pm Cutting communications wouldn’t have helped police control the situation, Johnson said.

That demonstration was called in response to the communication cut last week. About 50 demonstrators massed on the platform with

free speech signs chanting “no justice, no peace.” One protester was walking around with a toy phone shouting “can you hear me now.”

While Johnson’s idea has drawn criticism from some civil libertarians and free speech advocates, others inside and out of the agency supported the decision. BART board president Bob Franklin said cutting communications led to a safe, uninterrupted commute Thursday night after the protest failed to materialize. Franklin said doesn’t see BART ever again shutting the wireless network to quell a brewing protest.

That’s because he believes future protesters won’t rely on their cell phones to organize, knowing BART has the capability to cut communications in its station. “I don’t see a need to do it again,” Franklin said.

In an interview Tuesday, Franklin defended the agency’s actions to cut communications, saying it was legal and appropriate to ensure commuter safety. “It stopped the protest,” Franklin said of the action. Franklin said BART’s lawyers also believe its strategy Monday was a legal way to ensure safety on its crowded platforms. Nonetheless, Franklin said he expects BART will get hit with a lawsuit, even though he thinks the issue of cutting communications to quell potentially dangerous demonstrations needs to be decided on a national level. “It’s an interesting issue of free speech,” Franklin said.

“The debate is now well beyond BART.” Civil libertarian groups have backed away from threats

to legally challenge BART over the issue, even though advocates fear other government agencies will use similar tactics if the practice isn’t challenged in court.

The American Civil Liberties Union met with BART’s police chief Monday even as demonstrators protested the agency’s previous action to block wireless reception. After the meeting, ACLU attorney Michael Risher said the organization had no plans to immediately file a lawsuit and he was disappointed that he didn’t extract a pledge from BART to refrain from similar tactics in the future. He planned to keep meeting with the agency. “While the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California is not currently in the process of filing a lawsuit against BART for shutting down wireless service, we have not entirely ruled out the possibility,” ACLU spokeswoman Rebecca Farmer said Tuesday. “This is a rapidly evolving situation.

We are in conversation with BART, and our analysis will change depending on BART’s actions going forward.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation, too, said it was unlikely to file a lawsuit over the disabling of wireless reception for three hours. Still, the shutdown of wireless towers in stations near the protest Thursday raised questions about the role that social networks play in helping people, from Egypt to London, organize online. In the US, with its history of free speech, critics are saying BART’s move was unconstitutional. —AP

SAN FRANCISCO: BART police officers push back a protester at the Civic Center station in San Francisco on Monday. — AP

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

health & science

Healthy vending machines dispense with junk food $42 billion vending industry fueling US obesity problem

NORTH CAROLINA: Chris Biblis holds his six-weeks-old daughter Stella. The Biblis’ had Stella through In Vitro Fertilization. — MCT

No evidence aspirin boosts IVF success NEW YORK: Women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are often told that a daily aspirin will help boost the odds of success, but a research review has found no evidence that it works. The review, reported in the Cochrane Library, combined the results of 13 international studies and discovered that a low daily dose of aspirin had no clear effect on an either an IVF pregnancy or birth rates.

Three of the studies looked at birth rates.

Of 525 women who used aspirin during their IVF treatment cycle, 108 gave birth.

But of 528 women not given aspirin, 119 gave birth. “Couples undergoing IVF often feel so desperate that they are prepared to try anything that may improve their chances of conceiving,” said Charalambos Siristatidis, of the University of Athens in Greece, who led the research.

“But given the current evidence, there is still no basis to recommend that women take aspirin to help them become pregnant,” he said in a statement. In theory, aspirin could improve IVF success by boosting blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, and also might help by preventing blood clots in the placental vessels. But studies have come to mixed conclusions. There is a small majority of women who have repeat miscarriages because of problems with blood clotting, said Roger Lobo, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University in New York, who was not involved in the review. If a

woman undergoing IVF has blood-clotting issues, then aspirin or other anticoagulants may help, he told Reuters Health. But for most women having IVF, “it’s really the embryo quality that’s the major factor, so I’m not surprised that aspirin shows no benefit overall.”

The studies in the review included 2.653 women undergoing IVF. The trials randomized women to take 80 to 100 milligrams of aspiring per day, with the other half assigned to a no-aspirin “control” group. In most studies, women started taking aspirin at the beginning of the IVF process. The duration of the treatment varied from study to study. One of the larger studies that looked only at pregnancy rates did not suggest a benefit. Of 300 women, the pregnancy rate among aspirin users was 45 percent, against 28 percent of the women not on aspirin. But when researchers combined the results of different studies, they found no overall effect on women’s pregnancy or birth rates, or on their risk of miscarriage.

Lobo too noted that many couples undergoing infertility treatment are desperate to try anything that could raise their chances of having a baby, even in theory, but stressed that even low-dose aspirin can have risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding. “Based on the evidence, there really appears to be no benefit from using aspirin. And if you add to that the fact that there are risks, it probably shouldn’t be done,” he said. — Reuters

SpaceX plans November test flight to space station WASHINGTON: California-based rocket maker SpaceX said Monday that it will make a test flight in late November to the International Space Station, now that NASA has retired its space shuttle program. “SpaceX has been hard at work preparing for our next flight-a mission designed to demonstrate that a privately-developed space transportation system can deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS),” the company, also called Space Exploration Technologies, said in a statement. The mission is the second to be carried out

by SpaceX, one of a handful of firms competing to make a spaceship to replace the now-defunct US shuttle, which had been used to carry supplies

and equipment to the orbiting outpost.

“NASA has given us a November 30, 2011 launch date, which should be followed nine days later by Dragon berthing at the ISS,” the company said. It said the arrival of the vessel at the space station would herald “the beginning of a new era in space travel. Together, government and the private sector can simultaneously increase the reliability, safety and frequency of space travel, while greatly reducing the costs,” SpaceX said. The company won $75 million in new seed money earlier this year, after it became the first to successfully send its own space capsule, the gumdropshaped Dragon, into orbit and back in December 2010. — AFP

HIV in America: Studies zero in on trouble spots CHICAGO: US health experts are turning to sophisticated computer mapping technology and electronic medical records to identify pockets of Americans most at risk of HIV infection. In one study, presented at 2011 National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, researchers at the Cleveland Department of Public Health saw big improvements in rates of HIV testing when they added reminders to patients’ electronic health records about the need for routine testing. In another, officials in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health used disease mapping technology to identify HIV-infected patients not getting adequate treatment- increasing the risk of transmission. Dr Jonathan Mermin, director of the division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the Centers for Disease and Prevention, which sponsored the conference, said the studies, and others like it, will help as the agency implements the National HIV/AIDS Strategy introduced by the White House last summer.

That plan aims to focus resources where HIV is most heavily concentrated. Currently, about 1.2 million people in the United States are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and about one out of five people who are infected do not know it. And rates are much higher among high-risk individuals, according to data from a CDC study of 21 cities presented at the meeting by CDC’s Dr Alexandra Oster.

Among those who were infected, nearly half did not know they were HIV

positive. Electronic reminders To help remind doctors of the need for testing, Dr Ann Aver y of the Cleveland Department of Public Health studied the impact of adding reminders to the electronic medical record system used at MetroHealth, a Cleveland-based hospital system that provides care to patients regardless of insurance status.

When they started the study, only 4 percent of patients aged 13 to 64 were screened for HIV from 2008 to 2009. To increase routine HIV testing, last July MetroHealth added an HIV testing prompt to the electronic medical records system reminding doctors to screen all patients aged 13 to 64 if they had not been previously tested.

Within six months of the changes, HIV testing in the hospital’s outpatient clinics rose dramatically, increasing by nearly two-thirds. The effort was especially effective at increasing testing among men, with first-time testing rising from 2.9 percent of those tested to 6.1 percent.

Separately, a team led by Dr Jennifer Sayles, director of Office of AIDS Programs and Policy for Los Angeles County used disease mapping software to track HIV infection and treatment rates among the county’s more than 10 million residents.

Sayles studied treatment coverage among more than 12,000 HIV-infected individuals whose care was paid for through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides HIV-related services to those who do cannot afford their care. — Reuters

KANSAS: It’s 2:30 in the afternoon, and your stomach is gurgling. Before long, you’re in vending-machine land eyeballing the choices, which for decades have consisted mostly of pop, chips, chocolate and those fluorescent orange crackers. But increasingly, workers and others with gurgling stomachs are finding a new ally to help slay the afternoon munchies: the healthy vending machine Instead of the standard junk-food fortresses filled with the four food groups of the apocalypse - salt, sugar, carbs and fat - there are machines from companies such as Fresh Healthy Vending, h.u.m.a.n. Healthy Vending and Vend Natural, offering low-calorie and low-fat fare in schools, malls, office buildings and more.

This is 2:30 pm in a different universe.

Suddenly, you’re peering through Plexiglas at carrot sticks, cheese, yogurt, fruit smoothies, veggie chips and Fuji apple crisps - even soy milk, organic lemonade and mango coconut water. Healthy vending started several years ago with machines on both coasts and has moved to the Midwest within the last two years. It makes sense given the increased emphasis on better diets, said Jolly Backer, CEO of Fresh Health Vending of San Diego.

“Have you been in a Whole Foods lately?” he asked. “You can’t move in there. They’re all buying the stuff (we’re selling). People are becoming more aware of choices that will make a difference in their family’s health.”

For Fresh Healthy Vending, that means growth. The company has about 500 machines across the country, with 300 more coming in the next two months. “We’ve sold 80 franchises just this year,” Backer said. “The growth is incredible.” Martha Blood, a local franchisee, operates 10 of the brightly colored machines in the metro area, in places such as Hallmark, the Jewish Community Center and St. Luke’s Hospital. She bought a Fresh Health Vending franchise several months ago, after being disappointed to find only junk food in a hospital vending machine. Today, she does tastings for potential clients to let them sample the unfamiliar products in her machines.” They’re excited to try it and for it to be an option in their office,” she said.

She’s in good company. “We’ve seen more healthy vending machines over the last two years,” said Jackie Clark, spokeswoman for the National Automatic Merchandising Association. “It’s an outgrowth of consumer lifestyles. But it also has been growing because companies have been looking to the vending industry to be part of their wellness programs.”

Sandy Milam, director of nutrition at St. Luke’s on the Plaza, installed a healthy machine in May after getting emails asking for healthier choices and gluten-free options. Over lunch on a recent afternoon, Emily Allinder, the hospital’s director for strategic business development, bought Fuji apple crisps from the new machine for $1.50.

“They’re very good,” she said, taking a bite.

“I’m a vegetarian, and I try not to eat vending machine food because of the high sugar and sodium content. But if you can grab something out of a machine without compromising healthiness, that’s ideal.” But registered nurse Kelly Mitchell was skeptical. “I don’t think a lot of it is that healthy,” she said. “These chocolate chip cookies aren’t healthy. Maybe the Chocolate Silk would be OK, or the apple crisps - and the green teas are nice, but (at $2) they’re kind of expensive.” Milam said it’s all about giving people options. In the next several years, she plans to put healthy vending machines throughout the hospital.

Healthy-eating advocates aren’t exactly turning handsprings over healthy vending. It’s still eating out of a machine, and some of the so-called “healthy” alternatives aren’t much better than the junk they’re replacing, they say. But they think it’s a step in the right direction. The reason? Vending machines - most

stocked with high sugar, fat and calories - offer instant gratification when eaters are at their most vulnerable. For decades, the $42 billion vending industry has helped feed the nation’s growing obesity problem, health advocates contend. But when stocked with better choices, those same machines can be used to start reversing the problem they helped create.

The vending industry is trying to do its part.

Since 2005, Clark said, more than 1,200 groups have signed up for the Fit Pick program, which identifies healthier vending choices in the machines. “And where operators have installed that program, sales have gone up,” Clark said.

But adding healthy options to vending machines does have its limits. “If the program is too aggressive, there’s a consumer backlash,” Clark said. “ Then people just bring their favorites from home, or buy them from a

The company is planning an expansion in the Kansas City area in October. Kelly knows what’s driving the healthy vending trend. “I think it’s a recognition that one of the world’s ills is inaccessibility to healthy food, snacks and drinks, and that that inaccessibility is causing massive bad habits,” he said. Bad habits he’d like to stop. “H.u.m.a.n. is not just a vending company,” said Kelly, who seriously considered going to medical school to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. “We’re really an anti-obesity company. We’re not just doing this for the money. We’re doing this because we think it’s very important.”

Years ago, it was harder to get people to try healthier options in vending machines, Kelly said. “Not only did people used to think that healthy (vending) foods used to taste like cardboard,” he said. “They actually did. But the food

KANSAS: Certified dietary manager Sandy Milan talked about choices available in a vending machine in Kansas City. —MCT store.” Acceptance of the healthy machines varies, Clark said. The machines do far better in California than in the Deep South and better at health clubs than construction sites.

“We’re trying to get away from traditional snack foods and get into more healthy options,” said Jose Romero, assistant director of local community center’s fitness and sports department “We’re a fitness and sports department (and) we try to model that.” The reaction?

“Very positive,” Romero said. “We’ve gotten numerous comments saying, ‘We’re happy you made this change.’” Other changes are even more dramatic.

