22 Aug

ON IP TI SC R SU B

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

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RAMADAN 22, 1432 AH

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Hunger striker defiant despite premier’s offer for dialogue

Slick City hold off Bolton

Iran hands US hikers 8 years jail

Grand Mosque hosts 22,000 worshippers

Rebels launch final assault on Tripoli Defiant Gaddafi vows to fight on

11 Max 46º Min 29º Low Tide 11:10 & 23:05 High Tide 04:05 & 18:12

conspiracy theories

Living in total denial

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

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he other night I was doing my family shopping in Salmiya Souq. Naturally, all the shops had TVs on. Whether you like it or not you could see what was going on on the screens. It looked like each shop in the old Salmiya Souq had a Syrian - either owning the shop or working in it.

All of them were watching BBC Arabic and the debates over Syria. They had the volume high and you could not help but hear the news. I sympathize with them. Their country is in turmoil and I understand they were all trying to get news from their homeland.

One thing that drew my attention was an argument between a broadcaster who was doing a live show interviewing people on the phone in Syria and a Syrian woman. He was asking interviewees about the situation on the ground. I was shocked to hear the woman totally denying that there was anything wrong going on in Syria. She kept on emphasizing by using strong language that there is nothing wrong in Damascus and people are even shopping in the night. She said that it was the outside world that is trying to interfere in the Syrian affairs in a bid to tarnish the image of the Syrian regime.

The poor broadcaster was trying to reason with her and asking about the images of murders and battles taking place in every city in Syria, be it Dara’a, Latkia or Damascus. The lady was in a state of total denial. She said that all such images were fabricated. She said that all the protesters are progovernment who gathered in public to ward off what is going on in Damascus.

What I want to ask is: How could this lady live in such a state of denial? At least she could have some logic by admitting that there is turmoil and there are people who are from both sides of the debate. Definitely when there are opposing crowds together there will be clashs. But being in total denial I found it too much.

While I was writing my column, the TV in the editorial room showed footages from the heart of Tripoli, Libya. There Gaddafi, who is also living in total denial asked: “Where are the rats (djirdan)?”

This is how he describes his nation especially those who are against him.

Being in denial, I noticed, happens in the Arab world. What is the reason? Why are our people so afraid to speak out? I know you will give me Egypt and Tunisia as examples. I wonder why it took so long then? Did we need so many dictators and dictatorships to make us realize that we have to revolt and do something. In the Arab world, we still live in fear of our leaders. They ruled us with an iron fist for generations and generations. They terrorized us. This is how I justify the denial of the Syrian woman.

TRIPOLI: Libyan rebels take position during fighting against regime forces at the Gadayem forest, west of Tripoli, yesterday. — AFP TRIPOLI: Libyan rebels yesterday launched a fierce battle for Tripoli, capturing a barracks and overrunning Tajura suburb as reinforcements raced to join them for a final push to oust Muammar Gaddafi.

The veteran Libyan leader, whose 42-year autocratic rule appeared yesterday night to be tottering, vowed he would not surrender and boasted he would “emerge victorious” in the battle for Tripoli. An advance party of rebels arrived by sea in the capital very early yesterday and joined sleeper cells of rebels to launch the assault, codenamed “Mermaid,” rebel leaders said.

After fighting their way from the west, other rebels arrived in the capital in a 100-vehicle convoy by late after-

noon and were greeted with cheers by residents, some of whom ran alongside them while others fired celebratory gunfire in the air, an AFP correspondent said.

Rebel leaders said they expected Tripoli to fall during the night. Regime spokesman Mussa Ibrahim insisted that Tripoli was well-defended by “thousands” of troops while Gaddafi said he would not leave the capital and vowed to fight on.

“We will not, we will not abandon Tripoli to the occupants and their agents. I am with you in this battle,” the Libyan strongman said in a new audio message broadcast on television. “We do not surrender and, by God’s grace, we will emerge victorious.”

Continued on Page 13

Hayef freed after brief detention, questioning Bribe issue snowballs as MPs seek crisis session

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The public prosecution yesterday released Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef after a brief detention following questioning him over an alleged threat to the Syrian ambassador in the country.

At a public rally in support of the Syrian protests two weeks ago, Hayef asked the crowd to seek a fatwa, or a religious edict, if it was allowed to kill the Syrian ambassador who represents the Syrian regime.

The public prosecution questioned Hayef on two accusations that he undermined Kuwaiti foreign interests and that he threatened the life of the Syrian ambassador. After several hours of interrogation, the public prosecution decided to free Hayef on a KD 2,000 bail but the lawmaker refused because he was a lawmaker and there was no risk that he may not be available for interrogation.

At this point, the public prosecution ordered his detention but several hours later one of the defense lawyers paid the bail and Hayef was set free pending further investigation. National Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi intervened with the public prosecutor but he insisted that the bail must be paid. Several MPs criticized the measures taken by the public prosecution with MP Mislem insisting that those measures contravened with the constitution and the Kuwaiti law.

In another development, opposition MPs yesterday urged the government to launch an immediate investigation into the multi-million-dinar bribe allegedly given Continued on Page 13

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Kuwait has been proceeding with its decision to build the Mubarak Al-Kabeer port in the highly disputed area because it receives backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia, the Iraqi Security and Defense Committee commented recently.

Committee member MP Qassem Al Aaraji said, “In terms of size and population, Kuwait is smaller than Iraq, and its military forces are incapable of facing Iraqi might.”

He pointed out that Kuwait should stop dealing with Iraq in a callous manner because it (the country) is smaller than the issue.” He also rained criticism on the GCC for lending support to Kuwait’s stance adding, “This message is understood. It is an attempt to pressure Iraq.”

Kuwaiti authorities have beefed up security around the port at Boubyan island, after it received threats from militant outfits to destroy the project under construction.

Ramadan Kareem

When the night equals thousand Part 2

By Muhammad Alshareef

KUWAIT: Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi (right) is congratulated by his lawyer Adel Abdulhadi (left) after leaving the general department of criminal evidence yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Gaza rockets land in Egypt amid tensions

CAIRO: Egyptian carpenter Ahmed Al-Shahat flashes the victory sign after a news conference in Cairo yesterday, a day after he scaled the Israeli embassy building and took down its flag. — AP

Kuwait won’t match Iraq’s might, says MP

CAIRO: Rockets from Gaza apparently targeting Israel landed across the border in Egypt yesterday amid tensions after the deaths of policemen on the border and protests outside Israel’s embassy.

Tensions between the Jewish state and the most populous Arab nation have surged since the deaths on Thursday of the police officers, killed as Israeli troops pursued militants responsible for deadly attacks near Eilat.

“Several rockets from the Gaza Strip landed this morning in Egyptian territory in the region west of the Rafah terminal, without causing casualties,” the television reported. A security

official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the report but said the rockets could have been fired by mistake. “It seems they were directed at Israel.”

The Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad said they had lobbed rockets at an Israeli army post near Kerem Shalom on the Israel-Gaza border, two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Egyptian frontier.

“So far, two rockets have been found and the security forces combing the area are looking for other rockets,” Egyptian security sources said.

Continued on Page 13

Praying Qiyaam (night prayer): It is recommended to make a long qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr could fall.

This is indicated in many ahadeeth, such as “Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylatul Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition “and it is facilitated for him” is recorded by Ahmad from the report of ‘Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]

Making Supplications: It is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. ‘A’ishah reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee - (O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me).” [An authentic Hadith recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi.]

Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship: It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr is likely to fall.

Continued on Page 13

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

local

Amir urges interior ministry to confront bids against domestic national security Deal firmly with anyone who seeks to undermine security of Kuwait

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, accompanied by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and deputy head of the National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited Saturday evening the Police Officers Club.

He was received by Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Jaber AlSabah, Interior Undersecretary General Ghazi AlOmar and Undersecretary Assistants.

Sheikh Sabah, in a speech to the police officers greeting them on the holy month of Ramadan, commended the servicemen of the interior and defense ministries.

He praised the interior ministry personnel for firmly confronting the riots that took place in the border areas with Iraq, with the prime objective of preserving security and safety of Kuwait.

Sheikh Sabah also commended the Iraqi government security authorities for their cooperation and responsible spirit.

“I highly commend the enormous efforts you are exerting to protect domestic national security which cannot be ignored, where you have proven that you are up to the responsibility granted to you,” he said.

Sheikh Sabah said he was reading and seeing law violations committed daily, and the streets have turned into a place for victims of accidents committed by reckless drivers.

“I urge you to confront this dangerous phenomenon, implement the law in a strict manner on those reckless, and on everyone who tries to violate it,” said Sheikh Sabah.

His Highness the Amir also noted other crimes which he described as “alien to our beloved and safe community,” citing drugs, immoral practices, fraud, theft, cyber crimes and embezzlement.

Sheikh Sabah said the State of Kuwait always welcomed expatriates to work hand-in-hand with the citizens to building the country. However, he called on the interior ministry personnel to firmly deal with whoever tried to undermine internal

security of the country.

For his part, Interior Undersecretary General Ghazi Al-Omar underlined that the ministry would fiercely act against anyone who seek to undermine the security of Kuwait. Al-Omar briefed the Amir about some achievements of the ministry like seizure of over 500,000 kgs of narcotics, illegal possession of weapons, and deporting 650 people after they were convicted of committed criminal acts, as well as participating in search operations for remains of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing inside Kuwait and Iraq.

Al-Omar also said that the ministry sought fair distribution of investigators on police stations to insure smooth and speedy investigation. The special forces carried out over 5,000 missions to disperse sit-ins, demonstrations protests and illegal assemblies, said Al-Omar, in addition to establishing links with 61 embassies abroad to issue visas, facilitating the payments of fines, expanding prisons to house 5,000 persons and prepare a center to rehabilitate ex-Guantanamo inmates, in addition to

constructing buildings to accommodate the increase of staff.

Al-Omar also spoke about the coast guards and how they foiled trafficking of persons and drugs, as well as installing cameras to back police patrols, in addition to launching an awareness campaign to educate the public about security-related information. His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince and deputy head of National Guard were given memorial gifts on the occasion of the visit. Sheikh Sabah was accompanied by Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali AlJarrah Al-Sabah, Director of His Highness the Amir ’s Office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, acting Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan and head of the Amiri protocols Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Undersecretar y of HH the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Al-Faisal AlSabah, Sheikh Majed Al-Jaber Al-Homoud AlSabah, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah. — KUNA

Kuwait International Bank hosts ghabqa for media KUWAIT: The Kuwait International Bank hosted a ghabqa at the Holiday Inn in Salmiya, attended by representative from local press and media outlets and advertising agencies. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

Sheikh Fahad Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah hosts ghabqa KUWAIT: Sheikh Fahad Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah hosted a ghabqa at his diwan in Qurtuba last week. The event was attended by a large number of distinguished guests, including members of the ruling family, in addition to prominent government and parliamentary figures, ambassadors, diplomats and other dignitaries. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

LOCAL

kuwait digest

Local Spotlight

Support Syrian people, not sectarianism

Dreaming of an e-governance system

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Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

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very day, I receive e-mails from readers who complain about the awful waiting period at government offices. People waste several days trying to complete paper work, obtain residence permit renewal or attest official documents. I don’t think dealing with bureaucratic sluggishness in any part of the world is a cake walk. It is boring, and there are times when you could lose temper thanks to the large number of documents they seek and the wasted time spent waiting to attest a single document. I can understand the frustration that residents experience.

Unfortunately most official bodies have formulated rules and regulations taking a myriad aspects into consideration, except for people’s time, effort and patience.

Here in Kuwait, we still depend largely on staff members’ manual work. It is a common sight to find five to six counters, and usually only one staff is in attendance during Ramadan. There are times when the computers are out of order. If you are an employee, and want to go to Passport Office for instance, it is possible to do so only in the morning of a working day. For that to happen, you need to receive permission from that tough boss! It becomes especially difficult when the regular employee has to seek permission the next day. Many have faced this trying situation in this country.

Online services are a must so that one can apply for a visa and renew residence permits. All transactions can then be processed smoothly with the click of a mouse. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has tried to computerize its system, although it has experienced technical glitches often.

I think government departments like passport and immigration offices that cater to a larger section of society should earnestly modernize and improve its operations. Only an efficient egovernance system can save people’s time and efforts.

kuwait digest

Easier access to self-reliance

By Thaar Al Rashidi

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decade ago, I was in Riyadh, walking out of a hospital after visiting a friend. I saw a soft drink vending machine placed next to a small grocery store, and an old man was the shop keeper.

I went to the vending machine and inserted a riyal to get a soft drink can, but I learnt that the machine was out of order. Naturally, I went to the grocery and decided to buy it from the old man, but he retorted angrily, “No, go to the machine and get your drink from it,” I smiled and said, “I apologize, but the machine is placed closer to me than you, and now would you give the soft drink?” he old man frowned and refused to give me any drink although I was dying from thirst. He added, “You were ready to give money to the multinational corporation that has millions, and you left a poor grocer like me, I insist that you go the vending machine and get your drink.” I didn’t want to argue with the old man because I understood why he was angry.

The old man has the right to refuse me a drink because he interpreted from my behavior I ignored his presence. He also viewed me as a callous person that was ready to part with my money to a millionaire, without considering his simple grocery that would not have had capital that exceeds SR 3,000.

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My behavior towards the old is exactly the same as that of our government’s to the public. The millionaire’s millions increase with high profile tenders given to him, may be government chases him just so that a million or 500 million can be stuffed into his overflowing pockets.

When it comes to ordinary citizens, they are deprived. A simple example is that of those that earn their living by operating small-scale industries like sweet-making, preparing Kuwaiti meals or designing. However, they are simple people that registered their works with the Ministr y of Commerce and Municipality. The government, unfortunately, has never even thought of legalizing their work or issuing commercial licenses to them.

In total contrast to the UAE that issues licenses to its citizens in less than 24 hours, in Kuwait, the less fortunate are always neglected by the government.

The UAE project titled ‘Go’ is eight years old, and is granted to any citizen over 21 years of age that wish to begin small scale industries. The cost of AED 1,000 annually (KD 78) is annual renewal fee and everything is well-organized.

Would anyone of the government officials propose that a similar project would allow the public easier access to self-reliance? — Alanba

kuwait digest

Human rights violations at the Immigration Dept

here is no doubt that we all stand with the Syrian people, against what the innocents are facing there. There is also no doubt that we oppose the inhumane and undemocratic practices of the ruling sectarian regime there.

But, without a doubt also that there is a humanitarian “awakening” here by some towards what is going in Syria. There is an incomprehensible trend towards defending victims according to their factions, often by people known in the past for their extremist opinions on regional issues and their denial of the principle of Arab brotherhood. Those who shed crocodile tears for the Syrian people and condemn the regime’s crimes there are the same parties and factions who oppose all attempts to get closer to the rest of the people, and are the same individuals who attacked the aid given by the development fund, and strongly oppose any humanitarian contribution to improve living conditions in the region’s nations or the rest of the world. Whilst claiming that humanitarian principles motivate them in supporting the Syrian people, they condemn Kuwait’s humanitarian efforts elsewhere in the world, claiming that Kuwait deserves it first, or that spending our money on houses for Kuwaitis is better that constructing a power station in Syria or a university in Yemen or owning shares in factories in Egypt, or that the people of the countries that were against Kuwait during the invasion do not deserve Kuwaiti aid. Yet these same people are today insisting, strangely and suspiciously, that they will give everything and risk everything in order to help the revolution in Syria!

In an astonishing and extraordinary fashion, some individuals have turned against their usual interests, with the wellbeing of human beings rather than particular groups being their main interest and democracy their primary demand.

But the only human being whose rights some Kuwaiti ‘humanitarians’ are supporting is their own ‘brother’ and sect member, rather than the other human beings with whom they have ideological differences. Indeed, their most important reason for helping their ‘brother’ is to resolve a dispute with those whose sectarian beliefs they oppose and to allow their ‘brothers’ to displace those currently in power and in turn destroy all those who disagree with their own narrow sect.

This is an indirect answer to those asking, ‘Where do the national and democratic powers stand on what is going on in Syria?’ I believe that what is happening there is a sectarian fight rather than a political battle as some claim. Those who are crying over human rights abuses today are the ones prepared to ignore or support them tomorrow. So, the true humanitarian and democratic stance to adopt is to condemn what is taking place and work towards ending it - but not to support a direct and practical victory by the new predators waiting in the wings! — Al-Qabas

By Fawziya Al-Sabah

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he General Department of Immigration is one of the formidable departments in the Ministry of Interior that handles cases pertinent with residents. I have visited this department many times as part of my job function as an attorney, and a human rights activist. Unfortunately, I can say that I have witnessed numerous incidents of human rights violations that gives the impression that Kuwait has relegated to the ‘Dark Age.’ I’ve witnessed incidents where residents are apprehended and deported in a very inhuman manner. The suspect doesn’t even have the chance to undergo a fair trial where they are represented by a lawyer. Instead, they are locked up in deplorable conditions for extended periods of time before being deported without having the chance to even collect their dues from employers.

The officers from the department are both the prosecutor and the judge. The sentence pronounced by them is irreversible, and cannot be appealed even if evidence to prove a suspect’s innocence is provided. They violate the law on the pretext of ‘cleaning’ the country from outlaws completely disregarding the principles of Kuwaiti Constitution or international regulations.

Deportation is a decision that is taken by officials based on mere speculations. A suspect’s luck or the mood of the officer handling their case plays a major role in determining their fate in this country. A report containing proof that a suspect is innocent becomes irrelevant when an officer is eager to receive media publicity for the ‘heroic action’ of arresting and deporting lawbreakers.

The Ministry of Interior should bring suspects to trial before deporting them. This is in accordance with international human rights regulations that Kuwait has signed. I thought Kuwait followed some principles of democracy; but apparently, democracy for the Ministry of Interior means that an officer can determine the fate of thousands of expatriates and their families without conducting even a simple legal investigation.

I appeal to the minister of interior and the Human Rights Committee in the Parliament to put an end to the serious violations that have been taking place at the department. Deporting an expatriate resident is a huge responsibility, and sentencing an innocent resident without holding a trial is a terrible form of injustice. The ministry should set up a special directorate that looks into grievances filed against deportation, instead of allowing ministry officials to issue deportation orders on their own.

Note: The Ministry of Health is also a party to some of the unlawful deportation that takes place in Kuwait. They ‘cooperate’ by issuing an ‘unfit’ health certificate to a suspect who has previously passed a fitness test. — Al-Rai

kuwait digest

The recipient and the payer

By Dr Hanaan Al-Hajri

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ecent reports have revealed that some local banks are growing suspicious of some MPs’ deposits that run into millions of dinars. This significantly exceeds their usual monthly payment. According to the said reports, one lawmaker received a KD 17 million deposit to his bank account, drawing many speculations over potential incidents of bribery involved.

If we put aside the principle of banking confidentiality as well as political bribery claims, I believe that the question in the most recent case shouldn’t be limited to identifying the MPs, but focus should be laid on asking about the source from which millions were received. To be fair, we must look into the matter from both sides of the equation. This is because corruption cannot be eliminated unless it is nipped at the bud.

The presence of corrupt people who are willing to receive bribes isn’t something that is unusual. On the other hand, the presence of parties who are able to pay huge sums of money in the form of shady political deals is a very serious issue, given the fact that it happens after a parliamentary and public outcry has been made against similar incidents in the past.

The arc lights are now trained on the one entity that made the payment, usually ignored and whenever a political corruption scandal surfaces. Maybe, people are aware of who pays political bribes, and that’s why, their identities are not probed. In all probability all hope must have been lost in terms of stopping the inflow of such payments. Either way, people today want to know about the lawmaker who is richer

by KD 17 million. It has ignored more significant nuances like who made this payment, and what the source was. — Al-Qabas

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

local

Bank accounts of MPs snowball into national crisis Paint it black: Cyber-demonstration sweeps across Kuwait

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: The president of the Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) Salah Al-Ghazali demanded an immediate investigation into what appears to be a case of money laundering that involves a number of parliament members. His demands come days after a local daily AlQabas, reported that some MPs may be involved in a bribery or embezzlement scandal. According to the report, there have been suspicious transactions in several bank accounts of MPs, as the accumulated income within days has reached a total KD 17 million in the account of one MP, and 8 million in the account of another. There is no clear answer as to where this money has come from.

“The Cabinet is responsible for any further complication in this case.

It has promised to speed up the application of an integrity and transparency draft law, the mechanism of which is to clearly monitor the income of politicians in order to avoid any suspicious money transactions. This draft law has been delayed for reasons beyond us. If the Cabinet truly wants reform, then it is vital to pass this law and monitor the accounts,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

The names of politicians allegedly involved in the scandal have been circulating around the Internet, although no official documents prove the claims. MPs launched a series of demands, including the resignation of the Cabinet, and an intensive investigation to find out

responsible parties.

MP Waleed Tabtabae stressed, “We stated earlier in the parliamentary term that it is vital to fight corruption, and we are very adamant on finding out the responsible parties so they receive the punishment they deserve,” he stated to the press on Saturday. Meanwhile, MP Faisal Al-Mislem suggested the resignation of all parliament members as a response to the Cabinet’s corruption, “The Cabinet has been tampering with all the efforts we have been making to combat its failures. Last week, they deliberately cancelled the extraordinary session, despite the fact that the number of required MPs was met, even though it is a populous demand that concerns the youth and the future of the country.

A Cabinet like this doesn’t want to

change the status quo, and is most probably complicit in the scandal of bribery,” he said on Saturday. AlMislem also noted that corruption is part and parcel of politics today, and stressed that the citizens should not be discouraged, “We can only combat corruption by aligning our forces and having faith in our abilities,” he added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Kuwaiti youth expressed their dissatisfaction with the political situation in the country by changing their ‘avatars’ on social networking websites Twitter and Facebook to plain black.

The initiative, believed to have started with caricaturist Bader Bin Ghaith, aims to reflect angst that is directed against corrupt MPs, especially after the eruption of the bribery scandal, “The color black

represents how the majority of us feel about the vice-ridden political situation today,” said Bin Ghaith to the Kuwait Times. “Black is the darkest color, and we feel that we are going through a very dark, bleak period in our history,” he said. Bin Ghaith, a high school history teacher by profession, noted that the recent developments in the local political scene are extremely demoralizing.

Embezzlement allegations, sectarian tensions, and the failure of parliamentarians to hold an extraordinary session to discuss the education crisis are factors that add more fuel to the fire that eats Kuwait, he argued.

“I have given up on the current Parliament, and I gave up on the Cabinet a long time ago. I’m sure many of today’s youth agree with me. We hear a lot of talk but see very

little action if any,” he explained.

“We need more than just demonstrations and speech rallies in public; we need the youth to rise and unite, to collectively start a wave of change. True change can only happen from within as the adage says, and we need true change today,” he added. From his experience as a teacher, Bin Ghaith said that the young generation is aware of all the nuances of Kuwait’s political problems, and despite having hopes to make a difference, there are no efficient organizations that embrace them and empower their efforts.

“Despite the bleak outlook, I am hopeful. The fact that people have reacted to this gives me hope. Amid this pitch black night of corruption, there are sparks of reform, and they give me hope,” he said.

Students urged to check website for enrollment KUWAIT: The Arab Open University urges students who are nominated to enroll for the next academic year (2011/2012) to check the university’s official website starting from September 4, to verify their submission results and make sure that their enrollment has been accepted.

“Students are required to make sure of their admission results before they start procedure to enroll in the university”, said director of the AOU’s branch in Kuwait Dr Nayef Al-Mutairi in statements to the Kuwait News Dr Nayef Agency (KUNA).

Al-Mutairi The AOU prepared an elite team of academics which was assembled to provide academic guidance to new students, and to hold meetings on September 5 for female students and September 6 for male students. Dr. Al-Mutairi further announced that placement tests will take place between the September 7 and 14. —KUNA

News

in brief

New university construction KUWAIT: The committee in charge of overseeing the construction of the new university, will hold its first meeting during the last week of September. It will be chaired by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Ahmad Al-Mulaifi. The committee comprises the director of Kuwait University, PAAET director and higher ranking officials from the university, Ministries of Higher Education, Finance and Public Works. The university’s location will also be studied. One of the Ministry of Education’s schools will be converted to the university, with additional modifications done to create suitable lecture halls and laboratories. Construction work will be completed in May next year. It will follow the same curriculum as that of the Kuwait University.

Munitions purchase A senior military official denied reports that the Ministry of Defense (MoD) currently intends to buy anti-aircraft missiles or any other munitions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said that Kuwait’s land, sea and air forces are already equipped with the best arms in the world, adding that should the country’s forces need to strengthen or update their military capacity they will buy the necessary equipment without hesitation, doing so according to the law and constitution on the instructions of defense minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. - Al-Anba Dismissed CMA commissioners Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Buresli is reportedly maintaining a firm stance in refusing to consider reappointing three former Capital Market Authority (CMA) commissioners to the positions after they were relieved of their duties previously over violating the authority’s governing regulations by retaining other posts elsewhere. According to one Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) insider, Dr Buresli has rejected all pleas to reappoint the three disgraced former commissioners, despite all three subsequently resigning from their other, non-CMA posts. “Dr. Buresli is acting on principle stemming from her commitment to applying the recently enforced CMA law,” said the insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, and adding that the former commissioner is not allowing her own long experience in commerce to influence her decision. —Al-Rai

19 fa The vario ed e by a Depa the c anot mea Furth taken Rai. T were addi torie

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

Years

LOCAL

Gulf countries tighten entry rules Fearing new wave of Arab Spring unrest, officials aim to limit entry of expats

Grand Mosque hosts 22,000 worshippers KUWAIT: The Grand Mosque hosted some 22,000 worshippers during the evening prayers on the second of the last ten evenings of the holy month of Ramadan, Saturday.

Sheikh Khalid Al-Jhaim was one of the Imams for the night, and in press remarks recalled the great weight of all acts of worships on these last ten nights. “It is no wonder, then, that Kuwaitis are keen on prayer at the mosque, and the Grand Mosque is by now a landmark of Kuwait known even in other parts of the world.

“What we noticed is that in addition to the masses that come to pray at the mosque, thousands others are keen on watching live coverage of the prayers from the mosque every night on state as well as private channels.

“The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs clearly realizes and cherishes its responsibility and I noticed great organization, and the services provided are unparalleled in any other house of worship in Kuwait.” Noting that he took part in some of the meetings preparing for the services provided these last ten days of Ramadan, he added the process starts six months ahead of time. He expressed thanks to top ministry officials for their care and support during this season.

Head of Services and Maintenance at the Grand Mosque Mohammad Al-Kandiri for his part said services are overseen and provided by six sub-committees on the last ten days of the holy month. In addition to committees in charge of services, sahoor (last meal for the day), and security, he mentioned a new committee of volunteers who are to keep the mosque clean. This is a group of youngsters, he pointed out. The official said there was cooperation with outside parties such as the Interior Ministry which handles the

organization of entry to the mosque, and there is also cooperation with scouts, with the Information Ministry which provides the equipment required for satellite coverage, and with the fire department which supplies fire extinguishers and trains volunteers on their use.

Al-Kandiri said the first of the last ten nights saw 14,000 worshippers come to the mosque, and the number increases night after night.

Media Coordinator for Medical Emergencies Abdelaziz BuHaimed said precautions and preparations had been taken to accommodate the needs of the great influx during this time of month, with three clinics set up; one for women, one for men, and a third clinic set up in the back courtyard.

Six ambulances were stationed at the mosque, he noted, and the number could be hiked all the way to 30 should the need arise. The staff providing medical care is organized in cooperation with the Amiri Hospital, and additional staff and services could be provided by Al-Adan and Mubarak Hospitals, in case of emergency. The overall medical and nursing staff consists of 30 people, and their number could also be backed up with support staff if need be.

“With the high level of services provided and great care taken, statistics indicate that most of those requiring help suffer chronic conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure ailments, and asthma. Of 976 served last year, only 10 required transfer to the Amiri Hospital.” As always, BuHaimed urged those with such conditions and other health concerns to carry their health care card and medications on their person and those who feel fatigue or any discomfort to seek help at the said clinics. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Fearing a resurgence of unrest across the Middle East after Ramadan, the governments of the Gulf are starting to clamp down on the entry of foreign workers.

Kuwait, which in May barred visitors from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan on national security grounds, last week announced that it was temporarily suspending the issuing of commercial-visit visas from September 1. While Labor Minister Mohammad Al-Afasi said the move was aimed at preventing expats from flooding the labor market, analysts said it was probably influenced as much by fears that foreigners could stir up trouble.

Theodore Karasik, director for research and development at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said he expected other countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which groups six of the region’s Arab monarchies, to take similar steps.

“Some analysts in the region predict it will be a very hot fall, so it is necessary to increase these types of measures,” Karasik said. “The GCCs need to insulate themselves from the supposed impending shock wave.”

The crackdown comes as the GCC states wrestle with their heavy reliance on foreign labor, thus restrictions on entry is often inseparable from their economic agenda.

For instance, Saudi Arabia, which is home to some eight million expats out of a population of 26 million, is requiring some 300,000 firms to limit employment of foreigners and replace them with Saudis by the end of November.

While the Saudization plan, known as Nitaqat, has been framed by the government as principally an economic program designed to provide employment and stem the flow of money out of the country, offi-

cials haven’t hesitated to cite foreigners as a security risk.

“The number of foreign workers should be brought down to a reasonable level, so they don’t pose a danger to national security,” Major General Muhammad Abusaq, a member of the Shoura Council’s security committee, told the Arab News earlier this month.

Except for Bahrain, which was shaken by anti-government protests this year before a GCC security force restored order, the Gulf has steered clear of the Arab Spring revolts that have brought down the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia and threatens others. But the region’s leaders - all of them monarchs are worried that the turmoil hasn’t run its course and may get renewed impetus when the Ramadan fasting period ends about August 29.

Because they threaten to bring a panArab or Islamic political agenda along with their badly needed labor and skills, Arab expatriates are likely to bear the brunt of the crackdown, rather than Westerners or Asians.

Bahrain acted in March to restrict entry as the island state’s Shiite majority staged mass protests against the Sunni monarchy.

The government suspended flights from Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, all countries with large Shiite populations. Bahrain accused Iran and Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah organization of being behind the unrest.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has required expats living in the sixnation confederation to get an official identity card. The card is required for transactions with the government and will enable authorities to keep closer tabs on the activities of citizens as well as the expats who make up close to 90 percent of the population. The Emirates Identity Authority, popu-

Sheikh Ali Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah (right) with Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al-Sabah

larly known as Emirates ID, then said last week that it would link ID card registration of expatriates with the issuance and renewal of their residence visas to enroll all expatriates in the country by the end of 2013.

“The UAE sees expat laborers as national security threat because the country is drowning in expats. They want to have more Emiratis in jobs,” said Karasik. He said that if Arab expats are expelled, the economy won’t suffer because there is plenty of interest from Asians to work in the Gulf. “If they kick out one nationality they can always bring in others.”

Qatar meanwhile is reported to have barred the entry of most Algerian passport holders, according to Arabian Business, prompting complaints from the Algerian Foreign Ministry. Analysts said Qatar is limiting entry to Algerians to protest their country’s neutral stance of the civil war between Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and rebels. Qatar has been a strong supporter of the rebel cause.

As the Arab Spring creates new leaders and new alliances across the Middle East, visas could be a pawn in the diplomatic gain. Karasik said there is a long tradition of using travel documents, noting that Kuwait barred Yemenis in the first Gulf War for siding with Iraq after it invaded Kuwait.

But the crackdown, even if it avoids nonArab expats, could hur t the Gulf ’s economies, which depend on foreigners to do everything from constructions work to accounting. Business executives say expats are more experienced, better trained and cheaper than locals.

When Kuwait announced plans to restrict commercial visas, the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry and many big companies voiced their objections. — The Media Line

Sheikh Faisal Al-Sabah observes a contestant Rihab Buresli demonstrates her Dama playing techniques.

E-Dama godfather visits tournament KUWAIT: Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al-Sabah, regarded as the godfather of the computerized Dama Kuwaiti traditional board game, visited the Yacht Club of the Touristic Enterprises Company which hosts the 7th annual Sheikh Yousuf Saud Al-Sabah E-Dama tournament.

After being welcomed by the tournament’s official sponsor Sheikh Ali Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah and chairman of the organizing committee Dr Nouri Al-Wattar, Sheikh Faisal Al-Sabah toured the club and witnessed matches carried out as part of the tournament. He acknowledged the tournament’s goals as well as its role in boosting popularity of the traditional board game.

The organizing committee held a draw for prizes that were distributed to the attendance as part of Sheikh Faisal Al-Sabah’s visit.

A ‘battle of generations’.

Bootlegger busted

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A sting operation by General Department of Drug Control (GDDC) officials resulted in a Kuwaiti bootlegger being caught red-handed, with police still hunting for his accomplice, also a Kuwaiti.

An investigation was launched after Ministr y of Interior (MoI) officials received a tip-off from an informant about the two men’s alcohol smuggling and trading activities, with covert surveillance confirming that the duo were smuggling the bottles of alcohol from abroad in boxes labeled as containing liquid soap before selling them in Kuwait.

An undercover GDDC agent posing as a would-be customer persuaded the smugglers to sell him a bottle of the illicit booze, with one of the bootleggers being caught at the handover point whilst the other immediately fled. On searching the detainee, police discovered the key to the warehouse used to stash the remaining booze, where they found 96 bottles of imported alcohol.

The apprehended bootlegger is being held in custody pending trial whilst the search for his partner in crime continues.

Ghazali bridge, opposite to Al-Saidawi sweets factory. Three citizens aged 20, 21 and 32 years suffered from spinal injury.

Two Syrian expats aged 26 and 61years-old sustained minor injuries.

They were admitted to Al-Sabah Hospital. In another case, a car accident took place along Independence Road. An 18-year-old citizen suffered a back injury, while a 19-year-old citizen was seriously injured and rushed to AlAmiri Hospital. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. In another car accident that took place at Al-Eqaila, a 25year old Egyptian expat suffered multiple injuries. He was admitted to AlAdan Hospital.

The draw in session.

Dead body found in Ahmadi apartment KUWAIT: The body of a Sudanese expatriate who died in his apartment in Ahmadi was discovered after the haris (janitor) at the block called police to complain of a bad smell emanating from the flat. Police were quickly at the scene, authorizing the haris to open the door using the spare key, at which point they discovered the tenant’s body inside. The body was removed for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Emergency cases The Medical Contingency Team attended to 35 emergency cases at the Grand Mosque on the second day of ‘Qiyam Allail.’ At least twenty of the patients were men and the other 15 were women. They were administered first- aid treatment on the site.

Motor accidents An accident took place along Al-

A winner receives his award from Sheikh Faisal Al-Sabah.

Car thieves caught Three men responsible for a total of 13 car thefts across Kuwait were arrested red-handed in the Jahra Hospital parking lot whilst attempting to break into another vehicle after detectives from the Naeem police station launched a surveillance operation. The men - two Kuwaitis and a Bedoon (stateless) man - have been taken into custody and are awaiting trial.

Bootlegger held in custody.

Porn peddler Farwaniya police arrested an Asian peddler

selling pornographic DVDs to bachelors in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area. Police were quickly at the scene after being tipped off about the porn peddler’s presence by a Kuwaiti resident, quickly apprehending the salesman despite his attempt to flee on foot. A total of 68 films were confiscated from his possession.

back the stolen item. The store owner was set to press charges against the man but relented when the thief said that he had never visited Makkah in his life and only wanted the Kaaba replica so that he could have a chance to kiss the venerated ‘black stone.’

Chocolate chancer The kind-hearted owner of a patisserie in Hawally took pity on a thief in his 20s who attempted to steal a chocolate replica of the Kaaba, the revered cube-shaped building in Makkah which is the most sacred site in Islam, from the shop.

The thief had apparently entered the shop posing as a customer and requested two dozen pastries. While the store owner was busy preparing the order, the ‘customer’ grabbed the replica and ran out of the door. A shop worker reacted swiftly, chasing and quickly apprehending the thief and taking

MoE to extend retirement age KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education (MoE) is set to extend the contracts of those expatriate teachers who have reached the mandatory retirement age, allowing them to continue working at state schools. The step is being taken in order to avert a possible teacher shortages threatening to disrupt the education system at local schools as it’s feared that many of the expatriate teachers recruited in other regional countries during summer might be unable to start work on time given the political tur in their homelands.

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

Hunger-striker defiant despite premier appeal

Growing up Muslim after Sept 11 test of faith Page 10

Page 11

CAIRO: Egyptians walk past a banner reading “People want to expel the Israeli ambassador” near the Israeli embassy yesterday. (Inset) An Egyptian girl flashes a sole of her shoe painted with an Israeli flag during a protest in front of the Israeli embassy yesterday. —AFP (See Page 8)

Iran hands US ‘hikers’ 8 yrs jail TEHRAN: Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi yesterday confirmed Iran has sentenced two American hikers to eight years in jail, triggering “deep disappointment” in Washington which insists they are innocent. The two US citizens, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, have been sentenced for illegal entry into Iran and spying, according to local media. “Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been each sentenced to eight years in jail by the branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court,” ISNA news agency quoted Jafari Dolatabadi as telling a news conference yesterday.

He said the verdict can be appealed in 20 days.

Jafari Dolatabadi said charges of illegal entry and espionage against the American hikers had been “proven” in the court, the official IRNA news agency reported. “Five years for spying for the American intelligence services and three years for illegal entry into Iranian soil,” he was quoted by the Tehran-based Arabic Al-Alam television as saying in a breakdown of the sentences. “The case of Sarah Shourd who has been freed on bail is still open,” Jafari Dolatabadi added, referring to the other American who was arrested along with her fiance Bauer and Fattal on July 31, 2009. She was freed on bail of around $500,000 and returned to the United States in September on humanitarian and medical grounds.

The lawyer of the Americans said he will appeal. “The verdict is as announced by the prosecution ... In this period (20 days), I will use all the legal means at my disposal to reclaim their rights, because I believe my clients are innocent,” Masoud Shaffi told AFP. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed disappointment over the verdict. “We are deeply disappointed that Iranian judicial authorities have sentenced Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal to eight years in prison,” Clinton said. “We continue to call and work for their immediate release - It is time for them to return home and be reunited with their families.”

Clinton added in her statement that: “I join President Obama and the people of the United States in expressing our unflagging support for Shane, Joshua, Sarah and their families during this difficult time.” Washington has vehemently denied Tehran’s charge that the three were spies and on Saturday it said the two men have been already imprisoned for long. “We have repeatedly called for the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, who have now been held in Iran’s Evin prison for two years,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

The verdict is expected to further raise tension between Washington and Tehran at a time when the animosity between the two has deepened under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Bauer and Fattal, both 29, were arrested along with Shourd, 32, on the unmarked border between Iran and Iraq in 2009. The trio claim they were hiking in Iraq’s northern province of Kurdistan when they innocently strayed into the Islamic republic. They pleaded not guilty to spying charges, according to their lawyer.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had said on Aug 6 he hoped the trial of Bauer and Fattal would lead to their “freedom”. Shourd, a teacher, writer and women’s rights activist, met Bauer, an Arabic-speaking freelance journalist, while helping to organise demonstrations in the US against the war in Iraq. The two moved to Damascus together in 2008. Fattal, who grew up in Pennsylvania, is an environmentalist and teacher. He travelled in 2009 to Damascus, where he met Shourd and Bauer. — AFP

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

UAE elections: What substance behind the gloss?

UMM AL-QUWAIN, United Arab Emirates: In a dark auditorium, rows of men in traditional white robes and women swathed in black watch silently as computer-animated characters take their turn at electronic voting machines in a film aimed at educating them on how to vote. On Sept. 24 they will cast their votes for half of the United Arab Emirates’ Federal National Council (FNC), a quasi-parliamentary body designed to serve as a link between the country’s rulers and its people to build democratic institutions gradually in the Gulf Arab state.

But given that the 40-member council has no legislative authority, half its members are appointed, and only about 12 percent of citizens themselves handpicked by the UAE’s rulers - can vote, critics question how much substance it has. “It’s theatre,” said a former FNC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue. “It looks good, but it doesn’t mean there’s anything underneath.”

The election awareness road show has been to all seven emirates, from Umm Al-Quwain, with its low biscuitcoloured buildings, to the glinting sky-

scrapers of business hub Dubai, to “strengthen electoral culture”. Officials have rolled out an election logo, set up a special website, printed explanatory brochures and even installed the Arab world’s first high-tech electronic voting machines to press on with a program of gradual democratisation. It is only the second election to be held in the UAE. “We seek through the current election, a shift in the political environment of the UAE,” Minister of State for FNC Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash said in a statement last week.

At a session in the northern emirate of Umm Al-Quwain, several dozen voters filed into a conference hall where the election logo - a young boy running with the national flag billowing behind him - was emblazoned on booklets and posters. “We are on the right track and we are in no hurry.

What do we lack? ... Our state has provided us with everything,” Aisha Rashed Leytaim, an eligible voter who also planned to run for an FNC seat, told Reuters, speaking over the election’s rousing theme song.

The UAE’s oil wealth has so far staved off the kind of popular protests that ousted the veteran leaders of

Tunisia and Egypt, but hundreds of signatures on an online petition calling for free and fair elections suggest there are Emiratis who share their neighbours’ desire for a greater role in government. Even before this year’s unrest across the Arab world, UAE rulers intended to broaden popular participation, but the regional upheaval seems to accelerated those plans.

Last month, the number of people entitled to vote or run in the September election for the FNC was increased to 129,000, nearly 20 times more than in the UAE’s first election in 2006, in which less than one percent of Emiratis could take part. Ministers have signalled they will continue to expand the electoral pool until all Emiratis can vote but critics argue that this is meaningless as long as the FNC is a toothless body. Officials have pledged to increase the FNC’s powers, but the council has yet to be given legislative authority - its mandate is to discuss issues and draft laws, review constitutional amendments and make recommendations, among other advisory tasks.

“Even if you had 100 percent of the Emirati population eligible to vote

they’re still just voting for a talking shop,” said Christopher Davidson, a UAE analyst at Durham University. He said the purpose of the elections seemed to be little more than to give Emiratis a sense of progress. “It’s to try and cultivate a feeling amongst the national population that they’re on a path that’s actually leading somewhere, not that they’re merely voting for some antiquated institution that has no power and probably never will,” he said.

UAE officials know that well-paid state jobs and generous subsidies may not suffice to immunise their citizens from the political currents flowing from North Africa to neighbouring Oman and Bahrain. But despite calls from inside and outside the FNC for its powers to be expanded, the UAE has defended its policy of phased reform, saying democracy must be developed gradually among an electorate used to leadership by a federation of local sheikhs. “The issue is how do I walk the path to a full democracy? Is it just by calling people to polling stations or by educating them so that their whole life is based on sharing, debating and learning democracy?” wrote the editor

of the Gulf News daily.

The process of selecting the people who can either elect or be elected is opaque. An audience member at one session of the election road show complained that some people given the right to vote were already dead. An assistant minister for FNC affairs blamed the mix-up on relatives’ failure to inform the Emirates Identity Authority, and said the ruler of each emirate has his own criteria for appointing voters. “The people who are supposedly elected are actually appointed, if you think about it,” said the former FNC member.

Critics say democracy is not just about elections but about freedom of speech and attention to other human rights, where the UAE does not have a strong record. Five activists and academics - some of whom signed the online petition for FNC reform - are on trial on charges of “insulting” the country’s rulers. Speaking in a hushed voice in a hotel, the former FNC member dismissed the idea that democracy must be introduced gradually. “The Emirati people are competent and capable of taking part in proper elections - if only they were given the chance”. — Reuters

Syria hits point of no return amid isolation

CAIRO: Egyptian Ahmed Shehat, who took down the Israeli flag flying over the Israeli embassy, gives a press conference yesterday. — AFP

Egypt ‘Spiderman’ earns hero status CAIRO: A lone protester became a hero to an exultant crowd of Egyptians and many more online by hauling down the Star of David flag atop Israel’s embassy in Cairo after the border killing of Egyptian policemen. More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy early yesterday and let off celebratory fireworks when the man clambered to the top floor of a high-rise housing the mission, replacing the flag with an Egyptian one. Egypt’s cabinet said an Israeli statement expressing regret for the deaths of the policemen was not enough, but stopped short of saying if it would recall its envoy from Tel Aviv.

Tensions between the Jewish state and the most populous Arab nation have surged since the deaths on Thursday of the police officers, which occurred as Israeli troops pursued militants responsible for deadly attacks near Eilat. Rockets fired from Gaza early yesterday landed across the border in Egypt but caused no casualties, Egyptian state television reported, while a source said they could have been fired by mistake. “Several rockets from the Gaza Strip landed this morning in Egyptian territory in the region west of the Rafah terminal, without causing casualties,” the television reported.

The Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad said they had lobbed rockets at an Israeli army post near Kerem Shalom which lies on the Israel-Gaza border, some two kilometres from the Egyptian frontier. The latest tensions represent the most serious test of Israel’s landmark 1979 peace treaty with Egypt since an uprising overthrew Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.

Egypt’s military rulers and caretaker cabinet are under populist pressure to take a firm stand.

The man who took down the flag, identified as Ahmed Shehat, was led away by protesters after he descended, but not before some tore up the Israeli flag he carried down with him and kept bits as souvenirs. Shehat became an instant idol with one Egyptian presidential candidate, Hamdeen Sabahi, hailing him as “the people’s hero” on Twitter.

Shehat was labelled the “Egyptian Spiderman” and “Flagman” on Twitter and he trended rapidly on the social networking site as Egyptians and others worldwide expressed their admiration for his stunt. “This is for Palestine. This is for Egypt. This is for every Arab. This is for every free person,” one Twitter user post-

ed. “Forget Spiderman, Batman, or Superman. My kids are going to grow up wanting to be like FlagMan,” wrote another.

In telephone call to a television station, Shehata said he felt “undescribable happiness” after the risky feat. “We want to expel people who are killing us. Those Jews and Zionists are part of the old regime, and we want to cut all our ties with the old regime,” he said. Military police in riot gear stood outside the embassy building but did not intervene to halt the protest. Two military police generals walked into the crowd to try to calm the demonstrators. “Look, what happened as Israeli soldiers were chasing some gunmen on the border, they opened fire and hit our men by mistake.

That’s all there is to it. They didn’t enter our territory,” said one of the generals.

But they were rebuked by the protesters, who demanded that the military take a firmer stand against Israel. Hundreds of protesters remained outside the embassy on the Nile River as dawn broke over Cairo. Egypt’s cabinet insisted on a firm timetable to execute an Israeli offer of a joint investigation into the border deaths, according to the state news agency MENA. “The Israeli statement was positive on the surface, but it was not in keeping with the magnitude of the incident and the state of Egyptian anger toward Israeli actions,” a cabinet statement said. “Egypt affirms its solicitude for maintaining peace with Israel, but Israel must also assume responsibility for protecting this peace,” it added.

On Saturday afternoon, the foreign ministry summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires for a reprimand. The envoy, who answered the summons because the ambassador was outside the country, read out a statement by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak expressing regret for the deaths and offering a joint probe, Egypt’s foreign ministry said. Egyptian state television had reported earlier that Egypt would recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv. But Israel said it had received no notification of the decision. Israeli officials accused Palestinian militants in Gaza, which also borders Egypt, of planning the attack and carrying it out after slipping into the Negev desert from Egyptian territory. Egypt has denied the gunmen used its territory and bristled at suggestions that it had lost control of the Sinai peninsula, where its military has been conducting a week-long operation to root out Islamist militants. — AFP

BEIRUT: When Bashar Assad inherited power in Syria in 2000, many saw him as a youthful new president in a region of ageing dictators - a fresh face who could transform his father’s stagnant dictatorship into a modern state ready to engage with the world.

Now, the bloody government backlash has extinguished the once-popular image of Assad as a reformer struggling against members of his late father’s old guard. With calls for his resignation last week from Washington to Tokyo, the Arab Spring has forced Assad to face the most severe isolation of his family’s four-decade rule. And the events of the past five months have dashed any lingering hopes that he would change one of the most repressive states in the world.

There is little sign that the 45year-old Assad will manage to crush the protests that are shaking his regime. But even if he does, his newfound status as a global pariah stands to devastate his country of 22 million people, undermine stability in the Middle East and affect the role of Iran, Syria’s ally, on the world stage.

“Power is an aphrodisiac, and as the old saying goes, it corrupts absolutely,” said David W Lesch, an American expert on Syria who wrote a 2005 biography of Bashar Assad. “In the end, he became more of a product of his environment rather than a transformational figure who could change that environment.”

The United States and several of its major allies called Thursday for Assad to give up power, a crescendo to months of mounting reproach. The messages from Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and Brussels coincided with a UN report recommending that Syria be referred to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible crimes against humanity in the crackdown, including summary executions, torturing prisoners and targeting children. Even Japan added its voice to the chorus calling for Assad to leave.

Human rights groups said Assad’s forces have killed nearly 2,000 people since the uprising erupted in midMarch, touched off by the wave of revolutions sweeping the Arab world.

There is no sign that the global calls for Assad’s ouster will have any immediate effect, although analysts say they could ultimately help turn the tide. The growing isolation could compel Syrians who have supported the regime to move toward the opposition, especially if the economy continues to deteriorate.

