28 Sep

ON IP TI SC R SU B

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Indians rush to send money home as rupee plunges

www.kuwaittimes.net

SHAWWAL 30, 1432 AH

Sixteen dead as Typhoon Nesat strikes Philippines

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By B Izzak

Shiite tweeter handed jail, but walks free KUWAIT: A court yesterday jailed a Shiite tweeter for three months for disparaging Sunni Muslims on the social network page, his lawyer said. The sentence meant that Nasser Abul, 26, was set free because he has already spent more than three months in detention, his lawyer Khaled Al-Shatti told AFP. Abul was arrested early June. “He was convicted on the charge that he wrote remarks on his Twitter account deemed derogatory to Sunni Muslims. We will appeal the ruling,” Shatti said.

The court acquitted him of a second charge that he also insulted the leaders of Kuwait Gulf partners Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the lawyer said. During the trial, Abul denied the charges saying a hacker had written the offensive remarks on his Twitter account and that he had deleted them as soon as he saw them. The Kuwait Society for Human Rights and Amnesty International have called for Abul to be freed, with AI saying it believes he is a “prisoner of conscience detained for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression”.

The same court on Sunday sentenced Sunni Islamist activist Mubarak Al-Bathali to three months in jail for writing remarks on his Twitter account deemed derogatory to Shiite Muslims.

Sectarian tensions between the majority Sunni and Shiite Muslims have intensified in the past several months over mainly regional issues like Bahrain, Iran and Syria. Shiites make up around 30 percent of Kuwaitis. Several Kuwaiti MPs have strongly criticised what they described as a government crackdown on bloggers and users of social network sites Facebook and Twitter. — AFP

Saudi woman to be lashed for driving JEDDAH: A Saudi woman was sentenced to 10 lashes for defying a ban on women driving in the conservative kingdom, an activist said yesterday, while another woman was arrested in the capital. Sheima Jastaniah was sentenced on Monday by a court in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, where she was caught driving in July, the activist said, requesting anonymity. She said Jastaniah “had refused to talk to media about her trial ... and we were shocked yesterday (Monday) that she was sentenced to 10 lashes”. Jastaniah will appeal the verdict, she added.

The sentence came a day after King Abdullah announced allowing women to vote and run in municipal polls, and to join the all-appointed Shura (consultative) Council, a first in a country that imposes many restrictions on women. Amnesty International condemned the sentence, saying it demonstrated the “scale of discrimination against women in the kingdom”.

“Flogging is a cruel punishment in all circumstances but it beggars belief that the authorities in Saudi Arabia have imposed lashes on a woman apparently for merely driving a car,” Middle East and North Africa deputy director Philip Luther said in a statement. “Belatedly allowing women to vote in council elections is all well Continued on Page 13

SHANGHAI: Rescuers evacuate passengers after a subway train collision yesterday. — AFP

China metro trains collide, 271 injured SHANGHAI: Two metro trains collided in Shanghai yesterday, injuring more than 270 people, the city government said, just months after a deadly highspeed rail crash that shocked China. The Shanghai Metro Company blamed the accident on a signal failure - the same cause as a July high-speed train crash that killed at least 40 people and shook public confidence in China’s vast rail network, prompting outrage.

There were no deaths from yesterday’s accident, but pictures posted on Chinese websites showed bloodied passengers, some lying on the floor apparently unconscious and others with head injuries.

A health official told a news conference that 271 injured were sent to hospital, of which 61 remained hospitalised and another 30 under observation as of yesterday evening. The others had been discharged.

The metro company said 500 passengers had been evacuated from the trains. Around 50 went to the nearby Ruijin hospital, where a doctor said most of the victims were only slightly hurt. Four foreigners, two Japanese, one Canadian and one from the Philippines, suffered minor injuries. “This accident shouldn’t have happened,” Wen Pei, a passenger Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Deputy National Assembly speaker Abdullah Al-Roumi yesterday submitted a request to the public prosecutor urging him to investigate his bank accounts and those of eight other MPs in light of the corruption scandal involving a number of lawmakers. Roumi told reporters that he submitted a letter signed by him and the eight MPs addressed to the public prosecutor authorizing him to investigate movements into their bank accounts since the start of the current legislative term in June 2009. The move came in a bid to clear the names and reputation of the signatory MPs after at least two banks referred the accounts of several MPs to the public prosecution for allegedly receiving huge deposits, Roumi said.

Roumi, himself a lawyer, prepared the letter about two weeks ago and invited other MPs to sign. The other MPs who signed it are: Falah Al-Sawwagh, Faisal AlMislem, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, Jamaan Al-Harbash, Abdulrahman Al-Anjari, Adel Al-Saraawi, Hussein Mizyed and Saleh Al-Mulla. MPs Marzouk Al-Ghanem, Aseel Al-Awadhi and Maasouma Al-Mubarak have said they will sign the letter when they return from abroad, Roumi said. The letter allows the public prosecution to investigate all cash deposits exceeding KD. 30,000 into the accounts of the MPs and their minor children, he said.

Earlier this month, about 20 MPs signed another document authorizing the Central Bank and other legal authorities to investigate the bank accounts of the MPs, their wives and close relatives. The corruption scandal has plunged the country into a major crisis, threatening a major showdown between the government and the opposition.

At a new gathering late Monday night, opposition groups appeared to be succeeding in joining ranks in a bid to submit a joint grilling of the prime minister over the scandal and the lack of action on the part of the government and a possible involvement of the government. Speaking at the gathering, Islamist MP Harbash called on opposition MPs to withdraw two grillings filed against the prime minister that were due to be debated in November and join in submitting a unified grilling focused entirely on the corruption scandal. Harbash expected that the opposition will have enough votes to vote Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah out of office. In a related development, the Assembly’s legal and legislative committee failed to hold a meeting yesterday for the second time this week Continued on Page 13

Syria forces mount raids on dissent DAMASCUS: Syrian forces mounting raids on dissidents killed at least six civilians yesterday, rights groups said, as Damascus accused the West of trying to break up the country with “total chaos”.

And as China expressed its concern at the wider implications of the turbulence, the United States warned of signs that President Bashar Al-Assad’s opponents were turning to violence. “Three civilians were killed and seven others were injured during an assault by the army and security agents against the Homs district of Bayada,” said the Syrian Obser vator y for Human Rights. The attack came after deserter soldiers burned a tank in the area, the Britainbased rights group said.

The forces killed two civilians during raids in the northern town of Jabal AlZawiya, and another civilian was killed

and five wounded in a dawn operation in southern Daraa province, where the protests began in mid-March. Powerful guns, some mounted on tanks, were used on people in Rastan, Talbisseh and Tir Maala, all in central Homs province, the Obser vatory added, a day after reporting four soldiers were shot dead trying to desert in Idlib. “At least 20 people were wounded, seven seriously, when soldiers using heavy machine guns on tanks began to open fire at sunrise in Rastan,” it said, adding “loud explosions were also heard”. The Local Coordination Committees, which organises protests on the ground, reported a “massive deployment” of security forces in Rastan.

Hundreds of soldiers who have refused orders to fire on protesters have formed the Khaled Bin Al-Walid Continued on Page 13

CAIRO: A protester carries a banner with a caricature of Syrian President Bashar Assad while taking part in an anti-Syrian regime rally near the Syrian embassy yesterday. — AP

in the

news

Israel okays settler homes in Jerusalem

Egypt elections to start November 28

JERUSALEM: Israel yesterday approved a plan for 1,100 new homes in an east Jerusalem settlement, in a move the Palestinian leadership said snubs a Quartet proposal for new peace talks. “The Israeli interior ministry announced yesterday that the plan for 1,100 new housing units in Gilo had passed its district planning committee, and will now be available for public objections for 60 days,” a ministr y statement said. But the Palestinians slammed the move as a rejection of a Quartet proposal for fresh peace talks. “With this, Israel is responding to the Quartet’s statement with 1,100 ‘Nos’,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP, shortly after the approval was made public. Richard Miron, spokesman for UN Middle East peace envoy Robert Serry took a similar view. “This sends the wrong signal at this sensitive time. Settlement activity is contrary to the roadmap and to international law, and undermines the prospect of resuming negotiations and reaching a two state solution to the conflict.”

CAIRO: Egypt will hold on Nov 28 its first parliamentary election since a popular revolt ousted president Hosni Mubarak in Februar y, the ruling militar y announced in a decree yesterday. Military chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi decided that the election would be held “over three rounds staring on November 28,” the official MENA news agency reported. The second round would be held on Dec 14, the third on Jan 3 and the new assembly to convene on March 17, MENA reported. A three-round senate election will be held from Jan 29 to March 11. The military also announced an amended election law under which two-thirds of parliament will be elected through a proportional representation system and the rest through a simple majority. Only independent candidates are eligible to run for the simple majority seats.

More than two dozen political parties have rejected the electoral law, saying it could help return old regime figures to parliament.

Tantawi walkabout raising eyebrows

New human rights logo selected

CAIRO: A walkabout in central Cairo by Egypt’s military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi donning civilian clothes has unleashed a torrent of questions about his political intentions. Tantawi took a stroll in Cairo’s Downtown area on Monday night wearing a business suit and with no personal security in tow. The unusual sight, a picture of which appeared on the state-owned Al-Ahram’s front page, set social networking sites ablaze with jokes and commentary. That’s “Tantawi handing power to ‘civilian rule’,” wrote Adel on Twitter. “The field marshal wears military uniform to try revolutionaries in military court, and now he wears civilian clothes to rule the people,” wrote a user who calls himself MrKimooo. Tantawi heads a junta of military officials known as the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that took power when president Hosni Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising in February. Tantawi’s late night walkabout came two days after he gave closed-door testimony at Mubarak’s murder trial, which was criticised on social networking sites.

BERLIN: Internet voters have chosen a new human rights logo, designed by a freelance graphic designer from Serbia. Some 25 percent of online voters chose 33year-old Pedrag Stakic’s submission after an international jury that included five Nobel Peace Prize winners had narrowed the contest down to 10 finalists.

Stakic said in a statement released yesterday that he combined two universal symbols - a hand and a bird - for his design symbolizing a “free, just and peaceful world”. The campaign, organized by the German Foreign Ministry, started in May to find a logo to serve as a universal and recognizable symbol for human rights. It received more than 15,000 submissions from 190 countries. The open-source logo is available on the website www.humanrightslogo.net for download and use.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Years

Security stepped up at Iraqi embassy after attack threat KUWAIT: Security forces surrounded the Iraqi Embassy in Jabriya on Sunday, mobilizing the entire embassy protection taskforce after receiving anonymous threats of attacks on the building. Checkpoints were set up near the entrance to the building, said a security insider, adding that it is possible that the threats emanated from Iraq.

Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that

the Iraqi transport ministr y has announced that Italian companies will carry out a new survey on Iraq’s Fao Port project beginning today.

The ministry said the survey activities were based on the latest developments in construction at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, and the Italian companies are looking for several alternatives to the current site of the Fao Port project. — Al-Watan

Committee frustrated at Cabinet’s failure to curb overspending KUWAIT: Members of the high-profile committee formed by the government to study the country’s current economic situation were reportedly contemplating resignation last week. The possible action comes in light of the government’s failure to counter financial demands of public sector workers at a time when the committee’s work is focused on finding ways to curb overspending.

An insider quoted in one report stated that the resignations — postponed while His Highness the Amir was abroad — reflect the committee members’ frustration with the Cabinet’s “attempts to embarrass the committee in front of His Highness the Amir by enforcing regulations that boost overspending and then involve the committee in the subject.”

The Cabinet passed a bill two weeks ago that raised salaries of oil sector workers after they threatened strike action.

Following this development, the Cabinet last week assigned the Civil Ser vice Commission (CSC) and other governmental bodies with the task of conducting a three-month study of the demands made by labor unions representing various state bodies. This comes in light of threats of strikes by other public sector workers.

Meanwhile, a committee insider denied rumors that the Committee was consulted before pay rises were granted to public sector workers. “Apparently, the Cabinet felt embarrassed by public demands and so opted to throw the spotlight on us,” the source claimed, insisting that the committee is unable negotiate pay raises when tackling state overspending is the reason for the Committee’s existence.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah last month formed an advisory committee of senior state officials and economic figures to formulate recommendations to curb state overspending and find alternative sources of revenue so as to shield the state economy from an imminent global crisis. The sources reported that the Committee’s final recommendations are expected to be handed to HH the Amir on Oct. 20 and will refer to, “the Cabinet’s inability to lead the country since it lacks resolve in countering many issues, including those that contribute to overspending,” according to Al-Qabas.

Meanwhile, Al-Anba has reported that the Cabinet is considering raising the living cost allowance provided to Kuwaiti citizens from KD 120 per month to KD 220 in a bid to assuage the current wave of financial demands from state employees.

In a separate report, sources say that the Prime Minister HH Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah is expected to stress the importance of finishing the study on the labor unions’ demands according to the original three-month timeframe, when he meets with the Cabinet on Sunday.

In related news, while employees at Kuwait’s seaports and at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) agreed to suspend strikes and await new governmental measures. Kuwait witnessed new strikes this week by staff at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Kuwait Airways Corporation as well as at other governmental departments. There have been threats to hold further strikes next Sunday. — Al-Qabas, Al-Anbaa, Al-Rai

LOCAL

Indians rush to send money home as rupee plunges Poorer expats fail to cash in on situation

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: Money exchange centers across Kuwait are witnessing a heavy rush of Indian expats in the last few weeks who sought to cash in on the continued plunge of the Indian rupee against the US dollar.

Though, the rupee improved marginally at the local forex market yesterday against the dinar, it continued to remain weaker prompting rich nonresident Indians (NRIs) to transfer huge funds to India.

“There is a significant rise in high value remittances to India in the last few days,” said Pancily Varkey, country head, UAE Exchange Centre.

Talking to the Kuwait Times, Varkey said, while the counts (the number of remittances) remained more or less the same, the volume has increased sharply suggesting that expats with high income are taking advantage of the weakening of the rupee.

A Kuwaiti dinar fetched 177.36 rupees yesterday while it had traded for 180 rupees last week, which was a two-year low for the Indian currency.

But many market specialists feel that a plunge in the value of the Indian rupee usually doesn’t help the expats in the low-income categories much who are unable to take advantage of the situation.

“Laborers in construction and industrial sectors, housemaids and poorer workers, who have to support families back home, transfer funds every month. They are not in a position to increase the amount they regularly send. They are not very much conscious about the fluctuations in the value of the rupee also,” said Jalil Ahmad, a currency trader at a local exchange. “Indians with low salaries and income won’t benefit much from the depreciation of the rupee. But big businessmen and high-

KUWAIT: An employee counts money at a currency exchange shop in Kuwait. —Photo by Joseph Shagra income groups are transferring funds to India now,” said a currency specialist on condition of anonymity. The strengthening of the US dollar in the near-term following a deepening debt crisis in the euro-zone has hit the rupee hard. According to experts, the Indian currency may continue to remain under pressure in the short-term.

According to currency specialists, there is a growing confidence crisis in Indian forex market prompting foreign funds to flee the market. “Many industries including the IT sector are taking cover

and adopting a watch- and-wait’ policy in view of the turbulence in the global market,” Varkey said.

Market observers also report a major flight of foreign institutional investors from the Indian stock market. According to unconfirmed reports, FIIs have pulled out funds worth Rs1,400 crore from Indian stock markets in the aftermath of a global financial crisis. But many dealers predict that the pressure on the rupee will ease sooner than later and the currency will appreciate against the dollar by the end of October.

PAAET fight reflects society’s frustration

By Nariman Moucer KUWAIT: A number of local observers have suggested a possible connection between the recent scenes of violence at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) following a dispute over the results of the student council election and a more general frustration in Kuwaiti society at perceived injustice and corruption.

One unnamed analyst asserted in an article published in local daily Al-Qabas yesterday that academic communities are microcosm of the larger societies around them, adding that this is very evident in Kuwait.

On Sunday evening, members of the two competing student blocs, the Mustaqillah (Independent) group and the Students’ Future List,

faced off following the announcement of the student election results. Angry students from both groups had to be held back by colleagues in the dispute, which saw verbal and physical confrontation, with members of the academic staff who observed the vote-counting process also being subjected to abuse by the enraged students.

At first glance, the disorder could be attributed to students’ frustration or unwillingness to accept the reality of defeat. A number of of those present, however, told local daily Al-Qabas that the confrontation reflects the generally impatient and intolerant mood of Kuwaiti society, blaming the government for further reinforcing this.

The witnesses suggested that the students had attempted to physically enforce their demands in the same way as labor unions have been attempt-

ing to force acceptance of their demands via strike action.

They further implied that the underlying reason behind the students’ actions was the government’s inability to contain the current chaotic situation facing the country. They indicated that this was further proven by the cabinet’s decision to consider the demands of numerous public sector trade unions, which feel marginalized after the government’s decision to approve wage rises for oil sector workers, - Al-Qabas reported.

The observers warned that incidents similar to the tense scenes seen at the PAAET could recur at numerous other locations in the future “as people have lost confidence in authorities which fail to end corruption or bring violators and slackers to accountability.”

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

local

Kuwaiti activist applauds Saudi women’s rights decision KUWAIT: The recent decision to grant polit- with demands of the current era in a manical rights to Saudi women is a historic step ner that doesn’t conflict with the Islamic forward for women in the Arab Kingdom values”.

Furthermore, Al-Anjari highlighted the and the entire region, said Kuwaiti political professional and scienactivist Nabila Al-Anjari. tific capabilities, as well Al-Anjari expressed her as ambition and awaresupport in a recent stateness of regional causes, ment congratulating the that Saudi women Saudi people on reforms embody. “ The Gulf which will enable Women’s Economic women to be selected Forum gave us the for the Consultative opportunity to realize Assembly, as well as to firsthand the capabilirun and vote in municities of Saudi women in pal elections. pushing for ward the “ The decision coindevelopment of Saudi cides with Saudi Arabia’s Arabia,” Al-Anjari said, 81st national day to referring to a regional mark a historic day that event which she both Saudi people have hosted, and chaired the always looked forward organizing committee to; especially women for, in Kuwait last April. who are eager to conNabila Al-Anjari “The more rights our tribute to the Kingdom’s development”, Al-Anjari said, further Saudi sisters obtain, the more this will help applauding King Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi boost their effective role in the improveArabia for “meeting these ambitions, which ment of the Gulf, Arab and Muslim socifall under steps of reform that go in line eties,” Al-Anjari said.

Nasty business

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Police are hunting for a Kuwaiti man accused of shooting his business partner, also Kuwaiti, over a work-related dispute. The victim, a man in his thirties, was rushed to Farwaniya Hospital with gunshot wounds to one foot. After receiving treatment, he told police that he had been leaving his home in Ashbiliya when his business partner appeared and shot him before fleeing.

Suicide bid A Kuwaiti man was rushed to Adan Hospital after suffering multiple injuries when he leapt from a bridge in Ahmadi in an apparent suicide bid. The man’s medical records indicate that he has a history of mental illness.

Jleeb mugging A Kuwaiti man was mugged and robbed of KD230 by three thugs in

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Police are hunting for the thieves.

Maid muddle Sharp-eyed officials at the Capital immigration department office spotted discrepancies in a form submitted by a bedoon man to finalize a maid’s residency visa, finding out that he was a bachelor and therefore ineligible to hire a maid to live in his property. The case was referred to the relevant authorities.

Drugs, booze busts Police in Jahra attending the scene of a car accident discovered that one of the drivers involved had heroin in his possession. He was taken into custody and referred to the relevant authorities.

In a separate incident, a Kuwaiti man was arrested on Al-Ghous Street in possession of a bag containing six bags of homemade liquor. He was referred to the relevant authorities.

Bright future for outsourcing in Kuwait Silah Gulf launched in Kuwait

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The prospects for the outsourcing industry in Kuwait are extremely promising and the potential for growth in this field is tremendous, said a senior outsourcing executive yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of outsourcing specialists Silah Gulf’s new offices in Kuwait yesterday, the company’s CEO Joe Tawfiq told the Kuwait Times that the possibilities in Kuwait for growth in this sector are vast and exciting. “On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest, Kuwait is only at level one [in outsourcing]; this means that we have tremendous possibilities for growth. We’re very excited about it - that’s why we’re here right now.”

Tawfiq, who gave a presentation profiling Silah Gulf during the launch, added that the outsourcing business in Kuwait is ver y fresh and promising.

“Compared to India and the Philippines, Kuwait’s outsourcing market is very young and undeveloped,” he asserted. “Our target is to make the outsourcing business here more exciting to help companies develop and present exemplary world-class services.”

In Asia, India has the highest rate of outsourcing business followed by the Philippines. Silah Gulf ’s newly appointed General Manager Ben Fairbank has ser ved for many years in the

Philippines, helping to almost quadruple the firm’s takings in Manila. “I am pleased to be joining Silah Kuwait - I can see a very bright future of outsourcing business here,” he said. “Silah hopes to become a pioneer in customer experience management and we will deliver it to our customers.”

ments. In Kuwait, Silah already has approximately 60 fulltime employees, managing a call center for one of the telecommunication companies here.

“We are offering Kuwaiti companies a paradigm shift in the way they can grow their business,” said Tawfiq. “Silah can

KUWAIT: Joe Tawfiq, left, and Ben Fairbank at the launching ceremony held at the Courtyard Hotel yesterday.

— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Silah Gulf is a specialist in the fields of customer management and contact centre services. The company is a joint venture between Bahrain’s eGovernment Authority and the UK-based company Merchants, a leading provider of bespoke outsource contact centre solutions.

Silah Gulf’s core philosophy is to build solutions tailored to meeting their clients’ unique business objectives and require-

implement its proven best practices in managing customer experiences for greater profit. We believe that Kuwaiti companies have an opportunity to differentiate themselves through our unique expertise.”

The Silah Gulf CEO said that research shows that companies in a number of industries, have increased their market share profitability through the consistent delivery of high quality customer experiences. Silah also

promises to help Kuwaiti companies to become more competitive in the region through strategic outsourcing solutions, and Ben Fairbank is keen to share his expertise with Kuwaiti companies. “Customer experience management is one of the few areas left where companies can truly stand out from the crowd,” he stressed. “Prices are not sustainable for the long term while investing in customer experience management can often lead to long term customer loyalty.”

Tawfiq indicated that the company is ready to help dynamic new graduates to find a suitable environment for their skills by offering them a smooth transition from education to the working world. “This is a great stepping stone for new graduates as we can be a bridge between university and their new environment,” he said, adding, “We can employ both Kuwaitis and expatriates.”

Silah Gulf can also help in establishing new, non-oiloriented companies in Kuwait to help the country to diversify its economy. “In Bahrain, they were able to diversify their economy from oil to non-oil economy and we are happy to be part of that remarkable development,” Tawfiq explained, concluding, “In Kuwait we can also help reduce the dependency on the oil economy and we are here to be part of that plan.”

MOH eyes deal with Stuttgart University KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health is holding talks with Stuttgart University in hopes of reaching a deal in which the University will run the Al-Razi Orthopedics Hospital for a fixed period of time.

“Studies are currently ongoing

with Stuttgart University regarding the possibility of managing Al-Razi Hospital,” said the hospital’s manager, Dr Ammar Baroun, in a press statement. He further added that MOH undersecretary, Dr Ibrahim Al-Abdulhadi, held a

meeting earlier this week with a team from the German university to discuss logistics regarding the deal.

This project comes as part of the MOH’s plans to improve the quality of work and services at

public hospitals by signing agreements with international facilities.

Last year, the Ministry signed a deal with Canada’s McGill University to provide similar services to the Chest Diseases Hospital. — Al Rai

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

LOCAL

Local Spotlight

In my VIEW

Project for a new society

The Arab awakening

By Fouad Al-Obaid

By Muna Al-Fuzai fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter: @Fouadalobaid

I

s there an ideal society? If so, what could an ideal society look like? How would it be organized?

How would it be ruled? Islamists in our parliament would like to offer Sharia law as a solution to modern man’s ills, and yet, the tried concept has not worked in other societies, and most likely will not work in Kuwait-and that let alone if its implementation is even seriously considered here.

When we look at the Middle East, we come to a see a region ridden and fueled by religion be it Islam, Christianity, and Judaism and in the contemporary add several dozen sub-sects of the three faiths and you get a gloomy picture of the region. A movie I just got the pleasure of viewing by Lebanese director Nadine Labaki “Where Do We Go Now?” is both a touching and moving movie that deals with a village that is home to a mixed population without explicitly mentioning the country the viewer is left to believe that it is in Lebanon. With the background of a civil religious conflict that wrecked havoc to a once peaceful country, two communities -Christians and Muslims- share a village. Though relations are amicable between the two communities at first, initial sparks of almost non-intended attacks against the respective shrines lead to the engulfing of spirits and the call to violence...

Emerging from the movie the viewer is left to think and reflect about the following questions: Is a religion a solution or a problem in a globalized world? People will die regardless of their faith, and despite the similar grave their bodies rest in their views on what happens next is completely different!

Is society better off with or without religion to poison things? In Kuwait we may not have schism between Christians and Muslims, and yet, we have a real cleavage with a divide between the Sunni and Shiites that needs to be addressed and resolved.

Let’s state that if hypothetically religion can be a good source to find, create and establish the ‘ideal society’ then perhaps we should look into history to see if any theocracy has managed to create such a society. I suspect that we would not find one that we could use as a model, and certainly I don’t foresee a model that can suit the 21st century. Steven Weinberg mention a notion, which is very much valid in this part of the world, “Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” The later being the trap, good people doing evil things. Palestine and Israel for instance, Iran and the Gulf, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and the list goes on...

For the sake of humanity let us all believe in the power of coexistence, and mutual respect. What people believe should be left in the hearts, action is what we aspire for. We need a common ground for understanding, one that is void of derogatory terminology towards people that are different. The Middle East was the cradle of civilization; let us not render it through sheer stupidity and arrogance to the graveyard of civilizations.

muna@kuwaittimes.net

A kuwait digest

‘Brilliant philosophies’ to fund govt pay raises

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

S

oon after the Cabinet enacted pay increases for oil sector employees, Minister of Oil Mohammad AlBusairi - a man supposedly knowledgeable due to his extensive experience as a parliamentarian - claimed that not a single dinar will be used from the state’s budget in paying those wage increases.

How is that possible? AlBusairi further explains that the funds for the pay raise will be deducted from oil revenues after which the remaining revenues will be available to the Ministry of Finance. Technically speaking, this means the government will not be directly paying the wage increases for oil sector employees.

What an interesting philosophy. Perhaps we need to adopt the same mechanism at the Customs General Department, for example, by deducting an amount from the customs revenues to pay the department’s staff more, before handing to the government whatever remains from the revenues.

This way, we can say the government has no hand, technically, in providing financial privileges to customs employees. I think this brilliant philosophy should be taught in business administration colleges in Kuwait.

Personally, I am not surprised to hear such statements come from Minister Al-Busairi, as illogical statements are not new to the

government. What is regrettable, however, is the fact that ministers who make similar statements usually remain in office. How can

I am not surprised to hear such statements come from Minister Al-Busairi, as illogical statements are not new to the government.

What is regrettable, however, is the fact that ministers who make similar statements usually remain in office. How can an individual with such a thought process remain at the helm of the ministry charged with securing citizens’ welfare today and in the future?

an individual with such a thought process remain at the helm of the ministry charged with securing citizens’ welfare today and in the future?

While I may have misinterpreted the minister’s statements, a week has passed and there has been no clarification from his office regarding his controversial philosophy.

Just as I thought the subject could not become any odder, I received an even stranger interpretation of the minister’s statement from an-I admit-unconfirmed source in the Ministry of Oil. According to the source, who called to clarify what he said was a, “misinterpretation of the minister’s statement in the press,” the ministry is opening a fund to be used to store small deductions taken from salaries of its employees.

This sum will then be used to fund the increase in employees’ salaries! The source further indicates that this mechanism is a temporary one, due to remain in place until the ministry finds a way to fund the pay raises by selling fuel that is collected from oil spilled while loading tankers - a project the ministry has yet to launch.

I know it is hard to believe what the unconfirmed source said. But if you had no trouble believing whatever the minister had to say, then I do not think you will face similar problems taking the source’s explanation as the truth. —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Corruption no longer behind closed doors

Authorities and people share blame

By Waleed Al-Rujaib

By Khalifa Al-Khurafi

T

he alarming levels of corruption in Kuwait place the country at a dangerous crossroads.

The cash deposits scandal is a reflection of an existing moral degradation in the legislative and executive authorities.

Once a secret few were aware of, behind-thedoor political dealings are now the talk of the town that negatively affects political confidence.

The public is concerned about the state’s democracy and the future of its young generations.

There was a time when Kuwaiti society was divided over lending support to the Cabinet and the prime minister. The recent scandal has now unified disparate sectors of society with the goal of combating an imminent danger that threatens to tear our social fabric apart.

Discussions regarding turning Kuwait into an international financial hub are becoming illogical.

We witness corruption slip deeper and, in doing so, illegal practices become institutional defects.

The government must now completely change the policy with which it runs the state. The state has been marred by corruption because the damages are simply too grave to be repaired.

In light of the current crisis and the embarrassing scandal, the call to participate in next Wednesday’s anti-corruption rally is louder than usual. All sectors of society have now joined ranks with divided elements. It is fair to say that the current situation warrants the establishment of a new Parliament and Cabinet.

As Arab nations throughout the region hold protests demanding change and democracy, Kuwaiti society hopes that its government can provide stability with a new approach to boosting democracy and building a modern state. Instead, Kuwaitis witness corruption mushrooming unabashedly, a development that completely disregards the country’s welfare. — Al-Rai

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he current miserable situation that is leading our countr y towards a dark future is the result of mismanagement on the part of the government and the oppositionists in Parliament. The government, on the one hand, needs to change its current hesitant approach that has seen many regulations ignored, start reorganizing priorities to restructure the state’s budget and stop overspending.

On the other hand, oppositionists share the blame for legislative shortcomings as well as diverting the government’s attention from law enforcement.

Oppositionists need to alter their current unstructured approach; they lack a clear program or plan for reform that outlines projects to be given priority and completed within a fixed deadlines. Instead, MPs are prioritizing legislation that ultimately adversely affects the Kuwait economy and contributes further to the current troubled situation.

Elsewhere, Parliaments on whom we’ve placed high hopes have unfortunately lost their way and have begun siding with demands that focus on illogical issues instead of standing up to mismanagement and corruption.

The oppositionists, led by veteran lawmaker Ahmad AlSaadoun for 15 years, have so far failed to enact the wealth disclo-

sure law that would expose corrupt MPs. Seventeen opposition MPs took part in the recent mass gathering against corruption;

Kuwait needs change that would see corrupt officials held accountable by the people as opposed to having their activities ignored due to their status. Action is needed to change people’s ideologies, as Kuwait cannot advance while its citizens are easily duped by MPs who have failed to pass anti-government legislation for the past decade and a half.

what ought to have happened, however, is for the gatherers to hold the suspected accountable for failing to enforce anti-corruption legislation over the past 15 years.

Productive political opposition acts with a clear ideology that diagnoses errors and finds remedies in legislation that improves living conditions in the country.

Confident opposition doesn’t need to resort to showing off when it can utilize the constitutional tool of interpellation to ser ve its reform agenda as opposed to a tool for political embezzlement.

An oppositionist cannot claim to fight for reform when he breaks the law to serve personal interests or suppor ts legislation that boosts the country’s overspending rates. An oppositionist cannot claim to be acting for reform when he has failed to pass anticorruption legislation for the past 15 years.

Kuwait needs change that would see corrupt officials held accountable by the people as opposed to having their activities ignored due to their status. Action is needed to change people’s ideologies, as Kuwait cannot advance while its citizens are easily duped by MPs who have failed to pass anti-government legislation for the past decade and a half. — Al-Qabas

re we experiencing a revolution, an Arab awakening? Can we dare to think of the future and of who could take the lead in this tense new Middle East?

Like many others, I have used the term revolution to describe what is really taking place in many African and Arab countries, starting with Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria. Arab writers like myself are not familiar with scenes of revolutionaries rising up against the ruling administrations in Arab countries for many reasons, mostly due to tradition and custom rather than to any laws or beliefs.

These recent and unprecedented scenes have far exceeded the previous expectations of most, even the administrations and leaders themselves.

In the Arab world any attempt to oppose the ruling administrations has long been unwelcome, unappreciated and unsupported, even if that administration is fed by the blood and flesh of its own people and threatens its neighbors.

For example, the fact that Iraq had invaded Kuwait did not prevent some countries whose presidency is passed down from father to son from supporting the Iraqi ruling administration of the time. The same scene was repeated when Egyptians wanted to remove their president and his junta from power, with some countries which share a similar system daring to support the Mubarak regime, even secretly, at a time when it was obvious that the majority of Egyptians had made up their mind to remove that regime, by force if necessary.

I believe that these events indicate that change, especially in politics and leadership in the Arab world, can face massive resistance. What is really going on right now in Yemen is a living example of how some ruling administrations refuse to take the hint and will fight unto the death to remain in power unless the blessing of a natural divinely sanctioned death intervenes.

The scenes are truly miserable, but let’s face it, the people are the ones who are blamed for the most part since it is so common in the region to maintain a heroic image of the leadership and of leaders who are depicted as no less than imaginary Supermen incapable of mistakes or abuses.

After many years of wealth and power, the administrations themselves come to believe what they have said and heard for decades and, guess what, they teach unquestioning loyalty to the ruling administrations from an early age in schools.

At present, however, the people leading these rebellions against these administrations are the young, who have found out that all they have been taught since kindergarten about their leadership was fraudulent, a massive illusion, with the reality being the direct opposite of the leaders’ claims. This wind of change has reached the Islamic world now and it will not stop blowing until those old inflexible administrations are forced to bend to its will or to give up and depart.

Can we call this an Arab awakening? I believe it is; it is an awakening to and an uprising against abuse, murder and theft. None of the currently struggling administrations deserve any sympathy.

What of the future though? What will happen once all this chaos is over and the tyrants gone to their graves or to prison cells?

(To be continued...)

kuwait digest

Should we combat corruption?

By Mubarak Al-Hajiri

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verybody claims to be fighting corruption, the minister, legislators, the Press, its columnists and citizens gathered in the diwaniya.

Everyone has their own views on corruption.

The minister who does a favor to his cousin, neighbor or friend does not feel that it is corruption. The MP who mediates for relatives, and gets them jobs, posts with the government, scholarships and other things, feels that he is helping spread corruption!

The journalist who sells his conscience to buy a car, lies so as to satisfy some people or receive job assistance. He receives in an envelope, a first class trip that includes a stay in a luxurious hotel. Some citizens who violate the law and ask some relatives to mediate in their favor, gain things they do not deserve, and do not fulfill responsibilities as they should. There is no corruption!

Corruption is not limited to MPs, they get millions because it is bigger and more dangerous. We are complicit in this crime.

The minister is not deterred by Allah, and misuses his post to violate the law! The MP who does not watch out for this minister is corrupt! The journalist who turns a blind eye to the practices of the minister is corrupt! The citizen who votes for corrupt MPs is corrupt as well. Should we work toward protecting Kuwait from corruption? — Al-Watan

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Shifting preferences in the book trade E-book vs. paperback: Who wins?

By Lisa Conrad KUWAIT: Reading has been undeniably transformed by technology, but, as a result, society has been divided into different camps defending their favored choice. As e-books rise in popularity, some are adamantly defending the value of the printed page.

According to Layla, e-books can’t compare to the real thing; “Reading a book isn’t just about the story. It’s the whole experience. Opening the new book, break ing the spine, flick ing through the dry pages and reaching the final line before closing it shut, satisfied that you’ve completed it. There’s nothing like picking up the dog-eared, reread copy of your favorite book and flicking through to the best pages and passages - e-books are completely missing in that personal experience.”

Laura, a literature student and booklover, agrees, “I can’t imagine reaching the end of my day, finally having gotten together some time to relax, and sitting back in an armchair with an e-book and a cup of tea. It’s not the same. There’s something so comforting with having ageless stories sitting waiting to be picked up, as opposed to a file saved in a folder.”

Jacob Oommen, co - owner of q8 books, agreed that the physical experience of interacting with a book is a large part of the enjoyment of reading, “The smell of books, even the feel of the book itself all contribute to the experience,” he said. “I’m not against electronic books, but I’d much rather have real books than electronic ones.”

Oommen added that the joy of booksharing is also lost when they’re in electronic format: “You can pass around an actual book, but there are restrictions on many electronic books with regard to lending and expiry,” he pointed out.

Despite the book-lovers’ insistence on the superiority of the original copies of their favorite books, however, others can’t resist the ease and convenience that e-books offer. This shifting preference has affected the book market negatively, said Oommen, “Ten years from now I’ll probably lose more than half of my customers,” he predicted, adding, “The electronic books are getting better, thinner and getting longer battery lives.”

These benefits are certainly drawing in more and more customers, like mother of two, Noor, who told the Kuwait

Times, “I gave my kids Kindles, and we store books on there for them. They finish one and move on to the others without feeling intimidated. A bookshelf loaded with dense, seemingly never-

great books because they didn’t like the cover or it didn’t look fun or interesting.

It’s a distraction sometimes.”

While Noor is keen on the childfriendly aspects of e-books, keen reader

KUWAIT: Going online to get information has become the most popular method in Kuwait. — Photo by Joseph Shagra ending books can be scary for kids. But in this format, they can enjoy the experience without feeling worried that they’re advancing slowly.” Noor also cited another advantage of the new format: “Kids are very attracted to book covers in stores. They can miss out on

Ali likes the convenience they offer, “I carry all of my favorite books with me all the time, all electronically stored.

Whenever I have to wait for an appointment or get held up, I can read. It’s beyond convenient not having to carry around copies and then forgetting the

page number or losing the bookmark.

Plus, it looks just like a page and it’s easy on the eyes.”

Purists, however, insist that the experience is ruined by reading e-books, “Shakespeare wasn’t meant to be read in an electronic format,” said Laura.

“Modernization is fine, but it can make things totally soulless sometimes. I have books from my childhood, which are so nostalgic for me and remind me of so many great memories. Just picking them up reminds me of being a kid and dragging around my favorite stories. Are my kids going to feel the same about an old e-book they stored? I don’t think so.”

Whilst Layla agrees that original copies are best, she does note one exception, “Academic text is better viewed online instead of the original.

Scouring through libraries can take hours, and you end up with just one journal entry. Academic databases store all of it, so you can access it quickly, search for key terms to see if it’s relevant and then save it for later. Research-wise, reading and sourcing online is more efficient.”

She is adamant, however, that the advantages of electronic or online text are limited: “Reading for leisure shouldn’t be done online or electronically. I’d never purchase e-books. There’s nothing better than looking through a bookstore and picking out something that you’d never even heard of, only to find out how wonderful it is.”

Oommen, however, said that even the online shopping experience itself is starting to imitate the real thing, “The shopping experience is certainly different, but you can read a few chapters to get an idea of the book, which is similar to what people do when they come into the store.”

Electronic books aren’t the only thing moving attention away from traditional hardbacks, however, as Oommen pointed out: “It’s not just the threat of electronic books, but other distractions.

New technologies, games, the internet and T V are extremely popular.” One detail that electronic books can never imitate, however, is the value of physical books, especially rare and collectible editions: “ They can be keepsakes,” Oomen explained. “The death of the profitable publishing and book industry may come within 25 years, I’d guess. But there will always be a market for collectible, rare books.”

MEW closes bids on North Zoor plant KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) is set to start studying the bids submitted by contractors for the tender to build the first phase of the North Zoor power generation and water desalination plant after bidding closed yesterday.

“After receiving all the bids, the ministry will immediately start looking for the best offers in technical, legal and financial terms to select those which best meet the conditions”, said a senior MEW official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The ministry will select the bid that provides the highest quality at the lowest cost-per-kilowatt price, the official explained, adding that once completed, the major plant will provide 4,000 megawatts of power and 200 million imperial gallons of desalinated water on a daily basis. — Al-Qabas

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(Left) Cake from Radisson Blu Hotel. (Center) Senior Sales Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel Ramadan Ali and Adnan Saad, Marketing Director of Kuwait Times. (Right) Swiss-Bel cake.

More greetings for Kuwait Times

Gulfnet bouquet

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Times received more presents and congratulatory greetings yesterday on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. A number of dignitaries visited the KT’s offices, presenting cakes and flowers to mark this auspicious occasion. In the first photo, the General Manager of the Swiss-Bel Hotel Ali Haddad and the hotel’s Marketing and PR executive Katrina Jarlos are pictured with Kuwait Times Marketing Director Adnan Saad, alongside the cake presented by

Nurse commits suicide KUWAIT: An Arab expatriate nurse was pronounced dead at Farwaniya Hospital a few hours after she was admitted in a critical condition following an overdose of prescription medication. Paramedics rushed to the woman’s Farwaniya apartment after a roommate found her unconscious and surrounded by the remaining tablets. Despite doctors’ attempts to save her life, the woman was pronounced dead a few hours after being admitted to the hospital. Her body was removed for autopsy.

Dangerous driver Police are hunting for the driver of a pickup truck without license plates who shot at officers pursuing him before escaping. The police officers attempted to pull the man’s vehicle over after becoming suspicious of the vehicle during a routine patrol in Zoor, but the motorist immediately accelerated and drove away. Although the pursuing officers called for backup, the driver fired a gun at them a few times during the car chase, only narrowly missing the vehicle and forcing them to abandon the pursuit before any colleagues could come to their aid. The search for the gunman is continuing.

Wife-beater arrested A Kuwaiti woman called police to request help and protection after her abusive husband, also Kuwaiti, began destroying furniture and other items in their home in Rabiya in a fit of temper. Officers were quickly at the scene, arriving in time to prevent the violent man from assaulting his wife. The couple were taken to the local police station where the battered wife demanded protection from her abusive spouse, and were released after the husband signed an undertaking vowing not to harm his wife again.

Thuggish pupils Two thuggish high school pupils are facing assault charges after assaulting a janitor who tried to stop them sneaking out of school during school hours. The janitor filed assault charges with Jahra police after the two pupils fled following their attack on him after he reprimanded them for sneaking out of school. The school principal summoned the two students

the following morning and sent them to the police station for questioning over the incident.

Driver attacked Police are seeking to identify the two thugs who stopped a driver in Al-Surra and assaulted him before stealing his car. The victim told officers at Surra police station that he was driving in the area when two unidentified pedestrians forced him to stop before forcing him out of his car, beating him and stealing his vehicle.

Investigations are ongoing.

Bird breeder burgled An investigation is underway into a theft at a farm in Kabad in which the thieves stole a number of rare peacocks and rabbits, worth thousands of dinars. The owner of the farm, which specializes in rearing rare and valuable breeds of birds and animals, told officers at the local police station that he had arrived at the farm to find the creatures stolen. Crime scene officers were quickly at the location, removing evidence which may help in tracing the culprits.

Stolen goods A vendor at the Friday Market was arrested after being caught selling stolen goods. A police investigation into the theft of a large quantity of stolen construction material led police to the retailer, who had been selling similar material at the popular market, known as a source of black market goods, for some weeks. The man, who was arrested following a surveillance operation by undercover officers, was taken to Farwaniya police station to be charged.

Boozers busted A number of boisterous drunken young men and women were arrested in Salmiya after passersby reported that they were causing a public nuisance. The indiscreet drunkards, who were apparently dancing in the street whilst waving around bottles of imported liquor, were all found to be extremely drunk at the time of their arrest.

They were taken into custody to sober up and referred to the relevant authorities for further action. — Al-Rai

Kuwait to host ACD meetings KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will inaugurate the 10th session of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) at Bayan Palace on Oct 10, a Foreign Ministry official announced yesterday.

Ambassador Mohammad Ahmad Al-Mejren, the director of the Asia Department, said in a statement that the main meetings of the session, scheduled on Oct 10 and 11, would be preceded by a preparatory meeting on Oct 9.

Elaborating, he said a tripartite meeting would be held on Oct 8, at the level of ministry directors, comprising Kuwait, the chairman of the current ACD session, Iran, the chairman of the previous session, and Tajikstan, that would head the coming one, as well as Thailand in its capacity as the general coordinator of the forum.

Work sessions, due to get underway at night on Oct 10, will be held for two days (at Sheraton Hotel), under chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who would address the conferees, along with his Thai counterpart. Ministerial meetings of the forum will tackle diverse issues, such as the global financial crisis, its impact on Asian nations, boosting cooperation among these countries in the economic, commercial, transport, environmental and cultural sectors, AlMejren said.

Shedding further light on schedule of the upcoming gathering, the director added that the forum would be crowned with the “Kuwait Declaration,” to be followed with a joint conference by Sheikh Dr. Mohammad, his Tajik and Thai counterparts.

Participating delegations will represent, in

addition to Kuwait, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Steering committee will be headed by the Foreign Undersecretary, Ambassador Khaled Al-Jarallah, and will group the Director of the Asia Department Ambassador Mohammad Al-Roumi, the Director of the Protocols Ambassador Dhari Al-Ejran, the Director of the Financial and Administrative Affairs Ambassador Abdullah Al-Mansour, the Director of the Bureau of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Dr. Ambassador Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah.

The ACD is a body created in 2002 to promote Asian cooperation at a continental level and to help integrate separate regional cooperation organizations such as ASEAN, SAARC and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

It also aims at promoting interdependence among Asian countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying Asia’s common strengths and opportunities which will help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for Asian people whilst developing a knowledge-based society within Asia and enhancing community and people empowerment, expanding the trade and financial market within Asia.

The idea of an Asia Cooperation Dialogue was raised at the First International Conference of Asian Political Parties, held in Manila between Sept 17, 2000. — KUNA

them.

Also pictured is Ramadan Ali, the Senior Sales Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait, who also presented a delicious cake and was received by Adnan Saad.

A third prestigious visitor to the newspaper’s offices yesterday was Gulfnet General Manager Wael Hamad Al-Sultan, who presented the newspaper staff with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.

General Manager of Swiss-Bel Hotel Ali Haddad, Marketing & PR Executive of Swiss-Bel Hotel Katrina Jarlos and Adnan Saad, Marketing Director

A bracing new fashion

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Braces used to be considered embarrassing and ugly by their wearers, with adults feeling ashamed to wear them and only children accepting them. I n the past few years, however, wearing braces has become almost fashionable, with many wearers feeling that they’ll look cool, rich or even younger by wearing them.

Huda, a 26-year-old Iranian expatriate, has just had the braces fitted by her orthodontist removed. “I decided to get braces when I was 23 as my teeth needed to be aligned in a straight line,” she told the Kuwait Times. “It was a bit late as it’s an expensive procedure and I was saving up the money from my salary. I had the normal braces fitted at a private clinic in Farwaniya, and it cost KD 500 at the beginning, and then I had to pay KD 50 almost every month for each follow-up visit.”

Huda is delighted with the results and at the praise her new smile has been getting from everyone. “I love the result, and it ’s changed my smile, which is now perfect. Since then I’ve been tak ing care of my teeth far better. Now I only have a temporar y suppor t on one side, which will remain here till I have the transplant. It was my orthodontist’s idea as a temporary solution for the space that I have between my back teeth.

He came up with this idea as I wanted to remove the braces on time according to the treatment

program,” added Huda.

Some people even keep their braces for far longer than their orthodontists instruct them to.

“My doctor advised me to wear braces for three years as my teeth looked really bad and I needed to fix them,” said Eisa, a

[the braces] every two to three months as the or thodontist instructed since it was painful for a few days [after being tightened] and that caused headaches. I had it fixed in a public hospital, and I didn’t pay for it as the treatment was cov-

KUWAIT: In this file photo, a dentist in Kuwait is seen carrying out a check-up. The image is used for illustrative purposes only.— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat 27-year- old Kuwaiti. “I just removed the braces three months ago though, after wearing it for more than seven years as I was too lazy to remove it!”