Sean Kelly, CEO of h.u.m.a.n. Healthy Vending of Santa Monica, Calif., offers a healthy vending machine unique in the industry - one that gives customers specific ingredient and nutritional information and health benefits on a digital LCD screen. “We didn’t just throw some graphics on a traditional vending machine,” he said. “We added the digital LCD screen to advertise the products and educate our customers.” Kelly’s machines are smarter in another way, too. Complete with remote monitors, they are capable of sending more than 30 text alerts. One of them warns operators when fresh fruit is in danger of going bad.

Operators also can preset sales alerts in every row so they know when one needs to be refilled.

Currently, h.u.m.a.n. has machines in nine Anytime Fitness Clubs in the metro area and more than 500 machines around the country.

industry has made massive strides over the last 10 years” in making healthier vending choices taste good. It also was harder to get franchisees to buy healthy vending machines in the past. “One of the big misconceptions in the industry is that when you replace traditional vending machines with healthy vending machines, your sales are not going to be as healthy,” Kelly said. “We’ve found that to be exactly opposite. Nine times out of 10, we will meet or exceed the overall sales volume of a traditional vending machine that we are replacing.” Bill Carpenter, president of Vend Natural in Annapolis, Md., said his company’s sales are strong, too. Vend Natural operates more than 470 machines, primarily on the coasts.

Like other companies, Vend Natural is soon planning to expand to the Midwest. The company’s vending machines dispense bananas, pineapple, grapes, apple slices and a vegetable medley, along with hundreds of other products. “Look, I eat Snickers bars,” he said.

“But there are so many other interesting products that the public never sees. Believe it or not, I like rice milk now. And I never would have tried it otherwise.” Carpenter knows healthy vending machines aren’t for everybody. “I don’t look at us as replacing the traditional choices like Coke and Snickers,” he said.

“I just think there’s a broad enough market to offer a healthier alternative. We believe choice is important. You can’t mandate good health.

But you can give people a choice.” — MCT

Cat spraying way of conveying message LOS ANGELES: Cats that spray are most likely communicating distress rather than misbehaving, so piling on more anxiety through punishment is counterproductive, veterinarians said. “It’s like graffiti, scented graffiti,” said San Francisco Dr. Sophia Yin, executive board member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. The first line of defense against the odorous habit is to spay and neuter cats when they’re young. Assuming a cat has been altered and has no health problems, spraying is a sign of stress and it’s up to you to figure out the cause, Yin said.

Are there changes in the household? Is a new boyfriend spending a lot of time at your place, did your hours at work change suddenly, did a member of the household die or is there a new pet around? “A cat will spray when its feeling threatened or thwarted. The thing is to try to get inside the cat’s head,” said Carolyn Waggoner, who just retired from the Yolo County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Persian and Himalayan Cat Rescue of Northern California.

Newborns, of the human variety, are especially tough on cats, said Waggoner, who has been counseling cat owners for decades. “The whole house is unsettled with the arrival of a newborn. There are different noises, different smells, different activity levels. Cats are creatures of habit. They like predictability and they don’t like change.”

The addition of another pet can have the same effect, she said. “You want a friend for your cat but does your cat want a friend?

Everything depends on the cat’s personality,” she said. “It would be like somebody choosing a roommate for you in a room you could nev-

er get out of.” Cats most likely to spray are unsterilized males but about 10 percent of neutered animals also have spraying issues, Yin said. Female cats can spray as well, she said. Arlene Salassi, a shelter attendant at the Upland Animal Shelter, east of Los Angeles, said all kittens there are spayed or neutered when they reach 2 pounds, long before sexual maturity, when spraying can start.

The first line of defense against spraying

VERO BEACH: This photo, courtesy of The Humane Society, shows a 3-month-old sterilized kitten. The first line of defense against the odorous habit or spraying is to spay and neuter cats when they’re young. —AP

should be cleaning the litter box. Cats don’t like citrus or mint, so clean with soap and water, Waggoner said. After that, clean the box once every two to four weeks if you use clumping litter and more often if you are using clay, Yin said. Also make sure there are enough litter boxes in the house. There should be one box for every cat, plus an extra, she said. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you might try what Yin calls a “litter box cafeteria.”

Put four boxes next to each other and try to figure out what the cat wants. A box can be too high, too low, too short, too long, too visible, too close to a wall or too close to the cat’s food, Yin said. Litter or the liner might be too scented, too thick, too thin, too clumpy or too dusty. As a rule, Yin said a box should be 1.5 times the cat’s body length and litter should be deep enough that a ruler will stand up in it and a cat can dig nicely. If a cat is arthritic, it may be having trouble getting into the box, so you might need to cut it lower. If your cat is too chubby, Yin suggests using a sweater box instead of a litter box. If there are multiple cats, there could be privacy issues for some. If outdoor animals are bothering your indoor cat, it might spray near windows or doors. Try covering up the windows or doors so your cat can’t see out, or get a motion activated sprinkler that will make noise and squirt an intruding cat without hurting it, Yin said. You also might have to stop feeding birds, get rid of raccoons or put up a fence that will keep other animals out, Waggoner said.

If you have several cats and you don’t know which one is spraying, separate them for a day or two to figure it out. You also have to clean up the urine, Yin said. — AP

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Athletes examined by sports concussion treatment program ORLANDO: School physical. Check. Immunization record. Check. Emergency contact. Check. Head examined. Huh? Back to school means back to sports for many student athletes, but before they get their heads in the game, a greater number of them will be getting baseline concussion scans, which can improve treatment if they suffer a blow to the head. Several recent high-profile sports-related head injuries, including the one sustained by former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, have highlighted the importance of proper concussion management. As a result, more high schools, and now a leading sporting goods retailer, are stepping up to the plate to make sure athletes receive baseline testing in time for fall sports.

In 2005, only five Florida high schools offered baseline screens to athletes, now 50 do, said Mark Lovell, founder of ImPACT, a computerized concussion-evaluation system. ImPACT provides screening software for professional teams, universities and schools, including 18 high schools in Central Florida.

Those numbers are about to shoot up. This month, Dick’s Sporting Goods, in partnership with ImPACT, is targeting an additional 1 million screenings for youths nationwide. Lovell estimates that 16 percent of the nation’s 40,000 high schools offer the screening, which costs less than $1 per student. Dick’s effort will add 3,300 schools, meaning almost one in four high

schools will offer student athletes the program.

Though concussions most often occur in football, they’re also common in other impact sports such as soccer, horseback riding, gymnastics, cheerleading and field hockey. Nearly 4 million activity-related concussions occur in the United States each year, mostly in teenagers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Initial concussions aren’t usually serious. It’s the second ones that do real damage, especially if they occur before the brain has recovered. If an injured brain has a repeat injury too soon, permanent brain damage — and even death — can result, experts say. After an injury, the brain needs time to heal. Until it does, it is prone to more serious injury the second time, according to the American Academy of Neurology, which has long-warned coaches about the consequences of “second-impact syndrome.”

Baseline screenings help make sure the athlete doesn’t go back in too soon. When students have a baseline test, full recovery is easier to assess, said Michael Dougherty, an athletic trainer and manager of the Sports Concussion Program at Florida Hospital.

Last year, the program administered baseline tests to nearly 6,000 Central Florida athletes. “Having a baseline scan really helps us assess the injury right after impact, analyze recovery progress and make safer judgments about when the athlete can return to play,”

said Dougherty. “Without a baseline, you’re comparing the athlete against average baseline norms, which can vary widely, making treatment far less accurate,” he said. When athletes suffer a concussion, doctors typically advise them to wait a week before resuming any sport, said Dougherty. But when it is safe to return varies widely. “Most kids recover in a week, and I’ve seen some recover in three or four days,” he said. “But in 15 percent of cases, the athlete really isn’t ready for a month.”

The 20-minute baseline test measures memory, reaction time, processing speed and problem-solving skills to establish an athlete’s normal function.

Objective data is important in situations where kids, coaches and parents are all rooting for the athlete to get back on the field. “Kids often say ‘I’m fine’ the way drunk people say ‘I’m fine,’” said Dougherty. “They really believe they are.” Good data can put the brakes on that potentially harmful momentum. Lia Whitmore, a rising junior at Oviedo High School, has learned that lesson. The 16-year-old plays club level and varsity soccer, and has suffered several concussions during her sports career, including two in the past year. In a match just before Thanksgiving, she suffered one.

Then, a couple months later, “I collided with a girl in a corner kick,” she said. The next thing she remembers was the coach walking her off the field. — MCT

ORLANDO: Lia Whitmore has sustained several concussions in her career playing soccer so she now wears a head brace for protection. — MCT

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W H AT ’ S O N

Birthday Greetings

Happy birthday and many many happy returns of the day to Soraya Kaveri Banerjee who turns one tomorrow (August 19). Wishes come from Amma, Daddy, great grandparents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, Ramesh and Meera.

Announcements Attention kids!

CEF VBS 11 starting from August 22. Six exciting days of singing, games & bible stories for children of all ages. Hurry !!!. Limited Seats.

Register Online: www.cefkuwait.org

KKIC Conducts Iftar Party at Grand Mosque

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uwait Kerala Islahi Center (KKIC) conducted an Iftar party at the Grand Mosque under the patronage of Ministry of Awqaf. The program started at 5pm with the lecture of Shameer Madani on “Know your Creator”.

The renowned speaker and scholar

Shamsudheen Palath delivered the Ramadan speech presenting a topic on ‘Prophet Muhammed: Life and Culture’.

Prophet is the role model of a Muslim. He was touching every part of human life and exemplified every role of life. He is patient as well as brave.

KKIC Iftar organizing committee chief patron Dr. Ameer Ahmad and Chairman of FIMA Sidheek Valiyakath felicitated.

Eminent organization representatives Abdul Fatah Thayyil (KKMA), Basheer Batha (KKMCC), Rafi Nandi (MES), Riyas and Sathar Kunnil (Media) and

Mohammed Ali (Masjid Al Kabeer) attended the program.

The event was presided by KKIC president Abdul Latheef Madani. General Secretary TP Abdul Azeez welcomed the gathering and Public Relations Secretary Aslam Kapad proposed a vote of thanks.

Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas.

For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq : Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty67712409.

Pathanamthitta Onam The executive committee of Pathanamthitta District Association has decided to hold 2011 Onam Festival celebrations on Friday October 28, 2011 with a grand public function attended

by Member of Parliament from Pathanamthitta Loksabha Constituency, Anto Antony and other prominent dignitaries from Kerala and Kuwait.

All residents of Pathanamthitta District and persons of Pathanamthitta District origin are hereby invited to attend this function and friends and families.

Art salon Bouhshari Art Gallery Exhibition runs through 15 September. Daily working hours: 10am 1pm and 5 - 9pm, except on Friday and on Thursday evening.

Rink soccer Don Bosco Oratory is pleased to announce its Major 4-A-Side “Rink Soccer Fiesta” in Kuwait!

This event is for the soccer lovers in Kuwait and will be played on a League (round robin) cum knock out basis from August 2nd at the IEAS Quadrangle in Salmiya. For details contact Chris: 6651-9627, Alex: 66069282 from 6-9pm.

Konkani musical show Comedian Philip, the 1st NRI Goan comedian, is all set to entertain you with a Konkani music show titled “Ani, Anik Zaiem?” to be presented by the United Friends Club on September 9 at 4pm at the AIS (American International School) Auditorium, Maidan-Hawalli. This is Kuwaitbased comedian Philip’s third musical show after the overwhelming success of staging “Tum Vhoir Aum Sokol” and “Hem Kazar Koslem” in Kuwait and overseas.

Awami Seschsasebak League observe National Mourning day

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ugust 15th was the National mourning day for the Father of the Bengali nation and the founding premier of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman who, along with most of his family members, was brutally in 1975. Commemorating the National mourning day- Bangladesh Awami Seschsasebak League, Kuwait chapter, held a discussion and prayer mahfil at Quakab hotel in Kuwait City on the day.

The program was presided over by Masud Karim - President of Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter.

Bangladesh Awami League Kuwait chapter President and chief patron of Awami Seschsasebak League Kuwait, Abdur Rab, was the chief guest in the event. Among the specials guests were, Abdus Subhan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Kuwait chapter, SM Jahangir Alam, Senior Vice President of Jatiya Sramik League, Abdur Rauf Mawla, editor of Monthly Morulekha, Ali Azam, Bahar uddin, Senior Vice President of Seschsasebak

league, Jahangir Hossain Bablu, the President of Jatiya Kabita Parisad, Tauhidul Islam Harun, President of

Friday forum Kuwait, Hasan Ali and General Secretary of Joyhangla Sankskritik Oikkojothe.

The program commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, recited by Tofazzal Hosen, followed by a one minute silence in honor of the martyrs.

General Secretary of Seschsasebak League Kuwait chapter James Rozario, Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Omar Faruk, Mohammed Scum, Hasan Chowdhury, Organizing Secretary Kabir Hosen, Delwar Ibsen, Shahadat Hosen Salman and Ahul Hosen Rashed delivered speeches highlighting the glorious achievements of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman.

In honor of Bangabandhu, poetry was recited by poets Abdur Rahim, Jahangir Hosen Bablu, Selim Reza, Sheikh Ehsanul Hoque Khokan, Mahmudur Rahaman, Shah Sumon Rahat, Mahmuduzzaman Babu and Kantha Pathik.