Longtime ally Iran has offered unwavering support for Damascus, but it cannot prop up the regime indefinitely. Still, many observers predict at least several more months of bloodshed, perhaps even more brutality to prevent further attempts to replace Assad. Both sides of the con-

DAMASCUS: In this March 2008 file photo, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi (left) gestures with Syrian President Bashar Assad during the opening session of the Arab Summit. —AP flict remain energized. Protesters pour into the streets every Friday, defying the near-certain barrage of shelling and sniper fire. But the regime is strong as well and in no imminent danger of collapse, setting the stage for what could be a drawnout and bloody stalemate.

The opposition has yet to bring out the middle- and upper-middle classes in Damascus and Aleppo, the two economic powerhouses, although protests have been building. Assad, and his father before him, stacked key military posts with members of their minority Alawite sect, ensuring loyalty by melding the fate of the army and the regime. That loyalty is the Assad regime’s most potent weapon.

Economic sanctions can chip away at the regime, although the new US ban on Syrian oil is not a significant blow on its own. But EU officials said Friday the bloc’s 27 member states were considering an embargo on oil, which could significantly slash the Damascus government’s revenues. Syria’s oil exports most of them heading to Europe generate $7-8 million per day, said David Schenker, director of the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Without that revenue, Syria will quickly burn through the $17 billion in foreign reserves that the government had at the start of the uprising. “But it could still take a year to deplete, collapsing the economy,” Schenker cautioned.

It remains to be seen if Turkey, a former close ally of Syria, will also impose sanctions. Turkey is Syria’s

neighbor and important trade partner, and its leaders have grown increasingly frustrated with Damascus. Although Washington has little direct influence on Syria, President Barack Obama’s call for Assad to leave decisively ends the US push for engagement with Damascus. There were early signs that the attempt would end badly: A secret US diplomatic cable from June 2009 portrays Assad as vain and inexperienced, and government officials in Damascus as inveterate liars.

Assad sees himself “as a sort of philosopher-king, the Pericles of Damascus”, Maura Connelly, the US charge d’affaires in Damascus at the time, says in the cable, which was released by WikiLeaks. She suggests flattering Assad may be a good way to manipulate him: “Playing to Bashar’s intellectual pretensions is one stratagem for gaining his confidence and acquiescence; it may be time-consuming but could well produce results.”

Syria has long been viewed by the West as a potentially destabilizing force in the Middle East because of its alliance with Iran and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Damascus also provided a home for some radical Palestinian groups. In recent years, however, the country has been trying to emerge from years of international isolation, raising hopes that Washington could peel the country away from Tehran, Hezbollah and Hamas. But two years of US overtures to Damascus yielded few results.

Now, an isolated Assad is as close to Iran as ever. Iraq is sticking by Assad as well - a move that some see as a

sign of how the Iraqi government is shifting toward an alliance led by Iran as American forces get ready to leave at the end of the year. It’s a marked change in the relationship between Iran and Syria, which were deeply estranged all through the Saddam era and the insurgency.

Assad’s isolation stands in stark contrast to the hopes many pinned on his leadership. He gave up an ophthalmology career in Britain to enter Syrian politics when his brother Basil, widely regarded as his father’s chosen heir, died in a 1994 car crash. Assad, who was 34 when he took power, slowly lifted Sovietstyle economic restrictions, letting in foreign banks, throwing the doors open to imports and empowering the private sector. His youth and quiet demeanor endeared him to Syrians. The tall, lanky leader with a mild disposition is said to detest being surrounded by bodyguards.

He and his wife, Asma, and their three young children, live in an apar tment in the upscale Abu Rummaneh district of Damascus, as opposed to a palatial mansion like other Arab leaders. But the “Damascus Spring” turned out to be short-lived, and Assad slipped into the autocratic ways of his father. “I have personally seen Assad’s evolution from someone who became president by accident and wanted to reform the country to someone who was battle-tested, in power, and appears to have been convinced by sycophantic praise and regime propaganda as to his own indispensable position in the country,” Lesch said. — AP

11 tribesmen killed in Yemen suicide attacks ADEN, Yemen: Eleven Yemeni tribesmen were killed overnight in two suicide attacks in the southern province of Abyan, a stronghold of Al-Qaeda, tribal sources and medics told AFP yesterday. Tribal sources accused Al-Qaeda members of carrying out the attacks in two villages of Abyan province, where Yemeni tribesmen and the army have been battling militants from the “Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law)” who are believed to be close to the Al-Qaeda network. A suicide bomber killed Sheikh Abu Bahr Ashal, chief of the Ashal tribe, and two others as he detonated an explosive belt he was wearing when he approached them while they were busy chewing the local soft narcotic qat in Moudia, east of Zinjibar - the provincial capi-

tal mostly seized by militants since May. The bodies of Ashal and one of his companions were torn into pieces due to the intensity of the explosion, while the third, a soldier, succumbed to his wounds in hospital, a tribal source told AFP. A medical source confirmed the death toll.

Meanwhile, eight people were killed and 20 others wounded when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a post of armed tribesmen in the area of Arkub, near the town of Shaqra, which was taken over by extremist militants last week, a tribal source said. The car bomb was followed by an attack by mortars which triggered a fire fight that lasted for nearly two hours, the same source

said. A medical source said that seven of the wounded sustained serious injuries and were taken to a hospital in the neighbouring province of Baida. Yemeni tribesmen siding with government forces have in past weeks been locked in battle with suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Abyan, especially in Zinjibar. The army has been battling the Partisans of Sharia militants, who have besieged its 25th Mechanised Brigade base in Zinjibar since May. Apart from Shaqra and Zinjibar, Islamist gunmen control the village of Jaar, while AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the local branch of the jihadist network, is active in most of the lawless southern and eastern provinces. — AFP

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Mass ends festivities in storm-hit Madrid MADRID: Pope Benedict XVI, emerging into the sun after being lashed by a violent storm, urged 1.5 million pilgrims to share the faith yesterday as he brought lavish festivities in Madrid to a close.

After spending a night under the stars, the faithful cheered as the 84-year-old arrived at a vast Madrid airbase, hit by sheets of rain, bolts of lightning and powerful winds the night before. The leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics took his place on a tall white throne atop a massive wave-shaped stage, shaded by a giant parasol “tree”, made of interwoven golden rods.

“I hope you were able to sleep despite the inclement weather,” the pope said before a mass held to conclude the six-day World Youth Day celebrations, marked by a storm, blistering heat and angry protests. “I am sure that this morning you lifted your eyes to the sky more than once, not just your eyes but also your heart,” said the pope, draped in a white vestment and golden cloak and wearing a skullcap. Many pilgrims could not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion - the blood and body of Christ for Roman Catholics - because gusts of wind had damaged some temporary chapels, organisers said. They instead accepted “spiritual communion” at the mass.

One of 17 tents holding the sacrament collapsed in the Saturday night tempest, injuring

seven young people who were taken to hospital with light injuries including one broken leg.

The next World Youth Day will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, the pope announced. “I hope to see you again in two years’ time at the next World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” the pope said in Portuguese. The pontiff warned pilgrims from 193 nations, many of them wearing red or yellow floppy hats or fending off the sun with multicoloured umbrellas, not to try to adhere to faith without the Church.

“We cannot follow Jesus on our own,” the pope told the faithful strewn across a vast esplanade the size of 48 football fields - at the Cuatro Vientos airbase. “Do not keep Christ to yourselves,” he urged. “Share with others the joy of your faith.” Also attending the Sunday service were Spain’s King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

“This rain was a blessing. It made us laugh. We were so hot,” said Ryoko Hasunuma, a nun who come from Japan with a group of about 300 pilgrims and spent the night at the airfield.

As the heavens opened on the airbase Saturday night, Benedict’s skullcap was swept off and an assistant struggled to shelter the pope with a large white umbrella, which shook in the wind. The pope, his thick white hair in disarray, gripped a copy of his sodden speech, the pages and his vestments flapping in the wind.

MADRID: Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a mass at the Cuatro Vientos yesterday. — AFP

Turkish air strike kills seven in Iraq SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq: A Turkish air strike on a north Iraq village killed seven civilians on Sunday, an official from the area told AFP, during a bombing campaign against Kurdish separatists in the region. The deaths were the first reported casualties five days into a Turkish bombing campaign of bases belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdish region. “Seven people, including women and children, were killed by a Turkish air strike against a civilian car in Kortek village” in Iraqi Kurdistan, said Hassan Abdullah, the mayor of the Qalat Dizah area.

Abdullah added that it is difficult to determine the exact toll from the strike, as the car and its passengers were torn apart by the explosion. Strikes also targeted the areas of Sidakan and Choman in neighbouring Arbil province, Abdullah said.

Yesterday was the fifth straight day that Turkish jets bombed Kurdistan, and the first time that civilian or other casualties have been reported. The Turkish military launched a first wave of bomb attacks on Wednesday against PKK targets in Iraq after a deadly attack by the rebel group against a military unit in Cukurca town in southeast Turkey that killed nine security personnel.

It was the first time in more than a year that the Turkish military has carried out air strikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq. Turkish security sources said that PKK gunmen had on Thursday also raided two Turkish military posts by grenade and machinegun fire, injuring three soldiers and four civilians.

PKK spokesman Ahmed Denis told AFP by telephone earlier on Sunday that Turkish aircraft were bombing areas including Qandil, Khowakirk, Haftan, Jabal Mattine and Jabal Karra, all along Iraq’s border with Turkey.

Artillery strikes were also carried out against Khowakirk, Zakarus and Ifsahim earlier yesterday morning, he said. Denis said Turkey had also carried out air strikes against Jabal Mattine and Haftan on Saturday night. The spokesman said he believed the Turkish army was preparing for an incursion into north Iraq. “The Turkish army is making preparations on the border with the Kurdistan region of Iraq to enter in a battle with members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party,” he said.

Since the early 1990s, the Turkish army has carried out several land forays into northern Iraq to chase rebels. The last such offensive, which lasted eight days, was back in 2008. The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the international community, took up arms in the Kurdishmajority southeast in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives. The Turkish military has said its operations both within Turkey and in parts of Iraq used as a safe haven by the PKK “will continue until it is eradicated”. According to Ankara, there are some 2,000 rebels operating from Iraq, from where they can filter back into Turkey to launch attacks. — AFP

Pilgrims tried to take shelter under large white and yellow umbrellas. Others used whatever they could find, or simply got drenched. Firefighters were seen checking the stage structure for storm damage.

But the pope had not considered abandoning the service, said the Holy See’s spokesman, Federico Lombardi. “Benedict XVI was determined, extremely determined to stay, just as the young stayed. He had not the slightest doubt. The storm was a parable of Christian life in which moments of difficulty are overcome by the strength of faith,” Lombardi said. “ Today, the pope is very calm, very favourably impressed by the endurance of the young and their prayers.”

The Vatican spokesman said police estimate 1.5 million pilgrims packed the airbase, spilling out onto the surrounding area as there was not enough space.

Organisers however declined to give a figure. Saturday’s storm had cut short a homily by the pope in which he defended traditional marriage “in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfilment in a profound life of communion”. The Roman Catholic Church has condemned the sweeping liberal reforms brought in by Spain’s Socialist government in recent years, including easier access to abortion, gay marriage and fast-track divorce.

The attitude of the pope has sparked anger among the gay and lesbian community in Spain.

Spanish police Thursday foiled plans by 100 gays and lesbians to stage a kiss-in before the pope in Madrid, blocking the protesters before they could meet up. The sheer scale of the celebrations in Madrid has also sparked angry demonstrations at a time of economic hardship, with unemployment for under-25s in Spain running at more than 45 percent.

Thousands of protesters marched in central Madrid almost daily to protest the cost but organisers say most of the cost will be covered by a registration fee from the pilgrims, and the event is a big tourist boost. — AFP

Cape Verde votes in presidential runoff PRAIA: Cape Verdeans voted yesterday to elect a new president of the archipelago, which has experienced a decade of economic growth under Pedro Pires but remains vulnerable with meagre natural resources. Cape Verde has become one of Africa’s most prosperous and stable countries by flaunting its natural beauty to a growing crowd of tourists from nearby western Europe, but remains highly dependent on international aid. The presidential run-off got under way at 8:00 am (0900 GMT) with scores of voters gathering outside polling stations in the capital Praia.

Voters will choose between the candidates of the two parties that have dominated the political scene of the former Portuguese colony for the past two decades. The campaign has been fought on the need to modernise the economy, and keep the boom alive while dealing with unemployment rates of up to 18 percent. Main opposition Movement for Democracy (MFD) candidate Jorge Carlos Fonseca, a former foreign minister, won over 37 percent of votes in the first round.

His rival Manuel Inocencio Sousa, minister of infrastructure, transport and maritime affairs from the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) - which holds a majority in parliament - had 32 percent.

Cape Verde is a parliamentary democracy whose president plays a ceremonial role. In an interview with AFP, Fonseca said: “I hope to be elected on Sunday to contribute to the modernisation of society and build a stronger democracy.”

The 60-year-old, who lost a presidential bid in 2001, said his main concern was poverty and unemployment, seen as one of the reasons more Cape Verdeans live abroad (700,000) than at home. Some 20 percent of GDP is estimated to come from remittances. Sousa also played up the need to modernise the state and “transform the economy” of the archipelago, which has an economy dominated by the service sector, which represents 85 percent of GDP. Tourism contributed 25 percent to GDP with 400,000 visitors in 2010.

Some 305,000 citizens have registered to vote, and there are 899 polling stations on the islands and 241 abroad, the national electoral commission said. Polls closed at 6:00 pm (1900 GMT). Situated off the northwestern coast of Africa the former Portuguese colony consists of 10 main islands, nine of which are inhabited, and eight islets. The ruling party has overseen a decade of growth averaging six percent and a spate of development work including the construction of three international airports, ports, and hundreds of kilometres of roads. Lauded for its stable democracy, Cape Verde in 2008 became only the second ever country after Botswana to be promoted by the United Nations out of the ranks of the 50 least developed countries. Its status as a middle-income country puts it under further pressure as its eligibility for debt relief and soft loan terms take a knock, and several countries have already phased out aid. According to the UN and African Development Bank-backed African Economic Outlook, Cape Verde is one of few African countries likely to meet the Millenium Development Goals by 2015, if it gets the donor support it needs. To reduce its strong dependence on fuel imports, Cape Verde is building the first large-scale wind project in Africa and plans to cover 25 percent of its needs with renewable energy by 2011 and 50 percent by 2020. — AFP

OSLO: Norway’s King Harald speaks during the national memorial ceremony yesterday in remembrance of the victims of the two July 22 attacks that killed 77 people in Oslo and on Utoeya island. — AFP

Norway remembers 77 killed in massacre OSLO: Norway held an emotional commemoration yesterday for the 77 victims of last month’s twin attacks, with survivors, relatives, royals and pop stars all remembering the country’s worst peacetime bloodshed. Some 6,700 people gathered in the Spektrum concert hall in Oslo in a display of unity, almost exactly a month after Anders Behring Breivik bombed the government quarter before mowing down participants at a youth camp. “Nearly all words have been used by now,” King Harald V said, choking back tears as he opened the ceremony.

“These last weeks have been difficult for us but it’s doing all of us good to be gathered here today,” the monarch said.

The ceremony was due to include a speech by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who has a emerged as a hugely popular figure since the massacre, and a performance by the A-Ha pop group, which

was reformed for the occasion.

Between passages of music, Norwegian actors will read aloud the names of the 77 victims, mostly young people, who perished in the attacks perpetrated by Behring Breivik on July 22. The ceremony is directed by Haddy N’jie, born of a Gambian father and Norwegian mother, thereby representing the mixed-race society explicitly rejected by the killer.

The 32-year-old rightwing extremist set out his hatred of Islam and Norway’s tolerance of multiculturalism in a 1,500 page document posted on the Internet before detonating a bomb in central Oslo and going on the rampage on the island of Utoeya, where the ruling labour party was holding a summer youth camp. The ceremony’s audience also included several foreign dignitaries, notably the presidents of Iceland and Finland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and Tarja Halonen, all the prime min-

isters of the Nordic countries, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Fredrik of Denmark.

On Saturday survivors from the youth camp made a difficult, first return to Utoeya, where 69 of their friends were gunned down in cold blood in the hopes of finding some closure to their ordeal. The day before, relatives of the dead were given their opportunity to visit the island, 40 km northwest of Oslo, where their loved ones spent their last moments alive.

As around 500 relatives made their pilgrimage on Friday, Behring Breivik made a new appearance in court, when a judge ordered him to be kept in solitary confinement for another month in the maximum security jail near Oslo where he is being held. The gunman, who has confessed to the killings but insisted they were “cruel” but “necessary”, protested at the judge’s decision as “sadistic torture”. — AFP

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Growing up Muslim after Sept 11 test of faith FULLERTON, California: In many ways, Yousuf Salama is a typical teenager: He lives for football, worries about acne and would rather dash off to see “Captain America” with friends than spend one more minute with his mother. He’s aware, however, that his actions in particular can have greater meaning. Yousuf is a Muslim, one of only two in an all-boys Catholic prep school in Southern California. He has been asked if he’s a terrorist and routinely shrugs off jokes about bombs and jihad. “Sometimes I feel like I take it upon myself to be a better example,” he said on a recent evening after returning for a weeklong football camp.

Yousuf, whose father is from Egypt and mother from the US, is among thousands of children who navigate every day the subtle and complex challenges that come with growing up Muslim in a deeply traumatized postSept 11 America. Some were still in diapers and others in grade school when hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon a decade ago, but their childhoods have been deeply touched by the pain and anger of a nation struggling to come to terms with a day that, for them, represents the worst perversion of their faith.

For some, like Yousuf in California and others across the country, the bullying, the hard stares and endless defense of their identity has nurtured a deeper faith and a maturity and resilience that surprises even their parents. “I tell them that when they’re out in the world, they represent the best of our community, they are our faith ambassadors,” said Kari Ansari, who was pregnant with her youngest child on Sept 11 and lives outside Washington, DC, with her family. She is from the US and her husband was born in India. “They will have learned to have compassion for people who maybe don’t even deserve that kind of compassion - dealing with bigots and dealing with prejudice - and that’s a great life lesson,” she said.

For Ansari’s oldest daughter, Aneesa, that lesson colors her earliest memories. She started attending a pri-

vate Muslim kindergarten in Denver just days before Sept 11 and it shut down for two weeks after angry protesters gathered outside. It eventually reopened, but an armed security guard stayed on campus for almost a year. Today, the 15-year-old is deeply

FULLERTON, California: Mother Anita Bond-Salama, daughter Sarah Salama, 18, younger son Yousuf Salama, 16, older son Omar Salama, 21, and Omar’s wife Ayesha Alkuteifani, 22, prepare to break the Ramadan fast at their home Aug 7, 2011. — AP invested in her religious identity and exudes a quiet pride at being Muslim.

She began wearing a headscarf in public without prompting in the fifth grade and has never removed it despite being cursed at while waiting in line at an Ikea furniture store, and stared at and pressured at school, she said. Aneesa goes to the library during the lunch hour so she can observe the holy month of Ramadan (a month of no food or water from sunrise to sundown) and said she prefers to spend time with other Muslim teens to avoid the pressure to drink and do drugs.

Her mother worried that her young daughter would be pitied or discriminated against for wearing the hijab.

But for Aneesa, wearing the head covering was a rebuke to those who dwelled on her differences and minimized her faith. Even at 11, she said, she was adamant that it was her choice and her identity.

Bachmann seeks to broaden appeal GREENVILLE, South Carolina: Michele Bachmann is already a favorite among social conservatives and supporters of the tea party movement which favors small government and low taxes. But she is now trying to offer herself as a presidential candidate who can united the Republican Party’s disparate base and appeal to all of the party’s ideological stripes. “Fiscal conservatives - I’m one of those. National security conservatives I’m one of those. Social conservatives I’m one of those. And the tea party - I’m one of those,” the Minnesota congresswoman said repeatedly while campaigning in South Carolina this past week.

The line, now standard fare as she visits early primary states, provides a window into her strategy of selling herself as more than just a social conservative crusader. Bachmann’s ability to overtake rivals Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Texas Gov Rick Perry in the Republican nomination contest may depend on whether she can attract support beyond her core evangelical and tea party constituencies, which gravitate toward her strong stances on cultural issues.

But this year, economic concerns clearly rate above most others with most voters. If she wins the party nod, she will have to court moderates and independents as well as conservatives in order to defeat President Barack Obama.

Throughout her political career, Bachmann has fiercely guarded and worked to bolster her social conservative reputation. She has had a 100 percent rating from the influential American Conservative Union during her nearly five years in Congress, based on her voting record. Over the past few years, she rode the wave of the rising tea party and

“I have enough strength, I guess, to not be afraid of who I am,” Aneesa said.

“It’s this pressure to change, people kind of hint that you don’t have to wear a scarf at school, they ask if your parents make you. “Combating that makes you a stronger person,” she said.

used her frequent TV appearances to stoke a national image as a favorite of the right.

As a candidate, Bachmann isn’t eager to revisit her past controversial statements even though Democratic and Republican rivals alike use them to paint her as a fringe Republican in the race to challenge President Barack Obama.

During a recent debate, she deftly handled a question about a past remark that cited the Bible as instructing wives to be “submissive to your husbands.” In a measured tone, she explained it was about showing mutual respect.

A few days later, Bachmann faced tough questions on the Sunday national news shows about previous statements, including a comment about the gay lifestyle being one of “personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement.” Not addressing such issues directly, she relied on answers such as “I’m running for the presidency of the United States. I’m not running to be anyone’s judge”. Bachmann’s typical campaign speech illustrates her efforts to broaden her appeal. Or as she put it in Florence this past week: “We are going to make the case that we’re the unifying candidate who can beat Obama.” She opened her remarks to conser vative South Carolina audiences with a quick rundown of her stances on cultural issues. But she quickly pivoted to jobs, filling a white board with numbers about tax collections and the nation’s swelling deficit.

“You cannot spend more money than what you take in. It’s a simple fact of life, right?” Bachmann told a receptive crowd at the Greenville convention center. She promised to submit only balanced budgets as president even though critics say that’s impossible. — AP

MT PLEASANT, South Carolina: GOP presidential hopeful Rep Michele Bachmann speaks at a rally on Aug 19, 2011. — AFP

When the family moved from Denver to a new school in the western suburbs of Chicago, her younger brother Sajid suddenly found himself the only Muslim boy in his grade in a tiny school district. For three years, from the fourth to the sixth grade, he was relentlessly bullied by dozens of students who ganged up on him, called him a terrorist and ridiculed him for his faith. In a sixth-grade art class, a group of boys passed him a note showing a drawing of the twin towers, with the words “Look familiar?” written below.

On another occasion, he was walking his sister home in the snow when other students ambushed them with icy snowballs. One hit his face, leaving a bloody gash on his cheek. Sajid’s grades plummeted and attempts to get adults to help led to more abuse, so he stopped telling his parents about what was going on. “I just kind of felt like, ‘Why was I born at a time when people

didn’t understand?’ I didn’t have any problem with being Muslim or being born that way,” said Sajid, now 13.

“Sometimes, I felt it was unfair that I was born at a time when all this was happening,” he said. “It’s hard to explain that you’re not the stereotype that’s put out.” The Ansaris eventually moved to northern Virginia and put their children in a bigger and more diverse school district where Sajid has thrived. Today, Sajid is open with classmates about his faith, explaining that he can’t eat pepperoni because Muslims don’t eat pork and talking with friends about the terrorist characters that represent the enemy on warthemed video games.

“When you are a person of faith you look at your life circumstances and every situation that comes up is a trial or challenge to you in your faith,” said Ansari, who works as a freelance marketing consultant. “We believe it’s God’s way of saying, ‘What are you going to do about this? Are you going to succumb to it or rise above it and show what the true story is?”

In Southern California’s Orange County, Yousuf Salama, his 18-year-old sister Sarah and his 21-year-old brother Omar have spent years navigating the same types of challenges at their private, Catholic prep schools. Their parents sent them there because of the top-notch education and same-sex environment. One of Yousuf’s friends asked if he was a terrorist after watching a TV program on Islamic extremism. His older brother, unusually tall and lanky for his age, was called “Twin Tower” at a seventh-grade flag football camp and quietly endured an endless loop of jokes: Do you have a bomb in your backpack? When do you leave for jihad?

These days, those memories barely raise an eyebrow in the family’s upscale suburban home, where their parents juggle a home business, their children’s sports practices and part-time jobs as well the nightly prayers at the mosque during Ramadan. On a recent night, the children, Omar’s new wife and their grandmother gathered to break the Ramadan fast with heaping plates of lamb and chicken kebobs, sliced grilled

eggplant, humus and a thick chocolate cake for dessert.

“How have we been living for the past 10 years?” asked Anita BondSalama, their mother. “ There’s no answer, there’s no magic formula,” she continued. “My husband and I have just dealt with things very matter-of-factly: This is what happened. There’s good and there’s bad in the world. And unfortunately there’s bad people who represent our religion but our religion doesn’t say that.”

Omar was 11 when the airplanes were hijacked and of the three siblings, he has the clearest memories of that day and its aftermath. He remembers thinking at the time that the US invasion of Afghanistan would change his life, too. Over the years, he learned to restrain himself from physically confronting anyone who made fun of him, but he had his hardest test as a high school senior - six years after Sept 11 when a teacher asked him to read aloud in class. A fellow student leaned in, he recalled, and whispered: “Does your religion allow you to read?” “I was this close to climbing over my seat and really messing him up,” Omar said.

He remembered thinking on that occasion and on many others that he should not react violently. “If I did that ... the whole school would be thinking in the back of their mind, ‘Oh, there goes another Muslim. There goes Omar again, a typical Muslim - violent and angry,’” he said. Omar started high school “football crazy” and every bit the athlete. He played for his school’s powerhouse football team, fasting during Ramadan while doing two-a-day workouts. Over time, as the teasing got to him, he distanced himself from school friends and spent more time at the mosque. By his senior year, he had quit football and devoted himself to studying his faith so he could better explain Islam. He attended more prayers, stopped swearing and improved his grades, which had slipped to Cs and Ds. “If I’m being attacked by an individual or even just a curious individual, I have to be able to answer. I can’t just say, ‘I don’t know.’ It made me pick up a book,” he said. “In that sense, it’s changed my life.” — AP

Youngest US troops bore the heaviest toll in Iraq SILVANA, Washington: In a hilltop graveyard overlooking this Stillaguamish River village lies a young soldier killed in the infancy of the Iraq war. Army Spc Justin W Hebert’s story is sad and sadly unremarkable, a tragedy bound up in the tale of a grinding war that took young lives with grievous regularity. Nearly one-third of US troops killed in Iraq were age 18 to 21. Well over half were in the lowest enlisted ranks. For Hebert, the Army was an adventure. But it didn’t last long.

Barely two years after he finished high school, exactly three months after President George W Bush declared the end of major combat in Iraq and just four days after his 20th birthday, Hebert was mortally wounded in an insurgent ambush that may have been a setup by an Iraqi “informant”. It was Aug 1, 2003. The war, according to the Pentagon’s plan, was supposed to be over. Baghdad had fallen swiftly. But a new, more menacing phase of conflict was just beginning. An insurgency was in the making, and in its formative months it perplexed US commanders and cost Hebert his life.

In the years since, the US effort in Iraq has veered from the brink of calamity to the threshold of surprising success. With the remaining US troops now packing to leave, possibly for good, casualties and costs will be tallied one last time. More elusive is a firm judgment on the net benefit of the American sacrifice, the more than 4,400 dead, the tens of thousands injured and the untold numbers suffering unseen psychological wounds for years to come. The invasion, occupation and transition to Iraqi government control lasted far longer than predicted, cost more than imagined and left a town like Silvana, population 90, to wonder why a war so far away brought grief so close to home.

The sacrifice of so many lives like Hebert’s helped turn US public opinion firmly against the war by the time Barack Obama was campaigning for president in 2008. Three years later, young Americans still die in Iraq even though the war is widely seen as over. It is also widely seen as a mistake, and by some as a waste. Hebert was buried here in his hometown, about 50 miles north of Seattle, in a small, century-old graveyard surrounded by cedars and firs, beside a landmark known as The Little White Church on the Hill.

A recent visit to his grave shortly after the eighth anniversary of his death made clear that he has not been forgotten. His headstone was bedecked with one full-size and more than a dozen miniature American flags, potted plants, flower bouquets, cards and birthday balloons - silent tributes from a proud community. Hebert’s sister, Jessica Cole, described him as mouthy, a jokester, and a “smarty pants”.

He also had the inner strength, she said, to overcome his childhood fear of heights and volunteer for Army training in parachuting from airplanes. She said he had never been in a plane until he flew to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to

begin basic training in June 2001. “He would not get on a ladder to change Christmas lights on a two-storey building for the life of him,” she said in an interview. He saw the Army as a ticket to a better life. “He joined pretty much to get out of the little town we grew up in,” she said, and for the chance to see the world.

She never imagined he would return so soon

Army Spc Justin Hebert to be buried by family and friends.

Was Silvana’s and the Hebert family’s loss for a greater gain? Americans and Iraqis have to hope so. They hope Iraq, with the demise of Saddam Hussein and the promise of its vast oil resources, will overcome sectarian divisions to govern and defend itself with at least a semblance of democracy. They hope it will keep a lid on extremist fighters who will remain when the last American has gone home. And they hope Iran’s militant Islam influence, already on the rise, will be kept in check.

But as the US military role winds down, no one can be sure chaos will not return. Chaos had not yet arrived when Hebert became the 254th American to die in Iraq. But it was closing in. Six days after his death, a truck bomb exploded outside the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad, killing 17. Twelve days later insurgents destroyed the UN’s Baghdad offices, killing 22, collapsing UN aid efforts and crushing hopes for normalcy.

In Washington, officials saw a brighter side.

On the day of the embassy bombing, Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said, “While there is a lot of difficulty, things are getting better.” Asked whether the insurgency was broadening, he replied, “There are plenty of

indications to the contrary.” In hindsight, American leaders now speak bluntly about the war’s toll. Shortly before he retired in June as defense secretary, Robert Gates said he measures the cost “in lives that are shattered, in bodies that are shattered, in minds that are shattered.” Setting aside the political calculations for invading in the first place, the Hebert story is a microcosm of the war - determined, even valiant, efforts propelled by American ingenuity but ambushed by poorly understood Iraqi ethnic and religious forces aligning against the occupiers.

It was not supposed to turn out like this.

Jack Keane, who was the Army’s No. 2 general when the war began, told Army historians in 2006 that he and others had believed Saddam’s loyalists would fold once Baghdad fell in early April 2003. “We did not consider it a realistic option that they would continue to attack us indirectly. And shame on us for that,” Keane said.

Hebert had parachuted into northern Iraq with nearly 1,000 other “sky soldiers” of the 173rd Airborne Brigade on March 26, 2003, one week after the Marines and the Army launched the main thrust of the invasion from Kuwait. The 173rd was supposed to have been the junior partner with a far larger unit, the 4th Infantry Division, in opening a northern front, but Turkey refused passage. So the 173rd went in alone.

After a four-hour flight from their base in Italy, the paratroopers jumped from a fleet of C-17 transports. In addition to a few broken bones and dislocated joints, the jump merited a Bronze Star medal for each, including Hebert. He was a member of Delta Battery, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, as a fire support specialist, sometimes called a forward observer. As such, his job was not to operate the big howitzers but to locate targets and communicate their coordinates, to act as the “eyes of the artillery”.

It was a skill for which Hebert had been well trained. But on the night he died, that mattered little. On the fuzzy frontlines of a war that was more like a street fight with shadowy criminals than a conventional battle of land armies, Hebert was driving a Humvee, the utility vehicle whose vulnerability to roadside bombs later triggered a push to build armored versions. His Humvee, with a softcover cab and open rear bed, had no armor, not even the makeshift variety that soldiers later bolted on for extra protection.

Spc Adam J Williams, who was in the Humvee during the attack, said Hebert was a regular that summer on nighttime patrols that operated out of makeshift outposts in an area west of Hawija, in Tamim province, where US forces were in a relentless search for top fugitives of Saddam’s military. In his last letter to Jessica, dated June 26, Hebert lamented the harsh conditions in Iraq and looked forward to leaving. “We are supposed to be out of here the beginning of August, but who knows,” he wrote. — AP

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India’s graft buster Hazare has his critics NEW DELHI: The rapid rise of India’s Anna Hazare from local activist to national anti-corruption saviour has not been without its critics, some of whom see serious flaws in both the man and his tactics. The extensive and overwhelmingly supportive media coverage of Hazare’s campaign for tougher laws against official graft has largely drowned out the dissenters, but they have not been silenced altogether. One high-profile critic is Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of software giant Infosys Technologies who is currently heading a government project to provide biometric ID cards to India’s 1.2 billion people.

In an interview with the NDTV news channel, Nilekani said Hazare’s populist campaign was simplistic and “unidimensional” with its focus on forcing the government to strengthen an anti-

corruption bill currently before parliament. “I am not a great believer that if you pass a law, corruption will miraculously vanish,” Nilekani said, suggesting that Hazare had raised people’s expectations to unrealistic levels. “If you really want to address corruption, it is a very multi-dimensional mosaic of things ... There is no quick fix. This requires hard work.”

Hazare’s protest is centred on the so-called “Lokpal Bill”, which would create the post of an ombudsman to monitor senior politicians and bureaucrats. The 74-year-old activist strongly opposes the bill’s exclusion of the prime minister and top judicial officials from the ombudsman’s scrutiny and is currently staging a 15-day fast to demand that the legislation be redrafted. Nilekani said the use of a hunger strike to try and force the leg-

islative hand of an elected parliament was “extremely dangerous and completely wrong” in a country proud to be known as the world’s largest democracy.

Prominent Supreme Court lawyer Pinky Anand voiced similar reservations over what she saw as the rigidity of Hazare’s position in his standoff with the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “We have a situation where we have an elected parliament which is mandated to prescribe, enact and enforce laws, and a person who is saying ‘my way or the highway’,” Anand told AFP. “It’s an aberration of democracy.”

Hazare argues that he has a “people’s mandate” - a claim vividly backed up on Friday by the hundreds of thousands of ecstatic supporters who cheered him through the streets of

Delhi as he set off to begin his public hunger strike. “Anna is India and India is Anna” was the way one of his top advisers and senior campaign leaders, Kiran Bedi, put it in an emotional speech to the crowds gathered at the protest site. But Delhi University political analyst Rajendra Dayal countered that populist support was not a licence for dictating policy. “Hazare cannot just say whatever he wants should be accepted. In a democracy there is a deliberative process which needs to be respected,” Dayal said.

And there are some flickers of a possible media backlash, with an editorial in The Hindu newspaper on Saturday under the title “Anna is not India, nor India Anna”. Noting Hazare’s commitment to the guiding philosophies of his hero Mahatma Gandhi, The Hindu suggested that India’s inde-

pendence icon would have been horrified by the “mood of triumphalism” that has crept into the Hazare camp.

“Democratic, progressive, political India needs to find its own way,” the editorial said.

Anupama Jha, who heads the Indian chapter of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, said there was much to be admired in Hazare’s success in pushing corruption up the political agenda. But, like Nilekani, she questioned the basis of the growing belief among Hazare’s supporters that a stronger Lokpal Bill would act as a panacea to purge India’s corruption woes. “The law he wants will, at best, only act as a deterrent because implementation is such a difficult issue,” Jha said, pointing to the deep roots the corruption culture has laid down over the decades. — AFP

Hunger-striker defiant despite premier appeal Hazare wants anti-graft bill passed

NEW DELHI: A girl waves an Indian flag and another sings a patriotic song beside India’s anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare during his hunger strike yesterday. —AP

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare, the hunger striker whose protest against corruption has galvanised millions of Indians, yesterday sounded a note of defiance after government calls for dialogue.

Hazare, who has not eaten since Tuesday, is fasting at an open-air venue in New Delhi in front of tens of thousands of noisy supporters who back his demands for an end to the culture of corruption among Indian officials.

Anti-graft protests have erupted across the country over the last week and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been widely criticised for mishandling one of India’s biggest social movements in decades.

Singh on Saturday appeared to soften his hardline stance, saying there was “a lot of scope for give and take” over a proposed anticorruption bill that Hazare’s campaign wants replaced with their own stronger version. But Hazare told huge crowds gathered at the

Gandhi cap back in vogue NEW DELHI: India’s street hawkers are famously quick to spot a gap in the market and as a wave of anti-corruption rallies sweep the country, white “Gandhi” caps have suddenly become the hot item for sale. Made out of cheap fibre, the caps sell for 10 rupees each and are part of a range of T-shirts, badges and other merchandise that have sprung up around the popular anti-graft movement led by hunger striker Anna Hazare. The hat, which Hazare wears at all times, was made famous by India’s independence hero Mahatma Gandhi and should properly be made out of khadi

hand-spun cotton.

For Gandhi, khadi was a symbol of how India should base its economy on village -based craft instead of industrially-produced cotton often exported from mills in Britain, India’s colonial ruler until 1947. The version hastily produced by hawkers has now become a symbol of suppor t for Hazare, a 74-year-old activist who is holding a public hunger strike in New Delhi to demand the government act against corruption.

Many of the caps worn at the protests have “I am Anna” written in felt pen on the side to express com-

NEW DELHI: Supporters of the anti-corruption hunger strike by Indian activist Anna Hazare wear “Gandhi” caps as they shout slogans at Ram Lila Grounds yesterday. — AFP

mon cause with Hazare, who has a huge poster of his hero Gandhi at the back of the stage where he has fasted since Friday. Also popular among Hazare’s supporters are official Tshir ts carr ying the slogan “India Against Corruption” (110 rupees), as well as posters and flags with Hazare’s name or bespectacled face on them.

The Hindustan Times dubbed the branding frenzy “Annafest”, while the Economic Times suggested images of Hazare, a sober life-long bachelor, could even threaten the ubiquitous Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

Among those wearing a Gandhi hat at Hazare’s fast in Delhi on Saturday was Sudhir Rawat, a 17-yearold student. “I’m still in uniform after attending lessons this morning, and now I am wearing this hat in support of Hazare,” he said. Girish Gupta, 35, sporting a Gandhi hat, a badge with Hazare’s face on it and a wristband in the orange, white and green tricolour of India’s national flag, described his motivation for supporting Hazare’s campaign.

“I have to bribe someone on top of paying to rent my auto-rickshaw every day,” he said. “And I had to bribe an official 500 rupees to ensure my nephew was cremated. Hazare is for us and wants to stop these things.”—AFP

Afghan poll body throws out 9 MPs KABUL: Afghanistan’s election commission yesterday threw nine lawmakers out of parliament in a bid to settle nearly a year of disputes over fraud-tainted elections that have paralysed the lower house.

Although President Hamid Karzai tasked the Independent Election Commission (IEC) with making a final ruling, it was not immediately clear whether its decision would finally end the row or run the risk of more angry protests. The issue has prompted large demonstrations on the streets of Kabul in recent weeks, as US-led NATO combat troops start initial withdrawals from the troubled country in a process due to be completed by the end of 2014.

“Nine people... from eight provinces are reinstated and nine people will have to leave their seats,” said Fazil Ahmad Manawi, IEC chairman. The IEC said the replacement lawmakers initially won the seats according to preliminary results in last September ’s parliamentary

elections, but were later stripped of their victories. “The reasons for their removal were not enough... so the IEC decided to reinstate those nine persons,” Manawi said.

The Afghan parliament has been at a virtual stand-still since January, when it was sworn in, because of the dispute over whether candidates should be kicked out over vote fraud, and if so how many.

There has been a string of angry demonstrations on the streets of Kabul by affected politicians and their supporters. Although Karzai charged the IEC with resolving the row this month, commentators predict the ruling may not be the end of the stand-off. In a blog posting earlier this week, commentator Martine van Bijlert of the Afghanistan Analysts Network wrote: “This last chapter of the scuffle is likely be messy as the various sides are mobilising their people and using increasingly heated language. “The stand-off has harmed

the legitimacy of all three powers of government, who now feel justified to consistently contest each other’s authorities.” In June, a Karzai-backed special election tribunal ruled that 62 lawmakers should be expelled, a quarter of the 249-seat lower house of parliament known as the Wolesi Jirga. But Karzai scrapped the tribunal in a presidential decree this month, handing authority for resolving the issue to the IEC. Karzai’s office expected the IEC to base its findings on previous court rulings, including that of the special tribunal, to which the IEC has long been opposed.

The election used a single nontransferable vote system, a format adopted in few other countries, which can lead to winners being elected with less than one percent of the vote if there are large numbers of candidates. Under it, each constituency has multiple representatives but each voter only has one vote. — AFP

Ramlila grounds in central Delhi that “even if the prime minister comes here, I will not move from here until our bill is passed”.

Hazare was arrested on Tuesday to prevent him from starting his public fast, in a move that provided his cause with a welcome publicity boost, while Singh used a parliamentary address to attack him as undemocratic and misguided.

The activist was soon freed but he refused to leave jail until the ban on his public hunger strike was lifted, and on Friday he was mobbed by adoring followers as he travelled in triumph across Delhi to begin his protest at Ramlila. “I appeal to people to stand outside the houses of MPs and sing patriotic songs. We have to get the bill passed. Non-violence is our tool,” Hazare told yesterday’s crowd, which police said peaked at about 25,000 people.

Hazare, 74, often refers to pacifist Indian independence icon

Mahatma Gandhi - who used hunger strikes to protest against British colonial rule - in his speeches, and dresses in the same white cotton clothes and cap. But Hazare has also faced criticism from some high-profile Indians for whipping up populist sentiments through his mediasavvy campaign. Nandan Nilekani, the Infosys software entrepreneur now working with the government on ID cards, said using a hunger strike to try to arm-twist an elected parliament was “extremely dangerous and completely wrong”. “I am not a great believer that if you pass a law, corruption will miraculously vanish,” Nilekani added in an interview with NDTV news.

The Indian media has been broadly supportive of Hazare, with the headline in the Sunday Times of India reading “Angry tide forces Manmohan’s hand”. But an editorial in the Mail Today titled “Team Anna’s rhetoric is stopping

to make sense” suggested the protest’s message was becoming confused between its demands over the anti-graft bill and a wider call for civil reform. Hazare’s fast yesterday attracted bigger crowds than a day earlier, in a worrying sign for the government as it struggles to answer criticism that it is out of touch with the public mood.

Many protesters - ranging from urban professionals to farm workers - said they were fed up about having to bribe officials to secure business permits, driving licences, government work and a myriad of other services. Despite muggy monsoon temperatures touching 35 Celsius, Hazare appeared to be in good health as he lay on cushions on a stage above the crowd, making a lively short speech at noon. His fast routine allows him to drink water, and he leaves the stage each evening and returns mid-morning. — AFP

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international

Ex-Gitmo inmate takes Australia to the UN SYDNEY: An Australian who spent more than five years in Guantanamo Bay and pleaded guilty to supporting terrorism is going to the United Nations to challenge US ally Canberra’s handling of his case. David Hicks, 35, was captured in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and spent five-and-a-half years in the US-run prison at Guantanamo Bay before being convicted by a Military Commission of providing material support for terrorism. He was sentenced to seven years’ jail, all but nine months of which was suspended, and was transferred from Guantanamo to an Australian prison in 2007 to serve out his term, subject to a 12-month gag order.

The former Outback cattleman is now appealing to the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee, seeking compensation and an apology from

Australia for upholding and enforcing what he claims was an unlawful charge and penalty. It is his first major challenge to his detention and conviction under the controversial Military Commission system. Under his plea deal Hicks is forbidden from “appealing or collaterally attacking” his conviction in the United States and he can be forced to serve out the rest of his sentence if he does so, limiting his legal options.

He is also banned from undertaking, participating in or supporting “litigation in any forum against the United States or any of its officials... with regard to (his) capture, treatment, detention, or prosecution”.

Accordingly, his appeal to the UN is framed against Australia rather than against the US. Authored by humanitarian lawyer Ben Saul on Hicks’ behalf,

the submission calls for Australia to “request the US authorities to formally overturn Mr Hicks’ conviction under US law and to nullify the plea agreement”.

It also asks for Canberra to “initiate and conduct an independent investigation into allegations that David Hicks was tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in US custody ”. A spokesman for Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland confirmed that the submission had been made and told AFP that Canberra was “preparing a comprehensive response to the communication”.

Canberra reached a confidential out-of-court settlement with the only other Australian held in Guantanamo, Mamdouh Habib, earlier this year but did not accept any legal liability. Made public for the first time yesterday,

Saul’s submission claims Australia had breached a number of its human rights obligations to Hicks through its complicity with US authorities and support for the Military Commission process. The 107-page document sent to the UN critiques the Military Commission at length, describing it as “in essence an organ of the US military” which did not meet the minimum requirements of a fair trial under human rights law.

It said Hicks suffered “unlawful psychological coercion, pressure and duress”, including beatings, sexual abuse and drugging, and he was convicted on a statement of facts for which he never received any evidence.

Saul said Australian officials “knew or should reasonably have known” of Hicks’ mistreatment while in US custody and had “encouraged and sup-

ported it” by failing to investigate his credible allegations of torture.

There had been “direct political interference” in Hicks’ case, he added, with the Commission’s former chief prosecutor, Colonel Morris Davis, claiming he was pressed to charge the Australian by US Department of Defense officials. “Interference in the conduct of trial and the plea negotiation occurred because of political pressure from the US President and the Australian Prime Minister to expeditiously conclude Mr Hicks’ trial,” wrote Saul. As well as an apology and compensation, the submission also calls on the Canberra to abandon its Australian court case against Hicks over the proceeds from his tell-all memoir “Guantanamo: My Journey”, which it wants to seize as the profits of crime. —AFP

Biden tells China not to count out US strength Visitstresses cooperation, plays downtensions CHENGDU, China: US Vice President Joe Biden yesterday rejected views that American power is waning and said Washington would never default, wrapping up a China visit that has played down tensions between the world’s two biggest economies. “We are still the single best bet in the world, in terms of where to invest,” Biden told a university audience in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, the southwest province that is the second and last stop of his visit to China. “Please understand that no one cares more about this than we do, since Americans own 87 percent of all our financial assets and 69 percent of all our treasury bonds,” Biden said, answering a question about US debt. “So our interest is not just to protect Chinese investment. We have an overarching interest in protecting the investment, while the United States has never defaulted and never will default.”“You’re safe,” he added.

Biden also used his speech to renew US calls for Beijing to do more to rein in North Korea and Iran, whose nuclear ambitions have alarmed the West. “The fact is, China and the United States face many of the same threats and share many of the same

are sceptical about America’s future prospects. With that in view, I would like to suggest that I respectfully disagree with that view and will allay your concerns,” said Biden. He told the audience to remember that the United States was by far the largest econ-

Jinping, who is virtually certain to succeed Hu Jintao as Chinese President in early 2013, has hosted Biden during this visit. Obama administration officials have said they want to build trust with Xi ahead of the transition that begins in late 2012, when Hu gives up his

DUJIANGYAN, China: US Vice President Joe Biden (right) and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (left) accompanied by their translators walk across the Dujiangyan Irrigation system outside Chengdu in China’s southwest province of Sichuan yesterday. —AFP objectives and responsibilities,” he said. But his key theme was, as it has been throughout his five-day visit to China, economic: that the United States can reverse its high debt and low growth, and that China should play a part by buying more American-made goods and services.

“I also know that some of you

omy in the world, about two and a half times as large as China’s.

Biden and President Barack Obama, both Democrats, face reelection next year. Biden said the debate with Republicans over how to tackle US fiscal problems would be at the heart of the 2012 presidential election.

Chinese Vice President Xi

post as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party. Next year would need careful political footwork from both governments, said Biden. “Both our countries are going through a political transition in 2012. It is very important, in my view, that we both are aware of the political sensitivities in each of the countries as they go through that,”

he said. Sichuan province is a fastgrowing example of the inland development that Beijing hopes will power the Chinese economy in coming decades - and also a slice of the rising consumer power that Washington hopes will buy more US goods and reduce a huge trade deficit with China. With 80 million people, Sichuan enjoyed economic growth of 15.1 percent last year, according to government statistics.

Such economic concerns have dominated Biden’s visit to China, which began on Wednesday, and has featured a succession of unusually vocal declarations of Beijing’s confidence in the US economy, despite Standard & Poor’s recent downgrade of the sovereign credit rating of the United States.

China has quarreled with the United States on trade, Internet censorship, human rights and US arms sales to Taiwan. While those thorny disputes have not disappeared, they appear to have been overtaken by a shared desire to show confidence and cooperation to a jittery global economy. In Sichuan, Biden raised human rights in general terms. “Liberty unlocks a people’s full potential, and in its absence, unrest festers,” he told the university audience.

Biden told Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday that China had “nothing to worry about” over the safety of its holdings of Treasury debt, and Wen voiced confidence in the resilience of the US economy, troubled by debt worries and sluggish growth. Analysts estimate two thirds of China’s $3.2 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, the world’s largest, are in dollar holdings, making it the biggest US foreign creditor. Biden will fly to Mongolia on Monday morning for a day before heading onto Japan. —Reuters

Vietnam police break up anti-China protest HANOI: Vietnamese police detained at least 15 people yesterday in a crackdown on an anti-China rally in central Hanoi, after protesters defied orders to stop a rare series of rallies over a territorial spat. Just minutes after the protest began at a Hanoi lake popular with tourists and locals, plainclothes agents moved in to force the demonstrators onto two waiting buses and drove them away, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. Overtly political demonstrations are rare in authoritarian Communist Vietnam, but analysts said authorities had previously allowed the anti-China rallies because they helped express Hanoi’s displeasure with Beijing.