Eisa said that despite not following the or thodontist ’s instructions to the letter she had ended up with the results she wanted. “I wasn’t tightening

ered by the [medical insurance from the] ministr y where I work.”

One Kuwaiti fashion fan said that she’d even heard from brace-wearing friends of a new trend for using the orthodontic aids to create protruding buck teeth. “I heard from my friends that they’d used the braces to

make these teeth move to the front, to look like a bunny,” said Manal. “I don’t know who came with this idea or who these people are imitating.”

According to a nurse at the Bayan Dental Clinic, the demand for having braces fitted have increased greatly in the last few years. “More people are coming to ask for braces and they don’t feel embarrassed. We even have patients in their 40s, although those are rare cases, with the majority of patients being between 18 and 25 years old. We have two orthodontists in each of our three clinics, so people don’t find any difficulty is getting appointment.

It’s usually in few days, then it depends on the doctor setting the appointments according to the patient’s needs. The price of the braces differs between the two kinds whether it is normal which costs KD 800, or the transparent one, which costs KD 1500.”

The receptionist at the Maidan Clinic also confirmed that the demand for braces is increasing every year. “Although it is an expensive procedure, more people care about fixing dental imperfections nowadays,” she explained. “ We have one orthodontist at each of our six branches, and we can fix a near date for the patient. The majority of our patients having braces fitted range from children to people aged around 20. The price differs according to each patient, and it’s usually between KD 1400 and KD1800.”

Wataniya Telecom: Platinum Sponsor of Kuwait Corporate Social Responsibility Conference KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom is proud to announce its sponsorship of the Kuwait Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conference. It will be under the patronage of Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad AlSabah, managing director of governmental relations, parliamentary and public relations and media in the Kuwait Petroleum Company. The conference will be held during the 28th and 29th of September at the Crowne Plaza.

Wataniya’s motive for being the platinum sponsor for this conference is to support and foster projects and initiatives related to social responsibility programs that would stimulate the concept of citizenship and support the community as a whole.

The conference aims at being the most prominent annual event and platform where corporate leaders have the opportunity to network, do business and engage in an open dialogue with the top experts and professionals who focus on CSR in Kuwait.

There will also be prominent guest speakers as representatives from different companies in the local and international region.

Abdolaziz Al-Balool PR Director at Wataniya Telecom explains Wataniya’s participation in this conference by saying: “Our strategy related to social responsibility creates an atmosphere of understanding and satisfaction and builds trust between our

customers and shareholders. This atmosphere has contributed in bringing us closer to them, especially since competition today is not only limited to the generating profit only but also includes the role of each com-

Abdolaziz Al-Balool

pany in supporting members of the community.”

Significant remarkable elements of CSR will be discussed in this conference, including business conduct, employee relationship, occupational health and safety, monitoring systems and community involvement.

Al-Balool adds: “Wataniya Telecom is working on developing initiatives in the field of social responsibility and is looking forward to further support different segments of society and to engage in activities that would develop the community, particularly in its role in developing the health sector and helping young people to develop their skills, support them and find jobs for them, while also focusing on preserving the environment and launching effective social campaigns that would promote the concept of citizenship.”

Also, it’s worth to mention that Wataniya Telecom will distribute its 2010 CSR report during the conference, under the title of “Wataniya Giving Back,” which includes the most important initiatives taken by the company in the field of social responsibility over the past year. This reflects the faith of Wataniya’s leadership role in devoting their efforts towards developing the society and preserving the local environment at first and the whole world in the long run.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Pakistan turns to China as relation with US sour

New Egypt backs historic ‘peace treaty’ with Israel Page 8

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NTC fighters capture Sirte’s port Snipers hold up push into Gaddafi stronghold SIRTE: Anti-Gaddafi fighters overran Sirte’s port yesterday, scoring a strategic victory in the battle for control of the defeated Libyan leader’s birthplace, as intense fighting carried on inside the city. But in the other main redoubt of Bani Walid, Muammar Gaddafi’s forces returned to the offensive after the fugitive ex-strongman broadcast a message rallying resistance to a weeks-long siege by National Transitional Council forces.

Meanwhile, a member of the NTC said formation of a transitional government, already delayed by squabbling over power-sharing, has been postponed until the entire country is liberated. And a pregnant American woman and about 150 other people who had been trapped in a mosque near Sirte’s western front for a week were evacuated on buses and taken to safety, NTC fighters said. Hundreds of fearful civilians have fled Sirte, a sprawling Mediterranean city 360 kilometers east of Tripoli, as the new regime’s forces close in from east, south and west.

NTC fighter Fateh Marimri, who drove out of Sirte’s eastern gate in what he said was a captured Gaddafi 4X4, said clashes were continuing around the Mahari Hotel. “There is intense fighting between us and them. They are using heavy weapons but we are not as we want to cause minimum damage to civilians,” Marimri said. “They are now fighting us in civilian clothes and there are African mercenaries everywhere in

Sirte,” he said.

Without giving names, he claimed Gaddafi’s family members were inside Sirte, backed by a “large number of his forces.” Gaddafi diehards have been putting up a fierce resistance, and there is the danger of intense street fighting hanging over the remaining residents. “As we

move closer to the city centre, it’s going to be face-to-face street fighting and we are preparing for it,” said another fighter, Ali Zaidi.

Commander Mustafa bin Dardef of the NTC’s Zintan Brigade said “there were clashes in the night and we now are controlling the port.”

Meanwhile, snipers defending

Gaddafi’s hometown held off an advance by interim government forces into the centre of the city, one of the last bastions of supporters of the ousted Libyan leader. NTC troops said fighting raged yesterday morning around Al-Batahady University where they had come under sniper fire from Gaddafi forces hidden on

SIRTE: A National Transitional Council fighter fires his machine gun, some 20 kilometers west of Sirte. —AFP

the campus. Dr Yusuf Al-Badri said the overnight clashes were the fiercest so far in the battle for the city.

“Today’s level of casualties was intense. We had some 40 fighters being treated of whom two died,” he said, adding the average number of casualties in recent days had been about 20.

The port and university lie on the northeastern side of Sirte but it is in the centre that Gaddafi’s compound and military bunkers lie and NTC fighters said they expected the fiercest resistance. Fleeing residents spoke of dwindling supplies of food and water and said Gaddafi forces were trying to prevent people from leaving. “There’s no food, no electricity; we were eating just bread,” said Saraj Al-Tuweish, who got out with his extended family of some 60 people yesterday. “I’ve been trying for 10 days to get out and every time the army forced us back,” Tuweish said.

“We would go the checkpoint and they would refuse, they would shoot in the air. Today we used a dirt road early in the morning and we managed to escape.” The lack of clean drinking water has triggered an epidemic of water-borne diseases, and an AFP correspondent saw dozens of children being treated at a clinic in the town of Harawa, 40 kilometers east of Sirte.

“We have medicines but no nurses to treat the constant flow of patients, mainly children, suffering from vomiting and gastrointestinal diseases,” said

Dr Valentina Rybakova, a Ukrainian working in Libya for eight years. “This is a big humanitarian crisis. We are trying to get help from everybody but the main problem is that these people have no access to clean drinking water,” she said.

On the main road between Misrata to the north, on the western edge of Sirte, an AFP correspondent was with around 30 NTC fighters parked underneath a highway flyover, sheltering from occasional shelling. —Agencies

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Libyan women train for military, hope for equality BENGHAZI: Muammar Gaddafi famously surrounded himself with a personal coterie of female bodyguards during the decades he ruled Libya. But it was more a sign of his eccentricities than a real commitment to equality for women in this conservative Islamic society. Now the revolutionary forces that swept the longtime leader from power last month are offering military training to scores of women, some of them housewives, others high school teachers.

On Sunday at a military compound in the eastern city of Benghazi, dozens of women with machine guns slung over their shoulders listened attentively to instructions in shooting and martial arts. They are the latest group of trainees as Libya’s new leaders work to build a national army. Women were at the forefront of the protests that launched the anti-Gaddafi uprising in February, demanding democracy for the country and justice for loved ones who had been killed. Many women now hope the revolution will herald full equality.

“We should be equal and we’re fighting for the same goal, so why should the men have to carry the burdens of this fight while we sit and watch?” said Amal Al-Obeidi, 35, who teaches business management at a high school in Benghazi. “ The least we can do is learn to protect ourselves so the men can focus on fighting Gaddafi on the front lines knowing that we have their back,” added al-Obeidi, who wore a headscarf and was brim-

ming with enthusiasm.

She said Islam doesn’t forbid women from fighting alongside the men. “The men have died on the front lines as they had to fight with no weapons and they sacrificed their lives to protect us ... while we were at home doing nothing to help like a piece of a valuable antique furniture,” she said as she struggled to hold a heavy machine gun with two hands at the school. “Gaddafi’s mercenaries could come back at anytime so I want to be ready to defend myself and my house if I have to.”

Volunteers at the military training center say they felt helpless during the months of fighting leading to Gaddafi’s ouster, especially with reports about rapes by Gaddafi forces, and no longer want to sit on the sidelines. At least 200 women have graduated from the program since it began at Benghazi’s Technical Military Compound in late March. They are given the choice of joining the National Security Force, which operates like the US National Guard and allows them to operate in their own cities. There’s currently no talk of sending women to the front lines.

The Benghazi training center is one of several set up around the country. A unit of 20 unarmed women was deployed last month when British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Benghazi and addressed a crowd in the main city square. The female guards stood watch and searched other women with fears high that male attackers

could try to disguise themselves with all-encompassing robes. AbdulBasit Haron, a military commander in Benghazi, said all revolutionary fighters, including the women, would get a one-time fee of $5,000.

Col Mohammed Garaboli, the commander of the compound where the training takes place, said women’s involvement in the military is important for morale. “Women feel

women’s work and status. The erratic leader had a contingent of female bodyguards and a small number of women were elevated to prominent positions in government ministries.

Female soldiers - a rare sight in most Arab countries - were a trademark of Gaddafi’s regime, patrolling roadside checkpoints in khaki uniforms and Muslim headscarves and often sporting sunglasses and

BENGHAZI: A Libyan woman holds a rifle during a military training for women by Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) forces in Benghazi yesterday. —AFP like they are neglected and they came here to prove that they are equal to men in this society,” he said.

“They want to show the world what the Libyans are made of and how open-minded they are as well.” The role of women is sensitive in this conservative Muslim country, even though Gaddafi regime long touted policies it said were aimed at breaking cultural taboos concerning

heavy makeup. One group of women even reportedly ran their own interrogation center for suspected female anti-Gaddafi activists. However, there was not a fundamental commitment to improving women’s lot in life across all aspects of society. Gaddafi’s policies were in part aimed at weakening traditional tribal and religious powers so he could impose his own

vision of society, and just as for men, advancement depended on total adherence to Gaddafi’s authoritarian rule.

Col Sabriya Mohammed AlShraidi, a Benghazi native who graduated from the military school in the city in 1986 and specialized in military intelligence, said eight officers were training 36 volunteers in the current class, which she said would be the fourth group to graduate. “Most of these women are housewives and working ladies.

They have no experience in the military and they don’t know how to use guns so they come here to get the training in case they have to defend themselves and their children,” she said. “You never know when you need these skills.”

She said they’re given training in all types of light arms and selfdefense. Those who join the force will help provide security for demonstrations, banks and other institutions. “People are wrong when they say it’s bad for women to be in the military,” she said, pointing out that women already had provided humanitarian aid and helped smuggle weapons to the former rebels by hiding them under their robes. “Women have contributed to this revolution in many ways,” she said. “But they are still neglected and isolated and we are trying to show ... it is not a shame to be a part of the army and the society unlike during the Gaddafi era when military women had a very bad reputation.”

Wafa Al-Rayth, a 29-year-old

housewife, said she signed up to join the revolutionary fighters to “show the world that the Libyan women are capable of standing next to their brothers and we are an open-minded society.” “It is about time we help to spread peace and secure our cities, especially since our traditions require that women guard places where women gather and check their bags and make sure it is not a man dressed in women’s clothes and planning to commit an act of terrorism.”

Lameis Aghnaish, a 20-year-old engineer wearing a camouflage uniform, said she had been trying to move abroad under Gaddafi’s rule, but is now proud to stay. “I was planning on leaving Libya to another country because life was difficult here and I never felt like I belonged to this country in any way, but now things are different,” she said. “I will sacrifice my life if I have to for this country.”

She said she was putting her career on hold to join the military.

“I will go back to my old job after everything has settled down because what we need now is safety and security and I am helping to provide that by volunteering to be a women guard,” she said. Wafa AlGargouri, a 49-year-old housewife who is known as a mother of the revolution for her role in leading protests, said people used to revile women soldiers, calling them Gaddafi’s toys and speculating that he used them for pleasure.” We want the people to change the way they think about the military women,” she said. —AP

New Egypt backs historic ‘peace treaty’ with Israel Concern over deteriorating Israeli-Egyptian relations UNITED NATIONS: Egypt’s foreign minister said yesterday his country will always respect its landmark peace treaty with Israel and is seeking ways to strengthen its “strategic relationship” with the United States. Mohamed Amr’s comments in an interview with The Associated Press come at a time of mounting concern about deteriorating Israeli-Egyptian relations and Washington’s diminished influence on the Cairo government following the ouster of long-time President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Amr appeared to backpedal on comments last week by Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who said the 1979 treaty with Israel was not “sacred” and may be open to revisions in the future. His remarks triggered alarm bells in Israel, which saw its embassy in Cairo ransacked by rioters earlier this month following protests over the killing of six Egyptian border guards by Israeli soldiers pursuing Palestinians who had infiltrated and killed eight Israelis.

Amr said relations between Egypt and Israel were governed by the US-brokered peace agreement and that Cairo honored all its treaty commitments as long as the other party did the same “in letter and in spirit.” Asked if Israel had run afoul of the spirit or letter of the 1979 agreement, Amr said: “No, I don’t mean Israel in particular. I mean our agreements in general.” He stressed that Egypt will always respect its treaty obligations, including the peace deal

with Israel. He said in response to a question that this meant there is no chance the peace treaty would be abrogated or changed, adding, “We respect our obligations.”

Mubarak had largely kept the peace between his country and Israel despite popular resentment toward the US-brokered Camp David accords, which included a framework for peace in the Middle East and another detailing the terms of peace between Egypt and Israel. The United States had a much closer relationship with Mubarak, and since his ouster the Obama administration has expressed concern about a “creeping” trend of anti-American sentiment in Egypt.

Asked about concerns over the state of US-Egyptian relations, Amr said he was heading to Washington for talks Tuesday and Wednesday with senior US officials including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “ We always have strong relations with the United States,” he said. “This is not limited to one era or one regime, this is a strategic relationship that benefits both sides actually, not only one side. ... I think both parties are very much interested in not only maintaining their relationship but also strengthening it in the future.”

Amr, a former diplomat who worked at the World Bank before being tapped as foreign minister by the new government in July, said Egypt is passing through “exciting times” following the popular uprising that toppled

Mubarak. Amr said he is hopeful the roadmap to “a truly representative government” will be kept elections for the two houses of parliament by the end of November, establishment of a 100-member committee to draft a constitution in six months, a referendum on the constitution and presidential elections in early 2012.

“But, of course, in such circumstances, you cannot have definite dates,” he said. “You always have to be flexible and respond to whatever circumstances that may arise.

But we are optimistic that this is more or less the schedule for the coming period.” Amr downplayed concerns that a potential strong showing by supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in parliamentary elections could pose challenges to the current government’s goal of shifting Egypt from an autocratic nation to a democratic state.

“A characteristic of any democratic system ... is that everybody should have a chance to express his views - to put his ideology to the people,” he said, adding that one positive outcome from this year’s events has been a greater level of political transparency and opportunity for groups to speak up more openly. “Whatever outcome will come through the ballot box (it) should be and must be respected,” he said. The Muslim Brotherhood was the best organized and most influential opposition movement in Egypt under Mubarak’s regime, but had to field candidates as independents

in the past and its influence was largely subverted - at least in official channels - by the former ruling National Democratic Party.

Many in Egypt are worried that a strong showing by the Brotherhood, as it is known, could push the country away from the framework of a largely secular state. That potential shift is a source of major concern for the country’s minority Coptic Christians and some in the West.

But the country has also faced a host of other challenges in the months since Mubarak was toppled, including near daily strikes, an economy that is struggling to restart after being hammered in the wake of the revolution, and near daily protests including over the trial of Mubarak and other former regime officials.

Despite the challenges, Amr said he was optimistic about the future of Egypt and its Arab neighbors. The popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt have sparked movements for democratic change elsewhere in the region, “and this shows you again that Arab people have more in common than maybe outsiders think,” he said. Where did the foreign minister see Egypt in 10 years? “I see a democratic, liberal, developed country ... which regained its sense of hope,” Amr said. “I see a country that is much better than the country we had yesterday, and this, inevitably, will lead to Egypt reoccupying its rightful place as a leading power, as a beacon for progress and moderation, in our region.” —AP

Yemeni defense minister escapes assassination bid SANAA: A suicide attacker driving an explosives-laden car blew himself up yesterday next to the passing convoy of Yemen’s defense minister, who escaped the attack unharmed, security officials and witnesses said. The assailant detonated his car as Defense Minister Maj Gen Mohammed Nasser Ahmed’s convoy passed by on the coastal highway in the southern city of Aden, witnesses said. The ministry confirmed the attack and said in a statement that Ahmed, who survived another attempt on his life last month that killed two of his bodyguards, was unharmed.

A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said at least 10 were wounded in the blast. It was not immediately clear whether senior military officials were among the wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Yemen’s military has been battling Al-Qaeda-linked militants who have taken advantage of the country’s ongoing political turmoil

to seize control of towns and swaths of territory in the south.

In recent weeks, the military has launched an offensive to reclaim lost

ground, but fierce fighting has not shaken the militants hold on the area and has left thousands of civilians displaced. Yemen has been rocked by

SANAA: Yemeni protestors chant slogans during a demonstration to demand the resignation of president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa yesterday. —AP

nearly daily mass protests demanding the ouster of longtime president Ali Abdullah Saleh, plunging the impoverished nation into deep political crisis.

The turmoil has worried the United States and Europe, who fear Yemen has become a haven for Islamic militants, including al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which Washington says is the most dangerous branch of the global terror network.

Attackers in the south also struck a major oil pipeline in the city of Marib, causing a disruption in oil exports, a local official in Marib said. The pipeline carries crude from the region of Safer to Ras Eissa on the Red Sea coast for export. Halting the flow badly hurts Yemen’s already feeble economy. AntiSaleh tribesman attacked the same pipeline in March, also forcing a halt in oil production. Local officials said at that time that tribesmen prevented the Oil Ministry repairing the damage until July when the pipeline was finally fixed and production resumed. —AP

CALIFORNIA: In this file photo, F-16s from the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing fly in close formation to a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 314th Air Refueling Squadron from Beale AFB as part of a training exercise.

An American general said yesterday, Iraq has agreed to a $3 billion deal to buy 18 fighter jets from the United States. —AP

Iraq signs deal to buy 18 US F-16 warplanes BAGHDAD: Iraq has signed a contract to buy 18 Lockheed Martin F-16 warplanes to bolster its air force, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said. The value of the deal was not immediately known, but a senior US military official said recently the offer on the table for the Iraqi government was valued at “roughly $3 billion.” Iraqi and US military officials have said strengthening its air force is one of Baghdad’s top priorities as US troops prepare to leave by Dec 31, more than eight years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

“The contract was signed ... and a part of the contract cost was sent to the bank account of the company,” said Maliki’s media adviser, Ali Al-Moussawi. Lockheed said in a statement it was “pleased by the announcement that the governments of Iraq and the United States” have agreed on the sale. The company added it welcomes Iraq “as the 26th nation to operate the F-16.” The Pentagon said it was aware of news reports that Iraq had signed the agreement but did not immediately confirm and referred questions to Baghdad.

Iraq has long sought a combat jet for its rebuilt air force. The government delayed a planned purchase of F-16s in

February to divert a $900 million down payment to its national food ration program to help quell street protests. Maliki said on July 30 Iraq would buy 36 F-16s, double the number it had originally planned, to shore up its weak air defenses. The OPEC producer has found itself flush with cash this year, reaping windfall profits as world oil prices have remained above budget projections. The two sides have been negotiating for the F-16 Block 52 export model with sophisticated avionics and weapons in a deal that included maintenance and training, a US military official said.

Iraq is relying on the US military for air support as it rebuilds its forces and battles a stubborn Islamist insurgency.

Washington and Baghdad are discussing whether to keep some US troops or military trainers in Iraq beyond the year-end deadline for US departure. Iraq’s two airborne defense units, the Air Force and Army Aviation Command, have only 158 aircraft, including 89 helicopters and 69 airplanes, and about 7,500 personnel, according to US figures. At present, it has three Cessna Caravan propellor planes equipped with Hellfire missiles but no combat jets, a US military official said. —Reuters

Iran tries Bahais for proselytizing NICOSIA: Iran has put on trial seven Bahais accused of proselytizing, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of the United States said in a statement received by AFP yesterday.

The six men and one woman, began to appear, individually or in groups, before the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, which deals with crimes against the regime, the statement said. They are part of a group of leaders or teachers of BIHE (Bahai Institute for Higher Education), an online university, the statement said, adding that the authorities announced their arrest in May for “proselytizing.”

Iranian media gave no news confirming the opening of the trial. The statement added that the defense lawyer, Abdolfattah Soltani, was also arrested

on September 10. That was announced

by Amnesty International and has been denounced especially by the European Union. Soltani is a co-founder of the Centre for Human Rights in Iran, along with Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi.

The Bahais, who are barred from higher education and government posts in staunchly Shiite Muslim Iran, are regarded as infidels by the majority community and have been persecuted both before and after the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution. The statement said seven Bahais are among a group of 19 people arrested on May 21, and that the others have since been released. In July, the assembly said they were accused of “conspiracy against national security and against the Islamic Republic” for their activities in BIHE. —AFP

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US Congress dodges shutdown after aid fight WASHINGTON: A bitterly divided Congress has nearly worked its way out of a nasty fight over disaster aid, heading off a partial government shutdown only days away, but only by abruptly abandoning efforts to immediately refill almost empty federal disaster relief coffers. Instead, with the administration assuring lawmakers that the immediate infusion of $1 billion in disaster money wasn’t needed to avoid a cutoff this week, Senate leaders moved quickly Monday to jettison the money from a pending Democratic measure and instead pass bare-bones legislation to avert a government shutdown at week’s end.

That measure, approved by the Senate on a 7912 vote, would keep the government running until

mid-November. The agreement ensured there would be no interruption in assistance to areas battered by disasters such as Hurricane Irene and last spring’s tornados in Joplin, Missouri, and also that the government would be able to run normally when the new budget year begins on Saturday.

The Senate approved the resolution after a day of behind-the-scenes talks and occasionally biting debate, spelling an end to the latest in a string of standoffs between Democrats and Republicans over deficits, spending and taxes.

Those fights have rattled financial markets and coincided with polls showing congressional approval ratings at historically low levels. The House appears likely to endorse that measure

next week when it returns from a weeklong recess. In the meantime, a one-week stopgap measure needed to avoid a government shutdown at midnight Friday appears likely to be adopted in a sparsely attended session Thursday.

The lowest-common-denominator solution came after Republicans stymied efforts by Senate Democrats for a $6.9 billion disaster aid package.

House Republicans instead insisted on a $3.7 billion measure - with $1 billion of the most urgently needed money “paid for” with cuts to clean energy programs important to Democrats. After pushing for weeks for a higher disaster aid figure, Senate Democrats instead fought their last battle to make sure the energy programs emerged

uncut. But the casualty was $1 billion in disaster relief supported by Republicans and Democrats alike.

The breakthrough of sorts came after the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated Monday it had enough money for disaster relief efforts through Friday. That disclosure allowed lawmakers to move to the lower disaster aid figure and allow both sides to save face. The disaster aid debate will be revisited when Congress passes a massive spending bill later this year. Under the terms of last month’s budget pact, up to $11.3 billion in disaster aid could be added to the budget without having to be offset with spending cuts. — AP

7 killed in bloodied Mexico beach resort Mexico probes video threatening cartel

CALIFORNIA: US President Barack Obama speaks to supporters during a fundraiser for his re-election campaign at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip on September 26, 2011. — AFP

Obama’s West Coast swing shows fundraising strength LOS ANGELES: President Barack Obama topped up his reelection war chest with a string of successful West Coast fundraisers that wrapped up on Monday and show soft poll numbers have not dented his ability to raise big money.

Americans may be slogging through tough economic times, but supporters still shelled out for events from Seattle to San Diego that likely raised upward of $5 million in two days, paying up to the legal limit of $35,800 to hear Obama speak.

“What this election is about is everyone gets a fair share,” he told a packed crowd of over 800 at the House of Blues after a performance by the rapper B.o.B. Obama’s approval rating has suffered over the summer as concern mounted that the United States is headed into a second recession, but he has still been able to pull in big bucks.

His campaign team also says that they are close to racking up a million donors, recalling his massive grass-roots fundraising push that helped him win the White House in 2008. Events on the tour have been crammed with guests, who have applauded loud and long in response to his intensified criticism of Republicans, and his oft-repeated call for Congress to pass his $447 billion jobs bill.

At one stop in Silicon Valley he called out Texas Governor Rick Perry by name, honing in for the first time on one of the front-runners to win the Republican Party nomination to face him next year. In Seattle, he chided his political opponents for threatening a government shutdown over disaster funding.

Obama’s sharpened tone reflects a deliberate effort to take on Republicans and push back against criticism from his own base that he has been too conciliatory and not fought his opponents hard enough to protect Democratic values.

But any sense of unease among supporters has not hurt fundraising, with a second quarter total of $86 million on behalf of both his own campaign and for the Democratic Party. That was over four times more than the amount raised

by Mitt Romney, the top Republican fundraiser who, together with Perry, is the frontrunner to win the party’s nomination.

Campaigns do not have to release their third-quarter fundraising totals until October 15. The president’s campaign team aims to raise $55 million, a more modest total that they say reflects the fact he was stuck in Washington for most of July by a bitter budget debate with Republicans. With next year’s election in November likely to be a close and expensive race, the support of wealthy donors who can cut a big check and round up their rich friends is vital.

Obama was hosted by Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg in Silicon Valley, where the guests included pop singer Lady Gaga, and by former Microsoft executive Jon Shirley in Seattle, at events that could potentially raise several million dollars each. But Obama’s historic run to the White house in 2008 was also supported by a massive grassroots funding operation that drew in hundreds of thousands of small donors. This army of givers can really boost a campaign because they can give multiple times with no fear of hitting the legal $35,800 cap. Obama’s campaign team said he was on track to have drawn one million donors by October, hitting that goal in half the time that it took in 2008. — Reuters

ACAPULCO: Seven people were killed in two attacks in this increasingly violent beach resort Monday, including five who were bound, shot and incinerated in a vehicle, police said.

Guerrero state police said two of the five had been decapitated, and that it was unclear whether the others were shot dead or burned alive. In a separate incident, two people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a car. The Pacific coast resort was once a popular getaway for Hollywood stars, but in recent months has turned into a battleground in Mexico’s increasingly violent drug war. At least 41,000 people have been killed since 2006, when Mexico launched a military crackdown on powerful cartels, which are themselves embroiled in turf wars marked by kidnappings, mass graves and macabre displays of brutality.

Video threatening cartel Mexican authorities yesterday were probing an Internet video in which masked men vow to “annihilate” the feared Zetas cartel in Veracruz, where dozens of bodies were dumped last week. The interior ministry and the attorney general’s office said late Monday they were investigating the video, “because although the criminal organization known as the Zetas should be suppressed, this must

ACAPULCO: A Mexican forensic worker turns over the body of a man next to a charred vehicle in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco. Acapulco has seen a surge of crime incidents as rival drug gangs battle for control. — AP

Opposition groups unite to oust Chavez CARACAS: Venezuela’s opposition forces signed a pact Monday aimed at ousting ailing leftist firebrand President Hugo Chavez in next year’s election, pledging to run just one candidate against him. “We the signatories of this agreement unanimously support the candidate who is elected in a February 12 primary as the single candidate of the Democratic Unity coalition,” read the agreement. Beyond backing a unity candidate in the 2012 presidential election, “this alliance is aiming to be a long-term political and social force in line with the problems facing this nation,” the text added.

Leading opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez made his candidacy official on Saturday, registering to run against Chavez, who is seeking a third term but has just had a fourth round of chemotherapy as he battles cancer.

“Today, I am letting you know... that I am committed to defeating him at the ballot box on October 7, 2012,” Lopez, a 40-year-old economist, told hundreds of followers in Caracas. A charismatic politician with a winning smile, Lopez comes armed with a master’s degree from Harvard and experience as mayor of the upscale Caracas municipality of Chacao.

Other next-generation leaders include Miranda governor Henrique Capriles, 38, who shares Lopez’s telenovela-star looks; Pablo Perez, 42, governor of the oil state of Zulia; and opposition lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, 44. Chavez, however, remains a formidable opponent. The 57-year-old president maintains a 50 percent approval rating, even though he has been physically weakened after Cuban doctors removed a cancerous tumor from his pelvic area on June 20 in Havana. The omnipresent Chavez has been forced to decrease his public appearances as he undergoes chemotherapy, but insists that next year he will be healthy enough to

defeat the opposition “by a knockout.”

Chavez, a leftist ex-paratrooper, has been in power since 1999. A staunch and vocal critic of the United States, he has used his countr y ’s petrodollars in large part to become the region’s leading sponsor of leftist cooperation agreements, subsidizing oil distribution and helping prop up

the Cuban regime, the Americas’ only one-party Communist government.

Lopez was banned from politics in 2005, when the office of the Comptroller General accused him of corruption. The case was never brought to trial, and on September 16 the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Court of Human Rights declared the Venezuelan ruling invalid. — AFP

and an FBI investigation, it was determined that no criminal laws were broken,” Furlong wrote in his August 12 resignation letter, obtained by the Associated Press. But inquiries continue by the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Pentagon’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a senior defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters still under legal review.

The CIA alleged in late 2009 that Furlong’s private military contractors were running an illegal covert spying network in Afghanistan and Pakistan, managed by legendary ex-spy-

News

in brief

Rape of wife ‘legal’ SYDNEY: An 80-year-old Australian man accused of raping his wife half a century ago yesterday urged the nation’s High Court to dismiss the case because rape in marriage was not a crime in the 1960s. The man, known only as PGA, was in 2009 charged with the rape of his then-wife in 1963 but is challenging the case on the grounds that prior to 1976 in Australia a woman could not refuse sexual intercourse with her husband. His lawyer, David Bennett, told a full seven-judge hearing of the High Court the rape was not therefore a crime and the prosecution “would be doomed.” “What we submit is that in 1963, Australia was a very unenlightened and socially backward country by modern standards,” Bennett said, according to the public broadcaster ABC. Davis execution fuels eyewitness ID debate SAVANNAH: Legal experts say Georgia’s execution of Troy Davis is putting a prominent face on a long-simmering legal issue over how much weight courts should give eyewitness testimony, particularly in death penalty cases. Davis was executed last week for the 1989 slaying of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail. The case garnered thousands supporters worldwide because of questions raised about the reliability of eyewitnesses at Davis’ trial. Richard Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center says judges and lawmakers are already making a broader push to change how the legal system treats eyewitnesses.

CARACAS: Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, accompanied by his wife Lilian Tintori and their daughter, greets the crowd during a concentration in Caracas. — AFP

Air Force official quits over alleged spy ring WASHINGTON: A man accused of running an illegal contractor spy ring in Afghanistan has resigned from the Air Force, still maintaining his innocence, and still facing possible criminal charges. Two investigations continue in a case that has tested the definition of what contractors are allowed to do in war zones.

Air Force civilian employee Michael Furlong, together with his boss, Mark Johnson, resigned in July after the Air Force inspector general told the men they’d face official censure for how they ran an information gathering network in Afghanistan.

“After 17 months of DOD investigations

happen through legal means and not through methods that are against the law.”

The statement came hours after a video surfaced on several websites showing masked men calling themselves “Mata Zetas” (Kill the Zetas) and vowing to “eradicate the roots” of the group in Veracruz state. The message came a week after 35 dead bodies were dumped under a busy overpass in the east coast state, most of whom were believed to have been Zetas cartel members with criminal records.

It was not immediately clear if the video was linked to the find, among the most gruesome incidents of suspected drug violence around Veracruz city and the eponymous state in recent months. Mexican media said a message found near the bodies carried threats to the Zetas, who have been fighting for control of drug and human trafficking routes in the area. The Zetas, a gang set up by ex-elite soldiers turned hired killers, have been locked in a brutal turf war with their former allies in the Gulf cartel. At least 41,000 people have been killed in Mexico’s drug war since 2006, when the government launched a military crackdown on powerful cartels embroiled in turf wars marked by kidnappings, torture and mass graves. — Agencies

master Duane R Clarridge. The then-CIA station chief complained those contractors were helping target terrorists for capture and kill operations, and getting in the way of agency operations on the ground, according to multiple US officials briefed on the investigation.

All officials spoke anonymously to discuss intelligence matters. A series of reports by The New York Times first exposed the controversy, leading then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates to order a review.

A Defense Department inquiry dated June 2010, obtained by the AP, concluded Furlong’s “Information Operations Capstone”

had hidden clandestine spying activity beneath layers of legitimate information collection, violating Pentagon policy and leading to the more in-depth investigations.

Furlong and Clarridge maintained to investigators that they were operating a legal network of paid informants, gathering data on everything from gas prices and local clan disputes to enemy threats against coalition forces. The information was used for everything from mapping tribal loyalties to tracking Taliban bomb-building cells before they could strike, two defense officials said, describing the inquiries.—AP

Shipwreck full of silver TAMPA: US salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc said on Monday it had found the sunken wreckage of a British cargo ship filled with silver in the Atlantic Ocean, where it was torpedoed by the Germans during the Second World War. The wreckage of the SS Gairsoppa was found in international waters 300 miles off the coast of Ireland, at a depth of 15,510 feet, the Tampa, Florida, company said. The Gairsoppa sank on Feb 17, 1941, after it was hit by a torpedo from a German U-Boat. Only one of the 85 men on board survived. The 412-foot ship was carrying cargo for the British Ministry of War Transportation when it was sunk.

Its cargo included about 7 million ounces of silver, the company said in a statement, which would make it the largest known cargo of precious metal ever recovered from the sea. Odyssey Marine was awarded a salvage contract by the British government in 2010. Under the contract, the company will retain 80 percent of the net salvaged value of the silver bullion.

Palin threatens to sue ‘Rogue’ book author ANCHORAGE: Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin threatened to sue the author and publisher of an unflattering biography she said was filled with “lies and rumors presented as fact.” The book by veteran political writer Joe McGinniss, “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin,” was published last week as speculation mounted about whether the Republican conservative firebrand would launch a late bid for her party’s presidential nomination in 2012. A letter from Palin’s lawyer said McGinniss and Crown Publishing faced possible legal action for defaming the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. The letter advises the author and Crown to refrain from destroying any email correspondence that might serve as evidence in such a lawsuit.

Crown is owned by German-based media conglomerate Bertelsmann AG “This book contains a series of lies and rumors presented as fact and combined with ‘anonymous’ sources,” said the letter, sent by Palin attorney John Tiemessen.

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EU meets eastern neighbors, but eyes turbulent south WARSAW: Poland will host an Eastern Partnership summit Thursday and Friday with hopes of fulfilling the European dreams of its eastern neighbors, even if the EU’s attention is focused south. The bloc’s Eastern Partnership is aimed at boosting economic and political ties between the 27-nation European Union and six exSoviet states-Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The project was launched in the Czech capital Prague in 2009 by Sweden and Poland-another former communist state, which joined the EU in 2004 — as a counterpart to the Mediterranean Union promoted by France.

Warsaw, which holds the rotating

six-month EU presidency, wants to offer the six states the prospect of entry visas into the bloc being waived under certain conditions-and, ultimately, EU membership. “We are keen to complete talks with Ukraine on an association agreement by the end of this year,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in the Polish edition of Newsweek published Monday. A declaration to this effect is expected during the summit, to be held in the capital Warsaw. At the summit, “we will announce opening talks-already well prepared-on an association treaty between the EU, Moldova and Georgia,” Sikorski added.

“These countries must understand that the climate is not suitable for an

enlargement of the EU right now, but that doesn’t mean that everything has stopped and that we are wasting time,” he added.

With the Arab Spring revolts, the EU is above all eyeing developments along the Mediterranean’s southern coast. As one senior diplomat in Brussels put it: “This is a project that is dear to Poland in particular, and we can’t see much interest in it at the moment.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron are not taking part in the summit: Prime Minister Francois Fillon and deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg respectively, will go in their place. The countries that initiated the Eastern Partnership see it as a bridge

towards EU accession for their eastern neighbors.

For others in Europe however, the partnership itself is as far as the relationship should go. And political developments in Ukraine and Belarus have not helped their prospects of EU membership. The trial of Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been strongly criticized by the EU. The feisty Tymoshenko faces charges of abuse of power over a disputed gas agreement she signed with Russia in 2009, and faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule made it clear earlier this month that if Tymoshenko did not go free it would

damage EU relations with Ukraineand their prospects of membership.

EU relations with Belarus, ruled by authoritarian hardliner Alexander Lukashenko, are as bad as they have ever been.

Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on the Lukashenko regime after several opposition leaders were arrested and imprisoned following his reelection in a December 2010 vote observers said was marred by fraud.

Like other European ministers before him, Sikorski insisted Friday “an unconditional liberation of all political prisoners” locked up by the Lukashenko regime was “a condition for a dialogue with the EU.” — AFP

Mediterranean gas feud escalates; Turks explore Greek, Turkish Cypriots at odds over drilling

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (left) gestures next to Reforme Minister Umberto Bossi upon arrival at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. — AFP

Fresh allegations in Berlusconi scandal ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may have told a businessman to lie to investigators about paying callgirls to attend parties he hosted, the Ansa news agency said yesterday. The businessman, Gianpaolo Tarantini, is on trial accused of having spent nearly 30,000 euros ($41,000) on recruiting dozens of women for Berlusconi’s private parties in 2008 and 2009 in order to win lucrative contracts. Quoting a decision by a Naples court, Ansa said Berlusconi may be questioned about claims that he asked Tarantini to make false declarations in the callgirl probe.

This could lead to a full investigation against the prime minister, the agency said. The trial of Tarantini and eight others in Bari, southern Italy, has not directly implicated Berlusconi in anything illegal.

The renting of prostitutes is not illegal in Italy and Berlusconi has so far only been a witness in the case. According to reports, the probe has found that Tarantini paid about 30 young women to spend evenings with Berlusconi at his private residences in Rome or Arcore, near Milan, between July 2008 and April 2009.

The businessman allegedly paid those who spend the night in the prime minister’s bed 1,000 euros, and newspapers quoted telephone taps as indicating that Berlusconi also gave some of them 100 euro bills in envelopes. The 74-year-old premier already faces a string of legal cases, including one in which he is accused of having paid for sex with a nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, nicknamed “Ruby the Heart Stealer”,

when she was a minor. He is also accused of having abused his power to spring her from police custody when she was arrested on suspicion of theft.

The next hearing in that case is set for October 3. Tarantini has been in custody since September 1 accused of extorting 850,000 euros ($1.2 million) from Berlusconi to lie to prosecutors about the parties. The court in that case this month asked to hear from Berlusconi as the “victim” in the alleged blackmail case. But the billionaire tycoon has said he gave the money as a gift to help a friend in need, and has refused to appear before the Naples judges. According to Ansa, the Naples court has ruled to free Tarantini from custody. Berlusconi also faces trials for fraud, bribery, and revealing court secrets. On Monday, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the conference of Italian bishops, condemned “behavior that, if proven, is difficult to reconcile with institutional decorum”.

He did not name Berlusconi or any other Italian politician. But he added: “Anyone who chooses to be active in politics must be conscious of a measure of sobriety, discipline and of the honor that (politics) entails.”

Berlusconi, a billionaire tycoon, has a long history of legal entanglements dating back to when he first entered politics in the early 1990s. So far, the cases against him have either run out of time or ended in his being exonerated. But the constant publicity over his private life and the endless legal battles him have hit his popularity hard: he is at an all-time low in the opinion polls. — AFP

Crime ring ‘has uranium’ WASHINGTON: Investigators following up on a nuclear sting in Eastern Europe suspect that a crime syndicate was trying to sell weapons-grade uranium to buyers in North Africa. Officials in Moldova, a former Soviet republic said that 1 kilogram of highly enriched uranium remains in criminal hands and is probably in another country. Though that is a fraction of what is needed for a bomb, the investigation has provided fresh evidence of a black market in nuclear material probably taken from poorly secured stockpiles in the former Soviet Union.

US authorities have been aiding the Moldovans in the international search for a Russian believed to be the ringleader of the smuggling operation. They also are searching for a North African man who they believe attempted to buy the uranium in Moldova before fleeing the country. Neither suspect has been publicly identified. The North Africa link, though, has worried officials because terrorist groups such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb are in the region. The concern is raised in a report prepared by the staff of Sen. Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Should the existence of a legitimate buyer (or middleman) from a region with a history of terror cells be confirmed, then the case would be substantially more alarming than other recent fissile material interdictions, where official agents were the sole potential buyer,” said the report, which was obtained yesterday. The AP has learned details of the

investigation from the report and from US, United Nations and Moldovan officials. Some of the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

Moldovan investigators, who had been trained by US specialists, set up a sting in June after learning of the ring operating out of the breakaway Republic of Transnistria. Undercover police bought the small quantity, pre-empting the North African buyer. They arrested six people and seized 4.4 grams of uranium that had been offered as a sample at a price of 420,000 euros, or $600,000.

The sellers claimed to have 9 kilograms more as well as a quantity of plutonium, according to Lugar’s report. The group wanted 23 million euros (nearly $31 million) for the larger quantity of uranium, which would have been about one-third of the material necessary to build a crude nuclear weapon. It is not known whether the group had access to that much uranium.

But Moldovan prosecutors, who have interrogated the arrested suspects extensively, say they believe that the group still has at least a smaller quantity.

“Members of the ring, who have not yet been detained, have 1 kilogram of uranium,” which is in another country, said Maria Vieru, a spokeswoman for Moldovan prosecutors.

According to US and UN officials, the sample of uranium oxide was traced to specific Russian enrichment facilities and was matched later with at least one earlier seizure of uranium. —AP

ANKARA: A Turkish ship began exploring for gas off the coast of Cyprus on Monday, the Turkish Cypriot government said, an announcement that escalates a confrontation between Cyprus, Israel and Turkey over huge Mediterranean gas reser ves. The Greek Cypriot government said last week it had started drilling for gas at a site south of the island, infuriating Turkey which supports a separate Turkish Cypriot government on the north of the island.

Israel has also been drilling in nearby waters. The battle over claims to what may be the biggest natural gas discovery in the world for the last decade has widened the split between Turkish and Greek-speaking Cypriots, and harmed Turkey’s relations with Israel, already strained over a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into a Greek side recognized internationally and a Turkish region recognized as a separate state only by Turkey. Peace talks between the sides resumed yesterday.

Turkey insists no gas should be pumped until the island’s fate is resolved. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week called the Israeli and Cypriot gas drilling “madness”.

Tension rose after Cyprus announced last week that drilling had started offshore, close to a gas field in Israeli waters. Texas-based Noble Energy is carrying out the drilling in the Cypriot block and also drills for Israel. Turkey has said it will drill on behalf of Turkish Cyprus if the Greek Cypriots do not abandon their plans. The Greek Cypriot government says it has a sovereign right to explore for energy.

On Monday, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk said a Turkish exploration vessel had started exploration. He did not give the exact location, but said the Piri Reis ship was working in “the AR/KKTC/G authorized zone”.

KKTC is the Turkish abbreviation for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. A Greek Cypriot defence source said the Piri Reis was sailing in

international waters south of the island earlier on Monday, about 80 km (50 miles) from the Noble Energy gas rig and between two plots Cyprus has mapped out for future exploration.

The Piri Reis left the Turkish Aegean port of Izmir on Sept 23. Cyprus has 12 plots in all, but has given a concession to just one at the southernmost point of its maritime economic exploitation zone (EEZ).

IZMIR: Turkish ship called ‘’Piri Reis’’ leaves the Izmir port for gas exploration off the divided island of Cyprus. — AFP GREECE CALLS FOR CALM Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke to Erdogan on Monday and called for “self-restraint and calm” in the gas dispute, Greek government spokesman Ilias Mosialos said. “Unilateral actions that create problems in the region should be avoided”, Mosialos quoted Papandreou as saying. An official from

Protests spread after Roma clash SOFIA: Hundreds of people took to the streets of Bulgarian cities throwing bottles and stones at police after a dispute erupted between a Roma clan leader and Bulgarian villagers, in the worst outbreak of unrest for many years in the Balkan country. More than 100 protesters were arrested in the Monday night protests, which were organized through social media networks and were joined mainly by soccer fans and teenagers, police and local media reported yesterday.

Tension has built since residents of Katunitsa, 160 km east of Sofia, blamed Roma leader Kiril Rashkov for the death of a 19-year-old man and set on fire several of his houses and cars at the weekend. The protests in the capital Sofia, the southern city of Plovdiv and the Black Sea city of Varna attracted hundreds of people, but there were no casualties or damage, the police said.

Police have stepped up security in the main cities.

The unrest is the latest in a series of disturbances this year in Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest country, which is struggling to recover from deep recession, including clashes with Muslims and bombs planted at opposi-

Erdogan’s office said Erdogan had told Papandreou it would be better if gas exploration and extraction took place after a peace settlement had been reached on the island, and said unilateral actions could harm negotiations.

The two discussed holding a high-level meeting on Cyprus, possibly between endOctober and mid-November. They had been

tion party offices. Villagers accuse Rashkov, 69, known as Tsar Kiro, of racketeering and harassment but said authorities have failed to take measures against him because of high-level political protection. Angel Petrov was allegedly run over by a bus driven by a relative of Rashkov, who is also under investigation for suspected large-scale tax evasion.

Bulgaria, which ranks the second most corrupt EU country, is still struggling to show tangible results in the fight against endemic graft and organized crime. Analysts said the clashes in Katunitsa were a result of a lack of justice which irks Bulgarians and Roma alike. “At the bottom of the conflict is the double standard applied to the untouchable representatives of the oligarchy and the criminal world,” social anthropologist Haralan Alexandrov told local 24 Hours daily. “An angry crowd giving justice is called lynching and is typical for territories where the law and the judiciary do not function.” Roma account for 4.9 percent of the Balkan country’s population of 7.4 million people, data from the last national census shows, and remain the poorest ethnic group in the country. — Reuters

KATUNITSA: People react outside of the house of Rom local patriarch Kiril Rashkov, dubbed “King Kiro” after it was set on fire, during a protest in the village of Katunitsa, some 160 km south-east of Sofia. — AFP

due to meet at last week’s UN general assembly in New York but Papandreou stayed in Athens because of the debt crisis. Greece, whose relations with fellow NATO member Turkey have warmed in the past decade after a long history of enmity, is not directly involved in the gas exploration but is a close ally of Greek Cyprus. — Reuters

I Coast seeks reconciliation ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara will today launch a promised reconciliation commission tasked with healing wounds from the West African nation’s bloody post-election conflict. The Commission on Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation (CDVR) will be inaugurated in Yamoussoukro, the Ivorian political capital founded by the country’s first and longtime president Felix Houphouet-Boigny (1960-1993) after independence from colonial ruler France. “We need to know the truth, even if it is not pretty,” commission president Charles Konan Banny, a Ouattara ally and former prime minister, has said. The 11-member commission will include one Christian and one Muslim religious leader and five representatives of the country’s major regions.