Special prayer was offered seeking the divine grace for the departed soul of Bangabandhu and of all the martyrs of 15th August 1975.

Aware Arabic courses

“T

he AWARE Management is glad to announce that Ramadan Arabic language courses run till September 15th, 2011. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed & courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector.

AWARE Arabic courses highlight lIntroductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics lBetter prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic lCombine language learning with cultural insights lTaught in multi-nationality group settings lProvide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs. For more information, call 25335260 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw

International School of Pakistan Clinches Top 3 Positions HSSC II Results

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ederal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) Islamabad has announced the Annual Examination 2011 HSSC - II results. Students of International School of Pakistan, Khaitan have performed remarkably by attaining 3 top positions in each group of studies. Commerce Group attained 100% results.

Pre-Medical Pre-Engineering Group Commerce Group Ayesha Ashraf M. Zia ul Qamar Hoor Shakeel 969 Marks 945 Marks 844 Marks 2nd Position Beenish Nawaz M. Ghufran Ahmed Khalid 915 Marks 918 Marks 789 Marks 3rd Position Aniqa Shahzad Mirza Ibrahim 892 Marks 899 Marks The Management of the School congratulated successful students and their parents. The devoted efforts of the well qualified and experienced faculty has also been admired which contributed to make the results outstanding.

1st Position

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref ) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211. nnnnnnn

The Avenues Sony Flagship store celebrates Girgian

Sony celebrates Girgian at flagship store

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail:info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone:22971170.

The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk nnnnnnn

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or two festive days the Avenues Sony Flagship store welcomed the Girgian celebrations in full force. The presentation of Cultural songs and dances by the Sony Kids led

the crowds throughout the mall in tune and merriment to celebrate the fantastic seasonal offers presented by Sony. Amidst this joyous event, Sony distributed Girgian Candy to the cheer-

ful families in attendance.

Sony welcomes this giving season with exclusive deals and offers. The Sony & Supplying Store family would like to thank all participating families with a special

thanks to the Sony Kids, our little stars for making this a truly unforgettable event. As the season progresses into Eid and its festivities, visit our Flagship stores for more exclusive celebratory deals from Sony.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, AlMutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca.

Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form.

All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed.

To ensure that the most recent version of the Temporary Resident Visa application form is being utilized, applicants should refer to the CIC website. As of January 15, 2011, forms are to be filled in electronically. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday.

Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

The forms are available on the internet at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5257E. PDF. A guide explaining the process can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides/5256E.PDF. nnnnnnn

The Burgan Bank Girgian celebration

Burgan Bank shares the joy of Ramadan at Discovery Centre

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urgan Bank recently celebrated Girgian at the Discovery Centre along with the Cooperation Volunteers Group, and introduced a number of interactive activities catered for the attending children and their families which included a traditional band and DJ who played special Girgian themed musicals followed by the traditional dance performance. The festivities also included a wide range of educational sessions as well as games, along with face painting, tattooing, and Henna drawings. The attending public was also treated to special Girgian boxes and gifts that were distributed by the bank’s

representatives.

Burgan Bank continues to invest in its social engagements by providing exciting programs that cater to the community’s demands. The bank’s latest social initiatives are aligned with the various activities that place it in the heart of the Kuwaiti community.

EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA During the holy month of Ramadan, the office timings of the Indian Passport and Visa Service Centres of BLS International Visa Services Co., Kuwait, situated at (a) Emad Commercial Centre, Basement Floor, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait, and (b) Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26 Makka Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait, will be from 8 am - 3 pm from Saturday to Thursday (i.e. six days a week). Embassy of India, Kuwait, will maintain its usual working hours. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF IRAN The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kuwait announced their official working hours during the holy month of Ramadan, which will go between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm on weekdays. The Iranian embassy extends will wishes to His Highness the Amir, the government as well as the people of Kuwait on this occasion. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SLOVAK REPUBLIC The Embassy of the Slovak Republic to the State of Kuwait would like to inform the public that from 8th August 2011, the working hours of the Consular Section will be on Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 till 13:00 hrs.

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00:45 Cats 101 01:40 Untamed And Uncut 02:35 Austin Stevens Adventures 03:30 Monster Bug Wars 04:25 Attack Of The Giant Jellyfish 05:20 Animal Cops Houston 06:10 Dogs 101 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 The Really Wild Show 07:50 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Bad Dog 10:05 Cats 101 11:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 11:55 Meerkat Manor 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Animal ER 13:45 Animal Cops Houston 14:40 Animal Precinct 15:30 RSPCA: Have You Got What It Takes?

16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Crocodile Hunter 17:25 Must Love Cats 18:20 Breed All About It 18:45 Orangutan Island 19:15 Crocodile Hunter 20:10 Cats 101 21:05 Big Five Challenge 22:00 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 22:55 The Beauty Of Snakes 23:50 Life Of Mammals

00:00 00:30 01:15 02:05 Fallen 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:50 05:05 05:25 05:40 05:50 06:10 06:25 06:45 07:00 07:20 07:35 07:55 08:10 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:30 09:40 10:40 11:25 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:10 15:40 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:15 19:10 20:00 20:45 21:15 21:45 22:40 23:30

My Family The Weakest Link Casualty Spanish Flu - The Forgotten Eastenders Doctors My Family Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Spot’s Musical Adventures Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Spot’s Musical Adventures Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Spot’s Musical Adventures My Family The Weakest Link Born And Bred Doctors Eastenders Casualty My Family Born And Bred The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Born And Bred The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Ray Mears’ Wild Foods My Family

00:15 The Naked Chef 00:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 01:05 What Not To Wear 01:55 Masterchef Australia 02:45 The Naked Chef 03:35 Daily Cooks Challenge 05:00 Masterchef Australia 05:50 The Naked Chef 06:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad

07:05 Daily Cooks Challenge 10:30 Antiques Roadshow 11:20 Rhodes Across China 12:05 Cash In The Attic 12:50 Antiques Roadshow 13:40 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 14:05 Holmes On Homes 14:55 What Not To Wear 15:45 Rhodes Across China 16:30 Cash In The Attic 17:15 Antiques Roadshow 18:05 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 18:30 Holmes On Homes 19:20 Rhodes Across China 20:10 Cash In The Attic 20:55 Antiques Roadshow 21:45 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 22:10 Holmes On Homes 23:00 Masterchef Australia 23:50 The Naked Chef

00:00 00:30 00:45 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 07:45 08:30 08:45 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 13:45 14:00 15:00 15:30 15:45 16:00 17:30 17:45 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:30 20:45

BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News America Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today GMT With George Alagiah BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today Impact With Mishal Husain World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Hardtalk The Hub With Nik Gowing World Business Report Sport Today

06:00 American Dragon 06:20 Kick Buttowski 06:40 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 07:00 Phineas & Ferb 08:40 Kick Buttowski 09:00 Zeke & Luther 09:50 I’m In The Band 10:15 The Super Hero Squad Show 10:40 Suite Life On Deck 11:05 Suite Life On Deck 11:30 Pair Of Kings 11:55 Phineas & Ferb 12:45 I’m In The Band 13:10 Kid Vs Kat 13:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:50 Zeke & Luther 15:15 Kick Buttowski

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 15:35 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 16:00 I’m In The Band 16:25 Suite Life On Deck 16:50 Zeke & Luther 17:15 Zeke & Luther 17:40 Phineas & Ferb 18:05 Phineas & Ferb 18:30 Escape From Scorpion Island 18:55 Kick Buttowski 19:20 American Dragon 19:45 Aaron Stone 20:15 Kid Vs Kat 20:40 I’m In The Band 21:05 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 21:30 Zeke & Luther 21:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 22:15 The Super Hero Squad Show

00:15 00:35 01:00 01:25 Cody 01:50 02:15 02:35 03:00 03:25 04:15 05:00 05:50 06:35 07:25 08:15 09:00 09:20 Cody 09:45 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:35 12:00 Splits 12:10 12:20 12:30 12:40 Splits 12:50 13:10 Cody 13:35 13:50 14:15 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:45 16:10 16:30 Cody 16:55 17:20 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:50

00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 03:55 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50

08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45

How Does It Work Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters Science Of The Movies Weird Or What?

Ultimate Survival Miami Ink Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Mythbusters Deadliest Catch Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters How Does It Work Cash Cab (US) Chris Ryan’s Elite Police Sons Of Guns Sole Survivor Deadliest Catch

00:05 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:40 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Smash Lab Extreme Engineering What’s That About?

Weird Connections Scrapheap Challenge How Stuff’s Made Extreme Engineering One Step Beyond Engineered Scrapheap Challenge Stephen Hawking’s Universe The Gadget Show Mega Builders Weird Connections Scrapheap Challenge How The Universe Works Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show Prototype This Bang Goes The Theory Smash Lab The Gadget Show Prototype This Bang Goes The Theory The Gadget Show

Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Replacements Emperor’s New School Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Splits Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction Splits The Hive Handy Manny Splits Jake & The Neverland Pirates Sonny With A Chance The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Splits Shake It Up Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb The Suite Life Of Zack And Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Fish Hooks Shake It Up Jake & Blake Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Fish Hooks Hannah Montana Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana

Dirty Jobs Miami Ink Ultimate Survival Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How Does It Work Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Street Customs 2008

CHANGING LANES ON OSN ACTION HD

00:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 00:30 Good Eats - Special 00:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 01:20 Paula’s Best Dishes 01:45 Unwrapped 02:10 Unwrapped 02:35 World Cafe Middle East 03:25 Chopped 04:15 Good Eats - Special 04:40 Unwrapped 05:05 Ten Dollar Dinners 05:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 05:50 Paula’s Party 06:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 07:00 Chopped 07:50 Guy’s Big Bite 08:15 Everyday Italian 08:40 Good Deal With Dave Lieberman 09:05 Ten Dollar Dinners 09:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:55 Barefoot Contessa 10:20 Good Eats - Special 10:45 Boy Meets Grill 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 Paula’s Party 12:25 Everyday Italian 12:50 Paula’s Best Dishes 13:15 Good Deal With Dave Lieberman 13:40 World Cafe Asia 14:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 14:30 Good Eats - Special 14:55 Unwrapped 15:20 Boy Meets Grill 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Guy’s Big Bite 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Paula’s Best Dishes 17:50 Everyday Italian 18:15 World Cafe Asia 18:40 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 19:05 Good Eats - Special 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 21:10 Barefoot Contessa 22:00 Unwrapped 22:50 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 23:40 World Cafe Asia

00:05 Jungle Junction 00:15 Little Einsteins 00:40 Higglytown Heroes 01:10 Jo Jo’s Circus 01:30 Special Agent Oso 02:00 Jungle Junction 02:25 Little Einsteins 02:50 Higglytown Heroes 03:20 Jo Jo’s Circus 03:40 Special Agent Oso 04:10 Jungle Junction 04:35 Little Einsteins 05:00 Higglytown Heroes 05:30 Jo Jo’s Circus 05:50 Jungle Junction 06:15 Higglytown Heroes 06:30 Higglytown Heroes 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Jungle Junction 07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 08:10 Timmy Time 08:20 Handy Manny 08:30 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 08:55 The Hive 09:10 Handy Manny 09:25 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:50 The Little Mermaid 11:05 Jungle Junction 11:20 Imagination Movers 11:45 Handy Manny 12:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 12:25 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 12:40 Lazytown 13:05 The Hive 13:15 Special Agent Oso 13:25 The Little Mermaid 14:40 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:05 Handy Manny 15:20 Handy Manny 15:30 The Hive 15:40 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 15:55 Imagination Movers 16:20 Lazytown

16:45 Jungle Junction 17:00 The Hive 17:10 Little Einsteins 17:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:55 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 18:25 Little Einsteins 18:50 Special Agent Oso 19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:50 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 20:10 The Little Mermaid 20:27 Animated Stories 20:30 The Little Mermaid 21:20 Jake And The Neverland Pirates

00:25 00:55 01:25 03:15 04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:15 10:15 12:05 13:05 13:35 14:05 15:00 17:55 18:55 20:55 21:25 22:25 23:25 23:55 York

Kendra Then And Now E!es 25 Most Stylish Sexiest Extreme Hollywood THS Behind The Scenes E! News Khloe And Lamar THS E! News Fashion Police Extreme Close-Up THS Holly’s World E! News Holly’s World Chelsea Lately Khloe And Lamar E! News Chelsea Lately Kourtney And Kim Take New

00:15 Sports Jobs 00:40 Mantracker 01:30 World Combat League 02:20 Sports Jobs 03:10 Aiya TV 04:00 I’ll Do Anything 04:50 Mantracker 05:40 World Combat League 06:30 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2008 08:00 Kenny Belaey’s Big Time South Africa 08:25 IFMXF 2010 09:15 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 10:55 Eds Up 11:45 Fantasy Factory 12:35 Sports Jobs 13:25 Mantracker 14:15 World Combat League 15:05 Eds Up 15:55 Fantasy Factory 16:45 Kenny Belaey’s Big Time South Africa 17:10 IFMXF 2010 18:00 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 18:50 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 19:40 Mantracker 20:30 Sports Jobs 21:20 FIM World Motocross MX3 Championships...