Yesterday’s rally was the 11th since early June to protest Chinese actions in the tense South China Sea, the scene of long-standing tensions between the neighbouring countries over rival territorial claims. Before security forces moved in, about 30 people, some of them middle-aged, had time to unfurl their banners and chant slogans beside Hoan Kiem lake in the city centre.

“Down with China’s invasion. Protect the Vietnamese nation,” the demonstrators shouted. One sign compared China to the Nazis of World War II Germany.

“Danger. Stop China Chinazi,” it said.

One woman wept as her fellow

demonstrators were detained, across from a square where protesters had in the past gathered but which was occupied by a noisy youth rally yesterday.

“No one is allowed to abuse the citizens’ right to freedom and democracy to call for gatherings,” an official called over a megaphone. Two protests in July were

gather illegally could face “necessary measures”. It said the protests were linked to “anti-state forces” who were “instigating national hatred” - allegations which prominent intellectuals involved in the protests deny. Nguyen Quang Thach, 36, who has attended all of the rallies, said he considered stay-

Protesters (top) shout anti-China slogans after they were arrested and pushed into a bus by plainclothed policemen (below) during a brief anti-China rally yesterday. —AFP forcibly dispersed by police after talks between Hanoi and Beijing, but subsequent rallies were allowed to go ahead until authorities in the Vietnamese capital on Thursday issued a stop order.

Published in Hanoi Moi, a mouthpiece for the ruling Communist Party, the order said those who continue to

ing at home this time until the government issued its order to end the gatherings.

“Because they had the notice, I had to come,” he said. Reached later by phone at a police station, he said he was among those detained, but later attempts to contact him by mobile

phone were unsuccessful. Police at the station declined any comment.

Intellectuals linked to the protests on Friday rejected the government’s order, describing it as illegal, and said all rallies had been peaceful. US-based Human Rights Watch said the Vietnamese government is “blatantly turning its back” on international obligations to respect citizens’ rights to peacefully assemble and freely express their views. “It’s the police that have caused public disorder when they used excessive force to drag away and, in some cases, beat peaceful protesters,” the group said in a statement issued just before Sunday’s crackdown.

The protests began after tensions flared in May when Vietnam said Chinese marine surveillance vessels had cut the exploration cables of an oil survey ship inside the country’s exclusive economic zone. Analysts say the government has to balance its relationship with China by not overly offending its giant communist neighbour while avoiding the appearance of weakness before its own people, who bitterly recall 1,000 years of Chinese occupation. Some activists speculated the government may fear political protests inspired by this year’s uprisings against authoritarianism in North Africa and the Middle East. —AFP

NOVOBUREISKY, Russia: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is about to write in a guest of honor book at this station yesterday. —AFP

Kim receives bread and salt welcome in Russia BUREYA STATION, Russia: Nor th Korea’s reclusive leader Kim Jong Il received a red carpet welcome yesterday in Russia’s Amur region where he toured a giant power station ahead of talks with President Dmitry Medvedev.

Kim on Saturday kicked off a week-long visit to the Russian Far East and Siberia, a rare trip out of a country battling isolation and hunger. Earlier yesterday his armoured train arrived at the small Bureya station in the Amur region and smiling Russian women dressed in red national costumes offered the high-profile guest a loaf of bread and salt in accordance with Russian tradition.

The 69-year-old leader looked serious and tired as flag-waving locals greeted him at the station. Sporting sunglasses and his trademark khaki-colored military-style suit, Kim broke off a piece of bread as the Kremlin’s regional envoy Viktor Ishayev and a throng of local officials looked on. After the short welcome ceremony Kim got into an armoured Mercedes, which arrived with him aboard the train, to visit a nearby hydro power station. He took a keen interest in the 2,000 megawatt-strong Bureiskaya power station as Ishayev and the local governor gave him a tour of the plant.

At the power station - the largest in Russia’s Far East - Kim was treated to a spectacular show of the water being discharged into the river, a local law enforcement official said. He watched the water release from the safety of a white tent pitched at the station, next to a t a b l e w i t h s na c ks, p i e s a nd a watermelon, and was also shown a film

about the plant translated into Korean, the official said. A Russian official familiar with the matter told AFP Kim had planned to visit the station earlier i n t he s um m e r w he n he ha d b e e n expected to hold a bilateral summit with Medvedev in or near Vladivostok.

A Kremlin official was quoted as saying at that time that Kim had cancelled due to media leaks about the visit.

Yelena Vishnyakova, a spokeswoman for state-run RusHydro which runs the power plant, said her company was currently not holding any talks with North Korea about any possible construction of power stations. Any surplus electricity produced by the station goes to China, she said. While Kim toured the power station, his entourage cleaned and polished his armoured train parked at Bureya, a tiny economically depressed town on Russia’s eastern fringes. After returning from the station he continued his journey along the famed Trans-Siberian railway.

Later in the week Kim is expected to meet Medvedev in the eastern Siberian city of Ulan Ude near Lake Baikal in the Buddhist region of Buryatia, 5,550 km east of Moscow. Kim’s visit is shrouded in secrecy and unprecedented security measures were being taken to ensure Kim’s safety during his journey. Russian officials told locals from several residential buildings near the Bureya railway station to stay away from the windows and warned them against attempts to take pictures of Kim’s train. Kim, known to dislike air travel for security reasons, crossed the Tumangan river into Russia on Saturday. —AFP

Thaksin gambles on return to world stage BANGKOK: With his sister barely in office, fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra has launched a high-stakes international charm offensive that analysts say threatens his allies’ hold on power. The onetime billionaire tycoon, toppled in a 2006 coup, has overshadowed the first for tnight of Yingluck Shinawatra’s premiership with a planned trip to Japan that has raised questions about his influence over the government.

Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has angered the opposition with his scheduled August 22-28 visit that will include a tour of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Emboldened by his proxies’ election win, Thaksin aims to send the message that he is the “de facto prime minister”, said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a

Thailand expert at the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

But Pavin said the one-time tycoon is “moving too fast” and the “traditional elite and military will definitely strike back”.

Thailand’s generals and judges have a record of intervening in politics, particularly against Thaksin, who is loved by many poor Thais but seen by the Bangkok-based elite as authoritarian and a threat to the monarchy. Two Thaksin parties have been dissolved by the courts in the past and there have been 18 actual or attempted coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Thaksin’s removal by royalist generals heralded five years of political crises both in the Thai parliament and on the streets, where his foes and supporters have held crippling rival protests. —AFP

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NEWS

Assad scoffs at calls for ouster

RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani leaves as others offer evening prayers during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Rawalpindi, Pakistan yesterday. Muslims around the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. — AP

Gaza rockets land in Egypt amid tensions Continued from Pagee1 Tensions in and around the G aza Strip have soared since Thursday when militants staged a series of bloody shooting attacks in the Negev desert, killing eight Israelis and prompting a wave of bloody tit-for-tat exchanges.

It also sparked a diplomatic crisis with post-Mubarak Egypt after Cairo said five policemen were killed by Israeli fire as soldiers pursued gunmen involved in the Negev ambushes. Egyptian state media reported Saturday that the government had decided to recall its envoy to Tel Aviv and later said a senior Israeli envoy was summoned by the foreign minister to receive a protest note.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the Jewish state “regrets” the deaths of the soldiers, without saying who carried out the killings, and would probe the killings and share the results with the Egyptian authorities.

The Egyptian armed forces command yesterday said it “rejects any interference” in the security of the Sinai peninsula, after Israel’s deadly pursuit of Palestinian assailants.

“Egypt rejects any interference by any party, either by words or by acts or by expression of opinion, in the security of Sinai which is a purely Egyptian matter,” it said in a statement read by Information

Minister Osama Heikal. Egypt further said the Israeli apology was insufficient, as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo overnight to vent their anger. They trick led down to 200 by yesterday afternoon.

Ahmed Shehat became a hero to an exultant crowd of Egyptians and many more online when he hauled down the Star of David flag atop Israel’s embassy in Cairo.

More than 1,000 people protested outside the Israeli embassy overnight and let off celebratory fireworks when Shehat clambered to the top floor of a high-rise housing the mission, replacing the flag with an Egyptian one.

Shehat became an instant idol with one Egyptian presidential candidate, Hamdeen Sabahi, hailing him as “the people’s hero” on Twitter, while other fans described him as the “Egyptian Spiderman” on social networks.

Military police in riot gear stood outside the embassy building but did not inter vene to halt the protest. The latest tensions represent the most serious test of Israel ’s landmark 1979 peace treaty with Egypt since an uprising overthrew Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in February.

The government said an Israeli statement expressing regret for the deaths of the policemen was not enough, but stopped short of

saying if it would recall its envoy from Tel Aviv as reported by state media. “Egypt affirms its solicitude for maintaining peace with Israel, but Israel must also assume responsibility for protecting this peace,” a statement said.

The foreign ministry had summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires-in the absence of the ambassadorSaturday afternoon for a reprimand hours after state television said Egypt would recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv.

Israel said it had received no notification of the decision to withdraw the envoy. The Cairo-based Arab League meanwhile stepped up pressure and called on the international community to stop Israel’s “brutal assault” on the Gaza Strip.

But a senior Israeli official criticized the statement, questioning why the Arab League had not issued a similar statement condemning Thursday ’s bloody ambush on Israeli busses.

Israeli officials accused Palestinian militants in Gaza, which also borders Egypt, of planning the attack and carrying it out after slipping into the Negev desert from Egyptian territor y. Egypt has denied the gunmen used its territory and bristled at suggestions that it had lost control of the Sinai peninsula, where its military has been conducting a week-long operation to root out Islamist militants. — AFP

When the night equals thousand Continued from Page 1 This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala).

‘A’ishah reported: “When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer) and wake up his family.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] And she said: “Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights.” [Muslim] Have we estimated Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) correctly?

The opportunity of Laylatul Qadr is coming in the next few days. Life is about people that take advantage of their opportunities to win the love of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), and this is indeed one of those chances.

Abu Dah Daah was one of those who found an opportunity and won that which is greater than the heavens and the earth. An adult companion of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and thus belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim and off to the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) went the orphan boy to complain. With his justness, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered the companion, “would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Jannah?” However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) missed the opportunity and went away angry.

But someone else saw the opportunity, Abu Dah Daah radi Allahu ‘anhu. He went to the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and asked, “Ya Rasul Allah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?” The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “Yes.” Abu Dah Daah chased after the companion and asked, “Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?” The companion answered, “Take it for there is no good in a tree that I was complained to the Prophet about.”

Immediately, Abu Dah Daah went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. “Leave the garden!” shouted Abu Dah Daah, “we’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!” Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. “We’ve sold it to Allah!”

When Abu Dah Daah was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, Rasul Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stood over his slain body and remarked, “How many shady palm trees

does Abu Dah Daah now have in paradise?”

What did Abu Dah Daah lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt?

What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth.

Abu Dah Daah did not miss his opportunity, and I pray to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) that we do not miss our opportunity of standing to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) on Laylatul Qadr.

Dear brothers and sisters, we do not obey, worship and revere Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) in a way befitting of His Majesty.

Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) revealed: “No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him. On the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the partners they attribute to Him.” (Surat al-An’aam, Ayat 91).

Everything that we have belongs to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). When someone dies we say, Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon, Indeed to Allah we belong and indeed to Him we shall return. This is not a supplication just for when a soul is lost. It is a supplication for every calamity that befalls a believer, even if his sandal were to tear. Why? Because everything belongs to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and everything shall come back to him. Sit and try to count the blessings Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) has bestowed upon you. Have you ever tried to count stars?

“And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah, never will ye be able to number them.

Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.”

(Surat Ibrahim, Ayat 34).

We have not understood the weight of this Qur’an that we rest on our high shelves, this Noble book that was sent to give life to the dead. For even if our hearts were as solid as rock they would have crumbled to the ground in fear and hope of Allah’s (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) punishment and Mercy. Could it be that our hearts are harder than that mountain?

“Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and split asunder in fear of Allah.” (Surat al-Hashr, Ayat 21).

Dear brothers and sisters, as you fill the Masajid for Qiyamul Layl in the last ten nights of Ramadan, remember what Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) wants you to know: “Know ye that Allah is strict in punishment and that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

There shall be a night, some night in your life that you shall awaken in Jannah or Hell fire. Anas ibn Malik, on his deathbed, prayed to Allah, (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), “O Allah, protect from a night whose morning brings a journey to hell fire.” Think about that morning.

Peace shall descend on Laylatul Qadr until the dawn. It may be that you shall leave the Masjid after Fajr one day soon forgiven by Allah, Glorious and Most High.

— Ummah.com www.zawaj.com

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad yesterday scoffed at Western calls for his ouster and rejected them as “worthless,” in an interview with state television. “While withholding comment, we tell them that their words are worthless,” Assad said.

“Such remarks should not be made about a president who was chosen by the Syrian people and who was not put in office by the West, a president who was not made in the United States.”

The president warned against military intervention in his country, saying there will be “repercussions” to any country interfering in Syria’s affairs. He said the situation in Syria “may seem dangerous ... but in fact we are able to deal with it.”

Assad said he expected a parliamentary election to be held in February 2012 after a series of reforms that would let political groups other than his Baath party take part.

“The expected time for having the parliamentary election is February 2012”, he said during the interview. Assad’s television appearance was his first since June 20, and only his fourth since the start of prodemocracy demonstrations in mid-March, and came days several world leaders urged him to quit.

The UN mission began its first full day in Damascus yesterday, arriving the previous evening to assess humanitarian needs in the wake of the crackdown which have left more than 2,000 people dead.

The team, led by the head of the Geneva bureau of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Rashid Khalikov, began its mission yesterday and will stay until August 25, said OCHA spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

Speaking on the telephone from Geneva, she said the mission’s objectives were “to see how the UN can support public services and how it can respond to possible humanitarian needs,” such as electricity, drinking water, communications and health.

The visit comes after 34 anti-regime protesters were killed on Friday by security forces as anti-regime rallies gripped the country after weekly Muslim prayers, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It said about half of the deaths were in Homs province, where tanks rumbled into the central city of the same name on Saturday.

US President Barack Obama called on Thursday for Assad to quit, a demand quickly echoed by the leaders of Britain, France and Germany and Spain.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed hopes its delegates would soon visit Syrians jailed since the start of the protests.

“There have been discussions with the authorities and we are confident that we will be able to start the visits ver y soon,” Red Cross spokesman Saleh Dabbakeh told AFP in the Syrian capital without elaborating.

Rights groups say that more than 10,000 people are behind bars in Syria, which has been gripped by almost daily anti-regime protests since mid-March.

Cracks meanwhile appeared among opponents of Assad as dissidents met in Istanbul to launch a “national council” to coordinate the fight against his regime.

“Calls for the formation of transitional councils or governments in exile at forums held inside (Syria) and abroad, have had nefarious and negative repercussions on the Syrian revolution,” said the so-called Syrian Revolution General Commission which announced its creation Friday.

The group has said it is made up of a coalition of 44 “revolutionary blocs” and has vowed to bring down the Assad regime. In Istanbul, dissident Obeida Nahhas, told AFP “the Syrian National Council will have between 115 and 150 members, more than half of whom are in Syria, with the reminder in exile.”

The latest anti-government rallies on Friday and Saturday put to the test assurances given by Assad to UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday that his security forces had ended operations against civilians.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said Friday that there was now “evidence” of “crimes against humanity” committed in Syria, calling on the Security Council to seize the international justice.

In Brussels, diplomats said yesterday that EU governments have “as good as” wrapped up a key deal to ban imports of Syria’s crude oil. New legislation drafted over the weekend includes “restrictive measures in the area of oil, notably an embargo on the import of Syrian crude oil,” according to an agreement reached

by European Union ambassadors. — AFP

Rebels launch final assault on Tripoli Continued from Page 1 He called on his supporters to “march on (the eastern suburb of) Tajura in tens of thousands to purge the officials of the colonizers,” in a reference to the NATO-backed rebels. “Today we must take over Tajura. I fear, if you let them, they will destroy Tripoli,” he warned. Rebel spokesman Abdullah Melitan said the early morning covert operation, more than six months after an uprising turned into civil war, was launched from their western enclave of Misrata, 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Tripoli.

An advance party “from Misrata reached Tripoli this dawn by sea and joined Tripoli rebels. They are now fighting alongside them,” spokesman Abdullah Melitan told AFP in Misrata.

A separate rebel party seized control of an army barracks at a western entrance to Tripoli, raiding missiles and other ammunition, AFP correspondents at the scene said.

They also released dozens of prisoners held in Maya, 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Tripoli, they said. “We will enter Tripoli in a few hours. Between now and tomorrow we expect it to fall in our hands,” said rebel commander Abdelhakim Belhaj. A fierce gunbattle also broke out near the hotel used by the foreign media in the centre of Tripoli, an AFP correspondent said.

Gunmen loyal to Gaddafi armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles opened fire from the Hotel Rixos towards the east, although their target was not visible. The initial assault was launched soon after four strong blasts were heard at around 4:00 am (0200 GMT), and while NATO warplanes flew overhead, an AFP journalist said. Gunfire crackled intermittently while more blasts were heard.

The targets were not immediately identifiable but witnesses reported clashes in several districts between insurgents and Gaddafi supporters, especially the eastern suburbs of Soug Jomaa, Arada and Tajura. The government spokesman said on state television there had been “small clashes” that lasted 30 minutes and the “situation is under control.” Ibrahim later told reporters “thousands” of professional and volunteer soldiers were defending the capital against rebels, whom he

accused of carrying out “34 executions” and raping women in the western coastal town of Sorman.

Gaddafi earlier yesterday aired a message urging supporters to “march by the millions” to liberate cities held by “traitors and rats.”“These scum enter mosques to cry ‘God is great.’They are dirty. They are defiling the mosques,” the embattled strongman said in an audio message carried on state television.

Rebel spokesman Ahmed Jibril said “Operation Mermaid” was a joint effort between the Benghazi-based rebel National Transitional Council (NTC), insurgents fighting in and around Tripoli and NATO forces. In Dubai, rebel envoy Aref Ali Nayad said the NTC had urged NATO to join the final battle with Apache assault helicopters.

In his eastern stronghold of Benghazi, rebel chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil claimed that victory was within reach, six months after the insurgency was launched. “We have contacts with people from the inner circle of Gaddafi,” the chairman of the NTC said. “All evidence (shows) that the end is very near, with God’s grace.”

His words prompted celebrations in rebel-held towns, including Sabratha, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli, and in Benghazi, where people crowded in front of television sets to follow the news, AFP correspondents said. “Goodbye Gaddafi,” they chanted in the rebel-capital, Benghazi. The White House, too, predicted Gaddafi’s time was up. “We believe that Kadhafi’s days are numbered,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday urged Gaddafi to give up “immediately what power he has left” as the outcome of a rebel victory is “no longer in doubt.”

Sarkozy also called on Gaddafi “to immediately order those of his forces that are still loyal to a ceasefire, to put down their arms, to return to their barracks and make themselves available to the legitimate Libyan authorities.”

Striking another blow to Gaddafi’s regime, Tunisia, Libya’s neighbor to the west, yesterday decided to recognize the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, the news agency TAP reported. — AFP

Hayef freed after brief detention...

Continued from Page 1 to MPs, as some lawmakers vowed to request an emergency parliamentary session while Speaker Al-Khorafi strongly criticized the report.

The government broke a two-day silence by issuing a statement saying that the central bank has not been notified by the public prosecution about any strange movement in bank accounts. Following the weekly meeting, the council of ministers called on bodies concerned with the application of the anti-laundering law to apply the 2002 law.

The government also vowed that it will take all necessary measures to safeguard the reputation of the national assembly and the banking system. Several MPs meanwhile called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to clear the names of all MPs who stand accused because the names of the alleged lawmakers who received the bribe have not yet been mentioned.

At least three MPs meanwhile

sent long questions to the finance minister over the issue demanding to know if the ministry had any information and if it had taken any measures. The MPs included veteran opposition figure Ahmad AlSaadoun, Adel Al-Saraawi and Rola Dashti.

The reactions came after AlQabas reported on Saturday that the accounts of two MPs have received major movements through cash and transfers worth KD 25 million and that the movements were apparently linked to political developments, hinting at the grillings of the prime minister.

The daily did not name the two MPs but some bloggers and Twitter accounts mentioned names of some MPs including Mukhled Al-Azemi and Askar Al-Enezi, who later strongly denied the accusations.

Two lawyers, Nahes Al-Enezi and Fahad Al-Ajmi, meanwhile filed a lawsuit to the public prosecution over the issue urging swift legal actions. The strongest reaction came from spokesman of the Reform and

Development Bloc MP Faisal AlMuslim who called on the government to launch an investigation into the matter and reveal those involved.

Muslim warned that the Bloc may call for an emergency parliamentary session on September 11 to discuss measures taken by the government on the scandal.

MP Adel Al-Saraawi, a member of the liberal National Action Bloc, said that the bloc will discuss with other groupings the possibility of requesting an emergency parliamentary meeting to discuss the issue.

Al-Khorafi meanwhile said he was disgusted by the way the press dealt with the story about the alleged bribes, adding the story was ambiguous and that he did not hope that a newspaper like Al-Qabas would have published a story like this without details or names which has placed the whole assembly under suspicion. Al-Khorafi said that the way the various media dealt with the story showed as if Kuwait was a center of corruption.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

OPINION

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

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issues

Feuding over debt looms ahead of French election

By Brian Love

F

or France’s Socialists, President Nicolas Sarkozy’s proposal for economic policy reforms to tackle the euro-zone debt crisis is nothing more than a disingenuous attempt to break their stride towards election victory next year-setting the scene for a potentially damaging feud. With the vote eight months away, the risk for investors is that the conservative president and his left-wing adversaries now engage in a noisy skirmish over debt, reminiscent of feuding in Washington that has troubled the United States’ creditors.

At issue is Sarkozy’s idea that the 17 euro-zone countries commit by constitutional amendment to long-term budget balance, a surprise among a package of proposals he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced in Paris this week.

On the face of it, Sarkozy merely suggested the rest of the bloc does something that Germany, the model of fiscal rectitude, has already done by entering the goal of balanced budgets in the country’s fundamental law. Some call it the “golden rule”.

For many economists, extending golden rules across the euro bloc could reassure markets after 18 months of turmoil that has forced three states into bailouts, exposed others to speculative attack and raised questions about the future of the euro itself. The French left, which like other critics dismiss the idea as an artificial and ultimately toothless construct, has so far adamantly rejected the fiscal rule Sarkozy proposed months ago for his own country. And they gleefully point out that Sarkozy’s own foreign minister, Alain Juppe, has derided the concept.

The left’s opposition leaves Sarkozy unable to muster the parliamentary backing he would need to change the constitution. Should he press the issue, a French replay of the chaotic sparring that preceded this month’s Congressional deal on the US federal debt ceiling could badly damage market confidence and Franco-German efforts to bolster euro-zone integration, said Marco Annunziata, chief economist at General Electric. “Moreover,” he added, “It would undermine France’s credibility as an advocate for fiscal prudence in the euro-zone.”

ELECTION HURDLE For Sarkozy, who is widely expected to run for a second term but trails would-be Socialist challengers in opinion polls, the idea carried a double-dividend in the warm-up for a presidential ballot which takes place in two rounds on April 22 and May 6, and for the parliamentary elections which follow a month later.

It allowed him to show voters he was taking the initiative in crisis management at European level while setting a trap at home for his Socialist opponents, whose refusal to back the adoption of such a measure has left them in a corner, at risk of accusations from the Sarkozy camp of fiscal laxity. In calling for the euro zone golden rule, Sarkozy interrupted his summer holiday for a few hours to execute what Thomas Klau of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank, described as a perfect “PR job”. “This debt brake is something which a significant part of the French left find hard,” says Klau.

For all that, the left has more reason now than ever to show that it has a viable alternative. The Socialists say they can cut France’s deficit by abolishing tax breaks Sarkozy provided for the wealthy and to niche sectors since 2007. They are also counting on an acceleration in growth and job creation. While the three main rating agencies have reconfirmed the AAA status that secures France’s access to market funding at the lowest possible cost, France’s deficit and debt are the highest among AAA-rated euro-zone countries.

And it may no longer be solely a market obsession.

A survey by the Ifop polling agency in early August showed that Sarkozy commands the trust of more voters on debt matters than either of the most likely Socialist candidates, Francois Hollande and Martine Aubry. Another poll showed voters appear to be shedding their traditional indifference to warnings that France’s public debt is unsustainably high. One in two now consider debt a policy priority, when the worriers were only about one voter in three at the start of 2010, the poll showed. —Reuters

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.

Crisis-hit Japan faces leadership change

By Frank Zeller

T

he revolving door to the Japan prime minister’s residence is likely to spin again before the end of this month as Naoto Kan bows out to make way for the country’s sixth new leader in five years. The centreleft premier is widely expected to quit within about a week, almost half a year since the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami sorely tested his leadership and turned him into Japan’s top anti-nuclear crusader.

The frontrunner to take his post is his finance minister, Yoshihiko Noda, a less divisive figure who has even floated the idea of a grand coalition with the conservative opposition to tackle Japan’s problems.

Trade Minister Banri Kaeda and former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi have also thrown their hats into the ring, while others, including former foreign minister Seiji Maehara, are weighing their options.

Whoever takes the job faces urgent challenges, chiefly the need to rebuild from Japan’s worst post-war disaster while keeping in check a public debt mountain that is already twice the size of the economy. “The task of overcoming the ongoing crisis for the nation requires strong leadership from politi-

cians,” the Yomiuri daily said in an editorial.

“After Kan steps down, the ruling and opposition parties must first and foremost join hands to establish a strong framework for promoting reconstruction from the disaster.”

Given the economic woes now hitting the United States and Europe, the new premier will be at pains to keep Japan’s budding post-quake recovery afloat, despite a soaring yen that threatens the nation’s export giants.

Then there is the Fukushima nuclear crisis, which has driven tens of thousands from their homes and battered the farm, fisheries and tourism sectors.

Japan’s triple disaster-which claimed over 20,000 lives, wiped out entire towns and sparked the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl-also had a huge impact on Japan’s political landscape.

The seismic disaster struck on the watch of Kan’s Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which was brought to power two years ago in a landslide election that ended half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule.

In the days before March 11, Kan’s approval ratings, hurt by his talk of tax hikes and by party funding scandals, had slipped below 20 percent, about the lev-

el where his predecessor bowed out less than a year earlier. The quake arguably gave Kan another lease of life by forcing a shortlived political truce which, to the dismay of Japanese voters, gave way to renewed bickering and infighting within about a month.

Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan Charges that Kan had bungled the response to the calamity quickly grew louder, even from within DPJ ranks, forcing a no-confidence vote in June that Kan only survived by promising to step down soon. In the lameduck period that followed, Kan came to strongly embrace an anti-nuclear cause that has defined his premiership and seen him throw out the rule

Fears grow over Nigerian Islamists’ ‘terror links’

By Aminu Abubakar

A

Nigerian Islamist sect blamed for dozens of deadly bomb blasts and shootings has shown increasing signs of links to outside groups such as Al-Qaeda’s north African branch, analysts say. While there has been no clear proof of such ties, Western diplomats and security experts point to the growing sophistication of attacks by the sect known as Boko Haram as well as claims made on websites and elsewhere.

The possibility of such links have led to fears among Western countries, with Nigeria the largest oil producer in Africa, the continent’s most populous nation and a major crude supplier to the United States. “We are very concerned about the linkages between Boko Haram and other extremist organizations in Africa and other places,” US General Carter Ham, commander of US Africa Command, told local journalists during a visit to Nigeria this week.

A Nigerian military spokesman said he believed Boko Haram had links with AlQaeda, pointing to the types of bombs used recently. “With the presence of AlQaeda in nearby African countries like Mali, Niger and Algeria, it’s very easy for Boko Haram to establish links with AlQaeda,” said Lt Col Hassan Mohammed of a task force tracking the sect. Some also name Somalia’s Shebab rebels as having a possible connection based on statements from supposed sect members.

Other indications have come from at least one statement believed to be from

book of Japan’s consensusbased political system.

Kan has advocated a nuclearfree future for Japan and gone to war with the power companies, bureaucrats and politicians who make up what has been called Japan’s “nuclear village”,

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) indicating some level of contact between the two groups. AQIM, Al-Qaeda’s north Africa branch, has carried out kidnappings and attacks in nearby countries. It is a controversial topic in Nigeria, with some pointing out that both Boko Haram and the country’s security agencies may benefit by speaking of such links.

For the sect, it would give them more power, while Nigerian authorities could use such claims as an excuse for why they have been ineffective in stopping the group’s near daily attacks, some analysts say. The military task force tracking the sect has been accused of carrying out major abuses against civilians, including killing residents and burning their homes after alleging that they collaborated with the sect. “For me, it is still a local insurgency,” said Kyari Mohammed, a Nigerian history professor working on a book on Boko Haram.

He said however that the Islamists gained fresh bomb-making skills about a year ago, and even if a link does not exist, Boko Haram members surely draw inspiration from groups like Al-Qaeda. A video obtained by AFP this month of a British man and an Italian kidnapped in northern Nigeria in May has added to the controversy. In the video, the captives say that their abductors are from Al-Qaeda, an assertion impossible to verify. “Some high officials in the Nigerian government strongly believe Al-Qaeda is present,” a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity. “They just don’t have proof of it.” —AFP

making more enemies along the way.

The message tapped into popular sentiment, with some polls saying 70 percent of Japanese want to phase out atomic power, but ran into strong opposition from Japan’s business groups and the country’s powerful bureaucracy.

One key condition Kan set for his departure was the passage

of a bill to promote renewable energies such as solar and wind, and to break the monopoly the big power utilities have to produce electricity for Japan. With that law and a budget financing bill expected to pass this week, the stage is set for the DPJ to hold a party meeting as early as August 28, where Kan would be replaced as DPJ president and therefore premier.

Although the race to replace Kan remains open, the man to beat is the 54-year-old Noda, a fiscal hawk and consensus choice who is the favorite of the opposition and of financial markets. Noda has signaled that he supports tax hikes to rein in Japan’s public debt, now twice the size of the $5 trillion economy, and to keep financing the ballooning welfare burden in the rapidly-ageing society. He has also said that Japan, facing a summertime power crunch, should restart its nuclear reactors once they pass safety tests.

That may be an uphill struggle for now, say some commentators.

“Kan has been very unpopular, but many people have suppor ted his policies,” said Tomoaki Iwai, politics professor at Nihon University. “Promoting nuclear power now would go against the flow of public opinion.” —AFP

US Postal Service hopes Congress delivers package

By Emily Stephenson

I

n just a few weeks, the US Postal Service expects to be insolvent, barring intervention by a divided Congress bogged down by partisan sniping. The quasi-independent agency, which delivers almost half the world’s mail and employs more than half a million Americans, lost $3.1 billion in its most recent quarter and expects to default next month on a massive health benefits payment after reaching its $15 billion borrowing limit.

The Postal Service, which receives no taxpayer funds to pay for operating costs and relies on sales of postage and other products, has struggled with a precipitous decline in mail volumes as consumers increasingly use e-mail and pay bills online. The drop-off was exacerbated by the economic recession.

The mail carrier has asked Congress to approve major structural changes, including the elimination of Saturday mail delivery, as well as relief from its immediate cash crisis. It has proposed cutting 220,000 jobs, or more than a third of its full-time staff, by 2015, and is studying about 3,650 of its 32,000 offices for potential closure.

But Congress is in recess until Sept. 6, and the Democratic-led Senate and Republican-led House of Representatives have fought bitterly on policy issues from health reform to raising the national debt ceiling. At a time when lawmakers face another deficit-reduction fight and the 2012 election campaign is heating up, analysts say a drastic postal overhaul is

unlikely any time soon.

“Something really needs to happen, but I just don’t quite see the dynamics falling in place to make it happen,” said Gene Del Polito, president of the Association for Postal Commerce, which represents businesses and groups that use the mail.

“I do not yet see the temperament that’s needed to be able to say, ‘I may have to hold my nose and come to some compromises in order to keep the system alive.’”

If Congress does not step in, it is unclear what will happen. More billion dollar-plus obligations are nearly due.

Congressional staffers, postal experts and agency officials could not say with certainty when the cash will run dry.

The Postal Service said in its most recent financial report it was unlikely lawmakers would allow it to close.

Louis Giuliano, chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, said at a recent meeting that educating lawmakers on the agency’s financial challenges had become “a full-time job” due to “the environment in Congress.”

The debt ceiling stalemate trumped all other issues for weeks, and consensus on postal reforms seems a long way off.

Analysts say a bill from House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, a Republican, is probably the starting point for postal legislation. It would end Saturday mail delivery and set up groups to guide post office closings and overhaul the agency if it defaults, including renegotiating labor agreements. —Reuters

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

ANALYSIS

tumultuous two decades Ukraine marks 20 years of independence

By Anya Tsukanova

U

k raine on Wednesday marks 20 years since its declaration of independence from the USSR with its sovereignty intact but its people still far from the dream of creating a prosperous society anchored in Europe.

A tumultuous two decades has seen prime ministers jailed, punches slung in parliament and the iconic “Orange” uprising that spectacularly ousted an elite who would later return to power in a modernized guise.

For many Ukrainians, independence has been a crushing disappointment with the country mired in corruption bad even by ex-USSR standards and hit by a bitter west-east divide that even raised fears about the state’s future viability.

Symbolically, Independence Day itself will be no harmonious party, with mass street protests expected against the arrest of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the main foe of President Viktor Yanukovych.

In a sign of the economically tough times, Yanukovych scrapped a military parade on independence day that would have cost 180 million hryvniya ($22 million). “We got infected with some of the viruses of democrac y, although they seem to come here with mutations,” novelist Andrei Kurkov, Ukraine’s best known writer abroad, told AFP. “Freedom of speech became freedom of spam. Freedom of economy became corruption.

And even democrac y itself turned into an independence from the law,” said the author of “Death and the Penguin”.

Leading Ukrainian historian

and philosopher Miroslav Popovich added: “Ukraine languishes on the edge of the third world.” But for all the gloom, the country of 45.7 million can still boast the agricultural wealth that earned it the name of the breadbasket of the

former prime minister Pavlo Lazarenko sitting in a US jail serving a money laundering sentence and ex-president Leonid Kuchma investigated over the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze in 2000.

Western hopes that Ukraine

poured into the streets of Kiev to protest rigged elections awarded to Yanukovych-without even breaking a window as Ukrainians like to boast-and forced the annulment of the polls and a re-run. This brought to power the passionately pro-

President Viktor Yanukovych and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko (left) Soviet Union, one of the freest media and most dynamic society in all the ex-USSR. Uk raine’s parliament the Verkhovna Rada adopted the declaration of independence on August 24, 1991, a decision that was then overwhelmingly approved in a referendum in December.

Independence day sees Tymoshenko under arrest amid a fractious abuse of power trial,

would be a bulwark against Russian influence evaporated amid a confused foreign policy that has swung from neutrality to vehemently pro-EU, to proKremlin and back to neutrality within a decade. The 2004 Orange Revolution was seen at the time as a historic breakthrough that would create a fully democratic state which would one day join the EU. Hundreds of thousands

Western administration of Viktor Yushchenko, who made a point of rarely speaking Russian in public and targeting NATO membership for his nation.

But political infighting that seemed to come from the pages of an East European absurdist play rather than serious politics rapidly cracked those dreams and Yushchenko ended his rule with single digit popularity figures.

None other than Yanukovych defeated Tymoshenko in the bitter 2010 presidential polls, which with breathtaking irony were declared by most Western observers to be the freest presidential elections ever held in the former Soviet Union.

“The Orange Revolution was the greatest achievement and the greatest failure,” said Kurkov.

“Half the population was mobilized to take part in the political fate of the state but this army of the willing was betrayed by its commanders,” he added. No politician has managed to heal Uk raine’s geographic divide which has left the Ukrainian-speaking, nationalist West with quite different ideas about the country’s future than the Russianspeaking East where the Soviet Union is more fondly remembered. Corruption has blighted the country to an extent that 10-15 percent of the budget ends up in the pocket of corrupt officials, according to Yanukovych. Meanwhile, 61 percent of GDP is thought to be controlled by its 100 richest men, oligarchs with considerable political influence.

“Before (independence) this countr y did not exist. And declaring independence cannot in a single moment change the mentalities and realities of our lives. So sometimes it seems that the expectations were not justified,” said Taras Voznyak, editor of the Lvivbased cultural journal “œ”.

“I t would be great if we could have been adults straight away and get a huge Mercedes.

But unfortunately for now we have to make do with a toy car,” he added. —AFP

Panic, policy cuffs could force new recession

By Paul Handley

A

nother punishing week in stock markets has left European and US leaders looking less and less able to staunch fears of recession that analysts say could turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. While economists said the world’s mature industrial countries had not yet completely stalled, increasingly they were using the term “negative feedback loop” to define their worry.

In layman’s terms panic in financial markets is scaring consumers and businesses into locking up spending, forcing a new economic contraction two years after the “Great Recession” ended.

Governments, themselves under the gun from bond markets and political pressure to cut spending, have diminishing kits of tools to counter the pessimism, they said. Last week brought new worries into the picture: new data showing euro-one growth crawling at 0.2 percent in the second quarter, and Germany only at 0.1 percent; warnings, most notably from Morgan Stanley, that the US and Europe were on the precipice of a new recession; the failure of the German and French leaders to offer markets a convincing fix to the euro-zone debt problems at their summit Tuesday.

That combination sent share markets

plummeting, putting the broad-based S&P 500 index of US stocks down 4.7 percent for the week and 15.3 percent lower after a month of economic turmoil.

Britain’s FTSE 100 is now down 12.9 percent over a month; France’s CAC 40 18.4 percent; and Germany’s DAX has been hit even harder, off 9.8 percent for the week and 23.8 percent in a month.

With trillions of dollars lost in paper wealth, sellers have moved their money into the safest havens they can find-US Treasury bonds, Swiss francs, Japanese yen and others-meaning it does not help growth. Economists on both sides of the Atlantic slashed their growth projections.

“Our revised forecasts show the US and the euro area hovering dangerously close to a recession-defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction — over the next 6-12 months,” investment bank Morgan Stanley said.

“A negative feedback loop between weak growth and soggy asset markets now appears to be in the making in Europe and the US. This should be aggravated by the prospect of fiscal tightening in the US and Europe,” it said. “In the absence of appropriate policy intervention from the European Central Bank (ECB), the Federal Reserve and the US government, it is entirely possible the current downward spiral in the economy

and financial markets will become selfreinforcing,” said John Silvia, chief economist for Wells Fargo bank. Governments and central banks are increasingly boxed in on policy, said economists.

In Europe and the United States there is almost no room to lower interest rates to stimulate growth; central banks can fine-tune policy to try to push banks into putting more money into the commercial market, but that it is not clear that it will stimulate economies.

In Europe, where bailouts of Greece, Portugal and Ireland have already strained the richer governments, politicians and the public are reticent to pump more money out that they do not have.

The ECB does not have the power to print money to fuel recovery; and Tuesday ’s meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out allowing it to issue region-backed eurobonds to raise money for growth and bailouts.

That was a big disappointment for markets. “We still need a more meaningful solution in Europe,” said Chris Low of FTN Financial. “The ECB is not equipped to solve the debt crisis on its own.”

Meanwhile there was pressure on Europe’s still-liquid governments to pare deficits by mainly cutting spending, especially France, the euro-zone’s second

largest economy.

The same was true in the United States, where some are calling for an industry-building program on par with the World War II effort that pulled the countr y finally out of the Great Depression.

But given the August 5 credit downgrade of the government by Standard & Poor’s over its growing deficit, and the refusal of conservative Republicans to allow spending, that is a non-starterthough President Barack Obama is expected to reveal some modest growth initiatives in the next few weeks.

The Federal Reserve has hinted it still has tools to boost growth, and all eyes are on a speech next Friday by Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, expected to reveal what it might do.

(And even that could prove difficult: Republican presidential hopeful Texas Governor Rick Perry declared last week that it would be “treasonous” if Bernanke is seen “printing more money.”)

Goldman Sachs warned Friday that already-programmed spending cuts would cut US GDP by more than one percent over the next year. “Just offsetting the expiration of existing (stimulus) measures looks like a challenge, let alone enacting policies that exert a net positive influence on growth in 2012.” —AFP

Myanmar regime offers olive branch to rivals

By Kelly Macnamara

M

yanmar is seeking to shed its pariah image by reaching out to democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and other critics, analysts say, but more concrete reforms from the new regime remain elusive.

The opposition leader was invited to the remote capital for her first talks with President Thein Sein on Friday, in the latest move by the nominally civilian administration to foster warmer ties with its most famous opponent. Few details have emerged of the one-hour meeting between the Nobel laureate and former general, but experts said it represented a major step for the government, which took power after a controversial election last November.

The new rulers-many of whom shed their military uniforms to contest the vote-want to show that “they are in charge, rather than the army”, said Aung Naing Oo, a Thailand-based analyst at the Vahu Development Institute.

“They want to be seen doing something good for the country, and above all, that they are a civilian

government,” he said. Overtures towards Suu Kyi, which apparently even took the dissident by surprise, were “extremely important” for reconciliation, no matter what the underlying motivation, he added.

Suu Kyi was released from seven straight years of house arrest just days after the November elections in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

The polls, marred by cheating and the absence of Suu Kyi’s party, were criticized by Western governments as a sham.

The government told Suu Kyi in June to stay out of politics and warned that her plans for a national political tour could spark chaos and riots, but it has since softened its stance.

Recent weeks have seen her hold two rounds of talks with the labor minister in Yangon, meet the president at his office in the jungle capital and address thousands of supporters on an overtly political day trip outside Yangon. The authorities have also encouraged Suu Kyi to legally register her National League for Democracy, which was officially dissolved last year for boycotting the election and left with no voice in the new

parliament.

The party won a 1990 vote but was never allowed by the junta to take power. The new government has also called for peace talks with ethnic rebels and is allowing UN

improvements in the regime’s dealings with the opposition and other actors, it is too early to say whether it is “a fresh start or empty gestures”, said US-based Myanmar academic Win Min.

Myanmar’s democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi rights envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana to visit this week for the first time in more than a year for talks with senior government officials.

While there have been recent

He said Myanmar’s new leadership is prepared to “tolerate certain activities of the opposition and cooperate with them on development issues to get more regional

and international acceptance”.

Western nations that impose sanctions on Myanmar have called for a number of reforms including the release of around 2,000 political prisoners and an end to rights abuses, particularly against ethnic minorities.

Thein Sein’s government has set its sights on being allowed to hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014 — a year before the country’s next scheduled election.

The military’s political proxieswho claimed an overwhelming victory in last year’s poll-want the prestige of the ASEAN role before holding the next vote, said a Myanmar expert who asked not to be named.

But for a country dominated by authoritarian army rule for nearly half a century, deeper reforms like political freedom and an end to long-running conflicts with ethnic rebel groups could take much longer, he said. “We should be very careful in imagining that the reform of a country like Burma will happen overnight but it is moving in the right direction faster than one could have imagined,” the expert said. —AFP

focus

Robert Mugabe succession race may turn ugly

By Cris Chinaka

T

he death of a top Zimbabwean army general in a bizarre fire has changed the dynamics in internal ZANU-PF battles over President Robert Mugabe’s succession, but analysts say the issue remains unsettled and could lead to some bruising battles ahead. General Solomon Mujuru, a key figure in Mugabe’s party for nearly four decades, was, according to authorities, burnt to ashes when his farmhouse caught fire. This official version, suggesting the authorities do not suspect foul play although police are still probing the death, has sparked rumors that the general was murdered. Mujuru, 67, popularly known by his guerrilla name Rex Nhongo, was married to Vice-President Joice Mujuru, and was deputy head of Mugabe’s liberation army ZANLA in the 1970s and the country’s first black army commander.

Many saw him as a strongman able to stand up to Mugabe, 87, who has led Zimbabwe for more than three decades.

Mujuru headed a ZANU-PF faction which wanted Joice Mujuru to succeed Mugabe as party and state president, jostling against another faction led by Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa. Recently rumors surfaced that the general was pressing Mugabe to step down and that his ZANU-PF faction also courted the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for a possible coalition after general elections likely to be held in the next two years.

Political analysts see the Mujuru faction as the moderate wing of a party whose current political and economic policies are driven by hardliners who helped Mugabe’s fightback to power in a disputed poll in 2008. “There is no doubt that Mujuru’s death is a major blow to his faction, and could be a game changer in the succession saga,” said Eldred Masunungure, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe.

“There is nobody in his faction with his stature, his political pedigree and his courage to rally support for his wife and to cut political deals,” he said. Masunungure said an outbreak of political infighting could now be expected because there were other ZANU-PF figures eyeing Mugabe’s position besides Joice Mujuru and Mnangagwa, for years regarded as Mugabe’s preferred successor.

Over the last few months, a number of local media reports dismissed by government officials have suggested that the current army commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, has presidential ambitions.

MUGABE INFLUENCE Lovemore Madhuku, head of the National Constitutional Assembly pressure group said Mugabe is likely to have a big say on his eventual successor and may use Mujuru’s death to take a hard look at problems in his party. “I think Mugabe is going to have a big say on how this will all end, because although his critics say he is a big liability he is also a big asset in ZANU-PF because he wields authority, and is a renowned strategist,” he said. Mnangagwa, a secretive political figure k nown as “the crocodile,” has worked with Mugabe since the 1960s when he was jailed as a teenager after training as a guerrilla fighter and being captured by Rhodesian forces during a botched operation.

In public, Mnangagwa denies he has any ambition for the presidency, but many say Mugabe has tended to gravitate towards his longtime personal assistant for his toughness, his temperament and his loyalt y.

Analysts say Mugabe has probably maintained the balance of power in ZANU-PF by playing one faction against the other but his advancing age, the threat posed by Tsvangirai and the MDC and Mujuru’s tragic death could push him to resolve the thorny succession issue. Although he remains ZANUPF’s presidential candidate, Mugabe may not cope with the pace of an election campaign, especially if the poll is held in two years’ time, when he is 89 years old.

Mugabe was forced into a coalition government with the MDC two years ago after disputed elections and the two are still haggling over democratic reforms and the timing of fresh polls. Tsvangirai has expressed fears over hardline ZANU-PF elements, but had appeared to warm to Mujuru over the years.

Many say top ZANU-PF officials, including second Vice-president John Nkomo, State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and ZANU-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, also see themselves as possible successors to Mugabe. “The game is definitely not over, and we may see some bloody confrontations before we see the winner,” Masunungure said. —Reuters

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Cardinals sign Fitzgerald

Fuglsang leads Tour of Spain

PHOENIX: The Arizona Cardinals have signed Pro-Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to an eight year contract extension, the team said on Saturday.

This is a day that I think all of us have been looking forward to,” Cardinals president Michael Bidwell said at a press conference on Saturday.

“Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic, football player in Cardinals’ history and one of the most dynamic in the NFL. “It’s been an honour that he’s been playing for us since we drafted him in the first round, and he’s been such a big part of our success.” The NFL Network (www.nfl.com) reported the contract is worth $120-million with nearly $50-million guaranteed.

Fitzgerald, 27, made 90 receptions last season for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. It was the fourth consecutive season the five-time Pro Bowl receiver had 90 or more catches and at least 1,000 yards. Fitzgerald holds the franchise record for the most receptions with 613 since being drafted in 2004.

“I just want to thank the Bidwell family for how they’ve taken me in over the years,” Fitzgerald said on Saturday. “I feel like I’m one of the family.” —Reuters

BENIDORM: A delighted Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark donned the first leader’s jersey of the Tour of Spain on Saturday after his Leopard Trek team pulled off a narrow victory in the opening team time trial. The 26-yearold all-rounder and triple winner of the Tour of Denmark hit the front of his team’s line of riders with 200 metres to go to the finish to take his first lead in a major Tour.

Last year’s winner Vincenzo Nibali of Italy and his Liquigas team ran Leopard Trek the closest to finish four seconds slower on the highly technical, windswept, 13.5-km course.

Americans HTC-Highroad were third.

“I’m surprised to be leading, I hadn’t talked about who would be the first rider across the finish line and I was expecting someone to come past me after I hit the front,” Fuglsang said.

“But my objective is the overall

classification here and this is the perfect start. I don’t think I can get much higher than this.”

Fuglsang’s sports director at Leopard Trek, Lars Michaelsen, had previously been the only Dane to lead the Tour of Spain, holding the top spot for three days in 1997. “We knew if we gave it 100 percent we could win, but it was a very difficult course,” Fuglsang said.

“There was a really hard start with a tough climb and you had to be careful the team didn’t fall apart early on.

We lost one rider (Italian Davide Vigano) at the top of the climb when he crashed.”

Nibali confirmed his status as a top contender with his team’s second place, whilst local favourite Igor Anton of Spain’s Euskaltel-Eudiskadi squad put in a solid ride on unfavourable terrain to finish twelfth. —Reuters

Champion Clay out of worlds DAEGU: Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay has withdrawn from the world athletics championships with a minor knee injury. “I feel that I would be at less than my best,” the American said in a statement released by his manager Paul Doyle on Sunday.