The involvement from the start of football star Didier Drogba, seen as representing Ivorians living abroad, remains uncertain, according to a relative. The commission with a two-year mandate must work to “bring the country as quickly as possible to normality” and “rebuild the social fabric” of the once west African powerhouse, the government has said. Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up in South Africa after the end of apartheid, the Ivorian panel will have to deal with a decade of turmoil, coup attempts, political and sometimes ethnic-religious violence, that culminated in the post-poll unrest from last December to April.

Following the run-off vote on November 28, thenpresident Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit defeat and hand over power to Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the poll. The months-long crisis culminated in two weeks of warfare and left at least 3,000 dead. Gbagbo was captured and is now under house arrest in the north of the country. While Ivory Coast hopes with international aid to regain economic growth and stability, it is the reconciliation commission that perhaps has been dealt the most difficult task in the new era.

Ouattara promised reconciliation when he assumed in May the presidency of the world’s biggest cocoa producer, but at the same time his regime is rounding up Gbagbo allies. Besides the ex-president and his wife Simone, dozens of pro-Gbagbo civil and military officials have been detained for “economic crimes” or “breaches of national security.” Ouattara’s administration does not hide its desire to send Gbagbo off to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal, which still has not decided whether to open an investigation. And Ouattara has faced criticism not only from Gbagbo’s camp but also international rights groups about the “justice of the victors” since not one of the new president’s supporters has been charged with any crime. — AFP

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Pakistani tribesmen threaten US with holy war JAMRUD: Hundreds of Pakistani tribesmen yesterday threatened the United States with holy war should it take action against Haqqani extremists in North Waziristan on the Afghan border. In a protest organized by Pakistan’s largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, local tribesmen party activists, some armed with Kalashnikovs, gathered in the town of Jamrud in the Khyber tribal district along the Afghan border.

The protestors then set off in convoy to Landikotal, a town on the border, where party leaders were to deliver final addresses. The crowd of

hundreds chanted slogans such as “Death to America”, Allah Akhbar (God is great) and al-Jihad (holy war), said an AFP reporter. There is growing unease in Pakistan about US pressure to take action against the Haqqani militant network or the face the consequences. The group was founded by former CIA asset turned Al-Qaeda ally Jalaluddin Haqqani and its leaders are based in Nor th Waziristan.

In a series of escalating rows, Washington accused the Haqqanis, with involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, over

September attacks on its embassy in Kabul and a NATO base in central Afghanistan. Pakistan has said it will not bow to mounting US demands for action and denies any support for the network’s attacks.

Although nothing suggests the United States is considering a ground incursion, Pakistanis fear action from American ground troops. “America has already failed in Afghanistan. Do they need another graveyard in the Pakistani tribal areas?” Qazi Hussain Ahmed, a prominent JI leader, told the gathering, calling on the government to end its US alliance.

“The Pakistani tribal areas would prove a bigger graveyard of Americans if they ever attack these areas,” he added. The alliance between Pakistan and the United States in the 10-year war in Afghanistan and against Al-Qaeda hit rock bottom this year in the wake of the unilateral American raid that killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad on May 2.

Pakistan has around 140,000 troops based along its northwest that borders Afghanistan and says more than 3,000 soldiers have been killed since 2001 more than the 2,735 Western soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. — AFP

Pakistan turns to China as relation with US sour Pakistan faces intense pressure from US on militants

KABUL: Afghans hold portraits of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed last Tuesday, as they shout anti- government slogans during a demonstration in Kabul yesterday. — AP

11 children among 16 killed by Afghan West Afghans chant ‘Death to Pakistan, death to Taleban’ KABUL: Sixteen people including 11 children were killed when a bus hit a roadside bomb in western Afghanistan yesterday, a local government official said. “At around 1:00 pm a passenger bus returning from a wedding party hit a roadside bomb in Shindand district, killing 16 people,” said Mohayedin Noori, spokesman for the Herat provincial government. He added that 11 children, four women and one man were among the dead.

Herat police spokesman Noor Khan Neikzad blamed the attack on the Taleban, the leaders of a decade-long insurgency in Afghanistan. “The area in which the incident has happened is restive, the Taleban are active there,” he said. “We believe they are responsible for killing the civilians.” The Taleban were not immediately reachable for comment. Roadside bombs are a major cause of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, killing hundreds of people every year.

Afghans protest Hundreds of protesters rallied in Afghanistan’s capital yesterday, vowing revenge for last week’s assassination of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani and accusing Pakistan’s powerful spy agency of involvement in his killing. Under tight security, the three-hour protest passed without violence, but demonstrators vented their anger, holding up large posters of Rabbani, the government’s top peace negotiator, and chanting “death to Pakistan, death to the Taleban”.

They blamed Pakistan’s military-led Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for involvement in Rabbani’s killing and accused it of colluding with the Taleban to destabilize Afghanistan and derail a fledgling peace process. “ISI and the Taleban are behind the killings of our leaders including the assassination of Professor Rabbani,” said a university student Ahmad Tameem.

“We will seek revenge and want our

government to break ties with Pakistan,” added Tameem, 26, holding aloft a poster of Rabbani, who was the most prominent surviving leader of the ethnic Tajik-dominated Northern Alliance of fighters and politicians. Rabbani was killed in his Kabul home last Tuesday by a suicide bomber posing as a Taleban envoy carrying a message of peace form the group’s senior leadership. The bomb was hidden in the man’s turban and was detonated when he embraced Rabbani with a hug.

Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) said on Monday it had arrested a key figure in the assassination and suggested the Taleban’s senior leadership, the Quetta Shura, may have been involved. It said it would recommend to President Hamid Karzai during a meeting to take the investigation beyond Afghanistan’s borders, where it said Rabbani’s assassination had been plotted .

The NDS did not elaborate. Many protesters were former Northern Alliance fighters and students of Kabul University. Dozens of armed police stood guard and blocked off streets with vehicles as the crowd marched.

The protest was organized by Amrullah Saleh, the former NDS chief, who stepped down last year in protest at the government’s efforts to negotiate with the Taleban which he said was a disgrace.

Saleh was a close aide to Rabbani and former mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated a month before the decade-old war began.

The demonstration came amid heightened tensions that have brought fears of worsening ethnic rifts among Afghans fighting the Taleban-led insurgency. There were angry scenes at Friday’s burial of Rabbani, when scores of supporters charged through iron gates and chanted angrily at Karzai and his government for failing to tackle the insurgency and prevent the former president’s killing. — Agencies

KALAR KAHAR: A Pakistani man stands at a school bus accident site in Kalar Kahar, some 160 kilometers east of Islamabad. — AFP

Bus crash kills 30 in Pakistan ISLAMABAD: At least 30 people-most of them school students-were killed when a bus crashed on the motorway southeast of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad Monday, police said. The bus, which was carrying pupils from a private school on their way back from an excursion, is understood to have come off the road and fallen into a ravine.

Speaking from the scene in Chakwal district, Punjab province, about 100 kilometers southeast of the capital, senior police officer Chaudhry Salim said at least 30 people were killed, including 24 school students. He said the cause of the accident, which also left more than 55 injured, was brake failure.

“We have received 24 dead bodies and six to eight dead bodies were sent to another nearby hospital,” he said. Another official from the traffic police confirmed the accident and said 26 people, including 22 students, were killed on the spot. He said the driver, his helper and the vice principal of the school were among the dead. A government official said an inquiry had been ordered and an investigation team will examine the scene of the accident to examine the cause. Pakistan has one of the world’s worst records for deadly traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, facing a crisis in relations with the United States, appears to be seeking more support from powerful ally China.

Pakistani officials have been heaping praise on China since its public security minister arrived here on Monday for high-level talks as Washington piles pressure on Islamabad to cut ties with a militant group blamed for attacks on US targets. “We are true friends and we count on each other,” Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said in comments broadcast on television networks after talks with Meng Jianzhu on Tuesday.

“Thank you once again...for (the) supportive statement in favor of Pakistan’s sovereignty and integrity.” Washington accuses Pakistan’s powerful ISI spy agency of directly backing the Afghan Taleban-allied Haqqani network and of providing support for the Sept 13 attack on the US Kabul mission. Pakistan furiously rejected the allegations and warned the United States that it risked losing an ally if it kept publicly criticizing Pakistan over the militant groups.

Making the point that Pakistan has other friends, President Asif Ali Zardari said in a statement: “In these peculiar circumstances when the country was grappling with many challenges simultaneously, Chinese assistance has been most welcome in stabilizing the situation.”

The military, Pakistan’s most powerful institution, also said it appreciated its giant Asian neighbor’s support. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani thanked Meng for China’s “unwavering support”. “They (the Pakistanis) are trying to use their diplomatic options as much as possible to defuse pressure on them. They hope China will help them in this crisis,” said security analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi.

China and Pakistan call each other “allweather friends” and their close ties have been underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbor, India, and a desire to hedge against US influence across the region. After the United States killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, China called the event a “progressive development” but also defended the Pakistani government, which has been criticized in the US for failing to find bin Laden, if not harboring him. Now Pakistan is turning to China again as it engages in the harshest war of words with Washington since it joined the US “war on terror” after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.

The United States has been pressing Pakistan to attack the Haqqani network, which it believes

India, Pakistan push fragile ties with trade diplomacy NEW DELHI: The trade ministers of India and Pakistan meet in New Delhi yesterday to discuss measures to overhaul ragged commercial ties which should help bolster a fragile peace process between the nuclear armed neighbors.

Today’s meeting is part of this year’s resumption of formal peace talks, known locally as the “composite dialogue”, which were broken off after the Mumbai militant attacks in 2008 that killed 166 people and for which India partly blamed Pakistani spies.

Lasting peace between the two countries is seen as key to stability in the South Asian region and help a troubled transition in Afghanistan as NATO-led forces plan their military withdrawal.

For Pakistan, the talks between Makhdoom Amin Fahim and India’s Anand Sharma may be a welcome distraction from a diplomatic crisis with its biggest ally and benefactor, the United States.

For India, the talks are a small step further to achieving what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sees as his most important goal of permanent peace, although major issues such as the fate of the divided Kashmir region remain unresolved. “There is no direct linkage between a successful trade meeting and success on the political front, or the Kashmir front, but eventually these things will feed into that wider process,” said Siddharth Varadarajan, editor of the Hindu newspaper and a well-known foreign policy expert. “I think both sides, for better or worse, have decided to press ahead with the low-hanging fruit and hope that this improves the atmospherics, hope that it improves the overall picture in South Asia,” he said.

WASTED POTENTIAL India and Pakistan may be home to some 1.4 billion people but bilateral trade flows are paltry-a legacy of mistrust between the South Asian neighbors who have gone to war three times since their independence from Britain in 1947.

The achievements are likely to be modest-from opening trading posts to stamping more business visas-but even small moves can improve frayed ties.

Irritants abound. Trade across what is one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders is severely restricted both in the number of items that are permitted to be bought and sold, and the hours during which the customs are open for business. —Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu (left) meets Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani prior to their meeting in Islamabad yesterday. — AFP is based in North Waziristan near the Afghan border. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the group, says it is no longer based in Pakistan and feels safe operating in Afghanistan. Analysts say Pakistan sees the Haqqanis as a counterweight to the growing influence of rival India in Afghanistan and is highly unlikely to go after the group. In Beijing, Foreign Ministr y spokesman Hong Lei said Pakistan has made “important contributions in the international fight against terrorism”.

“China understands and supports Pakistan’s formulating and implementing its counter terrorism strategy based on its national conditions,” said Hong. The United States seems frustrated at its inability to influence Pakistani policy on militants.

In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi at the United Nations on Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Beijing to open a dialogue with Washington on

Pakistan. “We have stated this before, but there’s clearly an urgency given recent developments and also given the close relationship that exists between Pakistan and China,” a State Depar tment official said in a briefing to reporters.

Pakistan appears to have been secretly lobbying in recent months for a bilateral defense pact with China, though officials in Beijing say there is little hope for an immediate breakthrough, Pakistan Express Tribune reported. A senior Pakistani government official called the report speculative but said Islamabad has such strong defense ties with China that no formal pact was needed. During Meng’s visit, the two sides signed $250 million in economic and technical agreements, Zardari’s office said.

China is a major supplier of military hardware to Pakistan and also a major investor in areas such as telecommunications, ports and infrastructure. — Reuters

12 die as typhoon rains flood Manila MANILA: Manila residents waded through waist-deep floodwaters and dodged flying debris yesterday as a powerful typhoon struck the Philippines, killing at least 12 people and sending waves as tall as palm trees crashing over seawalls. Most deaths occurred in metropolitan Manila, which already was soaked by heavy monsoon rains ahead of Typhoon Nesat’s arrival with more downpours and wind gusts of up to 93 mph.

Downtown areas along Manila Bay suffered their worst flooding in decades.

Pounding rains obscured the view of anyone on the streets as soldiers and police scrambled to safely evacuate thousands of people in low-lying areas, where rivers and the sea spilled into shanties, hospitals, swanky hotels and even the seaside US Embassy compound.

“It’s flooded everywhere. We don’t have a place to go for shelter. Even my motorcycle got filled with water,” said motorist Ray Gonzales, one of thousands stranded by fastrising floodwaters.

The massive flooding came exactly a day after this sprawling, coastal city of 12 million held two-year commemorations for the nearly 500 people killed during a 2009 cyclone, which dumped a month’s rainfall in just 12 hours. The geography of the archipelago makes it a welcome mat for about 20 storms and typhoons from the Pacific each year.

Some residents acted more quickly this time to evacuate homes as waters rose, including in the Manila suburb of Marikina where 2,000 people escaped the swelling river by flocking to an elementary school, carrying pets, TV sets, bags of clothes and bottled water. “We can replace things, but not people’s lives,” said janitor Banny Domanais, arriving at the school with his wife and three young daughters. Typhoon Nesat hit ashore before dawn yesterday in eastern provinces and headed inland just north of Manila with up to an inch of rain per hour, half that of the storm two years ago, said government forecaster Samuel Duran.

Emergency workers evacuated river areas in Manila that are notorious for flooding. In all, authorities ordered more than 100,000 people across the country to shelter from the storm’s sustained winds of up to 75 mph and its rains - dropping from an immense 400mile cloud band. Along downtown Manila’s historic baywalk, cars and buses were stuck and residents struggled through floodwaters

as waves washed over the seawall, turning a six-lane highway into a huge brown river.

Sidewalks and buildings entrances were swamped. In the financial district of Makati, a billboard fell on two cars and a bus, causing injuries.

Neck-deep waters on the ground floor of the Manila Hospital forced staff to move patients to higher floors and flooded generators left the facility without power, spokeswoman Evangeline Morales said. Soldiers and police in trucks moved thousands of residents, mostly women and children, from the Baseco shanty facing Manila port after many houses were washed away. Male family members were reluctant to leave, saying they wanted to guard their property. The Philippine Stock Exchange and US Embassy were closed. Waters at the gates of the embassy compound reached chest-deep, and staff were told to stay home, spokeswoman Tina Malone said. “There was some flooding in the embassy. I don’t know the extent. I’m not there right now,” Malone said.

The Sofitel Philippine Plaza relocated its guests after flooding damaged areas of the high-end hotel on the shores of Manila Bay. Sirinate Meenakul, the hotel’s regional communications director, said no guests or staff were injured. She did not say how many guests were there. Benito Ramos, a retired army general who heads the Office of Civil Defense, said authorities were still assessing the damage as the typhoon continued to pummel some areas of the country. He said it was heartwarming to see Filipinos remaining calm amid the unfolding crisis. “We see people on the roofs of their houses drinking gin and smiling and waving,” Ramos said. “Such resiliency helps them get by in stressful times.”

Seasonal monsoon rains ahead of the typhoon plus winds pushing seawater inland had worsened the situation, forecaster Duran said. “Land is saturated with rain so the next rain became run-off and was already floodwater,” he said. The wind sent storm surges over an embankment that then trapped water on the city side so that it “couldn’t flow back to the bay,” said Francis Tolentino, chairman of Metro Manila Development Authority.

President Benigno Aquino III, on a state visit to Japan, told Associated Press Television News he was confident that authorities were adequately responding to flooding. —AP

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

CHENGDU, China: A group of giant panda cubs nap at a nursery in the research base of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre in southwest China’s Sichuan province. China has launched its once-adecade panda census, trying to determine how many of the endangered animals live in the wild amid efforts to boost numbers. The census - the fourth since it was first launched in the 1970s - is also expected to ascertain pandas’ living conditions, ages and any change in habitat, and according to the count a decade ago, there are 1,596 pandas left in the wild in China, with 1,206 of them living in Sichuan. —AFP

Saudi woman to be lashed for driving Continued from Page 1 and good, but if they are still going to face being flogged for trying to exercise their right to freedom of movement then the king’s much-trumpeted ‘reforms’ actually amount to very little,” he added. “Saudi Arabia needs to go much further. The whole system of women’s subordination to men in Saudi Arabia needs to be dismantled,” added the official from the London-based advocacy group.

Meanwhile, women rights activist Madiha Al-Ajrush was detained briefly yesterday in Riyadh after she was caught driving around the capital with a French freelance journalist who was working on a video documentary on women. The journalist said she herself was set free after her consulate intervened, while Ajrush was later released according to posts by the Women2Drive campaign on

the group’s Twitter page. Women2Drive said police requested a male guardian to sign a pledge that Ajrush would not drive, but when no one was reached, she was told to sign herself and leave. “Ms Madiha is standing in the street after the officer asked her to go home in a taxi after preventing her from driving,” a post on the social network page said.

A group of defiant Saudi women got behind the wheels of their cars on June 17 in response to calls for nationwide action to break the ban. The call spread through Facebook and Twitter was the largest mass action since November 1990, when 47 Saudi women were arrested and severely punished after demonstrating in cars. The is no law banning women from driving. But the minister of interior formally banned women from driving following the protest staged in 1990. Ajrush was one of the women who took part in the protest. — AFP

MPs show ‘clean hands’ as graft...

Continued from Page 1 for a lack of quorum and its chairman MP Hussein AlHuraiti blamed Islamist opposition MP Waleed AlTabtabaei for the cancellation of the meeting. Three of the seven-member committee are outside Kuwait and all the four remaining members must attend the meeting in order for it to convene. The committee was due to review a large number of draft laws, all related to fight corruption, including a wealth disclosure bill.

Tabtabaei however put the blame squarely on Huraiti, saying that he deliberately called off the meeting although he had called the committee secretaries and informed them he was on his was to attend the meeting. Huraiti later explained that he only applied the

law and called on Tabtabaei to come on time for the meeting to take place. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday.

In another development, the criminal court yesterday set the next hearing into the case of MP Mohammad Hayef until Oct 18. Hayef is on trial on charges of threatening the life of the Syrian ambassador and undermining Kuwait’s foreign relations. At a public rally in support of the Syrian revolution last month, Hayef was quoted as urging the crowd to ask for a fatwa if the Syrian ambassador to Kuwait could be killed.

Hayef however denied before the judge yesterday that he had threatened the life of the ambassador as he only called on the crowd to seek the fatwa (a religious edict) if he can be killed.

China metro trains collide, 271 injured Continued from Page 1 in the hospital’s emergency room told AFP, his arm in a sling from a shoulder injury. “The speed seemed fast. I felt a sudden stop, which made me lose my balance. I hit my head on the pole and it bled,” said another victim, without giving his name.

The Shanghai government said it was investigating the accident and had set up a special team which would consult outside experts. Chairman of the Shanghai Metro Company, Yu Guangyao, confirmed the accident was apparently caused by a failure of the signalling system and apologised. He named the maker of the signalling system as CASCO Signal, an entity of French transport and power giant Alstom. “No matter whether equipment or management, we will investigate thoroughly,” he told the late evening news conference.

Services started to resume yesterday evening after the line had been cleared.

China’s hugely popular microblogs buzzed with criticism of the authorities in the hours following the crash, with many accusing the government of failing to ensure passenger safety. “This is the consequence of rapid development. In the end we have to seriously consider if we want GDP or a happy life,” one blogger posted under the name Shaolei123. “After this I won’t dare take a subway,” posted another. The accident comes as China struggles to rebuild public trust in its vast rail system after a high-speed train crash near the city of Wenzhou, south of Shanghai, in July, when at least 40 people died. Developing the world’s largest high-speed rail network was a key political goal for Beijing, but the

Wenzhou accident forced it to rethink. The crash was the worst ever to hit China’s high-speed train system and raised questions about whether safety had been overlooked in the rush to develop the network. The results of an investigation into that accident have yet to be released, but officials have blamed it on a failure of the Chinese-built signalling system in use on the line.

China is also pouring money into its urban underground networks, with nearly two dozen major cities given the green light in late 2009 to build 89 metro lines by 2016 - at an estimated cost of 880 billion yuan ($134 billion). Shanghai, China’s commercial capital, opened its first metro line in 1995 and currently has 11 lines covering more than 420 km and carrying nearly five million passengers a day, according to figures from the operator. A series of near misses have added to the mistrust in the metro system - including one in July on the same line where yesterday’s accident occurred, in which a train took a wrong turn during peak hours due to a signal failure. Then, no one was hurt. In the wake of the Wenzhou crash authorities decided to limit speeds on the high-speed network to 300 kph, following allegations of widespread, high-level corruption in the rail sector, with fears that safety had been compromised.

Railways minister Liu Zhijun was sacked in February over graft charges, after he allegedly took more than 800 million yuan ($125 million) in kickbacks over several years on contracts linked to the high-speed network.

China’s state auditor in March said construction companies and individuals last year siphoned off 187 million yuan in funds meant for a high-profile Beijing-Shanghai link. — AFP

Bahraini women, girls ‘tortured’ DUBAI: A group of 38 women and seven girls arrested last week during a protest against Bahrain’s parliamentary by-elections were reportedly tortured or ill-treated, Amnesty International said. “They were apprehended without lawyers present and some of them were reportedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated,” the Londonbased rights watchdog said in a statement late on Monday. A government statement yesterday, however, said 26 of the total 45 were released while it denied they suffered any ill-treatment.

It said the women were arrested Friday “for their part in riots in the City Centre Shopping Mall”, adding footage showed the “women racing through the mall, causing panic among families carrying out their weekend shopping”. A Bahraini human rights group said earlier 23 of the detained women had been released late on Monday, including the seven minors. “The seven children were among 23 detainees released Monday,” Mohammed Al-Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights told AFP yesterday, adding 15 detainees remained in custody. Their trial, which was set to take place yesterday, was postponed until Sept 29,

Maskati added. The official Bahraini news agency said on Monday night the detainees “stand accused of unlicenced rallying, public incitement on regime-hatred and taking part in illegal demonstrations”. Philip Luther, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa said the Bahraini authorities have “patently denied these women and girls their rights after rounding them up at a Manama shopping centre”. The women’s lawyers, who had a brief encounter with a few of the detainees in the hallways of the Public Prosecution Office, told Amnesty some of them bore visible signs of bruising. Nour Al-Ghasla, 20, one of the detainees, “had bruises on her face apparently from illtreatment in custody,” Amnesty said.

Bahrain’s main Shiite opposition group, Al-Wefaq, said Monday in a statement that the seven girls were “minors aged between 12 and 15 years” and they too were “beaten and humiliated”. The women were arrested on Friday, a day before by-elections boycotted by the opposition to replace 18 Shiite MPs who quit parliament in protest over violence used against pro-democracy protesters in February.— AFP

Syria forces mount raids on dissent Continued from Page 1 battalion, named after the Arab conqueror of Syria, in Rastan. The force, led by Captain Abdelrahman Sheikh, has some tanks. Colonel Riad Al-Assad, the most senior military defector, is active in the area. In the area of Houla, across the Orontes, thousands of villagers held an anti-Assad rally yesterday during which a new battalion of defectors was announced. Several soldiers in fatigues were seen in a YouTube video as a crowd chanted “Freedom!” Houla residents said they had attended the event.

To cheers, an announcer was seen in the video saying: “The Syrian Free Army declares the formation of the Ali bin Abi Taleb Battalion in Houla, Homs, under the command of First Lieutenant Colonel Fayez al-Abdallah, to be supervised by the Khaled bin Al-Walid battalion ... to protect peaceful protests.” Rebel soldiers, who are estimated to number in the thousands across the country, have attacked army buses and roadblocks manned by troops and pro-Assad militiamen, known ‘shabbiha’.

These have multiplied in recent days as security forces try to disrupt protests and hunt down activists in the Rastan area. In a blog he launched yesterday, British ambassador to Damascus Simon Collis said Assad’s regime sees “only one way out - the return to authoritarian rule where fear surpasses a desire for freedom”. “This is a regime that remains determined to control every significant aspect of political life in Syria. It is used to power. And it will do anything to keep it,” Collis wrote.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, speaking at the annual UN General Assembly, said foreign governments sought to undermine the co-existence among Syria’s different religious groups. “How can we otherwise explain media provocations, financing and arming religious extremism,” he asked. “What purpose could this serve other than total chaos that would dismember Syria - and consequently adversely affect its neigh-

bours.” Muallem said anti-regime protests in which at least 2,700 people have been killed have become a “pretext for foreign interventions”.

Damascus does not accept the existence of popular opposition to the authorities, instead blaming “armed gangs” and “terrorists” for trying to sow chaos. Asked later if the US was ready to aid opponents of Assad’s regime who are reportedly arming themselves, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said overnight that resorting to violence was unsurprising. “I would say that the opposition’s shown extraordinary restraint in the face of the regime’s brutality and demanding their rights through peaceful unarmed demonstrations,” Toner told reporters. “It goes without saying that the longer the regime continues to repress, kill and jail these peaceful activists, the more likely that this peaceful movement’s going to become violent.”

On the political front, meanwhile, the opposition Syrian National Council announced plans to meet in Istanbul this weekend in a bid to unify the fragmented coalition. “We will meet on October 1 and 2, in principle in Istanbul,” spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani told AFP. “Then we will talk about setting up committees.” The council, which was set up in August and consists of 140 people. Half of them live in Syria and their names have not been made public for security reasons.

In New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expressed Beijing’s concern over the protracted crisis.

The global community should “handle the Syrian issue in a prudent way so as to prevent further turbulence in Syria and its repercussions on regional peace.” Yang, whose country has joined Russia in opposing sanctions against Syria, said “we hope that parties in Syria will exercise restraint, avoid any form of violence or more bloodshed and conflict, and act quickly to ease tension.”

His speech came just after a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who urged China to back strong UN action on Syria, a senior US official said. — Agencies

14

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

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Issues

Senate defeat weakens Sarko

By Catherine Bremer he French left’s sweeping victory in Senate elections at the weekend does not mean the presidency is in the bag for the opposition Socialists, but it weakens President Nicolas Sarkozy seven months before the 2012 election. The swing left in Sunday’s vote by local councillors, handing the Socialist Party 177 seats out of 348 and its first upper house majority in half a century, is the result of an anti-Sarkozy backlash in successive local elections in past months. Trailing the left in polls and under pressure from economic gloom and a corruption probe that has netted close aides, Sarkozy has enough political wile to recover in time for the 2012 election, yet the battle ahead looks tougher than ever.

“This clearly weakens Sarkozy. He was working to try and win back public opinion and this has undermined any progress there. It will handicap him,” said analyst Francois Miquet-Marty at Viavoice pollsters. “It raises doubts over whether he should even be the UMP’s candidate next year.” Although a leftwing Senate does not have the power to overrule legislation, it was a slap in the face for Sarkozy’s UMP party to lose its upper hand in what has been a bastion of the right since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958.

The Socialists, due to pick a presidential candidate next month from a field of six contenders, called Sunday’s result a step towards victory in 2012 after three terms in opposition. It was a triumph for a party still bruised from losing its erstwhile star Dominique Strauss-Kahn over a sex scandal. “It’s like a first act, a dress rehearsal for victory in 2012,” Socialist Party head Harlem Desir told Tele TV. Francois Hollande, the favourite to run for the left next year, called the Senate result “historic”.

For Sarkozy, the blow came the same week his office felt obliged to deny he had anything to do with the “Karachi Affair”, a scandal involving political kickbacks in the 1990s that is inching closer to him by the day. Sarkozy is due for another dent to morale next Sunday when senators elect a new upper house president, most likely to be the head of the Socialist bloc in the chamber, Jean-Pierre Bel. “He had been discredited economically and socially with the crisis, then discredited morally with the Karachi Affair and now he has been discredited politically with the Senate result,” said Miquet-Marty.

Opinion polls show the left would defeat Sarkozy in a presidential election today, due largely to gloom over the economy that is so entrenched even Sarkozy’s high-profile victory helping Libya overthrow Muammar Gaddafi has barely helped his ratings.

Indeed, economic issues could do much to shift the stakes between now and the two-round election on April 22 and May 6, analysts say, with much riding on whether euro zone leaders can resolve a spiralling debt crisis that threatens more pain.

A solution to the euro zone crisis under Sarkozy’s mandate would give him a huge boost, while a lurch deeper into turmoil in the 17-nation bloc would do more harm than anything that could happen internally in France, analysts say. “The Senate result is one more piece of bad news for Sarkozy, the climate for him is not good. But his agenda has to be guided by the euro crisis which is by far the biggest issue at play,” said analyst Jerome Fourquet at pollster Ifop.

With the markets’ plummetting faith in the euro threatening a banking crisis and even a fresh recession, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s progress this week winning over opponents to legislation to boost the powers of the euro zone’s EFSF rescue fund will be crucial for France and Sarkozy. “Sarkozy is in waiting mode and is forced to follow that calendar,” said Fourquet. “The euro crisis has to be resolved and for that France is dependent on Germany.”

Euro crisis aside, Sarkozy was always expected to wait until after France’s G20 presidency winds up in early November before announcing he will run for a second term. Meanwhile he has been working on portraying a more serene image, in response to widespread criticism of a manner seen as brash and impulsive, keeping silent, for example, on first lady Carla Bruni’s pregnancy and on the downfall of StraussKahn. Political sources say Sarkozy is trying to keep his head down while honing his image as international statesman, like with his speech on the Palestinian issue at the UN General Assembly, and praying for an economic upturn early next year. — Reuters

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Militarisation of Syria revolt would lead to war

By Rita Daou militarisation of the anti-government revolt in Syria, an option favoured by some within the opposition, would inevitably lead to civil war, analysts warn. “For now, the majority of the protesters want the movement to remain peaceful but after months of repression there is a risk of militarisation,” said Agnes Levallois, a Paris-based Middle East expert. “Resorting to arms would lead to civil war ... as no one would be able to control the situation,” she added. The uprising threatening the regime of Bashar al-Assad has remained largely peaceful since it erupted in March. But some activists have recently started calling for Syrians to take up arms or for foreign military intervention in the face of the brutal crackdown by the government that has left more than 2,700 people dead.

On Monday, Washington said that while the peaceful nature of the revolt was laudable

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it would not be surprising if it turned violent given the brutality of the regime. But experts and opposition members warn that such a scenario would only serve Assad and erode the “moral superiority” that has charactarised the revolution. “ The regime is doing its utmost to push the protesters to take up arms,” Levallois said. “It’s clear such an outcome would lead to more repression and would be advantageous for the government which has more weapons. “And the majority of the protesters don’t want to fall into this trap.”

Omar Idlebi, of the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), an anti-regime activist network, said a militarisation of the protest movement would undoubtedly tear the country apart. “If the revolution strays from its peaceful path and resorts to violence it would lose all meaning,” said Idlebi, who fled Syria and is now living in Lebanon. “We could have a costly civil war and that would delay the

rebirth of a new Syria.”

Any civil conflict would also take on a sectarian turn given the country’s confessional make-up. Assad hails from the minority Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the majority of Syria’s 22-million strong population is Sunni. There is also a minority of Christians, Kurds and Druze.

Several experts said weapons are already pouring into the country as some brace for the uprising to turn violent. Weapons can easily be smuggled in through the porous borders with Lebanon and Iraq or by sea.

“There are reports of guerrilla-type or ambush attacks against the shabiha (government militia) or soldiers and of armed clashes in wooded areas and valleys in border zones,” said Riyad Kahwaji, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), a think tank based in Dubai. However that does not mean that the uprising has already turned into a military conflict, he added.

Kahwaji said that in the event protesters take up arms there was a possibility that a country bordering Syria, such as Turkey or Jordan, would set up a security zone at the behest of the international community from which dissidents could launch operations. “This is the most probable scenario and if that happens then you can compare it to the conflict in Libya,” he told AFP. Another possibility would be widespread defections within the army which would clearly lead to war, he said. Idlebi said frustration was mounting within the opposition at the international community’s inability even to adopt a resolution at the UN Security Council condemning Assad and his regime.

“In the face of the killings, arrests and torture, more people want to take up arms,” he said. “I think this revolution is going to be long and costly. “But it’s better to reach our goal without foreign intervention or the use of weapons.” — AFP

UN speech gives Abbas a stronger hand

By Ibrahim Barzak resident Mahmoud Abbas’ surge of popularity following his bid for UN recognition for a Palestinian state is bound to give him a stronger hand against the rival Hamas group as they prepare to resume talks on a stalled power-sharing deal next week. The Islamic militant rulers of Gaza have dismissed Abbas’ recognition quest as futile. Still, they appear unnerved by his new image as a tough leader standing up to the Americans, suppressing shows of support for him. In one Gaza City cafe, Hamas security agents switched off a TV showing Abbas’ speech to the UN General Assembly and detained the owner.

Despite such tensions, the recent developments may mean future common ground. Throughout the Palestinian areas, Abbas’ decision to seek UN recognition of a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem is being heralded as a major policy shift. For the first time, he is openly bypassing negotiations with Israel, defying the Obama administration on a fundamental issue. This could also make it easier for Abbas and Hamas to find ways to work together and repair their rift.

The Islamists have long opposed negotiations, refusing to recognize Israel or renounce violence. Abbas, ardent in his rejection of violence, has preferred to establish a state through agreement. But he and his aides say privately they see no possibility of striking such a deal with Israel’s traditionally hard-line prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. On his weekend flight home from New York, Abbas hinted at the possibility of sounding out Hamas about a shared political vision, something he has not raised before. “There will be deep talks with Hamas, not just about reconciliation, but also about the general horizon” of the Palestinians’ future, he said.

For the past four years, the political rift and animosity between the two sides has run deep.

Hamas, shunned by much of the world, overran Gaza in 2007 after defeating Abbas loyalists in fighting and set up a rival government to his internationally backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Each side went after the other’s supporters. Repeated reconciliation attempts failed, in part because of opposition from the US and Egypt, which had acted as a mediator but also wanted to rein in the Islamic militants on its doorstep.

After pro-Western Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was deposed in a popular uprising in February, Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah movement reached an “reconciliation” agreement in principle to set up a joint interim government that would pave the way for general elections. The deal had many holes, and Abbas put implementation talks on hold as he prepared for the UN bid. The talks are set to resume next week in Cairo, said Azzam Al-Ahmed, the top Fatah negotiator. He confirmed that his mandate is broader than before. “We don’t only want to discuss the terms of reconciliation,” he said. “We want to include the Palestinian future ... and this is by recommendation from the president.”

But the bitter rivalry between the two sides is never far from the surface. In the days before Abbas’ UN speech,

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Hamas banned all public shows of support for the Palestinian president. Hamas alleged the edict had the support of Fatah, ostensibly to avoid friction, although some Fatah leaders in Gaza denied they had agreed to stay off the streets. In the end, only a tiny PLO faction rallied for Abbas. At the time of the speech, Hamas security agents entered a Gaza City restaurant, “The Gallery,” ordered the owner to switch off the TV tuned to the UN proceedings and took him in for questioning, said Khalil Shaheen, a Gaza human rights activist. The restaurant was mainly targeted as a meeting place for anti-Hamas activists, Shaheen said, noting that several other coffee shops in town were able to keep TVs tuned to the speech without interference.

Hamas leaders initially assailed Abbas for his UN initiative. They complained he had not coordinated with them, that going to the UN was an empty gesture and that it would commit to the idea that a Palestinian state be limited to the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Some Hamas leaders have said they could accept a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders, but that it would be a temporary arrangement. Hamas’ founding charter calls for Israel’s destruction.

Yehiye Moussa, a Hamas legislator, alleged Abbas went to the UN to “show himself as the hero of the moment”.

However, Mohammed Awad, the foreign minister of the Hamas government, said Sunday that Abbas’ speech contained “important positive points,” suggesting Hamas was recalibrating its initial negative reaction when it became apparent that Abbas’ defiance had struck a nerve with ordinary Palestinians and that he enjoyed bipartisan support. Even some Hamas loyalists praised Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen. “Abu Mazen spoke the truth when he told the world about our suffering and about our national rights,” said Salman Radi, a 21-year-old Hamas supporter and student at Gaza City’s Islamic University. “I hope he will take more actions so we can believe him.”

Since becoming president, Abbas had stuck to negotiations with Israel as the only viable option, despite many setbacks. This position weakened him at home, since the talks failed to deliver tangible agreements.

Israel’s view is that the Palestinians have turned down or ignored serious peace offers and therefore share the blame for the impasse. In Friday’s speech, Abbas made clear that a resumption of negotiations is unlikely. He told the world he’ll only go back to talks if Israel freezes settlement construction and accepts the pre-1967 borders as a basis for talks - demands Netanyahu has said he would not accept.

Those demands were also noticeably absent in a weekend call for new negotiations by the Quartet of Mideast mediators - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. Still, the world community has for years opposed settlement construction and President Barack Obama this year riled Netanyahu by endorsing the 1967 lines, with land swaps, as the basis for a future border. With talks with Israel unlikely, West Bank analyst Bassem Zbeidy said Hamas will also find it more difficult to discredit Abbas.

Others said that reconciliation talks might now stand a better chance, arguing that Abbas has a stronger motive to court Hamas. In the past, Abbas wasn’t really serious about reconciliation because he was pursuing negotiations with Israel and because Washington opposed a power-sharing deal, said analyst Hani Al-Masri. Much depends on Hamas: If the Islamists refuse to budge from their militant positions, they might turn into a political burden as Abbas lobbies for international support for a Palestinian state.

Abbas’ initial bid for full UN membership is bound to fail because the US has already said it would veto the request, even if the Palestinians won the necessary nine of 15 votes in the Security Council. The council will meet today to start the process of formally considering the Palestinian request for membership, the council president said Monday. Once rejected by the Security Council, the Palestinians could seek General Assembly approval of the lesser status of nonmember observer state, with at least implied recognition of the pre-1967 war frontier.

Abbas may not want to put off international supporters during this sensitive period by getting too close to Hamas, said Hassan Kashef, a Gaza-based analyst. “Abu Mazen will speak more loudly about unity, but unity has many difficult problems and needs time,” he said. “We can speak about unity every day, but we can delay it.” — AP

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Years

7 killed in Morocco clash

Pietersen recalled for India tour

RABAT: The death toll from clashes at the weekend after a soccer match in Western Sahara has reached 7, Morocco’s MAP official news agency reported yesterday.

Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony in 1975, and since then it has been the subject of a dispute between Morocco’s government and an independence movement backed by neighbouring Algeria.

Moroccan officials had initially said the violence after Sunday’s match had killed one person, and the following day raised the death toll to two.

The match was between Western Sahara side Mouloudia Dakhla and Chabab Mohammadia, a team from a

LONDON: England have recalled batsman Kevin Pietersen and rested their senior fast bowler James Anderson for a four-week tour of India next month including five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.

In a statement yesterday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said uncapped Surrey pace bowler Stuart Meaker had also been included in a 15man squad.

Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad, who is undergoing treatment on an injured shoulder, will join the squad if he recovers ahead of schedule. Durham allrounder Ben Stokes has been rested to undergo a rehabilitation programme on an injured finger.

World one-day champions India did not win a single international on their tour of England this year and also lost their world number one test ranking to the home side.

“This squad contains an exciting balance of experienced international cricketers along with some very talented younger players who can play the high quality limited overs cricket needed to challenge India,” said national selector Geoff Miller.

“A number of injuries and a decision to omit James Anderson in line with our policy of sensibly managing player workloads and give opportunities for other very talented players to continue to develop as international cricketers.”—Reuters

Yankees suffer defeat ST. PETERSBURG: The Tampa Bay Rays moved level with the Boston Red Sox for the wild-card lead, beating the New York Yankees 5-2 on Monday behind another strong performance by James Shields.

Shields came within one out of his 12th complete game, yielding six hits. Kyle Farnsworth finished for his 24th save, closing it out moments before the Red Sox lost 6-3 at Baltimore. The Rays and Red Sox each have two games left.

B.J. Upton drove in two runs with a thirdinning double off Hector Noesi. Kelly Shoppach homered for the second straight day for the Rays, who’ve won three straight and are 15-8 since Sept. 2, when they trailed Boston by nine games. Johnny Damon’s third-inning RBI single moved him into a tie with Lou Gehrig for 57th on the career hits list with 2,721.

Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 At Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox found another way to lose, this time on a broken-bat single and an inside-the-park home run, as their defeat against Baltimore dropped them into a tie in the AL wild-card race.

Boston’s 17th loss in 22 games enabled Tampa Bay to finally pull even in the duel for the

without walking a batter.

White Sox 4, Blue Jays 3 At Chicago, in what turned out to be manager Ozzie Guillen’s last game with Chicago, Tyler Flowers hit a three-run home run and rookie Dylan Axelrod threw six shutout innings as Chicago beat Toronto.

Guillen was released from his contract after the game to pursue other opportunities. He met with owner Jerry Reinsdorf for about 30 minutes earlier in the day. Guillen told the owner he would like to return, but only for a contract extension for more money. He had one year remaining on his current deal.

Axelrod (1-0) won his first big-league game, striking out six and holding Toronto to three hits. Sergio Santos picked up his 30th save. He allowed a two-run double to David Cooper in the ninth and walked Marcus Thames and Jose Bautista, but struck out Adam Lind with the bases loaded to end the game.

Rangers 4, Angels 3 At Anaheim, California, Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer and Michael Young added an eighth-inning RBI single as Texas eliminated Los Angeles from the playoff race.

Elvis Andrus had four hits for the AL West champion Rangers (94-66), who have won eight of nine. Texas also stayed one game ahead of Detroit (93-67) for the league’s second-best record and homefield advantage in this weekend’s division series.

Peter Bourjos had a runscoring single in the ninth for the Angels, who began the night three games behind the wild card-leading Red Sox with three to play. Although Boston’s woes provided an opportunity, Los Angeles has fallen apart with seven losses in 11 games.

Royals 7, Twins 3 At Minneapolis, Melky ST PETERSBURG: Tampa Bay Rays’ BJ Upton (right) Cabrera became the first slides into third with a stolen base as New York Kansas City player in 11 years to get 200 hits and Mike Yankees third baseman Eric Chavez fields an off- Moustakas hit the go-ahead target throw during the first inning. —AP home run in a four-run sixth inning as Kansas City topped league’s final playoff spot. The Rays, who beat Minnesota. Cabrera, who hit an infield single the New York Yankees 5-2, trailed by nine games and scored the game’s opening run in the first inning and added another infield single in the after play on Sept. 3.

With the score 2-all in the sixth inning, sixth, became the sixth player in Kansas City hisBoston starter Josh Beckett (13-7) allowed four tory to eclipse 200 hits and the first since runs in an uprising that began with Vladimir Johnny Damon and Mike Sweeney both did it in Guerrero becoming the career hits leader 2000.Felipe Paulino (4-6) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings, striking out nine. among Dominican-born players.

Tigers 14, Indians 0 At Detroit, Doug Fister pitched eight strong innings and Alex Avila drove in three runs to help Detroit beat Cleveland.

Justin Verlander and Fister, who are scheduled to start the first two games of Detroit’s first-round playoff series, are now a combined 14-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 16 appearances since August 16.

Fister, who allowed three singles while striking out nine, has been even better than the Cy Young favorite in the stretch, going 7-0 with a 0.65 ERA in his last eight outings. Fister (11-13), who was picked up in a six-player deal with Seattle on July 30, has now gone 20 innings

Mariners 4, Athletics 2 At Seattle, Justin Smoak hit a three-run, tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning to lift Seattle to a victory over Oakland.

The victory gave Jason Vargas (10-13) his career-high 10th victory. He worked eight innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking none and striking out career-high 10.

Miguel Olivo also hit a solo home run in the fifth, his 19th. That broke the Mariners club record for most home runs by a catcher, one more than both Kenji Johjima and Dan Wilson.

Brandon League finished the ninth, allowing a run on Josh Willingham’s RBI groundout, scoring Coco Crisp from third. —AP

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

Baltimore 6, Boston 3; Detroit 14, Cleveland 0; Tampa Bay 5, NY Yankees 2; Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 2; Washington 6, Florida 4; Cincinnati 6, NY Mets 5; Houston 5, St. Louis 4 (10 innings); Chicago White Sox 4, Toronto 3; Kansas City 7, Minnesota 3; Pittsburgh 9, Milwaukee 8; LA Dodgers 4, Arizona 2; San Diego 2, Chicago Cubs 0; Texas 4, LA Angels 3; Seattle 4, Oakland 2; San Francisco 3, Colorado 1.

American League Eastern Division W L NY Yankees 97 63 Tampa Bay 89 71 Boston 89 71 Toronto 80 80 Baltimore 68 92 Central Division Detroit 93 67 Cleveland 80 80 Chicago White Sox 78 82 Kansas City 71 89 Minnesota 61 99 Texas LA Angels Oakland Seattle

Western Division 94 66 86 74 72 88 67 93

PCT GB .606 .556 8 .556 8 .500 17 .425 29 .581 .500 .488 .444 .381 .588 .538 .450 .419

13 15 22 32 8 22 27

National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 100 60 Atlanta 89 71 Washington 79 80 NY Mets 76 84 Florida 71 89 Milwaukee St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chicago Cubs Houston

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sp orts

Central Division 94 66 88 72 78 82 72 88 70 90 56 104

Western Division Arizona 93 67 San Francisco 85 75 LA Dodgers 81 78 Colorado 72 88 San Diego 70 90

.625 .556 11 .497 20.5 .475 24 .444 29 .588 .550 .488 .450 .438 .350

6 16 22 24 38

.581 .531 8 .509 11.5 .450 21 .438 23

city near Casablanca. An official source in Western Sahara told Reuters two public order officials were among the seven killed.

Moroccan officials said the clashes broke out when suppor ters leaving the stadium started throwing stones at the opposing team’s supporters.

They said people with criminal records then joined in, attacking passers-by with sticks and knives.

Several people were killed in November last year when Moroccan security forces dismantled a protest camp in Western Sahara, where thousands of residents had gathered to demand better living conditions. —Reuters

Bosnia coach eyes Euro playoff SARAJEVO: Bosnia have a slim chance of beating France to automatic qualification for the Euro 2012 finals but are confident of clinching a playoff berth, coach Safet Susic said yesterday.

A home win over Luxembourg in Zenica on Oct 7. would seal a runners-up spot for Bosnia in Group D, where France lead the way with 17 points from eight matches followed by the Bosnians on 16 and Romania with 12 points.

Bosnia, who have never qualified for a major tournament as an independent nation, could win the group and advance to next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine when they face France in their final group match on Oct. 11.

“We have to be realistic and admit that France are strong favourites, hence saying anything contrary or promising a win in Paris would be preposterous,” Susic told a news conference after naming his 21-man squad for the two crunch qualifiers.