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:50 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 Jones 22:50 23:40

Ghost Lab Psychic Witness I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters Ghost Lab Mystery Diagnosis Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Royal Inquest FBI Files On The Case With Paula Zahn FBI Case Files Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Royal Inquest FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn FBI Case Files True Crime With Aphrodite True Crime Scene Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Meet The Amish 01:00 Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody: Europe 02:00 Destination Extreme 03:00 Endurance Traveller 04:00 Departures 06:00 Meet The Amish 07:00 Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody: Europe 08:00 Destination Extreme 09:00 Endurance Traveller 10:00 Departures 12:00 Meet The Amish 13:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 13:30 Bondi Rescue 14:30 Travel Madness 15:00 City Chase Marrakech 16:00 Perilous Journeys 17:00 Ultimate Traveller 18:00 Meet The Natives: USA 19:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 19:30 Bondi Rescue 20:30 Travel Madness 21:00 City Chase Marrakech 22:00 Perilous Journeys 23:00 Ultimate Traveller

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:05 05:35 06:30 07:25

Swamp Men Asia’s Deadliest Snakes Ultimate Vipers Intimate Enemies Orca Killing School Insects From Hell Wild Chronicles Hidden Worlds The Living Edens Journey Into Amazonia

THE OPEN ROAD ON OSN CINEMA 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Monkey Thieves Ultimate Vipers Intimate Enemies Orca Killing School World’s Deadliest Snakes The Living Edens Journey Into Amazonia Monkey Thieves World’s Worst Venom Superfish American Eagle The Living Edens Journey Into Amazonia Monkey Thieves

00:00 Don’t Look Up-18 02:00 Ballistica-PG15 04:00 The Spirit-PG15 06:00 Changing Lanes-PG15 08:00 Virtuality-PG15 10:00 The Truth About Charlie-PG15 12:00 Arlington Road-18 14:00 Virtuality-PG15 15:45 The Hunt For Red October 18:00 Arlington Road-18 20:00 The Librarian: The Curse Of Judas Chalice-PG15 22:00 The Grudge 3-18

01:30 03:30 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:30

The Open Road-PG15 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 Dean Spanley-PG Skellig-PG15 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 It’s A Wonderful Afterlife The Nutty Professor-FAM Home Run-PG15 Flying By-PG15 Bustin’ Down The Door-PG15 Eat Pray Love-PG15 2:22-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 02:00 Louie 02:30 Rita Rocks 03:00 Just Shoot Me 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 06:00 Seinfeld 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Just Shoot Me 09:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 09:30 The Simpsons 10:00 Parks And Recreation 10:30 Seinfeld 11:00 The Drew Carey Show 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Just Shoot Me 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 14:00 Seinfeld 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Parks And Recreation 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Just Shoot Me 19:00 Happy Endings 19:30 Community 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 State Of The Union 22:30 Rita Rocks 23:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

01:15 03:15 05:00 PG15 07:00

Unbreakable-PG15 Blood And Bone-18 A Lonely Place For DyingNo Escape-PG15

09:00 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 11:00 2012-PG15 13:45 Beyond A Reasonable DoubtPG15 15:30 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 17:30 Dick Tracy-PG15 19:15 Universal Soldier: Regeneration-PG15 21:00 Juice-18 23:00 Child’s Play 3-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Hey Hey Its Esther Blueburger Marci X-PG15 Return To Me-PG15 Imagine That-PG The Country Bears-PG For Love Or Money-PG All About Steve-PG15 Under The Tuscan Sun-PG15 Hey Hey Its Esther Blueburger Four Last Songs-PG15 I Love You Beth Cooper-PG15 Bulletproof-18

01:15 03:30 05:30 07:15 PG15 09:00 10:30 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:30

Riding In Cars With Boys-PG15 Someone Like You-PG15 Anger Management-PG15 Ghosts Of Girlfriends PastPlanet 51-PG 2012-PG15 Head Of State-PG15 At Risk-PG15 Planet 51-PG Date Night-PG15 Eat Pray Love-PG15 Triage-18v

01:00 Tooth Fairy-PG 03:00 Yogi & The Invasion Of The Space Bears-FAM 05:00 Cats & Dogs-PG 07:00 Scooby-Doo And The Loch Ness Monster-FAM 09:00 The Princess And The FrogFAM 11:00 Tangled-FAM 13:00 Scooby-Doo! AbracadabraDoo-FAM 15:00 Scooby-Doo! Camp Scarev 17:00 Tangled-FAM 19:00 A Simple Wish-FAM 21:00 Scooby-Doo And The Loch Ness Monster-FAM 23:00 Scooby-Doo! AbracadabraDoo-FAM

00:00 All Good Things-18 02:00 Death At A Funeral-PG15 04:00 One Hot Summer-PG15 06:00 Winning Time-PG15 08:00 My Dog Tulip-PG15 10:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 12:00 One Hot Summer-PG15 14:00 9-PG 16:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 18:00 The Librarian: The Curse Of Judas Chalice-PG15

00:00 European Tour Weekly 00:30 NRL Premiership 02:30 ICC Cricket World 03:00 Golfing World 04:00 Currie Cup Rugby Union 06:00 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 06:30 European Tour Weekly 07:00 Rugby World Cup Classics 07:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 08:00 Trans World Sport 09:00 Golfing World 10:00 European Tour Weekly 10:30 World Hockey 11:00 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 11:30 AFL Highlights 12:00 Rugby World Cup Classics 13:00 Live Test Cricket 20:00 Total Rugby 20:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 21:00 European Tour Weekly 21:30 Live Premier League Snooker 23:30 Futbol Mundial

00:00 01:00 01:30 03:30 04:00 04:30 07:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 23:30

Trans World Sports European Tour Weekly ITM Cup Rugby Union Rugby World Cup Classics NRL Full Time AFL Premiership Golfing World ITM Cup Rugby Union Scottish Premier League Total Rugby Trans World Sport Golfing World European Tour Weekly Live European PGA Tour Trans World Sport Golfing World Rugby World Cup Classics Live RFL Championship European PGA Tour

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Speedway WWE NXT UFC 133 UFC Unleashed WWE SmackDown!

WWE Bottomline Power Boats F1 Highlights Mass Participation Modern Pentaholn WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottomline Powerboats F1 Powerboats F1 Modern Pentaholn Speedway Intercontinental Le Mans Cup WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC UFC Unleashed

00:00 Jerseylicious 01:00 Fashion Avenue 01:55 Big Boutique 02:25 How Do I Look?

03:20 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

05:10 Homes With Style 05:35 Area 06:05 Clean House 07:00 Big Boutique 08:00 Homes With Style 08:30 Homes With Style 09:00 Fashion Avenue 09:25 Fashion Avenue 09:55 How Do I Look?

10:50 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

11:50 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

12:50 Clean House 13:45 Top 10 14:15 Mel B: It’s A Scary World 14:45 Jerseylicious 15:40 Ruby 16:35 Giuliana & Bill 17:30 Ruby 18:25 How Do I Look?

19:25 Big Boutique 19:50 Fashion Avenue 20:20 Clean House 21:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

22:10 Giuliana & Bill 23:05 Jerseylicious

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00

Life After People Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Britain At War Tales Of The Gun UFO Hunters Life After People Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Sliced

Classifieds THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available at Khaitan in a studio flat for a single bachelor with a Mangalorean R/C bachelor near to bus stop.

Contact: 66036893. (C 3565) Room for rent in Hawally, location - interaction of Beirut + Tunis Street behind Popeye Restaurant. Contact: 66266105/ 66440968.

(C 3575) Sharing accommodation available with Indian decent bachelor single bed room flat. 1+1 basic. Very good location in Salmiya, Amman street, Indian community school-3, adjacent building.

Please contact Mob: 99813483. (C 3577) 17-8-2011 Sharing accommodation in Abbassiya near Balansiya Bakery, from 1st September, fully furnished 2 bedroom flat with mini split A/C, looking for executive bachelor or couple to share with Keralite family. Contact: 66944127 or (afternoon) 24334240.

(C 3568) 16-8-2011 Sharing accommodation available for non-smoking Indian couple or bachelors with a Keralite couple in double room flat in Abbassiya from 1st September. Contact: 99378344/ 24332105 (after 3pm). (C 3567) 15-8-2011

FOR SALE IBM Computer, Printer, dot matrix printers, Scanner, Next generation bicycle, Washing Machine, Air Cooler, Bunk Bed,

Orthopaedic bed, sofa and other household items.

Small amplifier and microphones. Contact: 99443876.

(C 3579) 18-8-2011 Nissan Pathfinder 2002, BMW 740i registered in 2000 for immediate sale.

Best offer above KD 2,000 secures. Contact: 99443876.

(C 3576) 17-8-2011 Toyota Aurion 2007, sky blue color, excellent condition, run only 61,000KM, well maintained, ready to check, price KD 3,950. Contact: 96676507. (C 3573) 16-8-2011 Mercedes C180 model 1995, white color, registration up to August 19th 2012, owner leaving Kuwait soon. Price KD 1,250 or nearest offer. Contact: 66556591. (C 3566) For sale computer HP Compaq P4 1.7 Ghz, Ram 256, Hard disk 20 GB, CD Rom, 17” Monitor - Price KD 27/-.

Contact: 66762737. (C 3569) 15-8-2011

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for Brahmin Ghawsia Kothram, Tamil boy age 36, B.Com working in Kuwait from 2002. response from qualified girls from Kuwait / India. Email: shameermohamed89@yahoo.com (C 3574) 18-8-2011

CHANGE OF NAME I, Abel C. Abella Tagongtong, Filipino wish to change my name to Vir Niqel Abella Tagongtong. (C 3578) 18-8-2011 I, Aravind Krishnakumar Sunitha (s/o Krishna Kumar. R) holder of Indian Passport No. J5398981 (D.O.B - 23-06-1995) would like to change my name to Aravind Krishnakumar.

(C 3563) 13-8-2011

Olive oil boom driving Turkey and Jordan production Eastern Mediterranean olive oil producers seek markets in Far East

A

decade after planting tens of millions of trees, Turkey expects next year to become the world’s second largest producer of olive oil, surpassing Italy, Greece, Tunisia and Syria, and cater to the growing market in the Far East.

“We have increased the number of trees in past 10 years from 90 million to about double that and so we are expecting an increase in production and in the very near future to be the number one producer of table olives and number two producer of olive oil in the world,” said Metin Olken, deputy chairman of the Turkish Olive and Olive Oil Publicity Committee.

According to Olken, Turkey produced 160,000 tons of olive oil in 2010 and expects a crop of 200,000 tons this year. Within two years it expects to surpass the half-million mark and by 2015, 700,000 tons. While becoming the prince of olive pro-

duction, Turkey still falls well behind the king - Spain — which makes 1.2 million tons, or over half of the world’s olive oil. “We will take over from Greece, Italy, Tunisia and Syria,” Olken said.

According to the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC), Italy produced 480,000 tons, Greece 336,000, Syria 193,000 and Tunisia 120,000 last year. About 95 percent of the world’s olive trees are in the Mediterranean region. Olive oil is so well liked here that according to the UNCTAD, Mediterranean basin countries also account for 77 percent of the world’s consumption.

Italy and Spain have long ago branded themselves as supreme olive oil producers and have virtually cornered the market in North America and Europe. Olken said that Italy and Spain supplement their brand by repackaging oil from Turkey, Greece and Tunisia.

Olive oil consumption has dramatically risen over the past decade - largely due to the popularity of the “Mediterranean diet.” World olive oil consumption will reach 2.98 million tons, with a 3.65 percent increase from 2009. New markets have also opened up as the world became aware of the health benefits of the one of nature’s oldest commodities.

Turkey made the strategic move into higher olive oil production during the height of negotiations to enter the European Union as a way to gain EU agriculture subsidies. Those talks have floundered, but the trees have matured, needing at least seven years to begin producing marketable quantities of fruit. Olken said the government helped boost production of olives by offering financial incentives and subsidies to help cover the cost of planting and cultivation in initial years. Hundreds of thousands of people earn their livelihood from the olive oil industry.

European Union members like Spain, Italy and Greece have a virtual monopoly in the lucrative European market since they not only subsidize their farmers, but also impose heavy duties on imports.

“In the United States or Canada we would have to try and take a share from the Italians and Spanish, but if we go to China and India, these countries are only now starting to know what olive oil is and we don’t have strong competition from the Italians or Spanish yet,” Olken said.

This is one of the main reasons that Jordan, the world’s eighth largest olive oil producer, has decided to reach out to the Far East as well. They are pushing for quality branding over quantity.

“There is no way we can compete with the Italian and Spanish oils. Even the Turks have huge tracts of land and much water. The olive oil production in Jordan is very expensive due to the high cost of water. But our oil is very good,” said Ruba Dagmish, the director of the Jordan Olive Products Exporters Association (JOPEA).

Dagmish said they saw opportunities in Japan because they are willing to pay higher prices for quality olive oil and Indonesia because as a Muslim country they are able to get Hallal certification (religious approval of foods deemed “fit” by Islamic law).

Jordan produced some 24,000 tons of olive oil last year. Only about 30 percent of its olive oil is exported, with the bulk kept for local consumption. Despite the lack of water, olive trees cover around 75 percent of agricultural land in the kingdom.