“I want to win medals every time I compete and based on the way my knee has been over the past six weeks, I feel that I would not be at top form,” the 31-year-old said. The championships begin next Saturday in Daegu. Clay fell in the decathlon 110 metres at the US world trials in June and withdrew from the competition. He later developed tendonitis in his right knee.

His goal now is to prepare for London where he hopes to become the first decathlete to win three Olympic medals. Clay took silver in Athens in 2004 and gold in Beijing in 2008. The Americans will still field a powerful decathlon team in Daegu led by world champion Trey Hardee and 2011 world leader Ashton Eaton. Meanwhile, four-time World 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele has been included in the Ethiopian team named yesterday for this month’s world athletics championships in Daegu, South Korea. Bekele, who has not featured in a competitive race since January 2011, has been entered to compete in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, which he successfully won during the last championships in Berlin in 2009. —Agencies

White Sox edge Rangers

ATLANTA: Braves’ Martin Prado scores as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero tries to make a tag during the fifth inning of a baseball game. —AP

Braves down D’Backs ATLANTA: Atlanta’s Dan Uggla homered twice and drove in three runs as the Braves beat Arizona 8-1 on Saturday, further frustrating the Diamondbacks’ efforts to pull clear in the National League West race. Uggla’s two-run homer in the first gave Atlanta the lead. Uggla and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back homers in the seventh. Braves starter Brandon Beachy (6-2) gave up only one run and one walk in six innings while striking out seven; taking his third straight decision.

Arizona has lost four straight, and has been unable to take advantage of San Francisco’s own form slump, remaining a fragile 2-1/2 games ahead of the Giants.

Phillies 5, Nationals 0 In Washington, Roy Oswalt pitched eight scoreless innings to steer Philadelphia to victory over Washington.

Oswalt (6-7) was supposed to start for the Phillies on Friday but a rain delay in that game meant he was moved back to Saturday. He showed no ill effect from the schedule change, striking out nine batters - his most since joining the Phillies a year ago - and walked only one. Wilson Valdez and Jimmy Rollins each drove in two runs and Hunter Pence homered for the Phillies.

Brewers 11, Mets 9 In New York, Prince Fielder hit a long home run early and a tying single in the ninth inning that lifted Milwaukee to a win over New York.

Casey McGehee followed Fielder’s tying hit with a two-run single, capping a four-run rally.

Fielder, Ryan Braun and Yuniesky Betancourt all homered for the Brewers, who have won eight of their past nine games. The Brewers led 7-1 but the Mets came back, with Angel Pagan hitting a two-run homer off former teammate Francisco Rodriguez (5-2) in the eighth. However Mets reliever Jason Isringhausen (3-3) couldn’t get an out in the ninth and left after a bases-loaded walk.

Cubs 3, Cardinals 0 In Chicago, Matt Garza pitched seven scoreless innings as Chicago put a further dent in St. Louis’ fading playoff hopes. Garza (6-9) struck out eight and won at Wrigley Field for the first time in almost two months.

A r a m i s R a m i r e z ’s t w o - r u n h o m e r highlighted a three -run burst in the fourth off Edwin Jackson (2-2). Jackson went seven innings after leaving his last

start with hamstring cramp.

Pirates 5, Reds 3 In Pittsburgh, Neil Walker had two RBI singles, the second driving in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, to help Pittsburgh defeat Cincinnati. Walker’s hit off of Aroldis Chapman (2-1) was his third hit of the game, and Brandon Wood followed with an RBI double. Andrew McCutchen and Ryan Ludwick each had two hits for the Pirates.

Rockies 7, Dodgers 6 In Denver, Dexter Fowler atoned for a crucial mistake by hitting an RBI single with two outs that gave Colorado a win over Los Angeles.

Fowler misplayed a line drive by Trent Oletjen into an inside-the-park homer in the 12th that gave Los Angeles a 6-4 lead.

But Fowler led off the bottom half with a walk and scored when Todd Helton doubled.

Helton, who earlier homered on his 38th birthday, helped set up a tying grounder by Eliezer Alfonzo. Mark Ellis hit a two-out double in the Colorado 13th and Fowler lined a single off Blake Hawksworth (2-4).

Padres 14, Marlins 1 In San Diego, Orlando Hudson homered and drove in four runs and Nick Hundley also homered in going 4 for 4 as San Diego romped over Florida.

Hudson connected for a three-run shot in the first. One pitch later, Kyle Blanks homered into the second deck beyond left field.

Hundley’s two-run drive came in the sixth. San Diego finished with 16 hits and beat the Marlins for the sixth straight time this season, outscoring them 44-11 in that span. Florida has lost 14 of 16 overall.

Astros 7, Giants 5 In Houston, Jose Altuve hit an inside-thepark drive for his first major league home run, a leadoff shot that sent Houston over San Francisco. Altuve had three hits and fellow rookie J.D. Martinez homered and drove in four runs as the lowly Astros matched a season high with their fourth straight win.

Houston starter Jordan Lyles (2-7) gave up two unearned runs in five innings.

San Francisco star ter Madison Bumgarner (7-12) was tagged for seven runs in 6 2-3 innings. The Giants have lost three in a row. —AP

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Saturday.

Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 0; Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 3; Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 0; Milwaukee 11, NY Mets 9; Detroit 10, Cleveland 1; Philadelphia 5, Washington 0; Houston 7, San Francisco 5; Chicago White Sox 3, Texas 2; Kansas City 9, Boston 4; Atlanta 8, Arizona 1; Minnesota 9, NY Yankees 4; Tampa Bay 8, Seattle 0; San Diego 14, Florida 1.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Yankees 76 48 .613 Boston 76 49 .608 .5 Tampa Bay 68 56 .548 8 Toronto 64 62 .508 13 Baltimore 47 76 .382 28.5 Central Division Detroit 67 58 Cleveland 62 60 Chicago White Sox 62 63 Minnesota 55 70 Kansas City 52 75 Texas LA Angels Oakland Seattle

.536 .508 .496 .440 .409

3.5 5 12 16

Western Division 73 54 .575 68 59 .535 5 57 69 .452 15.5 53 71 .427 18.5

National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 81 43 Atlanta 75 52 Washington 60 64 NY Mets 60 65 Florida 57 69

.653 .591 7.5 .484 21 .480 21.5 .452 25

Central Division Milwaukee 75 52 St. Louis 66 60 Cincinnati 61 65 Pittsburgh 59 65 Chicago Cubs 56 70 Houston 42 84

.591 .524 .484 .476 .444 .333

8.5 13.5 14.5 18.5 32.5

Western Division Arizona 69 57 .548 San Francisco 67 60 .528 2.5 Colorado 59 68 .465 10.5 LA Dodgers 57 68 .456 11.5 San Diego 58 70 .453 12

CHICAGO: Chicago’s Alex Rios, who entered the game as firstinning replacement, hit the goahead run in the eighth inning as the White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Saturday in a clash of National League playoff contenders.

Rios replaced the injured Carlos Quentin, and in the eighth he ripped a full-count pitch from Koji Uehara (1-3) down the left field line to score pinch-runner Brent Lillibridge, who had come in after Paul Konerko’s single.

Chicago reliever Jesse Crain (83) allowed two runners on in the eighth but got a fly out to end the threat. Sergio Santos worked the ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances.

The White Sox stayed five games off the AL Central lead, while Texas’ lead over Los Angeles in the West was cut to five games.

Twins 9, Yankees 4 In Minneapolis, New York pitcher AJ Burnett lost his composure and failed to finish the second inning as the Yankees were beaten by Minnesota and missed a chance to build their AL East lead.

Burnett (9-10) angrily shouted what appeared to be a few curse words toward manager Joe Girardi after he was taken off the mound in the second. Girardi was later seen tracking Burnett down in the tunnel to the clubhouse and ushering him back to the bench.

The Twins scored five times, with Jason Kubel having three hits and two RBIs and Danny Valencia hitting a homer.

Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano (9-9) threw seven stellar innings.

Tigers 10, Indians 1 In Detroit, the hosts routed Cleveland to extend their AL Central lead over the Indians to 31/2 games. Brandon Inge, whose 11-year career looked over when he was sent to the minors in July, homered in his return to the Tigers lineup and hit a 400-foot RBI double for his first game with two extra-base hits since this time last year.

Detroit’s Alex Avila, catching his 14th straight game, went 2-2 with

three walks. He’s hitting .442 with a .567 on-base percentage in August.

Royals 9, Red Sox 4 In Kansas City, Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer each drove in two runs in an eight-run sixth inning to help Kansas City rally past Boston.

Gordon’s two-run double off Matt Albers (4-4) put the Royals up 6-4. Hosmer’s two-run triple completed the scoring. The result deprived veteran Boston knuckle-

innings to direct Tampa Bay’s win over Seattle. Hellickson (11-8) was coming off the shortest start of his 32-game career, a 4 1-3 inning outing against the Yankees.

Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer in the first and finished with four RBIs. He joined Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews as the only major league third basemen to have 20 or more homers in each of their first four seasons. The Rays improved to a season-high 12games over .500.

hitter Jose Bautista, who had a s t i f f nec k . Toronto s t a r te r Henderson Alvarez (0-1) took the loss despite a solid effort.

Angels 9, Orioles 8 In Anaheim, Bobby Abreu hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to cap a three-run 12th inning and give Los Angeles victory over Baltimore.

The Orioles took an 8-6 lead in the top of the 12th before Kevin Gregg (0-2) gave up a

CHICAGO: Texas Rangers shortstop Omar Quintanilla (left) and center fielder Josh Hamilton (right) point to third base as David Murphy looks on after Chicago White Sox’s Alexei Ramirez popped out during the eighth inning. —AP baller Tim Wakefield of his 200th victory. He took a 4-1 lead into the sixth, but failed to get out of the inning. He was pulled after giving up three consecutive hits with one out and the Red Sox holding onto a 4-3 advantage.

Kansas City reliever Felipe Paulino (2-5) picked up the victory.

The only silver lining for the Red Sox was that the Yankees also lost, meaning Boston still trails by only half a game.

Rays 8, Mariners 0 In St. Petersburg, Jeremy Hellickson pitched eight scoreless

Athletics 5, Blue Jays 1 I n O a k l a nd, G i o G onza l e z pitched eight stellar innings for hi s f i r s t w i n i n m ore t ha n a month, leading Oakland over Toronto. Gonzalez (10-11) combined with closer Andrew Bailey to re t i re 25 of t he f i na l 27 Toronto batters.

Brandon Allen had two hits and scored the go-ahead run on a double play in the fourth inning while Josh Willingham homered as part of a three-run eighth for Oakland.

Toronto, which played without majors-leading home run

leadoff single to Erick Aybar in the bottom half and hit rookie Mike Trout.

H a nk Conge r l a i d d ow n a sacrifice bunt, and third basem a n J os h B e l l ’s w i l d t hrow allowed Aybar to score and cut the deficit to one run.

Bell then made a diving stop on Pe te r B our j os’ ground e r, checked the runner at third but t hre w too l a te to ge t t he speedy Bourjos at first. Gregg w a l ke d A l b e r to Ca l l a s p o to force i n t he t yi ng r un a nd Abreu’s scoring fly to deep center ended it. —AP

Georgia, Taiwan avoid elimination Little League World Series SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT: Every step around the bases and every swing at the plate made Jake Fromm’s back ache. The 13-year-old slugger from Warner Robins, Georgia, had the perfect remedy take a hack at the first pitch in each of his first two at-bats.

Fromm’s homer and four RBIs Saturday in a 6-3 win over Rapid City, South Dakota, at the Little League World Series helped him briefly forget about the pain in the back he hurt in practice earlier in the week.

“It hurt. I’m going to be honest, it hurt,” Fromm said with a wide grin, showing off braces. The firstinning homer to deep center and the third-inning sacrifice fly to the base of the center-field wall both came on first-pitch swings.

“Swing early, you don’t have to worry about it,” Fromm said. “You put the ball in play, only one swing hurts you.” Those swings hurt South Dakota, too, which was eliminated from contention.

Also Saturday, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, eliminated Oranjestad, Aruba, with a 20-3 victory. Chin-Hao Yang led a 19-hit attack, going for 4 for 4 with three runs.

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, eliminated Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a 4-2 win Saturday night; and the central Pennsylvania favorites from Clinton County defeated Cumberland, Rhode Island, 2-0 in the nightcap.

A night after losing 1-0 to Kentucky, Pennsylvania ace Alex Garbrick allowed just three hits and struck out six before another large crowd at Lamade Stadium. Wyatt Koch’s two-out single in the fifth drove home an insurance run that had fans roaring for the blue-clad Keystone league from Clinton

County.

“Big Blue Machine” read signs held up in the crowd. Rhode Island was eliminated, though that didn’t stop Pennsylvania from inviting the New England champions to accompany them on a victory lap around the stadium track to cheers from fans for both squads. “That’s a classy team,” Rhode Island

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT: Clinton County Matthew Murphy (left) scores on a double by Wyatt Koch during the fifth inning of a baseball game as Cumberland, catcher Ryan McCormick looks for the late throw during pool play at the Little League World Series. —AP

manager Dave Belisle said.

“I did say to the boys after that lap, ‘I just really want (Pennsylvania) to win, I really do.’ ... If they stay focused and they take the energy from the crowd, I don’t know how we would have played them. Not again anyways,” Belisle added.

Georgia faced the same predicament, too, Saturday, an unusual prospect for the Warner Robins team so early in the World Series.

“Warner Robins! Warner Robins,” yelled the Georgia fans, a familiar refrain in Lamade Stadium during the league’s 2007 run to the World Series crown.

Fromm’s bat provided ample support for starter Logan Arnett, who struck out five in five innings before tiring late.

After Hayden McGriff’s RBI double, Brett Beyer smacked a two-run homer off Arnett on to the hill beyond left field that got South Dakota within three.

“They were nervous. ... They know we are capable of coming back. Maybe we should start looking at Little League going eight innings instead of six,” joked Hayden’s father, manage Kasey McGriff.

Too late. After Beyer’s homer, Georgia manager Phillip Johnson brought in his ace, Fromm, who couldn’t pitch Georgia’s World Series opener because of a sore back.

Fromm sandwiched two groundouts around a strikeout to end the game and get the save before coolly exchanging a celebratory fist-bump with his manager.

Arnett “did a masterful job ... because that was a very good hitting team,” Johnson said. “They just saw (Arnett) one too many times at the end to make it interesting. —AP

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Defections prompt calls for change in Cuban sports HAVANA: Cuba has become accustomed to the cream of its sporting talent defecting to the United States, and now it is considering the once unthinkable: the free market.

Communist Cuba has always had a problem keeping its prodigious sports and cultural talent on the island, not to mention its doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

Appeals to patriotism have proved only partially effecitive, so a new solution is being considered to combat the problem. As President Raul Castro’s government embarks on a wide-ranging initiative to let more people work for themselves instead of the state, there are increasing calls for the same to apply in sports. Cuba must find a way to “stop the robbery of players,” said baseball great Victor Mesa, in comments reported in state media. While hundreds of thousands of Cubans suddenly are going into business for themselves, he said, it is unfortunate that “there is no proposal to contract athletes to play abroad.”

Mesa, who manages Matanzas in the Cuban league, said he favors letting Cubans play for pay in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Japan, South Korea or Mexico after eight seasons at home. He did not mention Major League Baseball.

His comments reflected the chatter among Cuban athletes, coaches and fans, but it was significant that they were even published. In the past, sports people have gotten into trouble for disputing the official line, and talk of defectors was discouraged.

Now, Mesa is not alone in airing his views. “Times change ... There are Cuban players who have wanted to test their luck,” Rey Vicente Anglada, former manager of Industriales and Cuba, told Prensa Latina. “They see themselves as having possibilities and see others who have done well.”

“I don’t see how that can stop.”

Delegates at April’s Communist Party summit on economic reforms approved the general idea of “a reference to athletes being hired abroad,” according to an official report on the debate, although the idea remains under discussion. There is precedent: In 1999, the Cuban Sports Institute allowed a few volleyball and baseball players to work abroad, especially at the end of their careers, at salaries negotiated by officials.

But that opening was shut in 2005.

Most Cuban sports players get monthly government salaries of $16.

Olympic medalists receive an additional lifetime monthly stipend: $300 for gold

medal winners and less for other medalists. The government pays for entertainment, education, health, travel, housing and cars. It’s another world from that of hard-throwing pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who left the island and signed a five-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds for $30 million.

Defections drew rare mention recently in state newspapers Granma and Juventud Rebelde, which detailed the “abandonment” by the pitcher and reigning league rookie of the year Gerardo Concepcion during a tournament in the Netherlands. After his departure, the national team lost the final to Taiwan.

The papers also reported that captain Roberlandy Simon and players Joandry Leal and Raydel Hierrezuelo had quit the national volleyball team that was the runner-up at the 2010 world championship in Italy. The reports said they left the team for personal reasons, but their absence sparked rumors they wanted to defect. Hierrezuelo has since returned to the squad. The Associated Press was unable to speak with the three.

Six volleyball players defected from the national team in 2001 during a tournament in Belgium, the beginning of an exodus of many others.

All volleyball stars dream of the

biggest leagues, said France coach Philippe Blain, whose team has played Cuba four times this season. “For this, the Cubans leave, and for them, there’s the athletic aspect and financial incentives.”

From the beginning of the revolution he fomented more than 50 years ago, baseball-loving Fidel Castro placed high value on sporting and cultural talent to burnish his cause abroad.

Cuba eliminated for-profit sports in 1961, but Castro put significant resources into a highly organized system of free education and training. Successful athletes are considered heroes and national treasures.

When offered millions of dollars to fight Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title in 1972, Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson famously responded, “What is $1 million compared to the love of 8 million Cubans?”

Cuba has often punched above its weight in amateur competitions. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, this island of 11 million people was fifth in gold medals. But three years ago in Beijing, it came in 28th as a wave of defections was felt. There is no official tally of how many have left, but avid fans notice when stars’ names suddenly disappear from the roster for international tournaments.

Hundreds of athletes are believed to have abandoned the country in the last decade, “a throat-slitting against Cuba robbing us of minds, muscles and bones,” Fidel Castro raged in a 2008 opinion column.

Speaking after his defection, Yosniel Mesa, the football player, said staying in Cuba would have meant setting aside his dreams of going professional and possibly earning millions of dollars.

He recounted how his Cuban coaches were in his hotel lobby late at night when he sneaked out of his room to a fire escape. “I brought a glass in my hand because if they saw me, I could say I was going for ice,” Mesa said.

Cuban painter and sculptor Jose Fuster, who lives in Cuba but has shown his work in Europe, Latin America and the US, said the government should consider treating athletes like artists, many of whom are allowed to contract independently, with a part of their earnings going to the state.

“I pay taxes that are pretty high, but it’s normal,” Fuster said. “... In Cuba, we have grown used to seeing the athletes as ours and think that with professionalism, we will lose these athletes. ... We have to urgently look for ways to change this mentality.”—AP

Simpson snatches lead at Wyndham Championship

PORT ELIZABETH: Heinrich Brussow of the Springboks (left) with Tony Woodcock of the All Blacks tackling Bryan Habana of the Springboks, with Keven Mealamu (center) of the All Blacks and John Smit of the Springboks (right) during their Tri Nations Rugby match.—AP

Steyn kicks S Africa to victory PORT ELIZABETH: South Africa used the boot of flyhalf Morne Steyn and tremendous resolve in defence to beat New Zealand 18-5 in their Tri-Nations test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Although the All Blacks scored the only try of the match- through centre Richard Kahuiand threatened the Springboks line several times, they could not overcome the tenacious scrambling defence of the world champions nor the boot of Steyn, who kicked five penalties and a drop goal.

The All Blacks spread the ball much more than the Springboks, but a committed defensive effort and intensity at the breakdowns meant South Africa eventually suffocated the visitors. South Africa’s defiant last stand, having lost their three previous Tri-Nations matches to ensure they finish bottom of the table, means they will travel to the World Cup with some confidence restored.

Seasoned players such as Steyn, whose only fault with the boot was a missed drop goal, wing Bryan Habana, and centre Jaque Fourie performed superbly to suggest they will still be a force at the World Cup. “That victory was just reward for what we’ve been trying to do-a result like that means the players start believing in what we are doing,” coach Peter de Villiers told a news conference.”

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said the result would have been different had his team taken several try-scoring opportunities.

“We had six opportunities to score and we converted one of them, which was disappointing,” Henry said. “We needed to be more patient and build our game, but we were second by a distance. “We created a lot of oppor-

tunities to do the business and the game we’re playing has distinct possibilities. We just need to take those opportunities. A couple of experienced players will be coming back and maybe they’ll turn those into points.”

New Zealand, missing a host of senior players who had been rested for the match, including captain Richie McCaw and influential flyhalf Dan Carter, had the Springboks scrambling from the start, with Habana, whose workrate was impressive, saving a certain try with a brilliant cover tackle on scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, and Fourie twice getting in among the NZ backs to intercept the ball. In the seventh minute, the Springboks eventually had some respite as the All Blacks went off their feet at a ruck and Steyn sent a long-range penalty soaring between the posts (3-0).

South Africa were also toying with New Zealand in the scrums, and earned a penalty from that set-piece in the 11th minute, which Steyn kicked from long range (6-0).

Six minutes later, All Blacks flank Adam Thomson helped himself to ruck ball from an offside position, allowing Steyn to kick a third lengthy penalty (9-0). Two minutes later, Springboks tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis tried to run the ball and was caught in possession by a swarm of All Blacks, conceding a penalty that flyhalf Colin Slade missed. New Zealand were caught on the defensive by a series of Springboks drives as the half-hour neared, eventually infringing at a ruck for Steyn to kick his fourth penalty (12-0). The All Blacks remained trapped in their territory, allowing Steyn to make the lead 15-0 with a 32nd-minute drop goal. —Reuters

GREENSBORO: Webb Simpson produced an incredible late finish to his third round to snatch a two-shot lead at the Wyndham Championship on Saturday. The American collected four birdies and an eagle in his last six holes to shoot a 64 for a three round total of 15-under-par 195.

That left him with a two-stroke lead on overnight leader Tommy Gainey, who fired a 69 at the Sedgefield Country Club, on a day when play was halted for more than an hour because of severe weather conditions.

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, the only non-American in the top five, was tied for third with John Mallinger, one ahead of Daniel Summerhays.

A group of five players, including South Africa’s multiple major winners Retief Goosen and Ernie Els, were a shot back at 10-under.

Simpson made a slow start to his round, dropping two early shots, but the 26-year-old made his move late in the afternoon, following the delay caused by rain and the threat of lightning.

“You’ve got to really stay patient around this golf course, because bogeys are pretty quick to happen out here with the rough and the undulating greens,” Simpson said. “I told myself to be patient and let the birdies come.

It took them a while to get there, but (I) finally made a few coming in.” Simpson birdied the 13th then sank a 32foot birdie putt on the 14th. He made an eagle at the par-15th when he put his second shot to within five feet of the flag.

He birdied the 16th and 17th to pick up six shots in five holes then missed another birdie by two inches on the 18th. “Probably one of my top birdie-eagle streaks that I’ve had, and it came at a better time than any other streak I’ve had, just because we’re not getting anything going all day and ever ybody else is taking it low,” Simpson said. “To finish the round that way was great. I’d much rather finish the round that way than start that way. If at all possible, we’ll start that way (Sunday).”

Gainey also made a slow start, with two early bogeys to lose his overnight lead, but fought back to end the day still in contention.

“I guess one word sums it up-frustrating,” Gainey said.

“That’s the only positive thing that I can take from it right now, is I still have a chance to win the golf tournament.”

Pettersson began the day seven strokes back but climbed the leaderboard with a 63, the best score of the round. “It’s nice to put myself back in the tournament, and I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.

“Today I’ve done my bit and I probably (have) got to go a low (score) tomorrow again.” —Reuters

GREENSBORO: Webb Simpson tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament.—AP

Choi leads Safeway Classic NORTH PLAINS: Na Yeon Choi overcame her pre-round nervousness to shoot a 2-under 69 on Saturday and take a three-shot lead in the LPGA Safeway Classic.

The South Korean star reached 8 under on Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek course, sinking three birdies and a bogey in the second round after reeling off seven con-

secutive birdies in her opening 65.

However, she needed a brief pep talk from swing coach Robin Symes to put her in the proper frame of mind.

“I told my coach that I feel very scared to lose this chance. This is my first time to win this year,” Choi said. “He said, “This is not the first time. You had four times before. This is

France outclass Ireland in World Cup warm-up DUBLIN: France outclassed Ireland for the second time in seven days with a convincing 26-22 win in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday, ending their preparations on a high and leaving Ireland needing to regroup after a third successive defeat.

After a weak opening, France scored 26 unanswered points, including tries from fullback Cedric Heymans and flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc on either side of the interval.

Scrum half Morgan Parra kicked 13 points and was named man of the match.

Ireland dominated the first 20 minutes with a debut try from prop Cian Healy and a penalty from flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, but lost their momentum and were punished for sloppy play.

A late surge produced two consolation tries in the last five minutes from Sexton and flanker Sean O’Brien, but the Irish never looked like they could overturn the French lead. France will go into the World Cup next month, where they face hosts New Zealand in the group stage, with a morale-boosting two wins from two warm-up games despite resting several senior players.

Ireland, already near full strength, will have to try to bounce back against England in the last of their four warm-up games next

Saturday. They will need a confidence boost if they want to get past Australia and a resurgent Italy in the group stage to reach their first quarter-final for eight years.

Ireland’s World Cup preparations were further dented when promising fullback Felix Jones, making his first start for the team, was carried off the pitch after injuring his leg.

Ireland looked good early on when Sexton opened the scoring with a penalty in the second minute. A sustained bout of pressure allowed Healy to surge past Parra across the line for his first score for Ireland.

Things began to unravel after Sexton missed his conversion and sloppy play by Ireland allowed Parra to pull France back into the game with a penalty that was followed by a 48-metre drop goal from fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc. France stepped up a gear and went into the lead when centre Aurelia Rougerie sliced through a confused Irish defence and fed fullback Haymans who touched down near the posts, giving Parra an easy conversion. A mistimed tackle by Keith Earls gave Parra another chance to slot over, leaving the score 16-8 at half time. France extended their lead in the 45th minute with a penalty after right wing Andrew Trimble played the ball offside. —Reuters

NORTH PLAINS: NaYeonChoi, of South Korea, watches her shot out of a bunker on the eighth fairway during the second round of the LPGA Safeway Classic.—AP

really like the fifth time. Don’t be scared.’ “My answer was, “OK, I’ll do my best.’”

Her best proved enough, building a comfortable lead ahead of Stacy Lewis, who had a 68. She started the round with four consecutive birdies, but dropped three strokes with bogeys at Nos. 5, 9 and 10.

Mika Miyazato (67) was third at 3 under.

Choi took advantage of cool weather and softer greens during the morning en route to her opening round 65.

“My putter wasn’t great like yesterday, but I only missed one short putt,” Choi said. “I like these greens. I can see the line.” Choi said the last time she led a tournament wire-to-wire was the Jamie Farr Classic last year in July.

“I’ll start out playing aggressively and then I’ll decide how to play. I want to play my game, not their game or her game,” Choi said.

Lewis, in her third year on tour, is aiming to win her second official LPGA Tour title of the year and her career. In April, Lewis captured the Kraft Nabisco the first major of the year.

Lewis’ putter was working early during the second round. She rolled in birdie putts of 18, 25, 25 and 30 feet during the first four holes to briefly move into a tie for the lead with Choi.

“I didn’t hit great shots or anything. The putts were just going in,” Lewis said. Lewis said she feels more comfortable in a contending position since her big victory in April.

“I’ve just been riding that high. I know I’m playing well. It’s just the confidence level is a lot higher,” Lewis said. Brittany Lincicome (68), Ryann O’Toole (69) and Grace Park (73) were 2 under.

Among those at 1 under was Louise Stahle, who shot Saturday’s low round with a 66.

Defending champion Ai Miyazato (74) was 10 strokes back at 2 over, and Michelle Wie (73) was 5 over.—AP

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

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Brazil wins U-20 title

Sir Alex Ferguson

Preview

Ferguson has faith in Red Devils’ new blood MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that Manchester United can stay the dominant force in English football despite seeing several seasoned campaigners retire recently.

Tottenham Hotspur visit Old Trafford today and the north Londoners will be buoyed by the inexperience in Ferguson’s United line-up.

The retirements of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes last season, plus the increasingly peripheral role of Ryan Giggs, mean the famous United side from the “Class of 1992” is making the transition into history.

Those players, plus the likes of David Beckham, have been the bedrock of United’s astonishing success in the Premier League era.

However, Ferguson is philosophical about the change of personnel at Old Trafford and remains convinced that the Red Devils still have the strength in depth to compete.

“We are always aware players were coming to an end anyway, that’s been on the horizon for quite a few years,” Ferguson told reporters. “You don’t want it to happen but it happens and there’s nothing you can do about it. Age catches up with us all.

“We are confident in Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley coming back (from loan deals at Sunderland and Wigan respectively) and we were determined to get Phil Jones, from a way back, since last November.

“We have replaced the players who have left us. “At some point when the young players may hit a bit of a pocket, they will have enough experience in Park Ji-Sung, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher to augment the challenge we are after this year.”

One new player who has particularly taken to his new surroundings at United and the pressure on him to succeed-is Ashley Young.

The England midfielder arrived from Aston Villa in the pre-season but already looks at home in the United line-up-even if his current role on the wing is at odds with his more usual central position.

“Ashley can play in different positions but I’m not saying it’s going to happen at the moment,” Ferguson added.

“He’s filling the left-hand side very well but there’s options to play him right or off the front.

“The option to play him centrally is not looking great for him, though, with Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Dimitar Berbatov plus even Ryan Giggs can play there. So we’re looking more at the wide positions for him.”

Ferguson’s opposite number Harry Redknapp knows all about changing faces in a dressing room as he continues to battle to keep Luka Modric at the club following Chelsea’s sustained interest in the Croatia midfielder.

Yet Redknapp is also keen to bring new talent into White Hart Lane with striker Emmanuel Adebayor a likely arrival from Manchester City, while Lassana Diarra is also on his way to Spurs from Real Madrid.

“The chairman deals with that sort of thing at boardroom level,” Redknapp said in relation to a move for Adebayor.

“If anything’s going to happen, he’ll ring and tell me. I think it has been progressing along. It seems like it probably will happen but I am not 100 percent sure.”

United will be without Rio Ferdinand (hamstring), Nemanja Vidic (calf ), Patrice Evra (knee), Javier Hernandez (concussion) and Darren Fletcher (virus), while Spurs are also struggling to put their best 11 out.

Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone both have ankle problems, Steven Pienaar and Modric are struggling with groin complaints and William Gallas has a calf strain. —AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

EnglishPremierLeague Man United v Tottenham Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

22:00

BOGOTA: Oscar scored a hat trick to lead Brazil to a 3-2 win over Portugal in extra time on Saturday to win the Under-20 World Cup. Oscar got the winner in the 111th minute, lobbing a shot from the right that was tipped by Portugal keeper Mika onto the underside of the crossbar before going in. He also scored in the 5th minute, and again in the 78th. Alex had leveled in the 9th minute for Portugal and Nelson Oliveira’s 59th minute goal temporarily put the Europeans ahead. Brazil fought back to take its fifth U-20 title, having been the runner-up two years ago.

Portugal was seeking its third title.

“This really makes us happy, because now we have matched the record of the senior team,” Brazil coach Ney Franco said, referring to the five World Cups Brazil’s top side has won.

Portugal coach Ilidio Vale said the result was “not completely just” but acknowledged Brazil’s “high quality team.” “We were close to the dream, but we could not quite win it,” Ilidio said. “Congratulations to Brazil as the champions. Brazil is a happy winner and Portugal is an unhappy loser.” Asked about Ilidio’s claim of injustice, Franco replied: “I disagree with what he (Ilidio) said. “The trophy is in our locker room.”

Brazil was the clear favorite for the match between former colony and colonizer, but it was an even contest from start to finish, with only the brilliance of Oscar making the difference.

Oscar made the difference with his three goals - his first three of the 3 1/2-week tournament - in a performance that is sure to bring the big European clubs knocking on the door of the 19-year-old Internacional playmaker.

He broke through in spectacular style, sending a 40meter (yard) free kick into the far corner, catching goalkeeper Mika flat-footed. It was the first goal yielded by Portugal in the tournament after six clean sheets in the previous matches.

Oliveira set up Portugal’s equalizer when he ran to the byline and cut the ball back across the face of the goal with Alex tapping it home.

Just a minute later, Brazil appeared to score, with a bouncing ball going over the Mika’s head. Replays suggested the ball had crossed the line, but American referee Mark Geiger let play go on. “It was an open game and Portugal did not defend as much as we thought,” Franco said. Brazil always looked more threatening in

the first half but could not find a way through Portugal’s formidable defense, crowding the front of the goal. The South Americans led in every statistical category in the first half and had 55 percent of the possession.

Oliveira put Portugal ahead in the 59th. He broke down the right, beat defender Juan and his shot from a sharp angle beat Brazil goalkeeper Gabriel at the near

BOGOTA: Brazil’s Bruno Uvini holds his team’s U-20 World Cup trophy after the final soccer match between Brazil and Portugal. Brazil defeated Portugal 3-2 on extra time and won the U-20 World Cup championship. —AP post. Brazil’s equalizer came in the 78th. Mika blocked the initial shot by Dudu, but Oscar slotted the ball home. Brazil had a slight edge in possession over the 90 minutes and a 9-4 edge in shots on target, though Portugal often looked the more threatening.

Prior to Oscar’s winner, the best chance in extra time fell to Portugal’s Cateano, who broke down the right and forced Gabriel into a point-blank save, knocking the ball away with both hands.

Both teams seemed to run down in the final minutes,

It’s not all doom and gloom at Arsenal, says Wenger LONDON: Arsenal are not getting any luck right now but it is not all doom and gloom, manager Arsene Wenger said on Saturday after a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Liverpool marked the latest chapter in a miserable week.

An Aaron Ramsey own goal sent the visitors on the way to victory and Arsenal went down to 10 men for the second successive league game after Emmanuel Frimpong was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Lucas.

“We cannot say at the moment we are very lucky,” Wenger told the club’s website (www.arsenal.com). “I think we had eight players out today and we still had a good performance.

“It is not all doom and gloom, there are positives in the game today.” It had already been clear a quarter of an hour into the match that fortune was not on Arsenal’s side when defender Laurent Koscielny pulled up holding his lower back and left the field in agony, unable to walk unassisted.

When the ball flew off Ramsey’s chest after Ignasi Miquel’s attempted clearance, Arsenal players could only watch aghast as it bounced into the net and they were left questioning whether Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was offside earlier in the move.

“The result is very harsh on us,” said Wenger. “The decider was the sending off and the offside goal.”

Gervinho, sent off in last week’s opener against Newcastle United, and Alex Song, charged with violent conduct in the same game, were serving three-match bans while a host of midfielders were injured and Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona

perhaps affected by playing at 2,600 meters (8,600 feet) in the Colombia capital. “I don’t think the altitude was an important factor,” Ilidio said. “We had chances to score and win in extra time, as did Brazil.”

The result avenged the result of the 1991 final, when Portugal defeated Brazil on penalties. Portugal has won the U-20 title twice, far behind the leader Argentina

this week. On top of that Wenger learned on Friday he faced disciplinary proceedings from European soccer’s governing body UEFA after breaking the rules while serving a touchline ban in Tuesday ’s 1-0 Champions League playoff first leg win over Udinese.

Wenger said having to play in the playoffs after failing to secure a topthree finish last term was putting on extra pressure.

“At the start of the season we have a heavy schedule compared to other teams,” he said. “That has an impact as well — we have five big games when the team is not completely ready.”

Arsenal play the second leg against Udinese on Wednesday before visiting Premier League champions Manchester United on Aug. 28 and Wenger must get his players in a better frame of mind after they were booed off the pitch on Saturday.

“It is important for us to lift the players because they are very disappointed,” he said. “We need to give them credit for their attitude and performance today.”

One of the positives for Arsenal was that Samir Nasri played well having been in the newspapers all week with the latest rumors on his possible move to Manchester City.

“He loves the club, he wants to play for us (but) if we decide to sell him we will do it,” said Wenger. “At the moment I am happy he is here. I don’t know if he will play on Wednesday.”

As Wenger wrung out his soaking wet hair as even the weather failed to cooperate at the Emirates, fans made their views heard with calls of “spend more”. —Reuters

with six. In Saturday’s third-place playoff, Mexico defeated France 3-1. Ulises Davila, Jorge Enriquez and Edson Rivera scored unanswered goals after Alexandre Lacazette had put France ahead with an 8th-minute header.

The third-place finish adds to an impressive three months for Mexico; the senior team defeated the United States in the final of the regional Gold Cup tournament in June, and Mexico won the Under-17 World Cup title in July. —AP

Schalke floor Mainz BERLIN: Schalke 04 scored four secondhalf goals to come from 2-0 down to seal a 4-2 victory at Mainz 05 yesterday, rounding off a day to remember after Spanish striker Raul had earlier committed his future to the club.

Raul said he will see out his contract, which expires in June 2012, ending rumours he was set to quit last season’s Champions League semi-finalists.

“I will definitely stay at Schalke and I will fulfill my contract,” said the 34-yearold. Schalke’s win took them to third in the table and denied Mainz a third straight victory and top spot.

Mainz looked to have wrapped up the three points in the first half as Austria striker Andreas Ivanschitz and Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto scored within the opening 12 minutes before Schalke netted four goals without reply.

“Even if it sounds stupid, we only started playing well after we did nothing in the first half an hour,” said Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick. “We were unemotional and lethargic, but the team produced a reaction and were rewarded for it.” Having conceded four goals in 33 minutes, Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Mueller was far from amused.

“If you dominate a game and lead 20, then you have to win the match.

There can be no excuse.” Schalke roared back as Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted on 57 minutes, after a selfless pass from Raul, and then captain Benedikt Hoewedes scored with a superb far-post header seven minutes later.

The Royal Blues kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Cameroon midfielder Joel Matip headed his side into the lead for the first time on 81 minutes. Austria left-back Christian Fuchs slammed home a free-kick nine minutes later.

On Saturday, Dutch star Arjen Robben produced another eye-catching

performance as Bayern Munich hammered Hamburg 5-0 while champions Borussia Dortmund earned a 2-0 victory over Nuremberg.

Bayern - who went second on the back of the win - raced into a 2-0 lead inside 17 minutes through Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten and French winger Franck Ribery.

Robben made it 3-0 on 34 minutes when he chipped Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny before Mario Gomez fired home on 56 minutes then substitute Ivica Olic’s header on 80 minutes sealed the rout.

Having suffered a shock defeat at Hoffenheim last week, Dor tmund enjoyed a hard-fought win at home to Nuremberg to climb to fifth in the table thanks to goals from striker Robert Lewandowski and winger Kevin Grosskreutz.

Last season’s runners-up Bayer Leverkusen earned a 1-0 win at 10-man Stuttgart, who had Holland hardman defender Khalid Boulahrouz sent off for insulting the referee with time almost up. Werder Bremen earned a dramatic 53 win at home to Freiburg as Papiss Cisse scored twice for the visitors, but ended on the losing team after midfielder Aaron Hunt netted an 86thminute penalty and Wesley scored in added time.

Newly-promoted Augsburg are still looking for their first ever Bundesliga win after they lost 2-0 at Hoffenheim.

Suffering with a fever, Germany striker Lukas Podolski missed Cologne’s 1-1 draw at home to Kaiserslautern which kept his side at the foot of the table.

On Friday, ‘Gladbach continued their storming start to the season as a Marco Reus double helped them to a 4-1 victory over Wolfsburg which leaves them top of the table. Hanover can take over the league lead if they beat Hertha Berlin on Sunday evening. —AFP

Report: Eto’o to become highest paid footballer MILAN: Inter Milan has reportedly reached a deal with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala for the transfer of striker Samuel Eto’o, a deal that should make the Cameroon international the highest paid footballer in the world.

After several days of negotiations, Italian media report yesterday that the two clubs have agreed on a transfer fee of $38.9 million and that the deal will be formalized today.

Anzhi is expected to give Eto’o a three-year contract worth $28.8 million per season, surpassing the estimated $17.3 million that Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Real Madrid and the $15.1 million that Lionel Messi is paid

by Barcelona. Anzhi, from the troubled southern Russian province of Dagestan, is owned by billionaire oil tycoon Suleiman Kerimov. At 30, Eto’o is still in his prime, but he has already won three Champions League titles — two with Barcelona and one with Inter — and is apparently excited about playing in the developing Russian league.

In Forbes magazine’s latest list of the world’s richest people, Kerimov’s net worth was estimated at $7.8 billion, tying him for 118th place with Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi and family.

Anzhi’s captain is 38-year-old Roberto Carlos, once the standout left back for Brazil. The transfer fee for Eto’o also makes it one of the most expensive deals this season, close to the $42 million Barcelona paid Arsenal

on Monday to bring Cesc Fabregas back to his childhood club.

The biggest deal during the current transfer window was the 38 million pounds ($62 million) Manchester City paid Atletico Madrid for Sergio Aguero last month. Also, Paris Saint-Germain paid $60 million to Palermo for Javier Pastore. “When an offer like that comes around, it’s difficult to match or refuse,” Inter president Massimo Moratti told Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport.

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o

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.

“Financial fair play is serious,” Moratti said. “Whoever doesn’t respect the parameters will find themselves excluded from European competition.”

Inter has been linked with Diego Forlan of Atletico Madrid, Ezequiel Lavezzi of Napoli or Carlos Tevez of Manchester City as a replacement for Eto’o. Inter’s other forwards are Giampaolo Pazzini, Diego Milito and Goran Pandev. Eto’o led Inter with 37 goals in all competitions last season, having replaced Milito as the club’s biggest scoring threat. He was a key member of the Inter side that won the Champions League in 2010, often accepting an attacking midfield or defensive role for then-Inter coach Jose Mourinho.

Before joining Inter in 2009, Eto’o played five seasons with Barcelona. Makhachkala is plagued by violence from insurgency that has spread across the North Caucasus after two separatist wars in Dagestan’s neighboring region of Chechnya.

Anzhi players live and train at a training camp outside Moscow and travel to Makhachkala for home games, flying about 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) 15 times a season. —AP

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CINCINNATI: Maria Sharapova, from Russia, hits a backhand return against Vera Zvonareva, from Russia, during a semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament. — AP

Sharapova, Jankovic into Cincinnati final MASON: Russia’s Maria Sharapova will face Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the Cincinnati Open final after the pair enjoyed solid victories in their semi-finals on Saturday.

Sharapova recovered from a poor start to beat fellow Russian and world number two Vera Zvonareva 2-6 6-3 6-3 to reach her fourth final of the season while Jankovic beat Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 7-6 6-1.

“It is going to be a tough match, she is playing ver y well,” Jankovic said of Sharapova, who holds a 5-1 record in their career meetings. “I feel good the way I am playing though and I hope I can play like that again in the final.”

Sharapova, ranked seventh in the world, will play for her 24th career title and second of the season following her victory in Rome but she had to come back from dropping the opening set against Zvonareva. “I had a slow start, to say the least,” said Sharapova. “I needed to get my energy back and when I did that I started to make some shots and was able to turn it around.” Zvonareva said she had allowed her concentration

to slip after dominating the opening set.

“In the second and third my concentration level dropped a bit in some moments and I had a few more double faults, that gave her some confidence and I also gave her some more chances.

“It was tough because if you give Maria chances, she is going to take them.” Jankovic, who won the title two years ago, had a struggle in the first set against Petkovic, who looked hampered by heavy strapping on her leg.

The Serb failed to take full advantage, with some odd shot selection and unforced errors, but after winning the tie-break she never looked back and Petkovic was never in the game in the second set.

The German said she had spent much of the day undergoing scans on a knee injury that she feared was a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but which turned out to be a mildly torn meniscus.

“It was a very draining day emotionally ... I cried enough for the next 20 years,” said Petkovic, who said her parents had tried to stop her playing. — Reuters

Shakib leads B’desh to face-saving win BULAWAYO: Skipper Shakib Al Hasan led from the front with a fighting innings of 79 before picking up two wickets as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by 93 runs to win the fifth and final ODI at Queens Sports Club yesterday.

It was Bangladesh’s second successive win, but Zimbabwe still claimed the series 3-2 to add to their victory in the one-off Test between the two nations.

After being put in to bat, Bangladesh made 253 for six in their 50 overs before Zimbabwe, who lost captain Brendan Taylor for a duck in the second over, were skittled out for 160 with more than 11 overs to spare.

“All the boys showed some character that we are not here just to play the game. The newcomers have shown lots of promise, our fast bowlers have done well throughout the series,” said Shakib.

“Everything came well in the last two games. We were coming off a break from international cricket, so it was not going to be easy for the guys.”

Taylor said there were many positives to take from the series, which had started with Zimbabwe’s first Test appearance in six years.

“Bit disappointed with the way we ended but pretty chuffed with the series win, we will enjoy it,” he told cricinfo.com.

“We played well as a collective unit, the guys put their hands up and batted deep, bowlers did well and we fielded well. We are in a good place right now and it is nice to have options.”

Bangladesh had been 125 for five at one stage before Shakib, whose 79 came off 71 balls and featured five boundaries and a six, put on 109 for the sixth wicket with Mahmudullah who made 60. It was Shakib’s 21st one-day century.

Mahmudullah was undefeated at the end of the 50 overs with his runs coming off 67 deliveries with five boundaries and a six to match his captain in the big hitting. Mahmudullah went on to claim three wickets with his off-breaks for just 13 runs.

Flamboyant opener Tamim Iqbal also confirmed his return to form with 45 but Mohammad Ashraful, brought back into the side, made only 15 while Imrul Kayes concluded a dismal tour with nine.

The innings ended in worrying circumstances when Zimbabwe seamer Keegan Meth took a full blooded drive on the jaw when half-way down the wicket after bowling a high full toss.

X-rays showed no fracture though he lost two teeth and another was chipped and his injury prevented him from batting.

In Zimbabwe’s reply, Taylor was caught behind for a duck off the first ball of the second over. It was his fourth failure after smashing a century in the first match.

Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza dug deep and they put on 57 for the second wicket.

But when they went, and the experienced Tatenda Taibu was lbw to Shakib, Zimbabwe were 73-4 and the game was effectively up.

Malcolm Waller, after sur viving a missed catch, went on to make a steady 51 off 78 balls, his second career ODI half century.

But Elton Chigumbura, on whom so much rested, was caught for one and the Zimbabwe tail collapsed. Zimbabwe will face a tougher test next month when Pakistan arrive for one Test, three ODIs and two Twenty20s. —AFP

SCOREBOARD BULAWAYO: Scoreboard from fifth and final one day international between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at Queens Sports Club here on yesterday: Bangladesh T. Iqbal c Chigumbura b Price 45 I. Kayes c Taibu b Meth 9 M. Ashraful c Taibu b Chigumbura 15 M. Rahim c Sibanda b Price 20 S. Al Hassan b Meth 79 Shuvagoto c Waller b Price 3 Mahmudullah not out 60 N. Hossain not out 8 Extras (3lb, 11w) 14 Total (6wkts, 50 overs) 253 Did not bat: A Razzak, S Islam, R Hossain Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Kayes), 2-70 (Ashraful), 3-79 (Iqbal), 4-119 (Rahim), 5125 (Shuvagoto), 6-234 (Al Hassan) Bowling: Mpofu 10-1-53-0; Meth 10-056-2; Chigumbura 9-0-44-1; Utseya 10-039-0; Price 10-2-51-3; Waller 1-0-7-0.

Zimbabwe B. Taylor c Rahim b R. Hossain V. Sibanda c Iqbal b Shakib

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H. Masakadza lbw b Razzak 28 T. Taibu lbw b Shakib 7 F. Mtizwa run out (Shakib) 27 M. Waller c Kayes b Mahmadullah 51 E. Chigumbura c Kayes b Mahmudullah 1 P. Utseya c Razzak b Mahmadullah 7 R. Price c N Hossain b Islam 0 C. Mpofu not out 0 Extras (1lb, 4w) 5 Total (all out, 38.2 overs) 160 Did not bat because of injury - K. Meth Fall: 1-2 (Taylor), 2-59 (Sibanda), 3-73 (Masakadza), 4-73 ( Taibu), 5-140 (Mtizwa), 6-145 (Chigumbura), 7-16 (Waller), 8-160 (Utseya), 9-160 (Price) Bowling: Islam 6.2-0-26-1 (w); R. Hossain 6-0-34-1 (2w); Razzak 9-1-31-1 (1w); Al Hassan 7-0-26-2; Ashraful 2-011-0; Mahmadullah 4-0-13-3, N. Hossain 4-0-11-0.

Result: Bangladesh win by 93 runs Series: Zimbabwe win 3-2.

MASON: Britain’s Andy Murray will face world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the Cincinnati Open on Sunday. While Murray produced a 6-3 7-6 win over American Mardy Fish in sweltering heat on Saturday, Djokovic reached his sixth Masters series final of the year when Czech Tomas Berdych retired with a shoulder injury after losing the first set 7-5.