“I don’t want to talk about the game against France because the imperative is to beat Luxembourg and finish as runners-up, which was my objective when I took over.

“I will field my best eleven against Luxembourg and perhaps an experimental side against France, because I have two world class goalkeepers and several players I want to test for a possible playoff tie.

“We have to be focused against Luxembourg because it’s a key match and they have nothing to lose,” said former Yugoslavia forward Susic, who took over from Croatian Miroslav Blazevic in December 2009. —Reuters

Braves’ slide continues with 4-2 loss to Phillies ATLANTA: The Atlanta Braves squandered an early two-run lead against Cliff Lee as the playoffbound Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 4-2 victory Monday.

Lee (17-8) pitched six strong innings, Jimmy Rollins homered and Raul Ibanez drove in two runs, leading the NL East champions past their division rivals to start the final series of the regular season.

The Braves, who began the day with a one -game lead over St. Louis for the wild card, lost their third in a row and seventh in the last 10 games.

With one out in the sixth and the score tied 2-2, Shane Victorino tripled down the right-field line off Cristhian Martinez (1-3). Eric O’Flaherty replaced Martinez and the Braves pulled in the infield looking to cut off the go-ahead run. However, Ibanez grounded one sharply past diving first baseman Freddie Freeman, and Victorino scored the go-ahead run.

Reds 6, Mets 5 At New York, Chris Heisey hit a go-ahead, three-run homer just moments after making a diving catch as Cincinnati held off New York.

Jose Reyes had three hits for the Mets to take over the NL batting lead, but his baserunning blunder in the eighth inning cost them a chance to tie the game.

Reyes lined an RBI double into the right-field corner to cut it to 6-5.

Perhaps expecting a throw to the plate that would allow him to take third, Reyes took a wide turn around second - much too far. The Reds threw behind him and he was easily tagged out.

Joey Votto and Jay Bruce singled off Tim Byrdak (2-1) in the seventh before Heisey hit the first pitch from Josh Stinson over the 16-foot fence in left field.

Nationals 6, Marlins 4 At Miami, Michael Morse hit a three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning as Washington rallied past Florida.

The homer came off Edward Mujica (9-6), who was trying to earn the first save for the Marlins since closer Leo Nunez returned last week to his native Dominican Republic and admitted playing under an assumed name.

With two games remaining, the Nationals franchise (79-80) still has a chance at its first winning season since 2003. Florida led 4-3

when pinch-hitter Laynce Nix and Ian Desmond started the ninth with singles.

Astros 5, Cardinals 4 At Houston, Brian Bogusevic scored on Angel Sanchez’s bunt in the 10th inning for Houston as St. Louis missed out on a chance to join Atlanta atop the wild-card standings.

Slumping Atlanta lost to Philadelphia, but the Cardinals

Pittsburgh snap a 12-game skid in Milwaukee.

Presley finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs, reliever Daniel McCutchen (5-3) got the win and Joel Hanrahan held on for his 40th save to give Pittsburgh its fourth victory in 40 tries over the last five years at Miller Park.

Milwaukee (94-66) is the best home team in the majors at 5524, but failed in its first chance to t i e t h e f r a n c h i s e’s a l l - t i m e

Dodgers 4, D’backs 2 At Phoenix, Matt Kemp hit a three -run homer and Dana Eveland pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning as Los Angeles won its fourth straight.

Kemp connected against Daniel Hudson (16-12) in the first, hitting a drive to center for his NL-best 38th homer. Kemp also leads the NL with 123 RBIs and is third with a .324 batting average with two games left.

ATLANTA: Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins follows through with a solo home run as Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann looks on in the fifth inning. —AP weren’t able to take advantage of the opening. St. Louis rallied from three runs down to force extra innings, but Bogusevic doubled off Octavio Dotel (3-3) in the 10th and advanced on Jason Bourgeois’ bunt.

Sanchez then dropped a bunt in front of the plate, and Bogusevic charged home as Dotel mishandled his attempt to flip the ball to catcher Yadier Molina with his glove.

Pirates 9, Brewers 8 At M ilwaukee, Alex Presley homered to lead off the game and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, helping

mark for wins at 95.

Padres 2, Cubs 0 At San Diego, Mat Latos took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out nine in seven innings to lead San Diego past Chicago.

I t was a strong finish to an uneven season for Latos (9-14) who struggled during the first half. It was the 16th time in his last 17 starts that Latos allowed three or fewer runs. He allowed only two hits before Chad Qualls threw a perfect eighth and Heath Bell a perfect ninth for his 43rd save in 48 chances. I t was the 10th shutout for the Padres and the 10th time the Cubs were shut out.

Giants 3, Rockies 1 At San Francisco, Ryan Vogelsong threw seven shutout innings and Mike Fontenot tripled in two runs as San Francisco beat Colorado.

Pablo Sandoval and Brett Pill, who also had an RBI, each added two hits for the Giants, who ended a four-game losing streak with their fifth straight home win.

Mark Ellis had two hits and drove in a run for the Rockies, who lost for the 10th time in 12 games and have dropped six in a row to the Giants. Seth Smith also had two hits. Vogelsong (13-7) won his third consecutive start following a five-game losing streak. —AP

New faces expected to lead Flyers PHILADELPHIA: Only 16 months ago, Mike Richards hoisted the Eastern Conference championship trophy to a roaring Flyers crowd.

His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher.

Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. All of them gone.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren stripped the roster of so many key cogs in that unforgettable run to the finals in 2010.

When they grossly underachieved and failed to match that feat a year later, Holmgren decided it was time to start over.

He shocked the NHL with a stunning summer that saw Ilya Bryzgalov, Jaromir Jagr, Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Max Talbot, and Jakub Voracek all wearing the orange-and-black when training camp opened.

It’s a whole new look - and outlook - in Philadelphia. Winning the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1976 always remains the goal for one of the signature franchises of the NHL. But even the most optimistic members of the organization

are curious about how all this new talent will mesh with returning future stars like Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

One immediate plus is a lighter locker room. Richards and Carter had a strong distaste for the media,

but Bryzgalov is as much a class clown as he is one of the top goalies in the league.

Can the locker room that laughs together dominate together? “I think the guys are enjoying themselves and you can kind of see the

BURLINGTON: Boston Bruins goalie and former Vermont Catamount Tim Thomas parades the Stanley Cup up the Church Street Marketplace for an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Burlington, Vt. Thomas also made a few comments, thanking the National Guard and communities for helping the state work to recover from flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. —AP

pieces coming together,” new captain Chris Pronger said. “I think guys are enjoying themselves and having some fun.”

There was no fun at the end of last season when the Flyers fell into a miserable stretch after the All-Star break. A year after losing to Chicago in the Stanley Cup finals, the Flyers positioned themselves as early contenders to play in June.

Philadelphia spent a portion of the season atop the Eastern Conference standings, were 40-156 in late February.

The season unraveled down the stretch and imploded in the postseason. They were swept in the second round by the Boston Bruins just the sixth time in franchise history they were swept in a sevengame series and the first time since the 1997 Stanley Cup finals vs.

Detroit.

Holmgren had seen enough. It was time for a change. There was no bigger move than the one in net. The Flyers were openly mocked for using a trio of goaltenders in the playoffs, none any better than the last. —AP

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Love and Olazabal like what they see at Medinah last few holes are going to be very, very interesting. That’s what you need in match play. You have to have holes where risk-reward can be part of it.”

Europe has won six of the last eight Ryder Cups, including last year’s dramatic finish in Wales. The Ryder Cup was decided by the final singles match for the first time since 1991 after the Americans rallied from a three-point deficit on the last day.

As the host, the Americans will get a say in how the course is set up for the Ryder Cup, to be played next Sept. 25-30. But Love said he doubts he’ll need to have much input. Medinah has hosted three U.S. Opens (1949, 1975 and 1990) along with two PGA Championships (1999 and 2006). It also hosted the 1988 US Senior Open. Set No. 3 up for the Ryder Cup as if it was a major championship, and Love said it will be fine.

“I don’t think you have to do too much to this golf course,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s a way for it to be an advantage one way or another.

We’re both going to have super-talented, longhitting teams that make a lot of birdies. What’s the

MEDINAH: Ryder Cup captains Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal liked what they saw at Medinah Country Club, including the shortened No. 15. Rain kept Love and Olazabal from playing the famed No. 3 on Monday, as they marked the one-year countdown to next year’s Ryder Cup. But they did get out to look at some holes, and said they don’t envision many changes being needed.

“I cannot imagine a better host for this event,” Olazabal said. “It’s a traditional, tree-lined course, and I think the changes you’ve done to the15th hole, I think last four holes are going to be very exciting for the matches in the year to come. ...

The last four holes are perfect for match play. You have a combination of two tough holes, 16 and 18, and two exciting holes, 15 and 17.”

Since the PGA Championship was at Medinah in 2006, No. 15 has been shortened 100 yards and is now a drivable par-4. A lake was also added on the right side of the fairway and green.

“I can see a lot of things going on in that hole, guys going for the green, guys being safe,” Olazabal said. “With that little change on 15, those

most exciting thing to watch, for me, is making birdies rather than putting for pars. If I was setting up the PGA Tour course, I would lean more toward birdies than putting for pars.”

Though there were some criticisms about No. 3 earlier this summer - the new grass that was planted in the fall of 2009 was sparse - Medinah officials are confident the course will be in good shape next year.

All golf courses were challenged by the extreme weather this summer, said Curtis Tyrrell, Medinah’s director of golf course operations. But No. 3 is only halfway through its growing timeline, and Tyrrell said it is in “excellent shape” now.

“We feel very confident about where it will stand next year,” Tyrrell said. Aside from No. 15, the only other change that might be noticeable is the absence of the “Sergio tree,” the massive old oak on No. 16 made famous by Sergio Garcia.

At the 1999 PGA at Medinah, Garcia was chasing Tiger Woods when his tee shot on 16 sailed wide right and settled behind the knotted roots of a large oak tree. Garcia grabbed a 6-iron, closed

his eyes, swung and then sprinted out to the fairway to watch the ball land on the green. Fans were delighted by his exuberance, even if Garcia wound up falling short, and “the tree” is still mentioned in any recounting of the Spaniard’s career highlights.

But the old oak was removed about two years ago, Tyrrell said. “It had become a hazard and a safety risk to members, so it needed to be removed,” he said.

While Olazabal and Love are still negotiating, they said they are leaning to keeping four assistant captains for each team. Olazabal also said he would not play even if he earns enough points to get a spot on the European team.

“I gave my word that I was going to be captain.

With that, there is a lot of responsibility, a lot of things you have to do,” said Olazabal, whose “Spanish armada” par tnership with Seve Ballesteros is the most successful in Ryder Cup history. “There are many things you have to do during that week, and I don’t think you can do both things at the same time.”—AP

Jockeys face harsher penalties for whip use LONDON: British horse racing authorities announced harsher penalties for jockeys who overuse the whip in races, including the loss of riding fees and prize money.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ruled, however, that the use of the whip, providing strict controls are enforced, “remains appropriate and necessary for the safety of both jockeys and horses.”

A review group made 19 recommendations, all of which were approved by the BHA board.

The BHA, who began a review of the rules last year, said in a statement that current guidelines and penalties were not an effective enough control and deterrent.

The new limits restrict jockeys to seven uses of the whip in flat racing and eight in jump racing, and only five times in the last furlong or after the last obstacle. “This is roughly half the amount of times a whip could be used previously before being in breach of the Rules,” the BHA said. There will be a five day minimum suspension for not adhering to the frequency limits, compared to the previous caution.

“A jockey who incurs a whip suspension of three days or more will forfeit his riding fee and percentage,” the BHA added. Those who breach the rules on more than one occasion will also face increased penalties. The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) commended the BHA for introducing revised rules.

“Jockeys are pleased that the Authority has recognised that the whip is an important tool of the trade and that these changes will ultimately help protect the integrity of the sport,” PJA chief executive Kevin Darley said in a statement.

“While there are always differences of opinion, the PJA is advising its members to endorse the changes and react positively to them.”

Leading flat jockey Frankie Dettori and champion jumps jockey Tony McCoy also welcomed the changes. “I am not proud of having fallen foul of the whip rules in the past but I have never harmed a horse. These new rules are easy to understand which will help all jockeys ride within them,” Dettori said. “I accept these new rules are in the best interest of our great sport.”

McCoy added: “I hope my colleagues embrace the proposed changes as being in the best interest of the sport. I for one support the changes.”— Reuters

KUWAIT: Joint picture of officials with participants

KSSC conclude referees course

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Sport Club concluded a course for air gun and pistol referees earlier in the week. The event was organized under the patronage of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

The closing ceremony was attended by President of Kuwait and Asian Shooting Federations, Vice-president of ISSF Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, President of the Arab Shooting Federation and ISSF administrative council member Engineer Duaij Al-Otaibi, secretary general of Kuwait and Arab shooting federations Obeid AlOsaimi, and KSSC board members.

Australian Aado Maranic, who is a member of the ISSF technical committee lectured on ISSF Rifle & Pistol Judges B Course and Electronic Scoring Targets.

This activity comes shortly before the start of the fourth Asian air gun championships to

be held in Kuwait from October 17 until the 23rd of the month.

The course proved successful with the participation of 25 persons of both genders, and showed great interest in the topics that were brought up.

Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah thanked the Australian lecturer during the distribution of certificates to those who successfully passed the course. He said Aado Maranik is one of the most important experts in the field officiating.

Sheikh Salman expressed his pleasure to see new participants, and urged them to exert all efforts for the sake of serving Kuwait and ensuring its prominent presence around the world.

Meanwhile, international lecturer A Maranik expressed his satisfaction and pleasure because the sport of shooting will continue flourishing and reach new heights due to the encouragement and interest it receives from all officials.

KUWAIT: Officials during the ceremony

Cowboys dump Washington Redskins ARLINGTON: Tony Romo persevered through pain in his ribs to lead enough deep drives to set up Dan Bailey for six field goals, including one from 40 yards with 1:57 left to give the Cowboys an 18-16 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday. Dallas’ Anthony Spencer chopped the ball from Washington’s Rex Grossman with 28 seconds left, and linebacker Sean Lee recovered it, setting off a celebration inside Cowboys Stadium.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett dropped to a knee and pumped his fist wildly at being 2-1 - guaranteeing no repeat of last year’s miserable 1-7 start.

The Cowboys are even tied for first place in the NFC East, along with Washington (2-1), which was seeking its first 3-0 start since 2005.

“This was a great win for us,” said Romo, who was 22 of 36 for 255 yards. “It was a hard, hard game. ... We had a million mistakes tonight. We

have a lot of young guys, but they were out there for a reason. We’ll get it right.”

Romo lacked zip and accuracy much of the game, and he had trouble with four snaps from his new center. But he was at his best with the game on the line.

He hit Laurent Robinson for a 25-yard gain to set up Bailey’s fifth field goal. He then set up the winner on third-and-21 with a scrambling 30yarder to Dez Bryant that happened to come against cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who last week said he was hoping “to put my helmet on whatever’s hurt.”

The Romo-Bailey combination has worked like a charm for two straight games. Against San Francisco a week ago Sunday, Bailey made a tying field goal at the end of regulation, then the winner in overtime.

Meanwhile, Roger Goodell noticed the

ARLINGTON: Dallas Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins tackles Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss during the first half of an NFL football game. — AP

snowflake in icy blue-and-white, centered before the George Washington Bridge, during the debut of the logo for the 2014 Super Bowl.

“I think that’s great,” the NFL commissioner said yesterday. “A little snow would be great for us. But whatever comes our way, we’re going to be prepared for it.” The game at MetLife Stadium will be the first outdoor Super Bowl in a coldweather venue. Although the lowest Super Bowl kickoff temperature has been 39 degrees, average February temperatures at East Rutherford, NJ, are 24 to 40 degrees.

“It’s football like it was meant to be played - in the open, exposed to whatever winter throws our way,” the new print advertising campaign for the game states. Goodell is hoping for light snow and maintained the organizers will be prepared for foul weather. “We’re coming and playing in the winter, and I think that would be great,” he

said. “Some of our most memorable games were played in unusual weather circumstances. Winter and cold are part of football, and snow is also.”

Given the venue, it figures to be a unique Super Bowl. The logo and advertising were unveiled at an 8 a.m. “power breakfast” news conference at The Modern, a restaurant in the Museum of Modern Art. The print campaign starting Wednesday and a broadcast advertisement that debuts Sunday are brash, with a deep voice proclaiming: “A game so important, an event so monumental, a Super Bowl so historic it takes two states to host it.” The campaign and logos were designed by Source Communications in New Jersey.

Both New Jersey and New York are featured.

The TV ad includes the Statue of Liberty with shoulder pads, and yard lines on a field on the GW Bridge. The logo has an “NY” and “NJ” flank-

ARLINGTON: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo passes against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game. — AP

ing the flake at the span’s base.

“We thought it would be both fun and direct to put the snowflake right into our major symbol,” said Al Kelly, the former American Express president hired in April as chief executive officer of the host committee.

Kelly said fans should expect ticket prices above the $600 and $1,200 charged for this year’s game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “I expect our ticket prices will probably be the most expensive ticket prices of any Super Bowl that’s been held,” he said, “but I think that’s a decision that sits with the NFL, and it’s a decision that hasn’t been made yet.” NFL owners awarded the game to the $1.6 billion venue in May 2010, just as the stadium was opening.

Kelly said 22 businesses had signed up as sponsors and will pay a minimum $1 million each. Among the co-chairs representing the sponsors are Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs & Co.; Janet Robinson of The New York Times; Massimo d’Amore of PepsiCo Beverages Americas; Gerald Hassell of BNY Mellon; Robert Kapito of BlackRock; and Michael Kowalski of Tiffany & Co. “The world will be waiting for us to probably screw up on this because this is the first coldweather Super Bowl,” New York Jets owner Woody Johnson said. “It was very courageous of our commissioner, Roger Goodell and our fellow owners to vote yes on this - albeit on the fourth or fifth ballot.”

On other subjects, Goodell said management still is pushing to start testing for human growth hormone. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has said his members question the safety and reliability of the blood test.

“It’s our intention to do it as soon as possible,” Goodell said. “We’re waiting to hear back from the union.” Goodell wouldn’t state an opinion on whether Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick should have continued playing last weekend despite an injured hand. “I think that’s for the doctors. Doctors make those decisions,” he said.—AP

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NBA sides to meet again to end lockout NEW YORK: With one round of cancelations behind them and more significant ones looming without a new labor deal soon, representatives for NBA players and owners will meet late yesterday and perhaps today for talks aimed at ending the lockout. The union has canceled a regional meeting with players late yesterday in Miami so its negotiators can meet with league officials in New York instead, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because the details are supposed to remain confidential.

Both sides said after meeting last week they hoped to talk again this week, but scheduling conflicts threatened to make that difficult. Union executive director Billy Hunter was supposed to travel to Miami on Monday to brief players Tuesday, and some members of both bargaining

teams will be unavailable from Wednesday evening through Friday evening because of the Jewish holiday.

It’s unclear who will take part in the talks, though the expectation is it will again be small groups. NBA Commissioner David Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, Spurs owner Peter Holt, who leads the labor relations committee, and senior vice president and deputy general counsel Dan Rube represented the NBA last week. Hunter, NBPA president Derek Fisher of the Lakers, attorney Ron Klempner and economist Kevin Murphy were on the union side.

The bargaining session, first reported by CBSSports.com, comes just days after the league postponed training camps and canceled all 43 preseason games scheduled for Oct. 9-15.

The remainder of preseason play would be in

jeopardy without an agreement by early next week, and the Nov. 1 opening of the regular season could be scrapped by the middle of next month.

The slow pace of the negotiations has left players frustrated, but they insist still united with the lockout nearing the three-month mark.

“We support Billy 100 percent, we support DFish 100 percent,” Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony said after an exhibition game Sunday in Philadelphia. “My main thing, we’ve just got to stick together. As players, we’re sticking together.” Yet he also didn’t rule out decertification of the union, a tactic NFL players used during their battle with the league but one that Hunter and Fisher have continued to reject thus far.

“If that’s where we got to take it, that’s where we got to take it,” Anthony said. “Whatever it

takes to get a season, that’s what we want to do.”

Two issues remain in the way of that. Players are resisting owners’ desire for a hard salary cap, and have said owners want their share of basketball-related income to drop into the 40s after they were guaranteed 57 percent under the deal that expired at the end of the day June 30.

The news has been bad, but players still hope a deal can come in time to avoid losing games to a work stoppage for only the second time.

“Every report that you guys in the media is hearing, we’re hearing the same exact thing, and we’re just trying to get something done and hopefully something can get done,” Houston Rockets player representative Kyle Lowry said. “If not, we’re going to stick together as players, the players union, and hopefully something gets done.” —AP

US basketball team starts European camp

LOUDON: Kyle Busch (18) drives next to Jimmie Johnson (18) during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race in this file photo at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. —AP

Is two races too soon to count Johnson out of hunt?

CHARLOTTE: There was something different about Jimmie Johnson this year as he readied for yet another challenge to his reign of NASCAR. The five-time defending champion had a clear understanding that his record-setting run couldn’t last forever. Eventually, somebody would figure out how to beat him, and if Johnson were a gambler, well, he probably wouldn’t like the odds of him holding off 11 other drivers for a sixth consecutive year.

That’s not to say he had any intention of rolling over for the competition. If Johnson is to be dethroned this year, he’s going to go down swinging.

Now, just two races into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, many believe 5-time is already on the ropes.

His 18th-place finish at New Hampshire on Sunday dropped Johnson to 10th in the 12-driver Chase field. It’s the lowest Johnson has ever been ranked in the 12-driver format, and he trails leader Tony Stewart by 29 points.

He knows he needs to be pretty close to perfect from here on out to hold onto his title.

“We need eight great ones from here,” Johnson said. “We can’t run 10th anymore. We need a bunch of Ws.’” Only Johnson doesn’t seem to have a bunch of victories in him.

He’s got only one this season, at Talladega in April, and that’s actually his only victory over the last year.

Then there’s the tense radio chatter between Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus midway through Sunday’s race.

With the No. 48 Chevrolet not handling to Johnson’s liking, Knaus tried to keep the driver motivated

and focused. Johnson didn’t want to hear it, told Knaus his cheerleading was “annoying” and essentially demanded the crew chief shut up and let him drive.

So, yeah, there’s some compelling evidence to the argument that Johnson is in deep trouble after only two weeks.

Do so, though, at your own risk because counting out Johnson is about the dumbest thing his rivals could possibly do right now.

Maybe it seems too long ago, but Johnson prepared for this Chase with seven top-10 finishes in nine races. During a five-race span over the last month, he finished second twice and fourth twice.

And maybe everybody forgets Round 1 of the Chase, when Johnson led 39 laps and had to back off racing for the win to conserve fuel. He was running third when he ran out of gas as he took the flag on the final lap, and he faded to a 10th-place finish.

As the celebration on Stewart’s first win of the season faded, the talk shifted to Johnson and the strong statement his Hendrick Motorsports team made at Chicago.

“He ran out of gas and still finished 10th! If that’s his bad day, everybody else is in trouble.”

Now here we are, one poor run later, and suddenly the guy is finished? His little spat with Knaus, in the grand scheme of things, was nothing to be alarmed about and not all that out of the ordinary. Little has been said about Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch or Kevin Harvick, who all got testy on the radio at times Sunday.

Then there’s Stewart, the sudden points leader after wins in the first

two Chase races, who cryptically credited the removal of some “dead weight” as reason for his surge. His refusal to elaborate left most everyone wondering about his current state of mind.

Sure, Johnson is in a hole right now. But nobody is immune from a bad race or two, Stewart isn’t going to win all 10 Chase races, and Johnson has some very good tracks looming.

Johnson has a combined 26 career victories at the eight remaining Chase tracks. In 129 starts, he’s got 94 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 9.8.

First up is Round 3 of the Chase, at Dover, where Johnson has six career victories. Toss out crashes in 2003 and 2004, and Johnson’s lowest finish is 16th. He’s got three wins in his last five visits to Dover, including a victory in last year’s Chase.

He’s been down in the Chase before, maybe not this low, and not under the 43-to-1 points system that went into effect this season.

Only Johnson and Knaus know if their Hendrick Motorsports team is off a tick this year, and they just can’t run at the same level they did the past five years. But even if they did, they’d still give it everything they have down to the final checkered flag.

“My optimism is still high,” Johnson said. “These first two races did not start as we had hoped that they would, but eight to go, there’s still a lot that can happen. Past experience really helps with the mental side of it going into the next event and for my guys. “Not the day that we wanted, but we’ll come back strong next week.” Only a fool would doubt that. —AP

Kirilenko eliminates Stosur TOKYO: Maria Kirilenko eliminated US Open champion Samantha Stosur from the Pan Pacific Open yesterday, beating the Australian 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round. The sixth-seeded Stosur, playing for the first time since winning her first career Grand Slam title in New York, trailed in the second set but rallied to break her Russian opponent and take the final two games to even the match.

The two traded breaks in the third set but Kirilenko broke again to make it 5-4 before serving out the match. “You never want to go out in the first round after the week I had at the US Open,” Stosur said. “It’s hard to explain how you could do well at the U.S. Open and then not do well here. I came as prepared as I could.”

Stosur beat Kirilenko in the fourth round of the US Open. “I just played her a couple of weeks ago, so I knew what to do,” Kirilenko said. “Every time you win a Grand Slam, it’s tough to win the next tournament.”

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark advanced despite being pushed by unseeded Jarmila Gajdosova, eventually winning 6-1, 6-7 (4), 63 in the second round. Third-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced, beating IrinaCamelia Begu of Romania 6-1, 6-3. Azarenka, who has won two WTA Tour titles this season, saved nine break points and won 72 percent of her first serves.

Also, ninth-seeded Agnieskza Radwanska defeated qualifier Angelique Kerber of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 63, 12th-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Laura Robson of Britain 7-5, 6-4, and 13th-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany eliminated Greta Arn of Hungary 6-2, 6-1. In the first round, 10th-seeded Peng Shuai beat qualifier Jill Craybas of the United States 6-2, 6-0, Christina McHale of the United States defeated Tamira Paszek of Austria 7-6 (1), 6-3, and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States won her raindelayed match that started Monday over Zheng Jie of China 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2. —AP

TOKYO: Maria Kirilenko of Russia returns the ball to Samantha Stosur of Australia during their second round match of the Japan Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament. —AP

NEW YORK: With the London Olympics less than a year away, the US women’s basketball team will get a rare chance to train when they begin a 12-day European tour today.

Coach Geno Auriemma won’t have a very deep roster at his disposal for the trip that will take the Americans through Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

With the WNBA playoffs in the conference finals the Americans will be short-handed with only six players from the 26-person national team pool available. Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Brittney Griner, Ashja Jones, Renee Montgomery and Cappie Pondexter will be in camp.

Candice Dupree and Diana Taurasi, who were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs Sunday, will join the group later in the week. There’s a small chance a few more players may join after the WNBA finals.

To bolster the roster, USA Basketball added Sophia Young and Danielle Robinson for the first few games.

Young just became eligible to play for the Americans after gaining her US citizenship on Sept. 2.

“This is a good opportunity to see some of the younger guys mix in with some of our veterans,” Auriemma said. “For them especially, it’s a great opportunity to show me what they can do against some talented international opponents. This is a big part of our Olympic preparation and it’s really important for us to see different combinations on the floor and continue their development with USA Basketball.”

It will be a great chance for Griner, who just began her junior year at Baylor, to play with and against some of the best players in the world.

“I am very excited and looking forward to playing internationally,” the 6-foot-8 Griner said. “I know the international game is a bit different, it’s a different style of play and is pretty physical. I am honored to be able to wear the USA jersey, it’s very humbling.”

Griner got her first chance to play with the national team in May when she attended a three-day training camp in Las Vegas. Most of the US pool was there and she more than held her own.

Candace Parker originally planned to play on the European tour but will miss it as she has been rehabbing an injured knee that kept her sidelined for most of the WNBA season. Sue Bird, who has been a mainstain at most of the team’s training camps, is out with a hip injury. She played the entire season for the Seattle

Storm with it and is mulling offseason surgery.

This will be one of the last times the Americans will be able to get together before the Olympics, which begin next July. With most of the US players playing overseas in the winter and then in the WNBA it’s difficult to find training time. Potentially they might be able to get a few days together next May before the WNBA sea-

PHOENIX: Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi (3) goes up for a shot in this file photo. —AP son begins. The league will have a break for the Olympics. The Americans, who have won gold medals at the last four Olympics, earned a berth to London by winning the world championship last year. —AP

Italy outmuscle US as Japan exit in tears AUCKLAND: Italy set up a World Cup showdown with Ireland after roughing up the United States yesterday, while Canada were left feeling “glum” and Japan reduced to tears after a draw in Napier.

Japan were already on their way home before their 23-23 stalemate with Canada in Pool A and the Americans joined them at the exit after falling 27-10 to Italy in the Pool C clash in Nelson.

The Azzurri scrum appropriately secured the bonus point with a penalty try late in the second half as the Americans wilted in the face of the onslaught of Italian muscle.

But Italy ’s per formance was patchy and Ireland will not be quaking in their boots ahead of their must-win match in Dunedin on Sunday.

“It was a tough physical match and we are a bit disappointed with how we played, but we did what we had to do and managed to get the five points,” said prop Castrogiovanni. “I think our minds were drifting to the Ireland match a bit and that affected how we played.”

Canadian flyhalf Ander Monro earlier slotted a 79th-minute penalty to break Japanese hearts, ensuring a draw for a second successive World Cup between the two nations and denying the “Brave Blossoms” a first win since the 1991 tournament.

The Canadians could mathematically still qualify for the last eight by turning the rugby world on its head with a bonus-point win over hosts New Zealand and if Tonga also stun France in the final round of matches next weekend.

“The tie is a bit like kissing your cousin. It’s great to kiss them but it’s your cousin,” Canada captain Pat Riordan said after drawing with Japan. “The guys are pretty glum at the moment.”

Some of the Japanese players were in tears after failing to break their 20-year winless streak at the World Cup. “It kills me that we weren’t able to win,” said winger Hirotoki Onozawa. “I had told myself not to get too emotional, but I did.”

against Samoa on Friday, where a point will secure the holders a quarter-final place.

“They’re a brute side so it won’t be easy but we’re working hard to hopefully put them under pressure in the lineouts and in the scrums,”

NEW ZEALAND: Todd Clever of the USA is tackled by Italy’s Sergio Parisse (right) during their Rugby World Cup match at Trafalgar Park. —AP Ireland, who have won all three of their matches but have not yet secured a place in the quarter-finals, remain wary of the Italian threat.

“It’s the one all along where they felt they could create a huge upset and so we know as well they will probably be putting a little bit more into this game for us than some others,” said fullback Rob Kearney.

“But I think the national team have shown throughout the last few years that when the chips are down and we need to win, we can win.”

Meanwhile, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers was finally able to call on almost all of his squad, naming lock Victor Matfield to lead the side for their final Pool D match

Matfield said of the Pacific islanders.

France also named their side for Saturday’s final group encounter against Tonga in Wellington and coach Marc Lievremont stuck largely with the team that lost to the All Blacks last weekend.

“It is a team very similar to the one that will start the quarter-finals,” Lievremont said. “After the first two matches, I said we would make fewer changes and that is the case.”

The World Cup came to a premature end Australia’s Wycliff Palu and fellow number eight Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Argentina, both sent home after sustaining hamstring and anterior cruciate damage respectively. —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

S P ORT S

No room for sentiment as Mata faces old teammates

ST PETERSBURG: Porto players are seen during a training session before the UEFA Champion League Group G soccer match. Porto will face Zenit today. —AP

Zenit bid to end Porto’s proud Russian record SAINT PETERSBURG: Zenit St Petersburg will have to achieve something no other Russian side has managed in European club competition here today in their Champions League match and beat Portuguese champions Porto.

Zenit also need to win as they suffered a shock 2-1 opening defeat at the hands of Cypriot outfit APOEL Nicosia.

Porto have paid four visits to Russia and won all four of their matches but at least Zenit go into boosted by an impressive 4-0 league win over Tomsk on Saturday which sees them top the table.

Zenit - for whom Russian international striker Alexander Kerzhakov scored a brace to lie joint-top league scorer - are two points ahead of second-placed CSKA Moscow.

Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti said he was pleased both with the result of the match and his team’s performance. “ We needed to win and we did it clinching a top class win,” Spalletti said.

“We came into the match very confident and focused. We scored early and kept the playing under complete control.”

“Naturally, after we went 4-0 up we took our foot off the pedal as we were mindful of Wednesday ’s Champions League match with Porto.”

Zenit will nevertheless be defending an impressive home record from last season when they were unbeaten in European competition.

However, they will be without their key defender Bruno Alves, who made 119 league appearances for Porto, winning four league titles, three Portuguese Cups and two Super Cups before joining Zenit.

The 29-year-old is suspended after being sent-off in the APOEL match, while there are worries over first-choice goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev, who suffered a hip injury in his side’s 3-2 away win at Rubin Kazan earlier this month. — AFP

VALENCIA: Chelsea striker Juan Mata will set old loyalties aside here today as he bids to put one over his former Valencia team-mates in their Champions League clash.

The 23-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge in August and is the latest big money buy for Chelsea as they continue their Champions League quest.

They were inches away from success in the 2008 final when John Terry’s penalty went inches past the post and since then the competition has started to be described as an obsession for the club. Mata faces a Valencia side he knows as well as anyone after spending the last four years at the club.

“It is going to be a special game for me and while I had a great time there my priority is now Chelsea and I will go out to do my best,” said Mata.

Chelsea manager Andres Villas Boas does not believe his team will be tired following two consecutive games which has ended with them down to ten men.

“It should be okay and nothing to worry about as it is still early days in the league,” he said, while admitting his team selection last Saturday against Swansea, which included leaving Frank Lampard on the bench, was influenced by this.

“We sent nine fresh players onto the pitch that didn’t play Wednesday and I think that was important.” After one game so far in Group E, Chelsea lead the way following a victory over Bayer Leverkusen while Valencia had a disappointing draw away to Genk.

The return of Mata has hit the headlines in

SPAIN: Chelsea team attend a training session. Chelsea is to play a Group E Champions League soccer match against Valencia today. — AP Valencia and his former room-mate, Pablo Hernandez is also looking forward to the game.

“On the pitch you don’t have friends and so each player fights for their own team and we will be looking to beat Chelsea,” said Hernandez.

“I still talk a lot to Juan and it is going to be a good to play against him in a competition like the Champions League.”

Valencia have started well in la liga and held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw last week but lost 1-0

Wenger expects Arsenal to continue their revival

Ibrahimovic returns to ease Milan injury crisis MILAN: AC Milan have received a boost ahead of their Champions League clash against Czechs Viktoria Plzen as star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to full training.

The big Swede had spent two weeks on the sidelines with a groin problem since being ruled out of their opening European encounter against Barcelona, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Without Ibrahimovic’s return, Milan would be in a state of crisis. Brazilian forwards Alexandre Pato and Robinho are both injured while attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, whom coach Massimiliano Allegri favors in a role behind the front two, is also unavailable.

When Pato was injured a week ago against Udinese he was replaced by teenage forward Stefan El Shaarawy, an Italian youth international who has an Egyptian father.

The 18-year- old scored Milan’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Udinese and then started in the 1-0 victory over Cesena on Saturday.

Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi is also working his way back from a cruciate knee ligament injury and has made two brief substitute appearances in the last two games. However, neither of those two were included in Milan’s 25man Champions League squad.

It meant that without Ibrahimovic, the club would only be able to call on Antonio Cassano and 18-year- old Simone Andrea Ganz, who has yet to play for the first team and having come through the club’s youth system was only on the Champions League B-list anyway.

Cassano at least has had a run of five

games as a starter since the beginning of the season and has played twice for Italy as well, meaning the oft maligned forward has gradually recovered his best form and indeed physical shape.

At the beginning of the season there was a lot of speculation linking the then overweight Cassano with a move away from Milan, but Allegri insisted the club always intended keeping him.

“Cassano is doing very well. People spoke a lot about him in the summer because it seemed as if he would be leaving,” said Allegri.

“However, we’re very happy that he stayed because it was never our intention to sell him. “We’re taking care of him and he’s repaying us.”

However, with a dearth of attacking options, it will be a relief to Allegri to at least have Ibrahimovic available as a luxury substitute should the need arise.

Although with mid-table Milan travelling to league leaders Juventus at the weekend, Allegri may prefer ideally to hold the Swede back for that crunch clash.

There is not such good news for club captain Massimo Ambrosini, though, who is still suffering pain in the shoulder he dislocated against Barcelona two weeks ago.

However, Allegri believes he may have both players available. “ We’re assessing them, they’re both getting better. We have (some time left) and we hope they’ll be ready,” he said.

Milan will be expecting to take three points from this game against the group stage debutants, who began their campaign two weeks ago with a 1-1 draw at home to BATE Borisov, leaving all four teams level on one point. — AFP

ITALY: Victoria Plzen players attend a training session on the eve of the Champions League match between AC Milan and Viktoria Plzen at San Siro Stadium today. —AFP

away to Sevilla at the weekend.

“The game against Barcelona is important as a reference and shows that if we play that well then we can beat anyone,” said Hernandez.

“It is true that Chelsea play a different style to Barcelona with the ball but it will still be a demanding game. “We need to win and pick up three points especially after the Genk match but it will not be easy against Chelsea who are one of the best teams in Europe.” —AFP

LONDON: Olympiacos players Ariel Ibagaza (left) and Ljubomir Fejsa during a training session at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Olympiacos play Arsenal in a Champions League Group F soccer match today. —AP

Leverkusen out to end losing streak LEVERKUSEN: Striker Stefan Kiessling has said Bayer Leverkusen must put an end to their losing streak, while coach Robin Dutt insists defeat to Genk in today’s Champions League match will not see him sacked.

Leverkusen have lost their last three games so getting back the winning habit would be a welcome present for their fans when they begin their home campaign in Group E. The German side went down 2-0 at Chelsea a fortnight ago in London when Genk earned a goalless draw against Valencia.

With Chelsea at Valencia today, Dutt can ill afford a defeat to the Belgians which would only increase the pressure growing on him after a run of poor results and, more alarmingly, bad performances.

“No, this game won’t decide my fate,” said the coach. “Of course, it’s a very important game. “We have to beat this opponent.”

The Stamford Bridge defeat has been followed by a shock 4-1 home defeat by Cologne in the German league as well as a 3-0 defeat at Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday when Leverkusen barely put up a fight. Having fallen behind to a goal after just five minutes in Munich, Kiessling says the team are playing more like a cheap-budget movie rather than dazzling in the bright lights of the Champions League.

Leverkusen are likely to have former Germany captain Michael Ballack, who turns 35 on Monday, back in the squad after he missed the Munich defeat with a bout of ‘flu.

“It feels like we are in the wrong film,” said Kiessling, 27, who is set to partner Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok up front for the Germans. “This is not a good period for us, because we need to come out and start playing like a team again.”

This is the first competitive meeting between the teams although they did come face to face for a friendly in July this year when Leverkusen came out on top 4-1 with Derdiyok scoring a hattrick.

“We need to get our form and our self-confidence back, we need to feel a sense of achievement against Genk,” said Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak, who on Monday announced he intends to play for the Turkey national team.

Genk are showing some form under new Dutch coach Mario Been. A 1-1 draw at Leuven on Saturday in the Belgian league followed a 6-2 win at third-division MSK Deinze in the cup and Been’s team enjoyed a 3-0 league win at home to Standard Liege after their draw with Valencia.

The Belgians are in the group stage for the first time in nine years and were 2-1 winners at Borussia Dortmund on their last trip to Germany in the 2004 Intertoto Cup third round. —AFP

LONDON: Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal to continue their recovery from a miserable start to the season when Olympiakos visit the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League today.

Wenger’s side have lurched from one disaster to another for much of 2011 and the opening few weeks of the new campaign have been no different.

The departures of star midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri destabilised an already fragile squad to such an extent the Gunners briefly languished just one place above the Premier League relegation zone after their worst start for 58 years.

Wenger has been forced to swat away increasingly pointed questions about his future, while the club’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis felt obliged to issue a vote of confidence in the French coach after a 4-3 defeat at Blackburn.

In the circumstances, Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bolton was a much-needed morale boost, but the critics, both in the Emirates stands and the media, will be back in force if Arsenal slip up at home to Olympiakos.

The Gunners kicked off their Group F campaign with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund and victory over the Greeks is essential to avoid falling behind in the race to reach the second round.

Wenger can take confidence from the Robin van Persieinspired win over Bolton and his side’s formidable home record in Europe’s elite club competition.

Even eventual winners Barcelona lost at the Emirates last season, beaten 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16, and Wenger knows his team’s comfort level at home will be key to qualification.

“In the Champions League, you need 11 points to qualify from the group stage, that means you have to take nine at home and two or three away,” he said.

“We got an interesting point in Dortmund and we know after if we do well at home, then we will qualify.” While Wenger will rightly regard his side as favourites against Olympiakos, he must have been cursing his luck on Monday when it was confirmed England midfielder Jack Wilshere will be sidelined for up five months following surgery to cure a stress fracture to his right ankle.

Wilshere has been sidelined since suffering the injury in a pre-season friendly against the New York Red Bulls and his absence robs Wenger of his most creative midfielder.

There was further bad news earlier in the day when Arsenal captain van Persie revealed he was in no hurry to commit his long-term future to the club.

Van Persie scored his 100th Arsenal goal against Bolton on Saturday and his form and fitness are essential ingrediants to any hopes of winning a trophy this season.

For now Van Persie remains committed to the cause and he believes Arsenal’s gritty draw against Dortmund will stand them in good stead for the rest of the competition.

“We achieved a good result in Dortmund, even if their late goal might make that sound a bit strange,” Van Persie said.

“They are the German champions and their running and fitness was phenomenal. You could see we found it difficult to string passes together and it was clear we were playing against a top team. —AFP Matches on TV (Local Timings)

UEFA Champions League Zenit v Porto ........................................... 19:00 Aljazeera Sport +6 AC Milan v Plzen ..................................... 21:45 Aljazeera Sport +1 BATE v Barcelona .................................... 21:45 Aljazeera Sport +2 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Shakhtar v Apoel .................................... 21:45 Aljazeera Sport +10 Marseille v Dortmund ............................ 21:45 Aljazeera Sport +9 Arsenal v Olympiacos ..............................21:45 Aljazeera Sport +5 Leverkusen v Genk ................................. 21:45 Aljazeera Sport +8 Valencia v Chelsea .................................. 21:45 Aljazeera Sport 1 HD

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

sp orts

City silenced as Bayern dominate MADRID: Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos (right) duels for the ball against Ajax Siem de Jong (center) during their Group D Champions League soccer match. —AP

Real crush Dutch giants MADRID: Nine-time European champions Real Madrid strolled to a 3-0 victory over Dutch giants Ajax yesterday in their Champions League match to make it maximum points from their first two matches.

Goals from Cristian Ronaldo, Kaka - his first in the competition since 2009 and French striker Karim Benzema sees them top the group two pooints ahead of Lyon.

Kaka was happy with the performance.

“It was a good game, I feel good and we are in a good position in the Group if we can continue like this,” said the Brazilian.

“It’s an important game at home to Lyon next, if we win that we’ll be in a very good position to finish the group as early as possible.”

He was also pleased with the progress he was making in his performances. “I’m improving game by game, it’s not just tonight, I’m feeling good in the last few games so I’m happy with my own progress,” he said. Ajax, themselves four times winner of Europe’s premier club competition, star ted well and when Christian Eriksen tried his luck in the first minute from just outside the area goalkeeper Iker Casillas did well to parry away his shot. Former Barcelona stalwart Frank De Boer had warned his Ajax team would not be overawed before the game and their neat play saw them have the better of the opening exchanges.

Icelandic for ward Kolbeinn Sigthorsson missed narrowly from distance on 7 minutes and it looked like Madrid may be in for a difficult evening.

It was not until the 17th minute that Madrid launched their first attack and when Sami Khedira found Benzema in the penalty area the Frenchmen should have done better than drag his shot just wide of the left post.

On 22 minutes Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer was quick out of his area to block at the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo.

And when a minute later Benzema again shot wide this time to the right of goal, Ajax were warned of what was to come. It was a spectacularly quick counter-attack move on 25 minutes involving one touch passing from five different players that broke the deadlock, Ronaldo finishing with his right foot a move in which he was earlier involved.

Ajax continued to enjoy the majority of possession and patiently carved out a number of attacks but it was Real who were to double their lead.

Kaka received a pass from Ronaldo on 41 minutes and, instead of giving the easier return pass, turned and fired a left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner.

After the interval Madrid improved their passing game taking no more than three minutes for Kaka to finish off a sweeping move by edging the ball into the path of Benzema who made sure from 10 yards. And Kaka nearly added a fourth on 66 minutes when Mesut Ozil found him free when he pulled his shot just wide and Madrid were by now totally in control.—AFP

MUNICH: Germany striker Mario Gomez scored twice as Bayern Munich beat Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League clash yesterday to give the winners their tenth straight victory.

After their 2-0 win at Villarreal a fortnight ago, the result leaves Bayern firmly in control of Group A and went some way to answering questions about the German league leaders’ defence as they subdued City ’s star-studded attack.

“We struggled a bit in the first 25 minutes, but we managed to get the first goal at just the right time,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. “The whole team just poured forward in the second half.

“Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger put in world-class performances.” City, currently second in the Premier League to neighbors Manchester United, had few answers to Bayern’s allout attack and now have just one point from their opening two Champions League games in their debut campaign.

“We stopped defending as a team after the first goal and you can’t do that in the Champions League, so from that point of view we deserved to lose,” said City defender Kolo Toure.

Gomez’s first-half brace leaves him with 11 goals in his last seven games for Bayern in all competitions, while Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer picked up his tenth clean-sheet and he has conceded just one goal in 12 games this season.

It was only City ’s second defeat of the season since they lost the Charity Shield final to

United on August 7 as Bayern dominated at the 66,000-sell out Allianz Arena, which will host the final next May. City manager Roberto Mancini opted to start with strikers Edin

GERMANY: Munich’s Toni Kroos (left) and Manchester City’s Gareth Barry challenge for the ball during the Group A Champions League soccer match. —AP

PARIS: Champions League group stage tables after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Bayern Munich Napoli Manchester City Villarreal

2 2 2 2

Group A 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0

0 0 1 2

4 3 1 0

0 1 3 4

6 4 1 0

Trabzonspor Inter Milan Lille CSKA Moscow

2 2 2 2

Group B 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 1

0 1 0 1

2 3 3 4

1 3 3 5

4 3 2 1

Basel Benfica Manchester United Otelul Galati

2 2 2 2

Group C 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 0

0 0 0 2

5 2 4 1

4 1 4 3

4 4 2 0

Real Madrid Lyon Ajax Dinamo Zagreb

2 2 2 2

Group D 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0

0 0 1 2

4 2 0 0

0 0 3 3

6 4 1 0

Lille fail to shake off draw kings tag

Benfica edge Galati

TRABZON: French champions Lille once again let slip a lead yesterday as they recorded a fifth successive draw, 1-1 away to Turkish side Trabzonspor in Champions League Group B. Lille-who had been held 2-2 by CSKA Moscow in their opening group match after leading 2-0 — led through a first-half strike by Moussa Sow but a 75th minute penalty by Argentinian Gustavo Colman secured a point for the hosts.

The draw sees Trabzonspor top the group with four points ahead of 2010 Champions League winners Inter Milan-who beat CSKA Moscow 3-2 earlier-while Lille are on two points.