“We are packaging it in fancy bottles and going for branding Jordanian oil as high quality extra virgin oil. We also export to the Gulf countries,” Dagmish said. But it is hard to compete in the Arab countries because they are bringing in cheaper Italian and Spanish oils.” — The Media Line

No: 15184

SITUATION VACANT A lady maid is needed to work part time in an apartment located in Salmiya.

Salary and time are negotiable. Call: 66417504.

(C 3571) 16-8-2011 English family needs full time maid. Call: 66094562. (C 3572) Required English speaking

nanny/ maid. Please Contact: 99824597.

(C 3564) 14-8-2011

TUITION Tutoring available for English/ Math and all other subjects. All ages including refresher, tutoring by an American teacher with many years of experience. Contact: 66616900. (C 3570) 16-8-2011

34

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 413

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Don’t be surprised if you are not in top mental gear; these days occur occasionally. You could find yourself struggling to communicate or to be better understood. Hard words are possible with an authority figure or an older person—know when to stop talking. Timing is of the essence when arguing a point today. You could keep notes of your suspicions or thoughts in order to think them through and present them for and at a more appropriate time. Easy does it today. Concentration on the work at hand and involving yourself with productive goals will help ward off the urge to say what you feel. You could be an excellent teacher in areas requiring discipline and organization. You value order and place a high premium on hard work and effort.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job.

Your directional abilities are in high focus. Issues of pride, mastery and appreciation become more and more central to your life’s path. There is a very important lesson now; it is not what you do so much as how you do it and not who you are so much as how you make others feel about themselves. If your work does not come from the heart, it should not matter now. You seem to shine when it comes to practical matters or those involving work and career. You have an easy way with superiors or those in authority and can always manage to get the most out of any skill or ability you have. You like work and career. This is an inspiring period, be it creative, personal or in the business world.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school.

4. Surveying instrument consisting of the upper movable part of a theodolite including the telescope and its attachments.

10. An internationally recognized distress signal in radio code.

13. Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity.

14. Pull back or move away or backward.

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

16. In bed.

18. Liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid.

19. (the feminine of raja) A Hindu princess or the wife of a raja.

21. God of death.

22. Discharge bad feelings or tension through verbalization, in psychoanalysis.

23. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

25. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement.

26. Lower in esteem.

29. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

32. A master's degree in business.

35. (informal) Of the highest quality.

36. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

38. A midnight meeting of witches to practice witchcraft and sorcery.

42. The basic monetary unit of most members of the European Union (introduced in 1999).

43. The basic unit of money in Thailand.

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

45. 1/10 gram.

48. A Turkish unit of weight equal to about 2.75 pounds.

51. A pale rose-colored variety of the ruby spinel.

55. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

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

58. The atomic weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element.

59. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

60. Mix up or confuse.

63. A small cake leavened with yeast.

65. Tastelessness by virtue of being cheap and vulgar.

66. A saying of Jesus that is regarded as authentic although it is not recorded in the Gospels.

68. Light informal conversation for social occasions.

69. The residue that remains when something is burned.

70. Give pleasure to.

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

DOWN 1. Tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pink-tinged fruit.

2. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo.

3. A Bantu language spoken in southern coastal Tanzania.

4. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

5. Plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves.

6. A federal agency that supervises carriers that transport goods and people between states.

7. Mar or spoil the appearance of.

8. A public promotion of some product or service.

9. French philosopher and critic.

10. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

11. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

12. The universal time coordinated time on board the spacecraft.

17. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

20. (of a liquid) Treated by having air passed or bubbled through it for purification.

24. A fatal disease of cattle that affects the central nervous system.

27. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

28. A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body.

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

31. Electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities.

33. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

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

37. French poet and novelist and dramatist.

39. Common Indian weaverbird.

40. Genus of tall smooth herbs of forested mountains of Europe and Asia minor.

41. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

46. Grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers.

47. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

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

50. Jordan's port.

52. Type genus of the Anatidae.

53. A narrow thin strip of wood used as backing for plaster or to make latticework.

54. Minute floating marine tunicate having a transparent body with an opening at each end.

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

61. A unit of pain intensity.

62. (Greek mythology) The winged goddess of the dawn in ancient mythology.

63. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

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

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

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You could find that you are appreciated or valued for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. Because of this, someone may seek you out for your counsel regarding business matters. You are able to wade through the masquerade and find the problem. You possess an architect’s vision for what needs to be done—an expert or true builder. Others sense that you know just what tool to use and how and when to use it when it comes to solving problems on the job—there is a sense of the right path or dharma. You may even wonder why you do not exert this energy in your personal life from time to time. There may be some insights into this quandary now. Take some time this evening to make a list of things you want to change.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You may tend to ignore or fail to appreciate the law—watch your speed. Your energies are high and run effectively toward making yourself heard. Being an action person, you gain the attention of others and seem to get things moving in the right direction. The circumstances of your life suggest extroversion at this time. Redirecting or further education will benefit your financial success in the near future. Your outward seriousness and no-nonsense approach to things are obvious to all. This deliberate sense of responsibility comes across and is central to your personality and the way you relate to others. Everything is run through your checkpoint to see if it holds up and can pass the test—take a little time to relax!

Enjoy a new music video tonight.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You could be most persuasive with others and convincing in speech and communication. The situation is a natural for self-expression and lends itself to your particular ideas. You put your practical and managerial abilities to work; others are impressed. You can make a career out of your keen organizational skills and clear insight into how things work.

You might consider a profession as a consultant. It is something you could do in little steps until you decide you might or might not like the idea. Supervising and taking charge are your trademarks. You tend to think along lines that are conservative, always coming up with sound, productive ideas. Love, creativity and self-expression fulfill your needs now.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is a high cycle day when you may find yourself signing contracts, making arrangements and scurrying around on time schedules. You may find yourself serving to guide someone younger than you in matters of importance. You may perceive how to proceed with plans and decisions with regard to your life situation. You may find that you are appreciated for your feelings or your ability to act and get things done. Patience on your part at this time is very important. Put your mind to work and take care of any details that you may have, for mental discipline should come easily. Romance is possible this evening. Now is a time when love, creativity and self-expression are satisfied. A phone call brings positive news this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

You appear perhaps more charming and refined than usual.

Now is the best time this month for you to put in for a raise or a new position, to find a job or otherwise make yourself known. You will do well to be persistent, intense and serious. You have great psychological insight into life problems.

Perhaps you counsel and help people understand difficulties. You can be fiercely tenacious. You always manage to come across as intense and personal when communicating and presenting yourself to others. People are fascinated by the way you present yourself. It is easy for you to work with those more experienced than you. If you are looking for a job, you might consider a manager, teacher or an athletic trainer position. You entertain friends this evening.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You may find yourself very appreciative of your career and practical skills. You might enjoy solving puzzles and problems and finding solutions. There is a renewed appreciation for your work that may be apparent to your superiors—in fact, to everybody. You may be asked to take someone aside and teach him or her about matters of a personal nature. Your understanding of people and the ability to put touchy or emotional situations into perspective are unique and valuable gifts. There is a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love. There is certainly support for whatever projects need completion. It is the perfect evening for dinner out or a good movie with a loved one this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) This is a great time to work with others. You may be just the person for a particular job. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus. This could be an action-filled day when time seems to slow down as you encounter some of your more sensitive areas. This kind of intensity and vulnerability points to inner change and growth. This is a perfect time to be assertive and to move forward in your career decisions. You have all the drive and energy you could want today—it should be easy to channel this energy. You feel a love of order and law—an appreciation for responsibilities and duty. Problems are valued for the lessons they represent, rather than perceived as obstacles. Good conversations with young people are in today’s forecast.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

You value hard work and effort and will go about completing your designated tasks as quickly as possible today. You like to get down to the bare bones—to what is essential. You may find yourself being put to good use by your friends this afternoon. You make every moment and every opportunity count. All of this, however, should go rather smoothly. Close ties with home, friends and family, plus your career interest, keep you quite busy. Some may find you somewhat preoccupied and lacking in the social graces at this time. You may feel some regret or tension from your busy schedule, but there are opportunities to get back to a more quiet time later this week. A sense of harmony turns this day into a most gratifying and happy one.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your inner resources and emotions are stimulated. This could not only mean you have control over yourself in touchy situations but you can expect a sense of support and goodwill from those around you. This is a good day to get things done. You are able to concentrate well and you also can maintain a sustained effort that makes almost any task run well. You may feel like exercising or getting outside for a time later this afternoon. A little exercise would certainly break the tension. Lovers, children and other people or things dear to your heart are emphasized this evening. Perhaps a picnic dinner in a nearby park would bring family members together in a positive atmosphere. New insights or breakthroughs are possible with someone older.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

The workplace is full of new things to learn. You may find yourself putting on the speed to complete projects. You will want to take some time, however, to learn new software or some other available package. This afternoon you may enjoy your friends and some social involvement.

Careful—you may find yourself more than a little acquisitive and your current appreciation for just about everything may lead you to overspend. You are a creature of habit and the encircling network of friends, relationships, etc., are crucial to your success. You are nourished in great measure by the atmosphere and conditions you are able to set up now. Clarify your budget tonight, so you will know your financial status and plan accordingly.

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i n f o r m at i o n

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lifestyle

Beyonce’s fragrance

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Momsen quits acting

aylor Momsen has quit acting. The former ‘Gossip Girl’ star - who has been in movies ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams’ - has no plans to appear in any more films or TV shows, admitting she just wants to concentrate on her music career with ‘Make Me Wanna Die’ rockers The Pretty Reckless. When asked if she had any acting roles lined up, she told Elle magazine: “I quit acting, actually.

I quit ‘Gossip Girl’ and now tour and am in a band and that’s pretty much all I want to do. Hopefully I’ll be able to only do that for the rest of my life.” In May, it was confirmed the blonde beauty would not be reprising her role as ‘Gossip Girl’ series regular Jenny Humphrey in the fifth season of the show - which stars Ed Westwick, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford - along with Jessica Szohr, but it was reported the pair could make guest appearances in future episodes. Earlier this year, Taylor explained music has always been the main passion in her life. She said: “[Music] is all I ever wanted to do with my life. I wanted to make records and tour, so it’s very exciting that our first record is coming out and people can actually hear it.”

eyonce Knowles’ fragrance Heat is the top selling celebrity perfume in the UK. The 29-year-old singer’s debut scent which is described as a mixture of floral, fruity and woody with tones of milk wood and Tonka bean - beat Coleen Rooney’s Butterflies to be named the best seller at The Fragrance Shop.

Homme by soccer star David Beckham was third in the list, while his Intimately Yours fragrance was fifth, sandwiching Mariah Carey’s Lollipop Bling which came in fourth. David’s wife Victoria Beckham came in tenth in the poll, with her perfume Signature.

The Fragrance Shop boss Sanjay Vadera said: “Celebrity fragrances remain top of the wish list.” Beyonce - who is married to hip hop mogul Jay-Z - recently released her second scent Heat Rush, and she revealed she would not leave her house without wearing perfume because it is the “cherry on top of the cake”.

She said: “I feel like fragrance is one of the most important accessories a woman can have - it’s sexy, it says something, and it’s that final touch, like putting on a gorgeous pair of stilettos. “One of the things I remember from being a little girl is how I loved watching my mother getting ready to go out and she’d spray on her perfume. “It was this gorgeous blast that would linger in the room after she’d gone and it would remind me of her. I thought it was so sophisticated and glamorous, so feminine and sexy. To me, even if you are dressed to kill and everything is looking fabulous, you are still not done without that touch of fragrance. It’s the cherry on top of the cake.”

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on the Bravo reality TV show - and earlier this month the 40-year-old beauty explained it had been an “emotional” year. She said: “Unfortunately for me this year, there were a lot more tears, a lot more pain. It’s been such an emotional ride this year.” But Russell’s exwife Barbara Frederickson - who he had 13year-old son Aiden with - blames Taylor for the reality star ’s plight. She told RadarOnline.com: “I don’t care for her at all. I think she’s the reason for this. “She’s not who she says she is and I told him to please be careful with this woman... I warned him! She’s bad news and she drove him into this.”

The Fragrance Shop Top 10 Celebrity Perfumes: 1. Beyonce Knowles - Heat 2. Coleen Rooney - Butterflies 3. David Beckham - Homme 4. Mariah Carey - Lollipop Bling 5. David Beckham - Intimately Yours 6. Kylie Minogue - Pink Sparkle 7. Kylie Minogue - Darling 8. Kate Moss - Lilabelle 9. Britney Spears - Radiance 10. Victoria Beckham - Signature

Pitt and Jolie charter train

eal Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star Russell Armstrong has been found dead. The estranged husband of Taylor Armstrong was discovered in his bedroom at his home on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles Monday night after an apparent suicide. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told UsMagazine.com the 47-year-old man was “found dead from an apparent hanging in a residence on Mulholland Drive”. Taylor - who had five-yearold daughter Kennedy with Russell - filed for divorce from him last year after six years of marriage. The couple’s struggles were aired

T

tops celebrity perfumes

found dead

Armstrong

G O S S I P

rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chartered an entire train to transport their family from London to Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday. The couple took their brood - Maddox, 10, Pax, seven, Zahara, six, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox - on the private Virgin train for the five-hour journey to the Scottish city, where the actor is set to shoot scenes for his new movie ‘World War Z’. A spokeswoman for Virgin Trains confirmed to Mail Online: “As far as I am aware, Brad and Angelina hired the whole train. “It is a bespoke service so prices would vary on the individual, people have different needs from station requirements to catering.” The movie’s creators are aiming to transform Glasgow into Philadelphia for the motion picture, with yellow taxis and white police cars, similar to those in the US city, set to be introduced, as well as signs for famous locations such as John F Kennedy Boulevard.