Berdych had picked up the injury during his quarter-final victory over Roger Federer on Friday and had warned that he might not be fully fit for the clash with the game’s hottest player.

While the retirement disappointed the Ohio crowd, it allowed the Serb to extend his record this season to 57-1 and 32-0 on hardcourts.

Djokovic, the clear favourite for the US Open, starting on Aug. 28, will now get a good test from Murray, who must fancy his chances of going all the way at Flushing Meadows with Rafa Nadal and Federer both out of sorts.

The Scot was on top in the first set, playing smart tennis, but struggled during a bizarre second set, which featured six breaks of serve and ended with a tie -break, won 10-8 by Murray. The 24-year-old Murray will be appearing in his eighth Masters series final. He has already won six titles, including Cincinnati in 2008. Fish, who had beaten Murray in their last three meetings, came into the match on a high after his first career win over world number two Nadal and a week after reaching the Montreal Masters final.

Despite the partisan support for Fish, the mood of the first set was very much one of Murray in control after he broke the American,

OHIO: Andy Murray, of Britain, hits a backhand to Mardy Fish, of the United States, during a semifinal at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament. —AP on the fourth break point in a long fourth left hamstring and Fish also looking a little game. Murray then went 4-1 up with a superb worn out, the second set was riddled with two handed backhand down the line after sav- unforced errors, seven from Murray and 23 ing break point as Fish made him work to keep from Fish. Murray, trailed 4-2 in the tie-break, but battled back and seemed to have won at 8his advantage.

The Scot broke on Fish’s opening serve in 7 when the umpire ruled his effort in but Fish the second set but then lost serve himself, set- challenged and the decision was over-turned.

The Scotsman kept his cool to win the next ting the tone for a set where each player was two points, on Fish errors, and move into the broken three times.

With Murray grabbing his right thigh and his final without losing a set this week. —Reuters

England on brink of India whitewash LONDON: England finally saw off Rahul Dravid as they closed in on a 4-0 series rout of India at The Oval here yesterday. Dravid batted for more than seven hours in the fourth Test before England finally found a way to break ‘The Wall’.

But India, following-on, were 129 for three at the close of the fourth day, still 162 runs behind England’s first innings 591 for six declared built upon Ian Bell’s Test-best 235 and Kevin Pietersen’s 175.

Sachin Tendulkar, bidding for an unprecedented 100th international century, was 25 not out and nightwatchman Amit Mishra eight not out.

England though needed just seven more wickets on today’s final day to complete a 4-0 clean sweep for the first time since a home whitewash of the West Indies in 2004.

India resumed yesterday in the desperate position of 103 for five. Dravid was 57 not out and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni five not out. But Dhoni, who never looked settled, was out for 17 when he pushed tentatively at a James Anderson outswinger and was caught behind.

Dravid, responsible for all three India centuries this series, sped through the 90s with three fours in four balls from off-spinner Graeme Swann, a sweep and a late cut preceding his elegant advance down the pitch to create a half-volley he clipped through midwicket A late cut two off Tim Bresnan then saw Dravid to his hundred. Dravid’s century was the second time this series he’d made a hundred while opening in the absence of regular opener Gautam Gambhir.

He had previously made 117, when Gambhir missed the second Test at Trent Bridge with an elbow injury, following his 103 not out at Lord’s.

Dravid’s 35th Test century took him in front of hero Sunil Gavaskar’s mark of 34 and fourth in the all-time list behind Tendulkar (51), South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (40) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (39).

India started the second session on 218 for six, with Dravid 109 not out and Mishra, who’d driven Swann for six off the last ball before lunch, 38 not out.

However, Mishra added just five more runs before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Bell at an unusually positioned short backward square leg off a pull against Bresnan.

The new ball did for Gambhir, who’d suffered concussion while fielding on Friday, when he fended at Stuart Broad and was caught by Pietersen at gully.

Bresnan struck twice in three balls as India were bowled out for 300 — the first time they’d made the score this series. Dravid had contributed nearly 50 percent thanks to a masterful 146 not out in 266 balls with 20 fours.

He was only the third Indian after Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag to carry his bat in a Test innings but India were still 92 adrift of avoid-

LONDON: England’s players celebrate the dismissal of India’s Gautam Gambhir in their fourth Test match against India, at The Oval cricket ground. —AP

ing the follow-on.

The selfless Dravid kept his pads on but his resistance ended controversially when, on 13, he turned Swann to Alastair Cook at short leg.

Umpire Rod Tucker said not out but England asked for a review and Tucker’s fellow Australian Steve Davis gave Dravid out, although replays indicated the ball may have gone to Cook straight off the pad.

The India great, in what could be his last

Test in England, walked off to a standing ovation from a capacity 23,500 crowd.

Sehwag made a typically dashing 33 before he was bowled between bat and pad by Swann-a classic off-spinner’s dismissal.

And England had one more wicket before stumps when Venkatsai Laxman, who has had a wretched series, was bowled for 24 by a superb Anderson delivery that angled in and uprooted his off-stump. —AFP

SCOREBOARD LONDON: Scoreboard at stumps on the fourth day of the fourth Test between England and India at The Oval on yesterday: England 1st Innings 591-6 dec (I Bell 235, K Pietersen 175; S Sreesanth 3-123) India 1st Innings (overnight: 103-5) V. Sehwag lbw b Anderson 8 R. Dravid not out 146 V. Laxman c Prior b Broad 2 S. Tendulkar c Anderson b Swann 23 S. Raina st Prior b Swann 0 I. Sharma c Cook b Swann 1 MS Dhoni c Prior b Anderson 17 A. Mishra c Bell b Bresnan 43 G. Gambhir c Pietersen b Broad 10 RP Singh c Anderson b Bresnan 25 S. Sreesanth c Morgan b Bresnan 0 Extras (b8, lb9, w7, nb1) 25 Total (all out, 94 overs, 379 mins) 300 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Sehwag), 2-13 (Laxman), 368 (Tendulkar), 4-93 (Raina), 5-95 (Sharma), 6137 (Dhoni), 7-224 (Mishra), 8-264 (Gambhir), 9300 (Singh), 10-300 (Sreesanth) Bowling: Anderson 16-7-49-2; Broad 21-3-51-2 (1nb); Bresnan 17-3-54-3 (7w); Swann 31-5-102-

3; Pietersen 7-1-27-0; Bopara 2-2-0-0.

India 2nd Innings (following-on) V. Sehwag b Swann 33 R. Dravid c Cook b Swann 13 V. Laxman b Anderson 24 S. Tendulkar not out 35 A. Mishra not out 8 Extras (b10, lb6) 16 Total (3 wkts, 25 overs, 148 mins) 129 To bat: G Gambhir, S Raina, I Sharma, MS Dhoni, RP Singh, S Sreesanth Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Dravid), 2-64 (Sehwag), 3118 (Laxman) Bowling: Anderson 9-2-39-1; Broad 6-3-8-0; Swann 15-2-51-2; Bresnan 5-0-15-0 England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson.

Match position: India are 162 runs behind England with seven second innings wickets standing.

Aussie Sutton fulfils a dream SPAIN: Australian rider Christopher Sutton won the second stage of the Tour of Spain yesterday, a 174kilometre ride from La Nucia to record his first individual win in a stage of a major tour.

Italy’s Daniele Bennati took the overall leader’s red jersey off overnight wearer and Leopard-Trek teammate Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark as the Italian finished sixth in the stage.

However, Sutton’s compatriot Matthew Goss of the HTC team, the winner of the 2011 Milan-San Remo Classic, became the first rider to abandon this year’s Tour, leaving the race with 197 participants.

Sutton — who had won a team time-trial stage in the 2008 Tour of Italy — set up his win when he along with Spaniard Vicente Reynes took advantage of a slowing of the pace in the final kilometre, gaining crucial metres on the peloton.

Sutton came in ahead of Vicente Reynes while Germany’s sprint specialist Marcel Kittel — who won four stages of the recent Tour of Poland — was third while British star Mark Cavendish failed to even get in a position to contest the decisive sprint. The stage winner said he had fulfilled a dream. “To win a stage in a major Tour, is a dream become reality,” said the 26-

year-old. “All the team really helped me in the final part. I felt really good today. “In the final kilometre, I did several zigzags, then I saw Reynes pass in front. I said to myself that his was the wheel to tag onto and that was the right call.” The stage had been enlivened by a four man breakaway with Paul Martens, Steve Houanard, Adam Hansen and Jesus Robredo looking good to fight out the stage until the peloton managed to reel them in. Today’s third stage, a 163-kilometre run from Petrer and Totana, is one of the shortest if this year’s race and with just one category three mountain pass it is conducive to a bunch finish.—AFP

Brazil wins U-20 title

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Defections prompt calls for change in Cuban sports Page 17 LONDON: Manchester City’s David Silva (second left) vies for the ball against Bolton’s Martin Petrov (center) during their English Premier League soccer match at the Reebok Stadium. —AP

Slick Man City hold off Bolton Bolton 2

Man City 3 BOLTON: Manchester City clinched a 3-2 win over Bolton as goals from David Silva, Gareth Barry and Edin Dzeko subdued Owen Coyle’s spirited side in an enthralling clash yesterday.

Bolton refused to surrender despite twice facing a two-goal deficit as Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies ensured Roberto Mancini’s team faced a tough time at the Reebok Stadium.

But City’s class eventually shone through and the expensively-assembled side sit at the top of the Premier League table with six points from two matches.

Following his impressive goalscoring

debut as a substitute against Swansea last week, City’s new signing Sergio Aguero made his full debut while Mancini opted to leave Carlos Tevez on the bench following his return to training. Tevez has been agitating for a move away from City for the past three months and claims there is nothing he likes about Manchester as a city and he is likely to be even less impressed with his current home after Mancini’s decision to assert his authority.

City cruised to a comfortable victory against Premier League new boys Swansea in Aguero’s first game last Monday, but they were put under far more pressure in this contest as Bolton matched them in the opening stages.

Chris Eagles’ drilled free-kick forced Joe Hart into an impressive block, while defender Zat Knight should also have scored early on as the ball fell to him in the City area but he weakly shot wide.

Aguero then thrashed over Dzeko’s

cross after 18 minutes when all he had to do was beat Jussi Jaaskelainen from 10 yards out. Yet that missed chance was the last luck Jaakelainen would have as he made a dreadful error shortly before the half hour mark to gift City the lead.

Silva’s speculative effort was hit directly at him but as the ball swerved slightly in the air, the Bolton keeper entirely misjudged the direction of the shot and let it slip into the net.

City thought they had scored again through Aguero but his flicked effort was ruled out after Micah Richards’ push on Martin Petrov in the build up to the goal.

But it was an ominous sign that City were moving through the gears. Aguero again missed a simple effort 10 minutes before half time as he headed Dzeko’s cross wide from six yards out.

However, Mancini’s men did grab a second before the break as Bolton fell asleep at a corner and gave Barry far too much time and space to smash a won-

derful long-distance shot past Jaaskelainen. That goal suggested Bolton were there for the taking but Klasnic showed that Coyle’s side did have some fight as he instantly halved the deficit for the home side. Former City winger Petrov crossed into the box from the left and Klasnic dashed in front of Joleon Lescott and beat Hart from close range just before the interval. Just 90 seconds into the second half, City had restored their two-goal cushion as Dzeko grabbed the goal that his enterprising play deserved. He flicked the ball over Knight before composing himself and powering a shot past Jaaskelainen.

Richards and Dzeko had decent chances but failed to convert before Bolton forward Davies arrived from nowhere to head home Paul Robinson’s cross and make it 3-2. Tevez replaced Aguero halfway through the second period but had only a limited impact on the game as City looked for more goals.—AFP

Jones’ late leveller frustrates Norwich Norwich 1

Stoke 1 NORWICH: Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones hit a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw against 10-man Norwich City at Carrow Road yesterday.

Paul Lambert’s newly-promoted team were on course for victory in their first home top-flight match since 2005 when on-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet scored just before half-time.

But although Jon Walters missed a penalty for Stoke after Norwich defender Leon Barnett was sent off in the second half, the FA Cup finalists levelled thanks to Jones’ header in the closing moments. Stoke had been in action in the Europa League on Thursday and they made a slow start as the hosts looked to build on last weekend’s draw at Wigan. Anthony Pilkington-one of half a dozen changes by Lambert from that Wigan match-saw his powerful effort deflected away to safety early on and he threatened again moments later.

Grant Holt nodded Kyle Naughton’s sweeping crossfield ball to the far post back into the path of Pilkington, and

only a brave block from Robert Huth stopped the winger from firing Norwich ahead. Stoke countered quickly after 28 minutes, working the ball out to Matthew Etherington on the left, who cut inside Barnett and fired an angled drive which John Ruddy beat away.

Norwich took the lead in the 37th minute when former Stoke defender De Laet glanced Bradley Johnson’s curling cross into the far corner.

Stoke were rattled, with Jonathan Woodgate almost diverting a low cross into his own net which Asmir Begovic pushed around the post.

Chris Martin-making a first appearance since February-nearly doubled Norwich’s lead in the second half when his 20-yard drive was pushed away by Begovic. But Tony Pulis’s side were finding their rhythm now and Etherington’s free-kick forced Ruddy into a fine save.

Stoke were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute when Walters got ahead of Barnett and then tumbled in the area.

Referee Neil Swarbrick ruled that Barnett was the last man and showed him the red card, but Ruddy kept Norwich in the match as he turned away Walters’ penalty.

When Jones blasted over from close range, it looked like Stoke’s last chance had gone but the visitors’ pressure finally told in the third minute of added time as Jones headed in Glenn Whelan’s cross.—AFP

EPL results/standings Bolton 2 (Klasnic 39, Davies 63) Manchester City 3 (Silva 26, Barry 37, Dzeko 47); Norwich 1 (De Laet 37) Stoke 1 (Jones 90); Wolves 2 (Doyle 42, Jarvis 45) Fulham 0.

Played Saturday Arsenal 0, Liverpool 2 (Ramsey 78-og, Suarez

90); Aston Villa 3 (Agbonlahor 12, Heskey 25, Bent 67) Blackburn 1 (Pedersen 52); Chelsea 2 (Anelka, 53, Malouda 83) West Brom 1 (Long 4); Everton 0, QPR 1 (Smith 31); Sunderland 0, Newcastle 1 (Taylor 62); Swansea 0, Wigan 0.

Playing today Manchester United v Tottenham

English Premier League table after yestrday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Stoke 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 Man City 2 2 0 0 7 2 6 Wigan 2 0 2 0 1 1 2 Wolves 2 2 0 0 4 1 6 Sunderland 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 Aston Villa 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Arsenal 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Liverpool 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Fulham 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 Chelsea 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Swansea 2 0 1 1 0 4 1 Newcastle 2 1 1 0 1 0 4 Tottenham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bolton 2 1 0 1 6 3 3 Everton 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Man Utd 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 West Brom 2 0 0 2 2 4 0 QPR 2 1 0 1 1 4 3 Blackburn 2 0 0 2 2 5 0 Norwich 2 0 2 0 2 2 2

Wolves see off Fulham Wolves 2

Fulham 0

LONDON: Norwich City’s Ritchie De Laet (right) is held off by Stoke City’s Jon Walters during their English Premier League match at Carrow Road. —AP

LONDON: Wolves maintained their 100 percent start to the Premier League season as goals from Kevin Doyle and Matt Jarvis secured a 2-0 win over Fulham yesterday.

Mick McCarthy’s side had beaten Blackburn in their opener last weekend and they built on that solid victory with an equally impressive display in their first appearance of the campaign in front of their own fans at Molineux.

Fulham were swept aside by two goals in three minutes just before halftime as Republic of Ireland striker Doyle struck first before England winger Jarvis put the hosts in complete control.

While Wolves are flying high after recording back-to-back league wins at the start of a campaign for the first time since the 1998-99 season, Martin Jol’s Fulham have taken one point and are yet to score in their opening two league games.

Fulham had been on top in the opening stages and Pajtim Kasami, on his league debut for the Cottagers, made a burst into Wolves’ box and unleashed a shot which deflected wide.

A slip by Richard Stearman then allowed Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu to be teed up for a shot which Wayne Hennessey got down to save.

Doyle had a first sight of goal when he jinked around Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, but the former Reading forward blazed his attempt over the bar.

Schwarzer had to save from Jamie O’Hara soon after but with three minutes remaining in the first half Wolves’ pressure paid off as they snatched the lead.

Receiving the ball from Jarvis, Doyle skipped away from two defenders, turned and lashed it beyond Schwarzer into the net.

Jarvis then sent a curling shot narrowly off target before making it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, tucking away the rebound after Roger Johnson had headed Hunt’s cross against the post.

Jol made two substitutions at the interval, throwing on Moussa Dembele and Steve Sidwell for Kasami and Etuhu, and shortly after the restart, Damien Duff hit a shot into the ground which bounced wide.

Schwarzer then palmed a fierce strike from Stephen Hunt over the bar before Steven Fletcher saw a shot deflect wide and O’Hara volleyed too high.

Hunt was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a wild challenge on Riise and he almost added a third goal for Wolves with a blistering effort that Schwarzer tipped away.—AFP

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US credit crisis leaves Chinese consumers shocked Page 25

PHOENIX: Gold coins are shown at the Republic Monetary Exchange in Phoenix. — AP

Egypt leads losses in regional markets Global fears drive jittery investors to dump stocks DUBAI: Regional bourses fell yesterday with the most marked decline on the Egyptian index where investors, already downbeat on the global economy, were spooked by tensions with Israel over the killing of five Egyptian security personnel during an Israeli operation.

Orascom Telecom weighed on the benchmark, ending 3.5 percent lower, as did investment bank EFG Hermes which retreated 6.8 percent.

“It’s a combination,” said CIBC trader Omar Darwish. “Given what is happening in the US, Egypt is following.

And the Israel tension is panicking investors.” Egypt and Israel sought yesterday to defuse a diplomatic crisis over the killings but crowds of Egyptians protested angrily at the Israeli embassy in Cairo. Elsewhere, global recession fears led jittery investors across the region to dump stocks, taking their cue from a tumble in world equities on Friday and

in Saudi shares which slumped to a 23-week low on Saturday. Wall Street marked a fourth week of losses, and gold hit a fresh record high as investors rushed to the safe haven. Investors are now awaiting United States’ Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech on Aug 26 for hints on how policymakers plan to address the weakness in the economy. Property stocks led the decline in Dubai, with bellwether Emaar Properties falling 1.8 percent and builder Arabtec down 0.7 percent. The benchmark is off 4.2 on the month. Abu Dhabi’s Dana Gas declined 1.8 percent after reports the energy firm picked banks to arrange its planned listing on the London Stocks Exchange.

“Concerns over economic indicators and fears of the economy going back into a recession-that kind of concern will have an effect on commodity prices, petrochems and our

markets,” said Haissam Arabi, chief executive and fund manager at Gulfmena Investments. “What we’re seeing is natural.”

“We’re starting to shift from aggressive names to domestic names because fundamentals remain strong in the GCC. This might create opportunity for banks to pick up. They’re doing well and are cheap right now,” Arabi added. Dubai’s index and Abu Dhabi’s market both fell 1.1 percent. In Doha, Vodafone Qatar attracted buyers and rose 0.6 percent, helping to limit losses on Qatar’s index which ended 1.2 percent lower. All other stocks fell with Islamic lender Masraf Al-Rayan most active by volume - down 0.9 percent.

In Kuwait, Global Investment House plunged 10.4 percent, weighing on the index which slumped to a seven-year low. “I personally think that Kuwait faces two challenges - the troubled invest-

ment companies and wages that devour the majority of the oil revenues,” said Safaa Zbib, head of research at Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Co. Investment firms took a nose-dive earlier this year after the Capital Market Authority said investment funds are not allowed to invest more than 10 percent of total assets in a single security and investment firms require separate licenses to operate their lending and investment businesses.

In Oman, Muscat’s index declined 0.6 percent, easing from Thursday’s 10-day high. Battered stock Renaissance Services ended flat after it gave back marginal early-session gains which were triggered after company officials said the company would meet its short-term commitments as it focuses on turning around Topaz, its troubled engineering unit. — Reuters

Arabian Gulf markets worry about outlook DUBAI: Fear that the days of global economic recovery and rising oil prices may fast be fading has sent shivers through Gulf stock markets. Those worries reduced the market capitalization of the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, by around $11 billion in the first half of August to $326 billion.

Many investors fear it may 2008 all over again. That was the year the US housing market went under in a sea of mortgage debt, bringing oil prices to as low as $30 a barrel. But economists say that unlike 2008, Saudi Arabia and the region’s other governments are adequately cushioned for another slump in the world oil price, if it comes.

“There is definite panic in the markets because they are worries how it will affect them. Two, three years ago they were affected very badly, especially in Dubai,” said Said Hirsh, Middle East economist for London-based Capital Economics. “They don’t trust the government will spend if oil prices drop.”

The nervousness about the global outlook has been growing as Europe fails to put out its debt fire, but Gulf markets swooned after Standard & Poor’s cut the US credit rating for the first time ever two weeks ago. Germany’s economic growth came to a near-standstill in the second quarter.

Reflecting a downgrade in export outlook due to slower growth in the US and Europe, Deutsche Bank this week cut its projection for Chinese

growth by 0.2 percentage point to 8.9 percent for 2011. Meanwhile, the outlook for world oil demand looks increasingly weak. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in a report last week said “dark clouds over the economy” had begun to cool demand for oil. It estimated that world demand will average 1.21 million barrels per day this year, 150,000 barrels less than it predicted just a month earlier. Worries about the global economy and its impact on oil have taken on an added political dimension with the Arab Spring. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf governments have boosted spending this year to create jobs, build infrastructure and hire more security personnel in an effort to prevent the surge of protests from reaching their borders.

The Saudi government’s 2011 budget, for instance, forecasts a 7 percent increase in expenditures to $154 billion. On top of that, the kingdom committed itself in February to extra spending of $36 billion, Oswald Clint, a London-based analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co, said in a report this week. High levels of spending not only act to cool the political temperature but have been boosting economic growth.

To pay for all of this, however, the kingdom needs oil prices to remain above $85 a barrel - its so-called breakeven price - assuming they export

three quarters of what they produce. Now, with oil prices easing, the Saudis may start cutting oil output “much sooner” than they did after the financial crisis in 2008, Clint said in his report. But other economists are more sanguine. The price of benchmark Brent crude for delivery was $109.33 a barrel on Thursday, giving the Saudi’s a lot of room before their spending begins to fall.

Hirsh said economic growth is likely to drop across the Gulf, but he said markets are overreacting. In Saudi Arabia, the key Gulf economy, the government has built up foreign reserves - by some $40 billion this year alone to $500 billionwhile the country’s banking is in better shape than the last time global recessions struck. “I would not call $85 a danger point, but they would start looking at spending if oil dropped to $60. At $85, it would mean they go into deficit next year, but that’s not such a big deal,” he said.

Jean-Paul Pigat, head of Middle East and North Africa analysis, Business Monitor International, said that even if the global economy and oil prices do sink, he is confident that the kingdom will keep to its spending plans because of the risk of igniting unrest if it cuts back. “Even if Saudi Arabia’s breakeven has been raised because of the stimulus, it’s important to know why they have undertaken it,” he told The Media Line. — The Media Line

Eid shines bright for SE Asia Muslims despite rising prices JAKARTA: They are running out of cars at the Toyota showroom in Kalibata, south Jakarta, as Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, prepares for the festival of Eid Al-Fitr in late August. Sales of popular mid-sized vehicles like the 145 million rupiah ($17,000) Avanza have more than doubled this month as many hope to drive to their hometowns in a new car to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan. “We received 30 units of the Avanza, it sold out in a week,” said sales executive Achmad Rifai. Like their brethren elsewhere, Southeast Asia’s Muslims spend extra on food, new clothes and cars for Eid Al-Fitr, the most important festival in Islam, which marks the end of Ramadan.

So far, Ramadan spending seems to be holding up in Indonesia and in neighboring Malaysia, which together account for about 14 percent of the world’s Muslims. “Ramadan is reflected in stronger private consumption and spending because it is a once a year event where Muslims spend more on food, Eid preparations as well as for alms and charity,” said Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin, chief economist at Malaysia’s Bank Islam.

The concern this year was whether rising inflation and worries about a global recession would affect the seasonal surge in expenditure, which provides a major boost to retailers. “But it is not yet happening in Indonesia and Malaysia as private consumption and spending is still strong while inflation has recently peaked in both countries,” said Azrul.

Ramadan is marked by dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayer, but there is an increasing trend of expenditure around the abstinence. The once novel practice of lavish “iftar” or breaking of fast dinner buffets at swanky hotels is gaining in popularity, said Shaharudin Saaid, executive director of the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners. Just three years ago, only a handful of Kuala Lumpur’s 23 fivestar hotels charged the hefty 90 ringgit ($30.25) or more for the Ramadan dinner buffet.

“This year most of them charge at that rate which means demand is still there, if not growing,” said Shaharudin, adding

that some top hotels are drawing more than 1,000 Ramadan diners nightly.

Shopping for clothes, the Eid al-Fitr feasting, home repairs, new cars all are part of the festival spending.

Retail boom In Indonesia, the extra Eid spending this year is expected to increase retail sales for the month of August by a projected 10-15 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Indonesian Retail Association. Malaysian retail sales are meanwhile projected to grow by 7 percent for the third quarter of 2011 due to the increase in consumer spending for Eid, according to the Malaysian Retailers Association. While inflation is a worry, it appears to have peaked and has not really affected the expenditure.

Indonesia’s annual inflation fell below 5 percent in July for the first time in 14 months but core inflation, which excludes volatile foods and administered prices, remained high at 4.55 percent. In Malaysian annual inflation eased to 3.4 percent in July after hitting a 27-month high of 3.5 percent in June. Still, prices of staple food items, which in Malaysia is controlled by the government during festive periods, have been steadily rising.

Prices for poultry during Ramadan for example are up by a fifth over the last six years.

“I hope not to raise prices even more but it’s impossible when Lebaran (Eid) is coming,” said Pak Haji, who sells poultry in Depok on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital. Chicken prices almost doubled in June, he said. For the less well-to-do, Eid Al-Fitr is a time of hunting down bargains and somehow finding extra money, rather than cutting down.

“I have to plan more carefully ahead of Eid this year before spending,” said 32year old tailor Bian Bian as she visited a night market selling headscarves, dates and traditional Malay dresses in the Malaysian capital. Sonny, a 37-year old account executive at a design company in Jakarta, said: “I don’t want to cut back my consumption though the prices are high so I have to look for additional income or another job.” — Reuters

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b u s i ne s s

CBK announces draw winners

KUWAIT: Joanna Goretti Fernandes receives her prize from the manager Hamad Ashknani.

AUB announces winners of Hassad weekly draw KUWAIT: AUB has announced the results of the weekly draws of its Al-Hassad Islamic savings scheme. The lucky customers winning the Grand Weekly prize worth KD25,000 each at the draws held on August 10, 2011: Layla Isa Mohd Ebrahim, Taibah Mansoor Hussain Al-Orayedh, Abdulla Nasser Abdulla Al-Meel.

The following Al-Hassad Islamic customers won cash prizes of KD1,000 each: Danish Chowdhry Hussain, Abdullah Hassan Abdullah Hassain, Madinat Hamad, Maha Saeed Masoud Mohd, Samar Mohammed Saeed Shraf, Majed Hamad Sadoun Al-Shamlan, Heba Alla Samir Mohammed El Awam, Badrya Majeed Hassan, Bader Saad Abdulreda Ali, Mohamed Alaa Hassan, Aisha Rafique, Maasoumah Ghloum Abbas Abdullah, Joanna Goretti Fernandes Sapestian Dsouza, Ahmed Ali Hussain Ali, Marwa Eissa Ahmad Al-Nashmi, Dhawia Ali Kattab Hussain, Ali A Hussain Sh.Khalaf Al-Asfoor, Khawlah Khalifah Fahad Ali Al-Tabeekh, Bader Ayesh Amash Al-Azmi, Suad Eisa AlHaddad, Naser Khlaif Nehaitar Al-Sulaili, Ali Abdulla Ali Kmshad, Hanadi Ebrahim Mohd Al-Malki, Mohamed Abdalla Soliman, Mansour Mesfer Hubailees Al-Otaibi.

With the new Al-Hassad Islamic 2011

scheme, customers have a lot more to look forward to. With 28 weekly prizes totaling KD100,000 each week and “Salary for Life” prizes every month, the chances to win bigger prizes more often couldn’t get any better.

The most attractive feature of the new scheme is the chance to win bigger prizes, more frequently with 3 grand prizes of KD25,000 each, week on week plus 25 other weekly prizes of KD1,000. Chances to win big prizes on a weekly basis, offer instant rewards to both existing as well as new Investors in Investment Saving Account (Al-Hassad Islamic). With the introduction of a “Salary for Life” prize of KD 250,000 every month, the grand prize is also now more frequent and customers do not need to wait for a quarter or more to qualify for the grand prize. The “Salary for Life” has been a core feature for the AlHassad Islamic scheme with prizes paid out to date exceeding KD10 million.

The monthly “Salary for Life” prize has enabled winners to afford better homes, ensure better education for their children and enjoy an improved quality of life, with the assurance that the rewards will continue to come month after month for 250 months.

KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al-Najma account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani. The winners of the AlNajma Daily Draw who walk away with KD7,000 are: Murtaza Khumanpur Fakhruddin; Sheikha Mohammed Shaheen Rashed; Emad Hamdi Musead Abdullah; Mohammed AbdulJalil Mohammed Al-Magribi; and Shaber Hussain Naby Ismail Ali Naby.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another four mega prizes during the year worth KD100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

offer customers peace of mind and the satisfacton of having purchased a car which has been thoroughly checked by Mercedes-Benz trained specialists. “We are pleased to offer the additional benefit to our Pre-Owned Cars customers during the holy month of Ramadan.” said Ashraf Tamim, Senior Manager Sales and Operations, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company.

Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company wishes the people of Kuwait all the best for the holy month of Ramadan. For more information about this offer and Mercedes-Benz products and services, please visit www.kuwait.mb-usedcars.com and www.mercedes-benz.com.kw or become a friend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MercedesBenzKuwai t. You can also download the iPhone application for Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company by searching for ‘MBKuwait’ in the App Store.

Gold up - oil down as growth falters Five days - that’s how long it took global financial markets to recover before another cocktail of bad economic news combined with disruptive political announcements removed what little courage had been mustered. This sent global stocks and some commodities into a tailspin while government bond yields reached record lows and gold continued its record breaking run to the upside. In the week ahead focus will be on what comes out of the annual meeting of global central bankers as last year’s outcome sent commodities on a month rally.

Non-cyclical commodities support the index The Reuters Jefferies commodity index was nearly flat on the week as weak performances from energy and base metals were offset by strong rallies among soft commodities and especially precious metals. The best performing commodities year to date are not surprisingly gold and silver followed by corn as risk adversity and weather more than growth factors have been the main drivers.

Anniversary of QE2 approaches As we approach the annual gathering of global central bankers at Jackson Hole on August 25-27 attention will turn to what Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says. Last year he used this venue to announce the second round of quantitative easing which in turn helped trigger a month-long rally in commodities and other assets. With inflation on the rise his options will be limited this time around but the market will nevertheless be looking for guidance on where U.S. monetary policy is heading.

Ramadan promotions for pre-owned Mercedes-Benz KUWAIT: Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi Company sole authorized general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait is pleased to announce the start of its Ramadan promotional campaign for Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz cars.

During the holy month of Ramadan, customers who purchase a certified preowned Mercedes-Benz car under the Proven Exclusivity Program will receive a travel gift voucher worth KD350.

Customers can take the travel gift voucher to M/s Jumbo Travels for redemption into travel options of their choice (e.g. air-tickets or hotel bookings).

This is a limited time offer ending on August 31, 2011 and it is valid on select Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz cars purchased through the ProvenExclusivity Program only. The offer is valid on MClass, GLK, S-Class and GL-Class vehicles available via the ProvenExclusivity program. The pre-owned certified cars from Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid Alkazemi

weekly commodities

Abdulla Al-Tuwaijri

NBK launches best auto campaign KUWAIT: The latest in a series of best auto deals, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) launched the best auto campaign during the holy month of Ramadan, whereby NBK customers have the chance to win up to KD10,000 when they buy a new car between August 17 and September 30, 2011. NBK Deputy General Manager, Consumer Banking Group Abdulla Al Najran Al-Tuwaijri said: “This promotion is exclusive for all NBK customers.

NBK customers who apply for an NBK auto loan during the campaign period will be entered into the draw automatically. All other customers who purchase a new car during the campaign period and whose salaries are transferred to NBK must register to enter the draw.

Registration is available through NBK offices located at new car dealerships and by calling Hala Watani at 1801801.” Al-Tuwaijri added: “The draw will take place in October, and we encourage our customers to take advantage of this opportunity to win back the purchase price of their new car.” For more details customers can call Hala Watani at 1801801, log on to www.nbk.com, visit any NBK branch or NBK offices located at new car dealerships.

Bond yields tell desperate story While stock markets plunged government bond yields fell to the lowest levels in decades on weaker than expected US manufacturing and unemployment data. In Europe weak economic data together with rising fears about the financial health of some of its banks added to the negative sentiment and triggered a rush towards secure government bonds.

Gold surpasses its 2010 performance During the week financial markets tried to stabilise and the Swiss franc sold off from its extreme levels reached in the previous week as the Swiss National Bank stepped in bringing the deposit rate for SFr below zero. Instead of moving into riskier assets investors went for gold, thereby helping it to rally 7 percent on the week to a stunning 31 percent gain on the year, thereby surpassing its 2010 return of 26 percent.

Just like the 50 dollar level for silver earlier this year became a magnet for speculators we can now expect

Ole S Hansen them set their eyes on 2,000 as the next target for gold. However as the upside momentum has increased so too has the likelihood of further margin increases on the futures contract.

Whether that would have a negative impact considering the strength of the move remains to be seen but as the price continues to climb so too does the risk of a sharp correction.

Oil roller coaster Crude oil had by mid week recovered strongly from the early August sell-off before risk adversity returned with a vengeance sending WTI lower by seven dollars and Brent by five dollars. Brent is holding up much better than WTI with the spread between the two having widened to a new record above 26 dollars. This widening reflects supply disruptions in the North Sea and Africa and the worry that the economic slowdown will be skewed towards developed economies while the supply and demand situation in Asia remains tight. Brent crude has been trading within a 22 dollar-wide range over the last five months and given ongoing worries about an economic slowdown price action in the weeks ahead is seen at the lower end of this range.

This leaves the price supported at 98 dollars while resistance above 111 looks firm for now. High oil prices have contributed to the current slowdown and the lower prices we are now seeing could help some economies from falling into a double dip recession. This would hold demand destruction at relative low levels and ultimately keep the outlook for higher prices in the future alive. Near term, however, oil traders will be taking their cue from stock markets as continued selling there will keep oil prices under pressure.

Abundant Russian wheat The price of European wheat has remained range bound despite upside pressure on American exchanges, especially high quality spring wheat traded on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Helping keep prices in Europe under control has been news from Russia that its grain production will be above 90 million tonnes, higher than previous expectations. This comes after the disastrous heat wave last year which destroyed a large chunk of its production and triggered an export ban which was only lifted in July.

EXCHANGE RATES CommercialBankofKuwait 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

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2716000 GB Pound/KD .4438890 Euro .3906560 Swiss francs .3478260 Canadian dollars .2760300 Danish Kroner .0524440 Swedish Kroner .0421870 Australian dlr .2835100 Hong Kong dlr .0348530 Singapore dlr .2256380 Japanese yen .0035360 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0740710 Bahraini dinars .0739750 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0724460 Omani riyals .7057300 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-MuzainiExchange Co.

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.590 5.978 3.138 2.477 3.752 226.190 35.021

.2760000 .4540000 .3970000 .3580000 .2860000 .2930000 .0072500 .0035000 .0745750 .7265590 .4010000 .0760000 .7122580 .0072000 .0530000 .2737000 .4473220 .3936760 .3505150 .2781650 .0528500 .0425130 .2857020 .0351220 .2273820 .0035630 .0060820 .0025000 .0031710 .0036790 .0745470 .7262840 .3871290 .0730060 .7111860 .0065010

Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

3.644 6.414 9.166 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 72.802 75.014 709.110 725.120 74.339

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 45.726 Yemen Riyal 1.249 Tunisian Dinar 200.660 Jordanian Dinar 385.530 Lebanese Lira 183.200 Syrian Lier 5.894 Morocco Dirham 35.442 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 272.900 Euro 397.070 Sterling Pound 453.420 Canadian dollar 278.470 Turkish lire 153.830 Swiss Franc 352.580 Australian dollar 285.020 US Dollar Buying 271.700 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

SELL CASH

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees

287.400 725.420 3.820 279.700 535.800 36.300 53.400 167.800 46.480 396.500 35.660 6.280

DollarcoExchange Co. Ltd SELL DRAFT

285.900 725.420 3.654 278.200

226.600 45.729 395.000 35.510 5.965

Rate for Transfer

0.033

385.510 0.184 93.650 3.750 225.700

Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

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

Selling Rate

272.650 277.795 450.275 394.625 344.410 722.885 74.205 74.840 72.670 383.780 45.702 2.476 5.970

3.145 3.648 6.399 668.773 3.657 9.219 5.743 3.815 90.565

KuwaitBahrainIntlExchange Co. 708.290 3.160 6.410 75.030 72.830 226.640 40.410 2.478 452.000 349.200 5.600 9.320 74.270 272.700

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

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 452.000 272.700

Sterling Pound US Dollar

BahrainExchange Company COUNTRY

GOLD 1,893.010

10 Tola

GOLD 337.000 171.000 88.000

0.033 0.239 0.237 3.660 386.980 0.185 93.650 47.100 4.200 227.200 1.850 51.000 708.470 3.210 6.590 75.460 72.830 226.640 40.410 2.612 454.000 43.200 350.700 5.600 9.490 198.263 74.370 273.100 1.210

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

273.000 3.155 5.980 2.495 3.655 6.460 74.430 72.995 725.000 45.725 456.700 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 387.500 5.750 398.200 284.300

AlMulla Exchange 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)

272.400 394.800 451.800 278.000 3.580 5.978 45.725 2.477 3.650 6.405 3.145 725.400 74.225 72.750

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BUSINESS

‘Maximizing Women’s participation in GCC Workforce’ Kuwait boasts one of the highest levels of female economic participation KUWAIT: Cass Business School Dubai, home to the 10th best Executive MBA program in the world according to the Financial Times, has released a research report, ‘Maximizing Women’s participation in the GCC Workforce’, with findings of significant consequence for GCC economies. Kuwait is highly praised in the report as an exemplar and possible model, as a result of recent estimates that suggest somewhere between 31.81 to 49 per cent2 of the Kuwaiti workforce is female, one of the largest proportions in the Gulf.

In contrast, figures indicate that outside of the State, although the GCC population is 48 per female, the rate of female participation in the Gulf workforce stands very low, at less than 20 percent. According to the Oxford Strategic Consulting (OSC) report prepared by UK and Gulf academics, including Professor Chris Rowley, Director of the Centre for Research on Asian Management, Cass Business School, London, home working initiatives are the answer to involving GCC women in national workforces and thus boosting local economies and increase nationalisation rates.

Importantly, the report acknowledges the gender reforms that have been implemented since 2005, which have given women political and electoral rights and have seen many women holding senior positions in government, for example Dr Ma’ssoumah Al-Mubarak’s appointment as Minister of Planning and Administrative Development shortly after these reforms took place. These positive developments aimed at enhancing female participation in the economy, where women work largely in medicine or public sectors, are complemented in Kuwait by the fact

that the countr y has one of the highest literac y rates in the GCC, and over 67 per cent of university graduates are female.

Professor Chris Rowley said, “Such initiatives show that at both a ministerial and social level, there has been a lot of progressive thought with regards to improving rates of female economic participation in Kuwait, with similar initiatives being implanted across the Gulf. It is also important to acknowledge that in other GCC states where there is a significant gap in female employment, it is not due to a gap in education levels, in fact the various Gulf governments have rapidly improved access to higher education. Importantly, homeworking schemes would be consistent with government programs to enable sustainable development of women’s roles in the Gulf, these programs are essential to accommodate rising levels of qualified female graduates from GCC universities ready to enter the workforce”.

There is also the fact that some 58 per cent of the GCC labor force is expatriate4, with governments keen to reduce dependency on expatriate labor, investing heavily in nationalization of respective workforces. The report suggests that GCC governments have the ability to reduce this dependency, which is detrimental in the long term, by establishing a new trend of home-working which will bring qualified females into professional roles. “Providing more jobs for GCC nationals has been an underlying goal in governments’ visions for the future and home-working can be successfully integrated into GCC economies, resulting in socio-eco-

Gulf Express Co plans motivational strategy KUWAIT: Gulf Express Co (a subsidiary of Al-Babtain Group) is the distributor of Dunlop tyres in Kuwait.

Gulf Express Co is known to provide excellent services to their customer with prompt care, timely, fast and quality services to the customers. They have special customer service for ladies in terms of care, fast and quality service. In order to increase the customer service level and improve customer satisfaction Gulf express co has started a competition amongst their technicians.

The evaluations were done on the basis of accuracy in the job, faster service time, team work, equipment maintenance, personal hygiene, attendance, customer delight etc. Zahinuddin Zayuddin - Tyre technician has won the “Technician of the Month” award for the month of July 2011 and has been honoured by the company by giving appreciation and branded wrist watch. This activity has resulted in improving service quality, improved productivity, create competition amongst our branches & ultimately to achieve customer satisfaction targets.

Dunlop tyres are No 1 market leader in Kuwait with highest market share.

Dunlop is known for its quality and safety, it comes as original fitment in all the

Japanese, American and European cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi, etc. It also has one year warranty. It is known as a fit and forget tyre because of top quality. Its market share is growing and it is supported by a very strong sales and service team. Maxiss is at No 10 position in the list of international tyre companies worldwide. It also has one year warranty.

KUWAIT: Zahinuddin Zayuddin wins ‘Technician of the Month’ award.

Msheireb Downtown to get high-tech waste recycling KUWAIT: Msheireb Properties has awarded Sweden’s ENVAC AB a major contract to install a state-of-the-art automated waste recycling system for its flagship Msheireb Downtown project in Doha. The installation of the processing system reflects Msheireb Properties’ commitment to sustainable development across all its projects and is in-line with Qatar’s Vision 2030.

The system, which can handle around 80 per cent of household waste, will see three vertical chutes installed in each residential building, with inlets on each floor.

Each is specially designed to handle organic waste such as kitchen refuse, ‘dry’ mixed recyclables such as glass, plastic, metal, cardboard packaging, newspapers etc, and residual waste such as wet paper, clothes, and other refuse.

The clever part lies in ENVAC’s automated process, which uses air as a medium to suck the waste through a steel pipe network to a centralised waste collection terminal, which can be as far as 3km away

from the point of discharge. Commercial, retail and other users in the building will have their own dedicated inlets, while supermarkets, hotels and other standalone buildings will also get a dedicated connection to the network.

Mohammed Al-Marri, Projects Director of Msheireb Properties said, “The Gulf ’s remarkable growth story has also affected the environment to a degree, which is why offsetting the impact of any development is at the heart of Msheireb Properties’ vision. With this system from ENVAC, combined with an education campaign for all residents, we can ensure Msheireb Downtown is at the forefront of the world’s ‘Green cities’ movement.”

“That aspect of education is critical to getting the most out of this system.

Recycling, however, still isn’t necessarily upper-most in people’s minds, which is why we in partnership with ENVAC are also putting together a program which will put in place weekly workshops on how to use ENVAC, as well as organizing visits to the collection centre to see how the waste is collected and segregated. “We are confident that through education programs such as these, future residents of Msheireb Downtown will make the neighbourhood’s green credentials a real point of pride.”

ENVAC is a pioneer in waste collection and recycling, and invented its vacuum-based system of collection and segregation as far back as 1961. Since then it has become recognized as a world-leader is residential and industrial automated waste processing facilities.

home-working for qualified women in the GCC were concerns over commitment / responsibility to independently work, and management style. Countering that these obstacles were common in all countries that have introduced homeworking, the authors highlighted that the practice of home -work ing is largely accepted in Europe and the US Professor Rowley acknowledges common concerns claiming, “There are certainly people that are better suited to home-working; those that are self-managing, committed, able to work alone and good time managers for example. Internationally, attitudes have changed so that both parties now see home-working as an accepted way of working where managers understand that they must trust their home-workers, and home workers generally understand that they must live up to that trust”.

In initial surveys on the potential success of implementing a company that offers home-working services employing female GCC nationals, 85 per cent of respondents indicated that they were open to the idea of using use such a service. Encouraged, Professor Rowley insists that initial investment is key, and that would be in the interests of GCC governments to help fund the formation of such a company. The report concludes that home -working is a well proven approach to work and will, if implemented correctly across the GCC region, add over 2 million additional highly qualified women to the workforce and potentially contribute up to 30 per cent ($363 billion) to GCC GDP (given a total GDP of c. $1,210 billion).

The report also addressed the other prevalent issue that seemed to

CASS BUSINESS REPORT nomic benefits through increased employment of national women, and paving the way for sustainable growth and gender parity in line with current government strategies”, Professor Rowley continued.

In Kuwait the only restriction on the employment of national women is that they are legally forbidden to work between the hours of 8pm and 7am, and the report concedes that compared to other GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia for example, cultural and organizational restrictions are much fewer in Kuwait, where men will work for women and women hold senior positions in organizations which has helped to balance the male/female employment ratio, which remains an issue in other Gulf States. Additionally, as in other countries where home-working is popular, women often find that home-working offers a solution to a the problematic balance of work and family commitments - especially as the Gulf is a market where alternatives to full-time positions, such as job-share and part-time hours, are uncommon. Geographical isolation is also a factor for many qualified national women, who live in remote areas of the Gulf states. By working from home, the report suggests that these qualified women will be able to participate in the national workforce and utilize their university educations. OSC conducted a survey of 50 public and private sector companies across the GCC to assess attitudes to home -work ing for professional women. According to findings, 53 per cent of those surveyed expressed that the two major perceived obstacles to

concern employers regarding the use of home-working services: the perceived cost.

The report insists that the cost of setting up an employee at home is normally cheaper than the cost of expanding current office space and installing new equipment to allow inhouse employees to do the same job.

Many women who could potentially work from home will already have access to computers and phone lines, which leaves training as the main cost of introducing such an initiative.

Encouragingly, those companies surveyed identified numerous services that could be outsourced to women working from home, the top four roles in call centers, HR advice, recruitment and translation services.

All of these services require minimal training and are generally roles that require individual rather than group work, mak ing them ideal for out sourcing to qualified home-working female professionals. The formation of a company specializing in homeworking is the most efficient way to implement such a service according to the report. A third party company would eliminate high-levels of initial investment required on the part of the organization wishing to outsource such a service.

Professor Chris Rowley, Director of the Centre for Research on Asian Management, is par t of the Cass Business School senior academic staff in London, many of whom teach the Dubai-based Cass Executive MBA program, travelling to the Dubai campus to teach the EMBA’s electives in weekend workshops. The Cass EMBA is a flexible part-time course aimed at managers in the Gulf region who want to accelerate their career development whilst remaining in full-time employment.

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BUSINESS

Bourse witnesses free fall KUWAIT DAILY MARKET REPORT

Market breadth During the session, 81 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 65 equities retreated versus only three that advanced by the end of the day.

On the other hand, the Banking sector was the value leader, with 63.21 percent of total traded value.

Kuwait International Bank (KIB) was also the most active in terms of value traded during yesterday’s session, with KD3.36 million worth of shares exchanged.

Daily trading activity Trading activity was up during the session as investors went on their selling rush. Total volume traded was up by 44.68 percent with 65.04 million shares changing hands at a total value of KD16.60 million (124.44 percent higher compared to Thursday’s session). The services sector was the volume leader, accounting for 35.67 percent of total shares traded. Kuwait International Bank alone saw 13.12 million shares changing hands, accounting for over 20 percent of the markets’ volume. The scrip declined by 5.56 percent by the end of the session, closing at KD0.255.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, Safwan Trading & Contracting Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 7.35 percent and closing at KD0.730. Sanam Real Estate Company was another prominent gainer, adding 7.27 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.059, while Fujairah Cement Industries Company was the only other gainer in the market, adding 10.79 percent and closing at KD0.057. On the other hand, National Ranges Company topped the decliners list for the day with a decrease of 11.11 percent to reach KD0.012. Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company followed with a

10.87 percent drop in its share price. The scrip ended the day at KD0.0205.

Sectors-wise All market sectors declined yesterday with no exceptions. Global Real Estate Index was the biggest loser during the session and the most affected. The index closed at 46.35 point with a 2.24 percent decline. As mentioned before, Pearl of Kuwait Real Estate Company led the losers in the sector. National Real Estate Company followed with a daily loss of 8.20 percent to reach KWD0.056. The scrip was also amongst the top decliners for the day. Al-Mazaya Holding Company was also a notable decliner with a loss of 5.56 percent to reach KD0.051.