Guinean international Sow opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, running onto a superb pass by Eden Hazard which a Trabzonspor defender failed to intercept before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

Lille came out fired up in the second-half with Sow using great strength to force his way through the Trabzonspor defence in the 53rd minute only to shoot wide, while his claims for a penalty were turned down.

Lille’s English midfielder Joe Cole went close to doubling their lead two minutes later as Benoit Pedretti played it to him, but from only yards out he saw his shot brilliantly saved by Trabzonspor ‘keeper Tolga Zengin.

Cole-who was the champions big name signing in the close season after coming on loan from Liverpoolthen tried an audacious cross-shot on the hour mark which just drifted wide of the far post.

Florent Balmont also went close, although he knew little about it as his header from a corner clipped the far post.

However, they paid the price for those misses in the 75th minute when Mathieu Debuchy was penalised for handball and Colman stepped up to put away the penalty, which Mickael Landreau got a hand to.—AFP

Gaitan the provider.

Benfica, who drew 1-1 against Manchester United in their opening match, continued to press forward in the second half with Grahovac denying Javier Saviola and in-form Paraguay striker Oskar Cardozo.

Romanian champions Otelul, seeking their first Champions League point, were toothless in attack, hardly challenging opposing goalkeeper Artur, who only had to parry a rasping long-range shot from Ioan Filip after the break. “ We could have killed the game before and all that late suffering was unnecessary,” said goal scorer Bruno Cesar. The home side, who have not conceded a goal in any of their last three European home games, could have snatched a point in the dying minutes but defender Milan Perendija missed the target with a shot from in front of goal.

“Defeat is defeat, I can’t be satisfied because we have made a lot of mistakes and at this level that is not allowed,” Otelul coach Dorinel Munteanu, Romania’s most capped international, told local state television TVR. “We are not in the same shape we were last year for various reasons. Today we lacked courage,” he added. Benfica captain Luisao made his 78th appearnce in European competition-a new club record.—Reuters

However, there could be repercussions as Carlos Tevez refused to go on despite being told to by Mancini, apparently peeved that he hadn’t originally replaced Dzeko.

Bayern soaked up the early City pressure and both Bastian Schweinsteiger and his midfield par tner Toni Kroos fired over when they had golden chances.

Some dogged defending from Bayern kept City at bay, while England goalkeeper Joe Hart was busy at the other end when Schweinsteiger volleyed over when he managed to get in behind the defence on 36 minutes.

The pressure finally paid off a minute later when Hart could only parry a Ribery shot, and then blocked a Thomas Mueller effort, but Gomez made no mistake to stab home from three metres out to put Bayern 1-0 up.

Gomez struck again in similar fashion on the stroke of half-time when Daniel Van Buyten’s header was saved by Hart, but the ball fell to Gomez who tucked his shot into the back of the net.

It was Bayern’s 30th goal of the season and although City tried everything after the break, they could not break the Munich defence.

Mueller nearly claimed Bayern’s third with 12 minutes left when he hit his chance the wrong side of the post with Hart beaten.

With City’s fans subdued by their team’s display, the Munich fans treated their English guests to a few chants of ‘You Only Sing When You’re Winning’ - that said it all.—AFP

Ranieri magic lifts Inter

Champions League standings

BUCHAREST: Benfica’s Javi Garcia (right) jumps for a header with Otelul Galati’s Bratislav Punosevac (left) during a Group C Champions League match. —AP

BUCHAREST: Brazilian Bruno Cesar scored late in the first half to give Benfica a well-deserved 1-0 win over Romanian debutants Otelul Galati at the National Arena in Bucharest in their Champions League Group C clash yesterday.

He calmly slotted what turned out to be the winner five minutes before the interval although the Portuguese side were guilty of not finishing off their opponents and were nearly made to suffer in the final minutes.

“We were strong in terms of ball possession and commanded the match,” coach Jorge Jesus said. “Otelul created very few chances and only scared us close to the 90 minutes. When a team is winning by just 1-0 they are always subject to conceding a draw at the end in a counter or a rebound.”

The visitors, who reigned supreme in Europe in 1961 and 1962, took the initiative from the first whistle as they displayed the confidence of a team unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions this season.

Lively Bruno Cesar nearly opened the scoring but his thunderous shot from the edge of the penalty area went just wide after Otelul’s defence failed to clear a long throw-in.

The Brazilian, however, gave keeper Branko Grahovac no chance when he finished cooly with Argentine Nicolas

Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, but switched to a defensive formation to leave Aguero alone up front after the break and the Italian had used up all three substitutions with 20 minutes left.

MOSCOW: New Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri saw the 2010 European champions chalk up their first points in Champions League Group B with a 3-2 win at CSKA Moscow here yesterday.

It was a testing night for the nerazzurri in the Russian capital, however, with victory not assured until Mauro Zarate netted in the 78th minute, after CSKA had fought back from 2-0 down to level the score.

Ranieri took over the Italian giants last week after Gian Piero Gasperini was sacked following a run of two defeats and a draw in their opening three Serie A games.

“We played in a proper manner today,” said Inter manager Claudio Ranieri. “I enjoyed my team’s play. We linked up well and the players understood each other pretty well.

“But our mental strength was the key to our success. CSKA played very well but there can be only one winner, and today it was Inter.” Ranieri had already overseen a 3-1 Serie A win at Bologna, but Inter remained fragile after the shock of their 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Turkish side Trabzonspor in their Champions League opener. Brazilian defender Lucio and forwards Giampaolo Pazzini and Zarate were all on target as Inter recorded their fifth win over CSKA in as many Champions League meetings. Midfielder Alan Dzagoev and Brazilian forward Vagner Love found the net for the Red Army side.

“In general it was a good match but the result is very disappointing for us,” said CSKA manager Leonid Slutsky. “We played well in attack but the defence made serious mistakes.

“We allowed Inter too much in the

beginning and failed to pull things back.

It’s a pity to lose at home, but we have nobody to blame except ourselves.”

Inter got off to a flying start after just six minutes on the synthetic pitch of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium when Lucio sent the ball into an unguarded net after CSKA goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov failed to claim a corner.

In the 11th minute, Nigerian midfielder Joel Obi spurned a chance to double Inter’s lead when his close-range header from Pazzini’s right-wing cross was fielded by Gabulov.

CSKA replied positively, pinning Inter back, but the guests scored again in the 23rd minute when Yuto Nagatomo skilfully nutmegged Vasily Berezutsky before squaring for Pazzini to tap home.

On the half-hour mark, CSKA replied with an 18-yard attempt by Dzagoev, which was repelled by Julio Cesar, with Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia hitting the woodwork from the resulting corner.

CSKA managed to reduce the arrears in first-half injury time, when Dzagoev beat Cesar with a well-executed 25-yard free-kick that dipped viciously beneath the crossbar.

After the interval CSKA moved up a gear and in the 48th minute Pavel Mamaev missed a clear chance to level as his 15-yard shot flashed inches wide of the right post.

The hosts continued testing Inter’s defence, however, and in the 77th minute Vagner fired in from 18 yards to pull the scores level.

But Zarate restored Inter’s lead just a minute later, scoring the winner from the edge of the area after being teed up

by Esteban Cambiasso.—AFP

MOSCOW: Inter Milan’s Jonathan (right) challenges for the ball with CSKA Moscow’s Evgeni Aldonin (left) during Champions League, Group B, soccer match. —AP

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

LONDON: Manchester United’s English forward Ashley Young (right) heads the third goal during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match against Basel. —AP

Young saves United blushes MANCHESTER: Manchester United needed a last-gasp goal from Ashley Young to snatch a 3-3 draw with Swiss side FC Basel here yesterday in a thrilling Champions League battle at Old Trafford.

Young steered in a 90th-minute header from a Nani cross to deny Basel a famous victory after two goals from Alex Frei and one from namesake Fabian Frei had fired the Swiss side into a 3-2 lead at Old Trafford.

United, missing the injured Wayne Rooney, had looked to be cruising to victory early on after two first-half goals in the space of a minute from Danny Welbeck helped them into a 2-0 lead at the break.

But Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were left shellshocked by a superb second-half fightback from the Swiss visitors, who ruthlessly punished slack defending by the English champions to go within a whisker of a famous upset.

“We were careless. They made two or three

chances in the first half but a lack of concentration killed us,” Ferguson said afterwards.

“It was a really good performance in the first half but we were left grappling to get a result in the second half. We threw it away.

“Losing three goals at home should be a wakeup call for us.”

The draw leaves Basel on top of Group C with four points from two games, with Portuguese side Benfica second on goal difference. United are two points off the pace after two games.

United were given a let off after only six minutes, Basel captain Marco Streller sending Fabian Frei racing into the box with a deft reverse pass through the legs of defender Phil Jones.

The covering Rio Ferdinand did just enough to unsettle Frei but the striker should have done better with his shot, which flew high and wide.

United’s response was swift, Ashley Young beating his marker before curling a cross to the far post which Antonio Valencia headed wide.

Basel were back under pressure soon afterwards, goalkeeper Yann Sommer forced to save from Young’s shot on 14 minutes after more good work from Valencia.

With United probing Basel menacingly, it appeared only a matter of time before the visitors defence buckled and on 16 minutes United took the lead.

Valencia sent fullback Fabio charging into the box with a perfectly weighted pass that sprang the Basel offside trap, and the young Brazilian squared for Ryan Giggs who laid off for Welbeck to screw a low angled shot in off the post.

The celebrations from that effort had only just subsided when Welbeck grabbed his second a minute later, Giggs threading an exqui-

site pass through to Welbeck for the United striker to stab home.

Yet the remainder of the half was anything but one-sided, and had Basel possessed a more clinical finisher the visitors might easily have scored, Alex Frei squandering good openings in the 24th and 36th minutes.

United maintained their commanding twogoal lead at half-time but Basel were far from ready to concede defeat after the break and should have pulled a goal back on 51 minutes through Streller.

Once again, United’s defence were caught out by lax marking and Streller found himself with only David de Gea to beat.

But with the goal at his mercy Streller took a fraction too long to get his shot off and the Spanish keeper was able to block with his legs.

That ought to have been warning enough for United, but seven minutes later the English champions were found wanting again.

Napoli dominate Villarreal

Lyon maul Dinamo LYON: Bafetimbi Gomis and Bakary Kone both scored in the first-half as Lyon beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 at the Stade de Gerland yesterday in their 100th Champions League game.

The win allows OL to continue their fine start to the season under Remi Garde and consolidates their grip on second place in group D on four points, two behind Real Madrid.

Dinamo have utterly dominated Croatian football over the last decade, but this is their first Champions League campaign in 12 years, and while they ran group favorites Madrid close in a 1-0 defeat a fortnight ago, Lyon’s extra experience at this level told.

Garde is without the likes of Yoann Gourcuff and Lisandro Lopez due to injury, but the form of Michel Bastos and Gomis in particular means they have not been overly missed.

Gomis blazed over from six yards with the first chance of the game in the third minute, and Maxime Gonalons then fired over after Dinamo goalkeeper Ivan Kelava had flapped at a corner.

The hosts then got the opening goal that their enterprising play deserved midway through the first half, although they had Dinamo midfielder Nikola Pokrivac to thank for creating the chance.

The Croatian international, who had a spell in Ligue 1 with Monaco in 2008-09, inexplicably played the ball back towards his own goal while under pressure in the centre circle, and Gomis latched on to the loose ball before beating Kelava with a magnificent chip.It was his eighth goal in all competitions this season. The visitors briefly threatened a response, and Fatos Beqiraj was just unable to get to a Luis Ibanez cross from the left when any connection would probably have beaten Hugo Lloris. —AFP

De Gea saved brilliantly from a Streller header but United were slow to clear and Fabian Frei had time to lash home for 2-1.

Two minutes later and Basel were level.

Granit Xhaka sent Fabian Frei racing away down the right flank with a lovely ball, who then floated a wonderful cross into Alex Frei who steered his header beyond de Gea to level it.

On 75 minutes United’s worse fears were realised when Jones tried to pass the ball out of defence and Basel went on the attack once more.

Streller darted forward onto the loose ball and when Valencia bundled him over, referee Paolo Tagliavento immediately pointed to the spot.

The veteran Frei duly stepped up to shoot Basel ahead. That looked to have settled it until relentless late pressure secured Young’s late strike. — AFP

ITALY: Villarreal’s Cristian Zapata of Colombia (left) and Napoliís Salvatore Aronica challenge for the ball during a Champions League, Group A, soccer match. —AP

NAPLES: Napoli took a big step towards qualification for the knock-out stages by dominating Villarreal in a 2-0 Champions League victory at the San Paolo stadium here yesterday.

It means the Italians trail Group A leaders Bayern Munich by two points after two games but crucially they are respectively three and four points ahead of Manchester City and Villarreal on their debut in the competition under its current format.

Marek Hamsik opened the scoring and Edinson Cavani added a penalty inside the first 17 minutes in a first period controlled by the hosts. Villarreal livened up a little after the break but failed to create many clear-cut chances and their second round hopes are hanging by a thread after earning no points from their first two matches.

Former Udinese defender Cristian Zapata shot wide for the visitors early on after a bit of pin-ball in the box. But Napoli soon took the game by the scruff of the neck and after Cavani’s shot was blocked, Ezequiel Lavezzi fired just over.

They didn’t have to wait long, though, to go in front as Lavezzi’s cross found Hamsik lurking at the back post. Aided by a defend-

er’s slip he had time to take the ball down on his chest and rifle home left footed across goalkeeper Diego Lopez on 14 minutes. Three minutes later it was two as Lavezzi out-paced Gonzalo Rodriguez in the box before the defender went to ground and was adjudged to have brought down the marauding Argentine.

Cavani stepped up to fire the resulting penalty low to Lopez’s right. Nilmar had a half-chance for the visitors but fired straight at Morgan De Sanctis.

Just past the half hour mark Cavani almost gifted Villarreal a route back into the game with a back pass only a striker could play, but although Nilmar beat De Sanctis to the ball, he guided his first-time effort wide. The visitors’ coach Juan Carlos Garrido seemed perturbed by Napoli’s domination and on 33 minutes replaced the ponderous Rodriguez with winger Javier Camunas.

Villarreal came out with a little more purpose after the break and a Camunas cross found Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi’s head but his effort lacked the power and angle needed to beat De Sanctis. Jonathan De Guzman had a couple of free-kicks around the box but failed to get either past the wall.—AFP

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flydubai extends its reach in Russia Page 23

KSE asset base shrinks amid global downturn Page 25

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

KSE stocks remain bearish

Ghost Extended Wheelbase Page 24

Page 22

BERLIN: Greek activists display a banner reading: “Europeans vs austerity” as they stage a protest opposite the venue of a meeting of the Federation of German Industry (BDI) in Berlin yesterday attended by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (inset). — AFP

Germany hits out at US over crisis Greece vows action to check financial meltdown BERLIN: Germany told the United States yesterday to stop pointing the finger at Europe for its own economic woes while debt-wracked Greece promised to do its utmost to avert a financial meltdown in the euro-zone.

Europe’s snowballing debt crisis had nothing to do with the United States, which would do better to focus on solving the very real problems of its own, said German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

His barbed comments were clearly aimed at US President Barack Obama who had warned a day earlier that Europe’s failure to tackle crippling Greek debt was “scaring the world”.

“It’s always much easier to give advice to others than to decide for yourself. I am well prepared to give advice to the US government,” Schaeuble said in an English-language address

to the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin. “Even if Obama is thinking the opposite, I don’t think the problems of Europe are the reason for the problems of the US,” he said.

Despite the sharp words, global stocks rallied for a second day running with huge advances in Europe on belief that EU and world leaders are preparing a blockbuster response to the euro-zone debt crisis, traders said. Elsewhere in the German capital, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou insisted that Athens was pulling out all the stops to resolve the crisis and prevent it from bringing down the euro project as a whole.

“I can guarantee that Greece will live up to all its commitments. I promise you we Greeks will soon fight our way back to growth and

prosperity after this period of pain,” Papandreou insisted, adding that pillorying Greece would not help matters.

“If people feel only punishment and scorn, this crisis will not become an opportunity, it will become a lost cause. And we are determined to make this a success,” the Greek leader said ahead of a crunch meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday evening.

Greece was making a “superhuman effort” to bring down its debt, Papandreou insisted.

Merkel, for her part, said the crisis was not a crisis in the common currency itself, but in the huge debt piles amassed by euro-zone members. “We don’t have a euro crisis, but a debt crisis,” Merkel said. She and Papandreou were to meet for a working dinner later amid increasing speculation that Greece could

US consumer confidence remains weak in Sept NEW YORK: Consumers’ confidence in the US economy remained weak in September after dropping to a post-recession low in the month before as Americans continued to worry about high unemployment and low wages.

People were spooked last month over a downgrade of US long-term debt, renewed concerns about the health of European banks and wild stock market wings. And not much has changed since then. The stock market is still volatile. And worries about the economy in the US and Europe persist.

As a result, The Conference Board, a private research group, said yesterday that its Consumer Confidence Index was at 45.4 in

September. The number is slightly above the revised reading in August of 45.2, which was the lowest since April 2009. A reading of above 90 indicates the economy is on solid footing. “The pessimism that shrouded consumers last month has spilled over into September,” said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center in a statement.

Economists watch the index closely because consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of US economic activity. The Conference Board bases its index on results of a random sur vey of consumers at 5,000 households from Sept 1 through Sept. 15.

One gauge of the index, which measures

how shoppers feel now about the economy, declined to 32.5 from 34.3 in August. The other gauge, which measures shoppers’ outlook over the next six months, edged up to 54.0 from 52.4 in August. Consumers’ feelings about jobs and wages also were a mixed bag.

Those claiming jobs are “hard to get ” increased to 50.0 percent, from 48.5 percent, while those stating jobs are “plentiful” increased to 5.5 percent from 4.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the proportion of consumers anticipating an increase in their incomes, declined to 13.3 percent from 14.3 percent.

Franco said consumers’ concern about their expected earnings “does not bode well for spending.” —AP

UAE mobile number portability delayed

HONG KONG: A woman walks past a display board showing the Hong Kong gold index in Hong Kong yesterday. Gold tumbled below a $1,600 an ounce in Hong Kong trade, despite ongoing concerns over the global economy, with dealers selling up on the back of a stronger US dollar. —AFP

DUBAI: Mobile number portability in the United Arab Emirates has been further delayed, the chief executive of telecoms operator du said yesterday, slowing down attempts to boost competition in the sector.

The latest deadline to launch the service had been the end of September and would have allowed customers of du and rival Etisalat to switch providers and keep the same phone number. When asked if number portability had been delayed again, Osman Sultan, du’s chief executive said: “That is correct.”“We were testing. In the testing phase certain technical issues can appear. We are just evaluating how long it will take,” he said.

Number portability would allow customers of du and rival Etisalat to switch providers and keep the same phone number. The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) had said portability would be available by mid-2008. The TRA has been taking steps to boost competition in the

UAE, considered the second-least competitive in the Middle East and North Africa region after Qatar, according to Nomura. “Number portability in Oman and Saudi Arabia didn’t have much impact on customer churn between operators and the same is likely to happen in the UAE,” said Diala Hoteit, NBK Capital telecoms analyst.

“It will increase the level of competition, with operators more likely to match each other’s offers, but in this region most people have more than one SIM card ... so not many would permanently switch operator if number portability was introduced.” An infrastructure sharing deal so operators can compete in fixed line services is slated to be introduced by year-end, but has already been delayed.

Last week, du said TV would not be part of the initial agreement. Both operators already offer landline telephone, broadband and internet-protocol TV, but not in the same districts. — Reuters

default, with the next installment of debt aid due under its May 2010 bailout accord with the EU and IMF hanging fire as officials review the country’s finances. Athens says the aid payment, worth eight billion euros ($11 billion), is essential for it to continue paying its bills. Chief auditors from the IMF, EU and ECB will return to Athens on Wednesday or Thursday, euro-zone chief Jean-Claude Juncker told the European Parliament, nearly a month after they broke off their review of Greece’s finances over reported concerns reforms were not being implemented. In Athens, Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos insisted the payment would be made “on time” in October, repeating assurances that the country would not default.

“It will be decided in October (the release of the installment). The disbursement will be

decided on time and according to our needs,” Venizelos said. Officials say Greece may announce a number of privatization deals this week as the debt-hit country comes under increasing pressure from its creditors to meet tough fiscal targets.

Papandreou said a decision by European leaders on July 21 to expand the scope and size of the EU’s rescue fund-the European Financial Stability Fund or EFSF-was a “step in the right direction” which would give Greece “breathing space” until urgently-needed reforms starting producing results.

Nevertheless, Germany made it clear that it was opposed to ploughing more money into the 440-billion-euro ($590 billion) EU-IMF fund, not least because that could pull fellow eurozone members into the debt vortex. —AFP

Putin seeks to calm nerves after Kudrin’s ouster MOSCOW: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday moved to calm fears the Russian economy faced trouble after the ousting of finance minister Alexei Kudrin by splitting his duties between two top officials.

Putin appointed powerful First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and a littleknown finance ministry official to replace Kudrin, widely credited for guaranteeing the stability of the Russian economy over the last decade.

Kudrin was forced out the day earlier in an extraordinary confrontation with President Dmitry Medvedev after he objected to the plan that would make Medvedev prime minister after Vladimir Putin returns to the Kremlin in 2012 elections. Putin named low profile Deputy Finance Minister Anton Siluanov as acting finance chief, describing the new minister as a “good, strong specialist”. Kudrin had occupied the post of finance minister since 2000. But crucially, Kudrin’s duties as deputy prime minister in charge of the economy and finance are to be taken by Shuvalov, one of the most visible members of the government and a key figure in its successful bid to win the 2018 World Cup. Kudrin’s dissent exposed unexpected cracks over the scheme for the 2012 polls and Putin sternly warned his cabinet that such insubordination would not be tolerated. “I call on you all to worthily fulfil your duties until the new (post-election) government is formed and to increase discipline and responsibility,” Putin told his cabinet.

Western investors had long been reassured by Kudrin’s adamantine resistance to the extravagant spending demands by Russian ministers and his canny saving of the proceeds from Russia’s oil exports.

Kudrin outraged Medvedev by saying at the weekend that he would not serve under

him as prime minister in 2012 due to fundamental disagreements on economic policyin particular a ramping up of military spending. Medvedev did not let the issue rest yesterday, saying after watching war games in western Siberia that the country must have strong military spending as “this is not a banana republic but the Russian Federationa very great country.”

He warned: “However unpleasant it is for the budget there is always going to be high spending on defense.... And whoever does not agree with this can go work somewhere else.” Sources quoted in the Russian press said that personal ambition had also fuelled Kudrin’s outburst as he was furious that Putin had not opted to choose him for prime minister after allegedly making such a promise earlier this year.

However, the deposed minister issued a statement yesterday describing the idea he wanted to be prime minister as “imaginary”, adding he had long been worried by the budget and had discussed resigning with Putin back in February. The drama-coming at a time when a new global financial crisis is raising fears over Russia’s dependence on oil exports-raised immediate concerns among economists. “This local event is a strong negative signal for Russia’s investment case,” Russia’s leading private bank Alfa Bank wrote in a note to clients.

“We believe that his abrupt resignation creates a risk of substantial deterioration in Russian budget discipline, which is particularly dangerous in the event of a crisis.”

Renaissance Capital said any benefits of political stability from Putin’s presidential bid have now been outweighed by the exit of Kudrin, who it described as “the market’s talisman” for over a decade. “Capital outflows rather than inflows are the short-term danger,” it said. —AFP

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business

Ghost Extended Wheelbase Rolls-Royce Motor Cars “Ghost Extended Wheelbase is the latest Rolls-Royce in our range of pinnacle luxury cars. It is a model of outstanding design and unrivalled luxury, with ride and handling credentials underpinned by the best in engineering expertise.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase delivers all the poise and dynamism enjoyed by discerning Ghost owners, with the indulgent experience of an extended wheelbase car. It is the very best of both worlds.” - CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos.

KUWAIT: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents Ghost Extended Wheelbase, the newest member of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars luxury family. Instantly recognisable as a RollsRoyce, this is the latest beautiful model to proudly carry the famous Spirit of Ecstasy hood figurine, a mascot celebrating her centenary this year.

And like Rolls-Royce models that have gone before, Ghost Extended Wheelbase stands true to the finest values and principles encapsulated by this most famous of automotive icons; supreme quality, effortless performance and the very pinnacle of automotive luxury.

Hand-built in Goodwood, England, Ghost Extended Wheelbase is striking and agile. Its capacious interior comes courtesy of an increase in 170mm length over the already ample interior space that rear-seat passengers enjoy in Ghost. A panoramic sunroof is a standard addition, enhancing the interior ambiance, bathing occupants in natural light.

The combination of interior space and performance present the best of both worlds to the world’s most discerning customers, without any hint of compromise. Ghost Extended Wheelbase retains all the dynamic prowess upon which the reputation of Ghost has been built, yet promises to tempt even the most ardent of drivers out of their front seat, to savour the passenger experience.

Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase is unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show, in a market where customers demand the best from their luxury cars, and where many prioritise space and comfort for rear seat passengers.

It follows the introduction of Ghost to global markets in September 2009, a model that quickly won plaudits from customers, media and enthusiasts thanks to its stunning contemporary design and breathtaking performance - delivered in an effortless way.

In 2010, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars more than doubled global sales to 2,711 units, partly due to the introduction of Ghost. Production of Ghost Extended Wheelbase will begin in Autumn 2011. “For Ghost Extended Wheelbase we set out to emphasize the air of calm confidence and discretion achieved through the thoughtful balancing of attributes so typical of Rolls-Royce: An interior awash with natural light, cosseting occupants in luxury yet shielding them from the hustle and bustle outside.” - Alan Sheppard, Interior Designer The first cars to wear the Ghost name in the early 20th century were famed not only for their durability, but also for refinement, flair and style, where passengers enjoyed the trappings of the best in coach-built luxury. In developing a Ghost for the 21st century, the Rolls-Royce design team retained these guiding principles.

However the focus was for a more contemporary, informal design broadening the appeal of the Rolls-Royce brand.

The result was Ghost, a breathtaking design, creating simplicity out of complexity, a theme that follows in Ghost Extended Wheelbase.

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Large uninterrupted surfaces, powerful shoulders and flanks point to the car’s unmistakeable dynamic prowess and the addition of 170mm only adds to the car’s already considerable presence. It is a balanced exterior canvas with rear doors just 35mm longer than those in the front.

Rolls-Royce DNA flows through Ghost Extended Wheelbase starting with the car’s elevated prow, long bonnet and short front overhang, through to its elegant tail.

Contemporary design details further affirm Rolls-Royce credentials, including self-righting wheel centres, front doormounted Teflon-coated umbrellas and a modern take on the famous Rolls-Royce grille, with sides curved inwards and vanes set back into the opening to resemble a jet intake.

From the exterior, Ghost Extended Wheelbase further distinguishes itself by the addition of a new forged wheel, adding to the model’s distinctive character.

Entering Ghost Extended Wheelbase through extended coach doors that open to 830 is effortless and immediately imparts a wave of serenity for occupants. Those who have already experienced Ghost’s ample interior space may at first be surprised by the interior experience of Ghost Extended Wheelbase, which bestows a far greater sense of scale than an extra 170mm might imply. Legroom is significantly enhanced, with knee-room more than doubled from 160 to 330mm. It is this that will appeal to the many Rolls-Royce Ghost customers who value additional space and comfort for rear seat passengers at least as much as experiencing the car’s dynamic performance. But, while longer, Ghost Extended Wheelbase remains around half a metre shorter than the pinnacle Phantom Extended Wheelbase, the ultimate expression of a Rolls-Royce and a car that stands alone in its class.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase positively encourages occupants to relax, stretch out in standard lounge seats after closing doors - at the touch of a button.

Discretion comes as standard. Passengers relax in lounge

seats covered in sumptuous leather, seated behind the C-pillar to heighten the sense of privacy. The seat’s slight curve allows those inside to turn more easily to face each other, creating a convivial environment to chat informally or in which to do business, perhaps taking advantage of the optional wireless hotspot.

Theatre configuration is available as an option, allowing all settings that do not directly affect the driver to be controlled and accessed from the rear seat.

Functions are displayed on two 9.2 inch LCD screens in front-seat backs; these can be angled to suit the viewer and are managed via a central rotary controller mounted on the armrest. Passengers can activate climate control regulating the temperature of the air on their side of the car, access TV channels and CDs, radio or browse the navigation menu.

Those with a passion for music will enjoy an audio system delivering 600 Watts through a 10-channel amplifier and 16 speakers. USB and auxiliary inputs allow external audio devices to be integrated.

Alternatively, passengers can simply sit back, relax and enjoy the clear view past the Spirit of Ecstasy, sinking their feet into deep pile carpets or lambs’ wool floor mats for added opulence, massaged and cooled through perforated seats. The perfect environment to soak up that other trademark of the Rolls-Royce brand: silence.

ENGINEERED FOR EFFORTLESS PERFORMANCE “In Ghost we engineered a car with outstanding refinement and dynamic ability and it was important this was not lost in the development of Ghost Extended Wheelbase. I can confidently say we achieved this fundamental aim: performance is astonishing and the difference in driving dynamics almost imperceptible.” - Helmut Riedl, Engineering Director Ghost was designed as a vision of simplicity, to drive in peerless fashion.

The engineering behind Ghost Extended Wheelbase has enhanced these principles further. It’s a car that you wouldn’t think twice about driving yourself.

While extra space gives an even more rewarding ride for occupants, the chassis retains its poise, delivering a totally

engaging experience for Ghost Extended Wheelbase drivers.

Power is delivered in an effortless and seemingly endless way, with the latest in-car technology falling easily to hand.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase is powered by the 6.6 litre twin turbo charged V12 engine of Ghost, delivering the same 563 hp effortlessly on an intelligent air suspension system for peerless ride and handling.

Travelling from 0-62 in just five seconds, and with a top speed limited to 155 mph, Ghost Extended Wheelbase remains imperceptibly different in terms of its performance.

Power is transmitted in abundance through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. The feeling of surging power is illustrated by the power reserve gauge on the fascia, underpinned by 780Nm of torque available at just 1,500 rpm.

Double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension play a role in the exquisite ride in Ghost Extended Wheelbase and are complemented by an intelligent, four cornered air-suspension system and electronic variable damping to ensure the car is able to deliver the refinement demanded by the world’s most exclusive customers. Indeed, the air suspension system is so sensitive that it can detect and react to the smallest of changes. It can sense, for example, the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the rear seat to the other. A complex computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car; the dampers alone make individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds. This ensures not only perfect comfort but also precise steering and dynamics for the driver.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase also incorporates a series of complex electronic aids to keep it composed on any surface.

These include anti-roll stabilisation, dynamic brake control, and dynamic traction control and cornering brake control.

These technologies work together under dual Integrated Chassis Management systems, meaning that Ghost Extended Wheelbase always remains perfectly poised even in the face of vigorous testing.

HANDCRAFTED IN GOODWOOD, ENGLAND Each Rolls-Royce passes through up to 60 pairs of hands before leaving Goodwood in England. These belong to the skilled craftspeople and technicians who expend 20 days and undertake 2,000 individual operations to create Ghost Extended Wheelbase.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase spends seven days being painted and hand polished to perfection. The first of five stages starts with a phosphate electro-coat to protect against corrosion. This is followed by a layer of primer, colour coat and two layers of clear lacquer. The body is sanded between each layer and hand-polished for five hours after the application of the final coat.

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4260000 .3700000 .3020000 .2660000 .2690000 .0040000 .0020000 .0747270 .7280390 .3810000 .0700000 .7137100 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2752500 GB Pound/KD .4287160 Euro .3723440 Swiss francs .3048170 Canadian dollars .2686020 Danish Kroner .0500420 Swedish Kroner .0404480 Australian dlr .2712180 Hong Kong dlr .0353170 Singapore dlr .2136540 Japanese yen .0036060 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0749690 Bahraini dinars .7303970 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0734200 Omani riyals .7152140 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.647 5.603 3.160 2.509 3.507 212.250 35.552 3.694 6.328 8.921 0.271 0.273

.2795000 .4375000 .3795000 .3160000 .2760000 .2790000 .0072500 .0035000 .0754780 .7353560 .4010000 .0760000 .7208830 .0072000 .0530000 .2773500 .4319860 .3751850 .3071430 .2706510 .0504240 .0407560 .2732870 .0355860 .2152840 .0036330 .0056600 .0025240 .0031880 .0037030 .0755410 .7359690 .3922910 .0739800 .7206700 .0064130

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 73.950 76.196 720.280 736.550 75.511

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.750 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.428 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.269 Tunisian Dinar 194.530 Jordanian Dinar 391.610 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 186.000 Syrian Lier 5.987 Morocco Dirham 33.805 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.200 Euro 372.000 Sterling Pound 429.380 Canadian dollar 268.870 Turkish lire 151.220 Swiss Franc 305.120 Australian dollar 269.300 US Dollar Buying 276.000 GOLD 293.000 150.000 77.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees 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

SELL CASH

272.400 736.820 3.880 271.700 544.200 36.800 51.400 167.800 47.890 375.500 38.220 6.100 0.034 0.243 0.241 3.730 393.060 0.187 91.190 47.800 4.260 217.200 1.878 49.300 719.640

SELL DRAFT

270.900 736.820 3.696 270.200

218.800 46.432 374.000 36.070 5.605 0.033

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

3.230 6.600 76.640 73.970 216.840 36.720 2.617 432.000 41.700 307.300 5.700 9.470 198.263 75.540 277.400 1.230

10 Tola

GOLD 1,672.190

75.440 277.000

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

276.400 271.990 431.490 376.570 306.575 732.830 75.230 75.865 73.665 389.065 46.351 2.502 5.623 3.170 3.689 6.382 677.988 3.715 9.010 5.818 3.593 91.812

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

277.49 273.57 311.46 377.42

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

276.400 3.175 5.625 2.525 3.695 6.400 75.355 73.860 734.800 46.350 436.100 3.190 1.550 392.700 5.750 379.500 275.500 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

433.16 3.67 3.711 5.594 2.507 3.516 3.155 75.25 735.35 46.36 393.30 718.47 76.23 73.82

434.50 3.62 3.750 5.970 2.612 4.200 3.220 75.39 735.37 47.80 392.28 718.21 76.49 73.83

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 430.000 277.000

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Currency

719.460

305.800 5.700 9.220

Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

Currency

391.590 0.186 91.190 3.510 215.700

3.170 6.340 76.210 73.970 216.840 36.720 2.509 430.000

276.70 273.20 309.80 378.60

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)

276.050 376.900 432.300 271.500 3.645 5.625 46.320 2.502 3.664 6.346 3.162 734.875 75.200 73.700

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

business

Revealing the totally revamped Gulfmart Shuwaikh branch KUWAIT: Gulfmart, the fastest growing supermarket chain in Kuwait, announced that their largest branch in the country, located next to the old Central Vegetable Market at Shuwaikh, would open its doors to the public following extensive renovation and refurbishment, today at 9am.

The completely revamped Shuwaikh branch is significant to the supermarket chain and its customers, as it is currently the oldest Gulfmart outlet, and, at 4000 square meters (over 43,000 square feet), remains the largest branch of the brand. With its ideal location and exclusive car parking facility for over 500 vehicles, the Gulfmart Shuwaikh branch, which has been a favorite shopping center for customers looking for easily accessible and convenient shopping, is now set to become even more attractive to shoppers. The branch, which has undergone a complete transformation, will now feature a totally new layout with wider aisles, more departments, added check-outs and a slew of modern equipment. The revamped store will also see the launch of several new departments, including a fresh fish section, a separate fresh meat section and a dedicated 250 square meter (nearly 2,700 square feet) fresh fruit and vegetable area. The renovation process has resulted in the ethnic produce counter and the popular coffee shop area being widened for added customer convenience, while a new section has been devoted only to mobile phones and digital cameras.

To celebrate the opening of the newly

revamped store a special promotion will be held for only four days, exclusively at the Shuwaikh branch. During the promotion, which will run from the 28th September to 1st October, every purchase of KD Ten will entitle the shopper to a KD One free shopping voucher. Speaking on the imminent opening of the renovated branch, Remesh T. A., Country Manager for Gulfmart, said, “We are really excited at the new look of our branch in Shuwaikh; not only is this the largest outlet of Gulfmart, it has also always been a favorite venue for our patrons. Every renovation we undertook at this branch has been aimed at improving the shopping experience for our customers and we hope that they will enjoy the new changes we have incorporated here.”

The Country Manager added that as part of showcasing their newly renovated facility and attracting customers to the venue, a special Indian Food Festival is being planned for the middle of October. The festival will be an opportunity for citizens and expatriates in Kuwait to experience the rich variety and diversity of Indian foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables and produce from across India. Gulfmart, which currently has ten branches across Kuwait, and is slated to open two more branches, at Salwa and Farwaniya before the end of the year, is embarking on an assertive new expansion campaign that will see the opening of fifteen more branches in the country, taking the total number of Gulfmart outlets in Kuwait to twenty-five, by the end of 2013.

flydubai extends its reach in Russia Additional flights to Kazan and Ufa KUWAIT: flydubai, Dubai’s pioneering low cost airline, has doubled its network in Russia to four points with the addition of flights to Kazan and Ufa. flydubai’s inaugural flight to Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and the second largest city of the Volga economic region, touched down on Wednesday 21st September at 1510hrs. flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith travelled on the inaugural flight and was welcomed at the Kremlin by Tatarstan’s President, Rustam Minnikhanov.

In addition, flydubai recently launched weekly flights to Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, also departing from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport.

Commenting on the two new destinations, flydubai CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “Russia is a very important market for us, both in terms of business and tourist travel. With Dubai being home to more than 18,000 Russian expats there is a growing need for quality, low cost, direct flights to these destinations.

“The UAE is increasingly viewed as an ideal platform for Russian businesses to extend their reach to new markets. Russia is a growing economy, having grown by four per cent in 2010 and a further 3.8 per cent in the first five months of 2011. Through our expanding flight routes we look forward to contributing to this continuing growth.”

The Kazan Kremlin, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, is just one of the attractions the city has to offer. Kazan will also host the XXVII World Student Games in 2013 and several matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the new flydubai routes ensur-

Region’s largest trade shows for perishables, plants open

DUBAI: World of Perishables (WOP DUBAI) and International Plant Expo Middle East (IPM DUBAI), the Middle East’s largest trade shows for perishables and plants opened yesterday at the Dubai Airpor t Expo. The events were inaugurated

by Hussain Nasser Lootah, DirectorGeneral of the Dubai Municipality and are organised by planetfair Dubai and Messe Essen GmbH in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, the Middle East’s biggest market for import and export. Running until September 28th 2011, the shows are a key platform for fresh produce and associated technologies and will host over 3,500 visitors this year, a 25 per cent increase compared to last year’s events.

“After successful years, WOP

DUBAI and IPM DUBAI return in a bigger scale with more visitors and a faster growing industry. We thank Hussain Nasser Lootah and the Dubai Municipality for their continued support and look to continue to build our relationship to make this region a hub for the perishable and plants industries,” said Tarek Sibai, Project Manager, planetfair Dubai.

WOP DUBAI, held under the Patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, is the Middle East’s only dedicated trade fair for fruits and vegetables and is growing strong for the third consecutive year. The importance of WOP DUBAI is to highlight the steady growth of the fruit and vegetable industry in the region. It’s sis-

ter event, IPM DUBAI held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, has consistently been regarded as the region’s largest plants and flowers trade fair and features international exhibitors for six years. Sibai added, “These events attract industry professionals such as importers and exporters, producers, wholesalers and retailers who look for a variety of products and services involving fresh products, technical equipment, trade, logistics and maintenance. WOP DUBAI and IPM DUBAI play an integral role in connecting these professionals and have strengthened the region as an important destination and worldwide trading centre for fruits and vegetables.”

Saudi oil assets safe from rising attack risk DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is sure its 35,000-strong security force can protect the top oil exporter’s installations against the rising threat of terrorist attack in the region, the former chief of Saudi intelligence services said yesterday. A wave of unrest rippling across the Arab world this year has uprooted governments and spread fertile ground for terrorist groups, Saudi Prince Turki AlFaisal said in a speech at the Royal Elcano Institute in Madrid.

But Saudi remains confident the billions spent on protecting its biggest export earner makes its energy infrastructure “immune”

from attack, even as governments from Tunisia and Egypt to neighboring al-Qaeda base Yemen are upended all around it. “With governance in Yemen, Libya, Tunis, Egypt, Syria and other nations in such tenuous states, the perfect conditions for terrorist cells to take root and conduct desperate, evil and anarchical acts are created,” he said. “However, while the general picture of Saudi Arabia’s surroundings is predominated by this great turmoil, at the center of these many storms sits our Kingdom, which, I am glad to repor t, remains stable and

secure.”

Saudi-which is thought to keep some “redundancy” in its oil expor t system as insurance against some facilities being disabled-started building an industrial security force in 2006 after a failed al Qaeda attack on the world’s largest oil processing plant at Abqaiq.

In 2009, around 85 percent of revenues were from oil and a surge in oil prices in 2011 should boost Saudi oil earnings to $300 billion this year and average around $250 billion per year for the next five years, Prince Turki said. —Reuters

Flydubai inaugurates flight to Kazan ing that the UAE’s football fans will have a direct flight option to attend matches.

Ufa, with an economy based on fuel, energy and engineering complexes, is also the largest oil refining centre in the Volga and the Urals, as well as a scientific and transport hub for Russia. flydubai also recently launched flights to Kiev, Donetsk and Kharkiv in Ukraine and in addition to the new and existing routes in Russia, Baku in Azerbaijan, Yerevan in Armenia, and Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, the airline now flies to 10 emerging CIS destinations.

Flight Details • Flights to Kazan: Flight FZ933 departs Dubai Terminal 2 at 1000hrs, landing in Kazan International Airport at 1510hrs local time. The return flight FZ934 departs at 1640hrs, arriving

in Dubai at 2145hrs.

• Flights to Ufa: Flight FZ939 departs Dubai Terminal 2 at 1025hrs, landing in Ufa International Airport at 1730hrs local time. The return flight FZ940 departs at 1830hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2130hrs.

One -way fares between Dubai and Kazan/Ufa start at AED 1,285 ($350), with flights from Kazan/Ufa to Dubai priced from AED 1,175 ($320). All fares include 20kg checked baggage plus one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop bag or handbag.

A seat with extra legroom costs AED100 ($28) extra. Flights between Dubai and Kazan or Ufa can be purchased from flydubai’s website (www.flydubai.com), its call centre (+9714 301 0800) and through travel partners.

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KSE stocks remain bearish GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

Brent tops $106 on euro-zone hope LONDON: Oil rose yesterday, with Brent crude up by more than $2 to above $106 a barrel, as fresh measures discussed by the European Central Bank (ECB) curbed anxiety about European debt. Officials said Europe’s stability fund could be increased, indicating the ECB was prepared to act to prevent a meltdown in Greece and fight the crisis threatening to derail the global economic recovery.

Oil rebounded with other commodities as stock markets jumped and the dollar weakened. Brent swung to as high as $106.19 a barrel yesterday, from an intraday low of $101.66 a barrel the previous session. “Much of the immediate action in oil is simply based on the same climate of economic fear that is battering all other asset classes, which then creates a cascading effect involving technical triggers, precipitous price falls and a disregard for the underlying fundamentals,” said Barclays Capital analysts in a research note.

Brent futures were up $1.38 at $105.32 a barrel at 1140 GMT, while US crude rose $2.31 at $82.55 a barrel.

KUWAIT: The bearish tone highlighted the Kuwaiti stocks’ performance once again yesterday. This time, the local bourse did not track the rebounded US and European equities. The market is anticipating a planned strike today by some bourse employees who gave CMA until September 28, 2011 to fix their employment conditions.

Bourse employees have fallen under the employment of CMA since it was set up earlier this year, causing confusion with contracts.

The retreat was broad-based with literally all market sectors ending on a negative note. All major indices edged lower during the day.

Global General Index (GGI) ended the day down by 0.34 percent, at 180.79 point.

Market capitalization was also down for the day, reaching KD29.52bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,853.8 point, shedding 18.60 points (0.32 percent) to its previous close.

Market breadth During the session, 107 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 38 equities declined versus 32 that advanced.

Trading activity was up during the session. Total volume traded was up by 1.62 percent with 193.32mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD30.15mn (54 percent higher compared to Monday’s session).

Investment sector was the volume leader, accounting for 38.47 percent of total shares exchanges.

Abyaar Real Estate Development Company was the session’s most traded stock with 22.40mn shares exchanged. The banking sector was the value leader, having 35.07 percent of total traded value.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait was the most active in terms of value traded, with KD7.41mn worth of shares traded.

In terms of top gainers, Gulf Investment House was the top gainer for the day, adding 8.93 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.031. On the other hand, Safwan Trading & Contracting Company shed 7.69 percent and closed at KD0.600, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

business

Sectors All sectors witnessed losses, except for the insurance sector, which closed flat.

Global Services Index was a predominant loser as it lost 0.83 percent on the back of the losses registered in 12 services stocks.

Zain Company and National Mobile Telecommunications Company (Wataniya) both witnessed daily losses of 1.03 percent each.

Global Industrial Index saw a fall of 0.49 percent, on the back of the 4.08 percent loss registered in Boubyan International Industries Holding Company. The scrip ended the day at KD0.094.

Global Non Kuwaiti index dipped by 0.34 percent. Four out of 13 companies among the sector witnessed decline, while Ithmaar Bank and Gulf Cement Company rose by 2.50 and 1.39 percent, respectively.

Heavyweight banking sector ended with a marginal decline, solely pulled down by

the 1.05 percent retreat in the share price of Burgan Bank which closed at KD0.470. All other Kuwaiti banks ended the day flat.

Corporate news Heavy Engineering and Ship Building Company has signed a direct work order worth $6,738,324 to maintain and repair four vessels owned by the US Army over 90 days starting from September 20, 2011.

The price of Kuwaiti crude decreased by $3.11 in Monday ’s trading to reach USD99.16pb, the state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday. Oil prices went down after fears of the Euro debt crisis spreading in countries like Italy and Spain as well as the weak industrial activity in China.

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), the Gulf state’s refining company, has achieved a net profit of KD191.8mn ($692.4mn) in the first five months of its fiscal year 2011/2012 that began in April.

Brent and US oil prices were both recovering from seven-week lows last week, when both crude contracts posted weekly losses of more than 7 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

“Clarity on the euro-zone plan is still key. Crude prices are swinging back and forth depending on what comments come out of Europe,” said Victor Say, an analyst with Informa Global Markets in Singapore.

“Commodities have also been boosted by a weaker dollar and short-covering after the recent sell-down.”

Oil production is climbing in Libya, where Eni said on Monday output at its Abut Attifel field 300 km south of Benghazi had restarted at around 31,900 barrels of oil per day (bpd), just over half its pre-civil war rate. And at Mellitah in Libya, a tanker was preparing to sail with a cargo of condensate, and another was expected to load crude oil from the port later this week. “Everyone is talking about oil in Libya coming back, but (ousted leader Muammar) Gaddafi hasn’t surrendered yet,” said Rob Montefusco, adding that problems there were ongoing. — Reuters

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala swings to H1 profit ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi fund Mubadala Development Co swung to a first-half profit yesterday which it attributed to higher commodity prices and increased contributions from its semiconductor business. Unlisted Mubadala, which holds stakes in General Electric and private equity firm Carlyle, said its total comprehensive income was 198 million dirhams ($53.9 mln) for the period ended June 30.