The 36-year-old beauty has recently been spotted out and about with the couple’s children in Richmond, south west London, while the Hollywood hunk films ‘World War Z’ scenes on a ship in Falmouth, Cornwall. Angelina took Shiloh and Zahara on a shopping spree to The Toy Station boutique in the town and left with various treats for her kids including cowboy guns, tattoo transfers, ‘Ben 10’ action figures and sticker packs.

Gomez would never change for a guy elena Gomez would never change for a guy again. The 19-year-old singer-andactress- who is dating teenage singing sensation Justin Bieber - admits she once let a boyfriend’s likes and dislikes influence the way she behaved, and after witnessing how happy her loved ones were when the romance ended, she insists she will always be herself from now on. She said: “I wasn’t myself for a year. I think that was really damaging. I felt like it was me who was always trying to be perfect for him.

“Everyone around me hated him but I didn’t listen. I think I had to go through it because now I’m the strongest I’ve been. “I dare someone to try and change me again.” Selena admits she “lost herself ” in the relationship and lost her sense of fun until the romance was over. She explained in an interview with Top of the Pops magazine: “I always dressed nice. I don’t think he ever saw me in sweatpants - and I love sweatpants. “I’d always be well-mannered and go to his favorite restaurants or whatever. “There was a point where I lost myself completely. I didn’t smile as much, I didn’t laugh as much. I wasn’t a goofball. I didn’t get up and dance like I usually do. “And when that one ended, I didn’t know where I was. But I got it back and was really happy. My family were happy to have me back.”

S

Swayze believed he’d beat cancer

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Olsen told to forget fame ary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have advised their sister not to “get caught up” in fame. Elizabeth Olsen - who caused a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival with her performance in ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ - is grateful for the support her elder siblings have given her, though they also warned her to stay focused on her work and stay true to herself. Asked how her twin sisters have advised her, Elizabeth said: “It’s just to be you and not to get caught up in anything else. I mean this is all fun, and I guess you have to do this, but it’s also really amazing that you get to do it.” The 22-year-old actress says watching her famous sisters growing up in the spotlight has given her an awareness of how the media changes and she tries not to pay much attention to what is said and written about her. Speaking about the reaction at the Sundance Film Festival, she said: “It’s fun. I’ve always been aware throughout my life of who’s the focus point for the media and I feel like it changes so often that I don’t really take it to heart. So who knows? I’m not going to take it too seriously.” Elizabeth is trying to complete her studies at New York University and admits it has been difficult to juggle her fledgling movie career with her education. She told E! Online: “I had to email an essay to my Shakespeare in Film teacher this morning. It was due today in class and he allowed me to miss class today. And then next week I have an in-class essay and two presentations, so that’s what I’ll be doing on my weekend.”

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Reynolds faces eviction

urt Reynolds faces eviction from his Florida home. The 75-year-old actor has failed to pay the mortgage for a year on the £1.4 million house - which comes with 4.5 acres of land - and is being taken to court for owing Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation around £730,000.

According to the South Florida SunSentinel newspaper, the loan was taken out in 1994 by the ‘Boogie Nights’ actor, and the lawsuit was filed at the Martin County Circuit court on August 9. Two years ago he put the 12,500 square foot mansion - which features a private beach a boat deck and its own hair salon - up for sale for £5.4 million. Burt is not the only star to recently face problems with paying their mortgage. ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ hitmaker R. Kelly had a foreclosure filed against him by JPMorgan Chase Bank for £1.6 million in June after failing to pay back his home loan for a year. According to Crain’s Chicago business news, the house - which is based in the Olympia Fields suburb of the city - lost 26 per cent of its value in 2009, plummeting from £3.1 million to £2.3 million. — Bang Showbiz

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atrick Swayze was convinced he was going to beat his cancer. The ‘Dirty Dancing’ star passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2009 at the age of 57 and while he was given no chance of survival when he was first diagnosed, he was sure he could conquer the disease. His mother Patsy Swayze said: “It was a massive shock to everybody in the family when he found out. He was always so healthy. He had never had any serious illnesses or anything. We were all devastated. “But he just kept working right up until the day he couldn’t work anymore and he never complained. He never acted sad - he would go and do things and make personal appearances and people wouldn’t know how much pain he was in. “I knew - but he never talked about it. He was convinced he was going to live through it and never lost hope.

He never wanted sympathy, he just kept going. Even when he was so sick he could hardly walk, you wouldn’t know it. He never wanted to be a burden.” Patsy, 84, is still so devastated by Patrick’s death and can’t bring herself to watch his films because it’s too hard to see him. She said: “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to watch them again - it hurts too much.

You know you’re not supposed to outlive your children. I still find it so hard to talk about his passing but, you know, he was so brave.”

Patrick was survived by his wife Lisa, who he married in 1975.

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Years

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Secret Garden?

Tips for creating backyard privacy

This undated photo courtesy of Holly Lepere Photography shows an outdoor space designed by Grace Designs.

This undated image courtesy of Julia Fogg shows an outdoor space designed by Fogg.

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our house may have a beautiful outdoor living space, perfect for quiet morning coffee or fun evening get-togethers. But if adjacent homes loom large, or your home backs up on public land, you can’t truly relax until your “al fresco” space becomes a little more private. It’s a particular problem for homeowners in close-in suburbs, where backyards abut and you may as well invite the neighbors to everything you do outside since they’re pretty much right there with you anyway. But even spacious yards can feel exposed, with neighboring lots impinging on personal space.

There are many creative fencing and landscape options that can help create a zone of privacy. “Think ‘screening’ before throwing up a barrier,” says Margie Grace, a landscape designer in Santa Barbara, Calif. “One of my favorite choices is a screen made of steel-wire reinforcing mesh mounted on wood posts. Let the wire rust for a great look, and add lacy vines. You’ve got a show-stopping art piece, plus the privacy you need.” If you do want a solid barrier, Grace suggests a plastered wall, which can be custom

colored, and can look traditional or contemporary. “Add architectural details such as screen panels or an iron grill; artistic details like tile mosaic, shutters, shadow box or a mural; or a beautiful gate even if it doesn’t go anywhere,” she says. “These help make the wall welcoming.”

Fences can be softened with vines, espaliered plantings and trained ornamentals. Vary the height of plantings and allow them to break the fence’s top line. If a neighbor’s house looms over you, Grace suggests creating an outdoor “ceiling” with canopy trees and overhead structures such as pergolas, shade sails and arbors.

With greenery, decide if you need evergreen year-round coverage; if so, avoid deciduous plants. If a crisp formal hedge isn’t your style, consider an informal screen of plants, perhaps dual-purpose ones that will also provide fruit, flowers or greens. Julia Fogg, a landscape designer in East Sussex, England, and author of “Creating Privacy in the Garden” (Ward Lock, 1999) finds hard fence materials to be sterile. “I prefer the softer look that the Japanese do so well - interwoven bamboo and willow with tightly bound knotted twigs,” she says. You can

solve concerns about fence-height restrictions or neighbor sightlines with double screens, ornamental grasses and slim, tall trees, Fogg says. Place the deck or patio “so you have your back to the problem. Foliage also saps up and absorbs noise,” she notes. Avoid planting greenery that requires a lot of upkeep, the experts say. Before you buy, check with your nursery about pruning, watering, disease resistance and shedding tendencies.

Doug Jimerson, garden content editor for Better Homes & Gardens magazine, likes Emerald Green arborvitae, Gray Gleam juniper and Hick’s yew as screening plants for privacy.

“All are winter hardy to Zone 5,” he says.

Trumpet vines and wisteria are great perennial climbers, but, notes Jimerson, “if you need quick privacy, opt for annual vines such as morning glories that will smother a trellis in just one season. Of course, they won’t last over the winter, but this will give you time to get your shrubs in place.” And to deter trespassers, Fogg suggests a mix of pyracantha, evergreen honeysuckle and roses - thorny alternatives to a “Keep Out” sign. —AP

This undated image courtesy of Julia Fogg shows a garden area designed by Fogg.

US toilets

compete for top seat O

ne will emerge flush with success and nine will go down the drain: it’s America’s competition for best public toilet and decision time is fast approaching.

Fans have until September 19 to cast online votes for the perfect privy in America’s Best Restroom contest. Ten finalists from hundreds of nominees are vying nationwide on http://www.bestrestroom.com/us/vote.asp, organized by workplace supplies company Cintas. Their charms are various. A Las Vegas casino urinal incorporates a piece of the Berlin Wall. The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Arizona has lighting that fades in and out in different colours to create

Two sinks and mirror in a restroom at Ninja New York, a Japanese restaurant in the Tribeca section of New York . —AFP photos

Business cards promoting a model of a Japanese-made Toto toilet in a restroom at Ninja New York. a soothing atmosphere. Another contender for throne of thrones is the Don’s Johns portable toilet, initially supplied for President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration-though whether it had served as Restroom One is unknown.

Not to be confused with the stinking versions found at big outdoor events, the Don’s John can pull the chain on most other lavatories, boasting television, granite counters, wood panel doors and hardwood flooring.

For the winner, there’s the “coveted America’s Best Restroom plaque,” according to Cintas, a press conference to be held in the winning facility, and entry to an online restrooms Hall of Fame. Sara Jo Rubin, of Rubin Communications, a publicist for Cintas, said toilets of all sorts stand a chance in this annual battle. “The style could be elaborate. It could be chandeliers. Some have had pool tables ... Sometimes it’s quirkiness,” Rubin said.

“The way you run your facilities is a reflection of how you run your business,” she added. Two of the finalists are in New York, and between them represent the extremes of the American restroom landscape. At the Habana Outpost restaurant in Brooklyn, the mood is jungle, with a glass roof, hanging plants and rainwater flushing. The use of rain-

The control panel for a Japanese-made Toto toilet in a bamboo-lined stall.

water, which is collected in gutters and cisterns, is estimated to save thousands of gallons of city water a week. Darcy Le Fleming, the manager, said the inspiration was New York’s perpetual problem with storm water overflows, which pour raw sewage into the harbor.

Habana Outpost’s laid-back, eco-friendly toilet takes a small step toward putting that right. Le Fleming said she hadn’t known her restroom was nominated until a call came from Cintas. “That was very exciting,” she said.

“If we win, I guess we’ll have to have a big bathroom party or toilet-shaped cookies.”At the opposite end of the cubicle spectrum is the entry from Ninja, a Japanese restaurant in Manhattan modeled on an underground, feudal castle. Here, the needy diner will wind past faux cave walls and mini Ninja dwellings

before entering a bamboo-lined restroom.

There, he or she will find the mighty Toto, a Japanese toilet so sophisticated that one has to do nothing-or almost nothing-other than take a seat.

Alongside a seemingly regular commode is a panel with rows of buttons and a digital screen that allows the sitter to operate a seat warmer, an up-from-under water jet-oscillating or pulsating-a deodorizer and even a blow drier.

“The seat is basically heated, not heated up so it’s going to burn, but it’s warm,” said Lillian Buchel, 19, who works at Ninja. “It has cleaning utensils that clean your behind. It also dries you.” Customers tend to burst back into the 15th century Ninja castle laughing.

“They always act surprised, but they definitely like it,” Buchel said. —AFP

A Japanese-made Toto toilet in a bamboo-lined stall at Ninja New York.

ICoast museum mourns stolen artefacts

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ullet holes pock the vault door and empty display boxes litter the showroom floor of Abidjan’s Museum of Civilization, robbed of 100 ancient artefacts under the cover of deadly conflict in April. “A piece of our history has been wiped out,” museum director Silvie Memel Kassi laments of the collection’s lost crown jewels, some dating back to the 17th century, that may now be melted for the gold. “It is a huge loss.” Worth an estimated three billion CFA francs (4.5 million euros, $6.5 million) but irreplaceable, the looters made off with masks, sabres, crowns and gold-handled fly swatters-objects described by the museum as “authentic, unique and rare”.

“I had dreamt of leaving a museum of reference for future generations,” Zoko Djowa, the museum’s curator for the last 30 years and just months from retirement, said bitterly as he walked around the devastation.Opened by the then-French administration in a white, colonial-style building in 1942, the museum could not have been worse placed during the conflict that engulfed Ivory Coast’s economic capital after a disputed November vote.

In Plateau, the neighborhood housing the presidential palace, the building also borders Camp Gallieni army headquarters and came under fire from both sides to the four-month conflict. Fighting ended on April 11 with the arrest of strongman Laurent Gbagbo, who parked the conflict by refusing to concede defeat to Alassane Ouattara. Shelling left a large hole in the museum facade. Inside, the shattered state of the exhibition hall would break the heart of any art lover hoping to see the once rich collection of artefacts telling the story of the peoples of Ivory Coast.