Another big decliner in the market was the banking sector. It ended the session at 309.92 point and was down by 1.62 percent. The sector had many decliners including

Oman’s Bank Al-Izz gets Islamic banking license MUSCAT: Oman’s Al-Izz International Bank, a lender under formation in the Gulf Arab state, has been given a license to operate as an Islamic bank, following a decision to open the country’s doors to the fast-growing industry, a central bank official said. Ali Hamdan Al-Raisi, vice president of Oman’s central bank, told Reuters in an interview that the bank, also known as Bank Al-Izz, is one of the two financial institutions that has been granted approval from the central bank to open as a fully-fledged Islamic institution.

The central bank granted the first license to lender Bank Nizwa in May, following Oman’s decision to embrace Islamic finance as a way to keep sharia-compliant investment funds within its borders. “They (the banks) might open in one or two years, it takes some time for them to establish,” Raisi said. “They are in the process of being established and will become operational as soon as formalities such as regula-

KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) saw a fall free sharply during the first trading session of the week.

Worries of another financial crisis lead to a selling spree from the investors side. Economical and political instability in the country and the region as a whole is also another reason for the decline of the market. Most GCC markets were also seen in the red zone at the end of yesterday’s session. It is worth mentioning that only three stocks advanced during the session.

Market indices Global General Index (GGI) declined ending yesterday’s session down by 1.48 percent, at 175.04 point. Market capitalization was down for the day, reaching KD28.64 billion. Also showing a negative note, KSE Price Index closed at 5,764.30 point, shedding a noticeable 62.50 points (1.07 percent) from its previous close.

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

heavyweights National Bank of Kuwait and Commercial Bank of Kuwait who declined by 1.96 and 4.65 percent to close at KD1.000 and KD0.820, respectively.

Heavyweight Gulf Bank was also amongst the decliners with a loss of 1.05 percent to reach KD0.470.

Global Services Sector Index ended the day down by 1.61 percent, dragging the market index with it south. Zain, Agility and Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company ended the day down by 2.11 percent, 1.96 percent and 7.55 percent, respectively.

Oil news The price of Kuwaiti crude oil decreased by $3.43 to reach $100.85 per barrel (pb) on Friday, compared to $104.28 per barrel on Thursday, said Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). Fear over continuous improvement of global economy was the main incentive of the oil prices decline.

tory requirements, raising of capital and constitution of management are met.”

Bank Nizwa may begin operations by early next year, the sultanate’s central bank governor told a local newspaper earlier this month. Oman is the only Gulf Arab state which until now has not set up a bank specifically offering products and services complying with Islamic law. Its central bank head said in 2007 that Oman believed that “banks should be universal.”

That stance was reversed in May. Raisi said that the minimum capital requirement for a newly incorporated bank is 100 million rials ($259.74 million) and the bank was granted an Islamic license in late May or early June, following the royal decree allowing for Islamic banking in Oman. Bank Al-Izz received approval to operate in September of 2010, before Oman allowed for Islamic banking. Al-Raisi said the bank decided to pursue an Islamic license after the royal decree. —Reuters

Egypt’s Palm Hills slips into H1 loss CAIRO: Egyptian real estate firm Palm Hills Developments , the country’s second-biggest developer, slipped to a 2011 second-quarter net loss, hit by weaker revenues from its real estate operations. The firm, battered by an uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak and widening graft probes that have frozen sales and increased cancellations, reported a 45 million Egyptian pound ($7.5 million)net loss for the second quarter of 2011. Palm Hills reported an 84.3 million pound net profit in the same period a year earlier. But the figures came closely in line with a Reuters poll of three analysts who predicted a net loss of 45.3 million.

“The loss was expected by the market. All real estate companies are suffering in the second quarter due to a slowdown in the sector, slower deliveries, and higher costs,” Harshjit Oza of Beltone Financial said. Palm Hill’s financials showed revenue for the first half of 2011 from its real estate projects at 281 million pounds, a 46 percent drop from 522.7 million pounds in the same period a year earlier.

Talaat Moustafa Group , the country’s biggest

listed developer saw first-half net profit slide 44 percent. “The second quarter has been a weak quarter for all real estate companies,” Oza said.

Land challenges Palm Hills is among several real estate firms facing legal challenges contesting its land bank. Its Chairman Yasseen Mansour was among businessman who were facing corruption charges. Mansour and the former housing minister Ahmed el-Maghrabi were cleared of corruption charges in a state land sale last month. But although Mansour was cleared of criminal charges, the company is awaiting a verdict by another court on whether the contract for one of its land plots will be scrapped.

That court is due to hear the case on Oct 4.

The firm is facing other court cases contesting the legality of two of its land plots and has said it would return at least two plots of land to help manage cash flows. Analysts say Palm Hills may have to struggle to rebuild its balance sheet, one of the weakest among Egyptian real estate developers. —Reuters

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In Bolivia, fears a mineral bonanza could evaporate UYUNI: Here in Bolivia’s vast salt desert, workers haul buckets of brine containing lithium, a mineral used in electric car batteries that could recharge one of South America’s weakest economies.

But the industrial process required to turn the raw “white gold” into rechargeable batteries for cars, mobile phones and laptops is a complicated one, and experts fear the country lacks the expertise to reap the bonanza. Bolivia is believed to have more than 50 percent of the world’s lithium reserves, much of which are found here in the salt flats of Uyuni, some 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) high in the Andes near the border with Chile. Here workers trudge through a powdery-white lunar landscape to take samples from turquoise brine pools for

testing in a nearby laboratory at a pilot plant launched in 2009 that employs some 180 people. “I am very proud to work on the most important project in Bolivia, the industrialization of lithium,” said Manuela Quispe, 27, an Aymara Indian in a white lab coat, as she swirls a flask of brine before testing its purity.

“Our goal in the laboratory is to determine the quantity of ions of lithium, potassium, sodium or calcium,” said Santos Copa, another analyst.

The plant is the cornerstone of an initiative by leftist President Evo Morales to insure that the country-which had much of its silver and tin pillaged by colonial powers-makes the best use of the lucrative resource. He had planned on Bolivia mastering the first two phas-

es of the industrial process-producing lithium carbonate and lithium metal-on its own and then joining with a foreign partner to begin producing car batteries by 2014.

“My biggest dream is to see Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, which are running around the world, use lithium batteries made in Bolivia,” Morales said during a visit to Japan late last year. But heavy rains have disrupted operations heredelaying Phase One for several monthsand critics have raised doubts over whether Bolivia has the technological expertise to master the industrial process. Luis Alberto Echazu, a mining ministry official known as “Mr Lithium,” told AFP the plant was now aiming to produce potassium chloride by October

BOJ may ease policy again Tokyoeyes FXintervention, butimpactmay be limited TOKYO: The Bank of Japan will consider easing monetary policy further, possibly at an emergency meeting before next month’s rate review, if further rises in the yen push down Tokyo stock prices enough to hit business sentiment, sources said.

The government may also intervene unilaterally again in the currency market to weaken the yen, although analysts doubt whether such moves can alter a broad weak dollar trend.

A senior government official expressed Tokyo’s readiness to step into the currency market to stem yen rises if necessary, saying that recent moves have been speculative.

“Japan’s stance is consistent in that it will take decisive action depending on market developments,” the official told Reuters yesterday. The central bank loosened policy just two weeks ago to ease the pain of persistent yen strength on the export-reliant economy, and has expressed its readiness to act again if the prospects of a moderate economic recovery come under threat. After the yen rose to a fresh record high against the dollar last Friday, BOJ officials will scrutinize Asian market moves today and start debating whether the potential harm from recent yen gains warrants further policy action.

The BOJ’s next regular rate review is on Sept 6-7. But the chance of it easing its already super-loose policy before that cannot be ruled out, depending on market developments, sources familiar with the BOJ’s thinking say. “We will act swiftly, if needed, with an eye on economic conditions,” one of the sources said. Still, a brief yen spike to fresh records alone would not trigger immediate BOJ action. For the BOJ to call an emergency policy meeting, it would take a sustained yen rise above 76 to the dollar, accompanied by falls in Tokyo stock prices that are sharp enough to hurt

business confidence, the sources say.

“The BOJ doesn’t target currency rates but deals with the effect of exchange rate moves. The trigger for monetary easing would be a severe deterioration in sentiment,” another source said. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. If the BOJ were to ease policy, the most likely option would be to expand its 50 trillion yen ($656 billion) pool of funds to buy government and private assets and offer cheap fixedrate funds via market operations.

The pool was expanded when the BOJ eased policy earlier this month.

Firms feeling the pain Tokyo intervened unilaterally in the currency market and eased monetary policy on Aug 4. But the steps have not stopped investors from seeking the yen as a safe haven against risk, with the dollar hitting a record low of 75.95 yen on Friday. It later bounced back above 76 yen .

Japanese policymakers have continued to issue verbal warnings to markets against pushing the yen up too high, and do not rule out intervening again if they see moves as speculative.

But the effectiveness of any solo intervention would be limited, with very little chance that Japan’s G7 partners would agree to jointly step into the market to halt a grinding rise in the yen, analysts say. Some in the government and the BOJ are cautious about using their depleted policy options now, given a host of events that could easily wipe out the impact of any steps they take.

Among them is Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech on Aug 26 at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he may signal the chance of further monetary stimulus, and US payrolls data on Sept 2.

The government, however, can-

not afford to stand pat, mainly for domestic reasons. The dollar is well below the 80 yen level that many exporters made the basis for their earnings forecasts for the current financial year to next March. Many Japanese exporters, who over the years have cut costs to offset the damage from yen gains, say current yen rises are beyond what they can take and may shift production overseas. A strong yen has benefits such as cutting import costs and making overseas M&A cheaper for Japanese firms. But a yen rise now is painful for many manufacturers banking on a swift recovery in the second half of this year, when supply constraints from the March earthquake and tsunami ease.

Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s biggest car maker, says every 1 yen rise against the dollar cuts its annual operating profit by 30 billion yen.

Honda Motor Co, the country’s thirdbiggest auto maker, is studying possible production bases overseas to replace export-bound car production in Japan. “Protecting Japanese manufacturing and building cars here is becoming more and more difficult,” Honda Chief Financial Officer Fumihiko Ike said earlier this month.

The government plans to come up with a package of steps to ease the pain in a third extra budget, such as offering cheap loans to small firms hit by the yen’s rise. But progress may be slow as ruling party lawmakers are maneuvering to select a successor to unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who is expected to step down as early as the end of this month. With at least seven ruling party lawmakersincluding Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda-eyeing the nation’s top job, the outlook for who will take the helm is unclear, as well as how the next leader will address the yen’s rise. — Reuters

US credit crisis leaves Chinese consumers shocked BEIJING: Spurred on by state media which have let rip at the “debt-riddled” United States, the Chinese have listened with wide -eyed amazement to tales of American people living well beyond their means. The US credit crisis has brought to light a fundamental difference between thrifty consumers in China-the largest foreign holder of US debt-and their credit-loving US counterparts. After Standard & Poor’s downgraded Washington’s top notch credit rating this month, some Chinese have shown scorn for Americans they see as spending money before they earn it.

“They should just buy what they can pay for,” said Zhao Kai, a Beijing resident, explaining that like many Chinese people he “prefers to pay cash and does not like being in debt”. According to Forbes magazine, the average Chinese household had debts worth just 17 percent of its annual income last year, against 136 percent in the United States. “Compared to Americans who live on credit, when a Chinese person earns 100 yuan ($15.6), he or she will save between 25 and 30 yuan,” said Wang Qing, a manager at investment bank China International Capital Corp.

Some economists attribute American consumers’ growing dependence on credit partly to a sharp rise in living costs-particularly fuel and food prices-that has outstripped salary growth in the past decade. China’s enthusiasm for saving, meanwhile, is driven by inadequate health insurance and pensions and a one-child policy that forces parents to rely on themselves when they once would have counted on their offspring to look after them in old age. Returns on investment in China are also high, which encourages people to save so that

SHANGHAI: A Chinese woman walks by a stock price monitor at a private securities company. — AP they can place their cash in real estate or other money-making schemes.

Sense of security This is a source of frustration for the authorities, who would like to see domestic consumption playing a stronger role in the growth of China’s export-dependent economy.

According to China’s central bank, household savings reached 5.2 trillion dollars by the end of June, or around 4,000 dollars per person.

Credit cards are still making inroads in China, where only around 100 million people in the 1.3-billionstrong country use them.

Consultants McKinsey say just five percent of Chinese people had credit cards at the end of 2009, compared to the United States where 60 percent of the population had one or more. But even those who own one use it sparingly. “You mustn’t abuse your credit card, otherwise you become a slave. If you don’t have money, you just don’t

buy anything,” said Li Yingsong, a businessman. Chinese people prefer paying cash. “Having money in hand reassures us, it gives a sense of security. People I know hardly ever use credit,” said Cao Yang, a translator in Beijing. Chinese consumers’ aversion to credit is so big that some high-rollers have been known to pay for hugely expensive items in cash. In the eastern city of Qingdao, for instance, one investor famously bought an 80-million-yuan building with wads of cash in 2009.

But as property prices spike, more people in China are now having to borrow money to buy a flat, plunging them into debt. Many have taken out bank loans that they have to pay back over 20 years, sometimes putting more than half of their salaries into monthly repayments.

China’s fun-loving youngsters-more open to the Western way of life-are also starting to consume more than their parents or grandparents, who experienced hardships under a strict Communist regime. — AFP

and lithium carbonate by the end of the year. But Juan Carlos Zuleta, an economist and lithium expert, said the manufacture of batteries “requires a carbonate of high purity which the pilot project cannot provide, at least without external technological aid.” He said his doubts have been reinforced by Bolivia’s recent decision to pen agreements with other countries to “come to the rescue” of Phase One, including Japan, which will soon supply a modern extraction process.

Japan, South Korea and France, which had expressed interest in taking part in the development of the first and second phases but were rebuffed in 2010, have questioned whether Bolivia can go it alone. “We are not yet sure that

Bolivia can produce lithium of high enough quality for the production of batteries,” Satoshi Hasimoto, of the Japanese economy ministry, wrote recently in the newspaper La Razon. The Japanese mineral resources director said that in the meantime it would be wise to exploit the lithium for less advanced products, such as glass or lubricants. The mineral is also used in ceramics. “Bolivian authorities do not understand that lithium is not a rare resource,” a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity, adding that Chile, Australia, China and Argentina are also exploiting the mineral. Zuleta is more blunt. “The race for lithium is on, and at this rate, it is very likely that Bolivia has arrived too late.” — AFP

Egyptian economy expected to make moderate recovery

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he Egyptian people welcomed a new era on February 11 this year when the former president Hosni Mubarak resigned amid escalating popular protests.

The event was a political watershed for Egypt and the region with its promise of political openness and reform. The impact on the economy, at least for the short term, has been debilitating but we expect the recovery is already underway. Real economic growth is expected to have slowed noticeably in the first half of 2011 and unemployment to have risen thanks to the recent unrest and the widespread labor strikes that followed. The government’s already large budget shortfall is also expected to widen as is the current account deficit. FY11/12 will also be a tough year, with fiscal pressures increasing and investors taking a wait-and-see approach.

Real growth is expected to recover somewhat in FY11/12, but will remain short of levels seen before 1Q11.

Financial markets and the Egyptian pound (EGP) also came under pressure. As expected, many investors sought to reduce their exposure to Egypt by getting out of equity positions and government bonds and bills. The EGX30 stock market index is down 29 percent on the start of the year. The decline in the pound has been more limited at 2.6 percent thanks to extensive support from the central bank whose official reserves have shrunk by 26 percent since December 2010.

Real GDP hit by political unrest and strikes On the eve of the political changes in Egypt, real GDP growth had accelerated to 5.6 percent as the economy was on a moderate recovery path. The massive popular protests brought the economy to a virtual standstill and forced businesses and investors to take a more cautious stance. We expect growth in FY10/11 to have slowed to 1 percent; FY11/12 should see growth recover to 3-4 percent.

The tourist industry was the hardest hit, with foreign visitors discouraged by the uncertainty and by the breakdown in services.

The number of visitors to the country fell by 82 percent in February from the previous month. By May, the number of arrivals improved, but remained 41 percent lower than its level a year before. The Ministry of Planning’s (MOP) production index for the sector was down 65 percent yearon-year in February. The year-onyear drop had shrunk to 37 percent by May. Tourism receipts in 1Q11 were 34 percent lower than a year before.

The manufacturing sector was also heavily affected by the unrest, though it saw a far smaller decline of 14 percent in its production index. In contrast, however, this sector’s index was up 21 percent

by May indicating a strong recovery. Meanwhile, according to the MOP’s production index, three sectors appeared largely unaffected with their growth remaining strong. These included the gas and oil sectors, and shipping activity through the Suez Canal. These three sectors account for about 15 percent of economic activity.

Remittances saw a relatively limited drop To the drop in tourism receipts was added a decline in worker remittances and foreign direct investment. Remittances were down 2 percent year-on-year and 11 percent from the prior quarter.

Still, growth in remittances during the 12 months ending March 2011 remained quite strong at 50 percent compared to the prior 12 months. In contrast, Suez Canal receipts and oil exports held up

NBK GCC BRIEF throughout the first half of the year. While there were some minor disruptions during the weeks of the protests, activity was able to recover quickly with minimal lasting impact. This has helped bolster Egypt’s current account at a critical time and provided some measure of stability.

Investment outflows on foreign investor fears Balance of payments weakness was also evident in capital and investment outflows. Foreign direct investment (FDI) registered a somewhat modest outflow of $164 million in 1Q11 following a $656 million inflow in the prior quarter. Portfolio investment was harder hit with a $5.5 billion outflow during the first quarter which followed a smaller outflow of $1.3 billion in 4Q10. As a result, the 12month period ending March 2011 saw a small outflow in portfolio investment while FDI maintained a large $4.5 billion inflow.

Core inflation eases in the first months of 2011 Following a more-or-less steady rise throughout the previous year, core inflation eased notably during the first few months of the year, falling to 8.7 percent in July.

Headline inflation appears to be easing as well, after having risen in early 2011. Fruit and vegetable inflation exceeding 20 percent has been the main reason for the rise in the headline, though the price of regulated items was also a factor.

Rising budget deficit is a key concern One key area of concern is the fiscal deficit. Egypt’s government had already been burdened with a relatively large budget deficit before recent events. In 1Q11 the deficit rose to 11 percent of GDP compared to 9.5 percent a year before. The deterioration was largely due to a hit to revenues which were down 19 percent from a year before. In the FY11/12 draft budget, the government projects the deficit to narrow to 8.6 percent despite increases in spending.

The challenge of reducing the deficit is compounded by the difficulty of financing it in the present environment. The political uncertainty has already scared off many international investors. In fact, holdings of government treasury bills by foreigners more than halved during the first five months of the year, falling by EGP 35 billion to EGP 24 billion. With the government issuing EGP 50 billion in short-term bills, the market needed to pick up around EGP 85 billion in government paper between December 2010 and May 2011. The largest share was bought up by public sector banks (EGP 37 billion), followed by private banks (EGP 25 billion), and mutual funds (EGP 13 billion). If we add the EGP 5 billion in bills acquired by specialized banks, most of which are state owned, nearly half of the debt was picked up by government-related entities.

Monetary expansion has helped provide funding Monetary policy has been an important part of Egypt’s ability to live with its tough budget situation. A relatively loose monetary policy already characterized the last few years. For example, M1 grew by an average of 18 percent in the three years ending December 2010. M2 growth too

was rapid at 12 percent. However, since the protests started, monetary expansion has increased. M1 growth in the first five months reached an annualized rate of 24 percent.

Cost of borrowing rises Despite the monetary expansion, the rising debt and the increase in political risk has pushed interest rates higher in recent months. Rates on one-year government treasury bills reached 12.8 percent. The rate was 10.4 percent in January. Treasury bill issues have been the government’s main source of financing in recent months. In July, the government issued three-year bonds with healthy appetite; the coupon was 13.1 percent.

Pound sees limited depreciation The Egyptian pound has stabilized just below 6 EGP/USD, having lost some ground during the first three months of the year. The pound has maintained relative stability thanks to the central bank’s active support during the last few months. As a result, the CBE’s holdings of foreign currency dropped by 26 percent since the start of the year. At the end of June, net reserves stood at $26.6 billion.

Political uncertainty keeps investors on the sidelines While a more democratic Egypt presents long term benefits to the economy, the country faces a period of increased political instability in the short to medium term.

During this period, we can expect foreign investors to be far more cautious. Regional investors, especially from the GCC, will be expected to play a more prominent role, both those with a long history of investing in Egypt as well as the public sector. A key uncertainty for investors is the fate of structural reforms. Egypt had seen some success in the past decade in implementing economic reforms.

However, the transitional government is not willing to continue down that road, preferring to let an elected government take the necessary tough decisions.

Moreover, the current political environment has called up more popular policies, including increasing subsidies and lifting public sector wages. The main political risks remain after elections.

Investors will be looking to see whether elections lead to a clear mandate and a stable government. More importantly, what kind of policies will a new government support and how much room will there be for a new government to put in place growth promoting policies?

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BUSINESS

Fed taking a different look at European banks Fears about funding contribute to dismal trading LONDON/NEW YORK: The Federal Reserve Bank is treating foreign banks the same as their US peers, a top policymaker said, contrary to a published report that said the US central bank was keeping a closer eye on European banks struggling with the continent’s debt crisis. Fears about bank funding contributed to another dismal trading day for bank stocks in Europe after heavy losses in the last two weeks, with the main bank stocks index falling 6.7 percent. The Wall Street Journal said earlier that the Federal Reserve was asking for more information about whether European banks with US units had reliable access to the funds needed to operate in the United States.

William Dudley, the president of the Fed’s New York regional bank, in response to the story in the Journal, said the US central bank was “always scrutinizing banks” and that it treated US and European banks “exactly the same.” “This is standard operating procedure, this is something that we do as a matter of course,” Dudley told New Jersey business leaders Thursday.

“It’s really important to stress that we’re not focusing on foreign banks any more than we’re focusing on US banks. We treat foreign banks and US banks exactly the same.” The $2.5 trillion US money market funds industry-which supplies short-term dollar funding to banks-has retreated from the euro zone in recent months, concerned that the continent’s debt crisis is spiraling out of control.

That and the dr ying up of interbank lending has led to a trebling of dollar funding costs for euro zone banks in the last month. One bank was forced to borrow dollars at the European Central Bank Wednesday. A source familiar with the matter said the New York state Department of Financial Services, which is led by Benjamin Lawsky, is getting near daily updates from

its examiners at US operations of foreign banks.

The New York State Department of Financial Services declined comment. In a dramatic shift, the US branches of foreign banks became

banks, although this was a typical response by local regulators.

US regulators were concerned about over-reliance on shortterm wholesale funding given how quickly that can dry up, the

NEW YORK: Specialist Michael O’Connor works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. —AP net borrowers of dollars from their overseas affiliates for the first time in a decade, Federal Reserve data released last week showed. One person at a European bank said the crisis had heightened scrutiny on the US operations of Europe’s

person said, and worried that funds could flow back to the parent group from overseas branches quickly in a crisis. Last Wednesday, one euro zone bank borrowed $500 million from the European Central Bank at a rate

much above those at which banks can get dollars in the open market. It was the first time since Feb 23 a bank used the central bank’s facility.

French banks are most exposed to US short-term funding, and it is access to US dollar liquidity that is of particular concern. BNP’s short-term borrowings were $94 billion and SocGen’s were $56 billion, according to Citi estimates. European shares dropped sharply trade on Thursday after gloomy data on the US economy, with bank shares among the top losers.

Among European banks, Franco-Belgian Dexia was the hardest-hit, losing just under 14 percent. Dexia was the biggest borrower of the Federal Reserve’s so-called discount window-an emergency facility-during the financial crisis.

“The French banks have been hit much more than other European banks. ... They are more reliant on US money-market funds,” said Christophe Nijdam, analyst at Alphavalue. Societe Generale’s shares fell more than 12 percent. Its dollar exposure was around 23 percent of its balance sheet, Nijdam added, and Dexia’s around 14 percent. —Reuters

Markaz posts net profit of KD750,000 in H1 KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre S.A.K. “Markaz”, one of the Middle East’s leading investment banking and asset management companies, announced the results of the first half of 2011. Markaz posted a net profit of KD750,000 and a 2 fils EPS in H1 2011 compared to KD1.44 million and a 3 fils EPS for the same period of 2010. Short term debt is KD5.02 million where as total debt is KD32.51 million representing 5.6 percent and 36.6 percent respectively of total equity.

The total equity grew by 7 percent compared to the same period of 2010 and accounted to KD89.79 million. Markaz AUM for H1 2011 is KD906 million.

Diraar Al-Ghanim - Chairman & Managing Director of Markaz said, “Markets performed well in the beginning of Q2 but market volatility continued due to US debt struggle, Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and the fall of oil prices affected the region’s markets and had a severe negative sentiment on investors. Although regional countries generally are surplus countries and not shortage countries, the big challenge for decision makers in Kuwait and the Gulf is to channel these surpluses to development projects that will help the region’s population and create new investment opportunities.”

Al-Ghanim added, “We firmly believe that the Private and Public Partnership (PPP) is the ideal way to achieve an effective and sustainable development in our country. We believe that the development plan, which is achieving a steady progress, can positively stimulate Kuwait stock exchange based on solid fundamentals, as did the current tenders of the two new projects Al-Zoor water and energy Plant and Kuwait Health Insurance Company.”

Manaf Alhajeri - CEO at Markaz also commented, “Concentrating on the fundamentals of corporate governance, risk management and the commitment to ensure a safe financial management practices enabled Markaz to weather and overcome markets’ cycles. Over a period of time these fundamentals have remained the core of Markaz corporate culture and investment approach.”

Alhajeri added by saying, “The nature of market conditions in present times and the fast changing variables require quick actions to provide a highly dynamic investment solutions with the flexibility to move between various asset classes to cater to investors’ demands. We have recently sensed a change in investors’ appetite towards highly transparent and low risk investment tools that will generate more returns than bank deposits.”

MENA equities During Q2, MENA equity markets, though volatile, witnessed almost a muted performance as the S&P Pan Arabian Composite Index closed the quarter with a marginal gain of 0.3 percent. The quarter had started on a good note as regional markets posted strong gains for the month of April; however the markets could not hold over to those gains, on account of European sovereign debt fears and weaker crude oil prices. Kuwait market had a lackluster performance for the quarter also as investor sentiment remained subdued due to ambiguity over the new Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulations,

lower amount of real spending by gov- trillion, in upcoming period. We remain ernment despite gigantic plans due to cautious on China as consumer prices political rifts. Banking sector results have risen at quick pace in the past couthough were good for the first quarter ple of months, by 6.4 percent in June in Kuwait, expectations are low for the from a year earlier. coming period as economic activity has Private equity still not gathered the desired pace with The Private Equity market has been credit growth remaining subdued.

Saudi and Egypt closed with margin- buoyant in Q2 2011. Secondary transacal gains of 0.5 percent and 0.8 percent tions have reached a record high, valuarespectively. Petrochemicals and Real tions have also picked up as demand for Estate sectors in Saudi posted strong private equity products increased. results for the second quarter of the Markaz’s Private Equity portfolio has year. The notable performers for the realized a stellar year to date return of quarter were UAE and Qatar market 9.98 percent as of Q2 2011. with gains of 2.9 percent and 2.1 perCorporate finance advisory cent, respectively. With better political The region’s business landscape constability, investor confidence seems to be slowly returning back to the UAE tinues to undergo a significant transforeconomy, wherein, investors tried to mation, with a pressing need for take advantage of the companies trad- deleveraging and/or restructuring the debt of companies for better sustaining at cheaper valuations.

Markaz flagship Kuwait funds ability. Notwithstanding the political ‘MIDAF’ and ‘MUMTAZ’ closed the first events in the region, there has been a half of the year with -9.7 percent and - strong appetite from regional and for10.8 percent returns respectively eign financial institution to acquire disagainst the benchmark performance of tressed debt, and few transactions have taken place. This -13.7 percent. was encouraging ‘Markaz Islamic as it provided the Fund’ closed the market with period with a loss benchmarks to of 6.6 percent price credit default, against a decline of and helped banks 11.2 percent in its and creditors to benchmark while agree on realistic MENA focused debt restructuring ‘Markaz Arabian plans.

Fund’ closed the Markaz continfirst half of the year ues to build strong with a loss of 5.5 capabilities in dispercent against the tressed debt and benchmark decline restructuring of of 3.6 percent. creditors, providMarkaz ‘Forsa Diraar Al-Ghanim ing advisory servicFinancial Fund’ an options market maker, declined by 11.4 es related to restructuring liabilities of companies, disposing non-core assets percent YTD. for clients, and raising fresh capital for local corporations which is helping in International investments Markets have experienced turbulent winning asset management as well moments and volatility in the first half of investment banking mandates in the the year 2011 as major markets moved distressed space. sideways. It absorbed several shocks Fixed income including political unrest and revoluWhile high oil prices and subdued tions from the Middle East, supply chain disruptions from the Japanese tsunami political tension in GCC formed positive and continuing euro zone sovereign force to push GCC fixed income perdebt worries. Head winds were also formance upward, events in Europe caused by government interventions coupled with negativity stemming through monetary tightening which weak US economic data affected the affected global markets lead by two activity and depth of the market. Total interest rate hikes from the European return of the GCC bond and sukuk index Central Bank and three from the (GCCB) increased by 4.05 percent to People’s Bank of China to curb inflation. 137.39 basis points in Q2’11, compared In addition, precious metals and the to the first quarter increase in returns by Swiss Franc enjoyed a rally throughout 1.16 percent by 132.04 basis points, the first six months of the year as bringing YTD total return to 5.2 percent.

GCC sovereign CDS spreads tightened investors fled to “safe havens.”

For H1 2011 our proprietary portfo- in Q2 following the widening it witlio returned 0.91 percent. Atlas nessed in Q1. In Q2’11, total GCC bonds Emerging Market Thematic Class Fund, & sukuk issued was $26.20 billion.

Markaz Fixed Income Fund (MFIF), which invests in a portfolio of Emerging Markets equities focusing on selected which aims at investing in high quality themes, grew 0.11 percent in H1. Atlas bonds and sukuk issued by GCC govETFs Program, which allocates its assets ernment and highly rated corporations, into various Exchange Traded Funds recorded 2.37 percent increase in globally, returned 0.32 percent in H1. returns during the second quarter of Atlas Diversified Class, investing in a 2011, bringing the year to date increase portfolio of global securities, fell 2.40 in total returns of the fund to 2.21 perpercent H1. We remain optimistic for the cent. Over 67 percent of the fund’s rest of the year as we expect solutions assets enjoy high composite rating of for the European debt crisis and we also an A- with an average maturity of three presume that the US will raise its debt years. The fund’s assets are allocated to ceiling, which currently stands at $14.3 different sectors across GCC countries,

including government, financial services, oil and gas and telecommunication.

Structured finance Markaz is still the only options market maker in the region since 2005. The options market witnessed a noticeable setback in terms of liquidity due to the decline of the activity and level of the main market indexes. During the half year the weighted index of Kuwait Stock Exchange was down 10.35 percent YTD. The options market witnessed 2,630 buying contracts in H1 totaling KD1,768,317 a decline of 46.8 percent in sold contracts and setback of 66.9 percent in the amount of contracts traded compared to the first half of last year. In the same period 94.325 million stocks were traded for KD22.764 million in the options market.

MENA real estate Kuwait real estate market continued with its upward trend in case of investment property sector both in terms of transaction activity and property values during H1 2011. The residential real estate market in Saudi Arabia continued to remain the most attractive market in the GCC. Residential properties in Qatar remained stable in general and posted moderate increases in rentals and prices in expat residing localities. While rentals and prices of both residential and office properties in Abu Dhabi continued its decline although moderate compared to the previous year. Generally in the GCC, office markets are showing no signs of recovery in rentals and prices mainly due to an oversupply.

The real estate market in North African countries were in a stagnant mode during H1 2011 with market players adopting a wait and watch approach. The outlook for countries amidst mass demonstration could be better assessed once stability is in place, however the longer term potential is more likely to be positive.

Markaz successfully exited its investment in Lusail Waterfront Investment Company with a positive gross return on investment of 20 percent. The investment was exited through a share repurchase with a purchase price of $24 million, equal to 120 percent of the invested amount. Markaz distributed the exit proceeds to the investors during June 2011. ‘Markaz Real Estate Opportunities Fund’ is managing its investments in Lebanon, KSA, Jordan, Syria and Abu Dhabi. Progress has been made towards completing one of our residential developments in Lebanon; while work continues for the remaining investments as planned and efforts are in place for exiting residential developments in Abu Dhabi, Jordan.

‘Markaz Real Estate Fund’ deployed KD10.1 million in acquisition of new properties and made six acquisitions in investment and industrial properties raising its portfolio of properties to 26, while still progressing in developing Dasman property. The fund managed to attract new investors looking for a low risk investment opportunity. While on the financial side, the fund continued to make steady monthly cash distributions to investors generating a return of 4.11 percent p.a for the period inclusive of improvement in property valuations.

ROSIA MONTANA: In this photo, a woman walks past an old building in the Transylvanian mining city of Rosia Montana, Romania. —AP

Gold mine plans divide one Transylvanian town ROSIA MONTANA: This is fairy tale land and there’s even a pot of gold buried beneath it. But not everyone’s happy. With the precious metal at an all-time high, a Canadian company is eager to start blasting out mountains and demolishing parts of the ancient Romanian town of Rosia Montana to build an open-cast mine where 300 tons of gold and 1,600 tons of silver are buried. The plan, which would use cyanide in the extraction process, faces fierce opposition from ecologists and many locals who want to preserve the region’s unique heritage.

Transylvania, best known as the home of the Dracula legend, is a land of majestic mountains, never-ending forests, and meadows dotted with cones of hay, horsedrawn car ts and medieval churches scenes straight out of Grimms’ fairy tales.

Supporters of this rural paradise are battling to preserve an ancient way of life, even as Romania’s economy lingers in the doldrums. But the lures of gold and cashgenerating asphalt are reeling in hungry developers to a region beloved - among others - by Britain’s Prince Charles, who hails Transylvania as a “national treasure” and Romania’s “best export.”

Canada’s Rosia Montana Gold Corp., set up by a consortium of investors specifically to exploit the gold, says it will be careful to preserve the environment, and is committed to paying villagers compensation and investing in the restoration of historical monuments, including Roman galleries.

“The worst thing that could happen would be that one of the biggest opportunities that would give (locals) a chance for the future would be not to go ahead,” said Catalin Hosu, the company’s regional communications manager. It says it has invested $400 million in the mine, in which the Romanian state has a 20 percent stake. The operation is estimated to create more than 2,000 jobs while the mine is built and keep about 150 people employed once it is running.

The town of about 4,000 has about 80 percent unemployment, although some residents, technically jobless, live off proceeds from small farms, while many are retirees. Indrei Ratiu, a British-Romanian cofounder of Pro-Patrimonium, Romania’s national heritage society, says juggling past and future is the key to Transylvania’s prosperity. “You have to get the balance right between conservation and development,” he says in an interview from Petresti village, his family’s ancestral home. But he says the gold mine project goes too far. “I think the

shareholders of Rosia Montana all over the world have no idea what is happening here and I’d like to inform them,” he said. Like others he believes less invasive mining methods combined with tourism is the best way forward. Transylvania is also under threat further north after Romanian authorities granted a permit for a controversial highway that could destroy one of Europe’s last areas of intact forest outside Russia and Finland, according to the World Wildlife Fund Danube Carpathian Program. In Rosia Montana, tensions run high between supporters and opponents of the proposed gold mine. Silviu Aida, a 40-year-old mechanic working for Gold Corp., as the company is known, sees the open-cast mine as a boon. The project will bring “many benefits, firstly jobs and it benefits the Romanian state ... will take it out of poverty.”

Ileana Bordeianu, of the Pro-Dreptate mining union, which is funded by Gold Corp., says that without mining the future of Rosia Montana - Red Mountain in English - is bleak. “It’s what we have been doing for 2,000 years,” she said, dismissing dangers of a cyanide spill and evoking ancient traditions of gold mining in the area. However, the use of cyanide is sending jitters beyond Romania’s borders.

Romania had one of the worst cyanide spills in 2000 when an estimated 100 tons of the lethal substance spilled from Romania into Hungary’s Tisza River and the Danube, killing large numbers of fish in Hungary and Serbia in what was considered one of the worst environmental disasters of recent times. Hungarian environment state secretary Zoltan Illes wrote to Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely this week telling him Hungary did not want the mine on its border with Romania because of the cyanide used in the extraction process. Romania’s President Traian Basescu dismissed Hungary’s position on Wednesday, saying Romania was “a sovereign state” and his country needed the business, with gold prices soaring.

“I support the project like I support any kind of industrial development,” he said Wednesday. “What country sits on a gold mine without seeking to exploit it?” News of Hungary’s position was not reported in the Romanian media which is heavily reliant on advertising from the mining company.

Some parts of the town will be blitzed, as will mountain faces, but the company says it’s trying to cooperate with the community, and has already made dozens of modifications to its original project. —AP

Greek bailout could stumble on collateral HELSINKI: A debate over which eurozone countries can demand collateral from Greece in exchange for loan guarantees threatens to derail the quick approval of Athens’ second bailout program, experts warn. “Finland has said right from the beginning that it would not back any loans without collateral, and if this arrangement is no longer acceptable to other nations, then it takes us back to square one,” Teija Tiilikainen, head of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told AFP. When eurozone leaders agreed on a 160-billion-euro ($230 billion) Greek rescue plan in July, Finland, which is one of only six EU nations with a top triple-A credit rating, was assured it could seek collateral for its portion of guarantees issued to raise bailout funds.

Helsinki reached a deal with Athens in this past week and immediately some of the other 16 nations which use the euro cried foul. “We’ve struck a deal with Greece and now it’s up to the other eurozone nations to approve it,” Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen told reporters Wednesday. Analysts at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research said that the deal between Finland and Greece raises concerns since it “effectively voids much of the contribution of the former to the new EFSF financing package for the latter.”

The eurozone’s contribution to the bailout will be made via its European Financial Stability Facility, which raises money on the bond markets on the basis of guarantees issued by highly-rated members. Slovakian Finance Minister Ivan Miklos said Thursday that if Athens agreed to provide collateral to Helsinki,

then all EU creditor states should get collateral as well. The finance ministries of Austria and the Netherlands, also AAA-rated countries, have indicated that they would also seek collateral if Finland receives it. Greece said Friday it had yet to receive requests for collateral from any other country.

“If there are requestes from other countries, it will be up to the Eurogroup (of eurozone finance ministers) to find a solution,” Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on an Athens radio station. Chief analyst for Nordea Bank Jan von Gerich told the leading Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat that Greece simply cannot afford to do so.

“Greece does not have the means to hand out these kinds of guarantees, or else the entire loan package will have to be increased substantially,” von Gerich said.

Guntram Wolff, from the Brusselsbased Bruegel think-tank Bruegel, says Finland’s collateral deal could shake the foundations of the entire rescue package. “If all of these countries would do as Finland does, then this would significantly reduce the amount of effective loans given to Greece. And in that sense, the Finnish-Greek deal (risks) jeopardize the whole package for Greece,” he said. The Finnish finance ministry refused to comment on the debate but one official noted that Finland had transparently insisted on collateral for most of this year and so the deal should not have come as a surprise.

Eurozone bailouts were a hot-button topic leading up to Finland’s general elections in April. —AFP

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TECHNOLOGY

Facebook spam program catches innocent users PITTSBURGH: Facebook has sent notes of apology and is changing automated systems that blocked environmental activists and other people from posting on like-minded Facebook pages. The activists weren’t victims of censorship, but rather an anti-spam computer algorithm that was impersonally doing what it was designed to do. “Facebook is not and has never been - in the business of disabling accounts or removing content simply because people are discussing controversial topics,” Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes said in a statement to The Associated Press. “On the contrary, we want Facebook to be a place where people can openly express their views and opinions, even if others don’t agree with them.”

The activists were flagged by an antispam program and told they couldn’t post for 15 days. Other users, including an animal rescue activist, reported the problem, too. Some have even created new Facebook pages where people who’ve been blocked can commiserate.

“Our systems classify over 10 billion actions (suspicious logins, friend requests, etc.) and pieces of content (messages, Wall posts, etc.) every day,” Noyes said. “Of course, no system is perfect, and we do sometimes make mistakes.” The activists weren’t blocked by a page administrator for making off-topic posts or for offering questionable commercial services. They couldn’t even

post to pages run by people who agree with their views. “ The first feeling was surprise, because I’d been doing this for over a year, with no problem,” said Gloria Forouzan of Pittsburgh, who has been very active in protests over natural gas drilling. “Then I found out a few others were blocked, and we all started getting angry.” Forouzan and others said this week they still don’t know what they did to trigger the blocks. Their reaction also shows just how important Facebook has become to a wide range of groups who use the free service to network and spread messages. Pro-gas industry groups also have their own Facebook pages, too. Facebook didn’t provide details of the problem. To do so, they said, might help spammers find ways around the anti-spam software.

Others note that people would complain if Facebook weakens its anti-spam programs too much, since spam would surge. “Navigating that exact balance is always quite tricky. It’s automated, done by algorithm, blind to the political value of the message,” said Jules Polonetsky, the former chief privacy officer for AOL, and now a director of the Future of Privacy Forum, a Washington, DC think tank. Forouzan said she posts links and comments to Facebook pages critical of gas drilling “every day, several times a day.” She said the posts only relate to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a

process which injects chemical-laced water deep underground to break up shale rock and allow natural gas to escape. “Never jokes, never pat-thebunny stuff,” she said.

Experts agree that Facebook and other social media sites must use automated programs to protect against spam, but said more can be done to protect innocent people from losing access. Erica Newland, a policy analyst at the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology in San Francisco, which promotes a free Internet, said that when Facebook notifies someone that they’ve been blocked from posting, it needs to provide a link for legitimate users to appeal. Facebook has an appeals process for people whose personal accounts were disabled, but doesn’t appear to have one for the 15-day spam sentence. That lack of an appeals process is one of the things that angered Burr Hubbell, a Pawling, NY, critic of gas drilling.

“I can’t figure out how to even get a response to an e-mail, let alone talk to a person,” said Hubbell, an attorney and stay-at-home-dad who was blocked about a week ago. Hubbell said that during last year’s Gulf oil spill he posted a lot of comments on Facebook pages, and at one point he got warned about posting comments too quickly. But with the recent block, he said, “This came without any warning at all.” Late

Thursday, Hubbell and others got this message from Facebook: “Your account was mistakenly blocked from posting on Pages. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. We’ve lifted the block from your account, and you should now be able to post again.” On Friday morning he tried to post again and got the same message saying he was blocked for posting spam.

Now, Hubbell wonders if Facebook has really solved the problem. Newland, the San Francisco policy analyst, said Facebook and other sites face incredible challenges, given the volume of content they handle. And she noted that the 15-day posting ban was a type of warning, since the activists weren’t kicked off Facebook. “They have created their own rules, and are trying to enforce these rules, and are trying to do so in a generally fair way. Facebook’s relationship to the content is very different from a newspaper,” she said.

Many other people have had similar problems with social media, she said.

“The decision that a company makes about when to remove content can have a real impact on discourse,” Newland said.

“It certainly highlights the need for greater transparency from Facebook.”

Facebook’s problem isn’t new.

Polonetsky said that during the mostactive era of Internet spam, AOL’s automated programs were catching and dis-

carding 1 billion pieces of suspect email every day. He also noted that since Facebook is free, it won’t have huge customer-service call centers.

And even if it did, the staff wouldn’t be able to make complicated decisions about whether someone had been improperly blocked. Forouzan and others who were blocked made regular posts to the Facebook page Gasland, which was originally set up to promote the controversial documentary of the same name that sharply criticized natural gas drilling practices around the country. The film, nominated for an Academy Award, has been equally criticized by the industry and some independent commentators for exaggerating the risks and negative impacts of drilling. The page has grown into a kind of national bulletin board on the issue of fracking, and now has 58,921 members.

Josh Fox, the director of Gasland, said Facebook has been a tremendous resource, and he understands the challenge it faces. He also wants the activists to get their posting rights back.

“I don’t think that Facebook is editorializing at all. It’s clear there is a big problem with spam. I don’t want spam flooding the page either,” said Fox, who wants the activists to get their posting rights back. “I do think for the most part people are playing fair, and they’ll work this out,” Fox said. — AP

After joining Foursquare, what’s next for Obama?

Posts remain past-tense amid worries over security threats

LAS VEGAS: Jay Radcliffe, who wrote a program to attack an insulin pump, taking control of the device wirelessly, is pictured at the annual Black Hat conference for digital self defense. — AP

After insulin pump hacking, lawmakers seeking review SAN FRANCISCO: Two lawmakers are requesting a review of the government’s security standards for wireless medical devices after a diabetic discovered how to remotely reprogram his and other people’s insulin pumps. Reps Anna Eshoo of California and Edward Markey of Massachusetts, both Democrats, asked the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to evaluate the Federal Communications Commission’s efforts to identify the risks of implants and other medical devices that use wireless communications technologies. They cited new research by Jay Radcliffe, a 33-year-old computer security expert from Idaho, who demonstrated at a conference this month that he could hack into an insulin pump he wears on his body and get it to respond to an unauthorized remote control.

He didn’t identify the specific vulnerabilities that allowed him to perform the attack, but has privately alerted the device maker - which he did not name about the issues. Others are likely vulnerable as well. The techniques raise the possibility of someone roaming a hospital’s halls performing sinister attacks.

Diabetics could get too much or too little

insulin, a hormone they need for proper metabolism. Similar attacks have also been shown against pacemakers and defibrillators. Radcliffe told The Associated Press that he experienced “sheer terror” upon finding that “there’s no security around the devices which are a very active part of keeping me alive.”

The US Food and Drug Administration has said that any medical device with wireless communication components can fall victim to eavesdropping. It warns device makers that they are responsible for securing their equipment. Eshoo and Markey wrote in a letter dated Monday that they would like the GAO to investigate the extent to which the FCC, which establishes technical requirements for radio communications, is ensuring the safety of wireless medical devices and coordinating with the FDA. “In bringing forward innovative wireless technologies and devices for healthcare, it’s critical that these devices are able to operate together and with other hospital equipment, and not interfere with each other’s activities and data transmissions,” they wrote. “It’s also important that such devices operate in a safe, reliable, and secure manner.” — AP

EMC expands leading symmetrix vmax virtual data center capabilities DUBAI: EMC Corporation introduced new software for its Symmetrix VMAX family of storage systems yesterday, extending its leading virtual data center and cloud storage capabilities. A new version of EMC autoswap software, with support for z/VM environments, was unveiled at the SHARE mainframe user event in Orlando, Florida, expanding Symmetrix VMAXbased solutions for all of the major virtual machine operating systems.

The new EMC GDDR (Geographically Dispersed Disaster Restart) autoswap for z/VM software is the most comprehensive solution for continuous availability and improved protection for virtualized mainframe environments. It enables mainframe environments running the z/VM operating system to automatically swap operations between two Symmetrix VMAX storage systems in the event of a disruption for continuous application availability and data protection and to meet strict governance, risk and compliance mandates.

“Symmetrix VMAX is purpose-built for the virtual data center. Whether it is vmware, Hyper-V or z/VM, the

Symmetrix VMAX family provides the most trusted and powerful set of capabilities for virtualized environments. In addition, Symmetrix has also supported mission-critical mainframe workloads in industries like banking and financial services for more than two decades. EMC GDDR autoswap for z/VM extends our mainframe solutions and helps our customers make their virtual data centers more resilient and meet their governance, risk and compliance objectives.” Said Brian Gallagher, President of the Enterprise Storage Division, EMC. Compliance requirements for business continuity are increasing around the globe and GDDR and GDDR/Autoswap are being deployed in order to meet these requirements.

In the event of a planned or unplanned disruption, EMC GDDR autoswap for z/VM works with EMC SRDF (Symmetrix Remote Data Facility) software to simplify and automate failover of the entire mainframe workloads to a remote site for the highest levels of data and application availability and unmatched disaster recovery capabilities.

NEW YORK: President Barack Obama joined the location-based social network Foursquare this week, adding to his other hip, online destinations that include Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Obama is also on the professional social networking service LinkedIn, which suggests the president is hedging his bets, in case he’s looking for work after the 2012 election. In announcing his entry to Foursquare, the White House said in a blog post that it will offer “tips” on the places he visits, including his recently launched bus tour of the Midwest on economic issues. So far, his Foursquare posts have been past tense, giving information on where he was, rather than where he is (as most utilize Foursquare).

The announcement didn’t stop the jokes about the irony of the president - whose location is generally shrouded in secrecy for national security sake - advertising his movements on the Internet. The chain of command seems backward, too. Foursquare rewards a user who heavily frequents a location by dubbing the user “mayor” of that spot. Would the president of the United States take pleasure in also being the mayor of Applebee’s? He certainly has a lock as “mayor” of the Oval Office.

But the president’s continuing push into Web interconnectivity begs the question: To what other digital destinations should Obama expand? It takes effort to stay current with the ever-shifting hangouts of the Internet. Here’s a look envisioning a truly 2.0 President Obama.

Chatroulette: Imagine: You’re flipping from webcam chat to webcam chat, and suddenly the leader of the free world pops up. It could actually be an effective and quick way of interacting with voters. Part of the problem is that no one would believe they were actually chatting with the president. This one might be a better fit for Vice President Joe Biden.