That compares with a loss of 4.4 billion dirhams for the same period last year, according to a statement. First-half revenue rose 70 percent to 13.6 billion dirhams from 8 billion dirhams a year earlier, it said. Mubadala’s semiconductor

business accounted for 40 percent of the firm’s revenues. Advanced Technology Investment Co (ATIC) was fully consolidated in Mubadala in June.

ATIC was formed in 2008 and has a stake in chipmaker GlobalFoundries, a joint venture with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Mubadala, one of a few state-controlled vehicles to publish results, said its total assets increased 67 percent to 169.7 billion dirhams for the six months to June 30. Overall contribution from Abu Dhabi government amounted to 16.35 billion dirhams ($4,45 bln), Mubadala told analysts in a conference call to discuss the results. — Reuters

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Citi Kuwait awards employees KUWAIT: Citi Kuwait presented its employees with certificates of appreciation for completing 5 years in the bank in Kuwait. The 8 employees have been with the bank since it opened its branch in 2006.

Atiq ur Rehman, Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East Division, presented the employees with certificates of appreciation for the employees’ loyalty and commitment to the bank’s branch in Kuwait for the past 5 years.

Fatah Adour, acting General Manager of Citi Kuwait said: “Citi believes that its people are one of the contributing factors

to its success. We presented the employees with these certificates to show our appreciation towards our most important asset, the employees themselves”.

The names of all the awardees are below: 1.

Hazem Al Essa 2.

Sager Alghanim 3.

Hessa Al Rashed 4.

Talal Almousa 5.

Suresh Shetty 6.

Mohammed Abugosh 7.

Khalid Mustafa 8.

Essa Duaibes

Iran to seek compensation over Turkey gas line TEHRAN: Iran will demand compensation from Turkey over what it sees as unacceptable delays in repairing a pipeline carrying Iranian gas, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported yesterday.

The report comes as relations between the countries are under strain due to Turkey’s decision to host a NATO missile shield and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s tough stance on Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protesters. Last week Iran halted gas flows through the pipeline after a request from Turkey which said it wanted to check for a possible technical fault.

National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Managing Director Javad Oji was quoted by daily newspaper Iran on Sunday as saying Kurdish rebels had blown up the pipeline, forcing its fourth closure this year. Iran and Turkey are both engaged militarily with the militants. Mehr quoted “economic experts” as saying Turkey was not rushing to re-open the pipeline as it was benefiting from importing cheaper Russian gas and would cite force majeure for the closure, allowing it to avoid paying compensation for the problem.

“Considering Turkey’s delays in repairing the damaged gas pipeline which exports Iran’s gas, the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) demands compensation from Botas,” the report said, referring to the Turkish state

pipeline company. Iran’s Oil Ministry was not able to immediately comment on the report.

NIGC’s Oji has previously said that according to the contract if one of the parties fail to fulfil its commitment it had to pay compensation, Mehr said.

“Since the provision of security on Turkish territory is the responsibility of that country, and such incidents have happened several times, Botas has to compensate for the delays,” Mehr quoted Oji as saying. Under the terms of a contract signed in 1996, Iran has to deliver 10 billion cubic metres annually to Turkey, and if either side fails to fulfil its commitment, it is liable for compensation, Mehr said.

Turkey paid $600 million in compensation to Iran in 2009 due to a shortfall in gas purchases, it added. Although Iran and Turkey are fighting a common enemy in the Kurdish region and have enjoyed close relations in recent years, Erdogan’s comments about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including the prediction he would be ousted “sooner or later” by his own people, have irked Tehran.

Potentially even more problematic is Turkey’s green light to NATO’s missile shield which Iran sees as a threat to its own defences, particularly as both Israel and the United States have left open the possibility of military strikes to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons. — Reuters

Libya assures UK firms on key role in rebuild LONDON: Britain’s help in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi will never be forgotten and British companies can expect to play an instrumental role in rebuilding Libya, a senior diplomat told executives yesterday.

“I would like to thank the British people and their government for their invaluable support,” Mahmud Nacua, a long-time Libyan exile and now charge d’affaires at the country’s embassy in London, told a private meeting of business people arranged by the British government.

“I can assure you that British businesses have a role to play and hope you will work with us to build the future Libya,” Nacua told the meeting, attended by about 100 executives and closed to media other than Reuters.

Stephen Green, a former head of bank HSBC and now Britain’s trade and investment minister, warned delegates they should take nothing for granted in their dealings with Libyans, however.

“They are not naive, they expect it to be profitable to us, but they’re not going to do us any favours. It will be competitive,” Green told delegates.

A white paper published by the Economist Intelligence Unit on Tuesday highlighted how stiff competition might be with South Korean, US, French and Italian firms all tipped as being well-placed if Libya can break with its past. “If, as we expect, power is passed to an elected government staffed with able technocrats and supported by a wide range of interests ... the opportunities will be substantial, and the business challenges confronting potential investors will be on a par with those commonly faced in fast-growing emerging markets,” the report concluded.

British and French companies are hoping the support their governments showed for

the anti-Gaddafi forces will give them a head start in Libya, where high-quality oil reserves and damaged or ageing infrastructure mean lucrative contracts could be up for grabs.

Firms have not been resting on their laurels, however, with executives telling Reuters in recent days that they already had representatives on the ground in Libya weeks ago when fighting was still fierce. Green said his UK Trade and Investment office had two staff operating in Libya and planned to bolster that to 10 in the coming weeks and months.

“They (Libyans) are determined that this will be the turning of the page into a completely new era ... It would be ridiculous of us not to rise to this opportunity,” Green said.

Britain is hoping that its support for Gaddafi’s opponents in the early days of the uprising will help overcome any reservations or awkwardness stirred up by former British prime minister Tony Blair’s leading role in bringing Gaddafi in from the cold and forging closer business ties.

Nacua said the British government had played a key part in the overthrow of Gaddafi and he had no doubt British businesses would have an “equally instrumental role” in rebuilding Libya.

“We are still in a transitional time and there are a lot of challenges. Most of the institutions are not fully ready to receive a lot of businessmen but they will do their best, especially for healthcare,” the diplomat, who has been in exile for 33 years, said in an interview on the sidelines of the conference .

Immediate priorities included securing volatile arms dumps, repairing airports and care for injured fighters, Nacua told Reuters.

Green, who was in Libya on Monday, said it was clear many Libyans were “deeply grateful” for the role Britain played in recent months. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

BUSINESS

KSE asset base shrinks amid global downturn KAMCO KSE REPORT KUWAIT: The Industrial Sector’s asset base decreased by 2.3 per cent to KD4.4bn in Jun11 compared to KD4.5 bn in 2010. The aggregate investment portfolio during the past five years constituted the bulk of the sector’s assets, representing 66 per cent; mainly due to large investments held by holding companies where 6 out of 29 listed companies make up 86% or KD 2.42 bn from the total value of the aggregate investment portfolio worth KD 2.82 bn. These figures also indicate companies’ exposure to equity markets through investments available for sale as well as capital investments in associated companies. On the other hand, several listed companies within the industrial sector remain operational based with stable cash flows as they are somewhat immune to the risk and volatility associated with the stock market.

Nevertheless, after the global financial crisis broke out in 2008 and intensified in 2009, the value of investment portfolios dropped sharply in 2008 to shed KD 834 mn compared to 2007, or 23 per cent of its value, to reach KD 2.8bn which represented a major drawback for the sector, dragging total assets to KD 4.3bn in 2008 compared to KD4.9 bn in 2007.

In 2010, the sector’s aggregate investment portfolio grew 10 per cent to KD 3bn compared to KD2.7 bn in 2009 as equity markets rebounded with the KSE Weighted index increasing 25.5 per cent in 2010. The positive per formance resulted in a 6.5 per cent increase in the sector’s asset base to KD 4.5bn in 2010 after a 13 per cent drop in 2008.

Funding base The financial crisis that froze local and global credit markets affected the sector’s ability to access local and international credit markets as the sector’s debt witnessed a downtrend since 2009 until 1H-11 as a result of the contraction in credit markets and the deleveraging process in many companies, with sector outstanding debt decreasing 13.4 per cent during the same period to record KD 1.82 bn. As a result, the sector’s financial leverage (debt/equity ratio) improved from 1.24x at the end of 2008 to 0.87x as of June11. Interest bearing debt witnessed a remarkable increase during the period preceding the financial crisis as a large portion of debt was utilized to finance equity investments with loans reaching the highest level in 2008 at KD 2.10 bn compared to KD 1.50 bn and KD 952 mn at the end of 2007 and 2006, respectively. In the period 2006 to 1H-11 the sector’s debt grew at a CAGR of 16%.

Profitability & revenue stream Focusing further on the major role of investments in shaping the financial stand-

ing and per formance of the I ndustrial Sector, the majority of the sector’s revenues were generated from investment income which reached its highest level in 2007 at KD 453 mn as compared to KD 177 mn in 2006.

As a result, the sector’s profitability was mainly driven by income from investment in securities and appreciation in fair value of investments; excluding investment income from the sector’s profit and loss account in 2007, net profit of the sector would have recorded only KD 47 mn compared to the ac tual net profit of around KD 500 mn reported in the same year. With approximately 90% of earnings generated from investments, industrial companies must rely more on core business operations as a major source of income in an attempt to limit their losses linked to capital markets and lower the exposure to volatile asset prices.

The financial turmoil in 2008 had its adverse impact on the Industrial Sector profitability and financial standing; the sector incurred massive losses of KD 367 mn during the same year resulting from the sharp decline in the value of investment portfolios, which forced the sector to book unprecedented provisions and impairments amounting to KD 509 mn. The sec tor returned to profitability in 2009 with earnings recording KD 37 mn while provisions continued to strain the sector’s profitability at KD 126 mn. Profitability improved further

in 2010 as net income recorded KWD 105 mn on the back of lower provisions which dropped to KD 77 mn.

In 1H-2011, net profit gradually improved to reach KD 90 mn, a 3 per cent increase from KD 87 mn in 1H-10. Never theless, investment income continued to play the leading role in shaping the profitability of the sector as investment income recorded KD 88 mn during 1H-11, while provisions booked during the same period were KD 35 mn.

Industrial Sector The Industrial sector witnessed its worst performance during 2008 as the sector lost more than half of its market capitalization or KD 3 bn, due to the financial crisis that started in September 2008; to record a market capitalization of KD 2.4 bn at the end of 2008 compared to KD 5.3 bn in 2007.

However in 2009 and 2010, the sector managed to recoup some of its losses as market capitalization increased 8 per cent and 14 per cent to reach KD 2.6 bn and KD 2.9 bn, respectively. Nonetheless, YTD-11 performance of the sector, along with all the sectors in the market, could not weather the negative effects that sprung from the unrest in the region and the debt crisis in Europe as market capitalization slumped 20 per cent to record KD2.3 bn, returning to levels witnessed in 2008.

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BUSINESS

Wildcat strike grounds Philippine Airlines MANIL A: Philippine Airlines grounded all its flights yesterday after thousands of workers went on strike in a desperate last-ditch

bid to keep their jobs from being outsourced.

PAL warned of legal action to combat the ground staff’s surprise

move, which added to the travel chaos brought on by Typhoon Nesat that slammed into the countr y early yesterday and caused

MANILA: Stranded passengers queue at the Philippine Airlines ticketing office at Manila airport yesterday. Philippine Airlines said it had cancelled all its international and domestic flights after a shock walk-out by its ground crew in protest at plans to outsource their 2,600 jobs next week. —AFP

many other domestic flights to be suspended. “ We apologize profusely to the riding public, and sympathize with those who were affec ted just as the t yphoon struck , but this is a bigger typhoon hitting our lives,” PAL Employees’ Association president Gerry Rivera told AFP. “We have been trying hard to follow the rule of law, but our backs are pushed against the wall.

We will lose our jobs, our livelihoods.”

PAL said more than 100 international and domestic flights were cancelled yesterday because of the industrial action, with 14,000 passengers affected. The 2,600 ground staff-who provide the inflight catering, airport services and call centre reser vationsstaged the wildcat strike in protest over plans by the loss-making airline to outsource their jobs on October 1.

PAL sent termination notices to its ground staff last month, saying it needed to trim its workforce to save up to $15 million in annual operating costs. The outsourcing program was a key component of PAL’s “survival blueprint” launched last year after the airline incurred losses of $312 million in the 20082009 fiscal year. The plan would

also severely weaken union influence over PAL. The airline has a long history of confrontation with unions, and is currently embroiled in another long-running battle with its in-flight crews over retirement age and salaries.

PAL said the laid- off ground staff had an option to join the various outsourcing companies. But the union said the new employers were offering salaries less than half of staff members’ current ones, and with no guarantee of ongoing employment because the contracts required six-month trial periods.

Rivera said, as an example, a master mechanic with nearly three decades experience and currently earning 28,000 pesos ($640) a month had been offered a monthly salary of just 11,110 pesos.

PAL president Jamie Bautista branded the industrial action illegal and said the airline’s plans to replace the workers had been brought forward to Tuesday in an effort to get planes back in the air as quickly as possible. He warned the strik ing workers that they could lose their retirement benefits and face criminal action resulting in up to three years in jail if they refused to give way to the replacement workers immediately.

“We have requested the airport police... to see to it that people (replacement workers) who will man the counter and operate our equipment will be secured,” Bautista told a hastily convened press conference. He said PAL was hoping to restar t flights by 6:00pm (1000 GMT) yesterday. The president’s office and the labor department have approved PAL’s outsourcing plans.

The workers are holding out hope that the Court of Appeals will still rule in their favor, although it has not given any indication it will deliver its verdict before the outsourcing takes place.

Bautista conceded Tuesday ’s episode was a public relations disaster for his company, which has had to watch rival Cebu Pacific overtake it recently as the country’s number one airline in terms of passenger numbers.

“Definitely, it will affec t the brand. It will take some time again for us to regain the support of the riding public,” he said. At Manila airport, passengers were left bewildered and angr y. “I’m going to attend a wedding so I will miss the wedding,” said Kanane Duncan, a woman from Botswana who lives in Manila and was on her way to the central city of Cebu. —AFP

UAW-Ford talks, GM deal vote hit the home stretch Chrysler talks continue DETROIT: Talks between the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Co for a new labor contract as well as ratification of the proposed agreement with General Motors Co were nearing a conclusion. “ We have accelerated our talks,” Joel Goddard, co-chairman of the UAW Ford National Negotiating Committee said in a recorded call on Monday evening, citing the involvement of UAW President Bob King in the constant meetings with Ford negotiators.

“We are optimistically hopeful that we will have good news for our membership by the end of the week,” he added. Teams of negotiators for the union and Ford, the only US automaker to avoid bankruptcy, have been meeting for about two months.

Financial issues typically are addressed in the final stages of negotiations.

The union began an intense

focus on Ford a day after the UAW, failing to finalize a deal with Chrysler Group LLC, extended its contract with the Fiat SpA-controlled automaker until Oct. 19.

Chrysler and UAW negotiators held “high-level” discussions over the weekend and were scheduled to continue yesterday.

Meanwhile, UAW-represented workers have begun voting on a tentative four-year deal reached a week ago with GM. Union officials hope to wrap up that voting by tomorrow and early results show most union locals supporting the deal.

As of yesterday morning, at least 15 union locals had voted for ratification, three had voted against it and 35 more had yet to vote, according to a union dissident group and reports by individual union locals. Union dissidents are urging workers to vote against the deal, citing a failure

by UAW negotiators on a number of issues including fears about

the future of GM pensions to union retirees.

The GM deal would keep or create more than 6,000 factory jobs, raise wages for entry-level workers, and guarantee all workers bonuses of at least $11,500 over four years. The Detroit labor talks will set wages and benefits for about 112,500 union-represented autoworkers and establish a benchmark for wages at autoparts suppliers and nonunion plants run by Asian and German automakers.

New four-year contracts for GM and Chrysler workers would be the first since those two companies were bailed out by the Obama administration in 2009.

UAW-represented autoworkers have gone without a base pay increase since 2003. The uncertain outlook for auto sales in 2012 and the risk of a renewed U.S. recession have made the Detroit automakers reluctant to offer traditional wage increases. Also, GM

and Chrysler UAW workers gave up the right to strike for these contract negotiations as part of the government bailout.

The talks with Ford, playing out at the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, headquarters known as “the Glass House,” will be patterned roughly after the deal that covers 48,500 GM employees.

Ford’s roughly 41,000 UAWrepresented workers have the right to strike and have the highest expectations for wages and bonuses because of the automaker’s performance. The UAW has not had a strike at Ford since 1976. The union has made job retention and expansion a top goal in the talks. The UAW may seek to have Ford shift work from Mexico to US plants, something the union touted in its deal with GM. Ford builds the Fusion midsized sedan and Fiesta small car at plants in Mexico, where it also has an engine plant. —Reuters

BP plans gas pipeline to Europe from Azerbaijan LONDON: BP said it was mulling a pipeline to transport gas from Azerbaijan to Central Europe amid doubts about the credibility of the pipeline plans currently on the table.

A BP spokesman said yesterday the London-based oil major and its partners in the Shah Deniz II fieldNorway’s Statoil and Azeri state oil company Socarcould build a pipeline from Turkey to the RomanianHungarian border. The pipeline would transport 10 billion cubic metres (BCM) of gas per year which Azerbaijan’s government said should be sold to European markets.

The proposal to build the South-East Europe Pipeline (SEEP), which BP first unveiled at a conference in Baku last week, is despite the fact that BP invited three consortia to submit bids on Oct. 1 to build a pipeline for the gas. However, the Shah Deniz partners have grown frustrated that none of the three groups has yet been able to present plans that absolutely guarantee they can fulfil any gas purchase obligations they take on, a source close to the matter said.

“The preference would be to have one of the three that are bidding come up with something,” the source added. The three groups competing to build the infrastructure to carry Shah Deniz II gas to Europe are Nabucco, Trans Adriatic Pipeline ( TAP) and Interconnector Greece-Italy (IGI) Poseidon.

Nabucco, which is backed by Austrian energy company OMV, German utility RWE and Hungarian oil group MOL, is the most ambitious of the three projects, aiming to transport up to 31 BCM a year, but its size means it needs additional supplies to be commercially viable. “There is frustration that Nabucco have stuck to their giant pipe plan,” the source said. TAP, supported by Germany’s EON Ruhrgas and Swiss EGL , and Poseidon, backed by Italian utility Edison and state-controlled Greek utility DEPA, both need to secure agreements and permits.

Richard Tawse, head of finance at BP Azerbaijan, told the Baku conference last week that the aim of SEEP was to ensure a viable export option existed.

“Without competitive pipeline offers, the sale of Shah Deniz gas to distant European markets would prove uncommercial,” he said.

The European Union supports Nabucco as a means of reducing the continent’s reliance on Russian energy.

Socar declined to comment. A Nabucco spokesman in Vienna said the group would submit a “concrete” proposal to the Shah Deniz Consortium. —Reuters

TOKYO: Pedestrians are reflected on a share prices board in Tokyo yesterday.

Japan’s share prices rose 235.82 points to close at 8,609.95 points at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, recouping some of their recent heavy losses amid hopes for action by euro-zone policymakers to stabilize the continent’s debt crisis. —AFP

Ambani upping Reliance Comm stake as tower talks progress MUMBAI: Indian billionaire Anil Ambani plans to increase his stake in Reliance Communications as the debt-laden telecoms company founded by his family edges towards a sale of its phone tower unit after a year of trying.

Reliance Comm has hired UBS and sought $5 billion for its 95-percent stake in its Reliance Infratel tower unit, sources told Reuters last month, as the country’s No.2 mobile phone carrier by subscribers struggles with its more than $7 billion net debt.

But potential bidders had expressed concern about Reliance’s valuation being at least $1 billion too high, the sources had said. “When we hopefully conclude the Reliance Infratel transaction, it will be the largest private equity transaction in the history of this country,” Ambani, India’s eighth richest man according to Forbes, told a

packed annual meeting of shareholders yesterday.

Sources had previously said UBS had reached out to US companies American Tower and Crown Castle International , India’s Viom Networks and UAE’s Etisalat on the tower sale.

The bank had also contacted privateequity firms Carlyle, Apax Partners and Blackstone , the sources said. Reliance Communications is battling amid a fastgrowing but ferociously competitive Indian cellular market as low call prices and high operational costs squeeze margins.

Eight straight quarters of falling profits and failed attempts to raise cash are eroding investor confidence in the company, whose stock has lost 44 percent of its value so far this year, leaving the company valued at $3.4 billion. —Reuters

SEOUL: A South Korean woman points at a gold ring displayed at a jewelry shop in Seoul yesterday. Gold tumbled below $1,600 an ounce in Hong Kong trade on September 26, despite ongoing concerns over the global economy, with dealers selling up on the back of a stronger dollar. —AFP

Gold jumps 3% on physical buying LONDON: Gold prices rose more than 3 percent yesterday as a drop in the dollar index helped the precious metal snap a four-day run of losses and after an early rout in the previous session tempted price-sensitive physical buyers back to the market.

Prices dropped more than $120 an ounce i n As i a n t ra d i ng hour s on Monday, an unprecedented intraday fall in value terms, as a rush for the liquidity of the dollar, losses in other markets and a margin hike on CME gold futures prompted selling. They had pared those losses to just 1.7 percent by the end of the session, however, a nd cont i nue d t he i r re cove r y on Tuesday, climbing comfortably back above their 100-day moving average just below $1,640.

Spot gold was up 2.8 percent at $1,672.00 an ounce at 0949 GMT, havi ng p e a ke d a t $1, 676. 69. U S gol d futures for August delivery were up $78.40 an ounce, or nearly 5 percent, at $1,673.20.

“Given that we haven’t had any correction for months, this has brought better value to the market for people who want to get back into gold,” said Credit Agricole analyst Robin Bhar.

“I think gold’s bottomed out here,” he said. “Longer term, have all the factors that were bullish for gold really been addressed? Currency debasement, economic imbalances, sovereign debt-the factors that were there last week are still here today.”

On the currency markets, the dollar fell 0.3 percent against a basket of major currencies after rising nearly 2 percent last week. A weaker dollar tends to benefit gold, as it makes dollar-priced commodities cheaper for other currency holders. The euro was also under pressure after comments from Spain’s economy minister dampened expectations that European policymakers would take radical action to contain the worsening debt crisis.

Concerns over euro zone debt and the outlook for the US economy were key fac tors pushing gold prices to record highs above $1,920 an ounce earlier this month, as investors sought assets seen as a haven from risk. The worsening crisis has diverted them

towards the dollar, however, at gold’s expense. “Safe-haven demand is centering on the dollar,” said HSBC in a note. “Due to the inverse relationship between the dollar and gold, this has helped pressure gold lower.” “ The gold market, while liquid, is not a s l i q ui d a s t he d ol l a r. S o a s investors rush to secure liquidity, the attraction of the dollar is proving to be greater than gold’s, at least for the time being.”

However, with the US economy still on shaky ground, its relative strength to gold could be short-lived, it added.

“As the structural problems of the USD reassert themselves we believe gold demand will improve and prices will recover.”

G ol d -b a c ke d e xc ha nge -t ra d e d funds showed few signs of a rout on Monday. Holdings of the largest, New York’s SPDR Gold Trust, declined some 5-1/2 tons but are still up 1.2 percent so far this month. Most major funds a re s t i l l i n p os i t i ve te r r i tor y for September in percentage terms, with the iShares Gold Trust and ETFS’ Swiss Gold fund up 0.5 percent.

Meanwhile, heavy buying of physical gold stocks-often a price-sensitive a re a of de m a nd -s ugge s te d tha t M ond ay ’s p r i ce f a l l ha d w he t te d investors’ appetite for the metal.

Swiss bank UBS said it had seen very strong physical buying in Asia, particularly number one bullion consumer India, on Monday. “To be clear, physical demand right now is not just decent, it is exceptionally strong,” the bank said.

Other precious metals also bounced b a c k a f te r M ond ay ’s he f t y l os s e s.

Silver, which slid as much as 16 percent to a 10-month low of $26.04 an ounce on Monday, rose more than 6 percent to a high of $32.84 an ounce.

Analysts say buyers are likely to remain wary of silver, however, given the intense volatility of prices. Silver was up 6.8 percent at $32.73 an ounce Spot platinum was up 1.7 percent at $1,580.74 an ounce, while spot palladium was up 2.8 percent at $644.97 an ounce. Gold’s premium over platinum stood at nearly $90 on Wednesday, with a ratio of 1.06, its highest in 20 years. —Reuters

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TECHNOLOGY

EMC honors journey to cloud award recipients KUWAIT: EMC Corporation yesterday announced the winners of the second annual EMC Journey to the Cloud Awards. The awards honor those elite customers and partners at the forefront of driving innovation, performance and business value through the use of virtualization as the foundational step to achieving the benefits of cloud computing. This year’s winners of the EMC(r) Journey to the Cloud Awards include Lone Star College, Northern Hospital of Surry County, CSC, and Northrop Grumman. The awards were presented at last night’s EMC customer appreciation event at VMworld 2011.

“Organizations of all sizes and across industries are accelerating their journey to the cloud and are already experiencing improved agility and increased cost savings,” said Jeremy Burton, EMC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re pleased to honor these industry-leading organizations. By far, EMC has the most integrated solutions support for VMware virtual and cloud environments, so we look forward to continuing to work with all our customers and partners as they embrace EMC and VMware on their journey to the cloud.”

The 2011 “Journey” awards recognized customers and partners that embraced EMC and VMware technologies to further innovation, perform-

ance and business value. A panel of representatives from Virtualization Review, InformationWeek, Enterprise Strategy Group, EMC and VMware judged customer and partner nominations. The winners of the 2011 EMC Journey to the Cloud Awards are: Technology Excellence Achieving Savings, Efficiencies and Agility in the Cloud Lone Star College implemented an IT transformation program to add business value by enabling a robust environment that provides high availability and fosters innovation. Enabled by solutions and services from EMC and VMware, the college moved its data center from a 5 to 93 percent virtualized environment including their mission critical applications such as Oracle ERP - in under 18 months. This transformation increased the college’s business agility with the delivery of new IT services from three months to less than one week.

Additionally, Lone Star College saved more than $600,000 in operational expenses, reduced energy usage by 66 percent and achieved five nines availability for all critical applications, an accomplishment that shows the commitment of its Board of Trustees, Administration and dedicated Office of Technology Services staff to leverage technology to gain critical efficiencies.

Core technologies at Lone Star College

include VMware vSphere, VMware vCloud Director, VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager, all integrated with

EMC Unified and EMC Symmetrix VMAXe storage, both with EMC FAST automated tiering software, and protected by EMC RecoverPoint and EMC Avamar(r).

Operational Transformation Accelerating the Journey to the Cloud

Northern Hospital of Surry County overhauled IT operations with minimal downtime and no interruption to patient care by increasing server utilization and accelerating its move from a 75 to 100 percent virtualized environment. Deploying EMC and VMware technologies across its two data centers, the hospital migrated an entire production data center with no down-

time, eliminated 20 physical servers and reduced network congestion and backup storage requirements by 80 percent. By using VMware software and VPLEX(r) Metro virtual storage technology to create a new standardized data center infrastructure, the hospital ensured a seamless data center migration, avoided more than 50 hours of down time and ensured the continuity of care of all Northern Hospital patients.

Partner Innovation - Accelerating Cloud Computing: Products CSC’s Trusted Cloud and hosting solution offerings and the company’s seven global enterprise-class data centers have standardized on technologies from EMC, VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company, and VMware. With CSC’s BizCloud leveraging EMC technologies and Vblock(tm) Infrastructure Platforms, the company is pioneering cloud offerings that extend data center managed services, hosting and provisioning to in-house implementations. CSC offers the global scale, consulting prowess, multi-vendor systems integration, and applications expertise needed to deliver agile and secure cloud-based business services.

Accelerating Cloud Computing Through CSC’s Global Cloud servic-

es, powered by EMC technology, it is changing the business model to be leaders in the capturing the expected $112 billion that enterprises will spend over the next five years on accelerating their journey to the cloud. The company continues to be a leader in delivering differentiated solutions to clients looking for cloud solutions for virtualized environments and data centers that enable innovation and transformation. As part of the Velocity Service Provider Program, CSC continues to invest in highly tuned architectures, IP and joint goto-market programs that make their customers more efficient and competitive.

Cloud Computing Visionary Award Brad Furukawa, Chief Technology Officer for Northrop Grumman’s IT Group, has been pioneering work in high-performance computing clusters and was an early adopter of cloud technology. Mr. Furukawa designed a robust network infrastructure as the foundation for enterprise private cloud capability. Rapidly accelerating to IT-asa-service model, Mr. Furukawa continues to advance the company’s Private Cloud Computing strategy across a variety of leading edge technologies.

Northrop Grumman is a user of a variety of EMC and VMware products in its cloud computing networks.

Twitter opening base in Dublin ‘Twitter is a fantastic addition to Ireland’

NEW DELHI: Senior Director for Regional Product Managment Researh In Motion(RIM) Asia-Pacific, Francois Mahieu (L), and Director of Marketing, Krishnadeep Baruah (R), pose with the newly launched Blackberry Curve 9360 ‘smartphone’ in New Delhi yesterday. — AFP

McAfee adds protection for mobile gadgets SAN FRANCISCO: Computer security firm McAfee yesterday launched a service that unifies defenses for computers, smartphones and tablets. McAfee billed AllAccess as an unprecedented offering for coordinated protection of desktop, laptop and netbook computers along with smartphones or tablets powered by Android, Symbian, or Blackberry operating systems.

“Most consumer households now own a combination of PCs, Macs, and mobile devices, but haven’t kept up-to-date by

adequately protecting all of them,” said McAfee co-president Todd Gebhart.

AllAccess lets users manage security, limit Internet surfing, and back up data on devices from a central console. It is priced at $99 for one person and $149 for a household version.

McAfee announced the new service along with the results of a global study that found people placed an average value of $37,438 on their total “digital assets,” including pictures and music collections. — AFP

US needs more research on electric vehicles WASHINGTON: The US Energy Department wants to devote more of its $3 billion research budget to get more electric vehicles on the road, a strategy it sees as making the biggest difference in reducing oil imports and cutting pollution.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu is due to unveil the results of a major review of research spending on Tuesday, one that could shift research dollars away from clean electricity and biofuels towards electric vehicles and modernizing the power grid. The first-ever “Quadrennial Technology Review” prioritizes research that can be commercialized within 10 years, and research that could make a substantial dent in oil use and greenhouse gas production in the next two decades.

“The stakes are high for our country, and I am optimistic that we can still lead the world in technological innovation,” Chu, a Nobel-winning physicist, said in an introduction to the 168-page report. Chu, who ran one of the Energy Department’s national laboratories before his appointment, has come under scrutiny for his “clean energy” advocacy after a failed government investment in a solar company that filed for bankruptcy.

The review does not address loan guarantees that the Energy Department uses to help private-sector companies sell clean energy technology-a program that was worth $180 million in fiscal 2011 and which ends on Friday. The review said the Department of Energy needs to make sure it does not get too far ahead of the private sector in its research spending, which totaled $3 billion in fiscal 2011.

“Currently DOE focuses too much effort on researching technologies that are

multiple generations away from practical use,” said the review, which gathered ideas from more than 600 people in industry, academia and government.

But the department will reserve up to 20 percent of its funding for “out-ofthe-box” research that private sector companies shy away from, the review said. In fiscal 2011, the Energy Department “underinvested” in transportation with only 26 percent of its spending geared to the research, the review said.

Only 9 percent of its research spending went to electric vehicles, and 4 percent to making vehicles more fuel efficient, with the remainder spent on alternative fuels.

The DOE will focus on technology that does not require new fuel-station infrastructure, and hone in on advanced biofuels for heavy-duty trucks rather than the “mature” ethanol industry, the review said.

Clean electricity accounted for 51 percent of the department’s spending, but the DOE in future will instead invest a greater proportion of its budget on projects that help modernize the aging power grid, and make buildings and factories more energy efficient, the review said.

The department will continue to fund carbon capture and storage research because its fits with existing power infrastructure, and will focus on engineering support for licensing a new type of nuclear reactor known as the small modular reactor.

“The Department will give priority to research on technologies that can be operated economically with low water consumption, including solar photovoltaic and wind,” the review said. — Reuters

DUBLIN: Twitter, the San Francisco-based micro-blogging website, is to open an international office in Dublin, the Irish Industrial Development Agency announced-in a tweet.

“Ireland is trending. Twitter to establish international office in Dublin,” the message said. Twitter joins a band of high-profile technology and computer multinationals with bases in Ireland, including Citigroup, Dell, Facebook, GlaxoSmithKline, Google, Intel and Microsoft.

Foreign companies are attracted to Ireland by its 12.5-percent rate of corporation tax, one of the lowest in Europe.”IDA is absolutely thrilled that Twitter has decided to establish an international office in Ireland,” the agency’s chief executive Barry O’Leary said in a statement. “ Twitter is a fantastic addition to Ireland’s dynamic digital media cluster and we are excited to support the company’s continued international growth.” As it expands operations outside the United States, Twitter already has offices in London and Tokyo.

Tony Wang, Twitter UK’s general manager, said the new Dublin office would not mean the demise of the London branch.

“The UK office is here to stay, we will have offices both here and Dublin,” he tweeted.

British newspaper the Daily Telegraph quoted Twitter as saying that as it expands beyond the United States, it will “continue to evaluate the need to designate a location for our nonUS headquarters.”

Created in 2006, Twitter’s text-based posts of up to 140 characters attract more than 400 million users every month, with an average of 230 million tweets fired off daily.

The number of new companies setting up in Ireland rose by a fifth to 47 last year.

Foreign companies now employ 139,000 people and account for more than 75 percent of total Irish exports of goods and services.

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

China mulls reforms to tighten grip on web BEIJING: China’s top leaders are considering “cultural reforms”, state media reported, which analysts said would be aimed at tightening control over the media and Internet to shape public opinion. A meeting chaired by President Hu Jintao on Monday called for the “mastering of new trends in cultural development” and for an emphasis on “Chinese characteristics” as part of the proposed overhaul, Xinhua news agency said.

Details of the draft changes to be considered by Communist Party leaders next month were not given, but analysts said they were likely to tighten Beijing’s grip on newspapers, television and popular social networking sites.

“All cultural controls have the essential political mission to shape the people’s mind to not directly challenge the party rule, to accept the status quo,” a media expert at the University of California, Berkeley said.

“It highlights their nervousness and their awareness of the increasing challenges to their ability to control the cultural sphere”, Xiao Qiang added. For the past decade Beijing has been encouraging state-run media to be more competitive and less reliant on state subsidies,

which has led to more critical reporting and racier programming as outlets compete for readers and viewers.

But the trend towards more free-wheeling reporting has undermined official efforts to control public opinion, and unnerved authorities who have seen previously obedient media outlets criticise their decisions and defy orders to toe the Communist Party line.

The huge and rising popularity of weibosmicroblogs similar to Twitter that have taken China by storm since they first launched two years ago-has also posed major challenges to censors and fuelled official concerns.

There is “this anxiety over the influence of these truly commercially operating media which have gained a lot of strength in the past decade and have huge audiences,” said David Bandurski of the China Media Project at the University of Hong Kong. “You really have seen the progressive loss of control by the official media and in recent years they have been trying to re-grab that agenda.” A train crash that killed 40 people in July sparked an outpouring of public fury on the weibos-apparently catching officials by surprise. — AFP

PRETORIA: The Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft, AHRLAC, plane is officially unveiled at a ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday. — AP

property market meltdown and soaring unemployment. Crippled by massive debts, it required an 85 billion euro bailout last November from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.Under pressure from its EU partners who believe it gives Ireland an unfair advantage, Dublin has fought hard to keep its 12.5 percent corporation tax rate. Ireland’s jobs minister Richard Bruton called the Twitter announcement a “massive win” that showed there was “real ground for Ireland’s claim to be the Internet capital of Europe”.

“It also shows that, despite our difficulties, we still have real strengths as an economy,” he said. “The challenge now is to build on our strengths and the presence in Ireland of the world-leading companies like Twitter to build an indigenous engine of growth and get people back to work.”

The announcement “shows that we have real grounds for optimism in facing that challenge”, he added. — AFP

Asia’s IT industry more competitive SINGAPORE: Asian economies are closing the gap on the West in terms of their IT competitiveness, a study showed yesterday, as they strengthen copyright protection and implement regulatory reforms .

While the West leads the world in terms of an attractive place for IT firms to work, more Asian nations are moving up the ladder, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The United States retained its position as the world’s most competitive IT industry this year, followed by Finland and Singapore.

Europe dominated the top 20 places in a competitiveness index, which was based on criteria such as foreign investment policies, infrastructure, enrollment in higher IT education, patent registries, copyright protection and access to capital.

However, seven Asian economies made it to the top 20 — Singapore (3), Australia (8), Taiwan (13), Japan (16), New Zealand (18), South Korea (19) and Hong Kong (19) — up from six in the previous survey in 2009.

Malaysia and India recorded the sharpest improvements among the 66 economies surveyed worldwide. Malaysia moved up 11 notches to 31st, while India climbed 10 places to 34th. Singapore advanced six paces.

“The (competitiveness) gap is closing and we can expect it to continue to close,” said Roger Somerville, senior director for the Asia-Pacific at Business Software Alliance (BSA) which commissioned the study.

He told AFP the current market turmoil and the 2008 financial crisis, which have adversely affected Western economies, have boosted Asia’s rise. China was in 38th place in the global index, up one notch, but needs to improve its copyright protection environment, he said.

BSA is a global industry group that works for copyright protection and counts among its members some of the world’s biggest technology firms. — AFP

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Years

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Coffee linked with lower depression risk in women CHICAGO: Women who drink four cups of coffee a day are 20 percent less likely to become depressed than women who rarely drink coffee, US researchers said yesterday. Caffeine is the most frequently used central nervous system stimulant in the world, and coffee consumption accounts for about 80 percent of caffeine use.

Drinking coffee offers a boost of energy and a lift in well being, said Alberto Ascherio of Harvard Harvard School of Public Health. “This shortterm effect is what drives the consumption of caffeine,” said Ascherio, whose study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

“Here we are looking at long-term chronic use of caffeinated coffee,” Ascherio said in a telephone interview.

His team studied more than 50,000 women enrolled in a health study of nurses. The women had an average age of 63, and none were depressed when they enrolled in the study.

Ascherio’s team measured coffee consumption based on data on the women for 14 years dating back to 1976. They then classified the women according to how much coffee they drank and followed them for an additional 10 years.

“We found that those women who regularly drink four or more cups of cof-

fee a day have 20 percent lower risk of developing depression than those who rarely or never drink coffee,” Ascherio said.

The team focused specifically on coffee, but they had similar findings when they looked at overall caffeine consumption, including caffeinated soft drinks and chocolate. They found that women who were in the top 5th of caffeine consumption had a 20 percent lower risk of depression than women in the bottom 5th.

The team built a two-year gap or latency period between when they measured caffeine consumption and their assessment for depression to

make sure they were not just capturing women who were too depressed to be regular coffee drinkers. Ascherio said there have been very few studies that look at the long-term effects of coffee consumption. One smaller study in Finland showed men who drank a lot of coffee were less likely to commit suicide.

And Ascherio’s own team has shown that drinking a lot of coffee may be protective against Parkinson’s disease in both men and women. He said it is not yet clear how coffee might protect against depression, but there are some hints.

Animal studies have shown that caf-

feine protects against certain neurotoxins. And brain receptors that respond to caffeine are concentrated in the basal ganglia, an area that is important for both depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Ascherio said low-dose, chronic stimulation of these receptors may make them more efficient. He stressed that the study does not prove that coffee lowers depression risk-only that it might be protective against depression in some way.

And many more studies will be needed to show whether coffee can be used to prevent depression, Ascherio said. — Reuters

Childhood vaccine funds agreed for poor nations Rotavirus causes severe diarrhoea in children under five

KABUL: Afghan Purista (C) holds her one year old son Aminullah, who lost his left arm in a car accident, in the Gandhi hospital in Kabul yesterday. Although health services are almost free of charge for all Afghan people, vulnerable segments of population encounter many problems since health services are low quality or there is inadequate geographical coverage. — AFP

Looking for a fitness buddy? Get a dog NEW YORK: When it comes to getting fit a person’s best friend just might be a four-legged one. Experts say studies show dog owners walk more, walk faster, and are more likely to enjoy an active lifestyle because of their companion animal.

“I’m fascinated by what a great motivator dogs can be,” said Dr. Sandra McCune, co-editor of the book, “The Health Benefits of Dog Walking for People and Pets.” McCune, an animal behaviorist based in Leicestershire, England, said studies show if you’re a dog walker, you’re more likely to meet the guidelines for daily activities.

Dogs are the reason behind twothirds, 66 percent, of the walks their owners take each week, according to a recent survey of more than 1,011 adults commissioned by pet food company Mars Petcare. One-quarter of people with children and pets regularly visit parks and other outdoor spaces because of their dog.

“Personally, I have a Labrador,” McCune said. “When it’s dark, when it’s raining, the dog needs a walk, every day.”

She said dog walking also strengthens social and communal ties.

“If people go out with a dog, they’re more likely to have a conversation,” she explained. According to the poll some 44 percent of dog owners aged 65 and older exercise on a weekly basis because of their dog.

“Dogs are strong drivers of social capital,” said McCune, explaining that social capital is a sociological term which she defined as the value of all relationships.

“Dog ownership benefits the entire community,” she said.

This fall YMCAs in several US cities are

hosting their version of dog days. Called the Power of Pets, the programs include dog run/walks, dog yoga and other dog fair activities. “It’s a chance to get the community together,” Katy Leclair, executive director of the Lake View, Illinois YMCA said of the program. “Families with dogs tend to be more active.”

As workout partners, canines can offer energy, enthusiasm, and the social support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program, according to Shirley Archer, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. “Dogs can provide that companionship,” said Archer, a Florida-based fitness instructor. “Frisbee tossing, ball throwing, agility competitions, dog and human boot camps, are great opportunities to be active,” she said. “But obedience training is a must.”

She cautions that as living creatures dogs need to be taken care of. “If they ride with you on a bicycle, they need to be trained to stay close,” she said. “Keep them hydrated. Check their paws. Don’t let them run right after they eat.”

Laura Cartwright Hardy, a grandmother and full-time graduate student living in Little Rock, Arkansas, has two huge German Shepherds. “I’ve had big dogs since I was 20 and that’s definitely been part of the reason I’ve always been fit,” said Hardy, who started lifting weights in her 30s so she could carry 40-pound (18.14-kg) bags of dog food with ease. “ They certainly keep you honest about walking,” she said. “ Those big brown eyes make it impossible to say no.”

She added that every human walking partner she has had, except her sister and her husband, quit because she went too fast. “My dogs (all girls) have been steadfast,” she said. — Reuters

BUCHAREST: In this photo taken Sept. 26, 2011, a day ahead of World Rabies Day, a dog is seen behind layers of metal fences, in a stray dog shelter in Bucharest, Romania. According to recent European Union statistics quoted by local media Romania has the highest number of wild animals infected with rabies, mainly foxes and wolves.— AP

LONDON: The GAVI international immunisations group said yesterday it had agreed more than 50 new deals to fund potentially lifesaving vaccines for children in 37 developing countries.

The Geneva-based Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation said the agree ments, which will help provide rotavirus, pneumococcal and other vaccines for children under five, were a big step in the fight against the two leading child killers-severe diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Rotavirus shots made by various drug firms such as GlaxoSmithK line, M erck and Sanofi-Aventis are part of routine childhood vaccinations in many wealthier nations and recent studies from the United States, Australia, El Salvador and Mexico showed swift falls in the number

of children becoming ill with the virus. In 2009, the World Health Organisation said all countries should include rotavirus shots in national vaccination programmes, but many poorer nations struggle to afford them. GAVI said its rollout of rotavirus vaccines in Africa had started, in Sudan, and yesterday’s agreements meant funding will now be available for these shots to go to children in 12 more African countries.

GAVI said it had also agreed funding for 18 more countries to introduce pneumococcal vaccines — 12 of them in Africa- and for other types of vaccines, including measles, meningitis and pentavalent shots, in several other countries. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children under five, killing more than 500,000 children each year worldwide and causing illness in several

million more. Nearly 50 percent of all rotavirus deaths are in Africa. Pneumococcal disease causes pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis and also k ills more than 500,000 children each year worldwide, the vast majority of them in Africa and Asia. “These new vaccines will prevent millions of children from dying of pneumonia and diarrhoea,” said Anthony Lake, executive director of the United Nations children’s fund UNICEF. “It is among the most vulnerable that these vaccines can make the biggest difference, especially if they are combined with better nutrition, sanitation and other critical interventions.” At it latest funding round in June, GAVI-a public-private partnership set up in 2000 to speed the introduction of vaccines into the world’s poorest countries — won pledges of

$4.3 billion from international donors. Just ahead of that pledging meeting, several leading drugmakers said they were cutting prices on vaccines supplied through GAVI. Vaccines for the GAVI-funded pneumococcal campaigns are being supplied by drugmakers Pfizer , GlaxoSmithKline as part of a socalled advance market commitment deal part-funded by Britain, Canada, Italy, Norway, Russia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. GAVI chief executive Seth Berkley said the alliance was delivering on its promise to protect more children against lifethreatening but preventable diseases. Since it was launched at the World Economic Forum in 2000, GAVI says it has prevented more than five million future deaths and helped protect 288 million children with vaccines.— Reuters

Americans get too ‘much healthcare’ NEW YORK: Doctors have a diagnosis for what’s wrong with healthcare in the United States: there’s too much of it. In a poll of US primary care physicians published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, nearly half of them said their patients received too much medical care and more than a quarter said they were practicing more aggressively than they’d like to.

This could mean ordering more tests, prescribing more drugs or diagnosing people with diseases, although they would never have experienced any symptoms.

“Physicians at the frontline of medical care are telling us that their patients are getting too much care,” said Brenda Sirovich of the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont, who worked on the survey. “And we don’t think we are just talking about the 627 physicians we surveyed.”

By contrast, just six percent of doctors believed their patients were getting too little care. The findings come at a time when the healthcare budget is already overstretched and many fear it is about to spiral out of control.

“We spend a lot on healthcare in this country, more than anywhere else,” said Sirovich, who is also at the Dartmouth Medical School. “We realize that this is unsustainable.” According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States spend $7,960 per capital on healthcare in 2009 - $2,608 more than Norway, the runner-up.

In an article published along with the poll, one doctor recounted the story of a man who developed intractable pain after falling on an icy driveway. He had several tests at a hospital, but all came up negative. All along, the man’s wife had been telling doctors that her husband had a morphine pump in his back to help treat chronic pain and that he’d fallen onto the pump. But nobody listened.

The prescription? Doctors should listen to their patients, wrote Philip Wickenden Bale of the T J Sampson Hospital in Glasgow, Kentucky. “Much science and technology, with associated expense, was used to eliminate conditions he didn’t have, while the art of listening well might surely have led to a faster, cheaper remedy,” he wrote.

Excessive testing may also lead to diagnosing conditions that would never have caused any problems, such as a slowly developing prostate cancer or slightly elevated blood pressure. Yet after such a diagnosis it’s difficult for doctors not to proceed to treatment, which may cause side effects.

“When you do anything to somebody, whether it is an intervention or a test, you are putting them in the healthcare system in a way that exposes them to risk,” said Sirovich. “Unnecessary care is potentially harmful.” According to the survey, doctors order tests they themselves believe are excessive for three reasons: fear of malpractice lawsuits, performance measures and too little time to just listen to patients.

Four in 10 of the doctors surveyed in the random sample believed that other primary care physicians would order fewer tests if those tests didn’t provide extra income. Just three percent thought that financial considerations influenced their own practice style.