Bullet marks have been left on the double glass that used to enclose sabres used by the royal Agni people from eastern Ivory Coast. Glass display boxes lie strewn on the floor, empty. In the middle of the room; the massive, hundred-year-old skeleton of an elephant-the national emblem-towers over the few masks and statuettes left of the once proud collection. Among the items lost: pendants worn by the central Baule people in the seventeenth century, statuettes of the western We and northern Senufo tribes, crowns and fly swatters with solid gold handles from the central and coastal regions, and sacred masks from the Dan people in the west.While the pillagers failed to reach most of the estimated 11,000 items locked up in the vault, they did make off with the museum’s flagship collection.”All of Ivory Coast” was exhibited there, Memel Kassi told AFP in her small office, surrounded by traditional masks. Each of the stolen objects “taught us something about its culture, its civilization, its beliefs”.

Without holding out much hope, the museum had issued a search notice for the plundered items via cross-border policing organization Interpol, and urged the public to help. But chances of recovering the items are slim, said Jules-Evariste Toa, a communication professor at the University of Abidjan. “One can melt the gold or start a private collection. We fear never to see the items again,” the once-regular museum visitor told AFP. Now closed to the public, the museum-which has seen its visitor numbers dwindle in recent years-will have to stretch its meagre 76,000-euro budget to cover vital refurbishment and security improvements.

“We need an alarm system and weapons”, said museum security guard Jean-Claude Agniman. But by far the worst consequence of the looting, say Ivorians, is the loss of patrimony invaluable to helping forge a common national identity as the nation embarks on reconstruction after a decade of crises and tensions. —AFP

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

lifestyle M U S I C & M O V I E S

‘America’s Got Talent’ is summertime TV choice

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ummertime is for cutting yourself some slack, whether that means reading potboilers poolside or testing the limits of fried food at county fairs. Television has its own seasonal playlist, mostly dominated by reality shows and topped by “America’s Got

In this March 2011 image released by NBC, judges for the competitions series, ‘America’s Got Talent, from left, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel are shown. (Inset) (From Left) In this image released by Fox ,Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Lil’ C, from the dance competition series ‘So You Think You Can dance,’ are shown on Aug. 4, 2011 in Los Angeles. —AP

Iommi denies report of Black Sabbath reunion

in brief...

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lack Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi Tuesday denied a report that the veteran British rock band was getting back together in its four man original line -up. British paper The Birmingham Mail had reported that Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward had begun rehearsing for a tour and a new studio album for release next year. It quoted Iommi, 63, as saying the original foursome, which dates back to 1969, was looking forward to performing together again. But in a statement on his official website Tuesday, Iommi said he was just speculating and described the report as “absolute nonsense.” Iommi said the journalist had taken “a conversation we had back in June and made it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion. “At the time I was supporting the Home of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly, “Are you getting back together?” “Thanks to the Internet it’s gone round the world as some sort of “official” statement on my part, absolute nonsense,” Iommi said, apologizing to his three bandmates. Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, leading to are volving line-up for a number of years. The original members got back together for the 19

Bachmann tribute to Elvis marks wrong anniversary

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epublican US presidential candidate Michele Bachmann offered a “happy birthday” message to the late singer Elvis Presley on Monday, even though Aug. 16 is the anniversary of his death in 1977. “Happy Birthday, Elvis!” Bachmann shouted from the stage at a campaign stop in the parking lot of The Beacon, a South Carolina drive-in restaurant famous for its fried food and sweet tea. After her stump speech, the US congresswoman from Minnesota told a group of reporters that she was happy to be in South Carolina “on the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death.” “He’s still alive. He’s alive in our hearts,” Bachmann said. Later, a campaign organizer who did not want to be identified said with a wink: “You celebrate Elvis because he never died.” Presley was born on Jan 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Pitt to produce

The War on Drugs fights the good fight

Review

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he War on Drugs, “Slave Ambient” (Secretly Canadian). It’s hard to find something that sounds new these days. It feels like everything’s been done before, your new favorite band sounding like a throwback to your old favorite band.

Into this tape loop steps The War on Drugs, sporting a sound that may not exactly be new in its execution but sure feels that way in spirit. Daniel Granduciel, the primary player in The War on Drugs, spent much of the last three years laboring over “Slave Ambient.” It’s the band’s second album and first without former collaborator and fellow Philadelphian Kurt Vile, who mines very similar sounds in his solo career and with the critically acclaimed release “Smoke Ring For My Halo.”

Granduciel made much of the record by taking samples he made in the studio and blending them together to form a modern sort of wall of sound where several different threads blend together seamlessly into what feels like an impenetrable tapestry.

The fun is in the close, repeated listen, trying to pull out all the different flavors from the overall piece.

There’s the demented harmonica in “Baby Missiles,” the subtle guitar hiding in the shadows on “I Was There,” and the spacey horns of “The Animator” that slop over and blend perfectly into “Come to the City.” “Slave Ambient” deserves the same kind of critical attention “Smoke Ring” got earlier this year. Taken together these albums hopefully represent the first unified volley in a new Philly sound - shambolic, shamanistic and completely cool. —AFP

Talent,” the NBC contest that takes an expansive view of achievement. Yes, angelic-voiced Jackie Evancho, 11, was a star last season on “AGT” (the efficient nickname used by its producers and NBC). But the show, airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays and hosted by Nick Cannon, welcomes much more than elegant child sopranos.

There’s a wide variety of singers as well as dancers, the stuff of other TV contests. Then addcontortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists and “danger acts,” the injury-defying sort that push “AGT” onto vaudeville turf. “For me, each year it’s about giving the audience acts that others don’t feature. We want different singers than ‘American Idol’ and ‘X Factor,’” said the show’s executive producer, Cecile Frot- Coutaz. “And we want young, cool variety acts that people talk about.” The attempts to be different aren’t always pretty. “Whether it’s ‘AGT’ or not, it’s amazing what somebody will do to garner fame,” said Howie Mandel, who judges the show with Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. “It’s probably more apparent in our audition rounds where it goes everywhere from brilliance to insanity.” This season, the mix has included a talking bird act, male pole dancer, BMX stunt team and a man who played a game of elimination by throwing himself on a series of boxes. One of them held a knife. Contestants who successfully tried out on YouTube, one of the “AGT” audition options, include preteen singing group Avery and the Calico Hearts, juggler Charles Peachock and the West Springfield Dance Team, all performing on this week’s wild-card competition.

Presenting a jumble of entertainment is vintage show business but a TV rarity these days: “We’re the only show that offers this,” Mandel said. “America’s Got Talent” is hitting a ratings high in its sixth year, both among total viewers and advertiser-favored young adults, according to Nielsen Co. The Tuesday

episodes are up 22 percent compared to last year, drawing an audience of 14.6 million, while Wednesdays are averaging 12 million, a 12 percent increase over 2010.

As with other TV vocal contests that offer established singers a promotional platform, “AGT” attracts a fair share of pop stars. Past performers include Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo and Maroon 5, with Colbie Caillat appearing on Wednesday’s show. High-brow types inclined to complain about its cultural impact might consider this: A concert film that includes Evancho is being used to help raise funds for PBS stations, which air the “Masterpiece” and “Nova” series and other counterpoints to “America’s Got Talent.”

Morgan puts the NBC show in the context of his native Britain’s pop culture, recalling offbeat summer variety shows held by seaside towns and dubbed “End of the Pier.”

“It reminds me of ‘AGT’: You never know what’s going to happen,” said Morgan, who is also a CNN host. That element of surprise extends to the judges, particularly Morgan and Mandel, who engage in regular onscreen sparring. They could be following the model that Simon Cowell, creator of “AGT” and the original “Britain’s Got Talent,” built with Paula Abdul on “American Idol.” But unlike Cowell and Abdul, who are reuniting as judges on Cowell’s “The X Factor” and admit to a mutual fondness, Morgan and Madel seem to genuinely irritate each other.

When Mandel joined the series last year and showed his fondness for silly acts, he said, Morgan started calling him “annoying, a half-wit,” Mandel recalled. “Now he’s not lying.

I will do anything to annoy him.” Responds Morgan: “He does annoy the hell out of me.

He’s as annoying off-screen as on- screen.”

(Morgan has other off-screen issues. His past as a London tabloid editor has put him in the spotlight of the UK scandal centered on Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World.

Morgan, who briefly edited the paper before moving to the rival Daily Mirror, has denied any involvement or knowledge of illegal phone hacking.)

Osbourne is no shrinking violet but keeps her focus on the contestants. After all, she says, she and her rock-star husband were “AGT” fans before she became a judge. “The first season of the show, Ozzy and I were totally addicted to it. We were doing Ozzfest (the music tour) and we’d record it and watch it traveling,” she said. “It was just so different.

It was funny, it was exciting and we really got addicted to it.” The semifinals start Aug 23, and Osbourne would like to see one of the more offbeat acts eventually take the $1 million prize. “If a singer wins we’re like every other talent show on TV,” Osbourne said. Not yet. The season-two winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator of Dallas, signed a five-year, $100 million dollar Las Vegas headliner deal. And a finalist from last year, Recycled Percussion, a band that uses a hodgepodge of buckets and other noise-making tools, signed its own Vegas casino show deal. —AP

Kiss dropped from

Michael Jackson tribute show T

he rock band Kiss was removed from the line-up for a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Britain, after it was revealed frontman Gene Simmons has called Jackson a child molester, organizers said on Tuesday. The decision to scratch Kiss from the line-up came after Jackson’s fans this week expressed anger at Simmons’ comments.

“We have listened to Michael’s fans and are grateful to have been alerted to these unfortunate statements by Gene Simmons,” Chris Hunt, the chief executive of organizer Global Live Events, said in a statement.

“Under the circumstances, we fully agree that even though Kiss is a band Michael admired, we have no choice but to rescind our invitation to them to

appear in our tribute concert,” Hunt said.

Kiss, a rock band famous for such songs as “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City,” was a recent addition to the line-up for the tribute concert.

The “Michael Forever” show is planned for October 8 in Cardiff, Wales, and so far the scheduled per formers include Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Smokey Robinson, organizers said. The concer t has the backing of Jackson’s mother, K atherine, and his siblings LaToya, Tito, Jackie and Marlon.

The 61 year- old Simmons, who is known for being outspoken, had in the past criticized Jackson over old accusations that the singer abused children.

Jackson was acquitted at a trial in 2005 of charges that he molested a boy at his

Neverland Ranch. “The only sexual references ever made about Michael Jackson that were made by anyone, anywhere around the world, have always been made by kids, and specifically males usually 10 to 14 years of age; never females that age or older, and never grown men,” Simmons told Classic Rock magazine in 2010.

Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the executors of Jackson’s estate lawyer John Branca and music executive John McClain, said on Monday in a letter to the tribute concert organizers they were “disappointed” at the decision to include Kiss. The letter from Weitzman also raised questions about the October 8 show, including whether all the artists booked to appear will indeed perform that day. —Reuters

Gene Simmons

‘Twelve Years a Slave’

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he increasingly busy Brad Pitt has just gotten busier yet. The actor, now filming Paramount’s “World War Z,” is set to produce “Twelve Years a Slave,” TheWrap has confirmed. Steve McQueen - no relation to the iconic actor of the 1960s - is directing the movie, which is based on a brutal and true story. “Twelve Years a Slave” is the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, a black man who was born free and, as an adult, kidnapped into slavery.

McQueen, who won the Camera d’Or in Cannes in 2008 for his first film, “Hunger,” and whose second film, “Shame,” is premiering at the Venice Film Festival, co-wrote the screenplay with John Ridley. Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Children of Men”) stars as Northup. So how busy is Pitt? He is negotiating to play CIA agent-turned assassin Court Gentr y in “ The Gray Man,” for New Regency. He’s starring in and producing “World War Z” and is starring in and producing “Cogan’s Trade,” which is now in post-production. Plus he has six kids. On “ Twelve Years a Slave,” Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment is producing. Pitt’s agency, CAA, is arranging the financing for the project and representing domestic distribution rights.

Cast members perform during a dress rehearsal for The Production Company’s production of the Broadway musical Kismet, in Melbourne yesterday. The winner of three Tony Awards, Kismet is a musical Arabian Nights set in Baghdad and is playing at Melbourne’s State Theatre. —AP

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

lifestyle M U S I C & M O V I E S

Review

In this image released

by Lionsgate, Rose McGowan is shown in a scene from ‘Conan the Barbarian.’ —AP

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New

‘Conan’ is a barbaric bore

o one ever turns into a giant snake in the new “Conan the Barbarian.” That, in a nutshell, is what’s wrong with this remake: The knowing sense of big, ridiculous fun that marked the 1982 original is gone, and in its place we get a self-serious series of generic sword battles and expository conversations. Fight, talk, fight, talk, fight, talk, then an enormous throw down followed by a denouement that dangles the possibility of a sequel (dear God, no) - that’s the basic structure here. And yet, despite seeming so simplistic, director Marcus Nispel’s film is mindnumbingly convoluted.

The fact that it’s been converted to a murky, smudgy, barely-used 3-D doesn’t help matters. At one point, I scrawled in my notes: “Incomprehensible underwater serpent attack.” There you have it. The script is credited to three writers, based on Robert E. Howard’s Conan charac-

ter, but everyone involved would probably prefer that you not think of this as a remake. Remakes have become Nispel’s bread and butter in recent years. The longtime music-video director also made the 2003 version of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and the 2009 version of “Friday the 13th.” But while the original “Conan” - the movie that signaled the arrival of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a bona fide movie star - looks extremely dated nearly 30 years later, it still functions just fine as both an epic adventure tale and an admitted guilty pleasure.