FarmVille: Zynga’s popular social network game, in which you plow land, harvest crops

MARYLAND: President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. — AP and raise livestock could be a real boon to a campaign looking to attract voters from the nation’s heartland. Candidates love to appear folksy. Perhaps FarmVille can be Obama’s digital answer to President George W. Bush’s brush clearing.

Singboard.com: Really, the pathway to Internet relevancy runs directly through karaoke. If Obama isn’t going to post a YouTube video of him doing Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” dance, he might as well get started on karaoke sites such as Singboard. There is obvious political risk here, though. More than a few have been undone by ABBA. The homemade marketplace Etsy has a largely female demographic from which Obama could benefit. Surely, he can assemble

some kind of red-white-and-blue owl or “Yes We Can!” ceramic plates to add to the crafts site. After all, if he can appear on “The View,” he can drop by Etsy.

Eons: An online community that caters specifically to baby boomers, Eons attracts an older demographic than Facebook. Obama is just 50 years old, but he’s starting to show some gray hair.

“Between Two Ferns”: Zach Galifianakis’ mock-interview web series on FunnyOrDie.com would be the ultimate Web-savvy move for the president. The comedian’s guests have largely been actors, but a head-of-state dropping by would be the digital age version of Nixon appearing on “Laugh-In” - only funnier, and with less dancing. Sock it to us, Mr President. — AP

Missouri teachers group sues over social networking law JEFFERSON CITY: A Missouri teachers’ union said Friday that it is challenging a new measure that restricts teachers’ use of social networking sites and their contact with students, saying it violates their constitutional rights.

The Missouri State Teachers Association said it is seeking an injunction to block enforcement of part of a law that takes effect Aug 28. The union and several public school teachers assert the law violates educators’ constitutional rights to free speech, association and religion. The social networking restrictions are part of a broader law that was proposed after an Associated Press investigation found 87 Missouri teachers had lost their licenses between 2001 and 2005 because of sexual misconduct, some of which involved exchanging explicit online messages with students.

Many teachers have complained the law will hurt their ability to keep in touch with students for classroom purposes, personal problems or even emergencies. Under the law, school districts must establish policies by January that outline “appropriate use of electronic media such as text messaging and Internet sites for both instructional and personal purposes.” Teachers are barred from having “exclusive access” online with current students or former students who are minors. That means communication through Facebook or other sites must be done in public.

The law restricts non-work-related websites that allow communication between a teacher and a student that cannot be viewed by others, though the measure states it is not attempting to prohibit teachers from setting up non-work websites that comply with the

restrictions. Spokesman Todd Fuller said the Missouri State Teachers Association has heard from an increasing number of teachers that school districts have interpreted the law in different ways, including some who say that they have been told they cannot have a Facebook page.

The group’s lawsuit - a copy of which was

provided to AP - asserts that the restrictions for non-work-related sites amounts to prior restraint and violate educators’ free speech rights. It also says they could impede religious freedom and association rights by barring teachers from using non-work related websites and social networking sites that allow exclusive access with students. — AP

JOPLIN: Alana Maddock, nurse and cheerleader coach at East Middle School, Joplin, Mo, used Facebook to locate students after the tornado destroyed several schools and much of Joplin on May 22, 2011. Maddock won’t be able to communicate with students after a law was passed in Missouri that prohibits teachers from contacting students on Facebook. — AP

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health & science

Stanford study vanquishes social anxieties without use of drugs WALNUT CREEK: For most of his life, 24-year-old Steven Bringas so feared humiliating himself if he spoke that only an emergency would get him to enter a store. The few times he shopped, he couldn’t look at the clerk and barely managed a “thank you” when he left. He avoided encountering others, thinking his small talk so clumsy that it would invite ridicule. Dealing with fellow students was so painful that he dropped out of community college. “I was a mess” in college, said Bringas, of San Jose, Calif.

Today, he’s unrecognizable from the withdrawn, anxious man he was. While squarely making eye contact, Bringas described how a clinical trial using cognitive behavioral therapy at Stanford University in 2009 all but vanquished his nearly lifelong social anxieties. It isn’t news that the well-known therapy would yield profound changes. But the Stanford study generated a new kind of evidence: Brain scan images revealed the therapy caused dramatic changes in the brain’s inner workings. In the fall, Stanford researchers will start a new, five-year clinical trial to continue their study of non-drug treatments for social anxiety. As with the previous one, the trial will test the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation in calming social anxiety. The disorder affects about 7 percent of US adults in varying severity, from the painfully shy to people deeply fearful of normal social interaction. The behavioral therapy changes distorted thinking about oneself, and mindfulness meditation trains in awareness skills that reduce anxiety. The researchers test one of the two approaches on each subject.

MRI scans and personal accounts confirm that mindfulness meditation also reduces social anxiety, said Philippe Goldin, a clinical psychologist and Stanford researcher involved in the studies. The new round of research will directly compare cognitive therapy and mindfulness meditation. Results thus far show the behavioral therapy and the meditation practice each stimulate different neural networks, Goldin said. After the behavioral therapy, the prefrontal cortex - the seat of logical, analytic thinking was more engaged in controlling reactions in the brain region from which emotions arise, the amygdala.

Cognitive behavioral therapy challenges patients to reconsider distorted thinking that generates negative self views. Through gradual exposure to anxiety-arousing situations, it builds confidence as they realize their worst fears are unwarranted. “Fear exposure” also breaks hardened

cycles of avoiding anxiety-provoking situations.

Mindfulness meditation, in contrast, stimulates a brain network in the posterior cortical region that helps us pay attention. The shift directs the mind away from distorted self-perceptions. It also appears to reduce social anxiety by interrupting habitual poor self-judgments and ruminations on self-defined negative traits, among other changes, Goldin said. The discovery that each treatment stimulated a different neural network - hence a different mental approach - is critical, he said, as some people will mesh more easily with one type of treatment. “Just like the same drug won’t help everyone, one form of mental training doesn’t necessarily help everyone,” Goldin said. Brain scans for psychological research could ultimately prove useful in tailoring treatment approaches, said Judith Rumsey, a program officer with the National Institute of Mental Health who is overseeing the Stanford grant. The institute is funding the $2.5 million, five-year study.

“For many years we couldn’t look inside the black box,” she said. “Now we can look at how these different treatments are affecting the brain, and hopefully use that to improve things.” Early psychological research with brain scans focused more on the effect of medications, Rumsey said. The Stanford study is part of a newer focus on analyzing non-drug approaches to mental health treatment.

Goldin said finding effective drug-free treatments for social anxiety is a critical motivation for the research.

“Medications can be very effective for some people, but they have side effects that most people don’t really like that impact their quality of life,” he said. Those include weight gain and grogginess. The two therapies being investigated by the Stanford team - the behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation - in effect teach the brain new ways of managing emotional reactions. “Our brain has been sculpted to learn, and medications are not about new learning,” Goldin said.

The Stanford research is also intended to raise awareness of the prevalence of social anxiety, Goldin said, which often goes unrecognized even by those suffering from it.

“All over the Bay Area, there are thousands and thousands of people with social anxiety sitting alone,” he said. The condition typically arises during childhood, and one study linked it to emotional abuse and emotional neglect, Goldin said. The earlier a sufferer receives quality treatment, the more easily the condition is relieved. “It changes the trajectory of their whole life,” he said. About 40 per-

STANFORD: Steven Bringas, of San Jose, California, overcame severe social anxiety after undergoing cognitive therapy during a clinical trial at Stanford University. Here, Bringas is seen on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California. — MCT cent of people coping with social anxiety are in treatment, ications for anxiety. “But I felt that would just be masking but only one-third of them receive adequate therapy, the problem. I just wanted to face the fear.” Then he came according to the mental health institute. It was the non- across the Stanford clinical trial for treating social anxiety drug nature of the two treatments that drew Bringas to without drugs. He’s deeply grateful to the Stanford team the Stanford study after a desperate Internet search when members, who opened the door to a new life. With his his mother’s remarriage triggered a crisis. He hit “rock bot- outgoing girlfriend by his side, Bringas said he’s going to tom” in July 2009, when his mother’s plan to move to enter San Jose State in the fall to study political science Germany with her new husband threatened to leave him and psychology. “Where I was then and where I am now is just such a huge difference,” he said. And Bringas wants to on his own.

The terrified young man’s search for ways to overcome spread the word that there’s effective help for those still what he thought of as shyness turned up a checklist for suffering from the agonizing anxiety that once hobbled social anxiety disorder. He was shocked to learn that his him. “There could be a rocket scientist who’s just too painful condition had a name and that many suffer from scared to come out and interact with people,” he said. “So it. “Every symptom was there,” he said. “After reading a bit he’s going to sit in his room and live a mediocre exismore, I knew I wasn’t alone.” Bringas learned about med- tence.” — MCT

Boomers will be spending billions to counter aging Critics argue that aging interventions are ineffective

MANUA KEA: In this undated file photo provided by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, a 2.2 meter telescope is shown located near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The telescope that was knocked out by lightning more than two months ago has been repaired and is fully operational again. — AP

Mauna Kea telescope back up following lightning strike HONOLULU: A Mauna Kea telescope that was knocked out by lightning more than two months ago is fully operational again after undergoing repairs, the telescope’s director said Friday. The final problem was a faulty electronics card that helped synchronize the movement of the 2.2-meter telescope dome and the telescope itself. The telescope, which belongs to the University of Hawaii, became fully usable on Wednesday evening once that was fixed.

Operators “are confident that we have repaired the telescope and its sub-systems and we can continue with full night-time observing with remote operation from Hilo, Manoa, the US mainland, and Europe,” Colin Aspin, the director, said in an email.

The telescope went offline during the weekend of June 4-5, when tens of thousands of lightning flashes were recorded around the state. It wasn’t clear if a direct lightning strike knocked out the telescope or if the problem

was caused by a lightning strike on Saddle Road that affected power going to the mountain. The 41-year-old telescope is the first large telescope ever built on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano. It’s smaller than its more famous neighbors including the twin Keck telescopes that have mirrors measuring 10 meters, or about 32 feet, in diameter. But the machine was the first to show Mauna Kea has some of the world’s best conditions for observing the skies.

In the early 1990s, astronomers used it to discover the existence of the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune home to large numbers of asteroid-sized bodies. Today, Pluto is commonly regarded as the largest known Kuiper Belt Object, not as the ninth planet.

Other telescopes at the volcano summit have also had problems this year. The Subaru telescope was shut down last month after coolant leaked around the telescope, including on the mirrors and camera. — AP

Feds oppose ban on food stamps for sodas in NYC NEW YORK: A plan by New York City to combat obesity by restricting the purchase of sugary drinks with foods stamps would be too large and complex, federal officials said Friday. The US Department of Agriculture rejected a waiver request that would have allowed the city to implement the plan, which would have barred food stamp recipients from using their benefits to buy sodas, teas, sports drinks and other sugar-sweetened drinks. The ban would have applied to any sweetened beverage that contains more than 10 calories per 8 ounces. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson announced in October that they would seek a waiver from the USDA to start up a temporary program that would be evaluated before becoming permanent. In a statement released Friday, Bloomberg said his administration was disappointed by the USDA’s decision. “We think our innovative pilot would have done more to protect people from the crippling effects of preventable illnesses like diabetes and obesity than anything being

proposed anywhere else in this country and at little or no cost to taxpayers,” he said.

While sharing the goal of reducing obesity, an official with the nation’s food stamp program said in a letter Friday addressed to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance that the USDA had concerns about the plan’s “potential viability and effectiveness.” Jessica Shahin, associate administrator of the program, wrote that the proposal lacked clear product eligibility guidelines, didn’t take into account the burden that might be placed on city food retailers and failed to put forward a credible design for evaluating the effect on obesity and health. The food stamp program was launched in the 1960s and serves more than 40 million Americans each month. The city has been actively working to shape diet choices by New Yorkers, including with a public advertising campaign called “Pouring on the Pounds” that targets the excessive consumption of sugary drinks by linking it to obesity and diabetes. — AP

NEW YORK: Baby boomers heading into what used to be called retirement age are providing a 70 million-member strong market for legions of companies, entrepreneurs and cosmetic surgeons eager to capitalize on their “forever young” mindset, whether it’s through wrinkle creams, face-lifts or workout regimens. It adds up to potential bonanza. The market research firm Global Industry Analysts projects that a boomer-fueled consumer base, “seeking to keep the dreaded signs of aging at bay,” will push the US market for anti-aging products from about $80 billion now to more than $114 billion by 2015.

The boomers, who grew up in a culture glamorizing youth, face an array of choices as to whether and how to be a part of that market. Anti-aging enthusiasts contend that life spans can be prolonged through interventions such as hormone replacement therapy and dietary supplements. Critics, including much of the medical establishment, say many antiaging interventions are ineffective or harmful.

From mainstream organizations such as the National Institute on Aging, the general advice is to be a skeptical consumer on guard for possible scams involving purported anti-aging products. “Our culture places great value on staying young, but aging is normal,” the institute says. “Despite claims about pills or treatments that lead to endless youth, no treatments have been proven to slow or reverse the aging process.”

Its advice for aging well is basic: Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, don’t smoke. “If someone is promising you today that you can slow, stop or reverse aging, they’re likely trying hard to separate you from your money,” said S Jay Olshansky, a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s School of Public Health who has written extensively about aging. “It’s always the same message: ‘Aging is your fault and we’ve got the cure,’” Olshansky said.

“Invest in yourself, in the simple things we know work. Get a good pair of running or walking shoes and a health club membership, and eat more fruits and vegetables.” But such advice hasn’t curtailed the demand for antiaging products, including many with hefty price tags that aren’t covered by health insurance. These include cosmetic surgery procedures at $10,000 or more, human growth hormone treatment at $15,000 per year and a skin-care product called Peau Magnifique that costs $1,500 for a 28-day supply.

Another challenge for consumers is that many dietary supplements and cosmetics, unlike prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines, aren’t required to undergo government testing or review before they are marketed. The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission do crack down at times on egregiously false anti-aging claims, but generally there’s little protection for people who don’t get hoped-for results.

Mary Engle, director of the FTC’s division of advertising practices, said her agency focuses on the cases that could cause serious harm, such as bogus cancer treatments that might prompt an ill person to forgo proper care. She said the agency lacks the resources to crack down comprehensively on ads with exaggerated claims that exploit customers’ hopes for

better looks or more energy.

“Often it doesn’t rise to the level of fraud,” she said. “There are so many problematic ads out there and we really have to pick and choose what we focus on.” In contrast to the caution of mainstream organizations, there are many vocal promoters of anti-aging products and procedures, including the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. It hosts annual conferences in the US and abroad, and claims 22,000 members, mostly physicians. In its mission statement, the academy says the disabilities associated with normal aging “are

A look at some of the major sectors in the anti-aging industry: Hormone replacement therapy: Numerous companies and clinics promote hormone replacement drugs, including testosterone for men and custom-mixed “bioidentical” hormones for women, as a way to slow the aging process. Many consumers have seen ads featuring muscle-bound Dr. Jeffry Life, now 72.

He used testosterone and human growth hormone in his own bodybuilding regimen and recommends hormonal therapy for some of

NEW YORK: Dr Robert Goldman, one of the co-founders of the American Academy of AntiAging Medicine, is photographed in his trophy room in Chicago with hardware from 20 Guinness World Records for strength and endurance. “People should be healthy and strong well into 100 to 120 years of age,” Goldman says in a biographical video. “That’s what’s really exciting - to live in a time period when the impossible is truly possible.” — AP caused by physiological dysfunction which in many cases are ameliorable to medical treatment, such that the human life span can be increased.” One of the academy’s co-founders is Robert Goldman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine. He contends that much of the resistance to the anti-aging movement comes from sectors of the health and pharmaceutical industries that feel threatened financially - for example by the surging use of over-the-counter nutritional supplements.

“It all has to do with who’s controlling the dollars,” he said. Though many anti-aging interventions are expensive, Goldman said people on tight budgets still can take useful steps such as drinking purified water, taking vitamins and using sun screen. “People should be healthy and strong well into 100 to 120 years of age,” Goldman says in a biographical video.

“That’s what’s really exciting - to live in a time period when the impossible is truly possible.”

Olshansky, who over the years has been among Goldman’s harshest critics, believes there will be scientific breakthroughs eventually, perhaps based on studies of the genes of long-lived people, that will help slow the rate of aging. In the meantime, Olshansky says, “I understand the need for personal freedom, the freedom to make bad decisions.”

the patients patronizing his age-management practice in Las Vegas. The FDA has approved hormone replacement drugs for some specific purposes related to diseases and deficiencies, but not to combat aging. “Finding a ‘fountain of youth’ is a captivating story,” says the National Institute on Aging. “The truth is that, to date, no research has shown that hormone replacement drugs add years to life or prevent age-related frailty.” Dr. Evan Hadley, director of the institute’s Division of Geriatrics, says hormone replacement drugs can have harmful side effects. He said there is a need for more research, such as an institute study of testosterone therapy, to identify the potential risks and benefits. “There is indeed potential that people can be healthier in old age,” Hadley said. “But it still requires evidence about what’s going to help and what’s not.” Hormone drugs can be expensive. HGH shots can cost more than $15,000 a year, according to the institute.

A hormone-based dietary supplement known as DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a precursor of estrogen and testosterone, is marketed online for $12.95 per capsule by Utah-based NutraScriptives. Some proponents say overthe-counter DHEA supplements can improve energy and strength, boost immunity and decrease fat. — AP

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Acres of Hawaii’s genetically modified papayas attacked HONOLULU: Thousands of papaya trees were chopped down on 10 acres of Big Island farmland under the cover of night last month. Hawaii County police said the destruction appeared to be done with a machete, but there are no leads and few clues beyond the tree stumps and all the fruit left to rot. “It’s hard to imagine anybody putting that much effort into doing something like that,” said Delan Perry, vice president of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association. “It means somebody has to have passionate reason.” A growing theory among farmers is that the attack was an act of eco-terrorism, a violent protest against the biotechnology used in growing papayas here. Police did not respond to calls seeking comment.

The majority of papayas grown on 170 farms on Oahu and the Big Island are genetically modified. University of Hawaii scientists developed the genetically modified fruit that’s resistant to a ring spot virus that wiped out production on Oahu in the 1950s and was detected in the Puna district on the Big Island in the 1990s. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are crops whose genetic makeup has been altered to give the plant a desirable trait. The genetically modified fruit is credited with saving Hawaii’s $11 million papaya production industry. “We wouldn’t have a

papaya industry today if it weren’t for the transgenic papaya,” said Alicia Maluafiti, executive director of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, which represents the seed industry and protects biotech crop growers. “Without a transgenic papaya restricting the expansion of the virus, that virus would be prevalent today.”

Restricting the virus has also allowed for organic papayas to be grown, she said.

Without the transgenic papaya, the Vitamin C-laden fruit would cost a lot more to enjoy, said Richard Manshardt, a tropical fruit breeder and geneticist at the University of Hawaii who was on the team that developed the genetically modified fruit. Kevin Richards, director of regulatory relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said he knows of no other crop that relies on biotechnology to save it from disease.

Commodity crops such as cotton, soy and corn commonly use genetic engineering in order to make them easier and cheaper to grow. “Papaya would be unique in the sense where the industry in Hawaii is dependent on biotech,” said Richards. “What you have in Hawaii is a very contained, isolated agro-eco system, which is vulnerable to diseases.” He cited international examples of eco-terrorism: activists who took weed-whackers to test crops of drought-resis-

tant wheat in Australia and test plots of biotech eggplants destroyed in the Philippines.

Hawaii’s papayas are held up as an example of how biotechnology can improve access to crops, Richards said. That’s especially important in parts of the world with a limited food supply, Manshardt said, adding that genetic engineering could be used to protect cassava crops with severe virus problems in Africa and Latin America. Hawaii farmers had no choice but to grow GMO papayas in order to survive, said Perry, whose organization has raised a $10,000 reward for information on the crop destruction.

“Papaya is the No. 1 fruit eaten in Hawaii,” he said. One of the affected farmers, Erlinda Bernardo, said fellow papaya growers often worry about retaliation from those who are against GMOs. “Most of the product on the island is genetically modified,” she said. “If not, most of the farmers would suffer, there would be more unemployment.” Bernardo, her husband and four children are preparing to plant again in another area after 3,000 trees worth $15,000 on five leased acres were destroyed.

“We’re afraid to plant in that area, so we’re giving up the lease there,” she said. “When you start all over again, you have to wait a year for the papaya to bear fruit.” — AP

PAHOA: Vandalized papaya trees are seen in Pahoa, Hawaii. — AP

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Greetings

Members of the KBC social committee.

11th happy birthday to R Dhiviya, best wishes from father K Ravi, mother Mani Megalayi, sister Santhiya, and relatives.

Announcements Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness.

So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas. For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below.

Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza60035824, 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.

Kids in traditional costumes.

Reem Al-Wuqaiyan and Sawsan Haroun share a photo with children during the festival.

A kid receives his award which he won from the raffle draw from Mohammad Al-Sayegh and Reem Al-Wuqaiyan.

KBC hosts girgian party

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taff members of local banks and their families enjoyed a Girgian festival held by the Kuwait Banks Club in Hawally Park recently, featuring a special program organized by the Fantasy Group. The event was attended by top KBC personnel including chairman of the board Hesham Al-Buíaijan, treasurer Mohammad Al-Sayegh, assistant secretary general Jassem AlHaidar, head of the sports committee Khalil Al-Blushi, head of the social committee Reem AlWuqaiyan and assistant general manager Abbas Al-Blushi.

(From right) Jassem Haidar, Khalil Al-Blushi and Reem Al-Wuqaiyan.

A competition for children in action.

Crowds react to a display.

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.

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 Kuwait-based comedian Philip’s third musical show after the overwhelming success of staging “Tum Vhoir Aum Sokol” and “Hem Kazar Koslem” in Kuwait and overseas.

KBC personnel in a group photo after receiving a memorial plaque.

Tech Sol awards staff during Iftar

The Eranakulam District Association’s Independence Day Celebration

Eranakulam District Association Independence Day celebration

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The Tech Sol Iftar celebration.

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he Tech Sol company conducted an Iftar at Caesars Dakshin Restaurant Jleeb on August 17th. Adel Yaser Hamza, the Managing Director, led the gathering. “This Iftar meet may help unity, peace

and love among us”, he said. 2010 - 2011 year excellence awards have been delivered to respective candidates Shibu Joseph (Accountant), Shamsudheen (PRO), Naheem Habeeb (Salesman) and Dayanandan

(Technician). The awards have been delivered

by Mrs. Brenda Abdul Husain, Director George Sebastian and Director Manzoor Ali. Ajay, Anas Muhammed and Arya controlled the event.

ranakulam District Association celebrated the 65th Indian Independence Day the 15th of August at Okinawa Karate hall, Abbassiya. Members and their families participated in the festivities. The flag hoisted by President Roy Yoyaki and an inaugural address was given by Abdul Rahim, vice president. Capt Johnson welcomed the audience. Young children recited Vandematharam. Acting General Secretary Baburaj Palluruthy, General Co-

ordinator Geo Mathai, Treasurer Gigi Mathen, central committee members Sunil Kumar, Varghese Paul, Thajudeen, Anil Kumar, Balakrishnan, Stanly, and Shojan gave brief speeches at the meeting.

Speakers shared their school memories of independence day celebrations and stressed the importance celebrating Independence Day to bring out the memories of sacrifices of our grate leaders who fought for the independence of India.

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref ) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211.

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Guests at the MC Group’s annual ghabqa.

MC Groups holds annual ghabqa

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he MC Group held its annual ghabqa this past Tuesday at the JW Marriott hotel, attended by representatives of from local press, media and advertisement agencies. The event was also attended by a team from the Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC), who gave demonstrations for humanitarian activities they carried out this year which include helping with building homes for people in need in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as helping in building a school in Kenya. MC Group CEO Ahmad Al-Ajouz commemorated loYAC’s chairperson of the board Fare’ah Al-Saqaf at the end of the event. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

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 ■■■■■■■

Fare’ah Al-Saqqaf and Ahmad Al Ajouz

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. ■■■■■■■

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 ■■■■■■■

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.

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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.

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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 ■■■■■■■

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 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 01:40 Untamed And Uncut 02:35 World Wild Vet 03:30 Monster Bug Wars 04:25 Attack Of The Giant Jellyfish 05:20 Animal Cops Phoenix 06:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 The Really Wild Show 07:50 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Cats Of Claw Hill 10:05 Cats 101 11:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 11:55 Meerkat Manor 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Cell Dogs 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 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 17:00 Natural Born Hunters 17:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 18:20 Breed All About It 18:45 Orangutan Island 19:15 Crocodile Hunter 20:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 21:05 Killer Crocs 22:00 Natural World 22:55 I’m Alive 23:50 Planet Earth

00:20 00:50 01:35 02:25 03:10 Fallen 04:05 04:35 04:55 05:10 05:30 05:45 05:50 06:10 06:25 06:45 07:00 07:20 07:35 07:55 08:10 08:15 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:30 09:35 09:40 10:40 11:25 12:25 12:55 13:25 14:20 15:20 16:20 17:05 17:35 18:05 19:00 20:00 20:45 21:15 21:45 22:40 23:30

Dad’s Army The Weakest Link Ray Mears’ Wild Foods The Weakest Link Spanish Flu - The Forgotten

00:00 00:10 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:10

BBC World News Feasts BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News The Health Show

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 The Adventures Of Spot Tweenies The Roly Mo Show Me Too Forget Me Not Farm Spot’s Musical Adventures The Adventures Of Spot My Family The Weakest Link Sunshine Doctors Dad’s Army Ray Mears’ Wild Foods My Family Sunshine The Weakest Link Doctors Dad’s Army Ray Mears’ Wild Foods Sunshine The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby City Children, The My Family

02:30 Our World 03:00 Newsday 03:30 India Business Report 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

06:00 American Dragon 06:20 Kick Buttowski 06:40 Pokemon Dp: Sinnoh League Victors 07:05 Phineas & Ferb 07:30 Kid Vs Kat 07:50 Pair Of Kings 08:15 I’m In The Band 08:40 Kick Buttowski 09:00 Zeke & Luther 09:50 I’m In The Band 10:15 The Super Hero Squad Show 10:40 Suite Life On Deck 11:30 Pair Of Kings 11:55 Phineas & Ferb 12:20 Phineas & Ferb 12:45 I’m In The Band 13:10 Kid Vs Kat 13:30 Kid Vs Kat 13:50 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:10 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 14:30 Phineas & Ferb 14:50 Zeke & Luther 15:15 Kick Buttowski 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

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

TV PROGRAMS

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Chef Abroad Glutton For Punishment Intrepid Journeys Cruising The South China Sea Globe Trekker Indian Times Globe Trekker Planet Food Top Travel Globe Trekker Flavours Of Mexico Indian Times The Soller Railway Globe Trekker First Class South Africa Flavours Of Mexico Cruise Today Globe Trekker Essential Specials Cruising The South China Sea People Of The Sea

00:25 00:50 01:15 01:40 02:05 Cody 02:30 02:55 03:20 04:10 05:00 05:45 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 17:50 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

Fish Hooks Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance The Suite Life Of Zack And

00:40 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30

Get Out Alive Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Street Customs 2008 How Does It Work Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security

Hannah Montana Forever Kim Possible Replacements Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic Stitch Kim Possible Emperor’s New School Stitch 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 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

BROTHERHOOD ON OSN ACTION HD

10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:55 22:25 22:50 23:45

Auction Hunters Wheeler Dealers Powering The Future Ultimate Survival Miami Ink Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers On The Road Fifth Gear Mythbusters Deadliest Catch Cake Boss Auction Hunters How Does It Work Cash Cab (US) Flying Wild Alaska Swamp Brothers True Heroes Dirty Jobs Deadliest Catch

00:05 The Gadget Show 00:30 Prototype This 01:20 Colony 02:10 Ultimate Power Builders 03:00 Science Of The Movies 03:50 What’s That About?

04:45 Kings Of Construction 05:40 How Does That Work?

06:10 Smash Lab 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 07:55 Nasa’s Greatest Missions 08:50 The Gadget Show 09:15 The Gadget Show 09:40 Nextworld 15:45 Weird Connections 16:10 Scrapheap Challenge 17:00 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 17:50 Sci-Fi Science 18:15 The Gadget Show 18:40 Mighty Ships 19:30 Kings Of Construction 20:20 Smash Lab 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 The Gadget Show 22:00 Mighty Ships 22:50 Kings Of Construction 23:40 The Gadget Show

00:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 00:30 Good Eats - Special 00:55 Unwrapped 01:45 Lidia’s Italy 02:35 Barefoot Contessa 03:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:25 World Cafe Middle East 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 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 Aarti Party 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 Aarti Party 18:15 World Cafe Asia 18:40 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 19:05 Good Eats - Special 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Paula’s Party 21:10 Bobby Chinn Cooks Asia 22:00 Lidia’s Italy 22:50 Boy Meets Grill 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 06:45 Handy Manny 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 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 19:03 Animated Stories 19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:50 Jake And The Neverland Pirates 20:10 The Little Mermaid 21:20Jake And The Neverland Pirates 21:35 Jungle Junction 21:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:15 Timmy Time 22:25 Handy Manny 22:40 Jungle Junction 22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 23:20 Special Agent Oso

00:25 Style Star 01:25 E!es 02:20 E! Investigates 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Reality Hell 05:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 06:00 15 Most Infamous Child Star Mugshots 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Holly’s World 10:15 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up 12:05 Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami 16:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:15 Aiya TV 01:30 Eds Up 02:20 Fantasy Factory 04:50 Lucas Oil Motocross Championships 2009 06:30 Ride Guide Mountainbike 2007 08:00 X Games Heroes 08:25 LG Action Sports World...

10:55 Breitling Airsports 2009 11:20 Gumball 3000: 2008 11:45 Fantasy Factory 12:10 Fantasy Factory 12:35 Sports Jobs 13:00 Sports Jobs 13:25 Mantracker 14:15 World Combat League 15:05 Breitling Airsports 2009 15:30 Gumball 3000: 2008 15:55 Fantasy Factory 16:20 Fantasy Factory 16:45 X Games Heroes 17:10 LG Action Sports World...

19:40 Mantracker 20:30 Sports Jobs 21:20 Untracked 21:45 Untracked 22:10 World Combat League 23:00 Wrestling With Reality 23:50 Sports Jobs

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 Jones 03:50 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40

Deadly Women Disappeared Couples Who Kill True Crime With Aphrodite CSU Ghosthunters Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER CSU FBI Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Mystery ER Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls CSU FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Stalked: Someone’s Watching Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Travel Madness 00:30 Travel Madness 01:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 02:00 Exploring The Vine 03:00 Food School 03:30 Banged Up Abroad 05:30 Finding Genghis 06:00 Travel Madness 07:00 Cruise Ship Diaries 08:00 Exploring The Vine 09:00 Food School 09:30 Banged Up Abroad 11:30 Finding Genghis 12:00 Travel Madness 13:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 14:00 Word Travels 14:30 Market Values 15:00 The Best Job In The World 15:30 Madventures 16:00 Which Way To...

17:00 Word Travels 17:30 Market Values 18:00 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 19:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 20:00 Word Travels 20:30 Market Values 21:00 The Best Job In The World 21:30 Madventures 22:00 Which Way To...

23:00 Word Travels 23:30 Market Values

00:00 Killer Shots 01:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 01:55 The Lion Ranger 02:50 Monster Fish 03:45 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 04:40 Wild Detectives 05:05 Wild Chronicles 05:35 Strike Force 06:30 The Living Edens 07:25 Python Hunters

THE CORE ON OSN MOVIE ACTION 08:20 Built For The Kill 09:15 The Lion Ranger 10:10 Monster Fish 11:05 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 12:00 World’s Deadliest 13:00 The Living Edens 14:00 Python Hunters 15:00 Built For The Kill 16:00 The Lion Ranger 17:00 Hooked 18:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 19:00 The Living Edens

00:00 Altitude-PG15 02:00 Brotherhood-PG15 04:00 Deadly Impact-18 06:00 8 Mile-18 08:00 The One-PG15 09:45 The Order-PG15 11:30 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen-PG15 14:00 The One-PG15 15:45 Heaven’s Fall-PG15 17:30 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen-PG15 20:00 Killshot-18 22:00 Child’s Play 3-18

01:15 Girl, Positive-PG15 03:00 Who Is Clark Rockefeller-PG 05:00 Mee Shee-PG 07:00 5 Dollars A Day-PG15 09:00 At Risk-PG15 11:00 The Great Debaters-PG15 13:15 Furry Vengeance-PG15 15:00 My Son, My Son, What Have You Done?-PG15 17:00 Three Investigators-PG15 19:00 Hurricane Season-PG15 21:00 She’s Out Of My League-18 23:00 Eat Pray Love-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 02:00 Sons Of Tucson 02:30 Bored To Death 03:00 Just Shoot Me 03:30 Just Shoot Me 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Will And Grace 06:00 Coach 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Just Shoot Me 09:00 Will And Grace 09:30 30 Rock 10:00 30 Rock 10:30 Coach 11:00 The Drew Carey Show 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Just Shoot Me 13:30 Will And Grace 14:00 Coach 14:30 30 Rock 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 Cougar Town 19:30 Traffic Light 20:00 The League 20:30 Seinfeld 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 Comedy Central Presents 22:30 Comedy Central Presents 23:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 23:30 The League

01:15 03:00 05:00 06:45 09:00

Armored-18 Raising Cain-PG15 Sugarhouse-18 The Core-PG15 Lost In Space-PG15

11:15 14:15 16:15 18:30 21:00 23:00

Pearl Harbor-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 Lost In Space-PG15 Public Enemies-18 Orphan-18 Mirrors 2-PG15

00:00 Mr. Baseball-PG 02:00 Bustin’ Loose-PG15 04:00 Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid-PG 06:00 The Making Of Plus One-PG15 08:00 Mafia!-PG15 10:00 Did You Hear About The Morgans?-PG15 12:00 Leaving Normal-PG15 14:00 One Fine Day-PG15 16:00 Mr. Baseball-PG 18:00 Say It Isn’t So-18 20:00 Finding Lenny-PG15 22:00 Black Dynamite-18

01:00 Road Trip: Beer Pong-18 03:00 Cinema Verite: The Saga Of An American Family-PG15 05:00 50 First Dates-PG15 07:00 Post Grad-PG15 09:00 Remember Me-PG15 11:00 Invictus-PG15 13:30 The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle-FAM 15:00 Easy Virtue-PG15 17:00 Remember Me-PG15 19:00 Wake-PG15 20:45 I Love You Beth Cooper-PG15 22:30 A Nightmare On Elm Street-18

01:00 Aliens In The Attic-FAM 03:00 Rolie, Polie, Olie: The MovieFAM 05:00 Rugrats In Paris: The MovieFAM 07:00 Kung Fu Magoo-FAM 09:00 How To Train Your Dragon-PG 11:00 Fly Me To The Moon-PG 13:00 Dennis The Menace: Cruise Control-FAM 15:00 A Christmas Carol-PG 17:00 Fly Me To The Moon-PG 19:00 Dinosaur Island-PG 21:00 Dennis The Menace: Cruise Control-FAM 23:00 A Christmas Carol-PG

00:00 Triassic Attack-PG15 02:00 Whip It-PG15 04:00 Soulboy-PG15 06:00 St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend Of Fritton’s Gold-PG15 08:00 Whip It-PG15 10:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 12:00 Soulboy-PG15 14:00 The Missing Person-PG15 16:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 17:45 Another Year-PG15 20:00 Robin Hood (2010)-PG15 22:30 American Son-PG15

00:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Test Cricket NRL Premiership Powerboats F1 WWE Bottomline Speedway Trans World Sport Live Test Cricket Speedway UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown!

00:00 International Rugby Union 02:00 Scottish Premier League 04:00 NRL Premiership 06:00 The Open Championship Official Film 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 European PGA Tour 12:30 Rugby World Cup Classics 13:00 Live Test Cricket 20:00 Trans World Sport

02:00 Trans World Sport

03:00 International Rugby Union 07:00 Rugby World Cup Classics 07:30 Scottish Premier League 09:30 NRL Premiership 11:30 NRL Full Time 12:00 Live NRL Premiership 14:00 Trans World Sport 15:00 Premier League Snooker 17:00 NRL Premiership 19:00 AFL Highlights 20:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 21:00 Rugby World Cup Classics 21:30 Scottish Premier League

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 12:30 13:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Speedway V8 Supercars Championship UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC UFC Unleashed WWE Bottomline V8 Supercars Championship Super League Formula Powerboats F1 Highlights V8 Supercars Championship WWE SmackDown!

WWE Vintage Collection Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Powerboats F1 Highlights Le Mans Series Magazine Speedway UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC 134 Countdown UFC Unleashed

00:00 Top 10 01:00 Fashion Avenue 01:55 Big Boutique 02:25 How Do I Look?

03:20 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

04:15 Married Away 05:10 Homes With Style 05:35 Area 06:05 Clean House 07:00 Big Boutique 08:00 Homes With Style 09:00 Fashion Avenue 09:55 How Do I Look?

10:50 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

11:50 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

12:50 Clean House 13:45 Top 10 14:15 Mel B: It’s A Scary World 14:45 Jerseylicious 15:40 Ruby

00:10 Lolita 02:40 Mrs. Soffel-PG 04:30 Lust For Life-FAM 06:30 TCM Presents Under The Influence-U 07:00 Woman Of The Year-PG 08:50 A Yank At Eton-FAM 10:15 The Yearling-FAM 12:20 The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm-FAM 14:25 Where Were You When The Lights Went Out?-PG 15:55 Where The Spies Are-PG 17:45 Kelly’s Heroes-PG 20:05 Clash Of The Titans

00:00 The Universe 01:00 Ax Men 02:00 Ice Road Truckers 03:00 UFO Hunters 04:00 Ancient Aliens 06:00 The Universe 07:00 Ax Men 08:00 Ice Road Truckers 09:00 UFO Hunters 10:00 Ancient Aliens 12:00 The Universe 13:00 Ax Men 14:00 Ice Road Truckers 15:00 UFO Hunters 16:00 Ancient Aliens 18:00 The Universe 19:00 Ax Men 20:00 Ice Road Truckers 21:00 Lock N’ Load With R. Lee Ermey 21:55 Mega Movers 23:00 Ax Men

Classifieds MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available from September 1, Abbassiya, near Neethi Store building, full furnished 2 bedroom flat, share with keralite family. Looking for executive single bachelor or couples only for South Indians.

Contact: 66788568 or afternoon 66944127. (C 3586) 22-8-2011 One big room attach bath available for decent bachelor or couple, 2 BR C/AC flat in Fintas, near London hospital and close to Fahaheel Highway. Contact 60020168.

(C 3580) 21-8-2011

FOR SALE Toyota Camry model 2001, 4-cylinder, very good condition. Tel: 60035758.

(C 3581) 21-8-2011

CHANGE OF NAME Busam Aswani holder of Indian Passport No: H2028715, issued in Hyderabad, India. Before I am non-Muslim (Hindu) then I

convert to Muslim, hereby change my name to Fatima Riaz.

(C 3582) 21-8-2011 I, Abel C. Abella Tagongtong, Filipino wish to change my name to Vir Niqel Abella Tagongtong.

(C 3578) 18-8-2011

SITUATION WANTED Engineer with 4 years experience as Data Analyst / operation support (Telecom / Retail). Good working knowledge in Oracle, Unix and MS Office. Contact: 65794224. (C 3583) MBA (Finance) with bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 2 years experience in Kuwait looking for further experience in Finance.

Contact: 67731590. (C 3584) 22-8-2011

MATRIMONIAL Proposals are invited for a born again girl, 5.3”, 29 yrs, working as an Admin Professional with a reputed company in Kuwait. Email: lyndakuruvilla@gmail.com (C 3585) 22-8-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines RJA BBC THY ETH UAE DHX ETD MSR GFA QTR JZR KAC FCX KAC BAW JZR JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY ETD GFA SHY MEA IRC MSR JZR KAC RBG KAC MSR SYR UAL RJA JZR

Flt 642 45 772 620 853 370 305 614 211 138 539 544 201 412 157 507 557 206 302 53 352 284 344 362 855 132 125 301 213 1125 404 6521 623 173 618 3557 672 610 341 982 640 121

Arrival Flights on Monday 22/8/2011 Route AMMAN DHAKA / BAHRAIN ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI CAIRO BAHRAIN DOHA CAIRO CAIRO DUBAI MANILA / BANGKOK LONDON LUXOR ALEXANDRIA ISLAMABAD MUMBAI DUBAI COCHIN DHAKA CHENNAI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA SHARJAH ABU DHABI BAHRAIN ANTALYA BEIRUT LAMERD SOHAG DUBAI DOHA ALEXANDRIA DUBAI CAIRO DAMASCUS WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN BAHRAIN

Time 0:05 0:55 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:05 3:15 3:20 3:50 4:40 5:25 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:05 7:15 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:10 8:20 8:20 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:30 9:35 10:45 10:55 11:20 12:10 12:50 12:55 12:55 13:15 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:35 13:45

FDB OMA SVA KAC QTR KNE KAC KAC KAC MLR ETD UAE GFA SVA ABY FDB ALK KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC AIC JAI FDB OMA VOS MEA JZR JZR DHX KLM JZR UAE GFA QTR UAL TAR MSR DLH BBC PIA

57 645 500 788 134 745 546 550 118 403 303 857 215 510 127 63 227 104 542 786 774 744 777 674 975 572 61 647 81 402 203 239 372 445 267 859 217 136 981 327 612 636 43 239

DUBAI MUSCAT JEDDAH JEDDAH DOHA JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA SOHAG NEW YORK COLOMBO / DUBAI ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH SHARJAH DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI LONDON CAIRO JEDDAH RIYADH DAMMAM JEDDAH DUBAI CHENNAI / GOA MUMBAI DUBAI MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT DAMASCUS AMMAN BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM BEIRUT DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN TUNIS CAIRO FRANKFURT DHAKA SIALKOT

13:50 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:15 15:25 15:30 15:35 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:35 18:50 19:00 19:10 19:15 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:20 20:35 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:15 22:50 23:00 23:45 23:55

Airlines AXB JZR DLH KLM AIC PIA AFG BBC THY ETH UAE DHX ETD MSR QTR RJA GFA BAW KAC JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD GFA JZR SHY KAC MEA KAC IRC KAC MSR KAC RBG JZR MSR SYR

Departure Flights on Monday 22/8/2011 Flt Route 390 MANGALORE / KOZHIKODE 506 LUXOR 637 FRANKFURT 447 AMSTERDAM 982 AHMEDABAD / CHENNAI 206 PESHAWER / LAHORE 406 DUBAI / KABUL 46 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL 620 BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 615 CAIRO 139 DOHA 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 156 LONDON 545 ALEXANDRIA 172 DUBAI 54 DUBAI 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 549 SOHAG 617 DOHA 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 120 BAHRAIN 1126 ANTALYA 165 ROME / PARIS 405 BEIRUT 541 CAIRO 6522 LAMERD 103 LONDON 624 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 3558 SOHAG / ALEXANDRIA 776 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO 342 DAMASCUS

Time 0:25 0:30 0:40 0:55 1:05 1:10 2:00 2:10 2:15 2:30 3:45 3:55 4:05 4:05 5:00 7:00 7:10 8:25 8:35 8:40 8:40 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:40 9:50 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:45 11:45 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:20 12:30 13:10 13:30 13:35 13:50 14:20 14:25

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

RJA FDB UAL JZR OMA JZR JZR KAC SVA KAC KNE KAC VOS ETD MLR QTR UAE GFA ABY SVA FDB ALK KAC JAI FDB KAC JZR KAC OMA MEA KAC DHX KLM UAE GFA FCX QTR KAC KAC TAR UAL KAC MSR JZR

641 58 982 202 646 266 238 673 501 773 746 743 82 304 404 135 858 216 128 511 64 228 283 571 62 331 538 351 648 403 543 373 445 860 218 102 137 301 205 327 981 411 613 556

AMMAN DUBAI BAHRAIN DAMASCUS MUSCAT BEIRUT AMMAN DUBAI JEDDAH RIYADH JEDDAH DAMMAM BAGHDAD ABU DHABI DUBAI / COLOMBO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI / COLOMBO DHAKA MUMBAI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM CAIRO COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT CAIRO BAHRAIN BAHRAIN / AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD DUBAI / TUNIS WASHINGTON DC DULLES BANGKOK / MANILA CAIRO ALEXANDRIA

14:30 14:35 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:45 15:50 16:10 16:25 17:00 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:35 18:40 19:10 20:00 20:35 20:40 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 417

CALVIN & HOBBES

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Everything points to your taking the initiative today. Fun times with friends, family or both can be enjoyed now. Questions or quandaries about your next steps will get advisement and support from your loved ones.

You feel healthy, natural and highly energetic. You love a social life—friends and relationships play a major role in your makeup. You could decide to take a short trip to a nearby city for an auction, entertainment or special sale, etc. Close bonds in a marriage or friendship are very important to you. You like beautiful surroundings, everything that is calm, tasteful and harmonious. You are very giving and flattering in relationships, able to adjust to any situation. Reflective, tactful, you are able to please.

This is one of those fun days; relax!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. An insecticide that is also toxic to animals and humans.

4. A song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation).

10. Any of various units of capacity.

13. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

14. The world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in North Africa.

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

16. True firs.

18. A male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917).

19. Noisy talk.

20. A constitutional monarchy in southeastern Asia on Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.

22. A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.

24. An antidepressant drug that acts by blocking the reuptake of serotonin so that more serotonin is available to act on receptors in the brain.

25. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

27. The syllable naming the fourth (subdominant) note of the diatonic scale in solmization.

29. A silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion.

30. (Judaism) Not conforming to dietary laws.

35. Australian shrubs and small trees with evergreen usually spiny leaves and dense clusters of showy flowers.

37. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

38. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

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

41. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.

44. An oral antidiabetic drug (trade names DiaBeta and Micronase) that stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas.

49. A large Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria.

53. United States swimmer who in 1926 became the first woman to swim the English Channel (1903- ).

54. Light informal conversation for social occasions.

55. Unknown god.

56. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

57. A quantity of no importance.

60. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

62. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

63. An arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands).

65. A dark-skinned member of a race of people living in Australia when Europeans arrived.

66. The act of grasping.

67. An association of nations dedicated to economic and political cooperation in southeastern Asia.

68. A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow).

DOWN 1. The length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference.

2. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

3. Formalwear consisting of full evening dress for men.

4. An ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia which is in present-day Iraq.

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

6. Psychoactive substance present in marijuana.

7. An abbreviation for `hazardous material' used on warning signs.

8. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

9. God of death.

10. Common Indian weaverbird.

11. (informal) Exceptionally good.

12. A body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land.

17. A Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.

21. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself ).

23. A notable achievement.

26. A ductile gray metallic element of the lanthanide series.

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

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

32. Having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number.

33. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

34. Thigh of a hog (usually smoked).

36. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

40. Small creeping evergreen shrubs.

41. God of death.

42. Foul with waste matter.

43. A small cake leavened with yeast.

45. A state in the Rocky Mountains.

46. A hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair.

47. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

48. A narrow headband or strip of ribbon worn as a headband.

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

51. Jordan's port.

52. A wealthy man (who made his fortune in the Orient).

58. The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands.

59. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

61. A pilgrimage to Mecca.

64. A state in east central United States.

Yesterday’s Solution

At home today you may find that others want you to respond to their needs in rapid order. Perhaps they could make a to-do list for you. Enjoy a bit of exercise first and then you will be able to focus on the requests that are most important. Someone could help you as you move along with these requests . . . this way time will move faster and more can be accomplished. This is a good time to organize your affairs or rearrange your living situation. Perhaps you and your family could clear away some of the things that no longer serve a purpose—for charity. Set a time limit so the work is done quickly and people do not get sidetracked. A bag for your favorite charity will be welcomed. There is time left to play!

Keep hydrated.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You are able to cut through the red tape and get at what is beneath and behind most problems today. There are breakthroughs regarding inner growth and transformation as well as compassion and communion. This is a time during which you reach new levels in understanding life and death. There is the possibility of new visions or sudden insights into your self-image or into your ideals and dreams. This might be the time to reshape and renew your philosophy or religion, during which your imagination is at full tilt. Find ways that you can create a balance for your life so that there are opportunities for adventure. This evening you may find your own life influenced when you encourage a young person to plan his or her education and future goals.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

There is something gentle, regular and steadfast about you. You want to get your budget in order and may spend time this morning making adjustments and listing your assets. Family members may want your input on some difficult questions. You could be accepting, nurturing and intent on providing a base or place where growth takes place. You care and want to be helpful to your loved ones today. Sometimes a listening ear is all that is necessary. Allow someone else to have the neat ideas or the last word today. You like to be in control and pulling the strings but today may be more meaningful with a laid-back attitude.

Today brings new experiences your way—and they are most positive. This is a good day and close relationships can become even closer.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

ZITS

There is confidence, faith and a leaning toward taking chances at the deepest emotional levels. This is a time of exploring the feelings with a need for new emotional experiences. There is an emphasis on communication, expression of ideas and the connections between things, places and people.