“I’m not saying that physicians do tests in order to make money-there is a potential to be a real cynic here-but I think that the reimbursement model for most healthcare encourages utilization in a variety of ways,” Sirovich said.

“It’s a time for us to reflect about what incentives we have built into our healthcare system, and what directions they are taking us in.” — Reuters

NEW YORK: Sherri Shepherd is seen behind the scenes as she gets a check-up at the dentist’s office before being given an electric toothbrush in New York.— AP

Childless men more likely to die of heart disease CHICAGO: A decade-long study of 135,000 men found that those who did not have children had a higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who did, raising new questions over the links between fertility and overall health, US researchers said yesterday.

While the findings do not show that not having children causes heart problems in men, they do suggest that infertility may be a potential early warning sign of future heart trouble, the team reported in the journal Human Reproduction.

“There is emerging evidence to suggest that infertility may be a window into a man’s later health,” said Dr. Michael Eisenberg of Stanford University in California. He said men who are infertile have a higher risk of certain cancers, and his team wanted to look for other signs that infertility might be playing a role later in a man’s life.

The researchers used a large study of men over 50 who were members of AARP. The team did not know whether men in the study wanted to be fathers or not, so they specifically looked only at men who were married. And they used childlessness as a surrogate for male infertility, Eisenberg said.

“In general, most married men will have the

opportunity to reproduce. Whether they and their partner chose not to have children or whether there were some biological problems, we can’t determine,” Eisenberg said. Eisenberg and colleagues focused on 135,000 married or formerly married men who were 50 or older at the start of the study in 1996. Almost all, or 92 percent, had fathered at least one child and 50 percent had three or more offspring. Nearly all of the men — 95 percent-were white. The researchers then tracked death rates from some 70 causes using Social Security and other databases and questionnaires sent to surviving family members. Over the course of the 10year follow up period, some 10 percent of the men died, and one out of every five of these deaths was from heart disease.

When looking at the parental status of these men, childless participants in the study had about a 17 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who were fathers. Eisenberg said it was not possible to determine whether men in the study simply chose not to have children or whether the men’s partners were infertile. But excluding unmarried men offered an approximation of male infertility, and the link to heart disease raises important questions that merit further research. — Reuters

French watchdog ups scrutiny of chemical BPA PARIS: A French health watchdog called yesterday for tighter vigilance of an industrial chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), which has been fingered as potentially harmful for foetuses and infants.

BPA is used in “polycarbonate” types of hard plastic bottles and as a protective lining in food and beverage cans. It became a concern following evidence in lab animals of a toxic effect on the brain and nervous system.

Several countries have introduced voluntary measures or laws to stop the manufacture of baby bottles with BPA and published guidelines on safer use of these containers. In June 2010, the French parliament banned BPA-containing baby bottles.

The Agence for Food Health Safety (Anses)

— the French equivalent of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — yesterday called for tougher preventative measures. In a report summarising studies into BPA, it said even “low doses” of the chemical had had a “confirmed” effect on lab animals and a “suspected” effect on humans.

Preventing exposure to BPA among infants, pregnant or nursing women was a “priority goal,” Anses said. It said it would hand its investigation to the EU-wide European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for consideration. In September 2010, EFSA said that BPA was safe and there was no need to overhaul European limits of daily exposure, which are 0.05 milligrams per kilo of body weight. They were set in 2006.— AFP

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H E A LT H

Decade after anthrax attacks, worry over stockpile WASHINGTON: Anthrax vaccine - check. Antibiotics check. A botulism treatment - check. Smallpox vaccine - check. Ten years after the anthrax attacks brought home the reality of bioterrorism, the nation has a stockpile of some basic tools to fight back against a few of the threats that worry defense experts the most.

These defenses are not just gathering dust awaiting the next attack. In August, a Minneapolis hospital dipped into the stockpile to treat a critically ill patient - a tourist who, somewhere on his Midwest vacation, had the extraordinary bad luck to breathe anthrax spores that naturally linger in the dirt in parts of the country. The man, who survived, received a kind of medication not available in October 2001 when anthrax spores sent through the mail killed five people and sickened 17.

But there’s wide concern that the nation’s arsenal hasn’t grown fast enough. A decade later, there are no treatments for a number of bugs on the worry list, and little to offer for other threats like a radiation emergency. Even a long-promised next-generation anthrax vaccine, that would be easier to produce, hasn’t arrived yet. Nor is there information on how to treat children.

“Where are the countermeasures?” advisers to the Department of Health and Human Services asked in a critical report last year. There are some: There’s enough smallpox vaccine for everyone, plus some of a specially formulated version safe for cancer patients and others with weak immune systems. There’s an improved version of the decades-old anthrax vaccine used in 2001. There are a few treatments for the toxins produced by anthrax and botulism, and a smallpox treatment is due soon.

But federal health officials are working to jumpstart production of more countermeasures and they say that more than 80 candidates are in advanced

development. Over the past year, the goal has evolved into a push for more multiuse therapies, products that work not just for biodefense but for everyday health problems, too.

That’s a major shift that should entice more big drug companies to the field, says Dr. Robin Robinson, who heads the federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA. It funds latestage research of promising countermeasures.

Consider: BARDA just agreed to help pay for drug giant GlaxoSmithKline’s testing of a novel antibiotic that might fight bioterrorism germs like plague - as well as certain hospital-spread bacteria that cause such problems as pneumonia in the already seriously ill. So-called broad-spectrum antibiotics that can kill more than one kind of bacteria aren’t unusual - this one just targets some hard-to-treat types in a new way. The next step: Scientists are beginning to create the first broad-spectrum antivirals, medicines that would treat more than one kind of virus. Rather than having an anti-flu drug and a separate anti-AIDS drug, the goal is to have a single injection that could treat those viruses plus the gruesome Ebola virus and a few more for good measure.

It’s early work, still years away, cautions Dr. Michael Kurilla, biodefense research chief at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But one of the antivirals is a direct result of biodefense research to understand how viruses infect - specifically, the Nipah virus that was the model for the even-scarier fictional bug in the new movie “Contagion.”

And these multipurpose antivirals are a huge goal because if they pan out, the next time a brand-new virus emerges - like the respiratory SARS bug in 2003 treatments might not have to be started from scratch.

“We feel very excited and confident that what we’re working on ... can change the whole paradigm of how we approach infectious diseases,” Kurilla says.

The US has invested $67 billion in biosecurity since 2001, according to research by the Center for Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Most of that wasn’t solely for biodefense but went to broader health programs that are as crucial for dealing with natural crises - like the 2009 swine flu global epidemic - as for dealing with manmade ones, says center director Dr. Thomas Inglesby. These include scientific research, beefing up struggling public health departments to better detect and treat emerging outbreaks, and training hospitals in disaster preparedness.

Inglesby worries that the economic crisis imperils those gains - public health funding already has been cut - and will further slow the countermeasure hunt. A program named BioShield that buys countermeasures for the stockpile expires in 2013 unless Congress reauthorizes it. It’s time, he says, for the government to spell out its countermeasure priorities and how to reach them. Meanwhile, what if another anthrax attack happened? No more scrambling to buy antibiotics: 60 million 60-day treatment courses are stockpiled, Robinson says, and the plan is for the US Postal Service to deliver some of those first doses to people’s homes.

Sometimes antibiotics aren’t enough. In a severe infection, the germs can produce dangerous toxins that spread in the bloodstream. So also in the stockpile are two experimental toxin-clearing treatments, to be used if the immune system alone can’t battle the toxin. In August, Minnesota’s sick tourist became the 19th person in the world ever treated with one of them - immune globulin culled from the blood of anthrax-vaccinated soldiers, says Dr. Mark Sprenkle of Hennepin County Medical Center. It’s hard to know how much the drug contributed to the man’s recovery, Sprenkle says, but his patient’s toxin levels did drop more quickly after he began using it. — AP

New New e H Hope ope …

New Life

Pioneering IVF doctor dead MELBOURNE: A pioneering Australian doctor known for his groundbreaking work on the world’s first pregnancy through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has died after a long illness. Carl Wood, who had battled Alzheimer’s disease since 2004, passed away in a Melbourne nursing home last Friday. Working with Melbourne’s Monash University, he was a leader in the 1970s in the developing field of IVF pregnancy, heading the team that produced Australia’s first test-tube baby in 1980 — among the first in the world. He and fellow Monash researcher Alan Trounson had earlier helped establish IVF as a method for the treatment of human infertility with the world’s first clinical IVF pregnancy in 1973. However, this pregnancy did not progress.

“He was at the forefront of the development of IVF technology and he led the team responsible for Australia’s first IVF baby,” the university said in a statement Tuesday. “Professor Wood, with Monash University colleagues, would go on to deliver the world’s first babies from frozen embryos and donor eggs.” The world’s first baby conceived outside the human body, Louise Brown, was born in Britain in 1978 as a result of the work of IVF pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards.

Edwards, who was in 2010 awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine, and Steptoe, who died in 1988, developed IVF technology in which egg cells are fertilised outside the body and implanted in the womb.

Wood’s investigations into the use of artificial hormones to control the ovulation cycle of women on IVF treatment is credited with raising success rates and helping thousands of infertile couples to become parents. Former colleague Gab Kovacs said Wood’s work spilled over into other areas. “Carl pioneered the monitoring of babies during labour, which saved many, many lives,” Kovacs told The Australian newspaper. “He was also one of the first to suggest there was more to women than just their organs and pushed for the introduction of sexual counselling and abortion reform.” — AFP

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W H AT ’ S O N

Announcements

The circus is back

T

he Italian Circus is in town in Salmiya, Qatar Street, behind Gulf Mart, across from Marina Mall. For more info: 9991-4607 or 9991-4807 (1st show: 6pm - 8pm and 2nd show 9pm - 11pm)

Nafo Onam National Forum Kuwait (Nafo Kuwait) is all set to celebrate “Onam and anniversary with its full spirit and fervor on Friday, September 30, 2011, at the Indian Community School (Sr. Girls), Salmiya from 9.30 am onwards, according to officials. For more derails please contact 99660428/97824780/66415157/ or contact@nafoglobal.com

Konkani drama

K

uwait Goan Association (KGA) after presenting popular Konkani tiatrs ‘Ghor Bandlem ghorabo Modlo’ and ‘Tujea Moga Passot’, now all set to present Tragedy King Mario Menezes most popular Konkani drama “Hatachim Panch Bottam” in Kuwait on Friday, 18th November 2011 with full troupe.

Await for more details or email: kgakuwait@gmail.com

Laif annual convention Here comes LAW Annual Convention. The Life Abundant International Fountain Kuwait is holding its first annual convention at the National Evangelical Church, Kuwait (Neck CompoundHall of Faith), Near Parliament House, Kuwait City from Thursday, October 6-9, 2011. It will commence on Thursday at 7 pm, Friday at 10 am, Friday at 10 pm, Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 6:30 pm. For more information, contact and transport, call 66332844 50611737, 66922052, 665SO209 or e-mail: laifkuwait@yahoo.co.uk, www.facebook.com/L.A.I.F.CHURCH. Annual competition Tulu Koota Kuwait has great pleasure in inviting its valuable members to Tulukoota Kuwait annual competitions on 14th October 2011. It’s a unique opportunity to our members & their children to showcase their talent at the varied competitions. There will be singing, dance, fancy dress competitions for all age group, cute baby photo contest etc. Competitions will be held on Friday 14th October from 10 am onwards in Indian Community School (Senior Girls), Salmiya. For details, competition rules and registrations please contact 65044521, 65013887, 66958848, 97834578 Or visit our website www.tu1ukootakuwait.org or mail us at secretary@tulukootakuwait.org.

Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas.

For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq : Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty67712409.

Charity golf tournament

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Welcome staff dinner at KNES

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uwait National English School (KNES) held its annual staff dinner on Friday, September 23. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for members of staff to meet in an informal setting and to get to know one another better. Many members of staff displayed their talents in singing and dancing and everyone enjoyed the great food at the event!

NSS to celebrate anniversary

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SS-Kuwait (National Service Society) formed in Kuwait in 2001 is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and Onam under the banner “NSS-Kuwait 10th Anniversary - Onanilavu” on Friday, 30th September at Integrated Indian School Auditorium, Abbassiya from 5 pm onwards.

The celebrations will commence with a public meeting followed by variety of entertainment programs.

The program stages 9 leading Cinema and TV serial artists performing classical, fusion and folk dances by Shalu Menon and Team, Cinematic & Western Dances by Subi Suresh and Firoz Khan, Comedy Skits by Kalabhavan Mani, Pisharady, Sajan Palluruty and Subi Suresh, variety of musical entertain-

ment rendered by Pradeep Babu & Varsha with an accompanying orchestra lead by famous keyboard artist Jose. The Signature folk tunes from Kalabhavan Mani will be the

highlight of the show. The four hours continuous entertainment show will start at 5 pm. For further details please contact 97254493, 65738498, 90921980.

Creative discussion Steve Sabella will give a follow-up discussion to discuss his life and work. The talk includes a screening of a 10-minute documentary film among other videos, and will deal with the idea of constructed identities, imagined cities and hyper-realities on September 28th and September 29th between 7pm-9pm at Life Center (Industrial Shuwaikh, Block 2, Street 28, Top floor).

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Tulu Parba Merit scholarship

Indian Orthodox Church in Kuwait gets new parish

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new Parish- St Basil’s Church, is being been formed for the Indian Orthodox Church, in Kuwait, under the Kolkata Dioceses. The Ad hoc Committee President Rev Fr Jose Mathew and a large number of

people of the parish accorded a very grand and warm welcome, to Rev Fr Saju Philip, who will be the first vicar of St Basil Parish.

The Vice President Rev Fr George C Varghese, Shaji Abraham, the Sabha Managing

Committee member, Babu Varghese, St. Basil Ad hoc Committee members, Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka office bearers, who were present at the Kuwait Airport to receive the new vicar.

Farewell to Swadesh news magazine advisor

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nam celebrations along with the closing ceremony of the free Malayalam Education Program of Kerala Art Lovers Association (Kala, Kuwait) will be held on September 30, 2011 Friday at Indian Community School, Khaithan. Dance, Art and Cultural programs including Athapookalam Competition, Thiruvathira dance, Nadanpattugal, Onapattugal, Vallom kali will capture the day till 4pm in the evening.

By 5pm, closing ceremony meeting of Malayalam classes will begin which will include cultural meeting, honoring of the teachers and representatives who provided spaces to take Malayalam classes and finally presentation of trophy’s to winners of the quiz competitions held at different zones in Kuwait. Chief guests from India as well as prominent guests from Kuwait will also attend the function. For more details please contact: 24317875, 97817100 or 66656642.

Sultan gallery established 1969 to promote Arab contemporary art. Sabhan, Sadeer company. Block 8, street 105, building 168. 24714325 ext. 110 Dar Al-Funoon, Behbehani Compound, House 28near the Christian Church off of Gulf Road. Tel: 22431338 Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, Shaab, next to Shaab Leisure Park. Tel: 22400963 AWARE Surra Street, Block 3, Villa 84. Tel: 25335260/80 or www.aware.com.kw The Strip, across Al-Seif Palace Jibla Tel: 99666533 www.the-exhibition.com.kw Located on ‘The Strip’ Across from Al-Seif Palace Jibla, Kuwait Tel: + (965) 9-406-6226 Fax: + (965) 2-534-4061 Email Address: info@the-exhibition.com.kw Mailing Address: P.O. Box 17919, Khaldiya, Kuwait

ake your opportunity to learn and improve your Arabic skills. The women section of Islam Presentation Committee will be conducting FREE Arabic Language Course in Basic & Advance Level for non-Arab LADIES commencing on September 30, 2011.

Islamic subjects and Quran classes are also offered in different languages. Classes are offered only once a week.

Register now! For more information: Rawdah22512257-97290278; Salmiya-2573326397533263; Khaitan-24730137-99285459; Mangaf-23723002; Jahra-24558830-67720696.

YMCA Onasangamom YMCA Kuwait is conducting Onam Sangamom & Arts nite on Thursday 29th September at 6.30pm at Indian Community Senior Girls School Salmiya. The programs include Comedy Skit “Pravasa Charitham Onnam Bhagam”, Vanchipattu, Thiruvathirakali, Maveli, Chendamelam, Ganamela etc. OnaSadhya is also arranged for the attendees. For Onasadhya please take the coupon before the program. For details please contact.97542985, 99498369, 99046751, 99607230.

Kala Onam celebrations

Galleries in Kuwait

Free Arabic courses provided by IPC

‘Mother’s Day’ Theater Xavier-Manuel productions presents a super hit theater of this season from Goa titled “Mother’s Day.” It will be a Konkani drama dedicated to all mothers with loads of comedy, solos, duets, trios, etc. and all new songs! The event is on September 30th at 3:30pm at Kuwait Medical Association Hall (Beside Blood Bank, near Mubarak Hospital, Jabriya).

YMCA membership YMCA Kuwait is conducting membership campaign from 1st September to 31st November, 2011.

Persons who wish to become members of YMCA Kuwait and person who would like to contribute their time, efforts and services for the society and humanitarian causes may please contact: 97542985,

reast cancer affects everyone. A charity golf tournament will be held on Friday, October 14 at 9 am at Kuwait International Golf & Country Club. Four person “Texas Scramble”. Shotgun start 10 am - BBQ - Prizes A ladies’ Pre-Tournament Clinics (3 sessions) will begin from Saturday 24 September 8 am, Saturday 01 October 8 am, Saturday 08 October 8 am, fully swing, chipping & putting, specialty shots. To register and ensure your spot in the tournament, please call 99076721 /99073710. Email: info@kigcc.com www.kigcc.com

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wadesh news magazine authority bode farewell to its advisor Shafiqur Rahaman who is on his way home for vacation. The program was presided over by Mohammed Masud Karim, editor of the Swadesh magazine, Rahaman was awarded a crest of honor. Among the guests of honor who were present were Abdur Rauf mawla editor of monthly Marulekha, literature Mohammed Ali Azam, Md.Yakub Kuwait bureau chief of Ajker Surjodhoy, Jahangir Hosen Bablu editor of Ekushey Bangla, Selim Reza editor of Mrittika, Sharif Mizanur Rahaman editor of Madinar pathey, Tauhidul Islam Harun president of Friday Forum Kuwait, Moinuddin Sumon and Ehsanul Hoque Khokan respectively the president and general secretary of Bangladesh reporter’s uni-

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ulu Koota Kuwait is pleased to announce its Merit Cum Means Scholarship Award to be awarded during Tulu Parba which will be held on 4th November 2011 in American International School Auditorium, Maidan Hawally.

Tulu Koota Kuwait firmly believes in the great value of education and is strongly committed to helping needy students to achieve their educational goals. Application accepted from minimum one year valid members children studying either in State of Kuwait or in India, scoring high grades at X and XII standard Board Examination held during Academic year 2010-2011. Contact Tulukoota Kuwait Welfare officer Suresh Shyam Rao on 65976789 or email: shyamson@yahoo.com to submit the copies of marks sheet & proof of income with the application. Candidates obtaining high grades but not eligible for merit cum means scholarship shall be honored with Merit Certificate and Medal. For further information please contact: Harish Bhandary Tel. 50264416

Pathanamthitta Onam ty in Kuwait, Poet Abdur Rahim General Secretary of Probasi Sahitya Parisad, Babul Akhtar Nur president of Barnamala Sankskritik Sangsad, poet Sanjib Bhadra chandan general secretary of Jatiya Kabita parisadKuwait, journalists Mahmudur

Rahaman, Jalal Ahmed Syed Mohammed Toiyeb.

The program commenced with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran. A special prayer was also offered for his safe journey and well being.

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he 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.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy

Birthday Greetings

Information EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref ) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211. nnnnnnn

Happy birthday Tasabieh and many many happy returns of the day. Wishes come from Sherif Esmail Uncle, Mummy and Daddy.

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

Wish you a happy sweet and wonderful first birthday to Shruthi Vanishka. With love daddy and mummy.

Study in Canada Fair 2011

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he Embassy of Canada is pleased to announce that the fifth annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI), composed of approximately 20 leading Canadian universities and colleges will be visiting Kuwait from October 2 to October 4, 2011.

Representatives from the institutions will be available to meet with students, parents and other members of the education community, and provide information about study opportunities in Canada. The tour includes select school visits and a Study in Canada fair at the Marina Hotel, Salmiya, on October 2 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Quality education is available throughout Canada, and each of our 10 provinces and 3 territories has something exciting to offer. With its safe and welcoming environment and affordable tuition fees, Canada remains a top destination for international students wishing to pursue their studies abroad. The enthusiasm shown by international students for post-secondary studies in Canada gives testimony to the superior quality of our education system.

Students recognize that Canada offers them the opportunity to earn academic qualifications that are recognized and respected around the world, while being part of a tolerant and vibrant multicultural community.

International students in Canada have access to the most sophisticated and up-to-date technologies and facilities, and to programs which allow them to gain valuable work experience through work placements and cooperative education.

We invite you to come and meet the representatives from Canada’s colleges, universities and language schools, and discover how studying in Canada will set you on the path to achieving your dreams. The schools participating on the tour will: Memorial University University of Alberta Vancouver Island University Mount Saint Vincent University Sheridan College Carleton University’ Columbia College York University University of the Fraser Valley Grant MacEwan University Ryerson University Dalhousie University University of Waterloo University of Victoria Seneca CollegeUniversity of Windsor University of New Brunswick Concordia University For more information please contact: kwait-td@international.gc.ca visit www.kuwait.gc.ca

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Gigaset Communications targets larger market

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igaset Communications GmbH, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cordless phones and the clear market leader in Europe for DECT phones, is targeting Middle East markets as it seeks to expand its global distribution network following successive double-digit growth years in the region. A series of distributor-targeted workshops, led by world-class experts in the field, are set to be held for Gigaset’s regional distributors in a bid to maintain the sales growth momentum witnessed by the company in key markets.

Gigaset’s business model is distributors’ led who sell and market their products to various dealers. Gigaset constantly works with its distributors on market development activities and providing product support. Having arrived

Natasha Saadat Ali

to the region just over six years ago, Gigaset has already achieved a strong market share of over 30% in key countries like UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Egypt, and others.

Kuwait has proved to be an important growing segment, and in lieu with this, Gigaset conducted a field sales training for their distributor in Kuwait, Al Babtain Group of Companies, for over 150 dealer’s sales members, on key sales features.

One of the major players in consumer electronics, Al Babtain is the distributor for Gigaset phones in Kuwait since the inception of Gigaset in the market. Recognising the region’s contribution to Gigaset’s growth, the training programme is designed to help floor staff attain better results, an activity that Al Babtain holds regularly.

To achieve its targets successfully,

Hafsa Mohammad

the company depends on skilled and trained manpower that contribute towards making it a credible partner.

The Training program was attended by Ahmed Marhaba, Executive General Manager of Abdul Aziz Al-Babtain and Mutasem Odeh Product & Services Manager of Gigaset Communications MEA. Ahmed Marhaba Executive General Manager of Abdul Aziz AlBabtain said: “Cordless Phones from Gigaset the Premium German brand is considered the leader in Home communications locally and internationally”. He Also Added: “our dealers are our partners in success. That’s why we insure to meet them on a regular basis to expand our business together and train them on latest products and technologies”.

Khansa Irfan

Sundus Yehyah

FAIPS (DPS) excels in IGCSE results

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ahaheel Al Watanieh Indian Private School (DPS), Ahmadi again proved its worth by excelling in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination, the results of which were declared last month. FAIPS (DPS), known for nurturing excellence, lived up to its reputation, by hauling in a rich harvest of A* and A grades. The students came out with flying colours

and did the school and its teachers proud by proving their mettle. This was the school’s maiden effort in the new curriculum and the outstanding results are truly a feather in our cap!!

The top stars are: Hafsah Mohammad: Consistent and a diligent student. A* grade in all six subjects).

Sundus Yehyah: A bright and

cheerful girl, attained A* and A grades in all six subjects.

Natasha Saadat Ali: A quiet and a steady worker. A* and A grades in all six subjects.

Khansa Irfan: committed, hardworking and also the only student from an Indian School to be a member of Kuwait Womens’ Cricket team. A grade in three out of six subjects. Congratulations! Well done !!

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca.

Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the 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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on the following dates during the month of October 2011. October 2, 2011 (Sunday) - Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday; October 6, 2011 (Thursday) - Dussehra; and October 26, 2011 (Wednesday) - Diwali. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

KOC conducts explosion drill

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he Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has carried out a drill involving an explosion at a gas storage tank at GC 27 West Kuwait.

The Deputy Chairman and DMD, Technical Services, Mazen Al-Sardi, said that the scenario of the drill included an

explosion that took place at 9 am on Thursday, and resulted in the death of three people, while two others sustained injuries.

The DC further stated that the Company’s fire brigade and ambulances immediately rushed to the scene of the

accident joined by other support teams, such as the State Fire Service Directorate and the Ministry of Interior represented by the Key and Oil Insulations Security Directorate, to attend to the casualties.

Al-Sardi stressed that the incident in question was brought to full control at

10:30 am.

The official concluded by noting that noted that such a drill is part of the Company’s annual plan aimed at ensuring the readiness of the teams concerned to deal with possible emergencies of various kinds.

EMBASSY OF PERU Embassy of Peru in Kuwait has the honor to announce the opening of its office soon in Sharq area, Ahmed Al-Jaber street, Al-Arabiya Tower, 6th Floor, Kuwait City.

Moreover, please be notified that there will be “Peru Expo-Tour, Trade & Invest” and the working hours will be from 09:00 till 14:00 (SundayThursday). You are cordially invited to visit us in order to know why Peru should be your new touristic destination and your best business partner.

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00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 Shark Attack Survival Guide 02:35 Karina: Wild On Safari 03:30 Buggin’ With Ruud 04:25 Dogs 101 05:20 Animal Cops Houston 06:10 Dogs 101 07:00 Meerkat Manor 07:25 The Really Wild Show 07:50 Animal Crackers 08:15 Safari Sisters 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Dogs 101 10:05 Dogs 101 11:00 Animal Cops Houston 11:55 E-Vets: The Interns 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 K9 Cops 13:45 Crocodile Hunter 14:40 Shark Attack Survival Guide 15:30 Monkey Life 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:25 Bad Dog 18:20 Breed All About It 18:45 Crocodile Hunter 19:40 Echo And The Elephants Of Amboseli 20:10 Dogs 101 21:05 Black December 22:00 Wildest Africa 22:55 I’m Alive 23:50 Polar Bears: Living On Thin Ice

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:50 02:40 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:50 05:05 05:25 05:35 05:45 05:50 06:10 06:25 06:45 06:55 07:00 07:20 07:35 07:55 08:05 08:15 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:25 09:35 09:40 10:40 11:25 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:10 15:40 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:15 19:10 20:00 20:45 21:15 21:45 22:40 23:30

Last Of The Summer Wine Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Holby City The Fixer Doctors Last Of The Summer Wine Balamory The Roly Mo Show Me Too Tellytales Tellytales Poetry Pie Balamory The Roly Mo Show Me Too Tellytales Poetry Pie Balamory The Roly Mo Show Me Too Tellytales Tellytales Poetry Pie Balamory The Roly Mo Show Me Too Tellytales Tellytales Poetry Pie Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Full Circle With Michael Palin Doctors Eastenders Holby City Last Of The Summer Wine Full Circle With Michael Palin The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby City Full Circle With Michael Palin The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Casualty Lark Rise To Candleford The Royle Family

00:25 New Scandinavian Cooking With Claus Meyer 00:50 Come Dine With Me 01:40 What Not To Wear 02:30 Come Dine With Me 03:25 What To Eat Now - Autumn 03:50 The Naked Chef

04:15 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 04:40 James Martin’s Brittany 05:05 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 05:50 Antiques Roadshow 06:45 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 07:10 Daily Cooks Challenge 07:40 Come Dine With Me 08:30 What To Eat Now - Autumn 09:00 The Naked Chef 09:25 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 09:50 James Martin’s Brittany 10:15 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 10:55 Antiques Roadshow 11:50 Come Dine With Me 12:40 Daily Cooks Challenge 14:40 Bargain Hunt 15:20 Antiques Roadshow 16:20 Antiques Roadshow 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 18:25 What To Eat Now - Autumn 18:55 The Naked Chef 19:20 James Martin’s Brittany 19:45 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:10 Come Dine With Me 23:05 Masterchef Australia 23:55 Masterchef Australia

00:00 BBC World News 00:30 World Business Report 00:45 Sport Today 01:00 BBC World News America 01:30 Asia Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

TV PROGRAMS

00:20 00:45 01:10 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:35 05:00 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:35 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:05 12:20 12:45 13:10 13:35 14:00 14:25 14:50 15:15 15:35 16:00 16:20 Doo 16:45 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:55 23:05 23:30 23:55

Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Scooby Doo Where Are You! New Yogi Bear Show The Garfield Show The Addams Family Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes The Scooby Doo Show Wacky Races The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tom & Jerry Pink Panther and Pals Puppy In My Pocket New Yogi Bear Show The Scooby Doo Show The Garfield Show Tom & Jerry Top Cat Popeye The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Tom & Jerry The Perils of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races Scooby-Doo and ScrappyDastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Pink Panther and Pals Puppy In My Pocket New Yogi Bear Show Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry Top Cat The Scooby Doo Show Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

00:05 Robotboy - Elements 00:30 Squirrel Boy 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Cramp Twins 01:45 Chop Socky Chooks 02:10 Best Ed 02:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 03:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:25 Generator Rex 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Flapjack 04:40 Chowder 05:05 The Powerpuff Girls 05:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 05:55 Cow & Chicken 06:20 Squirrel Boy 06:45 I Am Weasel 07:00 Eliot Kid 07:25 Angelo Rules 07:50 Best Ed 08:15 Flapjack 08:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 09:05 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 09:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:37 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 09:40 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:55 Cow & Chicken 10:20 I Am Weasel 10:35 Adventure Time 11:00 Ben 10

COLLATERAL ON OSN ACTION HD

11:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 11:50 The Secret Saturdays 12:15 Samurai Jack 12:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 13:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 13:30 Skunk Fu! 13:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:15 Flapjack 14:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 15:05 Camp Lazlo 15:30 Chowder 15:55 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 16:25 Cow & Chicken 16:27 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 16:31 Cow & Chicken 16:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 17:15 I Am Weasel 17:40 Adventure Time 18:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 18:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 18:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:20 Generator Rex 19:45 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 20:10 Hero 108 20:35 Bakugan: New Vestroia 21:00 Total Drama Island 21:25 Adventure Time 21:50 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 22:50 The Secret Saturdays 23:15 Samurai Jack 23:40 Megas Xlr

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 Call 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

Backstory World Sport The Situation Room World Report World Business Today Piers Morgan Tonight Anderson Cooper 360 World Sport Inside Africa World Report Backstory World Report World Report World Sport Earth’s Frontiers World Business Today American Morning: Wake-Up Talk Asia World One Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk The Brief World Sport Prism International Desk Earth’s Frontiers Quest Means Business Piers Morgan Tonight Connect The World

00:15 01:10 02:05 03:00 03:55 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Flying Wild Alaska Extreme Fishing Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Wheeler Dealers Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Flying Wild Alaska How Do They Do It? Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters Weird Or What?

Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Extreme Fishing Sons Of Guns Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Mythbusters Flying Wild Alaska Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters How Stuff’s Made How Do They Do It? Cash Cab Us Stan Lee’s Superhumans Mythbusters Weird Or What?

00:05 00:55 01:45 03:25 04:15 04:45 05:40 06:10 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:35 11:30 11:55 12:25 14:05 14:30 14:55 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

Smash Lab Building the Biggest Stephen Hawking’s Universe Thunder Races How Does That Work?

Building the Biggest One Step Beyond Superships Thunder Races Sci-Fi Saved My Life The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Smash Lab Brainiac Sci-Fi Science How Does That Work?

Stephen Hawking’s Universe One Step Beyond Stunt Junkies Building the Biggest Weird Connections Thunder Races Sci-Fi Saved My Life Sci-Fi Science The Gadget Show Extreme Bodies Killer Outbreaks Smash Lab The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Extreme Bodies Killer Outbreaks The Gadget Show

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:15 03:35

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Stitch

04:00 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:20 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:10 09:30 09:40 10:05 Cody 10:35 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:20 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:35

Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School Suite Life On Deck Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction Handy Manny Imagination Movers The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up Jake & Blake Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas Los Angeles

TWO LOVERS ON OSN CINEMA 00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 20 Best & Worst Celebrity Plastic...

03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 50 Most Insane Celebrity Oops 12:05 E! News 13:05 Giuliana & Bill 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 E!es 17:55 E! News 18:55 E!es 19:55 Khloe And Lamar 20:25 Khloe And Lamar 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:50 04:45 05:15 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Ghost Lab A Haunting Deadly Women Couples Who Kill Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghosthunters Ghost Lab Diagnosis: Unknown Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Diagnosis: Unknown I Almost Got Away With It FBI Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Ghost Lab Diagnosis: Unknown Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls I Almost Got Away With It FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Diagnosis: Unknown Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Ghost Lab I Almost Got Away With It I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 A World Apart 01:00 Warrior Road Trip 02:00 Banged Up Abroad 03:00 Going Bush 03:30 Bluelist Australia 04:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 04:30 The Frankincense Trail 05:30 The Best Job In The World 06:00 A World Apart 07:00 Warrior Road Trip 08:00 Banged Up Abroad 09:00 Going Bush 09:30 Bluelist Australia 10:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 10:30 The Frankincense Trail 11:30 The Best Job In The World 12:00 A World Apart 13:00 Eccentric Uk 13:30 Eccentric Uk 14:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 14:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 15:00 Endurance Traveller 16:00 Departures 17:00 Departures 18:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 19:00 Eccentric Uk 19:30 Eccentric Uk 20:00 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle

20:30 Chasing Che: Latin America On A Motorcycle 21:00 Endurance Traveller 22:00 Departures

00:15 02:00 03:45 06:15 08:15 10:00 12:00 PG15 14:00 15:45 18:00 PG15 20:00 22:00

The Forsaken-18 Jason X-18 Inglourious Basterds-18 Collateral-PG15 Ghost Town (TV Movie)-PG15 The Damned United-PG15 The Fast And The Furious-

01:00 03:00 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:15 13:15 15:15 17:00 19:00 21:00 22:45

Pete Smalls Is Dead-18 Attack On Leningrad-PG15 Hachiko: A Dog’s Story-PG15 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 Attack On Leningrad-PG15 Dean Spanley-PG Skellig-PG15 Three Investigators-PG15 The Front-PG15 My Bollywood Bride-PG15 Gentlemen Broncos-PG15 Two Lovers-18

Ghost Town (TV Movie)-PG15 Coach Carter-PG15 The Fast And The FuriousThe Descent 2-18 Child’s Play 3-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 State Of The Union 02:00 The Cleveland Show 02:30 The Big C 03:00 Friends 03:30 Friends 04:00 Dharma And Greg 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Will And Grace 06:00 Coach 06:30 Weird Science 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Dharma And Greg 08:30 Friends 09:00 Will And Grace 09:30 Raising Hope 10:00 Cougar Town 10:30 Coach 11:00 Weird Science 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Friends 13:30 Will And Grace 14:00 Coach 14:30 Raising Hope 15:00 Cougar Town 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 Parks And Recreation 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Louie 22:30 Entourage 23:00 State Of The Union 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30

Grey’s Anatomy House Drop Dead Diva Grey’s Anatomy One Tree Hill Good Morning America Persons Unknown Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Grey’s Anatomy Grey’s Anatomy Live Good Morning America One Tree Hill The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street

19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Warehouse 13 Terra Nova Terra Nova Drop Dead Diva Persons Unknown

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Psych Game Of Thrones House Grey’s Anatomy Alias Psych According To Jim Coronation Street Body Of Proof Grey’s Anatomy House According To Jim Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Body Of Proof Psych According To Jim Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Body Of Proof Warehouse 13 Terra Nova Mildred Pierce Big Love

01:15 Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassin’s Ball18 03:00 Inglourious Basterds-18 05:30 Dead Snow-PG15 07:15 Batman: Under The Red Hood-PG 09:00 Patriot Games-PG15 11:00 Deceit-PG15 12:45 Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen-PG15 15:15 Patriot Games-PG15 17:15 Superman/ Batman: Apocalypse-PG15 19:00 Jennifer’s Body-18 21:00 Outpost-18 23:00 Julia’s Eyes-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

17 Again-PG15 Dance Flick-18 Nativity!-PG Stuart Little 2-FAM I Love You Beth Cooper-PG15 Old Dogs-PG Indian Summer-PG15 All’s Faire In Love-PG 17 Again-PG15 Finding Lenny-PG15 Out Cold-PG15 The Shape Of Things-PG15

01:15 In America-18 03:00 Antwone Fisher-PG15 05:00 Alice In Wonderland-PG 07:00 Amelia-PG15 09:00 The Young Black StallionPG15 10:30 The Associate-PG15 12:45 End Of The Spear-PG15 15:00 Star Trek III: The Search For Spock-PG15 17:00 Free Style (2008)-PG15 19:00 Cheri-PG15 21:00 Witch Hunt-PG15 23:00 The Outlaw Josey Wales-PG15

01:00 A Single Man-PG15 03:00 Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM 05:00 Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement-FAM 07:00 Amelia-PG15 09:00 Just Married-PG15 11:00 Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant-PG15 13:00 Antwone Fisher-PG15 15:00 Nanny Mcphee And The Big Bang-PG 17:00 Just Married-PG15 19:00 The Losers-PG15 21:00 Gentlemen Broncos-PG15 23:00 Brothers-18

01:30 WWE Tough Enough 02:30 Rugby World Cup 07:00 Speedway FIM World Championship 08:00 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup

09:00 RWC Highlights 09:15 Live Rugby World Cup 11:30 Rugby World Cup 13:45 Speedway FIM World Championship 14:45 Trans World Sport 15:45 WWE Bottomline 16:30 RWC Highlights 16:45 Rugby World Cup 21:15 Trans World Sport 22:15 Prizefighter

01:00 01:15 02:15 04:45 05:00 06:45 07:00 07:30 08:30 09:00 09:15 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 16:30 18:30 19:00 21:15 22:15 23:15 23:30

RWC Highlights Golfing World AFL Premiership RWC Highlights Rugby Union Currie Cup RWC Highlights NRL Full Time Trans World Sport RWC Weekly Highlights RWC Highlights Live Rugby World Cup AFL Highlights Trans World Sport Golfing World Premier League Snooker NRL Premiership NRL Full Time Rugby World Cup Golfing World Trans World Sport RWC Highlights ICC Cricket World

01:45 PGA European Tour Highlights 02:45 RWC Highlights Weekly 03:00 Beach Volleyball 03:30 Trans World Sport 04:30 Super League 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Premier League Snooker 10:00 NRL Premiership 12:00 Beach Volleyball 12:30 Scottish Premier League 13:00 Rugby World Cup 15:15 Scottish Premier League 17:15 RWC Highlights 17:30 Trans World Sport 18:30 Golfing World 19:30 Euro Tour Weekly 20:00 European Challenge Tour Highlights 21:00 RWC Highlights 21:15 Futbol Mundial 21:45 Aussie Rules

01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 13:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 21:00 23:00

UFC The Ultimate Fighter Speedway FIM World V8 Supercars Championship Powerboats F1 Championship UFC Unleashed WWE Tough Enough Speedway FIM World Prizefighter WWE Tough Enough WWE SmackDown Intercontinental Le Mans Cup V8 Supercars Championship Speedway Prizefighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed

00:00 Declassified 01:00 Ice Road Truckers 02:00 Pawn Stars 04:00 American Pickers 05:00 Lock N’ Load With R. Lee Ermey 06:00 Declassified 07:00 Ice Road Truckers 08:00 Pawn Stars 10:00 American Pickers 11:00 Lock N’ Load With R. Lee Ermey 12:00 Declassified 13:00 Ice Road Truckers 14:00 Pawn Stars 16:00 American Pickers 17:00 Lock N’ Load With R. Lee Ermey 18:00 Declassified 19:00 Ice Road Truckers 20:00 Dogfights 21:00 Secret Superpowered Aircraft 22:00 Sniper: Deadliest Missions

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for Indian bachelors in two bedroom two bathroom flat near Garanada cinema, Khaitan.

Call 99775589 / 66141908.

(C 3652) 28-9-2011

FOR SALE Nissan Sunny 2009, white colour, KD 2,350/-. Contact: 66729295. (C 3650) Honda Civic 2003, golden colour, excellent condition, 90,000 km, price KD 1,350/-.

Contact: 55323839.

(C 3651) 27-9-2011

Complete contents of 1 BR flat for sale. ideal for newlywed or single executive, for details and viewing call: 99701641 or email: alem.furnz@gmail.com (C 3640) 24-9-2011

E8320183 hereby change my name to Hilda . D’Souza.

(C 3644) 24-9-2011 I, Kannanaikkel Devassy Joy, holder of Indian Passport No. E2157210 issued at Kuwait, hereby change my name as Joy Davis. (C 3642)

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Firoj Latif Shaikh S/O Abdul Latif Shaikh would like to state that I have changed my name from FIROZ LATIF SHAIKH to FIROJ LATIF SHAIKH. Henceforth all my dealings & documents will have the name as FIROJ LATIF SHAIKH. (C 3649) 27-9-2011 I, Sweatha Ibrahim, holder of Indian Passport No.

SITUATION VACANT Required English speaking maid/nanny. Please call 99824597. (C 3648) 27-9-2011

SITUATION WANTED Sri Lankan housemaid looking for a part time / full time job for European or

American family, have experience.

Contact: 97413349. (C 3645) 25-9-2011

MATRIMONIAL Orthodox well-settled parents invite proposals for their son, 28 years, 180 cm, fair, MBA (Finance) from a reputed institution, employed in a reputed bank in Kuwait from parents of professionally qualified God-fearing girls. Email: dr.matt32@gmail.com (C 3652) Inviting proposals for Marthomite boy B.Com, MBA, 26/172 employed in MNC Kuwait from parents of professionally qualified girls of Marthomite/ Orthodox. Email: welcomingproposal@gmail.com (C 3647) 27-9-2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR THY ETH UAE DHX MSR FDB GFA QTR UAE JZR THY JZR FAH JZR BAW BBC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE QTR ABY IRA ETD GFA FCX MEA RBG IRM SVA JZR KAC MSR UAL RJA MSR FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC QTR IRC SVA

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 28/9/2011 Flt Route 267 BEIRUT 772 ISTANBUL 620 ADDIS ABABA 853 DUBAI 370 BAHRAIN 614 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 211 BAHRAIN 138 DOHA 4992 HAHN 529 ASSIUT 770 ISTANBUL 503 LUXOR 201 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 157 LONDON 45 DHAKA 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 284 DHAKA 302 MUMBAI 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 132 DOHA 125 SHARJAH 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 203 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 3555 ALEXANDRIA 5066 MASHAD 9303 JEDDAH 561 SOHAG 672 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 640 AMMAN 621 ASSIUT 57 DUBAI 166 PARIS/ROME 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 802 CAIRO 790 MEDINAH 140 DOHA 6791 MASHAD 500 JEDDAH

Time 0:35 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:20 3:25 3:35 4:10 5:15 5:30 6:10 6:30 6:45 7:15 7:20 7:40 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:20 8:20 8:25 9:00 9:10 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:30 10:55 11:05 11:50 12:10 12:30 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:55 13:55 14:00 14:05 14:15 14:15 14:30

CLX JZR QTR KAC JZR KNE SYR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR RBG JZR ABY KAC KNE FDB ALK JZR IYE KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC AIC JAI FDB JZR OMA VOS MEA MSR DHX UAE GFA QTR UAL JZR JZR MSR DLH SAI AXB JZR KLM PIA

792 257 134 546 201 701 341 303 857 215 510 777 3557 239 127 550 745 63 227 177 824 502 542 618 786 614 102 674 774 975 572 61 787 647 81 402 618 372 859 217 136 981 135 185 612 636 441 393 539 447 215

LUXEMBOURG BEIRUT DOHA ALEXANDRIA DAMASCUS RIYADH DAMASCUS ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH SOHAG AMMAN SHARJAH SHARM EL SHEIKH/SOHAG JEDDAH DUBAI COLOMBO/DUBAI DUBAI SANAA/DOHA BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH CHENNAI/GOA MUMBAI DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT BAGHDAD BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO FRANKFURT LAHORE KOZHIKODE/COCHIN CAIRO AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN KARACHI

14:50 15:10 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:30 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:15 20:55 21:00 21:15 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:10 22:35 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:15 23:30 23:35 23:55

Airlines AXB DLH AIC PIA THY ETH SWT UAE FDB DHX MSR QTR THY UAE JZR GFA KAC BBC BAW KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR ETD GFA JZR IRA FCX RBG MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC KAC IRM KAC JZR SVA MSR RJA FDB

Departure Flights on Wednesday 28/9/2011 Flt Route 390 MANGALORE/KOZHIKODE 637 FRANKFURT 982 AHMEDABAD/CHENNAI 206 LAHORE 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 94 DUBAI/KANDAHAR 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 615 CAIRO 139 DOHA 771 ISTANBUL 4992 SHARJAH 560 SOHAG 212 BAHRAIN 801 CAIRO 46 DHAKA 156 LONDON 545 ALEXANDRIA 54 DUBAI 177 FRANKFURT/GENEVA 671 DUBAI 117 NEW YORK 256 BEIRUT 789 MEDINAH 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 549 SHARM EL SHEIKH/SOHAG 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 602 SHIRAZ 204 DUBAI 3558 SOHAG 405 BEIRUT 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 238 AMMAN 103 LONDON 501 BEIRUT 5065 MASHAD 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 2303 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO 641 AMMAN 58 DUBAI

Time 0:25 0:40 1:05 1:10 2:15 2:45 3:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 5:00 5:10 5:25 5:55 7:10 7:20 8:00 8:25 8:35 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:10 9:25 9:40 9:50 9:55 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 11:45 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:30 13:00 13:20 13:30 13:40 13:45 14:20 14:30 14:35

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

MSR UAL KAC IRC KAC SVA KAC QTR CLX KAC JZR JZR KNE SYR ETD QTR UAE GFA RBG ABY JZR JZR KNE SVA FDB ALK JZR IYE KAC KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC OMA MEA MSR DHX UAE GFA FAH KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR JZR UAL MSR KAC SAI

622 982 673 6792 617 503 773 141 792 613 786 538 704 342 304 135 858 216 3556 128 184 266 746 511 64 228 134 824 283 361 571 62 331 351 648 403 619 373 860 218 102 381 137 301 205 502 554 981 613 415 442

ASSIUT BAHRAIN DUBAI MASHAD DOHA MEDINAH/JEDDAH RIYADH DOHA HONG KONG BAHRAIN RIYADH CAIRO MEDINAH DAMASCUS ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH DUBAI BEIRUT JEDDAH RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI/COLOMBO BAHRAIN SANAA DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DELHI DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR ALEXANDRIA WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA LAHORE

14:40 14:45 15:10 15:15 15:35 15:45 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:20 16:35 16:40 16:45 17:30 17:35 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:10 19:40 20:00 20:20 20:35 20:40 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:55 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:40 23:50 23:50 23:59

34

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 452

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Taking care of business is a major theme where your emotional orientation is concerned. You crave organization and practicality and you want to get things accomplished. Your hard work pays off today and much can be accomplished. You have a mind for what is practical, organized and logical.

Your employer is probably happy to get you—you are a natural for any management position or in dealing with the public. Some past investment needs review and perhaps revising. You may find that now is a good time to reinvest this old investment in some other direction—there is the possibility of additional gains. If you have not had communication with the eldest person in your family, you may want to show them some consideration now.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your efforts really pay off and life seems to run smoothly. Now you have the ability for sustained work that allows you to coordinate and organize like never before. You will bring to completion, uncompleted tasks.