There’s very little that’s pleasurable in this new “Conan,” aside from allowing us to ogle the muscular physique of up-and-coming action star Jason Momoa. If you’re into that kind of thing, that is - he is a spectacle to behold, albeit in a romance-novel cover-model kind of way. “I live. I love. I slay ... I am content,” Conan says to the innocent

Tamara (Rachel Nichols), whom he’s been tasked with protecting. Not quite as poetic as one of Schwarzenegger’s most famous lines: “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women,” but at least we know he’s confident enough to avoid suffering an existential crisis. Good for him.

He also doesn’t evolve, though, which doesn’t make him terribly compelling. It didn’t seem possible for there to be even less characterization than there was in the original “Conan,” but voila. Once again, the Cimmerian warrior is on a mission to avenge the deaths of his father (Ron Perlman, who’s in no way being put to his best use) and the rest of his village.

He’s after the evil warlord Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), who’s after the Mask of Acheron, which resembles a driedup octopus. But it can spring to life and provide unlimited

power to the wearer with the help of some drops of pure blood which Tamara has. Hence, she’s in demand.

Khalar Zym is aided in his quest by his half-witch daughter Marique, played by an over-the-top Rose McGowan in the kind of daring, skin-baring outfits she used to wear on the red carpet when she was still dating Marilyn Manson.

Marique tries out her burgeoning supernatural powers in a battle with Conan himself, but when it comes time to fight Tamara as part of the film’s climax, it’s all mano-a-mano.

Why? Because it’s sexier for them to be writhing around on the ground with each other.

If only the rest of the movie had such an unabashed sense of camp, we might have been onto something.

“Conan the Barbarian,” a Lionsgate release, is rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity.

Running time: 102 minutes. One star out of four. — AP

or years, Colin Farrell’s reputation as a party boy preceded him, but now he seems to have channeled his wild impulses into inspired performances in films such as “Horrible Bosses,” “In Bruges” and “The Way Back.” In his new movie “Fright Night,” a 3D update of the 1985 comedy cult favorite, Farrell stars as Jerry, a sinister vampire who moves in next door to a naive high school student played by Anton Yelchin and his mother, played by Toni Collette.

The Dublin-born actor spoke to Reuters about making the film, playing a vampire and why audiences love to be scared.

Q: You just played a horrible boss and now a vampire that must be fun for an actor to do such varied parts back-to-back?

A: “Yeah, but it’s a shorter road between the two than you might imagine-two fun characters. I felt like I’d had four or five years where I’d done more dramatic pieces and played characters that weren’t really having a good time in their lives for a variety of reasons, and I’d wanted to do something lighter. Then these two films came along and it was happy daystime to go and play.”

Q: But didn’t they have to persuade you to do this?

A: “I was dubious at first. I loved the original and you like to think of yourself as mixing things up and being a bit original-and this is a remake of a

vampire film in 3D. That’s kind of three for three in unoriginality. “But I felt I was in good hands with (director) Craig Gillespie who did “Lars and the Real Girl.” I was a big fan of that, and I just loved the script. I didn’t want to like it, but it was a blast of a read. And playing the villain was great, although I think my character’s more on the periphery than he was in the original, and there’s more attention paid to Anton’s journey from boyhood to manhood.”

Q: What about the vampire teeth?

A: “Easy! They do the mold, then file them down, and youdon’t even notice them wearing them. And it’s great fun. You put them in, and instantly, because of all the films you saw as a kid, you start acting a certain way.”

Q: Sexy. Vampires have always been sexy.

A: “Always, and that’s the appeal. Human beings are always trying to bend and manipulate time to be in their favor and trying to defeat the ravages of age. And vampires are eternally young, although it’d probably be very annoying to be turned into one at 97, or 6. And then how they attack and feed off their prey seems very sensual and erotic-biting the neck.

You don’t have to be a vampire to partake in such activity, but it takes it to an extreme. Blood is the liquid of life.”

Q: Was it tricky finding the right tone

and balance between the horror and the comedy?

A: “That was always going to be what this film worked or failed on, striking the right tone. That’s why having Craig direct, as much as it seemed a delightfully left or right of center choice, was perfect because he found such a beautiful and harmonious chord between the absurdity in “Lars” and the emotional sensitivity. So even though this is a totally different genre and structure, I knew he could apply the same ability and level of finesse.”

Q: “Were you a big horror fan?”

A: “Huge! Growing up I loved ‘Nightmare on Elm Street,’ ‘Halloween’ and ‘Friday the 13th,’ and there was nothing like being scared. And still to this day, just sitting in the cinema and being frightened and sharing laughterthere’s nothing like it.”

Q: Why do people love to be scared so much?

A: “I think it’s just anything that allows us to feel in life. A lot of the time, we go through the day trying to control things and we spend a lot of time in our heads and concerned and worried about how we’re doing and how those we care about are getting along, and although that may feel like an emotional thing, a lot of time it’s mental. So to have some visceral reaction in life to get that adrenaline going is a good thing. It makes you feel alive. —Reuters

Depardieu relieves himself in plane cabin French actor Gerard Depardieu posing before the world premiere of the film ‘Small World’ at the Cinema Paris in Berlin. — AFP

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rench film actor Gerard Depardieu was caught short on a Paris to Dublin flight and chose not to bother going to the toilet before relieving himself, airline CityJet told AFP yesterday. “I will only confirm that he, in effect, urinated in the plane,” a spokeswoman for the Air France-KLM subsidiary said, confirming a report on Europe 1 radio, which interviewed a passenger who witnessed the incident.

According to the passenger, who was not

named, the 62-year-old was visibly inebriated and tried to stand up before take-off, when passengers are asked to wear seatbelts, declaring: “I want to piss, I want to piss.”

When a stewardess asked him to sit and wait 15 minutes until the jet took off and reached cruising altitude, he said he could not wait. “And there and then he stood up and did it on the floor,” she told the French broadcaster. —AFP

adds smell with ‘4-D’ Aroma-Scope

Colin Farrell on his ‘Fright Night’ F

‘Spy Kids’

A Minute With

In this film image released by The Weinstein Co, Mason Cook is shown in a scene from ‘Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D. —AP

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obert Rodriguez deliberately tried to make his latest “Spy Kids” adventure a bit of a stinker. Rodriguez, who helped usher in the new age of 3-D movies with the franchise’s third installment in 2003, is billing “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World” as a 4-D flick, adding scent cards so audiences can follow along on the action with their noses.

Here’s how it works: Viewers are given scratch-and-sniff cards with circles numbered 1 to 8. When a number appears on screen, they rub the corresponding circle on their cards, which give off a whiff matching what the characters are smelling. Rodriguez calls his gimmick “Aroma-Scope.” He tried it out at test screenings and found that children and parents had a good time with it.

“When it came time to do ‘Spy Kids 4,’ I couldn’t just go back and do 3-D like everybody else is now. I had to bring something extra,” Rodriguez said. “Just watching my own kids with interactive gaming, you ask them to watch a movie, it just feels so passive to them. I thought, this helps bridge the gap. It’s an interactive thing, almost like playing a game while you’re watching the movie.”

The idea dates back to John Waters’ 1981 suburban satire “Polyester,” released in “Odorama,” with viewers given similar scratch-and-sniff cards. The 2003 animated tale “Rugrats Go Wild” also used cards to add scent to the picture.

The new “Spy Kids,” opening Friday and playing in both 2-D and 3-D versions, uses its odors (offered in both formats) to complement the story as a retired operative (Jessica Alba) is called back to service to fight a villain who has speeded up time, threatening to bring about a quick end to the world. She’s kept her vocation a secret from her new husband (Joel McHale), but her step-kids (Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook) wind up pressed into the action, aided by the now

grown-up original spy kids (Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara) from the first three movies.

The smells from the scratch-and-sniff cards are mostly pleasant. However, with a bit of raunchy humor, including gags about a spy baby’s diapers, viewers should expect at least one off odor. “Originally, we didn’t have any really rancid smells, but kids wanted something really stinky in there,” Rodriguez said. “It really doesn’t smell that bad. No one’s going to get sick in the theater.” Rodriguez’s Aroma-Scope follows a long tradition of adding something extra to the movies.

Filmmakers began trying gimmicks to hang onto audiences as television eroded movie attendance in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Most were short-lived or onetime tricks, such as early tries at 3-D cinema or such odor-adding processes as Smell-O-Vision, in which scents were piped into theaters. Producer William Castle (“13 Ghosts,” “House on Haunted Hill”) was a P.T. Barnum of cinema showmanship in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, offering life insurance for any viewers that died of fright and rigging theaters with a glow-in-the-dark skeleton that swung above the crowd.

“Earthquake” and a few other ‘70s movies were released in “Sensurround,” which used low-frequency bass sound to rattle audiences during scenes of tremors or high action. And looking ahead, there’s been industry buzz about equipping theaters with advanced “3-D” audio systems that would create the effect of sound that seems as if it’s moving completely around a viewer. For now, though, Rodriguez has no plans to venture beyond his 4-D scratch-and-sniff filmmaking and might consider doing it again on a movie down the road. “Watching the kids do it is the best part. Just seeing them so glued to the screen as if they’ve been doing it all their lives,” Rodriguez said. “Plus it’s a souvenir they can take home.” — AP

‘America’s Got Talent’ is summertime TV choice

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011

Right at Home

This product image courtesy of Melanie Porter shows knitted furniture by Porter.—AP

Knitwear finds cozy spot in decor L

ondon-based knitwear designer Melanie Porter turned her skills to home furnishings when she acquired an antique chair that needed reupholstering. “But I couldn’t find a fabric I liked, so I instinctively turned to knit,” she says. Several years later, her growing collection includes a funky ‘70s-era chair covered in the Union Jack, a cushion festooned with ruffly knit “corsages,” and several pieces upholstered in a cozy, creamy fisherman knit. Porter notes, “It’s a technique that allows me to position color and texture in precise positions; felting the knit makes it hardwearing.” Like a soft, comfy sweater, the array of knitwear-inspired home decor now on the market is easy to love. Knitting’s a trendy hobby, so it makes sense that furnishings designers want to play with the materials and motifs, too.

Some of the best designs come out of Europe.

Claire Anne O’Brien draws on her Irish roots to craft chunky, colorful stools that exaggerate the scale of several knitting stitches. She has experimented with chenille This loops in a series of plush, modproduct ular semicircles. And her “Chairwear” image shows pieces are exactly that - furnia chair by ture dressed in sweater slipPorter.

covers, complete with turtlenecks, buttons and cuffs.

Pudelskern, a design house in Innsbruck, Austria, creates lamps out of flame-resistant wool. The “Granny” is a pendant lamp cable-knit out of Tyrolean mountain sheep’s wool.

Available in ecru and raspberry, it would look just as great in a mountain chalet as an urban loft. “Woozily” is a lampshade crafted from one long, thick wool rope. Available as a pendant, floor or wall lamp, its tumbly tangle of fibers resembles a skein that some large and mischievous tabby got hold of, with a happily elegant result. At night, the effect of light through the soft maze is magical. And the “Feeler” knitted floor lamp looks like a sweater sleeve writ large, with a light bulb where your hand would be.

Bauke Knottnerus’s Phat Knits takes enormous noodlelike threads and knits them into giant floor mats. Closer to home, Ferm Living offers cotton rope knitted into casual yet stylish baskets and floor pillows in warm tones of mustard, teal and charcoal. CB2 has plump, pellet-filled knitted poufs in similar hues, including blood orange. As Melanie Porter muses, knitwear’s appeal in modern interiors harkens to the past. “It’s got this ability to evoke memories, a sense of security and the home,” she says.

Now if we can just get the cat to shove off. —AP

This product image shows knitted floor cushions.

This product image shows knitted baskets.

This product image shows a knitted camo pouf.

London deemed top fashion capital

Lakme

Fashion Week

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ondon has overtaken New York as the world’s fashion capital for 2011, fueled by media interest in late British designer Alexander McQueen and Kate Middleton, according to a sur vey by the Global Language Monitor. Based on a system that tracks the frequency of words and phrases in print, electronic and social media, London moved up from third to first place in 2011, ousting New York from the top spot it had held in the survey for several years.

“We are seeing what the impact of two genuine media stars, ...Kate (Middleton) and Alexander McQueen can have upon a global ranking. Our numbers show that it was their presence that tipped the victory to London over New York,” Bekka Payack, of the Global Language Monitor, said on Tuesday. The former Kate Middleton has become an international fashion icon following her engagement and marriage in April to Britain’s Prince William.

McQueen committed suicide in 2010 but his fashion brand has lived on. The new Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, artistic director for the Alexander McQueen label. The top five global fashion capitals were rounded out by Paris at No. 3, then Milan and Los Angeles, while Berlin and Singapore broke into the top 10 for the first time since the survey began eight years ago. Global Language Monitor is based in Texas and analyzes the latest trends in word usage and their cultural impact by tracking the Internet, blogs, social media sites such as Twitter and 75,000 print and electronic media. — Reuters

Models display creations by designer Sidharta Aryan during Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, India, yesterday. — AP photos Models display creations by designer Theresa James and Roger Prince.