What goes on in your mind is the all-important motivation. You tend toward mental pursuits and admire intelligence. You may find yourself in a group setting today where opportunities will present themselves for much mental and physical activity.

Touring and lecturing or a simple book review speaker could be part of these activities. You love to express yourself and enjoy being surrounded by an audience. Enjoy your friends this evening.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) A conversation with family this Sunday may bring up such fun subjects as the psyche and the psychological. You are intuitive and enjoy debates and what-if types of discussions. You are able to carry out ideas and dreams into reality—to make the spirit matter. You are very communicative as well as curious and may find writing, teaching, lecturing or just talking with other like minds a fascinating and fun activity today. Study, research and investigations of all kinds appeal to you. Continued education or a new class in a favored subject may be desired. You are always searching out some answer or another. Visiting with family, especially sibling(s), can be an important part of your afternoon. This evening you enjoy chatting with a loved one.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

This is a time of much energy and drive—perfect for starting some project or taking care of personal business. You could find yourself repairing and taking care of your living area. You have great insight into matters of personal freedom. You come up with brilliant ways to express or act out ideas. New methods of lovemaking, raising kids, caring for animals are yours. You are outspoken, very dramatic, impressive and even regal. You relax with children, sports, acting, singing and such. There is a chance to socialize this evening with some of your very favorite people. You understand and enjoy those around you and there are some special times to embrace this evening. There are good feelings with a sense of support and harmony.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Difficulties can be worked through at this time. You may find yourself at odds with those around you, but in a fun dispute—not too personal. This is a time of exploring your feelings and learning new ways to look at life or life situations. Face any problems you may have now—this is the time for a better understanding. A clear-minded insight into your own plans is available today. The afternoon can be quite enjoyable. Events may line up in your favor and fair play can be realized. You are willing to listen, take cues and then reflect and build upon that information. Others find you gentle, steady and for the most part, kind. Take the time to involve yourself in family activities this evening—this will build the firm foundations you try so hard to find.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Lovers, children and other people or things dear to your heart are emphasized now. Being appreciated and admired for your creative expression is a powerful need. Taking chances can bring big rewards. This Sunday you may step out with ideas that your family has never approached before. This may involve a volunteer project that the whole family can become involved with or the opportunity for the family to join a team sports group. You have an appreciation for responsibilities and duty and are keen on the idea of teaching others. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a bigger part in your life. You want to belong on a private, intimate, personal level: to be needed. Now is also a good time to think about politics.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) A good conversation with those you love is possible today. You could be preparing for out-of-town company much of the afternoon. You are at your most elegant, particularly in social situations. This is a good time to have friends or family in your home and for entertaining. Past situations that were confining have taken their toll. Now is the time to relax and enjoy those around you. Your enthusiasm is high and your energies need to be channeled in positive directions. Go for a walk, take a drive, stop fussing—everything is great. Later you will enjoy a little socializing and others will enjoy you. Pay special attention to your diet and make plans to improve your dieting habits. After your company leaves this evening, enjoy a relaxing walk.

Yesterday’s Solution Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may find yourself at odds with subject matters that are discussed today. Could it be that communications have broken down somewhere? You may be going against tradition and become too independent for group approval. Back up and reassess before emotional differences take a footing. A natural sense of what is right, or of the way to get things done, brings you a great deal of popularity. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a big part in your life today. You want to belong and to be included in decisions and by asking questions you may be able to solicit the attention needed to express your own feelings. You are lucky today. Like a fish in water, when in the limelight or in a group, you have an innate social charm. You find opportunities to laugh.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Your mind is quick and you are full of sharp insights. There is a feeling that anything is possible if you set your sights high enough. You have optimism, faith and a tendency to take chances at the deepest emotional levels.

You are in top form when it comes to mental activities and this could be a time for real insights in the idea department. Your dreams, visions and ideals propel you in your activities today. This is a time of good fortune when things open up in a very natural way for you. Relationships in general get a boost. Sex and healing are manifestations that play a bigger role in your life now. Harmony is deeply satisfying and a get-together with friends and loved ones this evening puts a fun ending to a very full day.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

22433377 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

25340300 25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581 22641071/2

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Salem soso

22618787

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

Gastrologists

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

Endocrinologist Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689

y

A

36

e niv rsar n

Years

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

li fe s ty le G O S S I P

Swift

solves Gomez’s problems

T

aylor Swift solves all of Selena Gomez’s problems.

The two stars are close friends and Selena - who is dating teenage singing sensation Justin Bieber knows she can always turn to the ‘Love Story’ hitmaker when she needs advice. Selena said: “Every problem I ever have is healable by Taylor Swift. “What I love about Taylor is she believes in the whole love story - Prince Charming, soul mates. Because of her, I haven’t lost faith.” Selena also tries to be a supportive friend to Taylor, and revealed she helped the 21-year-old beauty through her 2008 split from Joe Jonas. She explained: “When Taylor was going through a hard time breaking

up with Joe Jonas, we’d make each other playlists. “I’d send her some girl-empowering music and she’d send some back. “We had ‘Since U Been Gone’ by Kelly Clarkson and ‘Hot N Cold’ by Katy Perry.” As well as Taylor, Selena is also friends with Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, and although there are pop rivals the ‘Monte Carlo’ actress has never felt jealous of their successes. She told Top of the Pops magazine: “It’s not normal for me to feel jealous. I’m competitive with myself, more than anything. “And anyway, all of my friends in the business are bigger than me.”

Efron’s home trashed by his pals

Cole to befriend Britney

feels ‘anchored’ to Australia

T

Cowell

wants his body frozen after he dies

S

imon Cowell wants his body to be frozen when he dies. ‘The X Factor’ boss is planning to have his corpse preserved in ice, in the hope future technology allows him to be thawed out and brought back to life. He told America’s GQ magazine: “It’s an insurance policy. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But if it does work, I’ll be happy. “If it’s possible - and I think it will be - why not have a second crack? Does that sound crazy? “I think it’s a good idea. I have a feeling that if I don’t do it, I could regret it in 300 years.” The cryogenic freezing process costs up to £120,000 and is offered by two companies in the US. So far over 1,000 people have signed up for the scheme. While he is still alive, however, 51-year-old Simon goes through a rigorous routine to ensure he stays at the pinnacle of health, including an intravenous drip of vitamins, which he takes weekly, and drinking super healthy smoothie cocktails containing spinach and fruits.

He added: “I love to wake up in a good mood and look forward to what’s coming. As soon as that tray is put in front of me, I can’t wait to have it.”

Simon - estimated to be worth £300 million - has also ruled out leaving his fortune to individuals after his death, planning to instead give his riches to charity. He said: “If I was given a ton of money when I was 21, God only knows where I’d be now. “Leave the whole lot to charity. You enjoy it while you’ve got it, then it’s gone to good causes.”

Michele

Minogue

he 39-year-old singer - who has divided her time between her homeland and the UK in the last few years while working on TV talent show ‘The X Factor’, which she left in 2011 - is not considering leaving her native country, where she now lives with boyfriend Kris Smith and their 13-month-old son Ethan because she can be near her parents. She said: “I always thought I would come back. I was waiting for the thing that would anchor me here and having a family with a baby definitely does that, because everyone wants to be near their parents when they have a baby. “It just worked out that Kris loves being here so there wasn’t any struggle with that.” Dannii quickly got back into shape following the birth of Ethan last year, but she admits it was not a conscious decision to do so. She told the Australia edition of Grazia magazine: “I don’t understand how other mums go to the gym after having a baby because I’m exhausted just looking after him. “I don’t know how my body did it. It just snapped back. I think it’s partly genetic. Mum said she was the same after each baby. Chasing after him, playing, running up and down stairs. And every time you pick up the baby and they drop their dummy, you think, ‘Weighted squat’! “I would never do those in the gym but with your bubba, if you want to pick up his favorite toy, you just do it.”

—Bang Showbiz

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ac Efron is furious after friends trashed his home. The 23-year-old actor is away from Los Angeles for several months shooting ‘The Paperboy’ and ‘Heartland’ so told his pals they could use the pool at his house while he was away.

However, he soon regretted his decision when his parents visited Los Angeles and went to the property only to discover a huge mess in the garden. They instantly sent him a message to say: “The place looks like a bomb hit it.” A source told National Enquirer magazine: “His pals had turned his backyard into a filthy mess filled with food wrappers, cans, bottles, towels, paper cups etc.” Zac immediately took action and his pals are no longer allowed to relax in his garden while he is not there. The source added: “Zac was totally upset, immediately ordered the locks on his gate changed - then phoned his buddies and told them their pool privileges are revoked.”

wants more tattoos

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heryl Cole wanted to become a “big sister” to Britney Spears. The ‘Fight For this Love’ singer thought she could help Britney - who suffered a public meltdown, culminating with her shaving her head in 2007 - become “normal” again, according to her ex-minder Craig Balkam. A friend told how Craig had said: “She used to talk about Britney Spears. She kept saying she wanted to help Britney - that she thought she could become like a big sister to her and make her normal again after all her crazy behavior.” Cheryl, 28, was not as big a fan of eccentric star Lady Gaga, however, because of her provocative stage antics. The source added to the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “She had a thing about Lady Gaga too. She loves Lady Gaga’s music but disapproved of her stage show. She’s quite shy and not that comfortable with overly sexual behavior. She’s very proper and ladylike.” Cheryl’s had attempted to establish herself as a star in the US, but it backfired when she was sacked from the judging panel of talent show ‘The X Factor’ after only four days of filming earlier this year. She has since returned to the UK, where she has kept a low profile and reportedly reunited with her ex-husband, Ashley Cole. Cheryl had confided in Craig that she had long felt like a “prisoner” and longed to turn her back on life in the public eye. The source added: “Cheryl kept saying she wanted to get out of show business. She said she had enough of being a prisoner in her hotel room - that was a phrase she used a lot.

“She said wanted to be a normal person again. But at the same time she was very keen to crack it in America - as though she was torn between the two.”

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ea Michele wants to get more tattoos. The ‘Glee’ star already has 10 in kings on her body which all have special meanings to her. And the actress thinks she will get more body art as she experiences more significant moments in her life. She said: “I’ve got 10 little ones now! I have ‘I believe’ on my wrist, which I was inspired to do after I was in the Broadway show ‘Spring Awakening’. I have some musical notes on my back from Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and I talked Jenna (Ushkowitz) and Kevin (McHale) into getting ‘imagine’ on our left feet. My mom and I also have matching butterflies on our backs. I don’t think I’m stopping at 10 though!” Just as Lea showed how much Queen - fronted by Freddie Mercury -mean to her by getting a tattoo of their lyrics she also says her favorite ‘Glee’ per formance was a cover of the band’s track ‘Somebody To Love’ which she sang with her co-star Cory Monteith. She said: “It’s really hard to pick a favorite song to sing, but I think it has to be ‘Somebody To Love’ by Queen I sang this with Cory and the rest of the cast and I was in ‘Glee’ heaven.”

Arctic Monkeys’ childhood bond

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rctic Monkeys think being childhood friends has kept them together. The British quartet - Matt Helders, Jamie Cook, Nick O’Malley and Alex Turner have been pals since growing up in Sheffield, North England, and think their solid bond has stopped them succumbing to the pressures of fame. Alex said: “Our friendship definitely has something to do with it[staying together]. We grew up pretty much on the same street. So we’d hung around with each other a long time before we were a band and that helps you bypass a lot of those pitfalls.” However, the ‘Mardy Bum’ hitmakers admit they occasionally row, but think their arguments are normal. Alex said: “You’re bound to argue, but I think we get around a lot of that stuff. It’s maybe something about where we’re from. We’re all pretty laid back.

“Everyone gets aggravated but there aren’t too many tantrums.”

Nick added: “Even if you ran a shop with your brother, you’d have fights. It’s that natural sibling rivalry thing.”

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

lifestyle T R A V E L

An utimate gateway You’ll find it in a mountain spa in west-central Mexico

After the mud is slathered on, clients recline in the sun for about a half an hour as the mud dries and gets hard at Rio Caliente Spa.

The spa pools are drained and refilled weekly with hot water from the Rio Caliente.

Sunlight streams through the steam that rises from the Rio Caliente in Mexico’s cool early-morning mountain air. —MCT photos

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trip to Mexico’s Rio Caliente Hot Springs Spa Resort is a chance to soothe your soul and recharge your batteries. And in winter, there’s no place better if you like warm, sunny days and cool mornings and evenings.

Time moves more slowly at Rio Caliente. Food tastes better. Exercise is fun. And massages, facials and pedicures are good for the body and the soul, don’t you know?

There’s no TV, radio or newspapers. Internet is available in only one room. My cell phone couldn’t pick up a signal. As the ads might sayif Rio Caliente were the kind of place to advertise in any major way-this is a getaway with a capital G: a great way to leave stress and worry behind and start or follow through on almost forgotten New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise more and focus on taking care of yourself.

And it’s a relative bargain. Consider that resolution not to overspend. A five-night package, including three meals daily, two massages or facials, a mud wrap and activities such as yoga, water aerobics or hiking, costs $995 per person, based on double occupancy.

And there’s a 5 percent discount for mother-

daughter pairs. My 19-year-old daughter and I arrived at Rio Caliente midday on a Friday in early January, when the temperatures in much of the nation’s interior were in the 20s and headed lower. For the next six days, we saw little variation in the weather at the mile-high oasis: cool mornings and evenings, bright, sunny afternoons with temperatures somewhere in the 70s. Perfect, especially because the pools at the spa are filled-and drained and refilled weekly-with Rio Caliente’s water, which is 157 degrees at its source.

A few hours after sunset on our first night, we put on our bathing suits and climbed into one of the steaming pools. At first it seemed the water might be too hot, but after a moment there was nowhere I’d rather be, floating in a hot pool under a sky painted with stars, cool air brushing my face.

Over the next few days, we learned that a vegetarian diet of mostly organic food-some of it grown in the garden at Rio Caliente - can be filling, delicious and even surprising. I would have passed on the pineapple-spinach juice combination until my new friend Patrice, from Minneapolis, encouraged me to give it a

try. Astonishing. Sweet, but not too, and refreshing. I went back for more. I wasn’t alone.

All meals are consumed in the dining room, where two fireplaces provide the heat for the communal tables that make it easy to meet people. This is the kind of place where you could come alone-many do-and not feel uncomfortable. The meals are provided at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Breakfasts are the heartiest meal of the day, usually offering fabulous oatmeal, granola, yogurt, fruit, addictive whole-grain bread, tortillas and often some kind of egg dish along with another hot offering. Our first day, we were served scrambled eggs flavored with cilantro and other herbs and small potato pancakes.

Lunch options included cheese enchiladas, pasta with broccoli, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans with nuts, and an apple and cucumber salad with dill. Fresh fruit and lettuces and other salad ingredients were bountiful at every lunch and dinner. My daughter devised a terrific dessert of papaya, yogurt, honey and flaxseed. Dinners, the lightest meal of the day, are often soups; the onion with

grated cheese and fresh-baked croutons was memorable. The food here is so good that the spa even sells a cookbook, which this chocolate-loving carnivore felt compelled to buy.

The days revolve around meals, spa services, hikes - short and long with guides-water aerobics, yoga, meditation, horseback riding and trips into the nearby tourist destinations in and around Guadalajara. There are extra fees for the trips — $17 for the one I took to Tlaquepaque, and for horseback riding, $40 per person for a two-hour guided ride for a group of four-but the rest is included. Most of the packages include some spa services, but you can schedule additional treatments. The prices are incredibly tempting: massages and facials, most for $60 or less, a pool-side pedicure for $20.

Many of the guests at Rio Caliente are repeat visitors. Because it’s so affordable, some return every year, often at the same time when they are able to reconnect with friends they’ve made over the years. Our first few days, we met only one other pair who hadn’t been to the resort many times before. Most are women, but couples are not uncommon. It

seemed that most were middle-age or older.

The rooms are spare, certainly not luxurious, and some people might be put off by the painted cinder-block walls of our two-bed room. But we looked at some others with brick walls and a bit nicer decorating and decided to stay where we were. We really liked the small deck that opened onto a tree-canopied grassy area bordering the river. It was incredibly relaxing to read there with birdsong and river sounds in the background. And all the rooms get the same treatment with the fireplaces.

Each morning, the housekeeping staff cleans out the ashes in the fireplace and expertly stacks the hearth with fresh wood, ready to leap into flames with just the strike of a match. What a luxury. I left a blustery cold Midwest for Rio Caliente shortly after the new year began. And even though I rarely make resolutions, I found myself making one when I left Rio Caliente: Put aside $150 per monthabout $5 a day-over the next 12 months so I can buy a plane ticket and come back for a seven-night stay next year. That’s not so much, especially when the river calls to me. —MCT

In warmer Greenland, shoot the dogs, drill for oil T

he old hunter was troubled by the foreigners encroaching on his Inuit people’s frozen lands.

“The Inuit say that they are going to heat the ‘siku’ (the sea ice) to make it melt. There will be almost no more winter,” the elder says of the southerners in Jean Malaurie’s “Last Kings of Thule,” the French explor-

Nukappi Brandt steers his small boat as he and his daughter Aaneeraq, 9, scan the water for seals, accompanied by his other daughter Luusi, 8, outside Qeqer tarsuaq, Disko Island, Greenland. — AP photos

Inuit family members from left, Estrella Brandt, holding her daughter Noelle, Louise Brandt and their mother, Rosa Marie Brandt laugh during Rosa Marie’s husband’s 50th birthday party at their home in Qeqertarsuaq.

er’s classic account of a year in the Arctic.

The year was 1951. A lifetime later, another Inuit hunter looks out at Disko Bay from this island’s rocky fringe and remembers driving his dogsled team over the solid glitter of the siku all the way to Ilulissat, a town 90 kilometers (55 miles) across the water. “The ice then was 1 to 2 meters thick,” Jakob Jensen, 65, recalled of those winters past.

“Now, it’s a few centimeters. It’s very thin and you can’t go on dogsled.” The winter sea ice that defined Greenlander life for millennia is melting, and it’s the southerners who did it, as Malaurie’s Inuit foretold long before science showed industrial emissions were warming the planet.

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, and “Greenland is experiencing some of the most severe environmental impacts,” social researcher Lene Kielsen Holm concludes in a preliminary report on a north-to-south survey of Greenlanders. Those impacts are broad and deep.

For a village society whose dogsledding ice hunters long supplied it with seal and walrus meat and fish in winter, the “dark months” are now a time of enforced idleness, limited travel and emptier larders. On land, the thawing permafrost underfoot is leaving houses askew and broken. Climate change touches the animals, too: Greenlanders find lean polar bears, unable to stalk seals on sea ice, invading their settlements for food. And the very sound of Greenland is changing.

Where villages once echoed to the howl of huskies, that old call of the wild has been muted. Dispirited hunters up and down the west Greenland coast, unable to feed winter game to their sled dogs, have been shooting them. The 900 people of Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island’s main town, now have about 300 dogs.

“That’s half of what it used to be,” said Jensen’s neighbor Johan Lindenhann, chairman of the local huntersfishers association.

Climate change has brought new sounds, too - of oil drilling. Northwest of here, in the open sea of Baffin Bay, Scotland-based Cairn Energy this summer is drilling an exploratory well. Geologists see good prospects for oil and gas off Greenland’s shores, and for valuable mineral deposits onshore, from gold to zinc. The more open waters and more ice-free terrain make the work of finding them easier.

The 56,000 Greenlanders, 89 percent of them Inuit, sense the potential for gain, along with the reality of loss from the warming. “On the positive side, I can point to emerging economic possibilities, potential income,” Anthon Frederiksen, minister for domestic affairs, nature and environment, said in an interview in

Inuit hunter Nukappi Brandt aims his rifle to shoot a seal, which dived underwater before he could get off a shot.

Nuuk, seat of this Danish island’s self-rule government.

But this son of a hunter added, “Fishing and hunting is our mainstay at present, and we’re very concerned about the negative effect this change will have on them.” Here on Disko, an Arctic island the size of Puerto Rico with barely 1,000 inhabitants, the dilemma is clear.

“If they find a lot of oil, it would be a big change and mean jobs for Greenlanders,” said Lindenhann, 62.

“But I’m afraid of pollution.” A spill, hard to combat in icy, stormy waters, could devastate fragile marine life.

“We heard about what happened in the Gulf of Mexico,” the old seal-hunting hand said. People here on the central west coast have relied on that marine life for perhaps 5,000 years, prehistoric remains show.

Today, Qeqertarsuaq’s neat, peak-roofed wooden houses, in bright red, blue and green, cling to a shelf of rock wedged between the iceberg-dotted sea and the brown basalt cliffs of an island born of volcanos. Far above mossy slopes, atop heights reaching to 1,200 meters (4,000 feet), lies a huge permanent ice cap.

In this remote and beautiful spot, the Danes for more than a century have maintained a small scientific station, a post whose data tell the story of warming: From 1991 to 2009, Disko Island’s mean annual air temperature rose 4.5 degrees C (8.1 degrees F). The

permafrost thawed 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) deeper each summer. And the sea-ice season shrank by half.

Older townspeople say the deep-winter cold of decades back - down to minus 30C or 40C degrees (22F or -40F degrees) - has given way to lows of -20C (4F). Sea ice still forms but one or two months later, in January or even February. And it’s too thin and dangerous, and is gone much earlier. Disko Bay hunters can no longer lay seal nets under the ice in the 24-hour winter darkness. They no longer drive dog teams to shoot the sea mammals at breathing holes, or drop long, many-hooked fishing lines through the ice, or hunt for narwhal and beluga whales that favor the ice edge in the spring.

“It was better 20 years ago when you could see many, many seals and whales closer to the town. They stuck to the ice. With all the seals and whales back then, there was more money,” said Nukappi Brandt, 49, a full-time hunter since his teens.

Brandt shoots seals from a boat in the warmer months, but that doesn’t make up for winter’s lost time. Retired hunter Jens Svendsen, 74, explained, “In the dark months the ice is too unstable for the sleds, and it’s too dark to navigate by boat.” Ice chunks can wreck their small outboards’ propellers. The dwindling supplies of traditional food hit older Inuit most. —AP

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

lifestyle Feature

Newly-crowned Miss Malaysia World 2011, Chen Tien Nee, center, poses with first runner-up Tan Mei Yun, left, and second runner-up Chua Yee See in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.—AP

Jerry Lewis: Saving lives through MDA was honor J

erry Lewis said Saturday that his years of service to the Muscular Dystrophy Association helped make him a star, but he didn’t provide details on his recent departure as the group’s national chairman.

In his first public appearance since the that announcement, Lewis accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Nevada Broadcasters Association, saying that he made his reputation in show business by saving lives.

“I made my reputation in this business caring for what I did, caring for the people that I did it for,” said Lewis, who donned a red foam clown nose at one point during his speech in front of politicians and other entertainers. “Let me tell you that saving lives is a very, very special project in the life of any man who wants to do that, but I have had the joy of ... extending my life by what I feel in my heart,” he said.

Lewis hinted during his brief speech that he could not explain why he is no longer the national chairman of the MDA after 45 years. He will also no longer host the group’s annual Labor Day weekend telethon. Lewis said he was humbled to hear several congressmen and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval describe watching Lewis host the MDA’s annual Labor Day weekend telethon every year throughout their childhoods.

“It was as meaningful tonight as ever,” the 85-year-old said of his charitable work.

“And I don’t think I can go into the why of that.” Lewis appeared briefly at the dinner, entering just before his tribute and leaving the room minutes after making his speech.

He declined to speak to reporters as he left the event. In May, Lewis said in a statement issued through the association that he would make his final appearance on the telethon this year and sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” during a six-hour primetime

broadcast scheduled for Sept. 4.

But MDA officials abruptly announced earlier this month that Lewis would no longer be the public face of the Tucson, Ariz.-based association without offering any explanation. When pressed by a reporter at the time about his role with the telethon, Lewis said: “It’s none of your business.” Lewis has said he would hold a press conference the day after the telethon to clarify his plans. “I will have plenty to say about what I think is important. And that’s the future, not the past,” he has said.

The MDA announced major changes to its telethon Thursday, including slashing it down from a nearly 22-hour show to six hours of prime time television in an effort

to boost audience numbers and raise more money. The Sept 4 show will be co-hosted by “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, “Entertainment Tonight” anchor Nancy O’Dell, “The Biggest Loser” host Alison Sweeney, and journalist and TV producer Jann Carl.

Dinosaurs, the human mind on Disney’s Pixar slate

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Viola Davis, standing at left, stars in “The Help” with Bryce Dalls Howard, center, Ahna O’Reilly, left, and Emma Stone, right.—MCT

It

may seem odd, with “The Help” gobbling up box office dollars, to lament the lack of movies about African Americans. But the announcement Tuesday that Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor and director Steve McQueen would collaborate on a new film called “Twelve Years a Slave” brought to the fore an uncomfortable reality: It may be a very good moment for movies about black history, but it’s a terrible time for movies about the contemporary black experience.

“The Help,” which looks at the segregated South in the early 1960s, and “Twelve Years,” a true story about a free black man who was kidnapped and enslaved in 1853, both hark back to an era when equality was a distant dream and racism the norm.

These films follow a long line of dramas set amid the slavery of the 19th century and the segregation of the 20th: “Beloved,” “Amistad,” “Mississippi Burning” and “The Color Purple,” to name a few.

And more historical films are on their way.

Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” is about an escaped slave (Jamie Foxx) who becomes a bounty hunter so he can free other slaves, while “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” gives a genre fillip to a story about the 16th president, his friendship with a slave and the general difficulties of being black in America circa the early 1860s.

What we don’t have in all these explorations of blacks in America, however, are dramas that speak to a contemporary experience, a “Boyz n the Hood” or even a “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” both of which now seem to have come out very long ago (and, indeed, did - 20 years ago for “Boyz” and 13 for “Stella”).

Instead of a hard-hitting exploration of the ghetto, John Singleton is now making Taylor Lautner

action movies (the upcoming “Abduction”). Even Spike Lee, filmmaker laureate of the black experience, has turned away, temporarily at least, from those themes to concentrate on a remake of the Asian action hit “Oldboy,” a function, perhaps, of studio and financier unwillingness to support a modern black drama.

There is, indeed, the occasional, and far more niche, comedy such as Salim Akil’s “Jumping the Broom.” The one major filmmaker exception, of course, is Tyler Perry, who has recently backed a relatively contemporary black saga (the 1987-set “Precious”) and directed another modern dramatic look at black lives (“For Colored Girls”) but generally makes broad comedies that speak as much as to cross-dressing absurdities as to potent sociological truths.

“There are not a lot of (contemporary black dramas) being made-there’s really nothing outside of ‘Colored Girls’ this year,” Singleton acknowledged when asked about the subject this past winter.

While he said he rued the absence, he personally felt the need to make another sort of movie at this point in his career.

“For now I wanted to tell stories about youth and youth culture in a different way,” he said _ not saying, but perhaps not needing to, that getting a more black-centric movie made for any significant budget would be a steep climb.

In some ways, all of this is progress. Before the 1980s, there weren’t even many period movies about American blacks, the occasional “Raisin in the Sun” or “To Kill a Mockingbird” excepted. There’s also no question that a racially riven South is a ripe setting for a movie; the dramatic opportunities are abundant and rich.—MCT

he animators at Walt Disney Co’s Pixar unit will explore dinosaurs and the inner workings of the human mind in two upcoming movies, studio executives told a gathering of fans Saturday. The films remain untitled and few details were unveiled. The dinosaur movie will tell a story that takes place “if the asteroid missed the Earth and dinosaurs continued to live,” said director Bob Peterson, who co-directed the previous Pixar release “Up.” Peterson said he was inspired by animatronic dinosaurs he saw as a child during a visit to a world’s fair.

The movie is set for release in 2013.

Another film, set to hit theaters in 2014, will take audiences inside the human mind and attempt to answer questions such as “why do songs get stuck in your head?” said director Pete Docter, who directed “Up” and Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.” The filmmakers spoke to thousands of people gathered at the D23 Expo, a convention that draws Disney fans eager to learn about upcoming projects and hear from stars of the company’s films and television shows. The new films will follow Pixar’s “Brave,” a fairy tale set in medieval Scotland that is due in theaters next summer, and “Monsters University,” a prequel to “Monsters Inc,” set for release in June 2013.

Pixar, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has produced acclaimed films including the “Toy Stor y ” series, “A Bug’s Life” and “Finding Nemo.” The studio has won 29 Academy Awards and its films have grossed $6.5 billion. This year, Pixar stumbled for the first time with critics who panned “Cars 2,” but the film earned box-office success with more than $476 million in ticket sales worldwide.—Reuters

Brains and beauty on show at readings S

(From left) File photo shows Sapphire Jones, Gal Friday, Nasty Canasta and Tansy posing backstage following the “Naked Girls Reading” last show in Greenwich Village, Manhattan in New York.—AFP

it back and enjoy readings of Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde or Henrik Ibsen and gaze upon the readers themselves: they’re naked. That combination of delights is on offer once a month in New York thanks to the enterprising group Naked Girls Reading. At a recent session, about 30 people, mostly younger couples and men, met in a small room with a boudoir atmosphere in Manhattan’s trendy Greenwich Village.

Joining them were four young women in bathrobes and heels, who climbed onto a small stage and took seats on a large sofa.

Applause welcomed the readers, including from an older man who had until then been quietly reading his newspaper. “Welcome! I would like to start by introducing our naked girls reading for the evening,” said the host, a burlesque performer with the stage name Nasty Canasta. With her were Gal Friday, Sapphire Jones and Tansy and with a flick of their dressing gowns they were transformed into truly naked readers, ready for what they like to call “full frontal literature”.

What followed was a lot like a traditional reading session, with witty and gripping passages from theatrical works like Wilde’s

“The Importance of Being Earnest” and “A Doll’s House” by Ibsen. The readers were accomplished performers and Sapphire Jones prompted a moment of real emotion when she dedicated a Shakespeare text to her late grandmother. “I like the storytelling and that is the way I do the storytelling. I feel very comfortable naked. There is a joy doing that,” Nasty Canasta said after nearly two hours of reading. Gal Friday admitted to feeling nervous at first, “but now to be naked is not even an issue anymore.”

‘Perfect combination’ Listeners-or perhaps viewers-also get used it. “You can always feel the shift, so when you see a nude at first you say, ‘oh, there is a naked girl!’ Then we start to read and you can feel their eyes going up.” Naked Girls Reading was founded in Chicago in 2009 by Michelle l’amour, who, like many of the readers, comes from the world of neoburlesque, a risquÈ form of theater inspired by the music hall burlesque shows of the early 20th century.

“I was sitting on the couch and reading naked when my husband found me. Let’s say he was inspired by the image. We start-

ed laughing about doing nakedgirlsreading.com. And then, we thought, hmm maybe this is a good idea, so we bought the website that day,” she told AFP. Michelle l’amour then contacted Nasty Canasta to take the idea to New York in October 2009.

Other performances have taken place across the United States and European cities including Copenhagen and London.

“The readings are there to get people excited about literature,” Michelle l’amour said. “You can hear beautiful literature while looking at beautiful women. It’s a perfect combination. It’s very exciting for us to get the audience passionate about reading.”

Nasty Canasta said there were specific requirements for would-be nude readers.”It’s mostly people that I know that are willing to be naked and to read. A lot of people are comfortable with one or the other but not both,” she said. The audience went away happy. “It was wonderful. When they started to read I forgot they were naked,” said lawyer Ellen Snare, 32. “I think it was very powerful, the choice of the pieces was very well done.”—AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

The drop-crotch enters the Gap’s 1969 premium line F

or fall-winter 2011, men’s drop-crotch denim has dropped into the Gap. It’s not exactly uncharted territory-the slouchy-style trouser can usually be found in a handful of menswear collections on the runways of Milan and Paris each season. (At the recent spring-summer 2012 shows, Giorgio Armani and Vivienne Westwood were among those with the drop on tap.)

But, while the most fashion-forward of fellows would hardly blink at the prospect of donning a pair of baggy designer britches, the men who have traditionally darkened the doorstep of the Gap are not traditionally associated with the kind of rock-star swagger required to pull off the look.

(In other words, Kanye West can do it; you can’t.)

And, while a handful of high-end jean brands have added the drop-crotch silhouette to their offerings over the last few years, the premium denim category has yet to fully embrace the style.

Which might make it seem an odd time for the Gap 1969 premium denim collection to make its first foray into the drop zone. But according to that line’s men’s design director Jason Ferro, a for-

mer skater-surfer-musician with a penchant for stingy brim fedoras and the word “bro,” the opposite is true.

“I felt it was perfect timing,” Ferro said. “It was time to push it, because there’s so much of [the drop-crotch silhouette] on the street right now.

Kids are wearing it, so it made sense for us to kind of lead in the direction of what’s happening on the street.”

And, as Ferro is quick to point out, Gap’s version hardly evokes the cartoonish MC Hammer pants (variously known as parachute pants or harem pants) of the ‘90s. “It’s more subtle than that; it’s meant to be worn slouchy and worn low on the waist. It’s about wearing them with attitude.”

Indeed, the two skinny-jean versions that Gap has included in its fall-winter lineup-a lightweight charcoal gray in 100 percent cotton denim (which retails for $69.95) and a raw indigo wash with 2 percent spandex ($79.95) — bear just a passing resemblance to their baggy forebears.

Without the aforementioned attitude, the sub-

tly tapered leg and ample airspace might well go altogether unnoticed.

But the drop-crotch is about more than trendy trousers. It’s part of the company’s larger gambit to appeal to the premium denim crowd with its more fashion-focused 1969 collection (launched in 2009, the name references the year the company was founded). The undertaking has also involved relocating the design team to a former cigar factory in a gritty section of downtown Los Angeles not far from the city’s Fashion District, and highlighting those new digs with a multimedia advertising campaign that’s currently rolling out to magazines and Gap store windows across the country.

“With our new direction-and how we’re pushing denim — [we] have to have these denim silhouettes that push the envelope, and get people into something new and different instead of the old same basic fits that everyone

else does,” Ferro said.

While the Gap is clearly ready to embrace drop-crotch denim, what’s less clear is if American menfolk are equally eager. But, according to Ferro, since the styles first became available earlier this month, they’ve been popular not only with men but with women as well. “It’s kind of going unisex-women like them and are buying them out of the men’s line too, which is amazing,” he said. Which means the boyfriend drop-crotch denim can’t be far behind. —MCT

The drop-crotch, sported by hip-hoppers and skater dudes, enters the Gap’s 1969 premium line.

Wear ‘em with attitude. —MCT

Ageing gracefully Fashion Week

Rukhsana Motlekar an aesthetician, cosmetologist and a trainer.

W

hat’s the secret to aging gracefully? We can’t stop the clock, there are many preventive measures you can take that will help to keep your skin glowing and keep wrinkles at bay. Beautiful, healthy looking skin is a priority at any age, but to maintain this glowing skin as you age, you have to adapt your beauty routine to meet the changing demands of aging skin.

Essential Anti-Ageing Strategy you can incorporate into your daily life: Cleansing -Morning and evening is the top priority if you want to have good skin.

Toning- Morning and evening to maintain hydration and rebalance the skin. Toning causes the facial muscles to contract and tighten the pores. This stimulates the surface of your skin, making it firm and taut.

Eye care - Wrinkles around the eyes cannot be avoided, but you can strengthen the skin in this delicate area with specialized eye product. EYE GEL is wonderfully refreshing in the morning and a little EYE CREAM will strengthen the tissues at night.

Exfoliation - An essential step at least twice a week to slough off dead skin cells and allow key anti aging ingredients to get to work quickly.

Mask - Applied once or twice a week to tighten and firm the facial contours.

Moisturizers- Morning and evening active ingredients in anti aging products and moisturizers help to protect the skin from free radicals and help to improve the oxygenation of the tissues and production of collagen and elastin which are essential for tighter and smoother skin.

(Left) Indian theatre artist Lucky Morani walks the ramp for designer Preeti S Kapoor. (Above) Bollywood actress Zoa Morani walks the ramp for designer Nandita Thirani on the fifth day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW ) Winter/Festival 2011 in Mumbai yesterday. — AFP photos

Indian models display cre ations by designer Sabah Khan.

Straight-leg jeans T

here is a wild side to fall clothing and accessories. On the runway, it showed up in fur (real and faux) attached to jackets, boots, clutches and even sunglasses. From high end to mass market, snakeskin and animal prints adorn bags and shoes. And even denim is getting a dose of the exotic, with leopard-spotted, python-printed and cheetah-stamped graphics-ranging from subtle to over the top — on skinny jeans and cropped straight-leg styles.

“It’s an evolution of the ‘70s trend we saw for spring and summer,” says Michele Manz, creative director of premium denim purveyor 7 for All Mankind. “We’ve seen the popularity of iconic ‘70s styles, like the bell bottom or high-waist, and now animal-print denim, first seen on ‘70s glam rockers like the New York Dolls and David Bowie. In the ‘80s, metal bands mixed animal patterns with leather and skinny jeans to update the look. Animal prints let you show off the rocker inside you.”

While animal-printed skinny jeans can seem to echo a 1980s hair metal band, most of this season’s offerings are quite wearable. 7 for All Mankind offers a relatively subdued version, with a somewhat blurred-out and faded Gwenevere blackand-gray snake print gummy denim

($189). It also has a navy blue-and-black featherweight ($215) that adds a slight bit of texture and pattern without being in your face.

These styles can be worn much as one would wear regular blue or black jeans, since the print is light and the texture barely there. An equally patterned top or blouse isn’t the ideal partner because it will look like one big blur. Instead, wear these with a thick, striped pattern that is chunkier and bolder than what’s happening on the pants. That way, there’s a separation of the prints, and the pairing looks deliberate and confident rather than like an endless run of random graphics.

To keep things more classic, and maybe less complicated, stick with slightly bumped-up basics. Try a solid orange or yellow sweater, instead of toying with more print.

The combination will look fresh and upbeat.

The leopard-print Stiletto jeans from Current/Elliott ($198) are already a big hit among celebrities, and they’re bound to show up on trend-conscious girls everywhere. The print here is more obvious but done in a faded, worn-in way that keeps them pretty versatile.

Consider the way Sarah Jessica Parker styled hers during a recent trip to China. She dolled them up with a dramatic blush-colored jacket and dainty heels for an edgy Audrey Hepburn type of look.

The jeans would also look great with a worn-in gray T-shirt and sandals for running around town or-to continue that ‘60s gamin look-a classic black crew-neck sweater and a pair of ballet flats would do the trick.

The Gap 1969 also has a lighter pair that’s similar to the Current/Elliott jeans, but in an even more washed-out fabric.

The white and light-gray jeans from the Gap ($69) have a subtle leopard-spot print that gives traditional white jeans an edge and makes them a bit more appropriate for going into fall.

For those daring enough to really take a walk on the wild

Joe’s Jeans Wild Collection - The Velvet Skinny.

side, there are several pairs surfacing for the season that shout “rock star.” J Brand’s shiny goldand-black snakeskin printed pants ($242) and Bleulab’s silver snakeskin leggings ($225) are sexy, edgy and should be paired with a worn-in black Tshirt, simple jewelry and a pair of motorcycle boots or sleek black ankle booties to stay in

Bluelab Detour skinny snakeskin legging.—MCT photos line with the rocker feeling without going overboard. The contrasting colors in the pattern plus the shine of the fabric are already doing a lot. Play with texture when styling these pants and refrain from adding add more color or edgy details-no spikes, studs or ostentatious embellishment. Paige Denim is doing an abstract snake print that comes in a cool silvery shade ($269). These jeans can look really rocker if paired with an old band Tshirt or leather jacket, or they can stay subdued and clean if worn with a casual white button-down and worn-in black biker boots. —MCT

Beauty tips for battle against ageing Sun Protection: Daily outings, sun bathing / tanning without sufficient sun protection causes the skin to age faster. It causes breakdown of collagen, dehydration of the skin tissues, thickening of the skin texture and ultimately wrinkles. To fight skin’s aging signs, and guard against free radicals use sun-protection.

Exercise: Exercising regularly has many positive effects on your skin; it makes the skin glow by stimulating blood circulation and increasing the oxygen supply, carrying nutrients to the cells. It firms the muscles. It speeds up cell division and improves the synthesis of collagen, thickening the dermis and protecting against degenerative changes.

Controlling Stress: Depression, fatigue, stress and anxiety all have an ageing effect on the body & skin appearance. A high stress hormone level makes the skin appear pale and sallow, prone to spots, eczema or psoriasis and be susceptible to premature aging. Try to find what is causing your stress seek professional advice about solving the problem.

Controlling Emotions: If you want to look youthful learn emotional control. Strain and stress causes laugh lines, frown lines, crows feet to the eyes and neck lines.

Beauty Sleep: Make sure you get at least 8 hours sleep to remain stress free - a major cause of premature aging. Sleep deprivation stresses your body, especially the skin and can cause loss of elasticity and outbreaks of acne or rashes, cause fatigue lines and slack muscle tone.

Water: A real “fountain of youth” from inside. This inner moisture is not hard to attain. A simply regime of 6 to 8 glasses of pure water each and every day, will hydrate the body and thus the skin in a natural way.

Smoke Less (or not at all): Smoking accelerates skin aging by encouraging the destruction of collagen. The signs of “smoker’s face” are dull, greyish, dry skin, increased wrinkling around the eyes and puckering wrinkles around the mouth. To age well eat well: A balanced, varied diet is not only delicious to eat, but it is also an excellent way to keep the effect of ageing at bay. “WE ARE WHAT WE EAT’! A wellbalanced diet keeps us fit and prevents our skin from sagging and lets you age with grace. You cannot stop the clock but you can definitely delay the process. All you need to do is eat very intelligently - a combination of sensible foods by loading up on antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals and other nutrients that sustain your body and skin from the insides.

Anti Aging Treatments :There are several moments in a woman’s life when she wants to look her best, and nothing will improve her appearance at a short notice as much as a Anti - Aging face treatment. These treatments target fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, uneven skin tone, spider veins and even sagging skin. You can opt for Dermatological facials or Herbal peels which will help to tone up and clarify the skin, stimulate blood circulation, tighten up facial muscles, smoothen wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin.

A New Life Philosophy: “Successful Aging”, in other words getting older but while staying healthy and beautiful.

Straight-leg jeans strut back in this fall

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

39

Islam

takes root in a land of mini-bikinis and Carnival

Brazilian followers of Islam pray as their children play at Rio de Janeiro’s first mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.— AFP photos

“A

s-salam aleikum!” Omar greeted worshippers as he entered Mesquita da Luz, Rio’s first mosque where he had just broken his Ramadan fast at dusk.

Those are some of the only words Omar knows in Arabic, and he quickly continued his conversation in Portuguese with fellow Muslims who mostly, like him, converted recently to Islam in the world’s biggest Catholic country. In a land known more for its mini-bikinis and extravagant Carnival featuring scantily clad women, a small but growing number of Brazilians of various backgrounds call themselves Muslim.

For decades, it was primarily families of Libyan, Palestinian and Syrian descent who practiced Islam in Brazil. Omar, who until just four years ago officiated as Catholic priest at a local church, explained why he embraced Islam.”I found in Islam everything I had always looked for. I met God as he is, with no adaptation,” the 34-year-old graphic designer told AFP. Wearing a traditional long djellaba robe, he refused to give his official name, instead only revealing his Muslim one: Omar Israfil Dawud bin Ibrahim.

“At the seminary, you learn that Islam is one of the monotheistic religions. There is no prejudice against this religion,” said Omar as he stood by his wife Alessandra Faria, who goes by the name “Fatima” after converting and deciding to wear the veil.”In the beginning, my mother was mortified at the thought of going outside with me. I wear the veil to show I am Muslim and aware that I am part of a minority,” she said. Fatima’s hijab may raise eyebrows in Rio, where it is more common to see women walking the streets in bikinis in seaside neigh-

Brazilian followers of Islam prepare themselves to pray. borhoods, but she says her beliefs can find a place here.

“Brazil is a mix, made up of several different cultures. This mix makes Brazilians very adaptable and tolerant.” Like most practicing Muslims here, Omar and Fatima are only recent converts to Islam. They plan to travel to Saudi Arabia next year on a Saudi government grant to learn Arabic.

‘New form of resistance’ Renovations on the mosque they attend in the suburb of Tijuca north of Rio got under way four years ago with donations from worship-

pers. It will soon hold up to 400 people during prayers, a major upgrade. “The number of Muslims continues to grow, and most are Brazilians who are converting. We recruit members mostly online,” said Sami Isbelle, a spokesman for the Beneficent Muslim Society (SBMRJ).”In Rio, there are about 500 Muslim families, 85 percent of them Brazilian converts who have no Arab links,” Isbelle said. Things are different in Sao Paulo state and southern regions of Brazil, where most Muslims were born as such and are often of Arab descent.

Brazil’s census does not count the number of Muslims, and only provides data on

Brazilian followers of Islam share a meal at Rio de Janeiro’s first mosque.

Catholics, evangelicals, Jews, spiritualists and decided to convert,” Pinto added. “Islam was followers of Afro-Brazilian religions. “Muslims seen as a new form of resistance.” But it was a are listed in the ‘other’ category, along with “telenovela” or soap opera launched just three Buddhists, for example, said Islam expert Paulo weeks after the 2001 attacks, “The Clone,” that Pinto of Fuminense Federal University, who sparked some Brazilians’ infatuation with Islam.

Set in Morocco, the popular show showed a estimated Brazil is home to about a million “positive imagine of that part of the world, Muslims.

The best indicator of the growth of Islam in with a benevolent Muslim hero,” said the country is the rapid increase in the number Pinto.” There is a tendency to think that of places of worship, according to Pinto. There Brazilian culture, as liberal and sensual as it is, is are now 127 mosques, four times as many as against the rules of Islam. But in fact, there are there were back in 2000.After the September many conservative rules that are part of moral 11 attacks in the United States, “there was a and sexual control. Look at how many evangelgrowth of interest in Islam, and many people icals are successful in Brazil!” — AFP

Ramadan has Iraqi locales playing decades-old game R

amadan may be best known for the daily dawn-to-dusk Muslim fast, but for some in Iraq the holy month is a time to enjoy a decades-old game that men play in courtyards across the country. As security has improved nationwide, local communities have resumed organizing city-wide matches of Mheibes, a fiery game where rival teams must find a ring hidden by their opponents. At a club in north Baghdad, the mostly Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiyah hosted a team from nearby Saba Abkar, with around 40 men on each side seated in plastic lawn chairs or on the ground.

“Mheibes is in our blood,” said Essam al-Malik, one of the match organizers. “We never stopped playing it. Even during the sectarian war, we used to play, but only with neighborhoods close to Adhamiyah,” the 55-year-old said, referring to the

Shiite-Sunni fighting that erupted after the 2003 USled invasion and peaked in 2006 and 2007. The game begins with a player from one team draped under a blanket moving among his teammates and secretly handing a ring-which is “mehbis” in Arabic to one of them.

The rival team designates one of their own to find the ring. If he is unsuccessful, the team that hid the ring gains a point. If he finds it, his team must hide the ring and try to rack up points of their own.

The first team to reach a pre-agreed number of points wins. During the Adhamiyah-Saba Abkar match, Qahtan, a 30-year-old baker chosen as his team’s ring finder, strutted purposefully along the rows of the rival players, occasionally stopping to

crouch and shout in their faces.

“Show me your hands!” he would scream, prompting players to hold out their closed palms.

But Qahtan would look only at their faces, attempting to read their emotions to deduce which one was hiding the ring. At one point, after doing this several times, he suddenly turned and rushed to one man, grabbed his right wrist, opened his palm and let out a fierce roar as he found the ring.

‘Experience and talent’ Music immediately erupted as his Adhamiyah teammates exploded in jubilation and lofted him on their shoulders, until the match resumed and it was their turn to hide the ring. “You can tell who is holding the ring,” Qahtan said later, “because he sweats and shakes and makes more sudden movements than the others.” “Knowing who is holding the ring, though, requires experience and talent.” Mheibes is played across Baghdad, and in several other Iraqi cities throughout Ramadan, with matches typically starting after the dusk iftar meal that breaks the daily fast. In Karbala, the holy Shiite city in south Iraq, authorities have organized a Mheibes championship, pitting localities from around the country against each other. Teams from Baghdad, predominantly Shiite southern cities such as Diwaniyah, Najaf, Kufa, and mostly Sunni towns like Baquba and Mussayib, are all taking part, according to Salem alNaqqash, the captain of the Karbala team.

“The games used to continue until dawn, and sometimes even until midday, until one of the teams would win,” said Malik of Mheibes matches, referring to years before the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. Malik told of one match during the 1990s that took place on the last day of Ramadan. It continued through the night, and upon realizing at day-break that Ramadan had ended, the two sides postponed the rest of the game to the following year. Since 2003, however, widespread violence has led not only to an overnight curfew requiring all Iraqis to be in their homes during the wee hours, but has also walled off neighboring communities. Adhamiyah, for example, lies across the Tigris river from the mostly-Shiite district of Kadhimiyah, with the two neighborhoods connected by a single bridge that was closed to vehicle traffic for several years during the peak years of the sectarian bloodshed. —AFP

Men in the Baghdad neighborhood of Adhamiyah play Mheibis, a traditional evening game played in the Iraqi capital during Ramadan where men from rival neighborhoods compete to discover a hidden ring being held by one of the opposing team’s players. —AFP