This is a nice day that should just flow along. The schedule you set for yourself today can be helpful but taxing. If you can work in some focused exercise program later today, you will find it easier to relax this evening. Children have your attention this evening and it is a good time for play. Really join in and enjoy the play that children can create. This may mean creating something out of clay or simply coloring in a book.

You could feel real connections and harmony at this time for circumstances and those around you.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Using speech rather than writing.

5. A committee having supervisory powers.

10. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

13. A village in eastern Ireland (northwest of Dublin).

14. (of complexion) Blemished by imperfections of the skin.

15. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood.

16. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

17. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

19. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

22. 1/10 gram.

23. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

26. One or some or every or all without specification.

27. Hungarian choreographer who developed Labanotation (1879-1958).

30. Made of or resembling lace.

32. How long something has existed.

33. A hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care.

36. Displeasing to the senses and morally revolting.

40. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

42. The azimuth of a celestial body is the angle between the vertical plane containing it and the plane of the meridian.

43. Stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings.

44. A public promotion of some product or service.

45. A unit of information equal to one million (1,048,576) bytes.

47. (of drugs) Through the mouth rather than through injection.

48. Jordan's port.

51. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

52. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

53. Slender east African antelope with slim neck and backward-curving horns.

58. In bed.

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

65. The cry made by sheep.

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

67. A word that is written with two letters in an alphabetic writing system.

68. A machine-readable version of a standard dictionary.

DOWN 1. Of or relating to near the ear.

2. Avatar of Vishnu.

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

4. The 11th letter of the Greek alphabet.

5. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

6. English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349).

7. Black tropical American cuckoo.

8. Having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies.

9. A doctor's degree in religion.

10. Botswanan statesman who was the first president of Botswana (1921-1980).

11. King of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633).

12. Lessen the intensity of.

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

20. God of fire.

21. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

24. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

25. A genus of Falconidae.

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

29. A piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep.

31. A member of the Mayan people of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

34. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

35. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan and neighboring areas.

37. Offering fun and gaiety.

38. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood.

39. A branch of the Tai languages.

41. To fix or set securely or deeply.

44. A strong emotion.

46. A decree that prohibits something.

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

50. Any of several tall tropical palms native to southeastern Asia having egg-shaped nuts.

54. Large sweet juicy hybrid between tangerine and grapefruit having a thick wrinkled skin.

55. An informal term for a father.

56. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

57. No longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life.

59. Seed vessel having hooks or prickles.

60. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.

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

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

64. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Taking care of business is a major theme today. You desire successful organization and practicality and you want to get things accomplished. Things are happening and your career or path depends upon your own aspirations which are strong now. You are able to use good common sense and you can feel the trends and make the right moves. You will be pleased with the results of your actions. You are most persuasive with others. You have eloquent skills in speech. The circumstances are good today for self-expression. A good conversation with those you love is possible later this evening. Any misunderstandings of the past have a good opportunity to be healed. Enjoy a brisk walk with your friend this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

There is a certain amount of transition taking place. This could mean job advancement soon. You may find yourself uninterested in sidetracks—what is not essential for future advancement. You can really tune in on how to solve problems and get where you want to go when it comes to your profession. This could be a crucial time during which—depending upon what age this takes place—you reach new highs of accomplishment. This will bring great discipline and a concentration or focus that could make or break you. You have the ability to work hard. You draw emotional sustenance and a sense of security from ideals, friends and social involvement now. There is a need for change, a desire to break with outmoded patterns.

Leo (July 23-August 22) This is a productive day. You have insight into your professional life and you are developing future plans that will be valuable. Your path is toward cooperation and union with others, even at the expense of the practical and selfish. This may mean you are working toward some goal that involves legal or psychological subjects. You enjoy the interaction with others and may find yourself in volunteer programs so as to feel useful and complete. You may often wonder if you are doing your job well and if you take a look at the results, you will be pleased to see the successes. Sometimes it is good to just reach around and pat yourself on the back for a job well done; you are getting better and better every day. Music fills the air this evening.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You may appear very cool and collected today. Review contracts and reconsider legal actions during the next few days—avoid jumping into a risky opportunity that has too many unanswered questions. Also, reconsider the cost before you personally take on large expenditures. Researching a product is important—you could get into something that is not as useful as you thought. A natural transformation of your values—the way you appreciate and love yourself and others is taking place now. You may cease to waste time and money and may develop an eye for that which is lasting and worthwhile. Circumstances can throw you into positions where you may deal with education, psychology, spiritual enlightenment or teaching principles and techniques.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

You are coming into a time centered on taking what you know and what you have and then making the most of it. Assimilating information and experience and learning lessons and putting what you learn into practice is the focus as this period unfolds. Taking care of business is a major theme.

You enjoy the results of practicality and organized works; you are successful. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place, including your personal life.

On a personal level it is important to keep all of your basics in perspective; rest, appreciation of life and laughter are adequate to your needs. Romance can be wonderful in the right circumstances and those circumstances present themselves tonight. Good smells come from the grill tonight.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is time this morning to complete unfinished business.

This morning you will also accidentally find an item that has been missing for some time. This could be a possession that belongs to you or to someone that is close to you. Your decision-making ability in the work area shows some welldirected action is called for today. However, you must be watchful for possible moments of pride. Challenging authority and striving for success are on your agenda now. Ambition is a powerful motivation and can lead you into conflict if you let it get out of control. If properly channeled, ambition results in great achievements and recognition. Some fun time with friends this evening brings plenty of opportunity for laughter, song and gossip your way.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You are a great doer, and can accomplish quite a lot. You will find yourself working with the public today. This could mean solving customer-relations problems. The skillful ways you handle people make you a natural for working with or for the public. You would make an excellent teacher, career counselor or financial advisor—and could enjoy performing these tasks quite well. The only problems in your career are the fears you might have toward qualifying for work in which you are not familiar. Your career is never really a problem—you have the kind of drive that others could only dream of having. This evening there is an opportunity to use your imagination to improve your living environment. Simplicity works.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

You somehow manage to gravitate to the center of almost any happening these days. Others accept you, for they sense you are a leader and they admire your almost regal manner. You talk with someone new and find a different vision. You may decide to ask for a raise or request a loan today.

Refinement and relationships are the keys to emotional satisfaction now. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. If you smoke, or have some other habit that is bad for your health, this is the day you will create another avenue where you can express yourself. Insights into your deeper, more spiritual nature are available now.

Harmony surrounds you this evening.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Working in groups affords the opportunity to strengthen a unit. You may be required to lead or lend advice. Your management abilities are good and your sense of responsibility is so well developed that you always end up managing the situations in which you become involved. You may have to be careful in this area since others could take advantage of you quite easily. You display your eagerness for your work and much is accomplished today. This is a particularly good day in that a new piece of equipment or technique is something you are already familiar with and others could be asking for your advice. Your greatest pleasure this month is the time you are recognized for the progress you have made.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

Your keyword today is responsibility. You are able to find yourself in others—a mirror or clear pool. You are a genius at bringing out others and getting them to do things for themselves or for you— you are a born strategist. You like to discuss and communicate, usually at a psychological and very personal level. Careful—some may find you a bit too intense.

Your love of the spiritual and the eternal is clear to all who meet you. You could find yourself involved in long conversations while visiting with friends this afternoon. You love to solve the problems of the world, at least in words and images—and when you tell it, all are enchanted. A favorite hobby may take up the evening: building, admiring, plotting to make additions, etc.

A

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Years

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

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24874330/9

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22613623/0

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lifest yle G o s s i p

he eccentric actor had filed a $100 million lawsuit against the show’s makers, Warner Bros, which has now been resolved, although its terms will remain confidential. A statement from the company read: “Warner Bros Television, executive producer Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen have resolved their dispute to the parties’ mutual satisfaction. The pending lawsuit and arbitration will be dismissed as to all parties.” Charlie was fired from the show in March after concerns were raised about the actor’s conduct off set - which included drug use and wild partying - and his entering a rehabilitation facility caused the show’s production to be suspended. He had countered that the show’s co-

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creator, Chuck Lorre had been “harassing and disparaging” him, and launched a number of personal attacks aimed at both Chuck and Warner Bros.

Court papers filed by Charlie at the time sought compensation for loss of earnings for both himself and Two and a Half Men’s “entire crew”. At the time of his dismissal, the 46-year-old actor was the highest paid TV star in the US, earning $1.2 million per episode of the comedy series. While the details of the settlement were not released, it has previously been rumored Charlie would receive a $25 million lump sum for unpaid wages. Charlie has turned his life around and got sober since leaving the sitcom, and recently apologized to the cast and crew for his

behavior in the wake of his exit from the show. He also wished new cast member Ashton Kutcher the best of luck. Speaking at the Primetime Emmy Awards earlier this month, he said: “I want to take a moment to get something off my chest and say a few words to everybody here from ‘Two and a Half Men’. “From the bottom of my heart I wish you nothing but the best for this upcoming season. We spent eight wonderful years together ... and I know you will continue to make great television.”

he singer - who married NHL player Mike Fisher in July 2010 - would love to take in a disadvantaged child, but not until she has children of her own. She told website Hollyscoop: “I would love to adopt someday. I’ve told Mike this. I would love for us to be able to have a couple of kids and for them to grow up a little bit and we all as a family decide that’s what is best for us. I would love to be able to adopt, not right now. I’m talking years if not decades from now.” The 28-year-old star says she was warned married life would be “hard” but insists she and her spouse are enjoying every

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he music mogul believes the ‘Born This Way’ hitmaker, Beyonce Knowles and Katy Perry - who recently matched Michael Jackson’s record of having five number one hit singles from the same album on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart - need to be on TV to shine because without a visual medium they are dull. He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “If you only ever heard Lady Gaga, she’s the most boring singer in the world. You’ve got to see her - you need TV. “Same with Beyonce. Or Katy Perry. We’re all about image. You have to have that X Factor.” Simon, 51, also poked fun at ‘American Idol’ host Ryan Seacrest, describing him as the “complete opposite” to “intelligent” US ‘X Factor’ presenter Steve Jones. He added: “He’s tall, dark, British - he’s basically completely the opposite of Ryan Seacrest. You’ve got to add in intelligent as well.” Simon quit his role as a judge on ‘American Idol’ to launch the new version of his pop star search show.

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he ‘Salt’ actress accompanied Zahara, six, and Shiloh, five two of her six children with partner Brad Pitt - to a small salon in London to have the beauty treatment, but Shiloh decided against the process at the last minute after her eldest sister cried because of the pain. A source told The Sun newspaper: “The eldest girl picked out some pretty 18carat gold studs ad gave them to her mum. “The piercing gun was a bit too painful for her and she screamed then burst into tears.

She was saying it felt like a stapler.

So her little sister changed her mind about having hers done ...

But they all left with big smiles on their faces. Angelina bought them another little gift to make sure they both felt special.” The couple and their kids are currently in the UK while Brad shoots his movie ‘World War Z’, and they are reported to be so enamored with British

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culture they are looking to buy a house on the outskirts of London.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Brad and Angelina love the place, the food, the area and they think the people are way more polite.” Should the pair - who also have Maddox, 10, Pax, seven, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - decide to make the move, they should have no trouble making friends, with the family enjoying a play-date with Gwen Stefani’s children Kingston, five, and Zuma, three, at the ‘Hollaback Girl’ singer’s north London home.

While there the children enjoyed some finger painting, before Angelina took her children to Japanese restaurant Wagamamas.

he former Destiny’s Child singer works out as often as possible but insists she doesn’t do so in order to be as thin as possible. She said: “It’s not all about dress size but also about being healthy as well. I’ll never be a size zero. I’m happy being a size 10, but I want to be healthy. “I work out every other day at least. If you don’t then I don’t think you see the rewards. Even if you can get 30 minutes of cardio in every other day you’ll see a big change in yourself.

“While it’s great to have a routine, it’s important not to limit yourself to certain times of day. It’s easy to get home from work and say, ‘Oh, Iπve missed the gym.’ Do 30 minutes on the bike or some sit-ups. “I am a big believer in keeping the body toned.

Twenty minutes each on the bike and the cross trainer are great for that. Also sit-ups are the only way to a flat stomach.” Kelly follows a

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minute so far. She added: “Everyone says the first month is the hardest, or the fourth month or the eighth month. We’re just enjoying it.” Carrie has previously revealed she and Mike want to wait before having children.

Last year, she admitted: “Oh, it’s going to be a while. The other night, Mike was with some friends and their kids, and he sent me a funny text saying, ‘Watching my friend’s kids ... let’s wait a while.”

healthy eating plan, but doesn’t believe in depriving herself of her favorite foods. The ‘X Factor’ judge insists it’s important to treat yourself on occasions because complete deprivation doesn’t work. She explained to new! magazine: “There’s a great diet called the 80/20 diet, which means you make sure 80 per cent of the stuff you eat is good and the other 20 per cent is your choice. It’s great because it means you’re not depriving yourself of anything.

“Breakfast is very important, and I’ll start with porridge. Lunch will probably be my most calorific meal of the day to give me energy at work, like tuna pasta, and then at dinner it will be a very light grilled chicken or fish with vegetables.”

first gave birth to 38 when she ad as gl w s s e’ es sh tr ys ac sa e he e w four, and sh son, Sasha, no she was older because sh til s un ha d so te al ai w ho e w sh mi trenthood. Nao ergies into pa eiber - said: “I had a lot I wan I en r he l al s cu hr d.

Sc se cu ev Li fo could fo r as ne muel with part ldn’t have been two-year-old Sa younger, and perhaps I wou ou grow up and hopefully “Y as s. w m eI ed to do when way in terms of my own drea Naomi also says she loves se ” . ld e nt to th re e of pa Sh them. a better got a lot out e fun stuff with g. The games are. I think I’m or aw m lfdo se e to or ts m become admits he ge n are amazin t good in their boys but s moments with the childre ing Liev with oment, but no “ Th e v’ m ie e “L th e: in in t az ea ag ’ gr m e s? e ar er or that men have di ap America’s M ve a I’ve always said th e fr id ge ?’ an d ‘D o we . ha on to d ns an so on r just go e wants he ere m ilk in sh th ys ‘Is feel sa e e, d m lik an e , r her mothe always mad th e pl an ni ng was raised by id: “Not knowing my father feel connected to ty au be n lia Austra ns to She sa “I want my so e. That inging to her. different upbr e was missing or unknown. to feel sure of who they ar their l, m al s, of e nt e re ov ec pa ab pi , r like a want them ted. To thei I . ec nn em th co por, to se im e t ur the mos me and m And, of co selves. “This is in the world. fe em sa th e d ar z an bi ey ld th ow family, the wor ng else is gravy.” — Bangsh friends, their erythi Ev e. lif y m in tant goal

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he former Libertines frontman played his last show in London “for a long time” last week and unveiled a track he has written as a tribute to the late singer, who died suddenly at her home in July aged 27. Introducing the song, he said: “Amy Winehouse asked me a while ago if I had written any new songs. I played her something, and when I had finished, she looked at me and said, ‘Is that it? Is that all you’ve got?” The song he played was a slow, acoustic led number, and although the lyrics were hard to make out they include the line “oh Amy, she won’t be around tonight”. Pete also dedicated the show to Amy and documentary maker Robin Whitehead, who was making a film about the singer and guitarist at the time of her death last year. He also announced that he will be now be taking time off to write new material. He said: “This will be the last gig in a long time because we need to go and get some new things together so this is it for a while. I want to dedicate this show to the memory of Robin Whitehead and Amy Winehouse, two good friends of mine.” Pete has also recently played a version of Amy’s song ‘Tears Dry on Their Own’ live, which he recently revealed he has recorded a reworked version of. He said: “A couple of years ago when she first released it there was an idea kicked about that I was going to do an alternate version. I did actually write some alternate verses and record them but in the end no-one seemed to like it so it disappeared.

But I’ve always loved that song, it’s an amazing tune and I’ve always wanted to do some tribute.”

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Years

lifestyle

Tunisian couples look at the display in a jewelry shop window in the souk of Medina in Tunis. — AFP

Tunisian weddings make fortune for jewelers T

unisia’s revolution has led to an economic slump, but jewelers are still rubbing their hands because couples aspiring to wed bleed themselves dry to buy gold at the current high prices. After a break during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, the wedding season has taken off again in the north African country. By tradition, on the day of the ceremony the bride wears gold jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, offered to her by her future husband.

But the price of gold has beaten all records.

Economic and financial crises and political insta-

bility in the Middle East have led investors to fall back on the refuge of the precious metal, pushing it up to new record above $1,920 an ounce (1,428 euros) earlier this month-after a set of record highs since the start of the year. At prices like that, jewelers sell less, but they still do not lose out. “The best part of my 40 kilos (88 pounds) of merchandise was bought a few years ago,” said Aslem Fakhfakh, who already runs a shop in the Tunis medina at 23-years-old.

“When I sell an outmoded gem, I do so at the current price.”

If the jewelry is too old-fashioned, shopkeep-

ers are prepared to melt it down and rework it.

“If there’s a war, like now in Libya, housing and many other things lose their value. Only gold races up,” Fakhfakh said. In his small shop of about 20 square meters (215 square feet), strongly lit so that the jewels glisten, a dozen clients jostled with each other, members of families on the hunt. But for Mahmoud Jridi and his fiancÈe, who were making their way through the souk-or popular market, there was no question of buying anything. That evening they were looking at jewelry and prices. With plans to get married in a month, they wanted to take time to

Youngsters repair guitars for Brazil’s favelas

Luthier students try a repaired guitar during a class given in a social center at Gamboa shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. — AFP

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aniel Carvalho patiently polished a guitar neck, replaced the frets and repaired the bridge, learning the craft of a luthier to refurbish old, donated instruments to give to kids in Brazil’s favelas. “It’s super cool what I’m learning here, and we are helping these children, which is important,” 24-year-old Daniel told AFP, surrounded by tools he handles carefully and precisely.

“The luthier makes art,” added Daniel, a virtuoso guitarist himself according to his friends, with a laugh.

Elsewhere in the shop, Gilberto de Lima put his ear right up against the dots on a fretboard repaired by an apprentice. With one simple gesture, he demanded silence and slowly plucked the cords and turned the pegs until he obtained the right notes. “You have to tune the guitar first... Then, you should play some harmonies to see whether the bridge and the frets are in the right place and at the right height to get that perfect sound,” said the 24-year-old, another apprentice at the workshop. “I already feel I can tune my own instrument and sometimes that of my friends. But if there are more serious problems, then I let a professional take care of it.”

About 40 different apprentices divided into four groups refurbish old instruments at this workshop in northern Rio de Janeiro.

The usually expensive training is financed by the Rio state government, the city and

the Rock in Rio group, whose eponymous festival was launched in 1985 and has returned for the first time in 10 years to Rio. The group, whose festival hopes to host 700,000 people from September 23 to October 2, aims to repair 1,400 guitars collected in recent months and hand them to organizations across the country “that use music as an education and social tool,” said festival vice president Roberta Medina.

Most of the students are musicians who find the training in guitar-making a “wonderful occasion” to make money while learning an artistic trade, said Marcela Dandara, 17. “I never thought I would do a luthier internship. But when I learned about this opportunity, I jumped on it. In Brazil, only about 100 people do this. It’s an artistic profession that is done with taste and brings pleasure,” she added. Professor Antonio Albuquerque, 72, said he discovered the job of making guitars when he was 48, and began teaching as a hobby after losing his job. Today, it’s his “passion.” “I designed my first musical instrument when I was 16 and I never thought I would live off this one day. Now, I don’t want to do anything else than to be a luthier,” he said, surrounded by students attentive to his every move. After their training, the students come away with enough knowledge to repair any stringed instrument, and delighted to have brought a little music to the children of the slums.— AFP

choose. “I have had to give up a lot of things,” said Jridi, as he and his future wife visited the jewelers on Berka street. “We have renounced our honeymoon because of the jewels, while waiting to have the means to go somewhere, but really the prices are hot, blazing hot.” His fiancÈe agreed with a small smile. “I don’t think people with a small income can buy jewels at these prices. Thanks be to God, we can afford it.”

The couple is looking for a jewelry set, traditional on big occasions, including a necklace, earrings and a bracelet. “Ten years ago, a set weighed between 100 and 150 grams (3.5 to 5.3

ounces), but today they don’t weigh more than 20 grams,” the young shopkeeper said, wanting to reassure potential clients balking at the price.

Another cherished product are wedding bands, which Tunisians call “solitaires”. Jeweler Aslam tells anybody who cares to listen that such rings cannot be sold according to their weight, because that does not take account of the handiwork involved nor certification by the customs authorities. One thing is certain, he concluded. All the customers for items of jewelry end up spending more than the budget they initially set themselves. — AFP

Feist mines deep for new album ‘Metals’

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hen Apple lifted one of her songs for an iPod ad, Leslie Feist admits she was knocked sideways by success. For her new album “Metals”, the Canadian went searching for silence and a clear horizon, recording in an oceanside barn in California. Licensed from her 2007 album The Reminder, the track “1234” became a Youtube hit, turning Feist from indie singer to mainstream pop artist almost overnight-even earning her a guest slot on the Sesame Street children’s TV show.

But after three years packed with gigs, television appearances, video shoots and non-stop touring, it was time to stop and “take a deep breath”, the soft-spoken singer told AFP in an interview in Paris. “There’s no way you can predict something like that happening,” Feist, whose breakthrough album went on to pick up six of Canada’s Juno Awards and four Grammy nominations, said of her sudden success. “It kind of created a bit of a fire. I ended up not really understanding what was happening, so that was part of the reason to take a break.”

For the following two years, Feist sought out silence. “I had had so much volume around me for so many years that I found myself really not wanting to listen to music. I really enjoyed the sounds of the trees, the sound of the street, or the sound of dogs barking.” Until last Autumn, when she hunkered down in her garage, and in the space of three months wrote the 12 tracks on “Metals”, her fourth studio album which hits the shelves on October 3. “These songs really are more of an album than anything I have done before,” Feist told AFP. “I had taken long enough away that I lost my habits, and I felt very new again musically.” “Metals” sweeps in an arc from melancholy and anger, to light and hope, with Feist’s clear, smooth vocals backed at times by strumming folk guitars and bright drums, at others by heavy punk rock chords.

Bittersweet lyrics speak of the way “a good man, a good woman can’t find the good in each other”, of a struggle that “held me down tight, took all my fight”-of a “cycle of devastation and recovery” in the singer’s own words.

‘Possibility to adapt’ “All we need is a horizon line” to “get some clarity, follow the signs”, she sings on “The Circle Meets the Line” half way through the album, one of several tracks in which nature, cliffs and the open sky are a vivid presence. Once the songwriting was done, Feist called in fellow Canadian musicians Mocky and Gonzales to work on the arrangements, and

then went looking for a place to record. Based on what the songs were about, “and they had a sort of elemental basis,” she says “you squint at a map in your mind and you picture-where does it make sense to go find these?”

The place, it turned out, was a barn in Big Sur, a natural enclave on the Californian coast beloved of artists from John Steinbeck-who set several works there-to Joan Baez.

“It’s incredibly unlikely we would find a place that perfect,” Feist said. “It’s just a giant wooden empty space with light pouring in and two wood stoves at either end to keep it warm.”

“You can see the ocean, between two hills, and every night that’s exactly where the sun would set. And the whole thing was built kind of, at keeping in mind the elements.” For a title, Feist wanted a concept that could “blanket” the album. “Metal has been a major building block of

File picture shows Canadian Folk and Alternative artist Feist performing after a medal ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Medal Plaza venue in Whistler. — AFP every civilization,” she said, whether turned into weapons, tools or jewelry, technology or scaffolding.

“Metal is such a changeable substance. It doesn’t exist at the surface of the earth. So it’s a crazy amount of effort and ingenuity and imagination to find it and turn it into something else.” “I felt like it had enough movement in it, that it can change depending on what each song wanted from it,” she said. “Each song became a little stronger once I’d found the title.” After years spent performing the same hits, Feist said she aimed this time around for a kind of universality in her lyrics, for “songs that I can bring with me when I’m 80.” “I tried to plant the possibility for it to adapt with me,” she said. “I tried to be really responsible for the fact I know I’m going to be singing these songs for the rest of my life.” — AFP

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rganizers for the Latin Grammys, the top honors for Latin music, Monday named Colombian superstar Shakira as their person of the year to be feted at the group’s annual awards show in November. Shakira, who was nominated for three Latin Grammys this year including album of the year for her “Sale el Sol,” will be given the award not only for her songs and performing but for philanthropic work through her Pies Descalzos Foundation.

“We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic,

socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally,” Latin Recording Academy president Gabriel Abaroa, Jr. said in a statement. Shakira, 34, rose to fame as a singer in the early 1990s combining rock, Latin and Mediterranean music with her own original dancing-a feature of Shakira’s that eventually manifested itself in the smash hit single, “Hips Don’t Lie.” In 1996, Shakira released “Pies Descalzos” with hit singles “Estoy Aqui” and “Se Quiere...Se Mata.” Her first

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f Sly Stone ever decides to take his show on the road and tour again, at least he won’t have to walk far to the van. The Sly & the Family Stone frontman, known for such hits in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” is currently homeless, and living in a van in Los Angeles’ rough-and-tumble Crenshaw district, according to a report co-written by Stone documentarian William Alkema for the New York Post. According to the article, as little as four years ago, the 68-year-old musician-born Sylvester Stewart-lived in a lavish Napa Valley home complete with a vineyard, and had several cars. But in recent years, a drug habit (Stone has been arrested multiple times for cocaine possession) and fiscal difficulties (last year he sued his former manager, Jerry Goldstein, for $50 million, claiming that Goldstein had defrauded him) led Stone into his current situation. Not that he appears to mind.

“I like my small camper,” Stone tells the Post. “I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving.” And despite it all, he’s still recording music, on a laptop computer in his van-and with reportedly hundreds of songs currently in the can, the musician is hoping that today’s hit-makers will reach out and help him stage a comeback. “I see all the guys playing those old songs,” Stone says. “Let these guys know, like Lady Gaga, let me come in, just let me come in and pay me if you like it.” It might be a while before Stone gets another crack at the stage. His live performances have been exceedingly rare over the past two decades, and when he has taken the stage, the results have tended toward the shambolic-such as his brief, bizarre appearance at last year’s Coachella Music and Arts Festival. — Reuters

crossover album, Laundry Service, debuted in 2001 and went on to become her most successful album, to date.

Shakira’s foundation focuses on helping impoverished children receive an education. — Reuters

TV is bringing back the O Music Awards just months after debuting the digitally minded awards show. In late April, the network premiered the OMAs, a fan-friendly celebration of digital music. Sharply distinct from regular award shows, it featured interactive, fan-voted awards that culminated in a live, multiplatform webcast on MTV Music Group websites. MTV will announce the O Music Awards 2, to take place Oct 31. MTV plans for the OMAs to be so atypical that they don’t adhere to the calendar, but sprout up twice or maybe even three times a year. In noting how quickly digital music is changing, Shannon Connolly, vice president of digital music strategy for MTV, pointed to Rebecca Black, whose viral hit “Friday” now feels like a century ago.

“We’re celebrating an emerging culture and we’re

In this file photo, Colombian singer, songwriter, musician, Shakira arrives at the Cannes festival palace. — AP

celebrating this thing that’s happening really fast,” says Connolly. “It’s partly debunking the award show format - once a year, sticking to all the same categories - but it’s also because the space is changing so quickly.” Part of the OMA mission is to put as much attention on fans as artists. Award categories include best “fan army,” “mustfollow artist on Twitter” and best fan cover. Everything is very much in flux, with MTV continually tweaking the format. On the first OMAs, which were put together in a matter of months, Connolly recalled the sudden panic when they realized they needed an actual physical award to present. A handful of them - a kind of glass cube - had to be shuttled around to winners who needed to pre-tape acceptance speeches.

This time around, MTV allowed fans to select some of the award categories, including best “Web-born artist”

and best vintage viral video. The musical spectrum has been expanded to include genres beyond pop and hiphop. The 2nd OMAs will also have more of a presence on MTV’s flagship network. Lady Gaga and Odd Future’s Tyler the Creator are among the leading nominees, with two nominations each. Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Demi Lovato and Sinead O’Connor also received two nominations. The first OMAs generated 3 million votes cast online and resulted in MTV’s secondlargest streaming audience ever. “The audience is there,” says Connolly. “We know we can give them something they love even more.” — AP

Joan Jett performs with The Blackhearts during the 18th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala, in Los Angeles.

In this file photo, British rock star Rod Stewart performs. — AP photos

Chaka Khan performs at the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

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he “Aladdin” music show at Disney’s California Adventure park was briefly shut down after two performers were left hanging upside down on a magic carpet. Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown says the malfunction occurred during a performance Sunday afternoon. No one was hurt. The park expected to reopen the show, “Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular,” sometime Monday. The musical is based on Disney’s popular animated film, “Aladdin.”

In the movie, Aladdin, with the help of a genie and a flying carpet, woos a young princess. During Sunday’s performance, the carpet flipped over. A video posted on YouTube shows the two performers, who were strapped in, swaying back and forth above the stage. An announcer apologized for the incident and asked people to leave the theater. — AP

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he trial of the doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death opened yesterday with a bit of star power and the one thing the King of Pop enjoyed throughout his life - a worldwide audience.

The case will enter a crucial final act in a packed Los Angeles courtroom with opening statements and the start of testimony.

Jackson’s family, including his parents and many of his siblings, are expected to be present as dozens of reporters cover the case. Proceedings also will be televised and broadcast online. While much is known about Jackson’s June 2009 death, the trial will reveal new information and provide a detailed record of the singer’s final hours.

Dr Conrad Murray’s trial is expected to be the first time that the public hears - in the defendant’s own words - his account of what happened in the bedroom of Jackson’s rented mansion.

By Monday evening, 15 satellite trucks and news vans were parked within a block of the courthouse. Prosecutors plan to call the pop superstar’s friend and choreographer, Kenny Ortega, as their first witness in the case. During the next five weeks, prose-

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ong ago, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts professed their love for rock ‘n’ roll. It’s time to see if the feeling runs both ways. The iconic rock act is on the list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees for the 2012 class released yesterday. Women who rock feature prominently among first-time nominees. Joining Jett, whose “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” remains a classic rock standard 30 years after its release, are sister act Heart and Rufus with Chaka Khan.

They’re joined by Guns ‘N Roses, hiphop pioneers Eric B. & Rakim, glum glam Goths The Cure and The Small Faces/The Faces, which includes Rod Stewart.

Bluesman Freddie King and The Spinners are also first-time nominees on the ballot for the hall’s 2012 class. Previous nominees up again include The Beastie Boys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donna

cutors will rely on Ortega and other witnesses to detail Jackson’s final days and hours and explain to a jury of seven men and five women exactly how the King of Pop died. Defense attorneys for Dr Conrad Murray, who faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted of involuntary manslaughter, hope to poke holes in the prosecution’s case and present jurors with their own theory that the singer was culpable for his own death. Ortega testified at a hearing earlier this year that Murray warned him not to try to act as Jackson’s physician or psychiatrist after Or tega sent the singer home from rehearsals for his final concerts because he appeared to be sick. He is also likely the best witness to walk jurors through footage of Jackson’s final rehearsals that were used for the film “This Is It,” which will be played in part for jurors.

Ortega served as choreographer for the aborted shows and director of the theatrical film. For most of the jury, it will be their first exposure to the footage. Only two indicated on questionnaires filled out before the trial that they had seen any portion of

Summer, Laura Nyro, Donovan and War and its an eclectic group, running from lush British folk to classic early beats and bone-crushing power rock.

An act must have released its first single or album 25 years ago to qualify for induction. More than 500 voters will determine who makes the hall. New members will be inducted at a ceremony at the hall of fame in Cleveland on April 14. The leather-clad and tough-as-nails Jett was an early icon for women. A founding member of the all-female The Runaways, she went on to become a chart-topping success after forming the Blackhearts in 1982.

Heart similarly made an indelible mark on the rock scene of the 1970s and ‘80s. Among the first women to front an aggressive rock band, singer Ann Wilson and her sister, guitarist Nancy Wilson, cut

Dr Conrad Murray “ This Is It.” Prosecutors plan to play a recording of the physician’s interview with police conducted two days after Jackson’s

some of the era’s most memorable songs, from “Barracuda” to “Magic Man,” and inspired a generation of women along the way. Then a teen, Khan burst on the scene with the Chicago-based

death, when he revealed that he had been giving the enter tainer the anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid. The disclosure led to Murray being charged in February 2010 with involuntary manslaughter and nearly 20 months of legal wrangling over how the trial will be conducted. Witnesses’ recollections and conclusions about the events will be challenged to a far greater extent than they were during a preliminary hearing earlier this year that resulted in a judge ruling there was enough evidence for Murray to stand trial. Defense attorneys did not present a case or make an opening statement during that hearing, but lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff is expected to lay out Murray’s side to jurors yesterday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor has limited what Murray ’s lawyers can say about Jackson’s history with drugs and his financial troubles. Prosecutors are similarly prohibited from mentioning some of the messy details of the doctor’s personal life, including his sizeable debts and that he had several mistresses.

If prosecutors follow the same script they employed during Murray’s preliminary

Rufus in the 1970s. She defied easy categorization, moving easily between R&B, rock and disco before going onto an enviable solo career. — AP

hearing, the early part of the case will likely move in chronological order beginning with Jackson’s final days and then moving into his final hours. After the singer’s security guards, paramedics and emergency room doctors take the stand, the case will then move into more forensic and scientific territory. Much of that testimony will focus on propofol, which is normally administered in hospital settings. Authorities contend Murray administered a lethal dose of the drug along with other sedatives, and lacked the proper lifesaving equipment to revive Jackson. Defense attorneys will present an alternate theory - that Jackson ingested or somehow gave himself the fatal dose. After weeks of testimony, dozens of witnesses and final arguments, the jury will have its say. — AP

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Latest trend in hip-hop: Women’s clothes T

he latest fashion trend in hip-hop has its male stars raiding the women’s clothing department for inspiration. Lil Wayne jumped around in skinny women’s pants during his performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye West wore a multiprint shirt designed for women at the Coachella music festival. Kid Cudi has been seen in a plaid skirt, Snoop Dogg often wears jewelry designed for women, and Pharrell Williams is a fan of the Hermes-made Birkin bag, the ultra-expensive purse favored by Hollywood’s top actresses.

Elena Kiam, the owner and creative director of the jewelry brand Lia Sophia, says initially she was surprised to see her women’s line embraced by some of rap’s top acts like 50 Cent, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg, who has worn her pieces in music videos and on magazine covers.

In this file photo, singer Kanye West gestures during his performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

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“When we were designing these really beautiful, sparkly necklaces, we thought more for top editors, maybe a celebrity movie star. We really weren’t thinking about hip-hop,” said Kiam, who also said Beyonce, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus have worn her designs. “There was a rapper wearing the same piece as a soccer mom from Ohio,” she added. Celebrity stylist June Ambrose says those multiplatinum musicians can pull it off because their personas stretch beyond the hip-hop culture. Of Lil Wayne’s much-talked about decision to sport a pair of boxer-revealing, black-andwhite leopard print pants during the VMAs, she acknowledges his attire was “eccentric, but you know, he’s a rock star and pulls it off extremely well.

“Fashion should be as unisex as it is right now. It’s probably the most unisex we’ve seen it.,” she said. West, hip-hop’s ultimate metrosexual who will debut his own fashion collection in Paris next week, wore a flowing, long-sleeved women’s shirt designed by French-based fashion house Celine earlier this year at Coachella.

Though there were some who poked fun at his clothing choice, Ambrose saw nothing wrong with it. “I think it’s acceptable if you’re not wearing a pair of heels with it and you’re not wearing lipstick and neither of these guys did that,” said Ambrose, who has styled Jay-Z, Diddy and Will Smith. “They treat fashion like it is art.”

It’s not just rappers - Russell Brand and rockers like Steven Tyler and Pete Wentz have worn women’s clothes in the past; Janet Jackson says the famous black sparkly jacket Michael Jackson wore during his legendary “Motown 25” performance was from his mother’s closet. And of course, androgyny has long been intertwined with pop, from David Bowie to Freddie Mercury to Prince (known for his trademark heels).

Bieber, the 17-year-old pop phenomenon, admits he has rocked women’s jeans because of their suitable fit. “I think I’ve worn women’s jeans before because they fit me better,” he told The Associated Press at a recent fashion event. “I just think that whatever works, works.” “It wasn’t like it looked like a woman’s sweater,” continued Bieber, referring to women’s shirt worn by West.

“It was just a regular sweater that just happened to be a woman’s.”

But hip-hop culture - often defined as much by its masculinity as much as its music - always seemed to be different. It’s hard to imagine Eminem raging on stage in a breezy women’s top; rapper DMX once clowned Jay-Z for wearing sandals on the beach, deeming it unmanly.

Hip-hop’s style in recent years has ranged from oversized sports jerseys to sweats to baggy, sagging pants and plain, oversized white T-shirts.

Lately though, hip-hop stars are likely to sport

aturally, the womenswear collection showcases a new breed of key prints: bold orchid and wild blossom bloom over dresses, tops and accessories, chandeliers add vintage glamour, whilst the woodland fairy print brings a whimsical touch to the season.

Drawing upon the colours of the countryside, winter blacks, charcoals and navy are softened with autumnal rose, berry and camel tones, whilst fierce flashes of fuchsia, orange and petrol blue create a dramatic palette that’s wild at heart.

A nostalgic nod to 50s glamour sees graceful silhouettes created by fuller circular skirts celebrating the female figure in all its glory. Whereas in contrast, more modern and minimal shapes emerge through beautifully cut tailored suits, jumpsuits and wide-leg trousers.

Delicate lace, ruffle and pleat details on separates, juxtaposed with heavier leather and wool on outerwear and knits highlight the importance of texture and layering this season. With slick metal hardware detailing on leather bags, gloves and outerwear adding an edge to the final look.

Ted’s menswear collection treads a more rugged path for A/W11. Tweed, corduroy and twill are all in their element while fur, leather and quilting branch out to provide further textural highlights. Cable knit detailing meanwhile, appearing on both jumpers and accessories, is the natural selection for modern gents this season.

On frostier days outerwear offers a more adventurous feel. A quilted jacket in racing green, leather aviator

with shearling collar and longline revere collar wool coat sit perfectly with heavier cotton chinos in earthy shades of stone, chocolate, olive and plum. All the while trapper hats in melton wool and oilskin, tweed flat caps and chunky cable knit scarves look the part, whatever the weather.

As the nights draw in, long sleeve polos featuring shirting contrasts come to the fore whilst shirts with micro collars and narrow plackets create a sharper look in colder temperatures.

Styled with tweed blazers and coated denims, this is deconstructed tailoring that’s always in season.

Langley Court Offering more than a touch of theatricality and glamour, Ted’s A/W11 Langley Court collection sees digital ocean and flamboyant fire prints playing a leading role alongside sophisticated tailoring that plays on elongated and angular proportions. Organic sculptural frills on skirts and dresses add the final dramatic flourish. So from rural retreats to the bright lights of the big city, get back to nature with Ted Baker’s new A/W11 collections.

clothes that are made to fit, and sometimes, tightly, like rock and indie hipsters. “(Lil Wayne and West are) small enough to pull it off and that’s really what it’s about,” Ambrose said. “I don’t think Jay-Z could pull that off. He doesn’t have the body type for it. But these two guys are pretty petite and they’re able to pull those things off because (the clothes) come in a size that they can wear.” Brea “BStar” Stinson, who has styled Usher, Bieber and Jaden and Willow Smith, says while women’s clothes can fit better on some men, at times they can be too fit.

“I thought those pants were great (and) that print is totally in right now, but I didn’t think that they were appropriate for (Lil Wayne),” Stinson said. “The fit was wrong (and) I think there’s only a limited amount of stretch a man is allowed in his pants, and they were just really, really small.”

Whether Lil Wayne will be sporting more women’s clothes is unclear. Still, this latest trend in hip-hop isn’t a new one, says Ambrose. She remembers seeing similar happenings in the 1980s with rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee and the Ultramagnetic MCs. Hip-hop was key in making diamond earrings popular for

men in both ears. And Andre 3000 from OutKast was known for pushing the envelope with his style.

“Those guys were wearing leather pants, blouses. If you go back and look at the eccentricity, it’s really just come full circle,” she said of the past generations of rappers. “Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, guys were wearing brightcolored jeans, skin tights, like leggings, and high boots.” Ambrose - who will launch her own VH1 reality show “Styled By June” in February feels that fashion and hip-hop go hand-andhand when it comes to self-expression. “I think one thing about hip-hop is that it’s always been uncensored and unedited in that way, and I think that if you take a lyric and you put it to a look, then it really makes sense,” she said. “(Rappers) say what they want to say and they say it in their way, so why shouldn’t the fashion have the same emotion and the same voice and the same freedom?” — AP

In this file photo, singers Jaden Smith (left) and Justin Bieber perform at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Rap acts like Kanye West and Lil Wayne and singers like Smith and Bieber have taken to wearing women’s clothing.

— AP photos

Kids stand in front of a Church in Enschede which is made of Lego bricks. The temporary church is also available for weddings and as part of an art festival in Enschede.

— AFP

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t could have been agonizingly mawkish: the story of a young man with everything ahead of him who learns he has a rare form of spinal cancer, one that he only has a 50percent chance of surviving. The premise alone sounds like an insufferable drag, an example of eat-your-vegetables cinema, regardless of the catharsis that might result.

Instead, “50/50” is consistently, uproariously funny, written with humanity and insight and directed with just the right tone every time.

Comedy writer Will Reiser crafted the script based on his own cancer diagnosis when he was in his early 20s. His words are filled with dark humor and a wry recognition of the gravity of this situation, but also with real tenderness. His characters are so well-drawn that even when you see obvious developments looming on the horizon, they still feel fresh and offer some moments of surprise. And director Jonathan Levine (in a vast improvement over his last film, the self-conscious “The Wackness”) pulls us into this intimate world through an abiding naturalism.

Levine has accomplished a tricky bit of juggling here: He’s made a film about cancer that’s effortlessly affecting. It helps a great deal that he has Joseph Gordon-Levitt, an actor of great range and subtlety, in the starring role. His character, Adam, a reporter at Seattle’s public radio station, receives the diagnosis after having a doctor examine him for chronic back pain. Everyone around him

reacts differently to the news, and not necessarily well. Adam goes through all the requisite stages of denial, frustration, fear and eventually acceptance, but he does so with such believable imperfection, he never feels like a saint or a martyr. He’s not always gracious in the face of adversity; he can be a little surly and smug and emotionally closed-off.

He doesn’t even return phone calls from his understandably concerned mother (Anjelica Huston).

But Adam has a great balance in his lifelong best friend and co-worker, the garrulous and lovably crass Kyle (Seth Rogen), the kind of garrulous and lovably crass role Rogen has built a career upon. Again, though, here’s an example of how “50/50” sneaks up on you: You think you know this guy, and then he shows a kindness and generosity you’d never expect. And it gives Rogen, who’s also a producer on the film, a rare opportunity to show some dramatic ability. Sure, he uses his buddy’s illness to line up sympathy sex for both of them but, you know, he means well. Similarly, Anna Kendrick may seem familiar to you as Adam’s inexperienced, young therapist, Katherine; it seems like the kind of eagerbeaver, overachiever role Kendrick has played before in films like “Up in the Air” and “Rocket Science.” But there’s a softness we’ve not seen from her before, a femininity that’s appealing.

Adam is only her third patient, and within her bungling and stiff gestures of sympathy

lies not just a strong desire to help, but also to be perceived as helpful. Their exchanges increase in intensity and provide the film’s biggest source of emotion. Bryce Dallas Howard, meanwhile, says all the right things but doesn’t really mean them as Adam’s girlfriend. She insists she’ll stick by him no matter what, but it’s clear from the start that she’s really trying to convince herself she’s capable of such loyalty. Howard is in a tough position here playing a woman of questionable decency, but Reiser’s script is decent enough to make her feel like a real human being - even as she flinches and flees from the horrors of chemotherapy. Just when “50/50” threatens to become too unbearably sad, though, a character will say or do just the right thing to break the tension. It doesn’t let up necessarily, but it does provide a balance. And it concludes in the most delicate way, with a moment that’s a lovely mix of romanticism and restraint. Perfect endings are hard to come by: “50/50” has one, and it wraps up one of the year’s best films. “50/50,” a Summit Entertainment release, is rated R for language throughout. Running time: 100 minutes. Four stars out of four. — AP

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Spring/Summer

2012 Models present creations by Korean fashion designer Moon Young Hee during the Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection show, yesterday in Paris. —AFP photos

A model displays a creation of Mexican designer Macario Jimenez during the opening of Fashion week in Mexico City yesterday.

Fashion world upbeat as Jazz Age Milan shows close I

talian designers voiced optimism despite the economic gloom as a Milan Fashion Week inspired by the Roaring Twenties closed yesterday, handing over the relay to the Paris shows later this week. “How is fashion doing? It’s doing very well in spite of the government!” Donatella Versace told reporters at one of the shows-as reports of Silvio Berlusconi’s ever-deepening legal woes became the talk of the town. “It’s going against the current compared to everything else!” Massimo Ferretti, head of Gruppo Aeffe, a major player in the Milan fashion business, said: “It would be a mistake to stop at every economic crisis.

“We have to continue to rely on our

capacity to produce fashion that is elaborate and high-quality and to offer an excellent service,” he said. The Italian fashion sector has been forced to halve its growth forecast for this year to four percent from eight percent as Italy has been hit by a storm on financial markets markets due to its low growth and high debt levels. But Vogue Italy editor Franca Sozzani said the designers this year managed to put the economic worries to one side and come up with original and even daring outfits for their spring/summer 2012 collections.

“In this time of crisis, the designs not only did not resort to calm and safe collections but they were daring, even very

daring.... The panorama is excellent and this helps the whole fashion system,” she said. Gucci set the tone for the week with a collection of shiny flapper-style dresses with geometric patterns reminiscent of classic New York skyscrapers.

Etro unveiled its new collection to the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Emporio Armani came out with geometric outfits similar to Art Deco designs. The shows at Milan Fashion Week projected the image of a confident, sensual woman but with none of the hard edges seen in some of the previous seasons. “Being feminine in an aggressive way is a bit passe. A woman can be modern while expressing her softness,” Miuccia Prada said after

showing off a collection that combined a 1950s college girl look with boy racer style.

Missoni came out with fiery designs from warmer climes-reprising the theme of far-flung travel that featured in many of the shows. “It was really a southern inspiration,” Angela Missoni said after the “Sunrise Birds” show, referring to women with “carefree sensuality”. This edition of Milan Fashion Week set its sights firmly on high-growth export markets that the industry desperately needs at a time when luxury consumption in more traditional markets in Europe is sloping off.

Attending the runways were plenty of Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern and

Russian buyers-and the press rows are now increasingly multilingual. Among the attendees was Mikhail Kusnirovich, head of Bosco dei Ciliegi in Moscow-a major high-end fashion retailing company. Kusnirovich, a longtime fan of Italian fashion, said he planned to open Max Mara, Etro and La Perla stores in a luxury shopping mall in the city of Sochi in southern Russia, which is hosting the Winter Olympics in 2014. He told reporters: “Considering what is happening in the world, I’m almost embarrassed to say that already last year we regained the turnover that we had before 2008 and this year we’re closing with growth of 20 to 24 percent.” —AFP